THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

THE PREPARATION 25forehead against the stones: he wrapped a handkerchief about his head to hide the bruises so that hisfamily were not aware of what was happening. He no longer felt an impulse to travel, but twice eachmonth went to Sakori to visit Upasni Maharaj. He also wrote regularly to him, and the latter wrote toMeher. None of these letters has been preserved, but they are said to have been unintelligible.As Meher appeared gradually to become normal his mother pressed upon him the desirability ofadopting a profession or engaging in some business. He was then twenty-two years of age. Mehertried to do as his mother wished, and on three occasions found employment, but could remain at nowork for long. He was compelled to play the role of a spiritual eccentric.In 1916 he was given the job of manager of the Kan (Kavasji) Khatau theatrical company, and inthat capacity went to Lahore. At that time he wrote a letter to his friend Behramji, in which he said:'I am compelled to do even what I do not like, compelled to eat what I dislike, forced to put onclothes for which I have no liking.' While still holding this appointment he used to visit solitaryplaces and continued to beat his head against stone walls. After two months the company wasdisbanded.Meher returned to his home at Poona and took charge of his father's teas hop at Asurkhana, for theold man was sick and had to go to Bombay. Meher was not a successful shopkeeper, for he could notkeep his mind on the business, and was cheated. On his return from Bombay the father applied for alicence to deal in toddy, and opened a shop in the locality of Kasba Peth. Meher looked after thisshop for two hours every day, and made up his mind to open a toddy shop of his own in partnershipwith his friend Behramji, who secured a licence, so Meher and Behramji became partners. Meherworked in the shop from six in the morning until twelve o'clock at night, washing the bottles,sweeping the floor, and serving customers. The toddy is the sap of the palm tree, a cheap drink, notof strong alcoholic content. Meher, however, used to urge his customers, who were largely the poorof the city, to drink moderately, and often urged them to abstain. After a year of this Meher becamemerely a sleeping partner, and in the times of the Non-co-operation Movement the toddy shops werepicketed as well as liquor shops, and Meher prevailed upon Behramji to dissolve their partnershipand to close the shop.During this time he resumed playing games, and used to entertain his friends in the evening.He hired a small room near the shop, and hung the walls with pictures of saints and prophets,including Babajan