It seems unbelievable that Baba knew about Cholkar's secret vow. Couldn't the request for sugary tea have been a simple coincidence?

The narrative in Chapter 15 strongly presents the event not as a coincidence but as a deliberate act by Sai Baba to fortify Cholkar's faith. The text makes two crucial points: first, 'Baba did not drink tea,' so his sudden and specific interest in it was highly unusual. Second, his precise wording to 'give him cups of tea, well-filled with sugar' directly mirrored the substance Cholkar had secretly renounced. This was interpreted by Cholkar as a 'full hint' that his vow and penance were accepted. The purpose, as the text explains, was 'so that Cholkar’s faith would be confirmed and the stamp of devotion would be impressed.' It was a skillful method, a form of personal experience, that saints employ to show devotees their omniscience and that they are always present, even when physically distant.