Indian lovers refuse to go down on one knee, a ring in their hand. Allergic to the mush of flowers and chocolates, they are instead turning to elephants, singing clowns and theatre owners to tell the love of their lives, "you are the one"

Why lovers are chasing a 5,000 kg cupid

Flowers are passe. Chocolates, even Belgian slims, are clichu00e9d. Candle-lit rooms seem borrowed out of Friends, and dropping a ring in her champagne glass might just choke her. Moving away from stale ideas, young Indian lovers are in the mood to plan elaborate, quirky ways to pop the question, all in an effort to create a scenario where the partner simply cannot say, "no".u00a0

A Cracker of a proposal
Gaurav Shah, a Mumbai-based entrepreneur, was talking on the phone with his girlfriend (now fiancu00e9) Swati Chopra. While the conversation unfolded, he thought up an intricate plan to propose to her. He said it took him 24 hours to put it into action, and at the end of it he simply asked Swati whether she was in the mood for a long drive. Starting at Malabar Hill, the drive finally ended three hours later at Lion's Point, Lonavla. Gaurav blindfolded Swati and went about setting up over 100 firecrackers somewhere in the distance. Once back, he handed her a poem he had written, and while Swati read it out a barrage of firecrackers went off in the horizon while Gaurav's car music system played Heaven by Bryan Adams. "She was knocked off her feet. I was hoping she'd like it, and when I looked up, I saw her crying," recalls Gaurav. Swati obviously ended up saying, yes.

Professional help is at hand
Gaurav may have pulled off the proposal by himself, but it's not all that easy in most cases. It helps to have friends and family pitch in. And if you can't confide in either, or are looking for professional help, urban metros have an entire network in place to service you. From Experience Consultants to Surprise Planners, there's an industry working out there to help you design your special moment. The moments they have designed for clients up until now have costed anywhere between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000.

Mumbai and Bangalore-based duo Vanessa Rebello and Ayushi Garg run Kisses By Candlelight, an experience-gifting unit that "custom-makes an experience" depending on the couples likes and budget. "A perfect proposal is the first step to a fairytale life. If your partner deserves you, he/she deserves a proposal worth remembering," says Vanessa, all mushy-toned.

When the media beckons
If you aren't a privacy maniac and don't mind a bit of media attention while you are proposing, you could approach a television or radio channel; most of them are happy to take up special requests. Rishi Kishnani, Programme Director at Radio One recalls a time when his RJs had helped a couple in a long-distance relationship end their dilemma. "The boy from Mumbai had approached us to help him propose to a girl he liked but she was based out of Pune. We got our RJ in Pune to call up the girl, while the guy was with us in Mumbai. We connected the two and they took it from there," says Kishnani. Radio One is usually happy to take up similar requests as long as they receive prior notice.

Although outdoor publicity seems like a shouting-from-the-rooftop option, it hasn't been tried in Mumbai yet. But representatives at Bright Outdoor Media assure us that they could let out a hoarding for someone who'd like to profess their love for the world who stops at a traffic signal, to see. "We've had individuals book hoardings for birthday greeting, not proposals. It's not that difficult a process, and we could easily help lovers out if they wished," says Sudesh Paul, Business Development Manager.

First impression counts
Those in the business of creating priceless moments say making the proposal special adds a new dimension to the relationship. "In all the chaos that surrounds the planning of a wedding, it is important for the couple to have moments that they will cherish forever. That is why it is so imperative to have a memorable and meaningful proposal," says Ayushi. Most importantly, a perfectly executed personalised proposal earns you brownie points like nothing else can. Isn't that enough of an excuse to start planning?

In Banglore
She is gifting him a tub
Priya and her husband Nishant Rayirath have gone through the flowers, cards, chocolates and dinner routine. So, this year, Priya is planning to gift Nishant a bathtub for Valentine's Day. Nishant is getting her a hundred different varieties of the most exotic, aromatic therapeutic oils. "I bought my husband a wonderful bath tub because he loves his showers. We are planning to spend half the day in the tub, with aromatic candles, rose petals and wine," says Priya.

In Delhi
He sent her a 6-feet high bouquet
Akshat Tyagi, a Jaipur-based 27 year-old lawyer, kept his long distance relation with his Noida-based girlfriend with a 6-feet high bouquet of roses. "Though I'm a lawyer, my girlfriend calls me a liar because I'm never on time, always "just 5 minutes away". Once, when I missed on a long due date, I decided to send her a thousand roses. It cost me a bomb, but it was totally worth it."

In Pune
They got married in a hot air balloon For Pune girl, Shital Mahajan who set a world record in para jumping, there could be no better proposal."Let's get married in a hot air balloon," said Mahajan's NRI fiance Vaibhav Rane, when he proposed. "For me sports is everything, and this was a dream. I was on top of the world because though he was an adventure lover I knew he was doing this for me. It meant the world for me," said Mahajan.u00a0
With inputs by Kumar Saurav, Namita Gupta and Alifiya Khan

It was an elephantine surprise
Bapu Deedwania and Manish Hariprasad, dating for 15 years

"It was my birthday that day, and Manish asked me to look out the window of our 5th floor apartment. When I peeped out, I saw this elephant standing in the compound below with a huge banner that screamed 'Happy Birthday'. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing, and I cried quite a bit," says media professional Bapu Deedwania, sporting a huge grin.
Bapu and her boyfriend, Manish Hariprasad had been dating for nearly a decade when Manish planned this special surprise to tell her how much he loved her. "By then, I'd pretty much exhausted all the regular surprise options. So, when I saw this elephant amble along a road, I asked the mahout if he'd agree to be part of my plan. He was amused but he agreed," says Manish. Manish then spent hours training the elephant to hand over a bouquet to Bapu (instead of gobbling it up), got a massive vinyl poster designed by an ad agency, and figured where he'd buy 200 kgs of bananas to feed the elephant.
It's been three years since this surprise and Bapu has been trying to beat it ever since. With great effort, she says she managed to plan a surprise for Manish by gifting him his favourite car. But she agrees, "Nothing can be better than an elephant!"

The proposal nearly killed me!
Mahi and Pratima Pal, now married
It's been five years since Mahi Pal proposed to Pratima, but they still rattle off the episode like loves-truck teenagers to anyone who cares to listen. The two were studying at Sir JJ School Of Arts in Mumbai, and had been dating for a while. "One morning, Mahi told me the National Centre of performing Arts was screening Salvador Dali films. I couldn't have passed the offer, and he knew that," says Pratima.
Unfortunately Mahi's motorcycle broke down and they were delayed for the screening. A fuming Pratima and a nervous Mahi finally hitched a cab driven by a sardarji cabbie. "I was furious with Mahi for holding us up. And that got the driver sweating his turban off. He suddenly remarked, 'Madamji, uparwala sab dekh raha hai (Madamji, the lord above is watching it all unfold)'. What gall to intervene, I thought. I silenced him with a glare and after that he kept shut," says Pratima.
What she didn't know was that the cab driver was in fact, VJ Purab from Channel V and the whole episode was fixed so that Mahi could propose to her. Eventually, the taxi stopped at Worli Seaface and when Pratima looked out, she saw her friends and a mariachi band playing music for the couple. A red-faced Pratima was whisked off for a Victoria ride on the seaface after she'd accepted the proposal. It all went well for Mahi, but he suggests you try this idea at your own risk. "The whole time, I couldn't stop smiling at what was unfolding and that kept getting Pratima furious. I knew she'd kill me if this went on for a while longer. Maybe a candle-light dinner may have been less risky and stressful."

Self-help guide >> How to make a proposal your lover cannot refuse

Graffiti your love: All-India

No, we are not talking about painting the town red! This is a cleaner option. The guys at Graffiti Research Lab will help you beam virtual graphics on to a building (you will have to seek prior permission from the building) and you can profess your love through a laser-written love letter, and hand over a laser pen to your beloved for the answer. Price: Rs 1.5 lakh (approx) with generator, minus Rs 7,000 if the generator isn't required. Log on to: https://www.andthen.co.in/

Hog a campsite by a river: Mumbai-Pune only

If you are an outdoorsy couple, you could head out for a camp or trek and pop the question in the wilderness. The guys at Big Red Tent could help you get the romantic quotient up while keeping the thrill of the outdoors alive. They could set up a romantic candle-lit dinner by the riverside at their campsite; you could handpick a fresh bouquet from the horticulture nursery nearby. Price: Rs 2,400 for a weekend site, Rs 1,000 for dinner for two and the bouquet is thrown in for free. You could also book the entire campsite on a weekday for Rs 10,000.

Book a luxury yacht: Off the coast of Goa, Kerala, Mumbai

Take your partner out to the sea in a 50-feet luxury yacht with a full service crew on board. The four-hour trip that includes lunch and beverage, is sure to set the mood in romantic mode and create the perfect atmosphere for you to pop the question. Price: Rs 1 lakh. Call: Airnetz Aviation on 9930403019. Bookings need to be made at least 3 days in advance.

Make a traffic-stopping statement: All India

Splash your message across a huge billboard along a route your partner takes regularly. Bright Outdoor Advertising can help you book a hoarding for a day at the location of your choice. You'll have to shell out cash for the rental, printing and mounting charges. Price: Rs 50,000 (approx.) for a day. Call: 022 67140000

Print a love message on a rose: All India

We know we just declared that flowers are passu00e9 but if they could carry your love message on their petals, we suggest you do a rethink. Mithlesh Jain can print your love message on a bunch of roses, and you can figure if you want to bunch them up or send your loved one a single rose that carries a special something. Price depends on number of roses. Mail: messageonflowers@yahoo.in

Book a helicopter ride: Mumbai-only

Get on to the 3-seater Robinson 44 helicopter from the Juhu aerodrome and just as you are above the spot you first met, go down on one knee and ask the question. Airnetz Aviation also arranges hour-long rides that can go up to the Alibaug coast as back. Price: Rs 30,000 for half hour. Book 2-3 days in advance.
Dimple Kapri heads a team of communication specialists, animators and digital designers ready to work on the script of your life. So give her a story you'd like animated and let the cartoon characters work on your behalf. Price: Rs 10,000 for a 10-second to a 60-second film. Log onto: https://www.miceatwork.co.in/

Get a singing clown to drop by: Mumbai only

Get clowns and singers to create a party ambience in a matter of minutes, and pop in from between a crowd of performers to pop the question for you. Mad Hatters Entertainment has been creating surprises for 12 years with little help from cheerleaders, cakes, clowns and violinists. You just have to decide the location (partners office, home, or your favourite hangout), and the rest is taken care of. Price: Rs 6,000 for basic package. Call: 40167765