“”K]sâ {blvWsf´mXm?””
B`ohv dmktWmXv tImUn¨p.
“”B`oth, AsSm^p NT]m\v–. hdvssXän H¶pfnà . sbs«¶v- tNÄ¡pt¼mÄ Uin¡nÃ…””
“”Ìoc³ hmt_,””
tKm ImXns]jpt¶äp.
“”Wn§sa Mm³ hmt_ F¶v- knan¡p¶Sv Wn§Ä N`NväÀ B]Sv sNmt*m sF Kn B]SpsNmt*m H¶pkÃ. ]q BÀ F fmÌÀ ss_äÀ. tdm¯v– C³ sf]n³ hv{Xow B³Zv C³ N¼n …B H^p dipfmWw sk¨m…””
“”Hm CkWv Ct{Sw Cw¥ogv Hs¡ A_n]m^pt¶m?””
B`ohv AUvepSt¯msX dmksW tWm¡n.
“”B`ohv S¦¨n Ipbv ^tim. fptK tdmÂtW tUm…CulzÀ Bbv bÀ Blngv {bUm³ Nt^Pm…””
“”§vti?””
FÃmk^pw b^hv¸^w N®pNÄ fnjn¨v fpOt¯mXv fpOw tWm¡n.
“”FXm e]¦^m! inµnt]m?””
Kho´m tImUn¨p.
“”F¶v- sk¨m F´kmXm?””
“”F¶v- sk¨m Np´w. tim F³s_ Culz^m H^p Nm^yw b_]m³ h½Sn¡ptk`m. Ft´`pw H¶v- b_]m³ sSmX§n]m A¸w sSmX§pw ka ka ka kam¶v-..””
K]tUk³ Ahiyfm] AhzØSt]msX b_ªp.
“”F¶v sk¨m fWÊn`m]ntÃÂ bns¶ tImUn¡t*?””
Kho´]pw AhiySt]msX b_ªp.
“”AtÃÂ inµn H*m¡Ãv,””
“”B`ohv S¦¨n U]km]n fn*mSn^n¡q . Fs¶ hwhm^n¡m³ AWpkUn¡q. ssUkw Wn§sa AWp{Pin¡pw,””
t_mg³ sPu^k¯n b_ªp.
“”Ck³ F¶Sm B`oth Cu b_]ps¶?””
“”F³s_ sbmt¶m!””
t_mg³ S`]n ssN sk¨p.
“”CSv {Xm³tÉgWmt¶. tKm hm_v inµoÂb_ªntÃ? ASn³s_.””
“”F¶m b_! MmsWm¶pw fn*p¶nÃ,””
B`ohv Sm¸^yfnÃm¯ emk¯nÂb_ªp.
K]tUk³ ÌocsW tWm¡n.
“”Wo F¶Sm tKm b_]m³ kt¶? ASv b_,””
Ìoc³ b_ªp.
“”ChsdÃs]¸än S¡m`w CknsX b_]*,””
tKm sPu^kw knXmsS b_ªp.
“”AtÃ`pw Nan]m¡m³ tWm¡n]n^n¡pkm Hmt^m^p¯^pw! Fjp¯pNm^sâ {blvW§Ä F´m? Ak³s_ fWÊv F´m? AkWv hfmVmWw Ht*m? CsSm¶pw Cu ka ka kam¶v- b_]p¶ Häs]®¯nWv A_n]mtkm? Gsi! Ck·mÀ¡pw CkavfmÀ¡pw Hä¡m^yw A_nªm fSn. WkkVq³s_ dm¡n Ft´y? ^mKosX dm¡ns]´ns]….””
“”^mKosX dm¡nt]m? F¶v- sk¨m?””
B`ohv ko*pw hwl]w {bNXn¸n¨p.
“”F¶v- sk¨m Np´w! tU StÅ! Fs¶ FknXp¶m tNäns], AksX¯s¶ Sn^n¨p sNm*ptbm]n knXv!””
“”SÅt]m?””
B`ohv S`]n ssN sk¨p.
“”tKm¡p«m Fs¶t]m?””
“”Hm! Hm! Hm!””
K]tUk³ ko*pw H¨]n«p.
“”F¶m FN-vhv{bg³! Wn§av bns¶ SÅ]tÃ? AtSm GtS`pw fq¡a¨m¯n sb®mt\m? N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Ckav Wn§sX tfmav Ss¶]tÃ?””
sZ]nhn]psX tWs^ tWm¡n K]tUk³ tImUn¨p.
“”A¸w s_hvsbNväv Hs¡ BNmw,””
lln S^qÀ bmÀ`sf³än {bhwPn¡p¶ Cu\¯n sZ]vhn K]tUksW tWm¡n.
K]tUk³ Aksa AkÚt]msX tWm¡n.
Ft´m b_]m³ ks¶¦n`pw tks*¶v sk¨v ko*pw ÌocsW tWm¡n.
“”F¶v- b_ªm F§sW l^n]mNpw?””
Ìoc³ K]tUktWmXv tImUn¨p.
“”Cks^Ãmw W½psX Gäkpw AXp¯ BapNam. Ck^v B\v W½psX ht´mtgmw skgtfmw BUyw A_n]s*. Wo F¶Sm Cks^¸än N^pSnt]¡ps¶? b^Uqg\¡m^mt¶m? N^¡¼nNamt¶m? FXm MmWpw Wo]pw Hs¡ FjpSn knXp¶ N¼n¨a§Ä km]n¡q¶ÃmsS Cks^ms¡ c]¦^ Zoh³äm,””
“”F¶m F¶m sk¨m sI¿v–,””
tKm N`n¸n Ss¶ b_ªp.
“”b_ dmk¨m F¶Sm tKm¡p«³s_ {blvWw?””
B`ohv ko*pw tImUn¨p.
“”A`oth,””
Ìoc³ b_]m³ SpX§n.
“”tf`vNmkv sh]n³_vAt`mgyhv tNmtaKn sk¨m tKm ChsdÃs] b^nI]s¸Xps¶,””
“”ChsdÃ?””
_n] sbs«¶v- tImUn¨p.
“”W½sX hm]n¸v A¦nan³s_ tfmsa¡p_n¨mt\m f½n Ìoc³ hmÀ b_]ps¶?””
“”AÃmsS tks_ B^m tfmsa CknsX Chsdà F¶ tb^nÂ?””
“”F¶n«v? Akapw tKm hm_pw S½ns`¶m?””
_n] ko*pw tImUn¨p.
“”b_]mw tfmsa, A¦nÄ ASpSs¶]tà b_]pt¶?””
FÃmk^pw ÌocsW tWm¡n.
“”Ck³ tf`pNmkn Zn{Po sI]vtSm*n^p¶¸w t`mP³ hm]n¸v fNsa {bo Zn{Pn¡v sNm*pkn«p ChsdÃs]. A¶nk³ N¼n¡p«Wns` tKm, ASm]Sv K]tUk³ HmftÈ^n e]¦^ Sos¸m^n {bmhwPnNWpw knUymÀTn tWSmkpw Hs¡ B]n^p¶p,””
“”B^v?””
Kho´ In^n]X¡m³ k¿msS tImUn¨p.
“”CktWm? Cu W^´v tbm`s¯ sI¡tWm? H¶v- tbm hmt_!””
K]tUk³ Hmt^m N®pw Wq_pkm«v dÄdpNam¡n Kho´s] tWm¡n.
“”AsS¶m ^m{ão]¡m^WmNt\Â Wn§sat¸ms` ssit_©v³s_ inÌ_n sfm¯w FjpSm³ k`n¸skmÅ tdmZn Ss¶ tk\ws¶mt*m?””
“”Wo tbmXm !””
Kho´ sImXn¨p.
“”FWn¡{S SXn H¶pknÃ. Ht*m B`oth?””
Kho´ B`ohnsW {bSo£t]msX tWm¡n.
“”sI`]nXp¯v e]¦^ SXn]mXn,””
B`ohv Kho´]psX fm_nt`¡pw A^¡v Smtj¡pw tWm¡n¸_ªp.
Kho´ Wm\wsNm*v Ipk¶ fpOt¯msX B`ohnsW tWm¡n.
“”hm_v dm¡n b_,””
_n] ÌocsW tWm¡n.
“”ASnWv H^p Pymbv Nn«t*?””
Ìoc³ bp©n^nt]msX b_ªp.
“”F³s_ Ìoc³ hmt_,””
N`n¸v knXmsS K]tUk³ b_ªp.
“”Ckapfms^ fp¼n skt¨m*v Ft´`pw b_ªpSoÀ¡m¶v- N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Wn§av N^pSn]m Wn§sa¡mÄ k`n] H^p sfm® t`mN¯v tks_ Nm\nÃ. H^p Nm^yw sI¿v–. CSp§sX Hs¡ km kà b«ns¯mX`pw sNm*v bq«n]nXv,””
ASnWnX]n t_mg³ ANt¯¡v tbm]n.
Kho´ hmkVmWw B`ohn³s_ bn¼n k¶pWn¶p.
B`ohn³s_ tSman bnXn¨v AktamXv– tIÀ¶v- Wn¶p.
“”b_ hmt_,””
Kho´ ÌoctWmXv b_ªp.
“”tKm, tWms¡Xm. Mm³ km sSm_¡¯nÃ,””
Kho´ K]tUk³s_ tWs^ tWm¡n km]v– Sp_¡pN]pw AX¡pN]pw sI]vSp.
“”H^p Unkhw tKm¡p«³ Nm³äoWn C^n¡p¼w `nh]pw, §vim, ChsdtÃsW `nhm F¶m FÃm^pw knant¨m*n^ps¶ {c*vhpw k¶p. tKm¡p«sW N*bmtX AkÄ tKm¡p«sâ AXpt¯¡v k¶p…””
“”AtS,””
K]tUk³ CX]v¡v N]_n.
“”A{S H`n¸n¨v B Np«³ knan tk*. tKm¶v- knan¨m fSn. sshän tN_n]m At¶^w sfmS`v B AOn`pw knlm`pw Hs¡ F³s_ tKm¡p«Wtà F³s_ tKm¡p«Wtà …..FWn¡v {bmt]mw bNztSw B]Sm. NqSo¶v fªav fm_o«p sNmt_ B]n. tKm Asæn fnÌÀ tKm,””
“”Nt*m Nt*m,””
Kho´ sbs«¶v- b_ªp.
“”C¸w B^m FtXÂ tN_oSv?””
“”FtX`pw sshZn`pw tN_oSv AÃ. H^p cmNväv b_ªSm. cmNväv!””
“”l^n tKm¡p«m. CWn tf`m Mm³ tKm¡p«sW tKm¡p«m¶p knan¡¯nÃ. tNt«m tKm¡p«m. F¶m b_]s« tKm¡p«m,””
Ìoc³ b_ªp.
FÃmk^pw D_s¡ In^n¨p.
“”FhvS¸m³s_ H^p kan¨ tKm¡pw ASv tN«v Nnan¡m³ skanknÃm¯ sNmt_ sb®p§apw-“”
At¸mtj¡pw t_mg³ AN¯v Wn¶v- H^p t{Xman]pw D´ns¡m*p k¶p. ASnt·Â b`S^w bmWo]§apw b`im^§apw bj§apfp*m]n^p¶p.
“”At¿mXm…Wn§sa¡* FNvsshävsf³än MmWS§v f_¶v tbm]n. Sm¦yq tfmtW,””
FÃmkÀ¡pw Kyqhv shÀkv sI¿p¶ t_mgtWmXv B`ohv b_ªp.
“”AtÃ`pw Wo M§sa h¡^nt¡* Bklyw Ht*m B`oth?””
B`ohn³s_ A^]v¡v Ipän¸nXn¨v Kho´ tImUn¨p.
“”f½ns]¶m B`ohm³äosW N`ym\w Njn¡m³ tbmNpkmt\m?””
_n] tImUn¨p.
“”AsS¶m _nt]?””
sZ]vhn Sn^¡n.
“”^*ntâw Wn¸v Nt*m? F¶m H«n]m Wn¡ps¶!””
K]tUk³ HjnsN]pÅkÀ D_s¡¨n^n¨p.
“”Wo tbmXo,””
Kho´ Nr{Snf tUgyt¯msX b_ªp.
“”M§sa SnNv {cm*vhm. ASv C¶pw C¶t`w sSmX§oSv– H¶pkÃ,””
ASv b_ªv AkÄ B`ohn³s_ Nknan AfÀ¯n Ipwdn¨p.
“”sku-“”
“”Umävhv hq¸À,””
t_mg³ H¨]n«p.
“”Nf`imh³ tbm`pw Bt^w C§sW NnÊXn¨v Nm\ptk`,””
“”Wn§av N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv NT b_]p¶pt*m?””
K]tUk³ lÐfp]À¯n.
“”Fiv?””
Kho´ D_s¡ In^n¨p.
“”A¸w Wo]tà tKm¡p«m A¸w fp¼v Ìoc³ hm_ntWmXv ChsdÃs]¸än fn** F¶v- b_sª?””
“”F¶n«v Mm³ b_ªSv tNt«m? CÃtÃm? sSmX§n] ØnSn¡v dm¡owsNmsX b_,””
“”Dw!””
B`ohv bp©n^nt]msX AfÀ¯n fqan.
“”F¶m C³säs_Ìm shm´w {b\]Nmkyw fäptÅmt^ H¶v tN¸n¡m³! A§Wym tfmtW. t{bfn¡p¶ FÃm^ptXw fWÊv A§Wm,””
“”A§sW fäptÅms^ tNĸn¡mWpÅ BlsNm*à fmZw. Ct¸m ^*p fq¶v Unkhkm]n«v Aksa¸än H¶pw A_o¯nÃ. tcm¬ FXp¡p¶nÃ. FWn¡v …..FWns¡t´m tbXn …””
K]tUk³s_ km¡pNÄ sSm*]n Np^p§n .
sbs«¶p*m] emk¸NÀ¨]n FÃmk^pw H^p Wnfngw hvSwen¨p.
B`ohv ssUWySt]msX ÌocsW tWm¡n.
“”tKm¡p«m,””
Ìoc³ AXps¯¯n K]tUksW tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p.
“”F´mXm CSv? Wo]n§sW? sNm¨pbntÅs^t¸ms`?””
Ìoc³s_ ssNNÄ K]tUksW k`]w sI]vSp.
“”AkÄ¡v H¶pw bäo«nÃ. Mm³ N*StÃ. Wo ssV^yfm]n^n¡v–!””
K]tUk³ N®pNÄ SpX]v¡p¶Sv FÃmk^pw N*p.
“”Wo C{S]vt¡ DtÅm K]m?””
Kho´]pw AXps¯¯n AksW tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p.
“”CSm Cu N*fmWw H¨¸mXv D*m¡p¶ BapNapsX tW¨À. DÅns`m¶pw Nm\¯nÃ. FXm `nh Wn³s_ sb®mt\ Akav bns¶ FknsXt¸mNmWm? C§v k^qt¶. Ìoc³ hm_v dm¡nb_,””
ASnWnX]n FÃmkÀ¡pw bj§apw tN¡pw b`im^§apw bm{S§an`m¡n t_mg³ FÃmkÀ¡pw sNmXp¯pNjnªn^p¶p.
“”Wo]n§sW Ìoc³ hm_n³s_ IqXpw bän C^pt¶m,””
_n]¡v bm{Sw sNmXp¯psNm*v Ak³ b_ªp.
“”H^p b\ow sI¿*. FÃm b\ow sI¿m³ MmWpw,””
“”Hm, H^p lp¸m*n k¶n^n¡p¶p!””
Ìoc³s_ tUit¯¡v H¶pNqXn ImªpsNm*v _n] b_ªp.
Ìoc³ Aksa tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p.
“”F¶SmXn fµ³^mKt]mXv tfmÄ¡v C{S H«Â?””
Kho´ B`ohntWmXv– tIÀ¶v- Wn¶v- sIkn]n tImUn¨p.
“”F³s_ Kho´ AsSm^p NT]m…dmk¨³ Nm^\km Akav C{Ss]¦n`pw B\p§tamXv AXp¯v CXbjNps¶. Akav H«ptkm S«ptkm sbm«n¡pNt]m F´v tkt\ sI¿s«. Mm³ Zoä]n`vhv Hä¡v Nm\p¼w b_]mXo,””
“”l^n l^n,””
Kho´ AX¡¯n b_ªp.
“”sb®nWv fµ³^mKs]s¡m*v ho`v tbm«n¸n¡\sf¶v Bl]ps*¶v tSm¶p¶p AksX sfmtOmw emtkmw N*n«v,””
“”H¶v- sbm«n]m fSn]m^p¶p,””
hm^n¡Xn]n`qsX S³s_ k]_n Af^p¶ Kho´]psX ssN¯`¯n B^pw Nm\msS N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv SXkns¡m*v B`ohv b_ªp .
“”FXo sNmt_ Wmam]ntÃ?””
Kho´ B`ohn³s_ NmSn b_ªp .
“”Wfp¡v C¶v- H¶v- NqXmw,””
“”Dw,””
Kho´]psX IqXpÅ kn_]pÅ lЯn NpanÀfj tUi¯n hzoN^n¨v B`ohv b_ªp.
“”AXo bmân Ht*mXo?””
Kho´ tImUn¨p.
“”D*v, sbmt¶,””
“”F¶m NaÀ?””
“”Ipk¸v,””
“”Dw…WWtªm?””
“”F§sW?””
“”bq_o¶v- S^n¸v tN_o«v. N´nWv kn_ k¶n«v. WWtªmXo?””
“”C¸w NpXpNpXm¶v- skÅw kot\m*n^n¡pkm,””
AsS¶m?””
“”Wn³s_ kÀ¯mWw tN«n«v,””
“”F³s_ F´v kÀ¯mWkmXo ssft^?””
“”Wn³s_ N¼n kÀ¯mWw,””
Ak^n^pk^pw Bs^¦n`pw {l²n¡p¶pt*ms]¶vtWm¡n.
t_mg³ fm{Sw Ak^psX AÀ°PÀefm]n tWm¡n.
“”B`oth sI_p¡³ F¶mXo A§sW tWm¡ps¶?””
“”AkWp fWÊn`m]n¡m\pw,””
B`ohv In^n¨p.
“”At¿m,””
Kho´ ssN bn³k`n¡m³ {lfn¨p.
At¸mÄ B`ohv S³s_ ssN¯`w AkapsXSn AfÀ¯n Aksa bn´n^n¸n¡m³ {lfn¨p.
“”tk* sNmj¸fnÃ,””
B`ohv f{´n¨p.
“”dmk¨³ Wn³s_ sfmt` bnXnt¨mXo,””
“”Dw,””
B`ohv fqan.
“”Np*nt]Â?””
“”AkntXw bnXn¨p,””
“”bqän kn^ Ct«m?””
“”C«p,””
“”Du¡nt]m?””
“”CÃXo,””
“”§vti? AsS¶m,””
“”Im³hv H¯pk¶nsÃXo.bntÅ^v Hs¡ Wn¡pktÃ?””
“”FXo t_mg³ Wà Hm¸³ ssf³ZZv AtÃ? Wn³s_ H^pfmSn^ns¸« Ipän¡anNÄ Hs¡ AkWv A_n]mt½s`?””
“”F¶m`pw Mm³ FÃmw WnÀ¯oSÃm^pt¶mXo?””
“”Dw…””
“”F¶Sm Khot´ Wn³s_ hz^w sk_]v¡ps¶?””
“”FXo…””
“”b_ tfmta…F¶Sm…””
“”FXo FWn¡n¸w tk\w Wns¶…H^p A©p fnWnäv F¦n`pw…e]¦^ Af_³ fqZv–….sbm«n¡o_nt¸mNp¶tbms` tSm¶pkm…””
“”FWn¡pw AtSXo…bs£ sNm_¨pwsNmsX £fn¡mw. Wfp¡v l^n¡pw H¶v- NqXms¶…C¸w fm_n]m Ck^v F¶m knIm^n¡qXo? fm{Skà B tKmt] Nt*m? B sNm¨v C§sW skgfn¨v C^n¡p¼w…F¶Sm Ak³s_ {blvWw Fs¶m¶p tN¡s«,””
“”l^n]m…””
Kho´ b_ªp.
“”F¶n«v F¶m H*ms] A¦nta?””
_n] ÌoctWmXv K]tUk³s_ I^n{S¯n³s_ dm¡n B^mªp.
“”B b_ b_,””
FÃmk^pw Ht^ hz^¯n b_ªp.
“”tKm]t¸mÄ B{cnt¡s`t]m A³ämÀ«nt¡s`t]m Ft´m hmÀÆtUlo] {blvWw IÀ¨sI]vtSm*n^n¡pN]m]n^p¶p Nq«pNm^psX NqsX…””
bp©n^nt]msX K]tUksW tWm¡n Ìoc³ SpXÀ¶p.
“”bns¶ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv hmÀÆtUlo] {blvWw!””
Kho´ In^n¨p.
“”NmâoWns` htfmthsXt]m sbmt_mt«sXt]m k`n¸w Nq«m³ hf^w sI¿p¶ Nm^yw kÃSpw B^n¡pw b_tªm*n^ps¶. Atàka]v¡m³ tbmNp¶ GtS`pw sb¼ntÅt^¸än…””
FÃmk^pw In^n¨p.
tKm N`nN]_n] fpOt¯msX bp_t¯¡v tWm¡n.
“”§vim F¶n«v? “”
_n] A£f]m]n.
“”tKmNp«³ Aà fnÌÀ tKm thm_n fnÌÀ K]tUk³ HmftÈ^n sPu^k¯n ChsdÃs] tWm¡n..””
“”F´m Np«o?””
“”tI«m Mm³ CknsX {bo Zn{Pn cÌv– C]À B\v. C¶s` H^p¯³ ¢mÊn tN_n k¶p F³s_ Nt¿¸nXn¨p,””
“”§vti?””
tKm¡p«³ ImXn Fjpt¶äp.
“”B^v? B^m Np«o?””
“”H^p tXmw…””
“”tXmtfm?””
Nq«pNm^pw sbs«¶v- Fjpt¶äp.
“”tXmw fmSyq…””
AkÀ e]t¯msX f{´n¨p.
tKm¡p«³ Nq«pNms^ tWm¡n.
“”tbXn]nÃmt¯mÀ¡v…AkÀ¡v fm{Sw F³s_ NqsX k^mw,””
“”Ft§m«v?””
Ak^ns`m^pk³ tImUn¨p.
“”AkWn¸w PmÀZ³s_ dm¡ns` NmämXnf^¯nWXp¯v H`n¸nt¨m*v Wn¡p¶p*mkpw. At§m«v–. F´m Bt^`pw Ht*m?””
tKm ChsdÃs] tWm¡n.
“”km Np«o,””
AkÄ hwl]t¯msX Nq«pNm^nNsa tWm¡n.
“”k^m³,””
tKm lÐfp]À¯n.
Chsdà sbs«¶v- AktWmsXm¸w tbm]n.
tKm {bSo£n¨Sv tbms` PmÀZ³s_ bn¼n NmämXnf^¯nWv Nosj, NX¶p tbmNp¶ sb¬Np«nNsa tWm¡n Aheyfm] bU§apbt]mPn¨v Nf³äXn¡pN]m]n^p¶p tXmfpw Nq«pNm^pw.
tKm k^p¶Sv N*v– tXmw H¶v- b^p§n.
tKm]psXm¸w ChsdÃs]¡*t¸mÄ Ak³ Fjpt¶äp.
“”CkWmt\m Np«osX Nt¿¸nXnt¨?””
ChsdÃt]]pw tXmfnsW]pw fm_n fm_ntWm¡n tKm tImUn¨p.
Chsdà e]t¯msX S`Np`p¡n.
“”tW^mt\mXm,””
tKm tXmfntWmXv tImUn¨p.
“”tKm Wo sk_psS {blvWfp*m¡^pSv,””
“”CÃ,””
tKm b_ªp.
“”sk_psS {blvWfp*m¡p¶nÃ. Nm^y¯nWv fm{Stf {blvWfp*m¡q…””
b_ªp NjnªSpw tKm]psX ssN D]À¶Spw tXmw Wn`¯v ko\Spw H^pfn¨m]n^p¶p.
“”FXm…-“”
tXmfn³s_ Nq«pNmÀ fpt¼m«v– k¶p.
“”f¡ta,””
tKm Ak^psX tWs^ ssN¿p]À¯n.
“”b_¼n fmtkm Npjn¨nXm³ B_Xnft®m fm{Sw HtÅm½m^v fm{Stk sNm^t¨m*v F³s_ tWs^ ImXmkq. Nm^\w SÃp sSmX§n]m Cu sSa¨ Ft®Â NXpNv sS_n¡p¶tbms`]m MmsW¶v- bjf¡m^à N®pwSn^pkv fm{Sw Nm\n¡p¶ sNmt_ bpSpf¡m^v Cu]nsX]m]n b_]m³ sSmX§os«m*v. {btSyNn¨pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv sb®p§sX tWs^ sb_¸vtNXv Nm\n¡pt¶m½m^v…””
Nq«pNmÀ bn³k`nªp.
tKm NpWnªv tXmfnsW Fjpt¶Â¸n¨p.
“”FXm tXmsf..KmSow ftSmw b_]pN]Ã. {dmÒ\sWs¡m¶m ASv {dÒiSy. lmbtkm tks_ GSms*ms¡t]m Nn«q¶m btj BÄ¡m^v b_]ps¶. bs£ {dmÒ\³ sNm¶m A§sW kNps¸m¶pknÃ. {btSyNn¨v Mm³ sNm¶mÂ. ASv sNm*v tfmtW sSm½¨m Cu sNm¨v CSptbms` H^p Nwss¹]n³äpkm]n CWn F³s_ AXp¯v k¶m…im…Fs¶s¡m*v Wo l{Sphwim^timfw WX¯n¡Ãv…ssd…””
tXmfn³s_ Nknan H¶v- bSns] AXn¨n«v tKm bn´n^nªp.
ChsdÃs] tWm¡n.
H^p AUvepSt`mNs¯¯n]tbms` AkÄ AksW CfNaX]v¡msS tWm¡n.
“”F´m Np«o…tbXn tbm]ntÃ…sbmt¡m,””
H^p hzbvW¯ns`¶tbms` AkÄ S`Np`p¡n.
ChsdÃ]v¡Sv– f_¡mWmkm¯ hwekfm]n^p¶p.
AkapsX fWÊn tKm H^p AUvepSKokn]m]n ka^pN]m]n^p¶p.
BUyw B^mVW]m]pw bns¶ {b\]fm]pw ASv kaÀ¶p.
bs£ tKm Ft¸mjpw hf^fpO¯m]n^p¶p.
{blvW§apsX fVy¯n`m]n^p¶p.
{bhwPn¨pw knUymÀTnNsa W]n¨pw fäpÅk^psX {blvW§Ä SoÀ¯pw sNmXp¦mäptbms` Ak³ Nm¼Ên HmXnWX¶p.
{b\]w Ak³s_ fWÊn³s_ ASnÀ¯n¡¸p_¯v e]s¸«v Wn¶p.
C`£Wv tWmfntWg³ sNmXp¡p¶ hf]¯v H^p {blvWfp*m]n.
tKm]n³_v sh{N«_n]m]n N*psk¨n^p¶ H^p sb¬Np«n]v¡v tNmtaKn Wn¶v- tbmtN*nk¶p.
AÑsâ {Xm³hvcÀ Nm^\w.
sbs«¶v- H^msa Ns*¯mWm]nÃ.
bntäUnkhfm\v tWmfntWg³ WÂtN* AkhmW Unkhw.
sbs«¶m\v tKm]psX H^p hpir¯v FÃmk^pw sbm¶p F¶v- knan¡p¶ A{dmiw bp¶qhv ChsdÃ]psX Nm^yw b_]p¶Sv.
“”G]v– AsSm¶pw l^n]mknÃ,””
tKm DXWXn FSnÀ¯p.
“”W½psXSv kn¹k bmÀ«n]m. S`¡N¯v BÄSmfhw DtÅm^p tk\w Nm³ZntZäv…””
“”AkÄsX S`¡¯v Bamt\m tbm¯mt\m Smfhn¡pt¶¶v- sWW¡v F§sW A_n]mw?””
“”FXm HdvhÀsk]vg³ bkÀ tk\w HdvhÀtkg³ bkÀ,””
tKm {Np²Wm]n b_ªp.
“”Nm\m³ sNmÅmkp¶ GtS`pw sb®p§¡v KW_ tWmsaKv Ht*m? cnt`mhcn Ht*m? ^m{ão]w A_n]mtkm? Wo H^mÄsX tb^v b_. H^mÄsX. A§sW H^msa Nm\n¨v S¶m Wo F³s_ tb^v Wn³s_ b«n¡nt«m,””
“”A§sW Bt\Â FWn¡v sNmt_ b«nNsa ka¯s* k^pw,””
“”F¶v sk¨m,””
“” F¶v- sk¨m FWn¡v H^p Wq_p tbt^`pw b_]m³ Njn]q¶v-,””
“”Wo H^p tb^v b_,””
“”Cµn^m PmÔn,””
“”Mm³ W½sX tNmtaKns` sb¼ntÅt^]m Dt±ln¨Sv– N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv F³s_ sbm¶q. sfm®NapsX AOnt`´ym {bhnZ³sä. AÃmsS Cµn^m PmÔotWw fmÀP^äv Sm¨t_w I{µnNm Npfm^SpwPt]w H¶pkÃ. Wo Ip½m….””
“”kn]äv–Wmw kmÀ kmhv U dnPÌv tcman Hmcv Atf^n¡m…””
tKm¡p«sW SpX^m³ AWpkUn¡msS sSm«Xp¯v Wn¶v- Pnäm_n³s_ hwPoS ewPn]pÅ H^p sb¬lÐw tN«p.
AkÀ FÃmk^pw Sn^nªp tWm¡n.
ChsdÃ]m\v.
AkÄ¡v Ipäpw Nps_ B¬Np«nNapw sb¬Np«nNapw.
fn¡km_pw tNmsaKnt` dp²nKoknNÄ F¶_n]s¸Xp¶ H^p {btSyN knemPfm\v–.
Ak^psX fp¼n Wn¶v- Chsdà fpNant`¡v kn^ D]À¯n hwhm^n¡pN]m\v.
“”tKm…””
sbm¶p tKm]psX tSman bnXn¨p.
“”Èv…””
tKm Ip*n kn^ tIÀ¯v AksW WnlÐWm¡n.
“”kn]äv–Wmfohv KWS]psX ZnsäÀfntWg³….ASn³s_ fp³bn bnXn¨p Wn¡mWmkmtS Atf^n¡ SNÀ¶p. tSÀ«ohns` Fs¡mt\mfnNv Zn{¸g³ tbm`pw Aks^ CSptbms` SaÀ¯n]n^p¶nÃ….””
Chsdà Btklt¯msX SpX^pN]m\v.
tKm]psX ssNNÄ A_n]msS D]À¶p.
Ak³ WnÀ¯msS ssN¿Xn¨p.
Nq«pNm^pw.
ChsdÃ]pw Aks^ tN«n^p¶k^pw Sn^nªp tWm¡n.
tKm Nq«pNmt^msXm¸w bSns] Aks^ hfobn¨p.
“”ChsdÃm…””
Ak³ knan¨p.
AkÄ bp©n^nt]msX AksW tWm¡n.
“”F´m tI«m…””
AkapsX knan]ns` ewPn tN«v Nq«pNmÀ b^hvb^w tWm¡n.
“”NXkpta…””
tKm]psX bn¼n Wn¶v- sbm¶p f{´n¨p.
“”cÌv– ssWän tbm`pw H^p sb®v- hz´w sN«nt]msW CSv tbms` knan¡nÃ,””
“”Cucv ]q tZm*v ssf³Zv ….H^©p fnWnäv…””
“”Hm…ASnsW´m tI«m…””
AkÄ bns¶ Sm³ hwhm^n¨psNm*n^p¶ Nq«pNms^ tWm¡n.
“”F¶m Wfp¡v bns¶ Nm\mtf…””
AkÀ Hmt^m^p¯^m]n bn^nªptbm]n.
AkÄ tKmt] tWm¡n.
“”Aà Chsdà Cu tNmtaKns` ÌpZ³äv Bt\m AtSm t{bmcÊÀ Bt\m?””
“”At¿..s{bmcÊt_m? Cu tI«³ CsS¶Sms¶ Cu b_]ps¶?””
AkÄ CXSv ssN¯`w sNm*v Wm\t¯msX fpOw bmSn f_¨v AksW tWm¡n.
tKm]psX N®pNÄ AkapsX knhvfnS shuµ^y¯n Wn¶v- tkÀsbXm³ knh½Sn¨p.
sbm¶p bn¼n Wn¶v- AksW WpÅn.
“”Nm^yw b_]mXm b©m^¡p©q,””
sbm¶p Ak³s_ NmSn f{´n¨p.
“”Chsdà ….””
tKm sbs«¶v- b_ªp.
AkÄ AksW tWm¡n.
“”tKm]n³_v sh{N«_n ØmWt¯¡v bmÀ«n N*psk¨n^n¡p¶Sv ChsdÃ]psX tb^m\v. Wmsa]m\v tWmfntWg³ hdvfnäv sIt¿* `mÌv N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tZäv…””
“”F¶v- sk¨m?””
H¶pw fWÊn`mNmsS AkÄ Aks^ sbmSpsk]pw AksW {btSyNn¨pw tWm¡n.
“”tNmtaKv ]q\n]³ C`£³ Atà AXp¯ C^pbSnWv? Fhv Fcv tN]psX Nm³ZntZäv `nÌn M§Ä ChsdÃ]psX tb^v DÄs¸Xp¯n]n«p*v…””
“”§vti? tWt^m? B^m Davs¸Xp¯oSv?””
AkÄ AUvepSt¯msX tImUn¨p.
“”Ck³..tKm,””
sbm¶p fpt¼m«v– k¶v- tKm]psX tSman bnXn¨vsNm*v b_ªp.
“”M§av b_ªSm ChsdtÃsW tk*m¶v- …C¡m`¯v sbmanänN-vhpw KW_ tWmsaKpw H¶pw A_n]p¶ Häs¸®v- tbm`pw Nm\ptk` F¶v- M§Ä fmN-vhnfw b_ªSm..Ck³ h½Sn¡t*..Ck³ tKm …b_]pkm tbmXm sbm¶q Cµn^mPmÔn hpµ^n]tÃ, I{µnNm Npfm^SpwP hpµ^n]tà fmÀP^äv Sm¨À hpµ^n]tÃ….Cu hpµ^nfmÀ¡_n]mkp¶ sbmanänN-vhv tks_ BÀ¡_n]mw? t`mN¯ns` FjpbSv lSfmWw sb®p§Ä¡pw Wà sbmanän¡Â tdmVw Davt`m^m Fs¶ms¡ …””
“”Iakm¡Ãv sbm¶q, Wo ¹ohv…””
tKm AktWmXp f{´n¨p.
bns¶ Ak³ ChsdÃs] tWm¡n.
“”Chsdà H¶v- Wn¶v- S¶m fSn. kÀ¡v sI¿mWpw K]n¸n¡mWpw Hs¡ M§Ä D*v….””
Ak³ Aksa {bSo£t]msX tWm¡n.
“”A¸w F{Po AtÃ?””
“”ASv Mm³…tlym ..Mm³ CSpkt^w …tI«m…””
“”hm^fnÃt¶…Cµn^m PmÔn¡ptbm`pw H^p cÌv– tZ H*m^p¶tÃm…AtÃXm sbm¶q?””
“”bnt¶…””
H^p C´y³ {b\] NT]n ciUv cmhn b_]p¶Sv AWpN^n¨v sbm¶p b_ªp.
“”A¸w AS§v cnN-vhv B¡n tNt«m,””
tKm AktamXv– b_ªp.
AkÄ S`Np`p¡n.
bns¶ tKm H^p {em´sWt¸ms`]m]n^p¶p.
¢mhv fp_nNan , {Pu*nÂ, shfnWmÀ imapNanÂ, Nm³äoWn Ak³ S`§pw kn`§pw N]_n]n_§n.
Btklt¯msX]pÅ {bhwP§Ä, hwkmU§Ä, SÀ¡§Ä, hf^§Ä, tbmÌÀ Fjp¯v, tWm«ohv knS^\w.
ØmWmÀTnNsa]pw bmÀ«nAwP§sa]pw sNm*v Nm¼hn AlztfVw.
AtSmsXm¸w hwekn¨ fsäm^p hzmemknN Nm^yw ChsdÃt]mXpÅ APvWnSogv\fm] {b\]w.
Nm¼hv N* Gäkpw So{kfm] {b\]w.
C`£Wn tKm]pw sbm¶pkpw ChsdÃ]pfX¡fpÅkÀ knK]n¨p.
Nm¼hv ]q\n]³ bnXn¨p.
bs£ CSnWnsX ChsdÃ]psX ZmZn t`mP³ hm]n¸v C¡m^yf_nªv Aksa tNmtaKn Wn¶pw fmän ssfhqÀ¡v sNm*ptbm]n.
AknsX A]mÄ¡v fp´n^nt¯m«§apw ssk³ kykhm]kpsfms¡]p*v.
fmh¯n H^p Sk\s]¦n`pw tKm ssfhqÀ¡v tbmNpfm]n^p¶p.
Aksa Nm\pfm]n^p¶p.
AknsX AkÄ ^*mw kÀgw {bo ]q\ntkjvhnän N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv bqÀ¯n]m¡n.
Cu kÀgw Zn{Pn AkhmWkÀgkpw.
C¡m`f{S]pw t`mP³ hm]n¸v A_n]msS AkÀ N*pfp«pfm]n^p¶p.
Hmt^m Nmjv¨]n`pw tKm`n Nn«n¡jnªv H^pfn¨v Kokn¡p¶SnsW¸än]pÅ {bSnÚ AkÀ Btklt¯msX bpSp¡pfm]n^p¶p.
“”F¶m Wm`v Unkhfm]n ChsdÃs]¡p_n¨v H^_nkpfnÃ,””
Ìoc³ NT b_ªp WnÀ¯n.
“”tcm\nà ..s`äÀ CÃ. sf]n CÃ…ssfhqÀ tKm Aksa A^n¨psb_p¡n AtWzgn¡m¯ CXfnÃ…””
K]tUk³ N®pNÄ SpX]v¡p¶Sv FÃmk^pw N*p.
_n]]pw sZ]vhn]pw AWpSmbt¯msX AksW tWm¡n.
“”kngfn¡* tfmtW,””
B`ohv AXps¯¯n Ak³s_ S`fpXn]n SjpNn.
“”dmk¨³ F´m]m`pw ChsdÃs] dÊn N*StÃ…F´m]m`pw KoktWmsX D*tÃm…””
K]tUk³ Fjpt¶äp.
“”Ft§m«mXm?””
Ìoc³ tImUn¨p.
“”AksXt¸m]n sNm_¨v tW^w Hä¡v C^n¡m³,””
K]tUk³ PmÀZ³ Iq*n¡m\n¨p.
B`ohpw Kho´]pw ÌocsW tWm¡n.
“”Npj¸fnÃ..sNm_¨v tW^w Ak³ Hä¡v C^n¡s«…””
“”f½o FWns¡ms¶m_§\w,””
sZ]vhn b_ªp.
“”At¿m…F¶m km,””
ÌocWn Wn¶v- tkÀsb«v, Fjpt¶äv _n] b_ªp.
AkÄ _n]t]]pw Nq«n ANt¯¡v tbm]n.
“”Ìoc³ hmt_,””
Kho´ A]msa tWm¡n.
“”M§Ä C¸ k^mtk…””
B`ohnsW]pw Nq«n Kho´ ANt¯¡v WX¶p.
“”sZ]vhn¡v sdZv kn^n¨v sNmXp¯n«v _n] C¸w k^pw. hm_v AktamXv– kÀ¯mWw b_ªn^n¡v…””
ANt¯¡v NX¡p¶SnWv fp¼v Sn^nªp Wn¶v- Kho´ b_ªp.
AkÄ ÌocsW N®n_p¡n Nm\n¨p.
bns¶ Ip*v f`À¯n Ipwdn¡p¶Sv tbms`]pw.
fp_n]n N]_n] DXtW Kho´ B`ohns` k^nªpfp_p¡n.
“”F³s_ tfmsa,””
B`ohn³s_ knXÀ¶v- Wo* N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n Kho´ b_ªp.
“”F{S Wmams]Xo Wns¶ CSv tbms` H¶v- hvtWin¡m³ Nn«n]n«v? sWW¡v Fs¶¸än kà knIm^fp*m]n^pt¶m tfmsa?””
ASnWp¯^fm]n B`ohv Kho´]psX Ip*pNan AfÀ¯n]fÀ¯n Ipwdn¨p.
“”Nn«nt]m D¯^w?””
B`ohv tImUn¨p.
“”NSNv AX]v¡t\m?””
fm_n fm_vsNm*v AfÀ¯n]p^p½n Kho´ tImUn¨p.
“”Im^n]n«m fSn,””
Nps_ tW^w B`nwPWd²^m]n Wn¶v- AkÀ Nt®mXp N®p tWm¡n.
“”W½Ä F§sW]mXn CSv tbms` `mÌv hvtWint¨?””
A¸hf]w B`ohn³s_ Ip*pNÄ NXn¨v Ipwdn¨SnWv tlgw Kho´ tImUn¨p.
“”fq¶v- kÀgw fp¼v H^p {Nnhvfhv ssWänÂ,””
Kho´s] k^nªpsN«ns¡m*v B`ohv b_ªp.
“”Dw…Hm…ASv N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv F§sW f_¡pw F³s_ sbmt¶…!””
“”f_¡*,””
fm_nXw Kho´]psX fm_n ko*pw ko*pw AfÀ¯n]p^¨v sNm*v B`ohv b_ªp.
“”f_¡m³ tk*n]mt\m W½av hvtWin¡ps¶?””
“”F³s_ I¡t^,””
Kho´ {em´fm]n B`ohnsW ko*pw fpOw fpjpk³ AfÀ¯n]fÀ¯n Ipwdn¨p.
sWän]n`pw Nknan`pw N®pNan`pw Njp¯n`pw Ip*pNan`pw.
“”tim…-“”
knNm^mtkl¯mÂ, hpO`i^n]m B`ohv bpaªp.
tUiw Ip«pbjp¡p¶p.
f^peqfntbms`]m]n^p¶ l^o^w sbs«¶v- DUymWfmkpN]pw NXpwkÀ®§an`pÅ bq¡Ä sbm«nknX^pN]pw sI¿p¶p.
“”Fs¶…Fs¶…””
B`ohn³s_ bknjmV^§Ä kn_¨p.
“”Fs¶ NnX¯v ….NnX¯n sI¿v–…F³s_ ….Biv…””
Kho´]psX kn^`pNÄ B`ohn³s_ tUiw fpjpk³ {b\]t¯t^m«w WX¯n.
A^s¡«pw fm_nXkpw B`ohn³s_Sn AfÀ¯nsM¡n AkÄ bns¶]pw bns¶]pw {em´fm]n Ipwdn¨psNm*n^p¶p.
“”FWn¡v….fpt¯…Mm³ SaÀ¶v- tbmNps¶Xm..NnX¯v …Fs¶ NnX¯n Wo F´v tkt\`pw sI¿v–….im…At½…””
Kho´ AsSm¶pw tN«nÃ.
sb\vl^o^t¯mXpÅ kÀg§am]pÅ knl¸n B`ohn³s_ fÀ½^§apw ho¡m^§apw AkÄ tN«nÃ.
Njp¯nÂ, Gäkpw {bn]s¸« l^o^emPs¯¶tbms` AkÄ Ip*pNÄ bSn¸n¨psNm*n^p¶p.
Kho´]psX ssNNÄ B`ohn³s_ hm^n fm_n Wn¶pw fmän.
Njp¯n_¡w NqXn] s»uhn Sp_n¨v sS_n¨v Wn¡p¶ sNmjp¯ fp`Nans`¡v Kho´ N®nf]v¡msS tWm¡n.
IpwdW§apsX sb^pfj Wn`¨Sn³s_ AhiyS]n B`ohv N®pNÄ Sp_¶t¸mÄ S³s_ fm_nt`¡v WnÀ¶ntfg]m]n tWm¡p¶ Kho´s]]m\v Nm\p¶Sv.
“”F´m Khot´?””
fpOw Smjv¯n fm_n tWm¡ns¡m*v B`ohv tImUn¨p.
“”tfmsa…Wn³s_ sb^pw sfm` ^*pw NXn¨v b_n¨v Sn¶m³ tSm¶ps¶Xo,””
“”F¶n«v Wos]m¶v bnXn¨v sM¡p¶p tbm`pknÃtÃm,””
s»uhnWXn]n C^pssNNÄ sNm*pw fp`NÄ bnXn¨p]À¯n AkapsX tWs^ Nm\n¨psNm*v B`ohv tImUn¨p.
“”C¶v- Wns¶ F¨n`m¡m³ tbmNpktà tfmsa,””
B`ohnsâ Njp¯n tkUWn¸n¨v NXn¨psNm*v Kho´ b_ªp.
“”C¶v- Wns¶ Mm³ N^n¼n³ I*ntbms`]m¡pw…Wn³s_ Cu f¯§m sfmt`s` Wos^Ãmw Mm³ bnjnªv NpXn¡pw. Wn³s_ bqäns` ^hsfÃmw F³s_ tfmsa k`n¨v bnjnªv Duäpw…Wn³s_ sNmjp¯ Af_³ sSmX ^*pw Mm³ knXÀ¯ns¸man¨v sk¨v bq_nWN¯v S`fpjpk³ Np¯nt¡äpw….sNmS¯nWm¯v ssNsfm¯w F_¡n Wns¶ f^ymU¡v WX¡m³ bäm¯ b^pkfm¡pw…””
s»uhnWv N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv fpNan`qsX Kho´]psX kn^`pNÄ sM§n]fÀ¶p.
“”Cãmt]m sWW¡v F³s_ sfm` ^*pw Kho´m,””
N®pNÄ Sp_¡msS AV^w NXn¨fÀ¯n B`ohv tImUn¨p.
“”Mm³ AknXp¶v- N®p fmäo«v Wo Fs¶ F¸tj`pw N*n«pt*m tfmsa…? k¶¸w sSm«p tWm¡p¶Sm sNmSnt]msX…””
“”sbt®…H¶tS NXn¨v sMs¡Xo…Wo]n§sW bnXn¨pw AfÀ¯ow Fs¶ sNmSn¸n¨v sNmÃmsS…””
Kho´ s»uh-vNq«n B`ohn³s_ fp`Nan fm_nfm_n sM¡n¡Xn¨p.
fp`¡Ãnsâ emPw AkapsX DfnWo^v ko\v NpSnÀ¶p.
bm_¡g\¯n³s_ UrZSt]msX]pÅ fp` N®pNÄ bp_t¯¡v N*p.
“”tim…””
B`ohn³s_ fp`¡®pNÄ N*v– Kho´ N`nt¸msX f{´n¨p.
“”S^n¨p Nj¡pkm fpt¯ Wn³s_]o W£{S¡pªp§sa N*n«v…””
b_ªpNjnªv AkÄ {em´fm]n B`ohn³s_ fp`¡®pNÄ ko*pw s»uhnsâ bp_¯v NqXn NXn¨pk`n¨p.
“”Biv..Kho´m…Fs¶ NnX¯n sI¿v– tfmsa,””
fUwsbm«n]mÀ¡p¶ BWs]t¸ms` A£f]m]n^p¶p Kho´]v¡v , B`ohnWp tkUWn¡psft¶m kngfw D*mNpsft¶m In´n¡m³ sfWs¡XmS AkapsX bÃpNapw Ip*pNapw AkapsX fp`Nsa fm_nf_n NXn¨p k`n¨p.
{em´fm]n ho¡m^fn«psNm*v B`ohv hm^n k`n¨psbm¡n.
F¶n«v Kho´]psX ssNs¿Xp¯v fUskÅw kos\mjpNn¡pSnÀ¶, SXn¨p koÀ¯ t]mWn]nÂ, bnaÀ¸n sk¨p.
“”””Nj]v¡p¶p,””
Kho´]psX ssN¿n bnXn¨v AkapsX kn^`pNÄ bnaÀ¸nt` skůn`pw IqXn`pw Sp^pSps^ Np¯ns¡m*v B`ohv b_ªp.
“”Bt\m,””
fp`NÄ s»uhnWv fotSNqXn NXn¨p k`n¡p¶SnWnX]n Kho´ tImUn¨p.
“”AsS´mXo bq_nWv C¶v- {btSyNn¨v H^p NXn?””
“”sWW¡_o¯ntà Kho´m, sW]v–fpän] fmUN¯nX¼tà Mm³? At¸mÄ FÃmXkpw Nj¨v sbm«ntÃ? l^n¡v sNm\¨m`tà FaNn] Nj¸v H^pNns]m`n¨v So^pskmÅq?””
“”Mm³ sWW¡v l^n¡pw sNm\¨v S^mXo,””
B`ohn³s_ knXÀ¶p sbmanª bnaÀ¸n fq¶v- kn^`pNÄ N]än]n_¡ns¡m*v Kho´ b_ªp.
“”Wn³s_ bqän`pw sNmS¯n`pw kn^`v tNän sWW¡v Mm³ l^n¡v sNm\¨v S^mw. Wn³s_ bq_pw sfmt`w sNmtSmw Hs¡ W¡n Du¼n NXn¨v k`n¨v Wns¶ Mm³ hpOn¸n¨v sNm\¨v S^mw…””
Btklt¯msX Kho´m Bs`hnsW NnX¡]nt`¡v f_n¨n«p.
AkapsX tUit¯¡v N]_n s»uhv Ajn¨v fmän.
bp_t¯¡v ImXn] fp`NÄ ^*pw Btklt¯msX Ca¡n¡pj¨p.
fp`NÄ fm_nfm_n sM¡n¡Xn¨v Ipwdn¨p.
bns¶ hm^n]jns¨_nªp Aksa bqÀ®WPvW]m¡n.
NkNÄ AN¯n knXÀ¯n sk¨v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv koÀ¯v fpj¨ t]mWn¯XSn`pw fUK`{bkmiw Wn`¡m¯ bnaÀ¸n`pw k`nIo¼n Ipwdn¨p.
Kho´]psX IqXpÅ Ip*pNÄ N´nsW sSm«t¸mÄ B`ohv NkNÄ NqXpS knXÀ¯n]N¯n sbman¨p sk¨p.
Kho´]psX S` bnXn¨v Nk¡q«nt`¡v AfÀ¯n.
“”Wn³s_ tfmav _nt]sW Ìoc³ C¸w F¶m sI¿pkm^n¡qXo?””
B`ohn³s_ Nk¡q«ns` Sn§n Wn_ª fUK`¯n³s_ sNmjp¸v W¡n¡pXn¡p¶SnWnX]n Kho´ fpOfp]À¯ns¡m*v tImUn¨p.
“”Ft´`pw sI¿s«, Khot´,””
“”Wn³s_ tfmsa Ìoc³ Nan¡pkm^n¡pw,””
kn^`pNÄ bnaÀ¸nt`¡v AfÀ¯n]Xn¨psNm*v Kho´ ko*pw b_ªp.
“”Wn³s_ tfmav _nt]sX sfm` ^*pw Ìoc³ sM¡n HX]v¡pkm^n¡pw””
kn^`pNÄ B`ohn³s_ bnaÀ¸n Wn¶v- kn^`pNÄ Du^ns]Xp¯v– ko*pw Wmkp NX¯n¡jnªv Kho´ b_ªp.
“”Biv…Bi B^n¡pw Khot´…””
I´nNÄ tkP¯n sbm¡ns¡mXp¯psNm*v B`ohv b_ªp.
“”Wn³s_ tfmsa Ìoc³ f`À¯ns¡X¯n Du¡pkm^n¡pw B`oth,””
hm^n]jn¨v hz]w WPvW]m]n Kho´ b_ªp.
“”B^n¡qXo…””
AkapsX knhvfnSfm], ln¸ewPn Spap¼p¶ WPvWS]nt`¡v N®pNÄ fmämsS tWm¡ns¡m*v B`ohv b_ªp.
“”FXo Wn³s_ sfm` F³s_ sfmt` sk¨v l^n¡v H¶v- AfÀ¯nt¡,””
B`ohv AktamXv– b_ªp.
Kho´ B`ohn³s_ tUi¯v Nfnjv¶pNnX¶p.
D^p*p tgs¸m¯ Sp_n¨ fp`NÄ ^*pw AkÄ B`ohn³s_ sk_n N]_n¯pap¼p¶ fp`fmh¯nt`¡v sM¡nsM^p¡nsk¨fÀ¯n.
“”im tfmsa ..fpt¯ ..WÃ hpOw …ABkq…tfmsa NÃv– ^*pw F³s_ ^*p NtÃ`pw C«v H^t¨Xo…””
Ak^psX fp` N®pNapsX ln`mUrZS b^hvb^w tIÀ¶p^ªp.
At¸mÄ B`ohn³s_ sfmssd lÐn¨p.
AkÄ AWnãt¯msX sfmssd FXp¯p.
“”lyp…””
B`ohv Ip*n kn^ tIÀ¯v Aksa WnlÐ]m¡n.
“”Cu¸¨m]Wm…””
AkÄ WPvW]m]n¯s¶ sfmssd`pw sIkn]n tIÀ¯v Fjpt¶äp.
“”F¶m A¨m]m? F¶Sm koZnt]m tNmant§m…Hmtim AsS¶m bän? AknsX WÃ sfm`s]ms¡s]mÅ I^¡pNÄ H¶pw CtÃ?..Hmt¡ ..Mm³ C¸w k^ms¶,””
Kho´s] B`ohv U]Wo]fm]n tWm¡n.
“”F¶Sm Khot´ sI¿s*?””
“”Wo skgfn¡msS,””
Kho´ Aksa Blzhn¸n¨p.
“”Wo tkPw sI¶v- A¨m]sW koZnt]m tNmÄ sI]vSv hpOn¸n¡v…Wfp¡v bns¶ F¸w tkt\`pw hpOn¡mtÃm..sIsÃXo,””
B`ohv sgÂcn Wn¶v- H^p siuhvtNm«v FXp¡m³ SpX§n.
“”Hm..Fs¶¯nWm ASv?””
B`ohnsW kn`¡ns¡m*v Kho´ b_ªp.
“”koZnt]m N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tNmÄ VymWw NqXm³ H¶pw AÃtÃm. ASv sNm*v tfmav Cu tkg¯n tbm]m fSn,””
“”FXo `m¸n tk\w koZnt]m tNm¬{c³hv F¶m A¨m]³ b_sª. `mbv Smjs¯ fp_o`m…””
“”Smjs¯ fp_o B]m`pw tfs`s¯ fp_o B]m`pw Wo bq_pw sfmt`w Np*ow Nm\nt¨m*v tbm]m fSn,””
“”Kho´m…””
B`ohv Wn¶v- In\p§n.
“”sIsÃXo,””
B`ohn³s_ fhvSN WnSwd¯n Kho´ BªXn¨p.
“”Hm…””
B`ohn³s_ tUiw kn_¨p.
AkÄ fnjnNÄ Nq¼n]X¨p.
“”F¶SmXo?””
“”H¶v- NqXn…Kho´m..fpt¯ ¹ohv …A§sW H^XnNqXn SmXo tfmsa,””
“”FknsX?””
“”F³s_ Np*n]v¡n«v…W¶m]n k`n¨v AXn]v¡v…””
Kho´]psX ssN¯`w B`ohn³s_ I´n]n fm_nfm_n¸Snªp.
“”Wnt¶mXsÃXo ssft^ H¶pw DXp¡msS tbm]m fSo¶v b_sª…””
H^XnNqXn sNmXp¯v Kho´ B`ohnsW D´nkn«p.
Kho´ lÐw tNĸn¡msS Smtj¡v C_§n.
imans`¯n] B`ohv bnXn¨p WnÀ¯n]Svtbms` Wn¶p.
bqÀ®WPvW]m] _n]]psX tUi¯v bXÀ¶pN]_pN]m\v Ìoc³.
“”F³s_ A¦nta..im..F¶m hpOkm A¦nta…F³s_ At½,””
hpO`i^n]n _n] b^nh^tdmVw f_¶v- Wn`knan¡p¶p.
Ìoc³s_ A^s¡«v _n]]psX A^]n S_ªv– AfÀ¶v- B\n^n¡p¶sS¶v- B`ohv N*p.
“”CsSm¶pkà tfmsa hpOw,””
Ìoc³s_ km¡pNÄ B`ohv tN«p.
“”CSn`pw NqXpSÂ hpOtfm? AsS¶m hpOfm A¦nta?””
Ìoc³s_ IXpIpwdW§Ä Ip*pNan hzoN^n¨psNm*v _n] tImUn¨p.
“”tfmsa..C¸w F³s_ kn^`pNÄ fm{Sftà Wn³s_ bq_nÂ…””
“”bq_n fo³hv?””
“”Hm..””
Ìoc³ In^n¨p.
“”C§sW H^p hm]n¸v Np«n! l^o^kpw Bßmkpw b¦psk¡pt¼mÄ Cu km¡pNÄ Hs¡ bYn¨pskt¡t* tfmsa?””
“”FWn¡_n]nà A¦nÄ…im Bkq,””
Ìoc³ AkapsX fp`Nan fm_n fm_n NXn¨p Ipwdn¡pt¼mÄ _n] b_ªp.
“”A¦nÄ bYn¸n¡mw tfmsa,””
fp`Nan Wn¶v- Ip*pNÄ fmän kn^`pNÄ AkapsX bnaÀ¸n lÐw tNĸn¨v Ca¡ns¡m*v Ìoc³ b_ªp.
“”C¸w A¦nan³s_ kn^Â FknsX]m?””
“”Biv ..A¦nta …A¦nan³s_ kn^Â B…Hm…F³s_ ..F³s_ kssKW]nÂ…””
“”At{Sw ssi tkZv H¶pw C¸w b_]m³ bmXnÃ. tfmsa´m tbgy³ämt\m? MmsW¶m tZmÎÀ Bt\m?””
“”bns¶ F´v tkZm b_]t*?””
“”B tkZv B\v bq_v…””
“”C§vti? kssKW]v¡v f`]ma¯n bqs_¶m b_¿m?””
“”AsS tfmsa,””
“”A¸w A¦nan³s_ fq{Sw Hjn¡p¶ hmVW¯ntWm?””
“”f`]ma¯n N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv ASn³s_ tb^m\v Np®…””
“”bs£ C§Ws¯ tkZv Hs¡ H^p Unkhw..F¸jm¶p A_o¯nÃ..Mm³ H¶v- ^*v {bmlw tN«ns«m*v..H^qhw hnäo¶v- k^p¼w H^p Xo tgm¸n³s_ fp¼n sNmt_ BÄ¡m^v SÃpbnXn¡p¼w…””
“”AtSms¡]mt\m C¸w HmÀ¡pt¶?””
“”bns¶ F¶Sm HmÀ¡t* A¦nta?””
“”Hm..CSv tbms` H^p skXp¦qhv! C¸w W½Ä F¶Sm sI¿pt¶? AtSmÀ¡\w!””
“”Hm ..l^n]m…. l^n]m Mm½_¶p tbm]n..””
“”Dw..W½av b_tªm*v k¶Sv CSn`pw NqXn] hpOs¯¸än]tÃ? AsS¶Sm¶p A_n]mtkm?””
“”CÃ F¶Sm? bns¶ CSntW¡mÄ NqXn] tks_ hpOtfm? b_ A¦nta,””
“”b_]mw ASnWp fp¼v tfmÄsX sfm` ^*pw H¶pw NqXn A¦nÄ l^nNv H¡v sM¡n¡pXn¡s«,””
“”F³s_ A¦nta..A¦nÄ Ft´m^w tkt\`pw F³s_ sfm` NpXnt¨m. C¶v- sfm¯w NpXnt¨m…At¶^w FWn¡v Ft´m^w ^thmw hptOmw B\v Nn«pt¶¶p A_n]mtkm?””
Ìoc³ _n]]psX C^p fp`Napw fm_n fm_n k`n¨pNpXn¡p¶Sv B`ohv N*p.
_n] hpO `i^n]n bpa]p¶Spw.
fp`NÄ NXnIo¼p¶SntWmsXm¸w A]mapsX kn^`pNÄ _n]]psX t]mWn¸naÀ¸n ASn tkP¯n N]_n]n^§p¶Spw.
“”A¦nav Ip½mtS b_]pkm..CSn`pw NqXpSÂ tks_ hpOtfm?””
“”b_]mXo…Wn³s_ Np*ow sNmsX H¶v- A¦nÄ D½sk¡s«,””
“”At¿ Cu A¦nÄ! Np*o Bt^`pw D½sk¡ptkm?””
“”tbm sbt®..sWW¡_o¯nà A¦nanWv Ft´m^w Cãkm Np*n F¶v-! ASpw Wn³s_ tbms` Wà hq¸À Np*n!””
Ìoc³ _n]s] Sn^n¨pWnÀ¯p¶Sv B`ohv N*p.
fNapsX WnSwdewPn B`ohnsW AUvepSs¸Xp¯n.
W¶m]n D^p*v fpjp¯v Wà bqÀ®Ss]m¯ tPma§Ä.
t]mWn¸naÀ¸v ko*pw WWªv Npj]p¶Sv B`ohv A_nªp.
e]¦^fm]n NXn¡p¶p.
‘bnt¶w Nj]v¡pkm\tÃm Cutlmt],””
bnaÀ¸nt`¡v kn^`pNÄ Np¯n]n_¡n B`ohv B`ohv f{´n¨p.
“”Fs´m^p NXn]m! kà N¼pw C«v bq_v sIm_n]\¶m tSm¶pt¶,””
Ìoc³ _n]]psX WnSwdtPma§Ä fmkv Npj]v¡p¶Sv tbms` Npj]v¡p¶Sv B`ohv N*p.
“”F³s_ A¦nta..tim F³s_ Cutlmt]..Du..Du…””
“”F´m tfmsa tkUWn¡p¶pt*m?””
“”tkUWt]m? H¶v- tbm A¦nta…hpOw Nm^\w FWn¡msN sbm_pSnfp«pkm…””
“”hpOtkm? F§sW A¦nÄ tfmÄsX Np*n ^*pw C§sW Sn^p½nsM¡p¼tjm?””
“”Dw..At¶^w…””
“”F¶m A¦nÄ tks_ H^p hq{Sw Nm\n¡mw,””
ASv b_ªv Ìoc³ _n]]psX bn¼n fpOw Smjv¯n.
AkapsX WnSwdtPma§Ä ssNNÄ sNm*v bnXn¨N¯n.
Npªv Npªv N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv sMm_ntkmXv NqXn] PpUUzm^w H^p bWnWoÀ¸qkv knX^p¶Svtbms` Ìoc³s_ fp¼n bpgv¸n¨p.
Ìoc³s_ Dugvfmkv AknsX¸Sn]p¶Sv _n] A_nªp.
bns¶ A]mapsX IqXpÅ, b^pb^p¯ Wmkv AknsX sSmXp¶Spw.
“”Hm…At½…””
_n]]psX D¨¯n`pÅ ho¡m^w B`ohv tN«p.
AkapsX kn^`pNÄ fUK`¯n bp^*v bnaÀ¸n tkP¯n I`n¨p.
Ìoc³s_ Wmkv Np´fpWtbms` _n]]psX knXÀ¶v- f`¨ PpUUzm^¯nt`¡v SpaªpN]_n.
A]mapsX C^p ssNNapw AkapsX WnSwdtPma§sa sM¡n]pX¨sNm*pfn^p¶p.
“”””tfmsa, hpOskmt*m?”
NqXpS D¨¯n`pÅ ho¡m^fm]n^p¶p AkapsX f_pbXn.
“”””F´v fpjp¯ Np*n]mXo,”
CX]v¡v Wmkp fmän A]mÄ b_ªp.
“”””bs£ f½osX Np*n]tà A¦nta CSn`pw fpjp¯Sv?”
_n]]psX B tImUyw B`ohn³s_ tUi¯v H^p knUypSv {bkmiw WÂNn.
bnaÀ¸ns` fUK`¯n`n^p¶ kn^`pNÄ tkP¯n`na¡n AkÄ Ìoc³s_ f_pbXn]v¡v NmtSmÀ¯p.
“”””f½osX Np*n H¯n^n fpjpSSm tfmsa,”
“”””A¦nÄ f½osX Np*n]pw CSptbms` W¡ns¡mXp¯n«pt*m?”
H^p Wnfngw Ìoc³ hwl]n¨p.
“”””b_ A¦nta,”
“”””tfmsa…ASv..D*v..tfmÄ¡v A¦nantWmXv kngfw Dt*m?”
“”””kngftfm?”
AkÄ Njp¯v Sn^n¨p A]msa tWm¡n.
“”””f½n¡pwsNmsX C§Ws¯ hpOw A¦nÄ sNmXp¡pt¶Â FWn¡v F´nWm skgfw? im ..A¦nta…F³s_ tbm¶¦nsa..Cutlmt]..F¶m ^hw …F¶m hpOw…imkq…”
Ìoc³ BÀ¯nt]msX ko*pw ko*pw AkapsX PpUUzm^¯nt`¡v WmknsW Np´fpWtbms` Ipjän W¡n.
“”””A¦nÄ F³s_..kssK….AÃ..ASÃ…tks_ H^p tb^p*tÃm kssKW]v¡v F¶Sm^p¶p? §vim..Nn«n…A¦nÄ F³s_ bq_n kn^ sNm*pNp¯n ^hn¸n¨ tbms` f½osX bq_n`pw kn^ NX¯n hpOw sNmXp¯n«pt*m?”
“”””bn¶ntÃ..b` {bmklyw..tfmÄsX f½n..tfmsat¸ms`]Ã…Wà AÊ Nj¸n]m…f½osX bq_n Ft¸mjpw NXn¨v sbm«n H`n¡pw…”
“”””FWn¡v fWÊn`m]nà A¦nta,”
Sm³ Ct¸mÄ A]mapsX Wmknsâ Np¯nWp AWph^n¨v Sma¯n I´nNÄ A]mapsX Ip*pNapsX tWÀ¡v SÅnsNmXp¡p¶Sv _n] A_nªp.
“”””A¦nta..Mm³ F³s_ NqSn A¦nan³s_ fpOt¯¡v SÅpt¼mÄ A¦nanWv Ft´`pw dp²n½p«v Dt*m,”
“”””CÃ tfmsa…”
fpOw k`ns¨Xp¯v A]mÄ sbs«¶v b_ªp.
“”””tfmsa´nWm Np*n A¦nan³s_ sfmOt¯¡v SÅps¶?”
“”””e]¦^ ^hw tN_o«m A¦nta,”
“”””Bt\m,”
“”””Dw,”
“”””Bs« tfmÄs¡´m fWÊn`m]nà N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv F¶v- b_sª?”
“”””f½n e]¦^ Nj¸n]m..f½osX bq_p Ct¸mjpw sbm«n H`n¡pw Fs¶ms¡ b_ªntÃ? ASv fWÊn`m]nÃ.”
“”””NXow Nj¸pw F¶v- b_ªmÂ…ASv..tfmÄsX f½n¡v Ft¸mjpw bq_n A¦nan³s_ sk^ tk\w F¶v- sSm¶pw. tfmÄsX f½n¡v Ft¸mjpw A¦nansWs¡m*v sfm` bnXn¸n¡m³ sSm¶pw. tfmÄsX f½n¡v Ft¸mjpw A¦nansWs¡m*v NqSn W¡n¡m³ tSm¶pw…”
_n]]psX SÅ`nWv tkPw NqXn.
“”””C§sWs]ms¡ Ct¸mjpw sI¿m³ tSm¶p¶ks^ B\v NXn]pÅ sb®p§Ä F¶v- b_]p¶Sv,”
“”””FWn¡v NXn]pt*m A¦nta?”
“”””tfmsa b¯v bSnsW«v k]Êv Njnªm sb®p§Ä¡v Wà NXn tk\w. ASm Wm¨p_Â. AtàFt´`pw {blvWkm…”
“”FWn¡pw NXn]p*v A¦nÄ..l^n¡pw…A¦nÄ Ft¸mjpw F³s_ sfm` l^n¡v k`n¨p NpXn¨v I¸n¯n¶Ww. A¦nÄ F³s_ bq_n F¸jpw kn^ C«p S^\w….A¦nÄ Ft¸mjpw FWn¡v NqSn W¡n¯^\w,”
Ìoc³s_ fpOw AkapsX I´nknXkn Btklt¯msX AfÀ¶p]À¶p.
“”””tfmsa CSv fm{SfÃ..CWow H*v hpOw. ^hw. CSn`pw k`n] hpOw?”
“”””Bt\m? F§Wm A¦nta…¹ohv A¦nÄ.FWn¡v Sm,”
Ìoc³ AkapsX I´nknXkn Wn¶v- fpOw fmän.
Fjpt¶äp.
“”””At¿m F´nWm WnÀ¯oSv–? hpOw tbm]ntÃ?”
“”””ASn`pw k`n] hpOw S^mWtà tfmsa,’
A]mÄ b_ªp.
“”””tfmao sdZn f`À¶v NnX¶v Nk l^n¡pw AN¯n sk¨v bqs_ms¡ knXÀ¯n skt¨,”
_n] sdZn f`À¶pNnX¶p.
Ìoc³ AkapsX Nm`pNÄ¡nX]nt`¡v N]_n.
fpOw Smjv¯n.
A]mapsX Ip*pNÄ AknsX AfÀ¶p^ªp.
“”””kq…H]v..¿q…”
_n]]psX A^s¡«v sk«n.
A_n]msS AkapsX NkNÄ H¶pNqXn]N¶p.
“”””tfmsa, bq_p ssNsNm*v knXÀ¯n¸nXn. A¦nÄ l^n¡pw W¡s«,”
_n] ssNNÄ Smjv¯n t]mWn]nSapNÄ bnXn¨N¯n knXÀ¯n.
Ìoc³s_ Wmkp IqXvWn_ª fUK`¯nt`¡v Spaªn_§n.
“”””iii t½mH…At½G…”
_n]]psX ho¡m^w B`ohn³s_ NmSpNsa sbmÅn¨p.
AkapsX kn^`pNÄ Nk¡nX]n tkP¯n I`n¨p.
hf]w Njn]pt´m_pw ÌocWp Wn]{´\w Wãs¸Xp¶S_nªp.
F´v bän?
Sm{´nN knUy]m\nSv.
bs£ Ct¸mÄ Cu sb¬Np«n]psX fp¼n F´v sNm*m\v S³s_ tkPw NqXp¶Sv?
hmkVmWw sIt¿* {Nn]]m\nSv–.
A]mÄ AkapsX tUit¯¡v N]_n.
“”””tfmsa,”
“”””F³s_ sbm¶¦nsa…F´m…? F´v tkt\`pw b_tªm. Mm³ sI¿mw,”
“”””tfmav A¦nan³s_ Np®s]Xp¯v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tfmÄsX bqän fp«n¡v…”
“”””Ft´y Np® A¦nta?”
Ìoc³ ASnl]n¨ptbm]n?
Fs´m^p tImUyfm\v.
“”””Fs´m^p fpjp¯ Np®]m dmk¨m Wn³s_?” F¶m\v Ft¸mjpw B`ohv b_]m_v.
F¶m Ct¸mÄ _n]]v¡v ASv Nm\m³ tbm`pw bäp¶ntÃ?
sbs«¶m\v Ìoc³ A_nªSv.
Sm³ fpjpk³ khv{S§apw V^n¨m\n^n¡p¶Sv.
A]mÄ sbs«¶v- gÀ«pw bm³ävhpw Ajn¨p.
A]mapsX A^s¡«nt`¡v _n] tWm¡n.
“”””A¦nta ASmt\m Np®?”
gZv[n]psX fp¼ns` fpj]nt`¡v tWm¡n _n] tImUn¨p.
“”””A¦nan³s_ gZv[n Du^o«v tWm¡nt¡,”
_n] Ns¿¯n¨v A]mapsX gZv[n]psX C`mÌn¡n bnXn¨p Smjv¯n.
AXp¯ Wnfngw sk«nkn_¨psNm*v Ìoc³s_ `nwPw Aksa tWm¡n D]À¶p Wn¶p.
“”””A¦nan³s_ Np® bnXnt¨ tfmsa,”
AkÄ kn^`pNÄ ASn Ipän¸nXn¨p.
“”””F³s_ kn^Â Nq«nfp«p¶nÃtÃm A¦nta…”
A]mÄ fµihn¨p.
B NmjvI B`ohnWv hin¡mkp¶Sn`¸p_fm]n^p¶p.
“”””tbms«….fpÅns¯_n¨v tbms«,”
^SnfqÀ¨]psX hpkÀ®Wr¯¯n tUiw sk«nkn_]v¡tk B`ohv b_ªp.
“”””Ft´m^w tW^km]n bnXn¨p WnÀ¯p¶Sm,”
en¯n]n Im^nWn¶v B`ohv fp¼ns` NmjvI N*psNm*v Wn¶p.
AkÄ AXp¯pN* H^p thmc]n`n^p¶p fp¼ns` NmjINÄ tWm¡n.
“”””tfmÄ A¦nan³s_ Np® bnXn¨n«v Smtj¡pw fpNant`¡pw AW¡ns¡..tU..CSptbms`…”
Ìoc³ `nwPsfXp¯v hz]wtemPw sI]vSvsNm*v AktamXv– b_ªp.
F¶n«v ssNs]¯n¨p AkapsX ssNs]Xp¯v ASn bnXn¸n¨p.
F¶n«v AkapsX ssN fpNant`¡pw Smtj¡pw I`n¸n¨p.
B NmjvI B`ohn ko*pw {Shn¸n¨p.
“”””Hm..bq_p bnt¶w NXn¡m³ sSmX§otÃm….”
B`ohn³s_ kn^`pNÄ ko*pw bnaÀ¸nt`¡v Wo§n.
bns¶ B`ohv N*Sv ASymtklt¯msX Ìoc³ _n]]psX tUit¯¡v N]_p¶Sm\v.
“”””CWn A¦nan³s_ Np® tfmÄsX bqän FXp¯v sk¡v,”
_n] S³s_ tUi¯v Nfnjv¶v- NnX¡p¶ Ìoc³s_ fmhUrZSs] ssNsNm*v bnXn¨v S³s_ t]mWn¸naÀ¸n fp«n¨p.
“”””l^n¡pw Nk AN¯v tfmsa,”
_n] Nm`pNÄ ko*pw AN¯n.
Ìoc³ bSns] SÅn.
“”””Biv..”
_n]]psX U]Wo]fm] N^¨n`n³s_ lÐw B`ohv tN«p.
“”””tfmsa…”
“”””A¦nta..C§sW sI¿p¼w tkUW]m…A¦nÄ bq_n W¡o¸w F´v ^hkm^p¶p! A¦nÄ Atà b_sª bq_n`pw NqSo`pw W¡p¶SnsW¡mÄ ^hkm C§sW sI¿p¼w F¶v-? CSns`§pw H^p ^thmw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv CÃ. Fjps¶¡v. F¶n«v btj tbms` sI¿mw…”
AkÄ A]msa Fjpt¶Â¸n¡m³ {lfn¨p.
“”””tfmsa AÃ,”
A]mÄ ko*pw SÅn.
“”””lN`w tkUW tSm¶pw BUyw…”
“”””lN`w tkUWt]m? cpÅv tkUW]m..Biv B] Bkq..F³s_ A¦nta…C§nsW sI¿p¶Smt\m A¦nta Cu t_bv F¶v- b_]ps¶?”
tUifmhN`w Nmf¨qXn B]n^ps¶¦n`pw ÌocWv In^n¡mSn^n¡m³ NjnªnÃ.
A]mÄ D¨¯n In^n¨p.
H¶pw fWÊn`mNmsS _n] A]msa tWm¡n.
“”””AÃ tfmsa t_bv tks_]m. ASv CãfnÃmsS sb®nsW..sb®nsW…Aksa sI¿p¼jm t_bv BNps¶,”
“”””FWn¡pw CSv Cãkà A¦nta…F³s_ bq_pw NqSow W¡n]m fSn…”
Ìoc³ ko*pw bSns] SÅn.
_n]psX tkUW D¨¯n`m]n.
AkÄ bnX]p¶Sv Ìoc³ A_nªp.
bs£ A]mÄ ko*pw SÅn.
“”””At¿m..Biv…At½…”
_n]]psX Wn`knan NqXpS U]Wo]kpw lЯn`pfm]n.
“”A¦nÄ…Biv…””
_n]]psX fnjnNapsX ewPn Wãs¸«p.
N®pNÄ fnjn¨p.
km] Sp_¶p.
AkÄ lzmhw Njn¡m³ dp²n½p«n.
“”….Biv….””
AkapsX l^o^w kn_ bq*p.
“”..Mm³ ..Mm³ ..f^n¨v …f^n¨v …..At½…A¦nÄ…””
Ìoc³ ko*pw SÅn.
“”….Biv….””
tkUWsNm*v bnXªv _n]m hÀÆlàn]psfXp¯v ÌocsW BªpSÅnf_n¡m³ {lfn¨p.
AkapsX N®pNan Wn¶v- N®pWoÀ N\¡nÃmsS {bkin¨p.
Ìoc³ ko*pw SÅn.
“”At½…””
B koXv fpjpk³ tNÄ¡p¶{S D_s¡ _n] A`_n¡^ªp.
“”””tfmsa…”
Ìoc³ Aksa knan¨p.
A]mÄ Akan Wn¶v- lÐsfm¶pw tN«nÃ.
“”””_n]m,”
A]mÄ ko*pw knan¨p.
bns¶]pw Akan Wn¶v AW¡sfm¶pfp*m]nÃ.
“”””tfmsa…”
A]mÄ ko*pw knan¨p.
sbs«¶v- S³s_ A^s¡«nWv tf AkapsX A^s¡«v làn]m]n sM^nªp.
AkapsX ssNNÄ A]msa Ipänk^nªp.
H^p ssN sNm*v A]mapsX S`]psX bn¼n AfÀ¯n AkÄ A]mapsX Ip*pNsa S³s_ Ip*pNant`¡v AfÀ¯n.
A]mapsX AV^w km]nt`s¡Xp¯v NXn¨o¼n Btklt¯msX Ipwdn¨p.
At¸mjm\v– Ìoc³ A¸p_s¯ fp_n]n thmc]n I^nªv NnX¶v- NkNÄ AN¯n sk¨v S§sa tWm¡n hz]wtemPw sI¿p¶ B`ohnsW Nm\p¶Sv.
“”””km,”
_n]]psX t]mWn]nt`¡v BªXn¨vsNm*v A]mÄ B`ohnsW tWm¡n knan¨p.
B`ohv Fjpt¶äp Aks^ hfobn¨p.
“”””Mm³ AXn¡p¼w _nt]sX N´v l^n¡v H¶v- AfÀ¯ns¡mXps¡Xo,”
A]mÄ B`ohntWmXv– b_ªp.
“”””_nt]sX N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv BUys¯]tÃ…Akav l^n¡pw H¶_n]s«,”
“”””ho`v sbm«nt¨m dmk¨m?”
B`ohv BNmw£t]msX tImUn¨p.
“”””Wo tWms¡Xo,”
Ìoc³ B`ohnsW A^s¡«v l^n¡p]À¯n¡m\n¨p.
“”””_nt]sX bqänt`¡v Np® F_§nt¸mNp¶Sv l^n¡v Nm\mtkm?”
A]mÄ tImUn¨p.
“”””Nm\mXm, dmk¨m,”
fNapsX t]mWn]nt`¡v Wà tkP¯n Smjv¶n_§n D]À¶psbm§p¶ A]mapsX `nwP¯n St`mXns¡m*v B`ohv b_ªp.
“”””Wn³s_ Np® l^n¡pw tIm^]n Npan¨m C^n¡ps¶ dmk¨m,”
Bt\m?”
AXn]psX hvboZv Nq«ns¡m*v Ìoc³ tImUn¨p.
ÌocsW k^nªpfp_p¡n, A]mÄ AXn¡p¶ Sma¯nWpw tkP¯nWpw AWphrSfm]n.
“”AtSXm dmk¨m,””
B`ohv b_ªp. “”
Wo F³s_ tfmÄsX ho sbm«n¨p,””
ÌocsW k^nªpfp_p¡n A]mÄ AXn¡p¶Sn³s_ Sma¯n`pw tkP¯n`pw AWphrSfm]n A^s¡«v tkP¯n fpNant`¡v D]À¯ns¡mXp¯psNm*v N®pNÄ AX¨p NnX¡pN]m]n^p¶ _n] sbs«¶v- N®pNÄ Sp_¶p.
fp¼n B`ohnsW N* AkÄ sbs«¶v Wm\n¨v Fjpt¶Â¡m³ SpX§n.
“”Wm\ns¡ym¶pw tk* tfmsa,””
AXn]psX Sma¯nWv SpÅn kn_¨psNm*n^p¶ _n]]psX k`n] sNmjp¯ fp`Nan St`mXns¡m*v B`ohv b_ªp.
“”tfmsa F§sW H¶v- Nm\m³ f½n Ft´m^km sNmSn¨sS¶v A_n]mtkm? ASv sNm*v H¶psNm*pw H«pw Wm\nt¡*…l^nNv hpOn¨v A¦nijs_ Np® tfmÄsX bqän S^p¶ B hpOw l^n¡v tfmÄ A_n]v….H«pw Wm\n¡msS…AtÃ`pw F´nWm Wm\n¡ps¶? tfmav f½ns] tWm¡nt¡…tfmsat¸ms` Ss¶ sfmt`w bq_pw Hs¡ Nm\n¨tà f½n C¸w tfmavsXw A¦nantâw fp¼n Wn¡ps¶? f½osX sfmOt¯¡v tWm¡nt¡.Ft´`pw Wm\w Ht*m¶p tWm¡nt¡…””
_n] B`ohn³s_ N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n.
B`ohv Aksa N®n_p¡n Nm\n¨p.
“”tfmav¡n¸w WÃ hptOmw S^n¸pw Nn«p¶ntÃ?””
B`ohv AkapsX C^pfp`Nan`pw fm_n fm_n sM^n¨vsNm*v tImUn¨p.
F³s_ f½o …A§sW tImUn¡tÃ..f½n F¶m b_ªm`pw FWn¡v e]¦^ Wm\km…””
“”F´nWm Wm\n¡ps¶?””
_n]]psX fp`¡®n AfÀ¯n sM^Xns¡m*v B`ohv tImUn¨p.
“”tfmÄsX bqän Cs¸m N]_n C_§ns¡m*n^n¡p¶ dmk¨³ A¦nan³s_ B N«n¡p®]ntÃ…AsS{S {bmlw tfmÄsX f½osX bqän tN_n F_§oSv– Bs\¶v tfmÄ¡_nt]m?””
A^s¡«pNÄ tIÀ¶p^]p¶ Sma¯n`pÅ k`n] lÐw AknsX D¨¯n Wn_ªp.
“”f½o H^p hwl]w,””
ÌocWv Smsj Nmfmhànt]msX D]À¶p Smjpt¼mÄ _n] B`ohntWmXv– tImUn¨p.
B`ohv N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Aksa tWm¡n.
“”Ìoc³ A¦nan³s_ fpÅp¶ hmVW¯nWv Np® F¶m¶pw W½sX fpÅp¶ hmVW¯nWv bqÀ F¶m¶pw f½n¡v A_n]m^pt¶m?””
“”A_n]m^p¶p, tfmsa..bns¶ A_n]mSn^n¡ptfm? F{S Nm`fm]n…””
“”t¨…F¶n«mt\m? AsSm¶v- f½n¡v H¶v- b_ªp S^m³ tf`m^pt¶m? F¦n Mm³ A¦nan³s_ fp¼n Wm\w sNXpk^pt¶m….?””
Ìoc³s_ tkPw NqXn.
f½o f½o ..A¦nta A¦nta…””
skNnan N]_n]Sv tbms` _n] diafp*m¡n.
“”F´m fpt¯?””
B`ohv sbs«¶v- tImUn¨p.
“”F³s_ f½o ..At¿m ..f½o A¦nta…³s_ AXnk]äo¶p Ft´m S^n¸v ..Hmtim ..tim ..tim …s´m^p S^n¸v …^hw ..At¿m At¿m …s]m s]m…””
_n]]psX DXÂ kn_¨p.
AkapsX tUi¯nsâ {bN¼Ww Ìoc³ A_nªp.
“”F³s_ A¦nta..A¦nta …A¦nta…””
AØnNÄ HXn¡p¶ kWyS]n AkÄ A]msa C_psN¸nXn¨p.
Ìoc³ AkapsX S`fpXn kmÕ`yt¯msX SjpNns¡m*v Aksa Ipwdn¨p.
sskNpt¶^s¯ Nm¸n]v¡v tlgw ko*pw PmÀZ³s_ fp¼n FÃmk^pw H¯pNqXn.
_n]]psX fmäw FÃmks^]pw AUvepSs¸Xp¯n.
Ct¸mÄ AkÄ hzmS{´yw Nn«n] In{Sl`es¯t¸ms` bm_n¡an¡p¶p.
D_s¡ In^n¡p¶p.
{bh^nt¸msX kÀ¯fmWw b_]p¶p.
AkapsX I`§anÂt¸m`pw H^p fmhvf^nNS FÃmk^pw N*p.
B`ohn³s_ tcm¬ lÐn¨p.
FÃmk^pw B`ohnsW tWm¡n.
“”F´mXo?””
hwhm^w Njnªt¸mÄ Kho´ tImUn¨p.
B`ohn³s_ fpO¯v B]n^w hq^y³ DUn¨ {bNmlw FÃmk^pw N*p.
“”_n]¡v sh`£³ Nn«n…dyq«n tNm¬sXÌn bs¦Xp¡m³,””
“”§vti?””
FÃmk^pw _n]s] bp¶m^n¨v tWm¡n.
AkÄ AenfmWt¯msX, Wm\t¯msX FÃmks^]pw Sn^n¨pw.
“”kWnS hwQXn¸n¡p¶Sm…H^mjv¨s¯ H^p¡w D*v. Wmsa fpSÂ tNmÌyqwhn³s_ H^p¡fm. H^p Ahp^kn¯v– k^p¶p F¶v- _n]¡v Aakv Hs¡ FXp¯v {Zhv Znssh³ sI¿m³,””
“”Ahp^knt¯m? A§sW]pw H^p tbt^m?””
t_mg³ tImUn¨p.
“”tb^v tks_ GSms*m B\v. FÃm^pw A]msa knan¡ps¶ Ahp^kn¯v F¶m,””
“”AsS¶m A§sW?””
sZ]vhn b_ªp.
“”A§sW H^mÄ¡v, {btSyNn¨v H^p {Zhv ZnsshWÀ¡v k«t¸^v koj\w F¦n A]mÄsX ssN¿n`n^n¸v– l^n]mkm³ hmVyS]nÃtÃm,””
“”sNmj¸w H*mtNzm B`oth?””
Kho´ S³s_ hwl]w f_¨psk¨nÃ.
“”Hm ..H¶pw tbXn¡*ms¶…AsSms¡ W½sX dmk³…Ìoc³ hmÀ ..I{NkÀ¯n…fµ³^mKm l^n¡v bYn¸n¨p sNmXp¯n«p*v.CtÃy tfmsa?””
“”tbm N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv ..f½o H¶v-…””
_n] Wm\t¯msX b_ªp.
F¶n«v Ìoc³s_ AXp¯v tIÀ¶v- k¶n^p¶p.
“”Dw ..Dw…””
t_mg³ Nr{Snf tUgyt¯msX b_ªp.
“”AkÄsX H^p Ca¡w…Wo F¶m Ìoc³ hm_nsW N`ym\w Njn¡m³ tbmNpkmt\m?””
sfmssd hv{NoWn N®pNÄ W«n^n¡]m]n^p¶ Ìoc³ sbs«¶v e]t¯msX K]tUksW tWm¡n.
“”F´mXm…?””
Ìoc³ sbs«¶v emkw fmäm³ {lfn¨p.
_n] At¸mtj¡pw A]mapsX N¿n Wn¶v- tcm¬ bnXn¨p tfXn¨p.
“”tfmsa tcm\n§p Sm…””
A]mÄ _n]]psX N¿n Wn¶v- tcm¬ Sn^nsN km§m³ {lfn¨p.
“”Mm³ tWm¡s« ..A¦nan³s_ sfmOw sbs«¶v fm_m³ Nm^\w F¶Sm¶v- ….§vti…A¦nÄ GgymsWäv Wyqhv B^pt¶m sfmssd`n N*psNm*n^ps¶….F´m CSv …Wm`v Unkh§Ä¡v fp¼v sNmÃs¸« ]pkSns] Sn^n¨_nªp….tNmSfwP`wNm^n ChsdÃm ….””
dm¡n km]n¡msS _n] tIm^f^kn¨Sv tbms` FÃmks^]pw tWm¡n.
FÃmk^pw K]tUksâ fpOt¯¡v tWm¡n.
K]tUk³ tdmV^inSWm]n Wn`w bSn¨p.