On the 8th, Freiny (who was eight months pregnant) came to Kaka Baria's and caused a scene. Baba calmed her. During the two days that Baba spent in Bombay, Raosaheb brought a poor Pathan boy named Amir Khan to Baba. Baba took him with him to Nasik on the 9th, where Baba met Daulatmai. He had lunch there and spent the night, before returning to Meherabad the following evening at 8:00 P.M. On the way, at Sangamner, Baba met Babu Cyclewalla, one of the early Kasba Peth and Manzil-e-Meem members, who had gotten married.
On the 11th, Amir Khan arrived at Meherabad by the night train. Adi Sr. took him to purchase clothes and Bhagirath was ordered to teach him driving in a Morris car specially hired for that purpose.
After assigning duties to each of the mandali, Baba left for Panchgani on Monday, 14 March 1938, in three cars. Baba traveled in Elizabeth's Ford with Mehera, Mani, Naja and Khorshed. Tukaram drove most of the others (Soonamasi, Walu, Kitty, Rano, Elizabeth, Norina and Nonny) in Sarosh's Pontiac. In Adi Sr.'s Opel rode Gulmai, Shireenmai and the boy Amir Khan. On the way, Elizabeth's car had a puncture. They stopped at Vishnu's paternal aunt's home in Budhwar Peth for lunch and Adi saw to the repairs of the Ford.
Among the mandali in Panchgani were Chanji, Gustadji, Vishnu, Chhagan and Bhagirath. Mohammed Mast was to be brought there later by Masaji, who was to look after him. Jalbhai was also to come.
Baba's bungalow in Panchgani was called Dilkhusha and was located near Tiger Valley. The women occupied the main house, while Baba stayed in a storeroom next to the kitchen and worked with Mohammed in a small attached annex. Tatta screens were erected in the compound to ensure the women's privacy. The mandali were first accommodated comfortably in rooms at the Hindu High School, but after a week moved to the small, cramped Bella Vista cottage, a short distance from Dilkhusha.
As Chanji noted in his diary (16 March 1938): "The mandali always have to put up with inconveniences and discomforts of uncouth lodgings and unpleasant surroundings wherever they move with Baba." But Chanji also pointed out: The room Baba chose for himself was "not only the smallest and simplest, but also the shabbiest — being left untouched after it was last used by the servants. It had no windows, but only a door, and was being used as a storeroom. What a place for the Master of the three worlds to stay in!?"