Nothing of these can be carried with one when one has to flee for one's very life. Not only this, but even one's own relatives and dear ones, for whom one has toiled lifelong for years, have to be left — separated temporarily or even forever. None can tell.
But in spite of this bare fact glaring one in the face, people will not give up selfish ends — motives driven by lust and greed — and grab at things which they know would have to be given up in an instant's notice.
India, which is the land and source of spirituality, has to bring home this most important and fundamental lesson of the futility of things in life, by furnishing the world with a living example of sacrifice and suffering, in giving things away and being content with the smallest share. In short, India has to suffer more than any other country. In order to play the role assigned by divine dispensation, India has to sacrifice and suffer most. This is the greatest lesson which India has to teach and prove to the world.
Chanji left for Bombay on the 9th with Pappa, with instructions to deliver a message to Mahatma Gandhi at Wardha.
Meanwhile Mohammed Mast had been in Bombay more than a year, in the care of Aloba, who was not having an easy time with him. Mohammed would throw his plate, spoon and glass out of the first floor window of the rooms Aloba had rented, hitting pedestrians below. This problem was solved by putting a screen over the window. The next headache for Aloba was that Mohammed would occupy the sole toilet of the building for four to five hours every morning, and abuse the tenants who would come to use it before leaving for their jobs. Aloba then made a private potty for Mohammed in his room, telling him the common toilet was out of order and being repaired.
After a few weeks, Mohammed began repeatedly saying, "I want to go to Ratnagiri [his home]." Aloba ignored him at first, but kept being pestered by this request.
Finally, Aloba wrote to Baba, who wrote back: "Send Mohammed to Ratnagiri."
It was the middle of the war and very difficult to obtain steamship tickets, but after a few failed attempts, Aloba succeeded and purchased two tickets from Bombay.
On the morning they were to depart, Mohammed began crying, "I don't want to go to Ratnagiri! I don't want to go!"