It is all a divine game!"
Baba then asked, "What are your plans?"
Eruch said that he had sent his application to Benares University to study engineering.
Suddenly, Baba posed this question, "If I were to ask you to leave everything behind — your studies, your friends, your property, your family — and come and stay with me, what would your answer be?"
Eruch replied, "By your grace, anything is possible."
Baba smiled broadly and said, "Fine. Come on 1st August."
Eruch nodded his consent and Baba told him to go. After bowing down, Eruch was just leaving the room when Baba clapped and called him back.
"Would it be possible for your whole family to leave everything and come to me?" Baba asked.
Eruch gave the same reply: "By your grace, anything is possible."
Baba said, "Ask your father whether it will be possible and write me a letter. If he agrees, leave everything, and bring your father, mother, sisters and brother to Meherabad on August 1st of this year."
At the time, Eruch had no idea why he had committed himself, or how he would be able to fulfill his promise and dispose of the family's possessions in such a short time. There was the question of their house, their property, his sisters' marriages, his younger brother Meherwan's schooling — and, most important of all, his father's permission.
Baba said, "I am the Ancient One. Your decision pleases me more than you can know. You should stick to it at all costs!"
Baba then asked, "If I tell you to lead a tiger by its ears, would you be afraid?"
"If you tell me to, and if I meet a tiger, of course I will do as you say," Eruch replied.
Baba beamed, and said, "Instead of that, have your supper and spend the night in my cave in Tiger Valley. If a tiger comes to the cave, do not be frightened. In the morning, leave straight for Nagpur without seeing me, and come with all your family to Meherabad on August 1st."
After spending the night in the cave, Eruch departed for Nagpur. When he told the family what had transpired, they were overjoyed. Gaimai was especially pleased, as she had longed to stay with Baba for years. She said, "How lucky we are that Baba himself — the Avatar! — is sending for us!"
Pappa Jessawala had a fiery temperament (in fact, Baba's hand sign for him was shooting a gun, and he would refer to him as the "Pistol"), and Eruch was doubtful of his consent.
