He was awakened and told they wanted to pass the night there. He agreed, but said it was quite dangerous for the animals to remain unprotected. The guard lit a lamp, and after tying the animals in a circle, the companions slept under the caravan, tonga and bullock cart, as all three vehicles were full of baggage. The roar of tigers was heard occasionally. Lying on the ground in the freezing cold, they remembered Baba for protection.
At dawn they left the place and proceeded. At times, they were drenched in rain. Thus, passing through much hardship, they arrived in Manjri Mafi after an eight-day journey. By not following Baba's original advice, they had to experience these severities; but they learned a lesson. Don showed the greatest courage, which brave-hearted men like Pendu and Baidul appreciated.
The other companions also were impressed. Ghani noted in his diary, "The ordeals and experiences of Don and party's journey with carts, bullocks, tongas and the ladies' caravan, coupled with narrow, sandy, muddy and uneven second-class, narrow roads over a distance of a 24-mile climb to Hardwar, if recounted would astound the listeners. The hardships were so strange, unbelievable and unforeseen ...
"For the type of man Don was — with his experience of hardships faced in crossing 1500 miles of the Sahara Desert [when he was 21] — to say that the difficulties they went through were incredible, impressed all concerned."
Baba later stated that Don provided an example of love for him in the New Life worthy of being followed.
Kaka Baria, then recovering from a heart attack, was advised by Don and Nilu to rest. But in the intense activity of the preparations of the next phase of the New Life, the companions could not nurse him properly. Baba, of course, was attentive to him, but Kaka was still despondent. One day, in a dejected mood, Kaka suddenly left. He had not a cent with him, but he began heading toward Rishikesh. On the way, he asked a stranger for directions. The man was kind and walked by his side to point out the way. They passed a small restaurant, where the man asked Kaka to have tea. But how could Kaka order it with no money? He politely declined and went on. He drank water by a stream, and after a six-mile walk, sat down exhausted.
In a desperate state, he thought over the New Life conditions and his oath. His despairing thoughts finally forced him to retrace his steps, and he returned to Manjri Mafi that evening.
When Baba saw him he remarked, "Where will you go? You cannot 'go'! And you cannot die! You still have a long time to live!"
Baba's remarks put Kaka back in good spirits, and Nilu began treating him more conscientiously.
The three plans were typed and copies distributed to each man on 21 January 1950. Two days later the plans were discussed at a meeting that continued the next day. Four men, Ghani, Adi Sr., Anna 104 and Babadas, chose to continue the New Life from their homes, following the second plan.