Secret Santa comes with its own unique pressure: finding something thoughtful for someone you may or may not know beyond a Slack display picture.

This list is filled with small joys, things that are useful, a little unexpected, and comfortably under Rs.1000, so you can gift something that lands well without overthinking it.

Rs.895 / ISAAKA	GIFTING 01 Gol Gappa Kettle & Katori We all know the friend who’s forever planning a chaat break, and this tiny set is made with them in mind. It comes with a ceramic kettle for the paani and a matching katori for assembling each puri. Fill the kettle with about 160 to 175 ml, enough for six to eight puris, and let everyone pour their own. The reactive glaze gives each piece its own tones and speckles. Grey is on preorder for dispatch in the third week, and beige ships now. And it’s not just for chaat, it doubles up for soy sauce with sushi, milk with rasmalai or even jhol with momos. Microwave and dishwasher safe, though a gentle wash keeps it looking its best.

GIFTING 02 Christmas Cocoa & Coffee Gift Set For anyone who could use a tiny breather in the middle of the festive chaos, this box is a small, feel-good pause. It comes with a coffee scrub that wakes up dull skin, a hot chocolate that actually tastes like something you’d want to replace your morning coffee with. A coffee–vanilla spa bar for the end-of-day shower, and a cacao lip balm that’s basically a winter-bag essential. Everything is made with earth-friendly ingredients and thoughtful packaging, so it feels like an easy gift that lands well. Warm, comforting and just the right bit of pampering.	Rs.1,100 / BARE NECESSITIES

Rs.642 / BRASS MONKEY	GIFTING 03 Salty Birds Sticker Book Some gifts fall into that sweet spot of “I’d never buy this for myself, but I’m so glad someone else did.” The Salty Birds sticker book sits firmly in that zone. It looks like a polite little collection of old-school bird illustrations until you realise every bird is serving attitude. The captions are funny in that slightly unhinged way that makes people laugh out loud, and the whole thing is weirdly therapeutic to flip through. It’s small, silly and delightful in the best way, exactly the kind of gift that lands well with anyone who appreciates a bit of humour.

GIFTING 04 Kashmiri Art Decorative Box We picked this little tortoise because it instantly made us smile, and the closer you look, the sweeter it gets. It’s made using Kashmir’s traditional papier-mâché craft, a technique that originated in Persia in the 15th century and has been passed down through generations of artists. Every bit of it, the shaping, the painting, the soft lacquered shine, is done by hand, using the floral motifs that Kashmiri artisans are known for. It has that festive, old-world glow that sits beautifully on a desk or shelf, and if you tuck in a couple of chocolates or a handwritten note, it turns into a small but genuinely thoughtful gift. Grown-up, charming, and perfect for anyone who appreciates well-made craft pieces.	Rs.850 / THE INDIA CRAFT HOUSE

Rs.990 / MUUN HOME	GIFTING 05 Swirl Glass Mug We added these cups mostly because the handles made us grin. They have that slightly wobbly, sculptural shape that feels like someone had fun making them, and that’s exactly the kind of energy we like on our shelves. They’re made of borosilicate glass, so they’re light but don’t feel fragile, and they’re the sort of cups you keep reaching for without realising it. The teal-and-pink combo is a small hit of cheer, while the slate grey is for anyone who loves a quiet, unfussy colour. Nothing complicated here, just a simple, nicely-made cup with a handle that refuses to behave, in the best way.

GIFTING 06 Poolside Pouch Set These pouches have the same energy as that one friend who always shows up looking put together without trying. The gingham gives them a bit of attitude, the soft shape keeps them unfussy, and they’re surprisingly good at tidying up the small chaos we all carry around. They slip into bags, sit on desks, travel easily and somehow make the everyday jumble feel under control. They’re an easy gift because they suit almost anyone and feel a touch more fun than the usual solid-colour options.	Rs.600 / BOTTEGA PEREIRA

Rs.999 / DAILY OBJECTS	GIFTING 07 Marshal Mini Tech Kit Organiser If you know someone whose bag is permanently tangled, this is an easy win. The Marshal Mini has a firm, structured shape that keeps cords from bending and earphones from knotting themselves into chaos. Inside, the elastic loops and zip pocket hold everything in place, whether it’s for the workday commute or a weekend trip. The blue finish looks sharp, and the size slips neatly into almost any bag. It’s the kind of gift that solves an everyday annoyance and earns you grateful messages long after.

GIFTING 08 TOKABO Table Lamp We like this one because it behaves exactly the way a good table lamp should. You switch it on, and suddenly the room feels calmer, your desk looks less chaotic, and even the pile of papers you’ve been ignoring seems… manageable. It’s simple, unfussy, and reliable. The sort of piece you buy once and then wonder why you didn’t get it sooner.	Rs.999 / IKEA

Rs.723 / MAIRA KALMAN	GIFTING 09 Cake: A Cookbook We first discovered Maira Kalman through her Principles of Uncertainty, and when a friend gifted us Cake, it felt like the sweetest follow-up. Part memoir, part art, and part cookbook, it pairs her whimsical illustrations with Barbara Scott-Goodman’s recipes. We even tried the coconut cake and loved every bit of making (and eating) it.

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