Legend says that Samarth Ramdas was born on Hanumat Jayanthi as an incarnation of Hanuman. Ramdas was a simple man with almost no needs and lived in caves meditating on Lord Rama. His disciples too were very simple and led a very pious life like their Guru. Except for one disciple. His name was Ranganath Goswami. There was a crowd around him at all times.
On each of his side there would be a person fanning him. Another would stand behind him holding an umbrella. He also used to travel a lot in a palanquin. Some people made snide remarks on Goswami for living ostentatiously . The disciples of Ramdas felt that Goswami was spoiling the reputation of their Guru with his actions. They even complained to Ramdas about Goswami in the hope that their Guru would reprimand Goswami. But nothing like that happened.
One day when Ramdas went to bathe in the Godavari with his disciples tagging along, Goswami arrived there in his palanquin. He got out of his palanquin and paid obeisance to his Guru. Ramdas then told him to leave his people and the palanquin far away and sit quietly on the banks of the Godavari till he returned from his bath.
The other disciples were elated that Goswami was ticked off and were waiting to watch what their Guru would do next.
Meanwhile Chatrapathi Shivaji arrived there. He was surprised to see a disciple of Ramdas who he revered was sitting all by himself on the hot sands of the river bank. He went near Goswami and spoke to him. But Goswami never replied. Shivaji thought that Goswami was observing strict silence and asked his people to provide a makeshift shelter for the disciple. He asked a few others to fan him and a few others to stay back with him.
When Ramdas returned after his bath, he looked at Goswami and asked his disciples what had happened. Goswami told Ramdas what had happened. After listening carefully Ramdas told his disciples “Do you understand now? Goswami is also a very determined person like you. “He is only reaping the benefits of his good karma. He is only being rewarded for his good deeds in his previous birth,” said Ramdas.
(The end of this story may seem a little lukewarm to readers, but I didn’t want to burden myself 
or my readers with a more philosophical and convoluted ending as given in the original.)
I remember the ACK with this title, don’t remember anything more. Any explanations for Mr Goswami’s behaviour – he doesn’t sound like the usual humble, self-effacing (well, that could be a veneer) disciple you expect to find around gurus.
The word I was looking for was obsequious – often obsequious disciples