a[pcn¡p¶ cm{Xn Rm³ arZpem tat\m³. hbÊp ap¸Xmbn IeymWw Ign¨n«nÃ. Pohn¡m³ ad¶p t]mb kv{Xo H¶paÃ. Rm³ Hcp ]{X {]hÀ¯IbmWp. At¸mÄ ]ns¶ Cu ASp¡f¸Wnbpw `À¯mhnsâ Imamthi§Ä¡p Iogn aeÀ¶p InS¡epw cmhnse _mXv dqan Ibdpt¼mÄ shÅw Hgn¡m³ ad¶ CWbpsS Ata[yw ZÀin¡pIbpw XZzmcm aqUv Hm^v^v BIpIbpw Hs¡ sN¿pI F¶m Fsâ s{]m^jW PohnXs¯bmWp _m[n¡pI. AXn\m Rm³ Ct¸mgpw Hcp AhnhmlnX Bbn Ignbp¶p. Rm³ GXmp F«mw ¢mkv apX Xs¶ t_mÀUn§pIfnepw h\nXm tlmÌepIfnepw ]ns¶ hÀ¡nMv hna³ tlmÌepIfnepw BWp Xmakn¨p h¶Xv. HSphn tIm«bs¯ {]apJ {]kn[oIcW hn`mK¯n {]q^v doUÀ Bbn tPmen In«nbt¸mÄ Cu tlmÌ PohnXw Ahkm\n¸n¡m\pw Hcp IpSpw_t¯msSm¸w Pohn¡m\pw B{Kln¨p. Fsâ amUw tI ko hSt¡apdnbpsS `mcytbmSp Rm³ C¡mcyw ]dªp. F\n¡p hÀ¡nMv hna³kp tlmÌen Bdp aWn¡p ap¼v F¯Wsa¶pw AXn\m A©c BIpt¼mÄ Hm^v^okv hnSWsa¶pw thsd FhnsSsbInepw At¡matUj³ In«nbm Ipd¨p IqSn sshIn Ccn¡mambncp¶p F¶pamWp Rm³ amUt¯mSp ]dªX.v amUw At¸mÄ Xs¶ Fs¶ Ipsd¡qSn NqjWw sN¿msa¶p a\Ên Ip, klmbw sNbvXp Xcp¶ amXncn Hcp t]bnMv KÌv At¡matUj³ D m¡n X¶p. tIm«b¯n\Sp¯v IRn¡pgnbn Hcp {InÌy³ ^manentbmsSm¸ambncp¶p Fsâ Xmakw. ^pUv klnXw apdn¡p Bbnc¯n Aªqdp am{Xw. AhnsS _o FÊn¡p ]Tn¡p¶ ImbnIXmcw IqSnbmb \o\m hÀ¡nbpw AhfpsS A½bpw IqSn Xmakn¡pIbmbncp¶p. \o\bpsS A¸³ hÀ¡n Zp_mbn BWp. anÊnkv hÀ¡n CS¡nsS Zp_mbn t]mIpw. At¸mÄ \o\¡p Hcp Iq«mIpsa¶p IqSn IcpXnbmWp F\n¡p t]bnw KÌv At¡matUj³ AhnsS X¶Xv. `£Ww Rm\pw Ibdn D m¡pambncp¶p. Hcp amkw sImpXs¶ Rm³ B IpSpw_¯nse Hcmfmbn amdn Ignªp. Rm³ FXmp Bdp aWn Igntª Hm^v^okn \n¶nd§p. {]q^v doUnMv F¶m ]nSn¸Xp ]Wn Dv. Uo Áo ¸o FSp¯p Xcp¶ Hmtcm t]Ppw kir[w hmbn¨p Xncp¯n hopw ASn¸n¡Ww. Hcp sXÁph¶m i¼f¯n \n¶pw Hcp cq] hoXw Ipdbpw. AXpaà IzmfnÁn hÀ¡nsæn tPmen sXdn¡m³ Ffp¸amWp. Nnet¸mÄ \o\m F\n¡p en^vÁp Xcpw. AhÄ ko Fw FÊnemWp ]Tn¡p¶X.v Hcp BÎnh AhÄ¡p kz´ambn D.v cmhnse AhÄ tPmKn§n\p t]mIpw. Bdp aWn¡p Ipsd Pyqkpw Ign¨p HmSm³ t]mIp¶ AhÄ tPmKnMv Ignªp XncnsI hcpt¼mÄ hnbÀ¯p Ipfn¨p So jÀ«msI hnbÀ¸n IpXnÀ¶p {_m `mKw am{Xw \\bmsX Ccn¡pw. IpXnchm t]mse BWp AhfpsS slbÀ ÌbnÂ. HmSpt¼mÄ apeIÄ InS¶mSmXncn¡m³ \à ssSÁp {_m C«mWp AhÄ HmSp¶Xv. F¶mepw Ah InS¶p sS¼dn Ipep§p¶Xp ImWm³ \à tNemWp. AhfpsS B apeIÄv XpÅp¶Xp ImWm³ Ipsd Infh·mÀ AhtfmsSm¸w tPmKv sN¿mdp.v Ggc F«mIpt¼mÄ AhÄ Xncns¨¯pw. At¸mtg¡pw anÊnkv hÀ¡n Hcp henb ¥mkv XWp¯ ]m t_m¬ hnÁ tNÀ¯p AhnsS h¨ncn¡pw. ]ns¶ AhÄ Hcp DuXnbmÁ BWp. apJw Hs¡ XpS¨p AhÄ kvt]mÀSvkv jq Ducpw. tkmIvkv CspIbnÃ. B jqIÄ¡p AXn\m \à \mÁw BWp. Rm³ tlmÌen Xmakn¨p Pohn¨Xn\m kzzÀ¤ kwt`mKw F¶ B ZpÈoe¯n\p ASna Bbnt¸mbncp¶p. Rm³ Ifn¨n«pÅXpw Ifn ]Tn¸n¨n«pÅXpamb s]®p§Ä¡p IW¡nÃ. AXp sImp Xs¶ \à s]¬Ip«nIsf Im Fsâ Imensâ CSbn \n¶pw Hcp IncpIncp¸p Bcw`n¡pw. AXp ]ns¶ Hcp Bthiambn amdpw. sa³kkv Zn\\§Ä Hgn¨pÅ an¡hmdpw FÃm Zn\§fnepw Rm³ kzbwt`mKw sN¿pIbpw sN¿pw. InS¡pt¼mÄ Rm³ NqcnZmÀ Bbncn¡pw [cn¡pI. sseÁp AWbpt¼mÄ Rm³ AXnsâ NcSpIÄ Ab¡pw. ]ns¶ Fsâ I¿p Fsâ Acs¡«nte¡p \o§pw. ]ns¶ Rm³ Fsâ ]cn]mSn Bcw`n¡pw. \o\msb BZyw It¸mÄ Xs¶ AhtfmSp F\n¡p t{]aw Bbn Ignªncp¶p. Cu kpμcnsb F§ns\bpw Ifn¡pI F¶Xmbncp¶p Fsâ e£yw. ]s£ AhÄ¡p AXn Xm¸cyw Dtm F¶dnbWw. Asæn Fsâ Xmakhpw tPmenbpw sXdn¡m³ AXpaXnbmIpw Fs¶\n¡dnbmambncp¶p. anÊnkv hÀ¡nbpsS Hcp _Ôp IqSnbmWp Fsâ amUw.
\o\ tkm^mbn Ccp¶p jq Ducpt¼mÄ Rm³ Ahsf HfnI®n«p t\m¡pw. AhfpsS N´nbpw Hs¡ hnbÀ¯p Ccn¡pw. jq Ducpt¼mÄ AhfptS So j«p DbÀ¶p AhfpsS P«n F\n¡p ImWmw. an¡hmdpw AhÄ Hcp Nph¶ Asæn aª P«n Bbncn¡p CspI. P«nbpsS ho BIXn AhfpsS N´n `mKw hnd¸nsâ ]mSpIÄ DÅ tPmKnMv ]mân Adnbmw. B ho tj¸nsâ AcnIp hcp¶ `mKw apX hopw \\hp XpS§pw. AhÄ Hcp km\nb anÀk BWp. ]sXm¼tXm Ccp]tXm ImWpw {]mbw. {_m¡pÅn sRcnªp InS¡p¶ B {In¡Áp t_mÄ apeIsf sRcn¡m³ F\n¡p At¸mÄ tXm¶pw. At¸mÄ Fsâ aq¡n\nSbn hnbÀ¡pw. F\n¡p Imaw hcp¶Xnsâ ASbmfw AXmsW¶p Fsâ IqsS Xmakn¨ncp¶ Genbm½ So¨À Hcn¡Â Ft¶mSp ]dªp. So¨À Fsâ ta NppIfn AaÀ¯n Npw_n¡pambncp¶p. Fsâ B hnbÀ¸p aWnIÄ \mhpsImp \¡n FSp¡p¶Xv AhcpsS hnt\mZw Bbncp¶p.
A§ns\ Ccp¶t¸mÄ Hcp Znhkw amUw Ft¶mSp em]v tSm¸v I¼yq«À ho«n sImp t]mbn D]tbmKn¡m³ X¶p. cm{Xnbpw Fs¶ hnSpIbnÃ. Rm³ AXpambn apdnbn Ccp¶p A¯mgw Ignªm ]Wn XpS§pw. Nnet¸mÄ »q ko UnIÄ C«p ImWpw. Hcp kzbwt`mKw sNbvXp Ignªp Rm³ em]v tSm¸W¡msX Xs¶ InS¶p Dd§pw. F¶m aWn Ggc BIpt¼mÄ Rm³ DWÀ¶ncn¡pw. ImcWw Fsâ km\nb anÀk hnbÀ¯p Ipfn¨p apebpw Ipep¡n hcp¶ kabw AXmWp. Hcn¡epw AXp ankv sN¿m³ F\n¡p h¿. A§ns\ Hcp Znhkw anÊnkv hÀ¡n `À¯mhns\ ImWm³ Zp_mbn¡p t]mbn. Rm\pw \o\bpw B ho«n HÁ¡mbn. CXp Xs¶ \à X¡w Rm³ a\Ên ][XnIÄ BhnjIcn¨p. anÊnkv hÀ¡n t]mbt¸mÄ Rm³ cmhnse DWÀ¶p. AhÄ¡nãs¸« t_m¬ hnÁ bpw ]eXcw PyqkpIfpw X¿mdm¡n h¨p. BZy Znhvkw AhÄ¡Xp Rm³ \o«nbt¸mÄ AhÄ AXnibn¨p t]mbn. AhfpsS apJw CtamjW BbXp Rm³ a\Ênem¡n. ]s£ Rm³ AXp {i[n¨Xmbn \Sn¨nÃ. km[mcW AhÄ jq Ducn Shzepambn AhfpsS apdnbn Ibdn IXIp Nmcp¶XmWp ]Xnhp. t]bnwKv KÌmb Rm³ B apdnbn IbtdBhiyw hcm¯Xn\m AXn\p tijw AhÄ F´p sN¿p¶p F¶p Rm³ Incp¶nÃ. F¶m anÊnkv hÀ¡n t]mbtXmsS Rm³ AhfpsS apdnbnte¡p Pyqkpambn sNÃm³ XpS§n. ^m³ ^pÄ kv]oUn C«p AhÄ AXn\p Xmsg Id§n \S¡pw. hnbÀs¸Ãmw DW§n icocw XWp¯mse AhÄ Ipfn¡pIbpÅp. ]Xps¡ ]Xps¡ AhÄ C³ln_nj³ ad¶p. Rm³ I«nen Ccn¡m\pw Bcw`n¨p. I¿n at\mcabpambn Rm³ Ccn¡psa¦nepw AhfpsS kuμcyw ImW BsWsâ ]Wn. A¶p cmhnse AhÄ DuXnbmÁnb tijw Fs¶ CSw I®n«p t\m¡n. Rm³ ]{Xw hmbn¡p¶Xn hym]rXbmsW¶p IAhÄ Xsâ So jÀ«p Ducn. F\n¡p ]pdw XncnªmWp AhÄ AXp sNbvXXv. AhÄ Xncnª t\cw Rm³ ]{Xw t]Pp adn¨p AhfpsS apJt¯¡p t\m¡n bmZrÝnIambn ]Ánbt]mse. AhÄ H¶p N½n F¦nepw \bnÁn FSp¡m\mbn Xncnªt¸mÄ Rm³ a\¸qdzzw "tlm F´m \o\ CXp " F¶p tNmZn¨p. AhÄ \bnÁn FSp¯p tNmZycqt]W Fs¶ t\m¡n. "\o\m C{X apdp¡n BtWm {_m CSp¶Xv hÃmsX izmkw ap«ntà ?" "Hmlv AtXm Fsâv tN¨o HmSm³ t]mIpt¼mÄ CXp apdp¡n C«ntàInS¶p BSpw ]ns¶ Infh·mscÃmw AhnsS X¶mbncn¡pw t\m«w Adnbmtam?" "Hm DÅtXm F{Xm \ot\sS sskkv?" "ap¸¯mdm" "ap¸¯mtdm IÅw ap¸¯n \membncn¡pw F\n¡p ap¸¯mdmWtÃm" "AtX apdp¡n C«ncn¡p¶ sImv tXm¶p¶Xm F\n¡pw ap¸¯mdm tN¨o " "DÅtXm I m tXm¶p tIe" ChnsS Rm³ Hcp sskt¡mfPn \n§tfmSp ]dbmw. Hcp s]®pw asÁmcp s]®nt\¡mÄ ape IpdhmsW¶p k½Xn¡nÃ. AXpaà ape hen¸w kam\amb s]®p§Ä X½nembncn¡pw kulrZw IqSpXÂ. Asæn Ft¸mgpw ape hen¸w IpdªhÄ IqSnbhtfmSp a\Ên F¦nepw Akqb h¨p ]peÀ¯pw. Hcp s]®n\pw kz´w apebpsS hen¸w IqSpX BsW¶p tXm¶pInÃ. N¡ ape¨nbpw t]c¡ ape¨nbpw Hcpt]mse B{Kln¡p¶Xv B apeIÄ CXnepw hepXmbncps¶¦n F¶mWp. Cu sskt¡mfPn Adnbmambncp¶ Rm³ a\¸qdzzw BWp Cu sskkv {]iw FSp¯n«Xv. kzm`mhnIambpw \o\¡p AsXmcp Ne©mbn tXm¶n¡mWpw Fs¶\n¡dnbmambncp¶p. Fsâ Dulw sXÁnbnà Fsâ km\nb anÀk \o\¡p«n \bnÁn CSmsX Xsâ ]n³`mKs¯ {_mbpsS ¢n¸n {Xp¸nSn¨p AhÄ AXp lq¡p X«n B hhzm t]msebpÅ {_m AhÄ Ducn Fsâ aSnbnte¡n«p. F¶m \bnÁn ap¶n FSp¯p ]nSn¨p B apeIÄ F\n¡p ImWm³ A\phZn¨XpanÃ. Rm³ Hcp tImcn¯cnt¸msS B {_m FSp¯p. AXp apJw tNÀ¯p aW¸n¡m³ Bbncp¶p a\Ên F¦nepw Rm³ AXnsâ te_ t\m¡n. sskkv ap¸¯mdmsW¶p kwib \nhr¯n hcp¯n. F¶m hnizmkw hcm¯ t]mse Rm³ Ahsf t\m¡n "Ct¸mÄ a\Ênembntà " F¶p ]dªp. \o\ \bnÁnbpambn _mXv dqante¡p \S¶p. At¸mÄ B hi§fneqsS Xpfp¼p¶ shfp¯ apeIÄ Rm³ Hcp t\m¡p Ip. hnizmkambns¡mÅs« F¶p IcpXn Bbncn¡Ww Ahfpw \bnÁn CSmsX _mXv dqan IbdnbXv. _mXv dqan shÅw hoW iÐw tI«tXmsS Rm³ \o\bpsS {_m Fsâ aq¡n tNÀ¯p. AXn\p hnbÀ¸nsâ cq£ KÔw am{Xw Bbncp¶p. Nne s]®p§Ä¡p \à icoc KÔw ImWpw. AhcpsS {_mbpw P«nbpw InS¡p¶ apdnbn Ibdpt¼mÄ Xs¶ B aWw Adnbmw. Genbm½ Áo¨À \m¸Xp Imcn Bbncp¶n«pw AhcptS amÀhnS§Ä¡p sN¼I¸qhnsâ aWw Bbncp¶p. F\n¡p sNhn¸ofbpsS aWw BsW¶mWp AhÀ Hcn¡Â A¡mcyw AhtcmSp AXp ]dªt¸mÄ Ft¶mSp ]dªX.v Rm³ N½n sNhn¸ofbpsS aWtam? AsX´p aWw? AhchcpsS aWw BÀ¡dnbmw Atà ?
\o\ ]pd¯p hcp¶ hsc Rm³ B hnbÀ¯ ]gb {_m aW¯p. ]ns¶ ASp¡fbnte¡p t]mbn A¸w Dm¡m³ XpS§n. shPnÁ_nÄ Ipdpabpw A¸hpw \o\bpsS hoIvs\Êmbncp¶p F¶p Rm³ anÊnkv hÀ¡n hgn Adnªncp¶p. tÁ_nfn hn`h§Ä It¸mÄ AhÄ ]p©ncn¨p. ]ns¶ shÅb¸w Idnbn ap¡n Ign¡m³ XpS§n. \bnÁnbpw DW§nb apSnbvambn AhÄ AXp Ign¨p. Hcp Xcn B Nph¶ Npnsâ shfnbn ]Án Ccp¶p. AXp NppIfm ISns¨Sp¡m³ F\n¡p tXm¶n
F¦nepw Rm³ \nb{´n¨p. "tlm aWn H¼XmImdmbn At¿m Fsâ ]cn]mSn H¶pw Bbnà C¶p teÁp Xs¶ amUw No¯ hnfn¡pw" Rm³ ]dªp. tUmv hdn tN¨o Rm³ en^vÁp Xcmw. A¶p Rm\pw NqcnZmÀ BWn«¯v. AhÄ Po³kpw _\nb\pw NqcnZmÀ BIpt¼mÄ ImepIÄ hi§fn C«ncn¡mw. AhÄ t{_¡p sN¿pt¼mÄ Rm³ a\]qÀ hzw Fsâ apeIÄ AhfpsS apXpIn AaÀ¯n. "\os\ H¶p ]Xps¡ hnSp " Rm³ ]dªp. AXhsf IqSpX thK¯n ]d¸n¡m³ t{]cn¸n¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS Acs¡«n I¿p hebw NpÁn ]nSn¨p. Fs´mcp kv\nKv[amb hbÀ!!Hcp sNdnb sRmdn am{Xw Po³kn\p apIfnÂ. shcn ^nÁv Fsâ km\nb anÀk \o\ Ip«n. tI ko _pIvkn F¯nbXdnªnÃ. Fs¶ AhnsS Cd¡n \o\ tImtfPnte¡p t]mbn. A¶p Rm³ ho«n h¶t¸mÄ \o\ F¯nbncp¶p. AhÄ Nmb Dm¡n F\n¡p \o«n. AsXmcp t_md³ Nmb Bbncp¶n«pw Rm³ AXp D{K³ Nmb BsW¶p {]iwkn¨p. Chsfms¡ sI«n¡gnªp A\p`hnt¨mfpw F¶p a\Ên ]dªp. A¶p \o\ InS¶p Ignªt¸mÄ Rm³ Hcp »q ko Unbpambn IXIn ap«n. F´m tN¨o ? AhÄ IXIp Xpd¶p."tamtf Cu ko Un Hcp kn\nabm Fsâ em]v tSm¸n doUp sN¿p¶nÃ. tamÄ B ho ko Uobn H¶p t\m¡ptam. C\n Hcp ]s£ tUÁ ko Un BtWm F¶dnbm\m ¹okv " Rm³ ]dªp." Hm AXns\´m te_ H¶pw Ctà GXp ]Sam ?" " B amUw X¶Xm a\Ên\¡sc BsW¶m ]dªXv " " G AXmbncn¡nà F¦n cp ko Uo thWw. Hcp ]s£ C\n Uo ho Un BtWm Ft´m " AhÄ apdnbnse ho ko Uo s¹bdn ko Un C«p C« DS³ t¹t_mbpsS ]ckyw So hobn h¶p. Rm³ A¿Sm `mhw ImWn¨p. "Hm CXp »q BWp tN¨n tN¨osS amUw a\Ên\¡sc CXmtWm IXv sImÅmw ]mÀ«n! " " Aà tamtf CXm B tUÁm F³{Sn ]¿³kv Fs¶ sh¨Xmbncn¡pw. ko Un amÁn¡mWpw C§p Ducntbcp tkmdn" Rm³ ]dªp " Hm tUm¬Áv hdn \½¡nXp ImWmw tN¨n Ccn C¶p ChnsS InSt¶m " \o\ ]p©ncn¨p lmhp tcmKn CÝn¨Xp Xs¶ sshZy³ I¸n¡p¶p" At¿m tamÄ »q ImWptam A½¨n Adnªm Fs¶ sImÃpw " "tlm tUmv hdn ]¸bpw a½bpw CXp kvXncw ImWpw Rm\pw Ahcv Hfn¨p h¨ncn¡p¶ ko Uo FSp¯p ImWpw " "DÅtXm ?" "]ns¶ Ft´m hnNmcn¨p ko Fs½knse s]¬ ]nÅmcp FÃmw ImWpw FÃmhcpw I¼yq«À t{]mPÎv sN¿m³ ho«n hm§n¸n¨n«pv ko Uo B¬ ]nÅmcv sImp hcpw CXp A{X t]mcm tN¨n¡p \à Uo ho Uo ImWtWm ]¸ Zp_mbn \n¶pw sImp h¶Xm HdnPn\ {]nâm ¢mcnÁn ImWWw AXnSt«?" "F¶m Rm³ Fsâ ]pX¸pw Hs¡bmbn hcmw " " Hm tUmv hdn \½Ä¡nhnsS InS¡mw \à t^mdn³ ]pX¸tà G kobpw CSmw " ‘F¶m ]ns¶ CSp’ Rm³ s]s«¶p ASp¡fbnse ebnÁW¨p IXIpw ]q«n Fsâ apdnbpw AS¨p h¶t¸mÄ \o\ Uo ho Uo C«ncp¶p. kn\na XpS§nbXp Xs¶ \o\bpsS {]bapÅ Hcp s]®p Hcp \ot{KmbpsS Idp¯ km[\w Ip¯nbncp¶p Du¼p¶Xp apXemWp tlm amdWw ]nSn¨hsâ Hs¡ Hmtcm km[\w s]®p§sf sImehnfn¡m\mbn D mbh\m Chs\ms¡ Rm³ a\Ên IcpXn " \o\ CsXms¡ ImWptam " " ]ns¶ Cu »qhnseÃmw CXtà DÅp s]®p§Ä tj¡p lm³Uv sImSp¯pIgnªm ]ns¶ AhcpsS KZ FSp¯p Ign¡Â Xs¶" ]¸ Ft¸mgpw C§n\pÅtX FSp¡p " Hm C§ns\ms¡ aZm½amsc sN¿p ChnsS§pw Bcpw sN¿nà " "Hm ]ns¶ tN¨ns¡m¶pw Adnbnà a½n ]¸bpsS SqÄ FSp¯p CXpt]mse hmbn CSpatÃm " l¼So \o CsXms¡ F§ns\ Ip Rm³ tNmZn¡p¶Xn\p ap¼p Xs¶ \o\ Ct§m«p ]dªp "Rm³ Zp_mbn t]mbt¸mÄ a½otSw UmUotUw apdo Xs¶bm InS¡p¶Xv Hcp s_Uvdqw ^vfmÁm UmUn¡hnsS At¸mÄ IXm " tlm B ]yqdn«³ F¶pw ss__nfpw I£¯n sh¨p \S¡p¶ anÊnkv hÀ¡n hmbnseSp¸nsâ BfmsWt¶m? tlm B ImgvN H¶p ImWm³ ]Ánbncps¶¦n F¶p Rm\pw At¸mÄ BtemNn¨p t]mbn. At¸mtg¡pw Im¸ncn B s]®ns\ InS¯n AhfpsS P«nbpw Hs¡ DucpIbmbncp¶p.
"t\m¡p tN¨o AhcpsS Hs¡ P«n CSs¡Ãmw {^nà At¸mÄ \à ImÁpw tIdpw NqSvFSp¡t¯ Cà ]s£ CXp ChnsS C«m ]cphamIpw ]¸ F\n¡p sImp X¶Xm Ipsd ]s£ Hs¡ C«m DSs\ Fsâ AhnsS Hs¡ Npa¶p XSn¡pw B aÁocnb \ap¡p ]Ánà \½Ä¡p ChnSsX tIm«tW ]Áp a½n BtW tIm«¬ h¨p Xp¶nb G{]¬ BWp CSp¶Xv a½osS sskkn\p P«n H¶pw In«¯nà " \o\ Ipep§n Nncn¨pAXp icnbm F\n¡pw tXm¶n anÊnkv hÀ¡osS N´n Hcp t]mÁn tlm«ense B«pIÃnsâ A{Xbpw hcpw. apeIÄ IpdhmsW¶ Ipdhv XoÀ¯ncn¡p¶Xv AhnsS BWp.Im¸ncn s]®nsâ kmam\w ]nfÀ¯n \¡Â Bcw`n¨ncp¶p F\n¡p Ipfncp tImcn AXpt]mse Fsâ \o\ Ip«osS Imensâ CSbn InS¶p tX³ IpSn¡m³ C¶p Ignbptam Bthm Rm³ BtemNn¨p"t\m¡p tN¨o B s]®nsâ lWo t]m«n B Im¸ncn \m¡nSp¶Xv " "tamÄsS ]¸ C§ns\ Hs¡ sN¿ptam ?" "t\m ]¸¡v AsXm¶pw Cãaà a½n AXp sNbvXm DSs\ ]¸ a½nsb aeÀ¯n InS¯pw ]ns¶ ]¸ `b¦c ^¡nMv BWp. ]t¸sS SqÄ Cd§ptIw tIdptIw sN¿pw ]ns¶ Rm³ t\m¡nà I®S¨p Ifbpw " "AsX´m ?" "]t¸sS SqÄ ImWp¶sXms¡ ]m]am" "At¸mÄ a½n
hmbn Hs¡ FSp¡p¶Xv ItXm?" "Hm AtXm AXp ]ns¶ ImWm³ \à ckam a½n hey Unkn¹n³ Atà Ft¶mSp. B a½n InS¶p izmkw ap«p¶ ImWm³ Hcp ckw" l¼So At¸mÄ Im¸ncn B s]®nsâ ]qdn Ifn XpS§n " F´m tN¨n¡p Cãs¸«ntà ImWp¶nÃtÃm " "Hm F\n¡p h¿m B s]®ns\ Iãs¸Sp¯p¶sXms¡ ImWm³" "F¦n Rm³ Hcp tkm^vÁvtImÀ CSmw C½m\ph kocokv In«ptm?" "FXp C½m\pth BWp __nfnse C½m\pth BtWm?" "Hm CXp s{^©m F½m\pF Hcp s]®nsâ t]dm AhfpsS `À¯mhp Fw_Ênbnem IqSpXepw Cμybpw Nbv\bpw Hs¡bm kvYe§Ä" "F¶m CSp" kneznb {InÌ A`n\bn¨ C½m\ph kocokv Nn{X§fn H¶mbncp¶p AXp XpS§nbt¸mtg Hcp hnam\¯n bm{X sN¿p¶ C½m\pGensâ kvacWIÄ BWp C½m\z sXcphpIfn Id§n \S¡pt¼mÄ Hcp amsÊPnMv ]mÀeÀ Is¯p¶p ]ns¶bmbncp¶p kw`h§fpsS XpS¡w C½m\pAens\ B aÊmPv ]mÀednse cp kv{XoIÄ Hcp tS_nfnte¡p \ábmbn InS¯p¶p ]ns¶ HcmÄ D¨nbn \n¶pw Xmtg¡pw asÁmcmÄ ]mZ§fn \n¶pw apIfnte¡pw aÊmPv sN¿p¶p tlm AXp It¸mtg F\n¡p Imensâ CS BsI Xcn¡m³ XpS§n C§ns\bpÅ kn\naIÄ BWp ImtWXv XpS¡w apX FtdmSnIv henb Dcpf³ ]ntÃm Fsâ ASpt¯¡p \o¡n \o\ Ft¶mSp Nmcn Ccp¶p "sImÅmtam tN¨o" "Dw " kv{Io\n B cp kv{XoIÄ kzbw XpWn Agn¡p¶p. F{X ]Xps¡ F{X Xmf¯n AhcpsS apeIÄ Zriyambt¸mÄ \o\ Ft¶mSp H¶p Nmªncp¶p. Rm³ AdnbmsX \o\sb Fsâ aSnbnte¡p InS¯n. Fsâ I¿pIÄ AhfpsS amd¯aÀ¶p \o\ Hcp FXnÀ¸pw {]ISn¸n¨nÃ. Rm³ Fsâ I¿p \o\bpsS JZÀ t]msebpÅ Ip¸mb¯n\p apIfn h¨p AXn\Snbn AhÄ {_m C«ncp¶nà B apeIfpsS Cfw NqSp Ip¸mb¯neqsS Fsâ I¿pIfnte¡p ]c¶p. AdnbmsX Rm³ \o\bpsS ape¡®pIfn XtemSn \o\ H¶p ]nSªp. ]ns¶ H¶p IpdpIn Rm³ AhfpsS Ip¸mb¯nsâ IpSp¡pIÄ cs®w Agn¨p. B apeIÄ Fsâ I¿pIfn AaÀ¶p. kv{Io\n At¸mÄ C½m\phensâ apeIÄ B cp kv{XoIfpw At¸mÄ AXpt]mse sRcn¡pIbmbncp¶p. C½m\phensâ icocw apgph³ Hmbn Hgn¨p Ccphcpw apeIÄ D]tbmKn¨p C½m\phensâ icoc `mK§Ä aÊmPp sN¿m³ XpS§n. Hcp \m¸¯mdp sskkp hcp¶ henb apeIÄ Bbncp¶p CcphÀ¡pw B apeIÄ C½m\phensâ XpSIfnepw apeIfnepw kvt]mRp IWs¡ Aadp¶p C½m\ph ]pfbp¶p Fsâ I¿pIÄ \o\bpsS ape¡®pIsf {Xn¸nSn¨p ]ns¶ Rm³ \o\bpsS ASnhbdnte¡p Fsâ Hcp I¿ng¨p AhfpsS s_Ãn _«¬ Ignªp B I¿p AhfpsS AcsI«nse¯n B arZp tcma cmPnIfpsS XpS¡w Fsâ I¿pIfn A\p`hambn ]ns¶ Rm\pw Fsâ apJw AhfpsS apeIfnte¡p ASp¸n¨p \o\ hopw H¶p IpdpIn ]ns¶ R§Ä kn\na {i[n¨nÃ.
\ot\ \nsâ CsXms¡ Agn¡t«So IÅo ?’ "Fs¶ Ft´m thtWepw sN¿p tN¨o " "\ns¶ H¶p apgphs\ ImWs«So IÅo" Rm³ AhfpsS Ip¸mbw Agn¨p. ASnbn H¶pw CÃmbncp¶Xn\m Ahsf \K\mbm¡p¶Xp Rm³ {]Xo£n¨Xns\¡mÄ Ffp¸ambncp¶p. NqcnZmÀ t_m«w NcSpIÄ Ab¨t¸mÄ Xmsg¡p t]mbn. Rm³ Fsâ ImepIÄ D]tbmKn¨p AXp Xmtg¡p Nhn«n Agn¨p. s]®nsâ Acbn Hcp AcªmWw Dmbncp¶p. sNdnb Hcp t\À¯ sNbn³. Fs´mcp Ahbh `wKn Fs´mcp emfnXyw Fs´mcp NqSp. Acbn Hcp P«n AhÄ C«ncp¶p AXp X¡mew InS¡s« F¶p Rm³ IcpXn. Rm³ AhfpsS XebpsS aosX Fsâ apJw AhfpsS NppIÄ XmSn sXmIpgn apeIfpsS CS¡pÅ hnShp B ]c¶ arZp hbÀ ]ns¶ B sIm¨p s]m¡nÄ Npgn ]ns¶ B \\p¯ aª P«n bqUn sImtfm¬ kvt{] sNbvX AhfpsS Acs¡«,v Rm³ B ]ªn¡qSn Hcp shdpw D½ am{Xw \ÂIn AhfpsS Cfw XpSIÄ AXnsâ AIhiw ChnsS Hs¡ Npw_\ ]pjv]§Ä AÀ¸n¨p. AhfpsS icocw Hcp atednb tcmKnsbt¸mse hnd¨p Fs´mcp NqSmbncp¶p AhÄ¡p. \o\sb Rm³ Iagv¯n InS¯n ]ns¶ Rm\pw Fsâ \bnÁn XebneqsS Ducn, {_m Ducn, Fsâ apeIÄ hn{P`n¨p \n¡pIbmbncp¶p. Rm³ Fsâ ape¡®pIÄ kzbw sRcSn Ahsb \à ]pfn¦pcp t]mse ISp¸n¨p. ]ns¶ Rm³ AhfpsS apXpInte¡p tNÀ¶p InS¶p AhfpsS Igp¯n Rm³ Npw_n¨p B ap´ncn¡peIÄ t]mse InS¶ XeapSn¨pcpfpIÄ AXnsâ B jm¼q aWw ]uUÀ hoW B apXpIp B bmZvaWw Fsâ apeIÄ Hcp kvt]m©vNp t]mse B kpμcnbpsS hnimeamb apXpIn Dcªp. Fsâ ]pfn¦pcp ape¡®pIÄ Hcp FIvkv{]kv sslth AhfpsS apXpIneqsS krãn¨p. Hcp _pÄtUmkÀ t]mse Fsâ ape¡®pIÄ AhfpsS apXpIn BsI AeIÄ Cf¡n. AhfpsS Ipªp tcma§tfms¡ Fgpt¶Áp \n¶p. Rm³ CS¡p Ahsf Hmtcm ISnbpw ISn¨p. At¸msgms¡ AhÄ IpfntcmsS AhfpsS N´n s]m¡n X¶p.’ Bbnà tamsf’Rm³ Xmtg¡p t]mbn. AhfpsS apXpIneqsS Fsâ apJw AhfpsS N´nIfnepw B kzÀ® AcªmWw ]ns¶ B Ip¶pIÄ t]mse DbÀ¶ arZp Ipn tkm^vÁv aª P«n A¸w Xmtg¡qÀ¯n Rm³ AhfpsS N´nIfn Npw_n¨p. Rm³ Hcp hit¯¡nd§n Fsâ Hcp XpS AhfpsS Ipn hnShn h¨p Fsâ XpS AhfpsS N´n hnShn AaÀ¶p ]ns¶ AhfpsS KpZ`mKw Hs¡ C«p Dc¨p."lq tN¨o Fsâ P«n Ducp tN¨o" "InS¡s« tamsf kabw Bbnà " "C\n F¸gm?"
Rm³ I¿p AhfpsS ASnbneqsS X¸n F\n¡p kt´mjambn AhfpsS aª P«nbpsS ap³ `mKw Hs¡ \\ªp Ignªncp¶p Rm³ \os\y Xncn¨p AhÄ Fs¶ t\m¡n I®pIÄ AS¨p InS¶p"\ot\ \ns¶ Rm³ ]®s«?" "Hm tN¨o Fs¶ F´p thsWepw sN¿p Fs´mcp kpJw " "Fsâ ape IpSn¡p tamsf" "Ft´m thtWepw sN¿mw tN¨o Fsâ Igs¸m¶p XoÀ¡p " "FSo Ig¸o \n\¡p I¼nbmbn AtÃ?" "Hm aXn tN¨o ]p¶mcw Fs¶ ]®p" "\nsâ P«n Ducp" "thtN¨n Ducnbm aXn " "AsX´mSo"tN¨n Fs¶ t\m¡pt¼mÄ F\n¡p Hcp B¬ t\m¡p¶t]me tN¨n Fs¶ IeymWw Ign¨ncps¶In F¶p Rm³ BtemNn¨n«pv A¸w tN¨n Xs¶ Ducp " "FSo IÅo At¸mÄ \n\¡dnbmambncp¶p" "Ft´m¶p" "F\n¡p \ns¶ ]®m³ A{Klaps¶p" "Hm Cu tN¨o \à ckam tN¨n Cu ]dbp¶ tIÄ¡m³" "F´mSo" "Cu ]®p¶p Ifn¡p¶p Fs¶ms¡ ]dbp¶Xv \½Ä s]®p§ftà tN¨o \½Ä FSm t]mSm F¶p hnfn¡p¶ t]mem Cu ]®epw Ifn¡epw Hs¡ X½n ]dbpt¼mÄ " "F´mSo s]®p§Ä X½n ]®m³ ]Á¯nsÃ?" "Ft´m¶p h¨m tN¨o" "\nsâ I¿ns§Sp" Rm³ \o\bpsS I¿p ]nSn¨p Fsâ Acs¡«nse¡p sImp t]mbn F\n¡p \à Hcp I´p Dmbncp¶p Hcp cn©p hcp¶ B I´p Ct¸mÄ P\n¨ B¬Ip«nbpsS kmam\w t]mse Fsâ ]qdn\p shfnbn BWp \n¶Xv" "Du CsX´m tN¨o Hcp Np®n t]mse" "Fs´ I´mSo CXpw sImp Rm³ \ns¶ ]®pw tamsf" "F\n¡nÃtÃm tN¨o C§ns\ Hsc®w" "F\n¡p ]sDv tamsf’"FSo Ig¸o Fgpt\¡p \nsâ P«n Ducs«" "InS¶p Ducnbm t]mtc" "ImWms«So \nsâ ]qÀ Hs¡ H¶p N´¯nÂ" Rm³ \o\sb InS¡bn Fgpt\¸n¨p P«n hen¨qcn ]ns¶ AhfpsS kmam\w \½mbn \¡m³ XpS§n ]ns¶ Ahsf XÅn InS¡bn C«p B ImepIÄ AIÁn B ]pÂta«n Rm³ Npp tNÀ¯p "lq tN¨o " Rm³ B ]pÂtaSp cmbn tImXn hIªp AXnsâ \Sp¡pÅ Nmen hncen«p AhnsS Hcp Umw s]m«n HgpInb \\hpmbncp¶p Rm³ Hcp sNdphnc AXnte¡p IbÁn Hcp XSÊhpw CÃmsX AXp AIt¯¡p t]mbn Hcp ]mS bpw XSªnà "\nsâ ko Hs¡ s]m«nbXmtWm tamsf" "Hm kvt]mÀSvkp ImcnIÄ¡p AsXm¶pw Csödnb¯ntà tN¨o" "BcmSo CsXms¡ s]m«n¨Xp" "Rm³ X¶m tN¨o ]shnc C«p XpS§nbXmWp" " F¶m C\n \¡n kabw Ifb’ Rm³ AhfpsS Acs¡«n Fsâ Acs¡«p tNÀ¯p iànbn CSn¡m³ XpS§n CSnbpsS iànbn AhÄ Ct§m«pw N´ns]m¡n Xcm³ XpS§n Rm³ Fsâ I´p X¸n AhvfpsS sNdnb hnShnses¡ sNcpIn h¨p.]ns¶ R§Ä Hcp WA£cambn. F\n¡p iànbn CSn¡pt¼mÄ Bbncp¶p kpJw In«nbncp¶X.v Nne s]®p§Ä¡Xn Cãapmbncp¶nà ]s£ \o\ A¸w thZ\ Hs¡ CãapÅ Bfmbncp¶p.AhÄ Ft¶mSp tNÀ¶p XpSIÄ C«p Dc¡m\pw ]ns¶ Fsâ apeIfn ]nSn¨p XShm\pw XpS§n At¸mÄ F\n¡p IqSpX Bthiambn R§Ä ]ck]cw ]pWÀ¶p D½ sh¨p \à Hcp kpJw AhfpsS apeIfpw Fsâ hen¸w IqSpXepÅ apeIfpw IqSn tNÀ¶t¸mÄ.
A¸t\cw Ignªt¸mÄ \o\ Ft¶mSp ]dªp "tN¨o F\n¡p hcmdmbn ]s£ hcp¶nà F´p sN¿pw " "\o\¡p«o Rm³ \nsâ ]qdpw KptZmw IqSn \¡n Xcmw tamtf At¸mÄ \n\¡p hcpw ". AhÄ tIÄ¡m¯ Xmakw ImepIÄ AIÁn \Sp s]m´n¨p F\n¡p \¡m³ ]mI¯n\p Ih¡qSp ]nfÀ¯n X¶p. s]®nsâ Hcp Bthiw Fs¶ AXnibn¸n¨p. C§ns\ Ifn¡m³ Xm¸cyapÅ s]¬Ip«nIfpsS Ifn¡pt¼mtg kpJn¡m³ ]Áp. Rm³ AhfpsS ]qdnte¡p \m¡p IqÀ¸n¨p XÅnsImSp¯p. AXnsâ AÁw Hcp sNdnb a©mSn¡pcphns\ X¸n]nSn¨p. At¸mÄ AhÄ ap¡m\pw XpS§n. Rm³ t¢m¡v Nen¡p¶t]mse B a©mSn¡pcphn\p NpÁpw \m¡p sImp \¡nbt¸mÄ AhÄ kzÀ¤w Ip. AhÄ Fsâ Xebpw apXpIpw Hs¡¡qSn ]nSn¨p X¶nte¡aÀ¯n. AhfpsS I®pIÄ Cdp¡n ASªncp¶p.
‘lq \à kpJw’ AhÄ ]dªp‘Ct¸mÄ hcpsaSo IÅn'Rm³ ]dªps]s«¶p AhÄ N´n Xmsgbm¡n Fsâ Xe XånamÁn. Rm³ Fs´¶ coXnbn Ahsf t\m¡nbt¸mÄ B IÅn ]dªp "h¶p tN¨o" R§Ä A¸t\cw AI¶p InS¶p ]ns¶ \o\ Ft¶mSp tNÀ¶p h¶p "C\n tN¨nsb Rm³ sN¿s« tN¨o" "\n\¡p sNbvXp ]cnNbw Dtm tamsf" "tN¨n ]Tn¸n¡p" "F¶m Hcp Imcyw sN¿mw tN¨n \nsâ apIfn Ccn¡mw At¸mÄ F\n¡p Fsâ ]qÀ \ns¶sImp \¡n¡m³ ]Ápw am{Xaà hncepw CSmw F´m" "tN¨n ]dbp¶ t]mse" Rm³ AhfpsS s\©n Ibdn Ccp¶p Fsâ sh® IpnIÄ AhfpsS apeIfn sXm«t¸mÄ AhÄ C¡nfnbn Nncn¨p Rm³ I¿pIÄ hi§fn Ip¯n _me³kp sNbvXp At¸mÄ AhÄ Fsâ tX¦qSn \¡m³ XpS§n.F\n¡p A¸w Ignªt¸mÄ Bthiw h¶p Rm³
AhfpsS apJw BsI Fsâ kmam\w sh¨p tX¨p. ImSn Ncphw \¡nb ]ipIp«nsbt]mse Bbn AhfpsS apJw. A§ns\ Ipsd Ignªt¸mÄ F\n¡pw kpJw In«n. cm{Xn Ft¸mÄ BWp R§Ä Dd§nbsX¶dnbnÃ. cmhnse Rm³ I®p Xpd¶t¸mÄ \o\ Ipfn¨p kmcn Hs¡ DSp¯p Nmbbpambn \n¡p¶p. Hcp lnμp s]®ns\ t]mse !!"F´m C¶p hntijw ? _ÀXv sUbmtWm ?" "H¶paà C¶se Fsâ BZy cm{Xn Bbncp¶ntà AXm " F\n¡p kt´mjw kln¨nÃ. Rm³ Ahsf XÅn InS¡bn C«p sI«n¸nSn¨p F¶n«p AhfpsS ImXn ]dªp."Fsâ Nct¡" "Fsâ tN«m" AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨p. Nmb IpSn¡pt¼mÄ Rm³ Ahsf Xs¶ t\m¡n AhÄ \mWn¨p \Jw ISn¨p \n¶p. AhfpsS kmcnbpsS CSbneqsS ImWp¶ shfp¯ DZchpw AXnsâ \Sp¡pÅ ]¼c Npgnbpw Rm³ BkzZn¨p. Nmb¡¸p AhÄ XncnsI hm§n IgpIn h¨p. Rm³ Fgpt\Áp aqcn \nhÀ¶p ]qÀ® \ábmbn Xs¶ Rm³ _mXv dqante¡p t]mbn. aq{Xw Hgn¡pt¼mÄ \o\ h¶p tNmZn¨p " \n¶p s]Sp¡mtam tN¨o" "F´n\mSo IgptX" "At¸mtg Hcp BWmsW¶p tXm¶p" Rm³ knKdÁp hen¡p¶t]mse Fsâ ]pÊn Iq«n]nSn¨p apÅm³ XpS§n B [mc _mXv dqansâ Nphcn ]Xn¨t¸mÄ \o\ ]dªp "tlm ASn s]mfn tN¨o" ]ns¶ anÊnkv hÀ¡n hcp¶ hsc R§Ä Hcpan¨mWp Dd§nbX.v \o\bpsS I¿n Hcp UnÂtUm D mbncp¶p. AXp D]tbmKn¨p Rm³ Ahsf ]e XhW ]®n. anÊnkv hÀ¡n Hcp amkw IgnªmWp h¶X.v ]s£ R§fpsS _Ôw A[nIw \n¶nÃ. F\n¡p sa¨s¸« Hcp tPmen In«nbXn\m Rm³ t_mws_¡p t]mbn.. \o\bpsS hnhmlw Ignªp AhÄ `À¯mhpambn Fsâ ^vfmÁn h¶ncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ AhÀ Im\Umbnte¡p t]mbn. \mep Ip«nIfpw Dv AhÄ¡nt¸mÄ.
(Ahkm\n¨p.)
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