In plain words
Who knows where this promise went! He forgot everything. Not on a single day did he do japa of the Gāyatrī mantra. He sank into the games and songs of foreign lands. The father sent a telegram that the mother was very serious. Even for that he did not come. In the end he sent a telegram that the mother had died. Then he came running. When he arrived, the mother had not died. He had made this excuse so as to bring the boy back somehow. Then the father went to the aerodrome and said, "My son! By the grace of the Devī your mother has come back to life; she is well." Thinking they would go first to the Devī's temple and then go home, he took him to the temple in the car. 'How do you do mother,' this fellow said, in English. 'How are you?' he meant, you see. The very name Devī was gone. He said 'Mother'. Even 'Mother' is good. You see how children talk among themselves; he went on speaking lightly like that. Coming home, he said, 'Hellow mother good morning.' On hearing these words the mother grew angry. "You wretch! What is this, saying good morning, fellow? What is the use of a son with such a feeling being born? You are no son of mine at all; get out," she said. Then his head spun. In this way many are making changes in their words and their ways.
Service to parents itself is service to God
Jayamma kept saying that only the Anantapur girls are great. What about our Prasanthinilayam boys. These children too are good. You are forever saying that they ask you to tell them about Swami, to tell them what Swami likes. But the children here, asking what Swami likes, what is needed, and how to do things so that Swami is pleased, our children are doing even more than that, night and day. No one is any less; girls and boys, both, are equally good children. Those who have grown up in the Sai institutions and progressed in the Sai institutions may make some mistakes here and there, but all are good children. Good children indeed. It is not I who say this. The parents themselves say it. They keep saying, 'Ah, Swami, since he came to Prasanthi Nilayam there has been a great change in our boy.'