Pesu again tried to explain what Rustom had done, but before he could continue, Baba asked the same question. This exchange was repeated two or three more times until at last Pesu walked away. Afterward Baba burst out laughing with a big silent smile, and all the rest thoroughly enjoyed the joke.
Pleader was new to the mandali, having recently joined, and he expressed his willingness to serve Baba in any way. As mentioned, there were no sweepers in the ashram, and this was a problem as there were no flush toilets or septic tanks — only tin boxes under each toilet, which had to be emptied and disinfected daily. Masaji was given the duty of cleaning the women's toilets, and the men would relieve themselves in the fields. But the boys' toilets required cleaning and this was done by different men mandali.
One day Baba informed Pleader, "You should either work as a sweeper or fast for seven months on water. Which do you prefer?"
Pleader (who was from a wealthy family) chose to fast, but Baba suggested otherwise: "We Masters also work as sweepers cleaning toilets [meaning sanskaras] and we do that internally. You should attend to the external latrines and I will see to the internal. Don't think of anything else except this duty."
Pleader hesitated, but Baba assured him, "Don't let it bother you. I will give you another duty after some time."
Gustadji's brother Sohrab suggested to Baba that for exercise the men should swim four to five miles in the river every day.
Baba exclaimed, "Swim in me; I am the Ocean! Chanji and Buasaheb have crossed it, and you are all swimming in it. I am the Ocean of love!"
On Tuesday, 10 July 1928, the third anniversary of the Master's silence was celebrated. Minoo Pohowala and Ghani came. At two in the afternoon, Baba's feet were washed and the mandali and boys gave him a bath. The daily singing of the Gujarati arti composed by Baba, Bujaave Naar , began from that day. As prasad, Baba distributed sweets and tea to all.
Although Baba was in seclusion, he would come to the ashram every day for inspection and also go for a walk to the riverside. In the moonlight he would often go for a ride along the river in a rowboat with the boys and mandali. Most of his time was spent with the boys.