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difficulty we made way for Baba's car to proceed. It took a long time before the car arrived at Meher Cottage amongst cheers of "Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai." Baba got down from the car and the big iron gates of Meher Cottage were locked behind Him. Thousands who had walked with the car now gathered on the road outside the gates. They blocked all traffic. The gang of Parsee boys watched the crowd and heard them shout "Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai" which resounded up to the heavens. The gang somehow mustered courage and began to boo — "Meher Baba murdabad, Meher Baba chale jao, Meher Baba show us a miracle." While these boys shouted these slogans, their voices were drowned in the cheers of Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai. It was like a storm in a tea cup. This was unprecedented in this Avataric period.

 

I was on the front veranda of Meher Cottage, and on hearing these boys, my temper knew no bounds. I sprang up to go and blast them to dust but was held back by several volunteers. I fought with those holding me. Baba was immediately informed about this stir and He called me in. He was seated on a chair and I entered all ruffled up. Baba made me sit on the ground to His left and very simply gestured, "Sit here till I ask you to leave!" Baba exhorted all who were inside Meher Cottage to keep calm and not get excited, nor scold the boys. He said, "Be absolutely unmindful of the slogans, It is I who am shouting these slogans through the boys. It is I who do everything because there is no one besides me." He further warned: "None should express resentment towards the slogans nor should anyone disturb the boys in any way. All should peacefully and cheerfully face the situation. As I am in all, I am in them too. As I enjoy the cheers from my devotees, I also enjoy simultaneously the amusing slogans from others. Those who cheer me and those who jeer at me are both equally ignorant. The ignorance of one is a pleasure, whereas the ignorance of the other is amusing. None is at fault; none knows me as I am. They too are repeating my name when they shout the slogan of Meher Baba murdabad. It suffices when one remembers me, whether it be through devotion or derision. They are all innocent. Let them shout. I am enjoying it very much. After an hour or so of shouting, it penetrated into their heads that the shouting was unheeded, and so the gang left.

 

The crowd outside became impatient for a glimpse of Baba. Baba was requested to give them darshan. Baba came on the front veranda and waved to them. They felt blessed by His darshan though they did not get a chance to get prasad from Him. Not all could see Baba as the crowd was huge. They cheered up, shouting "Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai." I requested Baba climb onto the terrace of the cottage. Baba acceded to this request and began climbing a rickety ladder which had been preserved by the Desai family as Upasni Maharaj would invariably sit on the second rung of that ladder whenever he visited their home in Navsari. When the huge crowd saw Baba standing on the terrace and blessing them, they repeatedly cheered Him. The cheers died down as Baba came down and sat on His chair. There were further additions to the crowd. Thousands came from the town and nearby villages and thronged at the gates. At 6:30, Baba was again requested to give darshan from the terrace. Baba willingly came and again the huge crowd feasted their eyes on the Avatar of the Age.

 

At 7 p.m., as per schedule, Baba was to be taken to our Baba Centre in Navsari. The crowds would not budge from the gates and going to the Center seemed impossible. Many Baba lovers were waiting at the Center craning their necks to see Baba arrive. Baba asked one of the volunteers to inform them that He would not visit the Center and that all Baba lovers should come to Meher Cottage. Soon, all collected around Baba. Baba had ordered the Desai family to keep all doors of the cottage closed so that people could not come in for darshan. But, touched by the love of the people waiting outside the gates, Baba agreed to give

 

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