Daily, Bhau began fetching Ismail and escorting him back to his house in the evenings.
“”Again, after several days passed, Baba reprimanded, "You are not taking proper care of Ismail. It is so hot, and you are bringing him unprotected in this heat! If his health suffers, his studies will be ruined, and you won't be able to help him pass his exam in one year — and that would be disobeying me! Bring him to Rosewood shielded by an umbrella, so that he won't be affected by the sun. What help I am giving you! Do you ever think about it?"
Therefore, Bhau had to begin holding an umbrella over Ismail's head, while the neighbors were wondering why so much honor and respect was being showered on a poor boy who used to collect cowdung! At first, Ismail was studying well, but the more he was pampered, the more careless he became toward his studies — and the more he began arrogantly troubling Bhau.
“”Several days later, Baba instructed Bhau, "Bring Ismail to Grafton every day. He needs some refreshments to maintain his health and he will also be more attentive to his studies!"
So Bhau would take the boy to Grafton, with the umbrella over his head, and Baba would make him sit on the sofa in front of him, while Bhau remained standing. Such was the teacher's condition: the pupil was sitting comfortably on the sofa, and the teacher had to stand before him. Goher would bring a tray full of eatables and a glass of sherbet, and Bhau would offer them to Ismail. And when the boy finished, Bhau had to wash his plate and glass.
This heaping of indulgences on Ismail made a dent in Bhau's forbearance. The room in which Bhau was tutoring him contained a bed, and Ismail would lie down on it. When Bhau would tell him to read, he would say, "Just wait a minute. I am tired, let me rest. I will read afterwards." At times, relaxing against some pillows, he would stretch out his legs, and when Bhau would ask him to be attentive to his studies, he would reply, "You read, I will listen. It is your duty to teach me; continue lecturing for two hours."
The result of all this was that Ismail would not learn anything. Even after hours of persuasion, he would say, "What is there in your teaching? If Baba's nazar is there, I will learn everything in a second!" Baba would go on praising Ismail and castigating Bhau. This happened almost daily. But Ismail did do one good thing for Bhau. Once he told Baba, "I don't like Bhau's mustache. He accompanies me from my home every day, and people laugh at him!" So Baba immediately ordered Bhau to shave off his Chinese mustache, and that was just fine with Bhau.
