Here’s how students plan to spend Valentine’s Day

From movie marathons and cooking to self-care, GenZ is busy looking for ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14. With the newly relaxed COVID norms and campuses opening up, youngsters are brainstorming to make the day special after a two-year break.

I'm excited because I am going to meet my boyfriend after four months. We have plans chalked out for the whole day. We are in a long-distance relationship. I'll be picking him up from the airport and heading to Marbella's because that is where we first met. We will stroll through the bylanes of south Calcutta.

— Shubhosree Mukherjee, third year, BTech, OmDayal Group of Institutions

I will be spending Valentine's Day with my beagles Leo and Flash. Like every year, we will sit together and watch K-dramas. Three of us enjoy spending time together. Both of them wait for me to switch on a film and settle down. After that, we go for our customary walk. Leo and Flash are my Valentines.

— Arshiya Jalota, third year, BA, Liberal Arts, OP Jindal Global University

Now that colleges have opened up, I plan to meet up with my boyfriend on campus. I'm looking forward to something old school, probably just a rose and a note. I’ve created a playlist of his favourite songs. I’m also planning to bake him a cake as a surprise and proof of my culinary expertise.

— Anushka Ganguly, fourth Year, Law, Calcutta University

I plan to pay my Valentine a surprise visit. I will cook his favourite dish, a grilled chicken platter. We will share lunch and look back at the memories we have created till now. I usually do not prefer fancy outings. I love to keep it simple by spending the day with him. Though I do not need any special occasion for showering my love and affection, why miss the opportunity of spending quality time with him.

— Mohar Saha, second year, BA, Sociology, Jadavpur University

My relationship status is single. So I plan to pamper myself on this day. I take a day off from my regular schedule and indulge in some shopping and go to different cafes if the COVID protocol are relaxed. I love trying out new dresses and drinking hot chocolate. I will go to the salon or call someone from Urban Company and indulge myself.

— Anyatama Sammadar, Class XII, Science, Nava Nalanda High School

Like other years, we are celebrating the entire Valentine’s week starting from February 7 to 14 by gifting each other roses, chocolates, and teddies to make each other feel special. This year we both have college in the first half. After that we will meet up at South City Mall and have lunch together, followed by a movie date. We plan to watch Baba Baby O. Once home, we will chat over video call before calling it a day.

— Sanskriti Ghosh, first year, BSc, Microbiology, Dinabandhu Andrews College

My exams are coming up, so making a lavish plan is out of the question. I will go on a coffee date with my close friends and have dinner with my family. I remember all the memories my friends and I have created before the pandemic. Times are difficult, so this Valentine’s Day, I intend to spend with people I care about.

— Shuvam Das, first year, MA, Film Studies, Jadavpur University