He remained outside for a long time, finally coming back inside and quietly going upstairs to his room. His actions were unfathomable to those who witnessed them.
Later that evening, Baba became displeased with Ghani and told him, "If you wish, you can stay at home for two months or else stay here. But if you stay here, I will ignore you and have no connection with you!"
Ghani did not like either choice but did not reply.
Baba then told him, "You may stay here with no other orders except the original seven and the general 28 orders. But you must not speak or write to me. Otherwise, you are free to do as you like. Sleep for 24 hours at a stretch. I have no objection."
Later in the night, Baba forgave Ghani. But Ghani still had no idea what he had done to warrant such treatment.
During this period, although Baba had given the order that the mandali should follow him wherever he went, it was understood that if he gave two orders they should obey the first. Once, in an irritated mood, Baba said he was leaving the Manzil and going to Sakori alone. The mandali followed as he started to walk to Dadar station. Baba looked back and demanded that they go back! But they proceeded to follow.
Baba looked around again and said, "Don't follow me. Go back to the Manzil!"
But again they continued to follow him.
He then said lovingly, "All right. We will all go back!"
— thus acknowledging the fact that they were obeying his first order to follow him wherever he went.
At Rustom's engagement party, Gulmai again requested that Baba visit Ahmednagar, urging, "Your stay in Arangaon will be a great blessing to us. Your presence will sanctify not only Ahmednagar but the entire area." At that time, Baba accepted Gulmai's invitation but did not promise to stay permanently.
Two weeks passed.
Baba broached the topic of sending some of the mandali away to their respective homes, saying: "In a few days, I intend to disband Manzil-e-Meem. After Rustom's marriage in May at Ahmednagar, I will stay at Arangaon. There I will remain, but in quite a different way, with only a few men who will have to face great hardships. The life in Arangaon will be quite the reverse of what it is here [in a big city like Bombay], and those who remain with me will have to work like coolies [laborers]."