"Well then," Baba concluded, "I don't mind."
He quoted an idiomatic Gujarati expression, "Take care not to let your feet run away with you and make you leave Meherabad."
Votes were taken on the four proposals. Twenty-two men were in favor of going on a journey and sustaining themselves by begging; seventeen supported the second proposal of four months of ghamela yoga at Meherabad; and only five preferred to return home and find jobs.
When all 44 mandali were asked to vote whether to continue as they were in Meherabad or to leave, the majority voted to stay. So it was settled that everything should go on as before. But Baba was of the opinion that because he was keeping aloof from all activity in Meherabad for his own spiritual reasons, it was desirable to appoint someone in his place to look after things and also to see that his orders were being obeyed. Rustom, Behramji, and Gustadji were nominated for this position and a vote was taken. Rustom received seventeen votes and Behramji and Gustadji had four each. Rustom was made head of all departments and given the title of Barra Saheb (Big Boss). He was vested with full discretionary authority to make decisions in all matters and to faithfully carry out all rules and regulations laid down by Baba.
Despite the decisions agreed upon, a second meeting was held at two o'clock that afternoon, in which all were asked if they would prefer to travel either to Shiraz in Persia or Rangoon in Burma! Baba stated that he might visit either place with seven selected men. But when a large number of the men expressed their desire to travel along, their names were taken down. Thirty men were ready to accompany Baba, and when a vote was taken for where they should journey, 20 favored Shiraz and ten Rangoon. But when asked again whether to remain in Meherabad or leave, the men voted overwhelmingly to stay.
Baba concluded, "Let us at least wait for ten days and see how matters progress under the new management."
The following day, Baba ate one meal while seated by the dhuni. He gave some of the food as prasad to Chanji. Baba asked Chanji for his notes of his recent discourses and explanations, which Baba read, corrected, and returned to Chanji nine days later. Chanji asked permission to type the notes, and Baba allowed it.