54. Pardon Me! |
Bapu used to observe silence every Sunday
after 3 p.m. On Sundays and Mondays some time would be reserved for visitors
or anyone who wanted to communicate with him. Once, only a few minutes
before 3 O’clock, Vallabhbhai said, “Come, now get done with whatever you
have to ask or say.” “You sound as if a ‘will’ is being prepared,” retorted
Mahadevbhai. Intervening them Bapu said, “If that is the case, let me also
register; pardon me for my misdeeds!” and there was a childlike smile on his
face. Fondly reminiscing an incident, he continued, “Ba would always say,
pardon me for my follies! Poor thing!” Vallabhbhai intervened, “Yes, but
when did she say that?” Bapu said, “Oh! She said so when police came to
arrest me. Tears would trickle down here face and she would mutter, ‘pardon
me if I erred!’ Poor thing! She must have thought that it was for the last
time that we were together; who knows if death would occur before being
forgiven.” |