Afterwards, everyone assembled near the dhuni at lower Meherabad. Two lepers from Ahmednagar had been brought, and Baba washed their feet, wiped them dry with a towel and handed them prasad.
After washing his hands, Baba took his seat in the car and they headed off to Meherazad. In the car with him were Eruch, Alain, Don and Shuddhananda Bharati.
Baba turned around from the front seat and gestured to Don, "As the Avatar, I have many responsibilities and duties of course, but of them all there is none that touches me more deeply than bowing down to and washing the feet of the lepers. They are like beautiful birds caught in an ugly cage."
He continued, "These villagers may be poor in the eyes of the world, but they possess more wealth to make even the richest envious, for they are rich in love of the Ancient One."
During the drive, Alain spoke a few words of French to Don. Shuddhananda Bharati said he knew French, too, and the three began conversing in that language.
After a few minutes, Baba turned around and gestured with a smile, "Speak English. How do you expect Baba to understand French?"
At Meherazad, Baba gave Alain one of his garlands, and in good humor put it on him.
Don Stevens and Alain left the following morning at 8:00 A.M. with Meherjee; they flew from Bombay at midnight on the 8th. Before leaving, Baba gave Alain a blessed (touched) picture of himself. Although this was Alain's first meeting with Baba, by the time he left he was completely taken with Baba.
Each morning, Baba would clap Alain on the shoulder and ask, "How much do you love me? Do you love me any more this morning?" he would tease.
Alain would say, "Baba, I love you 101%; how can I love you any more?" In later correspondence, Alain would write that his love had now grown to "101 and a quarter percent" and after that to "101 and a half percent."