When Sai Baba asked a disciple for two paise, what did he actually mean? Was he asking for real money?

No, Sai Baba was not asking for worldly money. As explained in Chapter 19, his request for two paise was a metaphor. The Guru was described as 'Purnakam,' meaning one whose desires were already fulfilled and who had no need for gold. The two paise he sought from his disciple were actually Faith (Nishtha) and Patience (Saburi). By giving these two qualities to his Guru, the disciple pleased him. This illustrates that the Guru's true desire was for the spiritual development of his followers, not material wealth.