The morning function came to an end, and at about 1:45 P.M. Baba walked toward the mandali's quarters. He paused by the side of a raised platform which was built on the stone he had touched during his last visit. A statue of Baba was to have been erected on the platform, but instead a painted portrait of him was displayed. Baba bowed to the painting and asked Katta Subba Rao why he had not had the statue built. Subba Rao replied that the matter was still being vigorously pursued, but that quality marble was not available.
Baba was in an exceptionally good mood in the afternoon. Barefooted, he moved about the house and garden. For about ten minutes he strolled rapidly back and forth across the lawn, looking pensive. He then returned to the verandah outside his room, where he sat in a chair. The fingers of his right hand danced to a tune only he could hear. His expression remained serious. Five minutes later he stood up and began pacing on the verandah. He sat back down, and his fingers continued their sprightly dance.
While Baba was sitting there, Adi Sr. attempted to speak to him about a telegram which had come, but Baba seemed inattentive. Getting up again, Baba walked back and forth and then entered his room. There he sat in a chair and leaned back with his hands wrapped around his head. Adi read the telegram to him and Baba gave certain instructions. Baba then stood up and rested his hands on both sides of the door, staring out onto the verandah for several minutes before retaking his seat in the chair. For the third time, he walked up and down barefoot on the verandah until, at 2:50 P.M., Adi drew his attention to some printed messages Kutumba Sastri had brought.
Addressing Sastri, Baba spelled out, "This life is a mighty divine joke. Joke is the very word, most suitable — mighty divine joke and zero. To call it even zero would make it exist."
Baba left his residence at three o'clock for the mass darshan program which had been arranged in Eluru at the large grounds named Ram Kothi (where Baba had given a huge darshan the year before). Baba first took his seat on the dais, but then climbing down, sat on the ground for a while.