India, Sept. 13 -- When my wife heard about a table tennis tournament in Jaipur, she agreed instantly. For her, my game was merely an excuse to travel; the Pink City was the true destination. She had long envisioned wandering through Johari and Bapu Bazaars, hunting for jewellery, vibrant textiles, handcrafted juttis, and cushion covers, fully intending to return with far more bags than we carried from Ambala.

Our itinerary was brisk. We caught the Saturday afternoon Vande Bharat, arriving late that evening. With my tournament scheduled for Sunday afternoon, the morning was reserved for Jaipur's charm. We strolled through bustling lanes, admired the pink facades, and fuelled up on Sardarji's famous kachoris and lassi. Then we split up: S...