KATHMANDU: Three months after he left his homeland smarting under the abolition of monarchy and his shattered dreams of becoming the king of Nepal some day, ousted crown prince Paras made a grim return to Kathmandu on Thursday, compelled by a fresh tragedy in the family. "Only yesterday, he had refused to return from Singapore," said Kishor Shrestha, editor of Nepali tabloid Jana Aastha, known for ferreting out skeletons in the former royals' cupboards. "His wife, former crown princess Himani went to Singapore to persuade him to return and join the family for the ongoing festivities. But he refused and so on Wednesday, she returned alone." However, 24 hours later, the former playboy prince had returned to Kathmandu to head for Arryaghat at the famed temple of Pashupatinath, where Hindus perform the last rites for their dear departed. Like a bolt from the blue, Paras's confidant and brother-in-law Abhinesh Shah passed away in the early hours of Thursday after a massive heart attack. Shah, 32, was married to former princess Sitashma, Paras's cousin. Sitashma is the daughter of the late prince Dhirendra, desposed king Gyanendra's youngest brother. While Dhirendra died in the shootout in the royal palace in June 2001, less than six months later, Sitashma's mother, princess Prekshya, had also perished in a helicopter crash in Nepal's remote Mugu district. Shrestha said Shah, who owned a health club and was planning to foray into real estate, had had a nose operation recently and was suffering from nerve as well as bone problems. He leaves behind his wife and a daughter. Sitashma was married to Shah in 2003 with Gyanendra, then the omnipotent king of Nepal, giving away the bride. On Thursday, the royal family came together again to pay their last respects to Shah and to watch his cremation at Arryaghat.
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