sgÃn]psX FÃm {lf§apw b^mK]s¸Xp¶ kmÀ¯]m\v gmt^m¬ tN«Sv. fm{Sfà bmÀ«n foänwPn sgÃns¡Sns^ làfm] knfÀlWfp]À¶p. Gäkpw CtfKpÅ bmÀ«n{bkÀ¯N^ns`m^mÄ F¶ Wn`]n KW_Âsh{N«_n Asæn sI]Àfm³ tbmÌnt`¡v b^nP\n¡mWm\v bmÀ«n]psX tW^s¯]pÅ So^pfmWw. Cu tbm¡v tbm]m `nÌn Wn¶v- Ss¶ In`t¸mÄ tb^v Wo¡w sI]vsS¡psf¶v- ]qWnäv sh{N«_n “”Ìm`n³”” F¶_n]s¸Xp¶ kntWmUv NpfmÀ AksWA_n]n¨p. “”]q dm¡v Hu«v sgÃn.”” kmÀ¯ tN«v gmt^m¬ kngmUt¯msX, S³s_ fXn]n S`sk¨p NnX¡pN]m]n^p¶ sgÃnt]mXv, b_ªp. “”Nm^yw Ct{Sw N¿o¶v tbmNq¶v- N^pSoà sgÃn. Wn³s_ bmÀ«ow Hs¡ WnWs¡Snt^ Wn¡pkmt\ CWn Aksa W¶m¡m³ Wo tbmN*Xm,”” sgÃn A¸tW^w In´mfPvWWm]n. “”AsSms¡ knXv Wo. CknsX Ct¸m C§sW Wn³s_ fXo sNX¡p¼w Mm³ H^p bmÀ«osW¸äow In´n¡p¶nÃ,”” dyq«nhvtbm«ns` H^p tUkUm^pkn³s_ Ipk«n`m]n^p¶p AkÀ. fp¼n b¨Wn_¯n eqfn]psX ftWmim^nS bp`v¯mjzm^fm]pw ASn^n`pw HSp¡pNan`pw Wn¡p¶ NmämXn f^§am]pw ASnWpf¸p_¯v D]À¶p]À¶p tbmNp¶ f`Wn^Nam]pw {b\]n¡p¶ks^ sNmSn¸n¨v Wn¡p¶p. BNmlknSmW¯n Wn_s] sk¬tfQ d`q\pNÄ Sq§n¡nX¡p¶p. tW^n] fªp bX`§Ä Uqs^ tUkUm^p¡Ä¡nX]n {b\]nNsa {bt`men¸n¨v Nm¯n^n¡p¶p. gmt^m\pw HmÀ¯p. sgÃn b_ªSv l^n]m\v. BNmlkpw eqfn]pw Nmäpw hq^yskan¨kpw C§sW ssUkhm¶nVyfm]n Ipäpw Wn_]pt¼mÄ WnÊm^fm] Nm^y§Ä Aà In´nt¡*Sv. bns¶´m\v? t{bfw? Sm³ Bs^s]¦n`pw t{bfn¡p¶pt*m? gmt^m¬ hz]w f_¶v- S³s_ fXn]n fpOffÀ¯n¡nX¡p¶ sgÃn]psX S`fpXn]n SjpNn. ASn³s_ hpO¯n Ak³ N®pNÄ bSns] AX¨p. l^o^¯n³s_ fpjpk³ em^kpw H^p Sqk Smtj¡v b_¶n_§nt¸mNp¶Sv tbms` bSns] bSns] tWÀ¯v– tWÀ¯v– CÃmsS]mNp¶Sv Ak³ A_nªp… sgÃn]v¡v hwl]w tSm¶n. Ak³ sbs«¶v- N®pNÄ Sp_¶p. AkapsX fXn]n AfÀ¶n^p¶ fpOw bSns] I^n¨p Aksa tWm¡n. knUq^S]nt`¡v tWm¡n sfuWn]m]n^n¡pN]m\v gmt^m¬. Ak³ sbs«¶v- Fjpt¶äp. AkÄ¡enfpOfm]n C^p¶p. AkapsX N®n WWkpt*m? Ak³ kn^ Wo«n AkapsX N®n hvbÀln¨p. “”F´mXo?”” DÅp`¡p¶ hvtWit¯msX Ak³ tImUn¨p. “”sWWs¡¶m skgfw?”” AkÄ AksW tWm¡n. bp©n^n¡m³ {lfn¨p. “”A_o¯nà sgÃn. sF tZm*v tWm …km«v– …”” km¡pNÄ ko*pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv N®pWo^n fp_nªp. “”t_m]n¨Wpkm]n Ft´`pw Cgyqhv?”” “”CÃ..Cgyqhv H¶pknÃ. bs£ …FWn¡_n]nÃ…”” sgÃn bp©n^n¨p. Ak³ AkapsX fpOw N¿ns`Xp¯p. “”Mm³ b_]mw. Ak³ bmÀ«ow Fs¶ms¡ b_ªv C§sW HmXnWX¡pkm. c]¦^ AwdogyÊym Ak³. tÌäv `oZÀ, Wmg\ `oZÀ Hs¡]m Ak³s_ fWÊnÂ. ASn³s_ ¹mWpw I^Xpk`ow Hs¡ …At¸mÄ Wns¶ Nm\m³ hf]knÃ. Ak³ Unkthmw H^©p fnWnäv F¦n`pw Wns¶ H¶v- N*m CSptbms` AXp¯n^p¶m Wo CSv tbms` skgfn¡¯nÃ,”” gmt^m¬ AksW tWm¡n. Ak³ b_ªSv tbms` t_m]ns] Nm\m¯Smt\m S³s_ kngfw? AÃ. t_m]n CSpks^]pw H^p {b\] AWpekfm]n S¶n Wn_ªn«nÃ. bns¶ F´m S³s_ {blvWw? H¶pw fWÊn`mNp¶nÃ. F´nWm\v S³s_ N®pNÄ Wn_ªSv–? “”t_m]ns] Mm³ HmÀ¯ptbm`pfnà sgÃn…t{bfw H¶pw Mm³ In´n¡pt¶]nÃ. bt¸w Ak³s_ A¸Wpw tIÀ¶v- So^pfmWn¨StÃ? FWn¡v A§sW CãvXkpw Cà AWnãvXkpw CÃ. bs£ F´m¶_oÃXm. H^p skgfw D*v FWn¡v. ASv F¶Sm¶v- fm{Sw A_o¯nÃ.”” sgÃn]pw ASpSs¶]m\v HmÀ¯Sv. gmt^m¬ Ct¸mÄ GäkpfVnNw hf]w In`kjn¡p¶Sv WµNpfmÀ hm_n³s_ Nm^y¯nWp tk*n]m\v F¶v- Ak³ A_nªn^p¶p. tNmsaKn³s_ hpkÀ®Kqdn`n]m\v. H^p kÀgw Wo*p Wn¡p¶ BtQmg§Ä B\v ¹m³ sI]vSn^n¡p¶Sv. ASn H^p hwPoS WmXNw gmt^m¬ WnÀt±ln¨n^p¶p BtQmg¡½nän]nÂ. knUymÀTn sNu¬hn`pw N½nän]psX emPfm\v. ASn³s_ hwknVm]NWm]n AkÄ WnÀt±ln¨Sv– WµNpfm_n³s_ tb^m\v. hwPoSÚWm\v. hminSy hwPoS N`m Wn^qbNWm\v. ASpsNm*v hm_n³s_ tfÂtWm«¯n H^p ^*p f\n¡qÀ Woap¶ b^nbmXn]p*m]m sbmSpKW¯n³s_ fm{Sfà fmVyf {l²]pw Nn«pw F¶v- b_ªt¸mÄ tNmtaKv ht´mgt¯msX h½Sn¨p. C{bmklyw Cw¥ogns` hwPoS]X¡w Nps_]mapNÄ WµNpfm_nsW ht¸mÀ«v sI¿msW¯n. Fdn ÌocWpw sgÃn]pw gmt^m\pw hwPoS]pw bns¶ tNmtaKv ]q\n]Wpw {bn³hn¸man³s_ tWSrSz¯n cnhnN-vhv Zn¸mÀ«vsf³än sI¶v- WµNpfm_ntWmXv Nm^yw AkS^n¸n¨t¸mÄ {bSo£n¨ FSnÀ¸v A]mapsX emP¯v Wn¶p*m]nÃ. gmt^m\nWp WµNpfmÀ hm_ntWmXv Fs´¦n`pw {btSyNn¨v Cãfpt*m? sgÃn hwl]n¨p. F¦n`pw A¡m^yw AktamXv– tImUnt¡*Snà F¶v- Ak³ AWpfmWn¨p. hUmhf]kpw fUybn¨p tdmVfnÃmsS WX¡p¶ B fWpgytWmXp AkÄ¡v GSm]m`pw {b\]sfm¶pw tSm¶pN]nà F¶v- AkWp_¸m]n^p¶p. hiSmbkpw fWÊ`nkpfmNmw. gmt^m\n³s_ hzemkw Gäkpw W¶m]n A_n]p¶ Bsa¶ Wn`¡v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Ak³ A§sW AWpfmWn¨p. “”tNmtaKn Wn³s_ Nm^yw H^p hwhm^kng]fm]n sgÃn,”” A¸w Njnªv gmt^m¬ b_ªp. “”Wo b\¡m^n]pw t`mNhpµ^n]pfm] fnWns] ka¡m³ WX¡pkm¶m sbmSp hwhm^w,”” sgÃn]psX fpO¯v BUyw tNmbw C^s¨¯ns]¦n`pw gmt^m\n³s_ bp©n^n¡p¶ fpOw N*t¸mÄ Ak³ Wn]{´n¨p. “”ASpw Mm³ Nm^\w. AkÀ¡v Nm^yk_n]nÃtÃm. FÃm^pw N^pSps¶ Wo Aksa ss`WXn¡m³ WX¡pkm¶m. CSv ks^ A§sW H^p tb^pw Wo tN¸n¨n«nÃ. CSv knt«s^ sgÃn. CWn Wo Aksa Nm\*,”” sgÃn Aksa tWm¡n In^n¨p. “”gmt^ms\,”” Ak³ b_ªp. “”FWn¡v Wà Nm^y§Ä sI]vSv K]n¨m lo`w. Wo]pw Fs¶ A§sW]m bYn¸nt¨. fnWn {ZPv AZnNväm. Akav Wln¡msS tWm¡mWm Wo Fs¶ F`v¸nt¨, AtÃ? A¸w MmsW¶m sI¿\w? bn´n^n]t\m? tkt\m? A§Ws¯ sgÃosW]mt\m sWW¡nãvXw gmt^m¬? AtSm F´v SymPkpw hin¨v Gä b\n Nw¹oäv sI¿p¶ sgÃot]t]m? b_ Wo!”” “”bs£ I¡t^, FXm Wo Ft´m^km hin¡ps¶? Ft´m^w Nan]m¡Â, Ft´m^w C³hÂäv!”” “”Wo Nan]m¡p¶nÃtÃm, Wo C³hÂäv sI¿p¶nÃtÃm. ASpfSn. ASv fSoXo FWn¡v,”” sbs«¶p*m] H^p knNm^¯Ån¨]n gmt^m¬ sgÃns] AfÀ¯ns¡«n¸nXn¨p. AkapsX fpOw S³s_ fpO¯v hvbÀln¨t¸mÄ sgÃn A_nªp AkapsX N®pNan Wn¶v- S³s_ fpOt¯¡v WWkp bXÀ¶n_§p¶p. Nps_ tW^w Ak³ Aksa A§sW Ss¶ WnÀ¯n. Hmt^m N®pWo^pw St¶mXpÅ AkapsX hfobW¯n³s_ Sna¡fm\v. Ak³ hz]w b_ªp. bns¶ AkapsX N®pWoÀ Ak³ Ip*psNm*v H¸ns]Xp¯p. “”N^]sÃXo,”” AkhmWw Ak³ b_ªp. “”CÃ,”” AkÄ N®pWo^n`qsX bp©n^n¨p. “”Ct¸mÄ H^p tNm¬cnZ³hv sgÃn. Wo knK]n¡pw F¶v-,”” “”F´v C`£³ Bt\m?”” “”ASpw K]n¡pw. bs£ Mm³ Dt±ln¨Sv fnWn]psX Nm^ykm,””

“”F¯nt]m FÃm^pw?”” WµNpfmÀ hnPs^äv– k`n¨qSn kn«psNm*v knan¨p tImUn¨p. “”hmÀ, FÃm^pw k¶p. H^©p fnWnäv. H^mÄ NqsX,”” shfnWmÀ iman³s_ {bVmW NkmX¯nt`¡v A£ft]msX tWm¡ns¡m*v gmt^m¬ b_ªp. shfnWmÀ iman FÃmk^pw F¯nt¨Às¶¦n`pw {bVmW k]`nWnÌv Af tPmbNpfmÀ fm{Sw k¶nÃ. CâÀkmjvhnän C³hv{«psfâv_v hwPoS¯n SpXÀ¨]m]n fq¶mfSpw H¶mfsS¯n tNmsaKn³s_ tb^v {blhvSfm¡n]kkWm\v AfÂ. Cu hwPoS WmXN b^nbmXn]psX Ws«ÃmtN*mkWm\v Ak³. bs£ BUyUnkhw Ss¶ Smfhn¨mÂ… Pm]N^pw AentWSm¡apw knknV DbN^\§Ä km]n¡p¶k^pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Wà Btkl¯n`m\v. tUlo] fmVyf {l²Nn«m³ tbmNp¶ H^p hwPoS b^nbmXn]psX emPfmNpkm³ tbmkpN]m\v S§sa¶v- FÃmk^pw A_nªn^p¶p. Njnª Unkhw WµNpfmÀ b^nbmXn]psX GNtUl^qbw knk^n¨ptNĸn¨t¸mįs¶ FÃmk^pw Btkl¯n`m]n^p¶p. {bVmW emP§sams¡ A]mÄ AenW]n¨p Nm\n¨t¸mÄ FÃmk^pw BSnl]n¡pNNqXn sI]vSp. C¶m\v BUys¯ bm«n³s_ _ntijvh SpX§p¶Sv. k]`n³s_ hwPoSfm\v t{bm{Pmfn³s_ Kok³ F¶v- WµNpfmÀ BUy Unkhw Ss¶ b_ªn^p¶p. BUys¯ bm«n³s_ Cu\w A]mÄ Pm]Ns^]pw kmtUymbN^\§Ä km]n¡p¶kt^]pw fqant¡Ä¸n¡pN]pw sI]vSn^p¶p. B ^*p hµÀe§an`pw WµNpfmÀ l^n¡pw fUy`i^n]n B]n^p¶p. “”skÅfXn¨ms`¶m, F¶m sb^vtcmÀfWvhm…bm«n`m]m`pw AenW]¯n`m]m`pw,”” {bVmW Pm]nNfm^n H^mam]n^p¶ UobvSn b_ªp. A^f\n¡qÀ Njnªp. Af CWn]pw F¯n]n«nÃ. gmt^m¬ WµNpfm_nsW U]Wo]fm]n tWm¡n. “”k^s«, k]`nWnÌtÃ… k¶n«v fSn,”” WµNpfmÀ b^p¡³ lЯn AktamXp b_ªp. sbs«¶v- Af`nsâ ^qbw kmSn¡ {bSy£s¸«p. gmt^m¬ tUgyw Wn]{´n¡m³ {lfn¨p. “”it`m, UobvSn,’ AXps¯¯n Ak³ UobvSnt]mXv tImUn¨p. “”Bw sF t`äv?”” “”tWm, ]q BÀ Hm¬ ssXw…”” AkÄ Ah´pãvXn bp_¯v Nm\n¡msS b_ªp. “”im]v, fmaknN, Bw sF t`äv?”” PnämÀ fo«pN]m]n^p¶ H^p sb¬Np«nt]mXv Ak³ tImUn¨p. “”CÃ, NrSytW^¯m…”” AkÄ In^n¡m³ {lfn¨psNm*v b_ªp. bns¶ Af gmt^m\n³s_ AXps¯¯n. “”it`m, gmt^m¬,”” Ak³ km]v– Sp_¶v- In^n¨psNm*v tImUn¨p. “”Bw sF t`äv?”” “”s]hv,”” Ak³s_ N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n gmt^m¬ b_ªp. “”]q BÀ t`äv. t`äv ssd imcv B³ AkÀ,”” imÄ SnN¨pw WnlÐfm]n. “”do Hm¬ ]pkÀ t¹hv sWu!”” AkÄ Ah´pãvXnt]msX b_ªp. WµNpfmÀ In«s¸Xp¯n] Cu\¯n³s_ do Ko Fw Af`ntWmXv k]`nWn tNĸn¡pkm³ b_ªp. bÃkn kas^ A]SvW `anSfm]n Ak³ A]msa km]n¨ptNĸn¨p. bns¶ AWpbÃkn]pw. “”Nm` {bfm\¯n sI_n] H^p tk^nt]g³ k¶p AfÂ,”” WµNpfmÀ b_ªp. AkWSv tN«Sm]n emkn¨nÃ. “”Cu Cu\¯nWv H^p {btSyNS D*v. b_]mtfm Af`nWSv?”” A]mÄ tImUn¨p. “”tNmsaKn³s_ H^p Kqdn`n t{bm{Pmw fm{Sftà CSv?”” ^hn¡m¯ f«n WµNpfmÀ tNÄ¡msS Ak³ bn_pbn_p¯p. “”AÃmsS hpdn³tf¯]psX cn`mÀf\ns]m¶pfÃtÃm!”” gmt^m¬ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tNÄs¡]m\v Ak³ ASv b_ªSv. WµNpfm_nsâ tWs^ A{l²fm]n tWm¡n]SÃmsS Af D¯^w b_ªnÃ. “”hmÀ, sf]v sF?”” gmt^m¬ tImUn¨p. A]mÄ h½Sn¡p¶ ^oSn]n S`Np`p¡n. “”SymP^mK³s_ {bËmU eà knK]w tbms` tPmbm`Nrgv\ em^Sn]v¡v H^p Hms¸_ D*v. ASn³s_ FÃm Nt¨^n¡pw BUyw bmXp¶Sv fq¶p ^mP§Ä fnN-vhv sI]vS H^p NoÀ¯Wfm\v. ASm\v– hmÀ Ct¸mÄ bmXn]Sv. B fq¶v- ^mP§Ä iwhVzWn, sse^kn, NmWZ.”” WµNpfmÀ Aksa AenWµn¨v tWm¡n. AkÄ AenfmWt¯msX, A¸w `Öt]msX]pw A]msa tWm¡n. WµNpfmÀ ko*pw Af`n³s_ tWs^ Sn^nªp. Cu\w b_ªpsNmXp¯p. Af Cu\w km]n¡m³ SpX§n. FÃmk^pw WµNpfm_n³s_ fpO¯v ASrbvSn]psX H^p Wnj`m«w N*p. “”Af B “”P”” ]v¡v H^p cmanwPv tWm«v B\v tk*Sv. A¸w Énbv BNp¶p*v. tdm H¶v- `qhv B¡n {bhv sI¿q,”” fWÊnÃmfWtÊmsX Ak³ AWph^n¨p. bns¶ A]mÄ PnämÀ, No tdmZv kmUNÀ¡pw sbÀNgWnÌpNÄ¡pw WnÀt±lw WÂNn. Aks^ms¡ A]mÄ b_ªSv A£^w {bSn ht´mgt¯msX AWph^n¨p. ko*pw WµNpfmÀ Af`n³s_ tWs^ Sn^nªp. “”AfÂ, ss_hnwPv tXm¬ A{S {gn BN*. bmXpt¼mÄ `]¯nWp fpNant`¡v tbmN^pSv. ssVkS¯n³s_ fnZn`n A¸w cmÌv BNp¶p*v. ASv Nt{*mÄ sI¿q,”” Af A]mÄ b_ªSptbms` sI¿m³ {lfn¨p. bs£ F{S {lfn¨n«pw WµNpfmÀ Dt±ln¨nX¯v Af`nWv F¯m³ bän]nÃ,”” “”Ct¸mjpw {gn B\v. tkm¡`n³s_ tft`]m\v Ct¸mjpw. cmÌpw. l^n]m]n«nÃ,”” A]mÄ b_ªp. “”tNm¸v-“” N`nN]_n Af ImXns]jpt¶äp. “”ss_hnwPv tXm¬, {gnÂ, ssVkSw…AtS ..hms_ ..CSn`pw kÃy emPkSÀ fm^psX fp¼n tbm]n Cu hmVWw km]n¨n«m tNmsaKnt`¡v Mm³ fq¶v- sNmtÃmw N¸p sNm*s¶. H^p bp¶m^ tfmWpw Af`ntWmXv Mm³ km]n¡ps¶ l^n]à F¶v- b_ªn«nÃ….”” imÄ WnlÐfm]n. FÃmk^pw WµNpfm_nsW]pw Af`nsW]pw fm_n fm_n tWm¡n. “”AtS …FWn¡v F³s_ ftWmVÀ½fWph^n¨v fmt{S km]n¡m³ H¡s¯mÅq. ASv bäq¦n fmt{S MmWo Xofn CWn DÅq. Aà Fs¶¡qXmsS Wn§¡v Cu t{bm{Pmw sI¿m³ bä¯nÃtÃm. k]`nWm\v Cu t{bm{Pmfn³s_ tfmÌv– Ct¼mÀ«³äv F¶v- hm_v Ss¶ b_ªn«ntÃym? CknXn¸w MmWÃmsS tks_ sNmÅmkp¶ k]`nWnÌpNÄ CÃm¯ ØnSn¡v ….”” Ak³ b_ªp fpjpfn¡p¶SnWp fp¼v gmt^m¬ fpt¼m«v– k¶v- Ak³s_ ssN]n Wn¶v- k]`n³ bnXn¨p km§n. “”Wo N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv B^m¶m Aft` Wn³s_ knIm^w?”” AkÄ kn^ Iq*n AktWmXp tImUn¨p. “”SymP^mKtWm? sl½m¦pXnt]m? dotSmktWm AtSm sfmhmÀt«m? B^m]m`pw Aft`, Wo]nWn Xofn`nÃ,”” bns¶ Ak³ WµNpfm_nsW tWm¡n. “”hmÀ £fn¡\w,”” AkÄ A]mapsX fp¼n NpWnªp. bmU§an hvbÀln¨p. tdms]Xp¯v N®pNan tIÀ¯p. bns¶ sWän]n`pw sW©n`pw C^p tSmapNan`pw sSm«v Np^nlv k^¨p. bns¶ N®pNaX¨v–, k]`n³ tSman`fÀ¯n. `]n¨v, {bmÀTWt]msX, hfÀ¸n¨v–, WµNpfmÀ Af`nWv b_ªpsNmXp¯ Cu\w km]n¨p. Sm³ bYn¨_nª hwPoSbmY§Ä AkÄ So{kS^fm]n HmÀ¯p. hwPoSw BUyfm]n b_ªpS¶]mÄ fpS hN` Pp^pWmT³ fms^]pw AkÄ HmÀ¯p. ASntW¡mapb^n Ss¶ knlzhnt¨`v¸n¨ sUuSyw b^mK]fmN^psS¶v- fWwsWm´v {bmÀTn¡pN]pw sI]vSp. fWÊv bqÀ®fm]pw Cu\¯n³s_ Bßmkn`À¸n¨v AkÄ km]n¨p. fnWnäpNÄ¡v tlgw BNmw£t]msX, tbXnt]msX, AkÄ N®pNÄ Sp_¶p. S³s_ {lfs¯ WµNpfmÀ F§sW Nm\p¶p F¶_n]m³ AkÄ e]s¸«v A]msa tWm¡n. FÃmk^pw A´w kn«v tWm¡pN]m\v Ss¶. BUyfm]n AkÄ WµNpfm_nsâ Ip*n bp©n^n N*p. A]mÄ ssNNÄ D]À¯n. WnÀ¯msS N^tQmgw WX¯n. AknsX]p*m]n^p¶ hÀÆ^pw. “”CSm\v…”” AkapsX AXps¯¯n A]mÄ b_ªp. “”CSm\v AÊ km]W,”” gmt^m\n³s_ fnjnNÄ Wn_sªmjpNn. AkÄ A]mapsX tWs^ ssNNÄ Nq¸n. bns¶ Sn^nªv Af`nsW tWm¡n. “”Cu t{bm{Pmfn³s_ tNmÀZntWäÀ ØmWfm\v Fs¶ fmtWKvsf³äpw tNmtaKv ]q\n]Wpw G¸n¨Sv. bs£ Aft`, ssUkw FWn¡v Fanfs¸Xm³ H^p Akh^w NqXn¯¶p. Wo]pw Nm^\fm ASnWv. Wn³s_ Ìmt*ZnWv, sh`n{dnänipZnWv hyq«dnÄ Aà Cu sI_n] t{bm{Pmw. ASvsNm*v, Cu t{bm{Pmw tNm HmÀZntWäÀ F¶ Wn`]v¡v ^*p km¡v Wnt¶mXv b_]mWpÅ AVnNm^sfWn¡p*v. B ^*v km¡v CSm\v,”” AkÄ shfnWmÀ iman³s_ {bVmW NkmX¯nt`¡v kn^ Iq*n. bns¶ Ak³s_ N®pNant`¡v tWm¡n b_ªp. “”sPäv Hu«v–!”” WmXNo]fm] A ^wPw Nq«pNmÀ l^n¡v BhzUn¨p. FÃmk^psX]pw {bSnN^\w gmt^m\nWv AWpNq`fms\¶v N*v– Af AfÀ¯nIkn«n ^wPw kn«p. _ntigvh fp_]v¡v fpt¼m«v– sbm]vs¡m*n^p¶p. AfnSfm]n fUybn¨m]n^n¡pw fn¡t¸mjpw WµNpfmÀ shfnWmÀ imans` Nym¼n k^p¶Sv. F¦n`pw _ntijvh`nWp ewPw k^p¶ H^p {bkÀ¯n]pw A]mapsX emP¯v Wn¶pfp*m]nÃ. AenW]n¨p Nm\n¨psNmXp¡`pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv bm«pNÄ¡v Cu\fnX`pw FÃmks^]pw ASnl]n¸n¡p¶ NrSyS]n A]mÄ sI]vSptbm¶p. A]mapsX ftWmVÀ½f_nªv gmt^m¬ k]`n³ km]n¨p. A]mÄ¡v AWnãfp*m¡mSn^n¡m³ AkÄ Ft¸mjpw {lfn¨p. fn¡t¸mjpw A]mapsX {bSo£s] NX¯nsk«p¶ ^oSn]n AkÄ sbÀtcmw sI]vSp. FÃmUnkhkpw gmt^m¬ N®ot^msX {bmÀTn¡pfm]n^p¶p. A]msa fUyw f\¡msS Nm\pkm³. FÃm Unkhkpw {bSo£t]msX AkÄ N^pSpw. ssUkw F³s_ {bmÀ°W tNÄ¡pw. C¶v- hmÀ NpXn¡pN]nÃ. F{S So{kfm]m\v Mm³ {bmÀSn¨Sv–! F{S B{Pit¯msX! ASnWp C¶v- AWpNq`fm] c`w Nm\pw. bs£ AkapsX {bmÀTWNsa]pw {bSo£Nsa]pw knc`fm¡p¶ {bSnN^\fm\v WµNpfm_n³s_ emP¯v Wn¶p*m]ns¡m*n^p¶Sv. ssNkn^`pNÄ¡nX]nt`m Ip*s¯m hnPs^änÃmsS, fUy`i^n]n Ipk¡m¯ N®pNanÃmsS H^n¡`pw A]msa AkÄ _ntijvh Nym¼n N*nÃ. H^p sskNpt¶^w timÌ`n Wn¶v- Nym¼n k¶t¸mÄ fmaknNs]]pw AlznWnt]]pw fm{Stf AkÄ shfnWmÀ iman N*pÅq. “”FknsX hmÀ?”” AkÄ AUvepSt¯msX tImUn¨p. “”fäptÅm^pw F´nt]?”” “”C¶s¯ Unkh¯nWv Ft´m {btSyNS]p*v¶v- b_ªp hmÀ. C¶v- _ntijvh Cöpw. ASpw b_ªp H^p Hmt«m]n N]_nt¸m]n,”” gmt^m¬ AUvepSs¸«p. F´v {btSyNS]m]n^n¡pw? AkÄ¡v A]msa Nm\\sf¶v- tSm¶n. bs£ FknsX]m]n^n¡pw. knan¨p tImUn¡msf¶p sk¨mÂ, eqfpO¯v sfmssd tcm¬ Dbt]mPn¡m¯ Ht^s]m^mÄ In`t¸mÄ WµNpfmÀ hmÀ B]n^n¡mw. CWn Ds*¦n NqXn S³s_ NmÄ hmÀ Aä³Zv sI¿\sf¶nÃ. AkÄ Sn^n¨p timÌ`nt`¡v WX¶p. In´mfPvW]m]n WX¡pt¼mÄ bmSt]m^¯v, f^§Ä¡v Nosj H^p skap¯ hzncväv NmÀ bmÀ¡v sI]vSn^n¡p¶Sv N*p. ASnWXp¯v Wo` Ko³hpw skap¯ Xo gÀ«pw V^n¨v ASnhpµ^n]m] H^p ]pkSn Wn¡p¶Sv AkÄ N*p. NX¶p tbmNp¶SnWnX]n gmt^m¬ Aksa tWm¡n bp©n^n¨p. AkÄ Sn^n¨pw. “”it`m, ¹ohv H¶v- Wn¡q,”” Aksa NX¶ptbmNp¶SnWnX]n H^p bp^pglÐw tN«p gmt^m¬ sbs«¶v- Wn¶p. FknXp¶m\v, B^m\v knan¨Sv? AkÄ IpäpwtWm¡n. sbs«¶v- kjn]^nNn bmÀ¡v sI]vSn^p¶ B Nm_nWpÅn Wn¶v- hpePWm] H^p ]pkmkv C_§nk^p¶Sv gmt^m¬ N*p. B]mapw BUyw N* ]pkSn]pw AkapsX]Xps¯¡v k¶p. B sI_p¸¡m^³s_ fpOt¯¡v AkÄ hwl]t¯msX tWm¡n. Sm³ A_n]pw C]msa. fp¼v N*n«p*v. bs£ FknsX]m\v? Ft¸mjm\v? gmt^m\nWv A¸hf]t¯¡v HmÀ½n¡mWm]nÃ. sb«¶kapsX fpOw AUvepS¯m`pw ht´mg¯m`pw knXÀ¶p. “”_co¡v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv hmÀ-“” gmt^m¬ Ak^psX tWs^ In^n¨psNm*v Wo§n. “”_co¡v hmÀ! kms« hÀss{bhv! hms_´m CknsX?”” AkÄ A]mapsX ssNNÄ Nq«n¸nXn¨p. bns¶ AkÄ _coOntWmsXm¸fpÅ ]pkSn]psX ssNNan`pw. “”H^p {bmklyw fm{Stf gmt^m¬ Fs¶ N*n«pÅq, b¸s] CâÀkyq sI¿m³ ko«n k¶t¸mÄ. C¸jpw HmÀ½]p*tÃm!”” _co¡v AUvepSs¸«p. “”ko«n sk¨v Mm³ hm_nsW H^p Sk\s] N*n«nÅq F¶Sv tW^m. bs£ C§sW Wn_ªp Wn¡pktà hm_n³s_ tb^pw sc]nhpw Wmg\ CâÀWmg\ foZn] tkÄZnÂ!”” _co¡v In^n¨p. “”Wng]v¡v Bsa fWÊn`mt]m?”” _co¡v Wngt]mXv– tImUn¨p. “”Wo b_ªn«p*tÃm,”” Wng HmÀ¡m³ {lfn¨p. “”gmt^m¬ AtÃ? Iocv fnWnÌÀ {cm³hohv hn_n]¡n³s_ fNÄ?”” gmt^m¬ In^n¨psNm*v S`Np`p¡n. “”§vim, gmt^m¬”” _co¡v b_ªp. “”CSv Wngm tPmOs`. F]nwhns` tZmÎ_m\v. NmÀZnt]maKnÌv. F®fä irU]§Ä No_nfp_n¡p¶ irU]fnÃm¯ tZmNväÀ. Ct¸mÄ F³s_ imÀ«n³s_ PmÀZn]³,”” B b^mfÀl¯n³s_ shuµ^yw GsäXp¯v gmt^m¬ Aksa HmfWn¨v tWm¡n. Wng _coOnsW AXn¡m³ ssN]p]À¯n. “”e]¦^ sZbyq«n FZnäÀ Hs¡]m\v. hz´w b{Sw tbm`pw km]n¡p¶Sv S` Nojm]n¸nXn¨ms\t¶]pÅq!”” Ak^psX In^n SfmlNÄ gmt^m¬ BhzUn¨p. “”hms_´m CknsX?”” gmt^m¬ tImUn¨p. “”Cutlmt], Wmsa b¸m]v¡v _nssh³ s`äÀ sNmXpt¡*n k^ptfm? ^mKys¯ Gäkpw sh`n{dnän tKÀ\`nÌv B\v tN^a¯n F¯n]n^n¡ps¶…”” AkÄ Nan]m]n b_ªp. “”F³s_ H^p {c*v D*v gmt^m¬ CknsX…Hm!”” _co¡v sbs«¶v- Ft´m HmÀ¯p. “”Aà gmt^m¬ bYn¡p¶ tNmtaKv GSm\v?”” “”sh]n³_v tf^ohv,”” “”§vti? _n]`n?”” ASyVnNw AUvepSt¯msX _coOv tImUn¨p. “”AsS hmÀ, F´m?”” “”Zn]À fo! At¸mÄ WµNpfm_nsW A_n]m^n¡qtÃm AtÃ?”” “”WµNpfmÀ hm_nsW? hm_nsW F§sW _coOv hm_nW_n]mw?”” “”gmt^m¬, ASv hdvssXän CÃm¯ H^p Wo* NT]m\v–. b_]m³ hf]fnÃ. H¯n^n hf]sfXp¡pw. FknsX]p*v fim³? “” “”F³s_ _coOv hmt_, MmWpw hm_nsW S¸n C_§oSm. Cs¶t´m {btSyNS]pÅ Unkhfms\¶v b_ªv hm_v Hs^mä fp§Â fp§n,”” ASv tN«v _coOn³s_ fpOemkw fm_n. A]mÄ kngmUt¯msX Wngs] tWm¡n. “”F´m hÀ?”” A]mapsX fpOs¯ fmäw {l²n¨v gmt^m¬ tImUn¨p. “”MmWpw hm_nsW AtWzgn¨n_§n]Sm,”” SpXÀ¶v- N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv AkÄ tNmtaKv Kqdn`n BtQmg¯n³s_ emPfm]pÅ hwPoS WmXN¯n³s_ Nm^ykpw ASn S³s_ D¯^kmUn¯kpw Hs¡ AkÄ Aks^ A_n]n¨p. “”_coOv hm_nWv A_n]mw hm_n³s_t{bm»whv. hmÀ t{Nm\nNv B¡timanNv B\v. sI]n³ hvtfm¡À B\v. ssi`n AWmÀ¡n¡Â B\v. ¹ohv hmÀ, Fs¶ fsäm^mam]n hmÀ Nm\p¶nænÂ, b_]q…F´m\v WµNpfmÀ hm_n³s_ Cgyq?”” gmt^m\n³s_ hz^¯ns` U]Wo]S]nt`¡v _coOpw Wng]pw tWm¡n. “”¹ohv, hmÀ,”” gmt^m¬ ko*pw b_ªp. “”Ft¶mXv H¶v- b_]mtfm WµNpfmÀ hm_n³s_ Cgyq F´m¶v-? Mm³ H¯n^n s_hvsbNväv– sI¿p¶ foZn] sbjvh³ B\v hmÀ Sm¦Ä. sF t{bmfnhv, hm_n³s_ ho{N«v F´v Ss¶]m]m`pw Mm³ Bt^mXpw b_]nÃ,”” gmt^m\n³s_ N®pNÄ Wn_tªm? _coOv AkapsX fpOt¯¡v tWm¡n. “”G]v–, gmt^m¬,”” _coOv AXp¯v sI¶v- AkapsX tSman bnXn¨p. Ak³ Wng]psX tWs^ N®pNÄ Nm\n¨p. Wng fpt¼m«v– k¶v gmt^m\nsW tIÀ¯pbnXn¨p. gmt^m¬ tN«p, WµNpfm_n³s_ NT. _coOv ASv b_]pt¼mÄ CX]v¡v lÐw CX_n]n^p¶p. CX]v¡v Ak³ N®pNÄ SpX¨p. Wng]pw. WµNpfm_n³s_ NT gmt^m\nsW]pw SaÀ¯n. hpfn{Sm sh³ Ss¶ tWm¡p¶Sv tbms` AkÄ¡v tSm¶n. BNmlWo`nf]v¡¸p_¯v, f^SNkpw bpgy^mPkpw C{µWo`kpw kna]p¶ hzÀ®WUn¡^]n Wn¶v- hpfnSm sh³ S³s_ tWs^ tWm¡n tkUWt]msX bp©n^n¡p¶SkÄ N*p. bns¶ fpOw tSman`fÀ¯n AkÄ Wn`t¯¡v tWm¡n. “”WµNpfmÀ do¨n`p*mkpw gmt^m¬,’ _coOv b_ªp. “”gmt^m¬ BUyw hm_nsW Nm\q. bns¶ Nt*mamw M§Ä,”” AkÄ fpOfp]À¯n _coOnsW]pw Wngs]]pw fm_nfm_n tWm¡n. “”C¶v- H^p kÀgw bqÀ¯n]mNp¶p, hpfn{S tbm]n«v,”” _coOv SpXÀ¶p. “”FWn¡_n]mw…C¶v- Ak³ tdmVwsNXptkmaw NpXn¨p NX¯o^Sv Ss¶ NnX¶p_§pw. hpf]v¡v Gäkpw CgXfpÅ timantZ hvtbm«v B]n^p¶p NX¯o^w…AkWSv NqsX¡qsX b_]pfm]n^p¶p,”” Aks^ kn«v lwOpfpOw NX¡^]nt`¡m\v gmt^m¬ tbm]Sv. hÔy SpX§n]n^p¶p. AkapsX N®pNÄ AksW {em´fm]n b^Sn. BapNÄ¡nX]n A]map*mNnöv- AkÄ¡v SoÀ¨]m]n^p¶p. A¸w Uqs^ GNm´fm] H^p bm_]psX fpNan H^mÄ Wn¡p¶Sv AkÄ N*p. hfp{U¯n³s_ Abm^S]nt`¡v H^p N«n tbms` SÅnWo`v¡p¶ bm_. ASv hm_mt\m? AkÄ hq£n¨ptWm¡n. AkapsX N®pNÄ knXÀ¶p. AsS, ASv hmÀ Ss¶]m]m\v. AkÄ AkntX¡v NpSn¨p. hfp{U¯nsâ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv B^kw. hÔy]psX Wn_¨mÀ¯v fpjpk³ fp_ntkä bX]manNsat¸ms` I{Nkma¯n Wn_ªp. gmt^m\nWv tSm¶n, fp¼n BÀ¯`¡p¶ hfp{U¯nsâ hwPoS¯nWnX]n UoWfm] H^p hz^w tNÄ¡p¶pt*m? “”Wµq…FknsX]m Wo?”” gmt^m\nWv lzmhw WãvXs¸Xp¶Svtbms` tSm¶n. hfp{U¯n³s_ Bj¯n Wn¶v- hpfn{S WµNpfmÀ hm_n³s_ hfobt¯¡v WX¶Xp¡m³ {lfn¡pN]m\v. skap¯ khv{S§a\nªv, BÀ¯`¡p¶ Sn^fm`NÄ¡nX]n`qsX hpfn{S WµNpfm_nsW `£yfm¡n WX¶Xp¡p¶Sv gmt^m¬ N*p. sbs«¶v- hpfn{S Ss¶¡*p WnÂNp¶Spw gmt^m¬ N*p. “”tfmta…”” ASn^nÃm¯ kmÕ`yt¯msX hpfn{S Ss¶ sSmXm³ kn^`pNÄ Wo«p¶Spw AkÄ N*p. B kn^ÂhvbÀlw S³s_ tSman`f^p¶S_n]m³ AkÄ N®pNÄ AX¨p. A¸w Njnªv N®pNÄ Sp_¶t¸mÄ AkÄ N*Sv S³s_ N®pNant`¡v DäptWm¡p¶ WµNpfm_nsW]m\v. A]mÄ bm_¸p_¯v Wn¶v- C_§n k¶n^n¡p¶p. “”hptf…”” A]mapsX lÐw gmt^m¬ tN«p. A]mÄ S³s_ N®pNan`päptWm¡ns¡m*v b_]pN]m\v–. “”sIu^wPn]n Wmsa]m\v Wn³s_ fpXn]n Mm³ kh´bpgvbw IqXn¡mWpÅ tWÀ¨Njn¡p¶Sv. sNm¡¯]ns` Gäkpw Wà bq¡¨kX¡m^tWmXv bpSp kh´bpgv¸§Ä Ss¶ sNm*pk^m³ b_ªn«p*v, Mm³. NmaoQ«¯nÂ, A^dntµm fmÀ¤nÂ, ^do{µknim_nÂ, sPu^o l¦À WnNpWvKn …Hs¡ Wfp¡v tbmN\w. NmanfmSmkn³s_ d`n¡Ãn kn^ fp_n¨v tIm^s]Xp¯v Wn³s_ Sn^psWän]n Sn`Nw ImÀ¯\w FWn¡v….”” gmt^m¬ sbm«n¡^ªp. hfp{U¯n³s_ s^u{UhwPoS¯nWp tf AkapsX N^¨n WµNpfm_n³s_ NmSpNsa sbmÅn¨p. “”hptf,”” A]mÄ BÀ¯Wm]n knan¨p. bns¶ AkapsX tSman hvbÀln¨p. hvbÀln¨ Wnfngw Ss¶ So]n sSm«Sp tbms` ssN bn³k`n¨p. “”iq U »Zn si BÀ ]q?”” A]mÄ A`_n. fUy¯n³s_]pw N©mkn³s_]pw ^q£PÔw Aksa sbmÅn¨p. A]mÄ AkapsX tWs^ fnjnNÄ fmämsS tWm¡n. “”gmt^m¬,”” AkÄ b_ªp. “”gmt^m¬?”” Akan Wn¶v- ^*p IpkXpNÄ fm_n Wn¶v- A]mÄ tImUn¨p. bns¶ A]mÄ Aksa BsNs]m¶p Ipjnªp tWm¡n. “”Hm, FWn¡_n]mw. gmt^m¬ {bemNÀ. bm«pNm^n. Aà gmt^m¬ G^n] C{hmt] {bVmWf{´n. C¸w ImNmsS tNmf]n sNX¡p¶p. sNm¶p SÅotà sNmt_ bmkw bm`hvSoWnNsa…AWpekn¡v….AÃ…Wo B gmt^m¬ AÃ…Wo GSv gmt^m¬?”” “”Cäv– Cuhv F t_m§v NzÌy³ Xp Bh-vNv, hmÀ,”” B A´^o£Sn`pw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv AkÄ A§sW b_ªp. “”Hs¡ fmZw,”” H¶v- BXn]p`ªpsNm*v A]mÄ tImUn¨p. “”sU³ km«v Cuhv U ss_äv NzÌy³?”” AkÄ A]mtamXXp¯p. “”tf sF Bh-vNv?”” “”Cucv ]q kpZv `kv Xp,”” AkÄ HmÀ¯p: tImUn¡t\m Mm³? hmÀ F§sW {bSnN^n¡pw? A`_pw? Io¯ b_]pw? SÃpw? F´v k¶m`pw tk*nÃ. tImUn¡pN Ss¶. “”hm_nsW C§sW Nm\m³ hpfn{Sm fmZw B{Pin¡p¶pt*m? hzÀ¤¯n Wn¶v- fmZw hm_n³s_ Cu AkØN*p N^]p¶p*mkntÃ?”” AkÄ A]mapsX {bSnN^\w Nm¯p. “”hzÀ¤w!”” A]mÄ bpÑt¯msX A`_n. “”FXo hzÀ¤w Ds*¶v- b_]pt¼mÄ W^Nw D*v F¶pw b_t]*n k^pw. shmÀt¤mw W^tNmw Ds*¶v- b_]p¼w sINp¯mWpw ssUtkmw Ds*¶pw b_t]*n k^pw. CÃ! ssUkw CÃ! CsÃXo- D*m^pt¶Â F³s_ hptfsW Ak³ …AksW¶p sk¨m B^m? ssUkw…ssUkw H*m^pt¶Â F³s_ hptfsW AkWp sNmÃmsS tWm¡¯nÃm^pt¶m? tWm¡¯nÃm^pt¶mXo¶v-? Wos]¶m fn*ms¯? FXo Wos]¶m fn*mt¯¶v- ?”” A]mÄ fUy¯n³s_]pw N©mkn³s_]pw `i^n]nÂ, tNmbt¯msX PÀÖWw SpXÀ¶p. “”Aà MmWnSv Bt^mXm hwhm^n¡ps¶?”” A]mÄ ko*pw gmt^m\n³s_ AXp¯v k¶v- AkapsX N®pNan hq£n¨p tWm¡n. “”§v ti? Wo]mt\m?”” A]mÄ ko*pw bnt¶m«v fm_n. “”Iocv fnWnÌ_psX tfmsa´nWm Cu hf]¯v CknsX F³s_ AXp¯v Wn¡ps¶? Hm iiii ….”” A]mÄ D_s¡ In^n¡m³ SpX§n. NX`v¯n^fm`NÄ¡v tft` AkÄ A]mapsX In^n]`NÄ tN«p. “”Wo F³s_ t{bm{Pmw tNmZntWäÀ NqXn]m\tÃm AtÃ? tfmta …”” A]mÄ WnÀ¯n Aksa H¶v- tWm¡n. “”At¿m, FWn¡v tfmsa F¶v- knan¡mtÃm AtÃ? Iocv fnWnÌ_psX tfmam..BNvIz`n Mm³ fmZw …A§sW]m knant¡t*…tfmta…”” “”Ft´m,”” fnjnWo^pNtamsX AkÄ knantN«p. A]mapsX knan]n H^p kn§p¶ sbmÅ AkÄ A_nªp. “”Wo C§v kt¶..km…”” A]mÄ AkapsX ssN bnXn¨psNm*p Sn^NapsX tWs^ tkP¯nÂ, Nm NpjªpsNm*v WX¶p. A]mapsX Ko³hn³s_ AXnemPw NX skÅw WW¨n^p¶p. “”Wo]o NX Nt*m…Nt*m…hzØS]n`msS A`_pkm…Wo tWm¡nt¡…”” A]mÄ Uqt^]v¡v Wn`mskan¨¯n A`_n]Xp¡p¶ Sn^fm`Nans`¡v kn^ Iq*n. “”Nt*m ..Sn^fm`NÄ …? Häs]®¯nWv hzØS]pt*m…A`_n Wn`knan¡pktà NXÂ? F³s_ fWÊpw H^p NX`m tfmsa…sW_¨pw Sn^fm`Nam….N®pSp_¶mÂ…N®pNÄ AX¨m …C§sW tImt^w fmwthmw Hs¡ N×p¼n C§sW Wn_ªv sNX¡pkm N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv …ASn³s_ WXp¡v F³s_ hpf ….In¶n¨nS_n ….sNX¡pkm….F³s_ ….”” AXp¯ Wnfngw A]mÄ WnÀ¯msS A`_n¡^ªp. gmt^m¬ A]mapsX Ipf`n bnXn¨p. “”…F³s_ hpf….”” A]mÄ ssNNÄ ^*pfp]À¯n hz]w S`fpXn k`n¨p b_n¡m³ {lfn¡p¶Sv tbms` AkÄ¡v tSm¶n. gmt^m\nWpw N^¨n`X¡mWm]nÃ. “”Aksa A§sW]ÃmsS Nm\\w FWn¡v. In^n¡p¶ hpf. Fs¶ {b\]n¡p¶ hpf…bq¡sa]pw fjknÃpNsa]pw NknS]pw hvtWin¨, hvtWin¡m³ fm{Sf_n]p¶ F³s_ hpfs] FWn¡v Nm\\w. FWns¡³s_ N×p¼n Nm\\w….”” N^¨n`nWnX]n A]mapsX km¡pNÄ fp_nªp. “”F§sW Nm\pw Mm³ Aksa A§sW? ASnWp tdmVfnÃmsS NpXn¡\w. S`f^]v¡ptkmaw k`n¡\w. At¸mÄ ….At¸mÄ fm{Sw …F³s_ hpf F³s_ fp¼n k^pw …Nm`n In`¦]\nªv… hnµq^w sSm«v…H^p ssN sNm*p fpOw bmSn f_¨v…tWm¡v …tNmZntWät_ tWm¡v ….hfp{UknSmW¯nW¸p_¯p Wn¶v AkÄ …ASm k^p¶p…”” A]mÄ Sn^NapsX tWs^ HmXn. gmt^m¬ bn¶ms` sI¶p. k^p¶Sv ASnlàfm] BNmlw fps« D]^fpÅ Sn^Nam\v. DÅnt`¡v NX¡m³ SpX§n] WµNpfm_nsW gmt^m¬ d`fm]n bnXn¨pWnÀ¯n. Sn^NÄ Ak^psX khv{S§sa sWs©m¸w WW¨p. A]mÄ Nps_ tW^w WnÝ`w Wn¶p. “”gmt^m¬,”” A¸w Njnªv A]mÄ Aksa tWm¡n. “”Ft´m,”” AkÄ knantN«p. “”f^n¨p Njnªv hzÀ¤¯ns`¯n]t¸mÄ tfmhmÀ«ntWmXv ssUkw tImUn¨p, fimWm] hwPoSÚ, Wo]o hzÀ¤¯n k¶m eqfn]n CWn]m^v F³s_ hwPoSw Wn_]v¡pw?..tfmhmÀ«v At¸mÄ b_ªp. ssUktf…F³s_ Bßmkv FXp¯v KWn¡mWn^n¡p¶kÀ¡v sNmXp¡q….”” bns¶ WµNpfmÀ AkapsX ssN bnXn¨p]À¯n. “”Wn³s_]o kn^`pNÄ…k]`n³s_ tdm bnXn¡p¶ Cu kn^`pNap*tÃm….CSn tfmhmÀ«n³s_ BSfmkv– D*v…Culz^³ khn¡p¶ kn^`pNam\v CSv…”” F´vsNmt*m gmt^m\n³s_ irU]w kn_¨p. N®pNan Wn¶v- ko*pw WoÀ¯pÅnNÄ AXÀ¶p.