If Cholkar passed his exam and was set to have a permanent salary, why did he still struggle financially to the point of delaying his vow? Does this imply his faith was weak?

The source material in Chapter 15 suggests that even after passing the exam to make his salary permanent, Cholkar's financial situation remained precarious. The text describes his household as 'poor' and emphasizes the difficulty of overcoming the 'threshold-ghat,' or home expenses, stating that one must have funds for a journey and could not go empty-handed. This implies that his income was still barely enough for daily survival, leaving no surplus for travel. This situation does not imply weak faith. On the contrary, his devotion is shown to be strong because, despite the delay caused by poverty, he took on an additional, secret penance of giving up sugar. This act of self-denial underscores his firm resolve and sincerity, which Sai Baba later confirmed by showing He was aware of this hidden sacrifice, thereby validating Cholkar's unwavering devotion.