For some time, he and his family lived in the local Gadge Maharaj dharamshala in Poona. After a while, they were forced to vacate, and Turekar, a Baba lover in the police force, took pity on them and allowed them to stay in a storeroom at his bungalow. Months passed. Chavan, unable to bear the conditions of his life brought on by Baba's " blessing ," contemplated suicide. By chance, he met Eruch on a street and disclosed what had happened to him. The news reached Baba, and Chavan was called to Guruprasad.
Chavan came and prostrated himself before Baba. Baba lovingly inquired about his family and then stated, "When you first came to me, I warned you that courage was needed to assimilate my blessing.
You do not have that courage. Now, what do you want?"
"Baba, help me. The landlord evicted me and my family from our house and removed all our possessions. I don't have a single paisa with me, and the children are starving."
"All right. I will take back my blessing and give you some monetary help. But always be honest and don't forget me."
Baba asked Nariman to give Chavan Rs.1,000, and Chavan took the money and left, pleased.
The following year, when Baba was again in Poona, he asked K. K. Ramakrishnan, "Do you know Vishnu Chavan?
Have you asked for or taken any money from him [for the Poona Center work]? I know you are mad with your Center project."
Ramakrishnan told Baba, "Yes, I know him. He appears to be a big man now. He has acquired the Bombay agency of an industrial or mercantile company and has become quite rich. He lives behind the railway station and goes everywhere by taxi. But I have not asked him for a donation. His wife sends two rupees to the Center every month. That is all they give."
Baba warned Ramakrishnan not to take any money from Chavan.
"It is all right if you accept one or two rupees for the Center work, but no large sum, even if he gives it on his own. Beware."
Again, some time passed. One day in Guruprasad, when Maharani Shantadevi was sitting by Baba, Chavan arrived in a very sad mood. Baba instructed him in Gujarati to tell the truth and asked what was troubling him. Chavan equivocated, professing innocence about some accusations against him, and left. But soon afterwards, he was arrested and sentenced to prison for fraud. Despite having failed to follow Baba's advice about remaining honest, Baba lovingly saw to the welfare of Chavan's wife and children while he was in prison, and thereby Chavan learned an invaluable lesson in following the Master's orders.
