They spread vicious rumors about Baba to torment Memo, but because of her strong character she never once faltered or bowed before such opposition.
For the past several years, Sheriarji had taken a poor young Irani lad named Mulog under his wing to help with the businesses. As time went on, Mulog had taken on more and more responsibilities and had become a partner in four of the toddyshops which Sheriarji owned.1 Bobo was a guileless person and fully trusted Mulog, whereas Shireenmai possessed a keen, intuitive intelligence and was not as easily fooled. One day Mulog called Bobo to his house and told him, "You are old. Why don't you allow me to look after the toddyshops? Wouldn't this be better for you? But if you agree, you must give your consent in writing, assigning responsibility to me. I have also purchased some additional acres of [toddy] trees and the deed requires your signature." Bobo was ready to stop working by this time. Mulog brought a stamp paper which he told Bobo to sign. The details in the contract were blank, but Mulog said he would fill in all that was required after consulting an attorney. Trusting him, Bobo did as he was asked.
Mulog proved to be a treacherous fellow and completed the document with false statements. After some time, he claimed to have become the owner of all four toddyshops and produced the signed contract to prove it. The case was taken to court and dragged on for several years. Memo was overwrought and consulted an attorney. He would tell Memo what to say in court and she, in turn, would make Bobo memorize the attorney's advice. The attorney told Bobo to tell the court simply that the signature on the contract was not his, but he refused to lie. Eventually the case was lost, and except for their house and a little money, Meher Baba's parents were defrauded of the business they rightfully owned.
Bobo tried to console Memo by saying, "We have lost nothing, but look at the suffering ahead of him and what he will have to pay in lives to come. Mulog will have to repay the debt in his future births."
Memo sardonically replied, "But I won't be there to see it!"
Although Memo had bitterly recriminated, and everyone felt sorry for Bobo, he was as always resigned to the will of God. He was not a vengeful man and his sympathies until the end were with the young man. Through a friend, he sent this message to Mulog:
I forgive you fully for what you have done. If there ever comes a time when you wish to ask my forgiveness, I may be dead because I am already an old man.
Footnotes
- 1.Sheriar had at one time owned as many as fifteen toddyshops in Poona and had 42 employees.