by Deepa BHOOKHUN

Try this experience when you have some time to kill; ask people around you what the time is. Some will say 12.00, others 11.55, some will say 11.58, others still will tell you with the utmost conviction it is 12.05. And somebody else will shout out ?it?s 12.10 for crying out loud!? Now if you feel confused, try and call the different radio stations in the country and ask them the exact time.

They will each tell you a different time and you will then start guessing my point ? one that I?m desperately trying to make; no one has the right time! One radio station that has decided to consistently be ahead of time (you?ll ask what is time) refused to tell me what time it was, according to their station (probably because they know their time is not the time.)

So how the hell do you know what the correct time is? I was told you could call 176. I don?t know how much they charge for this call but a lady politely and with infinite patience tells you the exact time to t. (Ok, it?s a recorded message but I was happy that someone was helpful). On what this time is based I do not know but at least it concurs with MBC time ? our one-time reference to the correct time.

I remember the time when the exact time was not such a hard thing to find (no pun intended) but since the advent of private radios, it seems everyone wants to decide what the time should be. Check it out on the hour if you don?t believe me. No radio station will start its news at the same time. For people who are intent on always being on time, it?s a matter of endless frustration.

What are two or three minutes, would you ask. What indeed. But imagine the chaos (it has already started in my head) when no one knows what the right time is! If you can?t trust time, what do you trust? O.k. let?s not go into the whole three dimensional thing, I?m trying to remain earthly. It puzzled me how I, who pride myself on being dead punctual, was always late or early for an appointment. (Right, I?m grossly exaggerating to make my point but I am still talking about an average of plus or minus 5 minutes). I finally realised it wasn?t our fault; we were all victims of the people who were playing with time!

So ladies and gentlemen, set your watches and your phones right. Set it to the right time and since we have to believe someone, I suggest you call 176 and get it right once and for all!

And next time somebody barks, ?you are late? despite the fact that you know you aren?t, ask them ?according to whom!? and discreetly call 176 to check whether you were right in being insolent!

Why leave punctuality to kings? What?s wrong with common Mauritian mortals being polite too?