On 1 April 1949, Adi Sr., Nariman, Meherjee and the boy Frenchy arrived in Mount Abu. It was common practice for Baba, before proceeding on a mast tour, to gather reports of various masts and saints and their habits and locations, to facilitate his work when he went to contact them for the first time. Three weeks before, Adi Sr. had issued a circular on 9 March, according to Baba's instructions, asking his lovers to send him information about masts, saints, sadhus and mahatmas living in their areas, or dates of any spiritual fairs (melas) or religious gatherings. When Adi arrived at Mount Abu, he brought the reports of their findings and handed them over to Baba. Adi, Nariman and Meherjee left Mount Abu on 2 April, while Frenchy stayed for a few days more at Baba's request.
Baba traveled to Bombay on 11 April, arriving the next night, and stayed at Meherjee's house with Baidul and Eruch. Adi Sr. had been called with Chhagan, Vishnu and Kaikobad. Ramjoo and Sarosh also arrived, and Baba sorted out certain matters between them concerning Sarosh's business affairs. Ghani and Pappa also came.
With Chhagan, Baidul, Eruch and Vishnu, Baba went by train from Bombay to Akola on Wednesday, 13 April 1949. The following day, Baba worked with five masts in Akola, the most interesting of whom was Baldev Baba . He was a good mast, about 60 years old, and gave Baba a watermelon and several oranges to eat. Before departing, Baldev enigmatically remarked: "I have made Ishwar; now you look after the poor."
That day, Baba left for Badnera, contacting Kali Kambliwala , whom he had worked with before in 1944.
Dr. Deshmukh and his wife Indumati met up with the group at Badnera. Baba then traveled nine miles in a bullock cart to Chandtara village. The road was so bad and the ride so bumpy that after two hours of being tossed about, a wad of Rs.700 fell out of Eruch's pocket — and one of his shoes fell out of his bag also.
As soon as he discovered the loss, he informed Baba, who replied, "Don't worry about the money. First think about the mast we are going to see. The money does not matter; the mast does! If the contact is good, it will turn out all right."
By the time they reached Chandtara it was past midnight. Baba had been anxious to contact the mast as soon as possible and indicated that he did not wish to wait until morning.