She could not understand how it was too little. Annoyed, Baba shoved Naja in the presence of others.
Sailor then appeared and explained that it was his fault, that he had given some of the food to the pilgrims.
At this, Baba's anger turned on Sailor and he dictated, "Why for God's sake did you not tell Naja to cook more food, you Irani idiot?"
Sailor meekly apologized for having forgotten to inform her. Baba ordered the mandali to tie Sailor to a pillar and not give him food or water for three days. It appeared to be a dreadful punishment because it was the middle of summer and scorchingly hot. Accordingly he was tied up, but Baba himself set him free after an hour or so and comforted him by giving him sweets. Baba and the mandali's food was given to the children, and some additional amount was hurriedly prepared.
Later, Gustadji commented that Naja was chastised unnecessarily.
Baba did not appreciate his remark and explained, "I chastise no one! What appears to be punishment is really prasad. Naja received my prasad today. Were it not so, Sailor would not have told the truth."1
For nearly five weeks, from 29 March to 2 May 1926, Baba stayed at night in the box-cabin in Sai Darbar. From there he wished to shift to the west room in the abandoned stone Water Tank on Meherabad Hill. This tank was a water reservoir dating back to the days of the British army during the First World War. Baba explained in detail about his intended stay there, and on the evening of Monday, 3 May, the mandali and schoolchildren followed Baba up the hill in a procession. Bhajans were sung and sweets were distributed by Baba.
Then everyone returned to lower Meherabad, except for Jalbhai and the boy, Bal, who both remained with Baba for nightwatch. In the quiet solitary atmosphere, Baba continued writing his book in the Water Tank, while Jalbhai and Bal took turns keeping watch outside.
For seven days Baba did not leave the tank, but thereafter he resumed his daily rounds of inspection at lower Meherabad. From morning until noon, he would write his mysterious book in the tank and again retire there in the evening to work on it. Regarding the contents of the book, he revealed almost nothing except that it contained "spiritual secrets."
During this stay in the tank, Baba remained unshaven. As there was no door to the west room of the reservoir, Baba had to enter by climbing an iron ladder to reach a small window opening, seven feet from the ground.
Footnotes
- 1.Baba had once said about his friend, Khodu, "Because of Sailor's good deeds in past births and services to God, even if he committed seven murders, he would be forgiven."