Baba remarked about Kuttawala, "This mast is thirsting for Union with God, and because of his intense restlessness I came to see him."
At about 10:15 A.M., Baba entered the hall. Some of the sahavas group were still there.
Baba asked Gadekar, "Why didn't you leave yesterday?"
Gadekar replied, "I am going today." (Actually, he had gone to the train station early in the morning, but when he heard Baba had come to Meherabad he came back.)
"While doing my arti yesterday," Baba further asked, "were you thinking of the arti or the thorns in your feet?"
"Of the arti."
Joining his hands, Baba offered his namaskar to Gadekar. Taking advantage of Baba's mood, Gadekar broached another subject: "I am now 51 years old, and there are four years left before I retire with my pension. I would like to resign at once and stay with you."
Baba replied, "Up to the 15th of February 1957, just obey me; thereafter, I will call you to stay with me for all time."
Baba's words came true, as readers shall see — but not in the way that Gadekar could have imagined.
After lunch, everyone was called in the hall. A few of the sahavas group were to leave on the afternoon trains. Baba listened to a few humorous incidents and then reminisced about the days in Manzil-e-Meem when he used to beat the mandali severely, and how afraid they were of him.
"Those were happy days!" Baba gestured.
Before leaving the hall at 12:30 for tea, Baba remarked, "I used to take fifteen minutes to drink two spoonfuls of tea! Formerly, I used to live on tea and tobacco [in paan], but nowadays I have stopped taking them."
He concluded, "Those who are leaving in the afternoon should come to my cabin for a farewell embrace, but afterwards they should not speak a single word to me."
At 1:30 P.M., Baba called the mandali. Also present were Nana Kher, Nariman, Meherjee, Kishan Singh, Kohiyar, Rangole, Bal Natu and Pankhraj. These men had especially come to Meherabad for the month to give a helping hand in the sahavas arrangements. Baba embraced each one and gave a special embrace to Feram who, besides transcribing and typing the sahavas diary, was also helping Adi Sr. with his office work at Meherabad.