Rustom escorted them to the Poona Registrar's office, where Mehera signed the required legal documents. Baba and all returned to Meherabad the same night after a few flat tires on the way.
During this period, the mandali had been instructed to meditate for one hour every morning.
However, at 2:00 P.M. on 14 January, Baba addressed them, "It is not good to remain idle at Meherabad without work. A person must be occupied in one way or another."
Baba invited suggestions about the type of work they should do in their spare time, but no recommendations were forthcoming. Baba asked if all would accept his suggestion, and they agreed. Baba then ordered them to meditate for three hours each morning. Hearing this, Pendu blurted out, "Baba, even to meditate for one hour is very difficult for me. How will I be able to do it for three hours?" This reply annoyed Baba and Pendu was ordered to leave Meherabad, but after further discussion, the order was rescinded.
Dhake moved back to Meherabad on the 15th and began staying with the mandali. Although he still harbored doubts about Meher Baba's divine stature, three events were to make a deep impression on him. One day Baba found a chatti , an earthen pot for drinking water, uncovered.
He made all stand in a line and angrily asked them, "Why did you break my order? Who will be responsible when worms are found in the water? What will happen if one of the children dies from drinking our water?"
As a punishment, Baba began striking each of the mandali with a stick. Dhake was also standing in line and was afraid that "the excitable Irani nature in Baba" would forget his promise not to beat him, which Baba had made in 1925 when he accepted Dhake as a teacher. Baba moved down the line giving a stroke to each of the mandali in turn, but when he faced Dhake, he just smiled — and Baba's smile embraced him. The next moment, Baba continued down the line and was as stern as ever. Dhake thought to himself, "Baba is after all Baba — a Master. No one else could display such a blissful smile in the middle of a tirade."