The result was that by the 29th, Rustom had taken her back to Nasik, where she was kept the first night at the Talatis'. She continued to act in a disturbed manner, giving much trouble to her husband and Adi Sr., who had gone to Nasik to help Rustom. Freiny refused to eat again on 2 December.
On the 3rd of December 1935, Baba himself went to see her, driven in a Pontiac to Nasik with Kalingad and Murli.1 Chanji met Baba there. Baba spent time with Freiny, Rustom and their family, urging Freiny to change her ways, and not insist that she be included with the women mandali at Meherabad. Masaji was ordered to stay in Nasik for a few days to help Rustom and Adi look after her.
The dentist, Dr. Bhatena, was called to examine Baba early on the morning of the 3rd. He had previously fitted Baba with a bridge, which he now removed and adjusted. Baba had dinner at Naval and Dina Talati's.
On Baba's return to Meherabad on the 4th, he again retired into seclusion in the Tin Cabin. Chanji was sent back to Bombay with instructions to obtain and send Baba some reference books.
During this period a few of Baba's close ones changed their living arrangements. As related, in November 1935, Daulatmai came from Nasik and stayed alone in the Family Quarters near Meherabad. She was still keeping silence as ordered by Baba in 1925. After his seclusion work was over, Baba would occasionally go to see her. Daulatmai's sister Freiny Masi was living in Bombay, but her health was poor and she wanted her son Padri to stay with her. Baba's mother, Memo, and brothers Adi Jr., Beheram and his wife, Perin, moved to Bombay on 20 November, along with their eight-month-old infant son, Sheroo .2
Baba, along with Jalbhai and Kalingad, went to Bombay in a rented car on Saturday, 14 December 1935. They stayed at Banubai Confectioner's for a week. Alamai Katrak, who lived downstairs from Banubai used to stand on guard duty by the door as she had orders from Baba not to let anyone enter. Freiny Masi came one day and asked to be allowed to see Baba. Alamai was firm and refused to let her enter. "Do you know who I am?" asked an incredulous Freiny Masi. "I am Padri's mother!"
Alamai replied, "I don't care if you're Padri's father, you're not going inside!" But Baba intervened and permitted her to enter.
Footnotes
- 1.Murli's brother Babu Kale had been staying at Meherabad, also, but left on November to take a job teaching in Panchgani.
- 2.Sheroo was a nickname. The child had been named Sheriar, after its grandfather, as it had been born on Sheriarji's birthday of 21 March.