tdmPÀ

em³kven³ {Ko³
tdm_n³lpUv




`mj : Cw¥njv
Imew : kn.C. 1956

Un kn _pIvkv
Malayalam Language
Robin Hood
Literature & Fiction/Novel
by Roger Lancelyn Green
Rights Reserved
E-book Edition September 2018

Publishers
D C Books, Kottayam 686 001
Kerala State, India
website : www.dcbooks.com
ebook website: ebooks.dcbooks.com
customer support: ebooksupport@dcbooks.com

Although utmost care has been taken in the preparation of this book, neither the publishers nor the
editors/compilers can accept any liability for any consequence arising from the information contained
therein. The publisher will be grateful for any information, which will assist them in keeping future editions
up to date.«

No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior
written permission of the publisher.

ISBN 978-81-264-2658-4

D C BOOKS The First Indian Book Publishing House to get ISO Certification
tdmPÀ em³kven³ {Ko³
_mekmlnXyImc\pw PohNcn{XImc\pamb tdmPÀ em³kven³ {Ko³ (Roger
Lancelyn Green) 1918 \hw_À c−n\v Cw¥−nse t\mÀhn¨n P\n¨p. {Ko¡v,
CuPn]vjy³, t\mgvkv ]pcmhr¯§Ä¡v Cw¥njn {]kn²amb
]p\cmJym\§Ä cNn¨p. Cw¥njv \mtSmSn¡Ym \mbI\mb tdm_n³lpUns\
¡pdn¨p−mbn«pÅ AkwJyw IrXnIfn {Ko\nsâ "Z AsUzt©gvkv Hm^v
tdm_n³lpUv' (1956) thdn«p\nev¡p¶p. t\mhepIfpw PohNcn{X§fpsagpXnb
{Ko³ 1987 HIvtSm_À F«n\v A´cn¨p.
DÅS¡w


{]mcw`w
sjÀhqUnsâ Bßmhv
temIvÉnbnse tdm_À«v \nba{`ã\mbsX§s\?
sjÀhqUv h\¯nse \nba{`ãÀ
kvImÀseänsâ c£s¸SÂ
enän tPm¬ {Ko³hpUn F¯nbsX§s\?
se¤nse kÀ dn¨mÀUv aTm[n]\v ]Ww \evInbsX§s\?
sjÀhqUv h\¯nse acnb³
{^bÀS¡nsâ BKa\w
kÀ dn¨mÀUv tdm_n³ lpUnsâ ISwho«nbsX§s\?
shÅnsIm−v \nÀ½n¨ Akv{Xw
tdm_n³ lpUpw Iim¸pImc\pw
bmNIcpsS kmlkw
tdm_n³ lpUpw tXmÂs¡mÃ\pw
AÃn³ F. sUbvensâ hnhmlw
tdm_n³ lpUpw _nj¸pw
tPmÀPv F. {Ko³: shbvIv^oÂUnsâ kwc£I³
cmhn Hcemdhpw kzÀ®k½m\hpw
]m]vÄhn¡nse a{´hmZn\n
ssK Hm^v Knkvt_mWnsâ A´yw
knÂhÀ _yqKnfpw Idp¯ tbm²mhpw
tdm_n³ lpUpw s]m¡apÅ XoÀ°mSI\pw
tPm¬ cmPmhnsâ {]XnImcw
Ahkm\s¯ kmlkIrXyw
Ahkm\s¯ Akv{Xw
D]kwlmcw
apJyIYm]m{X§Ä


tdm_n³lpUv
t\mhense apJyIYm]m{XamWv. icnbmb t]cv tdm_À«v ^nävkqXv. GÄ Hm^v
l−nMvS¬ F¶pw Adnbs¸Sp¶p. A\ymbambn \nba{`ã\m¡s¸«Xn\mÂ
sjÀhqUv h\¯n XmhfaSn¨ kmIvk¬ hn`mK¡mc³. dn¨mÀUv cmPmhns\
A\pIqen¡p¶Xn\mÂ, cmPmhnsâ A[nImctamlnbmb Cfb ktlmZc³
tPmWnsâ i{XpX t\Sn. h\¯n "sadnsa³' F¶ Hcp kwLw cq]oIcn¨p.

dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv
Cw¥−nse cmPmhv. cmP`cWw tk\m[n]s\ Gev]n¨v, cmPyw hn«v,
Ipcnipbp²¯n GÀs¸«p.

{]n³kv tPm¬
dn¨mÀUv cmPmhnsâ Cfb ktlmZc³. ktlmZcsâ Akm¶n[y¯nÂ
cmP`cWw ssItbdm³ {ian¡p¶ Hcp {Iqc³. \nba{`ãcm¡s¸«hcn ]e
Ipä§fpw Btcm]n¨v, h[in£bv¡p hnt[bcm¡p¶p.

teUn acnb³
tdm_n³lpUnsâ {]Wbn\n. Akv{Xm`ymkw ssIhiam¡nb hoc I\yI.
tdm_n³lpUnsâ hocIrXy§sf Bcm[n¡p¶hÄ.

thmÀam³
tdm_n³lpUnsâ Imcyس. ]n¶oSv Iqdpamdn {]n³kvtPmWnsâ
A\pbmbnbmbn.

kÀ ssK Hm^v Knkvt_m¬
{]n³kv tPmWnsâ hewssIbmbn {]hÀ¯n¨v tPmWnsâ {IqcIrXy§Ä
\S¸nem¡p¶p. teUn acnbt\mSv hnhmlm`yÀ°\ \S¯p¶pap−v.

hn kvImÀeäv
hneyw kvImXvtemIv F¶pw t]cp−v. tdm_n³lpUnsâ Gähpw hnizkvX\mb
A\pbmbn.

enän tPm¬
tdm_n³ lpUns\¡mÄ HcSn s]m¡w IqSpXepÅ t]mcmfn. tdm_n³lpUns\
At\zjn¨v sjÀhqUv h\¯nse¯pIbpw BfdnbmsX tdm_n³lpUpambn
t\cn«p Zzμzbp²¯n GÀs¸SpIbpw sN¿p¶p. tdm_n³lpUnsâ
hnizkvX\mb AwKc£I\mbn amdp¶p.

sjco^v Hm^v t\m«nMvlmw
t\m«nMvlmanse t]meokv ta[mhn. {]n³kv tPm¬ Gev]n¡p¶
{IqcIrXy§Ä \S¸m¡n \m«n kam[m\w D−m¡m³ {ian¡p¶p. tdm_n³
lpUn\m kaÀ°ambn I_fn¸n¡s¸Sp¶p.

ssat¡Â SIv
aT¯nse At´hmknbmb {_ZÀ ssat¡Â. {Iqc·mcmb _nj¸v, aTm[n]³
F¶nhtcmSp Ieln¨v, aT¯nÂ\n¶v ]pd¯m¡s¸Sp¶p. sjÀhqUv h\¯nÂ
kzbw Xmhfsamcp¡n tdm_n³lpUnsâ klmbnbmbn amdp¶p.

kÀ dn¨mÀUv Hm^v seKv
dn¨mÀUv cmPmhn\pth−n {]hÀ¯n¡p¶ Hcp {]`p. Hcp XhW aTm[n]sâ
IS¡mc\mbn amdn. ISw ho«m³ klmbn¨Xv tdm_n³lpUmWv.

_nj¸v
tdm_n³lpUns\ Im«nÂh¨v ]nSnIqSm³ {]n³kv tPmWnt\mSv klmbw tXSn.
thmÀamt\msSm¸w sjÀhqUv h\¯nse¯n. tdm_n³lpUnsâ ]nSnbneIs¸«v
ssIbn IcpXnb [\saÃmw \ãs¸Sp¯n.
{]mcw`w

tlÌnMvkv bp²¯n\p tijw Cw¥−n bYmÀ° kam[m\w CÃmXmbn.

tPXmhmb hneyw ]nSn¨ {]tZi§Ä A\pbmbnIÄ¡p
hn`Pn¨psImSp¡pIbmWp−mbXv. CXns\s¨mÃn kmIvk¬ hÀ¤hpw t\mÀa³
hn`mKhpw X½n XÀ¡§Ä \ne\n¶p. t\mÀa³{]`p¡fpw CS{]`p¡fpw
AhcpsS t]mcmfnIfpw a¡fpw t]c¡p«nIfpsaÃmw kmIvk¬hÀ¤s¯ shdpw
ASnaIfmbn¯s¶ IW¡m¡n. `qanbnse Dugnbthebv¡pw bp²¯nse
tkhI¸Wn¡pw Iq«psa¶ÃmsX bmsXmcphn[ AhImihpw AhÀ¡v
A\phZn¨ncp¶nÃ.
]{´−mw \qäm−n Cw¥−v Hcp A[n\nthicmPyw am{Xambncp¶p. CXnsâ
^eambn Iem]§fpw acW§fpw kw`hn¨psIm−ncp¶p. ImSpIÄ
FÃmwXs¶ \nbaewLIcpsSbpw Iq«¡hÀ¨¡mcpsSbpw Xmhfambn amdn.
cmPmhnsâ kz¯v F¶ \nebn ImSv kwc£nXtaJebmbncp¶Xn\mÂ
AhnsSbpÅ am\pIsf sImÃp¶Xp ]ngbSbvt¡− Ipäambn
{]Jym]n¨ncp¶p.«
1160 Bbt¸mÄ ØnXnKXnIÄ Aev]w amdnsb¦nepw t\mÀa³ hn`mKhpambn
A{X ASp¸ap−mbncp¶nÃ. t\m«nMvlmanse tPmÀPv Kymwsh F¶
kmIvk¬ {]`p Xsâ aIfmb tPml¶tbmSv ssIhnse _tdmWnsâ aI\mb
hneyw ^nävkqXv t{]am`yÀ°\ \S¯p¶Xp t{]mÕmln¸n¨nÃ.
tPmÀPv Kymwsh £n{]tIm]nbpw {Iqc\pambncp¶p. t\mÀa³ hn`mK¡mÀ
sNbvX sXäpIÄ At±lw ad¶nÃ.
bphmhmb hneyw ^nävkqXnsâ A½bpw hey½bpw kmIvkWmbncp¶p.
AXn\m kmIvk¬ Ft¶m t\mÀa³ Ft¶m Abmsf IcpXmw. F¦nepw Hcp
{_n«ojvImcs\¶p k¦ev]n¨v cmPy¯nsâ kpc£bv¡pw t£a¯n\pw th−n
\oXn]qÀhw {]hÀ¯n¡m\mWv B{Kln¨Xv.
hneyansâ hnNmc§Ä tPmÀPv {]`p ]cnKWn¨nÃ. Xsâ ho«n IS¶phccpXv
F¶p hne¡pIbpw sNbvXp. aIfpsS ]£hpw AbmÄ {i²n¨nÃ. i]n¡s¸«
t\mÀa\pambn bmsXmcp _Ôhpw ]mSnsöv Ahsf hne¡n.
tPml¶ IcªpsIm−pt]msb¦nepw ]nXmhns\ A\pkcn¨nÃ. B
cm{Xnbn hneyw ^nIvkqXv AhfpsS P\mebv¡p Xmsg h¶p \n¶p.
PohnXImew apgph³ ]ckv]chnizmkt¯msS {]hÀ¯n¡psa¶v AhÀ
{]XnÚ sNbvXp. hoSn\Sp¯pÅ Nm¸enÂh¨v AhÀ clkyhnhmlw \S¯n.
F¶m CtX¡pdn¨v kÀ tPmÀPn\p bmsXmcp [mcWbpw D−mbncp¶nÃ.
FÃm cm{XnIfnepw hneyw tPml¶sb kμÀin¨p. Ccp«¯v P\eneqsS
AhfpsS apdnbn IbdpIbpw {]`mX¯n\papt¼ Xncn¨pt]mIpIbpw sNbvXp.
A[nIw sshImsX, hneyw ^nävkqXn\v kz´w ]nXmhnt\msSm¸w e−
\nte¡p t]mtI−nh¶p. ]n¶oSv Kymwshen Xncns¨¯nbt¸mÄ tPml¶
clkyambn Ab¨ Hcp I¯v Hcp ZqX³ sIm−ph¶p sImSp¯p.
 "Rm³ Hcp Ipg¸¯neIs¸«ncn¡p¶p' F¶v Bcw`n¡p¶ I¯n tPml¶
XpSÀ¶v FgpXnbncn¡p¶p: "Imcy§sfÃmw Ipgªpadnªncn¡p¶p. hfsc
{]bmks¸«mWv Hmtcm Znhkhpw XÅn\o¡p¶Xv. ]nXmhv Imcy§sfÃmw
Adnbpw. At¸mÄ F´p kw`hn¡psa¶v Adnbm³ h¿. hneyans\ ]nSnIqSn
Xq¡nent«¡mw. Ft¶mSv F´mWp {]hÀ¯n¡p¶sX¶v Duln¡m³
Ignbp¶nÃ. \½psS Ip«n P\n¡pt¼mÄ AXnt\mSv F§s\ s]cpamdpw?
AdnªpIqSm. Fsâ ASpt¯¡p thK¯n hctW. Fs¶ Zqsc
FhntSs¡¦nepw sIm−pt]mIq. hneyansâ Ic§fn kpc
£nXambn¯ocpwhsc `bw Fs¶ hn«p]ncnbpsa¶p tXm¶p¶nÃ.'
I¯p hmbn¨Xn\ptijw hnizkvXcmb aq¶v A\pbmbnIsf hnfn¨v
sjÀhqUv h\¯n AhÀ¡pth−n Xmhfsamcp¡phm³ hneyw Bhiys¸«p.
aIsf ImWmXmbm kÀ tPmÀPv XoÀ¨bmbpw hneyans\ kwibn¡pw.
BZywXs¶ sskan At\zjn¡pIbpw sN¿pw. AXn\m ap³IcpXÂ
BhiyamWv.
kqcy³ AkvXan¨pIgnªt¸mÄ hneyapw A\pbmbnIfpw KymwshenÂ
F¯n. ]qt´m«hpw IS¶v AhÀ tPml¶bpsS P\en\p Xmsg sN¶p\n¶p.
tPml¶ Ahsc Im¯ncn¡pIbmbncp¶p. F{Xbpw thK¯n AhnsS\n¶p
t]mIWw. Nph¶ s\Sp¦³ AwKhkv{Xw \mept]cpIqSn ]nSn¨psIm−p Xmsg
\n¶p. AhÄ ss[cyambn AXnte¡v DuÀ¶nd§n. hneyw Ahsf ssIIÄsIm
−p Xm§n¸nSn¨p. AhÀ KymwshenÂ\n¶p \nÈ_vZamb h\¯nte¡p t]mbn.
\nemhn ]¨neIÄ an¶p¶ h\¯n CSbv¡v Hcp aq§ aqfpItbm Ipdp¡³
HmcnbnSpItbm sN¿p¶ iÐw am{Xta D−mbncp¶pÅq.
t\cw ]peÀ¶v tPmÀPv DWÀ¶t¸mÄ aIsf ImWmbvIbm B{inXsc
hnfn¨p tNmZyw sNbvXp.
BbnsS I− Zpxkz]v\w At±ls¯ `oXnbnemgv¯n. aIÄ D¸pISenÂ
ap§n¯mgp¶p F¶ Zpc\p`hw D−mIcptX F¶v ssZht¯mSv At]£n¨p.
amfnIbnse tkhIÀ hmfpw [cn¨v \mep]mSpw ]mªp. h\]meIÀ A¼pw
hnÃpta´n IpXnt¨mSn. aIsf I−p]nSn¨nsæn FÃm¯ns\bpw
sIm¶pIfbpsa¶v {]`p `ojWns¸Sp¯n.
HSphn th«¡mcpsS Xeh³ c−p th«\mbv¡sfbpw sIm−ph¶v hneyw
^nävkqXns\ tXSn sjÀhqUv h\¯nte¡p ]pds¸«p.
Aev]kab¯n\Iw AhÀ tPml¶bpsS ASps¯¯n. AhÄ Hcp
hÅn¡pSnen Xsâ aIs\ Xmtemen¨psIm−ncn¡pIbmbncp¶p.
tPmÀPv {]`p Ducn¸nSn¨ hmfpambn \net¯¡p NmSnbnd§n. tPml¶ At
±l¯nsâ t\sc ]p©ncns]mgn¨psIm−v t]c¡p«nsb
ssIIfnÂh¨psImSp¯p. At±lw hmÄ Xmsgbn«v Ip«nsb Npw_n¨psIm−p
]dªp:
"\nsâ ]nXmhns\ Xq¡nenSWsa¶v Rm³ hnNmcn¨p F¦nepw \nsâ A½
Fs¶ kvt\ln¡p¶p. \o Fsâ t]c¡p«nXs¶.'
]n¶oSv tPml¶tbmSv tNmZn¨p: "FhnsS B Zpã³?'
 At¸mtg¡pw ac¯n\p adªp\n¶ncp¶ hneyw ^nävkqXv {]Xy£s¸«p.
FÃmw £an¡Wsa¶pw s]mdp¡Wsa¶pw At]£n¨p. am{XaÃ, Xsâ
{]nbXabpsSbpw ]IpXn kmIvk¬ Bb aIsâbpw kpc£bv¡mbn
kmIvk¬ hn`mK¯nsâ kulmÀ±w A`yÀ°n¡pIbpw sNbvXp.
{]`p AhÀ¡v \· t\À¶p.
h\¯n P\n¨ tdm_À«v F¶ tdm_n³ a®nt\mSpw ]mhs¸«htcmSpw
IqdpÅh\mbn hfÀ¶phcs« F¶v {]`p Biwkn¨p.
sjÀhqUnsâ Bßmhv

dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv H¶ma³, dn¨mÀUv IuÀþUnþeb¬ 1189þÂ BWv

Øm\mtcmlWw sNbvXXv. XmaknbmsX "kmcsk\p'IfnÂ\n¶v
Pdpkteans\ tamNn¸n¡m³ cmPmhv knwlmk\w XyPn¨v Hcp
Ipcnipbp²¯n GÀs¸SpIbmbncp¶p. F¶m \m«n Iem]w
s]m«n¸pds¸«t¸mÄ aS§m³ Xocpam\n¨p. aS¡bm{XbnÂ, i{Xp¡fpsS
]nSnbnÂs¸«v Pbnenembn. FhnsSsb¶mcpadnªnÃ. Fs¶¦nepw
Xncn¨phcpsa¶v Cw¥−nemcpw hnizkn¨panÃ.
\mSp hnSpt¼mÄ _nj¸v "Cen'sbbmWv cmPy`cWw Gev]n¨Xv. F¶mÂ
cmPmhnsâ Ip\njvS_p²nbmb ktlmZc³ {]n³kv tPm¬ "Cen'bn h©
\m¡päw Btcm]n¨v kzbw `cWtasäSp¯p.«
tPm¬ AXn{Iqc\mbncp¶p. AbmfpsS A\pNc·mcpw A§s\Xs¶.
FÃmhÀ¡pw [\w thWw. AXn\pÅ Ffp¸hgn h©\bpw
\nbahncp²{]hÀ¯\hpw Btcm]n¨v [\nIsc \nba{`ãcmbn {]Jym]n¡pI,
AhcpsS kÀÆ kz¯pw IogS¡pI, Ahsc sImÃp¶hÀ¡v ]mcntXmjnIw
{]Jym]n¡pI CsXÃmamWv.
kz¯p ]nSns¨Sp¯p Ignªm {]n³kv tPm¬ Xsâ Hc\pbmbnsb AhnsS
{]XnjvTn¡pw. sNdp Irjn¡mcnÂ\n¶pw sXmgnemfnIfnÂ\n¶pw AhÀ ho−pw
]Ww ]nSp§pw. Zpcaq¯ _nj¸pamcpw aTm[n]XnIfpw C§s\ ]Ww
hkqem¡nbncp¶p.
cmPys¯ {Iakam[m\¯n\v sjco^nsâ Iogn kmbp[kwLap−v.
AhÀ¡v \à {]Xn^ehpw cmPmhv \evIp¶p. F¦nepw AhÀ P\§fnÂ\n¶v
_eambn ]Ww ssI¸änt¸m¶p.
t\m«nMvlmanse sjco^pw A¯c¡mc³Xs¶. sjÀhqUv h\¯nsâ
AcnInemWv Cu \Kcw. Hcp XhW {]n³kv tPm¬ h¶v AhnsS tImSXn
Øm]n¨t¸mÄ Xsâ hnizmkyXbpw Iqdpw ImWn¡m³ AbmÄ X{Xs¸«p.
Hcp kmbmÓ¯n sjco^pw kwLhpwIqSn Hcp am³th«¡mcs\ ]nSnIqSn.
]W¯n\mbn Ahsâ IpSnen Xncsª¦nepw H¶pw In«nbnÃ. IpSnen\v
AhÀ Xosh¨p.
"\n\¡v h\\nba§Ä AdnbmatÃm.' sjco^v ISp¯ kzc¯nÂ
kwkmcn¨pXpS§n: "sI«nbn«v, ]gp¸n¨ Ccp¼v Ahsâ I®nÂhbv¡v. F¶n«v
Agn¨phnSv.'
"At¿m!' Ah³ Zo\ambn tIWp: "asä´pthWsa¦nepw sNbvtXmfq. I®p
s]m«n¨m ssZhw \n§sf in£n¡pw. IcpW tXm¶tW...'
sjco^nsâ {]hÀ¯\w ImWm³ Cu kab¯v {]n³kv tPm¬ F¯n.
FÃmhcpw I¯p¶ hndIn\p Npäpw \nev]mWv.
"F´mWnhnsS cm{Xn¸Wn?' {]n³kv tPm¬ XpSÀ¶p: "sjco^v, Ahsâ
\mhp apdn¡bmWmZyw sNt¿−Xv. F¶m kwKXn clkyhpw
\nÈ_vZhpamIpw. Asæn tdm_n³ lpUv h¶v c£s¸Sp¯pw. ]mekvXo³
cmPmhnsâ Dd¡¯n\pw `wKw hcpw.'
sjco^v {]XnbpsS apJ¯Sn¨p: "an−tÃ, \msb. {]n³kvtPmWnsâ
km¶n[y¯n C§s\ H¨bnScpsX¶v \n\¡dnbntÃ?'
"{]n³kv tPm¬.' hoÀ¸pap«ns¡m−h³ bmNn¨p: "kÀ, ssZhs¯ HmÀ¯v
Fs¶ c£n¡q.'
"BcmWnh³? F´mWp sNbvXXv?'
"a¨v' F¶mWv Chsâ t]cv. HcpIme¯v anÃdmbncp¶p. I−ntÃ, Ahsâ c
−p hncepIÄ Adp¯Xv? AXpXs¶ Ahsâ IY ]dbpw. \nbaw
A\pkcn¡m¯h³. am\ns\ sImÃp¶ Ipä¯n\v I®p Xpfbv¡pIbmWv in
£. aq¶mwXhWbmsW¦n Xq¡nteäpw. I®p t]mbm Ah\v
shSnhbv¡m³ BhnÃtÃm. aW¯dnªv shSnhbv¡p¶hs\ Rm\nXphsc I
−n«nÃ. lm... l... l.'
`b¶phnd¨v ap«pIp¯n\nev¡p¶ a¨v, {]n³kv tPmWnt\mSv k¦Sw
DWÀ¯n¨p:
"th«bv¡pÅ Øew hn]peam¡m³ AhÀ Fsâ anÃv I¯n¨pIfªp.
th«bÃmsX, R§Ä¡p `£W¯n\p aäp amÀ¤anÃ. Nq−phnc CÃmsX
t\À¡pt\À\n¶v shSnhbv¡m\pamhnÃ. c−p a¡fp−v F\n¡v. ]«nWnImcWw
Hcp¯³ acn¨p. sNdnbh³ `£W¯n\mbn Icbp¶p. Hcp Imfsbt¸mse
F¶pw ]pÃpXn¶v Ignbm³ ]äp¶nÃ.'
"Hm, \n\¡t¸mÄ \Ã `£Ww thWatÃ? AXpw cmPmhnsâ am\ns\?'
tPm¬ ]pÑ`mh¯n ]dªp: "sjco^v, Cu tdm_n³lpUv F¶h³
BcmWv? [\nI\mtWm? Irjn`qanbpÅh\mtWm? ]gb kmIvk¬
hn`mK¯nÂs¸«ht\m? hnUvVnbmsbmcp {`m´³.' Chs\t¸mepÅ
\nbaewLIÀ¡v klmbw F¯n¡p¶ Ahs\hnsSbmWv?'
]ns¶, a¨ns\ t\m¡ns¡m−v XpSÀ¶p: "AXp ]dbv. F¶n«v
Igpac¯nte¡p t]mIm³ X¿mdmbn \nsâ I®pIÄ kq£n¨phbv¡v.'
"Ah\msc¶v F\n¡dnbnÃ, Im«nÂ\n¶mWv hcnI. sjÀhqUnsâ Bßmhv
F¶mWv P\w hnfn¡pI. klmbw F¯n¨v DS³ Xncn¨pt]mIpw. hcp¶Xpw
t]mIp¶Xpw Bcpw ImWmdnÃ.' a¨v hnd¨psIm−p ]dªp.
"^m, Ahs\ sIm−pt]m.'
\mept]À a¨ns\ hen¨ng¨p. A©ma³ Np«p]gp¸n¨ Ccp¼pambn ]pdsIbpw.
s]s«¶v Hcpd¨ \nehnfntbmsS a¨v ]nSn hnSphn¨p. Hcp¯sâ hmÄ
]nSns¨Sp¯v tPmWn\Spt¯¡v HmSn. F¶m ASps¯¯pwap¼v At¼äp
hoWpacn¨p.
"AXp \¶mbn. acn¨h\pth−n tdm_n³ lpUv hcnÃtÃm? BcmWv
A¼b¨Xv?'
]¨ taev¡p¸mbw [cn¨v Idp¯p IpÅ\mb Hcph³ {]n³kvtPmWns\
hμn¨p\n¶p.
 "{]t`m, Rm³ thmÀam³ BWv. l−nMvS¬ {]`phmb tdm_À«v^nävkqXnsâ
Imcyس.
tIm]¯m tPmWnsâ apJw h{In¨p: "l−nMvS¬ {]`p!' AbmÄ
]pÑ`mh¯n ]dªp: "tUhnUv ImdnIv BWv {]`p. t\mÀXw_Àem³Unsâ
aI³. ]ns¶, CsX´`n\bw!'
"£an¡q, {]t`m.' thmÀam³ hyàam¡n: "kmIvk¬ ]c¼cbnepÅ
A½bpsS XmbvhgnbnÂs¸« ^oävkqXns\bmWv P\w {]`phmbn
IW¡m¡p¶Xv. At±lw Fsâ bPam\\mWv. asämcpXc¯n At±ls¯
ImWm\mhnsÃ\n¡v.'
{]n³kv tPm¬ Xebm«n: "{]`psh¶v ]dbs¸Sp¶hs\ F\n¡v
IqSpXednbWw. Ah³ hnizkvX\mbncn¡psa¶v \o IcpXp¶ntÃ?'
"dn¨mÀUv cmPmhnt\mStÃ. AsX, hnizkvX\mWv.' thmÀam³ AÀ°h¯mbn
]dªp.
"dn¨mÀUv, dn¨mÀUv. FhnsSbpw dn¨mÀUvXs¶.' tPm¬ Nodn: "dn¨mÀUv N¯p.
Asæn N¯Xpt]mse, GtXm Ccp«dbn \in¡p¶p. AbmfpsS
kvXpXn]mTIs\ Hcn¡epw Is−¯p¶panÃ. Rm\mWv cmPmhv! ]t£, t]cnÂ,
am{XanÃ. Bs«, Cu ^nävkqXv [\nI\mtWm?'
"]−v [mcmfw \neap−mbncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ hoSpw Ipd¨p Øehpw am{Xw.
_m¡nsbÃmw hnäp.'
"F¶m s]«n \ndsb kzÀ®ambncn¡pw!' tPm¬ BÀ¯ntbmsS apc−p.
ImcyØ\mb X\n¡pt]mepw AXdnbnsömbn thmÀam³.
"]WwsIm−v Nne kzImcymhiy§Ä Ds−¶dnbmw. kplr¯pw AwKc
£I\pamb hneyw kvImXvtem¡n\p am{Xta A¡mcyw Adnbq.'
"Cu Adnbs¸Sm¯hs\ F\ns¡§s\ H¶p ImWm\mhpw? F¶mtem,
cmPyt{Zmls¯¸än Fs´¦nepsam¶p tI«mÂ... \o ]dªXp
icnbmsW¦nÂ...'
"Fsâ bPam\\v FXncmbnt«m?' thmÀam³ XpSÀ¶p: "F\n¡t±ls¯
NXn¡m\mhptam? F¶mÂ, F\n¡v \n§tfmSpÅ ISabmWv FÃmänepw
hepXv. Hcp Imcyw ]dbmw. \msf tdm_À«v {]`p, ^nävkv hmÄ«À {]`phnsâ
aIfmb teUn acnbs\ IeymWw Ign¡Ww. C¶p cm{Xn temIvÉnlmfnÂ
Kw`ocamb A¯mghncp¶v \S¡pw. Bcpw {i²n¡s¸SnÃ. \n§fpw sjco^pw
\tSmSnXoÀ°mSIsct¸mse {]Ѷcmbn hcWw. dn¨mÀUv cmPmhns\¸än
IYIÄ ]dbWw.'
"]cn]mSn \¶v.' {]n³kv tPm¬ A`n{]mbs¸«p: "\o FsâIqsS thWw.
sjco^nsâ A\pNc·mcpw thWw. kabw Ifbm\nÃ. N¯ \mbsb AhnsS
hnSv. tdm_n³ lpUv hcpt¼mÄ I−psImÅs«.'
Ccp− kÔybnte¡hÀ bm{Xbmbn. sjÀhqUv \nÈÐamWv.
X£Ww, s]m´¡mSpIfnÂ\n¶v Nne Ccp− cq]§Ä ]pd¯nd§n.
a¨nsâ ih¯n\cnInse¯n. a¨nsâ hoSncp¶ Øe¯p\n¶v ]pI Dbcp¶p.
"Ah³ acn¨p. I®v Ip¯ns¸m«n¡p¶Xns\¡mÄ \¶mbn.'
 "\½psS cmPmhv Xncns¨¯pt¼mÄ kwKXn sa¨s¸Spambncn¡pw.'
Hcn¡epw Xncn¨ph¶nsæntem? At¸mÄ {]n³kv tPm¬ cmPmhmIpw.
ssZhw \t½mSv Ir] ImWnt¨¡pw.'
"CXm, acn¨hsâ aI\mWnXv. Ch\pth−n \aps¡´p sN¿m\mhpw? aIsâ
hni¸pamäm³ Hcp am\ns\ As¼bvXp ]nSn¡m\mWv CbmÄ t]mbXv.
\½nemcmWv Ip«nbpsS kwc£Ww Gev¡pI?'
_me\mb a¨v, ]nXmhnsâ ihicoc¯n\p kao]w ap«pIp¯n Icªp:
"tdm_n³ lpUv, Chs\ ]«nWn¡nSnÃ. CXm, hn kvImÀeäv Hcp Nm¡v sIm
−phcp¶p. ssZhw tdm_n³ lpUns\ A\p{Kln¡s«!'
GXm−v \mev]Xp hbÊptXm¶n¡p¶ Hcph³ AhnsSsb¯n.
Nph¸phkv{XamWv [cn¨ncn¡p¶Xv.
ss[cyambncn¡q N§mXnamtc. bPam\\mb tdm_n³ lpUv
Ab¨XmsW¶pw sjco^pw Iq«mfnIfpw Im«nemsW¶v bPam\\v Adnbmw.
AhÀ Iãs¸SpIXs¶ sN¿pw.'
kvImÀeäv, _mesâ kao]w \n¶p.
AbmÄ XpSÀ¶p: "AhÀ \nsâ AÑs\ sIm¶p. Cu A¼v t\m¡pI.
t\m«nMvlmw Bbp[¸pcbnepÅXÃ CXv. Fsâ bPam\\pw Iq«pImcpw
D]tbmKn¡p¶Xpt]mepÅ H¶mWv.'
_me\mb a¨v ]dªp: "Rm³ \n§tfmsSm¸w bPam\s\ tkhn¡mw.
F\n¡v ]{´−p hbtÊ DÅq. F¶mÂ, ZpxJ§Ä R§sf s]s«¶v
apXnÀ¶hcm¡p¶p. Rm³ ]Iho«pw.'
"{]XnImcs¯¡pdn¨v ]dbcpXv.' kvImÀeäv XpSÀ¶p: "\oXn¡pth−nbmWv
t]mcmtS−Xv. FsâIqsS hm. \ns¶t¸msemcp [ocs\ R§Ä¡p thWw.'
"Bbv, Bbv' F¶v FÃmhcpw BËmZiÐw ]pds¸Sphn¨p.
"\n§fpsS bPam\s\ h©n¡msX \n¶XpsIm−mWv hr²\mb a¨ns\
ChÀ sIm¶pIfªXv. tdm_n³ lpUns\bpw dn¨mÀUv cmPmhns\bpw ssZhw
c£n¡s«.'
temIvÉnbnse tdm_À«v \nba{`ã\mbsX§s\?

hncp¶p Ignª cm{Xnbn temIvÉn lmfn ØnXn im´w. ASp¯Znhkw

tdm_À«v ^nävkqXpw acnb³ ^nävkv hmÄ«dpw X½nepÅ hnhmlw \S¡pw.
tdm_À«v GÄ, AXnYnIsf kzoIcn¨psIm−v s\cnt¸mSn\Sp¯v \nev¡p¶p.
ap¸Xp hbÊp tXm¶n¡p¶, Xhn«papSnbpÅ kpμc\mb Hcp bphmhv
IS¶ph¶p. AbmÄ¡v {ZpXNe\§Ä! F¶mtem, _²¸msSm«nÃXm\pw!«
teUn acnb³ ^nävkvhmÄ«À bphmhn\p kao]w sN¶p\n¶p. AhÄ¡v
Abmsf¡mÄ A©p hbÊv {]mb¡pdhv ImWp¶p−v. \Ã s]m¡apÅ kpμcn.
iàbpw \nÀ`bbpamsW¶v I−mednbmw.
FÃmhcpw ]mt\m]Nmcw sN¿p¶p. Km\¯n ]s¦Sp¡p¶p.
sshInsb¯nb c−p \mtSmSnItfmsSm¸w Imcyس thmÀam³ D−v.
en¦¬ ]¨\nd¯n DSp¸p [cn¨ HcpIq«w h\tPmen¡mÀ
hmXnen¶Sp¯p\n¶v ]mSm³ XpS§n:
"tdm_n\pw dn¨mÀUpw \oWmÄ Pohn¡s«. tPm¬ Xpeªpt]mIs«.'
"At¸mÄ Fs¶ Xncn¨dnªn«nÃ.' Ccp−\nd¡mc³ \mtSmSn ]dªp.
s]m¡apÅ Hcp h\]meI³ Hcp _mes\ ssIbv¡p ]nSn¨phcp¶p.
c−ma³ sR«n: "AXv B a¨nsâ aI\mWtÃm.'
amÌÀ thmÀam³ CXnsâ AÀ°sa´v?'
"Rm³ As¼bvXp sIm¶hsâ aIs\ sIm−ph¶Xv tdm_À«nsâ Bfmb
kvImXvtemIv BWv,'
"tdm_À«v ^nävkqXv `qan hnäv ]Ww Zpcp]tbmKs¸Sp¯p¶p. Abmsf {`ã
\m¡Ww. ]ns¶ h[n¡Ww. teUn acnb\v `À¯mhnÃmXmhpw. Knkvt_mWn\v
Ahsf ]nSn¨psImSp¡Ww. Abmsf\n¡v \sÃmcp XpI Xcpw.'
BcpwXs¶ \mtSmSnIsf kwibn¨nÃ.
]Ånbn acnb³ im´ambn \nev¡p¶p. F¶m Aѳ ^nävkvhmÄ«À Ft
´m hnja¯nemWv. tdm_À«v GÄ hnÃmfnItfmsSm¸w IpXnc¸pd¯p h¶p.
AbmÄ am{Xw DÅn h¶v acnb\p kao]w \n¶p.
XSn¨ Ipų aTm[n]Xn NS§v Bcw`n¨p.
IÀ½w ]qÀ¯nbmhpwap¼v Ducn¸nSn¨ hmfpambn Hcp ssk\nItbm²mhpw
Bbp[[mcnIfmb Ipsd A\pNc·mcpw IS¶ph¶p.
"CXv ssZh\nμbmWv.' aTm[n]XnbpsS `bhpw AaÀjhpw IeÀ¶ kzcw.
"]nSn¡hs\. Rm³ kÀ ssK Hm^v Knkvt_m¬. NS§p XSbm³ Iev]\bp
−v. CXv hmbn¡v.'
"tdm_À«v ^nävkqXv AYhm tdm_À«v GÄ Hm^v l−nMvS¬ F¶ tdm_n³
lpUv \nbahncp²\mWv. Ahsâ hkvXphIIÄ I−psI«p¶p.'
"cmPIev]\bmsW¦n AXnse ap{Z ImWn¡v. Rm³ ImWn¨ cmPh©\ F
´msW¶p ]dbv.'
"anÃdpsS aIs\ tdm_n³ lpUv hnSphn¨v temIvÉn lmfn ]mÀ¸n¨ntÃ?'
 "AXns\´v? \osbs¶ tdm_n³ lpUv F¶p hnfn¨p. {]n³kvtPm¬ B
t]cptI«v `bt¯msS Pohn¡p¶p. km[p¡sf sImÅbSn¡p¶
_nj¸pamÀ¡pw aTm[n]XnIÄ¡pw Fs¶ `bamWv. dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv ho−pw
hcpw. Cw¥−nse Cu \à `qanbn \oXn ssIhcpw.'
"teUn acnb³, \o GÄ Hm^v l−nMvSs\ kvt\ln¨pthm? sjÀhqUv
h\¯nse ]¨ne¨mÀ¯nte¡v Xncn¨ph¶ tdm_n³lpUns\ kvt\ln¨pthm?'
"CÃ. Rm³ Hcp a\pjys\ kvt\ln¡p¶p. AbmfpsS `mcybmhpw R³.'
"temUv ^nävkv hmÄ«À, A§bpsS aIsf A§bpsSXs¶ kwc£W¯nÂ
hn«pXcp¶p. dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv Xncns¨¯pt¼mÄ Ahsf Fsâ ssIIfnÂ
Gev]n¡s«.'
"{]nbapÅhtf, Ct¸mÄ \o AÑt\msSm¸w t]mhpI. ChscsbÃmw HmSn¨v,
{Ko³hpUn Rms\sâ tImSXn Øm]n¡pw.'
"\oXs¶ FÃm Ipähpw k½Xn¨tÃm. hmfph¨v IogS§v.'
an¶Â]nWsc¶h®w tdm_nsâ hmÄ DbÀ¶p. Knkvt_mWnsâ slÂaäv
XIÀ¶p. AbmÄ t_m[lo\\mbn \new]Xn¨p.
"ChnsS sIme]mXIw.' aTm[n]Xn hnfn¨pIqhn. FÃmhcpw Xn¡n¯nc¡n
]pdt¯t¡mSp¶p. tdm_nsâ A\pbmbnIÄ Knkvt_mWnsâ A\pNc·mÀ¡p
t\tc XpSsc A¼pIÄ hn«p.
^nävkvhmÄ«À {]`phpw acnb\pw BÀenMvt^mUv tIm«bpsS ZnibnemsW¶v
t_m[ys¸«t¸mÄ tdm_n³ ]SbmfnIÄ¡v ASbmfw \evIn. sjÀhqUv
h\¯neqsS temIvÉn lmfnsâ Znibnte¡v.
Knkvt_m¬ kmh[m\w Fgpt¶äncp¶p.
aTm[n]Xn, Knkvt_mWns\ `£W¯n\p £Wn¨p.
"Ahs\mcp t]m¡ncnXs¶.' sR«enÂ\n¶p apànt\Sm³ aTm[n]Xn ho−pw
ho−pw IpSn¨psIm−ncp¶p.
"Ah³ B]¡mcnbmWv. Knkvt_m¬ ]dªp.
"tdm_À«v GÄ \sÃmcp a\pjy\mWv. Cw¥−nse Gähpw \Ã hnÃmfnbpw.'
{_ZÀ ssat¡Â A`n{]mbs¸«p.
"{_ZÀ ssat¡Â, {_ZÀ ssat¡Â, \nsâ hm¡pIÄ cmPyt{ZmlamWv.'
"Ct¸mgh³ {`ã\mWv. Hc¼v Ahsâ lrZb¯n F{Xbpw t\ct¯
sImÅp¶pthm, A{Xbpw \¶v.' ssKbpsS hnem]w.
"C¯csamcmsf {`ã\m¡p¶Xv IqSpX B]¡camWv.
AhsâXmbsXÃmw \n§Ä X«nsbSp¯p Pohn¡m\mWv Ah³ sImÅ
sN¿p¶Xv. \n§Ä¡mÀ¡pw Ah\nÂ\n¶p c£s¸Sm\mhnÃ.' ssa¡Â ho
−pw A`n{]mbs¸«p.
"^nävkvhmÄ«À {]`p Xsâ aIsf ^nävkqXn\p sImSp¡m\nSbmbsX§s\?
Ah³ tdm_n³ lpUv BsW¶v Adnªncp¶ntÃ?' ssK tNmZn¨p.
"Ahsfmcp \à s]¬Ip«nbmWv. AhÄ¡\ptbmPy³ tdm_n³lpUvXs¶.'
ssat¡Â A`n{]mbs¸«p.
"Hcp ]mXncnbpsS Ip¸mbw \nsâ tZl¯v CÃmbncps¶¦n Rm³ \nsâ
XesbSp¡pambncp¶p.' ssK Bt{Imin¨p.
"\n\¡p Rm³ in£ sh¨n«p−v.' aTm[n]Xn.
"AXn\v Rm\nhnsS \nev¡p¶nÃ. BÀenMvt^mÀUv tIm«bnte¡v F\n¡p
£Wap−v.'
"Rm\pw hcmw.' ssK ]dªp.
sjÀhqUv h\¯nse \nba{`ãÀ

kÀ ssK Hm^v Knkvt_m¬ AXncmhnse BÀenMv t^mÀUv tIm«bnte¡v

bm{Xbmbn. {_ZÀ ssa¡emWv Iq«n\v.
Hcp ]m«p ]mSns¡m−mWv ssa¡ensâ khmcn. Ahs\ aT¯nÂ\n¶p
]pd¯m¡nbXmWv. Hcp \nba{`ãs\ ]pIgv¯nbXn\mÂ, "C\n taen \o
{_ZÀ AÃ; ChnsS h¶Imes¯t¸mse shdpw ssa¡Â SIv BWv. C\n
\nsâ apJw ChnsS I−pt]mbm Rm³ hmXneSbv¡pw.' Ip]nX\mb
aTm[n]Xn ]dªp.«
"F¶m¸ns¶ Rm³ t]mIp¶p. Ignhps−¦n ho−pw ]nSn¡mw.' ssa¡Â
]mSns¡m−v bm{Xbmbn:
"tI«mepw, \mbv¡Ä Ipcbv¡p¶p,
Im«pam\nsâ Kplsb t\m¡n
\mbv¡Ä ho−pw Ipcbv¡p¶p
th«¡mc³ Imes¯Woäp
Kpltbm iq\yw; am\nÃ
FhnsSsb¶padnbnÃ!'
tIm« I−t¸mÄ Ah³ ]m«p \nÀ¯n.
"Xncn¨pt]mIbmWp \ÃXv, {]t`m.'
"F´n\v? ^nävkv hmÄ«À {]`phn\v F´mbmepw tdm_n³ lpUns\
AwKoIcn¡m\mhnÃ.' Ah³ Nncn¨p.
teUn acnb³ ^nävkvhmÄ«dn\v AXp km[n¡pw. Hcp kqNnsb¡mÄ
AhÀ¡p hg§pI, A¼pXs¶.'
{]`p Ahsc kzoIcn¨p.
"Fsâ aIsf Hcp \nba{`ã³ hnhmlw sN¿tWm? Hfn¨p\S¡p¶h³! th
−, \n§sf\n¡v hensbmcp]ImcamWv sNbvXXv. C\n Ah\pambn Hcp
CS]mSpansÃ\n¡v; Fsâ aIÄ¡pw.'
"F¶m ]Ån ]IpXn IeymWw \S¯nbtÃm.' ssa¡Ä XpSÀ¶p: "AhfpsS
lrZbw, AXv ]qÀ®am¡pIbpw sNbvXp.'
"NS§v ]qÀ¯nbmbnÃ. AXpsIm−v Rm\Xp hIhbv¡p¶nÃ.'
"IeymWw kzÀ¤¯nemWv \S¡pI. kvt\lw ssZh¯nsâ thebmWv.
Rms\m¶pw ]dbp¶nÃ.'
"NS§v ]IpXnh¨v \ne¨p. AXn\m kzÀ¤¯nÂ\n¶v AwKoImcw
Csöpd¸v. am{Xaà Rms\sâ aIsf l−nMvk¬ {]`phn\mWv \evIpI.'
"tImÀþUnþeb¬ A´ÊpÅ cmPmhpXs¶. ^nävkqXv A´ÊpÅ
amS¼nbpw.'
"Ah\p am¸nÃ.' kÀssK CSs]«p. Ah³ cmPmhnsâ {]PIsf sImÃp¶p.
sjco^ns\ Aham\n¡p¶p.'
^nävkvhmÄ«À tZjywsIm−p Nph¶p. B kabw teUn acnb³ IS¶ph¶p.
en¦¬ ]¨thjw, ssIIfn Hcp hnÃpw Bh\mgnbn A¼pIfpw.
"FhntS¡v?' ]nXmhv Aedn.
"{Ko³hpUnte¡v.' AhÄ im´bmbn samgnªp.
"t]mIcpXv.'
"Rm³ t]mhpIbmWv.'
"Rm³ ]mew hen¡pw.'
"Rm³ \o´pw.'
"Rm³ tKäv ]q«pw.'
"Rm³ NmSn¡S¡pw.'
"apIfnse apdnbn ]q«nbnSpw.'
"Rm³ bh\nI Xq¡nbn«v AXn ]nSn¨nd§pw.'
"Rm³ \ns¶ tKm]pcapdnbn ]q«nbnSpw.'
"Rms\mcp c£mamÀ¤w Is−¯pw. AÑm, Fs¶ kzX{´ambn hn«m Rm³
kza\Êmse Xncn¨phcpw. ]t£, Hcn¡Â ]q«nbn«mÂ, F\n¡v ]pd¯p
IS¡m\mbm ]n¶osSmcn¡epw Xncn¨phcnÃ. tdm_n³ Fs¶ Im«nÂ
Im¯ncn¸p−v. C¶se ]IpXnbm¡nh¨ IÀ½w C¶p ]qÀ¯nbm¡pw.'
"\n§Ä \¶mbn kwkmcn¡p¶p.' ssa¡Â A`n{]mbs¸«p.
"tamiambn kwkmcn¡p¶p.' ^nävkvhmÄ«À Aedn: "Cu \nanjw ChnS¶v
]pd¯p t]m. \o tdm_n³ lpUpambn Iq«pIqSnbncn¡p¶p. AsX\n¡dnbmw.
ho−pw h¶m Rm³ \ns¶ Nm«hmdpsIm−Sn¡pw; ]mXncnbmbmepw.'
"Rm³ t]mIp¶p. \ZoXocs¯ k¶ymknaT¯nte¡v.'
Ah³ ]mSns¡m−v \S¶pt]mbn:
"k¶ymknaTw tXSnt¸mWq Rm³
P]aWnIÄ sNmÃpw Rm³ GIs\¶v...
F³ sNehmcp hln¨oSptam?
F³ {]mÀ°\bpsS Np¦w aXn...
"AbmÄ¡{X aXn.' ^nävkv hmÄ«À ]dªp: "C\n B XeXncnª
s]®nt\m?'
"Hcp `À¯mhv.' kÀ ssK AÀ°wh¨v ]dªp: "Ahsf AS¡n\nÀ¯m³
AXmWp th−Xv.'
"Mvlm, Hcp `À¯mhv. Rm³ XncsªSp¯h³. {]n³kv tPmWpambn
s]mcp¯s¸Sp¶, `qanbpw k¼¯papÅ Hcp ssk\nI¸SbmfnbmWv \ÃXv.'
AbmÄ Knkvt_mWns\ ASnapSn t\m¡n:
"Aѳ XncsªSp¡p¶hs\ F\n¡p th−. Rm³ tdm_n³lpUns\bmWv
hcn¡pI.'
"Rm³ \ns¶ Ccp«dbn ASbv¡pw.' AbmÄ Aedn.
"Fs¶ c£n¡m³ tdm_n³ tIm« s]mfn¡pw.' ]ns¶ Kuch¯n ]dªp:
"AÑm, Fs¶ {Ko³hpUn t]mIm\\phZn¡v. Rm³ Xncn¨phcpw. AÑsâ
A\phmZanÃmsX H¶panÃ. Asæn dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv Xncns¨¯n, R§sf
hnhmlw Ign¸n¡p¶Xphsc.'
 AÑ\v Hcp Npw_\w AÀ¸n¨v AhÄ s]s«¶v ]pd¯nd§nt¸mbn.
"tdm_n³ lpUns\ ]nSn¨psI«nbtijwam{Xw \o Fsâ aIsf tNmZn¡m³
ChnsS h¶m aXn.'
"Rm³ FÃm X{´§fpw Hcp¡nbn«p−v. Rm³ aT¯nte¡p t]mIp¶p.'
X\n¡v Hcp¡nb sIWnsb¸än tdm_À«v ^nävkqXv F¶ tdm_n³ lpUv
t_m[hm\mbncp¶p.
hnhmlaÞ]¯nÂ\n¶v ]pd¯pt]mtI−nh¶ tdm_n³lpUpw Iq«pImcpw
sjÀhqUv h\¯nte¡mWp t]mbXv.
"Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUv BsW¶p \n§Ä¡dnbmatÃm. At\I hÀj§fmbn
{]`p¡fpsS, `q{]amWnamcpsS, _nj¸nsâ, aTm[n]cpsS, sjco^nsâsbÃmw
{IqcXbpw A\oXnbpw Fsâ t\tc {]tbmKn¡s¸Sp¶p. C\n \n§Ä
kzX{´cmWv. Rm³ {Ko³hpUnte¡p t]mIp¶p. AhnsS Iq«pImÀ Fs¶
Im¯p\nev]mWv. Fs¶ AhcpsS t\Xmhm¡nbXmWv. \Ã
As¼bv¯pImct\m {]`pthm BbXpsIm−Ã. `cn¡m³ HcmÄ thWw. Rm³
A¯cw Hcp hwi¯nÂs¸« BfpamWv.
"Fsâ IqsS C\nbpw \nev¡m³ B{KlapÅhÀ¡v H¸w hcmw.
IpSpw_apÅhÀ GXmbmepw aS§nt¸mIWw. Rm³ C\n taen tdm_À«v
^nävkqtXm l−nMvS¬ {]`pthm AÃ; tdm_n³ lpUv am{XamWv.
"FÃmhcpw \oXn¡pw ImcpWy¯n\pwth−n \nesImÅWw.
ssZhkvt\lhpw thWw. h©\ Hcn¡epw AcpXv. dn¨mÀUv Xncn¨phcpt¼mÄ
ChnSs¯ `oIc`cW¯n\v A´yw Ipdn¡pw.'
Ipd¨pt]À \nÈÐw ]ncnªpt]mbn.
tdm_n³ lpUpw _m¡nbpÅhcpw sjÀhqUv h\m´À`mKt¯¡p \o§n.
DbcwIqSnb Hm¡pac§Ä [mcmfapÅ Øew. Ip¯s\bpÅ NcnhpIfnÂ
henb KplIÄ. Ccphi§fnepw _nÀ¨v, FÂav, sNÌv\«v ac§Ä,
apÄ¡mSpIÄ, IpXncsbbpw a\pjys\bpwIqSn Iogvs¸Sp¯p¶ henb
NXp¸p\ne§Ä.
Ahkm\`mKw hgn CSp§nbXmWv.
Hcp shfnØes¯¯n tdm_n³ lpUv Hcp Ipg hnfn¨p.
en¦¬]¨thjhpw Xhn«p\nd¯nepÅ seXÀ jqkpw AWnª
NpdpNpdp¡pÅ Iptdt¸À, c−p hoXambn KplIfnÂ\n¶v ]pd¯nd§n h¶p.
shfnØe¯v c−p henb Xo¡pÞ§Ä D−m¡n. th«arK§sf AXnen«p
thhn¨p. ]ns¶ Xhn«psdm«nbpw c−p _mc \ndsb hoªpw.
Ccp«p I\¯tXmsSm¸w ho−pw BfpIÄ hcm³ XpS§n. A³]Xdp]Xp
t]À F¯n.
"\mw IÅ·mcÃ; cmPy{`ã·mÀ am{XamWv.' tdm_n³ lpUv Ahsc
HmÀan¸n¨p: "Pohn¡m³th−n am{XamWv am\pIsf sImtÃ−nhcp¶Xv. cmPmhv
Xncn¨phcpt¼mÄ Rm\Xn\v £ambmN\w sN¿p¶XmWv. kaql¯nse
am\y·mtcmSp tNÀ¶p \S¡p¶ IÅ·mscbpw sImÅ¡mscbpw
]qgv¯nhbv]pImscbpw \mw FXnÀ¡Ww. {]n³kv tPmWns\m¸w \S¡p¶
sjco^v A[nImcw Zpcp]tbmKw sN¿p¶p. Abmsfbpw Xpc¯Ww.
"Hcp kv{Xosbbpw bmsXmcp ImcWhimepw t{Zmln¡m³ ]mSnÃ.
Bhiysa¦n AhÀ¡v klmbw F¯n¡pIbpw thWw. tbipamXmhnsâ
t]cn \mw {]XnÚ FSp¡p¶p.'
B shfn{¼tZi¯v AhÀ ap«pIp¯n {]XnÚsbSp¯p. Ccp− h\m
´c§fn Iqa·mÀ aqfn. Nnet¸mÄ sN¶mbv¡Ä HmcnbnSp¶ H¨ tI«p.
kvImÀseänsâ c£s¸SÂ

ASp¯ {]`mX¯n tdm_n³ lpUv hn kvImÀeäns\bpw a¨ns\bpw

temIvÉn lmfnte¡b¨p.
Nmc\nd¯nepÅ hoSnsâ ]cnkc¯v AhÀ F¯n. sjco^nsâ
Bbp[[mcnIÄ hoSnsâ tKm]pcapIfnepw hmXnen\p kao]hpw NphSpd¸n¨n«p
−v. tKän\p ]pd¯v ]mhs¸« Irjn¡mcpw IpSnbm·mcpw ho«nse `rXy·mcpw
Iq«wIqSn \nev¡p¶p. a¨ns\ AhnsS¯s¶ \nÀ¯n, Xsâ hnÃpw A¼pw
AhnsSh¨v hn kvImÀeäv Irjn¡mcpsS kao]sa¯n.«
sjco^pw A\pNc·mcpw ho«n\pÅnep−v. {]n³kv tPmWnsâ t]cn AhÀ
Øew ssIbS¡nbXmWv. {]n³kv tPmWn\p ]Whpw sjco^n\pw thmÀam\pw
k½m\§fpw \evInbm am{Xta IrjnsN¿m³ A\phZn¡q.
Rm³ Ccp]Xp hÀjw tPmen sNbvXp−m¡nb k¼mZyw ChnsSbmWv.
AXhÀ ]nSns¨Sp¡nÃtÃm.
lmfnsâ hi¯pÅ ho«nte¡v kvImÀeäv kmh[m\w \S¶psN¶p.
X«n³]pd¯v kq£n¨ IngnbnÂ\n¶v Xmt¡mseSp¯v Xm³ D]tbmKn¨ncp¶
apdn Xpd¶p. acs¸«nbnÂ\n¶v c−p tXmÂk©nIÄ FSp¯p. henb k©n
hkv{X§tfmsSm¸w `mÞam¡n. sNdnbXv Xmt¡m kq£n¨ncp¶ Ddbnepw
sh¨p.
Bcmepw {i²n¡s¸SmsX hn kvImÀeäv ]SnIÄ Cd§p¶p. s]s«¶v ssK
Knkvt_mWpw A\pbmbnIfpw ap¼nse¯n. AhÀ ]ÅnbnÂ
t]mbnhcnIbmWv.
"F´mWnhnsS?' AbmÄ tNmZn¨p.
"Rm³ Ignª Ccp]Xp hÀjw Fsâ bPam\\pth−n
tPmensN¿pIbmbncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ Fsâ bPam\³ {`ã\m¡s¸«p. Rm³
Fsâ D]Poh\w tXSnt¸mIp¶p.'
"icn, \n\¡nãansæn ChnsS XpStc−XnÃ. amdm¸n F´mWv?'
"Fsâ k¼mZyw. XpWnbpw Ccp¼psXm¸nbpw Hcp N§ebpw. Fsâ IngnbnÂ
]¯p kzÀ®\mWb§fpw. FÃmw ]WnsbSp¯p k¼mZn¨Xv.'
"IS¶pt]m. F\n¡v \nt¶mSv IelanÃ. \nsâ bPam\³ Bbncp¶ tdm_À«v
^nävkqXv F¶p hnfn¨ncp¶ tdm_n³ lpUns\bmWv R§Ä¡p th−Xv.'
F¶m a¨ns\ \nÀ¯nbncp¶ s]m´¡m«n F¯p¶Xn\papt¼, thmÀam³,
kvImÀeäns\ ]nSn¡m³ Aednhnfn¨p. c£s¸Sm³ kabw In«nsöv
kvImÀeän\p a\Ênembn. Xsâ henb k©nbnse kzÀ®¡ngnbpambn a¨ns\,
Hcp Fevav hr£¯nsâ s]m¯n\pÅn Ibän Hfn¸n¨p. s]m¯n Ipsd
IpªpIqa·mÀ D−v.
Im«n\pÅnte¡v ]¯SnIqSn hbv¡pwap¼v AizmcqVÀ Ahs\ ]nSn¨p.
"kÀ ssK¡v \nt¶mSp kwkmcn¡m\p−v.' kvImÀeäv thmÀam\nÂ\n¶v apJw
Ignbp¶{X Hfn¸n¡m³ {ian¨p.
 AhÀ kvImÀeäns\ ASnapSn ]cntim[n¨p. sNdnb Ingnbnse ]¯p kzÀ®
\mWb§Ä ]nSns¨Sp¯XpanÃ. s]s«¶mWv thmÀam³ Ahsâ apJw I−Xv.
"hnScpXhs\. Ah³ hn kvImXvtem¡v BWv. Ch³hgn \ap¡v tdm_n³
lpUns\ Is−¯mw.'
"Ahs\ tKm]pcapIfnÂ\n¶v Xq¡nbnSv.' kÀ ssK \nÀt±in¨p.
"]mSnÃ. Ahs\ t\m«nMvlmante¡v sIm−pt]mIWw. AhnsS amÀ¡äv
kvIzbdn ]ckyambn Ahs\ h[n¡Ww. tdm_n³lpUns\
XpWbv¡p¶hÀ¡v CsXmcp ]mTambncn¡s«.'
"h©I³ Rm\Ã; Cu \nev¡p¶ thmÀam³ BWv. Xsâ bPam\sâ
Zbmhmbv]v IhÀ¶v, XSn¨psImgp¯v Ct¸mÄ At±ls¯ h©n¡p¶p.'
"tdm_n³ lpUv sjÀhqUv h\¯nemWv. IqSpXsem¶pw F\n¡p ]dbm\nÃ.'
kvImÀeäns\ sjcn^v hnNmcWsNbvXp. t\m«nMvlmanse Hcp Ccp«dbnÂ
Ah³ _ÔnX\mbn.
Im«n ]e XhW hgnsXänsb¦nepw aI³ a¨v Hcphn[¯n tdm_n³
lpUn¶Sps¯¯n hnhcw ]dªp.
"\aps¡ÃmhÀ¡pwIqSn t\m«nMvlmante¡p t]mbn Ahs\ c£s¸Sp¯Ww.
F¶n«v sjco^ns\bpw thmÀams\bpw sImÃWw.'
"sjco^v AbmfpsS Uyq«n sN¿p¶psht¶bpÅq. F¶m h©I\mb
thmÀams\ shdpsXhnSm³ ]mSnÃ.' tdm_n³ lpUv \nÀt±in¨p: "iànsIm−v
Imcyw t\Sm\mhnÃ. X{´w {]tbmKn¡Ww.'
kwL¯nÂ\n¶v hneyw tKmÄUv _tdmhns\ hnfn¨v Nne \nÀt±i§Ä
\evIn. AbmÄ HcpIme¯v sjco^nsâ Iogn tPmen sNbvXh\mWv.
PbneÀamscbpw Poh\¡mscbpw Bcm¨mscbpw Adnbmw.
A¶p¨bv¡v tKmÄUv_tdm t\m«nMvlmante¡v bm{Xbmbn. hnapà`S\mbn
tPmen At\zjn¡p¶ a«nemWv bm{X.
]ntä¶v AXncmhnse tdm_n³ lpUv Bbp[[mcnIfmb Hcp
kwLt¯msSm¸w bm{Xbmbn. en¦¬]¨¡p¸mbhpw Bbp[§fpw
adbv¡p¶Xn\v AhscÃmw tae¦n [cn¨n«p−v.
kwLs¯ h\mXnÀ¯nbn \nÀ¯n, tdm_n³ lpUv hnhcat\zjn¡m³
apt¼m«p t]mbn. sshImsX Hcp hr²\pambn Xncn¨ph¶p. Abmsfmcp XoÀ
°mSI\mWv! \mtSmSnbpw.
"Ft¸mÄ FhnsSh¨mWv kvImXvtemIv F¶ kvImÀeäv h[n¡s¸SpI F¶v
\n§Ä¡v ]dbmtam?'
"AsXmcp henb IãamWv. C¶se cm{XnbmWv Abmsf sIm−ph¶Xv.
km[p¡sf klmbn¡p¶ tdm_n³ lpUnsâ BfmsW¶p tXm¶p¶p.
tIm«bv¡p ap¼nse ]p¯InSnbn C¶p¨bv¡mWv Igphnteäp¶Xv.'
Xq¡ns¡mebpsS hmÀ¯ \mSmsI ]c¶p. D¨bv¡v tIm«hmXn Xpd¶p.
sjco^pw Bbp[[mcnIfmb Uk³IW¡n\v t]meokpImcpw F¯n.
h³ P\mhen k¶nlnXcmbn. P\¡q«¯n\p ap¼n Hcp hr²³ \mtSmSn
Ccn¸p−v. AbmÄ Dds¡ ]dªp: "HcmÄ¡pth−n C{Xtbsd kwc£Wtam?
D´pw XÅpw {]Xo£n¡p¶pt−m, sjco^v?'
AbmÄ hSn¡p ]Icw Ip¯n¸nSn¨Xv A¼v!
"Hcp Ipdp´Sntbm hSntbm FÃmhcpsSbpw ssIbnep−v! ASp¯ncn¡p¶
Irjn¡mcs\¶p tXm¶n¡p¶ HcmÄ ]dªp: "tdm_n³ lpUv ChnsSsb¯n
t\XrXzw X¶m am{XwaXn. ]mhs¸«hÀ¡v `£Whpw ]Whpw F¯n¡p¶
hn kvImXvtemIv BWXv. NnescÃmw hn kvImÀseäv F¶pw ]dbpw.'
Igpac¯n\Sp¯v _ÔnX\mb kvImXvtem¡n\p Ahkm\amsbm¶p
kwkmcn¡m³ sjco^v A\paXn \evIn.
AbmÄ Dds¡ kwkmcn¨p:
"Rm³ kvImXvtem¡v BIp¶p. Rm³ thmÀam³ AÃ. Fsâ Poh\pth
−nbmbmÂt]mepw Fsâ bPam\s\ h©n¡pIbnÃ. tdm_n³ lpUv
sjÀhqUv h\¯nemWv. At±lt¯mSv kwkmcn¡Wsa¶pÅhÀ¡v
AhntS¡p t]mImw.'
"R§Ä XncªpIt−mfmw. F¶n«v ChnsS \nsâ AØn¡p kao]wXs¶
Xq¡mw.' sjco^v Aedn. ]ns¶ AbmÄ {]Jym]n¨p: "hneyw kvImXvtemIv
F¶ kvImÀeäns\ ChnsS Xq¡nteäp¶p. h©Icmb FÃmhÀ¡papÅ
ap¶dnbn¸mWnXv.'
kvImÀeäv P\¡q«¯nte¡p t\m¡n. c£s¸Sm\pÅ bmsXmcp kmlNcyhpw
ImWp¶nÃ. AbmÄ sjco^nt\mSv A`yÀ°n¨p:
"Ahkm\ambn Hct]£bp−v. Fsâ bPam\\mb tdm_n³ lpUnsâ
A\pbmbnIÄ¡v, Xq¡ns¡mÃÂt]mse Aham\Icamb ØnXn D−mbn«nÃ.
Fsâ sI«pIÄ s]m«n¨v F\ns¡mcp hmÄ XcWw. Bbp[[mcnIfmb
A§bpsS BfpIÄ FÃmw H¶n¨v Ft¶mSv bp²w sNbvXv Fs¶ h[n¡s«.'
"AX\phZn¡m\mhnÃ.'
"Fsâ ssIIÄ kzX{´am¡pIsb¦nepw sN¿q. A§bpsS BfpIÄ Fs¶
sh«ns¡mÃs«.'
"\ns¶ Xq¡ns¡mÃm\mWv Iev]\.'
"AXp ]änÃ. \o \oN\pw `ocphpamWv. \obpw \nsâ Iqens¡mebmfnIfpw
Fsâ bPam\³ tdm_n³ lpUn\v H¸w hcnÃ. \n§Ä¡v \à {]Xn^eamWv
In«pI!'
sjco^v Hcp¡n\nÀ¯nbncp¶ Bcm¨msc At\zjn¨p. XteZnhkw Hcp
kplr¯v k¡cn¨v, AanXambn aZyw IpSn¨ AbmÄ kz´w apdnbnÂ
ab§n¡nS¡pIbmbncp¶p.
sjco^v Xsâ kwLmwK§Ä Hmtcmcp¯tcmSpw Bcm¨mcpsS ISa
\nÀÆln¡m³ Iev]n¨p. F¶m FÃmhcpw hn\bt¯msS
hnk½Xn¡pIbmWp−mbXv.
HSphn ImWnIfmb P\¡q«t¯mSv A`yÀ°n¨p. Iqen Cc«n Xcmsa¶
{]tem`\hpw.
ImWnIÄ A\§nbnÃ. ap³\ncbnse Ingh³ \mtSmSn kmhImiw Fgpt¶äv
apt¼m«p \S¶p: "Rm³ sN¿mw. F\n¡v CbmtfmSv apt¼Xs¶ ]Ibp−v.'
 FXnÀ¸nsâ kzc§Ä P\¡q«¯nÂ\n¶pbÀ¶p. GXm\pw t]À a®phmcn
Abmsf FdnbpIbpw sNbvXp.
kvImÀeäv Igpac¯n\p Nph«n Hcp h−nbn Ccn¸mWv. Igp¯v Ipcp¡nÂ
IS¯n h−n hen¨p\o¡pItb th−q.
hr²³ ASp¯p sN¶v Ipcp¡v ]cntim[n¡p¶ a«n kvImÀeän\v Ft´m
H¶v ssIamdn.
\nanj§Ä¡Iw kvImÀeäv ssIbnse sI«p apdn¨v hmfpambn apt¶m«p
IpXn¨p.
hr²\mIs«, ]pdwIp¸mbw Ducnamän.
"tdm_n³ lpUv.' P\w hnfn¨pIqhn.
"]nSn¡hs\, ]mcntXmjnIw Xcmw.' sjco^v Aedn.
tdm_n³ lpUnÂ\n¶pw Hcp kqN\ e`n¨t¸mÄ A¼pIfpsS {]hmlambn.
sjco^pw kwLhpw HmSn.
"R§sf D]{Zhn¡p¶hsc am{Xta R§Ä B{Ian¡mdpÅq. \n§sf
Bsc¦nepw D]{Zhn¨mÂ, `bw IqSmsX sjÀhqUv h\¯nte¡p hcnI.
R§Ä klmbn¡pw.'
enän tPm¬ {Ko³hpUn F¯nbsX§s\?

hn kvImÀseäns\ t\m«nMvlmanse sjco^nÂ\n¶pw tdm_n³lpUv c

£n¨Xn\ptijw AbmÄ sjÀhqUv h\¯n¯s¶ Ign¨pIq«n. h\¯nÂ
]pXnb IpSnepIÄ \nÀan¨p. clkyamb Xmhf§fpw kÖoIcn¨p.
A\pbmbnIsf bp²apdIÄ ]cnioen¸n¡p¶ ]Xnhpw XpSÀ¶psIm−ncp¶p.
h\¯nte¡p IqSpX A`bmÀ°nIÄ F¯nt¨À¶p. A¡q«¯nÂ
\nba{`jvScpw ]mh§fpw am{XaÃ, {Iqc·mcmb bPam\·mcpsS D]{Zhw
kln¡m\mhmsX \mSphn«hcpw D−mbncp¶p. sjco^pw t\mÀa³ {]`p¡fpw
km[p¡sf ]oUn¸n¨pt]m¶Xp\nan¯w ]mh§Ä heªp.«
hSt¡m«pÅ cmP]mX h\¯neqsSbmWv IS¶pt]mIp¶Xv. B hgn
k©cn¡p¶ ]mh§fÃm¯ bm{X¡msc an¶em{IaWw \S¯n
tdm_n³kwLw Poh\¯n\pÅ hI tXSnbncp¶p. FÃmhcpw As¼bv¯nÂ
\Ã ]cnioe\w t\Snbn«p−v. th«arK§fpsS Cd¨nbmWv `£W¯nse {]
[m\ hn`hw.
h\¯nse t£akm{amPy¯n kpJkuIcy§Ä {IaoIcn¡p¶XnÂ
F¶Xpt]mse ap³IcpXepIÄ kzoIcn¡p¶Xnepw tdm_n³ Pm{KX ]men¨p.
ImcWw, Ft¸mÄ thWsa¦nepw FXncmfnIfpsS B{IaWw D−mIm\nSbp−v.
t\m«nMvlmanse sjco^pw AbÂtZis¯ {]`p¡·mcpw X¡w]mÀ¯p
IgnbpIbmWv. kÀ ssK Hm^v Knkvt_mWpw A\pbmbnIfpw Ahkcw
t\m¡p¶p−v. {]n³kv tPm¬ henb tk\sb Ab¨v sjÀhqUnÂ\n¶pw
tdm_ns\ Xpc¯m³ {ian¡p¶p.
hn kvImÀseäns\ kwL¯nsâ NpaXe Gev]n¨v, an¡ Znhkhpw tdm_n³
ImSnsâ AÚmX`mK§fnte¡p t]mImdp−v. A{]Xo£nXambn
Xncns¨¯pIbpw sN¿pw. [\nIcmb k©mcnIsf¡pdn¨pÅ hmÀ¯Ifpw D
−mIpw. Ahsc F§s\ sImÅbSn¡msa¶v BtemNn¡pw. Asæn Hcp
kmIvk¬ ASnbmt\m IpSnbmt\m {Iqcambn D]{Zhn¡s¸«Xnsâ
hnhcadnbnt¨¡pw. Nnet¸mÄ \nba{`jvScmbn ]pXnb BfpIsfbpw Iq«ns¡m
−mbncn¡pw hcp¶Xv. kXykÔcpw hnizkvXcpamb kplr¯p¡sf
k¼mZn¡p¶Xn\pÅ Ahkcambn C¯cw bm{XIsf tdm_n³
IW¡m¡nbncp¶p.
]pds¸Sp¶Xn\pap¼v tdm_n³ Xsâ A\pbmbnItfmSp ]dªp:
"\n§Ä ChnsS¯s¶ X§pI. ]t£, Fsâ Imlfw apg§p¶Xp tI«mÂ
F¯nt¨cWw. Rm³ Hcmsf At\zjn¨pt]mIpIbmWv. Is−¯m³ A{X
Ffp¸aÃ. c£bnsöp h¶m Rm³ Imlfw apg¡pw.'
D¨tbmsS tdm_n³ Hcp AcphnbpsS Xocs¯¯n. hgnbnÂ\n¶pw Acphn¡v
A¡sc F¯m³ taÂhiw ]c¶ Hcp Hä¯Sn¸mew D−mbncp¶p. tdm_n³
]me¯n IbdnbXpw A¡sc\n¶v HcmÄ ]me¯nte¡p hcp¶p−v. s]m¡w
IqSnb, Irjn¡mcs\¶p tXm¶n¡p¶ HcmÄ.
 ]me¯nsâ c−ä¯pambn Htc kab¯mWv AhÀ F¯nbXv.
""Fsâ hgnbnÂ\n¶p amdnt¸mIq sIm¨p a\pjym.'' A]cnNnX³
Bt{Imin¨p.
At¸mÄ tdm_n³ kq£n¨pt\m¡n.
Xs¶¡mÄ HcSn Dbcw IqSnbh\mWv FXncmfn.
AhÀ X½n hmt¡äw \S¶p.
shůn hoWp ap§ns¸m§mXncn¡Wsa¦n ]pdtIm«p t]mIWsa¶v
A]cnNnX³ hmin]nSn¨p.
tdm_n³ A¼v ssIbnseSp¯p. FXncmfnbpsS ssIbn Hcp IpdphSnbmWp
−mbncp¶Xv.
tdm_n³ FXncmfnsb IgpX F¶v A[nt£]n¨t¸mÄ AbmÄ tdm_ns\
t]Sn¡pSe³ F¶p ]cnlkn¨p.
IpdphSn ]nSn¨p \n¡p¶ Ft¶mSv A¼pw hnÃpw sIm−p t]mcn\p hcpt¶m
F¶mbncp¶p A]cnNnXsâ ]cnlmk tNmZyw.
At¸mÄ tdm_n³ A¼pw hnÃpw Acphn¡cbnÂh¨n«v Hm¡pac¯nsâ I¼v
apdns¨Sp¯p.
]n¶oSv hSn D]tbmKn¨pÅ Hcp t]mcv AhnsS \S¶p. A]cnNnX\v BZyw
HcSn In«n. F¦nepw HSphn Xebv¡v ASntbä tdm_n³ Acphnbn hoWp.
AbmÄ \\ªp ap§n \o´n Icbv¡p Ibdn.
A¶s¯ kwL«\w Ahkm\n¨p. AXn\ptijw tdm_n³ ImlfsaSp¯v
DuXn. At¸mÄ A]cnNnX³ ]dªp:
"kXyw ]dbs«, tdm_n³ lpUv F¶ hocs\t¯SnbmWv Rm\nhnsS h¶Xv.'
tdm_n³ CXn\p adp]Sn ]dbp¶Xn\pap¼v, en¦¬]¨ [cn¨ kvImÀeäpw
kwLhpw AhnsS F¯nt¨À¶p.
tdm_nsâ ØnXn I−t¸mÄ kvImÀeäpw Iq«cpw A]cnNnXs\ AcphnbnÂ
]nSn¨p XÅms\mcp§n.
tdm_n³ Ahsc hne¡ns¡m−v A]cnNnXt\mSp ]dªp: "ChÀ Fsâ
BfpIfmWv. Chscs¡m−v Hcp]{Zhpw D−mIp¶XÃ. ]t£, Xm¦Ä tdm_n³
lpUnt\mSpw A\pbmbnItfmSpw hnizkvX\mbncn¡Ww.'
tdm_nsâ t]cp tI«Xpw A]cnNnX³ hnImchnhi\mbn ]dªp:
"Fsâ t]cv tPm¬ enän F¶mWv. Rm³ tdm_nt\m A\pNc·mÀt¡m
\mWt¡Sp−m¡pIbnÃ. F¶pw hnizkvXXtbmsS tdm_ns\ ]n´pScpw.'
enän tPmWnsâ hm¡pIÄ FÃmhscbpw kt´mjn¸n¨p. ]pXnb
kplr¯n\pth−n Hcp hncp¶pw AhÀ \S¯n.
"Xm¦sfbpw shůn ap¡nsbSpt¡−Xp−v.' hn kvImÀseäv enänÂ
tPmWnsâ Xebnte¡v ]Xbp¶ _nbÀ Hgn¨v BËmZw {]ISn¸n¨p.
A§s\ enän tPm¬ kwL¯n tNÀ¶p. AbmÄ tdm_nsâ
hnizkvX\mb A\pbmbnbpw kplr¯pambn¯oÀ¶p. hn kvImÀseänsâ
{]mbw ]cnKWn¨v enän tPm¬ kwL¯nsâ t\Xmhmbn Ahtcm[n¡s¸«p.
Dbcw IW¡m¡pt¼mÄ enän tPm¬ Xs¶ F¶v AwK§Ä
I]SKucht¯msS A`n{]mbs¸«p.
se¤nse kÀ dn¨mÀUv aTm[n]\v ]Ww
\evInbsX§s\?

Hcp Znhkw tdm_n³ lpUv Iq«mfnItfmsSm¸w Im«n Npän\S¶p. sjÀhqUv

A]IStaJebmhpt¼mÄ asämcp A`btI{μw Is−t¯−Xp−v.
A¯mg¯n\v AhÀs¡mcp AXnYnsb e`n¡pIbpw thWw. AXnYn
Zcn{Z\msW¦n Ah\v BhiyapÅXv \evIpw. [\nI\msW¦nÂ
ssIbnepÅsXÃmw _eambn ]nSns¨Sp¡pw.«
"sXt¡m«pÅ ]mXbcnIn \n§Ä Hfn¨ncn¡Ww.' enän tPm¬, a¨v,
kvImÀeäv F¶nhtcmSmbn tdm_n³ ]dªp: "Hcp _nj¸v, `qhpSa, aTm[n]³,
{]`p C§s\bmsc¦nepamWv th−Xv. ]mhs¸« Irjn¡mct\m sXmgnemfntbm
kv{XoIÄ DÄs¸« kwLtam AcpXv.'
At¸mgp−v Hcp {]`p IpXnc¸pd¯v hcp¶p. enän tPm¬ apt¼m«p sN¶v
XeIp\n¨p. IpXncsb ]nSn¨p\nÀ¯n.
"kzmKXw {]t`m, \n§sf A¯mg¯n\p sIm−psNÃm³ Fsâ bPam\³
]dªp.'
"BcmWv \nsâ bPam\³?'
"tdm_n³ lpUv.'
"Rm³ tI«n«p−v. am\y\mb a\pjy³.'
FÃmhcpw `£Ww Ign¨p. `£W¯nsâ hnebmbn Fs´¦nepw
sImSp¡m³ tdm_n³ Bhiys¸«p.
"]¯p jnÃnMv am{XamWv Fsâ ssIhiw DÅXv.'
enän tPm¬ AXnYnbpsS tZl]cntim[\ \S¯nsb¦nepw IqSpX H¶pw
I−nÃ.
"Xm¦Ä ]WsaÃmw [qÀ¯Sn¨XmtWm?'
"AÃ. ssZhamsWs¶ Cu \nebn F¯n¨Xv. Ignª \qdphÀjambn
Fsâ ]nXmalÀ ss\äv ]Zhn DÅhcmbncp¶p. Hmtcm hÀjhpw \m\qdp ]h³
sNehp−v. se¤nse, kÀ dn¨mÀUv F¶Xv \Ã _lpaXnbmWv. Ct¸mÄ
H¶panÃ. `mcybpw sIm¨pIp«nIfpw am{Xw.'
"F§s\bmWv kz¯v \ãs¸«Xv?'
"skbvâv tacn aTm[n]sâ {IqcXbpw KqVmtemN\bpw ImcWw. Fsâ aI³
dn¨mÀUv cmPmhnt\msSm¸w XoÀ°bm{Xbv¡p t]mbXmWv. ]n¶oSv tI«Xv
Ah³ XShnemsW¶pw Bbncw ]h³ tamN\{Zhyw thWsa¶pw. Adp\qdv
]h³ sImSp¯p. _m¡n \m\qdp ]h\v, Fsâ hoSv aTm[n]\v ]Wb¯nemWv.
\msf Ahkm\ ZnhkamWv. ]Ww sImSp¯nsæn hoSp
hn«psImSpt¡−nhcpw.'
"]ns¶´p sN¿pw?'
"R§Ä ]ekvXo\nte¡p t]mIpw. ]mc¼cykz¯v Fsâ a¡Ä¡v
ssIamdm³ Ignbm¯XmsWsâ ZpxJw.'
"\n§Ä¡v [\nIcmb kplr¯p¡Ä CtÃ?'
"D−mbncp¶p. ]Ww DÅt¸mÄ.'
"enän tPm¬, \½psS s]«nbn \m\qdp ]h³ Ds−¦n FSp¯p
sImSp¡v. kÀ dn¨mÀUv, Hcp hÀjw Ignªv, ChnsS h¶v ØnXn Fs¶
Adnbn¡Ww.'
"]{´−pamkw ]qÀ¯nbmhp¶ Znhkw Rm\nhnsSsb¯pw.'
]ntä Znhkw a²ymÓambn. aTm[n]³ IpSnbm·mcnÂ\n¶v ]Ww hm§ns¡m
−ncp¶p. ]Ww \evIm³ Ignbm¯hsâ `qan ssIhis¸Sp¯p¶p.
k¶ymknIÄ ASp¯p \nev]p−v.
"kÀ, se¤nse dn¨mÀUn\v \m\qdv ]h\mWtÃm sImSp¯Xv. CXphsc h¶nÃ.
D¨ Ignªm sNjbdnepÅ se¤nse `qan \ap¡v ]nSns¨Sp¡mw. ]ns¶
\sÃmcp hoSpw.'
"C\nbpw AcaWn¡qÀ D−v.'
Hcp k¶ymkn kÀ dn¨mÀUv F¯nsb¶dnbn¨p.
kÀ dn¨mÀUv ZpxJnX\pw £oWnX\pambn ImWs¸«p; apjnª hkv{X§fpw.
AbmÄ aTm[n]sâ ap¼n ap«pIp¯n.
"Rm³ \nÝnX kab¯pXs¶ F¯n.'
"]Ww sIm−ph¶n«pt−m?'
"CÃ. F\n¡v Bdp amks¯ kabw XcWw. IpX{´¡mcmb
kmcsk\pIfmWv Fsâ aIs\ XShpImc\m¡nbXv; AXpw dn¨mÀUv
cmPmhn\pth−n bp²w sN¿pt¼mÄ.'
"]änÃ. ]Ww X¶nsæn \nsâ kz¯p¡Ä ]nSns¨Sp¡pw.'
"A{XbpwImew Rm³ A§bpsS Zmkythe sN¿mw.'
"\o IÅkXyw sN¿p¶p.'
s]s«¶v dn¨mÀUv Fgpt¶äp\n¶p.
"aTm[n]m, Xm¦Ä IÅw ]dbp¶p. Hcp CS{]`phmb Fs¶ ap«pIp¯n¨p,
Rm³ ImcpWy¯n\mbn Cct¡−nh¶p. CXn\p Xm¦Ä eÖn¡Ww."
"]{´−Sn¨p. \nsâ kzs¯Ãmw C\n FtâXmWv.' aTm[n]³ Aedn.
"aWn ]{´−v' F¶p ]dªpsIm−v {]`p Xsâ taev¡p¸mbw ]dns¨Sp¯p.
\mep XpIÂk©nIÄ tai¸pd¯ph¨v \nÈÐ\mbn \n¶p.
kÀ dn¨mÀUv ho«nse¯n, ]Xv\ntbmSp ]dªp:
"tdm_n³ lpUv ]Ww X¶p. \mw aTm[n]\nÂ\n¶v kzX{´cmbn.'
"tdm_n³ lpUn\pth−n Rm³ {]mÀ°n¡mw.'
sjÀhqUv h\¯nse acnb³

tdm_n³ lpUnsâ A½mh\mb kÀ hneyw KmwshÃnsâ BØm\amWv

Kmwsh lmÄ.
kÀ ssK Hcp Znhkw AhnsSsb¯n. IqsSsbmcp tbm²mhpam{Xw.
Im«n\pÅn ]ntäZnhkw \S¡p¶ Kmwsh s^Ìnhen\v H¸whcWsa¶v kÀ
ssKtbmSv kÀ hneyw Bhiys¸«p.
tdm_n³ lpUns\bpw ImWmatÃm Ft¶mÀ¯v ssK s]s«¶v k½Xn¨p.
F¶m asäm¶pw ]dªpanÃ.
Im«nse XpdÊmsbmcp Øe¯v \sÃmcp tafXs¶. bphXobphm¡Ä
BSn¸mSp¶p. hneyansâ ]m«pImÀ¡v aXnbmthmfw hoªv \evIp¶p−v.«
kÀ ssK, kÀ hneyans\m¸w Ccn¡p¶p. s]s«¶v hn Kmwsh Hcp
s]¬Ip«nsb ssIbv¡p]nSn¨v Um³kn\mbn sIm−pt]mIp¶p. Irjn¡mcn
s]¬Ip«nbpsS thjaWnª acnb\mWv AsX¶v kÀ ssKbv¡v a\Ênembn.
"aIt\msSm¸apÅ bphXn GXmWv?'
"Hm, AXv t¢mdnμbmWv, CSbs¸¬Ip«n. BtLmj§Ä¡v ChnsS hcmdp−v.
IqSpXsem¶padnbnÃ.'
sshIn«v Hcp kwLw h\{]hÀ¯IÀ en¦¬]¨thj¯nse¯n,
As¼bv¯n ]s¦Sp¡m³. A¡mcy¯n Xm\pw tamiasöv t¢mdnμ
sXfnbn¨p.
t¢mdnμbpsS A¼v \nÝnXØm\¯pXs¶ Xd¨t¸mÄ ImWnIÄ
lÀjmchw apg¡n. At¸mÄ h\{]hÀ¯IcpsS \mbI\pw Hcs¼bvXp. AXpw
BZyt¯Xn\Sp¯pXs¶ e£yw I−p. c−v A¼pIfpsSbpw A{K¯nepÅ
XqhepIÄ ]ckv]cw BenwK\w sNbvXp.
"sabvamk¯nsâ cmPIpamco, \nsâ ssI F\n¡p Xcq!'
AhfpsS apJw eÖmcpWambn. Ah³ \o«nb ssI]nSn¨v AhÀ \r¯w
XpS§n.
"B hnÃmfnbpsS t]sc´mWv?' kÀ ssK tNmZn¨p.
"tdm_n³ BsW¶p tXm¶p¶p.' aI³ Kmwsh A{i²ambn ]dªp.
"A{Xam{Xta Adnbq?'
"IqSpXÂ F´dnbm³?'
"F¶mÂ, Ah\mWv {`ã\m¡s¸« ^nävkqXv. Ahs\ _Ôn¨v sjco^n\p
sImSp¯m \à ]mcntXmjnIw In«pw.'
"Ah³Xs¶tbm?' XmÂ]cyanÃm¯ a«nemWv hn KmwshÃnsâ kwkmcw.
"\ap¡hs\ ]nSn¨pIqsS?'
"\n§Ä¡p thWsa¦nÂ.'
"\n§fpsS BfpIÄ hnizkvXctÃ?'
"Xoˬbmbpw AsX.'
"cmPmhnsâ t]cn Rm\hsc hnfn¨m AhÀ klmbn¡pIbntÃ?'
 "kwibsa´v? GsX¦nepw Hcp I£ntb...'
"{]n³kv tPm¬ X¶ AdÌvhmdâv Fsâ ssIbnep−vþþþþ'
kÀ ssK Ahkm\ssI {]tbmKn¨p:
"\nsâ D]tZisa´mWv?'
"A¼pIfnÂ\n¶pw ItÃdnÂ\n¶pw c£s¸SWsa¦nÂ, DS³ ØewhnSWw!'
CXpXs¶ hgn!
kÀ ssK AXnthKw IpXncsb HmSn¨v, sjco^n\Sps¯¯n, hnhcw
Adnbn¨p.
AcaWn¡qdn\Iw AhÀ c−pt]cpw hensbmcp Bbp[kwLhpambn
KmwshÃnte¡p \o§n.
kqcy³ AkvXan¡m³ XpS§p¶p. AhÀ \Zn¡cbnse¯n. A¡sc, Zqsc
Hcp kwLw h\{]hÀ¯Icpw Bbp[[mcnIÄ¡v t\XrXzw \evIns¡m−v t
¢mdnμbpw. AhtfmsSm¸w {_ZÀ ssat¡Â \S¡pw.
"Btcm AXnthK¯n hcp¶p−tÃm.' ssat¡Â S¡v XpSÀ¶p: "sjco^pw
kÀ ssKbpw BsW¶p tXm¶p¶p.'
"hgnamdv.' kÀ ssK Aedn: "teUn acnb³, \o BÀenMv t^mUnte¡v t]m.'
"\n§Ä¡p sXän, ChÄ t¢mdnμbmWv. CSbs¸¬sImSnamcpsS dmWn.
]ns¶, \n§Ä ]dªXpt]mse, ]me¯n\n¸pd¯v cmPyt{ZmlnIÄ CÃ.'
"hgnamdv. R§Ä ^nävkqXns\ Xncªp t]mIp¶p.'
"t¢mdnμtbmSpw Ft¶mSpw £ambmN\w sN¿msX CXnse
IS¶pt]mIm\mhnÃ.'
"]nSn¨pamähs\. tdm_n³ lpUv c£s¸«pIfbpw.'
"B s]¬Ip«nsb ]nSn¡mw. Ahsf ]nXmhns\ Gev]n¨m F\n¡p \Ã
]mcntXmjnIw In«pw.' kÀ ssK ssIbpbÀ¯nbXpw, t¢mdnμ Ab¨ A¼v
ssIbn Xd¨p. c−masXm¶v sjco^nsâ IpXncbpsS
ap³ImepIÄ¡nSbnepw. sjco^v ]pdtIm«p adnªv Nfnbn hoWp.
XpSÀ¶v sjco^nsâ BfpIsf A¼pIÄ ]n´pSÀ¶p. sN¦p¯mb ]mew
s]s«¶p IS¡m\mhmsX XncnsI hoWhscsbÃmw, ssat¡Â S¡v Xsâ
IpdphSnsIm−v ASn¨pXIÀ¯p.
]ntäZnhkw Ime¯v ^nävkv hmÄ«À {]`phnsâ tIm«hmXnen\¸pdw Hcp
kwLw Bbp[[mcnIÄ F¯n. Hcp IpgenÂIqSn Dds¡ hnfn¨p]dªp:
"]mew Xmgv¯v, cmPmhnsâ t]cnÂ.'
"F´n\v, sNIp¯msâ t]cnÂ.'
"FÃmhÀ¡pw AdnbmaXv. teUn acnb\pw KmwshÃpw aäp Iptdt]cpwIqSn
sjco^ns\bpw kÀ ssKsbbpw A\pbmbnIsfbpw ]cnt¡ev]n¨ncn¡p¶p.
AhscÃmw tdm_n³ lpUnsâ GPâpamcmWv.'
"F´v GPâv? Fsâ aIsf¸än CÃm¯Xp ]dbpt¶m? DS³
Øewhn«nsæn As¼¿m³ Rm³ Iev]\ sImSp¡pw.'
"CXv {]n³kv tPmWnsâ Iev]\bmWv.'
"F¶m {]n³kv tPmWnt\mSv ChnsS hcm³ ]dbv. \n§sf F§s\
hnizkn¡pw? sjÀhqUnepÅhÀ thj{]Ѷcmbn h¶Xsöv Bcp I−p?'
kwLw ]n³hm§n.
^nävkv hmÄ«À {]`p aItfmSp kwkmcn¨p.
AhÄ Ipäk½Xw \S¯n.
"C\n ChnS¶v ]pd¯p t]mIcpXv. Rm³ \ns¶ AS¨p ]q«pw. BÀ¡pw
AhnsS IS¡m³ ]änÃ.'
"{]n³kv tPm¬ Fs¶ ChnS¶v sIm−pt]mIpw. tPmWnsâ BfpIfmWv
Ct¸mÄ tIm«hmXnen \n¶p ]ncnªpt]mbXv.' AhÄ \Sp§n. Fs¶
In«nbm ap¼p ]dªXpt]mse, DS³ kÀ ssKbv¡v ssIamdpIbpanÃ.
"c−pw Hcpt]mse, {]n³kpw ssKbpw!'
"]¸m, \ap¡v {]n³kv tPmWns\ FXnÀ¯p\nev¡m\mhnÃ. AbmfnhnsS
hcpw. AÑs\ Xq¡pw. Fs¶ ]nSn¨psIm−pt]mIpw. Rm\nhnsS\n¶p c
£s¸Smw. £am]Wt¯msS AÑ\v tPmWns\ kzoIcn¡mw!'
AbmÄ BtemNn¨p:
"At¸mÄ \o c£s¸Sv. sjÀhqUnte¡mtWm t]mhpI. tdm_n³ lpUnsâ
AÀ²]Xv\nbmbn?'
"Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUnsâ ASpt¯¡mWp t]mIp¶Xv. F¶m dn¨mÀUv
cmPmhv ]ekvXo\nÂ\n¶v Xncn¨phcp¶Xphsc, Rm³ I\yIbmb acnb³
Bbn«v Pohn¡pw.'
AbmÄ Iptdt\cw Nn´n¨p.
"tdm_nt\m, tdm_Àt«m Bhs«, AbmÄ am\y\mWv. Hcp Imcyw, \o
tIm«bnÂ\n¶v ]pd¯pIS¡p¶Xv ChnsSsbmcmfpw ImWm³ CShccpXv.'
GXm\pw aWn¡qdpIÄ¡ptijw {]n³kv tPm¬ tIm«bn h¶p. ^nävkv
hmÄ«À FÃmhn[ D]Nmc§tfmsSbpw tPmWns\ kzoIcn¨p.
"tdm_n³ lpUv sImeac¯nÂ\n¶v Hcp¯s\ c£n¨phtÃm. cmhnse
h¶hÀ, tdm_nsâ BfpIÄ thjw amdnsb¯nhtcm F¶v Rm³ \ymbambpw
kwibn¨p. AXpsIm−mWv DÅn IS¯mªXv.'
sshImsX acnb\v Bfb¨p. F¶m acnb³ tIm«bnse§panÃ.
Imhev¡msc tNmZyw sNbvXp. GXm−v Hcp aWn¡qÀap¼v Hcp hnÃmfn
tIm«hmXnen\p kao]¯p−mbncp¶psh¶pw Ct¸mÄ Ahs\bpw
ImWp¶nsöpamWv Hcp¯³ ]dªXv.
{]n³kv tPm¬ t\m«nMvlman Ds−¶dnªv tdm_n³ lpUv Hcp
sdbv©dpsS thj¯n \S¶p; GsX¦nepw bm{X¡mcs\ Is−¯n hnhcw
Adnbm³. At¸mÄ h\]meIsâ thj¯n Hcp bphmhp hcp¶p.
"Fs´ÃmamWv t\m«nMvlmw hmÀ¯IÄ?'
"{]n³kv tPm¬ \nba{`ãsc ]nSn¡m\nd§p¶p.'
"\nsâ t]sc´v? tPmensb´v?'
Aev]w hmt¡ät¯msS, AhÀ hmfp]tbmKn¨v kwL«\¯n GÀs¸«p.
FXncmfn H«pw tamiaÃ. tdm_nsâ apJ¯pw A]c¶p ssIbnepw apdnthäp.
"C\n \ap¡v \nÀ¯mw.' tdm_n³ ]dªp: "\o Fsâ kwL¯n tNcpI.
Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUv.'
"Hm, tdm_n³, \osbs¶ Xncn¨dnªntÃ?'
"acnb³!' AbmÄ s\SphoÀ¸n«p: "\obmtWm CXv? Rm³ \ns¶
apdnthev]n¨p.' ASp¯\nanjw AhÀ BenwK\_²cmbn.
"Fsâ kwL¯nte¡p hcq. FÃmhcpw \ns¶ dmWnbmbn IcpXpw.'
acnbsâ _lpam\mÀ°w A¶v sjÀhqUn hncps¶mcp§n.
{^bÀS¡nsâ BKa\w

{Kojvaw h¶p, t]mbn. CeIÄ {_u¬\ndamIp¶p. tdm_n³ kwLw Im«nse

XpdÊmb Øe¯v ]cnioe\w \S¯p¶p.
"tdm_n³, {_ZÀ ssat¡ens\¸än Hcp hnhchpanÃtÃm.' acnb³ k¦Ss¸«p.«
"\o ChnsS Bbncn¡psa¶v AbmÄ¡dnbmw. Kmwsh BtLmj\mÄ \ns¶
Ipsd klmbn¨XtÃ.'
"aTm[n]³ Abmsf ]pd¯m¡nbXmWv. Hcp k¶ymknbmbn \ZoXoc¯p
Ignbpw F¶p ]dbp¶Xp tI«p.'
tdm_n³ kvImÀeäns\ hnfn¨p kwkmcn¨p.
"AbmÄ \Ã _ehm\mWv. I−n«v \¶mbn Xn¶pIbpw IpSn¡pIbpw
sN¿p¶ a«p−v. bm{X¡msc IShp IS¯p¶p. \Ã Iqenbpw hm§p¶p−s{X.'
"\msf Rms\m¶t\zjn¡s«.'
]ntäZnhkw Hcp \mtSmSnKmbIsâ thjw [cn¨v tdm_n³ bm{X XpS§n.
\ZoXocs¯¯nbt¸mÄ ]mdbnSp¡nÂ\n¶v ]pI Dbcp¶p−v. BĸmÀ¸p−v
F¶Xpd¸v. tXmWn¡mc³ A¡scbp−v. tdm_n³ IqInhnfn¨p.
It¯men¡m k¶ymknamsct¸mse, \o− Xhn«pIp¸mbamWv Ahsâ
thjw. F¶m Acbnse NcSn hoXnbpsÅmcp hmÄ Xq¡nbn«ncn¡p¶p.
"Fs¶ A¡sc IS¯Ww.'
"\Ã kab¯mWtÃm h¶Xv. \osbmcp shdpw ]m«pImc\tÃ.' ]ns¶ Nn
´n¨p, CbmÄ¡p \o´mhp¶tXbpÅp. \\bp¶Xv \ÃXmWpXm\pw.
AhÀ A¡scsb¯n. tXmWn¡mc³ hgn XSªp: "\nsâ t]gvkv ImWs«.'
"\o IhÀ¨¡mc\ÃtÃm.'
"AtÃbÃ. `n£ tNmZn¡p¶p; ]Ån¡mÀ tNmZn¡pwt]mse.'
"`n£ F¶Xv \nÀºÔaÃ. a\ÊdnªpsImSp¡p¶XmWv. \Ã
D]tZiwXs¶. \nsâ a\Êv DWÀ¶nsæn Cu IpdphSn \nsâ NpaenÂ
hogpw.'
"F¶m Xnctªm.'
k¶ymkn hSn \ne¯n«p. H«pw kwibn¡msX apt¼m«p \o§n. tdm_n³
AbmfpsS hmÄ X«nsbdnªv AsXSp¯v AbmfpsS Igp¯nte¡v \o«n.
"C\n Fs¶ A¡sc F¯n¡v. \nsâ apXpIn Ibän Ccp¯pIbmWp th
−Xv.'
"CsXmcp hnet]iÂXs¶bmWv.' k¶ymkn ]dªp.
k¶ymkn Ip\nªp\n¶p. hmtfmSpIqSn¯s¶ tdm_n³ AbmfpsS
]pd¯ncp¶p. AhÀ A¡scsb¯n.
"C\n \osbs¶ A¡sc F¯n¡v.'
hen¸¡qSpXepw `mc¡qSpXepapÅ k¶ymknsb apXpInteänbpÅ bm{X
tdm_n\v {iaIcwXs¶bmbncp¶p. \ZnbpsS \Sphnse¯nbt¸mÄ k¶ymkn
kwkmcn¡m³ XpS§n: "F\n¡v \Ã `mcap−tÃm. Cutkm¸nsâ Hcp
IYtbmÀ¡p¶pþþþþc−p {KmaoWÀ Xsâ IgpXsb ho«ntes¡Sp¯psIm
−pt]mIp¶Xv.'
tdm_n³ InX¨psIm−v kwkmcn¨p: "F\n¡v asämcp IYbmWv
HmÀ½hcp¶Xv. IgpX D¸pNm¡v Npa¶ IY.'
Hscmä IpS¨nÂsIm−v k¶ymkn shůn hoWp.
Icbvs¡¯nbt¸mÄ c−pt]cpw X½n \sÃmcp aÃbp²w \S¶p. ASn¨pw
CSn¨pw D´nbpw XÅnbpsaÃmw £oWn¨t¸mÄ t]mcp \nÀ¯n.
"\ap¡v ssIsImSp¯p ]ncnbmw. \osbmcp ]m«pImcs\¦nepw \sÃmcp
_ehm³Xs¶.'
"Rm³ kmcwKn hmbn¡p¶p. hmfpw D]tbmKn¡p¶p. C\n \ap¡v \nsâ
XmakØe¯p t]mImw. F\n¡p `£Ww thWw.'
"Hcp k¶ymknbpsS ho«n \n\¡p ]änb F´p `£WamWp−mhpI?'
Hcp KplmapJ¯v IÃpsIm−pw XSnsIm−pw D−m¡nb apdn. ]pÃp taªn«p
−v. DÅn taibpw Ìqfpap−v. AbmÄ sImSp¯ ]pgp§nb ]bÀ Hcp ]nSn
hmbnen«p.
"sdbv©À hcpt¼mÄ ChnsS Fs´¦nepw XcpatÃm, Fs¶t¸mepÅhÀ¡v `
£n¡m³. Rm\Xn\p hne Xcmw.'
tdm_n³ Hcp kzÀ®\mWbw tai¸pd¯n«p. k¶ymknbpsS I®pIÄ
Xnf§n.
AbmÄ ]mdaSbn Hfn¸n¨psh¨ amwkw FSp¯psImSp¯p. c−pt]cpwIqSn
AXv Xn¶pXoÀ¯p.
"CXpt]mse hoªpw ImWpatÃm.' KXy´canÃmsX k¶ymkn AXpw sIm
−ph¶p. GXm−v Hcp Kyme³. sIm¼p]m{X§fnsemgn¨p IpSn¨p AXv.
"A]cnNnX\mb bm{X¡mcm, C\n \nsâ t]cv ]dbmtam?'
"XoÀ¨bmbpw. F¶m BXntYbsâ t]cv ]dªnÃtÃm.'
"Rm³ {^bÀSIv.'
"\ÃXv, {^bÀSIv AXmbXv, {_ZÀ ssat¡Â, Rm³ tdm_n³lpUv.'
"Hcp KmbIthj¯n\pÅn C{X \sÃmcp a\pjy\mWv
Hfnªncn¡p¶sX¶dnªXn kt´mjaps−\n¡v.'
"FsâIqsS sjÀhqUnte¡p hcWw. teUn acnb³ ]dªn«v \ns¶
At\zjn¨ph¶XmWv Rm³.'
"XoÀ¨bmbpw hcmw. \n§Ät¡Xmbmepw Hcp sshZnI³ thWatÃm. \ap¡v
_m¡nbpÅ hoªpIqSn IpSn¨n«pt]mImw. C{Xbpw \Ã hoªv Dt]
£n¡p¶sX§s\?'
c−pt]cpwIqSn hoªv IpSn¨pXoÀ¯p. sshZnI³ Hcp ]m«p ]mSn.
kÀ dn¨mÀUv tdm_n³ lpUnsâ ISwho«nbsX§s\?

ho−pw hk´w kamKXambn. se¤nse kÀ dn¨mÀUv tdm_n³lpUnÂ\n¶p

hm§nb \m\qdp ]h³ Xncn¨psImSpt¡− Znhkhpw h¶ptNÀ¶p.
kÀ dn¨mÀUv tdm_n³ lpUn\Spt¯¡p ]pds¸«p. sNdp k©nbn \m\qdp
]h³ am{XaÃ, k½m\ambn temlap\IÄ ]nSn¨ Xnf§p¶ A¼pIfpw
\qtdmfw ]pXnb hnÃpIfpw k½m\ambn IcpXnbncp¶p.
A\pbmbnItfmsSm¸w dn¨mÀUv t]mIp¶ hgnbn _mÀWvkvsUbnse
]me¯n\Sp¯v P\hmkapÅ Hcp `mK¯v KpkvXnaÕcw ImWm³ CSbmbn.
Hcp shÅ¡pXncbpw Hcp kzÀ®tamXnchpw Hcp tPmSn ssIbpdIfpw
hoªpamWv k½m\w. dn¨mÀUpw Iq«cpw F¯pt¼mÄ KpkvXn
XpS§n¡gnªp.«
aÕc¯n hnPbn¨Xv \m«pImc\Ãm¯ BÀXÀþFþ»m³Uv BWv. F¶mÂ
AhnsS IqSnbncp¶ BfpIÄ Abmsf XÃn¨X¨v \Znbnsednbm\mWv
Xocpam\n¨Xv. F¶mÂ, dn¨mÀUv Ahsc ]n´ncn¸n¨p. BÀXdn\p k½m\ambn
e`n¨ hoªv A©p amÀ¡n\p hnebv¡p hm§n P\§Ä¡p k½m\n¨p.
C¡mcy§Ä¡v Iptd kabw th−nh¶p. AXn\m D¨ IgnªmWv
F¯nt¨À¶Xv. ]t£, AXn\p apt¼ dn¨mÀUns\ Im¯ncp¶v tdm_n³
aSp¯p. enän tPm¬, a¨v, kvImÀeäv F¶nhÀ dn¨mÀUns\ At\zjn¨p
]pds¸«p.
AhÀ ImSpIÄ¡p adªp\n¶t¸mÄ Idp¯ \of³Ip¸mbaWnª c−p
k¶ymknamÀ shÅ khmcn¡pXncta bm{X sN¿p¶Xp {i²bnÂs¸«p.
AhtcmsSm¸w \nch[n tkhIcpw B{inXcpap−mbncp¶p.
tkhIsc `bs¸Sp¯n HmSn¨ k¶ymknamsc ]nSn¨psIm−p t]mIm³ enänÂ
tPmWpw a¨pw BtemNn¨pd¨p.
enän tPmWpw a¨pw kvImÀeäpw A¼pIÄ sXmSp¯psIm−v ]mXbnte¡p
]mªpsN¶p.
"HcSn apt¶m«ph¨m sIm¶pIfbpw.' k¶ymknamsc AhÀ `ojWns¸Sp¯n.
"R§fpsS bPam\³ \n§sf `£W¯n\p £Wn¡p¶p.'
bPam\³ BcmsW¶v k¶ymknamÀ At\zjn¨p.
tdm_n³ lpUv BsW¶dnªt¸mÄ AhÀ Hcp sNdp¯p\nev]p{iaw
\S¯nsb¦nepw A\pbmbnIÄ HmSn¡fªp.
enän tPmWpw a¨pw kvImÀeäpw k¶ymknamsc tdm_nsâ ASps¯¯n¨p.
"CXv AXn{IaamWv.' H¶mas¯ k¶ymkn FXnÀ¸p {]ISn¸n¨p: "Rm³
skbvâv tacokv \nehdbpsS aTm[n]\mWv. Cu k¶ymkn Fsâ
ssI¡mc\mWv.'
"aT§fnte¡v `£Wkm[\§fpw hoªpw F¯n¡p¶XmWv \n§fpsS
]Wn, AtÃ? Zimwi¯ocph ]ncn¡pIbpw sN¿p¶p−v. [mcmfw ]Ww
ssIbnep−mIpatÃm... Bs« BZyw `£Ww Ign¡mw.'
 aTm[n]\pw ssI¡mc\pw hoªp IpSn¨p. `£Ww
Igns¨¶phcp¯n¯oÀ¯p.
tdm_n³ ]Ww Bhiys¸«t¸mÄ aTm[n]³ ]dªp:
"]Ww Xcp¶Xns\¸än F\ns¡m¶pw AdnªpIqSm. Fsâ ssIbnÂ
]WhpanÃ.'
"H¶pantÃ?' tdm_n³ FSp¯p tNmZn¨p.
"Ccp]Xp jnÃnMv am{Xw. ssZh¯n\mtW AsXsâ
bm{Xms¨ehn\pÅXmWv.'
"At¿m ]mhw!' tdm_n³ klXm]t¯msS ]dªp: ""AXp XnIbmsX
h¶m Rm³ IqSpX Xcmw.'' enän tPmWnt\mSv B am\y·mcpsS
k©nIÄ ]cntim[n¡m³ tdm_n³ \nÀtZin¨p.
ssIbnencp¶ IpdphSn XdbneSn¨v `ojWns¸Sp¯n enän tPm¬
]cntim[\ ]qÀ¯nbm¡n Adnbn¨p:
"F®qdp ]h\p−v. IqSmsX Ipsd shÅnbpw.'
tdm_nsâ \nÀtZi{]Imcw CcphÀ¡pw ho−pw hoªp \evIn.
"\n§Ä FhntS¡p t]mIp¶p?' tdm_n³ At\zjn¨p.
"{]n³kv tPmWnsâ ASpt¯¡v. ]Ww At±l¯n\pÅXmWv. CXnsemcp
s]\n sXm«pt]mbm At±lw \n¶nÂ\n¶pw AXv CuSm¡pw. am{XaÃ,
A`nhμy\mb aTm[n]XnbpsS Hcp ktμihpap−v. se¤nse dn¨mÀUns\Xnsc
FSpt¡− \S]SnbmWv AXnepÅXv. AbmÄ hnip²amb ]ÅntbmSpw
A`nhμy\mb aTm[n]XntbmSpw \nbaewL\w \S¯nbncn¡p¶p.'
CXp tI«t¸mÄ tdm_n³ Adnbn¨p:
"kÀ dn¨mÀUv Fsâ kplr¯mWv. F¶m ktlmZc\mb dn¨mÀUv
cmPmhns\ h[n¡m³ {ian¡p¶ h©I\mWv {]n³kv tPm¬. Cu ]Ww
dn¨mÀUv cmPmhn\pth−n Rm³ kq£n¨phbv¡mw. ]ns¶ shÅnbpsS Imcyw.
AXp hoªn\pw `£W¯n\pambn FSp¯ncn¡p¶p. ChnsS h¶Xv
Iãambnt¸mbn. AhnsSsbÃmw Un¶dn\v \nÊmc XpI aXn. ChnsS F´p
hnebmWv sImSpt¡−nh¶Xv!'
AhÀ c−pt]cpw t]mbn¡gnªt¸mÄ kÀ dn¨mÀUpw kwLhpw Xnc¡n«v
F¯nt¨À¶p.
tdm_n³ At±ls¯ A`nhmZyw sNbvXp kzoIcn¨p.
"skbvâv tacoknse aTm[n]Xn X¦fpsS hoSpw Øehpw ]nSns¨Sp¯nÃtÃm?'
tdm_n³ tNmZn¨p.
"ssZhm[o\hpw Xm¦fpsS ImcpWyhpw \nan¯w A§s\ kw`hn¨nÃ.
Rm\n¯ncn sshInt¸mbn. AXn\p £a tNmZn¡p¶p.'
kÀ dn¨mÀUv hgnbnep−mb kw`h§Ä hnhcn¨p.
"Rm³ \m\qdp ]h³ sIm−ph¶n«p−v. ]enibmbn Ccp]Xp ]h\pw.'
"Fsâ N§mXo, Xm¦Ä F\n¡p ]Ww Xcm\nÃ. aT¯nse \nehd¡mc³
k¶ymkn AsXÃmw F\n¡p X¶p Ignªp. ]Ws¯¡mÄ F\n¡mhiyw
Xm¦sfbmWv. B ]WwsIm−v \sÃmcp IpXncsb hm§n¡q. \à ]S¨«bpw
taSnt¨mfq. AXn\v Bhiyap−mIpw. dn¨mÀUv cmPmhn\pth−n t]mcmSmw.
Asæn kzbw c£n¡mw. aTm[n]Xntbm {]n³kv tPmtWm Xm¦sf Xncªp
hcpw.'
F¦n Rm³ sIm−ph¶ncn¡p¶ ]mcntXmjnI§Ä kzoIcn¡patÃm.
Fsâ FtÌän¯s¶ X¿mdm¡nb \qdp hnÃpIfpw \qdp Iq«w A¼pIfpw.
"Rm³ kt´mjt¯msS kzoIcn¨ncn¡p¶p.' tdm_n³ ]dªp: "kabw
sXänb hoªncn¡p¶p. cm{Xnbn hncp¶pk¡mcap−v.'
shÅnsIm−v \nÀ½n¨ Akv{Xw

A]am\w t\cn« aTm[n]Xn shdpsX Ccp¶nÃ. UnemanbÀ, hndmÂ

taJeIfnse h\{]hÀ¯IÀ¡nSbn Hcp hmZw. GXnemWv \à hnÃmfnIÄ
DÅXv?
Xsâ P\k½nXn hÀ²n¸n¡m³ CXv \à Ahkcsa¶pI− {]n³kv tPm¬
Hcp As¼bv¯p aÕcw {]Jym]n¨p. hnPbn¡pÅ k½m\w shÅnsIm−p
−m¡nb A¼v. Xebpw NndIpIfpw kzÀ®wsIm−v. aäp h\§fnse
{]hÀ¯Iscbpw hnÃmfnIfmb \m«pImscbpw aÕc¯n ]s¦Sp¡m³
£Wn¨p.
"As¼¿p¶Xpt]mse, shSnhbv¡m\pw \ap¡dnbmw F¶p Im«ns¡mSp¡Ww.
]ns¶, B shÅnb¼v F\n¡p thWwXm\pw.' tdm_n³ ]dªp.«
HIvtSm_dnse sXfn¨apÅ Znhkw. kqcy³ XWp¯pXs¶. A´co£¯nÂ
aªpIW§Ä ]mdn¡fn¡p¶p.
UnemanbÀ h\mXnÀ¯nbnse InMvÉn ]mÀ¡nemWv aÕcw. {]n³kv tPm¬
Aev]w DbÀ¶ ]oT¯nemWv Ccn¡p¶Xv. Npäpw DtZymKØcpw {]amWnIfpw
A\pNc·mcpw. Xsâ P\{]oXn hÀ²n¸n¡m³, km[p¡Ä¡v kuP\yambn
_odpw Imfbnd¨nbpw hnXcWw sN¿p¶p.
Ccp]s¯«v C©v \ofapÅ A¼mWv aÕc¯n\p]tbmKn¡p¶Xv. ImÂ
\mgnI Zqc¯mWv e£yØm\w. \nch[nt]À aÕc¯n ]s¦Sp¯p. Bdp
h\§fnÂ\n¶v Hmtcm BÄ hoXw Ahkm\ du−v aÕc¯n\v
XncsªSp¡s¸«p.
lÀjmchhpw t{]mÕml\coXnIfpwsIm−v ZnK´§Ä apg§n.
aq¶pt]cpsS Akv{X§Ä kzÀ®heb¯n¯s¶ \nebpd¸n¨p. c
−pt]cptSXv AXn\Sp¯ Nph¸nepw H¶v Idp¯ heb¯nepamWv Xd¨Xv.
BZys¯ aq¶pt]ÀþþþUnemanbÀ, hndmÂ, sjÀhqUvþþþh\¯nÂ\n¶pÅhÀ.
AhcnÂ\n¶mWv hnPbnsb Is−t¯−Xv. AXn\mbn I®nte¡v
As¼¿p¶ aÕcw. AXmWv ss^\Â.
kÀ dn¨mÀUv InMvÉnXs¶ Ccn¸nS¯nÂ\ns¶gpt¶äpt]mbn
kphÀ®^eI¯n\p \Sphn shfp¯ I®v ASbmfs¸Sp¯n.
kzØm\¯v XncnsI sN¶v aÕcw XpS§p¶Xn\pÅ ImlfaqXn.
UnemanbÀ BWv BZyw h¶Xv. ln... ln... F¶v H¨bn«psIm−v.
AkvXabkqcysâ shfn¨¯n A¼v Hcp Xhn«p an¶Â¸nWÀt]mse ]d¶p.
I®nÂ\n¶v Hcp Xe\mcngbv¡v hyXymkw.
]ns¶ hndmÂ. A¼v Dt±in¨ Øe¯pXs¶ ]Xn¨v XmsghoWp.
"hndmen\pXs¶.' kÀ dn¨mÀUv {]Jym]n¨p: "sjÀhqUv CXns\¡mÄ \¶mbn
sNbvXnsænÂ...'
_yqKnÄ ho−pw apg§n {]Xn[z\n¨p.
sjÀhqUpImc³ kmh[m\w Fgpt¶äv A¼v sXmSp¯phn«p. AXv e
£y¯nse¯pwap¼pXs¶ Ah³ Xncnªp\S¶p.
{]NÞamsbmcp Imäv \bn¡pwt]msebmWv A¼v ]d¡p¶Xv. FÃm
I®pIfpw AXns\ ]n´pSÀ¶p. kÀÆw \nÈÐw. ImWnIÄ DÅnte¡v
hmbphen¡p¶ iÐwam{Xw.
"I®nsâ tI{μØm\¯pXs¶.' lÀjmch¯n\nSbn kÀ dn¨mÀUv
InMvÉn {]Jym]n¨p: "sjÀhqUpImc³ k½m\w hm§m³ apt¼m«phcs«.'
Xe¸mhv AWnªpsIm−pXs¶ s]m¡wIqSnb B sjÀhqUpImc³,
]SnIbdn h¶p; {]n³kv tPmWnsâ ap¼n ap«pIp¯n.
"apJw ImWn¡v.' sNÌdnse sjco^v hnÃmfnbpsS Xe¸mhv FSp¯pamän.
"Cu cPXmkv{Xw Rm\nh\v k½m\n¡p¶p. sjÀhqUpImcmWv FÃmhcnepw
anI¨p\nev¡p¶Xv.' {]n³kv tPm¬ XpSÀ¶p: "c−mwØm\w hndmen\pw, aq¶mw
Øm\w Unemanbdn\pw.'
Xe Ip\n¨v \μn ]dªpsIm−h³ A¼v kzoIcn¨p.
"\nsâ t]sc´mWv?'
"tdm_À«v ^nävkv hneyw.'
"Ch³Xs¶bmWv ^nävkqXv F¶h³.' Btcm ]dªp.
"{]ikvX\mb Chs\ ImWm\nSbmbXn F\n¡p kt´mjap−v.' {]n³kv
tPm¬ XpSÀ¶p: "Ahs\ Igpac¯n ImWp¶Xn\pap¼pXs¶!'
tdm_n³ t\sc \nhÀ¶p\n¶p: "CXv eÖmIcamWv {]n³kv. \ymbamb
coXnbn k½m\w t\Snb Hcp AXnYnsb Aham\n¡p¶Xv.'
tdm_n³ Øewhn«p.
"Ahs\ Ct¸mÄ ]nSn¡p¶Xv Hcp Iem]¯n\v CSbm¡ntb¡pw.'
aÕc¯n ]s¦Sp¡m³ tdm_n³ XoÀ¨bmbpw F¯psa¶v AdnhpÅ kÀ
ssK, Ahs\ hebnem¡m³ FÃm GÀ¸mSpIfpw sNbvXn«p−v.
"Unemanbdnsâ DÄ¡mSpIfnte¡v \ap¡p t]mImw.' tdm_n³, enänÂ
tPmWnt\mSpw kvImÀeänt\mSpambn ]dªp: "AhÀ \s½ hebnem¡m\pÅ
FÃm IcpXepIfpw FSp¯ncn¡pw. aq¶p\me¼pIÄ am{Xw _m¡nsh¨v FÃmw
{]tbmKn¡pI.'
Im«n Hcp _yqKnÄhnfn apg§n. kÀ ssK Bbp[[mcnIfpsS Hcp henb
kwLt¯msSm¸w NmSnhoWp.
"tdm_n³, IogS§p¶XmWp \ÃXv.'
"CXmsWsâ adp]Sn. tdm_n³ Hc¼b¨psIm−v tdm_n³ ]dªp. AXv
ssKbpsS slÂsaän ]Xn¨v AbmÄ IpXnc¸pd¯p\n¶v adnªphoWp.'
]ns¶ A¼pIfpsS Hcp {]hmlwXs¶. [mcmfw t]À \ne¯phoWp.
tdm_nsâ c−mfpIfpw. s]m´¡mSpIfnÂ\n¶v IqSpXÂ Bbp[[mcnIÄ
h¶psIm−ncp¶p. tdm_nsâ aq¶pt]ÀIqSn At¼äv \new]Xn¨p. enänÂ
tPmWnsâ ap«n\mWv ]cn¡v.
"F\n¡n\n HmSm\mhnÃ. {]n³kv tPmWnsâ ssIbm acn¡m\nSbmIcpXv.
kÀ ssK ChnsSsb¯pwap¼v Fs¶sbm¶v sIm¶pXcWw.' AbmÄ
tdm_nt\mSt]£n¨p.
 "{]nb tPm¬, \o acn¨n«v Rm³ Pohn¨ncn¡tbm? hnhmlw Ignbp¶Xn\pap¼v
acnb³ hn[hbmbmepw Rm³ \nsâIqsS acn¡pw.'
"Ahs\ Fsâ ]pd¯p Ibäq. \½psS A¼pIÄ GXm−v XoÀ¶pIgnªp.
a¨v, \o sNdp¸amWv. c£s¸Sm³t\m¡v. Ccp«ph¶m c£bmbn. \½psS
Hfnkt¦Xw aämcpw ImWnÃ.'
a¨v XncnsI HmSnh¶p. "AhnsSsbmcp IevhoSv D−v. tKm]pchpap−v.
shÅhpw.'
tdm_n³ InXbv¡p¶p.
"a¨v, AhnsS BcmWv Xmakn¡p¶Xv?'
"hmXnen\Sp¯ ]mdbnÂ, kzÀ® \nd¯n Hcp joÂUv. AXn NmSp¶
knwlw Nph¸p\nd¯nÂ.'
"AXv se¤nse kÀ dn¨mÀUnsâ NnÓamWv. a¨v, \o Xncn¨pt]m, F¶n«p
Imcyw ]dbv.'
tdm_n\pw Iq«pImcpw F¯nbt¸mtg¡v InS§n\p apIfn ]mewh¨v kÀ
dn¨mÀUv Im¯p\nev]mWv.
"hcq, C{XthKw Hcp {]Xyp]Imcw sN¿m³ IgnªXn Rm³ AXnbmbn
kt´mjn¡p¶p.'
"Rm³ h¶Xv \n§Ä¡v B]¯v D−m¡ntb¡pw.' InX¨psIm−v tdm_n³
enän tPmWns\ Xmsgbnd¡n.
FÃmhcpw DÅnse¯nbt¸mÄ InS§nsâ ]mew hen¨p\o¡s¸«p.
"dn¨mÀUv cmPmhn\p Xmsg Fsâ Xe¸¯v HcmtfbpÅq; sNÌdnse
dm\pÂ^v {]`p. Knkvt_m¬ CXnsâ hne Adnbpw. Rm³ ]{´−p
Znhkt¯¡v \n§sf XShnenSm³ t]mIp¶p.' kÀ dn¨mÀUv ]dªp\nÀ¯n.
ASp¯ {]`mX¯n kÀ ssK Hcp henb ]StbmsSm¸sa¯n. tdm_n³
lpUpw ]cnhmchpw IogS§Wsa¶v kÀ dn¨mÀUnt\mSmhiys¸«p.
"Rm³ se¤nsâ ]cam[nImcnbmWv. cmPmhnt\m sNÌÀ {]`phnt\m am{Xta
Ft¶mSp Iev]n¡m³ A[nImcapÅq.'
"temIvÉnbnse tdm_À«v Fsâ AXnYnbmWv. bmsXmcpXc¯nepw
hn«pXcm\mhnÃ.'
kÀssK Xncn¨p aS§n.
]{´−p Znhk¯n\ptijw tdm_n\pw Iq«pImcpw kz´w Xmhf¯nte¡p
Xncn¨pt]mbn.
]n¶osSmcp Znhkw kÀ dn¨mÀUv, c−v A\pNc·mcpambn kao]{]tZi¯p
t]mbt¸mÄ ]nSn¡s¸«p; t\m«nMvlmanse Pbnen AS¨p.
kÀ dn¨mÀUnsâ ]Xv\n, tdm_n³ lpUns\ hnhcw Adnbn¨p.
"Rm³ IqsS hcmw. dm\pÂ^v {]`phnt\mSv Imcy§Ä ]dbmw.'
Hcp cmPmhnsâ Øm\apÅ sNÌÀ {]`phmb dm\pÂ^v, sNjbdnÂ\n¶v Hcp
ssk\yt¯msSm¸w t\m«nMvlmanse¯n kÀ dn¨mÀUns\ DSs\
kzX{´\m¡n.
tdm_n³ lpUpw Iim¸pImc\pw

sjÀhqUnse At´hmknIÄ¡v ]nSn¸Xp ]Wnbp−v. `£W¯n\p th

−sXÃmw kzbw Is−¯Ww; As¼bvXpw th«bmSnbpw. sjco^nsâbpw
ssKbpsSbpw \o¡§Ä \nco£n¡bpw thWw.
enän tPmWpw tdm_n\pwIqSn t\m«nMvlmw tdmUneqsS \S¡pt¼mÄ,
FXnsc Hcp a\pjy³ hcp¶p; h−nbn amwkhpambn.«
BgvNbn c−pXhW AbmÄ IS¶pt]mImdps−¶v enän tPm¬
]dªp.
"F¶n«bmÄ tSmÄ Xcp¶nÃtÃm. Rms\m¶p t]mbnt\m¡mw.'
Bbp[w AhnsSbn«v Hm¡pac¯nsâ imJbpambmWv tdm_n³ t]mbXv.
tdm_n³ IpXncbpsS ISnªm¬ ]nSn¨psh¨p. h−n¡mc³ Ip]nX\mbn:
"\n\s¡´p thWw?'
"\osb\n¡v tSmÄ X¶nÃ.'
"\obmcmWv, h\]meIt\m? t\m«nMvlmanse sjco^n\pth−nbmWv Rm³
tPmen sN¿p¶Xv.'
"Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUnsâ BfmWv. tSmÄ Xcp¶nsæn \osbt¶mSv in£
hm§n¡pw.'
c−pt]cpw Ipdp´SnsIm−v \sÃmcp bp²wXs¶ \S¯n. tdm_n³ lpUn\p
I®n\p kao]w ]cnt¡sä¦nepw Cd¨n¡mcs\ aeÀ¯nbSn¨p.
enän tPm¬ h¶p.
Cd¨n¡mc\v hoªpsImSp¡m³ tdm_n³ lpUv ]dªp.
"\o Hcp Fó tbm²mhpXs¶. Rm³ IcpXn tdm_n³ lpUv BsW¶v.'
Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUvXs¶.
"F¦nÂ, tXmäXn eÖbnsÃ\n¡v.'
Xmhf¯n `£Ww Ignªv, Iim¸pImcsâ thjhn[m\§Ä tdm_n³
Gäphm§n, kzbw thjw amdn. A]ISw {]Xo£n¡msa¶v hn kvImÀeäv
ap¶dnbn¸p \evIn.
"Im«nse amäanÃm¯ PohnXw F\n¡p aSp¯p. ]pdwtemI¯v F´p
\S¡p¶psh¶dnbWw. dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv bqtdm¸nsehnsStbm XShdbnemWv.
I−p]nSn¡m³, ktlmZc³ {]n³kv tPm¬ bmsXmcp {iahpw \S¯p¶panÃ.'
thjw amdnb tdm_n³, Hcp I®n\p aosX Idp¸v en\³ H«n¨psh¨p.
t\m«nMvlmw amÀ¡än F¯nbt¸mÄ h−n \nÀ¯n hnfn¨pIqhn: "]pXnb
amwkw, ]pXnb amwkw. dm¯en\v Hcp s]\n am{Xw.'
"Cu I¨hS¯n AbmÄ¡v ap³]cnNbanÃ. C§s\ hnämÂ, Pohn¡m\pÅ
hI F§s\bp−m¡pw?' NneÀ ]dbp¶p.
hne Ipdsh¶dnªv [mcmfw kv{XoIÄ Cd¨n hm§ms\¯n. Xnc¡p
IgnªmWv sjco^nsâ `mcy h¶Xv. \Ã amwkhpw hne IpdhpamsW¶v I
−p. Ahs\ ho«nte¡p hnfn¨p; _m¡n apgph³ X\n¡p thWw.
 Ahs\ A¯mg¯n\p £Wn¡pIbpw sNbvXp. A¯mgkab¯v tdm_n³
Hcp]mSv Imcy§Ä a\Ênem¡n.
dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv Pohn¨ncn¸p−v. F¶m acns¨¶p hcp¯n {]n³kv tPm¬
cmPmhmIm³ {ian¡p¶p.
t»m¬sU F¶ tcmKnbmb Hcp¯³ cmPmhns\ Xncªpt]mbn«p−v. Hcp
KmbI\mbXn\m Ah\v FhnsSbpw {]thi\ap−v.
"{]`p¡·mcpw [\nI·mcpsaÃmw {]n³kv tPmWns\ AwKoIcn¨n«pt−m?'
"AXmWv {]iv\w. sNÌÀ {]`phns\t¸mse Ipsdt¸À FXncmWv.'
"sIm¼pÅ arK§Ä thsdbpapt−m?' F¶mbn sjco^nsâ tNmZyw. apdn¨
amwks¯¡mÄ, apgph\mbn¯s¶ thWw sjco^n\v.
"ap¶qtdmfw D−v. G¡dpIW¡n\v Øe¯mWh. Aѳ X¶XmsWÃmw.
thWsa¦n t]mbn ImWmw.'
"AXp apgph³ F\n¡p thWw. \Ã hne Xcmw.'
]ntäZnhkw \sÃmcp {]mXepw Ignªv c−pt]cpw t]mIms\mcp§n.
A\pNc·mÀ c−pt]À am{Xw.
sjco^v [mcmfw kwkmcn¡pIbpw Nncn¡pIbpw sN¿p¶p−v. F¶m bm{X
sjÀhqUv h\¯nsâ DÄ{]tZit¯¡msW¶p I−v \nÈ_vZ\mbn.
"C\nbpw Iptd Zqcw t]mIm\pt−m? tdm_n³ lpUnÂ\n¶v \mw c
£s¸SpatÃm?'
"tdm_n³ lpUns\¡mÄ \Ã hnÃmfnbmWv Rm³.'
"Ah³ FhnsS Hfn¨ncn¡p¶psh¶dnbmtam?'
"Xoˬbmbpw.'
"Rm³ \n\¡p \à {]Xn^ew Xcpw, Ahs\ Im«n¯¶mÂ.'
"Aev]w \nev¡v. ChnsSbmWv sIm¼pÅ arK§Ä DÅXv. Rms\sâ IpgÂ
hnfn¨m Fsâ BfpIÄ Ahsb Ct§m«v B«ns¯fn¡pw.'
tdm_n³ aq¶p XhW Ipg hnfn¨p Im¯p\n¶p. s]m´¡m«n H¨¸mSv.
sIm¼pIpep¡ns¡m−v Hcp kwLw Nph¶ am\pIÄ AhntSs¡¯n.
"F§s\bp−v, amÌÀ sjco^v?'
"Fsâ N§mXo, ChnsS htc−nbncp¶nà F¶p tXm¶p¶p.' AbmÄ
AkzØ\mbn ]dªp: "\nsâ N§m¯w F\n¡nãs¸Sp¶nÃ.'
"F¶m Ipd¨pIqSn \à Iq«v e`n¡pw. s]m´¡mSv hIªpamäns¡m−v
enän tPm¬, hn kvImÀeäv, a¨v, sdbvt\mÄUv, hneyw tKmÄUv_tdm
XpS§nb Iptd \nba{`ãÀ IS¶ph¶p.
"F´mWv amÌÀ B{Kln¡p¶Xv?' enän tPm¬ Bcmªp, "t\m«nMvlmanÂ
F§s\? Cd¨n¡¨hSw s]mSns]mSn¨pthm?'
"\à I¨hSw.' tdm_n³ Xsâ {]ѶthjsaÃmw Agn¨pamän. "t\m«nMvlmw
sjco^ns\ Rm³ A¯mg¯n\mbn sIm−ph¶ncn¡p¶p.'
"kzmKXw. `£W¯nsâ hne XcpatÃm.'
"XoÀ¨bmbpw. ap¶qdv am³XeIÄ hnebvs¡Sp¡m\pÅ ]Ww sIm−ph¶n«p
−v. ]ns¶, \½psS clkykt¦Xw ImWn¡p¶Xn\v thsdbpw ]Ww
hmKvZm\w sNbvXn«p−v.'
sjco^v `oXnImcWw hnd¨p.
"\o BcmsW¶v Duln¡ms\¦nepw Ignªncps¶¦nÂ, Bbncw ]h³
X¶mepw Rm³ sjÀhqUnte¡v hcnÃmbncp¶p.'
"AbmfpsS I®pIÄ aqSns¡«n \ap¡v Xmhf¯nte¡p sIm−pt]mImw.'
AhÀ Hfnª Xmhf¯nse¯n.
sjco^n\pw c−v A\pbmbnIÄ¡pw \Ãt]mse `£WwsImSp¯p.
Aªqdp]h³ AbmfnÂ\n¶p Is−Sp¡pIbpwsNbvXp.
"aq¶p IpXncIsfbpw ChnsS \nÀ¯mw. t\m«nMvlmante¡p \S¶pt]mIp¶Xv
AhcpsS BtcmKy¯n\p \¶v. ]ns¶, sjco^nsâ ]Xv\n¡v teUn acnbsâ
hIbmbn Hcp Nn{X¯qhme sImSp¯bbv¡mw. AhÀ F\n¡v \sÃmcp
BXntYb Bbncp¶p.'
"tdm_n³, \n\s¡s¶ A[nIImew I_fn¸n¡m\mhnÃ. Hcp h³ ]Sbpambn
Rm³ hcpw. FÃmhscbpw h[n¨v ]mXtbmcs¯ ac§fn sI«n¯q¡pw.
\nsâ Xe t\m«nMvlmw tKän NoªgpIpw.'
"ASp¯ XhW ChnsS hcpt¼mÄ C{X Ffp¸¯n Xncn¨pt]mImsa¶v
IcpXntb¡cpXv.'
Cd¨nhnev]\¡mc³ KnÂ_À«v sshävlm³Un\v h−nbpw IpXncbpw
thj§fpw Xncnt¨ev]n¨p. Hcp am\ns\ sIm¶Xn\v ssI s]mÅn¡s¸«
AbmÄ ]t£, Xncn¨pt]mbnÃ.
bmNIcpsS kmlkw

tdm_nsâ {]hÀ¯\w I−v enän tPmWn\v Akqb tXm¶n. Ah\Xv

]dbpIbpw sNbvXp.
"Rm\pw thjw amdn t]mbn t\m¡s«.' c−pt]cpwIqSn
t\m«nMvlmw]mXbnte¡nd§n.
A¡me¯v bmNIÀ [mcmfap−mbncp¶p. bmN\sIm−p th−Xp
In«nbnsæn ]nSn¨p]dn¡pIbpw BfpIsf sImÃpIbpw sNbvXph¶p.«
Hcp bmNI³ henb hSnbpambn \S¶phcp¶p. kt´mjt¯msS ]mSp¶pap
−v.
tdm_n³ Hfn¨ncp¶p. enän tPm¬ apt¼m«p t]mbn bmNIs\ XSªp.
bmNIsâ ssIbnepÅ Hcp s]\n \mWbw X\n¡p thWsa¶p ]dªpsIm
−mWv enän tPm¬ t]mcn\nd§nbXv. kaÀ°\mb bmNI³ tPmWns\
X«nadn¨n«p. adªncp¶ tdm_n³ A¼pw hnÃpw X¿mdm¡nh¨p.
bmNI³ s]s«¶pXs¶ enän tPmWnsâ hkv{Xhpw sXm¸nbpw FÃmw
DucnsbSp¯v kzbw AWnªp. t]gvkv ssIbv¡em¡n Øew hn«p.
tdm_n³ Hcp NncntbmsS "s_¤À tPm¬' F¶p ]dªpsIm−v
Øes¯¯n. DS³Xs¶ tdm_n³ AXnthKw \S¶v bmNIt\msSm¸sa¯n.
CXpw tPmWns\t¸msemcmÄXs¶ F¶p bmNI³ IcpXn. \ns¶
ASn¨phogv¯nbm F\n¡v amS¼nthjwXs¶ In«patÃm. F¶mbn Ah³.
F¶m C¯hW \news]m¯nbXv bmNI³. Ah³ ssIIq¸n: "Zbhmbn
Fs¶ sImÃcptX. Fsâ ssIbnepÅsXÃmw Xcmw Rm³.'
Hcp hncn \ne¯n«v Ah³ FÃmw AXn sh¨p. AXn GsXSp¡Wsa¶v
t\m¡pIbmWv tdm_n³.
bmNI³ X{´]qÀhw Xsâ ssIbnse IngnbnÂ\n¶v [m\ys¸mSn tdm_nsâ
I®nsednªp. £Wt\ct¯¡v tdm_n³ A¼c¶pt]mbn. tdm_nsâ
hkv{X§fpw t]gvkpw Ah³ X«nsbSp¯p.
tdm_n³ bm{X XpSÀ¶p. bmNIsâ hkv{Xw, ]mdn¸d¶ apSn, tZl¯v càw,
H«n¸nSn¨v [m\yamhv.
Ah³ t\m«nMvlmanse¯n. XpdÊmb Øe¯v hensbmcp P\¡q«w.
\Sphn Hgnª Øe¯v aq¶pt]sc Hcp XqWn sI«nbncn¡p¶p. am\ns\
sIm¶Xn\v in£ \S¸m¡pIbmWv, I®pIp¯ns¸m«n¡Â.
"\n§Ä F´psIm−v {]Xntj[n¡p¶nÃ.'
"\m«pImcmb R§sfsbÃmw AhÀ Adnbpw. ]ns¶ R§sfbpw
IpSpw_s¯bpw \in¸n¡pw.'
in£ \S¸nem¡p¶h³ ]gp¸n¨ sImSnepambn h¶p. P\¡q«¯n\nSbneqsS
Ah³ Xn¡n¯nc¡n DÅnte¡p \S¡p¶p. tdm_nsâ ASps¯¯nbt¸mÄ
Ah³ F§s\tbm hoWp. P\¯nsâ XÅenÂs¸« a«n tdm_n³ Ahsâ
]pd¯phoWp. Zo\amsbmcp Ic¨n tI«v. Iym]vä³ HmSnsb¯n. c−pt]scbpw
]nSn¨ps]m¡n. sImSn ]nSn¨hsâ apJ¯v "U'BIrXnbn iàamb
s]mÅÂ, hmcnsbÃpIfpw s]m«nbn«p−v. Ah³ Ipgªp \ne¯phoWp.
tdm_n³ £ambmN\w sNbvXp: "BÄ¡q«w Fs¶ D´nbn«XmWv.'
"Chs\ s_ÂäpsIm−v Ccp]Xv ASn ASn¡v. AÃ, hcs«. Cu in£ \o
\S¸m¡ptam?'
"Rm³ sN¿mw.' P\w apdpapdp¡pIbpw i]n¡pIbpw sNbvXp.
"AhcpsS _Ô\w icn¡mtWm F¶p t\m¡nhcs« Rm³.' hSnbm¡n¸nSn¨
hnÃpwsIm−mWv tdm_n³ t]mbXv. NcSnsâ sI«pIfn ssIsh¨Xmbn
FÃmhcpw I−p. hSnbpw AhnsSsh¨p.
Iym]vä³ Hcn¡Â¡qSn Ipä]{Xw hmbn¨p. apJw s]mÅn¡emWv in£.
tdm_n³ lpUv IgpIpac¯n\Sps¯¯n. Np«p]gp¯ sImSn DbÀ¯n.
s]s«¶v Xncnªv Iym]väsâ apJt¯¡v sImSn iànbn hens¨dnªp.
ivaim\ \nÈ_vZX! Iym]väsâ Zo\tcmZ\w am{Xw.
"Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUv BWv.' tdm_n³ BÄ¡q«¯neqsS ]pdt¯¡v hgnbp
−m¡n. Fgpt¶ev¡m³ {ian¨v Iym]vä\p t\sc As¼¿pIbpw sNbvXp.
tamNnXcmb aq¶pt]cpsam¯v tdm_n³ h\¯nse¯n.
taev]dª kw`h§Ä t\m«nMvlman \S¡th, enän tPm¬ Hcp
bmNIsâ thjw [cn¨v X§sf I_fn¸n¨ bmNIs\ tXSnbnd§n.
Im«nse Hcp shfn{¼tZi¯v F¯n. aäp aq¶p bmNItcmsSm¸w AbmÄ,
XobpsS kao]ancn¡p¶p. bmNIcn HcmÄ _[nc\pw Duabpsa¶p tXm¶n¨p.
c−ma³ apS´³; aq¶ma\mIs« AÔ\pw.
FÃmhscbpw A`nhmZywsNbvXpsIm−v enän tPm¬ ]dªp:
"Fs¶t¸mepÅhsc I−Xn kt´mjw. bmN\sIm−v \n§Ä Fs¶¡mÄ
IqSpXÂ t\Snbncn¡patÃm?'
apS´\mWv adp]Sn ]dªXv: "R§Ä \¶mbn ]WnsbSp¡p¶p−v. F¶n«v,
Ct¸mgpw \ns¶t¸mseXs¶ ssIbn ss]ksbm¶panÃ.'
"\n§fpsS Iq«¯n hnÃ\pw h©I\pamb Hcp¯\p−v.' Xsâ hkv{Xw
[cn¨hs\ Nq−n tPm¬ XpSÀ¶p: "AXv bmNI\Ã, IhÀ¨¡mc\mWv.'
AbmÄ NmSosbgpt¶äp.
"aäpÅhsct¸mse Rm\pw icnbmb bmNI\mWv. \oXs¶bmWv h©I³.
\ap¡nhs\ ]nSn¨psI«mw.'
hÀ²n¨ tIm]mthit¯msS enän tPm¬ Hscmä CSnsIm−v Ahs\
XÅnbn«p.
Xncnªpt\m¡pt¼mÄ I− ImgvN!
Xs¶ ]n¶nÂ\n¶v B{Ian¡m³ hmfpIfpw I¯nIfpambn aq¶p bmNIÀ.
"Mvlm, CSn¨phogv¯m³ t]m{InIÄ C\nbpap−tÃm.' BZyw
CSn¨phogv¯nbXv _[nc\pw Duabpambhs\. Ah³ IcpWbv¡mbn tIWp.
"AZv`pXwXs¶. Dua kwkmcn¡p¶p. C\n, IpcpS\v I®p ImWptamsb¶p
t\m¡s«.'
Ah\pw sImSp¯p HcnSn. F¶n«pw Ahs\mcp \o− I¯nbpambn FXncn«p.
enän tPm¬ Ahs\ XeIogmbn adn¨n«p.
Imcyw ]´nbsöp I− H¶c¡me³, aS¡ns¡«nsh¨ Im \nhÀ¯v c
−p Imen HmSm³ XpS§n.
"IqSpX AXnib§Ä!' tPm¬ ]ndtI HmSn. Ahs\bpw ASn¨p
\new]cnim¡n.
H¶mw bmNIsâ icoc¯nÂ\n¶v, XtâXmb hkv{X§sfÃmw Agns¨Sp¯v,
enän tPm¬ Ah amän [cn¨p.
"Rm\n\n bmN\ \nÀ¯pIbmWv. Cs¶sâ `mKyZn\amWv. \n§fpsS
icoc¯n kzÀ®\mWb§Ä Inep§p¶Xv Rm³ tI«p.'
\mept]cpsSbpw tZl]cntim[\ \S¯nbt¸Ä enän tPmWn\v In«nbXv
aq¶qdntesd kzÀ®\mWb§Ä! AXn hensbmcp ]¦v H¶mw bmNIsâ
`mÞ¯nembncp¶p.
tdm_n³ lpUpw tXmÂs¡mÃ\pw

h\kwc£W\nba¯nsâ t]cn t{Zmln¡s¸Sp¶hcpw sjco^nsâbpw kÀ

ssKbpsSbpw Zpjv{]hÀ¯\§fpsS Zpc´^ew A\p`hn¨hcpamWv tdm_n³
lpUnsâ kwLmwK§Ä. tdm_n³ lpUnsâ {]ikvXn hÀ²n¨psIm−ncp¶p.
Hcp As¼bv¯paÕc¯nÂ, se¤nse kÀ dn¨mÀUv c£s¸Sp¯nb BfmWv
BÀXÀ »m³Uv F¶ XpI¡¨hS¡mc³. P´p¡fpsS XpI hm§n
kwkvIcn¨v [\nIcmb I¨hS¡mÀ¡pw amS¼nIÄ¡pw hn¡pw AbmÄ.«
A¯csamcp bm{Xbn tdm_n³ lpUns\ t\m«nMvlmw]mXbn I−pap«n.
Hcp hSn am{XamWv tdm_nsâ ssIbnepÅXv. Irjn¡mc\mtbm h\
{]hÀ¯I\mtbm tPmen At\zjn¨pt]mIp¶ `mhw.
sabvamk¯nse at\mÚamsbmcp ]IÂþþþþ
"BcWyI§Ä tim`n¡p¶p {Kojva¯nÂ
\o−p henb CeIfmÂ
sNdp]£nIÄX³ cmKw tIÄt¡, h\¯nÂ
BËmZw ]q¯pebp¶p,
tdm_n³lpUv Km\w Gäp]nSn¨p:
"aeapSnIÄ NmSnbnd§n
XmgvhctXSnt¸mWq am\pIÄ
]¨neIÄ XWteIp¶q.
ASp¯Xv c−pt]cpw tNÀ¶mWv ]mSp¶Xv:
"Chsb'Ãmw hnävk¬ssSUnÂ
sabvamk DjÊnÂ
BZnXy\pbÀ¶oSp¶p
InfnIÄ cmKw ]mSoSp¶p.'
"\osbmcp XpI¡mc\tÃ? AhÀs¡Xncmbn Hcp ]pXnb \nbaw h¶n«p
−tÃm?'
"F´p \nbaw?'
"[mcmfw hoªpw _odpw IpSn¡p¶ XpI¡msc XSn¡«bnenSpsa¶v.'
"AXns\´v? \½psS kzmX{´yw \ãs¸SnÃtÃm.' AbmÄ BÀ¯pNncn¨p.
"ImepIfpsS kzmX{´yw \ãs¸Spw. {]IrXn\nbaamWXv. \o F´mWnXnte
h¶Xv?'
"AtXm, tdm_ns\ ]nSn¨psImSp¡p¶hÀ¡v \sÃmcp ]mcntXmjnIap−v.
sjco^v H¸n« AdÌvhmd−v Fsâ t]m¡änep−v.'
"Rms\m¶p ImWs«.'
"th−, Fsâ ]mcntXmjnIw XSbm³ Bscbpw A\phZn¡nÃ.'
"icn, Bbp[w [cn¡msX, X\n¨pÅ tdm_n³ lpUns\ ImWn¨pX¶mÂ
\qdp]h³ F\n¡p Xcptam?'
"Xcmw.'
 "F¶m \ap¡v t\m«nMvlmante¡p t]mImw. AhnsSsbmcp k{X¯nÂ
tdm_n³ lpUv ]et¸mgpw hcmdp−v.'
AhÀ k{X¯nse¯n. hoªn\pw _odn\pw HmÀUÀ sImSp¯t¸mÄ tdm_n³
k{X¡mct\mSv Ft´m clkyw ]dªp:
"BÄ hcp¶Xphsc \ap¡v IpSn¡mw.'
[mcmfw IpSn¨ BÀXÀ, \ne¯pInS¶v Dd¡ambn.
tdm_n³ hmdâv ssI¡em¡n Øewhn«p.
ab¡w XoÀ¶t¸mÄ BÀXÀ Fgpt¶äv, k{Xw kq£n¸pImct\mSv X«n¡bdn:
"\nsâ k{X¯n Rm³ t]m¡äSn¡s¸«p. tdm_ns\ ]nSn¡m\pÅ hmdâv
ImWm\nÃ.'
"\nt¶msSm¸ap−mbncp¶ BÄ tdm_n³ lpUvXs¶bmbncp¶tÃm.'
"F´v!' Ah³ hms]mfn¨pt]mbn: "Ah³ kq{Xw {]tbmKn¨XmWtÃm.
Rm\hs\ hnSnÃ. GXp hgn¡mWv t]mbXv?'
"Im«nte¡pXs¶. F¶m t]mhpwap¼v IpSn¨Xnsâ hnebmb ]¯p jnÃnMv
XcWw.'
BsIbpÅ ]¯p jnÃnMv Ah³ sImSp¯p.
kÔybmbt¸mtg¡v tdm_ns\ I−p. Im \o«nh¨v tdmUneqsS
\S¶pt]mIp¶p.
"\nev¡hnsS. Fs¶ h©n¨v IS¶pt]mIpt¶m?'
"AÃ, \obmtWm? F\n¡v \qdp ]h³ Xcm³h¶Xmbncn¡patÃ?'
"\qdp ]ht\m? F´n\v?'
"Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUmWv. k{X¯nÂh¨v I−XtÃ? Fs¶ AdÌvsN¿m³
\o Fgpt¶änÃtÃm?'
"Ct¸mÄ AdÌv sN¿mw.' BÀXÀ hmÄ Ducn.
"[mÀ½nIbp²amWv th−Xv. Fsâ ssIbnepÅXpt]mse Hcp IpdphSn D
−m¡v.'
BÀXÀ Hm¡pXSnsIm−v Hcp hSnbp−m¡n. XSn, XSnbn ASn¨p−mIp¶
{]Xn[z\n h\¯nemsI apg§n.
\¶msbm¶p izkn¡m³ AhÀ Aev]w \nÀ¯n.
"Fsâ hSn Aev]w \of¡qSpXeps−¶p tXm¶p¶p. Rms\m¶p t\m¡s«.'
"AXp {]iv\aÃ,' BÀXÀ XpSÀ¶p: "CXn\v F«Sn \ofw. Imensb sXfn¡mw.
\n\¡pw CXp aXn.'
c−pt]cpsS apJ¯p\n¶pw tNmcsbmgpIp¶p. Hcp Im«p]¶nsbt¸mse
tdm_n³ apc−p. F¶m Hcp XSn Iodp¶ emLht¯msS BÀXÀ \n¶p.
GXm−v c−paWn¡qÀ AhÀ bp²w sNbvXp.
"\ap¡v \nÀ¯mw. InX¨psIm−v tdm_n³ ]dªp. aäpÅhcpsS AØn
XhnSps]mSnbm¡nbn«v \aps¡m¶pw t\Sm\nÃtÃm.'
"F\n¡v Aªqdp]h³ In«pIXs¶ thWw.'
"AÃmsX \n\¡v \qdp]h³ Xcp¶sX§s\?'
"\o sjÀhqUnte¡v hm. \n\¡hnsS Aªqdp]h\ne[nIw D−m¡mw.'
BÀXÀ Bi¦tbmsS \n¶p: "Asæn Rm³ \nsâ tXmep s]mfn¨v
sjco^n\p hn¡pw.'
"R§fpsS IqsS h¶v `£Ww Ign¡pIsb¦nepw sN¿v.' tdm_n³ Imlfw
apg¡n.
enän tPmWpw Iq«pImcpw FhnSt¶m NmSnh¶p.
"AXv tPm¬ enän AtÃ?'
"Bbncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ Fsâ kplr¯v enän tPm¬.'
"Rm³ hcmw.' BÀXÀ XpSÀ¶p: "Ah³ Fsâ Ikn\mWv. R§fpsS
A½amÀ ktlmZcnamcmWv. Rm³ Ipsd hÀj§fmbn Ahs\ Xncªp
\S¡p¶p.'
c−pt]cpw IpdphSnIÄ hens¨dnªv, BtÇjn¨p. AhÀ ]mSns¡m−v
Im«n\pÅnte¡v \S¶pt]mbn.
"C\nbpsa{XImew
\mw aqhcpsam¶mWv!
aWn\mZw tIĸqImSpIfnÂ,
KmbIÀ ]mSp¶q.
tdm_n\pw BÀXdpw tPmWpw H¶mWv.
AÃn³ F. sUbvensâ hnhmlw

sjÀhqUv h\¯nsâ A´cmf§fn am{XaÃ, tdm_n\pw Iq«pImcpw

hkn¡p¶Xv. Cw¥−nsâ hS¡³ {]tZi¯pÅ ImSpIfnepw AhÀ
A[nhkn¨ncp¶p. se¤nse kÀ dn¨mÀUns\t¸mepÅ amS¼namcpw {]n³kv
tPmWnsâ i{Xp¡fpw tdm_n\p klmbw sNbvXpsIm−ncp¶p. am{XaÃ,
tdm_n\nÂ\n¶p ]ehn[¯nepÅ klmbw e`n¨ ]mh§Ä, kz´w Poh³
XyPn¨pt]mepw tdm_n\p th−Xv sNbvXpsIm−ncp¶p.
A¯csamcmÄ \mtSmSnbmb kmcwKnhmb\¡mc\mWv. Ahsâ kpμcnbmb
t{]a`mP\s¯, _nj¸v asämcmÄ¡v hnhmlw sNbvXpsImSp¡ms\mcp§n.
bmZrÑnIambn, AÃn³ F. sUbv F¶ ]m«pImc³ tdm_n\pambn
kÔn¡p¶p. Xsâ ZpxJw Ah³ tdm_nt\mSv ]dªp. t{]a`mP\s¯
t\Sn¯¶m F´p {]Xn^ew Xcpsa¶ tNmZy¯n\v, ]Wansöpw
PohImew apgph³ hnizkvX\mbncn¡msa¶pambncp¶p adp]Sn.«
tdm_n³, AÃn\nÂ\n¶v kmcwKn hm§n, IeymWw \S¯m³ \nÝbn¨
]Ånbnse¯n.
tdm_n³ _nj¸nt\mSv tNmZn¨p: "hS¡³ tZi¯nse Gähpw \Ã
kmcwKnhmb\¡mc\mWv Rm³. kwKoXanÃmsX Fs´mcp IeymWw.'
"F¶m hc\pw h[phpw F¯p¶Xphsc \o kmcwKn hmbn¡v.'
tdm_n³ kmcwKnbn Ipsd \mS³ Km\§Ä Be]n¨p. AXnYnIÄ Gsd
kt´mjn¨p.
]ns¶, kpμcnbmb h[p F¯n; IcªpNph¶ I®pIfpambn.
Np¡n¨pfnª sXmentbmsS hr²\msbmcp amS¼n h¶p.AXmWv hc³!
tdm_n³ ]m«p \nÀt¯−XmWv. F¶m AXn\p]Icw IqSpX D¨¯nÂ
kmcwKn hmbn¨p.
_nj¸v Ip]nX\mbn.
"Cu kpμcnbmb s]¬Ip«n¡p ]änb hc³ ChnsS F¯nbnÃtÃm, F¶mbn
tdm_n³. CXhfpsS ap¯È\mbncn¡Ww!'
"Cu \nev¡p¶ Fsâ ktlmZc\mWv hc³.' _nj¸v ]dªp.
"CXv \nsâ Cã{]ImcamtWm?' tdm_n³ tNmZn¨p.
"AÃ.' h[phnsâ adp]Sn.
"AhÄ¡v AÑ\½amcnÃ. Rm\mWv \nba]cambn AhfpsS c£nXmhv.
Im¡min\p hIbnÃm¯ ]m«pImc\mtWm Rm\hsf sImSpt¡−Xv?'
"At¸mÄ ]WamWv Imcyw! PqUmkv, _nj¸nsâ cq]¯nÂ!'
tdm_n³ ZoÀLambn Imlfw apg¡n. c−p Ukt\mfw hnÃmfnIÄ
FhnsS\ns¶Ãmtam hs¶¯n. ap¼n AÃn³. Ah³ DS³Xs¶ tdm_n\v
hnÃp \evIn.
"hnhmlw ssZh\nÝb{]Imcw \S¡s«. AÃn³, \o hnhmlnX\mbmWv
ChnS¶p aS§pI.'
 "AXp ]änÃ. aq¶p XhW hnfn¨psNmÃWsa¶mWv Cw¥−nse \nbaw,
_nj¸v CSs]«p.
tdm_nsâ \nÀt±i{]Imcw enän tPm¬, Hcp Cfapd ]ptcmlnX\nÂ\n¶v
KuWpw _nj¸nÂ\n¶v tae¦nbpw _eambn ]nSns¨Sp¯p. aq¶n\p ]Icw Ggp
XhW hnfn¨psNmÃn. AXnYnIÄ Nncn¨p.
hnfn¨psNmÃÂ XSbm³ _nj¸n\mbnÃ; tdm_n³ A¼p sXmSp¯p
\nev]mWv.
enän tPm¬, DSp¸pIÄ XncnsI sImSp¯p.
"{]t`m, NS§p \S¯m³ R§Ä Im¯p\nev¡p¶p.' tdm_n³
_nj¸nt\mSt]£n¨p.
"Rm³ sN¿nÃ.'
"F¶m Rm³ {^bÀ S¡ns\ hnfn¡mw. ]t£, Hcp Imcyap−v.
\qdpIW¡nepÅ Fsâ Iq«pImÀ ChnsSsb¯pw. Hcp ¢mÀ¡nsâ ^okmbn,
\n§fpsS ssIbnepÅsXÃmw AhÀ ]nSn¨phm§pw.'
KXy´canÃmsX _nj¸pw hnhmlIÀ½w \S¯n.
tdm_n³ lpUpw _nj¸pw

]ÅnbnÂsh¨v X\n¡p t\cn« A]am\w _nj¸n\v kln¡m\mhp¶nÃ.

AbmÄ sjco^nsâ ASp¯p sN¶p.
"tdm_n³ lpUns\ in£n¡m³ F\n¡v Ipsd hnÃmfnIsfbpw
Bbp[[mcnIsfbpw thWw.'
"F\n¡pw Aht\mSv ]Icw tNmZn¡Ww. F¶m C{Xbpw henb Hcp
kwLs¯ D−m¡pI hnjaamWv. ]ecpw tdm_n³ lpUpambn
kJy¯nemWv...'
"F¶m aäp tbm²m¡sftbm {]`p¡sftbm kao]n¨mtem?'
"tdm_ns\ B{Ian¡pIsb¶Xv AhÀ¡pw `bP\Iamb ImcywXs¶.
tdm_nsâ `mK¯v ap¶qdn IqSpX klmbnIÄ Ds−¶mWdnhv.'
"]ns¶´p sN¿pw?'
"Rms\mcp sNdnb kwLs¯ Xcmw. Knkvt_m¬ klmbn¡pambncp¶p. ]t
£, AbmÄ Ct¸mÄ {]n³kv tPmWns\ klmbn¡m³ t]mbXmWv. Rm³
thmÀams\ Xcmw, tdm_n³ lpUnsâ ]gb Imcyس; Ct¸mÄ
i{XpXbnemWv.'
tdm_n³ am\ns\t¯Sn Im«nend§nbXmWv. hr²\mb Hcp¯³ Iodn¸dnª
hkv{X§fpambn hcp¶p. ImgvNbn Hcp bmNI³.
"kÀ, Xm¦Ä Hcp h\{]hÀ¯Is\t¸mep−v. tdm_n³ lpUv FhnsSbmWp
−mhpI?'
"F´n\mWnt¸mÄ tdm_n³ lpUv? Fs´¦nepw hnhcw ]dbm\pt−m?'
"sjco^nsâ Bfmb thmÀam³ aq¶msf ]nSn¨n«p−v. c−pt]sc Xq¡pw.
aq¶masâ I®p s]m«n¡pw.'
"Rm³Xs¶bmWv tdm_n³ lpUv. \nsâ thjsaÃmw s]s«¶gn¨v F\n¡p
XcWw. \mev]Xp jnÃnMv Xcmw.'
]¨bpw Nph¸pw \oebpsaÃmw IeÀ¶ hnNn{Xamb bmNIhkv{Xw [cn¨p
tdm_n³; sXm¸nbpw.
Hcp hr²bpsS IpSnen¶Sp¯pIqSnbmWv tdm_n³ t]mbXv.
Hcp Xo¡pWvT¯n\p Npäpw h\]meIÀ \nev¡p¶p; thmÀam³ IpXncbpsS
ISnªm¬ ]nSn¨psIm−pw. acs¡m¼n ihw Xq§nbmSp¶p. kao]¯pIqSn
Xsâ IpXncsb s]s«t¶mSn¨psIm−mWv thmÀam³ Ahs\ h[n¨Xv.
ØnXnIÄ a\Ênem¡nb tdm_n³, thmÀamsâ kao]w sN¶p.
"amÌÀ, ChnsSsbmcp Bcm¨msc thWsa¶p tI«Xp icnbmtWm? B ]Wn
Rm³ sNbvXm F´mWv {]Xn^ew XcpI?'
"XoÀ¨bmbpw \n\¡v hkv{X§Ä Xcpw.' Iodn¸dnª hkv{X§Ä
t\m¡ns¡m−mWv thmÀam³ ]dªXv.
"aq¶masâ I®pIÄ Ip¯ns¸m«n¨m Hcp kzÀ®\mWbhpw Xcpw.'
"F\n¡v Ccp¼pw Ibdpw thWw. Fsâ tPmenbn Rms\´p kaÀ°
\msW¶p t\m¡v.'
sIme¡bdpw Ccp¼pambn tdm_n³, imJIÄ hnSÀ¶p\nev¡p¶
Hm¡pac¯nÂ, \njv{]bmkw Ibdn.
"H¶p thK¯n thWw.' thmÀam³ A£a\mbn.
"aps¼mcn¡epw Rm³ Bcm¨mcpsS ]WnsbSp¯n«nÃ. Ct¸mgpw B ]Wn
sN¿nÃ.'
"\osb´mWv ]dbp¶Xv?'
lm... lm... F¶p ]dªv tdm_n³ ]dbm³ XpS§n:
"[m\yw hm§ms\mcp k©n,
amÄ«p hm§m³ asäm¶v.
tNmfw, _mÀfnt¡mtcm¶v
sdm«n hm§m³ thsdm¶v
Imfbnd¨nbvs¡m¶p−v
sIm¼n³Ipgen\p thsdm¶v.'
H¸w ZoÀLamsbmcp Ipgeq¯pw.
"I®v ]pdt¯¡p XÅp¶Xphsc IpgeqXv. F¶m F\n¡hsb
Ffp¸¯n s]mÅn¡mw.'
Im«n\pÅnÂ\n¶v Hcp kmbp[kwLw h¶v Hm¡pacs¯
hebwsNbvXpsh¶v tdm_n\p a\Ênembn. H¸w _nj¸pw Iq«mfnIfpw
AizmcqVcmbn hcp¶pap−v.
CsXmcp sIWnbmWv. BtemNn¨p\nev¡m³ kabanÃ. tdm_n³ ac¯nÂ
\n¶p NmSn, ]d¡p¶ thK¯n hr²bpsS IpSnense¯n.
"ssZhta... CXmcmWv?'
"A½ kam[m\s¸Sv. \n§sfs¶ Adnbpw. Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUv BWv.
Ahscsâ ]ndsIbp−v. ]nSn¡s¸«mÂ, Rm\nhnsS Xq§pw.'
"AXp th−nhcnÃ. Fsâ aIsâ Nq−phnc c£s¸Sp¯nbXv Rm³
ad¡ptam? F{X XhW `£Ww X¶p. ]t£, Cu thjw?...'
"]dbm³ kabanÃ.'
"s]s«¶p thWw.' hr² [rXnsh¨p: "\ap¡v hkv{X§Ä ]ckv]cw amdmw.
ssZhm[o\wsIm−v \ns¶ ChnsS Xq¡pIbnÃ; t\m«nMvlmante¡p sIm
−pt]mIpw.'
H¶mas¯ `S³ IpSnense¯pt¼mÄ, tdm_n³, a§nbshfn¨¯nÂ,
icn¡psamcp hr²sbt¸mse ]mNIw sN¿p¶p.
"B h©I³ tdm_n³ FhnsS?' tNmZn¡p¶Xv thmÀam³Xs¶.
"tdm_n³ lpUv?' hr² Nodn: "F\n¡dnbnÃ.'
Xnc¨n \S¯n, tdm_n³ lpUnsâ thjaWnª hr²sb AhÀ
]nSns¨Sp¯p.
"Ct¸mÄ sImÃp¶nÃ. c−paWn¡qÀ \osbs¶ t]Sn¨ncn¡v. Ccp¼v
NqSm¡Ww, AXn\pap¼v, As¼¿p¶ hncepIÄ apdn¡Ww.'
tdm_ns\ ]nSn¨ kt´mj¯mÂ, Nncn¨p kwkmcn¨psIm−mWv _nj¸nsâ
bm{X.
ihw Xq§p¶ ac¯n\Sps¯¯n AhÀ.
"^m... _nj¸n\p kt´mjw \nb{´n¡m\mhp¶nÃ. CsXmcp hnNn{Xamb
^eamWtÃm. tdm_ns\ ]nSn¡m\mtWm CXp sNbvXXv?'
"AÃ, Ah³ tPm¬ cmPmhnsâ aq¶p am\pIsf sIm¶p.'
"tPm¬ cmPmthm?'
"AsX, dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv acn¨n«p−mhpw. F¦n¸ns¶ tPm¬
Bbncn¡patÃm, cmPmhv?'
c−mas\ Xq¡m³ kabambn. Ahs\ IpXnc¸pd¯v Ccp¯n sImeac¯n\p
Nph«nÂh¨v Igp¯n Ipcp¡n«p.
"Rm³ NqfaSn¡mw. Fsâ IpXnc HmSn hcpw.' thmÀam³ ]dªp.
F¶m AXn\pap¼v, Hckv{Xw Nodnh¶v sImeac¯nse IbÀ apdn¨p.
Xq§m\pÅh³ s\mSnbnSsIm−v IpXnc¸pd¯v c£s¸«p. ssIIÄ At¸mgpw
_ÔnXambncp¶p.
"BcmWv A¼b¨Xv?' _nj¸v `b¯m hnd¨p.
FÃmhi¯pIqSnbpw en¦¬]¨ [cn¨ hnÃmfnIÄ IpXn¨phcp¶p.
"tdm_n³ lpUv F¶h³ Hcp ]pcpj\msW¶mWv Rm³ IcpXnbXv.'
s]m«n¨ncntbmsS hr² XpSÀ¶p: "AXm, sadnsa³sâ t\Xmhmbn
Ahs\¯nbtÃm.'
"tdm_n³ lpUv.' _nj¸v hoÀ¸pap«temsS Aedn. thmÀam\mIs« `b¯mÂ
hnd¨v hogm³ XpS§n.'
"]ns¶ \obmcmWv? F´mWv?'
"IpX{´¡mc\mb _njt¸, Rms\mcp ]mhw hr²bmWv. tdm_n³ lpUnsâ
ImcpWywsIm−v In«nbXmWv Cu DSp¸pIÄ.'
"As¼¿v, ]ns¶ hmfpIÄ FSp¡v.' thmÀam³ \nÀt±iw \evIn.
F¶m ]SbmfnIÄ hnÃv Xmsgbn«v HmSm³ XpS§nþþþþtdm_n³ ]S,
AhÀ¡p hgn \evIn.
thmÀam\pw _nj¸pw IpXncIÄ¡cnsI t]Sn¨p\nev]mWv. Xs¶
sImÃpIbnsö {]Xymibn c−p ]mXncnamcpw.
"hm, \ap¡p t]mImw.' _nj¸v Ahsc hnfn¨p. ]ÅnbpsS im]w hm§m³
ss[cys¸SnÃ, ChÀ.
"D]{Zhn¡pIbnà R§Ä. ]t£, IqsSh¶v `£Ww Ign¨n«v, tSmÄ X¶v
t]mbm aXn.'
F¶m NXnb\mb thmÀams\ AhÀ Poht\msS hn«nÃ.
_nj¸v, tdm_nsâ tI{μ¯nte¡p t]mIm³ hnk½Xn¨p. tSmÄ \evInbn«v
t]mbm aXn F¶mbn tdm_n³.
AhÀ _nj¸ns\ tZl]cntim[\ \S¯n. Hcp Iq\ kzÀ®hpw shÅnbpw
e`n¨p.
"C\n R§Ä¡mbn {]À°\mKm\w ]mSWw.' _nj¸pw `oXnbm hndbv¡p¶
A\pbmbnIfpw ]mSm³ XpS§n. tdm_nsâ A\pbmbnIÄ hr¯mImc¯nÂ
ap«pIp¯n\n¶v {]mÀ°\m\ncXcmbn.
tijw aq¶pt]scbpw t\m«nMvlmante¡pÅ {][m\ ]mXbn F¯n¨p.
tPmÀPv F. {Ko³: shbvIv^oÂUnsâ kwc£I³

hÀj§Ä Ignªp. dn¨mÀUv cmPmhnsâ hnizkvX kplr¯pw KmbI\pamb

t»m¬UÂ, bqtdm¸v apgph³ Xncªp.
Bkv{Xnbbnse BÀ¨v Uyq¡v, cmPmhns\ XShn C«XmWv. tamN\{Zhyw
e`n¨m am{Xta hnSpIbpÅq.
Cw¥−v apgph³ hmÀ¯ ]c¶p. Bcpw \nÀºÔn¡msX ]mh§Ä ]Ww
\evIn. sjÀhqUv h\¯nÂIqSn t]mIp¶htcmsSÃmw tdm_n³ lpUnsâ
"sadnsa³' ]Ww CuSm¡n.
dn¨mÀUv cmPmhnsâ hn\oX\mb Hc\pbmbnbmWv shbvIv^oÂUnse tPmÀPv
{Ko³. AeªpXncnªv Irjn \in¸n¡p¶ ImenIsf ]nSn¨psI«pIbmWv
Ahsâ tPmen. shbvIv^oÂUn AXn{Ian¨pIS¡p¶ a\pjyscbpw
]nSnIqSpw. \m«pImÀs¡Ãmw Ahs\ CãamWv. A§s\ Ah³ {]ikvX\mbn,
tdm_ns\¡mfpw.
shbvIv^oÂUnse bphXnIÄ Ahsâ kvt\lw t\Sm³ sImXn¨p.
[\nI\msbmcp PUvPnbpsS aIfmb s_{SnÊnt\mSmWv Ah\p kvt\lw.
tPmÀPv{Ko³ {]ikvX\mbt¸mÄ s_{SnÊn\pw {]ikvXn ssIh¶p. CXp
tI«dnª acnb³ ZpxJnXbmbn. tdm_nsâbpw Xsâbpw {]ikvXn Ipdbptam
F¶mbncp¶p AhfpsS Bi¦. CXn\p ]cnlmcap−m¡m³ AhÄ \nÝbn¨p.
Hcp kmbmÓ¯n tPmÀPv {Ko\pw s_{SnÊpw \S¡m\nd§n. tNmfhbepIÄ
apdn¨pIS¶v \mept]À AhÀ¡pt\sc hcp¶p. Cu [n¡mcw tPmÀPv {Ko\n\p
kln¡m\mbnÃ. B hgn \S¡cpsX¶v ]dsª¦nepw AhÀ A\pkcn¨nÃ.
"\n§Ä F{X ià·mcmsW¦nepw, tNmfhb Nhn«nsaXn¡m³
\n§Ä¡hImianÃ. Hmtcmcp¯cmbn h¶v Ft¶mSv aev]nSn¯w \S¯s«.'
iàamb aÃbp²¯n tPmÀPv {Ko³ H¶mas\ hogv¯n. AXv kvImÀeäv
Bbncp¶p. sshImsX c−ma\mb enän tPmWns\bpw Xebv¡Sn¨p hogv¯n.
]ns¶ tdm_n\pambn Hcp aWn¡qÀ kabw t]mcSn¨p. \Ã _eapÅ
Hm¡pac¯SnIfmWv Bbp[w.
InX¨pXpS§nb tdm_n³ ]dªp: "\nÀ¯pI, tPmÀPv, Rm\n¶phsc
ssIsh¨hcn Gähpw _ehm³ \obmWv.'
"\o Ifhp ]dbp¶p. \n\s¡sâta ssIsh¡m³ IgnªnÃtÃm, F¶mbn
tPmÀPv.'
"icn. Rm³ k½Xn¡p¶p. F\n¡p Xpeys\ Rm³ I−p. Fsâ
en¦¬]¨thjw [cn¨m \n\¡sXmcp t\«ambncn¡pw.'
"Fâoizcm, At¸mÄ \obmcmWv?'
"Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUv.'
"tdm_n³ lpUv, \ns¶ I−Xn F\nt¡sd kt´mjap−v. dn¨mÀUv
cmPmhv Ignªm Rmt\ähpw _lpam\n¡p¶bmfmWv tdm_n³ lpUv. Rm³
IqsS hcmw. ChnsS F\n¡n\n Imcyamb tPmensbm¶panÃ. Fsâ hoSv Rm³
Dt]£n¡pIbnÃ. F¦nepw Ipsd¡mew sjÀhqUn Xmakn¡pw. Fsâ
s_{SnÊn\pw kzmKXap−tÃm. CsænÂ, {]ikvXbmb acnbs\¦nepw Ahsf
kzoIcn¡pw.'
"AhÄXs¶ adp]Sn ]dbs«.'
h\{]hÀ¯IbpsS thjw [cn¨ acnbs\ apt¼m«p \nÀ¯n, tdm_n³.
s_{SnÊv acnbsâ ap¼n ap«pIp¯n Icw Npw_n¨p.
"Fsâ sImt«Pn hoªpw tI¡pw B«nd¨nbpw am«nd¨nbpw D−v.' tPmÀPv
{Ko³ c−msfbpw `£W¯n\p £Wn¨p.
"£Ww kzoIcn¡p¶p. \msf \n§Ä sjÀhqUnte¡pw hcWw.'
cmhn Hcemdhpw kzÀ®k½m\hpw

Ipd¨pZnhkw FÃmhcpw shbvIv^oÂUn Ignªp. ]ns¶ sjÀhqUnte¡p

bm{Xbmbn. tdm_n³, h\]meIsâ thjaWnª acnb³, enän tPm¬, hnÂ
kvImÀeäv, en¦¬ ]¨bWnª tPmÀPv {Ko³ ]ns¶ s_{Snkpw. BZyambn
B¬thjw [cn¨ s_{SnÊn\v tcmam©w!
BZyZnhks¯ bm{X icnbmb hgn¡pXs¶. kÔybmbt¸mÄ Hcp
tbm²mhpw Bbp[[mcnIfmb Hcp Uk³ A\pbmbnIfpw s]s«¶v tdm_n³
kwLs¯ IS¶pt]mbn. {i²n¡m¯ a«v. \nanj§Ä¡ptijw tdm_n³ I
−Xv tbm²mhv IpXncsb \nÀ¯n X§sf \nco£n¡p¶XmWv.
"AXv ssK Hm^v Knkvt_m¬ BsW¶p tXm¶p¶p. Fsâ P·i{Xp.'
"Fsâ ]n¶mse \S¡p¶h\pw. Rm\bmsf hÃmsX `bs¸Sp¶p.' acnb³
]dªp.
km{μamb h\¯neqsS, ]mdbnSp¡neqsS AhÀ ae Ibdm³ XpS§n.
"\o R§sf Ft§m«mWp \bn¡p¶Xv?' tPmÀPv tNmZn¡pIXs¶ sNbvXp.
Cu cmhn Hc`bØm\w thWw. ChnsS Nne kplr¯p¡Ä D−v.
ho−pw CSp§nb hgnIÄ.
Npaen ssIt¡m«pambn Hcp IÀjI³ hcp¶p.
"amÌÀ, \n§sfÃmw Ft§m«p t]mIp¶p? B `mK¯v IhÀ¨¡mcp−v.'
"IhÀ¨¡mcnÃm¯ Hcp hgn ImWn¡mtam?'
IÀjI³ e£WwsI« Hcp Nncn ImWn¨p.
AhÀ Ip¶nd§n¯pS§n. Xmsg, ]mdIfnÂIqSn Nncn¨p aZns¨mgpIp¶
Im«mdv; a§p¶ shfn¨¯n \pcbpw ]Xbpw ImWmw.
]mdbnÂ, \Znbnte¡p XÅn\nev¡pwhn[w Hcp hoSv. hmXn Xpd¶v AÃn³
tUÂ ]pd¯ph¶p. AbmÄ kt´mjt¯msS tdm_n³kwLs¯ kzoIcn¨p.
"Rm\pw Fsâ ]Xv\nbpw _lpam\nXcmbn.'
"R§Ä hn]¯pwsIm−mWv h¶Xv.'
]cnNbs¸«Xn\ptijw FÃmhcpw hoªpw Cd¨nbpw `£n¨p.
]oäÀ_tdm _nj¸nÂ\n¶v Xsâ ]Xv\nbpsS kz¯v hos−Sp¯ IY
]dªp, AÃn³ tUÂ.
"{]n³kv tPmWpw sNÌÀ {]`phpw X½nepÅ Cu knhn bp²w C\nbpw
XpScm\mWv km[yX. dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv hs¶¯nsb¦nÂ!'
"At¸mÄ Rm\pw acnb\pw hnhmlnXcmhpw. Hcn¡Â¡qSn F\n¡v
temIvÉnbnse ]nXr`h\¯n Pohn¡Ww. AXnt¸mÄ Knkvt_mWnsâ
ssIhiamWv.'
Hcp kwLw hoSn\pt\sc hcp¶Xv AÃn³tUensâ ]Xv\nbmWv I−Xv.
DS³Xs¶ PmeIw AS¨p. ]pd¯v agbpw Imäpap−v.
sshImsX hmXnen ap«p tI«p.
"Hcp ]mhw bm{X¡mc\mWv Rm³. Cu ImänÂ\ns¶s¶ c£n¡Ww.'
 "\obmcmWv?'
"dm\pÂ^v {]`phnsâ \nÀ`mKyhm\mb Hcp tk\m\n. {]n³kvtPmWnÂ\n¶v
HmSnt¸mcpIbmWv.'
"\o X\n¨mtWm?'
"AsX, ImänÃmbncps¶¦nÂ, Im«nÂXs¶ Dd§pambncp¶p.'
"AXp Rm³ hnizkn¡p¶p. tdm_n³ XpSÀ¶p: "ChnsS IhÀ¨¡mcpÅXv
\n\¡dnbntÃ.'
"Adnbmw.'
"F\n¡padnbmw'. kwkmcn¡p¶Xn\nSbn tdm_n³ ]pds¯ kzcw
{i²n¡p¶p−v.
"\o X\n¨ÃtÃm? Iq«pImÀ BcmWv?'
"Imäpw agbpamWv.'
"Imän\pw agbv¡pw ]e kzc§Ä Ds−¶v F\n¡dnbmw.'
"Ct¸mÄ \½sf´mWp sN¿pI? F¶p Imäv ]dbmdnÃtÃm!'
]ns¶ \nÈÐw.
"\n§Ä hmXn Xpd¶nsæn R§Ä Nhn«ns¸mfn¡pw.' sshImsX AXp
kw`hn¨p. DÅn FÃmhcpw kpkÖambn \nev]mWv. Bbp[{]tbmKw
hianÃm¯ s_{SnÊpw AÃn³ tUensâ ]Xv\nbpw Ip¯ptImemWv
Bbp[am¡p¶Xv.
Hcp Uk\ne[nIw Bbp[[mcnIfmWv DÅnte¡p hcp¶Xv. A©v A¼pIÄ
]d¶p. BKXcn aq¶pt]À acn¨phoWp. c−pt]À¡v ]cn¡pw.
s]mcnª t]mcm«w XpSÀ¶p.
ssK Knkvt_mWns\ hogv¯nbXv acnb³. AhÄ apJIhNw amän.
"\obnt¸mÄ Fsâ ZbbnemWv.'
"AsX¶pw A§s\ Bbncp¶tÃm. \nt¶mSpÅ kvt\lw ImcWw, \ns¶
tdm_n³ lpUnÂ\n¶v c£s¸Sp¯m\mWv Rm³ ISp¯ \ne kzoIcn¨Xv.'
"R§Ä ChnsSbps−¶v AdnªsX§s\?'
"Hcp IÀjI³ ]dªp.'
"Chs\ sImÃWw. \s½ t{Zmln¡p¶sXÃmw Ch³Xs¶.' tdm_n³
tcmjmIpe\mbn.
"th−, c−p hyhØIfn Cbmsf hnSmw. \s½ klmbn¨ Cu \Ã
BfpItfmSv {]XnImcw sN¿cpXv. tdm_n³ lpUns\ ]nSn¡m³ {ian¡cpXv.'
acn¨hcpw acn¡p¶hcpw, acn¡m¯hcpamb FÃmhscbpwsIm−v kÀ ssK
Øewhn«p.
AÃn\pw ]Xv\nbv¡pw hnjaw krãn¨Xn tdm_n³ AXnbmb tJZw
{]ISn¸n¨p.
"R§Ä¡v C\nbpw Xm¦tfmSv Hcp]mSp IS¸mSp−v.'
"tdm_n³, F\n¡o PohnXw Cãambn. F´p ]dbp¶p, s_{SnÊv?' tPmÀÖv
{Ko³ tNmZn¨p.
"acnbs\t¸mse hmÄ{]tbmKw \S¯m³ F\n¡pw Ignsª¦nÂ!'
 cm{Xn FÃmhcpw DÃmkambn Ignªp. Ime¯v bm{X XpSÀ¶p.
]I apgph³ BtcmSpw t]mcSn¡m³ km[n¡m¯Xn tPmÀPv{Ko\n\p
\ncmibmbn.
kabw kÔybmhp¶p. Im«nÂ\n¶v Nne i_vZw.
"AXv {^bÀS¡nsâ kzcamWv.' tdm_n³ Xncn¨dnªp.
kwLw \nÈ_vZX ]q−p.
c−p ]mXncnamtcmSmWv kwhmZw.
SIv ]dbp¶p: "ktlmZc·mtc, Iãs¸Sp¶ ]mh¯n\v Hcp shÅn\mWbw
sImSp¡m³ \n§Ä¡mhnÃ. F¶m cmPmhnsâ tamN\¯n\v Hcp kzÀ®
\mWbsa¦nepw XcmatÃm.'
"R§fpsS ssIbn H¶panÃ.'
"F¶m tdm_n³ lpUv \n§Ä¡mhiyambXv Xcpw. GXmbmepw
]W¯n\mbn \ap¡v ssZht¯mSv {]mÀ°n¡mw.'
c−pt]scbpw Igp¯n\p Ip¯n¸nSn¨v ap«pIp¯n¨p. AhÀ `bs¸«p
Icbp¶p. F¶m SIv kzm`mhnIcoXnbn `wKnbmbn {]mÀ°\ sNmÃn.
"C\n \ap¡v t\m¡mw, {]mÀ°\sIm−v kzÀ¤¯nÂ\ns¶´p In«nsb¶v?'
S¡nsâ \nÀt±i{]Imcw AhÀ ]ckv]cw tZl]cntim[\ \S¯n.
Adp\qdne[nIw \mWb§Ä ]mXncnamcnÂ\n¶pw Hcp Ukt\mfw S¡nsâ
t]m¡änÂ\n¶pw In«n.
"CXmcpsS ]Ww? FhntS¡p sIm−pt]mIp¶p?'
"skbvâvtacn aTm[n]sâ ]Ww. Ct¸mÄ Bjv_nbnepÅ {]n³kv tPmWn\p
sIm−pt]mIp¶p.'
"C\nbnXv dn¨mÀUv cmPmhnsâ tamN\¯n\pÅXmWv. Hmtcm \mWbw
\n§Ä¡p Xcmw, {]n³kv tPmWnsâ ASps¯¯m³. XncnsI t]mIm³ ]Ww
X¶nsænÂ, IpXncsb hnäv, tbmÀ¡nte¡v \S¡pI.'
]mXncnamÀ IcªpsIm−v Øewhn«p.
"{^bÀ, \nev¡hnsS, ap«pIp¯v.' tdm_n³ hymPkzc¯n hnfn¨p]dªp.
SIv ap«pIp¯n. s]s«¶v ]pdIn Nncn. Bdpt]À ]n¶n¡qSn hcp¶Xdnªv,
SIv Xsâ hSn iànbn Npgän.
"hSn XmsgbnSv. Asæn tdm_n³ lpUnsâ XebmWv s]mfnbpI.'
tdm_n³ XpSÀ¶p: "CXm Rm³ tPmÀPv {Ko\ns\ sIm−ph¶p,
shbvIv^oÂUnÂ\n¶v.'
]m]vÄhn¡nse a{´hmZn\n

sjÀhqUnsâ AcnIp amdn, XpdÊmb ]pÂ{]tZiap−v; ]m]vÄhn¡v.

AhnsSbmWv CSb·mÀ Pohn¡p¶Xv.
Xsâ A\pbmbnItfmsSm¸w, ]mhs¸« CSbIpSpw_§sfbpw Hcp
hncp¶n\mbn tdm_n³ £Wn¨p.
F¥aqÀ F¶ Hcph³ am{Xw h¶nÃ. Ahsâ {]nbs¸«hÄ, Cudn³, ]mew
IS¡pt¼mÄ \Znbn hoWp. ]ns¶ I−tXbnÃ. Ahsf t]cp sNmÃn
hnfn¨psIm−v FhnsStbm \S¸mWv F¥aqÀ.
XÕabw acnb\pw kwLhpw h¶p. ]mNI¯n\p X¿mdm¡nb am\nd¨n
ssIbnep−v. Rm³ sIm¶ am\nsâ Cd¨nbmWnXv. ]t£, CXv sIm
−phcpt¼mÄ, Hcp Im¡ ¾m\ambn Icªncp¶p.' acnb³ hniZam¡n.
"AXnsâ sjbÀ In«mªn«mhpw.'
"F¶mÂ, CSb³ Itcmen³ ]dªXv, AXv km[mcW Im¡bÃ,
]m]vÄhn¡nse a{´hmZn\nbmb aZÀ tamUven³ BsW¶pw, AhÀ¡v GXp
cq]hpw kzoIcn¡m³ Ignbpsa¶pamWv. {]`mX¯n am\pIsf
B«ns¯fn¡pt¼mÄ Itcmen³ tamUvens\ I−ncp¶p. tdm_n³ lpUnsâ
hncp¶n C¶v am\nd¨n `£n¡p¶hÀ¡pw Aip`whcpsa¶hÄ ]dªphs{X.'
acnb³ Nncn¨psIm−mWv C{Xbpw ]dªsX¦nepw DÅn `bap−v.
A¡me¯v FÃmhÀ¡pw ZpÀa{´hmZ¯n hnizmkambncp¶p.
acnb³ Acphnbnte¡p ssIIgpIm³ t]mbt¸mÄ, tdm_n³ Itcment\mSv
kwkmcn¨p:
"AhÄ a{´hmZn\nbmWv. ]t£, NneÀ ]dbp¶p, Úm\nbmsbmcp
kv{XobmsW¶pw. R§Ä Im¡bv¡v FdnªpsImSp¯ FÃv AhÄ
]pgp§p¶ps−¶pw.
XÕabw acnb³ _²¸mtSmsS IS¶ph¶p. Nncnbpw kt´mjhpw
DÕmlhpsaÃmw t]mba«v.
"F´p ]än acnb³? \ap¡v kZy \S¯t−?'
"F´p kZy?' AhÄ Ip]nXbmWv.
"\ns¶ t]Sns¸Sp¯p¶ Fs´¦nepw kw`hnt¨m?'
"CÃ.'
"F¶m \ap¡v kplr¯p¡sf hnfn¡mw.' tdm_n³ BhÀ¯n¨p.
"kplr¯p¡fmWs{X! C{X \Ã amwkw AhÀ `£n¡nÃ! FÃpwtXmepamb
BSnsâ ihta AhÀ Xn¶pIbpÅp. kvImÀseäv, AsXSp¯v aZÀ tamUven\v
sImSp¡q. Rm³ X¶b¨XmsW¶p ]dbWw. AhÀ \μn ]dbpIsb¦nepw
sN¿pw.'
"acnb³, CsX´mWv? Rm³ kz]v\w ImWpIbmtWm? Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUv
AtÃ? CsXsâ acnb\tÃ.'
\o tdm_n³ lpUvXs¶. AhÄ Xncn¨Sn¨p. Fs¶ FÃmbnS¯pw ]n´pScp¶
Nmc\mWv \o. \n\¡v AkqbbmWv. Rm³ t\Snb Cu amwkw
F\n¡nãapÅhÀ¡v sImSp¡pw. Fsâ kplr¯mb tamUvens\ a{´hmZn\n
F¶p hnfn¨mep−tÃm. t]mbn, B hr¯nsI«h³amÀ¡v hoªpam{Xw
sImSp¡v. C¶n\n \ns¶ ImWpItb th−.'
FÃmhscbpw kvX_v[cm¡n, acnb³ Øewhn«p.
"AhÄs¡t´m tcmKw h¶t]mse tXm¶p¶p. aps¼mcn¡epw C¯c¯nÂ
Ahsf I−n«nÃ. kvImÀeäv, AhÄ ]dªXpt]mse sN¿v. kplr¯p¡tf,
am¸v. Rm\hsf At\zjn¡s«.'
acnb³\ZoXoc¯v Hcp CSbs¸¬sImSnbpambn kwkmcn¨ncn¡p¶XmWv
tdm_n³ I−Xv. Aao F¶hÄ F¥aqdnsâbpw ImWmXmb Cudnsâbpw IY
]dbp¶p. tdm_ns\ I− DSs\ AhÄ \o«nb ssIIfpambn HmSnh¶v
£am]Ww sNbvXp: "Rm\ev]w sshInt¸mbn.'
tdm_n³ Abmsf ItTmcambn t\m¡n: "Ct¸mÄ Rm³ \n\¡v
{]nbs¸«h\mtWm? \ns¶ ]n´pSÀ¶v, Nmc\mbn Akqbbpw ]oU\hpw
Gev]n¡p¶h\tÃ?'
"Nmc³? Akqb? F´mWv tdm_n³, \o ]dbp¶Xv?'
"\½psS AXnYnIÄ BSnsâ ihwsIm−p Xr]vXns¸Spsa¶v \o ]dªntÃ?
Cd¨n aZÀ tamUven\p sImSp¡m³ hn kvImÀeänt\mSp ]dªntÃ?'
acnb³ kwXw`n¨p\n¶p: "Rm\§s\ ]dªXmbn kvImÀeäv ]dtªm?'
"\n\¡Xv \ntj[n¡m\mhnÃ. AXptI«p\n¶ ebWÂ CXm. kvImÀeäpw
h¶p Ignªp.'
"Iãw! CsXmcp {Iqcamb XamiXs¶. Rm\nsXm¶pw AdnªXÃ.
tZlip²n hcp¯m³ Acphnbn h¶t¸mÄ Aaosb I−p. AhÀ Cudns\
¡pdn¨p kwkmcn¨ncp¶XpsIm−mWv, Rm³ sshInt¸mbXv.'
"amwkw aZÀtamUen\v sImSp¯n«mWv Rm³ hcp¶Xv.' kvImÀeäv ]dªp.
"Iãw! Rm\§s\ Iev]n¨n«nÃ. FÃmhcpw F\ns¡Xnsc
kwLSn¸n¡pIbmWv. aZÀ tamUvens\¸än ebW ]dªt¸mÄ t]mbXmWv
Rm³. C{Xbpw kabw AaobpsS H¸ambncp¶p.'
"CXnset´m Ipg¸ap−v.' kvImÀeäv ]dªp.
"teUn acnb³ B amwkw Rm³ XncnsI hm§Wsa¶mtWm ]dbp¶Xv?'
"Xoˬbmbpw AsX.'
kvImÀeäv [rXnbn HmSnt¸mbn.
"Ignª AcaWn¡qdmbn acnb³ Ft¶msSm¸ap−v. ssIIgpIm³
h¶XmsW¦nepw Ipfn¨p.' Aao shfns¸Sp¯n.
"CXv hfsc hnNn{Xw.' tdm_n³ XpSÀ¶p: "\½psSsbÃmw t_m[w
adnªpt]mtbm?'
"t\m¡v.' ebW CSs]«p: "CXm aZÀ tamUven³ hcp¶p. enän tPmWpw
H¸ap−v.'
Iq¶p hfªv, \o− NmcapSnbpambn hr²sb¯n.
"hr²bmb F\n¡v C§s\sbmcp k½m\w sImSp¯b¨Xn\v \μn
]dbm\mWv Rm³ h¶Xv. F\n¡v hfsc kt´mjap−v.'
acnb\mWv adp]Sn ]dªXv: "Fsâ \Ã At½, ChnSs¯ BfpIÄ Ft´m
sXän²mcWbmemWv amwkw AhnsSsb¯n¨Xv. AXv R§Ä¡pXs¶ thWw.
CSbIpSpw_§sf R§Ä hncp¶n\p hnfn¨XmWv.'
"AsX§s\ Xcm³ Ignbpw? Fsâ ]mhs¸« Abev¡mÀ¡v FÃmw
hoXn¨pIgnªp.'
"H¶pIn amwkw Is«Sp¯Xv? Asæn Ft´m ZpÀa{´hmZw!' acnb³
AkzØbmbn.
kvImÀeäv HmSnh¶p.
"amÌÀ, amwkw Ct¸mÄ \½psS ASp¡fbnep−v. sdbvt\mÄUv AXp
]mIs¸Sp¯p¶p.'
"X¶ km[\w Xncns¨Sp¡pt¶m?' tamUven³ Ip]nXbmbn.
"CÃ, tamUven³, acnbsâ I®pIÄ Xnf§p¶p. R§Ä Xncns¨Sp¯nÃ;
\obXv hnXcWw sNbvXpIgnªntÃ?'
\nch[n im]hN\§Ä D¨cn¨v, hmbphn ssIIÄ hoin, tamUven³
IS¶pt]mbn.
"AhÄ a{´hmZn\nXs¶. tdm_n³ XpSÀ¶p: "AhÄ¡v ]ecq]§Ä
kzoIcn¡m³ Ignbpsa¶tÃ? acnb\mbn h¶Xv AhÄXs¶. acnb³, F\n¡v
am¸pXcq.'
{^bÀS¡pw aäp ]ecpw InX¨psIms−¯n. "]mNI¡mc³ sdbvt\mÄUn\v
s]s«¶v AkpJw. tZlw apgph³ thZ\, \nhÀ¶p\nev¡m³t]mepw
Bhp¶nÃ.'
"C\nsb´p sN¿Ww?'
"Ahsf ]nSnbnem¡Ww. Asæn A\À°ap−mhpw.'
{^bÀS¡pw a¨pw ASp¡fbnte¡pw aäpÅhÀ tamUvens\ Xncbm\pw
t]mbn. F¥tamÀ B hgn hcpsa¶Xn\m tdm_n³, acnbt\mSpw
AaotbmSpsam¸w AhnsS \nesIm−p.
Xsâ {]Wbn\nsb¡pdn¨p ]mSns¡m−v F¥tamÀ AXnte h¶p. tdm_n³
Abmsf Bizkn¸n¨p. s]s«¶h³ \S¶p\o§n. Ahsâ ap¼neqsS Hcp
s]¬sImSn \S¶p\o§p¶p. tdm_n³ A\pKan¨p. F¥tamdns\ ]n¶oSp I
−nÃ. F¶m s]¬Ip«n CSbv¡nsS ZrãnbnÂs]«p. Ipsd¡gnªv enänÂ
tPmWnsâ Imlfw tI«p.
sN¦p¯mb ]mdbn \nÀ½n¨ Hcp Ccp− hoSv Is−¯n. Pe]mX¯m D
−mb AKm[amsbmcp XSmIhpap−v; Hcp cm£ksâ h«fwt]mse.
hoSn\p ap¼n enän tPmWpw F¥tamdpw. hmXnev¡Â acnb³!
tdm_n³ adªp\n¶p, kwkmcw {ihn¨p.
acnb³ ]dbp¶p: "tPm¬, Chsf sXän²cn¡cpXv. tamUven³ Fsâ
kplr¯mWv; Úm\nbmWv, tcmKia\w \S¯p¶hfmWv, t]mbn tdm_nt\mSv
]dbv, tamUvens\ C\n th«bmScpsX¶v.'
"AXv tdm_n³ Xocpam\n¡s«. AXphsc Rm\nhnsS \nev¡mw.'
 X£Ww tdm_n³ AhcpsSbSpt¯¡p h¶p.
"acnb³, \o Ft´m«amWv \S¯nbXv? Fs¶¡mÄ ap¼nse¯nbtÃm.'
`bm\Iambn H¨bn«psIm−v acnb³ DÅnte¡p \o§n. AhfpsS AcbnÂ
hnNn{Xamsbmcp Ac¸« I−p tdm_n³. CXv ap¼p I−n«p−tÃm! acnbsâ
tZl¯neÃ, aZÀ tamUvensâ tZl¯nÂ. s]s«¶v tdm_n³ AXnÂ
]nSn¯an«p. AXp apdnªv ssIbn In«n.
]ns¶ ]pd¯ph¶Xv tamUven³.
"klmbn¡tW, Fs¶ sImÃpt¶.' AhÄ hnfn¨pIqhn.
"C\nbnhnsS I−pt]mIcpXv. DS³ ØewhnSWw.' tamUven³ HmSn c£s¸«p.
DÅn IS¶p t\m¡nbt¸mÄ Cudn³ _ÔnXbmbn InS¡p¶p.
FÃmhcpw Xmhf¯n aS§nsb¯n, kZy D−p. {^bÀsSIv Dds¡
{]Jym]n¨p: "Rm\n¶p c−p IeymW§Ä \S¯ns¡mSp¡pw.'
F¥tamdpw Cudn\pw.
Aaobpw ebWepw.
ssK Hm^v Knkvt_mWnsâ A´yw

AsXmcp hk´Ime{]`mXamWv. Xsâ KplmapJ¯v \n{Zbnembncp¶

tdm_ns\ DWÀ¯nbXv {Xjnsâ cmKhnkvXmcamWv. c−p iàcmb
h\]meIÀ kwL«\¯neqsS Xs¶ IogS¡nbXmbn kz]v\wIs−¶v AbmÄ
enän tPmWnt\mSv ]dªp.
sjco^v Xs¶ IogS¡m³ hcpsa¶pXs¶ AbmÄ IcpXn.
ØnXnKXnIÄ Adnbm³ AhÀ c−pt]cpw c−p hgn¡p \S¶p.
Hcp ]m«p]mSns¡m−v t\m«nMvlmw tdmUneqsS \S¶ enän tPm¬ I−Xv,
tdmUcnIn At¼äp acn¨pInS¡p¶ c−p Iq«pImscbmWv. hn kvImÀeäv
AXnthK¯n HmSnhcp¶p. sjco^nsâbpw Knkvt_mWnsâbpw BÄ¡mÀ ]n
´pSÀ¶p hcp¶p.
enän tPm¬ iànbmbn FbvXphn« Hc¼v Hcp¯sâ icocw Xpf¨pIbdn,
]n¶nÂ\n¶ Hcphs\ ]cnt¡ev]n¨p. AtXmsSm¸w hnÃv apdnªv
IjW§fmbn. sjco^nsâ BÄ¡mÀ enän tPmWns\ ]nSn¨psI«n.
"Hcp dmkv¡ens\ ]nSnIn«n. Xs¶ Rm³ tIm«bn Xq¡nbnSpw. sjÀhqUv
h\¯nÂ\n¶v FÃmhscbpw ]pd¯nd¡nhnSpw.' sjco^v ]dªp.
tdm_ns\ X\nsb hn«Xn tPm¬ ]Ým¯]n¨p.
asämcphgnbn apt¼m«p \o§nb tdm_n³ Hcp h\]meIs\ Is−¯n,
A¼pw hnÃpap−v.
AbmÄ ]Snªmd³ tZi¯nse `mjbmWv kwkmcn¡p¶Xv. AbmÄ¡v hgn
Adnbnà F¶p hyàw.
"\n\¡v FhntS¡mWp t]mtI−Xv?'
"Rm³ tdm_n³ lpUns\ At\zjn¨pt]mIp¶p; F\n¡bmfpsS kwL¯nÂ
tNcWw.'
"Rm³ \ns¶ sIm−pt]mImw.'
BKX³ Nn´maá\mbn kmhImi¯nemWv \S¸v. Hcp shfn{¼tZi¯v
F¯nbt¸mÄ AbmÄ \n¶p.
"kÀ, \ap¡nhnsS Aev]w hn{ian¡mw.'
BKX³ hnÃp Ipe¨p X¿mdmbn.
e£yØm\w ImWn¡m³ tdm_n³ Aev]Zqcw apt¼m«p \S¶p.
"tdm_n³ lpUv, CXv \nsâ A´yamWv.'
AbmÄ ]gbkzcw amänbn«p−v. AXv Knkvt_m¬ BsW¶v tdm_n³
Xncn¨dnªp.
"\mw c−pt]cpw am\ycmbn ]nd¶hÀXs¶. HcmÄ \ncmbp[\mbncn¡pt¼mÄ
Iogvs¸Sp¯m³ {ian¡p¶Xv am\yXbÃ.'
"temIvÉnbnse tdm_À«v, tdm_n³ lpUv Bbt¸mÄ \nba]cn[n¡p
]pd¯mWv' F¶mbncp¶p Knkvt_mWnsâ hmZw. "\n\¡v t\m«nMvlmanÂ
Igpacw X¿mdm¡nbn«p−v.'
 tdm_n³ I¯nsbSp¯v iànbmsbdnªp. I¯n XSp¡m³ Ipe¨v hnÃv
DbÀ¯nbXpw, AXv apdnªphoWp. Knkvt_mWnsâ Ihnfn sNdnb ]cp¡v.
c−pt]cpw ]ns¶ ssIbnseSp¯Xv hmÄ.
"Ct¸mÄ \mw ka·mÀ.' tdm_n³ ]dªp.
Aev]t\cw kwL«\w \S¶p. sh«p XSbm³ tdm_n³ ]pdtIm«p \S¶Xpw
Hcp thcn XSªp hoWp.
"tbipamXmth, Ct¸mÄ CSs]SpI' F¶p {]mÀ°n¨psIm−v, tdm_n³ InS¶
InS¸n \o§nbXpw, Dut¡msS h¶ hmÄ \ne¯p Xd¨Xpw
s]s«¶mbncp¶p. sshImsX, Knkvt_m¬, tdm_n³lpUnsâ hmfn\v Ccbmbn.
tdm_n³, ssKbpsS thjw DcnsªSp¯p [cn¨p. intcmIhNhpw FSp¯p.
Knkvt_mWnsâ Imlfw ssIbnseSp¯p. apJ¯nsâ hensbmcp `mKw
adbv¡pwhn[w, intcmIhNw [cn¨p.
tdm_n³, ssKbpsS Imlfw Dds¡ DuXn. tdm_n³ h[n¡s¸«XpsIm−v,
ssK Imlfw DuXnbXmsW¶p IcpXn, sjco^v AXy[nIw kt´mjn¨p.
Aev]w AIse sjco^pw kwLhpw _ÔnXcm¡s¸« \nba{`ãcpw F¯n.
"t\Xmhmb tdm_ns\ Rm³ sIm¶p. AXpsIm−v Ahsâ ASp¯
A\pbmbnsbbpw Rm³ sImÃmw.' thj{]Ѷ\mb tdm_n³ Bhiys¸«p.
"CXm, enän tPm¬.'
tdm_n³, enän tPmWns\ kao]n¨v, "Rm³ tdm_n\mWv; Fsâ A¼pw
hnÃpw Cu ]pÃn D−v; kabamIpt¼mÄ AsXSp¡pI.'
_ÔnXcmb aäp c−p t]cpsS ASp¯pw tdm_n³ sN¶p. AhcpsS _Ô
\hpw thÀs]Sp¯n.
"]mSnÃ, kÀ ssK. Rm³ \n\¡v Hcmsf am{Xta X¶pÅq.' sjco^v
hnfn¨p]dªp.
B \nanjw tdm_n³ apJIhNw hens¨dnªp.
"CXv tdm_n³ lqtUm, Ahsâ t{]Xtam?' sjco^nsâ B{Iμ\w. Hc¼nÂ
\n¶v c£s¸Sm\pÅ {ia¯n AbmÄ IpXnc¸pd¯p\n¶p Xmsg hoWp.
t]mcm«w Bcw`n¨p.
A{]Xo£nXambn Hcp tbm²mhv AhnsSsb¯n. ASnapSn Idp¸Wnªh³.
sjco^nsâ BfpIfpsS a²y¯nte¡v IpXncsb HmSn¨pIbän.
"CsX´v? \memÄ¡pt\sc Hcp ]Stbm?' Idp¸ptbm²mhpw A\pbmbnIfpw
t]mcm«w XpS§n. sjco^pw Iq«cpw HmSn c£s¸«p.
At¸mtg¡v tdm_nsâ _yqKnÄ tI«v, ImSnsâ ]e `mK§fnÂ\n¶v
A\pbmbnIÄ F¯n.
"hn kvImÀeäv FhnsS?'
adp]Sn ]dªXv enän tPmWmWv: "F\n¡bmsf c£n¡m³ IgnªnÃ.
F¶m Fs¶ _Ôn¡pwap¼v Rm\hsâ LmXIs\þþþþhneyw
s{SâvþþþþsIm¶p.'
hn kvImÀeänsâ acWw tdm_n\v Akl\obamb at\mthZ\bp−m¡n.
hneyw s{Sânsâ kwL¯nÂs]« ]Xn\©p sdbv©Àamsc tdm_n³
As¼bvXp sIm¶p. F¶m sjco^nsâ kwL¯nÂs¸«hsc
t{Zmln¨XpanÃ.
knÂhÀ _yqKnfpw Idp¯ tbm²mhpw

enskÌdnse Bjv_nbn {]n³kv tPm¬ Hcp SqÀWsaâv \S¯p¶p. tdm_n³

lpUv AhnsSsb¯psa¶v tPmWn\dnbmw. tPmWnsâ iàn hÀ²ns¨¦nepw
Cw¥−nse cmPmsh¶ ]Zhn CXphsc In«nbnÃ. am{XaÃ, dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv
Bkv{XnbbnÂ\n¶v c£s¸«v Cw¥−nse¯nbn«p−v F¶ hmÀ¯bpap−v.
kmIvkWpIfpw t\mÀa\pIfpw X½nemWv {][m\ aÕcw.
H¶mas¯ aÕcw tbm²m¡Ä¡pÅXmWv. IpXnc¸pdt¯dn, ]ckv]cw
CSn¨v FXncmfnsb IpXnc¸pd¯p\n¶v adn¨nSpI. Adnbs¸Sms¯mcp
tbm²mhmWv A¶p Pbn¨Xv. ]ntä Znhkw \S¡p¶ Hfnt¸mcn Hcp
hn`mK¯nsâ t\Xmhv AbmfmWv. c−mwØm\s¯¯nb kÀ {_bm³
KnÂ_À«v adphi¯pw. {IqcXbv¡p t]cptI« Hcp]mSv {]`p¡Ä AbmfpsS
`mK¯p−v. FÃmw {]n³kv tPmWnsâ BÄ¡mÀ.
"Idp¯ tbm²mhv' BZy]£¡mc\mWv. Xsâ hn`mKw ]cmPbs¸Spsa¶
L«w F¯nbt¸mÄ am{XamWbmÄ aÕc¯n ]s¦Sp¯Xv. "Hfnt¸mcv'
F¶mWv ]dbp¶sX¦nepw ]et¸mgpw AXv bYmÀ° bp²ambn amdp¶p.
A¶s¯ hnPbn kÀ hnÂ{^Uv F¶ B AÚmX tbm²mhmWv. dn¨mÀUv
cmPmhnsâ hnizkvX kplr¯v; F¶m kmIvk¬ ]c¼cbnÂs¸«h³.
teUn sdmth\bmWv hnPbIncoSw AWnbn¨Xv.' kÀ hnÂ{^Uv XnI¨pw
Ahi\mbncp¶p At¸mÄ.
]ns¶ As¼bv¯p aÕcw. tdm_n³ lpUv thZnbnte¡v Cd§nbt¸mÄ
BZyw IS¶ph¶ ]ecpw ]n·mdn.
"BcmWXv?' {]n³kv tNmZn¨p.
"temIvÉnsb¶mWv FÃmhcpw hnfn¡p¶Xv.' t]cptI«v tPm¬ sR«n.
tdm_n³ taevt]m«v t\m¡nbt¸mÄ AhcpsS I®pIÄ CSªp.
"temIvÉo, {i²n¡Ww, \nsâ t]cv F´pXs¶bmhs«. \ns¶ F\n¡dnbmw.
\o tdm_À«v ^nävkqXv BWv.'
"Fsâ t]cv temIvÉn F¶mWv; AXv A§sb kt´mjn¸n¡psa¦nÂ!'
"\o ChnsS kpc£nX\mWv.'
tdm_n³ adp]Sn ]dªnÃ.
"temIvÉo, \oUvhpUv h\¯nse sdbv©À Bb lyqs_À«nt\mSmWv \o
aÕcnt¡−Xv.'
"icn, Hcp hyhØbp−v. Fsâ c−v A¼pIÄ lyq_À«ns\ adnIS¶mÂ,
Rm³ \nÝbn¡p¶ Øm\¯v lyqs_À«v As¼¿Ww.'
"AXp \ymbwXs¶.' {]n³kv tPm¬ XpSÀ¶p: "lyq_À«v, \o Pbn¨mÂ,
_yqKnÄsIm¼n\pÅn Rm³ shÅn\mWb§Ä \nd¨pXcpw.'
"Fsâ ap¯Ñ³ \à hnÃmfnbmbncp¶p.'
"\nsâ ap¯Ñs\¡pdn¨v ]dªXpaXn. As¼¿m³ t\m¡v.'
lyq_À«v c−mas¯ As¼bvXt¸mÄ AXp e£ytI{μ¯nÂXs¶ Xd¨p.
XpSÀ¶v tdm_n³ Ab¨ A¼v AXns\ IjW§fmbn JÞn¨v XÂØm\¯v
Xdªp\n¶p.
ASp¯ aÕc¯n\mbn BdSn \ofhpw, s]cphncens\¡mÄ h®w
IpdªXpamb Hcp Acfns¡m¼v tdm_n³ sh«nan\p¡n. \qdSn AIse AXp
Øm]n¨p.
"Fsâ ap¯Ñ³ C§s\sbmcp aÕc¯n ]s¦Sp¯n«nÃ. AXpsIm−v
Rm\pw ]s¦Sp¡nà F¶mbn lyq_À«v.'
\nch[n P\§Ä hoÀ¸pap«n t\m¡n\nevt¡, tdm_n³
As¼bv¯paÕc¯n hnPbn¨p. P\§Ä BËmZmcht¯msS, IctLmjw
apg¡n. {]n³kv tPmWpw BËmZ{]IS\¯n ]¦ptNÀ¶p.
shÅn _yqKnÄ tdm_n\p k½m\ambn \evIpt¼mÄ {]n³kvtPm¬ ]dªp:
"\o ChnSs¯ Gähpw kaÀ°\mb hnÃmfnXs¶. Ct¸mÄ t]mhpI. ]t£,
\nt¶msSmcp {]XnImcw sN¿psa¶v Rm³ {]XnÚsbSp¯n«p−v. \ap¡v
Im¯ncp¶v ImWmw.'
tdm_n³ Øewhn«p.
Xsâ BfpIsf ]mÀ¸n¨ XShd XIÀ¯tijw, Idp¯ tbm²mhv tdm_nsâ
ASps¯¯n.
sjÀhqUn hcpt¼mÄ klmbw BhiyamsW¦n _yqKnÄ hnfn¨v
Adnbn¡Wsa¶v tdm_n³ ]dªp.
"hvBþkvþBþtlm' F¶ i_vZamWv apgt¡−Xv. Idp¯ tbm²mhv
sjÀhqUnÂ\n¶p aS§n. tbm²mhns\ e£ywsh¨v, ]¨ne¨mÀ¯nsâ
ad]nSn¨phcp¶ Nnesc A\pNc³ I−p. aq¶¼pIÄ tbm²mhnsâ
incÊn\cnIneqsS ]mªpt]mbn. Bbp[[mcnIÄ Btdm Gtgm t]cp−v.
"BchnsS?'
"acn¡m³ X¿mdmbnt¡m, tkzÑm[n]Xo.'
"lm, skbnâv tPmÀÖv, ChnsSbpw P\h©Itcm?'
tbm²mhv sh«n apt¶dns¡m−ncp¶p. ]qÀ®ambn IhNaWnª asämcp
tbm²mhv ac¯n\nSbnÂ\n¶v ]pds¯¯n, IpXncsb sh«nhogv¯n.
XÕabw Idp¯ tbm²mhnsâ A\pNc³ _yqKnÄ hnfn¨p:
"hvB...kvB...tlm.'
\nanj§Ä¡Iw tdm_n\pw Iq«pImcpw F¯n. A{Ian t\Xmhns\ HgnsI,
AbmfpsS A\pNc·msc h[n¡pItbm amcIambn ]cnt¡ev]n¡tbm sNbvXp.
"\μn, temIvÉnbnse tdm_n³.' ]ns¶ kKuchw ]dªp: "Aev]w amdn
\nev¡ptam? Rm\o tbm²mhnt\msSm¶p kwkmcn¡s«.'
Idp¯ tbm²mhv, _mc³^nävkgvkn\Sp¯v Ip\nªv, ]Xnª i_vZ¯nÂ
Ft´m ]dªp. ]cnt¡ev¡m¯ _mc³ Fgpt¶äp Øewhn«p.
Idp¯ tbm²mhv, A\pNcsâ IpXnc¸pd¯p Ibdn kmhImiw apt¶m«p
\o§n.
tdm_n³ Nn´maá\mbn t\m¡n\n¶p. ]ns¶ {^bÀS¡nt\mSp ]dªp:
"B tbm²mhv dn¨mÀUv tImÀþUnþeb¬ AÃmsX aämcpaÃ.'
tdm_n³ lpUpw s]m¡apÅ XoÀ°mSI\pw

dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv \m«nse¯nsbs¶mcp hmÀ¯ ]c¶p. {]n³kv tPm¬

AkzØ\mbn. sjco^pambn ]e KqVmtemN\Ifpw \S¯n. A\pbmbnIÄ
]ecpw ImWm³ h¶pXpS§n; A¡q«¯n lnbÀt^mUnse _nj¸pw.
_nj¸n\p Iptd ]Ww \evIn. AXv dn¨mÀUns\Xnsc Iem]w D
−m¡p¶Xn\pth−nbmbncp¶p. sjÀhqUv h\¯nÂIqSn IS¶pt]mIpt¼mÄ
A\pNc·mÀ Ipd¨paXn F¶v {]tXyI \nÀt±ihpw \evIn; Asæn tdm_n³
lpUnsâ {i² ]Xnbpw.
_nj¸v t\m«nMvlmanÂ\n¶p bm{Xbmbn. DS³Xs¶ {]n³kvtPmWpw
hnizkvXcmb Ipd¨v A\pbmbnItfmsSm¸w clkyhgnbneqsS sjÀhqUv
h\¯nte¡p Xncn¨p.
t\m«nMvlman\pw h\mXnÀ¯n¡pw CSbnsemcp Ip¶n³NcphnÂ
s]m¡apsÅmcp XoÀ°mSI³ Xsâ IpXnc¸pd¯v \nÝe\mbn Ccn¡p¶p.
sjÀhqUnte¡v hcp¶hscbpw ]pdt¯¡v t]mIp¶hscbpw kq£vaambn \nco
£n¡p¶pap−v.
s]s«s¶mcmÄ HmSnh¶v Ft´m kwkmcn¨tijw keyq«vsNbvXv
Xncn¨pt]mbn. XoÀ°mSIthj¡mcsâ apJw cu{Zambn.
sshImsX _nj¸v Hcp sNdnb kwLhpambn F¯n.
"ssatemÀUv, Rm\pw \n§tfmsSm¸w hcs«. ChnsS Hcp]mSv A{IanIÄ Ds
−¶p tI«p. Häbv¡p t]mIm³ t]SnbmsW\n¡v.'
AhÀ H¶n¨v bm{X XpSÀ¶p: D¨tbmsS Hcp ]pÂ{]tZis¯¯n. ac§Ä
Ipdt¨ DÅp. Hcp ac¯n³Nph«n A©mdp t]À. At¸mÄ sIm¶ Hcp
am\ns\ tXm s]mfn¡p¶p.
_nj¸v A[nImc`mh¯n Ahsc tNmZyw sNbvXp:
"\n§Ä F´mWo sN¿p¶Xv? cmPmhnsâ am\ns\ sImÃp¶Xv
h\\nba§Ä¡v FXncmsW¶dnbntÃ?'
"R§Ä CSb·mcmWv. km[mcWbmbn BSpIsfbpwsIm−v s_ÂthmbÀ
]pevtaSpIfnte¡p t]mIbmWp ]Xnhv. C¶v Aev]sam¶v DÃkn¡msa¶p
IcpXn.'
"sX½mSnItf, thKw FsâIqsS {]n³kv tPmWn¶Spt¯¡v hcWw. am\ns\
sIm¶hs\ Xq¡pIbmWp ]Xnhv.'
"Zb tXm¶tW, R§Ä¡p am¸p XtcWta.'
"Hcp ZbbpanÃ. FÃmhscbpw {]n³kv tPm¬ Xq¡pw.'
Hcp CSb³ s]s«¶v tIm«n\SnbnÂ\n¶v Imlfw ]pds¯Sp¯v aq¶p XhW
DuXn.
hnkvabwsIm−v hms]mfn¨ _nj¸v `bs¸«pt]mbn. en¦¬ ]¨bWnª
hnÃmfnIÄ NpänÂ\n¶pw HmSn¡qSn.
"amÌÀ, Iev]\ X¶mepw.' enän tPm¬, ap¼nepÅ CSbs\ hW§n\n¶p.
 "CXv lnbÀt^mUnse _nj¸mWv." tdm_n³ lpUv XpSÀ¶p: "R§sfsbÃmw
Xq¡m³t]mIp¶p. ZbhpanÃs{X.'
"Ahsâ Xesh«n a®n\Snbnem¡v.' enän tPm¬ Bt{Imin¨p.
"Zbhp−mItW.' _nj¸v ap«pIp¯n: "AXv tdm_n³ lpUv
BsW¶dnªncps¶¦n R§Ä thsd hgn¡v t]mIpambncp¶p.'
Hcp ZbbpanÃ. enän tPm¬ Chsâ I®p sI«n. \½psS Xmhf¯nte¡v
sIm−pt]m. _m¡nbpÅhsc Chscs´¦nepw sN¿s«.'
XoÀ°mSI³ Ct¸mÄ BZyambn kwkmcn¨p: "Rm³ ChcpsSsbm¸w
DÅh\Ã. Iq«n\p t]m¶XmWv. Hcp _nj¸ns\ sImÃp¶Xv \njv{Inb\mbn
Rm³ t\m¡n\nev¡pIbnÃ. ]pWy`qanbnÂ, ]ÅnbpsS kwc£W¯n\v
dn¨mÀUv cmPmhns\m¸w Rm³ bp²w sNbvXn«p−v, IrXLv\cmb
kmcsk\pIÄs¡Xncmbn«v.'
"bm{X¡mcm, \nt¶mSp R§Ä¡v IelanÃ. Ct¸mÄ R§tfmsSm¸w hcWw.
\ns¶ I®p sI«msXbmWv R§fpsS Xmhf¯nte¡p sIm−pt]mIp¶Xv.
R§sf NXn¡cpXv.'
Cu kabw acnb³ Hfn¯mhf¯nemWv. Iq«n\v s_{Snkv am{Xw.
kabw a²ymÓt¯mSSp¡p¶p.
"tdm_n³ thKw hcpw. lnbÀt^mUnse _nj¸v CXnse IS¶pt]mIpsa¶p
tI«v Abmsf ]nSn¡m³ t]mbXmWv.
s]s«¶v ac§fpsS adhnÂ\n¶v {]n³kv tPm¬ NmSnhoWp. IqsS
\me©pt]À am{Xw.
acnb³ Ft´m ]dªXptI«v s_{Snkv DS³ Kplbnte¡p t]mbn.
"CXm ]pens¸®ns\ ]penaSbnÂ\n¶pXs¶ In«n. Ipsd¡meambn \mw I
−n«v. C\n Häbv¡v Xncn¨pt]mIp¶nÃ. ]mdIÄ¡¸pd¯v R§Ä h¶
IpXncIfp−v. tdm_n³ lpUv _nj¸ns\ ]nSnIqSm³ t]mbXmWtÃm.'
acnb³ s]s«¶v Xsâ s_ÂänÂ\n¶v ImlfsaSp¯v DuXn: hvB... kvB...
tlm...
AhÄ s_{Snkv sIm−ph¶ hmÄ hm§n.
"{]n³kv BsW¶v Rm³ IcpXnbnÃ. tdm_n³ hcp¶Xphsc F\n¡v Cu
hmÄ aXn.'
Ahsf s]s«¶v ]nSn¡v. sshIpt´mdpw \mw A]IS¯nte¡mWv \o§pI.'
c−pt]À acnbt\mSSp¯p. hmfnsâ {ZpXNe\¯m acnb³ Hcmsf
\ncmbp[\m¡pIbpw c−mas\ sh«ns¡mÃpIbpw sNbvXp.
Bbp[hnZKv²bmsW¦nepw A©pt]sc sNdp¯p\nev¡m³ AhÄ¡mbnÃ.
acnb³ £oWn¨pXpS§n.
"Ahsf £W¯n ]nSn¡v. Asæn B th«\mb Xsâ ]«n¡mbn
HmSnsb¯pw.'
{]n³kv ssI DbÀ¯nbXpw ko¡mct¯msS h¶ Hc¼v s]cphncen\pw Nq
−phncen\pw CSbn XpfªpIbdn. AØn s]m«n¨pIfªp.
"kv{XoItfmSv bp²w sNbvXv \n\¡v aXnbmbn¡mWpw. C\n Ft¶mSv bp²w
sN¿v.'
"AXv tdm_n³ lpUmWv. ]nSn¡hs\. Ahs\ sImÃp¶h\v ]mcntXmjnIap
−v.' tPm¬ Aedn.
{]n³kv tPm¬ acnbs\ hen¨ng¨v \o§m³ {ian¨Xpw, en¦¬ ]¨bWnª
tdm_n³ kwLw Ahsc hfªp. c£s¸Sm³ {ian¨ aq¶pt]sc As¼bvXp
hogv¯n.
"{]n³kns\ sImÃcpXv. I®p sI«n Kplbn CSv.'
_nj¸pw XoÀ°mSI\pw tdm_n³kwLhpw `£W¯n\ncp¶p. hn`h§Ä I
−p. XoÀ°mSI³ A¼c¶p.
"\n§Ä cmPmhnsâ am\ns\ sImÃpIbmWtÃm?'
"R§Ä \nbaw ewLn¡p¶nÃ. \nba{`jvScmb R§sf§s\bmWv
\nbaewLIcmIpI. tPmWnsâ IpÕnX{]hr¯nsIm−pw sjco^v AXn\p
klmbn¨XpsIm−pamWv R§Ä Cu ØnXnbnembXv. R§sfmcn¡epw
\m«nse \nbaw ewLn¨n«nÃ. R§Ä _lpam\nXcmb IÅ·mcmWv.
cmPmhnsâ am\nsâ Cd¨n `£n¡m³ hntcm[ansænÂ, CXn ]¦ptNcpI.'
"PdpkteanÂ\n¶v \S¶ph¶mse¶h®w F\n¡p hni¡p¶p−v.' XoÀ
°mSI³ lrZyambn Nncn¨p. `£Ww Ignªp.
C\n dn¨mÀUv cmPmhnsâ Xncn¨phchn\mbn \ap¡p IpSn¡mw. F¶n«v ]Ww
X¶v Xncn¨pt]mhpI.'
"F´v? `£W¯n\pt]mepw ]Ww thWsat¶m? F¶n«v cmPmhnsâ
Xncn¨phchn\mbn \n§Ä B{Kln¡pIbpw sN¿p¶p.'
"CsXÃmw cmPmhnsâXmWv. sjÀhqUv h\¯n R§fpsS Imlfkzcw
AebSn¡pw.' cmPmhn\pth−n. cmPy{`jvS\mb cmPmhv!'
tdm_n³ _nj¸nt\mSv ]Ww Bhiys¸«p.
]ns¶ ]mÂatdmSv ]dªp: "cmPmhn\pÅ tamN\{Zhyw R§Ä
sImSp¯pIgnªp. C\n In«p¶Xv Zcn{ZÀ¡pw hn[hIÄ¡pw A\mYÀ¡pw th
−nbmWv.'
]Ww sImSp¡m³ hnk½Xn¨ _nj¸ns\, ImepIfn A¼pIÄ Ip¯ns¡m
−v AhÀ \r¯w sN¿n¨p.
]ns¶ sNbvXXv "_ps^' F¶ IfnbmWv. HcmÄ Hcp¯s\ CSn¡pI.
CSnsIm−h³ Xmsg hoWnsæn FXncmfnsb CSn¡mw.
enän tPmWns\ XoÀ°mSI³ CSn¨phogv¯n. ]ns¶ {^bÀSIv BWv
apt¼m«p h¶Xv. Hcp Imfsb hogv¯m³ ]änb CSnbmbn«pw XoÀ°mSI³
Aev]sam¶v sX¶nbtXbpÅp.
"]Ån`oIc\v A{X aXn F¶mWv AbmÄ ]dªXv.' Ct¸mÄ Un¶dnsâ
hnebmbntà F¶mWv tdm_nt\mSv tNmZn¨Xv.
"F\n¡v \ns¶ `bamWtÃm' F¶v tdm_n\pw. tdm_nsâ iàamb CSn¡v
XoÀ°mSI³ Aev]sam¶v hg§ns¡mSp¯p. ImepIÄ BSnt¸msb¦nepw
hoWnÃ.
C\n Fsâ DugamWtÃm F¶p ]dªpsIm−v AbmÄ tdm_ns\
CSn¨p\ne¯n«p.
tdm_n³ kmh[m\w Fgpt¶äp.
"Rm³ I−XnÂh¨v Gähpw ià\mWv \o. ChnsS sjÀhqUnÂ
Ft¶msSm¸w tNcpt¶m?'
"]änÃ, Rm³ cmPmhnsâ Imcy¯n\p h¶XmWv.'
"ChnsS R§fpw A§s\Xs¶.'
XÕabw _nj¸nsâ KuWnÂ\n¶p In«nb Hcp I¯v enänÂtPm¬,
tdm_ns\ Gev]n¨p.
I¯p hmbn¨v tdm_n³ tcmjmIpe\mbn: "_nj¸v, \ns¶ Rm\nt¸mÄ
Xq¡pw.'
"c£n¡tW... F\n¡v aäp amÀ¤anÃmbncp¶p. I¯n BcpsS H¸msW¶v
t\m¡pI.'
"Rm³ I−p. ]pcpj·mcnÃm¯ kabw t\m¡n kv{XoIsf B{Ian¡p¶
Hcp¯\p−nhnsS. enän tPm¬ Abmsf sIm−phm.'
{]n³kv tPmWns\ KplbnÂ\n¶v ]pdt¯¡psIm−ph¶p.
Hcp hnkvabi_vZw D−m¡ns¡m−v \mtSmSnbmb XoÀ°mSI³ intcmIhNw
amän. {]n³kns\ A`napJoIcn¨p.
Hcp t{]Xwt]mse hnfdnshfp¯ {]n³kv tPm¬ ap«pIp¯n, "Fsâ
ktlmZc³ dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv Fs¶ in£n¡m³ h¶ncn¡p¶p!'
"Ahs\ sI«gn¨phnSv.'
kzX{´\mb {]n³kv tPm¬ IpXncsb HmSn¨psIm−pt]mbn.
tdm_n³ lpUv cmPmhnsâ ap¼n ap«pIp¯n. tdm_nsâ A\pbmbnIfpw
cmPmhns\ hW§n.
"am¸p Xcq {]t`m.'
cmPmhv tdm_n³ lpUns\ Fgpt¶ev]n¨p.
"Rm³ FÃmhÀ¡pw am¸p Xcp¶p. \n§fpsS {]hÀ¯\§Ä Cw¥−nemsI
kwkmchnjbamWv. acnb\pw \obpw hnhmlnXcmIm³ Fs¶ Im¯ncn¡p¶p
F¶v tIÄ¡p¶Xv icnbmtWm?'
"AtX, {]t`m.'
acnb³ apt¼m«ph¶v cmPmhns\ hW§n. cmPmhv AhcpsS Ic§Ä
]ckv]cw tNÀ¯p. {^bÀSIv IÀ½nbmbn \n¶p.
FÃmhcpw t\m«nMvlmante¡v bm{X Xncn¨p.
"\nsâ \neIfpw ]ZhnbpsaÃmw C¶pXs¶ Xncn¨pIn«pw.'
t\m«nMvlmanse¯nbt¸mÄ cmPmhns\bpw ]cnhmcs¯bpw ImWm³
{]PIÄ HmSnh¶p. F¶m sjco^vam{Xw AhnS¶v HmSnt¸mbn.
tPm¬ cmPmhnsâ {]XnImcw

tdm_nsâbpw Iq«mfnIfpsSbpw sjÀhqUv h\hmkw Ahkm\n¨p.

tdm_n\pw acnb\pw temIvÉnbn Xmakn¨p. dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv A[nIImew
Cw¥−n \n¶nÃ. t\mÀa³Unbnse kz´w `qan ]nSns¨Sp¡m\pÅ {ia¯nÂ
hym]rX\mbn.
sjÀhqUv Zn\§Ä \mtSmSnKm\§fn HXp§n.
dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv Øewhn«t¸mÄ {]n³kv tPm¬ ho−pw iàn{]m]n¨p. {]
[m\ambpw hS¡³ Cw¥−nÂ.
kt´mjapÅ A©p hÀj§Ä IS¶pt]mbn. cmPmhv Xncn¨ph¶nÃ. A
´cn¨p Fs¶mcp hmÀ¯bpw hym]n¨p.
bp²¯nsâbpw Iem]¯nsâbpw hmÀ¯IÄ Ds−¶pw, {]n³kv tPmWns\
IcpXnbncn¡Wsa¶pw enän tPm¬ tdm_n\v ap¶dnbn¸p \evIn.
Rm³Xs¶ t\m«nMvlmante¡p t]mbn. kXymhØ a\Ênem¡msa¶mbn,
tdm_n³ lpUv.
enän tPmWnsâ ap¶dnbn¸v tdm_n³ lpUv Nncn¨p XÅn. Xm\nt¸mÄ
kzX{´\mWv. \nba]cambn Pohn¡p¶h³.
F¶m acnb³ enän tPmWnsâ A`n{]mbt¯mSv tbmPn¨p.
acnb\v Imh GÀs¸Sp¯nb tdm_n³, X\n¨p bm{Xbmbn. acnbsâ \nÀt
±i{]Imcw tdm_n³ AdnbmsX enän tPm¬ ]n´pSÀ¶p.
t\m«nMvlman F¯nb tdm_n³, Xsâ IpXncsb k{X¯n sI«n. {]mÀ°
\bv¡mbn ]Ånbnse¯n. ]ÅnhmXp¡Â Hcp k¶ymkn \n¸p−v. tdm_n³
lpUv Abmsf {i²n¡msX DÅn IS¶v ap«pIp¯n.
tdm_n³ DÅn IS¶Xpw hmXn¡ \n¶ k¶ymkn {ZpXKXnbnÂ
sjco^nsâ ho«nse¯n sjco^ns\bpwIq«n ASp¯pÅ tIm«bnse¯n.
XteZnhkw {]n³kv tPm¬ AhnsS F¯nbn«p−v.
]pd¯nd§nb tdm_n³, ssZhImcpWys¯¸än Nn´n¨psIm−v ]Xps¡
\S¶p. {]n³kv tPmWnsâ \nÀt±i{]Imcw AhnsSsb¯nb sjco^pw
kwLhpw tdm_ns\ ]nSnIqSn.
"cmPmhv C¶se clkyambn t\m«nMvlman F¯nbn«p−v. \ns¶ sIm
−psNÃm³ ]dªp. \n¶n Btcm]n¡s¸« Ipäw Fs´Ãmsa¶p tI«v \ns¶
hn«bbv¡psa¶Xn\v kwibanÃ.'
t\m«nMvlmw tIm«bnse NpäptImWnbn¡qSn Dbc¯nte¡v t]mIpwtXmdpw
tdm_n\v kwibapZn¨p.
"Fs¶ FhntS¡p sIm−pt]mIp¶p?'
"cmPmhn\Spt¯¡v.'
"C§s\sbmcp Øe¯v cmPmhv k` IqSpIbnÃtÃm?' AhÀ tKm]pc¯nsâ
Gähpw apIfn F¯n. AhnsS \mep IÃmimcnamÀ ]WnsbSp¡p¶p.
"A§s\ \mw ho−pw ImWp¶p.' {]n³kv tPmWnsâ kzcw!
 "Fsâ ktlmZc³ dn¨mÀUv cmPmhv t\mÀa−nbn acn¨p. C\n Rm³Xs¶
cmPmhv. \o acn¨m F\n¡pw teUn acnb\pw CSbn XSÊanÃ.'
tKm]pcapIfn ]WnX CSp§nb IÃdbn AhÀ tdm_ns\ ]q«nbn«p.
hmXnensâ Øm\¯pw Icn¦Â`n¯n XoÀ¯p. F¶m Hcp PmeIap−v.
AXns\mcp I¼n Agnbpw.
tdm_n³ A¼ct¸msS Ipsdt\cw \n¶p.
]ns¶ iànbmbn hen¨t¸mÄ Ccp¼pI¼n CfInt¸m¶p. \qdSn
XmgvNbnemWv IÃp ]mInb `qan. NmSnbm acWw \nÝbsa¶v {]n³kv
tPm¬Xs¶ ]dªn«pap−v.
Xsâ tIm«n\pÅn kq£n¨ shÅn_yqKnÄ FSp¯v tdm_n³ DuXn.
GXm\pw sk¡âpIÄ Ignªv adp]Sn h¶p. enän tPmWnsâ _yqKnÄ.
tdm_n³ Xsâ Ip¸mbw Ccp¼gnbn tImÀ¯v ]pdt¯¡p hoin¡mWn¨p.
GXm−v Hcp aWn¡qÀ Ignªp. Hcp Akv{Xw PmeI¯neqsS ]d¶ph¶p.
A¼n Hcp t\cnb \mcv sI«nbn«p−v. tdm_n³ {i²m]qÀhw \mcv
hen¨pXpS§n. hmc¡W¡n hens¨Sp¯t¸mÄ, AXnt\mSp _Ôn¨ NcSv.
\o− NcSnsâ Aä¯v Hcp IbÀ.
IbÀ apdnbn _Ôn¨v AXneqsS Cd§m³ XpS§n tdm_n³. hi§fnte¡v
BSnbpeªv, `oXnZamb Cd¡w.
GXm−v Ccp]XSn apIfnÂ\n¶v IbÀ s]m«n tdm_n³ \new]Xn¨v
Aev]t\cw t_m[clnX\mbn InS¶p.
I®p Xpd¶t¸mÄ enän tPm¬ ap¼nÂ. tdm_n³ Fgpt¶äp\n¶p. F¶mÂ
hogvNsIm−v B´cnIamb BLmXw Gän«ps−¶v t_m[yambn.
Ccp− ]mXbn¡qSn AhÀ Im«nte¡p \o§n. AhnsS c−p IpXncIÄ
X¿mdmbn \nev¡p¶p. Imäpw agbpw Ahsc A\pKan¨p.
AhÀ temIvÉnbn F¯n. acnbs\bpwsIm−v ]pd¯ph¶p. IqsS \mev
AI¼Sn¡mÀ. i{Xp¡Ä Ahsc hfªp\n¶p. ap³\ncbn sjco^v. AbmÄ
hnfn¨pIqhn: "CXm tdm_nsâ t{]Xw!'
tdm_nsâ tht«äv AbmÄ acn¨phoWp.
t\cw {]`mXamIp¶p. tdm_n³ tdmUcpIn \n¶p.
"Hcp\mgnI Zqsc InÀ¢nÊn Hcp k¶ymkn\naTap−v. acnb³ AhnsS kpc
£nXbmbncn¡pw.' enän tPm¬ ]cnlmcw \nÀtZin¨p.
tdm_n³ acnbs\ BenwK\w sNbvXv Npw_n¨p. enän tPmWpw acnb\pw
aT¯nte¡p Xncn¨p. At¸mtg¡v tPm¬ cmPmhnsâ BfpIsf¯n. tdm_n³
lpÍpw DS³ Øewhn«p.
Ahkm\s¯ kmlkIrXyw

acnbs\bpw enän tPmWns\bpw thÀ]ncnªXn\ptijw tdm_n³ hSt¡m«v

Aev]Zqcw bm{X sNbvXp. ]n¶oSv Ingt¡m«p k©cn¨p. At¸mgpw tPm¬
cmPmhnsâ BÄ¡mÀ tdm_ns\ ]n´pScp¶p−mbncp¶p. F¦nepw
kqtcymZbambt¸mÄ tdm_n³ Hcp sNdp]«W¯nse¯n.
sagp¯ ]mdIfneqsS IpXncsb HmSn¨v XpdapJ¯n\v A`napJambn
BZys¯ k{X¯nse¯n IpXncsb AhnsS \ndp¯n. Aev]\nanj¯n\Iw
tdm_ns\ ]n´pScp¶hcpw AhnsS h¶ptNÀ¶p. IpXncsb I−Xn\m AhÀ
tdm_ns\ H¶p ]nS¡phm³ ]mªp\S¶p.
Cu kab¯v tdm_n³ thZ\bpw AkzØXbpw kln¨psIm−v \mhnIsc
]mÀ¸n¡p¶ Hcp hnSpXn hoSv Is−¯n. AXnsâ DSaØ Hcp
hn[hbmbncp¶p. AhÀ tdm_ns\ ZbthmsS kzmKXwsNbvXp `£Ww \evIn.
"Rms\mcp ao³]nSn¯¡mc\mWv. sNjbdnÂ\n¶mWp hcp¶Xv. t]cv
kna¬eo F¶mWv. t]mcp¶ hgnbn IhÀ¨¡mÀ kÀÆXpw ]nSn¨p]dn¨p.'
hn[hbpsS tNmZy¯n\p¯cambn tdm_n³ ]dªp.
ITn\amb thZ\ A\p`hs¸«XpsIm−v ]I apgph³ k{X¯n hn{ian¨p.
sshIpt¶cw Hcp hSn Ip¯n¸nSn¨psIm−v sXcphnte¡nd§n. At¸mÄ an¡
tKäpIÄ¡p ap¼nepw Imh¡msc I−p. AhÀ hcp¶hscbpw
t]mIp¶hscbpw tNmZywsN¿p¶p−mbncp¶p.
tdm_n³ XpdapJs¯¯n ISensâ AkvXab{]`bnte¡p t\m¡n Nn´bnem
−p. `mhnsb¡pdn¨pÅ Nn´IÄ a\Ên \ndªp FhnsS t]mIpw? F´p
sN¿pw? Hcp Xocpam\¯nse¯m³ IgnªnÃ. tPm¬ cmPmhnsâ BÄ¡mÀ I
−p]nSn¨m X\n¡p am{XaÃ, kplr¯p¡Ä¡pw Iã¸mSpIÄ D−mIpatÃm
F¶ Nn´bpap−mbn.
hnjmZt¯mSpIqSnbmWv tdm_n³ Xsâ k{X¯n Xncns¨¯nbXv.
"kna¬, \n\s¡mcp tPmen thWsa¶p ]dªntÃ?'
A¯mg¯n\ncn¡pt¼mÄ hn[h ]dªp: "Fsâ I¸en HcmfpsS Ipdhp−v.
\msf cmhnse I¸Â XpdapJw hnSpw. \n\¡p Rm³ \à {]Xn^ew Xcmw.'
"Rm³ th−t]mse {]hr¯nsbSp¡pw.' ASp¯ {]`mX¯n tdm_n³
I¸Â Ibdn.
GXm\pw Znhkw bm{XsNbvXXn\ptijw Hcp AgnapJ¯v \¦qcan«p.
ao³]nSn¯¡mÀ heIÄ th−Xpt]mse kÖoIcn¨p. F¶mÂ
ao³]nSn¡m³ Adnbm¯XpsIm−v tdm_n³ heIÄ \nhÀ¯nbtXbnÃ.
I¸n¯m³ ]cnlmkt¯msS ap¶dnbn¸p \evIn: "R§Ä¡p In«p¶Xnsâ
]¦v Xcpsa¶p hnNmcn¡cpXv.'
"F\n¡v tJZanÃ.' tdm_n³ ]dªp.
]e Znhk§Ä IS¶pt]mbn.
Hcp Znhkw Hcp bp²¡¸Â AhÀ¡p t\tc hcp¶Xv tdm_nsâ
{i²bnÂs¸«p.
"AXv {^©v ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcmWv.'
Iym]vä³ `bt¯msS Adnbn¨p: "\ap¡v c£s¸Sm\mhnÃ. AhÀ \½psS ao³
]nSns¨Sp¡pw. \½sf ]nSn¨psIm−pt]mbn ASnaIfm¡n hnev¡pw. AsænÂ
ISente¡p hens¨dnbpw. \½psS Imcyw XpeªXpXs¶.'
"]cn{`an¡mXncn¡q.' tdm_n³ ]dªp: "Fsâ hnÃpw Bh\mgnbpw Xcq. Hä
Hcp¯s\bpw Rm³ sht¨¡nÃ.'
\nanj§Ä¡Iw tdm_nsâ A¼v sImÅ¡¸ense Iym]väs\ e£yam¡n
]mªp. AbmÄ I¸Â¯«n hoWp acn¨p.
At¸mtg¡pw I¸epIÄ X½n IqSpX ASp¯p.
XpSÀ¨bmbn FbvX A¼pItfäv A\h[n BfpIÄ acn¨q F¶v Dd¸mbt¸mÄ
sImÅ¡¸ente¡p IS¶pIbdm³ tdm_n³ Bhiys¸«p.
"Iym]vä³, Cu I¸Â Ct¸mÄ \½ptSXmWv. AXp ]nSns¨Sp¡q. hcq
FÃmhcpw hcq.' tdm_n³ hnfn¨p]dªp.
sImÅ¡¸en tijn¨hcpambn sNdnb bp²w sNt¿−nh¶p. HSphnÂ
Ahsc XShpImcmbn ]nSn¨psI«n.
]{´−mbncw ]h³ hneaXn¡p¶ kzÀ®hpw aä\h[n {Zhy§fpw AhÀ Is
−Sp¯p.
I¸ensâ Iym]vä³ tdm_nt\mSp am¸p ]dªp:
"kna¬, \ns¶ AdnbmsXbmWv ]cnlkn¨Xv. R§Ä¡v Poh³ In«nbXv \o
ImcWamWv. Cu kzs¯Ãmw \n\¡p AhImis¸«XmWv.'
"AÃ.' tdm_n³ \ntj[n¨p: "Cu kz¯nsâ ]IpXn I¸ensâ DSaØbmb
B \Ã hn[hbv¡pw AhcpsS A\mYmeb¯nse Ip«nIÄ¡pw
AhImis¸«XmWv. _m¡n ]IpXn \½Ä hoXns¨Sp¡pw.'
]t£, Iym]vä³ Xsâ k©n \ndsb kzÀ®w FSp¯p. ]ns¶ C§s\
A`yÀ°n¨p:
"Iym]vä³, Rm³ Bhiy¯n\v FSp¯pIgnªp. C\n F\n¡v hà ]¦pw
tijn¡p¶p−¦n AXpsIm−v Hcp AKXnaμncw ]WnbpI.'
aS¡bm{Xbn I¸Â Hcp DÄ¡Sen \¦qcan«p. AhnSw "tdm_n³ lpUv
DÄ¡SÂ' F¶mWv Adnbs¸Sp¶Xv.
tdm_n³ FÃmhtcmSpw bm{X ]dªp:
"ao³]nSn¡m¯ ao³]nSn¯¡mcs\¸än Bsc¦nepw tNmZn¨m kna¬ eo
F¶Ã ]dtb−Xv, tdm_À«v Hm^v l−nMvS¬ F¶mWv. tdm_n³ lpUv Hm^v
F¶pw hnfnt¸cpÅh³!'
Iym]vä\pw Iq«mfnIfpw hnkvabt¯msS hm s]mfn¨p\nevt¡ tdm_n³
Ccpfn adªp.
Ahkm\s¯ Akv{Xw

acnbs\ I\ymaT¯n Gev]n¨v enän tPm¬ Im«nte¡p Xncn¨pt]mbn.

Znhk§Ä¡ptijw tPm¬ cmPmhnsâ BfpIÄ h¶v acnbs\
hn«psImSp¡m³ Bhiys¸«p.
"cmPmhpXs¶ h¶mepw Rm\hsf hn«bbv¡nÃ.' aTm[n] IWniambn
]dªp.«
]e XhW ZqX·mÀ kao]n¨v `ojWns¸Sp¯n. ]ns¶ A\p\b{iaw \S¯n.
[\w hmKvZm\w sNbvsX¦nepw adp]Sn ]gbXpXs¶.
]ns¶ aTm[n] acnbs\ kao]n¨p:
"tdm_n³ lpUv acn¨psh¶mWv tIÄ¡p¶Xv. tPm¬ cmPmhnÂ\n¶pw c
£s¸Sm³ \n\s¡mcpamÀ¤ta DÅq. aT¯n AwKambn tNcpI.'
]n¶oSv, tPm¬ cmPmhv t\cn«v aT¯n h¶v Ahsf Bhiys¸«p. KXy
´canÃmsX acnb³ aT¯nse AwKambn. cmPmhv F{X ià\msW¦nepw
t]m¸ns\ [n¡cn¡m\pÅ a\Êpd¸v D−mhnsöv FÃmhÀ¡padnbmw.
acnbsâ t]cn temIvÉnbnepÅ Afhä kz¯v aT¯n\p e`n¡m\pÅ
kq{X¸WnIqSnbmbncp¶p AXv.
acnbs\ hn«pIn«msX Xncn¨pt]mIpt¼mÄ tPm¬ cmPmhv ]dªp: "tdm_n³
lpUv acn¨n«nsömWv Rm³ IcpXp¶Xv. Fs¶¦nepw Ah³ h¶v acnbs\
sIm−pt]msb¶dnªm Rm³ Cu aTw Np«p Nm¼em¡pw.'
aTm[n] {]tXyIw Imh GÀs¸Sp¯n. Hcp Imhev¡mc³ enän tPm¬
BsW¶v AhÀ a\Ênem¡nbpanÃ.
Ipd¨pImew Ignªv AXy´w Ahi\mb tdm_n³ aT¯nse¯n.
A¡me¯v tcmK¯n\pÅ Hcp NnInÕ ssIbnse knc apdn¨v càw
]pdt¯¡v Hgp¡pIbmWv.
tdm_n³ Bew_lo\\mbn aT¯nse apdnbn InS¶p. acnbs\ At\zjn¨p.
"AhÄ Ipd¨pImew ChnsS D−mbncp¶p. ]ns¶ temIvÉnbnte¡p t]mbn«p
−v. \ns¶ Im¯ncn¡p¶p−mhpw.'
"F¶m Rm³ temIvÉnbnte¡p t]mIs«.'
"Cu AhØbn t]mIcpXv. C¶v Dd§nbn«v \msf Ime¯v t]mImw.'
F¶m tdm_n³ Dd§nbkab¯v, aTm[n] apdnbnse _m³tUPv Agn¨v
càw btYãw t]mIm³ hn«p, tdm_n³ acn¡p¶Xn\pth−n.
tdm_n³ DWÀ¶t¸mÄ Imcyw a\Ênem¡n. hfsc Iãs¸«v
PmeI¯n\Spt¯¡p \o§n. s]s«¶v _yqKnfns\¡pdnt¨mÀ¯p. ]gba«nÂ
ImlfaqXn: hvB... kvB... tlm...
h\¯n \n¶ enän tPm¬ CXptI«v Xncn¨dnªp. aT¯n\pÅnepÅ
acnb\pw CXptI«v, ]cn{`m´bmbn AXnYnapdnbnse¯n.
AhnsS, Xsâ {]nbXa³ arXyp·pJ\mbn InS¡p¶p.
"Cu Zpãbmb aTm[n]bmWv Xm¦sf C§s\ B¡nbXv. AhÄ acnbs\bpw
h©n¨p. Rm³ Cu aTw Xo sImfp¯n Nm¼em¡pw.' enän tPm¬ {Ip²
\mbn.
"AcpXv.' AXy´w ZpÀºeamb kzc¯n tdm_n³ ]dªp: "Rm³ Pohn¨
Imea{Xbpw Hcp kv{XobpsS t\À¡pw AXn{Iaw \S¯nbn«nÃ. acn¡pt¼mgpw
]mSnÃ; Hcn¡epw sN¿cpXv. acnb³, \nsâ ssIIfn InS¶p acn¡m³
Rm\nhnsS F¯nbncn¡p¶p.'
"tPm¬, Rm\o PmeI¯neqsS Hc¼v Abbv¡mw. AXv hogp¶ Øe¯v
Fsâ icocw AS¡Ww. Fsâ Xebv¡epw Imev¡epw ]p¯InSn thWw.
kao]¯v A¼pw hnÃpw...' tPmWnsâ ssIIfnte¡p tdm_n³ hoWp.
enän tPm¬ kz´w ssIIfm Ipgn X¿mdm¡n. arXnaÞ]¯nt·Â
C§s\ FgpXn:
"Cu inebv¡Snbn ibn¸q
tdm_À«v l−nMvS¬.
Chs\ shÃpw hnÃmfnIfnÃ.
P\w hnfn¸q "tdm_n³ lpUv'
Hcn¡epw
ImWpInÃn\nbnw¥−v,
CXpt]mepsÅmcp
\nba{`ãs\.'
D]kwlmcw

tdm_n³ lpUnsâ acWtijw acnb³ InÀ¡vsebnse aT¯n¯s¶

Xmakn¨p. ]n¶oSv saänÂU F¶ t]cp kzoIcn¨p. Imew Ignªt¸mÄ AhÄ
aTm[n]bmbn¯oÀ¶p. tcmKnIsf ip{iqjn¡p¶Xn AhÄ hfsc
{i²n¨ncp¶p. HSphn tdm_n³ acWaSª AtX apdnbn saänÂUbpw A
´yizmkw hen¨p. tdm_ns\ AS¡wsNbvX Øe¯pXs¶ AhfpsS
kwkvImchpw \S¯n.
Xsâ {]nb kvt\lnX\pw bPam\\pamb tdm_nsâ icocw A
´yhn{ia¯n\p InS¯n¡gnªv enän tPm¬ InÀ¡vsebn \n¶nÃ.
Iptd¡mew AbÀe−n Xmakns¨¶pw ]n¶oSv Cw¥−n Xncns¨¯nsb¶pw
BfpIÄ ]dbp¶p.«
tPm¬ cmPmhnsâ aI³, sl³dn cmPmhv am\ns\ th«bmSn _lpZqcw t]mbn
Im«n Häs¸Sm³ CSbmbn. Im«n\pÅn Hcp sIm¨p]Ån¡Sp¯v KplbnÂ, c
−p k¶ymknamÀ {]mÀ°\m\ncXcmbn Ignbp¶Xp I−p. HcmÄ hfsc
s]m¡apÅh³, c−ma³ XSn¨ Ipų. c−pt]cpw hr²cmWv. AhÀ
AXnYn¡p \evInb `£Ww sdm«nbpw Nokpw Acphnbnse sXfn\ocpamWv.
"h\]meI·mÀ Dd§pt¼mÄ th«bmSn \n§Ä¡p Iptd¡qSn \à `£Ww
Ign¨pIqsS?'
"R§Ä km[p¡fmWv. h\\nbaw ewLns¨¶p]dªv R§sf IpSp¡m³
t\m¡pIbmtWm?'
"F\n¡p `£Ww X¶hsc Rm³ NXn¡pIbnÃ.'
Po\nbn kq£n¨ hoªv cmPmhv sIm−ph¶p. \nÀºÔn¨t¸mÄ XSnb³,
IpSn¨v DÃmkhm\mbn. XpSÀ¶v k¶ymknamÀ AhÀ kq£n¨ hoªpw
th«bnd¨nbpw \nc¯n. FÃmhcpw `£n¨p.
aq¶pt]cpw ]pd¯nd§n. ap¸Xp hmc AIse Ip¯n\nÀ¯nb
Acfn¡¼nte¡v Akv{Xab¨p. s]m¡apÅ k¶ymkn¡p am{Xta AXp
]nfÀ¡m³ IgnªpÅq.
hoªp IpSn¡pt¼mÄ cmPmhp ]dªp: "C¯csamcp As¼bv¯v
Rm\nXphsc I−n«nÃ. dn¨mÀUv cmPmhnsâ Ime¯v D−mbncp¶psh¶v
tI«n«p−v. A¶v sjÀhqUv h\¯n Pohn¨ \nba{`ãs\¶p tIÄhns¸«
tdm_n³ lpUns\¸än [mcmfw Km\§Ä {]Ncn¨n«p−v. IÅ·mcpsS am\y\mb
B cmPmhns\¸än \n§Äs¡s´¦nepadnbmtam?'
c−p k¶ymknamÀ¡pw X§Ä ho−pw sNdp¸ambXpt]mse tXm¶n. cmhp
apgph³ AhÀ IYIÄ ]dªpsIm−ncp¶p.
{]`mXIncW§Ä h\¯nte¡p IS¶t¸mÄ cmPmhv t]mIm³ X¿mdmbn.
Xncnªp\n¶ BXntYbtcmSv ]dªp: "_lpam\ycmb k¶ymknamtc,
Ignª Znhks¯ Fsâ A¯mgw sjÀhqUv h\¯nse enän tPmWn\pw
{^bÀS¡n\pw H¸ambncp¶p.'
 cmPmhv \m«nse¯n A\pNckwLs¯ Xsâ A\p`hw tIĸn¨p. ho−pw
Ahsc At\zjn¨pt]msb¦nepw Xmhfw Is−¯m\mbnÃ.


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