Reaching Okhla, Baba sat by the side of a river and asked the group to tell him jokes and funny stories.
Seeing some fishermen, Baba remarked, "All of Jesus' early followers were fishermen; later on he netted them in his own net!"
Kishan cracked, "But here we have a Master who does not reel us into his net but is throwing us out!" (meaning Baba's followers were being denied his contact during the New Life).
To this Baba answered simply, "But I am not Jesus."
Returning to Delhi, Baba spent the night of 24 May at Kishan Singh's, 45 Pandara Road.1 The next day was spent at Keki Desai's, and that night Baba slept at Kain's house. Baba again said he would not meet any of Kain's family (all of Kain's in-laws resided at his house). But when Prabha Kain's grandmother persisted, Baba relented and permitted them darshan the next morning.
That morning, Friday, 26 May 1950, before leaving for Dehra Dun, the Kains suggested Baba visit the Talkatora Garden, a park near their home, in front of the President of India's residence. Baba agreed and went with Eruch, Was Deo and Prabha Kain. On the way, Kain suddenly remembered that, at that time of year, at the height of summer, there would be little worth seeing there. He was shocked when they entered the park and saw a profusion of blossoming trees with light purple flowers, such that he had never seen before. Baba walked at a very quick pace around the place for a while (even jumping over a small ditch) enjoying the greenery.
Baba left for Dehra Dun in Harjiwan Lal's car, accompanied by Keki Desai, Baidul and Kaka. On the way, they stayed in Meerut for a few hours. Baba was keen to contact the high mast Meherban Baba, the fifth-plane chargeman of the city, whom he had worked with four years before. As would happen at times, on this occasion the mast played Hide-and-Seek with Baba. Much to his regret, Baba finally gave up the chase and left without contacting him.
They spent the night in the Muzaffarnagar dak bungalow, and reached Dehra Dun on the next evening, after more mast work along the way.
That same day, 27 May, Eruch was sent south to Maharashtra to look at bungalows to rent. To move to Mahabaleshwar was Baba's first choice, followed by Satara, Aurangabad or Hyderabad. Jal Kerawalla (one of the Arrangementwalas) was also notified to look for accommodations at Buldhana or at any other place he thought suitable, except Nagpur.
Although the ghee company had now closed its doors for business, the Navjeevan companion-workers continued to reside in the building in Delhi, since there was no other place for them to live. Eruch returned to Dehra Dun after a few days, and informed Baba that he had rented Mutha's Bungalow in Satara for Baba and the women, and the Kalyani Barracks for the men companions. Preparations in Delhi and Dehra Dun were immediately begun to move to Satara.
After returning from Delhi, Baba again fell very ill, developing a severe case of mumps. This throat infection complicated matters with his continued eye pain.
On 3 June 1950, Don and Nilu were called to Dehra Dun from Delhi for five days to treat him.
Footnotes
- 1.Coincidentally, two years to the day Baba visited Okhla in India (24 May), he was to suffer in an automobile accident in America in Oklahoma.