What difficulties did Cholkar face before visiting Shirdi, and how did he maintain his vow during that time?

Before he could make his pilgrimage to Shirdi, Cholkar experienced significant worldly challenges. Chapter 15 mentions that for a worldly man, the "threshold-ghat," which symbolizes home expenses, is very difficult to cross. This implies that Cholkar faced financial hardships that delayed his ability to travel and fulfill his vow to Sai Baba. Despite this long delay, his commitment did not waver. The text explicitly states that until his vow was fulfilled, Cholkar completely avoided sugar, treating it as an "inedible substance." He demonstrated this dedication in his daily life by drinking his tea without sugar, maintaining this personal penance until he could finally see Baba in Shirdi.