That year, Aloba too stayed behind to help Kaka oversee major repair work to be done at Meherazad. Eruch's uncle, Homi Mama Satha, was also enlisted to help, and stayed at Meherazad during Baba's absence. Harry Kenmore had suggested that mandali hall — once used as a garage for Elizabeth's car and then as a stable for the horse Sheba — have a more proper stone and cement floor. Baba would thereby be able to walk up and down in the hall on a smoother surface and thus exercise more each day. The laying of this new flooring was the main work to be done while Baba was absent.
On Palm Sunday, 20 March 1960 at about 8:00 A.M., Baba along with the women and men mandali (including Elcha Mistry) left Meherazad, and arrived at Guruprasad three hours later. Baba had permitted his Ahmednagar lovers to wait for him at Sarosh Motor Works, where he stopped to meet them on his way to Poona. Baba also met with the Collector of Ahmednagar, S. B. Kazi, at Khushru Quarters. But his Poona lovers were informed in advance not to be waiting on the roadside when he arrived in Poona, and they obeyed his wish. Yet no sooner had Baba arrived than M. J. Rangole of Satara was seen standing near the gates. His wife was holding a baby, and standing with him, The previous year the couple had been extremely depressed when they approached Baba and, on his inquiry, the wife had said, "I am childless, Baba. People ridicule me and call me barren. I have to hide my face before them." Baba assured her not to worry and promised that he would see about it. This was the result and the couple had come to express their gratitude.
Baba met his chief Poona workers. An hour later Harry Dedolchow and Amiya Kanti Das, an elderly attorney from Calcutta, arrived. Amiya Das had been longing for Baba's darshan since 1931, but had never been able to manage it for one reason or another. Baba embraced him first and the old man wept.
Dedolchow brought a suitcase full of gifts for Baba and the mandali.
“”Baba remarked, "This is unnecessary. All I want is your love."
Dedolchow informed Baba that Das had also brought some presents.
“”Baba frowned and continued, "Baba does not need anything, only love from his lovers. I appreciate what you do; I know that it is the love in you that compels your actions. But all these things brought to me are illusory. Only love is real."
Baba embraced them and asked Dedolchow about his difficulties, and he described the rigors of life at sea as a mariner in the merchant marines. He also spoke about the division he felt in himself between his impure thoughts and actions on the one hand, and his urge to go toward his "Father" (Baba) on the other, which he said he lacked the courage to do.
“”Baba asked Dedolchow: "Why are you afraid to come to me with all your impurities? Where else are you going to dispose of your dirt except in this Ocean? Throw all your impurities in this Ocean! Give them to me and be free. By surrendering to me both good and bad, anyone can be free. But it is very difficult. Out of millions, only one can do it!
