At the time, Rusi’s two daughters, Goher and Katie, were fifteen and eleven respectively. Despite their young age, they had great love for Baba. When Baba arrived at their house, Katie’s brother coaxed her to see Baba. She was feeling shy and quietly sat in a corner of Baba’s room. Pointing to her, Baba asked, “Who is this little flower sitting in my room?” Her mother Khorshed said it was Katie. Baba beckoned her to stand before him; she was embarrassed, but her reserve left in a short time and she was soon innocently chatting with Baba.
One day, Khorshed gave Katie some plums to give to Baba. When she took the basket of fruit to his room, Baba picked one up and held it out to her. Katie thought the fruit was only meant for the Master and said, “No thank you, Baba. This is for you.” Baba angrily gestured to Chanji, “She refused what I gave her! Doesn’t she know the importance of my gift? Doesn’t she know that when I give something, you don’t say no?”
Katie started crying, and Baba signaled to Chanji, “Explain to her that when I give something one must never say no, even if one doesn’t like it.” Baba later lovingly embraced Katie, indicating, “Now will you remember to accept whatever I give you?”
“Yes, Baba,” said Katie. Baba picked up a nice big plum and brought it to her mouth. Katie opened her mouth wide, but Baba popped the fruit into his and ate it. Katie burst out laughing at Baba’s trick and her fright vanished.
Once when Katie was working on her homework, Baba entered her room and asked what she was doing. She explained that she had to write an essay and Baba dictated an entire article to her. He then asked her how it read. Katie replied, “Wonderful, Baba; but it is too good. The teacher will say it is not mine.”
Baba gestured, “What will you say?”
“I will tell her I wrote it myself,” Katie brashly replied.
Baba caught her by the ear and gestured, “Never tell a lie! Say it was written after talking with someone.”
On another occasion during this visit, Baba showed his displeasure with Katie by pretending to leave. After going down the stairs, he looked at her and pointed his little finger at her – the gesture among Indian children of becoming enemies with someone. This also indicated that henceforth they were not on speaking terms. Saddened, Katie urged him to come back. Baba returned, motioning, “All right, let’s be friends.” They shook hands and Baba added, “Always carry out my wishes, whether you like them or not!”
Goher also received much of Baba’s attention. Quetta was intensely cold and Goher was sleeping in bed, wrapped up with blankets. One night, Baba entered her room at 4 A.M. and slowly pulled on the blankets. Feeling the cold, Goher was roused from her sleep and was surprised to find Baba standing before her. Baba indicated to her, “You feel cold now, but I have come on earth to give the warmth of God’s love. Once you completely possess that love, you will never feel cold!”
One evening, Baba took Rusi’s whole family to the movies, but they returned after seeing only half the film. Goher wondered why Baba had walked out, as the film was good. She thought how nice it would have been to have seen the rest.
When they reached home, Baba remarked, “The whole world is after the show of Maya, and the world itself is nothing but a movie! If anyone becomes blind to this film, he acquires the sight to witness the show going on in his innermost self. This inner drama is quite extraordinary, before which the play of the world is like one’s own excrement!”
To relax, Baba would play carroms with Katie, Goher and Ali. He would make Ali lose the game by cheating. Once, Katie caught Baba flicking a piece into a corner pocket. She cried out, “Baba, you’re cheating!” This made Baba smile, since the shy girl had now become quite bold.
During his visit, Baba stressed to Rusi that his family should leave Quetta permanently. Surprised at Baba’s serious tone, Rusi asked, “If we leave Quetta, where are we to go? My business here is thriving.”
Baba advised, “Sell your business, your house and all your possessions, and move immediately. I’m warning you; it is no good for you to stay here any longer. The time has come.”
Rusi did not follow the Master’s advice, and a year later he suffered a tremendous financial loss as a result. The lesson to be learned was: “Always listen to the Master.” Rusi was meant to repent for his foolishness. A year passed. In 1932, earthquake tremors rocked Quetta, opening Rusi’s eyes to Baba’s hints; yet when he tried to sell his successful restaurant and bakery, no one was willing to purchase it for what it was once worth. Because of the recent tremors, he had to let it go at a very low price. After selling all his property, Rusi’s family moved to Ahmednagar where his wife’s sister Gulmai lived.
Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 4, pp. 1365 – 1368.