anything available, he would tell us to continue with whatever we doing, and that nothing would disturb him. However, during seclusion there had to be absolute quiet. Kaka, one of Baba's earliest and dearest disciples, was appointed at this time to wait on Baba when required by the ringing of a call bell. He had to climb the Neem tree above Baba's cabin to pluck off all its fruit (Nimbori) which kept falling on the roof of the cabin. We women in the adjoining compound, working in the kitchen, garden, or elsewhere, were kept "on the alert" throughout this period. Yet, on more than one occasion word came to us from Baba that there was too much noise! Think how we felt! We started tiptoeing!!

All Baba's disciples of Ahmednagar and a few from other parts were called to Pimpalgaon at 7:00 a.m., August 1st. The women were separated by a curtain from the men mandali but we were able to hear all that was said on the men's side. Certain orders had been given by Baba beforehand. They were an index of one of the most strict orders to be given to all very shortly — that no one after October 16th was to pay any homage or reverence to Baba. If such an occasion did happen, then Baba would have to bow down to them. Yet we often found Baba, during this period, holding the palms of his hands together, the common salutation of the Hindu; but this was as if in prayer — the recognition of God within our fellow man.

Mehera and Mani were to see Baba first at 6:30 in the morning. At 7:00 a.m., Baba would be with the men mandali and the women were to listen to the reading of Baba's message, to be read aloud by different members of the mandali in different languages. At the end of the last Urdu translation, all were to simultaneously say "Amen" or "Amin," according to the language each one spoke. Baba would then give the mandali prasad with his own hands. Apart from saying "Amen" we, the women, were not to break silence till Baba came over to our side and gave the sign to speak. Baba then had rava and tea with us. (Rava is a sweet dish usually prepared for special occasions.)

We were then all dismissed and Norina and Elizabeth were called by Baba for a private interview and given final instructions for his work regarding his forthcoming visit to the United States and his Center at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After a final embrace from Baba, they left by car for Bombay to board the plane for New York. They left with the promise that Baba would come to the West very soon.