When the three women told Maharaj of their decision to leave, he sharply said in the presence of others gathered there: "What is this? Has this lad Merwan now become a saint? What does he know of spirituality? What have you gained from his hands? If you wish to jump into the ditch, I won't stop you! Leave me and go to him, if you insist!"
But after a while, Maharaj called the three women back for a private meeting with him and then lovingly said, "You should leave here and go to Merwan. Stay with him. Merwan is mine and I am his. Hold firmly to his feet. After many years, the world will come to know who Merwan really is." The next day, Daulatmai, Mehera and Naja returned to Meherabad accompanied by Masaji.
Baba's 31st birthday was celebrated on 18 February 1925, at Meherabad. A huge pavilion was erected over the Post Office verandah and elaborately decorated. Hundreds assembled for his darshan. His parents, Bobo and Memo, had arrived a few days before with his brothers, Beheram and Adi, and sister Mani. All of the Master's close followers from Bombay, Poona, and Ahmednagar also arrived prior to the celebration. Mehera, Daulatmai, Naja, Dowla Masi, Jamshed's wife Big Khorshed, Soonamasi, and Small Khorshed were already staying in the Post Office building, which was now established as the permanent residential quarters for the women mandali.
For the men mandali, temporary quarters of tin sheds were improvised on the other side of the grounds. A storeroom was built on the Post Office verandah, and Gustadji was appointed to manage it. During this public celebration, a great feast was served in which hundreds of people happily participated. There was singing of bhajans and kirtans throughout the day and everyone had Baba's darshan. The visitors departed within two days after the birthday, and the regime of work was resumed by the mandali.
Once during the festivities, all the guests were seated on the verandah of the Post Office, the men on one side and the women on the other. Naja happened to smile slightly as she crossed the verandah to sit with the other women. Baba had been watching her and became furious. He called her and, slapping her soundly, he scolded,
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Why are you laughing like a mad woman in front of everyone? I don't like women laughing in front of men. Whatever they want to do outside is their business, but not in my presence."
Some of the women guests had been laughing among themselves, and they silently witnessed this scene. Thus Baba taught them a lesson they would never forget, although it meant inflicting an unjustified and humiliating punishment on young Naja.
The Master always kept the men and women's quarters separate in the ashram. He would retire inside his Jhopdi at lower Meherabad with the men sleeping nearby, while the women slept in the Post Office building across the road near the railroad tracks. He would visit the women daily and sit on an empty crate of Brooke Bond tea on the verandah of the Post Office, seldom ever going into their room.