Why did Cholkar give up sugar, and how was this connected to his visit to Shirdi?

Cholkar's story, found in Chapter 15, revolves around a vow he made to Sai Baba. He promised to visit Shirdi and distribute sugar candy if Baba's grace helped him pass a crucial examination for his job. He did pass, but financial constraints, poetically called the "threshold-ghat," delayed his journey. Feeling the weight of this delay, Cholkar took an additional, personal vow to give up sugar until he could fulfill his promise to Baba. He even drank his tea without it. This act of renunciation was a secret penance he undertook. The connection was made clear when, upon his arrival in Shirdi, Baba revealed knowledge of this secret sacrifice, proving his omnipresence and accepting Cholkar's devotion completely.