Why did Cholkar give up sugar, and what caused the delay in his visit to Shirdi?

After Cholkar's wish to pass his examination was granted, he was unable to immediately fulfill his vow to visit Shirdi. As Chapter 15 explains, he faced financial difficulties related to household expenses, a struggle described metaphorically as the difficult "threshold-ghat." Because of this delay, Cholkar decided to undertake a personal penance by giving up sugar, treating it as an inedible substance. He even drank his tea without sugar until the time came when he could finally make the journey to Shirdi and fulfill the promise he had made to Sai Baba.