Valentinea��s day: what is your take?

Vuyelwa Sibindi
FROM the frying pan into the fire!

Michael Ndlovu exclaimed when this reporter casually asked him about Valentines Day.

a�?I was broke in January and now a few weeks into February I will over spend on a present,a�? he said frowning because his girlfriend wants a�?red bottomsa�?.

For the not-so-female fashion conscious reader, red bottoms are- shoes designed by Louboutin. The company got exclusive rights in 2012 when it trademarked that it can make shoes of any colour but the bottoms should always be red- no other company has those rights.

Men like Ndlovu could sit at a pub and joke about how expensive and unnecessary Valentines Day is to them. When shown some of the memes and jokes doing the rounds about the day on social media, he cana��t help it but laugh.

One of them reads:

a�?If she does not accept a bible this Valentines Day, leave her. Shea��s Evil.a�?

Jokes aside, some women will be looking forward to the day, probably as much as they take serious their birthdays. Rejoice Mhere,A� a stay-at-home mother told B- Metro that Valentinea��s Day belongs to her and no one else in the house.

a�?I would want to go onA� holiday with my husband even for one night, most of the free time we have is spent with our children. I just want us to go somewhere quiet for the day just to give us a chance to rekindle our romance,a�? she said.

When this day comes most people think of chocolates, teddy bears and jewellery but for Nomathamsanqa Dube a college student she would prefer Nike sneakers instead.

a�?Most women prefer the red and white affair but as me for I would appreciate it if my man surprised with my favourite Nike sneakers. As a university student fashion comes first so why waste money on things I dona��t like, he should get me something that will make people notice me on campus instead,a�? she explained.

During this time of the year women forget that men also deserve to spoilt.

a�?I have noticed that we as women forget that men deserve to be loved too and we are caught up with them showering us with gifts whilst they get nothing. I wouldna��t mind a gorgeous handbag or a pair of nice heels but believe it or not I am not all about receiving, my man will be getting his favourite Avon fragrance kit from me this year,a�? said Khanyile Ncube.

It must be tough for the lover boy out there with more than one girlfriend.

a�?As from January I offloaded all my girlfriends because these gifts are expensive, women expect a lot. Imagine a man like me who cannot keep one girl! This month I am spending my money on myself, self love is also important even though it comes in the guise of saving,a�? said Prince Ndebele as he chuckled.

But like women, men are different some like Emmanuel Mpangi are not afraid to spend on their women.

a�?I love my woman and this is day when I get to spoil her and show her I am hers. Remember that if you do not make time for your girlfriend on this day you are fuelling her level of insecurity. If you are not with her then who are you spending the day with? So my advice to men out there is that they should do something for their women no matter how small ita��s the thought that matters,a�? said Mpangi.

Married men are no exception, but there are those with small houses. One wonders what they will be doing on this day or how they will juggle all the women in their life in one day.

a�?My wife comes first so this day is hers, my girlfriend is much younger and I know what she wants. I will get her a new phone then all will be forgiven and forgotten. Ita��s a win- win situation my wife is happy and the blessee is happy, so ita��s gonna be job well done,a�? said one blesser Njabulo Mabhena.

In an all male WhatsApp group a picture is circulating saying that men will be busy, with the big game in the Eufa champions league were Spanish giants Real Madrid lock horns with the French Giants Paris Saint Germany (PSG) amongst others.

Four of the group members in that group have agreed that they will spend time in a club drinking while enjoying the game which they claim is brotherly love.

a�?If the day is about showing each other love I wouldna��t mind spending the day with my fellow brethren,a�? said Brian Ncube a student at a local university.

The significance of Valentinea��s Day differs from person to person so how your day will turn out is entirely on you and your partner.

*The names used in this article are pseudonyms because despite being honest, these people dona��t want to rub their partner(s) the wrong way. . .