Finally, Baba advised them to beware of bogus saints, as at this time in North India and at other places, four persons who had previously been in his contact were deceiving Baba's lovers in his name, claiming to be his chargeman, and so forth. Expressing his displeasure at the activities of such persons, Baba quoted in Marathi this verse of Tukaram:1
"Having long hair and ash-smeared bodies, there are many frauds in variegated guises. Tukaram says, 'Let their dead conscience be burnt; it is no sin to thrash them!' "
Baba also resolved personal differences between Prem and Girja Khilnani. After the meeting was over, the group of lovers left for their homes in Ahmednagar.
That afternoon, there was an "unscheduled" visitor. His name was Shiavux Golwala. He was an older boarding-school classmate of Adi Sr. from his days at Panchgani Parsi High School. He lived in a remote area of Dahanu, about 80 miles outside Bombay, and had not left the property in many years. When Golwala arrived, he was wearing a Baba locket pinned to his coat, which Baba had given him in 1926. Although he had not seen Baba since then, and had no further contact with Baba or his lovers, he began having the irresistible urge to see Baba again. He would tell people that he wanted someone to take him to see Meher Baba, but no one was prepared to do so on account of his age and feeble condition.
Two younger Parsi men who were staying nearby, however, were going to Shirdi to pay homage at the tomb of Sai Baba. They took pity on the old man and offered to take him at least to Shirdi, if not to Meher Baba in Ahmednagar, 35 miles away. The old man was immensely pleased. But once they arrived at Shirdi and paid their respects there, they told the Parsi that they had decided to return to Dahanu. The old man reacted angrily and said that they had promised to take him to Meher Baba. He would not budge from Shirdi, even if he had to die there!
The men realized that the old man was adamant, so they brought him to Ahmednagar, where they met Adi at Khushru Quarters. Adi directed them to Meherazad, but when they arrived at noon and Baba had already gone for lunch. Aloba greeted them and explained that it was not possible for Baba to see them now, and that they should come back at four o'clock. So they drove back to Ahmednagar.
Footnotes
- 1.This couplet of Tukaram's was painted on a wooden sign that was hung on a wall in mandali hall at Meherazad. Jalbhai was responsible for having the sign made.