OK. I added the conditions on arranged rishta scenario. In arranged scenario, neither man nor woman by themselves are there to present each other for trial. Hence no real chance of emotionally attached or hurt.
Yes extended process of rishta does happen. Both parties know it is for good intention to have an outcome of marriage. Not fun. No trial before buying.
True. That is why I feel leery of ‘love at first sight’ notion too. 
The time spent at uni is separate than non-dating dating scenario you mentioned. It is non dating to be exact since they really did not try each other emotionally or even physically.
Dating is not just meeting once for intention of marrying.
Dating involves much more than that.
Dating does not even mean meeting for marrying nor it means meeting for mating!
Dating is consistent, exclusive one to one relationship over a period of time for whatever reason.
Without any commitment whatsoever.
Time in Uni is very different. You are colleague, acquantaince or close friend without ANY other intention.
Now spending time outside Uni which you might be talking about is still not ‘dating’ since you are not really meeting with just one person for getting to know intention. Notice I did not use word commitment for a reason here.
If someone insists on calling it dating then other person may call it non-dating dating.
I must clarify few points.
While dating is completely non-commital in terms of marrying, engagement is partially commital. Hence emotional trauma is more reasonable and explainable by breaking the engagement.