First Grain of Sand — Page 174
158 FIRST GRAIN OF SAND food items I wanted him to order, the same way that other prison- ers would commonly give money to order things for themselves. In a short time, he brought back small quantities of good quality bread, some butter, eggs, grapes, etc. , and he returned the check to me. At that moment, seeing these items before me and remember- ing the food I had to eat during my captivity, I sincerely thanked God Almighty while tears rolled down my face as I reflected on how my Lord had completely changed my circumstances. The next day, I ordered a shirt, a pair of shoes, and other essential items that I needed. I remained in this cell for twenty additional days, after which soldiers came to my room instructing me to get ready as I would be taken via train to Baku [a coastal city in present-day Azerbaijan], and from there I would be taken by ship [across the Caspian Sea] to the Iranian port city called Anzali [also known as Bandar-e Anzali], where I would be free to go. Many more prisoners were to be released with me at the same time. I was taken out from the prison cell and taken downstairs to a large hall. As we left the hall and headed towards the train station, I looked closely at the walls and ceiling of the room, sighed, and these words came from my heart: 'I am now leaving this country to go back home. Only God knows whether it will ever be possi- ble for me to come back here again. Many times during my captivity in Moscow I would remem- ber the prophecy of the Promised Messiahas when he said: روس کا عصا میرے ہاتھ میں ہے The sceptre [of the Czar] of Russia is in my hand.