{bn³hn¸Â cmUÀ fmSyp fqt`¡m«n fp¼n`n^n¡p¶ sgÃns] ^q£fm]n tWm¡n. sgÃn bp©n^n¨p. Ak³s_ bp©n^n {bn³hn¸`n³s_ tUgyw kÀVn¸n¨p. “”F¶SmXm, Wos]¶m hÀ¡Êv Nm\pkmt\m?”” {bn³hn¸Â tImUn¨p. “”A¨³ Ft¶¯nWm Fs¶ knan¸nt¨?”” “”Cu sh¡³än¯s¶ A_n]t\m sWW¡v? sNm_¨v sk]näv sI¿v–. Wos]¶m kà f{´nt]m ftäm Bt\m?”” tfm\n«_n Wn¶v- N®pNÄ fmämsS {bn³hn¸mÄ b_ªp. “”^mkns` Ss¶ AÑsâ H^p kan¨ Sfml!”” {bn³hn¸mÄ fmSyp fqt`¡m«n tNÄ¡msS sgÃn bn_pbn_p¯p. “”F¶SmXm Wo Ip*W¡ps¶?”” At±iw ko*pw {Np²Wm]n. sgÃn ASv tN«Sm]n emkn¡msS fpNant`¡v ho`n§nt`¡pw bns¶ en¯n]nÂ, fpOyf{´n]psX NqsX {bn³hn¸mÄ Wn¡p¶ In{S¯nt`¡pw, tWm¡n. A¸ Wnfngw NqXn {bn³hn¸man³s_ N®pNÄ tfm\n«_n S_ªp. “”sgÃn,”” bns¶ At±iw lm´Wm]n knan¨p. sgÃn At²i¯n³s_ lÐfmäw {l²n¨p. “”cÌn]À Ss¶ CâÀkmjvhnän Nt`mÕk¯n {bhwP¯nWv H¶mw h½mWw Nn«n] ÌpZ³äm Wo. Wn³s_ {bhwPw tN«v Mm³ ssN¿Xn¨ns«m*v. b` k¼·mt^mXpw Wns¶¸än k`pSm]n b_ªn«pfp*v…”” {bn³hn¸mÄ H¶v- WnÀ¯n AksW tWm¡n. “”bÅn¡pw b«¡mÀ¡pw FSn^v Wn¡p¶ H^p hwQXtW`m Wo {bk^vSn¡ps¶. F¶n«pw Mm³ CSpks^ Wnt¶msXm^p km¡v FSnÀ¯v b_ªn«nÃ. bs£ Ct¸mÄ ASnWp hf]fm]n^n¡p¶p…”” {bn³hn¸mÄ F´m\v Dt±ln¡p¶sS¶v- sgÃn¡v fWÊn`m]nÃ. CSnWpfp¼v Hmcohnt`¡v knan¨t¸msjms¡ tWs^ Nm^y§Ä b_ªSÃmsS CSv tbms` H^p BfpOSnWp At±iw H^n¡`pw fpSnÀ¶n«nÃ. “”A¨³ b_]p¶Sv…?”” sgÃn tImUn¡m³ {lfn¨p. {bn³hn¸mÄ AksW N¿p]À¯n kn`¡n. “”Wn³s_ f½n A`N-vhm*ÀsW kn«ptbmNp¼w sWW¡v b{´*m k]Êv. Ht^ CXkN¡m^Wpw Blm³ Na^n sfmS b¯mw ¢mhv ks^ H^pfn¨p F³s_ NqsX bYn¨ A`N-vhm*ÀsW ASn¸ns¶ MmWpw NqXn H¯n^n WnÀdÔn¨p tks_ H¶pNqXn sN«m³. Wn³s_ bm¸m h½Sn¨nÃ. C¶pw NqXn Sn^p^qb¯n³s_ fp¼n fp«pNp¯m³ f_¶m`pw sgÃo, Wn³s_ bm¸m Wn³s_ f½osX InÃn« tcmt«msX fp¼n F¶pw Wn¡pw Unkthmw H^p b¯v fnWnäv…”” f^n¨ptbm] f½ns]¡p_n¨pw f½ns] fm{Sw fWÊn³s_ FÃmt¡m\n`pw {bSngvYn¨p Kokn¡p¶ S³s_ b¸s]¡p_n¨pÅ b^mfÀl§Ä sgÃns] BÀ{U In¯Wm¡n. bs£ ASv CknsX]nt¸mÄ AkS^n¸n¡s¸Xp¶Sn³s_ hmwPSyw N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv F{S]mt`mIn¨n«pw sgÃn¡v fWÊn`m]nÃ. “”AÑm, A¨³ b_ªp k^p¶Sv…”” “”Mm³ b_ªpk^p¶tSm?”” A¨³ {Np²Wm]n tImUn¨p. “”sbt{¼t¶m¯nfm^v I¯v– fq¶p fp¸Sv sSm®q_p sSN]pt¶Wp fp¼v tks_ sN«p¶ BÄ¡m^m sfm¯w. At¶^km Wn³s_ A¸³ A`N-vhm*À C¸jpw hnhn`osW F¶v sk¨m Wn³s_ f½osW HmÀt¯m*v Kokn¡ps¶. A§Ws¯ H^¸sâ tfm³ Ss¶ Bt\mXm Wo?”” sgÃn]psX fpOw C^p*p. “”Wo F¶m Fs¶ tWm¡n tbXn¸n¡pkmt\m?”” {bn³hn¸man³s_ hz^w ko*pw D]À¶p. “”sWW¡n¸w F{S]m {bm]w? tSZv C]_tÃ? A¸w C^pbSv B^n¡pw. AtàC^pbs¯m¶v. Biv A¸w sSänà N`ym\{bm]km]n. ASmt\m Wo C¸tj H^p¯osX sbm_sN, ASpw sWW¡v b«osX sk` tbm`pw S^m¯ H^p¯osX sbm_sN WX¡ps¶?”” sgÃn]psX tUi¯pNqXn H^p fn¶Â bmªp. ssUktf, {bn³hn¸ma¨³ F´m\v Dt±lp¡p¶Sv? “”Mm³ b_ª Nm^yw sWW¡v fWÊn`mt]m sgÃn?”” sgÃn WnlÐfm]n AÑsW tWm¡n. “”CSv Wos]m¶v km]n¨ptWm¡nt¡,”” At±iw tflk`n¸n Wn¶v- H^p NkÀ FXp¯v sgÃn]psX tWs^ Wo«n. {Now Wn_¯n`pÅ B NkÀ sgÃn Sp_¶p. ASn Wn¶v- fX¡n] H^p skap¯ NX`mÊv– AksWXp¯p. ASv knXÀ¯n. ewPn]pÅ ssN¸X]n Cw¥ogns`jpSn] N¯v. s_hvsbNväv–Zv s_k_³äv cmUÀ, Cäv– Cuhv äp {dnwPv ]pkÀ ssN³Zv Asä³g³ äp F t{bm»w sF imkv do³ hc_nwPv hn³hv sF imZv `m³ZZv C³ Unhv _nsWu¬Zv t`\nwPv sh³äÀ. F thÀ«³ sgÃn A`N-vhv C³ sscW C]À cnhnN-vhv Cuhv– Ìm¡nwPv fn tkÀ FskÀ sF fqkv, i^mÊnwPv fn ssd tkZvhv B³Zv BNvävhv. tUÀtcmÀ sF dnho¨v ]q äp s{bmsskZv fo kn¯v B³ Aäv–tfmhvcn]À {co {cw inhv– Wyq]nsh³hv thm Umäv sF Nm³ Nw¹oäv– ssf ÌZohv. tfmÌv– s_hvsbNvävcpan ]ptkjvhv, fnWn tfmÄ fmSyp. “”F¶SmXm CSn³s_ AÀTw F¶v- Mm³ Wnt¶mXv tImUn¡p¶nÃ. AsSms¡ A_n]msWmÅ knk^w Hs¡ FWns¡m*v,”” sgÃn A¸ hf]w WnlÐWm]n^p¶p. “”AtS FjpSnt]¡ps¶ F t{bm»w sF imkv do³ hc_nwPv F¶m. F¶psk¨m fnWn CksX k¶ Unkhw sfmS Wo Aksa Ct¸mÄ ks^ l`yw sI]vSpsNm*n^n¡pN]m¶v-. Wmt\mw fmtWmw f^p¶ntW`pw Ht*mXm sWW¡v?”” A¨³ lÐfp]À¯n. {bn³hn¸man³s_ NymdnWpskan]n B^psXs]ms¡t]m Wnj`pNÄ AW§p¶Sv sgÃn N*p. “”C§sW H^p Nwss¹³äv Nn«n]m F¶m sI¿\w Mm³? F¶m sI¿\¶v-?”” sgÃn bp_t¯¡v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv tWm¡n. ASv cmUÀ fqt`¡m«nsW {Np²Wm¡n. “”ssd t`m {bNm^w hhvsb³gWm Nt¿msX sIt¿t*. bs£ Fs§sW]m? Wo Wn³s_ bmÀ«osX kÃy bpÅn]tÃ? Ft´`pw B£³ FXp¯m At¶^w k^nt]s` sNmXow bnXn¨v C¦p`mdpw knan¨v Wn³s_ bmÀ«n¡m^v…”” sgÃn {bn³hn¸mansâ fpOt¯¡v tWm¡n. “”F¶pwsk¨p sgÃn B£³ H_¸m]n«pw D*mNptk CWns]m^n¡¡qXn CSv tbms` H^p Nwss¹³äv Nn«n]m. Mm³ b_ªnÃm¶p tk*….”” sgÃn At¸mjpw H¶pw fn*n]nÃ. “”CknXp¶v- Cu N¼vss`]n³än³s_ sbm_¯v B£³ H¶pw H*m]ntàAkav tbm`ohv tÌgWn b^mSns¸Xpw. AksX Akav b_]pw {bnWnhn¸ma¨³ B£³ H¶pw FXp¯nÃm¶v-. ASv fSn GgymsWävt` knWqWpw fm{Speqfos` tk\qWpw F³s_ tf¯v tN_n sW^§m³. sgÃn boZWt¡hv fm{Sfà ImW`pNm^psX Xn BÀ bn t_äv Nq«msWmÅ fmÀ¤w. ASpsNm*v…”” cmUÀ fmSyp fqt`¡m«n sgÃn]psX fpO¯v S_¨ptWm¡n. “”….ASpsNm*v A`N-vhm*À³s_ tfmtW sgÃn A`Nvth,”” At±iw SpXÀ¶p. “”CSv BUys¯ {bmklyw B]Sv sNm*v ln£]§v km\n§n HSp¡pkm Mm³. Wn³s_ H^p lt`ymw tf`n H*mNptk` F¶v- km¡psNmXp¯ns«m*v AkÄ¡v Mm³. bt£¦n CWn H^p Nw¹]n³äv, Ht^s]m^p Nw¹]nâv_v….ASv fSn ..ASv fm{Sw fSn FWn¡v tPäv Iq*n¡m\n¨v Wnt¶mXv b_]m³. ]q BÀ ZnhvfnhvZv F¶v-. fWÊn`mt]m?”” sgÃn S`Np`p¡n. “”F¶m Fjpt¶täm,”” A¨³ b_ªp. “”tkPw Ø`w Nm`n]m¡v. FWn¡v sb®vtN]vhv SoÀ¡`à b\n,”” sgÃn Fjpt¶äp. kmSn`v¡mt`maw sI¶v- Ak³ Sn^nªpWn¶v AÑsW tWm¡n. “”CSv Mm³ {bSo£n¨Sm,”” A¨³ sPu^kw knXmsS b_ªp. “”hnWntfs` Wm]N·mt^m kn÷mt^m Nm\n¡p¶Sv tbms` kmSn`v ks^s]¯n¡jnªv ^*v Z]t`mPv knXq¶v. §vim, b_, F´m tNÄ¡s«,”” “”Wm]NtWm knÃtWm Aà AÑm,”” sgÃn b_ªp. “”tNmfZn BNväÀ Bs\¶v knIm^n¨m fSn. H^p hhvsb³gWpw D*mN¯nà ZnhvfnÊ`pw H*mN¯nÃ. CWn tf`n AksX Nw¹]n³äpw AÑWv Nn«¯nÃ. bs£ Akav ko*pw H¶v- NqXn CknsX k^pw AÑsW Nm\m³! Cutlm fnlnim]v¡v hvSpSn]m]n^n¡s«-“” “”tkPw ¢mÊn tbmNm³ tWm¡Xm, AXqÀ tPmbm`Nrgv\³s_ hnWntfs` Z]t`mPv b_]msS,”” sgÃn Hmcohn Wn¶v- bp_¯v NX¶p. BUyw Nm\p¶Sv kngmUw Wn_ª fpOkpfm]n Wn¡p¶ gmt^m\nsW]m\v. “”F´mXn Wn³s_ A¸³ fpOyf{´n ^mKnskt¨m?”” Ak³ In^n¨psNm*p tImUn¨p. “”km,”” AkÄ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Ak³s_ ssN¿n bnXn¨psNm*p CXWmjn]n`qsX tkPw WX¶p. “”F´mXn?”” AWph^\t]msX AkapsXt]m¸w WX¶v- Ak³ tImUn¨p. bp_¯v Bsamjnª H^p NmämXn f^¯n³s_ Nojns`¯n AkÄ Wn¶p. AknsX]n«n^p¶ sd©n AkÀ b^hvb^w AenfpOfm]n C^p¶p. “”Wos]Ãmw tN«sÃ?”” Ak³ KmaySt]msX tImUn¨p. AkÄ S`Np`p¡n. “”sly..Nãw gmt^m¬,”” sgÃn sPu^k¯n b_ªp. “”Wos]´m fäpÅk^psX {bkhn]nt`¡v HanªptWm¡p¶Sv? hwhv¡m^ h¼¶]m\v Wos]¶v- Mm³ N^pSn]Sv sk_psS B]tÃm,”” “”AS¸w {bn³hn¸man³s_ HcohÃm]n^pt¶m? AÑsâ sdZv_qw B]n^pt¶m ASv? Wo]pw AÑWpw F¶m sNX¡pkm^pt¶m AknsX?”” Wo^ht¯msX AkÄ tImUn¨p. “”sÈy…Wos]¶SmXo gmt^mt\ b_]ps¶? t¨..Ckan{S Io¸m^pt¶m..?”” gmt^m\n³s_ fpOw NW¯p. “”Sfml Na sgÃn. F´m A¨³ b_sª?”” sgÃn]psX fpO¯v A¸w kngmU¨m] bXÀ¶p. “”ASv… gmt^m¬, C¸w km\nwPv. CWn H^p b^mSnNqXn Nn«n]m hhvsb³g³. A¨³ knIm^n¡ps¶ Aksa ka]v¡m³ Mm³ AksX sbm_sN WX¶v- l`yw sI¿pkm¶m…”” gmt^m\n³s_ fpO¯v tlmNtlm\nf Wn_ªp. “”sgÃn, fSn. fSns]¶v- b_ªm fSn. MmWm b_]ps¶. CWn Wns¶ H^p AbfmW¯nWpw Mm³ kn«vsNmXp¡¯nÃ. C¶v- Wns¶ A¨³ C³h«v sI]vSp. Wmsa B^m Wns¶ ImXn¡mWn^n¡p¶sS¶v- A_n]mtfm?”” “”B^v?”” “”Wn³s_ hz´w bmÀ«n. Fhv Fcv tN,”” B b^mfÀlw AksW hvSwen¸n¨p. “”Wo NqXpS skgfn¡m³ b_ªSÃ. H¶v- N^pSn]n^n¡m³ tk*n, H^p fp¶_n]n¸v tbms` b_sªt¶]pÅq. F³s_ AXp¯ _qfn`tà AlzWn? Wn§sX sskhv sI]Àfm³ tbmÊndn `nÌn AkÄ D*tÃm. Akam b_sª, bmÀ«o Cu kng]¯n sWWs¡Sns^ Nm^ykm]n«v FSnÀs¸m*v. CWn CSv sSmXÀ¶m sgÃn bmÀ«o¶v- sWW¡v H^p hhvsb³g³ H_¸m,”” A¸ tW^sfXp¯p, sgÃn bqÀÆØnSn]nt`¡v fX§n k^m³. “”Mm³ Nm^\km WnW¡o AkØ kt¶. ASv sNm*p Mm³ b_]pkm, CWn H¶pw tk*. Aksa Nm\*. fn**. bp«v B³ G³Zv äp Fsk^nSnwPv.”” H¶v- bp©n^n¨SÃmsS Ak³ f_pbXn b_ªnÃ. F¦n`pw gmt^m¬ Ak³s_ fpO¯v ko*pw H^p UrZemkw N*p. ASv Aksa ko*pw AhzØ]m¡n. S³s_ km¡pNÄ¡v Ak³s_ So^pfmWs¯ ]msSm^pknV¯n`pw hzmVoWn¡pkm³ Njnªn«nà F¶v- gmt^m¬ UpxOt¯msXt]mÀ¯p.

cnhnN-vhn³s_ {bmNvän¡Â dp¡v sgÂcnÂWns¶Xp¯v tfl]nt`¡v– Sn^nªt¸mÄ kmSn¡ Bt^m Wn¡p¶Sv gmt^m¬ N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv N*p. sbs«¶kapsX fpOw knXÀ¶p. fpOw {bNmlfmWfm]n. “”fnWnt]m?”” BËmUt¯msX AkÄ knan¨p. “”k^q, k^q,”” kmSn¡ Wn¶v- fnWn ANt¯¡v N]_n. gmt^m¬ fpt¼m«v– sI¶v AkapsX ssN]n bnXn¨p. “”km tfmsa,”” AkÄ fnWns] Nth^]n C^p¯n. F¶n«v AenfpOfm]n N«n`n C^p¶p. “”tI¨n dnhn]m^pt¶m? UnsÌÀd³hv Bt]m?”” “”bn¶ntà dnho¶v b_ªm dnhn. bs£ Cu hpµ^n¡p«nt]mXv Np_¨ptW^w kÀ¯mWw b_]msWms¡]pÅ hf]sfms¡ Cãwtbms`]p*v,”” gmt^m\n³s_ B km¡pNÄ tN«p fnWn]psX fpOw `ÖsNm*p Ipk¶p. gmt^m¬ hz]w tImUn¨p: Fs´m^p AjNm\v Cu sb¬Np«n¡v? C{S shuµ^yw tks_ BÀ¡p*v Cu Nm¼ÊnÂ? “”bns¶ Fs¶ F´m knant¨? tI¨ot¶m? ^*p ¢mhv NqXpS`tÃ]pÅq. tb^v knan¨m fSn,”” gmt^m¬ In^n¨psNm*p b_ªp. AkapsX Wo*pknXÀ¶ ewPn]pÅ N®pNanÂ, bp^pgsW NmftfminSWm¡p¶ SpXp¯p Ipk¶ Ip*pNanÂ, klyfm] ewPn]pÅ Wo*fq¡nÂ, ewPn]pÅ A¸w Wo* Njp¯nÂ, Wo*, BNrSn]pw SpXn¸pfpÅ ssNkn^`pNan gmt^m¬ tWm¡n skap¯ A¸w hpSm^yfm], A¸w C_pNn¸nXn¡p¶ gÀ«v–, fp«nWpSmsjs]¯p¶ tgmXvhv. hpSm^yfm] skap¯ gÀ«nWpÅn skap¯ {dm]psX Hu«v–ss`³. ASnWpÅn kntfmin¸n¡p¶ ewPnt]msX hfr²fm], BNrSns]m¯ fm_nXw. tgm«vhnWv Smsj AWpbffm] AjNn SpXp¯p skap¯ Wo* Nm`pNÄ. At¸mjm\v– gmt^m¬ A_n]p¶Sv fnWn]psX N®pNapw S³s_ tUi¯m\v. “”F´m tfmsa?”” “”H¶qà tI¨n…tI¨n Iocv fnWnÌÀ hm_n³s_ fNatÃ? Ht^ timÌ`n Smfhn¨n«pw CSv ks^ H¶v N*ntàtfmlftÃ?”” “”Hmtim …ASmt\m Nm^yw? F´m kà s_¡sf³tXgWpw Dt*m?”” gmt^m¬ In^n¨psNm*v tImUn¨p. “”bs£ Nm^yfnÃtÃm …hmÀ kas^ {bn³hn¸nÄhv Hs¡]pÅ Bam\v– F¶v- tN«n«p*v,”” fnWn]psX B b^mfÀlw gmt^m\n AW¸fm] ht´mgfp*m¡n. ^m{ão]¡m^Wm\v b¸m. AVnNm^ ^m{ão]¯n`pw. ASpsNm*v knfÀlW§Ä b`t¸mjpw SWn¡pw AenfpOoN^nt¡*n k¶n«p*v. bs£ b¸s] SWn¡v W¶m]n A_n]mw. Wn^pb{Ukfm] In` kn«pkojv¨NÄ¡ÃmsS b¸m CSv ks^ fäp {bt`meW§Äs¡m¶pw kjns¸«n«nÃ. sbmSpKW¯n eq^nb£¯nWpw B Aen{bm]kpfp*v. Ct¸mÄ Cu hwØmW¯v Wn¶v- bp_¯pWns¶¯n] H^man Wn¶v- S³s_ bnSmknsW¡p_n¨v Wà H^p Aen{bm]w tN«n^n¡p¶p. AkÀ sNm¨psNm¨p Nm^y§sa¡p_n¨v hÃbn¡m³ SpX§n. hwhm^w bpt^mPfn¡tk gmt^m\v N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv hwl]fm]n. F§sW N^pSpw f]¡pf^p¶nWp AXnf]m] H^p sb¬Np«n]m\v Cksa¶v-? kas^ BbSv¡m^n]m] f]¡v f^p¶v- fn¡Unkhkpw M^¼n Np¯nsk¡p¶ H^p sb¬Np«n]m\v Cksa¶p F§sW b_]pw? H¶p^*p Sk\ ASnsW¡p_n¨v tImUn¡m³ gmt^m\n³s_ Wmkp S^n¨p. bs£ b\ns¸«v AkÄ ASv Wn]{´n¨p. sgÃnt]mXpÅ AkapsX {bSnN^\w SWn¡_n]mw. Wn¡p¶ Wn¸n B{Nfn¡p¶ hzemkfm\v. d`{bt]mPfà C¯^w knb¯pNanÂWn¶pw fäpÅks^ ^£n¡p¶Sv. hvtWikpw N^pS`pw shuimÀVkpfm\v. “”fnWn]psX bn¶ms` tNmtaKns` FÃm IpÅ·m^pw D*tÃm,”” CX]v¡v gmt^m¬ In^n¨psNm*p tImUn¨p. “”GtS`pw hpµ^¡p«³s_ s{bmt¸mh hzoN^nt¨m?”” AkapsX fpO¯v `Ö]v¡v bN^w sPu^kw NX¶p k¶p. “”sÈy, F´m tI¨o CSv? FÃmw hnÃn tdm]vhv. FWn¡nãfà AsSm¶pw,”” “”At¿m thm_n…Ct{Sw fmtIzZv B] Bßo] Nm^y§Ä fm{SfpÅ H^p hWymhn¡p«n]m\v fnWn F¶v- A_nªnà tNt«m,”” gmt^m¬ In^n¨p. fnWn]pw. “”Fs¶ l^n¡pw H¶v- Nan]m¡n AtÃ…? tI¨ow H«pw tfmlfnÃ,”” “”MmtWm? Mm³ F´n`m tfmlfÃms¯?”” “”tI¨otXw NqsX]p*v F¸jpw tdm]vhv. bns¶ Aks^ms¡ s{bmt¸mhv sI¿ms¯ ^*p Nm^yw sNm*mkpw,”” fnWn In^n¨p. “”F´v ^*p Nm^y§am tfmsa?”” “”H¶mfSv tI¨n Iocv fnWnÌ_n³s_ tfmÄ. B H^p s_hvsbNväv– ..tbXn…bns¶ ….?’ “”bns¶?”” “”bns¶ …tI¨n H¶pw tSm¶Ãv Mm³ {co B]n b_ªmÂ…”” “”tfmÄ b_]p..{co B]n b_tªmaq…”” “”bns¶ sgÃn Ft¸mjpw …sF fo³ {co ssXfns`ms¡ Ft¸mjpw tI¨osX NqsX]tà …thm BÄ ssfäv do Sn¦nwPv ….]q BÀ C³ `kv kn¯v inw…”” gmt^m¬ D_s¡ In^n¨p. fnWn hwl]t¯msX Aksa tWm¡n. “”tfmta..’ gmt^m¬ In^n¡nX]n b_ªp. “”Ft¶w sgÃnt]w A_n]mt¯m^p fmt{S A§sW In´n¡q. F´m b_¿m..M§av..Wà SnNv , sdÌv {c*vhm tfmta…MmWpw AkWpw A§sW Bs\s¶ms¡ fp¼v M§sa A_n]mt¯ms^ms¡ tW^s¯ N^pSn]n^p¶p. F³s_ NqsX¸n_¸m tfmta Ak³…”” gmt^m¬ tNmtaKns`¯n] BUyUnkhtfmÀ¡pN]m]n^p¶p. ^*pkÀg§Ä¡v fp¼v Zn{Po H¶mw kÀgw AZvfngWv tI^pkm³ tNmtaKn f½nt]mtXm¯v tPän`qsX NmÀ NX¡tk, Nmâv_o³ F¶v- tdmÀZv sk¨ H^p sN«nX¯nWv fp¼ns` bp`vssfSmW¯v Wq_pN\¡nWv knUymÀTnNapsX fp¼n ssN]n ssf¡v bnXn¨v Btklt¯msX hpµ^Wm] H^p sNufm^¡m^³ {bhwPn¡p¶p. Ak³s_ Hmt^m I`W§ta]pw hhq£fw ko£n¨v, N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv Ak³ D¨^n¡p¶ Hmt^m km¡nWpw NmtSmÀ¯v Hmt^m^p¯^pw {l²t]msX… Ak³s_ fpOt¯¡v tWm¡n] Sm³ hvSwen¨pWn¶Sv HmÀ½]p*v. f½ns] sSm«pknan¨p AksW Nm\n¨psNmXp¡m³ SpX§ns]¦n`pw tk* F¶v- sk¨p. f½n]v¡v In`t¸mÄ AksW N*m Wn]{´\wtbm]n tdmV^inS]mt]¡mw. Ak³s_ fpOkpw emkkpw hn_n`nsWt¸ms`]n^p¶p. Wm`pkÀgw fp¼v BSn^¸Ån skŨm«¯n f^n¨ptbm] S³s_ Ca]htimU^³ hn_nÂ. tNmtaKn tIÀ¶SnWp tlgw Sm³ At§m«psI¶v- b^nI]s¸XpN]m]n^p¶p. b^nI]¯nWptlgw Sm³ A_nªp sk_pw shuirUw fm{SfÃ, hmtimU^ykpw hmVyfmNp¶{S WÃkWm\v sgÃns]¶v-. ASn¸ns¶ Nm¼Ên Ss¶]pw AksW]pw H^pfn¨pfm{Stf fäpÅkÀ N*n«pÅq. gmt^m¬ B NT b_ªt¸mÄ fnWn {l²n¨ptN«p. ]m{Sb_ªp gmt^m\n³s_ fp_n]n Wn¶v C_§ptkmakpw AkÀ SpXs^ hwhm^n¨psNm*n^p¶p. “”CX]vs¡ms¡ k^q, tfmsa,”” gmt^m¬ fnWnt]mXv– b_ªp. “”N¸`pw knfmtWmw H¶pw tN_*tÃm. sSm«p Smjs¯ cvt`m_tÃ?”” klyfm] H^p bp©n^n h½mWn¨SÃmsS fnWn H¶pw b_]msS Smtj¡v tbm]n.

sgÃn fp_n]n Sn^ns¨¯n]t¸mÄ sK]nh³ Nm¯n^n¡pN]m]n^p¶p. “”t{b]nhv U t`mZv sgÃn,”” sK]vh³ b_ªp. “”`mÂh`mw,”” sgÃn AenkmUyw fX¡n. “”F¶Sm sK]vhm? U]kpsI]vSv hpkntlgw b_ªv tdm_Xn¸n¡Ãv,”” Nm¼hns` N^nhvfmänNv {Pq¸n³s_ `oZÀ B\v sK]vh³ tdhnÂ. “”bänà ..F³s_ sUuSyfm\v hpkntlgw b_]pN F¶Sv. {btSyNn¨pw sgÃns]t¸ms` h`vhzemknNam] sI_p¸¡mÀ ssUk fNWm]n Kokn¡\w F¶m\v NÀ¯mkn³s_ B{Piw,”” sgÃn AhzØSt]msX S` sIm_nªp. Ak³ fp_n Sp_¶v- AN¯v N]_n dmPv tfl¸p_¯v sk¨p. bn¶ms` sK]vhWpw N]_n. sgÃn Nth^]n C^p¶p. AkWenfpOfm]n sK]vhWpw. “”sgÃn ¹ohv, H^p Wnfngw…Mm³ NqXpS hf]sfXp¡nÃ…H¶v- tNÄ¡v ¹ohv…”” “”l^n l^n ..Npj¸fnÃ, b_tªm…”” In^n¡m³ {lfn¨psNm*p sgÃn b_ªp. “”sgÃn]v¡_n]mtfm,”” sgÃn]psX km¡pNÄ sNmXp¯ DÕmi¯n sK]vh³ b_ªpSpX§n. “”….Mm³ C¶v- Cu eqfpO¯v Koknt¡* BÄ AÃ…kas^ sI_p¸¯ns` fUybmWlo`¯nWv AXnf]m] Mm³ Ct¸mÄ CknsX H^p ssUk ssbS`m]n sgÃns]t¸ms`]pÅkt^mXv ssUks¯¡p_n¨v hwhm^n¡\sf¦n ASv N^nhvfmänNv s{b]À {Pq¸v sNm*p fm{Sfm\v….”” H^p Wnfngw sgÃn]psX fWÊn H^p APnWnhvcp`nwPw ko\p. N^nhvfmänNv N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv {bØmW¯nWv fWpgy^n Wn¶v- fUybmWlo`w fmämWpÅ Njnkv Dt*m? At¸mÄ f]¡pf^p¶v- lo`kpw fmämftÃm? “”sK]vh³ F¶Sm b_sª?”” “”bSnWm_mw k]Êns` fUybmWw SpX§n] Bam Mm³ Ct¸mÄ F³s_ k]Êv C^pb¯ns]m¶v. sgÃn]psX {bm]w. Ct¸mÄ Mm³ KoktWmsX Nm\* BÄ AÃ. fUybn¨p f^n¨ptbmtN* Mm³ Ct¸mÄ fUy¯n³s_ f\fXn¨m IÀ²n¡pw. As{Stf Mm³ fUys¯ sk_p¡p¶p. Nm^\w?”” Ak³ tImUy^qb¯n sgÃns] tWm¡n. “”Nm^\w?”” sgÃn Sn^n¨ptImUn¨p. “”Nm^\w sgÃn b_]p,”” “”i! AsS¶m FXbmXm? MmsW§sW]m b_]pt¶?”” “”l^n Mm³ b_]mw. MmWm\v b_t]*Sv. Fs¶ fWpgyWm¡n]Sv N^nhvfmänNv s{b]À {Pq¸v B\v. ASpsNm*v sgÃn]pw N^nhvfmänNv s{b]À {Pq¸n k^\w,”” “”ASnWp Mm³ fUybn¡m_nÃ,”” “”F¶m`pw k^\w,”” “”k^mw. f]¡v f^p¶v- lo`w fm_ptfm N^nhvfmänNv s{b]À {Pq¸n tIÀ¶mÂ?”” “”§vti ? A¸w sgÃn f]¡v f^p¶v- Dbt]mPn¡ptfm?”” “”AStà tImUnt¨, f]¡v f^p¶v- lo`w fmämtfm¶v-? Bt^mXpw Wo b_sª¡Ãv,”” “”sgÃn H^p N^nhvfmänNv Nm^³ ssUkt¯mXv DX¼Xn sI]vSkWm. ASpsNm*v Fs¶ tbXn¡*. Wmsa Njnªv skÅn]mjvI. FÃm skÅn]mjvsIw sskNpt¶^w B_pf\n¡v tNmtaKns` Im¸`n foänwPv D*v. s{b]À foänwPv. sgÃn k^\w. W½psX s{b]À {Pq¸n³s_ `oZÀ FsNmtWmfnN-vhv Zn¸mÀ«vsfâvt` kÀ¡n tKmhcv hm_m,”” “”bns¶´m, F³s_ Bklyftà sK]vhm, Mm³ k¶n^n¡pw,”” sgÃn b_ªp. Ak³s_ N®pNan AhmVm^\fm] H^p Sna¡fp*m]n^p¶p.

bntäUnkhw dyq«nhvtbm«n sgÃns] Nm¯n^n¡pN]m]n^p¶p gmt^m¬. Ak³ sskNp¶p F¶v- AkÄ¡v tSm¶n. A^f\n¡qÀ NjnªptbmN\w. shfnWmÀ iman _ntijvh SpX§m³ hf]fmNpw At¸mtj¡pw. F{S fUybn¨ms\¦n`pw WµNpfmÀ hmÀ NrSyhf]¯v Ss¶ F¯nt¨^pw. k¶]pX³ A]mÄ _ntijvh`nWp tWSrSzw WÂNpw. hz]w Cu\w WÂNn] bm«v Pm]N þkmUykrµhwQs¯ bYn¸n¡pw. Sn^p¯pw. Ak^n In`À k^p¯p¶ Ct{¼msskthgsW Sm`v¸^ybqÀÆw AwPoN^n¡pw. _ntijvh Nym¼v DÕk hfmWfm¡p¶Sn A]mÄ {l²n¨n^p¶p. ASnWnX]n fUy¡p¸n hq£n¨p sk¨n^n¡p¶ Sp\n dmPpfm]n A]mÄ imans` H^p NÀ«Wpskan]nt`¡v fm_pw. ASpNm\pt¼mÄ gmt^m\n³s_ fWÊv SN^pw. AfnSfm]n fUybn¨m\v A]mÄ _ntijvh`nWp Ss¶ k^m_v. bns¶]pw fUybn¡pt¼mÄ A]mapsX Bt^mPytfmÀ¯v AkÄ Bl¦s¸Xm_p*v. S³s_ fp¼n SNÀ¶Xn]pN]m\v hfÀ°Wm] N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv H^VymbmN³. H^p hwPoSÚ³. H^p Fjp¯pNm^³. S³s_ fp¼nÂ. ASv N*n«pw A_nªn«pw {bSnN^n¡mWmkmsS Sm³. AkÄ¡v hz]w bpÑw tSm¶m_p*v. hnPs^äv– F{S bm]v¡äv B\v k`n¨p SÅp¶sS¶v A]mÄ¡v H^p WnÝ]kpfnÃ. AfnSmfmUybmWkpw bpNk`n]pw A]mapsX ^qbw kas^ {bmNrSfmNn]n^p¶p. _coOv KmtkUn³s_ BÂd¯n Sm³ N* WµNpfmÀ hm_n³s_ ^qbw ASnhpµ^Wm] H^p hnWnfm Sm^s¯ AWphvf^n¸n¡p¶Sm\v. F{S fmhvf^nNfm\v ASn hm_n³s_ ^qbw. hpµ^n]m] hpIn{St]msXm¸w. bp©n^n¨v, BËmUn¨v… Ct¸mÄ… AtSmÀ¡pt¼msjms¡ ANm^\fm]n AkapsX fnjnNÄ Cu_W\n]pw. F{S ewPn]m]n Kokn¨ fnTpW§am]n^p¶p! F{S {b\]mSp^fm]n^p¶p Ak^psX KoknSw…! gmt^m¬ tWm¡pt¼mÄ Uqs^ Wnt¶ sgÃn tkP¯n WX¶p k^p¶Sm\v Nm\p¶Sv. AXps¯¯m_m]t¸mÄ Ak³s_ WX¸v Hm«fm]n fm_n]Sv AkÄ N*p. “”gmt^mt\…”” HmXn]Xps¯¯n AkÄ D¨¯n knan¨p. “”F´mXm?”” Ak³s_ knan]ns` Btklw Sn^n¨_nªv AkÄ tImUn¨p. “”WnWs¡´v bän? Wos]´nWm C§sW HmXps¶?”” “”t{b]nhv U t`mZv-“” AkapsX fp¼ns`¯n NnS¨psNm*v AkÄ b_ªp. “”§vti? F´m?”” AkÄ¡v H¶pw fWÊn`m]nÃ. “”t{b]nhv U t`mZv-“” Ak³ ko*pw b_ªp. “”sWWs¡¶m k«mt\m?”” “”¨o, t{b]nhv U t`mZv F¶v- b_s]Xo,”” “”t{b]nhv U t`mZv,”” AkÄ In^n¨p sNm*v b_ªp. “”Wo Nm^yw b_ sgÃn sk_psS k«Xn¸n¡msS,”” “”b_]mw,”” Aksa bnXn¨p SWn¡enfpOfm]n C^p¯n sgÃn b_ªp. “”b_]mw F³s_ sbm¶ptfmsa..Iocv fnWnÌÀsX SÃns¸man fNsa ..{l²n¨p tNÄ¡v…”” AkÄ H¶pw fWÊn`mNmsS sgÃn]psX km¡pNÄ¡v NmtSmÀ¯p. “”FXo F³s_ Wm¡nWv hmVn¡m¯Sv, F³s_ N½yq\nh¯nWv hmVn¡m¯Sv…s]hv..CSnsWms¡ hmVn¡m¯Sv hwekn¡m³ tbmNp¶p,”” “”F´v? Wos]¶Sm b_]ps¶? sgÃn, sk_psS Wo F³s_ ssN¿o¶v tfXn¡ptk..FXm Wo Nm^yw b_,”” “”tfmsa fnWosX …B b\¡m^³ St´sX HätfmÄ, S`sS_n¨ {ZPv AZnNväv fnWosW f\n¨n{S¯mjv sNm*v bq«mWpÅ f{´kpfm]m Mm³ k¶n^n¡ps¶?”” “”§vti? tWt^m?”” “”bn¶ÃmsS…ASm b_sª tfmsa…Mm³ Aksa N^nhvfmän¡n sNm*p k^pw. ASpw b_ªp cmUÀ {bn³hn¸mÄ fqt`¡m«nWv Fs¶ H^p Ip¡pw sI¿m³ H¡¯nÃ. Ft´`pw sI]vSm Mm³ CXkN knNm^n¡Ã, dngbv– hqsh bmNy¯nWÃ, NÀ²nWmÄ B`t©^n¸nSmknWà tWs^ t_mfnt`¡v Mm³ b^mSn A]¡pw. Wo Nt*m. fnWosX N¼nNp«³.sWäv

N¼nNp«³.sWäv lzmh¯o¶v-, AksX ss`co¶v- Mm³ tkt^msX bnjpsS_n]pw {ZPv. ASnWpÅ f^p¶m\v N^nhvfmänNv. t{b]nhv U t`mZv…b_s]Xo b«o t{b]nhv U t`mZv…”” “”t{b]nhv U t`mZv,”” A{S tdmVyfm]nsæn`pw Sos^ UpÀº`fm] hz^¯n gmt^m¬ b_ªp. “”FXm bs£…Nm^yw Npj¸fnÃ..bs£ AkÄ …tfmtW AkÄ ASn k^ptkmXm,”” sgÃn]psX fpO¯v C{¸mklyw htµi¯n³s_ H^p `m©Wtbm`pw gmt^m¬ N*nÃ. “”k^psfXo. Mm³ knan¡pw. b_]pw. Nm`pbnXn¡pw. AkÄ k^pw…”” gmt^m\nWv At¸mjpw tdmVyfm]nÃ. “”FWn¡_n]mw. Fs¶ b`Sk\ AkÄ Io¯ b_ªp. H^p b¯p{bmklysf¦n`pw Fs¶ b»n¡v B]n sS_ow AWmktlymw b_ªp. C¶v- M§sX ]qWnäv sh{N«_n Ìm`n³ kntWmUnWv Nw¹]n³äpw sNmXp¯n^n¡p¶p…”” “”§vti? Cutlmt]..tWt^m?”” “”AtSXo,”” sgÃn b_ªp. “”C¶t`w MmWksa N*p. AÑsâ Sm¡oSnWv tltgmw. kas^ lm´fm]n. kas^ hvtWit¯msX. AkÄ bs£ sNfnhv{Xos` tUkÊym fm`nWn fmZkpw tWm¡nWnÂs¡ Fs¶ knan¡m¯ Iot¯w AWmktlymw CÃ.”” gmt^m¬ BsN SNÀ¶Sv tbms` AksW tWm¡n. “”FXm C¶s` ^m{So Akav F³s_ _qfn k¶m^p¶p. F¶m Wà kÀ¯mWw B^p¶p. fm{Sfà M§av Wns¶¸änt¸m`pw hwhm^n¨m^p¶p,”” “”FXo Wn³s_]Xp¯v Akav WÃkam. Cu t`mN¯v MmsWmjn¨v– FÃmk^pw AkÄsX CãvX¡m^m. AkÄsX {ZPv imdnäv– FWn¡v fm{Stf A_n]q F¶tà AkÄ N^pSps¶? ASpsNm*p AkÄ C´ym¡m^ow Mm³ AkÄ¡v bm¡nØmWn]pfm,”” gmt^m\n³s_ N®pNan Cu_³ bNÀ¶Sv Ak³ N*p. “”Wo skgfn¡sÃXo. GSm]m`pw bmÀ«o¶v- FWn¡v H^p hhvsb³g³ H_¸m. bmÀ«n tbm]m`pw tk*nÃ. SpX§nsk¨ Nm^yw bNpSo Dtb£n¡m³ bänÃ. AksX {ZPv³s_ bSnWm_Xn]´n^w NqXos« FWn¡v kn{lffpÅq tfmta…”” AkÄ N®pNÄ SpX¨p. “”sWW¡v _ntijvh`nWp tbmNm_m]ntÃ?”” AkÄ S`Np`p¡n. AkÀ Fjpt¶äp. “”¶m tbms¡mXo,”” AkÀ tUkUm^pkn³s_ S\`n Wn¶v- bp_¯p NX¶p. “”]m{S b_]p¶nsÃXo?”” bmÀ¡v sI]vSn^p¶ ssh¡nan³s_ tWs^ AkÄ WX¶t¸mÄ Ak³ tImUn¨p. “”Wos]¶m f`]mäq^v tbmNpkmt\m?”” “”F¶m`pw H¶v- b_sª,”” “”l^n, ssd,”” AkÄ ssN D]À¯n. “”ssd, im]v Ft¶m¶pkÃ, Wà skXn¸m]n hvcpXfm]n t{b]nhv U t`mZv F¶v- b_s]Xo,”” At¸mjm\v– AkÄ¡v Nm^yw fWÊn`mNp¶Sv. “”t{b]nhv U t`mZv,”” In^n¡m³ {lfn¨psNm*v AkÄ b_ªp.