Wqäm*pNÄ¡p fp¼v WnÀ½n¡s¸«Sm]n^ps¶¦n`pw sbu^m\nN ewPnt]mXpNqsX hw^£n¡s¸«n^p¶p, lm´nbp^w sNm«m^w. tUlo]bmS¡pw lm´nbp^w WUn¡pfnX]n Wn`Wn¡p¶ sNm«m^w bp^mSW kmhvSpln¸ sskUPvVy¯n³s_ H^p AhmVm^\ fmSrN]m]n b^nP\n¡s¸Xp¶p. sNm«m^¯nWXp¯pÅ C^nWn` koXv ^mKtlO^ kÀ½ b\nSSm\v. F¦n`pw NpXpwdb^fm] IX§pNapw ht½aW§apw WX¯s¸«n^p¶Sv sNm«m^¯nWN¯v Ss¶]m\v. ss`{d_nt]mXv tIÀ¶ UÀdmÀ iman`m\v Ak WX¯s¸«n^p¶Sv. UÀdmÀ imans` knlm`fm] h{bf©¯n knlnãkyànNÄ C^n¸p_¸n¨p. fVy¯n fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³. At²i¯nW^nNn ^mipÂ. AkÀ¡v bn¼n DÖ]nWn]n Wn¶v- k¶ h¶ymhnfmÀ.AkÀ¡enfpOfm]n ^mKtlO^kÀ½. bns¶ Pm]{SntUkn, fp¯ln,^mKtlO^kÀ½]psX dÔp¡Ä, kntWmUv tftWm³ SpX§n]k^pw. “”^mKNpfm^ns] Nq«ns¡m*v k^m³ Bsa A]¨ntÃ?”” fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ ^mKtlO^kÀ½t]mXv tImUn¨p. “”DÆv,”” ekySt]msX ^mKtlO^kÀ½ b_ªp. “”DXsWs]¯pw,”” “”fimfrSypMvK]timf¯nWv tk*n]pÅ IÀ¨Nan`pw ]mPw AWpãvXn¡s¸Xp¶ hf]¯pw ^mKNpfm^n Wt½msXm¯v tk\w,”” At²iw b_ªp. iman³s_ At§]ä¯v Unky]psX ^qbw Urlyfm]n. bn¶ms` H¶v- ^*p b^nIm^nNfm^pw. FÃmk^psX]pw N®pNÄ AkapsX tWs^ Sn^nªp. SWn tN^ao]^oSn]n Nhkv hm^n]pw s»uhpw A\nª\v Unky k¶Sv. B tkg¯n AkapsX ^qb`mk\yw C^«n¨p. hzÀ® Wn_fpÅ AjNmÀ¶ DX`n AsS Wn_¯n`pÅ Nhkv hm^n]pw s»uhpf\nªt¸mÄ AkapsX ^qbw knhvf]mkifm]n. “”H^bvh^ NWyNs]t¸ms`,”” dm¥q^n Wns¶¯n] ^n ^mKtlO^kÀ½]psX htimU^n]psX fNÄ Wng S³s_ AXp¯n^p¶ fsäm^p dÔpkn³s_ NmSn f{´n¨p. “”Wos]{S Abvh^NWyNfms^ N*n«p*v?”” AkÄ Sn^n¨p f{´n¨p. “”Unky tN]väv kn³tÉänsW b_n¨pk¨tbms`]p*v. B sWt_mw N®pw `nbvhpw Hs¡,”” ^mKtlO^kÀ½ Sn^nªp tWm¡n Ip*n kn^ tIÀ¯v Aks^ WnlÐ^m¡n. Unky BUyw fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\sW]pw ^mip`nsW]pw DÖ]nWn]n Wns¶¯n] hWymhnfms^]pw kµn¨p. bns¶ S³s_ fmSmbnSm¡sa]pw fp¯lns]]pw dÔp¡sa]pw. “”Npfm^n C^n¡q,”” ^mKtlO^kÀ½]psX]pw Pm]{SntUkn]psX]pw CX]nt`¡v kn^ Iq*n fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ b_ªp. AkÀ¡nX]n ^mip`nWv AenfpOfm]n AkÄ C^p¶p. Unkyt]msXm¸w k¶ b^nIm^NÀ bp_t¯¡v tbm]n. {bmÀTWmh¦oÀ¯ W§tamsX N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv B ht½aWw B^wen¨p. eànemkw Wn_ª h¦oÀ¯W§Ä¡v tlgw WnSm´WnlÐfm]n imÄ. FÃmk^pw fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\sW tWm¡n. “”A¶v Wn§Ä Fs¶ k¶pN*SnWv tlgw fimfrSypWvK] ]mP¯nWp tk*n Mm³ fmWhnNfm]n H^p§pN]m]n^p¶p,”” ^mKtlO^kÀ½s] tWm¡n At²iw b_ªp. “”bs£ A kng]w VymWn¡pt¼mjpw In´n¡pt¼mjpw UÀlW¯n N*sSms¡ UpÀWnfn¯§am\v. ^m£h Bhp^ lànNÄ b` tkg¯n`pw emk¯n`pw Cu sNm«m^s¯]pw {btUls¯]pw NojX¡n]n^n¡p¶p. Ak^psX `£yw ^mKNpfm^n]psX KokWm\v,”” hUÊv b^n{em´fmNp¶Sv At²iw N*p. Pm]{SntUkn e]kniz`]m]n ^mKtlO^kÀ½s] tWm¡n. AkÀ AXp¯n^p¶ Unky]psX N¿n AfÀ¯n¸nXn¨p. “”fim_m\n b^n{efnt¡*,”” fiÀgn Ak^psX emkkySymhw {l²n¨psNm*v b_ªp. “”^mKNpfm^n]psX KokWv eog\n]ps*¦n`pw hp^£nS]m\v. Npfm^n]n`pÅ Culz^mwlw hz]w H^p NkIfm]n ^£]v¡p*v. F¦n`pw DÅns` ssUknNmwl¯nWp A¸w Ca¡w S«n]n«pt*m F¶v- hwl]fp*v,”” At±iw H^p Wnfngw WnÀ¯n Unkys] hq£n¨p tWm¡n. Unky `Öt]msX At²is¯]pw. “”fsäm^p skanbmXv FWn¡v Nn«n]Sv Npfm^n DXtW Ss¶ eÀSrfSn]mNm³ hmVyS]p*v F¶m\v,”” “”G]v–, sWkÀ!”” b^nh^¯n³s_ Nm^ySo{kS knhvf^n¨psNm*v AkÄ D_s¡¸_ªp. FÃmk^pw knhvf]t¯msX Unkys] tWm¡n. “”Cäv– Nym³ sWkÀ do {Xq!”” ^mKtlO^kÀ½]pw Pm]{SntUkn]pw sPu^k¯n Unkys] tWm¡n. AkÄ Ad²w bän]Sptbms` tUkWm^m]\tW]pw. “”thm_n, Pp^pKo, sFw _n]`n thm_n,”” AkÄ £fm]mIWw sI]vSp.At±iw bp©n^n¨p. “”UÀlW¯n A§sWNm\p¶p Npfm^n,”” At±iw b_ªp. “”D¯f Pp\h¼¶Wm] H^p bp^pg³ Npfm^n]psX eÀSrbUf`¦^n¡m³ tbmNp¶p,”” AkapsX S^afnjnNÄ ^mip`nWv tWs^ Wo*p. AkapsX AV^¯n `Ö]psX Ipk¸v bXÀ¶p. Bb^mfÀlw ^mKtlO^kÀ½]psX]pw Pm]{SntUkn]psX]pw fpO§an {bNmlw b^¯n. fäpÅk^pw {bh¶^m]n. “”WmP¯m³ f`]ns` ^mKsk¼m` WnVntbXN¯nWp bp_¯v NX¶v AhzØWm]n A`]m³ SpX§n]n^n¡p¶p,”” fiÀgn SpXÀ¶p. tNÄ¡p¶k^psX fpO§an eoSn Wn_]m³ SpX§n. “”WnVn tSXn bpSpSm]n Bt^ms¡]m]n WmP¯m³ f`]n NX¶n«p*v. Ak^psX {bkÀ¯W§Ä sNm«m^s¯]pw sNm«m^kmhnNsa]pw dmVn¡m³ hmVyS]p*v. CsSms¡ UÀlW§an Wfp¡v AWpeks¸«Sm\v. {bSn{Nn] AWpãvXn¡mWpÅ hf]fm]n F¶_n]n¡mWm\v Wmw Sn^¡n«v bp_s¸«Sv!”” ^mKb^nkm^§Ä N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv fiÀgn]psX km¡pNÄ¡v {l²t]msX NmtSmÀ¯p. “”H^p§n¸p_s¸Xpt¼mÄ Bl¦]p*m]n^p¶p,”” AtUiw SpXÀ¶p. “”sskUnN knVn WnÝ]fp*v. sskUnN hmf{PnNÄ Btkmakpw. fpiqÀ¯w WnÝ]n¡mWpw {b]mhfnÃ. bs£ H^p k`n] {blvWw fp¼n NnX¡p¶p. NÀ½w WXt¯* sskUnNsWknsX? fWÊv Wn_s] Bl¦]m]n^p¶p. bs£ Culz^ WnÝ]w, Cu Sbhzns] Ct§m«v Ss¶ F¯n¨p. At²i¯n³s_ k`SpN^w ^mip`nsâ tSman`fÀ¶p. “”AknXps¯ N`v¸Wtbms` F´pw sI¿mw,”” knNm^w Wn]{´n¡mWmkmsS NWpWo^nWnX]v Pm]{SntUkn]psX km¡pNÄ InS_n ko\p. AkÀ ^mip`n³s_ fpO¯v tWm¡n ]mIWmhz^¯n b_ªp. “”AknXp¶v- F³s_ tfmÄ¡v Bb¯pNÄ k^p¯msS tWm¡\w,”” “”S¼p^m«n kngfn¡msS]n^n¡q,”” ^mip ssNNÄ D]À¯n b_ªp. “”FÃmw S¼p^m«n]psX {bmÀ°W tbms` WX¶p k^p¶p. ]mP¯nsâ fpiqÀ¯w WnÝ]n¡m³ tbmNp¶p. Culz^³ Bbs¯m¶pw k^p¯nÃ,”” sSmjpssNNtamsX ln^Êv NpWn¨v AkÀ A]mapsX km¡pNÄ hzoN^n¨p. fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ fimfrSypMvK] ]mPs¯¡p_n¨v H^p {bemg\fm^wen¨p. B sI_n] hUÊv ASyVnNw Sm`v¸^yt¯msX]pw sNuSpNt¯msX]pw ASv tNÄ¡m³ SpX§n. F¦n`pw Unky AsSm¶pw {l²n¡p¶p*m]n^p¶nÃ. F{S {lfn¨n«pw ^mip`n³s_ fpO¯v Wn¶pw S³s_ fnjnNÄ tkÀsbXp¯m³ AkÄ¡v NjnªnÃ. F´v Sm¸^yfm\v, F´v Cãfm\v CWn]pw Sm³ bqÀ®fm]pw fWÊn`m¡n]n«nÃm¯ Cu fWpgytWmXv SWn¡v tSm¶p¶Sv? F´nWm\v Cu fWpgy³ tNm{dminÂhn Ipän¡_§p¶Sv? ASpw ^m{Sn hf]§anÂ? F´nWm\v C]mÄ K]Nrgv\sW B{Nfn¨Sv? S³s_ Bßo] Pp^pWmTtWmXptbm`pw b_]msS F´nWm\v CknsX Cu tNmtaKn AVymbNWm]n tIÀ¶Sv?F{S Bt`mIn¨n«pw AkÄ¡v D¯^sfm¶pw Nn«n]nÃ. C]msa¡p_n¨pÅ WnPqZSNÄ A§sWSs¶ Aktlgn¡p¶p. bs£ H^p PÔÀk³s_ fWpgymkSm^w tbms`]pÅ F ^qbkpw shuµ^ykpw S³s_ tImUy§sa A{bVmWfm¡p¶p. knlm`fm] sWän¯Xw. ewPn]m]n bnt¼m«p IoNnsk¨n^n¡p¶ Wo* fpXn. Wo*pewPn]pÅ WmhnN. VymWh¦oÀ¯W¯n fpjpNn]n^n¡p¶Sptbms` tIÀ¶n^n¡p¶ ftWmi^fm] Ip*pNÄ. A]mapsX AV^ewPn]ns`¡v AkÄ Gs_ tW^w tWm¡n. B N®pNÄ¡v Fs´m^p klyS]m\v! Ak]n`n^¼p¶Sv Bßo] So{kS]mt\m? AtSm {b\]tfm? H^p Sm^Sfy¯nWpw S³s_ fp¼n`n^n¡p¶ ASnhpePWm] ]pkSbhzn]psX ^qbw kj§p¶nÃ. GSv SbÊn`qsX tWXns]Xp¯Sm\v B N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv N®pNans` Nm´làn? GSv Sm{´nN knUy]m\v Cu Sbhzn¡v C{S]pw tSKhv WÂNn]Sv? tWm¡ns¡m*n^n¡tk S³s_ ANSm^ns`knsXt]m Dgv\w Wn_]p¶Sv AkÄ A_nªp. tUiw fpjpk³ bq¯p`]p¶p. IqXpw WWkpw H^pfn¨p tUis¯ fqXp¶p. “”Hm…F³s_…”” S³s_ N®pNÄ AX]p¶ptkm? sbs«¶v- ^mip`n³s_ N®pNÄ S¶nt`¡v Sn^n]p¶Sv AkÄ N*p. B tWm«¯n H^p D{PlmhW AkÄ Sn^n¨_nªp. AkÄ WXp§nt¸m]n. S³s_ A´^mßmknt`¡v S_¨n_§p¶, AknsX WX¡p¶ In´m kymbm^§sa kntkIn¨_nª tWm«w! S³s_ fWÊv At±iw km]n¨ptkm? Culz^m…- AkÄ¡v KmayS tSm¶n. Unky NpätdmVt¯msX ^mip`nsW tWm¡n. ASnWnsX fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ {bemg\w Dbhwi^n¨n^p¶p. “”Wmsa ]mP¯nsâ fpiqÀ¯w WnÝ]n¡s¸XpN]m\v,”” At±iw hUÊnsW tWm¡n. “”]mP fÞb¯n³s_]pw ]mPhmfm{PnNapsX]pw knlUmwl§Ä Wmsa WnÝ]n¡s¸Xpw. ]Úw SpX§m³ CWn SmfhfnÃ. H^p fmh¯nWpÅn Ss¶ SpX§\w. ASpks^]pÅ hf]w S¿ms_Xp¡`nWp tk*n]m\v. Ct¸mÄ Ss¶ ^m£Ê lànNÄ Ak^psX H^p¡w GSm*v bqÀ¯n]¡n¡jnªp,”” hUÊn³s_]pÅn Bl¦NÄ bns¶]pw Aktlgn¨p. ]mPs¯¡p_n¨pÅ A_n]n¸v, Ak^psX fWÊns` eoSnNÄ bqÀ®fm]pw ANän]nÃ. “”^mKb^nkm^§Ä¡pw bpt^minS·mÀ¡pw tbmNmw,”” At±iw b_ªp. “”Nm^y§Ä M§Ä kjns] A_n]n¡mw,”” FÃmk^pw Fjpt¶äp. AkÀ fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\tW]pw ^mip`ntW]pw kµn¨SnWp tlgw imanWv bp_¯v NX¶p. knlm`fm] iman ^mip`pw fim^vgn]pw SWn¨m]n. At±iw AenfpOfm]n Wn¶v A]mapsX N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n. “”fWÊns` fp_nkv CWn]pw D\§n]nÃ, AtÃ?”” At±iw tImUn¨p. A]mÄ D¯^sfm¶pw b_]msS Km`N¯n`qsX tNm{dminÂhn³s_ f`fpXnNans`¡v tWm¡n. “”AÑm,”” UoÀQ sfuW¯nWp tlgw A]mÄ b_ªp. “”CWn H^p sskXnNWmkm³ FWn¡v Njn]nÃ. ASpw fim frSypMvK] ]mPw tbms` NYnWfm] H^p ]Ú¯n³s_,”” fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ bp©n^n¨p. “”k^q,”” At±iw b_ªp. “”Wfp¡v bp_t¯¡v WX¡mw,”” UoÀQfm] N¯q\pNÄ Wn_ª knlm`fm] iman`qsX AkÀ WX¶p. “”bmY§Ä H¶pw f_¶ptbm]n«nÃ. t]mPWngvYNÄ H¶pw sSän¨n«nÃ. s`uNnN KoknS¯nt`¡v BN^vgn¡s¸«n«pfnÃ. AsSms¡ Mm³ A§]psX bmUboY¯n Wn¶m\v bYn¨Sv. bYn¨Spw A_nªSpsfÃmw ASpsNm*v WnÝ]kpfm\v. bs£…”” “”FWn¡_n]mw,”” iman N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Wn¶v- bp_t¯¡pÅ {bVmWkmSn bn¶n«psNm*v At±iw b_ªp. “”Wn³s_ fWhv FWn¡_n]mw. fWhv Ct¸mjpw UpxObqÀ®fm\v Wn³s_ fWÊv. B Cw¥ogv ^mKNpfm^n]psX f^\fm\v Wns¶…”” hvtSmebqÀ®fm] ^mip`n³s_ fpOw At²i¯n³s_ tWs^ Sn^nªp. fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ B tWm«s¯ bp©n^nt]msX tW^ns«¦n`pw At²ikpw eqSNm`s¯, kas^ bj]SÃm¯ B hwek§Ä HmÀ½n¡pN]m]n^p¶p. `*Wn sk¨v d¡nRvimw bm`hns` {bn³shÊv G©`pfm]n ^mip b^nI]s¸«Sv. Aksa t]mPVymWw bYn¸n¨Sv. Ak³s_ knlngvYPp\§an AkÄ AWp^à]m]Sv. {b\]feyÀ¯n¨Sv. AVymbNWm\v Sm³, Pp^p bnSmkm\v F¶v- b_ªv ^mip AkapsX {b\]w Sn^hv¡^n¨Sv. Aksa kn«v infm`]¯nt`¡v SbÊnWp tbm]Sv. AksW tWXpkm³ AkÄ C{hmt]`ns` knlp²WmXpNant`¡v SoÀT]m{S tbm]Sv. SbÊnsâ AkhmWw H^p knfmW AbNX¯n AkÄ sNmÃs¸Xp¶Sv. AS_nªv ^mip SbÊv WnÀ¯p¶Sv. UpOem^¯m B{lfw Dtb£n¨Sv– …. “”Wo A¶v tImUn¨ tImUy§sams¡ F³s_ fWÊn Ct¸mjpfp*v,”” iman Wn¶v- bp_¯p NX¶v Wo* CXWmjn]n`qsX WX¶psNm*v At±iw b_ªp. “”F´nWm\v hWymhw? F´m\v hWymhw?S³s_ fm{Sw {kSlp²n, S³s_ fm{Sw Bßlp²n Fs¶ms¡¸_ªv Ss¶¯m³ hw^£n¡m³ tk*nfm{Sw H^p U´tPmbp^w hrãvXn¨v Cu {bb©¯n³s_ {blvW§an Wn¶pw H^p Hant¨m«w…ASmt\m hWymhw? CsSms¡ Wo A¶v- Ft¶mXv tImUn¨ tImUy§am\v. hWymhn]m]n«v tWXn]sS´m\v? H^p fWpgyKok³s_ Np^pSn. {dÒI^y{kSw sNm*v h¼mUn¨sS´m\v? H^p sb¬Np«n]psX AbfrSyp…CsSms¡ Wo As¶t¶mXv b_ªSm\v…N®pWn_s] UpOt¯msX…Wn³s_ B tImUy§tam Ak]v¡v Nm^\fm] bÝm¯`tfm hwek§tam H¶pw Mm³ f_¶n«nÃ. B tImUy§Ä AÀ°^inS§Ä B\v F¶pw FWn¡en{bm]fnÃ….bs£…”” At±iw Wn¶p. ^mip`pw. tNm{dminÂhn³s_ lnO^§an Nmäp\^p¶Sv A¸tW^w AkÀ tWm¡nWn¶p. f`]^]³fm^psX sI*]psX Smaw AknsXWn¶p]^p¶Sv AkÀ tN«p. fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ C^pssNNapw ^mip`n³s_ tSman tIÀ¯p. “”B tImUy§Ä tImUn¡m³ Wns¶ t{b^n¸n¨ hwek§tam ASn³s_ bmÝm¯`tfm hWymh¯n³s_ bnjkÃ,”” Wnfng§apsX WnlÐS]n ko*pw ^mip WãvXs¸«p. “”A¨³ F³s_ {bÚ]n FjpSnt¨À¯ t]mPI^yNÄ B\v Mm³ G©`nsW bYn¸n¨Sv,”” sfuW¯nWptlgw ko*pw At²it¯msXm¸w bSns] WX¶psNm*v ^mip b_ªp. “”bs£ B sb¬Np«n Fs¶ Nmfn¨p. Fs¶ B{Pin¨p. Aksa bn´n^n¸n¡m³ Mm³ NYnWSbÊWpãvXn¨p. N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv bt£ ….”” ^mip`n³s_ lÐw CX_n. “”…bt£ B SbÊn³s_ APvWn]n AkapsX {bm\³ sk´pSoÀ¶ntÃ? {bb©¯ns` H^p bpÂWm¼n³s_ {bm\tW¡mÄ t{lgvYfmt\m H^p Sbhzn]psX {dÒI^y{kSw? Mm³ fq`w..Culz^m…F³s_ {dÒI^yw ….F³s_ SbÊv ..H^p bmkw sb¬Np«n]psX …..{bb©s¯]pw fWpgys^]pw {bm\³s_ hvcp`nwP§`pÅ F´nsW]pw hvtWin¨ H^p bmkw S¼p^m«n¡p«n]psX KoksW….FWn¡_n]nÃym …”” knNm^ knt£me¯m ^mip`nWv km¡pNÄ Nn«n]nÃ. A]mapsX fnjnNÄ Wn_ªp. fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ ko*pw Wn¶p. ^mip`pw. At±iw A]msa ko*pw tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p. “”Culz^³ FÃmw A_n]p¶p, tfmtW,”” At±iw b_ªp. Wo Wns¶ H^pbmXv ln£n¨p. Ct¸mjpw ln£n¨psNm*n^n¡p¶p. B{lf¯ns` Hant¨m«¯nWv tlgw In` NTNsams¡ Mm³ A_nªp. doim_n H^p K·ns] AXn¨p Wmlfm¡n]Sv– fpSÂ…”” ^mip`n³s_ fpOw `Ömknklfm]n “”AÑm, ASv …A]mapsX tb^n sSan]n¡s¸« b` Npä§apfp*v. sNm`bmSN§apsX]pw fmWewPw sI]vSSn³s_]pw,”” “”AtS]sS…”” At±iw bp©n^n¨p. “”b«nN SoÀ¶nÃ…doim_ns` fqÀgnUmdmUv KnÃmt¸m`ohnWv tW«fm]n^p¶p B Nm`w. H¯n^n bnXnNn«m¸pÅnNÄ. b\kpw ^m{ão]d`kpw hzmVoWkpfpÅ sNmXpw NpäkmanNÄ. Aks^s]ms¡ Sp_p¦n`X¡m³ Wo tbm`ohnsW him]n¨p. ASpks^]pÅ Nm^y§sams¡ FWn¡_nkp*v. bn¶oXv F´p*m]n?”” ^mip`n³s_ fpOw sPu^kbqÀ®fm]n. “”H^p kn¹k{bØmWfp*m¡n hfqis¯ W¶m¡\w Fs¶m¶pw Mm³ In´n¨n«nÃ. B{Pin¨n«pfnÃ,”” ^mip b_ªp. “”ASn³s_ AÀ°^minSykpw A{bmt]mPnNS]pw tW^s¯ Ss¶ Mm³ Sn^n¨_nªSm\v. A¨³ A_nª hwek§Ä, HantIm«¯nWnX]nÂ, A¯^w BapNapsX]nX]n sb«ptbm]SpsNm*v hwekn¨Sm\v. Ak^psX {blvW§Ä, Ak^Wpekn¡p¶ Iqg\§Ä, AXnf¯w, W½sams¡ km]n¨_n]pN]pw tN«_n]pN]pw sI]vSStW¡mÄ eoN^fm\v C´y³ ]mTmÀ°y§Ä. bn¶osXWn¡v tSm¶n, SbÊpNqXmsS Ss¶ FWn¡v fsäm^mapsX KoksWXpt¡*n kt¶¡msf¶v-. B fmÀ¤w Mm³ Cãs¸«nÃ. inwh]psX fmÀ¤w Fs¶t¯Xns]¯p¶SnWv fp¼v Mm³ bn´n^nªp. At¸mjm\v– C´ym XptZ]ns` _coOv KmtkUv kjn sh]n³_v tf^ohnÂ, CknsX H^p cnhnN-vhv AVymbN³s_ HjnknsW¸än A_n]p¶Sv. tkPw F¯m³ b_ªp. k¶p,”” tNm{dminÂhn³s_ C^panf]n f`]^psX sI* fp_pNn. Nmän kr£lnO^§Ä sse^k³ sS¿t¡m`§am]n. “”CknsX]pw A¸sfms¡ inwh tk*nk¶p; AtÃ?”” ^mip N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³s_ lÐw tN«p. ^mip bp©n^nsNm*v f_pbXn b_ªp. “”B Sfmltbm`pw CWn tk*,”” CXWmjn]n`qsX ko*pw Wo§m³ SpX§ns¡m*v At±iw SpXÀ¶p. “”CknsX Wo sskUnNWm\v. fimfrSypWvK] ]mP¯n³s_ sskUnN³. H^p lmb¯n³s_ Wnj`n`m\v ^mKtlO^kÀ½]psX NpXpwdw. t{lgvYfm] Pp\§apÅ H^p fWpgy^qbfm\t²iw. B]n^N\¡nWv NpXpwd§Ä At²is¯ tW^n«v fm{Sw B{l]n¨p Kokn¡p¶p*v. k{NSNtam¶pw At²iw S³s_ kymbm^¯n tbm`pw {bt]mPn¨n«nÃ. ASn`pb^n]m\v Unkym^mKNpfm^n]psX Nm^yw. ^mKys¯ b`WP^§ans`]pw KokNm^p\y{bkÀ¯W§apsX hm¼¯nNmXn¯_]v¡v ^mKNpfm^n k`n] hwemkWNÄ WÂNp¶p*v. F{St]m AWmT B{lf§apw kr²fµn^§apw. CknsXs¯ IÀ¨n³s_ tfÂtWm«¯n`pÅ AWmT B{lf¯n³s_ fpOy hm¼¯nN D_knXw tbm`pw Unkym^mKNpfm^n]m\v–. Cu {btUl¯nt` ^m£h lànNÄ ^mKNpfm^n]psX KoksW SNÀ¡pkm³ {lfn¨psNm*n^n¡p¶p. tfmWpw ASv tSm¶n]n«p*mkpftÃm,”” ^mip PmZsfuW¯nt`¡v kojp¶Sv At±iw N*p. “”CknsX Cu sNm«m^¯n tbm`pw Mm³ A_n]p¶Sv tIm^]psX f\fm\v…Ct¸mÄ …”” sfuW¯n Wn¶p\À¶v- ^mip b_ªp. “”CknsXt]m?”” At²i¯n³s_ hz^w kniz`S]m kn_§`n¨n^p¶p. “”AtS!”” Ipäpw tWm¡n ^mip b_ªp. At²ikpw IpäpbmXpw tWm¡n. CXWmjn knKWfm]n^p¶p. CXWmjn]psX C^pklkpw Wo*p]À¶ N¯q\pNÄ. “”AbfrSypk^n¡s¸«k^psX]pw CWn]pw tIm^¡ptk*n Umin¨p WX¡p¶k^psX]pw-“” fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³s_ N®pNÄ hweoSfmNp¶Sv A]mÄ N*p. “”Culz^m-“” At±iw f{´n¨p. At±iw sW©n ssNNÄ tIÀ¯p. bns¶ hw{eft¯msX IpäpbmXpw tWm¡n. I^n{S bphvSN§an t^Os¸Xp¯m¯ WrlwhySNÄ At±iw Sn^n¨_nªp. Wn`knanNÄ! NnS¸pNÄ- kman·pW]n bnX]p¶ {bm\³s_ t^mUWw-! “”CknsX? Cu sNm«m^¯nWN¯v? CWn]pw? A§sW B^m\mtkm?”” CXWmjn]psX At§]ä¯pWn¶v-, S§apsX bn¼n Bt^m k^p¶Sv At±iw N*p. Wo` khv{S§Ä V^n¨ H^p ^qbw. A]mÄ WX¶Xp¯t¸mÄ sb«¶p*m] H^ÚmS HmÀ½]n fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ ^mip`n³s_ N¿n bnXn¨v k`n¨v S³s_ bn¼n WnÀ¯n. “”tfmtW…A]mÄ…A]mÄ …Wns¶…-!”” S§apsX tWs^ WX¶Xp¡p¶ BsatWm¡n At±iw hweoSnt]msX b_ªp. ^mip AUvepSs¸«p. sbs«¶p*m] At²i¯n³s_ {bkÀ¯n A]mÄ¡v knIn{Sfm]n tSm¶n. “”AÑm, ASv W½psX H^p hpir¯m\v,”” A]mÄ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv b_ªp. kntWmUv tftWmWm]n^p¶p ASv. A]mÄ bp©n^nt]msX Aks^ AenfpOoN^n¨p. ssNNÄ Nq¸n. bns¶ A]mÄ fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³s_ bmU§Ä sSm«pkµn¨p. ^mip`n³s_]pw. ‘Ba_n]msS Mm³ AkntkNw H^pbmXv b_]pN]pw {bkÀ¯n¡pN]pw sI]vSn«p*v. £fn¡\w,”” ^mip A]msa tWm¡n bp©n^n¨p. sSmjpssNNtamsX kntWmUv tftWm³ bn³km§n. A]mÄ WX¶p f_]p¶Sv tUkWm^m]\³ tWm¡n Wn¶p. “”H¶p^*p fmh§Ä¡v fp¼v Mm³ ^mKtlO^kÀ½¡v sNmXp¯ H^p kmPvUmWfp*v,”” At±iw SpXÀ¶p. ^mip At²is¯ tWm¡n. “”fimfrSypMvK]timf¯n³s_ sskUnN³ Wo]m]n^n¡psf¶v-. B ]mP¯nWv Wns¶¡mÄ t{lgvYWm] H^p sskUnNsW N*pNn«pN]nÃ. Culz^U¯fm] ]mPw KWW·¡m\v tfmtW. H^p h¶ymhn]psX fpOyfm] A NXf Wo F³s_ Atb£¡v fp¼n WnÊm^fm¡^pSv.”” ^mip At²i¯n³s_ ssNNÄ Nq«n¸nXn¨p. A]mapsX fpO¯v NpätdmVwWn_ªp. “”A§]psX BÚ]m\v F³s_ BWµw,”” A]mÄ b_ªp. “”A§]psX Cãw ASm\v– F¦n Cu fim]Ú¯n³s_ bpt^minSWmNm³ Mm³ H^p¡w; t]mPyWsæn`pw.”” A]mÄ At²i¯n³s_ fp¼n fp«pNp¯n. “”ASnWp tk*n A§v Fs¶ AWp{Pin¡q,”” At²i¯n³s_ k`Sv N^w A]mapsX ln^Ên`fÀ¶p. bns¶ At²iw N®pNaX¨p. CXSpssN A´^o£¯n`p]À¶p.kn^`pNan AWp{Pifp{UNÄ knXÀ¶p. H^p AWp{Pi f{´VzWn ^mip tN«p. ASnWp tlgw At±iw ^mip`nsW tSman¸nXn¨v Fjpt¶Â¸n¨p. “”F³s_ BËmU¯nWnt¸mÄ ASn^nÃ,”” A]msa BtÇgn¨psNm*v At±iw b_ªp. “”Cu ]Úw AhmVm^\ c`§Ä hrãvXn¡pw. lmb§Ä bqÀ®fm]pw fm_nt¸mNpw.b` KoknS§apw VWyfmNpw. WnPqZS]psX ]kWnN fmän ssblmInN lànNÄ skans¸Xpw. AkÀ SNÀ¡s¸Xpw. Nq«¯nÂ…”” At±iw fpjpfn¡msS In´]n`m*p. ^mip At²is¯ BNmw£t]msX tWm¡n. “”Wn³s_ KoknS¯n`pw H^p bs£ k`ns]m^p fmäw k^m³ hmVyS]p*v. AsS´ms\¶v fm{Sw A{S SoÀ¨ Nn«p¶nÃ,”” ^mip`n³s_ sWän]n IpankpNÄ kojp¶Sv At±iw N*p. “”Cu ]mPt¯msX ^mKNpfm^n]psX KoknS¯n N^nWnj kojv¯ns¡m*n^p¶ B lmbkpw WntÈgw fm_pw,”” “”lmbtfm?”” ^mip tImUn¨p. “”F´m\Sv–?”” fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ A]msa AUvepSt¯msX tWm¡n. “”C{SWmam]n CknsX k¶n«pw tfm³ AsS¡p_n¨v tN«n«ntÃ?”” At±iw AknlzhWo]St]msX tImUn¨p. “”l^n, tNÄ¡q, Mm³ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv b_]mw,”” SpXÀ¶v- fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ B NT b_ªp. lm´ntUkn³s_]pw ESpbÀ®]psX]pw NT. Ak^psX {b\]¯n³s_. f^\¯n³s_. lmb¯n³s_. “”bSnsW«v k]Êv B]n, ^mKNpfm^n¡v,”” NT AkhmWn¸n¨psNm*v At±iw b_ªp. ^mip`nsâ fWÊv B NT]n WnfPvWfm¡s¸«Sv At±iw N*p. A]mapsX N®pNan In´mem^w Wn_]p¶Spw. A¸w Njnªv A]mÄ At²is¯ tWm¡n. “”AÑm,”” bns¶ A]mÄ tNm{dminÂhn³s_ lnO^§ant`¡v tWm¡n tImUn¨p. fiÀgn tUkWm^m]\³ A]msa hmNqSw tWm¡n. “”lmbs¯ teUn¨v ^mKNpfm^n bn_¶p. AkÄ¡v bSnsW«v k]ÊmkpN]pw sI]vSp. Aksa k^n¡msW¯p¶ lm´ntUkn³s_ bpWÀÖWns]knsX?”” B tImUys¯ At±iw bp©n^nt]msX tW^n«p. “”DXtWs]¯pw,”” At±iw b_ªp. “”In`t¸mÄ B^_nªp, Ct¸mįs¶ F¯n]n«p*v F¶v-!”” H^p NXwNT tN«Sptbms` A]mÄ At²is¯ tWm¡n. “”kn`fSn¡mWmkm¯ H^p WnVn]m\kÄ,”” At±iw SpXÀ¶p. “”AkapsX fpO{bhmUw N\nN*m fSn, ASv fm{Sw fSn AãvXshuemPy§Ä¡v. C¡m`f{S]pw bn_¡msStbm] ^mKNpfm^nfm^psX ^qb`mk\ykpw bmSn{kSylàn]pw Culz^]oS]pfp*v Unkym^mKNpfm^n¡v. ssUknNmwlw tk*ptkmafp*v AkanÂ. B hv{So^SvWfm\v Wfps¡ms¡ UpÀtÚ]fm] lànNam B{Nfn¡s¸Xm³ tbmNp¶Sv!”” B hwhm^f{S]pw N¯q\pNÄ¡v bn¼n Wn¶v- Unky tNÄ¡p¶p*m]n^p¶p. CXWmjn]n`qsX AkÀ hwhm^n¨p Wo§pt¼mÄ Unky N¯q\pNÄ¡v f_kn`qsX Aks^ bn´pX^p¶p*m]n^p¶p. AkapsX fWÊv knhvf]w sNm*p SpXn¨p. CSpSs¶]m\v lm´ntUkv. D{P{dÒIm^n]m], PÔÀkewPn]pÅ, F³s_ ESpbÀ®]psX lm´ntUkv. t`mN¯ns` Gäkpw {bSmbw Wn_ª ^mKNpXpwdfm] `*Wns` d¡nwPvimw bm`hns` G©Â ^mKNpfm^n]psX tbm`pw fWwNkÀ¶ F³s_ lm´ntUkv. AkapsX f^\¯nWp tlgw BÀ{UIn¯Wm]n B{lfKoknS¯n Wn¶v- bn·X§pN]pw, hfqi¯ns` NãvXs¸XpN]pw Iqg\w sI¿s¸XpN]pw sI¿p¶ U^n{Ut^mXpw bmk§tamXpsfm¸w tIÀ¶v- fÀUNÀs¡Sns^ H^p bmXv ]p²w sI]vS Vo^Wpw fWpgyhvtWin]pw hmihnNWpfm] F³s_ lm´ntUkv…. Ak³ S³s_ {b\]nWns] tSXn k¶n^n¡p¶p. ]pP§apsX Km`Nkn^nNÄ fmän, Ss¶t]mÀ¯p {bm\sWmXp¡n] ESpbÀ®]psX bpWÀÖ·w tSXnk¶n^n¡p¶p. F³s_ bp^pg³… Culz^m…Fs¶t¯Xn k¶n^n¡p¶ F³s_ bp^pg³… AkÄ tNm^n¯^n¨p. l^o^w Wn_s] bknjf\nNÄ sbmSn]pN]m\v. A´^maw Wn_s] bpSphwPoSw. bpSpiÀgw. AkÄ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv N®pNÄ bSns] AX¨p. N¯q\n Im^nWn¶v S³s_ bpSn] b^n\mf¯n³s_ hpOmWpeqSnNÄ AkÄ A_nªp. Sm³ AXnfpXn bq¯p`]p¶Spw l^o^¯n³s_ WnPqZSNan AÚmSfm] H^p Dgv\{bkmiw fqXp¶Spw AkÄ A_nªp. F³s_ fm{Sw…F³s_ fm{Sw… M^¼pNÄ fpjpk³ k`nªpfp_pNn, knNm^b^kl]m]n, tUiw fpjpk³ bjp¯psbm«p¶Sv Unky A_nªp. Hm…Culz^m…F´m CSv ….? A^s¡«n kÃmsS SaÀ¨. ^ihyemP§sams¡ WWªvNpSnÀ¶n^n¡p¶p. Sm³ sNm«m^¯ns` CXWmjnNÄ¡v bn¼ns` N¯q\pNÄ¡v bn¼n`ms\¶v AkÄ knhvf^n¨p. H^p {b\]{bkmi¯n³s_ So^¯v Sm³ Wn¡p¶Spw hzÀ®¯n^NÄ¡v fpNan`qsX NpSn^¸p^t¯_n k^p¶ S³s_ bp^pg³s_ hm¶nVyw AkÄ A_nªp. sNmSn¸n¡p¶ B ^qbw Nm\m³ AkÄ N®pNÄ Sp_¶p. “”Unky, F´m CknsX Wn¡p¶Sv?”” A]mÄ tImUn¡p¶Sv AkÄ tN«p. A¸ Wnfng§Ä tk*n k¶p Unky¡v FÃmw fWÊn`mNm³. AkÄ Ipäpw tWm¡n. fp¼n {b\]{bkmitfm hzÀ®¯n^fm`Ntam H¶pfnÃ. N¯q\pNapsX bÝm¯`¯n ^mip Wm^m]\³ SWn¡enfpOfm]n Wn¡p¶p! Culz^m, Ct±iw Ft¸mjm\v Ct§m«v k¶Sv? Pp^pKn FknsX? AkÄ ko*pw Ipäpw tWm¡n. “”Pp^pKn Npfm^n]psX A¨³ S¼p^msW Nm\m³ tbm]n,”” AkapsX In´NÄ km]nIns«t¶m\w ^mip b_ªp. Npfm^nt]m? ^mip Ss¶ knan¡m³ Dbt]mPn¨ bUw tN«v sPu^kw Wn_ª B A´^oNgSn`pw In^n¡\sf¶v AkÄ¡v tSm¶n. Npfm^n! CsS´m dms`t]m? “”Mm³ NzmÀt«jvhns`¡v fX§m³ SpX§pt¼mjm\v CknsX Bt^m Wn¡p¶Sv tbms` tSm¶n]Sv,”” “”Mm³…”” AkÄ km¡pNÄ b^Sn. “”£fn¡\w, A§t]]pw Pp^pKnt]]pw H¶v- Nm\m³…”” “”k^q,”” ^mip b_ªp. “”C^pÄ kojm³ tbmNp¶p,”” AkÀ CXWmjn]n Wn¶v- bp_t¯¡v WX¶p. sNm«m^fpä¯pNqXn AkÀ ko«nt`¡v WX¶p. “”Pp^pKnt]]pw Fs¶]pw N*n«v F´m kntlgw?”” “”ASv…Mm³…”” AkÄ ko*pw km¡pNÄ¡v tk*n b^Sn. “”ASnt¸mÄ Mm³ ..kntlgns¨s´¦n`pw {kS§Ä…?”” ^mip Aksa AÀ°PÀefm]n tWm¡n. AkÄ KmayS f_]v¡mWmkmsS A]msa]pw. “”A§sW kntlgn¨p {kS§tam¶pfnÃ,”” tWm«¯ns` emkw Wn`WnÀ¯n ^mip b_ªp. “”…bns¶ dp²n½p«mknöps*¦n H^p Nm^yw sI]v–Sm sNmÅmw,”” “”N¸n¡\w,”” AkÄ sbs«¶v b_ªp. “”G]v–, N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv N¸Wt]m¶pfÃ,”” ^mip In^n¨p. ASn³s_ fm{´nNewPn]ns`¡v AkapsX fnjnNapw fWÊpw bman. “”H^p WnÀt±lw. Nn¦^·mt^mtXm¯pÅ inwh Nps_]VnNfmkp¶p F¶v- knk^w Nn«n]n«p*v. ASnWv H^p teUPSn k¶m W¶m]n^p¶p,”” Unky]psX fpO¯v ko*pw KmayS Wn_ªp. SWn¡v F´v hwekn¨p Ft¶mÀ¯v AkÄ AUvepSs¸«p. D^pa¡pt¸^ntbms` f_pbXn WÂNp¶ S³s_ Wmknt¸mÄ F´psNm*m\v {bkÀ¯W ^inSfm]n¯o^p¶Sv? “”ASv ..M§Ä ..¢ºn sk¨v …A§s] fsäm^mam]n sSän²^n¨v…”” AkÄ bqÀ¯n]m¡mWmkmsS WnÀ¯n. “”MmW_nªnXt¯maw ASv sSänVm^\s]m¶pfÃ,”” ^mip bp©n^n Wn`WnÀ¯n b_ªp “”NrSyfm]n A_nªv, ¹m³ sI]vSv…Fs¶ B{Nfn¡m³ Ss¶ k¶Sm\v. Mm³ Wn§Ä N^pSp¶tbms` H^p {XgÀ i*À H¶pfÃ. H^p bmkw en£mwtUin]m\v,”” Unky fpOfp]À¯n A]msa tWm¡n. “”£fn¡\w…CWn ..CWn A§sWt]m¶pfp*mknÃ,”” AkÀ tPänsW hfobn¨p. “”l^n F¦n Npfm^n sbm]vt¡maq. Mm³ NzmÀt«jvhnt`¡m\v,”” ko*pw Npfm^n! Unky¡v DÅn In^nsbm«n. ^mip Sn^nªp WX¶p. Unky fpäw NX¶v, AN¯p N]_n sÌ]ÀtNhv– N]_n f«p¸mknt`¡v tbm]n. sX_Ên N]_n tWm¡n]t¸mÄ ^mKtlO^ kÀ½ Nm_n ^mip`nsW ss{Zkv sI]vSv sNm*ptbmNp¶Sv N*p. AkÄ NnX¸_]nt`¡v tbm]n. bSpbSp¯ sf¯]nÂ, S`]\]n fm_nXffÀ¯n AkÄ ^mip`nsW HmÀ¯pNnX¶p. HmÀ¡pt´m_pw S³s_ l^o^¯n WnPqZfm] Dgv\t{hmSÊpNÄ D_ksbm«p¶Sv AkÄ A_nªp. AkÄ A^s¡«pw fm_nXkpw NnX¡]nt`¡fÀ¯n. Pp^pKn b_ª km¡pNÄ AkapsX fWÊnt`¡v NpanÀb^¯n HmXns]¯n. ^qb`mk\yfpÅ sb®v-! AãshuemPy§Ä S^p¶kÄ! hv{So^SvWw! bmSn{kSylàn]pÅkÄ! Culz^m! Mm³! NSNn fp«p¶ lÐw A¸w Njnªm\v AkÄ tNÄ¡p¶Sv. AkÄ NnX¡]n Wns¶jpt¶äp. NSNv Sp_¶t¸mÄ fp¼n fp¯ln. “”F´v sI¿zm^p¶p Np«o, NSsNms¡ AX¨v–?”” AktamsXm¸w NnX¡]n C^p¶v- fp¯ln tImUn¨p. “”H¶pfnà {PmWo, H^p ]m{S]n`m]n^p¶p,”” Ak^psX fXn]n S`sk¨pNnX¶v- bp©n^nt]msX Unky b_ªp. “”]m{St]m? F´v ]m{S?”” “”Wqäm*pNÄ¡v bn¼nt`¡v H^p ]m{S!”” Ak^psX fXn]n Wn¶v- Unky Fjpt¶äp. AkÄ NnX¡]n Wn¶n_§n. Km`N¯nW^nNns`¡v tbm]n. Uqs^ tNm{dminÂhn³s_ lnO^§ant`¡pw bpj]psX Caw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Wo` knSmW¯nt`¡pw tWm¡n. “”sNm«m^¯n³s_ CXWmjnNNanÂ, NkmX§an B]pVVm^nNam] b«ma¡mÀ Nmk Wn¶n^p¶p. bXt]m«§apsX]pw b«maknK]§apsX]pw WXpkn fmi^mKmkv ko^^mKkÀ½ ^mKymSnÀ¯nNÄ Sn^p¯pt¼mÄ fNÄ ]pk_m\n ESpbÀ® StbmkW¯ns` PÔÀkNpfm^³s_ fp¼n Wr¯w sI¿pN]m]n^p¶p. D{PSbÊnÂWn¶p fiÀgnNpfm^³s_ PÔÀk tW{S§Ä D\^pN]m]n^p¶p. …S³s_ S^p¶ tW{S§Ä¡v fp¼n Nmf^qbn\n]m] ESpbÀ®]psX Umiw Nm\pN]m]n^p¶p. …A§sW A§sW…”” hzbvW¯ns`¶tbms` Unky b_ªp. fp¯ln A¼^t¸msX Aksa tWm¡n. “”AsSm¶pfnt¸mÄ F³s_ Np«n HmÀ¡^pSv,”” A¼^¸v Wn`WnÀ¯n AkÀ b_ªp. “”B Nm`sfms¡ tbm]ntÃ?”” hzbvW¯n Wn¶v- D\^m¯ fnjnNtamsX Unky fp¯Èns] tWm¡n. “”Cà {PmWo…B Nm`sfm¶pw tbm]n«nÃ. Ct¸mjpw CSm …AsS sNm«m^w ..AsS CXWmjnNNÄ …AsS fÞbw..AsS ESpbÀ®…CknsX ..Mm³ …”” tNm{dm inÂhn³s_ lnO^§Ä Nmän`naNn. NmWWUpÀ¤¯n Wn¶v- f`]m^]·m^psX sI*NapsX Smaw fp_pNn. “”bs£ B NT]ns` Wm]N³ k¶nÃtÃm, fimÀgnNpfm^³?”” Unky]psX hzbvW W]W§an Sna¡w Wn_ªp. “”CknsX¯s¶]p*v {PmWo. W½psX]Xp¯p Ss¶ …H^p knan¸mXv fm{SfNs`,”” fp¯Èn]psX N®pNÄ knXÀ¶p. “”F´m]o¸_]ps¶ Npt«y?”” AkapsX N®pNan Sm³ CSpks^ Nm\m¯ H^p Umiw AkÀ N*p. AV^w NXn¡p¶Spw. “”{PmWn Fs¶¸_ªp sNmSn¸n¡m_pÅ B PÔÀkNpfm^³. B^n`pw tfmifp\À¯p¶k³. tSKhzn. F³s_ bp^pg³. CknsX¯s¶]p*v,”” f`]^]·m^psX sI*NapsX Smaw ko*pw fp_pNn. tNm{dminÂhn Wn¶v- NmänaNn Unkys] SjpNn. “”B^m…B^m Npt«y ASv?”” sWän Ipan¨v, BNmw£t]msX fp¯Èn tImUn¨p . “”AtS fiÀgn Npfm^³!”” tNm{dmin`vhn Wn¶v- tWm«w fmän AkÄ b_ªp. “”lm´ntUkn³s_ bpWÀÖWn. Cu K·¯ns` ESpbÀ®s]t¯Xns]¯n] lm´ntUkv. fiÀgnNpfm^³. ^mipÂ. ^mip Wm^m]\³!”” fp¯Èn hvSwen¨p Wn¶p. Ak^psX N®pNan e]w Wn_]p¶Sv AkÄ N*p. “”tfmta…- Wo-“” fp¯Èn]psX lÐw kn_¨p. “”A^pSv! A§sWs]m¶pw In´n¨pNqXm! {dÒÀgn]m\t²iw! sskUnN³! Culz^ ^qbw!”” Unky In^n¨p. D_s¡]p_s¡. AkapsX hz^¯n D·mUw Wn_ªn^p¶p. ASv B fp_n¡v bp_¯pNX¶v- tNm{dminÂhn³s_ f`s©^nkns`¯n {bSnVzWn¡p¶Sv tbms` AkÀ¡v tSm¶n. “”Wqäm*pNÄ¡v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv fp¼v fsäm^p {PmWn ESpbÀ®t]mXv b_ª AtS km¡pNÄ! Wqäm*pNÄ¡v fp¼v fsäm^p Unky]psX NmSpNans`¯n] AtS e]w Wn_ª km¡pNÄ! FÃmfnknsX bpWÀÖWn¡pN]m\v {PmWo. AtS bpj. AtS sNm«m^w. AtS StbmkWw. A´yw fm{Sw kySymhs¸Xpw. A{Sfm{Sw,”” “”F§sW?”” AkÀ sbs«¶v tImUn¨p. “”Fs¶ H^pbmXv hvtWin¡p¶ F³s_ ZmZow f½ow A¦nÄfm^pw Bânfm^pw bns¶ Cu hpµ^n {PmWow FÃm^pw Fs¶ F³s_ bp^pg³s_ ssN]n G¸n¡pw. bqÀ®fWtÊmsX. AWp{Pin¨v. {bmÀTn¨v. A§sW H^p kySymhw fm{Sw lm´ntUkv N¬¢qg³ F¶v- tb^n«n^n¡p¶ Cu sh¡*v FZngWn`p*mkpw. “” Ak^psX fpO¯v Bl¦ Wn_]p¶Sv Unky N*p. AkÄ AkÀ¡enfpOfm]n Wn¶v- Ak^psX tSmapNan ssNNÄ tIÀ¯v Ipän¸nXn¨p. “”{PmWn b_]m_ntÃ, {PmWosX ^mKNpfm^n¡v Cu {bb©¯ns`Ss¶ Gäkpw t]mPyWm] H^p ^mKNpfm^³ k^psf¶v?”” fp¯Èn]psX N®pNan NphrSnt]msX tWm¡n AkÄ tImUn¨p. “”{PmWn N* B t]mPySNÄ F´m\mtkm? Cu Pym`N-vhn Ss¶ kn`¡v km§m³ tlgn]pÅ fim VWnN³? fp¼n`pw bn¼n`pw AN¼Xn¡m^pÅ, Unkhkpw Nm_pNapw knfmW§apw km§n¡q«p¶, ÌmÀ tim«`pNan fm{Sw e£\w Njn¡p¶ H^hmVm^\ Kokn?”” fp¯Èn sfuWfk`wdn¨v Aksa tWm¡n. “”{PmWosX D¯^w Aà F¶ms\¶v FWn¡_n]mw,”” Unky SpXÀ¶p. “”bs£ tfmta…”” sfuW¯nWp tlgw AkÀ b_ªp. “”At±iw W½psX ko«n NÀ½w WX¯m³…fm{Sfà ..D{P{dÒIm^n]pfm\v!”” Unky]psX Ip*pNÄ knX^p¶SkÀ N*p. UobvSfm] fµimht¯msX AkÄ Aks^ tWm¡n. “”At²i¯n³s_ fWÊn³s_]pw l^o^¯n³s_]pw knlp²n FWn¡v tk*n Culz^³ hrãvXn¨Sm\v {PmWo. F¶nt`s¡¯nt¨^mWpÅ At²i¯n³s_ fmÀ¤fm\v B {dÒI^yw. ASm\v– …ASm\v– Fs¶ knhvf]n¸n¡p¶Sv….”” AkapsX fnjnNÄ ko*pw hzbvW S^anSfm]n. “”Umävhv ssf fm³! ]qhnwPv inhv– sh`ndhn Bsh fmKn¡Â HmÀ\sf³äv äp shZyqhv inhv– tPÄ…-“”