While at Ahmednagar, Baba has decided to personally distribute grain worth Rs.10,000 in one day to the poor. This will not be charity, but his direct contact with the poor in giving this prasad which will benefit the poor of the world. Baba has desired that this item of the program should not be given any publicity whatsoever.
Calling Nariman and Arnavaz Dadachanji from Bombay, Baba discussed their upcoming wedding plans, advising them to get married in December.
When both agreed, he remarked, "The month is mine, the date is yours. Fix any date that is suitable."
Arnavaz chose the 21st of December, to which Baba consented.
Mehera's birthday was to be publicly celebrated that year, and preparations were being made to observe it at Meherabad. The mandali began making arrangements for cooking lunch and erecting a tent for the occasion. Masaji was in charge of the cooking and had to hire utensils and vessels, and for that he went to Poona. Invitations were sent to devotees in Bombay, Poona, Ahmednagar, Nasik and a few other places to take part in the occasion. They were informed that their lodging and boarding would be provided. Pendu was occupied with pitching the large pandal and Padri with making arrangements for electricity and water.
Masaji returned to Meherabad on 18 December 1944 with a truckload of requisite items. But traveling in the open truck in the hot sun had affected the old man's health. After having the truck unloaded in front of his son Pendu, telling him to store the things inside, Masaji went and lay down on his cot. Vishnu's mother Kakubai came to his room and discussed the cooking details with him. No one realized he was seriously ill.
Masaji slept that night, and the next day after lunch went to his room to take a nap. At 1:30 P.M. Jangle came to ask about purchases to be made in the bazaar. He knocked on the door but there was no answer. Slowly opening the door, he saw Masaji's head lolling a little over the edge of his bed. Jangle called him — but Masaji was sleeping the sleep of death. Jangle shouted for Pendu, and he, Padri, Nilu and Vishnu came running. Nilu felt Masaji's pulse, but could do nothing and said it was heart failure. A doctor from Ahmednagar was summoned, but Masaji had already passed away. He was 77.