When Baba found out, he was extremely perturbed by Chanji's carelessness, asking, "What did you do , fill the stove?"
Chanji stood silent and Baba admonished him, "Be attentive to what I wish. Your small mistake has resulted in a catastrophe for me!"
They left Chikmagalur by the eight o'clock bus the following morning, for Baba Budan Mountain . The road was extremely rough and after traveling some distance, the engine overheated and the radiator boiled over. Proceeding further, they found the forest dense and forbidding, and the steep ascent terrifying. With much difficulty they reached Budan Nagar, a small village with a population of only 150 people. The driver advised them, "You'd better fill your canteens here, because up on the mountain there is no water." Chanji filled their containers.
During the bus ride, an elderly Muslim man had been staring at Baba. Quite taken by Baba's appearance, he said he wished to accompany Baba to the dak bungalow on top of the mountain; but the bus driver refused to allow the man to ride along and made him get off, although Baba seemed to like the old man and did not object.
Baba, Gustadji and Chanji reached the dak bungalow on the mountain and prepared to stay. Since water was going to be a problem, a servant was hired to fill a large vessel and carry water to them daily. Meanwhile Baba himself cooked a potato dish and prepared chapatis. After their meal, he sat in seclusion in the bungalow for one hour, from 2:45 to 3:45 P.M. He kept Chanji and Gustadji on watch outside at a distance, with instructions to allow no one to come toward the bungalow.
But while Baba was engaged in his inner work, the hired man was seen bringing the water up the mountain. Chanji could not shout to him since that would have disturbed Baba. So he signaled to him to stay away; but the man could not follow what he meant and Chanji quietly walked to him and told him to put the water down and leave. Chanji picked up the heavy container and began to struggle slowly back toward the bungalow. But then he heard Baba clapping. With a great effort, he rushed up the hill.
When he reached the bungalow, Baba immediately expressed his displeasure, "I have been clapping, and you are coming only now?"
Chanji was exhausted and panting from the hike back. He could barely utter " Ba ... ba " in a vain attempt to explain.
"What is it?" Baba smiled.
But Chanji could not speak. Finally, after catching his breath, Chanji was able to explain what had happened. Gustadji then made tea, but as milk was unavailable they had to have it without milk.