Lady Flora realised that Sir PM had suggested an earlier-than-usual time for their weekend walk. She knew why. It was the upcoming civic elections, the much-awaited democratic process to help the city up its game on all counts in a fast-changing world. Both had decided to meet at Oval Maidan. It offered them peace and quiet as compared to a road, as well as a stunning, 360-degree view of some of their favourite sights. It was the ideal location to discuss the key points of their dossier before D-day.

She noticed Sir PM walked with more purpose than his usual relaxed gait on most weekends. This was an important chat, after months, and, in fact, years of discussing the issues that had to be addressed in these elections. “I seriously hope the newly-elected corporators have had a long, hard look at the city’s woes, and have developed practical long-term solutions. I wish they would use it as a primer for their own thought process when it comes to executing their manifestos. You know, I am hopeful that despite the scepticism around their intent, they take notes from it, and keep the citizen front and centre,” Sir PM told his friend, as he rolled out a sheet of paper, which was packed with data that he had meticulously typed out on his Edison-Mimeograph typewriter.