Pleader had already left Hyderabad two days earlier by train for Jabalpur with his charges.
On the 18th morning at six o'clock, Baba and the group left Nanded for Nagpur, reaching there in the evening at seven. Pappa Jessawala had rented a small cottage for himself where all were somehow accommodated. Since his family was with Baba, Pappa was feeling alone and sad. To improve his mood, Baba brought him round with humorous sallies, and his dejection left him. Also Gaimai had arrived with Baba, and her birthday was celebrated that day in her hometown. Pappa was happy to see her and their children.
The next morning, a few people came to see Baba. Chanji had stayed behind in Hyderabad to settle matters, but he met Baba in Nagpur before proceeding to Jabalpur to make arrangements there. Deshmukh and his wife came, and Baba went to a hospital also to see one of his lovers who was ill. Before departing Nagpur, Mahendra Lal Chowdhary, a wealthy landowner from the town of Mandla, came to see Baba. He was terribly worried for he was involved in a murder case which had been dragging on for years. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
"I will save you, provided you follow my orders," Baba told him. "Go immediately to the police and surrender."
The man left without agreeing, but he would soon find himself surrendering to a much higher authority!
Baba left for Jabalpur on the afternoon of 19 December. and reached there that evening at eight. Jal Kerawalla was a District Magistrate and the Extra-Assistant Commissioner of Jabalpur and consequently he lived in a large government bungalow. Jal made his home at 65 Marble Rocks Road available for Baba and the women, and himself went to stay with the mandali at a hired house nearby. The arrangements were splendid and all felt quite at home. Jal's love for Baba was often praised, for he always acted as Baba directed. Baba was to spend 22 days in Jabalpur, and he also went to Mandla for three days. The first ten days after his arrival were kept strictly secret since, for the purposes of his work, he did not wish to see anyone or be disturbed.
Meanwhile the Jessawalas' young son Meherwan had proven to be a burden to his relatives at Akbar Press where Baba had placed him before leaving on the tour. Gaimai's sister Shirin's husband Jehangir Damania would continuously write to Gaimai to take Meherwan back, claiming he was too much of a nuisance to look after. Gaimai seemed anxious one day and Baba asked her the reason.