The trip proved very taxing as they were carrying bedding rolls, clothes, lanterns, umbrellas and other paraphernalia, and the intense heat added to their discomfort. In addition, the men were becoming increasingly concerned about Baba's health, which was not improving.
After walking ten miles, they finally halted at the Pathri railway station. Some sadhus arrived on their way to Hardwar, and Baba bowed down to them and handed them a few coins as dakshina. One was chanting "Ram! Ram!" Baba later explained that he was not sincere because his mind was more engrossed in money and food than God. However, during this encounter, Baba strongly lectured the sadhu to continue the way of renunciation and tread the righteous path if he was determined to lead the life of a man of God. One of the sadhus was limping; a small stone had embedded itself in the heel of his foot. Padri extracted it, then cleaned and bandaged the man's foot. Pedahs (sweets) were then distributed to all the sadhus.
Early next morning, 16 August 1924, Baba felt very ill and had eight to ten loose bowel movements. He was also in an irritable mood, for he had had no sleep the previous night. Gustadji, Behramji, and Padri arose at five o'clock appearing fresh and ready to start. Baba became extremely vexed and expressed his anger:
You are all self-servers and have no care for me! You have no real feelings for me in your hearts! Not one of you has any thought for me! In the evening I told you that I was suffering from dysentery as I had in Ajmer, but none of you paid any attention to me and fell asleep. While you snored soundly throughout the night, I did not sleep at all. I passed so many watery stools. No one kept awake with me or even awoke to help me. Has it been written in any book that you should go on sleeping and leave your companion alone to suffer?
Then, about himself, Baba said:
"I, too, am a self-server and, because of that, I am traveling all over India in search of sadhus who may crush my ego!"
Padri lost his temper, claiming Baba was being extremely unfair. After allowing Padri to vent himself, Baba began leading the walk at 5:45 A.M.
Near the fourth milestone, a long-haired itinerant, who seemed to be a Muslim, suddenly appeared out of nowhere.