Kaka recognized him as the same Mauni Baba who was contacted near Kathgodam village in Hardwar years before when Baba was staying in Dehra Dun in 1942. The silent ( mauni ) sanyasi was taken with them in the jeep and Baba sat with him alone for a few minutes at the Hindu cremation grounds.
On Wednesday, 20 July 1949, Baba began a three-day seclusion in a room upstairs at Thube's bungalow. Baba stated he would not be coming downstairs for meals or to chat with the mandali. He explained that he was undergoing this seclusion "for the very many disappointing features of this trip, and the consequent failure to relax." The mandali were allowed to see Baba upstairs when sent for, and Ghani was still to read poetry to him when called. When masts or sadhus were brought, Baba would contact them upstairs.
Baba now began following this dietary schedule:
Morning — One cup of tea, no bread 10:00 A.M. — One cup of coffee 3:00 to 4:00 P.M. — Dinner Baba would also chew a little betel-nut or variali [fennel seed] powder during the day.
After tea that morning, Eruch brought a sadhu. Baba washed his feet, gave him sweets and two rupees. At noon Eruch and Jalbhai brought a mast named Ram . He did not resist Baba in the least and was taken upstairs, where Baba gave him a bath, fresh clothes and sweets.
“”Later Baba related to the mandali about Ram, "I felt hungry at the time and thought to myself how good it would be if the mast himself offered me some of the sweets he was eating. And guess what? He offered half the sweets to me!
"Because of my fast I would not have allowed myself to eat from anyone's hands; but because it came from a mast, the opportunity to appease my hunger was availed and welcomed by me."
Baba then stated that this contact with Ram was his last mast contact in Poona, as no more masts were to be brought to him during his seclusion.
On a sign from Baba, Eruch asked the mast, "Where is Ram?"
The mast replied, "Ram is here! He is in every one of you!"
"Have you seen Ishwar?"
"I see Ishwar before my eyes this very moment! He is everywhere!"
After their meal, at four o'clock, Baba went to rest. In the evening he played Ping-Pong (seated on the floor), cards and carrom with the mandali.
