What kind of financial problems did Cholkar have, and how did that affect his promise to Baba?

Cholkar faced significant financial hardship which directly impacted his ability to fulfill his vow to Sai Baba. Chapter 15 describes his as a "poor household" and mentions the extreme difficulty a worldly person has in crossing the "threshold-ghat," a metaphor for covering home expenses. Although his wish to pass his exam was granted by Baba's grace, Cholkar could not afford the journey to Shirdi right away. The text states he had to push the trip from "today to tomorrow" because he couldn't go empty-handed. This financial strain caused a long delay in fulfilling his promise, during which he demonstrated his unwavering resolve by giving up sugar until he could finally make the pilgrimage.