From the very beginning most of us have heard our parents say “Eat & sleep on time”, Teachers “Time’s up. Return your test paper”, Boss at work “Meet your deadline”, Philosopher on a morning talk show on TV “Time & Tide waits for none”. Let’s park aside what others had to say. We call the local pizzeria “Hi, I want a Pepperoni with double cheese”. Sir, your order would be delivered in 30 minutes. Alright, after the 30th minute my brain would fail to track the logical positioning of my wallet. Hence the delivery can only be accepted as a complimentary token of love from your pizzeria.
Why such great emphasis on Speed & Time?
A Tuesday of a mid-summer month, I in pursuit of a little ME time entered a road facing café that serves draught beer in the heart of Jayanagar. There was no need to get acquainted to the menu as I knew the print by heart from appetizer to dessert. A pitcher of draught beer & Chicken Vegetable salad as usual. 300ml of draught was displaced from the pitcher to the mug as my lips eagerly anticipated the first sip. The business as usual continued for the next 2 hours, I was 2 pitchers down & reluctantly looking at the single mug left “Should I gulp it down & go home? Or should I sip it slowly?”
Amidst this confusion, I heard somebody talking to me. There stood a man few feet below the deck where I was seated. Mid 30s, Crumpled sleeves, trousers, Rubber slipper….
“I am very hungry…Sir, Can you please buy me two Idlis” (Uttered in Kannada)
I knew my wallet had no dime & I did not want to confirm the obvious leading to his disappointment. I was confused by the ever multiplying questions... How am I going to help him? Why should I help him when I pay Tax? Is it right to help or would such an act breed laziness amongst the underprivileged? By the time I could sort out my head, he walked a few meters away. “How about Chicken Biriyani?” Sure “Chicken Biriyani..It is”...”How I would call him back?” A general HELLO would make everybody turn towards me…that’s pretty embarrassing. 100 meters away he went & I leaned back relaxed, diverting my focus on my glass of beer.
I did not have 12 bucks in cash to spare. But I did have my debit card; I could have sponsored his lunch. What happened to him that day? Did he eat or did he not? I don’t see a point analyzing the sequence of the events that WOULD HAVE followed. But I did learn the importance of making a timely decision.
“A stitch in time certainly saves nine” …In my case it would have saved at least ONE
