WHAT WOO MEN NEED, WHAT WOMEN WANT..........
Its V-day week and Tapi town has been seeing red [its love, not bankruptcy silly].All over Surat, you have in your face sign boards, posters, huge heart shaped bouquets, tiny heart shaped pizzas and pastries, an array of chocolates, perfumes and soft toys on display to tease and tempt lovers lest you forget 14th Feb. Jewellers and car companies are trying to teach gentlemen that a lady loves diamonds and fast cars. Fashion stores are promoting racy, lacy stuff to ignite passion.
For the metrosexual men, vanity is in vogue and salons for men are offering special prepping up packages where guys can have an ‘ouch on the couch’ experience with chocolate waxing, eyebrow threading, facials, manicure-pedicure so that they may put their best foot forward and impress.
Even after all this, men, like the learned philosopher Freud are still clueless about what women want. Although our P.M .and C.M. are not romantic; there is no reason you should not be.
Love happens; you can’t go looking for it. In a new love story, writer Paulo Coelho puts forth a theory for love- there are three kinds, Eros-which is the discovering the sentiment, Philos-which is the friendship element that keeps love going and Agape –the kind that is all consuming, so like our Pyaar,Ishq and Mohabbat. Whichever phase you are going through, you can always add more fun to it.
Maybe, there is a Mars and Venus theory, where most men often fantasize future of their love life while women linger in the memories of love. So, here are some dramatic ways to celebrate, that can make both these possible. The most romantic Hollywood film scenes; which you may enact in Surat; to make V-day ‘An affair to remember’, as long as our Eiffel is still intact.
1. ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’- Order in or don an apron and prepare for her, a breakfast in bed. Place it in a fancy tray with a fashion magazine she can browse through, as you spoon feed her.
2. ‘Shall we dance?’-Even if you have two left feet, enrol for salsa and tango lessons at a local dance class at Citylight or Ghodod, watch the passion soar.
3. ‘Message in a bottle’-hunt around the shanivaar bazaar area or old city market for an antique bottle, write a love note, seal with a cork and place where she will it discover by chance.
4. ‘Autumn in New York’-drive out to Palsana, Dumas or Adajan, and then under shady trees, leisurely jaywalk and talk.Dont forget to hold hands all the way.
5. ‘Captain Corelli’s mandolin’- croak like a frog? Never mind, learn her favourite song and render it out as you strum a mock guitar, in public.
6. ‘You’ve got mail’-Email or sms her a surprise date venue, meet her there directly and spend the day talking, at a coffee shop, buying flowers, fruits at the local market etc.
7. ‘Titanic’-Hire a boat by night on the Tapti; take her for a starlit, serene boat ride. Strike a pose.
8. ‘Gone with the wind’-Take a horse carriage ride, vintage style from Piplod to Dumas, look deep into her eyes as you tell her how much you love her, because that’s really all that a woman wants, from her woo man.
TAPI TOWN TATTLE-What happened to the fiery, Chand –Fiza love story? It fizzled out!

BENCH MARKS FOR THIS VALENTINE…………
Remember the beautiful brown bench in the middle of a lovely garden, in the movie Notting Hill? Ahh! ‘THE’ most romantic place on Earth where William Thacker reads out’ Captain Correli’s Mandolin’ to Anna Scott while the inimitable Ronan Keating hums,’you say it best, when you say nothing at all’-in the background .Well, one would have to travel to Perth, Australia to have the pleasure of sitting on,’ June’s bench from Joseph’.
How about the bench in front of the Taj Mahal, built for Mumtaz, that has been on the wish list of every celebrity couple and recently part of the Bruni-Sarkozy travel struggle?
Makes you want to celebrate St.Valentine’s day in a ‘novel’ new way? Since Surtis generally hit the streets to celebrate anything and everything, let’s take a look at what chances we Surtis have to find a ‘private public place’ in Tapi town where one can read out to a loved one……….
The poolside of Officer’s Gymkhana, next to the Circuit House at Chowpatty.Built on upper level, open to the sky; it overlooks the Tapi and has a divine view of the opposite shore where the birds fly to find their way home. This place is seldom visited by the members. It offers one of the best points in town, to watch the Sun set in the multi-hued, distant horizon.

The patch of sandy beach at Dumas [yes it exists!], opposite the statue of The Universal Mother. With feathery casuarinas, that sway to soothing, gentle breeze. Sea waves that come in flapping on the shore. This tranquil spot is like a scene from your most romantic dream destination. Truly, a little bit of Heaven on Earth.

The Shell Port, Hazira is sheer poetry by the magic of moonlight. Serenely spectacular, even as it’s endless lights dot the skyline. Perfect in every sense, also perhaps the only place in town where one can enjoy jaywalking. It looks out at the Arabian Sea under a blanket of stars that seem to shine the brightest here.

The quaint little garden at the Mount Carmel’s church, Makkaipul. The pious peace and privacy of this place works its magic. Amazingly, it manages to completely detach itself from the buzzing town that lies just on the other side of the hedge. In a class of its own, reminiscent of vintage era. Clean, green, bliss.

If you would rather be at home, no better place than the terrace to get away from domestic help and doorbells. Create an ambience with floating candles, fresh flowers and a barbecue. Take along your guitar, keyboard to strum and play out your favourite tunes together. Forget the bench and cuddle up on a mat spread out on the floor in true Surti style.

Wherever you decide to spend this anniversary of St.Valentine’s martyrdom, make sure you make it memorable for your precious one. Remember though, no dates at’ The Eiffel’, a la ‘Sleepless in Seattle’, since ours is a traffic island! Get going from today and pen down your own thoughts on a love note, which you can read out to your paramour’. Keep it original, so, ‘Quote no more cliché’s and watch out for the touché.’