Www kambikathakal in 035 by KambiAunty

aq¶mÀ {]kmZv

Font : Bhavana

Rm³ sU¶n tPmk^v. Ct¸mÄ _mw¥qcnÂ Hcp sF. Sn. I¼\nbnÂ tPmen sN¿p¶p. hoSv, tIm«bw. Fsâ A¸¨³ tPmk^v Nmt¡m. dn«tbÀUv BÀan Iym]vä³. Ct¸mÄ Hcp skIyqcnän skIyqcnän

kÀÆokv

(hmWnPy,

Poh\¡msc

hyhkmb

kss¹

Øm]\§Ä¡v

sN¿p¶

Øm]\w)

\S¯p¶p. A½ A²ym]nIbmWv. F\n¡v

aq¯Xmbn

Hcp

tPyjvT\pw,

Hcp

ktlmZcnbpap−v. tPyjvT³ s_¶n, Atacn¡bnÂ tkm^väv shbÀ F³Pn\obdmbn tPmen sN¿p¶p. hnhmlnX³. `mcy A\nX. _ncpZm\´c _ncpZ[mcn. Atacn¡bnÂ Xs¶ Hcp

kv¡qfnÂ

A²ym]nI.

Fsâ

ktlmZcn

`À¯mhns\m¸w IpsshänÂ Xmakn¡p¶p. CXmWv Fsâ IpSpw_ hnhc§Ä. Fsâ A¸¨\v ]nXrkz¯mbn In«nb ap¸Xv G¡tdmfw hcp¶

tXm«`qan

Ge¡rjnbmWv

aq¶mdnÂ DÅXv.

D−v. A¸¨³

AhnsS

{][m\ambn

km[mcWbmbn

Irjnbnd¡en\pw, CSbv¡v hfanSoÂ, hnfshSp¸v kab§fnte

Munnar

AhnsS

t]mImdpÅp.

AÃm¯

kab§fnÂ

taÂt\m«¯n\mbn Hcmsf NpaXes¸Sp¯nbn«p−v. tXm«¯nsâ HgpIp¶p.

\SphneqsS

R§fpsS

Hcp

tXm«¯nsâ

sNdnb Hcp

Acphn

aqebv¡pÅ

]mds¡«nÂ \n¶pw XpS§n, tXm«¯n\v \SphneqsS HgpIn t]mIp¶XmWv Cu Acphn. AcphnbpsS ASp¯mbn Hcp FtÌäv _w¥mhpw D−v. IqSmsX

_w¥mhnÂ

Hu«vlukpw,

tÌmÀ

sI«nShpap−v.

tXm«¯nse

\n¶pw

apdnbpw

Ipd¨v

amdn

IqSnbpÅ

kq£n¸pImc³

Hcp

asämcp

AhnsSbmWv

Xmakn¡p¶Xv. sht¡j³ kab§fnsems¡ Rm³ AhnsS t]mbn

X§mdp−v.

As¶ms¡

Nne

Ahkc§fnÂ

tXm«¯nÂ ]Wn¡p hcp¶ Nne kv{XoIsf t`mKn¡m\pÅ Ahkchpw H¯n«p−v. A§s\bncns¡, Fsâ tPyjvTsâ `mcy A\nX,

Hcp

amks¯ Ah[n¡v ho«nÂ F¯n. tN«\v eohv In«m¯Xn\mÂ tN«³ F¯nbncp¶nÃ. A\nXbv¡v Ft¶¡mÄ \mev hbÊv IqSpXÂ D−v. AXpsIm−v Rm³ Ahsc tN«¯n F¶mWv hnfn¨ncp¶Xv. tN«¯n ho«nÂ h¶n«v c−p aq¶v Znhkw Ignªv AhcpsS

ho«ntebv¡v

t]mbn.

AhcpsS

hoSv

N§\mtÈcnbnemWv. R§Ä¡v aq¶mÀ bm{X¡mbn Hcp Po¸v D−v. Rm³ A\nXsb Po¸nÂ AhcpsS ho«nÂ sIm−m¡n. 2

Munnar

HcmgvN

Ignªv

Ahsc

XncnsI

hnfn¡m³

sNÃWsa¶v ]dªv GÀ¸mSm¡nbn«mWv Fs¶ XncnsI hn«Xv.

AXv

{]Imcw

HcmgvN

Ignªv

Rm³

Ahsc

Iq«ns¡m−p h¶p. AhÀ hfsc tkmjyembn«mWv Ft¶mSv s]cpamdp¶Xv. ho−pw

c−p

aq¶v

Znhk§Ä

IqSn

Ignªt¸mÄ,

tN«¯nbv¡v t_mdSn¨p XpS§n. AXv I−n«v, aq¶mdnsems¡ H¶p Id§nbn«v hcm³ A½¨n tN«¯ntbmSv ]dªp. Iq«n\v Fs¶bpw Iq«m³ ]dªp. A¸¨\pw k½Xw aqfnbtXmsS aq¶mÀ bm{X Xocpam\n¨p. A§s\ Xncn¡m³

ASp¯ Xocpam\n¨p.

Znhkw

R§Ä

FtÌänse

aq¶mdntebv¡v ImhÂ¡mct\mSv

A¸¨³ Xs¶ hnhc§Ä hnfn¨p ]dªp. R§Ä¡v `£Ww X¿mdm¡p¶Xn\v Hcmsfbpw NpaXes¸Sp¯n. A¶v

R§fpsS

FtÌänÂ

t^m¬

IW£³

D−mbncp¶p. F¶mÂ B `mK¯v samss_Â t^mWn\v td©v In«pambncp¶nÃ. A§s\ FSp¯psIm−v

R§Ä ASp¯

Bhiyamb Znhkw

hkv{X§sfms¡

cmhnse

Ggv

aWn¡v

R§fpsS Po¸nÂ bm{X ]pds¸«p. tN«¯nbpsS I¿nÂ UnPnäÂ Iymadbpw, hoUntbm Iymadbpw FÃmw D−mbncp¶p. AsXÃmw R§Ä sIm−pt]mbn.

Munnar

Po¸nÂ tN«¯n Fsâ H¸w ap³koänemWv Ccp¶Xv. etKPv apgph³ ]n¶nse koänÂ h¨p. IymadIÄ R§fpsS ASp¯v Xs¶ h¨p. tN«¯n Hcp Po³kpw, SojÀ«pamWv [cn¨ncp¶Xv. Rm³ ]mâpw jÀ«pw. tIm«bw Tu¬ hn«p Ignªt¸mÄ tN«¯n kwkmcn¨p XpS§n. “A\nbm AhnsS \Ã XWp¸v AtÃ. XWp¸v amäm³ CSbv¡v Hcp kvamsfms¡ ASn¡t−? \o F§s\ hoiptam?” “A§s\sbm¶panÃ. hÃt¸mgpw Hcp kvamÄ A{Xtb DÅp. tN«¯nbpsS I¿nÂ tÌm¡pt−m ?” “At¿m

Fsâ

I¿nÂ

CÃ.

Rm³

c−p

Ip¸n

sIm−ph¶Xv A¸¨³ FSp¯p.” “F¦nÂ

]ns¶

\ap¡v

CSbv¡v

FhnsSsb¦nepw

\ndp¯n hm§mw.” “FhnsSbm In«p¶Xv F¶v h¨mÂ \o hm§ns¡mÅWw. F\n¡v AdnbnÃ.” “AsXms¡ Rm³ Gäp. tN«¯n¡v GXv {_m³UmWv th−Xv ?” “A§s\sbm¶panÃ. F\n¡v GXmbmepw aXn. {_mân \n\¡v CjvSamsW¦nÂ AXv hm§nbmÂ aXn.” 4

Munnar

“\Ã a\s¸mcp¯amWtÃm. F\n¡v {_mânbmWv CjvSw. A¸¨sâ

tIzm«mbnÂ

\n¶v

Rm³

CSbvs¡ms¡

I«p

IpSn¡mdp−v.” R§Ä aqhmäp]pg F¯nbt¸mÄ AhnsS Hcp ISbnÂ Ibdn {]`mX `£Ww Ign¨p. kÀ¡mÀ IÅp ISbnÂ \n¶pw c−p Ip¸n hnkvInbpw, A©v Ip¸n _nbdpw hm§n. ASp¯ ISbnÂ \n¶pw, tdmÌv sNbvX A−n¸cn¸v, I¸e−n, Nn]vkv apXembhbpw hm§n. h−n ho−pw bm{X XpSÀ¶p. CSbv¡v \Ã {]IrXn Zriy§Ä

ImWpt¼mÄ

h−n

\ndp¯n

t^mt«m

FSp¯p

sIm−ncp¶p. Tu¬ hn«v Bsfmgnª Øew F¯nbt¸mÄ tN«¯n Fs¶s¡m−v h−n \ndp¯n¨n«v Hcp Ip¸n _nbÀ Xpd¶p. AhÀ AXnÂ \n¶pw c−p IhnÄ IpSn¨n«v F\n¡p X¶p. Rm\pw c−p IhnÄ IpSn¨n«v XncnsI sImSp¯p. A§s\ B Hcp Ip¸n apgph³ R§Ä amdn amdn IpSn¨p XoÀ¯p. CSbv¡v A−n¸cn¸pw sImdn¨p. Imenbmb Ip¸n tdmUv sskUntebv¡v hen¨v Fdnªn«v ho−pw bm{X XpSÀ¶p. HSphnÂ \ndp¯n,

R§Ä

]Xps¡

aq¶mdnÂ bm{X

F¯n.

hgnbnsems¡

sNbvXXn\mÂ

aq¶mdnÂ

F¯nbt¸mtgbv¡pw D¨bmbncp¶p. aq¶mÀ TuWnÂ \n¶pw, 5

Munnar

Nn¶¡\mÂ t]mIp¶ hgnbnÂ ]¯v ]Xn\©v IntemaoäÀ t]mbmte R§fpsS FtÌänÂ F¯q. AXn\mÂ R§Ä aq¶mÀ TuWnÂ \n¶pw D¨ `£Ww Ign¨n«v ho−pw bm{X XpSÀ¶p. HSphnÂ R§Ä FtÌänÂ F¯n. FtÌänse kq£n¸pImc³ AhnsS R§sf Im¯v \nÂ¸p−mbncp¶p.

Abmsfs¡m−v

R§fpsS

s]«nIÄ

c−p apdnIfnembn FSp¯v shbv¸n¨p. ]mNI¯n\v GÀs¸Sp¯nbncp¶ Hcp kv{Xobpw AhnsS D−mbncp¶p. AhÀ R§Ä¡pÅ D¨`£Ww X¿mdm¡n h¨ncp¶p. AhÀ sshIpt¶cw XncnsI t]mIpsa¶pw, ]ns¶ cmhnse h¶v tPmen sN¿psa¶pw Adnbn¨p. A§s\ A¶v AhÀ X¿mdm¡nb `£W¯nÂ \n¶pw, R§Ä¡v cm{Xn Ign¡m\pÅXv FSp¯n«v _m¡n AhÀ¡v Xs¶ sImSp¯p. AhÀ AXpw sIm−v AhcpsS ho«nÂ t]mbn. kq£n¸pImc³, Hu«v^uknemWv InS¡p¶Xv. AXv FtÌäv _w¥mhnÂ \n¶pw Ipd¨p Zqsc amdnbmWv. \mev aWnbmbt¸mtgbv¡pw XWp¸v Bbn¡gnªncp¶p. R§Ä

_w¥mhnse

P\epw

hmXnepIfpsams¡

AS¨p.

AtXmsS XWp¸n\v Hcp sNdnb ia\w D−mbn. ]ns¶ R§Ä NqSp shÅ¯nÂ Hcp Ipfn \S¯n. tN«¯n BZyw AhcpsS apdnbnÂ t]mbn Ipfn¨p h¶p. AhÀ Atacn¡³ kv{XoIÄ [cn¡p¶ amXncnbpÅ ap«phsc am{Xw

Munnar

DÅ anUn t]mse Hcp km[\hpw, AXnsâ tIm«pamWv [cn¨ncp¶Xv. AXp Ignªv Rm³ Fsâ apdnbnepw t]mbn Ipfn¨p. Rm³ Ipfn Ignªv Hcp _À½pUbpw SojÀ«pw C«psIm−v h¶t¸mÄ

tN«¯n

Hcp

Ip¸n

Xpd¶v

aZy

tkh

XpS§nbncp¶p. AhÀ F\n¡pw Hcp ¥mÊnÂ ]IÀ¶p X¶p. Rm³ AhÀ Ccp¶Xnsâ FXnÀ his¯ ItkcbnÂ Ccp¶psIm−v

AXv

]Xps¡

ap¯n

IpSn¨p.

CSbv¡v

Nn]vkpw, Iiph−nbpsams¡ sImdn¨psIm−ncp¶p. Fsâ ¥mÊv Hgnªt¸mÄ AhÀ c−p ¥mÊpw ho−pw \nd¨p. AXpw ]Xps¡ AI¯m¡n. cs−®w AI¯v sN¶t¸mtgbv¡pw XWp¸v ]¼IS¶p. “C\n H¶p IqSn thtWmSm ?” “C¸w CXp aXn. C\n DuWv Ign¡pt¼mÄ H¶pIqSn Ign¡mw.” “F¶mÂ ]ns¶ AXv aXn. AXp hsc F´v sN¿pw ?” “XWp¸v hoWXpsIm−v C¶v C\n ]pdt¯bvs¡m¶pw t]mIm³ ]änÃ. ChnsS Ccn¡pItb amÀ¤apÅp.” AhnsS Sn. hn. H¶pw CÃmbncp¶p. AXpsIm−v Xs¶ kabw

Ifbm³

aäp

amÀ¤hpw

D−mbncp¶nÃ.

tN«¯n,

ItkcbnÂ Ccp¶psIm−v, AhcpsS Hcp ImÂ ap¶nÂ 7

Munnar

InS¶ Sot¸mbnÂ Ibän h¨p. At¸mÄ AhcpsS ap«n\v apIfnÂ \nÂ¡p¶ anUnbpsS CSbneqsS AhcpsS ]mâokv ImWmambncp¶p. AXv I−t¸mtgbv¡pw Fsâ Ip«³ A\§m³ XpS§n. tN«¯nsb¡pdn¨v hscbpw

sXämb

F\n¡v

Nn´Isfm¶pw

D−mbncp¶nÃ.

]t£

\nanjw

At¸mgs¯

AhcpsS Ccp¯ I−n«v Fsâ \nb{´Ww hn«p XpS§n. F¦nepw Rm³ kwba\w ]men¨p. Rm³

AhcpsS

Ignbp¶{X

AØm\t¯bv¡v

{ian¨n«pw

t\m¡nt¸mbncp¶p. t\m¡nbt¸mÄ

CSbvs¡ms¡

Hcp

KplmIhmS¯ntebv¡v

t\m¡mXncn¡m³

XhW

AdnbmsX

Rm³

AhcpsS

t\m¡nbn«v

AhcpsS

apJ¯v

Fsâ

apJ¯v

Xs¶

AhÀ

t\m¡nbncn¡p¶XmWv I−Xv. R§fpsS I®pIÄ X½nÂ CSªp. “A\nbm \o F´m ImgvN ImWp¶Xv ? Rm³ Ipd¨p kabambn ImWp¶p−v.” Rm³

s]s«¶v

N½nt¸mbn.

F¦nepw

AXv

]´nbÃ.

AXm

]pd¯v

Im«msX adp]Sn ]dªp. “tN«¯nbpsS

Ccp¸v

A{X

t\m¡nbXv.” “Fsâ Ccp¯bv¡v F´mSm ]´ntISv ?” 8

Munnar

Rm³

“BsWmcp¯³ ad¶t]msebmWv Ip«n¸mhmS.

C§s\

tN«¯n

AXv

ap¶nÂ

Ccn¡p¶

Ccn¡p¶Xv.

HXp¡n

hbv¡msX

Imcyw

H¶maXv

Hcp

AI¯pÅXv

ImWn¨psIm−ncp¶mÂ Bcmbmepw t\m¡nt¸mIpw.” “F¶n«v \o hÃXpw It−m ?” “Hm F¶m ImWm\m. FÃmw IqSn Hcp Ccp«p t]mse.” “sIm¨p ]nÅmcv Ccp«v I−mÂ aXn.” “AXn\v ChnsS Bcm sIm¨p ]nÅmcv ?” “]ns¶ \o henb Bfmtbm ?” “]n¶nÃmsX. F\n¡v Ct¸mÄ Ccp]¯n c−v hbÊmbn. kÀ¡mcnsâ IW¡v {]Imcw Ccp]¯n H¶mas¯ hbÊnÂ Rm³ IÃymWw Ign¨ncps¶¦nÂ Ct¸mÄ Rm³ Hcv AÑ³ Btbt\. AÃmsX \n§sft¸mse C§s\ Ip«nIfnÃmsX \S¡¯nÃmbncp¶p.” AXv ]dªt¸mÄ tN«¯nbpsS apJw hmSn. AXv I−v Rm³

Sot¸mbnbpsS

apIfnencp¶

AhcpsS

ImenÂ

]nSn¨psIm−v £a ]dªp. “At¿m

tN«¯o

Rm³

tN«¯nsb

hnjan¸n¡m³

]dªXÃ. shÅ¯nsâ ]pd¯v AdnbmsX hmbnÂ \n¶v h¶XmWv.” 9

Munnar

“Hm.. F\n¡v AXnÂ hnjaanÃ. \nsâ tN«\v tPmen Ignªv AXns\m¶pw kabw In«mdnÃ. hnhmlw Ignªn«v Ct¸mÄ aq¶v hÀjamIp¶p. CXp hsc \nsâ tN«³ Fs¶ icn¡pw H¶p I−n«pt]mepanÃ. At§À¡v tPmen Ignªv B^oknÂ \n¶p h¶mÂ ]ns¶bpw em]vtSm¸pambn ]mXncm hsc Ccp¶v tPmenbmWv. ]ns¶ XfÀ¶p InS¶v Dd¡hpw BIpw. A[hm hÃt¸mgpw H¶p In«nbmÂ Xs¶ AI¯v Ibdp¶Xn\v

apt¶

Xfcpw.

]ns¶

Rm³

F§s\

KÀ`nWnbmIpw.” “tN«¯n hnjan¡msX Ccn. FÃmw icnbmIpw.” “Fs¶ms¡

Xs¶bmWv

Rm\pw

C{X

\mÄ

hnNmcn¨ncp¶Xv. C¸w F\n¡v A§s\ Hcp {]Xo£tb CÃ. Cu sht¡j\v Rm³ Häbv¡v C§v h¶Xv Xs¶ AXn\v Fs´¦nepw Hcp ]cnlmcw ImWm³ th−nbmWv.” “AXn\v thtd F´v ]cnlmcamWv DÅXv ?” “AXn\tÃ Rm³ \ns¶bpw Iq«n Cu aq¶mÀ {Sn¸v Xs¶ Atd©v sNbvXXv.” “At¸mÄ

tN«¯n

FÃmw

IcpXn¡q«n

Xs¶bmWv

]pds¸«Xv. AtÃ.” “FSm a−m CXv Fsâ ¹m³ AÃ. \nsâ A½¨n Xs¶bm CXv Atd©v sNbvXXv.” 10 Munnar

“AXp icn. FÃmhcpw IqSn H¯pÅ Ifnbmbncp¶p. AtÃ. A¸¨\v Adnbmtam CXv.” “A¸¨\pw Adnbmw. Rm³ h¶t¸mÄ Xs¶ A½¨n Ft¶mSv

hnhc§Ä

tNmZn¨dnªp.

]ns¶

A¸¨\pw

A½¨nbpw IqSn ¹m³ sNbvXXmWv CXv.” At¸mÄ kabw A©v aWn Ignªnt« D−mbncp¶pÅp F¦nepw t\cnb Ccp«v hym]n¨ncp¶p. R§Ä apdn¡pÅnÂ sseäv sXfn¨ncp¶nÃ. tN«¯n ]Xps¡ Ccp¶nS¯p \n¶pw Fgpt¶äv Fsâ Itkcbv¡v ASp¯v InS¶ ItkcbnÂ h¶v Ccp¶p. AhcpsS tXmÄ Fsâ tXmfnÂ X«nbncp¶p. kmh[m\w AhÀ ssI Fsâ XpSbnÂ h¨p. AtXmsS Fsâ Ip«³ _ew h¨v Dbcm³ XpS§n. Ah³ P«nbpw Xpf¨v ]pd¯v hcptam F¶v tXm¶n. Ahsâ A\¡w I−n«v tN«¯n Fsâ _À½pUbpsS ]pd¯pIqSn Ip®bnÂ XShn. AtXmsS Ah³ IqSpXÂ _ew h¨v DbÀ¶p h¶p. tN«¯n, _À½pUbpsS CemÌn¡n\v CSbneqsS ssI IS¯n, P«nbpsS AI¯v I¿n«v Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p. AhÀ s]s«¶v Ip® ]pd¯v FSp¯n«v “A\nbm CsX´m Rm³ Cu ImWp¶Xv ? \nsâ tN«sâ km[\w CXnsâ ]IpXntb DÅp. Rm³ BsI \nsâ tN«sâ Ip® am{Xta I−n«pÅp. km[mcW

Munnar

Ip®bpsS

hen¸w

AXmWv

F¶mWv

Rm³

IcpXnbncp¶Xv. CXv Ct¸mÄ Fsâ FÃm IW¡v Iq«epw sXän¨p Ifªp.” Rm³ F¶ntebv¡v

tN«¯nbpsS tNÀ¯v

tXmfneqsS

]nSn¨p.

AhÀ

I¿n«v

Ahsc

Fsâ

IhnfnÂ

Npw_n¨p. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnse ]nSn hn«ncp¶nÃ. AhÀ kmh[m\w Ip® sXmen¨v ASn¨p. Rm³ c−mas¯ ssI sIm−v AhcpsS amdnÂ XgpIn. AhcpsS tIm«nsâ DÅneqsS ssI IS¯n, AI¯v [cn¨ncp¶ jÀ«nsâ ]pd¯pIqSn apeIfnÂ XgpIn. AhÀ Fsâ ssI ]nSn¨v AhcpsS apebnÂ h¨v AaÀ¯n. Rm³ Ahsc tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨psIm−v AhcpsS IhnfnÂ Npw_n¨p. Rm³ ]Xps¡ AhÀ [cn¨ncp¶ tIm«v Ducn amän. ASnbnÂ Hcp shÅ jÀ«v D−mbncp¶p. Rm³ AXpw Ducn amän.

At¸mÄ

AhcpsS

apeIÄ

t{_knbdn\pÅnÂ

sImÅmsX ]pdt¯bv¡v apg¨p \n¶p. AhÀ Bbncp¶p. Rm³

[cn¨ncp¶Xv,

Hcp

AXv

icn¡v

t{_knbÀ

apeIsf

hit¯bv¡v

Atacn¡³

t{_knbÀ

adbv¡p¶nÃmbncp¶p. \o¡nbn«v

apeIsf

]pds¯Sp¯p. AhcpsS apeIÄ, H«pw DShv X«msX Hcp Nnc« Iagv¯nbXp t]mse apt¶m«v DbÀ¶p \n¶p. AhcpsS, \t¶ shfp¯ icoc¯nÂ, B apeIfpsS ap³hiw GXm−v ]n¦v \nd¯nÂ Hcp hr¯hpw, AXnsâ a²y¯mbn {_u¬ \nd¯nÂ Xosc sNdnb ape¡®pIfpw 12

Munnar

IqSn BsI ImWm³ \Ã tNev Bbncp¶p. Rm³ hncÂXp¼v sIm−v

ape¡®n\v

AtXmsS

AhcpsS

Npänepw

hr¯w

ape¡®pIÄ

hc¨psIm−ncp¶p.

_ew

h¨v

Ipd¨pIqSn

hepXmbn h¶p. “A\nbm,

AhnsS

\¶mbn«v

Xncps½Sm.

\Ã

kpJw

tXm¶p¶p−v.” “tN«³ C§s\sbm¶pw sNbvXv X¶n«ntÃ ?” “FhnsS. tN«³ C¶phsc Fsâ apebnÂ sXm«n«nÃ. \obmWv Fsâ apebnÂ BZyambn ]nSn¨Xv.” “tN«³ ]ns¶ tN«¯nsb F´m sNbvXXv ?” “Hm,

At§cv

BsI

sN¿p¶Xv

Fsâ

]mhmS

DbÀ¯nbn«v, ]mâoknsâ CSbneqsS H¶p tIän c−v Ipep¡v Ipep¡pw. A{X Xs¶ BsI sN¿p¶Xv.” “]ns¶ F§s\bm Imcy§Ä \S¶psIm−ncp¶Xv ?” “Hm,

At§cv

XfÀ¶v

InS¶v Dd¡ambmepw

F\n¡v

Dd¡w hcnÃ. ]ns¶ Rm³ hncÂ C«v Hcphn[w Imcyw km[n¡pw.” Rm³

Ip\nªv

AhcpsS

ape¡®v

hmbnem¡n

\pWªp. AhÀ Fsâ Xe AhcpsS amdntebv¡v ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n h¨p. Hcp ssI sIm−v Rm³ AhcpsS atä 13

Munnar

ape¡®nÂ

]nSn¨v

sRcSns¡m−ncp¶p.

AhÀ

Fsâ

Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n. “A\nbm, F\n¡v kln¡m³ ]äp¶nÃSm. \o atä ape IqSn hmbnÂ h¨v N¸n hens¡Sm Ip«m. \nsâ tN«³ Fsâ aq¶v hÀjw shdptX IfªtÃmSm.” Rm³ AhcpsS c−p apeIfpw amdn amdn hmbnÂ h¨v hen¨p IpSn¨p. AhÀ Ip®bnse ]nSn hn«n«v, AhcpsS ]mhmS DbÀ¯n,

]mâoknsâ

]pd¯pIqSn

]qänÂ

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS AhÀ

s]s«¶v

anUnbpsS lq¡pw,

Fgpt¶äv

Fsâ

knºpw Cf¡n.

ap¶nÂ

F\n¡v

A`napJambn \n¶p. AhcpsS icoc¯nÂ CdpIn InS¶ anUn Rm³ Xmtgbv¡v ]nSn¨v Ducn. ]ns¶

AhcpsS

icoc¯nÂ

BsI

Ahtijn¨Xv,

A¸¯nsâ ap³`mKs¯ XSn¨ `mKw am{Xw adbv¡p¶ Hcp ]mâokv

am{Xambn.

Rm³

]Xps¡

AXpw

Xmtgbv¡v

Ducnamän. AhcpsS ]qÀXS¯nÂ HcmgvNtbmfw hfÀ¨bpÅ Ipän tcma§Ä hfÀ¶p \n¶p. Rm³ B Ipän tcma¯nÂ ssI sIm−v XgpIn. AhÀ AhnsS \n¶psIm−p Xs¶ AhcpsS Hcp ImÂ DbÀ¯n Fsâ XpSIÄ¡nSbnembn ItkcbnÂ h¨p. 14

Munnar

AhÀ Imense XÅhncÂ sIm−v Fsâ Ip®bnÂ XgpIn. Rm³ Fsâ ssIhncÂ sIm−v AhcpsS ]qÀ NmeneqsS XgpIn. AhcpsS ]qÀNmensâ apIfä¯mbn Hcp \ne¡S Ipcphnsâ hen¸¯nÂ I´v ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn \n¶p. Rm³ Fsâ XÅhncen\pw Nq−p hncepw sIm−v AXv ]Xps¡ sRcSn. AXv I−n«v AhÀ “\osb´mSm hm¨n\v Io sImSp¡pt¶m ? GXmbmepw \ndp¯−. A§s\ Xs¶ ]nSnt¨m. \Ã kpJw.” Rm³

I´v

]nSn¯w

XpSÀ¶psIm−ncp¶p.

H¸w

\SphncÂ ]qÀXpfbnÂ Ip¯nbnd¡n. AhÀ ItkcbnÂ Nhp«nbncp¶

ImÂ

Ipd¨IqSn

DbÀ¯n,

ItkcbpsS

his¯ ]SnbnÂ Nhp«n. AtXmsS AhcpsS ]qÀ Iptd¡qSn hnSÀ¶p.

H¸w,

]qänÂ

\n¶pw

\oscmgp¡pw

XpS§n.

At¸mtgbv¡pw AhÀ icn¡v NqSmbn¡gnªncp¶p. “A\nbm

F\n¡v

kln¡m³

]äp¶nÃ.

Fs¶

Fs´¦nepsams¡ sNs¿Sm.” AhÀ s]s«¶v Fsâ ap¶nÂ Ip¯n Ccp¶psIm−v, Fsâ _ÀapUbpw, sP«nbpw IqSn Xmtgbv¡v ]nSn¨v Xmgv¯n. Rm³

AhnsS

DbÀ¯ns¡mSp¯p. Xmtgbv¡v Ducn amän. 15

Munnar

Ccp¶psIm−pXs¶ AtXmsS

AhÀ

AXv

c−pw

N´n IqSn

hkv{X§fpsS

]nSnbnÂ

\n¶pw

kzX{´ambtXmsS

Fsâ Ip®, kzX{´amb Hcp kv{]nMv t]mse \n¶v BSn. AhÀ c−p ssI sIm−pw AXnÂ apdpsI ]nSn¨p. “A\nbm

CXv

A]mc

km[\w

Xs¶.

CXv

F§s\bmSm C{Xbpw hfÀ¯n FSp¯Xv ?” “Hm,

AsXms¡

sNbvXXv,

shÅw

hmWaSn¡pambncp¶p.

A§s\b§v h¨

]än.

\mÄ

AÃmsX

Rm³

apXÂ

BsI

apS§msX

Rms\m¶pw

sNbvXn«nÃ.

GXmbmepw Ah\§v hfÀ¶p hepXmbn.” “At¸mÄ \o Znhkhpw hmWaSn¡mdpt−m” “Mm.

an¡hmdpw

Znhk§fnÂ

FÃm

Znhkhpw

c−pw,

hmWaSn¡pw.

aq¶pw

Nne

{]mhiysams¡

ASn¡pambncp¶p.” “Cu

hnZy

\n\¡v

\nsâ

tN«\p

IqSn

]dªp

sImSp¡mambncp¶ntÃ. F¦nÂ Rm³ c£s¸t«t\atÃm.” “Rm\dntªm tN«\v CsXm¶pw henb ]nSnbnÃ F¶v. Xs¶bpaÃ, hyXymkap−v.

Rm\pw

tN«\pw

AXpsIm−v

ASp¸sam¶panÃmbncp¶p.”

Munnar

X½nÂ

R§Ä

F«p

X½nÂ

hbÊnsâ

C¯c¯nÂ

AhÀ ]Xps¡ Ip\nªv Fsâ Ip®bnÂ Np−pIÄ AaÀ¯n.

Ahsâ

\ndanÃm¯

Aä¯v

{ZmhIw

Xpfp¼n

AhÀ

\n¶

\m¡psIm−v

Hcp

XpÅn

\¡nsbSp¯p.

Rm³ AhcpsS XebneqsS hnctemSn¨p. AhÀ ]Xps¡ Ip®bpsS aIpSw hmbv¡pÅnem¡n. AhÀ

\m¡p

sIm−v

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. I¯n.

Rm³

Ip®bpsS

AtXmsS

AhcpsS

aIpS¯n\v

Fsâ ]nSn¨v

Npäpw

DÅnÂ

]q¯ncn

AaÀ¯n.

AtXmsS

Ip®bpsS ]IpXn AhcpsS hmbv¡pÅnembn. Rm³ AhcpsS XebnÂ ]nSn¨v apt¶m«pw ]pdtIm«pw Nen¸n¨p.

H¸w,

Fsâ

Imensâ

s]cphncÂ

sIm−v

AhcpsS ]qänÂ XgpIn. AhÀ Hcp ssI sIm−v Fsâ ]dnk©nbnÂ XgpIns¡m−v, Ip® aq©Â XpSÀ¶p. Fsâ Imense s]cphncÂ AhcpsS ]qÀtX³ sIm−v IpXnÀ¶p. HSphnÂ

AhÀ Fsâ

X¿msdSp¸v

hfsc

thK¯nÂ

ASnhbänÂ

\S¡p¶Xv

Hcp

Rm³

aq©Â DcpÄ

Adnªp.

XpSÀ¶p.

s]m«en\pÅ HSphnÂ

AXv

kw`hn¨p. Fsâ

Ip®,

AhcpsS

A®m¡ntebv¡v

D−IÄ

hnt£]n¨p. Gsg«p {]mhiyw Ip® AhcpsS hmbnÂ shSn s]m«n¨p. Ip®bnÂ \n¶pw Ahkm\ XpÅn hsc AhÀ \¡nsbSp¯p.

HSphnÂ

Ip®

AhcpsS

Npcp§nbt¸mÄ AhÀ AXv ]pds¯Sp¯p. 17

Munnar

hmbnencp¶v

“FSm, \nsâ ]men\v \Ã cpNnbmWtÃmSm. F\n¡v hbÀ \nd¨pw \nsâ ]mÂ In«n.” “AXv

apgph³

IpSn¨msem¶pw

KÀ`nWn

BI¯nÃ.

AXn\v Cu ]mÂ apgph³ AI¯v \nt£]n¡Ww.” “Hm, AXv C¸w \nt£]n¨n«v ImcyanÃ. F\n¡v sa³kkv Bbn«v

C¶v

Bdv

Znhkta

Bbn«pÅp.

Ct¸mÄ

AIs¯mgn¨msem¶pw KÀ`w D−mI¯nÃ. AXn\v C\nbpw HcmgvN IqSn IgnbWw. AXp hsc AXv F´n\m ]mgm¡n Ifbp¶Xv?” “tN«¯n Fsâ ]mÂ apgph³ IpSn¨ntÃ. C\n F\n¡v tN«¯nbpsS tX³ IpSn¡Ww.” “AsX§s\bmSm tX³ IpSn¡p¶Xv ?” “tN«¯n

AhnsS

aeÀ¶v

InSt¶.

tX³

Rm³

IpSnt¨mfmw.” A§s\ Rm³ Ahsc XdbnÂ aeÀ¯n InS¯nbn«v, AhcpsS

ImepIÄ¡nSbnembn

Rm\pw

InS¶p.

AhnsS

InS¶psIm−v Rm³ AhcpsS ImepIÄ c−p hit¯bv¡pw AIÀ¯n h¨p. Rm³

apJw

AhcpsS

]qänÂ

ap«n¨p.

AhcpsS

]qÀNmensâ apIfä¯mbn ]qÀ CXfpIfpsS a²y¯mbn 18

Munnar

I´v ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn \n¶p. Rm³ \m¡v \o«n AXnÂ kv]Àin¨p. s]s«¶v AhÀ tjm¡Sn¨Xpt]mse sR«n hnd¨p. Rm³ ]qÀNmensâ Iogäw apXÂ apIfäw hsc \m¡p sIm−v \¡n. AhÀ Fsâ XebnÂ ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n. AhÀ s]s«¶v ImÂap«pIÄ aS¡nbn«v ImÂ]mZw XdbnÂ Du¶n. AtXmsS Fsâ Xe, AhcpsS ImepIÄ¡nSbnembn. Rm³

AhcpsS

I´v,

Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n

hen¨p

IpSn¨p. AhÀ Fsâ Xe AhcpsS ]qäntebv¡v IqSpXÂ AaÀ¯n

]nSn¨p.

F\n¡v

icn¡v

izmkw

hen¡m³

]änbnsÃ¦nepw, Rm³ N¸Â XpSÀ¶p. AhÀ hnImcw sIm−v ]pfªp. Rm³ \m¡v AhcpsS Xpfbntebv¡v Ip¯nbnd¡n. AXneqsS t\cnb \oscmgp¡v D−mbncp¶p. Rm³ AXv \¡n IpSn¨p. AhÀ ImepIÄ, Fsâ tXmfn\v apIfneqsS Fsâ apXpInÂ Ibän h¨p. Rm³ AhcpsS ]qÀ apgph³ N¸n hen¨p. H¸w, heXp I¿psS Nq−p hncen\pw, s]cphncen\pw CSbnÂ AhcpsS I´v FSp¯v sRcSns¡m−pancp¶p. A[nIw Ignbp¶Xn\v ap¼v AhcpsS \Sp hnÃp t]mse hfªv

DbÀ¶p

Ahyàamb

Nne

h¶p.

H¸w

AhcpsS

A]kzc§fpw

hmbnÂ

\n¶pw

]pds¸«psIm−ncp¶p.

HSphnÂ AhcpsS tX³IpSw s]m«n HgpIn. H¸w, AhcpsS DbÀ¶p \n¶ icocw sh«nbn« t]mse XdbnÂ hoWp.

Munnar

AhcpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw HgpInbnd§nb tX³ apgph³ Rm³ \¡n IpSn¨p. AhÀ XfÀ¶p InS¶psIm−v Fsâ XebnÂ XgpIn. HSphnÂ AhÀ Fsâ Xe ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯n. Rm³ AhcpsS ASp¯v tNÀ¶p InS¶p. AhÀ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨p Npw_n¨p. AhÀ Fsâ apJ¯v FÃm Øe¯pw amdn amdn Npw_n¨p “Fsâ s]m¶p tamt\, \o F´m Fs¶ sNbvXXv? Rm³ kzÀ¤w Is−Sm. Fsâ PohnX¯nÂ Rm³ C¶phsc C{Xbpw kpJw A\p`hn¨n«nÃ.” “tN«¯o CXv shdpw km¼ntf Bbn«pÅp. icn¡pÅ shSns¡«v C\n ImWm\ncn¡p¶tX DÅq.” “At¿m, Fsâ N¡tc, CXv Xs¶ F\n¡v kln¡m³ ]äp¶Xn\pw

A¸pdambncp¶p.

At¸mÄ

_m¡n

IqSn

BIpt¼mtg¡pw Rm³ kpJw sIm−v izmkw ap«n NmIpw.” Rm³ AhcpsS ASpt¯bv¡v Ncnªp InS¶p sIm−v, Fsâ Xe, Fsâ heXp ssI sIm−v Xm§n Ahsc t\m¡n InS¶p. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p sRcn¨p. AtXmsS, ]IpXn XfÀ¶p InS¶ Ip®, ]Xps¡ Poh³ h¨v Dbcm³

XpS§n.

Rm³

CSXv

ssI

sIm−v

AhcpsS

apebnÂ XgpIn. AhÀ Xe DbÀ¯n Fs¶ Npw_n¨p. Rm³ Ip\nªv AhcpsS ape¡®n\v Npänepw \m¡p sIm−v \¡n. AtXmsS ape¡®pIÄ _ew h¨v DbÀ¶p 20

Munnar

h¶p.

AhÀ

AaÀ¯n

Fsâ

h¨p.

XebnÂ

Rm³

]nSn¨v

ape¡®v

AhcpsS

amdnÂ

Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n

\pWªp. AhÀ

]Xps¡

Ip®bnse

]nSnbpw

NqSp]nSn¨p apdpIn.

XpS§n.

AhcpsS

AXn\\pkcn¨v Ip®bnse

]nSn

apdpIp¶Xn\v A\pkcn¨v Fsâ \nb{´Whpw hn«p XpS§n. Ahkm\w Rm³ AhcpsS apIfnÂ Ibdn. AhÀ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v

Npw_n¨p.

Fsâ

Ip«³,

AhcpsS

XpSIÄ¡nSbnÂ Ip¯n¡bdns¡m−ncp¶p. Rm³ Fsâ ImÂ ap«psIm−v AhcpsS ImepIÄ XÅn

AIÀ¯nbn«v,

AhcpsS

XpSIfpsS

\Sphnembn

ap«pIp¯n DbÀ¶n«v, Ip®, AhcpsS ]qÀNmenÂ ]nSn¨p h¨v Dc¨p.

AhcpsS

ImepIÄ

IqSpXÂ

AIÀ¶p.

Rm³

Ip®bpsS Xe, AhcpsS ]qÀNmenÂ ap«n¨p h¨psIm−v ]Xps¡ Fsâ Acs¡«v Xmgv¯n. ]t£ Ip®bpsS aIpSw am{Xta DÅnÂ IbdnbpÅp. Rm³ Ipd¨pIqSn _eambn AaÀ¯n “A\nbm

F´v

sN¿pIbm.

hgnbdnbmsX

asähnsStbm BsW¶p tXm¶p¶p Ip¯p¶Xv. F\n¡v \Ã thZ\ FSp¡p¶p.” Rm³ H¶pIqSn DbÀ¶n«v, Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v t\m¡n. Ip®v icnbmb Øe¯v Xs¶bmWv Ip¯nbncn¡p¶Xv.

Munnar

“tN«¯o

Rm³

Ip¯p¶Xv.

icnbmb

]t£

sNdpXmbXpsIm−mWv

Øe¯v

Xs¶bmWv

tN«¯nbpsS thZ\n¡p¶Xv.

Xpf

AXv

]Xps¡

icnbmIpw.” Rm³ AtXmsS

Ip®

H¶pIqSn

AhcpsS

AhnsSsbms¡

]qänÂ

\n¶pw

h¨v

Dc¨p.

Hen¨nd§nb

tX³

Ip®bpsS Aä¯v ]pc−p. Rm³ ho−pw Ip®bpsS Xe ]qÀXpfbnÂ tNÀ¯p h¨psIm−v ]Xps¡ AIt¯bv¡v XÅn.

AtXmsS

Ip®bpsS

]IpXn

AI¯mbn.

AhÀ

Np−pIÄ ISn¨p ]nSn¨v, I®pIÄ Cdp¡n AS¨v, Fsâ tXmfnÂ apdpsI ]nSn¨p. Rm³ Ipd¨p kabw A\§msX InS¶p.

Rm³

Hcp

ssI

sIm−v

AhfpsS

apebnÂ

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ AhÀ “A\nbm apgph³ Ibdntbm ?” “CÃ

tN«¯o.

]IpXntb

Bbn«pÅp.

tN«¯n¡v

thZ\n¨XpsIm−mWv Rm³ \ndp¯nbXv.” “C¸w

thZ\

Ipdªp.

C\n

tam³

H¶p

tIän

t\m¡ntb.” Rm³ Ip® Aev]w ]pdt¯bv¡v hen¨n«v, iànbmbn AIt¯bv¡v XÅn. AtXmsS Ip® ]qÀ®ambn AI¯mbn. AhÀ thZ\ sIm−v \nehnfn¨p. 22

Munnar

“A\nbm F§ms−ms¡ Iodn s]mfs¶¶v tXm¶p¶p. Ipg¸amIptam ?” “H¶panÃ tN«¯o. AXv ]Xps¡ A§v amdns¡mÅpw.” Rm³

AhcpsS

apeIfnÂ

apJw

AaÀ¯n

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS ]qänencp¶v hn§ns¡m−ncp¶p. Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ AhcpsS thZ\ amdnbn«v AhÀ N´n apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¯n F\n¡v Adnbn¸v X¶p. Rm³ ]Xps¡ Ip® Ducn ASn¡m³ XpS§n. BZysams¡ Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS ]qÀ `n¯nbnÂ Dcªv F\n¡v sNdpXmbn thZ\n¡p¶p−mbncp¶p. aq¶p \mev

ASn

Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw

AhcpsS

]qdn\v

Aev]w

Abhv h¶p XpS§n. AtXmsS Rm³ ASnbpsS thKX Iq«n. AhÀ ASnbnÂ InS¶v ]pfªp. “A\nbm Rm³ kzÀ¤w ImWps¶Sm. \nsâ tN«³ CXp t]mse Hcn¡Ât]mepw F\n¡v ASn¨p X¶n«nÃSm. At¿m F\n¡v kln¡m³ ]äp¶nÃSm.” Rm³ AhcpsS ImepIÄ DbÀ¯n Fsâ tXmfnÂ h¨p.

F¶n«v

BªSn¨p.

H¸w

sRcSns¡mSp¯p.

AhcpsS hncÂ AhÀ

Acs¡«nÂ sIm−v ssIIÄ

]nSn¨psIm−v

AhcpsS Xebv¡v

I´nÂ ]n¶neqsS

FSp¯n«v XebnWbnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p sIm−v Xebn«v

Munnar

Dcp«n. AhcpsS hmbnÂ \n¶pw A]i_vZ§Ä ]pd¯p h¶psIm−ncp¶p. AhÀ ssI DbÀ¯n Fsâ tXmfnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. s]s«¶v AhcpsS Xe apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¶p h¶p. AXv A[nIkabw DbÀ¶p \n¶nÃ. AXn\nsS AhcpsS sI«p s]m«n. AtXmsS Fsâ tXmfnse ]nSn hn«psIm−v AhÀ I«nenÂ aeÀ¶p hoWp InX¨p. “A\nbm Rm³ BsI XfÀs¶Sm. Fs¶ C\n H¶n\pw sImÅnÃ.” “AsXms¡ C¸w amdpw tN«¯o. F¶n«v tN«¯n C\nbpw thWsa¶v ]dbpw.” “icnbmbncn¡mw.

]t£

Ct¸mgs¯

AhØbnÂ

F\n¡v H¶n\pw h¿. \o F\n¡v IpSn¡m³ Ipd¨v shÅw FSp¯p Xm.” “tN«¯nbpsS Imcyw Ignªt¸mÄ Fsâ Imcyw ad¶p. AtÃ

F\n¡v

H¶pw

BbnÃ.

Ch³

Ibdps]m«n¡p¶p. Ahs\ Rm³ F´v sN¿Ww ?” “\o AXv Ducn Fsâ hmbnÂ h¨p Xm. Rm³ B ]mse¦nepw IpSn¡s«.”

Munnar

Rm³

s]s«¶v

Ip®

Ducn

AhcpsS

hmbntebv¡v

h¨psImSp¯p. AhcpsS ]qÀtX\nÂ IpXnÀ¶ Ip® AhÀ hmbnem¡n N¸n hen¨p. Rm³ Ip® AhcpsS hmbntebv¡v XÅns¡mSp¯p. AhÀ Ip®bpsS IS hsc hmbnem¡n N¸n hen¨p.

Ip®bpsS

Aäw

AhcpsS

A®m¡nÂ

ap«nbn«v

]et¸mgpw AhÀ¡v izmkw ap«nbncp¶p. F\n¡v A[nIw kabw ]nSn¨p \nÂ¡m³ IgnªnÃ. Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS A®m¡ntebv¡v ]mÂ A`nt£Iw \S¯n. AhÀ AXv apgph³ IpSn¨nd¡n. Ip®bpsS sh«Â Ahkm\n¨t¸mÄ AhÀ Ip® ]pds¯Sp¯v AXnsâ ]pdw apgph³

\¡n

XpS¨p.

Fsâ

Ip®bpsS

_ew

Aev]w

Ipdsª¦nepw, AXnsâ hen¸w Ipdªncp¶nÃ. AXv I−n«v AhÀ “A\nbm Ch³ ]¯n Xmgv¯p¶nÃtÃmSm. \nsâ tN«sâ kmam\w shÅw t]mbmÂ DS³ Imäp t]mb _eq¬ t]mse s]s«¶v Npcp§patÃm. CXnsâ clkysa´mSm ?” Rm³ AhcpsS ASp¯v InS¶p.. “AXnÂ

clkysam¶panÃ

tN«¯o.

AsXms¡

Hmtcmcp¯cpsS icoc{]IrXamWv.” “GXmbmepw kzÀ¤w

ImWn¨p.

\ns¶

k½Xn¨ncn¡p¶p.

Ct¸mÄ

F\n¡v

\nsâ

ASpt¯bv¡v XncnsI t]mImt\ tXm¶p¶nÃ.” 25

Munnar

Fs¶ tN«sâ

“F¦nÂ ]ns¶ tN«¯n ChnsSb§v IqSnt¡m.” “At¸mÄ

Rm³

KÀ`nWnbmbmÂ

Fsâ

KÀ`w

GÂ¡ptam ?” “]ns¶´m Rm³ kt´mjt¯msS GÂ¡mw.” “F\n¡pw

AXv

CjvSamWv.

]t£

BfpIÄ

F´v

]dbpw?” “A§s\

FÃmhtcbpw

Xr]vXns¸Sp¯n

\ap¡v

Pohn¡m³ ]äptam ?” “F¦nepw \½psS \mStÃ ?” “AXn\v Hcp hgnbp−v. \n\¡v IqSn AhnsS Hcp tPmen Xcs¸Sp¯mw. AhnsSbmIpt¼mÄ Bcpw AdnbnÃtÃm.” “AXv thWsa¦nÂ BtemNn¡mhp¶tX DÅp.” R§Ä Ipd¨p kabw IqSn A§s\ kwkmcn¨psIm−v InS¶p. ]ns¶

Fgpt¶äv

hkv{Xw

[cn¨p.

AhÀ

Fsâ

_À½pUbpw So jÀ«pamWv [cn¨Xv. ASnbnÂ H¶pw [cn¨nÃ. Rm³ t]mbn Hcp ssIen FSp¯v DSp¯p. ]ns¶ sseäv sXfn¨p.

tN«¯n

AhcpsS

AI¯v sIm−p h¨p. 26

Munnar

hkv{X§sfms¡

FSp¯v

XWp¸v IqSnbXn\mÂ R§Ä c−mfpw Hmtcm I¼nfn DSp¸v

FSp¯v

]pd¯v

[cn¨p.

At¸mgpw

kabw

Bdc

Bbnt« D−mbncp¶pÅp. Rm³ loäÀ Hm¬ sNbvXtXmsS apdnbnse XWp¸v amdn. At¸mÄ R§Ä I¼nfn DSp¸v Ducn amän.

R§Ä¡v

{]tXyIn¨v

H¶pw

sN¿m³

CÃmbncp¶p.

AXn\mÂ R§Ä AIs¯ apdnbnÂ Ibdn I«nenÂ InS¶p. loädnÂ

\n¶pw

NqSv

hcp¶Xn\mÂ

XWp¸v

A\p`hs¸«nÃ. Rm³ tN«¯nbpsS SojÀ«v DbÀ¯n h¨n«v AhcpsS IÃpt]mse Dd¨ apeIfnÂ XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. AhÀ

Fsâ

ap−nsâ

Ip¯v

Agn¨v

ap−v

c−p

hit¯bv¡pw Xpd¶p h¨p. Fsâ Ip® _ewh¨v DbÀ¶p \n¶ncp¶p. AhÀ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v XgpIn. “tamt\

F\n¡v

\nsâ

kmam\w

I−n«pw

aXnbmIp¶nÃSm. CXv A¯c¯nepÅ Hcp km[\w Xs¶.” “tN«sâ Ip® icn¡pw F{Xbp−v ?” “Hm ! AXv IjvSn¨v Hcp \men©nÂ Xmsgtb ImWq. \nsâ Cu km[\w I−n«v AXv H¶paÃ. CXn\v Bdn©nÂ IqSpXÂ \ofw ImWpatÃm.” “Mm. CXn\v Bdc C©v \ofap−v.” “\o

hmWaSn

AÃmsX

CXv

Bscsb¦nepw Xm§nbn«pt−mSm?” 27

Munnar

sIm−v

CXn\v

ap¼v

“]ns¶ Rms\´n\m CXv sIm−p \S¡p¶Xv ?” “\o Bscsbms¡ Xm§nbn«p−v?” “Hm, A§s\sbm¶panÃ. Rm³ ap¼v Nnet¸msgms¡ sht¡j\v

ChnsS

hcmdp−mbncp¶p.

As¶ms¡

ChnSps¯ Nne ]Wn¡mcnIsf ASn¨n«p−v. ]t£ Rm³ BZyambn ASn¨Xv \½psS ho«nse thebv¡v hcp¶ \fn\n tN¨nsbbmWv. ” “AsX§s\bmSm \o \fn\n tN¨nsb hf¨Xv? FÃmw H¶p hniZambn ]dsbSm.” “tN«¯o, \nÂ¡p¶

Rm³

kabw.

]¯mw

A¸¨³

¢mÊnse cmhnse

]co£

Ignªp

B^oknÂ

t]mIpw.

A½bv¡v ]co£m t]¸À t\m¡m³ D−mIpw. A½¨n cmhnse Im¸nIpSn Ignªv t]¸À t\m¡m³ Ccn¡pw. ]ns¶ AhnsS Rm³ Häbv¡v BIpw. t_mdSn amäm\mbn Rm³ ASp¡fbnÂ \fn\n tN¨nbpsS ASp¯v t]mbn AhcpsS tPmenIsfms¡ t\m¡n \nÂ¡pw.” “\fn\n tN¨n \sÃmcp Nc¡mWtÃm. t\m¡n \nÂ¡m\pw am{Xw

D−v.

h®w

A[nIw

CsÃ¦nepw

ap³

hihpw

]pdIphihpsams¡ Bhiy¯n\v D−tÃm.” “AXv

]t£

GXm−v

Bdv

hÀjw

ap¼tÃ.

A¶v

Ahsc¡mWm³ CXnepw \Ã tNembncp¶p. A¶v AhÀ¡v 28

Munnar

GXm−v ap¸Xv hbÊnÂ Xmsgtb DÅp. AhcpsS `À¯mhv Ahsc Dt]£n¨p t]mb kabw. AhcpsS aIÄ BcXn¡v A¶v Ft«m, H³]tXm hbÊv. Pohn¡m³ aäv amÀ¤anÃm¯ AhØbnemWv AhÀ \½psS ho«nÂ tPmen¡v h¶Xv. aIsf cmhnse Ipfn¸n¨v kv¡qfnÂ t]mIm\pÅ thjhpw [cn¸n¨v AXn cmhnse hcpw. BZysams¡ A§s\bmbncps¶¦nepw, ]ns¶

\½psS ho«nÂ h¶n«mbn aIfpsS Ipfnbpw thjw

sI«epsams¡. ]ns¶ kv¡qÄ kabamIpt¼mÄ A½bpsS IqsS AhÄ kv¡qfnÂ t]mIpw. Rm\pw B kab¯v Xs¶ kv¡qfnÂ

t]mIp¶Xv.

kv¡qfntebv¡v

]¯v

R§fpsS

an\näv

ho«nÂ

\S¡m\pÅ

\n¶pw

Zqcta

DÅp.

AXpsIm−p Xs¶ D¨bv¡v R§Ä ho«nÂ h¶mWv DuWv Ign¡p¶Xv. “FSm \o Ncn{Xw ]dbmsX Imcy¯ntebv¡v hm.” “Mm. A§s\ Rm³ ASp¡fbnÂ sN¶v tN¨nbpsS ASp¯v tN¨n tPmen sN¿p¶Xv t\m¡n \nÂ¡pw. tN¨n, ssIenbpw, [cn¡p¶Xv.

Cd¡w AhÀ

IqSnb

Hcp

AhcpsS

DSp¸pamWv

ho«nÂ

\n¶pw

km[mcW hcpt¼mÄ

amdnÂ Hcp tXmÀ¯v C«psIm−mWv hcpsX¦nepw, ho«nÂ h¶mÂ B tXmÀ¯v FSp¯v amänbn«mWv tPmen sN¿p¶Xv. As¶ms¡ sht¡j\mbmÂ AhcpsS

aIfpw H¸w

D−mbncn¡pw. AhÀ AhcpsS Hcp ktlmZcsâ H¸amWv Xmakn¨ncp¶Xv.

ktlmZc\pw

AbmÄ¡v

Ip«nIÄ

Munnar

c−p

hnhmlnX\mbncp¶p.

D−mbncp¶p.

Ahcpambn

tN¨nbpsS aIÄ Ifn¨v hg¡v IqS− F¶v IcpXnbmWv tN¨n AXns\¡qSn sIm−p hcp¶Xv. A§s\bncns¡, Fsâ ]¯mw ¢mÊnse dnkÄ«v h¶p. ASp¯ ¹Êv h®nsâ {]thi\ \S]SnIÄ \S¡p¶tX DÅp. ]t£ kv¡qfnÂ aäv ¢mÊpIÄ¡v ¢mÊv Bcw`n¨p. A§s\ A½bpw, \fn\n tN¨nbpsS aIfpw kv¡qfnÂ t]mbn XpS§n. sUbnkn tN¨n (AXmbncp¶p Fsâ ktlmZcnbpsS t]cv) A¶v tImtfPnÂ Un{Kn¡v ]Tn¡p¶p. ho«nÂ Rm\pw, \fn\n tN¨nbpw am{Xambn. kv¡qÄ

Xpd¶Xnsâ

ASp¯

Znhkw,

\fn\n

tN¨n

ASp¡fbnÂ tPmenbnÂ apgpInb kabw. CXn\nsS tN¨n Fs¶ hnfn¨p. Rm³ ASp¡fbntebv¡v sNÃpt¼mÄ \fn\n tN¨n, Nnch XdbnÂ h¨v tX§ Npc−ns¡m−ncn¡p¶p. NnchbnÂ

Ccp¶

tN¨nbpsS

ap−v,

ap«phsc

Npcp−ncn¡p¶p. tN¨n Hcp ImÂ NnchbnÂ aS¡n h¨ncn¡p¶p. atä ImÂ aS¡n XdbnÂ ]mZw Ip¯nbncn¡p¶p. ap−n\nSbnÂ IqSn

tN¨nbpsS

AIt¯bvs¡m¶pw

XpSbpsS ImWm³

CSp¡v h¿.

ImWmw. Rm³

]t£

AhntSbv¡v

kq£n¨p t\m¡n. Cu kab¯mWv tN¨n Xe DbÀ¯n Fs¶ t\m¡nbXv.

Rm³

tN¨nbpsS

t\m¡p¶Xv tN¨n I−p.”

Munnar

Imensâ

CSbntebv¡v

“F´m tamt\ ImgvN ImWp¶Xv ? AhnsS hÃXpw It−m ?” “tN¨nbpsS tNmZyw sI«v Rm³ hnfdn shfp¯pt]mbn. F¦nepw B PmfyX ad¨psIm−v Rm³ ]dªp : tN¨o Ccp«p ImcWw H¶pw ImWm³ h¿.” “F¦nÂ tam³ ImgvN ImWmsX t]mbn thKw Hcp tX§ s]mXn¨psIm−p hm.” Rm³ \ncmitbmsS ]pdt¯bv¡p t]mbn. Rm³ tX§ s]mXn¨psIm−p XncnsI h¶t¸mgpw tN¨n AhnsS Xs¶ Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p.

Ft£

AhcpsS

ImW¯¡hn[w

IfnØew

ap−v

Ipd¨pIqSn ImepIÄ

Xpd¶v, AIÀ¯n

h¨ncp¶p. “tam³ B tX§ H¶v s]m«n¨p sIm−p hm. Rm³ ChnSp¶v Fgpt¶ämÂ Cu Ccn¸nsâ kpJw t]mIpw.” Rm³ s]s«¶v tX§ s]m«n¨p sIm−p h¶n«v AXv sImSp¡p¶Xn\mbn

Ip\nªp.

XpSbnSp¡v

icn¡pw

[cn¨ncp¶nÃ.

Rm³

AhcpsS

At¸mÄ I−p.

]qÀXS¯nse

AhcpsS

AhÀ

]mâokv

Idp¯v

Ccp−

tcma§Ä hyàambn ImWmambncp¶p. Rm³ kmh[m\w \nhÀ¶p \n¶p. tN¨n Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡n Nncn¨p. Rm\pw Hcp hfn¨ Nncn Nncn¨p. 31

Munnar

“tam³ ImgvN ImWm³ am{Xsams¡ hfÀt¶m. Rm³ tams\ sIm¨p sNdp¡\mbn«mWv IcpXnbncp¶Xv. ” tN¨nbpsS Xpd¶ncp¶ aWnt¸gvkv I−n«v Fsâ Ip«³ Xe

s]m¡n

\nÂ¡p¶ [cn¨ncp¶nÃ.

XpS§n.

Rm³ As¶ms¡

ap«n\v apIfnÂ

\n¡dmWv

[cn¡p¶Xv.

ASnbnÂ

P«nbpw

Fsâ

\n¡dn\pÅnse

A\¡w

tN¨nbpw

I−p. “F´m tamt\ tamsâ \n¡dnsâ ap¶nÂ Hcp apg ? tam³ AXn\I¯v hÃXpw FSp¯v h¨ncn¡pt¶m.” ]t£

AXn\v

adp]Sn

]dbm³

Ignbp¶

am\knI

AhØbnembncp¶nÃ Rm³. AXv I−n«v AhÀ ssI F¯n Fsâ Ip«sâ ]pd¯pIqSn XgpIn. “Np½mXmtWm tam³ C§s\ Ip´w hngp§nbt]mse \nÂ¡p¶Xv ? CXv km[\w Ipd¨v I«nbmWtÃm.” F¶n«pw Rm³ H¶pw an−nbnÃ. AhÀ ssI F¯n Fsâ \n¡dnÂ ]nSn¨v hen¨v AhcpsS ASpt¯bv¡v \ndp¯n. AhÀ AhcpsS Hcp ssI kmh[m\w Fsâ \n¡dnsâ ASnbneqsS DÅntebv¡v IS¯n Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p. Rm³ tjm¡Sn¨Xp

t]mse

sR«nhnd¨p.

Fsâ

icoc¯nse

sN¼n¨ sNdp tcma§Ä Fgpt¶äp \n¶p. AhÀ Ip® kmh[m\w ]pds¯Sp¯p.

Munnar

“tamt\ CXv {]mb¯ns\m¯ hen¸aÃtÃm. Np½mXÃ tam³ C§s\ Fsâ ASp¯v Id§n \n¶Xv. ” F¶n«pw

Rm³

H¶pw

an−nbnÃ.

F\n¡v

icn¡pw

kwkmcn¡m³ Ignbm¯ kvXw`\mhØ Bbncp¶p. tN¨n AhnsS

Ccp¶psIm−p

Xs¶

Fsâ

Ip®bnÂ

]nSn¨v

hmWaSn¨p. Rm³ H³]Xmw ¢mÊnÂ ]Tn¡pt¼mÄ apXÂ hmWaSn¡mdp−mbncps¶¦nepw, kv{Xo,

Fsâ

Ip®bnÂ

asämcmÄ,

]nSn¡p¶Xv

AXpw

Hcp

BZyambn«mbncp¶p.

AhÀ Ipd¨p kabw hmWaSn¨n«v ssI amän. F\n¡v hÃm¯ \ncmi tXm¶n. “tamt\ Ct¸mÄ CXpambn \n¶mÂ ]ä¯nÃ. tamsâ AÑ\pw

A½bpw

D®m³

hcp¶Xn\v

apt¼

tNmdv

icnbm¡Ww. Ct¸mÄ tam³ t]m. Ahcv DuWv Ign¨v t]mbn«v Rm³ tam\v FÃmw ImWn¨p Xcmw. AXn\v ap¼v tam³ CXv Ipep¡n IfbcpXv. tIt«m.” Rm³

\ncmitbmsS,

F¶mÂ

ssIhcm³

t]mIp

`mKys¯¡pdn¨v BtemNn¨v ]pd¯v t]mbn. AXv BtemNn¡pw tXmdpw Ip® ]ns¶bpw s]cp¯v hcm³ XpS§n. A¶v Fsâ

Ip®bv¡v

Ipd¨p

kabw

IbdnbmÂ `b¶ncp¶p.

A©v

C©v

]d¼nsems¡

Nnet¸mÄ

Rm³

Xs¶bpaÃ,

t\m¡m³ Hcp \mWw t]mse. 33

Munnar

\ofap−mbncp¶p. Id§n

\S¶p.

hmWaSn¨p

F\n¡v

Rm³

apdnbnÂ

t]mIpsa¶v

tN¨nbpsS

apJ¯v

A§s\ D¨bmbn. FÃmhcpw DuWv Ign¡m³ F¯n. tN¨n FÃmhÀ¡pw DuWv hnf¼nsh¨p. R§Ä Ccp¶v DuWv Ign¨p.

]t£

Rm³

tN¨nbpsS

apJ¯v

t\m¡msX

Ip\nªncp¶mWv Ign¨Xv. FÃmhcpw D−p Ignªv tN¨n ]m{X§Ä s]dp¡ns¡m−v t]mbn. ]ns¶ tN¨n ASp¡fbnÂ Ccp¶pXs¶ DuWv Ign¨p. At¸mtgbv¡pw AÑ\pw, A½bpsaÃmw XncnsI t]mbn. Fsâ lrZbw ]S]Sm CSn¡m³ XpS§n. lrZbanSn¸nsâ SIv.. SIv.. i_vZw ASp¯v \nÂ¡p¶hÀ¡v tIÄ¡mw. Rm³ sN¶v ]pdt¯bv¡pÅ hmXnepIÄ Ipänbn«p. At¸mtgbv¡pw tN¨n DuWv

Ign¨n«v

]m{Xw

IgpIp¶

i_vZw

tI«p.

Rm³

ap³his¯ lmfnÂ Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Rm³ AIt¯bv¡v \S¶p sN¶p. At¸mtgbv¡pw tN¨n DSp¯ncp¶

ap−nÂ

ssI

XpS¨psIm−v

ASp¡fbnÂ

\n¶pw ]pdt¯bv¡v h¶p. “tam\v AhnsS Ccp¶n«v £a \in¨p. AtÃ?” F¶n«pw Rm³ H¶pw an−nbnÃ. tN¨n \S¶v Fsâ ASp¯v h¶p. R§Ä ssU\nwKv lmfnembncp¶p \n¶Xv. tN¨n Fsâ tXmfnÂ ssI h¨p. Rm³ Xe Ip\n¨v XdbnÂ I®pw \«v \nÂ¡pIbmbncp¶p. tN¨n Fsâ apJw ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯nbn«v

Fsâ

I®pIfntebv¡v

t\m¡n.

AhcpsS

apJ¯v t\m¡m³ F\n¡v eÖ Bbncp¶p. Rm³ s]s«¶v

Munnar

I®v hit¯bv¡v Xncn¨p. tN¨n Fsâ apJ¯v AaÀ¯n Npw_n¨p. Rm³ I®pIÄ AS¨p]nSn¨p. “IÅm!

Fsâ

apJ¯v

t\ms¡Sm

tamt\.

C§s\

I®S¨p \n¶mÂ F§s\bm FÃmw ImWp¶Xv ?” AhÀ Fsâ \n¡dnsâ ]pd¯pIqSn Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v sRcn¨p. AtXmsS ]IpXn DbÀ¶p \n¶ Ip® ]qÀ®ambn D²cn¨p h¶p. AhÀ Fsâ ap¶nÂ ap«pIp¯n Ccp¶n«v, \n¡dnsâ IpSp¡pIÄ Agn¨v \n¡À Xmtgbv¡v Ducn amän. AtXmsS Ip® 120 Un{KnbnÂ \n¶p sh«n hnd¨p. AhÀ c−p ssI sIm−pw AXnÂ ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n. At¸mtgbv¡pw Ip®bpsS Aä¯v Hcp XpÅn \ndanÃm¯ {ZmhIw Dudn h¶p. AhÀ AXv \m¡psIm−v \¡nsbSp¯p. AhcpsS

\m¡v

sXm«Xpw

Rm³

tjm¡Sn¨

t]mse

sR«nhnd¨p. AhÀ Hcp ssI sIm−v Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨n«v, atä ssI sIm−v

Ip®bv¡v

Npänepambn

InfnÀ¯v

XpS§nbncp¶

sNdnb tcma§fnÂ XgpIn. Rm³ c−p ssI sIm−pw AhcpsS XebnÂ ]nSn¨p. AhÀ kmh[m\w Ip®bpsS aIpS¯nÂ \m¡psIm−v Dgnbm³ XpS§n. Fsâ icocw sR«n Xcn¨p. Fsâ \s«ÃnÂ¡qSn Hcp an¶Â ]mªp t]mbn. AhÀ ]Xps¡ Ip® hmbnem¡n N¸n hen¡m³ XpS§n. Rm³ kzÀ¤¯neqsS HgpIn \S¡p¶Xmbn tXm¶n. Rm³ 35

Munnar

AhcpsS Xebnse ]nSn IqSpXÂ apdp¡n. AhÀ iànbmbn Ip® aq©m³ XpS§n. Ipd¨p kabw Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw F\n¡v DÅnÂ Fs´ms¡tbm Hcp s]m«ns¯dn \S¡m³ t]mIp¶Xnsâ e£W§Ä I−p XpS§n. Fsâ D¸qän apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¶p. AtXmsS F\n¡v kvJe\w \S¡m³ t]mIp¶p F¶v a\Ênem¡nb tN¨n Ip® s]s«¶v hmbnÂ \n¶pw ]pds¯Sp¯p. s]s«¶v B kpJw \jvSs¸« F\n¡v tZjyhpw \ncmibpw FÃmw h¶p. AXphsc an−msX \n¶ Rm³ s]s«¶v tN¨ntbmSv NqSmbn. “tN¨n CXv F´v ]Wnbm ImWn¨Xv?” “Mm. At¸mÄ tam\v \m¡p−v AtÃ. Rm³ C{Xsbms¡ Im«n¡q«nbn«pw tam³ an−mXncp¶t¸mÄ Rm³ IcpXn tam\v CsXm¶pw CjvSambnÃ F¶v.” “CjvSaÃmªn«Ã Rm³ an−mXncp¶Xv. F\n¡v an−m³ ]ämªn«mWv. tN¨n C§s\sbms¡ sNbvXt¸mÄ Rm³ GtXm

kzÀ¤¯neqsS

]d¶p

\S¡pIbmbncp¶p.

AXm

an−m¯Xv.” “icn..

icn..

Rm³

C¸w

\ndp¯nbnÃmbncps¶¦nÂ

tamsâ ]mÂ ]pd¯p hcpambncp¶p. AXvt]mbn¡gnªmÂ ]ns¶ tam\v thtd H¶pw sN¿m³ ]äpambncp¶nÃ. AXm Rm³ \ndp¯nbXv.”

Munnar

AhÀ s]s«¶v Fgpt¶äv Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨p Np−nÂ D½

h¨p.

AhÀ

]Xps¡

Fsâ

Np−pIÄ

AhcpsS

hmbv¡pÅnem¡n \pWªp. “tamt\ C§s\ shdptX \n¶mÂ aXntbm. tam\v FÃmw ImWt− ?” “thWw tN¨o. F\n¡v tN¨nbpsS FÃmw ImWWw. ]t£ AXv F§s\bmsW¶v F\n¡v AdnbnÃ. tN¨n Xs¶ FÃmw ]Tn¸n¨p XcWw.” “AsXms¡

Rm³

]Tn¸n¨p

Xcmw.

tam³

tN¨n

]dbp¶Xp t]mse A§v sNbvXmÂ aXn.” “tN¨o Rm³ CXv BZyambn«mWv.” “F¶mÂ ]ns¶ \ap¡v XpS§mw. tam³ BZyw Fsâ XpWnsbms¡ Agn¨p amäv.” A§s\ Rm³ AhcpsS »uknsâ lq¡pIÄ Cf¡n AXv ]n¶ntebv¡v Xpd¶p. DS³ tN¨n Xs¶ AXv Ducn amän. ]ns¶ Rm³ tN¨nbpsS t{_knbdnsâ lq¡v FSp¯p AXv ap¶neqsS

Rm³

Xs¶

Ducn

amän.

AhÀ

H¶p

{]khn¨XmsW¦nepw AhcpsS apeIÄ¡v `mcw sIm−pÅ Hcp sNdnb Ncnhv am{Xta D−mbncp¶pÅp. kmam\yw hen¸apÅ AhcpsS apeIfpsS a²y¯mbn c−v cq] Xp«nsâ hen¸¯nÂ Hcp Idp¯ hr¯hpw, 37

Munnar

AXnsâ a²y¯mbn Fsâ sNdphncensâ I\¯nÂ Hcp sR«pw.

Rm³

c−p

ssI

sIm−pw

AhcpsS

c−p

apeIfnepw ]nSn¨p sRcn¨p. Hcp kv{XobpsS apebnepÅ Fsâ BZy ssIsh¸v. AhcpsS apeIÄ¡v \Ã amÀ±hw D−mbncp¶p. AXn\v ap¼v

Rm³

F\n¡v

BcpsSbpw AXnsâ

apebnÂ arZpXzw

]nSn¨n«nÃm¯Xn\mÂ XmcXays¸Sp¯m³

Ignbpambncp¶nÃ. Fsâ I¿psS XtemSÂ Gät¸mtgbv¡pw AhcpsS apesR«pIÄ _ew h¨v DbÀ¶p h¶p. ]ns¶ Rm³ AhÀ DSp¯ncp¶ ap−nsâ Ip¯v Agn¨v AXpw Dcnªp amän. ]ns¶ ASn¸mhmSbpsS sI«gn¨v AXv Xmtgbv¡v DuÀ¯n hn«p. tN¨n Xs¶ Ip\nªv ]mhmS FSp¯v amän. AhcpsS P\t\{µnbw Rm³ t\m¡n. BZyambn Hcp kv{XobpsS Kply`mKw ImWpIbmbncp¶p. AhcpsS DbÀ¶ncp¶ ISn{]tZi¯v kar²ambn Idp¯v Ccp− tcmaw hfÀ¶p InS¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS sskeâv hmen {]tZi¯v XgpIn. \Ã I«nbpÅ tcma§Ä. Rm³ AhcpsS ap¶nÂ ap«pIp¯n \n¶psIm−v AhcpsS tbm\nbpw Npäp]mSpIfpw t\m¡n I−p. AhÀ ImepIÄ Aev]w AIÀ¯n Nhp«n. At¸mÄ Rm³ AhcpsS ]qÀ Np−pIÄ c−p ssI sIm−pw ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯n. AXnsâ AIw Nph¸v \nd¯nÂ I−p. AXnsâ apIfä¯mbn Hcp_Zmw ]cn¸nsâ hen¸¯nÂ Hcp apg

Munnar

]pdt¯bv¡v

XÅn

\nÂ¡p¶p.

Rm³

NmeneqsS

hnctemSn¨p. tN¨n Fsâ XebnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. “tamt\ B ]cn¸nÂ ]nSn¨v sRcSv tamt\. tN¨n¡v \Ã kpJw tamt\.” “tN¨o CXmtWm Cu I´v F¶v ]dbp¶ km[\w?” “AXv Xs¶ tamt\ I´v. ]t£tam³ Cu t]scms¡ FhnSp¶v ]Tn¨p?” “AXv

tN¨o

Rm³

Nne

sIm¨p]pkvXIsams¡

hmbn¨n«p−v. AXnÂ \n¶pw In«nbXmWv Cu t]scms¡.” Rm³ kabw

I´nÂ

Ignªt¸mÄ

A\p`hs¸«p.

tN¨n

]nSn¨v

sRcSns¡m−ncp¶p.

Fsâ \n¶p

Ipd¨p

I¿nÂ

sNdnb

\\hv

sRfn]ncn

sIm−p.

Ipd¨p

Ignªt¸mÄ AhÀ XdbnÂ aeÀ¶p InS¶psIm−v Fs¶ AhcpsS ]pd¯v hen¨p Ibän. “tamt\ C\n tN¨n¡v kln¡m³ h¿. tam³ tamsâ kmam\w AI¯v Ibän ASn¨p Xm. F¶mte icnbmIq.” CXv ]dªn«v AhÀ AhcpsS ImepIÄ AIÀ¯n h¨n«v Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v AhcpsS ]qÀ XpfbnÂ ap«n¨p h¨p. “C\n

tam³

Ibänt\m¡ntb.” 39

Munnar

]Xps¡

AXv

AIt¯bv¡v

Rm³ ]Xps¡ Fsâ Acs¡«v Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¯n. AtXmsS

Fsâ

Ipgª

]qäntebv¡v

IS¡pwtXmdpw Iptd\mfmbn

Ip®

kmh[m\w

Dufnbn«nd§n.

Ip®bnÂ Ip®

\Ã

AhcpsS Ip® NqSv

\\ªv

AIt¯bv¡v A\p`hs¸«p.

IbdmXncp¶Xn\mÂ

Bbncn¡pw,

AhcpsS ]qän\v \Ã apdp¡ambncp¶p. BZyambn

Fsâ

Ip®

Hcp

]qänÂ

Ibdp¶pXv

A¶mWv. kt´mj¯mÂ Fsâ DÅnÂ tX³ag s]mgnªp. Fsâ Ip® ]qÀ®ambn AhcpsS ]qänÂ ap§n. Fsâ Acs¡«v AhcpsS Acs¡«nÂ AaÀ¶p. Rm³ Ipd¨p kabw A\§msX InS¶p. “F´v

tamt\

aXnbmtbm.

tams\´m

A\§msX

`qanbntebv¡v

Cd§nbXv.

InS¡p¶Xv ? Ducn ASnt¨.” AXv

tI«t¸mgmWv

AXphsc

Rm³

atätXm

temI¯mbncp¶p.

Rm³

kmh[m\w Ip® Ducn ASn¡m³ XpS§n. Fsâ ASns¡m¸w Xs¶

tN¨nbpw

ASnbnÂ

\n¶pw

apIfntebv¡v

ASn¨psIm−ncp¶p. Fsâ I¶n ]®Â A[nIkabw \o−p \n¶nÃ. Fsâ DÅnÂ Fs´ms¡tbm {]fbw \S¡p¶Xmbn F\n¡v

tXm¶n.

Fsâ

Xet¨mdn\pÅnÂ

Bbncw

]q¯ncnIÄ H¶n¨p I¯nsbcnªp. Fsâ I®nÂ Ccp«p Ibdp¶Xpt]mse tXm¶n. HSphnÂ Rm³ InX¨psIm−v 40

Munnar

AhcpsS ]pd¯v hoWp. ]t£ tN¨n¡v aXnbmbnÃmbncp¶p. Fsâ Ip® Npcp§n AhcpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw ]pd¯v h¶p. “tamt\

CXv

HcpamXncn

apXpImf

]iphns\

sa\s¡Sp¯p¶Xp t]mse BbtÃm tamt\. F\n¡v NqSp ]nSn¨p h¶t¸mtgbv¡pw tam\v t]mbtÃm. C\n Rm³ F´v sN¿pw ?” “tN¨o F´msW¶dnbnÃ. F\n¡v s]s«¶v t]mbn. Hcp ]t£ BZyambn«v BbXpsIm−v Bbncn¡pw.” “GXmbmepw Fsâ Imcyw tKmhnµm.” Rm³ AhcpsS ]pd¯p\n¶pw Cd§n InS¶p. Rm³ hÃmXmbn. IgnªnÃ s\änbnÂ

F\n¡v F¶

Hcp

kv{Xosb

Ipät_m[w.

Npw_n¨p.

tam³

AXv

Xr]vXns¸Sp¯m³

I−n«v

tN¨n

hnjan¡−.

Fsâ

CsXms¡

CXnepÅXmWv. henb tIa·mÀ¡pt]mepw Nnet¸mÄ s]s«¶v t]mIpw. \ap¡v Ipd¨p Ignªv H¶pIqSn t\m¡mw. AhÀ Fgpt¶äv Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ apJw AaÀ¯n. ]ns¶ AhÀ, AhcpsS ]qÀtX\nÂ Ipgª Fsâ Ip® kmh[m\w AhcpsS hmbv¡pÅnem¡n \pWbm³ XpS§n. AhÀ

Ipd¨pkabw

DbÀ¯m³ XpS§n.

Munnar

\pWªt¸mtgbv¡pw

Ah³

“Zm It−m tamt\. Ch³ ASp¯ bp²¯n\v X¿mdmbn. C\n tam³ C§s\ aeÀ¶v InS¶mÂ aXn. Rm³ apIfnÂ Ibdn ASn¡mw.” A§s\ AhÀ Fsâ Acs¡«n\v Ccphi¯pambn ap«pIp¯n \n¶p. Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS hnSÀ¶ ]qdv t\m¡ns¡m−v

apIfntebv¡v

\n¶p

sh«nhnd¨p.

AhÀ

]Xps¡ Ip®bpsS Xe AhcpsS ]qÀ XpfbnÂ ap«n¨p h¨psIm−v kmh[m\w Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¶p. AtXmsS Fsâ Ip®

AhcpsS

AaÀ¶v

amf¯ntebv¡v

Ibdnt¸mbn.

HSphnÂ

kmh[m\w AhcpsS

sRcnªv

N´n

Fsâ

Acs¡«nÂ AaÀ¶p. AhÀ

A§s\

Ccp¶psIm−v

AhcpsS

Agnªp

InS¶ apSn ]n¶ntebv¡v hmcn sI«n h¨p. ]ns¶ AhÀ Fsâ s\©nÂ XpS§n.

ssI AhÀ

Ip¯ns¡m−v s]m§n

N´n

DbÀ¯n

ASn¡m³

ASn¡p¶Xn\\pkcn¨v

AhcpsS

apeIÄ InS¶p XpÅn¡fn¨p. Rm³ ssI DbÀ¯n AhcpsS apeIÄ

]nSn¨v

AaÀ¯n.

AhcpsS

ASnbpsS

thKX

kmh[m\w IqSn¡qSn h¶p. HSphnÂ

AhÀ

H¶p

sR«n

hnd¨p.

At¸mtgbv¡pw

Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS ]qänÂ ]mÂ ag s]¿n¨p. AhcpsS ]qÀtX\pw,

Fsâ

Ip®¸mepw

IqSn

IeÀ¶v

Fsâ

Ip®bneqsS Hen¨v Fsâ N´n hnShntebv¡v Cd§n. AhÀ Ip\nªv Fs¶ Npw_n¨p. ]ns¶ Fsâ Cd§n InS¶p. 42

Munnar

]pd¯p \n¶pw

“tam³ t\ct¯ Fs¶ ]äns¨¦nepw, Ct¸mÄ F\n¡v kt´mjambn tamt\. Iptd \mfpIÄ IqSn Fsâ ]«nWn tam³ amän X¶p. Fsâ tamfpsS AÑ³ t]mbXn\v tijw CXv BZyambn«mWv Rm³ H¶p kpJn¨Xv. At§cv t]mbXnÂ ]ns¶ Rm³ Cu kpJw Adnªn«nÃ. C¶v tam³ Fs¶ t\m¡n

tNmc

tams\s¡m−v

IpSn¨t¸mtg H¶v

Rm³

Du¡n¡Wsa¶v.

Xocpam\n¨XmWv AsX´mbmepw

km[n¨p. C\n \ap¡v hÃt¸mgpsams¡ C§s\ IqSWw.” “tN¨o, Rm³ icn¡pw kzÀ¤w I−p. GXmbmepw Fsâ Iptd \mfmbpÅ Hcp B{Klw km[n¨p.” “AsX´m tamt\, tam\v Fs¶ Ifn¡Wsa¶v Bin¨p \S¡pIbmbncpt¶m ?” “A§s\

tN¨nsb

ASn¡Wsas¶m¶pw

IcpXnbnÃ.

Bscsb¦nepw In«nbmÂ CXnsâ kpJw H¶v AdnbWsa¶v hnNmcn¨p.

A{Xtb

DÅp.

]t£

AXv

C{X

s]s«¶v

km[n¡psa¶v Rm³ kz]v\¯nÂ t]mepw IcpXnbnÃ.” A§s\ R§fpsS Ifn ]ns¶ Hcp ]Xnhmbn. F\n¡v kv¡qÄ Xpd¡p¶Xp hsc FÃm Znhkhpw D¨bv¡v ap¼pw, D¨ Ignªpw Hmtcm Ifn. CXn\nsS \mep Znhkw AhÀ¡v sa³kkv BbXn\mÂ B Znhk§fnÂ Ifn \S¶nÃ.

Munnar

“FSm

AhÀ¡v

KÀ`w

D−mIpsa¶vt]Snsbm¶pw

CÃmbncpt¶m ?” “t]Snsbms¡ kab¯v

D−mbncp¶p.

AhÀ¡v

kpc£nX

R§Ä

Ifn

XpS§nb

Imeambncp¶p.

AXv

Ignªt¸mÄ AhÀ Hcp KpfnI Ign¡pambncp¶p. AhÀ ap¼v Ign¨n«pÅ Hcp KpfnI. AXv AhÀ Fs¶s¡m−mWv hm§n¸n¨ncp¶Xv. ” “C¸gpw Ahcpambn \o Ifn¡mdpt−m?” “C¸w A§s\ Ahkcw In«mdnÃ. hÃt¸mgpw am{Xta Bsfmgnª kabw In«mdpÅp.” “AXncn¡s«,

\n\¡v

AhcpsS

tamfpambn

hÃ

Npän¡fnbpapt−m? AhÄ Øncambn \nsâ apdnbnÂ Ibdn hcp¶Xv ImWmatÃm.” “Hm

tN«¯nbpsS

kwib§fmWtÃm.

Ahfv

Hcp

Imcyw.

Nnet¸msgms¡

hÃm¯ IW¡v

]Tn¡m\mbn hcp¶XmWv.” “Mqw…

IW¡p

]Tn¯w

am{Xambncn¡nÃtÃm.

\nsâ

I¿nencn¸v h¨v t\m¡nbmÂ \o thtd hÃXpsams¡ B sIm¨ns\ ]Tn¸n¨p ImWWatÃm.”

Munnar

“A§s\sbm¶pw CÃ tN«¯o. AhÄ F«mw ¢mÊnÂ ]Tn¡p¶ kab¯v, IW¡n\v tXmäp. asäÃm hnjb§Ä¡pw tamiaÃm¯

amÀ¡v

D−mbncp¶p.

Rm³

A¶v

F³Pn\obdnwKn\v aq¶mw hÀjw ]Tn¡p¶p. A¶v AhfpsS amÀ¡v I−n«v A½bmWv tN¨ntbmSv ]dªXv Fsâ ASp¯v ]dªmÂ IW¡v ]Tn¸n¡psa¶v ]dªXv. ]ns¶ A½ Xs¶ Ft¶mSpw ]dªp, FSm \n\¡v kabapÅt¸mÄ B sIm¨n\v Ipd¨v IW¡v ]dªpsImSv. \fn\n¡v AXns\ thtd hn«v ]Tn¸n¡ms\m¶pw IgnbnÃ.” “A§s\bmWv Rm³ Ahsf ]Tn¸n¡m³ XpS§nbXv. Ct¸mÄ AhÄ ]¯nemWv ]Tn¡p¶Xv.” “Ahsf Häbv¡v \nsâ apdnbnÂ In«nbmÂ \o shdptX Ccn¡psa¶v hnizkn¡m³ F\n¡v _p²nap«mWv.” “A§s\sbm¶pw CÃ tN¨o. hÃt¸mgpsam¶v apebv¡v ]nSn¡m³ ]äpw A{Xtb DÅp. AÃmsX asäm¶n\pw AhÄ k½Xn¡nÃ.” “AsX§s\bmSm \o Ahsf hf¨Xv?” “Hm AsXms¡ A§v \S¶p. A{X Xs¶. AXv A§s\ ]dbm\pw am{Xsam¶pw CÃ.” “F¶mepw \o AsXm¶v ]dsbSm. Rm³ tIÄ¡s«.” 45

Munnar

“AXv ]ns¶, AhÄ F«mw ¢mÊnÂ ]Tn¡p¶ kabw AhfpsS

HmW

]co£

Ignª

XpS§p¶Xv.

A¶v

{]mb]qÀ¯n

Bbn«nÃmbncp¶p.

hen¸¯nÂ

AhÄ

AhfpsS

kab¯mWv

shdpsamcp

sIm¨p

F¦nepw

s\©nÂ

c−p

]Tn¯w Ip«n.

Hcp

\mc§m

apgIÄ

DbÀ¡p

\nÂ¡p¶Xv ImWmambncp¶p. Iptd \mfmbn AhÄ \½psS ho«nÂ hcpIbpw, R§Ä H¶n¨v kv¡qfnÂ t]mIpIbpw, Ifn¡pIbpsams¡

sNbvXncp¶Xn\mÂ

R§Ä

\Ã

Iq«pImcmbncp¶p. an¡hmdpw Ah[n Znhk§fnembncp¶p Rm³ Ahsf ]Tn¸n¨ncp¶Xv. jÀ«pambncn¡pw [cn¡pambncp¶nÃ.

Znhk§fnÂ

[cn¡p¶Xv. AXn\mÂ

AhÄ

ASnbnÂ Nne

anUnbpw s]änt¡m«v

Ahkc§fnsems¡

AhfpsS Xmac sam«p t]mse Iq¼n \nÂ¡p¶ ape F\n¡v ImWm³ Ignbpambncp¶p. B ImgvN Fsâ ap−n\SnbnÂ Ne\§Ä krjvSn¨ncp¶p. Rm³ Ccn¡p¶ ItkcbpsS ASp¯mbn«mWv Ahfpw Itkc C«v Ccn¡p¶Xv. R§fpsS icoc§Ä X½nÂ ap«n Ccn¡pambncp¶p.

]t£

AXnÂ

Akzm`mhnIX

H¶pw

CÃmbncp¶p. ImcWw R§Ä H¶n¨v Ifn¡pt¼mÄ, AhÄ Fs¶bpw, Rm³ Ahsfbpw ]nSn¡mdp−mbncp¶p. Rm³ Ahsf FSo F¶pw, AhÄ Fs¶ A®³ F¶pamWv hnfn¨ncp¶Xv.

Munnar

A§s\bncns¡

Hcp

Znhkw

R§Ä

]Tn¨psIm−ncp¶t¸mÄ, AhfpsS jÀ«nsâ apIfnse Hcp _«³kv CfInbn«v, jÀ«nsâ apIÄ `mKw Xpd¶p InS¶p. AXneqsS

F\n¡v

AhfpsS

Hcp

ape

hyàambn

ImWmambncp¶p. AXv I−n«v Fsâ Ip«³ hSnbmbn. Rm³ AhtfmSp Ipd¨pIqSn tNÀ¶ncp¶p. At¸mÄ AhfpsS ape Ipd¨pIqSn ASp¯v ImWm³ Ignªp. Rm³ A§s\ AXv BkzZn¨v Ccp¶t¸mÄ, CSbv¡v, AhÄ sNbvXpsIm−ncp¶ IW¡v sNbvXv XoÀ¶t¸mÄ Xe DbÀ¯n Fs¶ t\m¡n. Rm³ AhfpsS s\©nÂ t\m¡nbncn¡p¶Xv AhÄ I−p. “F´m

A®m

t\m¡nbncn¡p¶Xv

A®³

hfÀ¨

t\m¡n

ChnsSsbm¶pw AsÃ¶v tXm¶p¶tÃm.” “H¶pansÃSo.

Rm³

\nsâ

Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p.” “AsX´m

Rm³

A§s\

t\m¡nbncn¡pt¼mÄ

hfÀ¶psIm−ncn¡pIbmbncpt¶m?” “AXsÃSo.

Hcp

s]®mIm³

t]mIp¶Xnsâ

e£W§sfms¡ ImWp¶tÃm.” “AsX´m A®m, Rm³ CXphsc BWmbncpt¶m ?” “A§s\bÃ.

C{X\mfpw

Hcp

sIm¨p

s]®Ãmbncpt¶m. Ct¸mÄ \o taPdmIm³ XpS§p¶p.” 47

Munnar

“AsX§s\bm A®m taPdmIp¶Xv Adnbp¶Xv ?” Rm³ ]Xps¡ AhfpsS jÀ«nsâ AI¯v ssI IS¯n AhfpsS apebnÂ XShnbn«v “Zm CXp It−m hfcm³ XpS§p¶Xv. CXmWv AXnsâ BZy e£Ww.” Fsâ ssI AhnsS sXm«t¸mÄ AhÄ C¡nfnsbSp¯v Nncn¨p. H¸w AhfpsS I¿nse t\cnb sN¼n¨ tcma§Ä Fgp¶p \nÂ¡m\pw XpS§n. “A®m F\n¡v C¡nfnbmIp¶p.” “AXv BZyambXpsIm−mWv. Cu C¡nfnbpw hfÀ¨bpsS e£WamWv. ap³s]ms¡ \n\¡v C§s\ sXm«mÂ C¡nfn D−pIpambncp¶nÃtÃm. C¸gtÃ C¡nfn XpS§nbXv.” CsXms¡

]dbpt¼mgpw

XShns¡m−ncp¶p. izmtkmOzmk¯nsâ

Rm³

kmh[m\w thKX

IqSn¡qSn

AhnsS AhfpsS

h¶p.

AhfpsS

`mhamäw Rm³ {i²n¨p. AhfpsS jÀ«nsâ Hcp _«³kv IqSn Cf¡nbn«v c−mas¯ apebpw ]pds¯Sp¯p. Rm³ c−p apeIfnepw amdn amdn XShns¡m−ncp¶p. apeIfpsS Aäw,

]n¦v

t]mse

AhfpsS

{]Xy£ambn. 48

\nd¯nembncp¶p.

Munnar

apebpsS

]pcpj·mcpsS a²y¯v

apesR«p

sNdnb

XSn¸v

Rm³ AhfpsS IhnfnÂ Fsâ apJw tNÀ¯v Dc¨p. AhÄ Fsâ ssI ]nSn¨v AhfpsS amdnÂ AaÀ¯n h¨p. Rm³ Hcp ssI AhfpsS tXmfneqsS C«v Ahsf Fsâ icoc¯ntebv¡v tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨p. AhfpsS DÅnÂ \n¶pw {]mhv IpdpIp¶Xpt]mse t\cnb IpdpIÂ tI«p. C{Xbpw Bbt¸mtgbv¡v Xmsg \n¶pw AhfpsS A½ Ahsf hnfn¨p. “tamtf, BcXo, \nsâ ]Tn¯w Ignsª¦nÂ C§v ht¶.” R§Ä s]s«¶v sR«n Fgpt¶äp. AhÄ jÀ«nsâ _«³kpIÄ

t\tcbm¡nbn«v,

Fsâ

apJ¯v

t\m¡msX

_p¡psaSp¯v Xmtgbv¡v t]mbn. Ipd¨v Ignªv Rm\pw Xmtgb¡v sN¶p. At¸mÄ BcXn, ASp¡fbnÂ AhfpsS A½sb Rm³

klmbn¨psIm−v AhnsS

sN¶Xv

\nÂ¡pIbmbncp¶p.

I−n«pw

AhÄ

Fsâ

]t£ apJ¯v

t\m¡nbnÃ. AhfpsS apJ¯v Hcp N½Â D−mbncp¶p. A¶v ]ns¶ AhÄ Fsâ ap¶nÂ hcmsX Hgnªp \S¶p. A¶s¯ Znhkw A§s\ IS¶p t]mbn. ASp¯ Znhkw

RmbdmgvN

Bbncp¶p.

cmhnes¯

Im¸nIpSn

Igoªt¸mÄ Rm³ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. AhÄ ]Tn¡m\mbn aWn¡qÀ

hcp¶Xpw

Ignªn«pw

t\m¡n Ahsf

Rm³

Ccp¶p.

ImWmXmbt¸mÄ

Ac Rm³

Xmtgbv¡v Cd§n sN¶p. Rm³ \fn\n tN¨ntbmSv Ahsf Xnc¡n. 49

Munnar

“tN¨o

BcXn FhnsS

C¶v

AhÄ¡v

]Tn¡t−?

CXphsc apIfntem«v h¶nÃtÃm.” “Rm³ t\m¡s« tamt\.” CXv ]dªpsIm−v tN¨n ASp¡fbpsS ]ndIntebv¡v t]mbn. H¸w Rm\pw. At¸mÄ BcXn AhnsS ]pdIphis¯ hcm´bnÂ Ccn¡p¶Xp I−p. AXv I−n«v tN¨n Ahsf hnfn¨p. “tamtf \o AhnsS Fs´Sp¡pIbm. \o C¶v ]Tn¡m³ sNÃp¶ntÃ. sU¶n tam³ Zm \ns¶ ImWmªv Xnc¡n h¶p.” Rm³ ]Xps¡ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. ho−pw Hcp ]¯v an\n«p IqSn Ignªt¸mÄ Fsâ apdnbpsS ]pd¯v sNdnb ImÂs]cpamäw tI«p. ]t£ Bsf AIt¯bv¡v I−nÃ. Rm³ Fgpt¶äv hmXnÂ¡Â sN¶t¸mÄ, AhÄ _p¡v s\©nÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨v, Ip\nªv XdbnÂ t\m¡n IXIn\v

]pd¯v

adªp

\nÂ¡p¶p.

Rm³

AhfpsS

I¿nÂ ]nSn¨v Ahsf apdn¡pÅnem¡n. F¶n«pw AhÄ apJw DbÀ¯msX XdbnÂ t\m¡n \mWn¨p \n¶p. Rm³ c−p ssI

sIm−pw

AhfpsS

apJw

]nSn¨v

DbÀ¯n.

]t£

At¸mgpw AhÄ Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡nbnÃ. Rm³ Ip\nªv AhfpsS Np−nÂ Npw_n¨p. At¸mÄ AhÄ Fsâ apJt¯bv¡v t\m¡n. 50

Munnar

“\o

F´mSo

\nÂ¡p¶Xv

HcpamXncn \n\¡v

s]W§nbXv

Rm³

sN¿p¶Xv

t]mse H¶pw

CjvSs¸Sp¶ntÃ ?” ho−pw \ni_vZX. “F´mSo, CjvSs¸«nsÃ¦nÂ ]dªmÂ t]mtc. ]ns¶ Rm³ H¶pw sN¿¯nÃtÃm.” AhÄ ]Xps¡ Np−pIÄ Nen¸n¨p. “A®m

F\n¡v

A®³

sNbvXsXÃmw

\¶mbn

CjvSs¸«p. ]t£, F\n¡v A®sâ apJ¯v t\m¡m³ Hcp \mWw t]mse.” “AsX´mSo ]pXnbXmbn Fs¶ t\m¡m³ Hcp \mWw ? Rms\´m XpWn DSp¡msXsb§m\pamtWm \nÂ¡p¶Xv ?” “F¶mepw AXÃ A®m. C¶se hsc Rm³ I− A®s\bÃ Rm³ C¶se I−Xv. C¶se A®sâ Hcp ]pXnb apJamWv Rm³ I−Xv. AXpsIm−mWv F\n¡v A®s\ t\m¡m³ Hcp \mWw.” “AsX´mSo C¶se apXÂ Fsâ apJ¯n\v amäw ?” “A®sâ A®³

apJ¯n\v

Fs¶

\mWam.” 51 Munnar

amäsam¶panÃ.

Fs´ms¡tbm

]t£

sNbvXntÃ.

C¶se AXnsâ

“C¸w \nsâ \mWsams¡ amdntbm ?” “Ipd¨v. F¶mepw apgph\pw amdnbnÃ.” “At¸mÄ Rm³ C¶v hÃXpw sNbvXmÂ \nsâ \mWw ho−pw

IqSptam

CjvSambntÃ

C¶se

sNbvXsXm¶pw

A§s\bmsW¦nÂ

C\n

\n\¡v

Rm³

H¶pw

sN¿p¶nÃ.” “A®m

A®³

sNbvXsXms¡

F\n¡v

\¶mbn«v

CjvSs¸«p. F¶mepw AXv BtemNn¡p¼w Hcp \mWw.” “IÅn! FÃmw \ÃXpt]mse kpJn¨n«v C¸w AhÄ¡v \mWw. C¶t¯msS \nsâ \mWw apgph³ Rm³ amän Xcmw.” Rm³

AhfpsS

I¿nencp¶

_p¡v

hm§n

Fsâ

tai¸pd¯v h¨n«v, Ip\nªv AhfpsS Np−pIfnÂ Npw_n¨p. AhÄ Fsâ tXmfneqsS I¿n«v Fsâ Xe ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n. A§s\ Fsâ Npw_\w Hcp ZoÀL Npw_\ambn. AhÄ¡v izmkw ap«nbt¸mÄ AhÄ Fsâ Xebnse ]nSn hn«p. Rm³ AhfpsS jÀ«nsâ apIfnse c−p _«³kpIÄ Cf¡nbn«v Fsâ ssI AIt¯bv¡v IS¯n AhfpsS apebnÂ ]nSn¨p. IÃp t]mse Dd¨ AhfpsS apebnÂ Rm³ XShnbtXmsS AhfpsS I¿nse tcma§Ä DbÀ¶p h¶p.

Munnar

Rm³ Ip\nªv AhfpsS s\änbnÂ D½ h¨p. Rm³ Ahsf hn«n«v t]mbn IXIv AS¨v Ipänbn«p. km[mcW KXnbnÂ apIfnÂ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v B kab¯v Bcpw hcmdnÃ. F¦nepw Hcp ap³IcpXÂ F¶ \nebnÂ Rm³ IXIv AS¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS jÀ«v Ducn amän. AhÄ c−p ssI

sIm−pw

AhfpsS

apeIÄ

amdn\v

icn¡pw

IpdptI

ad¨v

hfcm³

]nSn¨p.

XpS§p¶tX

D−mbncp¶pÅp. Rm³ Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨p. Fsâ Ip«³ AhfpsS

ASnhbänÂ

Ip¯n

\n¶p.

Rm³

Ip\nªv

AhfpsS ape hmbnÂ h¨v N¸n hen¨p. AhÄ Fsâ Xe AhfpsS amdntebv¡v ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n h¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS ape \pWªpsIm−p Xs¶ c−p ssI

sIm−pw

AhfpsS

anUn

]nSn¨v

DbÀ¯nbn«v,

]mâokn\pÅneqsS ssI IS¯n AhfpsS N´nIfnÂ ]nSn¨v sRcn¨v

DS¨p.

Rm³

kmh[m\w

Hcp

ssI

AhfpsS

]mâokn\pÅneqsS Xs¶ amt¶m«p \o¡n sIm−p h¶v AhfpsS

A¸¯nÂ

]nSn¨p.

AhfpsS

A¸w

sNdpXmbn

DbÀ¶p hcm³ XpS§p¶tX D−mbncp¶pÅp. Rm³ ]Xps¡ Nq−phncÂ AhfpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS HmSn¨p. AhÄ C¡nfnsbSp¯n«v Fsâ ssI ]nSn¨p amäm³ Hcp {iaw \S¯n.. ]t£, AhfpsS {ia¯n\v Hcp iàn CÃmbncp¶p. Rm³ c−mas¯ ssI sIm−v AhfpsS ssI ]nSn¨v amän. ]ns¶ kmh[m\w AhfpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS hncÂ HmSn¨psIm−ncp¶p. 53

Munnar

Rm³ AhfpsS I´n\mbn sXcsª¦nepw, A§s\ Hcp

km[\w

Nen¡p¶Xn\v

Fsâ

I¿nÂ

A\pkcn¨v

XSªnÃ.

AhfpsS

Fsâ

apJ¯v

ssI càw

Cc¨pIbdnbn«v, AhfpsS apJw \¶mbn Nph¶v XpSp¯p. Rm³ Fsâ Ip® ap−nsâ DÅnÂ \n¶pw ]pds¯Sp¯v AhfpsS

I¿nÂ

]nSn¸n¨p.

]t£

AhÄ

sR«n

ssI

]n³hen¨p. Rm³

ape

IpSnbpw,

]qän\pÅnse

ssI

{Iobbpw

XpSÀ¶psIm−ncp¶p. CXn\nsS Rm³ AhfpsS anUnbpsS lq¡v Cf¡n AXv Xmtgbv¡v ]nSn¨v Ducm³ {ians¨¦nepw AhÄ anUnbnÂ _eambn ]nSn¨v Fsâ \o¡w XSªp. anUn, AhfpsS I¿nÂ ]nSn¨v sIm−v \n¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS apeIfnÂ \n¶pw apJw DbÀ¯nbn«v, AhfpsS Np−pIÄ Fsâ

Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n

\pWªp.

H¸w

AhfpsS

]qÀNmense XgpIepw XpSÀ¶p. AhÄ¡v IqSpXÂ ckw ]nSn¨p XpS§n. AhÄ anUnbnse ssI hn«n«v Fsâ XebnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. AtXmsS AhfpsS anUn Xmtgbv¡v DuÀ¶p hoWp. AXv

AhfpsS

]mZ¯n\v

Npänepambn

XdbnÂ

InS¶p.

AhfpsS icoc¯nÂ ]ns¶ Hcp ]mâokv am{Xw Ahtijn¨p. CXn\nsS Fsâ ap−v Ft¸mtgm Agnªp t]mbncp¶p. Rm³ Ahsfbpw ]nSn¨psIm−v I«nenÂ InS¶p. Rm³ Ahsf aeÀ¯n InS¯nbn«v, AhfpsS apIfnÂ Ibdn InS¶p. AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. Rm³ 54

Munnar

AhfpsS ]mâokv ]Xps¡ Xmtgbv¡v ]nSn¨v Xmgv¯nbn«v, Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v AhfpsS XpSbpsS kwKa Øm\¯v IS¯n, ]qÀNmenÂ h¨v Dc¨p. AhÄ¡v ckw Ibdn h¶p. B

X¡¯n\v

Rm³

AhfpsS

]mâokv

Ipd¨pIqSn

Xmgv¯nbn«v, Fsâ ImepIÄ sIm−v AXv Xmtgbv¡v Ducn amän. AhfnÂ\n¶pw henb {]Xntj[sam¶pw D−mbnÃ. Rm³ AhfpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯nbn«v Ip® AhfpsS

]qÀNmenÂ

Dc¨psIm−ncp¶p.

Xmsg

Ipd¨p

apXÂ

Ignªv

apIfäw Rm³

hsc

AhfpsS

ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v ASp¸n¨n«v, AhfpsS XpSIfpsS CSbnembn, ]qÀNmenÂ Ip® XncpIn h¨psIm−v s]m§n ASn¨p. AhÄ AXv \¶mbn kpJn¨p. HSphnÂ Fsâ Ip®, AhfpsS XpSbnSp¡nÂ

OÀ±n¨p.

At¸mtgbv¡pw

Ahfpw

XfÀ¶ncp¶p. Rm³ Ipd¨p kabw IqSn A§s\ InS¶n«v Fgpt¶äp. Rm³ ]änbncp¶

Hcp

XpWn

shÅw

FSp¯v

XpS¨p

AhfpsS

Ifªp.

]ns¶

XpSbnÂ c−mfpw

hkv{X§Ä [cn¨p. Ct¸mgpw AhfpsS apJ¯v \mW¯nsâ _m¡n

D−mbncp¶p.

AhÄ

Fsâ

apJ¯v

t\m¡msX

Ip\nªv \n¶p. Rm³ Ahsf ]nSn¨v taibv¡v ASp¯v InS¶ ItkcbnÂ Ccp¯n. asämcp ItkcbnÂ AhÄ¡v A`napJambn Rm\pw Ccp¶p. “FSo \nhÀ¶v t\ms¡So IÅ Xncpameo. C{Xbpw kabw Imepw Ih¨v InS¶v kpJn¨n«v Ct¸mÄ F´mSo Hcp \mWw ?” 55

Munnar

At¸mÄ AhÄ Np−pIÄ Nen¸n¨v XpS§n. “A®³ Fs´ms¡bm ImWn¨v Iq«nbXv. F\n¡v AXv HmÀ¯n«v A®sâ apJ¯v t\m¡m³ ]äp¶nÃ. Rm\pw Cu temIs¯m¶pambncp¶nÃ. Rm³ icn¡pw kzÀ¤w I−p.” “\n\¡v At¸mÄ \¶mbn kpJn¨p. AtÃ?” “]n¶ntÃ

Rm³

Fsâ

PohnX¯nÂ

C¶phsc

C§s\ Hcp kpJw A\p`hn¨n«nÃ.” “CXv

F´v

kpJw

CsXms¡

shdpw

km¼nftÃ.

icnbmb kpJw \o Ipd¨pIqSn hfÀ¶n«v ImWn¨p Xcmw. ]ns¶

CsXm¶pw

BtcmSpw

]dbcpXv.

\nsâ

A½

Hcn¡epw CXv AdnbcpXv.” “AXv

]ns¶

A®³

{]tXyIw

]dªp

XctWm.

F\n¡dnbntÃ.” “AXv aXn. F¦nÂ C\n \ap¡v Ipd¨v ]Tn¡mw.” Rm³ Fgpt¶äp t]mbn IXIv Xpd¶p h¨n«v h¶v Ahsf ]Tn¸n¨p. ]Tn¯w Ignªv t]mImdmbt¸mÄ AhÄ Fs¶ t\m¡n Nncn¨psIm−v \n¶p. “F´mSo t]mIp¶ntÃ ?”

Munnar

“F\n¡v

A®sâ

ASp¯v

\n¶pw

t]mIm³

tXm¶p¶nÃ.” “F¦nÂ ]ns¶ \o ChnsS Ccpt¶m.” “Fs¶ A½ Xnc¡pw. AsÃ¦nÂ Rm³ ChnsS Xs¶ Ccpt¶t\ambncp¶p.” Rm³ Fgpt¶äv Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p. AXv In«n¡gnªt¸mÄ AhÄ apdnbnÂ \n¶pw Cd§n t]mbn. A§s\ R§fpsS ]Tn¯w XpSÀ¶p. Rm³ Ahsf ]pXnb IfnIÄ ]ns¶bpw ]Tn¸n¨psIm−ncp¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS ]qÀ

N¸n

hen¡pIbpw,

Ahsf

sIm−v

Fsâ

Ip®

]nSn¸n¨p. ]ns¶ Ahsfs¡m−v hmWaSn¸n¨p. HSphnÂ AhÄ Fsâ Ip® hmbnÂ h¨v N¸pIbpw sNbvXp. A§s\ Imew IS¶p t]mbn. F«mw ¢mÊnse hÀjmhkm\ ]co£ ASp¯ kab¯v c−p aq¶p Znhkw cm{Xn AhÄ ]Tn¡m\mbn \½psS ho«nÂ X§nbn«p−v. A¶v R§Ä icn¡v kpJn¨p. ]t£ F«mw ¢mÊnse

sht¡j³

kab¯v

AhÄ

{]mb]qÀ¯nbmbn.

AXn\v tijw AhÄ F¶nÂ \n¶pw Ipd¨v AIew ]men¨p XpS§n.

F¦nepw

XpScp¶p−v. ImWm\pap−v.

Munnar

apebnÂ

AXnsâ

]nSn¯sams¡

KpWw

AhfpsS

Ct¸mgpw amdnÂ

Ct¸mÄ AhÄ¡v ]Xn\mev hbÊv IgnªtX DÅp F¦nepw AhfpsS apeIÄ AhfpsS A½bptSXnt\¡mÄ hfÀ¨ t\Snbn«p−v. C\n F\n¡v F§s\sb¦nepw Ahsf hf¨v AhfpsS koÂ s]m«n¡Ww. Rm³ C{Xbpw \mÄ Ahsf h−n sI«nbn«v, AhfpsS koev s]m«n¨nsÃ¦nÂ ]ns¶ Rms\´n\m CXpw Xq¡nbn«psIm−v \S¡p¶Xv. AXn\pÅ Hcp Ahkc¯n\mbn Rm³ Im¯ncn¡pIbmWv. “AXn\v Fsâ klmbw Fs´¦nepw thtWm tamt\ ?” “t\m¡s«. thWsa¦nÂ Rm³ ]dbmw.” Cu

kaba{Xbpw

kmh[m\w

Fsâ

Ip®bnÂ

]nSn¨v

Ipep¡ns¡m−ncn¡pIbmbncp¶p.

\n¶pw

HgpIn

I¿nÂ

apgph³

Rm\pw

AhÀ

h¶

eq{_nt¡änwKv

]SÀ¶n«v

AhcpsS

SojÀ«v

\Ã

HmbnÂ

hgphgp¸v

apIfntebv¡v

apeIÄ

AXnÂ

tN«¯nbpsS A\p`hs¸«p.

DbÀ¯n

amdn

XgpIns¡m−ncn¡pIbmbncp¶p.

h¨n«v amdn

AXnsâ

^eambn

AhcpsS apesR«pIÄ _ewh¨v DbÀ¶p \n¶ncp¶p. AhÀ kmh[m\w Fsâ apIfnÂ Ibdn InS¶p. Rm³ Ahsc \nhÀ¯n Ccp¯nbn«v AhcpsS SojÀ«v apIfntebv¡v Ducn

amän.

AhÀ

[cn¨ncp¶

_À½pU,

AhÀ

Xs¶

Xmtgbv¡v Ducn amän. Rm³ DSp¯ncp¶ ap−pw Agn¨p Ifªp. AtXmsS Fsâ 58

c−pt]cpw

DbÀ¶p\n¶ Munnar

Ip®,

]qÀ® AhcpsS

\ácmbn.

AhÀ

XpSIÄ¡nSbnÂ

AaÀ¯n h¨psIm−v Fsâ ]pd¯v Iagv¶p InS¶p. Rm³ Ahsc sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p. AhÀ

AhcpsS

\m¡v,

Fsâ

Np−pIÄ¡nSbneqsS

Fsâ hmbntebv¡v XÅn Ibän. Rm³ AhcpsS \m¡ns\ Fsâ \m¡v sIm−v Npän hcnªp. R§fpsS \m¡pIÄ Fsâ

hmbv¡pÅnÂ

CWtNÀ¶p.

InS¶v

AhcpsS

c−v

Dan\oÀ

kÀ¸§sft¸mse

Fsâ

hmbntebv¡v

HgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. Rm³ AXv apgph³ IpSn¨nd¡n. Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ

Rm³

AhcpsS

ImepIÄ

Fsâ

c−p

hit¯bv¡pw ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯n h¨p. “tN«¯o,

Imensâ ap«p Ip¯ns¡m−v N´n Ipd¨v

DbÀ¯ntb.” “AsX´n\m tamt\ ?” “AsXmXp

]pXnb

t]mkmWv

tN«¯o.

tX§m

s]mXn¡Â F¶v ]dbpw.” “Mm. tX§m s]mXn¡se¶v Rm³ tI«n«p−v. ]t£ AXv F§s\bmsW¶v F\n¡v AdnbnÃ.” “AXv Adnbn¨p Xcm\tÃ Rm³ ChnsS DÅXv. “ AhÀ s]s«¶v ap«p Ip¯n \n¶psIm−v N´n DbÀ¯n. Rm³ Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v AhcpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ ap«n¨p h¨p. 59

Munnar

“C\n tN«¯n ]Xps¡ Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¶v Ccpt¶.” AhÀ kmh[m\w Fsâ Ip®bntebv¡v AaÀ¶p. AhÀ Xmgv¶p hcp¶Xn\v A\pkcn¨v Ip® kmh[m\w AhcpsS Kplbv¡pÅnÂ Ibdns¡m−ncp¶p. Xe DbÀ¯n t\m¡nb F\n¡v, Hcp ]m¼v amf¯nÂ Hfn¡p¶Xpt]mse Ip® kmh[m\w AIt¯bv¡v Ibdp¶Xv ImWmambncp¶p. HSphnÂ AXv ]qÀ®ambn amf¯nÂ Hfn¨p. AhcpsS N´n Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ AaÀ¶p. Rm³ ssI F¯n AhcpsS apeIfnÂ ]nSn¨v sRcn¨psIm−v Rm³ ASnbnÂ \n¶pw apIfntebv¡v ASn¨p. AtXmsS Ahcpw N´n s]m¡n ASn¡m³ XpS§n. kmh[m\w XpS§nb ASnbpsS thKX ]Xps¡ IqSns¡m−ncp¶p. Ahkm\w t]mse

AhÀ

Fsâ

shfn¨¸mSv

s\©nÂ

Acs¡«nencp¶p

Ddªp

ssIIÄ

XmWvUhamSn.

XpÅp¶Xp

Du¶ns¡m−v,

HSphnÂ

Fsâ

AhÀ

XfÀ¶v

Fsâ amdnÂ hoWp. F\n¡v Ahscbpw

shÅw

t]mbncp¶nÃ.

sI«n¸nSn¨psIm−v

AtXmsS

AhÀ

ASnbnepw,

AhcpsS

tXmfn\v

H¶p

Rm³

Ccphi¯pw

Rm³

s]s«¶v

ae¡w

adnªp.

apIfnepambn.

ssIIÄ

Rm³

Du¶ns¡m−v,

Ip® Ducn ASn¡m³ XpS§n. c−p

aq¶v

ASn

ASn¨p

Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw

AhÀ

]ns¶bpw NqSmbn XpS§n. AhÀ c−p ssI sIm−pw Fsâ 60

Munnar

tXmfnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. Rm³ ISn aq¯v Hcp hÃm¯ AhØbnembncp¶p. Rm³ ]d¶Sn¨p. HSphnÂ Fsâ DÅnÂ Fs´ms¡tbm Dcp−p IqSn. Ahkm\w

AXv

s]bvXnd§n.

Hcp

t]amcnbmbn

At¸mtgbv¡pw

cXnaqÀObpw

AhcpsS

AhcpsSbpw

Bbn¡gnªncp¶p.

Fsâ

]qänÂ

c−mas¯ tXmfnepÅ

AhcpsS ]nSn Abªp. AhcpsS ssI ]nSnhn«v I«nenÂ hoWp. H¸w AhÀ InX¡m\pw XpS§n. AhcpsS ]qÀ`n¯nIfpsS t]inIÄ Fsâ Ip® hn«p hn«v AaÀ¯n ]ngnªpsIm−ncp¶p. HSphnÂ AXpw \ne¨p. Rm³ AhcpsS ]pd¯p\n¶pw sX¶n amdn InS¶p. R§Ä Iptdkabw A§s\ Xs¶ InS¶p. AXn\nsS AhÀ Fsâ Ignhns\ ]pIgv¯ns¡m−ncp¶p. “tamt\, \o CXv F´v ambmPmeamsWSm ImWn¨Xv ? F\n¡v k¦Â¸n¡m³ Ignbp¶Xn\pw A¸pdamWv \o Fs¶ kpJn¸n¨Xv.

C\n

F\n¡v

acn¨mepw

th−nÃ

F¶v

tXm¶nt¸mIp¶p.” “tN«¯o CXpt]mse C\nbpw [mcmfw theIÄ D−v. AsXÃmw

I−v

IgnªmÂ

]ns¶

InS¶pd§m³ t]mepw k½Xn¡¯nÃ.”

Munnar

tN«¯n

Fs¶

tN«¯n Fsâ ASpt¯bv¡v Ncnªp InS¶psIm−v Fs¶

sI«n¸nSn¨v

Npw_n¨psIm−ncp¶p.

Rm³

Ahsc

tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨p. “tN«¯o ChnsS h¨v C§s\sbms¡ kpJn¨n«v tN«¯n Atacn¡bnÂ sN¶n«v F§s\ InS¶v Dd§pw ? C¡W¡n\v tN«s\ tN«¯n InS¯n s]mdp¸n¡¯nÃtÃm.” “AXv HmÀ¡pt¼mgmWv Fsâ DÅnÂ Hcp Fcn¨nÂ. \o Fs¶ C§s\ kpJn¸n¨n«v, AhnsS sNÃpt¼mÄ Rm³ F´v sN¿psa¶v F\n¡v Hcp cq]hpanÃ. ]t£, Hcp Imcyw Rm³

Dd¸n¨p

Ignªp.

Rm³

AhnsS

sN¶v

Hcp

amk¯n\Iw \n\¡v hnk icns¸Sp¯nbncn¡pw. \o CÃmsX Ign¨pIq«p¶ Imcyw F\n¡v Nn´n¡mt\ Ignbp¶nÃ.” A§s\ Ipd¨p kabw IqSn R§Ä kwkmcn¨p InS¶p. F«p

aWnbmbt¸mÄ

R§Ä

Fgpt¶äp.

Rm³

ap−v

DSp¡m³ FSp¯n«v, tN«¯n AXv ]nSn¨p hm§n. “FSm, DuWv Ign¨n«v h¶v \½Ä Xs¶ CsXÃmw ho−pw Agn¨pIfbt−. AXv sIm−v C¸w \ap¡v XpWnbnÃmsX t]mbn `£Ww Ign¡mw.” A§s\ R§Ä c−mfpw ]nd¶]Sn Xs¶ ASp¡fbnÂ t]mbn

`£Ww

Ign¨p.

`£WsaÃmw

XWp¯v

achn¨v

Ccp¶Xn\mÂ R§Ä AsXÃmw H¶pIqSn NqSm¡nbn«mWv Ign¨Xv. `£Ww Ign¡p¶Xn\v ap¼mbn R§Ä c−v emÀPv 62

Munnar

hoXw Ign¨p. AXnsâ ]pd¯v `£Ww Ign¨t¸mtgbv¡pw R§Ä \Ã t^manembn. R§Ä Hcp ]m{X¯nÂ \n¶v c−mfpw hmcn Xn¶p. CSbv¡v ]ckv]cw At§m«pw Ct§m«pw hmcn sImSp¡pIbpw sNbvXp. `£Ww Ignªv ]m{X§sfÃmw shÅw Hgn¨v h¨n«v R§Ä ]ckv]cw tXmfneqsS I¿n«v apdnbntebv¡v \S¶p. Rm³

Hcp

ssI

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p.

sIm−v

AhÀ

sRcn¨psIm−ncp¶p.

AhcpsS

Fsâ

apeIsf

Ip®bnÂ

A§s\

]nSn¨v

apdnbnÂ

F¯nbt¸mtgbv¡pw R§Ä c−pw NqSmbn¡gnªncp¶p. tN«¯n

Fs¶

sI«n¸nSn¨v

Np−pIfnÂ

Npw_n¨p.

Rm³ Fsâ \m¡v ]Xps¡ AhcpsS Np−pIÄ¡nSbneqsS hmbv¡pÅntebv¡v IS¯n. \m¡v AhcpsS ]ÃnÂ X«nbt¸mÄ AhÀ ]ÃpIÄ AIÀ¯n Fsâ \m¡ns\ hmbv¡pÅntebv¡v kzoIcn¨p. R§fpsS \m¡pIÄ AhcpsS hmbv¡pÅnencp¶v sI«p]nWªp.

c−pt]cpsSbpw

Dan\ocv

CXn\nsS

]ckv]cw ssIamdnbncp¶p. c−mfpw AXv \pWªv Cd¡n. ]¯v ]Xn\©v an\nt«mfw R§Ä A§s\ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨psIm−v \n¶p. AhcpsS apeIÄ Fsâ amdnÂ sRcnªv AaÀ¶p. Fsâ Ip®, AhcpsS ASnhbänÂ Ip¯n \n¶p. Rm³ I«nenÂ Ccp¶n«v, Ahsc Fsâ ap¶nembn

]nSn¨p

apJ¯n\v

ap¶nembn

Munnar

\ndp¯n. h¶p.

AhcpsS Rm³

apeIÄ

Ahsc

Fsâ Fsâ

ImepIÄ¡v

a²y¯mbn

]nSn¨p

\ndp¯nbn«v,

AhcpsS

apeIfnÂ XgpIn. Rm³ AhcpsS apeIÄ amdn amdn hmbnÂ h¨v hen¨v IpSn¨p. AhÀ Fsâ Xe, AhcpsS amdntebv¡v AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. Rm³ Hcp ssI sIm−v AhcpsS ]qÀNmenÂ XgpIn. AhÀ Hcp ImÂ DbÀ¯n I«nenÂ Nhp«n. AtXmsS AhcpsS ]qÀ hm s]mfn¨p. Rm³ AhcpsS I´nÂ ]nSn¨v sRcSns¡m−ncp¶p. AhcpsS ]qÀ, tX³ Npc¯m³ XpS§n. Fsâ I¿nÂ AhcpsS ]qÀtX³ ]pc−p. Rm³ ssI \m¡nÂ h¨v \¡n IpSn¨p. AXv I−n«v, AhÀ Fsâ ssI ]nSn¨v AhcpsS hmbnÂ

h¨v

AhcpsS

ssI

]qÀtX³

\¡n.

Rm³

ho−pw

tXm−nsbSp¯v

ssI

AhcpsS

sIm−v hmbnÂ

h¨psImSp¯p. AhÀ AXpw \¡n IpSn¨p. Rm³ AhcpsS c−p ImepIfpw Fsâ Acs¡«n\v Ccphi¯pambn h¨psIm−v Ahsc Fsâ aSnbnÂ ]nSn¨v Ccp¯n. Rm³ AhcpsS N´n Aev]w ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯nbn«v, Ip®, AhcpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ ap«n¨p h¨p. ]ns¶ AhÀ Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¶v Ccp¶t¸mÄ Ip® kmh[m\w AhcpsS aZ\sN¸ntebv¡v Bgv¶v Cd§n. AhÀ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p. AhcpsS apeIÄ Fsâ s\©n\v apIfnembn AaÀ¶p. Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS ]qän\pÅnÂ

sRcnªv

AaÀ¶v

Ccp¶p.

AhÀ

Ip−n

sh«n¨v Ip®bnÂ aÀ±w sNep¯n. Rm³ AhcpsS N´n 64

Munnar

Xm§n

]nSn¨psIm−v

ASnbnÂ

\n¶pw

apIfntebv¡v

Xm§ns¡mSp¯p. AhÀ Fsâ Igp¯nÂ sI«n¸nSn¨psIm−v AhcpsS N´n

DbÀ¯n

h¨p.

Cd§ns¡m−ncp¶p.

Ip®

Ipd¨p

AhcpsS kabw

]qänÂ

Ibdn

Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw

AhcpsS N´n DbÀ¶p Xmgp¶Xnsâ thKX IqSn¡qSn h¶p. HSphnÂ AhÀ Fsâ Igp¯nÂ sI«n¸nSn¨psIm−v XfÀ¶v Fsâ tXmfntebv¡v Xe Xmgv¯n InS¶p. AtXmsS Fsâ Ip®bnÂ AhÀ AaÀ¶v Ccp¶p. F\n¡v shÅw t]mbn«nÃmbncp¶p. AhÀ AaÀ¶v Ccp¶tXmsS Ip®bnse Ne\w \ne¨p. Ip®

AhcpsS

]qänÂ

]qÀtX³

Cd§ns¡m−ncp¶p. ]nSn¨psIm−v

sRcp§n

Ipd¨p

Rm³ kabw

AaÀ¶v

Ccp¶p.

Ip®bneqsS AhcpsS

HgpIn

N´nbnÂ

A\§msX

Ccp¶p.

Xm§n AXv

Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw AhÀ Xe ]Xps¡ DbÀ¯n. “A\nbm \n\¡v t]mbnÃ. AtÃ.” “CÃ tN«¯o. F\n¡v t]mbnÃ.” “AXv \¶mbn. F\n¡v H¶pIqSn thWw. Rm³ Hcp A©v an\n«v C§s\ Ccn¡s«. \nsâ Ip® AI¯v Ccp¶n«v \Ã kpJw.”

Munnar

sRcp§n

AhÀ

Fsâ

s\änbnepw,

I®nepw,

Np−pIfnepw,

Ihnfnepsams¡ amdn amdn Npw_n¨psIm−ncp¶p. Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ AhÀ Fsâ Igp¯nse ]nSn hn«n«v Fgpt¶äv I«nenÂ InS¶p. “A\nbm C\n \o Fsâ apIfnÂ Ibdn ASn¨mÂ aXn. AÃmsX

Fs¶s¡m−v

apIfnÂ

Ibdm³

h¿.

Rm³

£oWn¨p t]mbn.” Rm³ Fgpt¶äv Ipd¨p shÅw IpSn¨p. AXv I−n«v Ahcpw Ipd¨v shÅw hm§n IpSn¨p. Rm³ Hcp XpWn FSp¯v Fsâ Ip®bpw, AhcpsS ]qdpw \¶mbn XpS¨v hr¯nbm¡n.

Rm³

AhcpsS

ASp¯v

InS¶psIm−v

AhcpsS apeIfnÂ XgpIn. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v sXmen¨Sn¨p. Ipd¨p

Ignªv

Rm³

AhcpsS

]pd¯v

Ibdn

InS¶psIm−v AhcpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯n h¨p. AhÀ Xs¶ Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v AhcpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ ap«n¨p

h¨p.

kmh[m\w

Rm³

Acs¡«v

AhcpsS

]Xps¡

]qÀXpfbnÂ

Xmgv¯n. IS¶p.

Ip®

HSphnÂ

R§fpsS Acs¡«v X½nÂ tNÀ¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS c−p hi¯pw ssI Ip¯n DbÀ¶p \n¶psIm−v Ip® Ducn ASn¨p. ]Xps¡ ]Xps¡ ASnbpsS thKX

IqSn.

Ahcpw,

ASn¨psIm−ncp¶p. 66

Munnar

ASnbnÂ

AhÀ¡v

\n¶pw

CXn\nsS

apIfntebv¡v c−v

{]mhiyw

cXnaqÀO D−mbn. HSphnÂ Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS ]qänÂ ]me`nt£Iw \S¯n. Ahkm\w, Fsâ Ip® Npcp§n, AhcpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw ]pd¯v h¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS ]pd¯p \n¶pw Cd§n InS¶p. c−pt]cpw \¶mbn £oWn¨ncp¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS ASpt¯bv¡v Ncnªp InS¶p sIm−v AhcpsS ]pd¯v ImÂ FSp¯v h¨p. Hcp

ssI

AhcpsS

Im«ns¡m−ncp¶p.

apeIfpsS

AhÀ

Fsâ

apIfnÂ

IpkrXn

Ip®bnepw

]nSn¨v

sXmen¨Sn¨psIm−ncp¶p. A§s\ InS¶v F¸tgm R§Ä Dd§n. ]ns¶ R§Ä DWÀ¶Xv shfp¸n\v A©v aWn¡mWv. At¸mgpw R§Ä ]ckv]cw sI«n¸nSn¨v InS¡pIbmbncp¶p. R§Ä c−mfpw IqSn _m¯vdqanÂ t]mbn aq{Xsamgn¨p. XncnsI h¶t¸mgpw Ip®, hSn t]mse Xs¶ \n¶ncp¶p. R§Ä ho−pw Hcp {Sn¸p IqSn ASn¨p. ]ns¶ hkv{X§Ä [cn¨v c−p apdnIfnembn t]mbn InS¶p. cmhnse _ÃSn¡p¶

Ggv i_vZw

aWntbmsS sI«v

]Wn¡mcn

Rm³

t]mbn

h¶p.

IXIv

AhÀ

Xpd¶p.

At¸mtgbv¡pw ASp¯ apdnbnÂ \n¶pw tN«¯nbpw Cd§n h¶p.

]Wn¡mcn

ASp¡fbnÂ

t]mbn

R§Ä¡v

Nmb

D−m¡n X¶p. R§Ä ssU\nwKv lmfnencp¶v AXv IpSn¨p. NqSv

Nmb

DÅnÂ

sN¶t¸mtgbv¡pw

\Ã

Dt·jw

ssIh¶p. F«p aWn Ignªt¸mÄ {]`mX `£Ww icnbmbn. ]ns¶ 67

R§Ä Munnar

AXv

Ign¨p.

]¯v

aWntbmsS

R§Ä

Po¸pambn ]pd¯v Npäm³ t]mbn. Rm³ Hcp _À½pUbpw SojÀ«pamWv

[cn¨ncp¶Xv.

Cd¡apÅ

Hcp

tN«¯n,

anUnbpw

tSm¸pw.

ap«n\v c−p

Xmsg t]cpw

hsc Hmtcm

Pm¡äpw [cn¨p. R§fpsS IntemaoäÀ

tXm«¯nÂ

AIsebmbn

\n¶pw

Dt±iw

Im«n\pÅnÂ

Hcp

]Xn\©v XSmIap−v.

km[mWKXnbnÂ AhnsS Bcpw hcmdnÃ. aq¶p hi§fpw ]mds¡«pIfmÂ Npäs¸«v \Ã I®p\ocv t]mse sXfnª ip²amb

shÅw.

Hen¨nd§p¶

Pew.

]mds¡«pIÄ¡v Cu

XSmI¯nÂ

CSbnÂ \n¶pw,

\n¶pw ]pds¸«v

HgpIp¶ Hcp sNdnb \Zn. Npäpw ]£nIfpsS IfIfmchw. NohoSnsâ aqfÂ. A§s\ kpµcamb {]tZiw. Rm³

ap¼v

{]mhiyw

ChnsS

h¶n«p−v.

Øe¯nsâ `wKnsb¡pdn¨v hÀ®n¨t¸mÄ Xs¶ tN«¯n¡v B Øe¯v t]mIWsa¶v \nÀºÔambn. A§s\ R§Ä AhntSbv¡v Xncn¨p. ]t£, B XSmI¯nsâ ASp¯p hsc Po¸v t]mIm³ X¡ hgnbnÃmbncp¶p. CSbv¡v Hcp Øe¯v Po¸v

\ndp¯nbn«n«v,

ImSn\v

\SphneqsS

GItZiw

Hcp

IntemaoäÀ \S¶pthWw AhnsS F¯m³. A§s\ R§Ä AhnsS Po¸v \ndp¯nbn«n«v, tXmÀ¯v, tkm¸v, No¸v,

aäv AXymhiy km[\§sfms¡ AS§nb Hcp

sNdnb _mKpw tXmfnÂ Xq¡n ]Xps¡ ImSn\pÅntebv¡v \S¶p. XWp¸v AIäm\mbn, Xte Znhkw Ign¨ Ip¸nbnÂ

Munnar

_m¡n D−mbncp¶, Ac Ip¸n¡v apIfnepÅ {_m−nbpw IqsS sIm−p t]mbn. A[nIw Bcpw k©cn¡m¯, Dcpf³ ]mdIÄ \nc¶p InS¡p¶

Hcp

tXmfneqsS

CSp§nb

I¿n«v

Im«phgn.

Ahsc

Fsâ

Rm³

tN«¯nbpsS

icoc¯nÂ

tNÀ¯p

]nSn¨p. AhÀ Hcp ssI Fsâ AcbneqsS Npän ]nSn¨p. A§s\ R§Ä ]Xps¡ \S¶v HSphnÂ GXm−v Ac aWn¡qÀ

sIm−v

XSmI¯n\v

ASp¯v

F¯n.

AhnsS

apgph³ kar²ambn h³ac§Ä hfÀ¶p \n¶ncp¶Xn\mÂ ]Xns\m¶p

aWnbmbn«pw

ac§fpsS

CSbneqsS

Acn¨nd§p¶ t\cnb shbnÂ am{Xta D−mbncp¶pÅp. XSmI IcbnÂ tXmfnencp¶ _mKv Cd¡n h¨p. Rm³ ]Xps¡ XSmI¯ntebv¡v Cd§n. sFkv t]mse XWp¯ shÅw. Rm³ ssI¡p¼nfnÂ Hcp ssI shÅw tImcn apJw IgpIn. AXv I−n«v tN«¯nbpw ]Xps¡ shÅ¯ntebv¡v Cd§n. shÅ¯nÂ Cd§n \n¶psIm−v tN«¯nbpw I¿nÂ shÅw tImcn apJw IgpIn. “A\nbm Cu shÅ¯n\v F´v XWp¸m. Iptdt\cw CXnÂ

Cd§n

\n¶mÂ

\½Ä

XWp¯v

achn¨p

t]mIpatÃm.” “AsXm¶panÃ tN«¯o. Ipd¨p kabw sIm−v \½Ä Cu XWp¸pambn ]cnNbs¸Spw. ]ns¶ Hcp {]iv\hpanÃ. \Ã

Munnar

kpJambncn¡pw.

Rm³

F´mbmepw

Ipfn¡m³

t]mIpIbmWv. tN«¯n Ipfn¡ps¶¦nÂ hm.” “At¿m!

XWp¸¯v

F§s\bm

A\nbm

Ipfn¡p¶Xv? F\n¡v ]äpsa¶v tXm¶p¶nÃ.” “AXv tN«¯n¡v Adnbmªn«m. \½Ä Cu shÅ¯nÂ ap§n

IgnªmÂ

]ns¶

Icbv¡v

Ibdmt\

tXm¶nÃ.

A{Xbv¡v kpJamWv.” CXpw ]dªpsIm−v Rm³ Icbv¡v Ibdn Fsâ hkv{X§sfÃmw Ducn amänbn«v Hcp tXmÀ¯v DSp¯p. ]ns¶ Ip¸nbnÂ \n¶pw, Hcp U_nÄ emÀPv Hgn¨v shÅw tNÀ¯v IpSn¨psIm−v shÅ¯nÂ

shÅ¯nÂ ap§n

InS¶p.

Cd§n.

Rm³

Igps¯m¸w

tN«¯n

AXpw

I−psIm−v

IcbnÂ \n¶p. Ipd¨p Ignªv Rm³ shÅ¯nÂ DbÀ¶p \n¶p. Rm³ \n¶ncp¶ Øe¯v Fsâ ap«n\v apIfnÂ hsc am{Xta shÅw D−mbncp¶pÅp. Rm³ \nhÀ¶p \n¶t¸mÄ, tXmÀ¯v,

XpSIfnÂ

tXmÀ¯nsâ

\\ªv

hnShneqsS

]pd¯v

H«n, h¶p.

Npcp§nb Rm³

Ip® A§s\

Xs¶ IcbnÂ Ibdn, tN«¯nbpsS ASp¯v sN¶p. “A\nbm, C¸w \nsâ sIm¼³ GXm−v Npcp−v Hcp A«bpsS

hen¸atÃ

C{Xtb ImWq.” 70

Munnar

DÅp.

tN«sâ

kmam\hpw

GXm−v

AhÀ ]Xps¡ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p. AhcpsS I¿nse NqSv X«nbt¸mtgbv¡pw Ip® kmh[m\w A\¡w h¨p XpS§n.

Ah³

kmh[m\w

hnizcq]w

Im«n.

Rm³

tN«¯nbpsS hkv{X§Ä Hmtcm¶mbn Agn¨p amän. Rm³ DSp¯ncp¶

tXmÀ¯pw

AhÀ

CXn\Iw

Dcnªp

Ifªncp¶p. Rm³ AhÀ¡pw {_m³Un Hgn¨v IpSn¸n¨p. Rm³ Ahsc sI«n¸nSn¨p. Rm³

Ahsc

sI«n¸nSn¨psIm−v

]Xps¡

shÅ¯ntebv¡v Cd§n. B XSmI¯nsâ Gähpw Bgw IqSnb `mK¯v Fsâ tXmÄ hsc shÅap−mbncp¶p. shÅ¯nÂ Cd§n, XWp¸v X«nbtXmsS Ip® ho−pw A« Npcpfp¶Xp t]mse Npcp§n. R§Ä c−mfpw Igps¯m¸w shÅ¯nÂ

ap§n

\n¶p.

AtXmsS

R§fpsS

XWp¸v

amdn¡n«n. R§Ä shÅ¯n\SnbnÂ ap§n \n¶psIm−v ]ckv]cw sI«n¸nSn¨p. AhcpsS apeIÄ Fsâ amdnÂ AaÀ¶p. Fsâ Ip®, AhcpsS ASnhbänÂ sXm«p \n¶p. ]t£ Ah³ At¸mgpw Npcp§n Xs¶ InS¶p. R§fpsS Np−pIÄ H¯p tNÀ¶p. kmh[m\w R§fpsS \m¡pIÄ amdn amdn c−p t]cpsSbpw hmbv¡pÅnÂ CWtNÀ¶p. AtXmsS R§fpsS icocw kmh[m\w NqSp ]nSn¡m³ XpS§n. AtXmsS Fsâ Ip®bpw DWcm³ XpS§n. Ah³ AhcpsS ASnhbänÂ Ip¯m³ XpS§n. tN«¯n Hcp ssI sIm−v Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¨p. AtXmsS Ah³ 71

Munnar

]qÀ®

cq]w

ssIs¡m−p.

AIÀ¯nbn«v,

Ip®

AhÀ

]nSn¨v

AhcpsS

ImepIÄ

]qÀNmeneqsS

Dc¨psIm−ncp¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS apeIÄ sRcn¨pS¨p. AhÀ aqfm\pw Rc§m\pw XpS§n. Rm³ Ahsc ]nSn¨v ASp¯p shÅ¯nÂ ap§n¡nS¶ Hcp ]mdbpsS apIfnÂ Ccp¯n. B ]mdbv¡v AhcpsS N´n hsc s]m¡w D−mbncp¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v

AIÀ¯nbn«v,

AhcpsS

ImepIfpsS

\Sphnembn

tNÀ¶p \n¶psIm−v, Ip® ]nSn¨v AhcpsS ]qänÂ ap«n¨p h¨p.

Rm³

]Xps¡

Acs¡«v

ASp¸n¨tXmsS,

Ip®

kmh[m\w ]qän\pÅntebv¡v Ibdn. ]qÀ®ambn shÅ¯n\v ASnbnbnembXn\mÂ

Bbncn¡pw

Ip®

Hcp

{]bmkhpanÃmsX Ibdnt¸mbn. AhÀ Fsâ tXmfneqsS I¿n«v Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨p. AhcpsS ImepIÄ sIm−v Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ Npän ]nSn¨p. Rm³ AhcpsS N´nbnÂ Xm§n ]nSn¨psIm−v, Ahsc ]mdbpsS apIfnÂ \n¶pw s]m¡nsbSp¯p. AhÀ Fsâ Igp¯nse ]nSn apdp¡n. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bpw DÅnÂ h¨psIm−v ]qÀ®ambn Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ AaÀ¶ncp¶p. Rm³

Ahsc

A§s\

]nSn¨psIm−v,

shÅ¯nÂ¡qSn

\S¶p. ho−pw

Rm³

Ahsc

]md¸pd¯v

Ccp¯nbn«v,

AhcpsS Acs¡«nÂ ]nSn¨psIm−v kmh[m\w Ip® Ducn ASn¨p. 72

]qÀ®ambn

Munnar

shÅ¯n\v

ASnbnse

]®Â.

AXv

icn¡pw

Hcp

]pXnb

]®Â

A\p`hambncp¶p.

Rm³

icn¡pw kzÀ¤w I−p. IcbnÂ h¨pÅ ss{U ]®ent\¡mÄ Gsd kpJw ]IÀ¶ Ifnbmbncp¶p AXv. Ahcpw Cu ]pXnb coXn icn¡pw BkzZn¨p. Fsâ A`n{]mb¯nÂ FÃm am\y hmb\¡mcpw Ignbpsa¦nÂ Cu coXn H¶p ]co£n¨p t\m¡Wsa¶mWv Fsâ A`n{]mbw. shÅ¯n\v ASnbnse ]®Â BbXn\mÂ Bbncn¡pw F\n¡v shÅw hcp¶Xnsâ Hcp e£Whpw I−nÃ. ]t£ tN«¯n CXn\Iw Hcp {]mhiyw tX³IpSw s]m«n¨p. AXnsâ Ne\§Ä

Fsâ

Ip®bnÂ

A\p`hs¸«ncp¶p.

Rm³

ASnbpsS thKX Iq«n. B XWp¯ A´coIj¯nÂ BbXp sIm−mbncn¡pw, A\p`hs¸«nÃ.

F\n¡v HSphnÂ

Aev]w

AhÀ¡v

t]mepw

c−maXpw

£oWw cXnaqÀO

D−mbn. At¸mtgbv¡pw Fsâ Ip®bpw Aan«p s]m«n¨p. AhÀ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p. “A\nbm, icn¡pw C¶msWSm Rm³ kzÀ¤w I−Xv. ]®se¦nÂ ]®Â CXmWv.” “icnbm tN«¯o. Rm\pw icn¡v kpJn¨p. shÅ¯nse ]®Â Xs¶ Gähpw \ÃXv.” At¸mtgbv¡pw

Fsâ

Ip®

Npcp§m³

XpS§n.

HSphnÂ AXv ]qänÂ \n¶pw ]pd¯v NmSn. H¸w Ip®¸mÂ, I«bmbn shÅ¯n\v apIfntebv¡v s]m§n h¶p. tN«¯n 73

Munnar

]md¸pd¯p \n¶pw Xmsg Cd§nbn«v, AXv ssI sIm−v tImcn IpSn¨p. ]ns¶ R§Ä GXm−v Ac aWn¡qÀ IqSn shÅ¯nÂ ap§n Ipfn¨p. F{X kabw shÅ¯nÂ ap§n InS¶n«pw R§Ä¡v aXnbmbnÃ. HSphnÂ R§Ä shÅ¯nÂ \n¶pw Icbv¡v Ibdn. At¸mÄ R§Ä hndbv¡m³ XpS§n. R§Ä tXmÀ¯v sIm−v icocw apgph³ tXmÀ¯nbn«v, hkv{X§Ä [cn¨p. ]ns¶ XncnsI Po¸nÂ F¯n. At¸mÄ aWn ]{´−v Ignªncp¶p. R§Ä ]ns¶bpw Ipd¨v Øe§fnsems¡ Id§nbn«v, c−p

aWntbmsS

ho«nÂ

F¯n.

]Wn¡mcn

R§Ä¡v

Ign¡m\pÅ `£Ww hnf¼n h¨p. R§Ä `£Ww Ign¨p. `£Ww Ignªv R§Ä lmfnÂ Ccp¶p. At¸mtgbv¡pw ]Wn¡mcn, `£Ww Ign¨v, ]m{X§sfms¡ IgpIn h¨n«v, GXm−v aq¶v aWntbmsS AhÀ R§tfmSv bm{X ]dªv AhcpsS

ho«ntebv¡v

t]mbn.

AhÀ

R§Ä¡pÅ

cm{Xn

`£Ww icnbm¡n h¨n«p−mbncp¶p. AhÀ C\n \msf cmhnsetb hcpIbpÅp. AhÀ ]q«nbn«v,

t]mb Fsâ

DS³,

tN«¯n

ASp¯v

Fgpt¶äv

h¶ncp¶p.

hoSv

AhÀ

AS¨v Fsâ

_À½pUbpsS ImenÂ¡qSn ssI DÅnÂ IS¯n Fsâ Ip® P«n¡pÅnÂ \n¶pw ]pds¯Sp¯p. AhcpsS Ickv]Àiw Gä DS³ Ah³ Xe DbÀ¯m³ XpS§n. Rm³ AhcpsS tXmfneqsS I¿n«v Ahsc Fsâ 74

Munnar

icoc¯nÂ tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨p. AhÀ Fsâ IhnfnÂ Npw_n¨p. Rm³ atä ssI sIm−v AhcpsS DSp¸nsâ ]pd¯pIqSn AhcpsS apebnÂ ]nSn¨p. AhÀ s]s«¶v Fgpt¶äp \n¶n«v, Fsâ SojÀ«v apIfntebv¡v Ducn FSp¯p. Rm³ Ahsc ]nSn¨psIm−v apdn¡pÅnÂ t]mbn. apdnbnÂ

sN¶

DS³

Rm³

AhcpsS

hkv{X§Ä

Hmtcm¶mbn Ducn amän. AhÀ Fsâ icoc¯nÂ tijn¨ hkv{X§fpw

Ducn

amän.

AhÀ

Fs¶

I«nenÂ

]nSn¨v

Ccp¯nbn«v, Fsâ ap¶nembn Ip¯n Ccp¶psIm−v Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¨p. At¸mtgbv¡pw Ip® \Ã t^manÂ Bbn¡gnªncp¶p.

Ip®bpsS

Aä¯v

Hcp

XpÅn

\ndanÃm¯ {ZmhIw Dudn h¶p. AhÀ \m¡psIm−v AXv \¡nsbSp¯p.

]ns¶

kmh[m\w

Ip®bpsS

aIpSw

hmbv¡pÅnem¡n \pWbm³ XpS§n. Rm³ Is¿¯n AhcpsS apeIfnÂ XgpIn. Rm³ Imensâ XÅhncÂ sIm−v AhcpsS hnSÀ¶ncp¶ ]qänÂ XgpIn.

Rm³

AhcpsS

I´nÂ

ImÂhncÂ

sIm−v

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. AtXmsS AhÀ kln¡m³ IgnbmsX Fgpt¶äv Fsâ ap¶nÂ \n¶psIm−v Fsâ tXmfnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. Rm³

I«nenÂ

\n¶pw

Fgpt¶äv

\n¶n«v,

Ahsc

I«nenÂ ssI Ip¯n Ip\n¨p \ndp¯n. Rm³ AhcpsS ]n¶nÂ sN¶p \n¶n«v, AhcpsS ]pdIntebv¡v hnSÀ¶p \n¶ ]qänÂ XgpIn. Rm³ ssI F¯n AhcpsS Xq§n 75

Munnar

InS¶ apeIfnÂ ]nSn¨p sRcn¨pS¨p. ]ns¶ kmh[m\w Ip®

]nSn¨ AhcpsS

]qänÂ ap«n¨p h¨n«v kmh[m\w

AIt¯bv¡v XÅn Ibän. Rm³ Ip®

AhcpsS

kmh[m\w

Acs¡«nÂ

AIt¯bv¡v

apdpsI

IS¯n.

]nSn¨psIm−v

HSphnÂ

Fsâ

Acs¡«v, AhcpsS N´nbnÂ AaÀ¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS ]pdt¯bv¡v

Iagv¶p

hi¯pIqSnbpw

ssI

InS¶psIm−v IS¯n

apeIÄ

AhcpsS ]nSn¨v

c−p

AaÀ¯n.

At¸mtgbv¡pw AhÀ N´n ]n¶ntebv¡v Xmf¯nÂ XÅm³ XpS§n. H¸w Rm\pw Ip® Ducn ASn¨p XpS§n. kmh[m\w

ASnbpsS

thKX

IqSn¡qSn

h¶p.

H¸w

AhÀ N´n ]pdtIm«pw XÅn X¶p. HSphnÂ AhÀ XfÀ¶p. AhÀ I«nenÂ Xe Ip¯ns¡m−v Iagv¶p InS¶p. Rm³ ]ns¶bpw Ducn ASn¨psIm−ncp¶p. ho−pw H¶p c−v an\n«v IqSn

Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw

Fsâ

Ip®bpw

AhcpsS

]qäntebv¡v ]mÂ ag s]¿n¨p. AtXmsS Rm\pw XfÀ¶v AhcpsS ]pdt¯bv¡v Iagv¶p InS¶p. InX¸v amdnbt¸mtgbv¡pw R§Ä Fgpt¶äv I«nenÂ InS¶p.

R§Ä

A§s\

InS¶v

ab§nt¸mbn.

A§s\

Znhk§Ä IS¶p t]mbn. BZy Znhk§fnsems¡ R§Ä icn¡pw ASn¨p s]mfn¨p. Znhkhpw aq¶v þ \mev {]mhiyw hoXw

R§Ä

F¯n

\mev

Munnar

CWtNÀ¶p. Znhkw

F¶mÂ

R§Ä

Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw,

aq¶mdnÂ R§fpsS

IfnbpsS

coXn

amdn.

]ns¶

R§fpsS

{i²

apgph³

KÀ`[mcWw am{Xambn. ]n¶oSpÅ

Znhk§fnÂ

R§Ä

asäÃm

coXnIfpw

Dt]£n¨n«v, tN«¯nsb I«nenÂ aeÀ¯n InS¯nbn«v, Rm³ apIfnÂ Ibdn ASn¡p¶ coXn am{Xta sNbvXpÅp. AXpw ASn¨p Ignªv, shÅw ]pd¯v t]mImsX, Ip® Iptdt\cw IqSn AI¯v h¨psIm−v A\§msX InS¡pambncp¶p. A§s\

aq¶mdnÂ

]¯v

Znhkw

]n¶n«p.

At¸mtgbv¡pw, tN«¯nbpsS sa³kkv Ignªn«v ]Xnt\gv Znhk§Ä

Ignªncp¶p.

aäv

Ipg¸§sfm¶pansÃ¦nÂ

XoÀ¨bmbpw tN«¯n KÀ`nWn Bbncn¡pw F¶v Dd¸mbn. ]Xns\m¶mw Znhkw Ahkm\s¯ Ifnbpw Ignªv D¨bv¡v R§Ä aS¡ bm{X Bcw`n¨p. kÔytbmsS R§Ä XncnsI ho«nÂ F¯n. F\n¡v A¸¨t\bpw, A½¨ntbbpw A`napJoIcn¡m³ aSnbmbncp¶p.

F¦nepw

AhÀ

tNmZn¨Xns\ms¡

adp]Sn

sImSp¯p. A¶v cm{Xnbpw, FÃmhcpw Dd§n¡gnªt¸mÄ tN«¯n Fsâ apdnbnÂ h¶p. A¶pw R§Ä BtLmjn¨p. ASp¯ Znhk§fnepw ]IÂ A½ ASp¡fbnÂ ]WnbnÂ Bbncn¡p¶ kab¯pw, cm{Xnbnepw R§Ä kwKan¨p. ho−pw HcmgvN IqSn Ignªv tN«¯n XncnsI t]mbn. t]mIp¶Xn\v ap¼mbn AhÀ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Iptd kabw Icªp.

HSphnÂ

Hcp

amk¯n\Iw

Fs¶¡qSn

Atacn¡bntebv¡v sIm−p t]mIpsa¶v ]dªv bm{Xbmbn. 77

Munnar

AhÀ t]mbn¡gnªv an¡hmdpw Znhk§fnÂ cm{Xn Fs¶ t^mWnÂ hnfn¡pambncp¶p. HSphnÂ Hcp Znhkw AhÀ Fs¶ hnfn¨v B kt´mj hmÀ¯ Adnbn¨p. Rm³ HcÑ\mIm³ t]mIp¶p. ASp¯ Znhkw Xs¶ tN«¯n Cu hnhcw A½tbbpw hnfn¨v ]dªp. AXv

AdnªtXmsS

ho«nÂ

FÃmt]À¡pw

kt´mjambn.

tN«¯nbpsS KÀ`¯n\v D¯chmZn Rm\msW¶v R§sf IqSmsX, Fsâ A¸¨\pw A½¨n¡pw am{Xta Adnbq. tN«¯n

Fs¶

Adnbn¨ncps¶¦nepw,

DSt\

Xs¶

sIm−pt]mIpsa¶v

AXv

DSs\m¶pw

km²yambnÃ.

km[mcW t]mse Znhk§Ä IS¶p t]mbn. CXn\nsS \fn\n tN¨nbpsS

aIÄ

BcXnsb

i\n,

RmbÀ

Znhk§fnÂ

]Tn¸n¡pambncp¶p. A§s\bncns¡ AhÄ¡v ]¯mw ¢mÊnse Ahkm\ ]co£

(FÊv.FÊv.FÂ.kn)

Bbn.

kv¡qfnse

¢mÊv

Ahkm\n¨v ÌUn eohv BbXp apXÂ AhÄ, AhfpsS ho«nÂ

t]mImsX,

R§fpsS

ho«nÂ

\n¶p

Xs¶bmWv

]Tn¨psIm−ncp¶Xv. A§ns\bncns¡, ]co£ ASp¯p h¶ Hcp Znhkw, kpJanÃmsX

Bip]{XnbnÂ

InS¡pIbmbncp¶

A¸¨sâ

tPyjvTs\ ImWp¶Xn\mbn A¸¨\pw A½¨nbpw IqSn t]mbn. A¸¨³ sshIpt¶cw B^oknÂ \n¶pw h¶Xn\v tijamWv AhÀ t]mbXv. At¸mtgbv¡pw \fn\n tN¨nbpw AhcpsS 78

Munnar

ho«ntebv¡v

t]mbn¡gnªncp¶p.

]ns¶

ho«nÂ

Rm\pw,

BcXnbpw am{Xambn. BcXn

At¸mÄ

ssU\nwKv

lmfnencp¶v

]Tn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Rm³ AhÄ Ccn¡p¶ ItkcbpsS ]n¶nembn

sN¶p

\n¶p.

AhÄ

DbÀ¯n

Fs¶

t\m¡nbn«v, AhfpsS ]Tn¯w XpSÀ¶p. AhÄ Hcp anUnbpw, Fsâ Hcp ]gb jÀ«pamWv [cn¨ncp¶Xv. Rm³, Fsâ c−p ssIIfpw AhfpsS tXmfnÂ h¨p. AhÄ ho−pw Fs¶

t\m¡n.

]nSn¡pIbpw,

Rm³

km[mcW

AhfpsS

D½hbv¡pIbpsams¡

apebnÂ

sN¿mdpÅXn\mÂ

AhÄ¡v AXv Hcp {]iv\ambncp¶nÃ. “F´mWv

kmdnsâ

Dt±iw.

Fs¶

]Tn¡m³

k½Xn¡¯ntÃ” “\o

]Tn¡−

F¶v

Rm³

]dtªm?

_p¡pw

FSp¯psIm−p hm. Fsâ apdnbnÂ t]mbncp¶v ]Tn¡mw. Fs´¦nepw kwibw Ds−¦nÂ Rm³ ]dªp Xcmw.” “Rm³ hcmw. ]t£ ]Tn¯w aXn. F\n¡v ASp¯mgvN ]co£bmWv.” “AXns\´m. Xcmw.”

Munnar

\n\¡v

Adnbm¯sXÃmw

Rm³

]Tn¸n¨p

Rm³

t]mbn

IXIv

AS¨v

Ipänbn«n«v,

Fsâ

apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. AhÄ _p¡psaSp¯v Fsâ ]ndtI sÌ¸v Ibdn apIfnÂ Fsâ apdnbnÂ F¯n. tai¸pd¯v _p¡pIÄ h¨n«v, AhÄ ItkcbnÂ Ccp¶p. Rm³ AhnsS \n¶psIm−p Xs¶ Ip\nªv AhfpsS IhnfnÂ Npw_n¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS DSp¸nsâ ]pd¯pIqSn AhfpsS apeIfnÂ ]nSn¨p.

Fsâ

Ip«³

CXn\Iw

I¼nbmbn

AhfpsS

icoc¯nÂ Ip¯p¶p−mbncp¶p. “A®m, Zqtcm«v amdn \nÃv. A®sâ tam³ Fs¶ Ip¯p¶p.” “AXns\´mSo. Ah³ \ns¶ H¶v sXms«¶v h¨v F´m Ipg¸w ?” “Ipg¸n¡mXncp¶mÂ aXn.” “\o Hcp Imcyw sN¿v. Ahs\ ]nSnt¨sc. At¸mÄ ]ns¶ Ah³ Ip¯m³ hc¯nÃtÃm.” “A®m XamisbSp¡tÃ. F\n¡v ]Tn¡Ww. C§s\bmbmÂ Rm³ Cd§n t]mIpta.” “\o ]nW§−. \ap¡v ChnsS Ccp¶v Xs¶ ]Tn¡mw.” CXv ]dªpsIm−v Rm³ AhfpsS ASp¯v InS¶ ItkcbnÂ ]n¶neqsS 80

Munnar

Ccp¶p. I¿n«v,

Rm³

AhfpsS

AhÄ

Ccp¶

ASpt¯bv¡v

ItkcbpsS tNÀ¶ncp¶p.

]ns¶

Rm³

AhfpsS

IhnfnÂ

Npw_n¨p.

AhÄ

]pkvXI¯nÂ Xs¶ {i²n¨v Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Ipd¨pIqSn

Ignªn«v,

Rm³

AhfpsS

jÀ«nsâ

_«³kpIfpsS CSbneqsS ssI IS¯n AhfpsS apebnÂ XgpIn. ]ns¶ ]Xps¡ Rm³ AhÄ [cn¨ncp¶ jÀ«nsâ _«³kpIÄ

Cf¡n

AXv

Ducn

amän.

AhÄ

Fsâ

{]hr¯nIÄ XSbm³ Hcp hn^e {iaw \S¯nsb¦nepw Rm³ jÀ«v _eambn Xs¶ Ducn amän. AhfpsS kmam\yw henb apeIÄ, AhÄ [cn¨ncp¶ Idp¯ t{_knbdn\pÅnÂ HXp§msX ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn \n¶p. Rm³ Ip\nªv AhfpsS t{_knbdn\v ]pd¯pIqSn AhfpsS apeIfnÂ apJw AaÀ¯n. AhÄ Fsâ XebnÂ ]nSn¨v

AaÀ¯n.

Rm³

AhfpsS

]n¶neqsS

I¿n«v

t{_knbdnsâ lq¡v Cf¡nbn«v AXv ap¶neqsS Ducn amän. AhfpsS ape C{Xbpw hepXmbXn\p tijw Rm³ BZyambn

ImWpIbmWv.

]nSn¡mdps−¦nepw,

AXv

CSbvs¡ms¡ adbnÃmsX

apebnÂ

ImWp¶Xv

hfsc

\mfpIÄ¡v tijw CXv BZyambmWv. AhfpsS icoc¯n\v kmam\yw

\Ã

icoct¯¡mÄ

shfp¸v shfp¸v

\ndamWv.

AhfpsS

apeIÄ¡v

\ndap−mbncp¶p.

AXnsâ

a²y¯mbn ]n¦v \nd¯nÂ henb Hcp hr¯hpw, Aä¯v s]³knensâ \nd¯nÂ

Nph«nse apesR«pw.

`wKnbmbncp¶p. 81

Munnar

dºdnsâ

hen¸¯nÂ

BsI¡qSn

ImWm³

{_u¬ \Ã

Rm³

Ip\nªv

AhfpsS

apesR«pIÄ¡v

Npänepw

Fsâ \m¡psIm−v Dgnªp. AtXmsS apesR«pIÄ _ew h¨v Ipd¨pIqSn hepXmbn ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn h¶p. Rm³ apesR«pIÄ Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n \pWªp. AhÄ Fsâ Xe, AhfpsS amdntebv¡v AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨psIm−v, Ip\nªv Fsâ XebnÂ Npw_n¨p. AhÄ \Ã kpJ¯nÂ ebn¨ncp¶ X¡¯n\v Rm³ AhÄ AdnbmsX AhfpsS anUnbpsS lq¡v Cf¡nbn«v, B hnShneqsS

AhfpsS

]mâokn\pÅntebv¡v

ssI

IS¯n.

AhÄ Hcp ssI FSp¯v Fsâ I¿psS \o¡w XSªp. Rm³ AhfpsS apeIÄ amdn amdn hmbnÂ h¨v hen¨p IpSn¨p.

H¸w

Hcp

ssI

sIm−v

kzX{´amb

apesR«v

Xncp½pIbpw sNbvXp. AhÄ ]qÀ®ambn B kpJ¯nÂ ebn¨ncp¶ X¡¯n\v Rm³ ho−pw Fsâ ssI AhfpsS

]mâokn\pÅnÂ

IS¯n. C¯hW AhfpsS FXnÀ¸v D−mbnÃ. Rm³ ssI IqSpXÂ

DÅntebv¡v

AaÀ¯n.

AhnsS

IS¯n

\Ã

AhfpsS

kar²ambn

]qÀXS¯nÂ

tcmaw

hfÀ¶p

InS¶ncp¶p. Rm³ B tcma§fpsS CSbneqsS ssI ho−pw Xmtgbv¡v sIm−p h¶n«v AhfpsS

]qÀNmenÂ XgpIn.

AhfpsS IpepIÄ ]Xps¡ c−p hit¯bv¡pw AIÀ¶p h¶p. AtXmsS Fsâ ssIIÄ¡v AhfpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS kpKaambn Nen¡m³ Ignªp.

Munnar

Fsâ hncepIÄ AhfpsS I´nÂ sXm«t¸mÄ AhÄ sR«nhnd¨p. B X¡¯n\v Rm³ AhfpsS N´n Aev]w DbÀ¯nbn«v, anUnbpw ]m³dokpw IqSn s]s«¶v Xmtgbv¡v ]nSn¨v

Ducn.

F´mWv

kw`hn¡¶Xv

F¶v

AhÄ¡v

a\ÊnemIp¶Xn\v ap¼v anUnbpw ]mâokpw IqSn XdbnÂ F¯nbncp¶p.

AhÄ

s]s«¶v

ImepIÄ

ASp¸n¨v

h¨psIm−v c−p ssI sIm−pw AhfpsS ]qÀXSw s]m¯n ]nSn¨p. Rm³ ItkcbnÂ \n¶pw Fgpt¶ät¸mtgbv¡pw Fsâ ap−v Dcnªv hoWp. AtXmsS c−p t]cpw ]qÀ® \ácmbn. Fsâ Ip® 120 Un{KnbnÂ \n¶p sh«n hnd¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS

ap¶nembn

XdbnÂ

ap«pIp¯n

Ccp¶psIm−v

AhfpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯n. Fsâ apJw, AhfpsS XpSbnSp¡nÂ AaÀ¶p. aq{X¯ntâbpw, aZPe¯ntâbpw a\w IpfnÀ¸n¡p¶ amZI KÔw AhnsS \n¶pw DbÀ¶p h¶p. Rm³ Ahsf ItkcbpsS Aät¯bv¡v \o¡n Ccp¯n. Ct¸mÄ

AhfpsS

]qÀ Fsâ

apJ¯n\v

sXm«Sp¯mbn

hnSÀ¶p \n¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS kar²amb tcma§Ä c−p ssI

sIm−pw

]nSn¨v

AIÀ¯n.

AtXmsSm¸w

AhfpsS

]qÀNp−pIfpw c−p hit¯bv¡pw hnSÀ¶p h¶p. AhfpsS

]qÀNmensâ

apIfä¯mbn

Hcp

\ne¡Se

Ipcphnsâ hen¸¯nÂ I´v ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn \n¶p. Rm³ \m¡v \o«n AhfpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS apIfntebv¡pw Xmtgbv¡pw 83

Munnar

Dc¨p.

Fsâ

\m¡v

AhfpsS

I´nÂ

sXm«t¸mÄ AhÄ tjm¡Sn¨Xp t]mse sR«n. H¸w AhfpsS ImepIÄ IqSpXÂ AIÀ¶p h¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS I´v, Fsâ Np−n\pw \m¡n\pw CSbnem¡n \pWªp. AtXmsS AhÄ

ImepIÄ

DbÀ¯n

Fsâ

c−p

tXmfnepambn

h¨psIm−v, Fsâ Xe, AhfpsS ]qäntebv¡v AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS ]qÀ apgph\mbn hmbnÂ h¨v N¸n hen¨p. H¸w Fsâ \m¡v AhfpsS ]qÀ Xpfbntebv¡v \pgªp

Ibdn.

AhfpsS

]qÀtX³

Rm³

\¡n

IpSn¨psIm−ncp¶p. HSphnÂ AhfpsS N´n ItkcbnÂ \n¶pw DbÀ¶p h¶p. ]ns¶ Ahsfm¶p sR«n hnd¨p. Ahkm\w XebnÂ

AhÄ

XfÀ¶p

]nSn¨ncp¶

ItkcbnÂ

ssI

Abªp.

Ccp¶p.

Fsâ

ImepIÄ

Fsâ

tXmfnÂ \n¶pw sX¶n hoWp. Rm³ Ahsf s]m¡nsbSp¯v I«nenÂ InS¯n. AhÄ I«nenÂ XfÀ¶p InS¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS ASp¯v Ncnªv InS¶psIm−v AhfpsS

]pd¯v Fsâ Hcp ImÂ Ibän

h¨p. Rm³ Xe DbÀ¯n AhfpsS apeIfnÂ Npw_n¨p. \m¡psIm−v

ape¡®pIfnÂ

Dgnªp.

CXn\nsS

AhÄ

ssI F¯n Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v sRcn¨psIm−ncp¶p. Rm³

Hcp

ssI

sIm−v

AhfpsS

]qÀXS¯nÂ

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. kmh[m\w, Nmentebv¡v 84

Munnar

Fsâ

Acn¨nd§n.

Hcp ]ns¶

hncÂ B

AhfpsS hncÂ

]qÀ

AhfpsS

]qÀXpfbnÂ Cd§n sN¶p. AhfpsS ImepIÄ AIÀ¶p h¶p. Fsâ hncÂ AhfpsS XpfbneqsS Ibdnbnd§n. Ipd¨pIgnªv hncepIfpw

Rm³ IqSn

Hcp

hncÂ

AhfpsS

Ibdnbnd§ns¡m−ncp¶p.

IqSn

IS¯n.

XpfbneqsS

AtXmsS

c−p

kmh[m\w

AhfpsS

]qÀXpf

IptdtÈ Abªp hcm³ XpS§n. At¸mtgbv¡pw AhÄ icn¡pw NqSmbn¡gnªncp¶p. B

X¡¯n\v

Rm³

AhfpsS

]pd¯v

Ibdn

InS¶psIm−v Ip®bpsS aIpSw AhfpsS ]qÀ NmeneqsS Dc¨p. ]ns¶ aIpSw ]qÀXpfbnÂ ap«n¨p h¨psIm−v Rm³ ]Xps¡ Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¶p. AhÄ thZ\ sIm−v ]pfªp. Ip®bpsS ]IpXn AI¯v Ibdn. ]ns¶ AXv DÅntebv¡v IbdmsX A\§msX Ipdªp.

hgn

apS¡n

InS¶p. Rm³

\n¶p.

Rm³

At¸mtgbv¡pw

Ip®

iànbmbn

H¶v

XSÊ§fpw

t`Zn¨psIm−v

Ipd¨v

AIt¯bv¡v Ip®

Ipd¨p

kabw

AhfpsS

thZ\

]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn.

AtXmsS,

AhfpsS

hen¨n«v, FÃm

]qän\pÅnÂ

Ibdn. AhÄ thZ\sIm−v \nehnfn¨p. “A®m Rm³ Nmhpta. F\n¡v kln¡m³ h¿m¯ thZ\.” “AXv kmcanÃ tamtf. AXv C¸w amdpw.” “A®\v A§s\sbms¡ ]dbmw. tNZ\ kln¡p¶Xv Rm\tÃ. F§ms−ms¡ Iodn apdnsª¶m tXm¶p¶Xv.” 85

Munnar

“apdnb¯Xpsam¶panÃ

tamtf.

AXv

tamfpsS

koev

s]m«nbXnsâ thZ\bm. AX§v t]mIpw. AXv DSt\ amdnbn«v \Ã kpJw BIpw.” AhfpsS I®nÂ \n¶pw I®p\oÀ XpÅnIÄ s]mSn¨p h¶p. Rm³ Np−psIm−v AXv H¸nsbSp¯p. Rm³ Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨psIm−v Ipd¨p kabw A\§msX InS¶p. Fsâ Ip®,

AhfpsS

]qänencp¶v

hn§n.

Ipd¨p

Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw, AhfpsS thZ\ amdn. AhfpsS ]qÀ `n¯nIÄ kmh[m\w Fsâ Ip®sb sRcn¡m³ XpS§n. Rm³ ]Xps¡ Ip® Ducn ASn¡m³ XpS§n. aq¶v \mev ASn ASn¨t¸mtgbv¡pw Ipd¨v Abhv h¶p XpS§n. AXn\\pkcn¨v Rm³ ASnbpsS thKX Iq«ns¡m−ncp¶p. AhÄ ImepIÄ DbÀ¯n Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ Npän ]nSn¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS c−p hi§fnepambn ssI Ip¯n DbÀ¶p \n¶psIm−v BªSn¨p. AhÄ c−v I¿pw DbÀ¯n Fsâ tXmfnÂ apdpsI ]nSn¨p. HSphnÂ

AhfpsS N´n apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¶p h¶n«v,

sh«nbn« t]mse I«nenÂ hoWp. tX³IpSw s]m«n HgpIn. AhfpsS ssIIÄ Abªp. ImepIÄ sI«p hn«v I«nenÂ ]Xn¨p.

]ns¶bpw

\me©v

ASn

IqSn

ASn¨t¸mtgbv¡pw

F\n¡pw shÅw h¶p. Fsâ Ip®, AhfpsS ]qänencp¶v Gsg«v {]mhiyw sh«n hnd¨p. AhfpsS ]qÀ `n¯nIfpw Fsâ Ip®bnÂ aÀ±w sNep¯ns¡m−ncp¶p. 86

Munnar

HSphnÂ

FÃm

Ne\§fpw

\ne¨p.

Ip®

Npcp§n

AhfpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw ]pd¯p h¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS hit¯bv¡v Cd§n

InS¶p. Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]qÀtX\pw

Ip®¸mepw IeÀ¶ an{inX¯nÂ càw IqSn IeÀ¶v, Nph¸v \nd¯nÂ ]änbncp¶p. AhÄ AXv I−p. “A®m, ZnhkambtÃm.

Rm³ ]ns¶

sa³kkv

Bbn«v

]¯v

tNmc

FhnSp¶m

]{´−v

h¶Xv.

CXv

apdnªXv Xs¶.” “AXv apdnªsXm¶pw AÃ tamtf. koev s]m«nbXnsâ tNcbm. AXv kmcanÃ.” “A®m

F\n¡v

sa³kkv

Bbn«v

]{´−v

Znhkta

Bbn«pÅp. hÃ Ipg¸hpw D−mIptam.” “Mm. Ipg¸ap−mIm\pÅ km²yX D−v.” “F¦nÂ ]ns¶ Rm³ acn¡t¯ DÅp.” “\o C§s\ t]Sn¨mtem. AXns\ms¡ hgnbp−v.” “F´v hgn. A®³ Fs¶ IÃymWw Ign¡¯nÃ F¶v F\n¡v Adnbmw. Rm³ A§s\ B{Kln¡p¶XpanÃ.” “tamtf AXns\ms¡ amÀ¤ap−v.” “F´v amÀ¤w ?” 87

Munnar

“FSo

AXn\tÃ

KpfnIIsfms¡

D−m¡n

h¨ncn¡p¶Xv.” “AXn\v KpfnIbv¡v Rm³ FhnsS t]mIpw ?” “\o F§pw t]mI−. AsXms¡ Rm³ Xcmw.” “AXv icn. CsXms¡ tÌm¡v sNbvXv h¨ncn¡pIbmWv. AtÃ.” “Mm. AsXms¡ D−v. F¸gm Bhiyw hcp¶Xv F¶v AdnbnÃtÃm.” ]ns¶ R§Ä c−pw Fgpt¶äv _m¯v dqanÂ t]mbn IgpIn hr¯nbm¡n h¶p. Rm³ Fsâ AeamcnbnÂ \n¶pw AhÄ¡v Hcp sF ]nÂ KpfnI sImSp¯p. tai¸pd¯ncp¶ P¤nÂ \n¶pw shÅsaSp¯v AhÄ AXv Ign¨p. ]ns¶ R§Ä

hkv{Xw

[cn¨v

Xmsg

h¶p.

AhÄ

ssU\nwKv

lmfnencp¶v ]Tn¨p. Rm³ Sn. hn. Hm¬ sNbvXv AXpw I−psIm−ncp¶p. ]ns¶bpw Ac aWn¡qÀ IqSn Ignªt¸mÄ AÑ\pw A½bpw

F¯n.

km[mcW

t]mse

H³]Xv

aWntbmsS

R§Ä `£Ww Ign¨p. AhÄ, ASp¡ftbmSv tNÀ¶pÅ tÌmÀ apdnbnemWv InS¡p¶Xv. ]m{X§sfms¡ IgpIn h¨n«v AhÄ AhfpsS apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. Rm³ Ipd¨pIqSn Ignªv Fsâ apdnbnepw t]mbn. 88

Munnar

]n¶oSv ]e Znhk§fnepw R§Ä kwKan¨n«p−v. Nne Znhk§fnÂ cm{Xn ]Tn¡m³ Fsâ apdnbnÂ h¶t¸mgpw, Nne Znhk§fnÂ FÃmhcpw Dd§n Ignªv Rm³ AhfpsS apdnbnÂ sN¶pw, Nnet¸mÄ AhÄ Fsâ apdnbnÂ h¶pw. A§s\

Znhk§Ä

IS¶p

t]mbn.

AhfpsS

]co£

IgnªtXmsS AhÄ AhfpsS ho«nÂ t]mbn. A§s\ B Ifn Ahkm\n¨p. CXn\nsS tN«¯n¡v Ggv amkw KÀ`w Bbt¸mtgbv¡pw tN«³ tN«¯nsb R§fpsS ho«nÂ sIm−p h¶v B¡n. tN«¯n

Atacn¡bnse

tN«¯nbpsS {]khw

ho«nÂ

R§fpsS

tPmen

cmPnh¨n«mWv

tN«¯nbpsS ho«nÂ

aXn

A½

F¶v

h¶Xv.

CÃm¯Xn\mÂ

Xocpam\n¨ncp¶p.

(tN«¯nbpsS A½, tN«¯nbpsS hnhml¯n\v ap¼v Xs¶ acWaSªncp¶p. ]ns¶ AhcpsS ho«nÂ D−mbncp¶Xv, tN«¯nbpsS

AÑ\pw,

tN«¯nbpsS

Cfb

saÀen\pw

am{XamWv.

ktlmZc\pw

ktlmZcn tN«³,

an\n Irjn

`mcybpw, F¶v

]ns¶

hnfn¡p¶

Imcy§Ä

t\m¡n

Ignbp¶p. tN«sâ `mcybv¡v tPmenbnÃ. ktlmZcn an\n Fw. F.

Ignªp

\nÂ¡p¶p.

ASp¯

hÀjw

_n.

FUn\v

tNcm³ Dt±in¡p¶p.) A¸¨\pw A½¨nbpw InS¡p¶ apdnbpsS ASp¯p Xs¶ Hcp InS¸papdn Ds−¦nepw, tN«¯nbpsS InS¸v, apIfnes¯ \nebnÂ

Fsâ

apdnbpsS

sXm«Sp¯

apdnbnembncp¶p.

tN«³ HcmgvN Ignªv XncnsI t]mbn. AXn\mÂ cm{Xn 89

Munnar

R§Ä¡v kwKan¡m\pÅ Ahkcw D−mbncp¶p. AhcpsS hbänÂ aÀ±w sImSp¡msX B Znhk§fnÂ Rm³ AhÀ¡v ASn¨p sImSp¯psIm−ncp¶p. ]t£,

{]khw

apIfntebv¡v

ASp¯p

Ibdm³

h¶t¸mÄ

_p²nap«v

tN«¯n¡v

BbXn\mÂ

InS¸v

Xmgs¯ apdnbnembn. H¸w, A½ Iq«p InS¡m\pw XpS§n. AtXmsS R§fpsS Ifnbpw Ahkm\n¨p. A§ns\bncns¡, tN«¯n¡v Ahsc

Nne

Hcp

AkzØXIÄ

Bip]{XnbnÂ

D¨tbmsS

Znhkw

tN«¯n

tXm¶n¯pS§nbXn\mÂ

{]thin¸n¨p.

Hcp

AÀ²cm{XnbnÂ ASp¯

B¬Ipªn\v

P·w

Znhkw \ÂIn.

kpJ{]khw. A§s\ Fsâ aI³ ]nd¶p. Bip]{XnbnÂ A½bpw, tN«¯nbpsS ktlmZcsâ `mcybpw, tN«¯nbpsS A\pP¯n an\nbpw D−mbncp¶p. Rm\pw A¸¨\pw ho«ntebv¡v t]mbn. ASp¯ Znhkw apXÂ Fsâ A½bpw, an\nbpw amdn amdn Bip]{XnbnÂ \n¶p.

t\mÀaÂ

Uenhdn

Bbncp¶Xn\mÂ

\memas¯

Znhkw tN«¯nsb Bip]{XnbnÂ \n¶pw UnkvNmÀPv sNbvXv ho«nÂ

sIm−p

h¶p.

tN«¯n

Bhiys¸«

{]Imcw

tN«¯nsb klmbn¡m\mbn an\n IqSn R§fpsS ho«ntebv¡v h¶p. tN«¯nbpsS ho«nÂ h¨v aps¼ms¡ hÃt¸mgpta Rm³ an\nsb

I−n«pÅp.

kwkmcn¡psa¶ÃmsX 90

Munnar

ImWpt¼mÄ R§Ä

X½nÂ

Fs´¦nepw ASp¸sam¶pw

D−mbncp¶nÃ. AhÄ¡v Ft¶¡mÄ Hcp hbÊv IqSpXÂ D−mbncps¶¦nepw, Rm³ Ahsf t]cmWv hnfn¨ncp¶Xv. Ahfpw

ImgvNbnÂ

]t£

AhÄ

tN«¯nsb

t]mse Xs¶bmbncp¶p.

tN«¯ntb¡mÄ

Ipd¨pIqSn

Ccp−

\ndamsW¶v am{Xw. ho«nÂ

h¶Xnsâ

ASp¯

Znhkw

tN«¯n

Fs¶s¡m−v tams\ FSp¸n¨p. F\n¡v sIm¨p Ip«nIsf FSp¡m³ AdnbnÃmbncp¶p. tN«¯n Ip«nsb FSp¡m³ ]Tn¸n¨p

X¶p.

A§s\

Rm³

CSbvs¡ms¡

tams\

FSp¡m³ XpS§n. an¡hmdpw kab§fnÂ an\n tN«¯nbpsS ASp¯v

Xs¶

D−mbncn¡pambncp¶p.

A§s\bncns¡,

tN«¯n ho«nÂ h¶Xnsâ aq¶mw Znhkw, an\n apdnbnÂ CÃmXncp¶

kab¯v

tN«¯nbpsS

apdnbntebv¡v

Rm³

sN¶p. “A\nbm \nsâ Imcy§sfm¶pw \S¡p¶nÃ. AtÃ ?” “Hm... Hcp c£bpanÃ tN«¯o.” “F\n¡v C\n c−p amkw IgnbmsX H¶pw sN¿m³ ]änÃ. ]ns¶ hÃt¸mgpw F§m\pw BcpanÃm¯ kab¯v h¶mÂ

Rm³

thWsa¦nÂ

]nSn¨p

N¸n¯cpItbm F§m\pw sNbvXp Xcmw.” “AsX¦nÂ AXv.”

Munnar

IfbpItbm,

“]t£ Ct¸mÄ \o F\n¡v Hcp D]Imcw sNbvXp XcWw. Rm³ icn¡v `£Ww Ign¨p XpS§nbXnÂ ]ns¶ F\n¡v icn¡pw ]mÂ D−mIp¶p−v. \½psS tam³ AXv apgph³ IpSn¡p¶nÃ. AXpsIm−v ]mÂ sI«n\n¶n«v F\n¡v \Ã thZ\ FSp¡p¶p−v. AXpsIm−v \o Ipd¨v ]mÂ IpSn¡Ww.” “Rm³ IpSn¡p¶Xp sIm−v Ipg¸antÃ?” “F´v Ipg¸w. \o ss[cyambn IpSnt¨m.” A§s\ apIfnse

tN«¯n

c−v

ap³hiw

lq¡pIÄ

Xpd¸pÅ

FSp¯v

ape

ss\änbpsS

]pds¯Sp¯p.

tN«¯n ASnbnÂ t{_knbÀ [cn¨ncp¶nÃ. A§s\ Rm³ ]mÂ hen¨p IpSn¨p. \Ã a[pchpw Cfw NqSpapÅ ]mÂ Rm³ \pWªnd¡n. Cu kab¯v tN«¯n Fsâ ap−n\pÅnÂ I¿n«v Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v

hmWaSn¨psIm−ncp¶p.

Hcp

apebnse

]mÂ IpSn¨p XoÀ¶t¸mÄ tN«¯n, ASp¯ ape ]nSn¨v Fsâ hmbnÂ

h¨pX¶p.

Rm³

AXnÂ

\n¶pw

]mÂ

hen¨p

IpSn¨p. AXv Xocp¶Xn\v ap¼mbn Xs¶ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ \n¶pw ]mÂ Noäobncp¶p. tN«¯n AXv AhcpsS I¿nÂ FSp¯v

\¡n

IpSn¨p.

XpSÀ¶psIm−ncp¶p.

A§s\

Znhkhpw

R§fpsS

Ht¶m

ct−m

]epIpSn {]mhiyw

tN«¯n Fs¶s¡m−v ]mÂ IpSn¸n¡pambncp¶p. H¸w AhÀ Fsâ ]mepw IpSn¡pw. A§s\ Znhk§Ä IS¶p t]mbn. 92

Munnar

Hcp

Znhkw

IpSn¨psIm−ncp¶ h¶p.

At¸mÄ

Rm³ kab¯v

tN«¯n

tN«¯nbpsS an\n

Fsâ

apdnbntebv¡v Ip®

]mÂ IS¶p

]pds¯Sp¯v

hmWaSnbpw \S¯p¶p−mbncp¶p. an\n AXv hyàambn ImWpIbpw sNbvXp. AhÄ Hcp an\näv AXv t\m¡nbn«v s]s«¶v ]pdt¯bv¡v t]mbn. R§fpsS ]Wn ]IpXnbnÂ Ahkm\n¸n¨p. Rm³ ]Xps¡ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. Ipd¨p

Ignªv

an\n

tN«¯nbpsS

apdnbnÂ

Ibdn

t]mIp¶Xv Rm³ I−p. ]ns¶ AhnsS c−p t]cpw IqSn kwkmcn¡p¶Xv tI«p. Rm³ AhcpsS kwkmcw {i²n¨p. an\n: “tN¨o Rm³ Fsâ ho«nÂ t]mIp¶p. F\n¡v CsXm¶pw ImWm³ h¿.” tN«¯n:

“tamtf

Dt±in¡p¶Xp

t]mse

H¶pw

D−mbn«nÃ. F\n¡v ]mÂ sI«n \n¶v thZ\n¨Xp sIm−v Ahs\s¡m−v Ipd¨v ]mÂ IpSn¸n¨XmWv. AÃmsX H¶pw CÃ.” “]nt¶.

]mev

A\nbs\s¡m−v

sI«n\n¶v IpSn¸n¡p¶Xv

thZ\n¨mÂ am{XamWtÃm

]cnlmcw.” “AÃmsX ]ns¶ Rm³ F´v sN¿Wambncp¶p?” “tN¨n¡v AXv ]ngnªv Ifbmambncp¶ntÃ.” 93

Munnar

]ns¶ Hcp

“Hm.. AXv shdptX Ifb− F¶v hnNmcn¨mWv Rm³ Ahs\s¡m−v IpSn¸n¨Xv.” “AXv

a\Ênem¡mw.

sNbvXpsIm−ncp¶tXm.

]t£

tN¨n

AXn\v

thtd

F´v

Hcp

]Wn

\ymboIcWam

DÅXv?” “tamtf Rm\pw Hcp s]®tÃ. Ah³ Fsâ ]mÂ IpSn¨t¸mÄ F\n¡v GXm−v t]mse Hs¡ tXm¶n. At¸mÄ Rm³ AdnbmsX sNbvXp t]mbXmWv.” “tN¨n F´v \ymboIcWw ]dªmepw CXv icnbmbnÃ.” “tamtf AXnsems¡ thtd ]e Imcy§fpw D−v. Rm³ ]ns¶

AsXms¡

tamÄ¡v

]dªp

Xcmw.

C¸w

tamfv

kam[m\n¡v.” ]ns¶ an\n H¶pw ]dbp¶Xv tI«nÃ. Rm³ ]pdt¯bv¡v t]mbn. D¨bv¡v DuWv kab¯mWv ]ns¶ Rm³ XncnsI h¶Xv. Rm³ an\nbpsS ap¶nÂ s]SmsX Hgnªp amdn \S¶p. AhÄ Fsâ ap¶nÂ {]Xy£s¸«mÂ Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡msX apJhpw hoÀ¸n¨v IS¶p t]mIpambncp¶p. A¶s¯ Znhkw

Znhkw

cmhnse

an\nbmbncp¶p.

A§s\

F\n¡v

]t£,

At¸mÄ

IS¶p

Nmb

t]mbn.

sIm−p

AhfpsS

coXn

ASp¯ X¶Xv BsI

amdnbncp¶p. AhÄ Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡n Hcp IÅ Nncn 94

Munnar

Nncn¨n«v t]mbn. apdn¡v ]pd¯v Cd§nbn«v AhÄ Xncnªv Fs¶ t\m¡nbn«v “tZ, tN¨n hnfn¡p¶p. At§m«v sNÃm³ ]dbp¶p.” Rm³

At¸mgpw

AhØbnembncp¶nÃ.

H¶pw

AXpsIm−p

an−m³ Xs¶

]äp¶

Rm³

H¶pw

an−nbnÃ. Rm³ Nmb IpSn¨v Ignªn«v ¥mÊv Xmsg sIm−p hbv¡m\mbn Cd§n h¶t¸mÄ tN«¯nbpsS apdnbntebv¡v H¶p

]mfn

t\m¡n.

At¸mÄ

AhnsS

tN«¯n

am{Xta

D−mbncp¶pÅp. Fs¶ I−v tN«¯n Fs¶ hnfn¨p. “A\nbm \o Ct§m«p Ibdn ht¶.” “F´m

tN«¯o

an\nsb

tN«¯n

F§s\bm

HXp¡nbXv ?” “AsX´mSm ?” “AÃ,

an\nbv¡v

C¶se

I−XnÂ

\n¶pw

Nne

amä§sfms¡ ImWp¶p−v.” “F´v amäamWv \o I−Xv ?” “AÃ, C¶se \½fpsS Ifn I−Xn\v tijw AhÄ Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡nbn«nÃmbncp¶p. Fs¶ I−mÂ DS³ apJhpw hoÀ¸n¨v IS¶p t]mIpIbmbncp¶p. ]t£ C¶v AhfmWv F\n¡v Nmb sIm−p X¶Xv. At¸mÄ apJ¯v 95

Munnar

Hcp IÅ Nncnbpw D−mbncp¶p. A¸tg tN«¯n Ahsf Ip¸nbnem¡n F¶v F\n¡v a\Ênembn.” “Mm. AXv C¶se cm{Xn Rm³ Ahsf tkm¸n«v ab¡n. ]t£ BZysam¶pw AhÄ ASp¯nÃ. ]ns¶ Rm³ \½psS IY apgph³ AhtfmSv ]dªp. Ahkm\w AhÄ hgn¡v h¶p. C\n t]Sn¡ms\m¶panÃ.” “At¿m! AhÄ C\n AXv BtcmsS¦nepw ]dbptam?” “AsXm¶panÃ. ]t£ AhÄ Nnet¸mÄ \ns¶ H¶p hfbv¡m³ t\m¡pw. \o AX§v k½Xn¨p sImSp¡Ww. ]ns¶ AhÄ Cu clkysam¶pw BtcmSpw ]dbnÃ.” “AhÄ

Ct§m«p

h¶p

ap«nbmÂ

Rm³

t\m¡mw.

AÃmsX Rm³ At§m«p sN¶v ap«p¶Xv F§s\bm?” “\o A§s\sbm¶pw hnNmcn¡−. AhÄ¡v ap³ssI FSp¡m³ Nnet¸mÄ aSnbmbncn¡pw. \o Hcp sNdnb hgn Xpd¶p sImSp¯mÂ AhÄ tIdn h¶psImÅpw.” “tN«¯o AhÄ¡v Ft¶¡mÄ Hcp hbÊv IqSpXemWv. AsÃ¦nÂ Rm³ Ahsf sI«mambncp¶p.” “\o Ahsf sI«pIsbm¶pw th−. Ahsf¡qSn \½psS I¼\nbnÂ

sIm−ph¶mÂ

Bbns¡mÅpw.” 96

Munnar

aXn.

]ns¶

FÃmw

t\tc

]ns¶ tN«¯n Fs¶s¡m−v ]mÂ IpSn¸n¨p. AXv Ignªv tN«¯n Fsâ Ip«s\ hmbnseSp¯v Ip®¸mepw IpSn¨p.

R§Ä¡v

kwKan¡m\pÅ

kuIcy¯n\p

th−n

a\¸qÀÆambncn¡pw an\n At¸msgm¶pw apIfntebv¡v Ibdn h¶nÃ. Rm³

¥mÊpambn

ASp¡fbnÂ

sN¶t¸mÄ

AhÄ

Nncn¨psIm−v Fsâ I¿nÂ \n¶pw ¥mÊv XncnsI hm§n. ¥mÊv

hm§pt¼mÄ

AhÄ

aämcpw

tIÄ¡msX

“Nmbpw

]mepsams¡ IpSnt¨m ?” F¶v ]Xps¡ tNmZn¨p. AhnsS A½bpw \fn\n tN¨nbpw D−mbncp¶Xn\mÂ Rm³ H¶pw an−msX ]pdt¯bv¡v t]mbn. Rm³ lmfnÂ h¶ncp¶v ]{Xw hmbn¨psIm−ncp¶p. Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ Rm³ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. Ipd¨p

Ignªt¸mÄ

hnfn¨p.

Rm³

FÃmhcpw

A½

ssU\nwKv

Im¸n

Fs¶ lmfnÂ

IpSn¡m\mbn

Im¸n

IpSn¡m\mbn

sN¶t¸mÄ

AhnsS

F¯nbn«p−v.

R§Ä

ssU\nwKv tS_nfn\v Npänepambn Ccp¶v Im¸n IpSn¨p. an\n

Fsâ

sXm«Sp¯

ItkcbnemWv

Ccp¶Xv.

tN«¯n F\n¡v FXnsc InS¶ Itkcbnepw. CSbv¡v Rm³ tN«¯nbpsS apJ¯v t\m¡nbt¸mÄ tN«¯n Fs¶ t\m¡n I®ndp¡n ImWn¨p. an\nsb ssIImcyw sN¿m\pÅ kqN\ Bbncp¶p AXv.

Munnar

Rm³

Fsâ

ImÂ]mZw

AdnbmsX

F¶

t]mse

]Xps¡ AhfpsS Imen\Spt¯bv¡v \o¡n. Fsâ ImÂ]mZw AhfpsS ImenÂ ap«nbt¸mÄ s]s«¶v AhÄ ImÂ hen¨p. ]ns¶

Npäp]mSpw t\m¡nbn«v AhÄ

ImÂ]mZw ]Xps¡

Fsâ Imen\Spt¯bv¡v \o«n h¨p. Rm³ Fsâ ImÂ]mZw AhfpsS ImÂ]mZ¯nÂ h¨p. ]Xps¡ XgpIn. AhÄ AhfpsS c−mas¯ ImÂ]mZw FSp¯v Fsâ Imen\p apIfnÂ h¨p. Im¸n IpSn Ignªv BZyw

Fgpt¶äXv

A¸¨\mbncp¶p.

At¸mÄ

R§Ä

c−pt]cpw ImepIÄ ]n³hen¨v acymZ¡mcmbn Ccp¶p. Im¸n IpSn Ignªv Rm³ lmfnÂ h¶ncp¶p. Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ

A¸¨\pw

A½¨nbpw

t]mbn.

t]mIp¶Xn\v

ap¼mbn A½¨n ISbnÂ \n¶pw hm§m\pÅ km[\§fpsS enÌv X¶p. A¸¨³ Po¸nemWv t]mbXv. tN«¯n {]khn¨Xn\v tijw, Ip«nsb Po¸nÂ sIm−p t]mbmÂ XWp¸Sn¡pw F¶v ]dªv A¸¨³ Hcp ImÀ hm§nbncp¶p. Rm³ AXpw sIm−mWv ISbnÂ t]mbXv. Rm³ ISbnÂ t]mIm³ Cd§nbt¸mÄ an\nbpw AhÄ¡v Fs´ms¡tbm

hm§m\ps−¶pw

]dªv

Fsâ

IqsS

h¶p. AhÄ Fsâ H¸w ap³koänemWv Ccp¶Xv. Rm³ h−nbpsS ¥mÊv DbÀ¯n h¨n«v F. kn. Hm¬ sNbvXp. BZysam¶pw c−pt]cpw H¶pw kwkmcn¨nÃ. Ipd¨p Ignªv Rm³ Xs¶ au\w t`Zn¨p.

Munnar

“an\n¡v

F´mWv

hm§m\pÅXv.

GXv

ISbnemWv

Ibd−Xv?” “F\n¡v H¶p c−v km[\§Ä hm§Ww. sU¶n h−n GsX¦nepw teUokv tÌmdn\v ap¶nÂ \ndp¯nbmÂ aXn.” “F¶mepw F´msW¶v

km[\¯n\v

]dªmÂ

Rm³

t]cntÃ AXv

km[\w

In«p¶

ISbpsS

ap¶nÂ \ndp¯mw.” “R§Ä s]®p§Ä¡v thWp¶ km[\§sfms¡ \o F§s\bm Adnbp¶Xv.” “AsX´m Rm³ A{X s]m«\mtWm.” “Mm… \o A{X s]m«s\m¶pasÃ¶v Rm³ C¶se I−mbncp¶p.” “Is−¦nÂ Imcyambnt¸mbn.” “At¶cw

c−ntâbpw

Ign¡m\mWv

F\n¡v

tXm¶nbXv.” “F¶ns«t´ apJhpw hoÀ¸n¨v t]mbXv.” “AXv tN¨nbpsS 99

Munnar

]ns¶

BtemNn¨t¸mÄ

PohnXamWtÃm

F¶v

XIcp¶Xv

Fsâ

hnNmcn¨mWv

Rm³

AS§nbXv. ]ns¶ cm{Xn tN¨n kmdnsâ tIa¯c§sfms¡ Ft¶mSv

]dªp.

a\Ênem¡nbXv.

At¸mgmWv

\n§fpsS

Rm³

icn¡pw

A¸¨\pw

kmdns\

A½¨nbpw

IqSn

AdnªpÅ Ifn BsW¶v A¸gmWv F\n¡v a\ÊnembXv.” “AXv

]ns¶

Rm\ÃmsX

Fsâ

]ns¶

tN«\v

BcmWv

Hcp

hogvN

]änbmÂ

klmbn¡m\pÅXv.

Rm³

Fsâ ISa \nÀÆln¨p Ft¶ DÅp.” “Hm…

tN«t\mSv

F´v

kvt\lw.

tN«s\

A\nb³

AsXt´m BIs«. \o h−n FhnsSsb¦nepw

\ndp¯v. F\n¡v Hcp ]m¡äv \m]vIn³ (tÌ{^o) hm§Ww. ]ns¶ Ipd¨v s]m«pw, slbÀ ¢n¸psams¡ hm§Ww.” A§s\ Rm³ h−n Hcp teUokv tÌmdn\v ap¶nÂ \ndp¯n.

AhÄ

h−nbnÂ

\n¶pw

Cd§nbn«pw

Rm³

Cd§msX h−nbnÂ Xs¶ Ccp¶p. AXv I−n«v AhÄ Fs¶ hnfn¨p. “ \o F´m Cd§m¯Xv ? \o IqSn Cd§n hmSm.” “s]®p§fpsS

kmam\§Ä

hm§p¶Xn\v

Rms\´n\mSo hcp¶Xv. \o Xs¶ t]mbn hm§nbmÂ aXn.” 100

Munnar

AXv tI«n«v AhÄ Fsâ tUmdn\Sp¯v h¶v tUmÀ Xpd¶n«v Fs¶ ]nSn¨nd¡n. “FSm \o IqSn hmSm F\n¡v Hcp Iq«n\v. \o Fs¶ H¶v slÂ¸v sNs¿Sm.” A§s\ Rm\pw h−nbnÂ \n¶v Cd§n h−n tem¡v sNbvXn«v AhfpsS IqsS ISbntebv¡v t]mbn. AhÄ Fs¶ ap«n Dcp½n \n¶psIm−v AhÄ¡v Bhiyamb km[\§Ä FSp¯p. AhÄ Hcp slbÀ dnaqhdpw hm§n. HSphnÂ IS¡mc³

km[\§Ä _nÂ

Fsâ

apgph³

hm§n

Ignªt¸mÄ

I¿nÂ

X¶p.

AhÄ

AXv

X«nsbSp¡m³ {ians¨¦nepw ]Ww Rm³ Xs¶ sImSp¯p. ]ns¶ R§Ä asämcp kq¸À amÀ¡änÂ Ibdn ho«ntebv¡v Bhiyamb

km[\§Ä

hm§n.

ISbnÂ

\n¶pw

Cd§n

km[\§sfms¡ h−nbnÂ sIm−p h¨p. “FSm F\n¡v Zmln¡ps¶Sm. IpSn¡m³ Fs´¦nepw hm§n XmSm.” “IpSn¡m³ ]mev aXnsb¦nÂ Rm³ Xcmw.” “AXv \o \nsâ aähÄ¡v sIm−p sImSp¯mÂ aXn.” “aähÄ AXv Øncambn IpSn¡p¶p−v. ]ns¶ \n\¡v sImXnbmsW¦nÂ \n\¡pIqSn Ipd¨p Xcmw.”

101

Munnar

“F\n¡v Hcp sImXnbpanÃ.” “AXv

C¶se

F\n¡v

a\Ênembn.

\nsâ

tN¨n

IpSn¡p¶Xv \o sImXntbmsS t\m¡n \n¶tXm.” “]pXnb ImgvNIÄ I−XpsIm−v t\m¡nt¸mbXmWv.” “t\m¡nbn«v \n\¡v sImXn h¶ntÃ?” “]nt¶… hr¯ntISv.” “AXnse´mSo

hr¯ntISv.

CsXms¡

a\pjy\v

BhiyapÅ Imcy§ftÃ.” “F¶v F\n¡v tXm¶nbn«nÃ.” “AXv \o shdptX ]dbp¶XtÃ” At¸mtgbv¡pw M§Ä Hcp sFkv{Iow ]mÀedn\v ap¶nÂ F¯nbncp¶p. R§Ä AXn\pÅnÂ Ibdn Hcp aqebnÂ InS¶

taibnÂ

Ccp¶p.

R§Ä

Ccp¶Xv

FXnÀ

hi§fnembn InS¶ ItkcIfnemWv. “\n\¡v IpSn¡m³ F´m th−Xv?” “F\n¡v Hcp hm\ne sFkv{Iow aXn.” A§s\ Rm³ c−v ]nkbpw, c−v hm\ne sFkv{Ioapw HmÀUÀ sNbvXp. Rm³ sNcp¸v Ducn C«n«v, Fsâ Imev \o«n 102

Munnar

AhfpsS ImenÂ XgpIn. AhÄ FXnÀs¸m¶pw {]ISn¸n¨nÃ. AXv

F\n¡v

IqSpXÂ

ss[cyw

\ÂIn.

AhÄ

Hcp

NpcnZmdmWv [cn¨ncp¶Xv. Rm³ Fsâ ImÂ DbÀ¯n AhfpsS XpSIÄ¡v CSbnembn, AhÄ Ccp¶ ItkcbnÂ Nhp«n. Rm³

XÅhncÂ

sIm−v

AhfpsS

]qÀXS¯nÂ

XgpIn. AhÄ ItkcbnÂ apt¶m«v \o§nbncp¶v F\n¡v XgpIm³ kuIcyw D−m¡n X¶p. As¸mtgbv¡pw ks¹bÀ HmÀUÀ sNbvX km[\§fps#mbn h¶p. AtXmsS Rm³ acymZ¡mc\mbn

Ccp¶p.

]ns¶

R§Ä

AXv

Ign¨n«v

XncnsI t]mcp¶p. aS¡

bm{XbnÂ

AhÄ

Fsâ

ASpt¯bv¡v

\o§nbncp¶p. AhÄ Hcp ssI Fsâ tXmfnÂ h¨p. Rm³ h−nbpsS

KnbÀ

amäpt¼mÄ

ssI

IqSpXÂ

Nen¸n¨v

AhfpsS apebnÂ I¿psS ap«p sIm−v AaÀ¯n. ]t£ AhÄ FXnÀs¸m¶pw ImWn¡msX IqSpXÂ ASpt¯bv¡v \o§n Ccp¶p. “FSm, \o Fs¶¡qSn h−n HmSn¡m³ ]Tn¸n¡ptam?” “\n\¡v GXv Xcw ss{UhnwKv BWv ]Tnt¡−Xv?” “F\n¡v ImÀ HmSn¡m³ ]Tn¨mÂ aXn.” “thtd ss{UhnwKv D−v. AXv s]s«¶v ]Tn¡mw.”

103

Munnar

“F\n¡v Xev¡mew ImÀ HmSn¡m³ ]Tn¨mÂ aXn.” “\n\¡v ImÀ HmSn¡m³ A{Xbv¡v sImXnbmtWm?” “F\n¡v `b¦c B{Klap−v.” CXpw ]dªpsIm−v AhÄ Imdnsâ ÌnbdnwKnÂ ssI h¨p. ]ns¶ ho«nÂ F¯p¶Xp hsc AhÄ ÌnbdnwKnÂ ]nSn¨ncp¶p. “FSo

CXv

]pXnb

h−nbmWv.

CXnÂ

ss{UhnwKv

]Tn¨mÂ h−n tISmIpw. \ns¶ Rm³ Po¸nÂ ]Tn¸n¡mw.” ho«nse¯nbt¸mÄ FSp¯psIm−v

AI¯v

R§Ä t]mbn.

D¨bv¡v

km[\§sfÃmw DuWv

Ignªv

Rm³ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. Fs¶ I−v tN«¯n Fs¶ AhcpsS apdnbntebv¡v hnfn¨p. an\n ]m{X§sfms¡ IgpIm³ \fn\ tN¨nsb klmbn¨n«v, A¸¨\pw A½¨nbpw XncnsI t]mbnt« apIfntebv¡v hcq. “A\nbm c−p t]cpw IqSn ]pd¯v t]mbn«v F´mbn. hÃXpw \S¡ptam?” “Hcp {]bmkhpanÃmsX AhÄ hoWp. AhÄ F´n\pw X¿mdmWv. ” “F¶n«v \o Ahsf hÃXpw sNbvtXm?”

104

Munnar

“AXns\m¶pw

kuIcyanÃmbncp¶p.

]t£

AhÄ¡v

AsXms¡ CjvSamWv.” “]ns¶ \osb´m ap³ssI FSp¡m¯Xv?” “AsXms¡ Rm³ icnbm¡mw tN«¯o.” “]t£ kq£n¡Ww. Ipg¸sam¶pw D−mIcpXv. Ahsf hÃhcptSbpw IqsS sI«n¨p hnSm\pÅXmWv.” “AXv

]ns¶

{]tXyIw

]dbtWm.

AsXms¡

Rm³

t\m¡ns¡mÅmw.” “]ns¶ tN«¯n Fs¶s¡m−v ]mÂ IpSn¸n¨p.” “tN«¯n C¶v Fsâ ]mÂ IpSn¡p¶ntÃ?” “AXv GXmbmepw Ct¸mÄ th−. AhÄ¡v sImSp¡m³ t\m¡v.” A§s\ I«nenÂ

Rm³

Ibdn

Dd¡¯nÂ

Fsâ

InS¶p.

Fsâ

apdnbntebv¡v

Rm³

s\änbnÂ

AdnbmsX Btcm

t]mbn.

Rm³

H¶p

ab§n.

Npw_n¡p¶Xmbn

Rm³ kz]v\w I−p. Rm³ s]s«¶v sR«n DWÀ¶t¸mÄ an\n

Fsâ

I«nen\Sp¯v

h¶v

Ip\nªp

\n¶psIm−v

Fsâ s\änbnÂ Npw_n¡p¶XmWv Rm³ I−Xv. Rm³ I®v

Xpd¶Xpw

AhÄ

\nhÀ¶p

\n¶p.

adbv¡m³ {ian¡p¶Xp t]mse tXm¶n. 105

Munnar

AhÄ

PmfyX

s]s«¶v AhÄ : “FSm \nsâ s\änbnÂ Hcp s]mSn Ccp¶p. Rm³ AXv DuXn¡fªXmWv.” “shdptX DuXtÃ. F\n¡v a\ÊnemIp¶p−v.” “\n\¡v F´mSm a\ÊnemIp¶Xv? Rm³ \nsâ I¿nÂ \Ã kn. Un. hÃXpw Dt−m F¶dnbm³ h¶XmWv.” “\n\¡v F´v kn. Un. BWv th−Xv?” “sImÅmhp¶ GsX¦nepw kn. Un. aXn.” “sImÅmhp¶Xv F¶v ]dªmÂ \oe BtWm?” “AXmbmepw aXn.” “kn. Un. Xcmw. ]t£ AXv Xmsg kn. Un. t¹bdnÂ C«v ImWcpXv. ChnsS I¼yq«dnÂ I−mÂ aXn.” “A§s\bmsW¦nÂ \o AXv I¼yq«dnÂ H¶p C«p Xm. ]t£ AXv C«n«v \o ]pd¯v t]mIWw. Rm³ Häbv¡v Ccp¶p I−psImÅmw.” “FSo AXv Häbv¡v ImWp¶XÃ. Häbv¡v I−mÂ Hcp ckhpw ImW¯nÃ. \ap¡v Hcpan¨v Ccp¶v ImWmw.” “AXv icnbmI¯nÃ. F\n¡v \mWamIpw. \o tN¨nbpsS ASp¯v sN¶v Ccp¶mÂ aXn.” 106

Munnar

A§s\ Rm³ \Ã Hcp \mS³ \oe Nn{Xw, I¼yq«dnsâ lmÀUv UnkvInÂ Xs¶ tkhv sNbvXncp¶Xv AhÄ¡v C«p sImSp¯p. AXv HmSn XpS§nbt¸mÄ AhÄ Fs¶ XÅn apdn¡v

]pd¯v

amÀ¤§sfm¶pw

B¡nbn«v

IXIv

AS¨v

CÃm¯Xn\mÂ

Ipänbn«p.

Rm³

aäv

tN«¯nbpsS

apdnbnÂ Ibdn sN¶p. “F´mSm \o Ahsf X\n¨m¡nbn«v Ct§m«p h¶Xv. Ahsfs´Sp¡p¶p?” “AhÄ¡v Hcp »q ^nenw ImWWsa¶v. AXpw Häbv¡v. Rm³

IqSn

AhnsS

\n¶mÂ

AhÄ¡v

\mWamIpsa¶v.

A§s\ AhÄ Fs¶ XÅn ]pd¯m¡nbn«v IXIpw AS¨v Ipänbn«p.” “F¦nÂ ]ns¶ \o F\n¡v Ipd¨v ]mÂ IpSn¨v Xm. c−p apebnepw ]mÂ \ndªp \nÂ¡pIbmWv.” Rm³ AhcpsS ss\änbpsS _«³kpIÄ Cf¡nbn«v, ape ]pds¯Sp¯v Hmtcm apebnÂ \n¶mbn ]mÂ IpSn¨p. B kab¯v AhÀ Fsâ ap−n\SnbnÂ I¿n«v Ip® ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¨psIm−ncp¶p. Ignªt¸mÄ

AhÀ

ASpt¯bv¡v

tNÀ¯v

HSphnÂ I«nenÂ

Rm³

InS¶psIm−v,

\ndp¯nbn«v

AhcpsS hmbnÂ h¨v Du¼m³ XpS§n.

107

Munnar

]mÂ

Fsâ

Ip®

IpSn¨v Fs¶ ]nSn¨v

Fsâ Ip®, AhcpsS hmbnencp¶v apgp¯p h¶p. AhÀ AXnsâ IS hsc hmbv¡pÅnem¡n N¸n hen¨p. H¸w Hcp

ssI

sIm−v

DgnªpsIm−ncp¶p. hmbntebv¡v

Fsâ

HSphnÂ

\ndsbmgn¨p.

]dnk©nbnepw

Fsâ

AhÀ

AXv

Ip®,

AhcpsS

apgph³

hen¨p

IpSn¨p. HSphnÂ Ahkm\ XpÅn hsc ]ngnsªSp¯tijw Npcp§n XpS§nb Ip® AhÀ ]pds¯Sp¯p. “A\nbm XÂ¡mew C{Xbpw aXn. AI¯v tIän Hcv ASn ASn¡m³

F\n¡v

sImXnbp−v.

]t£

F§s\bm

sN¿p¶Xv. Fs´¦nepw Ipg¸w Bbmtem.” “AXv GXmbmepw th− tN«¯o. \ap¡v Ct¸mÄ CXp sIm−v Xr]vXns¸Smw.” “{]khw

Ignªn«v

Ct¸mÄ

c−mgvNtb

BbpÅp.

C\nbpw Hcp amksa¦nepw IgnbmsX c£bnÃ.” “Rm³

ChnsS

Xs¶bntÃ

tN«¯o.

FÃmw

icnbmbn¡gnªmÂ \ap¡v ASn¨v s]mfn¡mw. XÂ¡mew tN«¯n £an¨ncn¡v.” I¼yq«dnse

Nn{Xw

HmSn

Xocm\pÅ

kabw

Bbt¸mtgbv¡pw Rm³ Fsâ apdnbpsS ASp¯v sN¶v IXInÂ

ap«n.

Xpd¶p. 108

Munnar

Hcp

an\näv

Ignªv

AhÄ

h¶v

IXIv

“I−p XoÀt¶m?” AhÄ Hcp \mWt¯msS : “XoÀ¶p.” “AXv XoÀ¶n«v Ipd¨p kabw BbtÃm. ]ns¶ \o ChnsS Fs´Sp¡pIbmbncp¶p?” “\o t]mSm. Rm³ Fs´Sp¡m\m.” “F\n¡dnªpIqtS \o F´mWv sNbvXXv F¶v.” “t]mSm. Rms\§pw H¶pw sNbvXnÃ.” Rm³ AhfpsS XpSbnSp¡nÂ Nq−n¡m«nbn«v : “]ns¶ Zm ChnsSsbms¡ F´m \\ªncn¡p¶Xv?” AhÄ Hcp Sq]okv ss\äv {UÊv (ss]Pmabpw tSm¸pw) BWv

[cn¨ncp¶Xv.

\\ªncp¶p.

AhÄ

AXnsâ s]s«¶v

Ihbv¡nS AhntSbv¡v

sNdpXmbn Ip\nªv

t\m¡nbn«v : “AXv CXv I−t¸mÄ X\ntb \\ªXmWv.” “A§s\ shdptXsbm¶pw \\b¯nÃ. Npcp§nb ]£w \o hncse¦nepw C«p ImWpw.” AhÄ Fsâ tXmfnÂ Hcp ASn ASn¨n«v : “t]mSm AhnSp¶v.”

109

Munnar

Rm³ s]s«¶v Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. AhÄ FXnÀs¸m¶pw Im«msX Fsâ s\©nÂ tNÀ¶p \n¶p. Rm³ Hcp ssI AhfpsS DSp¸nsâ DÅneqsS IS¯n AhfpsS

apebnÂ

t{_knbdn\pÅnÂ

]nSn¨p.

sRcp§n

AhfpsS

AaÀ¶v

\Ã

apeIÄ

IÃp

t]mse

Ccp¶p. Fsâ atä ssI AhfpsS ]n¶neqsS Xmtgbv¡v Nen¨p. HSphnÂ AXv AhfpsS ss]PmabpsS CemÌn¡n\pÅneqsS AI¯v

IS¶v,

]mâoknsâbpw

DÅnÂ¡qSn

AhfpsS

kmam\yw \Ã sImgp¯v arZphmb N´nIsf sRcn¨p. AhÄ Fs¶

sI«n¸nSn¨v

an\ntämfw

Npw_n¨p.

BenwK\¯nÂ

R§Ä

\n¶p.

]ns¶

A§s\

A©v

AhÄ

sR«n

shdptX

A§v

amdnbn«v “A½ hcmdmbn. Rm³ t]mIs«.” “\o

Fs¶

t]mI−”

F¶v

hÃmsX

sImXn¸n¨n«v

]dªpsIm−v

Rm³

Ahsf

ho−pw

F¶ntebv¡v ]nSn¨v ASp¸n¨p. ]t£ AhÄ IpXdn amdn. AhÄ Fsâ IhnfnÂ Hcp \pÅv X¶n«v “C¸w

tam³

tN¨n¡v

]mÂ

XÂ¡mew AXv aXn.” “F¦nÂ \o cm{Xn hcptam?”

110

Munnar

sImSp¯XtÃ

DÅp.

“A¿Sm! sNdp¡sâ ]qXn sImÅmatÃm.” “\o InS¡−

]ns¶

\oe

]Ssams¡

I−n«v

hncepan«v

F¶v hnNmcn¨m Rm³ H¶p klmbn¡msa¶v

h¨Xv.” “\o tN¨nsb klmbn¡p¶p−tÃm. AXv t]mtc?” “F¶mepw tN¨n am{Xw kpJn¡p¶Xv icnbmtWm? \o Xs¶ hnNmcn¡¯ntÃ Ch\v Fs¶¡qSn H¶v kpJn¸n¨p X¶mse´m F¶v.” “F\n¡v A§s\sbm¶pw tXm¶¯nÃ.” “AXv

shdptXbmsW¶v

F\n¡dnbntÃ.

\n\¡pw

B{Klaps−¶v F\n¡dnbmw.” “F¶mepw Rm³ Hcp I\yIbtÃSm. Ipg¸w hÃXpw ]änbmtem.” “AXv

t]Sn¡−.

AXn\pÅ

hgn

Rm³

t\m¡ns¡mÅmw.” “F§s\?” “FSo AXn\mWv Cu KpfnIbpw Ddbpw Hs¶ D−m¡n h¨ncn¡p¶Xv.” 111

Munnar

“AsXms¡ \nsâ I¿nÂ tÌm¡pt−mSm?” “KpfnI Nnet¸mÄ ImWpw. Dd hm§Ww. AXv Rm³ hm§ns¡m−p hcmw. F¶mepw Cu DdbnÃmsX Ifn¡p¶Xm kpJw.” “F\n¡v CsXm¶pw AdnbnÃ. Ipg¸w D−mI¯nÃ F¶v \n\¡v ]qÀ® hnizmkw Ds−¦nÂ t\m¡mw.” “F¦nÂ

ss[cyambn

cm{Xn

hm.

km[\sams¡

Rm³ icnbm¡n hbv¡mw.” Rm³ Ahsf H¶pIqSn sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. ]ns¶ AhÄ apdnbnÂ \n¶pw Cd§n t]mbn. Ipd¨p Ignªv A½ h¶p Ignªv Nmbpw IpSn¨n«v Rm³ ]pd¯v t]mbn. Rm³ ]Xps¡ \S¶v Ipd¨v ZqscbpÅ Hcp saUn¡Â tjm¸nÂ \n¶pw

KpfnIbpw,

Imakq{Xbpw

(Dd)

hm§n.

Ggp

aWntbmsS Rm³ XncnsI ho«nÂ F¯n. Rm³ hcpt¼mÄ an\n Sn. hn. I−psIm−v lmfnÂ Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Rm³ Fsâ apdnbnÂ t]mbn km[\§sfms¡ h¨v jÀ«pw Ducn C«n«v tN«¯nbpsS apdnbnÂ sN¶p. (Rm³ km[mcWbmbn ho«nÂ \nÂ¡pt¼mÄ jÀ«v CSmdnÃ.) Fs¶ I− DS³ tN«¯n : “A\nbm Fs´ms¡bp−v hntij§Ä Imcy§Ä ]ptcmKan¡p¶pt−m?”

112

Munnar

“sNdnb hcmsa¶v

{]Xo£

D−v

tN«¯o.

]dªncn¡pIbmWv.

AhÄ

AYhm

C¶v

AhÄ

cm{Xn aSn¨mÂ

tN«¯nFs´¦nepw ImcWw ]dªv At§m«v XÅn hnStW.” “AsXms¡ Rm³ Gäp. Ahsf¡qSn \½psS hebnÂ hogv¯n¡gnªmÂ ]ns¶ \ap¡v t]Sn¡msX \½psS Imcyw \S¯matÃm.

AsÃ¦nÂ

]ns¶

AhÄ

clkyw

]pd¯p

]dbptam F¶v t]Sn¨v Ignbt−.” “Ahsf

Rm³

I¼n

ASn¸n¨v

h¨ncn¡pIbmWv.

an¡hmdpw C¶v cm{Xn AhÄ Fs´¦nepw ImcWw D−m¡n hcpsa¶v Xs¶bmWv Fsâ hnizmkw.” ]ns¶ tN«¯n F\n¡v ]mÂ X¶p. Rm³ ]mÂ IpSn¨ kaba{Xbpw

AhÀ

Fsâ

hmWaSn¨psIm−ncp¶p.

Ip®bnÂ

]nSn¨v

kmh[m\w

]t£

AhÀ

shÅw

t]mI¯¡hn[w hmWaSn¨nÃ.. Fsâ Ip® I¼nbmbn Xs¶ \n¶p. Ipd¨p kabw Ignªv Rm³ Xmtgbv¡v t]mbn. DuWv

kabambt¸mÄ

tN«¯nbpw

Ip«nbpambn

h¶p.

tams\ XdbnÂ ]mb hncn¨v InS¯nbn«v FÃmhcpw IqSn `£Ww Ign¨p. `£Ww Ignªv Rm³ Iptd t\cw Sn. hn. I−ncp¶p.

]m{X§sfms¡

IgpIn

h¨n«v,

an\nbpw,

tN«¯nbpw apIfntebv¡v t]mbn. Ipd¨p kabw IqSn Ignªv Rm\pw

Fsâ

apdnbntebv¡v

t]mbn.

kabw

H¨nsâ

thKXbnÂ Cgbp¶Xmbn F\n¡v tXm¶n. HSphnÂ ]¯v 113

Munnar

aWn

Ignªt¸mÄ

Fsâ

apdnbpsS

hmXnÂ

]Xps¡

Xpd¶psIm−v an\n AI¯p h¶p. Rm³ Fgpt¶äp sN¶v Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨p Npw_n¨p. Ct¸mÄ AhfpsS thjw Hcp anUnbpw SojÀ«pamWv. AhÄ ASnbnÂ t{_knbÀ [cn¨n«nÃ F¶v

kq£n¨p

ape¡®pIÄ

t\m¡nbmÂ

SojÀ«neqsS

a\ÊnemIpw.

sXdn¨p

\nÂ¡p¶Xv

AhfpsS ImWmw.

AhÄ Fsâ amdnÂ Xe tNÀ¯p h¨psIm−p \n¶p. “Rm³

I¼yq«dnÂ

Hcp

kn\na

I−n«v

hcmsa¶v

]dªmWv h¶Xv.” “F¶n«v tN¨n H¶pw ]dªntÃ?” “Hm! tN¨n F´v ]dbm³. tN¨n sseäW¨v InS¶p. AhnsS _Uvem¼nsâ a§nb shfn¨ta DÅq.” “tN¨n¡v Adnbmambncn¡pw \o »q ^new ImWm\mWv h¶sX¶v.” “AsX§s\ Adnbmw? \o ]dtªm?” “Gbv. Rms\m¶pw ]dªnÃ.” AhÄ Fs¶ hn«v t]mbn IXIv AS¨v Ipänbn«p. ]ns¶ AhÄ \mWn¨v Fsâ ASpt¯bv¡v h¶p. AhÄ ASp¯p h¶

DS³

Rm³

AhfpsS

SojÀ«v

apIfntebv¡v

Ducn

FSp¯p. \Ã Dd¨ apeIÄ. H«pw CSnhv X«msX c−v Nnc« Iagv¯n 114

h¨Xp

Munnar

t]mse

sXdn¨p

\n¶p.

\Ã

shfp¯

apeIfpsS a²y¯mbn ]n¦v \nd¯nÂ c−v hr¯§fpw, AXnsâ a²y¯mbn {_u¬ \nd¯nÂ ape sR«pIfpw. “\o IqsSm¶pw CSmsX Chsc Xpd¶n«p sIm−mtWm \S¡p¶Xv?” “AXv

Rm³

sshIn«v

Ipfn¨n«v

AXv

C«nÃ.

Rm³

AsXms¡bn«v sI«ns¡m−v h¶mepw \o AsXÃmw Ducn amäpatÃm. AXmWv CSmsX h¶Xv.” “At¸mÄ

X¿mdmbn

Xs¶bmWv

h¶ncn¡p¶Xv.

AtÃ. At¸mÄ \o ]dn _mUnbpw C«p ImW¯nÃtÃm.” AXv ]dªn«v Rm³ AhfpsS anUn ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯n t\m¡n.

Fsâ

Dulw

icnbmbncp¶p.

AhÄ

]mâokpw

C«n«nÃmbncp¶p. AhÄ s]s«¶v c−p ssI sIm−pw anUn ]nSn¨v Xmgv¯nbn«p. Rm³ AhfpsS

Ahsf

sI«n¸nSn¨v

IÃpt]msebpÅ

Fsâ apeIÄ

amdnÂ Fsâ

AaÀ¯n. amdnÂ

sRcnªaÀ¶p. Fsâ Ip®, ap−n\pÅnÂ hSn t]mse DbÀ¶p \n¶p. AXv AhfpsS ASnhbänÂ Ip¯n \n¶p. Rm³

AhfpsS

Np−pIÄ

Fsâ

hmbv¡pÅnem¡n

\pWªp. Rm³ Fsâ \m¡v AhfpsS hmbv¡pÅntebv¡v IS¯n. R§fpsS

\m¡pIÄ

AhfpsS

hmbv¡pÅnÂ

sI«p]nWªp. Fsâ Dan\oÀ AhÄ \pWªnd¡n. AhÄ 115

Munnar

ssI F¯n Fsâ ap−nsâ Ip¯v Agn¨p. AhÄ ssI hn«t¸mÄ ap−v Xmtgbv¡v DuÀ¶p hoWp. Rm³ AhfpsS Hcp

ssI

]nSn¨v

Fsâ

Ip®bnÂ

h¨p.

Np«p]gp¯

Ccp¼nÂ sXm«Xp amXncn AhÄ s]s«¶v ssI ]n³hen¨p. AhÄ Ip\nªv Ip®bnÂ t\m¡n. “FSm

CXv

I−n«v

F\n¡v

t]SnbmIp¶p.

CsX§s\bmSm AI¯v Ibdp¶Xv?” “AsXms¡ A§v Ibdn t]mIpw.” “CsÃSm.

Fsâ

CXn\I¯v

Fsâ

Hcp

hncÂ

IS¡pt¼mÄ Xs¶ thZ\sbSp¡pw. ]ns¶ F§s\bmSm CXv Ibdp¶Xv?” “\nsâ GXn\I¯v? AXn\v t]cntÃ?” “Fsâ kamam\¯nÂ.” “FSo

AXnsâ

t]cmWv

]qdv.

R§fpsS

kmam\¯n\v Ip®sb¶pw ]dbpw.” “AsXms¡

F\n¡v

Adnbmw.

]t£

AXv

]dbm³

F\n¡v \mWamWv. AXm ]dbm¯Xv.” “AXn\v Fs¶ms¡ 116

Munnar

\mWn¡p¶Xv

]db¯ntÃ.

F´n\mSo.

AXpt]mse

I®v,

Hcp

aq¡v

km[\w

Xs¶btÃ

CsXms¡.

AXncn¡s«.

AXn\I¯v

Øncambn hncenSmdpt−m?” “t]mSm Rm³ hncsem¶pw CS¯nÃ.” “]ns¶

t\ct¯

]dªtXm

\nsâ

Hcp

hncenSpt¼mÄ Xs¶ thZ\n¡psa¶v.” “AXv Rm³ F¸gpsam¶pw CS¯nÃ. C¶v \nsâ I¼n ]Sw I−t¸mÄ F\n¡v AXn\I¯v Hcp IncpIncp¸v tXm¶n. At¸mÄ Rm³ shdptX H¶p hncen«XmWv. ]t£ thZ\ ImcWw aXnbm¡n.” “FSo AXnÂ¡qSnbtÃ Ip«nIsf {]khn¡p¶Xv. At¸mÄ AXv Ip«n¡v IS¶phc¯¡hn[w hnIkn¡p¶ntÃ. AXmWv AXnsâ

LS\.

BZyambn«v

BbXp

sIm−mWv

A§s\sbms¡ tXm¶p¶Xv.” “F\n¡v

CsXms¡

F§s\

Adnbm\m.

Rm³

A§s\sbm¶pw ioen¨n«nÃ.” “\o Iptd¡mew tImtfPnsems¡ ]Tn¨n«pw CsXm¶pw ]Tn¨ntÃ?” “]nt¶ tImtfPnÂ CsXms¡btÃ ]Tn¸n¡p¶Xv.”

117

Munnar

“tImtfPnÂ

]Tn¸n¡¯nÃ.

]t£

\nsâ

Iq«pImcnIsfm¶pw CsXm¶pw ]dªp XcntÃ?” “F\n¡v A§\s¯ Iq«pImscm¶pw D−mbncp¶nÃ.” “AsXms¡

t]ms«.

\½sf´n\m

AsXms¡

kwkmcn¡p¶Xv. \n\¡v Adnbm¯sXÃmw Rm³ ]Tn¸n¨p Xcmw. AXp t]mtc.” “]Tn¸n¡p¶sXms¡ sImÅmw. Ifn ImcyamIcpXv.” “AsXms¡ Rm³ t\m¡ns¡mÅmw.” Rm³

AhfpsS

AXnsâ

Xpd¸nÂ

AhfpsS

anUn

c−pt]cpw

anUnbpsS

D−mbncp¶ Xmtgbv¡v

]qÀ®

knºpw

DuÀ¶p

\ácmbn.

tcma§sfms¡

\o¡wsNbvXv

Rm³

XgpIn.

AhnsS

lq¡v

\Ã

AtXmsS

Cf¡n. Ducn.

]ns¶

AtXmsS

hoWp.

AtXmsS

AhfpsS

]qÀXSw

an\pkambn

h¨ncp¶p.

F\n¡v

Hcp

Imcyw

a\Ênembn. AhÄ tjhv sNbvXXÃ. adn¨v slbÀ dnaqhÀ D]tbmKn¨mWv sNbvXXmsW¦nÂ

tcmaw

\o¡w

tcma¯nsâ

sNbvXXv. Ipän

tjhv I¿nÂ

XSbpambncp¶p. “At¸mÄ \o CXn\mbncp¶p AtÃ cmhnse slbÀ dnaqhÀ hm§nbXv.”

118

Munnar

“Rm³ A§s\ IW¡p Iq«nsbm¶paÃ AXv hm§nbXv. Rm³

c−mgvN

D]tbmKn¨v sN¿mdp−v.

IqSpt¼mÄ

Xmgt¯bpw AXv

Øncambn

slbÀ

apIfnet¯bpw

ho«nÂ

Ccn¸p−v.

tcma§Ä

ChnsS

dnaqhÀ \o¡w

CÃm¯Xv

sIm−mWv Rm³ C¶v hm§nbXv.” “AXn\v \o ]dªmÂ t]mcmbncpt¶m. Rm³ tjhv sNbvXv Xcpambncp¶tÃm.” “Fsâ I¿nÂ tjhnwKv sksäm¶pw CÃ. AXpsIm−v Rm³ km[mcW C§s\bmWv tcmaw Ifbp¶Xv.” Rm³ I«nenÂ Ccp¶n«v, Ahsf Fsâ ap¶nÂ ]nSn¨p \ndp¯n. AhfpsS apeIÄ Fsâ apJ¯n\v ap¶nembn h¶p. Rm³ Ahsf Fsâ ImepIÄ¡v a²y¯mbn ]nSn¨p \ndp¯nbn«v AhfpsS apeIfnÂ XgpIn. AhfpsS XpSIÄ Ipd¨v AIÀ¯nbn«v, Ip® AhfpsS XpSIÄ¡nSbnÂ ]nSn¨p h¨p. AhÄ XpSIÄ sIm−v Ahs\ sRcn¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS apeIÄ amdn amdn hmbnÂ h¨v hen¨p IpSn¨p. AhfpsS apesR«pIÄ _ew h¨v DbÀ¶p h¶p. AXn\v GXm−v Hcp ]pfn¦pcphnsâ hen¸ambn. AhÄ Fsâ Xe, AhfpsS amdntebv¡v AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS apeIfnÂ Fsâ apJw Dckns¡m−ncp¶p. AhÄ Fsâ apSnbnÂ hnctemSn¨p.

119

Munnar

Rm³ Fgpt¶än«v Ahsf I«nenÂ ]nSn¨v InS¯n. Rm³ AhfpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯nbn«v,

I«nenÂ AhfpsS

ASp¯mbn ap«pIp¯n \n¶psIm−v, AhfpsS sh®¡Â t]mse an\pkamb ]qÀ XS¯nÂ apJw AaÀ¯n. AhfpsS ]qÀ Np−pIÄ ssI hncÂ sIm−v ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯nbn«v, ]qÀ NmeneqsS Xmsg \n¶pw apIfäw hsc aq¶v sIm−v XgpIn. AhfpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw GtXm s]À^yqansâ kpKÔw DbÀ¶p

h¶p.

hens¨Sp¯p.

Rm³

AhfpsS

AXv

aXnbmIp¶Xp

hnSÀ¶ncp¶

hsc

]qÀNp−pIÄ¡v

CSbnembn apIfä¯v Hcp Iiph−n ]cn¸nsâ hen¸¯nÂ t\cnb {_u¬ \nd¯nÂ I´v ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn \n¶p. Rm³ Nq−phncÂ sIm−v AXnÂ ]Xps¡ hoW ao«n. AhÄ ImepIÄ AIÀ¯n h¨psIm−v N´n sasÃ DbÀ¯n. Rm³

Ip\nªv

AhfpsS

I´v

Fsâ

Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n \pWªp. H¸w \m¡psIm−v I´nÂ Dckn. AhÄ Fsâ Xe AhfpsS ]qäntebv¡v AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS I´nse ]nSn hn«n«v AhfpsS ]qÀ XpfbnÂ \m¡v IS¯n. AhnsS \n¶pw t\cnb \oscmgp¡v XpS§nbncp¶p. Rm³ \m¡v sIm−v AXv apgph³ \¡n IpSn¨psIm−ncp¶p. Fsâ

\m¡v

Npcp«n

AhfpsS

]qÀ

Xpfbntebv¡v

Cd¡n. AhfpsS N´n A´co£¯ntebv¡v DbÀ¶p h¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS ]qÀ apgph³ hmbv¡pÅnem¡n N¸n hen¨p. HSphnÂ AhfpsS tX³ IpSw s]m«n HgpIn. H¸w AhfpsS 120

Munnar

N´n sh«nbn« t]mse I«nenÂ ]Xn¨p. Fsâ XebnÂ ]nSn¨ncp¶ AhfpsS ssI Abªp. HSphnÂ AhÄ Fsâ Xe ]nSn¨p amäm³ {ian¨p. ]t£ Rm³ AhfpsS tX³ apgph³ IpSn¨p XoÀ¶nt« Xe amänbpÅp. ]ns¶ Rm³ AhfpsS ASp¯v InS¶p. AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. “FSm \o AhnsS F´mSm sNbvXXv? Rm³ kzÀ¤w I−p.” “A§s\

kzÀ¤w

sNbvXnÃSo.

C¸w

C§s\bmsW¦nÂ

ImWm³

X¡h®w

C{Xbpw icn¡pÅ

Rm³

H¶pw

Bbt¸mtgbv¡pw ]Wn

sNbvXmÂ

F´mbncn¡pw AhØ?” “At¿m! CXnepw henb kpJtam. F\n¡v k¦ev]n¡m³ ]äp¶nÃ.” “AsXms¡ t\cn«v ImWmw. AÃmsX \o k¦ev]n¡− Imcysam¶panÃ”. Rm³ AhfpsS ASpt¯bv¡v Ncnªp InS¶p. Ahfpw Fsâ ASpt¯bv¡v Ncnªp InS¶pIbmbncp¶p. Fsâ Ip® AhfpsS ASnhbänÂ ap«n \n¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS ssI ]nSn¨v Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¸n¨p. AhÄ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v sRcn¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS ssI ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¡m³ ]Tn¸n¨p. AhÄ kmh[m\w hmWaSn¨psIm−ncp¶p. 121

Munnar

Rm³ AhfpsS Np−nÂ Npw_n¨p. ]Xps¡ AhfpsS Np−v Fsâ hmbv¡pÅnem¡n \pWªp. Rm³ Ip® ]nSn¨v AhfpsS ]qänÂ ap«n¨p h¨n«v ]Xps¡ Fsâ Acs¡«v Nen¸n¨p. AhÄ icn¡pw kpJn¨p XpS§n. AtXmsS Rm³ Ahsf

aeÀ¯n

InS¯nbn«v

AhfpsS

ImepIÄ

]nSn¨v

AIÀ¯n h¨p. Fsâ ssI sIm−v AhfpsS ]qÀNmenÂ XgpIn. kmh[m\w Fsâ Nq−p hncÂ AhfpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ IS¯n. AhÄ ImepIÄ Iptd¡qSn hnSÀ¯n h¨p. Rm³ Nq−phncÂ AhfpsS I´nÂ Dckns¡m−v Nq−p hncÂ kmh[m\w AIt¯bv¡v IS¯n. AhÄ Fsâ I¿nÂ ]nSn¨v AXns\

{]Xntcm[n¨p.

F¦nepw

Rm³

ssI

amänbnÃ.

AhfpsS I´nÂ Ipd¨p kabw IqSn XgpInbt¸mtgbv¡pw AhfpsS

FXnÀ¸v

Ipdªp.

]qänÂ

tXs\men¨v

\Ã

hgphgp¸v Bbn«p−mbncp¶p. Rm³ hncÂ ]Xps¡ Ibänbnd¡n. Ipd¨p Ignªv Rm³ Fsâ \SphncÂ IqSn Nq−p hncens\m¸w Ibän. Ipd¨p

kabw

c−p

hncepw sIm−v

]®nbt¸mtgbv¡pw

AhfpsS ]qÀ Xpf hnIkn¨p. Fsâ c−p hncepIfpw {^o Bbn

Ibdn

Cd§m³

XpS§n.

At¸mtgbv¡pw

AhÄ¡v

\¶mbn ckw ]nSn¨p Ignªncp¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS apIfnÂ Ibdn InS¶psIm−v Ip® ]nSn¨v AhfpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS apIfntebv¡pw Xmtgbv¡pw Dc¨p. ]ns¶ Ip®bpsS aIpSw AhfpsS ]qÀ XpfbnÂ 122

Munnar

ap«n¨p h¨psIm−v ]Xps¡ Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¶p. Ip®bpsS aIpSw DÅnÂ IS¶tXmsS AhÄ \nehnfn¨p. “FSm aXnsbSm. C\n tIäcpXv. F\n¡v thZ\n¡p¶p.” “kmcanÃSo. \ns¶ thZ\n¸n¡msX Rm³ Ibämw.” AXv ]dªn«v Rm³ AhfpsS ape sR«pIÄ amdn amdn hmbnÂ

h¨v

hen¨p

IpSn¨p.

Ipd¨p

t\cw

ape

IpSn¨t¸mtgbv¡pw AhfpsS {]Xntj[w Ipdªp. At¸mÄ Rm³ Fsâ Ip® Ipd¨p IqSn iànbnÂ H¶p XÅn. AtXmsS AXv ]IpXntbmfw AI¯mbn. AhÄ Fs¶ XÅn amäm³ {ian¨p. “FSm th−. F\n¡v C{Xbpw thZ\ kln¡ms\m¶pw h¿. \o AXv FSp¯psIm−v t]m.” “CÃSo. A§s\ thZ\n¡¯sXm¶pw CÃ. BZyw sNdnb thZ\ ImWpw. \o AXv ISn¨p ]nSn¨v A§v kln¨mÂ aXn. ]ns¶ \Ã kpJambncn¡pw.” “F¶mepw B kpJw th−. \o t\ct¯ sNbvXXv t]mse \¡n kpJn¸n¨mÂ aXn.” “AXv AXpsIm−v sN¿Ww.” 123

Munnar

icn. \n\¡v

Rm³ kpJw

\¡n In«pw.

\ns¶ ]ns¶

kpJn¸n¡Ww. Rm³

F´v

“AXv tN¨n hmbnÂ h¨v N¸p¶Xv t]mse Rm³ N¸n Xcmw. At¸mÄ \n\¡v kpJw In«patÃm.” “AXv

sIm−v

ImcyambnÃtÃm.

CXnsâ

Du«

H¶v

icnbm¡n FSp¡t−? \nsâ IÃymWw Ignbpt¼mÄ Ah\v tIdm\pÅXv AtÃ?” “AXv At¸mÄ t\m¡nbmÂ t]msc?” “AXv icnbmI¯nÃ. \½Ä dq«v ¢nbdm¡n h¨ncn¡Ww. AsÃ¦nÂ Ah³ hnjan¡pw.” “Ah³ hnjan¡ps¶¦nÂ hnjant¨ms«. F\ns¡´v.” “F¶v ]dªn«v ImcyanÃ. Ah³ C§s\ Ibänbmepw thZ\ ImWpw. \nsâ CXn\I¯v Hcp koÂ D−v AXv s]m«n¡gnªmÂ ]ns¶ {]iv\anÃ.” “FSm. C¸w thZ\ IpdsªSm. C\n \o ]Xps¡ koev s]m«n¨v t\m¡ntb.” Rm³ AhfpsS Np−pIÄ Fsâ Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n AaÀ¯n h¨p. ]ns¶ Ip® Ipd¨p ]pdt¯bv¡v Ducnbn«v iànbmbn

ho−pw

{]Xn_Ô§fpw e£y¯nse¯n.

AIt¯bv¡v

XÅn.

XIÀ¯psIm−v AhÄ

\nehnfns¨¦nepw,

tI«nÃ. AhÄ Fsâ apJw XÅn amänbn«v 124

Munnar

AtXmsS Fsâ i_vZw

FÃm Ip«³ ]pd¯v

“FSm \o F´m ImWn¨Xv? Fsâ aq{X¡pgnsbÃmw s]m«n Iodnsb¶m tXm¶p¶Xv. F\n¡v AhnsS apgph³ \odn ]pIbp¶p.” “AXv kmcansÃSo. AXv Ct¸mg§v amdpw. GXmbmepw dq«v ¢nbÀ BbntÃ.” “Fs¶ms¡ \n\¡v ]dbmw. thZ\ Rm\tÃ kln¨Xv.” Rm³ AhfpsS Np−pIÄ ISn¨v Cu¼n hen¨p. Hcp ssI sIm−v AhfpsS apeIfnÂ XgpIn. A§s\ Ipd¨p kabw

IS¶p

t]mbn.

Fsâ

Ip®

AhfpsS

]qänÂ

\ndªncp¶p hn§n. HSphnÂ AhfpsS thZ\ Ipdªp hcp¶Xnsâ

e£W§Ä

I−p

XpS§n.

AhfpsS

]qÀ

`n¯nIÄ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ sNdnb aÀ±w sNep¯n XpS§n. Rm³

AhfpsS

hi§fnÂ

ssI

Ip¯n

DbÀ¶p

\n¶psIm−v, ]Xps¡ Ip® Ducn ASn¡m³ XpS§n. aq¶v \mev ASn Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw AhfpsS ]qÀ sNdpXmbn Abªp. AhÄ Fsâ tXmfnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨psIm−v Xe DbÀ¯n Fs¶ Npw_n¨p. Rm³ ASnbpsS thKX Iq«n. AhÄ ASnbnÂ InS¶v ]nSªp. AhÄ IogvNp−p ISn¨p ]nSn¨psIm−v

I«nenÂ

Dcp«n.

AhfpsS

ImepIÄ

DbÀ¯n Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ Npän ]nSn¨p. Fsâ ASns¡m¸w, Ahfpw N´n DbÀ¯n ASn¨psIm−ncp¶p.

125

Munnar

“FSm F\n¡v hs¿Sm. Fsâ izmkw \ne¡p¶Xp t]mse

tX#m¶p¶p.

Rm³

C¸w

Nmhpw.

At¿m

F´v

C¶p

Rm³

ASn¨v

kpJsaSm. thKw thKw ASnsbSm.” “C¶m

]nSnt¨mSo.

\nsâ

]qdv

s]mfn¡psaSo.” “F¦nÂ ASn¨v s]mfns¡Sm.” Rm³ ASnbpsS thKX Iq«n. AhfpsS ImepIÄ Fsâ Acs¡«nse ]nSn hn«n«v A´co£¯ntebv¡v DbÀ¶p \n¶p. “aXntbmSo

Ig¸o.

\nsâ

Ig¸v

C¶v

Rm³

amän

XcpsaSo.” “Np½m hmNIaSn¡msX ASn¨v s]mfnsbSm. At¿mSm F\n¡v Zm hcps¶Sm.” “F\n¡pw hcps¶So.” “ASn¨v Hgn¨v Fsâ ]qdv \ndbvs¡Sm.” ]ns¶ AhfpsS hmbnÂ \n¶v Nne A]kzc§Ä tI«p. HSphnÂ AXpw \ne¨p. AhfpsS ImepIÄ s]s«¶v I«nenÂ ]Xn¨p.

AhÄ

Ip®bpw

InX¡m³

AhfpsS

XpS§n.

]qänÂ

At¸mtgbv¡pw

shSns¡«p

\S¯n.

Fsâ Ah³

Gsg«p {]mhiyw AhfpsS ]qäntebv¡v Kp−pIÄ Ab¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS icoc¯nÂ `mcw sImSp¡msX AhfpsS 126

Munnar

]pd¯v AaÀ¶p InS¶p. AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p. B kab¯v tN«¯n IXInÂ ap«n hnfn¨p. AXv tI«v an\n sR«n hnd¨p. “FSm, Ipg¸ambtÃm. \o IXIv Xpd¡tÃ. Rm³ Cu thjsam¶v CSs«.” Rm³ I«nenÂ \n¶pw Fgpt¶äp. Rm³ Fsâ ap−v FSp¯v DSp¯psIm−v t]mbn IXIv Xpd¶p. At¸mtgbv¡pw an\n

Fgpt¶äv

AhfpsS

D−mbncp¶pÅp.

anUn

AhfpsS

[cn¡m³

anUn,

XpS§p¶tX

AhÄ

ImenÂ¡qSn

Ibäm³ XpS§nbt¸mtgbv¡pw tN«¯n apdnbnÂ Ibdn h¶p. an\n s]s«¶v anUn hen¨p Ibän. ]t£ AhfpsS Acbv¡v apIfnÂ At¸mgpw \áambncp¶p. “tamtf \o ]Wn H¸n¨p. AtÃ. CXn\mtWm \o kn\na ImWms\¶v ]dªv Ct§m«p h¶Xv?” “AXv tN¨o, kn\na I−psIm−ncp¶t¸mÄ AdnbmsX C§s\sbms¡ kw`hn¨p t]mbn.” “F¶mepw

tamtf,

kq£n¡−mbncpt¶m.

hÃ

Ipg¸hpw ]änbmtem?” “Ipg¸sam¶pw

]ä¯nÃ

tN¨o.

F\n¡v

BImdmbncn¡pIbmWv. c−v Znhk¯n\Iw BIpw.”

127

Munnar

sa³kkv

“\o CXn\v ap¼v C§s\sb§m\pw sNbvXn«pt−m?” “CÃ tN¨o. CXv BZyambn«mWv.” “\o B I«nentem«v InSt¶. Rms\m¶v t\m¡s«.” AhÄ

I¿nencp¶

jÀ«v

XebneqsS

hen¨v

Ibänbn«psIm−v I«nenÂ InS¶p. tN«¯n AhfpsS anUn DbÀ¯nbn«v

AhfpsS

]cntim[n¨p.

AhÀ

XpS¨p.

]qÀtX\pw,

ImepIÄ

Hcp

]nSn¨v

AIÀ¯n

]qÀ

AhfpsS

]qÀ

XpWnsbSp¯v

Ip®¸mepw

IeÀ¶

an{inX¯nÂ

càhpw IeÀ¶v Nph¸v \nd¯nÂ XpWnbnÂ ]än. “Mm! icn¡pw koÂ s]m«n. Zm tNmc It−m. \o Fsâ apdnbnÂ sN¶v AhnsS sUtämÄ Ccn¸p−v. AsXSp¯v \¶mbn«v IgpIv. AsÃ¦nÂ Nnet¸mÄ C³s^Ivj³ BIpw.” A§s\ AhÄ I«nenÂ \n¶pw Fgpt¶äv tN«¯nbpsS apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. B kab¯v tN«¯n Fsâ ap−v amänbn«v Ip® ]nSn¨p t\m¡n. “Zm t\ms¡Sm tNmc ]änbncn¡p¶Xv. sIm−p t]mbn IgpsISm.” Rm³ _m¯vdqanÂ Ibdn Ip® IgpInbn«v XncnsI h¶p.

At¸mÄ

tN«¯n

Fsâ

I«nenÂ

Ibdn

Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS ap¶nÂ sN¶t¸mÄ

128

Munnar

AhÀ Fsâ ap−v ]dn¨p Ifªn«v Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p. Ah³ CXn\Iw A\¡w h¨p XpS§nbncp¶p. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v sXmen¨Sn¨p. AhcpsS I¿psS NqSv Gät¸mtgbv¡pw Ip® AXnsâ hnizcq]w Im«n XpS§n. AhÀ Ip\nªv Fsâ Ip®bnÂ Npw_n¨p. ]ns¶ kmh[m\w AXnsâ aIpSw AhcpsS hmbv¡pÅnem¡nbn«v \m¡p sIm−v AXnÂ XgpIn. At¸mtgbv¡pw Ah³ ]qÀ® cq]¯nÂ F¯n¡gnªncp¶p. AhÀ Ip® ]qÀ®ambn AhcpsS hmbv¡pÅnÂ IS¯n. AXnsâ Aäw AhcpsS A®m¡nÂ sN¶p ap«n. AhÀ ]Xps¡ Xe ap¶ntebv¡pw ]n¶ntebv¡pw Nen¸n¨p. Ip® AhcpsS hmbnencp¶v hn§n. Rm³ AhcpsS ss\änbpsS ]pd¯pIqSn AhcpsS apeIfnÂ ]nSn¨v Ii¡n. Cu kab¯v an\n

apdnbntebv¡v

ss\änbpsS

IS¶p

lq¡pIÄ

h¶p.

Rm³

Cf¡nbn«v

tN«¯nbpsS

AhcpsS

ape

]pds¯Sp¯p. AXv I−n«v an\n tN«¯nbpsS apeIfnÂ XgpIn. “FSo \n\¡v thWsa¦nÂ tN«¯nbpsS ]mÂ Ipd¨v IpSn¨p t\m¡v.” CXv ]dªn«v Rm³ tN«¯nsb I«nenÂ ]nSn¨v InS¯n. AhÀ I«nenÂ InS¶psIm−v Fsâ Ip® ho−pw N¸m³ XpS§n. an\n tN«¯nbpsS ASp¯mbn I«nenÂ ap«pIp¯n \n¶psIm−v AhcpsS ape hmbnÂ h¨v hen¨p IpSn¨p. 129

Munnar

Rm³

an\nbpsS

DSp¸v

]nSn¨v

DbÀ¯nbn«v

AhfpsS

apeIfnÂ XgpIn. an\n, Hcp apebnse ]mÂ IpSn¨v XoÀ¶n«v, ASp¯ apebnse ]mÂ IpSn¡m³ XpS§n. At¸mtgbv¡pw tN«¯n Fsâ Ip® N¸p¶Xnsâ thKX Iq«n. AhcpsS Xe hfsc thK¯nÂ DbÀ¶p XmWpsIm−ncp¶p. HSphnÂ Fsâ Ip®, AhcpsS A®m¡ntebv¡v shSnbp−IÄ DXnÀ¯p hn«p. AhÀ AXv apgph³ IpSn¨p. Ahkm\ XpÅn hsc \¡nsbSp¯n«v AhÀ Ip® ]pds¯Sp¯p. AhÀ

]IpXn

]nSn¨psIm−v At¸mtgbv¡pw

atä

Npcp§nb ssI

an\n

Ip®

sIm−v

]mÂ

Hcp

]dnk©nbnÂ

IpSn¨p

XoÀ¶v

I¿nÂ XgpIn. apJw

DbÀ¯nbt¸mÄ AhfpsS apeIÄ tN«¯nbpsS apJ¯n\v t\tc h¶p. tN«¯n DS³ Fsâ Ip®bnse ]nSn hn«n«v, an\nbpsS

tXmfnÂ

]nSn¨v

AhfpsS

ape,

tN«¯nbpsS

apJt¯m«v ASp¸n¨p. ]ns¶ AhÀ Xe DbÀ¯n an\nbpsS ape hmbnem¡n \pWªp. an\n, ssI F¯n Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p Ipep¡n. Rm³ an\nsb I«nenÂ ]nSn¨v InS¯nbn«v, Rm³ AhfpsS apIfnÂ Xncnªp InS¶p. At¸mÄ Fsâ Ip® AhfpsS apJ¯n\Sp¯pw, Fsâ Xe, an\nbpsS Acs¡«n\Sp¯pw h¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS anUn DbÀ¯nbn«v ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯nbn«v, apJw AhfpsS ]qänÂ AaÀ¯n. AhnsS \Ã

130

Munnar

sUtämfnsâ

aWw.

H¸w

AhfpsS

]qänÂ

\n¶pw

Hen¨nd§p¶ tX\nsâ aWhpw. Rm³ \m¡v \o«n AhfpsS ]qÀ tX³ \¡nsbSp¯p. F¶mÂ AhnsS t\cnb \oscmgp¡v XpSÀ¶psIm−ncp¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS I´nÂ \m¡v sIm−v \¡n. AhÄ Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v AhfpsS hmbv¡pÅnem¡n \pWªp. AhÄ Ipd¨p

kabw

\pWªt¸mtgbv¡pw

Ip®

_ew

h¨v

DWÀ¶p. AXv AhfpsS hmbv¡pÅnÂ sRcp§n AaÀ¶v Ccp¶p. CXn\nsS tN«¯n Fsâ ]n¶neqsS ssI IS¯n Xq§n BSns¡m−ncp¶

]dn

sRcSns¡m−ncp¶p. Fsâ

Rm³

hmbv¡pÅnem¡n

N¸n

hen¨p.

]qÀ

]nSn¨v apgph\pw

AhfpsS

N´n

apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¶p h¶p. Rm³ ASp¯v InS¶ XebnW FSp¯v

AhfpsS

N´n¡SnbnÂ

Ibän

h¨p.

AtXmsS

AhfpsS ]qÀ apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¶v Xpd¶ncp¶p. AhÄ XebnWbnÂ N´n AaÀ¯n h¨psIm−v XpSIÄ DbÀ¯n Fsâ Xe AaÀ¯n h¨p. Rm³ Fsâ \m¡v Npcp«n AhfpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ Ibän Cd¡n ASn¨p. HSphnÂ AhfpsS tX³IpSw s]m«n HgpIn.

Rm³

Du¼ensâ

AXv

thKX

apgph³ IqSn

h¶p.

\¡nsbSp¯p. B

an\nbpsS

kpJ¯nÂ

Rm³

AhfpsS ]qänÂ apJw AaÀ¯n InS¶p. HSphnÂ Fsâ Ip® AhfpsS hmbntebv¡v ]mÂ Hgp¡n hn«p. AhÄ AXv 131

Munnar

apgph³

IpSn¨nd¡n.

FSp¯n«v

AhÄ

Ahkm\s¯ Fsâ

XpÅn

Ip®

hsc

hmbnÂ

\¡n \n¶pw

]pds¯Sp¯p. Rm³ AhfpsS ]pd¯p \n¶pw Cd§n AhfpsS ASp¯v InS¶p. AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p. FÃmw Ignªt¸mÄ tN«¯n t]mIm\mbn Fgpt¶äp. AhÀ an\nsb hnfn¨p. “FSo hm. C\n \ap¡v t]mImw.” “tN¨n

sNÃv.

tam³

Dd§pIbtÃ.

C¸w C\n Fsâ

BhiyanÃtÃm. Rm³ Ipd¨p kabw IqSn ChnsS InS¶n«v hcmw.” “InS¡p¶sXms¡ sImÅmw. C¶v C\n ]Wnsbm¶pw H¸n¡cpXv.” “CÃ tN¨o. Rm³ Ipd¨p Ignªv A§v hcmw.” A§s\ tN«¯n AhcpsS apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. R§Ä sseäW¨n«v,

\ácmbn

Xs¶

sI«n¸nSn¨v

InS¶v

Dd§n.

shfp¸n\v AhcpsS apdnbntebv¡v ]dªp hnSm\mbn Rm³ Ahsf hnfn¨pWÀ¯n. AhÄ I®p Xpd¶v Fs¶ t\m¡n Nncn¨p. “FSm Rm³ Ipd¨p IqSn Dd§s«Sm.”

132

Munnar

“FSo

t\cw

shfp¡mdmbn.

Bsc¦nepw

DWÀ¶v

hcp¶Xn\v apt¼ \o thjw [cn¨v A¸pds¯ apdnbnÂ t]mbn InSt¶. AsÃ¦nÂ Ipg¸amIpta.” “Hm ! C\n F´v Ipg¸amSm thtd D−mIm\pÅXv ?” “F¶mepw A½¨nsb§m\pw apIfntebv¡v Ibdn h¶v t\m¡pt¼mÄ \o AhnsSbnsÃ¦nÂ F´v hnNmcn¡pw.” “F´v

hnNmcn¡m³.

Ahcv

\n\¡v

ssek³kv

X¶n«p−tÃm. ]ns¶´m.” CXv ]dªpsIm−v AhÄ Fsâ ]IpXn DbÀ¶p \n¶ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¨p. AtXmsS

AXv ]qÀ® cq]w

{]m]n¨p. AXv AhfpsS I¿nencp¶v hn§n. “FSm

CXv

C§s\

\nÂ¡p¶Xv

I−n«v

Rm³

F§s\bmSm a\xkam[m\ambn«v t]mIp¶Xv. H¶pansÃ¦nÂ \o Xs¶ F´v hnNmcn¡pw.” “Rm³ Xs¶bpaÃ,

A§s\ \nsâ

{]tXyIn¨v

H¶pw

AhnsSsbms¡

hnNmcn¡¯nÃ.

apdnªncn¡pIbtÃ.

AXpsIm−v C¸w tamfv sNÃv.” “\o t]mSm. apdnªncn¡p¡ps¶¦nÂ Rm\§v kln¨p. GXmbmepw cmhnse Chs\ H¶p tIän Cd¡nbnt« Rm³ t]mIp¶pÅp.” 133

Munnar

“\n\¡v A{X \nÀºÔamsW¦nÂ \o apIfnÂ Ibdv. \ap¡v ]pXnb Hcp Ifn t\m¡mw.” A§s\ Rm³ Ahsf Fsâ apIfnÂ ]nSn¨p InS¯n. AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. AhfpsS IqÀ¯ apeIÄ Fsâ amdnÂ Ip¯n sRcnªv AaÀ¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS ImepIÄ Fsâ Acs¡«n\v Ccp hi§fnepambn ]nSn¨v ap«p Ip¯n h¨p. AhfpsS Acs¡«v Aev]w ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯nbn«v, Ip® AhfpsS ]qÀNmenÂ Dc¨p. AhÄ Fsâ s\©nÂ ssI Ip¯ns¡m−v \nhÀ¶v Ccp¶p. Rm³ Ip®bpsS Xe AhfpsS ]qÀNmenÂ ap«n¨p h¨n«v AhfpsS tXmfnÂ ]nSn¨v Ahsf sasÃ Xmgv¯n. AtXmsS

Ip®

kmh[m\w

Cd§ns¡m−ncp¶p.

AhÄ

AhfpsS Xe

]qäntebv¡v

Ip¼n«v

AhfpsS

]qäntebv¡v t\m¡ns¡m−v kmh[m\w AaÀ¶v Ccp¶p. CSbv¡nsS ]ns¶

AhÄ

Xmgv¯pIbpw

N´n

sNdpXmbn

DbÀ¯pIbpw,

sNbvXpsIm−ncp¶p.

Ahkm\w

AhfpsS N´n Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ AaÀ¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS apeIfnÂ ]nSn¨v sRcn¨p. AhÄ Ip® DÅnÂ h¨psIm−v Xs¶ Fsâ ]pd¯v Iagv¶p InS¶psIm−v Fsâ Np−nÂ Npw_n¨p. Rm³ Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨p. Rm³

A§s\

apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¯n 134

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InS¶psIm−v

ASn¨psImSp¯p.

]nSn¨p.

Rm³

AhÄ

AhfpsS

ASnbnÂ N´n

\n¶pw

sNdpXmbn

N´nbnÂ

]nSn¨v

DbÀ¯pIbpw Xmgv¯pIbpw sNbvXpsIm−ncp¶p. AXnsâ kpJw In«nbtXmsS AhÄ AhfpsS ImÂ ]mZw I«nenÂ Nhp«n

Ip¯nbncp¶n«v,

DbÀ¶p

\n¶psIm−v

Fsâ X\ntb

s\©nÂ N´n

ssI

DbÀ¯n

Ip¯n

ASn¡m³

XpS§n. H¸w Rm\pw ASnbnÂ \n¶pw ASn¨psImSp¯p. HSphnÂ AhÄ XfÀ¶v Fsâ ]pd¯v Iagv¶p InS¶p InX¨p.

F\n¡pw

shÅw

hcmdmbn«p−mbncp¶p.

Rm³

AhfpsS N´n ssI sIm−v Xm§n ]nSn¨psIm−v ASnbnÂ \n¶pw

apIfntebv¡v

ASn¨t¸mtgbv¡pw,

BªSn¨p.

Fsâ

Ip®

\me©v

AhfpsS

ASn

]qäntebv¡v

\ndsbmgn¨p. AhfpsS

]qÀ

`n¯nIÄ

Fsâ

Ip®sb

sR¡n

]ngnªpsIm−ncp¶p. HSphnÂ AXnsâ Ne\hpw \ne¨p. Ipd¨p kabw IqSn AhÄ Fsâ ]pd¯v InS¶p. AhfpsS InX¸v amdnbt¸mÄ AhÄ apJw DbÀ¯n Fsâ Np−nepw, I®nepw,

s\änbnepsaÃmw

XpcpXpsc

Npw_n¨p.

]ns¶

AhÄ Fsâ ]pd¯p \n¶pw Fgpt¶äp amdn. R§Ä

c−pt]cpw

Fgpt¶äv

_m¯vdqanÂ

t]mbn

aq{Xsamgn¨p. ]ns¶ Rm³ AhfpsS ]qdpw, AhÄ Fsâ Ip®bpw IgpIn hr¯nbm¡n. ]ns¶ R§Ä h¶v hkv{Xw [cn¨p. AhÄ Hcn¡Â IqSn Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨n«v tN«¯nbpsS

apdnbntebv¡v

t]mbn.

At¸mÄ

aWn

A©v

Ignªncp¶p. Rm³ IXIv AS¨n«v ho−pw I«nenÂ Ibdn InS¶p. 135

Ignª

Munnar

Imcy§Ä

BtemNn¨v

InS¶v

Rm³

Dd§nt¸mbn.

cmhnse

tN«¯n

Nmbbpambn

h¶v

hnfn¨t¸mgmWv Rm³ DWÀ¶Xv. “FSm Fgpt¶Âs¡Sm. CXv F´v Dd¡amSm. C¶se Rm³ t]mbn¡gnªv ]ns¶bpw H¸ns¨¶v tXm¶p¶tÃmSm. AhtfmSv tNmZn¨n«v AhÄ k½Xn¨nÃ. ]t£ e£Ww I−n«v Ft´m \S¶Xmbn tXm¶p¶p.” “AXv

]ns¶

tN«¯o,

Ahfv

cmhnse

H¶p

IqSn

In«nbnt« t]mIq F¶v \nÀºÔw ]nSn¨t¸mÄ Rm³ Ahsf H¶p apIfnÂ Ibän. AXmIpt¼mÄ AhÄ t\m¡nbpw I−pw sN¿patÃm.” “Mm… Fs¶ ]«nWn¡v C«n«mWv c−pw IqSn ASn¨v s]mfn¡p¶Xv. AtÃ.” “tN«¯n hnjan¡−. AXnsâ FÃm tIm«hpw Rm³ XoÀ¯p Xcmw. Ipd¨p Znhkw IqSn Ignbt«. AXp hsc tN«¯n H¶p £an¡v.” tN«¯n

Fsâ

Ip®bnÂ

]nSn¨v

H¶v

sRcn¨n«v

apdnbnÂ \n¶pw ]pd¯v t]mbn. A¶pw ASp¯ Znhkhpw an\n

Fsâ

apdnbnemWv

cm{Xn

Dd§nbnXv.

c−v

Znhk§fnepw R§Ä icn¡pw BtLmjn¨p. aq¶mw Znhkw AhÄ¡v sa³kkv Bbn. ]ns¶ \mev Znhkw AhÄ¡v hn{iaw Bbncp¶p. 136

Munnar

F¶mÂ tN«¯n B Znhk§fnÂ F\n¡v Du¼n X¶p. XpSÀ¶pÅ

Znhk§fnÂ

an\nbpambn

tIfnIÄ

\S¯n.

kpc£nX Znhk§fnÂ R§Ä \nb{´WanÃmsX Ifn¨p. AÃm¯

Znhk§fnÂ

D]tbmKn¨pw,

KpfnI

Ign¨pw

Ifn¨p. A§s\ \mfpIÄ IS¶p t]mbn. tN«¯nbpsS {]khw Ignªv

A³]Xv

Fs¶s¡m−v

Znhkw

Ifn¸n¨p.

Ignªt¸mÄ

]ns¶

R§Ä

tN«¯n aq¶pt]cpw

IqSnbmbn Ifn. aq¶p amkw Ignªt¸mÄ an\n AhcpsS ho«ntebv¡v XncnsI t]mbn. ]ns¶bpw c−v amkw Ignªv F\n¡v _mw¥qcnÂ Hcp I¼\nbnÂ tPmenbmbn. Ct¸mÄ Rm³ _mw¥qcnemWv. F¶mepw amk¯nÂ Hcn¡Â \m«nÂ h¶v tN«¯n¡v ASn¨p sImSp¡mdp−v. ]ns¶

_mw¥qcnÂ

F\n¡v

Nne

Npän¡fns¡ms¡

Ahkcw H¯p hcp¶p−v. AXv icnbmbn«v B hntij§Ä Rm³ \n§tfmsSm¸w ]¦v hbv¡mw. Xev¡mew \ndp¯p¶p.

137

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