Baba's response was an immediate wave of love and light. "It was like bathing in cool clear moonlight," Deshmukh later related.
When Deshmukh saw a photograph of Baba in the newspaper, he recognized him as the One who had already won his heart. He was further attracted to his Lord and longed to have his darshan. Deshmukh later recollected: "As I looked at the photograph, I found in his eyes just that assurance of divine guidance which I had been looking for. The expression in his eyes brought to me the tidings of Truth from that far-off land unseen, where there is the final realization of the eternal and infinite Source and Goal of life."
Deshmukh came to see Baba at the Knightsbridge Hotel on Thursday, 8 December 1932. He brought with him Mrs. MacGregor-Morris, a professor, and Mr. N. C. Kelkar, a noted Marathi writer and politician who had come to London for the Round Table Conference.
During their meeting, Baba asked young Deshmukh, "What do you do?"
Deshmukh explained that he was studying philosophy.
"And what is the meaning of philosophy?" Baba inquired mischievously.
Deshmukh answered, "It is a science which reveals the hidden Reality."
Smiling, Baba replied, "To me, philosophy is that which makes a simple thing difficult!"
Meeting Meher Baba face to face had a profound effect on Dr. Deshmukh, as he was later called, for this darshan taught him the true meaning of philosophy. From then on, he became an ardent disciple and proved helpful in Baba's writing and publication work.
Baba's continuous search for the "ideal" or "perfect" boy began in the Meher Ashram in 1927 and lasted until 1958. A search for a suitable boy for Baba's personal work was inevitably conducted wherever he went. Over the course of these years, many boys were brought and all were returned, with the exception of one or two whom Baba retained for a short period. And again, at this time in London, Baba gave the duty to certain ones to go out and search for such a boy. A few English youngsters were brought to Baba at the hotel. One of them was very drawn to Baba and he was kept for three days.
One day the lad asked Vishnu, "Where is he?"
"Who?" asked Vishnu.
"That long-haired, dumb gentleman!"
Chuckling, Vishnu said, "He is occupied at present."
"I wish to stay with him always," said the boy.