Rakhi gifts are taking on a whole new meaning with brothers paying for cosmetic surgeries to make their sisters feel better about themselves

B(r)east wishes!

Rakhi gifts are taking on a whole new meaning with brothers paying for cosmetic surgeries to make their sisters feel better about themselves

This could give khaps a severe headache and the prudish the scare of their lives.

Some lucky girls in the city are set to receive rather unusual tokens of brotherly affection this Rakshabandhan.

Gireesh Pandia (name changed), an advertising professional, recently paid for one of his cousin's hymen reconstruction surgery. "She was dating a guy for close to two years but one day they called it off because of some misunderstanding. A month back when she was engaged to another guy, I could sense that something was troubling her so with the help of her friend I convinced her to undergo the surgery and believe me the smile has come back on her lips," he said.

Preeti Bafna was surprised when her brother gifted her a lip surgery package for that perfect pout.
u00a0"I didn't ask him to give me something of that sort but when he did I couldn't be happier. I needed it because I injured my lip in an accidentu00a0 a few years back."

According to cosmetologist Dr Rashmi Shetty, who is treating Preeti: "They're not the cheapest gifts but what could be a better gift than something that restores beauty. The stigma attached to such treatment is slowly vanishing."

"Brothers are now moving beyond traditional packs of chocolates and clothes. Though I can't put a clear cut statistic because the trend is new but on an average a well established cosmetic surgery clinic is receiving 10 such cases every six weeks. I recently attended to six cases of hymenorrhaphy," said Dr Mohan Thomas, senior cosmetic surgeon, Breach Candy Hospital.

"While two patients were accompanied by their mothers, one came with her dad and the rest with their brothers. I see it as a sign of siblings opening up to each other about their sexual lives, which is very important. Men can walk out of a relationship without any 'sign' of lost virginity, which is not the case with women.

Now I don't need to tell you, how a 'non-virgin' is looked at. If a sister can confide in her brother for anything and everything under the sun, that's' the best thing that can happen to a family. Moral policing should stay out of it because it's something beyond their understanding. Family values should help, not suffocate," Dr Thomas added.

According to industry experts, not only upper class but also middle class families are patronising these gifting ideas, and secondly price tags are not the only deciding criteria. And these gifting ideas are a rage for every age group. Adds Dr Thomas: "Treatments that cost around Rs 50,000 are mostly in demand but the price tag is not the only consideration. If it helps, middle class people are ready to shell out that kind of money. But the trend has just picked up and with awareness, it will soon become a habit."

TAKE THE METRO
The Delhi Metro will run 187 extra trips to avoid overcrowding on the Raksha Bandhan festival on Aug 24, an official said on Sunday.
According to a Delhi Metro spokesperson, "The metro will provide extra 187 trips and the trains will run at peak hour frequency from morning 8 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday."
Normally, 21 trains are withdrawn from the lines during non-peak hours hours 12.30 p.m.-4.30 p.m. But in view of the festival, these trains will be kept in service to provide 187 extra trips Aug 24.

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