My Mother — Page 8
8 exploited it and blackmailed ignorant, superstitious women on its basis. Within a day or two of the arrival of Zafar and his mother, Jai Devi called on the latter and having greeted her demanded certain articles of clothing and a small quantity of provisions in a minatory tone. The response she received was: ‘You are a poor widow. If you were to ask for alms or charity, I would be happy to help you according to my means; but, I do not hold with witch- craft or sorcery. I believe in Allah alone as Master of life and death, and do not recognise any other power in these matters. I consider such claims as blasphemous and abhor them. I am not prepared to yield anything to you on that basis. ’ Jai Devi rejoined: ‘You had better think again. If you desire your baby to live, you will have to comply with my demand. ’ A few days later, when his mother was washing Zafar, Jai Devi appeared again, and, pointing to the baby, enquired: ‘Is that then the Sahi prince?’ His mother answered: ‘Yes, indeed. ’ Thereupon Jai Devi repeated her demand, and was met with the same response, on which being somewhat affronted she mut- tered: ‘Well, then, if you take him back alive, you may account me false’; and departed in a huff. Zafar’s mother affirmed: ‘It will be as God wills. ’ Jai Devi could have scarcely reached the outer door and Zafar was still being washed when he suddenly vomited and purged blood. Within min utes he lost consciousness and, in a few hours, he died. His mother supplicated, ‘Allah, Thou didst give, and Thou hast taken away. I submit to Thy will. Do Thou bestow steadfast- ness on me. ’ She returned to Daska bereaved. A year or two later her second child, Rafiq, was born, even