Marching left, right, left, right, Rakesh embarked on his nightly stroll through MOP Park with his lovely wife by his side. This routine had been their tradition for the past five years, ever since Rakesh’s  doctor warned him about hitting the big 4-0. “Don’t skip a day,” the doctor had said, “This walk will keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check, and save me a few bucks.”

Taking the doctor’s words to heart, Rakesh never missed a day, not even bothering to lace up his shoes at times. But one thing he never skipped was having his wife by his side, hand in hand, as they power-walked through the park. Their synchronized stride was so strong that bystanders could feel the breeze from their hand swings.

Tonight was no exception, except for the fact that the park was a bit more crowded than usual, being a lively Saturday evening. But that didn’t stop Rakesh and his wife from strutting their stuff, turning heads with their energetic pace and undeniable charm.

The Park Garden boasted a lovely expanse with a perfect balance of lush greenery and carefully arranged plants on either side.

Rakesh was moving at an unusually brisk pace today, determined to catch the 11 pm Mangalore Mail. His grip on his wife’s hand was a tad too tight, causing her to let out the occasional yelp of pain.

As they rounded the last corner, the park lights flickered once, twice, then plunged into darkness. It was a total blackout. Rakesh, caught off guard, stumbled over a manhole and tumbled to the ground. Fortunately, he managed to roll with the fall and emerged unscathed. It was a close call, but Rakesh’s quick reflexes saved the day.

He sprang up from his seat, neglecting the mess around him, and grabbed his wife’s hand, propelling them forward at an almost jogging pace.

She yelped in surprise, questioning his sudden burst of speed. As they approached the exit gate, they were met with a group of policemen conducting searches. Rakesh immediately understood the reason for the commotion.

A clever police officer stepped forward, blocking Rakesh with a sly smile on his face. “Well, well, well, Mr. Decent-looking. Where do you work? It’s only 7:30, and how dare you engage in such behavior in a public park? How old are you? You must be forty, and she must be twenty. Bringing girls into the park to do this – how dare you!”

“You should be setting a better example for the youth. Alright, let’s head over to the ‘Mobile Court.’ The Judge is waiting, and we don’t have all day.” Rakesh turned to his wife, a look of horror on his face. “Oh God, I’m so sorry. Who are you?”

The dark-haired girl, her face covered in makeup, was seething. She slapped Rakesh and exclaimed, “You fool! You dragged me around this useless garden for nearly ten minutes just to dump me at the mobile court. Now go there and pay the fine.”

Rakesh was on the verge of tears, his phone buzzing in sync with his emotions. As he pulled it out, the screen displayed a daunting “38 missed calls”.

Meanwhile, his wife stood at the entrance gate, perplexed by the situation. She was wondering what was going on ?