What was the author's personality like before encountering Sai Baba, and how did he end up planning a trip to Shirdi?

Chapter 2 describes the author, who would later be known as Hemadpant, as initially being mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical. He was proud of his own wisdom and had a logic-driven mind prone to argumentation. He knew nothing of the greatness of a Satguru. Despite this disposition, the text states that destiny was strong. He was led to Sai's lotus feet due to 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, which the author was initially hesitant about.