A\p`h§tf \µn Nithin Babu Font - karthika

`mcXn So¨À -- 1

adhnbpsS a¨n³]pd¯v shdpsX H¶p Xq¯phmcnbt¸mÄ Ip«n¡me¯v Ipsd

tamln¸n¨ Hcp IYm]m{Xw IqSn I®nÂs]«p. CsXmcp sNdnb kw`hw
am{Xw. t\mhembns«m¶panÃ. FgpXnhcpt¼mÄ \op t]mtb¡mw F¶p
am{Xw.
\nXn³

B {Kma¯nsâ A¶t¯ XneI¡pdnIfnsem¶mbncp¶p AhnSps¯ kÀ¡mÀ ]

Ån¡qSw. \m«nse Zcn{Z\mcmbW·mcpsS a¡Ä am{Xw ]Tníp¶ kvIqÄ.
BÀ¡pw thm¯ `mhn ]uc·msc cp I¿pw \o«n kzoIcníp¶ kvYm]\w. ImcWw
Ip«nIÄ XnIªnsæn Ft¸mgpw AS¨p]q«Â `ojWn DÅXp sImv BÀ¡pw {]thi\w
kuP\yw. A©mw ¢mÊp htc Dv. Hmtcm Unhnj³ am{Xw.

amXtNmhsâ (am[h³) Ggpa¡fn Ahkm\ k´Xnbmbncp¶p I®¸³. I®s\¶p

hnfnípw. aq¯ Bsd®¯n \memסfpw IÅpsN¯p sXmgnembn kzoIcn¨t¸mÄ ]
Waps¦nepw A´Êp t]msc¶p amXt¨m\p tXm¶n. A§s\bmWv I®s\ ]Ån¡qS¯nÂ
hnSm³ Xocpam\n¨Xv. {]tXyIn¨v ss{]adn hnZym`ymkw kÀ¡mÀ
kuP\yambn \nÀ_ÔnXhpw. H«pw Ipd¨nÃ. Xhn«p \ndapÅ Ip¸mbaWnª
{InkvXym\n A¨·mÀ \S¯p¶ kvIqfn I®³ {]thinX\mbn. sshIn FSp¯
Xocpam\ambXpsImv I®\v Hcp hbtÊmfw IqSnbXpsImv IÅP\\
kÀ«n^n¡Ápw sN¯pI¯nbpw ImWn¨mWXv A¨·mcpsS kvIqfnse s_©n I®\p
kvYm\w In«nbXv.
C\n I®t\¸Án. ]mhw ]¿³. Ggp hbtÊmSSp¡psa¦nepw ]¯p hbÊnsâ hen¸w.
tN«·mÀ FÃmcpw IqSn Xn¶p¶Xv Ah³ HÁíp Hcpt\cw Xn¶pw. Hcp¯t\bpw
t]SnbpanÃ. AO³ ]p sN¯pI¯n BÀ¡nt«m {]tbmKn¨ IY A½ ]dªp
sImSp¯n«pÅXpsImmtWm Ft´m, At§tc C¯ncn t]Snbpv. Blmcw kar²ambn
sImSp¡p¶XpsImmImw A½tbmSpw henb CãamWv. Hcp ImS³ kz`mhw.
s]§·mÀ aq¯XmsW¦nepw, Xcw In«nbm AhcpsS Ipnín«v ASn¨n«v
HmSpw. F§s\ ASnímXncnípw. \m«nte shÅw sh¨ sN¡·mcpsS kz]v\amWm
B cp s]®p§Ä. \m«phgnbn IqSn ASp¯pÅ Imhnteív cpw IqSn \S¶p
t]mIpt¼mÄ \S¡p¶ a®nsâ \ndw shÅbmIpw, `qan tImcn¯cnípw, A{Xíp
aZmek kpµcnIÄ. ]ns¶ ImS³ a\ÊpÅ I®t\ F´n\p IpÁw ]dbWw. AXp t]ms«.
H¶mw ¢mÊn cpsImÃw Ccp¶n«pw cmw ¢mÊnteíp F¯nt\m¡m\ÃmsX
tIdm³ I®t\s¡mp ]ÁnbnÃ. C¶t¯t¸mse "BÄ s{]mtamj³" H¶pw A¶nÃ.
Pbn¨m tIdmw. Asæn s_s©mSnbpw htc AhnsS¯s¶ Ccnímw. B
\nebmbt¸mÄ A¨·mÀ ]dªp. Cu ^bÂhmt\ AhÀ¡p ths¶v. {]mb¯nÂ
sIm¨msW¦nepw s]®p§Ä Ahsâ Hcp _elo\Xbmbncp¶p. Xcw In«nbm th-
m¯nS¯v tRmpw. ]n¨pw. hg¡nÃm¯ Znhk§fnÃ. Ahkm\w slUvamÌc¨³
amXbpsS Imep]nSn¨p. ]nXmth, Cu ]m\]m{Xw thsd GsX¦nepw kvIqfntbív
sImpt]mbn kvYm]n¡tW, thWsa¦n \à \S¸n\pÅ km£n]{Xhpw
sImSp¡msa¶pw k½Xn¨p. A§s\bmWv I®³ kÀ¡mÀ ]Ån¡qS¯nse¯p¶Xv.
hnIrXn ImWn¨m ]dªp hnSpsa¶ A¶½ slUvan{ÌÊnsâ hnc«epw, ]
pd¯m¡s¸«m kvIqÄ apÁ¯v AcnªnSpsa¶papÅ AOsâ `ojWnbpw
IqSnbmbt¸mÄ I®³ Hs¶mXp§n. c£bnÃ, Xs¶bpaÃ. {]thi\w In«nbXv cmw
¢mÊnepw.
C\n \apsS kÀ¡mÀ kvIqÄ. Hcp Hmetaª \ofapÅ sjÍv. ¢mÊpIÄ X½nÂ
adshm¶panÃ. slUvankv{SÊnsâ apdníp am{Xw Hcp aqeív cp ]eI kv{Io³
sh¨v Hm^okm¡nbn«pv. ASp¯aqebn ]ntÅcp ImWmXncním³ So¨ÀamÀ¡v
Hcp ad. DÅn Nmcps_©pw Hcp sUkvIpw. FÃmw s]¬kmd·mÀ.
a[yhbkvIIÄ. D¨íp H¶pcp So¨ÀamÀ tNmdp sImp hcpw. AhÀ ASp¯pÅ
hoSpIfn t]bn§vKÌmbn Xmakn¡p¶hcmWv. DuWp Ignªv sUkvInteív
Iangv¶p InSs¶m¶p ab§pw. At¸mtgípw ]ntÅÀ DuWpIgnªp hcpw. kvIqfnÂ
sam¯w Ip«nIfpsS Cc¸p IqSpt¼mÄ A¶½kmÀ taibn Nqc sImp c-
SnbSnípw. "sskemmmm³kv " Fs¶mcp hnfnbpw. Ipd¨pt\cw im´w.
So¨d·mcpsS IhnXsNmÃepw hnhcW§fpw am{Xw. ]ns¶bpw CXmhÀ¯nípw.
A¶½ kmÀ A©mw ¢mÊnte So¨À.
\memw ¢mÊn F¯nbt¸mtgípw I®³ H¯ Hcp Ipamc\mbn¡gnªncp¶p. Ahsâ
GÁhpw ASp¯ Iq«v hmkp¡p«\pw. hmkphn\v I®s\ Bcm[\bmWv. ssewKnI
Imcy§fn hmkphnsâ Kpcp I®\mWv. ImcWw I®\v AXn \Ã
FIvkv]ocnb³kpv. kvIqfnte hnIrXnIÄ NneXp am{Xw ]dbmw.
kvIqÄ \n¡p¶Xv Hcp ]mS¯nsâ IcímWv. ]pdInteíp X«pIfmbn InS¡p¶
`qan. ]v \m«nse P·n \¼qcn kÀ¡mcn\v kvIqfn\p thn Zm\w sImSp¯ `qan. ]
mS¯v shÅw Ibdnbm kvIqÄ AS¨nSpw. ImcWw F¯m³ thsd hgnbnÃ. Ct¸mÄ
hgnbmbn¡mWpw. Asæn AS¨p ]q«ntbm F¶pw AdnbnÃ. kvIqfnsâ ]
pdInet¯ `n¯n Ignªm I¿mebmWv. shfníp hn«p Ignªm (CâÀhÂ)
Ip«nIsfÃmhcpw aq{Xsamgním³ HmSpw. AXn\pthn B X«nteXs¶ Ipd¨p
kvYew \o¡n sh¨n«pv. ag¡me¯p t]mepw B `mKt¯m«Sp¡m³ h¿. A{Xíp
aq{X¯nsâ \mÁw. s]®p§Ä¡v \of¯n Htcmeadbpv. t]cn\p am{Xw.
CSbn¡qSn t\m¡nbm FÃmw ImWmw. BWp§Ä t\sc sN¶v \n¡À
s]m¡n¸nSn¨p \o«n¸nSn¨p aÂkcn¨p apÅpw. NneÀ F¶n«v HmebpsS
hnShnÂIqSn Hfnªp t\m¡pw. s]¬Ip«nIÄ ]mhmSbpw s]m¡n Ip¯nbncp¶p
apÅp¶Xp ImWm³ sN¡·mÀs¡mcp ckw. Nne ]cmXnbpsS ASnkvYm\¯nÂ
NneÀ¡v A¶½kmdnsâ ASnbpw In«nbn«pv.
C\n So¨ÀamcpsS Imcyw. shfníp hn«n«p Xncn¨p tIdm\pÅ s_ÃSn¨v Ip«nIÄ
¢mÊn Ibdn¡gnbpt¼mÄ So¨ÀamÀ Hmtcmcp¯cmbn. kvIqÄ`n¯nípw
I¿meípw CSípÅ kvYe¯p Ip¯nbncp¶v Imcyw km[nípw. ¢mÊnepw
ImÁSníp¼w aq{Xw aW¡pw. AXp ioen¨XpsImv BÀ¡pw Hcp
{]iv\tabÃmbncp¶p.
A©mw ¢mÊn apXnÀ¶ Ipd¨p s]¬Ip«nIfpmbncp¶p. H¶p cp sImÃw
tXmÁn«mbncnípw ChchnsS F¯p¶Xv. hfcm³ XpS§nb amdpw XÅm³
XpS§nb Ipnbpw, Iuamc¯nsâ \mWhpw IpipIpip¡epsams¡bmbn \me©p t]À.
FÃmw Xe sXdn¨hÀ, I®sâ `mjbnÂ. FhnSpt¶m AhÀ¡v sseKnIXbpsS
BZy]mT§Ä In«nbn«pv Asæn AhÀ km£nIfmbn«pv. ImcWw AhcpsS
tNãIfnÂ, s]cpamÁ§fn t\m«¯n AXp {]ISambncp¶p. aÁpÅ Ip«nIÄ
s_ÃSn¨m DS³ Cd§ntbmSpw, Imcyw km[nípw Xncn¨p t]mcpw. ChÀ
A§s\bÃ, FÃmhcpw Xncn¨p h¶p Ignbpt¼mÄ AhÀ adíIt¯íp tIdpw. ]ns¶ t\tc
X½n X½n Ipdn¨nsbms¡ ImWn¨mbncp¶p kwKXn \S¯ns¡mncp¶Xv. CSív
X§fpsS hfcm³ XpS§nb clky`mK§tf Ipdn¨v NÀ¨ sNbvXp cknípw. \memw
¢mÊn ]Tnípt¼mÄ I®\mWo clkyw hmkp¡p«\p ImWn¨p sImSp¯Xv.
Hcp Znhkw cm{Xnbn \à ImÁpw agbpw h¶p. ]ntÁ Znhkw s]®p§fpsS
aq{X¸pcbpsS Hmead Nmªp t]mbn. ]t£ B hi¯v [mcmfw IpÁns¨SnIÄ hfÀ¶p
\n¸pmbncp¶XpsImv ad hoWp t]mbsXmcp {]iv\ambnÃ. ]t£ BZys¯
shfníp hnSo Ignªt¸mÄ I®³ h¶v hmkq¡p«t\mSp tNmZn¨p.
" hmkq«\Xv Hcq«w ImWtWm..."
" Ft´..?.."
" AsXms¡ ]dbmw... ASp¯ shfníp hnSp¼w apIfnet¯ ]d¼n tIdnbn«v B
IpÁn¡m«nte¡nd§n Ccpt¶mWw... izmkw t]mepw hnScpXv.... Rm³ sImd¨p
amdn ImWpw...."
]dªXp t]mse hmkq«\pw I®\pw IpÁn¡m«n adªncp¶p. Xte Znhkt¯
agshÅw XpÅnXpÅnbmbn ac¯nsâ apIĨnÃbn \n¶pw tZl¯p hoWX{X
Imcyam¡msX cp t]cpw Im¯ncp¶p. aÁp s]¬Ip«nIsfÃmcpw t]mbt¸mÄ
\mept]cpw ]Xps¡ IpWp§n¡pWp§n h¶p. AI¯p tIdn NpÁpw t\m¡n, ImcWw
ad hoWp InS¡pIbmWtÃm. sXm«p ap³hiw IpÁn¡mSmWtÃm. Bscsbm«p
{]Xo£n¡p¶panÃ.
hmWnbs¯ cm[, Ipª³ ]WnícpsS aIÄ Iukey, sh«pIpgnbn amt¹sS aIÄ
kqkn, ]ns¶ Nmb¡S \mWosS aIÄ ktcmPw. cm[íp s]m¡w IpdhmWp. XSn
IqSpXepw. amd¯v \à hfÀ¨. HÁbpSp¸mWp thjw, ap«p adªp InS¡p¶p.
_m¡nbpÅhcpw tamiaÃ, kqkn Aåw Idp¯n«msWs¶mgn¨m FÃmw \Ã
{]mb¯nteíp ImepIp¯nbhÀ. hmkp¡p«sâ N¦nSním³ XpS§n. s]®p§Ä
tIÄ¡ptam F¶p htc t]Sn ImcWw cp IpÁns¨SnIfpsS ZqctabpÅp.
Iukey ]mhmS XpShtc s]m¡n, F¶n«p tNmZn¨p.
" \n§fmcpw apÅWntey...?... C¸w aWnbSnípw...."
" F\nín¸w th..." kqkn ]dªp.
" s]t® thtWm¦n Ccp¶p apÅv... Ctà ]ns¶ tNmZn¨m So¨dp hnS¯nÃ...
H¶mw ¢mÊnep apÅnb t]mse C¶p apÅnbm... " Iukey ]dªp.
" \n§fp apÅn¡gnªnt« Rm\ncn¡q... FtâXp t\m¡o«p Icn¦pdn¨o¶p
hnfn¡m\tÃ..." kqkn ]dªp. kqknív ta¨pnepw C¯ncn aoibpv, Hcp Idp¯ tcJ.
" s\tâXp Idp¯ncp¶n«tÃ.... s\d¨p tcmtamw... ]ns¶§s\ hnfnímXncnípw... " ]
mhmSs]m¡n Ccp¶n«v ktcmPw ]dªp.
CXn\nSíp cm[ HÁbpSp¸pw ASnbpSp¸pw IqSn hbdp htc s]m¡nbncp¶p
apÅm³ XpS§n. hmkp¡p«\p \n¡¡ÅnbnÃmXmbn. aq¶p Ipdn¨nIÄ Htc t]mse
hnSÀ¶ncp¶p NoÁp¶p. Ih¨v Ip¯nbncp¶ B IpamcnamcpsS Ipdn¨nbptSbpw
\Sphn Hme¸S¡¯nsâ aqe t]mse Hmtcm sam«p s]m´n \n¸pv. AXv I
´msW¶v A¶v AdnbnÃmbncp\p. ]ns¶ thsdbpw Fs´ms¡tbm Xmsgbpv.
C{Xbpw ]qS AhnsS DmIpsa¶v A¶mWp hmkp¡p«\p a\ÊnembXv.
PohnX¯n BZys¯ Imgv¨. cm[bpsS Ipdn¨níp NpÁpw tcmaw apf¨p XpS§n.
ktcmP¯nsâ apIÄ`mK¯nt\ Aåw Idp¸pÅp. \n¡dn\Snbn s]m§nh¶
sIm¨ptKm]meIrjvWs\ Xncp½ns¡mv hmbpw s]mfn¨v t\m¡n\n¶p ckn¨p.
izmkKXn IqSnbt¸mÄ AhÀ tIÄ¡ptam F¶p t]mepw t]Sn¨p.
" t\m¡nt¡m.. s\tâXp tZ Cu IpÁn¡mSp t]mse hcpw... Atà tZ \o Fs¶ C§s\
hnfnt¨m.... " kqkn ktcmP¯nt\ i]n¨p.
" IpÁn¡mSp t]membm Fsâ sI«ntbm³ kln¨p..." ktcmPw.
" F¶mte Icn¦pdn¨nbmtWte Fsâ sI«ntbm\pw klnt¨mfpw...." kqkn.
aq{Xw XoÀ¶n«pw aqs¶®hpw At\ym\yw IhbnSp¡n t\m¡n ckn¨v hnaÀi\w
XpScpIbmbncp¶p. IukeybpsS DÅn \n¶pÅ hchp \ne¨ncp¶p. AhÄ N´n
H¶p s]m¡n iànbmbn H¶p IpSªncp¶p. Xq§n \n¡p¶ XpÅn
t]mIm\mbncnípw. ]ns¶ DSp¸p s]m¡n¸nSn¨psImsgpt¶Áp. ]ns¶ sNdnb
ASn¸mhmS ]nSn¨v Ih¡nSsbm¶p Xq¯p. ]mhmS t\scbn«p.
F¶n«v cm[bpsS ap¼n sN¶v Ip\nªp t\m¡n. F¶n«p ]dªp.
" cmt[sS N¡¡pdn¨o¶p ag s]¿pIm.... "
" \o t]mSo... \oÀt¡meo.... " cm[ apJw tIm«n. ]ns¶ ap¡ns¡mp Ipep§n.
" cmhnte t]mcp¼w HÅ ]g¦ªnsbÃmw tIÁns¡mp t]mcpw... ]n¶o Ipdn¨níp
apÅmt\ t\tcmÅp...."
cm[bpw Fgpt¶Áp. ]ns¶ Iukphnsâ t\sc Acs¡«p \o«ns¡mp ]dªp.
" sImXnbmtW.. tZs... sImd¨p ]g¦ªn \obpw IpSnt¨m....." AhÄ B XSn¨ ]
qd¸w XÅn¡mWn¨p. `Khmt\! cnÍen apdn¨Sp¸n¨v sh¨v AXnsâ taÂ`mK¯v
Aåw Ipªn¸qS shdptX hnXdnbm F§\ncn¡pw, AXmbncp¶p B Ipamcn¸qdv.
XÅn¸nSn¨t¸mÄ AsXm¶p IqSn apt¼m«p hoÀ¯p \n¶p. IjW§Ä \à ¢nbÀ
tImgnap«bpsS tXmSp t]mse. AsXm¶p ISním³ In«nbncps¶¦n F¶p
hmkp¡p«³ Bin¨p. ]ns¶ \n¡dn\nSbn¡qSn s]m§nb ]dnbn ]nSn¨v
sRcSns¡mncp¶p.
" F\níp th... B I®s\§m\pw sImSp¡v... Ah\tà aW¯p aW¯p \S¡pt¶..."
cm[ ASnbpSp¸v sImv B XSnb³ Ipdn¨n \Ãh®w Xq¯p. ]ns¶ DSp¸p
t\scbn«p. At¸mtgípw ktcmPw Fgpt¶Áp. ]mhmS Xmgv¯n AXpIq«n Ihs¡S
Xq¯psImv AhÄ kqkntbmSp ]dªp.
" F\n¡dnbmw... s\\¡o Icn¦pdn¨n B I®t\ ImWn¨mte Xr]vXnbmIs¯mÅp... \o
hcps¶¦n hm..."
" Rm³ ht¶mfmw.. \n§ft§m«nd§n \nÃv..."
" FSo.. I®\n¶v \½tSsXm¶pw ImWm³ hcp¶ a«nÃ... Asæn C¸w
hs¶¯nt\m¡ntbt\...." ktcmPw ]dªp.
" Fsâ s]®p§tf.... C¶tew I®³ ¢mÊnencp¶v XpWns]m¡n An aq¸n¨p
ImWn¨p. F\ní§v GXmp t]mse h¶mcp¶p. Fs´mcp XtâSam....F\n¡nãm..."
kqkn ]dªp.
" F¶n«v \osbs¶ tXmnbnÃtÃm...." cm[ ]cn`hw ]dªp.
" R³ Imcp¶p. C¸w ]tgXnepw h®w sh¨ns«mv... shey G¯ím amXncn..."
Iukey ]dªp.
" \ns¶ tXmm³ t\m¡nb¸gm So¨sdt¶mSv AÀ°w tNmZn¨Xv. \½sS So¨dpw
AXp Ip. AtXmtà F\níp IbvshtÅ k½m\w In«oXv.... Hcp \in¨ So¨dv...
H¶n\pw k½Xn¡ptIe. Hcp ]qªmn Is¶p sh¨v F´p hcm\m..." kqkn hne]n¨p.
" A©mw¢mÊnencp¶v \memw ¢mÊnteíp Hfnªp t\m¡nbm A§\ncnípw..."
cm[ív kqkntb So¨À XÃnbXnãs¸«p.
kqkn NpÁpw t\m¡nbn«v. ]mhmSbpw ASnbpSp¸pw s]m¡n Ih¨ncp¶p. ]
dªXv sicnbmbncp¶p. henb ]qdpw \ndtb Idp¯ ]qSbpw. ]qtdXv
tcmatasX¶p A{XbSp¯p \n¶n«pw Xncn¨dnb¯nÃ. AhÄ CSXp I¿psS cp
hncepIÄ sImv ]qd¸w AI¯n¸nSn¨p. At¸mgmWXv B ]qdnsâ \ofw IXv
`mcX¸pgt]mse ChÄ¡v ]p¡nfp apX IqXn htc ]qdmtWm, hmkp¡p«³
AXnibn¨pt]mbn. Fs´mcp \o IodÂ. Nph¶ DÅn \n¶pw shÅn\nd¯nÂ
aq{Xw ]pÃn NoÁn ]Xªp. Ahkm\s¯ HÁ¯pÅn t]mIp¶Xp htc AhfXv
AI¯n¸nSn¨p. ]ns¶ Ih¨p Xs¶ Fgpt¶Áp ASnbpSp¸n ]qdp XpS¨p. ]mhmS
Xmgv¯n, ]pd¯nd§n Iq«pImcnIfpsam¯p \S¶p. AhÀ adíp ]pd¯nd§nbt¸mÄ
Rm³ ]Xnsb hnfn¨p.
" It®«m..."
Fsâ sXm«Sp¯p \n¶v I®³ Hcp sNSn amÁns¡mp hcp¶p. I¿n AcbSn \ofapÅ
Ip® sXmen¨p ]nSn¨ncníp¶p.
" Ibv]nSn¡pImcpt¶m..." hmkp tNmZn¨p.
" Gbv cmhnte FÃmw Itmp Xt¶ H¶p ]nSn¨Xm... Hcp aWn¡qdm
Hmtcm¶pw s]mfn¨p ]nSn¨v apÅoXv. C¸w cmaXp ImWpIm.... s_ÃSnípw
hm.... s\\¡pw s]m§ntbm... thtW ]nSn¨p If... AtÃ, th aWnbSnípw. hm.... "
hmkp¡p«³ s]m§nb Ip® \n¡dn\It¯íp ]Wns¸«p XncpIn \S¶p.
" It®«t\ Cu Nc¡ns\ms¡ shey CãmWtÃm..." hmkp ]dªp.
" AsXsâ Ipt®sS hen¸w In«mSm.. Fhfpamsc ImWn¨tà Rms\¶pw
apÅpt¶..."
" C¶v FÃm Ahfpamcpw It®«t\ t\m¡n \n¡phmcp¶p...." hmkp ]dªp.
" lpw... FSm.. Fhfpamtc hnizkn¡cpXv... Rms\¯n t\m¡p¼w
IpWp§psa¦nepw.. Bsc¦nepw Im \½tf HÁns¡mSp¡pw... Xcw In«p¼w
ImWpI... Ibv ]nSnípI... A{Xt¶.. Hcp \nhr¯oanÃmªn«m.. CtÃÂ, FÃm¯ntâw
Ig¸p Rm³ XoÀt¯t\....."
" B kqknív It®«sâ Ip® shÃnãam¶m ]dtª.... tNmZn¨m H¶p Ifním³
XcptIte... "
Rm³ Cuknbmbn«p tNmZn¨p.
" AXp sicnbmI¯nsÃSm... B am¹ Hcp samiS\m... Adnªm Abmfp ]t¯ I¯n
tIÁpw....Rm\n¨ncqsS H¶p hepXmIs«... At¶cw t\m¡mw..."
" At¶cw Ahtf htÃm\pw IeymWw Ignt¨mp t]mIpw... "
" t]ms«Sm... Cu \m«nemtWm ]qdn\p ]ªw... s\\¡p thtWm... C¶p \ns¶
Ifn¸n¨p Xcmw..."
" At¿.... Rm³ sIm¨tÃ... aoisbms¡ shís«... F¶n«p aXn...." hmkp¡p«³ AS§n.
" Hcp sIm¨v... C¸gpw \n¡dp s]m§nbmWtÃm \n¡pt¶.... s\\¡X§p Ibv¸nSn¨p
Ifbm³ taemcpt¶m At¸m¯t¶... ]qtd t\m¡n hmWaSním³ \Ã ckm... "
" F\níp Ibv ]nSním³ t]Snbm... htÃmcpw Im... tamitÃ..."
" s]m«³... htÃmtcw ImWnt¨mmtWmSm hmWaSnípt¶... ]ns¶ Fhfpamcp I-
mepw sImg¸anÃ.. htÃmtcmSpw ]dbpsat¶ HÅp... AXm ImWním³ ]
Ámt¯...."
" A¸¸ns¶ Ahfpamsc´n\m It®«t\ t\m¡n \n¡pt¶...?.." hmkphn\p
a\ÊnembnÃ.
" Fsâ Ip® ImWm³..."
" It®«sâ Ip® Ins«t´m sN¿m\m...." hmkp F¸gpw I®sâ Ip®
ImWp¶Xmbncp¶p. Ah\p {]tXyIns¨m¶pw tXm¶nbn«nÃ.
" FSm hmkq«m... FtâXpw It¨v Cu Iq¯n¨nIfp t]mbn Ihs¡tS
shcenSpsaSm..... Cu ]qdntamsfms¡ ISntIdn \S¡p¶Xm... AXtà tXmÁp
tXmÁp sIS¡pt¶... Mqw... Hcp Znhkw Rm³ FÃm¯nt\w s]m¡pw..."
hmkp¡p«\Xv ]pXnb Hcp Adnhmbncp¶p. s]®p§Ä apÅp¶Xn\I¯p
shcenSpsa¶v. GXmbmepw C¶t¯ Imgv¨ sImÅmw.
cm{Xnbn InS¡pt¼mgpw hmkp¡p«sâ a\Ên \nc¶ncp¶p hnSÀ¶p aq{Xw
NoÁníp¶ \mep _menI¸qdpIfmbncp¶p. ]ntÁ Znhkw cmhnte DÂkmlt¯msS
Ccphcpw kvIqfnse¯n. ]t£ hopw ad ]gbXpt]mse s]m¡n sh¨p. ]ns¶ B Ifn
\S¶nÃ. A¶v D¨ív D®m³ t]mIpt¼mÄ hmkp¡p«sâ kwibw Xes]m¡n.
" It®«m... Cu s]®p§tS¯nepw XeapSn hcpthm..." IXp hnizkn¡m\mhmsX
hmkp¡p«³ ]ns¶ tNmZn¨p.
" hcpthmt¶m... \o I kqkosS H¶paÃ.....\½sS
So¨ÀamcsSsbms¡ Imens¶tSsemt¡ tZ, Cu CÃn¡mSp t]mse Idp¯ ]qSbm..."
" tM... A¸w It®«³ Ins«mtm... "
" F{X {]mhiyw... Rm³ IpIp aSp¯p. C¸w Hcp ctkmanÃ...
sIfhosSsbms¡ Icn¦mSp ImWm³.... ImWtWm¦n s\t¶w ImWn¨pXcmw...
NqcepsImv ASnsImÅm³ ]Ápsa¦n... tIdms\mÅ aWnbSn¨p Igo¼w `n¯osS
s]mdIn h¶v t\m¡nbm aXn.... H¶p cs¦nepw ImWmw...."
" F\níp h¿, XÃpsImÅm³... ho«nednªm thtdw In«pw....
\mWt¡SphmIpw..." hmkp¡p«³ Bi HXp¡n. hmkphn\p a\Ênembn, shdptXbÃ,
shfníp hn«m Ahkm\ta I®³ ¢mÊn Ibd¯pÅp. So¨d½mtcbpw shdptX
hnS¯nÃ.
¢mÊnte FÃm B¬Ip«nItfbpw I®³ Xsâ AcbSn \oeapÅ XSnb³ Ip®
I¼nbm¡n \nÀ¯n ImWn¨n«pv. Npcp¡w Nne s]¬Ip«nIfpw In«pv.
AcnInen«ncníp¶ s_©n GÁhpw ]pdInencp¶v Ah³ ¢mÊp \S¡p¶Xn\nSbnÂ
Ip® aq¸n¨p I¿n ]nSnípw. BZysams¡ Nne So¨ÀamÀ IbvshÅbnÂ
aSp¡p¶Xp htc XÃnsb¦nepw I®s\mcp Np¡pw GinbnÃ. HSphn Aht\ Bcpw
{i²n¡mXmbn. ]t£ ¢mÊnte Aåw apXnÀ¶ s]®p§Ä GdpI®n«v t\m¡p¶p-
mbncp¶p. AÑt\mSpw ]cmXn ]dªn«pv. AO\pw XÃnbn«pv. Hcp
{]tbmP\hpanÃ. ]ns¶ AhnsS Ccnís« F¶psh¨p. ]ns¶ ssX¡nfhnIÄ¡v shey
Ipg¸anÃm¯ Hcp Ifnt¡m hÃt¸mgpw sNehnÃmsX ImWpIbpamImatÃm.
Bcpw t\m¡m\nÃmsX Bbt¸mÄ I®sâ B kz`mhw Ipdªp h¶p. F¶mepw
A©mw¢mÊnte B ISns¸®p§Ä Ft¸mgpw AXpw Im¯v \memw¢mÊntesí¯n
t\m¡nbncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ A©mw ¢mÊnte B s]®p§fpsS ap¼n t]mbn
\o«n¸nSn¨p ImWn¡p¶tX DÅp. AhÀ¡XnãamWp Xm\pw. Hcp XeIn«p¶XtÃ
F¶p So¨Àamcpw IcpXn¡mWpw.
I®\p Nne IpSnÂs]m¡p ]cn]mSnbpw Dmbncp¶p. ]peb¡pSnepw
adh¡pSnepIfnepw Ht¡ BWp§fnÃm¯ kab¯v Hmead s]m¡n t\m¡p¶ kz`mhw.
H¶p cs®¯nt\ ]®nbn«pw Ds¶mWXv hmkp¡p«t\mSp ]dªn«pÅXv.
GXmbmepw hmkp¡p«\v I®³ Hcp lotdm Bbncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ
BtemNnípt¼mÄ I®³ Fs¶mcp IYm]m{Xw hnizkn¡m\mIm¯ hn[¯nÂ
amdn \n¡p\p. ]t£ FÃm¯n\pw A¶v Xm³ km£nbmbncp¶tÃm.
HmW¸co£ Ignªv kvIqfSíp¶ Znhkw I®sâ ¢mÊnte So¨À kz´w \m«nteíp
kvYew amÁw In«n t]mbn. Aht\s¡mp s]mdpXnap«nbn«mtWm F¶pw
AdnbnÃ. GXmbmepw bm{Xbb¸pw ]qs¨pw ]cn¸phSbpw Hs¡ D-
mbncp¶p. ]©mb¯p sa¼ÀtImcpXp tN«³ {]kwKn¨p. hmkp¡p«\pw I®\pw
Ip«nIÄ¡pw H¶pw a\ÊnembnÃ. ]cn¸phS Ds¶p ]dªXp sImv Ip¯nbncp¶p.
sImXn sImÃ, AsXmcp {]tXyIXbmbncp¶p, C§s\bpÅ Ahkc§fnÂ. sa¼À¡pw
So¨ÀamÀ¡pw kpJnb\pw ISpwIm¸nbpmbncp¶p. I®\p am{Xw cp hS In«n.
hmkp AXp t\m¡n \n¶p.
HmWmh[n Ignªv kvIqÄ Xpd¶t¸mgpw ]Icw So¨À h¶nÃ. A¶½ kmÀ Nne
hnjb§Ä ]Tn¸n¨p. AÃm¯t¸mÄ IW¡p sN¿m³ t_mÀUnsegpXnbnSpw, ]ns¶
¢mÊnte ]Tníp¶ Ip«nbmb kuZman\ntb ¢mÊv G¸n¨n«v kz´w ¢mÊnteíp
t]mIpw. I®\p \Ã kzmX{´yw. \mWw ]q s]¬Ip«nIfpw kuZman\nbpw I®sâ
Ipªn¡®t\ I¬IpfnÀs¡ Ip. BÀ¡pw Hcp ]cmXnbpanÃ. A©m¢mÊnte ISn¡mcn
s]®p§Ä F¯nt\m¡n. ImcWw dnt¸mÀ«v AhÀ¡p In«n. A©mw ¢mÊnteíp
Pbnt¡mcp¶p F¶hÀ¡p tXm¶n¡mWpw. A¶½ So¨À XncnsI hcp¶Xp
ImWpt¼mÄ I®³ app t\scbnSpw.
A§s\bncnsí hmÀ¯sb¯n. ]pXnb So¨À h¶p. hmkp¡p«³ Ip. Ab ]¡t¯
ho«nemWp Xmakw.
I®³ hmkphnt\mSp tNmZn¨p.
" sIfhntb In«p XÃp¶ F\amtWmSm ...."
" sIfhntbm... \½sS kn\nam \Sn Aw_ntIt¸mepv... \Ã tNem ImWm³... "
" Hm, Ahsâsbmcw_nI... \o sicníp IpImW¯nÃ... Cu Im«pap¡nteíp Hcw_ntIw
hc¯nÃ...."
" Duw... t\m¡ntím... ImWmtÃm... ]ns¶... It®«\o Cu XpWow s]m¡ns¡mp
sNÃ tIt«m... \Ã XSnbm... sNe¸w AhcXv ]nSns¨mSn¨p Itfw... ]ns¶ apÅm³
thsd Xt¸n hcpw..."
" t]mSm t]Sns¯mm... Hcp sIfhow Cu I®t\ sXmS¯nÃ.... "
" Duw..Duw...ImWmw... "
" ImWmw...."
hmÀ¯ ]c¶tXmsS FÃmhcpw ASp¯ Xn¦fmgv¨bmIm³ Im¯ncp¶p.

(XpScpw)