. . . and the happy–giddy reeling continued. Outside the room. on the veranda, I dared drink the water furnished us so thoughtfully. Cool and refreshing after the gallons of soft drinks and "treated water” I had already consumed on the trip. I then had to he alone and broke away from the group and walked in the garden. I wanted to shout with joy and dance, but felt it would be a bit too much and would distract those inside just receiving darshan. Walking the lovely grounds, I would occasionally see another Baba-lover who had to be alone. Some were crying softly, some were sitting with their eyes closed, and all were young people, all visibly moved by the importance of what Baba had granted us by permitting this darshan.

The meeting with the women in the evening:

This was the second night for me to meet the women, but for the second group . . . this was their first! The women opened the meeting by singing. They sang the names of the Avatars: "Baba Bhagavad" . . . all the names of Baba in his past incarnations. ZOROASTER, RAM, KRISHNA, BUDDHA, CHRIST, ALLAH (MOHAMMED), BABA! The next song was a verse given by Baba. . . 'Sat chit anand, Paramanand, Meher Baba, Vidn­yanand!" It is meant to be sung continually in a procession and in the final covering of Baba's body, it was sung continually. Charmian then read to the group, ending with . . . "Oh, Baba, you are our beloved captain and our haven."

Mani played several renditions of Begin the Beguine. . .all much loved by Baba. Leslie Hutchinson’s' recording was heard: it was the rendition played as Baba was placed in his tomb—His wish.

Mani told us that the singing voice of Jim Reeves touched Baba's heart. His favorite of Reeves' songs was There Is A Heartache Following Me! He would have it played at lunchtime just before he would go over to the mandali 's side. When the mandali heard it, they would say: "Baba is coming!" In reference to Jim Reeves, Baba said: "There will come among my lovers one day, someone with the voice of Jim Reeves who will sing Francis’ ghazals.”

A lot of shuffling went on with microphones and tape recorders. Electricity problems are common in India and this night was no exception. Mani went for her glasses, calling them "halflings."

Mehera stepped to the microphone; she repeated "Jai Baba" several times. The microphone was still troublesome. Again "Jai Baba" was repeated by Mehera. Then she began to speak. She told us that Swanee was one of Baba's favorite songs. When she first knew Baba he loved singing. . .he was not on silence, then. One time he asked Mehera to sing Swanee to him. She did, although not before explaining to Baba that she didn't have a very good voice. Slowly she sang: . . . "How I love you." Baba liked it very much and told her that she must teach him to sing it. She didn't know how. He said: "Write down the words and I will read them." She did and Baba learned the tune. He sang it the very next day in a deep and beautiful voice. She was only sixteen when this happened. She had taught him his first English song!

Mani told a story of a mynah bird they had. It would say Baba's name so beauti­fully; and he would stand and listen. Mehera taught the bird to say "Baba, Baba darling" and the bird said it in a voice almost identical to hers. Then everyone taught the bird to say "Baba darling" and the bird would say it in everyone's voice. One day, unfortunately, the bird caught a chill. They all focused on the bird as if it were a human being, nursing it. Baba would hold it, everyone took care of it and yet it died . . . saying "BABA " in a creaking voice. Baba said they could have no idea how fortunate that bird was. Mani said that we have no idea how fortunate any animal was, to be petted by Baba.

Mani told us that Baba was the loneliest being anywhere. There was none other, none but HIM. All this creation was His imagining. . .Baba said: "I am the only one that can always only be the ONE!"

Once Ivy Duce asked Eruch whether Baba slept. Eruch answered: "Yes! Baba came down and became man. He did not play the part of man, but was man. A Sadguru becomes God and plays the part of man . . . he is the king on a