Baba remarked to the Dewan, "You are the power here materially; I am the power spiritually, everywhere, in my own way. So we won't talk of 'powers.' Taking you as one of my own, I want to talk with you quite frankly. I want to make the center unique."
Baba proceeded to discuss the plan with him and its finances. The Dewan was most understanding and cooperative.
Meanwhile Deshmukh wrote to Baba that he had met Mahatma Gandhi at his ashram in Segaon on the 20th. Gandhi had declined to write an introduction to Deshmukh's latest book about Baba. According to Deshmukh, Gandhi still seemed cordial toward Baba and enjoyed reading the Meher Baba Journal, which Deshmukh suggested be sent to him monthly.
Adi Sr. arrived in Bangalore on 23 August 1939, with Jehangir Wankadia, a Parsi scholar of Eastern philosophy. Wankadia was facing some crisis in his life and was permitted to stay in Bangalore for three weeks.
Pappa Jessawala had retired and come to Bangalore to live in the ashram with his family. On the 24th, Baba asked Pappa to accompany Kaka and Adi Sr. to bring a mast to the Links. The mast's name was Chaddarwala — a great sixth-plane mast and the chargeman of Bangalore. Pappa demurred explaining, "Kaka and Adi are more experienced than I am. It is better they go."
But Baba instructed, "I wish you to take part in this mast work. I have work to do through you. Even if the mast bites you, don't be afraid!"
Pappa was afraid and said, "I have diabetes. If he bites me I will become ill!"
Baba insisted, "You have to go. I want you to be in charge of the mast ashram here, so you must do this work."
The idea did not appeal to Pappa, but he went with Kaka and Adi anyway the same day, in a taxi into the city. They followed the mast from morning to evening, trying to coax him to come with them. Finally, when it was dark, with much difficulty the mast was persuaded to accompany them in the taxi and was brought to the Links. On the way, the mast began slapping and cursing Pappa, but he tolerated it. When they saw Baba, Pappa declared, "Here is your mast! We were only able to bring him after the greatest trouble, so that you could do your work with him!"