Some time ago, the British Consul in Bombay had, in fact, sent instructions to all the Consulates along the coastal towns of Persia not to allow Meher Baba's return to India, because he had only a Persian passport and not a British one, having refused to sign his name. Unknown to the mandali at that time, it was for this reason that Baba had selected the hazardous and rigorous land route, crossing the border at Duzdab where the Consulate had not received these instructions.
An interesting incident occurred some months later. After their return to India, when Chanji again had occasion to meet the British Consul in Bombay regarding issuance of a passport for one of the mandali, the consul asked him, "Has your Master returned from Persia?"
"Yes, he came back several months ago," Chanji replied.
"Then he has started signing his name which he refused to do before?"
Chanji denied this, and the man asked, "Then how could he have entered British [Indian] territory without a visa?"
Chanji stated simply, "He is a Master, and nothing is impossible for him."
Puzzled, the consul queried, "By what port did he leave Persia?"
"He came by the land route, crossing through Duzdab."
The consul then exclaimed, "Oh, I see. Now I believe he is a Master — and Perfect, too!"
Although the consul did not pretend to understand anything about spirituality, he appreciated Baba's "work for humanity" and "teachings about the higher ideals of life." This incident, however, seemed to convince him of Baba's greatness and power.
Before leaving Duzdab, Buasaheb found another boy he thought would fit Baba's description and brought him to Baba. Baba dressed the lad in fine clothes and fed him, but sent him back. They then caught the Sunday train which was jam-packed with people.
A telegram was sent to Rusi in Quetta, and Baba remarked, "We won't linger in Quetta, but will go straight to Nasik."
They arrived at Spezand (a station fifteen miles south of Quetta) the next day, 11 November, where Pendu, Miya Khan, Rusi, his wife Khorshed, and a few others were waiting to welcome Baba back to India. Rusi had brought freshly cooked food for Baba and the mandali.
After acknowledging his pleasure with the meal, Baba leaned out of the train window and gestured to Rusi, "What is left for you to do in Quetta now? Leave it permanently!"
Rusi took this remark as a humorous sally and joked in return, "Where will we get such fine grapes if we leave our beloved Quetta? People come from all over the world just to taste the fruits of our land."