A gift of love

Mona

“A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect,” writes Jonathan Lockwood Huie, author of self-awareness books, lover of life and so called philosopher of happiness. As the Valentine’s Day draws near, often labelled as the day of the ‘commercialisation’ of love, we thought there is no harm checking out what kind of presents have swept lovers off their feet...

Over the top

Sofea Sethi was sure in for a happy surprise as on her 24th birthday, on February 29 in 2016, when her fiancé Bikramjit Singh Bakshi showed up with 24 gifts with a love quote on each of the box. At a party, where both their families were present, he handed over each of the 24, one by one, reading the quote aloud. 

The gifts included a laptop to a fixed deposit to a dress that Sofea had seen at Zara. “I was shocked beyond belief,” giggles this girl who equally appreciates the all-nighters that her then ‘friend’ and now husband Bikram pulled off to prepare everything from her projects to painted pots.  

Faith conquers all 

She gave me the best gift ever, she believed in me: Pankaj Dubey

It was not an expensive gift or a dream travel that made Pankaj Dubey value his precious wife Shradha Singh but a mutual decision and her confidence to see it through. Soon after the birth of their daughter, it was Pankaj who decided to give a shot at storytelling, something that was close to his heart and be a stay-at-home dad. “Trust me it was a tough call, everyone around found it ridiculous but Shradha showed ample confidence in me and my dream.” Ten years on, the gamble paid off, he is a bestselling author and rights of his books being bought by the likes of Ekta Kapoor for screen adaptations. “We are richer now, in material pursuits and more love!” 

Memories treasured, forever

Between Shubham Sharma, a model, and Anjli, it the former who takes the credit for spoiling his partner with expensive gifts he fetches each time he is out for a shoot in and out of country. It was last Valentine’s that Anjli surprised him with a scrapbook that came with best of their memories together – the travels, songs they enjoyed together to the gifts that they showered on each other. “I sure was humbled by the amount of time she put in and treasured each memory, making me relive all the beautiful time together that we are blessed with. We are richer now, in material pursuits and more love.” 

The most outlandish gifts ever

• Beyoncé and Jay Z one couple is one that has outlandishly continued to beat each other when it comes to gifting. Right from a Birkin bags to fastest cars in between them, seems like its a $40 million jet that Bey gifted her hubby that tops the list.
• Gifting a jet is not a prerogative that rests with the West, Mukesh Ambani is said to have gifted a custom fit $60 million Airbus plane to wife Nita on her birthday.
• They might or might not have settled the kids’ custody issues but at the height of their love, Angelina Jolie bought Brad Pitt an actual waterfall one Christmas, there was an island too on her gift list. She also blew $250,000 to give Pitt an actual typewriter that was used by none other but Ernest Hemingway.
• Talk of dream travel for a gift, no one can beat Katy Perry who bought Russell Brand (then her husband) Virgin Galactic a ticket to space from for $200,000.
• David Beckham played the perfect husband to fashion designer Victoria Beckham buying her an entire Napa Valley winery.
• Closer home, Aamir Khan gifted his wife Kiran Rao, a holiday home at Beverly Hills, US at a whopping Rs 75 Crore.