How should one deal with the fiancée during the engagement period, which may extend to three years, given her family's indifference and her delusion that phone calls will make this long period bearable for her, and the fiancé's desire to expedite the marriage?

The suitor is a stranger to his fiancée, so it is impermissible for him to look at her, be alone with her, or speak with her without necessity, because he is like any other strange man until the marriage contract is concluded. If familiarity develops between the suitor and fiancée, they must cease all communication entirely except out of necessity, while observing the Sharia guidelines.

If you need to marry and fear for yourself, and you are able to bear the costs of marriage, then inform your family of this. If they agree, then proceed without them, because it then becomes an incumbent obligation upon you. Ibn Qudamah said: "Whoever fears falling into what is forbidden if he abandons marriage, then marriage is obligatory upon him."

And you should not be bothered by the absence of a job or a future source of income, for you must strive to earn a livelihood, and Allah is the Provider. Ahmad mentioned that there is no difference between one who is able to spend and one who is unable, citing that the Prophet (peace be upon him) married off a man who could not afford even an iron ring. As for one who cannot marry, he must practice chastity until Allah enriches him from His bounty.