Valentine's Day

So, the D day has arrived. While a few of us are out there celebrating (parents, you did not think it was combined studies your kid is out for, did you?), several other youngsters are out on the roads and in the coffee shops. Some out of them are genuinely looking for love, which they think they'll get in one day, while several others are out in search of some one to have a good time with. Let's have a look at a youngster's Valentine's Day in India.
The boys who have a girlfriend spend the previous few days arranging for money so that they can buy a gift for their loved one and can afford a decent date. Pocket money is seldom enough, but no problem. When will friends be of any use? So they borrow from friends, of course those ones who do not have a girlfriend. The next problem is to be able to go out without having mom and dad know about their mission. So what do they do? Your guess is as good as mine. Combined studies at a friend's place is the perfect option. Once they are on the date, there is the lingering fear of being spotted by someone they know. Add to that the notorious gangs who have fun by looking at the girl like they know her or her family, and that makes for a typical date. Now, what about the guys without a girlfriend? Well, they save up money just in case they find someone. They dress up. The stag gang gets out hunting. A few of them are successful, most of them are not. At the end of the day they blow up their money, return home empty handed, and wish they have better luck the next year.
Of late the advent of Valentine's Day has got stronger thanks to it's commercialization. News channels consider it a sin to not have an exclusive show on Valentine's Day, the greeting cards and gift shops stock up and decorate like it's a festival, the pubs, discoes, coffee shops and even book shops get ready to seduce your pocket.
Finally, is Valentine's Day worth the hype? You don't need a special day to tell your loved one that you love him/her. You don't have to blaze your pockets just because everyone else does. You don't need a girlfriend or a boyfriend just because your friend has one or one too many. It's just a regular day with a lot of commercialization thrown in. It's not mandatory to be a part of the rut just because everyone is a part of it.