On the morning of 12 May, Baba called the mandali in front of his Jhopdi and rebuked them severely for their frequent quarrels. Baba was especially harsh in chastising Adi and Masaji.
He concluded, "Each of you is my father!" (an idiomatic expression meaning Baba had to listen to and obey them).
He then bowed to each man and observed, "By the oath of my Master, I tell you this: Had he told me I was his father and saluted me — as I have just done to you — I would not have stayed with him for a moment longer and would have left him thinking I was not fit for his company. But you people lack even the courage to leave me!"
The meeting ended, but only after many more razor-sharp arrows had flown.
After lunch, Chowdhary, who had felt very disturbed about the Master's remarks, decided to leave. Some of the mandali did their best to prevent him, but he was so upset that he would not listen. Gustadji informed Baba, and he again called the men to the Jhopdi.
He sternly confronted Chowdhary: "Why did you ever agree to stay with me under all circumstances? Now you want to leave because of a few harsh words! What is the meaning of pulling on in any circumstance? With me you have to learn how to live and remain like dust!"
But Chowdhary was stubborn and would not listen and soon after left for Poona.
After Chowdhary's sad departure, Baba asked the other men, "Who else wishes to leave me? If anyone wants to go, he can go right now!"
But no one else was prepared to go.
Baba warned them: "If you have your own spiritual welfare at heart, stick to me through all situations. I can never commit a mistake, because I am Truth personified! From Truth flows Truth! So do not try to gauge my actions and utterances with your intellect. You will never be able to fathom the depth of my actions and words with your mind."
Baba then unexpectedly broached the topic of returning to Persia. He said he would go there for a fortnight as soon as he ended his present seclusion in the Jhopdi. He added that if he journeyed to Persia, he would take Adi, Gustadji and two other men with him.
Gulmai and Rustom arrived a short time later, and Baba informed them of his intention of driving to Persia in Rustom's car.