With the Valentine’s Day drawing closer, Islamabad’s flower-sellers have placed massive orders for red roses as they brace for what will be their biggest payday of the year.

Just three days away this occasion is the one that promises such good business for the florists that not even the New Year, Christmas or Eid can match. “We wait for this day all year,” says Saifullah who runs a shop in F-6 and has placed an order for 20,000 red roses to cope with the expected rush of buyers.

Currently being sold for about Rs 120 a dozen, the price of roses is likely to skyrocket in the lead-up to the big day. “One bunch could go for as much as Rs 500,” remarks the young Saif who recalls having sold one bouquet for Rs 4000 last Valentine’s.

“People do not bother much about the prices on this day,” says the 22-year-old from Gujranwala while pointing out that this time there were going to be no imported flowers. “They are all going to be local ones but these are as good.”

Most of the flowers adorning the three markets in Islamabad are brought in from Pattoki. “Every shopkeeper in our market has ordered between 15,000 to 20,000 red roses from there,” he says.

While florists get ready to make quick bucks, the bookshops and gift stores too are confident of doing brisk business. Already, Muhammad Ghufran, who runs a stall of Valentine’s Day gifts, is surprised by the response. “We have about 80 to 100 customers coming in everyday; business was not so good a few years ago.”

Everything up for sale at Ghufran’s stall is red – cuddly bears, inflatable hearts, cards, envelopes, key chains and what not. Items like hearts are going for double the usual price of Rs 150. It is the same with all of his other stuff. People from every age group, majority of them boys are among the buyers. “They often buy hearts and teddy bears or decoration pieces besides of course cards.”

The Valentine’s Day is celebrated with couples exchanging candies, flowers and other gifts. It originated in fifth Century Rome as a tribute to St Valentine, a Catholic bishop who fell in love with the blind daughter of his jailer while in prison. As the story goes, his love and faith helped heal her blindness before his death. In his last message to his beloved he wrote “From your Valentine”, a phrase which is still used today.

While normally the girls in Pakistan celebrate the day in a low key manner by wearing things red like socks, earrings, shoes or bags, the boys are more enthusiastic and open in showing their love.

For the teenagers, mobile phones have made life easier which enables them to coordinate with their girl before the gift is formally delivered. Kamran Adil, an O level student says he drops off the gift at the front gate of her girlfriend. Risky business. But did he ever get caught? “Oops, only once about two years ago,” he tells ashamedly. But this Valentine’s he has no plans to err, not this time.

source : http://www.thenews.com.pk/