The attention he paid to such unsavory characters amazed his associates. These older men, in turn, trusted Merwan Seth implicitly and treated him with deference. One old man who was particularly fond of Merwan Seth was an opium addict. The man used to give massages to earn money to support his habit and hardly ever spent his earnings on food or clothes. He lived in the neighborhood streets of Kasba Peth and would visit the toddyshop often, sitting for hours talking with Merwan. At night he slept on the pavement. One day this man requested of Merwan, "Do me a favor. If anything happens to me, I have kept some money aside and I will put it in your trust. I want you to use that money for my funeral." Merwan Seth promised.
After some time the man died. Merwan arranged for the man's burial, but it turned out to be more like a celebration than a funeral. There was a parade with three bands, bright Petromax lanterns and flowers of all varieties garlanding his body.1 People rushed out of their homes to see the cause of such an unusual procession. After the man was buried, hundreds of the poorest, most destitute people of the city were fed in his name, with Merwan Seth personally supervising the meal.
Other men who suffered similar afflictions of alcohol and narcotic abuse also came to the toddyshop seeking Merwan Seth's advice or merely his sympathy. He never told them, "Listen to me!" or "You must obey me!" It was simply natural for those who came in his contact to listen seriously to his advice and obey his instructions.
For example, one man who sold ice cream in Poona was called Kaikhushru Icecreamwala. Kaikhushru and his wife were childless, but he loved Merwan Seth as his own son. Kaikhushru was a drunkard, and his wife complained to Merwan Seth about his drinking.
Merwan Seth told him, "Look, you are spoiling your health. Stop drinking. I will give you a free bottle of toddy every day if you do so."
Kaikhushru tried to stop, but sometimes he would become so angry he would take a drink to calm himself. But he would always come to Merwan Seth to confess his breach.
Merwanji would ask him, "Why did you break your promise? You should have come to me and I would have given you something. Next time, remember."
Merwan Seth would spend the profits from the toddyshop on the temple prasad or give it away to beggars or sadhus who sought alms at the shop's doorstep.
Footnotes
- 1.A Petromax lantern is a bright light of 400 candlepower.