It also cost the labor of dispatching it to the buyers and hiring a bullock cart to deliver it.
Vishnu, who was in charge of accounts, was naturally feeling perturbed by this and stated, "Baba, we have suffered a big loss in selling the grain."
But Baba replied, "What do you know of the gain this loss has given us? Your job is to continue doing as I tell you!"
Baba sent Kaka and Baidul from Dehra Dun to find a suitable living accommodation near the Himalayas. They found a house in Kathgodam and rented it. When Baba received word of it, he left Dehra Dun on Friday, 10 July 1942 — the 17th anniversary of his silence. Accompanying Baba were Eruch and Gustadji. Adi Sr. (who had been called from Ahmednagar) joined them at Bareilly. Baba sent Eruch back to Dehra Dun, and then Baba, with Gustadji and Adi Sr., traveled to Kathgodam, arriving at noon on the 11th.
Baba liked the small cottage Kaka and Baidul had chosen as it was ideally situated between two high ranges of hills, making it secluded and isolated from any intrusion. Baba then assigned individual duties to all. He appointed Adi to look after his personal work (laundry, cleaning his dishes, helping with his bath) and correspondence, as well as the sweeping and general cleaning of his room. Baidul was to do the marketing; Kaka to cook; and Gustadji to offer a helping hand to all. In addition, all four were required to keep watch for two hours at night by Baba's side.
Whenever Baba was on a tour, Vishnu was instructed to send him a telegram and letter every day, detailing the men and women mandali's health. During travels, telegrams were sent in care of the railway stationmaster. Baba was very, very particular about this practice. Thus, one of the mandali with Baba would go to the station each day to collect any telegrams and letters. If none was received, Baba would be annoyed at Vishnu and send a cable to him asking why there was no news from him.
On Sunday, 12 July 1942, a high mast named Uderman Mastan was brought to Baba's cottage. An elderly man, Uderman was a jamali mast, very amiable, and quite suitable for Baba's inner work, according to Baba.1 From that day onward, Baba sat with him nearly every day in seclusion in the cottage at Kathgodam.
Footnotes
- 1.For his own reasons, Baba gave Adi Sr. chicken to eat on July and liver on the 12 th and 13 th, while everyone else had their usual vegetarian fare.