Chanji stopped him, but Baba stood by the car, waiting, and permitted the man to approach. As he came close to Baba he uttered, "You are the Avatar of Lord Vishnu! Pray, grant me the Lord's boon!"
“”Baba smiled and motioned, "You are quite lucky! I know how immersed you are in your devotion for Lord Vishnu. My blessing to you."
The man cried out, "My work is done!" He stood before Baba like a beggar, tears flowing down his face. Choking, in a shaking voice he uttered, "No one knows you here! I saw you and recognized you at once. You are the Avatar of Vishnu! You, too, know me."
“”Baba gestured, "I know everything. That is why I have come to you here."
The man became elated and burst forth, "My life's desire is fulfilled! JAI LORD VISHNU! ... JAI LORD VISHNU!"
He bowed to Baba and then left. The same man had passed their houses on the day they had arrived from Meherabad. At that time, too, he had been singing and had seen Baba from a distance.
“”Referring to Jagannath, Baba remarked, "He is on the threshold of the Path and intensely longs for sight of God."
Baba and all the men and women then left Panchgani in the car and Blue Bus. Tukaram drove the bus and Nilu served as his assistant mechanic. They reached the Dharwar dak bungalow at night near ten o'clock, traveling via Satara, Belgaum and Kolhapur. The mandali and servants traveled in a separate bus and then went by train to Karwar.
The next day, 29 October, Baba left for Karwar, where he arrived at quarter past one in the afternoon. In Karwar, Vishnu's cousins, Sushila and Indu, were again called to manage the kitchen. Indu's husband Vishwanath Haldankar was also there with the men mandali, helping with arrangements. According to Vishnu, Baba found Karwar "rather unsuitable" at first; the weather was sultry and the house in which they were staying was too small. But the women assured him it was all right, so Baba agreed to stay.
Baba asked Margaret to teach the women swimming, which she began doing. Under Margaret's and Rano's watchful eyes, Mehera, too, was learning to swim. After several days of lessons, Baba ordered each of the women to do 15 strokes while he watched from the shore. Most of them managed to swim, but Mani sank like a stone.
