JOURNEY AT SEA

 
I was in charge of many details throughout the journey — food, recreation and such — the most important being the seclusion of the women mandali. At the same time, I was to see that they could enjoy all the relaxation of a journey at sea which, at all costs, had to be just the opposite of what they had experienced on the outward journey from India to Europe!

Aboard I had a chance encounter with Chanji. We had a long, personal pow-wow and he remarked that he knew that I would return to be with Baba for good (actually it was for fifteen years in India) and that however difficult things might become, I must stand it.

Needless to say, Baba — who saw and knew all, whether present or absent — discovered us talking, lectured us both and said that this was the last time. For me, there would be no more talking to or seeing men on the Hill. This was another restriction for all of us in this new life we were about to enter on Meherabad Hill.

The journey back to India was all that one could have wished for. Mehera, Mani and Khorshed occupied a stateroom on the upper deck. Naja and I were next door; Masi and Valu in a cabin adjoining, and Norina and Rano a little farther away but on the same upper deck. All cabins had portholes and windows on the walking deck just outside....

All meals were served in the cabins. Baba ate with Mehera, Mani and Khorshed, next to Naja's and my cabin. The schedule fixed by Baba for us to follow was: out of bed at 6 a.m., breakfast at 7:30, lunch at 11:30, tea at 3 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and bed at 9 p.m.

Baba spent most of each day with us unless He was with Mohammed or the men mandali. In the early morning, when no passengers were about, we went for walks around the deck. Tea was a welcome meal with delicious cakes. Evenings were spent mostly in our cabins.