On 14 April 1946, Nadine Tolstoy breathed her last in New York's Roosevelt Hospital at the age of 62.
Baba received the news on the 16th, in a telegram from Norina, and immediately cabled back: "Tell Elizabeth, Nadia lives in me, with me and for me more than ever before."
Adele Wolkin, who was already solely Baba's, had been nursing Nadine until the end.
Countess Nadine Tolstoy had been in Baba's contact since 1931; she had come to stay at Nasik, was with Baba during his Blue Bus tours — and now joined him forever!
As Baba once remarked about her, "[Nadine] is one of my rocks on whom I can depend."
Thus, during the last seven years, twelve close lovers of Baba had died: Christine and Mabel in London; Nonny in Bangalore; Buasaheb in Poona; Sampath Aiyangar and his cousin Swamiji in Madras; Chanji in Srinagar; Masaji in Meherabad; Khansaheb in Ahmednagar; Walter Mertens in Zurich; Garrett Fort in Hollywood; and Nadine in New York — not to mention Upasni Maharaj and Narayan Maharaj.
Around 26 March 1946, Don accompanied Irene Billo to Bombay, from where she left three weeks later by ship for Switzerland, according to Baba's order. Then, in April, Baba sent Rano, Kitty and Margaret to Delhi with Don. They had no idea where they were to go from there, as Baba's next move had not yet been disclosed.
Pappa Jessawala had seen Keki Nalavala in Dehra Dun in February, and with his help had rented a bungalow in Niranjanpur, three miles from Dehra Dun town. Keki was also instructed not to tell a soul about Meher Baba's imminent arrival.
Pappa had already been informed by Baba (through Eruch) that he, Pappa, would be in charge of all correspondence, and that if anything were to be reported to the Meherabad mandali, or if the Meherabad mandali had to convey anything to Baba, it would be done through him in Poona.
The secret place where Baba was to stay was referred to as "the place of seclusion," since no one knew exactly where it would be. Only Pappa knew, and it was impossible to get anything out of him — which was exactly why Baba had selected him for this work!
Baba sent Vishnu to Manmad in advance to book their train compartments. Subsequently, on Tuesday, 16 April 1946, Baba left Pimpalgaon (driven by Adi Sr. in Sarosh's car) with Mehera, Mani and Meheru for Manmad, where he entrained for Dehra Dun. A second group followed, comprised of Baidul, Eruch, Kaka, Krishna, Nilu, Jalbhai, Naja, Katie, Khorshed and Soonamasi — and joined Baba's group at Manmad.