Why did Kaka Mahajani's friend, who was a devotee of the formless, end up bowing to Sai Baba?

The friend's change of heart was a direct result of a deeply personal and miraculous experience with Sai Baba. As Chapter 35 recounts, this man, who was initially skeptical and opposed to idol worship, had resolved not to bow. However, upon arriving at the mosque, Baba addressed him with the words, "Why have you come, sir," in a vocal style that was an exact replica of his late father's. Hearing this familiar and loving tone, the friend was so astonished and emotionally moved that his intellectual resolutions dissolved. He felt as if his own father were speaking, causing him to forget his vow and bow his head at Baba's feet in reverence.