Gustadji arrived later with the luggage in a bullock cart. The Arangaon villagers had no idea of Meher Baba's return.
Spreading out their bedding, they slept on the open Post Office verandah. At midnight, there was a sudden heavy downpour of rain; the sky was laced with thunder and lightning. If they had stayed in Akolner, the small tent would not have withstood the storm. This shower was also quite unseasonable, occurring so late in the year. Age surmised, "The blessing of rain seemed to be welcoming the Master back to Meherabad after a six-month absence."
To whatever place Meher Baba would travel, and for whatever reason, he always did so for his inner work for the universe. Baba never stayed a moment longer than necessary in any place. No sooner was his work accomplished than he would immediately leave on one pretext or another, even though the place might seem very convenient and comfortable. He and the mandali would camp beneath a tree or stay in a palatial bungalow. But, wherever he stayed, it was only for his work; and as soon as the work was completed, no matter what his planned itinerary might be, he had to leave. Even if he traveled to distant places, he would return within a short time after his inner work was finished. The mandali knew that the Master was going somewhere for his work, but they could never fathom what work he was doing, unless it was partially revealed by him.
Nothing the Avatar does is without purpose. The mandali could only bear witness to his movements. We observed Meher Baba breathing, for example — but his every breath touched all animate and inanimate things in creation. The Avatar's Universal work is totally distinct; it is not for humanity alone but for the benefit of all beings and things in all universes. Baba's many prolonged fasts and seclusions were not for himself; he was, in his own way, inwardly worshiping the whole creation.
People worship God, and God in human form worships all life — animate and inanimate. Meher Baba's every breath was an offer of worship to the world, and his every action was his devotion to every object in creation. The Perfect One has nothing left to achieve. His Universal life in the world is his dedication of sacrifice to those still imperfect.
It was still dark in the early hours of the morning when Baba sent Behramji to bring milk from Arangaon Village.
