With civic elections nearing, in their last midnight gupshup session of 2025, our sutradhaars, Sir Pheroze and Lady Flora, discuss what they don’t wish to encounter, with the hope for a better 2026

Sir PM and Lady Flora at Cooperage Bandstand discussing the many wishes for their beloved city in the new year. Illustration/Uday Mohite

Lady Flora had noticed that Sir PM was wearing a light woollen suit on their last weekend session of the year. Both had picked Cooperage Bandstand to soak in the December ‘winter’ that was finally here. She seemed quite at ease in her off-white gown, and didn’t require any protection from the gentle nip in the air. English summers were chillier; she smiled at her inside observation but chose to not make her friend feel awkward, given his winter wardrobe had been assembled with great care. “What’s in the notebook?” she prodded.

Opening it with great excitement, Sir PM revealed, “Do you remember all those notes that I’d take after every walk, based on our observations and concerns? I’ve compiled it to make a formal presentation to my former bosses in the genuine hope that they take note of it, given that civic election dates have been announced; in fact, it’s barely a fortnight away. Our soon-to-be-elected corporators ought to be reading this…” 

“Aren’t you being a shade ambitious, dear Pheroze?” the ever-pragmatic Lady Flora asked, gently, lest her friend didn’t feel punctured after his gigantic effort to document some of the key issues that........

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