Being prompt and on time—Is it good or not? How can they cause any issues? Thinking back, I can recall at least some, if not many, instances when it did.

Throughout my career, it was ordained that my workplace would be far off from my residence. Except for a period of two years when I was provided with a car and driver, the rest of the time I had to rely on the biggest vehicle possible, that is, the bus. The problems started here. I was in a place where only two buses were plying. Most of the time, I had to take one of them and change over to another. Obviously, the buses had their timings. But did they always arrive on time? Most of the days, they did since the depot was nearby. Occasionally there may be a breakdown, and hell will break loose. I was always in the habit of going to my workplace well in time. One hand and five fingers would be enough to count how many times I didn’t reach before time.

As I stood at the bus stop, if there was even a slight delay, the head would keep going back again and again to the direction from which the bus was supposed to come. The mouth would start mumbling complaints.

 Not only me, but the other anxiously waiting passengers too. Our calculations are based on the bus timings, and a slight delay upsets our schedule. What if I miss the connecting bus? And get delayed? If the buses had also developed the ‘habit’ of arriving late always, this expectation and anticipation would not be there. That means no tension. Our calculations would have taken into account even these delays. Unfulfilled expectation and anticipation always create stress and tension.

Taking the same from the other angle, that is, the workplace. The head of my office was so used to my being there well in advance whenever I got delayed, not by the office timings but my own early-arrival timings, there would be an invariable stare and a question on why I was late. Late! By what standards? The promptness and regularity had created an anticipation. I was also a late leaver from the workplace. The later-you-leave-the-more-work-I-have-done syndrome was popular in those days. I can justify I did have work, but from others’ point of view. Sometimes I would get a ring at even 9 p.m. in the night from the Chief, expecting me to be there in the office, working alert and ready to obey instructions. If I had not been there, perhaps a disappointed sigh or a disgruntled look was sure to greet me the next day.

Tension and anxiety.

Imagine the Mumbaikars waiting for the train. Most of them have to, by habit, get into the same train and same compartment. Walk, run, or fly; they will be at the appointed place in the right platform in time. How much tension this must be causing? But credit to the spirit of these guys; these expectations and anticipations never seem to manifest as tension, at least outwardly. Whatever the crowd, they will magically find themselves wherever they wanted to be.

During my recent visit to Bangalore, the instruction was we should reach the airport at least one and a half hours before departure since we were wheelchair patients. And as we were about to check in, we got the message the flight was delayed. Being prompt did not pay. Then the expectation and anticipation if the flight would leave at least at the revised expected time of departure. It is always ‘unexpected time of departure.’

It is also not impossible to find out that when you are early, the bus, train, or flight is delayed, and when you are delayed, it is on time and already said ta-ta bye-bye. Why can’t our times match?

Doctor appointments are another area where expectations are never met. We end up waiting at least for an hour or so. What can the doctors do? With so many patients and uncertainty about the time each one will take with the doctor, delays happen. But anticipating this delay, will I be permitted to come late? The anticipation that you will be the next patient to be called in is grueling.

Be assured any expectation or anticipation is bound to cause tension. So, take things as they come or happen.

Continued in 265 - The Only College - Part 1