__________________________________________________________________

cmPohvkmÀ tImtfPn eIvNdÀ Bbn«v ]¯psImÃambn. kpthmfPn s{]m^kdmWv. Im kpapJ³. GXp s]®nt\bpw Hì t\m¡nbm AhÄ hoWXp Xs¶. ¢mÊn ]Tn¡p¶ eo\m tPm¬ F¶ s]¬æ«nsb Hì hfím³ cmPohv XoÀ¨s¸Sp¯n. eo\m kmdnsâ hoSnsâ ASp¯mWv Xmakw. Hê NeNn{X kwhn[mbIsâ GIaIfmWv eo\m. Ct¸mÄ {]oUn{Kn¡v ]Tníp¶ AhfpsS B kuµcyhpw Ne\§fpw \S¸pw Hs¡ cmPohnsâ AIXmcn BsI hn¹hw krjvSn¡pIbmWv. cmPohnâ ho«n A½bpw Cfbs]§Ä cmPnbpw Dv. cmPn Bdmw ¢mÊn ]Tn¡pì. cmPohnsâ Aѳ ^mÀ«v s^bnembn acWs¸«p. cmPohnsâ A½ ap¸s¯«pImcnbmWv. eo\m CSínsS kmdnsâ ho«n hêw. eo\m \Sn Aw_nIsbt¸msebmWv. Aìv cmPohv hêt¼mÄ eo\m cmPohnsâ A½tbmsSm¯v kzoIcWapdnbn skÁnbn Ccn¡pIbmbnêì. eo\bpw Hê ]©mc¨c¡v Xs¶, Xsâ t\sc Is®dnbp¶hë t\sc Hê IS¡s®dnbm³ AhÄ¡pw aSnsbmìanÃ. s]®tà Hê sNmdn¨epw Xcn¸pw Ig¸pw Hs¡ DÅ {]mbatÃ. cmPohv h¶t¸mÄ eo\ Iment·Â Imepw IbÁnsh¨v kn\n»nÁvkv hmbn¡pIbmbnêì. hmb\bn apgpInbnê¶XpsImv cmPohv h¶Xv AhÄ AdnªnÃ. cmPohv t\m¡nbtX lm^v kvIÀ«nëÅn Xnf§p¶ \Kv\amb AhfpsS sImgp¯ XpSIfmbnêì. cmPohv Hê \nanjwB XpSIfpsS kv\nKv\Xbpw shfp¸pw XpSn¸pw h®hpw t\m¡n\nì. F{X AgsIm¯ XpSIÄ.

\o DSs\ t]mt¶m? A½ tNmZn¨p. DSs\ eo\m cmPohv h¶Xdnªp. AhÄ Fgpt¶Áp.

Cêt¶mfq. `hyXsbms¡ ¢mÊn aXn.

tbkv kmÀ eo\m ]dªp.

]nt¶bv Cu kmÀ hnfnbptÃm CsXmì \nÀ¯Ww.

icnbm tamtf, \n\¡v cmPohv tN«m Fì hnfn¨m t]mtc tamtf? cmPohnsâ A½ tNmZn¨p.

icnbt½. Bt« cmPn FhnsS At½? eo\m tNmZn¨p.

AhÄ ]pds¯§mëw ImWpw.

cmPohv DuWp Ign¨v ]pdt¯¡v t]mbn. D¨ Ignªv cmPohnsâ A½ A¼e¯n t]mImdpv. Aìw AhÀ Hê§n A¼e¯n t]mbn.

eo\m apÁ¯nd§n. At¸mÄ cmPn apÁ¯v ]qs¨Sn \SpIbmbnêì. eo\m Ahsf t\m¡n\nì. Bdn ]Tn¡p¶ Hê sIm¨p ]q¼mÁ. i\nbmgvNbmbXpsImv eo\¡pw cmPn¡pw ¢mÊnÃ.

eo\¡v cmPnsb ImWpt¼mÄ BsI hn½njvSambn. AhÄ æ¯nbncn¡pIbmWv. AhfpsS h®n¨ XpSIfpw B CdpInb ss\tem¬ jVnbpw \¶mbn eo\¡v ImWmw. B XpSIfpw sIm¨p XSn¨ kmam\hpw It¸mÄ eo\¡v \n¡s¸mdpXn CÃmXmbn. cmPnbpsS Infp´v kmam\w Hì N¸nhen¡phm³ eo\¡v XnSp¡ambn.

"cmPo....Rm³ IqSmw' eo\m AhfpsS ap¼n ap«pæ¯n \nì. ]qs¨SnbpsS Nph«n a®v tNÀ¯psImSp¯v ssIsImv AaÀ¯n. F¶n«hÄ æ\nªv cmPnbpsS XpSbnSp¡n ]pdt¯¡v jVnbn D´n\n¡p¶ AhfpsS ]qÀ t\m¡n ckn¨p. B XSnb³ ]qÀ It¸mÄ eo\bpsS XpSbnSp¡nepw ]qÁnëÅnepw ISnbnfIn.

"hm... \ap¡v ssIIgpImw' eo\m cmPnsb hnfn¨p. cpt]êw ho«nëÅn ISì. ASp¡fbn t]mbn ss]¸v Xncn¨v ssIIgpIn. Xncn¨hÀ kzoIcWapdnbn hì. ASp¯Sp¯v Cêìw cmPnsb F§ns\ Iogs¸Sp¯psaìv eo\m Nn´n¨p. AhÄ Hê D]mbw Ip]nSn¨p.

Rms\mê Imcyw tNmZn¨m cmPn t\ê ]dbptam?

"]dbmatÃm'

icn.. cmPn F{X¢mÊn H¶maXmbn Pbn¡pw Fìv Rm³ ]dbs«?

"]d'

]dbWsa¦n cmPnbpsS AcªmWw DucWw. AXnsâ I®n F®nbm D¯cw Ip]nSn¡p¶Xv.

icn C¶m Ducmw. cmPn ]mhmS s]m¡n¸nSn¨v AcªmW¯nsâ sImfp¯qcm³ {ian¨p. icn¡pw tNÀì InS¡p¶ AXnsâ sImfp¯v _es¸«XmbXpsImv AhÄ¡qcm³ IgnªnÃ.

C§phm Rm\qcmw. eo\m ]dªp.

cmPn eo\tbmSv ASp¯p \nì. eo\m BsI hoÀ¸pap«pIbmbnêì. AhÄ cmPnsb tNÀ¯p \nÀ¯n. cmPn AhfpsS Ac¸mhmS DbÀ¯n¸nSn¨p. AhfpsS CdpInb ]¨ jVn AhfpsS sIm¨p]qdns\ AÅn¸nSn¨v hoÀ¯v ]pdt¯¡v XÅn \nì. eo\m cmPnbpsS kmam\¯në apIfn ASnhbdnsâ t\sc AcªmW¯nsâ sImfp¯v sImphì. F¶n«hÄ Ip\nªv AhfpsS XpSbnSp¡n apJw tNÀ¯v AcªmW¯nsâ sImfp¯v ISn¨qcm³ {ian¨p. AcªmWw Ducms\¶ `mth\ eo\m cmPnbpsS ASnhbdnepw ]qdnsâ ]pd¯pw Hs¡ ssI HmSn¨p. ]qdnsâ ]pd¯v ssI sXm«t¸mÄ cmPn¡v HêXcw Xcn¸v Aë`hs¸«p. eo\m IqSpX hnImcm[o\bmbn Ignªnêì. eo\m FÃmw adìv cmPnbpsS XpSbnSp¡n jVn¡p ]pdsa D½sh¨p. F¶n«hÄ æ´n¨nêì sImpXs¶ cmPnbpsS jVn DuÀ¯nbn«v B In®¸¯n D½sh¨p. cmPn tImcn¯cn¨pt¸mbn. eo\m B Hma\¯apÅ sIm¨p]qdn \¡n. AXnsâ ]mfnIÄ AIÁn¸nSn¨vvv hnShn \¡n. eo\m Cu temIw Xs¶ ad¡pIbmbnêì. AhÄ cmPnbpsS sIm¨p]qÁn \¡nsImSp¯p. \m¡v hf¨v B ]qdnsâ hnShn tIÁns¡mSp¯p. eo\m FWoÁp. AhÄ ]mhmS DbÀ¯n aS¡n Acbn XnêInsh¨v jVn Xmgv¯n. eo\tN¨nbpsS tcmaw s]mSnª ]qÀ cmPn Ip.

"tamfv ChnsS \¡nt¡m \à ckambncnípw' eo\m cmPntbmSv ]dªp. eo\mbpsS XpSbnSp¡n ap«pIp¯n \nìv cmPn \¡n. eo\m {`m´nfIn \n¡pIbmbnêì. eo\m AhfpsS N¡ cpssI sImpw hnSÀ¯n¸nSn¨p sImSp¯p. cmPn eo\bpsS N¡bn \¡n.

"tamsf \m¡v tIÁn \¡v'

cmPn \m¡v eo\bpsS ]qÁnëÅnte¡v hf¨ptIÁn \¡ns¡mSp¯p. eo\m CSXShnÃmsX AhfpsS ]qÀ apt¼m«v D´n¸nSn¨p sImSp¯p. ]qdn \¡pt¼mÄ HêXcw kpJelcn cmPn¡pw hì. eo\m ]qdn«v A\¡ns¡mSp¯p. cmPn Dt·jt¯msS eo\bpsS ]m¸qÀ \¡ns¡mSp¯p. A©mdpan\nÁpt\cw cmPnsbs¡mv eo\m \¡n¡pIbpw \m¡v tIÁn¡pIbpw sNbvXp. æd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ eo\¡v ]m CÁphì. AhÄ¡v CÁphoW B aZ\ckw apgph³ cmPn \¡n¡pSn¨p. aZ\Pew hì Ignªt¸mÄ eo\¡v Bizmkambn. ]ns¶ eo\m cmPnsb ]nSn¨v \ne¯v \nÀ¯n. cmPn ]mhmS Acbn DbÀ¯n¸nSn¨p. \áamb B sIm¨pkmam\¯n eo\m BÀ¯ntbmsS \¡m³ XpS§n. æªmSv sImfp¯n \nìv Ce \m¡v \o«n ]nSn¡p¶Xpt]mse eo\m cmPnbpsS N¡bpw N¡bpsS ]mfnIfpw N¡bpsS ASn`mKhpw XpSIfptSbpw N¡bptSbpw kwKaØm\amb æn hnShpIfpw \¡ns¡mSp¯p. cmPnbpsS sIm¨pænIÄ ]qdpt]mseXs¶ at\mlcambnêì. eo\ cmPnbpsS ]mhmS Ducn¡fªp. Ahsf Xncn¨p \ndp¯n B CdpInb ænbpsS hnShn X¸n. B ænbpsS hnShn \¡m³ eo\¡v sImXnbmbn. eo\m Bthi¯n ap§n¡gnªp. eo\m cmPnsb¸nSn¨v æ\n¨v \ndp¯n, F¶n«v B sIm¨v Cdp¡apÅ sImXw eo\m apgph\mbn \¡m³ XpS§n. B N´nIÄ \¡n. aeZzmc¯n \¡n. aeZzmcw apX ænbpsS apJNmev apgph³ eo\m \¡n. Hê ]¯pan\nÁp t\cw eo\m FÃmw adìv cmPn¡v \¡ns¡mSp¯p. ]¯pan\ntÁmfw eo\m \ndp¯msX cmPn¡v hncen«p sImSp¯p. cmPn Hê \hkpJw AdnbpIbmbnêì. Fs´¶nÃm¯ Hê kzÀ¤ kpJw Ahsf s]mXnªp. ]qdnëÅnepw IqXnbnepsams¡ HêXcw sNmdn¨epw InêIncn¸pw cmPn Adnªp. HSphn cmPnbpsS Acs¡«n Hê hnenªv apdpI Dmbn. AhÄ kpJn¨p. ]ns¶ B kpJw \nì. eo\m cmPnbpsS apJ¯pt\m¡n. cmPn¡v eo\tbmSv Hê _lpam\hpw CjvShpw tXm¶n. eo\m cmPnbpsS NppIfn AaÀ¯n D½sh¨p. cmPn eo\bpsS NppIfnepw D½ sh¨p. cmPnbpsS I¿v ]nSn¨v eo\m AhfpsS »uknë ]pd¯pIqSn apeIfn ]nSn¸n¨p. cmPn Nnc]cnNnXsbt¸mse eo\bpsS cp apeIfpw ]nSn¨v sRcSns¡mSp¯p.

"cmPntamsf tamÄ CXmtcmSpw ]dbsÃ' eo\m ]dªp.

"CÃ tN¨o ]dbnÃ.'

tamÄ¡v apebn ]nSn¡m³ \¶mbn AdnbmatÃm.. F§ns\bm ]Tn¨Xv?

"AXv Rm³ a½osS same¡v ]nSn¡pw'

t]mSo s\mW¨n....

"kXyam tN¨o....'

t§???

"cmPohv tN«mbow a½ow cm{Xnbmæ¼w Ifn¡pw Nnet¸m Rmëw IqSpw.'

eo\¡v AsXmcp ]pXnb Adnhmbnêì. AhÄ ]I¨nêì.

t\cmtWm cmPo CXv?

"kXyw tN¨o... C¶tew Ifn¨p Rm³ IXm'

F§ns\bm tamtf Ifn¡p¶Xv??

"XpWnbgn¨n«v a½n InS¡pw. a½osS tase tIdn cmPohv tN«mbow InS¡pw. ]ns¶ cmPohv tN«mbn An FSp¯v a½osS km[\¯n sh¨v Ipep§n ASn¡pw'

Fìw C§ns\ sN¿ptam?

"cm{Xow ]Iepw Ifn¡pw'

cmPohv tN«mbn tamsf Fs´ms¡ sN¿pw?

Fs¶ Iangv¯n¡nS¯n Fsâ tase InS¡pw. ]ns¶ tN«mbnbpsS kmam\w Fsâ sXmtSsS FtSÂ sh¨v XÅpw. sImsd¡gnbp¼w Hê ]ishÅw Fsâ sXmtSev hogpw. NqSpÅ HêXcw ]mev. ]ns¶ tN«³ ASn \ndp¯n FWo¡pw. XpWnsbSp¯v Fsâ sXmS sXmS¨pXêw.

tamġnXv CjvSamtWm?

"hey CjvSam tN¨o'

a½nsb tN«mbn taset¡dn am{Xta ]WnbpshmtÅm tamtf?

"sNe¸w tN«³ aeÀìv InS¡pw, a½n tN«sâ Atc tIdn B\s¸md¯v Ccn¡p¶Xpt]mse Cêìv ASn¡pw'

]ns¶?

"sNeZnhkw a½n tN«sâ IqXn \¡pw. sNe¸w Hs¡ a½ow, tN«mbow, F\n¡pw \¡n¯êw, Rmëw \¡pw'

eo\¡v cmPnbpsS hnhcWw tI«v Ig¨ps]m«n. AhfpsS ]qÀ hÃmsX ISn¨p. B ]WnIsfms¡ eo\m `mh\bn Ip. A½bpw aIëambpÅ Du¡v tI«v eo\¡v BsI Ig¸v tIdn. eo\bpw cmPnbpw ASp¡fbnte¡v sNì. ]¨¡dnIÄ sh¨nê¶ IqSbn ]cpXnbt¸mÄ ]Ánb hep¸¯n AXm Hê hgpXn\§m Xs¶ t\m¡n ]p©ncn¡pì. eo\¡v ]n¶osSm¶pw BtemNnt¡nbnê¶nÃ. AhÄ B kzb¼³ hgpXn\§m FSp¯v Aåw shfns¨® ]pc«n DSp¸v s]m¡n¸nSn¨v Ih¨v \nìv AhfpsS kmam\¯n æ¯nt¡Án. cmPn AsXÃmw BivNcyt¯msS t\m¡n¡mWpIbmbnêì. eo\m NppIÄ ISn¨p]nSn¨v Ih¨v \nìv \à kv]oUn heXpI¿n hgpXn\n§m ]nSn¨v AhfpsS kmam\¯n IS¯pIbpw DuêIbpw sNbvXpsImnêì. CS¡nsS eo\m CSXpssIsImvv AhfpsS kz´w apeIsf »uknë ]pd¯pIqSn amdn amdn sRcn¨p. izmkw ]nSn¨p\nìsImv eo\m Adnªp ]WnXp. A©mdpan\nÁp t\cw eo\m AhfpsS ]qÁn B hgpXn\n§m ASn¨ptIÁnbpw hen¨pw ]WnXp. ¥¡v ¥¡v F¶n§s\ HêXcw H¨ At¸mÄ tI«p. cmPn eo\mbpsS B {]tbmKw IuXpIt¯msS t\m¡n \nì. cmPohv tN«sâ De¡ t]mes¯ km[\w a½nbpsS kmam\¯n tIdp¶Xv cmPn HmÀ¯p. eo\mbpsS XpSIfpw XSn¨p´nb ]qdpw cmPn t\m¡n \nì. s]s«ìv eo\m [rXnbn hgpXn\n§m DÅnte¡pw ]pdt¯¡pw \me©p XhW ASn¨v ]nSn¨p \ndp¯nb izmkw ]pd¯p hn«v \nÝebmbn. eo\m hnd¨p t]mbn B cXnaqÀÑbnÂ. AhfpsS CdpInb ]qdn \nìw hgpXn\n§m DucnsbSp¯v \ne¯n«p. eo\bpsS ]qÁn \nìw HêXcw emh HgpInhcp¶Xv cmPn Ip.

"tamtf tX\m æSnt¨m hm' eo\m ]mhmS s]m¡n¸nSn¨v sImv ]qÀ XÅn¨v Ih¨v \nìsImv cmPnsb hnfn¨p. cmPn eo\bpsS Ih¨ XpSIÄ¡nSbn æ\nªp \nì. eo\m [rXnbn cmPnbpsS Xe ]nSn¨v Xsâ XpSbnSp¡n tNÀ¯p. cmPn¡pw Acs¡«n HêXcw ISn XpS§nbnêì. AhÄ eo\bpsS hnSÀ¶ ]qÁn \m¡v tIÁn HgpIn hìsImnê¶ tX³ apgph³ \¡n¡pSn¨p. Ahkm\XpÅnbpw \¡ntXmÀ¯n¡gnªt¸mgpw eo\m ap¡n ap¡n hcp¯pìmbnêì. B Ahkm\s¯ aZPehpw cmPn \¡ntXmÀ¯nsbSp¯p. ]ns¶ cmPnbpw eo\bpw _mXvdqan Ibdn apJhpw ]qdpw IgpIn. eo\bmWv cmPnsb ]qÀ® \ábm¡n _mXvdqan Ih¨nê¯n AhfpsS ]qdpw ænbpw IpnbpsS hnShpIfpw IgpInsImSp¯Xv, XpS¨p sImSp¯Xv.

eo\ \à ]ncnapdp¡¯nembn. cmPohv kmÀ kmdnsâ A½sb Øncw Du¡pìv F¶Xv eo\ív Hê t{]XyI Adnhmbnêì. cmPnsb XpSív sh¨v shÅw Ifbp¶Xpw eo\ív Hê ]pXnb Adnhmbnêì. Aì cm{Xn eo\ív Dd¡w h¶nÃ, Xncnªpw adnªpw InSì. cmPohv kmÀ kz´w A½sb \ndp¯nbpw, InS¯nbpw, æ\n¨pw Hs¡ ]e t]mkpIfn Du¡p¶Xv eo\m `mh\bn¡p. Aì cm{Xn eo\m Hê Xoêam\w FSp¯p. \msf cmPohns\ Hì hehoiWw. ]Tn¸n¡p¶ kpthmfPn t\m«nsâ sdt¡mÀUv t\m¡n¡m\mbn sNÃmw. A§ns\ InS¶hÄ Dd§nt¸mbn. Dd¡¯nepw AhfpsS hnc ]qÁn Xs¶bmbnêì.

A²ymbw 2

]ntÁìv Ime¯v Fgpt¶Át¸mÄ eo\¡v ]Xnhn Ihnª Dt·jambnêì. eo\m æfn¨v Im¸næSnbpw Ignªv t\m«pw sdt¡mÀUpw FSp¯v cmPohnsâ ho«n hì.

"cmPntamtf tN«³ FhnSym?'

tN«³ dqanepv....

eo\m t\sc cmPohnsâ dqante¡v ISì sNì. \ndsb ]pkvXI§Ä ASp¡nb AeamcbmWv NpÁpw. Hê I«nepw InS¡bpw ]ns¶ ætd ItkcIfpw taibpw. kmÀ Ft´m FgpXpIbmbnêì.

"KpUv tamWnw§v kÀ'

"tbkv KpUvtamWnw§v'

XeXmgv¯nbnêìv FgpXns¡mnê¶ kmÀ Xe DbÀ¯n.

eo\m Hê anUnbpw tSm¸pamWv AWnªnê¶Xv. \oe anUnbpw Idp¯ tSm¸pw. tSm¸nsâ apIÄ `mKw AhÄ a\x]qÀÆw Xpd¶n«nêì. apeIfpsS sImgp¯ apIÄ `mKw apgph³ \áamWv. kmÀ AXp t\m¡n. cmPohnëw eo\sb Hìv {]m]n¡Wsaìv Bi tIdnbn«v H¯ncn \mfpIfmbnêì. tcmKn CÑn¨Xpw sshZy³ I¸n¨Xpw ]mseìv ]dªXpt]mse cpt]À¡pw Hêt]mse H¯ncn¡pì.

"F´m eot\ Imet¯?'

"kmÀ æd¨p kwibw tNmZn¡mëv'

"icn Bbnt¡mfq'

eo\m kmdnsâ A`napJambn \nì. AhfpsS XpSp¯ Acs¡«pw B XpSIfpw kmdn\v hÃmXmbn. cmPohv FWoÁp. amdn tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨nê¶ sdt¡mÀUv cmPohv ]nSn¨p. ]nSn¨ Iq«¯n Adnbm¯ `mh¯n eo\bpsS apebnsemìv X«n. eo\m sdt¡mÀUv ]nSn¨p Xs¶ \nì. AhÄ Cu temIw Xs¶ ad¡pIbmbnêì. cmPohpw a½nbpw tNÀìÅ ImatIfnIfpsS cmPntamfpsS hnhcWw sImpÅ kz]v\§fmbnêì AhfpsS ap¼nÂ. cmPohv ss[cyw kw`cn¨v eo\mbpsS apeIÄ ]nSn¨aÀ¯n. eo\m At¸mÄ NppIÄ ISn¨p]nSn¨v cmPohns\ hnImcmthit¯msS t\m¡n. cmPohv FÃmw ad¡pIbmbnêì. AbmÄ Fgpt¶Áv taibpsS C¸psd hì. eo\sb h«w NpÁn¸nSn¨v ]pd¯pIqSn ssINpÁn AbmÄ AhfpsS sNa¶ A[c§fn AaÀ¯n Npw_n¨p. eo\m Abmfnte¡v Nmªv \nì. cmPohv amdn amdn AhfpsS tSm¸n\p apIfneqsS cpapeIfpw sRcn¨p. apeIfpsS sR«pIÄ X¸n¸nSn¨v sRcSn. eo\m InSì ]pfªp.

cmPohv eo\sb Acívv ssIh«w NpÁn¸nSn¨v I«nen ]nSn¨nê¯n. AbmÄ AhfpsS anUn DbÀ¯n. B tNÀ¶nê¶ XpSIfn cpw Bthit¯msS Npw_n¨p. apJan«v AbmÄ AhfpsS cpXpSIfnepw Dckn, apJw sasà XpSbnSp¡nte¡v \nc¡n¡bÁn. AbmÄ¡v {`m´v ]nSn¡pIbmbnêì. cmPohv Xsâ injybpsS shfp¯p sImgp¯ XpSIfn ISn¨p. ]ÃpsImÅn¨p Xs¶ AhnsS Z´£X§Ä hê¯n. AhÄ¡v sNdpXmbn s\m¼cw tXm¶nsb¦nepw ]Ãpw \mhpw D]tbmKn¨v XpSbnepw XpbnSp¡nepw AbmÄ sN¿p¶ kpJapÅ ]cn]mSnbn tImÄabnÀsImv Ahf§ns\ ssIæ¯n Nmªnêì sImSp¯p. cmPohv eo\sb¸nSn¨v I«nen ædpsI InS¯n. F¶n«hfpsS anUnbpsS æSp¡v FSp¯p. AXv DuÀ¯n Ducm\mbn eo\m Acs¡«v s]m¡ns¡mSp¯p. cmPohv AXv DuÀ¯n Ducn. AbmÄ I«nenë Xmsg \nìv Hê \nanjw eo\sb t\m¡n. XSn¨pê h®n¨ XpSIÄ tNÀ¯psh¨p InS¡p¶ eo\tamÄ. B XpSIÄ CdpIn tNÀ¶ncn¡pì. F´p shfp¸mWv, F´p ssSÁmWv. anëkw ImcWw Xnf§pì. h®n¨ sh®t]mepÅ XpSIÄ. Acs¡«n CdpIn¸Ánbncn¡pì ssSÁpÅ jÍn. BhoXnbpÅ Acs¡«nëXs¶ F´p `wKn. ASnhbÀ \ndsb sN¼³ tcma§Ä Acn¨cn¨nd§pì. s]m¡nÄ Npgn AXnsâ Hmfw sh«p¶ kv\nKvXX. B Bene hbÀ. AXnse td´ sh¨Xpt]mepÅ s]m¶cªmWw. jÍn¡pÅn XSn¨p´n hoÀ¯ tbm\n. AXv Hê Xcw sIm¨p s]¬]nÅmêsS ape t]mse D´n \n¡pì.

lmbv B Hma\N¡bpsS XÅnbpÅ \n¸p It¸mÄ cmPohn\v {`m´mbn. cmPohv \ne¯p\nìv æ\nªv AhfpsS Im hnc sXm«v apJw C«v Dckn. ]mZw IW¦mÂ, ap«v, XpS, AIwXpS, XpSbnSp¡v, jÍn CdpInb ]qdpw XpSIfpw tNê¶nSw, ]qÀ ta¯«v, Bene hbÀ, s]m¡nĨpgn AhnSw hsc apJan«v ]Xnsb Dckn. D½ sh¨p. AhnsS\nìv Xtgm«pw, Xmsg \nìv tatem«pw. hnImcmthit¯msS cmPohv B ]Wn XpSÀì sImnêì. eo\m InSìv hoÀ¸vap«pIbmbnêì. HêtImSn kpJ¯nsâ AWp¡Ä Ahsf s]mXnªp. icocw NqSp]nSn¨p. kncmaÞew BsI HêXcw elcn ]Xªp s]m´n. AhÄ¡v Acs¡«nepw N¡ípÅnepw apeIfnepw IqXnípÅnepw ckw Acn¨p tIdpIbmbnêì. HêXcw sImSnb D·mZw....Xs¶ adì t]mæì. FWoÁv cmPohns\ ]nSn¨v X\n¡v tateív hen¨ptIÁn InS¯n FÃps]m«p¶ hn[¯n BenwK\w sN¿m³ B apJhpw NppIfpw ISns¨Sp¡m³....

B ep¦n¡pÅn ]Xp§nbncníp¶ KPhoc¡p®sb sXmen¨v Xsâ Hma\¸qÁn æ¯nt¡Ám³ Iotg¡nSìv B B\¡p® IShsc Xsâ Np«ps]mÅp¶ ISnb³ ]qÁn AaÀ¯n XnêIntIÁn æn æep¡n XÅnbSn¡m³, Xsâ Nm«t]mepÅ \ofapÅ I´psImv B B\¡p®sb NpÁn¸nSn¡m³. Hê Znhkw apgph³ ]qdnen«v tIÁnbnd¡n Ifn¡m³. \mepXhW shÅw ]qdnëÅn NoÁn¨v Hgn¡m³. ]ns¶ ]iphns\t¸mse I«nen \mepImen \nìv aqcn¡p«³ ]iphnsâtaÂ

NmSn¡fn¡p¶Xpt]mse Xsâ sNmdnbp¶ ]\n\oÀIpn¡pÅn B De¡ æ® ASn¨p IbÁn kpJn¡m³... aZn¡m³. ]ns¶ aeÀì InSìv apeIÄ tNÀ¯nsh¨v AXnsâ CSbnÂ æ® Cdp¡n¸nSn¨v XÅnbSn¸n¡m³ Hs¡. ]ns¶ ]¨¡cn¼v Du¼p¶Xpt]mse æ¯nbnêìv IhbnSp¡n \nìw B tNmc XpSn¡p¶ sFkv{Iow æ® \¡nsbSp¡m³.... Hs¡sbms¡ eo\m sImXn¨p. AhÄ s_Ín InSì ]pfªp, AhÄ¡v klnsISpIbmbnêì. cmPohv eo\bpsS XpSbnSp¡n DbÀì \n¡p¶ sh®¸qdnë apIfn jÍn¡p ]pdsa AXn D½sh¨v, hmbv sImpXs¶ jÍnbpsS h¡v ISn¨p]nSn¨v DuÀ¯n. B tbm\o ]oT¯n D½sImv s]mXnªp. NppIÄ CdpInbncn¡p¶ B XSn¨ ]qdn \¡n. tNÀ¶ncn¡p¶ t]mfIÄ¡nSbnte¡v \m¡v XnêIn IbÁn. AXsâ DÅn \¡n. \m¡v Npê«n IqÀ¸n¨v DsÅÃmw NnIsªSp¯p. eo\m s\SphoÀ¸n«p. AhÄ ]pgphns\t¸mse ]pfªp. \Sphv hnÃpt]mse tate¡v DbÀ¯n¸nSn¨p. cmPohv AhfpsS sjVn hen¨qcnbn«v B ænIfn cp I¿pw Xm§n¸nSn¨v N¡bn ISn¨o¼n. eo\m XpSIÄ Ih¨p ]nSn¨p. At¸mÄ B ]\n\oÀ ]pjv]wt]mepÅ Cfw ]qÀ hnSÀì hnIkn¨p. AXnsâ NppIÄ AIì. AIs¯ tNmc XpSn¡p¶ t]inIÄ ImWmbn. BÀ¯ntbmsS \mhp apgph³ cmPohv XÅn¡bÁn. eo\m¡v {`m´p ]nSn¨p Ignªnêì.

"cmPohv tN«m aXn ¹okv... C\n aÁhs\ tIÁv'

cmPohv Ahsf ænbnepÅ ]nSp¯w hn«v s_Ín InS¯n. eo\m XpSbIÁnh¨v hnImc¯nsâ Np«ps]mÅp¶ B Dujc `qanbn InSìv hndsImp. eo\m cmPohns\ ]nSn¨v I«nente¡v IbÁphm³ {ian¨p. cmPohv ]Xnsb AhfpsS tate¡v InSì. eo\m [rXnbn ISn kln¡h¿msX Ahsâ De¡¡p®bn Ibdn¸nSn¨p. AhÄ Xs¶ Ahsâ ep¦n Agn¨v Xmtgs¡dnªp. B ]¯n©v \ofapÅ De¡¡p® sXmen¨p. cmPohnsâ ]qSIfm aqSs¸« DIÄ ssI F¯n¸nSn¨p. amÀ±hambn XtemSn. ]qSIfn ]nSn¨p hen¨p. ]nt¶bpw ]nt¶bpw æ®bn h«w NpÁn¸nSn¨p, sXmen¨S¨p. B sam«bnepw hfb¯nepw hnc sImv ækrXn ImWn¨p. eo\m XpSIÄ AIÁn sh¨p. æ®bpsS Xe ]nSn¨v ]qdnsâ ISn¡p¶ Zzmc¯n sh¨p. AhÄ Iotg InSìv Acs¡«v tate¡v IpXn¸n¨v XÅn. cmPohnsâ B\bpsS Ip®t]mepÅ h®hpw \ofhpapÅ De¡¡p® eo\mbpsS cXnt£{X¯n Xn§n¡bdn Dcªv ssSÁmbn Ibdp¶ B æ®bpsS ëgªp IbÁw eo\bpsS icoc¯nemIam\w HêXcw æfnêw kpJhpw ]mIn. AhÄ Iosg¡nSìv Acs¡«v XÅpIbpw Xmtg¡v hen¡pIbpw sNbvXp. cmPohv Hê\nanjw A\§msX A§ns\ InS¶n«v, AhfpsS tase tNÀìInSìv B tSm¸nëÅneqsS I¿n«vv apeIfn ]nSn¨p. {_m¡pÅn HXp§n Xn§nbnê¶ apebnWIÄ cpw AbmÄ kÀÆiànbpsaSp¯v Xnê½nbpS¨p. B iànbpÅ IcNe\w eo\sb ]ns¶bpw {`m´nf¡pIbmbnêì. AhÄ AbmfpsS NppIÄ AhfpsS NppIÄ sImv AaÀ¯n¸nSn¨p. eo\ ]ÃpsImv IqSpX thZ\n¸n¡msX AbmfpsS NppIfn ISn¨p. cmPohv AhfpsS tase InSìv s]mêXm³ XpS§n. B XSnb³ æ® AhfpsS ]qÁn CdpInt¡dpIbpw Cd§pIbpw sNbvXp. B Cdp¡w cpt]À¡pw \¶mbn ckn¨p. eo\ BsI Ct¸mÄ æfnÀ tImcnbn«v InS¡pIbmWv. B XSnb³ æ® tIdpt¼mÄ DÅ kpJw AhÄ ]mXn I®S¨p InSìv ëIÀì. cmPohv [oc\mhpIbmbnêì. AbmÄ Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨psImv De¡ tIÁnbnd¡n ASn¡m³ XpS§n. AbmÄ apgph³ æ®bpw IShsc tIÁnXÅpIbpw, sam«bpsS hfbw hsc Ducn ASn¡mëw XpS§n.

"tN«m Hì thKw'

"F´m eot\?'

Hì thKw XÅn¯m s]mt¶....

Mmlm.. C¶m. AbmÄ sImSp¦mÁnsâ thKXbn ]Wn XpS§n. eo\m BsI XIÀìv sRcnbp¶Xpt]mse tXm¶n. AhÄ æn s]m¡nbpw Xmgv¯nbpw sImSp¯v klmbn¨psImnêì. ASnbpsS iÐhpw I«n Icbp¶ iÐhpw B hoSmsI apg§n. ]qÁn Ip® Dcªp Ibdp¶Xnsâ aÀ½c kzcw thtdbpw. AbmÄ henªSn¨p.

"tlm...s]ms¶ F¶m æ®bm CXv?'

"eot\ \nsâ ]qdv ]¨bn©nt]mse F´p ssSÁm'

"FtâXv æªp]qdtÃ?'

FtâXv B\¡p®bm.

"AXm \fn\n tN¨n¡pw kpJn¡p¶Xv'

Rm³ a½nsb Du¡p¶Xv \osb§ns\ Adnªp?

"F\n¡dnbmw. lmbv F§ns\... §m... AXpt]mse Id¡n ASn'

F¶m Cì Rm³ \nsâbo N¡c¸qdv Xpf¡pw

"sXmf¨pIf s]ms¶. tlm.... Fsâ IqXnbn F¯o¶m tXmì¶Xv.'

\nsâ IqXoepw Rm\Sn¨p Xcmw

"Fsâ.... F{X kpJw...Rm³ ...tlm hen¨Sn...tIÁv apgph³ tIÁv.'

C¶m ...CXp apgph³ tIÁn s]ms¶.

"Mm Hê XWp¸v Fsâ æosS DÅnem C¸w Xe.'

§m... Ch³ hnêX\m.

"Ių ...tlm.......F\n¡v hcm....dmbn'

Mm F\n¡pw C¸w hcpw.

"s]ms¶ tlm.... ap¡nbSn..A§s\...t¿m... Fsâ ...ASoobSn tamttttf XpSbndp¡v Fttâ....

AhÀ ss¢taIvknse¯pIbmbnêì. AhêsS s]mcnª ASn ame¸S¡w t]mse apdnbnemsI {]Xn²z\n¨p. I«nsemSnbp¶ a«n InSì Ipep§n sRc§n. lmâ¯nsâ iànbn HSphnes¯ ]Wnbmbnêì cmPohv. sImSp¦mÁnsâ thKXbn cpt]êw BªSn¨p. ænIÄ cpw hnd¨pNmSn. aÕcn¨hÀ s]mêXn. F´p hodpw hminbpw. eo\m cpImepw DbÀ¯n cmPohnsâ apXpIn ]q«n«v ]nSn¨p. cmPohv s]mcnªp XIÀ¯p.

s]ms¶ ...slm...CXm F\níp hì.

F\n¡pw Fsâ ]qdn tamsf... B\¸qdo...N¡¸qdo....

AbmÄ AhfpsS NppIÄ ISns¨Sp¯p AaÀ¯nbSn¨p. ]ns¶ B ænIfpsS Ne\w kmh[m\¯nembn. ]ns¶bXv \nÝeambn. cpt]êw ZoÀLambn izmkw hn«v InX¨p. cpt]cnepw hnbÀ¸v HgpInbnêì. cmPohv XfÀìv AhfpsS tate InSì. eo\bpw kpJn¨p XfÀì. AhÄ cmPohnsâ apXpIn ]q«n¸nSn¨ ImepIÄ FSp¯v I«nen æ¯n Ih¨p InSì. cmPohv ]Xnsb Ahfn \nìw FWoÁp. At¸mgpw B B\¡p® XfÀ¶nê¶nÃ. eo\m InS¶ InS¸n AXp Ip. sXmenªv IptdÈ ]m Dudn hê¶ B sNa¶ sam« AhÄ t\m¡n¡nSì. eo\¡v \¶mbn kpJn¨p. AhÄ Cu temIt¯¡v Xncn¨p hì. ambnIamb Cu kpJelcn F´v F¶hÄ Nn´n¨p. cmPohnsâ iànbnepw ]Wnbnepw eo\m A`nam\w sImp. Ahs\ AhÄ Hê ssZhambn Ip. F´v kpJelcnbmWbmÄ k½m\n¨Xv. At¸mgpw AhfpsS ]qdnêì hn§pIbmbnêì. AhfpsS AI¶ ]qÁn \nìw ]m HgpIn NmSpìmbnêì. cmPohv AXv Ip.

"tN«m a½n hnfn¡pì' cmPn ISì hì. AhÄ \á\mb tN«t\bpw Ih¨p InS¡p¶ eo\tbbpw Ip.

tamfn§v hm. cmPohv cmPnsb h«w ]nSn¨p.

"F¶m tN«m?' AhÄ tN«sâ XfÀì XpS§nb kmam\¯n I®pw \«v tNmZn¨p.

"tamÄ eo\ tN¨osS ]qsdmìv \¡n¡pSn¡v tX\m'

"icn tN«m F\n¡pw AXp I¸w sImXn tXm¶n'

cmPohv Ahsâ s]§fpsS Ac¸mhmSbpw »ukpw DucnamÁn. Acbn CdpIn]Ánbnê¶ \oe jVnbpw Agn¨p Ifªv AhfpsS æªp]qdnepw Ipnbnepw XShn. B ]Xns\mìImcn Hê kpµcnæSp¡bmWv. AhfpsS \áicocw It¸mÄ eo\¡v tXm¶n Fìw aXnbmthmfw aZn¨v ckn¡m³ CXm ssZhw X\n¡v `mKyw Xcpì. cmPn \Sì hìv I«nente¡v Ibdn. Ih¨p InS¡p¶ eo\bpsS XpSbnSp¡n AhÄ ap«p æ¯n æ\nªnêì. cmPn Bthi`cnX BæIbmbnêì.

"cmPn tamtf ...' Du¡p Ignªv kpJelcnbn ebn¨p InS¡p¶ eo\ Ahsf hnfn¨p.

"Fsâ tamtf' eo\m ]dªp. cmPn eo\bpsS hnSÀ¶ Hma\¸qÁn apJw tNÀ¯p. cmPn B Hma\¸qÁn D½sh¨p. ssIIp¯n \n¶hÄ eo\bpsS ]qÁn \nìw HgpIn hê¶ ]mev \¡n¡pSn¨p. cmPnbpsS N´n hnSÀ¶nêì. BÀ¯ntbmsS cmPn eo\bpsS ]qdpw æn hnShpw \¡n. Hen¨p hìsImnê¶ apgph³ ]mepw tX\arXv t]mse cmPn \¡nsbSp¯p. AhfpsS \mhv eo\bpsS N¡¡pÅn Ibdnbt¸mÄ eo\¡v hopw ISnbnfæIbmbnêì.

s]«ìv cmPohnsâ A½ \fn\n At§m«v ISì hì. AhÀ ]Xnhnepw kpµcnbmsWìv eo\¡v tXm¶n. B I®pIÄ Nph¶nêì. \fn\n¡v ap¸s¯«v hbÊv hêw. Ct¸mgpw AhÀ Hê amZI kpµcnbmWv. HÁappw »ukpamWv Ct¸mÄ thjw. km[mcW \fn\n kmcnbpw »ukpamWv [cn¡mdv. \fn\n Ih¨p InS¡p¶ eo\tbbpw \ábmbbn tX³ Cu¼n¡pSn¡p¶ Xsâ aIÄ cmPntbbpw \á\mbn XfÀ¶ Ip®tbmsS \n¡p¶ aI³ cmPohnt\bpw Ip. \fn\nbpsS hoÀ¯ N´nIfpw aS¡v hoW Acs¡«pw B s]m¡nÄ Npgnbpw »uknëÅn IqÀ¯ ae t]mse \n¡p¶ t]mÀapeIfpw eo\ Ip.

"\o Fs¶sbm¶v hnfn¨nÃtÃm. \fn\n ]cn`hw ]dªp.

"Ignªnà thKmêì'

"Rm\o N´ow samtew Hì N¸m³ F{X \mfmbn sImXn¡pì' \fn\n Ih¨p InS¡p¶ eo\bpsS AcnInte¡v sNìv ]dªp.

"tamsf aXn \o Cd§v' \fn\n cmPnsb hnfn¨v Xmsgbnd¡n. F¶n«v Hê A]kvamc tcmKnsbt¸mse I«nente¡v Cgªp Ibdn. eo\bpsS XpSIfn h«w NpÁn¸nSn¨v AhfpsS \Sph DbÀ¯n¸nSn¨v \fn\n eo\bpsS ]qdnsâ hmXmb\¯n apJan«pckn. NppIÄ sImv AhnsS Nn{Xw hc¨p. \fn\n thKw eo\bpsS HmhpNmen Xe \o«n \n¶ I´v \mhn ]nSns¨Sp¯v Cu¼n. hfsc kpJn¸n¡p¶ Xc¯n \fn\n eo\bpsS I´v Du¼ns¡mSp¯p. eo\¡v hopw BsI Imaelcn Acn¨p Ibdn. AhÄ klnsI«v s_Ín InSìv ]pfªp XpS§n. \fn\n¡pw NqSp ]nSn¨p. AhÄ eo\bpsS æn hnShpIfpw N´nbpw IqXnbpw Hs¡ \¡pIbpw ISn¡pIbpw sNbvXpsImnêì.

Xmsg \n¶nê¶ cmPohn\v B s]¬ Ifn Iv Ig¨p Ibdn. Ahsâ Ip® Xes]m¡n hnizcq]w ImWn¨p. cmPohv \á\mbn a½nbptSbpw eo\bptSbpw ]Wn Iv ckn¨p \nì. sIm¨ps]§Ä cmPnbpsS Igp¯n I¿n«v ]nSn¨v cmPohv Ahsâ De¡¡p® cmPnbpsS ]hngw t]mepÅ NppIfpsS CSbn sh¨p. cmPn hfsc a[pcambn Xsâ tN«sâ kmam\w Du¼n. cmPn Xmf¯n tN«sâ kmam\w sXmen¨pw AS¨pw Du¼n. cmPohv Ahsâ æ® s]§fpsS hmbn sh¨v Du¼n¨psImv I«nen InS¡p¶ eo\bptSbpw Du¼p¶ a½ntbbpw t\m¡n. \fn\n s]«ìv FWoÁv I«nen \nì. AhÀ \nanj t\cw sImv Xsâ appw jÍnbpw Ducn I«nenen«p. B h®n¨ XpSIfpw ¢o³ tjhv sNbvX B\¸qdpw B henb N¡¨mepw ]pdt¯¡v Xe \o«n¡nS¡p¶ hnc \of¯nepÅ Hma\¡´pw eo\bpw cmPohpw cmPnbpw Ip. \fn\n \nìv hnd¨p XpS§n. AhÄ »ukpw {_bnkdpw Agn¨v I«nenen«p. s\mSnbnSbn \fn\n eo\bpsS apJ¯v Xsâ ]qÀ hc¯¡hn[¯n Iangvì InSì. F¶n«v Xsâ apJw eo\bpsS XpSbnSp¡n F¯n¨p InSì. \fn\n ap«pæ¯n FWoÁp \nì. AhfpsS henb N¡¸gw t]mepÅ cpapeIfpw InSìv BSn. \fn\n Hê XebnW FSp¯v eo\bpsS N´n¡Snbn sh¨p. At¸mÄ eo\ \SphpbÀ¯n sImSp¯p. \fn\n hopw Iangvìv InSìv Bthit¯msS AhfpsS N¡ hncnbn¨v eo\bpsS NppIÄ¡nSbn sh¨p sImSp¯p. N¡bpsS hnShn \nìw RmWp InS¶ hnc \of¯nepÅ I´v XpSp¯v càw \ndªp Ignªp. AXv eo\m Npn¸nSn¨v \mhn«v NpgÁn Du¼n. \fn\n Acs¡«n«v s]m¡nbpw Xmgv¯nbpw XÅnbSn¨p. \fn\n eo\bpsS N¡bpw hnShpw tbm\o]oThpw IqXnbpsS hnShpIfpw ISn¨o¼n. \fn\n BsI hnImcw apÁn D·mZhXn Bbn¡gnªnêì. AhÄ InSìv XpÅn¨mSn. AhÄ eo\bpsS hmbnte¡v AhfpsS s]m´³ N¡ apgph³ hncnbn¨v XÅns¡mSp¯p. eo\ BÀ¯ntbmsS B s]mfnª N¡ Cu¼n¯nì. F´p a[pcw F´p ckw F{X Aë`qXn. eo\m ASnbn InSìv \fn\nbpsS N¡ ISn¨p Xnìt¼mÄ HmÀ¯p. \fn\n hnImc¯Åen Cu P·w Xs¶ adìv aXnadìv eo\bpsS N¡ Xnì sImSp¯p. cpt]cnepw hnImcw Cc¨p Ibdn. cpt]cptSbpw Rc¼pIÄ henªp apdpIn. cpt]À¡pw hoÀ¸pap«n¯pS§n. CcphêtSbpw icocamkIew càw æXns¨mgpIn. cpt]êw Imaelcnbn InSì ]nSªp. FÃmw hnkvacn¨v N¡IÄ cpt]êw êNntbmsS Xnì. aq{Xckw \¡n¡pSn¨p. N¡¡pÅnepmbnê¶ s\¿v \¡nsbSp¯p. IqXnbpsS hnShnepw \m¡v IbÁn \¡n, I´v êNntbmsS ëWªp. I´pIfn \nìw Dudnb sh® \¡nsbSp¯p.

cmPohnsâ æ® cmPn Ihnfn C«v ëIÀìw \m¡psImv sam«bn \¡nbpw sam«bpsS hnShn \m¡nsâ AÁw tIÁnbf¡nbpw ckn¸n¨p. cmPohv sIm¨ps]§fpsS NqSpÅ hmbn sh¨v \nÀhrXn sImp. cmPohnsâ æ® hn§n, I¼n¸êh¯n \nìv æ® Nm©mSn. cmPnbpsS sNa¶ NppIfpsS CSbn cmPohnsâ æ®bnêìv kzÀ¤w Ip. cmPohv klnsISpIbmbnêì. Ah³ a½nbpsS \áamb ]pdhpw B\¡pnt]mepÅ XSn¨p XpÅnbmSp¶ ænIfpw XpSIfpw t\m¡n BkzZn¨p. \fn\n¡v hcmdmbn Fìv tXmìì, FÃmw ad¶hÄ ænIpep¡n eo\¡v Xn¶m³ sImSp¡pIbpw eo\bpsS sN¼qdv \¡nbpw ISn¨pw XnìIbmWv. cmPohv cmPnsb ]nSn¨v \ne¯v aeÀ¯n InS¯n AhfpsS h®n¨ XpSIÄtNÀ¯p sh¨p. F¶n«hsâ æ®sbSp¯v AhfpsS æªn¸qdn\p sXmSphn¨v Cdp¡apÅ cmPnbpsS XpSbnSp¡n sh¨p Iangvì InSì. cp I¿pw \ne¯pæ¯n Ah³ Xsâ Ipªns¸§fpsS tase InSìv s]m§n¯mgvì. cmPn Bthit¯msS tN«sâ ]pd¯pIqsS ssI NpÁn tN«s\ hcnªp apdp¡n. cmPohv FÃm kpJelcnbpw ëIÀìsImv s]mcnªSn¨p XpS§n. sImSp¦mÁnsâ thKXbn cmPohv s]§fpsS XpbnSp¡n Ad¯p. eo\mbpw \fn\nbpw hnImc¯nsâ sImSpapSnbnte¡v IbdpIbmbnêì. \fn\nbpw eo\bpw a¯p]nSn¨v XpÅnbSn¨p. \fn\n {`m´nfIn ]n̬ IWs¡ Nen¨p. HSphn \fn\n¡pw eo\¡pw ]mephì. At¸mtg¡pw cmPohnëw shSnXoÀ¶nêì.

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