How did Appasaheb Kulkarni get into a spiritual 'debt' with Sai Baba over a promise of ten Rupees?

Appasaheb created a spiritual debt for himself through a spoken promise. As described in Chapter 33, after his family gave a single Rupee to a Fakir, Appasaheb felt this was insufficient and declared that if he had been present, he would have given ten Rupees. This created a verbal commitment. The text explains that Sai Baba, who was not a typical beggar, then tested this promise. On the very same day, a stranger Fakir (implied to be Baba in disguise) came to Appa. However, Appa became suspicious and hesitated, failing to offer the six Rupees he had available at that moment. This hesitation to fulfill his grand promise put him in a state of being indebted.