31

{Kojva t]Snp ]pdtImv hoWpt]mbn. hoWnSv InSv Ah apJapbn t\mn. Ccpn Iv sXfntm AhfpsS apn \mhv \on Ipcpn \np Hcp Atkjy \mb. Hcp sNdnb t]mns henapXn\v.... AhfpsS icocw Bene t]mse hndp t]mbn. \nehnfn tIv AIv \nv Bscmstbm HmSn hp. {Kojva NmSnsbgptv ]Snsn\v t\tmSn. ]s Atmtgpw B \mb Hcp hym{Ls t]mse AhfpsS ta NmSn hoWp. Ah s\nSnv hoWp. \mb AhfpsS ta Ibdnbncpv AhfpsS ]pdw amndnm XpSn. Ah Dds \nehnfnp. ASp \nanjw ]nn \nsmcp i_vZw tIp. hno... tmv Cv... ASp \nanjw \mb ]cm{Iaw \nn. sKv Ath {^w sl. hopw AtX i_vZw. AXv tIXpw \mb AhfpsS icocn \nndn amdn \np. {Kojvabvv Btcm Xs ASptv ]Xps NphSpshv hcpXmbn tXmn. ASp \nanjw cv ssII Ahsf Xmnsbgpt]np. Ah Bbmksv Fgptv \np. AhfpsS icocn \mbbpsS \JmSpItf `mK \odppmbncpp. Ah apJapbn Xs ]nSnsgpt]n Bsf t\mn. ASp \nanjw Ah \Spntmbn. sNfnpgn t]mepff Hcp ImWv Ah BZyw IXv. ImgvNbpff CSs Iv Ahsf t\mn IcpWtbmsS ]pncnp. AbmfpsS saen icocw Atmgpw Ahsf XmnnSnncnpIbmWv. Ah sRn ]pdtImv amdn \np. Abm ]s NncnpsImv aptmv hv AhfpsS Npaense NpcnZm Iodnbncnp `mKs sXmenbnse \JmSv ]cntim[n tijw \mbbpsS t\v Xdnp t\mnsmv ]dp. hno.. bq lmhv _nw shcn shcn dyqUv \u F tUkv.. \mb AbmfpsS hmpI tIv Hcp hnIrXnpnsbtmse ]cpn \np. Abm XpSp. WnmsX hp IbdnbmXmsWnepw Ch \psS AXnYnbt? bq jpUv lmhv s]mssfv Sp sl... Abm ]ns {Kojvasb t\mnsmv tNmZnp. Ipn t]Snp t]mtbm? Ch\msfmcp ]cp\m. Bscs\ ]Xpnhmepw aWdnbm\pff {LmWinbpnh\v. \ s\pff amndow Imp]qbpsS tNmcbpw sImSpv hfpXt Rm? AXns iucyw ImWnmncntzm? ]ns..... AbmfhfpsS XmSbvv ]nSnpsImv ]dp. CXv t]msemcp kpcnsns\ Im GXv ]nm shdfn ]nSnmXv? Ah AbmfpsS ssI Xn amnbnv ]pdtImv \on \np. Abm am{Xa. thsdbpw \mev t] Ahsf Npp]mSpw Nqgvp \nppmbncpp. AhcpsS elcn ]S IpI BntbmsS AhfpsS icocn ]cXpIbmWv.

Ctmv htmfq an kmw. H AItv t\mn hnfnp. \psS kzImcyXbntev ImXv IqnpImv ISp h AhmUv Kv Bscdntbt..? Atm kmaphens Ijne hmXn ISphp. AbmfpsS hmnwKv nv \nev apn `bm\Iamb apgfpmn. {Kojvasb IXpw AbmfpsS IpI sRn hnSp. {Kojva... AbmfpsS NppI a{np. tamsfmbnhnsS? AbmfhfpsS ASptv hpsImv tNmZnp. AXn\v adp]Sn ]dbmsX Ah AbmfpsS IpIfntev Ip Hcp t\msadnp. AnfmtWm Fs kRvPphns\ sImXv? Ah tNmZnp. Abm ]Xdntmbn. Fs kRvPphns\ sImXv \nfmtWmv... Ah ANebmbn \npsImv Dds tNmZnp. tamsf... AXv.. Abm AhfpsS t\v ssI\on. sXmv t]mIcpsXs... Ah Hcp Cupensbtmse Non \np. ]ns aptmv hv AbmfpsS k^mcn kyqns tImfdn ]nSnpsImv tNmZnp. Fn\m \nfXv sNbvXXv? Ah shdntbmsS Abmsf ]nSnpepsImv tNmZnp. Fn\m \nfm ]mhns\ sImXv? tamtf Rm... Abm Ftm ]dbm\mp. ]s Ah B hmpIsf XSpv AbmfpsS apJtv {Ipbmbn t\mnsmv ]dp. C. \nsf Rm shdpsX hnSn... Ah ]Snsn\v t\v Xncnp \npsImv ]dp. \nsf Rm csSm\\phZnn. Rm\nsXmw t]meoknednbnpw... {Kojva... Abm AhfpsS ssIbn ]nSnapdpnsmv Aedn. acymZbvv Rm ]dbpXv tIv... ]s Ah \ntj[mn Xebmnsmv ]dp. C. C\nsb\nsmpw tI. Ah AbmfpsS ssI Bp IpXdnsmv ]pdttmSm {ianp. ]s Abmfhsf ISp ]nSnv Xncnp \nn cv Ihnfpw BSnp. Ahv XeIdpXv t]mse tXmn. Ah Xmtgv Npgp hoWp. AhfpsS ssIbn \nv Imdns Xmtm sXdnp hoWp. AtXSo... Abm ]v sRcnpsImv Aadn. Rm Xsbm Ahs\ sImXv. thn hm \nsbpw sImpw. \ns am{Xa... \ns Xsbbpw... Ah \nev InSpsImv Abmsf ]Ip t\mn. FmSo Cs\ angnp t\mpt? Abm Ahsf t\mn tNmZnp. Fs bYm apJw \obnXv hsc Inntm At? Fn Itm.. Znkv Cukv Z dnb kmaph AeIvkm. CXmWv \ns An kmw... CXmsWs ]Sw s]mgnp \np icnbmb cq]w. Bcpw Innm Bcpadnbm Fs kXykzcq]w...

Abm ssII Ccphitpw hnSn Hcp cwKthZnbnse t]mse \np. Ah Abmsf `btmsS t\mn. Abm XpSp. Rm\pw \ns Xbpw IqSnbm C _nkn\smw XpSnshXv. Aht\msSmw \nv Rm Aht\m hnbv Nnn hfnsbSpXm CmWpsXmw. ]s.... Rms\{Xsbms IjvSsnpw I\nbnepw ]pdpw t]cv apgph am[h\v. Ahs\m IqSpX Rm Cshv sNbvXnpw Fmpw AXv am[h kmdns I\n. tPmenmcptSbpw CS]mSpImcptSbpw In Ah\mWv apXemfn. Fsms sNbvXnpw Rm shdpw hqPyw. AbmfpsS IpIfn Hcp AnIpWvUw Bfnn. Abm ]dp. F\nv am[ht\mSv ]dm Xocm ]Ibpmbn. Fs\bpw Ahs\ AIn Fmw Fs ssInSnbnemWsav Rm sImXnp. Ah\v BafnmXncpXv Fs `mKyambn Rm IcpXn. Ahs Imetijw Rm\pw Fs Bafpw IqSn Fmw t\Spsav Rm {]Xonp. AtmgmWv am[h\v IeymWn\v apv Hcp t{]a_apmbncppshpw AXnsemcp aI\pspw Ah\n \npXs Rm\dnXv. Abm Hv \nnbnv XpSp. AsX\nsmcp hm ASnbmbn. ]s Rm Xfn. As\sbmcp aI\psv ]pddnm am[hs Fm kt]cpw XISnbpsav Rm\hs\ ]dv `bsSpn. AtXmsS am[h Ahs\ Xn \nv AIn \nn. Ahs\ BcpadnbmsX Zqscbpff t_mUnwKv kv I qfn tNv ]Tnnp. am[h aIs\ sNp ImWm B{Klw {]ISnntmsgms Rm\hs\ ]dp hnen. As\ Rm\m As\bpw aIs\bpw Hcnepw ASpm\mhm hn[w ]ckv]cw AIn \nn. Ahsf ISpnsmv t\mnbnv Abm ]dp. am[h Fs ssIbn Xb km\fpambn Ahs\ ImWm t]mIptm Rm\h\v BcpadnbmsX _mdn sImv t]mbn Iffv hmnsmSpp. Ah\v Rm clkyambn Imhpw {_u jpKdpw FnpsImSpp. Fn\v? s]v hsc IqnsmSpnpv Rm. Ahs\ s]n\pw elcnpaSnabmn \innpI FXmbncpp Fs eyw. AXn Rm hnPbnp. am[h aIs\ shdpp. Ahs\ Bnpdmn. AtXmsS F\npw apw apn hopw Hcp kzhmXn Xpdphp. am[hs kIe kzpfptSbpw \nehnse GI AhIminbmb \ns Atacnbnepff Fs aI\v hnhmlw sNbvXv sImSpv \nfpsS Bkv X nIv ta ]nSnapdpWsav Rm ]Xnbnp. ]s AtmgmWv ]nsbpw Fsbpffn XotImcnbnpsImv \nsbm ah ISp hXv. Ah\v \ns hnhmlw sNbvXv Xv _nkn\ns apgph DchmZhpw Ahs\ G]nm t]mIpIbmsWv \ns X ]dtm Rm Xfp t]mbn. Fs\bpw Ahs\ \innWsav Rm IcpXn. AtmgmWv \ns Bf Hcp ]Sw s]mnp IfnXv. Ahs\ cnm\pff {ian\nSbn kzb cbvv thn IqSn F\nv kRvPbns\ Xotn hp. Abm \nn s\nbnse hnbv S sImv HnsbSpp. AtXmsS Fm ieyhpw Xopshv Rm IcpXn. ]s t]meoskmw aWdnp. Fs ]XnIsfmw XIp. C\n F\nv csSWsan Hcp hgn am{Xtabpffq.. Abm Ahsf Hp I\np t\mnbnv Nppw IqSn \np Incmsc t\mn ]dp. Chsf AIv sImv t]mbn ]qnbnSv. DSs\ Ahscmhcpw tNv Ahsf ]pjv]w t]mse hmcnsbSpp sImv AItv t]mbn. Ah AhcpsS ssIIfn InSv ]nSp. kmaph kyqns Ioibn \nv samss_seSpv Hcp \ Ub sNbvXp. adpXebv dnwKv t]mbn skpIIw Btcm t^msWSpp.

ltem... Fkn]n \ Intjm? kmaph tNmZnp. AtX. adphiv \nv Fkn]nbpsS i_vZw tIp. sFbmw kmaph. Abm ]dp. KpUv Cuh\nwKv Fkn]n km. Xm Fs CcpgnImm thnsbmcp]mSv Azm\nppsv tIp. adpXebv Fkn]n sXv t\cw au\w ]qv \np. Fnv ]dp. \nfpsS am\yXbpsS apJaqSn Agnp hoWpIgnp an kmaph. C\n \nv csSm Ignbn. Ignbpw. kmaph ]dp. \n Xs Fs ChnSpv csSppw. adpXebv \nv Fkn]nbpsS Nncn tIp. Nncnt Fkn]n km. ASp AcaWnqdn\pffn Rm ]dbpnStv \n hcWw. hcptm F\nv cv km\ IqSn IcpXWw. Hv \nfpsS IUnbnepff KuXw. cv \n hoUntbmbn ]Inb Ahs samgnbSnb B UohoUn. Csn.... Csn? Fkn]nbpsS i_vZn ]pw Iencpp. Csn... tUmIvS kRvPbns\ sImpXffnb AtX sImn Imben \msf Hcp ihw IqSn s]mpw. {KojvabpsS.... Abm ]dp. PohnXn HmIm Ignbm B CWpcphnI acWnsenepw Hns... hmv Uq bq ao..? Fkn]nbpsS i_vZn s]ssmcp ]Xbpmbn. sF dnben sa v Cv. Abm ]dp. {Kojva Ctm Fs ]epv. Fkn]n Hv ]Ip. Ah kvt\lapff Ipnbm. kmaph XpSp. Cu hbv Imev Fs hmv _pnapnmt Ah kzbw Fs aSnbntenv hp hoWp. Hv \nn adphiv \npff {]XnIcWw {in tijw Abm ]dp. kmdn\v tjmmbn ImWpsas\ndnbmw. ]s AXmWv kXyw. kwKXnbn Rm sNdpw apXte FSpp hfnb sImm. ]s Bcbvv thn Rm\nsm Fpw sNpw... AXv sImv \ `mjbn ]dbphm. Rm ]v an\nv Ignp hnfnmw. Atm Rm ]dbpnStv \n hcWw. AhnsS shv \apm ]gb _m knns Hm ]pXpmw. Xm KuXans\bpw ]ns B UohoUnbpw F\nv Xcpp. ]Icw Rm {Kojvasb \nv Xcpp. Hcp Xcw am\yamb FIvkvtNv Hm^. adphiv Fkn]nbpsS kzcw ]XdpXv {inpsImbm ]dp. F\ndnbmw Fkn]n km. \n hcpw. Fs AdneqsS \nv Inm t]mIp saUepItfmfpw AwKoImctfmfpw hepXmbn \n {KojvabpsS Poh\v hneInppsn.... \n hncnpw. Rm ]dbpnStv... Atm ]d t]mse.. Rm ]v an\nv Ignv hnfnmw. ss_... Fkn]nv Ctmssnepw ]dbm IgnbpXn\v apv Abm Im Iv sNbvXp. Abm aptmv sNv Xmsg hoWpInS {KojvabpsS Imdns Nmhn ssIbnseSpp. Fnv AItv t\mn hnfnp. tkXq... DSs\ KpIfpsS Iqn \nv Hcm ]pdtv hp. Fm km? Ah tNmZnp.

Ch ImdnemWv hncnpsXv tXmpp. kmaph Nmhn Dbnmnsmv ]dp. Im CubSp ]cnkcshnsSsbnepw InSpmIpw. AXv A]ISam. t]meokn\v AXv shv \sf t{Skv sNm Ignbpw. AXv sImv \o B Im sImv t]mbn ZqscsbhnsSsbnepw Ifnp hm.. Abm B Nmhn Ahs t\sdnp. Ah\Xv ssInSnbnsemXpnsmv ]dp. icn km. Ah ]pdtv t]mbn. kmaph apdnItv {]thinp. AhnsS {Kojvasb Hcp Ccpv XqtWmSv tNv ssI ]pdInemn sInbnncnpIbmWv. Hs KpI Ahsf Npnepw \nv `bsSpnsmncpp. Ah InSp ]nSp. acymZbvv \ Ipnbmbn ASnsbmXpnbncptm tamtf... kmaph ]dp. Ct tZ... B Atkjyt\m IjvSam Chmcv.. tIdnbv tabpth... Abm Ahsf t\mn Ipcpn. Ah `bw ]nSbvp IpItfmsS Abmsf ]Ip t\mn. (XpScpw)