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\pcp]Xbp aZyn sFkv Iyq_pIsmw \nanj AenpsImncpp. kmaph sFkpw tkmUbpw kam\p]mXn tNv shp \op kvtImv hnkvIn \ymcpsS hc sXmbneqsS Nmev IodnsbmgpInsmncpp. Fs-nepw Ipdhv hcp-n-bn-p-tmtSm Rm\-h\v? \ym tNmZnp. Fmw I-dnv thp-thmfw sNbvXnt? Fn-n-sm... kmw Abmsf klm-\p-`q-Xn-tbmsS t\mn Ccp-p. acn-p-Xv hsc Ahs Asb Rm t\mn-bnt? NnIn-n-nt? Bcp-an-m--h\mWv F tXm-ep-m-I-cp-sXp Icp-Xn-bt Rm\-h\v Fm ku`m-Ky-fpw Hcp-n-sm-SpXv? Cy-bnse Ghpw henb t_mUnwKv kvIqfn Xs tN-hs\ ]Tn-n-p. Bh-iy-ne-[nIw Imipw sImSp-p. Fmw Ahs \-Xn\v thn-bm-bn-cp-p. ]s... Ah-\n-s\bmbno-cp-sa-v... AXv Xsb-m-tSm Xm sNbvX sXv. kmaph ]dp. Aln-p--Xn-e-[nIw Imiv ssIbn hm BcmtSm hgn sXm--Xv? \ym ~Hpw anmsX Xe-Xm-gvn-bn-cn-t Abm XpSp. kvIqfn ]Tn-p Imew sXmt Ah-s\pw X\n-smcp Xe-th-Z-\-bm-bn-cp-p. Ah hf-Xn-s\mw Xs Ahs tXmn-hm-k-fpw hfp. Kvfmknse aZyw hmbn-tev Ian-gvn-bn-v Abm ]dp. Hs t\sc-bm-Ip-satSm? Xm\n-s\ thh-em-Xn-s-Sm-Xn-cn-v... Abm \ymcpsS ssIbn \nv aZy-ns Kvfmkv hmn shpsImv ]dp. C\n aXn. Xms\-gp-tv. Abm \ymsc ]nSn-s-gp-t]n-p-. tamfv Xs Imn-cn-ym. DuWv Ign-m.. Ahv hni-p-p-m-hpw. Xm hm... \ym A\pkcWbpff Hcp Ipns\ t]mse Fgp-tp \n-p. ***************** Ccpv hoWpInSp _nemn]pcw tImf\n. Htcsbmcp sXcphv hnfv am{Xw ashfnw hoinsmncnp sXcphn \nc-\n-c-bmbn \np Iptd Hme-p-c-I. AXn-sem-ns apntev aWen N{ImSpI hogvnsmv Hcp ]pXnb tamU Im hp \np. AXn \nv Hcp sNdp--m-c- ]pdn-dn. GXm\pw hmcbIse ISen \nv hoinbSnp DpImn Krl]mTapcphnSp IpnIfpsS i_vZw am{Xw \ndp \np. Zqsc shfnns Xpcpv t]mse hm]mSw Iv angnp \np. Hcp IpSn-en\v apn ssIen am{X-ap-Sp-v ]pI-hnpsImncp XmSn-m-c Imdn hbmsf IXpw _oUnpn \nev IpnsSpnbnv ASptv hp. BKX AbmfpsS sNhnbn Ftm ]dp. XmSn- m- c Xebmnsmv Hcp IpSnen\I- t v Ibdntmbn. IpdpIgnv Hcp sNdnb ]m-p-ambn hv AXv sNdp--m-cs ssIbn sImSp-p. ]Icw Ah Hcp sIv t\mv Abm-fpsS ssIbn shp sImSp-p. Abm ktm-j-tmsS Xe-bm-n. \nanjIw ]qgnav ]mdnpsImv B Im AhnSw hnp t]mbn. XmSnmc t\mv sIv Hcp hnidnt]mse hnSnnSnp. s\nSnns thKn ]t\mpI ]S]S i_vZtmsS DdpNncnp.

CsXmw IpsImv sXcphv hnfn\v Nphnse \ngen Hcm \nppmbncpp. t\mp-sI-p-ambn IpSn-en-tev Ib-dm-s\m-cp-nb XmSn-m-c Hcp apc-S\w tIv Xncnp t\mn. ]nn KuXw.. XmSnmc Ahs\ Iogvta t\mn. Ahs XeapSnbmsI ]mdndncpp. hkv{X hnbpw sNfnbpw ]n apjnp \mdppmbncpp. Ahs apJpw Igpnepw sXcphv hnfns\ {]Xn^ennp hnbv NmepI. Imns] Benet]mse Ahs icocw InSpInSm hndbvppmbncpp. ss]en-t-m... Ah AbmfpsS ASptv hpsImv ]dp. F\nv.... F\n-nncn ^v thWw... AXv tIXpw Abm Ahs\ ASn-apSn Ah--tbmsS t\mn-smv tNmZnp. Imsi-hnsS? Imiv... KuXw Hcp \nanjw inp \np. Imiv Xcmw.. Csm F\n-n-ncn s]mSn Xm.. F\nv ssIbpw Imepw shd-p-p. Imin-\-msX Xc-n-sv XtmSv Rm ]d-n-p-f-f-Xt? ss]en ]dp. Imip-f-f-tm-sgms Rm IWv t\mmsX hmcn--n-n-ttSm X\nv? Cs\nv IS-am-bn-n-ncn Xt Hq.. Ah Abm-fpsS ssIbn _e-ambn ]nSn-p-sImv ]d-p. tZs sNdp-m.. Npm ssI sa\-s-Sp-mv t]m.. Abm Ahs ssIIpSp sXdnnpsImv ]dp. AXns inbn Ah ]nntev thp hoWpt]mbn. Ah an hoWpInSpsImv Abmsf IentbmsS t\mn. s]s--h shdn-sIm--h-s\-tmse ]nS-s-gp-tv ss]enbpsS ta NmSnhoWp. \n-bn-m \mtb... Fs Imsi{X \n-bn-p-sSm \o... Ahs ASnbpw sXmgnbptav ss]en aWentev sXdnphoWp. Fnpw Ien XocmsX Ah AbmfpsS s\n Ibdnbncpv Igpn\v ]nSnv sRcnp. ss]en izmkw apnnSp. N XhfbptSXv t]mepff AbmfpsS DpI ]pdtv sXffn hp. _lfw tIv IpSn-en-\p-f-fn \nv ss]en-bpsS tPmen-m HmSnbndn h-p. Ah ss]en-sb B{I-an-p KuX-ans\ hfp. ASp ]v \nanjtv Nn\nSbns sIm{]mjvWw t]mse Ahs icocw sRcnpSp. Ahs Hmtcm Ahbhhpw Ccphn Xn--Xbvsp. Ahs hmbn \npw aqn \npw cIvXw Non. Ah ASnsImv \new ]cnimbn. HSp-hn Ah Ahs\ Xqn-sb-Spv tdmUntesdnp. Ah Hcp hngpv `mWvUw t]mse tdmUn\Sppff Iepn\cnIn sNp hoWp. Ah\v Xs AnI \pdpnsmSnXmbn tXmn. icocamsI thZ\bpsS hnjmpI ]pfp \on. Ahs In Ccpp Ibdn. Ahs ssII Ccpn Hcp AmWnv thn Xn. Ah\v Fntem ]nSnInn. FmWXv..? AXv BcptStbm ImepIfmWv... Ah Bbmksv apJapbn t\mn. Ccpn Ahs apn Btcm \npp. apJw Hcp ]mSt]mse Ahyambn Ip. BcmWXv?

Atm Abm Ip\nv Ahs\ ]nSnsgpt]np. Ah thZ\tbmsS Rcnsmv Fgptv \np. ]s Ahs ImepI \nepdbvpn. Ah ]ntbpw ]pdtImv aep. ]s AbmfpsS _enjvSamb Ic Ahs\ Xmn. Ah Hcp sImpIpns\tmse AbmfpsS amtdmSv ]ntp InSp. Abm Xs tXmknbn \nv Hcp shffpnsbSpv Ahs hmbn HgnpsImSpp. Ah AXv BntbmsS henpIpSnp. Ah\v ]Xnsb Xs icocntev \jvSs Duw XncnpIbdpXmbn tXmn. IpsXfntm Ah Abmsf Ip. \ Dbcw. XovWamb IpIfn tXn \np B{ZX. ZpcqlX \nd apJv shnsbmXpn \nnb XmSntcma. Ijn IbdnpSnb Xe. Hcp JmZn Ipbpw PokpamWbmfpsS thjw. Npaen Hcp tXmkn Xqnsmncpp. AbmfpsS IpI Ahs\ t\mn ]pncnp. Ah Abmsf hnkvabtmsS angnp t\mn \np. Abm Ahs\ t\sc \nn Ahs tZl-p-ff asmw Xn--f-p. Fnv tNmZnp. Fm A\nbm {]iv\w? KuXw Fv ]dbWsadnbmsX XeXmgvn \np. acp-mtWm? Abm tNmZnp. KuXw Abmsf angnp t\mn. F{X thWw? Rm Xcmw X\nv. Abm ]dp. ]\ntmfnse t]mse AbmfpsS i_vZw Ah tIp \np. Xm ImWpXv kz]v\amtWm... acptm ]Wtam s]tm... Fm th-sXv ]dm aXn. Rm Xcpw. Abm ]dp. AXv tIXpw KuX-ans apJw hnS--p. ]s A\n-b F\nv thn-sbmcp Imcyw sNWw. Abm ]dp. Hcp sNdnb klm-bw... Fm sNnt? Abm Ahs IpIfntev Npgnp t\mnsmv tNmZnp. KuXw Abmsf Imcyw ]nSn-In-m an ]Ip t\mn. Atm Abm Ahs apJn\v t\sc ssIbpbn apjvSn Xpdp ImWnp. Ah ActmsS t\mn. AbmfpsS \nhnnSn ssIshffbn Hcp {_u jpK ]mv..! KuX-ans Ip-I-fn Bn-bpsS Xnf-w. Ah sImXntbmsS B ]m-n-\mbn ssI \onbXpw Abm s]sv ssI ]nh-en-p. Ahs apJw hmSn. Abm Hcp IpkrXnncntbmsS Ahs\ t\mn. ]ns Ahs\ tamln-npw t]mse tNmZnp. sNnt? apJv tNmZyw... ssIbn {]tem`\w... KuXan\v ]nSnp \nm Ignn. Ah BntbmsS icn Fp Xe-bm-n. *****************

KuXw aptmv \Sp. Ah\v apnepffsXmpw ImWpn. Ahs IpI Idp XpWnsImv sInbncnpIbmWv. cv t] Ahs\ Ccphiv \npw ssIbn ]nSnv aptmv \SpIbmWv. FhntSmWv Ch Xs sImv t]mIpXv? Ahsbpffn `oXn Hcp apdnth ]nsbtmse InSp NndInSnp. FhnsS B a\pjy? XtmSn{X t\cw kwkmcn B.. Abm ]dbp tPmen sNm XmdmsWv ]d \nanjw Abm B {_u jpK ]mv Ah\v ssIamdn. Ah\Xv BntbmsS s]mnv ssIbntev IpSv aqneqsS Bp henp. AtXmsS Ahs kncIfntev Hcp lna{]hmlw t]mse elcn ]Sp Ibdn. kn _ Abv Xs icocw Hcp ]npv t]mse emLhsSpXmbn Ah\v tXmn. Ahs ssIImepIfnse hndbSn. \ Hmcw ^mWv. Xosc IenmXv.. Ah B elcnbn As\ BdmSn \ns Abm aptmv hv Ahs Npaen ssIshpsImv ]dp. C\n \apv t]mImw. ASp \nanjw AhcpsS apntev Hcp \oe Hmw\n hm hp \np. AXns ]pdInse tUm Xffn \on cv t] ]pdtv NmSnbndn. Ah\v FmWv kw`hnpsXv Xncndnbm\mIpw apt Ah Ahs IpI Idp XpWnsImv aqSnsn. ]ns Ah Ahs\ hm\ntev Ibn. ]Xn\v an\ntmfw \o bm{Xbvv tijw hm FhnsStbm Fn \np. Ah Ahs\ kmh[m\w ]nSnndn. Fnv GtXm AmXamb hgnIfneqsS Ahs\ aptmv \Sn. Ahs ImXpIfn NohoSpIfpsS aqf am{Xw \ndp \np. HSphn Ah Ahs\ HcnSv sImp hncpn. Inse Idp XpWn Agnp amnbtm Ah Hcp henb taibvv apnse acs_n CcnpIbmbncpp. taibpsS adp-h-iv t\cs I Ipm[mcnbpw Abm-sf-tm-se-s \nKq-VX hnp apJ-`m-h-hp-ambn thsd aqmev t]cpw Ccn-p-pmbncpp. Ah Ipangnv Npp]mSpw ]ItmsS t\mn. Ah\v Xm GtXm {]mNo\amb Kplbv ImWv hps]ncnpsXv tXmn. sNntm AhnShnsS ans apgpff NphcmWv Npnepw. AXn Xo Inpshncnpp. AXns Ac shfnn BcptSbpw apJw hya. \nanjpffn Ahs apn taipdv ]eXcw `W ]Zm \ndp. Ignq.. Ipm[mcn ]dp. \n.... \n BcmWv? Ah tNmZnp. R Xqp-Im-cm-Wv. Abm adp]Sn ]dp. KuX-ans s\n Npfn-p. AtX. kaq-lnse tNdpw sNfnbpw IgpIn shSn-m-m h ipn-Ieim. Abm - - ]dp. R-sf-n IqSp-X kwkm-cnp kabw If-tb-. asmcm CSbvv Ibdn ]dp.

\apv KuX-ans hnj-b-n-tev hcmw. Xs IY apgp-h R tIp. CXp XsbmWv Cu \mSns im]w. Fm ku`m-Ky-fpw Nnev. Fm Zpcn-X-fpw ap Nnev. Xs Fm {]iv\-pw R-fpsS ] {]Xn-hn-[n-bp-v. aqmasXmcm ]dp. X\nv Xs A]-am-\n-n-dn hn A-sbpw hop-Im-cp-sSbpw apn Pbn-t-t? AXn\v Fv thWw? KuXw Abmsf Imcyw ]nSn-In-msX t\mn. ]Ww thWw. Abm ]dp. AXv R Xcpw. ]Icw KuXw Rsmcp {]Xyp-]-Imcw sN-Ww. \mema ]dp. Rms\-mWv sNt-Xv? KuXw tNmZnp. R-fpsS ipn-I-e-i-bn KuX-ans hI Hcp sNdnb tkh\w. Ipm[mcn ]dp. \ Np-N-h-dp-I Xobnv \in-n-m-dnt? AXv t]mse Cu \mSns\bpw \ Anbn kv^pSw sNbvsXSpWw. Fs\? Ah tNmZnp. ]dbmw. Abm ]dp. A\nb Cp hXtbpffq. Xm\]w hn{ianv. \apv t\cw shfpnv _mn Imcy kwkmcnmw... k\. Abm AItv t\mn hnfnp. AIv \nv IriKm{X\mb Hcp sNdpmc ]pdtv hp. k\... CXv \psS AXnYnbmWv. \mbn kcnWw. henb honse IpnbmWv. AXv sImv Hn\pw Hcp Ipdhv hccpXv. Hn\pw... Ahkm\s hmpI Abm ]dp \nnbXv A]w DutemsSbmWv. Hbvv InSv ioeapmhnsdnbmw. Abm KuXans\ t\mn ]dp. AXv sImv AXn\v th GmSpIfpw sNbvXnpv. Ah Abmsf IuXpItmsS t\mn \ns Abm AK`ambn Nncnp sImv ]dp. Cht\msSmw sNtmfq. hcq. k\ Ahs\ ssI]nSnsgpt]np sImv ]dp. KuXw A]w aSntbmsS Ahs IqsS sNp. Ccpv hoWp InSp Hcp CS\mgnbneqsS Ah KuXans\ aptmv \bnp. KplmIhmSw t]msebpff Hcp hmXnen\v apnsenbXpw k\ hmXn Xpdp ]nSnpsImv ]dp. Ibdntmfq. KuXw kwibnp \np. Duw... k\ I\nv ]dp. Ah hndbvp ImeSnItfmsS AItv NphSpshp. ASp \nanjw.... Ahs Intmbn. AIv aWnbdt]mse AWnbnsmcpnb Hcp apdn. Nphcnse {XntImW NXzcfn ap\np Ip asNcmXpI. Ad_nYIfn ImWp amXncn Ia\obambn Aecn ]psa. ASpv Hcp XfnIbn ]eXcw ]gfpw a[pc]elmcfpw. IqPbn ]m...

InSbn.... aptmSp KuXw Hcp \nanjw hnkvabnp \npt]mbn. ]qsImecn k{]an Ahs\ Imncnp... Bscbpw tamlnnp Hc]vkckpcn.. Ahs ]nn s]sv hmXneSp. ***************** ASp Znhkw {]mXen\v tijw KuXw hopw AtX taibvv apntev \bnsp. hcq kplrs.... Ipm[mcn ]dp. \nfpsS PohnXnse Ghpw at\mlcamb Hcp cm{Xnbmbncpp CetXv Fv R hnizkntmt.. Ah A]w etbmsS NncnpsImv Xebmn. C\nbpff Fm cm{XnIfpw \apnXv t]mse kpcamtt? Abm tNmZnp. Ah hopw Xebmn. Fn hcq.. Abm ]dp. \apv \psS ZuXyntev ISmw. Abmfpw ap A\pbmbnIfpw B taibvv Nppw IqSn \np. KuXw AhcpsS ASptv sNp. Hcm Hcp henb ]mb ISemkv taita \nhnshp. Cse R ]d B Anipn Cu hcpw Znhkfn \ \Sn hcpm t]mIpp. AXpambn klIcnm KuXw XmdmtWm? Abm tNmZnp. BWv. KuXw ]dp. Fn {inq.. Abm kvsIntev hncNqnsmv ]dp. FtmawK-em-]pcw FIvkv{]-kv. kzXth \ Xnc-p-ff hn. t]mcm--Xn\v kok ssSapw. i_-cn-ae kokWpw {Inkvkv sht-j-\pw. ]Xn-hn Ihn Xnc-p-m-Ipw. KuXw A\pIqenpsImv Xebmn. Abm XpSp. cm{Xn Ft apm-en-\mWv Cu hn sjmq tj-\n-se-p-I. Fd-Wm-Ip-fw-sjmWq ]mk-, tImb--q--Xriq ]mk-, \ne-qsjmWq ]mk- Fo s{Sbn-\p-Ifpw GXmv CtX ka-b-mWv ChnsS Fn-t-cp-I. Cu s{Sbn-\n-semw hn-d-p Bfp-I awKem-]pcw `mK-tv t]mIm Ftm--aw-K-em-]pcw FIvkv{]-kn-emWv Ib-dp-I. sF ao.. Znkv Cukv F IW s{Sbn. hn an-hmdpw ^pn ]mvUv Bbn-cn-pw. Abm Hv \nn Ahs {]XnIcWw {inpsImv ]dp. Cu hn-bn-emWv \ t_mw_v sht--Xv. KuXw sRntmbn. Xs Xetmdn\Iv Fsmstbm s]mnnXdnbXv t]mse Ah\v tXmn. Xm tIXv kXyw Xstbm... Xm C{Xbpw {]XonX... CXv sNp--Xn-\p-ff {]Xn-^-ew Cskohv kv{SIvN-dn-em-Wv. an\naw Ccp-]-v t]scnepw acn--Ww. BZys Ccp-]-v Poh\v A]-Xn-\m-bncw cq] {]Xn-^ew. AXn\v apI-fn-epff Hmtcm ac-W-n\pw Am-bncw cq] shv Cko-hv. AXp sImv amIvknaw Imjzm-en-n-bpm-m {ian--Ww... Ah taemkIew \Spn \ns Abm ]dpsImncpp. (XpScpw)