One day Baba specifically instructed Keki Desai not to wait at Kumar's place, but to return soon with whatever dinner had been prepared. When he told Kumar about Baba's order, he and his family explained that on that particular day they had planned to make puris, which would take some time. Desai ("foolishly," he admitted later) agreed to wait, and thereby broke Baba's order. While returning from Manjri Mafi each day, Keki would purchase bread from a local bakery for Baba. On this day, to make matters worse, the tonga driver got lost, causing more of a delay.
Meanwhile, at Mrs. Pratt's bungalow, Baba was repeatedly asking everyone about Keki Desai and why he had not returned. When he arrived, Baba asked the reason for his delay. Desai told him the whole story. The food he had brought that day had been sent to the women, who first took out their share and then sent the rest for the men companions. When they started eating, Baba reappeared and again began lambasting Desai. Soft rice and plain dal was always sent for Baba twice a day, since he preferred only this. But as fate would have it, on this day Subhadra was in such a hurry she had forgotten to put Baba's food in the basket.
Baba scolded Desai first for breaking his order by waiting at Kumar's and then secondly for forgetting to bring his food.
"Now I will have to remain hungry while you all are nicely having your dinner," he fumed.
Desai was so upset he could hardly eat. After Baba left, Nilu, who was sitting next to Keki, nudged him to finish his dinner and not to worry.
After some time, Baba returned and instructed Desai that the next day he should not come to see him first as usual, but that he should go straight from Nalavala's to Kumar's house.
"Tell them that the puri preparation was an unnecessary hardship for the women," Baba commented. "Also, tell them that in their haste they forgot to pack my food. But it is all right; I forgive them."
When Desai returned to Nalavala's house that night, at ten o'clock, Baba sent Vishnu with the message that in the morning Desai should first see him and then go to Kumar's. "Baba has also asked you to sleep well," added Vishnu, "because he knows you are feeling very upset."