Along the way, the boy lost his luggage, except for two baskets of oranges he was bringing to Baba. He reached Panchgani with the help of a sympathetic bus driver.
When Suloo met Baba he told him he had lost all his money and clothes, Baba quipped, "Lose everything, but don't lose me! Yet to lose everything is almost impossible, and when you totally lose all — I am found!"
The next morning Baba came while Suloo was taking a bath. Gustadji called Suloo, and he innocently went to Baba as he was — naked except for his underpants. Baba asked how he had slept and what thoughts were on his mind.
After he told Baba, Baba looked at him closely and remarked, "Fit for this path!"
After three days in Baba's intimate company, Baba gave Suloo certain instructions ("not to tell a lie, not to do any lustful action, not to eat fish, meat or eggs, not to smoke or drink alcohol, to meditate for one hour daily," etc.) and then sent him back to Nagpur. Although he was young, Suloo loved Baba with all his heart and became devoted to him the rest of his life.
Baba continued to work in seclusion at Panchgani for certain hours each morning. Dr. Deshmukh and his wife Indumati also arrived on 8 April to see Baba, and spent all morning with him. Prior to coming, Deshmukh had been so absorbed in thoughts of Baba that he had become half-mad. He had been on the verge of losing his teaching job, but his wife managed to avert his dismissal prior to his two-month summer vacation. She had brought him to Panchgani with great difficulty in hopes that Baba could help him regain his mental stability.
The next day Deshmukh met with Baba alone and voiced a complaint against Indumati, "My wife has no love for you, Baba. Shower your grace and make her love you!" This led to an explanation from Baba on the four ways in which he works:
There are four types or ways in which I work:
With my Universal mind for the universe; With my individual mind for individuals; Direct working; Indirect working when I send and receive messages to and from my agents.
Indirect working for individuals means when I am always present near my disciples and devotees and help them indirectly. Direct working means when I give definite orders to a person. When the disciple is carrying them out, I am present to help them directly. When I give definite orders, I definitely help.
For example, suppose I told you to go and sit in a cave and repeat my name. Following my order, you go sit in the cave. Meanwhile a tiger comes by the cave; you see it, it sees you, but it does not kill you. This is direct help because I had told you to go and sit in the cave.
Indumati was called. Baba gave certain instructions to her and Deshmukh. Deshmukh was ordered to spend some hours in the Tiger Valley Cave and not to step out of it "even if a tiger comes." He was also instructed to remain in one room of his house for two months and not to meet any of his close relatives or friends. Baba further stated: