Savak Kotwal had quit his job in Bombay and was preparing to go off to the Himalayas. His wife, Nargis, wrote to Meher Baba in Bangalore. In February, Baba called Savak to him. When he arrived, Baba informed him, “If you find a better Guru than me in the Himalayas, you may go; otherwise, come and stay with me.”
Savak was only waiting to hear these very words. He had wanted to stay with Baba for a long time, and his threat of going off to the mountains was only to force Baba to allow him to come. He returned to Bombay and on March 16th (1940), with his wife Nargis, aunt Banubai Lakdawala, two daughters, Najoo and Hilla, and son, Adi, came to Bangalore to permanently join Baba’s ashram.
Before coming to Baba, the Kotwals sold all their possessions. Nargis was from a very wealthy family, and all her relatives were shocked when they discovered what she was doing. When the Kotwals arrived in Bangalore, Savak handed Baba an envelope containing the family’s entire finances. He also gave Baba a box containing all of Nargis’ jewelry. Baba was pleased and remarked to Savak, “From today until the very end, I shall see to every one of your family’s littlest needs, and to you I shall give the Ocean!”
Soonafter, Nargis Kotwal fell ill, and Nadine Tolstoy was assigned the duty of nursing her. When she recovered, Baba asked her, “What do you think now? Savak has left his job; he is unemployed. You have sold all your property and now have no money. Aren’t you worried?”
“I belong to you, Baba,” she said. “Be gracious enough to accept myself and my children in your service.”
Baba smiled, spelling out, “From today your responsibility is mine. I will look after you all till the end!”
Some days later, Baba sent the Kotwal family to Panchgani. When Baba returned to Meherabad, they joined him there. Hilla and Najoo would sometimes be called upon to sing for Baba, and the little boy Adi often made Baba laugh with his jokes and funny songs.
Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 7, p. 2537