On 23 February 1938, explaining about alcohol, drugs and other such habits, Baba stated:
Drinks in ordinary moderate doses act as stimulants and are harmless. If taken in excess, they are harmful. Drugs, whether in small or large doses, are injurious. They have a characteristic of making the users addicts. Starting from small doses and very subtly, they tempt the partakers to increase the quantity indiscriminately, until they cannot do without them and become addicted.
Smoking has only the slight advantage of deriving superficial pleasure, which is temporary. But there are three distinct disadvantages: physical, mental and habitual. Physically it spoils the system and mentally it tortures one when unavailable.
Remarking on the recent phenomenon witnessed by the mandali that when they stopped smoking cigarettes the weather turned congenial, Baba stated, "If the mandali could control the elements of nature through their abstention from small habits for seven days, they could bring the entire universe under control if they abstain from these habits for seven months!"
During the latter part of February 1938, Baba again issued detailed instructions to Pendu, Naoroji and Kalemama about erecting certain structures on Meherabad Hill while he was away. Nilu was conducting a free dispensary in Meherabad since moving from Rahuri, and Padri was treating patients with homeopathic medicine. Padri had some rudimentary engineering experience and was to assist in the construction work on the hill. Adi Sr. was handling some of the correspondence. Baidul was in charge of the mad and mast ashram. Baily (who had come to stay in Ahmednagar on 16 January with his wife) and Swamiji were also caretakers of the mad inmates at Meherabad at this time.
Norina's birthday was celebrated on 2 March. On the 4th, Baba, Pendu, Gustadji, Adi Sr. and Beheram went for dinner in the Pontiac to Nusserwan Satha's at Akbar Press and then visited Baily's home.
Baba left Meherabad for Bombay to support Rustom's efforts on 6 March 1938. Adi Sr. was with him, driving the Opel, along with Adi Jr. They halted at Poona for lunch with Memo and Beheram's family at Baba House, and Ramjoo, Abdulla Jaffer and Nooru (Ramjoo's brother-in-law) joined them at the Poona railway station. They reached Bombay in the evening and stayed at Banubai Confectioner's, with Kaka Baria. Rustom came there and spoke with Baba.