Sai Baba's Wit

There was one devotee of Sai baba named Damodar Ghanashyama Babare alias Anna Chinchanikar. He was simple-natured, rough, and straightforward. He cared for nobody and was straightforward. He carried all dealings in cash. 

Though he looked outwardly harsh and uncompromising, he was good-natured and guileless. He was loved by Sai Baba for his simplicity.

 One day at noontime, Anna was standing and shampooing the left arm of Baba, which rested on the kathada (railing). On the right side, one old widow named Venubai Koujalgi whom Baba called mother and all others as Mavsibai, was serving Baba in her own way. 

 Mavsibai was an elderly woman of a pure heart. She clasped the fingers of both her hands around the trunk of Baba and was kneading Baba's abdomen. She did this with full force and as such Baba's back and abdomen became flat (one) and Baba moved from side to side. Anna on the other side was steady, but Mavsibai's face moved up and down with her strokes. 

Once it so happened that her face came very close to Anna's. Being of a witty disposition she remarked that this Anna is a lewd (bad) fellow, he wants to kiss me. Even being so old with grey hair he feels no shame in kissing me! 

 These words enraged Anna and he pulled up his sleeves and said that 'You say that I am an old & bad fellow. Am I quite a fool? It is you that have picked up a quarrel and are quarreling with me'. 

All the persons, present there were enjoying this encounter between them. Sai Baba loved both of them equally and wanted to pacify them. He managed the affair very skillfully. Lovingly He said 'Oh Anna, why are you unnecessarily raising this hue and cry? I do not understand what harm or impropriety is there when the mother is kissed?' 

Hearing these words of Sai Baba, both of them were satisfied and all the persons present there laughed and enjoyed Sai Baba's wit to their heart's content.