While Baba was away, Padri requested that
Baba allow him to sink a borewell on the property, which Baba agreed to. A bore was sunk up to 65 feet, but without success. On 28 April, Baba
was informed and he permitted Padri to bore further, up to 100 feet. At
the depth of 83 feet, an ample supply of soft water was struck, and
Padri was very happy. Baba too was pleased.
Adi came to Guruprasad on 8 May 1967 and gave Baba
an update on his work. Deshmukh arrived the same day and saw Baba. On
the 15th and 16th Dr. Dikshit was called to take X-rays, as Baba was
experiencing a painful catch in his back. Dr. K. C. Gharpure, a surgeon
at Sassoon Hospital, was called several times for the same
complaint.
Goher's mother Khorshed's
condition was becoming worse. Alu Khambatta had been enlisted to help
the family look after her. Baba was informed on 16 May, and through
Goher he conveyed a message to her parents to "remember him
constantly, take his name and do not worry." On the 23rd, just as
Khorshed was passing through a crisis, a phone call from Baba came to
Adi, informing him that Khorshed would drop her body when Baba willed
it, and that he was pleased with the efforts of all those who were
attending her.
Khorshed died the following
day at 2:00 P.M., and Baba had this message phoned to her husband Rusi
Pop in Ahmednagar:
Dear Khorshed has come
to me to rest eternally in my love. You be brave and be resigned to my
Divine Will. I will call you when I return to Meherazad. My
love-blessing to you and the family and Alu [Khambatta]."
In a letter from Guruprasad two days later, Eruch
conveyed:
Beloved Baba wants all his dear
lovers to note that by November end 1967 there will be many new swamis
and babas appearing on the world screen, and as such he wants all his
lovers to keep away from them. Baba's standing instructions to his
lovers regarding such persons should not be forgotten or ignored. Baba
wants his lovers to beware!
Baba reminds
his lovers to hold his daaman firmly. As the time of his manifestation
approaches, there will be circumstances and situations which might make
his lovers lose the grip over his daaman. Hence, time and again, he
sends out reminders to his lovers at the slightest excuse. He says the
time — that time of which he has so often told us — is now
right at the threshold of his manifestation!
Baba wants all his lovers to know that it is time
they should know that it is not only useless to wander about from door
to door meeting and seeing swamis and babas but it is also very
harmful.
After residing in Poona for almost two months, on 26
May Baba sent for his brother Jalbhai, Beheram's family and the
Bindra House families. Two days later, the Maharani Shantadevi was
permitted to visit, and Sarosh and Viloo on the 30th.
Baba remarked to
them, "My time is fast approaching."
At
the end of May 1967, when Mani was reading out her Family Letter to Baba (mailed on 1 June) in which she described Baba's back pain,
he instructed her to add this message from him: "My lovers need not
worry, because I have started walking fast again; but my mental and
spiritual suffering will end only when I break my silence."
This message was also sent to the Divya Vani : "I send love like
rain, but not all the vessels hold the same."
One day Bhau had a terrible headache and fever.
When
he went to Baba for nightwatch, Baba complained, "I have a high
fever today and a splitting headache! Be attentive to your duty.
Don't annoy me." After a pause he asked, "And how are
you?"
Bhau laughed, and Baba inquired
why. "I, too, have a headache and fever," Bhau said.
"But I have more of a fever. Just feel my
forehead."
Bhau did so and said,
"There is no fever, Baba."
"What? The fever is inside! Now just pass the
iron over my back."