Baba returned to Quetta the following day and fiercely upbraided Ramjoo and Ardeshir. He had wired Ramjoo to await his arrival in Sukkur, but the telegram had not been delivered. Baba and Phiroz Shah discovered the unsent telegram under the stationmaster's newspaper and brought it back with them.
Baba then related that he had gone to the site which Ardeshir had selected in Sukkur and liked it so much he had bought it through Holaram and Rustomji, two residents of Sukkur who had become devoted to the Master's cause. He also told them that he had contacted a mast at the tomb of the Muslim saint, Bachal Shah. He then indicated that, until a house could be built on the land, another bungalow should be rented in Sukkur, preferably near the site. Baba promptly sent Ramjoo back there for this purpose, with instructions to attend to the mast settled in Bachal Shah's tomb and to visit Sadbella Island.1 Ramjoo was also told to inquire there about a house to buy for his family's possible relocation.
Ramjoo found a suitable bungalow in Sukkur and rented it for Baba and the mandali for six months. He then went to Bachal Shah's tomb, which was situated near the purchased land, and paid his obeisance. However, he was unable to find the mast there, but encountered a mastani (a female mast) whose appearance resembled Babajan's. The woman confronted Ramjoo and asked, "Who is your Pir [Master]?"
"Shri Meher Baba," Ramjoo replied.
The mastani uttered, " Badshah, Shahenshah !" (King! Emperor!) and a few more strange sounds and then suddenly disappeared. The woman's language was incomprehensible, but these two words Ramjoo clearly heard. Seemingly out of nowhere, the mast then appeared and Ramjoo handed him five rupees, saying the money was from Meher Baba. The mast looked very happy to receive the dakshina.
When Ramjoo returned to Quetta the next day, plans for building a house in Sukkur were discussed, and it was decided that the mandali themselves should build the house and work in the orchard. Establishing a trust was proposed, with the provision that only those wholly and solely dedicated to Meher Baba would be allowed to take part in the project. During the discussion, someone mentioned the problem of Sukkur's extreme heat, and those who had experienced its high temperature felt that the mandali could not tolerate it. Discussions of the pros and cons of moving to Sukkur went on for a week; finally the whole Sukkur plan was canceled.
Footnotes
- 1.Sadbella Island contains a temple dedicated to a Hindu saint.