ChaptersChapter 14Page 2,062

Chapter 14: Blue Bus Tours

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He is then able to enjoy, finally, the bliss of divine love.
Baba concluded by stating, "This is a state to be experienced, not to be intellectually described."
While in Bangalore, Baba directed the women to stage plays for five days consecutively. One of the plays concerned an African tribe in the jungle. Rano took the part of a hunter, and Irene the wife. Katie was the African chief, Mani his daughter and Kharmen Masi, Soonamasi and Manu members of the tribe.
Around Christmas and New Year's Eve, each group put on a short skit. Norina prepared a pageant of Jesus Christ's crucifixion. Soltoon and Dowla were enlisted to sit on the stage and toss flowers towards the procession as it passed across the stage. While sitting on the stage, they were so fascinated in seeing Norina dressed as Jesus carrying the cross, they forgot their parts! When the procession had passed, Dowla remembered, and both ran behind it shouting in Persian, clutching the flowers. Baba remarked that he liked this part the best!
In another play, Meherwan Jessawala was made a butler, and Mani his Muslim boss. But, instead of bringing the tea tray and saluting Mani, little Meherwan took the tray to Baba and saluted him, which made Baba laugh so hard, he was pink in the face. Meherwan then proceeded to upturn the tea tray he was supposed to serve and fumbled his lines, which he recited off cue, despite what Mani had taught him.
For one skit, Walu dressed as a Mohammedan, but Naja didn't adjust Walu's costume properly, and made Walu upset just as she was about to go on stage. When Walu appeared, she was so angry that instead of speaking in Urdu, as she had been coached, she began speaking in Marathi. This, too, was a source of delight for Baba.
Rano was once required to speak in Urdu, also, when she took the part of a doctor in one play. Norina played a doctor in another skit. Katie was always a skilled performer in any role she portrayed. Mani wrote most of these humorous skits, several of which were performed on Christmas, as mentioned, and also on Mehera's birthday.
While his mother was in Bangalore, Gaimai once fried eggplant for Memo, as requested by her, and sent it to her. As Manu was carrying the tray up to Memo's room, Baba happened by and asked Manu what she had in her hand.
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