What is the deeper significance of the Fakir returning nine Rupees to Appasaheb after taking a ten-Rupee note?

The act of the Fakir returning the nine Rupees to Appasaheb holds deep symbolic meaning, as explained in Chapter 33. While on the surface it seems like a strange transaction, the text interprets this gesture as a profound blessing. The nine Rupees, having been touched by Baba (in the guise of the Fakir), were transformed into a 'necklace of nine gems.' This is explicitly linked to the 'treasure of ninefold devotion and love' (Navavidha Bhakti). Therefore, Baba was not merely concluding a financial exchange; he was bestowing upon Appasaheb the spiritual treasure of devotion and creating a powerful form of remembrance. The nine Rupees became a sacred memento of this divine encounter.