The mandali thought this was only a threat, but Baba immediately began keeping silence and did not speak with anyone, except Behramji. It was a significant day. It was the first time that Meher Baba kept silence with the mandali.
Although they retired early that night, they got up later than usual at 6:00 A.M.; this was their first good night's rest in the seven days since beginning the march from Bombay. The Master remained silent and would convey messages through Behramji, who was feeling very pleased and proud that Baba was talking only to him — making him, in the eyes of the others, the "favorite disciple" of the moment.
A cobbler was summoned and their broken sandals were repaired. They left Igatpuri at 4:00 P.M. on 26 October and, after walking five miles, reached Ghoti. There, they waited for Baba to arrive, as he had insisted on walking with Behramji far behind them. Meanwhile, Ghani and Sadashiv sought lodging at the local dharamshala, but found it fully occupied. So after Baba and Behramji arrived, they all went to their usual makeshift hotel — the passengers' platform at the railway station.
At Ghoti, Baba told Behramji to ask the other men if they wished to proceed directly to Sakori, or if they preferred to first see Bhandardara Lake. A few wanted to visit the lake, but the majority decided on going straight to Sakori. Baba's calm and undramatic punishment of not talking to them had unnerved them and, though they wanted to see the lake, on Rustom's recommendation they refused in protest.
Baba explained to Behramji that he was not talking to the other men so as not to hurt their feelings, since they did not like it when he talked to them in his own open manner. The mandali concluded that compared to the Master's constant goading, teasing and censure of them, his not speaking with them was considerably more disconcerting.
Hearing this, Baba told Behramji, "If it is so — if they really feel it so much — I will now speak with them."
Thus this problem was resolved, and it was mutually decided to go to Bhandardara Lake and then Sakori.
Age was sympathetic to the plight of the mandali. But it knew that from the Beloved's bow, arrows are constantly flying. As soon as the lover's wound is about to heal, the Beloved's arrows pierce it again — not only to reopen the wound, but to mortally wound the lover.