When Jal was brought home, Merwan praised him for his strength and courage in withstanding the awful pain for his sake. He then embraced him and asked, "Now will you renounce the world and join me permanently?" After deep thought Jal told his brother that he was prepared to carry out his will and follow him. For the rest of Jal's life, when new persons came into Merwan's orbit, Jal would show them the scar on his hand and narrate every detail of the event that made him realize his brother was indeed God in human form.
Gustadji, Slamson and Nervous were now working and managing the toddyshop in Kasba Peth, and Merwan Seth was not involved much in its business affairs. He still oversaw their work and made certain everything was spotlessly clean and that the toddy was of good quality. He had made it a rule for everyone from the Kasba Peth group to take Babajan's darshan at least once a day, individually or as a group. After closing the shop, Gustadji and others went home only after having Babajan's darshan, even if it was after midnight.1
In November 1919, Upasni Maharaj telegraphed Sadashiv to bring Merwan Seth to Sakori to join him on a trip to Benares, where a sraddha was to be held in honor of Sai Baba.2 Sadashiv had returned with his family from Benares just five days before. He knew it would be difficult to obtain permission from his uncle to leave his business responsibilities again. Sadashiv was at a loss as to what to do, when Merwan Seth suggested a plan. Sadashiv's apartment was on the second floor of his toddyshop. Late one night, when the family was asleep, Sadashiv tossed his bedding roll out the window to Merwan Seth and snuck out of the house. Together they went to the railway station and caught the train to Sakori. (Before leaving, Sadashiv woke his uncle saying he was going out and would be back soon. Later, he wrote his uncle informing him where he had gone and why.)
At Sakori, Sadashiv asked Upasni why he was going to Benares. Upasni replied, "There will be a large gathering of Sai Baba's devotees there, and Sai himself is going to preside!"
This answer surprised Sadashiv, who said, "How can Sai Baba preside over this occasion when he died more than a year ago?" Upasni did not elaborate.
Upasni left ahead of Merwan Seth and Sadashiv on a different train, although in Benares he stayed at the Mahadev (Shiva) temple with them. Preparations had started for the performance of maha yagna — a large sacrificial fire. Several thousand devotees of Sai Baba from all over India were gathered and there were 700 of Upasni's own followers surrounding him.
Footnotes
- 1.Gustadji had been given a small room at Baba House where he rested at night.
- 2.A sraddha ceremony is a Hindu rite performed a year after the death of a parent or revered ancestor, as a way to honor and remember them and to give them thanks for their guidance.