Timekeeping

My father had sent a small watch for repair 7 months ago at a shop which is an hour away from where we live. Post that he was unable to go and bring it back. It was a small alarm clock that sat on our shelf with the TV in the living room. It was something I looked at more frequently than the wall clock of the living room, because of its easy location.

For the 7 months it was away, we could keep feeling its absence. It wasn’t an intense feeling but it persisted.

This article isn’t my ode to the watch, that would be being too emotional.

7 months later the shop called my father and they asked him to pick it up. It was ready months ago, and they were wondering why nobody came in. That was quite surprising to me because, even though we had kept the receipt safely, we didn’t expect to get it back. Although, my father repeatedly kept saying the watch would be available, go and pick it up.

And today I traveled to pick up this tiny little alarm clock that was so missed. I found this quaint little shop having so much integrity that they continued to store this clock for us.

The definition of timekeeping is to do with punctuality. Punctuality is also about integrity, and that is something I saw today. As someone from my generation, my initial responses to dad was “we might as well get another one.” But bringing this one back home felt different. I felt the importance of integrity in some way. Something I ought to inculcate more in my life. (Also, pretty happy this watch is back.)