Swamiji noticed that Subodhananda avoided women; he didn’t even talk to them. One day Swamiji said: “Khoka, women devotees come to hear about the Master; please talk to them. If you avoid them, where will they go? They are the manifestations of the Divine Mother. Treat them as your mother or daughter.” From then on, Subodhananda would associate with women and address them as “Mayi” or “Mother.” When Vivekananda’s Western women devotees came to Belur Math, he would send Subodhananda to look after them and supply their needs. Once Subodhananda said to Swamiji: “Please excuse me. I can neither speak English properly nor can I understand their language.” Swamiji said: “You will not have to worry about that. When they tell you ‘Thank you,’ you say to them, ‘I don’t care.’” However, when Subodhananda followed Swamiji’s instruction, the women devotees were puzzled. They laughed when they discovered that it was Swamiji’s mischief.