Thus Baba was toying with Ginde, reeling him closer to him. When Ginde was at Meherazad, Baba would even call him at night to his bedroom. In fact, it appeared as if Ginde had become one of the mandali, he was that intimate with Baba. Once Baba asked Ginde what he wished for from Baba. Ginde replied, "My only desire is that you give me the strength, energy and courage to remember you wholeheartedly, and to serve your cause as long as I live." Baba was very pleased with his reply and remarked that he was a "chip off the old block" for whom he had been waiting for a long time.
"I have known Ram for many, many lives," Baba commented to the mandali.
Ginde was so smitten with Baba's love that he even had thoughts of giving up his neurology clinic and comfortable life in Bombay and moving permanently to Meherazad.
But Baba would instruct him, "Continue to serve the sick and suffering. It is my service, so keep on doing it."
Once when Ginde expressed his distress and surprise at the stubbornness of Baba's pain, Baba patted him lovingly on the arm and explained, "Don't worry. It is all by my will. I alone know the cause of my pain, and it will go away after July. All the same, I want you to go on doing your best to lessen it," adding after a moment's pause, "and I will do my best to increase it!"
The mandali could not help but interject, "We hope you win, Doctor!"
At the end of February 1965, Ram Ginde left India for America to attend a neurology conference in Houston and to take two patients there for treatment. Before leaving, he telephoned Adi at 10:45 P.M. on the 24th, and asked him to convey this message to Baba:
Avatar Meher Baba, the most Ancient, Eternal, All-pervading Father with infinite mercy, glory be unto you. Having drawn me towards you with your unsurpassed love, pray keep me always in your service, so that I may sooner [rather] than later be part of you.
Baba's endearing reply, sent by telegram on the 25th, was: "I am Ram and you are Ram. That means you are a chip off the old block. My love and blessings to you, your wife and family."