Gadekar had left Meherazad for Poona on 7 October, but he was allowed to return for Diwali. He arrived on 5 November and stayed for six days.
Thursday, 6 November 1958, was the last day of Baba's 21-day fast, and according to his wish, at 9:00 A.M. 56 poor people arrived from Arangaon Village. A wooden platform with stairs on either side had been brought, onto which each villager was led. After bowing down to each, Baba gave each five rupees and a packet of sweets and clothes, which Adi had brought from Ahmednagar. Chhagan paid for the entire program (Rs.380) and prepared the laddoos himself. Other destitute villagers had collected nearby, and Baba distributed sweetmeats, and gave each one eight annas (50 paisa). During the final three days of his fast, both the men and women mandali were also put on a partial fast.
On the 7th at 10:15 A.M., in the presence of all the men mandali, Baba directed Kaikobad to stand before him and offer penance to God on behalf of the mandali. Kaikobad prayed to God for 100 percent successful completion of Baba's work. Then, taking Kaikobad's hands in his own, Baba kissed them and brought them to his forehead. Taking his seat, he distributed prasad of mixed rice and dal to the mandali. Only after he had finished giving each his portion did he himself take food and thus break his fast. But Baba's health was still not good.
Earnest replies to Baba's circular issued before his fast, asking whether or not his lovers were prepared to place full trust in him, began pouring in as soon as the circular was in their hands. First and foremost, the Meherabad mandali's joint reply was received, and thereafter the ones from the Meherazad men and women mandali. Baba kept the replies of all three groups of his mandali with him.
On one occasion during this time, while mentioning his women mandali, Baba remarked, "Mani is very clever. You all say so, but even Eruch, who is himself very intelligent, says so. Even in reading my gestures, Mani has no equal; then comes Eruch. [She] helps a great deal in compiling material for [the American magazine] The Awakener . The Americans, too, say Mani is really very bright."
The number of replies continued to increase and, on just one day, 1500 were received! Baba would have every single letter read to him in mandali hall, which took from five to six hours daily. Kumar would read the replies. Baba would categorize them in different groups according to their response.