After this darshan, Baba had his lovers informed that he
wished to remain absolutely undisturbed, and he directed that letters from the
East and the West, whether addressed to him or the mandali, would no longer be
read to him. An exception was made on 10 June 1965, in response to a letter that
had recently arrived from Irwin and Edward Luck in America.
Baba had Eruch write
them: "Baba wants you to know: A day will come, soon after he breaks his
silence, when he will remove the veil and allow his lovers to see the beauty of
their Beloved."
Although darshan was stopped, Baba would allow the Poona
workers to come to Guruprasad occasionally, and he would discuss matters and
play cards with them in the hall. In addition to meeting with the group
collectively, a few times he called Bapusaheb Shinde to his bedroom and
expressed his pleasure with him for his love and care. Among the close group of
Poona lovers, only Shinde was given the chance of seeing Baba alone. At that
time no one understood the reason why Shinde was being singled out for special
treatment, until five months later when Shinde passed away.
Meanwhile, Kaka Baria had had to be hospitalized after
suffering a stroke. He was admitted to Booth Hospital on 14 June 1965 by Padri
and Adi. Baba was informed that it looked as if Kaka would die.
Baba, in fact,
sent instructions about Kaka's burial at Meherazad, but added, "It
would be better if Kaka passes away after I return from Poona."
Surprisingly, Kaka recuperated, and on the 26th was shifted to Gulmai's room
at Khushru Quarters where he stayed for a week until Baba returned to
Meherazad.
On 22 June 1965, Baba sent instructions to Adi to inform
those concerned that, contrary to their usual practice, Baba did not want any of
his local lovers and devotees to stand on the roadside to greet him when
Baba's car passed through Ahmednagar on his way to Meherazad.
Adi Dubash had had to return to Karachi for work, but
Rhoda and their son Merwan remained in Poona, coming to Guruprasad daily. Rhoda
was enlisted to help type correspondence, and would work in a small room
adjoining the hall. One day, from his chair, Baba noticed her and, moving his
fingers, he mimicked her typing. Sometimes, Mehera would invite Rhoda to have
lunch with Baba and the women. Baba would on occasion tease Rhoda Dubash about
her being a notoriously slow eater. When she was having lunch with Baba on 27
June 1965, handing her a large sliced mango, Baba asked her to finish it in less
than five minutes.
At first Rhoda took it as a joke, but Baba motioned,
"Now, only four minutes are left. Hurry!"
Seeing that he was serious,
Rhoda began eating the fruit as fast as she could.
"Now only one minute is
left!" Baba indicated.
So Rhoda shoved the remaining pieces into her mouth,
and Baba clapped.
The other women laughed uproariously at her swollen cheeks,
and Baba gestured to her, "Now go into the next room and slowly chew what
you have in your mouth."
For the past three months, Dr. Alu Khambatta had been
staying at the Mobo's Hotel near Guruprasad with her cousin, availing
herself of Baba's darshan whenever possible.
On 30 June, Baba called them to
Guruprasad and said, "Goher says, 'We need a doctor, so why not take
Alu. She would be such a help to me.' I want to take you back to Meherazad
with us for ten days. Are you willing to come?"