In a highly competitive world, little moments of togetherness have become a luxury. While some of the couples could manage to grab some ‘me time’ despite their hectic schedule, a few indulged in virtual celebration this Valentine’s Day.
When M. Yegna Priya, Vizag-based entrepreneur, flew down from Singapore to meet her husband after a long time, she decided to bring back their courtship days. “What could be more exhilarating than presenting a bunch of homemade chocolates with a hand-made greeting card and that too at midnight? Since my husband works here, I come here occasionally. This year, I am happy that my trip coincided with Valentine’s Day,” she shares.
For those who stay away from their loved ones, the definition of Valentine’s Day seems to vary. “The celebration of togetherness is not confined to a single day. Sustaining a relationship needs a lot of effort, sacrifice and commitment. Though my husband works in Zambia, these elements connect us together rather than any gifts. I think, a committed relationship needs to be celebrated everyday,” said Faiz Begum, who runs a fitness studio.
A number of working couples took a day off from their routine tasks and spent a relaxed day visiting local malls, eateries and city beaches.
The local bakeries and cafeterias were flooded with youngsters who could hardly wait to celebrate the day, cutting a cake and exchanging thoughtful gifts.
Ananya, Class VI student, made two greeting cards for her mom and dad. “She handed over the cards to us in the morning and asked us to exchange them. It was so touching as a note was attached to it mentioning ‘Thank you for working so hard for me’. We just could not believe that she thought so much about us,” D. Jyoshna, who works in a private organisation, said.
Apart from cards and heart-shaped gift articles, director of Pages bookstore Anil Nevatia wanted to promote a new gifting culture. “Books authored by Nicholas Sparks, Durjoy Dutta and Chetan Bhagat can also be an ideal choice for the occasion. Gifting a book will eventually help a person unlock their imagination and help develop reading habit,” he said.
Taking a new route altogether, 5 AM Club, health club, organised a walk on the Beach Road. “The aim is to promote fitness among people, encourage them to be more health-conscious,” said K.V.T. Ramesh, founder of the club.
