What was the author's personality like before he met Sai Baba, and how did he end up going to Shirdi?

In Chapter 2, the author, later known as Hemadpant, describes his former self quite critically. He admits to being mischievous, talkative, cynical, and prone to argumentation. He was proud of his own wisdom, possessed a logic-driven mind, and was ignorant of the greatness of a Satguru. Despite this disposition, he explains that destiny was strong. His journey to Shirdi was not of his own initial desire but occurred purely by chance due to his past-life connections with Kakasaheb Dixit and Nanasaheb Chandorkar. It was Kakasaheb's firm insistence that fixed the trip, leading the staunch debater to the lotus feet of Sai Baba.