How does Chapter 21 contrast the author's past arrogance with his eventual devotion, and what central principle does this illustrate?

Chapter 21 masterfully illustrates the principle that meeting a saint is a matter of grace, not personal will or proximity. The author contrasts his past self, a Magistrate in Bandra filled with pride who refused to visit the revered Pir Maulana, with his later self, for whom "Shirdi became an unbreakable bond." This juxtaposition highlights a profound transformation. As narrated in Chapter 21, his earlier "ill-luck" and pride acted as a veil, preventing him from seeing the saint in his own city. This experience proves the chapter's core assertion that the company of saints is inaccessible to the unfortunate and is only made easy when God's grace is present.