Without further explanations, preparations were made in
a mad rush. Everything was packed up, and all boarded the steamship SS Vita the same afternoon. Thus, instead of staying in Karachi for two
months, their stay at Halt Ho came to an abrupt end after only
one week.
During his stay in Karachi, the Master had kept himself
aloof and had even forbidden Pilamai to come and see him. She was naturally
feeling despondent and anxious, knowing that Baba was so nearby. Pilamai
suffered a profound longing to see him. On the last day, before departing, Baba
went to her home and put her mind and heart at ease with his benevolent, smiling
presence. Such times of separation were meant to create more longing in those
already brokenhearted.
Baily had booked the upper deck for Baba and the men. While on board, Baba told the men to clean rice diligently during the day. Throughout the night, each man had the duty of nightwatch for one hour. Due to
fiercely blowing winds, they were very cold on the upper deck, and their muscles
ached and became stiff.
Ramjoo's family was descended from the Kutch tribe. When the boat anchored at Kutch-Mandvi, Ramjoo saw the land of his forefathers
for the first time. Ghani mischievously persuaded Baba to tell Ramjoo to tie a
piece of cloth on his back in typical orthodox Kutchi fashion and talk with the
Kutchis boarding the ship in their native tongue. About 800 passengers boarded
the ship and, amidst this bustle, the men watched from the upper deck as Ramjoo
went from one Kutchi to the next trying to start up a conversation. However, not
one man paid any attention to Ramjoo. The mandali and Baba heartily enjoyed the
humorous scene.
On 23 November at 12:30 P.M., the ship passed Dwarka and,
at 4:30 P.M., it docked at Porbandar. A Parsi named Kandawala, who was an
acquaintance of Baily's, was also on board and casually began questioning
the mandali about themselves, to which they replied as best they could. But a
month later, they found out Kandawala had published distorted and misleading
accounts in various Parsi newspapers, to the effect that when Meher Baba was engaged in
talking with his disciples, the Master was taking down notes. Actually, Baba
was engaged in writing instructions for the mandali to follow later
and was dictating a few points for correspondence.