The fact that Merwan never blinked made the Parsi man think that the young man was staring at his daughter. The family did not leave the bench, and when Merwan walked again in front of them, the father got up angrily, grabbed hold of Merwan and slapped him across the face. But Merwan was oblivious to what was happening and unconscious of his own physical body, so the slap had no effect on him. He did not react to the man's affront but continued as before — walking swiftly back and forth in front of the bench, staring straight ahead. The man could not stand it any longer and, thinking the young man to be unbalanced, finally left with his wife and daughter. Immediately, Merwan headed straight for the empty bench and settled himself in his usual manner until Jamshed arrived that evening to escort him to his room.
When Merwan returned to Poona in November of 1914, he became somewhat normal and started recognizing people and places around him. Yet his mind could still not concentrate on anything or premeditate any action, though his eyelids started to open and close as his vacant stare gradually disappeared. When this change was noticed, Merwan's family was greatly relieved and thought that he had been given a new chance in life. Merwan started eating again, but in very small quantities, feeding what remained on his plate to the dogs. Memo would constantly reprimand him about feeding stray animals, but he continued to do so behind her back.
For a long time Memo thought Merwan was eating all his food; she had no idea that he would take it to his room and hide it in his dresser drawer, a cupboard or behind the furniture, returning the plate empty. One day while Merwan was staying in Bombay with his brother Jamshed, Memo smelled something foul in the attic. She looked in every corner, but could find nothing. Finally, passing through Merwan's room, she smelled the odor even stronger and opened a small trunk by his bed. She was repulsed to find it full of decaying food and maggots. Merwan had neglected to dispose of the food before leaving and simply left it rotting in the trunk. Until then, Memo had reluctantly agreed to allow Merwan to prepare his own breakfast in his room and eat his meals there; however, from that day onward she watched him, making certain he took no food to his room and insisting that he sit at the dining table for his meals. Despite her vigilance, Merwan still somehow managed to eat very little and give the rest to the dogs.