How did the author of the Sai Satcharitra describe his own character before visiting Shirdi, and what prompted his visit?

In Chapter 2, the author, later known as Hemadpant, paints a self-critical picture of his former self. He describes himself as mischievous, talkative, cynical, and prone to argumentation. He admits to being proud of his own wisdom and having a logic-driven mind, with no understanding of a Satguru's greatness. His journey to Shirdi was not his own idea but was instead instigated by others. He attributes the visit to a strong past-life connection with Kakasaheb Dixit and Nanasaheb Chandorkar. It was due to Kakasaheb's firm insistence that the trip was arranged, although the author's own mind wavered and nearly changed on the day of departure.