tUgyfX¡m³ bmXpsb«m\v hnhn`n ko«nt`¡v k¶Sv. Hmt«m]n_§n ko«nt`¡v, fpät¯¡v N]_m³ SpX§pt¼mÄ tk`n¡¸p_¯v– Wn¶v- hm_m½ tI«¯n Npl`w tImUn¨sSm¶pw AkÄ tNÄ¡pN]p*m]nÃ.
Nm^yfnSm\v–.
h-vNqÄ Njnªt¸mÄ fm`Sn Xo¨_pw hcoW Xo¨_pw sb^p¶mĸ_¼n H¶v- N]_n]n«v tbmNmw F¶v- b_ªp. sh]n³_v B³ä\ohv bÅn]n sb^p¶mÄ B\v. Ip½m H^p A^f\n¡qÀ sk_psS Ipän¡_§nt¸m^mw F¶v- hcoW WnÀtUlw sk¨t¸mÄ hnhn`n h½Sn¨n^p¶nÃ. SmWnà Wn§Ä¡v tbmNmw F¶v- AkÄ làn]m]n b_ªt¸mÄ fm`Sn]pw WnÀdÔn¡pN]m]n^p¶p.
tÌKnWXp¯v H^p fm]mKm`¡m^³ Wn¶n^p¶p. siuZnWn FhvtN¸v B\v. BapNÄ Ipäpw Sn§nWn_ªp Wn¶n^p¶p. H^^nNv bän fqk^pw Wn¶p. Bs^]pw, {btSyNn¨v bp^pg·ms^ H^p Nm^\klm`pw sSmXmsS]m]n^p¶p hnhn`n Wn¶Sv. A¡m^y¯n WnÀdÔ¡m^n]m\v hnhn`n. A©pkÀg§Ä¡v fp¼v eÀ¯mkv t`m_³hv f^n¨Sn bns¶ GSm*v h¶ymh KoknSfm\v hnhn`n]psXSv– F¶v- b_]mw. BtQmg§Ä¡v tbmNm_nÃ. H¨]pw diakpw Gs_]pÅ CX§an Wn¡pN]nÃ. ASymklyNm^y§Ä¡ÃmsS bp^pg·mt^mXv hwhm^n¡pN]nÃ. h-vNqÄ kn«m tWs^ ko«n fX§ns]¯pN, tNmtaKv knUymÀTn]m] fN³ dndntWmtXm¯v hf]w In`kjn¡pN, Ak³s_ Nm^y§Ä {l²n¡pN…Ck]n Nknsªm¶pw hnhn`ns] BNÀgn¡m_nÃ.
siuZnWn FhvtN¸v fp_pNpt¼mÄ S³s_ bn¼nÂ, I´nNapsX NrSyw knXkn Ft´m Np¯n¡]_p¶ tSm¶`p*m]n AkÄ¡v. tgm]psX fmhvf^nNS]n `]n¨n^p¶ hnhn`n sbs«¶v- Nm^yw fWÊn`m¡n]t¸mÄ, B Wnfngw Ss¶ bn¼n Wn¶v- fp`]v¡vtf H^p ssN¯`w k¶fÀ¶p. tUgykpw AbfmWn¡s¸« In´]pw FÃmw NqXn Aksa {em´v bnXn¸n¨p. H¶pw tWm¡n]nÃ. hÀÆ làn]psfXp¯v A]msa tNma_nWp bnXn¨v Nm^\¯v BªXn¨p. A{bSo£nSfm] B{Nf\fm]n^p¶SnWm NmfpNtkgw Ifªn^p¶]mÄ¡v {bSnt^mVn¡m³ bjpSv Nn«n]nÃ. A]mÄ Wn`sSän ko\p. dm¡ns]ms¡ hUmIm^¡mÀ GsäXp¯p. diaw fp_pNn]t¸mÄ hcoW]pw fm`Sn]pw hnhn`ns]]pw sNm*v bÅn¸_¼n Wn¶v- tbm^pN]m]n^p¶p.
“”””F³s_ Xo¨s_,”
hcoW hiSmbt¯msX b_ªp.
“”””H¶v- sfm`]v¡v bnXn¨v sM¡o¶p sk¨v B bmk¯nsW A§sW SÃ* kà Bktlymw H*m^pt¶m?”
hnhn`n Aksa tUgys¸«p tWm¡n.
“”””F´nWm hnhn`n Xo¨s_ hcos] tWm¡nt¸Xn¸n¡ps¶? Akav b_ªSv tW^tÃ? sfm`]v¡v bnXnt¨Wv {bSnN^n¡mWmt\Â FWn¡pw hcoW]v¡psfms¡ bns¶ tks_ H¶nWpw tW^w Nm\nÃ.,”
fqk^psX]pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv koXpNÄ GNtUlw AXp¯Xp¯m\v. ASpsNm*v fn¡t¸mjpw h-vNqant`¡v tbmNp¶Spw k^p¶Spsfms¡ H^pfn¨m]n^n¡pw. ko«n Wn¶v- h-vNqant`¡v AVnNw Uq^fnÃm¯SnWm AkÀ fqk^pw Ct¸mjpw WX¶p tbm¡m^m\v bSnkv.
“”””ASv fm{Sfmt\m?”
hcoW bp©n^nt]msX b_ªp.
“”””hnhn`n Xo¨_n³s_ sfm` N*m BÀ¡m bnXn¨p sM¡mWpw Nl¡mWpw H¶v- bnXn¨p knXmWpw tSm¶ms¯? MmW]msa H^n¡`pw Npäs¸Xp¯nÃ,”
hnhn`n Aksa AXn¡m³ Nt¿m§n.
“”””bXt¨msW,’
hcoW HmXn fm`Sn]psX bn¼n Wn¶p.
“”””Wos]m^p Xo¨_sÃXo hcoW? F¶n«v F§sW CsSms¡ b_]m³ tSm¶p¶p?”
“”””bnt¶ Xo¨_v!”
fm`Sn N`nt¸msX b_ªp.
“”””AtS Cu Xo¨Àfm^pw sfmt`w Np*ow Wà sk®s¯mtXw bq_pw Hs¡ Havt`m^m. AÃmsS BNml¯v¶v- sbm«nsfma¨p*m]tSm¶pkÃ,”
hnhn`n AhiySt]msX sIknsbm¯n.
“”””F³s_ sbm¶v Xo¨s_,”
hcoW ko*pw b_]m³ SpX§n.
“”””Xo¨À A¸w NqXn hvs{ähv {co B]n Kokn¡m³ tWm¡n]ms`¶m? Ht¶mÀ¯m W½psX fq¶v- sb^vsX]pw H^ptbm`tÃ? Xo¨_n³s_ ihv At§t`mN¯v tbm]n. CkÄsX sN«nt]m³ Cksa C«v tks_ H^p¯osX NqsXt¸m]n. FWn¡v H^map*v tb^nWv. PÄco¶v k¶n«nt¸mÄ sNmÃw ^*m]n. H¶v- tcm\n¡qXnt¸m`pw hvtWin¡p¶nÃ. NqXn]m ^*p fnWnäv. ASpw fmh¯n Ht¶m ^t*m. ASnWpw Mm³ At§m«v– knan¡\w. W½av Cu eqfo C§sW Kokn¨n^nt¸m*v F¶SnWv Ft´`pw H^p AX]maw tkt*? B AX]ma§am C§Ws¯ sNm¨p sNm¨p NphrSnNÄ…””
“”hcoW,””
hnhn`n b_ªp.
“”Wn§av Ft´`pw sI¿*m¶v- Mm³ b_tªm? Fs¶s]´nWm CSnWm¯v bnXn¨nXps¶ F¶tà Mm³ tImUn¨pÅq?””
fm`Sn]v¡pw hcoW]v¡pw ^ihy¡m^ps*¶p hnhn`n A_nªn^p¶p. ANm^\¯m hnhn`n Ak^pfm]pÅ h¼À¡w WnÀ¯n]mt`m F¶v- tbm`pw Bt`mIn¨Sm\v. Ak^psX]Xp¯v k^p¶kÀ CWn MmWpw A¯^¯n DÅ H^p hv{So]m\v F¶v- N^pSn]mt`m F¶v- hnhn`n e]¶n^p¶p.
“”ASv tbms« hcosW,””
hnhn`n]psX AWnãvf_nªv fm`Sn b_ªp.
“”hnhn`n Xo¨s_ Wo C¡q«¯ns`m¶pw Nq«m³ tWm¡*. W½tam sbj]m]n. Wo Ìmcv _qfn sk¨p b_]m³ sSmX§nt]³s_ dm¡n b_,””
“”Hm…C¶s` Agv–_cv– k¶v- sNm\¨ NT]mt\m? F³s_ Xo¨s_ AtSmÀ¡p¼w Ss¶ bq_o¶v- Nj¸v bnt¶w sSmX§n sb^psk^`v ks^ A§v tN_nt¸mNpkm,””
hcoW]psX ^ihy¡m^n H^mam\v Ag_cv. A¡m^y¯ns`m¶pw AkÄ¡v H^p S^¯n`pfpÅ fWhvSmbkpfnÃ. B\p§Ä¡v GSv sb®n³s_]Xp¯pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Sm¸^yw tSm¶n]m tbmNmw. bns¶ sb®nWv tbm]ms`´m Npj¸w? A§sW]m\v AkÄ knlzhn¡p¶Sv. fäpÅks^]pw knlzhn¸n¡m³ {lfn¡p¶Sv
hcoW Ipäpw tWm¡n]n«v hm^n¡v bp_¯pNqXn Nk]v¡nX]n AfÀ¯nsM¡n. hnhn`n ASv Ns*¦n`pw Nm\m¯emkw WXn¨p.
“”tlym tN«n«v FWn¡pw bq_p NXn¡m³ sSmX§otÃm hcosW,””
fm`Sn]pw b_ªp.
“”sWW¡v bns¶ B\p§sX f\fXn¨m At¸mÄ Ss¶ bqän NXn tSmX§ptks`?””
hcoW In^n¨p.
At¸mÄ NmÀtfQfn^p*v NqXm³ SpX§n. SpXÀ¶v- fj sbmXnªp. bmSt]m^§Ä fpjpkWpw _º_pw kmj]pw sS§pNapfm\v. fj]psX `£\w Nm^\w AknsXs]ms¡ sbs«¶v- C^p«v k¶Sptbms` tSm¶n.
“”At¿m, CsS¶m sbs«s¶m^p fj?””
S`¡v fosS ssN bnXn¨p fj¯pÅnNÄ tUi¯v kojn¡mSn^n¡m³ {lfn¨psNm*p hnhn`n b_ªp.
“”A´n]X¸³ tbm`s¯ fj]m¶m tSm¶pt¶ N*n«v,””
I{Nkmat¯¡v tWm¡n fm`Sn b_ªp.
At¸mÄ hcoW Ipäpw tWm¡pN]m]n^p¶p.
“”km, Wfp¡v AknsX tN_n Wn¡mw,””
bmSt]m^¯nWv A¸w ANs` _ºÀtSm«¯nWN¯v H^p sgZv AkÀ N*p.
fj¯pÅnNÄ làn]m]n kojm³ SpX§n]SnWm ^*mfsSm¶mt`mIn¡msS hnhn`n Akt^msXm¸w B sgZnt`¡v tkP¯n WX¶p.
HmXp tfª H^p sgZv B]n^p¶p ASv. ASnWpÅn ^*pfq¶v- Nth^Napw H^p f^¡«n`pw Nps_ fpjnª Sp\nNapw ^*pfq¶p N`§apfp*m]n^p¶p.
“”CSm fm¯³ tI«³s_ _ºÀ tSm«ftÃ?””
fm`Sn b^nh^¯nt`¡v N®pNa]¨v tImUn¨p. hcoW S`Np`p¡n.
“”AtS, fm¯¨³s_. Cu Nt^s` Gäkpw tXmbv– sb®pbnXn]³s_,””
hcoW In^n¨psNm*p b_ªp.
“”Bt\m F¶m A]mÄsX Np® WÃ fpjp¯Sm^n¡qtÃm,””
“”bn¶tÃ…Wà AÊ N^nfqÀ¡sWt¸ms`]n^n¡p¶ Np®,””
hcoW In^n¨p . F¶n«v tUgyw sNm*p Ipk¶ hnhn`n]psX fpOt¯¡v bman tWm¡n.
“”Bt\m?””
fm`Sn AUvepSt¯msX tImUn¨p.
“”sWWs¡§sW]_n]mw?””
“”A]mÄsX tfmWntà H^p fµdp²nsI_p¡³? AkWp Mm³ Xyqg³ FXp¡m³ b*v tbmNpfm^p¶p. hnsäu«n`n^p¶m Xyqg³. H^p Unkhw Mm³ Xyqg³ FXpt¯m*n^n¡p¼w A]mav fp¼ns` b_¼n Wnt¶m*v– fq{Ssfmjn¨p. W¶m]n N¼n]m]n fpjp¯n^p¶p Np®. AkhmWs¯ SpÅn A]mav l^n¡pw Np`p¡n sS_p¸n¨p. F¶n«v Xyqg³ FXpt¯m*n^p¶ Fs¶ tWm¡n In^n¨p. F¶n«v b_]pkm, ssf^v, sNm_¨v fp¼v H¶v- fpÅosS]pÅq. bnt¶w fp«n,””
“”At¶^w Wo sfmOw Sn^nt¨m?””
fm`Sn tImUn¨p. AkÄ N«n`n N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv C^n¡pN]m]n^p¶p. hcoW Nth^]n`pw. hnhn`n IpäpbmXpNÄ ko£n¨psNm*v sgZnWpÅn¯s¶ Wn¶p.
“”CsÃXo F¶m¶p A_o¯nÃ. At¶^w Mm³ H¶v- In^n¨p Nm\n¡pkm sI]vsS?””
“”sly…AsS¶m b\n]m Nm\nt¨?A]mav At¸mÄ N^pSptks` Wos]m^ÊÂ skXn]ms\¶v?””
hcoW In^n¨p.
“”At¶^w AsSm¶pw HmÀ¯nÃ. Ft´m A]mÄsX Np®]n Wn¶v- Ns®Xp¡m³ tSm¶oÃ. fq{Sw Hjn¨v Njnªv A]mÄ AtS H¶v- Woa¸mXnWv bnXn¨v sM¡n Fs¶ Nm\n¨p. At¸mjpw MmWsSt`¡v N®p b_n¡msS tWm¡n,””
“”F³s_ hcosW,””
fm`Sn SpXNÄ Nq«n sM^n¨psNm*p b_ªp.
“”Wns¶ A]mav AÊ`v Nj¸n bq_n]m¶v Ss¶ N^pSpw. tWm sZu«v,””
“”F¶m bqäns` tNm¸mt\`pw tk*nt]` At¶^w tWm¡mSn^n¡m³ tSm¶oÃ. WÃ `£\sfm¯ H^q¡³ Np® k¶n§sW fp¼n sk«n sk_¨p Wn¡p¼w FWn¡v fUÀ sSt^h BNmsWm¶pw tSm¶oÃ,””
“”F¶n«v F¶m H*m]n?””
fm`Sn SpXNÄ AXp¸n¡pN]pw AN¯pN]pw sI]vSpsNm*p tImUn¨p.
“”F¶n«]mav F³s_ fp¼n Ntht^ k¶n^p¶p. H^p b{SsfXp¯v km]n¡m³ sSmX§n. bs£ A]msX tWm«w F³s_ sW©¯q¶p fm_nt] CÃ. FWn¡mt\ bq_p l^n¡v sIm^¯m³ sSmX§n]m^p¶p. A½mSn^n Np®]tÃ? Mm³ A_n]m¯ tbms` sfmt`sX emP¯q¶v hm^n bSps¡]§v fmän. Wà Njp¯n_¡w NqXn] s»uhv. A¶mt\ {dm]pw C«n`m^p¶p. sfm` l^n¡v fpjp¯StÃ? ASpsNm*v F¸jpw {dm C«m sfm` tkUWn¡pw. F³s_ sduhnWN¯v sfm` GSm*v fp¡m`pw sbm_¯v kn§n koÀ¯p NnX¶p. A]mav ASnsW N®pfmämsS tWm¡mWpw SpX§n. bns¶ tWm¡p¼w Bs* A]mav fp*n³s_ sbm_¯v NqsX Np`¨ Np® St`mXn Fs¶ Nm\n¡pkm. MmWnX]v¡nsX At§m«p tWm¡p¶Sv A]mav N*p Nm\pw,””
“”Xo¨À C¸w F¶Sm AksW bYn¸n¡ps¶?””
sfmt`¶p tWm«w fmämsS Np®]n sM¡ns¡m*v A]mav tImUn¨p.
“”ssb¸n³s_ Ipäakpw kymthmw,””
Mm³ b_ªp. ssb¸n³s_ Ipäakpw kymhkptfm? A§tWw Ht*m N\s¡ms¡? A]mav tImUn¨p. F¶n«v Xo¨À F{S ssb¸n³s_ Ipäakpw Hs¡ N*p? Mm³ b_ªp, ^*p fq¶v- ssb¸n³s_s]ms¡ N*p. Bt\m? Ipäakv– Hs¡ H¯n^n H*m^pt¶m ASnsWms¡? Dw .sNmÅmw. sNm_¨v Njnªv A]mav sI_p¡tWmXv b_ªp,FXm fSn CWn A¸p_s¯§mWpw tbm]n Nan¡v. FW¡o Xo¨_ntWmXv sNm_¨v kÀ¯mWw b_]\w,””
sI_p¡³ A¸p_s¯§m*v Nan¡m³ tbm]n. At¶^w FWn¡Â¸w tbXns]ms¡ tSm¶n. Sm¸^yfpÅkÀ¡v bq_p sNmXp¡m³ FWn¡nãfm. Sm`v¸^yfpÅk^psX Np® F{StW^w tkt\`pw bqän N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv CXmWpw Cãfm. Wn§s¡s¶ A_n]mtÃm. bs£ Wmät¡hv BNp¶Sv CãfÃ. C]mav GSv ssX¸v Bs\¶_o¯nÃtÃm. tbm^mt¯Wp Wfp¡v H^nãw Hs¡ tSm¶p¶ ssX¸pkÃ. Nm*mfrPs¯t¸ms` tWm«w. km]n F¸jpw doZow. ASn³s_ f\w k¶m¯s¶ fqZv– Hs¡ tbmNpw. bs£ B Np® N* tW^w sSm«v bqäns` NXow Nj¸pw sIm_n¨n`pw kÃm*§v NqXn¡qXn gZow WW¨v F³s_ sNmSw kjn H«n¸nXn¨p HjpNpkm^p¶p. ASpsNm*v AknXp¶v- F\oäv– tbm^mWpw tSm¶oÃ…””
hcoW knk^\w SpX^pt¼mÄ hnhn`n]psX fpO¯v tUgykpw Cãt¡Xpw NW¯pNqXns¡m*n^p¶p. AkÄ BNmw£t]msX G_nk^p¶ fj]pw f^§sa D`]v¡p¶ NmänsW]pw tWm¡ns¡m*n^p¶p. CX]v¡v CXnfpj¡kpw fn¶`pw A´^o£s¯ e]s¸Xp¯n.
“”F¶n«v? F´m Wo WnÀ¯ns] ssft^…Nj¨p fq¯v Wn¡pkm Wn³s_ Ak^mSn¨ NT tN«v…b_s]Xo,””
hm^n¡p fpNan`qsX SpXNÄ¡nX]n AfÀ¯n sM¡n sM^Xns¡m*v fm`Sn b_ªp.
“”F¶mXo ssf^v Xo¨s_ HjpNm³ SpX§nt]mXo…””
“”bn¶nÃmsS…””
SpXNÄ¡nX]n Wn¶v- ssNNÄ fmämsS fm`Sn b_ªp.
“”F¶m B hm^n]§v sbm¡n sks¡Xo..CknsX]n¸w tks_ B^m]ptÅ? F¶n«v {co]m]n«v bqän sk^`nXv …W½Ä BUykm]ns«m¶pw AÃtÃm,””
fm`Sn Ipäpw tWm¡n. fj]m\v. Nmäpw tNmapw NW¡p¶p*v–. bs£ hnhn`n eog\ns¸Xp¯p¶ tWm«w N*t¸mÄ fm`Sn fp«v ks^ D]À¯n] hm^n ko*pw Smtj¡v bnXn¨pk`n¨n«v– hcoWs] tWm¡n.
“”W½psX fUÀ sSt^h C§sW Wn¡p¼w tks*Xo. Wo b_. Mm³ ko«n sI¶n«v kn^Â Ct«mamw,””
“”B..””
hcoW ko*pw b_ªp SpX§n.
“”A]mav Fs¶ tWm¡n H^p skX`¨n^n In^n¨p…””
“”AÊÂ N¼n¨n^n AtÃ?””
ssN¯`w ko*pw SpXNÄ¡nX]nt`¡v Wo¡ns¡m*v fm`Sn tImUn¨p.
“”AsS…””
C¯k\ hcoW]psX ssN¯`kpw AkapsX SpXNÄ¡nX]n AfÀ¶n^p¶p.
“”FXo FWn¡v kÃmsS fpÅm³ fp«pkm…H¶v- fpÅo«v b_]mw,””
AkÄ Fjpt¶äp. AkÄ sgZn³s_ sshZns` fpät¯¡v Sn^nªp. fj kojm¯emPt¯¡v AkÄ C_§n.
“”fpÅp¶Sv Nm\t*?””
hm^n fpNant`¡v D]À¯ns¡m*v hcoW tImUn¨p.
“”bns¶ tkt*?””
fm`Sn tUgyw N`À¶ hz^¯n tImUn¨p.
“”Sn^nªn^p¶v fpÅn]m ssft^, sNmÃpw Wns¶ Mm³! Wn³s_ Np®¡T tN«v BsN Np¯nt¡_m³ bmN¯n C^n¡pkm…””
hcoW ASptN«v In^n¨p.
“”hnhn`n Xo¨s_ H¶v- Sn^nªn^pt¶m, MmWo ssf^nWp bq_p Nm\n¨psNm*v fpÅm³ tbmNpkm…””
N`nN]_n] fpOt¯msX hnhn`n N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv f_pemPt¯¡v tWm¡n. hcoW fm`Sn]psX fpOt¯¡v tWm¡n. F¶n«v hm^n A^ks^sbm¡n. WWªp NpSnÀ¶ bm³äohnt`¡v fpOw Smjv¯n tWm¡n. F¶n«v fm`Sn]psX fpOt¯¡v tWm¡n. fm`Sn AV^w NXn¨fÀ¯n hcoWs] Nmfw N¯n]fÀ¶ N®pNtamsX tWm¡n. hz]w hm^n¡v fpNan`qsX C^pfp`Napw sM¡n]fÀ¯n hcoW]psX WWsªm«n] bm³äohns`¡pw N®pNant`¡pw fm_nfm_n tWm¡n. hcoW fm`Sn]psX N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n bm³äohn³s_ fp³emP¯v ssN¯`ffÀ¯n.
“”kqiv…lyq …””
fm`Sn]pw hcoW]pw Ht^hf]w ho¡^fn«p.
bns¶ hcoW bm³äohv Smjv¯n. fm`Sn]psX Nj¸pfpän] N®pNÄ BÀ¯nt]msX hcoW]psX AWmkrSfm] t]mWns] bSnªp. H^p t^mfw tbm`pfnÃmsS, A¸w koÀ¯v, fUK`¯n³s_ kjpkjp¸n Sna§n, fm`Sn]psX fp¼n H^UvepU khvSptbms` Wn¶p. fp¼v b`Sk\ Sm³ sSm«n«pÅ, kn^ NX¯n]n«pÅ, W¡n]nXpÅ, Cu¼n]o¼n NpXn¨n«pÅ, S³s_ AWmklyfm]n koÀ¯p´n] t]mWnsNm*p b`Sk\ D^p½n hpOf_nªn«pÅ B NXn{btUlw AkÄ skÅfn_¡n BUyw Nm\p¶Sv tbms` tWm¡n Wn¶p.
bm³äohv fpjpk³ Du^pkm³ fm`Sn AktamXv– Bklys¸«p. hcoW Ipäpw tWm¡n bm³äohv Smsj¡q^n. At¸mÄ fm`Sn ssN]p]À¯n ASv S³s_ tWs^ F_nªpS^pkm³ BwPy¯n`qsX Bklys¸«p. H^p sI_pbp©n^nt]msX hcn] Nm`v sbm¡n bm³äohv fpjpk³ Du^ns]Xp¯p. Nm`psbm¡n]t¸mÄ AkapsX t]mWn bnaÀ¶Spw ANt¯ Ipk¶ fmwhaS]pw SXn¨v Np^p¯ N´pw N*p fm`Sn skÅfn_¡n. hm^n¡v fpNan`qsX]pÅ AkapsX ssNNapsX I`W¯n³s_ tkPSt]_n. Du^ns]Xp¯ bm³äohv hcn] D]À¯n fq¡nWXpt¯¡v sNm*p k¶v fm`Sn]psX tWs^ tWm¡n BhzUn¨p f\¯p.
“”hz´w f\¡msS tks_ Davt`ms^s¡m*v f\¸ns¡Xo ssft^ Wn³s_ bq_v,””
fm`Sn Nmf¡`n¸n fp^*p.
In^n¨psNm*v hcn] bm³äohv fm`Sn]psX tWs^s]_nªp. kas^ knUPvUfm]n fm`Sn ASv bnXns¨Xp¯p. bm³äohn³s_ fp¼n H«n¸nXn¨ fUK`w At¸mÄ AkapsX ssN]n bän. knl¶p k`ª bq¨ bm W¡n¡pXn¡p¶Sptbms` fm`Sn hcn]]psX bm³äohn³s_ fp³emPw f\¯p.
“”Hmiv…½w ..ivhyq…Fs´m^p f\w…Biv…””
{em´v bnXn¨Sptbms` f\¯psNm*p fm`Sn ho¡m^fn«p. At¸mÄ hnhn`n Ahiyfm] tUgyt¯msX Cuäf_]v¡¸p_t¯¡v fm_nWn¶p.
“”ssft^ tWm¡ps¶ tWm¡v Mm³ fpÅm³ tbmNpkm,””
bm³äohv f\¡p¶Sn {l²n¨n^n¡]m]n^p¶ fm`Snt]mXv hcoW b_ªp.
fm`Sn tWm¡pt¼mÄ hcoW Wn`¯n^p¶p Njnªn^p¶p. fm`Sn¡enfpOfm]n NkNÄ AN¯nsk¨v hcoW Aksa N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tWm¡n.
“”bq_p l^n¡v Nm\mtkm?””
hcoW knan¨p tImUn¨p.
“”Nm\mw. F¶m`pw Wo ssNsNm*v H¶v- sbman¨N¯n bnXnt¨. l^n¡v fq{Sw tbmNp¶Sv Nm\s«,””
fm`Sn hcoWt]mXp b_ªp. bns¶ AkÄ Cuäf_]v¡¸p_¯v Wn¡pN]m]n^p¶ hnhn`ns] tWm¡n.
“”Xo¨s_ Ct§m«v tWm¡*…Xo¨s_s¶ SÃns¡m¶m`pw tk*nÃ, FWn¡v CWow Nt{*mÄ sI¿m³ bänÃ…””
ASv b_ªv fm`Sn hm^n A^ks^ sbm¡nsk¨p. fpä¯v fpav`mWn^n¡]m]n^p¶ hcoW fm`Sn]psX sbmanªN¶ NkNÄ¡nX]n WWªv NpSnÀ¶ Ipk¶ bm³äohv N*p.
“”F¶m H`n¸o^m Wn³s_ bq_v..F³ät½m-“”
bm³äohv H^p klt¯¡v fmän t]mWnfpOffÀ¯m³ SpX§n] fm`Snt]mXv hcoW b_ªp.
“”F§sW H`n¡mSn^n¡pw hcoW?””
bq_nt`]v¡v ^*pkn^`pNÄ Btklt¯msX Np¯n]n_¡ns¡m*v fm`Sn b_ªp.
“”BUyw Wo fm¯³s_ Np®s]¸än¸_ªp… F³s_ bq_n³s_ H`n¸v At¶^w sSmX§oSm. C¸w Wn³s_] sk®¸q_v F³s_ fp¼n sSm_¶p bnXn¨p C§sW Wn¡p¶p…MmsW hnhn`n Xo¨s_t¸ms` NWymf_n]w H¶pkÃ. hmVm^\ Nj¸v Hs¡]pÅ H^p bmkw h-vNqÄ Xo¨_m,””
“”FXo ssft^ tWm¡v Mm³ fpÅm³ tbmNpkm,””
hcoW knan¨p b_ªp.
AkapsX fp¼n N´nWXn]nt` Npªv fq{SWman]n Wn¶v- hzÀ®Wn_¯n`pÅ {UmkNw bp_t¯¡v Ioän.
“”tWm¡v tfmsa ..im ..im…N®v- fmämsS tWm¡t\ …N®v- fmämsS tWm¡v F³s_ bqäo¶v- fq{Sw sS_n¡ps¶…””
hcoW C^pssNNÄsNm*pw t]mWn¸naÀ¸v bnXn¨N¯n]n^p¶p. hcoW]psX bm³äohv km]n sk¨p I¸n k`n¨psNm*v fm`Sn hcn] fq{Ssfmjn¡p¶Sv tWm¡n]n^p¶p. At¸mÄ AkÄ kn^`pNÄ sNm*v t]mWn¸naÀ¸n Np¯n]na¡p¶Sn³s_ lÐw k`n] D¨¯n tN«p.
fq{Ssfmjn¨p Njnªv hcoW fm`Sn]psX]Xp¯v k¶n^p¶p. fj Np_]p¶ `£\sfm¶pw N*növ- fm{Sfà làn NqXnt]m F¶v- hwl]n¡p¶ ^oSn]n`mkpN]pw sI]vSp.
hcoW fm`Sn]psX ssNs]Xp¯v S³s_ t]mWn]n sk¨p. F¶n«v AkÄ S³s_ ssN fm`Sn]psX t]mWn]n`pw.
“”CSv F³s_]pw H^p cm³ähn B^p¶p tfmsa…b»n¡v t¹hnÂ. shN-vhn³s_ H^p Znhvt¹….F¶m ^hkm ..BÄ¡ms^ W½sX sfmt`w I´ow sSmtXw Hs¡ Nm\nt¨m*v C§sW C^n¡m³…F´v ^hkm BÄ¡m^v W½sX bq_pw I´ow sfmt`w Hs¡¡*v N¼n]mNp¶Sv Nm\m³…””
hcn] fm`Sn]psX WWªv Npjª t]mWn]n kn^`pNan«p Np¯n]n_¡tk b_ªp.
“”Bim…CSv sNmÅmktÃm,””
sbs«¶v- fpj¡fpÅ H^p bp^pglÐw tN«v AkÀ sM«n¯n^nªp. AkÀ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv e]¶v- tbm]n.
“”bXt¨msW, fm¯¨³!””
hcoW f{´n¨p. ssN]n H^p tfmssd`pw. C]msat¸mjm\v Ct§m«v k¶Sv? Wà fj]pw Nmäpw Nm^\w fäp lЧsam¶pw tNÄ¡m³ bän]n^p¶nÃ.
“”Atim…ASv l^n,””
sbs«¶v- hm^n tWs^ bnXn¨nXpN]m]n^p¶ ^*p hv{SoNtamXpw A]mÄ b_ªp.
“”F³s_ sgZv Wn§Ä AWmlmhy{bkÀ¯W§Ä¡v Dbt]mPn¡pkmt\m?””
“”Hm, M§av F¶m AWmlmhykm tI«m Nm\n¡pt¶? ,””
hcoW fmUNfm]n In^n¨psNm*p tImUn¨p.
bp^pglÐw tN«v Cuäf_]psX bn¼n C^n¡pN]m]n^p¶ hnhn`n sbs«¶v- F¯ntWm¡n. knl¶ Np_p¡³ tNmjns] N*Sptbms` A]mapsX N®pNÄ hnhn`n]psX tf bSnªp.
“”§vti? CSm^m? CSv W½sX t`m_³hv fmgn³s_ sb¼na hnhn`n]tÃ?””
tUgyw N¯p¶ N®pNtamsX hcoWs]]pw fm`Sn]pw tWm¡n]n«v hnhn`n A]mapsX tWs^ AWnãt¯msX S`Np`p¡n.
“”A¸w hnhn`n Xo¨_pw Ck^psX N¼Wo sb«Smt\m?””
A]mÄ hnhn`n]psX tWs^ sI¶p.
fpOt¯mXv fpOw tWm¡n]SnWv tlgw hcoW]pw fm`Sn]pw A]mÄ¡v bn¶ms` sI¶p.
“”hmt_ hnhn`n Xo¨À B ssX¸v AÃ,””
“”GSv ssX¸v AÃm¶v-?””
A]mÄ Ak^psX tWs^ eog\fm]n tWm¡n.
“”H¶v- tbm Nj¸n bq_nNsa,””
A]mÄ D¨¯n b_ªp
“”Wn³s_ ^*n³s_ bqän`pw F³s_ A*Àsk]_n³s_ ANt¯ Np® tN_nSm. ASpsNm*v Wos]ms¡ GSv ssX¸v B¶v FWn¡_n]mw. C¸w F³s_ b_¼nt¡_n F³s_ N«nt` C^p¶v- ^*p bq_nNapw sk^`pw Ct«m*v N¼n kÀ¯mtWmw b_ªn^n¡p¶p. hnhn`n Bt^`pw k^p¶pt*m¶v- tWm¡n Nmk`n^n¡p¶p. bqän sk^`n«p Nj¸v SoÀ¡pt¶Wv Nmk`n^n¡p¶Sv– GSv ssX¸mXo ssf^pNsa?””
ASv b_ªpNjnªSpw A]mÄ hm^n¡v fpNan`qsX hnhn`n]psX fp`¡v N]_n¸nXn¨v sM¡n]Spw H^pfn¨m]n^p¶p. bs£ A¯^sfm^p Wo¡w {bSo£n¨n^p¶ hnhn`n B £\w Ss¶ A]mapsX N^\¯v BªXn¨p. ASv A]mÄ {bSo£n¨n^p¶nÃ.
fm¯¨³ fpäs¯ sb^pfj]nt`¡v f`À¶Xn¨p ko\p. ko\ bN¸n ImXns]jps¶Â¡m³ {lfn¨ A]mÄ bm]`n S«n ko*pw ko\p.
“”….it½!””
C¯k\ ko\Sv fpOfX¨m\v Wn`¯v NnX¶ H^p f^¯Xn]nÂ.
“”””iq]v…At½…”
A]mÄ tkUWsNm*v M^§n.
bns¶ hnhn`n tUgyt¯msX hcoWs]]pw fm`Sn]pw tWm¡n]n«v fj]t¯¡n_§n.
“”””Xo¨t_…”
hcoW bn¶ms` sIÃm³ SpX§n.
Sn^nªv Wn¶v- hnhn`n AkapsX tWs^ Iq*pkn^`p]^v¯n.
“”””hcosW,”
D_¨ hz^¯n hnhn`n b_ªp.
“”””Wn§sX Cãw, Wn§sX FWvtKm]v–sf³_v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv ….ASnt`¡v CWntf`m Fs¶s¡m*t¶¡^pSv,”
AkÄ fj]nt`¡n_§nt¸m]n.
B N`n¸n`m\v hnhn`n ko«n k¶Sv. k¶t¸mÄ koXv Sp_¶p NnX¡p¶p. dndn³ kt^* hf]fm]n«nà F¶v- AkÄ¡_n]mfm]n^p¶p. Cs¶´m\v tW^s¯? fN³ k¶n«p*v F¶_nªt¸mÄ AkapsX tUgysfÃmw fm_n. H¨tNĸn¡msS sIÃmw. H^p hÀss{bhmNs«. AkÄ bp©n^nt]msX HmÀ¯p. AkÄ bSns] koXnsW hfobn¨p. hnsäu«n Wn¶v- AN¯v N]_n. dndn³ AN¯m\v. kmSn bSns] Im^n]n«sS]pÅq. AkÄ dmPv imans` tfltf sk¨n«v sbs«¶v- NSNv SÅn¯p_¶v- AN¯pN]_n.
H^p Wnfngw hnhn`n bN¨pWn¶p.
S³s_ lzmhw Wn`¨ptbmNp¶Sv tbms`]kÄ¡v tSm¶n.
NnX¡]n f`À¶v NnX¡pN]m]n^p¶p dndn³. Ak³s_ dÀfpZ Smsjfp«pks^ Smjv¯n]n«n^p¶p. H^p ssN]n sfmssd bnXn¨v, ASn tWm¡n Wo*p koÀ¯v D²^n¨ `nwP¯n bnXn¨p hz]wtemPw sI¿pN]m]n^p¶p Ak³.
Ak³ tbXn¨v A`_n Wn`knan¨v ImXns]jpt¶äp. sfmssd Ak³s_ ssN]n Wn¶v- sS_n¨ptbm]n. Wn`¯v ko\ sfmssd`n AkÄ tWm¡n. ASn³s_ hv{No³ At¸mjpw ASnl]s¸Xp¯p¶ ^oSn]n`pÅ hv{So bp^pg hwPfUrly§Ä Nm\n¨psNm*n^n¡pN]m]n^p¶p. hnhn`n ASnt`¡v tWm¡ns¡m*n^p¶Sv– N*t¸mÄ dÀfpZ k`n¨p N]än]n«v WPvWS f_]vt¡*¯nWp bN^w Ak³ ImXn¡pWnªv sfmssd Wn`¯v Wns¶Xp¯p. SnXp¡¯n dm¡v d«³ AfÀ¯n B Urlyw fmän¡aªp. bns¶]m\v At¸mjpw Sm³ WPvWWm\v F¶_n]p¶Sv. SnXp¡¯n Ak³ dÀfpZ k`n¨pN]än]n«p.
hnhn`n sb«¶v b^nh^t¯¡v fX§n k^nN]pw fp_n]n Wn¶v- C_§nt¸mkpN]pw sI]vSp.
AkÄ¡v Npan¡mtWm AXp¡a]n N]_mtWm H¶pw tSm¶n]nÃ. tWs^ NnX¡]ns`¡m\v AkÄ tbm]Sv. h-vNqÄ kn«pk¶m BUyw sI¿p¶Sv Npan¡pN]m]n^n¡pw. bs£ dndn³s_ fp_n]n N* Urlyw AkapsX hN` hzØS]pw Naªp.
khv{S§Ä tbm`pw fm_msS AkÄ NnX¡]n f`À¶p NnX¶p. koXnWp skan]n Bt^mXpw shuimÀ±¯nWv tbmNm_nÃm]n^ps¶¦n`pw dndntWmXv AkÄ Nan¡q«pNm^ns]t¸ms`]m]n^p¶p. h-vNqans` Nm^y§apw Wm«pNm^y§apw Ak³s_ tNmsaKnt` Nm^y§apw H¶pw knXmsS F¶pw AkÀ hwhm^n¡pfm]n^p¶p.
bs£ C¶v- Sm³ AksW Nmt\*m¯ ^oSn]n N*n^n¡p¶p. Cu]nsX Sm³ t`m_³h¨m]sW Ft¸mjptfmÀ¡m³ Nm^\w dndn³ B\v. Hmt^m kÀgkpw Njn]pt¼mÄ A¨m]³s_ fpOkpw emkkpw fmW_nh§apw AkWn NqXpS NqXpS NX¶pk^nN]m\v. C¶v- Ak³s_ KWtW{µn]w NqXn Sm³ N*n^n¡p¶p.
ASv fm{Stfm?
A¨m]³s_ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv `nwP¯ns` kl¯v H^p f_pNv D*m]n^p¶p. ASpw NrSyfm]n dndn³s_Sn`pfp*v.
A¨m]Wv Cu {bm]¯n A{S k`n¸kpw N«n]pw Wo«kpfp*m]n^pt¶m?
B fpOs¯ emkw! Cutlmt], Nmfw Sna¨pf_n]pN]m]n^p¶p Ak³s_ fpO¯v. St¶mXv Nq«pNm^sWt¸ms` kÀ¯fmWw b_]p¶ sNm©p¶ Nan¡p¶ F³s_ tbm¶ptfm³…
tUiw bpãvXns¸«p Wà Aeymhn]psX tbms`]m]n«p*v. N^p¯pw tfmiWkpfm] l^o^w. hnhn`n¡v H^p Wnfngw kÃm¯ AenfmWw tSm¶n. A©pkÀgfm]n Hä]v¡m\v AksW tbmän kaÀ¯p¶Sv.
C^pb¯ns]m¶p k]Êm]ntà AkWv? hnhn`n, WnW¡v Ak³ sNm¨pNp«n]m]n^n¡pw. bs£ Ct¸mÄ Ak³ H¯ H^p bp^pgWm\v. Ak³s_ {bm]¯nWv tI^m¯ H^p {bkÀ¯ns]m¶pfà Wo A¸w fp¼v Ak³ sI¿p¶Sm]n N*Sv. sSäv Wn³s_]m\v. Ak³s_ {bm]s¯, Ak³s_ hzNm^ySs] dipfmWn¡msS Ak³s_ fp_n]nt`¡v CXn¨pN]_n]Sv Wo sI]vS sSäv Ss¶]m\v.
Cu {bm]¯n B¬Np«nNapw sb¬Np«nNapw sI¿p¶ H^p hmVm^\Nm^yftà AkWpw sI]vSpÅq? bs£ dndn³ S³s_ tfmWm\v. b`t¸mjpw fpSnÀ¶SnWp tlgw Sm³ AksW sN«n¸nXn¨p AksW Sm³ sN«n¸nXn¨p NnX¶n«p*v. ssUktf F³s_ tfm³ At¸mÄ S³s_ tUiw N*n«v Fs´¦n`pw A^pSm]vN tSm¶n]n«p*mkptfm? hnhn`n]psX DÅv sWm´p. F¦n`pw ASnWpw Nm^\w Sm³ Ss¶]m\v. fN³ fpSnÀ¶p Njnªn«pw H^p NpªnsW F¶tbms`]m\v Sm³ AksW N*Sv. Ak³s_ bp^pgSzs¯ fWÊn`m¡m³, {bm]¯nsâ Bkly§Ä fWÊn`m¡m³ Sm³ {lfn¨nÃ.
C^pb¯ns]m¶p k]Êv! Nmfw N]_psbm«n¡p¶ {bm]w! Cutlmt], F¶n«v Sm³ AksW {Xoäv sI]vS knVw? H^p tWjvh_nsNm¨nsW tbms`!
F´v S^w Xo¨À B\v Sm³?
AkÄ bSns] Fjpt¶äp. hmkVmWw dndn³s_ fp_n]nt`¡v tbm]n. kmSn`n fp«n.
“”””tfmtW,”
AkÄ knan¨p.
“”””Biv”
Ak³ knantN«p.
AkÄ NSNv lÐw tNĸn¡msS Sp_¶v- AN¯v N]_n.
dndn³ N«n`n Nfnjv¶v- NnX¡pN]m]n^p¶p. AkÄ Ak³s_ NnX¡]n C^p¶p. Ak³s_ tSman ssN sk¨p. tSman Wn¶v- ssN hmkVmWw S`fpXn]ns`¡v AkÄ Wo¡n.
“”””tfmtW,”
AkÄ bSns] knan¨p. hnhn`n]psX Wnlzmhw S³s_ bn³Njp¯n sSmXp¶Sv dndn³ A_nªp. Ak³ ln^ÊW¡n. fpOw hmkVmWw Sn^n¨v hnhn`ns] tWm¡n.
hnhn`n¡v irU]w Wp_p§p¶Sv tbms` tSm¶n.
dndnsâ N®pNÄ Wn_sªmjpNp¶p.
“”””tfmWq!”
AkÄ A`ntkmsX AksW knan¨p.
“”””f½n, sFw _n]`n thm_n…sFw Asg]nwZv Hmcv Cäv–..”
“”””G]v–…CÃ tfmWp.. N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv sg]nw tSms¶s* FWn¡sÃXm? Wn³s_ GKv H¶pw tWm¡msS Wo Ss¶ DÅt¸mÄ Wn³s_ fp_o kt¶Wv…? tfmWp H^p sg]pfpw co sI¿* tNt«m. sF tWm Cäv– sWu. AsSms¡ Wm¨p_ B\v. tfmWq³s_ FKnWp hyq«dnÄ B\v. MmWnt¸m kt¶ A¡m^yw fm{Sw b_]mWm. f½n ASv N*p F¶v- sk¨p tfm³ kngfn¡ptkm N^t]zm sI]vsS¡Ãv…”
dndn³ NnX¡]n Wns¶jpt¶äp AkÄ¡enfpOfm]n NnX¡]n C^p¶p.
“”””f½o, Mm³ Mm³ f½osW HmÀ¯nÃtÃm…”
Ak³ N®pNÄ SpX¨psNm*p b_ªp.
“”””f½n b¸m]nÃmsS CS©mfs¯ sNmÃftÃ? CSpkt^w B^pw f½ns]¸än tfmlfm]n«v H¶pw b_ªn«nÃ. f½n H¯n^n sI_p¸w AtÃ? Cu {bm]¯n f½ns]t¸m`pÅ F{S sb®p§am Io¯t¸^v tNav¸nIn^n¡ps¶? H¯n^n DUmi^\w H¶pw tk*. f½osX NqsX tKm`n sI¿p¶ hcoW Bân, fm`Sn]mân…Cks^¸än Hs¡ N^¡m^p b_]p¶Sv tNÄ¡\w. ASv tbms` F{St]m tb^m…bs£ Cks^¡mapw hpµ^n, Aks^¡mapw {bm]w Np_ª f½ns]¸än FÃm^pw s_hvsbNväm]n«m b_]ps¶. At¶^fm\v Mm³ C§sW hz´w hpOw…t¨..Mm³..”
Ak³s_ hz^w ko*pw CX_n.
“”””ASv hm^fnsÃs¶…A§sW hz´w hpOw C¨n^ns]ms¡ tWm¡otàF³s_ tfm³ bns¶ F§sW]m tWmÀ½Â BNps¶?”
AkÄ bp©n^n¨p.
dndn³ knlzmhw k^msS Aksa tWm¡n.
“”””fnjn¨p tWm¡n B hpµ^³ N®pNÄ skao ImXn¡*. sI]vtSm CX]vs¡ms¡…f½n]v¡v kngfw Cöv- fm{Skà …CWn A§sW…”
AkÄ fpãn Ip^p«n A´^o£¯n`qsX D]À¯pN]pw Smjv¯pN]pw sI]vSpsNm*p H^p NphrSn¸p©n^nt]msX AksW tWm¡n b_ªp.
“”””….C§sW sI¿p¶ B b\n]v¡v C¯n^n Dt¯KWw Nn«m³ sfmssd ImÀKv sI¿m³ f½n ssbthw St¶¡mw,”
“”””At¿…f½n,”
Ak³ Aksa tSman AXn¡m³ Nt¿m§n.
“”””At¿ Cu f½n,”
AXn]v¡m³ H^p§n] ssN]n bnXn¨psNm*v AksW Nan]m¡n AkÄ b_ªp.
“”””C¸w F¶m I½`m…At¶^w Nm\mWm^p¶p fpOw. ImNm³ sSmX§p¶tbms`]m Ns®ms¡]n^ps¶,”
AkÄ N®pNÄ fnjn¨pNm\n¨p.
“”””t¨ f½n, fn*mSn^n f½n. C¸w AsSms¡ HmÀ¡p¼w H^p kÃm¯ I½Â..”
AkÄ In^n¨p. AkWpw.
“”””Fs´ms¡]m b_sª..Aks^¡mÄ f½n sI_p¸fm\v…Aks^¡mÄ f½n hpµ^n]m\v…Dw ..Dw…WÃ thm¸v..l^n¡pw bS¸n¡mW_n]mw F³s_ tbm¶ptfmWv…”
“”””bns¶..ASv bS¸o^pw sbmS¸o^pw H¶pkÃ. {bm]w Ft´s^s]m*v f½n¡v?”
“”””fVp^¸SntWjv–!”
AkÄ sImXn¨psNm*p b_ªp.
“”””ASpsNm*m\tÃm N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Wo sb®pNm\n¡m³ ^*ptbt^w Nq«n k¶Sv!”
dndn³ In^n¨p.
H^p kÀgfm]n dndn³ B Bl]w hnhn`nt]mXp b_]p¶p. A¶v- hnWnf Nm\m³ tbmkpN]m\v F¶v- b_ªm\v ko«n Wn¶v- tbm]Sv. Sn^n¨pk¶t¸mÄ hÔy]m]n. k¶t¸mÄ b_]pN]m\v–.
“”””f½o..f½n H^n¡`pw t]mKn¡m³ Im³hv CÃm¯ H^p Nm^yw Mm³ b_]pN]m. f½n h½Snt¨ bäq,”
“”””F¶Sm? F¶Sm]m`pw Wo]mUyw B gÀ«pw bm³_vhpsfms¡ fm_v. Npan¡v. kn]À¸v f\¡p¶p,”
“”””AsSms¡ fm_mw. bs£ H^p km¡pS^\w?’
“”””Wos]¶ C¶v- N* hnWntfs` Z]t`mPv b_]zmt\m dndntW?”
“”””tbm f½n. ho^n]hv B]n«v H^p Nm^yw b_]p¼jm f½osX H^p tKm¡v!”
“”””Hm! Ck³s_ Nm^yw! F¶Sm? tkPw b_!”
“”””f½n N`ym\w Njn¡\w,”
hnhn`n ASv tN«v BUyw H¶v- sM«n. bns¶ AksW tUgy¯n tWm¡n. AkhmWw sbm«nIn^n¨p.
bns¶ AkÄ Ak³s_ fpO¯nWXp¯v k¶v- f\¯p.
“”””Wo NpXn¨n«pt*m dndntW?”
“”””H^p dn]À..dn]À Mm³ fp¼pw NpXn¨n«p*v. f½n]v¡pw S¶n«p*v. AsSm¶pw Aà {blvWw. tZmÎÀ cn`n¸v Wmsa k^pw. tZmÎÀ Zntkmjvhn]m. S³s_SÃm¯ Nm^\¯mÂ. AsSms¡ f½n¡_n]mtÃm. tZmNväÀ¡v– f½ns] Cãkm. Nm\mWpw hpµ^³. thm do s_Zn äp inw. Wmsa tZmÎÀ tZmÎ_psX tI«tWw tI«¯nt]w Nq«nk^pw,”
“”””F¶n«v Wo h½Snt¨m?”
“”””bn¶ÃmsS? N®pfX¨p h½Sn¨p,”
“”””F¶m F³s_ tbm¶ptfm³ Ss¶ A§v sN«nt¡m. tN«ntà ]qt_m¸ns` GsSms¡t]m ^mKy¯v tP fmt^Kv `oP`m. AXp¯fmhw CktXw `oP`]ns¡mapw,”
“”””At¿…tP…t¨ ..MmtWm…”
Ak³s_ ^*pssNNapw ]m{´nNfm]n A^s¡«nsW f_]v¡msWt¶m\w Smtj¡v tbm]n.
“”””tP]m¶pw b_ªv ssNs]´nWm At§m«psNm*ptbmNps¶?”
AkÄ D_s¡ In^n¨p.
“”””AtSm f½osW sN«n¡p¶ Nm^yw HmÀ¯t¸mÄ bnt¶w C§sW Bt]m?”
AkÄ BUyw ssN Sn^ÝoWfm]n bnXn¨p. bns¶ ASv `wdfm]n D]À¯n.
hSy¯n dndnWv A^s¡«n H^p I`Ww SpX§n]n^p¶p. f½n S³s_ `nwPw N*p F¶_nªt¸mÄ Ak³ BUyw kngfkpw KmayS]pfp*ms]¦n`pw hnhn`n ASnsW kas^ bNzfm]n N*SvsNm*v dndn³ BUyw Blzhn¡pN]pw bns¶ ASv AktamXpÅ H^p {btSyN Cãfm]n fm_pN]pw sI]vSp.
“”””bns¶ A§sW BNm*n^n¡ptfm?”
Ak³ Sn^n¨Xn¨p.
“”””Nm^yw f½n Bt\`pw H^p eqt`mN ^we]m Mm³ ko«n Ct¸mjpw N*psNm*n^n¡p¶Sv,”
B b^mfÀlw hnhn`n]n ftWmi^fm] H^p Wm\w sNm*pk¶p.
“”””Hm, N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv F³s_ ssUktf..Fs¶ A§v sNmÃv..C§sW Wm\n¡msS f½n, …Nm^yw Mm³ f½osX tfmWm. bs£ MmWpw H^p sI_p¸¡m^Wm. FWn¡pw tSm¶pw. C§sW BNp¶ Nm^y§Ä,”
Ak³ fpãn `wdfm]n A´^o£¯nt`¡v D]À¯n.
“”””Wo H¶v- tbmXm, Wns¶ FWn¡_n]ntÃ? bns¶ dndn³ tfmtW, H^p Nm^yw. Wn³s_ f½n Bs^t]`pw sN«m³ fp«n Wn¡pskm¶pkÃ.F¶v- sk¨v FWn¡o {bm]¯ns` co`n§vhv– H¶pw Cà F¶Ã. B co`nwPvhnsW¡mÄ FWn¡v k`pSm F³s_ tfm³s_ NqsX C§sW Naow NphrSow Hs¡ b_ªv Kokn¡ps¶. Wo Fjp¯pNm^WtÃ? XmtPm_nWv tlgw hminSy¯nWpÅ tWmd h½mWw C´y]nt`¡v sNm*pk^mWpÅ BatÃ? WnW¡v Mm³ b_]p¶Sv l^n¡pw fWÊn`mkpw; CtÃ?”
“”””fWÊn`mkpw,”
Ak³ b_ªp.
bns¶ Ak³ AkapsX sWän]n AfÀ¯nIpwdn¨p.
Nm^yw A§sW b_sª¦n`pw dndn³ hz]wtemPw sI¿p¶Sv– N*tlgw hnhn`n]psX hN` hUmIm^h¦Â¸§apw Nmän b_¶p tbm]n^p¶p. ASv ks^ AkÄ f^n¨p tbm] eÀ¯mkv t`m_³hnsW fm{Sw HmÀ¯p Njn]p¶ fNsW bYn¸n¡p¶SnÂ, kaÀ¯p¶Sn BWµw Ns*¯p¶ H^p hmVm^\ hv{So]m]n^p¶p. bs£ ASnWp tlgw AkapsX fWÊv bqÀ®fm]pw ssNkn«ptbm]n F¶v- tk\sf¦n b_]mw. knkmi¯nWv fp¼v hmVm^\]nt`s_ ss`wPnNmhàn]pÅ H^p sb®v- B]n^p¶p. hnhn`n. bSnW©p k]Êm]t¸mÄ fpS Ss¶ B\p§Ä Aksa sSmXmWpw bnXn¡mWpw k^pt¼mÄ AkÄ kn`¡pfm]n^p¶nsöv fm{SfÃ, AsSms¡ AkÄ BhzUn¡pN]pw sI]vSn^p¶p. B\p§Ä BUyfm]n fp`¡v bnXn¨t¸mÄ AkÄ ASv Gs_ BhzUn¨p. bns¶ Ak^psX N^hvbÀlw S³s_ fp`NÄ¡v Nn«p¶ Akh^§Ä¡v AkÄ Nm¯n^p¶p. bSnWm_p k]ÊmNp¶SnWv fp¼v l^o^¯n³s_ GSm*v FÃm emP¯pw Ss¶ B\p§Ä bnXn¨p sM¡n¡jnªn^p¶p.
bns¶ t`m_³hnsW knkmiw Njn¨SnWv tlgfm\v AkapsX ss`wPnN In´NÄ¡pw hzbvW§Ä¡pw H^p Wn]{´\fp*mNp¶Sv. H^p fmSrNm bÅneàWm]n^p¶p A]mÄ. tWm]¼pw {bmÀTW]pw `pSnWn]]pfpÅ AXn]p_¨ bÅneà³. dndn³ KWn¨Sn¸ns¶ Akans` bNzS bqÀ®fm]n. H^p Wà hv{So]v¡v tk* D¯f fmSrN]m]n b`^pw Aksa Iq*n¡m\n¨n^p¶p.
t`m_³hn³s_ f^\w hnhn`ns] kÃmsS SaÀ¯ns]¦n`pw dndn³ AkapsX KoknS¯n ko*pw {bNmlw Wn_¨p. ko«n {bn]s¸« fN³ fm{Sfm]n^p¶nà Ak³. Wà Wm«pNm^Wpw Wà hibmYn]pw Wà knUymÀTn]pw NqXn]m]n^p¶p Ak³. bSnW©mw k]Ên¯s¶ fmSreqfn BjvI¸Sn¸n dm`bwàn]n Ak³s_ BUys¯ sI_pNT A¨Xn¨p k¶p. bn¶oXv b` fpOyVm^m fmhnNNan`pw.
t`m_³hn³s_ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv f^\tlgw, A©p kÀg§Ä¡v tlgw hnhn`n]n ko*pw sNufm^Nm`s¯ AWn]{´nS NmfknNm^w D_sbm«m³ SpX§n. AkapsX hpir¯p¡Ä hcoW]pw f`Sn]pw H^p Han]pw f_]pfnÃmsS b`dÔ§ans`Às¸Xp¶Sv Aksa hzmVoWn¨p. b`t¸mjm]n S³s_ tUi¯n³s_ Dgv\]nX§an NXs¶¯p¶ bp^pghvbÀl§Ä Aksa Dt¯Kn¸nIn^n¡\w. AkhmWw eÀ¯mkn³s_ ^qbhmUrlyfpÅ fN³ hz]wtemPw sI¿p¶Sv N*Sv Akans` Aktlgn¡p¶ FSnÀ¸nsW]pw SNÀ¯p. A¯^¯n Wn]{´n¡mWmkm¯ knNm^w Cu]nsX tSm¶n¯pX§n]Sv hpVo_ntWmXm\v. hpVoÀ tftWm³. h-vNqans` Nm]nNmVymbN³. knkminS³. Ft¸mjpw tWm¡pw. In^n¡pw. Akh^fp*m¡n hwhm^n¡m³ k^pw. A§sW]m]n^p¶p BUyw. bns¶ bns¶ tcm¬ W¼À tImUn¨p. BUyw AkÄ¡v ASntWmXv h½Sn¨nÃ. tcm¬, CâÀsWäv Hs¡ F§sW]m\p hv{SoNsa Npj¸¯n`mjv¯p¶Sv F¶SnsW¸än AkÄ¡v Wà tdmVyfp*m]n^p¶p. F¦n`pw A]mÄ em^y]pw sbסapfpÅ H^mam\v F¶ ssV^y¯n AkÄ BUyUnkhw Ss¶ tcm¬ W¼À WÂNn. BUyw it`m, im]v, siu BÀ ]q, PpZv tfm\nwPv HsN]m]n^p¶p kmXvhvB¸ns` Øn^w hµÀlNÀ. bns¶ Njnt¨m? F´m hvsbgyÂ? F´m D_§ms¯? FWn¡pw D_¡w k^p¶nÃ, ^hfpÅsSs´¦n`pw b_]mw, t{bffp*m]n^pt¶m SpX§n] Nm^y§ans`¯n. bns¶ ihv sW fnÊv– sI¿p¶ntÃ? F´m\v Cu shuµ^y¯n³s_ ^ihyw? C{S sI_p¸¯n F§sW tb^v Io¯]m¡msS Kokn¡m³ Njn]p¶p? C§Ws¯ tImUy§am]n.bns¶]m\v CtfmKnNapsX NX¶pk^kv. Nnhv CtfmKnNÄ. bns¶ H^pWmÄ Imän³s_ AkhmWw D½. ASv Njnªv FÃm B\p§apw sI]p¶tbms` A_n]msS ssN tSm«¸w A§sW B]Sm tNt«m H¶pw tSm¶^pSv F¶ bÃkn.
H^p Unkhw h-vNqan Wn¶v- k^pt¼mÄ A]mÄ ssd¡pfm]n bn¶ms` k¶p. N]_m³ WnÀdÔn¨p. h½Sn¨nÃ. BapNÄ Nm\pw. Fs¶ms¡ b_ªp. H¯n^n WnÀdÔn¨t¸mÄ bn¼n N]_n. tUi¯v fp«msS]n^p¶p. kosX¯n]t¸mÄ F´psNmt*m A]msa ko«nt`¡v knan¨p. Sn^hv¡^n¡pw F¶m\v AkÄ N^pSn]Sv. bs£ B £\¯nWv Nm¯n^p¶Sv tbms`]m]n^p¶p A]mÄ. ssd¡v kjn]^nNn Ss¶ sk¨v A]mÄ ko«nt`¡v AktamsXm¸w WX¶p. AkÄ C^n¡m³ b_ªp. AkÄ AN¯ptbm]n Im]]n«p. Im]]pfm]n k^pt¼mÄ A]mÄ AN¯pN]_n en¯ntf`pÅ tcmt«mNÄ Nm\pN]m\v. S³s_ bj] tcmt«mNÄ Sm¸^yt¯msX tWm¡n¡m\p¶p. Im] NpXn¨psNm*n^p¶t¸mÄ A]mÄ Ss¶ tWm¡n PqZfm]n bp©n^n¡pN]m\v.
Im] NpXn¨pNjnMp N¸v Sn^nsN km§pt¼mÄ A]mapsX kn^¯p¼pNÄ S³s_ kn^`pNan sSm«Sv. IqXpbnXn¨ hvbÀlw. F´v sNmt*m tUiw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv sfm¯w NpanÀtNm^n]n«p. ASv A]mÄ fWÊn`m¡n]n^n¡\w. ASm\v– A]mÄ fpOw S³s_ fpOt¯¡v AXp¸n¨Sv. SmWpw ASv {bSo£n¨pWn¡p¶Sv A]mÄ fWÊn`m¡n]n^n¡\w. AXp¯ Wnfngw A]mapsX Ip*pNÄ S³s_ N¬tbmaNan AfÀ¶p. ASn³s_ frUp`S, Sm^ayw, Ss¶ knkl]m¡n. S³s_ lzmhw D]À¶p. fp`NÄ koÀ¯p. fp`¡®pNÄ NqÀ¯pSp_n¨p. bq_n sIm_n¨n`pw sNmjp¸pfnän¨p.
A]mapsX Ip*pNÄ N®pNan Wn¶v- Nknan`pw bns¶ Ip*n`psf¯n. A©p kÀg§Ä¡v tlgw BUyfm]pÅ bp^pghvbÀlw! A]mapsX ssNNÄ Ss¶ k^nªpfp_p¡n]t¸mÄ S³s_ ssNNapw A]msa Ipän.
Im]¡¸v Smsjko\pXªp.
A]mÄ F{SSk\ S³s_ AV^§Ä NXn¨pk`n¨o¼n F¶v- Sm³ A_nªnÃ. GtSm fm]nNmt`mN¯m]n^p¶p. CSpks^ A_n]m¯ GtSm H^p t`mN¯v. Wn_§apw PÔkpw lÐkpw Gäkpw So£\fm] H^p t`mN¯v.
A]mapsX lzmh¯n³s_ hpPÔ¯n hz]w f_¶p Wn¡pt¼mjm\v bn¼n NSNv Sp_¡p¶ lÐw tNÄ¡p¶Sv. tbXn¨p sM«n¯n^nªp tWm¡n]t¸mÄ fp¼n dndn³.

SnXp¡¯n hpVoÀ C_§nt¸mNpwtbmÄ dndn³ fp_n]nt`¡v tbm]n^p¶p. A¸tW^w Njnªt¸mÄ Ak³ hnhn`n]psX sdZv_qfn tWm¡n. AknsX Aksa N*nÃ. hnhn`n PmÀZWp fp¼n Wn¡p¶Sv KW`n`qsX dndn³ N*p. Ak³ sbs«¶v- At§m«p tbm]n. AksW AenfpOoN^n¡mWmkmsS hnhn`n fpOw Sn^n¨p. Ak³ In^n¨psNm*v AkapsX fp¼n C^p¶p. hnhn`n sbs«¶v- fpOw Smjv¯n. dndn³ AkapsX SmXnbnXn¨p]À¯n. AkapsX N®pNan WWkv– AkÄ N*p. Ak³ ASv kn^ sNm*v H¸n¡a]m³ SpX§n. bs£ ASv tks*¶v- sk¨n«v Ip*pNÄ AkapsX N®pNapsX tWs^ AXp¸n¨p. fnjnWo^pNÄ Ip*pNÄ sNm*v H¸ns]Xp¯p. Wmkn Ak³ D¸p^hf_nªp. Ak³s_ Ip*pNapsX hvbÀlw N®pNan bSnªt¸mÄ Akan Wn¶v- hpOUm]Nfm] H^p Wnlzmhfp]À¶p.
“”””CsS´m, f½o? f½ns]´nWm Ct{Sw .C§sW I½n Wn¡ps¶?”
hnhn`n]psX fpO¯v At¸mjpw AbfmWn¡s¸«,e]s¸«, emkw Hmt^m Wnfngw Njn]pt´m_pw NW¯v k¶p.
“”””F³s_ sbm¶v f½n, Fs¶t]mÀ¯v B\v f½osX Cu tbXns]¦n CSm tNÄ¡v FWn¡nSv tbms` ht´mgfpÅ H^p Nm^yw bns¶ tks_]nÃ,”
B km¡pNÄ hnhn`n]n A¸w I`W§ap*m¡n. AkÄ bSns] fpOfp]À¯n.
“”””f½o,”
dndn³ AXp¯v k¶v- AkapsX tSman bnXn¨p.
“”””f½n Fs¶ knlzhn¡v. MmWnSn im¸n]m\v. FWn¡v fWÊn`mNpw. Mm³ FKyqt¡äZm. CSnsWs]ms¡ si¯n]m]n Nm\mWpÅ knk^sfms¡ FWn¡p*v,”
hnhn`n]n Wn¶v- H^p N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv BlzmhWnlzmhw dndn³ tN«p.
Akan Wn¶v- e]kpw AbfmWem^kpw bSns] Wo§p¶Sv dndn³ N*p.Ak³ AkapsX tSman bnXn¨fÀ¯n.
B hvbÀlWw Akans` e]s¯ bqÀ®fm]pw fmän]Sptbms` tSm¶n. Ct¸mÄ AkapsX fpO¯v ftWmi^fm] `Ö Wn_ªp. bns¶ bp©n^n]pw.
“”””Hm, F³s_ f½o!”
Ak³ AkapsX Nknan D½ sk¨p.
hnhn`n ASv {bSo£n¨n^p¶nÃ. bs£ B IpwdWw Akans` AkhmWs¯ e]¯n³s_ N\nN]pw Wo¡n.
“”””Hm, F³s_ D½]v¡v A{Sk`n] fVp^sfm¶pw Nm\¯nà Fs¶Wn¡_n]mw.”
AkÄ hwl]n¨v AksW tWm¡n.
“”””ASntW¡mÄ F{S]n^«n hq¸À D½Nam A]mav f½osX Nknan`pw…”
Ak³ kn^¯p¼p sNm*v AkapsX AV^¯n bSns] AfÀ¯n.
“”””….bns¶ CkntXw….”
dndn³ ASv Njnªv ssWän]psX fp¼nÂ, hnhn`n]psX sW©nt`¡v tWm¡n.
“”””….bns¶ AkntXw…”
“”””tbmXm,”
`Öt]msX AkÄ dndntW AXn¡m³ Nt¿m§n.

dndn³s_ gÀ«pNÄ Hmt^m¶m]n sh`n³ fX¡n sgÂcn sk¨p. Ko³hpNÄ BUyw Ss¶ tS¨v fX¡n sk¨n^p¶p. CWn blp¡Ä¡v– skÅw sNmXp¡\w. bn®m¡v N`À¯n] NªnskÅkpw NmXnskÅkpsfXp¯v sh`n³ bp_t¯¡v WX¡m³ SpX§n]t¸mÄ AXp¡a]n Wn¶v- dndn³s_ lÐw AkÄ tN«p.
“”f½n, ASknsX skt¨s^. Mm³ sNmXpt¯mamw. Um CSn¸w So^pw,””
sh`n³ bp©n^n¨p. bs£ AkÄ Ak³s_ kmNpNsa knP\n¨v d¡äpNapfm]n sSmjp¯nt`¡v– WX¶p. WµnWnt]]pw tPmfSns]]pw St`mXn. AkÀ S§apsX knXÀ¶ k`n] hK`§am] N®pNÄ sNm*v Aksa shuirUt¯msX tWm¡n. sh`n³ d¡äpNÄ Ak^psX fp¼n sk¨p. AkÀ tbmgN bqÀ®fm] bmWo]w ^pInt]msX NpXn¡pt¼mÄ AkÄ Ak^psX frUpkm] tUi¯v hvtWit¯msX hvbÀln¨p.
blp¡sa skÅw NpXn¸n¨p Wn¡pt¼mÄ AXp¡akmSn`n`qsX dndn³ bp_t¯¡n k^p¶Sv sh`n³ N*p.
“”f½osX Nm^yw!””
Ak³ H¨]n«p.
“”b_ªStÃ, Mm³ sI]vtSmam¶v-!””
AkÄ bp©n^n¨p.
“”Fs¶s¡m*v H¶pw sI¿n¡mSn^p¶ms`, k®w sk¨v bnt¯mw bnXn¨p, tU B Nm\p¶ f` tbms` C^n¡pw,””
AkÄ fmt´m¸nW¸p_¯v, D]À¶v- tfQ§tamaw D]^¯n Wn¡p¶ Wo` f`NapsX tWs^ N®pNÄ Nm\n¨p.
“”ASv Mm³ hin¨p. A§sW k^mSn^n¡mWm Mm³ f½ns] dmZvfn³ä³ Nan¸n¡ps¶. ^mkns` tKm¤nwPv sI¿m³ NqsX Nq«ps¶. t]mP sI¿n¡ps¶,””
ASv Ss¶]m\v sh`nsW AUvepSs¸Xp¯n]Spw. AkhmW kÀg Zn{Po knUymÀTn F¶ Wn`]n dndnWv Vm^maw tKm`n]p*v. km]W]pw Fjp¯pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv FÃmw. Ct¸mÄ ^*p fmhfm]n sh`n³ Ak³s_ Cu hzemk kySn]mWw {l²n¡p¶p. Nq«pNmt^msXm¯v sskNpt¶^§an N_§m³ tbm¡pw ^m{Snt]s_¡jn]pt¼mÄ fX§n k^p¶Spw bmtX WnÀ¯n. CX]v¡nsX]p*m]n^p¶ hnPs^äv– k`n WnÀ¯n. dn]_pw In` {btSyN Akh^§an knhv¡n]pw {dm*n]pw Njn¡p¶Spw bqÀ®fm]n WnÀ¯n. ASv fm{Sfm]n^ps¶¦n {blvWfnÃ. bs£ Ct¸mÄ AXp¡a]n him]n¡p¶p. fp_nNapw fpäkpw AXn¨pkm^n kr¯n]m¡p¶p. blp¡sa {l²n¡p¶p. b_¼n Nna¡mWpw b\n]mWpw Hs¡ SpX§n]n^n¡p¶p.
Nps_ Bt`mIn¨t¸mÄ sh`nWv Nm^y§Ä GSm*v kyàfm]n. ^*p fmh§Ä¡v fp¼m\v sh`nWpw dndnWpw sXu\n A^pÔSn ¢nWn¡Â tZmNväÀ ^knNpfm_nsW Nm\m³ tbm]Sv. bWn]m]n^p¶p. hz]w InNnÕ]pw Ngm]kpw H¶pw A{S]v¡§v c`n¡msS k¶t¸mam\v Cw¥ogv sfZnhn³ Ss¶ l^\sf¶p sk¨Sv. tZmNväs_ N*p Sn^n¨p k^pt¼mÄ eqS¯m³ b_¼v F¶ Np{bhn²fm], hÀ¸Nmkpw Npakpsfms¡]pÅ, Dtb£n¡s¸« H^p b_¼nWXp¯v NqXn]pÅ Np_p¡pkjn]n`qsX k^tk]m\v dndnsâ ssd¡nsW t»m¡v sI]vSv H^p Ko¸v Wn¶Sv.
ASn Wn¶pw BKmWpdmip¡am] ^*ptbÀ C_§p¶p. Xn¸n¡Â kn÷mÀ¡v tIÀ¶ ^qbw. H^pk³ sfm«¯`]³. fsäm^p¯³s_ sWän]n sk«psNm*Sn³s_ bmXv. ^*ptb^psX]pw N®pNÄ Ipk¶pN`§n]n^n¡p¶p. ^*ptb^pw N_p¯ Ém¡v C«n^p¶p.
WÃ N^p¯pä, D]^fpÅ, l^o^kpw.
“”B^mXm Wo?””
H^pk³ Aks^ hfobn¡p¶p.
A]mapsX tImUy¯n fUy¯n³s_ ^q£PÔw sh`n³ A_nªp.
“”dndn³,””
dndn³ e]w Wn_ª lЯn b_ªp.
“”GSv dndn³?””
bn¼n`p*m]n^p¶k³ tImUn¨p. tImUyw dndntWmXm]n^ps¶¦n`pw Ak³s_ N®pNÄ sh`nsW sNm¯nfp_n¡pN]m]n^p¶p.
“”sSt¡¡*¯ns` dndn³. sSt¡¡*w t`m_³hn³s_ fN³,””
“”CSm^mXm?””
BUys¯]mÄ sh`nsW tWm¡n tImUn¨p.
‘f½n]m. F³s_ f½n?””
AkÀ b^hvb^w tWm¡n.
“”sI_p¡m ska¨ns`Xp¡*,””
^*mf³ hztS]pÅ hz^¯ns` {Np²S kÀVn¸n¨psNm*v b_ªp.
“”Cu I^¡v Wn³s_ SÅt]m? ASnWp sWW¡v CkapsX sfm` NpXn¡p¶ {bm]tk HtÅm?””
e]fp*m]n^ps¶¦n`pw dndn³s_ ^àw Sna¡m³ SpX§n. AbfmWn¨n^n¡p¶Sv hz´w A½s] B\v. ASv AWpkUn¡m³ bmXnÃ. F{S tf {bmt]mPnNfms\¦n`pw {bSnN^nt¨ bäq.
“”tfmtW,””
f^n¡p¶SnWp fp¼v bm¸m b_ªn^p¶p.
“”f½ns] tWm¡\w. Aksa N^]n¡Ãv,””
“”At\mXo? Cu sI_p¡³ Wn³s_ tfmWmt\m?””
sh`n³ B`n` tbms` N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv kn_]v¡m³ SpX§n .
dndn³ ssd¡n Wn¶pfn_§n.
“”dndntW, tfmtW, Wo F´nWm k*nt]¶v- F_§ps¶? km Wfp¡v tbmNmw. k¶v k*nt]t¡_v,””
sh`n³s_ e]¶v kn_¨ lÐw dndn³ tN«p.
“”H^p tImUy¯nWv Ht^ D¯^w ^*p tb^v S^t\m tI«m?””
A½]psX tImUyw AkP\n¨v, sfm«¯`]sW AenfpOoN^n¨v dndn³ tImUn¨p.
“”Wos]¶m iot_m Nan¡pkmt\m?””
sfm«¯`]³ dndn³s_ tWs^ ssN D]À¯n.
“”tI«sW A½]nÃmsS {bhkn¨Sm^n¡pw. ASv sNm*v A½s]¸_ªm tI«Wv H^p co`n§pw H*mN¯nÃ. bs£ FWn¡§sW]à tI«m. At¸mÄ FWn¡v iot_m A]m`tà bäs¯mÅq?””
sfm«¯`]³ D]À¯n] ssN]v tUi¯v kojpw fp¼v dndn³ A]mapsX ssN]psX Npj]n bnXn¨p. F¶n«v làns]Xp¯v A]msa bnt¼m«p Bªp SÅn. SÅ`nsâ làn]n A]mÄ Wn`t¯¡v ko\p.
“”dndntW WnÀ¯v!””
sh`n³ lÐfp]À¯n.
“”Wnt¶mXm b_sª, k*nt]t`m«p k¶p tN_m³!””
S³s_ l^o^w kn_¡p¶Sv sh`n³ A_nªp.
“”A{S]v¡mt]mXm bq_n tfmtW, Wo?””
NmSX¸n¡p¶ hz^¯n sWän]n sk«psNm* bmXpÅ]mÄ fpt¼m«mªpsNm*p b_ªp.
“”dndntW tfmtW,””
sh`n³ dndn³s_ fp¼n k¶v- Wn¶psNm*v fNsW tIÀ¯p bnXn¨p.
“”F¶SmXm kjos¡X¶v H^p diaw?””
sbs«¶v bn¼n Wn¶v- BÚmhz^¯n`pÅ km¡pNÄ tN«p FÃmk^pw Sn^nªp tWm¡n.
ANt`¶v- k¶p Wn¶ H^p skap¯ hvt¡mÀ¸nt]m]nÂWn¶v- N_p¯ gÀ«pw Ipk¶ fp*pfpXp¯v, CXSqÀ¶ SmXnt^mf§apÅ H^mÄ IXp`fm] IpkXpNtamsX C_§n k^p¶p.
“”ASv l¦t^«m…””
ASnWnX]n Wn`¯v Wns¶jpt¶ä sfm«¯`]³ ekySt]msX bpSpSm]n k¶]mapsX fp¼n Wn¶p.
“”MmWo sI_p¡tWmXv W½sX ftä¸mÀ«osX kotXm¶tWzgn¨Sm…At¶^w Ck³ Fs¶ SÅn]n«p…””
bpSpSm]n k¶]mÄ sfm«¯`]sW ^q£fm]n, b^nimht¯msX tWm¡n.
“”Wm\skmt*mXm””
A]mÄ ssNf`À¯n tImUn¨p.
“”tbm¯v tbms` kaÀ¶p. F¶n«v foltbm`pw sfma]v¡m¯ H^p sI¡³ SÃo¶p b_ªv Nw¹]n³äv sI¿p¶p! sWWs¡ms¡ sI`knWv S^p¶ tW^¯v b¯v kmj ..kmj tk* ASv b_ªv kÃmsS ¢otg B]n. b¯v b¶n¡pªp§sa ka¯n]m^ps¶ Ft´`pw {bt]mKWw H*mt]sW!””
ASv tN«t¸mÄ ASv ks^ tbXn¨p Wn¡pN]m]n^p¶ hnhn`n]v¡v In^n k¶p. hmkVmWfpÅ In^n bns¶ k`pSm]n. sfm«¯`]Wpw sWän]n sk«n³s_ bmXpÅkWpw tbXn¨v A]msa tWm¡n. A]mapsX N®pNÄ At¸mÄ hnhn`n]n S_ªn^p¶p. ASv N*v– hnhn`n In^n WnÀ¯n.
“”Hm, N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv F³s_ tNmfZn]v¡v Ct{Sw fmÀ¡äv H*m^pt¶m? F¶m hn²o¡v hm_nsW N*v– AXp¯ bX¯n H^p Im³hv tImUn¡m\tÃm,””
A]mÄ hnhn`n]n Wn¶v- tWm«w fmän dndntW tWm¡n.
“”Wn§av B^m?””
dndnsâ fpO¯v hwl]§Ä fn¶nf_ªp. Ct±is¯ FWn¡_n]mftÃm. FknsXs]m N*n«p*tÃm. Bt^m b_ªv tN«n«p*tÃm. bs£ ..bs£ …Hm …sh_n{dtf HmÀ½S^q…Nn«nt¸m]n! sku-
“”hm_v ^knl¦À hm_tÃ?””
A]mÄ dndntW AUvepSt¯msX tWm¡n.
“”sWWs¡§sW]m Fs¶ A_n]mkps¶? MmWnknsX BUyw k^pkm\tÃm. F³s_ Sn^ptfm´ A§sW b{S¯n`pw Xo ko`pw H¶pw k^m_nÃtÃm,””
dndn³ bp©n^n¨p.
“”hmt_, Mm³ t^\ptNsX ¢mÊn`m. F³s_ tb^v dndn³,””
^knl¦_n³s_ {Np²emkw fm_p¶Spw A]mapsX fpO¯v AUvepSw knX^p¶Spw bns¶ bp©n^n knX^p¶Spw FÃmk^pw N*p.
“”tUs*Xm, sfmS`man In^n¡p¶p..””
sfm«¯`]³ ftä]mapsX sIkn]n NplpNplp¯p. At¸mÄ bp©n^n fmän ^knl¦À sfm«¯`]³s_ tWs^ ^q£fm]n tWm¡n.
“”Ums*, bnt¶w btj tbms`]m]n,””
Ak³ ko*pw AX¡w b_ªp.
“”In^n¡mSn^n¡m³ MmsW¶m C©ow NXn¨n^n¡p¶ sNm^§Wmt\mXm? fn*^pSv. kjo¶v- SÃpw tfXn¨v!””
bns¶ shuirUemk¯n dndntW tWm¡n.
“”sWW¡v AkÄsX NqsX H¶v- ko«n k^m³ bmXn`m^pt¶m?””
A]mÄ tImUn¨p.
“”Hm!””
dndn³ S` sIm_nªp.
“”f½o, CSv ^knl¦À hm_m. F³s_ ¢mÊn bYn¡p¶ t^\ptNsX A¨³. hm_v k`n] H^p ¹m³äm,””
dndn³ Sm¸^yt¯msX sh`ntWmXv b_ªp.
“”t^\ptNsW]tà tfm³ sbmtj¶v- ^£s¸Xp¯oSv?””
“”^£s¸Xp¯n Fs¶m¶pw b_]tà f½n. B tW^¯v Mm³ AknsX H*m^p¶p. A¸w …ASn¸w FWn¡m\v A§sW hwekn¡pt¶Â Bt^`pw k¶v-..Ft¶w…””
^knl¦À Ak³s_ km¡pNÄ AUvepSt¯msX tNÄ¡pN]m]n^p¶p.
hwekw C§sW]m\v. tNmtaKn Wn¶v- F³ Fhv Fhv kaâv_nt]jvhv Npa§Ä lpIoN^n¡p¶ tKm`n]n`m]n^p¶p. A¸w Uqs^]ÃmsS. ASnWnX]n t^\pN Nm`psSän hfob¯pÅ bpj]nt`¡v ko\p. ASn³s_ Bjs¯¸än BÀ¡pw A{S {PmiyfnÃm]n^p¶p. Nq«¯ns` sb¬Np«nNÄ Wn`kna¡p¶p. B¬Np«nNÄ WnÀt±l§an`pw ^wPw koZnt]m]n In{SoN^n¡p¶Sn³s_]pw Sn^¡nÂ. At¸mÄ Xow `oZ_n³s_]Xp¯]n^p¶ dndn³ diaw tN«v HmXnk^nN]m]n^p¶p. Nm^yw fWÊn`m¡n¡jnªv Ak³ H¶pw Bt`mIn¨nÃ. Npa¯nt`¡v FXp¯p ImXpN]m]n^p¶p. k`n] H^p Wo´Â¡m^sWm¶pfÃmSn^p¶n«vNqXn Ak³ Aksa k`n¨pN^]v¡Xp¸n¨p.
“”Bsa N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv fWÊn`m¡m¯ DuaNÄ!””
^kn l¦À S³s_ Nq«manNsa ^q£fm]n tWm¡n.
“”Nm\m³ sNmÅmkp¶ sb®p§sa Nm\p¼w Wn³s_s]ms¡ hqt¡Xv C¶pw C¶s`]pskm¶pw sSmX§oSÃtÃm!””
AkÀ £fmb\t¯msX A]msa tWm¡n.
“”FXm Cu b¿³ B^m¶v kà knImt^mw Ht*m sWWs¡ms¡?””
bpan¨ sS_n¡v fpSnÀ¶ ^knl¦À hnhn`ns] N*v– sbs«¶v WnÀ¯n.
“”H^p sbs¦m¨v CknsX Wn¡p¶Sv sNm*m..Aà sbWvsNm¨ÃtÃm…dndn³ Cksa AÃ…Cu t`Zns] f½n F¶tà knant¨..? A¸w CSv dndnWs_ f½n]mt\m?””
dndn³ A]msa tWm¡n S`Np`p¡n.
hnhn`nt]]pw.
Akapw A{S CãfnÃm¯ ^oSn]n S`]W¡n.
“”tSmfth, FXm sk«mkan]³ hKo, CSm\v dndn³. dndn³ t`m_³hv. tf^n fmSm tNmtaKn bYn¡p¶p. Zn{Po AkhmW kÀgw. dndnsâ A¨³….§vim, dndn³ F§sW]m AÑsW knanIn^ps¶?””
“”b¸m,””
“”§vim, b¸m. dndn³s_ b¸m CknXps¯ PkÀsfâv h-vNqan fmgm]n^p¶p. F¶Sm? h-vNqÄ fmgv–. AÃmsS Wn³s_ S´fms^t¸ms`]Ã. H^p¯³s_ A¸³ NÅkmäpNm^³. hKo Wn³s_ A¸tWm? Biv…N^n¦Å³. C¸w sK]n`n`pw. dndn³s_ b¸m A©p sNmÃw H^p BN-vhnZân sb«v…””
A]mÄ dm¡nb_]msS WnÀ¯n.
“”AsS§sW]m fpNan H^p¯Wp*v. AkWv CknsX tWs^ sImtÆ Kokn¡pt¶ms^ Nm\p¼w H^p kÃm¯ N®pNXn]m. hin¡¯nÃ. At¶^w tft`¡v knan¡pw. dndn³s_ b¸s]t¸ms` ..bns¶ F³s_ ..F³s_…khpÔ^…””
A]mapsX fnjnNÄ Wn_ªp Spap¼n. ASv f_]v¡m³ A]mÄ sbs«¶v fp¼v Du^nfmän] h¬ ¥mhv A\nªp. bns¶ BNmlt¯¡v tWm¡n.
dndn³ tWm¡pt¼mÄ sh`n³ fnjnNÄ H¸pN]m\v.
^knl¦_n³s_ km¡pNÄ tSmfhnsW]pw hKnt]]pw kÃmSm¡n. AkÀ AXp¯v k¶p A]mapsX tSman bnXn¨p.
“”sfmS`mao…””
sfm«¯`]³ tSmfhv– A]mapsX b^p¡³ lЯn bSns] knan¨p.
“”§vim, AsSms¡ tbms«””
A]mÄ sPu^k¯n b_ªp.
“”tk«mkan]³fm^v ^*ptb^pw {l²n¨v tNÄ¡v. Mm³ b^nI]s¸Xp¯Â N¼v`oäv sI¿s«. CSv hnhn`n Xo¨À. F¶Sm? Xo¨À. Np^p¶p Npªp§sa emko Wns¶t¸m`s¯ H^p b«n¡pw tk*m¯k·vfm^mNmsS kaÀ¶p k^m³ A_nkpw NWnkpw AWp{Ptimw b_ªp sNmXp¡p¶ Pp^pWmT…sWWs¡ms¡ Wm¡pap¡msS b_]m³ Njn]ptkmXm B km¡v?””
hmVn¡pw F¶AÀ°¯n AkÀ C^pk^pw ln^ÊW¡n.
“”F¶m H¶v- b_tª, tN¡s«,””
“”Np^pWmT…””
“”c-“”
A]mÄ D¨¯n B«n.
“”Np^p..I¡¡p^p…Ak³sä N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv At½sX Np^p…tbm]n Wm¡p kXns¡Xm BUyw!””
bns¶ A]mÄ lm´Wm]n dndntW tWm¡n.
“”CWn]m\v b^nI]s¸Xp¯`ns` fpOy CWw. Cu dndn³ t`m_³hv B\v t^\p tfmav sbmtjko\v f^n¡m³ sSmX§o¸w H^p ssUkUqSsWt¸ms` ^£s¸Xp¯oSv…””
tSmfhpw hKn]pw AUvepSs¸«v dndntW tWm¡n.
“”A§sWs]m¶pfnà hmÀ…ASm^m]m`pw….. “”
dndn³ shufyfm] hz^¯n b_ªp.
“”dndntW…””
^kn l¦À Ak³s_ tSman bnXn¨p.
“”Wn³s_ ØmWSv B^m]m`pw A§sW sI¿q F¶v- AtÃ? sNmÅmw tfmtW…BÀ¡v ..BÀs¡ms¡ C§sW b_]m³ hmVn¡qXm? AknsX H*m^p¶tÃm tks_ sNmt_ F®w. F³s_ sNm¨v skůnko\v …ssN]pw Nm`pfn«Xn¨v ….lzmhw fp«n ….bnX]p¼w …AkÄsX fq¡n`pw lzmhtNml¯n`pw I¦n`pw skÅw tN_n sW_]p¼w …sh`vcow FXp¯v ….Hs¡ Mm³ A_nªp …H*m^p¶p AksX A½mk³s_ tfmWpw…hz´w tIm^…F¶n«v ..AknsX]nÃm^p¶ sWW¡v Ht¨w ditamw tN«v HmXnkt^*n k¶p F³s_ sNm¨nsW ^£n¡m³. AkÄsX hz´w tIm^]v¡v tSm¶m¯ fWÊ`nkv …F¶n«v Wos]¶Sm b_sª? Wn³s_ ØmWSv B^m]m`pw F¶v- Atà …AtSXm ..A_n]mw. Wn³s_ ØmWSv B^m]m`pw C¸w sfmssd FXp¯v sg]À sI¿pw ..F³s_ sNm¨v sWt^man¡ps¶, ImNps¶..sc]vhvdp¡n`pw bns¶ F¶Sm …§vim kmXvhv B¸n`pw…tks_ H¶v NqXn H*tÃmXm F¶Sm ASn³s_ tb^v…””
“”C³sÌ{Pmw…””
hKn b_ªp.
“”Hm, C³sÌ{Pmw!””
^kn l¦À AkÚt]msX fp^*p.
“”Wm¡pap¡msS Pp^pWmT F¶v- b_]m³ A_o¯nÃ. bs£ H^£t^mw sSämsS t`mNs¯ hN` kr¯nsN« km¡pw b_]m³ A_n]mw. Wn³s_s]ms¡ Nm^yw . ipw!””
hKn KmaySt]msX A]msa tWm¡n.
“”tfmtW dndntW A¶v- Ss¶ Mm³ k*ow FXp¯v CknsX k¶Sm,””
^knl¦À SpXÀ¶p.
“”CknXps¯ Nkt` F¯o¸w BÄ¡m^v b_ªp. Wo f½otWw Nq«n tNmSfwP`w sI_n] bÅo tbms]¡pkm¶p. ASv Njnªv Wn§av ssfhqt^m sNmXNnt`m F§m*ntà Wn§sX hz´Nm^v? AknsX N`ym\¯nWv tbmNq¶pw Ak^v b_ªp. FWn¡pw H^p ASymklyfm]n sIss¶ ks^tbmN\m^p¶p. A^f\n¡q_v fp¼v F¯osS HÅq. F¯oSpw Wns¶ Nm\m³ HmXn k^pkm^p¶p,””
“”Fs¶ Nm\mtWm?””
knhvf]fX¡msS dndn³ tImUn¨p. ^kn l¦À A_n]s¸Xp¶ dnÂZ_m\v. ^m{ão] kr¯§an`pw sbmSpNm^y§an`pw kas^t]s_ A_n]s¸Xp¶]mÄ. b`t¸mjpw A]mapsX In{Sw b{S§an Ak³ N*n«p*v.
“”F¦nÂ…hÀ ..hmÀ…ko«nt`¡v km…””
“”GSm]m`pw dndntW]pw f½nt]]pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv N*tÃm. Mm³ Wµn b_]m³ k¶Sm. Wµn b_ªp SoÀ¡m³ AÃ. bN^w sk¡m³ bänÃm¯ H^p bp\y{bkÀ¯n]m dndn³ FWn¡v sI]vsS. Sn^ns¨´v– sI]vSm`pw dndn³ sI]vS him]¯n³s_ NWw NqXn]n^n¡pw…””
A]mÄ ssNNÄ Nq¸n.
“”At¿m hmÀ ..F´m]nSv?””
dndn³ fpt¼m«v– k¶v ^knl¦_n³s_ ssNNÄ Nq«n¸nXn¨p.
“”hm_nsWt¸ms` Ct{Sw k`n] H^mÄ …Fs¶t¸ms` …tk* hmÀ..””
A]mÄ AksW kmÕ`yt¯msX tWm¡n.
“”dndn³ Wà fnXp¡Wm bYn¡msW¶m tfmav b_sª. sI` tW^§ant`ms¡ fmg½m^v k^m¯¸w bntÅ^v dndntWs¡m*v ¢mÊv ks^ FXp¸n¡ms_ms*¶pw tfmav b_ªp. W¶m]n bYn¡v. H^p tKm`ns]ms¡ tk* hf]kmNp¼w ASnsW¸äns]m¶pw HmÀ¯v dndn³ sX³g³ BN* tNt«m,””
A]mÄ Ak³s_ tUi¯v Wn¶pw Ns¿Xp¯p.
bns¶ A]mÄ Ko¸nWXpt¯¡v Sn^nªp.
sbs«¶v- Ft´m HmÀ¯ns«¶tbms` A]mÄ Ak^psX tWs^ ko*pw Sn^nªp. A]mapsX tWm«w hnhn`n]n bSnªp.
“”Xo¨s_, tfmtWw Nq«n H^p Unkhw ko«nt`¡v k^mtfm? tfmÄsX ssN]n dndn³s_ W¼^p*v. knan¡mw. Mm³ k*ow B]n«v k^mw,””
hnhn`n bp©n^n¡p¶Sv tbms` k^p¯n. F¶n«v hmkVmWw S`]m«n.
Aksa tWm¡n bp©n^n¨SnWp tlgw ssNkoln¡m\n¨v ^knl¦À hvtNmÀ¸nt]m]n N]_nt¸m]n.
“”F¶m Wà fWpgyWm Btà f½o?””
AkÄ Sm`v¸^yfnÃm¯Sv tbms` fqan.
“”hf]w H^pbmXm]n. tfm³ k*ns]Xp¡v. Wfp¡v tbmNt*?””
AkÄ A£ft]msX b_ªp.
Ak³ ssd¡v ÌmÀäv sI]vSp. hnhn`n bn¼n N]_n.
“”Mm³ c]¦^ Nm^ykm]n«m b_sª,””
^m{SnNan t{bSfn_§p¶]nXw F¶v- Np{bhn²fm] Npa¯n³s_ N^]n`qsX ssd¡v HmXn¨psNm*n^n¡tk dndn³ tImUn¨p.
“”f½n Sos^ Sm¸^yw Nm\n¨nÃtÃm hm_nÂ. F´m f½n? FWn {XdnÄ?””
“”A]msa. A{S l^n]Ã F¶v- F³s_ fWÊv b_ªp,””
“”l^n]Ãt¶m? bns¶!””
H^p Wnfngw dndn³ Ft´m HmÀ¯p.
“”F¶m f½n. B ftä AÀ°¯n`mt\m?””
“”GSv AÀ°¯n`m]m`pw,””
“”bs£ …””
dndn³ hwl]t¯msX b_ªp.
“”bs£ hm_v tks_ H^p ^oSo f½osW tWm¡p¶Sv Mm³ N*nÃtÃm,””
“”f½osW A]mav GSv ^oSo`m tWm¡nt]¶p tfmsW§sW A_n]mw? ASv f½n¡tà A_n]q,””
“”A¼Xm ko^m!””
dndn³ H¨]n«p.
“”^knl¦À hm_v BapsNmÅmtÃm. A]mav ASnsWsX f½osW b©mt^fXnt¨m?””
“”B\p§Ä A§W]m. ssd tW¨À,””
hnhn`n b_ªp.
“”A¸w f½n ¢mÊnÂ, Nm^yw b¯mw ¢mhv N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Bt\`pw Nm\¯ntà kn^pS·mÀ? Xo¨À fms^ Hs¡ b©m^ AXn¡pt¶m½m^v?””
“”bns¶ Nm\ntÃ? kgav Nm`ktÃ. Cu sfmssd`pw CâÀsWäpw Hs¡ Bs^]m Io¯]m¡ms¯?””
“”f½otWw?””
“”F´m? sfmssd`v Ft¶w Io¯]m¡ot¶m? Wns¶ Mm³…!””
“”AÃ f½o. f½otWw b©m^]Xn¡pt¶m½m^v Nm\¯ntÃ?””
hnhn`n H¶pw b_ªnÃ.
l^n]m]n^n¡mw. In` B\vNp«nNsa¦n`pw f½ns] A^pSm¯ ^oSn]n tWm¡n]n«p*mk\w. dndn³ Duin¨p.
hnhn`n]pw ASpSs¶t]mÀ¡pN]m]n^p¶p. kngfkpw h¦Xkpfm]n^p¶p AsSms¡ HmÀ¡pt¼mÄ AkÄ¡v. b¯v do]n bYn¡p¶kWm\v sPuSw emhv¡^³. W¶m]n bYn¡pw. bm«pbmXpw. hvtbmÀ«vhv, hmwhv¡m^nN b^nbmXnNan Hs¡ hKokw. Vm^maw hpir¯p¡Ä. bSnWm_pk]sh¦n`pw H¯ H^m\n³s_ D]^w. FÃmk^v¡pw Aen{bm]fpÅ Wà B¬Np«n F¶ Wn`]n hnhn`n]pw AksW {l²n¨n^p¶p. Sm³ bYn¸n¡p¶ Cw¥ogv kng]¯n fp³Wn^]n¯s¶]m]n^p¶p AksW¶Sv sNm*p H^p {btSyN b^nP\W]pw W`vNnt¸m¶n^p¶p.
bs£ H^p Unkhw tWm«psNmXp¡p¶SnWnX]n ¢mÊn`qsX At§m«pfnt§m«pw WX¡tk S³s_ bn¼nÂ, I´n]psX sshZn H^p hvb^vlWf_nªp.
sbs«¶v- sM«n¯n^nªp tWm¡n]t¸mÄ sZhv¡n³s_ sshZn Wn¶v- sPuSw N k`n¡p¶SkÄ N*p.
“”thm_n Xo¨À,””
Ak³ b_ªp. Ak³s_ N®pNan l^n¡pÅ NpätdmVfm]n^pt¶m F¶kÄ IpjnªptWm¡n. ASv bs£ AkWn AkÄ¡v Ns*¯m³ NjnªpfnÃ.
ASn¸ns¶ b`Sk\ A_ntªm A_n]msSt]m ssN]nt`m tSmant`m Hs¡ Ak³s_ hvbÀlWfWpeks¸«n«p*v. A_n]msS hwekn¡mkp¶ IpäpbmXpNan`m]SvsNm*v AsSm¶pw hm^fm¡n]nÃ. bs£ B hvb^vlW§an Ft¸mjpw H^p A^pSm]vN AkÄ¡v AWpeks¸«n^p¶p. Ìmcv _qfn bt^m£fm]n A¯^w {blvW§Ä AkS^n¸n¨t¸mÄ FÃmk^v¡pw sPuSfnsW¸än Gäkpw Wà Aen{bm]fm\v.
bs£ St¶mXpÅ sb^pfmä¯n Ft¸mjpw hnhn`n Ak³s_ FÃm sI]vSnNan`pw Ns*¯n.
¢mhv FXp¡pt¼mÄ S³s_ N®pNan Ss¶ tWm¡n]n^n¡pN. Sm³ tWm¡m¯vSt¸mÄ S³s_ fm_n`pw bn¼n`pw tWm¡pN. tWm«pNÄ sI¡v sI]vSv Njnªv G¸n¡pt¼mÄ, sXÌv– tb¸_pNapw täfnW b^o£NapsX tb¸_pNÄ sNmXp¡pt¼mjpw kn^`n AfÀ¯n sSmXpN….
F´vsNmt*m hnhn`n¡v dndntWmXv AsSm¶pw b_]m³ tSm¶n]nÃ.
“”tfmtW ..sNmt_ tW^km]n Nt{*mÄ sI]vSv Wn¡pkm. thcv B] H^p Ø`w tWm¡pkm^p¶p. k*n H¶v- WnÀ¯nt¡,””
“”F¶m fpÅWmt\m?””
ssd¡n³s_ tkPS Np_¨psNm*v Ak³ tImUn¨p.
“”Dw,’
hnhn`n N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv fqan.
dndn³ t_mZ^nNn ssd¡v WnÀ¯n.
hnhn`n t_mZn³s_ C^p emPt¯¡pw tWm¡n. knKWfm\v. t_mZ^nNv Wn_s] sbm´¡mXm\v. ASnW¸p_¯v _ºÀ f^§apsX C^p«pw FNm´S]pw.
“”At§m«n^pt¶m f½n. CknsXs]m¶pw B^pw k^m³ tbmNp¶nÃ,””
“”tWm¡nt¡mt\ tfmtW,””
AkÄ sbm´]psX f_kn Np¯n]n^p¶p. bp_t¯¡v A¸w emPw fm{Stf Nm\pN]pÅq. hnhn`n hm^ntbm¡p¶Sv dndn³ N*p. tWm¡^pSv F¶v- fWÊv F{Stf kn`¡n]n«pw N®pNÄ At§m«ptbm]n. Hm, ASnsW´m, H¶v- tWm¡ns]¶v- sk¨v S³s_ hUmIm^w CXnªpkojpskm¶pfnÃ.
hnhn`n]psX fmÀdn skap¸pÅ SpXNÄ C`¨mÀ¯nWnX]n`qsX dndn³ N*p. AkÄ bp_w Sn^nªm\v C^p¶Sv. knXÀ¶v- knlm`fm] D^p*, tPmamNrSn]n`pÅ WnSwdw Ak³s_ N×p¼n sSanªp. A^s¡«n AW¡w dndn³ A_nªp.
“”ssf^v!””
Ak³ fp^*p.
“”F´m C§sW?””
Ak³ AknsXWn¶pw tWm«w fmän.
“”im, At½-“”
sbs«¶v- sbm´Nm«n Wn¶v- hnhn`n]psX D¨¯n`pÅ N^¨n dndn³ tN«p.
“”F´m f½o?””
AkapsX AXpt¯¡v HmXn]Xp¯psNm*v Ak³ tImUn¨p.
“”H¶v-knà ..Wo sbmt¡m..H¶pfnà ..””
SpX]nXp¡n sbm¯n¸nXn¨psNm*v hnhn`n b_ªp.
B Wnfng¯n`pw dndn³ IpäpbmXpw tWm¡n. Cà B^pw k^p¶nÃ. B^pf§sW h©^n¡m³ CãvXs¸Xm¯ Ø`fm\v. Npa¯n³s_ b^nh^§an ]£n]p*v. Ak^psX shu^yknim^w SXÊs¸Xp¯p¶Sv Bb¯v £\n¨pk^p¯pw.
{btUlkmhnNÄ¡v A¡m^yw WnÝ]fp*v.
“”f½o Ip½m Sfml Nm\n¡msS. F³s_ AXp¯m kÃy Wm\w?””
Ak³ Wn`¯v fp«pNp¯n]n^p¶p.
“”At½ ..im ..tfmtW,””
ko*pw hnhn`n Wn`knan¨p.
dndn³ d`w bnXn¨psNm*v AkapsX hm^n tft`¡v D]À¯n. hnhn`n N®pNÄ AX¨p. bn¦v Wn_¯n`pÅ NWw Np_ª bm³än SpXNapsX bNpSn]n NnX¡p¶p. SpXNÄ¡nX]n tWÀ¯ t^mf§Ä. CXSv ANw SpXt]mXp tIÀ¶v- H^p N_p¯ koÀ¯ bmXv.
“”Hm..CSm]n^pt¶m? CSnWmt\m NnX¶v- Ct{Sw H¨]ns«?””
Ak³ hnhn`n]psX ANw SpX]n ssN¯`ffÀ¯n. sb^pkn^ sNm*pw Iq*pkn^ sNm*pw N_p¯ koÀ¯ hmVWs¯ Ak³ WpÅns]Xp¯v bp_t¯¡v sNm*pk¶p. WpÅn³s_ tkUW]n hnhn`n H¶v- bpaªp.
dndn³ sbs«¶v- AkapsX hm^n k`n¨p Smsj]n«p.
“”F´m^p¶p tfmtW?””
AkÄ N®pNÄ Sp_¶v- kniz`St]msX tImUn¨p.
“”f½n BUyw AknXp¶v- BUyw sbm_¯v NX¡v,””
Ak³ Aksa ssN]n bnXn¨p sbm´]v¡v skan]ns`¯n¨p.
Ak³ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv A Kokns] AkÄ¡v Nm\n¨psNmXp¯p.
“”CSm\v tSm«¸pjp. A« F¶pw b_]pw. CWn Cw¥ogn b_]\sf¦n `o¨v,””
“”Hm, Mm³ tbXn¨ptbm]n,””
dndn³ ASnsW Wn`¯v sk¨p gq AfÀ¯n sM^n¨p.
“”f½n fpav`mWn^p¶ NmtXm¶pw ASnWp bnXn¨p Nm\nÃ,””
dndn³ In^n¨psNm*p b_ªp.
“”ASntW¡mÄ Wà NmXv AtWzgns¨_§oSm^n¡pw B bmkw A«. ASnsW Npäw b_]m³ H¡ptN`. ASnWp fm{Sw k`y Nm«ns`¡tà ASv kt¶m*n^ps¶?””
ssd¡v ÌmÀ«v sI]vSpsNm*v Ak³ b_ªp.
“”F¶v- sk¨m?””
Ak³s_ bn¼n C^p¶psNm*v AkÄ tImUn¨p.
“”F¶v- sk¨m …F¶v- sk¨m F³s_ f½o ..hf]skmŸw B NmsXms¡ H¶v sk«n kr¯n]m¡n]m F¶m?””
Nm^yw fWÊn`m]t¸mÄ hnhn`n]psX fpOw Wm\w sNm*p Ipk¶p.
“”At¿..Cu sI_p¡³! FksXt]ms¡]m tWm¡ps¶? sly..Wnt¶mXm^m AksXs]ms¡ tWm¡m³ b_sª?””
“”ASv l^n!””
dndn³ AfÀgt¯msX b_ªp.
“”C¸w si`vbv sI¿m³ tbm]Sv sNmj¸kmt]m? AtS…. N®X¨v At«sWs]ms¡ N*pbnXn¡m³ Mm³ si`³ sNÃÀ H¶pkÃ.””

KmcÀ Hmt«m]v¡v ssN Nm\n¡pt¼mÄ ASn hnhn`n]ps*¶v A_nªn^p¶nÃ. Hmt«mWnÀ¯n ANt¯¡v tWm¡n Ak³ KmaySt]msX b_ªp:
“”””At¿m Xo¨_m^pt¶m CSnÂ. A_nªnÃm^p¶p tNt«m,”
bns¶ Ak³ ss{Zks_ tWm¡n¸_ªp:
“”””tI«m knt«m, Mm³ tks_ Hmt«m tWm¡nt¡mamw,”
“”””AsS¶m sWW¡v C^n¡m³ Ht^¡À Ø`w tkt\m?”
bns¶ A]mÄ bnt¼m«v Sn^nªv hnhn`ns] tWm¡n¸_ªp:
“”””C^n¡m³ ^t*¡À Ø`w tk\w Xo¨_nWv. F¶n«pw Ft´m^w Ø`fm fn¨w. Wo tN_v sI¡m, fWpgysW sfWs¡Xp¯msS,”
“”””Np«n tN_nt¡m,”
hnhn`n]pw b_ªp.
KmcÀ fXn¨v fXn¨v, Wm\t¯msX hnhn`ns] sSmXmsS AN¯p N]_n.
b¯mw ¢mÊn`m\v KmcÀ. fq¶v- kÀgfm\v– Ak³ H³bSmw ¢mhn tSmäSv. bs£ Wà tkmantdmÄ Nan¡m^W]Sv sNm*pw h-vNqant`¡v FÃmSk\]pw B CW¯n h½mWw sNm*pk^p¶Sn fpOyNm^\w Ak³ B]SnWm`pw h-vNqÄ AksW AknsX SpX^m³ AWpkUn¡pN]m]n^p¶p. Ct¸mÄ bSnsW«v Nm^Wm] Ak³ h-vNqans` Gäkpw hoWn]À knUymÀTn]m\v. FÃmkÀ¡pw h½SWm]n^p¶p. DbNm^n. A¡m^\¯m {blhvS³.
“”””Wn³s_ bYn¸v Hs¡ F§Wm Kmcs_?”
hnhn`n tImUn¨p.
“”””W¶m]n tbmNp¶p Xo¨À,”
“”””bmhmNntÃ?”
“”””{lfn¡p¶p*v, Xo¨À,”
hnhn`n Ak³s_ tUi¯v Wn¶v- k^p¶ PÔw fq¡v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv knXÀ¯n lzhn¨p.
“”””WÃ f\fm\tÃm,”
Ak³ bp©n^n¨p.
“”””Xo¨_nWv tkt\m?’
Ak³ bp©n^n¨p Wm\t¯msX tImUn¨p. Sm³bYn¸n¡p¶ Np«n]ms\¦n`pw Wm\w Spap¼p¶ Ak³s_ fpOkpw H¯bp^pg³s_ BNm^ewPn]pw Aksa AkWnt`¡v kÃmsS BNÀgn¨p. hpVo_n³s_ IpwdW§Ä¡pw B`nwPW¯nWpw tlgw Ct¸mÄ A§sW]m\v. bp^pg l^o^§Ä fUn¸n¡p¶p. tfmifp\À¯p¶p.
CX]v¡v kakpSn^nkpNapw NpjnNapw k^pt¼mÄ hnhn`n]psX tUiw AktWmXp AfÀ¶p. Ak³ kn]À¡p¶Sv AkÄ N*p. Ak³s_ fpOw Ipk¡p¶Spw.
“”””Hm tk* Kmc_n³s_ NqsX WX¡pt¶mÀ¡v tks_ sbÀcyqw tk*tÃm,”
Ak³ In^n¨p. WÃ AjNpÅ In^n. Sna§p¶ bÃpNÄ. Ipk¶ Ip*pNÄ. WÃ `£v\sfm¯, AÊÂ N]nNSm^¯n³s_ tUiw.
Kmc_n Wn¶v- BUys¯ KmaySs]ms¡ tbm]n. Ak³ hzS{´fm]n hwhm^n¡m³ SpX§n. Ak³s_ koXpw fSmbnSm¡apw k`pSm]m tbm`ohn tI^\sf¶ B{Pikpw FÃmw hwhm^kng]fm]n.
“”””WnWs¡Sv hdvKNväv B\v Zncn¡Âäv?”
“”””Cw¥ogv,”
“”””A_n]mw. Ft¸mjpw Nn«p¶Sv b¯n Smsj]tÃ? AsS´m Mm³ Wà Xo¨À AtÃ? Mm³ bYn¸n¡p¶tSmWpw WnW¡v fWÊn`mNp¶ntÃ?”
“”””At¿m..ASÃ..fWÊn`mNp¶p*v…bs£…”
AkÄ AksW Ipjnªp tWm¡n. Ak³ `Ön¨p fpOw NpWn¨p. Ft´m Nů^fp*tÃm.
“”””WnW¡v XyqgWv tbm]v¡qsX?”
“”””ASv ..Cw¥ogv Xyqg³..A§sW B^pw…”
l^n]m\v. AXps¯§pw Wà Xyqg³ sh³ä_pNÄ CÃ.
“”””Xo¨_nWv hf]fp*mNptfm? H^p A^f\n¡qÀ B]m`pw fSn. F¶pw tk*. BjvI]n Ht¶m ^t*m Unkhw B]m`pw fSn {Pmf_pw sNmt¼mhngWpsfms¡…”
“”””A§sW hf]fnsÃXm..h-vNqÄ..koXv ..blp BXv ..A§sW F¸jpw sS^¡v B^n¡pw,”
Ak³s_ fpOw kmXp¶Sv hnhn`n N*p. AkÄ¡v kngffm]n.
“”””Hmt¡, Wo skgfn¡*. C¶v- lWn]tÃ? Wmsa km. H^p A©pf\n]mNpt¼mÄ,”
Ak³ ht´mgt¯msX S`]m«n. Ak³s_ N®pNan bq¯n^n N¯p¶Sv hnhn`n N*p.

KmcÀ A{S tfmlfà bYn¡m³ F¶v- BUyUnkhw Ss¶ hnhn`n¡v tSm¶n. HmÀ½làn]p*v. ASymklyw A_nªn^nt¡* Cw¥ogv km¡pNÄ HmÀ½]p*v.
“”””Ct{Sw tkZvhv Hs¡ A_n]m¦n F§sW]mXm f*q Wo fq¶v- sNmÃw Cw¥ogn tSmäSv?”
Ak³s_ S`fpXn]n SjpNns¡m*v AkÄ tImUn¨p.
ASv Ak³ H«pw {bSo£n¨n^p¶nÃ. AkapsX SjpN`n Ak³ kÃmsS bpaNnSWm]n. Ak³s_ N®pNÄ bknj§Ä tbms` Sna§n.
“”””Hmiv…”
Ak³ A_n]msS fÀ½^fpSnÀ¯p.
“”””F´m?”
AkÄ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tImUn¨p.
“”””F´m Xo¨À?”
“”””Wos]´ “”Hmiv’ F¶v- skt¨?”
“”””CÃ ,,A§sW…Mm³ ..”
“”””tk* tk* Wo]§sW D^paptkm¶pw tk*. FWn¡v fWÊn`m]n. Wns¶ Wn³s_ D½ St`Â Hs¡ bnXn¡ntÃ?”
Ak³ Wm\t¯msX S` Np`p¡n.
“”””bns¶Mm³ H¶v- sSm«¸w F´m H^p Ca¡w?”
“”””A_n]nÃ,”
Ak³ S`NpWn¨p.
“”””Wo BUyw l^n¡v bYn¡v. AXp¯ fmhw NzmÀ«À`n FN-vhmw AtÃ? fp¼v Nn«n] b¯v fmÀ¡v H^p fp¸Sv fmÀ¡m¡n Nm\n¡v BUyw,”
Ak³ AUvepSt¯msX hnhn`ns] tWm¡n.
“”””F´mXm?”
“”””Mm³ fp¸Sv fmÀ¡v tfXn¡pw,”
hnhn`n AksW tWm¡n bp©n^n¨p.
“”””F¶m Mm³ sWW¡v H^p h½mWw S^pw,”
“”””F´v h½mWw?”
“”””ASv fmÀ¡v km§n¨p Njnªv S^mw. At¸mÄ A_nªm fSn. CSv tbms` kÀ¯mWw b_tªm*n^p¶m b¯v fmÀ¡n³s_ bqKy¯n Wn¶v- H¶v- tbmNptk,”
BjvI]n ^*p Unkhfm]n^p¶ ¢mhv bn¶oXv F¶pfm]n. KmcÀ bqÀ®fm]pw bYW¯n Ss¶ {l²n¨p. hwhm^tfm tWm«tfm H¶pfp*m]nÃ. bU§apsX AÀ°§Ä, hvsbÃnwPv, tImtUym¯^§Ä, Cw¥ogv kymN^\w Hs¡ Ak³ bSns] irUnØfm¡n Aksa ASnl]n¸n¨p.
AkhmWw b^o£]m]n. Cw¥ogv b^o£ Njnªv KmcÀ h-vNqan³s_ fpäs¯ kmNf^¯n³s_ S\`n Wn¡p¶Sv N*p. hnhn`n tks_m^p Np«ns] kn«v AksW knan¸n¨p.
Ak³ DUmhoWWm]n AkapsX]Xp¯v k¶p.
“”””F§sW D*m^p¶p?”
“”””bmhmNpw,”
SoÀ¯pw Wn^pt·gkmWm]n Ak³ b_ªp.
“”””Bt\m? sk^n PpZv,”
Ak³ Cãs¸XmsS Aksa tWm¡n.
“”””bt£..”
“”””F´mXm?”
“”””bs£ fp¸Sv fmÀ¡v Nn«n]m`tà FWn¡v h½mWw Nn«q Xo¨_n³s_?”
hnhn`n AksW tWm¡n bp©n^n¨p.
b^o£ Njnªv tb¸À knS^\w SpX§n] Unkhw hnhn`n tb¸À d*n`pfm]n k¶p.
AkÄ BÂcsdän¡Â HmÀZ_n tb^pNÄ knan¨p tb¸À knS^\w sI¿m³ SpX§n. KmcÀ DÕmifnÃmsS]n^n¡p¶SkÄ N*p.
“”””CwSn]mhv Fhv kn,”
hnhn`n knan¨p.
CwSn]mhv Fjpt¶äv tb¸À km§n.
“”””C^pbs¯«v. Njnª Sk\s¯¡mÄ F«p fmÀ¡v Np_kv. km«v ims¸*v?”
“”””FN-vhmw ko¡n bWn]m^p¶p Xo¨À.”
l^n]m\v. ASv hnhn`n]v¡v HmÀ½]p*v.
“”KmcÀ Fw hn,”
hnhn`n AXp¯tb^v knan¨p. H^p ]{´s¯t¸ms` KmcÀ Fjpt¶äv tfls] hfobn¨p. hnhn`n tb¸À AkWp sNmXp¯p. DUmhoWSt]msX Ak³ tb¸À km§n.
“”””F{S]m N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Kmct_?”
AkÄ tImUn¨p.
Ak³ tb¸_nt`¡v tWm¡n.
Ak³s_ tUi¯v Wn¶v- t^mfNqb§Ä Fjpt¶äpWn¶p. knhvf]w sNm*v S³s_ irU]w sbm«nt¸mNpsf¶v AkWv tSm¶n.
“”””fp¸¯n H¶v-,”
Ak³s_ Wmkn Wn¶v- kn_]mÀ¶ km¡pNÄ bp_¯pk¶p.
A¶v- sskNpt¶^w KmcÀ k^p¶Sv tWm¡n]n^n¡]m]n^p¶p hnhn`n. Ak³s_ ssd¡n³s_ lÐw tN«tS AkÄ NnX¡]n Wns¶jpt¶äp.
“”””Xo¨À,”
DÕmiw Wn_ª knans]m¨ hnhn`n tN«p.
hnhn`n C_§nsIÃpt¼mÄ KmcÀ Ct¸mjpfn^n¡m_pÅ Nth^]n`m]n^p¶p.
Aksa N*v S³s_ Kok³ tbmNp¶Sv tbms` Kmc_nWv tSm¶n. H^p Ipk¶ Xo gÀ«pw fp«nWp Smsjs]¯p¶ N_p¯ bmkmX]pfm]n^p¶p hnhn`n]psX tkgw. Xo gÀ«nWpÅn AkapsX fpjp¯ sS_n¨ fp`NÄ AW§p¶Sv Ak³ N*p. bmkmX AkapsX A^s¡«n³s_]pw SpXNapsX]pw kXnkpw Hu«v–ss`Wpw FXp¯pNm\n¨p. k`n] D^p* WnSwd¯n³s_ fpjpk³ ewPn]pw AkapsX bmkmX skankm¡n.
“”””Dw? F´v bän?”
Ak³s_ fpOs¯ emkw N*n«v AkÄ tImUn¨p.
“”””F´v ^hfm Xo¨_nsW Cu tkg¯n Nm\m³!”
Ak³ AUvepSw f_¨psk¨nÃ.
Ak³s_ N®pNÄ S³s_ fm_n`ms\¶_nªt¸mÄ AkÄ ASv A`vbwNqXn fpt¼m«v– SÅn sS_p¸n¨p. AkÄ fp`Nsa sS_p¸n¡p¶Sv Ak³ N*p. Ak³s_ DfnWoÀ{bkmiw kÀ²n¨p. sSm* k^ap¶Spw.
“”””F´mXm sI¡m?”
Ak³s_ fpOt¯¡v tWm¡n Ak³s_ b^n{efw BhzUn¨psNm*v AkÄ tImUn¨p. AkWp AenfpOfm]n AkÄ C^p¶p.
“”””h½mWw,”
Ak³ kn_]t`msX b_ªp.
“”””Hm, ASmt\m?”

AkÄ In^n¨p. bns¶ tflk`n¸n Wn¶v- H^p sI_n] NX`mhv sbmSns]Xp¯v Ak³s_ tWs^ Wo«n. Ak³ Sp_¶v- tWm¡n. Ak³s_ fpOw kmXn.
Wm^§ fn«m]nNÄ.
“”””F´m h½mWw CãvXs¸«ntÃ?”
AkÄ AV^w WW¨psNm*p tImUn¨p.
Ak³ sfuWn]m]n^p¶p.
“”””FXm Wo k`y b\¡m^³ dnhnsWÊvNm^³s_ tfm³. WnW¡v b\tfm k`n] ssbthsX h½mWtfm S¶m ASn Ft´`pw {SnÃpt*m? CStà hyq«dnÄ Pncväv?”
At¸mjpw Ak³ H¶pw fn*n]nÃ.
“”””H¶v- Sn¶ptWms¡Xm,”
Ak³ AWph^\t]msX H^p fn«m]n FXp¯p.
“”””Njn¡v,”
AkÄ b_ªp.
Ak³ Hs¶Xp¯p Ip*pNÄ¡nX]n sk¨p.
“”””fVp^fpt*m?”
Ak³ S`Np`p¡n.
“”””fVp^fpt*m?”
AkÄ ko*pw tImUn¨p.
“”””D*v,”
Ak³ lЯns` S\p¸v fmämsS b_ªp.
“”””FWn¡v CtÃ?”
AkÄ tImUn¨p.
Ak³ sbmSn]n N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Wn¶v- H^p fn«m]ns]Xp¯v AkapsX tWs^ Wo«n.
“”””FWn¡o NX`mhv bm¡än Wn¶Ã tkt*,”
Ak³s_ N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n Ak³ b_ªp. AkapsX lЯn IqXp*m]n^p¶p.
“”””ASo¶v fSn,”
Ak³s_ Ip*pNan C^n¡p¶ fn«m]n]n tWm¡n AkÄ b_ªp. Kmc_nWv H¶pw fWÊn`m]nÃ. At¸mÄ AkÄ fpt¼m«mªp. XogÀ«nWpÅn Sn§nsM^p§n¡nX¶ AkapsX fpjp¯ fp`NÄ At¸mÄ fpt¼m«v– NpSn¡p¶Sv KmcÀ N*p. Ak³ fp`Nans`¡v tWm¡p¶Sv N*v– AkÄ N®n_p¡n. Sm³ GSv Wnfngkpw tdmVwsNXpsf¶p AkWp tSm¶n. Ak³s_ Ip*pNÄ¡v skan]n¡nX¶ fn«m]n]psX emPw AkÄ NXns¨Xp¯v fp_n¨p.
bns¶ AksW tWm¡n ko*pw N®n_p¡n.
“”””C§sW]pw b¦psk¨p Sn¶mw f*q,”
Kmc_n³s_ lzmhw {NfmSoSfm]n.
H^p hzbvW¯ns`¶tbms`]m\v Ak³ AknsXWn¶pw Sn^n¨ptbm]Sv. Ak³s_ Nknan`pw Ip*n`pw Ak³ Ipwdn¨p. Ak³s_ B{Pi{bNm^w Aksa Ak³ Nknan`pw Ip*n`pw Ipwdn¨p. Srgv\]psX Sp¼nNÄ BNmltf_n] H^p tka]n Ak³s_ ssN Xo gÀ«nWv tft` AkapsX Sp_n¨ fp`]n Af^m³ SpX§n]t¸mÄ AkÄ B ssN]n bnXn¨p.
“”””Ct¸mjÃ,”
AkÄ Ak³s_ NmSn f{´n¨.
“”””ASv AXp¯ h½mWw. imcv C]À`n b^o£¡v FÃm kng]¯nWpw A¼Sn fp¸Sv fmÀ¡v km§n]mÂ,”

Kmc_n³s_ Np® N*t¸mÄ hnhn`n]psX N®pNÄ A£^mÀ°¯n skan]nt`¡v ImXn.
“”Nt*m, CSm Mm³ Nm\n¡nà F¶v b_sª,””
Ak³ Np® ssNsNm*v f_¨pbnXn¨psNm*v b_ªp.
“”Xo¨_nWv Cãs¸«n«nà F¶v fpOw N*m A_n]mw.””
‘Wos] ´m C¸_]ps¶?””
hnhn`n b_ªp.
“”hz´w ÌpZ³än³s_ Np® N*n«v H^p Xo¨À b_]m³ bmXnÃm¯Sm\v. bs£ F§sW]m b_]mSn^n¡m? Wo]nt§ms«m¶v- tWm¡nt¡.””
hnhn`n ^*pssNNÄ sNm*pw AkapsX bq_p knXÀ¯n AksW Nm\n¨p.
“”Wn³s_ Xo¨_n³s_ bqän³s_ AN¯q¶v- WÃ IqXv bq_p skÅw Np¯n HjpNpkm C¸w. lngy³s_ Np® N*n«v.’
KmcÀ knXÀ¯n¸nXn¨ AkapsX Nk¡nX]nt`¡v tWm¡n. l^n]m\v. fUK`w HjpNn]n_§n sdÍn WWkq_p¶p.
“”CWn Wo Ct§m«v tWm¡nt¡?””
AkÄ S³s_ Sp_n¨p fpjp¯ ^*p fp`Napw AksW bnXn¨p Nm\n¨p.
“”fp`¡t®t`¡v tWm¡nt¡. Xo¨_n³s_ sfm`¡®v ^*pw WÃtbms` Sp_n¨v Wn¡p¶Sv Nt*m?’
“”AsS´m Xo¨s_ , bqäo¶v- C§sW skÅw Han¡ps¶? AsS´m Xo¨_nsâ sfm`¡Ãp ^*pw C§sW NÃn¨n^n¡ps¶?””
“”ASv N*n«m tfmtW,””
Ak³s_ Np®]psX N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tWs^ tWm¡n AkÄ b_ªp.
“”FXm MmWo Nm\p¶Sv– hSyfmt\m? C{S k`pSmt\m Wn³s_ Np®? k`pSv fm{Stfm? Fs´m^p ewPn. C{S Wotamw kt®mw shuµt^ymfpÅ tks_m^p Np® Cu Nm`w ks^ N*n«nÃ. At¸mÄ bns¶ bqäo¶v- l^n¡v skÅw k^ntNw sfm`¡®v- NÃv– tbms` Sp_nt¡w sI¿ntÃ?””
“”Xo¨À l^n¡pw b_]p¶Smt\m? Xo¨À Nan¨ H^mÄ¡v– tbm`pw Ct{Sw k`n] Np® CÃm]n^pt¶m?””
“”tW^v,””
AkÄ b_ªp.
“”fq¶v- Np® tN_n] bq_m CSv. H^p¯³s_ tbm`pw sbm¶ptfmsW, Kmcs_, tW^v b_¿m, CSn³s_ AXp¯vtbm`pw F¯nÃ.””
KmcÀ Np® bnXn¨v St`mXns¡m*v hnhn`n b_]p¶Sv tN«psNm*n^p¶p. Ak³s_ hmVW¯nÂWn¶v- N®pNÄ fmämsS Akapw.
“”Wn³s_ Np® C§sW k`pSm]nWn¡m³ Nm^\w Wn³s_ Xo¨_n³s_ bq_pw sfmt`w N*SpsNm*mt\m?””
“”F³s_ Xo¨s_, MmsW´m b_]vN? B sfmssd Cs§Xps¯,”” tfl¸p_¯n^p¶ sfmssd IqXn¡m\n¨psNm*v KmcÀ b_ªp. hnhn`n ssNs¿¯n¨v– Kmc_n³s_ sfmssd FXp¯p AkWv sNmXp¯p. C³säÀsWäv Hm¬ sI]vSp. bns¶ PqPnan ssX¸v sI]vSp: sKWäv tNmÄfm³.
“”Xo¨s_ , CSv Nt*m,””
S³s_ fpjp¯ fp`NÄ ^*pw bp_¯n«v Wn¡p¶ {bhn² tbm¬ Ìm_nsW Iq*n¡m\n¨psNm*v Ak³ b_ªp.
“”F§Wp*v CkapsX fp`?””
“”F´p ^hfm Nm\m³. Hm!””
“”F¶m CSntW¡mÄ fpjp¸pw sS_n¸pw Sp_n¸pw k`nt¸mw D*v Xo¨_n³s_ sfm`¡v.””
“”ssUktf, CSnsW¡mtam?””
hnhn`n AknlzhWo]St]msX tImUn¨p.
“”l^n,””
Ak³ Nmf_ Hm¬ sI]vSv AkapsX H^p In{SsfXp¯p.
“”tWm¡v””
Ak³ At¸mÄ FXp¯ AkapsX WPvW In{Sw Aksa Nm\n¨p.
“”l^n]m tW^m\tÃm.””
KmcÀ sfmssd`n FXp¯ S³s_ WPvWIn{Sw tWm¡n AkÄ b_ªp. “”ssUktf, Wn³s_ Xo¨À Bsam^p I^¡v Ss¶]m. Wo Cu sb®v- C§sW sfm` Nm\n¨p tcmt«m FXp¯m F´v Nn«pw?””
“”`£§Ä Nn«pw,””
Ak³ In^n¨p.
“”F´m Xo¨_nWpw CSptbms` sfm` Nm\n¡t\m sWänÂ?””
“”`£§Ä Nn«q¦n Wo Fs¶ kntäm . fmN-vhnfw Nmlp*m¡nt¡m.””
Ak³ bp©n^n¨p.
“”F³s_ tfmtW Wn³s_ ³s_ Np® N*n«v N®p b_n¡m³ tSm¶p¶nÃ. Fs´m^p ewPn]m. F´v ^hfm. bs£ CSpkt^w ASnWv H^p bqän`pw N]_m³ bäoà F¶v tN¡p¼w FWn¡v kngfw k^p¶p.””
“”F³s_ Xo¨s_ sNmt_ tPÄ {c*vhv D*m^p¶p. Aks^Ãmw F³s_ Np® N*n«v tbXn¨p bn·m_oSm. bnXn¨p S¶n«p*v. km]n NX¯m³ tWm¡ot«m*v. bs£ bq_nsW sSmXm³ tWm¡p¼w N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Akavfm^psX f«p fm_pw.””
“”tfmtW ASnWp Aks^ Npäw b_ªn«v Nm^yfnÃ. hmfmWyw Wà k`n¸fp*v F³s_ bq_nWv Wà shm]¼³ SXn¨ Np®NÄ fqs¶®w tN_o«ptfm*v . bs£ Cu Np® N*n«v FWn¡v Ss¶ tbXn]mNp¶p. A¸w sNm¨psb¼ntÅ^psX Nm^yw b_]mWpt*m?””
“”A¸w F³s_ Np® Xo¨_n³s_ bqän tN_¯ntÃ?””
“”Wfp¡v tWm¡mw tfmtW. C¶m k¶v- tNäv,””
AkÄ NkNÄ fmN-vhnfw AN¯n sk¨p. ^*p ssNNÄsNm*pw bq_p l^n¡v knXÀ¯n sk¨p.
“”tWm¡n Wn¶v- skÅkn_¡msS k¶v- tNäv ssft^,””
Nmf¡`n¸n hnhn`n D¨¯n b_ªp.
KmcÀ Nmjv¨ S¶ shuµ^y¯n Wn¶v- sbs«¶v- bn³km§n sbm§n]p]À¶ Np®]n AfÀ¯n¸nXn¨psNm*v AkapsX tWs^ Ak³ AXp¯p.
AXp¯ Wnfngw hnhn`ns] hpO¯n³s_ fsäm^p fmhvf^ Wnfng§Ä h½mWn¨v KmcÀ Akan`fÀ¶p.
“”””FXm FXm,”
knan SpXÀ¶p. Xo¨_n³s_ hz^w fm_nt]m? hpO`i^n]n Ak³ N®pNÄ Sp_¡msS Fjpt¶äp. N®pNÄ Sp_¡msS Ss¶ Ak³ ssNNÄ Wo«n hnhn`ns] sN«n¸nXn¡m³ SpX§n. Ak³s_ ssNNÄ AkapsX tSman hvbÀln¨t¸mÄ Ak³ bSns] N®pNÄ Sp_¶p.
Ak³ sM«nt¸m]n.
“”””sWWs¡¶m k«mt\m?”
Ak³ B tImUy¯nWv fp¼n S^n¨pWn¶p.
“”””Wnt¶mXm tImUn¨. Wo f½osX AXp¯ hzbvWw Nm\m³ k¶Smt\m AtSm bYn¡m³ k¶Smt\m?”
dndn³s_ b^nimhw Wn_ª hz^w KmcÀ tN«p.

hnhn`n HmÀ¡pN]m]n^p¶p, A¶s¯ B hwek¯nWp tlgfm\v dndnsâ hzemk¯n Cu k`n] fmä§Ä Hs¡ hwekn¡p¶Sv. A¶v- ^knl¦_nsW kjn]n sk¨v N* Unkh¯nWv tlgw. ko«pb\nNÄ FÃmw hz]w sI¿pN, Sm³ Fs´¦n`pw sI¿p¶Sv N*m At¸mÄ Ss¶ kn`¡pN. Ss¶ WX¡mWpw fäpw bp_¯v sNm*ptbmkpN.
In`t¸mÄ Fs´¦n`pw tImUn¡pt¼mÄ Hjnªpfm_pN.
C¶v- hwhm^n¡\w. F´m\v Ak³s_ fWÊn`n^ns¸¶_n]\w. hnhn`n SoÀ¨s¸Xp¯n.
B In´Nan Wn¶v- hnhn`n D\À¶Sv bp_¯v H^p kmiWw k¶p Wn¡p¶ lÐw tN«m\v. AkÄ DXtW KWm`]n`qsX kjn]nt`¡v tWm¡n. {Now Wn_¯n`pÅ H^p Nm_m\v. ASv kjn]^nNn WnÀ¯n]n«v hpµ^n]m] H^p sb¬Np«n]n_§nk^p¶p. hnhn`n]psX N®pNÄ knXÀ¶p. Fs´m^p ewPn! Caw b¨ Wn_fpÅ Ip^nUmÀ B\v tkgw. Wo* CXSqÀ¶ fpXn. SpXp¯, s]uÆW¯n³s_ fUe^S D_s¡ tQmgn¡p¶ Nknan\NÄ. WoÄfnjnNapsX AWpbffm] Nm´nNS]n Sna¨pf_n]p¶ {PogvfknNm^§Ä. b¸m] bj¯n³s_ Wn_fpÅ frUpkm] AV^¯n³s_ `mk\y tlm\nf]nt`¡v N®pNÄ fmämsS N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv hnhn`n tWm¡n. gman«p fm_nXw f_¨n«ps*¦n`pw s]uÆW¯n³s_ {em´³ BhànNapsX hq^ySmbw f_]v¡pkm³ AkapsX fpjp¯ fp`NÄ¡v NjnªnÃ. Wà ewPn]pÅ HSp§n] A^s¡«v. In{SNm^³fm^psX emkW]n fm{Sw knX^p¶ H^p ^qbw.
“”””dndn³s_…?”
AkapsX tImUyw BUyw hnhn`n tN«nÃ. N®pNÄ AkapsX AjNv H¸ns]Xp¡pN]m]n^p¶p.
“”””f½n]m. tfmtaSm?”
“”””Hm…”
AkapsX N®pNan`pw AUvepSw knXÀ¶v- Wn_]p¶Sv hnhn`n N*p. AkÄ hnhn`n]psX tWs^ ssNNÄ Nq¸n.
“”””At½, Mm³ t^\pN. dndn³s_ ¢mhv tfäm,”
“”””Hm, Bt\m? k^q,”
hnhn`n sbs«¶v- AkapsX ssN]n bnXn¨p. hnhn`n]psX hvbÀlW¯n S³s_ tUiw Npan^\n]p¶Sv t^\pN]_nªp. AkÄ fpOfp]À¯n hnhn`ns] tWm¡n. AkapsX fnjnNÄ Wn_]p¶Sv hnhn`n N*p.
“”””F´m tfmsa?”
“”””ASv…At½..Fs¶ sSm«t¸mÄ F³s_ ..F³s_ A½ sSmXp¶tbms` tSm¶n…”
hnhn`n]psX fpOkpw k¿mSm]n. A¶v ^knl¦À b_ª Nm^y§Ä hnhn`nt]mÀ¯p.
“”””tfman^n¡v tNt«m,”
AN¯v Xn kn]psX _ntfm«v t^\pN]psX ssN]nt`¡v sNmXp¯v hnhn`n b_ªp.
“”””A½ AXp¡a]nt`¡v tbmNpkmt\m? tk* At½….Asæn …MmWpw NqXn k^mw,”
t^\pN Fjpt¶äp.
“”””At¿m tfmaknsX]n^p¶m fSn,’
“”””hm^fnÃt¶,”
t^\pN]pw hnhn`nt]msXm¸w AXp¡a]nt`¡v WX¶p.
“”””dndnsWknsX At½?”
fn¡v bmWnt`¡v b©hm^]n«SnWp tlgw bm Ca¡ns¡m*n^p¶ hnhn`nt]mXp t^\pN tImUn¨p.
“”””Ak³ B Smjs¯ NtXÂ ks^t¸m]Sm. C¸w k^pw tfmsa,”
hnhn`n bp©n^n¨psNm*p b_ªp.
AkÄ bp©n^nt]msX t^\pNs] tWm¡n.
“”””F´m At½?”
AkÄ Wm\t¯msX tImUn¨p.
“”””H¶pfnÃ,”
“”””A½]v¡_n]mtfm Mm³ Ct¸mÄ CknsX KoktWmsX]n^nt¡*mkaà F³s_ HmÀ½]n`p*v. CSpks^Nm\m¯ Wn_§apÅ H^p t`mN¯v F¯n]sSms¡ kyàfm]n HmÀ¡p¶p. AknsX B]n^¡\¡nWv Bßm¡Ä Fs¶ hzoN^n¡m³ Wn^Wn^]m]n Wn¡p¶sSms¡ Mm³ N*p. At¸mÄ Bt^m F³s_ ssN]n bnXn¨p. Mm³ tWm¡pt¼mÄ ASv dndnWm\v.Fs¶ sbm¡ns]Xp¯vsNm*p dndn³ tkP¯n Wo§n. Bßm¡Ä tUgys¸Xp¶Spw F³s_]pw dndn³s_]pw tWs^ H¨]nÃmsS A`_ns¡m*v HmXn]Xp¡p¶Sv N*Spw Mm³ HmÀ¡p¶p. bs£ AkÀ¡v HmXns]¯m³ bäm¯{S tkP¯n dndn³ Fs¶]pw sNm*v tbm¶p. Fs¶ N^]v¡v sNm*pk¶p,”
hnhn`n In^n¡m³ SpX§n.
“”””CsS¶m t{bShnWntfs` NTb_]pkmt\m?”
“”””MmWpw HmÀ¡m_p*v…A§sWs]ms¡..NT]m]m`pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Nm^ykm]m`pw Mm³ Cu eqfpO¯v C§sW Kokn¨n^n¡ps¶ dndn³ Nm^\km F³s_ At½,”

hnhn`n ¥mÊpNant`¡v Im]s]Xp¯v tfl¸p_¯v sk¨v Aksa tWm¡n ko*pw bp©n^n¨p.
“”””dndnWv sI`kp sI¿m³ DtVln¡pt*m?”
“”””sI`kv…?”
hnhn`n sgÂcn³s_ Gäkpw fpNan Wn¶v- H^p hvcXnNe^\ns]Xp¯v tfl¸p_¯v sk¨p. ASn³s_ fqXn Sp_¶v- A¨¸kpw fp_p¡pw I¡^k^«n]pw H^p ¥mhv bm{S¯nt`s¡Xp¯p. FWn«v– ko*pw t^\pNs] tWm¡n bp©n^n¨p.
“”””F´v bän?”
AkapsX fpO¯v kn^nª WnPqZfm] fjkn ewPn]nt`¡v tWm¡n hnhn`n tImUn¨p.
“”””sI`kv sI]vSm So^nà At½…FWn¡v …A½]v¡pw dndnWpw Cãvs¸Xpsf¦n FWn¡v…. H^p h½mWw S^\w F¶p*v.”
fnjnNan Wn_Uob§Ä sSan¨v t^\pN hnhn`ns] tWm¡n.
“”””F´v h½mWw?”
AkÄ¡v tWs^ b`im^¸m{Sw Wo«ns¡m*v hnhn`n tImUn¨p.
“”””ASt½…MmWSv b_ªmÂ..A½]v¡v ..Ft¶mXv…”
“”””F´m tfmsa? Nm^yw F´m]m`pw tfmÄ b_]q…”
“”””A½]v¡v Fs¶ Cãfmt\m?”
“”””Mm³ k¶¸w fpS tfmÄsX tUi¯q¶pw fpOSq¶pw N®v fmäo«nÃ. F¶n«v tImUnNym\v Cãfmt\m F¶v-!”
“”””F¦n …Mm³ Fs¶¯s¶ S^s«?”
hnhn`n]psX tWm«w t^\pN]psX N®pNan AfÀ¶p. N®pNan bknj¯na¡w Wn_¨v AkÄ hnhn`ns] tWm¡n. sbs«¶pÅ t^\pN]psX tImUyw hnhn`ns] A¼^¸n¨p. A¯^¯n Fs´¦n`psfm¶p hwekn¡psf¶v tW^s¯ tSm¶n]n^ps¶¦n`pw.
t^\pN hnhn`nt]mXv A¸w AXp¯p.
“”A½]v¡v Fs¶ Cãfm\v F¦nÂ. dndnWpw,””
AkÄ hnhn`n]psX fpOt¯mXv S³s_ fpOw AXp¸n¨psNm*v b_ªp.
hnhn`n]v¡v knNm^w Wn]{´n¡m³ hmVn¨nÃ. AkÄ sbs«¶v- t^\pNs] tIÀ¯v bnXn¨p. Blzmh Wnlzmh§apSnÀ¯psNm*v AkÄ hnhn`n]psX sW©n S` Im]v¨p. At¸mÄ hnhn`n]psX ssN¯`w kmÕ`yt¯msX AkapsX S`fpXn]n SjpNn.
“”F³s_ tfmWv Wns¶ tk\sf¦n bns¶ FWns¡´m\p SXÊw, F³s_ tfmta,””
hpOUfm] Wnfng§Ä AkhmWn¡^psS¶m{Pin¨psNm*v t^\pN em^w fpjpk³ Akan`À¸n¨p Wn¶p.
“”Mm³ dndntWmXv CSpks^ b_ªn«nà At½. b_]mWm\v Mm³ k¶Sv , BUyw A½t]mXv b_ªn«v,””
AkapsX fpOw S³s_ ssNNans`Xp¯v hnhn`n AktamXv– b_ªp. bns¶ S³s_ Ip*pNÄ AkapsX tb`kfm] Nknan AfÀ¯n D½sk¨p.
“”AkWnãfmNpw tfmsa. BÀ¡m tfmsa CãfmNm¯Sv–?””
NrSÚSt]msX t^\pN hnhn`n]psX N®pNant`¡v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tWm¡n.
“”A½]m\v …F³s_ ..A½,””
t^\pN f{´n¨p.
At¸mÄ bp_¯v ssd¡v k¶p Wn¡p¶ lÐw tN«p.
“”dndn³,””
t^\pN knhvf]e^nS]m]n b_ªp. Akapw hnhn`n]pw sbs«¶v- D½_t¯¡v k¶p. dndn³ ssd¡v sgZn sk¨n«v Ak^psX tWs^ k¶p.
“”Bim,””
t^\pNs] N*v– dndn³ In^n¨p.
“”B^m CSv? kn sF bn B\tÃm!””
“”kn sF bnt]m? MmtWm? bmkw Mm³ F{S hf]fm]n k¶n«v F¶_nt]m H^p kn sF bns] Nm\m³?””
t^\pN]psX k^kv dndn³ H^mtQmgfm¡n fmäpN]m]n^p¶p. Wà sNmjp¯ H^p bqk³ tNmjns] sNm¶p. b_¼n kaÀ¯p¶ b¨¡_nNan tf`v¯^fm]Sv b_n¨p. A]Âk¡¯p tbm]n hm_m½ tI«¯ns]¡qXn knan¨psNm*p k¶p. tbm^m¯SnWp Bklyfm] fäp hmVW§sams¡ AXp¯pÅ NXNan tbm]n sbs«¶v km§nk¶p.
“”C§sW H^p {bh^n¸v A§sW]p*mkm_nà tfmsa,””
hm_m½ tI«¯n tNÄ¡msS hnhn`n t^\p Nt]mXv b_ªp.
“”´m ASnWÀ°w? tfmsa AkWp Cãfm. H¯n^n,””
t^\pN Wm\n¨p hnhn`ns] tWm¡n.
hpen£fm] D¨e£\¯nWv tlgw hm_m½ tI«¯n]pw hnhn`n]pw AN¯v hwhm^n¨n^p¡pt¼mÄ t^\pN dndn³s_]Xpt¯¡v sI¶p.
“”F´m\v fnÊv– t^\pNm Wm]À?””
N¼yq«À tfm\n«_n Wn¶v- UrãnNÄ fmämsS dndn³ tImUn¨p.
“”H^p W{hm\n sI¡sW Wm]t^m Asæn H^p Wm]^p sb®nsW W{hm\n¨nt]m B¡p¶ Nm^yw Bt`mIn¡pkm\v,””
AkapsX hz^¯ns` emkSo{kS]psX IqX_nªv dndn³ fpOw Ipan¨v t^\pNs] tWm¡n.
“”fWÊn`m]ntÃ?””
dndn³ bp©n^n¡m³ {lfn¨p.
“”dndn³s_ f½n]v¡v h½Sfm\v,””
dndn³s_ bp©n^n]psX fmäv Np_ªp.
“”b_ªSv fWÊn`mt]m?””
AkÄ f{´n¡p¶ hz^¯nÂ, Ak³s_ NmSnWXp¯v k¶pb_ªp.
dndn³ Aksa tWm¡n.
“”FWn¡v H^p bpWÀÖ·w S¶]mam\v CSv,””
AkÄ Ak³s_ tSman hvbÀln¨p.
“”Cu K·w FWn¡v Cu Nm¨pk«n Kokn¨pSoÀ¯m fSn,””
Nth^]n`n^n¡]m]n^p¶ dndntW AkÄ bn¼n Wn¶pw tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p.
B N^k`]¯n Ak³ A¸tW^w hz]w f_¶n^p¶p.
“”dndn³,””
“”Dw?””
“”Fs¶…””
“”Wns¶…?””
“”Fs¶ dndnWv Cãfm\v Fs¶Wn¡_n]mw…bs£…””
dm¡n tNÄ¡m³ dndn³ Nm¯n^n¡p¶Sv tbms` t^\pN]v¡v tSm¶n.
“”….dndn³ ..dndnsâ Wmkn Wn¶v- ASv tNÄ¡pkm³ FWn¡v sNmSn]p*v,””
dndn³ hmkVmWw AkapsX N^k`]¯n Wn¶pw tfmInSWm]n. Ak³ F´m\v b_]p¶sS¶v- A_n]m³ AkÄ Ak³s_ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv fpOt¯¡v tWm¡n. dndn³s_ fpO¯v At¸mjpw ftWmi^fm] bp©n^n]p*v. Ak³ AkapsX N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n.
“”””t^\q,”
Ak³ bp©n^n fmän sPu^k¯n knan¨p.
AkÄ {bSo£t]msX AksW tWm¡n.
“”””Wn³s_ Wmkn Wn¶v- C¯^w km¡pNÄ tNÄ¡m³ B¬Np«nNÄ SbÊn^n¡pw. t`mN¯ns` Gäkpw shuµ^yfpÅ, hÂhzemkn]m] H^p bp^pg³ B{Pin¡p¶sSms¡ t^\pN]n`p*v…”
Ak³ H¶v- WnÀ¯n Aksa tWm¡n.
Ak³s_ km¡pNÄ hrãn¨ {bN¼W¯n hq^ytlme]mÀ¶ `Ö]n bq¯p`ªp Wn¡pN]m\kÄ.
“”””bs£,”
AXp¯ km¡v tN«v AkÄ sM«n.
“”””t^\ptN…Mm³ b_]p¶Sv t^\pN H^p bs£ knlzÊn¡nÃ. bs£ knlzÊn¡mSn^n¡p¶Sv sNm*v hSyw f_n¨mkpN]nÃtÃm,”
“”””dndn³ F´m b_]m³ Dt±ln¡p¶Sv?”
Ak³ sfuhn ssNsk¨p. Zn ss{Zkn ¢n¡v sI]vSp. tcmt«mhnÂ. ssf sbjvh\ tcmt«mhv. ASn H^p tcmÄZÀ ¢n¡v sI]vSp.
“”””CSv …”
t^\pN tWm¡n. knkmikhv{S§an Wn¡p¶ hpµ^n]m] H^p ]pkSn. skap¯ gÀ«nÂ, IµW¡p_nsSm«v, Aksa tIÀ¯p bnXn¨v dndn³.
“”””CSv..{bn]…”
t^\pN tcmt«m]n Wn¶v- tWm«w dndn³s_ fpOt¯¡v fmän.
“”””Mm³ C`k´n bYn¡pt¼mÄ F³s_ hoWn]À B]n^p¶p {bn] i^nUmhv. hoWn]À sb¬Np«n KyqWn]À B¬Np«ns] t{bfn¡p¶Sv W½psX Wm«n A{S hmVm^\fm]n«nÃ. bs£ M§apsX Nm^y¯n A§sW hwekn¨p. {btSyNfm] H^p hmiI^y¯n …FWn¡v …Aà M§Ä¡v knkminS^pfmtN*n k¶p…”
irU]w Wp_p§nInS_p¶Sv tbms` t^\pN]v¡v tSm¶ns]¦n`pw sbs«¶v- Ss¶ AkÄ bj]emkw kos*Xp¯p. AksW tWm¡n bp©n^n¨p.
“”””MmWnSv Bt^mXpw ..f½nt]mXp tbm`pw b_ªn«nÃ. Ct¸mÄ t^\pknWv Ft¶mXv ..A§sW tSm¶n]nÃm^ps¶¦nÂ, Wnt¶mXv tbm`pw MmWnSv b_]nÃm^p¶p.”
F{Stf Wn]{´n¨n«pw t^\pN]psX N®pNÄ Wn_ªp.
“”””ht´mgw sNm*m tNt«m,”
N®pWoÀ SpX¨psNm*v t^\pN b_ªp.
“”””A{S]v¡nãfm]n. dndnWv l^n¡v tI^pw. A{S hpµ^n…MmsWms¡ Cu Np«osX fp¼n F´v?”
“”””A§sW]Ã t^\q,”
dndn³ AkapsX tSman ssN sk¨p.
“”””SoÀ¨]m]pw H¯n^n emPyfpÅkWmNpw F³s_]o sb§sas¡«p¶]mÄ…”
“”””sb§Ä?”
“”””AsS. F³s_ f½n {bhkn¨nà Wns¶ Ft¶]pÅq,”

t^\pN tbm]n¡jnªv Nm¸n Sna¸n¨v– H^n_¡v NpXn¨p Njnªt¸mÄ B\v hm_m½]psX ko«n dndnWv H^p fmPhn³ k¶p NnX¸p*v F¶Sv– N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv hnhn`n¡v HmÀ½ k¶Sv. C¶s` Wà Nmäpw fj]pw Nm^\w tbmÌpfm³ ASv AknsX CXpN]m]n^p¶p. A¸w Njn]pt¼mÄ hm_m½]psX eÀ¯mkv kÀ¡n sNm*pk¶p S^pfm]n^n¡pw. bs£ tk*. Fs´¦n`pw {bVmWs¸«Sv ASn b»ngv sI]vSv k¶n«p*mkpw. Hm ..AÃ! In`t¸mÄ dndnWs] bpSn] NT kÃSpw ASn k¶n«p*mk\w.
hnhn`n hm_m½]psX ko«nt`¡p WX¶p. ko«ns`¯n “”””hm_m½ tI«¯o” F¶v knan¡m³ SpX§ns]¦n`pw AN¯pWn¶v tN« lÐw Aksa kn`¡n.
“”AªXns¡Xm ssft^,”
hnhn`n sbs«¶v- hm_m½]psX lÐw tN«p. Hm, At¸mÄ ^*pw NqXn sbm^nª Nan]m\v. hnhn`n]psX Ip*n bp©n^n knXÀ¶p. hm_m½]psX SXn¨p sNmjp¯ fUwfpän] l^o^fnt¸mÄ kÀ¡n]psX Nma¡^p¯n³s_ AXn]n So{khpO¯m ISªv A^]pN]m]n^n¡pw. tfmlfm\v. Ak^psX hzNm^yS]nt`¡v C§sW {btkln¡p¶Sv. AkÄ Sn^nªp WX¡m³ emkn¨p. bs£ kÀ¡n]n Wn¶v k¶ AXp¯ km¡pNÄ hnhn`ns] AknsX¯s¶ bnXn¨pWnÀ¯n.
“”F³s_ hnhn`n Xo¨t_ bq_ntfmsa, Wn³s_ bq_p F´v ssXämXo”” hnhn`n AUvepSs¸«p. kÀ¡n hm_m½s] Nan¡pt¼mÄ Fs¶]pw F³s_ bq_nsW]pfmt\m HmÀ¡p¶Sv? ASv tN«n«v hm_m½]v¡v H^p {blvWkpfnsÃ? bs£ AXp¯ km¡pNÄ Aksa l^n¡pw S^n¸n¨p Naªp.
“”F³s_ ssXäv bq_p sfm¯w Wn³s_]mXm dndntW. Wn³s_ BW¡p® Wn³s_ f½n hnhn`osX bqäns`¡v AXn¨v N]säXm ssft^.””
hm_m½ kÀ¡ns] knan¡p¶Sv dndn³ F¶mt\m Nan¡pt¼mÄ? hnhn`n]psX Ip*n bp©n^n knXÀ¶p. sbs«¶v Ak^psX A`À¨Napw ho¡m^kpw NqXpS D¨¯n tN«p. b^hvb^fpÅ dndn³, hnhn`n knanNapw NqXn. ^*ptbÀ¡pw skXn sbm«ns]¶p tSm¶p¶p. hmkVmWw A`À¨Napw ho¡m^kpfX§n.
“”Hm, F³s_ sbt®,””
kÀ¡n hm_m½t]mXv b_]p¶Sv hnhn`n tN«p,
“”WWª tNmjns]t¸ms` B]n^p¶p Wns¶ Mm³ Nan]v¡m³ knan¡p¼w. F{S sbs«¶m sWW¡v Dln^pks¶ dndn³s_ tb^v tN«t¸m.””
“”At¿, kÀ¡n¨m tk*. Nan NjnªntÃ, CWn dndn³s_ Nm^yw b_ªm Mm³ I½nt¸mNpw.””
“”F´nWm tfmsa I½ps¶? Wfp¡o Nm^y¯n H^p Han]pw f_]pw tk* F¶v W½Ä So^pfmWn¨StÃ?””
“”AsS kÀ¡n¨m, Hm kÀ¡n¨³s_ Np® hnhn`n Xo¨_n³s_ tb^v tN«¸w Ss¶ Ft´m^w N«n]m]n.’
“”dndn³ F¶v tN«¸w Wn³s_ bqän`pw skÅw k¶ntà tfmsa?””
“”bn¶ntÃ? FWns¡t´m B sI¡sW¸än HmÀ¡p¼w Ss¶ bq_p WW]pw. F´v ewPn]m AksW¡m\m³? B sI¡Wv kà hnWnf]n`pw AenW]n¡m³ tbm]v¡qsX?”
“”AsS]sS, N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv hnhn`osX tfmWtÃ. ASm At{Sw shuµ^yw AkWv,””
Hm. kÀ¡n¨³ C¸jpw s{NZnäv sNmXp¡p¶Sv hnhn`n Xo¨_nWmt\m? kn«v bnXn]v¡v kÀ¡n¨m.””
“”Wo dndntW]pw kn«pbnXn¡p¶nÃtÃm.””
AkÀ ^*ptb^pw irUyfm]n In^n¡p¶Sv AkÄ tN«p.
“”B dndntW F¸w N*m`pw F³s_ tWm«w Ak³s_ At^t`¡v tbmNpw. Wà ssXäm AksX, kÀ¡n¨m. H^p F«n©v Woaw F¦n`pw Nm\pw Ak³s_ Np®]v¡v Atà kÀ¡n¨m?””
“”WnW¡v ko*pw NXntN_o¶p tSm¶p¶p,””
kÀ¡n In^n¨p,
“”Ak³s_ sbm¡w sk¨p tWm¡p¼w F«n©v k^\w.””
“”F³ät½m!”” hm_m½]psX knhvf]w hnhn`n tN«p,
“”F«n©v! kÀ¡n¨sâ B_n©v Np® tN_p¼w Ss¶ F³s_ bq_p l^n¡pw Wn_]p¶p*v. At¸mÄ ASptbms` H^p Np® F³s_ bq_n tN_n]m bq_p No_nt¸mNntÃ, kÀ¡n¨m? .””
“”AsSms¡ BUyw tfmsa, bns¶ bSps¡ bSps¡ tN_n¡jn]p¼w Hmt¡ BNpw.””
“”hnhn`n Xo¨_v B_psNmÃkm]n sN«nt]mWnÃmsS Njn]pkm. bs£ Hmt^m Unkthmw Njn]p¼jpw B shuµ^yw NqXn¡qXn k^pktÃ?””
hm_m½]psX tImUyw tN«v lÐw hnhn`n bp©n^n¨p.
“”l^n¡pw Aks^ HmÀ¡p¼w FWn¡pw skgfw Hs*Xo. Ak^v l^n¡pb_ªm bmkksÃXo. F{St]m tbÀ¡v Fs´ms¡ him]§Ä sI¿p¶p B At½w tfmWpw.””
“”At¿m AsSm¶pw A_n]mªn«Ã kÀ¡n¨m. kÀ¡n¨W_n]ntà FWn¡v Xo¨_nsW Ft´m^w CãvtXmw dipfmtWmw Bs\¶v. bn¶ kÀ¡n¨Wv At{Sw skgfw Bt\ Xo¨_nWpw Cãw Bt\Â….””
“”””Bt\Â?””
“”tbm NÅm. AsSms¡ F³s_ km]o¶v tNÄ¡msWmÅ sNmSn sNm*tà C§sW tImUn¡ps¶. l^n b_]mw. kÀ¡n¨³ Xo¨_n³s_ bqän Np® tNäns¡mXpt¯m. Ft¶`pw H^n¡Â Xo¨_nWv F´m]m`pw Nj¸v tN_pw At¶^w GtS`pw H^p ssf^³ Xo¨_nsW sN\n]n sbXp¯nÃm¶p B^pN*p? kÀ¡n¨³ Bt\ sNmj¸w CÃtÃm.”
“”F³s_ hm_mt½,””
kÀ¡n]psX lÐw knNm^VoWfmNp¶Sv hnhn`n tN«p.
“”ASnWv kÀ¡n¨³ Fs¶¯nWm skgfn¡ps¶? kÀ¡n¨Wv Xo¨s_ Cãkm\v Fs¶Wn¡_n]mw. Xo¨_n³s_ sNmtSmw sfmt`w tWm¡n kÀ¡n¨³ skÅsk_¡p¶Sv Ft´m^w {bmlw Mm³ Nt*¡p¶p,””
CWn]pw S³s_ hm¶nVyw f_¨p skt¡* F¶v hnhn`n¡v tSm¶n. Ss¶¡p_n¨v tN« km¡pNÄ hnhn`n]n kÃmsS Nj¸v tNän]n^p¶p. Nk¡nX]n IqXv N]än]n^p¶p. fp` N®pNsa kn§nkoÀ¸n¨n^p¶p. Ak^psX Nan¡nX]n Nmf hÃmb¯nWnX]n hnhn`n b`Sk\ fp`¡Ãn`pw ssWän¡v bp_¯pNqXn SpX]nXp¡n`pw ssN sNm*p AfÀ¯n]n^p¶p. N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv NmfknNm^w hnhn`ns] b^kl]m¡n]n^p¶p.
hnhn`n Ipf¨p.
“”B^m?””
AN¯pWn¶v hm_m½ knan¨p tImUn¨p.
“”MmWm hm_mt½, hnhn`n,””
“”Hm, Xo¨_m^pt¶m?””
AN¯v Wn¶v- ko*pw hm_m½]psX lÐw hnhn`n tN«p. SnXp¡¯n Fs´ms¡t]m FXp¯psk¡p¶Sn³s_]pw fX¡n sk¡p¶Sn³s_]pw lÐw AkÄ tN«p.
NSNv Sp_¶v- hm_m½]pw bn¶ms` kÀ¡n]pw C_§n k¶p. hm_m½ Njp¯n_¡w NqXn] H^p b¨ s»uÊpw Ipk¶ `p¦n]pw DXp¯n^p¶p. AkapsX sNmjp¯ fp`Nan kn]À¸v N\§Ä hnhn`n N*p. S`fpXn A`hfm]n NnX¶p. ^*v tb^psX]pw tUi¯v Wn¶v- fUK`¯n³s_]pw lp¢¯n³s_]pw sNmjp¸n¨ f\w hnhn`n]psX Wmhm^{µ§sa Spa¨p.
kÀ¡n]psX tkgw hnhn`ns] A¼^s¸Xp¯n. N_p¯v SXn¨ N^p¯pä SpXNÄ¡v bNpSn fm{Ssf¯p¶ H^p Ipk¶ tSmÀ¯v– fm{Sfm\v A]mapsX tkgw. hm_m½]psX bn¼n tIÀ¶fÀ¶m\v A]mÄ Wn¡p¶Sv. hm_m½]psX I´nknXkn A]mÄ Np® sNm*p Np¯p¶p*v F¶v- hnhn`n¡v fWÊn`m]n. ASm\v– AkÄ CX¡nsX bnt¼m«p A^ SÅnsNmXp¡p¶Sv.
“”F¶m Xo¨s_,””
A^s¡«v H¶v NqXn bn¼nt`¡v SÅns¡mXp¯psNm*v hm_m½ tImUn¨p.
“”tfm³s_ H^p fmhnN C¶s` tbmÌv–fm³ CknsX C«m^p¶p. AsSXp¡m³ k¶Sm,””
“”Bt\m?””
hnhn`n S`]m«n. hm_m½ In^n¨psNm*p ko*pw kÀ¡n]psX A^s¡«nWv tWs^ I´n SÅns¡mXp¯p.
“”Xo¨_v km. ^*p fnWnäv C^n¡v. Mm³ fmhnN FXp¯p S^mw,””
“”At¿m hm_mt½. tfm³ NtX¶p C¸ k^pw,””
“”Hm A§v sNm¨o`pw tNm]¼¯q^pw H¶pkÃtÃm. B Nm\p¶Stà Xo¨_n³s_ koXv?””
hm_m½ fpä¯v– kaÀ¶v- Wn¡p¶ kmjNÄ¡nX]n`qsX kn^ Iq*ns¡m*v tImUn¨p.
“”kmt¶,””
hm_m½ AkapsX ssN]n bnXn¨p. At¸mÄ S³s_ ssN¯*]n Ft´m kjpkjp¸pÅ {UmkNw H«n¸nXn¡p¶Sv hnhn`n A_nªp. ssN knXpkn¨v hm_m½t]msXm¸w ANt¯¡v WX¡p¶SnWnX]n hnhn`n B emPw f\¯ptWm¡n. hwl]w l^n]m\v. lp¢w. N«ns¡mjp¸pÅ lp¢¯n³s_ f\w.
“”C^n¡v Xo¨s_,””
Aksa AN¯v H^p Nth^]n C^p¯n]n«v hm_m½ ANt¯¡v tbm]n. kÀ¡n AkapsX fp¼n¯s¶ Wn¶v- hnhn`n]psX sW©ns` D¶Sfm] boYeqfn]nt`¡v tWm¡n. ssWän¡N¯v fp`bÀÆS§Ä kn§nkoÀ¡m³ SpX§p¶Sv hnhn`n A_nªp. AkapsX tWm«w kÀ¡n]psX A^s¡«nt`¡v Wo*p. Cutlms], C]mÄ AXn]n H¶pw CXn«nÃ. Np®]psX Hu«v–ss`³ kyàfm]n Nm\mw. A]mÄ AW¡p¶pt*m? CX]v¡v tSmÀ¯v– sbm§p¶Sv tbms` hnhn`n]v¡v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tSm¶n.
AN¯p Wn¶v- hm_m½ H^p t¹än Wm`©v tW{´¸j§Ä sNm*v k¶p.
“”kÀ¡n¨m,””
AkÄ t¹äv kÀ¡n]psX tWs^ Wo«n.
“”CsSm¶p B tfls¸m_t¯m«v skt¨. MmWn¸w k^mw. G¯¸jw Xo¨_nsWs¡m*v Soän¡\w tNt«m. Xo¨À k`n] Wm\¡m^n]m,””
ASv b_ªp AkÄ ko*pw ANt¯¡v tbm]n. kÀ¡v t¹äv tfl¸p_¯v sk¨p.
“”kÀ¡n¨m F³s_ gZn N*m^pt¶m?””
AN¯v Wn¶v- hm_m½ knan¨p tImUn¨p.
“”GSv gZn]m?””
kÀ¡n D_s¡ ANt¯¡v tWm¡n tImUn¨p.
“”b¨,””
hm_m½ AN¯p Wn¶v- ko*pw knan¨p b_ªp.
“”FXo AStà fpt¼ Wo Du^n skt¨? ASm N«nt` Nm\pw.””
ASv b_ªv A]mÄ hm_m½s] tWm¡n In^n¨p.
“”F³s_ Xo¨s_..AXo CXp¶ Nm^ys¯ bän Ak¡v H^p tdmtVmw CÃ,””
“”ssf^v …””
AN¯v Wn¶v- hm_m½]psX lÐw ko*pw tN«p. kÀ¡n NpätdmVt¯msX hnhn`ns] tWm¡n.
“”F³s_ Xo¨s_..Aka§Wm tUgyw k¶m {bVmWf{´n Bt\m¶v- tbm`pw tWm¡psN`m. km]o¶v b¨s¯_ns] k^q,””
hnhn`n In^n¨p.
“”F¶m bäoXo?””
A]mÄ knan¨p tImUn¨p.
“”F³s_]m sImk¸v t{dhn]_v Nm\p¶nÃ,””
“”B skap¯ t{dhn]_v AksX sNXs¸m*tÃm,””
kÀ¡n knan¨pb_ªp.
“”F³s_ fWpgym AsS§pw C¸w CXm³ bäptk`s¶. sI_pSm]n. sfmt`sX k`n¸w NqXpt¶WWph^n¨v {dm]pw k`n¸w NqXpw. sfWs¡«v bnXn¨v k`pSm¡n S^p¼w ASn³s_ NqsX sNmÅmkp¶ {dm]pw sNmsX km§ptk`. M§sX {dm Wn§sX A*Àsk]À tbms`]Ã. Sq§ns¡X¡p¶ hmVWw Woaw NqXp¼w Wn§¡v A*Àsk]À fmt_*tÃm. AÃ, MmWnSv Bt^mXm A*Àsk]_nsâ Nm^yw b_]ps¶. ko«n H^n¡Â tbm`pw A*Àsk]À CXm¯ BtamXv. Wà NT!””
AN¯v Wn¶v- hm_m½ knan¨p b_ªp.
“”Wo]knsX A*Àsk]_n³täw t{dhn]_ntâw {Zmf Nan¡m*v C§v km hm_mt½.””
AN¯v Wn¶v- H^p Wnfngt¯¡v AW¡sfm¶pw tN«nÃ.
“”Nn«nt¸m]n,””
hm_m½]psX lÐw AkÀ tN«p. AXp¯ Wnfngw AkÄ AN¯p Wn¶pw C_§n k¶p. AkapsX ssN]n H^p b¨ bm³äohpw Ipk¶ {dm]pfp*m]n^p¶p.
“”thm_n Xo¨s_,””
hm_m½ bm³äohpw {dm]pw tfl¸p_¯v tW{´¡m] sk¨n^p¶ t¹änWv hfobw sk¨p. bm³äohn³s_ bq_ntWmXv tIÀ¶n^n¡p¶ emPw knXÀ¯n]m\v hm_m½ sk¨Sv F¶v- hnhn`n N*p. ASn k`n] emPkpw WWªn^n¡p¶Spw.
“”F³s_ Xo¨s_, C¸jm H^p Nm^yw HmÀs¯. B fm¯³ tI«Wv tS§sbmSn¡m³ ^mQk³ k^pw. Ak³s_ NqsX b\n¡v Wn¡m³ fm¯³ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tI«³ b_ªm^p¶p.””
hnhn`n]pw Fjpt¶äp.
“”Xo¨À Ft§m«v tbmNpkm,””
hm_m½ ko*pw hnhn`ns] bnXn¨n^p¯n.
“”kÀ¡n¨³ Xo¨_nWv fmhnN FXp¯pS^pw.””
“”FXo fm¯Wpw ^mQkWpw Wnt¶mXv sbmSn¡m³ b_]pw,””
“”H^©m_v sbmSn¡Â MmWpw sbmSnt¨¡ms¶,””
“”fXp¯ptbmNqXn,””
“”bns¶! Mm³ Ft´m^w sbmSn¨n^n¡p¶p!””
“”W¶m]n«v sbmSn¡pw hm_m½,””
hnhn`ns] tWm¡n kÀ¡n b_ªp.
“”hm_m½ {dm]pw bm³än]pw CXp¶ntÃ?””
“”H¶v- fpÅos« tbmNp¶pÅq Xo¨s_. fpÅn¡jnªv Ct«mamw,””
AkÄ bns¶ kÀ¡n]psX tWs^ Sn^nªp.
“”AsS kÀ¡n¨m, Xo¨s_s¡m*v F¯¡m Soän¡\w tNt«m. Wà fpjp¯ F¯¡m sNmXpt¯¡\w. Ip½m NpªpsSms¡ sNmXp¯v sk_psS bnlp¡v Nm\nt¨¡^pSv,””
ASpw b_ªv hm_m½ tbm]n.
At¸mjm\v– hnhn`n {l²n¡p¶Sv tfl¸p_¯v hm_m½]psX {dm]pw bm³äohpfn^n¡p¶p. SnXp¡¯n tbm]SvsNm*v AkÄ ASv FXp¡m³ f_¶p tbm]n^n¡p¶p.
kÀ¡n AkÄ¡enfpOfm]n C^p¶p.
“”Xo¨À ASv Nm^ykm¡*.””
A^s¡«n sIm_nªpsNm*v hnhn`ns] tWm¡n kÀ¡n b_ªp.
“”Akav gZow t{dhn]_pw sNmt*m]ns«m¶pw k`n] Nm^yknÃ. A©pw B_pw {bmklyw AkÄNv AsSms¡ Dut^*n k^pw. ASn`pw teUw CXm*v– tbmNp¶StÃ?””
hnhn`n fWÊn`mNm¯Sv tbms` bp©n^nt]msX kÀ¡ns] tWm¡n.
“”fm¯¨sâ b_¼n`m Akav b\n¡v tbms]¡ps¶? fm¯¨³s_ hzemkw Cu Nt^s` FÃm^v¡pw A_n]mtÃm. Häs¸®p§sa A]mav Du¡msS knXptkm?””
A]mapsX Sp_¶pÅ hwhm^w S¶n C{bmklyw H^p tUgykpw k^p¯p¶nà F¶v- AUvepSt¯msX hnhn`n HmÀ¯p. FÃmw dndn³s_ “”{bemg\”” ¯nWp tlgfm\v.
“”Hm, Xo¨À B]Sv sNm*v WmX³ km¡pNÄ H¶pw A_n]mt½`m^n¡pw AtÃ? Du¡pN F¶v- b_ªm F¶Sm¶v A_n]mtkm?””
AkapsX fpO¯v Wm\w tIt¡_n. ASv N*t¸mÄ kÀ¡n]psX tIm^t]m«w NqXn. Fs´m^p sNmjp¯, skap¯ I^¡v! NXn tN_n¡jnªp AkÄ¡v. ASm AkapsX fpO¯v C¸w C{S sIf¸v. fm{Skà ssWän¡Xo sfm` l^n¡pw sbm§p¶p!
“”Xo¨_nWp A_o¯ntÃÂ Mm³ b_]mw,””
Wm\w sNm*v NpWnª fpOw AkÄ A¸w D]À¯n. AkapsX fpOs¯ Ipk¸pw Ip*pNans` WWkpw N®pNans` IqXpw N*t¸mÄ A]mapsX A^s¡«na¡ns¡m*v Np® sk«nkn_¨p. ASv tSmÀ¯n Urlyfm]n. AkÄ AkntX¡v tWm¡p¶Sv kÀ¡n N*p.
“”””At¿m Mm³ Xo¨_nsW bYn¸n¡pN H¶pkà tNt«m,”
A]mÄ b_ªp.
AkÄ S`]m«n.
“”””bYn¸nIm`pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv sNmj¸knà kÀ¡o,”
hnhn`n b_ªp.
“”””Hm, FWn¡v bYn¸pw knkt^mw H¶pknà Xo¨s_. Xo¨_nsW Hs¡ Mm³ F¶m bYn¸n¡mWm?”
“”””A§sWm¶znà kÀ¡o. FÃmÀ¡pw FÃmw A_n]\w Fs¶m¶pw CÃ. kÀ¡n fpt¼ Ft´m b_ªntÃ? AsS¶Sm¶v- FWn¡_n]nÃ. A§sW H^pbmXv Nm^y§Ä,”
“”””fpt¼ b_ªtSm? MmsW¶m fpt¼ b_sª?”
“”Aà kÀ¡n b_ªnÃm^pt¶m Ft´m H^p “”Du”” kn SpX§p¶ H^p km¡v?
“” “”Du”” knt`m? Duªm`mt\m?””
“”AÃt¶tks_ H^p km¡m..””
“”Xo¨_nWv HmÀ½ Nn«p¶pt* H¶v- b_tª, Mm³ f_¶v tbm]n,””
hnhn`n]psX fpOw `Ö sNm*v ko*pw Ipk¶p. A^s¡«n koÀ¯v k^p¶ QWbÀÆS¯n AfÀ¯nsM^n¨p sNm*v kÀ¡n AkapsX `Ö BhzUn¨p. S³s_ fpOs¯ fmhvf^ shuµ^yw kÀ¡n]psX A^s¡«n I`W§Ä D*m¡p¶p F¶_nªv hnhn`n A¸w CaNn]n^p¶p. At¸mÄ fp`NÄ l^n¡v CaNp¶p*v F¶v- AkÄ D_¸v k^p¯n. A]mÄ Nm¬sN AkÄ S³s_ SXn¨p skap¯ SpXNÄ Nq«nsM^n¨p. CX]v¡nsX AV^w WW]v¡pN]pw Ip*pNÄ Iq*pkn^`pw sb^pkn^`pw Nq«nAfÀ¯n sM^n¡pN]pw sI]vSp.
“”kÀ¡n b_ªSv Du¡pN F¶ km¡m,””
“”Hm, C¸w HmÀ½ k¶p Xo¨s_..Du¡pN F¶m Mm³ b_sª? F¶v- b_ªm F¶Sm¶v Xo¨^nW_n]mtkm?””
“”CÃ,’
AkÄ Wm\t¯msX b_ªp. F¶n«v ko*pw CaNn]n^p¶p. fp`NÄ CaNp¶p*v F¶v- D_¸v k^p¯n.
“”F¶v- sk¨m B\pw sb®pw NqXn C§sW sI¿pN,””
A]mÄ CXSp ssN¿psX Iq*pkn^`pw sb^pkn^`pw sNm*v H^p kr¯fp*m¡n k`Sv ssN¿psX sb^pkn^Â ASnWpÅn`qsX C_¡pN]pw Smjv¯pN]pw sI]vSpsNm*v b_ªp.
“”iifw…:
hnhn`n]n Wn¶v- H^p lÐw bp_s¸«p. A]mapsX NknįX§ans` Ipk¸v Wn_w NqXn. N®pNans` Sna¡kpw SpXn¸pw NqXn. AV^¯ns` WWkpw.
“”Xo¨_n³s_ gZn]v¡v Ct{Sw k`n¸fpt*m?””
tfl¸p_¯n^p¶ hm_m½]psX bm³äohv D]À¯n¡m\n¨psNm*v tImUn¨p.
“”Cà kÀ¡o, F³s_ bmân]v¡v Ct{Sw CÃ,””
Wm\¯m NpSnÀ¶ lЯn hnhn`n b_ªp.
“”bs£ N*m CSn`pw k`n¸w tk\w F¶v- sSm¶pw tNt«m,””
“”bnt¶, Ip½m..””
AkÄ `Ön¨v bp©n^n¨p.
“”CSv tWm¡nt¡ Xo¨s_,””
A]mÄ WWªv NpSnÀ¶ fp³emPw AkapsX tWÀ¡v knXÀ¯n.
“”hm_mt½sX bqäo¶p bän] skÅfm CSv. CSv Nt*m..””
A]mÄ WWªp NpSnÀ¶ emPw hnhn`ns] kXn¨v– Nm\n¨psNmXp¯p. kÀ¡n]psX Sp_¶ hwhm^w hnhn`n]n S^n¸v N]än. AkÄ ko*pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv fp`NÄ Ca¡n]n^p¶p. S³s_ sNmjp¯ SpX§Â AkÄ A]mÄ Nm¬sN Nq«n¯n^p½n.
“”Òvfw …Òvfw…””
Akapth lzmhPSn]p]˦p.
Ct¸mÄ kÀ¡n]psX A^s¡«ns` fpj H^p NqXm^w tbms`]m]n. ASnt`¡v AkÄ Ip*pWW¨p tWm¡n.
“”hmVm^\ Wn§sat¸ms` DÅ sb®p§sX bq_p tbms`]Ã hm_mt½sX bq_v. AkÄsX bqän¶v- Ft¸mjpw H`nt¨m*n^n¡pw…””
AkÄ ko*pw Ip*p WW¨p. bns¶ bm{S¯n Wn¶v- AkÄ H^p bjsfXp¯p. A]mapsX N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n.
“”CSv WÃ fpjp¯ bjfm\tÃm,””
AkÄ b_ªp.
“”ASn`pw fpjp¯ bjw Mm³ Xo¨_nWv Sn¶m³ S^mw,””
hm_m½]psX bmânhv I¸ns¡m*v A]mÄ b_ªp.
AkÄ ASnWp¯^fm]n S`Np`p¡n.
“”MmWo bjw sbman¡s«,””
AkÄ tImUn¨p.
“”sbmant¨m ..CãfpÅ{S]pw sbman¨p Snt¶m. Ft´ms^ tkt\`pw S^mw,””
AkÄ A]mapsX N®pNan tWm¡n bj¯n³s_ tSm sbman¨p. F¶n«v BUyw ASn Wmkp Wo«n W¡n..
ASv N*p A]mapsX Np®]psX N«n C^p¼pN¼n tbms`]m]n. tSmÀ¯nWv bp_¯pNqXn A]mÄ hnhn`n]psX Nm¬sN AfÀ¯n¸nXn¨p.
“”Mm³ b_ªSv l^n]tÃ. Wn§av sb®p§Ä¡v BÀ¡pw F³s_ emt^ysX At{Sw H`n¸v Nm\¯nÃtÃm bqäo¶v-..””
“”A§sWs]m¶pw Aà kÀ¡o,””
AkÄ bjw S³s_ SpXp¯p frUp`fm] Ipk¶ Ip*n fp«n¡p¶Sv tbms` Nm\n¨p.hnhn`n]n AenfmWkpw ht´mgw S^n¨n_§pN]m]n^p¶p. N^p¯mWm] kÀ¡ns] Dt¯Kn¸n¡m³ SWn¡v Njnªn^n¡p¶p. WPvW]mNmsS tWm«w sNm*v!
“”A§sWs]m¶pw Aà F¶v- b_ªmÂ? ti]v ..Xo¨À Ip½m b_]p¶Sm,””
tSmÀ¯nWv bp_¯pNqXn C{bmklyw Np® l^n¡pw sSm`n¨Xn¨p A]mÄ.
AkÄ bjw km]n bNptSmt]mafn_¡n bp_s¯Xp¯p.
“”Aà kÀ¡n…””
“”AtÃ…F¶m Xo¨À H¶m gZn H¶q^n Nm\nt¨,””
“”At¿m kÀ¡o FWn¡v Wm\km…””
“”Wm\n¡* …F´nWm Mm³ gZn CXm*m C^n¡ps¶,””
“”AsSWn¡_n]mw,””
G¯¸jw km]nt`¡v N]äpN]pw C_NpN]pw sI]vSpsNm*v, A]mapsX A^s¡«n eofmNm^w bq*n^n¡p¶ NqXm^m¯ns`¡v tWm¡n AkÄ b_ªp.
‘Xo¨_nWv sSan]n¡m³ bä¯ntàMm³ b_ªSm l^n. F³s_ sb{¼t¶m¯osX bqän³s_ At{Sw H`n¸v tks_ BÀ¡pw CÃ,””
“”sly..Cu kÀ¡osX H^p Nm^yw. gZn Du^n¡m\n¨mt` knlzhn¡pskmtÅm?””
“”AÃmsS]n¸w…Xo¨_v Ss¶ H¶v- b_. AÃmsS F§sW]m,””
“”sly…””
AkÄ ko*pw kng®]m]n. kÀ¡ns] Wm\t¯msX ko*pw tWm¡n. bns¶ ssN¿n`n^p¶ G¯¸jw tfl¸p_¯v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv sk¡m³ SpX§n. bns¶ ASv tk* F¶v- sk¨v AkÄ ASv km]n sk¨p. bNpSnemPw km]n`pw bNpSn skan]n`pw. AkapsX Ipk¶ Ip*pNÄ kr¯mNm^¯n bj¯nWp fSn tbms` Wn¶p.
F¶n«v fXn¨v fXn¨v ssWän tfÂt¸m«p sbm¡n. AkapsX ewPn]pÅ, fmUNewPn]pÅ, sNmjp¯ Wo* Nm`pNÄ kÀ¡n¡v fp¼n bSns] bSns] AWmkrSfm]n. IqXpÅ N®pNtamsX kÀ¡n]psX tWm«s¯ tW^n«psNm*m\v AkÄ ssWän D]À¯ns¡m*n^p¶Sv. bns¶ SpXNapw A]mÄ¡v fp¼n skankm]n. kÀ¡n]psX lzmh PSn]p]À¶p. CSpks^ hwekn¡m¯ fp_p¡¯n`pw N«n]n`pw Np® Ip«pbjp¯v sbm§nWn¡m³ SpX§n.
hnhn`n SpXNÄ AXp¸n¨p sk¨v bm³äohv bSns] Du^n. A]mapsX N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n, km]n bjkpw NXn¨pbnXn¨v sNmjp¯v fmUNfm] SpXNan`qsX bm³äohv Du^ns]Xp¡p¶ NmjvI kÀ¡ns] l^n¡pw {em´p bnXn¸n¨p. SpXNÄ¡nX]ns`¡v A]mÄ Ipjnªp tWm¡n. F¶m hnhn`n SpXNÄ tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p.
bns¶ AkÄ bm³äohv A]mapsX tWs^ F_nªp sNmXp¯p. knl¶p kaª H^p b«n C_¨nN£\w N*Sptbms` A]mÄ ASv knUPvVfm]n bnXns¨Xp¯p.
“”bnjnsªXp¡m³ bmN¯n`ntÃ?””
SpXNÄ¡v bNpSn ks^ ssWän D]À¯nsk¨v hnhn`n tImUn¨p.
A]mÄ ASv {em´v bnXn¨v f\¡pN]m]n^p¶p. sNmjp¯ skÅw A]mÄ W¡n W¡n kr¯n]m¡p¶Sv AkÄ N*p. At¸mÄ A]mapsX H^p ssN {em´fm]n Np®]n bnXn¨p sM^n¡pN]m]n^p¶p.
“”h½Sn¨p,””
A¸w Njnªv NnS¨psNm*v A]mÄ b_ªp.
“”F³s_ sb{¼t¶m¯osX bqäo¶v- k^p¶SntW¡mÄ D*v Xo¨s_..””
AkÄ bjw km]n sk¨p Cu¼ns¡m*v SpXNÄ AN¯pN]pw AXp¸n¡pN]pw sI]vSpsNm*v A]msa tWm¡n. SpXNÄ AN`pt¼mÄ kÀ¡n At§m«v– Ipjnªp tWm¡pw. CX]vs¡ms¡ AkapsX NkNÄ¡nX]n B ^ihy DUymWw kÀ¡n Nm\pN]pw sI]vSp. A]mÄ N*Sv Akapw.
“”Xo¨À¡v F³s_ Np® Nm\t*?””
Nmf¡`n¸n kÀ¡n tImUn¨p.
AkÄ AV^w NXn¨p. N®pNans` Smbtf_n. AN¯n] SpXNÄ AXp¸n¨psk¡msS AkÄ A]msa tWm¡n.
A]mÄ tSmÀ¯v– NqXm^¯nWN¯v sbm§nWn¡p¶ fmwhtPmbp^s¯ sM¡n¸njnªSÃmsS tSmÀ¯v– fmän hnhn`ns] Nm\n¨nÃ.
“”Nm\n¡p¶ntÃ?””
“”Nm\t* F¶v- tImUn¨¸w Xo¨À H¶pw b_ªnÃ,””
“”b_ªmt` Nm\n¡ptkmÅq?””
“”Xo¨À hpµ^fm] B Ip*psNm*v Np® Nm\\w F¶v- tNÄ¡mWpÅ sNmSnsNm*m,””
“”kÀ¡o Np® Nm\n¡v,””
AkapsX km¡pNÄ kÀ¡ns] kÃmsS {Shn¸n¨p. Ak³ DXtW tSmÀ¯v– fmän. Ak³s_ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv sbm¡nanWv tft` H^p eoN^³ N_p¯ Np® sbm§n¯p_n¨p Wn¶p,””
hnhn`n AV^w NXn¨v, N®pNans` Smbw C^«n]m¡n At§m«p tWm¡n. AkÄ A¸w NqXn CaNn]n^p¶p. At¸mÄ AkapsX SpXNan Wn¶v- ssWän fm_n. NkNÄ Sp_¶p. SpXNÄ AXp¸n¨v sk¨v Nk¡nX]n`qsX bp_¯v Nm\p¶ C^pÄ f_¡m³ AkÄ {lfn¨nÃ.
“”ASv Np® Ss¶]mt\m AtSm kà sS§n fX`pfmt\m?””
“”CtSm?””
Np®]n bnXn¨p sM¡n]Xn¨psNm*v kÀ¡n tImUn¨p.
“”hwl]w Ht*Â k¶v- bnXn¨p tWm¡v,””
“”bnXn¡mw. BUyw AsSm¶p Nm\s« l^n¡v,””
“”B Nks]m¶pNqXn sbman¨p sk¡m¦n FWn¡m bq_p l^n¡v Nm\m^p¶p,””
AkÄ SpXNÄ A¸wNqXn]N¯n.
“”Nm\mtkm?””
“”Dw””
“”l^n¡v Nm\mtkm?””
“”F¶Sv Nm\mtkm¶m?’
“”F³s_ bq_v,””
“”Nm\mw Xo¨s_,””
“”W¶m]n«v sbmanªmt\m C^n¡ps¶?””
“”Np® tN_o«v sNmt_ B]StÃ? ASpsNm*v H^p k^ fmt{S Nm\s¯mÅq,””
AkÄ G¯¸jw SpX]n AfÀ¯n.
“”Mm³ hm_mt½sX bqän G¯¡]nXpkm^p¶p,””
“”Bt\m? F¶n«v?””
“”hm_m½ bqän Nps_ tW^w F¯¡m tNän C_¡n ASv sfm¯w bq_p skÅw bän¡pw. F¶n«v FWn¡v Sn¶m³ S^pw….””
“”Òviw…ivivÒvfw..””
“”Mm³ bjw F³s_ bqän`n«v sNmjp¸n¨p S¶m kÀ¡n Sn¶ptkm?””
“”§vti..-“”
kÀ¡n]psX N®pNÄ skan]n ImXpw F¶v- hnhn`n hwl]n¨p.
“”F³s_ At½..tW^v?””
ASnWp¯^fm]n AkÄ G¯¸jw SpX]n`qsX bSns] ANt¯¡v sNm*ptbm]n. SpXNÄ NqXpS knXÀ¶v- k^p¶Sv A]mÄ N*p. A]mapsX N®pNÄ NqXpS NqXpS skan]nt`¡v SÅns¡m*v AkÄ bjw ANw SpX]nt`¡v AfÀ¯nD^p½n Wo¡n. AkapsX bq_v hmkVmWw NqXpS NqXpS knXÀ¶v- k^p¶Sv kÀ¡n N*p. bjw AkapsX bq_n³s_ bnaÀ¸nsW sSm«p. bSns] ASv ASn`q_n¡nX¶ fUK`¯n hvbÀln¨t¸mÄ ‘lyq..’ Fs¶m^p lÐw kÀ¡n tN«p. bj¯nWp l^n¡v N]_m³ AkÄ bq_p l^n¡pw knXÀ¯n. kÀ¡n]psX Nm\pNant`¡v tWm¡n hnhn`n bjw A¸m¸fm]n N]än.
“”im..At½,’
AkÄ Wn`knan¨p.
“”At¿m F¶m Xo¨s_?’
kÀ¡n e]s¸«v tImUn¨p.
“”tkUWn¡p¶p,””
“”F¶m tk*,””
“”hm^fnÃ,””
AkÄ bjw ko*pw N]äm³ SpX§ns¡m*v b_ªp.
“”kÀ¡n H¯n^n sNmSn¨StÃ…F¶n«v Mm³ bq_n bjw tNän¡m\n¡mSn^p¶m FWn¡v skgfkm…””
A]mÄ¡v bqÀ®fm]n Wn]{´\w Wãs¸XpN]m]n^p¶p. A]mapsX ssNNapsX I`Ww l^tkP¯n`m]n.
“”Hiv..HmHivivtimH…””
AkÄ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv ko*pw tkUWn¨v bjw ANt¯¡v SÅn.
“”BimAiv..””
kÀ¡n tWm¡n WnÂs¡ bjw fpjpkWpw AkapsX bq_n A{bS£yfm]n.
bns¶ AkÄ hmkVmWw ASv bp_t¯s¡Xp¯p.
At¸mjpw Wn`knan]v¡p¶p*m]n^p¶p, hnhn`n. kÀ¡n]mNs« N×p¼n Nm\p¶ AknlzhWo]fm] Nmjv¨ S^p¶ `i^n]n hN`Spw f_¶v- Np® bnXn¨Xn¡pN]pw.
AkhmWw AkapsX Wn`knan hpOfÀ½^fm]n. hpOho¡m^fm]n. kas^ hpOfm]n bq_ns` fUK`¯n bpSªv lÐw tNĸn¨v bjw ANt¯¡pw bp_t¯¡pw N]_n]n_§n.
kÀ¡n Np®]ns` bnXnkn«v ImXns]jpt¶äp. A]mÄ hnhn`n]psX AXps¯¯n. AkÄsX ssN bj¯n Wn¶v- knXpkn¨v A]mÄ ASv AkapsX bq_n Wn¶v- Du^ns]Xp¯p. F¶n«v Np® ASnt`¡v fp«n¡m³ SpX§n.
“”””Wn¡v,”
AkÄ kn`¡n.
“”””Ct{Sw N«n]pÅ Wà N_p¯ Wo* Np® H¶v- bnXn¡s«. H¶v- ssN]n FXp¯v Smt`m`n¡s«. sNm©n¡s«. ASv Njnªv D`]n`n«p Nm¨ns]Xp¯m fSn,”
S³s_ N^n¡«]psX Wn_fpÅ Np®]psX kn`§sW skap¯ Wo* ewPn]pÅ kn^`pNÄ Ipän¸nXn¡p¶Sv A]mÄ N*p. Nmft¯msXm¸w A]mÄ¡v AktamXv– kÃmsS, ASn^nÃm¯ hvtWikpw tSm¶n. hpµ^o, F³s_ kn^qbs¯, kr¯n]nÃm]vfs], Alp²ns] F{S WnÊm^fm]m\v Wo AkP\n¡p¶Sv? F³s_ kr¯nsN« f\w, AWmNÀgNfm] l^o^w, U^n{U³ F¶ ØnSn Hs¡ Wns¶t¸ms`]pÅ H^p Abvh^hpµ^n AkP\n¡pt¼mÄ Mm³…
hnhn`n]psX ssN Ak³s_ Np®]n tkP¯nÂ, Sma¯nÂ, I`n¸n¨p. AkapsX skap¯v hpµ^fm]v– kn^`pNÄ Wn_s] A]mapsX {bo Nw Du_n]q_nk¶v- AkapsX skap¯v hpµ^fm] kn^`pNsa sNmjp¸n¨p bpS¸n¨p.Wn]{´\w bqÀ®fm]pw Wãfm] H^p tka kÀ¡n Aksa thmc]nt`¡v f`À¯n¡nX¯n. AkapsX Nm`pNÄ A]mÄ Sp_¶v- sk¨p. ASn³s_ Bklyfp*m]n^p¶nÃ. kas^ ]m{´nNfm]n¯s¶ hnhn`n NkNÄ ^*pw AN¯pfm]n^p¶p. bs£ H^p bp^pg³ Ss¶ ASv sI]vSv Nm\pkmWpÅ B{Piw sNm*v AkÄ A]mÄ sI¿p¶Sv Nm¯n^n¡pN]m]n^p¶p.
bqÀ¯pa kas^ sI_pSm]n^ps¶¦n`pw ASnÂWn¶v- {hkn¨ sNmjp¯ fUK`kpw ASn³s_ PÔkpw AakäSm]n^p¶p. AkapsX ANwSpXNapw PpUUzm^w ks^]pw H`n¨v HjpNn] fUK`¯m bpSªn^p¶p. ASn³s_ ^pIn]pw f\kpw fpjpk³ H¸ns]Xp¡pkm³ A]mapsX Wmkp APvWnbÀÆSfpO¯n³s_ IqXpÅ AkapsX bq_nt`¡v Spa¨n_§n.
“”””Biv Biivi,”
hpOmhàn]n A`_nknan¨v AkÄ A^s¡«v tbm¡n]p]^v¯n Ak³s_ fpOt¯mXv D^p½n. Ak³s_ Wm¡v sNmjp¸pskůn`qsX H^p SnfnwP`s¯t¸ms` N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv AkapsX DÄ¡X`nt`¡n_§n]t¸mÄ Bhàn fq¯v, Nj¸v fq¯v AkÄ A]mapsX S` bq_ntWmXv AfÀ¯nsM¡n ¸nXn¨p.
“”””kÀ¡o, NXn¨p b_ns¡Xm…FXm…F³s_ ….F³s_ ….bq_v…”
H¶pw Aksa SXªnÃ. A]Âk¡w. Xo¨À F¶ bUkn. fpSnÀ¶ H^m¬Np«n]psX A½. H¶pw.
hpOw A\s¡«n skÅw Wn_]p¶SntW¡mÄ tkP¯n Wn_]pN]m]n^p¶p. kÀ¡n]psX bÃpNÄ N´n³tf sNm^p¯t¸mÄ AkÄ C¡nansNm*p bpaªnÃ. A§sW]m]n^p¶p t`m_³hv sI¿pt¼mÄ. bs£ Ct¸mÄ N^Ä b_n¡p¶ hpOw.
“”””kÀ¡o…F³s_ bq_n Np® tNä^pSv F¶ Hä Dt±ltk sWW¡ptÅm?”
hf]w Wo*ptbm]t¸mÄ AkÄ tImUn¨p. ASnWnsX bq_n Wn¶v- F{SSk\ kh´¯n³s_ APvWnbÀÆSw sbm«n F¶v- AkÄ¡v HmÀ½]nÃm]n^p¶p. AkhmWw kÀ¡n fpOw D]À¯n]t¸mÄ fp«]psX skÅ fpO¯v fpjpk³ tS¨pbnXn¨Sv– tbms`]m]n^p¶p.
“”””dyq«ng³s_ cohv– FWn¡v St¶¡\w,”
B fqZn`pw AkÄ A§sW b_ªp.
“”””Xo¨s_, sNmt_ Wmav NqXn BUykm]n«tÃ? Nk l^n¡pw sbman¨N¯n sk¡v AtÃÂ tkUW k^pw,”
hnhn`n NkNÄ b^fmkVn ANän. AkÄ ^*pssN sNm*pw bq_p knXÀ¯n¸nXn¨p. A]mÄ Np® ssNsNm*v bnXn¨psNm*v AkapsX bq_n³s_ bnaÀ¸nWv fpNan bSns] fp«n¨p.
“”””Hmi…At½…”
A©pkÀg¯nWp tlgw BUyfm]n H^p Np® bq_n fp«pN]m\v. S³s_ ss`wPnN KoknS¯ns` H^p I^n{SfpiqÀ¯w.
hnhn`n Wm¡pNXn¨v, N®pNaX¨p NnX¡pN]m]n^p¶p. bs£ kÀ¡n]psX Np® bq_n fp«n]t¸mÄ AkÄ N®pNÄ Sp_¶v- S³s_ Nm`pN¡nX]ns`¡v tWm¡n.
“”””F´m tWm¡ps¶?”
Np® bSns] ANt¯¡v NX¯m³ {lfn¨psNm*v A]mÄ AktamsX tImUn¨p.
“”””Nm\\w,”
AkÄ b_ªp.
“”””Wn³s_ Np® F³s_ bq_nt`¡v CXn¨n_§p¶Sv FWn¡v Nm\\w kÀ¡o,”
A]mÄ bSns] SÅn.
“”””Hiv…bSns]..bSns]..”
“”””tkUW?”
“”””Òw…D*v,”
“”””F¶m Du^s«?”
“”””sNm¶pNa]pw Mm³!”
A]mÄ ko*pw SÅn. A¸w NqXn AN¯p N]_n. bs£ AkapsX Wn`knan BUyt¯Sn`pw D¨¯n`m]n.
“”””C§sW tkUWn¡pkmt\Â Mm³ Du^pw,”
“”””Du^nt¡m. bs£ bnt¶w Np¯nt¡ä\w,”
kÀ¡n sbs«¶v- Bªp SÅn. hnhn`n]psX N®pNÄ skan]n k¶p. AkapsX A`À¨ bp_t¯¡v tbm]Sm]n A]mÄ e]s¸«p. sbs«¶v- AkapsX SpX]nXp¡nt`¡v tWm¡n]m kÀ¡n e]s¸«ptbm]n.
“”””Xo¨s_…tIm^!”
“”””FknsX?”
“”””bqäo¶v-,”
“”””hm^fnÃ. N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv WnÀ¯*. C¸w tkUsWsX NqsX hptOmw D*v. Wo]Xnt¨m. Np¯n]Xnt¨m. Np¯n]q^n Nant¨m. iitimiv,”
AkapsX A^s¡«v kn_bq*p.
“”””FWn¡v sbm«n…bnt¶w sbm«n kÀ¡o.. im]vHivi…”
kÀ¡n ]{´s¯t¸ms` hwim^emkw bq*v BªXn¡m³ SpX§n. hnhn`n ASnWWph^n¨v A^s¡«v tbm¡n]p]À¯ns¡mXp¯p. Ak^psX Wà Aakn bp_t¯¡v k¶psNm*n^p¶ lp¢kpw fUK`kpw NqXn¡`À¶v- SmamßNfm] lÐw AknsX fpj§n. kÀ¡n]psX A^s¡«mt\m hnhn`n]psX I´nNamt\m Gäkpw tkP¯n I`n¡p¶sS¶v b_]m³ kngfw.
“”””FXm kÀ¡o,”
CX]v¡v AkÄ A]msa knan¨p.
AXn SpX^p¶SnWnX]n kÀ¡v AkapsX fpOt¯¡v tWm¡n.
“”””F³s_ sfm`]v¡v Ct{Sw fpjps¸m*m]n«v H^p {bt]mKtWmw CtÃXm?”
Ak³ H^p ssNsNm*v AkapsX fp` bp_s¯Xp¡m³ {lfn¨p.
“”””tk*, Mm³ Ss¶ bp_s¯Xp¡mw,”
AkÄ ssWän¡pÅn Wn¶v- kn§nkoÀ¯pNnX¶ fp`NÄ bp_s¯Xp¯p.
“”””C¶m, ^*pw l^n¡v sM¡ns¸m«n¡v,”
fp`NÄ ^*pssNNÄsNm*pw FXp¯p]À¯n AkÄ AktWmXp b_ªp. kÀ¡n]psX b^pb^p¯ ssN¯`w AkapsX fp`Nan AfÀ¶p.
“”””l^n¡v Nl¡v…FWn¡v tkUWn¡nÃ…fp_ps¡ ..CWow fp_ps¡…im..iiii…Hmtimtimtim…”
Aksa SpÅnkn_]v¡m³ SpX§n.
f`]na¡n k^p¶ sNmXp¦mäptbms` kÀ¡n Akan BtklWr¯w sI]vSp. sNmXp¦mänWp Nosj hpOSmZWfWpekn¡p¶ Sn^fm`NÄ tbms` AkÄ sk«nkn_¨p.

D¨]v¡v Du\pNjnªv Xo kn]psX fp¼n`n^n¡pt¼mÄ dndnsâ hfobt¯¡v hnhn`n k¶p.
“”F¶SmXm tbm{Pmw?””
“”GgymsWäv AkmÀZv ssWäv B\v f½n,””
“”Hm..Bt\m. F¶m bßnWn¡m^n¡pw sdÌv As{Îhv AkmÀZv. tX]vNv Hm\n F¶m sbÀtcmÀf³hm!””
hUÊn fp³Wn^]n Ss¶ bßnWn]n^n¡p¶Sv hnhn`n N*p.
“”Nt*m, Mm³ b_ªntÃ,””
N_p¯tXm¸v A\nªv bßnWn sSt¡m¯v F¶ hpµ^n]pw dp²nlm`nWn]pfm] WXn bp©n^n¨psNm*p fp³ Wn^]n`n^n¡p¶Sv dndnWpw N*p.
“”kngmU]mt{S AenW]n¨¸w N* bßnWn]m\v CsS¶v- B^pb_]pw?””
“”l^n]m A¶v- W^´v tbms`]n^p¶ sb®m,””
“”AtS…””
Ak³ In^n¨p.
“”Wos]´m In^nt¨?””
“”AÃ, A¶kÄ¡v A½nª Sos^ CÃm^p¶p,””
“”Wn³s_ Nm^yw!””
hnhn`n Ak³s_ tSman bSns] AXn¨p.
“”At§m«p fmt{S tWm¡q,””
“”””At§m«p fmt{S tWm¡q,”
dndn³Nan]m]n hnhn`n b_ª km¡pNÄBkÀ¯n¨p.
“”””sb®p§Ä¡v Cãfm B\p§ÄAk^psX N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv A½nª]nt`¡v tWm¡ps¶. Atöv f½n¡v b_]mtkm?”
hnhn`n]nÂA¸w Wm\w NSn^nXp¶Sv dndn³N*p.
“”””AtÃ? Mm³b_ªSv tW^tÃ?”
“”””H¶v-tbmXm..Mm³b_]nÃ,”
“”””H¶v-b_ f½n, ¹ohv,”
“”””WnW¡_n]ntÃ, Wo k`n] Fjp¯pNm^³Hms¡]tÃ?”
“”””AStà b_sª, M§ÄB\p§ÄWn§Äsb®p§sX sfmt`ÂtWm¡p¶Sv Wn§¡v Cãkms\¶v. bs£ f½n h½Sn¡p¶nÃtÃm,”
“”””h½Sn¨nà F¶v-B^v b_ªp?”
“”””Hmtim A¸w CãvXtfms¡ B\v,”
“”””Np_s¨ms¡,”
AkapsX fpO¯v tItSmi^fm] `Ö knXÀ¶p.
“”””F¶v-sk¨mÂ?”
“”””F¶v-sk¨mÂH^p f]¯ns`ms¡ tWm¡n]mÂ. AÃmsS t_¸v sI¿p¶tbms` tWm¡n]m H^p sb®pw CãvXs¸XnÃ. Wn§sX hnN-vhv bm]v¡pw fhn`pw Hs¡ sb®p§ÄtWm¡p¶p, {l²n¡p¶p F¶_n]pt¼mÄB\p§Ä¡pw CãvXftÃ? ASptbms`,”
At¸mÄdndn³s_ sfmssdÂlÐn¨p.
tcm¬ k¶t¸mÄ dndn³ bp_t¯¡v tbm]n. hnhn`n hwl]n¨v AksW tWm¡n]t¸mÄ dndn³ sI_pIn^nt]msX b_ªp.
“”tWm¡n tbXn¸n¡ptkm¶pw tk*. CSnWm¯v Zmäm CÃ f½n,””
Ak³s_ fpOw kna_n]n^p¶Sv AkÄ {l²n¨p.
“”Ipän¡an H_¸m. AtàF´nWm Ck³ tcm¬ k^p¶tS sbm_t¯¡v HmXps¶?””
A¸w Njnªv dndn³ Sn^n¨p fp_n]nt`¡v k¶p.
“”f½o, bänÃ. ^kn l¦À hmÀ CsSs{S]m¶p sk¨m W½sa CWvisW knan¡ps¶? Wfp¡v Wmsa hm_n³s_ ko«n tbmN\w,””
“”A]mamt\m knant¨?””
“”AsS,””
“”Wo tbm]m fSn. MmsWt§m«pfnÃ,””
dndn³s_ fpOw tUgyw sNm*p Ipk¶p. Ak³s_ ewPn]pÅ fnjnNan hnhn`nt]mXpÅ sk_p¸v Wn_ªp. ASv bns¶ hmkVmWw h¦Xfm]n. ASv hnhn`n]v¡v Sm§mkp¶Sn`¸p_fm]n^p¶p.
bs£ ^knl¦s_ Nm\m³ A]mapsX ko«n tbmNp¶SntWmXv AkÄ¡v t]mKn¡m³ Njn]pfm]n^p¶nÃ.
dndn³ imÄ kn«ptbm]n. Ak³s_ tbm¡v tWm¡n]n^p¶SÃmsS AkÄ AksW Sn^n¨p knan¨nÃ.
dndn³ Sn^n¨p imant`¡vSs¶ k^pw F¶v- N^pSn Nps_ hf]w AkÄ iman sk]näv sI]vSp. bns¶ Xn kn Hmcv sI]vSv AkÄ Ak³s_ fp_n]nt`¡v tbm]n.
Ak³s_ fp_n]ns`¯n] AkÄ hvSwen¨ptbm]n. fp_n]n Wn¶v- hnPs^än³s_ f\w. ssUktf Ak³ ko*pw k`n¡m³ SpX§nt]m?
AkÄ SnXp¡¯n Ak³s_ fp_n]n N]_n. N«n`n f`À¶p NnX¡pN]m\v dndn³. N®pNÄ f¨nt`¡v S_ªp tWm¡pN]m\v. sPu^kfm] Bt`mIW]n`m\v. kn^`pNÄ¡nX]n bpN]p¶ hnPs^äv–.
“”Wo bnt¶w k`n SpX§n AtÃ?””
dndn³ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv AkÄ b_]p¶Sv {l²n¨nÃ. hnhn`n Ak³s_ AXp¯v k¶v- hnPs^äv– bnXn¨pkm§n fp_n]psX fq`]n sk¨n^n¡p¶ ZÌv dn¶nt`¡n«p. At¸mÄ ASn fq¶v Wm`v bpN]p¶ hnPs^äv– NpänNÄ N*p.
lzmhw Wn`¨ptbmNp¶tbms` hnhn`n¡v tSm¶n.
“”Wo]nsS¶m emknt¨m*m dndntW?””
AkÄ AksW ^q£fm]n tWm¡n.
At¸mjpw Ak³ H¶pw b_]pN]p*m]nÃ.
“”Mm³ A]mÄsX ko«n k^nà F¶v- b_ªSnWmt\m C¡* hnP^säms¡ k`n¨pNq«ps¶? l^n, Mm³ Nm^\w Wo C§sW Wln¡*. tbmNmw Wfp¡v. Wmsa¯s¶,””
Ak³s_ N®pNÄ Sna§n. Ak³s_ hpµ^fm] fpOw ht´mg¯m NqXpS knXÀ¶p. Ak³ sbs«¶v- Fjpt¶äp.
“”tW^v?””
Ak³ AkapsX ssN]n bnXn¨psNm*p tImUn¨p.
“”tbmNmw. tW^m]n«pw tbmNmw,””
“”Hm, F³s_ f½o,””
Ak³ AkapsX Nknan D½ sk¡m³ {lfn¨p.
“”¨o, HÅ hnPs^äv– FÃmw k`n¨p Nq«o«v! km]o¶v ASn³s_ f\w k^p¶p. BUyw tbm]n«v km NjpNo«p km. F¶n«v sk¨m fSn D½,””
“”H¶v tbm f½o,””
AkapsX FSnÀ¸v kNsk¡msS Ak³ AkapsX Nknan AfÀ¯n Ipwdn¨p. hnhn`n hpOUm]Nfm] Wnfng§apsX In_Nn b_¡m³ SpX§n. Nknan Wn¶v- Ak³s_ Ip*pNÄ AkapsX AV^¯nt`¡v Wo§n]t¸mÄ tUiw fp¼s¯tbms` bq¯p`]p¶Sv AkÄ A_nªp.
AV^¯n b` Sk\ dndnsâ Ip*pNÄ AfÀ¶p^ªp.
dndn³ AktamXfÀ¶p.
Ak³s_ kn^nª sW©v AkapsX D]À¶p Sp_n¨ fm_n N^pt¯msX AfÀ¶p.
“”fSn tfmtW,””
UpÀº` hz^¯n`ms\¦n`pw AkÄ FSnÀ¯p.
“”l^n, f½n,””
Ak³ Ip*pNÄ AkapsX AV^¯n Wn¶v- hmkVmWw fmän. bns¶ Aksa tWm¡n ftWmi^fm]n bp©n^n¨p. AkÄ Wm\t¯msX AksW tWm¡n.
“”F³s_ f½n. f½n F³s_ A½]Ã. tks_ GtSm t`mN¯v Wn¶v- k¶ Abvh^Êm\v. H^p fm`mO. H^p shuµ^y tUkS,””
“”F´m tfmWv Cs¸m A§sW tSm¶m³?””
hwPoS ewPn]pÅ hz^¯n AkÄ tImUn¨p.
“”CSv Ct¸mjs¯ tSm¶Â Aà f½n. F{St]m kÀg§Ä¡v fp¼v tSm¶n]Sm\v! Mm³ f½ns] BUyw N*sS¶m? B Unkhw B Wnfngw fpSÂ,””
N®pNan AWpbffm] knhvf]w Wn_¨v AkÄ Ak³s_ N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n. ssWän¡pÅn AkapsX Wn_fm_nXw D]À¶p Smjp¶Sv Ak³ N*p. S³s_ fm_nt`¡v Ak³ tWm¡p¶S_nªv Akans` `Ö AWpWnfngw NqXn k¶p.
“”At§m«p tWm¡tÃ,””
hnhn`n]psX UpÀº`fm], IqXpÅ , lÐw AksW sbmÅn¨p.
“”C§sW tWm¡mSn^n¡pw f½n? CSptbms` hpµ^n]m] H^p sb®m\v F³s_ f½ns]¦nÂ… N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv ? f½n tks_ GtS`pw ko«ns` sb®v B^pt¶Â Mm³ N®pw bq«n f½osW N`ym\w Njnt¨sW,””
“”bns¶ bnt¶…””
hnhn`n]psX hz^w fm_n. AkÄ AksW tUgyt¯msX tWm¡n.
“”Wn³s_ tbjvhn³s_ ANs¯ B sb®tà t`mNs¯ Gäkpw hpµ^n. MmWm\v Wn³s_ N®n Gäkpw hpµ^n F¦n AkÄ F§Wm Wn³s_ tbjvhn³s_ AN¯v tN_nks¶?””
“”ASv Mm³ sN«m³ tbmNp¶ sb®tà f½o? Aksa¸ns¶ AksX sk¡t* FWn¡v NqsX¡qsX Nm\m³?””
“”tfmtW Aksa¡mÄ F{St]m ewPn]m t^\ptNsW Nm\m³. AkÄ WnW¡v tk*n So]n ImXm³ tbm`pw s_Zn B]n Wn¡pkm. F´v h¦Xkm^p¶p B sNm¨nWv Wo Cu sb®pkm]n ss`Wm¶v A_nª¸w.””
dndn³ H^p Wnfngw A`ntkmsX hnhn`ns] tWm¡n.
“”f½n t^\pN hpµ^ns¸®m. ASnWp SÀ¡w H¶pknÃ. sI`¸w Mm³ N* Gäkpw k`n] hpµ^n . Wà tW¨_pw. hvtWifpÅ Np«n. f½n b_ªtbms` FWn¡v tk*n ImNm³ tbm`pw s_Zn. bs£ …W½av S_kmXnNatà f½n? H^p sb®nWp km¡psNmXp¯n«v tks_ H^p¯ns] Nm\p¼w km¡v fm_p¶Sv S_km«n sb_¶ BapNÄ¡v WÃSmt\m?””
hnhn`n H¶pw b_ªnÃ.
bntä Unkhw AkÀ ^knl¦_n³s_ ko«nt`¡v bp_s¸«p. ^knl¦À ko«n`ps*¶v dndn³ D_¸v k^p¯n]tS]p*m]n^p¶pÅq. sIÃpsf¶v tW^s¯ A_n]n¨m A]mÄ k*n A]¡psf¶v- dndn³ A_nªn^p¶p. ASv Ak³ B{Pin¨nÃ.
dndn³ ssd¡v tPänWXp¯v F¯n¨t¸mįs¶ koXn³s_ f«p¸mkn ^knl¦À Wn¡p¶Sv N*p. A]mÄ knlzmhw k^msS S§sa tWm¡p¶Spw Ak³ N*p. DXtW A]mÄ SnXp¡s¸«v Smtj¡n_§p¶Sv AkÀ N*p. Wnfng§Ä¡pÅn A]mÄ sP]nänWXpt¯¡v HmXnk¶p.
“”Xo¨t_, dndntW,””
AW¸fm] ht´mgt¯msX, Wn_ª In^nt]msX A]mÄ Aks^ knan¨p.
“”WÃ Bam,””
dndntW tWm¡n A]mÄ b_ªp.
“”H¶v- knan¨n«v k^m³ bmXnÃm^pt¶m. Hä]v¡v Ct{Sw Uq^w k*nt]mXn¨m…””
A]mÄ sbs«¶v- WnÀ¯n hnhn`ns] tWm¡n.
“”B hm^knÃ. tfm³ tf`W§n Ft´`pw Hs¡ sI¿s«, Atà Xo¨s_?””
“”AsS,””
ssd¡nÂWn¶n_§n In^n¨psNm*p hnhn`n b_ªp. AkapsX In^n]psX ftWmim^nS]nt`¡v A]mÄ A¸hf]w tWm¡n.
At¸mtj¡pw t^\pN]pw HmXn]n_§n k¶p. AkÄ HmXnk¶v hnhn`ns] tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p.
“”F{S Wmam]n C§sW sNmSn¨pNm¯n^n¡p¶p. C¸tj`pw f½n]v¡v k^m³ tSm¶otÃm,””
sÌ]ÀtNhv– kjn fpNant`¡v H^pfn¨p WX¡tk t^\pN b_ªp.
“”tfmta, ASv hf]¯n³s_ Nm^yw…””
hnhn`n b_]m³ SpX§n.
“”bnt¶…””
t^\pN N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv In^n¨psNm*v hnhn`ns] {bSnt^mVn¡m³ tWm¡n.

AkÀ C^pk^pw fpNans`¯n. ^knl¦À ASnWnX]n sX_Ênt`¡v Wm`©p Nth^NÄ CXpkn¨p. bns¶ A]mÄ tcm\n`qsX Sn^¡n«v BÀs¡ms¡t]m Fs´ms¡t]m WnÀtUl§Ä WÂNn.
“”hmt_, F´nWm CsSms¡? b_¨n tN«n«v t`mNs¯ s_tÌm_³ävshms¡ ko«nt`¡v sNm*pk^pkm¶p tSm¶qtÃm,””
tcm\n`qsX]pÅ A]mapsX hwhm^w {l²n¨psNm*v dndn³ b_ªp.
“”k^s«Xm sFäwhv Hs¡,””
fpO¯v ASn]m] {bNmlw Wn_¨psNm*v ^kn l¦À b_ªp.
“”C¶v- ht´mgn¡mWm. Wo Nt*m F³s_ tfmÄsX sfmOs¯ ht´mgw? Wn³s_ f½osW N*¸w. FWn¡v F´ptkt\ AkÄ¡v sNmXp¡m³ bäpw ssbh sNmXp¯m Nn«p¶Sv. Culz^³ AWp{Pin¨v ASnsWm¶pw H^p sfmXt¡mw CÃ. bs£ F¶m sI¿mWm AkÄ¡v tk*Sv NX`mÊn³s_ sk`]pÅ hmVWkÃtÃm. Culz^Wv fm{Sw S^m³ bäp¶ H^p hmVWktà AkÄ¡v tkt*? At½sW? MmsW§Wm ssbhm sNmXp¯v At½sW km§n¡ps¶?””
At¸mtj¡pw At§m«v– t^\pN]pw hnhn`n]pw k¶p.
“”F³s_ bp¶m^ B§a H¶v- tNs«,””
k¶]pXsW t^\pN b_ªp.
“”Njnª Sk\ M§av AknsX k¶¸w f½n H^p bm«v bmXp¶ tN«p. F´m H^p Ì]n`³ bmXm^p¶p ASv! MmWS§sW f_ªn^p¶v sNmt_ tW^w tN«p. At¸mÄ bm«nWntX f½n Fs¶ N*p. Bs*Xm A¸w f½n bm«§v WnÀ¯n. MmsWt´m^w b_ªn«pw f½n bns¶ ASv bmXm³ h½Sn¨nÃ. bns¶ bmXmw bns¶ bmXmw F¶v- Hä¸_¨nÂ. B bns¶]m C¸w. C¸w CknsX F³s_ B§a]p*v. A¨³ D*v. CSm bän] hf]w . dndntW H¶v- b_,””
“”H¶v- bmXv f½n. FWn¡msN Ht^s]m^p sb§atà HÅq. AkXm{Piw A§v hmVn¨p sNmXp¡v,””
^kn l¦À hnhn`n]psX fpO¯v Ss¶]m\v tWm¡p¶Sv.
“”ASv tfmtW FWn¡v Wm\kmNps¶Xm,””
AkÄ b_ªp. bns¶ AkÄ Ss¶ N®pb_n¡msS ko£n¡pN]m]n^p¶ ^kn l¦s_ tWm¡n.
“”tWm¡v, f½n, AÑWpw F´v {bSo£t]msX]m f½ns] tWm¡ps¶! H¶v- bmXps¶!””
“”tlym NãvXw! GSv bm«m?””
“”Mm³ b_]s«?””
dndn³ tImUn¨p.
AkÄ Wm\t¯msX S`]m«n.
“”fWÊn fnTpW fj sbmjn]pw…””
hnhn`n N®pNÄ fnjn¨p.
“”B bmt«m? ssUktf FXm ASv C¯n^n Xcm. WÃ {do¯v– Hs¡ tk\w,””
“”Xcm. AsSWn¡_n]mw. ASpsNm*m ASv bmXm³ b_sª. AÃmsS f½ns]t¸ms` bmXm³ A_n]mt¶mt^mXv H¶mWmw Np¶n Hm^Xn¡p¶n Nq«nWnaw Nnan NqXpsk¨p A§Ws¯ bms«ms¡ bmXn¡m³ sNmÅmtkm?””
“”Hmt¡..ss{X sI¿mw. FWn¡v {do¯v– N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Hs¡tbm]m Wo]pw sNmsX FX¡v NqX\w. Hmt¡?””
“”AsSms¡ Gäp. NqX¯n bmXmsWms¡ CknsX M§Ä Hs¡]ntÃ? Ctà hmt_?””
Ak³ ^kn l¦s_ tWm¡n.
^kn l¦À hnhn`ns] tWm¡n bp©n^n¨p. ASv N*p hnhn`n]pw ^kn l¦_pw Nm\msS t^\pN dndntW tSm*n.
“”A¨³ f½osW tNm^n¡pXn¡pkm\tÃm!””
AkÄ dndn³ fm{Sw tNÄs¡ AkÄ b_ªp.
“”Dw….fw…””
hnhn`n {lpSn Nn«pkm³ tk*n fqan.
“”fWÊn fnTpW fjsbmjn]pw AjNns`m^p f]n`n A`h `mhyw…””
hnhn`n]psX NaN\vY¯n Wn¶v- hz^PwP]psX {bkmifp*m]t¸mÄ ^knl¦_pw t^\pN]pw A£^mÀ°¯n lzmhw Nn«msS Aksa tWm¡n.
“”ssf PpZvsWhv-“”
A]mÄ f{´n¨p.
Culz^³ NX¶p k^p¶p. lЯn`qsX.
Hmt^m bmbkpw sI]vSpNjnªv GsSms¡ t`mNt£{S§an tbm]n«p*v Sm³ Akt]msN NjpNn¡a]m³! AWpekn¨p Njnªv hv{Sol^o^§apsX kn]À¸pw PÔkpw HmÀ½]pw fm]v¡m³ GsSms¡ fimt£{S§an tbm]nWn¶n«p*v! Nmln, ^mtflz^w, dWm_hv, dU^oWmTv, EgntNlv, NpXKm{Un, Pp^pkm]qÀ…F¶n«v Ft¸mjm\v SWn¡v Culz^mWpekfp*m]n«pÅSv?
F¶m Ct¸mÄ, Nm\m³ sNmSn¨ Culz^·mt^ms¡ CkapsX lЯn`qsX Fs¶ tSXnk^nN]m\v. Cus]m^p SoÀT]m{S]m\v Sm³ Nm¯n^p¶Sv. hz^PwP]nt`¡pÅ SoÀT]m{S. Ct¸mÄ tfm£w A_n]p¶p Sm³. Ct¸mÄ fpàn]psX lwOpWmUw tNÄ¡p¶p Sm³.
CWn]nà temP`m`hfm] H^p KoknSw.
lwtem l¦^ sPu^n btU…
A]mÄ N®pNaX¨p.
hwPoSmfrSw Bßmknt`¡mkmin¡pkm³.
hz^KSnNan`qsX, Bt^mi\mkt^mi\§an`qsX irU]¯n NpanÀsb¿n¡p¶ hwPoSfj]n WW]pkm³…
bm«n³s_ H^p tka]n Bßmkv A]mtamXv f{´n¨p.
“”NqsX¸mXq…””
Culz^m…
“”Wo`mNml¯m^mKm`w IqXm^SvWw ImÀ¯o Wns¶ hÔym^mPw sbm¶n sbmSnªp..””
C¯k\ knhvf]n¨Sv hnhn`n]m\v. dndnWpw. Ak³ AUvepSs¸«p t^\pNs] tWm¡n.
AkÄ AksW S`]W¡n N®pNÄ bSns] AX¨pNm\n¨p.
dndn³s_ N®pNÄ hwPoS¯m I`n¡p¶ A]mapsX Ip*pNan bSnªp.
bs£ AksW AUvepSs¸Xp¯n]Sv hnhn`n]psX N®pNan knXÀ¶ knhvf]¯n³s_ So{kS]m\v.
AkapsX N®n\NaW§p¶p.
Ip*pNÄ kn_]v¡p¶p.
bns¶ AkÄ A]mapsX tWs^ ssNNÄ Nq¸p¶p.
H^p Wnfngs¯ WnÝ`S]psX AhioWS]n A]mÄ N®pNÄ Sp_¶t¸mÄ Ss¶ tWm¡n ssN Nq¸p¶ hnhn`ns] B\v Nm\p¶Sv.
A]mapsX sW©v kn_¨p.
Bßmkn A`nkn³s_, f{´fpPvVS]psX, Culz^o]fm] {b\]¯n³s_ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv lwOpWmUw A]mÄ ko*pw tN«p.
SpXÀ¶pbmXq F¶ AÀ°¯n A]mÄ ssNsNm*v BwPyw Nm\n¨p.
hnhn`n]psX {bSnN^\f_n]m³ t^\pN]pw dndnWpw BNmw£t]msX hnhn`ns] tWm¡n.
“”ssklmO¯n¦Ä sk¨p Uobm©`n…””
N®pNÄ Cu_W\nªn^ps¶¦n`pw hnhn`n]psX f{´fpPv²fm] hz^w ko*pfp]À¶p.
“”Woim^w sW©n sb]vSp Wo`mwd^n…””
H^p Wnfng¯n³s_ tbm`pw CXtk`]nÃm¯ ASn³s_ dm¡n ^knl¦À bmXn:
“”…fVp^ fVp^sfm^p {lpSn]n“n]psf³sä irU]fp^an]p\^mw..””
AXp¯emPw AtS knNm^So{kS]n hnhn`n]pw:
“”…NWkn kn^n]psfm^p NWN k^U]psX {b\]fpNpaf_n]mw…””
Culz^m…
t^\pN dndntW tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p.
“”F³s_ {bmÀ°W c`n¨p tfmtW..””
knNm^ WnÀe^]m]n AkÄ AktWmXp f{´n¨p.
“”FWn¡v f½ns] F³s_ A½]m]n¯s¶ Nn«n..FWn¡v..””
ht´mgmVnNy¯m AkapsX N®pNÄ Wn_ªp.
bns¶ ^knl¦À B bm«n³s_ bÃkn bmXn:
“”fWÊn fnTpW fjsbmjn]pw AjNns`m^p f]n`n³ A`h `mhyw…””
hnhn`n ASv bq^n¸n¨p:
“”…i^nSkWn]ns`m^p i^n\ ]pkSn]psX {b\]e^nSemkw..””
t^\pN]psX N®pWoÀ ko\ Wnlzmhw dndn³ tN«p.
“”dndntW,””
AkÄ Ak³s_ ssNbnXn¨pk`n¨p.
“”km,””
Ak³ Aksa tWm¡n.
“”Wfp¡v Smsj PmÀZWn tbmNmw…AÑWpw f½ow ..Aà AÑWpw At½w ..Nps_ tW^w SWn¨v ..SWn¨n^n¡s«…””
dndn³ fWÊn b_ªp:
“”CSm\v …CSm\v B fpiqÀ¯w. Sm³ Nm¯n^p¶ B UnkyfpiqÀ¯w,””
bns¶ Ak³ AktamsXm¸w Smtj¡v tbm]n.

^knl¦À bSns] hnhn`ns] hfobn¨p.
AkapsX NqkafnjnNÄ A]mapsX I`W§sa SpXn¡p¶ irU]t¯msX tWm¡nWn¶p.
A]mÄ AkapsX hfob¯v C^p¶p.
“”Xo¨s_…””
A]mÄ frUphz^¯n knan¨p.
“”Ft´m,””
tUi¯n³s_ hN`em^¯n Wn¶pw fpà]m]ksat¸ms` hnhn`n knantN«p.
“”bm«v tN«v W½psX f¡Ä N^ªp,””
AkÄ hK`§am] fnjnNtamsX A]msa tWm¡n.
“”DÆv..Mm³ …Mm³ N*n^p¶p,””
A]mÄ A¸w NqXn AktamXv– tIÀ¶n^p¶p.
A]mapsX lzmhw S³s_ fpO¯pw Njp¯n`pw fm{SfÃ, irU]¯nt`¡vNqXn A^n¨n_§p¶Sv AkÄ A_nªp.
“”Mm³ …Mm³ tW^s¯ Ss¶ dndn³s_ b¸m]m]n…t^\pN]v¡v ..AkÄ¡v bs£ H^½s] Nn«n]nà CSpks^…””
A]mapsX kn^¯p¼pNÄ S³s_ kn^`pNsa hvbÀln¡p¶Sv hnhn`n]_nªp. B H^p Wnfngw AkapsX]pÅn H^p tfQhvtcmXWw WX¶p. hN` em^kpw A]man`À¸n¨v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv AkÄ A]mapsX sW©nt`¡v fpOw tIÀ¯p.
“”AknlzhWo]St]msX A]mÄ Aks^ tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p. A]mapsX ssNNÄ AkapsX Ipf`pNsa St`mXn.
“”Mm³ …Mm³..””
AkapsX knSp¼nkn_]v¡p¶ hz^w A]mÄ tN«p.
“”Mm³..MmWm\v F³s_ t^\pN]psX A½,””
tUis¯ hN` bn^nfp_p¡kpw sbm«n]jn]p¶Sv A]mÄ A_nªp. hv{So]psX hvbÀlWw, AkapsX Smbw, AkapsX Wnlzmh¯n³s_ IqXv BUyf_n]p¶ H^p bp^pgWm]n¯oÀ¶p A]mÄ.
A]mapsX ssNNÄ AkapsX sWän]ns` S`fpXns] St`mXn. At¸mÄ AkapsX Ip*pNÄ Sp_¶pNnX¶ gÀ«nNapsX bp_¯pNm\mfm]n^p¶ A]mapsX sW©ns` t^mf§an`fÀ¶p.
S³s_ DÅn sbm«ns]mjpNp¶ knNm^hvcp`nwP§sat]mÀ¯v Ct¸mÄ hnhn`n `Ön¨nÃ. tUi¯v bknjf\nNÄ InS_nkojp¶Spw irU]¯nt`¡f^p¶ {b\]¯n³s_ f]n¸o`n hvbÀlWkpw AkÄ N®pNaX¨p hzoN^n¨p.
k^q …Uqs^ f`fpNant`¡v In_NXn¨p b_¯nkn« {b\]¯n³s_ skÅ^n{¸mkpNta…F¶n NqXvNq«q…F³s_ tUi¯v IqXvbnXn¨p`]p¶ lnO^§ap*v….F³s_ N®pNanÂ, NknanÂ, fm_nÂ, {b\]w D_sbm«n¯na¡p¶ ^hkminWn]n Wn§Ä sNm¡p^p½q….
“”hnhn`o..””
AkapsX f{´lp²n]pÅ lÐfkÄ tN«p.
“”Ft´m,””
“”Cu shuµ^yw fpjpk³..CWn]pÅ KoknSw fpjpk³ Mm³ tImUn¨pkm§p¶p. S^ntÃ?””
ASnWp D¯^fm]n AkÄ A]mapsX sW©nt`¡v ko*pw Ip*pNafÀ¯n.
A]mÄ AkapsX fpOw bnXn¨p]À¯n.
`Kt]msX AkÄ A]msa tWm¡n.
A]mÄ kas^t]s_ hf]w AkapsX fpOt¯¡v tWm¡n]n^p¶p.
“”F´m?””
AkÄ N®pNan`qsX A]mtamXv tImUn¨p.
“”Nm\s«…Cu fpOw..Cu N®pNÄ..Cu NknapNÄ…Cu fq¡v…Cu AV^w… CWns]³sä tUkn]m\v Wo. sINp¯msW fm{Sw N*n«pÅ FWn¡v Wo Culz^Wm\v…””
Wnfng§Ä Njnªt¸mÄ hnhn`n S³s_ fpO¯nWv tWs^ Smjv¶pk^p¶ ^knl¦_n³s_ fpOw N*p.
AkapsX fnjnNÄ Nq¼n]Xªp. AXp¯ Wnfngw S³s_ AV^¯n D^ªf^p¶ A]mapsX Ip*pNapsX Smbw AkÄ hzoN^n¨p.
AkapsX lzmhPSnt]_n. fm_nXw {NfmSoSfm]n D]À¶pSmjv¶p.
AkapsX ssNNapw A]msa Ipänk^nªp.
A]mapsX Ip*pNÄ S³s_ AV^s¯ sM^n¨fÀ¯pt¼mÄ Ipäpw Ab^nInSfm] kÀ®§Ä Wn_]p¶Sv AkÄ A_nªp. AV^§Ä A]mapsX WmknsW sSm«t¸mÄ A_n]msS AkÄ Ip*pNÄ bnaÀ¯n. ASnWp Nm¯n^p¶ns«¶tbms` A]mÄ bÃpNÄ¡pw Ip*pN¡pfnX]n AkapsX San^V^s¯ hpON^fm]n tWmkn¨pNXn¨p. bns¶ ASv BkÀ¯n¨p. AkapsX AV^w A]mapsX Ip*pNÄ¡pw bÃpNÄ¡pfnX]n Sma¯n N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv £Sf_nªp. bns¶ fsäm^p knhvfnS fpiqÀ¯¯n AkÄ A]mapsX AV^s¯ S³s_ IqXpÅ km]n hzoN^n¨p. knlnãfm] temKyw tbms` AkÄ A]mapsX AV^w b`]mkÀ¯n NXn¨pk`n¨o¼n.
bns¶ A]mapsX fpOw S³s_ fm_nX¯nt`¡v Smjv¶pk^p¶Sv hnhn`n N*p. AkapsX DÅv SpXn¨p. tim ..F{SWmam]n fm_n bp^pg³s_ IqXpÅ hvbÀlf_nªn«v–! fp`¡®pNÄ koÀ¯v SXn¨pk^p¶Ska_nªp. hpON^fm] H^p sIm_n¨n fp`¡®nÂ. tim…iyqhv…
AkapsX ho¡m^lÐw ^knl¦_nsW ko*pw bpaNnSWm¡n.
Njp¯n Wn¶v- A]mapsX Ip*pNÄ AkapsX fm_nt`¡njªp.
“”hnhn`n,””
A]mÄ knan¨p.
“”Ft´m,””
AkÄ knantN«p.
“”Mm³ ..Mm³ CknsX ..CknsX D½…D½ sk¡s«?””
Ip*pNÄ ¢otkKv SpX§p¶nX¯v F¯n]t¸mÄ A]mÄ tImUn¨p.
ASnWp¯^fm]n AkÄ A]mapsX ln^Ên³s_ bn¼n C^pssNNapw sNm*p Ipän¸nXn¨v A]mapsX fpOw AkapsX fm_n`fÀ¯n.
knNm^knt£me¯m AkÄ AV^w AfÀ¯n¡Xn¨p. Sbn¡p¶, bjp¯pfp_pNm³ SpX§n] AkapsX Wn_fm_n A]mapsX Ip*pNÄ fm_n fm_n]fÀ¶p. IpwdW¯n³s_ {em´fm] tSt^m«¯n AkapsX hm^n¯p¼v fm_n Wn¶v- Smtj¡v ko\p. Ipk¶ s»uhnÂ, ASn³s_ Njp¯n_¡w NqXn] emP¯vNqXnNm\mkp¶ koÀ¯pWn_ª fpjp¯ fp`NÄ N®pNÄ fmämsS ^knl¦À tWm¡n¡*p.
s»uhnWN¯v Ak koÀ¸pfp«n D]À¶p`]pN]m\v. Njp¯n_¡w NqXn] B s»uhnWN¯v frUp`fm], Sp_n¨psS_n¨ fmwhatPma§Ä WOþU´£S§Ä¡v tk*n koÀ¸pfp«n Nm¯pNnX¶p. Ip*pNans` Sos] hzoN^n¡m³ Ak sk¼Â bq*p. N^p¯pä, b^p¡³ ssNNapÅ bp^pg³s_ ssNNapsX `maW]_n]pkm³ B fpjp¯ fp`NÄ UmimÀ¯^m]n.
FknsX]m\v M§sa `man¡pkmWpÅ ssNNÄ? FknsX]m\v M§apsX fmwhaSs] sM¡nsM^p¡pkmWpÅ Ip*pNÄ? FknsX]m\v M§apsX IqXnsW, APvWns] W¡n]\]v¡pkmWpÅ Wmkpw km]pw F¶v- hnhn`n]psX fp`NÄ A£ft]msX tImUn¨psNm*n^p¶p…
F{S tW^fm\v Nm¯n^n¡p¶Sv F¶v- AkÄ¡v tSm¶n. B Wnfngw Ss¶ ^knl¦_n³s_ kn^`pNÄ AkapsX s»uhn³s_ NpXp¡pNÄ Ajn¨p. kas^t]s_ hv{SoNapsX s»uhpw {dm]pw AWm]mhfjn¨n«pÅ A]mapsX kn^`pNÄ KoknS¯n`mUyfm]n kn_bq*p.
s»uhv fpjpk³ Ajn¡pkm³ A]mÄ B{Pin¨nÃ. Ipk¶ s»uhnWNs¯ Ipk¶ {dm A]man So bXÀ¯n. Fs´m^p ewPn! Fs´m^p ln¸Im^pS! Fs´m^p {bt`meWo]S! F´m\v sIt¿*Sv? N*psNm*n§sW]n^n¡t\m? D]À¶pSp_n¨pWn¡p¶ fmwhknXkn WmknXt\m? AWpWnfngw D]À¶pSbn¡p¶ fp`NÄ¡v tf Ip*pNÄ AfÀ¯t\m?
Nm¯n^n¸n³s_ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv AhioWS hnhn`ns] A£f]m¡n]t¸mÄ AkÄ N®pNÄ Sp_¶v- A]msa tWm¡n. At¸mÄ A]mÄ S³s_ fm_jNnt`¡v hz]w f_¶v- tWm¡nWn¡p¶Sm\v AkÄ N*Sv. A]msa knhvf]n¸n¨sS´m\v F¶_n]m³ AkÄ fpOw NpWn¨p S³s_ AWmkrSfm] fm_nX¯nt`¡v tWm¡n.
“”F³s_ KokWm] ^knl¦À..WnW¡pÅSm\v CsSÃmw. WnW¡v Nm\m³. WnW¡v sSmXm³. WnW¡v D½sk¡m³. WnW¡v sM^n¨pX¡m³…Wn³s_ Umisfms¡ hzoN^n¡pkm³ SbÊp sI¿pN]m\v F³s_ fm_nXw…””
AkÄ lÐfnÃmsS, N®pNan`qsX A]mtamXv f{´n¨p.
bns¶ A]mapsX Ip*pNapsX Wr¯w AkÄ fm_n`_nªp. k^*p\§n] Wn`¯v bpSpfj¯pÅnNÄ bSn]p¶Sv tbms` A]mapsX WWkpÅ Ip*pNÄ fp`NapsX frUp eqfns] Ca¡nf_n¡pt¼mÄ A]mapsX ln^ÊnsW NqXpS NqXpS AfÀ¯ns¡m*v hnhn`n bnt¼m«p f`À¶p. Ip*pNÄ sNm*pSs¶ A]mÄ AkapsX {dm]psX ip¡pNÄ knXpkn¨p. f`fpNan Wn¶v fªpf`NÄ WnbSn¡p¶Svtbms` {dm]psX]pÅn Wn¶v- AkapsX Sp_n¨psNmjp¯ k`n] fp`NÄ bp_t¯¡v sS_n¨p. C^pssNNÄ sNm*pw Hmt^m fp`]psfXp¯v A]mÄ Aks] NXn¨psM^n¨p. hpO¯nsâ bpgv¸kÀgw tbms` hnhn`n A]mapsX `maWNÄ¡v Nojn D¨¯n ho¡m^fn«p. AkapsX C^p fp`NapsX]pw skap¸n A]mapsX bÃpNÄ WÂNn] Ipk¶ bmXpNapw DfnWo^nsâ K`mwlkpw Wn_ªp.
C^pfp`Napw fm_nfm_n NXn¨psM^n¨psNm*v A]mapsX ssN AkapsX hm^n]psX Np¯n AfÀ¶p.
“”tk*,””
hpON^fm], UpÀº`fm] {bSnt^mVw A]mÄ tN«p.
“”^ko…””
BUyfm]n AkÄ A]mapsX tb^v knan¨p.
“”Dw..””
hwPoSmßNfm] A]mapsX lÐfkÄ tN«p.
“”ASv ..Ct¸mÄ ..Ct¸mÄ tk*…””
A]mÄ bSns] ssN AknsXWn¶v bn³k`n¨p.
bs£ A]msa AUvepSs¸Xp¯ns¡m*v A]mapsX ssN]v¡v tf AkapsX bnXn A]mÄ A_nªp. A]mapsX ssN AkÄ Sn^nsN AkÄ hm^n¡p¯nWptf Sn^nsN sk¨p.
AkapsX tb`kfmÀ¶ AXnk]_nÂ, sbm¡nĨpjn]n A]mapsX kn^`pNÄ hwPoSmßNfm]n, Sma¯n fpt¼m«pw bnt¼m«pfnjªp.
tUi¯nt`¡v C{S So¨qXv CsSknsXWn¶m\v?
A]mapsX ssNkn^`pNÄ H^p bqkn_p¡p¶ `mQkt¯msX S³s_ hm^n¡p¯jn¡pt¼mÄ N®pNaX¨p NnX¡pN]m]n^p¶ hnhn`n knhvf]t¯msX hz]w Sn^¡n. A¸ Wnfngw Njnªv AkÄ A_nªp, hm^n bSns] H^p K`WnÀÖ^ntbms` Smtj¡v DuÀ¶qÀ¶v- tbmkpN]m\v. S³s_ Ipk¶ AXn¸mkmX]psX tf A]mapsX b^p¡³ ssN¯`ffÀ¶Sv koÀ¸pfp«`pw AWn]{´nSfm] AUvepSkpw NqXn¸n\ª H^p Wnfngw AkÄ A_nªp.
“”HmHm N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv ..iyo..½vfw …F³s_ …^ko…””
A]mapsX ssN¯`w AXn¸mkmX]psX fpNan`qsX S³s_ SpX]nXp¡ns` koÀ¯p´n], WWªv NpSnÀ¶ Smbeqfn]n`fÀ¶t¸mÄ, hnhn`n hz]w f_¶v- hpO`i^n]n lÐfn«p.
A]mapsX ssN¯`w AknsXWn¶v- Smtj¡njªt¸mÄ AkÄ fp^*p. ssNs]¯n¨p A]mapsX ssN bnXn¨v ko*pw AkÄ SpX]nXp¡ns` koÀ¸n sk¨p. F¶n«v A]mapsX ssN]psX tf ssN ssNsk¨fÀ¯n S³s_ Cãf_n]n¨p. A]mapsX ssN IqXp_k bp_s¸Xpkn¨psNm*n^p¶ koÀ¸n ko*pw ko*pffÀ¶t¸mÄ hnhn`n SpXNaN¯n.
A¸w Njnªv AkÄ A_nªp Sm³ km]pkn`qsX h©^n¡pN]m\v. ^knl¦À Ss¶ A]m]mhsfXp¯p]À¯n WX¡pN]m\v.
A]mÄ NnX¸pfp_n]nt`¡m\v WX¡p¶Sv F¶v- knNm^knkl]m]n hnhn`n fWÊn`m¡n.

hnhn`n]psX]pw ^knl¦_n³s_]pw knkmiw t^\pN]psX]pw dndn³s_]pw GäkpfXp¯ hpir¯p¡apsX]pw hm¶nVy¯n ^KnÌÀ Hmcohn sk¨v WX¶p. knkmimW´^w ^knl¦_n³s_ ko«n _nhbvg³ D*m]n^p¶p.
FÃm¯nWpw fp³ssN FXp¯Sv, HmXnWX¶Sv dndn³ B]n^p¶p. Ct¸mjpw IXp`fm] I`W§am]n^p¶p Ak³s_. ^knl¦_n³s_ hpir¯p¡Ä AsSms¡ knhvf]t¯msX]m\v Ak³s_ {bh^n¸v {l²n¨Sv.
“”Wo H^msa knan¡mªSv Nãfm]n dndn³,””
SWn¨p Nn«n]t¸mÄ t^\pN AktWmXp b_ªp.
“”H^msat]m? Bs^?””
AkWp H¶pw fWÊn`m]nÃ.
“”f½n Njnªm Wn³s_ KoknS¯ns` Gäkpw Ct¼mÀ«³äv B] BÄ B^m? A]msa,””
dndn³ fpOw Ipan¨v Aksa tWm¡n.
“”FWn¡v f½n Njnªm Gäkpw Ct¼mÀ«³äv AÑWm\v. bns¶ Wo]pw,””
bns¶ Ak³ PmZfm]n Bt`mIn¡p¶Sm]n AenW]n¨p.
“”Cks^ ^*ptbs^]pw Mm³ knan¨m^p¶tÃm,””
“”tbmXm Sfmln¡msS. Mm³ Dt±lnt¨ WnW¡v sskcnsW¡qXn knan¡m^p¶ntÃ? {bnt]sW,””
dndn³ b^n{eft¯msX Ipäpw tWm¡n.
“”F³s_ sbm¶ptfmsa Wo Fs¶ Npj¸¯n`m¡tÃ. FXo PmÔÀk¯n³s_ Nm`mkVn Njn]m_m]nÃ,””
“”CWn C¸w F´nWm dndntW tbXn¡ps¶? A¨³ C¡m^y¯ns`ms¡ k`n] t{bm{PÊokm. A¨³ H^p Nm^\klm`pw FSn^v Wn¡nÃ. bns¶ A½. At½sX ht´mgw Nm\mWtà Wo CsSms¡ fp¶n«n_§n sI]vsS? A¸w At½w ht´mgt¯msX {bnt]sW hzoN^n¡pw,””
“”F³s_ tbmt¶m!””
Ak³ S`]n ssN sk¨p.
“”Cu tbm¯n³NpªntWmXv F§Wm Nm^y§Ä b_ªp fWÊn`m¡ps¶? FXo f\p§qth, Cu AÑWpw At½w FWn¡v fmt{S DtÅm? AkÄ¡pw D*v. ASpw sNmXnsN«n] Wm]½m^v. Wns¶t¸m`s¯ tb«v Wm]^Ã. C¸sj§mWpw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv A_nªm bp¶m^s¸§sa Ak^v sNkntW sNm¶Sv tbms` Fs¶ Bän sN«n¯mjv¯pw,””
“”Hm…””
Nm^yw fWÊn`m]t¸mÄ t^\pN b_ªp.
“”bns¶ W½av sfm¯¯n C¸w tb«v Wm]½m^m. tNt«m dndn³ Wm]t^. Atàtk* Wo C¶v- sfmS dndn³ bnÅ,””
AkÄ In^n¨p.
AkWpw.
fäpÅks^ AUvepSs¸Xp¯n] H^p Nm^yw dndn³s_ AfnSmËmUfm\v. Ak³ D¨¯n hwhm^n¡p¶p. BapNsa Sfmlb_ªp In^n¸n¡p¶p. FÃm¡m^y§Ä¡pw Bßknlzmht¯msX hwhm^n¡p¶p.
_nhbvgWv tlgw sX_Ên Wn¡pN]m]n^p¶ A½]psX]Xps¯¡v dndn³ sI¶p.
“”F´m f½o, H^p k`n] Bt`mIW?””
Ak³ bn¼n Wn¶v- Aksa k«w bnXn¨p.
“”Mm³ Wns¶ bän HmÀ¡pkm^p¶p,””
“”Hmtim..Fs¶¸äns]m? AsS´m?””
Ak³ AkapsX bn³Njp¯n Ip*pNafÀ¯n.
“”CWn HmÀ¡m³ ^*ptbÀ NqXn]p*v. AÑtWw tfmtaw,””
“”Dw..D*v..F¶m`pw Wns¶¡mÄ k`pSà AkÀ FWn¡v…””
hnhn`n]psX hz^w knNm^mVoWfm]n.
“”CSv tbms` FknsX]m tks_ H^p fN³? Wns¶t¸ms`? hz´w A½s] knkmiw Njn¸n¡m³ fp¶n«n_§n …AkapsX ht´mgw Nm\m³…””
dndn³ ASv tN«Sm]n emkn¨nÃ.
Ak³ BNmlt¯¡v tWm¡n.
Wn_s] W£{S§Ä.
CX]v¡nsX tfQ¨o´pNÄ. ^m¸£nNÄ tfQ§ta Spa¨v b_¶psNm*n^p¶p.
Uqs^ t£{S¯n Wn¶v- f\nfpj¡w Ak³ tN«p.
“”b` hnWntf`pw DÅ Z]t`mPv B\v…””
Ak³ b_ªp.
“”F´v?””
“”W£{S§Ä Bßm¡am\v F¶v-,””
hnhn`n H¶pw fn*n]nÃ.
“”At¸mÄ b¸m ASns`m¶m]n^n¡pw Atà f½o,””
W£{S§sa tWm¡n dndn³ tImUn¨p.
S³s_ k]_nsWIpän¸nXn¨n^p¶ dndn³s_ ssNNapsX tf AkÄ ssN¯`ffÀ¯n.
hnhn`n]pw W£{S§sa tWm¡n.
“”ASns`m¶Ã,””
hnhn`n b_ªp.
“”b¸m A¡q«¯n GSv W£{Sfm\v F¶v- Mm³ N*pbnXn¨p,””
dndn³ AkapsX km¡pNÄ tN«v AUvepSs¸«p.
“”F§sW?””
“”tfm³ tWm¡q…GSv W£{S¯nWv B\v Gäkpw NqXpSÂ Sna¡w?””
dndn³ N*p.
H^p tfQ¨o´nWXp¯v Gäkpw {btlmen¨v H^p W£{Sw.
Ak³ ASnsW tWm¡n bp©n^n¨p.
“”W½apw f^n¨p Njnªv b¸msX AXp¯v Ss¶ Nm\pw Atà f½o?””
hnhn`n D¯^sfm¶pw b_ªnÃ.
“”F³s_ Nm^yw!””
Ak³ sbs«¶v kng]w fmän.
“”C¶s¯ Unkhw F´m? AÃ C¶s¯ ^m{Sn F´m? cÌv– ssWäv! C¶v- SNÀ¡\w tNt«m,””
“”¨o tbmXm,””
AkÄ Wm\t¯msX Ak³s_ ssN S³s_ k]_n N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Wn¶v- fmän.
“”¨o tbmXm! Dw hpµ^n f½osX H^p Wm\w…AsS …C¸tj sbmt¡m. A¨³ AknsX Nm¯v fpgnªv C^n¡pkm^n¡pw. F³s_ hpµ^n f½osW sNmSn¸n¡mWpw ^hn¸n¡mWpw…D½ sk¨v …sSm«v ..bnXn¨v ..sM¡n …””
“”Ct¿…Cu sI_p¡³!…H¶v tbmNp¶pt*m…””
AkÄ `Ön¨v fpOw ssNsNm*v bmSn f_¨p.
“”l^n Mm³ tbmNpkm…B ssNs¿m¶v fmänt¡ …F³s_ hpµ^nf½osX fpOw H¶v NqXn MmsWm¶v Nm\s«…skap¸nWv FWn¡v tbmtN*StÃ..At¸mÄ Ns*¶p k^nÃ…””
ASptN«t¸mÄ hnhn`n]psX fpOw kÃmsS]m]n.
“”tfmtW…Wm`^]v¡v Ss¶ tbmt\m? Mm³ GSm]m`pw A`m_w sk¨pNnX¡mw,””
“”At¿m A`m_w sk¨v Fjpt¶Â¡pskm¶pw tk*. Mm³ sbmt¡mamw,””
Ak³ fpt¼m«v– k¶v- AkapsX Nknan Ipwdn¨p.
bns¶ Aksa tWm¡n.
“”CknsX]pw H^p D½ skt¨ms«?””
AkapsX Ip*n sSm«v Ak³ tImUn¨p.
ASnWp¯^fm]n AkÄ Ak³s_ AV^¯n Ip*pNafÀ¯n.
AkWn Wn¶v- WnlzmhlÐw AkÄ tN«p.
Ipwdn¨v Njnªv tWm¡pt¼mÄ Ak³s_ N®pNÄ Wn_ªn^n¡p¶p.
“”tfmtW!””
AkÄ b^n{efn¨v knan¨p.
“”F´m]nSv?””
Ak³ N®pWo^n`qsX bp©n^n¨p.
“”ht´mgw sNm*m\v,””

t^\pN]pw ^knl¦_pw bm]v¡äpNapfm]n Uf]´n fman Wn¶pfn_§n Nm_nWXpt¯¡v k^nN]m]n^p¶p.
“”A½]v¡v WÃ hyq«m^n¡pw AÑm B Kf´n¡a_n`pÅ hm^n,””
t^\pN b_ªp.
“”MmsWXp¯ s_Zv Na_pw hyqs«ms¡ Ss¶]m,””
AkÄ A]msa CãvXt¡tXmsX tWm¡n.
“”ipw! s_Zv! A¨³ bj] N½yq\nÌv AtÃ? B s_Zn³s_ im§v HmkÀ Ct¸mjpw D*v,””
“”Wo k`n] tfmUn eà]tÃ? F¶m Nmkn Wn_w FXp¡m³ tf`m^pt¶m?””
t^\pN D_s¡ In^n¨p.
“”At¿, Nmknt]m? Cu AÑsâ H^p NaÀ sh³hv! Nmkn DXp¡m³ A½ F¶m B{lf¯n`mt\m? fmSm hnhn`n BWµf]n…iii..””
A]mapw In^n¨p.
AkÀ Nm_nWXps¯¯n.
“”F¶m`pw B dndnWv Ak³s_ {c*nsW Nm\m³ tbmNm³ N* hf]w! At½sX dÀ¯v tZ]v¡v AkWnÃmsS…””
^knl¦_n³s_ fpOkpw kÃmSm]n.
AkÀ bm¡äpNÄ hoän sk¨p.
tZmÀ Sp_¶v- ANt¯¡v N]_m³ SpX§n] t^\pN sbs«¶v- AUvepSb^S{´]m]n t_mZn³s_ f_pemPt¯¡v tWm¡n.
“”F³s_ tUko…””
AkÄ f{´n¨p.
“”AÑm H^p fnWnäv…Mm³ Um k¶p,””
t_mZnWn^pklkpw tWm¡n NW¯ {XmcnNv sskUPvVyt¯msX fp_n¨p NX¶v AkÄ ftä sshZns`¯n.
“”{bnt],””
tim«Â Abvh^]psX N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv fp¼n skap¯ tfjvhnZhnWp fp¼n Wn¶ hpµ^n]m] ]pkSns] AkÄ tb^v sImÃn knan¨p.
h¬ ¥mhv V^n¨v Wn¶ B ]pkSn ¥mhv fpO¯v Wns¶Xp¯v t^\pNs] tWm¡n.
“”s]hv,””
sbs«¶v Nm_n³s_ tZmÀ Sp_¶v- hpePWm] H^p sI_p¸¡m^Wn_§n.
“”{bnt]…^£s¸«p…A^ f\n¡qÀ Njntª c§vg³ SpX§q. thm….””
{bh^nt¸msX bp_t¯¡n_§n] sI_p¸¡m^³ {bn]t]mXp b_ªp. dm¡n b_]msS A]mÄ t^\pNs] tWm¡n. A]mÄ AXp¯v k¶v {bn]]psX tSman bnXn¨p.
“”B^m CSv {bnt],””
A]mÄ tImUn¨p.
“”FWn¡v A_n]nÃ..Ct¸mÄ Ct¸mÄ b^nI]s¸«msS …Aà tfmÄ B^m\v?””
{bn] tImUn¨p.
“”Mm³ t^\pN. {bn]]psX NqsX]pÅ BÄ B^m?””
{bn] H¶¼^¶v- t^\pNs] tWm¡n.
“”CsS³s_ ihvd³Zv, tZmNväÀ knf NpfmÀ,””
t^\pN]vs¡m¶pw fWÊn`m]nÃ. CWn Bapfm_nt¸m]Smt\m? G]v– AÃ. AsS fpOw. AsS N®pNÄ, Ip*pNÄ. cot¨jvhv FÃmw ASptbms` Ss¶.
“”At¸mÄ {bn] tks_ N`ym\w Njn¨p AtÃ?””
hz^w b^pgfm¡n t^\pN tImUn¨p.
“”tks_ N`ym\tfm?””
{bn] In^n¨p.
“”Cu H¶v Ss¶ Vm^maw,””
sI_p¸¡m^³s_ tSman AXn¨psNm*p {bn] b_ªp.
t^\pN]v¡v S`Ipäp¶Svtbms` tSm¶n. sbs«¶m\v AkÄ HmÀ¯Sv dndn³s_]pw {bn]]psX]pw In{Sw S³s_ sfmssd`n`p*v. AkÄ DXtW sfmssd Sp_¶p. Pym`_n]n knkmi khv{S¯n dndntW tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p Wn¡p¶ {bn]]psX In{SsfXp¯v t^\pN AkapsX N®nWptWs^ bnXn¨p.
“”{bnt], CSv W½psX dndnWtÃ?””
tZmNväÀ knf NpfmÀ tcmt«m]nt`¡v tWm¡n {bn]t]mXp BÝ^yt¯msX tImUn¨p. B tImUykpw t^\pNs] AUvepSs¸Xp¯n.
“”Cu tcmt«ms]§sW Wn§sX ssN]n k¶p?””
{bn] tImUn¨p.
“”Hmtim..””
Nm^yw fWÊn`m¡n]Sp tbms` {bn] b_ªp.
“”FWn¡v bnXnNn«n knft`. Cu Np«n …Wn§Ä t^\pN]tÃ? dndn³s_ kpZv do?””
B tImUyw A£^mÀ°¯n t^\pNs] Ahv{S{bÚ]m¡n. Culz^m, Fs´ms¡]m\o tNÄ¡p¶Sv? Ft´ms¡]m\nkÀ b_]p¶Sv? dndn³ {bn]t]mXp b_tªm Mm³ dndn³s_ emknkVpkms\¶v? bns¶ dndn³ F´nWm\v Ft¶mXv {bn]s] Sm³ ^ihyfm]n N`ym\w Njn¨p F¶v- b_ªSv?
“”Np«o,””
{bn] kngmUemk¯n t^\pNs] tWm¡n.
“”Np«nt]mXpÅ hvtWifm\v AksW Ct¸mjpw Cu eqfn]n Kokn¸n¨pWnÀ¯p¶Sv. Asæn H^p bs£ Ak³ …A_n]mftÃm…Ak³s_ tZmNväs_¶ Wn`]n FWn¡v tfmtamXv H^pbmXv Wµn]p*v. Ak³ b_ªSv F{S l^n]m\v. N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Ak³ N*n«pÅSn sk¨v Gäkpw hpµ^n]m\v F³s_ sb®v-, Ak³ t`mN¯ms^]pw ASv tbms` hvtWin¡p¶nÃ. dndn³s_ B sb®nsW Ft¸msj¦n`pw Nm\\w F¶v- Mm³ B{Pin¨n^p¶p. ASv Ct¸mÄ hmVn¨p. tfmÄ timhvbnä`nt`¡v Bt\m?””
“”A…ASv ..AtS…Mm³ ..Mm³ timhv¸nä`nt`¡v B\v,””
“”F¦n k^q, M§apsX NqsXt¸mNmw,””
knf`m\v b_ªSv.
^knl¦À Ss¶ Nm¯n^n¡p¶ps*t¶m timhv¸nä FSms\t¶m H¶pw t^\pN In´n¨nÃ. irU]w CXnªpWp_p§p¶Sv tbms` AkÄ¡v tSm¶n. bSns] bSns] Nm^y§Ä¡v kyàS k^p¶SkÄ¡_nªp. H^p ]{´s¯t¸ms` AkÄ tZmNväÀ {bn]s] Nm_nt`¡v bn´pXÀ¶p.

t^\pN]pw ^knl¦_pw bp_t¯¡v tbm]SvsNm*v hnhn`n D_§m³ So^pfmWn¨p. C¶s` fq¶v- f\nks^ Ss¶ ^kn D_¡n]nÃ. S³s_ l^o^¯nWv C{Stf tfmiNm´n]p*v F¶v- C¶s`]m\v A_nªSv. S³s_ l^o^¯nt` Hmt^m S·m{S]n`psfmanªn^n¡p¶ ^hdnµp¡sa sSm«p\À¯m³ F{S fnXp¡Wm\v ^kn. AtSmÀ¯t¸mįs¶ tUiw IqXv bnXn¨p`]p¶Sv Aka A_nªp. AkapsX Ip*n bp©n^n knXÀ¶p. NnX¡m³ tbm]m`pw D_§ptfm Sm³? C¶`s¯ Nm^y§tamÀ¯v M^¼pNÄ k`nªpfp_pNm³ SpX§n¡jnªp. NnX¶m tfmimtklw Nm^\w DXpSp\n]jn¨pfmäpkmWm\v hmVyS. tfmimtklmtfm? AÃ. Nmfmtklw. t]mWn¯Xw WWªp NpSnÀ¶Sv AkÄ A_nªp. Hm ..Cutlmt]..fp`¡®pNsams¡ SpXn¨p S^n¡pN]m\tÃm…
AkÄ NnX¡]nt`¡v f_nªp. ^ko, FknsX]m Wo…ssWän¡v fpNan`qsX S³s_ fp`NÄ AfÀ¯n¯n^p½n AkÄ bn_pbn_p¯p. C¯n^nNqXn £fn¨n^n¡v sbt®, AkÄ hz]w b_ªp. bns¶ WnW¡v sNmSn So^ptkmaw AksWs¡m*v WnW¡nãfpÅsSms¡ sI¿n¡mftÃm. CÃ, bäp¶nÃ, Wn]{´n¡m³ bäp¶nÃ. AkÄ ssWän fpNant`¡v k`n¨psbm¡n. NnX¡]psX fp¼n Ss¶]pÅ k`n] N®mXn]nt`¡v hz]w WPvWS tWm¡n. skap¯psNmjp¯ S³s_ sk®¡Â tbms`]pÅ SpXNant`¡v AkÄ tWm¡n. ASn³s_ frUpkm] fmwh¯n AkÄ ssN¯`ffÀ¯n St`mXn.
“”iq…½w…””
bnaÀ¶ Ip*n Wn¶v- ho¡m^fp]À¶p.
N®mXn tWm¡ns¡m*v AkÄ SpXNÄ AN¯n. kXn¨v– kr¯n]m¡n] t]mWn, t]mWn¸naÀ¸v, ASn Wn_ªv H«n¸nXn¨n^n¡p¶ fUK`w Hs¡ AkÄ tWm¡n¡*p. bns¶ SpXNÄ ko*pw knXÀ¯n t]mWn]psX DÄemPs¯ Ipk¸v AkÄ N*p. Wo* ewPn]pÅ kn^`pNÄ sNm*v AkÄ AknsX hvbÀln¨p.
“”Hm…F³s_ ..^ko…””
kn^`pNÄ WWknsW sSm«t¸mÄ AkÄ hz^fpSnÀ¯p. bns¶ kÀVn¨ Bhànt]msX AkÄ kn^`pNÄ t]mWn]nt`¡v Np¯n]n_¡n…
At¸mÄ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tcm¬ lÐn¨p.
“”tNm¸v.””
AkÄ hpOw Wãs¸«Sn³s_ Bt`mh^¯n b_ªp.
tcm¬ FXp¯p.
t^\ptfmÄ tNmanwPv…
hnhn`n sbs«¶v ssWän k`n¨pSmjv¯n.
“”it`m, FknsXs]¯n AÑWpw tfmapw?””
AkÄ tImUn¨p.
“”At½,””
tcm\n`qsX PUvPSw Wn_ª t^\pN]psX lÐw hnhn`n tN«p.
“”tfmsa,””
AkÄ hwl]t¯msX knan¨p.
“”A½ tkPw {Zhv sI¿v–. F¶n«v _oKn]\ Nm³hÀ sh³ä_nt`¡v km,””
sbs«¶v tcm¬ N«m]n.
hnhn`n¡v H¶pw fWhn`m]nÃ.
t^\pN]psX hz^¯n kÃm¯ h¦Xfp*v. AkÄ¡v A_n]mkp¶ Bt^m H^mÄ Nm³hÀ dmVnS]m]n t^mP¡nX¡]n`m\v.
B^m]n^n¡pw?
ssUktf, CWn ^kns]§mWpw?
AkapsX DÅp bnXªp.
tkPw {ZÊv sI]vSv AkÄ bp_¯n_§n.
PmÀZ³s_]Xp¯v hKn Wn¡p¶Sv N*p.
“”Ft§m«v tbmNpkm Xo¨s_?””
Ak³ tImUn¨psNm*v AkapsX]Xps¯¡v k¶p.
“”hKn]v¡v _oKn]\ Nm³hÀ sh³äÀ FknXms\¶v A_n]mtfm?””
“”A_n]mw Xo¨s_. F´m?””
“”k*ns]Xp¡v Wfp¡v AknXw ks^ tbmN\w,””

S³s_ NnX¡]psX hfob¯v Wn¡p¶ks^ tWm¡n dndn³ bp©n^n¨p. ^*p tbs^ N*t¸mÄ Ak³s_ bp©n^n fmªp. hnhn`nt]]pw t^\pNs]]pw.
Ak^psX N^ªpN`§n] N®pNÄ N*t¸mÄ Ct¸mjpw SpX^p¶ knSp¼Â tN«t¸mÄ AkWv bp©n^n¡m³ Njn]p¶nÃ.
“”””AÑm,”
Ak³ ^knl¦s_ tWm¡n.
Ak³s_ S`fpXn]n`pÅ ^knl¦_nsâ hvbÀlWw fp_pNn.
“”””b¸m f^n¡p¼w H^p Nm^ytf Ft¶mXv b_ªn^p¶pÅq…”
£o\n¨v WnÀ¯nWnÀ¯n Ak³ b_ªp.
“”””FWn¡_n]mw tfmtW,”
^kn l¦_n³s_ kngmUfpÅ, F¶m UrZfm] lÐw Ak³ tN«p.
“”””tfm³ kngfn¡*. tfm³s_ f½n F³s_ em^y]m\v Ct¸mÄ. F³s_ tfmÄsX A½]m\v Ct¸mÄ. hiSmbw, him]n¡mWpÅ fWÊv AsSm¶pfà Mm³ tfm³s_ f½ns] hvtWin¡mWpw em^y]m¡mWpw Nm^\w. tfm³ F³s_ tfmÄsX KoksW f^\¯o¶v ^£s¸Xp¯n]Sv sNm*v fm{Sfà Mm³ tfm³s_ f½ns] N`ym\w Njnt¨. FWn¡nãfm\v tfm³s_ f½ns] . F³s_ f^\w ks^,”
A]mÄ hnhn`ns] tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p.
“”””f½o …:””
Ak³ hnhn`n]psX N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n.
“”Mm³ f½osW tks_ Bsas¡m*p N`ym\w Njn¸n¡m³ ..ASnsWms¡ H^p§oSv…Mm³ C§sW….Cu AhpOw…ASv sNm*m Mm³ b`t^w ko«n knant¨m*v kt¶…bs£ hm_v…Aà A¨³….”
Ak³ ^kn l¦s_ tWm¡n.
“”””F³s_ {bmÀ°W Cutlm tN«p. Fs¶ ..AÃ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv W½psX fp¼nt`¡v AÑsW sNm*p k¶p… AÑm…FWn¡v…”
Ak³ ^kn l¦_n³s_ tWs^ ssNNÄ Nq¸m³ SpX§n. ^kn ASv DXtW kn`¡n.
“”””t^\q,’
bns¶ Ak³ t^\pNs] knan¨p.
“”””H^p bs£ F³s_ f½ns] Mm³ hvtWin¨tbms` H^msa fmt{S Mm³ hvtWin¨n«pÅq…ASv..”
knSp¼n¡^ªpsNm*v t^\pN Ak³s_ fpOw C^pssNNan`psfXp¯p.
“”””tk*..FWn¡_n]mw..b_t]* ASv…”
AkapsX fnjnWo^pNÄ Ak³s_ fpO¯v ko\p.
“”””Wn§Ä tZmNväÀ {bn]s] N*nÃm^ps¶¦nÂ…. {bn] ASv Wn§tamXv b_ªnÃm^ps¶¦n MmWnSv C¸jpw b_]nÃm^p¶p…””
Ak³s_ ssN]n AfÀ¯n¸nXn¨n^p¶ tZmÎÀ {bn] Wn_N®pNtamsX AksW tWm¡n bp©n^n¨p.
“”t^\q …F³s_ ….`mÌv kngv B\v …`mÌv …A{Piw ….Wo Wà ..H^msa …UpÂOÀ hÂfmsWt¸ms` H^msa …N`ym\w Njn¡\w …ASn sNm_ª H^p¯tWw tk* tNt«m …tNt«m AÑm …W½sX fp¯tà CkÄ F³s_…F³s_ ….bp¶m^ sb§Ä ….At½ …””
dndn³s_ lzmhw Wn]{´\mSoSfm]n. N®pNÄ f`]v¡m³ SpX§n.
“”f½o…””
Ak³s_ Ahvbãfm] lÐw FÃmk^pw tN«p.
AkÀ NmSpNÄ Smjv¯n.
“”….f½o C¶v- ^m{So ….^m{So …tWm¡\w BNml¯v ….BNml¯v ….b¸msX W£{S¯n³s_ AXp¯v …sSm«Xp¯v …MmWpw ..MmWpw W£{Sfm]n ….””
Ak³s_ Ip*pNÄ WnÝ`fm]n. lzmhw Wn`¨p.
N®pNÄ hnhn`n]n S_ªp.