He amiably approached Baba and saluted him. Then he casually shook his hand and went on his way. The mandali were surprised at the stranger's behavior. But he was not unknown to the Master. He was an agent, there for Baba's inner spiritual work. Who except this medium knew what message had been received by simply shaking hands with Baba?
After this momentary meeting, it soon began to rain and they found shelter in a deserted watchman's cabin near the railway tracks. All except Baba had breakfast there, and they left as soon as the rain stopped. Having walked several miles, they came across a stream of crystal clear water. They refreshed themselves and rested there for some time. Baba had not eaten anything solid for the past several days. He was continually excreting a white glutinous matter, and he suffered recurring stomach pains and fever.
Seeing some children grazing goats in the distance, Baba directed Padri to ask them if they had anything to eat. One lad replied he had some chapatis and hot chili chutney. Padri conveyed this to Baba who said to pay the boy one anna and bring the chutney. Padri was aghast and said, "Baba, you have dysentery. You're not going to eat chutney, are you? It will upset your stomach even more!"
Baba replied, "What do you know? On the contrary, the chutney will eliminate my dysentery and cure me!"
Reluctantly, Padri paid the boy, brought the chutney, and Baba ate it with a chapati from Gustadji. All gazed in disbelief while he appeared, for the first time in days, to be quite happy and satisfied.
Age was astonished. "Can anyone imagine the mystery of the Avatar's love and work? He ate after meeting with one of his spiritual agents — having done some work on the inner planes. And the simple shepherd boy did not have any notion of who Meher Baba was. What depth of love the Beloved possessed to accept the boy's offering without his knowing to whom his humble food was given.
After eating the chutney, Baba sent word to the boy that it was delicious. He had broken his fast with the shepherd boy's spontaneous sharing. Meanwhile, the boy had been intently staring at Baba, charmed by his animated features.
Feeling refreshed, Baba continued on, leading the men to Laksar which they reached at one in the afternoon on 16 August.