A year ago, to the day, my grandmother died, Sir Anerood Jugnauth retired as prime minister and Paul Bérenger was sworn in as the new prime minister of this country. So was it a good day? Most definitely not. Can you blame me? I believe in omens.

The retirement of SAJ was planned, as was his replacement by Bérenger. As was also my Nan?s death. You see, three days before my elderly relative passed away, I predicted her departure to my parents; they told me I needed help. Turned out I did. Not because I was wrong but because seeing in the future is scary and freaks you out like not many things do. And so I felt uneasy on that fateful day. I cried when I watched TV and saw that strong man SAJ choking with emotion at the National Assembly while delivering his goodbye address. Is it any wonder? I had grown up with the man heading the country; he somehow represented safety, security.

I still couldn?t help feeling slightly excited ? Paul Bérenger was to become prime minister! He also is part of my childhood. I remember the man who had the courage of his convictions, who was fearless because he believed in a cause, I remember the days my parents dragged me and my brother to public political gatherings because they believed in an ideal and there was somebody willing to carry out that fight in the name of all those who believed in a just, better and equal tomorrow.

And so, choosing to ignore the knot in my stomach ? that experience has taught me to pay attention to ? I sat in front of my TV and waited for the ceremony. I was disappointed.

It did not make my heart beat, the man whose speeches once had the power to make half the population move in unison, had a hollow message for the population. But I am stubborn. I said to myself that we all have bad days and then? dawned a fear that my innate naivety had chosen to ignore before; what if Bérenger does not see this opportunity to be in control of this country that he loved so much, for two years as an opportunity to implement the things he has fought for? What if once in power, he decided it was far better and safer to play the ugly political game? What if he no longer had the courage of his convictions? Worse still, what if his convictions had changed ?

I stopped myself from pursuing those morbid thoughts there and then and reminded myself that I was a positive person above all.

A year later, I realised that positivism need not go hand in hand with naivety. Of course the guy could not make his followers? dreams come true. It is all a matter of priority. Do you want to come back to power or not? Once that question is answered, the path becomes clear. And so I was right. How I wish I were not. The morale of the story is very simple; always trust your gut feelings, always trust your instincts. At least they cannot be manipulated.