Rustom, however, was not enthusiastic about the idea of loaning his car for such a long trip, whereupon Baba showed his own displeasure at Rustom's unwilling attitude. In the afternoon, while the mandali were repeating the seven names of God, Baba was in a very unpleasant mood and sent for Ramjoo. Baba told him to inquire of each man his opinion about the confrontation with Rustom.
Ramjoo asked each: "Baba wishes to know whether you think it is still proper to reside here on Rustom's property, when he refuses to lend his car for the journey to Persia?" When Ramjoo inquired, some agreed with Baba, while some did not. The matter ended without any definite resolve as to when Baba would leave Meherabad or where he would go if he did.
On 13 May, the platform by the well was finished, and digging irrigation channels and paving the rough shahabad stones began. During the labor, Nervous got involved in a quarrel with one of the other men, and they were called to Baba's Jhopdi, where Baba scolded them both for an hour. He was going to punish them by ordering them to sit at an isolated place and forbidding them to work. But, within minutes, he calmed down and gave them other duties.
The next day, a feeble Muslim fakir wandered into Meherabad and was taken to Baba. After inquiry, Baba ordered that he be bathed, fed and clothed by Gustadji. After the old fakir had eaten, Gustadji asked him to rest by a shady tree where three other wanderers had been staying for the past few days. They were Hindus and were also being fed and looked after by the mandali, according to Baba's wishes.
The Hindus were an old man and his wife and another woman, named Jai, who was mentally unbalanced. With the old fakir joining them, the group was an odd mixture. In addition to these strangers, the number of children showing up from Arangaon Village continued increasing daily. They would come to Meherabad in the morning and evenings, and sing bhajans under Arjun's tutelage.
On Thursday, 15 May 1924, Baba emerged from his seven-day seclusion and broke his fast with a meal of rice and dal. The white ox, Sant, arrived the following day and was bathed and tied beside the horse, Sufi, in a portion of the Mess Quarters. Somehow the ox broke loose and again the men had to chase after an animal to retrieve it.