What was the author of the Sai stories like before he met Sai Baba, and what was the catalyst for his visit to Shirdi?

The author describes himself as initially being mischievous, talkative, cynical, and highly critical. As detailed in Chapter 2, he was arrogant about his knowledge, possessed a logic-driven mind, and was always proud of his own wisdom, making him prone to argumentation. He knew nothing of a Satguru's greatness. Despite being a staunch debater, he was led to Sai Baba's lotus feet by what he calls strong destiny and a past-life connection with Kakasaheb Dixit and Nanasaheb Chandorkar. It was specifically due to Kakasaheb's insistence that the trip to Shirdi was arranged, even though the author's mind almost changed on the very day of departure.