I am a romantic by heart and I like sweet romantic attitudes. Not mushy ones, which make you sit at your lover’s feet and act like a slave. I like being loved in the quiet assured way that tells you, you are important and you are needed.

I wonder how important Valentine’s Day is. It was not celebrated with so much hype a decade ago, when my husband and I were dating. Besides both of us acknowledge that love is celebrated for the entire life and not for a day. So Valentine’s day or not, I love my husband more intensely with every passing day. Perhaps he does the same. I have never asked him. He is not the kind of man who would profess his love from rooftops. I like him the way he is.

Today morning we asked a senior person in our office about his plans for the day. He promptly replied I have unending test cases that needs to be executed. I am going to be busy until 7 pm. When asked about his plans with his wife, he was innocently surprised. And then he understood. “Aw today is Valentine’s day. Nothing special, Valentine’s day is concerned with Godly love, not the erotic love that people celebrate today. I have no special plans. For me Valentine’s day holds no meaning. It is just another day, but I am sad that people are interpreting the sacrifice of Saint Valentine’s in such a way.” People laughed and some said him unromantic at his back. I was neutral.

I remember a few years back, before my marriage I had sent a Happy Valentine’s Day mail to all my friends. A couple of distant friends wrote back in a mushy mushy tone, thanking me profusely and accepting my offer. What offer I never asked them? I understood they had taken my message in a completely different way. A friendly message was grossly misinterpreted.

Again one of my colleague was seriously hunting for a girl whom he could date on Valentine’s day. He is seriously down, because he is not successful in his search. He has to go alone with his other friends and their dates at a nightclub. He is still hoping that he might catch somebody over there.

Another colleague has turned down the offer of an uncommitted and pretty girl for a date today. I asked him, why he is not interested. He said the whole idea of a special date on Valentine’s Day stinks. He would consider revisiting the proposal on another day, of course if the girl is still interested.

Another colleague at US lost his wife day before yesterday. They have two small daughters. He has sent a mail with their photos. I was moved when he declared that he lost his first love and soul mate just before Valentine’s Day.

My husband organized a special event yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised to see a bouquet of fresh flowers and a 4-course dinner organized neatly on the dining table. He had taken the pain to go home early and organize everything just to surprise me. Because I wouldn’t celebrate anything special today he had taken the pain to celebrate our love yesterday night. Now I think this is love.

I wish all of you a Happy Valentine’s Day. Cherish your love with your family and friends for your lifetime.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!