Freiny complained to Baba that Keki was always worried about something.
Baba advised Keki, "If you worry about yourself, God does not worry about you. And why should He? If you stop worrying, God has to begin to worry for you! Remember Him wholeheartedly; leave your troubles to Him. Then you will be free to remain cheerful."
In the New Life, the four women, Mehera, Mani, Meheru and Goher, continued to be "under purdah" (veil; seclusion), and no man could see Mehera. Only Goher was permitted to speak to the companions, concerning work. In compliance with the government's regulations for the Kumbha Mela, Goher inoculated Baba and the men against typhoid and cholera.
On Wednesday, 1 March 1950, at one o'clock in the afternoon, Baba bathed with the second can of Ganges water from Rishikesh, but before he did, he cut a small lock of hair from each of the eight companions now under Plan Three.
Later, at four o'clock, Keki and Freiny Nalavala gave dhansak (a Parsi dish of rice and dal cooked together with meat) as bhiksha to Baba and the companions at Kumar's home. Baba and the men wore their white kafnis, green turbans and white canvas shoes. Burjor Chacha was present, and secretly took two photographs of the event.
Later that evening, Baba had himself slapped by the companions because he had become very angry with Nilu, Vishnu, Eruch, Murli and Aloba.1
At eight o'clock on the morning of 2 March, Nilu, Vishnu and Kaka moved into their hut on the Manjri Mafi property, and Kaikobad joined them. The cement floor was still damp, so Baba instructed Kumar to spread hay on it so the companions could use it.
Baba was to leave for Motichur the following day, so he spent the day with the four women, sorting out their domestic difficulties and making arrangements for them during his absence. From 1 March, Baba had relieved Vishnu of his duties as household manager, but he was still to do the women's marketing. Nilu was to look after the women, besides maintaining a diary. The women were to cook for Vishnu, Nilu, Kaka and Kaikobad. Their food expenses were to be defrayed from the women's share of the money held with Meherjee.
Vishnu was the cause of Baba's anger that afternoon when he showed up five minutes late. Baba directed him to slap his face in front of Kumar and Goher, which Vishnu did.
Footnotes
- 1.A few weeks earlier, Baba had called the men companions to slap him because he was upset with Meheru.