Baba returned to Meherabad four days later on the 23rd. When Baba left on this tour, he left in such a way that none could see him or recognize him and thus not disturb him during his seclusion.
The same day that Baba returned from his mast trip, the ashes of Elizabeth's dog Kippy were received from America. They were buried next to Warrior's tomb, and a headstone was raised over the grave.
The next day, Wednesday, 24 December 1941, a telegram was received in Ahmednagar that Upasni Maharaj had dropped his body. Sarosh immediately came to Meherabad, arriving at two in the afternoon and informed the mandali. Vishnu and Sarosh went up the hill to inform Baba.
On seeing them, Baba came out of the gate and before they related the news to Baba, he calmly asked, "Has it happened?"
This surprised them. It was as if he had been expecting the news.
Sarosh then said, "Upasni Maharaj has left the body."
Without a trace of sadness or surprise in his expression, Baba replied, "That's what I meant."
Baba directed Pendu, Vishnu, Kalemama, Chhagan, Sarosh, Chanji (who had arrived the same morning from Bombay with Goher) and Gulmai to go to Sakori to participate in the last rites, which they did on the 25th. Maharaj was buried at Sakori, and they returned soon after the ceremony was finished, arriving back at Meherabad at ten that night. Dr. Deshmukh had arrived on the 25th, but it was too late for him to go to Sakori, so he remained near Baba at Meherabad.
On the 26th, Baba called the mandali to the mast ashram on the hill and discussed the recent occurrence. Baba had instructed Gulmai to stay at Sakori during specific periods in December 1941, and also January and February of 1942, saying that at anytime during these three months Maharaj would "pass off." The first of these time spans was 19–24 December, and accordingly Gulmai had gone to stay at Sakori on the 19th. But on the 22nd of December she had returned to Ahmednagar, as Maharaj had told her he was leaving for Satana (his birthplace), where he would be staying until the end of the month. However, Maharaj had returned the next day, complaining of chest pains, and subsequently expired the following day.
Gulmai felt very bad about not being in Sakori when Maharaj died, as Baba had wished, but Baba comforted her, "Don't worry. It had to happen that way."