The hill is now deserted and serves as a retreat, with only the burnt-out remains of a house remaining. Ravi spends his evenings on the stone steps of the house, listening for the sounds of animals returning to the homestead below. The arrival of the animals, including goats and a cow, signals the start of the evening routine for the family living below.
The children chase the chickens into their pen, firewood is brought in, and the cow is led to her shed to be milked. The family gathers around a fire to eat their meal, while Ravi remains on the hill, declining to join them. Ravi reminisces about his family’s departure, recalling their promises to bring him back something and the lies his father told.
Ravi finds solace in the outdoors, observing and appreciating the natural world around him. He reflects on the unexpected encounters and wonders of nature, such as shedding snakes, ants raiding flowers, and monkeys in the trees. Ravi’s appreciation for the living contrasts with Bhola’s inclination towards hunting and killing animals with his catapult.
The arrival of the monsoon season brings heavy rain and mist, confining the protagonist, Ravi, to his house. The rain causes dampness and mildew in the house, and Ravi is fascinated by the sounds and creatures of the rainy season. Ravi’s caretaker, Hari Singh, tells him stories of leopards and warns him of their danger.
Ravi’s parents are absent for long periods, leaving him in the care of Hari Singh and a tutor named Mr Benjamin. Ravi feels neglected by his parents and wonders why they never take him with them on their travels. Ravi’s school life is filled with strict discipline and punishment from teachers.
When his parents return, they impose rigid rules and entertain guests, leaving Ravi feeling invisible and confined. Ravi’s father enjoys the social scene in Mussoorie, while his mother feels out of place. The family’s exile in Mussoorie is due to the war, and Ravi’s father indulges in parties and dances. Ravi’s mother is unhappy during this time, and an incident occurs where Ravi’s father is attacked by a British officer for dancing with his wife.
Ravi’s mother withdrew from Mussoorie society after his father’s recovery from an injury. Ravi’s father also distanced himself from British society and immersed himself in Indian activities. Ravi’s mother’s spirit suffered a blow, leading to her confinement to her room and bed. Miss Dora Wilkinson, an elderly British woman, was recruited to provide companionship and nursing care.
Miss Wilkinson’s presence was soothing to Ravi’s mother and provided a sense of balance to the household. Ravi developed a fascination with Miss Wilkinson’s cat and found comfort in spending time with it. Ravi’s father died in a car accident, leaving Ravi feeling disconnected from his family in Bombay. Ravi’s life in Bombay was unfulfilling, and he longed for the solitude and serenity of the mountains.
Ravi returned to Mussoorie after his mother’s death and convinced Miss Wilkinson to stay and run the house for him. Miss Wilkinson’s deteriorating eyesight and dependence on others became apparent to Ravi. Ravi and Miss Wilkinson lived in relative solitude, with Bhola, the caretaker, providing them with meals. Miss Wilkinson’s cats brought her joy and companionship in her isolated existence.
Ravi, a reclusive man, finds solace in the company of Miss Wilkinson, a blind woman who appreciates his reading aloud. However, a tragic fire engulfs Miss Wilkinson’s house, leading to her death. Ravi is haunted by guilt and chooses to stay in the ruins of the house, isolated from society. The villagers speculate about supernatural occurrences related to the incident, painting Ravi as a mysterious figure.
Despite his solitude, Ravi finds a hidden sanctuary in a secluded glade, where he creates intricate designs using natural elements. This secluded spot becomes his refuge from the outside world, offering him a sense of peace and purpose amidst the chaos and tragedy that surrounds him.
Ravi is described as a spider-like character who is working on his vision in a hidden glade. Visitors arrive at a tea stall on the ridge, tired and hungry. Balram, the owner, serves them food and beer. The visitors are filmmakers who have come to shoot a documentary on environmental degradation in the Himalayas. Balram agrees to help them find locations for their film and recommends a hotel for them to stay in.
The next morning, Balram brings a boy named Nakhu to serve as their guide. Nakhu is hesitant and unsure about navigating the difficult terrain to reach the site of an illegal phosphate mine. The filmmakers urges Nakhu to lead them to the mine entrance.
Chand and Shalini are determined to film actual sites of environmental degradation and track down the perpetrators. They encounter fallen logs and charred stumps, evidence of illegal logging. Bhatia suggests abandoning the search for the phosphate mine and filming at the current location. Chand and Shalini continue their search, leaving Bhatia and Nakhu behind.
Shalini discovers a secluded glade with perfectly arranged stones and sculptures made by human hands. Shalini encounters someone in the glade and runs back to the jeep. Chand returns and reports finding sites of illegal logging, but it is impossible to bring the equipment there.
Bhatia suggests conducting interviews at the timber or mining company’s office instead. Shalini suggests exploring a strange place she found, possibly created by an artist. Chand agrees to visit the place without Bhatia and Nakhu. Bhatia decides to stay behind and gather information from locals. Bhatia learns about corruption and skullduggery in the town and plans to set up interviews.
Chand and Shalini return to the milestone where they had previously stopped, but Shalini cannot find the same track she took before. They end up discovering a hidden garden that is well-concealed among the hills and ferns. Chand is amazed by the beauty of the garden and believes it may be man-made, but wonders how anything man-made could surpass the natural beauty of the Himalayas. They return to the tea stall where they meet Balram, who suggests they ask Bhola, the caretaker, about the garden.
Bhatia, a member of the television crew, is initially uninterested in the garden but Shalini and Chand convince him that it could make a beautiful ending for their film. Bhola informs Ravi, the owner of the garden, about the film crew’s interest and Ravi becomes upset and refuses to speak with them. Bhola helps Ravi disguise himself and stay hidden until the film crew leaves. Bhola’s sons provide updates on the film crew’s activities, but Bhola advises Ravi to stay hidden until they are gone.
The protagonist, Ravi, is left with nothing to do while Bhola is away and the boys are at school. Ravi observes Manju Rani, Bhola’s wife, and her young daughter as they go about their daily chores. Ravi finds an empty matchbox and begins collecting small objects to fill it, finding contentment in this activity. A film crew arrives in the area, searching for a hermit, but finds nothing of interest.
The film they shoot is deemed lifeless and unusable. The crew discusses the possibility of finding the artist who made the film to improve the ending. The crew leaves the area, descending the hills in a jeep. They encounter an explosion and discover men excavating the hillside. The crew sees this as an opportunity for a dramatic ending to their film.
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