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I\ymkv{Xo
N¡
Rm³ _n.F. Ignªv Hê tPmen¡v {ian¨p sIm-ncn¡pIbmbnêì. klnsI«v \mSv hn«v t]mImsa¶ Xoêam\¯nse¯n. Ipd¨v ]Ww ISwtaSn¡phm³ Rm³ hgn I-Xv Fsâ t\sc aq¯ s]§Ä _nbm{Soknt\mSmbnêì. _nbm{Sokv Cìv knÌÀ _nbm{SokmWv. I®qcnepÅ aT¯nte¡v Rm³ _Êp Ibdn.
Rm³ F¯nbt¸mÄ Ime¯v F«paWn Ignªnêì. aT¯nse aWnbSn¨p. Hê knÌÀ hìv hmXn Xpdì. F\n¡v knÌÀ _nbm{Sokns\ ImWWsaìw Rm³ ktlmZc\msWìw Adnbn¨p. Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ Fsâ s]§Ä hì. shfp¯ DSp¸nëÅn aqSs¸« s]§Ä.
"Mmlm \obmbnêt¶m? Rm³ hnNmcn¨p AeIvkv Bbncn¡psaìv'
Fsâ aq¯ tPjvT³ AeIvkmWv IqSpX {]mhiyw aT¯n t]mbn«pÅXv. Rm\nt¸mÄ aqì hÀjw IqSn BZyw sN¶XmWv.
"AsX tN¨o Rm\m'
"\osb¶mSm _nt\mbv Ct§m«p hcm¯Xv?'
"AXtà tN¨o h¶Xv'
\o Ccn¡v Rm³ Cìv _mw¥qÀ¡v t]mImëÅ Xnc¡nemWv. ChnSs¯ Hê knÌÀ¡v At§m«v amÁamWv. Rm\mWv sIm-phnSp¶Xv.
"Mmlm?'
"Ccn¡v Rm\nt¸mÄ hcmw'
Rm³ hnknÁgvkv dqanenêì. s]§Ä AIt¯¡v ISì t]mbn. Ipsd Ignªv h¶t¸mÄ, Rm³ Fsâ s]§tfmSv sN¶ Imcyw ]dªp. Ft¶mSv Ccn¡m³ ]dªp. BZyw F\n¡v Ipd¨v ]Ww X¶b¡m\mbnêì s]§fpsS Xoêam\w. ]ns¶ HSphn Xoêam\w amÁn¡pdn¨p.
"FSm \o IqSn _mw¥qÀ¡v t]msc, R§Ä¡v Hê Iq«pamhpw. \ap¡hnsS FhnsSsb¦nepw Hê tPmen¡v {ian¨p t\m¡mw.'
Rm³ k½Xn¨p. A¶p¨XncnªpÅ _Ên\v R§Ä IpSInë t]mì, saÀ¡dbn _Ênd§n. hgnbn _Êv Xmakn¨XpsIm-vv _mw¥qÀ¡pw ssakqÀ¡papÅ _Êv s]mbv¡gnªnêì. R§Ä _kvÌmân At\zjn¨p. AhnsS\nìw C\n _ÊpIÄ Hìw Csödnªp. cm{Xn ]Xns\mì aWn Ignªnê¶XpsIm-v R§Ä AhnsS FhnsSsb¦nepw X§msaì sh¨p. AhnsS ASp¯p aTw HìanÃ. HSphn R§Ä Hê temUvPn U_nÄ dqsaSp¯p. c-p I«n DÅ dqw. R§Ä DuWp Ign¨v dqanse¯n, bm{X sNbvXv BsI apjnªnêì. dqan F¯nbtX R§Ä BsI XÀ¶nêì. bm{Xm £oWw BsI aSp¸n¨p Ifªp.
"\ap¡v Ipfn¡t-?' Fsâ s]§Ä tNmZn¨p.
"thWw. Hì Ipfn¨mte \à Poh³ hogq' Iq«¯nep-mbnê¶ kvt\lm knÌÀ ]dªp.
"kvt\lm knÌÀ Ipfnt¨mfq' Fsâ s]§Ä ]dªp.
"th- knÌÀ Ipfnt¨mfq'
"F¶m icn' Fsâ s]§Ä FWoÁp.
At¸mÄ Rm³ Itkcbnepêìv tai¸pd¯v kntÌgvkv sh¨ an\n ss__nÄ Xpdì hmbn¨p t\m¡pIbmbnêì. Fsâ s]§Ä ]Xnsb Xeap-v Ducn I«nenen«p. ]ns¶ DSp¸pw Ducn, Ct¸mÄ Fsâ s]§fpsS icoc¯n HêXcw Ku¬ t]mes¯ HÁbpSp¸mWv. Rm³ ]pdw Xncnªnêìv ss__nÄ t\m¡pIbmWv. s]§Ä _mKn \nìv Hê ss\Án FSp¯v XebneqsS C«p. F¶n«Snbn \nìw DÅnse DSp¸qcn. Ct¸mÄ s]§Ä ss\Án AWnªp \n¡pì. s]§Ä sNcp¸qcnbn«v tXmÀ¯pw tkm¸psaSp¯v _mXvdqan Ibdn hmXneS¨p.
Rm³ ]Xnsb HfnI®n«v kvt\lm knÌsd t\m¡n. kvt\lm knÌdns\ _Ên bm{X sNbvXt¸msg Rm³ {i²n¨nêì. \à Infn t]mes¯ Hê s]¬Ip«n. hnjmZw ]Iê¶ apJhpambn Hê kpµcns¸®v. B h«apJhpw sIm¨p\mknIbpw sNa¶ A[c§fpw Poh³ XpSn¡p¶ D-¡®pIfpw shfp¯ B Ifdpw Hs¡ Fs¶ hÃmsX BIÀjn¨p. Rm³ ss__nfn I®pw \«v F¶m GdpI®n«v ]mfn t\m¡n. knÌÀ F\n¡v ]pdwXncnªncnçIbmWv. apJw hiw sNcnªv Ccn¡p¶XpsIm-v B XpSp¯ Ihnfpw sIm¨p \mknIbpw I®psams¡ Hê s{]mss^ Nn{Xw t]mse F\n¡v ImWmw. amdn h«¯n InS¡p¶ knÌdpsS {UÊn\Snbn DbÀ¶v t]mbnâmbn \n¡p¶ apeIfpsS DujvafX Rm³ I-p. Rm³ ho-pw ]pkvXI¯n I®p\«p.
kvt\lm knÌÀ FWoÁv \nì. AhÀ Xeap-v Ducn. B Idp¯ncp- apSnIÄ IqSn I-t¸mÄ B apJ¯nsâ `wKn Fs¶ hÃmsX BIÀjn¨p. Rm³ A´w hn«v B apJt¯¡v t\m¡n. knÌÀ Fs¶ t\m¡msX knÌdnsâ ape¡p ]pd¯p IqSn Igp¯n h«w tXmÀ¯v NpÁnbXpt]mepÅ shůpWn Agn¨p. Ct¸mÄ HêamXncn I½okn«v sIm¨ps]¬Ip«n \n¡p¶Xpt]mse kvt\l knÌÀ \nÂçì. B amdn Fgp¶ \nÂç¶ c-papeIfpw XpSn¨p´n ssNX\yw AWnªp \nÂçì. B apJhpw apSnbpw D´ns¯dn¨p \nÂç¶ apeIfpw Fs¶ HêXcw hnImc hn{`m´nbnem¡n. kvt\lm shÅ DSp¸v sasà s]m¡n. ap«Áw Ac¸mhmS t]mse H¶v DÅnep-v. knÌÀ DSp¸v tate¡v DbÀ¯n Ducn. Ct¸mÄ Ac¸mhmSbpw AXnëÅn I½okpw AWnªp knÌÀ \nÂçì. B shfp¯p sImgp¯ ssIIÄ c-pw \áamWv. I£¯n c-nepw tcmaw hfÀì \nÂçì. XSn¨p´nb apeIÄ. ]Xn\mdpImcnbpsS apebnWIÄ t]mse I½oknëÅn Xn§n hn§n \nÂçì. I½okn\pÅn {_bnknbÀ AWnªn«p-v. AXnsâ ]mSv ]pd¯p ImWmw. Rm³ ]pkvXI¯nse¶t]mse Cêìv Hm«¡®n«v t\m¡n. B Nc¡nsâ kuµcyw Fs¶ {`m´\m¡pIbmbnêì. ap«në XmsgbpÅ shfp¯ h®apÅ IW¦mepIÄ t]mepw XpSIÄ t]mse shfp¯pw sImgp¯pw anëks¸«pw Ccnçì. sNdnb sN¼³ tcma§Ä am{Xw hfÀì \nÂçì. ImÁpw shbnepw ASn¡m¯XpsIm-v \¶mbn shfp¯ncnçì. F{X N´w F{X at\mlcw. HmSns¨ìv Im Nph«n æ\nªnêìv B kzÀ® \nd¯nepÅ IW¦mepIsf ASp¸n¨p ]nSn¨v AXn D½ sh¡m³ sImXn¨p.
kvt\l F\n¡v ]pdw Xncnªv \n¡pIbmWv. AhfpsS CdpIn¸Án¡nSç¶ I½okv Fs¶ tImcn¯cn¸n¨p. hoXntbdnb B\akvXIw t]mes¯ ]pdw. ]pd¯v I½okn\pÅnse {_bnknbdnsâ lp¡v hoXn ædª \mS Ch \¶mbn apg¨p ImWmw. Acbn hÅnbn«v sI«nbncn¡p¶ sIm¨v Ac¸mhmS. A[nIw sRmdnIfnÃm¯ B shŸmhmS¡pÅn a¬IpSw t]mepÅ N´nIÄ. Acbn \nìv hi§fnte¡pw ]n¶nte¡pw XÅns¯dn¨p \nÂçì. Ip\nªt¸mÄ XpSIÄ AIÁnbpÅ B \n¸v Fs¶ Ft´m Hê Xc¯nem¡n. Rm³ ]pkvXIw aS¡n sh¨v AhfpsS B Imainemhn{Klw t]mepÅ `wKn BkzZn¨p. dqan s]«ìv Idâv hì. sseÁv I®pNn½n¡¯n. Syq_vsseÁv BbXn\m N{µnIt]mse dqan \ndsb shfn¨ambn. F\n¡v knÌÀ kvt\lsb h«w NpÁn¸nSn¡m³ sh¼embn. Fsâ t]ânëÅn eKm³ Ipe¨p \nÂçIbmWv. a\Êv Fs¶ apt¶m«v ]nSn¨p hen¨p. Idâv h¶t¸mÄ B£W¯n ^m³ iànbmbn Id§n¯pS§n. HmÀ¡m¸pd¯v ImÁSn¨t¸mÄ kvt\lbpsS Ac¸mhmS s]s«ìv ]dìbÀì. AXv AhfpsS XpSIfn ]Ánt¨Àìv Hê \nanjw \nì. Ct¸mÄ B Dê- c-p tX³ IpS§fpw \Sphnse Nmepw `wKnbmbn Fsâ ap¶n sXfnªp \nÂçì. Fsâ eKm³ t]ântâbpw jÍnbptSbpw DÅn sRfn]ncnsIm-p. hn§nb Ahsâ Bhiyw F\n¡dnbmambnêì. Rm³ Xoêam\saSp¯p. kvt\lsb Hì sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¡pI Xs¶. Ahfpw Hê kv{XobsÃ. Gdnbm Cê]¯nc-v hbÊpImWpw. Imaw Acn¨p \Sç¶ B icoc¯nse Zmlw F{Xbmbncn¡pw. Xm³ ImWs« Fì IêXn a\¸qÀÆatà C{Xbpw amZIambn AhÄ \nÂç¶Xv. B XpSpXpSp¯ X¡mfn icocw GXhs\bmWv tImcn¯cn¸n¡m¯Xv. FÃm DSp¸pIfpw C«psI«n, icoc¯nsâ apg¸pw XpSn¸pw Hfn¨psh¨v \Sçt¼mÄ t]mepw B DSp¸pIÄ¡pÅnse hnizkuµcyhpw B ISsªSp¯ icochpw GXht\bpw Hìv Npgnªv Nn´n¡phm³ t{]cn¸nçw. Bcdnbpì GsXÃmw A¨·mÀ KZ]qP \S¯n¡mWpsaìv. A{Xbpw kpµcnbmb kvt\lsb Bsc¦nepw GsX¦nepw Xc¯n Iogvs¸Sp¯mXncn¡ptam?
^m\nsâ ImÁv dqan Id§nbSn¨p. kvt\lbpsS ]mhmSsb ho-pan«v De¨p. Rm\m sh®¯pSItfbpw tX³ IpSw Xpfp¼nb amXncnbpÅ N´nItfbpw t\m¡n \nìv shÅands¡, ^m³ ImÁv F\n¡mbn IpkrXn ImWn¨p. AhfpsS XpSIÄ¡nSbn ImÁv ISìv Npgen¡mÁmbn. ]pdIn \nìw ]mhmS ]nSn¨v Acbnte¡v tNÀ¯v s]m¡n. Hê \nanjw Rm\m N´nIfpsS apgph³ `wKnbpw I-p. shÅ ss\tem¬ jÍn CdpIn]nSn¨ncn¡p¶ BN´nIfpw XpSIfpw kwKan¡p¶ Øm\w, F{X Imtam±o]Iw.
Rms\mÁ¡pXn¸n\v kvt\lbpsS ASps¯¯pt¼mtg¡pw kvt\l s]s«ìv ]nSn¨v B ]mhmS Xmgv¯nbn«p. atÁ ssI sIm-v Ip\nªv \nìv _mKn \nìw ss\Án ]pds¯Sp¡pIbmbnêì. _m¯vdqan ss]¸v Xncn¨v shÅw hoWp XpS§nb H¨tI«p. Rm³ kvt\lbpsS ]pdIn tNÀì \nìv B Acs¡«n\v h«w ]nSn¨p. kvt\l Hê `btam æXdtem {]ISn¸n¡msX \nhÀì \nì. Rm³ AXymÀ¯n sIm-p. Rm\hfpsS ]qS]nSn¨ I£¯ntâbpw tX³ hÀ®apÅ I¿pIfptSbpw, CSbneqsS c-p I¿pw IS¯n Xmacsam«v Iq¼nbXpt]mepÅ B c-papeIfnepw ]nSn¨p. kvt\l At¸mgpw H«pw FXnÀ¯nÃ. AhÄ Hìv Ipep§nbaÀì. Hê Xcw hndbÂ. kvt\l¡v æfnê tImcnbnSpIbmbnêì. AhÄ ZoÀLambn izmkw hn«p. kvt\lbpsS icoc¯n\v \à NqSmbnêì. AhfpsS icoc¯nse Hmtcm ]caméhpw ImaZml¯nemsWìv F\n¡v tXm¶n. Rm\hsf Fsâ amdnte¡pw icoc¯nte¡pw tNÀ¯aÀ¯n. H¸w Fsâ c-p ssIIfpw B Xmac sam«pIsf AaÀ¯n XShpIbmbnêì. kvt\l HêXcw ]mXnbpd¡¯nse¶ t]mse F¶nte¡v Nmªv \nì. Fsâ hSnt]mse \n¶ IpÁnbm³ Ip® AhfpsS \nXw_¯nsâ H¯\Sphn Ip¯nsImÅpì-mbnêì. lmbv sh® s\¿n Ipg¨psh¨v AXn XoÀ¯ \nXw_w t]mse. F{X arZpeamWv. ]Xp]Xp¯ Ip-n, U¬e¸v sa¯bn Ip® Ip¯nsImÅp¶Xp t]mse. kvt\l AhfpsS Ip-n Fsâ IpÁnbm³ Ip®bnte¡v tNÀ¯aÀ¯ns¡m-nêì. Rm³ icoc¯nseÃmw ImaelcnbpsS kpJ \nÀhrXnbn B-p\n¡pIbmWv. F\n¡v F´nëw Hê ss[cyhpw XtâShpw tXm¶n. Rm\hsf h«w Xncn¨v F\n¡`napJambn \nÀ¯n. kvt\lbpsS apJw sN¼c¯n¸qt]mse XpSp¯p. c-pIhnfn \n¶pw càw CÁp hê¶Xpt]mse. B I®pIfn XojvWamb Imaw I¯n\nì. Rm\m sNa¶ A[c§fnte¡v Fsâ c-p Np-pIfpw tNÀ¯p ]nSn¨p. hfsc ]Xnsb Rm\m c-v sXm-n¸gNp-pIfpw Du¼n Fsâ hmbv¡pÅntes¡Sp¯p. Rm\m sh®t]mepÅ icocw Fsâ tZlt¯m«v tNÀ¯p ]nSn¨p. Fsâ ssIIÄ AhfpsS ]pd¯v I½oknë tase¡qSn Acn¨p \Sì. kvt\l Fsâ ssI¡p¼nfpIÄ¡pÅn AhfpsS apebn«p Xê¶Xpt]mse Fsâ s\©¯n«v c-papeIfpw At§m«pant§m«papc¨p. AhÄ \nìv klnsI« am³t]Ssbt¸mse XpÅm³ XpS§n. Rm\hfpsS Igp¯neqsS ssIIS¯n h«w NpÁn¸nSn¨p sIm-p Xs¶ Fsâ apJw Xmtg¡v Xmgv¯n Igp¯nepw apeIÄ¡ptase \áamb CS¯pw, apeIfpsS CSbnse `mK¯pw apJan«pckn. c-papeIfnepw Rm³ D½ sImSp¯p. knÌÀ kvt\l shêIns\t¸mse At§m«pw Ct§m«pw icocan«v De¨p, Hê Um³kpImcnsbt¸mse.
"UnbÀ....¹okv.... ldnb¸v' knÌÀ temeambn a{´n¨p. AhÄ Nn¯{`aw ]nSns]« tcmKnsbt¸mse icocw De¨psIm-nêì. Rm\m hbdnepw s]m¡nÄ Npgnbnepw ASnhbdnepw Acs¡«nepw XeXncn¨v \nXw_¯nsâ apIÄ`mK¯pw Npw_nçIbpw arZpeambn ISn¡pIbpw sNbvXp. Rm³ Ip\nªv AhfpsS ]mhmS s]m¡n B tNÀ¶ncn¡p¶ XpSIfn c-pw amdn amdn HêtImSn Npw_\§Ä \ÂIn. jÍn¡pÅn Xhfsbt¸mse XÅn \n¡p¶ cXnt£{X¯n D·mZelcntbmsS ap¯w sImSp¯p. knÌÀ At¸mÄ A¸w æ\nªv XpSIÄ Ih¨v AhfpsS \m`n Fsâ apJt¯¡v XÅn¸nSn¨p Xì. Rm\m jÍnbpsS ]pd¯pIqSn Xs¶ B I\ymkv{Xo N¡bn ]Xnsb ISn¨p. N¡¨men apJan«pckns¡mSp¯p. AhÄ ImepIÄ Ih¨p ]nSn¨v æ-nbn«m«pIbpw IpepçIbpw sNbvXp Xì. AhÄ æ\nªv s]s«ìv \ne¯pIp¯nbnêì. Rm\m sh¬XpSIÄ Cash«msX t\m¡n. ]mhmS ap¼n \nìv amdn¡nSçì. B ]¨Xhfsb FSp¯p sh¨Xpt]mepÅ Xų ]qdv D´n\nÂçì. "_nbm{Sokv hêw... HìthKw' ]Xnsb Fsâ Ihnfn apJapckn AhÄ ]dªp.
"tN¨n ho«n h¶m Ipfn¡m³ c-p aWn¡qsdSp¡pw' km[mcW tN¨nbpsS Ipfnbpw Xmakhpw F\n¡dnhpÅXmbXpsIm-v `bw IqSmsX Rm³ Ip¯nbnê¶ knÌdpsS ]pd¯pIqSn ssI NpÁn¸nSn¨v sNhnbn Rm³ ]dªp.
"icnbmWv c-p aWn¡qsd¦nepw AhÄ aT¯nseSp¡pw.... ....F¦nepw' knÌÀ kvt\l AÀt²mànbn \ndp¯n. Rm\mhncnª XpSIÄ¡nSbn \ne¯v ap«pIp¯n \nìv Ahsf AtX Cê¸n Rm³ sI«n¸nSn¨p. AhfpsS tXmfneqsS I¿n«v B tNtXmlcamb apJw ]nSn¨pbÀ¯n B apJs¯Ãmw Npw_n¨p. \\ªp\n¶ BNp-pIÄ Rm³ Cu¼nsbSp¯p. hmbn Rm³ CdpsI ap¯w sh¨p. Icn¡v s\m«n hen¡p¶Xpt]mse Rm\hfpsS hmbn \nìw Dan\oêv hen¨pIpSn¨p. B ]Wnbn ebn¨v tImÄabnÀ sIm-v B N¡¸qdn Ig¸nI\ymkv{Xo hençt¼mÄ A[nImct¯msS Ahfpw Fsâ N-pIÄ A§ns\ Xs¶ AhfpsS Np-pIÄs¡m-v Cdp¡n¸nSn¨p. Fsâ hmbn \nìv Ahfpw ememckw hen¨p æSn¨p. ]ns¶ hmbv hn«p.
R§Ä Fgpt¶Áv \nì. Rm\hsf hcnªp apdp¡n. kvt\lbpw kÀÆiànbpsaSp¯v Fs¶ hÃmsX ]pWÀì. AhÄ Ima{`m´nbmbn Ignªp. Ahsf Ip\n¨pw InS¯nbpw \ndp¯nbpw ]®msX \nhr¯nbnsömbn. Rm\m I®pIfn I®pw \«v Hê \nanjw \nì. Ahfpw Fsâ I®pIfn Xs¶ t\m¡n\nì. Fsâ ssIIÄ c-pw sasà AhfpsS ]pd¯pIqSn Acn¨p \Sì. kvt\l ]pfªp. Rm³ ssI Xmgv¯n AhfpsS Acs¡«nepw \nXw_¯nepw sR¡n. Ip-nIfn sRcn¨aÀ¯pt¼mÄ AhÄ I-nbn«v XpÅn¨v Xì.
Rm³ ]ns¶ Xmakn¨nÃ. Rm\m ]mhmSbpsS hÅn Agn¨v DuÀ¯nbn«p. BAcs¡«n\v Ct¸mÄ F´p `wKnbmWv. Ac hfsc h®w ædhmWv, HXp§nbncnçì. AhnSw apX h®w XpS§pì. Xpfp¼n \nÂç¶ henb tX³ IpS§Ä. c-v Ip-nIfpw tX³ \nd¨ c-p kzÀ®¡pS§Ä BWv. Ft¸mgpw hkv{Xw AWnªncn¡p¶XpsIm-v XqshÅbmWv. shÅcn¡m Ip-nIÄ t]mse. B ]Xp]Xp¯ ]ªn¡p-nIÄ. Rm\m jÍn hen¨qcn. h®w IqSnb XpSbneqsS AXp thKw DuÀ¶nd§nbnÃ. hfsc ]Wns¸tS-n hì AXqcm³. kvt\l \nÊt¦mNw \nì. R³ æ\nªv apJw Xmgv¯n B s]m¶n³ \m`nbnepw Acs¡«nepw XpSbnSp¡nepw XpSbnepw ]qdnepw ]qdnXfnepw ]qdnsâ ASn`mK¯pw Hs¡ \¡n.
"slsâ... Cutimtb' hnjmZKm\w t]mse t\À¯ kwKoXmem]w t]mse knÌÀ CuW¯n ]dªp. AhÄ ]pdtIm«Â¸w hfªp Ip¯n. B ASnhbdn\v Fs´mê `wKn. B¸nfnsâ sR«v t]mepÅ s]m¡nĨpgn¡v F{X amZIXzw. Rm³ s]m¡nÄ Npgnbn \mhpIS¯n InÅn hen¨p. tbm\o]oT¯nepw tbm\nbpsS ta¯«v apgphëw Rm³ \¡nsbSp¯p. Dan¡cn hnXdnbXpt]mse s]mSntcmaw am{Xw \ncì \n¡pì. tjhv sNbvXv anë¡nbn«v GXmëw Znhkta Bbn«pÅq. Rm\m aq{X¡pgnbn \nìw ]mcnPmX aWw BkzZn¡pIbpw tX\nsâ êNn \¡n¡pSn¡pIbpw sNbvXp. c-p ssIIfpw B kzÀ®¡pS§Ä t]mepÅ c-p Ip-nIfn sR¡n¸nSn¨p. knÌÀ BsI klnsI«p Ignªp. AhÄ ]cn]mSnbpsS ambm heb¯n hoWv Nné§pIbmWv. AhÄ Xsâ Bhn s]m§p¶ NqSp]qÁnëÅn FtâXv IS¯nt¡Áphm³ sImXn]nSn¨p \n¡pIbmWv. Btdmk¸qt]mepÅ IS¨¡ ImWm³ Xs¶ Hêt{]XyI `wKnbp-v. HêXcw iwJpt]msebpÅ shŸqdv...I¶nkmam\w. knÌdnsâ ape XÅn \nÂç¶Xpt]mse ]pdt¯¡v D´n\nÂçì B lephm¸qdv.
Rm³ Du¼epw \¡epw Ignªv XepbÀ¯n FWoÁp. At¸mÄ knÌÀ Fs¶ Acs¡«n CSXp I¿psIm-v h«w ]nSn¨p. Fs¶ AhfpsS icoc¯nte¡v tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n... sRcn¨aÀ¯n. AhÄ¡v {`m´nfIn¡gªp. {hofmhnhibmbn Cu cmPyhpw `qtKmfhpw adì. AhfpsS ]camWp¡fpsS cmkeoebn AhÄ sImXn]nSn¨p. knÌÀ heXpI¿vsIm-v Fsâ t]ânsâ lps¡Sp¯v hbdnëtNÀ¯v ssIIS¯n. sjÍnbpsS CemÌn¡n\nSbneqsS ssI sIm-psNìv Fsâ kmam\¯n ISì]nSn¨p. Xnc¡n«v jÍn¡pÅn I¼nbmbn Npê-v sRcnªaÀ¶ncn¡p¶ kmam\s¯ ]nSn¨v tatem«pbÀ¯n. F¶n«hÄ [rXnbn Fsâ t]âpw jÍnbpwIqSn Hêan¨v Acbn \nìw Xmtgm«v DuÀ¯nbnd¡n. CSXpI¿v ho-pw Fsâ Acs¡«n NpÁn¸nSn¨v heXpI¿psIm-v kmam\¯nsâ ISapX sam«hsc NpÁn¸nSn¨v DuÀ¯n. AhÄ Fsâ kmam\w akmPv sNbvXp. CSs¡mê\nanjw sXmen¨S¡pw. ]ns¶ AhÄ æ\nªv Ip®sb ho£n¡pw. Rm\t¸mÄ Hê ssIsIm-v c-papeIfpw amdn amdn sR¡n. ape¡®pIÄ sXcp¸nSn¨v sRcpSn. I½oknë ]pd¯p IqSnbpÅ B ]nSp¯w Hêckw Xs¶bmbnêì.
knÌÀ \me©ph«w Fsâ kmam\w sXmen¨S¨p. ]ns¶ Xmakn¨nà Fsâ Acs¡«nt\mSv ActNÀ¯v AhfpsS s]mfnªncn¡p¶ ]qdnsâ Nmensâ hnShn XnêInsh¨v \Sphv Fsâ Acs¡«nte¡v tNÀ¯p. henb apdp¡samìw Aë`hs¸«nÃ. F¦nepw henb AbhpanÃ. {]khn¡m¯ ]qdsÃ. GXmbmepw Cu ]qÁnëÅn GsX¦nepw Hê De¡ kmam\w XIÀ¯Sn¨v ]®nbn«p-v Fìv XoÀ¨. AhfpsS tRmf Hen¡p¶ B]qÁn \\ªp IpXnÀ¶ Fsâ Ip® ssP{Xbm{X XpS§n. AhÄ c-p I¿psIm-pw Fsâ Acs¡«ns\ NpÁnapdp¡n¸nSn¨p. Rmëw c-pI¿psIm-pw AhfpsS N´nIfn h«w ]nSn¨p. ]ns¶ s]mcnªpÅ ASnbmbnêì. s]¬Ip«nIÄ Cd¡apÅ ]mhmSbn«v \niÐXbn \Sçt¼mÄ D-mIp¶ Hê kzcw t]mse ]qÁn Fsâ Ip® Dcªp Ibdpt¼mÄ HêXcw aÀ½ckzcw D-mbn. knÌdnsâ s]mfnª kmam\¯nÂ.. B tX³ N¡bnÂ.. B \\ª Xmac¸qÁn Rm³ \Sphv sh«n¨v ]®ns¡mSp¯p. Ft¶¡mÄ hodpw hminbpw iànbpw knÌÀ¡mbnêì. AhÄ H«pw \mWanÃmsX DucIpep¡n \¶mbn ]®n. AhfpsS DuçI-t¸mÄ Øncw Im¨m³ sImSpç¶hfpsS ]®Â t]mse F\n¡v tXm¶n. Ip\nªv \Sphv æ\n¨v ]nSn¨v XpSbIÁn Ih¨p\n¶hÄ H«pw \ndp¯msX aSp¡msX XpSÀ¨bmbn ]®n. Hêsk¡ân aq¶mhÀ¯n BN´n Fsâ Acs¡«nte¡v hìw t]mbpw Cêì. knÌÀ Imaw DuÁn¡pSn¡pIbmbnêì. AhÄ Ip®sb AhfpsS ]qdnsâ hmbv sIm-v Cdp¡n¸nSn¡phm³ XpS§n. N´n IqSpX ]pdtIm«v hen¡m³ XpS§n. AXmbXv Fsâ Ip®bpsS aIpSw ]pd¯v hc¯¡hn[¯nÂ. ]ns¶ Xpf IrXyw aIpS¯nsâ t\sc sIm-phìv Ip¯nt¡Ápw. Ducnt¡Áp¶ GÀ¸mSv. At¸mÄ sskUv `n¯nIfnepw I´nepw `n¯nIfnepÅ NÀ½t]inIfnepw FÃmw Ip® Dcªp Ibdpw. A§ns\ XIrXnbmbn ]qÀ Cdp¡n¸nSn¨psIm-v Ducn¡p¯n AhÄ. B ]Wnbn Rm³ kzÀ¤w F®n. Rm³ \ne¯p\nìv DbÀì s]m§p¶Xpt]mse. Imensâ s]êhnc apX Imaelcn Acn¨p Ibdn. F\n¡v ^pÄ t_m«n {_m-n Ign¨v ]qÊmbXpt]mse Hê Aë`hw. Rm³ FÃmw adìv hen¨v tIÁnbSn¡m³ Bcw`n¨p. knÌdpw Ima¯nsâ a[p DuÁn¡pSn¡pIbmbnêì. Ahfpw icocamsI Imaw GÁphm§n \n¶Sn¨p. càw iànbmbn kncIfnsemgpIn. FhnsSsbÃmtam Fs´ms¡tbm ]dnªp t]mIp¶Xp t]mse. knÌÀ Xcn¡p¶ c-papeIfpw Fsâ s\©nen«v iànbmbn Dc¡m³ XpS§n, AhÄ thK¯neSn¡m³ XpS§n. R§fpsS Acs¡«pIÄ \m`nbn Iq«nbSn¨t¸mÄ ssI sIm«p¶Xp t]mse H¨bp-mbn. ]ns¶ Gsd t\cw ASn¡m³ IgnªnÃ. AhÄ {`m´p]nSn¨v samgnªp.
"t¿m.... F\n¡v hcmdmbn... H¶p thKw XÅnt¡....'
"F\n¡pw BImdmbn tamtf..Rm³ Hs¡bpw adçì... Fsâ tamtf...'
"thKw...thKw... XÅSm tamt\, Fsâ s]mìtamt\... tam³ sImÅmw..t«m'
" \obpw sImÅmSo s]mì]qdo...'
"A§ns\ Ip® Id¡n tIÁn¯m..ssa.... t¿m... \ndp¯tà thKw....A§ns\ ... ASn...ASn'
"\ndp¯tà tamtf... sIm¨p tX³]qdo...'
"tIÁn¯ÅSm... Cê¼p Ipt®'
"tamtf.... \ntâXv..... tX³ CÁp¶ ]qdmSo'
"]qdntams\... \ntâXv F\ns¡mìv ISn¨p X¶WsaSm'
"Rm³ sXmen¨v hmbn XcmsaSo...]qdo..'
"Rm³ Ip¯nbnê\v \¡m³ Xcmw tamt\...t¿...Zv...F\n¡v thKw'
"F\n¡v C¸w NmSpw'
"XÅv ]qdntamt\.....'
"C¶mSo ]qdo...\nsâ Ip-mWanìv Rm³ s]mfn¡pw..'
"Cu Ip® Fìw F\n¡p thWw...Cutimtb... kzÀ¤\mYm...'
"tamtf... C§s\ ]qdn«v Cdp¡msX'
"\nsâ Ip®bn§v tIÁn¯Åv ssatc...'
"Zm...F\n¡v ...tim... hv...ìq'
"F\n¡pw'
kvt\l AhfpsS s\bv¸qÀ Cdp¡n¸nSn¨p. Fsâ Ip® AhfpsS ]qÁn sRê§n. s]ê¼m¼v thcn\Snbn Ccn¡p¶Xpt]mse AhÄ A§ns\ Fsâ Ip®bn Cdp¡n¸nSn¨v ]qdn«v sh«n¨p. AhfpsS ]qdn\It¯¡v Fsâ Ip®¸m NoÁn¨mSn. CShn«v AXv sXdn¨pNmSn. A©p\nanjw knÌÀ ]qdnsâ sNmSnIÄ sIm-v Ip® Cdp¡n¸nSn¨pXs¶ \nì. AhÄ BÀ¯ntbmsS At¸mÄ Fsâ Np-v IhÀs¶Sp¡pIbmbnêì. R§Ä sI«nhcnªv kpJkpjp]vXnbn ebn¨p \nì. kvt\l knÌdnsâ ]qÁnsâ NmeneqsS \\hv Ddhv s]m«n. AXp ]Xnsb HgpInbt¸mÄ Rm³ Ip® hen¨qcn. At¸mÄ Hê \nanjw ]qÀ IqXn Xpd¶ncn¡p¶Xpt]mse Fsâ Ip®bpsS h®¯n hmbv Xpd¶nêì. B sNa¶ Nmen \nìw ]mepw emhbpw IpgsªmgpIn¯pS§n.
tamt\ \¡n¡pSns¡Sm. kvt\l ]dªp. Rm\hfpsS sh«p¶ ]qÁnte¡v t\m¡n. \à hcn¡¸qÀ. AXv hmbv AS¨p. F¦nepw ]qdnsâ Np-pIÄ km[mcWbn IqSpX ]nfÀ¶nêì. B Nmenë \Sphn AhfpsS Hma\¡´v Aåw ImWmambnêì. Rm³ BÀ¯ntbmsS AhfpsS XpSIÄ¡nSbn apJw IS¯n. F\n¡t¸mgpw hnImcw ian¨nê¶nÃ. B kuµcyw XpSn¡p¶ shÅ\ndamÀ¶ icocw. Rm\hfpsS N¡bn \nìw CÁph¶ tX³ apgph³ \¡n¡pSn¨p. ]ns¶ knÌÀ Fsâ Xe ]nSn¨p s]m¡n, Fsâ Np-n Npw_n¨p. Np-n ]Ánbnê¶ tX³ Ahfpw \¡nsbSp¯p. AXp IgnªhÄ Fsâ Im Nph«n ap«pIp¯n \nì. Fsâ XfÀì XpS§nb eKms\ c-p ssIsIm-pw ]nSn¨p hmbn sh¨v Du¼n. emKm\nepw D-Ifnepw ]Ánbnê¶ aZ\Pehpw ]mepw AhÄ êNntbmsS \¡n¡pSn¨p. ]ns¶ kvt\l FWoÁp. AhÄ Fsâ apJ¯p t\m¡n Nncn¨p.
"_nt\mbv Rm³ ad¡nÃ. ssZhw \s½ Hêan¸n¨p.'
"Rmëw ad¡nà Cu sIm¨p]qhv..CXp R³ ad¡nÃ' ho-pw Rm³ Ip\nªv B XSn¨p´nb ]p¶mc¸qÁn D½ sImSp¯psIm-v ]dªp.
"_nbm{Sokv hcmdmbn'
kvt\l ]mhmS FSp¯Wnªp. sjÍn Ih¨p\nìv C«p. ]ns¶ ss\Án XebneqsS C«v I«nenenêì. Rm\hfpsS apSnbn XtemSn. \nXw_w ap«n InS¡p¶ B apSn Xs¶ F´gImWv. Rm\hfpsS apJ¯pw, Igp¯nepw Np-nepw D½sh¨p. HSphn knÌÀ Fsâ Np-pIfnepw D½ Xì. ]ns¶ Rm³ jÍnbpw t]âpw IbÁnbn«v Itkcbn h¶nêìv ss__nÄ hmb\ XpS§n. knÌÀ _mKn \nì asÁmê ss__nÄ FSp¯v hmb\ XpS§n. ]nt¶bpw GXm-v ap¡m aWn¡qÀ IgnªmWv Fsâ s]§Ä Ipfn Ignªv _m¯vdqan \nìw ]pd¯p h¶Xv. DSs\ knÌÀ kvt\l tXmÀ¯pw tkm¸pambn Ipfn¡m³ tIdn. AhÄ _m¯vdqanëÅnte¡v IS¡pt¼mÄ ss\Án¡pÅn XpÅn¡fn¡p¶ B kzÀ®¡p-nIfn ho-pw Rm³ BÀ¯ntbmsS t\m¡n, HfnI®n«p Xs¶.
Ipfn Igªv knÌÀ kvt\l hì. InS¡p¶Xnë ap³]v ]eXhW R§fpsS I®pIÄ X½nenSsª¦nepw cm{Xnbn Hê IfnIqSn ]mÊm¡Wsa¶ Fsâ tamlw \S¶nÃ. ]ntÁìv R§Ä _mw¥qÀ¡v t]mbn.
_mw¥qcnse¯n Rmëw tN¨nbpw kvt\lbpw IqSn aT¯nse¯n. _mw¥qÀ Pb\KdnepÅ tIm¬shâv. R§Ä¡v Im¸nbpw Hs¡ Xì, A¶hnsS X§n. Rm³ t]mIp¶Xnë ap³]v knÌÀ kvt\l Hê Is¯\n¡v Xì. Rm³ ho«nse¯n I¯p s]m«n¨p hmbn¨p. B amkw ap¸Xmw XobXn _mw¥qcn sNÃm\mWv FgpXnbncn¡p¶Xv. ap¸Xmw XobXn¡p ap³]mbn F\ns¡mê aWntbmUdpw In«n. knÌÀ kvt\l atÁtXm hnemkw sh¨v F\n¡b¨ ap¶qdp cq]bptSXmbnêì AXv. aWntbmUÀ Iq¸Wn knÌdnsâ t]cÃ, atÁtXm IÅt¸cmbnêì. t_w¥qÀ, Pb\KÀ F¶ t]mtÌm^okv ko I-t¸mÄ F\n¡p a\Ênembn DdhnSw FhnsS \n¶mbncn¡psa¶v.
I\ymkv{Xo
(`mKw2)
Rm³ ap¸Xmw XbXn _mw¥qcnse¯n. tImshânآ Rm\mWv kvt\lbpsS ktlmZc³ FmWv kvt\l ]dnêXv. _nbm{Sokns\s،mpw kvt\l A§ns\ ]dbn¨ncn،Ww. Rm³ tImshânse¯pt¼mؤ Ime¯v 8 aWnbmbnêى. s{Sbn³ BdpaWns،¯n. Rm³ knءn _kvجmânآ \nىw _kv tIdn sNى.
s_أSn¨p Hê knج hى.
"Bsc ImWWw?'
"knج kvt\lsb'
"Hmtlm A¸sâ AkpJw hfsc IqSpXemWtأ?'
Rm\mZyw ]I¨p t]mbn. ]ns Np½msX ]dp.
"AsX Bip]{XnbnemWv'
\n§fb¨ sSen{Kmw In«nbnêى. CXm kvt\lsb Ct¸mgb،mw.
B IriKm{Xnbmb knج ISى t]mbn. Rm³ Ikmcbnآ Nmcnbnêىv knج kvt\lbpsS Iuies¯¸ءn Nn´nçt¼mtgçw kvt\l F¯n،gnnêى. thKw Im¸n IpSn¨v kvt\l _mKv sdUnbm،n. ]ns R§ؤ bm{X Bcw`n¨p. tdmUnend§n Hê Bt«m ]nSn¨v _mw¥q knءnbnse¯n. Bt«m \nXv tlm«آ "almho' sâ ap¼nembnêى.
"Cd§p _nt\mbv' knج ]dp. Rm³ Cd§n ]pdsI knجdpw. R§ؤ almho tlm«enآ Fgp]¯mdmw \¼ U_nؤ dqsaSp¯p. dqwt_mbn،v _أSn¨v cv Im¸n hê¯n. Im¸n وSn¨v R§ؤ hmXneS¨p.
Rm³ I«nenآ CcnçIbmbnêى. knج ]pdInآ IqSn hى Fs ]nSn¨v s_حnte،v InS¯n. Fn«hؤ Hê `mcybpsS Xs kzmX{´yt¯msS I«nent\mSv tNىv \nىv Fsâ apJ¯v D½sh¨p.
Ahؤ ]ns tNىv Fsâ Iq«¯nآ InSى. Rmëw ]ncnsh«n Ignnêى. R§ؤ cpt]cpw ]ckv]cw ssIsImv hcnpapdp،n. tNىv InSىv R§ؤ BenwK\w sNbvXp. AhfpsS B sIm¨p apeIؤ DSp¸nëإnآ\nىw Xs Fsâ s\©nآ tNancnçIbmbnêى. Rm\hfpsS Xeapv Ducn،fp. ]Xnsb B Idp¯ apSnIfnآ Rm³ hnctemSn¨p. InSى sImpXs Rs\sâ j«qcn, ]ns Fgptءv t]âqcn. jحnam{Xambn \nىv Rm³ knجsd t\m،n. Ahؤ Aهw hiw Ncnv aeى InSçIbmWv. Hê Imآ aS،n sh¨n«pv. Hىv \o«n sh¨ncnçى. B at\mlcamb apJt¯çv t\m،n. BNppIfnآ Hê Iإ¸p©ncn hnSى \nآçى.
Rm³ kvt\lbpsS ASp¯v I«nenenêى. thK¯nآ AhfpsS hkv{X§ؤ Agn،m³ XpS§n. Imenآ \nىw shإ tkmIvkv Agn¨p amءn. DSp¸psfأmw Ducn. Ct¸mؤ Hê shfp¯ ss\tem jحnbpw {_bnkdpw am{Xsa Dإq. knج Ct¸mؤ FtmsSm¸w I«nenآ CcnçIbmWv. Rm\hsf sI«nhcnp. AhfpsS ]pd¯pIqSn I؟n«v ]nSn¨v Ahfnteçv tN¯a¯pIbmbnêى. Cc In«msX Iq«nآ InSى s]mcn Hê Iqء³ knwl¯nsâ `mhambnêى kvt\lçv. Rm³ CêىsImp Xs و\nv AhfpsS sh®t]mepإ XpSIfnepw Aهw ho¯ ASnhbdnepw XpSpXpSp¯ s]m،nؤ Npgnbnepw D½sh¨p. knج tcmam©w hnXdnb icochpambn ]pdInteçv I؟vو¯n Nmnêى Xى. Rm\hfpsS CemجnIv jحn ]qdnsâ ap¼nآ \nىw وd¨v Xmtgçv Du¯n. Ahؤ CcnçXp ImcWw IqXn،Sose jحn s_حnآ {]تv BbXpsImv ]qdnsâ ap¼nse jحn am{Xw amdn. Rm³ و\nv AhfpsS s\؟¸¯nآ D½ sImSp¯p. knجdnsâ tbm\n Cىv tjhv sNbvXXpt]mse ¢o\mbncnçى. knجdnsâ tbm\nbnآ \nىw s]^yqansâ aWw hى. knج Ip\nnêى \ç Fsâ Acbnآ ssIIS¯n jحn،SnbneqsS Fsâ kmam\¯nآ ]nSn¨p sXmen¨p. knجdpw XeNmbn¨v Fsâ apXpInآ apJan«pckn. F\nçv icocw apgph³ Ddp¼cnçXpt]mepإ Aë`hapmbn. Rm\hfpsS XpSbnSp،nآ \nىw Xe ]n³hençt¼mtgçw knجdnsâ Xe Fsâ Imen\nSbnآ Im¯nêى. Ahؤ Fsâ eKms\ jحnç ]pdt¯çv hen¨p\o«n. Fsâ eKmsâ aوS¯nآ \،n. aوSw hmbnآ sh¨v ëIى. F«n©v \ofapإ Fsâ eKms\ ]وXntbmfw Ahؤ hmbnآ sh¨v Xe tatem«pw Iotgm«pw Nen¸n¨v Du¼n cpan\ntءmfw.
Rm³ s_حnآ Imep\o«n Cêى. kvt\lbpsS Xe Fsâ و®bnآ \nىw FSp¸n¨p. Ahؤ hmbnse Fsâ و® Du¼nb ck¯nepإ Dan\o Cd،ns،mv Fsâ t\sc t\m،n. Rm\hsf ]nSn¨v ap«pو¯n \ndp¯n. Rm\m Acs،«nآ ]nSn¨pb¯pt¼mؤ B ]Xp]Xp¯ وnbpsS arZpeX Fsâ I؟nآ hnZypZv{]hmlw t]mse Bbnêى. ap«pو¯n \nآç AhfpsS sjحn Rm\qcn, ap«pImآ hsc sh¨p. ]ns kvt\l Xs Nmnêىv Imepb¯n sjحn Ducn I«nenen«p. Rm\hfpsS t^mdn³ {_bnkdnsâ lps،Sp¯p. AXpw Ahؤ Ducn،fp. knج Fsâ sjحn ]nSn¨p hen¨p. Rm³ ap«pو¯n \nى sImSp¯p. knج و¯nbnêىv Fsâ jحnbqcn. ap«nآ \nىw Rm³ FWoءp \nى. Ahؤ Xs ]mZw hsc Ducn. Rm³ ]ns Imenآ InS jحn Ducn،fp. و¯nbnê knجdnsâ `wKn Rm³ Ip. B sImgp¯ icocw B a¯p]nSn¸nç \ndw. amdnse B HXp،apإ amXf \mc§. apebpsS sNdnb I®pIؤ. B `wKnbpإ hbdpw ASnhbdpw. Ih¨ncnç AhfpsS B amZIamb t]mkv. ]q NppIfIءn tdmkm¸qt]mse hnSncnçى. Rm\hfpsS apXpIv t\m،n. B ]pdw F´gImWv. N´nbpsS `wKnbmWv Fs Gsd {`m´v ]nSn¸n¨Xv. hi§fntepv Xإn \nآç tX³ \nd¨ s]m³وS§ؤ, kz®،fdmWv. Ih¨ncnç AhfpsS ASnbnآ InSىv B ]qdp apXآ IqXnhsc \،n Xnm³ Rm³ Gsd sImXn¨p. CXn\nsS و¯nbnê Ahؤ Fsâ eKm\nآ ]nSp¯an«p. Ahؤ Bthit¯msS AXns\ I؟nen«v Xnê½pIbpw Aa¯n¸nSnçIbpw sNbvXp. Fsâ cv DIfnepw amdn amdn XtemSn, arZphmbn sR،n. Anbnse ]qSbnآ ]nSn¨v hen¨p. XpSIfnآ ssIsImv ]Xnsb Xnê½n. Fsâ eKms\ cpssIsImpw Iq«n¸nSn¨v sXmen¨p. F«n©v \ofapإ eKms\ Ahؤ XtemSn. ]ns Ahؤ hm Xpdىv Fsâ I¼nt]mse \n h®apإ kmam\w hmbnآ sh¨p. AhfpsS hmbpsS sNdpNqSpw Dan\ocpw IqSn ]ءnbt¸mؤ F\ns،mê ]md Xpc،mëإ Icp¯mbn. Fsâ و® Rm\hfpsS hmbnآ sh¨v sh«n¨p. ]Xnsb ]eh«w Rm\m {]h¯n sNbvXp. Rm³ ]ns ]dp.
"knج aXn, C\nbpambmآ Ah³ O±nçw'
knج hmbnآ \nىw و® FSp¯v, Fsâ و®bnآ h«w Npءn¸nSn¨psImv ]dp.
"¹okv _nt\mbv, Fs kvt\l Fى hnfn¨mآ aXn.'
"icn kvt\tl.......'
"_nt\mbv Cu km[\w Cmft¯Xnepw hepXmbn«ptأm'
"Aىw C{Xw Dmêى'
"tlm Aى Xcç ImcWw icns،mWp ImWm³ ]ءnbnأ.'
Rm³ ]Xnsb s_حnenêى. At¸mgpw Fsâ kmam\¯nآ h«w]nSn¨nê knج kvt\lbpsS ssI apdpInbnêى. Ih¨ncnç AhfpsS kmam\w Rm³ Ip. NppIؤ hnS¯nbncnç AXnsâ Nmensâ \Sp،v kvt\lbpsS I´v Xe\o«n \nآçى. ]qdnsâ hnfp¼v td´ sh¨Xpt]mse XSn¨p \nآçى. F\n،m I´nsâ Xe It¸mؤ hmbnآ shإw \ndp. Rm\m I´nsâ Xebnآ ]nSn¨p. knج Hى hnd¨p. Ahؤ Aهw DSآ Nen¸n¨psImv Hىv \nc§n Cêى. Fsâ ]pd¯pIqsS ssINpءns،mv Ahؤ ap«pو¯n \nى. Ahؤ،msI {`m´nfIn،gnp. Ih¨hؤ ap«pو¯n\nى. Rm\m XSnb³ I´nآ ]nSn¨v sRcSn. kvt\l IqSpXآ IqSpXآ XpSIؤ AIءn, وn hncnbn¨p \nى. Ahؤ Fsâ hmbnteçv AhfpsS apeIؤ amdn amdn ]nSn¨p sh¨p Xى. Rm\Xv amdn amdn وSn¨p. B Idp¯ apesR«pIؤ Ahؤ Fsâ hmbnteçv XnêInsh¨p. Ahؤ Fs´ms،tbm ]pe¼n. Rm³ NppIؤ Cdp،n¸nSn¨v apesR«nآ Npءn¨p. \mhpsImv sam¯¯nآ Dgnp. apebpsS A{K`mKw apgph³ Rm³ \mbn ckn¸n¨v \،ns،mSp¯p. Rm³ \çwtXmdpw AhfpsS apesR«pIؤ IqSpXآ ho¯phêى. Rm\hfpsS ]qءnآ cp hncepIؤ tIءn Nen¸n¨p. وd¨p t\cw hncen«v Cf،n،gnv hopw I´nآ ]nSnçw. I´nt¸mؤ Gsd hepXmbn. Hê ]¯phbتpImcsâ enwKw t]mse AXv ]pdt¯çv \op hى. AhfpsS ]qءnآ \nىw \op\n h«،mepإ B I´nآ NpptN¯v Du¼m³ Rm³ sImXn]qp. B tX\nآ وXnى \nآç Hma\¸qdpw B Xe\o«n \nآç XSnb³ I´pw F\n،nى \،nbpw ISn¨pw XnWw. Fsâ و®bnآ At¸mgpw F¯nhenv CSيnsS kvt\l ]nSnçىmbnêى.
Rm³ ]Xnsb apebnآ \nىw hmsbSp¯p. Rm\hsf Aهw Xإnamءn. kvt\l Xo¯pw ]cnkcw Xs adnêى. Rm\mI´nteçv apJw tN¯p. Rm\m càw XpSn¨p \nآç I´nآ و¯nbnêى \،n. ]¯phbتpImcsâ enwKw t]mse \ov \nآçى. Rm\Xv NppIؤ،nSbnآ Cdp،n¸nSn¨v Aa¯n. knج ap«pImenآ \nىv klnsISpIbmbnêى.
¹okv... tlm F\nçv acn¨mآ aXn.... slsâ s]mt.... Ct؟m, ISn¨v ]dn¨v Xnىv tams\..... lm.... bm....lm...t؟m s]ms aXn. C\n \apçv sIS،mw.... aXn s]ms \ndp¯v.
kvt\l Nne¼آ Iq«n. Ahؤ sam¯¯nآ NqSp]nSn¨p. Ahؤçv Hىv ]®n ]mephê¯msX, Btbm\nçإnآ \nىw ]mepNoءn،msX \nh¯nbnsأ L«¯nembn. Ahؤ Fsâ Xe ]nSn¨v amءn Fs I«nenآ ae¯n،nS¯n. Fsâ Acçv Cêhi¯pw ImepIh¨p sh¨v Ahؤ Fsâ enwK aوS¯nآ ]q hnS¯nbnêى. B ISnç NqSp]nSn¨ ]qءnte،hؤ thKw enwKw tIءn DucnbSn¨p. F«p]¯p an\nءv t\cw Ahؤ N´n وep،n Cêى sImpXs Du،n. Ahؤ،v ISnbnfIn Ima{`m´n\v ASnabmbn،gnnêى. Fأmw adhؤ XإnbSn،bmWv. Ahؤ Xs cv I؟psImpw cpapeIfpw sRcn¨pS¨p. apesR«pIfnآ ]nSn¨v Ahؤ Id§nbSn¨p Bthit¯msS. HSphnآ AhfpsS ]qءnآ \nىw NqSpإ emh HgpIn¨mSn. AXv GXmv cv Hukv hêambnêى. Fsâ و«³ O±n¨nأ. F\n،msW¦nآ icocamsI Acn¨v IbdpIbmWv. kmam\¯nآ HêXcw hn§آ. HىtIءn Du،n shإw IfbmsX bmsXmê kam[m\hpanأ. Rm³ AXv Nn´nيpt¼mtgçw kvt\l Fsâ Acbnآ Xfىv Cêى. Ahؤ Fsâ XpSbnآ ssIIp¯n Ip\nnêى. B cp apeIfpw Fs hأmsX sImXn¸n¨p. Rm\m cpapeIfpw ISn¨p Xnm³ Xoêam\n¨p. kvt\l A©pan\ntءmfw Fsâ و® AhfpsS ]qءnëإnآ sh¨pXs Fsâ Acs،«nآ Ih¨nêى. ]ns kvt\l ]Xnsb Imepو¯n FWoءp. B ]qءnsâ NmeneqsS ]pdt¯çv hncآ \of¯nآ NmSn،nS B Xf I´v Rm³ Ip. ]ns B I´v Du¼n،pSn،m\mWv F\nçv tXmnbXv.
kvt\l B I´v F\n،v Cu¼n aXnbmbnأ, Rm³ InSىsImv Xs ]dp. DSs\ Ahؤ tbm\n Fsâ apJ¯v hc¯،hn[w Fsâtaآ Xe،nêhihpw Ih¨p \nى. ]ns Ahؤ و´n¨nêى. Xq§n\nmSnb B D{K³ I´v Rm³ NppIؤ Iq«n¸nSn¨p. Xf AXnآ \mhpw Nppw ap«nbtX ]¸Sw s]mإn IpafيpXpt]mse Poh³ sh¨pXpS§n. B I´v ho¯v hى, XpSp¯p hى. sIm¨penwKw t]mse AXv Fsâ NppIؤ،nSbnآ وfnêw ckhpw Xى. s\mSnbnSbnآ kvt\l F\nçv tase InSى. AhfpsS kwKoXw ]mSp cp sIm¨papeIfpwFsâ hbdnآ و¯ns،mإpىmbnêى. Fsâ shإw t]mIm¯ Imcncp¼v و®sb Ahؤ t\m،n. Ahؤ apeIؤ cpw Fsâ hbdnen«v Aa¯n. Ahؤ XpSIؤ IqSpXآ AIءn ]q Fsâ hmbnteçv XإnXى.Rm\m hncآ \of¯nepإ XSnb³ I´v hen¨v وSn¨psImnêى. kvt\l Fsâ kmam\¯nآ heXpIcw sImv h«w Npءn¸nSn¨v sXmenv \n Fsâ kmam\s¯ hmbnآ sh¨p. ]ns Ahؤ sam«bpsS Npءpw \mçv sImv Dgnp. CSt¯ Ihnfnteçw het¯ Ihnfnteçwamdn amdn Ahؤ IhnؤsImv, NppIؤ Cdp،n¸nSn¨v Du¼n. Ahؤ و® Du¼n¯pS§nbt¸mؤ HêXcw D·mZelcn F\nçv hى. Rm\hfpsS Hma\،´v Du¼ns،mSp¯p. B I´v XSn¨v I¼nt]mse _e¯nembn. Fsâ enwKw A®mçv hsc ap«n¨v Ducnbpw hfsc X{´]cambn Fs kpJn¸n¨psImnêى. AhfpsS hmbnآ sh¨pإ Du،آ Fs tImؤabn sImإn¨p. Rm³ I´v ISn¨psImv ]Xnsb Fsâ \Sphv sh«n¨v enwKw AhfpsS hmbnteçv Xإnbpw Ducnbpw sImSp¯psImnêى.
Rmëw Ahfpw ]dpZokm ImWpIbmbnêى. Duçv kpJ¯nsâ AarXelcn R§ؤ Aë`hnçIbmWv. Cu temI¯nteçw sh¨v Gءhpw al¯camb kpJw. Ahfpw I´v Fsâ hmbnteçv Ducnbpw Xffnbpw XىsImnêë. AhfpsS I´nآ \nىw hopw ]ishإw Cءphcm³ XpS§n. B tX³ AarXv Rm³ \،nsbSp¯v êNn¨v Cd،ns،mnêى. Rm\hfpsS B henb I´ns\،pdn¨v Nn´n¨p.
Rm³ CXnëap¼v BsI Hcn،se Du،nbn«pإq. Fsâ Abآho«nآ theçv \nآç ]s¯m¼XpImcn Beokns\. XSn¨ N´nbpw henb XpSIfpw, henb apeIfpapإ Beokv. Hê Znhkw sshوtcw F«paWntbmsS Beokv InWdn\cnInآ ad¸pc،I¯v وfnçIbmbnêى. Rm³ ASp¯ho«nteçv t]mhpIbmbnêى. Beoknsâ ]mhmSbpw »ukpw ad¸pcbnآ InSçى. jحnbpw {_bnkdpw AXnëtase sh¨ncnçى. Fsâ و® I¼nbmbn, Rm³ ss[cyt¯msS ad¸pcbnآ Ibdn. tXm¯pNpءnshإw tImcnsbmgn¨psImnê AhfpsS henb cp shfp¯ apeIfpw Rm³ N{µ{]Imi¯nآ Ip.
"Beokv' Rm³ ]Xnsb hnfn¨p.
Ahؤ sR«n, ]ns amdnآ {XntImWmIrXnbnآ ssItN¯p \nى. \\smen¨ AhfpsS B kuµcyw Hى ImtWXmbnêى. Xph¯v AhfpsS icoc¯nآ H«nbncnçى. tXm¯v وnIfnepw وnIfpsS hnShnepw ]ءnbncnçى. Rm³ ad¸pcbnآ ISىv Ahsf h«w ]nSn¨p. B apeIfnآ sR،n. XSn¨p ae AhfpsS NppIfnآ D½sh¨p. Rm\hsf ]Sn¨v Xdbnآ InS¯n. Ahؤ ImepIؤ AIءn InSçى. Rm³ B ]qءnآ hncآ Ibءn Cf،n. At¸mؤ Ahؤ Acsh«n¨v InSى Xى. AhfpsS ]qءnëإnآ Ap Rm³ Ip®tIءnbSn¨p. ]¯pan\nءpsImv F\nçv shإw t]mbn. AhfpsS I´v Aىv Rm³ ItXbnأ. ]e ]pkvXI§fnepw hmbn¨n«pإXpsImv Rm³ BZyambn In«nb Beoknsâ I´v Hm½sh¨p Xs X¸n t\m،n. F\nçv ImWmt\ Ignnأ.
Rm³ kvt\lbpsS henb I´ns\،pdn¨v A`nam\w sImp. Rm³ Xebn«v BSn¨p. kvt\l Acs،«v C«v XإnbSn،m³ XpS§n. AhfpsS XSn¨ I´nآ \nىw Ddht]mse ]mآ Cءp hcm³ XpS§n. AtXmsSm¸w kvt\l Fsâ Ip® \mbn hmbv sImv Du¼m³ XpS§n. NppIؤ tN¯p]Sn¨hؤ Du¼n. \nanj§ؤ،Iw AhfpsS وnbnf،آ kv]oUnembn. AhfpsS Hma\I´nآ \nىw HêXpSw ]mآ Noءn¨mSn Fsâ hmbnآ \ndp. Ahؤ ap،n ap،n Fsâ hmbnteçv ]mآ Cءn¨p Xى. ]ns Ahؤ وn وepçXv \ndp¯n. Ahؤ Fsâ apJt¯çv ]q Aa¯nsh¨v Iangvى InSى. AhfpsS Du¼ensâ thKX Xmt\ وdp. F\nçv و® hSnt]mse \ntXbpإq, F\nçv ]mآ hnأ. ]ns kvt\l FWoءp. Ahؤçv Hns\mىv hodpw hminbpw DfhmhpIbmbnêى. kvt\l F\n،`napJambn Fsâ Acs،«nآ Ih¨nêى. Hcn،آ IqSn s]mXn،m³ Ahؤ X؟msdSp¯p. Rm\mhnS Hma\¸qءnteçv t\m،n. B Nmenآ hopw ]mآ Noءn¨v Xfى InSç ]¨nd¨n t]mepإ I´nآ t\m،n. Fsâ ]gp¯v NqSp]nSn¨ I¼nkmam\w Ahؤ ]nSn¨p. Fsâ kmam\¯nsâ Xe ]nSn¨hؤ AhfpsS ]qdnsâ ]nf¸nen«v NnIv Dckn. Dc¨pc¨v hopahؤ s]m،n I´nآ و®tN¯psh¨p. ]ns ]qءnteçv tIءn. Ih ]pf¯nbncnç AhfpsS ]mآ XpSIؤ Rm³ t\m،nbnêى. Fsâ enwK aوShpw AhfpsS I´pw Dc¨psImhؤ hmintbmsS CutemIw Xs adىv AhfpsS XSn¨ IpnIؤ De¨psImv ]Wnbm³ XpS§n. Fsâ icocw BsI NqSmbn. enwKw Ahؤ hfsc X·bXzambn tIءnbnd،n IfnçIbmWv. kvt\l،v Cu hnêXv FhnsS\nىv In«nsbىv Rm³ BtemNn¨pt]mbn. Fsâ lrZbhpw icochpw {Xkn¨p, Rc¼pIؤ henp apdpوXpt]mse. Rmëw ckt¯msS Fsâ Acs،«v Db¯nbpw Xmgv¯nbpw و® Xإns،mSp¯p. AhfpsS ]qdpw NqSmbn, Ahfm XSnb³ I´v Fsâ و®bnen«pckn \mbn ASnçIbmWv. Rm³ kz¤w IpXpS§n. Ahfpw Fأmw adىv Adv ]WnbpIbmWv. HSphnآ Fsâ sIm¨pو«³ AhfpsS ]qءnëإnteçv ]mآ Noءns،mSp¯p. hopw AhfpsS ]q ]mآ Cءn¨p. kvt\l Ih¨nêىsImp Xs AhfpsS ]qsImv Fsâ و®sb Cdp،n]nSn¨v InX¨p. Ahؤ hnbs¯men¨nêى. Xfhؤ Fsâ tateçv Iangvى InSى. Fn«v ]Xnsb ]dp.
"Rm³ Xr]vXbmbn.... Fsâ tams\.... \obmsWsâ ]pXnb aWhmf³.....'
]ns R§ؤ Im¸nbpw ]ghpw Cd¨nbpw s]mtdm«bpw dqanآ hê¯n Ign¨p. Hىd§n DWt¸mؤ t\cw \mepaWn. Ipfn¨p {UتpsNbvXp. kn\naçv t]mImsaى IêXn kvt\ltbmSv Rm³ tNmZn¨t¸mؤ, B I\ymkv{Xo {Uتpambn Csأhؤ..... ]ns HىIqSn Ifnçhm³ Xo¨bm،n. R§ؤ BZy Ifnç tijw hopw Duضyw sImإpIbmbnêى. Rm³ I«nenآ Imev \o«nbnêى. kvt\lsb ]nSn¨v Fsâ Acs،«nآ F\nçv A`napJambn Cê¯n. Ahfpw Imepv cpw Fsâ Acs،«nsâ Cêhi¯pambn \o«nbnêى. R§ؤ A§ns\bnêىv Ifn Bcw`n¨p. Fsâ enwKw Ahؤ Xs ]nSn¨vv tbm\nbnآ sh¨p. Rmëw Ahfpw ]pdInte،v ssIو¯n Nmnêى. cpt]êw ]Xnsb وnIؤ A\،n. hfsc kmh[m\¯nepإ Hê Ifnb§v ]mتm،n. B Ifn cpIq«،pw Hê \thmt·jw \آIn. IqSpXآ XnSp،s¸SmsX tةmtamj\nepإ Ifn. B Ifn Ignv kvt\lsb Rm³ BsI D½sh¨p. kvt\lbpw Fs icocamsI ]pWى½sh¨p. aeى InS AhfpsS XeapXآ Imآ \Jw hsc D½sh¨p. Iangv¯n InS¯nbpw A§ns\ D½sImSp¯p. Ftbpw ae¯nbpw Iangv¯nbpw InS¯n kvt\l Imآ¸mZw apXآ Xehsc BIam\w Inتv sNbvXp. R§ؤ cm{Xn F«v aWnçv HىIqSn Ifn¨p. Rm³ kvt\lsb ]nSn¨v s_حnآ \mepImenآ \ndp¯n, ]pdInآ \nىw aqcn ]iphns\ DuçXpt]mse AhfpsS N´nhnShneqsS B sImgp¯ aeZzmc¯nآ tIءnbSn¨p. Ahؤ N´n B«n \nd klIcWw Xى. B ]Wn Gsd kpJn¨p. Aىw ]ntءىambn Cê]¯ncv Ifn R§ؤ Ifn¨p.
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