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kpIp Zqtcv angnsbdn]mtS ss_tmSnp sImncpp. tUmIvSdpsS Im tdmUnsehnsSsbnepw ImWpptm? XWpImns Hcp tLmjbm{X Ahs\ ISpt]mbn. Ahs icocamsI tImn hndp. CSbvv cv XhW tUmIvS kRvPbpsS samss_ t^m Ahs t]mnnSv Ie]ne Iqn. kmaph km ]dXv t]mse Cu s]Ipnv Ddant? Ah BtemNnp. Ah t^msWSppItbm Hm^v sNbvXv shpItbm sNbvXn. t^m Iptd t\cw Hsh tijw ]ns anmsX ]nWnnSp. Ah ss_ns thKX Iqn. anabpsS Hcp ]mhn Ahs\ ISpt]mbn. CSbvv A`msc hlnpsImv i_cnaebvv t]mIp {IqbnkdpIfpw... s]sv Ah Ip... IpdIse tdmUcnIn Hcp Im InSpp. kRvPbv tUmIvS-dpsS Imdt AXv? kpIp ss_ns kv]oUv Ipd-p. AtX.. AXv Atlns Im XsbmWv . ]s AsXmWo \SptdmUn \nnbnncnpXv? hnv h dnbdpw..? Ah kwibnp t\mn. sNv tNmZnp t\mmw. Ah hn aptmsSpp. AtmgXm tUmIvSdpsS Im dnthgvkv hcpp. AXv IXpw Ah s]v ss_v t{_nv \nn. ]pdtImv \onb Im Ccp]XSntbmfw h tijw s]sv \np. Ah t\mn \ns Abm Imdn \nn-dn tdmUn\cnInepff aXn-en\p t\v \S-p. Fv ]n Ctv? kpIp Nnnp. Ah BZyw AbmfpsS A-Sp-tv t]mbn Imcyw Xncnbmtem FmtemNnp. ]ns s]sstm ]ntISv tXmn ss_v tdmU-cn-In-embn \nn Abmsf \nco-n-psImv \n-p. B aXnen \ndsb ]eXcnepff t]mdpI ]Xnpshncnpp. Abm Hcp t]mdn\v apn sNp \np. AXnsegpXnbncnpXv hmbnp. ]ns t]mdn ssItNv shp sImv Nmpw sNcnpw t\mn. ]ns Ftm Iv sRnbXv t]mse ]pdtImv amdn \np. kpIphn\v Hpw ]nSnInnbn. kRvPbv ]cn-{`m--\mbn HmSn hv Xs Imdn-tev Ibdn. ]ns [rXn-bn mv sNbvXv HmSnp t]mbn. AbmfpsS Im In \nv adXpw kpIp ss_v mv sNbvXv B aXnen\cnIn sImphp \nn. Fnv ss_n \nndn B t]mdntev t\mn. ASp \nanjw Ahs icocneqsS Hcp hnd ]Sp Ibdn. apI`mKv henb Acn WANTED Fv Fgp-Xn-bncnpp. AXn\v Xmsg KuXans kvsIv...

Ah AXv s]sv Xs Xncndnp. kvsIn\v NphsSbpff Adnbnv hmbnXpw Ah \Spntmbn. Cu Nn{X-n ImWp hyn sjmWq Xohn kvt^mS-\hp-ambn _-sv t]meokv sXc-bp Ip-hm-fn-bm-Wv. Cbmsf Ipdnv t]meo-kn\v hnhcw \Ip-Itbm ]nSn-Iq-Sm klm-bnp-Itbm sNp--hv XXmb ]mcntXmjnIw \IpXmWv. UbdIvS P\d Hm^v t]meokv, tIcf. Atm tIXv icnbmWv. t]meokpIm KuXans\ ASbmfsSpngnp. ]s Ctm ]vfmnIv kdn sNbvXv apJw amnbXn\m Ah kpcnX\mWv. Ahs\ Ahv Xncndnbm Ignbn. ]s.... XsfqSmsX Hcm IqSn Cu kXyw a\nemngnp... tUmIvS kRvPbv.... Abm Cu t]m Ip Ignp. Hcp ]s Abm KuXans\ Xncndnncnmw. Fn.... Fmw Ipgp. Abmsfm\pw AXv t]meoknednbnm.... ]ns C{Xbpw IjvSsXv apgph... Ah ]Ip \np. ]ns t]mn \nv samss_seSpv kmaphens \ Ub sNbvXp. GXm\pw dnwKpIv tijw adpXebv \nv kmaphens i_vZw tIp. ltem... ***************** kRv P bv \mbn hnbppmbncpp. AbmfpsS nbdnwKv ]nSn ssI hmsX hndbvppmbncpp. Abmv Xs XebvIv Fsmtam NpgepXmbn tXmn. Xm AXnhnZKv[ambn I_fnnsncnpp. Abm Nnnp. kmaph F B a\pjy Xs hfsc Ffpn ]np Ifp. Hcp h Iqsmebvv ImcWmc\mb Hcp IphmfnsbbmWv Abm IffY ]dv Cv Xs apn sImphXv. Fnv Xs ]dv hnizknv AbmfpsS apJw Hmtdv sNbvXv amnp. C\n Abmsf Bpw Xncndnbm Ignbn. t]meokv C\n Fs\ sXcmepw FhnsSsbms At\zjnmepw B apJapffbmsf Ism Ignbn.... A]mcw... kmaph F \nmc\mb a\pjys IjnebvIv C{Xbpw Ipim{K_pntbm? Hcp \mSns\ apgph sRnp If Hcp cmPyt{ZmlnsbbmWv Abm csSpnbncnpXv. AXpw Xs Icphmnsmv... kRvPbv apjvSn Npcpn nbdnwKneSnp. Hcp sImp Ipns\ anTmbn ImWnv ]npXv t]mse F{X kaambmWv Abm ]v ew cq] Imn Xs NXnbn s]SpnbXv? C.. CXv Rm kXnn... Htsd ]mhs a\pjysc ZmnWyanmsX t_mw_v shp sIm B t{Zmlnsb cssSm\\phZnp IqSm. t]meokn hnhcadnbnmtem? Abm Xs Ioibn samss_en\mbn ]cXn. ]s.... Hm.... jnv... Abm tZjytmsS kzbw i]npsImv ]dp.

Xm samss_seSpm adncnpp. Xs IknwKv dqanse taibvv aosXbmWXpXv. Hmtdj Ignv apdnbntev t]mImsX t\sc ]pdndnbXn\m t^msWSpmsXbmWv hXv. C\nsbv sNpw? vt\sc t]meokv tj\ntev t]mImw. Fnv t]meokns\ hnhcadnbnmw. Fv Xsbmbmepw Ahsc shdpsX hnSm ]mSn. t{ZmlnI.... AdnbmsXbmsWnepw Xms\mcp h Iphmfnsb csSm klmbnncnpIbmWv.... B sXn\v Cs\sbnepw X\nv {]mbnw sNWw. Asn Cu \mSv XtmSv s]mdpn. hgnbn ]ebnSpw AtX t]m ]XnncnpXbm Ip. ssZhamWv B t]m Xs ImWnXv. Cmbncpsn... Cu kmaphen\v Cs\sbmcp Iphmfnbpambpff _samWv? Hcp ]s Abmfpw... kRvPbv BtemNnp. B... X\ndnbmhp Imcy t]meokns\ Adnbnmw. _mnbpffXv Ah Ip]nSns... Ah Imdns kv]oUv Iqn t]meokv tj eyamn \on. ]s..... sImn t\h Am-Z-anv apnse tdmUn-eqsS ]mv t_mv sPn hf-hn--tev Xncn-Xpw \mev hml-\- AbmfpsS Imdns\ \mep ]pd-p-\npw hf-p. ***************** t]meo-kp-Im-cpsS hnNm-c-W-ap-dn-bn au\w XfwsIn \np. koenwKv ^m\ns apcbvv aosX NqtSdnb \nizmkfpsS komcw am{Xw AhnShnsS \nv ]Xn Xmfn s]mnmgvpsImncpp. Fkn]n \Intjmdpw cmlpe\pw apw Dds anSnp lrZbtmsS izmkaSnnSnv tIpsImncpp. actkcbn _\\msv icocw apgph apdnmSpIfpambn B almclkyw shfnsSpnsmncp Abm Hv \nn Fn hngpn Ccp-p. hoUntbm Iymad AbmfpsS Hmtcm hmpItfbpw Hmtcm Ne\tfbpw ]nSnsSppsImncpp. Dw.. ]d. ]ns-sb-mWv kw`-hn-Xv? cmlpe tNmZnp. sh... shw.... Abm \mhv \on Npv \\psImv Zb\obambn ]dp. cmlpe Hcp tImbn shsaSpv AbmfpsS hmbntev HgnpsImSpp. Abm AXv BntbmsS henp IpSnp. Fkn]n \ Abm shw IpSnp XocpXv hsc BImwtbmsS Imncpp. Abm shw IpSnp Ignv XftbmsS Xe Hcp hitv Xqnbnv ISncpp. Sm.. Iv XpdsSm... cmlpe AbmfpsS XmSbvv ]nSnv inbn Bnsmv ]dp. ]nssbm kw`hnXv? Abm thZ\tbmsS Rcn. ]s Abmv Iv Xpdmt\m kwkmcnmt\m Ignbpn. AbmfpsS IpI apIfntev adnp. Npns tImWn \nv Hcp t\tcJt]mse tNmc ]pdtv Nmenp. Atm Fkn]nbpsS samss_ i_vZnp. Abm t^msWSpv \ t\mn. ^mZ kndnbmWv.

Fkn]n CcnnSn \nsgptv samss_epambn ]pdtv \SpsImv cmlpet\mSv ]dp. Abmv Blmcw hXpw sImSpv... cmlpe icn Fv Xebmn. Fkn]n ]pdtndn samss_ t^m sNhnbn shv sImv ]dp. ltem ^mZ... Cutim aninlmbvv kvXpXnbmbncns... Ctmgpw Ftmgpw kvXpXnbmbncns... adpXebv \nv ^mZ ]dp. Fsmsbpv ^mZ hntijw? Imhns IcpWsImv kuJyambncnpp. Atlw ]dp. kRvPptams Imcyn h Xppw Inntbm? Ahs\hnsSbpstm atm.... AXv.... Fkn]n kwibnp \np. Fv adp]Sn ]dbpw? AXv ^mZ... Abm ]dp. At\zjWw DunXambn ]ptcmKanppv. cv Znhkn\pffn kXyw ]pdv hcpw... AXv tIv ^mZ Hp aqfn. ]ns... Rm hnfnXv... Atlw ]dp. Av Fs ssIbn \nv kRvPptams hnhml\nbns UohoUn hmnsmv t]mbnt? AXns Bhiyw Ignsn AsX\nv XncnsI thWw.. Hv \nn Dffnse AkzX hmpIfn \ndpsImtlw ]dp. F\nstm... kRvPptams\ ImWWw ImWWsav tXmpp.... a\n\msImsS Hcp hmbvI... AXns\m ^mZ? Fkn]n ]dp. AXns Bhiyw Ignp. Rm\np Xs AXtmv sImSpp hnSmw. _pnapmthm? Atlns i_vZw Nnenp. Fv _pnapv? AsXmbmepw ^mZdn\v Xncnp XtcXt? Fkn]n ]dp. ^mZdns i_vZsam hmXncnpXv. kpJant? tlbv.. sNdnsbmcp PetZmtjmw aqSpw. A{X Xs.. Fn icn ^mZ. Rm UohoUn Atmsnm\pff GmSv sNmw.. kobq.. ta tKmUv skv bq. ^mZ ]dp. Gkn]n t^m Iv sNbvXv t]mnenp. Fnv Akzamb a\tmsS AItev t\mn \np. hfn\Is t]cmen\v aosX Iptd ImI Xn hgSnv Icp sImncpp. Abm AhnsS \npsImv sXmp apv tI kw`hsf Iqnngnv Afv apdnv apSn \mcng Iodn ]cntim[np sImncpp. ]Xnsb ]Xnsb AbmfpsS a\ntev Nne ]pXnb shfn]mSpI sXfnp hp. Hcp t_m[n hrphnse t]mse AbmfpsS [njW \ndp In. GXmv AcaWnqdn\v tijw cmlpet\msSmw Fkn]n hopw CsmdtKj dqantev {]thinp. Abm Blmcw Ignv Hcp sNdnb abnembncpp. cmlpe AbmfpsS ASptv sNv tXmfn ]nSnv Ipepn hnfnp. Abm sRn Iv Xpdv Ahsc ]ItmsS t\mn.

aXnbmsSm \ns taml\n{Z... cmlpe ]dp. Dpdn kpJhknm CXv \ns AnhosSmpatm? Abm `btmsS Itkcbn H\nbncpp. Atm.... Fkn]n AbmfpsS apnse Itkcbn hncpp sImv hnfnp. an KuXw.... Abm apJapbn Fkn]nsb t\mn. Ahs IpIfn `bw \ngenp. Xm\mWv sjmq sdbnth tj\n Xohnv t_mw_v shv Ccp\qdne[nIw BfpIsf NppsImXv. At..? Ah BitbmsS Dan\ocndn. CtmgtXv ]vfmnIv kdnv tijapff ]pXnb apJamWt? Fkn]n Ahs IpIfntev ZrjvSnbpdnpsImv tNmZnp. AXv sImmbncnpw tIcfm t]meokpw Fkv.sF.Snbpw CenPkpsams ajnbnv sXcnpw Xs InmXncpXv? KuXw \n_vZ\mbn XeXmgvn Ccpp. Fkn]n cmlpes t\v XncnpsImv ]dp. kznv Hm Zn hoUntbm Iymad. cmlpe Xebmnbnv sNv hoUntbm Iymad Hm sNbvXv shp. Atm \apv _mn IYbntev hcmw. Fkn]n ]dp. As\ tUmIvS kRvPbv \nfpsS \mSIw a\nemn. AXdn \nfpsS BfpI Abmsf sImn t_mv sPnSpv shv hfp ]nSnp. ]ns Fpmbn? Fkn]n tNmZycqt]W Ahs\ t\mn. KuXw kwkmcnm aSn-p. Dw.. ]d. Fkn]nbpsS IpI Ahsbpffntev Nqgvndn. Ah annbn. ]v^... ]d-sb-Sm... cmlp tZjytmsS emn- ssIbnseSppsImv Aedn. KuXw icnsmv hndp. cmlpe Ahs Xe-ap-Snv ]nSnv ]cp-j-ambn Bn-sm-v ]dp. ]d-sb-Sm... Ct \ns Fv shf-f-ampw Rm... KuXw thZ-\-tbm-sS Rcnsmv ]dp. ]..-]-d-bmw... ]d-bmw.. Dw Fn ]d.. cmlpe ]nSnhnp. Hcp ZoL\nizmksaSpv sImv Ah _mn IY ]d-bm XpSn. Fkn]nbpw cmlpe\pw AXv DtZzKtmsS tIn-cp-p. IymadpI Fmw kmysSpnsmncpp. Ah ]d-bp-Xv tIt Ah-cpsS apJv `oXn hp \nd-p. Fkn]nbpsS icocw hndsImp. cmlpe\v Xs sXm hcfpXmbn tXmn. GXmv AcaWnq Ah kwkmcnp. Ah Fmw ]dp Ign-tm t]meo-kp-Im I\ lrZ-b-hp-ambn achnp \n-p. (XpScpw)