On Sunday, 10 July 1949, Baba broke his fast with a little rice and chutney at 11:40 A.M. Gustadji came with Ali Shah from Meherabad, and Baba's work with the mast began. Ali Shah and Gustadji were to stay at Meherazad, and Gustadji was also allowed to see Baba. They stayed in Don's room adjoining Baba's bathroom. Mehera and Mani were also called to see Baba for half an hour in the morning. Baba gave instructions which Mani was to type, the gist of which was:
“”Out of the 40 days of seclusion that Baba is enduring, 31 days are to be spent here in the cabin in Meherazad. For the remaining nine days, however, Baba wishes to have a complete change of environment. He wishes to be away for nine days somewhere else, and then return here for the last seven days, and resume his seclusion in exactly the same way as he is now doing.
This nine-day seclusion in a different place will be as strict as it has been here, with the difference that Baba will be free from the work that he has been doing in seclusion here. This change will be for the purpose of removing the terrific weight of work Baba has been under in seclusion, until now.
Eruch was therefore sent instructions to find some suitable place for Baba near Poona. Baba also dictated duties to those who would be left behind in Meherazad during his absence.
In the middle of the night, at about 3:00 A.M., Jal Kerawalla woke up, having heard a knocking sound coming from Baba's cabin. Baba had slept for barely half an hour at midnight. Meherjee had been on watch and said Baba was snoring from 12:30 to 1:00 A.M. Ganpat said that at 1:25 A.M. he heard Baba making some noise inside, and saw the light go out. Again, at 2:30 A.M., he heard Baba's footsteps within the bus. Kaka was called at 3:00 A.M., and Baba directed him to ask Meherjee if he had heard any knocking before 3:00 A.M.; Meherjee said he had not heard it.
On 11 July, Jal, Meherjee and Nariman began reading certain selected passages from spiritual books to Baba. They too were on silence, and were only to speak while reading to Baba for an hour every day. At 10:30 A.M. Jal read a selection from the Upanishads . Meherjee read out a passage from the Dasatir , the holy book of Zoroastrians.
