"What about not touching any woman?" Baba inquired.
Premananda said that this directive too had not been adhered to, as the woman had to touch him in the course of his illness.
Baba summarized, as he folded three fingers one after another, "You did not come alone. You did not study the books I asked you to read, and you could not keep yourself from touching a woman for just two months. That is why I told you in the beginning that it is easier to sit naked on a snowbound peak of the Himalayas than to carry out my instructions.
"However, I forgive you for your failures in obeying my orders. Forget what has happened in the past. I give you one more chance. This time no more reading of any special book or books, no restriction about touching any woman. Just one thing: Come and see me on 9 July, but come alone."
Premananda agreed and left.
Swami Premananda did return on the appointed day, but this time also he was not alone. The same woman and several others were with him. Premananda explained that she was now his "spiritual sister" and the other young women were members of her family.
"They are all interested in you, Baba," he said.
"I have no concern with that," Baba chided him. "My only concern is with my order."
Premananda asked Baba if he and the woman could live a dedicated life together by his side.
But Baba replied, "With me there is room only for one. It is better that you go back and live the life of your choice. Know well that it is impossible to obey my orders unless I will it."
This ended Swami Premananda's contact with Meher Baba.
On 1 June 1953, Baba left Mussoorie and returned to Dehra Dun with the men and women mandali. This time Baba and the women occupied a rented bungalow at 105-A Rajpur Road. The men continued to reside at 107-A (until Kishan Singh retired from government service and had to vacate those accommodations on 20 July, after which the men mandali moved into Kishan Singh's new residence at 101 Rajpur Road).
Since the time Baba had first arrived in Dehra Dun, Kishan Singh's domestic affairs had been under constant discussion. Kishan was a widower and had become involved with a married woman from Delhi named Prakashwati Sharma, who was staying in part of his house.