At this time, Merwan Seth was standing near a well with Sadashiv. When Gulmai came to get a drink of water, he inquired how she was doing. Then to win her over, he remarked to Sadashiv, "How sweet is this lady's nature.
How different my life would have been had she been my mother!"
With these compliments, Merwan Seth snared her heart. Gulmai returned home the same day.
During her frequent visits with Upasni Maharaj over the years, Gulmai never gave up hope of living in his ashram at Sakori. While there, she and Merwan Seth often met. He revealed to her his spiritual experiences, which convinced her beyond doubt that he was, in fact, the chargeman (spiritual heir) of Sadguru Upasni Maharaj.
During one stay with Upasni Maharaj for twelve days, Gulmai had to bear austere hardships and was even severely slapped by Maharaj. Explaining to her what she was undergoing, Merwan Seth assured her, "You are very fortunate.
By withstanding these tests, you are the first woman to have been granted the grace of a Perfect Master such as Upasni Maharaj. You passed through these hardships brilliantly. It is a blessing if a Sadguru beats a person; you are indeed blessed. Babajan also beats people with a stick."
Before Gulmai left Sakori, Upasni Maharaj told her, "People like holy places where there are big and beautiful temples — important and influential persons throng there. That is a common occurrence. But to come to this barren place with love and devotion and serve the Master wholeheartedly with full faith is the real thing. What is there in Udwada? There is fire, but here burns the living fire! True pilgrimage is at the feet of the Perfect Master."
During 1919, Merwan Seth initiated the building of a small temple in Sakori for performing Upasni Maharaj's arti. He himself would defray the expenses of bhandaras (feasts) held there, as would Gulmai. Other temples were constructed later in Sakori as Maharaj's fame spread; a rich maharaja built one magnificent Hindu temple there. But the distinction of funding the first temple in Upasni Maharaj's honor rested with Merwan Seth.
Gulmai's devotion to Merwan Seth deepened with each encounter and later she and her husband and their sons Rustom and Adi and daughters Piroja and Dolly dedicated their lives and property to his cause.