One day a person who was familiar with Baba came to him and poured forth his tale of being reduced to poverty.
Baba frankly explained to him, "I have no money at all. My mandali go hungry and I myself am looking for someone to arrange for their food. My mandali consist of such gems that they consider it an ordinary thing to sacrifice their lives for my cause."
The man remained quiet and then went away.
Sending for Buasaheb, Baba directed him, "Follow that man and give him Rs.100."
Buasaheb looked astonished and said, "Day and night we rack our brains trying to make ends meet! And you want to give him Rs.100?"
Baba exclaimed, "Pay him Rs.200!"
Buasaheb was taken aback, but he wisely kept quiet. He thought: "Knowing Baba, if I say anything more, the figure will jump from Rs.200 to 500." So he prudently exited and gave the man Rs.200.
During this period, a young man from Poona named Minoo Bharucha, 25, came into the Master's contact. Minoo had gone to school with Jalbhai, and was a friend of Beheram and Adi Jr., also. Minoo was working in Nasik as an electrical engineer and one day happened to meet Beheram on the road. After Minoo casually asked what he was doing in Nasik, Beheram told him of his elder brother and took him to meet Baba at the Circle Cinema. Being a Parsi, Minoo was at first perplexed when he saw people bowing to Baba. However, he soon became a regular visitor and learned more about Meher Baba's spiritual status. After reading some books, he became a devoted follower of Meher Baba and also of Upasni Maharaj.
Baba had not informed anyone of his future plans. On Wednesday, 22 April 1931, he and a small group quietly left Nasik at 3:00 A.M. by train for Poona. After spending a day there and in Talegaon, he was driven to Bombay (in Vithal Bhokre's car) and left for Lahore by the Frontier Mail train on the 26th, accompanied by Aga Ali, Buasaheb, Chanji, Gustadji, and Raosaheb.
Reaching Lahore on the 28th, and leaving Buasaheb, Gustadji and Raosaheb there, Baba departed for Karachi with Aga Ali and Chanji. They arrived in Karachi the next day and stayed at Pilamai's house.
To please Ali, Baba often remarked, "In these hard times — with the hopeless situation all around — Ali is the only source of solace and comfort to me."