Ahmed became acquainted with Merwan Seth during 1914, soon after Babajan had given him God-realization. But it was only later, when Merwan had the toddyshop in Kasba Peth, that Ahmed began following him as his Master.
After working at the toddyshop in the morning, Merwan Seth would go home and have only a small vegetarian lunch. Then, going to his room, he would start striking his forehead on the flagstone floor for as long as four hours. If he did not do this grim practice at home, he would go to a secluded spot near Fergusson College or to an area known as Jangti Pir (instead of the Tower of Silence or the Golibar area, as before).1
Once when Merwan was banging his head on the floor at home, his mother heard a thudding sound coming from his room. The room was always kept closed so she was never aware of what he was doing. But this particular day, Memo pushed the door open and was aghast at what she saw. She shrieked loudly and Bobo, Jal and Beheram came running.
Merwan had blood all over his face. Crying, she asked, "Merog, have you gone mad? Are you insane?"
Wiping the blood off with a towel, he said, "I am not mad! I have become something else!"
Disgusted, Memo turned to Bobo and complained, "Look at your son! Who else but a madman would bang his head on the floor?"
Bobo tried to defend Merwan, "No, Shireen, it is not so. It is the other way around. Merog is not mad, believe me."
" You are also mad!" Memo declared. She was terribly upset after seeing Merwan's strange behavior and became increasingly worried that her dearest son really was now incurably insane. Memo wept bitterly, cursing Babajan, Upasni Maharaj, Sai Baba and all the other "holy men" who had ruined her son's beautiful life.
During this period while he was regaining his gross human consciousness, Merwan would usually go out with his close companions at five in the afternoon for a walk, a picnic or to a field to play cricket or games such as atya-patya or gilli-danda. After playing, all his friends would be treated to refreshments of sweets, fruits or tea.2 On these occasions, Merwan would spend between five to ten rupees, which in those days was a lavish amount. In a natural manner, all his friends would speak openly and honestly with him about their lives.
Footnotes
- 1.Jangti Pir may be referring to the area in the vicinity of Jangli Maharaj's samadhi.
- 2.Atya-patya is played by teams in a large rectangular field with many horizontal lines and one bisecting vertical line. Each side attempts to reach the other's goal without being tagged.