Girls select their gifts for Friendship Day at the Archies Gallery on Boring Canal Road in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Friendship Day is no longer the same in Patna, as young lovebirds are taking up every opportunity to express their affection for that someone special.

Gift shop owners said the day, celebrated on the first Sunday of August, is no longer confined to best buddies telling each other how special they are.

“Youths who have not managed to express their love yet are finding Friendship Day the perfect occasion to do so. Earlier my gift shop used to be loaded with gifts with ‘friendship’ written on them. But this year, the same kind of gifts are available but with ‘someone special’ or ‘made for each other’ written on them. Just 20 per cent of the gift items I have sold during the past week were meant for friends. Friendship Day has just become another Valentine’s Day,” said Himanshu Shekhar Prasad, the owner of Archies Gallery on Boring Canal Road.

He added: “Youngsters coming to the shop are demanding for gift items which have ‘I love you’ written on them or decorated with red hearts.”

On the most-sold items, he said: “The couple statues are a hit as are coffee mugs with inscribed quotations. A 365-day-quotation calendar that was launched this year by Archies is also a huge hit among the youngsters. The calendar has quotations for all 365 days with a picture of a couple. Anybody short of words to express their feelings can buy these gifts to do the talking.”

Vikas Kumar, the owner of Surabhi Gift Corner in Patliputra, seconded Prasad’s observations. “Gift items with ‘someone special’ and ‘I love you’ are selling more than ones with ‘friends’ written on them,” said Vikas.

Twenty-four-old Abhishek Kumar took a trip to Prasad’s Archies Gallery on Wednesday to seek some courage in the form of gifts. “I love a girl but still have not expressed my feelings. Even though she studies in my college, I have never even spoken to her. This Friendship Day is very special for me, as I would first try to become her friend.”

He finally bought a heart-shaped pillow for Rs 550, a gift he hoped his “someone special” would like.

Some youths are also taking steps to make their partners feel special this Sunday.

“I am planning to gift my boyfriend something special this Friendship Day. Before anything else, I consider him my best friend. I will also give him a beautiful card with quotes on friendship. He will certainly like it,” said Shruti, a 17-year-old, who was busy looking for a gift at Archies.

The shopowner said: “Coffee mugs with ‘someone special’ inscribed on them are available for anything between Rs 99 and Rs 399, while the ones for just friends are available for Rs 99-Rs 149. The 365-day-quotation calendar is for Rs 349, while the couple showpieces are for Rs 169-Rs 1,299. The cards are also very popular.”