Louis had a courageous spirit and was generous and kind. He feared no one, not even the older boys. Louis had little interest in his studies, but because he was intelligent, he would always manage to pass his courses. He was quick-witted, humorous and had much fun with Merwan.
One day a fight broke out between two Irani boys. Merwan tried to stop them from slugging each other, but the two boys were so angry he could not prevent the fistfight. As they rolled on the ground fighting, Louis yelled, "Are you going to listen to Merwan or not? Otherwise, I will knock both your blocks off." Frightened by Louis' threat, the boys stopped fighting, though they were still seething within. Then, in his soothing fashion as only he could do, Merwan prevailed upon them to forgive each other and be friends again. The boys embraced and their mutual adolescent anger and bitterness subsided.
As mentioned, many of the boys would often come to Merwan to settle any dispute. If, despite Merwan's attempts to defuse the situation, they kept fighting, Merwan would summon two larger boys who were muscular wrestlers as his "enforcers." Usually the threat to call in these enforcers was enough to stop the boys from fighting.1
Merwan developed a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was neither an elitist nor did he pay importance to the respect given to him, even though older boys in the upper classes also esteemed him. In some ways, Merwan was even then venerated; however, he realized at a young age that God did not accept an egotist. It was said that Merwan inherited his father's good-natured, saintly temperament. Sheriarji was highly regarded as a person and as a businessman of great integrity and unquestionable honesty. Even he respected his son: Every time Merwan came into the room, Sheriarji would stand up.
In his youth, Merwan would often sit on the doorsteps of his house gazing at the stars and moon for hours. At times his friends would join him, but he would become so absorbed that he would seemingly lose himself — neither replying to their questions nor sharing in their conversation.
Late night and early morning were the best opportunities for Baily to be with Merwan since, as mentioned previously, Memo did not like him. "In those days, very few people were on the street after dark," Baily explained. "At such times of complete quietude and peace, Merwan and I would meet at nine o'clock and continue to talk till midnight or two o'clock in the morning and pass our time in this manner."
Footnotes
- 1.Baba himself narrated this story to the author.