India, July 31 -- This summer vacation, during a visit to Vadodara, I was determined not to let my walking routine suffer. The sprawling ONGC campus seemed the perfect place to continue my daily ritual. With the timer activated and pedometer ticking, I set off, target firmly in mind.

A few metres down the path skirting the golf course, however, my disciplined resolve met an unexpected challenge.

Before me unfolded a breathtaking spectacle: A pride of peacocks, wandering freely across the landscape. They strode about with effortless grace, their iridescent plumage catching the sunlight, utterly indifferent to the humans around them. The sight was so enchanting that my measured pace gradually slowed to a halt.

The next day, I set out wit...