They requested non-vegetarian food and, for the first time, Baba gave his consent for meat to be served in Meherabad. When the meal was ready, Baba asked where it should be eaten. The large hall was suggested. Baba asked Dhake what he thought, and being an orthodox Brahmin, he said, "This hall is the sacred seat of the Avatar, and never, until now, has non-vegetarian food been served near your seat. So, in my opinion, I disapprove of it being taken there."
Others protested that it was not good to divide the group because of one man's prejudices.
But Baba replied, "For me the opinion of even one man counts. You are all on one side, and Dhake is on the other. So, I side with him and say let's not eat inside."
As a result, at 6:30 P.M., everyone had to have the meal in Kakubai's cottage, while Dhake and Kalemama (also a Brahmin) had a mixture of sweets as their supper, which they ate in the hall.
While Baba served the food and distributed wine, whiskey and brandy that he permitted Sarosh to bring, Dhake read out a humorous speech titled "Farewell to Baba and Companions," which Baba enjoyed. Adi Sr. and Ramjoo helped themselves to glass after glass of the liquor, and others too freely imbibed.
But when Baba approached Feram, he indicated, "Don't ask for more," and then poured only two drops in his glass.1
Teasing him, Sailor elbowed Feram, urging him to plead for more. Feram held out his glass, but Baba ignored him.
Although there was joking and laughter, the argument over food had taken place prior to eating, so that by the time they actually sat down to the meat dishes, the general mood was spoiled. Even this "last supper" could not be held in a pleasant atmosphere, and that was Baba's preference. He would make his closest disciples eat and drink, but at the same time create tense situations so that no one found any real pleasure in it.
Also, Pendu had with great effort been able to dispose of the lands and animals, but due to the strain of the work, he had fallen ill with a fever and sore throat.
On the morning of Friday, 14 October 1949, the mandali at Meherabad were called to Meherazad to witness Baba symbolically end his mast work by shaving, bathing and clothing Ali Shah and Mohammed. Both masts were now living at Meherabad, being cared for by Sidhu. The masts were taken to Meherazad by Sailor and Gustadji. After shaving and bathing Ali Shah and then Mohammed, five poor men were also bathed. Baba himself then took a bath.
After this symbolic event, Mohammed and most of the mandali left. Nariman, Meherjee, Jalbhai and Minoo returned in the afternoon, as instructed. Adi Sr. and Ramjoo also arrived with a magistrate who was to witness some of the women's signatures on property deeds. After this official work was completed, Ali Shah and Gustadji returned to Meherabad with the other mandali.
While those leaving Meherabad with Baba were excitedly packing, those to be left behind in Meherabad were silently weeping. Baba's closest ones who were to remain behind, in general, were under a cloud of pain and despondency, uncertain of a future devoid of their Beloved's presence.
Footnotes
- 1.Besides allowing the mandali to eat meat, this is the only time on record that Baba allowed the men to drink alcohol at Meherabad. Baba also drank a small amount of wine.