It's 14 February.
When a friend was about to leave the office today, he greeted me, "Happy Valentine's". "To you too," I respond.
In the train, there are so many people holding a bouquet of flowers. A daddy, holding his small daughter's hand, with flowers on his other hand. It must be for the mommy, I think.
Reaching home, Farhan showed me a card that he made. He and his brother were at home today. Their teachers are on strike, if not they will make Valentine's cards for the parents too.
The teachers were on 'Stop work action', claiming for better pay, relatively lower than others' at other states. This was the third time they stopped work pending the negotiation, since last year. What would happen if our teachers did that, back home, I always think.
Back to Farhan's card - written 'LOVE' on it. He carefully cut a red paper for the letters. He sticked the letters LOVE on a blue paper with blue glitters on it.
'That's so beautiful', I said.
'To whom you want to give that?'
'To my teacher', Farhan said.
'That is so kind of you.' He is amazing. And his teacher must be so amazing that her pupil likes her very much.
Thinking back home - the society looks hostile towards this celebration every time February comes. Facebook walls are filled with fierce reminder that it is not our culture, it is prohibited. It comes from the tradition of someone else's religion. Some pledge to eradicate it altogether.
But seeing their way on this day, for them, it means so much more. And it's simply love. Love to parents, teachers, friends and others.
But what makes us so hostile?
