I read about a portrait of Sai and a nine-year gap in a story. Could you elaborate on this event from Chapter 41?

Certainly. Chapter 41 recounts a story told by a narrator about a portrait of Sai Baba. The narrator had privately shared the history of this "portrait of the powerful Sai" with a priest named Ismu. Together, they made a firm determination to keep the portrait at the Pir Maulana court. The narrator then presented the image, but because it was mealtime, there was no opportunity to explain the full story behind it. The narrator intended to tell the story later, but as the text amusingly notes, a full nine years passed before an unexpected meeting provided the chance. This reunion finally allowed the past history of the portrait and a related "wonderful dream" to be shared, highlighting one of Sai's marvelous Leelas, or divine plays.