Baba asked Viloo to narrate her experiences during her recent trip to Nauranga, and Prakashwati Sharma also spoke about the mela. When they finished, Baba indicated he would go to his room to rest for a few minutes, during which time each could go and refresh herself. It was the women's day that day, so eight of them, including Arnavaz and Perviz Godrej, carried Baba in his chair to his house. They were afraid of jerking the chair and thus causing Baba more pain, but Baba assured them he was comfortable and not to worry. He even insisted on being carried up the steps.
Baba came out of his room after about fifteen minutes and sat down in the garden. A buffet lunch was served, and all gathered around a giant cake as Mehera cut it, and Happy Birthday was sung to her. Baba was given the first piece, which he tasted and gave to Mehera as prasad. After all the ladies had lunch, Baba reentered the hall. Mani announced that those who had sat near Baba in the morning should take their seats in the rear, while those who had sat behind in the morning should now sit near him.
Prakashwati and Freiny Nalavala brought a flat piece of marble on which a statue of Baba was to be placed for Meher Dham, a new temple in Dehra Dun. Baba blessed the marble pedestal by touching it with his hands. Prakashwati requested Baba to place his feet on it. Baba did so, leaning forward in his chair and pressing down on the stone.
"I am now completely in it," he informed her.
The two women were overjoyed and carefully carried the stone back to Dehra Dun.
Soon after this, Baba gestured, "Something terrible is going to happen shortly!"
All wondered what could happen to disturb the festive atmosphere. Just when everyone's curiosity had reached its height, a man strode into the crowd from behind! Because no men were allowed to come that day, since Mehera was present, there were several loud screams. The women tried to hold him back and push him out, but the man cried out, "I want to meet Meher Baba!"
The man, wearing white pants with a big yellow patch, a black coat, spectacles and a Parsi hat, pushed his way to Baba. Mehera was flabbergasted, and so were the rest of the women. All through the uproar, Baba sat placidly smiling at the ruckus. It was only when the man tried to advance toward Mehera, that he disclosed "himself" as Katie Irani! She had fooled everyone. Rano had done her makeup, and when all the women realized who it was, the hall resounded with laughter.
When the laughter died down, a few bhajans were sung. A little later Katie came back, this time dressed as a Japanese geisha girl. Baba asked her to sing a Japanese song, and her high-pitched voice made all double up with laughter.1
Footnotes
- 1.Katie Irani worked in the Japanese Consulate in Bombay and had learned some Japanese songs.