Sheriar followed the man to a mud embankment that stretched all the way across the river. He was perplexed to see this natural bridge which he was certain he would have noticed earlier, and inwardly he began to praise God for His mercy.
Reaching the other side, Sheriar was about to thank the mysterious guide when the man took his hand in his and said, "There is no need to thank me. Now, hold on to my hand. I will take you to the town through a shortcut." The guide swiftly zigzagged through the darkness, talking cheerfully along the way. Sheriar felt a strange sensation as he held on listening to the man's conversation — as if the Earth were slipping away beneath his feet.
After a short time the lights of a town were visible, and before he knew it, he was walking in a bustling street. The guide took him to a paan and tobacco shop and said, "Wait for me here until eleven o'clock." Then he walked away. When it was nearly midnight, there was still no sign of his unknown friend. The shopkeeper was starting to close up for the night and Sheriar asked him, "How far is it from this town to the river?"
"Sixty miles," replied the shopkeeper casually.
Sheriar could not believe it. He had covered 60 miles in about half an hour. He then knew that God had sent an angel to help him and his heart cried out, "O Yezdan, You are infinitely loving! You are infinitely merciful! But why don't You allow me to have sight of You? My life is only for You. I love You and You alone."
Intense longing for God-realization overcame Sheriar. After the divine help he had experienced, his search for Truth became even more intense. He resolved within himself to sacrifice his very life in pursuit of his Beloved, and he vowed not to give up under any circumstance.
Saved from death by God's direct intervention, Sheriar roamed once more throughout India under the ever-present clouds of austerity and deprivation. Barefoot, bearded and in a dervish robe, he walked through streets, down lanes and alleys to contact saints and advanced souls, forgoing food or comfort to have their contact. At night, he would rest wherever he could — along a sidewalk, under a tree, or in a cave — often in dirt-filled or rock-strewn spaces.
