Pakistanis with TV sets (and/or those who have the means to go out to big malls and restaurants) are completely inundated with Valentine's Day images - far, far more than I have ever seen in my entire life in America. Heart-shaped balloons float everywhere, and gigantic balloon hearts made out of smaller balloon hearts abound. Young boys were running around in rush hour traffic today trying to sell single red roses sprinkled in sparkles. Valentine's Day seems to be quite the serious affair here, at least amongst Lahoris.
While going out this evening, my mother asked the driver Arif if he would be taking flowers for his wife. Arif laughed shyly and then explained that he would take some if he could, but in reality, holidays like Valentine's Day are meant for the rich, not for the poor. The poor do not even know when holidays come and go - he only found out because he saw something on TV earlier. The poor have no time to think about holidays and such celebrations, he said. Arif is one of the most insightful people I have met here in my time in Pakistan so far.
I would love to hear your analysis of this image of a rose (it is one rose set against a mirror) in the comments section below.
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