This set Mansari thinking, and Baba asked her what was crinkling her brow. She replied, "If you permit, I will tell you." Baba permitted her, and she said, "I want to stay in Meherabad, even if I have to stay alone." Baba was pleased by Mansari's decision, and he embraced her.
He then decided to allow only her and Kaikobad's wife Jerbai and their three daughters, Meheru, Gulu and Jalu, to stay on the hill. Kaikobad's son Ratan was learning to be a film projectionist in the Sarosh Cinema in Ahmednagar and was residing there.
Thus, arrangements for these five women to remain on Meherabad Hill were fixed. Jangle Master, who was residing in the Family Quarters compound near Arangaon, was appointed to look after them and do their marketing.
Baba instructed Naja and Katie to stay at Nariman and Arnavaz's apartment in Bombay. Baidul's wife Soltoon and their daughter, Dowla, were instructed to stay at Bindra House in Poona, along with Walu. Baidul's other daughter Sarwar was living in Bombay. Gulmai was to remain at Khushru Quarters with her daughters Dolly and Piroja; Meheru Damania and her husband were to continue living there, as well.
Accompanying him on the New Life, Baba announced, would be four women: Mehera, Mani, Meheru and Goher. Baba outlined certain conditions and instructions for the women:
“”(1) For those five women on the hill:
Jerbai and her daughters are not to expect any money from Baba, but are to live on Kaikobad's pension (about Rs.133 per month). Baba has already arranged for them (and Mansari) to be supplied with grain, sugar and kerosene for ten years and the permanent maintenance of water supply on the hill.
Sarosh will employ permanently Jamadar as night watchman and Jangle on day-duties as follows:
(a) Maintaining water supply under all circumstances for the needs of all who are allowed to stay on the hill.
(b) Shopping for Mansari & party and getting their requirements met from the bazaar at Nagar from time to time.
(c) Looking after the garden and the whole of the premises, as much and as best as he can.
There will be no doctor nor any arrangement for medical assistance available on the hill or at lower Meherabad. They will keep all their personal things, clothes, etc. and retain pieces of furniture necessary for their daily use from the lot available on the hill.
(2) For those going to Bombay:
Katie is to take a job that Nariman will find for her, like that of a shorthand typist, shop assistant, etc. Masi and Khorshed to stay in one of the rooms at [Meherjee's wife] Homai's place where Baba stayed, and they may cook for themselves or eat with Homai. If they prefer to cook for themselves, Homai will provide them with the necessary wherewithals. Khorshed to sew and if possible to earn money with her sewing. Masi can help Homai in household work.
Rano and Kitty will have one separate room for themselves at Homai's place, and at first they will stay here for two months. Baba will decide by then whether he will call them to join him in his New Life or whether they are to stay in Bombay. In the latter case, they will then take up jobs that Meherjee will help them to find, like that of imparting music or drawing tuitions, etc. They will cook for themselves and Homai will provide them with the necessary wherewithals. If they choose, they can also eat with Homai.
Instructions for the day-to-day life of those staying with Arnavaz and Homai in Bombay: Meals, breakfast, etc. to be eaten by them at home and to be supplied to them freely. No restriction of any kind is meant to apply to Arnavaz-Nariman and Homai-Meherjee all of whom can go out to dine as and when they like. In that case, the ashramites can cook for themselves. The ashramites can go for an outing with Arnavaz or Homai or both, but the ashramites will neither eat outside anywhere nor go to cinemas by themselves or with anyone.
All earnings by sewing, salaries and, in the case of Masi and Khorshed also, the income of about Rs.90 per month that they get, must all be given to Homa or Arnavaz according to where the parties concerned stay, and Arnavaz and Homai must spend all such money towards their respective household expenses, without saving anything for anyone on any account. To help in the house, if time is available and if it is necessary to do so.
Thus arrangements were made for all in the women's section of the ashram. Baba bound them with his instructions, and hence even those who were not going with him had a deep experience of the New Life.
When everything was settled, Baba returned to Meherabad on Thursday, 25 August 1949 with the Meherazad women. That afternoon at 3:00 P.M., he held a meeting on the hill with Adi Sr., Ramjoo, Pendu, Vishnu, Sidhu and Kaikobad, and informed them:
“”You know about the four alternatives given by me to the women mandali. Accordingly, it was left for me to decide about them, unlike the men who are to decide for themselves. I have decided about the women today. I have called you to hear their decisions, because we first decided that no one from the mandali was to stay either on Meherabad Hill or in lower Meherabad. We have since made an exception about lower Meherabad. A few of the men mandali are to stay there for one year, and some can stay permanently also. Likewise, under my decision for the ladies, some of them will stay on the hill permanently.
Before giving my decisions, I invited their suggestions, and Mansari and Kaikobad's family requested to be allowed to remain on the hill. I approved of the idea on my own, but hesitated to give my decision because of one point, which has also now been cleared.
