They arrived in Surat the next morning and stayed at a dak bungalow. Pendu was sent for from Meherabad and arrived on the 27th. Pendu joined the group and they left with Baba by bus for Hajira Pier , a remote place, seventeen miles away on the coastline. The road there was horribly rough and muddy. Their bus got stuck frequently and they had to get out at times to help push it. Also, the bus would skid to the side of the road, and an accident was averted by inches at one intersection. Finally, they reached Mora and hired two bullock carts to complete the journey. Pendu departed the following day with instructions from Baba to Padri about hurriedly building the cabin for the purpose of his seclusion on Meherabad Hill.
That same day, Baba suddenly remembered Vajifdar.
Praising him, Baba commented, "Vajifdar served me lovingly and humbly, obeying all of my orders, no matter how strict or ridiculous they seemed."1
Baba remained in seclusion in Hajira Pier for four days.
A spring was nearby and Baba remarked, "It is the best water in the world!"
(The water at Abu had been full of minerals and salts, making it difficult to digest.)
Baba and the group returned to Surat by boat on Friday, 5 July 1935 and stayed again at the dak bungalow. Joined by Jalbhai the next day, Baba left for Navsari at 1:15 P.M. on the 7th. Even though Baba wished to remain in seclusion, Chanji had been sent a few hours in advance to inform Soma Desai and his family, so they could meet Baba at the Navsari railway station where Baba's train would be stopping briefly. Everyone in Sorabji's family was devoted to Meher Baba. Sorabji Desai's and Keki D. Bajan's families (including Mansari) were waiting on the station platform, and Baba lovingly met with each.
Baba continued by train to Daman where he stayed at the dak bungalow for two days. He traveled on to Bombay on the 9th. However, as soon as he arrived, he took a taxi from Bombay Central Station to Victoria Terminus and boarded another train at ten that night, without meeting or informing any of his Bombay lovers. Baba was headed for Dhond. Chanji stayed behind to do some work in the city.
At 3:00 A.M. on 10 July, Adi Sr. and Padri arrived in Dhond in a new Chevrolet to pick up Baba.
Footnotes
- 1.Chanji met Vajifdar a month later in Bombay and found him in a pitiable condition, jobless and financially destitute, but putting up a brave front.