As part of his work, on 9 September 1941, Savak brought 15 destitute beggars from the village of Wai, whom Baba bathed, fed and clothed at his bungalow.
The weather in Panchgani stayed sunny during Baba's first week there, but it started raining on the 11th. For the first few days, Baba continued fasting on one scant meal a day; for some days he remained on fresh-squeezed orange juice, and at times he would drink only water or tea. Baba began his orange juice fast on the 12th, and reentered seclusion the same day. He continued fasting for nine days. As it continued to pour down rain during this time, no fruit was available in the bazaar, so Baba had to be content with only water and tea for three days.
Chatti Baba again lost his temper on 12 September 1941, and Baba decided to send him home to Nagapattinam with Baidul and Krishna on the 15th. The mast had been staying with Baba continuously for almost two years. At the time of leaving, the mast wept copiously. Baba, too, appeared filled with sorrow. Margaret Craske recalled, "I have never seen so much sadness in Baba's face as when Chatti Baba's car drove away."
Accompanying Chatti Baba, Baidul had been instructed by Baba to be careful to only drink tap water and not to drink river, stream or well water during the journey. When Baidul returned from taking Chatti Baba back to Nagapattinam, he had a severe case of typhoid.
Baba asked him, "Did you disobey my orders?"
"I was very thirsty and there was no tap water for miles around," Baidul said defensively. "I had to drink from a spring ..."
"Why did you break my orders?" Baba demanded. "You, who have been in my service for so many years. How difficult it was to bring the boys to Meherabad from Persia — but you did it! Now in such a small thing, you disobey me and ignore my warning! You would have died, but because you still have much work to do for me, you will live."
After a bitter scolding, Baba forgave Baidul and instructed Nilu to treat him. He recovered after some weeks.
Maya seemed still to be active in Panchgani. Without warning, on 10 September 1941, Swami Bhabananda committed suicide in Mahabaleshwar. For a few days, the police did not connect him with the rest of Baba's men staying there.