Happy Valentines

“Rain, rain go away, come again some other day…” is a popular nursery rhyme that might be on the lips of many of the lovebirds in the federal capital today while having an outdoor plan in their mind that may restrict them to indoor celebration of Valentine’s Day today. As the Pakistan Meteorology Department (PMD) has forecasted heavy rain and severe cold in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for the next 24 hours, those having plans for their loved ones will find nature conspiring against them to celebrate the day outdoors.
The celebrations in these days seems to be meant for the relatively wealthy as middle-lower segment of society are unable to celebrate any festive days because of inflation and now nature seems to have become an obstacle in celebrating Valentine’s Day, said Talha Shakil, a resident of I-10 who has planned to celebrate this day with his beloved fiancée outdoor in the city. “I have my bike along me and the weather forecast of rain has marred my schedule as I will not be able to spend my day with my loved one,” Talha maintained. Hashim Raza on the other hand, having his own car is happy about the weather forecast of rain saying he will enjoy V-Day with his beloved going on a long drive. “We will go to Pir Sohawa and celebrate this day there. A drizzle, light romantic music, and chit chat with my girl will surely make my day,” he said.
On the eve of Valentine’s Day, markets in federal capital have already turned red, as shopkeepers have finalised preparations for the huge sale on the Valentine’s Day. Flower shops are packed with red roses, whereas balloons, chocolates, jewellery and accessories, all heart-shaped items are almost present in every shop. Talking about Valentine’s Day shopping, Kamran Khan a shopkeeper in F-7 Jinnah Super Market said people of all age groups buy specific items related to this Day. “It is not restricted to teenagers or any specific gender only. I have observed, grownup men spend more as compared to teenagers,” he said, sharing his experience of the past four years. The shops around the city are full of all kinds of hearts. Big and small hearts, hearts held by teddy, heart pencils, frames cushions, bags, gift bags, and heart-shaped packing chocolates. The biggest heart was available for around Rs1,500 whereas the smallest one was for Rs350.
“The heart-shaped items are sold as hotcakes during these days,” said Jamal, managing a stall of Valentine’s Day gifts outside a bookshop. “We buy things from wholesale markets in Lahore,” he added. Sharing another interesting observation, he said their shop sold more cards on this Day as compared to Eid. Pointing towards piles of red poetry books on one side of the stall, he said these books were published especially for Valentine’s Day. “It is all romantic Urdu poetry written by Wasi Shah, Noshi Gilani, Farhatullah Shah, etc,” he mentioned, adding these books along with a red heart balloon was a popular combination on this occasion.
Most young lovebirds in and around the capital were found praying to God to make weather fair enough to celebrate Valentine’s Day, as Pakistan Metrology Department forecasted that the current spell of rain would continue till February 15.
Majority of youngsters who met this scribe were looking dejected. They said last year too they were unable to celebrate this day because of rain.
Muhammad Hamza, a 26-year-old university student, has planned to buy flowers for his friend on this Valentine’s Day. He said he wanted to be with his valentine on that day but her parents might not allow her to go out on a rainy day. “I will go to Aabpara and buy some flowers, stuffed toys, and chocolates and would give her on some other day obviously in sunshine,” he said.
Majority of youngsters however vowed to celebrate the day despite all odds. “Even if Tuesday is rainy and I do not have a car to get my loved one anywhere around the city to expressed my gut-feelings, I will definitely get in touch with her and hire a cab to make a rendezvous in a restaurant in Blue Area,” said Bilal Ahmed.
Waseem Elahi, standing in a shop at Super Market (F-6 Markaz), observed that Valentine’s Day was getting busier each year. “It’s getting more and more popular all the time. Young people like to celebrate it because they see it as fun. Moreover, they like to have something for themselves, that has never been part of their parents’ experience,” he said.
Farhat Akram, a college student, said her parents hated the idea of celebrating V-Day. “They think it is part of some alien culture that is being imposed on us. It irritates them that my generation likes it so much,” she said. Farhat said not so long ago, Valentine’s Day was virtually unheard in Islamabad, but in recent years, teens and adults had enthusiastically embraced it. “Pakistan’s younger generation is highly receptive to Western culture, with interest partly fuelled by widespread access to satellite television channels,” she maintained. Aamina Raza, a married woman buying stuffed toys, said she was not against celebrating love. “Love comes into each person’s life as a fresh and powerful force, a purifying and electrifying event, a tidal wave of mind-boggling, life-changing passions and emotions. It is the fountainhead of creativity in us, making poets, artists, dancers, writers, dreamers, saints and heroes out of the most ordinary person it touches.”