Before leaving Meherabad, Baba sent away the boys, Meherwan Jessawala to Akbar Press to stay with his relatives and Dadi Kerawala to his family, telling them, "I will call you later."
Baba permitted Katie to come to Hyderabad by train with Walter and Pleader, who was to bring Lakshi and Bhami (the servants) and Mohammed Mast.
Blue Bus, Meherabad Hill, 1938
At four o'clock in the early morning of Thursday, 8 December 1938, Baba left Meherabad Hill in the Blue Bus with the following women of various ages:
Mehera, 31
Mani, 20
Naja, 30
Khorshed, 28
Soonamasi, 54
Walu, 38
Mansari, 28
Gaimai, 38
Manu, 19
Meheru (Jessawala), 17
Kakubai, 52
Elizabeth, 42
Hedi, 45
Helen, 60
Irene, 22
Kitty, 47
Nadine, 54
Nonny, 63
Norina, 58
Rano, 36
Elizabeth was the main driver, and Eruch and Kaka were seated next to her in the front seat.A wooden partition separated the driver's cabin from the rear section where the women and Baba were seated.Baba sat directly behind Elizabeth and could communicate with her on his alphabet board through a small sliding, window-like opening in the partition.The women were jammed into the back cabin amidst numberless small bags and sacks.Small stools had to be placed in the aisles to accommodate everyone.Thus, there were eleven Eastern women, nine Western women, two men mandali and Baba: a total of 23 persons — riding in a bus designed for half that many.
The bandages and medicine for Walu's burns were turned over to Rano, according to Baba's instructions.Before this time, even the sight of blood made Rano squeamish.But obeying Baba, she overcame her uneasiness and took upon herself the unpleasant task of dressing and cleaning Walu's burned skin each day.
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The group reached Sholapur in the evening and Baba declared, "We have to start early tomorrow morning, at four o'clock.Unloading the bus is not really necessary, because to load it again would be a headache and take a lot of time."
Therefore, as instructed, they all retired for the night in the dak bungalow (government rest house) at Sholapur and slept on chairs, tables or on the floor of the verandah.Eruch and Kaka slept in the bus.
Upon reaching Sholapur, Baba asked Kitty if there was anything to eat.Kitty replied there was nothing except bread and a little cheese, because the cooked food they had carried with them had spoiled.
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