He bowed down and stretched himself on the floor at Baba's feet and wept. After coming out of Baba's room, he exclaimed to people, "Today, I have met God!"
On the 25th and 26th, Baba was shown different places in Yezd as suitable spots for his seclusion, but he failed to find a place that met his requirements. He also visited Baidul's house in the suburb of Jafrabad where he met Baidul's wife Soltoon and other relatives. Baba requested Soltoon to prepare lunch, but he was in such a hurry to eat, he did not allow her to cook the rice properly. Rushing the meal, Baba took all the pots to the dining room where he served the mandali and others. Soltoon tried to stop him, saying that the rice was not cooked properly. But when Baba asked each person if it was uncooked, they all replied that it was excellent — much to Soltoon's amazement.
On Sunday, 27 October, the group went to the suburb of Mubarka where Baba met Buasaheb's father Faredoon. Aga Ali's relatives also lived in Mubarka and the group visited their home as well. However, the relatives insisted on keeping the boy with them and would not allow Ali to travel with Baba any further. Baba was naturally unhappy over the situation, but instructed the mandali to let Ali stay.
One of the mandali recorded at the time:
When Baba saw Ali in Mubarka, he felt very much, because Ali had become very weak and his face was pale and ghemgin [feverish]. And so Baba afterwards wept very much, and seeing this the mandali said how fortunate Ali is that Baba loves him so much.
Because of this disturbing incident, Ali Akbar and Chhota Baba were also sent back to their homes in Persia. Baba again had tears in his eyes when he bid Chhota Baba farewell.1
Aga Ali's relatives were so opposed to Meher Baba that one of his uncles actually hid a pistol in his boot, intending to kill Baba! But when the man came face to face with Baba, he completely forgot what he had come to do and bowed to him, taking darshan instead. He later repented for his ill-intended plan and sent Baba a large basket of peaches as a gift and token of his newly acquired admiration.
Jalbhai and Maruti Patil returned to India at this time. From Mubarka, Baba decided to visit Khorramshah, the birthplace of his grandfather Moondegar and father Sheriarji.
Footnotes
- 1.Chhota Baba was never to see Meher Baba again. He settled in Bandar Abbas. He was employed for a time by the Anglo-Persian oil company, but was falsely imprisoned for suspected spying. Afterwards, Meherjee employed him as the manager of his business in Bandar Abbas. Chhota Baba then did volunteer work for the equivalent of the Iranian Red Cross for 27 years. He never had any further spiritual experiences. Years later, he reflected: "Even though I departed from [Baba] and lost the inner consciousness of what I was allowed to experience by Baba — what I attained in the Path — I was graced with character for life in the world — the worldly life in trade, in business, in community, with my neighbors, friends, dealings. In all that, I have chosen the path of righteousness, truthfulness, sincerity, and have not even a liking for material and worldly things as others do... I am happy that this result that I have is due to the life and due to the love that Meher Baba gave." Ramjoo's Diaries (Sufism Reoriented: Walnut Creek, 1979), p. 548.