The Hacienda was in Jhamsikhel, nicknamed Jhamel. While many restaurants and cafes, longing for higher visibility, opened by the side of the road, The Hacienda favoured detachment. As such, it was hidden away a little deeper, within a compound reached through an alley, behind an archway lined with jacarandas. It wasn’t exclusive, but it felt so.

The Brotherhood Bookstore was in the same compound, opposite The Hacienda. Its owner and sole employee, Hari, was suffering for the same reason that the Hacienda was prospering. He’d hoped opening a bookstore opposite a popular restaurant would draw in more of a crowd but failed to take into account the remoteness.

In walked Samrat, one of the few regulars. Hari waved at him and said hello, but Samrat seemed preoccupied. The boy was too serious for his own good, Hari thought, but his appearance calmed him down somewhat. After all, this is why he did it—to create a space for young readers, though he didn’t buy much. Still, they’d often have discussions on great authors. Hari always tried to sway the conversation to Nepali ones, as that was his strength, but Samrat remained a staunch Anglophile. He was young, after all.

Hari watched as Samrat walked through the shelves. The latter’s mind was racing. Had she gotten his note? He was sure she’d bought that book. They’d discussed Woolf for hours and she’d mentioned she’d buy it the next day. What if she bought another?

Hari sir was a warm presence who never looked down on Samrat, which automatically made him one of his favourite adults. It’s why he loved coming there. The peace and quiet, and all the books he couldn’t find in most places. Though not rare, a lot of what Samrat read just wasn’t available in most bookstores and Samrat made it a point to tell Hari sir that every time. When he did so, the same sad smile would appear on the man’s face. He’d say that made him feel great and how he wished there were more kids like Samrat. The boy could tell the store was struggling. But he was not old enough to care too much.

As the boy went off towards the shelves, in walked Sonam, another regular. Hari smiled and greeted her. He looked over to Samrat but couldn’t find him. Sonam returned Hari’s greeting and asked him how he was. Hari replied with how he was glad to see her. She mentioned that she’d been hanging out with some friends over at The Hacienda, but it’d gotten boring, so she strolled over here to look at some books. “I love the quiet here, you know?” she said sweetly. Hari winced and nodded at her with a slightly forced smile. Hari’s phone buzzed and he excused himself.

Sonam watched Hari leave and reached into her handbag and pulled out a brand-new copy of Virginia Woolf’s ‘To the Lighthouse’. She thought about the note inside. A sweet poem. For her! It wasn’t signed, but she knew. It was just like him. An idiot but cute.

Behind the romance section, Samrat was biting his nails. “Hello, what are you doing?” he heard from behind. It was her. Immediately, he got on all fours and acted like he was looking for something. What was he doing? He sighed, got up and turned to her, but he saw a note in her hand. Dumbfounded, he began to mutter, but she quickly said, “Was this you?”

“Yeah,”

“It was beautiful.”

As the two stared at each other, googly-eyed, Hari was pacing outside. Hari had loved books all his life. In his village, there was a man who’d come every two weeks with books to sell and Hari would save and buy whatever he could. On days he couldn’t, he’d still go and see if the man would give him one for free. When a book didn’t sell, the man would give some to Hari. He liked Hari. Everyone did. Everyone expected Hari to pursue a career in medicine or a similar field, but his true passion was to establish a bookstore. He wanted to make people as happy as the sight of the man with the book sack coming over the fields made him.

As soon as he graduated, he moved to the city and started working in bookstores. Learning everything, Hari soon became the manager of a successful one in Kathmandu. During the process, he’d married, had children, and could’ve lived the rest of his life that way, but it wasn’t enough. Hari wanted his own bookstore. Against everyone’s wishes, he used up all his savings to buy the Brotherhood bookstore. It’d be a rough couple of months, he thought. But the rough months never ended. He watched as his wife turned from a patient, kind woman to a demon who screamed at him every single chance she got.

Samrat and Sonam sat on the couches in the middle of the store and giggled at each other. Lost in their own world they didn’t notice Hari trying hard not to scowl at them. It’s not their fault, he thought. He wanted this store to be a fun place that kids could hang out in. But no one else does, he thought. This isn’t some corner those two lovebirds can stay in for free. For Free. He closed his eyes and took some deep breaths. It’ll be fine. Everything will be alright. I am a good person, Hari thought.

“You’re hilarious,” Sonam laughed a few feet away, her body all but falling into Samrat’s.

Just then, Hari’s phone buzzed. It was a text from a friend. It read: “Your wife asked me to help you find a buyer for the Brotherhood. I’m glad you finally came to your senses. I know someone. I’ll reach out to you when I have everything settled.” His mind went blank.

Hari shouted, “You guys have been here for an hour and not bought anything. If you aren’t going to, then get out!”

Samrat got up, apologised and dragged Sonam away. As they walked off, Hari fell to the ground and started sobbing helplessly. What had he done? He screamed at the children. Children who loved his store. Children who spent all their time in his store. Children who spent all their time in his store and didn’t buy enough books. Children who wanted him to fail. Just like everyone else.

“That was scary,” Samrat said, shaking a little bit.

“Yeah, I wonder if anything has been bothering him,” Sonam replied with a few tears in her eyes.

“He had mentioned the store was not selling well.”

“That must be it! He’s probably frustrated. I mean, we have been there every day the past week. And we haven’t bought anything.”

Sonam squeezed Samrat’s hands and said, “We should do something nice for Hari sir the next time we go there.”

Samrat squeezed back. “Maybe we can ask our friends to come and buy some books with us. What do you think?”

“That’s a great idea. What about tomorrow?”

“That sounds great!”

“I still have some time before I have to go home. Do you wanna hang out at The Hacienda for a bit?”

“I’ve never been there!” Sonam pulled him closer and hugged him and they walked across to The Hacienda. Hari couldn’t believe his eyes. They just walked to The Hacienda. Right in front of him! He screamed.

Hari couldn’t believe his eyes. He knew it. Not only did they want him to fail, but they were traitors too. Easily replaced. They just walked to The Hacienda right in front of him! Hari couldn’t contain himself and went charging towards The Hacienda.

The customers at The Hacienda would talk about that day for years to come. A madman ran screaming to the gate of the restaurant and had to be pinned down by three security guards. Two high schoolers ran to the guards and begged them not to hurt the man too much. The police were called, and the man was promptly taken away. Soon after, the Brotherhood bookstore was closed.