Baba overheard the remark and rebuked Nilu, correcting him, "Such thoughts are against the spirit and conditions of the New Life. Remember, I will forgive such mistakes only up to the end of December. On and from 1 January 1950, he who commits a blunder will have to pack his bag and baggage."
They arrived in Belgaum at 3:30 that afternoon, via Kolhapur and Nipani. Vishnu had been sent from Meherabad to arrange for their stay, which was to be in Thalakwadi, a rural suburb. It took them an hour to find the place. When they arrived, Kaka, Pendu and the truck were there — but not Vishnu. Pendu said they had waited for two hours for Vishnu, but he had not shown up.
To make matters worse, a 20 by 30 foot hut for the men mandali, which was to have been constructed with a tile roof and tatta walls, was not ready. The workers, delayed by the rains, were still in the process of finishing it. The road leading to the farm was also deep in mud.
Becoming aware of Baba's arrival, Vishnu hurried to Thalakwadi. He explained that he had been told to be present at six o'clock in the evening, but Baba as usual was early. His face paled when he saw the unfinished hut, its stone flooring wet and the dirt and slush everywhere. It was pouring rain and difficult to unload the truck. Only the essential articles were taken out and the rest left inside.
Baba tried to cheer up his companions by explaining, "These discomforts are the first step toward satyanashi, which we have to pass through."
The women were accommodated in a solid building on the property, 220 yards away. It had been enclosed with bamboo matting for privacy, and outside of it was a deep well. The men companions had to draw the water (they got blisters doing so) and carry the water from there to the hut. The Thalakwadi property was a 24-acre piece of land which had been given to Baba. But, as in the case of Meherabad and Meherazad, in conformity with the requirements of the New Life, Baba had instructed Vishnu to have the land transferred back to the owner's name.
Rain continued throughout the night, and the women's lodgings were ankle-deep in water. The following day, 21 October, was spent unloading the truck. As this was the labor phase, no servants were hired and every man lent a hand.