Was Damu Anna relieved when Sai Baba told him not to get involved in the speculative trade? It seems like it would take a lot of pressure off him.

On the contrary, Damu Anna was deeply disappointed by Sai Baba's advice and was not at all relieved. The texts from Chapter 25 clearly state that upon reading Baba's reply, "Damu Shet was disappointed. The fortress of his desires crumbled; the tree of hope was uprooted." He had grand plans to "earn one lakh now, and put half a lakh on interest" to become a millionaire. The denial of permission caused his "kingdom of the mind" to melt away, leaving him "very crestfallen." He even lamented that by writing the letter in the first place, he had caused his own harm and missed a great opportunity.