Similarly, when taking Baba's darshan, those persons felt as if they were drowning in a sea of bliss! The atmosphere was full of joy, and the deepest happiness was experienced everywhere. Forgetting all else, those who had received his darshan would sit aloof and drink in every moment, quietly enjoying this state. Some remained in that state for days after the program."
On 2 March, for the sixth time in a little over a month, Rustom Kaka and Soonumyan were called to Meherazad to sing before Baba. One ghazal Soonumyan sang, which Baba liked especially, contained these words:
I have no words with which to tell What I have found having found You. I have found my Goal, I have found my Self — Verily, in the form of a man, I have found God!
The first thing Baba did each morning after coming to the hall was to sit privately with Kaikobad in his room. Afterwards, the daily routine began of correspondence and briefly meeting any visitors who came, but Baba was embracing hardly anyone. He was experiencing swelling on his feet at this time, which seemed mysteriously to come and go.
Kumar and Pukar had returned to Meherazad, as instructed. One day Kumar told Baba that Aloba and Baidul were good draughts (checkers) players. Calling both, Baba asked them to play. Aloba chose the white pieces and Baidul the black. Both would take a lot of time and think carefully over every move, but in their absorption and preoccupation with the game, Baidul would at times move the white pieces, and Aloba the black.
Baba was highly amused and remarked, "I have never come across such lunatics! They surpass the mad atop Howrah Bridge!"
(Baba was referring to the story of how two madmen once climbed up the high steel frame of the Howrah Bridge in Calcutta and, from their precarious perch, began playing cards. The police appeared on the scene, but it was a problem to bring them down, as the least movement on the part of the madmen could have meant their imminent fall. The police kept a nightlong vigil, and the next day, somehow succeeded in inducing the two men to climb down.)
From that day onward, Baba would give Baidul and Aloba the chance of playing draughts before him at noon, and he enjoyed watching how they played the game.
On Saturday, 7 March 1959, Baba departed for Bombay with Mehera, Mani and Goher, in Meherjee's car, driven by Waman. They were followed by Adi in his car with Eruch, Pendu, Ramjoo and Bhau. (Kumar, Pukar and Vishnu traveled by bus and train; Kaka, Kaikobad, Francis, Aloba and Meherdas remained at Meherazad.) They halted in Poona for two hours to have lunch and tea at Guruprasad (sent from Bindra House by the Jessawalas), but before taking any food or rest, Baba went to Gadekar's residence with the mandali, to inquire about Gadekar's health.
"How is your pain?" Baba asked him. "How do you feel?"
Gadekar said, "Because you have come to see me, I don't feel the slightest pain."
"Today is Maha Shivratri [a Hindu holiday in honor of Lord Shiva] and Shankar in person has come to your house to see you. Repeat my name day and night. Go on doing it."
Gadekar wept tears of joy. After embracing him, Baba returned to Guruprasad. It was to be the last time Gadekar ever saw his Beloved.
Baba and the mandali arrived in Bombay at about 5:00 P.M., and he and the women stayed at Ashiana.1 Bhau was given night duty from 5:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M., after which Pendu and Vishnu shared it for two hours each until 6:00 A.M. Pukar and Kumar stayed in a hotel in Bombay.
Prior to Baba's arrival, Arnavaz and Nariman had renovated their apartment. It was painted, new curtains and drapes were added, and an air conditioner was installed in the room Baba used. Everything was done in a hurry, and Baba arrived soon after the work was finished. Baba admired the new decor and asked Nariman how much he had spent. "Seven thousand rupees," he replied.
Footnotes
- 1.Waman avoided two mishaps on the way, first by braking hard when a young boy dashed out in front of their car and second by swerving to avoid being hit or scraped by a truck.