The label on the bottle was in French and when Norina returned with it, Baba asked Rano, who spoke French, to translate it. Baba indicated that this was the wrong kind of mineral water and sent Norina back to exchange it. She returned with a different bottle and again, after listening to Rano translate the name and contents, Baba sent Norina back with it and asked her to bring something else. This happened five or six times.
The pharmacist became annoyed and asked Norina, "Why don't you ask your party for the correct name in French? Surely, Madame, if someone can read the label, he should be able to give you the correct name." Norina kept her poise. The man had no idea that this was a lesson for Norina in swallowing her pride and anger, and maintaining her self-control.
“”Back at the hotel, Baba even remarked to Rano, "You don't really think I'm doing this for myself, do you?"
A few of the Western lovers left behind in Cannes had come to Marseilles to see Baba off as he boarded the TMS Circassia for Bombay at 12:30 P.M. on the afternoon of the 3rd and sailed four hours later. Age noted, "This separation from Baba, after staying with him for ten weeks, was most painful. Their hearts cried out when they recalled the different scenes and incidents in Baba's intimate company in Cannes. His humor, his seriousness, his taunts, his endearing ways, his jokes and profound explanations were bittersweet recollections.
"The birds remembered how Baba played Ping-Pong and charades with them in the evenings, and one particular occasion he had portrayed Moses so well that all were amazed by his acting ability. They remembered how well Baba blended in European society and dressed so handsomely in Western clothes. Remembering all this, they felt as if their hearts were breaking and leaving for some distant land! Every act Baba did had made their hearts open and imbibe great quantities of the wine of his love. His games, skits, jokes were all mediums of his work to attract them forever with his beauty!"
The voyage on the Circassia proved most comfortable as Baba's cabin had an attached toilet and bath, and the ship's crew was very respectful and saw to it that the women mandali's privacy was undisturbed. It was the Circassia's maiden voyage and the crew was especially courteous.
During the voyage, Baba spent most of his time bathing and feeding Mohammed the mast, and being with the women mandali, with whom he would eat his meals.
