Why was the Tarkhad's son worried about going to Shirdi, and what condition did he set for his father?

The Tarkhad's son was initially hesitant to travel to Shirdi because he was deeply devoted to his daily worship of Sai Baba's photograph, which included offering Naivedya (food offering) before anyone in the house ate. As detailed in Chapter 9, his primary worry was who would continue this regular worship in his absence. This concern was heightened because his father, Babasaheb Tarkhad, was a follower of the Prarthana Samaj and the son felt it wouldn't be right to impose the task of idol worship on him. He only agreed to make the journey after his father gave a firm assurance, promising that he would personally offer Naivedya to Sai every day and that no one would eat before this offering was made.