During this period, he began calling his younger brother, Adi Junior , in order to distinguish between him and Adi K. Irani, whom he called Adi Senior .
Adi Jr. had a mischievous, carefree side like his brothers Jamshed and Jalbhai. One day, while Baba was visiting the family, Adi pinched some chewing tobacco from Baba's box, snuck away and chewed it; he promptly became dizzy and nauseated. Memo found out what he had done and told Baba.
Baba gave him a hard slap and scolded, "Why did you snitch my tobacco?"
Adi countered, "Why not? You chew tobacco!"
"Don't do as I do!" Baba warned him. "I can fast for months on end, can you? Do as I tell you to do! Don't ever try to imitate me in any way!"
Shortly thereafter, Baba gave his younger brother a pinch of tobacco. Adi expressed his confusion: "I don't understand. You slapped me for chewing tobacco, and now you are giving it to me?"
Baba said, "I am giving it to you, so now it is all right."
Then he winked and joked, "Just don't tell Memo!"
And this time Adi did not feel dizzy or ill.
Adi Jr. was also spiritually inclined. Adi had met Upasni Maharaj in Sakori with his mother and admired the great yogi's awesome personality. During this period, Adi was attending St. Vincent's High School and became captivated with Hazrat Babajan. In fact, he was so fascinated with the ancient woman that, at this time, he had a higher regard for her than for his own brother. Unbeknown to his father or mother, almost every day on his way home from school Adi would stop by her seat under the neem tree in Char Bawdi. He would stand near her and gaze at her. Sometimes Babajan would beckon him to have a cup of tea with her, but she would not speak intelligibly around him and would not mention Merwan or ask Adi anything about himself.
For the most part, the words Babajan uttered were virtually incomprehensible. Her language was distinctly her own, for she would usually mutter something in different languages or enigmatic sounds which no one could follow. However, one day, for no apparent reason, she gazed deeply into Adi's eyes and spoke in clear Persian: "Speak the truth, no matter how bitter it may be."
Adi was startled by her words. They made a great impact on him and he never forgot them.