Since Baba was preoccupied with giving last-minute instructions to his close lovers, most who sought him out were turned away.
In Bombay, they stopped first at Nilu's where the mandali stayed, while Baba went on to the Confectioners. Two persons who met him in Bombay were the actor Vinayak Karnataki, 28, and his friend Bal Babu Dhavale who, after much persistence, were allowed the Master's darshan the next day at Nilu's. Vinayak suggested that Baba's film be made in India, with a Western director and actors.1
Baba, Chanji, Kaka and Adi Jr. sailed from Bombay for Marseilles aboard the SS Mongolia at 1:30 on the afternoon of Saturday, 9 June 1934, along with a few hundred other passengers. (With tremendous effort, Sarosh managed to obtain a loan of Rs.1,000, and handed it over to Baba to help pay for his trip, just a few minutes before the ship sailed.)2 About 30 lovers from Bombay came to Mole Station to give Baba a hearty send-off. They profusely garlanded Baba before he boarded the ship. Those who arrived late threw garlands up to Chanji on deck, and he garlanded Baba on their behalf. It was a scorchingly hot day and Baba gestured for his lovers to leave and not linger in the sun; but out of devotion, the crowd persisted despite the heat, standing and waving up to the last moments of departure. Baba motioned again for them to go home, but they stood at the dock until the last blast of the ship's whistle was heard in the distance.
The Mongolia was an old and smaller-sized ocean vessel, and on this voyage Baba and the mandali experienced some inconveniences. Baba typically wanted his meals in his cabin and the purser finally agreed, in spite of the fact that it was against the rules. The weather continued to be hot as the ship traveled across the Arabian and Red Seas, and it reeled and pitched, but Baba remained unaffected by these rough conditions.
Thirteen days later, on 22 June, they reached Marseilles, where Kitty, Norina, Ruano and Rano were awaiting their arrival. Baba had previously intimated to Rano that either she, Nonny or Ruano should be at the dock to meet them and Rano was afraid of what Baba might say when he saw her. Before disembarking, Baba called them into his cabin and warmly embraced them. Rano whispered in his ear that she was not supposed to be there.
Baba reassured her, by replying, "I am pleased with you, so don't worry."
Footnotes
- 1.The actor's given name was Vinayak Ambhaikar, but he was known as Master Vinayak. He appeared in more than 30 Hindi films and directed many of them. Bal Dhavale was also an actor and later became a cinematographer. In 1954 he was hired to film the "Three Incredible Weeks" Gathering.
- 2.Baba had told Sarosh he too could accompany them, but Sarosh's father (who was vehemently opposed to Baba) did not permit him. Adi Sr. and Rustom were told that Baba would send them to America after he returned from Europe.