Bapusaheb Shinde had been admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Poona the week before. He passed away at 6:00 P.M. on the 13th, after a period of acute illness and suffering.
Baba sent this telegram to the Poona Center: "Bapusaheb Shinde has come to me to rest in me eternally. One of my dearest lovers and workers, Bapusaheb served me wholeheartedly and shared in my suffering."
He remarked to the mandali, "I have lost Bapu, but he has found me."
Mehera's birthday was celebrated privately at Meherazad on Thursday, 23 December 1965. Arnavaz, Katie and Khorshed came from Bombay on the 19th, as did Jim Mistry. Khorshed and Jim left on the 24th, while Katie, Nariman and Arnavaz stayed on in Meherazad for two weeks.
On 24 December, Baba gave this message, which was to be issued on 16 February for his birthday that year:
Be composed in the reality of my love, for all confusion and despair is your own shadow, which will vanish when I speak the Word.
On the 24th, Baba permitted his company to several of his local lovers, including the Khilnanis, Viloo, her daughters Gulnar and Freiny, Piroja, Banumasi, and Sam Kerawala and his daughters.
Baba asked Prem Khilnani, "What are you thinking?"
Khilnani told him about his continued anxiety over his promotion. Baba advised him to remain like a fakir — that is, to be indifferent. Baba asked Nariman to quote this verse of Kabir:
The whole world is devoured by worry, and worry is its master, but he who swallows worry is the true fakir!
"Be a fakir!" Baba urged Prem. "I am the Fakir of fakirs! Leave everything to me and be free. All this [creation] is nothing into Nothing! There is nothing except me!"
Since Baba was urging him to live like a fakir, instead of reassuring him, Baba's words led Judge Khilnani to believe that there was no hope for his promotion!
But changing his mood, Baba smiled and remarked, "The instant you receive orders about your promotion, send them to me."
Khilnani was overjoyed. Two weeks later, the orders came, and Prem sent the news by special messenger to Meherazad.
On 25 December 1965, which was Christmas day, Adi drove Rama, Mehernath and Sheela to Meherazad. On the 26th, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Hyderabad, C. Rahgavendra Rao, along with his wife, children and other family members, were permitted darshan. Avtar Kisan Tiku of Srinagar also saw Baba that day.
For the new year, on 1 January 1966, Baba had this message sent to Irwin and Edward Luck, as well as to others in America: "Soon after November 1967 all those who love Baba wholeheartedly with implicit faith in him will have his grace to know who he is."