Only Mehera could put up with such a life, and this is why she is the beloved of the Beloved! Her only thought was of pleasing Baba!
During this time, Mehera and Khorshed would cook Baba's food, and Naja and Katie would cook for the women's group. Mansari was kept occupied translating articles from Meher Baba Journal into Gujarati.1 Mani attended to written work and correspondence, along with Kitty who was teaching her shorthand and typing.
Before leaving Ajmer, on 14 July 1941, Chatti Baba suddenly lost his temper. He began knocking things about with a broom and creating a lot of noise. He continued causing a ruckus for three solid hours. But he became quiet and laughed when Baba came and sat with him.
Baba, with the mandali and women, left Ajmer by train on the 16th, at 9:45 A.M. for Manmad, where Chanji met Baba briefly the next day at 2:45 P.M. From Manmad, Baba sent word that his lovers were not to see him when he arrived, so those who were waiting at the Ahmednagar railway station left disappointed. But this sort of disappointment is quite different. Inwardly, it is a sweet hope which, though creating pain, concentrates the mind on the Beloved.
Baba arrived in Ahmednagar at midnight, and remained in his train compartment for four hours, until 4:00 A.M. on 18 July. Only Sarosh had permission to see him, to receive instructions related to the next phase of Baba's work. After meeting with Sarosh before dawn, Baba left the train station with the group, headed to Meherabad in buses and a car.
Baba had already announced that he would be going into strict seclusion for six months, from the 1st of August 1941, and Pendu and the mandali had been busy making the arrangements. Pendu and Kalemama had been ordered to erect four cabins on the four corners of Meherabad Hill for four night watchmen, who would either be from the mandali or hired villagers. Their job would be to prevent anyone from entering the limits of the property, and also to prevent the slightest disturbance to Baba.
When Baba returned to Meherabad, Pankhraj, a young man from Nagpur, was waiting for him. Although he knew darshan was not possible during Baba's seclusion, Pankhraj had come to Meherabad and stayed on, hoping Baba would see him. He had been very moved by Norina's speeches in Nagpur, and had eagerly come to meet the Master in person.
Footnotes
- 1.These Gujarati translations by Mansari of Baba's discourses, however, were never published.