Why did Appasaheb feel indebted, and what does his story teach about making promises?

Appasaheb felt indebted because he had made a mental promise to give ten rupees to Sai Baba, feeling that a single rupee his family had given was insufficient. As Chapter 33 explains, he believed he could not be "debt-free" until he fulfilled his word. His story serves as a powerful lesson on intention versus action. When a fakir, presumed to be Baba in disguise, appeared on the very day of his promise, Appasaheb became suspicious and hesitated to give the money. The narrative uses this to illustrate a common human failing: we are often devoted in our verbal promises but hesitate when the time comes to act, showing that true devotion requires fulfilling one's commitments.