A woman buys flowers from a vendor in Patna on Valentine’s Day. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, Feb. 14: The call of love on Valentine’s Day today brought out lovebirds in the open. They were spotted spending beautiful moments with each other at various spots away. Stark in contrast were a few elderly persons sitting or walking alone in parks and gardens.

Just as the clock struck 12 last night, lovebirds started sending a flurry of text messages to each other and making elaborate plans on ways to spend the day.

Shweta, a student of Class IX, said: “This is the first time I am going to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I have planned to gift a musical greeting card and a branded pen to my valentine whom I wished at midnight.”

The gift shops saw couples exchanging gifts and chocolates. But the most preferred gift for girls was soft toys, especially the teddy bear.

For Meeta, a 21-year-old girl, teddy bear was the best gift to express her true feelings. Meeta said: “Chocolates and other such things can exhaust, but a gift like a teddy bear stays for years. One can feel what you feel and also every hug with the teddy makes one remember their sweethearts.”

Those, who have their valentines staying out of town, relied on e-greetings to express their love and some of them even ordered online bouquets, especially of red roses, and gift hampers. For Anjali, who will appear for Class XII examinations this year, Valentine’s Day is dedicated to the person one loves and cares for the most. He or she might be a relative and not necessarily a friend or lover. Anjali said: “My mother is my valentine and I can do anything for her. I am preparing pizza for her today though my examinations are round the corner.”

The scrapbooks and walls of social networking websites such as Facebook and Orkut were full of mushy lovely messages and e-cards. Valentine’s Day was the hot topic in offices too today. The restaurants played host to couples and even married couples at lunch and dinner. Floating Restaurant, Kumhrar Park and other gardens and parks in the capital saw a rush of visitors today.