The Timekeeper

The most underrated in any game or challenge is the role of the Timekeeper - the most conveniently and easily forgotten person in an event. Once the race is over, who bothers about the keeper-of-time. These days we have digital monitors, so the callous negligence of the timekeeper is all the more justified. Gone are the days when people used to stand with the stopwatch and clock to record the time. We live in the age of Biometrics now. So we are now accountable to the computer. I cannot even vaguely remember the mention of any timekeepers. They are not the referees of the highly-overrated-gentlemanly games to be remembered, are they? Guiness Records, World Records and other records would not have possible without the sentinels of time.

I value my Daddy for being my Timekeeper. My life would have not been the same if it was not for my timekeeper. I also believe, had I followed his timely dictum in some areas, where I thought I knew better, my life would have had some more added charms.

If it was not for my sentinel of time, I would be late everywhere. Every night, I go to bed peacefully, because daddy dear has asked me, what time should I wake you up? At 32, my body clock should enable me to rise up on time. I do wake up too. However, my timekeeper in his unsteady gait, thanks to the near-paralytic-stroke, comes to my room to check if I have risen to do my duties. I value that presence, that concern to see me rise and shine.

If it was not for my timekeeper: I wouldn’t have read the books I did at the time I did. I wouldn’t have thought about the downtrodden. I wouldn’t have discussed unconventional ideas. I wouldn’t have spoken out in public. I wouldn’t have excelled. It was my timekeeper who told me at the outset of college, don’t get cowed down by your peers who can indulge in glib-talk. Bide your time, and time will prove your merit. Sure enough, the exams proved my worth. The newfound respect that my peers had for me is thanks to the time I kept, upon the suggestion of my Timekeeper.

The keepers of time are strict. After all, the passage of time cannot be compromised. Time lost is lost forever. Can we recall it ever except in memories? Therefore there was always a fixed time to watch TV, fixed time to play. It did us a lot of good. We read therefore; we had fun-games with sweet friends. We exercised our mind and body, thanks to Father Time, who did not spare us if we stayed out beyond 7 pm. Two soap-operas on television were the luxury we were granted. Time cannot be wasted on the Idiot-box when subjects in school demanded more timely attention. Father time stood firm on these thumb-rules which could not be bent at any cost. The timely advices, timely encouragements, timely chidings and reprimands – I value it all my charming Timekeeper. At that point in time, I did not understand, I felt hurt, I felt angry to do your bidding.

Your timely determination to shield me and my sisters from unwanted conversations, gossip, stereotypes, and prejudices brought balance in our lives. It helped us value others and see them for the people they were.We learnt to accept people without scrutinising their antecedents. Your sense of time did not mean mere punctuality. It was beyond the perfection of punctuality. We did not grow in straitjacketed situations obsessed with the idea of impossible perfections. Thank you Timekeeper for the freedom that you allowed within the time-span.

Your sense of time enabled us to follow our course of time to the hilt. We reached the goals we set out on. Finishing the course on time was important. The beautiful aspect was:you did not force a course on us. We chose our own streams. And did we flow smoothly like rivers over boulders, rocks, pebbles, nooks and crannies! No one could hinder us because time cannot be blocked. Time moves and so did we charting our course through the various rigours of times. We swirled and swayed; we steadied and found our ground. Father time did not give up on any one of us. Father Time still continues to inspire us. We feel motivated always because our beloved Timekeeper always asks, "what time do you have to go, what time should I wake you up?" What would our lives be without you?

Although, timekeepers are forgotten always, let there be a change at least in this story. My story. The stories of my sisters. In this real time, at the end of time 32, let me write this into existence: Thank you Father, for keeping the time for me, for holding the stopwatch over us to make us conscious of the landmarks and milestones that we achieved. All the sophisticated timepieces and stopwatches would be worthless without an effective Timekeeper. Therefore Hail! My TIMEKEEPER!