"By doing that I will lose my freedom and have to face many hardships like my father," Ali complained.

"What you think to be freedom is not freedom; it is bondage," Baba stated. "By following my advice, you will become truly independent." Ali agreed, and Baba told him to have a holiday for six months at Meherabad. Afterwards Baba had him employed in the Sarosh Motor Works, in Nasik. His brothers Dadu, Ali and Baggu always went to Baba, and occasionally Baba would keep them waiting when they had plans to go to a movie. This had led Ali to believe that by following Baba, one would be sacrificing one's "independence."

ON SUNDAY, March 14th, Baba traveled to Bombay with a few of the men and women mandali. The women stayed at Nariman's apartment, 69-C Ashiana, with Arnavaz. Baba, along with brother Jal, Adi Sr. and Baidul, stayed at Meherjee's. Nariman likewise had to stay with the men mandali because the women were at his home.

From March 15th, Baba began his mast work in Bombay. He contacted eleven masts, all of whom were being contacted for the first time. On that day, Baba contacted Haji Nur Ahmad, an elderly Pathan mast. Many years ago, this man had been a school teacher in Kurla, a suburb of Bombay, and had also taught his students about the Koran. One day he was overcome by an experience of God and left the school in a dazed state, wandering about naked for twelve years, and finally settled in Bhendi Bazaar. After some years, and a pilgrimage to Mecca, Haji had become salik-like.

Baba also contacted a subtle conscious mast called Shah Saheb. He had a passion for chewing paan, and even though his appearance was very dirty, his eyes were so bright and clear that they revealed his tremendous inner joy.

Dhuniwala Baba was a subtle conscious mast whose abode was on a street beside his collected rubbish. He was usually seated before the flames of his fire (dhuni), naked in all weather except for a loincloth.

On March 17th, Baba contacted Ahmad Mastan, who was naked except for a sack around his waist. His abode was one of the most offensive places imaginable, a public urinal along a street.

Also that day, Baba communed with Saiyid Nur Ali Shah, an old mast whose fingers were covered with an array of rings. This mast wandered the streets of Bombay, talking to himself or uttering exclamations to God.