My Mother — Page 153
Farewell 153 Then she enquired from Shukrullah Khan’s wife, ‘Have you brought my box?’ She was puzzled and asked, ‘Which box?’ She explained, ‘The one that contains the sheets that are to serve as my shroud. ’ Her daughter-in-law excused herself with, ‘I had no notion that the box was in Daska. Besides, we left in such a hurry that we could think of nothing else. ’ My wife had told me that before my arrival in Delhi, Mother had given her instructions that at Qadian she should not be taken to her suite on the first floor and had indicated the place on the ground floor where her body should be washed and laid out. Now she repeated these instructions to me, whereupon my wife pointed out that the place was too small and was exposed. Mother said: ‘Before leaving Qadian I had a good look round. That place is very suitable. It is neither too small nor is it exposed. It is secluded and is quite adequate for the purpose. ’ In the meantime, the civil surgeon had arrived and the two doctors were in consultation. I told them that if for proper treat- ment it was necessary for their patient to stay on in Delhi she would do it, but if in their opinion medical resources had been exhausted I would, in conformity with her wish, arrange to take her to Qadian. They said that so far the heart had not responded to treatment. Now they were going to give her a couple of new injections, the heart’s reaction to which would be known after three quarters of an hour. It was only then that they would be in a position to answer my question. The injections were given and I waited. About 5:00 p. m. the doctors told me that the heart was