ssh¡w apl-½Zv _joÀ

(1908-þ1994)
1908 P\p-hcn 19-þ\v ssh¡w Xmeq-¡n Xe-tbm-e-¸-d-¼n P\n¨p.
Xe-tbm-e-¸-d-¼n-epÅ ae-bmfw kvIqfnepw ssh¡w Cw¥njv kvIq-
fnepw ]Tn-¨p. C´y³ \mj-\ tIm¬{K-Ên tNÀ¶v kzmX{´y-
ka-c-¯nsâ `mK-ambn tImgn-t¡m«p \S¶ D¸p-k-Xy-{Kl-¯nÂ
]¦p-sIm|p. AXnsâ t]cn aÀ±-\-¯n-\n-c-bm-Ip-Ibpw PbnÂ-in£
A\p-`-hn-¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp. ]¯p hÀj-t¯mfw C´y-sbm-«msI
k©-cn¨p; ]n¶oSv B{^n-¡, Atd_y XpS-§nb cmPy-§-fnepw.
_mey-Im-e-kJn, ]m¯p-½m-bpsS BSv, âp¸p-¸m-s¡m-cm-t\|mÀ¶v!
F¶o IrXn-IÄ C´y-bnse {][m\ `mj-If - n-seÃmw XÀÖa sNbvXv
{]kn-²-s¸-Sp-¯n-bn-«p|v. aXnep-IÄ, i_vZ-§Ä, t{]a-teJ\w F¶o
IrXn-Ifpw "]qh³]gw' DÄs¸sS 16 IY-I-fpsS Hcp kam-lm-chpw
Hmdn-bâ v temMvam³ Cw¥n-jn {]kn-²o-I-cn¨p. kmln-Xy-A-¡m-Z-an-
bp-sSbpw tIcf kmln-XyA-¡m-Z-an-bp-sSbpw s^tÃm-jn¸v e`n-¨n-
«p-|v. C´ym-K-h-s×â v ]Zva{io \evIn BZ-cn¨p. 1994 Pqsse 5þ\v
\ncym-X-\mbn.
ssh¡w apl-½Zv _jo-dnsâ R§Ä {]kn-²o-I-cn¨ IrXn-IÄ

t\mhÂ
A\p-cm-K-¯nsâ Zn\-§Ä, B\-hm-cnbpw s]m³Ip-cn-ipw,
PohnX\ng¸m-Sp-IÄ, Xmcm-kvs]-jyÂkv,
âp¸p-¸m-s¡m-cm-t\-|mÀ¶v!, ]m¯p-½m-bpsS BSv, t{]a-te-J\w,
t{]w]mä, _mey-Im-e-k-Jn, aXn-ep-IÄ, ac-W-¯nsâ \ng-enÂ,
am{´n-I-¸q-¨, ap¨o-«p-I-fn-¡m-csâ aIÄ, i_vZ-§Ä,
Øes¯ {][m\ Znhy³
IY-IÄ
B\-¸q-S, Hcp `K-h-ZvKo-Xbpw Ipsd ape-Ifpw, HmÀ½-¡p-dn-¸v,
Nncn-¡p¶ ac-¸m-h, P·-Zn-\w, "\oe-sh-fn¨'hpw aäv {][m\ IY-Ifpw,
]mh-s¸-«-h-cpsS thiy, _jo-dnsâ 10 IY-IÄ,
`qan-bpsS Ah-Im-in-IÄ, hnUvVn-I-fpsS kzÀ¤w, hni-¸v,
hnizhn-Jym-X-amb aq¡v, in¦n-Sn-ap-¦³, kzmX-{´y-k-a-c-I-Y-IÄ
\mSIw
IYm-_oPw
teJ-\-§Ä
A\ÀL-\n-anjw, PohnXw Hc-\p-{K-lw, [À½-cmPyw
tNmtZym-¯-cw, I¯p-IÄ
t\cpw \pWbpw, _jo-dnsâ I¯p-IÄ
kvacW
Fw.-]n. t]mÄ,
HmÀ½-bpsS Ad-IÄ
{]`m-jWw
sNhn-tbmÀ¡pI! A´n-a-Im-lfw
Xnc-¡Y
`mÀ¤-ho-\n-ebw
_me-km-lnXyw
kÀ¸-b-Úw
]e-hI
bm Cemlo!
$
_joÀ k¼qÀ®-Ir-Xn-IÄ (c|p hmey-§Ä)
 ssh¡w apl-½Zv _joÀ

_mey-Im-ekJn

Un kn _pIvkv
 Malayalam Language
Balyakalasakhi
Literature/Novel
by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

© D C Books/Rights Reserved
First Published May 1944
E-book Edition January 2013

Cover Photograph
Punalur Rajan

Cover Design
Design Difference, Kochi

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 978-81-264-3772-6

D C BOOKS - The first Indian Book Publishing House to get ISO Certification
 AhXmcnI

"_meyImekJn' PohnX¯nÂ\n¶p hen¨p No´nb HtcSmWv. h¡n cIvXw s]mSnªncn¡p¶p.

NneÀ¡p NpSptNmc ImWpt¼mÄ Fs´¶nÃm¯ Hcp t]Snbpw Ad¸pw tXm¶pw. t_m[£bwXs¶
kw`hnt¨¡mw. A§s\ bpÅhÀ kq£n¨n«pthWw Cu ]pkvXIw hmbn¡phm³. Iman\oImapI·mÀ
kzkmaÀ°yhntijw sImt|m, `mKyhntijwsImt|m, FÃm {]Xn_Ô§fpw hnPb]qÀhw
XcWw sNbvXp hnhmlaÞ]¯n kpkvtachZ\cmbn {]thin¡p¶ IYIÄ am{Xw hmbn¨p ]
cnNbn¨n«pÅhÀ C¡Y hmbn¡pt¼mÄ `ámicmtb¡mw. F´p sN¿s«! AhcpsS A`nemjwt]
msebmtWm PohnX¯nsâ t]m¡v? thsdmcp Iq«À¡pw Hcp ap¶dnbn¸p \ÂtI|Xp|v. Fs´¦nepw
Hcp \nÊmchnLv\w t\cn«m \mbnIm \mbI·mÀ DSs\ ap§n¨mhpItbm At\ym\yw ameNmÀ¯n
hnjw IpSn¡pItbm sN¿p¶ IYIÄ hmbn¨v "t`jv' F¶p XeIpep¡p¶ hmb\¡mcpw Hcp sNdnb
CNvOm`wK¯n\p X¿mdmbns¡mÅWw. acWt¯¡mÄ ZmcpWamb Zpc\p`h§Ä PohnX¯neps|¶v
AhÀ¡p t_m[yamIpw.
Cu {KÙImcsâ am\knIm´co£w C{X Ccp|pt]mIm³ kwKXnsb´v? bYmÀ°temI¯nÂ
Icbm³ th|pthmfw hIbp|tÃm; ]ns¶ F´n\mWp k¦ev] temI¯nepw hnjmZ[qaw ]c¯p¶Xv?
AYhm, temIw C{Xam{Xw ZpxJabamtWm? a\pjylrZb¯n\v BlvfmZsas¶m¶nsÃt¶m? NncnbpsS
\mZw \ne¨pt]mtbm? CuhI tNmZy§fpw ktμl§fpw ]eÀ¡pw tXm¶msa¦nepw, hmkvXh¯nÂ
ChsbÃmw AkwKXamWv. IYmImcsâ temIm\p`hhpw XÂ^eamb ho£WKXnbpw C{XtaÂ
]cymIpeamWtÃm F¶p ]cnX]n¡pIbÃmsX AXns\¸än ]cn`hn¡pItbm, Ipäs¸Sp¯pItbm
sN¿p¶Xp hyÀ°hpw ZpÀhnZKv²hpamIp¶p. IYmhkvXp BlvfmZ{]Ztam, k´m]mXvaItam
Bbns¡mÅs«; AXns\ Iebnse \nXykXy§Ä¡\pcq]ambn X¡À¯mhv DZv`mh\wsNbvXv
A`ncmaam¡n¯oÀ¯n«pt|m F¶p am{Xta Hcp klrZb\p ]cntim[nt¡|Xmbn«pÅp.
"_meyImekJn' Hcp \o| sNdpIYbmtWm? AtXm, sNdnb Hcp t\mhemtWm!' CXnÂ
{]tbmKn¨ncn¡p¶ D]IcW§fpsS ]cnanXn, kv Y mbnbmb IcpWcks¯ cXnlmkmZn
`mh§ÄsIm|p ]cnt]mjn¸n¨v AXnsâ ]catImSnbn F¯n¨ncn¡p¶Xnsâ GIm{KX,
hmIy§fpsS [z\n{][m\X F¶nh Hcp sNdpIYbv¡p tNÀ¶ KpW§fmWv. F¶mÂ, _meywapXÂ
{]mb]qÀ¯nhsc \mbnIm\mbI·mcpsS _lpapJamb A\p`h§sf Nn{XoIcn¡p¶XnÂ
km[mcWambn t\mhenÂam{Xw ImWp¶ GXms|mcp hnkvXrXnbpw k¼qÀ¯nbpw CXnÂ
ImWp¶p|v . PohnX¯nse Zb\ob§fmb hn]cyb§fmWnXnse {]Xn]mZyhkv X p. X¦w
t]mse {]Imin¡p¶ ]n¨fs¨Ã¯nÂ\n¶p shÅnsU¸n FSp¯v CSn¨pIq«nb ]pIbne
ssIshÅbnem¡n tamWbnte¡p\o¡n \o«n¯p¸n ckn¨ncp¶ _m¸m DW¡shänebn Np®m¼p
s]mSn¨n«p htÃS¯p\n¶pw C¯ncn ]pIbnesR«n\v D½msb ]dªbbv¡p¶Xpw am\t¯mfw
Hu¶XyapÅ k¦ev]ku[¯n cmPIpamcntbmsSm¯p hnlcn¡p¶ Znhmkz]v\§Ä Znhm
kz]v \ §fmbnt¯m¶mXncp¶ IYm\mbI³ cm{Xn ]Xns\m¶paWnhsc ss]¸n\Sp¯ncp¶p
tlm«ense F¨n¸m{X§Ä IgpIp¶Xpw \hbuh\mcw`¯n aPoZns\bpw hmb\¡mscbpw H¶p
t]mse ]pfIwsImÅn¨ taml\cq]w IhnfpIÄ H«n, ssIhncepIfpsS G¸pIÄ apg¨v, \J§Ä
tXªv, BsI hnfÀ¯ hnIrXtImeambn¨abp¶Xpw aäpw am¨m ambm¯ PohnX]cnhÀ¯\
Nn{X§fmWv. Hcp sNdpIYbn ]m{Xkz`mhw kmam\yambn hyRvPn¸n¡pI am{Xta sN¿mdpÅp.
F¶mÂ, Cu IYbnse ]m{X§Ä¡v A\ymZriamb hyIvXnhntijhpw kv^pSXbpap|v. ]©p
tat\msâbpw FS¯nse A¨sâbpw i¦p Bimsâbpw kmtlmZcyw hln¡p¶ Hcp IYm]m{XamWv
\mbIsâ _m¸m. amXrlrZb¯nsâ X\n¸IÀ¸mWv CXnse D½m. kv{XobpsS ]cymbi_vZamWv
kplvdm. D¶Xamb `mh\bpw hnkvXrXamb temIm\p`hhpw kq£vaamb a\pjylrZbPvRm\
hpw C¡Ybn k©bn¡p¶p. N´ptat\msâ "imcZ'bv ¡ ptijw C{X lrZbmhÀPIhpw
KpWk¼pjvShpamb Hcp IYm{KÙw \½psS `mjbn D|mbn«nsömWv Fsâ ZrVamb A`n{]mbw.
IYmXv a Iamb kmlnXy¯nsâ, hntijn¨v sNdpIYIfpsS Hcp kphÀWImeamWnXv .
asämcp kmlnXyimJbv¡pw C{Xam{Xw A`nhr²n CS¡me¯p|mbn«nÃ. aXnam·mcmb ]e
kmlnXyImc·mcpw C¶v AXns\ ]cnt]mjn¸n¨psIm|ncn¡p¶p.
 _joÀ AhÀIfpsS hyIvXn]camb IemKpWsa´msW¶p tNmZn¨mÂ, `mhZo]vXnbmsW¶p
\nȦw ]dbmw. sNmdpsNmdp¡pÅ B hmIy§fn Hcp a\pjylrZb¯nsâ io{Lkv]μ\w
\ap¡v A\p\nanjw tIÄ¡mw. Cu {KÙImcsâ aäp Nne IYIfn A\nb{´nXamb hnImtcmjvamhv
Iem\nba§tfbpw Nnet¸mÄ DÃwLn¨v Bfn¡¯p¶Xmbn ImWmw. F¶mÂ, Cu IYbn Hcp
IemImc\v Ahiyw th|Xmb kwba\¯n\v HcnS¯pw `wKw ImWp¶nÃ.
sXfnshm¶panÃmsX hcpt¼mÄ Nne h¡oe·mÀ, "Fsâ I£n km[phpw acymZ¡mc\pw
\nc]cm[nbpamWv' F¶p ]dªp tImSXnbpsS A\pI¼bv¡p Nq|enSp¶Xpt]mse, "CsXmcp
apÉnwkapZmbIYbpw CXnsâ IÀ¯mhv Hcp apkÂam\pamWv' F¶v B{inX]£]mXt¯msS
]dªp hmb\¡mcpsS HuZmcys¯ £Wn¡p¶Xv Cu IYtbbpw IYmImct\bpw kw_
Ôn¨nSt¯mfw XnIª Hu²Xyambncn¡pw. A{]Xntj[yamb KptWm¡Àjw sIm|pam{Xw C¡Y
hmb\¡mcpsS A`wKpcamb BZc¯n\p ]m{Xo`hn¡mXncn¡pIbnÃ. F¶mepw asämcphn[¯nÂ
BtemNn¡pt¼mÄ Cu {KÙImc³ al¯mb Iemkrjv S n¡p ]pdsa Hcp kapZmbtkh\
wIqSn km[n¨n«ps|¶p ]dtb|nbncn¡p¶p. Hcp kapZmb¯nsâ lrZb¯n {]thin¡phm\
pÅ GIamÀKw kmlnXyamWv. F¶mÂ, tIcf¯nse Hcp h¼n¨ P\hn`mKamb apÉnwkapZmbw
\½psS kmlnXy¯n\v A]cnNnXambn«mWv CtXhsc IgnªpIqSnbn«pÅXv. ImcWw F´pamIs«,
]camÀ°w A§s\Xs¶sb¶p k½Xn¡msX XcanÃ. X¶nan¯apÅ \jvSw apÉnw kapZmb¯n\Ã,
aebmfkmlnXy¯n\mWv. "Xnc|p IeymWw' kmlnXyhnjbamImw; ]t£, "amÀ¡¡eymWw'
kmlnXy¯nsâ B`nPmXy¯n\p tNÀ¶Xà F¶p hnNmcn¡p¶htcmSv F\ns¡m¶pw ]dbm\
nÃ. _joÀ AhÀIfpsS Cu IrXn \½psS at²y \nhkn¡p¶ Hcp KW\obamb P\hn`mKt¯mSv
CXchn`mK§Ä¡v ]qÀhm[nIw lrZb_Ôap|m¡phm³ ]cym]vXamsW¶p am{Xta F\n¡p
]dbphm\pÅp.
"_meyImekJn'sb \nÀan¨ XqenI tXªpt]mbn«nÃ. {KÙImc³ Ct¸mgpw bphmhmWv.
Cu IrXnbpsS A\´cKmanIÄ ]eXpw At±l¯nsâ `mh\bn P\\wIm¯v A£atbmsS
IpSnsImÅp¶p|v . CXn\pw Ahbv ¡ pw kv Y mbnbmb bix{]kcw Biwkn¨psIm|v Rm³
IrXIrXy\mbns¡mÅs«.
Fw.]n. t]mÄ
F-d-Wm-Ipfw
1þ5þ1944
 H¶v

_meyImew apX¡pXs¶ kplvdmbpw aPoZpw kplr¯p¡fmbncp¶psh¦nepw AhcpsS kvt\l

_Ô¯n D|mb Akm[mcWamb kwKXn AhÀ ]cnNnXcmhp¶Xn\p apt¼ _²i{Xp¡fmbncp¶p
F¶pÅXmWv. F´mWv i{XpXz¯n\p ImcWw? AhÀ AbÂh¡¡mcmWv. B c|p IpSpw_§fpw
kulmÀ ZXbn¯s¶. F¶mÂ, kplvdmbpw aPoZpw _² sshcnIfmWv. kplvdmbv¡v Ggpw
aPoZn\v H¼Xpambncp¶p hbÊv. At\ym\yw tIm{In Im«pIbpw t]Sns¸Sp¯m³ {ian¡bpambncp¶p
AhcpsS ]Xnhv.
A§s\bncns¡ am¼g¯nsâ Imew h¶p. kplvdmbpsS hoSn\Sp¯pÅ ssXamhn am§
]gp¯phoWp XpS§n. H¶pw AhÄ¡p In«nbncp¶nÃ. am¼gw hogp¶Xpw tI«v AhÄ HmSns¨Ãpt¼mÄ
AXv aPoZv FSp¯p ISn¨pXn¶p¶Xp ImWpw. Ah³ AhÄ¡p sImSp¡bnÃ. sImSp¡m³
`mhn¨m¯s¶ ISn¨Xnsâ _m¡nbm bncn¡pw. AXpw AhÄ ssI\o«nt¸mbmÂ, "¶m ap«p ISnt¨m!'
F¶pw ]dªv Ah³ ssIap«v AhfpsS apJt¯¡v \o«ns¡mSp¡pw. ]ns¶, ImWpt¼mÄ Ah³
Ahsf `bs¸Sp¯m³ {ian¡pw; I®pcp«nbpw \mhp \o«n¡mWn¨pw.
AXnsem¶nepw kplvdmbv¡p t]SnbnÃ. Ahfpw ]Icw ImWn¡pw. ]t£, am¼g¯nsâ
Imcy¯n am{Xw kplvdmbv¡p tXmÂhnbmWv. F´psIm|hÄ¡p am¼gw In«p¶nÃ? ImäpÅt¸mgpw
CÃm¯t¸mgpw kplvdm DXvIWvTtbmsS am©ph«n \n¡pw. H¶pw hognÃ; Hcp Cet]mepw
hognÃ. hfsc ]gp¯ am§ IpeIpebmbn amhn InS¸ps|¶v AhÄ¡dnbmw. hogp¶nsænÂ
Ibdn¸dn¡Ww. ]t£, anidv hfscbp|v. AXp ISn¨p sIm¶pIfbpw! ISn¡p¶ B henb Fdp¼pIÄ
Csæn¯s¶ amhn IbdpI kplvdmsbs¡m|p km[n¡p¶ ImcyamtWm?þ s]®tÃ?
hmbn shÅw Dudn¨psIm|v Hcp Znhkw AhÄ A§s\ \n¡pt¼mÄ, sIm¼pIfn X«nap«n
"]vtSm'¶v Ft´m H¶p hoWp!
lu! kplvdm HmSns¨¶p. kt´mjt¯msS AXp Ip\nsªSp¡m³ `mhn¨p. ]t£, AhÄ
\mWn¨p t]mbn; AsXmcp shÅbv¡ Bbncp¶p. AhÄ¡p ]nWª Aafn hÃhcpw I|pImWptam?
CÃ; F¶mepw amhnÂ\n¶p shÅbv¡ hogp¶sX§s\? AhÄ Xn¡pw s]m¡pw t\m¡n. I|p;
AhÄ¡p hndªp; Ah³!
aPoZv hnPb`mh¯n \ncÀ°Iamb Hcp i_vZw ]pds¸Sphn¨p. "PpKv PpKq! PpKv PpKq!' F¶n«p
am©ph«nte¡p sN¶p. Xs¶bpaÃ, I®pIÄ `b¦cambn Dcp«n; \mhp \ofp¶Xphsc \o«n. D{Kcq]w!
AXp I|m B {Kma¯nepÅ s]¼ntÅscÃmw t]Sn¨p hnd¨v , "Fâpt½m!' F¶p
\nehnfn¨psIm|v HmSpw. hfsc HmSnbn«pap|v. ]t£, kplvdm HmSp¶nÃ! Xs¶bptam? XesNcn¨v,
\mhp \o«n, I®pIÄ Xpdn¨v, Ahfpw A§s\ \n¡pIbmWv.
aPoZn\p tZjyw h¶p. henb Hcm¬Ip«nsb Hcp sIm¨p ]o¡ncns¸®p `bs¸Sp¯m³
{ian¡pItbm? Ah³ H¶pIqSn ASp¯p. Ahsâ I®pIÄ Xpdnªp. ]pcnI§Ä henªpbÀ¶p,
aq¡nsâ c|p Zzmchpw hnSÀ¶p; apg¡t¯msS "Õq!' Fs¶mcp `b¦c i_vZap|m¡n!
AhÄ t]Sn¨v HmSnbnÃ. ]pcnIs¡mSnIÄ DbÀ¯n, I®pIÄ Xpdn¨v, aq¡p hnSÀ¯n. Ahfpw
]dªp:
"Õq!'
aPoZv kvXw`n¨p \n¶pt]mbn. Hcp \pdp§ps]®v; hoSptXmdpw \S¶v ASbv¡m hm§n Nm¡nÂ
Npa¶p sIm|ph¶p hn¡p¶ shdpw Hcp ASbv¡m¡¨hS¡mcsâ aIÄ. AhÄ F´psIm|v
]W¡mc\mb XSn¡¨hS ¡mcsâ aIs\ `bs¸Sp¶nÃ? s]®v GXp \nebnepw BWns\
t]Snt¡|XtÃ? aPoZv hfsc ASp¯p sN¶p. Hcp s\ÃnS AhÄ amdnbnÃ. aPoZnsâ A`nam\w
]pIªp; Ah\p Ieiembn tZjywh¶p, l¼Sn!
"\nsâ t]sc´mSo?' Ah³ AhfpsS ssI¯|n IS¶p]nSn¨p kKuchw tNmZn¨p. Adnbm\Ã,
Ah\dnbmw. Fs´¦nepw tNmZn¡t|? BWtÃ?
AsXms¡ At¸mįs¶ Ahsf lnwkn¨pIfbpw F¶ a«nemWv. AhfpsS Ipªp]ÃpIfpw
]mct]mepÅ \J§Ä ]¯pw IpcpIpcp¯p. Hcp \nanjt\ct¯¡v F´mWp sNt¿|sX¶v AhÄ¡p
\nivNbap|mbnÃ. Ahsâ ssI¯|p ISn¨ps]mfn¡Wtam, AtXm apJw am´n¡odWtam? "\nsâ
t]sc´mSo'¶v? AhfpsS _m¸mtbm, D½mtbm Bcpw Ahsf "\o' Ft¶m "FSo' Ft¶m hnfn¨n«nÃ.
]ns¶ tIm{InIm«pIbpw am¼gw sImSp ¡mXncn¡pIbpw ssIap«p ISn¡m³ ]dbpIbpw sN¿p¶
Cu hr¯nsI« sNdp¡³ hnfn¡m³ ImcWw? AhÄ tZjyt¯msS apt¼m«Sp¯v CSXpssIbnse
]mct]mepÅ \J§fm aPoZnsâ heXp ssI¯|n iIvXntbmsS Hcp am´p sImSp¯p!
Xos¨chsIm|p amt´äXpt]mse aPoZv ]pfªv, ]nSnhn«v, "Fâpt½m!' F¶edn \nehnfn¨p
t]mbn...AXh³ {]Xo£n¨ncp¶nÃ. F¦nepw ]Icw Ah\pw am´m³ Dt±in¨p. ]t£, \J§sfms¡
Ah³ t\ct¯ ISn¨p Ifªp t]mbncp¶p. ]ns¶bpÅXv CSntbm, ISntbm BWv; F¶mÂ, Ahfpw
]Icw sNtbvX¡psas¶mcp tXm¶Â... s]t®Xmbmepw am´n, C\n AhÄ CSn¨p F¶p temIw
Adnªm henb Ipd¨netÃ? Ah³ H¶pw sNbvXnÃ. tXmäv Cfn`y\mbn \n¶p.
kplvdm Ahs\ ]Ãnfn¨p ImWn¨p.aPoZv A\§nbnÃ. AhÄ tIm{In Im«ns¡m|v aPoZns\
]cnlkn¨p:
"Fâpt½m!'
AXn\pw aPoZv A\§nbnÃ. Ah\p h¶ptNÀ¶ A]am\s¯ adbv¡p¶Xn\v DSs\ Fs´¦nepw
]dbWsa¶pw AXn kplvdm tXm¡pIIqSn thWsa¶pw Ah³ Dt±in¨p. BWtÃ?...F¦nepw...
F´m ]dbpI? Fs´¦nepw I«nbpÅXmbncn¡Ww!...]t£, H¶pw tXm¶nbnÃ. Ah³ ]Xdnt\m¡n.
hmg¡q«§fpsS CSbnepÅ ssht¡m taªXpw Ifna®p ]qinbXpamb kplvdmbpsS hoSpw
sX§pIfpsSbnSbn HmSn«Xpw shÅtX¨Xpamb aPoZnsâ hoSpw I|t¸mÄ Ah\v Hcp bpIvXn
tXm¶n. kplvdm \mWn¨p Nqfnt¸mI¯¡hn[¯n Ah³ ]dªp:
"Fsâ hoSv HmSn«XmWtÃm!'
AXnse´mWv C{X Uw`v ImWn¡m\pÅXv? AhfpsS hoSp ssht¡m taªXpw Ifna®p
]qinbXpamWv. ]t£, AXn Ipd¨nembn F´p|v? AhÄ ho|pw tIm{InIm«ns¡m|p ]cnlkn¨p:
"Fâpt½m!'
AXn\v aPoZv thsdm¶p ]dªp: kplvdmbpsS _m¸m \nÊmc\mb ASbv¡m¡¨hS¡mc\tÃ?
aPoZnsâ _m¸m henb XSn¡¨hS¡mc\mb ]W¡mc\pw. AXnepw A`nam\Icambn kplvdm H¶pw
I|nÃ. aPoZv F¶p ]dbp¶ Iran Xsâ AcnI¯ps|¶pÅ `mhwt]mepw ImWn¡msX kplvdm
amhnsâ apIfnte¡p t\m¡n \n¶p.
aPoZn\p Ic¨nensâ emRvO\bp|mbn. A]am\w! ]cmPbw! Hs¡¡qSn Ahs\ hnjan¸n¨p.
Ah\v Hcp IgpXsbt¸mse "t_!' F¶v Dd¨p IcbWsa¶p tXm¶n. Icªm a\Ên\p kpJw
In«ntbt\! ]t£, ASp¯ \nanj¯n Ah\v Hcp `qtXmZbap|mbn! aämcmepw Ignbm¯
AÛpXIcamb Hcp {]hr¯n Ah\p hiaps|¶pw AXn kplvdmsb CXm tXmev]n¨ncn¡p¶p
F¶pw `mhn¨psIm|v BImit¯mSpw `qantbmSpambn«v Ah³ Hcp Kw`oc {]Jym]\w sNbvXp:
"C\n¡v amtht¡dm³ AdnbmtÃm!'
kplvdmbpsS I®pIÄ A\¡anÃmsX \n¶pt]mbn. amhn Ibdm³ AdnbpI! AXp henb
HcdnhtÃ? AhÄ ]cn{`an¨p. Ah³ IbdpIbmsW¦n am¼gw AhÄ¡p sImSp¡ptam? CsænÂ...
AhÄ t\ct¯ AhImiw Dd¸n¡m³ XoÀ¨s¸Sp¯n. ssIsb¯p¶nS¯pÅ apgp¯ c|p am¼gw
Nq|n¡mWn¨psIm|v kplvdm Kucht¯msS ]dªp:
"sNdv¡m, B apbv¯Xp c|pw ap¶w I|Xv Rm\m!'
aPoZv an|nbnÃ.
F´mWh³ an|m¯Xv? Fdp¼pIsf¡|p t]Sn¨mbncn¡pw! AhÄ ]dªp:
"Hm, anidv ISn¡phtÃm!'
AhfpsS kzcw, `mhw H¶pw aPoZn\p ]nSn¨nÃ. Ah\v Acniwh¶p. anidv! anidÃ, Icnt´Ä
s]mXnªncn¡ bmsW¦n¯s¶bpw Ah³ Ibdpw! hepXp c|pw ap¶w I|Xv AhfmWtÃ?
l¼So!..aPoZv ap|p aS¡n Ip¯n Xmdp]m¨n amhn henªp Ibdn. s\©nse sXmen Hcp]mSv Dcªp
t]msb¦nepw anidp s]mXnªp tZlsams¡ ISn¨psh¦nepw kplvdm I|ph¨ncp¶ am¼gw c|pw
]dn¨psIm|v hnPb{ioemfnX\mbn Ah³ Xmsgbnd§n.
kplvdm HmSns¨¶p. sImXn! ]cn{`aw! AhÄ ssI\o«n.
"Cªm Xm sNdv¡m Rm³ I|p sh¨ncp¶XtÃ?'
 aPoZv an|nbnÃ. Indn c|p hit¯¡pw hen¨psIm|v Np|p tIm«n Ah³ \n¶p.
"Cªm Xm sNdv¡m, Rm¦|XtÃ?'
]cnlmkt¯msS aPoZv t\m¡n:
"D½nWn hey sImXnsbm|v s]®n\v!' Ah³ \S¶p. F¶n«p am¼g§Ä aW¸n¨p X¶¯m³
A`n{]mbw ]dªp:
"l¼S! \Ã aWw!'
kplvdmbv¡v Acniw h¶p. AhÄ \n¶p ]pIªp. AhfpsS lrZbw...Hm...AhÄ¡p I®ocp
s]m«n. AhÄ G§ntb§n Icªp.
Ah\v Xncn¨psN¶v, Ahsâ {]mamWyw kvYm]n ¡m\pÅ \Ã Ahkcw! Ah³ am¼gw sh¨p
\o«n. sImXnbps|¦nepw AhÄ ssI \o«nbnÃ. aPoZv am¼gw c|pw AhfpsS ap¼n h¨psImSp¯p.
AhÄ FSp¯nÃ. AhÄ¡p hnizkn¡m³ Ignbp¶nÃ! C{Xbv¡p \Ãht\m! AhÄ¡p hnizmkw
hcp¶nÃ. ssI c|pw AhÄ ]ndIn sI«n; I®oscm gp¡ns¡m|v, A§s\ \n¶p.
aPoZv kvt\lt¯msS km`nam\w {]kvXmhn¨p:
"t_W¦n ªow Rm¼dn¨p Xcmw!'
kplvdmbpsS lrZbw Aenªpt]mbn. AhÄ¡p thWsa¦n C\nbpw ]dn¨psImSp¡msa¶v! XymKn,
[oc³! F{X \Ã sNdp¡³! Ahs\ am´nbXp \¶mtbm? AhÄ hfsc AS¡samXp¡t¯mSpIqSn
XymKk¶²bmbn; F¶n«p ]Xps¡¸dªp:
"C\n¨v H¶p aXn.'
B \Ãh\mb almXymKn \nÊmc`mh¯n ]dªp:
"FÃmw FSpt¯m s]t®!'
"C\n¨v H¶p aXn.'
AhÄ Hs¶Sp¯p aPoZn\p sh¨p\o«n. Ah³ ths|¶p ]dªp. AhÄ \nÀ_Ôn¨p.
taSn¨nsæn AhÄ¡p Ic¨n hcpsa¶p ]dªp!
aPoZv hm§n, am¼gw ISn¨p Xn¶p Nmdp s\©n¡qSn HgpIns¡m|ncp¶t¸mgmWv aPoZnsâ
]pd¯pw aäpw anidp ISn¨ncn¡p¶Xv kplvdm I|Xv. AhÄ¡p k¦Sw tXm¶n. AhÄ Ahsâ
tZlt¯mSp tNÀ¶p\n¶v AXns\sbms¡ ]Xps¡ \pÅn FSp¯p Ifªp. AhfpsS \J§Ä
aPoZnsâ tZlw sXm«t¸mÄ Ah\v Hcp hnjaw tXm¶n.
A¶v aPoZns\ AhÄ ho|pw am´nbnsænepw hfsc¡met¯¡v aPoZns\ am´pIbpw
\pÅpIbpw sNbvXn«p|v. AhÄ "am´pw!' F¶p ]dªm aPoZv `bs¸«p hnd¨ncp¶p. AhfpsS
Gähpw aqÀ¨bpÅ Bbp[amb B \J§sf aPoZv apdn¨pIfªXv Hcp kq{Xw {]tbmKn¨v AhfpsS
AdnthmSpw k½Xt¯mSpwIqSnbmWv.