In Ahmedabad, when a infant or an adult is sick, parents often take the infant to a tiny dwelling in the Old City. In a Jain neighbourhood, the humble shrine (gokhlo) of Hasti Bibi; she was an empathetic Muslim woman who had the ability to heal people through laughter which has also accorded to her saint like status. Hasti Bibi (the laughing saint) does not stop to check whether the teary eyes of the par- ents are of a Hindu or Muslim. A 29 years old owner of a jewellery shop opposite to the shrine prays to her every day. He says that "During exams, we used to keep our pen at the shrine before we left for the exam centre. Whenever I am faced with any problem, I come to Hasti Bibi for help and she has always made me smile,” As a young boy he was brought to the shrine by his father frequently. The gokhlo is a simple structure with a marble cavity and a clay lamp resting on bed of roses and mogra (small white flavour which has an exotic aroma). The most endearing feature of this structure was the fairly low built in order to let the child peer in. Hasti Bibi was a family member of Hazrat Sheikh Bin Abudullah Al Edrus, a sufi saint, many believe that she was given a boon by Allah (God) that whoever comes to her doorstep with any worries will be smiling towards the end of their stay due to her pious nature and devotion. Although the area is sensitive, both Hindus and Muslims worship at the shrine on Thursdays. People from all over Ahmedabad come to the shrine on Thursdays from 6pm onwards until late at night.
