Khodadad Masa managed several flourishing teashops in Bombay and they lived in a large house with a spacious compound where the children played. Merwan's paternal uncle, Khodadad Kaka, and members of his family had also settled in Bombay, and Merwan would visit them as well, befriending Khodadad Kaka's sons.
After some time, Dowla Masi, Faredoon Masa and Jamshed moved back to Poona for Jamshed's high school education. Here, too, the couple opened a restaurant. Jamshed, though he had lived apart from his parents for some years, always felt very close to his younger brother. From the time they were babies, the two brothers had been raised more like twins. For example, whenever it was Jamshed's birthday, Dowla Masi would insist that Merwan receive the same gift (such as an identical suit of clothes) so that whenever any new toy or gift was bought for one, the other brother would receive the same as well.
Once during the kite flying season in Poona, Merwan, Jamshed and several of their friends went to watch the spectacle of dozens of kites being flown in a nearby field. As described previously, the strings of the kites were coated with glass so that when they were maneuvered across each other in the sky, one string would cut the string of another kite. Whoever retrieved the fallen kite could claim ownership. The moment a kite started falling, there would be an excited scramble as the boys ran toward it.
On this particular day, many children had gathered and were watching the competition intently, eagerly awaiting the running dash for a falling kite. Soon, one kite's string was cut and it started spiraling down from the sky. Merwan and his friends ran toward it, along with several other boys.
But in the midst of their scramble, Merwan, who was in the lead, suddenly halted and asked, "Where is my brother?"
The boys replied, "Oh, he is somewhere behind. Come on, Merwan, let's go."
Concerned, Merwan again implored, "Where is my brother?"
But Jamshed was nowhere to be seen in the wide field.
Merwan said, "We must go back and find Jamshed."
The others agreed and began to retrace their steps.
While they had been running, Jamshed had stumbled into an open sewer hole and was clinging to the edge. He was so frightened he could not even shout for help. When Merwan and his friends found Jamshed, they were able to pull him out.