Later, when they returned to Nasik, Baba asked each how they had liked Meherabad. They all said, "Very much." Baba asked Rano's opinion of the place and she answered frankly, "It's lovely, Baba, but not for me." Baba just smiled. The idea of living a secluded life with a bunch of women on a remote hill did not appeal to Rano. She had not the least idea that she would be the only one from this original group who would be spending the rest of her life with Baba in India.
On Friday, 8 January 1937, Baba began fasting on only two cups of milk and two cups of tea daily, and stated that he would continue to do so for 40 days, until his birthday on the 18th of February. Each of the Westerners was to participate in the fast turn by turn, one each day from the 8th in the following order: Jean, Delia, Margaret, Garrett, Nadine, Kitty, Rano, Tom, Elizabeth, Nonny, Malcolm, Mary, Will, Ruano, Norina, and on the 23rd Freiny was to fast. From 24 January, the men and women mandali at Meherabad as a group would alternately fast along with Baba.
Baba returned to Nasik on 9 January, and stayed for four days. On the 11th, he took the group to the Pandu Lena Caves, about five miles away. They left Nasik in the morning at eight o'clock. Besides the fifteen Westerners, Baba was accompanied by four others. He wore a wine-red scarf over his head and another scarf of ochre around his forehead. Freiny put a garland of roses around Baba just before they drove off.
At the Pandu Lena Caves, Baba took them to each of the 22 caves, and in some he made a few remarks about the rishis, sages and yogis who had stayed there.
Baba particularly liked cave number eight and sat in it with Norina, Delia and Elizabeth, remarking, "I may come here and stay sometime for my Universal work."1
Baba narrated the story of Krishna and the Pandava brothers and then led the way back down. Walking up to the caves in the morning, Baba had kept pace with the slowest of the group. Now, while coming down, he led the way and, before entering the car, waited at the bottom until all were safely down.
Footnotes
- 1.Photographs of Baba and the group were taken by Rano.