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A table just for two
By Esther Williams

A memorable Valentine dinner for Yamuna and Lakshman.

Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Those who believed in the event went all out to show their loved ones how much they cared, while others wondered if chivalry still existed and whether it was all just huge commercial hype. But as we found out, the days of grand gestures are far from over.
Civil lawyer Yamuna Kuruppu was driving to work one day and heard about the “How deep is your love?” contest conducted by the Cinnamon Grand Hotel on YES FM where listeners had to make their bids for a romantic evening. Never having participated in a contest before, she thought, why not?

Married for 10 years and a proud mother of two, Yamuna had been a little disappointed that she and her husband had been unable to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on January 4, this year because her son had been unwell at the time. This seemed a good opportunity as any to make up for it. Never expecting to win, she was quite flabbergasted when hers turned out to be the winning bid. Her husband Lakshman too was pleasantly surprised, although a little shy at the beginning.

Come Valentine’s Day, they set off to dinner at the Cinnamon Grand not knowing what to expect. “It met all my expectations and more,” Yamuna says. Their table was exquisite, set in the pool, with a ramp decorated with garlands leading to it. It seemed as if all their wishes were catered to by a very attentive butler.

The hotel had pulled out all the stops to provide the most lavish eight-course spread–caviar, champagne, lobster, smoked salmon, etc., and the most mouth watering desserts, in keeping with their ‘How may we indulge you’ theme.

“It was all very romantic,” Yamuna smiles, speaking of the heart shaped carrots and croutons in the soup and the heart shaped buns and chocolates that she took home for the children. The flautist played soft music. “We basically relaxed and chatted and I would value it as a very private moment together.”

As the evening progressed, a band played the Bee Gees number, ‘How deep is your love’ dedicated to them. It was something out of the ordinary, for this mother of two, who is often caught up with the mundane duties at home and at work. Of her married life, she says it has had the usual ups and downs and the special moments in between. Yet, Yamuna surely approves of Valentine’s Day as another day to celebrate relationships.

“Deep down we all have love and we want to show our spouse, children, friends and parents that we love them. Why not do so on Valentine’s Day, she asks. But she is keen to point out that, “showing love and gratitude to others should not be confined to a single day but be a lifetime commitment. However in the rat-race that life has become, we do not take time to do so and this gives us an opportunity, don’t you think?” she smiles.

She is grateful to the hotel for thinking of this novel concept. “It was definitely worth the bid.” Incidentally the couple was married at the same hotel and had celebrated the first Valentine’s Day after marriage at the same venue.

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