stars, you would observe them correctly. It must have been built in medieval times, or the Mogul time. Now Khorshed, one of the girls, always used to carry Baba's case. I don't know what was in it but she always carried this little case (it was like the ones directors carry to office meetings). But in that observatory nothing was allowed to be carried inside. So Baba — you know how quick he is in his movements — just snatched that case from Khorshed and put it in my hand, and I walked through the whole observatory and nobody ever saw it. But why? Why didn't Baba make it invisible in Khorshed's hand, why did he have to snatch it from her and give it to me? Was it because I was rather big and obvious and Western? (I was bigger than I am now). I was so taken aback I just took hold of it and marched around as if I had nothing in my hand. Baba doesn't like to make things that unusual but to me it seemed very unusual.

Another very nice thing about our visit to Jaipur; four of us were keeping silence for one year — Nadine Tolstoy, Carmen Masi*, Mansari and myself. There was a girl who worked in the household and she felt sorry for me; she said, "O poor young girl, she has lost her voice". She brought me some herb tea, even though no one was allowed to bring anything from outside. (In India they are very good with herbs and Ayurvedic medicines, etc.). She was so disappointed that my voice did not come back while we were there. I couldn't explain the situation to her; I could have told her by signs, but we were not to talk about it.

It was during the time I kept silence that my father died. At first I didn't know about it, they told me later, and long cables came from my fiancé. He wrote that my mother wanted me to come back. Baba said, "What's this man want from you?" I said, "Baba, he is my fiancé, he wants me to come back. Because of the occasion, now he can say that my mother needs my help, although other members of our family are there and there is no need." Then Baba said, "I don't want you to go back and I don't want you to marry that man."

If anyone in a family joins Baba, that means Baba takes care of the whole family; they are not our concern anymore. I did not have to feel I should have gone to help my mother because that was not my concern. My concern was to stay with Baba and do what he wished, to try to obey him if possible, but not to worry about my family at all, because Baba would take care of them, even if they might not be Baba-lovers. My parents were Baba lovers, but not my sisters and brother. Our first concern should be Baba. So of course I said, "I'm not going home — I'm staying with Baba."

Baba also said, "You'll never get rich, but you'll always have everything." And it's a fact that somehow or other, whatever I need comes to me — even a car! Not that I asked for anything, but, for example, a relative said, "I've made a will for you, but what's the good of it when you're old; you need the money now, you need a car because you live far from your work." So a car was given to me even though I didn't ask for it. Actually once in India, I said to Baba, "Oh Baba, I'd like to drive a car," and Baba said, "You will." And I said "No" — I thought Baba was just humoring me. Because you don't ask a Master for material things; a Master is there to help us spiritually and not with a car. But nothing is too small and nothing is too great for Baba. For example, when someone was ill, he would give a note, written either by Kitty or Vishnu, describing the exact diet for that person, and it was signed by him. I remember I had to have one egg a day or dahl or so. I have seen some diets with Baba's own signature on them. It's so amazing that one who has to take care of the whole universe takes the time to protect those who come to him. He looks out for not only the world of spiritual things but for everything — the smallest detail.

For example, we might have to fast, and when we were on tour the food might get spoiled, we might have only spring onions and dry bread for supper or tea without milk; but whatever it was, Baba would watch over the smallest detail and his wishes had to be obeyed. Also when Hedi was with us she had to have a special diet. Baba paid attention to this smallest daily item. I think that shows the greatness of Baba, to which we

*Kharmenmasi is the correct spelling. Told by her grandson Meherwan Merchant to webmaster July, 2010