At nine in the evening, after seeing Manekji and Banubai Confectioner and having dinner at Naoroji Dadachanji's, Baba left by train for Nasik, where he arrived late that night.
Once Baba returned to Nasik, he resumed his usual activities. Both the men and women mandali were very happy to have him back and accorded him a hearty reception.
The women mandali consisted of Mehera, Mani, Naja, Big Khorshed, Soonamasi, her daughter Small Khorshed, Dolly and Walu. Pilamai and her daughter Silla were also with them, but since her husband Hormuzd had died in a car accident in May, they would sometimes go to Karachi to attend to family matters. Mehera's mother Daulatmai was staying with her other daughter Freiny in Nasik and keeping silence as ordered by Baba. There were also families of Baba's close lovers staying nearby — Gulmai, Dina Talati, Ramjoo's wife Khatija and her sister Haja.
The men mandali at Nasik were Chanji, Chhagan, Gustadji, Masaji, Padri, Pendu, Ramjoo, Raosaheb, Rustom, Sailor, Sidhu, Adi Sr. and Vishnu. Naval Talati and Naoroji Dadachanji were also staying in Nasik at this time.
With news of Meher Baba's return to India, people came from far and wide for his darshan. At times, Baba would see them; at other times, he would not. Among the visitors were Angal Pleader on 5 August, and Manekar and R. D. Karmarkar from Dhulia on the 9th.1 In order to be alone with the men mandali for one day, on 10 August, Baba went with them to Khandala for private discussions and a day of good food, music and relaxation.
On Sunday, 20 August 1933, many visitors came to Nasik including Kalemama and his son-in-law Raosaheb Pandit, Munshiji and Bashir. Munshiji was a dear and special lover of Baba who held on to his feet till the last. Being old and childless, Munshiji had adopted a boy named Bashir, who used to accompany him when he visited Baba.
On this occasion, the boy was acting a bit odd, but Baba lovingly made him sit by his side while he addressed the mandali, "Bashir's state is unequaled; he remains quite detached from worldly things. You people have been with me for years and still demand clothes, soap, [razor] blades and a dozen other things. If his present state of detachment lasts, Bashir will one day gain salvation through my grace. He will then have achieved the aim of his life."
Footnotes
- 1.Karmarkar was an engineer and friend of Kalemama's. He had met Baba at Gyas Manzil, Nasik in January 1930.