They brought their son Kohiyar, 28, and his wife
Rati, 22. The entire Satarawala family became dedicated to Baba.
A week later, on Friday, 1 August, Baba broke his
fast. Two days later, Ali Shah was called back to Satara, and Baba
worked with him for six days, until the 9th.
During this phase of work with Ali Shah, Baba
called Eruch and asked him to write on the wall: "The month of
February [1948] will be eventful," but Baba did not explain what
would happen.
On Saturday, 9 August 1947, Baba, accompanied by
Eruch and Jalbhai, left Satara for Poona, driven by Adi Sr. in his
Chevrolet. Baba ate at Bindra House and slept at Baba House, Eruch on
watch near him. He had trouble sleeping and woke at 3:00 A.M. and walked
with Eruch to Bindra House, where Baba washed and had breakfast. Along
the way, Baba reminisced, pointing out to Eruch places from his
childhood, such as the spot near his father's teashop where he had
almost been trampled by a herd of buffaloes, the location of the
Cosmopolitan Club, and where he had sat with Babajan.
It was Khordad Sal (Zoroaster's
birthday), and Meherjee, Nariman, Ghani, his son-in-law, Vishnu and his
cousin Sushila all met Baba at Bindra House. Baidul had taken Ali Shah
back to Meherabad and joined them in Poona that day. From there, Baba
embarked on a very strenuous 5-day mast trip, visiting the towns of
Sangamner, Kopargaon, Aurangabad, Yeola, Jalna, Hyderabad, Sholapur,
Barsi and other places for mast work — much of it in pouring
rain.
They didn't reach Aurangabad until midnight
on the 10th. Baba slept at the home of Adi Sr.'s sister Piroja and
her husband Dr. Krishna V. Ranade. Gulmai had also come. Starting the
next morning, Baba began a partial fast — one cup of tea at 6:00
A.M. and then no water or food until 6:00 P.M. — despite being on
the move continually during the day hunting for masts.
This was also a time of very tense political
crises in the country in relation to the coming Partition. In Aurangabad
on 11 August, in view of the unrest rapidly spreading throughout the
country, Baba dictated this message, which he instructed Adi to have
printed and sent to his followers:
Meher Baba desires all his disciples and
devotees, irrespective of caste and creed, to continue to stay, work and
live in territories wherever they may happen to be settled down, be it
in India, Pakistan or any of the [native] states, and enjoins upon them
all to remain loyal and faithful citizens of the government to which
they belong.