They left for their respective places on the 25th — Ghani to Lonavla, Adi and Anna 104 to Ahmednagar, and Babadas to Nagpur.1 Before departing, Baba embraced each man. Adi had tears in his eyes.
Following the third plan, Aloba, Baidul, Eruch, Murli, Nilu, Pendu, Sadashiv, Vishnu and the four women, Mehera, Mani, Meheru and Goher, were to remain with Baba in Manjri Mafi, living according to the original conditions of the New Life.
Following the second plan, Don was to stay in Dehra Dun, open a dispensary and work as a doctor there. Though Kaka and Gustadji were to remain with Baba, they chose to regain their old-life freedom. Their maintenance was to be undertaken by Don.
While leaving, Anna 104 by mistake carried off one of Gustadji's bundles, which angered Gustadji no end. Due to silence, he could not speak, but the next day he expressively indicated his perturbed state by using hand signs, which greatly amused Baba.
As stated, Gustadji was now following Plan One-B, whereby he regained his Old Life habits and freedom. As in the Old Life, Gustadji would spend the entire day collecting pieces of paper, empty matchboxes, empty cigarette packets, burnt matches, rags, et cetera, to use as kindling. Since Gustadji was on silence, forbidden to read and without any specific duty, passing the time was difficult. He would therefore keep himself occupied in collecting such rubbish, using it to fuel the fire to heat the bathwater.
On 25 January, Baba urged those who had chosen the third plan of physically remaining with him:
"Put your heart and soul into this plan, and work it out without doubts, suspicions or hesitation. I will be very strict with you from March 1. Those who are careless about the conditions and who disobey orders will be sent back home."
Vishnu was appointed by Baba as the manager of household affairs, and given the duty of marketing for both the men and women companions. An amount was fixed to meet the companions' food expenses until the end of February. Once the amount was spent, Baba stated he would send all the companions out for begging. Pendu and Sadashiv were given the work of selling the tongas, animals and bullock cart on Don's behalf. Don was in charge of the animals, but Baba was sending him to Bombay to bring Naja. She was being called to help the women cook their and Baba's food, because Mani and Meheru had fallen ill.
Footnotes
- 1.Years later, Adi Sr. recounted that the New Life was "the most difficult, the most crushing time" of his life with Meher Baba.