koorakal

Koorakal IqdIƒ (collection of short stories in Malayalam) Author: E. Harikumar Electronic version published in 2013 This book is meant for distribution among research organisations absolutely free of cost. Address: E. Harikumar 5B, Avenue Avenue Crest Apartments Avenue Road, Mundupalam Kuriachira Kuriac hira P.O. Thrissur 680 006 Phone: Pho ne: (04 (0487) 87) 2251 2251779 779 E-Mail: E-Mai l: e.harik e.harikumar umar.novel .novelist@gm [email protected] ail.com m Web: We b: www ww w.e .e-h -har arik ikum umar ar.c .com om Copyright

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2013 by E. Harikumar

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 efn Xsb 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.

]pckvImc߃: 1988 se tIcf kmlnXy A°mZan ]pc kvImcw "Znt\mkdns‚ Ip´n' F∂ IYmk amlmcØn\v. 1997 se ]fl ]flcm cmP≥ P≥ ]pckv ]pckvImcw "]®∏øns\ ]nSn ]nSn°m≥' °m≥' F∂ IYbv IYbv°v. 1998 se \me∏mS≥ ]pckv Imcw Imcw "kq£n®ph® abn¬∏oen' F∂ IYmkamlmcØn \v. 2006 se IYm]oTw IYm]oTw ]pckv ]pckvImcw "A\nX "A\nXbpsS hoSv' F∂ IYmk IYm kam amlm lmc cØn Øn\v \v. 2012 se G‰hpw anI® IYbv°p≈ tIcf tÉv Ne®n{X A°mZan Ahm¿Uv   "{io]m¿∆ Xn XnbpsS bpsS ]mZw' F∂ IYbv°v. BUntbm Imk‰v dn°m¿UnMv, sh_v Unssk\nMv, aƒ´naoUnb s{]mU£≥, ]pkvXI {]kn ≤o I cWw F∂n h bn te¿s∏ ´n ´p ≠v. 1998 apX¬ 2004 hsc tIcf kmlnXy A°mZan A°mZan AwK AwKam ambncp bncp∂p. ∂p. IrXnIƒ: sNdpIYmk Ymkamlmc߃: IqdIƒ, hrj`Øns‚ IÆv, Ip¶paw hnXdnb hgnIƒ, Znt\mkdns‚ Ip´n, Im\ U bn¬ \ns∂mcp cmP Ip amcn, {io]m¿∆ Xn bpsS ]mZw, kq£n ®p h® abn¬∏oen, ]®∏øns\ ]nSn°m≥, Zqsc Hcp \KcØn¬, IdpØ X{ºm´n, A\nX A\n XbpsS hoSv, Cfshbnens‚ Cf shbnens‚ km¥z\w km¥z \w (IY Iƒ 1966 196 6˛1996), \Kchmkn bmb Hcp Ip´n, Ip´n, Fs‚ kv{XoIƒ (kv{Xo]£ IYIƒ), sh≈n sh≈nØn Ønc cbnse ∂t]mse. t\mhepIƒ: Dd ßp∂ k¿∏߃ + im]ine, Bk‡nbpsS A·n\m f߃, Hcp IpSpw_ ]pcmWw, F©n≥ss{Uhsd kvt\ln® s]¨Ip´n, Ab\ ߃, XSmI XSmIXo cØv, sIm®{ºm´n, {]Wb Øns\mcp tkm^v‰vshb¿, AdnbmØeßfn tebv°v. Hm¿ΩIƒ, A\p A\p` `h°pdn∏p ∏pIƒ, teJ\߃: \߃: \o FhnsSbmsW¶nepw. Cu Hm¿ΩIƒ Hm¿ΩIƒ acn°m acn°mXn Xncn cn° °s´. hnemkw: 5  ˛_n, Ah\yp s{IÃv hnemkw: s{IÃv A]m¿Svsa‚ vkv  Ah\yp tdmUv, ap≠p]mew Ipcnb®nd (]n.H.) Xr»q¿ 680 006 t^m¨: 091˛0487˛2251779 C˛sabn¬:   [email protected], website:

[email protected]   www.e-harikumar.com

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IqdIƒ ASp°fbn¬ cmhnesØ Im∏n Iq´ns°m≠ncn°p tºmgmWv Ahƒ I≠Xv ˛ IqdIƒ. taibpsS Hccp In¬

sX√p t\cw IncpIncm i–ap≠m°ns°m≠v Ahsf t]Sns∏SpØpwhn[w Xpdn®pt\m°n, ]ns∂ taibpsS adp`mKØv A{]Xy£amhpIbpw sNbv Xp. Ahƒ Im∏nbpsaSpØp InS∏dbnte°p \S∂p. `¿Ømhv Fgpt∂‰n´p≠mbncp∂n√. kzn®n´t∏mƒ IÆn\p kpJw Xcp∂ \\pØ shfn®w apdnbmsI \nds™mgpIm≥ XpSßn. I´nen¬ Ccp∂v, I∏n\p th≠n ssI \o´ns°m≠v Abmƒ Ahsf t\m°n ]p©ncn®p. auVyw \nd™ apJtØmsS Abmƒ Im∏n IpSn °p∂Xv Ahƒ t\m°n \n∂p. Cu Zn\Ncy F\n°p aSpØp XpSßnbncn°p∂p, XpSßnbncn °p∂p, Ahƒ hnNmcn®p. hnNmcn®p. `¿Øm hns‚ hns‚ hnfdnb apJhpw apJhpw \c®p XpSßnb XpSßnb tcmaßfpw tcmaßfpw ImWptºmsg√mww Ahƒ°v A\pIº tXm∂nbncp ∂p. Cu A\pIº H∂pam{XamWv Ahsf Hcp elf ImWptºmsg√m °mcnbm°msX AS°n \n¿Ønbncp∂Xv. XfØn¬°qSn Hgn™ I∏psaSpØp aSßptºmƒ, Unú¿ tX® Nphcn¬ IdpØp sNdnb Hcp P¥p Acn°p∂Xmbn Ahƒ°p tXm∂n. AXp t\m°Wsa∂p≠mb t\m°Wsa∂p≠mbncps∂¶nepw, ncps∂¶nepw, Hcp klP t{]cWbn¬ Ahƒ \oßn; \n∂n√. ASp°fbn¬ Ct∏mƒ IqSpX¬ IqdIƒ D≠mbncp∂p. Ah IncpIncm i–ap≠m°n taitaep w, Nphcnt∑epw Acn®cn®p \S∂p. ASp°fbnte°v IS°m≥ {ian°ptºmƒ H∂p c≠p IqdIƒ ]d∂ph∂v  AhfpsS Xebn¬ Cdßn. ssIhoin Ahsb AI‰m≥ Ahƒ {ian®p. ]t£, IqdIƒ hfscb[nIw D≠mbncp∂Xn\m¬, Ahƒ°v Ahkm\w ]n∑mtd≠n h∂p. CXnt\∏‰n `¿Ømhnt\mSp ]dbWsa∂v Ah ƒ°p tXm∂n. ]t£, InS∏dbn¬ `¿Ømhv F¥nt\mtSm bp≤wsNøpIbmbncp∂p. F¥nt\mSmsW∂p a\nembXv, Abmƒ bp≤Øn∂nSbn¬ hmb s]mfn®v "Iqd' F∂ hm°v D®cn®t∏mgmWv. Abmƒ Iqdsb Hcp \yqkvt]∏¿ aS°n ASn°pIbmbncp∂p. Iqd, Abmsf I_fn∏n®p ]d°pIbpw sNbvXp. Abmƒ°v HcpamXncn h´w Xncntb≠n h∂p. CXpsIm≠v CXps Im≠v Hcp Hcp ^ehpan√, ^ehpan√, Ahƒ ]dbm≥ ]dbm≥ hnNmcn®p, hnNmcn®p, ASp°fb ASp°fbn¬ n¬ Hcp \qsdÆsa¶ \qsdÆsa¶nepw nepw ImWpw. ImWpw. ]t£, Ahƒ H∂pw ]dbmsX `¿Ømhv NØ Iqdsb ISemp sIm≠p tImcnsbSpØp PmeIØneqsS ]pdtØ s°dnbp∂Xpw t\m°n\n∂p. CXv \√ ]qcw! Abmƒ InX®psIm≠p InX®psIm≠p ]d™p. ]d™p. "At√, Cu ^vfm‰n¬ m‰n¬ Hscm‰ Iqdbp≠mbncp Iqdbp≠mbncp∂n√!' ∂n√!' XßfpsS ^vfm‰n¬ CXphsc Hscm‰ Iqdt]mepap≠mbncp∂ns√∂Xv ]t£, Ahƒ CXphsc Hm¿Øn cp∂n√. `¿Ømhns‚ A¤pXw Aÿm\Ømbncp∂n√. B ]cnkcØn¬ Abmƒ°v Ipsdb[nIw ]cnNb°mcp≠v. Bcpw CXphsc IqdIsf∏‰n BhemXns∏´n´n√. Ahƒ ASp°fbnte°p aSßn. `¿Ømhn∂v {]mX¬ F´paWn°p≈n¬ Xømdm°Ww. F¶nte Abmƒ°v  F´cbv°p≈n¬ {Smw In´pIbp≈p. U¬lukn kvIzbdnep≈ Hm^okn¬ HºXn∂v FtØ≠XmWv. Cu {]iv\w Rm≥ ]cnlcn®psIm≈mw! Ahƒ hnNmcn®p: am¿°‰n¬ t]mIptºmƒ Ipd®v Iqd hnjw hmßWw! am¿°‰nte°v A[nIw Zqcap≠mbncp∂n√. ktX¨ Ah\yphneqsS \S°ptºmƒ, IqdIƒ Ahsf Xosc Ae´nbn√. Ahƒ thsdmcp {][m\s∏´ ImcysØ°pdn®v BtemNn°pIbmbncp∂p: BtemNn°pIbmbncp ∂p: sshIpt∂cw tUmŒsd ImWp∂Xns\∏‰n. CXp hfsc \nmcamWv , `¿Ø `¿Ømhv mhv kwib kwibn®p n®psIm sIm≠p ≠p ]d™Xv ]d™Xv Ahƒ  Ahƒ Hm¿Øp, hfsc hfsc \nmcw. Hcp C≥P £≥ am{Xw. Hcp ehteiw thZ\.... BZysa√mw Ahƒ FXn¿Øp, i‡nbmsbXn¿Øp, kpJIcamb B `mcsØ G‰m\p≈ kz¥w Ah ImisØ hotdmsS c£n°m\p≈ BthitØmSp IqSn. At∏mƒ, Abmƒ, B Xocpam\saSp°m\p≠ Xocpam\saSp°m\p≠mb mb kmºØnI kmlNcyßsf°pdn®p ]d™p. c≠p Ip´nIsf t]m‰n∏pe¿ØWw. Ah¿°p hnZym`ymkw \evIWw. aqØXp s]¨Ip´nbmWv s]¨Ip´nbm Wv. Ahƒ°v kmam\yw Hcp hnZym`ymkw \evInbm¬ aXn. ]t£, aI∂v \√ kmt¶XnI hnZym`ymkw Xs∂ \evIWw. tPmenbpsS am¿°‰v hfsc  hfsc ssS‰mW ssS‰mWvv, Abmƒ ]d™p ]d™p,, Ah∂v \√ hnZym`y hnZym`ymkw mkw \ev \evInbns√¶n¬ nbns√¶n¬ Ah≥ \in°pw. \in°pw. ]pdsa ]pdsa,, a‰p sNehpIfpw IqSn D≠mbncp∂p. ho´phmSI, CeIv {Snkn‰n, {Snkn‰n, Ae°pIqen, apXembh. ]Wn°mcnØ≈bv °p °p iºfhpw sImSp°Ww. I¬°Øsbt∏mep≈ Hcp \KcØn¬ Pohn°pI hnjaw Xs∂bmWv . Xm≥ hgtß≠n hcpsa∂v Ahƒ°p a\nembn. ]t£, AXp a\w aSp∏n°p∂Xmbncp∂p. Xs‚ hb‰n¬ hf¿∂p hcp∂ Pohs\∏‰n Ahƒ°p ZpxJw tXm∂n. CXp \ne\nev]ns‚ {]iv\am Wv. Pohn°m≥ CSbmbhcpsS \ne\nev]v. AXn¬ IS∂phcp∂hsc sNdp°m\p≈ Cu {]mIrX a\xÿ nXn a\w]pc´p∂Xmbncp∂p. ]t£, AXv kln°pItb \nhrØnbp≈p.

Ahƒ a°sf°pdnt®m¿Øp. Ahsc th\semgnhn∂p ho´nte°b®Xp \∂mbn. AhcpsS A`mhØn¬ Ahƒ°v Akzmÿyap≠v. ]t£, AXmWv Ipsd t`Zw. Ahsc Ct∏mƒ ChnsS sIm≠phcm≥ Ahƒ C„s∏´n√. AhcpsS AΩmhs‚ ASpØv Ah¿°p IqSpX¬ kpJambncn°pw. am¿°‰n¬ A[nIw Xnc°p≠mbncp∂n√. ]pXnb ]®°dnIfpsS hmk\ hmbphn¬ Xßn \n∂ncp∂p. ]t£, Ahƒ kz¥w Ip´nIsf°pdn®pw, sshIpt∂cw tUmŒsd ImtW≠Xns\°pdn®pw BtemNn®p. ]pdØp h∂t∏mƒ, sXcphn¬ IqSpX¬ BfpIfp≠mbncp∂p. sXcphv s]mSn \nd™pancp∂p. Ipsd BfpIƒ \o≠pNph∂ _m\dpIƒ ]nSn®p \S∂ncp∂p. _m\dpIsf√mw _wKmfnbnembncp∂Xn\m¬ Ahƒ°p a\nembn√. Ah¿, Dds° ap{ZmhmIy߃ hnfn®p sIm≠v, Hcp PmY \bn°pIbmbncp∂p. hnπhw Pbn°s´! RßfpsS AhImi߃ hIsh®p In´Ww. PmY hfsc \o≠XmbXn\m¬, tdmUpapdn®p IS°m≥, Ahƒ°p ^pSv]mØn¬ ImØp \nevt°≠nh∂p. {]t£m`I¿ kmh[m\Øn¬ \oßnt∏mIp∂Xv Ahƒ t\m°n \n∂p. Ah¿ Dds° ap{ZmhmIy߃ hnfn°pIbpw, ap„nIƒ BImiØn¬ Db¿ØpIbpw sNbv Xp. Xp. s]s´∂hƒ, Xs‚ ASp°fbn¬ IS∂p IqSnb IqdIsf Hm¿Øp. Ct∏mØs∂ ad∂p t]mbncp∂p! acp∂p jm∏v ASpØpXs∂ D≠mbncp∂p. Iu≠dn¬ D≠mbncp∂, Hcp a¥s\t∏mse tXm∂n®, ]øt\mSv  Ahƒ Iqds∏mSnbpt≠m F∂p tNmZn®p. Cw•ojn¬ tNmZn®XpsIm≠v Ah∂p a\nembns√∂p kv]„w. C√, Ah≥ ]d™ ]d™p,p, "Ch "ChnsS nsS C√' C√'.. ]ns ]ns∂, ∂, Ahf AhfpsS psS apJ apJØv Øv A¤pXw kv^pcn°p∂Xp I≠t∏mƒ Ah≥ ]d™p: "\nev°p.' Ahƒ \n∂p. ]ø≥ ImjvIu≠dn¬ t]mbn \o≠psaen™ Hcmfpambn AS°nb kzcØn¬ kwkmcn®p. \o≠ a\pjy≥ Iu≠dn¬ h∂v, Ahƒ°v "tIm°vtdm®v ]uU¿' Xs∂bt√ th≠Xv F∂p tNmZn®p. Ahƒ Xebm´n. Abmƒ Nn√eamdnIfn¬ H∂n¬\n∂v Hcp Nph∂ ]m°‰v FSpØv Ahƒ°p sImSpØp. H∏w, AXv D]tbmKnt°≠Xns\∏‰n hniZhnhcßfpw. X\n°Xv Adnbmsa∂p Adnbm sa∂p ]d™v Ahƒ AbmfpsS \mhS°n. ]t£, Abmƒ AXp {i≤n°msX ho≠pw BZyhkm\w XpSßpsa∂mbt∏mƒ Ahƒ ]d™p: \µn! Abmƒ Xs‚ hmNIaSn \n¿Øn Hcp ap∂dnbnt∏msS: CXp hnjamWv, tIt´m? `b¶c hnjw! sshIpt∂cw tUmŒ¿ C≥P£≥ sImSpØt∏mƒ, CtX hm°pIƒ Hcp AkzmÿytØmsS Ahƒ ho≠pw Hm¿Ωn®p. tUmŒ¿ Hcp XSn® kv{Xobmbncp∂p. Xo bmbncp∂p. Ah¿ AhfpsS Ip´nIsf°pdn®v At\zjn®p. c≠pt]cpw kvIqfn¬ t]mIp∂ps≠∂mWp ]d™Xv, As√? AsX. s]s´∂ s]s´∂pp t\cnb kqNn AhfpsS AhfpsS ta¬ Xmgv Xmgv∂ndßp∂Xv ndßp∂Xv Ahƒ°v A\p`hs∏´ A\p`hs∏´p.p. Gbv, kmc√y, tUmŒ¿ ]d™p, thhemX thhemXns∏Sms ns∏Sms\m∂pan \m∂pan√. √. SmIvknbn¬ Ah¿ ho´nte°p Xncn®p. bm{X kpJIcam bncp∂p. ]t£, Ahƒ h√msX hnjan®p. hndbv°p∂ ssIsIm≠v Ahƒ Xs‚ ASnhb¿ XtemSn. s]s´∂p i‡nbmb tXßepIƒ amdn¬ \nd™p, Ahsf izmkw ap´n®p. GIm¥Xbn¬ Ccp∂p aXnbmthmfw aXnbmt hmfw Icbm≥ Ahƒ°p tXm∂n. Ct∏msg¶nepw `¿Ømhv ]›mØ]ns®¶n¬ F{X \∂mbncps∂∂v Ahƒ Bin®p. ]t£, AbmfpsS apJØp ] ›mØm]Øns‚ em©\t]mepap≠mbncp∂n√. Abmƒ ]pdtØ°p Xpdn®p t\m°pIbmbncp∂p. InS∏dbnse sXfn™ shfn®Øn¬ AhfpsS apJw hnfdn, £oWn®p ImWs∏´p. `¿Ømhp t]Sn®p. \n\s°¥p ]‰n? F\ns° F\n s°m∂p m∂pan√ an√,, Ahƒ ]d™ ]d™p. p. Hcp sNdnb XethZ\. kmcntUm¨ Ign°mw. Hcp KpfnI Dt≠m? Ahƒ I´nen¬ InS∂p. `¿Ømhp h√msX ]cn{`an®ncp∂p. a\m£nbmWvv Fs∂ hnjan∏n°p a\m£nbmW hnjan∏n°p∂Xv ∂Xv , Ahƒ hnNmcn®p, hnNmcn®p, Ct∏mƒ Ct∏mƒ F\n°v Hcp A]cm[t_m[w A]cm[t_m[w tXm∂p∂p. ]t£, AXp sNømsX \nhrØnbn√. thsd hgnsbm∂pan√. C°meØp kt¥mjtØmsS Pohn°Wsa¶n¬ Cu NndISn Ipsdsbms° tI´ns√∂p \Sn°pIXs∂ thWw. \msf, Cu t]Snkz]v\Øns‚ Hm¿ΩIƒ am™p t]mIptºmƒ, kpJambn Pohn°mw. Ip´nIsf Xncn®p sIm≠phcWw, sIm≠phcWw, Ahƒ hnNmcn®p, hnNmcn®p, F\n°v Ahsc ImWmsX ImWmsX Ccn°m≥ hø. ]Xn\©p ]Xn\©p Znhkw hfsc Zo¿Ln®Xmbncp∂p. Cu GIm¥X F\n°v  H´pw H´pw kln°m≥ hø. F\n°v Fs‚ Ip´nIsf Np‰pw ImWWw! `£Ww, Ah¿ tUmŒdpsS ASpØp t]mIp∂Xn\p apºp Xs∂ Xømdm°nbncp∂p. AX psIm≠v AXp hnfºn°gn°pItb th≠nbncp∂p≈p. th≠nbncp∂p≈p. DuWp Ign®t∏mƒ Ahƒ°p Ipsd t`Zw tXm∂n. `¿Ømhv, B Nph∂ s]mSn Im¿Uv t_m¿Uns‚ IjvWßfn¬ sNdnb Iqºmcßfmbn FSpØv Hmtcm aqebn¬ hbv°p∂Xv Ahƒ t\m°n\n∂p. ASp°fbn¬ IqdIƒ Sn∂pIfpsS aqSnIfn¬ IncpIncm i–ap≠m°n, ]d∂p Nphcn¬ sN∂Sn°p∂ i–w tI´p.

]c°w ]m®n¬ XpSßn. acWsh{]mfamWv. Ahƒ hnNmcn®p. Ahƒ InS∏dbnte°p t]mbt∏mƒ `¿Ømhp InS∂p Ign™ncp∂p. Ahƒ hnf°W®p I´nen¬ t]mbn InS∂p. sXcphp hnf°ns‚ {]Imiw PmeIØneqsS Acn®ph∂p. `¿Ømhv Ddßnbn´ns√∂v Ahƒ°p a\nembn. Abmƒ Xncn™v Ahsf ssIsIm≠p hcn™p. Ct∏mƒ Fßs\≠v? t`Z≠v, Ahƒ ]d™p, F\n°nt∏ F\n°nt∏mƒ mƒ HckpJhp HckpJhpan√. an√. Abmƒ AhfpsS ]pdØp kvt\l]q¿∆w X´n, Ihnfn¬ Npw_n®p. \mtfbv°v \n\°v F√mw t`Zamhpw. Aßs\ Hcp Dd∏p `¿Ømhn¬ \n∂pw In´m≥ Ahƒ ImØncn°bmbncp∂p. Ahƒ°v Bizmkw tXm∂n. kmh[m\Øn¬ AbmfpsS BenwK\w Ab™phcp∂Xv Ahƒ°p A\p`hs∏´p. AbmfpsS izmkw Xmf{IaØnembn. Ipd®p \nanj߃°p≈n¬ Abmƒ KmV\n{Zbnembn. Ipd®pt\cØn∂vv, Ahƒ ssSw]okn s‚ SnIv, SnIv i–hpw, ]pdØp sXcphn¬ Hcp hml\Øns‚ Ccº¬ Ipd®pt\cØn∂ hnZqcXbn¬ ebn°p∂Xpw {i≤n®p. Aßs\bncn°ptºmƒ, Ahƒ IdpØ PohnIƒ ]d∂p hcp∂Xp I≠p. IqdIƒ. Ah Bbnc°W °n\p≠mbncp∂p. IqdIƒ Hcp PmY \bn°p∂p. Ahƒ°p Nncn h∂p. kz]v\Øn¬ am{Xta AXp kw`hn °pIbp≈p. ]t£, IqdIƒ AXpXs∂bmbncp∂p sNbvXncp∂Xv ncp∂Xv. PmY sXcphn¬ XSn®p IqSn. Ah Dds° ap{ZmhmIy߃ A´lkn°pIbpw, tatem´pw Xmtgm´pw t£m`n®p ]d°pIbpw sNbvXp. Nne IqdIƒ Db¿Øn∏nSn® _m\dpIƒ I≠t∏mgmWv Ahƒ°p IqSpX¬ B›cyw tXm∂nbXv.. F\n°p {`m¥p ]nSn°pw, Ahƒ Ahƒ hnNmcn®p. PmY IqSpX¬ IqSpX¬ {]£pœambn. Nne IqdIƒ hnam\m{IaWw t]mse AhfpsS t\¿°p ]d∂p h∂p. Ahƒ Hcp \nehnfntbmsS DW¿∂p. At∏mƒ, AsXmcp kz]v\w am{Xambncp∂psh∂v Ahƒ°p a\nembn. Ahƒ kt¥mjn®p. Ahƒ `¿Ømhnt\mSp tN¿∂p InS∂p, Dd°w I¨t]mfIsf I\∏n°p∂Xp {i≤n®p. Ahƒ hfsct\cw Ddßn. DW¿∂t∏mƒ kqcyIncW߃ apdnbnte°v Acn®p h∂p XpSßnbncp∂p. \neØv Ahƒ IqdIsf I≠p. NØpae® IqdIƒ. Ahƒ, ssiXyImeØp acßfn¬\n∂v DXn¿∂phogp∂ IcnbneIsf°pdn®pw, IcnbneIsf°pdn®p w, h¿j߃°p apºp acn®p t]mb AΩsb°pdn®pw, a°sf°pdn®pw, Pohn°m\p≈ AhImiw \ntj[n®p Ign™, ]pXnb Pohs‚ IWnIsb°pdn®pw Hm¿Øp. Ahƒ hyk\n®p.

D≈S°Øntebv°v

DW°ac߃ AhnhmlnXbmbnØs ∂ Ccp∂p. AkpJIcamb Cu bmYm¿∞yw Ahƒ ap∏Ønsbm∂p hbmbn´pw AhnhmlnXbmbnØs∂

Hm¿°mXncn°m≥ Ahƒ ]Ise√mw ITn\ambn tPmen sNbvXp. ASp°f∏Wn°p ]pdta sNdnbΩbpsS Ip´nIsf Ipfn∏n°pI, AhcpsS DSp∏pIƒ XncpºpI F∂o tPmenIsf√mw tPmenI sf√mw sNbvXp. F∂n´pw D®bv°v  DuWp Ign ™m¬ Ipd®p kabw Hgn™p Xs∂ InS∂p. ]I¬ Dd°w hcmØXn\m¬, Cu kabßfn¬ Ahƒ Ip´nIfpsS DSp∏pIfpsS \ndßsf°pdn®pw, sshIpt∂cw D≠mt°≠ ]elmcßsf°pdn®pw BtemNn®psIm≠ncp∂p. cm{Xn £oWw ImcWw thKw Ddßnt∏mhpIbpw sNøpw.   z]v\߃ I≠psImt≠ ]t£, Dd°amWv Ahsf kw_‘n®nStØmfw Akl\obambXv. Ahƒk bncp∂p. Aekn∏ncn™ hnhmlmtemN\Isf∏‰n, \S°mØ hnhmlßsf∏‰n, F√mw. ASp°fbn¬ tPmen sNbvXp sIm≠ncn°ptºmgmWv Ahƒ \mKkzcØnt‚bpw XInent‚bpw i–w tI´Xv. P\eneqsS t\m°nbt∏mƒ I≠sX¥mWv! ap‰Øv ]¥en´v Ae¶cn®ncn°p∂p. ]¥en¬ \ndsb BfpIƒ. Cu Hcp°ßsf√mw F¥n\mWv? Ahƒ BtemNn®p. Hm, Hcp hnhmlamWv. \nd]dbpsS ]n∂n¬ hc≥ AWns™mcpßn Ccn°p∂p. C{Xsbms° Hcp°ßfpw Xnc°pap≠mbn´pw Xm≥ CsXm∂pw Adn™n√t√m! BcpsS hnhmlamWnXv? BcmWv h[p? Ahƒ BsI hnjan®ncn°ptºmgmWv sNdnbΩ IS∂p h∂Xv. \mWo, \osb¥m Atßm´p sN√mØXv? Ah¿ \ns∂ ImØncn°bmWv. C∂p \ns‚ IeymWt√? AhfmsI A¥w hn´p \n∂pt]mbn. Ft¥m tNmZn°m≥ ]pds∏´t∏mtg°pw sNdnbΩ t]mhpIbpw sNbvXp. Xs‚ IeymWamWv. Ahƒ°p \mWw tXm∂n. Ahƒ h√msX ]cn{`an®ncp∂p. Fs¥ms° Hcp°m\p≠v? Ft¥ Ah¿ Xs∂ t\csØ Adnbn°mXncp∂Xv? Ahƒ taemsI ItÆmSn®p. Aøtø! Fßs\bmWv Cu thjØn¬ IeymWafi]Ønte°p t]mIpI? BsI Icn]pc≠p apjn™ncn°p∂p. kmcnsb¶nepw am‰msX hø. ]pdØp \n∂p \mKkzcw D®Øn¬ tI´p. hc≥ Xs∂ A£a\mbn ImØncn°p∂p≠mIpw, Ahƒ Hm¿Øp. ]oSnIbn¬ t]mbn kmcn taSn®mtem? AtX AXmWp \√Xv. Ahƒ ]ns∂ kabw If™n√. ASp°f hmXneneqsS ]pdØp IS∂v, ho´ns‚ ]n∂nep≈ hgnbneqsS HmSn. Hcp \mgnIbne[nIw Zqcap≠mIpw ]oSnIbnte°v ]oSnIbnte°v. thKw t]mbn hcWw. Cu Ahkcw ]mgm°n°qSm. hgn hoXn IqSnbXmbncp∂p. ]t£, ]ns∂∏ns∂ I√pIfpw ap≈pIfpw \nd™p hoXn Npcpßn®pcpßn h∂p. Imen¬ Xd®p \nev°p∂ ap≈pIƒ FSpØp Ifbm≥ an\s°SmsX Ahƒ HmSn. Xosc kabw If™pIqSm. \mKkzcØns‚bpw XInens‚bpw XInens‚bpw i–w AI∂I∂p t]mbn. Ahƒ°p k¶Sw tXm∂n. ]t£, Cu thjØn¬ F¥mbmepw t]mIm≥ hø. HmSns°m≠ncn°ptºmƒ Ahƒ°p kwibw kwib w tXm∂n: hgn sX‰ntbm? \ncØns‚ c≠p hiØpw DWßn sXmenbS¿∂p t]mb ac߃ \n∂ncp∂p. Xm≥ apºp ]e {]mhiyw \S∂ncp∂ hgn Xs∂bmtWm CXv? Ahƒ Hmtcm DW°actØbpw ]n∂n´psIm≠v HmSn. kmh[m\Øn¬ shfn®w Ipd™p h∂p. kqcy≥ AkvXan°pIbmWv. Ccp´p \nd™p XpSßnbt∏mƒ Ahƒ°v Bizmkambn. shfpØp t{]Xßsft∏mse \nev°p∂ Cu DW° hr£ßƒ C\n ImWn√t√m. Hm´Øns‚ KXnthKw ImcWw Im‰p apJØph∂Sn®v Ahƒ°p izmkw ap´nØpSßn. Im‰v AhfpsS apeIfnepw ssIIfnepw In°nfnbp≠m°n. At∏mtg°pw, F¥n\mWv F¥n\mW v HmSnbncp∂sX∂v Ahƒ ad∂p Ign™ncp∂p. X\n°v C\n F∂pw HmSn s°mt≠ Ccnt°≠n hcpsa∂v Ahƒ `bs∏´p. \nev°m≥ Ignbn√. Ignbn √. \n∂m¬ acWamWv. Ahƒ DW° acßsf°pdnt®m¿Øp.. Ah Hmtcm∂pw Hmtcm acWamWv  . Ahƒ acWw C„s∏´n√. Ahƒ°p Pohn°Ww. acßsf°pdnt®m¿Øp AXpsIm≠p ImepIƒ Ipg™p XpSßnbn´pw Ahƒ HmSns°mt≠bncp∂p. Im‰p ImcWw AhfpsS hkv {X߃ {X߃ Agn™p ]d°m≥ XpSßn. Hcp \nanjØn\p≈n¬ Xm≥ \·bmsW ∂v Ahƒ I≠p. Atøm! C\n F¥mWpsNøpI? Xs∂ Bcpw ImWmXncps∂¶n¬! ImWm Xncps∂¶n¬! C√, Cu Ccp´n¬ Bcpw ImWn√. HmSnØf¿∂v Ahkm\w Ahƒ \ncØp h°n¬ Ipg™p hoWp. At∏mtg°pw Ahsf Hcmƒ hmcnsbSp Øp. Ahƒ kt¥mjtØmsS IÆpaS®p ]d™p: Rm≥ CXn\mbncp∂p C{X Zqchpw HmSnh∂Xv. CXn∂p th≠n am{Xw.

Abmƒ H∂pw ]d™n√. Ahƒ Abmsf Npw_n®psIm≠p ]d™p: CXn\p th≠n am{Xw! ]t£, IÆp Xpd∂t∏mƒ Ahƒ \Spßnt∏mbn. Xm≥ BenwK\w sNbvXncp∂Xv Hcp DW°acambncp∂p. shfpØp t{]XsØt∏mse \nev°p∂ acw. Ahƒ sR´nbpW¿∂p. Hm, kz]v\ambncp∂p. Ahƒ tase√mw X∏nt\m°n. hkv{Xßsf√map≠v . kz]v\w Xs∂bmbncp∂p. Fs¥mcp kz]v\w! Ahƒ ]pX∏psIm≠p \∂mbn ]pX®p. adp]pdw Xncn™p InS∂p. B tNmcss∏Xens\ Ahƒ amtdmSW®v DΩsh®p sIm≠ncp∂p. Ipd®p \nanj߃°p apºv AXns\ sIm≠p h∂p X∂ sNdp∏°mcs‚ apJw Ahƒ ad∂p Ign™ncp∂p. AXp kmcan√. Ahƒ kam[m\n®p. F\n°v Cu Ip´nsb In´nbt√m. AXp aXn. F¥p `wKnbp≈ Ip´n! Ahƒ AXns\ ho≠pw ho≠pw DΩsh®p. s]s´∂p Ip´n Icbm≥ XpSßn. hni∂n´mbncn°pw, Ahƒ hnNmcn®p. ªukns‚ IpSp°pIfgn®v Ahƒ Ip´n°p ape sImSpØp. t\cnb In°nfn tXm∂n. Ahƒ IÆS®ncp∂p. At∏mgmWv, Ip´n BtWm, s]tÆm F∂p t\m°nbns√∂v Ahƒ°v Hm¿Ω h∂Xv. Fs¥mcp hnUvVn bmWp Xm≥. ]t£, Ip´nsb t\m°nbt∏mƒ Ahƒ sR´nt∏mbn. AXvHcp    Hcp \mbv  °p´nbmbncp∂p. IÆpIfn¬ ]ofbSn™ hrØnsI´ \mbv°p´n. Ahƒ, \ncmibn¬ \n∂pfhmb shdpt∏msS AXns\ \netØ°p hens®dn™p. \mbv°p´n tZjytØmsS AhfpsS t\sc Ipc®p NmSns°m≠ncp∂p. Ahƒ°p `bambn. AXp NmSn Xs∂ ISn®p F∂mbt∏mtg°pw Ahƒ ho≠pw sR´nbpW¿∂p. kz]v\w. Ahƒ hnNmcn®p. Hcp \nanjw Ahƒ InS∏papdnbp InS∏papdnbpsS sS \n»–amb, iq\yamb kwKoXw {i≤n®p sIm≠ncp∂p. ]ns∂ ho≠pw kmh[m\Øn¬ Ccp´ns‚ XWpØ AKm[Xeßfnte°v Du¿∂ndßn.

D≈S°Øntebv°v

]cp¥pIƒ h´w Np‰ptºmƒ F´pImen\qep t]mse t\cnb Hcp {]ImitcJ BImiØp {]Xy£s∏´p. t\m°ns°m≠ncns°

knev°p\qep t]mse an\pkap≈ B tcJ A¥an√mØ Akzmÿyw Akzmÿy w hf¿Øns°m≠v \ofphm≥ XpSßn. \nanj߃ Hcp imizX ZpxJw t]mse I\Øp \n∂p. \\pØ tcJ At∏mgpw \o≠psIm≠ncp∂p. Ahkm\w Hcp Zp¿∫e \nanjØn¬ \ndsb IpSp°pIfp≈ \qemamebmbn AXp s]m´nØI¿∂p. DuX \ndØn¬ BImiw kr„nbpsS clkysØ ad®psIm≠v Xqßn°nS∂p. Rm≥ DW¿∂p. \nlmbXmt_m[w a\n¬ Ahtijn®p. Rm≥ At∏mgpw Hcp kz]v\mhÿbnem bncp∂p. Hcn°epw kpt_m[ØnseØns√∂p tXm∂n°p∂ Hchÿ. F\n°v ssSt^mbvUmbncp∂p. tUmŒ¿ Aßs\bmWp ]d™Xv. \mept\cw hngpßnbncp∂ Im]vkqfns‚ \ndw Hm¿Ωn°m≥ ]‰p∂n√. ]®bmtWm? AtXm Idpt∏m? I´nen¬ InS∂p t\m°nbm¬ PmeIØneqsS \oemImiØns‚ Hcp `mKw ImWmw. Xmsg, bZp tImf\nbnse Htc DbcØnep≈ sI´nSßfpsS BImitcJbmWv. AXn\pw AXn\pw Xmsg hnimeamb Hcp NXpc≥ IpfamWv. I¿´≥ Db¿Øn sh®m¬ B Ipfw apgph≥ ImWmw. \c® XmSnbpw kz¿Æ s{^bnap≈ IÆSbp ambn Hcp Ingh≥ IpfØns‚ CSsØ Icbn¬ Ip\n™ncp∂v a’yw ]nSn°p∂p≠mhpw. Ign™ HcmgvN bmbn Rm≥ {i≤n°mdp≠v . Ingh≥ cmhnse apX¬ sshIpt∂cwhsc AhnsS Hcp Nq≠epambn NS™ncn°mdp≠v. CSbv°nSbv°p Nq≠¬ hens®SpØv AXns‚ sIm° kq£vaambn ]cntim[n°pw. Hcp kma¿∞yap≈ a’yw sImfpØn¬s∏SmsX sImfpØn¬s∏Sm sX Ccsb Xn∂n´p≠mIpw. Abmƒ thsdmcp Cc sImfpØn Nq≠en´v hmintbmsS Pe∏c∏nte°p t\m°n Iq\n Ccn°pw. IÆS®p InS°pIbmWv ckw. ImcWw, IÆS®m¬ apØpIfpsS Hcp kap{Zw Xmsg°qSn HgpInt∏mIp∂p s≠∂p tXm∂pw. AXn\p apIfn¬ {]Imiap≈ sNdnb hkvXp°ƒ p° ƒ h´anSpw, sImbvØp Ign™ s\¬ hbepIƒ°p aosX Hcp th\¬ {]`mXØn¬ ]d∂p Np‰p∂ ]cp¥pIƒ t]mse. Aet¶mes∏´pp InS°p∂ a\ns\ {IaØnem°n hnNmcØns‚ Aet¶mes∏´ hnNmcØns ‚ \qepIsf ]n≥XpScm≥ Rm≥ {ian®p. \qengIƒ Nn¥bptSXmbncpt∂m? AtXm, Hc\p`qXnbpsStbm? ZpxJØn¬ Ipg™ Hcp \nlmbXmt_m[ ambncp∂p, AXv. Rm≥ ASpØdnbp∂ Btcm acn°m≥ t]mIp∂p! F\n°v kwibap≠mbncp∂n√. Ip´n °mew apX¬ ]\nbmbn InS°ptºmsg√mw Rm≥ Adnbp∂ Hcmƒ acn®n´p≠v. AsXmcp k¶SIcamb bmYm¿∞yambncp∂p. Rm≥ AXns\∏‰n BtemNn°m≥ C„s∏´n√. kabw F{Xbmbn´p≠mIpw? Ipd®p Znhkßfmbn Rm≥ kabt`Zan√mØ Hcp temIØmbncp∂p. IÆp Xpd∂p InS°pIbmbncps∂¶nepw Imcyamsbm∂pw I≠ncp∂n√. Iq´pImc≥ cmhnse Hm^okn¬ t]mIp∂Xp Rm≥ Adnbmdn√. hmenb°mc≥ ]ø≥ am{Xw CSbv°nSbv°p InS°bv°cnsI hcnIbpw t]mhpIbpw sNøpw. H∂pIn¬ acp∂p Xcmt\m, As√¶n¬ Hcp •mn¬ ]m¬ sIm≠ph∂v Fs‚ Xe Aev] apb¿Øn hmbn¬ Hgn®pXcmt\m th≠n. Ahs‚ hchpIƒ°nSbv  °p≈ °p≈ kabw Hcp an\nt‰m Hcp aWn°qtdm Hcp bpKtam Xs∂bmImw. kabw, Npacns‚ aqebnse th´mf≥IqSp t]mse \n›eambncp∂p. tUmŒdpsS kµ¿i\w Ft∏mgmsW∂v Adnbn√. Abmƒ h∂p ssI ]nSn°p∂Xv Adnbp∂p≠v. Fs¥ms°tbm tNmZn°mdp≠v. Rm≥ adp]Sn ]d™ncpt∂m? CsX√mw ]\n IqSnbt∏mgmWv. AXn\papºp kpJambncp∂p. I´nen∂p t\¿°p≈ PmeIØneqsS ]pdtØ°p t\m°ns°mt≠ InS°mw. ]\n°p∂Xv F\n°v C„amWv. H∂pw sNømsX shdpsX InS°m as√m. t\cnb, kpJIcamb thZ\ tZlsØ XgpIp∂psht∂ tXm∂q. BZysa√mw Rm≥ PmeIØn∂SpØp t]mbn Ccn°mdp≠v. At∏mgmWv Nq≠enSp∂ Inghs\ I≠Xv. \SmsS ImWpIbmbncps∂¶nepw, Abmƒ Hcp PohnXImew apgph≥ Nq≠epambn AhnsS, Fs‚ apºn¬ Ccn°pIbmbncps∂∂p tXm∂n. Aßs\ t\m°nbncn°p∂Xn¬ t\m°nbncn °p∂Xn¬ Hcp ckap≠v. cmhnse apX¬ sshIp t∂cwhsc Ccp∂mepw Hscm‰ a’yw t]mepw AbmfpsS Nq≠en¬ s]´ncp∂n√. Aßs\ t\m°n t\m°n £oWn°ptºmƒ Rm≥ I¿´≥ Db¿Øn sh®p I´nen¬ h∂p InS∂v Abmƒ Nq≠enSp∂Xp Xs∂ ho≠pw {i≤n°pw. Hcp ZnhkØn∂p≈n¬ F\n°v AbmtfmSv Hcp \q‰m≠p ImesØ ]cnNbaps≠∂p tXm∂n. Hcp Im¬s∏cpam‰w. Nn¥Iƒ ho≠pw Xmfw sX‰n. Hcp ssI kmh[m\Øn¬ s\‰nta¬ ]Xn™p. ]\n Ipd™n´p≠t√m. Iq´pImc\mWv Iq´pIm c\mWv. D≠v, Ipd™n´p≠v Ipd™n´p≠v. Rm≥ Np‰pw t\m°n. ]\n Ipd™n´p≠ Ipd™n´p≠t√m. t√m. Iq´pImc Iq´pImcs‚ s‚ i–w Hcp am{¥nIhnZy t]mse Fs‚ a\n¬ Nne ]cnh¿Ø\߃ D≠m°n. icnbmWv, F\n°p t`Zambn´p≠v. Np‰nepap≈ km[\ßsf√mw hy‡ambn ImWmw. \oe \ndØnep≈ Npa¿. AXns‚ AcpIn¬ Aeamcn. ASpØmbn \oe hncnbn´ tai. Itke. taitaep≈ ]pkvXI߃. Rm≥ Iq´pImcs\ t\m°n. km[mcW a´p Xs∂. Abmƒ [cn®ncp∂ j¿´ns‚ \ndhpw ]m‚ns‚ ^mj\pw F\n°p Xncn®dnbmw. Abmƒ taibv° SpØp t]mbn Fs‚ acp∂pIp∏n ]cntim[n°pIbmWv. AXn¬ Nph∂ anIvkN v ¿ ]IpXntbmfw D≠v. Abmƒ

ho≠pw I´nen∂cpIn¬ h∂p. B am{¥nIi‡n Ipd®p t\ctØ°p am{Xta \ne\n∂p≈q. kmh[m\Øn¬ ASpØp≈ hkvXp°ƒ am™p XpSßn. tai, Aeamcn, X´n¬ Xqßp∂ ]¶ F√mw am™v A{]Xy£ambn. \oe®pacpIƒ \mep `mKØpw Iq‰≥ aXnepIƒt]mse \nesIm≠p. {ItaW Ahbpw Aen™p XpSßn. ]ns∂ ap≥]n¬ InS°p∂Xv Hcp acp`qanbmWv. \o≠pInS°p∂ aWen¬ shbn¬ Hmfw sh´p∂ acp`qan. Iq´pImc≥ AI∂I ∂p t]mbn, aWepIƒ°∏pdØp N{IhmfØn¬ A{]Xy£\mbn. aW¬ am{Xw, A\¥Xbnte°p X≈n \nev°p∂ hnimeX am{Xw. ho≠pw DW¿∂Xv, hmenb°mc≥ ]ø≥ hnfn°p∂Xp tI´mWv: _m_p km¿, acp∂p Ignt°t≠? Xf¿∂ angnIƒ Xpd∂t∏mƒ, tIih≥ Hu¨kv •mn¬ acp∂pambn \nev°p∂p. acp∂p Ign°ptºmƒ bmZr—nI ambn PmeIØnte°p t\m°n. Akm[mcWambn H∂pan√. ]t£, Xq°nbn´ncp∂ I¿´≥ \nKqVamb H∂ns\ adbv°pIbmsW∂p s]s´∂p tXm∂n. F¥mWv B tXm∂en∂p ImcWw? ]pdsa shbn¬ Hmfw sh´pIbmbncp∂p. AXns‚ Ae apdnbnte°v ASn®p Ibdn apdnbmsI Hcp {]tXyI ]cnthjØn¬ XpSn ®p. ]t£, B I¿´≥! F¥mWXn∂p ]n∂nse clkyw? IpfØns‚ Icbn¬ Nq≠enSp∂ Inghs\ Rm≥ Hm¿Øp. PmeIØns‚ Xnc»oe \o°nbm¬ Abmsf ImWm≥ Ignbpw. B Inghs\ ImWm≥ Dev°Samb Hcp B{Klw F\n°p≠mbn. Abmfpw Rm\pw XΩn¬ A¤pXIcamb hn[Øn¬ _‘s∏´n´ps≠∂v F\n°p tXm∂n. tIiht\mSp ]d™m¬ Ah≥ I¿´≥ Xpd∂nSpw. F\n°v B Inghs\ ImWpIbpw sNømw. ]t£, `bw sIm≠v F\n°Xp Ign™n√. B Inghs\ AhnsS ImWns√∂ `bw Fs∂ ]nSnIqSnbncp∂p. Abmƒ acn®n´p≠mIpsa∂ Hcp {`m¥≥ Nn¥ F\n°p ≠mbn. Rm≥ ]\nbmbn InS°ptºmsg√mw Bsc¶nepw Hcmƒ acn®n´p≠v. a\nepb¿∂ sImSp¶m‰p Iptd°meambn AS®n´ncp∂ ]e IhmSßtfbpw Xpd∂n´p. AXneqsS Hcp Xpcpºp t]mse Rm≥ ]d∂p t]mhpIbmWv . bpK߃°∏pdØmsW∂p tXm∂n. FØnt®cp∂Xv , s\¬hbepIfnte°p Xpd∂nSp∂ PmeIap≈ Hcp apdnbmWv. I´nen¬ ]\n]nSn®p InS°p∂Xv F´p hbmb Hcp B¨Ip´nbmWv. A∂mWv {`m¥p ]nSn∏n°p∂ B A\p`qXnbpsS A \p`qXnbpsS Bcw`w. Xf¿∂ IÆpItfmsS s\¬hbepIfnte°p t\m°ns°m≠ncn°ptºmƒ, DjvWn® akvXnjvIw B Ip´nsb thsdmcp temIsØØn®p. Np‰pw A\¥amb iq\ymImiamWv. AXn¬ `oamImc∑mcmb t XtPm tKmf߃ Idßp∂p. tKmfßsf At\ym\yw _‘n∏n°p∂Xp t\cnb an\pkap≈ Hcp {]ImitcJbmWv. tKmf߃ \n›nX ]Ÿmhn¬ k©cn®p sIm≠ncp∂p. F√mw `{Zw. BizmkØns‚ IWnIIƒ ASßn sbmXpßptºmtg°v, {]ImitcJIƒ hen™p apdpIn, s]m´nØIcp∂p. `oamImc tKmf߃ e£yan√msX `ojWntbmsS Aebp∂p. \nlmbXmt_m[tØmsS sR´nsØdn°ptºmƒ ImWpI PmeIØn∂∏pd Øp sImbvØp Ign™p InS°p∂ a™ hbepIfmWv. AXn\p aosX ip{` taL߃ ]mdn°fn°p∂ \oemImiw. AXn¬ ]d∂p h´w Idßp∂ ]cp¥pIfpw. A∂mWv apØ»n acn®Xv! ]n∂oSv, ]\nbmbn°nS°ptºmsg√mw, AXmh¿Øn®p. `oamImc∑mcmb tKmfßsf _‘n®p \nb{¥n °p∂ {]ImitcJ s]m´n®nXdptºmsg√mw Bsc¶nepw acn®n´p≠v. hey—≥, heyΩmh≥, ]ns∂ sIm® \pP≥ Chsc√mw. A∂sØ sNdnb Ip´n C∂pw AtX \nlmbXmt_m[tØmsS ]\nbpambn InS°pIbmWv. C∂v, Hcp Ingh\mWp acn°m≥ t]mIp∂Xv, As√¶n¬ acn®n´p≈Xv. Ingh≥ acn®pthm F∂dnbm≥ PmeIØns‚ I¿´≥ H∂p s]m°pItb th≠p. AXdn™m¬ kam[m\ambn Ccn°ma s√m. ]t£, AXn\p ss[cyw hcp∂n√. A\ßmsX InS∂p. tZlØn¬ t\cnb, kpJIcamb thZ\ ]pfbpIbmWv. F{Xt\cw Aßs\ InS∂psh∂dnbn√. apØpIfpsS ISen∂p apIfn¬ kabw Hcp ]cp¥ns‚ cq]saSpØp ]d∂p: sshIpt∂c amhpIbpw sNbv X p. Hc¿≤t_m[mhÿbn¬ AXdnbp∂p≠v . hmXnev °¬ Hcp ap´v . ]m¬°mcs‚ ]m{XßfpsS Ieº¬, tIih≥ hmXn¬ Xpd°p∂ i–w. t\cw sshInbXn\p≈ iImc߃. lnµnbn¬ £am]W߃. ]pdØp Ip´nIfpsS _lfw. FhnsS\nt∂m Hcp tdUntbmhns‚ i–hoNnIƒ. AIse Hcp Imdns‚ i–w. Cu i–ßsf√mw Hcp Xmf{IaØn¬ A\pkyqXambn A\pky qXambn ImXn¬ h∂Sn°pIbmWv. Rm≥ IÆp Xpd°msX InS∂p. ]t£, ]pdØp shfn®w Ipd™p hcnIbmsW∂p hy‡ambncp∂p. hy‡am bncp∂p. ASpØ apdnbn ¬ Btcm sse‰n´p. Btcm kwkmcn°p∂p. Iq´pImc\mbncn°pw. ho≠pw s\‰nta¬ Btcm kv]¿in®p. Hcp ]ndp]ndp∏v. AI∂p t]mIp∂ jqkns‚ i–w. ]ns∂ apØp IfpsS Hcp kap{Zw Xmsg \oßnt∏mIp∂p. AXn\p apIfn¬ {]Imiap≈ sNdnb hkvXp°ƒ h´w Np‰p∂p. ]cp¥pIƒ. ]cp¥pIƒ kabamWv. Ah NndIp hncn®p ]d°ptºmƒ....... {]`mXw, BizmkØns‚ ssIhnf°pta¥n h∂v Fs∂ hnfn®pW¿Øn. Ct∏mƒ F√mw hy‡amWv; Hcp ag amdn shbnepZn® t]mse. HcmgvNbmbn aqS¬ a™p t]mse a\ns\ s]mXn™ncp∂ Ahy‡X Xosc hn´pt]mbn. \nlmbXmt_m[w Ign™p t]mb Hcp t]°n\mhns‚ Hm¿Ω t]mse Zp¿∫eambn am{Xw Ahtijn®p. RcºpIƒ Xf¿∂ncps∂¶nepw, F\n°v Fgpt∂ev°mw. Iptdt» \S°mw. Iq´pImc≥ ASpØ apdnbn¬ apd nbn¬

Ccp∂p tjhp sNøpIbmWv. tIih≥ ASp°fbn¬ Nmb Iq´p∂p. F√mw hy‡amWv: `{Zhpw. IÆmSnbn¬ \n∂p apJapb¿ØmsX Iq´pImc≥ tNmZn®p. ]\n Fßs\bp≠v, _m_p? t`Z≠v, Rm≥ ]d™p. Fs‚ kzcØnse BÀmZw {i≤n®n´mbncn°Ww, Abmƒ s]s´∂p Xncn™p t\m°n, B›cytØmsS ]d™p: _m_p Bƒ Djmdmbncn°p∂t√m! BizmkØns‚ civanIƒ a\n¬ Dd®p i‡nbmbnØo¿∂p. Fs‚ ]\n amdnbncn°p∂p. C\n H∂pw t]Sn°m\n√. Rm≥ Xncn®p apdnbnte°p t]mbn. InS°, Fs‚ a\pt]mse Ipg™padn™ncp∂ Ipg™padn™ncp∂p. p. PmeIØns‚ ]mXnbS™p InS∂ ]mfnIƒ Xpd∂p ]pdtØ °p t\m°n. ]pdsa I´nbp≈ a™mbncp∂p. AXv BImisØ t\cnb Nmc\ndam°nbncp∂p. Xmsg sI´nSßfpsS BImitcJ hy‡ambncp∂n√. Ipf°cbneXm Hcp cq]w Ccn°p∂p. ao≥ ]nSn°p∂ Ingh≥ Xs∂bmWXv. \c® XeapSn IqSpX¬ shfp Øn´ps≠∂p tXm∂n. Iq\n°qSn Ccn°p∂Xp sIm≠p apJw ImWm≥ Ign™n√. a™neqsS Dufnbn´ph∂ kqcycivanIƒ B cq]Øn∂p Np‰pw Hcp {]tXyI ]cnthjw D≠m°n. Rm≥ kmh[m\Øn¬ InS°bn¬ h∂ncp∂p. At∏mƒ, H∂pw kw`hn®n´n√! F\n°p £oWap≠v. ]t£, ]\n hn´n´ns√∂p tXm∂p∂p. tZlØn¬ ho≠pw thZ\ h∂p Ifn°p∂p≠v. ]\n Gdntb°mw. C\nbpw, Ahy‡ Zriyßfpw t]kz]v\ßfpw aSßn ht∂°mw. Rm≥ InS∂p. Aßs\ Ipd®p kabw InS∂n´p≠mhWw, tIihs‚ i–w tI´p: _m_pkm¿, Nmb thtWm? kmdns‚ ]\nsb√mw amdnbnt√? Dw ˛ Rm≥ aqfn. ]\nsb√mw amd nsb∂p \Sn°p∂XmWv A`nam\sa∂p tXm∂n. Aekambn Nmb Npt≠mSSp∏n®p. ]ns∂, km¿ Adnt™m? tIih≥ XpS¿∂p: Cu sImfØns‚ Icbnev ao≥ ]nSn°W sIfh\ns√? B XmSn°mc≥? Abmfv C∂se NØp. D®bv°mWv. shbneØncp∂p t_m[wsI´p hoWp. ho´ntes°SpØ t∏mgØn\p acn®ncn°p∂p. lrZbkvXw`\ms{X!...... a\n¬ ASßn°nS∂ sImSp¶m‰p ho≠pw DW¿∂p NodnbSn°m≥ XpSßn. tIih≥ Fs¥ms°tbm ]dbp∂p≠mbncp∂p.. Rm≥ H∂pw tI´n√. Im‰ns‚ Ccºw am{Xw. •mp Xmsg sh®p PmeIØn∂SptØ°p ]dbp∂p≠mbncp∂p \S∂p. a™ns‚ I\w Ipd®psIm≠v shbn¬ Ipd®pIqSn aqØn´p≠v. IpfØns‚ CSsØ Ic iq\yambn cp∂p. Ingh≥ Ccn°p∂Xmbn I≠ ÿeØv shdpw ]p√pIƒ, Dbcap≈ ]p√pIƒ, Im‰Øv BSn°fn®p. At∏mƒ Rm≥ I≠Xv? IpfØn∂p apIfn¬ Htc DbcØnep≈ a™s°´nSßfmWv. AXn\pw apIfn¬ sXfn™p hcp∂ BImiw. BImiØn¬ hnZqcXbn¬ ]d∂p Ifn°p∂ ]£nIƒ! Ah ]cp¥pIfmtWm?

D≈S°Øntebv°v

inincw LSnImcØns‚ sNdnb kqNn ap∂nte°p Xncn™t∏mƒ hnPb≥ FgpXns°m≠ncp∂ cPnÃdn¬ \n∂p Xebpb¿Øn t\m°n. Hm^okv km[mcW a´p Xs∂. Np‰pw kz¥w {]hrØnIfn¬ hym]rX cmbncn°p∂ tPmen°m¿. Bcpw {i≤n°p∂n√. hnPb≥ ]Xps° Itkcbn¬ \ns∂gpt∂‰p. c≠p ^b epIƒ taita¬ Xpd∂n´p. tai I≠m¬ Bcpw Xm≥ Hm^oknens√∂p ]dbn√. Np‰p]mSpw t\m°ns°m≠p hmXnen∂SptØ°p \S∂p. hmXnen∂SpØmWv kzoIcWapdn. IÆmSn°q ´n¬ Ccn°p∂ Bwt•m C¥y≥ kpµcn I≠m¬ Ipg∏amWv . UbdŒdpsS ASpØphsc ASpØphsc FØpw Bt£]w. Ahsf hfbv°m≥ CXphsc Xcs∏´n´n√. Znhkhpw Znhkhpw cmhnse sN∂v \o N¥°mcnbmbn´p≠s√m F∂ Znhya{¥w Dcphn´m¬ aXn. ]t£, a\phcp∂n√. Ahƒ°v As√¶nte Xs∂∏‰n \√ A`n{]mban√. Hcp kz]v\mSI≥ F∂mWp hnfn°mdv. ]s≠mcn°¬ Ft¥m Bh¿Øn®p tNmZn®n´pw t NmZn®n´pw adp]Sn ]d™ns√∂mWv BhemXn. GXmbmepw kpµcn, kz]v\w I≠ncps∂¶n¬Øs∂, AXp A Xp \ns∂°pdn®v Bbncn°bn√ Xo¿®. Ahƒ Xncn™ncp∂v, ssIk©nbn ¬ \n∂p h´Ønep≈ sNdnb IÆmSn FSpØp apJkuµcyØns‚ X¬°me \nehmcw Xn´s∏SpØpIbmWv. C√, H∂pw tNm¿∂p t]mbn´n√. CXmWhkcw! kzmX{¥yØnte °p≈ IpXn°en¬ ]ns∂ FØp∂Xp en^v  ‰ns‚ ‰ns‚ AgnIƒ°p apºnemWv . AgnIƒ am{Xw. en^v‰XmgØmWv v  . apIfnte°p hcm\p≈ s_¬ Aa¿Øns°m≠p hnPb≥ Bizkn®p. apsº√mw en^v ‰ v thsdmcp XSambncp∂p. en^v ‰ pImc≥ ]Wv U n‰v P n Xcw In´ptºmsg√mw Ipc®p NmSnbncp∂p. C°gn™ Zp¿§m]qPbv°v c≠p cq] _Ivjokv sImSpØp. Ct∏mƒ apcfpItb D≈p. "cmw, cmw!' "cmw, cmw.' en^v‰n∂p≈n¬ IS∂p. hnPb≥ A¤pXs∏´p. c≠p cq]bv°v C{X hnetbm? Xmsg C¥ym FIvkvtN©v tπkv hneßs\ InS°p∂p. adphiØv Hmlcn hn]Wnbn¬ \n∂v Dbcp∂ A´lmk߃. h√ sjbdpw \new s]mØnbn´p≠mIpw. heØp hiØp tdmUv sN∂hkm\n°p∂Xpw C¥ym FIvkvtN©n¬Øs∂. hetØm´p Xncn™p \S∂p. {_m_¨ tdmUnse _v tÃm∏mbncp∂p e£yw. alm\Kcw \nch[n N{Ißfp≈ Hcp `oab{¥w t]mse Xncn™psIm≠ncp∂p. Cu \nc¥camb Ne\mflIX hnPb≥ C„s∏´p. \S∏mXIfn¬ tcmahkv{X߃ hnev°p∂ ]Xnaq°∑mcmb t\∏mfnIƒ. Ah¿ F√ms°m√hpw C°meØp lnameb km\p°fn¬ \n∂v, XWp∏ns‚ `mfis°´pIfpw tXmfnte¥n hcmdp≠v. tdmUn¬ hml\ßfpsS Aeapd. AXn\nSbn¬°qSn P\ßfpsS Ahncmaamb {]bmWw. CXmWp Xm≥ kvt\ln®p XpSßnb \Kcw; hnPb≥ Hm¿Øp; Xs‚ ImapIn. ap∏Ønc≠mw \º¿ _n¬ Ibdnbncp∂t∏mgpw hnPb≥ AXp Xs∂bmbncp∂p BtemNn®ncp∂Xv BtemNn®ncp∂Xv. Xm≥ Cu \KcsØ F{Xam{Xw kvt\ln°p∂p! AXns‚ Xnc°pw ]Sbpw. s]mSn \nd™ A¥co£w. AXn¬ Imemhÿ hcpØp∂ am‰ßƒ. Zplhpw Zo¿Lhpamb th\ev°mew. _pIfn¬ hnb¿sØmgpIp∂ {]`mX߃. s]mSnbWn™ {]tZmj߃. \Sphn¬ Hcp Xo®qft]mse Xo£vWamb ]I¬. AXn\nSbv°v  Hcp Znhkw ag, Hcp A]cnNnXs\t∏mse kwibn®p IS∂p hcp∂p. ]pdØp t]amcn \ncØpIsf tXmSpIfpw ]pgIfpam°ptºmƒ, ho´n\IØp hnb¿∏v tZlØn¬ sIm®cphnIƒ D≠m°pIbmbncn°p D≠m°pIbmbncn°pw. w. Hm^okv  Znhkßfn¬ ag sshIpt∂cta D≠mIq. cmhnse Hm^onte°p ]pds∏Sptºmƒ BImiw Hcp hnIrXn°p´nsbt∏mse I≈®ncn ]mm°p∂p. s]mXn™p ssIbnseSpØ agt°m´p Xncn®v Aeamcnbn¬ Øs∂ sh®v, {]IrXn°p \µn ]d™v Hm^oknte°p Xncn°p∂p. sshIpt∂cw hsc Kplt]msebp≈ Hm^okn¬ Ccp∂v Ir{Xna shfn®Øn¬ ]pdsa \S°p∂ sXs¥∂dnbmsX tPmen sNøp∂p. LSnImcØns‚ ssIIƒ A©nte°pw ]{¥≠nte°pw Nq≠ptºmƒ s]≥ Xmsg sh®p ]pdØndßp∂p. Xmsg \ncØn\p ]Icw ImWpI Hcp ]pgbmWv. At∏mƒ a\nemIp∂p, ]I¬ apgph≥ ag s]øpIbmbncp∂p. KXmKXw \ne®ncn°p∂p. BZyw \nev°pI {SmapIfmWv. Ah hcnhcnbmbn H∂n\p ]pdsI as‰m∂mbn \ncØpIfn¬ ASn™p IqSptºmƒ CSbv°pw Xebv°pambn apºneqsS Cc®p t]mIp∂ _pIfpsSbpw SmIv k nIfpsSbpw ]ndIn¬ a\pjy¿ HmSp∂p. ag \n∂ BImiØn¬ taLßsf∂ t]mse, _pIƒ Zp¿√`ambn h∂p {ItaW \ncØpIƒ iq\yamIp∂Xp ImWptºmƒ sh≈ØneqsS Xpg™p \S°p∂ ]pcpjmcØns‚ H∏w IqSp∂p. ]oSnIIfpsS \ntb m¨ ssk≥t_m¿UpIfpsS \ng¬ sh≈Ønep≠m°p∂ Nmb°q´p {i≤n®p ho´nte°p \S°p∂p. ]nt‰Znhkw ho≠pw ]gb a´n¬ ]q¿∆m[nIw D{Kamb NqSmbn. C°meØp a\pjy\p≈ Htcsbmcp Bizmkw Ipd®p amk߃ Ign™m¬ CsXm∂hkm\n®p a\pjys\bpw {]IrXnsbbpw Hcp t]m se Ipfn¿∏n°p∂ inincImew hcpsa∂mWv. Aßs\ ImØp ImØv Ah¿ Pohn°m≥ ad°p∂p. Ahkm\w ioXImesaØn, Xncn™p t\m°ptºmƒ a\nemIp∂p, a\nemI p∂p, th\¬°mew Pohn°msX Xs∂ Ign®pIq´n. ]ns∂ Hcp Xnc°mWv. ioXImew \hw_¿ Ahkm\w apX¬ am¿®p hsc \o≠p \nev°p∂p. Cu Npcpßnb

ImeØn\p≈n¬ Hcp ]pcpjmbpp apgph≥ Pohn®p Xo¿°Wsa∂p tXm∂pw. Z£ntWizcØp _p \n∂t∏mƒ hnPb≥ ]pdØndßn, Np‰pw t\m°n. im¥amb `q{]IrXn. _n¬ \n∂ndßnb Bƒ°m¿ apgph≥ Np‰nepw \n∂p i–ap≠m°nbncp∂psh¶nepw i–ap≠m°nbncp∂psh¶nepw Hcp Kmw`ocyap≈ \n»–X AhnSw apgph≥ \nd™p \n∂ncp∂p. Cu im¥XbmtWm Xs∂ CSbv°nSbv°p Xnc°p ]nSn® \Kc lrZbØn¬ \n∂v HmSnhcm≥ t{]cn∏n°p∂Xv? Bbncn°mw. _n¬\n∂v Cdßnbh¿ apgph≥ AºeØnte°p≈ tdmUnte°p Xncn™p. hnPb≥ kwibn®n√. X\n°p≈ hgn CSØp hiØmWv. hnthIm\µ∏meØnte°v HmSn°bdp∂ tdmUneqsS \S°ptºmƒ hnPb≥ Hm¿Øp: XpS¿®bmbn aq∂masØ ZnhkamWp Xm≥ ChntS°p hcp∂Xv. F√m sIm√hpw Xm≥ ChntS°p hcmdp≠v, \hº¿ a≤yØn¬. Ahƒ C∂v F¥mbmepw hcmXncn°n√. ]mew, Xoh≠n°pw _pIƒ°pw Htc kabw t]mIm≥ X°hÆw D≠m°nbXmWv. \Sphn¬ sdbnep Iƒ, c≠p hiØpw hml\߃°p t]mIm\p≈ \ncØpIƒ, AXn\pw ]pdØp c≠p hiØpw \S∏mXIƒ, hnPb≥ \S∏mXbv°v Hmcw tN¿∂p \S∂p, ]meØns‚ \Sphn¬ FØpw hsc. Ahƒ C∂p hcmXncn°n√. ]t£, apIfn¬ BImiw Hcp emRvO\bpw XcmsX Xs∂ \n∂p. Nph´n¬ Ießn aZns®mgpIp∂ `mKocYn bmWv. Abmƒ lp•nsb∂ t]¿ hnfn°m≥ C„s∏´n√. B t]¿ tIƒ°ptºmƒ Hm¿Ω hcnI, \KcØns‚ hrØntISpIƒ apgph≥ t]dp∂ Hcp ZmknsbbmWv. ]t£, `mKocYn ]cn]mh\bmWv. Z£ntWizc t£{X Øns‚ ]ShpIsf IgpIp∂ `mKocYn, adphiØv hnthIm\µ aTØns‚ ]cn]mh\ XocsØ aÆv sXm´p s\dpIbn¬ shbv°p∂ `mKocYn. lud∏meØn\p apIfn¬ \n∂p t\m°ptºmƒ hnPb∂v Hcn°epw `mKocYnsb∂ t]¿ Hm¿Ω hcn√. Htc \Zn°pXs∂ \mep \mgnIZqcw HgpIptºmƒ hcp∂ ]cnWmaw A¤pXIcambncn°p∂p. Zqsc, \Znbn¬ Iq´ns°´nb aq∂p h©nIƒ HgpIn hcp∂p. \Sphnep≈ henb h©nbmWv a‰p c≠p sNdnb h©nIƒ°p IqSn Poh≥ \evIp∂Xv. AXns‚ XSn®p IdpØ ]pI°pgen¬ \n∂p hcp∂ ]pI \nanjw sIm≠v BImiØn¬ Aen™p \oebmIp∂p. sNdnb sImXpºp h≈ßfn¬ ap°ph¿ a’yw ]nSn°p∂p. Xmsg Hcp henb dqbn a’yw NmSn. \ZnbpsS CSsØ Icbn¬ ]pI Xp∏p∂ hºn® IpgepIfp≈ sXmgn¬ imeIfmWv. inincØn\p hgn sImSp°m\mbn kqcy≥ Xs‚ ]Ÿmhn¬ \n∂p amdn, Z£nWmb\w Bcw`n®p. {]Nfi\mbncp∂ At±lw Ct∏mƒ ]›mØm]Øns‚ ioXf taJebnte°p amdpIbmWv. ]t£, Ahƒ CXphsc h∂n√. hnPb≥ s\Spho¿∏n´p. Xs‚ tZlØnse Hmtcm sk√pIfpw Cuj¬°ºnXßfmbn Ahsf FXntcev ° m≥ aptºm´mbp∂ t]mse tXm∂n. C∂pw \ncmi\mbn aStß≠n hcpw. AXp a\nSnhp≠m° a\nSnhp≠m°p∂Xmbncp∂p p∂Xmbncp∂p.. Abmƒ ]meØns‚ sdbnenwKv ]nSn®v   BImiØnte°p t\m°n. taLßfn√. Ipd®Ise Z£ntWizcØnse inht£{X߃. Ahbv°p \SphnemWv Imfnt£{Xw. s]s´∂mWv! hnPb≥ tImcnØcn®p t]mbn. IÆS®ncn°ptºmƒ AdnbmsX h∂v Bt«jn°p∂ Hcp Iman\nsbt∏mse Ipfn¿ sX∂¬ hnPbs\ XtemSn. lnamebØns‚ a™Wn™ irwKßsf Npw_n°pI ImcWw ioXfamb Npt≠mSp IqSn at\m⁄bmb Im‰v ; ssiihIme kv a cWIƒ Hcp ]qsam´ns‚ Zfßsft∏mse hnS¿Øp∂ Im‰v; th\ens‚ X]vX\nizmkßsf XWp∏n®mizkn∏n°p∂ Ipfp¿Im‰v. Ahkm\w Ahƒ h∂p. hnPb≥ apJapb¿Øn, aq°p hnS¿Øn, ssIIƒ s sIIƒ Db¿Øn \n∂p, BenwK\w sNøm≥; hS°≥ Im‰v Hcp emhWy hn{KlamsW∂ t]mse. C\n Ipsd°metØ°p kpJamWv . hnPb≥ BtemNn®p. XWpØphc≠ Im‰v , I¬°Øbnse \KchoYnIfneqsS, sI´nSßfpsS CShgnIfneqsS, a´p∏mhpIƒ°p apIfneqsS HgpIptºmƒ, tcmahkv{Xßfpw [cn®p a≤ym” Ønse CfwNqSp am{Xw Xcp∂ shbnte‰p XSmI XocØpw, Fkvπt\Uv  ssaXm\Øpw \S°mw. hntŒmdnb satΩmdnbens‚ ]p¬ØInSnbn¬ ae¿∂p InS∂v , kz—amb \oemImiØn¬ IÆpw \´p at\mcmPyw hnNmcn°mw. s_m´mWn°¬ Km¿U\nse, \ngepIfpw shfn®hpw amdn amdn ]Xn°p∂ \S∏mXIfn¬ kzbw ad∂p aWn°qdpIƒ sNehgn°mw. s]s´∂p ]mew tImcnØcn®p. ]® \ndap≈ Hcp Ce{Œn°p h≠n ]mew Ipep°ns°m≠p IS∂p t]mbn. AXp hnPbs‚ kz]v\mhÿsb H∂p Ipep°n. ]t£, a\n¬ Hcp Xmfebw D≠m°nØo¿°pIbpw D≠m°nØo¿°pIbpw sNbvXp. Hcp DtØP\w In´nb t]mse Abmƒ Xnc°n´p \S∂p. a\p \ndsb ininc ImekwKoXØns‚ AeIƒ. Ahkm\w Ahƒ h∂p. Fs∂ Bt«jn°m≥, Npw_n®v ssiihIme kvacWIfpW¿Øm≥, Hcp ]qsam´ns‚ Zfßsfsb∂ t]mse. bm{¥nIambn _n¬ Ibdn. Np‰pw Fs¥ms°bmW Fs¥ms°bmWpp \S°p∂sX∂v Abmƒ Adn™n√. a\p \ndsb kwKoXambncp∂p. _ns‚ apcƒ® B kwKoXØn∂p ]›mØean´p. ]›mØean´p. _v \KchoYnIfn¬° \KchoYnIfn¬°qSn qSn IpXn®p. \KcØns‚ Hmtcm i–hpw a\n¬ A\pcW\w kr„n®p. B XmfebØn¬ ho≠pw {_m_¨ tdmUn¬ FØnbXdn™n√. bm{¥nIambn Øs∂ _n¬ \n∂ndßn \S∂p. en^v‰a v m≥ m ≥ X∂ A`nhmZyw hnPb≥ I≠n√. apIfn¬ At\zjn°p∂ IÆpIfpw UbdŒdpsS tZjyw sIm≠p XpSpØ apJhpw Abmƒ {i≤n®n√. Np‰pw ininc ImeØns‚ kwKoXamWv. D≈S°Øntebv°v

Ccp´neqsS Bip]{Xnbn bnemsW∂p emsW∂p tim`\ tim `\bv°p a\n a\ nembn. t_m[w h∂t∏mƒ acp∂pIfpsS aWw sIm≠p Xm≥ Bip]{Xn

AtXmsS taemsI thZ\bpw thZ\bpw XpSßn. AXp tZlØn¬ FhnsS \n∂mWp hcp ∂sX sX∂ ∂dnbn√. IÆp Xpd∂t∏mƒ BZyw I≠Xp shfpØ NpacmWv. ]ns∂ apIfn¬ kmh[m\Øn¬ Idßp∂ ]¶bpw. I´nens‚ heXp hiØv Hcp Ãm‚n¬ Ãm‚ n¬ sh≈w \nd® Hcp Ip∏n XeIogmbn Xq°nbn´ncn°p∂p. AXn¬ \n∂p XmgtØ°p Xqßn°nS°p∂ Nph∂ d_¿°pg¬ FhntS°mWp t]mIp∂Xv? tim`\bv  °vAXp    AXp t\m°Ww F∂p≠v. ]t£ InS∂ InS∏n¬ InS ∏n¬ \n∂p Xncnbm≥ Xncn bm≥ hø hesØ ssI thZ\n°pIbmWv thZ\n °pIbmWv. Cf°m≥ Cf°m≥ Ignbp Ignbp ∂n√. √..... X\ns°¥p ]‰n? CSXp hiØmWp P\¬. Ahƒ PmeIØneqsS t\m°nbt∏mƒ sh≈ntaLiemIIƒ°nSbneqsS sh≈ntaLiemIIƒ°nSbneqsS shfpØ IS¬°m°Iƒ Iq´ Iq´ambn ambn ]d°pIbmWv ]d°pIbmWv. AXn\p Xmsg ISemsW∂p IS emsW∂p tim`\bv tim`\bv°p a\nembn. ]t£, Aßs\ InS°ptºmƒ Ahƒ°p IS¬ ImWm≥ Ign™n√. tim`\ I¨Xncn®p. At∏mgmWv AXp I≠Xv. PmeIØneqsS h∂ kqcycivanIƒ \neØp \neØp ]Xn™ncn°p∂p. AXp AXp I≠t∏mƒ Ahƒ°v Hm¿Ω h∂Xp ho´nse Xs‚ apdnbm apdn bmWv. AtXmsS AΩ AΩsb sbbpw. "sl‚tΩ !' ]\nbm ]\n bmbn°nS °nS°ptºm sg√mw sg√mw km[mcW t\m°n t\m°nbn bncn cn°m °mdp dp≈ ≈Xm XmWv Wv. D®bm bmbm¬ bm¬ AΩ h∂p P\epIƒ ASbv°pw. NqSpsIm≠v H∂p abßnt∏mIpw. ]ns∂ kabw ]d°p∂Xv Adnbn√. AΩbpsS t\¿ Ø i–w tI´mWv DWcpI. "tamsf, "tam sf, ]Iep InS∂p ∂pddßs√ ]\n Gdpw' Gdpw ' hfsc ZqcØp \n∂p ]dbp∂ amXncnbmWp tIƒ°pI. tIƒ°p∂ps≠¶nepw Dd°w \Sn®p InS°pw. AΩ ASpØph∂p s\©n epw epw s\‰ntaepw ]Xps° XtemSpw. XtemSpw. At∏mƒ ho≠pw DdßWsa∂p tXm∂pw. AΩ PmeIØns‚ ASptØ°p \S°p∂ \S°p∂ ]Xn™ ]Xn™ i–w tIƒ°mw. F{X i–ap≠m°msX kmh[m\ ØnemWv Øn emWv AΩ \S°pI. hfsc {i≤n {i≤n®mse ®mse tIƒ°phm≥ tIƒ°phm≥ Ignbq. Ignbq. PmeI∏mfnIƒ PmeI∏mfnIƒ X≈nØpd X≈nØpd°p∂ °p∂ i–w, ]ns∂ shfn®Øns‚ kap{ZamWv. IÆpIƒ Cdp°n AS®mepw AXns‚ AeIƒ BZyw IÆpIsf thZ\n ∏n°pw. "lmbv "lm bv, F¥p NqSv, \mep aWnbm bmbn bn´pw ´pw!.!...... AΩ BtcmsS∂n√msX ]dbpw. ImeSnIfpsS i–w AI∂I∂p t]mIptºmƒ t]mIptºm ƒ IÆp Xpd°pw. At∏mƒ Aekam kambn, bn, \neØp hncn™p InS°p∂ kqcysh kqcy shfn®w fn®w t\m°ns°m t\m°ns°m≠n ≠ncn°pw. AΩ CS\mgnIbn¬ \n∂p hnfn®p ]dbp∂p≠mIpw. tamsf Ddßs√ s√.. B i–w, Ct∏mgpw B apdnbn¬ InS°pIbmsW¶n¬ InS°pIbmsW¶n¬ tIƒ°msa∂p tim`\bv°p tXm∂n. A√m, AΩ tbmsSm∏w B t\cnb i–hpw C√mXm Xmtbm? tbm? Ct∏mgpw, Cu Bip]{Xnbn¬ InS°ptºmgpw, PmeIØneqsS h∂p \neØp hncn™p InS°p∂ kqcy civanIƒ anIƒ I≠t∏mƒ ho´nse Xs‚ apdn apdnbmWv bmWv Hm¿Ω h∂Xv h∂Xv, AΩsb AΩsbbpw. bpw. AΩ! tim`\bv°p Ic®n¬ h∂p. AΩ FhnsSbmWv  ? AΩsb sIm∂nt√! C\n ImWm≥ Ignbptam, AΩ sb? IÆp\ocn\p \√ NqSp NqSp≠m ≠mbn bncp cp∂p. ∂p. AXp Ihnfn Ihn fneqsS Hen Hen®n ®ndßp dßptºmƒ tºmƒ tim` tim`\bv°p hfsc AkpJw tXm∂n. At∏mƒ `b¶camb XethZ\ A\p A\p`hs∏´p. `hs∏´p. AXp XetbmSns‚ GtXm I≈nbn¬ \n∂p ]pds∏´p hcnIbmWv hcn IbmWv. Dan\ocn\p \√ ssI∏pckap≠mbncp∂p. AXpsIm≠p sXm≠bn¬ hcƒ®bp≠mbn´pw AXv C d°m≥ tim`\ C„s∏´n√. Ipd®p sh≈w In´nbm¬ \∂mbncp∂p. F{X kabambn ChnsS InS°phm≥ XpSßn bn´v? a\nemhp∂n√. hmXn¬ Hcp I¿´≥ sIm≠p ad®ncp∂p. F∂mepw A∏pdØp IqsS t]mIp∂hcpsS ImepIƒ ImWmam bncp bn cp∂p. ∂p. F¥mWv Bcpw Cu apdnbn¬ apdn bn¬ hcmØ hcmØXv? s]s´∂p shfpØ hkv{Xw [cn® Hcp kv{Xo I¿´≥ \o°n apdnbnte°p IS∂p. Ah¿ tim`\sb tim`\s b t\m°n ]p©ncn XqIn. AXv C„s∏´ns√¶nepw Ahƒ H∂pw ]d™n√. ]d™n√. Cu kv{Xo°v AΩ Nncn°p∂ t]mse Nncn®p IqsS? "Fßs\bp≠p Ip´o Ct∏mƒ?' Ah¿ ASpØp h∂p Xs‚ s\‰nta¬ ssIh®v Xebn¬ XShn. Xm≥ Ip´nbs√∂pw aq∂mw ¢mn¬ ]Tn °pIbm IbmsW∂pw sW∂pw ]db ]dbWsa∂p tim` tim`\bv°p tXm∂n. ]t£ Ahƒ sh≈w thWsa∂p thW sa∂p am{Xw ]d™p. ]d™p. knÿ Hcp Hu¨kv •mn¬ Ft¥m sh≈w hmbn¬ Hgn®pX∂p. AXns‚ cpNn F¥msW∂p a\nem °m≥ tim`\bv°p Ign Ign™n ™n√. F\n°v C∏gpw ]\n°p °p∂p ∂p≠v ≠v. Ahƒ hnNmcn hnNmcn®p. ®p.

hmbn¬ sX¿tamao‰¿ h®p knÿ Xs‚ ssIØ≠p ]nSn®n ®ncn cn°pIbmWv. tim`\ AhcpsS apJØp t\m°n. Ah¿ shfpØ Hcp kv{Xobmbncp∂p. ]t£ AhcpsS aq°n\SpØp≈ Hcp Acnºmd ImcWw tim `\bv°v Ahsc C„s∏ s∏´n ´n√. knÿ hm®pt\m°n, Xs‚ hmbn¬\n∂v sX¿tamao‰ tamao‰sd sdSpØp. SpØp. At∏mƒ kab kabsa sa{X {Xbmsb∂p bmsb∂p tNmZn° Wsa∂p tim`\ hnNmcn®p. hnNmcn®p. Hcp]t£ \mepaWnbmbn´p≠mIpw. \mepaWnbmbn´p≠mIpw. ]\n BIptºmƒ F{X thKamWp sshIp t∂c t∂ cam amIp Ip∂Xv? C∂p C ∂p cmhnse F¥p ]‰n? C∂p Fgp Fgpt∂ t∂‰‰Xmbn Hm¿Ωn Hm¿Ωn°p∂n °p∂n√. Fs‚ Xe Xebv bv°p Ft¥m kmcambn kmc ambn ]‰nbn ]‰nbn´p≠v ´p≠v. knÿ sX¿tamao‰dpw a‰pw apdnbpsS Hcp aqebnep≈ Sot∏mbnta¬ sIm≠pt]mbn h®p. AhnsS Hcp tS_nƒ Ie≠¿ Ccn°p∂p≠v. ho´n¬ A—s‚ tai∏pdØp≈ tS_vƒ Ie≠¿ tim`\bmWp Xncn®p hbv  °pI. Cu Ie≠dn¬ 30˛mwXobXn B°n h®n´p≠v. C∂v 29˛mwXobXnbs√. 28˛mwXobXnbmWp 28˛ mwXobXnbmWp ]co£ Ign ™Xv. AXv C∂sebmbncp∂ns√? AtXm an\n™mt∂m? At∏mƒ Xm≥ Hcp Znhkw apgph≥ InS∂pdßn tbm? BcmWp Xs∂ Bip] {Xnbn¬ sIm≠p h∂ h∂Xv Xv? A—s\hn hnsS? sS? knÿ Xncn®p h∂p Hcp XWpØ k©n Xs‚ Xebv°SpØp h®p. bqUntImtfm¨ Hcp ]™nbnse SpØp s\‰nta¬ XpS®p X∂ t∏mƒ \√ XWp∏p tXm∂n. "A—≥ "A —≥ FhnsSbm bmWv Wv?' Ahƒ tNmZn®p. tNmZn®p. "G??' knÿ Xe XmgvØns°m≠p tNmZn "G tNmZn®p. ®p. "A— "A —t\bv, FhnSym SymWv Wv?' "CXphsc "C Xphsc ChnsS D≠mbncp∂p. D≠mbncp∂p. c≠p Znhkambn ]mhw A—≥ Dd ßn ßnbn bn´v ´v. tamfpsS ASpØncn ASpØn cn°ymbn °ymbn cp∂p. Ct∏mƒ ]pd ]pdØp Øpt]m t]mbncn°ymWv °ymWv. A©pa A©paWn°p hcpw. hcpw... knÿ ]d™Xp apgph≥ tim`\ tI´n√. ]t£ A—≥ A©p aWn°p hcpsa∂p am{Xw a\nembn. knÿ t]mbt∏mƒ tim`\ ho≠pw BtemNn®p. BcmWp Xs∂ ChnsS sIm≠ph∂Xv? Xm≥ F∂mWv  ChntS°p h∂ h∂Xv Xv? C∂se C∂sebmtWm? bmtWm? AtXm an\n™m an\n™mt∂m? t∂m? C∂sesb°pdnt®m¿Øt∏mƒ C∂sesb°pdnt®m¿Øt∏ mƒ a\nte°v Fs¥ms°tbm X≈n hcp∂p. H∂pw hy‡a√. Xo Bfn° ØpI Øp IbmWv. AXn AXn\n \nSSbn¬ \n∂p Xs∂ t\m°n hnfn°p °p∂Xv ∂Xv BcmWv BcmWv? AΩbm AΩbmtWm? AtXm hey heyΩ Ωtbm? ]ip°p´nbpsS Ic®n¬. "Ccp´mbm¬ AXn\p t]Snbmhpw tamsf. \o AXns\ H∂gn®p sIm≠phm......' AXm cmWp ]dbp ]dbp∂ ∂Xv? AΩb AΩbs√? "F\n°p høm høm™n ™n´t√ tamsf tamsf.'.' ]t£ A∂p X\n°pw H´pw hømbncp cp∂p. ∂p. ]co£ Ign™p, kv°qƒ ]q´nb satΩm ¢mn¬ hmbn ®p. "C\n kpJmbn. kpJmbn. As√? c≠pamkw Ifn®p ®p\ \S°mw °mw..' AXp Pm\In So®dm So®dmbn bncp cp∂p. C\n t]mImw, c≠pamkw Ifn®p \S°mw. \S °mw. h√mØ XethZ\. Xeth Z\. kabw \mec aWnbmbncp∂p. ]mS sØ Ønbt∏mƒ DWßnb Im‰p apJØp h∂Sn®p. ]mSØv At∏mgpw At∏mgpw shbn¬°odpIƒ ]mdn°fn®ncp∂p. BIm iØn¬ sh≈n taL taLß ßfpw. tim`\ tim `\ Bscbpw ImØp \n∂n√. F\n°p hø. Ahƒ hnNmcn®p. Bsc¶nepw H∏ap≠m bm¬ Ah¿ kwkmcn®p XethZ\ A[nIamIpw. {]tXyIn®p ameXn H∏ap≠mbm¬ icnbmbn. B Ip´n°v Hcp \nanjw hmbv AS°n AS°nshbv°m≥ Ign Ignbn bn√. √. B Ip´n AeIvkm≠¿ F∂Xn\p F∂ Xn\p AekvIm≠¿ F∂mWp ]d bpI. B Ip´n ]mmhns√∂p ]mmhns√∂p tim`\bv tim`\bv°v Dd∏p≠mbn Dd∏p≠mbncp∂p. ¢mn¬ So®¿ tNmZyw tNmZn tNmZn®m¬ ®m¬ Xs∂ tXm≠n hnfn °pw. DØcw ]d™p sImSp°m≥. sImSp °m≥. Hcmsf°pdn®p Xs∂ Hm¿°ptºmƒ XethZ\ A[nIamhpIbmWv. tim`\bv°p thKØn¬ ho´nseØn bm¬ aXn sb∂p tXm∂n. ho´n¬ Im∏nbpw ]elmchpambn ]elmc hpambn AΩ ImØncn°p∂p≠mhpw. ]co£ Fß Fßs\ s\ bp≠m bp ≠mbn bncp cps∂∂p tNmZn tNmZn°pw. °pw. ]t£, X\n°p kpJan kpJ an√. √. Hcp `mKØp InS°p InS °pI IbmWp th≠ th≠Xv Xv. BtemNn®p Btem Nn®p \S∂ \S∂t∏mƒ ho´ns‚ ]Sn°¬ Ft∏m Ft∏mgmWv gmWv FØnb FØnbsX sX∂ ∂dn™n dn™n√. √. DΩdØv Bcpw D≠mbn cp∂n√. kvtf‰pw s]≥knepw tai∏pdØn´p tim`\ ASp°fbntet°mSn. ASp°fbn¬ Ccp´p hym]n®p XpSßnbncp bncp∂p. AΩ Npa Npacns‚ cns‚ Acp In¬ Hcp _©n¬ Ccp∂v Ft¥m \pdp°p \pdp °pI IbmWv. "AtΩ Im∏n Xcq.' AΩ apJapb¿Øn. "sNdnbΩ D≠m°p∂p≠v. Ct∏mƒ Bhpw. \o At∏mtg°p B ]ip°p´nsb H∂p Agn®p sIm≠phm Ccp´mbm¬ AXn\p t]Snbmhpw t]Snbmhpw.'.' tim``\bv°p \ncmi tXm∂n. CXn ∂m tim ∂mtWm. tWm. C{X Zqcw \S∂p h∂Xv h∂ Xv. Im∏n IpSn®v Hcp `mKØp InS °W sa∂p hnNmcn®mWv C{X thKw h∂ h∂Xv Xv. F∂n´v Ct∏mƒ AΩ ]dbp ]d bp∂tXm! "F\n°p hø, DΩd∏Snta¬ Ccp∂p sIm≠v Ahƒ ]d™p. "AΩt]mbn "A Ωt]mbn sIm≠pht∂mfp thW¶n¬.' "AΩ "A Ωbv°p høm høm™n´p ™n´p ]døy ]døys√.' s√.' AhcpsS kzcw hfsc ]co£oWambncp∂p. ]t£ B kabØp tim`\ AXp {i≤n®n√. Ccp´mbXp sIm≠v AhcpsS apJhpw \√hÆw ImWm\pw Ign Ign™n ™n√. "AΩ s\mW ]døym ]døym Wv, F\n °dn dnbmw bmw'' tim`\ hmintbmsS hmintbmsS ]d™p. ]d™p. AΩ Fs‚ kpJt°Sv kpJt°Sv ImWp∂n ImWp∂n

√t√m. "At∏mƒ \o ]ip°p °p´nsb ´nsb sIm≠p hcn √, As√ A s√??' "C√' "AΩ acn®p s]mbvt°m t°ms´, As√? Ah¿ Hcp InX InXt∏msS t∏msS Fgpt∂ t∂‰p ‰p. "Rm≥ t]mbn sIm≠phcmw. imctZ Im∏nbm Im∏nbmbm¬ bm¬ Chƒ°p sImSptØ sImSptØbv bv°p.' °p.' "GSØn°p {`m¥pt≠m' Im∏nbp≠m°n bp≠m°nbn´p bn´p Rm≥ t]mbn sIm≠phcmw. "GSvØn Cu kabØp AXn t\mSp a√nSm≥ a√nSm≥ t]mI≠m.' AXp sNdnb sNdnbΩbmbn bmbncp cp∂p. "F\n°p "F \n°p hø. AΩ ASnhb¿ XtemSnsIm≠v ]d ]d™p ™p..' F\n°v Hcp `mKØp Ipd®p InS° InS °Ww. tim`\ tim `\ AXp tIƒ°m≥ tIƒ°m≥ \n∂n√, Ahƒ°v tZjyw ]nSn®n ]nSn ®ncp cp∂p. F\n°p Im∏n th≠. h√msØmc Ω. acn®ps]mbv acn ®ps]mbvt°ms´. F\n°v Cß\sØ HcΩ th≠. Ahƒ A hƒ ap‰Øn Ønddßn. ]qØdbn¬\n∂v Hcp ]n®I∏q hdpØp shdpsX \S∂p. IØnØo¿∂ IØn Øo¿∂ A¥nØn A¥nØncn cnI IfpsS hmk\ Ahƒ°\p \p``hs∏´p. ISpØ XethZ\. ]\n Gdnbncn°p∂p. taemsI s]m≈p∂p≠v. thZ\bpw. O¿±n°phm≥ hcp∂p. Xe Np‰pIbmtWm. tim`\ sX√pt\cw kwibn®p \n∂p. Im∏n IpSn°Ww. F∂m¬ Ipd®mizmk ap≠mIpw. aSßn aS ßnbm bmtem tem?..... ... th≠, F\n°v AhcpsS Ah cpsS Im∏n th≠. ]dºn¬ \n∂p ]ip°p´nbpsS Ic®n¬ tI´p. "Ccp´mbm¬ AXn\p t]Snbmhpw' Ct∏mƒ hmkvXhØn¬ hmkv XhØn¬ Ccp´nØpSßnbncp∂p. AXn\p t]SnbmIp ∂p≠mhpw. ]t£ tim`\bv°p t]Snbn√. c≠p amkw apºp heyΩ acn®t∏mƒ am{Xw Ahƒ°p t]Sn tXm∂n bncp∂p. A∂p sXt°°≠Øn¬ c≠p aq∂mƒ DbcØn¬ Xo IØn®ncp∂p. heyΩ acn®Xv apIfn¬ hSt° AIØp \n∂mbncp∂p. acn®t∏mƒ heyΩsb Nph∂ Nhp°mfw sIm≠p tZlamkIew aqSn. AXm temNn tem Nn°p °ptºmƒ tºmƒ tim`\ tim`\bv°v Ct∏mgpw `bw tXm∂n. s]s´∂ s]s´ ∂hƒ AΩ ]d™tXm¿ ™tXm¿Øp. Øp. "AΩ acnt®ms´ As√ ?' tim`\bv°v Hcp hndb¬ A\p`hs∏´p. XethZ\ ITn\ambncn°p∂p. AΩ acn®m¬.........]ns∂ AΩsb ImWn√. AΩsbbpw heyΩsb sNbv Xt]mse Xt]mse sX°p`mKØp sX°p`mKØp Xobn´p Zln∏n°pw. Ahƒ `btØmsS sXs° ]dºntebv°p t\m°n. \Spßnt∏mbn. AhnsS Xosbcnbp∂p≠mbncp∂p Xosbcnbp∂p≠mbncp∂p.. AXv ASpØ ho´n¬ \n∂mtWm? Bbncn Bbn cn° °bn bn√. √. F∂m¬ AXv C{X ASpØmbn ImWptam? Xo h√msX Bfn°ØpIbmWv. ASpØ \nan jØn¬ AXp hepXmbn F√mw hngpßpw. hngp ßpw. Xs∂bpw, Xs∂bpw, AΩsbbpw F√mh F√m hscbpw At∏mƒ. At∏mƒ. ... AΩ FhnsS bmWv? tZlØv Hcp Ipfn¿ A\p`hs∏´p. A\p`hs∏´p. F¥mWv sNtø≠Xv sNtø≠Xv. Ahƒ thKw ASp°fbntet°mSn. AhnsS Ct∏mƒ Hcp hnf°pIØn®p sh®ncp∂p. AXns‚ shfn®Øn¬ AΩ apºp≠mbncp∂nSØns√∂p tim` \bv°p a\n a\nembn. "sNdnb dnbtΩ, AΩsb sbhn hnsS sS??' Ah¿ H∂pw an≠nbn√. tim`\ AhcpsS apJØp t\m°n. Ah¿ IcbpIbmtWm? Cu aßnb shfn® Øn¬ H∂pw a\n a\nem emhp hp∂n√. ∂n√. "Fhn "F hnsS sSbm bm WΩ, sNdnbtΩ?' ?' "AhnsS FhnsS FhnsSsb sb¶n ¶nepap≠mhpw. epap≠mhpw. Im∏n Imembn´p≠v Imembn ´p≠v. tim`\.....' tim`\.....' AXp apgph≥ tIƒ°m≥ tIƒ°m≥ tim`\ \n∂n√. \n∂n√. AΩ FhnsS FhnsSbmWv. Ahƒ Hmtcm apdn apdnbnepw bnepw t]mbn t\m°n. PmeI Pme IØneqsS At∏mgpw Ac≠ shfn®w apdnIfntebv°p {]thin in®n ®ncp∂p. AXpsIm≠p tim` \bvv°v  Hgn™p InS°p∂ F√m apdnIfpw ImWm≥ Ign™p. ]t£ CS\mgnIbn¬ Ccp´mbncp∂p. AXp t]mse Xs∂ a®n\IØpw. ]t£ AΩsbhnsS. tim`\ thKØn¬ tImWn Ibdphm≥ XpSßn. Ahƒ Dds° hnfn ®p: "AtΩ!.....' ]t£, adp]Snbp≠mbn ≠m bn√. apI apIfn¬ fn¬ XmgtØ XmgtØ°mƒ °mƒ shfn® shfn®hpap≠mbn ≠m bncp∂p. tim`\ Hmtcm apdn apdnbnepw bnepw t\m°n. AXm AΩ I´nen¬ I´nen¬ InS°p∂p. InS°p∂p. Hcp Nph∂ Nhp°mfwsIm≠p ]pX®n ®n´p≠v ´p≠v. Cu AΩbvs°m∂p hnfn tI´p IqsS? F¥mWnßs\ an≠msX InS InS°p °p∂Xv ∂Xv? Cu Nph∂ Nhp°m Nhp °mfw! acn acn®p ®pt]mb hey heyΩsb Ωsb ho≠pw Hm¿Ω h∂p. h√yΩ AXn\SpØ apdnbnemWv InS∂ncp∂Xv. Ahƒ°p sXs°°≠Øn¬ IØn bncp∂ bn cp∂ Xo ap∂n¬ ImWp ∂ t]mse tXm∂n. At∏mƒ. At∏mƒ.... .... .... hmkvXhØn¬ AΩ acn acn®p ®pthm? Ahƒ s]m´n °c™p. Hcp £Ww `bw Ahsf IogS°n, Np‰pw Ccp´mWv. C{X £Ww Ccp´v FhnsS\n∂p h∂p. F\n°v Xe Np‰p∂p≠v. t{]X߃ ]n∂mse hcpIbmWv. AXn¬ heyΩbpsSbpw, acn®pt]mb F√mhcptSbpw t{]X ߃ D≠v. Ah Np‰pw \rØw hbv°pIbmWv. X\n°v HmSn c£s∏SWw. O¿±n°m≥ hcp∂p. FhnsSbmWv  tImWn! Ccp´n¬ H∂pw ImWp∂n ∂n√ √t√m. X\n°p c£s∏ c£ s∏SSWw. "Atøm, AtΩ! !' tim`\bv°p tKmhWnbneqsS Dcp≠ndßp∂Xv A\p A\p`hs∏´p. `hs∏´p. FhnsStbm h√mØ thZ\. apdn™ncn

°p∂p. Xe Xebn bnem emtWm? X\n X\ns°m∂p s°m∂p sXm´pt\m t\m° °Ww. ]t£ Xm≥ Dcp≠p hogpI hogp IbmWv bmWv. Dd°w hcp∂p. Rm≥ Ddß Ddßs´. Btcm ]ndp]n ]ndp]ndp dp°p∂ °p∂ i–w. Icbp bpI IbmtWm? bmtWm? AΩ bmtWm AXv. Bhm≥ hgnbn hgn bn√. √. A— \mbncn°pw. Dd°w hcp hcp∂p. ∂p. Rm≥ FhnsSbm bmWv Wv? ho≠pw Bkv]{Xbnse acp∂pIfpsS aWw. XethZ\bpw, AXnt\msSm∏w ISpØ A]cm[t_m[hpw A]cm [t_m[hpw Infp¿Øp hcnI hcnIbmWv bmWv.......Rm\ Rm\√, AΩsb sIm∂Xv. Rms\¥mWv Rms\ ¥mWv sNbvXXv? hmkv XhØn¬ AΩ acn acn®p ®p thm? acn®ncn°p∂p. Nph∂ Nhp°mfw sIm≠v]pX®pInS°p∂Xv    Ahƒ ho≠pw a\n¬ I≠p. AtXmsS AΩ ]d™Xpw. "AΩ acn®ps]mbvt°ms´ As√?' tim`\ a\n¬ ]d™p. "sls‚ AtΩ, AΩsb C\n Rm≥ ImWn√ ImWn√t√m!! t√m!! "F¥n\m "F ¥n\m Ip´o ItcWXv?' \gvkmWv. tim`\ H∂pw ]d™n√. Ahƒ XeXncn®pt\m°n. PmeIØneqsS hcp∂ kqcycivanIƒ Ct∏mƒ Ct ∏mƒ hfsc \o≠p t]mbncp cp∂p. ∂p. kabw C{Xbm C{Xbmtbm? tbm? Ft∏mgmWv Ft∏mgmWv A—≥ hcp∂Xv? "A—≥ Ft∏mgm hcm? "Ct∏m hcpw Ip´o. hmbv Xpd°q. Xpd °q. Rm≥ ]\n t\m°s´. Ct∏mƒ Xeth thZZ\t≠m. \t≠m.' "Iptds» "Ip tds» D≠v D ≠v. ]ns∂ A—≥ Ct∏m Øs∂ htczm? htczm ?' "Ct∏mØs∂ t∏mØs∂ hcpw, tamsf ImWm≥. hm Xpd °q °q.....' A—≥ Ct∏mƒ hcpw, tim`\ hnNm cn cn®p. ®p. Ahƒ kt¥mjn®p. A—≥ h∂m¬ A—s‚ aSnbn¬, InS°mat√m, A—s‚ ssIsIm≠p≈ XSh¬ A\p`hn°m at√m, ]t£, AXv Hcp \nanjt\ctØbv°p am{Xambncp∂p. Hcp `bm\Iamb Nn¥ Ahsf InSnew sIm≈n ®p. Rm≥ Ip‰°m Ip‰°mcn cnbm bmWv. A—s‚ apJØv Fßns\ s\bmWv bmWv t\m°pI. t\m°pI. A—≥ tNmZn°n °ns√. s√. "\o AΩsb F¥mWv sNbvXXv?' As√¶n¬ As√ ¶n¬ Xm≥ F¥mWv sNbvXXv? Rm\√, Rm\√, Rm\√ AΩsb sIm∂Xv. F¥n\mWv Fs∂ Cß Cßs\ s\..... Ahƒ°p ho≠pw NqSp≈IÆo¿IhnfneqsS Hen®ndßp∂Xv A\p`hs∏´p. A\p`hs∏´p. "F¥n\m "F ¥n\m Ip´o ItcWXv?' sX¿tamao tamao‰¿ hmbn¬ \ns∂ \ns∂Sp SpØpsIm≠v knÿ tNmZn tNmZn®p. ®p. Ahƒ H∂pw ]d bmsX IÆS®p IÆ S®p InS∂p. IÆSS®t∏mƒ ]ns∂ i–ßfpsS Hcp temIambn. hcm¥bneqsS IÆ hcm¥bn eqsS t]mIp∂ Bƒ °mcpsS Aa¿Øn Aa¿ Øn∏n Sn® kwkmc߃, Imsem®Iƒ. knÿ ]pdtØ°p t]mIp∂Xp tim`\ tI´p. C\n Bcpw Cu apdnbn¬ hcm Xncps∂¶n¬, tim `\ hnNmcn cn®p. ®p. At∏mƒØs∂ At∏mƒØs∂ Btcm Xs‚ D≈n¬ \n∂v Dds° tNmZn®p. "A—\pw?' tim`\ sR´n. ]t£ AXnt\°pdn®v  BtemNn°ptºmtgbv  °pw, Hcp ]cnNnXamb Im¬s∏cpam‰w Ahƒ tI´p. AhfpsS a\p kt¥mjw sIm≠p \nd™p. "A—≥!' Ahƒ°p kt¥mjtØmsSm∏w Hcp hnjahpw A\p`hs∏´p. A—s\ Fßns\ Fßn s\bmWp bmWp t\cnSpI? Ime SnIƒ Sn Iƒ ASpØ ASpØ SpØp hcn Ibm bmWv Wv. tim`\ IÆp Xpd Xpd∂p. ∂p. A—≥ hmXnens‚ hmXn ens‚ I¿´≥ \o°n \o°nsIm≠v sIm≠v D≈nte bv°p IS°pIbmWv. A—≥ thKØn¬ ASpØp h∂p I´nens‚ ASpØp≈ Ãqfn¬ Ccp∂p. tim`\bv°v  HcpΩ sImSpØp sIm≠p tNmZn®p. "tamsf, Fßns\bp≠v?' ?' tim`\ adp]Snsbm∂pw adp]Snsbm∂pw ]d™n ™n√. √. Ahƒ°v H∂pw ]dbm≥ tXm∂nbn√. Xs‚ IÆpIƒ \nd \nds™mgp s™mgp IIbmWv. "A—m..........' A—≥ AhfpsS s\‰nta¬ ho≠pw DΩh®p. ]t£, tim`\bpsS a\n¬ hnjaw Xßn \n∂p. A—≥ ASpØp Xs∂ ]dbpI AΩsb°pdn®mbncn°pw. Xm≥ Ip‰°mcnbmWv  . A—s\s∂ C„s∏Sp∂n√. CsX√mw shdpw A`n A`n\bw am{X am{Xam amWv. A—≥ ASp ASpØp ØpXs∂ Xs∂ ]dbpw. ]dbpw. \o F¥mWv AΩsb sNbv XXv? Ahƒ, A—≥ h∂ncp∂ns√ ∂n s√¶n ¶nse∂v Bin Bin®p. ®p. A—≥ AhfpsS AhfpsS s\‰ntaepw s\‰ntaepw s\©nepw XtemSn XtemSns°m≠p s°m≠p ]d™p. ]d™p. "tamfpsS "tam fpsS AΩ..... ' AΩsb∂p tI´t∏mƒ tim`\ H∂p sR´n. ]ns∂ A—≥ F¥mWp ]d™sX∂v Ahƒ tI´n√. lrZbw i‡nbmbn i‡n bmbn anSn°pIbmWv anSn°pIbmWv. I¨apºn¬ I¨apºn¬ \n∂v F√mw AI∂I∂pt]mbn AI∂ I∂pt]mbn Ccp´p hym]n°pIbmWv. H∂pw ImWp∂n√. AXn∂nSbn¬ PmeIØneqsS hcp∂ kqcyshfn®w \neØphncn™ncn°p∂Xp \neØphncn™ncn°p∂Xp am{Xw ImWmw. AXp Xs‚ ho´nse apdnbmsW∂v Hcp \nanjw tim`\bv°p tXm∂n. PmeIØns‚ ASpØp \n∂p t\cnb i–Øn¬ Ft¥m ]dbp∂Xv AΩbs√? hy‡ambn a\nemIp∂n√ ]ns∂ AXpw C√mXmbn. iq\yXam {Xw. AXn¬ Xm≥ ebn®p tNcp∂Xmbn tim` \bv°p tXm∂n. D≈S°Øntebv°v

agbp≈ Hcp cm{Xnbn¬ X   a\w hfsc at\mlcambncp∂p. tUm°v  bm¿Un¬ bm¿Un¬ Ccp∂p sIm≠p aghn√ns‚ \ndap≈ ]›namImiw AkvXa\w

apgph≥ F\n°p ImWmambncp∂p. kqcy{]Imiw taL߃°nSbneqsS taL߃°nSbneqsS Hcp Nph∂ tKmhnWnbmbn Cdßn hcnIbmWv hcn IbmWv. B civanIƒ nIƒ CfIn CfIn° °fn°p∂ sh≈sØ Hcp c‡ c‡kap{Zam°n. kap{Zam°n. Rm≥, ASpØp Xs∂ {]Ir XnkuµcyØn¬ apgpInbncn°p∂ Fs‚ BXntYbsb t\m°n. t]m°p shbn¬ AhcpsS \c® XeapSn°v  Hcp ]cnthjw ]cnthjw Nm¿Øn Nm¿Ønbn bncp cp∂p. ∂p. "Fs¥mcp "F s¥mcp `wKnbmWv `wKnbmWv BImi BImiØn\v, At√ At√??' "AsX "A sXb bsX sX'' sR´nbpW¿∂psIm≠v bpW¿∂psIm≠v Ah¿ ]d™p. ]d™p. "Cßs\ "C ßs\ AkvXa\w hfsc Npcp°amsb Rm≥ I≠n I≠n´p ´p≈p' ≈p' Rm≥ ]d™p. ]d™p. Ah¿ H∂pw ]d™n√. Icbv °Wbphm≥ °Wbphm≥ t]mIp∂ Hcp I∏ens\ t\m°pIbmbncp∂p Ah¿, H∂pc≠p H ∂pc≠p I∏epIƒ tUm°n¬ \n¬°p∂p≠mbncp∂p. Ahbn¬\n∂v Iq‰≥ s{Ibn\pIƒ km[\߃ Cd°pIbpw Ib‰pIbpamWv. s]s´∂h¿ ∂h¿ Ft¥m BtemNn BtemNn®psIm≠p ®psIm≠p ]d™p. "C∂p \√ Im‰pw agbpap≠mIpw. AkvXa\w Cu hn[ØnemIptºmsg√mw \ap°Xp Xo¿®bm°mw. t\m°q' Ah¿ Ing°p `mKtØ°p Nq≠n°mWn®p. icnbmbncp∂p. BImiØn¬ IdpØ taL߃ Dcp≠p IqSpIbmWv. "F\n°p \√ Dd∏p≠v.' Ah¿ XpS¿∂p. AhcpsS Ah cpsS Npfnhp Npfn hpI Ifp≈ apJw `qX `qXIm Ime eØns‚ Hcp Ieh IehdbmsW∂p tXm∂n. "Ign™ "I gn™ ]{¥≠p ]{¥≠psIm√ambn √ ambn Rm≥ CXp ImWmdp≠v ImWmdp≠v Cß\sØ Cß\sØ Hcp \in® Znh kamWv......' AXp apgpan∏n°msX Ah¿ s\Spho¿∏n´p. I∏entebv°p kmam\and°n sh®v s{Ibn\pIƒ Hcp i– tØmsS Dbcp DbcpIbm IbmWv. kqcy{]Imiw {ItaW aßp aßpI IbmWv bmWv. tUm°neqsS XWpØ Im‰Sn Sn°p °phm≥ XpSßn. R߃ Fgpt∂‰p ho´nte°p \S∂p Im¿taLß ƒ BImiamsI ]c∂p Ign™ncn∂p. `qanbmsI Hcp ]cnanXamb shfn®Øn¬ XpSn®p \n¬°pIbmWv. "C∂v \√t]mse \√t]mse ag s]øpw. Cu Djv Wsam sam∂ ∂hkm km\n \n°pw °pw..' Rm≥ BImitØbv°p t\m°n t\m°ns°m≠p s°m≠p ]d™p. ]d™p. Ah¿ H∂p aqfn. At∏mƒ ]n∂n¬ \n∂v sFkv{IowImcs‚ ]cp ]cp] ]cpØ i–wtI i–wtI´p. ´p. "sFkv "sF kv{Iow thtWm?' AXptI´t∏mƒ Fs‚ BXntYb H∂p sR´n. Ah¿ Abmsf ImWmXncn°m≥ thKw \S∂p. Cu NqSp≈ Imemhÿbn¬ Imemhÿ bn¬ Hcp sFkv{IowImcs\ shdp°p∂ sX sX¥n ¥n\msW∂v F\n°p a\nembn embn√. √. Ah¿ hfsc KmVambn KmV ambn Ft¥m BtemNn BtemNn°p °pI Ibmbncp∂p. cp∂p. Xpcpºp ]nSn®p XpSßnb tK‰p IS∂p R߃ ho´nseØn. Nph∂ Nmbw tX® B hoSv ]gb a´nep≈ Xmbncp∂p. B Ccp\ne sI´nSØns‚ apIfn¬ AXp \n¿Ωn® sIm√w, 1890 F∂p shfpØ A£cØn¬ FgpXnh®ncp∂p. Fgp]XpsIm √sØ ]g °ap≠v B hoSn \v. ]´ WØn¬ \n∂p hfsc AI ∂p≈ B ÿeØv A[nIw hoSp Isfm ∂pap ≠mbn cp∂n cp∂n√. tKmhWn Ibdn Ah¿ hmXn¬ Xpd∂p sse‰n´t∏mƒ B apdnbmsI F\n°p ImWphm≥ Ign™p. aßnb Nphcn¬ Hcp Ie≠dpw HcmfpsS F≥em¿÷v sNbvX t^mt´mbpap≠mbncp∂p. B kv{XobpsS `¿Ømhn t‚Xmbncn°mw. Ie≠dn¬ C∂sØ XobXnbnep≈ I≈nbn¬ \ndsb ajnsIm≠p≈ hcIfn´ncp∂p. hcIfn´ncp∂p. B apdnbn¬ apdn bn¬ Hcp ]gb tkm^msk sk‰n\p ‰n\p ]pdsa Hcp ]pkv XI XI sj¬^pw am{Xsa D≠mbn D≠mbncp cp∂p ∂p≈p. ≈p. PmeI߃ Xpd∂n´v Rm≥ ]pdtØbv°p t\m°n. c≠p hcnbmbn \n∂p IØp∂ sXcphphnf°pIƒ Hcp ame t]mse \o≠p InS°pIbmWv. tdmUns\ apdn®psIm≠v sdbn¬ ]mf߃ t]mIp∂p≠v. tdmUv an° hmdpw hnP\ hnP\ambncp∂p. AIse tUm°n¬ \n∂p I∏¬∏ma c߃ Db¿∂p ImWmw. Np‰pap≈ Im‰mSn ac ߃ Ccp´ns‚ Ccp´ns‚ Ip∏mb Ip∏mbaWn™n Wn™ncp∂p. cp∂p. Rm≥ Fs‚ BXntY BXn tYbbpsS t\sc t\m°n. Ft¥m BtemNn Nn°p °p Ibmbncp∂ Ah AhcpsS cpsS apJw æm\am ambn bncp cp∂p. "Cu ho´n¬ thsd Bcpw Xmak Xma kant√?' Rm≥ At\zjn®p. "G??' "G Ah¿ s]s´∂p s]s´∂pW¿∂p W¿∂psIm≠v tNmZn tNmZn®p. ®p. Rms\s‚ tNmZyamh¿ h¿Øn Øn®p. ®p.

"C√' Ah¿ ]Xps° ]Xps°∏ ∏d™p. "B kw`hØn\p tijw Bcpw Cu sI´nSØn¬ Xmakn°m≥ h∂n´n√. ChnsS Xmakn®ncp∂ c≠p IpSpw _°mcpw t]mIpIbpw sNbvXp ]ns∂ hmS hmSI I°mscbp scbp≠m ≠m°p °phm≥ R߃ {ian®n ®n´p ´pan an√ √ .' F¥mWv Ah¿ ]d™ B kw`hsa∂v F\n°p a\nembn√. Ah¿ PmeIØn\SpØp h∂v ]pdtØ bv°p t\m°ns°m≠ncp∂p. BImiØn¬ Im‰p ImcWw taL߃ IpXn®p adnbpIbmWv. Ah¿ hfsc Akzÿbmbn°≠p. Hcp \nanjw Ign™t∏mƒ Ah¿ ]d™p. "Rm\nt∏mƒ hcmw, ASp°fbn¬ Ipd®p ]Wnbp≠v. ASp°fbnte°pp t]mIp∂ B kv{Xosb Hc¤pXtØmsS Rm≥ t\m°n. AΩ F\n°b® IØn¬ Cu ASp°fbnte° kv{Xosb°pdn®v Xosb°pdn®v A[nIsam∂psa A[nIsam∂psagpXnbn gpXn bncp∂n√. Ah¿ `¿Ømshm∂n®p Xmakn°pIbmWv, H∂p t]mbn ImWW ImW Wsa∂p am{Xw. B kv{Xo AΩbpsS kvt\lnXbm bmbn bncp cp∂pht{X. ht{X. Aßs\ Ahsc sN∂p I≠t∏m I≠ t∏m gmWv ASpØ BgvN Hcp Znhkw AhcpsS IqsS Xmakn°phm≥ £Wn®Xv. AΩbpsS t]cp ]d™t∏mƒ Ah¿ ]d™p. "t\m°v, \nßfpsS AΩ Fs‚ UnbsdÃv {^≠mbncp∂p. Fs∂sbms° ad∂n´p≠mIpsa∂mWv Rm≥ hnNmcn®Xv ® Xv.' At∏mƒ kt¥mjw sIm≠v AhcpsS IÆpIƒ Xnfßnbncp∂p. BZysØ {]mhiyw t]mbt ∏mƒ Ah cpsS `¿Ømhns\ ImWp ImWphm≥ hm≥ km[n®n km[n®n√. At±lw GtXm Iº\n \nbpsS bpsS amt\P amt\PcmWv cmWv. Ah¿ ASp° ASp°fbn¬ \n∂p Xncn®p Xncn ®ph∂v h∂v tkm^bn¬ tkm^bn¬ Ccp∂p. Rm≥ Rm ≥ tNmZn tNmZn®p. ®p. "At±lw hcm≥ F{X aWn aWnbm bmIpw?' Ipw?' "Ft´m HºsXm aWnbm bmIpw. Ipw. Hm^okn¬ Hm^okn¬\n∂p \n∂p aSßm≥ aSßm≥..' Ah¿ ]d™p. B kabw hsc Cu kv{Xo GIbmbn Cu henb sI´nSØn¬ Ccn°pIbmsWt∂m¿Øt∏mƒ F\ns°m cpƒ°nSneap≠mbn. Ah¿ H∂pw kwkmcn°msX Ccn Ccn° °bmWv bmWv. Rm≥ ho≠pw PmeI Pme IØneqsS ]pdtØ°p t\m°n. ]pdØv  Ccp´p I´ ]nSn®p hcnIbmWv. sXcphphnf°pIƒ°p Np‰pw {]mWnIƒ ]d°p∂p≠v ]d °p∂p≠v. Im‰v Iptds» i‡n bmbn hoiphm≥ XpSßn. B sI´nSØn¬ FhnsStbm Hcp P\¬ i‡ntbmsS sIm´nbS™p. Fs‚ BXn tYb H∂p sR´n. Ah¿ Ft¥m sNhntbm¿°pIbmWv. ]pdØp i‡nbmbn hoinbncp∂ Im‰v sSet^m¨ sSet^m ¨ IºnI Iºn Ifn¬ X´n Hcp ^nUn ^nUnens‚ ens‚ i–w D≠m°n. D≠m°n. agbpsS agbpsS Ccº¬ Ccº¬ Zqsc\n∂v Zqsc\n∂v ASpØ ASpØSpØp hcn hcnI IbmWv. "\n߃°v "\n ߃°v kpJan kpJans√∂p tXm∂p∂p ∂p..' Rm≥ tNmZn®p. tNmZn®p. "Gbv H∂p an√ .' Ah¿ ]ndp]ndpØp. "C∂m "C ∂mWv Wv...Rm≥ \nßtfm \nßtfmSp] Sp]d™p ™pshm? shm? C√. D≠mhn D≠mhn√. √. C∂mWv Fs‚ aI≥ acn® Znhkw Znh kw..' Ah¿ {`m¥p ]dbpIbmsW∂v F\n°p tXm∂n. kmcnbpsS Xe∏n¬ Xncp∏nSn®p sIm≠v Ah¿ ]d™p. "]Xn\mep sIm√w apºmWv. Fs‚ aI≥ Fs¥mcp anSp°\mbncps∂t∂m. shfpØp Ipd®p XSnbp≈ Hcp Hma\ Hma\bmbn bmbncp∂p cp∂p Ah≥. Bdp hbs Bbncp Bbn cp∂p≈p ∂p≈p Ah\v. ' Fs‚ apJØp kq£n®p ®pt\m t\m°ns°m≠v °ns°m≠v Ah≥ XpS¿∂p. XpS¿ ∂p. "Ah "A h\nt∏mƒ D≠m D≠mbn bncp cps∂ s∂¶n¬ ¶n¬ \ns‚ {]mbam {]mbambncn°pw cn°pw.' s]s´∂v PmeIØneqsS hoinb Im‰p ImcWw Nphcnencp∂ Ie≠¿ H∂p h´w Xncn™v \neØp hoWp. Rm≥ AsXSpØv taita¬ sh®p. "CXm, CXpt]mep≈ Hcp Znhkambncp∂p A∂pw. Ahs‚ A—≥ Hm^oknembncp∂p. R߃ sshIp t∂cw \S°m\ndßn. R߃ tUm°nse√mw t]mbn aSßn hcptºmgmWv, F\n°mtemNn°m≥ IqSn hø, F{X sNdnb ImcyØn\mWv Ah≥ imTyw ]nSn®sXt∂m! Ah\∂v Ah\∂v \√ kpJap≠mbncp∂n√. kpJap≠mbncp∂n√. ho´ntebv°p aSßptºmƒ Fs‚ tam\v Iptds» ]\n®ncp∂p. At∏mgmWv B \in® sFkv{IowImcs\ Ah≥ I≠Xv. Ip´nsb I≠ DSs\ Ah≥ Hcp sFkv{Iow Is∏ SpØp \o´n. km[mcW Rm≥ Ahs‚ ASpØp\n∂v  sFkv{Iow hmßmdp≠mbncp∂p hmßmdp≠mbncp∂p ]t£ A∂p Rm≥ kΩXn®n√ kΩXn®n√.. tUmŒ¿ {]tXyIw ]d™ncp∂p sFkv  {Iow {Iow sImSp°cpsX∂v. Rm≥ AXp taSn°p∂ns√∂p taSn°p∂ns√∂p I≠t∏mƒ Fs‚ aI≥ imTyw ]nSn®p Icbphm≥ XpSßn. A∂v BImiw taL߃sIm≠v aqSnbXn\m¬ \√ NqSp≠mbncp∂p. Rm≥ Ahs\ ]nSn®p ]nSn®p hen®p ho´n tebv°p \S∂p. \√ Hcp agbpsS Bcw Bcw`ap≠mbn `ap≠mbncp∂p. "ho´nseØn ´nseØn hmXne hmXneS®p Ip‰n Ip‰nbn´v bn´v Rm≥ Ahs\ tkm^bn tkm^bnencpØn. cpØn. At∏mtg At∏mtgbv°v ag s]bvXp. Ah≥ ho≠pw Icbphm≥ XpSßn. AXhs‚ kz`mhambncp∂p. Ah≥ hnNmcn® km[\߃ In´nbns√¶n¬ AXp In´p∂hsc Ah≥ Icbpw. sX‰v Fs‚bSpØp Fs‚bSpØp Xs∂bmbncp∂p. Xs∂bmbncp∂p. Rm\hs\ ]pdØp sIm≠p t]mIm≥ ]mSn √mbncp∂p. cp ∂p. F∂mepw a‰p≈h cpsS at\mth thZZ\bdnbmsX dnbmsX Cßs\ Icbp∂Xv F\n°p kln kln®n ®n√. Rm≥ Ahs‚ XpSbn¬ ]Xps° HcSnsh®psImSpØp. At∏mƒ Ah≥ Ah ≥ Np≠p ]nfpØn Icbphm≥ XpSßn. t\m°v,

AXp hmkvXhØn¬ k¶Sw sIm≠p≈ Ic ®n ®nembn embncp∂p. Ah\p thZ\n thZ\n°m≥ °m≥ am{Xsam∂pw am{Xsam∂pw Rm\Sn Sn®n ®ncp cp ∂n√. Ah≥ Aßs\ Icbp∂Xp I≠t∏mƒ F\n°p kln®n√. Rm≥ ASp°fbn¬ t]mbn tlm¿enIvkv  Iq´phm≥ Iq´p hm≥ XpSßn. AXh\v hfsc C„am ambn bncp cp∂p. "At∏mƒ ]pdsØ apdnbn¬ \n∂v Fs‚ aIs‚ tXßens\m∏w taisbm at‰m \nc°p∂ i–hpw tI´p km[mcW tZyjyw ]nSn®m¬ ]nSn®m¬ Ah≥ sk‰nbpw a‰pw Ahs‚ Ip™n°mepsIm≠v Ip™n °mepsIm≠v Nhn´n \o°mdp≠mbn cp cp ∂p. AXmbncn°pw B i–sa∂p Rm≥ hnNmcn cn®p. ®p. As√¶n¬ As√¶n¬ Rm≥ Xo¿® Xo¿®bmbpw t]mbn t\m°p t\m°pam ambncp bncp ∂p. Ipd®p Ign™t∏mƒ B tXßepw \n∂p Ah≥ h√ ap°nepw ap°ne pw InS∂pdßnbn´p≠mIpw. At∏mƒ, Ahs\ ASnt°≠nbncp∂ns√∂v F\n°p tXm∂n. C\n tlm¿enIvkpambn sN∂v Ahs\mcpΩ sImSpØm¬ Ah≥ DWcpw. F∂n´p kt¥mjtØmsS AXp hmßn°pSn®v hmßn°pSn®v Fs∂ DΩIƒ sIm≠paqSpw. "]t£, Rm≥ B apdn bnte°p sN∂t∏mƒ Fs‚ Hma\ AhnsSbp≠mbn bncp cp∂n√ ∂n√' kmcnbpsS Xe∏psIm≠v IÆo¿ XpS®psIm≠v Ah¿ Hcp \nanjt\cw an≠mXncp∂p. ]pdØp \n∂v ag bpsS Ccº¬ tIƒ°m\p≠mbncp∂p. PmeIØneqsS PmeIØneqs S XWpØIm‰v Hcp Nqfw hnfntbmsS ASn°pIbmWv. Rm≥ P\eS®p. "t\m°q, "t\m °q, Fs‚ s]m∂ptam≥ s]m∂p tam≥ B apdnbn apdnbnep ep≠m ≠mbn bncp cp∂n√ ∂n√.' Hcp CS¿® CS¿®tbmsS Ah¿ XpS¿∂p. XpS¿ ∂p. "Ah≥ "A h≥ sk‰nbpsS sk‰nbpsS ]n∂n¬ Hfn®p \n¬°p \n¬ °p∂pt≠m F∂p Rm≥ t\m°n. km[mcW Fs∂ Ifnbm bm°p °p hm≥ Ah≥ Aßs\ sNømdp sNømdp≠m ≠mbn bncp cp∂p. F¥p kma¿ kma¿∞y ∞ytØm tØmsS sSbmsWs∂m bmsWs∂m Ah≥ Hfn°p °pI. I. ]t£, At∏mgmWp Rm≥ I≠Xv . ]pdtØ°p≈ hmXn¬ Xpd∂p InS∂ncp∂p I nS∂ncp∂p Xpd∂n´ hmXnen\SpØmbn agsIm≠p \\™ tai InS∂ncp∂p. Ah≥ hmXn¬ Xpd∂p ]pdØp t]mbncp∂p. \nehnfn®psIm≠p Rm≥ ]pdtØ t°mSn ag hfsc i‡nbmbn s]bvXncp∂p. Im‰p Im‰ p ImcWw FhnsSsbm Hcp acs°mºv HSn™p hoWp, Rm≥ sR´n hnd®p. hnd®p. Fs‚ aI≥ FhnsS FhnsSbmWv bmWv. Rm≥ Ahs‚ t]cp hnfn®psIm≠v hnfn ®psIm≠v HmSn s]s´∂v s]s´∂v Fs‚ Hma\ Hcp sXcphphnf°ns‚ Nph´neqsS HmSp∂Xp Rm≥ I≠p. Ah≥ \\s™men®ncp∂p. Ahs‚ H∏saØm≥ Rm≥ Hcp IpXncsb sbt∏mse t∏mse ]m™p. "s]s´∂v ASpØp\n∂v Xoh≠nbpsS Iq°p tI´p. Rm≥ sR´n sR´ n Fs‚ lrZbw ]nS™p AhnsS ASpØp Xs∂bm s∂bm bn bn cp∂p cp∂p sdbn¬ sdbn¬∏m ∏mf f߃. Fs‚ aI≥ AXnse t]mIcptX F∂v Rm≥ {]m¿ ∞n ∞n®p. ®p. ]t£ AXp shdpsXbmbn Rm\hs‚ \nehnfn tI´p. Rms\s‚ Hma\bpsS \nehnfn tI´p. Rms\s‚ aIs\ sIm∂p! Ah¿ s]m´ns∏m´n°cbphm≥ XpSßn AhcpsS XeapSnsb√mw Nn∂n®nXdnbncp∂p. IÆoscmgpIn kmcn bpsS ap≥hiw apgph≥ \\™ncp∂p. B \nehnfn kmh[m\Øn¬ kmh[m\Øn¬ \n∂v. tXß epIƒ am{Xambn am{X ambn Ah¿ s\‰nta¬ s\‰nta¬ ssIsh®v Ccn°pIbmWv. Hmtcm tXßen\pw AhcpsS amdnSw Db¿∂pw XmWp XmWpan ancp∂p. ]pdØp Im‰ns‚ Ccº¬ IqSn°qSn hcn hcnI Ibm bmWv Wv. agØp agØp≈nIƒ P\¬ P\¬∏m ∏mfn fnta¬ ta¬ h∂Sn°p∂Xv \√Xp t]mse tIƒ°m tIƒ°m\p \p≠v. CeIv{Sn°v _ƒ_ns‚ {]Imiw a™ \ndw tIdnb Nphcn¬Ø´n aßnbncp∂p. X´nt∑¬ Nne¥nheIƒ sI´nbncp∂ B apdnbnemsI Hcp \nKqVX ]Xpßnbncp∂ncp∂p. B henb sI´nSØn¬ Rm\pw Rm\p w Fs‚ BXn tYbbpw am{Xsabp≈psht∂m¿Øt∏mƒ am{Xsabp≈psht∂m¿Ø t∏mƒ `bw sIm≠v Rm≥ \Spßnt∏mbn. Ah¿ B IYbnt∏mƒ ]dtb ≠nbncp∂ns√∂vF\n°p   tXm∂n. CXp \S∂ Hcp kw`hw Xs∂bmtWm? F¶n¬, AhcpsS \c® XeapSnbpw \ngepIƒ \ng epIƒ hoWpInS°p∂ apJsØ NpfnhpIfpw B timIIYbpsS Hm¿Ω°pdn∏pIf t√? apdnbnse shfn®w ho≠pw aßpIbmsW∂v F\n°p tXm∂n, Fs‚ BXn tYb A\ßmsX A\ßmsX tkm^bn encn°pIbmWv. s]s´∂p ]pdØp\n∂v Hcp tXßens‚ i–w tI´p. C{]mhiyw C {]mhiyw B kv{XobpsS H∏w Rm\pw sR´n. Rms\s‚ BXntYbbpsS apJØp t\m°n. `bw sIm≠v   AhcpsS apJw hnfdn shfpØncp∂p. ho≠pw B tX߬! Hcp Ip´nbp Ip´n bptSXp tSXp t]mse! "\n߃ tI´pshm AXv?' Ah¿ izmkaS°n °ns°m≠p s°m≠p tNmZn®p. tNmZn®p. "F¥v?' Rm≥ tNmZn®p. tNmZn®p. B i–w PmeIØns‚ hn≈eneqsS hcp∂ Cu¿∏ap≈ Im‰ns‚XmsW∂v a\nemsb¶n¬°qSn, AXp hnizkn°phm≥ Ign™n√. "Hcp tX߬! tX߬!' Ah¿ XpS¿∂p. "\n߃ "\n ߃ tIƒ°p °p∂n ∂ns√? s√? AXv Fs‚ Ip´n bp bpsS sSXm XmWv Wv. Cß \sØ \sØ cm{XnIfn fnse√mw se√mw Ah≥ Ahs‚ AΩ bpsS ASptØ ASptØbv bv°p hcmdp hcmdp≠v ≠v.' Ah¿ hfsc Akzÿbm bmbn bncp cp∂p. ∂p. apJsØ√mw apJsØ√mw hnb¿∏p s]mSn™n s]mSn ™ncp∂p. cp∂p. ag At∏mgpw i‡nbmbn s]øpIbmWv. IXIn¬ Hcp _elo\amb ap´ns‚ i–w! AXv Hcn°¬°qSn! Hcp Ip´n IXIn¬ ap´pIbmtWm? Fs‚ BXntYb apJsØ hnb¿∏p XpS®p. ]cn{`an®psIm≠v B apdnbn¬

Atßm´pantßm´pw \S°phm≥ XpSßn. Hcn°¬°qSn B ap´¬! Ah¿ hmXn°¬hsc t]mbn kwibn®p \n∂p. Xpd°tWm. ths≠? AhcpsS ssI hmXnens‚ sImfpØphsc t]mIp∂Xp Hcpƒ°nSnetØmsS Rm≥ t\m°n \n∂p. ]t£ Ah¿ s]s´∂p ssI hen®v ho≠pw ]g b a ´n¬ sN∂ncp sN∂ncp∂p. ∂p. Ct∏mƒ agbpsS i‡n Ipd™ncp∂p. ]t£ Im‰v AXns‚ kIe i‡nbpap]tbmKn®v NodnbSn°pI bmWv. hmXnens‚ ]mfnIƒ H∂\ßn. ho≠pw AtX tX߬! C{]mhiyw AXp IqSpX¬ kv]„ambncp∂p. Ah¿ sR´nsbgpt∂‰p. ]pdØv Hcp Imsem® tI´pthm? AXI∂I∂p t]mIpIbmtWm? Ah¿ HmSnt∏mbn PmeIØns‚ hmXnepIƒ Dds° X≈nØpd∂p, ]pdtØbv°p Xebn´psIm≠v Dds° \nehnfn®p "Fs‚ tams\, \o AΩbpsS AΩbpsS ASptØ ASptØbv°p hcq Fs‚ s]m∂p s]m∂ptam tam\t√? \t√? \o hcnt√ t√??' B kv{Xo, PmeIØneqsS ]pdtØbv°v IqSpX¬ G¥n\n∂p. Ah¿ GXp \nanjØnepw ]pdtØbv°p hotW°psa∂v Rm≥ `bs∏´p. ag At∏mgpw apgph≥ \n∂n´p≠mbncp∂n√. Hcp Im‰nt\msSm∏w Ipsd ag Øp≈nIƒ apdnbntebv°v ASn®pIbdn. B kv{Xo BsI \\bpIbmbncp∂p. Ahsc ]nSn®p tkm^bnen cpØn P\eSbv°phm≥ °phm≥ Rm≥ Fgpt∂ Fgpt∂‰p. At∏mgmWv AXp AXptI tI´Xv ´Xv. Hcp Xoh≠nbpsS Nqfwhnfn XpS¿∂v  F©ns‚ i–hpw B kv{Xo sR´n ]ndtIm´pamdn. Xoh≠nbpsS Xoh≠nbpsS slUv  sse‰v sse‰v ASpØSpØp hcp∂Xv F\n°v  PmeIØn IØneqsS eqsS ImWm\p ImWm\p≠v. s]s´∂p i‡nbmb Hcp Im‰n¬ P\me Hcp i–tØmsS AS™p. "Atøm, Fs‚ Ip´o' Hcp \nehnfntbmsS Ah¿ hmXn¬°tet°mSn. Rm≥ Ahsc XS™p \n¿Øm≥ {ian®p. ]t£ Ign™n √. AS™p InS°p∂ hmXnen¬ X´n B kv{Xo \neØphoWp. Rm\hsc Xmßn tkm^bn¬ sIm≠pt]mbn InSØn. Ah¿°p t_m[ap≠mbncp∂n√. Rm≥ Ipd®p sh≈saSpØv AhcpsS apJØp apJØ p Xfn®p. B agbp≈ cm{Xnbn¬ Rm\pw h√msX hnb¿ hnb¿°p °p∂p ∂p≠m ≠mbn bncp cp∂p. ∂p. Rm≥ ^m\ns‚ kzn®v Hm¨ sNbv Xp. At∏mƒ hmXn¬°¬ Ipd®pds° Hcp ap´ptI´p. Rm≥ sR´nsØdn®p. ho≠pw H∂pIqsS. AXv   Hcp henb BfptSXmWv. At∏mgmWv F\n°v Fs‚ BXntYbbpsS `¿Ømhns\ Hm¿Ω h∂Xv h∂Xv. Rm≥ hm®p t\m°n t\m°n kabw Ft´Im Ft´Imembncn°p cn °p∂p. Rm≥ hmXn¬ Xpd Xpd∂p. ∂p. Ipd®p hbmb hb mb Hcmƒ AItØ tØbv bv°p IS∂p. B t^mt´mhnep≈ Bƒ BƒX Xs∂ s∂bmWv bmWv. Xs‚ \\™ Ij≠n Ij≠nØe Øe XpS®p ®psIm≠v sIm≠v Abmƒ `mcysb t\m°n. "Hm! C∂v ... ...... Rm≥ Ipd®p Ipd®pIqSn IqSn t\csØ hcWsa∂v hnNm hnNmcn®p cn®p Ign™n Ign™n√. Chƒ°v A[n A[nI Ian an√ √t√m?' ?' ]pdØp \n∂v Hcn°¬ Hcn °¬°qSn Xoh≠n ≠nbpsS bpsS Nqfw hnfn tI´p C{]mhiyw C{]m hiyw AXv hfsc ASpØp \n∂mbn cp∂p Abmƒ Fs‚ t\sc t\m°n. Rm≥ Hcpƒ°n °nSn SnetØmsS B sNdnb Ip´n Ip´nbpsS bpsS \nehnfn tIƒ tIƒ°p °p ∂pt≠m F∂p sNhntbm¿ sNhn tbm¿°p °pIbm Ibmbn bncp cp∂p. ∂p. ]pdtØ ]pdtØbv°p t\m°ns°m≠v Abmƒ ]d™p. ag \ns∂∂p tXm∂p∂p. tXm∂p ∂p. B P\¬ Xpd∂n Xpd ∂nSp. Sp.

D≈S°Øntebv°v

IcnbSp∏v  Sh¿ t¢m°v Ggc ASn®p. XWpØ A¥co£Øn¬ AXv Hcp Aebmbn _o‰p tIm¨Ã_nƒ _m\¿Pn

bpsS sNhnbnse seØn. Øn. Xm≥ H∂p sR´n sR´ntbm? C√. shdpw tXm∂em embn bncn cn°pw. As√ As√¶n¬, ¶n¬, F¥n\p `bs∏ `bs∏SS Ww? C\n AcaWn°qdpw IqSnbp≠v Cu Uyq´n Ahkm\n°m≥. CsXm∂hkm\n®m¬ CsXm∂hkm\n®m¬ aXnbmbncp∂p. AXn \papºv \p apºv AXp kw` kw`hn hn°p °ptam? tam? Iq´pIm Iq´pImc≥ C∂p sIm√ sIm√s∏ s∏Sp Sptam? aqS¬ a™p ImcWw Abmƒ°p t¢m°ns‚ Ub¬ aßntb ImWphm≥ Ign™ncp∂p≈p. ]t£, AXns‚ Nph´nse \nebn¬\n∂p PmeIØneqsS shfn®w i‡nbmbn ]pdtØbv°p {]hln®ncp∂p. AhnsS Xmakn Xmakn°p∂ °p∂Xv........ .kpt_mZp ]d ]d™Xp ™Xp icnbm icnbmbncn°ptam? °p tam? ]mew hfsc hoXn Ipd™Xmbncp∂p. AXn¬°qSn Hcp kabØv Hcp `mKtØbv°p am{Xta hml\߃ t]mbncp∂p≈p. B ]meØns‚ Hc‰Øp \n∂p hml\ßsf \nb{¥n°p∂ _m\¿Pn°p adp adp`mKØp `mKØp \n¬ °p∂ Xs‚ Iq´pImc≥ kpt_mZns\ aqS¬ a™n¬ Hcp \ng¬ t]mse am{Xsa ImWm≥ Ign™p≈p. Abm fpsS s_¬‰nt∑ep≈ s_¬‰nt∑ep≈ teml°jWw am{Xw CSbv°nSbv°p {]Imin®p. Ipd®pkabw IqSn°gn™m¬ IqSn°gn™m¬ a™n\p I´n IqSn Abmsf Xosc ImWmXm ImWm XmIpsa∂ hnNmcw _m\¿Pnsb Akz Akzÿ ÿ\m \m°n. °n. _pIfpw {SmapIfpw IS∂p t]mIptºmƒ XWpØ Im‰p apJØph∂Sn®p. XWp∏v Hcp ]pgphnt\t∏mse \·amb apJØpw ssIIfnepw Acn®cn®p IbdpIbmWv. _m\¿Pn Xs‚ tcmaIp∏mbw Iptd°qSn tZl tØmSSp∏n®p. adp`mKØp\n∂p adp `mKØp\n∂p Iq´pImcs‚ Iq´pIm cs‚ hnkn¬tI´p. AhnsS \n∂p hcp∂ hml\ßfpsS {]hmlw {]hml w \ne®p. C\n Xs‚ DugamWv. hml\ hml \߃°p t]mIphm\p≈ ASbmfw ImWn ®psIm≠p ®psIm≠p _m\¿Pn hnNmcn hnNmcn®p. ®p. CXns\m chkm\ans√? ImdpIfpw _pIfpw Ãm¿´psNøp∂ i–w, ]ns∂ Ah \oßnØpSßn. ho≠pw Im‰p apJØp h∂Sn h∂Sn®p. ®p. Np‰pw BfpIfpsS Xnc°v Hgn™p XpSßn. ssiXyImeØv I¬°Øbn¬ hfsc thKw cm{Xnbmhpw. F´paWn Ign™m¬ hfsc Ipd®v BfpIsfbpw hml\ßsfbpw am{Xsa ]pdØp ImWpIbp≈p. ]mew Ipd®pb¿∂ ÿeØmbncp∂p. AhnsS\n∂p IdpØ \ncØvHmSn   kaXeØn¬ sN∂p ebn°p∂Xv eb n°p∂Xv   At∏mƒ Xnc°n√mØXpsIm≠p \√t]mse ImWmambncp∂p. AXn\p \Sphn¬ {Smans‚ Ccpºp sdbnepIfn¬ sXcphp hnf°p °pIƒ Iƒ shfn®Øns‚ Hcp ]mX \n¿ \n¿Ωn Ωn®p. a™n\p ho≠pw I´n IqSpIbmWv. a™n≥ ]pI Ie¿∂v AXp IÆpIsf thZ\n∏n°m≥ XpSßn. Sh¿ t¢m°ns‚ Ub¬ ]ns∂bpw aßn. AXns‚ Nph´nse \nebn¬\n∂v PmeIØneqsS At∏mgpw i‡nbmb shfn®w ]pdtØbv°p {]hln®ncp∂p. I´nbp≈ a™n¬°qSn B shfn®w Iptd Zqcw k©cn°p∂t]mse tXm∂n. Iq´pImc≥ ]d™Xp ]d™Xp icnbmsW¶n¬, icnbmsW¶n¬, AhnsS Xmakn Xmakn°p∂Xv °p∂Xv Hcp Iq´w I≈t\m´ I≈ t\m´Sn Sn°mcmWv. Ah¿ A©ns‚bpw ]Øns‚bpw \qdns‚bpw t\m´pIƒ A®Sn®p≠m°p∂p. As√¶n¬ Aßs\ kpt_mZv ]d bp∂p. AXp hmkvXhamtWm? _m\¿Pn Hcp \nanjw BtemNn®p. F¶n¬ kpt_mZv C∂p sIm√s∏Sm≥ t]mIpIbmsW∂p _m\¿Pn°p tXm∂n. Iq´pImc≥ {`m¥p ]dbpIbmsW∂p _m\¿Pn hnNmcn®p. F¶n¬ \∂mbncp∂p. ]s£, Xs‚ Iq´pImc≥ h[n°s∏Sp∂Xns‚ kw`mhy Xsb°pdn®p _m\¿Pn Ct∏mƒ XnI®pw t_m[hm t_m[hm\mbn \mbncn cn° °bm bmWv Wv. Iq´pImcs‚ hnkn¬ {Iaambn CShn´p tIƒ°m\p≠v. At∏msg√mw Abmƒ F¥mWp sNøpIsb∂p _m\¿Pn Duln®p. hml\߃°p t]mIphm≥ ssIbpw Im´n Sh¿t¢m°p≈ sI´nSØntebv°v t\m°p ∂p≠mhpw. Ign™ HcmgvNbmbn kpt_mZn\vB   I≈t\m´Sn°mcpsS Imcyta ]dbphm\p≠mbncp∂p≈p. _m\¿Pn Hm¿Øp. ]t£, _m\¿Pn Xs‚ kvt\lnX≥ ]d™Xv H´pw hnizkn®n√. hmkv  XhØn¬, XhØn¬, I≈t\m´Sn°msc Ipdn®p hyXykvXamb Hcp `mh\bmWp _m\¿Pn°p≠mbncp∂Xv. hfsctbsd A]ISkm≤yXbp≈ Hcp tPmen. C{X ]ckyamb Hcp ÿeØph®p sNøphm≥ Ah¿ ss[cys∏Sptam? Xs‚ kvt\lnX≥ Nne sX‰mb [mcWbpw h®p sIm≠mWp \S \S°p °p∂ ∂sX∂p _m\¿Pn°p tXm∂nbncp∂p. AXpsIm≠v B I≈ t\m t\m´´Sn °msc ]nSn°phm\p≈ Xs‚ ]cn]mSnsb°pdn®p kpt_mZp ]d™t∏msgm∂pw _m\¿Pn A[nIw Xmev  ]cyw ImWn ®n √. B I≈t\m´Sn kwLsØ ]nSn ®m¬ X\n°p In´phm≥ t]mIp∂ DtZym K ° b ‰ sØ ∏‰n kpt_mZp ]dbp ]dbptºmsg√mw tºmsg√mw _m\¿Pn hnNmcn°mdp≠v. "]mhw { `m¥p ]nSn®p ]nSn®pt]mbn t]mbn..' Znhkhpw Uyq´n°p hcnI c≠pt]cpsam∂n®mWv. ]meØns‚ ASpsØØnbm¬ Iq´pImc≥ Sh¿ t¢m°p≈ sI´nS sI´nSØn Ønte tebv°p t\m°ns°m≠p ]d ]dbpw. bpw. "Ah¿ AhnsSbp≠v. cm{Xn, B PmeIØneqsS shfn®w hcptºmsg√mw a\n nem°mw. em°mw. Ah¿ AhnsS bps≠ bp s≠∂v. Rm\ Rm\hsc hsc ]nSn°pw, ]nSn°pw, Hcp Znhkw. Znh kw. AXp Rm≥ sNøpw. sNøpw .'

A∂p kpt_mZns\ ]cnl kn°pIbm IbmWp Wp≠m ≠mbXv bXv. ]t£, C∂v, aqS¬ a ™n¬ Ipg® XWp∏n¬ \n∂p sIm≠v hml\ßsf \nb{¥n°ptºmƒ _m\¿Pn°p Xs‚ kvt\lnX≥ ]d™Xp hmkvXhamtWmsb∂p tXm∂n. B, Aca AcaWn Wn°q °qdn\p dn\p apºp \S∂ kw`hw kw `hw Abmsf A{Xbpw A´n A ´nadn®ncp∂p. cp∂p. GgpaWn ASn°phm≥ XpSßnbt∏mƒ _m\¿Pn°p ]meØns‚ apIfn¬ IØp∂ I Øp∂ aq∂p Kymkp hnf°p IfpsS {]Im {]Imi i Øn¬ adp `mKØp\n∂n \n∂ncp∂ cp∂ kpt_mZns\ Hcp Hcpam amXncn Xncn \∂mbn bn°m °mWphm≥ Ign Ign™n ™ncp∂p. At∏mƒ a™n\p C{Xb[nIw I´nbp≠mbncp∂n√. ]n∂oSv AXnt\mSp ]pIIqSn tN¿∂v F√mw Ahy‡ ambnØpSßn. Iq´Øn¬ Iq´pImc\pw. Ipd®p Ign™t∏mgmWv a\nembXv, ]pI h∂ncp∂Xp tdmUns‚ adp`mKØp\n∂p adp `mKØp\n∂p IØn®ncp∂ IcnbSp∏n¬ \n∂msW∂v. AXp IØn®n IØn®ncp cp∂h≥ ∂h≥ AXn\ AXn\SpØp Xs∂ ]pdw ]pdwXn Xncn™ncn ™n cn°p °pI Ibmbncp∂p. cp∂p. _m\¿Pn hnfn®p. hnfn®p. "Gbv, ASp∏p ∏pIm Imcm. cm....... B IcnbSp∏v AhnsS\n∂v FSpØpsIm≠p t]mIphm≥ ]dbWsa∂p hnNmcn®v, Abmƒ Abm ƒ H∂pIqSn hnfn ®p. "Gbv...........' s]s´∂v Abmƒ Xncn™p t\m°n. sImº≥aoibp≈ Hcp `oamImc≥. AbmtfmSv   ASp∏v FSpØpsIm≠p t]mIp hm≥ ]dbphm≥ Xp\n™t∏mƒ _m\¿Pn s]s´∂v Hm¿Ωn®Xv. Chs\ FhnsSht®m I≠n´p ≠v. FhnsS h®mWv? ]pI ho≠pw a™n¬ Ie¿∂p ]cnkcßsf Ahy‡am°pIbmWv. _m\¿Pn At∏mgpw BtemNn®p. FhnsSh®mWhs\ I≠Xv ? B sImº≥aoi°mc≥, _m\¿Pnsb Xpdn®pt\m° Xpdn®pt\m°pIbmbncp pIbmbncp∂p. ∂p. _m\¿Pn°v  Ahs‚ apJØp t\m°p hm≥ `b `bam ambn. Iq´pImcs‚ hnkn¬ CSbv°nS bv°v At∏mgpw tIƒ°m tIƒ°m\p≠v \p≠v. AbmfpsS s_¬‰nt∑ep≈ teml° jWw AbmfpsS AbmfpsS Hmtcm Ne\ Ne\Ønepw Xnfßn ßns°m s°m≠n ≠ncp∂p. cp∂p. _m\¿Pn ASp∏p IØn°p∂hsc t\m°n. Ct∏mƒ AbmfpsS apJw IqSpX¬ hy‡ambncp∂p. s]s´∂p _m\¿Pn°v B sImº≥ sImº≥ao aoi i°mcs‚ IÆp IÆpIƒ Iƒ ImWphm≥ Ign Ign™p. ™p. AXnse {IqcX {Iqc Xbpw. Abmsf FhnsSh®mWp I≠ I≠Xv Xv. Hm, In´nt∏mbn. cmjv_olmcn Ah\yphn¬h®v. Abm Abmfm fmtWmbnXv? At∏mtgbv°pw °   pw adp`mKØp\n∂p adp`mKØp\n∂p h∂ncp∂ Hcp {Smw ImcWw ImcW w B sImº≥aoi°mc≥ Xs‚ Zr„nbn¬\n∂pw ad™p. _m\¿Pn X∂ X∂Øm≥ Øm≥ tNmZn®p. AbmfmtWm CXv? ]ns∂ {Smw t]mbn°gn gn™ ™t∏mƒ Xs‚ Dulw icnbmtWmsb∂p ]cntim[n°phm≥ _m\¿Pn AhntSbv°p t\m°n. ]t£, B sImº≥ aoi°mc≥ ASp ∏psaSpØv A{]Xy£\mbn cp∂p. cp∂p. At∏mtgbv°pw ]pI AhnSw apgph≥ ]c∂p Ign™ncp∂p. Cu XWp∏p ImeØp ]pI Hcn°epw apI fntem´p t]mIpIbn bn√. √. a™p ambn Ipg™v AXp `qan bpsS hnXm\ hnXm\Øn¬ Xßn \n¬°p \n¬°pI Itbbp tbbp≈p. _m\¿Pn Akzÿ Akzÿ\mbn. \mbn. C∂p cmhnse Xs‚ Iq´pIm Iq´p Imc cs\∏‰n tNmZn® B sImº≥ sImº≥ao aoi i°m °mc≥ c≥ Xs∂ bmtWm Cu I≠Xv? Ah Ahs\ s\¥mWv ChnsS Imcyw? C∂p cmhnse kwkmcn®psIm≠ncp∂t∏mƒ ]d™Xv. Ah≥ tSmfn K©n¬ Xmakn°pIbmsW∂mWv. AhnsS Ah\v Hcp ]eNc°p I®hSap≠s{X. ]t£, tSmfn K©n¬ ]eNc°p I®hSap≈ Hcmƒ ChnsS, ImfnL´p ]meØns‚ ASpØp h∂ncp∂v ASp∏p ]pIbvt°≠ Imcyw!! ChnSw apgph≥ ]pI \nd®p ZriyX Ipdbv°pIbmtWm AbmfpsS Dt±iw? AXbmfs√∂p hcptam? AsX, AXv AbmƒXs∂bmWv. AtX sImº≥aoi, AtX {Iqcamb IÆpIƒ. Abmƒ cmhnse Xs‚ Iq´pIm Imsc sc°pdn®v At\z jn®p. jn®p. Abm fpsS t]cv, Uyq´n Ft∏m Ft∏mgmWv gmWv Fs∂√mw. cmhnse _m\¿Pn AX{X Imcy ambn FSpØn FSp Øn√. B tNmZy tNmZyØn¬ Øn¬ A{X ]¥ntISp Sps≠∂pw s≠∂pw Hm¿Øn Øn√. √. Ct∏mƒ, Cu aqS¬ a™n¬ GI\mbn \n¬°ptºmƒ, Abmƒ°p ]e kwibßfpap≠mbn. kwib ßfpap≠mbn. Abmƒ F¥n\p Xs‚ Iq´pImcs\∏‰n At\zjn®p. _m\¿Pn°p Xm≥ AXp kpt_mZnt\mSp ]dbm™Xv Hcp henb hnUvVnØambn Øambn tXm∂n. Cu sImº≥ aoi°mc aoi°mc\pw, \pw, kpt_mZp ]d™ I≈t\m´Sn I≈ t\m´Sn kwLØnse AwKam bncn bn cn°ptam? °ptam? F¥n\bmƒ Icnb IcnbSp∏p IØn®v ChnSw apgph≥ ]pIsIm≠p \nd ®p? kwib߃ b߃ ]pIsbt∏m t∏mse seXs∂ Xs∂ _m\¿Pn _m\¿PnbpsS bpsS a\n¬ a\n¬ hepXmbn hepXmbn h∂p. Ahkm\w AXv Hcm HcmImcw Imcw ]q≠p. acWØn Ønt‚ t‚Xmb BIm BImcw. cw. _m\¿Pn \Spßn. \Spßn. Ct∏mƒ hml\ßfpsS Xnc°p hfsc Ipd™ncp∂p. CSbv  °pw, °pw, Xebv °pambn °pambn h√ Imtdm, _tm, {Smtam am{Xw t]mIpw. Iq´pImcs‚ s_¬‰ns‚ teml°jWw tem l°jWw Kymkv hnf°ns‚ shfn®Øn¬ an∂n. ASpØ \nan jØn¬ AXpw ImWmXm ImWmXmIpw. Ipw. A{Xb[nIw a™p≠v C∂v. Cu Uyq´n sbm∂hkm\n km\n®m¬ ®m¬ X\n°p ho´n¬ t]mImam t]mIm ambn bncp cp∂p. ho´n¬ Xs∂ ImØncn°p∂ `mcysb Abmƒ Hm¿Øp. Xs‚ sIm®p sIm®pa aIƒ Hcp ]t£ Ddßn Ddßnbn bn´p≠m ´p≠mIpw. Ipw. s]s´∂p _m\¿ Pn°p Xs‚ Iq´p Iq´pIm Imc≥ c≥ Hcp `¿Øm `¿Ømhpw, hpw, ]nXmhpw BsW∂ Imcyw Hm¿Ω h∂p. Abm fpsS `mcybpw Abmsf ImØncn°p∂ ImØncn°p∂p≠mhpw. p≠mhpw. kpt_mZv C∂p sIm√s∏Spsa∂v B kv  {Xo°v Duln°phm≥ t]mepw Ignbp Ignbptam? Xm≥ A¿∞an√mØ Hmtcm∂v BtemNn°pIbmsW∂p _m\¿Pn°p tXm∂n. Xs‚ a\p hfsc Akz

ÿambncn°p∂p. XWp∏vCt∏mƒ   Ct∏mƒ hfscb[nIap≠v  . _m\¿Pn°p Xs‚ ssIIƒ tIm®p∂Xmbn tXm∂n. temlw sIm≠p≈ sIm ≠p≈ hnkn¬ Np≠n¬ hbv°ptºmƒ Np≠pIƒ XWp∏psIm≠p thZ\n ®p. Ct∏mƒ kabw GItZiw Gtgap°membn´p≠mIpw. Sh¿t¢m°ns‚ Ub¬ Xosc aßnbncp∂p. AXns‚ Nph´nse Nph ´nse PmeI PmeIØneqsS ]t£, shfn®w At∏mgpw ]pd ]pdtØ tØbv bv°p {]hln {]hln®n ®ncp cp∂p. Np‰pw aqS¬a™p aqS¬a™p ImcWw shfn®w Ipdhm hmbn bncp∂p. cp∂p. B aqS¬a ™n¬ acWw ]Xnbncn°p °p∂p ∂ps≠∂p _m\¿Pn°p _m\¿ Pn°p tXm∂n. F¥n\mWp F¥n \mWp Xm\ßs\ Xm\ßs\ hnNmcn hnNmcn°p °p∂sX∂v ∂sX∂v Abmƒ \nanjw BtemNn Btem Nn®p. Znh Znhkhpw khpw Xm\nhnsS ]mdmhp \n¬°mdp≠v. Hcp Znhkhpw Xm≥ Cu hn[Øn¬ BtemNn°mdn√. C∂p Xs‚ a\v  BsI XInSw XInSwadn adn™n ™ncn°p∂p. °p ∂p. C∂p hmkv XhØn¬ h√Xpw kw kw``hn°ptam? °ptam? XWp∏p ImcWw AbmfpsS, XmSnsb√pIƒ Iq´nbSn°m≥ XpSßn. C\n ]Xn\©p an\n‰pIqSnbp≠mhpw. AXp Ign™m¬ X\n°p t]mImw. kpJambn DuWp Ign®p InS∂pdßmw. AXn\papºv C∂v AXp kw`hn °ptam? ]oSnIIsf√mw AS®pXpSßn. tdmUns‚ Hcp hiØp IØp∂ Kymkp hnf°pIfpsS aßnb {]Imiw am{Xap≠v am{X ap≠v Ct∏mƒ. AXpw IqSn sI´pt]m t]mbm bmtem? _m\¿Pn `bw sIm≠p hnd®p. Xs‚ Iq´pImcs\¥mWp sNøp∂sX∂v Adnbphm≥ _m\¿Pn B{Kln®p. AbmfpsS _¬‰nt∑ep≈ teml°jWw hfsc aßntb {]Im {]Imin in°p °p∂p≈p. ∂p≈p. hfsc kq£n®mte ImWm≥ Ign Ignbq. bq. kabw F{XaWnbmbn´p≠mIpw? F¥mWv F´paWnbmhmØXv? _m\¿Pn Sh¿t¢m°ntebv°p t\m°n. sR´nt∏mbn! AhnsS PmeIØneqsS h∂ncp∂ shfn®w \ne®ncp∂p. AhnsS Ccp´mWv. At∏mƒ AhnsS bp≈ BfpIƒ F√mw ]pdØp IS∂n ∂n´p≠mIpw. ´p≠mIpw. Xms\s¥mcp hnUvVnbmWv. _m\¿Pn X∂Øm≥ Bizkn°phm≥ {ian®p. C\n A©p an\n´p am{Xta bp≈p. F´paWnbmhm≥. Sh¿ t¢m°ns‚ s]s´ s]s´∂p≈ ∂p≈ ASn tI´m¬ Xm≥ sR´psa∂p s R´psa∂p _m\¿Pn hnNmcn ®p. Abmƒ IcpXnbncp∂p. s]s´∂p tdmUn¬ Ipsd Zqscbmbn Zqsc bmbn Abmƒ Hcp Ipfº Ipf ºSn Snsbm® sbm® tI´p. "S∏v "S ∏v, S∏v, S∏v ,...... ....... h√ I®h I®hS°mc\pw ]oSnI ]q´n t]mIpIbm bmbn bncn cn°p °psa∂p _m\¿Pn hnNmcn®p. B IpfºSn i–w ASpØSpØp hcnIbmWv. ]t£, aqS¬a™p ImcWw _m\¿Pn°v H∂pw H ∂pw ImWm≥ Ign™n√. H∂pc≠p an\n‰p Ign™t∏mƒ a™n\nSbneqsS Hcp \ng¬ {]Xy£ambn. ASpØp hcpt¥mdpw B \ng¬ sXfn™p sXfn™p h∂p. Ah km\w Hcp NXpcØn Ønep≈ ep≈ IpXnc IpXnch≠nbmbn ≠nbmbn amdn. "S∏v "S ∏v, S∏v, S∏v ........ .... IpXnc, Xs‚ Ip©ntcmaw Ipep°ns°m≠p h≠n hen°pIbmWv. h≠n _m\¿PnbpsS apºnseØnb t∏mƒ Xtes°t´mSpIqSnb h≠n°mc≥ ISn™m¨ hen®p. IpXnc Hcp Xebm´tØmsS Xebm´tØ msS \n∂p. h≠nbpsS hmXn¬ D≈n¬\n∂p Xpd Xpd∂v ∂v, Hcp Xe ]pdtØ tØbv bv°p \o≠p. _m\¿Pn sR´nt∏mbn! AXv B sImº≥ aoi°mc\mbncp∂p, Hcp \nanjw, B sImº≥ aoi°mc≥ ]e IhmXn¬ hmXn¬ sIm´nb sIm´nbS®p. IpXnc ho≠pw \oßn. "S∏v "S ∏v, S∏v........... ... Hmtcm IpfºSnbpw ]Xnbp∂Xp Xs‚ lrZbØnemsW∂p _m\¿Pn°p tXm∂n. B XWpØ cm{Xnbnepw Abmƒ hnb¿°p hnb¿°pIbm Ibmbn bncp cp∂p. ∂p. Abmƒ Hcp \nizmk \nizmktØmsS X∂Øm≥ ]d ]d™p. ™p. "At∏mƒ "At∏mƒ Ahkm\w Ahkm\w AXp kw`hn°m≥ t]mIp t]mIp∂p. ∂p. Ah¿ kpt_mZns\ kpt_mZns\ sIm√m≥ t]mIp∂p. Ah¿ Iq´pImc≥ \n¬°p∂nSØp h≠n \ndpØpw...... F¥psIm≠mWh¿ Abmsf sIm√pI? Hcp dnthmƒh¿ D≠mIpw. sske≥ sske≥k¿ k¿ LSn∏n®m¬ i–hpw D≠mhn√. IpfºSn i–w Ct∏mgpw tIƒ°m\p≠v. AXv GXp \nanjØnepw \n¬°mw. X\n°v Ct∏mgpw HmSns®∂p Xs‚ kvt\lnXs\ c£n°mw. ]t£, Xs‚ ImepIƒ achn®ncn°p∂p. A\ßm≥ hø. AXn\nSbn¬ Abmƒ hnb¿°phm\pw XpS XpSßn. ßn. Cu ITn\ ITn\amb XWp∏nepw Abmƒ hnb¿Øp. hnb¿ Øp. `bw AbmfpsS AbmfpsS Hmtcm tcmaIq tcmaIq]Ønepw IS IS∂p ∂psN∂v sN∂v Abmsf \Sp°n. \Sp °n. Xs‚ Iq´pIm Iq´p Imc≥ c≥ sIm√s∏ sIm√s∏Sm≥ t]mIpIbmWv. Xm\nhnsS \nlmb \nlmb\mbn \mbn \n¬°pIbpw. s]s´∂p IpfºSni–w \n∂p. h√ i–hpw tIƒ°m\pt≠m? _m\¿Pn ]meØns‚ adp adp`mKtØbv `mKtØbv°p Xpdn®pt\m°n. H∂pw hy‡a√. Hcp \ng¬ am{Xw. acWØns‚ acWØns‚ \ng¬! Abmƒ°v Dds° hnfn®p IqhW sa∂p tXm∂n. CXm, ChnsSsbmcp sIme]mXIw \S°p∂p. ]t£, Xs‚ tZlamsI achn®ncn°p∂p. Abmƒ \Spßn. AhnsSsb¥mWp \S°p∂Xv  ? Xm≥, kpt_mZns‚ \nehnfn tI´pthm? _m\¿Pn sNhntbm¿ Øp. C√, H∂pw tIƒ°m\n tIƒ °m\n√. √. H∂pw Im◊m\pan√. Im◊m\pan √. Iq´pImcs‚ s_¬‰nt∑ s_¬‰nt∑ep≈ ep≈ teml° teml°jWw jWwt]mepw. t]mepw. hnb¿∏p Xp≈nIƒ s\‰nta¬°qSn Du¿∂ndßn. s]s´s∂mcp hmXn¬ sIm´nbSbp∂ i–w. ho≠pw Ipf ºSn. "S∏v "S ∏v, S∏v, S∏v... ........ ....

Xm≥ Hcp \nanjØn Øn\Iw \Iw XeNp‰n hogp hogpsa∂p sa∂p _m\¿Pn hnNmcn hnNm cn®p. ®p. Xs‚ ImepIƒ ImepIƒ hndbv hndbv°p °pIbmWv bmWv. s]s´∂p Sh¿ t¢m°v ASn°p ASn °phm≥ hm≥ XpSßn. XpSßn. "tWmw. "tWmw....tWmw..... .tWmw tWmw........' . ' _m\¿Pn sR´n. sR´n. F´pa F´p aWn! At∏mƒ AXv C∂p kw`hn®p. Xs‚ Iq´pIm Imc≥ c≥ acn®n ®ncn cn°p °ptam? AbmfpsS Abm fpsS PUw AhnsSbp bp≠m ≠mIp Iptam? tam? Hcp apg°w kr„n®p ®psIm≠p sIm≠p Sh¿ t¢m°p F´maXpw F´maXpw ASn®p. Ah Ahkm km\n∏n®p. _m\¿Pn Hcp {`m¥s\t∏mse hnkn¬ hens®dn™v, a™neqsS ]meØns‚ adp`mKtØbv°v Dufnbn ´p. At∏mgpw AXp tI´p. "S∏v "S ∏v, S∏v, S∏v ...... ........ AI∂ AI ∂I∂p t]mIp∂ IpfºSn i–w.

D≈S° S°Øntebv°v

Ccp´ns‚ aIƒ ]I¬ apgph≥ acp`qanbn¬ \S°pIbmbncp∂ Abmƒ, cm{Xn i{XpXtbmsS kao]n®t∏mƒ, CeIƒsIm

≠p≠m°nb Hcp IpSnen¬ A`bw Is≠Øn. IpSnen¬ Ahfp≠mbncp∂p; DSaÿ. Abmƒ AIØp Ib dnbt∏mƒ bt∏mƒ Ahƒ tNmZn®p: \o BcmWv? F¥n\n \nhnsS hnsS h∂p? Rms\mcp bm{X°mc≥. Abmƒ ]d™p. ]pdØp hfcp∂ Ccp´pw, aW¬°m‰pw F\ns°XncmWv. Rm\o cm{Xn ChnsS Xmakn kn° °s´? \o ZpxJn°pw. Ahƒ ]d™p. F\n°pw Cu IpSnen∂pw Ccp´nte \ne\nev]p≈p. ]I¬, kqcyshfn® Øn¬ Rm≥ C√mXmIpw. Cu IpSnepw. \o IqSp IqSpX¬ X¬ GI\m \mhpw. hpw. kmcan kmc an√. √. Rm≥ F∂pw GI\m \mbn bncp cp∂p. ∂p. AhfpsS tZlØns‚ Dujvamhv XWp∏ns\ AI‰n. AhfpsS lrZbkv]µ\w AbmfpsS kwKoXambn. AhfpsS \nizmkw Abmƒ°mizmkacpfn. ]ns∂ Hcp {Iqc\nanjØn¬ {I qc\nanjØn¬ kqcy≥ DZn°pIbpw AXns‚ Xo£v  WPzme PzmeIfn¬ Ahfpw, Abmƒ ° ` bam bncp∂ IpSnepw Aen ™n√m Xmhp XmhpIbpw sNbvXt∏mƒ Abmƒ ho≠pw GI\m GI\mbn. bn. Hcp \nanjw Xt‚Xmbncp∂ kz¿§Øns‚ amkvaci‡nbn¬, ZpxJØn¬, ]I®p\n∂p. ]ns∂ ap∂n¬ \o≠pIn \o≠p InSS°p∂ aWen¬ ASnsh®p \oßptºmƒ Abmƒ Hm¿Øp: F\n°v hfsc Zqcw t]mIm t]mIm\p \p≠v ≠v.

D≈S°Øntebv°v

a[phn[p Ah¿ th\en¬ acØn\p Nph´n¬ aÆn¬ \o≠ NmepIƒ Iodn Xmakam°nbt∏mƒ acØn∂p bphXz

Øns‚ AgIp≠mbncp∂p. [mcmfw CeIfpw XWepap≠mbncp∂p. \ap°nhnsS Pohmhkm\whsc Xma kn°mw. Ahƒ ]d ]d™p. ™p. Abmƒ H∂pw ]d bmsX Ahsf Benw BenwK\w K\w sNbvXp InS∂p. AXp th\embncp∂p. acØn¬ bphXzØns‚ CeIfpw XWepap≠mbncp∂ XWepap≠mbncp∂p.p. "Pohmhkm\whsc,' Ahƒ ]d™p. AXbmsf ho≠pw ho≠pw ]pfIw sIm≈n®p. AhfpsS I¨]oenIƒ CSXq¿∂Xpw IdpØXpam bncp∂p. t\¿Øv Hma\Øw tXm∂n°p∂ Np≠pIƒ Xs‚ F{X kao]ØmWv. \nizmkw Dujvafhpw kpK ‘ap≈Xpambncp∂p. \ns‚ \nizmkØn∂p hmI∏q°fpsS hmI∏q°fpsS aWamWv. Abmƒ ]d ™p. Ahƒ Nncn Nncn®p. ®p. Ip´n°mew. Ip´n°mew. cmhnse Fgpt∂‰m¬ t∂‰m¬ ap‰Øp ImWp∂ t\cnb hmI∏q hmI ∏q°ƒ. ]q°fpsS kuc`yw hfsc t\¿ t\¿Ø ØXm Xmbn bncp∂p. Ah \\™ aÆn¬ NnXdn°nS∂p. ]q°ƒ°nSbn¬ aÆn¬Rm™qepIƒ ]p‰p≠m°n. Ah DXn¿°ptºmƒ XWpØ Im‰p hoipw. AXp th\embncp∂p. lnah¿jw Ign™t∏mƒØs∂ acw ho≠pw Xfn¿Øp. ]qhn´p. CfwIm‰n¬ ]q°ƒ hndsIm≠p. Ct∏mgmIs´ Ah AhcpsSta¬ s]mgn™psIm≠ncp∂p. Ah¿ BenwK\_≤cmbncp∂p. Ah fpsS \nizmkØn¬ hmI∏q°ƒ DXn¿∂p. DXn¿∂p. \\™ aÆn¬ Ah NnXdn NnX dn°nS °nS∂p. ag°mesØ°pdn®v At∏mƒ Nn¥n°p∂Xn¬ A¿∞an√. F¶nepw Hm¿Øpt]mbn. ag°mew I„∏mSp ≠m°p∂Xmbncp∂p. Abmƒ ]d™p. Fs‚ IpSn¬ tNm¿∂ncp∂p. i‡nbp≈ Im‰Sn°ptºmƒ Npa¿ sh® HmeadIfn¬°qSn Im‰v AIØp \pg™pIbdpw. XWp∏v XWp∏v F√pIƒhsc IS∂p h∂v Hcp ]pgphns\t∏mse Icfpw. Ic fpw. AXp I„∏mSp≈ Imeambn Imeambncp∂p. cp∂p. ag°mew. ag°mew. Ahƒ H∂pw ]d™n ]d™n√. √. AXp \mw I≠pap´p∂Xn\p hfsc apºm bncp∂p. \ns∂ tXSn \nXyX bpsS IheIfn¬ \S∂t∏mƒ. F{Xtbm apºv. AXn∂ptijw \mw Cu `qanbn¬ F{X F{XZqcw Zqcw Ae™p! Ae™p! CXp th\emWv. Ahƒ ]d™p. Abmƒ Nncn®p. BImiØnep≈ Nmc\ndw Abmƒ {i≤n®ncp∂p. AXp N{Ihmft°mWn¬ Hcp kz]v\w t]mse t]mse AbYm¿∞ambn {]Xr£s∏´p. {]Xr£s∏´p. kqcy≥ Xs‚ {]Xm]w ImWn°p tºmƒ B Nmc\ndw, Ahkcw {]Xo£n°p∂ Hcp cm£k s\t∏mse, t∏mse, Hcp ap°n¬ ]Xnbncp cp∂p. ∂p. ]t£, Abmƒ AXp I≠p. Abmƒ Nncn®p. Nncn ®p. Ahƒ ]d™p, CXp th\ th\em emWv Wv. kqcy≥ Zn\w{]Xn Zn\w{]Xn £bn°p∂Xv £bn°p∂Xv Abmƒ a\n a\nem°n. Nmc Nmc\ndw \ndw {]_eambnØpS {]_eambnØpSßn. ßn. AXp {Iqcambn {Iqc ambn Nncn®p. acw IcpXtemsS kq£n® ]q°fpsS `fimKmcw £bn®p. apºpv Hcp Im‰p hoinbm¬ ]qagbmbn cp∂p. Ct∏mƒ tijn® Xs‚ ]q°sf Im‰ns‚ [q¿ØSnbn¬\n∂p c£n°m≥ acw hn^eambn {ian®p. Ah km\sØ ]q, AhfpsS hnb¿∏p s]mSn™ Ihnfn¬ ]Xnbm≥th≠n sImgn™phoWt∏mƒ sImg n™phoWt∏mƒ Ahƒ ]d™p. F\n°p a\nem embn. bn. t\cnb Im‰n¬ hmSnb ]q ]d∂pt]m t]mbn. bn. AXp hnkva btØmsS ]d ∂I ∂I∂p. Abmƒ Im‰n∂p h∂ am‰w {i≤n®p. F{X s]s´∂mWv. AXphsc Pm{KXtbmsS Pm{KXt bmsS HmSn\S∂ Im‰v s]s´∂v  A{i≤\mbn. A{i≤ \mbn. Im‰p t{]aØn¬ AIs∏ AIs∏´n ´ncn cn° °bmWv. Bcpambn? BtemNn®ncns° Hcne Xmtgm´p hoWp. apIfnte°p t\°nbt∏mƒ Hcne IqSn. ho≠pw Hcne. Abmƒ ]d™p. acw cmPn sh°pIbmWv. th\ens‚ Ahkm\amWv. \o BImiØp t\m°q. Ahƒ t\m°n. hnkv  abw AhfpsS IÆpIƒ hnS¿Øn. Rm\nXp {i≤n®tXbn√. BImisØ \oena ISpØp Nmc\ndambncp ∂p. Hcp Im‰Sn®p. AtXmsS Ipsd CeIfpw ]mdn∏d∂pt]mbn. Abmƒ AIse aeIfntebv°p t\m°n. Ah cl kyßsf K¿`w K¿ `w [cn®p au\ambn au\ambn \n∂p. Ah temIm cw`w apX¬ AhnsS \nev°pIbmsW∂pw, {]IrXnbpsS am‰w Ahbn¬ A¤pXw kr„n°p∂ns√∂pw Abmƒ Hm¿Øp. X߃ InS°p∂ aÆp {ItaW henbpIbpw ipjvIamhpIbpw sNbvXp. Abmƒ Akzÿ\mbn Nn¥n ®p. C\n hcp∂Xp ioXIm Ime eamWv amWv. hc≠ ioXIm Imew. ew. AsXßs\ AsXßs\ t\cnSpw? t\cnSpw? acØn¬\n∂p ]q°ƒ°p ]Icw CeIƒ sImgn™p sIm≠ncp∂p. Im‰p ho≠pw kz`mhw am‰n. at\m ⁄ambncp∂ A{i≤, `oIcamb cu{ZXbmbn amdn. AIse aeIƒ au\ambn \n∂p. AhbpsS incn¬ \c Ibdn. Ime{]hmlØns‚ i‡nbn¬ AhbpsS apJØp NmepIƒ hoWp. Im‰v A\pkyqXw ASn®p sIm≠ncp∂p. Cu Im‰n√mbncp∂psh¶n¬ \mw CeIfpsS ASnbn¬ InS∂p izmkw ap´nbncp∂p, Ahƒ ]d ™p. Abmƒ aqfn. Ahƒ hfsc ASpØmbncp∂p. ASpØmbn cp∂p. AhfpsS icocw AbmfpsS icoctØmsSm∂n icoc tØmsSm∂n®mbn ®mbncp cp ∂p. IdpØv CSXq¿∂ I¨]oenIƒ. t\¿Øp XpSpØ Np≠pIƒ. \nizmkØns‚ kpK‘w. Abmƒ Akz ÿ\mbn. k]vXmizßsf mizßsf sXfn®p kqcy≥ Xs‚ hgn amdnbXv amdn bXv Abmƒ I≠ncp∂p. I≠ncp∂p. AsXmcp ]n∑m‰amWv. Z£nW N{IhmfØneqsS Dcp≠ndßn kqcys‚ cYw aIccminbneqsS Ncn®t∏mƒ Im‰n\p i‡n IqSn. aebpsS

incn¬ \c h¿≤n®p. {]IrXn tla¥ Øn¬ \n∂p ininc incn¬ inincØnte°p hgpXn hoWp hoWp.... Im‰n¬ Aev]mev] w I≠ lnaIW߃ Abmƒ {i≤n®p. {ItaW Ahbv°p i‡n IqSp∂Xpw, Im‰ns‚ Ccºw aeIƒ IS∂p hcp∂Xpw tI´t∏mƒ Abmƒ ]d™p: IÆS®p InSt∂mfp, Imew \aps°XncmWv. AhfpsS am¿±hap≈ icocw Xs‚ tZlØn¬ ]q¿Æambpw ebn°p∂Xv Abmƒ°\p`hs∏´p. Im‰v D{K ambn, aeIfn¬\n∂p lna° lna °jW߃ hmcn kaX kaXeß eßfn fntes° tes°dn dn™p. Nc¬°√pIƒ t]mse Ah NnX dn°nS∂p. Abmƒ IÆS®p. `oIcamb `oIc amb Im‰v A\¿§fw hoins°m≠n hoin s°m≠ncp∂p. cp∂p. Ah¿ A\ßmsX A\ ßmsX InS∂p. InS∂p. aWn °qdpIƒ; °qdpIƒ; Zn\ Zn\cm{X cm{X߃. ߃. Ah¿ At\ym\yw tZlØns‚ DujvafXbdn™p. `qanbn¬ GIcmsW∂ [mcWtbmsS, \n¿hrXntbmsS InS∂p. Dd Ddßn ßn°n °nS∂ ic¬ ic¬°m °me eØns‚ Hm¿ Hm¿Ω ΩIsf kz]v\w I≠p. Ahkm\w Ah km\w Dd° Dd°Øn¬ \n∂v, Abmƒ DW¿∂t∏mƒ ∂t∏mƒ ]dbm bmXn Xncn cn°m≥ °m≥ Ign™n Ign™n√. lmbv, Fs¥mcp AeuInIku kuµ µcyw! Ahƒ IÆpan angn gn°msX °msX BekytØmsS tNmZn®p. F¥mWp ]d™ Xv? AeuIn Aeu InI Ikuµcyw. µcyw. F¥mWXv? I¨Xp I¨ Xpd∂p t\m°q. Ahƒ IÆp angn®v Np‰pw t\m°n. BZyw I≠Xp apIfn¬ Ce sImgn™ acØns‚ Nn√Iƒ. \·\m b, tXm¿Øn®p sImSp°pIbpw DSp∏n®p sImSp°pIbpw sNøm≥ \nlmb\mbn ImØp \nev  °p∂, acw. Ah¿ Np‰pw ItÆmSn®p. \mep hihpw a™m¬ aqSs∏´ncp∂p. Xnfßp∂ ip{`amb lnaw IsÆØmhp∂ Zqcw apgph≥. IÆpIƒ ]cn[nsb tXSnt∏mIptºmƒ tXSnt∏mIptºm ƒ FØp∂Xv AIse Db¿∂p\nev°p∂ aeIfnemWv. a™ Wn™ aeIƒ. Xmgvhmc ßfn¬ th\ th\ens‚ ens‚ emf\bn¬ D¿∆c D¿∆cbn¬ XpSn®p \n∂ lcn lcnX XhoNnIƒ Fhn FhnsS sS t∏mbn ad™p? ad™p? ]n∂oSmWh¿ I≠Xv. BImiØn¬ A\¥X A\ ¥XbpsS Znhmkz Znhmkz]v ]v\w t]mse ]u¿ Æan Æan®{µ≥. AXns‚ IncW߃ `qansb Bh BhcWw cWw sNbvX lnaØn¬ X´n X´nØn Ønfßn. Fhn FhnsSbpw sSbpw ip{` \ndw. ]u¿Æan. Abmƒ a{¥n®p. Ahƒ tI´n√. \nemhv a™Wn™ `qhn¬ kr„n® ambmtemIØn¬ Ahƒ tamlnXbmbncn°bmWv. henb IÆpIƒ hnS¿∂ncp∂p. t\cnb Np≠pIƒ a{¥n®p. \nizmkØn¬ hmI ∏q°fpsS kpK‘w ap‰n ap‰n\n \n∂p. ∂p. arZpi arZp icocØns‚ kmao]yw elcn ]nSn ]nSn∏n ∏n°p °p∂p. ∂p. Rm≥ \n∂n¬ ebn° ebn°s´! AhfpsS Ah fpsS Np≠n¬ tX\ps≠∂v Abmƒ a\ a\n nem em°n. Ahƒ IÆS®p, kmbp kmbpPy PytØm tØmsS. Xf¿∂ IÆpItfmsS Abmƒ Np‰pw t\m°n. a™Wn™ aeIƒ hfsc AIsebmWv AIseb mWv. AhbpsS irwK ߃ BImisØ BImisØ Xpfbv Xpfbv°p °p∂p. aeIfpsS hn≈en¬ s]s´∂v {]Xy£s∏´ Hcp IdpØ _nµp Abmƒ {i≤n®p. Akm[mcWhpw \nKq Vhpamb Hcp _nµp. ip{ `amb aeIƒs° aeIƒ s°Xn Xnsc, `qXeØn eØns∂ s∂Xn Xnsc, sc, kmh[m\ Øn¬ hf¿∂p hcp∂ Hcp _nµp. Abmƒ IÆnabv °msX °msX t\m°n \n∂p. \nanj߃ Hcp s]cpºmºns\t∏mse Cg™p. IdpØ _nµp hf¿∂ph∂p. Hcp cq]w {]m]n®p. AsXmcizmcqV\msW∂ AsXmcizmcqV\msW∂bmƒ°p bmƒ°p a\nembn. IpXncbpsS Ne\Øn∂ \pk \p kcn®v AbmfpsS AbmfpsS BImcw Dbcp Db cpIbpw Ibpw XmgpIbpw sNbvXp. Hcp acoNnI t]mse, s\Spho¿ ∏n ∏nSp∂ Sp∂ Xnc t]mse. Abmƒ Np‰pw t\m°n. \nemhp aßnbncp∂p. aeIfpsS XmgvhmcßfnsehnsS mcßfnsehn sS \nt∂m P\n® Im‰v sImSp ¶m‰mbn amdnbncp∂p. a™v [qfnbmbn Db¿∂p. apIfn¬ CeIfn√msX \·ambn \nev°p∂ acw De™p. AizmcqV≥ am{Xw AN©e\mbn bm{X XpScp∂XvAbmƒ    Abmƒ I≠p. sImSp¶m‰ns‚ D{KXbv  °nSbnepw Abmƒ IpfºSn tI´p. ASpØSpØp hcp∂ IpfºSn i–w. aßnb \nemhn¬, \nem hn¬, \c® XmSnbpw tZlamkIew aqSp∂ ip{`hkv{Xhpap≈ AizmcqVs\ Abmƒ Xncn®dn™p. AhnSpsØ Ahn SpsØ ZqX≥. Abmƒ Xe Ip\n®p. sImSp¶m‰ns‚ Bchw. s]mSna™nfInbpb¿∂p \nemhns\ \njv{]`am°n. ]`am°n. CSn sh´p t]msebp≈ t]msebp≈ IpfºSn ASp ASpØ ØSpØp h∂p. Ah¿ IÆp IÆpI IfS®v BenwK BenwK\_≤cmbn InS∂p. InS∂p. sImSp¶m‰ns‚ Xmfihw Ahkm\n®Xv Ft∏mgmsW∂dn™n√. Ft∏mgmsW∂dn™n√. bpK߃ \o≠p \n∂ \n{Zbv°p tijw I¨Xpd ∂t∏mƒ sImSp¶m ‰n√. N{µ\n√. `qansb ambm temIam °nbncp∂ \nem hn√. ]Icw \„s∏´ km{amPyw hos≠Sp°m≥ bp≤w sNøp∂ kqcy≥. AIse aeIfpsS incn¬\n∂p \o¿®mepIƒ Ddhn´p Xmtgms´mgpIp∂p. X߃ InS°p∂Xns‚ ASpØp hsc aÆn¬ IpfºSn sIm≠p≠mb Bgap≈ IpgnIƒ. Htc AIeØn¬ CShn´p≈ IpgnIƒ. Ahbn¬ \nd™ncp∂ sXfn\ocn¬ {]Xn^en® kqcyciv  anIƒ anIƒ Abm fpsS IÆ©n IÆ©n®p. ®p. hmI∏q hmI ∏qaWw aWw Abmƒ ho≠pw izkn®p. AhfpsS hnf¿Ø Ihnfnse amZ amZI Iamb K‘w Aeu AeuIn InIamb Iamb Ft¥m H∂ns\ Hm¿Ωn∏n®p. At∏mƒ Abmƒ°p a\nembn, XßfpsS thcpIƒ `qanbn¬ BgØn¬ Cd ßnbn ßn bncn cn°p °p∂p. apIfn¬ acw Xfn¿Øp hcp∂Xv hcp ∂Xv Abmƒ I≠p. D≈S°Øntebv°v

Rm≥ \n∂n¬ shfpØ ]›mØeØn¬ a™sØ®n∏q°fn¬ XØn°fn°p∂ h¿ÆNn{Xie`߃, `qXImew kr„n®

AIeØn¬ Ahsb IuXpI]q¿∆w t\m°n \nev°p∂ t{^m°pImcn s]¨Ip´nbpsS tXmfn¬ ssIbn´p \nev°p∂ °p∂ Imepd°m °mc≥ c≥ ]ø≥. HXp°an HXp°an√mØ √mØ XeapSn XeapSn A{i≤ambn s\‰nta¬ s\‰nta¬ hoWp InS°p InS°p∂p. ]pdØv sI´nSßfpsS \ngepIfpw shfn®hpw XΩn¬ bp≤w Xo{hambn. Pbn°m\p≈ shº¬. \ne\n ev°m\p≈ Bthiw. bp≤w ]ptcmKan®p. {ItaW shfn®w Zp¿∫eambn, hnfdn. sIm®p \ngepIsf klm bn°ms\ bn °ms\Ønb Ønb Hcp henb \ngen∂p \ngen∂p shfn®w IogS Iog Sßn ßnb btXmsS bp≤w Ahkm\n®p. Ahkm\n®p. `oIcamb, `oIcamb, Akzÿ amb, im¥X. acn® shfn®w Hcmbncw IWnIIfmbn ]p\¿÷ohn®p. Rm≥ C\nbpw hcpw, IqSpX¬ i‡ ambn. shfn®w ]d ]d™p. ™p. Xpd∂ hmXnen∂p ]pdta kwibn®Sp°p∂ SmIvkn. ss{UhdpsS XmSn°nSbneqsS £Wn°p∂ apJw. FÆ° FÆ °Semn emnsem semgn® Pewt]mse £Wn £WnI Iamb kwibw. kwibw. F¬Kn≥ F¬ Kn≥ tdmUv. sXcphneqsS bm{X. Xncnhn¬ Db¿∂ sI´nSØn∂p Xmsg Fcnbp∂ knKd‰p IS. Hcp ]pcmX\ kz]v\ Øns‚ inYne inYne amb amb Hm¿ Ωt]m Ωt]mse. se. ]ns∂ Akzÿ AkzÿNn¥I ¥IfneqsS fneqsS \nebv \nebv°mØ °mØ {]bmWw. {]bmWw. \nßsfs∂ \nßsfs∂ D] {Zhn {Z hn°mXncn°q. apdnth‰ arK arKØns‚ Øns‚ ]nS®n¬ ]nS®n¬ ZqcØ ZqcØ√. GIm GImIn Inbmbncn bncn°ptºmƒ AXns‚ Zo\tcmZ\w F\n°p tIƒ°mw. Rm≥ {i≤n°n√. F\n°p {i≤n°m≥ hø. Rm≥ GIm¥Xsb `bs∏Sp∂p. ImcWw, GIm¥Xbn¬ Hcp IdpØ apJw Fs∂ F s∂ ]n≥XpScp∂p. Bcpw F\n°`bw F\n°`bw Xcp∂n√. \o F¥mWv H∂pw Fgp XmØXv? Ah¿ tNmZn°p∂p. Rm≥ {i≤n°p∂n√. {i≤n°p∂n√. Rm≥, HcpImeØp Xmtemen®ncp∂, IdpØ arKØns‚ i–Øn\p th≠n sNhntbm¿°p∂p.AXv ASpsØhntStbm BWv. Hcp aqebn¬\n∂v Fs∂ XncbpIbm Wv. \nßsf sf\n \n° °`bw Xcq. R߃ \nlm \nlmb bcmWv. \o Rß Rßfn fnte°p IS IS∂p ∂phcp∂n cp∂n√. Ah¿ ]d ]d™p. ™p. icnbm icnbmWv Wv. Rm≥ Hcp Zzo]n emWv. tamN\w Imw£n°mØ XShnem emWv Wv. `qXImew `qXImew Hcp Aaqey Aaqey\n[n \n[n t]mse Rm≥ kq£n°p kq£n °p∂p. ∂p. Ft‚ Xpam{Xamb AXns‚ \ng¬ F\n°p XWemWv. F¬Kn≥ tdmUnse tdmUns e kp]cnNnXamb ]pcmX\`h\w. ]pcmX\`h\w. apºn¬, tXm´Øn¬ tXm´Ø n¬ hncn™p \nev  °p∂ °p∂ henb Umen bm∏q°ƒ. Fs‚ A`mhØn¬ ChnsS ]q°ƒ hncn™n ™ncn cn°p∂p. °p∂p. \osb∂ a\pjys\ R߃ ad∂n ∂ncn cn°p ∂p. Cfw sNSnIfmbn sNSn Ifmbncp∂ cp∂t∏mƒ, t∏mƒ, IcpWtbmsS A`bw X∂ aÆn¬ Xg®p hf¿ ∂t∏mƒ, Hcp kz]v\sØ K¿`w [cn®t∏mƒ, \osb \osbhn hnsS sSbm bmbn bncp cp∂p? ∂p? \n\°p RßfpsS lrZ lrZb bØnte°n te°ndßn dßnh hcm≥ Ign Ignbn bn√. √. F\n°dnbmw. AI¬®bn¬\n∂pfhmb AI¬®bn¬\n∂pfhm b A]cnNnXtØmsS, thZ\tbmsS, Ahƒ ]d™p; F\n°p a\ nem°mw. n em°mw. hmXnen∂p apIfnep≈ shfpØ _´s‚ t{]cWbn¬ AIsØ s_¬ Aa¿Øn®ncn®p. apIfn¬ \n∂p adp]Sn, _wKmfnbn¬. ImsI Nmbv? _m¬° _m¬ °Wn Wnbn¬, bn¬, Xebn¬°qSn shfpØ kmcnbn´ Hcp kv{Xo. Nn{XImc≥ Ct√? tI? Nn{XIm Nn{X Imc≥, kao¿? Abmƒ ChnsS\n∂p amdnbn´v Hcp amk amkam ambs√m. bs√m. FhntS Fhn tS °mWp amdn bXv? Adnbn Adn bn√. √. \ncmi. Im¬®ph´nse lnaØn¬ ]nf¿∂p h∂ HcKm[K¿Øw Ahsf hngpßn. sI´Sßnb D’ml Øns‚ XWpØ Nmcw. hndßen® ihIp ihIpSocw. AXn¬ Hcp arX arXtZ tZl lambn temImh temImhkm\w {]Xo£n {]Xo£n®p ®pIn In S°mw. Hm¿ΩbpsS Xnfßp∂ am¿_nƒ ]eIta¬ X¶en]nIfn¬ FgpXmw: "Rms\∂ tZlw ChnsS \n{Z sIm≈p sIm ≈p∂p ∂p.' F\n°p ap‡n ap‡nbn bn√. √. A\¥Xbn¬\n∂p s]s´s∂mgpInh∂ Hcp {]ImiIncWw At∏mƒ ]d™p. \ns∂ ]n≥XpScp∂ IdpØ arKsØ \njvIcpWw sIm√q. \osb¥n\Xns\ C„s∏Sp∂p? \n\°p tamN\ap≠v. Ahƒ Nncn®p. hnfdnb Nncn. thsd hgnbn bn√. √. temh¿ k¿°p k¿°pe¿ e¿ tdmUv. hmXn¬ Xpd∂Xv Xpd∂Xv cmWp. ls√m, BimeX, hcq. Nphcn¬ skms‚ \n›ePohnXØn∂cnsI ]n°mtkmhns‚ KnXm¿ hmb\°mc≥. Xmsg cmWp. t_m_psNbvX apSn. XpSpØ IhnfpIƒ. Xnfßp∂ IÆpIƒ°p apIfn¬ CSXq¿∂ I¨]oenIƒ. Cd°n

bpSpØ, henb Nph∂ ]q°fp≈ kmcn. s]m°nfn\p Xmsg shfpØ hb¿. XnI®pw Hcp D¿∆in, Nn{XIm cs‚ tamU¬. \ndap≈ Nph Nphcn cnt∑ t∑ep≈ B`cWßfp≈ ßfp≈ hnf °pw, skm\pw, skm \pw, ]n°m tkmhpw tkmhpw A{] A{]Xy Xy£ambn. ambn. ]Icw Ccp≠p amdme]nSn® NphcpIƒ. Im≥hmkv hncn® ap°men°p apºn¬ {_jpw ]me‰pw ]nSn® Nn{XImc≥. AIse Zohm\n¬ Zohm\n¬ InS°p∂ \· \·bmb bmb sNdp∏°m °mcn. cn. hmXn¬ Xpd∂v A{]Xo£nXamb ]cnXxÿnXnbn¬ h∂ps]´p sshjaytØmsS \nev°p∂ kv{XotbmSp Xotbm Sp Nn{XImc≥ Nn{X Imc≥ ]d™p. t\m°q, shÆ°√n √nep ep≠m ≠m°nb °nb {]Xna. {]Xna. sdmUms‚ inev]w! NmbwtX® NphcpIƒ ho≠pw h∂t∏mƒ, hfsc t\cambn t\m°nbncn°pIbmbncps∂∂ t_m[Øn¬ \n∂pfhmb e÷tbmsS ]d ]dbp∂p: bp∂p: F\n°p Xnc°p Xnc°p≠v. SmIvkn ]pdØp ImØp\n ImØp \nev ev°p∂p. °p∂p. kaocns‚ kaocns‚ hnemkw Adnbptam? kao¿ ]gb ÿeØpXs∂bt√? A√, AhnsS AhnsS\n∂p \n∂p amdnbn amdnbncn cn°p °p∂p. hyk\n hyk \n°p °p∂p, eX. F\n F\n° °dnbn√. Rm≥ c≠pam amk kambn Abmsf ImWm ImWmdn dn√. √. HcnSnan∂¬. Ipsd°meambn CcpfS™p InS∂ apdnbn¬ s]s´∂p shfn®w hoin. Rms\¥n\v B apdn AS®n´p? Kmedn Kme dnbn¬ bn¬ At\zjn®p At\zjn®p t\m°q. Hcp]t£, Ah¿°p Xcm≥ Ign Ignbpw. bpw. \µn! {]bmWw XpS¿∂p. XpS¿∂p. k¿Zm¿Pn, ]m¿°v {Ão‰n {Ão‰nte°p te°p hnSq. tawkm_v tawkm _v......A£ A £abpsS i–w. Zbhm Zb hmbn, k¿ k¿Zm¿ Zm¿Pn. Pn. {]bmWw XpS¿∂p. CXhkm\sØ XpcpºmWv. F\n°p c£In´nt√? Cs√¶n¬ Xncn®pt]mImw. ho≠pw Iq´nen´ knwlnsbt∏mse apdnbn¬ DemØmw. Ign™ c≠pamkßfn¬ A\p`hn® \nc¿∞IX F\n°p XnI®pw Adnbmw. DZn°pIbpw AkvXan°pIbpw sNøp∂ kqcys‚ KXn apdnbn¬ hcpØp∂ hyXnbm\ ߃°\pkcn®v Acn®p \oßp∂ \o≠ Znhk߃ Fs∂ t¢in∏n®ncp∂p. Cu Znhk߃°p `qXap≠m bncp∂n bn cp∂n√; √; `mhnbpw. `mhnbpw. I\Øp `mhiq\yambn \nev°p∂ h¿ Ø am\w am{Xw. Rm\Xns\ Rm\Xns\ shdp°p∂p. Kmedn Kme dnbpsS ]pdØp hmXnen∂p apIfn¬ Cw•o Cw•ojn¬ jn¬ kph¿Æen]nIƒ: "I "Iiv iv aocnse Hm¿ ΩIƒ.' ΩIƒ.' hmXn¬ IS∂p. CcphiØpw Npacn¬ s{^bnwsNbvXp sh® Nn{X߃. lnamebØns‚ a™Wn™ sImSpapSnIƒ. Sn Iƒ. PohnXw XpSn°p∂ XpSn °p∂ XmgvhcIƒ. kpµcnIfmb Imjvaocn aocn s]¨ In In Sm߃. ankv eXm, hcq. C{XImeØn\ptijw. Rßsf kµ¿in°m≥ a\p h∂Xn¬ \µn ]dbWw. kaocns‚ A{Utm? \n߃ `mKyhXnbmsW¶n¬ `mK yhXnbmsW¶n¬ Fs‚ Ubdnbnep≠mIpw.......AsXbsX, ]pXnb ÿeØv. t\m° s´.........\º¿ temh¿ tem h¿ td©n¬, td ©n¬, ]m°v k¿ k¿° °nemWv. Rm\ Rm\bmsf bmsf I≠n´p Ipsd \mfmbn. GIm¥hmkam sW∂p tXm∂p∂p. Hcp {]Z¿ {]Z¿i i\Øn∂p Nn{X߃ thW thWsa∂p sa∂p ]d™v amkßfm fmbn. bn. temh¿ td©n¬ henb sI´nSØn\p apºn¬ SmIvkn \n∂p. shfn®w aßn\nev°p∂ CS\mgnIIfneqsS, CS\mgnIIfneqsS, A£abpsS ]SnIfneqsS Dufnbn´p. Ahkm\w ]n®fØInSn¬ {]Xo£n® t]¿. s_√Sn®p ImØp\n∂p. \o≠Xpw XnI®pw hnckhpamb hnclØn\ptijw I≠pap´ptºmƒ DXn¿∂phogp∂ \nanjßfpsS \nd ßsfs¥√mambn ambncn cn°pw? °pw? hmXnen∂p hmXn en∂p ]n∂n¬ Ne\w. D¬°Wv D¬° WvTmIpeamb Hcp \nanjw. Xpd∂ hmXnev°¬ Nn{XImc≥. apJØp kar≤amb XmSn; Np≠p Np≠pI Ifn¬ ]cn ]cnNn NnXamb ]p©n ]p©ncn. cn. \nanjß \nan jß tfmfw c≠]cn Nn NnXtc tct∏mse t∏mse apJtØmSpapJw apJtØmSpapJw t\m°n\n t\m°n\n∂p. ∂p. ]ns∂ AWs°´p XI¿s∂mgp XI¿ s∂mgp Inb Pew t]mse Nn{XIm Imcs‚ cs‚ \o´nb ssIIfnte°p IpXn IpXn®p. ®p. Zo¿Lamb BenwK BenwK\w. Np≠pIƒ Np≠p IsftØSnbe™p. I≠pap´nbt∏mƒ ho≠pw Akzÿßfmbn. Cu BenwK\Øn¬ \n∂v, Npw_\Øn¬ \n∂v, th¿s] th¿s]Sm≥ Sm≥ F\n°v Hcn°epw Hcn°epw Ignbn Ignbn√. √. th¿s] th¿s]S¬ S¬ \nc¿∞IXbmWv acWam amWv Wv. Rm≥ \ns∂ ImØncn°bm bmbn bncp cp∂p. Rm≥ h∂p. \o C\n t]mhns√∂p ]dbq. ]d bq. Hcp hmKvZm\w. Zm\w. kpc£n £nX XbmsW∂ t_m[Øns‚ Xo\m Xo\mf fØn¬ achn achn∏n ∏n√m √mXmbn. Xmbn. Cu am‰w F{X s]s´ ∂mWv ∂m Wv. Ct∏mƒ ih° ih°√dbn√. Xs‚ Pohn PohnX XImew apgph≥ apgph≥ ]n¥pS¿∂ ]n¥pS¿∂ IdpØ arKØns‚ arKØns‚ tcmZ\an an√. √. \nanj ߃ sImgn™p hoWpsIm ≠ncp ∂p. ∂p. h¿Æ s∏m s∏m ena bp≈ bp≈ \nanj ߃. Nn{XIm c≥ kwkm cn °pIbmbncp °pIbmbn cp∂p. Ahƒ°p {i≤n {i≤n°m≥ °m≥ Ign™n ™n√. √. Nn{XIm Nn{XImc≥ kwkm kwkmcn cn°p °pI IbmWv bmWv. Bi \in®, F√mw Ign™psh∂p IcpXnb, Znhkßsf∏‰n. {_jv ssIbnseSpØp Im≥hmkn\p apºn¬ [ym\n®p, tam£w e`n°m `n°mXn Xncp∂ cp∂ Ahk Ahkcßsf sf∏ ∏‰n. Nn{XIm Nn{XImc≥ kwkm kwkmcn cn°p °pIbm Ibmbn bncp∂p. cp∂p. apdnbpsS aqebn¬ PmeIØn∂cnsI sh® ap°mentaep≈ Im≥hmkv aßn hrØntISmbncp∂p. hrØnt ISmbncp∂p. Rm≥ kzbw i]n° i]n°s´. Rm\pw H∂psagpXn gpXnbn bn´n ´ns√∂v s√∂v F\n°p≈ F\n°p≈ au\in au\in£bmIs´. £bmIs´.

kzoIcWapdnbn¬ Sot∏mbn¬ta¬ Hcp Ip∏n \ndap≈ {ZmhIw. •mpIƒ. Nn{XImc≥ Nncn®p. \ns‚ A `mhØn¬ hØn¬ Pohn°pIsb∂ bmYm¿∞y ∞yhp hp ambn s]mcp Øs∏ s∏Sm≥ Sm≥ Rm≥ I≠p]n ]nSn® Sn® am¿§w. Abmƒ B {ZmhIw •mpIfn¬ ]I¿∂p. AXns‚ \ndw hnfdn. •mpIƒ Iq´nap´n kwKoXw s]mgn®p. tkm^bn¬ Ah fpsS ASpØp InS∂ ]pkvXIw Nn{XIm Imc≥ c≥ I≠p. Nn{Xi e`߃; Abmƒ \n¿Øn\n¿Øn hmbn hmbn®p. ®p. lmbv, \ns‚ BZysØ Ip´n. Hcp Nn{XIm Nn{XImcs‚ apJ apJ—m —mb bbp bp≈, ≈, AbmfpsS c‡w knc kncI Ifn fntem temSp∂, Ip´n. Nn{XImc≥ ]pkvXIw adn®pt\m°n. ]pXpabpsS elcn]nSn∏n°p∂ aWw hn´n´n√mØ ]pkvXIw. F\n°o IhnXIƒ hmbn hmbn°m≥ °m≥ Igns™ Igns™¶n¬! \n߃s°s∂ a\ a\n nem em°m≥ Ignbp∂p≠t√m. AXp aXn. t]PpIƒ adn™p. sk]v ‰w_¿ ‰w_¿ amkØnse Znhk߃ elcn]nSn∏n°p∂Xmbncp∂p. {]tXyIn®pw a≤ym ”߃. amb kr„n°p∂ shbn¬ \ns‚ apJØpw, XeapSnIfnepw, hr£Øe∏pIfnepw. hr£Øe∏pIfnepw. sX®n∏q°fn¬ tX≥ IpSn°ms\Øp∂ ]qºm‰Iƒ. \n\°pth≠n Ahsb ]nSn°m≥ {ian®t∏mƒ Hcp ]qºm‰bpsS teme tem e amb NndIp apdn™pt]mbn. AXp ]d°m≥ hømsX InS∂p ]nS™t∏mƒ \o Ic™p. Ft∂mSp ]nWßn. ]n∂oSp Rm≥ \n∂n¬ \n∂I∂t∏mƒ, GI\mbt∏mƒ, GI\mb t∏mƒ, Fs∂ thZ\n∏n® hyk\w sIm≠p \o ho≠pw Ic ™p. AXp Rm\m bncp ∂p. ∂p. th\en¬ Rm≥ \n\°pth≠n ]mhIƒ D≠m°n. cmPmhnt‚bpw cm⁄nbptSbpw {]XnaIƒ. \o ]d ™p, F¥p `wKnbp≈ ]mhIƒ. AXp th\embncp∂p. th\ens‚ Ahkm\Øn¬ ag h∂p. Ipfßfpw ]pgIfpw \nds™mgpInbt∏mƒ Rm≥ ]\nbmbn°nS∂p. At∏mƒ \o h∂p. agbv°papºp Rm≥ \n\°p th≠n D≠m°nb ]mhIƒ \o Fs‚ InS°bv°p Np‰pw \ncØnsh®p. \n cØnsh®p. Rm\dnbmsX \o Ahbv°p ]e \nd ߃ sImSpØn Øncp cp∂p. ∂p. Rm≥ Ahsb hfsc C„s∏´p. \obmWv Ahbv°p `wKn \evIn Inb bsX∂p ]d ]d™p. ™p. At∏mƒ \o e÷tbmsS Fs‚ Ihnfn¬ Npw_n®p. \o ambm _‘nX\mWv. ambm hnap‡\mIp∂ \nan jßfn¬, \mw I≠pap´nbt∏mƒ ]d™p, ]n∂oSv  ASp∏w IqSnbt∏mƒ ad∂pt]mbXpw, \o P\n®phf¿∂Xpamb _wKmƒ {KmasØ°pdn®p \o Hm¿°mXncn °s´. \o F∂n¬\n∂p F∂n¬\n∂p ho≠pw AIem AI emXn Xncn°s´. t]PpIƒ t]Pp Iƒ adn™p. Nn{XIm Imc≥ c≥ kwkmcn cn°p °pIbm Ibmbn bncp cp∂p. ∂p. ]ns∂, \o Fs‚ PohnXØn¬\n∂pt]mbt∏mƒ, PohnXØn¬\n∂pt]mbt∏mƒ, \„s∏´ Iq´pImcnsb Hm¿Øp \nc¿∞Iambn tXm∂nb a≤ym”ßfn¬ ßfn¬ e£yan√msX e£yan√msX Ae™p. As∂\n°p As∂ \n°p ]Xn\mep hbmbn mbncp∂p. cp∂p. At∏mgmWp Rm≥ Ipgn bm\Isf ImWp∂Xv. Ah aWen¬, ZpxJØns‚ Bgap≈ IpgnIfn¬ IqSp Iq´nbncp∂p. Ahbv°p `£n °m\mbn DdpºpIsf sIm≠p t]mbns°mSpØp. DdpºpIƒ Ipgnbn¬\n∂pw c£s∏Sphm≥ {ian°ptºmƒ Ipgnbm\Iƒ aW¬ sXdn∏n®v Ahsb hogvØn. DdpºpIsf Ipgnbm\Iƒ aÆn\Snbnte°p hen®ngbv°p tºmƒ Rm≥ kzbw in£tb in£tbev ev]n°p ]n°p∂Xn ∂Xnep≈ ep≈ {Iqcam amb, b, AZay AZayam amb, b, B\µw Is≠Øn. Ipgnbm\Iƒ Ct∏mgpw aWen¬ XWpØv GIm¥amb IpgnIfn¬ Ddßn°n °nSS°p∂p≠m Ipw. ]t£, Ahsb Nqgv∂p\n∂ ZpxJw Fs∂ Hcp \ngembn \ng embn ]n¥pS¿∂p; ]n¥pS¿∂p; Ft∂msSm∏w hf¿∂ph∂p. hf¿ ∂ph∂p. GI\mbncn cn°p °p tºmsg√mw tºm sg√mw AXv Hcp ]´p\q¬ ]´p \q¬∏p ∏pgp gp t]mse Fs∂ Im¿∂p Im¿ ∂pXn Xn∂p. ∂p. hnkvIn ]IpXnbpw Ign™ncp∂p. Ip∏nbpsS taep≈, IpXnc∏pdØncp∂p ]Ssh´p∂ tbm≤m hns\ Ahƒ I≠p. Asßs‚ Nph∂ tbm≤m hmWv. F\n°pth≠n ]S ]Ssh sh´p∂ tbm≤m hv. Rm≥ Aß AßbpsS bpsS I\ybm I\ybmWv. bp≤w sNbvXv Fs∂ hmbpth thK KØnep≈ Ønep≈ IpXnc∏p ∏pdØp dØp Ib‰n sIm≠pt]m t]mIq. Iq. Ahƒ InX®p. InX®p. CXm, Rm≥, \ns‚ tbm≤mhv tbm≤mhv. hcq. shfn®w aßn I´]nSn®p taLßfmbn. Nph∂ taL߃. Ahbv  °nSbn¬ °nSbn¬ IpXnc∏pdØp Xs‚ c£Is‚ amdn¬ XeNm XeNmbv bv®v HgpInt∏mIpIbmWv bmWv. ]n∂n¬ Abmƒ Acn™pX≈nb I_ I_‘ ‘߃..

D≈S°Øntebv°v

\n\°p th≠n hnßn \nev ev°p∂ _m¿. im¥amb IS¬∏c IS¬∏c∏n¬ AIse \n∂Sp°p∂ XncIƒ XWpØp aßnb shfn®w hnßn\n

t]mse i–߃ kmh[m\Øn¬ kmh[m\Øn¬ h∂p hebw sNøp∂Xv Abmƒ {i≤n®p. {i≤n ®p. i–ßfpsS i–ßfpsS BtcmlWam Wv. Ipd®pIqSn Ign™m¬ Ah D®ÿmbnbmIpw. ]ns∂ ASpØncn°p∂htcmSp IqSn Dds° kwkmcn °Ww. tcmlnWn kwkmcn°pIbmbncp∂p. F\n°p hnizmkamIp∂n√. Fs∂ ImWm≥ \o U¬lnbn¬ \n∂p I¬°Ø hsc hcpItbm? \o ChnsS ChnsSbm bmbncp∂t∏mƒ ∂ t∏mƒt∏mepw t∏mepw F s∂ A{X Imcyam ambn bns´ s´SpØn SpØn´n ´n√t√m. ASpØ taibv°p apºn¬ H‰bv°ncp∂p XWpØ _ob¿ samØn°pSn°p∂ shfpØpXSn® Bƒ Xßsf {i≤n°pIbmsW∂v kplmk≥ a\nem°n. Abmƒ IdpØpXSn® t{^bvap≈ •mpIfn´ncp ∂p. "F\n°p k¨•mn •mn´´hsc C„ C„a a√.' "Nne¿°v "Nn e¿°v AXp tbmPn°pw °pw..' tcmlnWn ]d™p. "Ah "A hcpsS apJ apJ`m `mh hsa sa¥m ¥msW∂p sW∂p a\n a\nem em°m≥ Ign Ignbn bn√ √.' "\n\°v Ft∏mgpw CuamXncn hnNn hnNn{X {X`m `mh\ h\Ifp≠v fp≠v.' ASpØ taibv taibv°p ]n∂nen ]n∂nencp∂ cp∂ Bƒ At∏mgpw Xßsf t\m°p∂p t\m°p ∂p≠mbncp bncp∂p. "Z¬ln Fs∂ h√msX t_mdSn®p. Hcp H cp am‰w Cs√¶n¬ izmkw ap´p ap´psa∂mbn.' sa∂mbn.' "\o Z¬ln Z¬lnbn¬ bn¬ t]mbt∏mƒ t]mbt∏mƒ Ipd®p \∂mhp \∂mhpsa∂p sa∂p IcpXn IcpXn.' "Ct∏mƒ "C t∏mƒ ChnsS h∂t∏mƒ h∂t∏mƒ a\n a\nembn H∂pw amdn amdnbn bn´n ´ns√ s√∂v ∂v.'.' Abmƒ XpS¿∂p. XpS¿∂p. "Rm≥ amdnbn´p≠t√m.' "H´pw C√. C√.' "t\m°v, Rm≥ kmcnbmWpSpØncn°p∂Xv. C∂p i\nbmgvNbt√? \o ChnsSbp≠mbncp∂t∏mƒ Rm≥ F√m i\nbmgv i\nbmgvNbpw kvI¿´t√ ¿´t√ C Smdv.' Ahƒ kmcnbm bmWp WpSpØn SpØncn°p cn°p∂sX∂pw, sX∂pw, AsXmcp i\nbm i\n bmgv gvNbm bmsW∂pw sW∂pw Abmƒ a\n a\nem°n. em°n. AXp \nmcamWv \nmc amWv. F¶nepw Abmƒ kt¥mjn®p. kt¥mjn ®p. Hcp am‰ap≠mIp∂ am‰ ap≠mIp∂sX{X sX{X \√XmWv. Z¬lnbn¬\n Z¬ln bn¬\n∂p≈ ∂p≈ ]Xn s\´p aWn°q¿ bm{X Hcp am‰ap≠m°m≥ ]cym]vXambncp∂n√. F¥mWp kw`hn°p∂sX∂v kw`hn°p∂sX∂v Adnbpw apºp \n߃ I¬°ØbnseØn. seØn. FXntc FXntcev ev°p∂Xp °p∂Xp I≠pa I≠paSpØ, ChnsS \n∂v HmSnt∏m t∏mIm≥ Im≥ ImcW ImcW°m °mcm cmb, ]cnk ]cn kc߃, `mh߃, K‘ K‘߃. ߃. "\o kmcnbm kmcnbmWp WpSpØ SpØsX∂p Rm≥ {i≤n {i≤n®n ®n√. √ .' "F\n "F \n°dnbmw. \ns‚ BkzmZ\ i‡n Fs∂ F∂pw \ncmis∏ s∏Sp SpØn Ønbnt´ D≈p. a‰p a‰p≈ ≈h¿ Fs∂ Fs∂∏‰n ∏‰n F¥mWp ]dbp∂ ]dbp∂sX∂p sX∂p \o tIƒ°Ww Ww.'.' "\o kpcmPn kpcmPns\ s\bm bmbn bncn°pw cn°pw Dt±in°p °p∂ ∂Xv.' "A√. kpcmPv Nu[cn am{Xa√. a‰p≈hcpw. ]ns∂, \o Ct∏mgpw hfsc AkqbmephmWv. F\n°p Nu[ cnbp cn bpambn ambn \o hnNmcn hnNmcn°p∂ °p∂ amXncn bmsXmcp CS]m CS ]mSp Span an√ √ .' _mdn\p≈nse i–ßsf∏‰n kplmk≥ t_m[hm\mbn. kwKoXa√, shdpw i–߃, Xmfs∏SpØmØ apcØ i–߃. F{X a[pcßfmWh. kwKoXap≈ _mdnemsW¶n¬ Cu i–߃ BkzZn°m≥ Ignbn √. \n߃°v C„s∏ C„s∏Sm SmØ Ø Xpw. Xmf s∏Sp SpØn ØnbXpamb Xpamb Hcp henb i–w a‰p i–ßsf i– ßsf Iogvs]Sp SpØp Øp∂p. ∂p. ]ns∂bp≈ ]ns∂ bp≈ Bizmkw, Bizmkw, tN¿∂p \n∂p \rØw sNøp∂ Hcnfw icocw am{X am amWv Wv. Hcnfw icocw Fs∂∂pw elcn ]nSn∏n°p∂XmWv. Iman°s∏Smhp∂XmWv. ]t£, B icocw {ItaW hepXmIp∂p. ssIbn¬ HXp ßmXmIp∂p. ]ns∂ B icocsØ kvt\ln°m≥ \ln °m≥ Ignbn Ignbn√. √. tcmlnWn tcmlnWn° °Xdn dnbmw. bmw. AXpsIm AXpsIm≠ ≠hƒ Fs∂ s]mdp°p∂p. F\n°hsf B ImcyØn¬ _lpam\ap≠v. "\o Fs∂ IeymWw Ign°m Ign °ms\m∂pw s\m∂pw t]mIp∂n t]mIp∂n√ √.' tcmlnWn ]dbpw. ]dbpw. "F\n "F\n° °dnbmw, F∂mepw \o Iev °Øbn bnep ep≈n ≈nStØmfw Imew Rm≥ \nt∂mSp kXyambpw Iqdp Iqdp≈ ≈hfm fmbn bncn cn°pw °pw.'.' "Rm≥ t]mbn°gn gn™m ™mtem tem?' ?' Ahƒ H∂pw ]d ™n ™n√. AXp amk߃°p apºmWv apºm Wv. Iev°Ø Hcp henb ImcmKr Krl lam amsW sW∂pw, ∂pw, Ahn sS\n∂v sS \n∂v HmSn c£s∏ c£ s∏SSWsa∂pw tXm∂m≥ XpS XpSßn ßnbt∏mƒ. bt∏mƒ. F¥ns\ `b∂mWv HmSnt∏m HmSn t∏mIm≥ Im≥ {ian°p {ian°p∂ sX∂p kzbw Adnbm AdnbmXn Xncp cp∂t∏mƒ. AXv AkzÿXbpsS Ime Imeam ambncp∂p. cp∂p. "\o BscbmWp BscbmWp `bs∏ `bs∏Sp Sp∂Xv?' ?' tcmlnWn tNmZn°p tNmZn°p∂p. "F\n°o "F \n°o \in® \Kcw aSpØp. aSp Øp. ChnSpsØ ChnSpsØ Imemhÿ, ChnSpsØ ChnSpsØ BfpIƒ, F√mw aSpØp.' AsXmcp Ahy‡amb {]kvXmh Xmh\bmsW∂p bmsW∂p kplmk≥ kplmk≥ a\n a\nem em°n. "F\n "F \n° °dn dnbmw. bmw. \o \ns∂Ø \ns∂ Øs∂ bmWp `b s∏Sp Sp∂ ∂Xv. Ft∏mgpw ]pXp ]pXpasb asb {]Xo£n {]Xo£n°p∂ \ns‚ a\ a\n n s\.'

Abmƒ kwibn®p. kwibn®p. "\o t]mIWsa∂n t]mIWsa∂n√. tcmlnWn ]d™p. ChnsSØs∂ IqSns°m≈p. hnhml Øn\p t]mepw Bhiy s∏SmØ s∏ SmØ Hcp kpµcn kpµcnbmb s]¨ s]¨Ip´n Ip´n \n\°p XpWbv°p≠t√m. \ap°p kt¥mjambn Ignbmw Ign bmw.'.' Ahƒ Imcyam ambn´p bn´p ]dbp ]dbpI IbmWv. hyk hyk\ \Øns‚ t\cnb Cu¿∏w kzcØn¬ Ie¿∂n ∂ncp cp∂p. "Rm≥ t]mbm¬ \o hyk\n hyk\n°p °ptam?' tam?' ]d™ DSs\ B tNmZyØn¬ tNmZyØn¬ henb A¿∞ A¿∞an ans√∂p s√∂p kplmk≥ kplmk≥ Hm¿Øp. Hm¿Øp. "hyk\n°pw.'.' tcmlnWn ]d™p. "]t£, AXp ]pdØp Im´n√. h√ Imcyhpapt≠m? Cu c≠p sIm√sØ "hyk\n°pw ]cnNbw sIm≠v F\ns°∂√, B¿°pw \ns∂ ]nSn®p \n¿Øm≥ Bhns√∂v F\n°p t_m[yw h∂ncn°p ∂p. Rm≥ Ic™n Ic ™ns´ s´¥mWp Imcyw?' Ahƒ F√mw Imcyam Imcyamsb sbSp Sp°m≥ °m≥ XpSßntbm XpSßntbm F∂bmƒ kwibn®p. "\ap°p "\ ap°p {Sn≥Im {Sn≥Imkn¬ t]mImw.' kplmk≥ ]d ]d™p. ™p. "Ipd "Ipd®p ®pt\cw t\cw Um≥kpsN sNømw ømw.' "F\n "F \n°n °nt∏mƒ t∏mƒ Um≥kp sNøm≥ tXm∂p∂n ∂n√ √.' "F∂m¬ "F ∂m¬ Fs‚ ^vfm‰n¬ m‰n¬ t]mImw.' ho´nse ho´n seØn Ønb bt∏mƒ \oe \oe®p ®pa acpIƒ cpIƒ°nS °nSbn¬ F√mw Hcn°¬ Hcn°¬°qSn °qSn kzm`m kzm`mhnIambn Iambn tXm∂n. "CXv Ahkm Ahkm\sØ Xh XhW WbmWv.' Ahƒ ]d ]d™p. ™p. "\ns∂ Rmt\m¿°p Rmt\m¿ °p∂Xv ∂Xv ]t£, Cu \nanj ßfneq sSbmbncn°pw.' "Rm≥ C\nbpw h∂pIqsS∂n√.' kplmk≥ ]d™p. "At∏mƒ CXv Ahkm\sØ Ahkm\ sØ XhWbmsW∂p ]d bmtam?' As∂mcp Xami am{Xambn am{Xambn ]d™Xv C∂p C ∂p Imcy Im cyambn ambn h∂ncn cn°p °p∂p. "\o ho≠pw hcpsa∂v hcp sa∂v Rm≥ Hcn°epw Icp IcpXn Xnbn bn√ √ .' _mdnse i–w Ct∏mƒ XethZ\bp≠m°p∂Xmbncp∂p. "\ns‚ sSent^m¨ In´nbt∏mƒ Rm≥ icn°pw A¤pXs∏´pt]mbn. \n\s°s∂ Adnbn°mambn cp∂nt√?' "\ns∂ A¤pX A¤pXs∏Sp s∏SpØm Ømsa∂p IcpXn Xn..' Cu hchv kzbw {]Xo£n°mØXmbncp∂psh∂pw, Hcp {`m¥≥ \nanjØn¬ a\v a \v F∂ A]cnNnXs‚ i‡amb t{]c t{]cW Wbn¬ CdßnØn Øncn cn® ®XmsW∂pw XmsW∂pw Ahƒ Adnbm AdnbmXncn Xncn° °s´. "shbv "sh bv‰¿, ‰¿, Hcp _nb¿Iq IqSn Sn..' "\o Cßs\ IpSn°p∂Xv IpSn °p∂Xv F\n°n F\n°n„a „a√.' AhfpsS Ah fpsS ]pcnIw BIrXn BIr Xns∏ s∏Sp SpØnbncp bncp∂p. Np≠n\p apI apIfn¬ fn¬ \\pØ sNºn® tcma߃. tcma߃. "\o hfsc kpµcn kpµcnbm bmWv.' "Ah "A hkm\w \o AXpw I≠p]nSn Sn®p ®pthm? thm?' "Bs´, Rm≥ \ns∂ hn´p]ncn™ t∏mƒ \n\s° s°¥mWp ¥mWp tXm∂nb tXm∂nbXv?' tcmlnWn H∂pw ]d™n√. AhfpsS apJØp \ngepIƒ hoWp. £WnIamb ZpxJØns‚ \ngepIƒ. Ah thZ\m \m]q¿∆w ]q¿∆w AhfpsS AhfpsS Np≠pI Np≠p Ifn¬ Xßn\n Xßn\nev ev°p °p∂X ∂Xbmƒ {i≤n®p. {i≤n®p. "\o F¥mWv BtemNn BtemNn°p∂ °p∂Xv?' "H∂pan√. \ns‚ tNmZyw tI´t∏mƒ NneXmtemNn®pt]mbn. \o t]mbt∏mƒ Rm≥ Imcyamsbm∂pw hnNm cn®n√. D®bv °v °v Hm^okn¬ Ccn°mdn√. e©v Ign™m¬ sUbv  knbpsS knbpsS H∏w ]pdØp t]mIpw. c≠p aWnt° Xncn®phcq. Hm^okv kabßfn¬ [mcmfw tPmenbp≠mIpw. CSbv°v Xnc°n\nSbn¬ \ns∂ Hm¿Ω hcptºm sg√mw kzbw tNmZn°pw. tNmZn °pw. PohnX PohnXØn¬ Hcn°se¶nepw Rm≥ Rm ≥ \ns∂ kvt\ln°p∂p \ln °p∂p F∂p ]dbmØ Hcp ]øs\∏‰n \o F¥nt\m¿°p∂p?' "\o kwkmcn kwkmcn°p °p∂Xp ∂Xp tIƒ°m≥ tIƒ°m≥ F\n°n F\n°n„amWv amWv.' "Rm≥ Imcyat√ ]dbp∂Xv? \o Hcn°se¶nepw Fs∂ kvt\ln°p∂psh∂p ]d™n´pt≠m? H∏w InS °ptºmsg¶n °ptºmsg ¶nepw epw?' ?' AX v DØcw ]dbm≥ hnjaap≈Xmbncp∂p. hmkvXhØn¬ Xm≥ Ahsf kvt\ln®ncp∂pthm? Ds≠ ¶n¬ AXp kΩXn kΩXn°p∂ °p∂Xns\ Xns\¥m ¥mbn bncp∂p cp∂p XSw? XSw? "\ap°p "\ ap°p ]pdØp ]pdØpt]m t]mImw.'.' kplmk≥ kplmk≥ ]d™p. ]d™p. "CsXmcp {`m¥ {`m¥im ime etb°mƒ tb°mƒ ]cam ambn bncn cn°p °p∂p ∂p' ]pdØp ZnhkØns‚ hr≤apJw hmSnbncp∂p. _mdnse Ir{Xnashfn®w F{X NXnhp≠m°p∂XmWv. ]m°vkv{So‰v DW¿∂pIgn™p. ssI tIm¿Øp \S°ptºmƒ tcmlnWn ]d™p. "\Ωƒ Hm^okv hn´p Znh tk\ \S°m\ndßn ßnbXv bXv Hm¿°p Hm¿°p∂p ∂pt≠m?' t≠m?' "D≠v. \o AXn¬ Ct∏mƒ C t∏mƒ hyk\n hyk \n°p∂pt≠m? °p∂pt≠m?'' "lpw! Rm≥ CXphsc H∂n∂pw hyk hyk\n \n®n ®n´n ´n√. √. \n\°dn dnbm bmtam, tam, A—≥ acn®Xv Fs‚ ]Ømw ]nd∂mƒ Znhkambncp∂p. Znhkambn cp∂p. A—≥ acn®n acn ®n´pt]mepw Rm≥ R m≥ Hcp Xp≈n Xp≈nIÆo¿ IÆo¿ s]mgn®n s]mgn®n´n√. A∂p apXevt° Rm≥ Hcp "`mKy "`m Kyan an√mØ √mØ s]¨Ip s]¨Ip´n' bmsW∂v F√mhcpw ]d ]d™p. ™p. Rm≥ Iq´m°n Iq´m°nbn bn√. √. B¿°pw Fs∂ C„an C„ ans√∂ s√∂ [mcWbpw sh®p]pe¿Øn Rm≥ hf¿∂p. ]Xn\memw hbn¬ Rm≥ acnt°≠Xmbncp∂p. F√mhcpw hnNm

cn®p Rm≥ ]ns∂ Pohn°ns√∂v. A∂p Rm≥ sshimJn¬ AΩmhs‚ H∏w Xmakn°pIbmbncp∂p. F\n°p ssSt^mbvUv ]nSn®p. ]nSn ®p. HcmgvNtbmfw t_m[ap≠mbn t_m[ ap≠mbncp∂n√. t\cnb t_m[w h∂ h∂t∏msg√mw t∏msg√mw I´n en∂p Imev °¬ Hc hy‡ cq]w h∂ncn°p∂Xp I≠p. AXv H∏w t]mIm≥ Ft∂m Smhiy s∏´p. Rm≥ t]mIm≥ Xøm dmbn cp∂p. cp∂p. Rm≥ ]d™p, ]d™p, Rm≥ hcmw. B cq]w ho≠pw ho≠pw h∂p. AXp hfsc bYm¿ ∞ambn tXm∂n. AsXt∂mSp ho≠pw ho≠pw At]£n At] £n°p °p∂ ∂Xpt]mse tXm∂n. "kpJt°Sp amdnbt∏mƒ Rm≥ Xncn®p I¬°Øbv°p h∂p. ho≠pw B¿°pw C„an√mØ Hcp Ip´n sb∂ \nebn¬ hf¿∂p. tPmen In´nbt∏mgmWv B [mcW ]ns∂bpw amdnbXv. \n\s°s∂ kvt\l am sW∂p tXm∂n. Hcp tXm∂¬ am{Xw. AXv BizmkwXcp∂Xmbncp∂p. AXn\papºv Fs∂ kvt\ln°p∂p sh∂p ]d™ Hcp hy‡n sshimJnse Ikn≥ am{XamWv am{X amWv. F\n°n F\n°nt∏mgpw FgpXmdp≠v. Abmƒ ]d ]dbmdp bmdp ≠v, tcmln Wo, \o Hcp APvhmWn m Wnb b√mbncp∂psh¶n¬ √mbncp∂psh¶n¬ \ns∂ Rm≥ IeymWw Ign®n Ign ®ncp∂p. kn‘n k{º Zmb Zm bØn¬ Hcp APvhm hmWn°p as‰mcp APvhmWnsb hmWnsb IeymWw Ign°m≥ ]mSn√. "Ah "A hkm\w \obpw Fs∂ Dt]£n £n®p. ®p. CXnsem∂pw Rm≥ Ic™n ™n´n ´n√. √. F√mw hcpwt]mse hcpsa∂p IcpXn. R߃ aq∂p ktlmZcn cnam amcmWt√m D≈Xv. R߃°p [mcmfw kv{Xo[\w Xo [\w sImSpØ sImSpØ√msX hcs\ In´n√. A—≥ acn°ptºmƒ A{Xb[nIw kºmZysam∂pap≠mbncp∂n√. kºmZy sam∂pap≠mbncp∂n√. aqØ c≠p Ip´nIsf IeymWw Ign®p sImSp°ptºmtg°pw AΩ A Ω Xf cpw. Rm≥ CS CSbv bv°nSbv°v AΩtbmSp ]d ]dbmdp≠v bmdp≠v, AΩbpsS Imew Ign™m¬ Ign ™m¬ {Km‚n¬ {Km‚ n¬ Hcp ]pXnb Im_sd Um≥ ksd ImWmsa ImWm sa∂v.' ssaXm\ ssaXm \Ønse Ccp´n¬ Ccp´n¬ shfn® shfn®Øns‚ sIm®p Xmhf߃. Nud¶n Nud¶nbn¬ P\ P\ß ßfpsSbpw fpsSbpw hml\ hml\ßfp sSbpw {]hmlw. {]hmlw. H∂pw amdnbn amdnbn´n ´n√. √. Cu ]pcmX\\KcØn¬ am‰w Akm Akm≤y ≤yambn ambncn cn° °Ww. CXv Fs∂∂pw Cßs\bmbn bmbncp cp∂p. ∂p. C\n Fs∂∂pw Cßs\ Cß s\Øs∂ Øs∂bm bmbncn°pw. C\n Ftßm´p t]mIp∂p? t]mIp∂p? Ftßm´p t]mIWw? t]mIWw? FhnsSbmbmepw Hcp amXncnbmWv. I≠pap´p∂ F√mhcpw, F√m kw`hßfpw, F√m ]cnXxÿnXnIfpw \ns∂ \ncmi\m°p∂p. PohnXhpambp≈ s]mcpØs∏Sen¬ \o Hcp ]cmPbamWv. \n\°p ]n∑mdmw. \ns‚ AkvXnXzw CXm AkvXan an°p∂p. °p∂p. "SmIv "Sm Ivkn.' kn.' "Ftßm´p "F tßm´p t]mIp∂p ∂p??' tcmlnWn tNmZn°p °pI IbmWv. "tlm´ente°v, Fs‚ Kpl Kplbn bnte°v te°v.' \ntbm¨ ]ckyßfpsS ]cºcIƒ, sshZypX hnf°pIƒ, Ahbv  °p Xmsg \ngenem≠ a\pjycpsS apJ ߃. hnIrXamb, at\mlcamb, `mhiq\yamb, apJ߃. I≠p ad∂ Hcp kz]v  \Øns‚ \Øns‚ Akzÿamb ]p\ cmh¿Ø\w h¿Ø\w t]mse, Ah Htc kabw aSp∏n aSp ∏n°p °p∂Xpw tamln tamln∏n ∏n°p °p∂Xpw ∂Xpw Bbncp cp∂p. ∂p. "\o Z¬ln Z¬lntb tb∏‰n ∏‰n F¥mWv H∂pw ]d bm bmØ ØXv?' "H∂pw ]dbm\n√mØXp sIm≠v. PohnXw hnckambncp∂p. hrØnbp≈ sXcphoYnIƒ, Htc A®n\p hm¿ sØSpØ a™s°´nS߃, \cn®odpIfptSbpw ]£n°mjvTßfptSbpw cq£K‘ap≈ ]pcmX\ ihIp Soc So c߃. Pohn®n Pohn®ncn°p∂ °p ∂htc tc°mƒ °mƒ acn®hcp≈ \Kcw. "kmbm”ßfn¬ temUn Km¿U\n¬ th∏p ac߃°p Xmsg ]p√n¬ Ccn°pw. th∏neIƒ Xmsg hoWp No™p≠mIp∂ k¿∏K‘w izkn®p ]p√n¬ InS°pw. kqcy≥ AkvXan°pw, Ccp´mIpw, hgnhnf°pIƒ I¨angn angn°pw. °pw. ]ns∂ cm{Xn ho≠pw ]Ien ]I ente°p te°p bm{Xbm bmIpw. Ipw. thsdmcp Znhkw IqSn. IqSn .' "\o a‰p s]¨Ip´nI fpsS H∏w InS°m InS °mdn dnt√ t√??' "Hcn°¬.' "]dbq.' "Hcp dnk]vj\nÃmbncp∂p. j   \nÃmbncp∂p. Hcp B^okn¬ _nkn\p Imcyambn t]mbt∏mƒ I≠pap´n. CSbv  °nSbv°p sshIpt∂cw AhfpsS ho´nte°p en^v‰p sImSpØp. Hcp cm{Xn H∏w Ddßm≥ kΩXn°pIbpw sNbvXp. Hcp i\nbmgvN Ahƒ h∂p. Ahƒ°p \ns‚ A{XXs∂ \ndap≠v. \nt∂°mƒ Ipd®pIqSn XSnbpw. ]t£, Ahƒ Hcp thiysbt∏mse s]cpamdn. F\n°p aSpØp. Hcp thiybpsS H∏w InS°Wsa∂p≠mbncp∂n √. Rm≥ cm{Xn Xs∂ Ahsf ]d™ ]d ™b®p. ]n∂oSv B kmlk kml kØn\p t]mbn´n ´n√ √ .' "\ns‚ hnja߃ hnja߃ hfsc scb b [nIw Ab A b Ym¿∞ß Ym¿∞ßfmWv fmWv. tcmlnWn ]d™p. ]d™p. \n\° \n\°hsb XcWw sNøm≥ Ignbn√. \o hnhml Øn Øns∂m s∂mcp cpsºSmØXp SmØXp Xs∂ \ns∂t∏mse Indp°p≈ Hcp Ip´nsb In´m™n´t√? t^m°v\dpsS t\mhepw, doUns‚ IemkzmZhpw Htc Xm¬]cytØmsS hmbn°p∂; KmednIfn¬ A_vkv  {SmŒv Nn{XßfpsS apºn¬ Aekambn ItÆmSn®p \S°p∂; jqamt‚tbm, samXv  km¿´nt‚tbm \o≠ knw^ WnIƒ°p apºn¬ sNhn Iq¿∏n®p aWn°qdpIƒ sNehgn°m≥ Ignhp≈; £abp≈ Hcp s]¨Ip´nsb \n\°p In´m≥ Rm≥ Bwikn°s´. Aßs\ HcpØnsb In´nbns√¶n¬ \ns‚ PohnXw F¥mIpsa∂v F\n °dnbmw.' apdnbn¬ tcmlnWnbpsS \·amb icocØns‚ kv]¿ita‰p InS°ptºmƒ kplmk∂v F√mw hyXykv  Xambn tXm∂n. Xs∂ kw_‘n°p∂Xpw, Ahsf kw_‘n°p∂Xpw. apdn°p ]pdØv PmeIØn∂pw

]pdsØ hgnhnf°n∂pw CSbn¬s∏´v izmkw ap´p∂ A‘ImcØns‚ ]nS®n¬ F\n°dnbmw. Fs‚ bm{X hn^eamtbm? "\osb¥mWv s]s´∂p amdnbXv?' kplmk≥ H∂pw ]d™n√. Abmƒ Z¬lnbn¬ sshInsbØp∂ k‘yIsf Hm¿Øp. cm{XnbpsS kpc £nXXzsØtØSn Akzÿambn Ncn°p∂ k‘yIƒ. \ng¬t]mse kmao]yØn¬ am{Xw Adnbp∂Xpw Hm¿Ωbn¬ Hm¿ Ωbn¬ Ahy‡ambn Ahy‡ambn kz]v\w t]mse am{Xw Xßn\n Xßn \nev ev°p∂Xpamb p∂Xpamb k‘yIƒ. F¥n\pth≠n F¥n\pth≠nsb∂ dnbmsX, bmsX, e£yan√msX, aßnb sXcp sXcphp hpIfn¬ Ifn¬°qSn °qSn Ae™p ™pXn Xncn™ cn™ k‘yIƒ. "\o hepXm hepXmbn bncn cn°p °p∂p ∂p.' kplmk≥ ]d ]d™p. ™p. tcmlnWn Nncn®p. sNhn sNhnbn¬ bn¬ a{¥n®p; a{¥n®p; "Fs‚ GXhbhamWv hep hepXm Xmbn bncn cn°p °p∂Xv ∂Xv?' "\o sXdn] sXdn]d®n¬ C\nbpw \n¿ \n¿Øn Ønbn bn´n ´n √, √, At√?' "Ct∏mƒ "C t∏mƒ ]dbm ]dbmdn dn√. BtcmSp ]d ]dbm bm\mWv \mWv?' "D ≠s√m. Hm^o kn¬Øs∂ kn¬Øs∂ [mcmfw sNdp∏ sNdp ∏°mcpw Ing Ingh h∑mcpw \ns‚ ]n∂mse \S°p \S °p∂p ∂p≠ ≠s√m s√m..' "Rm≥ Ahsc Ahscsb√mw sb√mw Fßs\ Fßs\bmWp IW IW°m °m°p °p∂sX∂p \n\°v \∂mbn Adn Adnbm bmas√m as√m.' "kpcmPv "kp cmPv Nu[cn cn??' "\o hfsc Akqbm Akqbmep ephm hmWv. kpcmPv Nu[cnbpambn F\n°v bmsXmcnS ]m ]mSp Span ans√∂v s√∂v ]d™n ™nt√? t√?' "\o AbmfpsS H∏w {Sn≥ {Sn≥Im Imkn¬ kn¬ Pmwskj\p Pmwskj\p t]mbtXm tXm??' "Ft∏mƒ "F t∏mƒ?' "Rm≥ Zn√n°p t]mbXn\p t]mb Xn\p tijw. tijw.' "C√.' "D≠v.' "C√.' "D≠v "D ≠v. F\n° F\n°dnbmw dnbmw..' "icnbmWv "icn bmWv. Hcn°¬ Hcn°¬ t]mbn. ImcWhpap≠mbn Whpap≠mbncp∂p. cp∂p. ]t£, \o AXdn AX dnbWsa bWsa∂p≠mbn ∂p≠mbncp∂n cp∂n√.' √.' "F¥m "F ¥mbncp∂p bncp∂p ImcWw Ww??' "\nt∂mSp ]d ]dbn bn√ √ .' "F\n "F \n° °dn dnbmw. bmw. \n\° \n\°bmsf C„ C„am amWv. AXpXs∂. AXp kΩXn Xn®p ®pIqtS IqtS?' ?' "Nu[cnsb C„amhpItbm? \osbs¥mcp hnUv  VnbmWv VnbmWv!  H∂maXmbn Abmƒ hnhmlnX\mWv. C\n As√ ¶n¬Øs∂, Abmfn¬ C„s∏Smhp∂Xmbn H∂pw Rm≥ ImWp∂n√. Abmƒ Hcp DW°a’ysØt∏mse saen™n saen ™n´mWv ´mWv. F\n°p saen™ Bƒ°msc C„a s√∂p \n\°dn dn™p ™pIq IqtS?' tS?' "F\n°p a\nemhp∂n√.' a\nemhp∂n√.' Abmƒ ]d™p. "\n\°bmsf C„as√∂p ]dbp∂p. AbmfpsS AbmfpsS H∏w t]mIp Ibpw sNøp∂p.' tcmlnWn H∂pw ]d™n√. tZlØn¬ XgpIp∂ am¿±hap≈ ssIIƒ \n›eßfmIp∂Xpw \ n›eßfmIp∂Xpw ho≠pw kmh [m\ [m \Øn¬ Nen°p Nen°p∂Xpw ∂Xpw kplmk≥ {i≤n {i≤n®p. ®p. "\o sb¥mWv \n» –bm –bmb bXv?' ?' Ahƒ Nncn®p. thZ\ Ie¿∂ Nncn. "Rm≥ Hcp s]¨Ip Ip´n ´nsb∏‰n Btem BtemNn Nn°pI °pIbmbncp∂p. cp∂p. GImIn GImInbmb bmb Hcp sNdnb s]¨Ip Ip´n. ´n. NmSn° NmSn° fn®v AcnInseØp∂ IdpØ B´n≥ Ip´ntbmSp tNmZn°p∂p. \ns‚ ssIbnse¥mWp≈Xv? B´n≥ Ip´n adp]Sn ]dbp∂p. aq∂p k©n Iºnfn tcmaw. H∂v Fs‚ bPam\\v, H∂v bPam\Øn°v. H ∂v ASpØ sXcp hn¬ Xmakn Xmakn°p∂ °p∂ B¨Ip B¨Ip´n ´n°pw. °pw. A⁄mX A⁄mX\mb B B¨Ip B¨Ip´n ´nsb sb∏‰n ∏‰n Rm≥ BtemNn BtemNn°m °mdp dp≠v. Ah≥ Fs∂t∏mse GIm GImIn Inbm bmbn bncp cp∂p. ∂p. F\n° F\n°hs\ Biz Bizkn kn∏n ∏n°m≥ °m≥ Igns™ Igns™¶n¬ ¶n¬!!' "Rm≥ \ns∂ thZ\n∏n ∏n° °Wsa sa∂p ∂pt±in®n√, ®n √, tcmlnWn.' kplm kplmk≥ k≥ ]d™p. ]d™p. "F\n°v "F\n°v Nu[cnsb Nu[cnsb C„ a√. AXp AXpsIm≠v sIm≠v \o AbmfpsS H∏w t]mbXv C„am ambn bn√. √. A{Xtb D≈q. D≈q.' "F\n°pw Abmsf shdp∏mbncp∂p. shdp∏mbncp∂p. C{X hbmbn hb mbn´pw, `mcybpw `m cybpw Ip´n Ifpap≠mbn´pw Ifpap≠mbn´pw Abmƒ irwKcn °m≥ h∂ncp cp∂p. ∂p. ]t£, Hcp Znhkw Abmƒ \ns∂°p \ns∂ °pdn®v hfsc \∂mbn ]d ]d™p. ™p. \o \√ sNdp∏ sNdp ∏°m °mc c \msW∂pw, \ns∂ IeymWw Ign®m¬ \√ tbmPn∏mbncn°pw F∂pw a‰pw aWn°qtdmfw \ns∂∏‰nØs∂ Abmƒ kwkmcn®p. Abmƒ Bflm¿∞ambmtWm kwkmcn°p∂sXs∂m∂pw kwk mcn°p∂sXs∂m∂pw Rm≥ t\m°nbn√. \o Fs∂ hnhmlw sNøns√∂pw F\n F\n° °dnbmw. ]t£, B Nn¥ hfsc kt¥mjw Xcp∂Xm Xmbn bncp cp∂p. ∂p. Hcp Ip´n°p In´nb ]pXnb Ifnt°m∏p t]mse Xmtemen°s∏Smhp∂Xmbncp∂p. AXpsIm≠v Rm≥ Abmsf C„s∏´p XpSßn. AXp ]d™ Znhkw Abmƒ Fs∂ H∏w InS°m≥ hnfn®mepw Rm≥ t]mIpambncp∂p. `mKyØn∂v  Abmƒ AXmh AXmhiys∏ iys∏´n ´n√. √. Um≥kp kpsN sNøm≥ øm≥ am{Xta hnfn®p hnfn®p≈p. ≈p. \n\s° \n\s°t∂mSp t∂mSp tZjyap tZjyapt≠m t≠m??' apdn°p ]pdta, PmeIØn\pw hgnhnf°n\pw CSbn¬ Akzÿambn ]nSbp∂ Ccp´ns‚ iIew. XS™p sh® GIm¥XbpsS Ic®n¬ F{X ASpØmWv? Rm≥ F{X Zqcw k©cn®p! \n\°p th≠n. \n∂n¬ \n∂ Iem≥ th≠n. D≈S°Øntebv°v

sh≈°pXncbpsS cmPIpamc≥ \oemImiØn¬ c≠p]£nIfpw kqcyIncWßfn¬ \n∂v HmSnbIep∂ Im‰pap≈ kmbm”Øn¬ Rm≥

Abmsf I≠p. shfp Ø IpXnc∏pdØp khmcn sNøp∂ bphmhv. AWn™ncn°p∂ AWn™ncn°p∂ sXm∏nbpsS Aep°pw kz¿Æ kz¿ Æ°khp≈ khp≈ hkv{Xß {XßfpsS BUw_ BUw_chpw ImcWw, ImcWw, At±lw Hcp cmP Ip Ipam amc\m c\msW∂p sW∂p Rm≥ a\n a\n em °n. At±lw IpXnc∏pdØp kmh [m\Øn¬ \oßptºmƒ ]›m ØeØn¬ \P ^vJms‚ CSn™p s]mfn™ ]pcmX\ ihIpSocw \n∂ncp∂p. \n∂n cp∂p. s]s´∂v Fs‚ a\n¬ a\ n¬ ]Xn™ h¿Æ h¿ÆNn{X Nn{XØns‚ Øns‚ kzm`mhn IX Fs∂ A¤pX A¤pXs∏ s∏Sp SpØn. Øn. kqcy≥ F∂sØbpw t]mse ihIpSocØns‚ ZpxJØnte°ndßn hcpIbpw BIm iw XpSp°pIbp XpSp°pIbpww sNbvXp. cmPIpamcs‚bpw IpXncbpsSbpw \ng¬ \o≠p InS°p∂Xp Rm≥ I≠p. cmPIpamc≥ ]I¬ apgp h≥ bm{X sNøpIbmbncps∂∂p Rm≥ Duln®p. Ct∏mƒ FØnt®¿∂ cmPyØns‚ A]cnNnXXzhpw \ng epIƒ \ofpamdp sshInbncn°p∂ kabØns‚ A\n›nXmhÿbpw At±l sØ sXs√m∂v Aºc∏n°p Ibpw N©e\m°pIbpw sNøp∂psh∂v F\n°p tXm∂n. At±lw cm{Xn FhnsSbmWv Xmakn°pI Ft∂m¿Øp Rm≥ Akzÿ\m \mbn. bn. ]≠p, IYbn¬ tI´n´p≈ cmPIpamcs‚ KXn Ct±lØn∂p hccpsX∂p Rm≥ {]m¿∞n®p. apØ»n ]d ™pX∂ ™p X∂ B IYbnse cmP cmPIp Ipamc≥, amc≥, \„s∏´ \„s∏´ cmPIp cmPIpamcnsb amcnsb At\zjn®v At\zjn®v A]cn A]cnNn NnX Xamb i{Xpcm i{XpcmPyØv  FØnt®¿ FØn t®¿∂p. ∂p. k‘ymkabØv, cm{Xn Ign®pIq´phm≥ ]m¿∏nSw ]m¿ ∏nSw tXSnb B cmPIpamcs\ cmP Ipamcs\ AXy¥w kpµ cnbmb cn bmb Hcp bphXn BI¿ jn®p sIm≠pt]mbn. AhfpsS kuµ cyØn¬ ab ßn ßnt∏mb t∏mb cmPIpamc∂p Xt± isØ cmPmhns‚ B⁄ {]Imcw Ahƒ aZyØn¬ hnjw tN¿Øp sImSp°pIbpw cmPmhn∂v A]arXyp kw`hn `hn°p °pIbpw sNbvXp. Xp. Cu IY, sNdp∏ sNdp∏Ime Imeßfn¬ Rm≥ Ddßp∂Xn\p apºp apØ»ntbmSp ssI°q ssI°qen enbmbn bmbn Bhiys∏´p kºmZn®Xpw, apØ»n ]dbptºmƒ hfsc bYm¿∞ambn tXm∂nbXpamb IYIfnsem∂mbncp∂p. i{Xp cmPyØIs∏´ cmPIpamcns°¥p ]‰nsb∂p Xo{hamb Pn⁄mktbmsS Rm≥ tNmZn®t∏mƒ apØ»n I\ ∏´ au\w hcn°pIbpw AKm[amb Nn¥bnemgpIbpw sNbvXncp∂p. CXv B IYbv°v Fs¥∂n√mØ Hcp clkym\p`qXnbp≠m°n. Fs‚ Cu cmPIpamc\pw Aßs\ kw`hnt®°mambncp∂ hn]Øns\∏‰ntbm¿Øp Rm≥ Akzÿ\m bn. Aßs\bncn°ptºmƒ IpXnc∏pdØp khmcn sNbvXpsIm≠ncp∂ cmPIpamc≥ Hcp hfhp IS∂v A{] Xy£\mbn. kqcy≥ ho≠pw XmgpIbpw, AkvXa\sa∂ {Inbbn¬ apgpIpIbpw sNbvXp. Im‰p kzX{¥\mhpIbpw, In´nb kzmX{¥yw kpe`ambn BtLmjn°pIbpw BtLmjn°pIbpw sNbvXp. Rm≥ AhnsSØs∂ Fs‚ _m¬°Wnbn¬, Nqc¬°tkcbn¬ Ccp∂p. F\n°v Fgpt∂ev°m≥ Ignbns√∂p tXm∂n. C\n hcm≥ t]mIp∂ Nn{X߃, AXmbXv Ccp´ns‚ IpSnbncp∏pw AXn\nSbn¬ hgnhnf°pIfpsS £WnIsa∂p tXm∂p∂ Akzÿamb \ne\nev]pw, AsX{X Xs∂ BI¿jWobsa¶nepw F\n°mkzZn°m≥ F\n°mkz Zn°m≥ Ignbns√∂p tXm∂pamdv Fs‚ a\ ns\ Ign™ GXm\pw \nan j߃ XShpImc XS hpImc\m°nbn \m°nbncp∂p. cp∂p. Rm≥ _m¬°Wn _m¬°Wnbn¬Øs∂ bn¬Øs∂ Ccp∂p; Hcp {]Xnabm abmbn, bn, s{^bnw sNbvXp Nphcn¬ Nph cn¬ Xq°nb Nn{Xam Nn{X ambn. bn. ]ns∂ N{µ≥ hcpIbpw BImiØnsehntStbm ad™p\n∂ Im´n¬\n∂v Hcp apbens\ th´bmSpIbpw \£{XßtfmSp hoºp ]dbpIbpw sNbvXp. kqcy≥ ho≠pw Hcp]nSn Hcp ]nSn civanI anIfp fpambn ambn {]`mXØn¬ h∂p. Ddßn°n °nS∂ S∂ XWpØ Im‰ns\ Nm´hmdp sIm≠v ASn®p ®pW¿Øn W¿Øn I¿Ω I¿Ω\ncX\m°n. \m °n. Rm≥ At∏mgpw _m¬°Wnbn¬ I√mbn, {]Xnabmbn, im]tam£Øn\p th≠n ImØncp∂p. Fs‚ X]n X] neqsS eqsS kabw Hcp kz]v\ambn IS∂p t]mbn. Ahkm\w Ah km\w apºn¬, ihIp IpSo Soc cØn\p apIfn¬, ]cn ]cnNn Nn X≥ hnh¿Æ\mbn {]Xy£s∏´t∏mƒ {]Xy£s∏´t∏m ƒ Rm≥ I≠p, sXcphoYnbpsS hfhp IS∂p sh≈°pXncbpsS ]pdØv  cmPIpamc≥! Rm≥ kt¥mjn°p∂p. cmPIpamcs\ Poht\msS ho≠pw I≠Xn¬ icn°pw kt¥mjn°p∂p. At± lØn∂vcmPIpamcnsb   cmPIpamcnsb I≠p]nSn°m≥ Ign™n´ns√∂p Rm≥ a\nem°pIbpw AXn¬ \noaambn hyk hy k \n°pIbpw sNøp∂p. Cu bm{X XpScpI Xs∂bmWv. £oWn® D¬°WvTmIpeamb bm{X. GsX√mw Adn bs∏SmØ hgnIfneqsS! Rm≥ F{X \nlmb\mWv! F\n°p \q‰m≠pIfpsS BImiØn¬ ]pdtIm´p ]ds∂Øm≥ s∂Øm≥ Ignbp Ignbp∂n ∂n√. √. Fs‚ NndIp NndIpIƒ Iƒ {lkzß {lkzßfm fmWv Wv, tijn Ipd™ Ipd™hbmWv. cmPIpamc≥ ihIpSocØn∂p apºn¬ FØnbt∏mƒ IpXncbpsS ISn™m¨ hen®p. IpXnc Ip©ntcm a߃ CdpØp]nSn®p \n∂p. cmPIpamc≥ kwibn°pIbmWv kwibn°pIbmW v. ihIpSocØnte°p IS°p∂ Iq‰≥ hmXm b\Ønse Nn{X∏Wn WnIfp≈ Ifp≈ aXnepIƒ aXnepIƒ s]mfn™n ™ncn cn°p∂p. °p∂p. ]ns∂, IpXncsb kwibn ®psIm≠v kmh[m \Øn¬ \SØn cmPIpamc≥ ihIpSocØns‚ tK‰neqsS ]p¬ØInSnbnte°p IS°p∂p. ihIpSocØns‚

hmXnen\p ]pdØp IpXn csb tabm≥ hmXnen\p tabm≥hn´v hn´v cmPIp cmPIpam amc≥ ]mZp ]mZpI I߃ Agn®p Agn®psh®v D≈n¬ Ibdp∂p. IpXnc bpsS bpsS A£a A£aamb amb Ne\߃. Ne\߃. H∏w Rm\pw A£a\mIp∂p. A£a\mIp∂p. F¥mWv cmPIpamc≥ cmPIpamc≥ ]pdØp hcm ØXv? \nKqVXIƒ \nd™ B ihIpSocØns‚ \n»–Xbn¬ cmPIpamc≥ C√mXmtbm? As√¶n¬ {]bm WØn¬ ]n∂n¬ \n∂ptI´ i–ßfm¬ t{]cnX t{]cnX\mbn Xncn™p Xncn™pt\m t\m°n °nbt∏mƒ bt∏mƒ I√mbnt∏m t∏mtbm? tbm? cmPIpamc≥ ho≠pw {]Xy£s∏Sp∂p. IpXnc∏pdØp Ibdp∂p. £oWn® apJw. s]mSn]pc≠ hkv{X ߃. ho≠pw IpXnc IpXn cbpsS aµKXn. ]ns∂ kqcys‚ H∏w sXcphoYn YnbpsS bpsS hfhn¬ A{]Xy Xy£ £\mIp∂p. cmPIpamcm, amcm, AßmcmWv? F¥m F¥mW WßbpsS t]¿? FhnsS FhnsSbmW bmWßbpsS cmPyw? GXmI GXmIkvanI anIXbpsS RmWn¬ sXmSpØmWv sXmSpØmWv Aßv Cu A]cn A]cnNn NnXtemI temIsØØnbn Ønbncn cn°p °p∂ ∂Xv? ]ns‰Znhkw sshIpt∂cw Rm≥ Hcp hnhmlØns‚ Bchmc߃ tIƒ°p∂p. _mev°Wnbn¬ h∂p t\m°ptºmƒ _m‚ vtafw, c≠p\ncbmbn \oßp∂ Kymkphnf°pIƒ, Kymkphnf°pIƒ, h¿Æ∏In´p≈ hkv{XßfWn™ XßfWn™ kv{XoIƒ, ]pcpj∑m¿. _m‚phmZyw apg°p∂h¿°pw, apg°p∂h¿°pw, AXns‚ XmfØns\mØp NphSpsh®p \rØwsN øp∂ kpµcnIƒ°pw ]n∂n¬ Rm≥ sh≈°pXncsb ImWp∂p. AXns‚ ]pdØp Ip\n™ncn°p∂ hcs\ ImWp∂p. hcs‚ Xe Xebn¬ bn¬\n∂p Xqßn Xqßn°n °nSS°p∂ sXmßep sXmßepIƒ. Iƒ. ]ns∂ A¤pXsa∂p ]dbs´, ISn™m¨ ssIbnte¥n IpXncbpsS AcnIneqsS ]Xdnb ImepItfmsS \oßp∂ £oWnX £oWnX\mb a\pjys\ a\pjys\ Rm≥ Xncn®dn dnbp bp∂p. s]s´∂v F\ns°√mw a\ a\n nemhp emhp∂p. ]cnkct_m[w IS™n´ IÆpIƒ Rm≥ Np‰pw ]mbn°p∂p. ]pcmX\ ihIpSocØn\pa∏pdØp shfp ∏pw \oebpw shfn®w apØpaWnIsft∏mse NnXdn°nS°p∂ d¨thbn¬\n∂p ]cnioe\hnam\w D{Kamb i–tØmsS Dbcp∂p. CSØphiØv sdbn¬∏mfØn¬°qSn i–tØmsS hnknepaSn®v HmSnbSp°p∂ Icn h≠nbpsS sNIpØms‚ hmbt]mep≈ slUvsse‰v Rm≥ ImWp∂p. Xmsg \ncØn¬ tLmjbm{XbpsS CSbn¬°qSn bn¬°qSn aµw \oßp∂ hml\ hml \߃. Ah eh¬ eh¬t{Im t{Imkns‚ kns‚ XocØp ]mb¬t]mse h∂Snbp∂p. Chsb√mw Ch sb√mw Ign™ c≠p Znhk Znh kßfmbn FhnsS ad™n ™ncp cp∂p ∂psh∂p Rm≥ A¤p A¤pX Xs∏ s∏Sp Sp∂p. ∂p.

D≈S°Øntebv°v

ssZhw ⁄m\nbmhp∂p A t±lØns‚ IÆ ssZhØns‚ ]pc IØn \in®p; ssZhw DW¿∂p. A`bw tXSn ]pdØndßn. am‰ßƒ At±lØns‚

©n®p. Xm≥ Hcp Zo¿L\n{Zbnemb Zo¿L\n{Zbnembncps∂∂pw, ncps∂∂pw, \n{Zbv  °nSbn¬ FÆa‰ h¿j߃ aq°n\p Xmtg°qSn Xs∂ I_fn∏n®p fn∏n®p hnIrXn hnIrXn°p °p´∑m ´∑msct∏mse HmSn ad ad™p ™psh∂pw At±lw a\n a\ nem°n. em°n. ]pdØp Z¿i\Øn\mbn XSn®pIqSnb `‡cpsS sshcq]yam¿∂ apJ߃ I≠v At±lw sR´n. a\z¥ c߃°p apºp kr„nbpsS thZ\bp‰ {]`mXØn¬ cq]w sImSpØt∏mƒ Cu apJ߃ F{X at\mlcß fmbncps∂∂p ssZhw Hm¿ Øp. Øp. BcpsSbSpØmWvv A`bw tXtS≠Xv? AºeaXnen\p ]pdØp \Sbn¬ NS™p InS°p∂ IpjvTtcmKn BcpsSbSpØmW IfpsSbnSbneqsS \S°ptºmƒ ssZhw BtemNn®p. Aºew ]WnbpIbpw tlmam`ntjIßfpsS tlmam`ntjIßfpsS AIº SntbmsS Sn tbmsS Xs∂ IpSnbncpØpIbpw sNbvX cmPmhns\ At\z At\zjn®p jn®p ssZhw sXcphnen enddßn. BZyw I≠Xp Np≠n¬ Hcp _oUnbpw Xebn¬ I≈ntØm¿Øp sIm≠v Hcp sI´pambn HmSnt∏mIp∂ ]øs\bmWv. ssZhw Ahs\ XS™p \n¿Øn tNmZn®p. tNmZn ®p. "cmPmhns‚ Pmhns‚ hotS XmWv ?' Xs∂ XS™p\n¿Ønb [m¿„yØns∂Xnsc ]ø≥ ap„n Npcp´n. ]ns∂, apºn¬ \nev°p∂ \o≠p \c® XmSnbpw Xeap XeapSn Snbpap≈ bpap≈ Inghs‚ Inghs‚ \nlm \nlmbX bX I≠p a\ a\en™v Ah≥ tNmZn®p: tNmZn ®p: "cmPmthm? Pmthm? GXp cmPmhv?' "cmPmhv Pmhv,' ssZhw adp]Sn ]d™p. "GXmWp cmPm cmPmhns‚ hns‚ hoSv?' ssZhØns‚ i–w im¥hpw L\Kw L\Kw`oc `ochpambn hpambncp∂p cp∂p ]ø≥ Hcp\nanjw Hcp\n anjw BtemNn®p. BtemNn®p. ]ns∂ ]d™p: ]d ™p: "_co≥.' ]ø≥ apºnepw ssZhw ]nºnepambn \S∂p. {][m\ hoYnbn¬\n∂p hoYn bn¬\n∂p sXcphnte°p IS∂p. ]ns∂ D]sX cphpIƒ; CS hgnIƒ. Ah Ahkm\w km\w CSn™p XI¿∂ Hcp ]Sn hm hmXn Xnen\p en\p apºn¬ ssZhsØ hn´p ]ø≥ Hcp kn\nam∏m´pw Nqfan´v HmSnt∏mbn. aS°n°pØnb ap≠pw Xtes°´pambn \·]mZ\mbn HmSnt∏mIp∂ ]øs\ ssZhw IuXpI]q¿∆w t\m°n. ssZhw ]Sn∏pc ]Sn∏pc ]n∂n´v ap‰tØ °p IS∂p. cmPmhns‚ sIm´mchpw XI¿ ®bn ®bnembn embncp∂p. cp∂p. ]pdsØ Nph cpIfnse IpΩmbw ]teSØpw AS¿∂pt]mbn sN¶√p ImWmambncp ImWmambncp∂p. ∂p. HmSpIƒ ]teSØpw s]m´nb ÿe ß fn¬ Ihpßn≥ ]mfIƒ Iƒsh®v sh®v AS®n AS®ncp∂p. DΩdØv ssIsbmSn™ ]pcmX\ Itkc Itkcbn¬ bn¬ £oWnX £oWnX\mb cmPmhncp∂p. hgn sX‰ntbm F∂p ssZhw kwi kwibn bn°ptºm °ptºmtg°pw tg°pw cmPmh cmPmht\zjn®p. "F¥m th≠Xv?' ssZhw ]d™p. ]d™p. "F\n°p cmPm cmPmhns\ hns\ ImWWw Ww..' s]s´∂hnsS \n»–X ]c∂p. AXp cmPmhnt\bpw ssZhtØbpw Dƒs°m≠p. D ƒs°m≠p. AXn¬ \n∂p c£ In´nb \nanj \nan jØn¬ cmPmhv £am] £am]Wkzc kzcØn¬, \n¿Øn \n¿Øn ]d ]d™p: ™p: "Rm Rm\mWv \mWv cmPmhv cmPmhv. F¥mWv th≠Xv?' ssZhw ]d™p: ]d™p: "Fs‚ ]pc IØnt∏m IØnt∏mbn. F\n°p Xma Xmakn kn°ms\mcnSw s\mcnSw thWw. thWw.' cmPmhns‚ IÆpIƒ s]s´∂p Nph∂p. apJsØ IcpWckw Ftßm ad™p. aq°p hnd∏n®psIm≠p ]d™p: "\nßsfms°°qSn thm´p sNbvXt√ BbΩ A[nImcØn¬ h∂Xv? A\p`hn°n≥. tkmjyenkat√? BsI sIm√Øn¬ In´nbncp∂Xp ]Xn\mbncw Ddp∏nIbmWv. AXp \n¿Øem°nbnt√? t]mhq, F\n s°m∂pw sNøm≥ Ignbn√.' ssZhw Xncn™p \S∂p. \S ∂p. s]s´∂p a\m a\ m£nbpsS £nbpsS tX߬ tI´n´m tI´n´mIWw cmPmhp hnfn hnfn®p: ®p: "Gbv Inghm, \n¬°q.' ssZhw Xncn™p Xncn™p\n \n∂p. cmPmhp XpS¿ XpS¿∂p. ∂p. "Fs‚ ssIbn¬ ]Wan√m™n´mWv. Ignhp≈ ImeØp Rm≥ ]mhs∏´h¿°p hoSp≠m°ns°mSpØn ´p≠v. XÆo¿∏¥epIƒ D≠m°nbn´p≠v, InWdpIƒ Ipgn∏n®n´p≠v. Ct∏mƒ Rm≥ \n¿≤\\mWv. ap≠ns‚ tIm¥e Acbn¬ XncpIn InbXp bXp Xncns® Xncns®SpØp SpØp cmPmhp ]d™p: ]d™p: "CXm c≠pdp c≠pdp∏n ∏nI. I. BsIbp BsIbp≈Xm ≈XmWv. sIm≠p sIm≠pt]m t]mIq Iq..' c≠pdp∏nIbpsS c≠pdp∏n IbpsS apjn™ t\m´p hmßn ssZhw Xncn™p \S ∂p. ssZhw \ncmi\mbn √. thm´v, tkmjy enkw apXemb hm°pIƒ a\n¬ InS∂p InS ∂p Ifn®p. ssZhw ⁄m\nbmhpIbmbncp∂p. cmP`cWØn\p ]I cw, P\ ߃ H∂mbn t\cn´p kzbw `cn `cn°p∂ °p∂ HcpXcw HcpXcw Xami Ie¿∂ `cWhyhÿbmWv Ct∏mƒ \ne \nehn hn ep≈sX∂pw, sX∂pw, AXn\p P\m[n]Xysa ]Xysa∂mWp ∂mWp t]sc∂pw ssZhw a\n a\ nem°n. em°n. ssZhØns‚ IÆpIƒ hnS¿

∂p. ssZhw \S∂p. {][m\ hoYnbn hoYnbnseØn seØnbt∏mƒ c≠phiØpw \ncbmbn \nev°p∂ ]oSn ]oSnIIƒ IIƒ At±lw I≠p. Nmb∏o Nmb ∏o SnIIfpsS Nn√eamcnIfn¬ \ncØnsh® ]elmc߃ ssZhw I≠p. t\Zyt®mdnt‚bpw ]m¬∏mbkØn t‚bpw kzmZp XnI´nh∂p. hni∏pw XpSßn. Hcp ]oSnIbv°pw \ncØn\panSbn¬ Agp°p Nmen∂p aosX C´ ac∏eIta¬ _me≥kpsNbvXp ssZhw D≈nte°p Ibdn. \ncØnbn´, BSp∂, _©pIfnsem∂n¬ taita¬ ssIIpØnbncp∂p. ]oSnIbnemsI _lfw. Nne¿ Xn∂p∂p. Nne¿ IpSn°p∂p. IpS n°p∂p. Icn]nSn®p apjn™ ap≠p amSn°pØn hnb¿°p∂ BtcmKyap≈ amdp {]Z¿in∏n®v AhnSpsØ hmenb°mc≥ ssZhsØ kao ]n®p. ssZhØns‚ \c® XeapSnbpw XmSnbpw hfsc∏gInb hkv{Xßfpw kmIqXw t\m°n Ah≥ tNmZn ®p: "Ip IpSn Sn°m≥ °m≥ h∂ncn°p °p∂p! ∂p! Ing hm, ssIbn¬ ]Ww h√Xp h√ Xpapt≠m?' ssZhØn\p a\ a\n nem embn√. bn√. At±lw tNmZn®p: "F¥mWp ]d™Xv?' "cq`bpt≠m∂v?' hesØ ssIbns‚ Nq≠mWnhncepw X≈hncepw A«oeamIpw hn[w hnZKv  ≤ambn Dckn°mWn®p hmen b°mc≥ ]d ]d™p: ™p: "cq cq``.' ssZhØn\p a\nembn. At±lØn\p h√mbva tXm∂n. ssIbn¬ Npcp´n sh® sh ® c≠pdp∏nIt\ms´SpØp hmenb°mc\p sImSpØp. Ah≥ Npcp≠ t\m´p hmßn \nh¿Øn ]pdsØ shfn®Øns∂Xnsc ]nSn®p ]cn tim[n®p, kzoImcyamsW∂v Dd∏p hcpØn Xncn®p t]mbn. _©n¬ ASpØncp∂ IriKm{X\mb Pq∫°m c≥ ssZhØn Øn\ \Sp SptØ°p tØ°p \oßnbncp∂p ]d ]d™p: ™p: "Rm Rm\mWv \mWv kJmhv B¿. sI. \nßfo ]´WØn¬ ]pXpXmsW∂p tXm∂p tXm∂p∂p, ∂p, At√?' Pq∫°mcs‚ apJØp hf¿Ønb kar≤amb aoibnte°p t\m°n ssZhw kmh[m\w adp]Sn ]d™p: "AsX.' "ChnsS Aßs\bmWp ]Xnhv . ]Ww BZyw hmßpw. ImcWw, Ipd®IØp sN∂m¬∏ns∂ kwKXnsb√mw amdpw.' ssZhw H∂pw ]d™n√. ssZhØn∂v Hcp ]Xnhpw ]cnNban√. ssZhw kz¥w \m´n¬ A]cnNnX\mb Hcp {]hmknbmbncp∂p. kJmhp Ipd®p Ipd®pIqSn ASp ASptØ tØ°ncp∂v °ncp∂v Xmgv∂ kzcØn¬ kzc Øn¬ tNmZn®p: tNmZn®p: "At∏m, F¥m t]cv?' "ssZ ssZhw hw,' ssZhw adp adp]Sn ]Sn ]d™p. ]d™p. kJmhv H∂p sR´n. ]ns∂ s]s´∂p s]s´ ∂p≠mb ≠mb `mh∏I¿® ad adbv bv°m\p °m\p≠mb _≤ _≤∏m ∏mSn¬ Sn¬ ]d™p: "kmcan√.' ]d™Xp IqSpX¬ A_≤amtbm F∂p ho≠pw tXm∂nbt∏mƒ kJmhv s]s´s∂gpt∂‰p. £am]W kzcØn¬ ]d™p: "F∂m¬ Rm\nd Rm\ndßs´. ]ns∂, \ΩpsS B∏o kn knsems° sems° H∂p hczm! CXmWp \ΩpsS ]m¿´osS am\n s^ tÃm!!' tÃm ssZhw am\ns^tÃm hmßn. AXns‚ Xo ]d°p∂ t]PpIfneqsS ItÆmSn®p. F√mw A≤zm\n°p∂ P\ hn`m hn `mK KØn\p th≠n. ]mhs∏´ h¿°p th≠n. A≤zm\n A≤zm\n°p °p ∂h cpsS cpsS GIm GIm[n [n] ]Xyw. ssZhw tamlnX tamlnX\mbn. t\Xmhns‚ Krlambn ambncn°pw cn°pw G‰hpw \√ A`bÿm\ A`b ÿm\sa∂p sa∂p IcpXpIbpw sNbvXp. hmenb°mc≥ At∏mtg°pw IhnSnbS¿∂ Hcp ]n™mWØn¬ ao≥Idnbpw, thsdmcp ]n™mWØn¬ ]pgpßnb I∏bpw ssZhØns‚ apºn¬ sh®p. Xncn®pt]mbn Hcp henb IhnSn•mn¬ \ndsb \pcbp∂ {ZmhIw sIm≠ph∂p i–tØmsS tai tai∏p ∏pdØp dØp sh®p. ssZhw Hcp IjvWw I∏ s]m´ns® s®SpØv SpØv ao≥Nm ao≥Nmdn¬ dn¬ ap°n hmbn en´p. Fs¥mcp kzmZv! kmh kmh[m [m\ \Øn¬ Nh®c®p Xn∂p. I∏bpw ao≥Idnbpw ao≥ Idnbpw s]s´∂p Ign ™p. ]ns∂ •msSpØp tam¥n. lu, Fs¥mcp Nh¿ ∏v! •mnep≈ {ZmhIw apgph≥ ssZhw Hcphn[w AIØm°n. hbdn¬\n∂p ]pds∏´ Iº\w Ku\n°msX ssZhw ]oSnIbv°p ]pdØp ]pdØpI IS∂p. \S°p \S°ptºmƒ Hcp ]¥ntI tISvSv. ImepIƒ hnNmcnt®SØv A\m A\mbm bmtk\ tk\ hcp∂n√. Hcphn[w \S∂v ASpØpI≠ Hmhp]meØns‚ XnÆta¬ Ibdnbncp∂p. ]ns∂bp≠mbsXmcp A¥¿{]tNmZ\amWv. XpS¿∂vAXns‚   AXns‚ i‡amb, XnI®pw Akm[mcWamb, _ln¿Ka\hpw. F√mw ]pdØp t]mbt∏mƒ £oW £oWap aps≠ s≠¶nepw Bizmkw tXm∂n. ssZhw Fgpt∂‰p \S∂p. FhnsSbmWp Xs‚ A`bw InS°p∂Xv? ssIbnep≈ am\ns^tÃm Hm¿Ω h∂t∏mƒ FSpØp t\m°n. ]pdØp ISpwNph∏p\ndØn¬ c≠p ]Wnbmbp[ßfpsSbpw \£{XØns‚bpw Nn{X߃. Xm≥ kr„n® \£{Xw. t\Xmhns‚ hoSt\zjn®vssZhw   ssZhw \S∂p. I≠p]nSn°m≥ hnjant°≠n h∂n√. F√mh¿°pw t\Xm hns‚ hoSdnbmw. At±lw _lp _lpP P\kΩX\mWv. AhnsS sN∂t∏mƒ sN∂t∏mƒ ssZhw A¤pX]c A¤pX]cX{¥\mbn. Iq‰≥ tK‰v. Aepan Aepan\nbw \nbw Nmba Nmba Sn® Sn® CcpºphmXnep Iƒ IS∂m¬ Ncen´ ]mX. Ccphihpw ]p¬ØInSnIfpw DZym\ßfpw. ]mX Ahkm\n°p∂Xv aW¬hn cn® ap‰Øv. AXn\p \Sphn¬ BUw_ctØmsS kwhn[m\w sNbvXp ]Wnbn® aq∂p\ne sI´nSw. sshZyp

tXm]IcW߃. apdn apdnIfn¬ Ifn¬ ]chXm\n ]chXm\nIƒ. Iƒ. hgn°psh®v, Iqen∏Wn sNbvXp \nXyhrØn Ign°p∂ ]mhs∏´ ]Wn°m¿ Xmakn°p∂ NmfpIƒ ssZhw I≠ncp∂p. B ]Wn°mcpsS, ho¿Ø hbdpw Iqc® s\©pambn aÆnengbp∂ Ip´nItfbpw ssZhw I≠ncp∂p. Iqen°mtcbpw I¿jItcbpw sXmgnemfnItfbpw kwLSn∏n®v, kwLSn∏n®v , ap{ZmhmIy߃ apg°n ]´nWn PmYIƒ \bn®ncp∂ t\Xmhns‚ c≠p ]SpIq‰≥ A¬tkjy≥ \mbv°sf Ipfn∏n°bpw {_jp sNbvI bpw, Ahbv°p th≠n Znhtk\ Cd®n hmßm≥ am¿°‰nte°v HmSpIbpw sNøp∂ ipjvI\mb hmenb°m c≥ cm{Xn IpSn®n IpSn ®ncp∂ cp∂ I™nbpsS I™nbpsS ÿnXn ssZhw I≠p. At±lw hnNmc hnNm ca·\mbn. \mbn. ssZhw ⁄m\nbm ⁄m\nbmhpIbmbn bmbncp cp∂p. At±lw ]pdwXncn™p \S∂p. FØnbXv ÿesØ {][m\ hym]mcnbpsS ho´n¬. \KcØn¬\n∂p hn´p [mcmfw acßfm¬ Np‰s∏´ B ho´n¬ im¥n Ifnbm bmSn Snbncp∂Xv ssZhw I≠p. Bt±lw BIr„ \mbn. ChnsS Xmakn°p∂Xv DØasa∂p ssZhw IcpXn. hmXnev°¬ ap´n. Xpd ∂Xp hym]mcn Xs∂bmbn Xs∂ bmbncp∂p. cp∂p. ssZhw ]d™p: "Fs‚ ]pc IØn \in®p. \in ®p. F\n°p ]m¿°m ]m¿ °ms\m s\mcnSw thWw.' hym]mcn lrZyambn lrZyambn Nncn®p. ssZhsØ ASnapSn t\m°n tNmZn tNmZn®p: ®p: "h√ ]Wnbpw sNøm\dntøm? tøm?'' "]Wn?' ssZhw tNmZn®p. ssZhw Aßs\ s\sbm∂p sbm∂p tI´n´n tI´n´n√. "AsX, ]Wn ]Wn,,' hym]mcn ]d™p, ]d™p, "F "F\n°p akme s]mSn°m≥ s]mSn°m≥ Hcmsf Bhiyap ap≠v ≠v. \n\°Xp \n\°Xp sNøm≥ Ignbp Ign bpsa¶n¬ sa¶n¬ ChnsS Xmakn Xmaknt®m. t®m.' ssZhw kΩXn®p. ssZhsØ ho´n∂p ]pdInep≈ Hcp ]pcbnte°v B\bn°s∏´p. AhnsS \nd® Nm°p Ifpw Sn∂pIfpw A´nbm°n sh®ncp∂p. Hcp aqebn¬ sh® Dcen∂p apºn¬ ssZhsØ ]nSn®ncpØn hym]mcn hym]mc n ]d™p: "CXm, Cu Iq´n Iq´nbn bn´n ´n cn°p∂ Iqºm c߃, c߃, CXn¬\n∂v Hmtcm Hmtcm∂mbn ∂mbn FSpØp s]mSn° s]mSn °Ww Ww..' Hcp IqºmcØn¬ apfImbncp∂p. as‰m∂n¬ sImØa√n. thsdm∂n¬ PocIw. C\nbpw H∂n¬ a™ƒ. F∂m¬ a‰p Iqºmcßsf At]£n®p IqSpX¬ hepXmb Iqºmcw F¥msW∂p ssZhØn\p a\nem bn√. At±lw akme s]mSn°m≥ XpSßn. apfIps]mSn ]mdn ssZhØns‚ IÆpIƒ B¿{Zambn. Hmtcm Iqºm cØn¬ Øn¬\n∂pw \n∂pw Iptds» hmcn Dcen Dc enen´p en´p ssZhw CSn®p ®pXp XpSßn. Sßn. Ahkm\w Ahkm\w henb IqºmcØn¬ \n∂v Hcp ]nSn hmcn CSn°m≥ XpSßn XpS ßnb bt∏mƒ ]pds∏´ Zp¿ Zp¿§‘w §‘w ImcWw ssZhØn\p aq°ps]mtØ≠n h∂p. \K cØn¬ Ae™p \S°ptºmƒ sdbn¬ thtÃj∂SpØp≈ IpXnc∏¥nbpsS ]n∂neqsS \S°p tºmƒ, ssZhw Cu Zp¿§‘w izkn®ncp∂p. ssZhØn∂p a\w]pc´n. Fgpt∂‰t∏mƒ akme \nd®p sh® Sn∂pI fpsS ]pdØv H´n® h¿Æ°Semn¬ Hcp Sn∂pb¿Øn∏nSn®v Ccn°p∂ \·kv{XobpsS Nn{XØn\p Xmsg FgpXnbXv At±lw I≠p. ]cn ]cnip ip≤ ≤akme. kme. ssZhw apJw Xncn®p. hym]mcn B≠nsemcn B≠nsemcn°¬ °¬ ]m]t_m[w IgpIn° IgpIn°fbm≥ Xs‚ Aºew kµ¿in°pIbpw `oaamb `oa amb XpI Iƒ hgn]m ]mSmbn Smbn sImSp°p °pIbpw Ibpw sNbvXncp Xncp∂p ∂psh∂v sh∂v ssZhw a\nem em°n. °n. ssZhw ⁄m\nbm ⁄m\nbmhpIbmbn bmbncp cp∂p. A`bw tXSn sXcphoYnIfneqsS, D]sXcphpIfneqsS, CShgnIfneqsS, ssZhw \S∂p. hºn® hyhkm bimeIƒ ssZhw I≠p. Ahbn¬ ]Wnsb ]Wn sbSp°msX Sp°msX Iqenh¿ Iqenh¿≤ ≤\hn∂p th≠n kacw sNøp∂ sXmgn sXmgnem em fnIsf ssZhw I≠p. AhcpsS A≤zm\w Im¬°min∂p hmßn Ioi ho¿∏n°p∂ apXemfnamsc ssZhw I≠p. ]I¬ apgph≥ hbepIfn¬ ]WnsbSpØp In´nb Iqen apgph≥ I≈p jm∏pIfn¬ sIm≠pt]mbn sImSpØv A¿≤cm{Xn Ign ™p IpSnepIfn¬ Xncn®ph∂p hni∂p Icbp∂ Ip´nItfbpw Ahsc km¥z \n∏n \n ∏n°p∂ °p∂ Icn™ apJap≈ `mcy `mcytbbpw tbbpw X√p∂ Iqen°mscbpw ssZhw I≠p. Db¿∂p hs∂mcp tX߬ a\n a\nsemXp°n semXp°n ssZhw \S∂p. ssZhw £oWn £oWn®n ®ncp cp∂p. ∂p. Ahkm\w Ahkm\w Xncn®v  Xs‚ IØn\in® ]pcbnseØnbt∏mƒ I≠sX¥mWv! AhnSw apgph≥ `‡P\ßfm¬ `‡ P\ßfm¬ Np‰s∏´ncp∂p. Hcp’hØns‚ {]XoXn. Hcp hiØp \n¿ΩmWw XIrXnbmbn \S°p∂p. X¬Imew sI´nbp≠m°nb Hme ∏¥en∂p apIfn¬ ISemn¬ "t£{X]p\cp≤mcW IΩn‰n' Fs∂gpXnbXv ssZhw hmbn®p. ]m¿´n t\Xm °∑mcpw apXemfnIfpw sXmgnemfnIfpw hym]mcnIfpw km[mcW°mcpw ]Ww ]ncns®SpØv Aºew ]pXp Xmbn ]WnbpIbmWv ! ssZhØns‚ [m¿ΩnItcmjw Bfn°Øn. apºn¬ hgnbn¬ InS∂ Hcp Is√SpØv AS°m\mhmØ tcmj tØmsS ]Wn \S∂psIm≠ncn°p∂ AºesØ e£yam°n Fdn™v ssZhw Xncn™p \S∂p. AºeØn ∂cnIneqsS t]mIp∂ CSpßnb hgnbneqsS ssZhw \S∂p. HmS bpsS K‘w At± lØnØn∂p lrZy ambntØm∂n. Cu hgn Ahkm\n°p∂nSØp I≠ Hcp sNdnb ho´n∂p apºn¬ ssZhw \n∂p. cm{„ob t\Xm °∑mcpw apXemfnamcpw sXmgnemfnIfpw I¿jIcpw hym]mcnIfpw hyXymkan√msX cm{XnbpsS Ccp≠ aWn °q dpIƒ sNe sNehm hm°nbn °nbncp cp∂, ]m] ]m]`m `mc can√msX PohnXw \bn®n \bn ®ncp∂, Hcp kv{XobpsS ho´n¬ ssZhw A`bw Is≠Øn. D≈S°Øntebv°v