One night when Konrad's nightwatch duty was over, Baba rang the bell by his bed and, when no one answered, he went on ringing.
“”At last Rano came running, and Baba asked her, "Where were you? You are supposed to be on watch! I have been ringing and ringing!"
Rano replied, "But it is not my time to get up. Where is Konrad? He still has an hour left."
Baba motioned to her to look at the clock in his room; Rano was startled to see that it was past time for her to be on watch. She apologized to Baba and attended to his needs.
But a few nights later, the same thing happened. Baba rang and no one came. When Rano appeared she again said it was not yet time for her to come. But when she compared her watch to the clock in Baba's room, she found that Baba's clock was an hour fast. It was then discovered that Konrad had been setting the clock ahead so that he could finish his duty and go to sleep! When Baba was told of his trick, he had a good laugh at the boy's cleverness and reduced his duty by one hour.
On 14 August, Baba sent Gustadji, Meherjee, Sarosh, Adi and Nilu back to India. Of the men mandali, only Don remained with him. Baba went on sightseeing trips with the women, and on the 18th, proceeded with them to Geneva by car.
Baba and the group were supposed to fly from Geneva the next morning, so they spent that night at the Cornavin Hotel. The next day was spent frantically trying to reserve seats on a plane bound for India, because Air India had called to say their flight had been canceled due to a labor strike in Bombay. Baba and the women finally flew to Paris on Thursday afternoon, 21 August at 5:40 P.M. via Air France 437, and then at 11:00 P.M. on Air France 180 to Karachi. Don flew back a few days later via England. Delia had been sent back to London the day before, and Charmian was staying on in Switzerland for a week.
Their flight landed in Karachi at 9:00 P.M. the next night. Only Minoo Kharas had been called to the airport in Karachi, but with him had come Adi Dubash, and also Minoo's fiancée Freni Patel. Minoo alone went forward to greet Baba. Reservations for Baba's group to India were difficult to obtain, but Minoo pointed out that Adi could possibly arrange it, as he worked in shipping.
“”Baba sent for him and asked, "Why were you hiding? Why didn't you come forward?"
Adi replied, "You had not permitted it."
Baba was pleased. Baba and the women were accommodated in rooms at the airport. Minoo kept watch outside Baba's door during the night. The next morning, Adi was called again and instructed to arrange for their plane tickets. His mother Naize, his wife Rhoda and their two small boys, along with Pilamai were also permitted darshan. Somehow, Adi procured four seats on a small plane to India, so Baba left for Bombay with Mehera, Mani and Goher. Meheru and Rano followed on the next available flight the following day. Baba landed in Bombay at 6:10 P.M. on 23 August 1952 and was driven straight to Meherazad, arriving at 1:30 A.M. on the 24th.
