How did Cholkar show his devotion to Sai Baba while he was waiting to fulfill his vow?

Even though Cholkar was delayed in traveling to Shirdi due to financial difficulties, he maintained his devotion through a personal act of penance. As Chapter 15 describes, because there was a delay in fulfilling the vow, Cholkar decided to give up sugar. He treated sugar as an "inedible substance" and went so far as to drink his tea without it. This act of renunciation was a secret penance he undertook to honor his commitment to Baba while he saved up for the journey. He continued this practice for some time until he was finally able to go to Shirdi and formally fulfill the vow he had made.