We found a time capsule dated 1975, but the items inside were from 2025. At least it was dated 1975. I found it while moving stuff from the garage to the kerb for the quarterly council clean-up. I was aware that my brother was known for his practical jokes but the package had nothing to indicate it was his prank. But then, it was April the 1st, 2025.


Overcome by curiosity, and for some fun, I opened it. There was a smartphone, a USB key, and a credit-card sized key inside. There was also a note saying: DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 2025. I laughed at the elaborate setup but resolved to deal with my brother when he came over for Easter lunch. Then, I forgot about the package.


A few days later, I lost my job. At my age, finding a new job was hard. However, my employer did compensate me by offering a severance pay that wasn’t too bad. So, retirement seemed timely and welcome.


I even upgraded my car to an EV and, over the Easter long weekend, I thought it was the perfect time to take it for a spin.


“I’m all strapped in and ready to go!” I yelled at Prakriti as the car window lowered with a hum. 


“What’s the hurry?” She yelled back. “We’re not going too far, are we?”


“Okay, O-K!” I chuckled with raised palms, “I’m just excited, you know.”


“You should settle down. You always jump to conclusions and land us in trouble.” She finally slid into the passenger seat with her thigh-high white leather boots, shut the car door a bit too firmly, and clicked her seatbelt. “Now, how do I look?” She asked, staring at me above her oversized rose-coloured goggles.

“Perfect.” I winked. “This is gonna be an awesome 70s-themed party, love! Oh, and it’s because of my jumping to conclusions that we’re here… about to jump again!”


“You sure we can do it right, right? I don’t want to end up all messed up. I haven’t even fed the cat this morning.”


“Well, let’s find out, darling. We’ll be back before the cat awakens.” I smiled and hit the stick to start the automobile with a whoosh.


Over the years, the EV brand had improved their vehicles to go from zero to eighty in 0.5 seconds but nobody had tried it yet. There was never enough road for it, and there were always more than enough cops around. On that particular weekend, when most people would find it ridiculous or criminal to venture outside, I decided to test the claim despite increased fines and demerit points. Taking unnecessary risk seemed like the perfect way to celebrate my newfound retirement.


“Wait, wait, wait…” Prakriti gasped, “Is the seatbelt enough? Shouldn’t I be holding on to something? I can see you’ve got your knuckles white on the steering wheel.”


“It’s enough!” I said, exasperated. “Just remember to keep your head flush against the headrest to avoid the whiplash. Now, can we go… please?”


“Sure.” She drawled.


I paused long enough to allow further litany, if any. Then, I reached forward and tapped the music app on the car dashboard screen, searched for ‘Highway to Hell’, and turned the volume up to ludicrous. As the beat kicked in, Prakriti’s shoulders began to jiggle. “Let’s do it!” She proclaimed.


The road was clear as far as we could see and, for once, I longed for a legacy car so I could rev the engine and feel the car throb. As I floored the accelerator, everything around us blurred. In a panic, I hit the brakes, a bit too hard. The car bucked and bounced on an empty field that appeared to stretch forever on all sides.


“Where are we?” Prakriti sounded alarmed.


“I.. I don’t know…” I stammered. “Maybe I swerved and overshot the road. Let’s continue until we reach another road of some sort.”


After a bumpy drive through the rough field, we came to an unmarked, unsealed road. “This is deja vu…” I exclaimed, “Remember Prak, we drove through a field once, trying to take a quick shortcut?”


“Yeah, bumpy like this one.” She laughed. “Yet, we had so much fun. Those were the days.” Her voice trailed off.


“Hey!” Someone shouted and I stopped. “What’re you doin' in my field? Who are ya, and more importantly, where are ya from?”


“Er… from Brooksfield.” I replied, my heart beating fast, even as I lowered the car window. The scrawny man looked dressed in clothes I’d not seen since childhood. On the other hand, the outside air seemed a lot cleaner.


“What is this place?” Prakriti leaned across from the passenger seat and asked.


“Well, this is Brooksfield too.” The man frowned. “What street are ya on?”


“Wells Street…”


I tried turning the music off when he said. “I love yer choice of bangers. Haven’t heard this one before.”


“Why? What year is this?”


“75.” He chortled. “Why, what year are you living in?”


“Uh… you wouldn’t believe it if I told you we came from the future. But would you know if we can find a charger--” I stopped mid-sentence realising my folly and reached to tap off the music. However, there was no screen anymore. It had been replaced by a very retro-styled dashboard and a cassette player.


Prakriti grabbed my forearm and her nails dug into me. I stared at her hands. “When did you paint your nails so gaudy?” Then, I looked up at her and almost screamed. “My God, you’re… young again!”


“So are you!” She squealed. “Like when we got married. Oh, it is 1975, isn’t it?”


Even though I was thrilled to have my 70s body back, I felt a dread coming on. We were back in our old town along with the old car we had then. That’s when we heard the man laughing.


“What’s so funny, mate?” I snapped at him.


“The future, you say? Your jalopy of a car doesn’t think so!”


“No, it’s true!” I was exasperated. “I literally retired last month and we decided to take a joyride in our latest EV…”


“Eee vee? Eh, what’s that?”


“Never mind. See ya.” I put the car into first gear, somehow managed to balance the clutch and the accelerator, and drove away. At the next junction, I took a left turn without much thought.


I drove to our home, fifty years into the past, and parked in the driveway.


“Do you think this means–” Prakriti stopped short.


“I’m afraid so, dear. We’ve been re-tired. Remember to lock all the 2025 stuff in a box somewhere.”


“Of course!” Prakriti exclaimed. “Don’t want anyone poking around with them. Besides, they’re all useless now, anyway.”


I was surprised at her nonchalant attitude. “So, I guess we’ll have to work our way back to 2025 again, now won’t we?”


“Screw that!” She yelled. “I’m just stoked to be this young again!”