Love Etc.

Do you know that today, the February 13th is "Hug Day"?

You didn't know? Yes. Its true. Come over here. Let me give you a hug.

Considering today is "Hug Day", did you know that yesterday (Feb 12th) was "Kiss Day"? Yes. Its true. Come over here. No.. Don't worry. I won't kiss you. Because that was yesterday and long gone!!! Come over during next year and you may get one, depending on who you are!!!

Apart from these, there are "Rose Day"s, "Propose Day"s, "Chocolate Day" s etc. etc. A whole week of those stupid (or should I say - Cupid) days!!! And to think they only teach you "Sunday, Monday..." in primary school. Times are changing indeed.

A recent study by ASSOCHAM has found that more than rupees 12000 crores is being spent over the Valentine's day in India.

Welcome to the clever world of marketing. These days every nonsense is cleverly marketed and Valentine's day and all its associated sister days that lead up to it are no exceptions. These days are being ruthlessly  marketed to our young dames and dudes.

Wherever you are, you cannot escape the ghost of St.Valentine. Poor guy. Lord bless his soul. If he becomes aware of what's happening in his name, he would be cringing in his tomb.

And our worthless media can't get enough of it. There are all kinds of articles and supplements they issue in the newspapers about who kissed whom and who gifted what etc. The TV channels are even worse. The less said the better.

There is this advertisement from a prominent weight loss chain that promises a free Diamond Pendant if someone books for a 10KG weight loss package as Valentine's day offer. And their Competitor? They are one step ahead. They offer 10KG weight loss free for their "Partner". Not Husband, not even "Lover"  mind you. "Partner". My, My!!! Crazy, I would say. When are they going to stop treating women like shit and make them feel miserable about their bodies? Why can't they allow them to grow as nature has made them to be? Why this obsession with size zero? It beats me!!!

Needless to say, there are countless advertisements for everything from plus size wear to skimpy inner wear. And if you had noticed, most of these, if not all, are targeted at women. Again, cleverly making them feel that they currently look like shit and they would look great in their new clothes. Its like the story of the "Emperor's New Clothes".

There are offers on everything from Mobile phones to Watches. Not to mention Jewelery. Suddenly, every ad is talking about a Heart shaped pendent or a diamond ring. Its surprising that they have not yet done something like St.Patrick's day pins of "Kiss Me - I'm Irish"  for Valentine's day. A "Kiss Me - I'm Horny" or something like that. God bless!!!

Are you someone who sends roses to your wife / lover or should I say "Partner"? If so, you would have found that suddenly the prices of a dozen roses have gone up anywhere between 899 - 1799. Take a bow Onions!!! Talk about double digit inflation. This is like Zimbabwe in the early 2000s.

I wonder when people are going to see through all this nonsense about these days. At the end of the day, its all about different levels of Dopamine and  Norepinephrine and Adrenaline surging through your vascular system down to the very last capillaries.

I can't resist summing up my view of this. There is this part from a song by one of my favorite bands that best summarizes my view on this. It goes on something like this:

Boy it's tough getting on in the world
When the sun doesn't shine and a boy needs a girl
It’s about getting out of a rut, you need luck
But you’re stuck and you don’t know how, oh

Don't have to be - A big bucks Hollywood star
Don't have to drive - A super car to get far
Don't have to live - A life of power and wealth
Don't have to be -  Beautiful but it helps

You need more
Than a big blank check to be a lover, or
A Gulfstream jet to fly you door to door
Somewhere chic on another shore

You need more - You need love

I believe that we can achieve
The love that we need
I believe, call me naïve
Love is for free

Happy Valentine's Day!!!    (Et tu, Brute?)

(C) Vijayaganesh Sampathkumar 2011. All Rights Reserved.