Also during the first night in Toka, in the midst of all the commotion, Ramjoo's wife Khatija suddenly became seriously ill. Her pulse was feeble and her body cold. Baba was called, and on his touching her, she soon felt better.
From the next day, the women mandali, consisting of Mehera, Naja, Big Khorshed, Small Khorshed, Soonamasi, Daulatmai, Gulmai, Dolly, Walu, and Pilamai, were given the duty of preparing 1,000 chapatis a day for the ashram residents. The mandali helped to clean the wheat, and Waman Subnis, who was strong and muscular, would knead the dough and also milk the cows. Chhagan's wife Shanta prepared chapatis with the women mandali, and at night Chhagan was on duty near Baba as his watchman. Kaikhushru Masa, his wife Soonamasi, and Pilamai slept in a small tatta hut adjacent to the kitchen, and Kaikhushru continued his watch duties by the women's side.
On 5 June Baba spent the whole day with the mandali selecting the locations for putting up the various other buildings, such as a storeroom, dispensary, hospital and a private room for K. J. Dastur. Baba talked with Baily about his writing work and sent him to Poona that day.1 That night Baba went for a walk in the moonlight with Chanji, Chhota Baba, Raosaheb, and Jalbhai after the others had gone to bed.
Two days later, Baily returned to Toka at noon with Baba's father. After staying for only two hours and discussing matters with Baba, Bobo left with Mani who cried much when leaving.
Rustom, Padri, Pendu, and Pesu arrived early the same morning with the remaining luggage. No one was left at Meherabad. Pesu was assigned the duty of going to Ahmednagar for marketing once a week. Baba warned him to be careful when he crossed the Pravara River, for it was monsoon season and at times the river was flooded, which made crossing it treacherous.
On 8 June, the boys were taken to the riverside for baths and a haircut from 9:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Baba personally supervised. Meherjee left for Navsari for a brief visit, and returned ten days later.
Rustom went for a swim across the Pravara River on the 8th, but in midstream he became exhausted and began choking. Within moments, Baba, followed by some of the mandali, walked rapidly from the ashram to the river. Baba pointed to Rustom, who was about to go under the water.
Footnotes
- 1.Baily was writing an account in Gujarati of his contact with Baba.