When Behramji saw the group being shown around, he recognized Colonel Irani at once and informed Rustom to beware of what he said.
Professor Kapadia had known Mohan Shahane who had studied at Deccan College years before. Seeing Mohan in the ashram, Kapadia critically remarked, "It is not good for a bright lad like you to waste your time here with all this superstitious nonsense." Mohan pointedly explained to him about Meher Baba. Not impressed, Kapadia cynically asked, "Where does all the money come from for all this?"
Mohan replied, "I have nothing to do with that. I only know that the poor, sick, and destitute are being served here."
Colonel Irani interposed, "It is all self-advertisement! A show of false spiritual greatness!" These bitter remarks set off an unpleasant argument between the mandali and the antagonistic visitors. The mandali stopped arguing when the Colonel and Kapadia claimed that Zoroaster, Buddha and Christ were simply ordinary men whom legend had made great.
Despite all this contention, the visitors still wanted to meet the Master. Baba would usually come out of his quarters early in the morning, but that day he arrived unusually late at 10:30. When Rustom asked the men to kindly take off their shoes before entering Baba's room, they were insulted and abruptly left — despite having waited for three hours! It was not in the Colonel's naseeb (destiny) to meet the Meher Baba face to face — then or ever.
Colonel Irani's other older sister was Freiny Masi (Padri's mother), who lived near Babajan's seat in Char Bawdi in Poona. The Colonel was equally concerned about Freiny Masi's devotion to Babajan, and her allowing her son to join Meher Baba's ashram. Padri was in a dejected mood on the morning of the Colonel's visit to Meherabad and was considering leaving Meherabad. While being taken on tour of the ashram, the Colonel passed by the dispensary where Padri was prescribing medicines, but they did not see each other. This was fortunate, for had Padri seen him when he was in such a depressed state, he might have left with his uncle for Poona.
After Colonel Irani's departure, Baba commented about worldly-minded people:
For those who are after wine, women, and wealth 24 hours a day, criticizing the Truth or speaking of the Truth is sheer hypocrisy. How could such people have any idea of Truth when they cannot spare even a moment to think of it and are always after material wealth and happiness?