Pillay of course knew Baba was observing silence, but did not know he was also not writing and so had kept a slate and chalk ready. Baba laughed and played the game tick-tack-toe on it with Dhake. At one point, Baba asked Pillay to introduce him to the rest of his family. Pillay said, "My wife and children are out of town. I am alone here."
Baba smilingly remarked, "I am eternally all alone and remain alone eternally. At least you are alone temporarily. I am happy."
Baba and the group left for Amalapuram, and on the way Baba felt hungry. Meherjee gave him some cheese and crackers, but Baba wanted his customary rice and dal. The car stopped and behind it the bus. Going to the bus, Meherjee asked Chhagan if rice and dal were ready. The dal was cooked, but there was no rice or bread to go with it. Chhagan was cooking for Baba on the journey, and kept all the necessary ingredients with him, but this time neither rice, nor chapati nor bread was available.
Baba directed Kutumba Sastri to inquire whether cooked rice could be procured in the next village they reached. At 9:45 they arrived at Bobbarlanka, where the villagers rushed for darshan. Sastri was successful in locating a small restaurant where rice had just been put on the stove to boil. Chhagan began warming the dal, with Meherjee pressuring him to speed up the process.
Baba asked Kutumba Sastri, "Will the rice be ready in five minutes?"
"Baba, it will take at least 20 minutes to cook properly," he said. Instead of waiting, Baba decided to leave. So Chhagan turned off the stove and they left Bobbarlanka.
In the car, Baba urged Dharmarao, who was driving, "I am very hungry, so drive faster. Let's not stop; go straight to Amalapuram."
Dharmarao did as told, but when they came to the village of Kottapeta, many had assembled on the road. Baba had the car stopped. Some of the local workers approached Baba, requesting, "Rest here for a while; take some coconut water and permit the mandali to have it."
Baba remained quiet, but Eruch reminded him, "You had sanctioned this in Rajahmundry when the Kottapeta lovers asked you for this privilege."
So Baba agreed, stating, "All right, let the mandali drink coconut water; but take my car to Amalapuram. I won't have the coconut water."