A safe haven for lovers

Don't be surprised to find young lovers making trips to the city’s temples on Valentine’s Day.

These religious places are becoming lovers’ favourite haunts where they can enjoy some private moments without bothering about the "moral cops’ interference".

The Shiv temple on Mussoorie Road, Buddhist Stupa at Clement Town and Rajpur’s Sai Baba Mandir are some of the new meeting points of those struck by Cupid’s arrow.

Some daring lovers, however, can still be seen snatching lovey-dovey moments at popular haunts like the Malsi Deer Park and Rajpur’s public park.

On Tuesday, these destinations, considered to be lovers’ favourite, are expected to be swarming with hundreds of couples from the state capital.

This may not be a very happy prospect for the city’s restaurants and florists, who look forward to cash in on the Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Unconcerned by this new trend, the Shiv Sena has decided to place nearly five-six members from their local unit outside flower shops, restaurants, hotels, gift galleries and public parks to foil attempts at "destroying Indian culture".

This could be the reason why no hotels and restaurants in the state capital have announced any special plans for the day.

The police have decided to stay alert to prevent harassment meted out to couples by the anti-Valentine’s Day protestors.

"We have decided to place police teams at select public places and also keep mobile units ready to thwart any move by such protestors to disturb peace," said SS Gunjyal, senior superintendent of police (Dehra Dun).

While "moral cops" are on guard here, some lovers have decided to go off to Mussoorie, which is located nearly 30 km away, to make the day special.

"Why take a chance with these anti-love activists? I have decided to enjoy a bike ride to Mussoorie with my girlfriend. No one would dare touch us in the popular tourist site," says Varun, a mass-communication student.