Every man learned to perform his assigned duties with discipline, facility and tact. Baily described their daily routine:
After breakfast, all were expected to come out into the compound for games or exercises. After one hour, at 7:30 sharp, all were to meet Baba one by one and take instructions for the day or present any complaint, to which Baba would attend. After this meeting with Baba, some would go to their respective religious places [nearby] — the Zoroastrians to the agyari, Muslims to the mosque, Hindus to a temple, Christians to a church. After being present at the place of their chosen religion and after having imbibed the religious atmosphere of the place, the mandali member was to return to the Manzil by 8:30 A.M. Thereafter each one was to move on to perform his respective duties for the day. Those who were given duties at the Manzil would also become busy in their jobs.
While staying at Manzil-e-Meem, Baily completed the first part of his Gujarati account of Upasni Maharaj's life, and was almost halfway through the second part, when Baba said the first part should be published soon.
Baba opined that the manuscript should be edited first, and he suggested Soma Desai of Navsari. Soma Desai was the nom de plume of Sorab Muncherji Desai , a well-known Gujarati author and scholar. Years before, during 1917, Merwan had sent a ghazal to Desai. Sorabji was so inspired by this particular ghazal that he would read it often, and he ardently wished to meet its author. But he did not have the slightest idea who had written it; he had never heard of any writer named Huma.
Baily doubted that Desai would consent to such an undertaking, but Baba ordered him to leave for Navsari that evening.
There are two versions of what transpired in Navsari. One version (often repeated by Sorabji's relatives) is that Baily duly informed Sorabji that he had been sent by Meher Baba with the order that he should do the final editing of the manuscript. Sorabji was irritated at this and demanded, "Who is this Meher Baba to order me to edit his work? I am no one's servant. Besides, I have no time for such work. Tell Meher Baba I cannot help him."
Baily tried his utmost to induce him to assist, but Sorabji was obstinate and returned the manuscript. Baily returned to Bombay and informed Baba.