"The light vanished leaving the moths behind," Age commented wistfully. "They came to the Flame, but when they discovered themselves to be moths, the Flame disappeared! But how could moths remain without light? Now life itself became a constant search to find the everlasting Light and merge in it!"
After a train ride through the night, Baba and the mandali arrived at the Dadar station in Bombay at 5:30 A.M. on Saturday, 7 July 1923. Gustadji and Burjor P. Dahiwala were waiting at the station, and all immediately left for another station where a train was scheduled to depart for Nasik at 7:25 A.M.1 News of Meher Baba's arrival had spread throughout the city among his followers. Besides Burjor, Naval and Dina Talati, Hormusji and Rupamai Karani (Dina's parents), and the devotees of Charni Road were also present at Dadar. Burjor brought cooked rice and dal for them to take in the train, and Baba lovingly greeted each person. Masaji also met Baba at the station and rejoined the mandali. Pendu departed for Quetta, where he was told to rest and regain his health.
During the train ride, Baba distributed the food to the men. He drank only coffee, not breaking his liquid fast of several months. A Parsi in their compartment gazed fixedly at Baba for a long time. The man could not bear the splendor of Baba's beauty and eventually was overcome and fell at the feet of the Master. After he regained his composure, Baba embraced him compassionately and inquired about him.
They reached Nasik at 2:45 P.M. and Sayyed Saheb (who was from Nasik) was waiting to receive them. They rode in tongas to Nomanbhai's bungalow where Sayyed Saheb had made provisional arrangements for them to lodge for a few days. This house was six miles from the station and was quite airy and spacious.2 Sayyed Saheb brought rice, dal and spinach from his home, but Baba returned the spinach as the mandali were under his strict orders to eat only rice and dal; nevertheless, the meal was quite tasty and, after many days, the mandali again enjoyed a deliciously spiced dal.
On 8 July Baba went with Gustadji, Behramji and Munshiji (who had arrived the previous night) in search of longer term accommodations. He selected a place by the riverside near Gangapur, and returned to Nomanbhai's to explain his next move.
Footnotes
- 1.The Parsi Dahiwala family had come in Baba's contact when Baba was staying at Manzil-e-Meem, as they lived next door.
- 2.Nomanbhai was one of the original followers from the days of the Kasba Peth toddyshop, and had become a successful merchant in Nasik.