Rajesh was a man of simple pleasures but complex problems. His wife, Sunita, was a stickler for dates, especially when it came to her birthday. The only hitch was that while Rajesh knew her birthday fell somewhere in July, the exact date was always a blur. Each year, he tried his best to remember, but inevitably, he’d forget, and the consequences were dire. Sunita was not one to let such an offense slide—she believed in the old adage, “Spare the rod, spoil the husband.”

As July approached, Rajesh began to feel a familiar sense of dread. The thought of the wrath he'd face if he forgot again sent shivers down his spine. He’d already tried...