Love between persons of marriable age is quite natural. Both the lovers have to communicate with one another and specify clearly what is expected of the other partner. The other partner has to respond in time and should not dillydally. The offers and acceptances have to take place between adults who have the due diligence to take decisions, in other cases by their elders.
Here are some stories where one partner vacillated and a disastrous result followed.

1. Where the partner acted swiftly, resulting in happy end:
Rukmini loved Krishna. Her brother, much against her will bequeathed her to another fellow Sisupala. Rukmini sent a message to Krishna through a respectable person to come and take her. Krishna came on a chariot. Rukmini stayed at a temple which she visited ostensibly for worship. Krishna reached there and took her into the chariot gently offering his hand. Her brother and other kings protested, but they were defeated by Krishna.
This story is from Maha Bhagavata.

In another similar story, Prithviraj Chauhan took Queen Samyukta on his horseback and married.

2. Case of indecision:

Devadas and Parvati were lovers. Parvati was poor. Devadas was son of a land lord. Her parents wanted to marry her to an aged landlord. She meets Devadas privately and informs him. She did not propose anything, but there was a hint. Devadas failed to tell his father and goes back to town for continuing his College education. Parvati married the old man and her life became a hell. Devadas got addicted to alcohol. (Finally both die with hand in hand, but that is not a consolation). This condensed story is from a novel of same name by Sarat Babu in Bengali language and a successful film in many languages.

3. Case of meaningless pride and cowardice:

Amba and Salva were lovers. Salva was king of Kasi. Amba's father announced a svayamvara. In svayamvara the attending kings sit in the assembly hall in a row, and the bride garlands the one she loves. The king who has the valour to defeat others can take the princess by force.

Bhishma was a regent of Kuru Kingdom. On behalf of his half-brothers he visited the svayamvara. Bhishma defeated all the attending kings including SALVA and took away Amba forcibly along with her two sisters.

Amba wept before Bhishma, indicated that she loved Salva and wished to be sent back to him. Bhishma relieved and sent her to Salva. When Amba approached Salva, he refused to accept her on the ground that she must go back to the conqueror.

When Amba went back and requested Bhishma to marry her to his brother as per original plan, his brother refused to marry her on the ground that her mind was elsewhere. She asks Bhishma himself to marry her, since he brought her forcibly. Bhishma refused to marry her as he was under an oath not to marry at all during his life time. (Amba's life ended miserably, though she was finally able to revenge against Bhishma). What type of a lover is Salva?

4. Lover doing emissary's work!

Damayanti loved Nala. Nala was a king. Indra, the God of Heaven loved Damayanti. He asked Nala to approach Damayanti privately and request her to love him (Indra). Nala went to Damayanti and conveyed the message of Indra and requested her to choose Indra as her partner.

When the swayamvara took place Indra sat in the assembly disguised as Nala, while the genuine Nala also sat in the line. Damayanti could recognise genuine Nala and garland him. The marriage materialised.

This story is from Sringara Naishatham, a Sanskrit drama by Sriharsha, 7th century AD.

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