In the evening Baily suggested they name the bungalow and all supported him. Baba and Baily's joint suggestion of Halt Ho was adjudged the best.
The bungalow was rented for two months, and all were under the impression that they would be staying there for at least that long. The men informed their families of their safe arrival and accordingly told them to write them at the Halt Ho address.
But the very next day, Baba said, "I have now decided we will immediately go to Basra [in Iraq], where we will pass the interim period before going to Persia via Baghdad. By then the cold in Baghdad and snowfall in Persia will have stopped."
Baba's statement was a shock to the mandali, but since leaving Manzil-e-Meem they had become accustomed to wandering from place to place and kept quiet. A telegram was sent to Vajifdar requesting funds and their passports. Baily inquired about the next passenger ship leaving for Basra and informed the landlord about their change of plans. Thus peaceful Halt Ho turned into a noisy den of activity as they prepared to leave for Iraq.
However, Baily brought news that Basra was in the grip of a cold wave and full of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. He also reported that he had been unable to contact either the Persian Consulate about their passports and visas, or the owner of the bungalow. So plans for the Basra trip were canceled, and it was decided to continue their stay in Halt Ho for a while longer.
Babajan, at times, would refer to someone saying, "No langoti round the waist, and named Fateh Khan."1 On 19 November, Baba repeated this phrase and asked Ghani if he understood what it meant.
Ghani replied humorously, "While his bottom is bare, the man brags of his self-importance! It means to pose as being rich, though being poor, and to go about with your nose arrogantly stuck up in the air, as if you are a great man."
The reason Ghani was asked about this was that, despite Baba's order, Ghani would still awaken late every morning. Baba reprimanded him repeatedly for this and as a punishment ordered Ghani and Ramjoo to both awaken each morning by four o'clock and, after taking cold baths, to go to the mosque for prayers.
Baba instructed the men that as long as they were in Karachi, with the exception of Gustadji, all of them should find jobs.
Footnotes
- 1." Gane me langoti nahin aur nam Fateh Khan."