The bastard boy looked exactly like my father. God knows what my father saw in those two, but he even gave them a parcel of our farm in Lainchaur. My dear mother never openly objected to this relationship, as it was common for powerful men to have mistresses. What worried her was my silly father’s infatuation with the ghastly maid and her boy, who reminded her of the shallowness of her marriage. Romantic love between aristocratic couples was a rare phenomenon, so like countless other noblewomen before her, she concealed the agony under the veil of elegance. As for me, I was then studying in Dehradun and hardly saw the maid and her boy.

I was living the life of a Casanova in Dehradun. Everything was fine until my silly father died from a silly fever. I had to return to Kathmandu for the funeral. At the funeral, I saw the kitchen maid and her son, who were crying so loudly that I felt like punching their faces. For people like them, occasions such as funerals are an excellent way to show their connection to prestigious families like ours. My poor mother, on the other hand, was more enraged than bereaved because my silly father had left the maid and her son a generous sum of money in his will. It was not that we did not have money— we had plenty of it— but still, how could she reward that vile woman who had robbed her of her husband’s love? Finally, after eight days, my mother got our lawyer to bend the terms of the will to her wish, and she had some relief.

After I inherited our immense fortune, I was perhaps the richest nobleman in Nepal. I don’t think even the crown prince received half the marriage proposals I received, but maintaining that level of prestige is a daunting task. To ensure my prestige was unrivalled, I exhibited my wealth in an unrivalled way. After all, spending money was my one true talent. For 20 years, money flowed like water.

Meanwhile, I occasionally saw my half brother, who was in the garment business now. At weddings and family gatherings, he supervised the work while we were busy celebrating. I thanked him sometimes but it was his responsibility, for my father had given him a proud and prestigious family name.

While I was spending a great portion of my family fortune, my half brother had earned a sizeable fortune himself. The bastard’s wealth was mocking my noble blood, and finally it was intolerable for me. That convinced me that I should make money too, but in a gentlemanly way. One day, I came in contact with an investment firm run by promising young men, which had a scheme that guaranteed great returns within a year. It was a great opportunity; I would be earning without breaking my back, in an un-gentlemanly manner. I mortgaged my mansion and the remaining parcels of land, and handed them the money. I made sure no one knew a word about the deal as I did not want anyone to double their millions just by signing some papers.

My promising young men, however, had disappeared into thin air, and as months passed it was not my investment that were doubling, it was my debt.  Bank officials knocked on my door every so often to remind me of ultimatums and deadlines.

My shame became unbearable, and all of a sudden I was at the doorsteps of my most trusted friends, but the vultures who had feasted in my grand buffets and emptied my casks of choicest wines turned me down. Some even refused to recognise me; I was now a subject of mockery. But I never let my half brother know of it, for I was ashamed—deeply ashamed of my jealousy.

A week ago, a bank official broke into my mansion with the police. He handed me a notice that said that I was to vacate the property in a week’s time. He pasted the same paper on the door.

“But officer, don’t you know what kind of person I am? You certainly know my situation; I’ve been tricked. Please try to understand my situation.”

“With all due respect, sir, you are an idiot who has gambled away his money foolishly,” he said, with a sardonic smile.

I was infuriated. “How dare you, you son of a peasant! My grandfather owned your office building as well as the surrounding areas.”

“And now we own your house,” he said and started leaving.”             

“You know, the king is related to me,” I shouted at his back.

“Then why don’t you go to him?” he shouted back, with a crack of laughter.

My family had abandoned me; my friends had turned me down; even this scum of an officer had gone as far as to insult me. Why on earth would the king help me? The notice pasted on the door implied that I was formally a beggar now—a beggar! A rotating sky, the half-open gate, and a sharp pain in the chest are the last things I remember.

I found myself in a cosy bed. As I woke up, I was frightened to find my silly father sitting beside me! Was I really dead? I thought I must surely be in heaven because I was sure my silly father would have found a place in heaven. Ah! What would he say to me? What would I say if my great ancestors asked me about their wealth, their family name?Anticipating all this, I began to cry madly enough to awaken my silly father.  

“What’s the matter, Dai? Are you all right?”It was not my silly father; instead it was the fruit of his love: my half brother. I was relieved that I wouldn’t be facing the inquisition immediately, but I was embarrassed that I was still alive.

I nodded my head, simply because I didn’t have anything to say.  He was beside me when I was a millionaire; he was beside me now, when I had become a tramp. He prayed for my recovery, resented that I did not trust him enough to entrust my situation to him, and he told me that the home minister has assured him that he would take up my case.

I never wanted to share my joy with him, and now he wanted to share my sorrow. Poor lad, he offered me everything, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to give him something—but alas! I have nothing; if only I had a plot of my silly father’s land left… all this pinched me. After all, I now knew who the bastard was.

Mustering all my courage, and defeating my shame, I asked, “Would you give me Daagbatti?”

“Why do you say such things, Dai?” he said, saddened.

“Because you are my half brother.”