Baba told him to take the dog to the veterinarian every day for treatment. Krishna was instructed to care for it, and Baba named it Saifu . Krishna made a paste of sulfur, betel-nut and yogurt, which he applied to Saifu's skin. Baba saw the dog daily, overseeing its care, and making sure Eruch took it to the doctor on time.
Saifu's suffering had brought it to God's feet. In two months, the reddish-brown dog was as sleek and fierce as a tiger. Saifu was subsequently brought to Meherabad with the group and given to Padri.1
Rano and one of the maids from Arangaon, (Maruti Patil's daughter) Tara Dalvi, were given the work of cleaning the cooking pots in Lonavla. In Rishikesh, Rano had had to carry the water to the house, and in Lonavla, her manual labor continued in washing the dishes.
When the local children on the street happened to pass by their house, they were surprised to see a Westerner working in a menial fashion. Rano had short hair at the time and looked like a man; hence, the children referred to her as "Saheb." They would whisper to each other, "Look at that Saheb cleaning pots. Why doesn't he hire a servant?" With Baba, high and low are all one and the same; the boss one day becomes a sweeper the next.
On 5 November 1942, Chanji returned to Lonavla with Nariman Dadachanji, Dina Talati and a few others. Baba had a private talk with them about the proposed engagement of Nariman and Arnavaz. Pilamai, her son Vithal and Baily arrived from Karachi on the 11th. Pilamai was to stay in Lonavla, and Vithal and Baily left the next day.
On the 11th, Baba and some of the mandali drove to Nasik to attend the wedding of Ramjoo's son, Baggu, to Ghani's daughter, Bibi.2 Baba and Pendu went with Sarosh in his car, driven by him; Adi Sr. drove his Opel with Eruch, Adi Jr. and Savak as passengers. Raosaheb, Kaka Baria and Chanji had also come from Bombay. Baba returned to Lonavla late the same night.
Baggu's twelve-year-old brother Ali had his doubts about Baba's divinity. During the wedding, their older brother Dadu shot a short film, and Baba turned his head and raised his hand as Dadu was filming him. Ali saw this and thought: "Baba is acting so his picture will come out better. Were he really God, he would not care about such things. Prophet Muhammad never permitted his likeness to be depicted." Thus, Ali had his doubts about Baba, which were to remain for many years.3
Footnotes
- 1.Later, Saifu was mated with one of Padri's bitches. Two of their first litter were given to Eruch's sister Meheru, and named by Baba, Sadhu and Jogan (a female renunciant).
- 2.Baggu and Bibi were nicknames; their real names were Abdul Rehman and Najamunnisa.
- 3.Dadu's film has since been lost.