Why did Kaka Mahajani's friend, who was initially against idol worship, end up bowing to Sai Baba?

The friend's change of heart was triggered by a deeply personal and astonishing experience. According to Chapter 35, this friend was a great devotee of the formless and had resolved not to bow. When he arrived at the mosque, Sai Baba saw him and spoke in a sweet voice. The specific words and, more importantly, the tone Baba used, were an exact imitation of the friend's deceased father. This unexpected and intimate connection completely amazed the friend, who felt as if he were hearing his own father speak. As Chapter 35 explains, this powerful emotional experience made him melt inside, causing him to forget his previous intellectual resolve and spontaneously bow his head at Baba's feet.