Mr. Karai’s envy for the Chabowskis began to grow. Pran Nath found himself torn between two feelings–a regard for Mr. Karai as an old devotee of Shri Nathji, and an affection for the Chabowskis.
Shri Nathji said to Karai one day:
“Karai, you are an old devotee of mine. A devotee is like a son. You can hide your feelings from others, but not from yourself. A snake in the darkness goes un-noticed but, when the lights are on, it becomes the cause of fear.
“For as long as man exists in the darkness of worldly greed, ambition and pride, he cannot realise his own faults. It is only in the light of realisation that his faults appear before him and bring him to repentance.
“The man who betrayed Christ for a few pieces of silver did not see the evil of his own act in the darkness of ignorance. But when the light of realisation came to him, he destroyed himself.
“O Man! It matters not if thou art good and the world calls thee bad. But it is not right that thou be bad, and the world call thee good! A man who learns introspection does not err frequently. And if he errs, he accepts his mistake at once.
Although Pran Nath opposed Karai on various occasions, he sided with him just as frequently. He is not bad at heart, Pran Nath would say of Karai.
Mr. Karai would ever be willing to serve his Master, day or night. He was the first and only man in the world who had the privilege of sleeping in the same room as Shri Nathji. He would say to Shri Nathji:
Never ask me, or consult me–simply order me!
Karai would cook for Shri Nathji before going to office and after he returned in the evening. The meals would consist mostly of semolina–which Karai was obliged to take as a heart patient–tea and toast, daal, potatoes and rice. Shri Nathji would occasionally prepare tea himself when Karai was not at home.
Many a times Karai would be seen walking down the street with a bundle of clothes thrown across his shoulder, on his way to the public washing machines: Chal re dhobi, chal, he would say jokingly, Move, O washerman, move!
He was intensely devoted to Shri Nathji, but sometimes his old habits would begin to creep back upon him. He would say to Shri Nathji:
For as long as you are here, I am saved from many follies. But when you have left, I shall become my old self again!
And Shri Nathji said:
A piece of wood that has been carved by the sculptor, cannot return to its original shape again!”
Shri Nathji stayed in a double-room with Karai, while Pran Nath had a small room to himself.
Mr. Karai would recall an incident at Mussoorie years ago:
I came for your darshan one year, and was able to obtain a beautifully large room in a hotel. The next time I came to Mussoorie, all I could get was a very tiny, cramped room.
“I was agitated. Why didn’t my Guruji provide me with a better room? And then I understood.
“A burglar entered the room when it was dark and would surely have decamped with my valuables had not the room been so small as it was.
“He caught my feet in the darkness and awakened me by mistake! I raised an alarm, and he ran away! I thanked my Guruji for providing me with a room so small!