After he was injured, Merwan explained the situation to the brother who forgave them. That was the first and last day of the field hockey team.
Merwan was not discouraged and next formed a soccer team. He received financial support from a good friend whose father was a leading merchant. Soccer practice went well for some time, but one day the same wealthy friend (who was acting as goalie) tried to catch the ball and badly injured his finger. Merwan wrapped his finger in a wet cloth and took him to a nearby Christian doctor who treated the injury. Then he escorted the boy home. After this incident, the soccer team was also disbanded and Merwan decided not to form any other teams.
One of Merwan's neighborhood friends, Khodu Irani, was also a student in the Poona Camp School. Khodu was a husky athlete who enjoyed Merwan's company (even though he was a few years older than Merwan). One evening Merwan, his brother Jamshed, and a group of boys were playing in the lane near their house. Jamshed and Khodu started quarreling and ended by wrestling on the ground. Khodu, who had the better of Jamshed, slapped him angrily and then ran off. Merwan had tried his best to prevent them from coming to blows, but Jamshed had a bad temper and would not listen.
Khodu mistakenly thought Merwan had been taking his brother's side and in anger had landed the first blow. As Khodu ran away, he turned to look back; Merwan, seeing this, picked up a stone and, throwing it, struck Khodu directly in the genitals. Khodu fell down crying in pain. Both Merwan and Jamshed were alarmed, and Jamshed ran into the house to inform their mother, leaving Merwan to aid Khodu. Fortunately, upon Merwan's inquiry, Khodu told him that the injury was not serious and that there was nothing to worry about. Both then explained their points of view, afterward shaking hands and remaining friends. Usually, whenever quarrels arose among the boys, Merwan was the one who would pacify both sides and reestablish a feeling of amity. He did this in such a manner that all concerned would then forget about the dispute.
Another of Merwan's close friends was a Christian boy named Ludovic "Louis" James Viegas, who was also strong and a good athlete. Louis was very fond of Merwan and, like Baily, was fiercely loyal to him.