How did Chand Patil's personal misfortune lead him to encounter Sai Baba?

Chand Patil's journey to meet Sai Baba began with a loss. As detailed in Chapter 5, Patil, a resident of Dhup village in the Aurangabad district, had lost his mare and searched for her for two months without success. Feeling utterly disappointed, he was traveling back from Aurangabad carrying the mare's saddle on his back. It was during this journey, about nine miles from Aurangabad, that he came upon a mango tree. Under this tree sat a Fakir, who was Sai Baba. This chance encounter, born from Patil's grief and search for his lost animal, was the pivotal moment that brought him into the presence of the saint.