Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
1961Page 4,778 of 5,444
At that time, from Akbar Press, Eruch's cousin Alu Satha wrote Baba through her sister Roshan Kerawala, pleading with him to make Eruch well and to let her die instead! Alu was afflicted with muscular dystrophy and was crippled. Both she and her sister, Dhun, had suffered from the disease since childhood. But Alu's condition was growing worse day by day and she was prepared to die, though she was only 40 years old.
Baba once visited Bindra House and asked Alu to read him a passage from a book of the Christian saint Teresa of Avila.
He comforted her, "You are my Saint Teresa. Remember me as she did. When you die you will see me, and I will see you. I will give you bliss after death."
Hearing this, her sister Dhun said, "What about me?" Baba laughed and embraced her. The sisters were very close, and Baba instructed that Dhun should go stay in Poona for a while.
Meanwhile, Alu Satha's condition worsened. She stopped eating and drinking. On Saturday, 18 November 1961 she asked her sister to write again to Baba, "I feel that I will not be long in this world, and before I go I would like to have your darshan. So please come and see me." Baba was in seclusion and feeling quite ill himself that day. Roshan explained to Alu that there was no chance that Baba would come just to visit her. Nevertheless, her message was sent to Adi's office to forward to Baba.
Unexpectedly, when Baba received her message he indicated that he wanted to go see Alu. He was driven there at 3:00 P.M., accompanied by Goher, Pendu and Kaka. At that time, Baba had a fever and his hip was paining. Before leaving, Goher tried to dissuade him, but Baba insisted that he wanted to go.
Getting out of the car, the first thing he asked Roshan was, "Is Alu still alive?" and he went inside Akbar Press to see her.
Baba sat on the bed next to Alu and embraced her.
"This world is a zero," he told her. "It has no meaning. It is like a movie you watch and get so involved in that you think it is real, but it is not. This life is like a movie. Now forget everybody and everything, and think only of me."
Baba asked for a glass of sherbet. He drank most of it and gave the remaining amount to Alu.
He consoled her, "Why do you worry? I have done much work through you and there is much still to do."
As mentioned, Baba had a fever and was perspiring. He took a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the sweat from his forehead and gave it to Roshan to tie on Alu's right hand.