On 16 June, a discussion arose about a group of enthusiasts in Warsaw, Poland, who had written that they were forming an association to promote the cause of spirituality as outlined in Dastur's recently published booklet about Baba. Baba remarked that it was a "good sign."1
A local village madcap came to see Baba in the afternoon when Baba was deeply absorbed in his daily routine of activities. He asked Baba's permission to perform on his shehnai , and to please him Baba permitted it.2
At the same time, Baba conveyed to the mandali by gestures, "What is wrong if one more headache is added to my 1,700 worries! He is in trouble and so am I."
The "musician," not knowing what Baba was saying, went on playing the shehnai loudly. Baba pretended to enjoy the music. The man concluded his performance, exclaiming, "Baba, only you appreciate my art! I'll come often to make you happy." Smiling, Baba agreed and the mad musician left.
Baba then remarked, "See how I always keep others pleased despite my being upset and preoccupied."
That night Nusserwan Satha came from Ahmednagar to see Baba after a month's absence. He spent the night and left the following morning.
Since Baba had stopped wearing his sadra for the previous four days, he moved about dressed only in baggy boxers. But on Sunday, 17 June 1928, the women dressed him in an attractive gray kafni. Even though Baba admired it, after a short time, he took it off and presented it to Chhota Baba, and once again he donned his usual white sadra.
Each of the women staying with Baba wanted to comb his beautiful long hair. To resolve the problem of who would be given this privilege, Baba proposed to hold a lottery every day. This lottery continued for some days, but Baba eventually gave this special duty to his dearest Mehera.
The Master allotted separate rooms to Chhota Baba, Gustadji, and Gulmai near his seat on 18 June, and a new timetable was drawn up for the Prem Ashram boys. In the afternoon Baba pulled the heavy roller with the help of Baily and Jalbhai, preparing the ground for the construction of the mandali's new Makan.
During this period, Baba did not approve of the mandali members being too friendly with one another. He wished for a real bond of friendship between them.
Footnotes
- 1.A few weeks later one of the Warsaw group wrote asking permission to come to Toka, but they never came.
- 2.A shehnai is a double-reeded musical instrument resembling an oboe.