How did the author, who described himself as a cynical debater, end up visiting Shirdi?

Despite his cynical and argumentative nature, the author's journey to Shirdi was a result of what he calls 'strong destiny.' As recounted in Chapter 2, he acknowledges that he saw Sai Baba's lotus feet purely by chance. He credits his past life connections with Kakasaheb Dixit and Nanasaheb Chandorkar, stating that without Kakasaheb's insistence, he would never have gone to Shirdi. His skepticism was also deeply challenged by a personal tragedy that befell a close friend. This friend's son died from a sudden fever, despite all medical efforts and even the physical presence of the family's Guru. This event, where even a Guru's presence seemed in vain, profoundly affected the author's logic-driven mind and likely contributed to his eventual journey.