Moments later, Merwan also woke for the same purpose. Both went outside to the compound's urinal, but they did not see each other in the pitch-dark. Standing outside with his trousers unbuttoned, Faredoon Masa saw the shadow of a figure emerge from the house. He did not know it was Merwan and became afraid, thinking it was an intruder and called out for Dowla Masi to come. Not knowing his uncle was outside, Merwan, thinking he was hearing a ghost or robber, also cried out for Dowla Masi, though he was actually not afraid. Their shouts awakened her and she brought a lantern. She found Faredoon Masa and Merwan in their underwear on opposite sides of the courtyard. Everyone laughed at the situation, and later the incident was humorously recounted many times.1
Dowla Masi and Faredoon Masa owned a successful restaurant in Lonavla. It was noticed that every time Merwan visited, a mast (God-intoxicated person) and a wali (saint) would come to the restaurant. The ragged mast would stay seated outside, while the neatly dressed wali would enter. Both advanced souls were venerated by the townspeople, and both lived on the outskirts of the town, seldom leaving their spiritual seats. Yet, no sooner would Merwan arrive in Lonavla than both would appear at the restaurant and remain daily from morning until night.
The local people tried to offer the mast and wali tea or food, but they would accept things only from the young boy. Merwan would usually give the wali tea and the mast a loaf of bread. On the day Merwan would return to Poona, both spiritual personages would stop coming to the restaurant — much to the curiosity of the local observers.
One of the restaurant's regular customers was a curiosity in himself, a hunchback Muslim who was a superb storyteller. The clientele would often press him for a tale, listening enthralled to his stories of adventure and fantasy, plying him with tea and beedies (hand-rolled cigarettes) far into the night. Often a single story would take a whole week. Merwan was fascinated with this strange hunchback and would always listen to his tales.
Merwan also loved to hike in the dense, hilly forest surrounding Lonavla; he usually roamed alone.
Sometimes, Merwan would visit Bombay and spend part of his vacation with his other maternal aunt and uncle, Banu Masi and Khodadad Masa and their children.
Footnotes
- 1.This incident in Lonavla was also told to the author by Baba.