In a world marked by the aftermath of World War I, a young adventurer faces a deep existential crisis that leads him to question the true meaning of life. Larry Darrell, an American pilot, returns home after the war, but instead of finding comfort in the conventional life that his friends and fiancée expect from him, he feels a constant unrest. Emotionally impacted by the brutality of the conflict, he decides to explore his identity and his place in the world.
Disillusioned by the superficiality of the society around him, Larry embarks on a journey that takes him to India, where he seeks answers in mysticism and spirituality. Along the way, he encounters a variety of characters that reflect different aspects of the pursuit of happiness and personal fulfillment: a hedonistic aristocrat trapped in a loveless marriage, a bourgeois friend obsessed with power and status, and a spiritual mentor who guides him toward an inner awakening.
As Larry navigates the complexities of human relationships and faces both internal and external challenges, he realizes that the true journey is not just about finding answers in the outside world, but about a deeper exploration of the soul and its purpose. The story culminates in an emotional journey that reveals the struggle between personal desire and social expectations.