Play the game of love this Valentine's Day in style -- gift him something really special.

This doesn't mean you need to spend a bomb on your token of love. Something inexpensive could be just as appealing. Just give it some serious thought and don't forget the personal touch.

What are the gifting options you have? Well, there's a certain method in the madness when it comes to choosing the right gift for him. All you need to do is follow these mantras.

• Valentine's Day gifts for her

The gifting logic

Love charts its own course and varies in intensity. Give him a gift that is in tune with the intensity of your love and your level of involvement.

Your gift should not send the wrong message. For instance, it should not convey you are fully committed and sure of him as your guy, when you are not.  

Think carefully before splurging. 

Pick a hint from something he might have said in passing or just get wild and creative. Here is a list of ideas to help you out.

Early stages of a relationship

You have been seeing this guy for a while now but you are not sure where it's headed. It may or may not last. But if your current level of commitment is low or undetermined, then stick to not-so-intense/ intimate gifts.

~ A collection of his favourite television series

This is a fun gift that both of you could enjoy together. Choose from Friends, Sex And The City and Will And Grace or, if he has a personal favourite, take that into account.

Each DVD of the above-mentioned serials contains about four episodes and costs around Rs 600.

Most of these are easily available with any local DVD store; you could also place an order with them in advance to ensure availability. It's sure to please both casual fans and devoted enthusiasts!

~ A lingering fragrance

Men are suckers for a good fragrance. Apart from the smell, pay attention to the perfume bottle; it should exude sufficient style.

Spray some perfume on the gift wrapping paper, the ribbon and the accessories and write a romantic poem about lingering smells and what they do to you. This will make for a romantic, personal and a rather fragrant gift.

• A perfume for your personality

~ Mouse pad with a message

Many shops today gladly add photos and sayings on just about anything to give you a personalised product. Suggest lines that are funny, mushy or wicked, according to your personal style. If you want to make it slightly mushier, a short love poem could work great.

A personalised mouse pad is a good gift idea. You could do the same with a photo frame, penholder, mug and so on.

Going a step further, you could gift a hamper of personalised goodies with messages etched on them. We suggest you keep them light, else it might freak him out!

~ Dance lessons for you and your man

Men get deeply attracted to women who can dance gracefully. Invest in dance class sessions for the two of you. Many dance academies have one month long and even three month long courses, with classes held twice in a week in the evenings. The one-month course costs about Rs 2,500 for a couple.

This will also give you additional time with him and the chance to get up close and personal while you sharpen your Tango and Salsa skills. Be careful to choose a time slot that suits both of you.

Celebrate a committed relationship

If you are going strong and the future of the relationship seems bright, opt for a more intense present.

Turn up the heat this Valentine's and set the right mood for an evening filled with passion and romance.

~ Champagne flutes
 
Every man loves to toast and drink in style.

Buy him classic Swarovski champagne flutes (champagne glasses) with crystal accents on the stem if you are high on cash. A set of two will cost approximately Rs 1,500.

If money is an issue, just get two inexpensive, classic, plain fine glass flutes with a hint of colour shooting from the bottom. These can be bought for as less as Rs 150 per piece from a store like Westside.

They not only serve as memorable keepsakes for years to come, but will also give you a reason to toast each other in style.

If money permits, throw in a champagne bottle; else leave it to him to catch the hint.

~ Music CD with love messages

Though a CD of his favourite songs will please him, what will pleasantly shock him out of his wits is a recording of a two-line love poem, preferably written by you, before every song.

If it sounds too mushy, you could infuse some humour into the couplet.

It's pretty simple to do. Record your voice on your mobile phone or on a a recorder, transfer it onto your computer using a data cable and then arrange it along with his favourite songs to be burnt.

~ Personalised cube photo frames

A photo frame with the two of you could set him dreaming about a future together. 

Glass cube frames make interesting gifts, as they allow you to put three photographs instead of one, as in a regular photoframe.

These are available at any departmental store or gift shop.

~ A treat for his tummy

Now that's a time-tested route to a guy's heart. Bake/ buy him a Valentine cake and use icing to inscribe your personal message on it.

Cook/ order his favourite dishes and arrange a candlelight dinner. Take out your best cutlery and lay out a great spread. The idea is to make him feel cared for and loved.

A spicy V-Day for those married 

A married woman's gift does not need to depict commitment, but she needs to set the mood for the upcoming passionate evening. She must make her man feel specially desired on this special day.

Here are some ideas for making your day unforgettable: 

~ A diary and a single red rose

From the day you met him up to today, your past must have some great memories.

Pen them down with a dash of sentiment and humour and gift it to him with a single red or white rose.

Choose a classy leather trimmed diary, preferably with a buckle to close it. Take a trip down the memory lane as he reads each and every page with great excitement.

~ Spa massage gift certificate

Make him feel like a king for a day with a spa massage, jacuzzi, the works. This could range between Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,500 depending on where you get him booked.

Most of the 5-star hotels have this facility and their cost falls in the upper bracket.

Another option would be to book him for a massage at a good salon.

~ Message everywhere

Write personal messages and place them in your man's briefcase, in his car, by his toothbrush, next to his breakfast and one even in his shirt or trouser pocket. 

Pen down romantic thoughts about what he means to you or what the evening will bring.

After he finds all of these messages, he is bound to rush home much earlier than expected.

~ Silk sheets

Buy a set of soft silk sheets in conventional colours like silver or dark maroon. These can be purchased at any high-end linen or upholstery showroom.

Dress your bed and place some fresh flowers in a vase on a bedside table.

When he walks in, he will be in for a surprise and will be ready for romance instantly! 

Want to get wilder?

Spend a cozy evening up in the clouds with your sweetheart. Buy a hot balloon ride for two. Don't worry if you don't know how to handle one; there will be someone else in the basket for piloting the balloon.

To find out more about balloon rides, contact:

The Balloon Club of India,
8 - B Bahadurshah Zafar Marg
New Delhi -- 110 002

Phone: (011) 371 6665

e-mail: balloonindia@yahoo.com

Spice it up with a couple of  beer cans or a bottle of fine wine.

White Zinfandel, a light, refreshing wine with berry flavours, is perfect for an evening that can be enjoyed on its own as an aperitif.

A good white Zinfandel costs about Rs 800 but a less exotic one can be bought for as less as Rs 500. 

Sexy lingerie for two

Buy your man some silk boxers but keep his comfort and style in mind. Buy yourself a sexy outfit that matches his. Make his heart race this Valentine's!

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