They were about to enjoy this treat when Baba called Delia and Margaret to his room. Delia expected a birthday kiss or embrace, but when they went to Baba they saw he looked upset.
He scolded them: "It pains me to hear that you two think that I am arranging my birthday celebrations on the 17th and 18th only to 'impress' the Westerners. Do you think I need to impress anyone? At least this much you should have realized by now!"
Baba had been informed that Delia had remarked to one of the mandali about Baba wishing to impress "Countess Tolstoy." Seeing Baba's disappointment with them, both began crying. After a while, he forgave them and led them into the dining room to celebrate Delia's birthday. It was one birthday she was never to forget.
Later that day, Baba explained to the Westerners about his upcoming birthday:
Until a few years ago, my birthdays used to be celebrated on the same scale as it has been planned to celebrate it this year. Then I stopped these grand celebrations. I allowed fewer and fewer people to meet me, and I would not let anyone take my darshan by laying their head on my feet.
During my latter visits to the West, I also allowed few interviews. You must have noticed that I often seemed displeased when you had arranged for many people to meet me. The reason for this apparent avoiding of people is that I will draw the whole world to me when the time is right and when I want.
This year, after a lapse of many years, it has been arranged to have my birthday celebrated again on a large scale, because it would give you the opportunity of meeting many of my Eastern devotees. Also, I want to distribute grain and cloth to about 10,000 people and touch their feet with my hand while doing it.
But the working of maya often assumes ironic forms. The 17th and 18th of this month are election days for the new constitution. People throughout India will go to the polls to vote. Thus, half of the people who otherwise would have come might be unable to do so, although Rustom and others expect more than 10,000.
Plans to celebrate Baba's birthday on a tremendous scale were underway, and Baba, despite being on a fast, was as active as ever, supervising many things during his visits to Meherabad, Nasik and Rahuri.