From the author's perspective in Chapter 43, what was the effect of Sai Baba's physical departure on the villagers?

Chapter 43 vividly portrays the deep sense of loss and despair felt by the community after Sai Baba left his body. The author states that Sai was the 'life of all' and the 'soul and breath of all.' Consequently, his physical absence made the villagers feel 'poor and miserable.' A 'great lamentation arose' as his body lay motionless. The text describes a pervasive anxiety that filled both children and elders, making it feel 'like the end of life for everyone.' This depiction in Chapter 43 underscores the profound, central role Baba played in the daily and spiritual lives of his devotees, whose world was shaken by his departure.