GRANTED

 
A seven-year-old boy named Jayanti regularly attended the Ahmednagar Center meetings but had not yet met Baba in person. After he had pestered Adi and others to take him to Baba, one morning, with Baba's consent, he was brought to Meherazad by Waman Padole. Before being taken to Baba, Eruch asked the boy, "Why do you want to see Meher Baba?"

"So that real faith may be born in me," Jayanti replied.

"What do you hope to gain after having faith?"

"I will find God," the boy answered.

"And when you have found God, what will you do?"

"I will love him and serve him!" Jayanti answered.

The boy was taken inside Mandali Hall and he reverently placed a packet of sweets at Baba's feet. He did not have to remove his shoes before entering the hall, because he had already removed them before starting from Ahmednagar. Baba embraced and caressed him, remarking, "You are very fortunate!"

Jayanti nodded emphatically in agreement. When asked who it was that was seated before him, he answered simply, "God."

Eruch said, "Well, now that you have seen him, ask of him what you will. What do you want from him?"

The boy gazed at Baba and said, "Love."

Baba was delighted at this reply and smilingly gestured, "Granted."