Why did Mamlatdar Dev feel deceived and doubtful even after hosting the three uninvited guests for a meal?

Mamlatdar Dev's doubt and feeling of deception stemmed from a prior promise he believed Sai Baba had made to attend his Udyapan ceremony. After the Sanyasi and his two companions appeared uninvited and were served a meal, Dev suspected this might have been Baba fulfilling his promise in disguise. However, as Chapter 40 explains, the event left him in a "state of delusion" because he did not have a clear spiritual experience or definitive recognition. The ambiguity of the situation—serving three guests in person without realizing if one was Baba—caused his confusion. He had waited with great effort for a profound encounter but was left with uncertainty, leading him to write to Jog to express his disappointment and seek testimony.