The sky continued to be cloudy, and the weather chilly.
Baba complained about it, remarking, "Since October 16, 1949, cold weather, icy winds and rains have persisted, and are stubbornly pursuing me and my companions in the New Life."
Baba's health was breaking down. He suffered from back and neck aches, coryza (inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes, similar to a bad headcold), and a cough.
To add to this troubled situation, the next day, Baba informed the companions that all of the women, except Mehera, were suffering from influenza. They were crowded into one tiny, three-roomed cottage, and as a result the infection had spread. Baba also reminded the women to remain cheerful and amiable with one another.
Soon after, Vishnu fell ill with a high fever, and Nilu was instructed to take over his duties of going to Dehra Dun for purchases in the bazaar. The well water stank worse than ever, so drinking water now had to be carried from a considerable distance. In Nilu's opinion, this stinking water was an additional cause in the deterioration of everyone's health.
As Nilu wrote: "Lack of proper food, clothing, sufficient quantity of good water, of hygiene, the privations, starvation diet, physical and mental tensions and exhaustion due to strenuous labor, coupled with continuous chilly, windy, wet, monsoonish weather during the six months of the New Life, had run down Baba's and his companions' health."
Age too noted, "With their health nearly ruined, it was indeed proving to be a life of helplessness and hopelessness!"
Previously, in Sarnath, Baba had discussed with the companions the possibility of calling anyone to join the New Life.
He had also laid down conditions for accepting any baherna (outsider) in the New Life, stating: "Any baherna , who of his own accord offers to join, and whom I find 100 percent fit, may join the New Life by majority vote of the companions."
Because of the severity of the conditions, only men were eligible, and they were to be called "New Life new companions." (Later, of course, new revised plans were made and other plans discarded.)
But one of the Old Life devotees who took this idea to heart was Gustadji's nephew, Rustom Sohrab Hansotia, 35, who had first met Baba in 1944 at Meherazad. After thoroughly studying and pondering over Baba's circular, Hansotia decided to join Baba in the New Life. He had a good job in the railway department at Ratlam. After quitting it, he arrived in Manjri Mafi on the morning of 18 April 1950.