Within a few days, the Manzil was restored to its original condition. Still remaining with Baba were his brother Jalbhai, his uncle Masaji, his cousin Aspandiar, Adi Sr. and Adi's brother Rustom, Babu Cyclewalla, Baily, Baidul, Barsoap, Behramji, Faredoon, Nervous, Gustadji and his brother Slamson. Each man was engaged most of the time in selling the Marathi edition of Upasni Maharaj's biography by Nath Madhav, which Circle & Company had recently published.1
The previous October, Baba had led the mandali to Kalyan to visit the shrine of Haji Malang Shah, but failing to reach it he had vowed to revisit the tomb of the great Mohammedan saint. To fulfill this promise, the Master, with the remaining mandali, went to Kalyan from Bombay on Friday, 13 April 1923 in the middle of the night, around 1:30 A.M. Only Baily and Kashinath, the laundryman, remained at the Manzil. Ghani, Ramjoo and Khak Saheb met Baba and the group at Kalyan, according to previous instructions.
At 2:30 in the morning, they left Kalyan in tongas for the high hill where the saint's tomb was situated. Reaching its base, Baba stayed there with Sadashiv Patil and sent the rest of the men up the mountain to bow down and offer homage at the tomb on his behalf. The men placed a jali of flowers on the saint's dargah (tomb). They also recited the Fatiha , as instructed by Baba.2 The excursion took two and a half hours.
When they returned, Baba gave them bread and sweets to eat but forbade them to drink water. They were thirsty after the long hike, and were only thinking of water when they reached where Baba was waiting. Contrary to their expectations, he handed them dry bread and sweets. But they could not relish this prasad, as their throats were so dry. Baba explained that the water there was polluted.
They then rode in the tongas on the return journey. It was intensely hot, as this was the month of April — the middle of India's summer. Their thirst increased during the bumpy ride and, after covering fourteen miles, they reached Kalyan in the afternoon. They were permitted to quench their thirst with soda water. Baba then handed each slices of watermelon, and they were satisfied at last.
Baba and the men took a local train back to Bombay, while Ramjoo and Ghani returned to Lonavla.
Footnotes
- 1.The Marathi title was Shri Satchitananda Sadguru Upasni Maharaj Charitra. Sadashiv Patil had also contributed some details of Maharaj's life, which Maharaj had dictated to him. In Madhav's introduction, dated 31 December 1922, he mentions that his work is based on the Urdu version, Gareebon ka Aasara.
- 2.The Fatiha is a Mohammedan supplication asking God to guide one through the "straight path."