Why did Sai Baba appear as a mysterious fakir to Appasaheb, according to the text?

According to the narrative in Chapter 33, Sai Baba appeared in the form of a mysterious fakir to Appasaheb as an act of love and as a pretext to test his devotion. The text poses the rhetorical question, "had there been no love for Appa, why would Baba come in Fakir form?" This implies the visit was a form of grace, designed to help Appasaheb fulfill his promise of giving ten Rupees. The appearance was a test to see if Appasaheb would act on his word, highlighting the theme that divine encounters often serve to strengthen a devotee's faith. The story's purpose, or "flavor," comes from this pretext for Dakshina, which reveals the human struggle between making and keeping promises.