our bus sped along the dusty road. We got a glimpse of the big lake—the water supply of Ahmednagar town—near Meherazad and knew that within a few minutes we would be on the private road to Meherazad. Each one of us was craning her neck to have the first glimpse of Baba's bungalow hidden away amongst a cloister of trees. We spotted the other bus waiting at the gate as Baba had ordered that all should come in together!

Dr. Goher instructed us that Baba and Mehera were seated on the verandah of His bungalow and that we should meet Baba first and then Mehera. We queued up like good children and walked into the "Garden of Allah" from the gate. Mani, who was in charge of the "mike," began making announcements — "Baba wants you all to forget your worries and meet Him in any way you like for not more than two minutes. He wants you all to be absolutely happy today." We could hardly hear Mani as we were too engrossed in looking at Baba. He was seated on a raised chair in His usual pink coat but our faces fell when we saw that His coat hung loosely over His body. His abdomen was no longer prominent and His cheek bones stood out. He looked knocked out with the strain of His universal burden. Mehera was seated on a chair to His right, dressed in a green Kashmiri silk sari with a red border and splashed all over with small flowers, and an orange blouse. She wore a thick golden bangle in between red bangles. For the first time I saw red bangles on her delicate wrists. She was looking beautiful and happy. Baba embraced each one and then peculiarly holding each one's skirt or sari or hand passed her on to Mehera. One had to bend low in order to embrace Mehera because of her low seat.

I was at the back of the long queue and a glance at those in front of me made me feel a bit embarrassed as each one was carrying a gift for Mehera. On second thought I remembered that Baba had asked us not to bring any presents for Mehera. I consoled myself with Baba's words ringing in my ears that obedience is greater than love. Although our weaknesses are great, Baba's love is greater. My turn to embrace Baba was soon drawing near. My heart thumped and everything seemed to have vanished for me but Baba. I was in front of Him — His loving smile and His outstretched arms are the last things I remember. When I got back my thinking power, I found He was hugging and kissing me. A big kiss implanted on one cheek and then on the other, another on my shoulder and so on. The two minutes allotted to each of us seemed to have finished in a few seconds. I straightened up and He, holding my hand, passed it to Mehera — the Beloved of the Beloved. I embraced Mehera but in a very clumsy manner because of her