After dictating these points, Baba appeared relieved, and looked refreshed and radiant.
Deshmukh had taken a movie of the Amraoti darshan programs, which he had brought to Andhra and wanted to show to Baba. At first, Baba hesitated because of lack of time in his schedule.
"Honestly," he stated, "I tell you that Deshmukh is one of my best men; but sometimes he exasperates me!"
Deshmukh had been after Baba for days, asking him to procure a projector so that he could show the film.
At one point Baba remarked, "My whim has 'projected' numberless universes, and what a long important film it is! Now, what film is there left for me to see?"
And, he warned in a teasing fashion, "If you talk anymore about a projector, you will be stripped, and seven bucketfuls of ice-cold water will be poured over you!"
Baba then instructed Aloba that no sooner the word projector came from Deshmukh's mouth than he should strip him and pour cold water over him.
He turned to Deshmukh and asked, "Now, what order have I given Aloba?"
Deshmukh repeated Baba's instruction without mentioning the word projector .
Baba stated, "What sort of doctor are you? Repeat my order faithfully, word for word."
"If I do that," Deshmukh replied, "I will be in trouble, and Aloba will have to get the water ready." In the end, however, Baba agreed to see the film, and it was shown that morning.
In the afternoon Baba and the men made house visits.1 At every home, Baba sat on the floor as Gadekar sang his arti. He would then give fruit to the host and hostess. As soon as the arti was over, all reoccupied their seats in the car and buses. Baba also visited the huts of half a dozen poor people in different localities.
At Subramanyam Shastri's, where Baba meetings were regularly held, Baba was requested to sit in a chair which previously had only held his framed photograph. He complied, but asked Shastri to do his arti before a large portrait of him painted by Ranga Rao which hung in their house. Baba himself joined the arti by standing with folded hands before the picture.
One incident occurred there that amused Baba.
Baba asked Subramanyam Shastri, "How many children do you have?"
"Seven!" he replied. The children were brought to Baba and introduced turn by turn; but Shastri was so deeply enamored of Baba that when Baba asked their names, he could not remember, and each time had to turn and ask his wife. This made Baba laugh.
Footnotes
- 1.They went to the homes of Katta Subba Rao, Ranga Rao, C. Kondala Rao, Dr. Kanakadandi, K. Subramanyam Shastri, Baba Sastri and Ramarao Naidu.