ChaptersChapter 19Page 2,776

Chapter 19: The New Life

1949Page 2,776 of 5,444
Baba came there the following morning for breakfast and met Meherjee, his wife Homai, and their daughter Pervin. Meherjee's other daughter, Mehernaz, was an infant, and Baba took her in his arms and played with her for a while.
He returned to Ashiana, where his Bombay lovers gathered. When Dina Talati, her son and two daughters, arrived, Baba showed his pleasure at Dina's renunciatory tendencies.
Talking about love with her, Baba remarked, "One should love the Beloved in such a way that even though burning in its fire, one never utters a word of complaint."
"What should I do to acquire such love?" she asked.
At that moment, Arnavaz walked in carrying soda water for Baba.
Baba replied, "To love in that way, drink this soda!"
Dina laughed and took a sip as Baba's prasad.
Meheru's sister, Naggu, had been a constant visitor to Baba since her childhood. She was studying medicine in Bombay, and Baba called her. He explained to her about his New Life, and instructed her to continue her studies and become a doctor.
Vishnu's cousin, Sushila Deorukhkar, had also been a frequent visitor. She, too, was studying at a school in Bombay.
Baba advised her, "If you wish to marry, you may."
But she never did.
Dr. Alu Khambatta also met with Baba at Ashiana. All of those whom Baba met were under strict orders not to bow down, fold their hands or greet him in any way. Alu was secretly longing to pay her obeisance, and when Baba asked her to tell an amusing story, she got her chance. She narrated an anecdote about how the British used to tie a broom to their leg to learn how to say right and left in Gujarati. In recounting the story, she had to salute like a soldier, and so got her wish of saluting her Lord.
After meeting the entire Dadachanji family, Baba returned to Meherazad with Adi and Ghani on 29 September, stopping on the way at Ghani's house, where Ghani picked up his trunk.
The "war drums" were now being pounded in racing rhythm. In Meherabad and Meherazad, preparations intensified for the start of the New Life. By Wednesday, 5 October 1949, all of the Yeswalas, as instructed, had arrived in Meherabad. That day at Meherazad, Baba reprimanded Adi Sr., Sarosh, Meherjee, Nariman and Adi Jr. for their lack of concerted effort to complete his instructions about the disposal of the property.
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