I heard there's a story about a priest from Nashik in Chapter 12. Can you tell me who he was and why his arrival in Shirdi was so special?

Yes, Chapter 12 introduces a story about a man named Mule, who is described as a 'ritualistic, orthodox Agnihotri' from the holy city of Nashik. An Agnihotri is a priest who maintains a sacred fire. His arrival in Shirdi is presented as a very significant and 'strange' event that occurred due to the strength of his 'past merits.' The chapter emphasizes this point by stating that without such merit, 'no one can stay in Shirdi for even a moment.' The purpose of this 'very delightful story' is to illustrate the greatness of the Guru. It hints that his original intention for the visit was different from the outcome, but through this coincidence, he ultimately 'gained the benefit of Shirdi' and had a vision of his own Guru.