Since Baidul was at Meherabad in charge of the mad ashram, Masaji had been appointed as Mohammed Mast's personal caretaker in Panchgani. It was a duty that tried Masaji's patience. At his advanced age and with a cantankerous nature to begin with, Masaji's moods were difficult to control. To make matters worse, when Baba was in a good mood, for his own purposes, he would humor Mohammed by teasing Masaji. At one point, Masaji became so annoyed that he disobeyed Baba and uttered regrettable things, and was ready to go away. Baba, typically in such situations, showed indifference.
“”"Who cares if you go?" he gestured. "Who needs you? If you leave, a hundred of your fathers [better than you] will come prostrating to serve in your place!"
But then Baba would lovingly forgive Masaji, and tell him, "If someone taunts you and you sulk, it is understandable; but this one [Mohammed] is like a child. Why pay attention to his words and take them seriously? You should disregard them. You require great good fortune to deserve the opportunity of doing such a duty [of looking after him]. But it is unfortunate that you cannot digest what I am giving you."
And Masaji would weep and lay his head on Baba's feet.
Sometimes, in an ill-tempered mood, Masaji would deliberately threaten Mohammed, making the mast afraid of him. This Baba did not like, nor would he tolerate. His work with Mohammed was something very special and beyond our understanding. He would always humor Mohammed, bearing some of the mast's obstinacies with unimaginable patience. He wanted the mandali to deal with the mast in the same way, but that was extremely difficult for Masaji.
Finally, on 1 April 1938, Baba instructed Vishnu to write Baidul to send the servant Talya to look after Mohammed in Masaji's place.
In Panchgani on the previous morning (31 March), Baba sat in seclusion in his room from ten to eleven o'clock. Later that day, Norina and Elizabeth suggested to Baba that if he established a "Universal Center" somewhere his messages could be conveyed to other centers throughout the world. And if he were more publicly known, enthusiastic workers would have a chance to actively spread his messages among the general public. In reply, Baba stated:
“”It is a good idea indeed, but by attaching to it great significance or giving it too much importance, it develops into a regular organization or system, and I do not wish to limit myself or bind myself with any such thing.
