Answer:
1. He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. ( This is showing old Fakir's opinion, which parallels with the theme )
2. "I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for demise." ( This proves that old Fakir was right, those who interfered with fate did it with great peril to themselves. The man before the Sargeant-Major wished for death using his last wish. )