Arjun tries to fix the house using logical means—electricians, carpenters, and even a priest for exorcism. Every attempt fails. The "ghost" messes with his tools and his sleep, but never harms him.

The novel reveals that the "ghost" is Arjun's own projected ego. The silent Sadhu represents the Atman (true Self). The haunting is actually a spiritual alarm clock.

Arjun, a high-performing investment banker in Mumbai, suffers a panic attack that leaves him unable to work. He retreats to a dilapidated ancestral home in a village near the Ganges. The house, locals warn, is haunted by a "Sadhu" (holy man) who never speaks.

In a dream sequence, Arjun chases the Sadhu through a labyrinth. When he finally catches him, the Sadhu turns around and has Arjun's face. He says only one line: "Anando Brahma" (Bliss is Consciousness). Upon waking, Arjun realizes the house was never haunted; he was haunted by the thought of a separate self.