My Mother — Page 54
54 should go and fetch your sister and should be told not to delay their arrival beyond the afternoon of Thursday. They should all be warned to treat this intimation as strictly confidential, for other- wise everyone would run up to Lahore. ’ She added: ‘Instruct someone to order a coffin for him which should be ready by Thursday afternoon. Also arrange that the transportation needed for the journey to Qadian should be avail- able at 2:00 a. m. on Friday. ’ Except for a slight difficulty in breathing, my father did not appear to have any other trouble. He was in full possession of his faculties, was fully conscious and carried on conversation. Only he was progressively becoming weaker. On the morning of Wednesday, September 1, finding myself alone with him, I said to him, ‘I trust you will not feel lonely. The separation will not be long. We will soon be reunited. ’ He responded, ‘I am well content with whatever may be my Master’s pleasure. ’ During the afternoon, suggested that I might recite the 36th Chapter of the Holy Quran to him. I asked him whether he would wish to listen to the recitation. He signified assent. After I finished the recitation I enquired whether he would wish me to recite any other portion. He said, ‘I am finding it difficult to concentrate. ’ My brothers, Shukrullah Khan and Asadullah Khan, and some other close relations arrived later that day. On Thursday, September 2, his breathing became normal. He was getting weaker, but was fully conscious. Occasionally he dozed. He told he was completely at rest and when he dozed, he saw that the room was full of flowers that yielded