I have a friend who is skeptical about saints and miracles. How did Sai Baba handle people who came to him with a 'clinical interest' or doubt?

This is a wonderful question that touches upon the very nature of Sai Baba's divine play. The story of Boss Dharamsee from Chapter 35 provides a perfect illustration. Dharamsee came to Shirdi driven by curiosity and a desire to scrutinize Baba, even having a 'clinical interest' in the reported miracles. He internally questioned Baba's sainthood when offered seeded grapes, which he disliked. As this skeptical thought arose, Baba, knowing his mind, gave him even more grapes. When Dharamsee finally ate them upon Baba's command, he discovered they had miraculously become seedless. This personal experience shattered his skepticism and ego, transforming his scrutiny into deep love and devotion for Sai. This event, as described in Chapter 35, shows that Baba doesn't just perform miracles for show, but uses them to address an individual's specific doubts and lead them to the spiritual path.