V-day is here, and so is the pandemic. It’s hard enough to get by each living moment in a world where people are constantly afraid. To top that, being away from loved ones is the cherry on top for people who despise cherries. If you are in a Long-distance Relationship; slim are the chances of you both celebrating Valentines together.

We know distance has made the heart grow fonder– but how does one express the fondness, exactly? Especially on cringe (but cute) holidays like the V-day?

You may be tempted to give up and sulk in your pyjamas on Valentine’s night. We know it won’t be the same. But, we got through a whole wrecked year cooped up in homes and still found ways to be happy. Why leave this stone unturned?

Our usual V-day plans may have gone for a toss, no candlelight dinner dates or snuggly movie nights to look forward to. Nevertheless, we thought of things you could still do with your partner and make them feel special. 

Send them a box of all their favourites

The charm of cards and pendants have worn out, and expensive gifts are not always useful. What you could do instead is pick up a spare cardboard box and fill it to the brim with things your boo loves.

These could be 

• their favourite movie posters, 
• a personalized mug they had been screenshotting and sending to you for shopping advice
•  a book you think will further advance their interests
• A magazine subscription they had been long and hard about
• Coupons to their favourite clothing store.

The box can be baptized with a cute name, too. Something on the lines of ‘Carol’s Care Box’, probably? Or with the names you have for each other. 

A dinner date on Zoom

What if you couldn’t make reservations at that 5-star restaurant you’d been saving up for, recreate the setting in your room. Catch them off guard by sending a zoom invite and personalize it with a sweet message. To amp up the vibes, you could decide on a dress code for the night. 

Each one of you could make a dish or order in, whatever your laziness meter allows for. Doing up the background with your pictures’ polaroids with them is a token of the efforts you put in despite being miles away. Reruns of your favourite movie together will liven up all the good memories you both have had. 

You could also open each other’s gifts while on-call; it will add an element of mystery to the call.

Spotify Playlist

They say music is what feelings sound like. Mixtapes are now playlists. Let your beloved know all of what you feel about them by curating a list of songs.

You could take inspo from Spotify itself. They have all colours in this playlist of theirs. There could even be a bunch of them with titles like – “When I think of how we first met” or “Songs I heard when I missed you in bed.” Documenting moments in songs is romance 101 and if you and they are big on music and heart left lyrics, choose this gift already.

A jar of sweet nothings 

Let’s suppose you and your partner are set to meet two months from now; you could cut out 60 pieces of papers and scribble down “reasons you love” them on each. Put these love bits in a jar and deck it up with a ribbon. The rule would be for them to open one love byte a day. 

You could ritualize this opening of chits every day until you both wrap your arms around each other. It makes for a gift that will outlive one and also let’s your beau that there are so many ways you love them in; some of which they had no clue about.

They can open these love words every morning with your overcall. It will become a ritual till you both wrap your arms around each other.

Write them a shared diary 

When you’re feeling lonely, when birthdays or holidays roll around, when you see something that reminds you of them — there are plenty of moments when it’s normal to want to have them closer.

These short snippets of love and humour will instantly light up their day. They are sure to revisit it whenever they miss you.

It’s low-budget and DIY, makes for a perfect gift choice.