Prayers of the four religions — Hindu, Zoroastrian, Mohammedan and Christian — were then offered aloud by Vishnu and Nilu, Kaikobad, Baidul and Don respectively. The qawaal who often sang at Mutha's Bungalow in Satara had been specially called, and he now sang the Song of the New Life and another prayer.
Baba went outside to bathe the mast Ali Shah, and those at the gathering followed and witnessed the event. With this, the program came to an end and Baba asked everyone to leave. He embraced each man again as he bid them farewell.
Nana Kher related, "While Baba was standing on the verandah saying goodbye, we saw an unusual glow and radiance on his face. He was very, very happy. As we departed, we could see this glow and radiance even from a distance."
Kitty and Rano stayed in Mahabaleshwar for a few days before returning to Bombay.
Baba ordered them, "Now you have to go back."
Rano asked, "Baba, how many times are you going to send us back like this? Why can't we be with you?"
"You have to go back," Baba insisted. "For me you have to go back."
"Oh, Baba, why?" Rano said, and started to cry.
"Don't cry," Baba consoled. "You've got to go back."
Baba had stated at the beginning of the New Life to the women: "Treat your conditions like a life buoy and stick to it, and I will not let you sink."
Rano and Kitty remembered these words their entire stay in Bombay. Though it was hell for them to be away from Baba, they felt he was their life buoy and knew he would not let them sink.
As mentioned, no women other than Rano and Kitty were called to Mahabaleshwar, and therefore Mansari and Kaikobad's family had no opportunity to see Baba. Similarly, Khorshed, Soonamasi and Katie, who were in Bombay, also could not meet him. Gulmai was in Ahmednagar, and she too had not seen Baba during the past year. Each gopi was passing her days in hopes of seeing her Krishna again.
Yet their "separation" from the Beloved was only apparent. When Baba was in Satara in August 1950, this incident took place on Meherabad Hill. Mansari was lying on her bed one night thinking of Baba. Suddenly a cobra slithered in and crawled onto her chest. Mansari felt it, and with a sweep of her hand brushed the snake away. Hearing it fall, she leapt up and saw the snake on the floor, hissing menacingly with its hood spread wide. She was alone in the room. Jamadar, the night watchman, was some distance away. The cobra was blocking the door, so she could not go outside and call for help. Somehow she gathered courage, and killed the snake with a bamboo staff. But the episode did not end there. Cobras abide in pairs. The next night, when Mansari was praying in front of Baba's photograph, another cobra appeared. She bravely managed to kill this cobra, too.