After the thirteen-day stay in Akola, from December 29, 1950 till January 11, 1951, Shri Nathji prepared to leave Akola.
Sukhdev Vats had learnt of Shri Nathji’s trip to Akola and had sent a telegram urging Shri Nathji to come to Bombay. Shortly in the wake of the telegram, Sukhdev arrived in Akola himself and prayed earnestly to Shri Nathji to come and live with him at his home at Mayfair Building, Bombay, again. Shri Nathji accepted his invitation.
Shri Nathji seldom went to places to address multitudes; his trips were dictated by the sincere desire of devotees – even if it were only one man.
He had come to Akola only for the sake of Dr. Babtiwale, and he was going to Bombay now, only for the sake of Sukhdev Vats.
Shri Ram Lal, who had placed his car at the disposal of Shri Nathji during his stay at Akola, now offered his car for the journey to Bombay.
The car was a 1947 Ford Saloon of the same type as the one Shri Nathji had in Mussoorie, the only difference being that this car was light blue in colour whereas Shri Nathji’s Ford was black.
The children, Pran Nath and Priya Nath, were fascinated by the thought of a car journey to Bombay in a Ford car similar to the one their father had purchased for them at home. Ram Lal’s offer of the car for the trip was music to their ears. And they prevailed upon Shri Nathji and Mateshwari to go to Bombay by car.
Shri Nathji, who had accepted Ram Lal’s car at Akola, now accepted it for the trip to Bombay. Shri Nathji sent Mr. and Mrs. Bhutt back to Delhi along with Shyam Lal. Veeran Devi, the elder sister of Mateshwari, remained with them.
The devotees of Akola said to Shri Ram Lal:
Ram Lalji, take our Prabhuji very, very carefully in your car!
Shri Nathji, Mateshwari, and the two sons, sat in the back seat. Shri Ram Lal sat at Shri Nathji’s feet at the back in a cramped and physically uncomfortable position, but he was lost in the bliss he derived from being at the feet of his Master. He was sitting in the very same spot where Shri Shyam Lal used to sit.
In the front seat were Smt. Veeran Devi, Shri Sukhdev Vats and the chauffeur, who was a weak old man by the name of Poddar.
During the journey, the car developed a defect, and it stopped in the middle of the road. No amount of pushing would start it. There was no mechanic available in the area, and the chauffeur knew very little about the engine.
Suddenly, Shri Ram Lal shouted:
Shri Nathji ki jai! And the car started. Thereafter, whenever it would stop, Shri Ram Lal would use the name of Shri Nathji to get it to work again.
It appears, said Shri Ram Lal, that this car is running purely on Shri Nathji’s strength!
And Shri Nathji said: There is but one name in the Universe, which is behind the working of the Universe. And if this car runs on the strength of that name, it is no cause for wonder!
Har har kadam pe uske hai ejaaze Eesvee
Raftaar uss pari ki naazo adaa ki hai
The miracles of Christ, drop along His path,
The gait of this Angel-Face is that of Glory alone.
Sukhdev had come to Akola while he had been ill from a stomach ailment. And all throughout the journey by car from Akola to Bombay there were frequent halts for his convenience. These halts were described as “parraao” by Ram Lal. Pran Nath and Priya Nath would ever afterwards amuse themselves by saying that Sukhdev was suffering from “parraaos” all along the route. Shri Nathji and Mateshwari would laugh interminably at the boys’ description. The laughter broke the monotony of a long and tedious journey.