Why did it take Cholkar so long to fulfill his vow to Sai Baba, and what personal sacrifice did he make during that time?

After Cholkar passed his examination as he had prayed for, there was a delay in fulfilling his vow to visit Shirdi and offer sugar candy. Chapter 15 explains this was due to financial hardship, poetically described as the difficulty of crossing the 'threshold-ghat' (home expenses), which is even harder for a worldly man than crossing a vast mountain cliff. Because he couldn't afford the journey, he had to keep postponing it. As a result of this delay, Cholkar felt it necessary to make a personal sacrifice. The text states, 'There was a delay in fulfilling the vow, so he gave up sugar.' He avoided it as an 'inedible substance' and even drank his tea without it until he could finally make the pilgrimage to Shirdi and complete his promised offering.