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Nargis Kotwal was upset and countered, "I don't want to be
a servant. I want to be a Master. Make me a Master so that I can drive around
in a big car and enjoy life!"
Baba laughed, and pointed to his head, gesturing, "Your screw
is loose!"
During this period, a large stray dog wandered into the women's
compound. It had a skin disease, and its body was covered with bleeding sores.
Mehera took pity on it, and sent word to Baba. Baba told Eruch to find the dog.
The animal, however, had wandered off, and Eruch spent hours looking for it.
Cursing the women to himself, he finally traced the dog and with difficulty
brought the mangy creature to Baba. Baba told him to take the dog to the veterinarian
every day for treatment. Krishna was told to care for it. He made a paste of
sulphur, betel-nut and yogurt, which he applied to its skin. Baba saw the dog
daily, overseeing its care, and making sure Eruch took it to the doctor on time.
In two months, the reddish-brown dog was as sleek and fierce
as a tiger. Baba named her Saifu. Saifu was subsequently brought to Meherabad
with the group and given to Padri. Later, Saifu had two puppies, Sadhu and
Jogan, who were given to Eruch's sister Meheru.
Hidden in the pitiful creature, wandering lost, was a noble tiger.
Suffering had led him to God's feet and he regained his dignity.
Rano and one of the maids from Arangaon, Tara, were given
the work of cleaning the cooking pots in Lonavla. In Rishikesh, Rano had to
carry the water to the house, and in Lonavla, her manual labor continued in
washing the dishes.
When the local children on the street happened to pass by
their house, they were surprised to see a Westerner working in a menial fashion.
They would whisper to each other, "Look at that Saheb cleaning pots. Why doesn't
he hire a servant?" Rano had short hair at the time and looked like a man; hence,
the children referred to her as "Saheb." With Baba, high and low are all one
and the same; the boss one day becomes a sweeper the next.
On November 12th, Baba and some of the mandali went to Nasik
to attend the wedding of Ramjoo's son, Baggu, to Dr. Ghani's daughter. They
returned late the same night.
Sarosh came to see Baba at Lonavla on the morning of November
19th, and returned to Ahmednagar the same day.
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