Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
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The person fasting should drink plain water and sherbet [syrup and water] or weak tea (without milk) as many times a day as desired."
Lovers were informed that, on 16 January, they should fill in a card which accompanied the Life Circular giving their name and address, and stating when they had started and ended the fast.
From the 10th, Vishnu began staying at Meherazad, where he took over Pendu's nightwatch duty for some days.
Over the next five days more injections were given to Baba by Goher, as once again his pain became intense. Nariman arrived on Sunday, 12 November, with a letter from Dr. Ginde, suggesting no new treatment be given because the nerve was affected. Ginde recommended large daily doses of vitamin B1 and B12 for eight to ten days.
During this period, Chhagan also came to Meherazad and began administering an ayurvedic preparation to Baba. Meherdas was ordered to leave Meherazad on the 15th and attend different melas in Hamirpur and other districts to deliver Baba's message. Meherwan Jessawala arrived on the 16th and was permitted to stay at Meherazad for a month.
By 15 November, Baba's facial muscles had regained their tone and his face looked normal. But two days later, the pain was so severe, especially on the right side of Baba's chin, that there was spasmodic twitching of the facial muscles with acute pain. The paste Chhagan had prescribed was applied daily, but Baba felt no relief from it, and it was stopped after four days.
On Sunday, 20 November, for the first time the pain was not continuous for half a day. But two days later, Baba had a slight fever and complained of physical and nervous exhaustion.
He was extremely restless during the day on the 24th, yet slept well that night. He remained restless and uncomfortable for the next four days. It was a terrible ordeal for Baba and a terrible time for the mandali also — to see him suffer so. The mandali felt so helpless to alleviate his suffering or share in the burden he had chosen to carry. As Mani related: "Once again, we were afforded a glimpse of an outer expression of his inner working through the aspect of physical suffering."
More than once, Baba told them: "The pain is bad, but the extent of my work being done is good."
It must also be remembered that during all this time, in addition to the herpes, Baba was still suffering from the pain in his fractured hip joint.