siý By Nithin Babu Font_ Karthika

kvIqÄ ss^\ ]co£ FgpXn ho«n \n¡pt¼mgmWp Rm³ hfscs¡mÃ§Ä IqSn

A©p IntemaoÁÀ AIsebpÅ A¸¨nbpsS ho«n A½bpsam¯v t]mbXv.
H¶maXv AsXmcp Ip{Kmaw, ]«n¡mSv. ]ns¶ F\n¡p ]Ánb Iqs«m¶pw
AhnsSbnÃ. A¸¨nbpsS aIsf sI«n¨p hn«p, ASp¯p Xs¶. aI³ ]«W¯n ]Tn¨p,
ZqscsbhnsStbm sNdnb tPmenbpambn Ignbp¶p.
IhnIÄ¡p ]Ánb \mSmbncp¶p A¸¨nbpsS {Kmaw. \m«phgnbn \n¶pw Hcp
CShgn Ibdns¨¶m ]gb coXnbn cmw \nebpw AXnsemcp InS¸papdnbpw
DÅ Hcp hoSv. sX¡p `mK¯v I¶pImen¡qSv, AXn F¶pw Id¡p¶ cp ]ip¡Ä.
H¶n\p Idh hÁnbm thsdm¶p h¶ncn¡pw. sXmSnbnemsW¦n \ndsb ]
¨¡dnbpw hmgbpw asÁÃm IrjnIfpw. ]pdIp hi¯v sNdnb Hcp ]pÃpssaXm\w
t]mse ]d¼v AXp Ignªm ]mSw. A½ma \à Irjn¡mc\mbncp¶p. sNdnb Hcp
kÀ¡mcp tPmenbpw A[nIw XmaknbmsX s]³j³ ]Ápw. A½ma A[nI
kwkmcn¡nÃ. ]I ho«neps¦n Ft¸mgpw ]d¼nembncn¡pw. Asæn hmb\.
]v t\ct¯ AhnsS sN¶t¸msgms¡ NmWIw aW¯n«v Rm³ Dd§nbn«nÃ. ]t£
A¸¨n¡v Fs¶ henb Cãambncp¶p. A§s\ hfsc \nÀ_Ôn¨n«mWp Rm\pw IqSn
A½bpsS IqsS A¶v t]mbXv. DuWnsâ kab¯v F¯nb R§Ä kÔyíp ap¼p Xncn¨p
t]mcms\mcp§n. A¸¨níp \nÀ_Ôw Rm³ cp Znhkw X§nbn«p t]m¶mÂ
aXnsb¶v. ]ns¶, Ipsd ]¨¡dnbpw H¶p cp hmg¡pebpw N¡bpw ]
pfnam§bpsams¡ Npa¶v Rm³ \m«phgnbnse¯n A½sb Hmt«mbn tIÁn
hn«p. Xncn¨p A¸¨nbpsS ASp¯v Xncns¨¯n. ]ip¡sf Agn¨p Iq«n sI«m\pw
aÁpw Rm\pw klmbn¨p. CSíp A¸¨n ]dªp.
" B ap¯phnt\ C¶v InÃ. Ah\mcp¶p ]ip¡tf Agn¨p sI«nbncp¶Xv..."
A¶p cm{Xn, A¸¨nbpsS Ipsd IYIfpw tI«p. GXmbmepw ]t¯s¸mse A{X
t_mdmbn tXm¶nbnÃ. ImcWw Rm³ am\knIambpw imcocnIambpw
hfÀ¶ncp¶p.
cm{Xn DuWp Ign¨p t\ct¯ Xs¶ Dd§m³ InS¶p. km[mcW sN¿p¶ t]mse H¶p
hmWaSn¡m\pÅ hnjbtam, aqtUm H¶pw CÃmbncp¶p. ]mS¯p \n¶pw hoinb
XWp¯ ImÁnsâ kpJioXfnabn cmw \nebnte apdnbn Rm\pd§n.
shfp¸m³ Imeambt¸mÄ ]Xnhp t]mse Ip«nIrjvW³ hSnt]msebmbn apnÂ
IqSmcaSn¨p kacw XpS§n. . aq{Xw ap«nbn«p kln¡p¶nÃ. Fgpt¶Áp
t\m¡nbt¸mÄ t\cw GXmp shfp¯ncp¶p. tImWn¸Snbnd§n IXIp Xpd¶p
shfnbn h¶p. sX¡p hi¯v Nmbv¨p sI«nbncn¡p¶ sXmgp¯nsâ hiw Ncnªp
\n¶p. app ]dn¨v tXmfnteíp NpÁn. Cu \m«n¼pd¯v Bsc t]Sn¡Ww, Bcp
ImWm³, \à ckw C§s\ \n¡m³ Xt¶. Kpems\ I¿nseSp¯p, Ah\§s\ tZjyw ]nSn¨v
]camh[n Kw`oc\mbn \n¡pIbmWp. ImWm³ \à tiev. ASnapSn Aht\ H¶p
XgpIn. \à Kmw`ocyw. aq{Xw sI«n\n¡p¶ AhkvYbnepw Ahs\ H¶p
Xmtemen¡m³ ad¶nÃ. F¶pw cm{Xn Ahs\m¶p OÀ±n¡p\ ]Xnhpmbncp¶p,
AXnsâ ]nW¡amImw Ah³ AS§m³ Iq«m¡nbnÃ. ]ns¶ ASp¯p \n¶
tN¼ne¡q«§fnteíp e£yw sh¨v ]¼p sN¿m³ t\m¡n. B \n¸n Hs¶m¶c
an\n«p thn h¶p aq{Xw h¶p XpS§m³. ImcWw hmÂhv ASªv Ah³
I¼nbmbn \n¡phtÃ. ]ns¶ ]ns¶ Ffp¸ambn. Blm.. ]e tN¼neIfn X«n aª
\ndapÅ aq{Xw sXdn¡p¶Xv Ip ckn¨v ]cn]mSn Hcp hn[¯n Ahkm\n¸n¨p.
H¶p cp IpSªp, At¸mtgípw Ahsâ hocyw AS§nbncp¶p. apsSp¯v AcbnÂ
NpÁm³ Hcp§n. At¸msgmcp s]®nsâ iÐw.
" F¶¿m CXv..? sIm©w Hmcw Xncnªp \n¶p ]®emta..."
" tM"... " Rm³ sR«n. CsXhnSp¶v Cu s]®nsâ iÐw. s]s«¶v appSp¯p NpÁpw
t\m¡n.
" BcmXv..." Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
" \m³ Xm³ ... Cs¦... DtÅ Ccp¡v..." sXmgp¯n \n¶mWp iÐw. Xmgv¯n
sNcn¨p sI«nbncp¶ sXmgp¯nsâ ta¡qcíSnbn IqSn Rm³ Ip\nªp t\m¡n. tZ,
AhnsS Ccn¡p¶p Ct§m«p t\m¡n \oe¸mhmSbpw Nph¶ »ukpw shÅ
UmhWnbpw NpÁn Hcp s]®v. `Khmt\ ! AhsfÃmw Ip. Ncnª ta¡qcbpsS
AÁw ImcWw sXmgp¯nencp¶ Ahtf Rms\m«p IpanÃ, AcnIn IS¶p
t]m¶t¸mÄ {i²n¨panÃ.
" At¿m.. Rm³... cmhnte apÅm³... "
" F¶¿m CXv... \m³ Ct¦ Hcp s]m®v Ccn¡p¶Xv In«pw FÃmw
s]m¡n¸nSn¨v ..."
" kXyambn«pw Rm³ CXnt\ InÃ... \n§fmcm..?..."
" AXp sicn, \m³ Bcm¶v... A½m¡ns« simÃt¸mtd³..."
" A½bmsW kXyw Rm\dnªnÃ.... CbmfnhnhnsS Fs´Sp¡phm... Cu ]c]cm
shfp¸n\p...?.."
" \m³ ]iphnt\ Id¡phmcp¶p. At¸m \os¦... h´v... A´ XpWn taset¸m«v... A´
s]cnb kmam\w... I¿nte FSp¯v Fs¶¶hm si¿dXv.... D¦fp¡v sh¡ta CÃbm...?
sO.. sO.." B s]®v \nÀ¯n.
" At¿m Rm\dnbmsXbm... A¸¨ntbmSp ]dtb... C\n DmhnÃ..."
Rm\msI hncp. ]t Rm³ t]Sns¯m\m. a\Ên kIe s]®p§tfbpw XpWnbpcn¨p ]
®pw, hmWaSn¡pw. t\cn Im s\©nSn¡pw, asÁm¶p sImpaÃ, am\`bw
sImv. Hcp s]®nt\ _emÂkwKw sN¿m³ t]mepapÅ a\¡cp¯pv. ]t£ am\w.
Ftâbpw IpSpw_¯nsâbpw. AtXmÀ¡p¼w FÃmw t]mIpw, ]ns¶ hmWaSn Xt¶
icWw. Rm³ Ahtf IS¶p t]mcpt¼mÄ AhÄ ]dbp¶Xv tI«p.
" \m³ FÃmta ]m¯m¨v... F¶m s]cnb kmam\w.. B\mepw C¸Sn shfntb
Im«dpXp¡v D\¡v sh¡ta CÃbm...?..."
Rm³ HmSn ASp¡fbn tIdn. A¸¨n tZmi Np«psImncn¡p¶p. InXs¸mXp¡n,
Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
" A¸¨o.. sXmgp¯n Hcp s]®ncn¡p¶p. AXmcm... F´p sN¿phm AhnsS Cu
shfp¸n\p...?..."
" Hm.. Ahtfm AXv sNýbtÃ.. ChnsS hcp¶ ap¯phnsâ aIÄ... Ah\p C¶se
apXÂ ]\ntbm atÁmhm... AXp ImcWw C¶se cmhnse t]mbn«v ]ns¶
h¶nÃ. ]Icw Chfm klmb¯n\p h¶ncn¡pt¶....."
" AsXmcp Xang¯nbtÃ...?.."
" AtXt¶.. XÅbnÃm¯ s]®m... Ac s]m«n amXncnbm... F¶mepw \Ãhfm..
F\n¡v shey klmbam...... AXn\p ]¯p ]{´p hbÊmb¸w XÅ Ct«¨p t]mbn....
Ahsâ kz`mhw A{X sa¨am... F¶pw IpSow hg¡pw XÃpw.. ]ns¶, tamtf Ah\p
shey Imcyam... Hcp¯³ Ahtf t\m¡m³ t]mepw Ah³ k½Xn¡ptIe. Adnªm³ Ah³
sh«pI¯nsbSp¡pw... F¶m Cu s]t®m... Btc¡mepw hfmhfm¶p sIm©ns¡m-
p \n¡pw... AXp ImcWw s]mdtI aWt¯mp \S¡m³ sNdp¸¡mcpw.. F¶pw
\m«pImcpambn«p hg¡nt\ ap¯phn\p t\capÅp. ]nt¶.. \o AXnt\mSp
kwkmcn¡ms\m¶pw \n¡... Ah\åw _lpam\n¡p¶Xv ChnsSbm... F¶mepw
Adnªm Ah³ ChnsSbpw I¯nsbSp¡pw... " A¸¨n tZmi adn¨n«p.
`Khmt\, Ahsf§m\pw A¸¨ntbmSp ]dªmÂ, ]n¶t¯ KXn HmÀ¯n«v Xe Id§p¶p.
AhfpsS Xt´sS XÃp icoc¯nt\ sImÅq, F¶mepw am\w...
" Ahfn¸w ]iqt\ Id¶n«p t]mIphmcn¡pw Ctà A¸¨o...?.." Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
" Gbv, an¡hmdpw D¨ htc ChnsS ImWpw, ]ns¶ DuWpw Ignªv AhfpsS
A¸mípÅXpw sImt AhÄ t]mI¯pÅp. AXm ]Xnhv. GXmbmepw F\ns¡mcp
klmbam... Mm.. ]dª t]mse, \o F´n\m C{X cmhnte Fgpt¶ÁXv...
Hd§nt¡mfm³ taemcpt¶m..." A¸¨n tNmZn¨p.
" H¶p apÅntb¨p sIS¡msa¶p IcpXn... C¸w Hd¡w t]mbn..."
Rm³ shfnbnte¡nd§n, tXm«p h¡n t]mbn cpw Ign¨v, ]Ãpw tX¨v Xncn¨p
h¶p. Ipfn ]ns¶bmImsa¶p sh¨p. InWÁo¶p shÅw tImcn Ipfn¡Ww. Xncn¨p
h¶t¸mÄ tZmibpw N½´nbpw sdUn. AXpw AI¯m¡n apIfnteíp tIdn, C\n B ]-
mc¯nsâ ap¼n sN¶p s]S. B shS¡p t]mbn«p Xmsg Cd§mw. I«nen tIdn
InS¶p at\mcmPy¯n ap§n, H¸w Ac ab¡hpw.
kz]v\¯n AhÄ h¶p sNý. Jpiv_phnsâ amXncn DÅ apJw XSn¨ ta\n,
Ip¼f§m t]msebpÅ henb shfp¯ apeIÄ, Ccp \ndw, XSn¨v apdp¡n¨ph¸n¨
NppIÄ, \\p\\p¯ B sN©ppIÄ Fs¶ amSn hnfn¡p¶Xp t]mse, hcq, IhÀs¶Sp¡q,
hen¨p IpSn¡q. ap«n\p Xmsg hsc \ofapÅ \oe »ukv, AXn\pÅn \n¶pw
shfnbn NmSm³ sh¼p¶ B henb apeIÄ. Acbn NpÁn¡p¯nb lm^vkmcn.
hnSÀ¶ Acs¡«v, henb N´nIÄ, sNcnªp \n¶hÄ Fs¶ t\m¡n aµlkn¨p F¶n«p ]
dªp.
" sImphm.. A´ s]cnb ap«sb G¦ns« Xm... Aht\ \m³ apÅn¡ntd³..."
AhÄ Ft¶mSSp¯p. Rm\dnbmsX Fsâ apv Ccphit¯ípw amdn. AXn \n¶pw
Fsâ ap«, s]cnb Ip® shfnbnteíp Xe s]m¡n t\m¡n. AhÄ lm^vkmcn
Acbnteíp hen¨p Ip¯n. shÅntamXncan« hncepIÄ sImv »uknsâ IbvIÄ
ap«n\p tateíp sXdp¯p sh¨p. heXp Ibv \nhÀ¯n AXn Aåw Xp¸Â ]pc«n. ]
ns¶ Fsâ Ip®bn ]nSp¯an«p. Fsâ D²cn¨ h·p« AhfpsS I¿n HXp§nbnÃ. cp
IbvIÄ sImpw AhÄ Ahs\ HXp¡n ]nSn¨p.
" thWq.... C§p hm... Xmsg h¶v Cu ]mepw IqSn IpSnt¨mp
t]mbn¡nSt¶m...." A¸¨nbpsS iÐw. Fsâ Znhmkz]v\¯n \n¶pw Rm\pWÀ¶p.
AhsfhnsS ? Fsâ Ip® sXm¸nbpw sh¨v D²cn¨v \n¡p¶p. Aåw
IqSn¡gnªncps\¦n F\n¡p kz]v\kvJe\apmtbs\. t\cs¯bpw C§s\ Dmbn«pv. Hcp
Znhkw Ibv hmWaSn¨v shÅw Ifªnsæn ]ntÁ¶v kz]v\¯n Rm³ Fsâ Cãs¸«
s]®ns\ ]®nbncn¡pw, DWcpt¼mÄ appw \\sªm«nbncn¡pw.
" Mm.... sicn A¸¨o... Rm³ h¶p IpSnt¨mfmw... AhnsS ht¨cv...."
hnfn¨p ]dªn«v Rm³ hopw BtemN\bn apgpIn. Fs´mcp ]I¡n\mhv. Ahtf
sicn¡pw t\m¡nbXmbn t]mepw HmÀ¡p¶nÃ.
Hm, sNe¸w.., ]Xnhmbn Ibv¸nSn¨p IfbmdpÅ ip¢w t]mImªn«mcn¡pw.
Rm³ ]Xpt¡ apn\Snbn I¿n«v Ip® I¿nseSp¯p shdptX Xncp½ns¡mncp\p.
Ah³ NqSmbn I¼n hoc\mbn. ]¯p an\n«p XtemSnbt¸mtgípw \à ckw, F¦n ]
nSn¨§p Iftª¡mw. Aåw XShen\p kv]oUp Iq«n. aeÀ¶p InS¡pt¼mÄ Acs¡«nÂ
Ah³ a t]mb h·cw t]mse \n¶mSp¶Xp ImWm³ \Ã ckw. Aht\ Rm³
XtemSns¡mncp¶p.
s]s«¶v hmXn¡ Hcp s]m«n¨ncn. Rm³ sR«nt¸mbn. A¸¨nbmtWm,
`Khmt\... t\m¡nbt¸mÄ AhÄ sNý. hmXn¡ \n¶v hms]m¯n Nncn¡p¶p.
I¿n ]m ¥mÊv.
" F¶¿m..?.. \os¦ Ft¸mXpta CXpw I¿nte t]m«p Xm³ Ccp¡nXm... C¸Sn ]
pSn¨psImncp´m AXv C\nbpw i¯pt]mIpta... " AhÄ s]m«n¨ncn¡p¶p.
`Khmt\, Cu ]nimNn\p \mWhpantà C§s\ hnfn¨p ]dbm³... Hm, _p²n hfcm¯
s]m«ns¸®mWtÃm... a\Ên H¶panÃ, AXmWp ImcWw.. F¶mepw
CXnt\mSnS s]«m B Xang³ X´ Fs¶ XÃns¡mÃpw.
" AXv.. ]dn sNmdnbp¶p, cmhnte... Imsebnte Ipfn¨nÃ. AXm.. \o F´n\m
C¸w Ct§m«p tIdn h¶Xv...?.."
Rm³ app t\scbn«p. F¶n«pw Fsâ Phm³ s]m§n sSâSn¨p \n¶p. AhfpsS
t\m«w At§m«p Xt¶.
" \ot¦ G³ Iosf h´p ]m km¸n«nÃ... Ccp´m AXp XWp¯p t]mIpw...
AX\mse \m³ D¦fp¡msI Cs¦ sImp ht´³.. C¶m, IpSn.. " AhÄ ¥mÊv Fsâ t\sc
\o«n. Rm³ AXp hm§n. I¿n sh¨p.
" \o F´n\m h¶Xv... s]mtím Rm³ IpSnt¨mfmw.."
" CssÃ... \os¦ km¸nSXv F¦¡p ]m¡Ww...B\m.. B\m.. B\m.. "
" F´mSo B\m...B\m... ? Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
" B\m.. F\¡p D¦sf ]pSn¨ncp¡v..IpSn... "
AhÄ \n¶p IpWp§nbmSn, Hcp sNdp \mWt¯msS. `Khmt\, Cu Jpiv_ps¸®v
Fs¶ XÃp sImÅnt¨ AS§q. kq£n¨p \n¡Ww, Rm³ a\ÊntemÀ¯p.

]m sam¯n¡pSn¡p¶Xn\nSbn Rm³ Ahtf {i²n¨p. Hcp kpµcn Xt¶. sicn¡pw

Jpiv_p amXncn. AXnepw \Ã apJhpw, apeIfpw. Aekambn sI«n h¨ncn¡p¶
apSn. Abª »ukmbXpsImv apeIfpsS hen¸w {]iv\tabÃ. henb N´nIÄ.
UmhWn¡nSbnÂIqSn XSn¨ hbdnsâ shfp¸pw henb ]p¡nÄ¡pgnbpw IptdtÈ
ImWmw. Acs¡«nsâ hen¸w It¸mÄ tXm¶n Hcp sIm« ]qsd¦nepw ImWpw B
Imen¶nSbnÂ. Ipfn¨v ]qhpw NqSn h¶Xp sImv, aWsam¶panÃ, B hncnª
Acs¡«nteíp Xs¶ Fsâ t\m«w ]Xnªp. B hmg¸nn XpSIfpw AXn\nSbnte
shÅcn¸qdpw Rm³ a\Ên k¦ån¡m³ {ian¨p. HÁ t\m«¯n cmhnte AhfpsS
cq]w Fsâ a\Ên ]Xnªp Fs¶\n¡p a\Ênembn. Fsâ t\m«w AhÄ a\Ênem¡n
Ahfn \mW¯nsâ AeIÄ CfIn.
" G³ ... C¸Sn ]mÀ¡ndmbv...? s]¬Itf CXp¡p ap¶ta ]m¡th CÃtb..."
" sNým... \o sicn¡pw Hcp kpµcn Xt¶..."
" AXv.. FÃm ]i¦fpw G¦ns« simÃpw.. A¸pdw \m³ AXv A¸m¡ns« simÃpw...
A¸m Ahm¦ns« Kem« ]®pw, HXípw... t]m\ hmcw A´ tKm]n Ccp¡nÃbm....
s]cnb duUn, Ahm³ Du«p¡psÅ h´v _oUn ]pSn¡dpXp¡v Xo tIt«³ ... At¸mXv
A¸m Xncp¼n h¯m¨v.. A¸pdw... Fs¶¶tam \S´m¨v... ]mhw A´ tKm]n
Ct¸mXv..."
" C¸w ... F´mbn...?..."
" Bip]{Xo Xm³... ¥mÊv sImm... \m³ t]mI«pw \ndtb thebncp¡v. ... A½m
tXm«¯nte t]mbm¨v... "
AXv tI«tXmsS Fsâ FÃm NqSpw t]mbn. ¥mÊv XncnsI sImSp¯p. hmXnÂ
IS¡pt¼mÄ AhÄ Nncn¨psImp ]dbp¶p.
" B\mepw F\¡v D¦sf sdm¼w ]pSn¨m¨v... D¦ s]cnb ]fw ..... C¸Sn Kw½¶v
\n¡ebm...Ft¸mXpta AXv s]cnim¡n sh¿ps¦m....]m¡dXp¡v \Ãmbncp¡v... "
AhÄ IhnÄ hoÀ¸n¨p ImWn¨p.
At¿, Rm³ N½nt¸mbn. H¸w t]Snbpw. Cãs¸«v AhÄ Fsâ Ip®bn tIdn ]
nSn¨mepw AhfpsS X´ NXíp¶Xv Fs¶bmbncn¡pw. F¶mepw Hcp Nn¶ kpJw.
kpµcnbmb Hcp s]®v, s]m«nbmsW¦nepw Fsâ Ip® AhÄ¡v Cãs¸s«¶p ]
dbp¼w Hcp, Hcp, F´m ]dbpI.. A\p`qXn. ]Ánsb¦n hfíWw, ]®... At¸mÄ
Nne¸w Ifn Imcyamsb¶p hcpw. AhÄ sNe¸w hnfn¨p ]dbpw, " C´ A¿m F³
aq{Xs¯mfbnte A´ s]cnb sam«tb tIÁnhnt«³.." ]ns¶ Cu s]m«ns¸®ns\
AXnsâ X´ Fsâ Xebn sI«n shípw. s]s®¶p sh¨m F´msW¶v Chfn \n¶pw
a\Ênem¡Ww. AXp aXn, IqSpXep htÃmw sNbvXm ]m]ambncn¡pw..
GXmbmepw Ft¶t¸msebpÅ Hcp ]pcpj\p Adnbm\pÅ hIsbmt¡ AhfpsS
ta\nbn Dv. H¶p hf¨p t\m¡mw. Xangv kn\nam ImWp¶Xp sImv Xangv
tI«m a\ÊnemIpw, t]im³ ]Á¯nà Ft¶bpÅp. Cu ho«n \n¡p¶Xp sImv
aebmfw AhÄ¡pw a\ÊnemIWw.
Iptd Ignªt¸mÄ Rm³ Xmtgív sN¶p. ASp¡f¸pdIn AhÄ Ip¯nbncp¶v ]m{X§Ä
IgpIp¶p. hnimeamb B N´nIÄ A§s\ hncnªncn¡p¶p. Im ap«pIÄ XÅnbXp
sImv B henb sh×peIfpsS apIÄ `mKw ]pdt¯íp XÅn \n¡p¶p. Rm³ NpÁpw
t\m¡n, F¶n«v t\sc AhfpsS ap¼n sN¶p \nebpd¸n¨p. \à shfp¯ henb
apeIÄ, ]mhmS ap«p htc IbÁn h¨ncn¡p¶p \Ã amwkfamb IW¦mepIÄ.
sNdnb aq¡p¯n shbnen Xnf§p¶p. apJ¯p s]mSnª hnbÀ¸p XpÅnIÄ Ahtf
IqSpXÄ at\mlcnbm¡p¶p. Cu s]m«n¯ang¯ns¸®nsâ P· clkyw F´mbncn¡pw.
" sNým...?"
" F¶ thWw...?..." AhÄ XebpbÀ¯n.
" \nsâ A½ FhnsS.."
" sXcnbmXv. Fs¦tbm thsdbmcmhXp IqsS Ccp¡pXv..."
" \n\¡p aebmfw Adnªp IqsS..."
" sIm©w sIm©w sXcnbpw. B\mepw t]ipt¼mXv A¡in¡ambnSpw..."
" ]dhmbnsÃ.... AÃ kmcanÃ....\o ]d... tIÄ¡m³ \Ã ckamcn¡pw...."
" t]m¦¿m.... \o¦fp¡p Xami.. F\¡v thebncp¡v..."
AhÄ Fgpt¶Áp F¶n«v Im ap«n Ibvap«v Du¶n Ip\nªp \n¶p. ]ns¶ ]m{X§Ä
tXím³ XpS§n. lmbv, F´p ckapÅ Imgv¨. at\mlcamb B sh×peIÄ Abª »uknsâ
CSbn IqSn \à hyàambn ImWmw. Rm³ AhnsS Ccp¶p. \¶mbn t\m¡n¡p.
Fsâ apn¶Snbn Hcp Ne\w, Rm\dnbmsX app Iq«n Ip® AaÀ¯n¸nSn¨p.
" F¶m C¸Sn t\m¡pt¶... " AhÄ tNmZn¨p.
" sNÃt½...\o ]iphnsâ apebn ]nSn¡p¼w s\\¡v H¶pw tXm¶¯ntÃ..."
AhÄ Fs¶ H¶p t\m¡n. F¶n«p ]dªp.
" Mqlpw..."
" AÃ sNÃt½, ]iphn\p At¶cw C¡nfn tXm¶ptIte..."
" F\¡v sXcnbmX¸m... \o G³ CsXÃmw tI¡ndmbv...?"
" AÃm... \nsâ apeIfpw Id¡m³ ]Áp¶ ]cph¯nembn... t\m¡v... AXv \nsâ
»ukn HXp§p¶nÃtÃm..."
" At¿... s]®p§Ä apeIÄ bmcmhXv Id¡pam... CXv h«p Xm³ ..."
AhÄ Ipep§n¨ncn¨p. At¸mÄ B apeIfpw Ipep§n.
" Rm³ \nsâ apeIÄ Id¶p t\m¡t«... F{X Ip¸n ]mep In«ptam¶v
AdnbmtÃm...." Rm³ shÅand¡ns¡mv tNmZn¨p. At¸mÄ Fsâ apn¶SnbnÂ
Ip«³ s]m§n hcp¶pmbncp¶p.
" apSnbmXv... "
" AsX´m sNÃt½...?..."
" \m³ A¸m¡ns« kXyw ]®nbncp¡v. F³ HS¼n bmscbpw sXmShnSamt«³
F¶v. bmcmhXv sXm«m, \m³ A¸m¡ns« simÃpw. A´ Btf A¸m
sh«ns¡mÃpw...."
" At¿m..." Rm³ AdnbmsX hnfn¨p t]mbn. " Rm³ hÀ¯am\w ]dªm \o
A¸t\mSv simÃptam...?.."
" CssÃ.... \o¦tfmSv t]idXv F\¡v s]cnb Cãw Xm³... "
" A§s\bmsW¦n Rm³ Ibv sImv \ns¶ sXmSmsX H¶p½ sht¨ms«..."
" [mcmfam sh¨pt¡m... B\m Fs¶ sXmS¡qSmXv..."
]mhw s]®v. Ibv sImv sXmSm³ ]Á¯nÃ. asÁ´pamImw.

" BMv lm... \o Cu shbne¯v h¶ncn¡ym... hà ]\ow h¶m... hm h¶v

AI¯ncn¡v.. Asæn hà XWenepw s]mbncn¡v...." A¸¨n I¿n Iptd ]
¨¡dnIfpambn sXmSnbn \n¶pw tIdnhcp¶p. Rm³ NmSn Fgpt¶Áp.
" Aà A¸¨o, sNÃt½sS A½tb¸Ánsbms¡ tNmZn¡phmcp¶p...."
ASp¡fbn sN¶t¸mÄ A¸¨n ]dªp.
" Fsâ thWq, \o B s]®nt\mSv hÀ¯m\w ]dbm³ \n¡, t_mt[mw s]m¡tWmw
H¶pw CÃm¯Xm, AXv sN¶v X´tbmSp ]dªm, Ah³ sh«pI¯nbpambn«nhnsS
hcpw..."
" Hm, Np½m Ccp¶¸w.... tNmZn¨qt¶ DÅp...A¸¨o.."
]ns¶ Rm\pw Idn¡cnbm³ A¸¨ntb klmbn¨p. Ipsd¡gnªt¸mÄ Rm³ apIfnteíp
t]mbn. tXm«ph¡¯p \n¶pw hcp¶ XWp¯ ImÁv. P\en¡qSn ]pdt¯íp t\m¡n
Rm³ \n¶p. At¸mÄ ImWmw sNý Hcp ]iphns\ amÁns¡«p¶p. Aåw amdn
\n¶n«v AhÄ NpÁpw t\m¡n. F¶n«v ]mhmS ap«n\p apIfnteíp sXdp¯p IbÁn
Hcp IpÁns¨SnbpsS adhnencp¶p. Hm, apÅm\mWtÃm, ]t£ sNSn ImcWw
H¶pw ImWm³ h¿, AhfpsS Xe HgnsI. Ct¸mÄ AhfpsS B hncnª ]qdn\pÅnÂ
\n¶pw NnXdp¶ kzÀ®Pe[mc ImWm³ F´p ckamcn¡pw. Asænepw s]®p§Ä
Ih¨ncp¶p apÅp¶Xp ImWm³ Hcp IuXpIamWp. Aåw Ignªt¸mÄ AhÄ
Fgpt¶Áp. ]mhmS s]m¡n]nSn¨ncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ B shůpSIfpw ImWmw, XSn¨
XpSIÄ. AhÄ hopw NpÁpw t\m¡nbn«v ]mhmS Xmtgíp hn«p. ]ns¶ IbvsIm-
v ]mhmS Iq«n ap³hiw AaÀ¯n H¶p Xq¯p. slm, B ]mhmSbpsS `mKyw, B
shfpwXangv ]qÁn\I¯v IqSn Dcp½nbnd§m³ km[n¡p¶ptÃm. AXpw Znhkw
F{X {]mhiyw. At¿, C§s\ ]¯p {]mhiyw Xq¯m ]ns¶ B ]mhmSíp aq{X¯nsâ
aWw Xs¶bmIpw. s]®n\p hr¯n sImdhm sW¶p tXm¶p¶p. AtÃepw AhÄs¡´p
hr¯n. C{Xsb¦nepw hr¯nsbmtÃm, AXp Xs¶ kam[m\w. hopw AhÄ NpÁpw
t\m¡nb Iq«¯n hoSnsâ t\À¡pw t\m¡n. P\en IqSn Ahsf t\m¡n \n¡p¶ Fs¶
AhÄ Ip. Rm³ s]s«¶v amdn¡fªp.
D¨ív Rm³ D®m³ Xmsgs¨¶t¸mtgípw AhÄ t]mbn¡gnªncp¶p.

]ntÁ Znhkw cmhnte Fsâ I¼n hocs\bpw s]m¡n¸nSn¨psImv Rm³ hoSnsâ ]

pdIphit¯ímWp t]mbXv. sXmgp¯nsâ B `mKt¯íp t]mbtX CÃ. apÁ¯nsâ
AcnIn t]mbn \n¶p. ]¨¡dnIfpw sNSnIfpw hmgIfpw Xg¨p hfÀ¶p \n¡p¶p.
NpÁpw H¶p t\m¡n. ]ns¶ apgn¨p ]pX¨p. Fsâ Ip®¡pamct\ H¶p XShn. Idp¯
DSepw HÁ¡®pw Nph¶ sXm¸nbpw sh¨v L\Kw`oc\mbn \n¶p XpÅp¶p. Ah³.
apÅn¯ocm³ Aå kabsaSp¯p. ]Ámhp¶ sNSnIfpsSsbms¡ apIfn aq{Xw
NoÁn¨p ckn¨p apÅn. Ahs\ I¿nseSp¯v H¶p IpSªp.
At¸mÄ tIÄ¡mw, sXm«p ap¼n \n¶pw Hcp s]m«n¨ncn. tZ, AhÄ hcp¶p.
Hcp henb Im´mcns¨SnbpsS adhn \n¶pw \S¶p hcp¶p. s]s«¶v Rm³ ap-
pSp¯p.
" \m³ Ip... \o A´ s]cnb ]gw I¿nseSp¯v hnfbmSp¶Xv \m³ It³... " AhÄ hopw
IbvsIm«n¨ncn¨p. `Khms\, A½mh³ \S¡m³ t]mbXv \¶mbn. A¸¨n ASp¡fbnÂ
ImWpw..
" \o F´n\mSo Rm³ apÅp¼w Fsâ ap¼n F¸gpw hcp¶Xv..."
" CXv F¶ Iq¯v.... F\¡pw Imebnte H®p¡p t]mI thmam.. t\¯p amXncp \o¦
As¦ hcpsa¶v `b´v Cs¦ h´Xv... At¸m \os¦ F³ ]n¶mse... G³... G³...?..."
AhÄ Fsâ t\sc Nodn.
" At¿m \ns¶ t]Sn¨m Rm³ ChnsS h¶Xv... At¸m \o ChnsS..."
" CsÃ... F\¡v sXcnbpw.. t\Xp¡p \o amSnbnencp´v Rm³ H®p¡ncp´Xp \o ]
m¯Xv \m\pw ]mt¯³.. XncpS¸bÂ... \m³ A½m¡ns« simÃpth³..."
" At¸m Rm\pw ]dbpw.. \o Fsâ Ip® ImWm³ Rm³ apÅp¶Xpw t\m¡n
\S¡phm¶v... sNÃv \o t]mbn¸d... \a¡p ImWmw..." Rm\pw t]Sn¸n¡m³ t\m¡n.
s]s«¶hfpsS `mhw amdn. sasà Im hnc sImv \ne¯v hc¨psImv Hcp
Nm©m«t¯msS ]dªp.
" \m³ shdptX ]d©Xm... Dt¶ F\¡v Cãam.. \m³ bmcp¡ns«bpw
simÃamt«³..." Fs¶ H¶p \mWt¯msS t\m¡n. ]ns¶ Fsâ Ihnfn H¶p \pÅnbn«v
]dªp.
" F³ I¬.....¬.....®³..."
AhÄ sXmgp¯nteíp \S¶p.

cmhnte Im¸nbpsS Iq«¯n Xs¶ ]mepw A¸¨n FSp¯p sh¨p. A½ma Ft¸mÄ
Hm^okn t]mtbm.
" thWq, \o hcpt¶m, F\n¡m thep¸nÅt¨«sâ hoSp htc H¶p t]mWw. `hm\n
sIS¸nem. H¶p It¨p s]s«¶p hcmw. FSo sNÃt½, Rm³ hcpt¼mtgípw \o
ChnSsams¡ H¶p Xq¯p hr¯nbm¡Ww tIt«m... Iªn sXf¨p XqhmsX t\m¡Ww..
tIt«mSo..." A½mbn hnfn¨p ]dªp.
" sicnb½m..." AhÄ apÁ¯p \n¶pw hnfn¨p ]dªp.
" Rm³ hcp¶nÃ... Rm³ sXmSnsbms¡ H¶p ImWs«... cp aq¶p am§m
s]m«n¡Ww D¸p Iq«n Xn¶m³... "
" Mqw.. ]¨am§m Xnt¶¨p hbdnf¡w ]nSn¡..."
A¸¨n Hcp§m\mbn A¸pdt¯íp t]mbn. sNý ASp¡fbnteíp tIdn h¶p. Ct¸mÄ
\oe »ukn\pÅn B X¦ apeIÄ Abªp InS¡p¶p, `mcw sImv H¶p Nmª t]mse.
XSn¨ hbdnsâ aS¡p ]mhmSíp shfnbnteíp XÅn¡nS¡p¶Xp ImWm³ Hcm\¨´w.
sI«n¸nSn¡m³ IbvIÄ sh¼n. s]s«t¶mÀ¯p " sXm«m A¸m...".

Ip\nªp \n¶hÄ ASp¸nse Xo DuXnbt¸mÄ hncnª \nXw_§Ä Fs¶ amSn hnfn¨p.

sN¶v B IpnIfpsS \Sphn ]iphnsâ IqXn t]mse \n¡p¶ B aÀ½¯n s]cphncÂ
sImv H¶p tXmm³ Ibv Xcn¨p. sO \miw, Hc¸m.
Aåw Ignªt¸mÄ A¸¨n ASp¡fbnteíp h¶p.
" Rm³ t]mtW.. FÃmw t\m¡nt¡mtWSo.. s\\¡p shi¡pt¼mtgípw Rm\n§p hcmw
tIt«mSm tamt\..."
A½mbn shfnbnte¡nd§n. Rm\pw apÁt¯¡nd§n sN¶p, ]Sn htc.
]ns¶ sXmSnbnte¡nd§n. H¶p NpÁn \S¶p. \Ã ImÁpw XWp¸pw NqSv
Adnbpt¶bnÃ. D¨bmIpt¼mtgípw am{Xw sNdnb NqSp tXm¶pw. \Ã kvYew.
XncnsI ho«n h¶p, Ibv Im IgpIn t\tc apIfnteíp tIdn.
apdnbn sN¶t¸mÄ sNý AhnsS Hcp Ìqfn \n¶p sImv a¨nte Np¡nenbpw
aÁpw Xq¯p Ifbp¶p. \oe »uknsâ hnbÀ¯ I£§Ä H¶p IqSn Ccpp. Nph¶ ]mhmS
]mZ¯n\pw XmsgbmWp InS¡p¶Xv. Rm³ t\sc AhfpsS Iosg sN¶p AhfpsS
I£§Ä t\m¡n \n¶p. sNdnb Hcp hnbÀ¸p aWw Fsâ aq¡neSn¨p. UmhWn cp
apeIfptSbpw \Sphn Npcpp InS¡p¶p. Abª »uknsâ apeIfpsS Iogv`mK¯pw
Aåw hnbÀ¸nsâ \\hp ImWmw.
Rm³ hnfn¨p.
" sNÃt½ \nt¶mSp Xmsg ASp¡fbpw apdnbpw Xq¡m\tà A¸¨n ]dªXv..."
" \m³ sNýbÃ, siý... A¸Sn Iq¸nSv... "
AhÄ Xmtgíp t\m¡msX ]dªp. ]ns¶ Xmsgbnd§n ÌqÄ Aåw amÁnbn«p ]ns¶
AXn tIdn \n¶p a¨p Xq¡m³ XpS§n. ÌqÄ BSp¶pm{bp¶p, ImcWw X«nsâ ]eI
AhnsS \nc¸neÃmbncp¶p.
" A¿m.. C´ Ìqsf sIm©w ]nSn. \m³ Xmsg hogv´m AiIyambnSpw... Rm³
D¦fp¡msI Xm³ ChnsS XpSíp¶Xv..."
" CÃ, Fsâ s]m¶p siým, Rm³ AdnbmsX F§m\pw sXm«m, ]ns¶ \o
A¸t\mSp ]dbpw, Rm³ XÃp sImÅpw.... Rm³ sXmS¯nà ..."
" ]ns¶, G³ C¸Sn F¶pSt¼ ]m¡ndXv...."
" AXv... \ns¶ Im\m³ \Ã tNemSo.. s]t®..."
" \os¦ Ct¸m D¦ ap«sb ]nSn¡dXnÃbm....? AhÄ tNmZn¨p.
" F´m, ... \n\¡v Fsâ sam« C¸w ImWtWm.... ?.." Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
" ]m¡ndXpIp scm¼ AgImbncp¡v.. AX\mse Xm³... A¸mthmsS sams« ]
mt¯³... thsd ]i§Ä sam«bpw ]mt¯³... B\m Ds¦ sam« sdm¼ {]amZw..."
" siým, \o Fsâ sam« Ct¸m F{X {]mhiyw Ip. \nsâ samt«w samtew Fs¶
H¶p ImWn¡mthm... ?.. Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
" F\¡v sam« CtÃ... F\¡v As¦ ]p Xm³ Ccp¡v...."
" ]ptbm.."
" Bam... \ms¦ s]m®ps¦ H®p¡p t]mW kmZ\w... B\mepw AXv D¦ kmam\w
C¯\ s]cnissÃ... Nn¶Xp Xm³.. "
" AXp Xs¶, Fs¶ H¶p ImWn¡mtam... siÃt½, Rm³ CtXhtc s]®p§sS apÅp¶
km[\w In«nÃ... AImWm³ shey sImXnbmbn«m......."
" At¿, AsX¸Sn Ds¶ Im«pw... H¶p t]m¦¿m ..... hnfbmSmsa, F\¡v
sh¡ambncp¡v...
" A¼So, Fsâ Ip® ImWm³ s\\¡v \mWw CÃmcp¶p. \ntâXv H¶p ImWn¡m³ ]
dª¸w.... \mWw..." Rm³ ]dªp.
CXn\nSív AhfpsS Ìqsfm¶nfIn, AhfpsS _me³kp sXÁn. sXm«Sp¯p \n¶ Fsâ
taseíhÄ Nmªp.
" At¿m... \m³ hogpw, ]pSn A¿m... ]pSn... " AhÄ hnfn¨p ]dªp.
" CÃ... Rm³ ]nSn¡¯nÃ... Rm³ sXm«m \nsâ A¸³ Fs¶ sImÃpw...."
" ]pSn A¿m... \m³ CXv simÃamt«³... k¯nbw... ". AhfpsS `mcw Xm§m³
F\n¡p Aåw _p²n_p«mbncps¶¦nepw Rm³ Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨p. Fsâ s\©¯v
AhfpsS hbsdmXp§n. B apeIÄ Fsâ Fsâ s\ÁnbneaÀ¶p. Fs´mcp amÀ±hw, c-
p ]ªn¡pS§Ä apJ¯pcª t]mse. AhfpsS IpnIfn Fsâ IbvIfaÀ¶p. Rm³ AhIfnÂ
\¶mbn sR¡n¸nSn¨p. B N´nIfpsS hnShn Fsâ hncepIÄ Bgv¶nd§n \à abapÅ
F´ntem Fsâ hnc sN¶p ap«n. At¸mÄ Ahsfm¶p C¡nfn sIm t]mse Ahsfm¶p
sR«nsb¶p tXm¶n.. Hcp \nanjw R§fm \n¸p \n¶p. BZyambn Hcp s]®nsâ
icoc¯nsâ apg¸pIÄ Rm³ kv]Àin¨dnªp. Fsâ Ip® I¼nbmbn.
" A¿m... thma¿m... Fs¶ Iosf hnS¿m....." AhÄ sasà ]dªp.
AhfpsS kzc¯ns\mcp hndb t]mse. AhfpsS ta\nbnepw Fsâ IbvIfpsS
kv]Àiw Ne\§fpm¡nb t]mse. In«nb X¡¯n\p Rm³ B apeIfn »ukn\p ]pd¯p
IqSn AaÀ¯n aq¡p ap«n¨p. AhfpsS hnbÀ¸nsâ aWw Ft¶ a¯p ]nSn¸n¨p. Fsâ
Dc§fn hn{ian¨ncp¶ AhfpsS I£§fn \n¶pw B KÔw Fsâ kncIfnteív
Bgv¶nd§n. A\ybmb Hcp s]®nsâ aWw BZyw In«p¶p. F\n¡p kncIfn Imaw
CfIn. Ahtf Rm³ hcnªp ]nSn¨p.
" hnS¿m... F¶ CXv..."
AhfpsS kzcw Fs¶ Cu temIt¯íp sImp h¶p. s]s«¶p Rm³ Fsâ ]nSn Ab¨p. Fsâ
IbvIÄ¡pÅn IqSn AhÄ DuÀ¶p Xmsgbnd§n. At¸mÄ B h·peIÄ Fsâ s\©¯v
AaÀ¶pcknbnd§n. Fs´mc\p`qXn. Xmsg Cd§nbXpw AhÄ Nq Xmsg C«p. ]
ns¶ Fs¶ t\m¡n \mWn¨p \n¶p InX¨p. ZoÀL izmkw hn«p.
" F´m sNÃt½...?..."
" \os¦ F¶pSb As¦ Ct¦ FÃmw ]pSn¨t¸m.. F\¡v.. Hcp CXv... F¶sb¶v
sXcnbmXv..." AhÄ \n¶mSns¡mp ]dªp.
" AXmWp s]t® cXnkpJw... Adnbmtam..."
" sXcnbpta... t]m\ amkw.. \mKÀ tImbnen Im©\ ho«p¡p \m¦ t]mbm¨v.
cmXncn... \m\pw Im©\mhpw Hcpan¨v Xq§pt¼mXv...." AhÄ \mWn¨v
\nÀ¯n.
" Ahfp \ns¶ F´p sNbvXp... "
" AhÄ.... F³ tNetb Cgp¯v... F³ ]pbnte ... ap¯an«mÄ.. At¸mXv.... At¸mXpw
C´ kpJw Xm³ h´Xv.... "
" \nsâ ]qdn AhÄ D½ sht¨m..."
" Mqw... " AhÄ hnc ISn¨p sImp ]dªp. " ]ns¶ ]ptb ]nf¯n shcse sh¨v....
At¿m, F\¡v sh¡ambncp¡v...." AhÄ apJw s]m¯n.
" Rm³ \nsâ ]qÁn D½ shít«... AXn\I¯v shcen«v kpJn¸n¨v Xcmw....\nsâ Cu
shey ape Id¶v ]mseSp¯p Xcmw..." Rm³ hnImc hnhi\mbn ]dªp t]mbn.
" thmw.. F³ ]pcpjs\ hn«v bmcpta F³ ]ptb sXmS¡qSmXv.. A¸pdw.. F³ ]pcpj³
sam« a«pwXm³ DÅ sh¡ thWw... AhÄ sim´m¨v..."
Rm³ ]dªpsImSp¯p. Im©\tb I¿n In«nbncns¶¦n Ct¸mÄ Rm³ sRcn¨p
sImt¶t\. Hcp s]®ns\ ]®m³ \à Hcp Nm³kp h¶t¸m AhÄ ImcWw AXv
\ãs¸Sp¶p.
" siým... samt«w ]psw H¶paÃ. \nsâ H¶n\p t]mW km[\w ]qÀ.... Rm³
apÅp¼w \o I km[\w Fsâ ... Ip®....A§s\ ]dbWw... tIt«m...]d... "
" F\¡v sXcnbpw... ]qÀ, ape, Ip®, Dm... FÃmta sXcnbpw..." AhÄ ]dªp.
" siým... Hcp {]mhiyw.. \nsâ Cu same Fs¶ H¶p ImWn¡mthm... "
" apSnbmXv... \o¦ sXmSpw.. F\¡v sXcnbpw..."
" CÃ siÃt½.... Rm³ s\\¡v cq]m Xcmw..." Rm³ Ahtf {]tem`n¸n¡m³ t\m¡n.
At¸mÄ Ahtfs¶ kwibt¯msS t\m¡n.
" F\¡v ss]km thmw... ss]k A¸m¡nt« s\dtb Ccp¡v... B\m... \os¦ F³ ta\nsb
sXmSamt«¶v kXyw ]®n\m...."
" kXyw sNým... sXmS¯nÃ...." Rm³ Fsâ Xebn Ibv sh¨p. AhÄ
H¶mtemNn¨p. Fsâ N¦p ]S]Sm CSn¨p. Chfp k½Xn¡ptam ? k½Xn¨m, Hcp ]
qdp t\cn ImWmw. apn\pÅn Ip® \n¶p sh«n hnd¨p.
" Ds¶ F\¡p Cãw Xm³... Hcp apssd a«pw Im«ptd³ ... \o sIm©w Xncp¼n
\nÃv..." AhÄ \mWn¨p sImmhiys¸«p. Rm³ Xncnªp \n¶p. Aåw Ignªt¸mÄ
AhfpsS ]Xdnb iÐw.
" C\n Cs¦ ]mcv..."
Rm³ Xncnªp t\m¡n. Fsâ `Khmt\, AhÄ »ukv Xpd¶n«ncn¡p¶p. F¶n«v I®pIÄ
s]m¯n \n¡p¶p. Rm³ ASp¯p sN¶p. H«pw tNcm¯ Hcp sNdnb {_mípÅn B
XSn¨ sh¬apeIÄ Nmªp \n¶ncp¶p. \Ã shfp¯ \ndw. Fs´mcp an\pkamb
AcnIpIÄ, AXnsâ IÃn¨ sR«pIÄ {_mípÅn Ip¯n \n¶ncp¶p.
" {_m IqSn amÁp sNým..." Rm³ ]dªp.
AhÄ aSn¨p aSn¨p apJ¯p \n¶pw Hcp Is¿Sp¯p. ]ns¶ I®S¨p \n¶v {_mbpsS
sNdnb I¸pIÄ apeIÄ¡p apIfnteíp hen¨p s]m¡n sh¨p. C©pIfIe¯n \n¶v Rm³
Ahsb t\m¡n ckn¨p. Idp¯ncp ape¡®pIÄ, AhbptS \Sphn Idp¯ ap´ncnIÄ
t]mse XSn¨ apesR«pIÄ. H¶p ]nSn¨pSím³ Fsâ IbvIÄ Xcn¨p.
\nhr¯nbnÃtÃm, ]Icw Rm³ Fsâ Ip® I¿nseSp¯p XShm³ XpS§n.
" Fsâ s]m¶p sNýbtÃ... Rm³ Cu samte H¶p½ sht¨ms«.....? Rm³
tNmZn¨p.
" Mqw... B\m... sXmS¡qSmXv..."
" CÃ, \o I®p sXmd¶p t\m¡nt¡m..." AhÄ I®p Xpd¶p. Rm³ Ahbnsem¶nÂ
Fsâ Npp ap«n¨p.
" iv iv iv iv..." Ahfn \n¶pw Hcp kzcapbÀ¶p. AXnsâ ape¡®pw sR«pw
Iq«n Rm³ hmbnseSp¯p, F¶n«v \m¡p sImv B sR«n\p NpÁpw hr¯w hc¨p.
AhÄ \n¶p sRfn]ncn sImp. Rm³ B ape Ddn©n¡pSn¡m³ XpS§n.
" IShptf... \à kpJw Xm³...As¶ív cm¯ncn..... Im©\mhpw...... C¸Sn Xm³.....
sibvXXv.."
AhÄ I®S¨p a{´n¨p. ]ns¶ atÁ apebn Hcp Ibv sImv XShm\pw sR«n ]
nSn¨p Xncp½m\pw XpS§n.
" sNým, \o Fsâ Ipt®sem¶p ]nSnt¨.... Id¶p t\m¡v..."
" Mqlpw....F\¡p sh¡ambncp¡v... As¶ív.... Im©\.... CtX cpw..... hmbnse
sh¨p...... IpSn¨m¨v... tImfs´ amXncn... F\¡v... s]cnb kpJw sIS¨m¨v...
A¸pdw... \m\pw AhmÄ ape IpSn¨m¨v.....AXn ]mencp´Xv... " AhÄ aSn¨p
aSn¨p ]dªp. A¼Sn IÅn, \o Bfp sImÅmatÃm, B Im©\ anSp¡nbmWtÃm, Cu
]mh¯nt\ AhÄ ]nSn¨pw X¸nbpw Cf¡n¡fªtÃm. AtXXmbmepw \¶mbn, Ct¸mÄ
F\n¡{Xbpw _p²nap«p Ipdªp.
" Cu Im©\ shey s]®mtWm.." apebn \n¶pw hn«p Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
" Bamw... IeymWam¨v.... Hdp sImf´bpw Ccp¡v.....B\m... \os¦ CXp IpSn...
hnSmsa.... " AhÄ Fsâ Xe ]nSn¨v hopw atÁ apebn ap«n¨p. ]ns¶ AhÄ atÁ
IbvsImp Fsâ apn\Snbn X¸n, sXdn¨p \n¶ Ip® I¿nseSp¯p. AhÄ Aht\ B]mZ
NqUw XgpIn.
" A¿m... CXnencp´v X®n hcdXv... CXv F¶¿m.. D¦ ]mem...?..."
" Mqlpw"
Fsâ cp IbvIfpw ]pdIn sI«n¸nSn¨psImv Rm\m cp IpfnÀapeIfpw amdn
amdn hen¨p N¸n¡pSn¨p. B ape¡®pIfpw sR«pIfpw ZrVambn. AhÄ
sRfn]ncnsImp, apeIÄ Fsâ apJ¯p«pc¨p sImp \n¶mSn. s]®n\p kpJw tIdn.
AhfpsS I®pIÄ ]mXnbSªp. AhÄ sasà io¡mciÐw ]pds¸Sphn¨p.
" iv..iv...iv...iv...IShptf... F\¡v.. Fs¶¶tam.. hcpXv... A¿m... \nÀ¯msX
IpSo¦¿m... Hm, A½m... F\¡v... Mqw... Mqw... "
AhÄ \n¶mSn. PohnX¯n BZyambmcn¡pw Ahfpw Hcp ]pcpjsâ kv]Ài\w
Adnbp¶Xv. Fsâ Ip® AhfpsS I¿nencp¶v Ccp¼pI¼n t]msebmbn.. AhÄ Aht\
shdptX XgpIns¡mncp\p. Ahsâ HÁ¡®n \n\pw HgpInb I®ochÄ Xqs¯Sp¯v
Ahsâ Xebn Xt¶ ]pc«ns¡mncp¶p, \à hgphgp¡en AhÄ Fsâ Ip® XtemSn
AhÄ Ft¶ kpJn¸n¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS ape IpSn¨htf cXn kzÀ¤¯nsâ ]ShpIfnteív
tIÁn. Ip\nªp \n¶v Igp¯v Ig¨t¸mÄ Rm³ \nÀ¯n. AhÄ s]s«¶v I®p Xpd¶p.
" G³ \nÀ¯nt\...?.. F¶m kpJw .. A¸¸... \ot¦ F³ sNáp«n...."
AhÄ Fsâ Ihnfn D½ sh¨p Rm\hfpsS Npnepw D½ sh¨p. AhÄ B ]nfÀ¶p
aeÀ¶ NppIÄ F\n¡p thn Xpd¶p X¶p. R§fpsS NppIÄ At\ym\yw R§fpsS apJ¯v
HmSn \S¶p. R§Ä NpSp\nizmk§Ä Ibv amdn. AhfpsS I¿nencp¶v Fsâ Ip®
s]m«ptam F¶v Rm³ `b¶p. Ahsfsâ ImXn a{´n¨p.
" Fs¶ sI«n¸pSo¦¿m..."
" \nsâ A¸m...."
" ]dhmbntà \m³ simÃamt«³... I«n¸pSn..." AhÄ IpdpIn¸dªp.
]ns¶ Rm³ aSn¨nà Ahtf sI«n¸nSn¨p. B apeIÄ Fsâ amtdmSp tNÀ¶p
sRcnªp. AhfpsS NppIÄ Fsâ NppIfn AaÀ¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS hmípÅnteíp
Fsâ \mhp IS¯n R§fpsS \mhpIÄ X½n tImÀ¯p. AhfpsS XSn¨ \nXw_§fnÂ
Rm³ AaÀ¯n AÅn¸nSn¨p.
" Mqw...Mqw... Mqw...Mqw..."
AhÄ Rc§ns¡mncp¶p. CXp htc In«mXncp¶ F´nt\m thn R§Ä ]ckv]cw ]cXn.
F\n¡p kvJen¡psa¶ L«ambt¸mÄ Rm³ thÀs]«p F¶n«v ]dªp.
" C\n Ipt®¶v hnSv...."
AhÄ hn«nà Aht\ XgpIns¡mncp¶p. Rm³ _eambn AhfpsS IbvIÄ ]nSn¨p
amÁn.
" F¶¿m CXv... \à AarXam\ kpJw h´t¸mXv...\ot¦..." AhÄ ]cn`hn¨p. B Np-
pIÄ ]nfÀ¶ncp¶p. I®pIÄ ]mXnbSªncp¶p.
" CXnepw s]cnb kpJw Ccp¡v sNým, \o B I«nente¡ncn¡v.."
" CtÃ... \m³ ]Sp¡amt«³... \ot¦ D¦ Ip® F³ ]pbnte t]mSpw..."
" kXyambn«pw CsÃsâ s]t®... \o ]dªn«tà Rm³ sI«n¸nSn¨Xv...Ft¶
hnizknt¨mfq..."
Rm³ AhfpsS Xebn Ibv sh¨p ]dªp. AhÄ aSn¨p aSn¨v I«nenencp¶p. Rm³
AhfpsS Im¨ph«n Xmsg Ccp¶p ]dªp. G¯ hmg¨ppIÄ t]mse Nmªp \n¶ B
apeIfn amdn amdn aq¡n«pc¨psImp ]dªp.
" sNÃt½... Ct{XambntÃ... C\n \nsâ B kpµcn¸qdpw IqSn Fs¶ H¶p
ImWn¡v... Fsâ s]m¶p siýbtÃ... CXp htc Rm³ ]qdp In«nÃ...."
" thma¿m... F\¡p `bambncp¡v.... "
" t]Snt¡ssâ sNým... Rm³ \ns¶ sXmS¯nÃ...\o ]dbmsX... H¶p Im aXn... "
Rm³ AhfpsS apeIfn amdn amdn ISn¨p.
" Mqw...kcn... kcn... \m³ Ct¸m F¶ si¿Ww....?..." AhÄ sasà tNmZn¨p.
" \o CXp t]mse Xt¶ A§p sISt¶... F¶n«m ]mhmS H¶p s]m¡nt¡....Rm³
sXmS¯nÃ.."
Rm³ XebWsbSp¯v ]mI¯n I«nen\p IpdpsI sh¨p sImSp¯p F¶n«v .Aåw
amdnbncp¶p. AhÄ sasà B XebnWbnteíp Nmªp. AhfpsS ImepIÄ I«nen\p
shfnbnembncp¶p. ]ns¶ ]mhmS ap«p htc DbÀ¯n. sNdptcma§Ä \ndª B
IW¦mepIÄ shfp¯ncp¶p. Rm³ ]dªp.
" t]mcm... Aåw IqSn s]m¡v..."
" F\¡v sh¡ambncp¡v... \os¦ si¿pt¦m..."
AhÄ I®S¨p InS¶p. Rm³ sasà B ]mhmS tateíp s]m¡n. B ]mhmSípÅnÂ
\n¶pw sI«n\n¶ Hcp {]tXyI aWw,AhfpsS clky`mK§fn sI«n\n¶ KÔw
shfnbnteíp h¶p. AsXs¶ tImÄabnÀ sImÅn¨p. At¸mÄ ImWmw shůpWn
sImpÅ thsdmcp ]mhmS ap«phtcbpÅXv. AXn\åw Cdp¡apÅ t]mse. Rm³
AXpw hen¨p s]m¡n hbdn sImp sh¨p. ASnbn \n¡tdm ]mânsbm
H¶panÃmbncp¶p. Fsâ PohnXkm^eyw Rm\mZyambn AhnsS Ip.
{]mb]qÀ¯nbmb Hcp s]®nsâ \áamb tbm\oXSw.
AhÄ ImepIÄ ASp¸n¨p ]nSn¨ncp¶p. B Acs¡«n Hcp shÅn AcªmWhpw
AXnsemcp GeÊpw Dmbncp¶p. B GeÊp InS¶ncp¶Xv AhfpsS
aZ\¸q¦mh\¯nsâ apIfnembncp¶p. Rm³ B GeÊmbncps¶¦n Ft¶mÀ¯p
t]mbn. Aåw XSn¨ icocambncp¶Xp sImv B hbdn\pw B Imah\
{XntImW¯n\pw CSív HcXncp t]mse Hcp hcbpm{bp¶p. AhfpsS Ifn¯«v
h«b¸w t]mse XSn¨pbÀ¶ncp¶p. B {XntImW¯n apgph³ \à Idp¯ tcma§Ä
kar²ambn hfÀ¶p \n¶ncp¶p. P\n¨Xn\p tijw hSn¡m¯ tcma§Ä. B
tcma¡mSn\p Xmsg AhfpsS aZ\t¨me XpS§p¶p. B hnShnsâ Hcn©p
am{Xta B shÅ XpSIÄ¡nSbnÂIqSn ImWm³ ]ÁnbpÅp, Ipsd tcma§Ä
AhnsSbpw hfÀ¶p Nmªp InS¶ncp¶p. Rm³ Ip\nªv AhnsS H¶p aW¯p B
tcma§Ä¡nSbnte hnbÀ¸nsâ aWw, ]ns¶ ]qdnsâ kzXthbpÅ Xcn¸n¡p¶ aWw, ]
ns¶ sNdpXmbn aq{X¯nsâbpw aWw. cmhnte Ipfn¨p ImWWw, AsænÂ
C{Xbpw aq{Xw aW¯m t]mcm. Hcp k½n{i KÔw Fsâ aq¡n¡qSn
Bßmhnteíp tIdn. F\n¡p At¸mÄ Xs¶ kvJe\w DmIptam F¶p t]Snbmbn. Rm³
B sh®¸qÁn \n¶pw Is®Sp¯p. ]ns¶ IbvIÄ s]m¡n¸nSn¨p. F¶n«v ]dªp.
" Imsem¶I¯v sNým... F\ns¡m¶pw ImWm³ h¿...."
" thmw.. C¸Sn ]mÀ¯m t]mXpw... F\¡p sh¡ambncp¡v... " I®S¨p InS¶hÄ
\nckn¨p.
" Hm, \nsâsbmcp apSnª sh¡w... kmam\w s]mf¯n sh¨¸w.."
Rm³ sasà B XpSIÄ¡nSbnteíp apJaaÀ¯n ]ns¶ AhnsS D½ shím³ XpS§n. AIw
XpSIfn Fsâ NppItfmSn \S¶t¸mÄ Ahf\§m³ XpS§n. AdnbmsX Xt¶ B XpSIÄ
AIem³ XpS§n, AhÄ Rc§m\pw. ImepIfep¶X\pkcn¨p XpSIfpsS DÅnteíp Fsâ
apJw ]qgv¶p. B XpSIÄ¡v Hcp {]tXyI KÔapmbncp¶p. AhfpsS ta\nbpsS,
hkv{X§fn Hfn¨ncp¶ amZI KÔw.
" F¶m ]®dpXv.. \os¦ At¦.... F\¡v ... F¶tam ... thmw A¿m.... \ndp¯pt¦m..."
AhÄ ]n¨pw t]bpw ]dbp¶ amXncn Pån¨p sImncp¶p. Xmsg¡v InS¶ Hcp
Im AhÄ FSp¯v aS¡n I«nen Ip¯n. Ct¸mÄ B aZ\t¨me ]qÀ®ambpw
Zriyambn. B Ih¡qSv Aåw IqSn hnkvXrXambn, Hs¶¶p tXm¶p¶ t]mse
IqSn¸nSn¨ncp¶ ]qdnsâ AcnIpIÄ Aåw AI¶p. tcma§Ä \ndª ISnXSw apXÂ
Xmtgm«v IqXn htc \op InS¶ B ]qdnsâ Ioden tcma§Ä AhnShnSbmbn
hfÀ¶p \n¶ncp¶p. Fsâ apJw Npw_\ hÀj§Ä sNmcnªv AhfpsS
Ih¡q«nse¯nbt¸mÄ s]®nsâ ]qdnsâ bYmÀ° aWw Fsâ aq¡neSn¨p. ]pcpjt\
kwt`mKk¶²\m¡p¶ {Xkn¸n¡p¶ tbm\nbpsS hnbÀ¸p Ipgª KÔw Fsâ
Xet¨mdn AebSn¨p. B hnShnsâ Xmgv`mK¯v Rm³ \mhaÀ¯n \m¡psImv B
hnShp Rm\I¯n. At¸mÄ AW s]m«nb t]mse AhfpsS hnImct¯³, CXp htcbpÅ
R§fpsS tNãIÄ sImv Dudn\ndªp IqSnb tbm\nt¯³, ]pdt¯ív, Fsâ
\mhntesímgpIn. s]®nsâ aq{X¡pgn Ft¸mgpw hr¯ntISmsW\p Iq«pImÀ ]
dªp tI«n«ps¦nepw F\n¡v B Xang¯n¸qÀ \Ã cpNnIcambmWp tXm¶nbXv.
Fsâ \m¡v B hnShnend§nbXpw. AhÄ Hcp ioÂImcw ]pds¸Sphn¨p.
" IShptf... iv iv iv iv....."
B ImepIÄ H¶p IqSn AI¶p. Fsâ apJw ]qÀ®ambpw B ]qdn\p apIfn B
Ih¡q«neaÀ¶p. ]ns¶ Rm³ \¡m³ XpS§n. B tbm\nt¨mebpsS DÅnteív Fsâ
\mhnd§n ASnapSn B tNmebn DudnsbmgpInb tbm\o ckw Rm³ \
¡n¡pSn¨p. AhfpsS tbm\o{Zh¯n\p \Ã D¸p ckambncp¶p. AhnsSsbÃmw
Rm³ Fsâ apJan«pc¨p. apIfnteíp Ibdnbt¸mÄ CXphtc ImWm¯ Hcp km[\w
Rm³ Ip. I´v AYhm Irkcn. sIm¨p ]pkvXI§fn hmbn¨pw AXnte
apgpthiyIfpsS Ih¡nSIfpsS hyàaÃm¯ ]S§Ä Ipw DÅ Adnth F\n¡p s]®nsâ Cu
clky`mKs¯¡pdn¨v F\n¡pmbncp¶pÅp. AXnsem¶pw I´v F¶ km[\w \¶mbn
ImWm³ ]Ánbn«nÃ. Ct¸mÄ Rm³ t\cn Ip. s]®nsâ hnImc tI{µsa¶p ]dbp¶ I
´v. B ]qÀ ]mfnIfI¶t¸mÄ aS§n¡nS¶ ]pdwtXmSn\pÅn \n¶pw B ]bdp aWn
Xe \o«n. Rm³ AXp sasà Npp sImv ISn¨p hen¡m³ {ian¨p. B `mK¯v
thsdmcp KÔambncp¶p. NppIq«n ]nSn¨t¸mÄ AXp sX¶nt¸mIp\p.
At¸msg¡pw B tKmX¼p ]qdp tbm\o ck¯n Ipgªncp¶p. HXp§n¡nS¶ncp¶
DĨppIÄ hoÀ¯p´n shfnbnteíp h¶p. Rm\Xp hmbnem¡n hen¨p \pWªp. B
tbm\napgph³ Rm³ ISn¨p hmbnem¡n. F\n¡p {`m´p ]nSn¨p. \m¡pw aq¡pw
IqSn Rm³ I´nepw hnShnepw C«pc¨p. AhÄ \nehnfn¡m³ XpS§n.
" Fs¶ bmcmhXp I«n]pSnbpt¦m... A½m... F\¡v F¶tam hcpIndXv... At¿m...
A½m... Mqw..Mqw... \nÀ¯ma si¿pt¦m... \m³ hm\¯nte ]d¡pXv... IShptf...
lm...lm..."
AhÄ ]dªp sImncp¶p. AhÄ Ibv sImv Fsâ Xe AhfpsS Ih¡q«nte¡aÀ¯n ]nSn¨p.
B XSn¨ XpSIfpÅ ImepIÄ AhÄ s]m¡n Fsâ tXmft¯íp Ih¨p sh¨p. ]ns¶ Fsâ
sNhn¡ncphi§fnepw B XpSIÄ CdpIm³ XpS§n. Rm³ AdnbmsX Xt¶ IbvIÄ
Xmgv¯n AhfpsS apeIfn ]nSp¯an«p. At¸mÄ apeIfn ]nSn¨p sRcn¨p sIm-
ncp¶ AhfpsS IbvIfpambn Fsâ IbvIÄ Iq«n ap«n. CSíp Rm³ AhfpsS Npcp-
ncp¶ IqXnbn hncenSm³ {ian¨p, ]ns¶ tXm¶n, \mdnbm Fà ckhpw
t]mIpw. AXp ths¶p sh¨p. AhÄ Hcp Ibv sImv Fsâ I¿n IpdpsI ]nSn¨p.
Xebn«pcp«m³ XpS§n. AhfpsS tbm\o apJ¯v BZy cXnbpsS kvt^mS\§Ä Rm³
Adnbm³ XnS§n. B tbm\o apJ¯v Xcn¸pmIp¶Xv Rm\dnªp. \mhpÅnte¡nd¡n
Rm³ B ]qdn\pÅn \¡n. Fsâ \mhnt\ Cdp¡ns¡mv AhfpsS tbm\n cXn
aqÀObnse¯n. AhÄ Acs¡«p s]m¡n Fsâ Xe AaÀ¯n¸nSn¨p.
" A½m... F\¡v kpJw h´m¨v..... \¡n si¿pt¦m... A¸Sn...A¸Sn... At¿m...
A½m ....Mqw...Mqw..Mqw..... "
AhÄ \nehnfn¨psImv Acs¡«p _eambn ]nSn¨p. AhfpsS Acs¡«nte
hnImctI{µ¯n Ima¯nsâ DcpÄ s]m«n. B NqSp tbm\nbn \n¶pw Fsâ
hmbnteíp sNdpNqSpÅ ]pXptbm\o ckw NoÁns¯dn¨p. Ac an\nt«mfw
AhfpsS Acs¡«v hnd¨p sImncp¶p. ]ns¶ sasà sasà FÃmw im´ambn.
]t£ At¸mgpw Rm³ B ]qÁn\pÅn \n¶pw D¸p]m \¡nsbSp¯p sImncp¶p.
Aåw Ignªt¸mÄ AhÄ ImepIÄ Xmtgín«p, Fsâ apJw ]nSn¨p amÁn. _eambn ]
nSn¨ncp¶ Fsâ I¿n \n¶pw AhfpsS ]nSn hn«p. apebn \n¶pw Fsâ Ibv X«n
amÁn. ]ns¶ AhnsS AS§n¡nS¶p, ZoÀLizmksaSp¯p sImncp\p. Ih¨ncp¶
Im¡q«n\pÅn B hnSÀ¶ tbm\n BsI Ipgªncp¶p. CSínSíp AXp sh«p¶Xv
ImWmambncp¶p. H¶p IqSn AhnsS \¡nbt¸mÄ AhÄ sR«n, Rc§n. ImepIÄ
H¶\¡n. Rm\pw Xmsg \ns¶gpt¶Áp I«nen tIdn Ccp¶p. Fsâ Ip® At¸mgpw
s]m«nbncp¶nÃ. Rm³ AÛpXs¸«p. AhfpsS ]cm{Ia§fn {i² t]mbXp sIm-
mbncn¡pw Ah³ Npc¯mXncp¶Xv.
InX¸S§nbt¸mÄ AhÄ Fgpt¶Áp, I«nen Ccp¶v Agnªpeª apSn hmcns¡«n.
Xpd¶p InS¶ kz´w amdnS§fnteíp t\m¡n, ]ns¶ t\m¡n \mWt¯msS H¶p
Nncn¨p. BZyambn cXnkpJw X¶Xn\pÅ \µn amXncn. kz´w Imen¶nSbnÂ
I¿n«v H¶p X¸n. At¸mÄ AhfpsS kz´w tbm\ockmb\¡pg¼v AhfpsS I¿n ]Án.
H¶p \m¡n sXmSphn¨ tijw AhÄ AXv ]mhmSbn Xq¯p. ]ns¶ ]mhmS
hen¨n«p. {_m hen¨p t\sc CSm³ `mhn¨p. At¸mÄ Rm³ XSªp. Ahsfs¶
t\m¡n.
" \nsâ ]qdp Id¶v Rm³ ]mep hcp¯nbntÃ... C\n \o Fsâ Ip® Id¶v ]mep
hcp¯n Xm... \n\¡v \à ckamcp¶ntÃ... siý sIS¶p XpÅpImcp¶ntÃ...... "
" H¶p t]m¦¿m..." \mWhpw kt´mjhpw IeÀ¶ kzc¯n AhÄ sIm©n. Rm³
I«nen \ns¶gpt¶Áp. hmXn sN¶S¨p. AhfpsS ap¼n h¶p \n¶p. app ]
dn¨p Xmsgbn«p.
]ns¶ sXm®qdp Un{Knbn \n¶p hndíp¶ Ip® AhfpsS apJ¯n\p t\sc \o«n.
" F¶m thWw...." AhÄ tNmZycq]¯n Fsâ t\À¡p apJapbÀ¯n.
" Rm³ \nsâ ]p \¡nb t]mse \o CXpw \¡v... Asæn Id¡v... ]mep h¶nsænÂ
F\n¡p h«p ]nSn¡pw..."
" AXp thmw.... D\¡p h«p h´m F\¡p Xm¦ apSnbmXv...Im«v..."" AhÄ Aht\
IbvIfnseSp¯p.H¶p XShn. F¶n«p ]dªp. "... F¶ s]cnb ]fw... G³ C¸Sn
_eambncpt¡... A¸mthmtS ]fw Nn¶Xv... Ft¸mXpta ]qiWn¡m amXncn
BSpth³...."
" AXv C¸w \o ]nSn¨n«m... C¶m thWsa¦n H¶p Xnt¶m..." Rm³ _eambn
AhfpsS Npnteív Aht\ XÅn, AdnbmsX AhÄ hm Xpd¶p. Ahsâ Xe DÅnem¡n.
H¶p cp \pWªp. Rm³ \n¶v sR«nhnd¨p, icoc¯n IqSn sshZypXn ]mªp.
s]s«¶v AhÄ Aht\ hmbn \ns¶Sp¯p.
" Htc D¸mbncpt¡... Rm³ Id´p Xcmw... B\m sh®bnÃtb... "
Ibv\ofapÅ »uknsâ IbvIÄ ap«n\p tateíp sXdp¯p tIÁns¡mhÄ NpÁpw t\m¡n.
" sh® th. \nsâ ]qÁo¶n¸gpw HgpIp¶ptÃm... AXp sImd¨v Xq¯p tImcnsb
Sp¡v...AXp aXn \Ã sXÁemcn¡pw..."
" t]m¦¿m... In ]®msX..." AhÄ¡p \mWw h¶p.
" AÃ, sNým... \o sImd¨v tXmnsbSv..."
AhÄ a\ÊnÃm a\tÊmsS ]mhmS s]m¡n. Ih¡q«nteíp I¿n«p. Is¿Sp¯t¸mÄ
F®`cWnbn I¿ns«Sp¯t]mse. Ahfpw AÂ`pXs¸«p t]mbn, B apJ¯p \mWw
Cc¨p Ibdn. At¸mfm \njvIf¦ apJw ImWm³ Fs´mcp `wKn. F\n¡pw B Ibv I-
t¸mÄ IqSpXÂ elcnbmbn.
" Itm... Rm³ ]dªntÃ... thKw tX¨n«v Id¡v...."
AhÄ B Ibv ]iphnsâ apebn tXíp¶Xp t]mse Fsâ Ip®Xebn ]pc«n. ]ns¶
aq¶p hncepIfp]tbmKn¨v Id¡m³ XpS§n. BZysams¡ AXp
ckambncps¶¦nepw, ]ns¶ Rm³ AhfpsS Ibv ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¡p¶Xv ImWn¨p
sImSp¯p.
" Ip® Id¡p¶Xv C§s\bm... F¦nte ]mep In«¯pÅp..."
" CXv F¶Xv... tX³ amXncn hcpIndXv... ]m Ccp¡nÃbm..." AhÄ Fsâ
Ip®bn \n¶pw Dudn hcp¶ sXfnª \ocv In«v tNmZn¨p.
" \o \à kv]oUn ]nSn¨p Id¡v.... At¸m hcpw... "
AhÄ s]s«¶p hmWaSnbpsS kv]oUp Iq«n. Rm³ I®S¨p \n¶p ]pdtIm«p hfªp.
AdnbmsX Xt¶ Fsâ IbvIÄ AhfpsS Xpd¶p InS¡p¶ apeIfnteíp sN¶p.
AhsfXnÀ¯nÃ, cp Ibv sImpw hmWaSn XpSÀ\p. B IpfnÀ apeIfn ]
nSn¨tXmsS Fsâ Rc¼pIfnse Ima {]hmlw IqSn. Rm³ Acs¡«p sh«n¨p sImv ]
dªp.
" hcps¶mv sNým.. ]mep hcps¶mv... hms]mfnt¨m... "
Rm³ Ip®¯e AhfpsS Npnteíp ap«n¨p. AhÄ hm Xpd¶tXmsS Rm³ AhfpsS
apSnbn ]nSn¨v Fsâ Acs¡«nteíaÀ¯n¸nSn¨p. kvJe\kpJw ImcWw Fsâ I®p
Iq¼nt¸mbn. Hcp sk¡âv Ignªnà Fsâ IXn\m s]m«n, AXn \n¶pw Xos¸mcn ]
mdp¶Xp t]mse NqSp ]m siýbpsS sXmbnteíp sXdn¨p. At¸mÄ AhfpsS
Ibv \nivOeambn, ]Icw Rm³ AhfpsS apJw ]nSn¨v hmípÅnteív ]®m³
XpS§n. AhÄ ]n·mdm³ {ians¨¦nepw Rm³ _eambn ]nSn¨v hmbnteíp ip¢w
ASn¨p IbÁns¡mncp¶p. Hcp an\n«p Ignªt¸mÄ FÃmw HXp§n. Rm³ I®p
Xpd¶p t\m¡n. Fs¶ Xs¶ t\m¡nsImv hmbn Ip®bpambn Ccn¡p¶ sNý.
AhfpsS NpcnIn IqSn Fsâ NqSp ]m Hen¨nd§p¶p. AXp XmSnbn IqSn
HgpIn AhfpsS Hcp apebnepw hosWmgpIn. Rm³ Ip® hens¨Sp¯p. AhÄ
hmbS¨p. apJw Npfn¨p sImv AhÄ Fs¶ t\m¡n \pWªnd¡n. ]ns¶ ]mhmS s]m¡n
Nppw XmSnbpw XpS¨p. At¸mÄ Rm³ apebnte XpÅn Nqn¡m«n. apebnÂ
H¶p t\m¡nbn«v AXp XpSímsX AhÄ {_m hen¨n«p, »uknsâ ]n³ Ip¯n. Rm³
AhfpsS ]mhmSbpsS AÁw hen¨v AhfpsS Dan\ocpw ]mepw Ipgªv XfÀ¶p
InS¶ Fsâ Ip® XpS¨p. Ahf\§nbnÃ. Rm³ apsSp¯pSp¯p. ]ns¶ AhfpsS IqsS
I«nen Ccp¶p. ]ns¶ sasà Ahtf ]nSn¨v Fsâ tZls¯íp hen¨Sp¸n¨p. AhÄ aSn
IqSmsX F¶nteíp Nmcn Ccp¶p. A§s\ F{X t\cw Ccp¶p F¶dnªp IqSm.
" thWq.... sNÃt½.... ChfnhnsXhnsSbm... sNÃt½..." A¸¨nbpsS hnfntI«p
R§Ä sR«n..
" \m³ Cs¦ Ccpt¡..." AhÄ hnfn¨p ]dªp.
" \o AhnsS Fs´Sp¡phmSo..... At¿m ASp¸nte Xobpw sI«p....." A¸¨n ]
dbp¶Xv tI«p.
R§Ä NmSnsbgpt¶Áp. sNýv Xdbn InS¶ NqseSp¯p. At¸mgWp Rm³ IXv
R§fpsS ]m sImp \\ª tdmkv ]mhmSbn B \\hp hyàw. Rm³ Ip\nªv B `mKw
s]m¡n AhfpsS ]mhmSs¡«nteíp Ip¯ns¡mSp¯p. AhÄ hmXnÂIteíp \S¶p. ]ns¶
s]s«t¶mSn h¶v Fs¶ Ddp¸S¦w _eambn sI«n¸nSn¨p. Hcp \nanjw am{Xw,
Fsâ FÃpIÄ \pdp§p¶ t]mse tXm¶n. ]ns¶ AhÄ ]nSn hn«p, tImWn¸Sn Cd§n
t]mbn. Rm³ hmXn¡ \n¶p.
" tase t]mbt¸m.....\m³ Xo Nn¶Xm¡n shbv¯Xv... A¸pdw A¿mthmsS dqw
¢o³ ]®Xp¡p t]mbncp¡v.... \ndsb.. Np¡nen.... Ccp¡pw...."
" Rm\nÃm¯¸w \o F´n\m Ahsâ apdo t]mbXv...."
" ]dhmbnsà A½m... A¿m \à BÄ Xm³... sdm¼ sNáp«n...." AhÄ ]dbp¶Xv
tI«p.
" FSo s]t®... B¼ntÅcpsS ASp¯v HÁíp t]mI... Imew hÃm¯Xm.. \nsâ A¸³
Adnªm ]ns¶ ]p¡mdmIpw... HmÀt¯m..."
" kcn A½m...." AhfpsS adp]Sn.
]ns¶ Rms\m¶pw tI«nÃ. I«nen tIdn I®S¨p InS¶p. t^ms«m t]mse
a\Ên \ndªp \n¶ sNýbpsS hnImctI{µ§fpsSbpw, Ahbn Rm³ Im«n¡q«nb
ImatIfnIfptSbpw HmÀ½bn ab§nt¸mbn.

]nsÁ Znhkw cmhnse sNý h¶nÃ. ]Icw Idp¯p XSn¨ Hcp ]mn¯ang³ h¶p.
AXp ap¯phmsW¶v F\n¡p a\Ênembn. F¶mepw Cu Id¼\p F§s\ sNý F¶
kpµcn aIfmbn P\n¨p. A½ kpµcnbmbncp¶ncn¡Ww, AXpsImmWtÃm
BWp§Ä ASnt¨mp t]mbXv. H¶p XoÀ¨, CbmfpsS Fs¶ I¿n In«nbm ]q¨ív
Fen¡pªp amXncnbmbncn¡pw. AbmfpsS I®n s]SmsX Rm³ amdn \n¶p. ]
ip¡dhbpw sXmgp¯p hr¯nbm¡epw amÁns¡«epw Ignªv AbmÄ
t]mbt¸mgmsWsâ izmkw t\sc hoWXv. C\n ChntS \n¶m icnbmhnsöv
F\n¡p tXm¶n.

Iptd¡gnªt¸mÄ sNý h¶p. Xn®bnencp¶ Fs¶¡Xpw Xebpw Ip\n¨v AhÄ

ASp¡f hit¯t¡mSnt¸mbn. Rm³ sNhntbmÀ¯p. AhfpsS iÐta tIÄ¡m\nÃ.
CSív A¸¨nbpsS tNmZyw.
" \n\¡ns¶´p ]ÁnsbSo s]t®... \mhnd§nt¸mtbm... F¸gpw InepInem sNes¨m-
ncp\XmWtÃm..."
" H®paným..." AhfpsS ]Xnª adp]Sn.
CSíp A¸¨n shfnbnte¡nd§p¶Xp It¸mÄ Rm³ ASp¡fbnteíp sN¶p. Fs¶ It¸mÄ
siý \mWt¯msS NmSn Fgpt¶Áp. ]ns¶ apJw Ip\n¨v Im hnc sImv
Xdbn h«w hcím³ XpS§n. Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
" siÃt½, C¶et¯ Imcyw hÃXpw \o A¸t\mSp ]dtªm..." tNmZn¡pt¼mÄ Fs¶
hndt¨m Fs¶mcp kwibw.
" Mqlpw..." AhÄ CÃm F¶v aqfn.
" slm, kam[m\ambn.." Rm³ Xncnªv \S¡ms\mcp§nbt¸mÄ AhfpsS iÐw.
" B\m....\m³... A¸mthmSv Hcp Imcnbw sNm¶m¨v...."
Rm³ Xncnªp \n¶p.
" F´m ]dªXv A¸t\mSv..."
F\n¡p DÅn thhemXnbmbn. Cu s]m«ns¸®p Xpet¨m.
" F\¡v.... AXv...h´v.. AXv h´v....simÃXp¡v sh¡ambncp¡v..." AhÄ hopw
Ip\nªp \n¶mSn.
" Hm, \nsâsbmcp apSnª sh¡w... \osb´p ]dsª¶p ]d..." Fsâ iÐw Aåw
D¨¯nemtbm Fs¶mcp tXm¶Â.
" Ds¶ IeymWw ]®Xp¡v F\¡p k½Xam¡pw F¶v sNmÃnbm¨v......."
" `Khmt\, \o Fs¶ sImeíp sImSp¡pw...." Rm³ ]dªp sImp XncnªXpw
hmXn¡ angn¨p \n¡p¶ A¸¨n.
Fsâ I®n Ccp«p Ibdn. ]ns¶ H¶pw F\nt¡mÀ½bnÃ.

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