Ayanangal

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Zo]nI hm¿jnI∏Xn∏v 2002


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Ayanangal Ab\ßƒ (novel in Malayalam) Author: E. Harikumar Electronic version published in 2013 This book is meant for distribution among research organisations absolutely free of cost. Copyright

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2013 by E. Harikumar

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C. lcnIpam¿

1943 Pqsse 13 \v s]m∂m\nbn¬ P\\w. A—≥ almIhn CSt»cn tKmhnµ≥ \mb¿. AΩ CS°≠n Pm\In AΩ. I¬°Ø I¬° Øbn¬ h®v _n.F. ]mmbn. 1972˛¬ efnXsb hnhmlw sNbvXp. aI≥ APbv hnhmlnX\mWv. `mcy: ip`. I¬°Ø, Zn√n, t_mws_ F∂o \Kcßfn¬ tPmensbSpØp. 1983˛¬ tIcfØntebv°v Xncn®ph∂p. 1962 sXm´v sNdpIYIsfgpXnØpSßn. BZysØ IYmkamlmcw "IqdIƒ' 72¬ {]kn≤s∏SpØn. 15 IYmkamlmcßfpw 9 t\mhepIfpw Hcp A\p`h°pdn∏pw {]kn≤s∏SpØnbn´p ≠v. ]pckvImcßƒ: ]pckv 1988 se tIcf kmlnXy A°mZan ]pc kvImcw "Znt\mkdns‚ Ipń' F∂ IYmk amlmc lmcØn Øn\v \v. 1997 se ]flcmP≥ ]pc kvImcw mcw "]®∏ "]®∏øns\ øns\ ]nSn°m≥' ]nSn°m≥' F∂ IYbv IYbv°v. 1998 se \me∏mS≥ ]pckvImcw "kq£n®ph® abn¬∏oen' F∂ IYmkamlmcØn \v. 2006 se IYm]oTw ]pckv ]pc kvImcw "A\nXbpsS hoSv' F∂ IYmkamlmc Øn\v. 2012 se G‰hpw anI® IYbv°p≈ tIcf tÃ‰v Ne®n{X A°mZan Ahm¿Uv "{io]m¿∆Xn bpsS ]mZw' F∂ IYbv°v.

BUntbm Imk‰v dn°m¿UnMv, sh_v Unssk\nMv, aƒńaoUnb s{]mU£≥, ]pkvXI {]kn ≤o I cWw F∂n h bn te¿s∏ ń ´p ≠v. 1998 apX¬ 2004 hsc tIcf kmlnXy A°mZan AwK Aw Kambncp ambncp∂p. ∂p. IrXnIƒ: sNdpIYmkam k amlmc lmcßƒ: IqdIƒ, hrj`Øns‚ IÆv, Ip¶paw hnXdnb hgnIƒ, Znt\mkdns‚ Ipń, Im\ U bn¬ \ns∂mcp cmP Ip amcn, {io]m¿∆ Xn bpsS ]mZw, kq£n ®p h® abn¬∏oen, ]®∏øns\ ]nSn°m≥, Zqsc Hcp \K \Kc cØn¬, IdpØ X{ºmń, A\nX A\n XbpsS hoSv, Cfshbnens‚ Cf shbnens‚ km¥z\w km¥z \w (IY Iƒ 1966 196 6˛1996), \Kchmkn bmb Hcp Ipń, Ipń, Fs‚ kv{XoIƒ (kv{Xo]£ IYIƒ), sh≈n sh≈nØn Ønc cbnse ∂t]mse.

t\mhepIƒ: Dd ßp∂ k¿∏ßƒ + im]ine, Bk‡n bpsS A·n\m fßƒ, Hcp IpSpw_ ]pcmWw, F©n≥ss{Uhsd kvt\ln® s]Ïpń, Ab\ ßƒ, XSmIXo cØv, sIm®{ºmń, {]Wb Øns\mcp tkm^v‰vshb¿, AdnbmØeßfn tebv°v. Hm¿ΩIƒ, Hm¿Ω Iƒ, A\p`h °p dn dn ∏p Iƒ, Iƒ, teJ teJ\ \ßƒ: \o Fhn sSbm bmsW sW¶nepw. ¶nepw. Cu Hm¿ΩIƒ Hm¿ΩIƒ acn°m acn°mXn Xncn cn° °s´. hnemkw: 5˛_n, Ah\yp s{IÃv A]m¿Sv A]m¿Svsa‚ vkv Ah\yp tdmUv, ap≠p]mew Ipcnb Ipcn b®nd (]n.H.) Xr»q¿ 680 006 t^m¨: 091˛0487˛2251779 C˛sa C˛ sabn¬: bn¬: [email protected], website:

[email protected] www.e-harikumar.com

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gp]XpIfpsS XpS°w. t_mws_ \KcØn¬ G‰hpw IqSpX¬ F gp]XpIfpsS \So\S∑mcpw kn\nabpambn _‘s∏´hcpw Xmakn°p∂ Pplp hnt√ ]m¿sf kv I ow. cmhnse shdpsX \ncØpIfneqs S \S °m\ndßnbm¬ ImWpI dn^vftŒgvkv ]nSn®v \n¬°p∂ sse‰v t_mbv k v BWv . \So \S∑m¿, Imad, P\td‰¿ hm≥, Km¿U≥ IpS°ognencn°p∂ IpS°ognenc n°p∂ UbdŒ¿...... UbdŒ¿...... sXcphn¬ h®v h®v ImWptºmƒ At\ym\yw D]Nmchm°mbn ]dbp∂Xv "FhnsSbmWv C∂v jqńßv' F∂mWv. kmt¶XnIhnZy Iem]cXsb h√msX B{I an°m≥ XpSßnbnń√mØ Imew. \∑bpsS Awißƒ At∏mgpw hn´p t]mImØ B A¥co£ØnemWv Rm≥ t\mhense IYm ]m{Xßsf I≠pap´p∂Xv I≠pap´p∂Xv . AhcpsS Hm¿Ωbv ° mbn Rm≥ Cu t\mh¬ ka¿∏n°p∂p.

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1 IpXncIsftØSnbp≈ bm{Xbn¬ FØp∂Xv _o®nemWv. AhnsS Ft∏mgpw IpXnc Ifp≠mhpw. c≠p hmXnep≈ a™ \ndw Ibdnb sh≈ slcmƒUn¬ \n∂v kp\n¬ ]pdØndßn. hmXn¬ ]q´m≥ sa\s°SmsX Abmƒ _o®ntebv°p \S∂p. _o®ntebv°ndßp∂Xn\p ndßp∂Xn \p apºv Abmƒ Hcp knwlmhtemI knwlmhtemI\Øn\p \Øn\p th≠n \n∂p. BdSn Hcn©v Dbcap≈ AbmfpsS tZlw tlmfntU C≥ tlméns‚ ]m¿izØ n¬ H‰s∏´p \n¬°p∂Xv _o®n¬ IpXncIfpsS ISn™mWpw ]nSn®p \n¬°p∂ ]ø∑mcpsS IÆn¬ s]´p. kp\nen\v AXp a\nembn. "^nenan tk´p h∂p'sh∂v IpXnc°m¿ XΩn¬ ]dbp∂ps≠∂v AXp tIńs√¶nepw Abmƒ°v a\nembn. Abmƒ _o®ntebv°v Cdßn \S∂p. thenbnd°ambXpsIm≠v thenbnd°amb XpsIm≠v \pcbp≠m°p∂ IS¬ AIeØmWv . IpXncIfpw HÍßfpw \n¬°p∂Xn\pw A∏pdØv c≠p ]ø∑m¿ Ik¿sØSp°pIbmWv. _mkp ZØns‚ KmßmWsX∂v Abmƒ°v a\nembn. Hcp {Suk¿am{Xw [cn®v, Dcp°pt]mse icocap≈ _mkp ZØv ta¬t\m´w hln®ncp∂p. kp\n¬ ASp sØØptºmtgbv°v IpXnc°msc√mw AbmfpsS Np‰pw hf™p. Abmƒ apJw Npfn®psIm≠v IpXncIsf t\m°n. Hcp sh≈ IpXncbpw an\pØ Xhn´p \ndap≈ IpXncbpsamgn®m¬ _m°nsb√mw Nmhmfn °pXncIfmWv. Hcp IÃa¿ thiymebØn¬ {]thin® DSs\ AhchcpsS Ahbhßsf apgp∏n®v ImWn®v hioIcn°p∂ thiyIsft∏mse thiyIsft∏ mse ]ø∑m¿ AhchcpsS IpXncIsf kp\nens‚ apºn¬ \ncØn. B ]ø∑mcpsS timjn®p Icphmfn® apJßƒ t\m°nbt∏mƒ IpXncIƒ NmhmfnIfmIp∂Xn¬ F¥mWZv`pX ap≈sX∂v Abmƒ Btem Nn®p. Abmƒ tNmZn®p. "e£vaWs‚ IpXncsbhnsS?' _o®n¬ G‰hpw Dbcap≈, `wKnbp≈ IpXnc e£vaWt‚Xmbncp∂p. ]ø∑m¿ apJtØmSpapJw t\m°n. AXn¬ G‰hpw apXn¿∂h≥ ]d™p. "e£va¨ PbnenemWv.' "Duw?' "Zmcp ]osI PKUmInbm, tk´v.' I≈p IpSn®v elfbp≠m°¬ e£vaWs‚ ÿncw ]cn]mSnbmWv. "C∂v F√m IpXncIfpw thWw' kp\n¬ ]d™p. ]ø∑mcpsS IÆpIƒ hnIkn®p. "icn tk´v, F∏gm th≠Xv?' "Ct∏mƒØs∂ t]mWw.' c≠p ]ø∑m¿ DSs\ IpXnc∏pdØv NmSnbncp∂p. Abmƒ ]d™p. "Cdßv. \SØns°m≠p t]mbm¬ aXn. As√¶nte Nmhmfn°pXncIfmWv. C\n Ahs‰ HmSn®p sIm≠p t]mbm¬ AhnsSsbØptºmtgbv°v £oWn®p \miamhpw.' _mkp ZØv Dds° hnfn®p tNmZn®p. "kp\n¬ C∂p jqńßpt≠m?' "D≠v' kp\n¬ ssIhoin°mWn®p.' _mkp ZØv Hcn°¬°qSn ssIhoin, Xncn™v Hcp ]øs\ XeIpØn adnbm≥ klmbn®p. "jqńMvv FhnsSbmWv tk´v?' IpXnc°m¿ tNmZn®p. "sS≥Øv tdmUn¬, [otc{µbpsS _¶vfmhn\p apºn¬.' Abmƒ \S∂psIm≠v ]d™p. "]Xps° \SØn s°m≠p t]mbm¬ aXn.' Abmƒ Hcn°¬°qSn Xm°oXp sImSpØp. Abmƒ Im¿ Ãm¿´m°n IÆmSnbn¬°qSn t\m°nbt∏mƒ IpXncIƒ Hcp hcnbmbn \S∂p hcp∂p≠v. saen™pWßnb IpXnc°m¿ ISn™mWpta¥n AhchcpsS IpXncIƒs°m∏w \S°p∂p. sS≥Øv tdmUn¬ [otc{µbpsS _¶vfmhn\p apºn¬ Hcp°ßƒ XpSßnbncp∂p. dn^vfŒdpIfpw P\td‰¿ hm\pw ImadIfpw F√mw FØnbncp∂p. UbdŒdpw Imadmam\pw IqSn ]›mØ esØ∏‰n N¿®bmWv. aghn√ns‚ \ndap≈ henb IpSbv °pXmsg °pXmsg Cńcn°p∂Xv UbdŒ¿°p≈ ItkebmWv . tdmUns‚ adphiØv thsdmcp IpSbv°p Iogn¬ ]pcmX\amb Xs‚ tS∏v sdt°m¿Udpw apºn¬h®v Ccn°p∂Xv Achnµv ss] BWv. UbdŒ¿ hnt\mZv apJapb¿Øn tNmZy]q¿∆w kp\nens\ t\m°n. IpXncIsf∏‰nbmWv. kp\n¬ Xebmń. At∏mƒØs∂ sS≥Øv tdmUns‚ Xncnhn¬ \n∂v IpXncIsf Hmtcmt∂mtcm∂mbn \SØn IpXnc°m¿ \S∂p hcp∂Xp I≠p. ]∂nIƒ. kp\n¬ hnNmcn®p. Xs‚ Im¿ ImgvNbn¬ \n∂p ad™ t∏mƒ Ah¿ IpXnc∏pdØpIbdn HmSn®ph∂XmsW∂p hy‡w. tdmUns‚ Xncnhn\p Ipd®paptº Ah¿ IpXnc∏pdØp \n∂ndßn \√ IpńIfmbn hcnIbmWv. hn√≥ Pbdmw `´v Itkebnencp∂v _ob¿ Ip∏nbn¬\n∂v t\cn´v IpSn°pIbmWv. Np‰pw AbmfpsS Kmßpw. "F{XmasØ Ip∏nbmWv Pbdmw?' kp\n¬ At\zjn®p. "\memasØ.'

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`ńs‚ aq{XmibØns‚ hep∏w F{Xbp≠mIpsa∂v Abmƒ AZv`pXs∏´p. jqńßn\nSbn¬ Abmƒ aq{Xsamgn°p∂Xv I≠nt´bn√. Ahkm\w FØnbXv IpXncIfmsW∂p tXm∂p∂p. ImcWw IpXncIƒ FØnbt∏mtgbv°pw cwKw kPohambn. UbdŒ¿ HmSn\S∂v Iev]n°p∂p. Imadmam≥, Imadbv Imad bv°p ]n∂n¬ Hcp Ãqfnt∑¬ Ibdn\n∂p. P\td‰¿hm≥ {]h¿Øn∏n®p. dn^vftŒgvkpambn sse‰vt_mbv Xømdmbn \n∂p. Achnµv ss] tS]v sdt°m¿ Udn\p ]n∂n¬ ]Sn™ncp∂p. sh≈°pXnc apºnepw a‰p≈ IpXncIƒ ]n∂nepambn \n¿Øn IpXnc°m¿ Ibdnbncp∂p. Imadam≥ ]d™p. "ssd‰v.' IpXnc°m¿ apt∂m´p IpXn®p, Imadbv°p apºnseØn \n∂p. IpXnc°m¿ IpXnc∏pdØp\n∂ndßmsX IpXncIsf ]nt∂m°w \bn®p. UbdŒ¿ ho≠pw \n¿t±ißƒ sImSpØp. Imadmam≥ s{^bvw icnbm°n. IpXnc°m¿ ho≠pw IpXncbpambn apt∂m´p IpXn°ptºmƒ Achnµvss] ss] sdt°m¿U¿ HmWm°n. Hc´lmktØmsS XpSßp∂ ]m´v apgßn. UbdŒ¿ sskUv Imadmam\v \n¿t±ißƒ sImSp°pIbmbncp∂p. Abmƒ Achnµv ss]bv°p t\sc ssIImWn®v ]m´p \n¿Øm\mhiy s∏´p. IpXncIfpsS \o°w {i≤n°pIbmbncp∂ ss] UbdŒ¿ Bhiys∏´Xv tIń√. UbdŒ¿ A´lkn®p. "Achnµv tÃm∏v bph¿ eukn ayqkn°v.' Achnµv ss] sdt°m¿U¿ \n¿Øn ssIsIm≠v kv]qƒ ]nt∂m°w Xncn®p. IpXnc°m¿ IpXncIsf ho≠pw XpSßnb ÿeØp sIm≠ph∂p \n¿Øn. Pbdmw `´v sh≈°pXncbpsS apIfn¬ Ibdn Xe bpb¿Øn Ccp∂p. AbmfpsS Kmßnep≈h¿ a‰p IpXncIƒ°p tase Bk\ÿcmbn. Hcmƒ Pbdman\p apºn¬ ¢m∏Sn®p ]n≥amdn. kwKoXw XpSßnbncp∂p. jqńMv]ptcmKan®psIm≠ncnt° ]ptcmKan®psIm≠ncnt° {ItaW kp\nen\v kzbw A\yXzw A\p`hs∏´p. Xm≥ CXns‚sbm∂pw `mKas√∂pw Xs‚ km∂n≤yw Hcp IÆmSnta¬ h∂ncp∂ Cu®sbt∏mse A\mhiyamsW∂pw Abmƒ°p tXm∂n. shbn¬ \√hÆw aqØncp∂p. Abmƒ kqcy\p Xmsg kz¥w {]h¿ØnIfn¬ apgpInbncn°p∂ Bƒ°msc t\m°n. {i≤tbmsS dn^vftŒgvkv ]nSn°p∂ sse‰v t_mbvkv, Imadbv°p ]n∂n¬ hnb¿Øp \n¬°p∂ Imadmam≥, UbdŒ¿ BwKyw ImWn°ptºmƒ tS∏v sdt°m¿Udns‚ kv]qƒ ssIsIm≠v Xncn°p∂ Achnµv ss], IpXnc∏pdØv tXm°pIƒ ssIønte¥n tPXm°sft∏mse \n¬°p∂ hn√\pw Kmßpw, aghn¬\ndap≈ IpSbv°p Iogn¬ Itkebnencp∂v B⁄m]n°p∂ UbdŒ¿. jqńMv ImWm s\Ønbh¿..... Abmƒ Imdn¬ Ibdn Ãm¿´m°n. GXm\pw Zqcw t]mbt∏mƒ hfhn\p apºv Hcp s]Ïpń X≈hnc¬ s]m°n°mWn®p. Ahƒ Po≥kpw Soj¿´pamWv [cn®ncp∂Xv. j¿ń\p apºn¬ amdn¬ Ccp hiØpambn icta‰ c≠p lrZbßƒ. Abmƒ Im¿ \n¿Ønbn√, ImcWw Abmƒ s{]mUyqkdpsS hońtebv°mWv t]mbncp∂Xv. AXmIs´ c≠p \ncØpIƒ°∏pdØmWv. Abmƒ Im¿ \n¿Øp∂ns√∂p I≠t∏mƒ Ahƒ c≠p ssIIfpw Db¿Øn At]£mkzcØn¬ hnfn®p]d™p. "πokv.......' s]s´∂bmƒ Hm¿Øp. Hcp]t£ ln®v ssl°nßmbncn°n√ AhfpsS Bhiyw. ln®v ssl°nßv Bhiys∏Sp∂ s]ÏpńIfpsS s]ÏpńIfpsS apJsØ K¿∆pw, Rm≥ \nßƒ°v Hcp HuZmcyw sNbvXp XcnIbmsW∂ `mhhpw AhfpsS apJØp≠mbncp∂n√. AhnsS At]£bmbncp∂p. AXn¬ XnSp°ap≠mbncp∂p. Abmƒ t{_bv°n´p, Im¿ dnthgvskSpØv Ahƒ \nev°p∂nStØbv°p h∂p. Im¿ \n¿ØnbXp I≠v HmSnhcm≥ Ahfpw Xømdmbncp∂p. Abmƒ hmXn¬ Xpd°msX ]d™p. "Rm≥ A[nIZqcsam∂pw t]mIp∂n√.' "t]mIp∂{X sIm≠ps]mbv°qsS.' Ahƒ izmkw hnSmsX tNmZn®p. Abmƒ H∂pw ]dbmsX Imdns‚ hmXn¬ Xpd∂psImSpØp. Ahƒ Ibdnbncp∂v hmXneS®p. Ãm¿´m°ptºmƒ Abmƒ tNmZn®p. "\osb¥p s]¿^yqamWv D]tbmKn°p∂Xv? \ns∂ Xn∂m≥ kzmZp≈ tNm°tf‰p amXncn hmk\n°p∂p.' Ahƒ ]d™p. "aZmw tdmjm.' Abmƒ hetØm´v Im¿ Xncn®p. Ahƒ ]d™p. "Fs‚ t]¿ A]¿Æ F∂mWv. Rm≥ kp\n¬km_ns\ Ign™ HcmgvNbmbn t^m¨ sNøm≥ {ian °p∂p.' A]¿Æ! Abmƒ s]s´∂v sSent^mWn\SpØp≈ satPv _p°n¬ Cu t]¿ Znhkhpw lknw FgpXnh®ncp∂Xv Hm¿Øp. s]s´∂bmfpsS Bdmw C{µnbw DW¿∂p {]h¿Øn°m≥ XpSßn. Xm≥ Hcp ^nenw ÃmdmsW∂pw X\n°v Cu ASpØncn°p∂ s]Ïpńbn¬ aXn∏p≠m°Ww F∂pw Abmƒ Hm¿Øp. Abmƒ Ãocntbm HmWm°n. "cmhnse \nXn≥ sSent^m¨ sNbvXncp∂p, ImWWw F∂p ]d™p. Ct∏mƒ Rm\tßm´p Rm\t ßm´p t]mhpI bmWv.' kp\n¬ ]d™p. "BcmWv \nXn≥?' Ahƒ tNmZn®p. Abmƒ Xncn™v Ahsf AZv`pXtØmsS t\m°n. "s{]mUyqk¿ \nXn≥ ssN\m\n.' "Hm! AbmfpsS ^Ãvs\bnw \nXn≥ F∂msW∂v F\n°dnbn√.' A]¿ÆbpsS A]¿ ÆbpsS IÆpIfn¬ AZv`pXw. "AhntSbv°mtWm t]mWXv?'

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A]¿Æbn¬ aXn∏p≠m°m≥ ]‰nsb∂v t_m[yambt∏mƒ Abmƒ ]d™p. "\o F¥n\mWv Fs∂ t^m¨ sNbvXncp∂Xv? hntcm[ans√¶n¬ \ap°v k¨ G‚ v km‚n¬ t]mbncp∂v kwkmcn°mw.' Abmƒ Nncn®p. "Hmhsd It∏m^v tIm^n. Abmw A bmw Ãm¿hnMv.' "sF tUm≠v tUm≠v ssa‚ ssa‚ v.' Abmƒ FbvØv tdmUntebv°p Xncnbp∂Xn\p ]Icw t\cn´v t]mbn hetØm´v Xncn™p. ho≠pw hetØm´v Xncn™v k¨ G‚ v km‚ntebv°p IpXn®p. Ah¿ t^mbdneqsS \S∂p \oßptºmƒ dnk]v d nk]vj\nep≈ s]Ïpń kp\nens\ t\m°n IÆndp°n. "lmbv.' "lmbv' kp\n¬ ssIøpb¿Øn. Ah¿ \S∂v ]pdtØbv°p≈ hmXn¬ IS∂v kznΩnMv]qfn∂SpsØØn. ]qfn\SpØv XWen¬ tai°ncphihpambn Ah¿ Ccp∂p. \√ Im‰p≠mbncp∂p. thentb‰w XpSßn sb∂¿∞w. C\n Hcp aWn°qdn∂p≈n¬ IS¬ Iptd°qSn ASpsØØpw. A]¿Æ kp\nens\ ]Tn°pIbmbncp∂p. Ahƒ ]d™p. "bp epIv sseIv ¢m¿Iv tK_vƒ.' Abmƒ Nncn®p. "AsXs‚ aoi ImcWamWv.' Ahƒ AbmfpsS hoXnbp≈ aoi {i≤n®p. icnbmWv. apIfnesØ apIfnesØ c≠p _´WpIfnSmØ j¿ńeqsS j¿ńeqsS ImWp∂ hncn™ amdn¬ \ndsb CSXq¿∂ tcmaßƒ. IcpØp‰ ssIIƒ. ]ucpjw AbmfpsS A bmfpsS Hmtcm AWp hnepw {]kcn®p \n∂p. X\n°p X∂ {]iwkbv°p ]Icw Fs¥¶nepw sImSp°p∂Xns\∏‰n Abmƒ BtemNn°pIbmbncp∂p. AhfpsS Np≠pIƒ t\cnbXmWv. `wKnbp≈ \o≠ aq°v. XeapSn \mep `mKØp\n∂pw apIfntebv°p Ib‰n s\dpIbn¬ sIńh® ImcWw shfpØ \ndap≈ \o≠ IgpØv apgph≥ ImWm\p≠v. IgpØn\p ]n∂nep≈ t\cnb sNºn® tcmaßƒ Im‰nenfIp∂p. Atº‰ lrZbßƒ°p ]n∂n¬ Soj¿ń∂Snbnse A km[mcWamb apgpapgp∏v Z¿in®p sIm≠v Abmƒ ]d™p. "bphm¿ shcn s{]‰n.' "Xm¶vbp.' ZnknkvZ Z ssSt∏m^v tKƒ h¨ hpUv ehv Sp lmhv C≥ lnkv s_Uv dqw A‰veoÃv e oÃv t^msd ss\‰v , _´vIt\m´v At^m¿Uv. kp\n¬ BtemNn°pIbmbncp∂p, ]ehn[ km[yXIsf∏‰n. \nXn≥ ssN\m\n ImWm≥ ]d™Xv F¥n \msW∂v Abmƒ°dnbmw. IpXncIƒ Xs∂. s]ÏpXncIƒ. ssN\m\n AbmfpsS kzXkn≤amb \b sshZKvZytØmsS ]d™ncp∂p. "kp\n¬ Rms\mcp ]pXnb \mbnIsb At\zjn°pIbmWv. Fs‚ ]pXnb aƒńan√y≥ s{]mUIvj\p th≠n. h√ ]pXnb s]ÏpńIsfbpw Adnbpsa¶n¬ sIm≠phcq. s{^jmbmepw Ipg∏an√. hnt\mZv th≠{X ]cnioe\w sImSpØp sIm≈pw.' AXn\¿∞w {]mUyqk¿ Ct∏mƒ sIm≠p\S°p∂, tkm^nbm temds\t∏mse temd s\t∏mse henb apeIfp≈ s]Æn s\ Dt]£n°pIbmsW∂mWv. H∂pIn¬ Abmƒ°v Ahsf aSpØn´p≠mhpw, As√¶n¬ adn®pamhmw. F¥mbmepw apºn¬ Ct∏mƒ IS¬°m‰n¬ IgpØn\p ]n∂nse \\pØ tcmacmPnIƒ ]d∏n®psIm≠v Ccn °p∂ Dbcap≈ s]Ïpń Hcp kz¿Æ J\nXs∂bmsW∂v Abmƒ a\nem°n. "KpUv tam¿WnMv an. a¬tlm{X.' Ãphm¿Uv h∂v XeIp\n®v sa\p Im¿Uv c≠pt]cpsSbpw apºn¬ h®p. "KpUv tam¿WnMvv.' Xncn™p t]mIm≥ \n∂ Ãphm¿Uns\ Abmƒ hnfn®p. "Ct∏mƒØs∂ ]dbmw.' Xncn™v AhtfmSv tNmZn®p. "hm´v hn¬ bp lmhv?' "tIm^n.' "tIm^n.' Abmƒ ]d™p. "F\n°p Ipd®v Ipd®v F§v km‚ vhn®v sIm≠phcq. sIm≠phcq. A]¿Æ H∂pw Ign°p∂ns√∂v Ign°p∂ns√∂v Xo¿®?' Ahƒ Npa¬ Ipep°n. F¥n\mWv Xs∂ t^m¨ sNbvXncp∂sX∂v kp\n¬ tNmZn®n√. Abmƒ° dnbmhp∂ ImcyamWXv. t^m¨ sNøp∂ F√m s]ÏpńIƒ°pw H∂pXs∂bmWmhiyw. H∂pXs∂bmWmhiyw. Abmƒ kzΩnMv v ]qfn¬ \o¥p∂ Hcp bqtdm]y≥ kv{Xosb {i≤n®p. sh≈Øn\Snbn¬ \oe ]›mØeØn¬ AhcpsS Ahc psS \ndw DZn®pI≠p. Ah¿ ae¿∂p InS∂v \o¥pIbmWv. Abmƒ apºnencn°p∂ s]Ïpńsb Hcp _nIv\nbn¬ k¶ev ] n®p. AhfpsS Ahbhßƒ°v \√ BIrXnbp≠v . Ahƒ Xo¿®bmbpw Cu aZmΩtb°mƒ `wKnbpap≠v . \ndhpw B kv { XobpsS ip{`\ndtØ°ƒ BI¿jWobamWv . Chƒ kn\nabn¬ Hcp h≥hnPbambncn°psa∂v Abmƒ°p tXm∂n. kp\n¬ tNmZn®p. "Fs‚ \º¿ Fßns\bmWv InńbXv?' Ahƒ Nncn®p. "Rm≥ Ipd®p dntk¿®v \SØn. H∂p c≠v ^nenw amKkn\pIfpsS amKk n\pIfpsS HmôkpIƒ Ibdn bndßn.' henb kn\namXmcßsf A\pIcn®v kp\n¬ a¬tlm{Xbpw AbmfpsS t]¿ sSent^m¨ UbdŒdnbn¬ Dƒs∏SpØnbncp∂n√. "kp\n¬km_n\v ssN\m\nbpambn hfsc ASpØ _‘aps≠∂v tI´Xv icnbmtWm?'

8


"Imƒ an kp\n¬.... \o F¥mWv Dt±in°p∂Xv?' "A√m, Rm\pt±in°p∂Xv.....' Ahƒ hm°pIƒ In´msX hnjan°ptºmƒ kp\n¬ Ahsf klmbn®p. "\ns∂ ]cnNbs∏SpØn, At±lØns‚ ^nenan¬ Hchkcw taSn®pXcm≥ am{Xw ]cnNbaps≠t∂m?' Ahƒ H∂pw ]d™n√. Abmƒ km‚ vhn®v c≠p ssI sIm≠pw ]nSn®v ISn®p ISn®p Xn∂p. "jmsse taIv tIm^n t^m¿ bp?' Ahƒ tNmZn®p. "πokv....' A]¿Æ c≠p I∏pIfn¬ Im∏n Iq´p∂Xbmƒ t\m°n. "]©kmc Hcp Iyq_pIqSn CSs´?' "sbkv πokv.' "ssN\m\nbpsS bq\n‰v jqńßn\p h∂t∏mƒ apX¬ Rm≥ ImØp\n¬°pIbmbncp∂p. I mØp\n¬°pIbmbncp∂p. \nßfhnsS hcpsa∂v Rm\qln®p. Aßns\bmWv C∂p ImWm≥ ]‰nbXv.' AhfpsS apJØv [ockmlknIXbp≠mbncp∂p [ockmlknIXbp≠mbncp∂p.. "Rm≥ ssN\m\nsb ]cnNbs∏SpØnØcmw. \msf hońtebv°p hcq. Ct∏mƒ Abmsf ImWm≥ th≠nØs∂bmWv Rm≥ t]mIp∂Xv. \ns‚ Imcyw Rm≥ kqNn∏n°mw. \msf F\n°v t^m¨ sNbvX tijw hcq. Fs‚ A{Uv Adnbnt√?' "Mm, Adnbmw. Xm¶vbp shcna®v.' ]qfn∂cnIn¬ \nh¿Ønbn´ Iu®pIfn¬ InS∂v k¨_msØSp°p∂ aZmΩam¿°v k¨Sm\p]Icw k¨t_¨ BWv In´pI F∂bmƒ Hm¿Øp. shdpw Icnhmfn∏p am{Xw. "A]¿Æ FhnsSbmWv Xmakn°p∂Xv?' "km¥m{Iqkn¬.' "Rm≥ t{Um∏p sNømw.' "th≠, \µn Rm≥ SmIvkn ]nSn®p s]mbvt°mfmw.'

2 A]¿Æ Fgpt∂‰v XeapSn sIńb kvIm¿^v Agn™p t]mbXv ho≠pw sIń _m¬°Wnbnt ebv°v \S∂p. _m¬°WnbpsS sdbnenßn¬ Nmcn\n∂psIm≠v Nmcn\n∂psI m≠v Ahƒ apºn¬ InS°p∂ NXp∏p \neßfntebv°p t\m°n. hna¨kv bq\nthgvkn‰nbpsS \n¿ΩmWw Ahncmaambn \S∂psIm≠ncn°p∂p. apIfn¬ `b¶c i–tØmSp IqSn t_mbnMv 707 ]d∂p. AXns‚ N{Ißƒ hnam\Øns‚ D≈ntebv°v hen™pIbdn hmXneSbp∂Xv Ahƒ t\m°n. ISen¬ \n∂p hcp∂ Im‰n\v XWp∏p≠mbnc p∂p. AXhfpsS t\cnb ss\‰n°p≈n¬ IS∂psN∂v IpfncWn bn®p. cmhnse InS°bn¬ \ns∂gpt∂‰ B \nanjß \ nanjß fnte Cßns\ _m¬°Wnbn¬ t]mbn \n¬°m≥ Ahƒ °v ss[cyw hcq. At∏mƒ Ahƒ°v ta°∏v th≠, Bsc¶nepw Xs∂ ImWpsa∂ `bhpan√. shbn¬ aq°p∂tXmSp IqSn Cu Bflss[cyØn\v Cf°w X´p∂p. Ahƒ IÆmSnbpsS apºntebv°v HmSp∂p, ImWp∂ {]XnOmb hfsc at\mlcamsW¶nepw X\n°v AwKo ImcØn\p th≠ B πkv Cs√ F∂ `bw. IÆmSnbn¬ t\m°ns°m≠v Ahƒ arZpeamb IhnfpIfn¬ XtemSn. C∂p ssN\m\nbpambn C‚¿hyq Ds≠¶n¬ Hcp t^jyepw slb¿Uphpw thWsa∂hƒ Xo¿®bm°n. t\cnb ss\‰nbn¬°qSn ImWp∂ cq]w Ahƒ IÆmSnbn¬ Z¿in®p. ss\‰n amdn\pXmsg Ipd®p hen®p]nSn®v Ahƒ Hcphiw Xncn™p\n∂p. IÆmSnbn¬ I≠ cq]w Bimhlambncp∂p. X\ns°mcp ]o‰¿ ]m\ns‚ Bhiyans√∂v Ahƒ Al¶mctØmsS Hm¿Øp. tcWp Nmbt{Sbpambn h∂p. Nmb Iq´ptºmƒ Ahƒ ]d™p. "t{_bv°v ^mÃn\v tkńs\ Imt°s≠∂p ]d™p.' "Duw?' "Pplphn¬ t]mbncn°bmWv.' "Cu A¶nƒ!' Ahƒ Xebn¬ ssIh®p ]d™p. t{_bv°v ^mÃpIqSn Ign°msX ltcIrjvWbn¬ FØm\mbncp∂p [rXn. "A¶vƒ F{X aWn°mWv t]mbXv?' "Ggc aWn°v.' "Ggc aWn? At∏mƒ kabsa{Xbmbn Ct∏mƒ?' "Fćbmbn ZoZn...' tcWp Nncn®psIm≠v ]d™p. "Hm, Rm\n∂p hfsc t\cw Ddßn As√?' Ahƒ kp\n¬ a¬tlm{Xsb Hm¿Øp. Abmƒ ssN\m\nbpambn kwkmcn®n´p≠mIpw kw kmcn®n´p≠mIpw F∂pw C∂p Xs∂ C‚¿hyq Xcam°psa∂pw Ahƒ Bin®p. Ahƒ ]d™p. "Rm≥ XmgØp t]mbn H∂p t^m¨ sNbvXp hcmw.' Ahƒ ss\‰n Agn®psh®v amIvkn FSpØn´p. Nphń¬ annv ]msfibmWv hmXn¬ Xpd∂Xv.. "B‚n H∂v t^m¨ sNøWw.' "B¿°mWv C{X cmhnseØs∂?'

9


"Hcp {^≠n\mWv B‚n.' Ahƒ Ub¬ sNbvXp. A∏pdØv sSent^m¨ FSpØXv lknw Bbncp∂p. "km_v sl?' "km_v DdßpIbmWv. tIms\?' "A]¿Æ.'Ahƒ ]d™p. "kp\n¬ C\nbpw FWo‰ns√?' "C√.' "H∂p hnfn°mtam?' "{ian®p t\m°s´.' "icn.' Ahƒ sSent^m¨ sNhnbnea¿Øn ImØp \n¬°ptºmƒ annv ]mtfi ASpØph∂p. "t_ó, C∂v t{_bv°v^mÃn\v \mfntIc®ńWn Ac®n´pt≠m?' "Adnbn√ B‚o.' kp\n¬ t^mWn¬ hcptºmtgbv°v B‚nsb B‚ nsb AhnsS\n∂v Hgnhm°Wsa∂hƒ BtemNn®p. Ahƒ ]d™p. "Ac®n´ps≠¶n¬ tcWphns‚ Iøn¬ sImSpØb°mw.' "ad°cpXv sIt´m.' t^mWn¬ kp\nens‚ i–w tI´p. "KpUv tamWnMv. A]¿Æ lnb¿.' "tamWnMv Fs∂ms° ]dbm≥am{Xw t\cw ]pe¿t∂m?' "tkmdn, DdßpIbmbncp∂p As√?' A∏pdØp\n∂v Dd°®Shp hnSmØ i–w. "C∂se \nXns‚ hoń¬ ]m¿ńbp≠mbncp∂p. Imcyw ]dbq.' AhfpsS Bthiw s]s´∂p XWpØp. At∏mƒ kp\n¬ Xs‚ Imcyw ssN\m\ntbmSv ]dbm≥ ads∂∂p tXm∂p∂p. Xs‚ Imcyw Xs∂ ads∂∂ a´mWv. Ahƒ \ncpt∑jbmbn ]d™p. "ssN\m\nbpambn kwkmcn°m≥ ]‰nbn√ At√?' "Xo¿®bmbpw. C∂p sshIpt∂cw sN√msa∂p ]d™n´p≠v. Bdp aWn°v. \n\°v A©c aWn°v aWn °v Fs‚ hoń¬ hcmtam?' "hcmw. Xm¶vbp shcn a®v kp\n¬. ss_...' Ahƒ t^m¨ h®v annv ]msfitbmSv \µnIqSn ]bdm≥ \n¬°msX ]pdØp IS∂v tImWn∏SnIƒ NmSn°bdn s_√Sn®p. tcWp hmXn¬ Xpd∂p. "tcWp F\n°v t{_bv°v ^mÃv thKw thWw.' "sIm≠phcmw.' A]¿Æ hmjv t _kn\SpØpt]mbn ]√p tX®p h∂p. X\n°v hfsc Ipd®p kabØn\p≈n¬ Iptdb[nIw Imcyßƒ sNøm\ps≠∂v t{_bv°v^mÃv Ign°ptºmƒ Ahƒ BtemNn®p. km[mcW apdpadpØp am{Xw Ign°p∂ s{_UvtSmÃpw _pƒsskbpw C∂hƒ hfsc kzmtZmSpIqSn Ign®p. ssN\okv _yqń]m¿edn¬ Ahƒ°n„an√mØ \m‰ap≠mbncp∂p. \m‰ap≠mbncp∂p. Hcp XSn® kv{XobpsS ]pcnIw BIrXn s∏SpØpIbmbncp∂ hbmb ssN\°mcn Ahsf t\m°n Nncn®psIm≠v tNmZn®p. "lt√m, hmSv Upbp hm≠v?' "t^jy¬, slb¿Uq, ]ns∂ ]pcnIhpw....' "Hcp an\p‰v.... Xnc°ps≠¶n¬ apIfn¬ s]mbvt°mfq, AhnsS kmhvdn≥ D≠v.' A]¿Æbv°v AhcpsS AknÃ‚pIsfsbm∂pw C„ambncp∂n√. sam\n≥ ^vtfmdnemWv Ah¿. \S°ptºmƒ Xe ap´pIbpw sNøpw. AXpsIm≠v ssN\°mcn B kv{XobpsS ]pcnIw BIrXns∏SpØn Ignbp∂Xphsc Ahƒ Hcp amknIbpw IønseSpØv ImØncp∂p. kz¥w XeapSn sNbvXpsIm≠ncns° Ahƒ°v ssN\°mcnbpsS tNmZyßƒ°v DØcw ]dtb≠nh∂p. Ah¿ kwkmc{]nbbmbncp∂p. "bp tKm´v ehven slb¿..... C∂v ]m¿ńbpt≠m?' "Duw...Xm¶v bp.' Ah¿ {]iwk sNmcnbp∂Xn¬ H´pw ]nip°p ImWn®ncp∂n√. "FhnsSbmWv ]m¿ń?' Fs¥ms° AdnbWw Ch¿°v? Ahƒ adp]Sn ]d™p. "inhPn ]m¿°n¬ Hcp shÕnMv ]m¿ńbmWv.' F√mw Ign™v Xncn®p hoń¬ h∂t∏mƒ kabw Hcp aWnbmbnt´ D≈q. C\n `£Ww Ign™v Hcp kuµcy \n{Z°p≈ kabw IqSnbp≠v. Ahƒ aq∂p aWn°v ]pds∏Sm≥ XpSßn. tcWp Hcp tImWnd √mØXp ImcWw A]¿Æbv ° v hkv{XsØ∏‰n { XsØ∏‰n A`n{]mbhpw Xocpam\hpw kz¥w FSpt°≠nh∂p. A©p aWnbmbt∏mtgbv °pw °pw Hcp hn[w Hcpßn°gn™p. IÆmSnbn¬ t\m°nbt∏mƒ kz¥w kuµcysØ∏‰n Xocpam\saSp°m≥ Ign™n√. Ahƒ ]pdØndßptºmƒ A¶vƒ tNmZn®p. "Ftßm´mWv?'

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"C∂v s{]mUyqkdpsS ASpØv C‚¿hyq D≠v A¶vƒ.' "\ns‚ {]m¥v.' Abmƒ Nncn®p. SmIvknbn¬ Ibdn Ahƒ Pplphntebv°p IpXn®p. kp\nens‚ sh≈ slcmƒUv hoń\papºn¬ \n¬°p∂p. Ahƒ°vBizmkambn. Ccp]sØm∂mw \º¿ ^vfm‰v Ggmw \nebnemWv. en^v‰n¬\n∂p ]pdØp ]pdØp IS∂v s_√Sn®p Ahƒ ImØp\n∂p. hmXn¬ hmXn¬ Xpd∂Xv Hcp Ccp]Xp hbpImc\mbncp∂p. lknw Bbncn°psa∂hƒ Duln®p. "kp\n¬ sl?' Ah≥ hmXn¬ ae¿s° Xpd∂p. Xe Ipºn´psIm≠v Fb¿ C¥ym almcmPmhns‚ ssIsIm≠p≈ BwKyw ImWn®p sIm≠v ]d™p. "BbntbPo.... Bbntb, Xivco^v cJntb.' Ahƒ AIØp IS∂ncp∂p. apdn°p \Sphn¬ C´ Im¿∏‰v `wKnbp≠mbncp∂p. UnÃº¿ tX® Nphcn¬ {]IrXnZriyw ImWn°p∂ henb Nn{Xw. apdnbn¬ c≠p aqebn¬ henb kv]o°dpIƒ. \Sphn¬ h® tjmtIkn\p aosX Ãocntbm Bwπnss^¿, tS]v sU°v, sdt°mUv sπb¿ apXembh. kp\n¬ h∂p. Abmƒ Hcp Soj¿´pw Po≥kpamWv Cńcp∂Xv. Ahsf I≠ DSs\ Abmƒ \n∂p. Hcp Ah temI\Øn\ptijw Abmƒ ]d™p. "\nXn≥ Xo¿®bm°m≥ A[nIw kabsam∂pw FSp°psa∂v tXm∂p∂n√.' Fßn\sØ BfmWv \nXn≥?' Ahƒ tNmZn®p. kp\n¬ AhfpsS apºn¬Øs∂ Hcp Xncnbp∂ Ãqfn¬ ÿeapd∏n®ncp∂p. "F¥mWv \o Dt±in°p∂Xv?' "sF ao≥......sF ao≥ shY¿ lobokv shcn ^ÃoUnbkv.' kp\n¬ IÆndp°n. "\nXn≥ sNdp∏°mcnIfmb kpµcnIsf C„s∏Sp∂p. \ns∂ Hcp \mbnIbmbn sXcs™Sp°psa∂Xn¬ Hcp kwibhpan√ F\n°v.' Ahƒ°m kwkmcw C„s∏´p. s{]mUyqk¿amsc∏‰n Ahƒ tIń´p≠v. Hcp \SnbmhWsa¶n¬ Fs¥m s° kln°Wsa∂v Ahƒ tI´dn™n´p≠v. ssN\m\n°v kpµcnIsf C„amsW∂ hnhcw Ahƒ°dn bmØXpa√. ]s£ AsX{X am{Xw Xs‚ hnPbØn\v klmbn°pw F∂v Ahƒ°v kp\n¬ ]d™t∏mƒ t_m[yambn. AhfpsS sNdp∏sØ∏‰n, kuµcysØ∏‰n, ]pcpj∑mcn¬ Bk‡nbp≠m°m\p≈ Bk‡nbp≠m°m\p≈ Ignhns\ ∏‰n Ahƒ°v \√ t_m[ap≠mbncp∂p. AhfpsS AhbhßfpsS Hmtcm Ne\hpw AXp em°m°nbm bncp∂p. H cp ssIbn¬ t{S _me≥kp sNbvXpsIm≠v lknw h∂p. Ahs‚ Ne\ßfn¬ tImamfnØap≠m bncp∂p. kp\n¬ Nmb Iq´pIbmWv. A]¿Æ tNmZn®p. "ssN\m\n Fs∂ FSp°psa∂v tXm∂p∂pt≠m?' "lu a®v jpK¿?' "h¨ kv]q¨, Xm¶vbp.' "\o F¥mWv tNmZn®Xv?' "\nXns\∏‰n. ssN\m\n F\ns°mcp Nm≥kp Xcpsa∂v tXm∂p∂pt≠m?' kp\n¬ \nh¿∂ncp∂p. Nmb IpSn®psIm≠v Abmƒ ]d™p. bphm¿ Z ssd‰v tKƒ t^m¿ \nXn≥. \ns∂ t∏mse Hcp s]Ïpńsb t\m°nbncn°bmWv AbmfpsS ]pXnb Nn{XØn\p th≠n.' AhfpsS IÆpIƒ hnS¿∂p. ssN\m\nbpsS Hmtcm Nn{Xhpw Hmtcm kw`hamWv . AXnsem∂n¬ \mbnIbmbn Ahkcw Inńbm¬ ]ns∂ a‰p s{]mUyqk¿am¿ AhfpsS ]Sn°¬ Imh¬ InS°pw. "\ap°v t]mImw.' en^v‰n¬ h®v Ah¿ kwkmcn®n√. Xmsg FØnbt∏mƒ Hcp AZv`pXw Ahsf {]Xo£n®p \n¬°p∂p. lknw slcmƒUp Imdpambn Xømdmbn \n¬°pIbmWv. Ah≥ Ft∏mgmWv ss]Pma am‰n bq\nt^man¬ IS∂sXt∂m, AhfpsS IÆpshń®v Ft∏mgmWv XmgØndßn h∂sXt∂m Ahƒ Adn™n√. AhfpsS AZv`pXw I≠t∏mƒ kp\n¬ ]d™p. "CXv lkoans‚ thsdmcp Sme‚mWv. Ahs\ IqSpX¬ AdnbpwtXmdpw Ahs‚ hnhn[ apJßƒ Xms\ a\nembnt°mfpw.' lknw sh≈ bq\nt^man¬ sh≈ sXm∏nbpambn Imdns‚ hmXn¬ Xpd∂p]nSn®v\n¬°pIbmWv \n¬°pIbmWv. Ah≥ Hcp hnZKvZ ss{Uhdmbncp∂p. Hcp slcmƒUn\p ]Icw Ah≥ HmSnt°≠nbncp∂Xv Hcp sdt\mƒt´m, sagvknUntkm Bbncps∂∂v Ahƒ°p tXm∂n. ssN\m\nbpsS Hmôkns‚ sKbv ‰v ‰v Xpd°s∏´p. Hcp ]SpIq‰≥ sIńSw. Z¿hm≥ kp\nens\ t\m°n kemw sh®p. kp\n¬ Ahsf t\m°n, X\n°nhnsSsb√mw kzX{¥amb {]thi\ap≠v F∂l¶cn°p∂ ań¬. A]¿Æsb kw_‘nt®StØmfw AXp hfsc Bizmk{]Zambncp∂p. Xs‚ hnPbw, kp\n¬, ssN\m\n bpsS F{XbSpØmsW∂Xns\ B{ibn°p∂p F∂hƒ°p tXm∂n. a´p∏mhn¬ Im¿ \n¿Ønbt∏mƒ thsdmcp Z¿hm≥ h∂v kemw h®v Imdns‚ hmXn¬ Xpd∂p ]nSn®p. kp\n epw A]¿Æbpw ]pdØndßn. kp\n¬ AItØbv°p IS∂p. FhnsSbpw Abmƒ°p ap∂n¬ hmXnepIƒ Xpd°s∏´p. Npa¿sXm´vNpa¿hsc Im¿s∏‰pIƒ. NpacpIfn¬ henb Im≥hmkpIƒ. aqeIfn¬ \·kv{XoI

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fpsS temlinev]ßƒ. aßnb CS\mgnI Ahkm\n°p∂nSØv kp\n¬ \n∂p. hmXnent∑¬ ]n®fsIm≠p ≈ knwlØe. CSØphisØ IÆmSnapdnbn¬ Ccn°p∂ kpµcn kp\nens\ t\m°n Nncn®p. "KpUv tamWnMvv.' "KpUv tamWnMvv Um¿enMv. t]mImas√m?' "s]mbvt°mfq, ssN\m\n km_v ImØncn°p∂p.' kp\n¬ Ahsf t\m°n IÆndp°n. ]ns∂ hmXnent∑¬ ]Xps° c≠p XhW apń. GXm\pw sk°‚pIƒ°p≈n¬ AIØp\ns∂mcp i–w tI´p. Ian≥, F∂mbncn°Ww AXv. ImcWw kp\n¬ AIØp IS∂v Ahƒ°p th≠n hmXn¬ Xpd∂p ]nSn®p. A]¿Æ AIØp IS∂p. Ccp≠ CS\mgnIbneqsSbp≈ \SØw ImcWw AhfpsS IÆpIƒ apdnbnse aßnb shfn®hpambn ]gIm≥ Xmakw th≠nh∂n√. hnimeamb apdnbpsS adp `mKØvC´ henb taibv °p ]n∂nse dnthmƒhnMv sNbdn¬ \n∂v XeapSn \c® Hcp a\pjy≥ Fgpt∂¬°p∂Xhƒ I≠p. Abmƒ tai Np‰n h∂v AhfpsS ssI ]nSn®p Ipep°n. "A]¿Æ.' kp\n¬ ]cnNbs∏SpØn. "anÃ¿ \nXn≥ ssN\m\n.' "ss\kv ao‰nMv bp.' ho≠pw Hcn°¬°qSn AhfpsS ssI ]nSn®p Ipep°nb tijw Abmƒ tai°p apºnep≈ aq∂p ItkeIfn¬ \SphnetØXv \o°n AhtfmSv Ccn°m≥ Bhiys∏´p. ssN\m\n Xncn®v taibv°p ]n∂n¬ C´ cmPIobamb dnthmƒhnMv sNbdn¬ Ccp∂p. "IpSn°m≥ F¥mWv th≠Xv? So, tIm^n, Hm¿ F\nXnMv tImƒUv?' "XWpØsXs¥¶nepw aXn.' Ahƒ ]d™p. "hms´_u´v bp.' ssN\m\n kp\nent\mSv tNmZn®p. "F\n°pw AXp aXn.' ssN\m\n C‚¿tImans‚ _´≥ Aa¿Øn. C‚¿ tImans‚ ]m\en¬ Nph∏p shfn®w. "IpSn°ms\s¥¶nepw XWpØXv sIm≠phcq.' A]¿Æ ssN\m\nsb ]Tn°pIbmbncp∂p. \c® XeapSn. sNhn°p apºnep≈ sskUv t_¨ Ińbn ep≠v. AXpw apgph≥ \c®XmWv . Xnfßp∂ IÆpIƒ AXns‚ DSaÿs‚ _p≤ni‡n ImWn®p. AbmfpsS t\m´w hfsc arZphmbncp∂p. Xpf®p Ibdp∂ t\mán√. acymZtbmSp IqSnb s]cpam‰w. Ct±lw Hcp kv{Xo eºS\msW∂v tXm∂pItb C√. ]{Xßƒ {]Ncn∏n°p∂ tKmn∏pIfn¬ H∂mbncn°Ww AXv. hfsc IqSpX¬ acymZ°mc≥ Bhp∂Xnepw X\n°v Ahkcßƒ In´pI ssN\m\n°v Fs¥¶nepw Zu¿∫ey ßfps≠¶nembncn°pw F∂hƒ Hm¿Øp. kn\namtemIsØ Nne bmYm¿∞yßtfmSv s]mcpØs∏Sm≥ A]¿Æ kz¥w a\ns\ Hcp°nbncp∂p. A√dNn√d kuP\yßƒ, hn´phogvNIƒ. CsX√mw kn\nam temIØv FØphm\pw AhnsS ]nSn®p \n¬°m\pw BhiyamsW∂hƒ a\nem°nbncp∂p. ]{X amknI Iƒ sImSp°p∂ tKmn∏v tImfßƒ Ahsf Cu ImcyØn¬ hfsc klmbn®ncp∂p. "kn\nabn¬ hcp∂Xns\∏‰n \√hÆw BtemNn®n´pt≠m?' ssN\m\n tNmZn®p. Ds∆∂v Ahƒ Xebmń. "kn\na F∂Xv HcZv`pXtemIamWv.' ssN\m\n XpS¿∂p. "AXntebv "AXnte bv°v IS∂phcnI Ffp∏a√. IS∂p h∂XpsIm≠p am{Xambn√. Db¿∂phcnIbpw thWw. AXn\v hfscb[nIw A[zm\w BhiyamWv. hfscb[nIw XymKw kln°Ww. a’c_p≤nt°m Al¥bvt°m ChnsS ÿm\an√. Ahkm\w F√mh¿ °pw Ahch¿ A¿ln°p∂ ÿm\w In´pw. £a thWw. Hcp ZnhkwsIm≠v ZnhkwsIm ≠vHcp Hcp \mbnIsb D≠m°m≥ ]‰n√. t_m¿Udp≈ ]®kn¬°pkmcnbpw ªukpw [cn® Hcp s]Ïpń s{Sbpambn AIØp h∂v t{Ãm C´ •mpIƒ AhcpsS apºn¬ h®p. \√ `wKnbp≈ s]Ïpńbmbncp∂p s]Ïpńbmbnc p∂p Ahƒ. shfpØ \ndw. kn¬°p t]mesØ CfwsNºn® apSn ]® \ndØnep≈ kn¬°v kvIm¿^v sIm≠v ad®ncn°p∂p. "Cu Imcnbdn\vc≠p c≠p hißfp≠v . Rm≥ ]dbmw.' ssN\m\n XpS¿∂p. "NoØ hiw CXmWv . \ap°v]eXpw ]eXpw klnt°≠n hcpw. Hmtcm aqhnIfn¬ Hmtcm \mbI∑mcpsS ssIhebØn¬ {]Xy£s∏tS≠ \mbnIbv°v Nmcn{Xip≤nbpsS CtasPm∂pw AhImis∏Sm≥ ]‰n√. ]n∂oSv hnhmlmtemN\ hcptºmƒ AsXms° {]iv\amsb∂p hcpw. AsX√mw \Ωƒ Fßns\ t\m°p∂p F∂Xns\ B{ibn®ncn°pw. ]ns∂ hfsc, hfscb[nIw A≤zm\nt°≠n hcpw. cmhp]Ien√mØ tPmen. cm{Xn ]ØpaWn°v Imƒ jo‰v In´pIbm sW¶n¬ At∏mƒ F\n°pdtß≠ kabamWv, ]‰ns√∂p ]‰ns√∂p ]dbm≥ Ignbn√. CsXmcp Sow h¿°mWv. AXn¬ "Rm≥' "\o' F∂ hm°pIfn√. "\Ωƒ' F∂p am{Xw. ]ns∂bp≈Xv t]cns‚ t]cns‚ {]iv\amWv. \√ t]cp In´m≥ km[yXbp≠v Cu Imcnbdn¬. adn®pamhmw. t]¿ sNfn°p≠nseØnsb∂pw hcmw. ]et∏mgpw \√ t]cns‚ ]n∂n¬ \ndsb sNfnbmbncn°m\pw km[yXbp≠v.' "C\n \√ hiw. [mcmfw ]Wap≠m°mw. \√ _¶vfmhpIƒ hnes°Sp°mw. t^mdn≥ ImdpIƒ hmßmw. hfsc BVw_cap≈ Hcp PohnXw \bn°mw. Hcp ]ØpsIm√w tPmensbSpØm¬ \mep Xeapdbv°v Ignbm\p≈ ]Wap≠m°mw. \nßƒ _p≤n]q¿∆w ]Ww C≥shÃv sNøWsa∂p am{Xw.' ssN\m\n \nh¿∂ncp∂p. taita¬\n∂v ]g®mdns‚ •msSpØv t{Ãmhn¬°qSn hen®p IpSn°m≥ XpSßn, H∏w AhtcmSpw IpSn°m≥ BwKyw ImWn®p.

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A]¿Æ •msSpØv IpSn°m≥ XpSßn. tImIv sSbn¬ sSbn¬ PyqkmWv Py qkmWv . Ahƒ ssN\m\n ssN\ m\n ]d™Xns\∏‰ ]d™X ns\∏‰nn BtemNn°pIbmbncp∂p. ^nenw Imcnbdns\∏‰n C{Xbpw hy‡ambn hfsc Ipd®p hm°pIfn¬ Abmƒ ]d™Xv Ahsf AZv`pXs∏SpØn. AhfpsS a\nep≠mbncp∂ Nn{XØn\v Abmƒ angnhp Iqńsbt∂ bp≈q. CsX√mw Ahƒ°v Adnbmhp∂XmWv. CXns\√mw Xømdmbn´mWv Ahƒ h∂Xv. C\n BtemNn °ms\m∂pan√. CXns\√mw ]pdsa ssN\m\n ]d™nń√mØ Hcp Imcyw IqSnbp≠v. AXv IW°p IqépI fmWv. G‰hpw apIfntebvs°Øm\p≈ GWn∏SnIfpsS IW°pIqépIƒ. AXv ]ng°mXncp∂m¬ aXn. Ahƒ ho≠phnNmcap≈hfmbncp∂p. Cusbmcp AhkcØn\pth≠n Ahƒ Hcp sIm√w Bkq{XWw sNbvXXmWv. ssN\m\n kp\n¬ a¬tlm{Xbpambn kwkmcw XpSßn. ]pXnb Nn{XØns‚ Nn{XoIcWsØ∏‰nbmWv. sk‰p≠m°p∂ Hcp tIm¨{SmŒsd∏‰nbmWv ssN\m\n ]d™ncp∂Xv. tIƒ°p∂ns√∂ ańencps∂ ¶nepw A]¿Æ AhcpsS kw`mjWw {i≤n°pIbmbncp∂p. IØn \in°m\p≈ Hcp sIm´mcØns‚ tam°∏v D≠m°p∂ tIm¨{SmŒ¿ ssN\m\nsb I_fn∏n®XmWv hnjbw. "Abmƒ°v {]mcm–ßfp≠mhpw. AXmbncn°Ww Abmƒ ]WhpwsIm≠v t]mbXv.' ssN\m\n ]d™p. "Abmƒ FhnsSbmsWs∂\n°dnbmw. F\n°p thWsa¶n¬ Abmsf ]nSn°mw, t]meoknte¬∏n°mw, ImcWw Rm≥ sImSpØ AºXns‚ tcJIƒ D≠v Fs‚ Iøn¬. AXpas√¶n¬ F\n°bmsf \in∏n°mw. ]t£ AXpsIm≠vF¥p Imcyw. Hcp a\pjys\ \in∏n°m≥ Ffp∏w Ignbpw. Abmsf Abmfm°m≥ F¥p ]mSps]SWw? Cu Nn{XØn\v Fs‚ Hcp ZnhksØ IeIvj≥ D≠mbns√∂p am{Xw IcpXnbm¬ aXn. Cu AºXn\mbnca√ Fs∂ hnjan∏n°p∂Xv. Fs‚ kabw. Hcp amkw \„ambn. AsX\n°v A sX\n°v Xncn®pInń√. Abmƒ hnUvVnØw ImńbXmWv. Hcp e£Øns‚ tIm¨{SmŒmWv. AXn¬ Rm≥ IW°m°nbnStØmfw ap∏Xv AbmfpsS emàmWv. AXpsIm≠v kwXr]vXnbStb≠XmWbmƒ. nbStb ≠XmWbmƒ. Ct∏mƒ I≠nt√ Hcp I≈s\ t∏mse Hfn®p\St°≠n hcp∂p. Rm\nt∏mgpw hnizkn°p∂p, Abmƒs°s¥¶nepw {]iv\ßfp≠mhpw ]mhw. A]¿ÆbpsS a\n¬ ssN\m\nsb∏‰nbp≈ ssN\m\nsb∏‰ nbp≈ aXn∏v IqSn°qSn hcnIbmbncp∂p. shdpw Hcp acymZ°mc≥ am{Xa√ Abmƒ. DZmc a\kvI\pamWv. ]{X°m¿ Ct±lsØ∏‰n ]dbp∂sX√mw ip≤ Akw_‘amWv. ssN\m\n A]¿ÆbpsS t\sc Xncn™p. "At∏mƒ AXmWv Rm≥ ]d™Xv. tPmentbmSv Bflm¿∞X ]pe¿Øm\pw, a‰p ]eXpw kln°m\pw Xømdps≠¶n¬ \nßƒ°v tPmensbSp°mw. XpS°Øn¬ hcpam\sØ∏‰n A[nIw BtemNn°cpXv. Rm≥ amkw c≠mbncw hoXw iºfw Xcmw. CsXmcp Aeh≥kmbn IW°m°nbm¬ aXn. \Ωƒ tjm_nkn\ nemWv. AXpsIm≠v \mw a‰p≈hcn¬\n∂v hyXyÿambn Pohn°Ww, hyXyÿambn hyXyÿam bn hkv{X[mcWw sNøWw. a\nemtbm. kΩXamsW¶n¬ tZhnt\mSv kv{Io≥ sSsÃSp°m≥ ]dbmw.' "Rm≥ sdUnbmWv.' a\nep≈ BÀmZØ≈n® IgnhXpw ]pdØp ImWmXncn°m≥ ]Wns∏´psIm≠m Wv A]¿Æ AXp ]d™Xv. ]d™ DSs\ AXp ]dtb≠nbncp∂n√m F∂p tXm∂n. tXm ∂n. BtemNn®p ]dbm sat∂m at‰m ]dbmambncp∂p. Xs‚ XnSp°w ssN\m\n a\nem°ntbm Bthm? "KpUv' ]Xps° ]d™psIm≠v ssN\m\n Fgpt∂‰p. kp\nepw Fgpt∂‰p. A]¿Æ Fgpt∂‰p kmcn t\scbm°n. ssN\m\n tai Np‰nh∂v hmXn¬ Xpd∂p ]nSn®p. A]¿ÆbpsS ssI]nSn®p Ipep°n Ipd®p Ip\n™psIm≠v ]d™p. "Bƒ Z s_Ãv.' kp\nen\pw AXpt]mse ssIsImSpØp. Ah¿ ]pdØp IS∂t∏mƒ hmXn¬ ]Xps° AS™p. ho≠pw arZphmb ]chXm\nIƒ hncn® CS\mgnIIfneqsS ]pdtØbv °p \S°ptºmƒ Ahƒ hnNmcn®p. Fs¥mcp \√ a\pjy≥!

3 Hmtcm AWphnepw ssN\m\n Hcp am\y\mbncp∂p. AbmfpsS s]cpam‰hpw {]h¿ØnIfpw Ip‰a‰hbmWv. hfscb[nIw an\p°s∏´hbmWv . G‰hpw Xmgv∂ tPmen°mtcm tPmen°mtcmSpIqSn SpIqSn Abmƒ \nßƒ Ft∂ ]dbmdp≈p. B]v F∂p am{Xw. "Xq', As√¶n¬ "Xpw' F∂ hm°pIƒ ssN\m\nbpsS \nL≠phnen√. AXpt]mse G‰hpw \nIr„amb Hcp Imcyw sNøpIbmsW¶n¬t∏mepw AXp hfsc abs∏SpØntbm, As√¶n¬ XnI®pw BIkvanIamb H∂m°ntbm BWv sNøpI. X\n°nXn¬ bmsXmcp ]¶pans√∂ ań¬. A©p sIm√sØ ]cnNbwsIm≠v kp\µbv ° v AXdnbmambncp∂p. AXp sIm≠v Ahƒ ssN\m\ntbmSv AtXań¬ am\yambn s]cpamdn. A{X am\ya√mØ \nanjßƒ ]¶nSptºmƒ AXv Xm\pw ssN\m\nbpa√, thsd c≠pt]cmsW∂hƒ k¶ev]n ®p. A©p sIm√Øn\p≈n¬ ]Øp kq∏¿ aqhnbpsS \mbnIbmbn Ahƒ. F√mw ssN\m\n ^nenwkns‚ _m\dnep≈h. a‰p s{]mUyqk¿amcpsS Hm^dpIƒ Ahƒ Im‰n¬ ]dØn. ssN\m\n sImSp°p∂ {]Xnêw sImSp°phm≥ as‰mcp s{]mUyqk¿°pw Ignbn√. AXmbncp∂p ssN\m\nbpsS hnPbclkyw. Hcmsf tPmen°p hbv ° ptºmƒ Abmƒ°v as‰mcnSØpw In´m≥ km[yXbn√mØ henb iºfw sImSp°pI ImcWw F√m XpdIfnepw G‰hpw sshZKvZyap≈ BfpIsf ssN\m\n°p Inń. G‰hpw \√ kwhn[mbI≥, G‰hpw \√ \So\S∑m¿, F‰hpw \√ Imadmam≥. a‰p Iº\nIfn¬\n∂v Sme‚pIƒ ssN\m\nbntebv°v HgpIn. a‰p s{]mUyqk¿amcpsS \„w ssN\m\nbpsS

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t\ámbncp∂p. CsX√mw kp\µbv°dnbmw. AXpsIm≠pXs∂ G‰hpw A[nIw {]Xnêw In´p∂ \Sn F∂ K¿∆ps≠ ¶nepw, ssN\m\nbpsS ASpØv Ahƒ hfsc acymZ°mcnbmbn. ]cnXÿnXnIƒ s]s´∂v amdntb°msa∂v Ahƒ°dnbmw. cmhnse {UnMv tS_vfnse \oe°ÆmSnbn¬ t\m°ptºmƒ t\m°ptºm ƒ Ahƒ°p a\nemhp∂p≠v, A©p sIm√w apºv kn\nabn¬ IS°ptºmgp≠mbncp∂ tZla√ Ct∏mƒ. IqSpX¬ amwkfambncn°p∂p. amwkfambncn°p∂p. bphXzw tXm∂n°p∂ tZlØns‚ BImchSnhns\ ]pXpXmbn Xmakw XpSßnb AanX`mcw òjWns∏Sp ØnØpSßnbncn°p∂p. ØnØpSßnbncn°p ∂p. Xs‚ aqhnIƒ h∂m¬ BfpIƒ Ct∏mgpw lmfn¬ Cc®p Ibdp∂p. ssN\m\nbpsS JP\mhn¬ \mWyßƒ InepInse hogp∂p. AsX√mw icn. C\n F{X Imew X\n°v ]nSn®p\n¬°m≥ ]‰pw. ]‰ pw. t]mcmØXn\v cmhnse t^mWn¬ Inńb hm¿Øbpw Xosc kpJap≈Xmbncp∂n√. ssN\m\n Hcp ]pXnb s]Ïpńsb \nban®n´p≠v. C∂mWv kv{Io≥ sSÃv. ssN\m\nbpsS Dt±iyw ]pXnb s{]mUIvj\n¬ CSm\msW∂v Ahƒ°dnbmw. AXns‚ tPmen \S∂p sIm≠ncn°p∂p. B hnNmcw hfsc AkzmÿyP\IamWv. aƒńÃmd¿ aqhnIfnepw X\n°v angnhp≈ tdmfp Iƒ X∂v Xs∂ Db¿Øn°m´pItb ssN\m\n sNbvXn´p≈p. ]t£ Ahbnse√mw a‰p \mbnIam¿ ÿncw c≠mw Xcw, As√¶n¬ H∂mwXcw Xs∂ ]Sßfne`n\bn°p∂ \mbnIamcm Wv. ]t£ Cu s]Ïpń ssN\m\nbpsSXs∂ I≠p]nSpØamWv. AXpsIm≠v kq£n°Ww. t^m¨ i–n®p. "lt√m...' "kp\µbt√?' ssN\m\nbpsS i–w. "AtX \nXn≥Pn.' "Ct∏mƒ ÃpUntbmhntebv°p hcm≥ ]‰ptam? hcm≥ kuIcyamsW¶n¬ Rm≥ AcaWn°qdn\p≈n¬ Im¿ sImSpØb°mw.' ssN\m\n Ft∏mgpw Aßns\bmWv. kuIcysa¶n¬ H∂v hcmtam. A{Xam{Xw. Hcp \n¿∫‘hpw ImWn °n√. A[nImcØns‚ kzcan√. ]t£ ssN\m\nbpsS Hmtcm hm°pIfpw am\n°s∏´p. Hcp B⁄t]mse. "th≠ \nXn≥Pn Rm≥ Fs‚ Imdn¬ h∂psIm≈mw.' "icn Xm¶vkv.' ÃpUntbmhn¬ ssN\m\nbpsS Hmôkv {][m\ sIńSØn¬ H∂mw \nebnembncp∂p. Xs‚ Nmc\ndØn ep≈ sdt\mƒ´v Im¿ kp\µ t]m¿®n¬ \n¿Øn. bq\nt^man´ bq\nt^man´ hm®vam≥ h∂v hmXn¬ Xpd∂p. Ahƒ lm‚ v _mKpsaSpØv ]pdØndßn. hm®v am≥ am≥ Imdn¬°bdn Im¿ Ãm¿´m°n ]m¿°nMvtemńtebv °p sIm≠pt]mbn. Xpd∂p]nSn® hmXneneqsS kp\µ AIsØ XWp∏ntebv°p IS∂p. Nhpńbm¬ ]Xpßnt∏mIp∂ ]chXm\nIƒ H∂mw \nebn¬ en^v‰n\p apºn¬\n∂p XpSßp∂p. dnk]vj\nseØnbt∏mƒ Cfw ]® kmcn km cn bpSpØ dnk]vj\nÃv Fgpt∂‰p \n∂p. "\akvsX kp\µmPn. ssN\m\n km_v ImØncn°p∂p≠v.' "\akvsX.' kp\µ \n¬°msX \S∂p\oßn. sImØp]WnIfp≈ hmXnen¬ Ahƒ ]Xps° apń. "Ian≥.' hmXn¬ Xpd∂t∏mƒ ssN\m\n tai Np‰n h∂v AhfpsS ssI]nSn®p Ipep°n, Itke \o°n AhtfmSv Ccn°m≥ ]d™ tijw Xncn®v taibv°p ]n∂n¬ Itkebn¬ Ccp∂p. apdn XmcXtay\ Ccp≠n´mbncp∂ Ccp≠n´mbncp∂p. p. H∂pc≠p sIm®p kvt]mSvsse‰pIf√msX a‰p hnf°pIsfm∂ hnf°pIsfm∂pw pw sImfpØnbn´p≠mbncp∂n√. sImfpØnbn´p≠mb ncp∂n√. ]pdtØbv°p≈ P\emIs´ I¿´≥sIm≠v ad®n´pap≠v. ssN\m\n hfsc sXfn™ shfn®w C„s∏ńcp∂n√. Xo£vWambsXm∂pw ambsXm∂pw At±lw C„s∏ń√. kwKoXw t]mepw At±lw BkzZn®ncp∂Xv hfsc Xmgv∂ i–Ønembncp∂p. apdnbnencp∂v Ipd®p Ign™mte kwKoXaps≠∂v a\nemhpI Xs∂bp≈q. Hcn°¬ a\nembn AXp \ΩpsS a\n\v Hcp Xmfw sImSpØpIgn™m¬ AXp hfsc B\µ{]ZamWv. Ãocntbmhns‚ ad®ph® kv]o°dpIfn¬°qSn tIƒ°p∂Xv Hcp C≥{Ãpsa‚emWv. hbent‚bpw sNt√mhns‚bpw i–w {i≤n®p sIm≠v kp\µ tNmZn®p. "sl≥dn am≥ko\n?' "ssd‰v sKv.' ssN\m\n Nncn®psIm≠v ]d™p. Dulw icnbmbXn\v Hcp ]qs®≠v.' "Hcp DulwIqSn ]dbmw. Ct∏mƒ tπ sNøp∂Xv tUmŒ¿ jnhmtKmhnse Xow ayqkn°mWv. kwth¿ ssa ehv.' "bp B¿ s{Kbv‰v.' sN\m\n AZv`pXtØmsS Ahsf t\m°n. Abmƒ Fgpt∂‰ v CSØp hiØph® tjmtIknse ]qs®≠pIfn¬ \√sXmscÆw sXcs™SpØv kp\µbv°p sImSpØp. "tdmkm∏q°ƒ.' hmk\n®psIm≠v kp\µ ]d™p. "Xm¶vbp \nXn≥Pn, F{X `wKnbp≈ ]q°ƒ.' "sh¬°w.' "]pXnb s{]mUIvjs‚ tPmen GXp hscbmbn?' ssN\m\n Nmcnbncp∂p dnthmƒhnMvv sNb¿ ]Xps° Bńs°m≠v ]d™p. "HcpsI´p ISemn\p≈n¬ Hcp henb IY, A{X am{Xw.' taita¬ HccpIn¬ h® ISemp sI´v Abmƒ Nq≠n°mń. "hfsctbsd IYm]m{Xßƒ, hfsc _rlØmb IY, Iq‰≥ sk‰nßpIƒ thWw. CXns‚

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Hs°°qSn hne Hcp tImSnbne[nIw. FhnsS\n∂mWv FhnsS\n∂m Wv Rm≥ C{Xbpw ]Ww D≠mt°≠Xv? Rm≥ A{X ]W°mcs\m∂pa√.' "lu kmUv.' kp\µ Nncn®psIm≠v ]d™p. "`mKyØn\v Hcp \mbnItb D≈q. aq∂v \mbI∑mcpw.' a\v {]£pœamIp∂Xv kp\µ Adn™p. Hcp \mbnItb D≈q. s]s´∂v Ahƒ°v Bflhnizmkw \in®Xpt]mse tXm∂n. Hcp km[mcW°mcnsb s]s´∂v Hcp Znhkw \mbnIbm°m\p≈ sSIv\nIv ssN\m\nbpsSbpw AbmfpsS s]‰v UbdŒ¿ hnt\mZv Nµm\nbpsS bpw ssIønep≠v. ]pXpXmbn h∂ s]Ïpń X\ns°mcp òjWnbmWv Ft∂m¿Øt∏mƒ Ahƒ s]s´∂v Xf¿∂p. "F¥mWv IpSn°p∂Xv?' "\nXn≥Pn ]d™m¬ aXn.' "ss{Uam¿ń\nbmbmtem?' "icn.' Abmƒ apdnbpsS aqebn¬ {]XnjvTn® _mdntebv°p \S∂p. c≠p •mpIfn¬ Pn≥ ]I¿∂p, GXm\pw Xp≈n sh¿tamØv Hgn®p. •mns‚ h°n¬ Hcp \mcß h´Øn¬ sNØnbXv tIm¿Øph®v sIm≠ph∂p. _mdn¬ tImIvsSbnepIƒ Iq´p∂XvssN\m\n ssN\m\n C„s∏´p. Xms\mcp _m¿am≥ Bth≠Xmbncps∂∂v Abmƒ ]dbmdp≠v. kp\µ \n»–bmbn BtemNn°pIbmbncp∂p. Xs‚ _p≤n D]tbmKnt°≠ Hcp kµ¿`w h∂ptN¿∂ncn °p∂p. ssN\m\nbpsS a\n¬ F¥msW∂dnbn√. GsX¶nepw tPmen°m¿ AbmfpsS A{]oXnbv°p ]m{Xambm¬ Abmsf X´m≥ hfsc \ho\amb am¿§ßfmWv ssN\m\n kzoIcn°mdv. H∂pIn¬ B DtZymK ÿ\vtPmen \ntbmKn°p∂Xv Hcp Znhkw \n¿Øpw. tPmensb√mw AbmfpsS IogptZymKÿ∑m¿°p t\cn´p sImSp°pw. B DtZymKÿ≥ tPmenbn√msX AbmfpsS henb Im_n\n¬ shdpsXbncn°pw. ]Xps° ]Xps° AbmfpsS Hmtcm kuIcyßƒ A{]Xy£amIpw. Im_n\nse sj¬^pIƒ, Aeamd, ^bepIƒ. HSp°w Abmfpw taibpw ItkeIfpw am{XamIpw. hcp∂ kµ¿iIscsb√mw kzoIcn°pI Xmgv∂ DtZymKÿ∑mtcm, As√¶n¬ AXn\mbn \nban® thsd h√hcpw BIpw. Ahkm\ambn t]mIp∂Xv Fb¿ I≠ojWdmWv. ^m\n√mØ apdnbn¬ Abmƒ Ipd®p Imew IqSn A]am\hpw hnb¿∏pw kln®v Xqßnbn cn°pw. iºfw am{Xw \n¿Øn√. Aßns\bncns° Hcp {]`mXØn¬ Abmƒ Hmôkn¬ hchp \n¿Øpw. A{Xbpw {Iqca√mØ thsdmcp am¿§hpap≠v ssN\m\n°v. Hcp DZymKÿ≥ AbmfpsS IÆn¬ NoØbm bm¬ AbmfpsS t^b¿sh¬ ]m¿ńsb∂ t]cn¬ Hcp ]m¿ń Hcp°pw. Kwòc ]m¿ń. AXn¬ h®v B DtZymK DtZy mK ÿ≥ thsd \√ tPmen Inń t]mIp∂Xn¬ X\n°p≈ kt¥mjsØ∏‰nbpw C{Xbpw \√ HcptZymKÿ≥ \„s∏Sp∂Xn¬ X\n°p≈ tJZsØ∏‰nbpw ssN\m\n {]kwKn°pw. {]kwK n°pw. ]mhw B DZymKÿ\p am{Xta Nnet∏mƒ kXymhÿ Adnbq. am\ambn HgnhmhWsa¶n¬ hmb Xpd°mXncn°pIbpw thWw. Xs∂bpw Aßns\ BNmc]q¿∆w \mbnI ÿm\Øp ÿm\Øp \n∂v Hgnhm°m\p≈ {iaamtWm? ssN\m\n •mv Db¿Øn°mń. "Notbgvkv.' ssN\m\n taibpsS hen∏pXpd∂v GXm\pw t^mt´m{Km^pIƒ FSpØv kp\µbpsS apºntebv°n´p sIm≠v ]d™p. "Fßns\bps≠∂p ]dbq.' Im_n\‰v sskknep≈ Nn{Xßƒ. At∏mƒ Uhe∏vsNbv sNbvXnt´bp≈psh∂p tXm∂p∂p. Ahƒ hnd°p∂ ssI sIm≠v AhsbSpØp t\m°n. Hcp kpµcnbmb s]ÏpńbpsS hnhn[ t]mkpIfnep≈ t^mt´mIƒ. kp\µ tNmZytØmsS ssN\m\nsb t\m°n. "CXmsWs‚ ]pXnb dn{Iq´v. A]¿Æ.' At∏mƒ CXmWs√ X\n°vòjWnbmbn òjWnbmbn h∂ _yqń Izo≥. Ahƒ •mn¬ \n∂v Hcp henb Ihnƒ IpSn®p ho≠pw B t^mt´mIƒ t\m°n. apJØv Akzmÿytam Bi¶tbm \ngen®p ImWmXncn°m≥ Ahƒ {]tXyIw {i≤n®p. ssN\m\nbpsS IÆpIƒ AhfpsS apJØmsW∂dnbmw. Bhp∂{X ss[cyw kw`cn®v apJapb¿Øns°m≠v Ahƒ ]d™p. "\√ Ipń.' Ahƒ ho≠pw •msSpØvHcp Ihnƒ IpSn®p, ]ns∂ •mv ssIhnSm≥ aSn®psIm≠v ssIøn¬ Øs∂ h®p. "F√mw Ahƒ°v F{XtØmfw A`n\bn°m≥ Ignbpsa∂X Ignbpsa∂Xns\ ns\ B{ibn°pw. kuµcyw ]IpXn am{Xta BIp∂p≈p, _m°n ]IpXn IgnhmWv.' "Cu Ipńbv°v ]pXnb s{]mU£\n¬ Ahkcw sImSp°p∂pt≠m?'Xs‚ i–Øn¬ Aev]w hndbep ≠mtbm? "sImSp°tWm?' ssN\m\n adptNmZyw tNmZn°bmWv.

4 kp\n¬ A]¿Æsb ho≠pw hn≠pw AZv`pXs∏SpØn. ssN\m\nbpsS ÃpUntbmhn¬ kv{Io≥sSÃn\p t]mbt∏mƒ kp\n¬ hfsc D]Icn®p. ÃpUntbmhn¬ F√mhtcbpw kp\nen\v ]cnNbamWv. AXpw {]Xo£n®XmWv. F√mhcpsSbpw tXmfn¬ ssIøn´p kwkmcn°p∂p. Ãn¬ t^mt´m{Km^¿ t^mt´m{K m^¿ tZhv ÃpUntbm

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hn¬ FØnbt∏mƒ Abmƒ ]cnNbs∏SpØn. "CXmWv A]¿Æ. ssN\m\n ]pXpXmbn FSpØ IpńbmWv. Hcp]t£ ASpØ Nn{XØnse \mbnIbm hm\pw aXn. \√ Hcp sSsÃSp°p.' Abmƒ IÆndp°n°mń. AXn¬ Zpcpt±iysam∂pan√. shdpw kulm¿±w am{Xw. Ahsf klmbn °m\p≈ D’mlhpw. AXv A]¿Æ°p a\nembn. "CXv tZth{µ `Ńmcy. ssN\m\nbpsS t^hdn‰v t_mbv. Hcp ]t£ C ¥ybnseXs∂ G‰hpw henb Imadmam≥. ]mcokn¬ Hcp C‚¿\mj\¬ Ahm¿sU√mw Inńbn´p≠v.' "hcq.' tZhv Ahsf ÃpUntbmhntebv°p \bn®p. AbmfpsS s]cpam‰w hfsc ]Xap≈Xmbncp∂p. kvt\lhpw am\yXbpap≈Xmbncp∂p. am\yXbpap≈Xmbn cp∂p. A[nIw Dbcan√msX saen™ Hcp a\pjy\mbncp∂p tZhv. Hcp s{^©vXmSn AbmfpsS apJØn\p \ofwIqń. "F{X kabw FSp°pw?' "GItZiw Hcp aWn°q¿.' tZhv ]d™p. "Rms\m∂v Np‰n hcmw. Ipd®v AXymhiyImcyßƒ. A]¿Æm, sF hn¬ ]nIvbp A]v A‰v Sz¬∆v.' "HmsI, Xm¶vkv.' Ahƒ Xebmń. kp\n¬ hmXn¬ IS∂v t]mbn. AhtfmSv hnhn[ t]mkpIfn¬ \n¬°m≥ ]d™tijw ]d™tij w tZhv Imadbv°p ]n∂n¬ t]mbn. hnf°pIƒ sXfn™p. ImadbpsS ¢nIv i–w ^vfmjpIƒ. tZhv CSbv°p h∂v AhfpsS t]mkpIfn¬ am‰w hcpØn. hfsc hnIesa∂vtXm∂p∂ t]mkpIƒ. AbmfpsS s]cpam‰w hfsc am\yambn cp∂p. A\mhiyambn Hcp kv]¿iw t]mepap≠mbn√. AXymhiyw t]mkpIƒ am‰ptºmƒ Abmƒ AhfpsS ssIIfn¬ hfsc arZphmbn sXmSpI am{Xw sNbv Xp. Xp. AbmfpsS IÆpIƒ Ahsf Hcp IemhkvXpsht∏mse Bcm[\m`mhtØmsS t\m°n. Hcp]t£ Xm≥ kn\namtemIsØ∏‰n tI´sX√mw sX‰mbncn°mw. A]¿Æ hnNmcn®p. CXphsc ]cnNb s∏´hsc√mw hfsc acymZ°m¿Xs∂. kp\n¬, ssN\m\n, tZhv. Bcpw Ahsf acymZbn√msX acymZbn √msX t\m°pI t]mepw sNbvXnń√. Hcp ]t£ X\n°v acymZtbmSpw am\tØmSpw IqSn kn\namtemIØn¬ IS∂pIqSm\pw tPmensbSp°m\pw Ignt™°pw. s]s´∂v tZhv Imad \n¿Øn. taitaep≈ kzn®pIfa¿Øn ^vfUv sse‰pIƒ sISpØn. apdn NqSmbncp∂p. "C\n \ap°v _nIv\nbn¬ Ipd®p t^mt´mIƒ FSp°Ww.' tZhv ]d™p Abmƒ taihen∏n¬\n∂v Hcp πmÃnIv k©nsbSpØv Ahƒ°p sImSpØp. heØp hiØp≈ Npacnse hmXnentebv°p Nq≠n°mń ]d™p. "AXv {UnMvdqamWv. hnjaamhns√¶n¬ Cu _nIv\nbntebv°v amdn hcq.' A]¿Æ k©n Xpd∂p t\m°n. AXnsemcp ]pXnb Sq]okv _nIv\nbp≠mbncp∂p. nbp≠mbn cp∂p. Ahƒ aSn°msX s{UnMv dqantebv dv qantebv °p °p \S∂p. {UnMv dqans‚ hep∏w Ahsf AZv`pXs∏SpØn. ]ØSntbmfw \ofhpw A{XXs∂ hoXnbpap≠mhpw. \neØv ]chXm\n. AXnse Nn{Xw ÃpUntbmhnse ]chXm\nbn¬ \n∂v hyXyÿamWv . \new sXm´v apIfn¬ ^mƒkvkoenMv hsc hne]nSn® IÆmSn. IdpØ •mpIfmWv. ^mƒkv koenßn¬ \n∂p hcp∂ shfn®w apdnsb AXn Zo]vXam°nbncp∂p. ssN\m\n sNøp∂Xnse√mw sNøp∂Xnse√ mw Hcp ¢mps≠∂v Ahƒ°p kΩXnt°≠n h∂p. Ahƒ tSm∏ns‚ lp°pIfgn°m≥ XpSßn. IÆmSnbn¬ AhfpsS cq]w t\scbpw FXncmbpw \nc∂p InS°p∂p. Hcp henb AºeØnse {iotImhnentebv °p≈ °p≈ \S t]mse AXv A\¥ambn \o≠p InS°pI bmWv. Ahƒ hkv{Xßƒ Hmtcmt∂mtcm∂mbn Agn®p am‰n. Hcp I¿Ωw A\pjvTn°p∂ t]mse, kmh[m\ Øn¬, Agn®p Ifbp∂ ta\n`mKsØ \·X kzbw BkzZn®p sIm≠v. s]s´∂hƒ Hm¿Øp. Xm≥ \n¬°p∂ apdn F{XtØmfw kzImcyamWv? B¿s°¶nepw IÆmSnbneqsS ImWm≥ Ignbptam? C√mbncn°mw, D≠mbncn°mw. D≠mbncn°mw . Ahƒ s]s´∂v _nIv\nsbSpØpSpØp. _nIv\n hfsc hoXn Ipd™Xmbncp∂p. ]t£ Ahƒ Iqknbn√. ¢∫nse kznΩnMv v ]qf ]qfn¬ n¬ _nIv\n \n [cn® [cn®vAhƒ v Ahƒ \o¥mdp≠v . AXp ]t£ h¨]okv _nIv\nbmWv AhfpsS ap≥`mKw apgph\pw ]n≥`mKw ap°mepw adbv°mdp≠v. Ct∏mƒ Cńcn°p∂Xv icn°pw sNdpXp Xs∂bmWv. AhfpsS amdnSw Akm[mcW hep∏w tXm∂n®p. IÆmSnbn¬ Ahƒ hfsc skIvknbmbn tXm∂n. \√Xv. F{XtØmfw skIvknbmhp∂pthm A{Xbpw kn\nabn¬ IS∂p IqSm\p≈ Ahkchpw IqSnhcp∂p. Ahƒ ]pdØpIS∂p. tZhv taita¬ Nmcn\n∂v knKc‰v hen°pIbmWv. Fb¿ I≠oj≥ sNbvX ÃpUntbmhn¬ knKc‰ns‚ aWw Nqgv∂p\n∂p. Abmƒ Po≥kmWv Cńcn°p∂sX∂v Ahƒ At∏msg {i≤n®p≈q. JZdns‚ Hcp Ip¿Øbpw. A]¿Æsb I≠t∏mƒ Abmƒ knKc‰v IpØns°SpØn. ^vfUv sse‰pIƒ IØn. Iymad t^m°kv sNbvXp. ho≠pw t]mkpIƒ. ssIIƒ Db¿Øp. AsX Aßns\, ImepIƒ aS°n, Aev]w Ipºn´v........ tZhv bm{¥nIambn ]d™p sIm≠ncp∂p. AbmfpsS apJw \n¿∆nImcambncp∂p. AXhsf AZv`pXs∏SpØn. Xs‚ tZlØns≥ \·`mKßƒ Abmfn¬ bmsXmcp hnImchpw DW¿Øp∂ns√∂Xv BizmkP\Ihpw AtX kabw \ncmimhlhpambncp∂p. Ct∏mƒ Abmƒ Hcp aqhn Imadbn¬ AhfpsS Ne\ßƒ ]I¿ØpIbmbncp∂p. s]s´∂bmƒ \n¿Øn.

16


Imad am‰n h®v Abmƒ Ahsf t\m°n. Ahƒ Fgpt∂‰p\n∂p, tNmZy]q¿∆w Abmsf t\m°n. "\nßfpsS apJØp\n∂v Nncn Xosc am™p t]mbncn°p∂p.' Xs‚ apJØp Ipd®pt\cambn ]S¿∂ph∂ \ockhpw sS≥j\pw Ahƒ At∏mgmWv a\nem°p∂Xv. Ahƒ Nncn®p. tZhv Hcp knKc‰v sImfpØn. "Rms\mcp ]cat_md\mWt√?' Abmƒ tNmZn®p. Ahƒ°v Ip‰t_m[w tXm∂n. "AX√....' Ahƒ £am]WtØmsS ]d™p. "Rm≥ s]s´∂v F∂ntebv°pXs∂ Xncn®p t]mbn.' "Han Pm\o.' F\n°dnbmw. tZhv ]d™p. "\ΩpsS D≈nse sshcp≤yßfntebv °v °v Hcp Xo¿∞bm{X, As√? Rm\pw sNømdp≠Xv. PohnXw Hcp henb {]iv\w Xs∂bmWt√? A]¿ÆmPn BtemNn°p∂sX¥mWv Fs∂\n°dnbmw. sSÃns‚ êsØ°pdn®v. AXp Ign™m¬ kn\nabn¬ Hcp \√ tdmƒ In´p∂Xns\ °pdn®v. BZysØ aqhn ln‰mhp∂Xns\∏‰n, ]cmPbòXn. CsX√mw `bmi¶Iƒ `bmi¶ Iƒ D≠m°p∂XmWv.' A]¿Æ H∂pw ]d™n√. F¥mWv ]dbm\p≈Xv? tZhnt\mSv Ipd®pIqSn kvt\l]q¿∆w s]cpamdmambn cp∂p. Cw•ojn\p ]Icw _wKmfnbn¬ kwkmcn°mambncp∂p. Ft¥m, AbmfpsS \n¿∆nImcX AhfpsS a\ns\ _m[n°pIbmWv D≠mbXv. Abmƒ Xs‚ kuµcyw BZcthmsS t\m°nbncps∂¶n¬ Cu \n¿∆nImcX D≠mhn√mbncp∂p. Abmƒ ImatØmsS, Aev]w A«oeamsb¶nepw Xs∂ t\m°nbncps∂ ¶n¬ t]mepw Xm≥ {]iwkn°s∏Spambncp∂p. {]iwkn°s∏Spambncp∂p. Ct∏mƒ X\n°p≠mbXv XnckvImcØns‚ Nphbmbncp∂p Nphbmbncp∂p sh∂v Ahƒ a\nem°n. ]t£ AbmfXv Dt±in®nńs√∂p hy‡w. "Bhiyap≈{X tjm´pIƒ Inńbn´p≠v \ap°v \n¿Ømw. F¥mWv IpSn°m≥ th≠Xv?' tZhv tNmZn®p. "F\n°v XWpØsXs¥¶nepw aXn.' "icn Rm≥ Hm¿U¿ sNømw. A]¿ÆmPn {Up sNbvXp sIm≈q.' Ahƒ {UnMvdqantebv°p \S∂p. hmXnens‚ ]nSnbn¬ ssI h®p Xncn™p \n∂p. "Fs∂ A]¿ÆmPnsbs∂m∂pw hnfnt°≠.' Abmƒ Nncn®p. AhfpsS apJsØ \ockw At∏mgpw t]mbnńs√∂v {UnMv dqanse IÆmSn t\m°nbt∏mgmWv Ahƒ °p a\nembXv . Ahƒ IÆmSn t\m°n Nncn°m≥ {ian®p. Nncn°m\p≈ {iaw C\n as‰mchkcØnemImw. Ahƒ Kuchap≈ apJtØmsS kzbw ]d™p. Ahƒ _nIv\n Agn®pam‰n. Xncn®p ]pdØp IS∂t∏mƒ tZhv A{]Xy£\mbncp∂p. Ahƒ Hcp Nqc¬ Itkebnencp∂p. hmXn¬ Xpd∂vkn¬Iv kn¬Iv kmcnbpSpØ Hcp s]Ïpń t{Sbn¬ Xºv k∏vsIm≠ph∂p. sIm≠ph∂p. Ah •mpIfn¬ Hgn®v Hcp •mv A]¿Æbv°p sImSpØ tijw as‰ •mv t{StbmSp IqSn taita¬ h®p.. "tZhv km_ns‚ •mv ChnsS h®n´p≠v.' Xºvk∏ns‚ Ip∏nIfpambn B s]Ïpń t]mbn. hmXneS™p. hmXn eS™p. A]¿Æ BtemNn®p. ]® kn¬°p kmcnbpw ªukpw Xebn¬ kn¬°v kvIm¿^pw ssN\m\nbpsS tPmen°mcnIfpsS bq\nt^mw BWv. •mnse t{Ãm FSpØpIf™v t\cn´v IpSn®p sIm≠ncns° tZhv {]Xy£s∏´p. Abmƒ Ahƒs°Xnsc bp≈ Nqc¬ Itkebn¬ h∂ncp∂p •msSpØv samØn Xncn®ph®p, Hcp knKcs‰SpØv sImfpØn. "Aev]w ] w £an°msa¶n¬ Ãn¬kns‚ {]n‚pIƒ ImWmw.' tZhv ]d™p. "kp\n¬ ]{¥≠n\p hcmsa∂t√ ]d™ncn°p∂Xv?' "AsX'. ]ns∂ UbtemsKm∂pan√. Ahƒ XWpØ ]m\obw IpSn®p sIm≠ncns° Abmƒ knKc‰p k nKc‰p hen®p ]pI hn´p. s]s´∂bmƒ knKc‰nse Nmcw ]IpXn IpSn®ph® •mn\p apIfntebv°p sIm≠pt]mIp∂Xv Ahƒ Ipds®mcp ]cn{àtØmsS t\m°n \n∂p. AhfpsS t\m´w I≠t ∏mgmWv Abmfpw {i≤n®Xv. ]t£ At∏mtgbv°v sshInbncp∂p. knKc‰ns‚ Nmcw •mn¬ hoWp. "Hm! Abmw tkmdn. Rm≥ Ipd®v A{i≤\mbn.' Nmcw •mn\Snbn¬ hoWpInS°p∂Xhƒ t\m°n. AXnt∑¬ IpanfIƒ I\Øp IqSp∂p. "Rm\nt∏mƒ hcmw...' tZhv Hcp hiØp≈ hmXn¬ IS∂v AIØpt]mbn. AIØv Nph∂ shfn® ap≠mbncp∂p. tZhv hmXneS®p. A]¿Æ taita¬ NnXnd°nS°p∂ ^nenw amKkn\pIƒ Hmtcms∂SpØv hmbn®p XpSßn. kabw Iptdbmbn´p≠mIpw. tZhvhmXn¬ Xpd∂n´p. Abmƒ Hcp shfpØ s{Sbn¬\n∂v sh≈an‰phogp∂ Nn{Xßƒ Hcp NcSn¬ Xq°nbnSp∂Xv ]IpXn Xpd∂ hmXneneqsS Ahƒ I≠p. Abmƒ apdnbn¬ sse‰n´v Ahsf hnfn®p. hnhn[ t]mkpIfnep≈ Nn{Xßƒ hfsc sXfnatbmsS Im_n\‰v sskkn¬ hepXm°n FSpØncn °p∂p. \nch[n Nn{Xßƒ. Xm≥ hfsc A¿∞iq\ysa∂p IcpXnbncp∂ ]e t]mkpIfpw hfsc angnhp‰Xmbn h∂ncn°p∂p. "\nßƒ c£s∏´p, \nßƒ t^mt´msP\n°mWv.' tZhv ]d™p. "C\n H∂pw t]Sn°m\n√.' hmXn¬°¬ Hcp sNdnb ap´v. hmXn¬ Xpd∂v kp\n¬ a¬tlm{X a¬t lm{X AIØp IS∂p. "tZhv, Fßns\bp≠v A]¿ÆbpsS Nn{Xßƒ?"

17


"AXnKwòcw.' tZhv ]d™p. Abmƒ At∏mgpw _m°n t^mt´mIƒ Xq°nbnSp Xq°nbnSp∂ ∂ Xnc°nembncp∂p. kp\n¬ ASpØp h∂v Nn{Xßƒ t\m°n. "dnben FIvke‚ v.' kp\n¬ A`n{]mbs∏´p. "A]¿Æm bphm¿ bphm¿ ssl¿Uv. Rm≥ Ct∏mƒØs∂ `mh\ bn¬ ImWp∂p, \ns‚ Nn{Xw sh≈nØncbn¬ \nd™p \n¬°p∂Xv. bp hn¬_n F t{Kbv‰v ln‰v Hm¨ Z _nKv kv{Io≥.' A]¿Æ AXpXs∂bmbncp∂p `mh\bn¬ I≠ncp∂Xv. \mbIs‚ amdn¬ Xe Nmbv®v hnImcmthi tØmsS IÆp ]mXnbS®v \n¬°p∂ \mbnI. kp\n¬ C‚¿tImsaSpØv _´\pIƒ Aa¿Øn. "ssN\m\nkm_v {ôbmtWm F∂p t\m°mtam?' "_nknbmtWm? icn Um¿enMvv. ]ns∂ \o ]d™ Imcyw Fs‚ a\nep≠v. Rm≥ At\zjn®psIm≠ncn °p∂p. \o Dt±in® \ndw In´m\mWv hnjaw.... t\m t\m, \n\°p th≠n AXpw AXne∏pdhpw Rm≥ sNønt√ Um¿enMv...' kp\n¬ C‚¿tImans‚ dnkoh¿ Xmsg sh®p. "F¥mWv tawkm_n\v th≠Xv?' tZhv tNmZn®p. ""tawkm_n\v th≠Xv Hcp kvIm¿^mWv. kn¬Iv kvIm¿^v. AXns‚ \ndw aghn√n¬°qSnbn√mØXmWv. Hcp kmºvƒ ]okpw sIm≠v Rm≥ \S°pIbmWv.' "\nXns‚ ]n.F. BWv.' kp\n¬ A]¿ÆtbmSp ]d™p. "F ss\kv tKƒ.' Im¿ ]m¿°p sNbvXnStØbv°v shbn¬ h∂ncp∂p. Z£nWmb\amWv. A]¿Æ a\n¬ IcpXn. ]{¥≠c aWnbmbn´pw kpcycivanIƒ sNcn™mWv hoWncp ∂Xv. ChnsS t_mws_bn¬ C{Xtb hcq. I¬°Øbn¬ C\nbpw \ofp∂ \ngepIƒ lnamebkm\p°fn¬ \n∂v XWp∏v sIm≠phcp∂p. \´p®bv°pw shbnen\v NqSp≠mhn√. XWp∏pImew. Ahƒ KrlmXpctbmsS Hm¿Øp.

5 apºn¬ NnXdn°nS°p∂ t^mt´mIƒ Hcn°¬°qSn kp\µ t\m°n. ]pXnb s]ÏpńbpsS icocw

hSnshmØXmbncp∂p. _nIv\nbnep≈ Nn{Xßƒ AXv hnfn®p]d™p. Xs‚ tZltØ°mƒ sa®s∏´XmWv B Cfw icocsa∂v icocsa ∂v Ahƒ I≠p. Xs‚ Xs ‚ amdnSw Iptd°qSn Ip td°qSn I\ØXmWv I\Ø XmWv. ]t£ tZlsØ a‰p `mKßfp `mKßfpww A\p]mXw sX‰n hepXmbncn°p∂p. hepXmbncn°p∂p. tbmKmk\ßƒ°pw a‰v Ik¿ØpIƒ°pw B hf¿®sb sNdpØp sNdp Øp \n¬°m≥ Bhp∂n√. s]ÏpńbpsS apJhpw sjdq_nIv F∂p ]dbp∂ XcØn¬ \njvIf¶amWv. Hcp \mbnIbv°v AXymhiyw th≠ KpWw. ssN\m\n X\n°v Hcp òjWn ImWn®pXcnIbmtWm? Xs‚ hne Ipdbv°m≥ th≠n? Xs∂ kmh[m\ Øn¬ XakvIcn°psa∂v Xt‚Xmb coXnbn¬ ssN\m\n Adnbn°pIbmtWm? ssN\m\n Xs‚ ]n∂n¬ h∂p \n∂Xv Ahƒ Adn™n√. AXpsIm≠v Abmƒ Npaen¬ ssIh®t∏mƒ Ahƒ sRń. "\o F¥mWv sRńbXv?' ssN\m\n tNmZn ®p. Ahƒ H∂pw ]dbmsX Npa¬ Ipep°pI am{Xw sNbvXp. AhfpsS •mv Hgn™ncp∂p. "Rm≥ Ipd®p kvtIm®v FSp°s´?' Ahƒ Xebmń. X\n°Xv BhiyamWv. Ct∏mƒ {]tXyIn®pw. Pn≥ Ahƒ°v Hcp Abhpw sImSpØn√. hnkvIn FSp°s´ F∂ tNmZyØn\p ]n∂nse Dt±iyw Ahƒ°vhy‡ambncp∂p. Ft∏mgpw Aßns\bmWv. kp\µbpsS Zu¿∫eyw ssN\m\n°dnbmw. Xs‚ C„{]Imcw Ahsf Ahs f In´Wsa¶n¬ c≠p s]§v hnkvIn sImSp°pIbmWv \√sX∂v Abmƒ a\nem°nbncp∂p. hnkvIn Ign°m\p≈ AhfpsS Ignhv Abmsf AZv`pXs∏SpØnbn´p≠v. ab°Ønt\mSSpØ Hcp elcn kp\µsb kp\µb√mXm°p∂p. ]ns∂ ssN\m\n F∂ t_mv C√, ]Icw X\ns°m∏w \n¬°p∂ Hcp ]¶mfn am{Xw. AbmfpsS C„m\n„ßƒ am{Xw {i≤n®v InS° ]¶nSp∂ sNdp∏°mcn. Hgn™ •mpIsfSpØv ssN\m\n _mdntebv°p \S∂p. •mpIƒ am‰nh®v sj¬^n¬ \n∂v ]pXnbh FSpØp. dm°n¬ \n∂v slbvKns‚ ]pXnb Ip∏n Xpd∂v c≠p •mpIfn¬ •m pIfn¬ Hgn®p. {^n÷n¬ \n∂v sFkv Iyq_pIƒ FSpØn´p. "tkmU?' "sbkv πokv, ^n¬ Z •mv.' Hm¨ Z tdm°vXń IpS¬ Icn°m≥ kp\µsb Inń√. [mcmfw tkmU tN¿Øv As√¶n¬ sh≈w tN¿Øp am{Xw. AXpw hfsc kmh[m\Øn¬, Hmtcm Cd°nepw elcnbpsS BtcmlWkv]µ\ß ƒ A\p`hn ®dn™v. ssN\m\n Aßns\b√. tkmUbn√, shdpw sFkvIyq_pIƒ am{Xw. Ah kmh[m\Øn¬ Aen™p≠mIp∂ {ZhoIcWw am{Xw. AXn\∏pdsØmcp ambw tN¿°¬ At±lØn\v C„a√. "Notbgvkv.' "Notbgvkv.' Ah¿ •mpsaSpØv ssN\m\nbpsS hn{iaapdnbntebv°p IS∂p. hn{iaapdnbntebv°p≈ hmXn¬ Xncn®dnbm≥ ]‰mØ hn[amWv D≠m°nbncn°p D≠m°nbncn°p∂Xv ∂Xv. \nch[n Iam\ßfnsem∂v hmXnemWv. hmXn¬

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Xpd∂S®m¬ AXp ho≠pw Hcp Iam\w am{XamIp∂p. ssN\m\n Ccn°p∂ apdnbpsS hmXnen\ p ]pdØv Nph∏p shfn®w IØn\n¬°p∂nStØmfw B¿°pw {]thin°m≥ ]‰n√. CsX√mw kp\µbv°dnbmw. AXpsIm≠v Ahƒ°v bmsXmcp hn[Ønep≈ Bi¶bpan√, {]tXyIn®v AIsØ hn{iaapdnbntebv°p IS∂m¬. ]t£ AhfpsS a\v {]£pœambncp∂p. hnimeamb apdnbn¬ Hcp sNdnb kz¿§w kr„n®ncn °bmWv ssN\m\n. Ijvaocn¬ \n∂p hcpØnb ]chXm\n \·amb Im¬]mZßsf Hcp t]matd\nbs‚ sIm®p\mhpt]mse \°p∂p. hne]nSn® s]¿^yqans‚ hmk\ A¥co£Øn¬. \Sphnen´ Ińen¬ ]Xp]XpØ InS°. Nphcn¬ HcphiØv apgph≥ \new sXmSp∂ I¿´≥. a‰p NphcpIfn¬ henb Im≥hmpIfn¬ HdnPn\¬ s]bv‚ nßpIƒ. at‰ apdnbnep≠mbncp∂ kwKoXw Cu apdnbnepap≠mbncp∂p. Ipd®pt\cambn Ahƒ AXp {i≤n®ncp∂n√. Ahƒ Hscm‰ hmbbv°v ]IpXn •mpw IpSn®p Xo¿Øp. ssN\m\n Ahsf AZv`pXtØmsS t\m°pIbmbncp∂p. "C∂v \n\s°¥p ]‰o?' Ahƒ°v Dds° IcbWsa∂p tXm∂n. Hcp]t£ Xm≥ IcpXp∂t]mse H∂pambncn°n√ Imcyßƒ. ssN\m\nbv°v Xs∂ Hgnhm°m\p≈ Dt±iysam∂pap≠mhn√. ]t£ Ahƒ°v Hcpd∏v thWw. AXmIs´ ssN\m\nbn¬\n∂v hcp∂pan√. ssN\m\n Aßns\bmWv s]s´s∂m∂pw DcpIpIbn√. Abmƒ AhfpsS Acs°ńeqsS ]nSn®v ASp∏n®p. "C∂v \n\°v Ft¥m ]‰nbn´p≠v.' Ahƒ ho≠pw IpSn°pIbmWv. •mv Xocmdmbn. Ahƒ Hcp hen°v •mv Imenbm°n Hcp Sot]mbnta¬ h®v ssN\m\nbpsS tXmfneqsS c≠p ssIøpan´p. Xm≥ sNøp∂Xns‚ A¿∞iq\yX Hcp \nanjw Ahsf {Kkn®p. Xs‚ GsX¶nepw Hcp kn\nabnse cwKamWsX∂hƒ IcpXn. UbdŒ¿ I´v]dbp∂ \nanjw Ahƒ ImØncp∂p. ^vfUv sse‰pIfn√, Imadbn√, ]n∂n¬ I´v ]dbm≥ UbdŒdpan√. Ahƒ H‰bv°v. Np‰pw XWpØpdbp∂ GIm¥X am{Xw. ssN\m\n Ahsf InSbv°bntebv°p \bn®p.

6 Ab\ßsf∏‰nØs∂bmWv UbdŒ¿ hnt\mZv Nµm\nbpw ]d™ncp∂Xv. Abmƒ Imdn¬ Ibdn Ibd n CSØp hi sØ tUm¿ A]¿Æbv°p Ibdm≥ Xpd∂psImSpØp. ]ns∂ Im¿ Ãm¿´m°n sKbv‰p IS°ptºmƒ ]d™p. "A]¿Æ kqcys‚ Ab\ßƒ {i≤n®n´pt≠m? amkßƒ amdp∂Xn\\p kcn®v hgnamdn \S°p∂ kqcys‚ ]Yw?' Z£nWmb\amWnt∏mƒ. Ft¥m ad∂p h® t]msebmWv kqcy≥.' A]¿Æ hnt\mZns\ {i≤n®p. C{X bpw \∂mbn kwkmcn°p∂ Hcmsf \SmsSbmWhƒ ImWp∂Xv. hnt\mZv Hcp Ihnbmth≠Xmbncp∂p. Hcp]t£ Abmƒ A{`Øn¬ IhnX cNn°pIbmbncn°pw. cNn°pIbmbn cn°pw. kqcys‚ KXnhyXymkßƒ Ahƒ {i≤n°mdp≠v, {]tXyIn®pw I¬°Øbnembncp∂t∏mƒ. I¬°Øbn¬ EXpt`Zßƒ hfsc {]ISambncp∂p. Hmtcm EXp°ƒ°pw AXnt‚Xmb K‘ßfp≠mbncp∂p, \ndßfp≠mbncp∂p. ChnsS t_mws_bn¬ Aßns\sbm∂pan√. A ßns\sbm∂pan√. hnt\mZns‚ H∏w \S°m≥ Ahƒ C„s∏´Xpw AbmfpsS kwkmcw ImcWambncp∂p. Xm≥ ssN\m\nbpsS tPmenbnemWv. ]t£ F¥mWv Xs‚ tPmensb∂v Ahƒ°nXphsc a\nembnń√. ]pXnb ^nenans‚ jqńMv F∂mWv XpSßpIsb∂v B¿°pw Adnbn√. kp\nen\p t]mepw. ]t£ F√mhcpw AXns\∏‰n Xs∂bmWv kwkmcn°p∂Xv. am[yaßƒ kvIq∏pIƒ FgpXnbp≠m°p∂p. AXnse \mb I∑msc∏‰n, \mbnIbmcmsW∂Xns\∏‰n. Hcp amkw apºp hsc \mbnI Bcmbncn°psa∂Xns\∏‰n kwibtabp≠mbncp∂n√.. kp\µ Hcp kzoIcn°s∏´ bmYm¿∞yambncp∂p. ]t£ C∂v]{Xßƒ kwibtabp≠mbncp∂n√ ]{Xßƒ A]¿Æ bpsS t]¿ IqSn H∏w tN¿°p∂p. Ahfpambn C‚¿hyq \SØp∂p. Nnet∏mƒ Ahƒ°p tXm∂mdp≠v Xs∂ s]s´s∂mcp Znhkw \mbnIbm°m≥ ssN\m\n XømsdSp°pIbmsW∂v. ]{Xßfnep≈ hm¿ØIfpw A`napJßfpw F√mw At±lw ]Ww sNehm°n sNøn°p∂XmsW∂v. Hcp Znhkw sIm≠v Hcp \mbnIsb kr„n°m≥ Ignhp≈ BfmWv \nXn≥ ssN\m\n. "\ap°v Fs¥¶nepw Ign®mtem?' hnt\mZv tNmZn®p. "icn'. Ahƒ ]d™p. Ahƒ°p icn°pw hni°p∂p≠mbncp∂p. jqńMv jqńM v kabØp apgph≥ Ahƒ Abmsf ImØp\n¬°pIbmbncp∂p. ImØp\n¬°pIbmbnc p∂p. kp\µ D≠mbncp∂n√. kp\µbpsS jqńMv \msfbmWv. Pplp _o®n¬. F¥mbmepw t]mIWw. Ahcpambn Ahcpa mbn Hcp t\cnS¬ CXphsc D≠mbnń√. Zqsc\n∂p ImWpw. Ah¿ hfsc Xnc°p ]nSn® \SnbmWv. t]mcmØXn\v kp\µ, Xs∂ Hgnhm°m≥ {ian°bmsW∂v Ahƒ°p tXm∂pIbpw sNbvXncp∂p. ]{XßfmWv DØchmZnIƒ. Xs‚bpw kp\µbpsSbpw t]cpIƒ tN¿Ø v kvIq∏p≠m°p∂h¿. ssN\m\nbpsS ]pXnb s]Ïpńsb∂ ]Zhn AhcmWv X\n°p \¬InbXv. hnt\mZv Im¿ \n¿Øn. en¶v tdmUnse sdtÃmd≠n¬ sdtÃm d≠n¬ Xnc°p Ipdhmbncp∂p. sNΩo≥ ISve‰pw Im∏nbpw Hm¿U¿ sNbvXv hnt\mZv Nm™ncp∂p. "Hcp Xnc°pan√.' Abmƒ ]d™p. "F\n°o ÿean„amhm≥ ImcWaXmWv. ImcWaXmWv . Hcp s]Ïpńsb sIm≠p hcm≥ ]‰nb ÿew.' "icnbmWv.' Ahƒ ]d™p. ]t£ Ahƒ BtemNn°pIbmbncp∂p. BtemNn°pIbmbncp∂p. Hcp km[mcW°mc\v ]t£ _n√v sImSp°Wsa¶n¬ s]Ïpńsb AhnsS hn¬t°≠nhcpw. IgpØd°p∂ ÿew.

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"Rms\m∂v tNmZn°s´?' tNmZn®psIm≈q F∂ ań¬ hnt\mZv Ccp∂p. Abmƒ knKc‰v hen°ns√∂Xv BizmkIcambn tXm∂n Ahƒ°v. t^mt´m{Km^dpsS H∏w ÃpUntbmhn¬ Hcp aWn°q¿ sNehm°nbXn\v Ahƒ HcmgvN I„ s∏ńcp∂p. sXm≠ thZ\bpw ]\nbpw. kp\n¬ h√t∏mgpta knKc‰p hen°mdp≈q. "ssN\m\nbpsS ]pXnb s{]mUIvj\n¬ F{X \mbnIamcp≠v?' "\mbnIamtcm? \nXn≥ Ft∂mSv ]pXnb s{]mUIvjs‚ Imcyw Unkv°v sNbvXnt´bn√.' \pW. A]¿Æ a\n¬ IcpXn. hnt\mZnt\mSv kwkmcn°msX ssN\m\n kn\nabpambn _‘s∏´ Hcp Imcyhpw sNøn√. Cømƒ Hcp IńbmWv. Fs¥¶nepw Imcyßƒ Abmfn¬\n∂v In´Wsa¶n¬ Ipd®≤zm\n °Ww. "At∏mƒ ]{Xßƒ FgpXn°q´p∂tXm? FhnSp∂mWv Ah¿°v Cu hnhcßƒ In´p∂Xv?' "]{Xßƒ°v Fs¥ms°bmWv FgpXm≥ hømØXv?' icnbmWv. ]{Xßƒ FgpXp∂sXms° icnbmsW¶n¬ kn\nam temIw Im¬IpØm≥ sIm≈mØ HcnSam IWw. Aßns\b√ F∂mWhfpsS CXphscbp≈ A\p`hw. sNΩo≥ ISve‰v \∂mbncp∂p. \√ km[\ßƒ°v \√ hnebpw sImSp°Ww. sImSp°W w. Ahƒ IcpXn. ]t£ KpW ta∑bpw hnebpambn Ahiyw th≠ A\p]mXa√m Cu dtÃmd≠n¬. Im∏n IpSn®p sIm≠ncns° hnt\mZv tNmZn®p. "B¿ bp {ô Znkv Znkv hos°‚ hos°‚ v?' "Cu i\nbmgvNtbm?' "AsX......' "A¶vƒ Fs¥¶nepw πm≥ sNbvXn´pt≠m F∂dnbn√. Ds≠¶n¬Øs∂ AXp am‰mw. A¶vƒ hfsc ^vsfIvkn_vƒ BWv.... Ft¥?' "\ap°v SmPn¬ Un∂dn\p t]mImw.' "SmPn¬?' s]s´∂hfpsS i–w Db¿∂Xv AhsfØs∂ hnjan∏n®p. AXhƒ {]Xo£n®X√. kn\nam temIØvAZv `pXßsfm∂pans√∂pw AXpsIm≠vF¥pXs∂ F¥pXs∂ I≠mepw tI´mepw AZv `pXw \Sn°cpsX∂pw Ahƒ a\nem°nbncp∂p. Hcp]t£ Xs‚ i–Ønse DtØP\w hnt\mZv a\nem°nbncn°Ww. Abmƒ ]d™p. "AsX, SmPn¬Øs∂.' "F\ns°m∂v BtemNn°Ww.' Ahƒ ]d™p. "icn ]Øp sk°‚p X∂ncn°p∂p.' hnt\mZv hm®p t\m°ns°m≠v t \m°ns°m≠v ]d™p. Abmƒ [cn®ncn°p∂Xv Hcp dmtUm hm®mbncp∂p. "bp lmsh dmtUm Hm¨ bph¿ dnÃv.' hnt\mZv Nncn®p. Abmƒ FÆpIbmbncp∂p. "\mev, aq∂v, c≠v...' Ahƒ Nncn®psIm≠v ]d™p. "icn, kΩXn®p.' "Rm≥ \ns∂ hoń¬\n∂v GgpaWn°v ]n°∏p sNømw.' Abmƒ ssIøpb¿Øn shbv‰sd hnfn®psIm≠v ]d™p. "sNIv....' Abmƒ Hcp \qdns‚ t\m´v _n√ns‚ H∏w sh®psIm≠v Fgpt∂‰p. "Io]v Z tNbv©v.'

7 ssN\m\nsb ImWWsa∂ ktµiw Inńbt∏mƒ A]¿Æ ]cn{àn®p. At±lw t\cn´v hnfn°pIb√ sNbvXXv. At±lØns‚ ]n.F. BWv hnfn®Xv. "ssN\m\n km_ns\ \msf cmhnse ImWWsa∂p ]d™p. IrXyw ]Øp aWn°v.' Xs∂ tPmen°p \nban®tijw BZyambmWv ssN\m\n hnfn°p∂Xv. Ahƒ c≠pXhW Hmôkn¬ t]msb¶nepw At±lsØ ImWm≥ ]‰nbn√. ]pXnb s{]mUIvjs‚ tPmen XpSßnbm¬ hnfn°msa∂pw, AXpSs\Øs∂ D≠mhpsa∂pw ]d™p. AXn\nSbv°jqńMv v \S°p∂nSØv t]mbn Hcp ]cnNbap≠m°p hm\pw \n¿t±iw X∂p. Aßns\bmWv UbdŒ¿ hnt\mZns\ ]cnNbs∏Sp∂Xv. ]cnNbs∏SpØnbXv kp\n¬Xs∂bmbncp∂p. AXp \∂msb∂v Ahƒ Hm¿Øp. Ct∏mƒ jqńßns‚ {]iv\ßsfs¥√m amsW∂v Ahƒ°dnbmw. Hchkcw In´ptºmƒ hnjaan√msX XpSßpIbpw sNømw. SmIvkn ss{UhtdmSv ImØp\n¬°m≥ ]d™v A]¿Æ Hmôkntebv°p \S∂p. AhfpsS lrZbw h√msX anSn°p∂p≠mbncp∂p. ssN\m\nbpsS ssN\m\nbpsS apdnbpsS hmXnens‚ CSØp hiØp≈ Nn√n´ apdnbn¬ At±lØns‚ ]n.F. Ccn°p∂p≠mbncp∂p. Ipd®p hbmbn´p≠mIpsa¶nepw kpµcnbmWv Ah¿. \mev]Xv \m¬]Ø©p hbp {]mbambn´p≠mhpw. ssN\m\nbpsS kzImcy PohnXØns‚ kq£n∏pImcn bmsW∂mWv Ahsc∏‰n ]dbmsd∂v kp\n¬ kqNn∏n®ncp∂p. A]¿Æsb I≠t∏mƒ Ahƒ Fgpt∂‰p. "A]¿ÆmPo, Hcp an\n‰v Ccn°p, Rm≥ \nXn≥ km_ns\ Adnbn°mw.' A dnbn°mw.' FXn¿hiØn´ tkm^bn¬ A]¿Æ Ccp∂p. dnk]vjv\nÃv C‚¿tIman¬ ssN\m\nbpambn kwkmcn °pIbmWv. t^m¨ h®v Ahƒ A]¿ÆtbmSv ]d™p. "A]¿ÆmPn, \nXn≥ km_v ImØncn°p∂p≠v.'

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A]¿Æ Fgpt∂‰p ]pdØp IS∂p, t\sc t]mbn ssN\m\nbpsS hmXnent∑¬ apń. "Ian≥.' apdnbpsS hmXnens‚ Dcp≠ ]nSnbn¬ Aa¿Øp∂ ssI hndbv°p∂p∂Xhƒ Adn™p. ssN\m\n Fgpt∂‰p h∂p Ahƒ°v ssIsImSpØp, Ccn°m\p≈ Itke \o°nbn´p. "Ccn°q.' Ahƒ Ccp∂v AhfpsS lm‚_mKv ASpØ Itkebn¬ h®p. "kn\nasbSp°p∂Xns\∏‰n Hcp GItZicq]w Inńtbm?' "Rm≥ jqńßn\v t]mImdp≠v. C‰okv shcn C‚dÃnMvv.' "Rm≥ Hcp Imcyw ]dbm\mWv hnfn®Xv. kn\nabn¬ AXv hfsc {][m\amWv. \ns‚ Imcnbdns\ kw_‘n°p∂XmWv kw_‘n°p∂Xm Wv . \n\°v kn\namtemIØv Db¿s∂mcp ÿm\amWv Int´≠sX¶n¬ AXv s]s´∂p≠m°pIbmWv th≠Xv . Ãm¿´vhnsY hnsY _nKv _mMv .v AXn\p≈ Imcyßƒ Rm≥ t\m°p∂p≠v . ]ns∂ \o \mep kn\nam amknIIƒ°vC‚¿hyq C‚¿hyq sImSpØXmbn Adnbp∂p. AXp th≠. C‚¿hyqhns‚ Imcyßsf √mw t\m°m≥ F\ns°mcp ]ªnIv dntej≥kv Hmôk¿ D≠v. aZ≥ knßv.' ssN\m\n C‚¿tImw Aa¿Øn. "BkvIv aZ≥ Sp ao‰v an.' "sbt¿...' C‚¿tIman¬ dnk]vj\nÃns‚ ]Xn™ i–w tI´p. Cu ImcyØn¬ aZ≥ \ns∂ klmbn°pw. Abmƒ ]dbp∂ dnt∏m¿´¿am¿°pam{Xw C‚¿hy q sImSpØm¬ aXn. kwkmcnt°≠ Imcyßfpw aZ≥ ]d™pXcpw. Hcp Imcyw \o a\nem°Ww, CsX√mw ]ªnkn‰nbpsS `mKamWv. \o F¥p ]dbp∂p, F¥p sNøp∂p F∂sX√mw hfsc {][m\s∏´XmWv. Hcp XmcsØ D≠m°nsbSp°pIbmWv. AXns‚ `mKamWv CsX√mw. hmXn¬°¬ ap´v. "Ian≥.' Hcp a[yhbkvI≥ AIØp IS∂p. Ahƒ Hcp k¿Zmdns\bmWv {]Xo£n®Xv. XmSnbn√mØXpsIm≠v Abmƒ bp.]n.°mc\mbncn°psa∂hƒ IcpXn. "tam¿WnMv \nXn≥Pn.' "tamWnMvv aZ≥. Ccn°p. CXv A]¿Æ. ]pXnb \SnbmWv. \ΩpsS ]pXnb saKms{]mUIvj\ntebv \ ntebv°v FSpØXmWv. ]ªnkn‰nbpsS Imcyw t\m°Ww. \me©v kvIq∏pIƒ h∂p Ign™p. C\n kq£n°Ww. ]cnNban√mØ IpńbmWv.' "sbt¿.' "ChtfmSv hnt\mZnt\msSm∏w \n∂v Imcyßƒ ]Tn°phm≥ Bhiys∏ń´p≠v. ]pXnb s{]mUIvjs‚ h¿°v XpSßm≥ Ipd®p IqSn Xmakaps≠∂dnbmas√m.' "icn k¿.' "icn, s]mbvt°mfq.' aZ≥ knßv Fgpt∂‰p t]mbn. "A]¿Æbv°v ss{UhnMvv Adnbmtam?' ssN\m\n tNmZn®p. "Adnbmw k¿.' "Rm≥ Hcp ^nbm‰v Im¿ G¿∏mSm°mw. kz¥w Im¿ hmßmdmIp∂hsc hmßmd mIp∂hsc AXp]tbmKn°mw. C‚¿hyqhn eqsSbpw kn\nabneqsSbpa√mØ kn\nabneqsSbpa √mØ FIvkvt]mj¿ Ignbp∂Xpw Ipd°pI. \nßƒ Hcp tNmk≥ h¨ BsW∂ {]XoXnbp≠m°Ww. a\nemtbm.' "a\nembn.' "icn, s]mbvt°mfp.' Xncn®v SmIvknbn¬ aSßptºmƒ SmIvkn°mc≥ ]d™p. "ssN\m\n km_ns‚ ]pXnb ]Sw hcp∂p≠v. c≠p tImSnbmWs{X sNehv. aq∂p lotdmhpw. ssN\m\n km_ns‚ ]Sw ln‰mhpw.' t\m°nt°m. A]¿Æ hnNmcn®p. ]Sw ]pdØndßptºmƒ aq∂v \mbI∑mcpsS H∏w \mbnIbmbn A`n\bn °p∂Xv Hcp Znhkw \ns‚ SmIvknbn¬ km¥m{Iqkn¬\n∂v hns√ ]m¿se FbvØv tdmUntebv°v bm{X sNbvX A]¿Æsb∂ s]Ïpńbmbncn°pw. At∏mƒ Abmƒ Hm¿°ptam Bthm.

8 ssN\m\ntbmSvkwkmcn°m≥Xs∂ kp\µ Xo¿®bm°n. am[yaßfnse IYIƒ hfsc ho¿∏papń°p ho¿∏papń°p∂ ∂ XmWv . A]am\IcamWv . H∂pIn¬ Abmƒ Imcyw hy‡am°Ww, As√¶n¬ am[yaßfn¬ th≠ XncpØep Iƒ sImSp°Ww. Ahƒ ssN\m\nbpsS t\cn´p≈ \º¿ Ub¬ sNbvXp. kp\µbS°w hfsc Ipd®pt]cpsS Iønte Cu \ºdp≈q. "\nXn≥Pn, CXp Rm\mWv kp\µ.' "F\n°p a\nembn C{X a[pcamb i–w thsd B¿°mWp≈Xv?'

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"Xm¶vkv t^m¿ Z tImwπnsa‚ vkv. F\ns°m∂p ImWWsa∂p≠mbncp∂p.' "icnbmWv.' ssN\m\n ]d™p. "\Ωƒ "\Ω ƒ I≠n´v Ct∏mƒ HcmgvN Ign™p. Ign™ i\nbmgvNbt√ \o h∂Xv. icn°pw HcmgvN. ImtW≠Xv Ft‚bpw BhiyamWv. Ct∏mƒ hcq.' "Xnc°nemtWm?' "kp\µbv°pth≠n am‰nhbv°m≥ ]‰mØ Xnc°v F¥mWp≈Xv?' "\nßsfs∂ {]iwksIm≠v izmkw apń°p∂p.' "{]iwk am{Xw. _m°nbp≈ Imcyßƒ t\cn¬.' Cu a\pjy≥ Ft¥m henb IfnbnemWv. t^m¨ Xmsg h®p sIm≠v kp\µ hnNmcn®p. A`n\µ\ßfpw {]iwkbpw ]XnhmWv. ]t£ Cu \nebn¬ ]Xnhn√mØXmWv. At∏mƒ Fs¥¶nepw ImWpw. Ahƒ ]pds∏ Sm≥ XpSßn. dnk]vj\nÃv kp\µsb I≠t∏mƒ Fgpt∂‰v, Nncn®psIm≠v ]d™p. "ssN\m\n km_v kp\µmPnsb ImØncn°p∂p.' "Xm¶vkv, cRvPn\n.' ssN\m\n km[mcWańtem AXne[nItam Xt∂mSv kvt\l]q¿∆w s]cpamdp∂p. hmXn¬ IS∂ DSs\ Itkebn¬ \n∂v Fgpt∂‰p h∂v ssN\m\n Ahsf Acs°ńeqsS ]nSn®Sp∏n®v ]nSn®Sp∏n®v Npw_n®p. At±lØn\v Npw_\Øns‚ Ahÿbn¬ FØWsa¶n¬ km[mcW \nebn¬Øs∂ c≠p s]s§¶nepw AIØp sN√Ww. At±lsØ hnkvInbpsS aWap≠mbncp∂n√. "F¥p ]‰o C∂v?' kp\µ Aºct∏msS At\zjn®p. "C∂p Rm≥ kp\µsb AZv`pXs∏SpØphm≥ t]mIp∂p. F en¬ _nt‰m^v kkvs∏≥kv.' Itkebn¬ Ccp∂p Ign™t∏mƒ kp\µ Xs‚ ssIk©n ssIk ©n Xpd∂v GXm\pw t]∏¿ IńßpIƒ ]pdsØ SpØv ssN\m\nbv°p \oń. "CXns\°pdns®ms° F¥mW`n{]mbw?' ssN\m\n B IńßpIƒ hmßn Ht∂mSn®p t\m°n Ah AhfpsS apºntebv°pXs∂ C´p. "{Smjv.' "F∂ph®m¬...?' "Ah shdpw {SmjmsW∂pXs∂. ]pXpXmbn \nban® Hcp s]Ïpńb√ Iº\nbpsS t]mfnknIfpw πm≥kpw \n¿Æbn°p∂Xv. ]{X°m¿°v Ahsfs°m≠v F¥pw ]dbn°mw.' "CXns\mcdpXn thWsa∂v \nXn≥Pn°v tXm∂p∂ns√?' "D≠v, D≠mhpIbp D≠mhpIbpww sNøpw. sNøpw. A]¿Ætbm A]¿ÆtbmSp Sp ]d™n´p≠v, C\n C\ n apX¬ ]{X°m¿°v C‚¿hyq C ‚¿hyq sImSp°cp sIm Sp°cp sX∂v . sImSp°pIbmsW¶n¬Øs∂ AXvaZ≥ ]dbp∂ dnt∏m¿´¿°p am{Xw. Rm≥ aZt\mSpw ]d™n´p≠v. Rm\nXv t\csØ ]dtb≠Xmbncp∂p. ]t£ Ahƒ C{X s]s´∂v CXns\ms° C Xns\ms° t]mIpsa∂v Duln®n√. AhfpsS D’mlw ImcWamhmw, As√¶n¬ ]{X°mcpsS hƒKdmbn´p≈ hƒKdmbn´ p≈ hgnIfp≠t√m kvIq∏pIfp≠m °m≥. AXmhmw.' "NnesX√mw F\n°v hfsc UmtaPnMv BWv.' "F\n°dnbmw, sF Bw tkmdn Unb¿. Unb¿ . \o F¥mWv IpSn°p∂Xv. As√¶n¬ \ap°v e©n\v ]pdØp t]mhmw. Rm≥ C∂v \n\°p th≠n {ôbmWv.' "icn.' "\ap°v Hmtcm _nb¿ AIØm°n ]pdØndßmw.' "HmsI.' ssN\m\n C‚¿tImans‚ _´≥ Aa¿Øn. "cRvPn\n, c≠p _ob¿ sIm≠phcm≥ ]dbq.' "icn, k¿.' A©p an\p‰n\p≈n¬ Hcp s{Sbn¬ c≠p _obdpw c≠p a§pw Hcp sπbv‰n¬ hdpØ Iiph≠nbpambn bq\nt^man´ s]Ïpń FØn. _ob¿ a§pIfn¬ Hgn®v AhcpsS apºn¬ h®v Ahƒ `hyXtbmsS apdn hn´p. "Notbgvkv.....' "Notbgvkv.' _ob¿ IpSn®psIm≠ncnt° ]pXnb s{]mUIv j s‚ Imcyßƒ ssN\m\n ]d™pXpSßn. Hcp amkØn\Iw jqńMv XpSßWw. hfsc henb sk‰pIƒ. \qtdmfw IYm]m{Xßfp≠v. "Nnet∏mƒ Rm≥ BtemNn°pw, F¥n\mWv C{X henb Im≥hmkv sXcs™Sp°p∂ sX∂v .' ssN\m\n XpS¿∂p. "]t£ CXp a‰m¿°pw sNøm≥ IgnbmØXmWv. Hcp \ntbmKamWv. Rm≥ Xs∂ sNøWw.' _ob¿ Ign™t∏mƒ ssN\m\n ]d™p. "hcq.' ssN\m\nbpsS kzImcy apdnbn¬ apdn bn¬ ho≠pw kp\µbpsS `bmi¶Iƒ C√m Xmbn. ]t£ \qdp iXam\hpw C√mXm °p∂ {]IrX°mc\pa√ ssN\m\n. Hcp ]Øp iXam\w Abmƒ Abm ƒ hne t]ien\p th≠n, Np‰p]mSpIƒ X\n°\pIqeam°p∂Xn\p X\n°\pIqeam°p∂X n\p th≠n am‰nhbv°mdp≠v. ]t£ hfsc°meØn\ptijw Ahƒ Xs‚ hgn°v, X\n°v th≠p∂ hn[w ssN\m\nbpambp≈ ssewKnI_‘w t\SnsbSpØp. InS°bn¬ At\ym\yw IchebØn¬ InS°ptºmƒ ssN\m\n ]d™p.

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"kp\µ hoń¬ t]mbn ]ds∏Sp. ]{¥≠p aWn°v Rm≥ h∂v ]n°∏v sNømw. \ap°v sjd´\n¬ e©v. bp jpUv s{Uv Sp In¬.' sjd´\p apºn¬ Imdn¬\n∂ndßn ssN\m\nbpsS ssIøneqsS Xs‚ ssI tIm¿Øv \S°ptºmƒ s]s´∂v ^vfmjpIƒ an∂n. \ndsb ImadIƒ. ssN\m\n ssIhoin, kp\µbpw. At∏mƒ AXn\mWs√ sIm√m\mbn hkv{Xw [cn°Wsa∂p ]d™Xv. ssN\m\n CsX√mw πm≥ sNbvXncn°p∂p. XmgsØ \nebnse dtÃmd≠n¬ FØnbt∏mgmWv ssN\m\nbpsS πm\nßns‚ Kuchw icn°pw a\nembXv. dtÃmd≠n¬ F√mhcpw Fgpt∂‰v ssIøSn®v Ahsc kzoIcn®p. ^vf mjpIƒ an∂ns°m≠ncp∂p. hoUntbm{Km^¿am¿ Imadbpambn HmSp∂p. Hcp {]v tIm¨^d≥kmbncp∂p AXv . aZ≥knßv dnt∏m¿´¿amsc A`nkwt_m[\ sNbvXpsIm≠v kwkmcn®p. ]ns∂ ssN\m\n kp\µbpsS Acs°ńeqsS ssIøn´v ASpØ Nn{XØns‚ {]Jym]\w \SØn. aq∂p \mbI∑mcp≈ Hcp saKmaqhnbn¬ \mbnIbmbn kp\µ A`n\bn°p∂p. ssIøSnIƒ, ^vfmjpIƒ. ssN\m\n Ip\n™v kp\µbpsS Ihnfn¬ Npw_n®p.

9 "A¶vƒ, Cs∂\n°v Hcp Un∂dp≠v.' A]¿Æ ]d™p. Xcp¨ _m\¿Pn°v A`n{]mbsam∂pw D≠mbncp∂n√. Xs‚ A`n{]mb{]Imca√ A`n{]mb{]Imca √ acpaIƒ \S°p∂sX∂v Abmƒ°dnbmw. Ahsf Xs∂t∏mse Hcp Nm¿t´¿Uv A°u≠‚m°Ww F∂mbncp∂p At±lØn∂m {Klw. AXn∂mbn Ahsf _ntImw tImgv t Imgvkn\v tN¿Øp. ]t£ Ahƒs°mcp Xmev]cyhpap≠mbncp∂n√. A°ßƒ Ahsf shdn]nSn∏n®p. Fßns\sb¶nepw Hcp Un{KnsbSpØv ]TnØw Ahkm\n∏n°Wsa∂mWv Ahƒ°v. Afnb≥ acn®t∏mƒ A]¿Æbv°v Xs‚ H∏w Xmakn®v ]Tn°msa∂v _m\¿Pn Xs∂bmWv s]ßtfmSv ]d™Xv. Ct∏mƒ AXp th≠nbncp∂n√m F∂mbncn°p∂p. ]Ww Ab®psImSpØv Ab®psIm SpØv I¬°Ø bn¬Øs∂ ]Tn∏n®m¬ aXnbmbncp∂p. ]{Xßfn¬ hcp∂ dnt∏m¿´pIfn¬ acpaIƒ \nd™p \n¬°p∂Xv At±lØn¬ A`nam\ap≠m°nbn√. \ndsb NXn°pgnIfp≈ taJebmWv kn\na. ssZhw Im°s´. "FhnsSbmWv Un∂¿?' "sImfm_bnsehntStbm BWv. F\n°dnbn√. hnt\mZv sIm≠p t]mIpw.' SmPv tlménse dm‚hqhn¬ BsW∂p ]dbm≥ Ahƒ aSn®p. A¶vƒ At\zjn®p hcn√mbncn°mw. F¶nepw.... "Rm≥ sshInbm¬ At\zjn®v CdßpIsbm∂pw th≠ sIt´m.' Ahƒ ]d™p. "h√msX sshInbm¬ Rm≥ Fs‚ {^≠ns‚ hoń¬ t]mImw.' "GXv {^≠v?' "sImfm_bn¬ sUbvkn Xmakn°p∂p≠v.' "icn.' Ahƒ ap≥Iq¿ PmaysaSpØXmWv. AYhm Ahƒ°p Xncn®p hcm≥ ]‰nbns√¶n¬..... hnt\mZv Bdp aWn°pXs∂ FØn. AbmfpsS t^mIvkv hmK¨ hcp∂Xhƒ _m¬°Wnbn¬\n∂p Xs∂ I≠ncp∂p. Ahƒ ssI hoin°mWn®p. [rXnbn¬ tImWn∏SnIƒ NmSnbndßn. "t_mws_sb kw_‘nt®StØmfw Rm≥ C„s∏Sp∂ Imcyw F¥msWt∂m?' hnt\mZv ]d™p. Ah¿ _m{µ tImkvthbneqsS t]mIpIb mbncp∂p. CSXphiØv hoXn IqSnb I\m¬, adphiØv I\m¬ ISentebv°p bm{XbmIp∂p. Zqsc IS¬ Hcp Cw{]j\nv s]bn‚nMv t]mse ImWmw. "ISens‚ \nc¥camb CSs]S¬. IS¬ \nßtfmsSm∏aps≠∂ tXm∂ep≠m°p∂p. AXv Pplphnem bmepw icn, _m{µbnembmepw icn, inhPn ]m¿°nembmepw, ado≥ ss{Uhnembmepw icn. HcpØa kvt\lnXs\t∏mse AXv \nßtfmsSm∏w hcp∂p.' A]¿Æbv ° pw AXp ]et∏mgpw tXm∂nbn´p≈XmWv . ]t£ C{Xbpw `wKnbmbn AXp ]dbm≥ Ign™nńs√∂p am{Xw. I¬°Øbn¬ Cu ImgvN Hcn°epan√. IS¬ hfscbIsebmWv. ]ns∂bp≈Xv lp•n\ZnbmW.v.v ludm∏mew Ign™m¬ {Ãm‚ lp•n\ZnbmW {Ãm‚ tdmUnep≈ v tdmUnep≈ tKmUuWpIƒ \Znsb \Ωn¬\n∂v adbv °p∂p. ]ns∂ hfsc Npcp°amtb \ZnXs∂ ImWq. SmPnse dq^vtSm]v sdtÃmd≠n¬ Xnc°p XpSßpt∂bp≈p. "\Ωƒ t\csØbmWv.' hnt\mZv ]d™p. "Hcp F´p aWn Ign™memWv ChnsS Xnc°p XpSßpI.' P\en\SpØp≈ tai sXcs™SpØv Ah¿ Ccp∂p. "KpUv Cuh\nMv k¿.' Ińbp≈ sa\yq]pkvXIw c≠p t]cpsSbpw apºn¬ h®psIm≠v h®psIm ≠v kqń´ Ãphm¿Uv ]d™p. "KpUv Cuh\nMv.' hnt\mZv ]d™p. Ãphm¿Uv t]mbn. "C∂v \ns‚ ZnhkamWv. hnip≤]pkvXIØneqsS k©cn®mepw, \n\°n„ap≈h Hm¿U¿ sNbvXmepw. tNmZyan√, \nb{¥Wßsfm∂pan√.' Ahƒ Nncn®psIm≠v sa\yp Xpd∂p. Hmtcm hn`hßƒ°pw FXnscsbgpXnb hneIƒ I≠t∏mƒ AhfpsS Nncn s]s´∂p am™p. ]t£ s]s´∂pXs∂ Ahƒ kzbw hos≠SpØp. CsX√mw Xs∂ kw_‘nt®StØmfw hfsc km[mcWamWv F∂ ań¬ Ahƒ hmbn°m≥ XpSßn. Xs‚ A¶nfn\v Hcn°¬t∏mepw Xs∂ Cßn\sØ dtÃmd≠n¬ sIm≠pt]mIm≥ Ignbns√∂v Ahƒ°p a\nembn.

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At±lw Hcp sNdnb kzImcyIº\nbn¬ A°u≠≠mbn tPmen t\m°pIbmWv. "\nßƒ F¥mWv Ign°p∂Xv?' Ahƒ tNmZn®p. "F\n°v Ft‚Xmbn Nne t^hdn‰v hn`hßfp≠v. Ah Hm¿U¿ Hm ¿U¿ sNømw. \o \ns‚ skeIvj\pw. At∏mƒ c≠p t]¿°pw c≠p t]cpsS tSbvÃns\∏‰n Adnbmas√m. Rm≥ Hm¿U¿ sNøp∂Xv Nn°≥ kq∏v hnYv Akv]mcKkv, \o F¥p kq∏mWv Ign°p∂Xv?' "F\n°pw AXp aXn.' "Hms°, \mw XΩn¬ sshImcnI sFIyap≠v. C\n? ssN\okv Hm¿ tIm≠ns\‚¬ Hm¿ ap•mbv. \ap°v F√mw ss{S sNømw As√? t\m°s´.....t]mws{^‰v ^nse hnYv atbm\okv. Hms°, C\n?........' hnt\mZpXs∂ F√mw Hm¿U¿ sNøpIbmsW∂v BizmktØmsS Ahƒ a\nem°n. H∂pIn¬ AhfpsS hnjaw Abmƒ a\nem°nbn´p≠mhpw. As√¶n¬ X\n°n„ap≈ hn`hßƒ Ahsfs°m≠v Ign∏n°Wsa∂p sh®n´mbncn°mw. F¥mbmepw F¥mbme pw \∂mbn. sa\yp Ahsf kw_‘nt®StØmfw {Ko°mbn cp∂p. kq∏v IpSn®psIm≠ncns° Ahƒ ]d™p. "Ct∏mƒ Hm¿U¿ sNbvXsX√mw shdpsX H∂v tSbvÃv t\m°nbm¬Øs∂ aXn Rm≥ c≠p Intem IqSm≥. C°W°n\p t]mbm¬ Bdp amkw sIm≠v Rm≥ kp\µmPnbpsS Ccńbmhpw.' "kp\µmPn ASpØ ImeØmbn XSn sh®n´p≠v.' hnt\mZv ]d™p."Rm≥ C∂v Ahsc I≠ncp∂p.' "C∂v AhcpsS jqńßp≠mbncpt∂m?' "C√, \msfbmWv jqńMv. C∂v sjc´\n¬ ]m¿ńbp≠mbncp∂p.' "F¥p ]m¿ń?' hnt\mZv H∂pw ]d™n√. hnjbw am‰m\mbn Abmƒ tNmZn®p. "kq∏v Fßns\bp≠v?' "\∂mbn´p≠v.' Ahƒ ]d™p. BZysØ kv]q¨ ]t£ AhfpsS \mhp s]m≈n® Imcyw Ahƒ ]d™n√. "At∏mƒ C\n hcp∂ hn`hßfpw \n\°v C„amhpw.' dtÃmd≠n¬ Xnc°p h¿≤n®p XpSßn. A[nIhpw Hmôkv FIv knIyqóhpIfmWv. Nne¿ hntZinIfpsS H∏w h∂p. icnbmWv. hnt\mZns‚ sXcs™Sp∏v Ahƒ°n„ambn. Ahƒ°n„ambn . hnt\mZp Xs∂ sU¿´pw Hm¿U¿ sNbvXp. AXpIqSn Ign°m≥ AhfpsS hb‰n¬ ÿeap≠mbncp∂n√. "\ap°v t]mImw.' hnt\mZv ]d™p. "kabsa{Xbmbn?' Ahƒ tNmZn®p. "HºXv.' hnt\mZv ]d™p. "\n\°n∂v hoń¬ t]mIWsa∂v \n¿∫‘apt≠m?' Ahƒ H∂pw ]d™n√. A¶nfnt\mSv t\cw sshInbm¬ tUbvknbpsS hoń¬ t]mIpsa∂v ]d™ tXm¿Øp. tUbvknbpsS hoSv ASpØpXs∂bmWv. sImfm_bn¬. thWsa¶n¬ t]mImw. t ]mImw. "\n¿∫‘ans√¶n¬ Fs‚ hoń¬ t]mImw.' "hnt\mZv FhnsSbmWv Xmakn°p∂Xv?' "Rm≥ ae_m¿ ln√n¬. AhnsS F´mw \nebn¬ Hcp ^vfm‰n¬.' "Bscms°bp≠v?' "Rm\pw Fs‚ GIm¥Xbpw am{Xw.' "Rm≥ h∂m¬ \nßfpsS dqwtabv‰v Hgn™pt]mhns√?' "dqwtabvt‰m?' "AsX, anv tkmfn‰yqUv?' hnt\mZv s]mń®ncn®p. Ah¿ Fgpt∂‰p. en^v‰n¬h®v Ahƒ°p ho≠phnNmcap≠mbn. Xm≥ F¥mWv sNøp∂Xv? ]‰ns√∂v ]dbmXncp∂ ÿnXnbv°v hnt\mZns‚ H∏w t]mhm≥ XømdmsW∂p kΩXn°pIbt√ sNbvXXv. AXp icnbmtbm? Hcp lm¿Uv Sp sK‰v sKbnwIqSnbn√msX! Xmsg ]m¿°nMv temńseØnbt∏mƒ A]¿Æ ]d™p. "Fs∂ FhnsSsb¶nepw t{Um]v sNbvXm¬ aXn. Rm≥ SmIvkn ]nSn®p t]mbvt°mfmw.' "C\n AXp≠mbXpXs∂.' Im¿ Ãm¿´m°ptºmƒ hnt\mZv Nncn®psIm≠v ]d™p. "Hcn°¬ Cu Imdn¬ Ibdnbm¬ Ahkm\n°p∂Xv Fs‚ ^vfm‰n¬, Fs‚ InS∏dbn¬.' A]¿Æ \n»–bmbn. CsX√mw Ahƒ ap≥Iqń Adn™Xp Xs∂bmWv. Xs‚ bm{XIƒ A{X Ffp∏ ambncn°ns√∂v Ahƒ ap≥Iqń Adn™ncp∂Xs√. Ad n™ncp∂Xs√. ssN\m\nsbbmWv Ahƒ°p t]Snbp≠mbncp∂Xv. ]t£ At±lw CXphsc Aßns\sbmcp apt∂‰Øn\v Hcpsºńń√. AXpt]mseØs∂ kp\nepw. kp\nen\v F{Xtbm Ahkcßfp≠mbncp∂p. Abmfpw A\mhiyambn Xs∂ H∂v sXmń´pt]mepan√. F s]¿s^Œv sP‚n¬am≥. Ct∏mƒ hnt\mZmWv BZyambn hne sImSp°m≥ ]dbp∂Xv. thWsa¶n¬ CXn¬ \n∂v Hgnhmbnt∏mImw. ]t£ AsX{XtØmfw BimkyamWv. Hcp Sme‚pan√mØ s]Ïpńsbt∏mepw Hcp ZnhkwsIm≠v kq∏¿Ãmdm°m\p≈ hnt\mZns‚ Ignhns\∏‰n Ahƒ°v t_m[yamWv. Xm\mIs´ ssN\m\nbpsS G‰hpw ]pXnb saKmaqhnbnse \mbnIbmbn Ahtcm[n°s∏ńcn°pIbpamWv Ahtcm[n°s∏ńcn°pIbpamWv. hnt\mZvHcp H cp

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hm°v ssN\m\nbpsS ASpØv ]d™m¬ aXn. Xs‚ `mhn t_mws_bnse K´dpIfnembncn°pw. F√m‰n\p ap]cnbmbn Ahƒ°v hnt\mZns\ C„ambncp∂p. hnt\mZns‚ D≈nse Ihnsb. ae_m¿ ln√ntebv°p≈ Ib‰amWv. CcphiØpap≈ Aw_c Npw_nIsft\m°n Hcp kz]v\Ønse∂ t]mse Ahƒ ko‰n¬ Nmcnbncp∂p.

10 cmhnse hońseØnbt∏mƒ 8 aWnbmbn. hnt\mZv A]¿Æsb A ]¿Æsb t{Um]vsNbvXncp∂p. sIńSØn\p apºn¬ Hcp ^nbm‰v Imdn∂cnsI sh≈ bq\nt^man´ Hcp sNdp∏°mc≥ \n∂ncp∂p. A]¿Æsb I≠t∏mƒ Abmƒ ASptØbv°p h∂p. "tawkm_,v Imdp sIm≠ph∂n´p≠v.' Abmƒ Xmt°m¬ \oń. A]¿ÆbpsS apJw hnIkn®p. ssN\m\n, ]d™Xpt]mse sNbvXn´p≠v. "k¿∆oknMv Ign™ tijw sIm≠phcmsa∂p IcpXnbmWv IcpXnbmWv C∂se sIm≠phcmXnc sIm≠phcmXncp∂Xv p∂Xv. B¿.kn. _p°v CXm. SmIvkv Cu Izm¿´¿hsc AS®n´p≠v. Fs¥¶nepw Bhiyaps≠¶n¬ Hmôkn¬ ]d™m¬ aXn.' "Xm¶vbp....' Xmt°mepw B¿.kn. _p°pw hmßns°m≠v Ahƒ ]d™p. "Rm≥ t]ms´ tawkm_v?' "icn.' AhfpsS ImepIƒ \new sXmńcp∂n√. Ahƒ apIfntebv°v, AhfpsS c≠mw \nebnse ^vfm‰ntebv m‰nt ebv°v HgpIpIbmWv. A¶vƒ tai°cnsI Ccp∂psIm≠v {]mX¬ Ign°p∂p. Ahƒ ]n∂neqsS sN∂v At±lsØ sIń∏nSn®p. "Io tlmtem In.....Fs‚ tamƒ°v C∂v F¥p ]‰n?' Ahƒ Imdns‚ Xmt°mepw B¿.kn. _p°pw A¶nfns‚ apºn¬ Db¿Øn°mWn®p. "Rm≥ ]d™nt√ F\n°p Imdv In´psa∂v?' "\ns‚ `mKyw, A√msX¥p ]dbm\mWv?' ap∏Xp sIm√ambn tPmensbSp°p∂ a\pjy\mWv. C\nbpw Hcp kvIq´¿IqSn kz¥am°m≥ kz¥am°m ≥ Ign™nń√. ChnsSbnXm acpaIƒ c≠mgvNsIm≠v ^nbm‰v Imdpambn \S°p∂p. Ahƒ°p \√Xp hcs´. ImdpwsIm≠v FhnsSsbms° t]mIWsa∂v ]cn]mSnbnSpIbmbncp∂p ]cn]mSnbnSpIbmbn cp∂p A]¿Æ. sUbvknbpsS hoń¬ t]mIWw. C∂v RmbdmgvNbmbXpsIm≠v Ahƒ hońep≠mhpw. a‰p kvt\lnXIfpsS \lnXIfpsS ASpØv Imdpw sIm≠v [mSn ImWn°m≥ t]mIm≥ Ahƒ°p tXm∂nbn√. Ahsc√mw Ahsf°mƒ Xmgv∂ ÿnXnbnep≈ hcmWv. Xm≥ sNøp∂Xv icnb√. am{Xa√ ssN\m\nbpsS tPmen Inńbtijw A]¿Æ Ahscsb√mw Hgnhm°pIbpw sNbvXncp∂p. ncp∂p. Hcp Xcw Ãm‰kvtIm¨jkv tIm¨jkv Bbncn°p∂p Ahƒ. ssN\m\nbpw kqNn∏n®Xv AXpXs∂bmbncp∂p. sUbvknbpsS knbpsS hoń¬ \n∂v jqńMv \S°p∂nSØp \S°p∂nSØp t]mIWw. C∂v Pplp_o®n¬ Øs∂bmWv jqńMv. Iptd Ã≠v ko\pIfmsW∂v hnt\mZv ]d™ncp∂p. AsX¶n¬ AXv. ssN\m\nbpsS Soapambn ASpØ _‘aps≠∂p ImWn°p∂Xv X\n°p \√XpXs∂bmWv. Xs‚ CtaPns\ A\pIqeambn _m[n°p∂XmWXv. Ahƒ t^m¨ sNøm\mbn Xmtgbv°p t]mbn. sUbvkn hońen√. AhfpsS AΩbmWv t^msWSpØXv. tamƒ Hcp I√ymWØn¬ ]¶psIm≈m\mbn t]mbncn°bmWv t]mbncn°bmWv. C\n sshIot´ Xncns®Øq. Xs‚ BZysØ ]cn]mSn \S°n√. Ahƒ°v Aev]w \ncmiX tXm∂n. Imdpw sIm≠v BZyambn t]mIm≥ ]‰nb ÿeambn cp∂p. t]ms´ kmcan√. C\n Pplp _o®ntebv°p t]mImw. Ahƒ hnt\mZns‚ \º¿ Id°n. Hcp]t£ Xs∂ t{Um]v sNbvXtijw hnt\mZv t]mbXv jqńßn\mbncn°pw. Aßns\ Ft¥m ]d™ Htcm¿Ω. hnt\mZv F¥mWv ]d™sX∂v {i≤n°m≥ ]‰nb Hcp am\knImhÿbnembncp∂n√ A]¿Æ. Xte∂p cm{Xnbn¬ D≠mb kw`hßƒ AhfpsS a\ns\ as‰m∂pw Nn¥n°m\mhmØhn[w Iogvs∏SpØnbncp∂p. hnt\mZv \s√mcp ImapI\mbncp∂p. A]¿ÆbpsS BZysØ ImapI≥. sNdnsbmcp A]m¿Svsa‚ v. Hcp kn‰nMvdqw, AXn¬ Hcp {Xo]okv tkm^. HccpIn¬ HccpIn¬ Dbcw \s∂ Ipd™ Znhm≥. Znhm\pw tkm^bv°panSbn¬ ISpw Nph∏n¬ a™bpw ]®bpw s\bvXp ]nSn∏n® `wKnbp≈ ]chXm\n. kn‰nMv dqw Ahkm\n°p∂Xv sNdnsbmcp ASp°fbn¬. kn‰nMv dqan\pw ASp°fbv°panSbn¬ aq∂Sn s]m°ap≈ Hcp XnÆ am{Xw. as‰mcp hmXn¬ \bn°p∂Xv InS∏dbntebv°mWv. InS∏dbnse NphcpIfn¬ aßn°Øp∂ Nn{Xhnf°pIƒ, Ahbv°nSbn¬ sXfnabp≈ henb {]n‚pIƒ. Ahbn¬ AMv s {KbpsS S¿°njv _mØp≠v , sd\phdpsS _mØ¿ D≠v , _ujdpsS Ahƒ°v t]cdnbmØ \·Nn{Xap≠v. Hm. a¿^nbmtWm? \√ A`ncpNnbp≈ a\pjy≥. Aev]w \·X C„s∏Sp∂psh∂p am{Xw. ]t£ InS∏dbn¬ Aev]w \·Xbmbm¬Øs∂ F¥mWv Ipg∏w? hnt\mZv Hcp [rXnbpw ImWn®n√. sN∂ DSs\ Abmƒ Xs‚ Ãocntbm HmWm°n. ssN\m\nsbt∏mse hnt\mZpw sNdnb i–Øn¬ kwKoXw BkzZn°p∂Xn„s∏´p. A]¿Æbv °dnbmØ ]m´pIfmbncp∂p Ah. A]¿Æ ]m›mXyKm\ßƒ A[nIw tIńcp∂n√. tIńcp∂n√. C\n tI´p XpSßWsa∂v Ahƒ Ahƒ Xocpam\n®p. Xm≥ kapZmbØns‚ ta¬Øńtebv ta¬Øńte bv°v IpXn®p IbdpIbmWv. At∏mƒ AXn\\pkcn®v Xs‚ A`ncpNnIfnepw am‰ap≠mhWw.

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"IpSn°m≥?.....' Abmƒ tNmZn®p. H∂pw ths≠∂v Ahƒ Xebmń. ]t£ A©p an\n‰n\p≈n¬ hnt\mZv c≠p •mpambn h∂p. Ahƒ Aev]w IpSn®p t\m°n. t\cnb a[pcap≠v. "ssh≥?' "A√ Pn≥tSmWn°v.' hnt\mZv ]d™p. "\√XmWv IpSn®p t\m°p. Notbgvkv.' Ahƒ •mv Npt≠mSSp∏n®p. hnt\mZv kwkmcn°pIbmWv. ]ns∂∏ns∂ Abmƒ AhfpsS ssI]nSn®p kwkmcn°m≥ XpSßn. hfsc kmh[m\Øn¬ Abmƒ ]ptcmKan®p. F¥psImt≠m Xs‚ AXnYnbmbn h∂ s]Ïpń Xosc A\p`h kº∂bs√∂v Abmƒ°v tXm∂nbncp∂p. kz¥w ]cnNbt°Sv ]cnNbt°S v Abmfn¬ \n∂v ad®p shbv°m\p≈ AhfpsS {iaßfpw Abmƒ a\nem°nbncp∂p. AXpsIm≠v Abmƒ ]camh[n Zbm]q¿∆w AhtfmSv s]cpamdn Abmƒ \s√mcp ImapI\mbncp∂p. A]¿Æ Hcpd°w Ign™v Fgpt∂‰t∏mgpw lmfn¬ kwKoXap≠mbncp∂p. "kwXnßokv lms∏\nMv Sp an......' hnt\mZv sXm´SpØpXs∂ InS°pIbmWv. Xs‚ hkv{Xßƒ FhnsSt∏mbn F∂v Ahƒ AZv`pXs∏´p. Ft∏mƒ, Fßns\bmWh \„s∏´Xv? hnt\mZpw H´pw sa®a√mØ Ahÿbnembncp∂p. Hm¿Ωbn¬ A]¿Æ Nncn®p. hnt\mZns\ t^m¨ sNbvXn´v Imcyans√∂v Ahƒ Xo¿®bm°n. t\cn´v t]mhmw. _o®n¬ tlm´¬ slmssdks‚ apºnemWv jqńMv F∂mWv ]d™Xv. Ahƒ hoń¬ t]mbn Imdns‚ Xmt°mseSpØv Xmtgbv°ndßn. Im¿ \√ I≠nj\nembncp∂p. A[nIw ]g°an√. Gdnbm¬ c≠p h¿jw. Fgp]sØmt∂m Fgp]Øn ct≠m tamUemWv. Ahƒ Pplphntebv°p Xncn®p. Pplp _os®Ønbt∏mƒØs∂ Ahƒ Zqsc Xnc°p I≠p. Ahƒ \n¿Ønbn√. slmssdk\n¬ Imdv ]m¿°v sNbvXv tlméneqsS _o®ntebv°ndßmw. jqńMv icn°pw slmssdks‚ ]n∂n¬Øs∂ Bbncp∂p. Ahƒ kznΩnMv ]qfn\cpIneqsS ]qfn\cpIneqsS \S∂v ]SnIƒ Cdßn _o®nse aWeneqsS \S∂p. Hcp slent°m]vS¿ apIfn¬ Idßp∂p≠v. hnt\mZv \S∂psIm≠v slent°m]vS¿ t\m°n Ft¥m BwKyw ImWn°p∂p. Hcp tamt´m¿ t_m´v t _m´v Icbn¬\n∂v AXnthKØn¬ ]mbm≥ XpSßn. ]n∂mse Imadbpambn as‰mcp t_m´pw. apºn¬ t]mb t_mń¬ Hcp kwL´\w \S°pIbmWv . A]¿Æ hcp∂Xv hnt\mZv I≠p. Abmƒ ssIhoin, DSs\ Xncn™v \n¿t±ißƒ sImSp°p∂ tPmenbnte¿s∏SpIbpw sNbvXp. apIfn¬ Idßnbncp∂ slent°m]vS¿ Ct∏mƒ hfsc XmsgbmWv. AXn¬\n∂v Hcmƒ Xmtgbv°p NmSm\mbn Hcpßp∂p. t_m´v GItZiw ASpsØØnbncp∂p. s]s´∂mWXp≠mbXv. Ft¥m ImcWw sIm≠v slent°m]vS¿ s]m¥pIbpw GItZiw AºXSn DbcØn seØnbt∏mƒ NmSm\pt±in® Bƒ ]nSpØw hn´v hogpIbpw sNbvXp. Abmƒ IpØs\ Xmtgbv°v hogpIXs∂bmWv . kn\nabn¬ Dt±in® amXncnb√ kw`hw \S∂sX∂v kv ] „w. hnt\mZv Xebn¬ ssIshbv°p∂Xv ° p∂Xv A]¿Æ I≠p. Icbn¬\n∂h¿ H∂mbn B¿°pIbmbncp∂p. t_m´pIƒ s]s´∂v Xncn®v Abmƒ hoW ÿetØbv°p IpXn®p. F¥mWv kw`hn°p∂sX∂p hy‡a√. hnt\mZv t£m`n°pIbmbncp∂p. Abmƒ tPmenbn¬ th≠{X {i≤n°msX A]ISap≠m°nbXn¬. Abmƒ ImcWw jqńMv \n¿tØ≠n h∂Xn¬. "Hcp RmbdmgvNsØ hn{iaw If™mWv Rm≥ h∂Xv. AXnßs\ \in∏n°m\mWv.......' t_m´v Ct∏mƒ AbmsfbpsaSpØv Ics°Ønbncp∂p. Bƒ°m¿ Iq´w IqSpIbmWv. Abmƒ°v t_m[ap≠mbncp∂n√. Bscms°tbmIqSn Abmsf s]m°nsbSpØvIcbntebv Icbntebv °p sIm≠p t]mIpIbmWv . hnt\mZv A\ßp∂n√. A]¿Æ AbmfpsS ASpØp sN∂p. Abmƒ At∏mgpw im]hN\ßƒ s]mgn°pI bmWv. Ahƒ Abmsf t\m°ns°m≠p \n∂p. F¥psImt≠m AhnsS \n∂v t]mIm\mWv A]¿Æbv°v tXm∂nbXv. Im¿ Ãm¿´m°nbt∏mƒ Ftßm´p t]mIWsa∂v Ahƒ°p [mcWbp≠mbncp∂n√. Ahƒ°v Hcev]w Bizmkw In´Ww. Xs‚ Iäpºn¬h®v Hcp henb A]ISap≠mbncn°p∂p. \nlmb\mb Hcp a\pjy≥ Ct∏mƒ acWtØmSv a√nSpIbmWv. Ahƒ s]s´∂v kp\nens\ Hm¿Øp. Abmƒ ASpØp Xs∂bmWv Xmakn°p∂Xv. Ahƒ Im¿ CStØm´v Xncn®p. kp\n¬ a¬tlm{X hoń¬Øs∂bp≠mbncp∂p. A]¿Æsb I≠t∏mƒ s]s´∂v AbmfpsS apJØv ]cn{àambn. Abmƒ hmXn¬ ]nSn®psIm≠v \n¬°pIbmWv. "ta sF Ian≥?' "Hm jph¿.......' kp\n¬ Nncn®psIm≠v ]d™p. Rm≥ thsd Ft¥m BtemNn°pIbmbncp BtemNn°pIbmbncp∂p. ∂p. "Fs¥m s°bmWv hntijßƒ?' Ipd®p t\csØbp≠mb A]ISsØ∏‰n Ahƒ kp\nent\mSv ]d™p. Abmƒ s]s´∂v Fgpt∂‰p sIm≠v ]d™p. "hcq \ap°v t]mImw.' "FhntSbv°mWbmsf sIm≠pt]mbsX∂dnbn√.' "\m\mhXnbnte°mbncn°pw. hcq.' Ah¿ XmgØndßn.

26


"CXmWv \ns‚ h≠n, As√?' "AsX.' Imdns‚ hmXn¬ Xpd∂psIm≠v Ahƒ ]d™p. "\nXn≥ Ft∂mSv ]d™ncp∂p.' hmXn¬ Xpd∂v apºn¬ Ibdnbncn°ptºmƒ kp\n¬ ]d™p. Ahƒ°v kp\nens‚ `mcw Adnbp∂p≠mbncp∂p. hnt\mZv ASpØncn°ptºmƒ ASpØncn°ptºm ƒ AdnbpItb C√. Abmƒ 5˛8 Dbcw, Ihn™m¬ 60 Intem D≠mhpw. kp\n¬ AbmfpsS BdSn Hcn©v DbcØn\\pkcn®p≈ XSn t\m°nbm¬ 90 Intemsb¶nepw ImWpw. \m\mhXnbnse Imjz¬‰nbn¬ Hcp s{Ã®dn¬ AbmfpsS ihicocw InSØnbncp∂p. kp\n¬ Abmsf aqSnb XpWn am‰nt\m°n. DSs\ aqSpIbpw sNbvXp. "]mhw.' Ipd®∏pdØmbn acn® \Ss‚ _‘p°ƒ hnßns∏mń s°m≠v \n¬°p∂p≠mbncp \n¬°p∂p≠mbncp∂p. ∂p. Npacn∂cnIn¬ Hcp saen ™ kv{Xo InS∂ncp∂p. kp\n¬ AhcpsS ASptØbv°v sN∂p. "hyk\ap≠v. F¥m sNøzm. Cßns\sbm∂pw hcpsa∂v Bcpw IcpXoń√t√m. km_nt\mSv ]d™v th≠sX√mw sNømw.' Abmƒ t]m°‰n¬ \n∂v ct≠m aqt∂m \qdns‚ t\m´pIƒ FSpØv AXnsemcmƒ°p sImSpØp. "Ct∏mƒ th≠sX√mw sNøq.' Xncn®v Imdn¬ Ibdnbt∏mƒ kp\n¬ ]d™p. "F¥mWv sNøpI, ]mhw. Hcp IpSpw_w hgnbm[mcambn.' A]¿Æ hnt\mZns\ Hm¿Øp. AbmfpsS at\m`mhsØ∏‰n kp\nent\mSv ]d™mtem F∂v Hm¿Øp. ]t£ kp\nen\v \√hÆw Adnbp∂XpXs∂bmbncn°Ww AXv. Ahƒ H∂pw ]d™n√. A]¿Æ hońseØnbt∏mƒ ]{¥≠p aWn Ign™p. Ahƒ Xf¿∂ncp∂p. cmhnsebp≠mb cmhnsebp≠m b kw`hw a\n¬\n∂v FSpØp am‰m≥ tXm∂p∂n√. Cu A`ymknIsf√mw Uyq∏pIfmbn A`n\bn°p∂hcmWv. \mbI\pw a‰p {][m\s∏´ \S∑m¿°pw th≠n kmlknIamb Imcyßƒ sNøpI. AhcpsS apJtam, t]tcm sh≈nØncbn¬ hcp∂n√. Ahsc Bcpw Adnbp∂pan√. Ah¿°p In´p∂Xv Znhk°qenbmWv, As√¶n¬ Hcp Icm¿ XpI. AXp Ign™m¬ Ign™p. Ahƒ Ipfn®v DuWpIgn°m\ncp∂p. H∂pw Ign°m≥ tXm∂p∂n√. A¶vƒ Hmtcm∂v Hm tcm∂v tNmZn°p∂p≠m bncp∂p. Ahƒ A]ISsØ∏‰n ]d™p. "kmcan√ tamsf, Aßns\sbms°bp≠mhpw. \o thhemXns∏ń´v F¥p Imcyw?' Ahƒ DuWp Igns®∂p hcpØn t]mbn InS∂p. Dd°sagpt∂‰t∏mƒ \mep aWn. A¶vƒ ltcIrjvW t£{XØntebv°p t£{XØntebv °p t]mbncp∂p. Nmb IpSn®p sIm≠v Ahƒ A∂sØ h¿Øam\]{Xw t\m°n. A∂v ]{Xw I≠nt´bn√. c≠masØ t]Pv Xpd∂Xpw Ahƒ hm s]mfn®psIm≠v Ccp∂pt]mbn. apIfn¬ sImSpØ Nn{XØn\p Xmsg sImSpØ dnt∏m¿´p hmbn®psIm≠ncnt° AhfpsS apJsØ tNmctbm´w \n∂Xmbn tXm∂n. XebpsS ]n∂n¬\n∂v ssiXyw Ibdn apJtØbv°p ]Scp∂t]mse. Ahƒ ho≠pw Nn{Xw t\m°n. ]{Xw hens®dn™v Ahƒ taita¬ Xesh®v Icbm≥ XpSßn.

11 tcWp ]pdtØbv°p t]mbXmbncp∂p. Ahƒ h∂t∏mtgbv°pw A]¿Æ HcpamXncn a\kzmÿyw hos≠SpØp. hens®dn™ ]{Xw ho≠psaSpØv Nn{Xw Hcn°¬°qSn kq£vaambn t\m°n. ssN\m\nbpsS ssIIƒ kp\µbpsS Acs°ńemWv. sXm´SpØv \n¬°p∂Xv UbdŒ¿ hnt\mZv Nµm\n, AXn\pa∏pdØv kp\n¬ a¬tlm{X. ssN\m\nbpsS CSØp hiØmbn ]n.B¿.Hm aZ≥ knßv, ]n∂nembn ssN\m\nbpsS t]gvk\¬ AknÃ‚ v cRvPn\n. Xmsg henb A£cØn¬ FgpXnbncn°p∂p. FgpXnbncn°p∂p. ssN\m\nbpsS ssN\m\nbpsS aƒńÃmd¿ saKaqhnbn¬ \mbnI kp\µ Xs∂. At∏mƒ......At∏mƒ hnt\mZv C∂seØs∂ Adn™ncn°p∂p. Xs‚ H∏w Un∂¿ Ign°ptºmgpw, ]ns∂ AbmfpsS ^vfm‰n¬ h®v Xs‚ H∏w InS°ptºmgpw Hs° hnt\mZns‚ ssIøn¬ Cu Adnhv, Xs∂ XnckvI cn® hnhcw D≠mbncp∂p. F¥psIm≠bmƒ AXv Xt∂mSv ]d™n√. AXpt]mse kp\nepw AsX, cmhnse I≠t∏mƒ Xt∂mSv H∂pw ]d™n√. CXv Xs∂ F{XtØmfw _m[n°p∂ ImcyamsW∂v Bsc°mfpw \∂mbn Adnbp∂ BfmWv kp\n¬ a¬tlm{X. Hcp]t£ cmhnsebp≠mb A]ISw ImcWw Abmƒ kwkmcn°m\p≈ Ahÿbnembncp∂n√. kp\nens\ Ip‰°mc\m°m≥ Ahƒ°v tXm∂p∂n√. adn®mWv hnt\mZns‚ ÿnXn. Abmƒ°v ]dbmambncp∂p. AXpt]mse ssN\m\n°pw Xs∂ hnfn®v kwkmcn°mambncp∂p. Fs¥¶nepw ImcWw ]d™v, AXp sIm≠v Xm≥ kp\µsbØs∂ \mbnIbm°pIbmsW∂v ]d™m¬ aXnbmbncp∂p. Aßns\bmbncp s∂¶n¬ X\n°v Ct∏mgsØ A{X hnjaap≠mhn√mbncp∂p. Ct∏mƒ Xm≥ icn°pw Xgbs∏´t]mse tXm∂pIbmWv. Ahƒ ]pdtØbv°ndßn. t^m¨ sNøWw. annv ]mtfibpsS hoń¬ \n∂v CuhI Imcyßƒ kwkmcn°m≥ hø. GsX¶nepw _qØn¬Øs∂ t]mIWw. A¶vƒ _p°p sNbvX t^m¨ Ft∏mgmWm thm In´m≥ t]mIp∂Xv.

27


hnt\mZv hońep≠mbncp hońep≠mbncp∂p. ∂p. A]¿ÆbpsS A]¿ÆbpsS {]iv\ßƒ Abmƒ°v a\nemhp∂n a\ne mhp∂n√. √. Abmsf Ab msf _m[n°p _ m[n°p ∂ns√∂p ]dbpIbmhpw `wKn. Ahƒ tNmZn®p. "F¥psIm≠Xv Xte∂p ]d™n√?' "F¥n\v \s√mcp kmbm”w \in∏n°Ww.' Abmƒ adp]Sn ]d™p. A]¿Æ \n»–bmbn. ]pXnb kn\nabn¬ \mbnIbmhpsas∂ms° Xm≥ ]d™Xv tI´p XeIpep°nbt∏msg√mw XeIpep°nbt∏msg√mw Abmƒ°v Adnbmambncp∂p A∂v D®bv°pXs∂ Cu s]Æns‚ hn[n \n¿Æbn°s∏´p F∂v. Abmƒ A bmƒ D≈ns‚ D≈n¬ Nncn®n´p≠mhpw. A]¿Æ Aa¿jtØmsS hnNmcn®p. "C\n Ft∏mgmWv ImWp∂Xv? \msf _o®n¬Øs∂bmWv jqńMv. hcpt∂m?' "C√.' Ahƒ t^m¨ sh®p. Ahƒ kp\nens‚ \º¿ Id°n. `mKyØn\v Abmƒ hońep≠mbncp∂p. "CXp Rm\mWv A]¿Æ.' "A]¿Æm, F¥p hntijw, ]dbq.' "F¥p hntijw. \nßsfms°°qSn Fs∂ Xg™p As√?.' kp\n¬ \n»–\mbn. Ahƒ XpSßn. XpSßnsb∂p ]dbp∂Xvhfsc kuayamb hm°mbncp∂p. HcpXcw t_mw_m{IaWambncp∂p AXv . kp\n¬ F√mw tIńcp∂p. Hc£cw DcnbmSep≠mbn√. Iptd t\cw ]d™p Ign™t∏mƒ Xs‚ Bbp[ßsf√mw Xo¿s∂∂v A]¿Æbv°p a\nembn. Ahƒ \n¿Øn. "F√mw ]d™p Ignt™m.' kp\n¬ im¥\mbn tNmZn®p. A]¿Æ H∂pw ]dbmsX dnkoh¿ dnkoh ¿ ]nSn®psIm≠v \n∂p. AhfpsS Ihnfn¬°qSn IÆo¿ HgpIp∂p≠mbncp∂p HgpIp∂p≠mbncp∂p.. "Hcp Imcyw A]¿Æ a\nem°Ww. F\n°v \ns∂ C„amWv . Cu hI iImcßsfm∂pw B kv t\lsØ t\lsØ _m[n°n√. Rm\n∂se c≠p h´w \ns∂ hnfn°m≥ {ian®p. {ia n®p. \o Un∂dn\p t]mbXmsW∂p ]d™p. ]ns∂ C∂p cmhnsebpw hnfn®p. At∏mgpw \o D≠mbncp∂n√. ]ns∂ \o Adn™n´p≠mhpsa∂v IcpXn. ImcWw C∂sØ t]∏dn¬, HcpamXncn F√m t]∏dnepw Cu hm¿Ø hfsc hepXmbn h∂ncp∂p. \o Fs‚ hoń¬ h∂t∏mƒ _o®nse A]ISa√msX as‰mcp hnjahpw \ns‚ apJØv I≠n√. At∏mƒ \o kwKXnIfpambn s]mcpØs∏ń´p≠mhpsa∂v Rm≥ IcpXn.' A]¿Æ H∂pw ]dbmsX t^m¨ ]nSn®p sIm≠v \n¬°pI Xs∂bmWv. kp\n¬ XpS¿∂p. "C\n \o ]dbq, Fs‚ sXs‰¥msW∂v.' Hcp Zo¿L\nizmkØn\ptijw Ahƒ kwkmcn®p. "F¥mWv Cßns\sbms° hcm≥?' "B ihw Ct√, kp\µ, AXns‚ ]WnbmWv. Zm‰v _n®v....' "sFbmw tkmdn kp\n¬.' s\h¿ ssa‚ v Unb¿. F√mw hgntb icnbmhpw. \o Hcp kq∏¿ ÃmdmIpw......' ÃmdmIpw......' Ipd®p t\csØ au\Øn\p tijw Abmƒ XpS¿∂p. "\ns∂ Rms\mcp kq∏¿Ãmdm°pw.' "Rms\m∂v ssN\m\n km_ns\ I≠mtem?' "\nXns\ CSbv°nS°v ImWp∂Xv \√XmWv. \nXn\v AXn„amWv A Xn„amWv.' "Rm≥ H‰bv°p t]mbm¬ aXntbm?' s]s´∂hƒ°v ss[cy£bap≠mbn. C∂sehsc Xm≥ temIØns‚ apIfnemsW∂hƒ°p tXm∂nbncp∂p. C∂v s]s´∂v hogvN kw`hn®ncn°bmWv. B Adnhpambn Ahƒ°v s]mcpØs∏Sm≥ Ignbp∂n√. "aXn.' kp\n¬ ]d™p.

12 ssN\m\n Xnc°nembXpsIm≠v A]¿Æbv°v ImØp \n¬t°≠n h∂p. cmhnse ]Øp aWn Ign™v sN√m\mWv ssN\m\nbpsS ]n.F.bmb cRvPn\n t^mWn¬ ]d™ncp∂Xv. ]t£ Ct∏mƒ ]tØ]Ømbncn °p∂p. "Xnc°nemWv, Ccn°q.' Ahƒ°ncn°m\mbn apdnbnen´ tkm^ tkm ^ Nq≠n°mń cRvPn\n ]d™p. Hcp ]Øp an\p‰v Aßns\ Ccp∂t∏mgmWv A]¿Æbv ° v ssN\m\nbps S ]n.F. BhpIsb∂Xns‚ hym]v X n a\nembXv. Hcp sk°‚ v Ah¿°v shdpsXbncn°m≥ ]‰p∂n√. ]‰p∂n√. H∂pIn¬ hcp∂ t^m¨ ktµißƒ, As√¶n¬ Ahƒ t^m¨ Id°ns°m≠ncn°pw. kwkmcn°p∂Xp apgph≥ ssN\m\nbpsS ]cn]mSnIsf ∏‰n. AXn\nSbv°v Xncn™ncp∂v Ce{ŒnIv ssS]v ssd‰dn¬ ssS∏p sNøp∂p. As√¶n¬ sSen{]n‚dn¬ ktµißƒ Abbv ° p∂p, kzoIcn°p∂p. CSbv ° v Bsc¶nepw h∂m¬ Hcp NncntbmsS Ahsc A`napJoIcn°p∂p. hfsc hn\bap≈ s]cpam‰w. A]¿Æbv°v _lpam\w tXm∂n. ssN\m\nbpsS hmXn¬ Xpd∂v kp\µ ]pdØp h∂p. s]s´∂v A]¿ÆbpsS apJtØbv°v tNmcbnc®p Ibdn. XebpsS ]n∂n¬ \n∂v ssiXyw apJtØbv°v bm{X XpSßp∂p. kp\µ t\sc t]mIpsa∂mWv Ahƒ IcpXnbXv. ]t£ Ah¿ hetØm´p Xncn™v ]n.F.bpsS apdnbntebv°v IS∂p. cRvPn\n Fgpt∂‰p \n∂p. "\akvsX kp\µmPo, Iym lm¬ sl?' "k_v ToIv sl.'

28


"Xivco^v cJntb....' apºnep≈ Itke Nq≠n°mń cRvPn\n n\ n ]d™p. s]s´∂v C‚¿tImw ASn®p. ssN\m\nbpsS i–w ]Xn™p tI´p. Ahƒ Ft¥m adp]Sn ]d™p. ]ns∂ Xncn™v A]¿ÆtbmSv ]d™p. "ssN\m\n km_v hnfn°p∂p.' At∏mgmWv tkm^bn¬ Ccn°p∂ s]Ïpńsb kp\µ ImWp∂Xv. Ah¿ ]d™p. "lt√m, CXs√ \ΩpsS ]pXnb lotdmbn≥?' A]¿Æ Ft¥m adp]Sn sImSp°m\mbn Hmßn. ]ns∂ Hm¿Øp. th≠, Ct∏mƒ icnbmhn√. Ahƒ Fgp t∂‰p ssN\m\nbpsS apdnbpsS hmXn¬°¬ apń. kp\µbpsS IÆpIƒ Xs∂ ]n≥XpScp∂ps≠∂v Ahƒ °dnbmambncp∂p. ssN\m\n km[mcWt]mse kvt\lØn¬ Xs∂bmbncp∂p. taiNp‰nh∂v Ahƒ°v ssI sImSpØv Ccn°m\p≈ Itke \o°nbn´p. "hm´v lms∏≥Uv.... \o Hcp t{]XsØ I≠t]mse D≠t√m.' t{]XsØb√ sNIpØms\bmWv I≠sX∂v ]dbWsa∂p hnNmcn®p. Ahƒ shdpsX Nncn®p. "F¥mWv \ns‚ {]iv\w?' "k¿......' Ahƒ hm°pIƒ°p th≠n ]cXpIbmbncp∂p. "]dbq.' "k¿, ]pXnb kn\nabn¬ F\n°v Nm≥kvXcpsa∂s√ Xcpsa∂s√ ]d™Xv . Fs∂ AXn\mbn´t√ FSpØXpw. ]t£ C∂sØ t]∏dn¬.......' "Rm≥ \ns∂ ]pXnb t{]mPŒn¬ FSp°ns√s∂m∂pw FgpXnbnń√t√m.' FgpXnbnń√t√m.' "Aßns\b√.' "]ns∂?' Ahƒ H∂pw ]d™n√. Fßns\bmWv AXp ]dbpI. \mbnIbmbn FSp°psa∂mbncp∂p Fs‚ {]Xo£, F√mhcpw ]d™ncp∂Xpw AXpXs∂bmbncp∂p, Fs∂ms° Fßns\bmWv ]dbpI. ssN\m\n Hcn°epw AXp ]d™nń√. am[yaßfn¬ h∂Xp I≠pw a‰p≈h¿ ]dbp∂Xp tI´pw Fßns\bmWv Cu a\pjys\ A[nt£]n°pI. ssN\m\n C‚¿tImans‚ _´\a¿Øn. "A]¿Æbv°v Fs¥¶nepw XWpØXv sImSpØb°q. Hcp an\p‰v.....' At±lw A]¿Æbv°p t\sc tNmZytØmsS t\m°n. Ahƒ Xebmń. ssN\m\n XpS¿∂p. "icn, XWpØsXs¥¶nepw.' "\n\°v Im¿ Inńbnt√?' "Inń, Xm¶vkv km¿.' "AXv \n\°v BhiyamIpwhsc D]tbmKn°mw. Fs¥¶nepw {]iv\aps≠¶n¬ Hmôknednbn®m¬ aXn. s]t{Smfn\p≈ Iq∏¨ Hmôkn¬\n∂v \n\s°Øn®pXcpw. lmsh ss\kv ssSw.' A]¿ÆbpsS \mhv Nen°msXbmbn. Imdp Inńb DSs\ ssN\m\nsb hnfn®v \µn ]dtb≠ acymZIqSn Xm≥ ImWn®n√. Ahƒ°n\n H∂pw ]dbm\n√. ssN\m\n Nm™ncp∂vAhsf Ahsf ]Tn°pIbmbncp∂p. GItZiw c≠p an\p‰v \o≠p\n∂ AhtemI\Øn\p tijw At±lw kwkmcn°m≥ XpSßn. "Fs‚ ]pXnb s{]mUIvjs‚ Nnehv F¥p hcpsa∂v Adnbmtam?' Adnbns√∂vAhƒ Xebmń. \o≠ •mn¬ ]g®mdv sIm≠ph∂p. AXp IpSn°m≥ BwKyw Imńs°m≠v ssN\m\n XpS¿∂p. "H∂c tImSn. aq∂v \mbI∑mcmWv D≈Xv. Bscms°bmsW∂v \n\°dnbmas√. AXn¬ [otc{µbv°v a‰p≈hcpsS H∏w A`n\bn°Wsa¶n¬ Ct∏mƒ sImSp°∂Xns‚ Ccń sImSp°Ww. At±lØns‚ td‰v clkya√. jqńßn\p thWw F´p amkw. C{Xbpw henb Hcp kn\nasbSpØv AXn\v apXend°nb XpI In´Wsa¶n¬Øs∂ t_mws_bnse \m¬∏Ø©v kn\nam lmfpIƒ aq∂p amkw XpS¿®bmbn lukv^p ≈mbn Cu kn\na ImWn°Ww. F¶nte th≠{X IeIvj\p≠mhq. Aßns\sbmcp t{]mPŒn¬ hnPbn°p sa∂v Dd∏p≈ Hcmsf \mbnIbm°tWm, AtXm Hcp ]pXpapJsØh®v ss{S sNøtWm? F\n°v\„s∏Sm\p ≈Xv F¥msW∂dnbnt√?' A]¿Æbv°v hm°pIƒ \„s∏ńcn°p∂p. \„ap≠mhns√∂pw adn®v emàp≠mhpsa∂pw ssN\m\n°v Dd∏psImSp°m≥ X\n°mIptam. Aßns\ Dd∏p sImSp°pIbmsW¶n¬Øs∂ e£ßfpsSbpw tImSn IfpsSbpw IfnIƒ°nSbn¬ shdpsamcp ]pXpapJamb Xs‚ hm°pIƒ°v h√ {]k‡nbpapt≠m. "bp hn¬ _n shcna®v C≥ Z \yq sh©¿. A{XXs∂ A{][m\a√mØ A{][m \a√mØ Hcp tdmfn¬. \n\°v anIhv Im´m≥ Im´m ≥ ]‰nb Hcp tdmƒ. bp tI≥ tjm bph¿ sa‰v¬. C‰okv A]v Sp bp.' Ahƒ ]pdØp IS∂t∏mgpw kp\µ cRv Pn\nbpsS Pn\nbpsS apdnbnep≠mbncp∂p. Ahƒ cRv Pn\nbv Pn\nbv °p °p ssIhoin \S∂p\oßn. kp\µ Xncn™p t\m°p∂p≠mbncp∂p. Im¿ Ãm¿´m°n sKbv ‰ v IS°ptºmƒ A]¿Æ BtemNn®p. X\n°v Ifn°m\n\n Icp°sfm∂pw _m°nbn√. ]t£ ASnbdhp ]dbm≥ AhfpsS A hfpsS A`nam\w kΩXn°p∂n√.

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13 BtcmSmWv H∂v D≈pXpd∂v kwkmcn°pI. BcpsS apºnemWv X\ns°m∂v s]mń°cbm≥ km[n°pI. Hcp Imcyw Xo¿®bmbncn°p∂p. ]pXnb aqhn Xs∂t∏mse \qdpIW°n\v s]ÏpńIsf hngpßm≥ hep∏ ap≈XmWv. Aßns\bp≈ kn\naIfn¬ \mbnI Ign™m¬ ]ns∂bp≈ ÿm\w hfsc Nphńembncn°pw. Nphńem bncn°pw. kp\µsb Ahƒ°v Ct∏mƒ apgph≥ a\nembncn°p∂p. Xm≥ Db¿∂p hcm≥ Ah¿ kΩXn°n√. k ΩXn°n√. Xm≥ Hcp òjWnbmsW∂v Ah¿ a\nem°n°gn™p. Ah¿°v ssN\m\nbpsS taep≈ ]nSn Imcyßƒ Ffp∏ am°pIbpw sNøpw. ssN\m\n I\n™v HcpamXncn \√ tdmƒ X\n°p XcnIbmsW¶n¬Øs∂ AXp X∂n¬\n∂v Xń∏dn®v at‰sX¶nepw \Sn°v sImSpØpsh∂p sImSpØ psh∂p hcpw. c≠mw \ncbn¬ \SnIƒ°v ]™sam∂p an√. Cßns\sbmcp saKmaqhnbn¬ H∂mw Xcw \SnIƒXs∂ c≠mwXcw tdmƒ FSp°m≥ Xømdmhpw. ImcWw Ah¿°v Hcp km[mcW aqhnbn¬ \mbnIbmbn A`n\bn®m¬ In´p∂Xnt\°mƒ {]Xnêw CXn¬\n∂v In´pw. Xm≥ F¥mWv sNtø≠Xv? Cßns\sbmcp \nlmbX PohnXØnep≠mbnń√. {]iv\ßƒ D≠mhp tºmsg√mw Bsc¶nepw Bizkn∏n°m≥ h∂ncp∂p. Ct∏mƒ Xm≥ Ahcn¬\ns∂√mw AI∂ncn°bmWv. Cu {]iv\hpw sIm≠v AhcpsSbmcpsS ASpØpw sN√m≥ Ahƒ Xømdpa√. Xs‚ {]Xn—mb hfsc {][m\amWv. Cu {]iv\w ]cnlcn®mepw X\ns°mcp `mhnbp≠v. A∂v Ahcmcpw ]dbcpXv. "I≠nt√.....' Hcp amXncn hnP\amb sXcphpIfneqsS Ahƒ ImtdmSn®p sIm≠v t]mbn. CSbv ° nS°v apºn¬ h∂ps]Sp∂ IS¬ Ahsf Bizkn∏n®n√. ISens\∏‰n hnt\mZv Nµm\n ]d™Xv Ahƒ Hm¿Øp. Ahƒ F¥psImt≠m hnt\mZns\ shdpØp. Xs∂ klmbn°m≥, Xm≥ hoWp InS°ptºmƒ Fgpt∂¬∏n°m≥ Abmfp≠mhns√∂v Ahƒ°v Dd∏mbn. Abmƒ Xs∂ D]tbmKn°pI am{XamWv sNbvXXv. kn\nabn¬ IS∂p IqSm\p≈ Xs‚ hy{KXsb hrØnsI´ \neb n¬ NqjWw sNøpI. AXpIgn™v Xs‚ H∏w \n¬°pIbmsW¶n¬ icn. Aßns\b√ kw`hn°p∂Xv. Ac aWn°q¿ ss{Uhv sNbvX tijw Ahƒ FØnbXv kp\n¬ Xmakn°p∂ F´p\ne sIńSØns‚ ]m¿°nMv temńemsW∂Xv Ahsf AZv`pXs∏Sp Ønbn√. AhfpsS a\nsehntStbm Hc`btI{µambn B sIńShpw Ggmw \nebnse ^vfm‰pap≠mbncp∂p. m‰pap≠mbncp∂p. lknw BWv hmXn¬ Xpd∂Xv . Abmƒ km[mcWań¬ AXn`hyXtbmsS Ahsf koIcWapdnbntebv° v B\bn®p. "Bbntb A]¿ÆmPo..... Nm ]otbKm, \m Ip®v S≠m....' "H∂pw th≠.' kp\n¬ ]pdØph∂p. Abmƒ DdßpIbmbncp∂p. As√¶n¬ shdpsX shd psX InS°pIam{Xw. AbmfpsS apJw Xosc {]k∂a√. A]¿Æbncn°p∂ tkm^bpsS as‰ A‰Øv h∂ncp∂v Abmƒ Ahsf t\m°n. "\ns∂ Rm≥ Ct∏mƒ {]Xo£n®n√.' kp\n¬ ]d™p. "F¥mWv t^m¨ sNømXncp∂Xv?' "Rm≥ ssN\m\nsb I≠ncp∂p....' A]¿Æ ]d™p. "\nXn≥ F¥p ]d™p?' Ahƒ ]dbm≥ XpSßn. kp\µsb ssN\m\nbpsS Hmôkn¬ h®v I≠Xp sXm´v Ahƒ ]d™p. H∂pw tNm¿∂p t]mImsX, hm°pIfn¬ H´pw t£m`w {]ISamImsX {ian®p sIm≠v Ahƒ ]d™psIm≠ncp∂p. AXn\nSbv°v lknw c≠p •mpIfn¬ XWpØ sh≈w sIm≠p h∂v sh®p. "km_v Rm≥ am¿°‰n¬ t]mIzmWv. ImsdSp°s´?' kp\n¬ Xebmń. lknw tjmtIknt∑¬ h® Xmt°mseSpØv ]pdtØbv°p t]mbn. hmXneS™t∏mƒ kp\n¬ tNmZn®p. "F∂n´v?.....' A]¿Æ •mnse sh≈saSpØv IpSn®p. AhfpsS sXm≠ hnImct£m`waqew hc≠p t]mbncp∂p. "Rm\n\n F¥mWv sNtø≠Xv?' Ahƒ tNmZn®p. "X¬°mew H∂pw sNtø≠. Imcyßƒ Fßns\ \oßp∂psh∂v t\m°mw.' kp\n¬ ]d™p. "ssN\m\n ]pXnb aqhnbn¬ \n\°v Nm≥kv Xcpsa∂Xv Dd∏mWv. ssN\m\n AdnbmsX kp\µsb ssIImcyw sNtø≠ sXßns\bmsW∂v \pap°v t\m°mw. F¥mbmepw C\nsXm´v \o ]{Xßƒs°m∂pw C‚¿hyq sImSp°≠. BtcmSpw CXns\∏‰n kwkmcn°pIbpw th≠. kam[m\ambn t]mIq.' Ahƒ Fgpt∂‰p. kp\n¬ Fgpt∂‰v h∂v AhfpsS ssIIƒ {Kln®psIm≠v ho≠pw ]d™p. "kam[m\ambn t]mIq.'

14 knIvkvØv tdmUns‚ Xncnhn¬ h®mWvHcp Hcp Aw_mU¿ Im¿ Ahƒs°Xncmbn h∂Xv. Ahƒ s]s´∂v shń®Xp sIm≠v A]ISw Hgnhmbn. Ahƒ t{_bv°n´p \n¿Øn. Aw_mU¿ Aw_m U¿ Imdpw \n¿Øn AXn¬ \n∂v c≠p sNdp∏°m¿ Cdßnh∂p. "Mm CXv A]¿ÆmPnbt√?' Ahcnsemcmƒ ]d™p. "tkm tkmdn.' "Rßƒ A]¿ÆmPnsb At\zjn®p hcnIbmbncp∂p.' as‰bmƒ ]d™p. "F¥n\v?' "ssN\m\n km_v ImWWsa∂p ]d™p. Rßƒ hoń¬ t]mbn. AhnsSbns√∂p I≠t∏mgmWv Ctßm´p h∂Xv.'

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"Rm≥ s]mbvt°mfmw.' A]¿Æ ]d™p. "A]¿ÆmPnbv°v ÃpUntbm FhnsSbmsW∂dnbmtam?' "Adnbmw, Hmôkns‚ ASpØ sKbv‰s√?' "AhnsSb√. km_ns‚ Hm]s\b¿ ÃpUntbm D≠v At¥cnbn¬.' "F\n°dnbn√.' "RßfpsS ]n∂mse h∂m¬ aXn.' "icn.' Ah¿ Imdn¬ Ibdn HmSn°m≥ XpSßn. Hcp shfpØ Aw_mkU¿. Ahƒ AXns‚ \º¿ lrZnÿam°n. AYhm s]s´∂v ImdpIƒ°nSbn¬ \„s∏´pt]mbmtem. F¥mWv ssN\m\n s]s´∂v Xs∂ hnfn∏n°m≥ ImcWsa∂mbn ImcWs a∂mbncp∂p cp∂p Ahƒ BtemNn®p sIm≠ncp∂Xv sIm≠ncp∂Xv. At±lØn\va \wam‰ap≠mtbm. F√mw Ign™v X\n°pXs∂ \mbnIÿm\w Xcphm≥ Xo¿®bm°ntbm? apºnse Imdn¬ bm{XsNøp∂hsc Ahƒ CXphsc I≠nń√. AYhm jqńßns‚ kabØvI≠n´ps≠¶n¬Øs∂ I≠n´ps≠¶n¬Øs∂ {i≤n®nń√. ]t£ Ah¿°v Xs∂ ]cnNbamsW∂p h∂t√m. A]¿Æbv°v ÃpUntbmhnseØm≥ [rXnbmbn . apºn¬t∏mIp∂ Imdns\ am{Xw {i≤n®v Ahƒ ImtdmSn®p. apºnse Im¿ Hcp CS \ncØntebv°v Xncn™p ]n∂mse Ahfpw. Hcp ^mŒdnbptSsX∂p tXm∂n°p∂ sIńSØns‚ apºn¬ Ah¿ Im¿ \n¿Øn. Ahfpw Im¿ \n¿Øn Xe ]pdtØbv°n´v Ahsc t\m°n. Ah¿ Imdn¬ \n∂ndßn AhfpsS ASptØbv°p h∂p. "A]¿ÆmPn, Cu sKbv‰n¬ °qSn t]mbm¬ Ffp∏amWv. a‰Xv hfsc Np‰Ww. Hcp c≠p an\p‰v \SØw am{Xw.' Ahƒ°v s]s´∂v Ft¥m hnizmkt°Sv tXm∂n. Hcp sNdnb sKbv‰v. CXp ssN\m\nbpsS ÃpUn tbmhntebv°p≈ hgnbmhm≥ hø. Ffp∏hgnsb∂t√ ]d™Xv. F¥mbmepw t]mbn t\m°mw. Ahƒ ]pdØp IS∂v Imdns‚ hmXneS®v tem°v sNbvXp Ahcp sS H∏w \S∂p. Ah¿ sKbv ‰p IS°ptºmƒ as‰mcp Im¿ AhfpsS Imdns‚ ]n∂n¬ \n¿Øp∂Xhƒ I≠p. AXnepw c≠pt]cp≠mbncp∂p. Ahcpw ÃpUntbmhntebv°v Ffp∏hgn°v h∂Xmbncn°Ww. Ahƒ thKw \S∂p. sIńSØns‚ apºnseØnbt∏mgmWv AhcpsS kz`mhw amdnbXv. Ah¿ AhfpsS A hfpsS hfsc ASpØph∂v ]d™p. "hcq \ap°ItØbv°p t]mImw.' "CXmtWm ÃpUntbm?' D]tbmKn°msX Dt]£n®n´ Hcp ^mŒdn sIńSw. \ndsb s]mSn, ap‰Øpw hcm¥ bnepw Np‰pap≈ acßfpsS CeIƒ ASn™pIqSnbncn°p∂p. ""AsX CXpXs∂.' AhfpsS ssI]nSn®psIm≠v AXnsemcpØ≥ ]d™p. Ahƒ IpXdn c£s∏Sm≥ t\m°n. ]t£ c≠pt]cpw IqSn Ahsf apdpsI ]nSn®ncp∂p. HcpØ≥ AhfpsS hm s]mØpIbpw sNbvXp. ]n∂nep≈ Imdnse c≠pt]cpw ASpsØØnbncp∂p. \mept]¿ IqSn Ahsf XmßnsbSpØv Hcp hiØp≈ apdnbntebv°v s]m°ns°m≠p t]mbn.

15 t_m[w h∂t∏mƒ Ahƒ Hcmip]{Xn apdnbnembncp∂p. F¥mWp≠mbsX∂v a\nemhm≥ Ahƒ°v GXm\pw \nanjßƒ FSpØp. s]s´∂hƒ `b∂p \nehnfn°m≥ XpSßn. Hcp \gvkv AItØbv° p h∂p. Ahƒ A]¿ÆbpsS s\‰n XtemSn. "kmcan√. Ct∏mƒ Bcpan√. kam[m\ambn InS°p.....' "Rms\hnsSbmWv?' "Hcp \gvknMvtlmamWv. \nßfpsS Bƒ°msc hnhcadnbn®nń√. t^m¨ \º¿ X∂m¬ hnfn®p]dbmw. As√¶n¬ \nßƒ°pXs∂ kwkmcn°mw.' "BcmsWs∂ Ctßm´p sIm≠ph∂Xv?' "Hcp hm®vam\mWv. \nßfpsS \nehnfn tI´v HmSns®∂XmWv. bphm¿ Bƒssd‰v \u.' Hcp Im°n°p∏mb°mc≥ HmSnhcp∂Xp I≠ncp∂p. AtXmsS \mept]cpw ÿew hnSpIbpw sNbvXp. At∏mtgbv°pw Ahƒ At_m[mhÿbnseØnbncp∂p. "F\ns°mcp t^m¨ Xcmtam. Rm≥ hnfn°mw.' "icn.' \gvkv ]pdtØbv°pt]mbn, DSs\Øs∂ Hcp t^mWpambn Xncn®ph∂p. π§v Npacnse tkm°‰n¬ IpØnbtijw Ahƒ t^m¨ A]¿Æbv°p sImSpØp. Bsc hnfn°pw. A¶vfns\ hnfn°m≥ hø. ]ns∂ BcmWp≈Xv. Bcpan√. Bscbpw Adnbnt°≠. Adnbnt° ≠. Cu \mWt°Sv X∂n¬Øs∂ HSpßs´. ]t£ \gvknMvtlman¬ \n∂p ]pdØp IS°Wsa¶n¬ AhcpsS _n¬ sImSpt°≠nhcpw. X\n°v Bscsb¶nepw Adnbn°msX \nhrØnbn√. Ahƒ Ub¬ sNøm≥ XpSßn. t^mWns‚ adphiØp\n∂v kp\nens‚ i–w tI´p. A]¿Æbv°v kwkmcn°m≥ Ign™n√. Ahƒ tXßntØßn°cbpIbmWv. "F¥p]‰n tamsf, F¥mWp≠mbXv? h√ A]IShpap≠mtbm? \osbhnsSbmWv.......' "Rm\nhnsS Hcp \gvknMvtlmanemWv. H∂v hcq, DSs\.....t]tcm? Hcp an\n‰ an\n‰vv .'.' Ahƒ \gv knt\mSv knt\mSvtNmZn® tNmZn®

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tijw XpS¿∂p. "tNm{]m \gv knMv knMvt v lmw. At¥cnbnemWv . H∂vthKw thKw hcq. Fs∂ klmbn°q.' "\osbm∂v ]cn{àn°mXncn°q. F\n°dnbmw. tUm. Acp¨ tNm{]bpsSXmWv. Rm≥ ASpØdnbp∂ BfmWv. Rm\nt∏mƒØs∂ AhnsS FØmw.' kp\n¬ h∂Xv tUm. tNm{]bpsS H∏amWv. Abmƒ ASpØv h∂v AhfpsS XeapSn XShn. "kmcan√ tamsf. k∫v ToIvtlmPm sbKm.' Xncn™v tUmŒtdmSv Abmƒ ]d™p. "Rm≥ H‰bv °v ChtfmSv kwkmcn°s´.' "jobokv Ãn¬ C≥ t{Sma.' tUmŒ¿ ]d™p. "_o tI¿^pƒ.' tUmŒ¿ t]mbn. kp\n¬ \gvkns\ t\m°n. Ahcpw t]mbn. Abmƒ Ińen∂SpØn´ Itkebn¬ Itke bn¬ Ccp∂p. A]¿ÆbpsS IÆv \nds™mgpIpIbmbncp∂p. kp\n¬ AhfpsS ssI]nSn®v hm’eytØmsS XShn. "Itam¨ A]¿Æ, \n\°v CXne[nIw ss[cyap≠v. kmh[m\Øn¬, hfsc kmh[m\Øn¬ Abmƒ F¥mWv \S∂sX∂v A]¿ÆtbmSv tNmZn®p a\n em°n. Aw_mknU¿ Imdns‚ \º¿ Ahƒ°v Hm¿Ωbp≠mbncp∂p. Ahsf D]{Zhn® \mep t]cpsS apJOmbbpw. kp\nens‚ apJw òIcamIp∂Xv A]¿Æ I≠p. "tZ hn¬ t] t^mdn‰v.' Abmƒ ]√p ISn®psIm≠v ]d™p. "\ap°v\msf t]mImw." kp\n¬ ]d™p. "\mtfbvt° \o t\m¿aemhq F∂mWv tUmŒ¿ ]dbp∂Xv . ]ns∂ Hcp Imcyw \Ωƒ CsXm∂pw ]pdØm°p∂n√. Ft¥m `mKyØn\mWv \ns∂ ChnsSØs∂ sIm≠ph∂Xv. \ns∂ D]{Zhn®hcpsS Imcyw Rm≥ t\m°ns°m≈mw.' Abmƒ Fgpt∂‰p, Ipºn´psIm≠v AhfpsS s\‰nta¬ Npw_n®p. "Rm≥ \msf hcmw.' Abmƒ t]mbn. A¶nfnt\mSv F¥mWv ]dbpIsb∂v Ahƒ BtemNn®p. c≠p Znhkw apºpam{Xw Hcp cm{Xn hoń¬ \n∂v hn´p\n∂p. Ct∏mƒ CXm ho≠pw. Aßns\sbmcp Iogvhg°ap≠m°nbncps∂¶n¬ g°ap≠m°nbncps∂¶n¬ Ipg∏an√mbncp∂p. AXpsIm≠v cm{Xn°p≈n¬Øs∂ cm{Xn°p≈n¬Øs ∂ Ahƒ°v hoń¬ Xncns®ØWsa∂p≠v. Ahƒ kp\nens\ Xncn®phnfn®p. "Rm≥ C∂p sshIpt∂cwXs∂ hoń¬ t]ms´? \msf hcmw.' kp\n¬ Hcp \nanjw BtemNn®p. "icn, Rm≥ tUmŒtdmSv tNmZn°s´. ]ns∂ Imdns‚ Xmt°m¬ Xcq. Rm\Xv \gvknM v tlmantebv°p sIm≠phcmw.' kp\n¬ tai∏pdØncn°p∂ lm‚ v_mKv Xpd∂p Xmt°mseSpØp Xmt°mseSpØp ]pdØpt]mbn. A©p an\n‰pIgn™v Xncn®p h∂v Abmƒ ]d™p. "icn. \ap°v sshIpt∂cw t]mImw. Rm≥ Hcp Bdp aWn°v hcmw.' Ahƒ Bizkn®p. kp\nent\mSv Fßns\bmWv \µn ]dtb≠sX∂v Ahƒ°dnbn√mbncp∂p. B a\pjy≥ F¥n\mWv X\n°p th≠n I„s∏Sp∂Xv. tUmŒ¿ Ddßm\p≈ acp∂v X∂n´ps≠∂p tXm∂p∂p. Ahƒ ab°Ønembn. hm®v am≥ am≥ sKbv‰n∂cnsI \n¬°p∂p≠mbncp∂p. kp\n¬ Xs‚ slcmƒUv A]¿ÆbpsS Imdn\p ]n∂n¬ \n¿Øn, Abmƒ°p t\sc \S∂p. hm®vam≥ Ipd®p ]cn{àn®Xmbn tXm∂n. "km_v?...' "\nßfmtWm B s]Ïpńsb c£n®Xv?' "AtX km_v....'Abmƒ kwibn®psIm≠v ]d™p. "\√ ImcyamWv sNbvXXv. Ahƒ Fs‚ IpńbmWv. Ah¿ ]n∂oSv h∂pthm?' "C√ km_v. Ah¿ hcpsa∂v tXm∂p∂n√.' "icn, F¥mbmepw CXncn°s´.' kp\n¬ Ioibn¬\n∂v Ioibn ¬\n∂v \qdns‚ c≠p t\m´pIƒ FSpØv AbmfpsS ssIbn¬ h®p sImSpØp. "as‰mcp Imcyw. Cßns\sbmcp kw`hw ChnsS \S∂nń√. a\nemtbm?' "icn km_v.' "\nßƒ°v ss{UhnMv Adnbmtam?' "Adnbmw km_v.' "F¶n¬ Cu Imdv \gvknMvtlmans‚ ]m¿°nMv temń¬ sIm≠p t]mbn CSWw. R m≥ H∏w hcmw.' Abm ƒ Imdns‚ Xmt°m¬ hm®vam\v sImSpØp. ^vfm‰nseØnb f m‰nseØnb DSs\ kp\n¬ sNbv XXv XXvlkoans\ lkoans\ _ob¿ hmßm\mbn ]d™b°pIbmbncp∂p. ]ns∂ t^msWSpØp Id°n. H∂v Ipfn°Ww. c≠p Ip∏n _ob¿ IpSn®v `£Ww Ign®v \∂mbn DdßWw. AXp Ign™v sshIpt∂cw A]¿Æsb Iq´m≥ At¥cn°v t]mIWw. "ltem..... CXv kp\nemWv. AsX, \ns∂ H∂v ImWWw..... AsX AXymhiyamWv. Hcp Imcyw ]dbm \mWv........ F\n°v hfsc th≠s∏´ Hcp Ipńsb \mept]¿ IqSn \in∏n®p. Bscms°b msW∂p a\n emtbm........ AsX Ah¿ Xs∂. Rm\tßm´v hcmw. As√¶n¬ thsd FhnsSsb¶nepw h®v..... FhnsS?...... ssa KpUvs\v, AhnsStbm? Rms\mcp SmIvknbn¬ hcmw....... ImsdSp°p∂n√......cm{Xn Fń\v....' kp\n¬ t^m¨ h®v Ipfn°m\mbn _mØvdqan¬ Ibdn.

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16 c≠p ZnhkØn\p≈n¬ Fs¥ms°bmWv kw`hn®Xv? A]¿Æ BtemNn®p. Hcp \q‰ncp]Xp Intemao‰¿ thKØn¬ ImtdmSn°p∂ t]mse. CXv {`m¥p ]nSn∏n°p∂ thKamWv. FhnsSsbms° t]mbn CSn°p sa∂dnbn√. cmhnsebp≠mbXv AXns‚ Hcp apt∂mSn am{XamsW∂hƒ°p tXm∂n. C\n {Sm≥Iznssek¿ H∂pw Xtcs≠∂vAhƒ tUmŒtdmSv ]d™p. sshIpt∂camIptºmtgbv °vkm[mcW ańemhWw. apJØv ]‰nb t]md¬ Fs¥¶nepw ]d™v A¶nfns\ t_m[ys∏SpØmw. s]s´∂v t{_bv°ntS≠nh∂p shs∂m at‰m. a\nep≈ t]mdent\m. AXpw hgntb amdns°m≈pw. amd ns°m≈pw. kp\nens‚ apJØp I≠ ISpØ `mhw Ahsf `bs∏SpØnbncp∂p. Abmƒ Fs¥¶nepw sNøpsa∂ `bw. sNbvXns´¥mWv. cmhnsebp≠mb kw`hßƒ Hm¿°ptºmƒØs∂ Ahƒ°p `bw tXm∂p∂p. a\pjy¿ C{X \oNambn s]cpamdptam. F√mw \√ kpµc∑m¿. IeymWw Ign°ptam F∂p tNmZn®m¬ c≠masXm∂v BtemNn°msX aqfm≥ ]‰p∂{X `wKnbp≈h¿. ]t£ AhcpsS a\n¬ CsXms°bs√. Xs‚ {`m¥mWv CXns\ms° ImcWw. ssN\m\n X\nbv°v Ahkcw Xcpsa∂ tamlØnemWv AhcpsS ]n∂mse t]mbXv. km[mcW \nebnemsW¶n¬ Ahƒ H∂v BtemNnt®s\. hgnbn¬ h®v I≠ c≠pt]¿ ssN\m\n ImWm≥ Bhiys∏Sp∂ps≠∂p ]dbptºmƒ AXvhnizkn°pambncp∂n√. hnizkn°pambncp∂n√. hnizkn®m¬ Øs∂ FhnsSsb¶nepw Ibdn t^m¨ sNbvXv \nPÿnXn a\nem°ntbs\. Ah¿ kn\namtemIhpambn hfsc ASpØ _‘ap≈hcmbncn°Ww. F¥mbmepw C\n Xm≥ {i≤shbv°pw. kp\n¬ Bdp aWnbv°v FØn. Ahƒ Ignbp∂Xpw km[mcW ańemsW∂p ImWn°m≥ {iaw \SØn. "\o Ct∏mƒ t\m¿aembncn°p∂pht√m.' kp\n¬ ]d™p. "sbkv, jobokv, s]¿s^Œven Bƒssd‰v.' tUmŒ¿ ]d™p. "jn Iym≥ tKm tlmw. \msf {Unßv thWw. H∂v h∂p s]mbv t °ms´. c≠mgv N Ign™v sSÃpIƒ°v hcWsa∂p am{Xw. AXp \n¿∫‘amWv . hcmXncn°cpXv.' At±lw Xncn™v \gvkn\v \n¿t±ißƒ sImSpØp. ]pdØv kp\nens‚ Imdp I≠n√. Ahƒ tNmZytØmsS kp\nens\ t\m°n. "Rm≥ SmIvknbnemWv h∂Xv. \n\°v ImtdmSn°m≥ am{Xw i‡n Inńtbm F∂dnbn√t√m.' Abmƒ Xmt°mseSpØv AhfpsS Iøn¬ h®psImSpØp, ]ns∂ adphiØpt]mbn, A]¿Æ hmXn¬ Xpd°p∂Xpw ImØp\n∂p. Im¿ Ãm¿´m°n \oßnbt∏mƒ Ahƒ tNmZn®p. "ChnsS _n¬ F{X h∂p? Rm≥ Xcmw.' "\o AsXm∂pw Adnb≠ Bhiyan√.' Ahƒ `wKnbmbn ImtdmSn°p∂Xp I≠t∏mƒ kp\n¬ ]d™p. "\n\°v {]iv\sam∂pan√t√m.' Ahƒ tNmZy]q¿∆w Abmsf t\m°n. "Fs∂ ]m¿sf tÃj\n¬ hn´m¬ aXn. F\ns°mcnSØp t]mIm\p≠v. \o H‰bv°p s]mbvs°m≈psa∂v Dd∏t√.' "sbkv tk¿.' kabw GgpaWnbmbnt´bp≈p. F´p aWnbvt° ss_Jebn¬ FtØ≠p. [mcmfw kabap≠v. ]ns∂ SmIvknbn¬ t]mIp∂sX√mw Hmtcm sXfnhpIfmbncn°pw. PmIvks\ ImWm≥ t]mIptºmƒ Aßns\ Nne ap≥IcpXepIƒ BhiyamWv. "Fs∂ ChnsS hn´m¬ aXn. \o t\sc s]mbvt°m.' Abmƒ ]d™p. A]¿Æ Im¿ \n¿Øn. kp\n¬ AhfpsS ssI]nSn®a¿Øn. "F√mw icnbmhpw, F√mw.' Abmƒ Imdn¬\n∂ndßn. ]m¿sf tÃj\ntebv°p \S°ptºmƒ Abmƒ BtemNn®p. Xm≥ hnNmcn®Xnepw t\csØ A]¿Æ hos≠SpØncn°p∂p. AhfpsS C—mi‡nsbbmWXv ImWn°p∂Xv. Abmƒ hns√ ]m¿sfbn¬ \n∂v s{Sbn\n¬ _m{µbnseØn. AhnsS\n∂v lm¿_¿ sse\ntebv°v amdn. lm¿_¿ s{Sbv≥ t]mIm≥ Xømdmbn \n¬°p∂p≠mbncp∂p. hoXn IqSnb \ncØn¬\n∂v hoXn Ipd™ \ncØntebv°v, ho≠pw hoXn Ipd™ \ncØv. ho≠pw CShgnIƒ, Hcp kvIq´dn\p t]mepw t]mIm≥ ]‰mØ hgnIƒ. HcpØ≥ ASpØph∂p sIm≠v tNmZn®p. "km_v, A®m am¬ sl.' F¥p am¬? am¬ F∂p ]d™m¬ F¥pamImw. ]´®mcmbw, I©mhv, s]mSn, AXpas√¶n¬ thiyIƒ. Abmƒ ]d™p. "Rm≥ thsdmcp ImcyØn\v h∂XmWv. ip{Inbm.' \µn ]d™p sIm≠v HgnhmhpIbmWv \√Xv. ÿew alm ]niImWv. H∂v Dc™v ]d™m¬ aXn ]ns∂ IØnsIm≠p≈ Ifnbmhpw. Ahs‚ Bƒ °mcmbncn°pw Np‰ph´hpw. h√msØmcp ÿew. PmIvk≥ tPmb‚n¬Øs∂bp≠mbncp∂p. tPmb‚ n¬Øs∂bp≠mbncp∂p. kp\nens\ I≠t∏mƒ Abmƒ IpSn \n¿Øn apdn°p ]pdtØbv ° p h∂p. Po≥kpw \oe sU\nwXpWnbpsS Pm°‰pw thjw. apIfnse c≠p _´¨ Xpd∂n´XneqsS AbmfpsS tcma\n_nVamb amdpw IgpØn¬ Xqßn°nS°p∂ kz¿Æamebpw ImWm\p≠v. "sS¬ an, hmSvkv bph¿ t{]mªw?' Abmƒ Hcp tKmh\mbncp∂p. PmIv k ≥ Unkqk. ap∏Ø©p hbp {]mbw tXm∂pw. Iń aoi, {^©pXmSn.

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"\aps°mcp Imcyw sNømw PmIv k ≥.' kp\n¬ ]d™p. "GsX¶nepw sdtÃmd≠n¬ t]mbncp∂v kwkmcn°mw, As√¶n¬ _mdn¬.' "Ntem.....sdtÃmd≠v ta≥ PmsbKm.' sdtÃmd≠n¬ tai°ncphiØpancp∂v Ah¿ kwkmcn®p. "\n\°v a\nemtbm BcmWv I£nsb∂v?' "a\nemsbt∂m? Ahs‚ t]cv ChnsS ]d™p t]mhcpXv. Ign™ {]mhiyw Ahs\ shdpsX hn´Xv \nßƒ ]d™n´mWv. Hm¿°p∂pt≠m.' "Hm¿°p∂p≠v PmIvk≥. Fs‚ sX‰mWv. At∏mƒXs∂ sImSpt°≠Xmbncp∂p.' Hcp ]mhs∏´ admØn IpSpw_Øns‚ Xmßmbncp∂p Ahƒ. PmIvk\mWv kp\nent\mSv Ahƒ°v Fs¥¶nepw tPmen sImSp°m≥ ]d™Xv. kn\nabn¬ Hcp FIv{Ãbm°pIbpw sNbvXp. henb Ipg∏ an√msX s]mbvs°m≠ncp∂t∏mgmWv Ah¿.......... A∂v PmIvks\ XWp∏n°m≥ hfsc ]mSps]´p. C\nbpw CXp XpScm≥ A\phZn®pIqSm. "Rm≥ F¥mWv sNtø≠Xv. Im®n°fbs´? IXw I¿Zqw?' "c≠pt]sc Im®nt°m. a‰p c≠pt]sc C\n AXp sNøm≥ ]‰n√mØ hn[Ønem°nt°m.' PmIv k≥ k≥ Hcp hgpXn\ß \pdp°p∂t]mse BwKyw Imń. "CtXm?' "AsX. C\nbh¿ as‰mcp s]Ïpńsb \in∏n°cpXv.' kp\n¬ ]d™p. "Bs´ F{X sNehp hcpw?' "kp\n¬ km_v....' kp\nens‚ ssIøn¬ Aa¿Øn∏nSn®p sIm≠v PmIvk≥ ]d™p. "Ahs\ X´m≥ F\n°v ]Ww th≠. ]t£ Fs‚ ]n≈m¿°v Fs¥¶nepw sImSp°Ww. AhcpsS _nkn\mWnXv. Hcp ]Øv IcpXnt°m. F√mw Ign™n´p sImSpØm¬ aXn.' "Rm\n\n cwKØn√.' kp\n¬ ]d™p. "th≠, t]mbvt°m. Rm≥ _n¬ sImSpØv s]mbvt°mfmw.' kp\n¬ Fgpt∂‰p.

17 cmhnse Fgpt∂‰t∏mƒ A]¿Æbv°v DW¿∆p tXm∂n. ImepIƒ°nSbnse thZ\ At∏mgpap≠m

bncp∂p. cmhnse \gvknMv tlman¬ t]mIWsa∂v AXhsf Hm¿Ωn∏n®p. C∂v jqńßn\p t]mIm≥ tXm∂nbn√. _o®n¬ aq∂mw Znhkhpw jqńßp≠mhpsa∂v Ahƒ°dnbmw. Ahƒ °dnbmw. s]s´∂v Ahƒ B slen t°m]vS¿ A]ISw Hm¿Øp. ]{XØn¬ AXns‚ hniZ hnhcßƒ D≠mbncp∂p. t_m´v ASpsØØptºmƒ ASpsØØptº mƒ NmSm\mbn XømsdSpØp \n∂ \S\v slent°m]vS¿ s]s´∂v s]m¥nbXp ImcWw ]nSpØw hnSpIbmWp ≠mbXv . Abmƒ apdpsI ]nSn°m≥ {ian®p. AXv IqSpX¬ Ipg∏ap≠m°n. At∏mƒØs∂ ]nSn hnńcps∂¶n¬ A[nIw Dbcan√mØnSØp \n∂p Xs∂ hotWs\. AX{X A]ISap≠m°n√mbncp∂p, ImcWw ASpsØØnb t_mńse Bƒ°m¿°v Abmsf c£n°m≥ ]‰pambn cp∂p. km[p a\pjy≥. Zb\obambn´p≈Xv AbmfpsS IpSpw_amWv . s{Ã®dn¬ `¿Ømhns‚ arXtZlØns∂Xnscbp≈ Nphcn∂cnIn¬ AbmfpsS `mcy hoWpInS∂ncp∂p. B ]mhw kv{Xo Ic™pXf¿∂v InS°pIbmbncp∂p. Fs¥mcp PohnXw! kn\namtemItØbv °p °p {]thin°p∂Xns\∏‰n A]¿Æbv°p BZyambn ho≠p hnNmcap≠mbn. AXn\p am{Xsams°bpt≠m sh≈nØncbnse PohnXw? Ahƒ ]{XsaSpØv BZywsXm´v Ahkm\whsc hmbn®p. X\n°p ]‰nb A]ISsØ∏‰n Fßns\sb ¶nepw hm¿Ø ]pdØp h∂n´pt≠m F∂dnbm≥. C√, H∂pw h∂nń√. Ft¥m `mKyØn\v Ahsf B \gv knMv tlman¬ B°n. Fs¥ms°tbm \∑Iƒ Cu Iepjmhÿbnepw X\n°\pIqeambn h¿Øn°p∂p≠v. AXn¬ H∂matØXmWv kp\n¬ a¬tlm{X. "t^mWp≠v..... A]¿Æbv°v t^mWp≠v.' Nphńse \nebn¬ \n∂v annv ]mtfi hnfn®p ]d™p. kp\nembncp∂p. "Fßns\bp≠v A]¿Æm Ct∏mƒ?' "Ipg∏an√.' "C∂v \gvknMvtlman¬ t]mIWw. Rm≥ HºXp aWn°v AhnsS hcmw.' "Rm≥ H‰bv°v t]mbm¬t∏msc?' "F¥m Rm≥ hcp∂XpsIm≠v h√ Ipg∏hpapt≠m?' "A√m, Rm≥ kp\nens\ Iptd _p≤napń°p∂p≠v.' "s]sÆ Xami ]dbmsX Xømdmbn \nt∂m. IrXyw HºXp aWn°v Rm≥ AhnsS FØpw. tlmWSn°m s\m∂pw CSbm°≠.' "icn k¿.' Ahƒ t]mIm\mbn hmXn¬hsc FØnbt∏mƒ annv ]mtfi HmSn Hm Sn h∂p. "A]¿Æm, BPv \mcntb¬°m NńWn _\mbm?' "Adnbn√ B‚n. Ds≠¶n¬ tcWphns‚ ssIbn¬ sImSpØb°mw.' tImWn Ibdptºmƒ Ahƒ BtemNn®p, Xm≥ sNøp∂ t^mWpIfpsS Nm¿Pv Ah¿ CuSm°p∂Xv \mfntIc®ńWn tNmZn®p hmßnbn´msW∂v tXm∂p∂p. Ahƒ Ipfn®p ]pds∏Sm≥ XpSßn.

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slcmƒUn¬ bm{X sNøp∂Xv Hcp hnNn{Xm\p`hamWv. \nßƒ Hcp ss_°nemWv t]mIp∂sX∂ {]XoXnbp≠mhpw. CSbv°v h√ Ipgnbnepw NmSn Xe apIfneSn°ptºmgmWv ImdnemsW∂p a\nemhpI. A]¿Æ ]d™p. "kp\nen\v Hcp \√ Im¿ hmßn°qsS?' Abmƒ Ahsf t\m°n Nncn®p. "\n\s°mcp Imcyw Adnbmtam?' "Mpw?' "F\n°v sNømambncp∂ Imcyßƒ Fs¥ms°bp≠mbncp∂p. AsXm∂pw sNbvXn√. F\n°p hbv ap∏Ønc≠mbn. IeymWw Ign®n√. Rm\mcp \S\mWv. ]t£ CXphsc Hcp kn\nabn¬ \mbIs‚ thj aWn™nń√. Fs‚ Iøn¬°qSn e£ßƒ IS∂p t]mbn´p≠v. hns√ ]m¿sfbn¬ Hcp _¶vfmhv hmßp∂ Xns\∏‰n Rm≥ BtemNn®nń√. \„s∏SpØnb AhkcßfpsS Hcp B¬_amWv B¬_a mWv Fs‚ PohnXw. As√¶n¬ CXnsems° F¥ncn°p∂p.' "\nßƒ HcZv`pXa\pjy\mWv.' A]¿Æ ]d™p. Ah¿ \gvknMvtlmanseØnbncp∂p. tUmŒdp≠mbncp∂n√. \gvkv Ahsf D≈ntebv°p Iqńs°m≠p t]mbn. Abmƒ t]m°‰n¬ \n∂vHcp knKcs‰SpØv Np≠n¬h®p, Np≠n¬h®p, ]ns∂ AXp ths≠∂p Xocpam\n®v Xncn®pv Iqń¬Øs∂bn´p. \gvkv h∂v AbmtfmSp ]d™p. "c≠mgvN Ign™v hcWw. H∂pc≠v sSÃpIƒ \SØWw. AXv Ct∏mƒ \SØnbXp sIm≠v Imcyan√.' "F¥p sSÃv?' "Cßns\bp≈ tIkpIfn¬ AXmhiyamWv.' kp\nen\p a\nembn. Bdp amkw apºv Abmƒ°v Hc\p`hap≠mbn´p≠v. B admØn IpńbpsS Imcy Øn¬. ]t£ sSÃpIƒ \StØ≠n h∂n√. AXn\papºv Ahƒ Fs∂t∂bv°pambn bm{Xbmbn. tam¿®dn bn¬ AhfpsS ihicocw InS°p∂Xv Hm¿Ω h∂t∏mƒ Abmƒ ]√ndpΩn. Imdn¬ Ibdptºmƒ Abmƒ tNmZn®p."F¥mWv \ns‚ ]cn]mSn?' "Ct∂m?' "AsX. thsd ]cn]mSnsbm∂pw Cńńs√¶n¬ \ap°v e©n\p t]mImw. \n\°v Ipds®mcp dnemIvtkj≥ In´pw.' "AXv FhntSbv°v £Wn°p∂p F∂Xns\ B{ibn®ncn°pw.' "F¥mWv th≠Xv? ssN\okv Hm¿ tIm¨Sns\‚¬.' "ssN\okv aXn.' "F¶n¬ \ap°v ^vtfmdbn¬ t]mImw.' Ahƒ ^vtfmdbn¬ t]mbn´p≠mbncp∂n√. Ahƒ ]d™p. "icn.' ^vtfmd h¿fnbnembncp∂p. Abmƒ Im¿ Ãm¿´m°n.

18 \KcØn¬ sIme]mXIßƒ IqSnbn´ps≠∂Xv A¶nfns‚ ÿncw BhemXnbmWv. cmhnse BZysØ NmbbpsS H∏w At±lw ]{Xw hmbn°p∂p. Hcp s{Sbn¬ NmbIq´m\p≈ sI‰nepw, ]mepw ]©kmcbpap≈ ]m{Xßfpw Hcp I∏pw tkmkdpambn tcWp _m¬°Wnbn¬ sIm≠pt]mbn sIm≠ pt]mbn hbv°p∂p. A¶vƒ kz¥w C„Øn\\pkcn®v NmbIqń IpSn°p∂p. Hcp aq∂p I∏v Nmb AIØm°ptºmtgbv°v ]{Xw apgph≥ hmbn®p Xo¿∂n´p≠mIpw. "A]¿Æm..." At±lw hnfn®p. Ahƒ°v Dd°®Shp amdnbncp∂n√. NmbIpSn \n¿Øn Ahƒ _m¬°Wnbntebv°v t]mbn. "F¥mWv A¶vƒ?' km[mcW Aßns\ hnfn°mdp≠v. At∏mgmWv AhfpsS A∂sØ ]cn]mSnsb°pdns®ms° At±lw tNmZn°mdp≈Xv. "\ns‚ s{]mUyqk¿ Hcp kn‘nbt√?' Ahƒ Xebmńbt∏mƒ At±lw XpS¿∂p. "ssN\m\n?' Ahƒ ho≠pw Xebmń. "AbmfpsS aI≥ acn®p.' "Fßns\?' Ahƒ t]∏¿ Xń∏dn®p. H∂masØ t]Pn¬Øs∂ henb A£cØn¬ hm¿Ø sImSpØncn°p∂p. ^nenw s{]mUyqk¿ ssN\m\nbpsS aI\pw kvt\lnX\pw shSntb‰v acn®p. Ahƒ A£cm¿∞Øn¬ sRńt∏mbncp∂p. ssN\m\nbv°v c≠p a°fp≠mbncp∂psh∂dnbmw. aqØh≥ c≠p h¿jw apºv acn®psh∂pw. Ahƒ hmbn°m≥ XpSßn. ssN\m\nbpsS aI≥ cmtIjpw kvt\lnX≥ atljpw A{IanIfpsS shSntb‰v acn®p. Jmdnse en¶v tdmUn¬ h®mWv kw`hw. k w`hw. Imdn¬ hcnIbmbncp∂ c≠p t]tcbpw FXn¿ hiØp\n∂p Imdn¬

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h∂ c≠pt]¿ Im¿ \n¿Øn \ndsbmgn°pIbmbncp∂p. c≠pt]cpw DSs\ acn®p. A{IanIƒ h∂ Imdn¬ Øs∂ c£s∏´p Xmsg sImSpØ Nn{XØn¬ Hcp sh≈ Aw_mkU¿ Imdn\p≈n¬ Xe Ip\n® ań¬ c≠pt]cpsS ihicocw. A]¿ÆbpsS ImepIƒ°v _e£bw t]mse tXm∂n. Ahƒ BZyw BtemNn®Xv AhfpsS hn[nsb∏‰nbmbncp∂p. hn[nsb∏‰nbmbncp ∂p. X\n°v sNdnbsX¶n¬ sNdnb Hcp Nm≥kv kn\nabn¬ In´psa∂mbt∏mƒ Cßs\bpw Hcp Ipg∏w. C\n ssN\m\n At±lØns‚ πm\pIƒ am‰ptamsb∂v Bcp I≠q. AhfpsS IÆpIƒ At∏mgmWv B c≠p t^mt´mIfntebv ° p ]Xn™Xv . ASpØ tImfØn¬ acn® c≠p sNdp∏°mcpsS t^mt´mIƒ sImSpØncp∂p. s]s´∂v Ahƒ°v Xe Idßp∂Xmbn tXm∂n. Hcp \nanjØn \p≈n¬ Ahƒ t_m[w sI´v \neØp hoWp. t_m[w h∂t∏mƒ Ahƒ Ińen¬ InS°pIbmbncp∂p. A¶vƒ ASpØpXs∂ Ccn°p∂p≠v. "Io tlmtem Io?' At±lw tNmZn®p. F¥mWp≠mbXv? Ahƒ°v ho≠pw t_m[£bw hcp∂ t]mse tXm∂n. A¶vƒ ho≠pw Ipd®v sh≈ saSpØv AhfpsS apJw XpS®p. "On, On, Hcp hm¿Ø I≠v Cßns\bmbmtem? CsXms° Cu \KcØn¬ F∂pw kw`hn°WXs√? kw`h n°WXs√? \n\°v C{Xbpw ss[cyan√mXmtbm.' Nn{XØn¬ I≠ c≠pt]¿ Aw_mkU¿ Imdn¬ h∂v Ahsf D]{Zhn®hcmbncp∂p. Abmƒ ssN\m\n bpsS aIt\m? Ahsc B¿ Fßns\......... "Ipg∏an√ A¶vƒ. Ct∏mƒ icnbmbn.' "F\n°v a\nembn tamsf.' Abmƒ ]d™p. "kmcw√y. Fgpt∂¬°p.' A¶nfn\v H∂pw a\nembnńs√∂v Ahƒ Hm¿Øp. F¥p sImt≠m Ahƒ°v Hm¿Ω h∂Xv kp\nens‚ hm°pIfmWv. "tZ hn¬ t] t^mdn‰v.' Ah¿ hne sImSpØp Ign™p. ]t£ F¥p hne! BcmWXp sNbvXn´p ≠mhpI? Ahƒ°v kp\nepambn kwkmcn°Wsa∂v tXm∂n. ssN\m\ntbmSpw kwkmcn°Ww. Ahƒ Ipfn®v ]pdØpt]mIm≥ XømsdSpØp. km[mcW hnfn°mdp≈ _qØn¬ \n∂p hnfn°msX Aev]w AIsebp≈ _qØn¬ \n∂mWv Ahƒ hnfn®Xv. "ssN\m\n ^nenwkv.' cRvPn\nbpsS i–w tI´p. "ssN\m\n km_pt≠m.' "C√, BcmWv kwkmcn°p∂Xv. C∂v km_p≠mhn√.' "CXv Rm\mWv A]¿Æ.' "Hm, A]¿ÆmPn hnhcadn™nt√.' "Adn™p.' ]Øp aWn°v ht∂mfp. I¨tUme≥kv ]pkvXIw ChnsS h®n´p≠v. H∏n´pt]mImw.' "ssN\m\n km_ns\ ImWm≥ ]‰nt√?' "C∂p ]‰n√.' "icn.' Ahƒ kp\nens‚ \º¿ hnfn®p. Abmƒ AhnsSbp≠mIpsa∂ {]Xo£bp≠mbncp∂n√. ]t£ c≠masØ dnßn¬Øs∂ kp\n¬ t^msWSpØp. "ltem, kp\n¬ lnb¿.' "CXv Rm\mWv A]¿Æ.' "t_mtem A]¿Æ, Iym lm¬ sl.' Ahƒ Hcp an\p‰v \n»–bmbn. ]ns∂ tNmZn®p. "\nßƒ {]hmNI\mtWm?' "\o ssN\m\nsb hnfnt®m.' "hnfn®p, Inńbn√. ]Øp aWn°v sN∂m¬ I¨tUme≥kv _p°n¬ H∏nSmsa∂v ]d™p cRvPn\n.' "Rm≥ \nXns‚ hońembncp∂p cm{Xn apgph≥. Ct∏mƒ Xncns®Ønbnt´ D≈q. lobosk tSm´¬ sd°v. BZysØ aI≥ c≠p sIm√w apºmWvt]mbXv t]mbXv . AsXmcp BIv knU≠mbncp∂p. knU≠mbncp∂p. Ct∏mgnXm c≠matØXpw.' "kp\nen\p a\nemtbm Bcmbncp∂p Fs∂........' Ahƒ apgph≥ ]d™p. "F\n°dnbmw. _nKv {_Z¿ t\mkv FhncnXnMvv. \o Ctßm´p hcq. \aps°m∏w ssN\m\nbpsS Hmôkn¬ t]mImw.' "icn Rm≥ ]Øp aWnbv°v hcmw.' "Rm≥ At∏mtgbv°pw H∂v Ipfn®p Xømdmhmw.' Xncn®v hońtebv°p \S°ptºmƒ Ahƒ BtemNn®p. kw`hßƒ hfsc thKØnemWv thKØnem Wv \S°p∂Xv. X\n°Xpƒs°m≈m≥ Ignbp∂n √. Hcp kw`hw Xs‚ D≈n¬ Hcp BLmXap≠m°n AXn¬\n∂v Fgpt∂¬°p∂Xn\p apºpXs∂ as‰m∂p≠mhp∂p. as‰m∂p≠mhp∂p. Cßns\ t]mbm¬ FhnsS FØpw? CXmtWm Xm≥ Dt±in® PohnXw? PohnXsØ∏‰n Ahƒ BZyambn Nn¥n°m≥ XpSßn. AXns‚ \nc¿∞IXsb∏‰n. F¥mWv kw`hn°pI. X\n°v ssN\m\n Hcp Nm≥kp X∂p. ASpØ kn\nabn¬ \mbnIÿm\ w Xs∂ X∂psh∂ncn°s´. Xm≥ Hcp ln‰mhp∂p. IqSpX¬ s{]mUyqk¿am¿ Xs∂ At\zjn®p hcp∂p. tIm¨

36


{SmŒpIƒ H∏nSp∂p. Imƒ jo‰pIƒ. H∂n\pw kaban√msX Hcp sk‰n¬\n∂v thsdmcp thsdm cp sk‰ntebv°v Hm´w. ]Ww hmcp∂p. AXn\nSbv°v X\n°v c≠p Znhkw apºv kw`hn®Xpt]mse A]ISßƒ. Zpcqlamb Cu Xnc°Ybn¬ PohnXsa∂ IYm]m{XØn\v FhnsS ÿm\w. ]m¿InMv temń¬ hm®vam≥ Nq≠n°mńb ÿeØv Im¿ ]m¿°v sNbvXp A]¿Æ Cdßn. Im¿ ]qńbnń t√ F∂v]cntim[n®v Ahƒ \S∂p. ssN\m\nbpsS Hmôkntebv°v bm{X kp\nens‚ Imdnembncn°Ww. en^v‰n¬ kwKoXap≠mbncp∂p. Ahƒ°v At∏mƒ AXv Ipd®v A\hkcØnep≈Xmbn tXm∂n. Ggmw \nebn¬ en^v‰v \n∂p. Ahƒ ]pdØndßn. kabw, kn\nabn¬ t…mtamj\n¬ ImWn°pw t]mse \ofp∂Xmbn Ahƒ°p tXm∂n. en^v‰n¬\n∂v kp\nens‚ hmXn¬°seØm≥ C{Xb[nIw kabtam? s_√Sn®t∏mƒ hmXn¬ Xpd∂Xv kp\n¬ Xs∂bmbncp∂p. Abmƒ AItØbv °p t\m°n lkoant\mSv Ft¥m hnfn®p ]d™v AhfpsS H∏w H ∏w en^v‰ntebv°pXs∂ \S∂p. ssN\m\nbpsS Hmôkn\p apºnse Xnc°v Ahƒ {]Xo£n®n√mbncp∂p. \ndsb Bƒ°m¿, Hmôkv tImºu≠n∂IØpw ]pdØpw. AIØpw ]pdØpw \ndsb ImdpIƒ. ImadbpsS ^vfmjpIƒ. Ah¿ AItØbv°p Ibdn. ^vfmjpIƒ an∂n. kzoIcWapdnbn¬Øs∂ cmtIjns‚ Hcp henb t^mt´mbv°p aosX ]pjv]lmcw. Hcp henb XmeØn¬ ]q°ƒ \nd®ncp∂p. hcp∂hsc√mw AXn¬\n∂v ]p°sfSpØv t^mt´mhn\p Xmsg A¿∏n®p. kp\nepw Hcp IpS∂ ]q°sfSpØv t^mt´mhntebv°v C´v ssIIq∏n. ^vfmjp Iƒ an∂p∂p≠mbncp∂p. A]¿Æ Ip\n™v ]q°sfSpØp t^mt´mhntebv°p t\m°n. Cu a\pjy\mWv a\pjy \mWv c≠p Znhkw apºv Xs∂ sIm√m≥ {ian®Xv. \mept]cpsSbpw Dugw Ign™t∏mƒ AbmfmWv A bmfmWv ]d™Xv. "IXw I¿tZm; \mtXm Kp¬am¬ tlmPmbKm.' ]n∂oSp≠mtb°mhp∂ IpepamepIƒ Ipepamep Iƒ Hgnhm°m≥ Ahsf sIm√m≥. DSs\ as‰mcpØ≥ AhfpsS Igp Øn¬ ]nSn°pIbpw sNbvXp. Ahƒ D®Øn¬ Aedp∂p≠mbncp∂p. `mKyØn\mWv hm®vam≥ h∂Xpw Ah¿ \mept]cpw HmSn c£s∏´Xpw. Ahƒ kp\nens‚ t\sc t\m°n. Abmƒ H∂pw ]dbmsX Ahsf {i≤n®p t\m°pIbmWv. ^vfmjpIƒ an∂p∂p≠mbncp∂p. Ahƒ ]q°ƒ t^mt´mhn\p apºn¬ C´v Xncn ™p \S∂p. Ah¿ At∏mƒØs∂ aSßn. "h√msØmcp tbmKamWv Ft‚Xv.' A]¿Æ ]d™p. kp\n¬ Ahsf Hcp tNmZytØmsS t\m°n. Ah¿ FbvØv tdmUn¬\n∂v sabn≥ tdmUntebv°p IS°pIbmWv. "Fs∂ _em¬kwKw sNbvXtijw sIm√phm\p≈ Hm¿Udpw sImSpØ Hcp a\pjys‚ t^mt´mhn\p apºn¬ ]pjv]a¿∏n°pI. temIØv Hcp s]Ïpńbv°pw Cu KXntISv D≠mbn´p≠mhn√.' "icnbmWv.' kp\n¬ ]d™p. "Rm≥ Hcp Imcyw tNmZn°s´. cmtIjns‚ acWhpw tZ hn¬ t] t^mdn‰v F∂ kp\nens‚ {]hN\hp ambn h√ _‘hpapt≠m?' "\n\s°¥mWv tXm∂p∂Xv?' "Rm\msI Bib°pg∏ØnemWv. F\n°v Fs¥ms°tbm kw`hn®psIm≠ncn°bmWv. Np‰pw \S°p∂ sX√mw icn°p≈XmtWm AtXm kz]v\w ImWp∂XmtWm F∂pIqSn kwibamIpw hn[w Rm≥ Bib °pg∏ØnemWv.' "Rms\mcp ssZhhnizmknbmWv ssZhhnizmknbmWv.' kp\n¬ ]d™p. "Rm≥ Aºeßfn¬ t]mIpw ]≈nIfn¬ t]mIpw, KpcpZzmcIfn¬ t]mIpw. {]m¿∞n°pw. A\oXnIƒ F\n°v kln°m≥ Ignbp∂Xnepw A∏pdØmWv. A\oXnIƒs°Xncmbn \S]SnsbSp°m≥ Rm≥ ssZhØn\v H∂√ ]e Ahkchpw sImSp°pw. H∂pw \S°p∂ns√∂p I≠m¬ \oXnbv°mbn mb n Rm≥ a‰v ssZhßsf B{ibn°p∂p. Ah¿ Fs∂ Hcn°epw \ncmis∏SpØnbnń√.' "GXmWm ssZhßƒ.' kp\n¬ sKbv‰p IS∂p. Abmƒ ]d™p. "Cdßnt°mfq.' Ahƒ Cdßn. "]ns∂.....' kp\n¬ AhtfmSp ]d™p. 'C∂sØ t]∏dn¬ A©masØ t]Pn¬ as‰mcp \yqkp≠v . AXp IqSn hmbn°Ww.' Abmƒ Im¿, ]m¿InMv temńtebvs°SpØp. A]¿Æ Hcp \nanjw AhnsS \n∂p. kp\n¬ h∂p AhfpsS ssI ]nSn®p Ipep°n. "icn C\n ImWmw. Rm≥ t]ms´, Ipd®p Xnc°p≠v.' "icn.'

19 hońseØnb DSs\ Ahƒ t\m°nbXv A∂sØ ]{Xambncp∂p. A©mw t]Pn¬ Ahƒ ]cXn. sNdnb sNdnb hm¿ØIƒ°nSbn¬ Ahƒ AXp I≠p ]nSn®p. c≠p sNdp∏°m¿ k∂nKv Z mhÿbn¬ Bip]{Xnbn¬. _o®n¬ c≠p sNdp∏°msc tNmc hm¿∂ \nebn¬ Is≠Øn. AhcpsS kzImc y Ahbhßƒ tOZn® ańembncp∂p. Ahbhßƒ ho≠pInńbnń√. Ah¿ Ct∏mgpw k∂nKvZmhÿbn¬ XpScp∂p. AXnPohn°m\p≈ km[yX Ipdhv. A]¿Æ Xf¿∂p. c≠p t]PpIfn¬ sht∆sd InS°p∂ kw`hßƒ XΩnep≈ _‘w Ahƒ°p a\nembnØpSßnbncp∂p. kz¥w AXnPoh\wXs∂ Hcp {]iv\ambn Ahƒ°p tXm∂n. F¥n\mWv

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CsXms°? F¥mWv CXpsIms≠ms° t\Sp∂Xv? Ahƒ cm{Xn Ddßp∂Xn\papºv A¶vfns‚ acp∂ps]ń ]cXn Hcp Dd°pKpfnI tam„n®p. C∂v Dd°w hcWsa¶n¬ AXpam{Xta icWap≈q. Ahƒ cm{Xn kpJambn Ddßn. cmhnse Fgpt∂‰t∏mƒ Ahƒ BtemNn®Xv CXmWv. C∂v F¥mWv sNøpI. H∂pw sNøm\n√mØ HchÿbmWv. Iptd ZnhktØbv°v jqńMv D≠mIpsa∂v tXm∂p∂n√. hnt\mZns‚ ASpØp t]mIm≥ Ahƒ°v bmsXmcp Xmev]cyhpap≠mbncp∂n√. kp\nemIs´ C∂seØs∂ Ahsf Hgnhm°p∂ ańemWv kwkmcn®Xv. km[mcW Abmƒ Ahsf hońtebv°p £Wn°mdp≠v. C∂se AXp≠mbn√. Hcp]t£ Abmƒ Xnc°nembncn°pw. As√¶n¬ kwkmcn°m\p≈ aqUnembncn°n√. Ahƒ a‰p≈h¿°v kwib Øns‚ B\pIqeyw sImSpØp. HºXp aWn°mWv annv ]mtfi hnfn®p ]d™Xv. "A]¿Æm, t^m¨.....' Ahƒ Xmtgbv°p t]mbn. kp\nembncp∂p. "Hcp NoØ hm¿Ø Xcm\mWv hnfn®Xv.' Ct∏mƒ \S∂ Imcyßsf°mƒ NoØbmbn F¥mWp≠mhpI? Ahƒ tNmZn®p. "Ft¥?' "ssN\m\n ]pXnb aqhn t{Um∏p sNbvXncn°p∂p. AXn\p th≠n sImSpØ tIm¨{SmŒpIsf√mw Im≥k ¬ sNøpIbmWv.' A]¿Æ H∂pw ]dbm\mImsX t^mWpw ]nSn®p \n∂p. hnizkn°m≥ {]bmkw. Xm≥ kz]v\w ImWpI bmtWm? CXp ]IemtWm, AtXm cm{Xntbm. "]ns∂ ImWmw. Rm≥ CXp ]dbm≥ hnfn®XmWv.' "icn' Ahƒ t^m¨ sh®p. Ahƒ Hcp ab°Ønse∂t]mse apIfntebv°p t]mbn. A¶vƒ Hmôkntebv°p t]mbncp∂p. tcWp ]®°dn hmßm≥ t]mhpIbmWv. hmXneS®v Ip‰nbn´v Ahƒ InS°bn¬ t]mbn hoWp. F√m kz]v\ßfpw XI¿∂psh∂v Ahƒ°p a\nembn. Xm≥ Ign™ GXm\pw amkßfmbn \´p hf¿Ønb kz]v\w thcp ]nSn°p∂Xn\p apºpXs∂ hmSn°cn™ncn°p∂p. hmSn°cn™n cn°p∂p. C\n A]¿Æ F∂ \mbnI C√. sh≈nØncbn¬ \nd™p\n∂ Xs‚ kz]v\amWv Hcp \nanjw sIm≠v C√mXmbncn°p∂Xv. C\n Pohn®ncp∂ns´¥p Imcyw. Ahƒ Fgpt∂‰v A¶v fns‚ fns‚ apdnbntebv °p °p t]mbn. acp∂ps]ń ]pdØpXs∂bp≠mbncp∂p. Ahƒ AXp Xpd∂p. c≠p {Ãn∏v Dd°pKpfnIIƒ. C∂se ]pXpXmbn hmßnbXmbncn°Ww. Ahƒ AXpsaSpØv ASp°fbntebv°p \S∂p. Ft∏mtgm hmXn¬°¬ ap´p∂ i–w tIńcp∂p. ]ns∂ Np‰pw AXnthKw hf¿∂p h∂ XtamK¿ØØn¬ B i–w C√mXmbn. Ahƒ Hcp H cp Bgap≈ Ipgnbntebv°v XeIpØn hogpIbmWv. Icbm\p≈ Hcp {iaw XpS°Ønte ]cmPbs∏´p.

20 aq∂pt]¿ Xs∂ Aa¿Øn∏nSn®ncn°bmWv. Ahƒ IpXdp∂p. \memaØh≥ Xs‚ hkv{Xßƒ Agn®p am‰pIbmWv. Ahƒ Dds° i–ap≠m°m≥ {ian®p. ]t£ i–w sXm≠bnsehntStbm DS°n \n¬°p∂p. Ahƒ ho≠pw IpXdm≥ {ian®p. s]s´∂hƒ IÆp Xpd∂p. DW¿∂t∏mƒ BZyw I≠Xv A¶nfns\bmbn cp∂p. ]n∂n¬ kp\nepw tcWphpw. Bip]{XnbnemWv. ImcyßfpsS ÿnXn a\nem°m≥ Ahƒ°vIpd®p kabsaSpØp. AhfpsS Ihnfn¬°qSn IÆoscmen®ndßn. "F¥n\m tamfv Cßns\sbms° sNbvXXv?' A¶vƒ tNmZn®p. "Ft¥m `mKyØn\v tcWp ]WsaSp°m≥ ad∂p. Ahƒ Xncn®p h∂t∏mƒ hmXn¬ Xpd°vWn√ym∂p I≠t∏mƒ annv ]mtfibpsS ASpØp t]mbn _lfap≠m°n. AXpsIm≠v Fs‚ tamfv c£s∏´p. "Ct∏mƒ Fßns\bp≠v?' kp\n¬ tNmZn®p. Abmƒ AhfpsS XeapSnbn¬ XtemSn. "Cßns\sbm∂pw sNøm≥ ]mSn√ tamsf. CsXms° Hcp kn\namXmcambn hnPbn®v h¿jßƒ Ign™v sNtø≠ ImcyamWv. XpSßp∂Xn\p apºpXs∂ th≠X√. Imcyßƒs°ms° AXnt‚Xmb Hcp {Iaans√. AXp sX‰n°m≥ ]mSn√.' kp\nens‚ apJØv Nncnsbm∂pan√. F¥psImt≠m Xm≥ Pohn®ncn°p∂p F∂Xn¬ Ahƒ°v Bizm kw tXm∂n. Ahƒ AbmfpsS ssI ]nSn®a¿Øn.

21 k¨ G‚km‚nse km‚ v nse kznΩnMv]qfns‚ Icbnen´ shfpØ taiIfnsem∂n¬ taiIfnsem∂n¬ Ah¿ A`napJambn Ccp∂p. ISen¬ \n∂p≈ Im‰v hfsc kpJIcambncp∂p. kznΩnMv]qfn¬ BfpIƒ IpdhmWv. Hcp kmbvhpw aZmΩbpw am{Xw. Ah¿ `mcym`¿Øm°∑mtcm ImapItcm BWv. Hmtcm h´w \o¥n°gn™mepw Ah¿ tImWnta¬ Xqßn\n∂v Npw_n°pIbpw ho≠pw \o¥m≥ XpSßpIbpw sNøpw. ho≠pw Xncn®ph∂v IWniambn...... kp\nen\v tZjyw ]nSn®p. "KpUv tam¿WnMvv anÃ¿ a¬tlm{X.' Hcp ÃphmUv ASpØp h∂p. "tamWnMv taw.' "KpUv tamWnMvv.'

38


Abmƒ c≠v sa\yp Im¿UpIƒ AhcpsS apºn¬ h®v Xncn®p t]mbn. "\o F¥mWv Ign°p∂Xv?' "t\m°s´.' Ahƒ sa\p Xpd∂p. "\o Im¿ Xncn®p sImSpØXv \∂mbn.' kp\n¬ ]d™p. "C\n \nXn\v Fs¥¶nepw πm\pIfps≠¶n¬ Abmƒ \ns∂ hnfn°pw. AXphsc tlmfntU.' Abmƒ sa\p Xpd∂v Ht∂mSn®pt\m°nb tijw AS®p h®p. Abmƒ A]¿Æsb t\m°n. Ahƒ Kuchambn sa\p ]Tn°pIbmWv. s]s´∂v AbmfpsS D≈v kvt\lw sIm≠v \nd™p. Abmƒ ]d™p. "t\m°v A]¿Æ, AXn\nSbv°v \ap°pw NnesX√mw πm≥ sNømw. F¥psIm≠v \ap°v kz¥ambn Hcp kn\na FSpØpIqSm.' "\apt°m, kz¥amtbm?' Ahƒ AZv`pXtØmsS kp\nens\ t\m°n. "ssh t\m´v? henb _P‰vkn\naIsfm∂pw ]‰n√. Fs‚ Hcp kvt\lnXs‚ Iøn¬ Hcp kv{In]v ‰p≠v. henb sNehn√msX D≠m°m≥ ]‰p∂ HscÆw. henb sk‰nßpIsfm∂pan√.' "Aßn\sØ kn\naIfmWv\√Xv \√Xv .' A]¿Æ ]d™p. "Ignbp∂{X HuSvtUm¿ jqńMv aXn. ÃpUntbmhn¬ h®mhptºmƒ hmSIbpw a‰pw sImSpØv apSnbpw.' kp\n¬ Ahsf BZcthmsS t\m°n. "\o Ct∏mƒØs∂ Hcp hnZKv Z bmbn´p≠t√m. bmbn´p≠t√m. \ns‚ Xebnsem∂pans√ ∂mWv Rm≥ IcpXnbXv.' "H∂pc≠v Ahm¿UpIƒ Xcam°m≥ F\n°mhpw.' kp\n¬ XpS¿∂p. "AXn¬Øs∂ sNehv Ignbpw. H∂pIn¬ Rm≥ lotdm. AXp icnbmhns√∂p tXm∂zmsW¶n¬ \ap°v a‰mscsb¶nepw hnfn°mw. {]XnêØn\v h√msX B¿Ønbn√mØ H∂pc≠p t]sc F\n°dnbmw. \o \mbnI.' ÃphmUv Hm¿UsdSp°m≥ h∂p. "Ipd®p Ignbs´, Xo¿®bm°nbnń√.' "icn k¿.' Abmƒ t]mbn. "lotdm Bbn a‰mcpw th≠. kp\nens\¥mWv Ipdhv?' "]Sw HmSpIbpw thWw. ImcWw Rm≥Xs∂bmWv ]Wand°p∂Xv.' "HmSmsX¥mWv? Ipds®ms° akme tN¿°Ww.' "Aev]w skIvkpw Ã≠pw At√?' "AsX.' ISen¬ \n∂v hcp∂ Im‰n\v XWp∏v. Hcp t¢m°ns‚ IWnitØmsS Npw_n°p∂ ZºXnam¿ kzΩnMv ]qfn¬\n∂v A{]Xy£cmbncn°p∂p. thsd aq∂pt]¿ BWv Ct∏mƒ. Ct∏mƒ . c≠p kv{XoIfpw Hcp ]pcpj\pw. Abmƒ ho≠pw shdpsX sa\ypIm¿Uv Xpd∂p adn®p sIm≠ncp∂p. A]¿Æ sa\yp AS®p sh®p. "kp\n¬, Rms\mcp Imcyw ]dbs´?' Abmƒ tNmZytØmsS apJapb¿Øn. "\nßƒ ¢m¿Iv tK_nfns\t∏msebp≠v.' "AsXs‚........' Abmƒ \n¿Øn, Ahsf t\m°n Nncn®p. AhfpsS Np≠pIƒ t\cnbXmWv. `wKnbp≈ \o≠ aq°v. XeapSn \mep `mKØp\n∂pw apIfntebv°p Ib‰n s\dpIbn¬ sIńh®ImcWw shfpØ \ndap≈ \o≠ IgpØv apgph≥ ImWm\p≠v. IgpØn\p ]n∂nep≈ t\cnb sNºn® tcmaßƒ Im‰nenf Ip∂p. Abmƒ ]d™p. "\n\°dnbmtam, \o AXnkpµcnbmWv.'

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