How did Chand Patil end up meeting Sai Baba, and what was the immediate result of their encounter?

Chand Patil, a resident of Dhup village in the Aurangabad district, met Sai Baba under fortuitous circumstances. According to Chapter 5 of the Shri Sai Satcharitra, Patil had lost his mare and was searching for her for two months without success. Feeling dejected, he was returning home when he passed a mango tree. Underneath it sat a Fakir, who was in fact Sai Baba. The Fakir called out to him, offering him a smoke from his chillum. When he learned of Patil's lost mare, he told him exactly where to find her near some streams. Chand Patil was amazed to find his mare immediately and realized he had met a saint, or 'Avaliya'. This meeting was the pivotal event that led to Baba, who had been hidden for some time, returning to Shirdi with Chand Patil's wedding party.