FOR THE SAKE OF THE LOVE OF HIS ONE LOVER

 
In those times, it was typical for an Indian wife to follow her husband wherever he wished to go. And besides, Mummy loved Meher Baba, and she knew that He would never let her or her children be harmed. She felt that she could trust Baba more than she could trust her husband. There was, therefore, no question of what her answer would be.

"I go where you go," Mummy told Father. She was willing to sacrifice all so that our futures would be secure with Baba, and no matter what suffering she endured from that time on, she did not complain, but bore it silently as Baba's will.

When Father returned to Baba with that message, Baba agreed to keep not only Father in the ashram, but also Mummy, Hilloo, Adi and me, as well as Banufui, my mother's retarded paternal aunt (this kinship term is indicated by the suffix fui), who had come to live with us after the death of the sister who had been caring for her.

How compassionate Baba was. For the sake of the love of His one lover, Savak, the Lord took upon Himself the burden of an entire family. Years later, as an adult, I would come to realize why Baba had mostly unmarried individuals in His ashram, for it is much easier to lead a spiritual life if one does not have a partner and children.

A child's mind cannot understand the reason for a parent's neglect, and it leaves scars on both the heart and mind. Baba gave great importance to one's duty toward his family, which is why he had stopped Father from coming to Ahmednagar before I was born. But Father's inattention upset me, and I was always comparing my life with the lives of other children. Little did I know how much Father was suffering as well. As I look back now, I understand fully what an invaluable gift he gave the three of us.