Ghani acted accordingly, but instead of his business prospering, there was further financial loss. One day Baba asked him, "If I permitted you to live in the Manzil, would you be able to return here by seven o'clock every evening after your dispensary closes?" Ghani replied that it was not possible. Baba then said, "According to the Manzil's rules, you must return by seven o'clock. It is better if you now dispose of your dispensary altogether and live with me." Ghani agreed and, on 12 July 1922, he closed his dispensary for good, and was given a single room at the Manzil. This is what Baba had meant by "success," but it was not the kind of prosperity Ghani had envisioned. A few months later, the dispensary's turnover improved in the hands of a new doctor.
Ghani was a chain smoker and a habitual tea drinker, but once he took up residence in the Manzil, Baba ordered him not to smoke more than six cigarettes or drink more than four cups of tea a day. After a few days, Baba noticed smoke coming out of Ghani's room for a long time. He opened the door and saw that Ghani had fashioned a two-foot-long cigarette. "Baba, you told me I could smoke six cigarettes a day," Ghani said, "but you didn't mention the size!" He used the same reasoning to drink four cups of tea from a huge mug. Baba laughed, but told him that from then on he was restricted to six standard cigarettes and four normal-sized cups of tea.
It was well known among the men that in his youth the Master was an accomplished poet and loved to quote the poetry of Hafiz. On 19 July, Baba requested that a few of the men start composing poetry and encouraged them in their efforts. He told them to try with all their hearts, without caring if the poems were "polished." They would write something when they could find time during the day, and in the evening proudly read it out before all. It was a good pastime for those concerned, and the men enjoyed it.
Asar Saheb wrote this couplet:
One is hiding in the Manzil; If my veil is removed, I will assert it is God!
Dr. Ghani composed this ghazal:
O Meher, your love has made us forget everything, Although we remember your stories and discourses. I have pledged myself to obey you, But you alone know what doubts plague my heart.
You had promised us God-realization, but we cannot describe How we have carved that promise in our hearts. We had never heard or dreamt of the pain and suffering that has overpowered us; Or the secrets that have been revealed to us.
May you, too, now determine to start for Medina, What dissimilar types of caravans are making their way there! O Meher, the suffering which Ghani is passing through in your name — and because of your friendship — is indescribable!1
Rustom Jafrabadi's poetic spirit was roused when he heard about the new pastime of writing ghazals. This rustic fellow wished to try his hand at it, convinced his compositions would transcend the Persian poets Saadi and Hafiz!
Footnotes
- 1.Medina is a holy city of Muslim pilgrimage, being the home of Prophet Muhammad. In this instance, Ghani is using it as a reference to the Goal; and by "different caravans" he means the different religions and castes of men staying in the Manzil.