ChaptersChapter 3Page 277

Chapter 3: Manzil-E-Meem

1922Page 277 of 5,444
The nawab implored Baba for help in regaining the vast estate. Baba agreed to help him on the condition that, after gaining his inheritance, the nawab should financially help just one of the Master's devotees. The nawab promised but was puzzled as to how Baba would ever be able to recover the estate for him. He explained that the young prince who had usurped his title was backed by the government. Baba requested that he be patient and see what developed.
In a few days, the usurping prince suddenly died, and the nawab conveyed the news to Baba. Soon after, the nawab regained his inheritance; however, he failed to keep his promise and did not help any of the Master's poorer devotees. When reminded of this by the mandali, Baba told them to drop the matter and not remind the nawab about it.
During this period, a court case was brought to Baba's attention by Ramjoo's brother-in-law, Abdulla Haroon Jaffer. He informed the Master that after his father's death, his elder brother had wrongfully seized possession of the family's estate and a lawsuit over rightful ownership was proceeding in the local court. His brother, however, was an influential businessman, highly regarded in government circles, so Jaffer expressed little hope of winning the lawsuit.
Baba smiled, promising that Jaffer would win the lawsuit and added that he would be compensated Rs.30,000 from the estate, but remarked that it would not be his brother who would pay this settlement.
Jaffer's case dragged on for ten years, eventually reaching the high court, but in the end he won. True to Baba's words, Jaffer was paid exactly Rs.30,000 from the estate, but it was paid by his nephews, not his elder brother who had died. Jaffer was very happy at the outcome and expressed his gratitude to Baba by generously contributing to the Master's birthday celebration at Nasik in 1937 which, due to Jaffer's donation, was held on a very grand scale.
Daulatmai and her sister Freiny Masi would also visit Baba at his hut along Fergusson Road. Daulatmai's husband Jehangir had been a forest officer for the government and traveled throughout India in his work. Jehangir had died in middle age some years before, suffering a severe mastoid infection. Daulatmai resettled in Poona with her two daughters, Mehera and Piroja who had not yet met Baba.
As mentioned, Mehera was destined to become the Master's chief woman disciple.
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