Fortunately, they were just in time, as the municipality was about to release a torrent of water through the sewer and Jamshed could have drowned.
The sewage spoiled Jamshed's clothing and he arrived home foul-smelling and soaking wet. Upon seeing him, Memo scolded him sharply. Jamshed started crying, which made Memo even more upset. She made Jamshed stay outside, refusing to permit him to enter the house in his filthy condition during dinnertime. Merwan, feeling sorry for his brother, inconspicuously went outside with several buckets of water and washed all Jamshed's clothing himself.
Although Jamshed and Merwan loved each other, the two — like most brothers — would also fight. Jamshed was hot-tempered and rash by nature; Merwan was not aggressive and seldom expressed anger. Both had been pampered — Jamshed by Dowla Masi and Merwan by Memo — but Merwan never acted spoiled. Jamshed had a wicked tongue and the boys frequently disagreed. When Jamshed lost control of his anger, Merwan would not say a word, but would ignore him. Merwan's indifference enraged Jamshed even more and caused a bigger ruckus. Jamshed feared his mother's frequent scolding and punishment, so the elder brother would refrain from picking on his younger brother if Memo were home.
At times Merwan would even accept the punishment for his older brother's mischief, as this incident from Baily reveals:
It so happened that once Merwan's mother told his elder brother Jamshed (whom we called Jam) to make some purchases from the cantonment market, and Jamshed asked Merwan to accompany him. Merwan was absorbed in his studies and was disinclined to go, but his brother persisted so he agreed.
Jamshed, who had a rough nature, was not in the mood to go shopping and was upset that his mother insisted he do this errand. On the way, Jamshed collided with a smaller Muslim boy and both of them started arguing about who was at fault. Merwan tried to pacify them, but, in the heat of the moment, the Muslim boy uttered a particular word of abuse that made Jamshed lose his temper. Without regarding the consequences, he slapped the boy across the face and was about to do so again when Merwan intervened by thrusting the Muslim boy aside and taking the slap himself.
As soon as Jamshed's hand touched Merwan's face, he calmed down and they continued to the market. A crowd had gathered on the road and witnessed how Merwan took the slap in defense of the smaller boy.