Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote words to the effect that underneath all the inharmonious and insignificant details, there is a musical perfection. How true!

One evening, I called Ms L to discuss a musical programme I was to organise. “She is with a student. She will call you back,” said her husband who answered the phone.

Still awaiting her call the next morning, I had to step out to get my morning coffee. The Electricity Board seemed to be observing the Sabbath and the gas cylinder had already called it a day. As I reached the door, the phone rang. Ms L apologised saying her husband had just told her about my call of the previous evening. After we had worked out the details of the musical evening, she asked if I had my morning coffee. I explained that I had to go out. 

“Don’t go. I will send you some coffee,” said Ms L. With the coffee came a sumptuous breakfast. The message that lunch would follow was music to my ears. Who would have thought there would be a connection between my thought of organising a musical evening and the supply of a day’s nutrition? The timing between her husband’s forgetting and remembering my phone call seemed perfect.

At another time, on outstation official work, I had to stay in the guest room attached to a student hostel, as my preferred accommodation was not available. I had made the compromise grudgingly. On arrival at the hostel, I was informed that since the mess had been closed, I would have to make my own arrangements for dinner. I still went to the dining hall to see if something could be arranged. I found Ajith, a student who had foregone the vacation. We got talking. Ajith offered to get me some food when he went out to get some for himself.

Later in the night, I was badly in need of medicine to deal with the indisposition that had set in. I contacted the warden who summoned Ajith. Knowing the area well, Ajith could find a chemist who did business at that hour. With the medicine doing its job, I was ready to attend to my duties. I wanted to thank Ajith. But he had left for his project work at daybreak.

The place and time were perfect for the quantum of help I was destined to receive.