It thought back more than 30 years ... What a beautiful child little Merog had been, shining forth from a narrow lane in Poona ... Age had watched the child grow into a handsome youth, who excelled at everything he did ... It saw the youth as a brilliant college student ... Then the kiss by the Perfect Master Babajan. Age felt the impact of the stone hurled by Upasni Maharaj at Merwan's forehead. It watched the agony of Merwan's seven-year coming down. Soon the fishes began swimming to him, irresistibly drawn to the Master's net ... Arjun, Nervous, Munshiji, Sayyed Saheb, Ramjoo, Ghani, Vishnu and others ...
Age then found itself sitting under a starry sky outside Baba's Poona Jhopdi, listening to the strains of a qawaal. The numerous incidents of Baba's ten-month stay at Manzil-e-Meem flooded its memory ... The rough life of the early Meherabad days ... How Meherabad had blossomed into a bustling community — the schools, hospital, dharamshala — the visitors, discourses and endless hours devoted to the Prem Ashram boys ... The trouble the boys caused and the infusion of divine love to their hearts... "Love was singing in their tears," thought Age.
Age then looked towards Persia and reflected upon the hardships of Baba's three journeys there ... It remembered the 1924 tour of India when Baba had said he wished to be kicked by sadhus and saints ... And the foot journeys to Sakori and other places.
But Age thought most of Baba's hints about his own status and mission. In Shendi, when Baba had said, "The Avatar is now playing marbles" and more recently in his pointed explanations to Paul Brunton. "Was Baba about to declare himself as the Christ to his Western lovers?" Age wondered. "Would they believe him? How will they react? What leela will the Lord of the universe create in the Western Hemisphere?"
Wherever Baba has been — whatever he has done — the Wine has always been with him, Age pointed out, following him like a trail and leaving its indelible stain on the hearts of all he encountered! "How many cups has the Saki already filled brimming to overflowing? How many hearts have already been broken by one glance at his golden curls?"
How fortunate the West now is, Age thought. They have no idea about the Beloved, but they are about to taste the Beloved's Wine! "How fortunate they are that the Beloved himself is journeying to their countries to embrace them — to pour into their heart's cup the wine of love, and to instill in their minds devotion and obedience to him!
"Beloved Baba is coming to make them his ... Coming to teach them to sing the Song Eternal!"
