Another early disciple, Abdulla Haroon Jaffer, had died two weeks before in Nasik, on 23 November 1953.
After completing his mast work in Bombay in six days, Baba returned to Mahabaleshwar, on Sunday, 6 December 1953, where extensive preparations were begun for his darshan tours to Hamirpur and Andhra Pradesh.
For the next three weeks an abundance of correspondence and telegrams were exchanged. At both Hamirpur and Andhra, people were engrossed in making arrangements to accord Baba a hearty and fitting reception.
Prior to Baba's visit on 25 December, a public meeting was held in the Town Hall in Kakinada to publicize the upcoming darshan, for which Baba sent the following telegram:
My message to you all for 25th December: Let love annihilate your lower self and reveal my Infinite Self. Let your ears become deaf to delusion to enable you to hear my silent message of divine love. Let your eyes become blind to illusion to receive me as I am. Let your heart open to receive me in full.
This is my message today to you all with my blessings.
Adi Sr. was called to Mahabaleshwar on the 10th and given instructions for Godavri Mai at Sakori. Meherjee brought Minoo Pohowala and Minoo Kharas around the 18th. Meanwhile, Baba's health was suffering, and the mandali insisted he take some treatment. They were particularly anxious, since he was to leave shortly to give mass darshan — a physically demanding task even when Baba was in the best of health.
Goher, Don, Nilu, Eruch and Pendu prevailed upon Baba to return to Bombay for medical treatment, to which Baba agreed on one condition: "I am ready to go on condition that from the day I begin taking treatment, you all remain beside me awake without a wink of sleep."
The mandali readily agreed, but Eruch and Pendu stipulated, "Our prayer is that you let the doctor treat you as he wants and not hesitate to follow his treatment." Baba consented, and Nariman and Meherjee were instructed to arrange a separate residence in a quiet and peaceful neighborhood of Bombay.
At this time, Dhake came to Mahabaleshwar from Ahmednagar. Baba had practically stopped eating, and Goher told Dhake, "Urge Baba to eat something; maybe he will listen to you."
Dhake beseeched Baba, who replied, "Were I to take even butter now, it would feel like a stone in my stomach. I have some special work to do just now, during which it is not advisable to partake of any food. That is why I have stopped eating."