Before dying, Norina had told Elizabeth, "Don't grieve for me; let me go." So the evening after she died, Elizabeth and Kitty went to see a play at the local theater. At the door, they were met by the theater's owner and manager, Jane Barry Haynes, who welcomed them warmly. More about this new "bird" later.
Jalbhai stayed at Meherazad for five days from 15 June, and while he was there, Baba took him, Eruch, Pukar and Kumar for a drive to Ahmednagar. On the way, Baba pointed out a mast walking on the road. As the car drove through the city, Baba pointed out a well-known local mast named Khondimama and a mastani. The next day, Baba again went for a drive to the city, but no masts were seen. But on their way back to Meherazad, a mast was spotted sitting on a culvert. Baba told the driver to park near him, and Eruch was told to approach the mast and tell him that Baba was sitting in the car, and the mast should take Baba's darshan.
When the mast heard this, he replied, "What's the hurry?" Baba told Eruch to tell him again, and Pukar also got down to persuade him. This time the mast came near the car and bowed at Baba's feet. Baba motioned for him to sit in the front seat, and they drove back to Meherazad. On the way, the mast removed some berries from his pocket and offered them to Baba. Baba handed them to Pukar, telling him to have Kaka distribute them among the mandali. This happened two more times, and the third time, Baba told those in the car to eat two of the berries, and Baba also ate two.
In the car, Baba posed several questions to the mast, such as, "Are your children keeping well? � How old is your daughter? � Is she married or not?"
The mast answered all these questions. At Meherazad, Baba bowed at the mast's feet eleven times. Baba fed him and then instructed Baidul to take him back to Ahmednagar in the car.
After his departure, Baba commented, "This mast is very clever."
Ramjoo arrived at Meherazad on 21 June 1957 for a few weeks' stay. While he was there, he drafted letters to Don Stevens and Ivy Duce regarding copyright matters. Pendu was taken by taxi to Meherazad to see Baba on the 23rd. Dr. Ketkar paid a visit the following day. He conferred with Goher about relieving Baba's continued pain and observed Baba walking.
A group of lovers from Poona was scheduled to sing before Baba at Meherazad at 8:00 A.M. on Sunday, 30 June 1957, but on the way, their large rented station wagon repeatedly broke down in the pouring rain. And so, at 8:00 A.M., they sat by the road and sang a bhajan there for Baba!
At 2:00 P.M. that day, Baba went to Meherabad, where he gave darshan. The Poona group arrived, and Baba served them lunch. Beatrice Vigo who had met Baba the year before, also came again for Baba's darshan, as did G. S. N. Moorty and his wife.1 A nurse who worked at the Arangaon T. B. Sanitarium, Kamlabai Pusalkar, was devoted to Baba and made a request that he give darshan to the patients there, which he lovingly did.
Olla Goldney was not as drawn to Baba as her husband, but as she witnessed Baba caressing, embracing and kissing the poor persons of Arangaon and patients at the hospital, she commented, "Our Father, Christ, did exactly the same thing."
Baba heard her and stated, "I am that Father Christ."
At 5:00 P.M., Baba returned to Meherazad. There the Poona bhajan group sang in mandali hall until 7:30 P.M., after which they returned to Poona. The women mandali were allowed to sit in the courtyard adjacent to the hall, where (unseen) they could hear the singing.
The pain in Baba's hip still plagued him and was especially bad on 5 July. Nevertheless, there was no lessening in (much less stopping) his activities! During such crises in his life, Baba's activities usually became more intense, and he had no time to rest.
According to Baba's wish, all of his lovers in the East and West, including those at Meherazad, kept silence from midnight of July 9 to midnight of July 10, 1957, the 32nd anniversary of Baba's silence. They were also told to fast completely on that day, taking as much water as necessary, and tea or coffee once.
Footnotes
- 1.Vigo had been to Delhi, where Kishan Singh had been informed to meet her and take her to Dehra Dun.