At first, both doctors had refused the Rs.600 for food for the first 25 days; but as it was Baba's specific wish, they finally accepted the money. Dr. Khare's father Gaya Prasad had also arrived from Rath with his wife, but darshan was forbidden to anyone. Nevertheless, Baba would send personal messages through Adi Sr., Sadashiv, Babadas and Eruch, which the families took as their good fortune.
Although the Nati Imli property was extensive, no cleaning had been done for some time. Therefore, from the first day, Baba and the companions began this work. Their trunks had been forwarded from Belgaum by a freight train, but when they arrived in Benares one trunk was missing. The authorities refused to release any of them to Vishnu until they had taken a complete inventory. The companions had no other clothes, so Baba advised them to put on the same clothes after taking a bath.
The same day, 16 November, Baba again sent Eruch, Adi and Babadas to the doctors with Rs.700, instructing them to use the amount for the purchase of two cows and two female donkeys to be given to Baba. Because both doctors were eager to offer their services, Baba allowed them this opportunity. Baba sent word to Dr. Nath through Adi and Eruch that he was fortunate to be serving as a "link" between the Old and New Life.
Gaya Prasad had begun to supervise the preparation of food at Nati Imli.
Baba sent Vishnu to him several times, with instructions to upbraid him in this way: "Are you cooking or spreading smoke here? Do you have any sense?"
Gaya Prasad humbly replied, "Pardon me, Masterji; there will be no more smoke."
Vishnu thought Gaya Prasad was a cook, but he was in fact the wealthy owner of a transport company, and was supervising a hired cook in order to serve Baba. That evening, when Gaya returned to his son's house, his daughter-in-law remarked, "How nice it would have been if Baba had permitted us to cook here. We, too, could have contributed in serving him." Dr. Nath's wife was of the same opinion, but on account of the restrictions, they could not mention their desire.
The next day, when Gaya went to Nati Imli to cook, Vishnu, as instructed by Baba, criticized him, "Hey, Cook, yesterday's food was terrible! Do you or don't you know how to cook?"
Gaya humbly replied, "Masterji, I will cook better today, I promise.