Baba then ate the meal. Afterward, Dina asked Baba, "How did you know that someone had touched something? You were here when the food was being cooked in the kitchen."
Baba spelled out, "Does it behoove you to ask such silly questions? Of course I knew; that lime told me what happened. That is how I came to know about it."
This made Dina burst out laughing, but thereafter she was more cautious when preparing Baba's food and in carrying out his orders.
Word of Meher Baba's presence spread throughout Bombay, and new people wanting his darshan thronged to the house at Kandivli from morning to night. Due to Chanji's tireless efforts, (in contrast to the current opposition raging in the Gujarati press), many Zoroastrians came to know the true facts about Meher Baba's activities. For most, their doubts were dispelled the moment they met Baba in person. Some of those who had vilified him came to be his staunch supporters. Thus those who were spreading antagonistic publicity were in fact doing Baba's work. But to bear such hostile criticisms was difficult for Baba's early followers.
"Only the Avatar could overcome such contrary conditions and diffuse the rays of love's light," Age reflected. "The story of the Avatar's work is one of both sorrow and joy which he dedicates to the world with a loving smile from his cross."
Munshiji, Sayyed Saheb, and Usman Saheb came to Kandivli on the 14th and spent the night.1
On 15 September Baba took an early morning walk in the garden, before the daily stream of visitors began. Two or three times he lay down on the ground or grass for a few minutes. Dinshaw Marker and Pilamai had interviews that day. Baba sat upstairs on the balcony until 10:30 A.M., giving his company to Munshiji, Sayyed Saheb, Gustadji, Ramjoo, Buasaheb, and Chanji. Vishnu came and asked permission to go into Bombay with Chhota Baba and Jalbhai, and Baba permitted it, but told them not to spend any money. Rustom arrived from Nasik the same day.
Baba served lunch to those who had come, before going to Pudumjee's residence and then to the Reclamation Grounds to watch a cricket match. When he returned at 4:30 P.M. the house was full of more devotees seeking darshan. Again Baba served dinner to all, and then went for a walk in the gardens.
To a man named Mr. Anthony who had come, Baba remarked, "I come alone, I go alone. I am all."
Gramophone records were played until 10:30 P.M.
Footnotes
- 1.S. M. Usman was a former devotee from the Poona Jhopdi days, who had first introduced Ramjoo to Baba.