Can you explain the author's personal reflection on his time in Bandra and how it connects to his later bond with Shirdi?

In Chapter 21, the author, Hemadpant, shares a personal story from when he was a Magistrate in Bandra. He was persistently invited to meet a Siddha named Pir Maulana but never went, which he attributes to his own pride and 'ill-luck.' Many years passed, and he was transferred from there. He then contrasts this missed opportunity with his later experience, stating, 'Later, when that time came, Shirdi became an unbreakable bond.' This reflection serves to prove his point that the company of saints is not accessible to the unfortunate and requires God's grace, contrasting his past avoidance with the destined and unbreakable connection he eventually formed with Sai Baba in Shirdi.