]gvkpw _mKpw Npcp-ºn-Ôn-Sn-®v, Ahç _ünã\n-Ðn-dªn. F{X-t\-c-ambn B Xnc-|nã \nev|pÐp?t]gvkpw _mKpw tZlhpw kwc-¢n-|mË Gsd ]Wn-sÔ-tS-¾n-h-Ðp. FÐnºpw Cd-ªp-tÚmç Nneáap-X-em-|p-I-XsÐ sNbvXp. ]cp-ÃXpw hrÃn-sI-º-Xp-amb Hcp sRcp-|ã. Hcp ]æn tZlÃv hoWm-se-Ð-t]mse shdp-tÔmsS Ahç t\m|n. ]t¢, \nev|m-s\-hnsS t\cw! HÐv Xncn-¹p-t\m-|mË t]mepw t\c-an-æ. AsXæmw ad-Ðp-I-f-bp-I-bmWv \æ-Xv. Ahç [rXn-bnã Xmsg-bn-d-ªn. BçÃn-c-|nã \nÐv amdn Aev]-t\cw Ahç shdpsX \nÐp.
SnMv SnMv... s_æ-Sn-®p. _üv aptÐmºv \oªn. _ünã\n-Ðn-d-ªnb P\w NnXdn \oªn. ]t¢ Ahç Aªs\ XsÐ \nÐp, kzbw \jvS-sÔ-º-t]m-se, FtÌm NnÌn-®p-sIm-¾v.
“FSo Duáan-tf, \o FÌm ChnsS Cªs\? ” hnae-t®®n ASp-Ãp-hÐp tNmZn-®p. AtÔm-gmWv Ahç|v kzt_m[w Xncn-®p-In-ºn-b-Xv.
“FÌm hæmsX ¢oWn-®n-ºp-¾-tæm. ” , Ahç tNmZn-®p.
“Cæn-æ, ¢oWn-®n-sºm-Ð-an-æ... ” C{X-am-{Xta hna-e-t®®n tIº-Im-Wq. Gsd tIç|pw apÚv XsÐ ]Xnhv t]mse Ahç ]ndp-]n-dp-|mË XpS-ªn.
“]nsÐ hgn-tbm-c-|mgvN ImWzm? CsXms| I¾p \S-t|¾ {]mb-amtWm \n\|v? sIm®p-Ip-ºymÐm hnNmcw? hoºnev F{X-t\-cm-bo-Ðtdym kp[ \ntÐw t\m|n-bn-cn-|Wv? lcn-I-Ybv|v t]mhmË Xàm-dm-bn-cn-|p-hm. \o FÃmsX ]mh-Ãn\v t]mhmË ]tâzm? Fæm Znhtkmw hoSpw Iptºy-fpw... sshIp-tÐ-cta Hscm-gnhv Inºq... AtÔm \obn-ªs\ ImgvN I¾p \nÐmtem? sImèmw , Rm\nÔw \nsÒ hoºoÐm hcp-Ð-Xv. ”
Ahç DSË \S-Ðp, t\sc hoºn-te-|v. Asæ-©nã tN®n-bpsS shSn \ndp-Ãn-æ.
]e-N-c|v IS-bnã\nÐv ]eXpw hmªm-\p-¾m-bn-cp-Ðp. AtXmáÃm \nÐ-Xv. ]oSn-I-bnse Xnc-|p-I-¾-tÔmç FÌp-sN-àp-sa-tÐmáÃp-t]m-bn. AtÔm-gmWv hna-e-t®®nbpsS ]nSn-bnã s]º-Xv. amk-hm-S-I-ap-gp-hË AhçXp-S-|-Ãnte sImSp-Ã-Xm-Wv. \msf BKkvâv ]Xn-\-³v. kzmX-{Ìy-Zn-\-ÃnsÒ Hgn-hv. AXm-bXv XnÐmË hnti-jn®v hæXpw D¾m-|-W-sa-ÐáÄw. ]mb-k-ap-¾m-|-W-sa-©nã A¾n-Ô-cnÔpw apÌn-cn-bp-saæmw thWw. Csæ-©nã ap-Ã-îË Ign-|n-æ. ]nsÐ FsÒ ImeÃv Aª-s\, Cªs\ FsÐms| eIvNá Xp-S-ªpw. s\àpw hmª-Ww, ]t¢ C\n aptÐmºv sNÐp-Iq-Sm.
]e--hy-RvP-\-|-S-bnã\nÐv AXym-hiyw Nne-km-[-\-ªç hmªn, k³n-bn-en-Sp-Ð-Xn-\n-sS, tN®n-a\:]qáêw Ahsf Xpdn-®p-t\m-|p-Ðp-¾m-bn-cp-Ðp, Zqsc \nÐv.
thK-Ãnã\-S-Ðp. hoºn-se-Ãp-tÚmç AÛmbnAÛ AI-tÃ|pw ]pd-tÃ|pw Dem-Ãp-I-bm-bn-cp-Ðp. Duáan-f-sb-I-¾-bp-Ss\ Ah-cpsS apJÃv ktÌmjw ]c-Ðp. ]t¢, s]sº-Ðp-XsÐ shdp-ÔnsÒ Npfn-hp-Iç ImWm-bn.
“hoºn-se-ÃmË FÌm{X Xmakw? sshIp-tÐ-c-sa-©nepw F\n-s|m-scm-gnhv tht¾? ”
“_ünãh-æmà Xnc-|m-bn-cp-Ð-tÛ. c¾p _üv Hgn-hm-t|¾n hÐp. ”
“Ct{Xw t\cw hgo-te|v IÁpw \ºv Ah-km\w RmËXsÐ Nmb-bn-ºp. Atªcv IpSn-®n-ºn-æ. DW-cp-tÚmfv tNmZn-t®m-fpw. Rm\-Ú-e-Ãn-te|v t]mêm. \náÛ-e-t®®n t\csà t]mbn. t\csà t]mbn-sæ-©nev Ccn-|mË\æ öew Inºn-æ. ]nÐn-en-cpÐm lcn-I-Y-tIç|m\pw ]ân-æ. ”
AÛ-mbn-bÛ XpSáÐp-sIm-¾n-cp-Ðp. DuáÛn-f-]-d-bp-Ð-sXmÐpw AhátI-ºn-æ. [rXn-bnã sNcpÔv Imen-te|v Ib-ân, Ahá ]d¹p;
“FSo B ]n®-f-Ôm-{X-Ãn-epè ]msemÐv Xnf-Ôn-®p-sh-bv|-Ww. ”
AXpw ]d-¹v Ahá]p-d-tÃ|v \S-Ðp.
Duáanf AI-tÃ|v t]mbn. GtXm Uyqºn Gsâ-Sp-Ã-t]m-se. HÐv Ign¹v asâm-Ðv. kXy-Ãnã Duáan-fbv|v Fæm-ân-t\mSpw shdpÔv tXmÐp-Ðp. ]Iãapgp-hË Ikm-e-bn-en-cpÐv DSãh-en-¹p-ap-dp-Ip-Ðp. Hmtcm ^bepw hmbn®p Xocp-am-\-sa-Sp-|p-tÚmç, IgpÃv s]mºm-dm-hpw. ]nsÐ t_münsÒ iIm-cw. Cu seâ-sdÌm ChnsS? B _P-ânsÒ Izdn-sb-Ìmbn? tkvââvsaÒm-bnºv c¾p Znh-k-am-bnºpw ssSÔv sNbvXntæ? \mev Znhkw sIm¾v Fæmw Xoc-Ww. anknkv tkm\, bp Bá ko\n-bá, sF t\m. _Sv bq akvâv sjbá sd-kvt]m½kn-_n-en-âo-kv.
t_münsÒ apdn-bnã\nÐv ]pd-tÃ|v IS-ÐXpw láj ]æv ImWn-|p-Ðp. A\záÄ-am-b-t]-cv, FtÔmgpw ]æv ImWn-®p-\-S-|p-Ð-hç! tIº-]mXn tIç|mà ]mXn B sNIp-ÃmË hmáà Hm^o-kn-emsI ]c-Ãpw.
D®-t\-cÃv apdp-|n-®p-h-Ôn® Np¾p-am-bn-hÐ tPmjn-, cm-L-hsÒ tai-Ôp-d-Ãp-I-b-dn-bn-cpÐv XsÐ ]cn-l-kn-|p-I-bm-bn-cp-Ðp-shÐv DuáÛnf HmáÃp. “CsXæmw s]Áp-ªç|v sImèmw Nªm-Xo. teUo-kn-\m-bmã kl-Xm-]w. sshIn-h-cmw, t\csà t]mhmw. t\c-Ãn\v ]Wn-sb-Sp-|mw, FSp-|-0Xn-cn-|mw. Hcp kvssaã, Imcyw ip`w. t_mün-s\-tÔmepw Ch-â-ap-dp-|n-|-f-bpw. kXy-Ãnã F\n|v Zp:Jap-¾v. ssZhw FsÐ Hcp s]Ám-|n-bn-ætæm.”
]nsÐ c¾p t]cpw apdp-|n-®p-hÐ ]æp-Iç Imºn, In..-|n...|o FÐv Nncn-|mË XpS-ªn. AtÔmç X\n|pw tZzjy-h-Ðp. Xm\pw iImcw XpS-ªn. “ankvâá tPmjo CsXæmw BtcmSm ]d-bp-ÐXv? FtÐmtSm? Rms\m-cm-fp-tSbpw kl-Xm-]-Ãn-eæ Ign-bp-Ð-Xv. Ipsd-|m-e-ambn tPmen sNàp-Ðp.ko\n-b-dm-bn.Hm^okv ka-bÃv ]e-X-hW apdp-|m\pw Nmb-Ip-Sn-|m\pw RmË t]mhm-dpt¾m?\nsÐ-tÔmse RmË ]c-Zq-jWw ]d-bm-dpt¾m? AXn-s\mÐpw RmË kabw sa\-s|-Sp-Ãm-dn--æ, a\-ün-emtbm?”
Xm\msI NqSm-bn-cp-Ðp. ]t¢, Ahá|pt¾m e±? C{X-sbms| tIºnºpw Ahá ]æv Imºn Nncn-|p-I-bm-bn-cp-Ðp.
“taUw FÌn\m Cªs\ ]nW-ªp-ÐXv?”, tPmjn tNmZn®p: “RmË P-\-d-emb Imcy-ª-ftæ ]d¹pèq. ”
“P\-dã Imcy-ªç! Hm^okv Ign-¹nºv aXn P\-dã Imcy-ªç; BZyw \nsÒ tS_n-fnã t]m.”
“Hmtkm-dn, tkmdn amUw, ]t¢ s{]mtam-jË Hm-Uá Cd-ªn-bn-ºn-æ. t_mknsÒ Iym_n-\nã \nÐv hæXpw Adnt¹m?”
“tPmjo” XmË Ae-dn. AtÔmç AhË kzÌw koân-te-t|m-Sn. FÐnºpw c¾p-t]cpw BwKyw ImWn-|p-Ðp-¾m-bn-cp-Ðp.

Znh-k-amsI hfsc Akz-ö-bm-bn-|-gn-¹p-. NoÃ, hfsc NoÃ. FÌp-Xcw Bfp-Iç! XsÒ Hcp apdw sh®v aâp-è-h-cpsS Ac-ap-dsÃÔân ]d-bp-Ðp. CXp-sIm-s¾ms| Chás|Ìp t\ºw? idn|pw Ahá|v CXv ktÌmjw \evIp-Ðpt¾m?tPmjn, IZw, Unknãh, cmPË Fæm-hcpw XsÒ kl-{]-háÃ-Iá. Ah-sc-sbmÐpw Bcpw hnfn-|m-dn-æ. Xms\{X CjvS-tÃm-sS-bmWv tPmen ]Tn-®Xv? CËthUv apXã A|u-¾nªv hsc. CËkvs]-¢\pw HmUnâpw XpS-ªn-bmã Fæm-hcpw XsÒ ]ndsI IqSpw. CsX-ªs\ sNbvXp? AsX-ª-s\-bmWv? \qdv tNmZy-ªç. CXnsÒ kmwKvj-s\-hnsS? B HmUnâv dntÔmáºv FÌp-sNbvXp? HÐpw c¾p aæ, \qdp-tNm-Zy-ªç ! DuáÛn-fbv|v Hm^o-kn-epè AwKo-Im-c-sÃ-Ôân Fæm-há|p-a-dn-bmw. AX-hç kzb-tah BáPn-®-Xm-Wv, AÊzm-\hpw ¢abpw ss[cyhpw sIm¾v.
“tamtf,”AÛm-bn-b-ÔsÒ hnfn tIºv Ahç|v ]cn-kc t_m[-ap-¾m-bn.
“Zm hcp-Ðp.”, thKw ssIbpw apJhpw Igp-In, ssI XpS®v Ahç _mÃv dqanã\nÐv ]pd-Ãn-d-ªn.
“Nmbsh-®ntæ? \obpw IpSn-®n-æ-tæm. \o IpSnt®m?”
hÐ ]msS Nmb XcmË Bcp-¾n-hnsS? AÛ-bm-bn-b-Ô-s\Ìm Aª-s\ tNmZn-|mË?
“shbv|mw, Rm\n-tÔmç hÐ-tX-bp-èq.” Ignbp-Ð{X hn\-b-tÃmsS Ahç adp-]Sn \evIn.
Nmb-|Ôv A°sÒ apÐnã sh®v, ASp-Ãpè Ikm-e-bn-en-cpÐv Ahfpw Nmb IpSn-|mË XpS-ªn.
“Ahn-\miv C\nbpw hÐn-sæÐv tXmÐp-Ðp.”A°Ë Nmb IpSn-|p-Ð-Xn-\n-Sbv|v tNmZn-®p. Abmç C{X t\csà hoºnã hcnI ]Xn-hpt¾m FÐv tNmZn-|mË tXmÐn. AáÊ-cm-{Xn-|p-apÚv hoºn-se-Ãn-bm-em-bn. Ahç HÐpw an¾n-bn-æ. shdpsX Xá|n-®n-sºÌv? ]t¢ A°\v an¾m-Xn-cn-|mË ]ân-bn-æ. AtÉlw kw`m-jWw XpS-cmËXsÐ B{K-ln-®p.
“ IpºnIç kv|qfnã \nÐv hÐqÐv tXmÐp-Ðp.” Abmç ]d-¹p.
“ Dêv, Pbp FÃn.Zo] CtX hsc hÐn-æ. ”
“ AtX,PbphÐqÐv apdn-bnã\n-Ð-tÔmç F\n|v a\-ün-em-bn. FÐpw AtX ieyw. Ah\v ]men-jvS-a-æ. ]pXn-b-]p-Xnb ]e-lm-c-ªç FÐpw thWw. hb-ümb apÃ-în-sb-|p-dn®v Hcp NnÌ-bp-an-æ.Ah-sf-ª-s\bm CsXms| sNàpI? Pohn-X-Imew apgp-hË hoSv t\m|n. Ahç Ah\v th¾n F{X-I-jvS-sÔºp? C\n-sb-©nepw Hcp hn{i-a-ap-¾m-hp-saÐv Icp-Xn. ]t¢, Cæ. Hmtcm-cp-Ã-cpsS hn[n! Aæm-sX-Ìp-]-d-bmË? t]msº!. ”
A°Ë ZoáL-\n-izmkw hnºp. Cu kz`mhw DuáÛn-f-bv|-dn-bm-w.FÐmepw Cu háÃ-am\w Ahç|n-jvS-sÔ-ºn-æ. Ahç Ahn-SÐv Fgp-tÐ-âp-t]m-bn. Hcm-fpsS iÚfw sIm¾v hoSv t]mâm-\m-hn-æ. CX-dn-¹p-X-sÐ-bmWv aI-s\-s|m¾v tPmen-bpè s]Áns\ sIºn-®-Xv. tPmen-bpè acp-a-Iç....................... AXm-bXv Id-h-Ô-ip. tPmen-bpè s]Áv sIm¾p hÐn-sæ-©nã Hcm-fpsS iÚfw aXn-bm-hntæ Chá|v? AXv sIm¾v kpJ-t`m-K-ªçs|æmw XnI-bntæ? Iip-h-¾nbpw Inkvankpw _Zmw eÍphpw? CsXæmw Hâbv|v Ign-bptam? .... iÚ-fhpw s]Ëjy\pw Inºn-bmã? Cæ. AXp sIm¾mWv Nhn-ºp-sIm-¾mepw Id-h-Ô-ip-th-W-saÐv Ahá|v tXmÐn-b-Xv.
Hcp Zohkw Bizm-k-tÃmsS AÛm-bn-b-Ô-t\mSv CXv tNmZn-|-W-saÐv Ah-ç|v tXmÐn. ]t¢ Ahç kzbw \nb-{Ìn-®p. AXp-sIm¾v Hcp {]tbm-P-\-hp-an-sæÐv Ahç|-dn-bm-am-bn-cp-Ðp. Ah-fpsS tNmZy-ªçs|mÐpw DÃ-c-ap-¾m-hn-æ. Hmtcm-cp-Ãcpw Ah-c-h-cpsS he-b-Ãnã Id-ªp-Ð-h-cm-Wv.
“ aÛo F\n|v Nmb-th-Ww. ” ]pd-Ãp-\ntÐ Ae-dn-s|m¾v Zo] hÐp.
“ ISp-Ô-Ãn-em-bvt|m-sº. s]sº-Ðv. \æ ]X thWw aÛo. \msf F\n|v kv|qfnã {]kw-Kn-|m-\p-è-Xm, kzmX{Ìy Zn-\-sÃ--Ip-dn®v No^v KkvânsÒ apÚnã {]kw-Kn-|-Ww. Adn-bmtam? ”
tai-Ôp-d-Ãn-cpÐv Zo] \náÃmsX ]ndp-]n-dp-|p-I-bm-bn-cp-Ðp. DuáÛnf Hcp b{Ìw t]mse tPmen-sNb-àp-I-bm-bn-cp-Ðp. CS-bvs|ms| FsÌ-©nepw ]d-bpw.
“ aÛo, F\n|v t]mbnÒvkv ]d¹pX-cq. ]nsÐ RmË AX-\p-k-cn®v {]kwKw Fgp-Xn-t|m-fmw. cm{Xn-bm-hp-tÚm-tg|v {]kwKw Xàm-dm-hpw. No^v KkvânsÒ apÚnã {]kw-Kn-|Ww Adn-bmtam? ]t¢, aÛo, _en-báÔn-|p-I, c~-km-¢n-bm-hp-I, knÎm-_m-Zv, Imcm-Kr-lw XpS-ªnb tIºp-X-g-Ún® hm|p-Iç BháÃn-|-cpXv tItºm. emÃn-b-Sn, Adkvâv , shSn--sh-bv]v, CÌy-hn-SpI FÐo Imcyªç Fæm-hcpw ]d-bp-ÐXv tIºv t_md-Sn-|pw. Hcm-fp-tSXv dnt|mUv sNbvX t]mse. kzmX{Ìyw FÐmã tNmc, IÁo-cv, Pbnã FÐnh am{X-amtWm? CÃcw Im-cy-ªçtIºv \ap|v t_md-Sn-|ntæ? ”
Zo] DÈm-l-]qáêw ]d-bp-I-bm-bn-cp-Ðp. XtÒbpw Iqºp-Im-cp-tSbpw NnÌ-Iç Ahça-\üv XpdÐv ]d-bp-I-bm-bn-cp-Ðp. Du áanf Ah-sf-ÃsÐ t\m|n-\n-ev|p-I-bm-bn-cp-Ðp.
“ Hm aÛo, FÌm Cªs\ t\m|p-ÐXv? Nmb D¾m-|p-Ðntæ? thKw D¾m-|q, FÐmte Djmdv Inºq. kzmX{Ìy-ÃnsÒ Imcy-sams| FÐn-ºm-hmw. kXyw ]d-¹mã Cu kzmX-{Ìy-Zn\w Hcp t_mdm. ]peá®bv|v \æ Dd|w Hgn-hm|n kv|qfnã t]mWw. \o¾ hnc-k-amb {]kwKw tIç|-Ww.sO, Ah-[n-bpsS apgp-hË ktÌm-jhpw \jvS-am-hp-Ðp. Ac-Zn-hkw Cªs\ shdp-sX- \-jvS-sÔ-Spw.-C-Xn\v ]Icw Aan-Xm_v _®sÒ ]Sw ImWn-®n-cp-sÐ-©ntem? ”
Zo] CS-hn-SmsX kwkm-cn-®p-sIm-¾n-cp-Ðp. hmkv-Xhw ]d-¹mã Duáanf tZzjyw sIm¾v hnd-bv|p-I-bm-bn-cp-Ðp. tlm, kzmX-{Ìym-\-Ìcw P\n® Hcp Xe-apd! Chás|-Ì-dnbmw kzmX-{Ìy-ÃnsÒ alÃzw? Cu Ipºn-Iç Cªs\ ]d-¹p-sIm-¾n-cn-|pw. Duáanf AÌáap-Jn-bm-bn. Ah-fpsS Dènã Hcp kwLájw Df-hm-bn, kwhmZw XpS-ªn. kzmX-{Ìy-Zn-\m-tLm-j-Ãn-\mbn asâm-c-h-kcw sImSp-t|-¾n-h-cptam?
Zo]bv|v tNmb-sIm-Sp-|p-tÚmç Ahç|v s]sºÐv kms\ Kpcp-hns\ Hmáa-h-Ðp. BZyw kzm-X-{ÌyÃn-\mbn XsÒ PohnXw apgp-hË Dgn¹p-sh-bv|p-Ibpw ]nÐoSv Dd-|-Kp-fn-I-I-gn-®v, Pohn-X-a-h-km-\n-Ôn-|p-Ibpw sNtà¾n hÐ amXr-lr-Z-b-apè kmt\ Kpcp-Pn. kzmX{Ìyw e`n-®-tijw bph-X-e-ap-d-bpsS Pohn-Xhpw AÊzm-\-ti-jnbpw \in-|p-Ð-Xp-I¾v KpcpPn Akz-ö-bm-bn. bphm-|-fp-tSbpw P\-ª-fp-tSbpw Bt{Imiw Ahá|v kln-|m-\m-bn-æ. Ah-cpsS a\üpw ico-chpw Pzen-®p. ]nsÐ Ahá PohËXsÐ _en-báÔn®p. Cu Ipºn-tbm-sS-Ìp-]-dbpw? Cu Znh-k-ÃnsÒ alÃzw Fªs\ ]d-¹p-sIm-Sp|pw? Duáanf \ntë-jvS-bm-bn.
“ aÛo, cm{Xn `¢Ww sSbvtkvâmsS thWw. cohnse Xosc tami-am-bn-cp-Ðp. ”
apdnbnte|v Ib-dn-bXpw Pbp H®-sh-bv|mË XpS-ªn. _qSvkpw tkm|vkpw apdn-bnãX-sÐ-sb-dn-¹p.
“ FSm \nsÒ km[-\-ª-sfæmw BZyw icn|v FSp-Ãp-sh-|v. ” Duáanf H-®-sh-®p.
“ Hm aÛo, FsÌmcp IjvS-am. aÛn-XsÐ shbv|q, F\n|v PnÛnã t]mh-Ww. ”
“ Dêv, Pbp FÃn.Zo] CtX hsc hÐn-æ. ”
“ Gºm, hcp-tÚmç Imkâv amân hc-Ww. ” Zo] Iev]n-®p.
“ \msf D®bv|v Nªm-Xn-amá hcp-Ðp-¾v. \æ t]mÔv ayqkn|v sIm¾p hc-Ww. ”
“ F\n|v ]ân-æ. Rms\-Ìn\v t]mhWw? Nªm-Xn-am-tcmSv A{Xbv|v CjvS-am-sW-©nã kzÌ-aªv t]mh-Ww. F\n|v t\c-an-æ. ”
]nsÐ c¾p-t]-cp-tSbpw hm|p-Xá|w ; ]nsÐ Hmº-hpw. ]t¢, Zo]bv|v Pbp-hns\ ]nSn-|mË Inºn-bn-æ. AhË HmSn-tÔm-bn.
“ FÔgpw Aª-s\-bm. Bcp ]d-¹mepw tIç|n-æ. Al-©m-cn. ” Zo] tZzjy-tÃmsS ]d-¹p. FÐnºv Bth-i-tÃmsS Fgp-tÐâv apdn-bn-te|v \S-Ðp.

Duáanf hkv{Xw amdn , hoSv hrÃn-bm-|n., ]®-|dn shè-Ãn-en-ºp. Ip|á ASp-ÔÃv Ib-ân. Bº \\-®p-sh-®p. AtÔm-tg|pw AÛm-bn-bÛ Xncn-s®-Ãn.
“ lu, hæmsX ¢oWn-®p-tam-tf.-C-Ãn-cn-\SÐmã aXn-, Imev thZ-\n-|mË. tamtf, Duáan-tf, CÃncn Nmb-bn-Sv, Ac-Kvfm-kv. ”
bYmáÄ-Ãnã Duáanf hnj-an-®p. AXpw CXv Nmb-bpsS ka-b-amtWm? Ac-Kvfmkv Nmb-bp-¾m-|m-s\Ìm Hcp ]Wn-bp-antæ? Ahç a-\km tZzjy-sÔ-ºp. hàmÐv ]d-bmË ]ân-sæÐv Ahç|-dn-bmw. FsÌ-©nepw ]d-¹mã]nsÐ _l-f-am-hpw. ]nsÐ hoºnse kam-[m\w \jvS-sÔ-Spw. AXnepw \æXv an¾msX Nmb-bn-Sp-Ð-Xm-Wv.

“ Aæm. ]nsÐ Hcp Imcyw ]d-bmt\ ad-Ðp-t]m-bn. ” AÛm-bn-bÛ Nmb-bn-d|p-Ð-Xn-\nsS ]d-¹p. Duáan-f-bpsS a\-ünse ]nSÔv IqSn. C\n-sb-Ìm-Wmthm?
“ \msf \n\|v Hgn-htæ? ”
“ Hgnthm? AXp-êv, ]t¢, cmhnse Hm^o-knã t]mWw. ”
“ t]mbn-sæ-©n-seÌm IpgÔw? ”
“ AXv ]ân-æ-tÛ, dn|mUv tami-am-hpw. ”
“ FÌp dn|mUv? ”
“ t]mbn-sæ-©n-seÌm IpgÔw? ”
“ C\v{In-saÒv, s{]mtam-jË, {SmËkv^á Fæmw Cu dn|mUv A\p-k-cn-®n-cn|pw. ”
“ FsÒ `K-hm-t\.FsÌæmw hm|p-I-fm. Rª-fpsS ImeÃv s]Áp-ªfv hoSv, `áÃm-hv, a|ç, ASp-Ôv, ]¾w CXn-s\-|-dnt® ]d-bm-dp-¾m-bn-cp-Ðp-èq. Iá|n-S-Ãnã FsÌæmw IY-Iç hmbn-|m-\p-¾m-hpw? CtÔmç {hX-sa-æmw Fæm-hcpw ad-Ðp-t]m-bn-cn-|p-Ðp. ”
Ahá ]p³n-cn-|p-Ðp. Ahç|v t]Sn-bm-bn. h¾n C\n Ftªm-ºm-Wmthm Xncn-bpI? Ahç DSË hnj-b-Ãn-te|v Xncn-®p-h-Ðp.
“ \nª-sftÌm ]d-¹ntæ? ”
“ AtXm hgn-bnã sh®v \Îsb I¾p. ”
“ Dtêm, \Î FÌm ]d-¹Xv? Ah-sc-ªns\? ”
“ Fª-t\tÐm? hoºnse Dcepw ASpÔpw sIm¾v FsÒ sIm®v s]mdpX-nap-ºn-bn-cn-|ym. Ahn-\m-in-t\mSv RmË ]d-¹-Xm, Bfpw Xnc-|p-apè hoºn-te|v Ahsf sIºn-®-b-|-s¾-Ðv. hn[n FÐ-æm-s¾Ìp ]d-bm-\m, C\n ]d-¹n-sºÌm ?

Ahcv asâ-Ìp ]d¹p ?

Ah-sfÌp ]d-bm\m - Rm\-h-tfmSp ]d¹p PXot\w sIm¾nªp t]mcmË, `¢-W-Ãn-\v. \n\|p \msf Hgn-hm-Wtæm ?

StÔmÐv \ne-Ã-ªn-cp-Ðmtem FÐv DuáÛn-f|v tXmÐn. ]nsÐ Fgp-tÐã-|-cp-Xv.
aÁnã Hºn-tÔm-h-Ww. adn-®mã t]mepw Cf-I-cp-Xv.

lm - ]nsÐ ASp-|-f-|mcn imÌm-`m-bnbpw hcn-æmÐv ]d-¹n-ºp-¾v. \msf Ahç Fhn-sStbm `¢-W-ap-¾m-|m-saÐv Gân-ºp-s¾Ðp ]d¹m t]mb-Xv. Hcp coXn-bn-eXp \Ðm-bn. \æ NqSpè ]qcn NpSmw.

AÛm-bn-AÛ DÈm-l-tÃmsS ]ÊXn Bkq-{XWw sNàp-I-bm-Wv. DáÛnf kabw AfÐp Ign-bp-Ðp. Fºp aWn|v Hm^o-kn-se-ÃmË Npcp-ªn-bXv Ggp aWn-s|-©nepw hoºnã \nÐv ]pd-sÔ-S-Ww. A³p-a-Wn-s|-Wo-âmte Ip|á Ib-âmË kabw Inºq. Asæ-©nã AXn\p apË]p XsÐ Aemdw sh|tWm ?

HÚXp aWn|v Ahn-\miv hÐp. Nmb, ]nsÐ tkm^-bnã InSÐp hn{i-aw.-]nsÐ `¢-W-Ãn-\pè hnfn-Iç. Ah-km\w ]Ãc aWn|v Fæm-há|p-apè `¢-W-am-bn. ]nsÐ ASp-|-f-bnse ]Wn Ign-bp-tÚç ]Xn-s\mÐp aWn-bmbn.

Ahç apdn-bn-se-Ãp-tÚmç Ahn-\miv Iqá|when XpS-ªn-bn-cpÐp. hkv{X-saæmw öew amdn-|n-S-|p-Ðp. DáÛnf AsXæmw icn-bm|n t¡m|n\p Nmhn sImSpÃp Aemdw sh®v Xe-bn-W-|-SpÃp sh®p. B i_vZw tIºp Ahn-\miv DWáÐp. FÌm Hscm®, Cu t¡ms|-Ìn\m Xe-bv|ã sh®Xv ? AXnsÒ H® tIºmã cm{Xn Dd|w hcnæ. AsXm-tcdp sImSp-|v.

AÔw cm-hnse F\n|v Aemdw tIçt|t¾ ?

FÌm tIç|m-sX, \o Ip`-IáÁsÒ tamfm ?

]t¢ t¡m|v ASp-Ãp-s¾-©nã kzö-ambn InS-|mw. cm{Xn apgps| bmsXmcp `b-hp-ap-¾m-hn-æ.

\osbÌm Ipºn-I-sf-tÔmse kwkm-cn-|p-Ð-Xv. BZyw t¡m|v Ahn-SpÐv FSpÃp amâq.

Ahç an¾msX t¡ms|-SpÃv Zqsc sIm¾ph®p.
FsÒ {]nb-sÔº DuáÛntf, ssa kzoâv lmáºv, Abmç kvt\lw {]I-Sn-Ôn-|mË XpSªn. ]t¢ Ahç Abmsf AI-ân.

FÌmtSm
¢nWn-®n-cn-|p-Ðp.
FÐpw ¢nW-amtWm ?
AsX
CsX-Ìm, Ct{Xw ]pkvX-I-ª-sf-Ìn\m !
UnÔmáºp-saÒv sSkvân\v F\n-s|-gp-X-Ww. ko\n-b-dm-Wv. NmËkv \jvS-am-hpw.
CsXæmw CtÔm FÌp sNàm\m ?
FÌp sNàm-s\Ðp sh®mã ? F\n|v Ign-hp-¾v, kmaáÄy-ap-¾v. ]nsÐ Db-cmË {ian-®m-seÌm ? PnhnXw apgps| Cu ]Z-hn-bn-en-cn-|mt\m ?
t_mktæ Ibâw Xcp-ÐXv ? Bás|-©nepw Ibâw sImSp-Ãmã Ah-s\ms| FÌm \jvSw ?
FsÐ Bcpw Ib-âp-Ibpw Ccp-Ãp-Ibpw th¾. F\n|v FÐnã ]qáÁ hnizm-k-ap-¾v.
]t¢ CtÔmç \n\-s|-Ìn\m Cu hàm-th-en-sbæmw ?
CXn-seÌm hàm-th-en. RmË kaáÄ-bm-Wv. Fæm tPmen-bp-a-dnbmw. ]nsÐ DbáÐ ]Zhn B{K-ln-|p-Ð-Xn-seÌm sXâv.
t\m|v, F\n|v \ntÐmSv Xá|n-t|-¾-Xn-æ. \n\-|n-jvS-ap-èXv sNbvtXm. BIm-isà thW-sa-©nã ]nSn®p sIºn-t|m. F\n-s|Ìm \jvSw. Ahá|v ]Wn-sN-àmË \mevIm-en-Isf thWw. t]m. CjvS-ap-èXv sNbvtXm. Abmç ]nWªn apJw hoáÔn®v Dd-ªn. Ahfpw an¾n-bn-æ. NnÌ-I-fpsS he-b-Ãnã IsÁ-tÔm-gmWv AS-¹p-t]m-b-sX-Ð-dn-¹n-æ.

cmhnse BsI Ipg-Ô-am-bn-cp-Ðp. Hcp-`m-KÃv Ip|-dnsÒ hnknã. adp-`m-KÃv Pbp FË.-kn-.-kn. bpsS sXmÔn Xnc-bpÐ _l-fw. Ahn-\m-insÒ jáºnsÒ _º½ ImWm\n-æ. kqNn Xnc-b-Ww, \qep-tImá|Ww ]nsÐ Ipfn-|mË sshIn.

CÐse _m©nã t]mbn-cptÐm ? Ahn-\m-insÒ tNmZyw. Hm ssa tKmUv, RmË adÐp -t]mbn. Ahç|v e±.
tKmUv CtÔm-sgÌp sNàm\m ? \o t]mIpÐ hgn-|tæ _m©v ? ]t¢ Hcp sNdnb ]Wn t]mepw \n\|p ]ân-æ. Abmç apdp-ap-dp-Ãp-sIm¾v IÁp-Xn-cpÛn \S-Ðp. RmË ]d¹ tPmen Chç sNànæ FÐp Icp-Xn. CXn-s\-Ìp ImcWw ?
t¡m|nsÒ kqNn-s|mÔw Ah-fpsS Hmºw XpSáÐp.
CÃncn t\ctà hctW tamtf, \Îp CÐp hcpw. HmáÛ-bpt¾m ?
Dêv Ahç Ddªn \S-Ðp.
aS-ªn-sb-Ãn-b-tÔmç \Îbpw PXn\pw FÃn-bn-ºp-¾v. Fæm-hcpw t{UmbnwKv dqanã skmd-b-Sn-®n-cn-Ôm-Wv. Xami s]mSn-s]m-Sn-|p-Ðp. Ipºn-I-fpsS _lfw XpS-cp-Ðp.
Aæ tN®o, \nª-fpsS Hm^o-kn\v kzmX{Ìy Zn\-Ãnepw Hgn-hntæ ? }Rªç FtÔm-sg-©nepw hÐmã Xnc-s|m-gn-¹nºv ImWmË t]mepw ]âp-Ðn-æ. Ahç IjvS-sÔºp Nncn®v AI-tÃ|v IS-Ðp-t]m-bn. hoSmsI Ae-t©m-e-sÔºp InS-|p-Ðp.

`¢WsamÐpw D¾m-|n-tº-bn-æ.

DuáÛnf Ac-ap-dp|n G{]½sIºn ]Wn XpS-ªp-I-bm-bn. Hmtcm-cp-Ã-cp-sSbpw cpNn-|-\p-k-cn-®p-thWw `¢Wap-¾m-|mË.

`¢Ww tIa-am-bn-ºp¾v tN®o. FÐv PXnË.
FÌm-bmepw GºÃn \nª-fpsS IjvS-ÔmSv Iptd-tb-sd-bm-Wv. \Îbv|v Zb-tXm-Ðp-Ðp.
D¾m-hpw. hoSpw Hm^okpw t\m|s¾. PXnË kaáÄn-|p-Ðp.
kv{XoIç|v hnZym-`ymkw sImSpà Imc-W-am... BZyw hnZym-`ymkw ]nsÐ tPmen.... ]nsÐ {]tamjË AXym-{Klw IqSp-Ð-Xm. ]nsÐ-sb-Ìn\o ]màym-cw. CSbv|v A°Ë IqsS IqSn.
Znhkw apgp-hË \Î-bpsS ]ndp-]n-dp-|ã. `áXr-Kr-l-Ãnse ]cm-Xn-Iç, Abãh-|sà hg|v, BgvN-bnã InºpÐ kmcn-Iç, kn\na Aªns\ HÐpw c¾p-aæ Bbncw hnj-b-ªç. DáÛnf Fæmw aqfn-t|-ºp. cm{Xn `¢-Whpw Ign-¹mWv Fæm-hcpw ]ncn-¹pt]mbXv. apdn-bnã hÐ-tÔmç Ahn-bpsS apJw hoáÃp-In-S-|pÐp.

FÌp-]ân ?
v\osbªns\ cmhnse hoºn-seÃn ?
Fª-t\-Ðp-sh-®mã ?
Hm^o-knã \nÐpw \osb-ªns\ hÐqÐm tNmZn-®Xv ?
Hm, Hm^o-knã \ntÐm ? kvIqº-dnã hÐp. \Î hcp-Ðp-¾m-bn-cp-Ðntæ DuWn-\v. hoºn-seæmw D¾m-|m-\n-æm-bn-cp-tÐm. _üp-ImÃp \nÐmã F{X t\cw t]mIpw. AtXm¾vv tZiv ]mWvsU tNmZn-®-tÔmç Abm-fpsS kvIqº-dnã t]mÐp.
kvIqº-dnã ! CsX-\n-|n-jvS-a-æ. Ipd®v sshIn-sb-Ðp-sh®v BImiw CSn-bp-I-sbm-Ðp-an-ætæm Chn-sS. FsÌ-©nepw ]d¹v \n\|v \mºp-Imsc tamtU½tjm ImWn-|-Ww.- \mw. B[p-\n-I-cm-sWÐv FÌn\m \mºp-Imsc ImWn-|p-Ð-Xv.

sO, AX-æm-sÐ...

HÐpw ]d-tb-¾. F\n|v \nsÒ \ymb-samÐpw tI|-¾. AtÉlw ¢p`n-X-ambn öew hnºp. Ahç kvXw`n®p \nÐp. ]t¢ Dènã A¦n-]áêXw Xnf-bv|p-Ðp. Npâpw A¦n ]S-cp-Ð-Xmbn Ahç|p tXmÐn. apJw Xncn-|p-tÐ-S-sÃæmw Xobm-fp-Ðp......-Xo....-Xo..... Fªpw Xo.... Imã|o-gnã Pzen-|pÐ Xo|-\ã. Xe|p aosX am{Xw XpdÐ BIm-iw. sImSp-©mâpw Imáta-Lhpw Xo Bfn-|-Ãn-|mË t]mÐXv
ImºpXo ]SáÃp-Ð-Xv. B Ah-ö-bnã Ahç AÛsb HáÃp. hmÈey\n[n-bmb kvt\ln-|pÐ AÛ. aaX Imºp-Ð-hç. kpc-¢n-X-amb hoSv. \mep Npa-cp-Iç|p-ènã ]c-kv]cw hniz-kn-|p-Ð-há. kvt\l-Ãmã ]®]nSn-®-Xv. apâÃv tImew hc-bv|p-tÚç AÛ ]mSpÐ {Z]men cmKw DWáÃp-]m-ºm-hp-Ðp.
Adn-bmsX IÁoá DXnáÐp hoWp. Fsd Zqcw \S-sÐ-Ãn-b-Xmbn Ahç|p tXmÐn... Gsd Zqcw.

admTn IY
hnháÃ\w: tUm.-hn.-sI.-N-{ÎË