Pendu met him in the compound and explained that Baba was not giving interviews, or granting darshan to anyone. Hansotia said that he knew all that, because he had memorized all the conditions and different plans, but he was firm in his resolve to join the New Life that very day.
Pendu informed Baba, who advised, "Tell him, I will be holding a meeting of the companions by the end of April, when the whole New Life situation and other developments will be discussed. Rustom's case will be considered. Meanwhile, he should go back to his home and await my decision, which will be mailed to him along with my instructions."
Adamant, Hansotia was reluctant to accept this so easily and argued with Pendu. Pendu urged him again and again to obey Baba. Hansotia then expressed his desire to see Baba — just a glimpse of his face "even from a distance." Pendu informed Baba, who came out and waved to him from a distance, and Hansotia then returned to his home in Ratlam.
Shatrughna Kumar was now accepted as if one of the men companions, and was permitted to see Baba often. On the 20th, he came with Jamnadas, the Mahant of the village.
Baba explained to them, "For you both, I feel a sort of responsibility of love. In the New Life, I am not meeting anyone except you, Nalavala, Chacha, Desai, Virendra and Elcha, and it is only to you and them that I give my personal contact."
Baba then asked the Mahant, "Would you sincerely and faithfully carry out two instructions I give you?"
Jamnadas assured Baba he would.
"Then don't worry in the least about your permanent release from prison until the very last minute of your going back to prison on 17 June. And every night before going to bed, offer this heartfelt prayer: 'O God, I leave my fate in your hands.' "
The Mahant had been sentenced to prison for shooting and killing two villagers during a dispute, but had been granted a temporary parole because he was ill, suffering from tuberculosis.
Jamnadas agreed to follow these two orders, and Baba added, "I feel inwardly that if you obey these instructions faithfully, God will not fail you."
Jamnadas derived courage from Baba's words.
Afterwards, Baba remarked to him, "From now on, you should accept it that your connection with me in the New Life will not continue."