Returning to Srinagar, Habibullah handed Baba's letter to Daulat Singh. After reading it, he remarked, "Baba wants only this much service from me? When will the time come when he takes away all that belongs to me?"
According to Baba's instructions, Daulat Singh gave some money to Habibullah, who returned to his parents' house. There was a hidden reason for Baba's sending Habibullah back. Just two months later, his father unexpectedly died.
Another fortunate individual who had Baba's darshan at this time was a British woman named Milicent Deakes, 51. Milicent grew up in India and first heard of Baba in the late 1920s. She had been writing to Baba since the time of the Toka ashram. In 1941, she and her husband and son moved from India to the Andaman Islands where they had estates. In February 1942, she received a telegram from Chanji saying, "Baba would like to spend some time in the Andaman Islands." Milicent rented a secluded cottage for Baba in Port Blair. But just a few weeks later, Milicent and her family were interned in Singapore as prisoners-of-war by the Japanese. Though Milicent continued to write to Baba during that period, she received no reply. Three years later, in July 1945, her husband was killed in an accident in the camp. On the day of his funeral a postcard "quite by chance" arrived from Baba.
In it, Baba informed Milicent that he had received all her letters and he told her, "All will be well. Be Brave. I am sending you my blessings."
Baba's words were, of course, a great comfort to her.
One month later Milicent was released from the camp and sent to a hill station in India to recover. By January 1946, she was in Bombay, so she took the opportunity to request Baba's darshan, which he granted. But when Baba went into seclusion, Adi Sr. cabled Milicent not to come. She had already left and arrived at Meherabad on 19 January. Baba did not see her, but sent her up the hill to meet the women mandali. Milicent took it as a test and accepted Baba's wish. She spent the night at Khushru Quarters and returned to Bombay the following day.
Two weeks later, when Baba eased his seclusion, Milicent was written that she should come to Meherabad, at Baba's expense, where at long last she had her Beloved's darshan.
Since Baba entered seclusion on 3 January 1946, he had not been up the hill to see the women. But he did go to see them on Saturday, 2 February.
Calling Rano and Kitty to him in private, he informed them, "I am shortly sending Irene and Margaret to Europe for my work, keeping both of you here."
Although they were sorry for Irene and Margaret, they themselves were thankful to be allowed to stay.
When Baba returned from Wai, he kept Kaikobad, his family and Mansari in the hospital quarters on the hill, and Soltoon and Dowla in a separate room. Soonamasi, Khorshed, Rano, Kitty and Katie stayed elsewhere on the hill, as did Mehera, Mani, Meheru, Naja, Margaret and Walu. Pilamai and her daughter, Silla, stayed in lower Meherabad and Vishnu's mother Kakubai, from the outset, had also resided in lower Meherabad, with Vishnu.1
In the Family Quarters near Arangaon Village were Savak Kotwal, his wife Nergiz and their daughter Hilla. Their other two children were studying in Poona. Chhagan and his wife and daughter were also accommodated in the Family Quarters, as were Jangle and his family, and Sidhu and his wife, Radha.
Annasaheb Kale, Anna 104, Don, Gustadji, Kalemama, Khak Saheb, Murli, Nilu, Padri, Pendu, Ramjoo and Sailor were among the mandali staying at the old Mess Quarters, their residence in lower Meherabad.
After seeing to everything at Meherabad, Baba left for Pimpalgaon with Mehera, Mani, Meheru, Naja, Margaret and Walu on Sunday, 3 February 1946. He was accompanied by Don, Gustadji, Kaka, Krishna and Nilu. Venkoba Rao had been sent back to his home in South India with instructions to look after the Byramangala property.
In Pimpalgaon, Baba resumed his seclusion in a room.2 On the 5th, Eruch brought a mast, and then returned to Poona. Baba would work with the mast in seclusion and then go for a walk on Tembi Hill with the women. They would collect bright pebbles and rocks from the hill; at times both of Baba's pockets bulged with the shining geodes.
Footnotes
- 1.A two-room cottage had been built for Vishnu and his mother, near Baba's Jhopdi.
- 2.The room was later occupied by Pendu.