Balakram's friend was seated in a chair opposite his house, smoking a cigar while reading a novel. They approached him and asked, "Could you, by any chance, help us in buying a five-acre plot?"
"Yes, I think so," the man replied casually.
"It has to have a small house on it."
"All right."
"And a well ..."
"Yes."
"We need it immediately!"
The man was so friendly that Keki Desai was convinced that Baba had sent them to him. After a few words, they expressed a desire to see the property. The man at once showed them four properties. Keki liked the fourth one the instant he saw it, since there was already a small cottage with two small rooms and a verandah on it. Although the land had originally belonged to this man, he had sold it to an advocate living in Lucknow who now wanted to sell it.
Keki took some photographs of the land and sent them to Baba, together with a detailed letter. Baba was happy and called Keki to Meherabad at the end of September. When Keki arrived, he gave Baba all the details and Baba stated that he, too, liked the fourth selection. Keki was instructed to purchase it. He returned to Dehra Dun, and a sale deed was drawn up for Rs.9,000 — Rs.8,500 for the land and cottage, and an additional Rs.500 for the standing crop of sugarcane and wheat.
After the deed was completed, Keki Desai was again called to Meherazad on 9 October. Baba gave him Rs.28,000 for the land, digging of a well, repairs and other work. Keki left the following day. When he and the local resident approached the owner, without a word of bargaining, Keki opened his briefcase and heaped stacks of rupee notes on the table. ("I thought these people were refugees from Pakistan who had fled to India after partition," the local resident later recalled.) The seller was surprised they had such faith in him without ever having met him. He wrote a receipt and gave it to them, and the registration of the sale deed was done the following day.
One problem was solved, but another loomed before Keki. Baba had ordered him in Meherabad that besides buying the property he had to arrange for Kaikobad to stay on it for five months prior to Baba's arrival. Baba had paid Keki Rs.500 for this purpose, telling him to arrange for Kaikobad's meals.
