What was the sequence of events that led to Sai Baba returning to Shirdi with Chand Patil?

The return of Sai Baba to Shirdi is directly linked to his encounter with Chand Patil. As explained in Chapter 5, after witnessing Baba's miracles, Chand Patil was profoundly impressed and insisted that the Fakir sanctify his home. Baba graciously accepted and stayed at Patil's house in the village of Dhup for some time. The journey to Shirdi happened later when a marriage was arranged for Chand Patil's wife's nephew. The bride was from Shirdi, so a wedding party was formed to travel there. Baba accompanied this wedding party, which is how the hidden 'gem' was found again in Shirdi.