It's Valentine's day, and my friends from Mumbai tell me that the ads here do not even mention the V word. Why? Fear of the Sena. Jai Maharashtra Dharma and all that to you, Balwantrao, keep up the good work.

I look at it from a different perspective. I don't see it as an invasion of Indian culture. I don't see is as promotion of promiscuity and lasciviousness. I see it as advertisements telling people that unless they go out and buy that diamond necklace, they don't really love their significant other, and the significant other believing this canard because it bloody repeated so many times.

So, let the couples throng, and let the mushy gifts flow, but let the corporates not trick you into expressing emotions you never had in the first place. A round of applause for the freedom from corporate slavery that Balwantrao's decree of vandalising Hallmark and Archies has brought Mumbaikars this year.

PS: Please read this if you are simple