As in Meherabad, the residents in Toka were divided into three sections under the management of Buasaheb, Raosaheb, and Rustom. Buasaheb was in charge of the boys of Meher Ashram, Raosaheb of the Prem Ashram boys, and Rustom of the mandali. At meals, the mandali were given stale chapatis to eat and had no proper arrangement for cooking. But under Buasaheb, the children did not suffer in this way; the food cooked for them was excellent and they were given milk each day. The mandali had to remain content with their bland diet, and hence Pendu named the mandali's section the "Harijan Department."
Baba entered seclusion inside the Table Cabin on Friday, 22 June 1928. He remained in the small cabin fasting on one meal a day, which Gulmai would bring from the women's quarters. This sudden seclusion, without any prior intimation, caused the women mandali to wonder whether Baba was upset with them. (Gulmai even informed them that Baba had said he would remain in seclusion for several years!) All except Freiny decided to keep silence while Baba was in seclusion. Gulmai conveyed this to Baba and he sent them this message:
"I am not displeased or offended with you in any way. I have to remain alone for my spiritual work. So start speaking and stop worrying."
The women obeyed accordingly.
Baba would call for his meal at any time during the day, which required Naja to keep his food always ready, and because of this she would serve leftovers to the women mandali. They eventually complained to Naja to give them Baba's food at night if he had not requested it. So finding that Baba had not called for his food all day, Naja served it to the women that night at nine o'clock. However, at midnight, Baba suddenly called for his food, but there was nothing left to give him. Baba sent this message:
"All who kept me hungry by eating my food will get a stomachache."
This incident made things much easier for Naja as now all the other women understood that food should always be kept for Baba, even at night.
The next day Gadekar left for Poona to continue his studies.1 Baba stayed in seclusion throughout the day.
On 24 June Baba rose at six o'clock and found that there was no one nearby to attend to him. Also finding no water kept nearby to wash his face, he became very angry.
Footnotes
- 1.Gadekar was pursuing a degree in education to obtain a teaching certificate.