a patient He is hopeless. He said to us the other day something extra-ordinary, amazing and surprising will happen before March 3rd. He thought Hitler's latest speech childish, like a schoolboy's, bragging when he's afraid.

Because I have put on a bit of a stomach since I came here, Baba has ordered me to do 14 bends and stretches every morning to lessen my paunch.

29/2/40    This morning Nilu and I went over to Baba at 7 a.m. He had a painful shoulder and back, and a pimple on His nose, and He asked us the reason for it all, teasing us, calling us hopeless. Today He has been on water only. At 10 a.m. Nilu and I put hot packs on Baba's back to relieve the pain; this evening this was O.K. Last evening, Baba did a good mimic of Nilu loitering into Baba's hut to get His board. Baba in spite of His fast still has energy enough to tease us all. This morning He said He has held up everything till March 10th so the astounding happening is postponed. Tomorrow, He goes on milk, orange, and lettuce once a day each respectively, till March 10th. Three of the boys go off to Mandla to build a hut there, slightly sunk floor style, like the place on the hill at Meherabad. This is to be completed in 2 months, when they return to Meherabad; thereafter they go off to Bangalore to supervise the building there, in turns, while Baba stays at Meherabad.

Dr. Ghani got back on Sunday evening, and has had returned to him three out of five houses which a creditor had taken from him some twelve years ago by a trick, to whom he owed 16,000 rupees, in respect of which he got a lien on the whole of Dr. Ghani’s property, worth Rs. 60,000. 0n the evening of the very day that this land was taken from him, the money lender and his wife were murdered in their house. Naturally, suspicion fell on Dr. Ghani, but nothing could be proved as he was with Baba at the time. In fact due to this debt business, Dr. Ghani then went out to a lake to commit suicide and cursed all the saints, including Baba. Next day Baba came to Ghani, and told him "I heard you calling Me last night" and since then Ghani has lived permanently with Baba. When he went home to Poona last week, for ten days, the son of the money lender gave back to Dr. Ghani 3/5th of his property, as he felt his father had been unjust; and perhaps the son is a bit superstitious, and afraid of getting killed too. There was a bit of a dust up because before Ghani left, Baba made him sign a document witnessed by Jal Kerawalla and Adi that Baba would wring his neck if he did not get back by March 1st, and he was back three days late.

6/3/40    This evening we all went to Baba's room in the Mast Ashram at the "Links," to settle how the collection of money in celebration of Dr. Ghani's new found wealth should be spent. After a good deal of teasing and good natured back-chat between us all and Baba, ice cream for the ladies and Pilau, and pastries and ices for us men were served.

Baba also made Dr. Ghani make a speech about Jal Kerawalla, as it was he who had resented Jal's magisterial attitude most and remarked upon it. Ghani acquitted himself quite well. Baba very pleased with the photo enlargement of Himself, when fasting, taken by Padri.

9/3/40    Two days ago there was a Centre Committee meeting: Baba after the meeting ordered me to take out two of Nairoji's teeth, then said leave it to the next meeting, and then I suggested better do it that night, so he could work better next day, as he had had toothache and the lower tooth had abscess, and injection was faulty