Festive gifting is a guessing game. You buy your cousin yet another set of uninspired copper tealight holders, they smile politely, and it joins the perpetually re-gifted soan papdi at the back of the pantry. So, you navigate the chaos of the Diwali sales with a vague mandate: ‘Pick something online, I’ll pay.’ They settle for an economical black T-shirt instead of the bomber jacket they really wanted. Not because they don’t like the jacket, but because they can see the price and the middle-class guilt kicks in.We have all been on both sides of this. You receive something you wouldn’t have picked for yourself but are obliged to appreciate the thought behind it. Or you are asked what you’d like and find yourself saying ‘anything is fine.’It’s a familiar dilemma, and interestingly, a food delivery app has found a way around it. Its ‘Mehmaan Mode’ lets the guests browse through eateries’ menus without seeing the prices when ordering from the host’s phone. The idea is simple: people should be able to choose what they actually want without worrying about the bill.Why not borrow this idea for Diwali gifting as well?How about a Gift Mode on e-commerce platforms? You generate a link and send it to your sister, cousin, or friend. They browse without seeing the prices, finally adding those noise-cancelling headphones or that handbag they’ve been saving for. You set a spending limit upfront, approve the final pick and pay. Add gift-wrapping and a personal note, and you can skip the frantic requests for gift receipts and yet another generic dry-fruit hamper.Wishlists and gift cards exist, of course. But wishlists still come with price tags, and a gift card feels like cash wearing a bow. No, thanks.Some will argue that choosing a gift is the fun part. Fair. There is something lovely about knowing someone well enough to pick the thing they’ll treasure. But not every present has to be a test of how well you know someone’s taste. Sometimes, letting them choose is the most thoughtful thing to do.A food delivery app has found a way to spare guests the discomfort of checking prices. Shopping apps could do the same for festive gifting. After all, the best present might just be getting exactly what you wanted without having to ask how much it costs.
