Nepal, June 6 -- Khonmi aunty had died for the second time. The villagers, who had gone through the rigor of mourning ritual on her death three years ago, didn't know how to respond to this perplexing news. Which is why the atmosphere of the village was charged with confusion. In some houses this confusion was felt in the form of stunned silence, in some it wrapped itself around the throat of people and, every now and again, allowed itself to be articulated in muffled whispers.

In any case, there was a noticeable change everywhere. Inside the aunty's bungalow, for example, her husband along with his second wife, their five children, the local doctor, several servants and a forlorn-looking dog stood in silence, which of course was unusua...