"Yes, I will come. My parents' wish will be fulfilled and also yours." Laughing heartily, Baba embraced him.
It had been nine months since Meher Baba set up headquarters in Dehra Dun. Baba left Dehra Dun with the men and women mandali at noon on Sunday, 29 November 1953. Peter, the cocker spaniel, and Sheba, the colt, were also taken to Mahabaleshwar, as were the two Nepalese boys, Kirpal and Khushal, who used to cook for the mandali in Dehra Dun.
Most of Baba's lovers wanted to see him off at the train station, but he did not allow it and permitted only Kishan Singh, Prakashwati, Keki Nalavala and his family, Kumar's family, Bal Kisan, Meher Kanta, Virendra and Alka Pandey, Virinder Singh, Mohini Rani and Charpat Singh, Hellan, Harichand Kochar and Elcha Mistry. The departure was painful for them, but such pain is born out of good fortune.
The Doon Express began moving out of the station, and the lovers silently hailed Baba with weeping eyes. Not a sound escaped their lips.
Baba stood in the doorway of his compartment gesturing for them to "Be brave ... Be brave!"
Baba and the group arrived in Bombay and from there, he and the women traveled to Mahabaleshwar by Nariman's car, arriving late in the afternoon on 1 December 1953. The next day, Baba drove back to Poona with Eruch, Pendu, Baidul, and Kumar, where he had lunch at Bindra House. There he met Gaimai, Manu, Meherwan and Pappa Jessawala. As per his instructions, Adi Sr. and Nusserwan were waiting to meet him. Later Baba visited his brothers, Jalbhai and Beheram, at Baba House.
With Jalbhai accompanying the group, Baba left the same day for Bombay, where he stayed with Nariman and Arnavaz at Ashiana. Kumar returned to Dehra Dun the following day. Baba's main purpose was to contact masts in Bombay, but he also permitted a one-day darshan program at Ashiana. All his old-time and close lovers came to see him, including one new contact, Jal Dastoor. After meeting Baba for the first time, he was convinced that the whole world lay at his feet, and he repented for his mistake in not accompanying his wife Dolly to see Baba the year before.
While Baba was in Bombay, Anna 104 died in Sholapur on 4 December, at the age of 64. He had been Baba's disciple since 1925 and had been with Baba for many years in Meherabad, as well as in the New Life, keeping watch at night.