"Oh, is that so?" he remarked.
"He has been staying with him for the last 20 years in his ashram."
"Where is his ashram?"
"Ahmednagar."
After some moments, Narayan said, "They say he does not speak ..."
"Yes, that's right," Arnavaz answered.
"Why not?"
"You should know, Maharaj."
After some moments, Narayan said, "You [Meher Baba's devotees] should make him speak! Why don't you make him speak?"
Arnavaz did not know what to say to this, so she kept quiet. Narayan then said, "Make him speak with the intensity of your love!"
At Meherabad, before entering into seclusion, Baba called a meeting of the mandali on 20 and 21 July 1941. Joining them were Ramjoo from Nasik; Ghani, Adi Sr., Eruch and Don from Bangalore (where Don had been posted); Jalbhai, Adi Jr., Beheram and Sadashiv Patil from Poona; along with Chanji and other close ones from Bombay, Poona and Ahmednagar (such as Sarosh). Baba personally met with each man, and instructed each about his work and individual affairs.
Baba explained the reason for calling the meeting: "I might die during the next six months of seclusion. So by calling you now, I am giving you all this last chance of seeing me. If I die, all of you will die soon too, as there would be no point in your living then. If however I do not die, I will speak and manifest, and you should 'pass your examination' [carry out the orders he had given].
"My poor health has already begun. Yesterday, I had terrible heart pain. It was so bad that I couldn't move for half an hour or so. All the women were very frightened."
Each of the men had the same thought: "What would people's reaction be if Baba's seclusion lasted six more months? Baba had declared that he would break his silence (on August 1st). Now, what ideas would people have by this extension?"
But no one said anything about it to Baba, and after the personal interviews and instructions on the 20th, Baba called all together the following day, and gave an explanation on God and maya, which answered their question.
Some, however, did mention to Baba that by extending the period of his silence and seclusion, his opponents would have an excuse to stir up all sorts of false publicity about him. To this, Baba replied:
In northern India, there is a mast who stays at an important railway station.