Gadekar had rented a large bungalow, known as Dr. Kotni's house, in Sholapur for the function, since many lovers from Bombay and Poona had come and required accommodation.
Baba advised Gadekar before leaving, "Don't give up this bungalow for a year. I will pay the rent."
At the time, Gadekar could not fathom why Baba had suggested this, as his family was small and Dr. Kotni's bungalow was certainly too large for them. But after Baba's visit, more and more people kept coming for information about Baba, and thus a center with weekly meetings came into being in Sholapur. Only afterward did Gadekar understand why Baba had wished him to retain the bungalow.
Baba had also remarked, "Keep the bungalow and I will come to visit occasionally."
Although Baba did come to Sholapur twice after this visit in 1943, he stayed at the dak bungalow at those times, not at Kotni's. However, his presence was felt in Dr. Kotni's house, as his lovers gathered in his name each week to sing his praises.
After a year, Gadekar was transferred from Sholapur to Ahmednagar and Poona. Then he understood why Baba had said to rent the house only for a year.
In Akkalkot, Bendre arranged a darshan program which many attended. The recent programs were the first public darshans Meher Baba had given in three years (and the first ever in Sholapur district), hence wherever he went the receptions were large and very loving.
After the darshan in Akkalkot, Baba left by train at 8:45 A.M. for a mast trip to Vijayawada and other points in South India, traveling for seven days. The most significant contact was in Kottalanka, where Baba contacted Saiyid Ahmad Alishah , the spiritual chargeman of the area. Saiyid Ahmad was an aged, utterly naked mast and a virtual living skeleton. A mixture of jamali and jalali characteristics, this mast usually stayed and slept on the verandah of a Brahmin's house. The Brahmin revered Saiyid Ahmad as a saint, and across from his house he built a dharamshala for those who came to worship the mast.
When Baidul initially approached Saiyid Ahmad, he said, referring to Meher Baba's presence in the town, "Rustom has come."
Saiyid Ahmad in turn replied, "No, a crow has come," meaning, a friend was about to arrive.
When Baidul stood up to leave, he touched the saint's feet in a gesture of respect.