Bangladeshi Valentine Day Story (Continue)

And, voila! among them I found one and wrote a very touching message on it. Of course I was head over heels over this girl and wanted to make the best impression. the much awaited day came and I stood before her with the card but she was so nervous that the cad would be found out by her mother, that she refused to take it.

Crestfallen, the card was tucked away in my drawer but I consoled myself with the line that Bangladesh was still not ready to embrace the day of love. Come to 2010 and we are at a time when Bangladesh not only celebrates the day but also plans to immerse 14 February in the cauldron of love. From card exchanges to intimate dates at dreamy restaurants to cozy one to one's in secluded spots and a lot more, Valentine's Day is when we go gaga over love and bhalobasha.

'What are you buying for Valentine's?' One of my female students asked me two years ago and for a second I was a bit puzzled. 'What dress are you getting?' She was more specific. 'Dress!' I exclaimed. 'Why would I buy a dress for Valentine's?' 'Oh! I forgot, apne to chahcha(uncle), you have no love left in you and hence, no need to buy a dress,' came back the rather harsh and piercing reply. 'I am planning to wear a red shalwar kameez - with the shape of a heart drawn on the front,' said my student.

Another student was a bit more excited and he told me that on that day he would don a shirt with red hearts all over it and put on sunglasses where the glasses are shaped as hearts. 'Bravo!' I said. 'Now that is audacious! Well, what else could I have said! This year we see that special 'love' magazines are out in the market and the other day, while cursing the Dhaka traffic seated in the car, a sprightly looking lad came over and offered to sell me the special issue.

'Loiya jaan, especial bhalobasha issue (take it, this is the special love edition). Faced with his persistence I got a copy and began reading a story titled: Tumi bolechile ashbe (You promised you would come). Not a bad piece: the girl in the story wants the guy to bring flowers on Valentine's Day and the guy, instead of paying his tuition fees, uses all his money to get red roses only to find that the girl has decided to spend the evening with another person with a car and credit card.

But, we cannot have the guy coming back with a broken heart and so he meets another girl on the campus, who has trouble making calls from her mobile, helps her out and what do you know: cupid has struck. The roses were not bought in vain. The next story is called: Bhalobashbo tarar alo diye (Love you with the light of the stars). No, I have not read the full story as yet. My grandmother, who is 86 and still reaches for the police baton to beat me up, hast taken the magazine from me because she wants to read it first.

Anyway, wishing all of you a happening Valentine's Day, I relate story which is, in my mind, a romantic reminder of Valentine's Day of 2007.

At that time, I worked for an international NGO and had office on 14February. While seated in my room, I saw one of our female guards walking outside and as our gazes met, she walked into my room coyly and handed me an envelope, smiled and ran away. Inside, was a red rose with a note which read in shaky handwriting: Happi Valentine Day. Despite the misspelling, the line meant a lot and till today I regard it as the most memorable gift I received on the day of love. Come on, I may be called a chacha (uncle) but the heart is still young. Go, get love!