Saving the world requires a lot.

            A congressional briefing on HIV/AIDS sounds good and infact is a wonderful opportunity to brainstorm about global public health issues with the elite in public heath industry. Having found one such occasion I was all geared up to attend it. I went out on Black Friday and got myself a good dress for the occasion. To friends I described the event and hoped they would attend the same, providing me company in case the event falls flat and does not meet expectations. Informed people at work that I shall come late to office, if I may; utmost care was taken for the briefing. Knowing my usual habit to sleep till late, my mind was all prepared to sleep before my usual hours the day before the event. But when you least expect it, 'PROBing issues with LEss interest in Me' crop up- perhaps the reason why they are called 'problems'. A good friend needed some help on an assignment and I was eager to help, so I ended up sleeping beyond my usual time but only after finishing the 'problem'. Next day I was woken up by a phone call, guess the night's work was still not complete and another hour was spent helping. 

             Now, don't take me wrong, I love helping my friends and of course they come first before all these stupid 'Save the World' Problems. So once done with the assignment helping, I saw the clock to see I still had around an hour and a half for the event. To make things better, I live in the shadow of the Capitol and a brisk walk would mean I would be at the venue in 15 minutes. So there I sifted through my wardrobe swiftly and took me only a moment to decide what I was wearing. Of course shopping before had helped, but the quick decision was more facilitated by lack of options; I had not done my laundry for the past 2 months. Of for a quick steamy bath, I trimmed and groomed my beard, took extra long to fix those layers of clothes you are supposed to wear to weather the cold out here. Even after having my breakfast, I was still done my 10:58 am and had more than half an hour to reach my venue. I was so happy that today I shall not be late, like I had been on a previous occasion for the same event and venue. I had misread the time to be 11:30 instead of 11:00 am on that occasion, and realised my folly only when I was ready to leave for the event. Nonetheless, I had reached the place only to find I was late and they had run out of space. But thanks to a friend of mine who was also similarly late for the event, I went out for lunch and could use some of the spare time brainstorming elsewhere.

             Standing in my room with half an hour on my hands, I turned to my email account just to confirm the venue. I wrote it down on a piece of paper when something struck me, there was no 3 in the time the briefing was supposed to start; it was supposed to start at 11:00am! I stood there dumbstruck, not knowing what to blame- my poor eyesight or my oversight. I had done everything to be there at the briefing, what else can I do! What a calendar or timer, nah, that is for the old! 

             All dressed up and nowhere to go, I had no option but to forget about the whole thing. "Saving the world" was not for today, I will wear my cape some other day. I can totally empathise with the superhuman police force of India who always arrives late at the scene of crime, its not their fault, so many people have to be on time for this and keeping time with time is not everybody's cup of tea- me included!

PS: I checked the time for the next briefing, it is indeed 11:30 am. But I also went on and did my laundry, so that might be the reason for not saving the world next time!