My Mother — Page 7
chapter two Trial of Faith T he advent of a lovely male child was a Divine favour that filled the mother’s heart to overflowing with humble gratitude to the Bestower of all bounties. It made the long periods of separation from her husband more easily endurable; it cemented even closer the bond between them. The baby was named Zafar, and from the very first day occupied the foremost place in his proud grandfather’s heart. He was the light of his par- ents’ eyes and filled their lives with sunshine, even though most of the time one was away in distant Lahore and the other had him in her lap. Zafar was only a few months old when his mother had occa- sion to visit her parents at Data Zaidka. She naturally took the baby with her, which delighted the hearts of her parents, who idolised their lively and lovely little grandson. There was at that time in the village a Hindu widow, Jai Devi, who had earned the reputation of being a witch. Far from resenting her ill repute she