Baba wore a cheerful smile as he got in the car and then left with Kaka, Gustadji and Ali Shah, driven by Adi Sr. A jeep driven by a driver named Gafoor followed with the luggage.1 Adi blew the horn as the car crossed the small bridge over the drainage ditch, signaling that those at Meherazad could come out of their rooms.
Mehera, Mani, Meheru, Goher, Rano, Norina, Elizabeth and Arnavaz were also staying at Meherazad during this time but, except for Mehera and Mani, none of the others had seen Baba for the last month. They had been staying near God, yet were away from him; though they were kept at a distance, he was drawing them closer. Who can fathom this apparent contradiction?
Baba arrived in Poona at ten that morning. Eruch had rented Rao Bahadur Thube's bungalow, situated behind Parvati Hill, about a mile off the Panchgani road. Baba had specified that the house be secluded, and have ample acreage of open land around it for taking walks without being seen. Thube's bungalow and property satisfied those conditions.
The Buick and jeep were left for Baba's use, and Adi and Gafoor returned to Ahmednagar by train. Baba permitted Eruch to remain with him, and also sent for Ghani and Jalbhai. All three were on silence, but Baba allowed them to speak in his presence during his seclusion there. About his recent confinement at Meherazad, Baba remarked:
Staying in the Blue Bus cabin was troublesome for me, with its small doorframe, on which I was constantly bumping my head. The adjoining room was vacated, but there was a strong breeze outside [which Baba did not like as he moved between the cabin and the room]. I have accomplished several heavy spiritual tasks at other places, such as Angiras Rishi Hill, my tomb at Meherabad, the Panchvati Cave. The burden of the work was always heavy — but the place of confinement was never as uncomfortable as the Blue Bus cabin.
Baba explained the purpose of his visit to Poona:
After my arduous work for nineteen days at Meherazad, I wanted to relax and yet continue the work begun. With that end in view, I chose new surroundings, new companions and a change in the type of work I was doing.
At Meherazad there was no rain as long as I was in seclusion, and now that I have come out, it has begun to rain there.
Footnotes
- 1.The jeep was probably supplied by Sarosh, along with his driver, who returned to Ahmednagar with Adi Sr., and then came again when it was time to leave.