Can you describe what the author, Hemadpant, says about his own personality before he became a devotee and what led him to Shirdi?

In Chapter 2, the author, who would later be named Hemadpant, provides a very candid self-assessment of his character before his transformation. He describes himself as being "mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical." He admits to having an arrogant pride in his own wisdom and a logic-driven mind prone to argumentation. He states he knew nothing of a Satguru's greatness. His journey to Shirdi was not of his own volition; he explains it happened "purely by chance" due to a past-life connection and the strong insistence of Kakasaheb Dixit and Nanasaheb Chandorkar. In fact, his mind suddenly changed on the day of departure, and he almost didn't make the trip.