This answer pleased Baba.
During February 1931, people from Nasik, as well as from distant places, came daily for Baba's darshan. Baba also went to Bombay a few times to attend to certain matters connected with his upcoming trip to Persia that had been kept secret thus far.
Once during this period, Baba called a meeting of the mandali and remarked,
"Now the situation is such that I have no more money. I am desperate for funds and can no longer provide you with food and clothing. If you are willing to starve, remain with me. From now on if you stay with me, you will have to undergo even greater privations. So all of you should seriously think this over and then give me your decision."
All agreed to stay, and Baba again warned,
"I am telling you the truth. I have no funds left and won't have any coming in. You will have to face more hardships now than ever before."
All were willing to remain with Baba, come what may.
On Saturday, 28 February 1931, Baba performed the opening ceremony of Rustom's new movie theater in Nasik. At the hands of the Master of the Universal Cinema, the Circle Cinema was officially declared open.1 A Charlie Chaplin comedy, Shoulder Arms , and another film were shown.
Several of the men were employed at Rustom's theater: Beheram was the projectionist, Buasaheb was the cashier, and others were apportioned different duties without wages. Rustom had agreed to provide their food, but he had gone so heavily into debt financing the theater that, at times when insufficient revenue was generated to meet operating expenses, arranging for the mandali's food became difficult.
After a four-day trip to Bombay with Rustom, Vishnu, Chanji, and Raosaheb, Baba returned to Nasik on Saturday, 18 April 1931 and convened a meeting of the mandali the next morning at 10:00 A.M. on the stage at Circle Cinema.
"I am leaving Nasik to remain in seclusion somewhere," he explained, "If I am to open my mouth [break my silence], I will come back in October; if not, I will remain in seclusion for an indefinite period. So it is better for you to understand your responsibilities, live for me and keep my pleasure."
Rustom said, "If all cooperate with me, this difficult time for me will pass." The mandali consented to cooperate with Rustom and stay in Nasik during Baba's seclusion, and Baba was very pleased.
Footnotes
- 1.In the beginning, the Circle Cinema was also known as the Meher Theatre.