What role did Sai Baba's portrait play in the events leading up to Dixit's departure for Shirdi?

The portrait of Sai Baba played a pivotal and symbolic role in Dixit's journey. According to Chapter 51, a photograph of Baba, which had been sent from Shirdi to Nagar for repairs, was being kept at Mirikar's house. It was as if the portrait was waiting for Dixit. Just as the travel plans were finalized, Balasaheb Mirikar unveiled the portrait and entrusted it to Madhavrao, telling him to take it so Dixit could travel "happily to Shirdi in Baba's company." For Dixit, who longed for Baba's darshan, the sudden appearance of this beautiful image was a source of extreme delight and felt like a strange, powerful coincidence, as if Baba himself had come to meet him on the way.