This physical exertion of bowing down and rising and bowing down again to such a great number, one after another, proved to be a tremendous strain on his body, especially his neck.
Baba did not reveal how many of the sadhus were genuine or advanced. However, afterwards, Baba walked around Allahabad and worked with four genuine masts: Vishwanath Baba , who appeared as a sadhu, but was a mast; Shah Saheb , who oddly carried around a book under his arm and wore a pair of spectacles; Qamruddin , who was naked except for a loincloth and usually was surrounded by a pack of dogs; Sheikh Mardan , who was always stark naked in all weather conditions, and was known to be a heavy smoker of hemp and had a passion for tea.
Baba departed Allahabad on the night of 9 February, taking Sadashiv, Vithal, Baidul, Eruch, Jalbhai, Dhake and Adi Sr. with him, and leaving Babadas behind. They spent 36 hours in the train, changing trains several times en route. During the journey, as well as during his strenuous work in Allahabad, Baba and the mandali had been observing their partial fast of one meal a day. At one station, they got down at 2:30 A.M. to change trains. Although their next train was at the station, it was not scheduled to depart for several hours, so Baba and the men washed their face and hands and boarded it to rest.
At about 4:30 A.M. Baba noticed a fruit stall opening up for business on the platform, and sent Eruch to buy some oranges. The stall's owner was busy worshiping, praying before a photograph of what Eruch thought at first to be a saint, while a small boy dusted the jars of sweets and buns for sale. To his surprise, Eruch noticed that the photograph was of Meher Baba himself. Baba had told him to purchase six oranges, one for each of them, and Eruch asked the lad the price. The boy replied, "One anna per orange."
From the train, Baba gestured to Eruch, "Since we are buying six, try to bring him down."
Eruch began bargaining, and ended up paying five annas for the six oranges. When he returned to their compartment, he told Baba that the man had been praying before his photograph, but Baba did not pay much attention to it.
In the train, Baba handed each of the men an orange, and Eruch went to wash the one meant for Baba before cutting and serving it to him.