India, Nov. 6 -- Last year, I was hit by gifting fatigue. Every time a birthday or festival came around, it felt like a noose had slunk around my neck, tightening under threats of tradition and budgeting. So, at the start of 2026, I decided to go gift-less. No giving of things. No receiving them too. It felt virtuous - viral-worthy even. And I spread the word.

Here's what I didn't expect: Pushback from friends, family and colleagues who took it as a persona attack. "WDYM you won't accept gifts?" they asked. "But you have to accept gifts from ME!"

Look, I'm not stuck in an O Henry story. I'm not selling my hair to buy him a watch chain, while he sells his watch to afford hair ornaments for me. I get that gifting is as old as time, that c...