Youths are always willing to act and take risks. Let them freely yield to this fearless and imperative urge of life within them. But while releasing action, let them take every care that it is creative and not merely destructive. Let their watchwords always be Love and Service.
A month passed in Dehra Dun with Baba mainly working in seclusion with Uderman Mastan and spending time each day with the mandali. From 20 August, Baba fasted on water for three days and then resumed his one-meal-a-day fast.
At one point, Baba decided to move his seclusion towards Maharashtra and sent instructions about hiring bungalows. This was arranged in Lonavla. So Baba with the men and women mandali entrained for Lonavla on Thursday, 10 September 1942. The women in Lonavla numbered about 30 because of the later inclusion of Gulmai, Pilamai, Silla, Arnavaz, Nargis, Gulamasi, Gaimai, Manu and Meheru Jessawala, in addition to the resident women, Mehera, Mani, Khorshed, Soonamasi, Mansari, Irene, Margaret, Kitty, Rano and so forth.
Keki Desai was tasked with reserving a bogie for Baba and the mandali, and also to bring food for everyone to the Delhi station. Keki and his wife, Dhun, had brought along their neighbor's little daughter. Baba asked Dhun whether the girl was their daughter.
When Dhun told him who the child was, Baba further asked her, "Are you fond of children? Do you want one?"
Dhun replied that, though she liked children, she didn't want one just then. They had only been married two years.
Baba counseled her, "Whenever you want a child, think of me. I will give you a baby who should be named Meher ," and he placed his hand on Dhun's head in blessing.
It was not until ten years later that the Desais had a daughter, whom they considered as Baba's gift and, according to his instructions, named Meher.
In the train on the way to Lonavla, there was a frightening incident, as Meherwan Jessawala relates: "We were all in a compartment when Baba suddenly became very pale, unable to lift his hands and feet. His eyes were open, but he appeared totally drained of blood, and as if he was passing away. He lay there helpless, unable to move and totally limp."
All rushed forward to revive him. Rano administered a few drops of Coramine (a central nervous system stimulant) and within a few minutes Baba recovered. Meherwan concluded, "During times of great internal working, Baba would suffer such spells."1
Baba and the women and men mandali arrived in Ahmednagar at ten o'clock on the morning of 12 September.
Footnotes
- 1.Bill Le Page, The Divine Humanity of Meher Baba (Meher Baba Foundation, Australia, 2002), Vol. I, p. 25.