While on board, Baba frequently remembered Aga Ali and would often kiss his photograph. Maruti Patil and Buasaheb became seasick during the voyage, and their treatment was arranged.
On the night of 21 September, the ship arrived in Karachi. Baba and the mandali were met by Pilamai, Baba's maternal aunt Banu Masi, and Merwan and Homi, her two sons who had been at the Meher Ashram school. The most distinguished among the few others waiting to receive them was the President of the Municipal Corporation of Karachi, Jamshed N. R. Mehta. Pilamai invited Baba to her house and he went there at 11:30 P.M., accompanied by Buasaheb and Vishnu.
Baba met with people until two in the morning, giving a discourse on divine love to Jamshed Mehta, 43, and praising the selfless service he was doing in Karachi to assist the downtrodden classes and lepers. Baba then stated:
Real worship is within — inside the heart — not in the outward muttering of words. To enter the spiritual path, one has to go beyond religious ceremonies. One cannot grasp Truth through the intellect, but, at present, people are averse to know even an iota of it!
All the disorder of the world is due to the mind. He who conquers it, conquers everything and is a real hero.
Baba woke early, had his bath and breakfast and was ready to leave at 5:00 A.M. Pilamai had been instructed to inform only a handful of lovers of Baba's arrival, but more than 50 persons came — relatives, acquaintances and neighbors. Banu Masi had not been feeling well, so Baba made arrangements in Karachi for an operation she needed and instructed his cousin Merwan to attend to her. His other cousin, Homi, wished to stay with Baba permanently. Baba gave him no answer then, but asked him to remind him about it on his return from Persia.
Baba and the mandali were driven back to the ship in the morning on Sunday, 22 September 1929, and they left Karachi the same day, amidst a loving farewell. During Baba's brief visit, Jamshed Mehta established a closeness with Baba and was to become a significant contact. He was a friend of Mahatma Gandhi and it was through Mehta's influence that Gandhi eventually came to meet Meher Baba.
During the rest of the voyage, Baba refused to come up on deck. The cabin he had been provided with was in the hold and the men were sweltering in the heat.
Baba remarked, "It's my luck. This place [the hold] is destined for me and I like it."
Later, he agreed to stroll on the upper deck — but only for five to fifteen minutes, no more.
On 24 September, Baba began goading Buasaheb.
Once while Baba was teasing him, Buasaheb, in his vexation, said something regrettable, and Baba advised him, "Learn to swallow your anger. Try to remain cheerful in all circumstances. Try to be humble and don't ever answer me back."