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Raicharan returned to his own village. He had no child of his own, and it was unlikely he would have one. However, within a year, his wife became pregnant despite her advanced age. A son was born. But Raicharan's wife died at childbirth. Raicharan developed a tremendous hatred for the child. He felt that the child had conspired and come to this world to dislodge his master's son from the throne in his heart. It was a sin to enjoy fatherhood after drowning his master's only son, Raicharan felt. He neglected the child, and it would not have survived for long had not Raicharan's widowed sister taken him under her care.

Surprisingly, this child also displayed characteristics similar to his master's son. The child would crawl on all fours and hide just like his master's son had done - he laughed and chortled just like the master's son. When the child cried, Raicharan would feel an overwhelming pang of distress - it was as if his little master was crying upon being separated from him!

Felna, that is the name that Raicharan's sister had given to the boy, had begun to address his aunt and the rest appropriately just as the son of Raicharan's master had done during his time. It convinced Raicharan that his master's son had been reborn in his own home. There were other reasons why this feeling grew strong in Raicharan. His child was born almost after the master's son went missing; his wife had given birth at an advanced age, and this could not be a mere coincidence; the child did the same things that his master's son did. He shows the same qualities that could make him a judge when he grows up, thought Raicharan.

Raicharan suddenly recalled the words of accusation of the child's mother. She had believed that Raicharan had himself stolen the child. "Yes, that was true. It is only a mother who could know who had stolen her child," thought Raicharan. The thought grieved him so much that he felt a sense of remorse at neglecting the child. He surrendered himself to the boy.

Raicharan began taking special care of the child and began raising him as if he belonged to a wealthy father. He bought a satin shirt and a lace cap for the boy. He had bracelets and anklets made for the boy after melting the gold jewellery belonging to his deceased wife. The boy was not allowed to play with the neighbourhood boys; Raicharan was his sole playmate. The neighbourhood children, whenever they found an opportunity, teased the boy by calling him "Your highness". The people were surprised at Raicharan's behaviour.

When Felna reached the age to go to school, Raicharan sold off all his possessions and took the boy to Kolkata. After much difficulty, he managed to find himself a job and enrolled Felna in a good school. While he himself led an impoverished life, Raicharan ensured that the boy had good food, good clothes, and good education. "Son, it is out of love for me that you have been born in my home, and I will make sure that you suffer from no wants," Raicharan would say to himself.

Twelve years passed; the child grew up into a fine boy with good education and good tastes. The boy did not look upon Raicharan as his father because although Raicharan showered a father's affection upon him, yet he served him as a servant. Besides, Raicharan had kept it a secret from everybody that he was the boy's father. The students in the hostel where Felna resided were curious about Raicharan's rustic manners, but they liked him nevertheless. Felna was also fond of Raicharan, but the fondness was not that of a son, and it had a tinge of loftiness.

Raicharan has become old, and his employer frequently finds fault with his work. Raicharan has, in fact, become weak and cannot concentrate on work - he keeps forgetting things. But an employer who pays a salary cannot be expected to be lenient just because the employee is old. Raicharan has also exhausted his savings. These days Felna grumbles about the lack of good things.

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