Can you recount the story from Chapter 9 about the families who were instructed to eat in Kopargaon before their journey?

Certainly. Chapter 9 narrates an incident involving the families of Tatyasaheb Noolkar and Bhausaheb Dixit. Before they were to leave Shirdi, Sai Baba specifically told them, 'Go tomorrow morning and eat at Kopargaon before leaving!' They arranged for a meal there but, upon arrival, found it wasn't ready. Anxious about their train, they rushed to the station without eating, directly contravening Baba's instruction. However, at the station, they learned the train was delayed by an hour and a half. This story from Chapter 9 powerfully illustrates that their haste was futile and that following Baba's guidance would have been the smoother path.