Baba told Sadashiv Patil, "I will give
darshan at the Poona Center just once more, one year from today on 1 May
1965. After that I will resume the darshan programs at Guruprasad as
usual."
After this, the children sang Baba's arti,
and the sweets touched by his hand were distributed as prasad. Baba had
Sanjeevani Kher sing a song. She had sung before him in Guruprasad the
previous year, and Baba liked her singing very much. Baba was in such a
happy mood that, despite his previous ruling that no one should do so,
he allowed everyone to approach, meet and garland him. Deshmukh had obtained
a small bronze-colored bust of Baba prepared by Naresh Dhondphale, a Poona sculptor.
He brought it to Baba for his touch and blessing, and Baba obliged, but
first joked, "Look at me and look at this bust! Do I look like
that?" teasing Deshmukh that the artist had not done him
justice.
At about 10:30 A.M., Baba stepped down from the
platform assisted by Eruch and Francis, and walked to the private room. Homai Malati, Ramakrishnan's assistant, had decorated the room and
kept it ready for him. Baba sat on the bed and sipped a little from a
glass of fresh coconut water. He touched the fruits and other eatables
presented to him, before permitting the mandali to partake of them. Then
he proceeded to the office, where he sat on one of the chairs. At eleven
o'clock the car arrived near the office door, and taking his seat in
it, Baba was driven back to Guruprasad.
In correspondence with the Harbs, Meherjee
described Baba's state at the time:
[4 April 1964]: Baba arrived here on the 1st,
just before noon, very tired and exhausted. He has become really very
weak and we all sincerely pray that the change to Poona for relaxation
may benefit his health ... Yesterday also, Baba did not appear any
better. He is so much withdrawn in himself that many times he appears to
be not taking any interest in anything outside himself and sits quietly. We all pray and hope that he soon comes out of this unseen suffering and
begins taking interest in things and persons around him ...
[9 May 1964]: Baba met each and every one [at
the opening of the Poona Center] though it was a terrible strain on him
... Though more than a month has passed in Poona, Baba still appears to
be withdrawn into himself and is constantly suffering silently. In the
last few years, in spite of his seclusion at Meherazad, when he came to
Poona in the summer, he always appeared cheerful and gave profusely his
love to many visitors but this time it is all different. Except a few
members of the mandali, he does not meet outsiders. He comes to the
mandali at about 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning and returns to his room at
12:30. He again comes at 3:00 P.M. and goes back at about 4:00 P.M. This
has become the daily routine. No doubt the confused state of the world
keeps him in such a mood. For the first time in many years I am not
going to Guruprasad the whole day, however much I would like to, and
only during my lunch period from 2:00 to 4:00, I go there to be with
Baba ...