s]klmkqcy³ Acs§mgnbpIbpw ]Icw aq¶p s]cpao³ Ing¡pZn¡pIbpw sNbvXp. AXdnbn¡phm\mbn kn\tKmKnÂ\n¶v sIm¼phnfn aq¶ph«w apg§n. ]IÂt]mbXdnbmsX, \okm³ \nemhpIWvSv, hmXneSbv¡msX KpcpamXmhnsâ kao]¯v R§fncp¶p. DÅpebv¡p¶ hnNmc§fm BÀ¡pw H¶pw anWvSm\mhm¯ AhØ. FhnsSbmWmthm Kpcphn\pw injy·mÀ¡pw A¯mgw? A¸w sImWvSpt]mb FÂtZmbpw emkdpw AhnsS F¯ntbm Ft´m? s]klmt`mP\¯n\v s]m³Imkmbn hoªp]IÀ¶v Kpcphn\p \evIp¶Xv Bcmbncn¡mw? AXn\min¨ph¶ Rm\nhnsS aqIZqXn!
Ipin\nbn A¯mgw Hcp¡pIbmWv amÀ¯bpw adnbbpw. AhtcmsSm¸w kqk¶bpw \n¶p. kabambt¸mÄ amÀ¯h¶p hnfn¨p: ""FÃmhcpw hcq \ap¡p s]klmIgn¡mw.''
AhÄ AI¯pt]mbn Ccn¸nSw Hcp¡p¶p. H¶n\pw DÕmlw tXm¶nbnsÃ\n¡v. AtX`mh¯nembncp¶p KpcpamXmhpw itemabpw. s]cp\mÄ Zo]w sXfnbm¯ apJ§Ä. shtdmWn¡bpw dmtlepw Ft¶msSt´m ]dbm³ `mhn¨p. F¶m Fsâ apJ`mhw Ahsc \ncmis¸Sp¯n.
apJw IgpInbn«pw ambm¯ hyk\hpambn adnb R§sf kao]n¨p.
""amÀ¯ h¶p hnfn¨n«v, F´m Bcpw Fgpt¶äphcm¯Xv? AI¯p XSp¡p hncn¨v XfnI \nc¯n. hcq, h¶p `£W¯ncn¡q.''
Ahsf Zb\obambn t\m¡n KpcpamXmhv. B ssI]nSn¨v Rm³ ]Xnsb ]dªp: ""Fgpt¶ev¡p am. \ap¡v A¯mgw Ign¨pInS¡mw.''
Hcps\SphoÀ¸ÃmsX, amXmhv A\§nbnÃ. Fs¶ t\m¡n AhÀ k¦Ss¸«p. H¶pw ]dbm\mhmsX Rm\pw Ipg§n. adnb \nÀºÔn¨p:
""FÃmhcpw H¶phs¶. Ct¸mÄ IÀ¯mhv A¯mg¯n\v Ccp¶n«pWvSmhpw. t\cw IfbmsX \ap¡pw A¯mgw Ign¡mw. s]klmbtÃ...''
""icnbm. '' dmtl ]dªp.
""Ah\p hnf¼ns¡mSp¯v, Ah³ Xn¶p¶Xp t\m¡nbncp¶mte F\n¡v..''
amXmhnsâ k¦ShÀ¯am\w.itemabpw AXmhÀ¯n¨p”""a¡Ä IqsSbnï aq¶mas¯ s]klm.''
hÀ¯am\w XpScm³ adnb k½Xn¨nÃ."" aXnaXn. shdptX Hmtcm¶mtemNn¨v kabw IftbWvS. Cu Znhkw AXn\pÅXÃtÃm. s]klm tamN\¯nsâ DÕhw. ]pfn¸nÃm¯ A¸w Xn¶v \ap¡v kt´mjn¡mw. Fgpt¶äp hcq.''
AhfpsS \nÀ_Ô¯n\p hg§n R§Ä Fgpt¶äp. Rm³ ]nSns¨gpt¶ev]nt¡WvSnh¶p amXmhns\. hmXneS¨v R§Ä `£W¯n\ncp¶p. Hcp hgn]mSpt]mse FÃmhcpw ]Xnsb A¸w apdn¨pXn¶p. s]klmt`mP\¯nsâ hn`h§sem¶panÃm¯ km[mcW A¯mgw. Kpcphnsâ Akm¶n²ywsImWvSv AtcmNIamb Blmcw.
A¯mgw Ignªt¸mtg¡pw ]pd¯v A¯ns¡m¼pIfnepw HenhpNnÃIfnepw ImänfIn. ho«n\pÅnepw XWp¯cm{Xn. amÀ¯ FÃmhÀ¡pw InS¡hncn¨p. AhÄ ]dªp: "" C\n InSt¶mfq. XWpt¸dpIbmWv.''
amXmhpw itemabpw ASp¯Sp¯pInS¶p. shtdmWn¡bmbncp¶p Fsâkao]w. AhÄ Ft¶mSp ]Xnsb tNmZn¨p:
"" Pdpktean Fs´¦nepw B]¯pWvSmIptam?''
""Ft´m? Hcp \nÝtbmanÃ. FsâbpÅnepw B[nbmWv.''
GtXm AXymlnX¯nsâ Imsem¨bpWvSmbn FsâbpÅnÂ. tZhmebaWvU]¯nÂh¨v, FÂtZmbpw tImclpw ]dªXn ]eXpw ZpÊqN\Ifmbncp¶ntÃ? ]ptcmlnX·mcpsSbpw aq¸·mcpsSbpw KqVmtemN\. Kpcphns\ hIhcp¯m\pÅ {]amWnamcpsSbpw imkv{XnamcpsSbpw ZpjvSem¡v. FÃm¯n\pap]cn KpcphN\§fnÂ\n¶pWvSmb kqN\IÄ. ]oUn¸n¡s¸Sphm\pw h[n¡s¸Sphm\papÅ \ntbmKw.
Dd¡w Fs¶hn«v amdn¡nS¶p. amXmhnsâbpw itemabpsSbpw sRcn]ncnIfpw \nizmk§fpw tIÄ¡mw. s]klm BtLmj¯nsâ elcnbn \mSpw \Kchpw XfÀ¶pd§pt¼mÄ, _Ym\nbbnse Cu {KmaoWhkXnbn R§Ä \n{ZbnÃmsX!
A¯cw hnNmc§Ä¡nSbnÂ, hmXnenÂBtcm ap«nhnfn¡p¶ i_vZw. ]e {]mhiyw AXp tI«t¸mÄ Rm³ Fgpt¶äncp¶p. BZyw AsXmcp tXm¶emImsh¶p hnNmcn¨p. F¶m ap«pw hnfnbpw hoWvSpw XpSÀ¶p. At¶cw amÀ¯sb Rm³ X«nbpWÀ¯n."" amÀ¯, hmXnev¡Â Btcm ap«nhnfn¡p¶p.''
tM! AhÄ I®pw Xncp½n Fgpt¶äncp¶p. H¸w aäpÅhcpw ]nSsªgpt¶äp. Cu hnfn ImtXmÀ¯v Dd§msX InS¡pIbmbncpt¶m ChscÃmw?
""AXv ]cnNbapÅ i_vZamWsÃm.'' hoWvSpw hnfntI«v amÀ¯]dªp: ""Rm³ sN¶p hmXn Xpd¡mw.''
amÀ¯ hmXn Xpd¶Xpw, AI¯p h¶ Bsf IWvSv Rm³ AXnibn¨p. Kpcphnsâ AtX `mh¯nepw cq]¯nepw HcmÄ! AXp Kpcp Xs¶bmsW¶p tXm¶n¸n¡p¶ BZy\nanjw. ASp¯am{Xbn Bfdnªp. tXmamkv! Kpcphnsâ {]nbs¸« injy·mcn Hcph³. HmSn¡nX¨p h¶t]msebmbncp¶p AbmÄ. ]cn{`an¨p X]n¡p¶ apJw. Xpd¶hmXn thKw ASbv¡m³ AbmÄ ]dªp. hmXneS¨p h¶v amÀ¯ tNmZn¨p:
""F´m tXmamkv, Cu cm{Xnbn Häbv¡n§s\? FhnsS IÀ¯mhpw aäpÅhcpw? ''
tXmamknsâ adp]Sn¡pthWvSn R§sfÃmhcpw Npäpw IqSn. F¶m AbmÄ¡v H¶pw ]dbm³ Ignbp¶nÃ. hndbv¡p¶ A[c§fn i_vZw aªpt]mse Ddªpt]mIp¶p. Hmtcmcp¯scbpw amdnamdn t\m¡n A¼c¶p \nev¡pIbmWv AbmÄ. AXp kln¡m\mImsX adnb IbÀ¯p:
"" Fs´¦nepw H¶p ]dbq tXmamkv. R§sS DÅpI¯p¶p. IÀ¯mhv FhnsS? \osb´n\mWv Häbvt¡mSnh¶Xv?''
""Rm¼dbmw. Rm¼dbmw. ..'' tXmamkv Rc§n. Rm³ Xnc¡pIq«n:
""]dbq. F´m¶p]dbq...''
""B]¯mWv...''
""tM!''
DÅp InSp§n. tXmamknsâ apJ¯p\n¶p Is®Sp¡msX Rm³ tNmZn¨p:
""BÀ¡mWm]¯v? F´m DWvSmbsX¶p ]dbq... ''
"" ]dbmw. F\n¡p hm¡pIÄ In«p¶nÃ. Rms\m¶p izmkw hnSs«...''
Hcp Xm§n\pthWvSn tXmamkv Npacn Nmcn\n¶p. FÃmhcpw D¡WvTmIpecmbn \nevs¡., s\©ps]m«p¶ kzc¯n AbmÄ ]dªp:
""IÀ¯mhns\ AhÀ ]nSn¨p _Ôn¨p...''
""Mvtl...!''
FÃm IWvT§fn \n¶pw lrZbw ]nfcp¶ i_vZapbÀ¶p. Henhnet]mse hnd¨psImWvSncp¶p tXmamkv. Deªpt]mb amXmhns\ amÀ¯bpw shtdmWn¡bpw Xm§nbncp¯n. tXmamkv XpSÀ¶p:
""i_vZw DWvSm¡cpXv. Fsâ ]ndtI ]SbmfnIÄ DtWvSm F¶dnbnÃ. Kpcphns\ _Ôn¨ntÃ, C\n BÀ¡pw F´pw kw`hn¡mw.''
""FhnsSbmWp aäp injy·mÀ? IÀ¯mhnsâ IqsS Ahcpw ]nSn¡s¸Sptam?''
""B ZpjvS·mÀ IÀ¯mhns\ am{Xta _Ôn¨pÅp ktlmZco. B \mgnIbn injy·mscÃmhcpw HmSnt¸mbn. A§s\ c£s¸«ph¶XmWp Rm\pw.''
""IjvSw! c£s¸«phcnIbmWpt]mepw!''
AaÀjw ]pIªp F\n¡v. IÀ¯mhns\ hn«v HmSnt¸mbs{X injy·mÀ! Fsâ hm¡pIÄ apjnªp:
""sImÅmw ! C§s\bptWvSm injy·mcv! FXncnIÄ Kpcphns\ ]nSnIqSnbt¸mÄ HmSnc£s¸SpI! ]ucpjanÃm¯ Iq«À..''
""ktlmZco, AXv..''
PmfyapWvSmbn tXmakn\v. AbmÄ Ft´m ]dbm³ `mhn¨Xpw Rm³ XSªp
""thWvS. C\nsbm¶pw tIÄs¡WvS. F\n¡p bmsXmcp t]SnbpanÃ. Rmt¼mIzm Pdpkteante¡v. Fsâ Kpcphns\ AhÀ _Ôn¨t¸mÄ Rm\nhnsS... alm]m]w. B]¯pthfbn Kpcphnsâ kao]¯pWvSmIWw F\n¡v. Ahscs¶bpw ]nSn¨p XShnem¡s«. Aht\mSpIqsS XShnemIm\pw acn¸m\pw..''
tXmamkns\ AhKWn¨v, aäpÅhscbpw ad¶v, hn§temsS Rm³ hmXnev¡te¡p \S¶p. ]ndtI shtdmWn¡bpw kqk¶bpw dmtlepw h¶p. hmXn hen¨pXpd¶v Rm³ ]pdt¯t¡mSn. Fs¶ ]n´pSÀ¶v AhÀ aq¶pt]À. \nemsh«w IWvSv R§Ä Pdpkteante¡p ]mªp. F{Xbpw thKw Kpcpk¶n[nbn F¯Wambncp¶p F\n¡v. F{XbpwthKw Kpcphns\ tamNn¸n¡Wambncp¶p F\n¡.v Asæn Kpcphnt\msSm¸w _Ôn¡s¸Sm\pw h[n¡s¸Sm\pw...
}R§Ä Pdpktew ]SnhmXn IS¡pt¼mÄ AÀ²cm{Xn Ignªncp¶p. F¦nepw ]«WhoYnIfn BfpIÄ BSn¸mSn \S¡pIbmWv. AhcpsS tLmj§fn tbiphns\ _Ôn¨XnepÅ BËmZw. ]SbmfnIÄ¡p IogS§n \nev¡p¶ tbiphns\ ImWm\pÅ XmÂ]cyw. alm]ptcmlnXsâ Aca\bnte¡v Ahs\ sImWvSpt]mbncn¡pIbmWs{X. AhnsS ASnb´cambn IqSp¶ k¶n{Znw k`bpsS ap¼msI tbiphns\ hnNmcW sN¿pw. tIkptI«v alm]ptcmlnX³ in£ hn[n¡pw. ssZh]p{X\pe`n¡p¶ in£ F´mbncn¡psa¶v Adnbm\pÅ BImw£tbmsS, BfpIÄ At§m«p \o§pIbmWv. Hmtcmcp¯cpw at\m[À½w A\pkcn¨v Hmtcm in£ {]Xo£n¡p¶p. \qänsbm¶p Nm«bSn. BPoh\m´wXShv. inctÑZw. IpcnipacWw... ImXpcWvSpw s]m¯ns¡mWvSp Rm³ \S¶p. h¿, CsXm¶pw tIÄ¡m\pÅ Icp¯nÃ. lrZmbmephmb HcmÄ¡p in£hn[n¡p¶ ZpÀ_p²nIÄ! F¦nepw Bßhnizmk¯n\p tIm«apWvSmbnÃ. Kpcphn\p in£hn[n¡phm\pw hn[n \S¸m¡m\pw Hcp alm]ptcmlnX\pw IgnbnÃ. AsXsâ Dd¨hnizmkambncp¶p. Bªp\S¡pt¼mgpw hymIpes¸Sp¶ shtdmWn¡tbmSpw kqk¶tbmSpw Rm\Xp ]dªp:
""Cà ktlmZcnamsc, \½psS Kpcphns\ in£n¡phm³ HcmÄ¡pw IgnbnÃ. Ah³ IÀ¯mhpw ssZhhpamWv.''
shtdmWn¡ AXpcphn«p: ""vv\½psS IÀ¯mhpw \½psS ssZhhpw.''
]«W¯nse kotbm³Ip¶n alm]ptcmlnXsâ Aca\IWvSp. B caylÀay¯n\pNpäpw [o]bjvSnIfpw sISmhnf¡pIfpw. hgn\osf hmfpw hSnbpambn ImhÂ\nev¡p¶ tNhIcpw tdmam]SbmfnIfpw. FÃm ImhepIfpw adnIS¶v R§Ä alm]ptcmlnXsâ Aca\b¦W¯nse¯n. R§Ä kv{XoIsf ]cnNmcIÀ F§pw XSbpIbpWvSmbnÃ. AXn\m \Spapä¯p {]thin¡phm\pw Ignªp. AhnsS IpsdbmfpIÄ IqSn\n¶ncp¶p. AhnsSsbÃmw R§fpsS I®pIÄ Kpcphns\ tXSnbeªp. alm]ptcmlnXsâ BØm\aWvU]¯nepw kao]Øm\§fnepw ImhemfnIÄ am{Xw. F§pw Kpcphns\ ImWp¶nÃ. shtdmWn¡ Fsâ ImXn ]dªp;""Cu tI«sXms¡bpw Ifhmbncn¡pw. ]¨¡Åw. IÀ¯mhns\ ]nSnIqSm³ AhÀ¡p Ignªnt«bnÃ.''
AXn\p¯canÃmsX, Aca\bnse k`mime tXSpIbmbncp¶p Fsâ ZrjvSnIÄ. \Spapä¯nsâ Hcp `mK¯v k`mimebpsS IhmSwIWvSv Rm\t§m«p \o§n. \ndshfn¨hpw hnXm\hpapÅ hnimeamb s\Snbapdn. AXnsâ DbÀ¶thZnbnse apJymk\§Ä HgnªpInS¶p. aänS§fn ]dªpw Nncn¨pw \nev¡p¶ cmbk¡mcpsS sNdpkwL§Ä. Kpcphns\ hnNmcWsN¿p¶Xnsâ bmsXmcp e£Whpw AhnsSsb§pw DWvSmbncp¶nÃ. shtdmWn¡ ]dªXmbncn¡Ww icn. Kpcphns\ ]nSnIqSm³ Ignªn«pWvSmhnà ]SbmfnIÄ¡v. Hcp ]t£, ]SbmfnIÄ ]nSns¨¦nÂXs¶, At±lw c£s¸«ncn¡mw. acn¨hsc DbnÀ¸n¡p¶h\v AsX{Xtbm \nÊmcw!
hnNmc§fn Rm³ Ipg§n\nevt¡, aq¶p]cnNmcIÀ R§sf kao]n¨p. Ahcn \c¨XmSn¡mc³ XmSnhnd¸n¨psImWvSv R§tfmSp IbÀ¯p:
""]mXncm Ignª Cu t\c¯v kv{XoIÄs¡´mWnhnsS Imcyw? BcmWp \n§sf ChnsS IS¯nhn«Xv? I®pw ssIbpw ImWn¨p tIdnh¶XmIpw \mi§Ä. t]m. t]mbnbnd§n. t\m¡n\n¶m ASnt¨mSn¡pw. CsX´m A§mSnbmsW¶p hnNmcnt¨m?''
AbmfpsS tcmj¯n\p ap¶n Rm³ ]XdnbnÃ. Fsâ ss[cyw aäpÅhscbpw _es¸Sp¯n. `b¶p]n·mdm\ÃsÃm Ct§mt«mSnh¶Xv. Xp\nªnd§nbXp knwl¡q«n Ibdm³Xs¶. Kpcphns\ ImWmsX ]n´ncnªm sNs¶¯m³ asämcnSanÃ. Kuchw hnSmsX Rm³ \nevs¡, ]cnNmcnIsb¶p tXm¶n¡p¶ Hcp XSn¨hÄ ASp¯ph¶p. R§fpsS apJ¯p amdnamdn t\m¡nsImWvSv AhÄ tNmZn¨p: ""Keoe¡mc¯nIfmWtÃ?''
}}Rms\m¶p aqfn. ]cnNmcnI XpSÀ¶p: ""tbiphnsâ ]ndtI h¶hcmIpw, AÃtbm?''
""AtX. FhnsSbmWv tbiphns\ XShn h¨ncn¡p¶Xv? Zbhmbn H¶p]dbq. R§ft§m«p s]mbvt¡mfmw.'' Rm³ AhfpsS ap¼msI XmWphW§n. At¶cw \c¨ XmSn¡mc³ ]cnlkn¨p.:
""v\osb´m s]t® hnNmcnt¨? Bscbm XShnem¡nbXv? tbiphns\tbm? AXp sImÅmw! Ahs\ sImÃm\Ãtbm k` Xocpam\n¨Xv. Ipcnin Xd¨p sImÃm³.''
AbmfpsS \mhnÂ\n¶v At\Iw sImÅnao\pIÄ FsâbpÅnte¡p ]mªpIbdn. s\©p]nfÀ¶v \oWvStX§epIÄ sXmWvSbn Ipcp§n. I®pNn½msX, \mh\¡msX Rm³ NInXbmbn \n¶p. aäpÅhcpw ]cn{`m´cmbn. R§fpsS Zb\obmhØbn a\Ênenªt]mse, ]cnNmcnI Imcyw hyàam¡n.
ChnSp¶v \mSphmgnbpsS sIm«mc¯nte¡mWv tbiphns\ sImWvSpt]mbXv. C\nsbÃmw \mSphmgnbmb ]oemt¯mkv Xocpam\n¡pw. \n§fhnsS sNÃv. AhnsSbmWv C\n tbiphns\ ImWm³ Ignbp¶Xv.''
]nSbp¶ {]mW\pambn Rm³ ]XdmsX \n¶p. shtdmWn¡m tNmZn¨p: ""\½fn\n...?''
""\ap¡p \mSphmgnbpsS sIm«mc¯nte¡p t]mImw. Pohn¨mepw acn¨mepw \½Ä KpcphnsâbSp¯pWvSmIWw.''
A{Xbpw ]dªt¸mtg¡pw hnXp¼nt¸mbn. Fsâ ssI]nSn¨v dmtl kam[m\s¸Sp¯n: ""IcbmsX...''
Hcp hn[¯n hyk\aS¡n at\mss[cyw hosWvSSp¯p. Icbm\pÅXà Cu Ahkcw. Fs´¦nepw {]hÀ¯n¡pIbmWp thWvSXv. Rm³ Iq«pImcnIsf hnfn¨p:
""hcq, \ap¡pt]mImw. thKw ]oemt¯mknsâ sIm«mc¯nte¡v. t\cw ]pecpIbmWv.''
]cnNmcIÀ t\m¡n\nevs¡, R§Ä \Spapäw hn«p\S¶p. Aca\s¡«n\p ]pd¯phcpt¼mÄ shÅIodphm³ XpS§nbncp¶p. ]pecns¯fnhnÂ, tZhmebhpw hS¡phi¯mbn AtâmWnbm tIm«bpw ImWmw. tIm«bv¡I¯mWv ]oemt¯mknsâ sIm«mcw. B Zn¡nte¡p R§Ä thKw \S¶p.
tIm«hmXnev¡se¯nbt¸mtg¡pw Cfw shbnensâ kar²n. DÅn \n¶v ]pcpjmc¯nsâ Bchw. hmXnev¡Ât]mepw P\¯nc¡v. Hcp hn[¯n Xn¡n¯nc¡n R§Ä tIm«bI¯p IS¶p. ]ns¶ thKw sIm«mc¯nsâ ]qapJ¯psN¶p. ASp¯pXs¶ \mSphmgnbpsS It¨cnaWvU]w ImWmbn. AI¯pw ]pd¯pw Bįnc¡v. ap³\ncbn ]ptcmlnX·mcpw aq¸·mcpw. ]coi·mcpw imkv{Xoamcpw. DbÀ¶thZnbnse \ymbmk\¯n cmtPmNnXamb KcnatbmsS ]oemt¯mkv. \mSphmgnbpsS ap¼msI, _Ô\kvY\mb HcmÄ XeIp\n¨p \nev¡p¶p. AXp KpcphmsW¶dnbsh, sR«nbpeªp a\Êv. ASp¯am{Xbn Kpcphnsâ kao]sa¯m³ Xn¡n¯nc¡n apt¶m«p\o§n. _²¸mSpIÄs¡mSphn R§Ä \mept]À e£y¯nse¯n. ]pcpjmc¯nsâ ap³\ncbn sN¶v KpcpapJw IWvSp.
ssZhta! ]SbmfnIÄ¡p \Sphn Ipähmfnsbt¸mse Kpcp! lrZbw ]nfÀ¡p¶ ImgvN. aen\amb hkv{Xw. BsIbpeªp NnXdnb apSn. CcpssIIfpw ]n¶n _Ôn¨ncn¡p¶p. sNInS¯v ASnsImWvSp hoÀ¯ XnWÀ¸pIÄ. hÃmsX Icphmfn¨ apJw. ]mXnbSª ZnhyZrjvSnIÄ.
ssZhta! Fs´Ãmw ]oU\§Ä At±lw kln¨ncn¡p¶p. IpäanÃm¯h\v ZWvU§fpw ]oUIfpw! tZlamkIew \odp¶pWvSmIpw. Kpcphnsâ \nc]cm[nXzhpw ss\À½eyhpw \mSphmgn¡p t_m[ys¸Sphm³ Ignsª¦nÂ. DÅpcpIn {]mÀ°n¨psImWvSp Rm³ \n¶p.
tIkphnkvXmchpw hmZ§fpw ]pcpjmc¯nsâ tImemle§fn ]pXªpInS¶p. ]ptcmlnX·mcpw aq¸·mcpw \mSphmgnbpsS \ymbmk\w ssIbS¡nb a«nembncp¶p hnNmcW. ]oemt¯mknsâ tNmZy§Ä¡v D¯cw \evIm³ Kpcphns\ AhÀ A\phZn¨nÃ.\ymbmk\¯n \n¶pÅ tNmZy§Äs¡Ãmw AhÀ D¯cw hnfn¨p ]dªp: Ch³ cmPt{Zmln... ssIkdpsS hntcm[n... P\i{Xp....Ch³ acWtbmKy³. acWtbmKy³...
A\oXnbpsS AXncnÃm¯ Agnªm«w! AXp ZpÊlambt¸mÄ Rm³ kzbw ad¶p. Akm[mcWamb DÄ¡cpt¯msS ]oemt¯mknsâ ap¶nte¡p ]mªpsN¶p. AhnsS t\À¡pt\À\n¶v Rm³ hnfn¨pIqhn:
"" AÃ. AÃ. tbip cmPt{ZmlnbÃ. P\i{XphÃ. tbip kvt\lZmbI³. am\hc£I³. tbip AaÀXy³. tbiphns\ hn«bbv¡pI...''
Fsâ ]ndtI At\Iw kv{XoIÄ BÀ¯e¨ph¶p. \ndp¯msX AhÀ \nehnfn¨p]dªp: ""tbipIpähmfnbÃ. tbip kuJyZmbI³. tbip c£I³. tbiphns\ hn«bbv¡pI...''
]oemt¯mkv A¼c¶pt]mbn. P\¡q«¯nÂ\n¶p apdpapdp¸pbÀ¶p. ]ptcmlnX·mcpw aq¸·mcpw ]Ãndp½n. BcmWnhÄ? ]nSn¨psI«nhsf. ASnt¨mSn¡v s]®p§sf. IWvSntà Hcp s]®nsâ [n¡mcw! am\hc£I\mWs{X, am\hc£I³! AaÀXy\mWs{X, AaÀXy³!
]oemt¯mkv ssIbpbÀ¯n AhcpsS DZocW§sf hne¡n. \nÀ¯q. ChÄ¡p ]dbm\pÅXpw tIÄ¡s«.
It¨cn im´ambn. \mSphmgn Fsâ t\sc Xncnªp. Fsâ sXm«p ]n¶n shtdmWn¡, kqk¶, dmtlÂ.
""kv{Xotb, F´mWp \n\¡p ]dbm\pÅXv? '' ]oemt¯mkv tNmZn¨p. ]qÀÆm[nIw Icpt¯msS Rm³ ]dªp:
""tbip acWtbmKy\Ã. \nc]cm[n. \nÀ½eam\k³. At\IÀ¡p kuJyw \evInbh³. acn¨hsc DbÀ¸n¨h³. a\pjycmemIm¯Xv tbip \nhÀ¯n¨p. \·bÃmsX bmsXm¶pw At±lw sNbvXn«nÃ. Fsâ IqsS h¶ ktlmZcnamÀ kXywkXyambn km£yw ]dbpw.''
shtdmWn¡sb Rm³ apt¶m«p \o¡n \ndp¯n. \mSphmgnbpsS ap¼msI AhÄ lrZbw Xpd¶p.
""]{´WvSp hÕcambn cà{kmhw sImWvSp hebpIbmbncp¶p Rm³. I^À\lqanÂh¨v tbiphnsâ A¦nbnsem¶p sXm«tXbpÅq, F\n¡p kuJyw h¶p. CXp kXyw. kXyw.''
AhÄ ]dªp\ndp¯nbXpw dmtl apt¶m«p h¶p.
""Rm³ \boanse hn[h. Fsâ aI³ FÂtZm acn¨h\mbncp¶p. Fsâ \nehnfbn a\Êenªv tbip Ahs\ DbnÀ¸n¨p.''
A½ ]dªp Xocpwapt¼, aI³ HmSnsb¯n. Ah³ XmWphW§n samgn \evIn: ""}Rm\mWv FÂtZm. acn¨pt]mb Fs¶ hoWvSpw Pohn¸n¨ kÀhià\mWv tbip.''
Xncnªpt\m¡pt¼mÄ Fsâ ]n¶n Hcp]mSmfpIÄ h¶pIqSnbncn¡p¶p. ]pcpj·mcpw kv{XoIfpw.AhÀ Hmtcmcp¯cmbn kXyw sNbvXp km£n]dªp. tbip kuJyZmbI³. PohZmbI³. tam£ZmbI³..
FhnSpt¶m emkdpw HmSnsb¯n. Ah³ kzbw km£ys¸Sp¯n. ""Rm³ _Ym\nbbnse emkÀ. acn¨S¡n \mepZnhkw Ignªn«pw tbip F\n¡p Poh³ \evIn. tbip IÀ¯mhmWv. At±ls¯ hn«bbv¡Ww.''
ASp¯\nanjw tImclpwh¶p km£n]dªp:""IpjvTtcmKnbmbncp¶pRm³. tbip F\n¡p kuJyw \evIn.'' ]ns¶bpw ]ecpw apt¶m«ph¶v sXfnhp \evIn.
""Rm³ Hm^m Xmgvhcbnse t\mlbpsS aIÄ Gen. ]Xns\«pkwhÕcw Iq\nbmbn \S¶p. Ct¸mÄ Rm³ Iq\nbÃ. Fsâ Iq\pamänbXv ChnsS \nev¡p¶ tbip.''
""sbcntlmhnse hgnbcnIn `n£bmNn¨psImWvSncp¶p ]ndhn¡pcpS\mbncp¶p Rm³. XnambnbpsS aI³ _À¯nambn. F\n¡p ImgvNX¶Xv Zbm]c\mb tbip.''
IpsdbmfpIÄ hoWvSpw km£y¯n\mbn Hcp§nhs¶¦nepw ]oemt¯mkv XSªp: ""aXn aXn. C\n km£nIsfs¡mWvSv BhiyanÃ.''
\mSphmgn ]ptcmlnX·mcpsSbpw aq¸·mcpsSbpw t\sc Xncnªp:
""\n§Ä tIÄ¡p¶ntà ChcpsS km£y§Ä? ]tcm]Imcnbpw \nc]cm[nbpamb tbiphnsâ Pohs\Sp¡m³ \n§Äs¡´mWn{X XmÂ]cyw?''
B tNmZy¯n\v D¯canÃmsX Ipg§nt¸mb ]ptcmlnX·mcpw aq¸·mcpw, km£ns¯fnhpIsf XÅn¸dªp:
""km£nIÄ ]dªsXÃmw s]m¿v. FÃmw sI«n¨a¨Xv. kv{XoIfpsS samgnIÄ¡]mekXo³ \m«n km[pXbpanÃ. BIbm ChnsS tI«sXÃmw XÅn¡fbpI.''
AhÀ ]pcpjmcs¯ ]dªnf¡n. ]coi·mcpw ]mÀizhÀ¯nIfpw hnfn¨pIqIn:
Ch³ Ipähmfn
Ch³ ssZhZqjWw ]dbp¶h³. ssZhmebs¯ \nµn¨h³, i_¯v ewLn¡p¶h³, P\§sf hgnsXän¡p¶ Iem]Imcn. BIbm Ch³ acWtbmKy³.
AXns\ XpSÀ¶v ]ptcmlnX·mÀ¡pw ]Ån{]amWnamÀ¡pw lmenfIn. AhÀ A«lkn¨p ]dªp:
Ch³ cmPt{Zmln.
Ch³ ssIkdpsS i{Xp.
Chs\ \o¡n¡fI
Chs\ {Iqin¡
AhcpsS sImehnfns¡Xnsc aqIbmbn \nev¡m³ IgnªnsÃ\n¡v. Rm\pw hnfn¨p ]dªp, Ignbp¶{X D¨¯nÂ.
tbip am\hc£I³.
]m]nIfpsS c£I³.
ASnaIÄ¡p tamNI³.
]oUnXÀ¡p ]cn]meI³.
tbiphns\ hn«bbv¡pI. hn«bbv¡pI.
Fsâ ]n¶mse IqSnbhcpw AtXäphnfn¨psImWvSncp¶p. \mSphmgnbpsS It¨cnaWvU]w i_vZkmKc¯n ap§n. ahFÃm A\pIoÀ¯\§fpw Bt{Imi§fpw tI«psImWvSncp¶n«pw, incÊp\an¨p\n¶XÃmsX Kpcp \mh\¡nbnÃ. CSwhewt\m¡msX, kpZrV`mh¯n Htc\nev]v ssZh\ntbmKw Gäphm§phm\pÅ k¶²X. FÃmw \nhÀ¯nbmIphm\pÅ \nÝe{]`mhw.
F¶m i_vZtImemlew \mSphmgnsb Atemkcs¸Sp¯n. AbmÄ £p`nX\mbn ]S\mbIs\ hnfn¨p. HmSnsb¯n. ]S\mbIt\mSv R§sf ]nSn¨p]pd¯m¡m\mbncp¶pIev]\. AXptI«am{Xbn ]SP\w _lf¡msc Xpc¯n. AhcpsS _enjvTIc§Ä kv{XoIsf ]pdt¯¡p hen¨ng¨p. ]nSnhn«pIpXdnamdm³ {ians¨¦nepw ]SbmfnIÄ Fs¶ sRcp¡n¡fªp. hmhn«p\nehnfn¨psImWvSv Rm³ AhcpsS Ic§fn ]nSªp.