Bhau said, "Well, if my features aren't Chinese, at least my mustache is!"
Regarding the boy Ismail, Baba had said that the boy was clever and he wanted him to study as if he were in school. During this period in Satara, there was a discussion about Ismail practically daily.
Baba had ordered Bhau to tutor him, and one day calling Bhau to Grafton, Baba observed, "Ismail is a very good boy, teach him with all your heart. He has studied up to the fourth standard; but see that he passes the matriculation exam within a year!"
This meant accelerating from a fourth grader to a high school graduate within a year!
Naturally, this seemed an impossible task to Bhau, but Baba added, "Don't worry about it. I will help inwardly. Just try your best."
Going to the market, Bhau bought books for Ismail and started teaching him.
Two days later, Baba told Bhau, "Ismail has no clothes; go to the bazaar and purchase expensive outfits for him, so that he remains pleased and pays attention to his studies. I am helping you so that within one year you will make him pass his matriculation."
So Bhau bought fine clothes for Ismail, and a few days after this, Baba commented, "Ismail's parents are very poor and he does not eat good food at home. When he doesn't have proper nourishment, how do you expect him to apply his intellect? If you want him to pass the matriculation exam in a year, then first provide good food for him."
"How am I to arrange food for him?" Bhau asked.
"How much help I am giving you!" Baba said. "I am telling you to do all this, so that you may enable him to pass the exam in a year. Just approach his parents and pay them every month whatever they spend on cooking food for him. Don't worry about money, I will provide everything needed."
Visiting Ismail's parents, Bhau made arrangements with them to provide good meals, milk, fruits and sweets for the boy, and Baba was pleased.
But he further ordered, "Just do one thing more. Go to Ismail's house every morning and bring him to Rosewood for studying, and accompany him back home when he is through. If he falls into bad company, cold water will be thrown on his studies! And if that happens, you won't be able to make him pass. Remember that."