On the 7th, Dhake was instructed to come to Satara from Ahmednagar and Jalbhai from Poona, and both arrived early that morning. The Hindu festival of Dassera fell on the 7th, and as was the custom, the horse Sheba was brought to Rosewood fully decorated with flower garlands, according to Baba's wish. (Rano was dressed as a groom to present the "Queen of Sheba," which further amused Baba.)
That day was also the anniversary of Sai Baba's death in 1918.
Baba sent this telegram to Shirdi: "The Ancient One, Avatar Meher Baba, sends homage to Sai Baba, the Guru, God-Incarnate, Sai Baba."
The veterinary surgeon of Dehra Dun, Dr. R. R. Pal Sharma, who loved Baba, was also called that day. Dr. Sharma had first had Baba's contact in Dehra Dun during the New Life, and had attended the recent meetings at Meherabad.
Several other devotees came to see Baba on the 7th. Adi and Rhoda Dubash (of Karachi) came.
Baba said to Adi, "Aren't you satisfied yet, since you stayed with me in Meherabad for so many days? Perhaps Rhoda has brought you here."
Addressing her, Baba observed, "Today, I have taken a [head-to-toe] bath after three months. So I don't want you to embrace me. If you do so, I will have to take another bath, and I am already feverish."
A letter was read out from a girls' school principal who requested a specific message from Baba.
Baba dictated, "The girls should be taught so that they may diffuse love at home and everywhere."
Thereafter, Baba asked Adi, "How is Rhoda as a wife?"
"A-1 [Number one]!" Adi replied emphatically.
Baba asked Rhoda about Adi as a husband. "A-1," she, too, said.
Thereafter, Baba informed the principal, "Now, there is no need for any message. Let Adi and Rhoda mount the stage during the school assembly as an example of an ideal couple."
Baba sent Rhoda away and kept Adi in Rosewood for the function that evening, at which time he would be "giving up" the alphabet board, as he had previously declared.
Before she left, Baba asked Rhoda something curious.
"If I ask you to give me one of your sons would you give him to me willingly?" Baba said.
"Of course, Baba," Rhoda replied. "They are yours." Nevertheless, as she sat in a corner while Baba spoke with the mandali, tears welled up in her eyes.
Even from a distance, Baba noticed this and commented, "Why are you crying now? A time will come when you will weep without stopping."
No one understood to what Baba was referring, but they would find out six months later.
At 1:30 P.M., Jalbhai left for Poona for some work, and Baba remarked, "How unfortunate he is that he will not be present on this important occasion."
At exactly 2:00 P.M., Baba came to Rosewood from Grafton, accompanied by Kumar, Aloba and Bhau.
Baba had brought three alphabet boards with him: one made of plywood, one plastic, and the other cardboard. The plywood board he presented to Kumar, and the plastic one to Dhake, telling them to preserve them well. The third alphabet board made of cardboard, which Baba had used much during the past years, had printed letters and numerals pasted on it. The zero of this board was partially torn off, but a portion of it was still hanging on.