Happy New Life:
On Sunday, January 1, 1950, Baba wished all his companions a “Happy New Life!” Everyone was given a piece of Christmas cake, and at two o’clock that afternoon they left Moradabad, walking in procession. The cavalcade now consisted of a caravan, two tongas and one bullock cart. Pendu drove the caravan, Donkin and Baidul the tongas, and Sadashiv the bullock cart. Baba and the companions trudged along, all the luggage piled into the caravan, tongas and cart. After covering four miles, the caravan halted in a garden for the night. While they were resting, Maya scorned them and the improvement in their lot, because of the bhiksha. Maya’s wrath came in the form of rain – heavy showers came thundering upon them.
The companions were lying in the open garden in the pitch dark. As the rain shower began, they hurriedly rolled up their bedding, and shouldering it ran in search of a place of shelter. There was no shelter.
They stowed their bedding rolls underneath the tongas and bullock cart in an effort to keep them dry, and themselves sat in the most miserable discomfort in the pouring rain. Their bedding got soaked in spite of their efforts. On the first day of the New Life of helplessness, “Indra’s rain” rendered them totally helpless. Baba was inside a small tent, but it had holes in it and leaked, so he also got drenched.
It was a sleepless, miserable night. They left the garden at eight o’clock on the morning of January 2. After walking five miles, Baba sent Eruch out to beg. He brought loaves of bread, a piece of which Baba distributed to each one. (LM, p2860)
Baba quenches his thirst:
On the way to Najibabad, Baba requested a glass of water. The women had neglected to fill Baba’s flask that day, for he had not asked for water before this incident. Baba sent Eruch to a man drawing water from a well not far off. Eruch brought the water, and after touching Eruch’s feet, Baba drank it and sent Eruch back with instructions to touch the feet of the man who had given it. In truth, Baba had stated he was thirsty only because of that man. He had to give him something inwardly, which he did through Eruch. No one can understand this work because it happens behind the veil. Only the Giver, the possessor of the treasure of Infinite Knowledge and Power, knows his work. (LM, p2863)