Punctual
/ˈpʌŋ(k)tʃʊ(ə)l/
(adjective)
happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time.

“Where the hell were you?”

“I have been waiting at the station for the past 30 minutes.”

“I can’t believe you make me wait for an hour.”

“Have you lost your watch or something?”

“Oh, look at this. You do have a clock at home. Wow!!”

“Make sure you mention ‘perpetually late’ in your matrimony profile.”

“Ah! Welcome. Nice timing. We were just about to leave.”

“You are never on time.”

These are the reactions I receive from my friends when I don’t abide by their schedules. I have been accused of not being ‘on time’ so many times that I have lost count.

Can’t blame them for being mad at me. It is disrespectful and I accept it.

But, no, I do try my best to be ‘on time’ or do things at the proper time. But not in the conventional sense.

So, if you are looking to judge a friend based on how much ‘on time’ they are, how about you consider these – 

  1. Have they ever delayed their efforts in reaching out to you when they knew you were in need?
  2. How long did it take for them to decide that you were their priority?
  3. Have they ever stayed a bit longer just to give you company?
  4. Did they wait for long before letting you know how they feel about something you did? Be it good or bad.
  5. Did they give you their time even when they couldn’t spare any?
  6. Have they ever asked you if everything was okay after you were absolutely convinced that you have tricked them into thinking it was?
  7. Did they ever try to make you smile when you had a thousand reasons to cry?

Timing truly is Everything!

I do my very best to be ‘on time’ where it really matters.

Having said that, it does not justify keeping a friend waiting just because you are too lazy to get off the couch. And so, I do feel lucky to have friends who exhibit so much patience.

Yet, I do believe –

Being late for a party is much better than being late for YOU.