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BUn kn _pIvkv
Malayalam Language
Original French Title
Les Miserables
Malayalam Title
Pavangal
Novel
by Victor Hugo
© D C Books/Rights Reserved
E-book edition August 2016

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 978-81-264-7803-3

D C BOOKS - the first Indian Book Publishing House to get ISO Certification
hnIvtXmÀ bqtKm
1802 s^{_phcn 26þ\v P\n¨p. IhnX, t\mhÂ, \mSIw, \ncq]Ww, D]\ymkw
XpS§nb imJIfnseÃmw [mcmfw IrXnIÄ. {^©v Imev]\nIXbpsS
\mbI\mb hnIvtXmÀ bqtKm (Victor Hugo) ]s¯m¼Xmw \qäm|nse {^©v
kmlnXy¯nepw cmjv{Sob¯nepw \ndªp\n¶ hyànXzamWv. At±lt¯mfw
kzm[o\X krjvSn¨hÀ Npcp§pw. kÀhm[n]Xy]camb cmPhmgvNsb
FXnÀ¯ bqtKmbv¡v c|p]Xnäm|pImew hntZi¯v {]hmknbmbn
Igntb|nh¶p. "]mh§Ä' (Les Miserables, 1862), "t\m{XvZmanse Iq\³' (The
Hunchback of Notre-Dame, 1831) F¶nh {]kn² t\mhepIÄ. 1885 tabv 22þ\v A
´cn¨p.
BapJw


Hcp ¢mknIv kmlnXyIrXn aäp `mjIfn F´psN¿p¶p F¶ tNmZy¯nsâ
D¯camWv hnIvtXmÀ bqtKmbpsS "te anskdm»v' (Les Miserables, 1862) F¶
"]mh§Ä'. ¢mkn¡pIÄ Ah FgpXs¸« `mjIfnÂam{Xw hmbn¡s¸Sm³
hn[n¡s¸«hbÃ. hnhÀ¯\¯neqsS aäp `mjIfnepw Ah Pohn¡p¶p.
kzm[o\X sNep¯p¶p. ]pXnb hgnIÄ ImWn¨psImSp¡p¶p.
aebmfkmlnXy¯n "]mh§Ä'¡mWv B Øm\w. Ihnbmb \me¸m«v
\mcmbWtat\m³ bqtKmbpsS {^©v t\mhensâ Cw¥njv ]cn`mjsb
B[mcam¡n \S¯nb hnhÀ¯\w aebmf¯nse t\mh kmlnXy¯n\pw
KZykmlnXy¯n\pw s]mXphmbpw \evInb DuÀP{]hmlw
Akm[mcWambncp¶p. \me¸mSnsâ "]mh§Ä' hmbn¨v aebmfnIÄ gmMv
hmÂgm§ns\bpw sImsk¯ns\bpw lrZb¯nte¡p kzoIcn¨p. t\mhensâ
ssiihmhØbn IgnbpIbmbncp¶ aebmfw B ]cn`mjbneqsS
hnizkmlnXy¯nsâ CSnapg¡w tI«pWcpIbmbncp¶p. aebmf¯nse
B[p\nIKZy¯n\v ASn¯d ]mIm³IqSn B hnhÀ¯\¯neqsS \me¸mS\p
Ignªp. 1925þ BWv "]mh§Ä' hnhÀ¯\¯nsâ BZy`mKw
{]kn²oIcn¨Xv. "CμpteJ' ]pd¯ph¶ 1889 apX 1920 hsc \qdn¯msg
t\mhepIÄ am{Xta aebmf¯n {]kn²oIcn¡s¸«ncp¶pÅq. 1927, 1928
hÀj§fnembn "]mh§Ä' ]qÀWcq]¯n aebmf¯nse¯n. Hcp
sshtZinI IrXnbpsS kz`mhw aebmfnIfmb hmb\¡mÀ
a\Ênem¡p¶Xn\pth|n ]Zm\p]Z XÀPabmWv \mcmbWtat\m³
\nÀhln¨Xv. ]mh§Ä 1862þ {^©n {]kn²oIcn¨Xpw aq¶p
hmey§fmbmWv. {^m³kn am{Xw HXp§n\n¶nà AXnsâ IoÀ¯n. bqtdm¸p
apgph³ {]nb¦cambn¯oÀ¶ "]mh§Ä' aäp `qJÞ§fnepw {]nbs¸«
]pkvXIambn amdn. bqtKm krjvSn¨ B c|p IYm]m{X§Ä kmlnXy¯nse
Gähpw {]ikvXcmb IÅ\pw t]meokpambn amdn. \¼À 24601 F¶
Pbn¸pÅnbmb gmMv hmÂgm§pw (Jean Valjean) Abmsf Hgnbm_m[t]mse
\nc´cw ]n´pScp¶ C³kvs]IvSÀ gthdpw (Javert). t\mh kmlnXy¯nÂ
GItZiw c|v BZncq]§fmWhÀ.
s\t¸mfnb³ t_mW¸mÀ«v ]cmPnX\mb hm«Àeq bp²w \S¶ 1815þÂ
Bcw`n¨v {^m³knsâ Ncn{X¯nse tImfnf¡w \ndª ASp¯
Ccp]XphÀj§fneqsS IS¶pt]mIp¶ "]mh§Ä' ]e CXnhr¯§Ä
sI«p]nWªp InS¡p¶ _rlZmJymbnIbmWv. sdm«ntamjW¯n\p
\mephÀjw XShp in£n¡s¸«v PbnenemhpIbpw \mepXhW XShpNmSm³
{ian¨Xn\m in£mImemh[n 19 hÀjamhpIbpw sNbvX gmMv hmÂgm§nsâ
PohnXIYbmWv aptJyXnhr¯w. s\t¸mfnbsâ ]cmPbhpw _qÀ_¬
cmPhmgvNbpsS ]p\xØm]\hpw AXns\Xnsc dn¸»n¡³ ]£¡mÀ
\S¯nb hn¹h§fpaS§nb {^©v Ncn{XamWv t\mhensâ ]Ým¯ew.
^³Xo³ F¶ bphXnbpsSbpw AhfpsS A\mYbmb aIÄ
sImsk¯nsâbpw IY, sX\mÀZnbÀ F¶ Zpcmßmhnsâ IpäIrXy§fpsS
IY, acnbqkv s]mMvsagvkn F¶ hn¹hImcnbmb bphmhnsâ IY, ]mcoknÂ
\S¡p¶ hn¹h¯nsâ IY F¶o CXnhr¯§fpw Ht«sd D]IYIfpwIqSn
tNcpt¼mtg "]mh§fp'sS k¦oÀWLS\ ]qÀ¯nbmIq. t]cp
kqNn¸n¡pt¼mse ]mh§fpsS IYbmWv bqtKm ]dbp¶Xv. PohnXkachpw
Zmcn{Zyhpw hy`nNmchpw At[mtemIhpw IpäIrXyhpw t{]ahpw
BßkaÀ¸Whpw hn¹hhpsaÃmw AhnsSbp|v. \m\mXcw a\pjycpw
\m\mXcw PohnXcwK§fpw tNÀ¶ "]mh§Ä' {^©v Imev]\nIXbpsS
Gähpw anI¨ amXrIIfnsem¶mWv. 19þmw \qäm|nse BZy]IpXnbnse
{^©pkmlnXy¯n ImÂ]\nIXbv¡mbncp¶p taÂss¡. hnIvtXmÀ bqtKm,
jmt¯m{_nbmMv (Chateaubriand), emaÀ¯o³ (Alphonse de Lamartine), AÂ{^Zv Zv
hnªn (Alfred de vigny), AÂs{^Zv Zv aypsk (Alfred de Musset), sXtbm^oÂ
sKm¯ntb (Theophile Gautier) AeIvkm³UÀ Zyqa (Alexander Dumas, Pere)
XpS§nbhcmbncp¶p Imev]\nI hk´w \bn¨Xv. Ncn{Xt\mhÂ, sdmam³kv
F¶o P\pÊpIÄ {^©v Imev]\nIXbv¡p {]nbs¸«Xmbncp¶p.
AXnsshImcnIXbpw AXn`mhpIXzhpw BZÀihXvIcWhpw hnjmZhpsaÃmw
AXnsâ `mKambn. {^©v sdmamânIv {]Øm\¯nsâ t\Xmhpw
k¼qÀWamXrIbpw hnIvtXmÀ bqtKmbÃmsX aämcpambncp¶nÃ.
(hnIvtXmÀ bqtKmbpsS PohnXs¯bpw IrXnIsfbpw IqSpXednbm³
hnizkmlnXyXmcmhen hmeyw Bdnse t\m{XvZmanse Iq\³ F¶ IrXnbpsS
BapJw t\m¡pI.)

]mh§fpsS hnPbIY
1862þ Xsâ Adp]Xmw hbÊn bqtKm {]kn²oIcn¨ ]mh§Ä
Akm[mcWamsbmcp hnPbambncp¶p. {^m³knepw s_ÂPnb¯nepw
BfpIÄ Iyq\n¶v ]pkvXIw hm§n. \mephmey§fmbn«mWv "]mh§Ä' BZyw
]pd¯ph¶Xv. 1862 G{]n aq¶n\v BZys¯ c|phmey§Ä {]kn²oIcn¨p.
tabv 15þ\v _m¡n c|p`mK§fpw. sk]vXw_dn bqtKmbpsS _lpam\mÀ°w
\S¯nb hncp¶n Fgp¯pImcpw cmjv{Sob t\Xm¡fpw imkv{XÚcpw
Iem{]hÀ¯Icpsams¡bmbn c|mbnc¯ne[nIwt]À ]s¦Sp¯p. 1872
BIpt¼mtg¡pw \mev]Xne[nIw cmPy§fn ]mh§Ä
{]kn²oIcn¨pIgnªncp¶p. kvXpXn¡s¸«Xpt]mse hnaÀin¡s¸«n«p|v
"]mh§Ä'. BIkvanI kw`h§fpsS [mcmfn¯hpw AXn`mhpIXzhpw
hnImcm[nIyhpw BZÀihXvIcWhpsaÃmw hnaÀi\hnt[bamb
LSI§fmWv. AsXÃmapÅt¸mÄXs¶ "]mh§Ä' Im´nIamb
BIÀjWiàn \ne\nÀ¯p¶p. tSmÄtÌmbnbpw tUmsÌmtbhvkvInbpw
]nev¡me¯v AkvXnXzhmZNn´I\mb gmMvt]mÄ kmÀs{Xbpw B Im
´nIKpW¯n\Sns¸«hcmWv. tUmsÌmtbhvkvInsb kw_Ôn¨v bqtKm
Bßob]p\À\hoIcW¯nsâ i_vZhpw tlmaÀ¡p kaioÀj\pambncp¶p.
D¶Xamb [À½t_m[¯nsâbpw IemßIamb Aht_m[¯nsâbpw
amXrIbmbncp¶p tSmÄtÌmbn¡v hnIvtXmÀ bqtKm. Aam\pjiànIÄsIm|v
A\p{Kln¡s¸« a\pjy³ F¶v kmÀs{X bqtKmsb hmgv¯n.
]mh§sf {]nb¦cam¡p¶ B LSIw F´mWv? AwKoIrX kZmNmc
k¦ev]§fpsS Akw_ÔX t_m[ys¸«v hmb\¡mÀ B kZmNmc¯n\p
\nc¡msX {`jvS a\pjysc kvt\ln¨pt]mIp¶ am{´nIhnZybmWsX¶p
]dbmw. gmMv hmÂgmMv F¶ Ipähmfnsb \mw kvt\ln¡p¶p. am\pjnI
al¯z¯nsâ Hu¶Xy¯nte¡v AbmÄ Dbcp¶XpI|v hmb\¡mcpw
hnaeoIcn¡s¸Sp¶p. ImcpWy¯nsâbpw kvt\l¯nsâbpw almKmYbmWv
bqtKm \nÀan¨Xv. Uos\ybnse _nj¸nsâ B sagpXncn¡mepIÄ
t\mhense§pw IcpWbpsS Bßobshfn¨w ]c¯n\nev¡p¶p. A[Àas¯
AaÀ¨ sNbvXv \oXn \S¸m¡m³ \S¡p¶ XnIª BßmÀ°XtbmsS, B
\oXnk¦ev]w Hgnbm_m[bmbn ]nSnIqSnb C³kvs]IvSÀ gthdn\p Xsâ
\oXnk¦ev]¯nsâbpw [À½k¦ev]¯nsâbpw AÀ°iq\yXbpw
A[mÀanIXbpw t_m[ys¸Sp¶p. B B´ckwLÀjamWv Abmsf
BßlXybnte¡p \bn¡p¶Xv. al¯z¯nsâ ASbmfw IcpWbptSXpw
BßkaÀ¸W¯ntâXpamsW¶p a\Ênemb \nanj¯n gthÀ Xm³
hÀj§fmbn ]n´pScp¶ hmÄgm§ns\ kzX{´\mbn hnSp¶p. IcpWbpsS
\qÂsIm|p sI«nb ]pkvXIamWv "]mh§Ä'. ImcpWyhpw \·bpw Cu
P\mcWy¯n BfpIsf ]ckv]cw _Ôn¡p¶p. bqtKmbpsS
ss{IkvXht_m[w AXn\p ]n¶nep|v. tamjWw \S¯nb hmÂgm§ns\
_nj]v ssadntb IÅw ]dªp kwc£n¡p¶p, knw¹okv F¶
I\ymkv{Xobpw IÅw]dªv Abmsf c£n¡p¶p. ItønfÀ¡p¶
cmP\oXnbpsS {]Xn\n[nbmbn hcp¶ gthdpw Xs¶ c£n¨Xn\p
{]Xn^esat¶mWw Abmsf c£n¡p¶p. hmÂgm§mIs« Xsâ PohnXw
apgph³ aäpÅhÀ¡p th|nbpÅ {]Xn^teÑbnÃm¯ kaÀ¸Wam¡p¶p.
Bß_enIfmWv hmÂPo\ntâXpw AbmfpsS A]c{]IrXnbmb gthdntâXpw.
Bß_enbneqsS Ccphcpw kzbw ]hn{XoIcn¡p¶p. shSnbp|bv¡ncbmbn
acnbqkns\ c£n¨ Fs¸mss\\pw Xsâ IpäIrXyPohnXs¯
ip²oIcns¨Sp¡pIbmWv. acnbqknsâ Øm\t¸cmb "s]mMvsagvkn' (Pontmercy)
¡v AÀ°w ZbbpsS ]mew F¶mWv.
 acWkab¯v {IqinX\mb {InkvXphnsâ cq]w gmMv hmÂgmMv
FSp¯pbÀ¯p¶ Hcp kμÀ`w bqtKm AhXcn¸n¡p¶p|v. [Àac£bv¡mbn
]oU\a\p`hn¨ almßmhns\ t\m¡q F¶mWv hmÂgmMv NpäpapÅhtcmSp
]dbp¶Xv. {InkvXphpambmWv bqtKm Xsâ \mbIs\ XmcXays¸Sp¯p¶Xv.
UoI\ybnse _nj]v AbmfpsS ]¦nemßmhns\ IcpWbpsS hne\evIn
FSp¯tXmsS {InkvXphnsâ ImcpWyamÀK¯nemWv hmÂgmMv k©cn¡p¶Xv.
samkyp aZensb³ F¶ t]cv hmÂgmMv kzoIcn¡p¶p. aKvZe\bnse
adnbs¯bmWv Cu t]cv kqNn¸n¡p¶Xv. "Imkbnse Ahkm\s¯ XpÅn'
(The Last Drop in the Chalice), "Ah\pw Xsâ Ipcnip Npa¡p¶p' (He Also Bears His Cross)
F¶o t]cpIÄ A[ymb§Ä¡p \evInb bqtKm hmÂgm§ns\
tbiphnte¡mWpbÀ¯p¶Xv. {InkvXphns\t¸mse Bß_enbpsS
]mXbmWv hmÂgm§pw kzoIcn¨Xv. t]cnÃm¯ hgnbm{X¡mc\mbn ]mcoknÂ
{]Xy£s¸«v FÃmhcmepw B«ntbmSn¡s¸Sp¶ hmÂgm§ns\bmWv
IYmcw`¯n bqtKm AhXcn¸n¡p¶Xv. IYm´y¯n AbmÄ
FÃmhcpsSbpw lrZb§fn hkn¡m³ XpS§p¶p. hmb\¡mcpsS
lrZb§fnepw A§s\Xs¶.
apJyIYm]m{X§Ä

gmMv hmÂgmMv (Jean Valjean)
]s¯m³]Xp hÀjw Pbnen InS¶ Ipähmfn. Hcp sdm«n tamjvSn¨Xn\p
\mep hÀjw in£n¡s¸« hmÂgmMv ]eXhW PbnÂNmSm³ {ian¨p.
A§s\ in£ 19 hÀjt¯¡p \o|p. 24601 Bbncp¶p AbmfpsS
XShp]pÅn \¼À. ]n¶oSbmÄ hyànXzw ad¨ph¨v tabÀ aZensb³
^qjvsehMv, samkyp se»m, AÀ_nb³ ^ms{_ XpS§nb t]cpIfnÂ
Pohn¡p¶p. ^´o³ F¶ bphXnbpsS A\mYbmb sIm¨paIÄ
sImsk¯ns\ kz´w aIfmbn hfÀ¯p¶p. {^©v hn¹h§fnÂ
]s¦Sp¡p¶p.
gthÀ (Javert)
gmMv hmÂgm§ns\ \nc´cambn ]n´pScp¶ s]meokv C³kvs]IvSÀ.
\njvTpc\pw \oXnam\pamb gthÀ hmÂgm§nsâ Hmtcm thjwamdepw
I|p]nSn¡p¶psh¦nepw Abmsf Xpd¶pIm«m³ Ahkcw In«p¶nÃ.
hn¹hkab¯v gthdns\ sImÃm³ Hcp XSÊhpanÃmXncp¶n«pw hmÂgmMv
Abmsf kzX{´\m¡nhnSp¶p. ]n¶oSv gthdpw hmÂgm§ns\ c£s¸Sm³
A\phZn¨p. \oXnbpsS A[mÀanIXsb¡pdn¨pÅ BßkwLÀjw aqÀÑn¨v
gthÀ \ZnbnÂNmSn BßlXy sN¿p¶p.
Uos\ybnse _nj¸v (Bishop Myriel)
Uos\y (Digne) ]«W¯nse _nj¸v. apgph³ t]cv NmÄkv {^mMvkzm
_nsb³sh\p ssadntbÂ. PbnÂapà\mb gmMv hmÂgm§n\v A`bw
\evIn. shÅn¡c|nIÄ tamjvSn¨p IS¶pIfª hmÂgmMv t]meoknsâ
]nSnbnembt¸mÄ Ic|nIÄ Xm³ k½m\n¨XmsW¶p samgn\evIn.
shÅnsIm|pÅ sagpXncn¡mepIfpw _nj¸v AbmÄ¡p k½m\n¨p.
gmMvhmÂgm§nsâ ]cnhÀ¯\¯n\p ImcWambXv B kw`hamWv.
^³Xo³ (Fantine)
ImapI\m Dt]£n¡s¸« bphXn. Pohn¡m³ \nhr¯nbnÃm¯Xn\mÂ
tam|vs^Àantb {Kma¯n k{Xw \S¯p¶ sX\mÀZnsbsdbpw
`mcysbbpw Xsâ _menIbmb aIÄ sImsk¯ns\ GÂ]n¨p. ZpjvScmb
sX\mÀZnbÀ Z¼XnamÀ sImsk¯ns\ Bthmfw t{Zmln¡pIbpw
hfÀ¯psNehn\mbn ^´o\nÂ\n¶p \nc´cw ]Ww ]nSp§pIbpw sNbvXp.
apSnapdn¨p hnäpw ]ÃpIÄ hnäpw AhÄ ]Ww Ab¨psImSp¯p. HSphnÂ
hy`nNmc¯nte¡pw \o§n. aZensb³ c£n¡m³ {ians¨¦nepw ^³Xo³
acn¡p¶p. sImsk¯ns\ AbmÄ kz´w aIfmbn hfÀ¯n.
sImsk¯v (Cosette)
^³Xosâ aIÄ. sX\mÀZnbÀamcnÂ\n¶v gmMvhmÂgmMv F«mw hbÊn c
£n¨p hfÀ¯n. ]mcokn Hcp I\ymkv{XoaT¯nemWv hmÂgmMv Ahsf
Xmakn¸n¨Xv. adnbqkv t]mMvsagvknbpambn sImsk¯v {]Wb¯nembn.
IYm´y¯n AhÀ hnhmlnXcmIp¶p.
sX\mÀZnbÀ (Thenardier)
h©I\pw ZpÀtamlnbpamb k{X]meI³. AbmfpsS `mcybpw
AXpt]mseXs¶. c|p s]¬a¡fpw aq¶v B¬a¡fpw AhÀ¡p|v.
sImsk¯ns\ kwc£n¡ms\¶ t]cn ^´o\nÂ\n¶p ]Ww
]nSp§ns¡m|ncp¶ sX\mÀZnbÀ Z¼XnamÀ B _menIsb Bthmfw D]
{Zhn¨p. ISwIbdn k{Xw \jvSs¸«v ]mcoknse¯nb sX\mÀZnbÀ Hcp
sImÅkwL¯nsâ klmbnbmbn. gmMv hmÂgm§ns\ t{Zmln¡m\pw
AbmÄ {ian¨p.
acnbqkv s]mMvsagvkn (Marius Pontmercy)
s\t¸mfnbsâ tk\m\mbIcnsemcmfpsS aI³. cmP]£]mXnbmb
amXmal\pambn sXän¸ncnªv ]mcokn Xmakn¡p¶p. Hcp hnZymÀ
°nhn¹hkwL¯n tNÀ¶ AbmÄ sImsk¯pambn {]Wb¯nemWv.
Fs¸mss\³ (Eponine)
sX\mÀZnbdpsS aq¯ aIÄ. AÑsâ X«n¸pIfn Ahfpw ]¦mfnbmWv.
acnbqkpambn GI]£obamb t{]a¯nemWv Fs¸mss\³. acnbqkns\ c
£n¡p¶Xn\pth|n AhÄ ]«mf¯nsâ shSnbp|tbäphm§p¶p. Xsâ
s\änbn acnbqkv Npw_n¡Wsa¶p am{XamWv acWkab¯v AhÄ
B{Kln¨Xv.
^³Xo³
Ncn{X{]kn²amb hm«Àeq bp²w \S¶ hÀjwþþþþ1815þþþþHIvtSm_À
Bcw`¯n Hcp Znhkw sshIpt¶cw A©paWntbmsS HcmÄ ImÂ\Sbmbn
bm{X sNbvXv Uos\y ]«W¯nse¯n. kmam\yw Dbchpw \Ã Icp¯papÅ
AbmÄ¡v A¼Xn\p Xmsg {]mbw hcpw. sXcphnse Xmak¡mÀ
A]cnNnX\mb B hgnbm{X¡mcs\ BÝcyt¯msS t\m¡n. A{X
hnIrXambncp¶p AbmfpsS thjw. shbnÂsIm|v Icphmfn¨ apJw.
Ipän¯eapSnbpw \o| XmSnbpw. ]gIn{Zhn¨ jÀ«v. kmam\§Ä Ip¯n\nd¨
amdm¸v, tXmfnÂ. ssIbn Hcp s]m´³hSn. s]mSn]nSn¨v hnhÀ®amb icocw.
CSbv¡v hgnh¡nepÅ DdhbnÂ\n¶v shÅw IpSn¡pIbpw AhnShnsS Ccp¶p
hn{ian¡pIbpw sNbvXpsIm|v AbmÄ \S¶p \o§n.
]IÂ apgph\pw AbmÄ \S¡pIbmbncp¶p. `£Ww bmsXm¶pw Ign¨n«nÃ.
Su¬lmfn\p kao]apÅ Hcp tlm«en Ibdns¨¶v Aev]w `£Whpw
InS¡phm³ Øehpw AbmÄ Bhiys¸«p. ]Waps|¦n F´p
thWsa¦nepw sN¿msa¶mbncp¶p tlm«epSaØsâ adp]Sn. bm{X¡mc³
AhnsS Ccp¶p. AbmfpsS thj¯nepw `mh¯nepw kwibw tXm¶nb
tlm«epSaس Hcp Xp|pISemÊn Ft´m Ipdn¨v the¡mc³ Ip«nbpsS
ssIbn Su¬lmfnte¡p sImSp¯b¨p. AXn\nSbv¡p hni¸p
kln¡m\mhmsX bm{X¡mc³ "`£Ww X¿mdmtbm' F¶p Xnc¡n¯pS§n.
"Ct¸mÄ.' tlm«Â¡mc³ adp]Sn ]dªp.
A©pan\n«n\Iw Ipdn¸p sIm|pt]mb Ip«n Xncns¨¯n. tlm«Â¡mc³
Ipdn¸p hm§n hmbn¨pt\m¡n. F¶n«v bm{X¡mcsâ ASp¯p sN¶p ]dªp:
"kÀ, ChnsS Xmakn¡m³ _p²nap«p|v.'
"F´psIm|v? Fsâ ssIbn ]Wap|v.'
"ChnsS ØeanÃ.'
"AI¯v Hgnhnsæn IpXnc¸´nbnembmepw aXn.'
"AhnsSbpw ØeanÃ.'
"Ipd¨p ssht¡m In«nbmepw aXn. hÃm¯ XWp¸v. F´mbmepw `£Ww
Xcq.'
"ChnsS `£WhpanÃ.'
"Ipds¨s´¦nepw X¶m aXn.'
"FÃmw XoÀ¶p.'
"Rm³ Hcp bm{X¡mc³. F\n¡p hni¸pw £oWhpap|v. CsXmcp
tlm«etÃ? Rm³ ChnsSbncn¡pw.'
tlm«epSaس DSs\ Ip\nªp\n¶v "IS¶p t]m' F¶v Aedn. AbmÄ
sR«n¸nSsªgpt¶äp. tlm«Â¡mc³ ]dªp: "\n§Ä h¶p
Ibdnbt¸mÄXs¶ F\n¡p kwibw tXm¶n. \n§fpsS t]cv Rm³
]dªpXctWm? gmMv hmÂgmMv F¶ XShp]pÅnbtÃ?'
AbmÄ Hc£cw an|msX amdm¸pw hSnbpw FSp¯p \nc¯nend§n CSwhew
t\m¡msX thK¯n \S¶p. BfpIÄ Abmsf Nq|n¡mWn¨v Ft´m
]ndp]ndp¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. t\cw Ccp«n¯pS§n. Ipsd \S¶t¸mÄ Hcp
Nmcmb¡S I|p. AhnsS `£Whpw InS¡m\nShpw In«psa¶p hnNmcn¨p
Ibdns¨¶p. ]t£, F§s\tbm hnhcadnªp ISbpSaس Abmsf
]pd¯m¡n hmXneS¨p. Nne hnIrXn¡p«nIÄ AbmfpsS ]n¶mse IqSn
IqhnbmÀ¡m\pw XpS§n. s]m´³hSn Hm§n Ip«nIsf HmSn¨p. AbmÄ \S¶p
Pbnen\p ap¼nse¯n. Pbn Imh¡mct\mSp tNmZn¨p:
"F\n¡v InS¡m³ HcnSw Xcmtam?'
"CsX´m tlm«tem? t]mbn t]meokn ]nSnsImSp¡q. At¸mÄ ChnsS
InS¡mw.'
AbmÄ ]ns¶bpw \S¶p. hgnbcpIn Hcp ho«nÂ\n¶p ]pdt¯¡p shfn¨w
I|p. AbmÄ P\mebn¡qSn AIt¯¡p t\m¡n. a²yhbkvI\mb HcmÄ
Xsâ Ip«nsb aSnbnencp¯n emfn¡p¶p. ASp¯ncp¶v A½ Nncn¡p¶p.
sXÃpt\cw AbmÄ at\mcmPy¯nem|p. AhnsS A`bw In«psa¶p hnNmcn¨v
AbmÄ hmXnen ap«n. hmXn Xpd¶p.
"£an¡Ww. hni¸p amäm³ Fs´¦nepw XcWw. InS¡m³ Øehpw. ]Ww
Xcmw.' hmÂgmMv ]dªp.
"sImÅmw! ]Waps|¦n ]ns¶ km²yasöp ]dbms\m¡ptam? ev_mÀ
tlm«en t\m¡nbntÃ?'
"t]mbn. Øeansöp ]dªp.'
"tlbv! A§s\ hcnÃ. C¶p N´ZnhkaÃtÃm. thsd tlm«ensem¶pw
t]mbntÃ?'
"F§pw k½Xn¨nÃ.'
ho«pSaØ\p kwibw tXm¶n. AXnYnsb kq£n¨p t\m¡n. "Mv G!
\n§fmtWm?' F¶p tNmZn¨psIm|p aqebn kq£n¨ncp¶ tXms¡Sp¯p.
ho«pImcn `b¶p Ip«nsb FSp¯p `À¯mhnsâ ]n¶n ]Xp§n: "Hcp ¥mkv
shÅw, IpSn¡m³.' bm{X¡mc³ bmNn¨p: "IÅs¯½mSn! shSnbp|bmWv
\n\¡v. HmsSSm.'
Ccp«p hym]n¨p. BÂ]vkv ]ÀhX¯nÂ\n¶p XWp¯ ImäSn¡m³ XpS§n.
AbmÄ Hcp tXm«¯nsâ ap¼nse¯n. AXnsâ \Sp¡v Hcp sNä¡pSnÂ.
]Wns¸«p then NmSn AI¯p IS¶p. Cgªp sNä¸pcbn Ibdn¡nS¶p.
ssht¡m hncn¨ Xd. bm{Xmt¢ihpw hni¸pw Abmsf ]cn
£oW\m¡nbncp¶p. InS¶ InS¸n¯s¶ tXmfnse amdm¸v Agn¨pamäm³
{ian¡pt¼mÄ ]pd¯p\n¶v Hcp apdpapdp¸v. AbmÄ sR«n Xes]m¡n t\m¡n.
IpSnen\p ]pd¯v Hcp Iqä³ ]«n. AXv Hcp ]«n¡qSmbncp¶p. hSnbpw amdm¸pw
ssIbnseSp¯v NmSn HmSn t]mIpt¼mÄ AbmÄ ]dªp: "Rm³ Hcp
]«nt]mepaÃ.'
AbmÄ ho|pw \S¶p. cm{Xn Ign¨pIq«m³ hà acs¸mt¯m atäm
In«nbmembn. N{Ihmfw Idp¯ncp|p. GItZiw F«paWnbmbn.
]cnNbanÃm¯ sXcphv. a§nb \nemhv. AbmÄ I|hgntb \S¶p. Hcp
]ÅnbpsS ap¼nse¯n. ssI Npcp«n ImWn¡phm\mWv AbmÄ¡p tXm¶nbXv.
B ]Ån¡Sp¯v Hcp A¨Snimebp|v. AXnsâ ap¼nepÅ IÃp_©nÂ
AbmÄ IpgªphoWp. B kab¯v ]ÅnbnÂ\n¶v Hcp hr² ]pd¯ph¶p.
AhÀ AbmfpsS ASp¯psN¶p tNmZn¨p: "BcmWv? F´p]än?'
"At½! Rm³ ChnsS InS¶pd§pIbmWv.'
"Cu s_©ntem?'
"]{´|p sImÃambn acwsIm|pÅ hncn¸mbncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ
IÃpsIm|pÅXmbn.'
"tlm«en t]mbntÃ?'
"CÃ, ssIbn ]WanÃ.'
B kv{XobpsS lrZbw Aenªp. ssIbnep|mbncp¶ \mev kq AbmÄ¡p
sImSp¯p ]dªp: "`£W¯n\v CXp XnIbnÃ. Cu XWp¸¯v F§s\
ChnsS Ign¨pIq«pw. F§pw tNmZn¨ntÃ?'
"DÆv. Ahscms¡ Fs¶ B«ntbmSn¨p.'
AhÀ AbmfpsS ssI ]nSn¨v Fgpt¶ev]n¨p. sa{Xmsâ Aca\bv¡Sp¯pÅ
sNdnb hoSp Nq|n¡mWn¨p:
"B ho«n tNmZnt¨m?'
"CÃ.'
"F¶mÂ, AhnsS t]mbn hnfn¡q.'
AbmÄ Fgpt¶äv At§m«p \S¶p.
gmMv hmÂgmMv "{_o'bnse Hcp km[pIÀjIIpSpw_¯nemWp P\n¨Xv;
1770þÂ. Aѳ hmÂgmMv. A½ gmMv am¯ntbm. Ip«nbmbncp¶t¸mįs¶
AÑ\pw A½bpw acn¨p. AbmÄ¡p aq¯ Hcp ktlmZcnbp|mbncp¶p.
AhcmWv hmÂgm§ns\ hfÀ¯nbXv. Zmcn{Zywaqew Ip«n¡me¯v hnZym`ymkw
e`n¨nÃ. Ipd¨p {]mbambt¸mÄ AbmÄ AÑs\t¸mse s^htdmfbn Hcp
acwsh«pImc\mbn. `À¯mhp acn¡pt¼mÄ tN¨n¡v Ggp Ip«nIfp|mbncp¶p.
AhscsbÃmhscbpw kwc£nt¡|Xv hmÂgm§nsâ NpaXebmbn¯oÀ¶p.
ktlmZcnbpw Iqenthe sN¿m³ t]mIpw. Ggp Ip«nIsfsh¨psIm|v AhÀ¡v
Imcyambn H¶pw sN¿m³ ]ämdnÃ. AhcpsS IjvS¸mSpIÄ IqSn¡qSnh¶p.
hÀjImeambn. c|pt]À¡pw tPmenbnÃ. IpSpw_w apgph³ ]«nWnbnÂ.
 1795þse Hcp RmbdmgvN cm{Xn. hni¶pheª Ip«nIfpsS ssZ\yX
I|ncn¡m³ AbmÄ¡p IgnªnÃ. s^htdmf ]ÅnbpsS kao]¯pÅ Hcp
sdm«n¡Sbn AbmÄ HmSn¡bdn. NnÃeamcnbn Bªv HcnSnsImSp¯p. B
]gpXneqsS ssI IS¯n Hcp sdm«n hens¨Sp¯psIm|v AbmÄ HmSn. AXp
Is|¯nb ISbpSaس ]n¶mse HmSn. ASps¯¯nbt¸mÄ hmÂgmMv
sdm«n Zqscsbdnªp. NnÃpsIm|p apdnªv ssIbnÂ\n¶p tNmc
HgpIp¶p|mbncp¶p. hmÂgm§ns\ t]meokv ]nSnIqSn. `h\t`Z\w, tamjWw,
A\phmZanÃmsX BĸmÀ¸nÃm¯ ho«n IS¡Â F¶o Ipä§Ä Npa¯n
Abmsf \oXn\ymbt¡mSXnbn lmPcm¡n. Ipäw sXfnªp.
A©psImámew X|phenin£bv¡p hn[n¡s¸«p. XShpImc\mb
AbmfpsS Igp¯n A[nIrXÀ Ccp¼p]« X«nbpd¸n¨v N§ebn sImfp¯n
s^htdmfbnÂ\n¶v Xqtem§nte¡v sIm|pt]mbn. Ccp]t¯gp Znhkw
Ccp¼pN§eIfpw t]dns¡m|v I«h|nbn bm{X sNbvXmWv Xqtem§nÂ
F¯nbXv. AhnsS Abmsf Nph¶ DSp¸v [cn¸n¨p. gmMv hmÂgmMv F¶ t]cp
amän. ]Icw 24601 F¶ \¼À e`n¨p. ktlmZcnsbbpw Ip«nIsfbpwIpdn¨p
]n¶osSm¶pw Adnbm³ AbmÄ¡p IgnªnÃ.
\mephÀjw ITn\amb in£ A\p`hn¨p. Hcp Znhkw cm{Xn
Hfn¨pNmSphm\pÅ Ahkcw In«n. Iq«pXShpImcpsS klmbt¯msS kaÀ
°ambn AbmÄ AXp]tbmKn¨p. c|pZnhkw Im«n Aeªp \S¶p.
c|mas¯ Znhkw sshIpt¶cw ]nSn¡s¸«p. Pbn NmSnb Ipä¯n\p
aq¶psImÃt¯¡pIqSn in£mImew \o|p. Bdmas¯ sImÃw ho|pw
AbmÄ¡v Hfn¨p NmSm\pÅ kμÀ`w In«n. B X©hpw AbmÄ Dt]£n¨nÃ.
]t£, ]pd¯p IS¡m³ Ignbp¶Xn\pap¼p ]mdmhpImÀ Abmsf ]nSnIqSn.
XÂkab¯v AbmÄ ]mdmhpImsc FXncnSm³ {ian¨p. Hfn¨pNmSepw
cmPyt{Zmlhpw Ipäw Npa¯n in£ A©psImÃt¯¡p ZoÀLn¸n¨p. AtXmsS
in£mImew ]Xnaq¶p sImÃambn. ]Xnaq¶mas¯ sImïn Hcn¡ÂIqSn
Hfn¨p NmSn. \mepaWn¡qdn\pÅn t]meokv ]nSn¨p. AXnsâ t]cn ho|pw
aq¶psImÃs¯ in£. BsI ]s¯m¼Xp hÀjw. 1815 HIvtSm_dn Abmsf
tamNn¸n¨p.
Hcp sdm«n¡jWw tamjvSn¨Xn\p ]s¯m¼Xp hÀjs¯ X|phenin£.
a\pjyPohnXw XIÀ¡p¶ in£m\nbaw. `bt¯mSpIqSn Pbnente¡p t]mb
a\pjy³ achn¨ a\tÊmsS ]pd¯nd§n. \oXn\ymb¯nsâ t]cn kaqlw
Abmsf ITn\ambn t{Zmln¨p. hmÂgmMv sXäp sNbvXp. tNmZn¨ncp¶psh¦nÂ
Hcp]t£, B sdm«n¡S¡mc³ Hc¸w sImSp¡pambncp¶p. AXp|mbnÃ.
XmXvImenIhnImcw hnthIs¯ ]n³XÅn. sXm|nklnXw
]nSn¡s¸«XpsIm|pXs¶ sNbvX sXän\pÅ in£bmbn. AbmfpsS
]Ým¯m]w ]m]s¯ IgpIn¡fªncn¡p¶p. ]t£, X|phenin£
Abmfnse a\pjyXzs¯ \in¸n¨p. kZvhnImc§fpsS Øm\¯v
arKobhmk\IÄ hfÀ¶p. XcwIn«pt¼msgÃmw PbnenÂ\n¶v Hfnt¨mSphm³
Abmsf t{]cn¸n¨Xv AXmWv. ]s¯m¼Xp hÀjs¯
PbnÂhmk¯n\ptijw aª\ndapÅ bm{Xm\paXn¸{Xt¯mSpIqSnbmWv
Abmsf ]pd¯p hn«Xv. kwibw tXm¶n tNmZn¡p¶ t]meokpImÀ¡v B
ImÀUv ImWn¡msX \nhr¯nbnÃ. AbmÄ Uos\y ]«W¯n F¯nb
t¸mÄ Su¬lmfnÂsh¨p ImÀUv ]pds¯Spt¡|nh¶p. AXnsâ ^etam?
hni¸pamäm³ `£Whpw XeNmbv¡m³ CShpw In«nbnÃ.
Uos\ybnse sa{Xm³ A¶p kmbmlv\khmcn Ignªp h¶p. F«paWnhsc
kz´w apdnbn Ccp¶v FgpXpIbmbncp¶p. ]cnNmcnIbmb am¥zmÀ
NphceamcbnÂ\n¶p X«§Ä FSp¡m³ h¶t¸mgmWv A¯mg¯nsâ kabw
sshInsb¶pw ktlmZcn _m]vänkvän³ Im¯ncn¡pIbmsW¶pw At±lw
HmÀ¯Xv. Fgp¯v \ndp¯n At±lw DuWpapdnbnse¯n. `oIc\mb Hcp
sIme]mXIn ]«W¯n Aeªp \S¡p¶ps|¶pw cm{Xn Fs´¦nepw
elf D|mIpsa¶pw A§mSnbn tI«Xmbn `£Wkab¯v ]cnNmcnI
]dªp. hoSv `{Zambn ]qt«|Xnsâ BhiyIXbpw kqNn¸n¨p.
Cu kabw IXIn iànbmb Hcp ap«p tI«p.
"AI¯p hcq.' sa{Xm³ ]dªp.
hmXn XÅn¯pd¶v HcmÄ AI¯p IS¶p. A]cnNnXsâ `oXnP\Iamb
`mhhpw thjhpw I|p ]cnNmcnI hnd¨pt]mbn. ktlmZcn sR«nsbWoäv
sa{Xmsâ t\sc Zb\obambn t\m¡n. sa{Xm³ Abmsf t£m`clnX\mbn
t\m¡n¡|p. At±lw Ft´m tNmZn¡m³ Du¶nbt¸mtg¡pw AbmÄ
hnfn¨p]dªp:
"Rm³ gmMv hmÂgmMv! X|phenin£ Ignªp ]pd¯p t]m¶ ]pÅnbmWv.
s]m´mÀfnbnte¡p t]mIWw. XqtemMv hn« tijw \mep Znhkambn
\S¡p¶p. C¶pXs¶ ]{´|pssa hgn\S¶n«p|v. Cu {]tZis¯
tlm«ensems¡ Ibdnbnd§n. Fsâ ImÀUv I|v AhscÃmw B«ntbmSn¨p.
]ebnS¯pw ap«n hnfn¨p. IpSn¡m³ shÅwt]mepw Bcpw X¶nÃ. ]ÅnbpsS
ap¼nÂsh¨v Hcp kv{XobmWv Cu hoSp ImWn¨pX¶Xv. ]s¯m¼Xp sImÃw
XShn InS¶p ]WnsbSp¯v D|m¡nb \qsäm¼Xp {^m¦pw ]Xn\©p kqhpw
Fsâ ssIbnep|v. Rm³ ]Ww Xcmw. F\n¡p hÃmsX hni¡p¶p.
C¶nhnsS X§m³ A\phZn¡ptam?'
sa{Xm³ the¡mcnsb hnfn¨v Hcp Ccn¸nSw sImSp¡m³ ]dªp. AXptI«v
hmÂgmMv Aev]wIqSn apt¼m«p sN¶p:
"AÃm! \n§Ä¡v Fs¶ a\ÊnembntÃ? PbnenÂ\n¶p hcp¶h\mWv Rm³.
CXm, Fsâ aª¡mÀUv t\m¡q. PbnenÂsh¨v Rm³ FgpXm\pw
hmbn¡m\pw ]Tn¨p. CXn FgpXnbn«pÅsX´msWt¶m? gmMv
hmÂgmMvþþþþ]pd¯phn« XShpImc³. ]s¯m¼XpsImÃw X|phenin
£bnembncp¶p. Pbn NmSn, IhÀ¨ \S¯n. Chs\ kq£n¡Ww. FÃmhcpw
Fs¶ Dt]£n¨p. \n§Äs¡¦nepw Ft¶mSp Zbhp tXm¶ptam? Xn¶ms\s
´¦nepw Xcptam? F\n¡p hn{ian¡Ww. ChnsS IpXnc¸´nbpt|m?'
"kÀ, Ccn¡q. Xo Imbq. `£Ww Ct¸mÄ X¿mdmIpw. AXpIgnªp
InS¡m³ Hcp¡mw.'
CXptI«v A¼c¶v hmÂgmMv tNmZn¨p: "t\tcm?' \n§Ä Cu XShp]pÅnsb
ho«n Xmakn¸n¡psat¶m? IS¶pt]m ]«o F¶p ]dªv BfpIÄ
B«nbnd¡nb Fs¶ \n§Ä "kÀ' F¶p hnfn¡p¶p. `£Ww Xcp¶p.
InS¡m³ I«nepw InS¡bpw X¿mdm¡p¶p. ]s¯m³]Xp sImÃambn Rm³
I«nen InS¶pd§nbn«v. \n§Ä \Ãh\mWv. Fsâ ssIbn ]Wap|v. Rm³
hmSI Xcpw. \n§fpsS t]sc´mWv? tlm«Â¡mc\mtWm?'
"kÀ, Rm³ Hcp ]ptcmlnX\mWv.'
"lm! \n§Ä A´ÊpÅ ]ptcmlnX³. icn! ]Ww hm§pIbnÃmbncn¡pw,
AtÃ? Rm³ hnUvVnXs¶. \n§fpsS sXm¸n I|nÃ.'
hSnbpw amdm¸pw HcnS¯psh¨v hmÂgmMv Ccp¶p. sa{Xm³ Fgpt¶äp
Xpd¶pInS¶ncp¶ hmXn AS¨psIm|p ]dªp: "BÂ]vkv]ÀÆX¯nÂ
\n¶pÅ Imäv Akl\obw. \n§Ä¡p XWp¡p¶pt|m kÀ?'
kvt\lhpw Kuchhpw IeÀ¶ "kÀ' hnfn ho|pw tI«t¸mÄ hmÂgm§nsâ
apJw sXfnªp, acp`qanbn ZmlPew e`n¨Xpt]mse.
"temI¯nte¡psh¨v Gähpw `mKylo\\pw \nμy\pamWv Rm³
F¶dnªn«pw Fs¶ kXvIcn¡p¶p. A§v HuZmcy\n[nbmWv.'
sa{Xm³ AbmfpsS ssIbn XtemSn:
"\n§Ä BcmsW¶v F\n¡dnb|. CXv Fsâ hoSÃ,
tbip{InkvXphnsâbmWv. ChnsS hcp¶htcmSv t]scs´¶pw \mtSsX¶pw
At\zjnt¡| BhiyanÃ. ZpxJapt|m? AXp am{Xw tNmZn¡pw. \n§Ä
ZpxJnX\mWv. hni¸pw Zmlhpap|v. CXm, \n§Ä¡v kzmKXw. Ft¶mSp \μn
]dtb| ImcyanÃ. ChnsS Rm³ \n§sf kzoIcn¡pIbÃ. ChnsS A`bw
tXSn hcp¶Xv Btcm, AbmfptSXmWv Cu hoSv. F\n¡pÅXns\¡mÄ
AhImiw hgnbm{X¡mc\mb \n§Ä¡p|v. \n§fpsS t]cv Rm³ F
´n\dnbWw? AXpaÃ, ]dbmsXXs¶ \n§fpsS t]cv F\n¡dnbmw.'
"F´v? Fsâ t]cdnbmambncps¶t¶m?'
"DÆv. \n§fpsS t]cv ktlmZc³ F¶mWv.'
"Rm³ XfÀ¶hi\mbn«mWv ChnsS h¶Xv. Ct¸mÄ F´m izmkw.'
"\n§Ä A{Xbv¡p t¢in¨n«p|v.'
"slm! Nph¶ DSp¸v! sRcnbmWnbn Ccp¼phfbw. InS¶pd§m³ ac¸eI,
NqSv! XWp¸v! A²zm\w! XShp]pÅnIÄ. ASn¨nS¯pXs¶ ho|pw ho|pw
ASn. Cc«¨§e¸q«v. Hähm¡n I¯pdp¦v. Zo\w]nSn¨p InS¡pt¼mgpw
N§e. ]«nIÄ R§sf¡mÄ t`ZamWv. ]s¯m¼Xp hÀjw. F\n¡p
\mev]¯nbmdmbn. Ct¸mÄ CXm aª¡mÀUpw.'
"AsX! \n§fpsS ZpxJw F\n¡dnbmw. ]m]¯n ]Ým¯]n¡p¶h³
kpJw Is|¯pw. PbnenÂ\n¶p tZjyt¯msSbmWv ]pd¯p
h¶n«pÅsX¦n \n§Ä A\pI¼ AÀln¡p¶p. a\xim´ntbmsSbmsW¦nÂ
R§sf¡mÄ D¯a\mWv \n§Ä.'
CXn\Iw A¯mgw Hcp§n¡gnªncp¶p. kq¸v, F®, A¸w, D¸n«pW¡nb
]¶nbnd¨n, B«nd¨n, A¯n¸gw, samcn¨ sdm«n F¶nhbpw Hcp Ip¸n hoªpw.
AXnYnIfmbn Bsc¦nepw `£W¯n\ps|¦n sN¿p¶ ]Xnh\pkcn¨v
hmÂgm§ns\ heXphi¯ncp¯n. CSXphi¯v ktlmZcnbpw \Sp¡p
sa{Xm\pw Ccp¶p. `£Ww Bcw`n¨p. Hcp ]«nWn¡mcsâ BÀ¯ntbmsS
asäm¶nepw {i²n¡msX hmÂgmMv hmcnhmcn Xn¶p. sa{Xm³ Hgn¨psImSp¯
hoªpw IpSn¨p. Ignª Ime]oU\§sf¡pdn¨v hmÂgmMv
HmÀan¡mXncn¡m³ sa{Xm³ Hmtcm Imcy§Ä ]dªpsIm|ncp¶p. `£Ww
Ignªt¸mÄ InS¡hncn¨n«pÅ apdn sa{Xm³ ImWn¨psImSp¯p.
sXm«Sp¯ apdnbnse shÅ¡nS¡ I|v hmÂgmMv tNmZn¨p: "AÃ! Fsâ
InS¡ ChnsSbmtWm? ho«n\I¯v. \n§fpsS ASp¯apdnbnÂ. Rm³
sIme]mXInbsöv A§bv¡v F§s\ Adnbmw?'
"AXv Zbm\n[nbmb ssZh¯nsâ ImcyamWv.'
sa{Xm³ ssI DbÀ¯n Abmsf A\p{Kln¨p.
hmÂgmMv BÝcyt¯msS apdnbn {]thin¨p. InS¶]msS Dd§n. sa{Xm³
]{´|paWnhsc hmbn¨psIm|ncp¶p.
Fgp]¯©p hbÊmb tjmÄ {^m³kz _nbmMv sh\ypandn sb 1806þÂ
BWv Uos\ybnse sa{Xm\mbXv. ]¯phbÊp IpdhpÅ ktlmZcnbpw
the¡mcnbpw am{Xta At±l¯n\p Iq«mbn ho«n D|mbncp¶pÅp.
]mh§fpsS sa{Xm\mbncp¶p andnsbÂ. IrXy \njvT, hnizmkw, ss[cyw,
HuZmcyw F¶o KpW§Äs¡Ãmw hnf\neambncp¶p At±lw. Uos\ybnse
CShI`cWw ssItbä kab¯v AhnsS D|mbncp¶ Bkv]{Xn hfsc
sNdpXpw NnInÕmkuIcyw IpdªXpambncp¶p. AtXkabw sa{Xmsâ
Aca\ FÃm kuIcy§fpapÅ hnimeamb apdnItfmSpIqSnbXpw. At±lw
Bkv]{Xn kμÀin¨Xnsâ ]ntäZnhkwXs¶ Bkv]{Xnbnse kIe
D]IcW§fpw Aca\bnte¡p amän. sa{Xmsâ Xmakw Bkv]
{Xns¡«nS¯nepam¡n. hÀjwtXmdpw Khs×ânÂ\n¶p In«ns¡m|ncp¶ 11500
{^m¦n 1000 {^m¦v am{Xw kz´w sNehn\mbn FSp¯p. an¨apÅXp apgph³
km[pkwc£W¯n\pw [ÀaØm]\§fpsS \S¯n¸n\pambn hn\ntbmKn¨p.
GXp ZpjvS\nepw At±l¯nsâ kZp]tZiw a\ip²nbpfhm¡n.
 Hcp Znhkw IgpX¸pd¯p bm{X sN¿p¶ sa{Xms\ NneÀ ]pÑn¨p: "Hcp
sa{Xmsâ \nead¶v At±lw IgpX¸pd¯v khmcnsN¿p¶p.'
CXp tI«v At±lw ]dªp: "\n§Ä ]dªXp icnbmWv. [n¡mcamWv Rm³
ImWn¡p¶Xv. tbip{InkvXp khmcn sNbvXncp¶ arK¯nsâ ]pd¯p
khmcnsN¿m\pÅ tbmKyX F\n¡nÃ.'
Hcp sk\äÀ Hcn¡Â At±lt¯mSp tNmZn¨p: "\n§Ä Ft¸mgpw ]dbp¶p,
FÃmhscbpw kvt\ln¡pI, ]ckv]cw kvt\ln¡pI F¶v. F´mWv Cu
kvt\lhmZw? henb aÕyw sNdnbXns\ ]nSn¨p Xn¶p¶p. iànbpÅ
PohnIÄ km[p{]mWnIsf D]{Zhn¡p¶p. CXmWv {]IrXnbn \mw
ImWp¶Xv. At¸mÄ \n§fpsS X¯zimkv{Xw shdpw hnUvVn¯amWv.'
sa{Xm³: "icn! Rm³ B hnUvVn¯¯n IgnªpsImÅmw.'
lrZbss\ÀaeywsIm|pÅ hnip²nbmbncp¶p At±l¯nsâ iàn.
thZ\n¡p¶hsc Bizkn¸n¡pIsb¶Xmbncp¶p At±l¯nsâ ssZh`àn.
]Ånbnse aWn c|Sn¨t¸mÄ hmÂgmMv DWÀ¶p. ho|pw Dd§m³th|n
AbmÄ I®S¨p. ]t£, IgnªnÃ. AbmfpsS a\Ên Nn´IÄ \m¼n«p.
]|p IgnªXpw At¸mÄ \S¶Xpamb kw`h§Ä. Iq«¯n `
£Wkab¯v the¡mcn sIm|psh¨ shÅn¡bnepIÄ HmÀabnse¯n.
AbmÄ InS¡p¶ apdn¡I¯mWv Ah kq£n¨n«pÅXv. Npcp§nbXv Ccp\qdv
{^ms¦¦nepw hne In«pw. InS¡bn FWoäncp¶v AbmÄ BtemNn¡phm³
XpS§n. Hcp aWn¡qÀ A§s\ Ccp¶pt]mbn. HSphn AbmÄ B
shÅn¡bnepIÄ ssI¡em¡n hmXn IS¶p. sXm«Sp¯ apdnbn sa{Xm³
InS¶pd§pIbmWv. AhnSw IS¶n«p thWw ]pdt¯¡pÅ hmXn Xpd¡m³.
apdnbn t\cnb \nemshfn¨ap|v. {]Imiw X«n sa{Xmsâ apJw
Xnf§p¶Xmbn jm§n\p tXm¶n. B ]pWymXvamhnsâ apJw t\m¡n
Aev]kabw AbmÄ \n¶p. £Wt\ct¯¡p Id]nSn¨ AbmfpsS
lrZb¯n \·bpsS {]ImiIncWw ]Xnªp. s]s«¶v AbmÄ
Xncnªp\S¶p. ]pdt¯¡pÅ IXIv BªpXÅn. HceÀ¨tbmsS AXp
Xpd¶p. ]t£, Bcpw DWÀ¶nÃ. AbmÄ tXm«¯n IS¶p aXn NmSn
adbpIbpw sNbvXp.
]ntä¶v {]`mX`£Ww Ignªp sa{Xm³ Fgpt¶ätXbpÅp. aq¶p
t]meokpImÀ tNÀ¶v Hcmsf ]nSn¨psIm|phcp¶p. Bsf I|bpSs\
sa{Xm\p a\Ênembn. At±lw apt¼m«psN¶v hmÂgm§nt\mSp tNmZn¨p: "tl!
\n§Ä F´mWv B sagpIpXncn¡mepIÄ sIm|pt]mImªXv? AXpw Rm³
\n§Ä¡p X¶XmWtÃm. AXp I«nshÅnbmWv. hnäm Ccp\qdp {^m¦p
In«pw.'
hmÂgmMv angn¨p\n¶p. t]meokpImÀ Cfn`yXtbmsS ]dªp: "At¸mÄ
Ch³ ]dªXp icnXs¶, AtÃ?'
 sa{Xm³: "Hcp Ingh³ ]ptcmlnX³ sImSp¯XmsW¶v CbmÄ
]dªncn¡pw. \n§Ä¡p kwibw tXm¶n¡mWpw.'
t]meokpImÀ Abmsf hn«v sa{Xms\ hW§n. AhÀ t]mbn. sa{Xm³
AI¯p\n¶p shÅn sagpIpXncn¡mepIÄ FSp¯v jm§n\p sImSp¯p:
"CXpw \n§Ä¡pÅXmWv. ssIbn sh¡q. C\n Ft¸msg¦nepw hcpt¼mÄ
t\sc hmXn Xpd¶pXs¶ h¶psImÅq. Ch hnäpIn«p¶ ]WwsIm|v
kXykÔ\mbn Pohn¡m³ {ian¡q. A§s\ Hcp {]XnPvR FSp¡q
ktlmZcm! \n§Ä C\n ]m]w sN¿cpXv. \n§fpsS BXvamhns\ Rm\nXm
hnebvs¡Sp¡p¶p. ZpjvShnNmc§fnÂ\n¶p tamNn¸n¨v AXns\ Rm³
ssZh¯n kaÀ¸n¡p¶p.'
sa{Xmsâ ASp¯p\n¶p t]m¶Xn\ptijw ]IÂ apgph³ AbmÄ Aeªp
\S¶p. hni¸pw Zmlhpw tXm¶nbnÃ. AXn\pap¼p|mbn«nÃm¯ Hcp
kwL«\w a\Ên \S¶p. \·bpw Xn·bpw AhnsS Gäpap«pIbmbncp¶p.
then¸SÀ¸pIfn hnSÀ¶p\n¶ ]q¡fpsS kuc`yw {]kcn¸n¨psIm|v
CfwImäv Abmsf IS¶pt]mbn. ]q¡fpsS `wKn AbmfpsS lrZb¯n Nne
_meyImekvacWIÄ DWÀ¯n. Hcp hnP\{]tZi¯v AbmÄ Ccp¶p.
B kab¯v kt´mjt¯mSpIqSn ]m«p ]mSnbpw ssIbnepÅ \mWbw
tatems«dnªp]nSn¨p Ifn¨pw ]¯phbÊpÅ Hcp Ip«n AXnte h¶p. Ah³
hmÂgm§ns\ I|ncp¶nÃ. Ahsâ ssIbnÂ\n¶v Hcp \mWbw \ne¯p
hoWp. AXv Dcp|v hmÂgm§nsâ ASps¯¯n. H¶pw Adnbm¯ a«nÂ
AbmÄ AXnt·Â ImÂsh¨p. Ip«n \mWb¯n\mbn sI©n.
"\nsâ t]sc´v?'
"sjÀshbv Ip«n.'
"t]m AhnS¶v.'
"Fsâ ]Ww.'
hmÂgmMv A\§nbnÃ. sjÀshbv AbmfpsS Imep]nSn¨p s]m¡m³ {ian¨p.
DSs\ AbmÄ Xsâ s]m´³hSnsbSp¯v Ip«nbpsS t\sc Hm§n:
"HmsSSm!'
Ip«n `bs¸«v HmSn. Ah³ ZrjvSn]Y¯nÂ\n¶p adªt¸mÄ hmÂgmMv
ImseSp¯p. B \mWbw ]qgnbn InS¶p Xnf§p¶p. AbmÄ AsXSp¯v
ssIbnÂsh¨v BtemNn¡phm³ XpS§n.
"Rm³ sNbvXXp sXätÃ? F´n\pth|n Cu ZpjvIrXyw sNbvXp?'
\mWbw Ip«n¡p aS¡ns¡mSp¡phm³ AbmÄ \nÝbn¨p. ]t£,
Ip«nsbhnsS? Ahsâ \ngÂt]mepanÃ. AbmÄ Dds¡ hnfn¨p: "sjÀshbv,
sjÀshbv.' Bcpw hnfn tI«nÃ. sa{Xmsâ D]tZiw AbmÄ HmÀan¨p.
AbmfpsS a\Êp XIÀ¶p. AbmÄ Icbm³ XpS§n. ]s¯m¼Xp
sImïn\ptijw BZyambn IcbpIbmWv. ]nimNmb gmMv hmÂgmMv ap¼nÂ
\nev¡p¶Xmbn AbmÄ¡p tXm¶n. FXntc Hcp {]Imiw. sa{Xm³! "Rm³ Hcp
ZpjvS\mWv.' AbmÄ ho|pw hnXp¼n. F{X t\cw A§s\ Ccp¶p
F¶dnbnÃ.
]ntä¶p shfp¸n\v sa{Xmsâ ho«p]Sn¡Â IÂhncn¸n HcmÄ ap«pIp¯n
{]mÀ°n¡p¶Xmbn AXnte t]mb X]m in]mbn I|p.

Fw. ]«W¯nÂ\n¶v ]¯p hbÊpÅ Hcp s]¬Ip«n PohnXamÀ¤w tXSn
]mcokn F¯n. t]cv ^³Xo³. AÑ\pw A½bpw BcmsW¶v
AhÄ¡dnbnÃ. kpμcnbmbncp¶p AhÄ. kzÀW\ndapÅ XeapSnbpw
ap¯pt]mepÅ ]ÃpIfpamWv AhÄ¡p|mbncp¶Xv.
Iqen¸WnsbSp¯v Ipd¨pImew ]mcokn AhÄ Ign¨pIq«n. AS¡hpw
HXp¡hpapÅ Ipeo\bmbncp¶p AhÄ. icoc¯nsâ hni¸p amäm³
]WnsbSp¯p. a\Ênsâ hni¸p amäm³ kvt\ln¨p. sXmtemantb F¶
bphmhn AhÄ A\pcàbmbn. sXmtemantbbv¡mIs« B _Ôw
IuXpIIcamb GÀ¸mSp am{Xambncp¶p. A§s\ Imew Ipd¨p Ignªp. B
thgvNbn AhÄ¡v Hcp s]¬Ip«n P\n¨p. t]cv sImsk¯v. sXmtemantb
Ahsc Dt]£n¨v FhnsStbm A{]Xy£\mbn. In«nb Adnhpsh¨v AhÄ
AbmÄ¡v ]e {]mhiyw Is¯gpXn. H¶n\pw adp]Sn e`n¨nÃ. \nÊlmbbmb
AhÄ Ipg§n. Ip«n¡p aq¶p hbÊmIp¶Xphsc ape¸mÂXs¶ sImSp¯p
hfÀ¯n. ]WnsbSp¯pw ]«nWnInS¶pw AhÄ £oWn¨p. kuμcyw \in¨p.
tamSnbpÅ hkv{X§sfÃmw Dt]£n¨p. Ah hnäp Ip«n¡pth| DSp¸pIÄ
hm§n. Ip«nsbbpwsIm|p tPmenØe¯p t]mbm ]WnsbSp¡m³
]ämXmbn. KXnsI«v Hcp Znhkw AhÄ ]mcoknÂ\n¶p ]pds¸«p. DÅsXÃmw
hnäpIn«nb Ipd¨p]Ww ssIbn sh¨ncp¶p. t]mIp¶ hgn samMvs^Àansb
F¶ Øe¯v _pemwKÀ sebn\n Hcp tlm«Â I|p. AXnsâ ap¼nÂ
InS¶ ]gb h|nbn Rm¯nbn«pÅ N§ebn c|p s]¬Ip«nIÄ
DuªmemSn Ifn¡p¶p. Hma\¯w Xpfp¼p¶ c|p ]\n\oÀ¸q¡Ä. AhcpsS
Ifnbn {i²n¨psIm|v ^³Xo³ Ipd¨pkabw AhnsS \n¶p. AhfpsS
Ipªv Dd§pIbmWv.
tlm«ensâ D½d¯v Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p Ip«nIfpsS A½. ^³Xo³
AhcpsS kao]t¯¡p sN¶p. Ip«nIfpsS Ifn I|p\n¶XmsW¶pw
AhcpsS Hma\¯w Bscbpw BIÀjn¡psa¶pw AhÄ B kv{XotbmSp
]dªp. B kv{Xo AhfpsS bmt{Xmt±iys¯¸än tNmZn¨p.
"Rm³ tPmen At\zjn¨v Cd§nbXmWv. ]mcoknÂ\n¶p hcp¶p. Fw.
]«W¯nte¡p t]mIp¶p. Ipsd \S¶p. Ipd¨nS Hcp h|n In«n.
Ip«nsbbpwsIm|v F{X \S¡pw? Ip«nsb sh¨psIm|v F´p tPmen sN¿m³
Ignbpw? ]mhw! Fsâ s]m¶mwI« Dd§nt¸mbn.
 AhÄ Ip«nsb Npw_n¨p. Ip«n DWÀ¶p. hgnh¡n At¸mgpw
Ifn¨psIm|ncp¶ Ip«nIsf sImsk¯v I|p. A½bpsS H¡¯p\n¶v
DuÀ¶nd§n AhÄ AhcpsS ASpt¯¡p sN¶p. Fs¸mss\³,
AskÂaþþþþAXmbncp¶p Ip«nIfpsS t]cv. AhÀ £W¯nÂ
sImsk¯pambn CW§n. tlm«Â¡mcn ]dªp: "slm! F´p kt´mjamWv
Fsâ a¡Ä¡v, Iq«pImcnsb In«nbt¸mÄ. aq¶pw Hc½bpsS a¡fmsWt¶
tXm¶q.'
Ip«nIfpsS kt´mj¯n A½amcpw ]¦psIm|p. Hs«mcp kt¦mNt¯msS
^³Xo³ ]dªp: F¶mÂ, Hcp Imcyw sN¿mw. Fsâ tamfv \n§fpsS IqsS
Xmakn¡s«. Rm³ ]WnsbSp¯v ]Wap|m¡nhcmw. F¶n«v Ahsf
sIm|pt]mhmw. Ip«nsbbpw sIm|psN¶m Bcpw tPmenXcnÃ.'
DSs\ AI¯p\n¶v Hcp ]pcpji_vZw tI«p: "hntcm[anÃ. amkwtXmdpw Ggp
{^m¦phoXw Ab¨p X¶m aXn.'
^³Xo³ AXp k½Xn¨p.
"Bdpamks¯ XpI ap³IqÀ XcWw.' ho|pw AI¯p\n¶p hnfn¨p]dªp.
AhÄ AXpw k½Xn¨p.
tlm«Â¡mcn tNmZn¨p: "F´m \n§fpsS t]cv?'
"^³Xo³.'
"Ip«nbpsS?'
"tamfv sImsk¯v.'
Xsâ PohnXkÀhkzamb s]m¶mwI«sb tlm«Â¡msc Gev]n¨v
Ie§nadnª lrZbt¯msS ^³Xo³ bm{X ]pds¸«p. AhÄ t]mbn
Ipd¨pIgnªv ASp¯ ho«nse kv{Xo tlm«Â¡mcntbmSp ]dªp: "F
´mtWm Hcp s]®v sXcphnsâ aqebnÂsh¨p s]m«ns¸m«n Icbp¶Xp I|p.'
tlm«epImÀ¡v ^³Xosâ ssIbnÂ\n¶p In«nb XpI Hcp IS¸{X¯nsâ
CS]mSp XoÀ¡m³ D]Icn¨p.
1815þse bp²Ime¯p ]«mf¯n tkh\a\pjvTn¨ncp¶ sX\mÀZnsbÀ
BWv Cu tlm«Â \S¯nbncp¶Xv. kmÀPâv Bbncp¶psh¶v AbmÄ
]dbp¶p. A¶p sNbvXn«pÅ Nne hocIrXy§fpsS ]Sw kzbw hc¨v
AbmfpsS ISbn sh¨n«p|v. AXnsâ hmkvXhØnXn BÀ¡pw AdnbnÃ.
AdnªnSt¯mfw Hcp Im«pIų. sIme]mXInbpsS lrZbhpw
acymZ¡mcsâ thjhpw. `mcybpw AbmÄ¡p tNÀ¶hfmWv. IpeSbpsS
lrZbhpw Ipeo\bpsS thjhpw. Cu `b¦ckXz§fpsS ssIbnemWv ]mhw
^³Xo³ aIsf Gev]n¨pt]mbXv.
AhÄ t]mbn Ipd¨pZnhkw Ignªt¸mÄ sImsk¯nsâ `wKnbpÅ
DSp¸pIÄ ]mcokn sIm|pt]mbn hnäp ]Wam¡n. AhcpsS Ip«nIÄ
D]tbmKn¨p ]gInbXpw IodnbXpamb DSp¸pIÄ Ahsf CSphn¨p. Bdpamkw
Ignªt¸mÄ ^³Xo³ Ggp {^m¦v Ab¨psImSp¯p. ]n¶oSv AhÀ IqSpXÂ
]Ww Bhiys¸Sm³ XpS§n.
"Ip«n hfÀ¶p XSn¨phcp¶p. "sNehn\v Ggp {^m¦v aXnbmIp¶nÃ' F¶mWv
sX\mÀZnsbÀ FgpXnb ImcWw.
sX\mÀZnsbÀamÀ sImsk¯n\v AhcpsS Ip«nItfmsSm¸w `£Ww
sImSp¯ncp¶nÃ. Ifn¡m\pw A\phZn¨ncp¶nÃ. AhÀ Bhiys¸«Xpt]mse
]Ww IqSpXembn Abbv¡m³ ^³Xo\p IgnbmsX h¶p. AXnsâ tZjyw
AhÀ Ip«ntbmSmWp XoÀ¯psIm|ncp¶Xv. AhcpsS `£Wtijw D|mIp¶
F¨n Hcp act¡m¸bnem¡n AhÄ¡p sImSp¡pw. ]«nbpw ]q¨bpw AhfpsS
Iq«n\p|mIpw.
"sX\mÀZnsbÀamÀ F{X \ÃhcmWv. BcptaXpanÃm¯ Hcp Ip«nsb sNehn\p
sImSp¯p c£n¡p¶p|tÃm.' Ab¡mÀ ]dbmdp|v. kXyØnXntbm?
AhÄ¡v A©p hbÊmbn. ImgvNbn Hcp FÃn³IqSv. F¦nepw
ho«p]WnIsfÃmw FSp¡Ww. apäaSn¡Ww. ISbn t]mIWw. FÃmw
AhfpsS NpaXebmbn¯oÀ¶p. ag¡me¯pt]mepw apjnªp Iodnb XpWn
Npän ]peÀ¨bv¡papt¼ FWoäp saenª ssIbn henb Nqepambn Ahsf
ImWmw. {]`mX¯n\pap¼p NndIp IpSsªgpt¶ev¡p¶ ]
£n¡pªns\t¸mse apä¯p {]Xy£s¸Sp¶ sImsk¯ns\ \m«pImÀ
hm\¼mSn¸£n F¶p hnfn¨ph¶p. ]mSm¯ hm\¼mSn.

^³Xo³ Fw. ]«W¯n F¯n. ]¯phÀjw ap¼v X\n¡p
]cnNbap|mbncp¶ ]«W¯nsâ BIrXnbpw {]IrXnbpw BsI
amdnbncn¡p¶p. AhÄ \in¨psIm|ncp¶t¸mÄ AhfpsS \Kcw
A`nhr²nbnte¡p IpXn¡pIbmbncp¶p. C¶v AsXmcp hyhkmbtI{μamWv.
hfsc¡mew ap¼pXs¶ AhnsS Cw¥njv Idp¸pNmbhpw PÀa³
kv^SnIhkvXp¡fpw \nÀan¨ph¶ncp¶p. AkwkvIrXkm[\§fpsS
hne¡qSpXÂsIm|v B hyhkmb§Ä A`nhr²ns¸SmsX InS¶p.
1815 Unkw_dn Hc]cnNnX³ AhnsS h¶p. Nmb§fpw
kv^SnIhkvXp¡fpw \nÀan¡p¶Xn\p Xt±iobamb AkwkvIrX
km[\§fpw kmt¦XnIcoXnIfpw AbmÄ I|p]nSn¨p. Ipdª hnebv¡p
IqSpX Dd¸pw `wKnbpapÅ km[\§Ä D|m¡m³ XpS§nbtXmsS
hyhkmbw hym]n¨p. AXnsâ {]tbmàmhmbn {]Xy£s¸« BÄ aq¶p
sImÃwsIm|p henb k¼mZy¡mc\mbn. AbmfpsS ]qÀhNcn{Xw BÀ¡pw
AdnhnÃ. H¶p am{Xw \m«pImÀ¡v HmÀabp|v.
Hcp Znhkw kÔybv¡v tXmfn `mÞs¡«pw ssIbn s]m´³hSnbpambn
Iqen¡mcsâ a«n AbmÄ h¶ kab¯v AhnSs¯ Su¬lmÄ
I¯nsbcnbpIbmbncp¶p. XoPvPzmeIsf hIsh¡msX AXn\I¯p Ibdn
Øes¯ Hcp ssk\nIta[mhnbpsS c|p Ip«nIsf hmcnsbSp¯p
]pd¯pNmSn. Ip«nIsf ip{iqjn¡p¶ Xnc¡n AbmÄ hnkvarX\mbn.
A[nImcnIÄ AbmfpsS ImÀUv Bhiys¸«nÃ.
{ItaW BfpIÄ¡v AbmfpsS t]cv a\Ênembn. ^mZÀ aZensb³. GItZiw
A¼XphbÊv. \Ã s]cpamäw. At±lw AhnsS Hcp ssIs¯mgnÂime
Øm]n¨p. At\Iw sXmgnemfnIÄ¡v AhnsS ]WnIn«n. AbmfpsS
kw`mh\bmbn \Kc¯n Bkv]{Xn, hnZymebw apXemb Øm]\§Ä
XpS§n. A\mYcmb Ip«nIsf kwc£n¡p¶Xn\pw ]Tn¸n¡p¶Xn\pw
GÀ¸mSp|m¡n. Hcp Iqen¡mc³ A{X s]s«¶v henbh\mIp¶Xv kaqlw
hIsh¨psImSp¡ptam? "]Wap|m¡m³ t\m¡p¶ hncpX³', "
{]amWnbmhm\pÅ kq{Xw' F¶n§s\ NneÀ X«nhn«p. ]t£, At±l¯nsâ
am\yXbpw [\ØnXnbpw IqSn¡qSnh¶p. At±l¯nsâ HuZmcyioehpw
tkh\k¶²Xbpw IW¡nseSp¯v almcmPmhv At±ls¯ Fw.
]«W¯nse tabdmbn \nban¨p. At±lw AXp kzoIcn¨nÃ. Øm\am\§fnÂ
At±l¯n\p tamlanÃmbncp¶p. aq¶psImÃw Ignªp ho|pw At±l¯nsâ
t]cp \nÀt±in¡s¸«p. A{]mhiyw ]ecpsSbpw \nÀ_Ô¯n\p hg§n At
±lw AXp k½Xn¨p.
hyhkmbimebnÂ\n¶p|mb k¼mZy¯n [ÀaØm]\§Ä¡pw aäpambn
sNehgn¨Xp Ign¨v Bdpe£¯nap¸Xn\mbncw {^m¦v At±lw _m¦n \nt
£]n¨ncp¶p.
sXmgnet\zjn¨v Fw. ]«W¯nse¯nb ^³Xo\pw ^mZÀ aZensbsâ
hyhkmbimebn tPmen In«n. ]«nWnIqSmsX AhÄ¡p Pohn¡msa¶mbn.
Aev]sa¦nepw an¨ap|m¡n sImsk¯nsâ t\m«¡qen
Ab¨psImSp¡phm\pw Ignªp.
BbnSbv¡v Uns\ymbnse sa{Xm³ ZnhwKX\mbn. Fw. ]«W¯nÂ\n¶p
]pds¸«ncp¶ tamWn¯nsb ]{Xw B hμy]pcpjsâ acWw apJyhmÀ¯bmbn
sImSp¯ncp¶p. hnhcadnª tabÀ aZensb³ Idp¯ hkv{Xw [cn¨v ZpxJw
BNcn¨p. P\§Ä AXp {]tXyIw {i²n¨p. At±lhpw sa{Xm\pw X½n Ft
´m _Ôaps|¶v AhÀ A\pam\n¡pIbpw sNbvXp. At±ls¯ IqSpXÂ
BZcn¡p¶Xn\pw kvt\ln¡p¶Xn\pw AXp ImcWambn. sa{Xm\v Uns\y
]«W¯n D|mbncp¶ Øm\amWv Fw. ]«W¯n ^mZÀ aZensb\v
e`n¨Xv.
HcmÄ am{Xw At±ls¯¡pdn¨v Ft¸mgpw kwibmephmbncp¶p. Øes¯
t]meokv C³kvs]IvSÀ gthÀ. gthdpsS AÑ\pw A½bpw
XShp]pÅnIfmbncp¶p. XShpapdnbn sh¨mWv AhÀ ASp¯Xv. Abmsf
{]khn¨Xpw AhnsSbmWv. Xm³ kapZmb {`jvS\msW¶pw kaql¯nÂ
X\n¡p bmsXmcp Øm\hpansöpw AbmÄ¡p a\Ênembn. B
Aham\¯nÂ\n¶pw c£t\Sm³ AbmÄ t]meokn tNÀ¶p. AhnsS
AbmÄ tim`n¨p. \mev]¯mdmas¯ hbÊn C³kvs]IvSdmbn. AbmfpsS
kz`mhw Akm[mcWambncp¶p. AenhnÃm¯ lrZbw. `oXnP\Iamb
apJ`mhw. \oXn\ymb\nÀhlW¯n IÀ¡i\mWbmÄ. PbnenÂ\n¶v
AÑt\m A½tbm NmSnbmÂt¸mepw AbmÄ ]nSnIqSn in£n¸n¡pw. AbmÄ¡v
BZyw X|phenin£mØe¯mbncp¶p tPmen. \nbaw sXän
\S¡p¶hÀs¡ms¡ Hcp t]Snkz]v\ambncp¶p gthÀ.
Hcp Znhkw ^mZÀ aZensb³ Fw. ]«W¯nse Hcp CShgnbn¡qSn
\S¡pIbmbncp¶p. s]s«¶p Ipd¨p Zqsc Hcp i_vZwtI«p. At±lw At§m«p
sN¶p. `mcw Ibänb h|nbpsS Nph«n ^qjv se hmMv F¶ hr²³ InS¶p
Rc§p¶p. sNfnbn ]pXª h|n¨{Iw AbmfpsS amd¯v. IpXncbpsS
ImepsXän h|n adnªXmWv. BfpIÄ ASp¯pIqSn. B a\pjys\ c
£n¡Wsa¦n h|n s]m¡namäWw. aZensb³ ASp¯psN¶v AhnsS
IqSnbncn¡p¶htcmSp tNmZn¨p: "Hcp Pm¡n In«m³ hgnbpt|m?'
"ChnsSsb§panÃ. sIm|phcm³ t]mbn«p|v. Im aWn¡qÀ Xmakn¡pw.'
HcmÄ adp]Sn ]dªp.
"At¸mtg¡pw AbmfpsS FÃpIÄ sRcnbpw.' asämcmÄ. CXptI«v aZensb³
tNmZn¨p: "BÀs¡¦nepw h|nbpsS Nph«n InS¶v h|n s]m¡m³
Ignbptam? A©pkzÀW\mWbw Xcmw.'
Bcpw ss[cys¸«nÃ. ho|pw ]dªpt\m¡n. ^eap|mbnÃ.
Iq«¯n HcmÄ ]dªp: "AXn\pX¡ Icp¯v temI¯v HcmÄt¡bpÅp.
AXv XqtemwKnse X|phenin£mØe¯p|mbncp¶ Hcp
XShp]pÅn¡mWv.'
aZensbsâ DsÅm¶p sR«n. Xncnªpt\m¡nbt¸mÄ gthÀ.
"Mv Blm? ChnsS Bcpw CtÃ?' aZensb³ tNmZn¨p.
^qjv sehm§nsâ "c£n¡tW' F¶ Zo\tcmZ\w.
FÃmhcpw t\m¡n\nevs¡ aZensb³ h|n¡pIogn Iangv¶p InS¶p h|n
XÅnadn¨n«p. gthÀ I®p Xpdn¨p. ^mZÀ aZensb³ H¶padnbm¯a«nÂ
AhnsS\n¶p t]mbn. ]ntäZnhkw ^qjv se gmMv Xsâ tai¸pd¯v aZensbsâ
Hcp I¯pw Bbncw {^m¦nsâ Hcp t\m«pw Ccn¡p¶Xp I|v BÝcys¸«p.
"\n§fpsS h|nbpw IpXncbpw Rm³ hnebvs¡Sp¯p' F¶mbncp¶p I¯v.
h|n HSnªpt]mbn. IpXnc N¯p. aZensbsâ ip]mÀibn B km[p
h|n¡mc\v ]mcoknse dypkmMv A´zmwKnepÅ I\ymaT¯n tXm«¡mcsâ
tPmen In«n.
C³kvs]IvSÀ gthÀ Ignbp¶Xpw tabsd ImWmXncn¡m³ {ian¨p. F¦nepw
DtZymKkw_Ôamb Imcy§fn Nnet¸mÄ _Ôs¸SmsX
\nhr¯nbp|mbncp¶nÃ.
 ^³Xo³ sImsk¯nsâ hnhcw Adnbm³th|n CSbv¡nSbv¡v
Bscs¡ms|¦nepw FgpXn¨v sX\mÀZnsbÀ¡v I¯pIÄ Ab¨ncp¶p.
AhnhmlnXbmb AhÄ¡v Hcp Ip«nbps|¶pÅXpw ImapI³
\jvSs¸«psh¶Xpw Bcpw AdnbmXncn¡m³ AhÄ {i²n¨p. F¶mÂ,
Is¯gpXm³ hyhkmbimebn kuIcyapÅt¸mÄ ]pdsa\n¶p ISemkv
hm§n clkyambn I¯pIÄ FgpXn¡p¶Xmbn NneÀ¡p kwibw tXm¶n.
CXv kv{Xos¯mgnemfnIÄ¡nSbn kwkmcambn. hyhkmbimebnse
kv{XoIfpsS taÂt\m«w hln¨ncp¶Xv Hcp ]ptcmlnXhn[hbmbncp¶p. Cu
clky¯nsâ At\zjW¨paXe AhÀ GsäSp¯p. samMv s^ÀanbbnÂ
sX\mÀZnsbdpsS tlm«enÂs¨¶v hnhc§Ä a\Ênem¡n. AhÀ AXv
FÃmhtcmSpw ]dªp. kz`mhZqjyw Btcm]n¨v ^mIvSdn kq{]|v ^³Xos\
tPmenbnÂ\n¶p ]ncn¨phn«p. tabÀ kuP\yambn Xcp¶XmsW¶p ]dªv
A¼Xp {^m¦pw sImSp¯p.
ZpxJnXbmbn, A]am\nXbmbn AhÄ AhnsS\n¶p t]m¶p.
Xp¶Â¸WnsIm|v Znhtk\ ]{´|p kq k¼mZn¡m³ Ignªp. aIfpsS
"sNehn\v ]¯p kq thWw. ISw s]cpInh¶p. hmSIapdnbnemWv AhÄ
Xmakn¨ncp¶Xv. DSaس hmSIbv¡v XnSp¡w Iq«n. `£W¯n\pIqSn t
¢in¡p¶hÄ "F§s\ hmSI sImSp¡pw?' \n§Ä¡p sNdp¸amWv.
kuμcyap|v. ]Ww In«m³ hnjaanÃ.' ho«pSaس ]dªp.
AhÄ Ipg§n. B kab¯v sX\mÀZnsbÀ Hcp I¯b¨ncn ¡p¶p. "agbpw
XWp¸papÅ ImeamWv. sImsk¯n\v I¼nfnbpSp¸nsæn XWp¯phnd¨v
tcmKw ]nSn¡pw. DSs\ ]¯v {^m¦v Ab¨p XcWw.' AhÄ F§s\
sImSp¡pw?
A§mSnbn¡qSn Hcp Znhkw \S¡pt¼mÄ Hcp apSnsh«pImc³ AhfpsS
`wKnbpÅ XeapSn I|p. AXp hnebv¡p sImSp¯m sImÅmsa¶v
Bhiys¸«p.
"F´p Xcpw?' AhÄ tNmZn¨p.
"]¯p {^m¦v.'
At¸mÄXs¶ AhÄ apSn hnäp. Hcp I¼nfnbpSp¸p hm§n sX\mÀZnsbÀ¡v
Ab¨psImSp¯p. AbmÄ tZjywsIm|p XpÅn. AbmÄ¡v Bhiyw
]Wambncp¶p. I¼nfnbpSp¸p aq¯aIfmb Fs¸mss\\p sImSp¯p. Ipd¨p
Znhkw Ignªt¸mÄ sX\mÀZnsbÀ ho|pw I¯b¨p. "sImsk¯n\p
\S¸pZo\w _m[n¨ncn¡p¶p. acp¶p hm§m³ \mev]Xp {^m¦v thWw.'
I¯p hmbn¨pIgnªt¸mÄ AhÄ¡p {`m´p ]nSn¨Xpt]membn. A¶p
kÔybv¡v sXcphn Hcp Z´sshZy³ {]kwKn¡p¶Xv AhÄ tI«p. BfpIÄ
Npäpw IqSnbn«p|v.
"am\y ktlmZcnamtc! \n§fpsS ]ÃpIÄ XcnI. \Ã hne Xcmw. apIfnse
hcnbnse c|p]ÃpIÄ aXn.'
^³Xo³ BÄ¡q«¯neqsS F¯n¨pt\m¡n. AhÄ¡p Nncn h¶p. AhfpsS
`wKnbpÅ ]ÃpIÄ AbmÄ I|p. Ahsf Nq|n¡mWn¨v AbmÄ ]dªp:
"ktlmZco! \n§Ä¡p `wKnbpÅ ]ÃpIfp|v. AXp c|pw X¶m \mev]Xp
{^m¦v. C¶p cm{Xn Fsâ Bkv]{Xnbn hcq.'
AhÄ Xncn¨pt]mbn. hfsc t\cw BtemNn¨p. ]Ãp t]mbm InghnbmIpw.
AXnepwt`Zw ]pc¸pd¯p\n¶p NmSn acn¡pIbtÃ? AhÄ Ft´m
]ndp]ndp¯p. ]Ãpt]mbmse´v? PohnXwXs¶ Ahkm\n¨mse´v? Xsâ
Hma\aIÄ IjvSs¸SmXncn¡s«. AhfpsS tcmKw amds«. A¶pXs¶ ^³Xo³
]ÃpIÄ hnäp. ]ntä¶v sX\mÀZnsbÀ¡p ]Ww Ab¨p. Ipsd
Znhk§Ä¡ptijw \qdp {^m¦v Bhiys¸«psIm|v sX\mÀZnsbÀ FgpXn.
"\qdp {^m¦v! Rm³ F´m {]`zntbm?' AhÄ kzbw ]dªp. \ncmibnÂ
B|p.
"icn! C\nbpÅXpw hn¡mw.'
AsX! DSps¯mcp§nbm Ct¸mgpw kpμcnXs¶. AhÄ ]m«p]mSn.
\r¯wsh¨p. ]pcpj·msc amSnhnfn¨p. ^³Xo³ sXcphpthiybmbn.
\à aªpÅ Hcp kmbmlv\¯n am\yX `mhn¨p \S¡p¶
kpμchnUvVnbmb Hcp tImamfnbpambn AhÄ¡v Gäpapt«|n h¶p. tdmUnÂ
At§m«pant§m«pw \S¶ncp¶ ^³Xosâ t\À¡p Npcp«phen¨v AbmÄ
]pIhn«p.
"\o kpμcnbÃ. \n\¡p ]ÃnÃ.' ]e XhW AbmÄ ]dªp.
F¶n«pw AhÄ Ku\n¨nÃ. At¸mÄ AbmÄ Hcp]nSn aªpI« hmcn
AhfpsS ]pd¯n«p. £asI« AhÄ AbmfpsS t\sc Nodn. Abmsf D´nbn«v
ASn¡phm\pw Nhn«phm\pw XpS§n. BfpIÄ Npäpw IqSn. s]s«¶v BfpIsf
amän\ndp¯n HcmÄ apt¼m«p h¶p. Ahsf _eambn ]nSn¨p. AhÄ t]Sn¨p
hnd¨p. AXv C³kvs]IvSÀ gthÀ Bbncp¶p. B X¡wt\m¡n B sX½mSn
AhnsS\n¶p kq{X¯n FhntSt¡m ap§n¡fªp.
gthÀ Ahsf t]meokv tÌj\nte¡mWp sIm|pt]mbXv. tai¸pd¯pÅ
ISemkn t£m`clnX\mbn AbmÄ FgpXns¡m|ncn¡pIbmWv. F
´psN¿psa¶dnbm\mbn BfpIÄ tÌj\pNpäpw \n¶ncp¶p. Fgp¯p Ignªv
AbmÄ aq¶p t]meokpImsc hnfn¨v Ahsf XShpapdnbnte¡p
sIm|pt]mIm³ BPvRsImSp¯p.
"Bdpamkw.' ^³Xosâ t\sc t\m¡n AbmÄ ]dªp.
AhÄ \Sp§n.
"Bdpamkw! Znhkw Ggp kq Iqen. At¸mÄ Fsâ sImsk¯ns\ Bcv
t\m¡pw?' B sX\mÀZnsbÀ t{ZmlnbmWv, C³kvs]IvSÀkmÀ! F\n¡p
am¸pXcWw. Ipäw sNbvXXv Rm\Ã. F¦nepw Rm³ AbmfpsS ASp¯p sXäp
]dbmw. Zbhp sNbvXv Fs¶ hnSq.'
gthÀþþþþHs¡ ]dªp Igntªm? km£m ssZhw hnNmcn¨mÂt¸mepw
Cu Xocpam\w amäm³ ]änÃ.'
CXptI«t¸mÄ AhfpsS BisbÃmw \in¨p. t]meokpImÀ AhfpsS
ssIbn Ibdn¸nSn¨p.
"\n¡q! Hcp \nanjw.' Bįnc¡n¡qSn HcmÄ hmXnen \Spt¯¡p h¶p
kKuchw ]dªp.
gthÀ BKXs\ t\m¡n. Bsf a\Ênembn.
"£an¡Ww tabÀ.' sXm¸nsbSp¯psIm|p ]dªp.
tabÀ F¶ i_vZwtI« ^³Xo³ t]meokpImsc X«namän apt¼m«p sN¶p.
"tl! \n§fmtWm tabÀ?' F¶p tNmZn¨psIm|v At±l¯nsâ apJ¯v
BªpXp¸n. gthÀ CXp I|p hnd¨p. tabÀ aμlkn¨psIm|v SuhseSp¯p
apJw XpS¨p.
"C³kvs]IvSÀ, Cu kv{Xosb hn«bbv¡q.'
gthdn\v ZpÊlambn tXm¶n. Xsâ I¬ap¼nÂsh¨v C{X {]ISambn
[n¡mcw ImWn¨ Hcphsf shdpsX hn«bbv¡pI. AbmÄ \nÈ_vZw \n¶p.
hn«bbv¡q F¶p ]dªXv gthÀ BsW¶v ^³Xo³ sXän²cn¨p.
"C³kvs]IvSÀkmÀ, \Ãh\mb \n§fpsS Zbhv. \n§ftà Fs¶
hn«bbv¡m³ ]dªXv, tabÀ sNIp¯m³ AXp ]dbpIbnÃ. F\n¡dnbmw.
ZpjvS³! Fsâ FÃm IjvS¸mSpIÄ¡pw ImcWw Cu X´¡gpthdnbmWv. A
´Êmbn ]WnsbSp¯p Ignª Hcp ]mhw s]®ns\ t{Zmln
sXcphnend¡nhn«p. AXn\ptijw H¼Xp kqsIm|mWv Rm³ Pohn¡p¶Xv.
Hcp t\cs¯ `£W¯n\p XnIbptam? F´p sN¿mw? F\n¡v Hcp Ip«nbp|v.
Pohn¡m³ aäp hgnbnÃmªn«mWv Rm³ No¯bmbXv.'
tabÀ t]m¡än X¸nt\m¡n. ]Ww H¶pw FSp¯ncp¶nÃ.
kzX{´bm¡s¸«p F¶p hnNmcn¨v ^³Xo³ hmXn Xpd¶p t]mIm³
`mhn¨p.
"kmÀPâv! B tXhnSnÈn t]mIp¶Xp I|ntÃ? Bcp ]dªp Ahsf hnSm³?'
gthÀ tNmZn¨p.
"Rm³.' aZensb\mWv adp]Sn ]dªXv.
gthdpsS Xe Xcn¨p. ^³Xo³ I®pangn¨p. CXp kz]v\ amtWm? Xs¶
Xp¸pIbpw ]pe`yw ]dbpIbpw sNbvX Hcp IpeSsb hn«bbv¡m³ tabÀ
BPvRm]n¡pItbm?
"hnSnÃ. Chsf hnSmt\m? tabsd A]am\n¨ [n¡mcn.' gthdpsS i_vZw
apg§n.
"C³kvs]IvSÀ! Fs¶ A]am\n¨Xp Rm³ kln¨psImÅmw. ChsfbÃ
\n§Ä ]nSnt¡|nbncp¶Xv. B sX½mSnsbbmbncp¶p. ]mhs¸« kv{XoIsf
hgn \S¡m³t]mepw A\phZn¡m¯ t]m¡ncn. Imcy§sfÃmw Rm³
At\zjn¨dnªp. AKXnbmb Ahsf hnt«¡q.'
"tabÀ! Chsf in£nt¡| NpaXe F\n¡mWv. hn«bbv¡m³ km²yaÃ.'
"t]meokv \nba¯nse hyhØbmWv \n§Ä ]dbp¶Xv. {Inan\ \S]Sn
\nba{]Imcw XoÀ¸p Iev]nt¡|Xv tabdmWv. Cu kv{Xosb shdpsX
hnSWsa¶p Rm³ hn[n¡p¶p.'
gthÀ Hc£cw an|msX Cd§nt¸mbn.
tabÀ ^³Xot\mSp ]dªp:
"\n§Ä ]dªsXÃmw Rm³ tI«p. tPmenbnÂ\n¶p ]ncn¨phn« Imcyw Rm³
Adnªn«nÃ. F´mWv Ft¶mSp t\cn«p ]dbmXncp¶Xv. IS§sfÃmw XoÀ¯v
Ip«nsb \n§fpsS ASp¯v F¯n¨pXcmw. Rm³ Gev¡p¶p. \n§Ä
]WnsbSpt¯ Ignbq F¶nÃ. \n§sfbpw Ip«nsbbpw c£nt¡| `mcw C\n
FtâXmWv. ssZh¯nsâ I®n \n§Ä ]cnip²bmWv.'
^³Xo³ tX§ns¡m|v tabdpsS ap¼n ap«pIp¯n. XfÀ¶p XdbnÂ
hoWp.
Ahsf At±lw kz`h\¯nte¡p sIm|pt]mbn. AhÄ¡p
]\n¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. hÃm¯ £oWhpw. Ft¸mgpw sImsk¯p Ip«nsb¸än
tNmZn¡pw.
"]mhw! hfsc IjvSs¸«p. C\n H¶pw `bs¸Sm\nÃ. \n§Ä¡p `mKyw
ssIh¶ncn¡p¶p. \n§Ä Hcp tZhXbmbn amdnbncn¡p¶p.' aZensb³ Ahsf
kam[m\n¸n¨p.
sX\mÀZnsbÀ¡v At±lw ap¶qdp {^m¦v Ab¨psImSp¯p. \qänbncp]Xp
{^mt¦ ^³Xo³ AhÀ¡v sImSpt¡|XpÅp. AhÀ¡v In«m\pÅXv
FSp¡phm\pw tcmKi¿bn InS¡p¶ A½bv¡p ImWm³ Ip«nsb
sIm|phcp¶Xn\pwth|nbmWv ap¶qdp {^m¦v Abbv¡p¶sX¶p {]tXyIw
FgpXnbncp¶p.
]Ww In«nbn«pw sX\mÀZnsbÀ sImk¯ns\ sIm|ph¶nÃ. AbmÄ¡v B
Ip«n Hcp Idh¸iphmbncp¶p.
"Ip«nbpsS A½bn GsX¦nepw s]m®\p {`aw Ibdn¡mWpw.' AbmÄ
`mcytbmSp ]dªp.
NnInÕbv¡p sNehmb XpIbpsS Hcp IÅ¡W¡v AbmÄ Ab¨p. tabÀ
ap¶qdp {^m¦pIqSn F¯n¨psImSp¯p. Ip«nbpsS AkpJw
Ipdbm¯XpsIm|v bm{XsN¿m³ iànbnà F¶p adp]Sn In«n.
tUmIvSsd hcp¯n ^³Xos\ ]cntim[n¸n¨t¸mÄ Imcyw
A]IS¯nemsW¶v tabÀ¡v a\Ênembn. Ip«nsb sIm|phcm³ DSs\
Hcmsf Abbv¡pItbm, Xm³Xs¶ ]pds¸SpItbm thWsa¶p XoÀ¨bm¡n.
Hcp]t£, Ip«nsb I|m ^³Xosâ tcmK¯n\v ia\ap|msb¶p hcmw.
Asæn AhÄ¡v aIsf I|v kam[m\ambn acn¡mw. F´mbmepw samMv
s^Àanbbnte¡p t]mIphm³ \nÝbn¨p. ^³Xosâ Hscgp¯v H¸n«phm§n.
"Cu hcp¶ BfpsSIqsS sImsk¯ns\ Abbv¡Ww. AhÄ¡pth|n
A[nIs¨ehp h¶ XpI Ct±lw Xcpw. C{Xbpw \mÄ Fsâ aIsf kwc
£n¨Xn\p \μn ]dbp¶p.
^³Xo³'

A¶v Hm^okv apdnbnencp¶v tabÀ HutZymKnIamb ASnb´cImcy§Ä
t\m¡pt¼mÄ gthÀ At±ls¯ ImWm³ h¶p. aZensbs\ _lpam\]qÀhw
hμn¨p\n¶ AbmfpsS `mhhyXymkw {]ISambncp¶p.
"F´p|p hntijw?' tabÀ tNmZn¨p.
"Rm³ Ipä¡mc\mWv.' Aev]kabs¯ au\¯n\ptijw gthÀ ]dªp.
"F´p Ipäw?'
"aPnkvt{Säns\ t]meokpImc³ [n¡cn¨p.'
"BcmWv aPnkvt{Säv?'
"A§pXs¶.'
aZensb\v H¶pw a\ÊnembnÃ.
"tae[nImc¯nÂ\n¶p Iev]\bmbncn¡p¶p. A§tbmSv am¸p tNmZn¡m\pw
tPmenbnÂ\n¶v Fs¶ ]ncn¨phnSm\pw. Rm³ cmPnsh¨m t]mcm. sXäp
sNbvXXn\p in£ A\p`hn¡Ww.'
"F´p hnUvVn¯sams¡bmWp ]dbp¶Xv. \n§Ä sNbvX sXsä´v?'
"BdmgvNap¼v B kv{Xo ImcWap|mb elf. F\n¡Xp kln¡m\mbnÃ.
hfsc¡meambn A§bpsS s]cpamä¯n F\n¡p kwibw XpS§nbn«v.
^qjv sehm§ns\ h|n¡SnbnÂ\n¶p c£s¸Sp¯nbt¸mÄ Fsâ Dulw
_es¸«p. Rm³ s^htdmfbn t]mbn At\zjWw \S¯n.
acwsh«pImc\mbncp¶ gmMv hmÂgm§ns\¸än hnhcw In«n. B gmMv hmÂgmMv
A§msW¶p Rm³ tae[nImcnIÄ¡v dnt¸mÀ«b¨p. tabdpsS apJw hnfdn:
"\n§Ä hmkvXhw a\Ênem¡nbXp \¶mbn.'
"CÃ. gmMv hmÂgm§ns\ Ct¸mÄ ]nSnIn«nbncn¡p¶p.'
aZensbsâ ssIbnencp¶ ISemkv AdnbmsX Xmsg hoWp. At±lw
jmshsd kq£n¨p t\m¡n. "F´v?'
"Aenev tlm t¢mjÀ F¶ Øes¯ Hcp hr²³. t]cv gmMv am¯ntbm.
AbmÄ aXn NmSn¡S¶v B¸nĸgw I«p F¶ tIkn ]nSn¡s¸«p.
Bdmbnse Pbnente¡p sIm|pt]mbn. X|phenin£bnÂ\n¶p
hnSpXem¡nb {_th F¶ ]pÅn AhnsS D|mbncp¶p. gmMv am¯ntbmhns\
I|t¸mÄþþþþAÃ! N§mXn! gmMv hmÂgmMv! Fs¶ HmÀ¡p¶ntÃ?' F¶p
tNmZn¨p. B Ių an|nbnÃ. Adnbm¯ `mhw \Sn¨p.'
 "Hmtlm! F¶n«v?'
"Rm\pw Abmsf I|p. kwibanÃ. XShdbn AbmÄ D|mbncp¶p.
Ių! t]cp amänbXmhpw. AbmÄ sa{Xmsâ shÅn¡bn tamjvSn¨p. Hcp
Ip«nbpsS ssIbnÂ\n¶v \mev]Xp kq X«n¸dn¨p. t]meokv
At\zjn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Ct¸mgmWp ]nSnbn In«nbXv.
"\n§Ä¡p XoÀ¨bpt|m?'
"\nÝbambpw tabÀ! £an¡Ww. Cu kμÀ`¯nemWv gmMv hmÂgmMv
A§msW¶v Rm³ dnt¸mÀ«b¨Xv. F\n¡p {`m´msW¶pw tabsd
A]am\n¨Xn\v am¸p tNmZn¨p tPmenbnÂ\n¶v hncan¡Wsa¶pw Iev]\
h¶ncn¡p¶p.'
"Fs¶ A]am\n¨Xns\¸än Rm\pw At\zjnt¡|XtÃ?'
"\nbaw sXän¨hsc Rm³ in£n¨n«p|v. AXpsIm|v Fs¶bpw in
£n¡Ww.'
"icn! \ap¡v BtemNn¡mw. ]t£, Ct¸mÄ \n§sfs¡m|v F\n¡v Nne
Imcy§fp|v.'
"Hm! A§s\sb¦n asämcmsf \nban¡p¶Xphsc Rm³ NpaXeIÄ
\nÀhln¨psImÅmw. Ct¸mÄ Rm³ Bdmbnte¡p t]mIp¶p. \msfbmWv
tIkphnNmcW.'
gthÀ t]mbn. kzØambncp¶ aZensbsâ a\Êv Ie§nadnªp.
"B Ip«nbpsS ssIbnÂ\n¶p ]Ww X«n¸dn¨ Rm³ IÅ\mWv. ho|pw
X|phenin£ A\p`hnt¡|h\mWv. F\n¡p]Icw gmMv am¯ntbm F¶
\nÀ`mKyhmt\m? ]mSnÃ. ssZthÑ F¶ k¦ev]¯n Ignbp¶Xv BXvah©
\bmWv. sa{Xmt\mSp sNbvXn«pÅ i]Yw. {]Imiw I| a\Ên C\n Ccp«p
Ibdn¡qSm. Rm³ ]gb gmMv hmÂgmMv Bbn¯ocp¶Xv ssZhZrjvSnbnÂ
ho|pw kXyw Is|¯emWv.'
A¶pXs¶ Hcp hmSIh|n GÀ¸mSp sNbvXp. ^³Xosâ ip{iqjmImcy§Ä
knw¹okv F¶ I\ymkv{Xosb Gev]n¨p. ]peÀ¨bv¡pap¼v BdmbnÂ
tIkphnNmcW \S¡p¶ tImSXnbnte¡p ]pds¸«p. AXnthK¯n ]mª
h|n asämcp h|nbpambn Iq«nbnSn¡bm N{Iw tISph¶p. thsd Hcp h|n
Iqens¡Sp¯p. hgn¡v AXnsâ A¨pX|p tISph¶p. AXp amänbn«p ho|pw
bm{X XpS˦p.
tabÀ Bdmbnse tImSXnbnse¯nbt¸mÄ aWn F«v. F¦nepw tImSXn
]ncnªn«nÃ. tImSXnapdn P\§sfs¡m|p \ndªncn¡p¶p.
]pd¯p\n¡p¶ ]mdmhpImct\mSv tabÀ tNmZn¨p:
"AIt¯¡p hnSmtam?'
"\nhr¯nbnÃ.'
At±lw Hcp ISemkpXp|n "aZensb³, Fw. ]«W¯nse tabÀ' F¶p
Ipdn¨v ]mdmhpImcsâ ssIbn sImSp¯p ]dªp.
"PUvPnbpsS ssIbnse¯n¡q.'
AbmÄ Ipdn¸pwsIm|v AIt¯¡p t]mbn. ^³Xosâ tcmKs¯¡pdn¨p
hnNmcn¨psIm|v At±lw AhnsS \n¶p. Aev]w Ignªp Xncn¨ph¶
]mdmhpImc³ tabsd A`nhmZyw sNbvXp: "CXnte hcmw.'
At±lw hnNmc¯nÂ\n¶pWÀ¶p. ]mdmhpImc³ ImWn¨ hgnsb \S¶p.
PUvPnbpw A`n`mjIcpw Fgpt¶äv At±ls¯ BZcn¨p. AsXm¶pw At±lw
Adnªncp¶nÃ. At±l¯nsâ I®v BÄ¡q«¯nembncp¶p. PUvPnbpsS
kao]w At±lw bm{´nIambn Ccn¸pd¸n¨p.
PUvPnbpsS t\sc ap¼n Ipd¨Isebmbn c|p ]«mf¡mcpsS \Sphn gmMv
am¯ntbm. Hcp \nc]cm[nbpsS apJ`mhw.
"ssZhta! Rm\pw CXpt]mse!' tabÀ Nn´n¨p.
hnNmcW Ahkm\n¨p. gmMv am¯ntbm Ipäw k½Xn¨nÃ. kÀ¡mÀ h¡oÂ
At±lw Ipä¡mc\msW¶p kaÀ°n¨p. X|p henin£mØe¯p\n¶p
tamNnX\mb sX½mSn gmMv hmÂgmMv Xs¶bmWv B a\pjys\¶p
Øm]n¨pIgnªp.
PUvPn hn[nsbgpXm\pÅ `mhambn. gmMv am¯ntbmtbmSp \o§n\n¡m³
]dªp. AbmÄ \nhÀ¶p\n¶p.
"{]Xn¡v C\n hÃXpw ]dbm\pt|m?' PUvPn tNmZn¨p.
"tImSXn ]dbp¶ gmMv hmÂgm§ns\ Rm³ AdnbnÃ. AXp Rm\Ã. Rm³
bmsXm¶pw tamjvSn¨n«nÃ. ]mcokn _mephnsâ IognÂ
h|n¸Wn¡mc\mbncp¶p Rm³. AbmÄ ]m¸cmbn FhntSt¡m t]mbn. Fsâ
AÑ\pw A½bpw BcmsW¶v F\n¡dnbnÃ. \nc¯n¡qSn \S¡pt¼mÄ
hoWpIn«nbXmWv B¸nĸgw. I«XÃ. Fs¶ shdpsX in£n¡cptX.'
ImWnIsfÃmw CXp tI«p Nncn¨p.
"CbmÄ ]dbp¶Xns\m¶pw sXfnhnÃ. X|phenin£mØe¯v
CbmtfmsSm¸ap|mbncp¶ XShpImsc hcp¯nbn«p|tÃm. Ahsc
lmPcm¡mw. AhcnÂ\n¶pIn«p¶ sXfnhpIqSn tImSXn kzoIcn¡Ww.'
Kh¬saânsâ A`n`mjI³ ]dªp.
{_th, sj\nÂZnbp, tImjvs]bn³þþþþaq¶p XShpImscbpw hcp¯n.
"Cbmsf Adnbmtam?' PUvPn {_thtbmSp tNmZn¨p. "CXv gmMv hmÂgmMv.
kq{X¡mc³! Ct¸mÄ At¿m]mhw \Sn¡pIbmWv.'
aäp c|pt]cpw {_th ]dªXv BhÀ¯n¨p.
"ChnsS ]dªsXÃmw tI«tÃm. F´mWp ]dbm\pÅXv?' gmMv
am¯ntbmtbmSv PUvPn tNmZn¨p.
X£Ww aZensb³ Fgpt¶äp apdnbpsS \Sphnte¡p sN¶p.
AhnsS¡qSnbncp¶ {][m\nIÄs¡ms¡ Bsf a\Ênembn.
 "aZensb³, Fw. ]«W¯nse tabÀ.' AhÀ hnfn¨p]dªp.
\nanj§Ä¡Iw At±lw XShp]pÅnIfpsS ASps¯¯n.
"\n§Ä¡v Fs¶ I|n«p a\Ênemhp¶ntÃ?' Adnbnsöv AhÀ BwKyw
ImWn¨p. aZensb³ PUvPnbpsS t\sc Xncnªp \n¶p:
"{][m\ PUvPn AhÀItf! Pqdnamtc! Cu XShp]pÅnsb hnSm³ D¯chnSq.
Fs¶ ]nSn¡m³ Iev]\sImSp¡q. \n§Ä At\zjn¡p¶ a\pjy³ AbmfÃ.
Rm\mWv gmMv hmÂgmMv.'
AhnsS¡qSnbncp¶hÀ ]ckv]cw angn¨pt\m¡n.
"ChnsS tUmIvSÀamcmsc¦nepapt|m?' {][m\ PUvPn hnfn¨p tNmZn¨p.
"CÃ! F\n¡p {`m´nÃ. AXp \n§Ä¡p ]n¶oSp a\ÊnemIpw. kXyamWp
Rm³ ]dbp¶Xv. ssZhw FÃmw ImWp¶p|v. sa{Xmsâ shÅn¡bnÂ
tamjvSn¨Xpw Ip«nbpsS ]Ww X«nsbSp¯Xpw Rm\mWv. Fsâ `mÞs¡«v
C¶sebmWv Rm³ I¯n¨Xv. Nmcw Ct¸mgpw Fsâ ho«n ImWpw. B
\mWbw AXnep|mIpw. gmMv hmÂgmMv ZpjvS\mWv. AXp hmkvXhw. ]t£,
Abmfà AXn\p sXäpImc³. X|phenin£ A\p`hn¡p¶Xn\pap¼v Ah³
]cakm[phmbncp¶p. in£ Ahs\ ]nimNm¡n. shdpw ac¡jWambncp¶
Ahs\ Xos¡mÅnbm¡n. gthÀ C³kvs]IvSÀ ChnsS D|mbncps¶¦nÂ
Fs¶ Xncn¨dnbpambncp¶p.'
aq¶p XShp]pÅnIsfbpw At±lw amdnamdn t\m¡n.
"{_th! X|phenin£mØe¯psh¨v ]e \ndapÅ Hcp Ddpam \n§Ä
Igp¯n Npänbncp¶ntÃ?'
{_th H¶p sR«n.
"sjs\ÂZnbp! Sn.F^v.]n. F¶ ASbmfw NpaenÂ\n¶p ambv¨pIfbm³
Np«p]gp¯ ]m{Xw sh¨Xnsâ hSp FhnsS?'
"AXp icnbmWv.' sjs\ÂZnbp ]dªp.
"tImjvs]bn³! \n§fpsS CSs¯ ssIbnsâ ap«n\p Xmsg 1815 amÀ¨v 7 F¶v
A¡¯n Ip¯nbn«ntÃ? ImWs«! jÀ«nsâ ssI s]m¡q.'
AbmÄ jÀ«nsâ ssI DbÀ¯n. shfn¨¯n A¡§Ä Xnf§n.
"Ct¸mÄ hnizmkamtbm \n§Ä¡v? Rm\mWv gmMv hmÂgmMv.'
PUvPnbpw A`n`mjI·mcpw H¶pw sN¿m\mhmsX A´n¨ncp¶p. BÀ¡pw
At±ls¯ XSbphm³ ss[cyap|mbnÃ.
"\n§Ä Fs¶ Adkväp sN¿p¶ntÃ? Csæn Rm\nXm t]mIp¶p.
F\n¡p ]e Imcy§fpw sN¿m\p|v. Rm³ BcmsW¶v Kh¬saâv
h¡oen\dnbmw; FhnsSbmsW¶pw. At±l¯nsâ Iev]\ Rm³
A\pkcn¡pw.'
At±lw hmXn¡te¡p \S¶p. BfpIÄ hgnamdns¡mSp¯p.
"Kh¬saâv h¡o AhÀItf! Rm³ \n§fpsS Iev]\bv¡p ap¼nep|v.'
 At±lw \S¶p adªp. Hcp aWn¡qdn\pÅn gmMv am¯ntbmhns\
tamNn¸n¨p.
BdmbnÂ\n¶p aS§nsb¯nb DSs\ gmMv hmÂgmMv ^³Xosâ apdnbnte¡p
sN¶p.
"Fsâ sImsk¯v FhnsS?' BImw£tbmsS AhÄ tNmZn¨p.
tabÀ ho«nÂ\n¶p t]mbXv sImsk¯ns\ sIm|phcm\msW¶mWv AhÄ
hnNmcn¨Xv. B kt´mj¯nsâ elcnbn AhfpsS AkpJw
IpdªphcnIbmbncp¶p. gmMv H¶pw an|msX \n¶p. ^³Xos\
]cntim[n¡p¶ tUmIvSdpw apdnbnte¡p h¶p:
"Ip«n ChnsSbp|v. kam[m\ambn InS¡pI. tcmKw amds«.'
"At¸mÄ Fsâ tamfv ChnsSbp|v, AtÃ? Rm³ Hcp t\m¡p ImWs«.
sImÃw A©mbn Ahsf I|n«v. AhÄ \¶mbncn¡pt¶m? £oWn¨n«nÃtÃm?'
"\n§Ä hn{ian¡q. AkpJw Ipdbs«.'
"Fsâ tcmKsams¡ amdn.'
tUmIvSÀ \nÀ_Ôn¨t¸mÄ AhÄ A\§msX InS¶p. knkväÀ knw¹okv
AhÄ¡p acp¶p sImSp¯p. tUmIvSÀ t]mbn. s]s«¶v Ft´m I|p
`b¶Xpt]mse ^³Xo³ tabsd t\m¡n hnc Nq|n¡mWn¨p. gmMv
hmÂgmMv Xncnªt¸mÄ I|Xv jmshsdbmWv.
"Rm³ CXm hcp¶p. \n§Ä h¶ Imcyw F\n¡dnbmw.'
"F¶mÂ, thKamIs«.'
^³Xo³ hÃmsX t]Sn¨p. Xs¶ ho|pw ]nSn¨psIm|pt]mhm\mWv AbmÄ
h¶sX¶v AhÄ hnNmcn¨p. F¦nepw aZensb³ ASp¯pÅXpsIm|v
AhÄ¡v Bizmkap|mbncp¶p.
"hcp¶pt|m \o?' gthÀ Aedn.
\o F¶p hnfn¡Wsa¦n Bscbmbncn¡Ww. AhÄ InX¨pXpS§n.
knkväÀ knw¹okpw ^³Xo\pw t\m¡n\nevs¡ AbmÄ jm§nsâ
Igp¯p]«bn ]nSnIqSn. F´v? Fw. ]«W¯nse tabdpsS Igp¯n\p
]nSn¡p¶ t]meokpImct\m? ^³Xo³ kwibn¨p.
"gthÀ! Rms\mcp Imcyw ]dbs«.'
"F\n¡v kzImcysam¶pw tIÄ¡|. Dds¡ ]dbq.'
"F\n¡p aq¶pZnhks¯ Ah[n XcWw. Cu km[pkv{XobpsS Ip«nsb
sIm|phcm\mWv. hnizmkansæn \n§fpw FsâIqsS t]mcq.'
"sImÅmw. NmSnt¸mhm³ aq¶pZnhks¯ kabw thWw, AtÃ? \ns¶ Rm³
Adnbm¯XmtWm? A©psImÃw Fsâ ap¼n am\ysâ thjwsI«n \S¶
s]cp¦Å³. thKw h¶nsæn hne§psh¡pw.'
^³Xosâ BisbÃmw \in¨p. aZensb³ Ip«nsb sIm|ph¶nÃ.
Ct¸mgnXm At±lw Hcp XShp]pÅn. aps¼mcn¡Â Ahsf ]nSnIqSnb `b¦c³
ap¼n \nev¡p¶p. C{Xbpw Xm§m\pÅ Icp¯v AhfpsS
lrZb¯n\nÃmbncp¶p. I«nenÂ\n¶p NmSnsbWoä AhÄ AtX thK¯nÂ
I«nente¡pXs¶ adnªphoWp. AhÄ acn¨p.
"\n§Ä B kv{Xosb sIm¶p.' gthdpsS ssI IS¶p]nSn¨psIm|v hmÂgmMv
]dªp.
"\nÀ¯q! Rm³ XÀ¡n¡m³ h¶XÃ.'
aqebnencp¶ Ccp¼phSn hmÂgmMv ssI¡em¡n: "Rm³
Aev]kab¯n\pÅn hcpw. C\n Fs¶ sXm«pt]mbm F\n¡dnbmw.'
gthÀ hnd¨pt]mbn. AbmÄ hmXn¡te¡p amdn. ]pdt¯¡p IS¶mÂ
IŸpÅn NmSn¡fªmtem F¶p hnNmcn¨v AhnsS¯s¶ \n¶p. gmMv
^³Xosâ A\¡aä icoc¯n t\m¡n. ASp¯psN¶v sNhnbn Ft´m
a{´n¨p. ssI ]nSn¨p Npw_n¨p. F¶n«p gthdpsS t\sc Xncnªp:
"CXm \n§Ä hnfn¡p¶nS¯p Rm³ hcmw.'
gmMv hmÂgm§ns\ gthÀ ]«W¯nse Pbnen XShpImc\m¡n.
tabÀ Hcp XShp]pÅnbmbncp¶psh¶pw At±ls¯ ho|pw ]nSn¨psh¶pw
hmÀ¯ ]c¶tXmsS P\§fpsS BZchpw Ahkm\n¨p. At±lw sNbvX
\·IsfÃmw AhÀ ad¶p. NneÀ Bt£]n¡m\pw XpS§n. CsXÃmw
Adnªn«pw At±ls¯ _lpam\n¨ncp¶ c|paq¶pt]À AhnsS
D|mbncp¶p. Ahcn Hcmfmbncp¶p At±l¯nsâ tKäv Imh¡mcn hr².
]Xnhpt]mse A¶pw tKäv ]q«n Xmt¡m bYmØm\¯ph¨p. s]s«¶mWv
At±lw h¶p Xmt¡m FSp¡p¶Xv AhÀ I|Xv:
"ssZhta! Rm³ hnNmcn¨p, A§v PbnenemsW¶v.'
"Rm³ AhnsSbmbncp¶p. P\ensâ Agn HSn¨p ]pd¯p NmSn. knkväÀ
knw¹okns\ H¶p hnfn¡q.' At±lw Aeamc Xpd¶v sa{Xmsâ
sagpIpXncn¡mepIfpw thsd Nne km[\§fpw FSp¯v Hcp `mÞam¡n
sI«nh¨p. Ipd¨p ]Ww Hcp s]mXnbm¡n amänh¨p. s]mXnbpw Hscgp¯pw
knkväÀ knw¹okns\ Gev]n¨p:
"CXv sa{Xms\ Gev]n¡Ww. C¶se acn¨ B km[pkv{XobpsS
ihkwkvImcs¨ehn\pÅXmWv.'
At¸mtg¡pw tImWn¸Sn Ibdn BfpIÄ hcp¶ i_vZw tI«p. jmMv Hcp
aqebn adªp\n¶p. knkväÀ knw¹okv ap«p Ip¯n {]mÀ°n¨p. gthÀ
apIfn F¯n¡gnªp.
"ktlmZco! Cu apdnbn \n§Ä am{Xta DÅq?' PohnX¯n Hcn¡epw
\pW]dbm¯ B ]cnip²mXvamhp ]dªp:
"AsX.'
knkväÀ knw¹oknsâ hm¡v AbmÄ hnizkn¨p. BZc]qÀÆw XeIp\n¨v
AbmÄ ]n³hm§n.
 Hcp aWn¡qÀ Ignªt¸mÄ ac§Ä¡nSbneqsS Iqenthe¡mcsâ
thj¯n HcmÄ [rXnbn ]mcoknte¡p t]mIp¶Xp Nne h|n¡mÀ I|p.
sImsk¯v
hm«Àeq Hcp bp²aÃ; {]]©¯nsâ Hcp NphSpamäamWv. 1815 Pq¬ 18þmw
XobXn {_n«ojv ]«mfw s\t¸mfnbs\ Ahkm\ambn tXmev]n¨p. tamMv
kmMvjmMv ]ÀhX¸c¸nsâ a²y¯n¡qSn t]mIp¶ Ip¯s\bpÅ Hcp tXmSv
ZrjvSnbnÂs¸SmXncp¶Xn\memWv B ]cmPbw kw`hn¨Xv. AhnsS
ka\nc¸msW¶v s\t¸mfnb\pw ssk\nIta[mhnIfpw [cn¨p. tXmäp]n·mdp¶
i{Xp¡sf Xpc¯ns¡m|v aqhmbnc¯ªqdp t]cS§nb ssk\yw apt¶m«p
IpXn¨p. ZpÀhn[n ssk\y§sfsbÃmw B Ipgnbn X«nbn«p. Ipgn \nI¶p.
AXnsâ apIfn¡qSn _m¡nbpÅhÀ ]e hgn¡p ]mªp. ssIbn In«nb
hnPbw X«nt¸mbn. adn¨mbncps¶¦n temINcn{X¯nsâ KXn thsd
hgn¡mIpambncp¶p. HSphnes¯ ]oc¦nbpw s]m«nbtijw tamMv kmMvjmMv
ssaXm\w hnP\ambn. apIfn Hcp ih¡p¶v; Xmsg Hcp tNmc¸pgþþþþB
kmbmlv\¯n B Øe¯nsâ \ne AXmbncp¶p. \nemhp\ndª B
cm{Xnbn km[mcW bp²cwK¯p \S¡mdpÅXpt]mse AhnsSbpw ihw
sImÅsN¿p¶ a\pjy¸nimNp¡sf¯n. acn¨pInS¡p¶ tbm²m¡fpsS
B`cW§fpw t]m¡änse ]Whpw AhÀ IhÀ¨ sNbvXp.
A¡q«¯nÂs¸« Hcph³ AÀ²cm{XntbmsS ]Xp§n¸Xp§n Hmtcm
ih§sfbpw Xncn¨pw adn¨pw t\m¡n \S¶ncp¶p. Xsâ ssIbnÂ
In«p¶sXÃmw \o| tIm«nsâ henb t]m¡än \nd¨p. A§s\
\o§p¶Xn\nSbn AbmfpsS tIm«nsâ Xp¼n Btcm ]nSn¨phen¨p. AbmÄ
Ip\nªp t\m¡n. Hcp ssI s]m§nhcp¶p. hncen kzÀWtamXncw. AbmÄ
AXv DucnsbSp¯p. acn¨pInS¡p¶ a\pjycpsSbpw IpXncIfpsSbpw CSbnÂ
\n¶v Abmsf ssI ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯n. ssk\nIthjw. jÀ«n _lpaXnap{Z.
t]m¡äv ]cntim[n¨t¸mÄ ]Wk©n. AXv kz´w t]m¡änem¡n. B ]«mf
DtZymKس I®pXpd¶p.
"\n§Ä BcmWv?'
"Rm³ \n§fpsS Iq«¯n Hcp kmÀPâv.'
"bp²¯n Bcp Pbn¨p?'
"Cw¥|v.'
"\n§Ä Xv
]Wk©n \n§Ä¡pÅXmWv.'
"t]m¡än H¶panÃ. Btcm sImÅsNbvXncn¡pw. i{Xp¡fpsS
ImÂs¸cpamäw tIÄ¡p¶p|v. ChnsS\n¶p thKw amdWw. \n§fpsS t]sc
´v?'
"sX\mÀZnsbÀ.'
 "Cu t]cv Rm³ ad¡nÃ. Fsâ t]cv tbmÀjv s]mMvtagvkn.'
XShpNmSnb gmMv hmÂgmMv Fw. ]«W¯nÂ\n¶v ]mcoknte¡mWp t]mbXv.
aq¶pZnhkw Ignªv AhnsSsh¨v t]meoknsâ ]nSnbnembn.
samMvt^Àantbbnte¡p Xncnbp¶ hgnbnÂsh¨v Hcp Imfh|nbn Ibdm³
{ian¡pt¼mgmWp ]nSn¨Xv. ]ntäZnhks¯ tPÀWÂ Zv ]mcokv F¶ ]
{X¯n Hcp hmÀ¯ D|mbncp¶p:
"Fw. ]«W¯nse tabdpsS AÛpXIcamb IY c|pZnhkw ap¼v
{]kn²s¸Sp¯nbncp¶tÃm. AbmÄ ho|pw t]meoknsâ hebneIs¸«p.
Xsâ k¼mZyamb Ggpe£w {^m¦v _m¦nen«ncp¶Xp XShpImc\mbn
]nSn¡p¶Xn\p ap¼pXs¶ AbmÄ ssIbn taSn¨ncp¶p. AsXhnsS Hfn¸n¨p
F¶dnbm³ Ignªn«nÃ. ]gb Nne tIkpIÄ kw_Ôn¨v Abmsf
tImSXnbn hnNmcW sNbvXp. FÃm Ipä§fpw AbmÄ Gäp]dªp. PUvPn
acWin£bv¡p hn[ns¨¦nepw cmPmhnsâ IcpWsIm|v Poh]cy´w
XShm¡n Ipd¨p. Abmsf Xqtem§nse XShdbnte¡p sIm|pt]mbn.'
samMvt^Àantbbn BbnSbv¡v asämcp hmÀ¯ ]c¶p. AhnsSbpÅ
Im«p{]tZi¯v Hcp `qXw \n[n Ipgn¨n«n«p|pt]mepw. _pem{Xpsb F¶
h|n¡mc\v AXp XncbemWv ]Wn. AbmÄ ap¼p X|phenin
£mØe¯p|mbncp¶p. AbmÄ¡p ]cnNbapÅ HcmÄ Xebn Hcp
s]«nbpw ssIbn ]n¡mkpw Xq¼bpambn Im«nte¡p t]mIp¶Xp I|p.
Abmsf ]n´pSÀs¶¦ntem F¶v _pem{Xpsb hnNmcn¡mbvIbnÃ. ]t£,
Akab¯v Häbv¡v t]mIm³ ss[cyw tXm¶nbnÃ. ià\mb a\pjy³,
ssIbn ]Wnbmbp[w. hgnbn Im¯ncn¡msa¶p hnNmcn¨p.
Ipd¨pIgnªt¸mÄ Im«n t]mb a\pjy³ Xncn¨p h¶p. s]«nbnÃ.
AXpIm«n Ipgn¨n«n«ps|¶v _pem{Xpsb XoÀ¨s¸Sp¯n. hfsc\mÄ
AbmÄ Xncªp. ^eap|mbnÃ. A§s\bmWv `qX¯nsâ IY
cq]wsIm|Xv.
1823 \hw_À 17þse tamWn¯nsb ]{X¯n Hcp dnt¸mÀ«v D|mbncp¶p:
"HmdntbmMv I¸en ]WnsbSp¡m\mbn hcp¯nbncp¶ Hcp XShp]pÅn
AÛpXIcamb hn[¯n Hcmsf c£s¸Sp¯n. I¸ensâ apIį«nÂ\n¶p
Xmsg hoW Hcp tPmen¡mc³ I¸Â¸mbpsS Xp¼n Xq§n¡nS¶p. Abmsf c
£n¡m³ BÀ¡pw ss[cyap|mbnÃ. F¶mÂ, F«pImen Cu¨sb
]nSn¨psIm|pt]mIp¶Xpt]mse AÛpXIcamwhn[w XShp]pÅn Abmsf
I¸ense¯n¨p. Xncn¨p Iotgm«nd§nb XShp]pÅn ImenSdn ISen hoWp
ap§n¨¯p. ihw CtXhsc I|pIn«nbn«nÃ. Bbp[imebv¡Sp¯pÅ
IÃn³Iq«¯n s]«ncn¡psa¶p hnNmcn¡p¶p. B XShp]pÅnbpsS \¼À
9430. t]cv gmMv hmÂgmMv.'
]ÀhX¸c¸n ØnXnsNbvXncp¶Xn\m samMvs^Àantbbn F¶pw Pe
£maw A\p`hs¸«ncp¶p. Ipd¨IsebpÅ Hcp Im«ptNmebnÂ\n¶mWv
IpSn¡m\pÅ shÅw kw`cn¨ncp¶Xv. sX\mÀZnsbdpsS tlm«en shÅw
sIm|ph¶p \ndbv¡p¶Xv sImsk¯nsâ NpaXebmWv. AhÄ¡v F«p
hbtÊ Bbn«pÅp. tlm«ense ]e tPmenIfpw AhfmWv sNbvXncp¶Xv.
F¶mtem, sNdnb sXän\pt]mepw sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xo Nphcn Xq¡nbn«n«pÅ
Nm«hmdpsIm|v Ahsf ASn¡pw. IqsS¡qsS AhfpsS Ic¨nÂ
AbÂho«pImÀ¡p tIÄ¡mw. hn{ian¡phmt\m Ifn¡phmt\m AhÄ¡v
kabw In«nbncp¶nÃ. aäp Ip«nIsft¸mse DÃkn¡m\pÅ tamlw a\ÊnÂ
HXp¡n A\mYbmb AhÄ IgnªpIqSn.
1823þse {InkvXpakv Znhkw. kabw kÔytbmSSp¡p¶p. t\cs¯
sIm|ph¶ shÅw apgph³ XoÀ¶pt]mbn. sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xo Ahsf cq
£amsbm¶p t\m¡n. AhÄ hnd¨p. £W¯n IpSsaSp¯p bm{Xbmbn.
hgn¡pÅ sdm«n¡SbnÂ\n¶v Hcp sdm«n hm§m\mbn ]Xn\©p kqhpw Ahsf
Gev]n¨p. hgnh¡nepÅ hr£§fpsS Nph«n Ccp«p ]c¶p. AhnsS
`qXt{]XmZnIÄ Hfn¨ncn¡p¶pt|m? AhÄ¡p `bw tXm¶n. shÅw
FSp¡msX aS§ns¨¶m sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xo sXmgn¡pw. AhÄ \S¶p.
tNmebn Ip\nªp\n¶v shÅw ap¡p¶ Ahkc¯n DSp¸nsâ
t]m¡änen«ncp¶ \mWbw hoWpt]mbXv AhÄ AdnªnÃ.
"Bhq! At½!' F¶p ]dªpsIm|p shÅ¡pShpw Xm§n t]mIpt¼mÄ
Btcm ]n¶nÂ\n¶p IpSw ]nSn¨p hm§nbXmbn AhÄ¡p tXm¶n. AhÄ
Xncnªp t\m¡n. Btcm HcmÄ.
"Ip«o! Fs´mcp `mcw. Rm³ FSp¡mw.'
AhÄ k½Xn¨p. A]cnNnX\msW¦nepw AhÄ¡p `bw tXm¶nbnÃ. AhÀ
\S¶p.
"Ip«n¡v F{X hbÊmbn?'
"F«v.'
"FhnsS t]mWw?'
"sX\mÀZnsbdpsS tlm«enÂ.'
"t]sc´mWv?'
"sImsk¯v.'
AbmÄ¡v AZv`pXw tXm¶n.
"thesbSp¡m³ AhnsS thsdbmcpantÃ?'
"]WnsbSp¡m³ Rm³ am{XtabpÅp. AhnsS Fs¸mss\\pw AskÂabpw
D|v. AhÀ bPam\¯nIftÃ?'
"Ft¸mgpw ]WnsbSp¡tWm?'
"]IÂ apgph\pw. cm{Xn Imepd Xp¶Ww.'
AbmÄ Ft´m BtemNn¨p \S¶p. AhÀ tlm«en\Sps¯¯n. sImsk¯v
IpSw tNmZn¨p. IpSw Xm³Xs¶ sIm|ph¶p Xcmsa¶v AbmÄ ]dªp.
AhÄ k½Xn¨nÃ.
"asämcmsfs¡m|p IpSw FSp¸n¨p sN¶m Fs¶ XÃpw.'
AbmÄ IpSw sImSp¯p. AhÄ £W¯n AIt¯¡p IS¶p.
"sIm¨t½! CXm HcmÄ. ChnsS Xmakn¡Wsa¶v.'
AbmfpsS thjhpw a«pw sX\mÀZnsbÀ¡p ]nSn¨nÃ. \mev]Xp kq
hmSIsImSp¡msa¦n Xmakn¸n¡msa¶mbn. AbmÄ k½Xn¨p.
]Ws¡mXnb\mb sX\mÀZnsbÀ kt´mjn¨p.
"A¸w hm§m³ ]dªsXhnsSSo!' Aev]kabw Ignªt¸mgmWv
sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xo A¡mcyw HmÀ¯Xv.
AhÄ kw{`an¨p t]m¡än X¸nt\m¡n. ]Ww I|nÃ. AhÄ angn¨p\n¶p.
B kv{Xo ]Ãndp½n NphcnÂ\n¶p Nm« ssIbnseSp¯p:
"]WwIqSn IftªmSo?'
s]s«¶v AXnYnbmbn h¶ a\pjy³ Ccp]Xp kq \mWbw t]m¡änÂ
\ns¶Sp¯p:
"ChfpsS ssIbnÂ\n¶p hoWpcpfp¶Xp Rm³ I|p. CXtÃ? t\m¡q.'
sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xo ssI \o«n hm§n. AXpw em`w.
Fs¸mss\\pw AskÂabpw ]mhIsfsbSp¯p Ifn¡pIbmWv. sImsk¯v
AhcpsS Ifnbn DÕpIbmbn H¶p t\m¡nt¸mbn.
"Xoä am{Xw aXntbmSo? hÃXpw ]WnsbSp¯pIqsS? B Imepd
Xp¶n¡gntªm?' sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xo tZjys¸«p.
"B Imepdbv¡v F´p hne hcpw?' BKX³ tNmZn¨p.
"A©p kq.'
"A©p {^m¦v X¶m Xcmtam?'
"]ns¶´m?'
"Imepd Xp¶n F\n¡p Xc|. A{Xbpw kabw Ip«n Ifn¨p sImÅs«.'
A©v {^m¦v sX\mÀZnsbÀ kv{XobpsS ssIbn sImSp¯v AbmÄ ]dªp.
AhÀ AZv`pXs¸«p. Ahsf Ifn¡phm³ A\phZn¨p. sImsk¯v Hcp IjWw
ioe Npcp«n ]mhbm¡n Ifn¡phm³ XpS§n. aäp c|p Ip«nIfpw ]q¨¡p«nsb
]nSn¨p Ifn¨psIm|ncp¶p. At¸mÄ \ne¯pInS¶ ]mhsb sImsk¯v
FSp¯p. Ip«nIÄ B hnhcw A½sb Adnbn¨p. A½ Aedns¡m|v AhfpsS
t\À¡Sp¯p. DSs\ AXnYn AhnsS\n¶v Cd§nt¸mIp¶Xp I|p. B
X¡wt\m¡n sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xo sImsk¯n\v Hcp Nhn«psImSp¯p. AhÄ
hmhn«p Icªp.
"CXp \n\¡pÅXmWv.' ]pd¯p\n¶v Hcp ]pXnb ]mh hm§ns¡m|ph¶v
AbmÄ sImsk¯n\p sImSp¯p. AhÄ sX\mÀZnsbÀ kv{XobpsS apJ¯v
"CXp hm§mtam' F¶ AÀ°¯n t\m¡n. AhÀ A\phZn¨p.
sImsk¯n\p|mb kt´mj¯n\XncnÃ.
AXnYnbpsS s]cpamäw sX\mÀZnsbÀamsc AÛpXs¸Sp¯n. ]n¨¡mcsâ
thjw sI«nb tImSoizct\m CbmÄ? F´mbmepw ]n¶oSv AbmfpsS
km¶n²y¯n AhÀ sImsk¯ns\ D]{Zhn¨nÃ.
A¯mgw Ignªv FÃmhcpw InS¶p. AXnYn Fgpt¶äv I¯p¶
sagpIpXncnsbSp¯v B Ip«n InS¡p¶nS¯p sN¶p. ssht¡m¡nS¡bnÂ
hncnt¸m, ]pXt¸m CÃmsX AhÄ InS¶pd§p¶p. Fs¸mss\\pw
AskÂabpw ]«phncn¸pÅ InS¡bnÂ. {InkvXpakv cm{Xnbn Ip«nIfpsS
jqkn amemJamÀ ]Ww hnXdpsa¶pÅ sI«pIY A½amÀ ]dªp Ip«nIÄ
tI«ncp¶p. AX\pkcn¨p Ip«nIÄ AhcpsS jqkv HcnS¯v Agn¨psh¨n«p|v.
Fs¸mss\sâbpw AskÂabpsSbpw jqkn Hmtcm shÅn\mWbw
amemJþþþþAhcpsS A½þþþþsIm|n«ncp¶p. sImsk¯nsâ s]mfnª
sNcp¸n H¶pw C«n«nÃ. AXnYn Hcp kzÀW\mWbw B sNcn¸nÂsh¨p.
t]mbn InS¶pd§n.
]ntä¶p cmhnse AbmÄ t]mIms\mcp§n. sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xo Hcp _nÃv
AbmfpsS ssIbn sImSp¯p. tlm«ense Xmak¯n\pw `£W¯n\pambn
Ccp]¯naq¶p {^m¦v. AbmÄ A©p {^m¦nsâ A©p\mWb§Ä
tai¸pd¯p sh¨p. sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xobv¡v hnizkn¡m\mbnÃ. B XpI
In«psa¶v AhÀ hnNmcn¨XÃ.
"ChnsS I¨hSsams¡ F§s\?' AbmÄ tNmZn¨p.
"I¨hSw hfsc tamiw. \n§sft¸mepÅ ]W¡mÀ CSbv¡ph¶p
Ibdnbnsæn R§fpsS Imcyw ]cp§enemWv. ChnsS sNehn\v
A©mfp|v. Cu A\mY¡p«nsb¡qSn c£nt¡|nbncn¡p¶p.'
"F¶mÂ, AhfpsS `mcw HcmÄ GsäSp¯mtem?'
"Hmtlm! ]qÀWk½Xw. ssZhm\p{Klambn.'
CXptI«v sX\mÀZnsbÀ AI¯p\n¶p h¶p. _p²nam\pw kq{Ximenbpamb
AbmÄ AXnYn h¶p Ibdnbt¸mÄapXÂ {]tXyIw {i²n¨ncp¶p.
sImsk¯nsâ Imcy¯n AXnYn ImWn¡p¶ XmÂ]cyw kwibmkv]Zambn
AbmÄ¡p tXm¶n.
"kÀ kXyw ]dbs«. sImsk¯ns\ sIm|pt]mhm³ ]änÃ. Ahsf
hn«p]ncnbm³ F\n¡mhnÃ. R§Ä ]mh§fmbncn¡mw. F¶mepw Ahsf
t]mäm³ F\n¡p Ignbpw. AsænÂ, AhÄ FhnsSbmWv, BcpsS IqsSbmWv
Fs¶¦nepw F\n¡dnbWw.'
"Ahsf Xf¨n«pÅ Im¨§e s]m«n¡m\mWv Rm³ Dt±in¡p¶Xv. Rm³
Ahsf sIm|pt]mIm\m{Kln¡p¶ps|¦n sIm|pt]mIpw. a\Ênemtbm?
k½XamtWm, AÃtbm?'
"kÀ, F\n¡v Ct¸mÄ Bbnc¯ªqdp {^m¦nsâ AXymhiyap|v.'
 AbmÄ DSs\ t]m¡änÂ\n¶v Bbnc¯ªqdp {^m¦nsâ t\ms«Sp¯v
tai¸pd¯psh¨v Hcp hnc AXn AaÀ¯n.
"sIm|phcq sImsk¯ns\.'
Cu kab¯v sImsk¯v Xsâ ]gb sNcp¸v sNs¶Sp¡pIbmbncp¶p.
AXn \£{Xwt]mse Hcp kzÀW\mWbw. kt´mjt¯mSpw
`bt¯mSpwIqSn AsXSp¯p t]m¡än C«p. AXhnsSbn«XmcmsW¶v
AhÄ¡v Duln¡phm³ Ignªp.
apjnª thjw[cn¨ Hcp hr²\pw Idp¯ DSp¸n«v ssIbn Hcp
Ifn¸mhbpambn Hcp sNdnb s]¬Ip«nbpw ]mcoknte¡pÅ hgnbneqsS
t]mIp¶Xv samMvs^Àantb \nhmknIÄ A¶p I|ncp¶p.
sImsk¯v t]mbn Ipd¨pIgnªt¸mÄ hnUvVn¯w ]änbtÃm F¶mbn
sX\mÀZnsbÀ¡v. ]Xn\¿mbncw {^m¦v tNmZn¨ncps¶¦nepw Ingh³
sImSp¡pambncp¶ntÃ? AbmfpsS `mcybpw IpWvTnXs¸«p. sX\mÀZnsbÀ
AhnsS\ns¶gpt¶äv B a\pjy³ t]mb hgn¡p IpXn¨p. Ipd¨pZqcw
sN¶t¸mÄ Ahsc Is|¯n. Hcp Ipän¡mSnsâ ]n¶n AhÀ
hn{ian¡pIbmbncp¶p. sX\mÀZnsbÀ AhcpsS ap¼nÂsN¶p t\m«pIÄ
\o«n¡mWn¨p:
"kÀ, CXm \n§fpsS ]Ww.'
"F´m Imcyw?'
"Rm³ sImsk¯ns\ hnSnÃ.'
sImsk¯v Nqfnt¸mbn. B hr²s\ sI«n¸nSn¨p.
"sX\mÀZnsbÀ! Rm³ acymZbmWp ImWn¨Xv. Ip«nbpsS A½ Ahsf Fs¶
Gev¨ncn¡pIbmWv. Xncn¨v \n§fpsS IqsS Abbv¡m³ ]änÃ.'
AbmÄ t]m¡än ssIbn«p. sX\mÀZnsbÀ kt´mjn¨p. ]t£, AbmÄ Dt
±in¨Xpt]mse t\m«n³sI«Ã ]pdt¯¡ph¶Xv. Hcp sNdnb ISemkv.
"hmbn¡q.' AbmÄ sX\mÀZnsbdpsS t\sc \o«n. sX\mÀZnsbÀ hm§n
hmbn¨p. i_vZw sXm|bn XSªp:
"\n§Ä ^³Xo\v Ab¨ I¯pIfpw IW¡pw CXm. Rm³ X¶
Bbnc¯ªqdp {^m¦v A[nI¸ämWv.'
"Bbncw {Iu¬ XcmsX Ip«nsb XcnÃ.' sX\mÀZnsbdpsS `mhw amdn.
hr²³ ASp¯p InS¶ s]m´³hSn ssIbnseSp¯p. sX\mÀZnsbÀ Npäpw
t\m¡n. klmb¯n\v BcpanÃ. AhnsSh¨v B a\pjy\pambn
Gäpap«m\mhnÃ. hr²³ Ip«nbpsS ssI]nSn¨p \S¶p. sX\mÀZnsbÀ
Xncn¨pt]mbn.
gmMv hmÂgmMv I¸enÂ\n¶pw ISen hoWp F¶pw ihw In«nbn«nÃ
F¶pambncp¶tÃm ]{XhmÀ¯. ]t£, At±lw acn¨nÃ. I¸enÂ\n¶v At
±lw hogpIbÃ, NmSpIbmWp|mbXv. B I¸ensâ ASp¯pw AIsebpambn
Ipsd h©nIÄ sI«nbn«ncp¶p. hmÂgmMv Dufnbn«v h©nIfpsS ad]än ]IÂ
apgph³ Hfn¨pInS¶p. cm{Xnbmbt¸mÄ AhnsS\n¶p \o´n Hcp ap\¼nÂ
Ibdn. t]m¡än ]Ww D|mbncp¶p. hkv{X§sfÃmw amän AhnsS\n¶p
\S¶p ]mcoknse¯n. ]«W¯nsâ Hgnª Hcp tImWn P\hmkw Ipdª
Øe¯mbn tKmÀt_m F¶pt]cpÅ hoSp hmSIbv¡p hm§n. hoSnsâ DSaØ
AhnsS Xmakn¡p¶hÀ¡p Zmkythe sNbvXncp¶ Hcp hr²bmbncp¶p.
Bdpamks¯ hmSI ap³IqÀ sImSp¯p. AXymhiykm[\§Ä hm§m\pw
GÀ¸mSp sNbvXp. XmaknbmsX Xncn¨phcpsa¶p ]dªv ]pds¸«p.
samMvs^Àantbbn t]mbn sImsk¯ns\ hos|Sp¡pIbmbncp¶p B
bm{XbpsS Dt±iyw. sX\mÀZnsbdpsS hoSv At\zjn¡p¶ Ahkc¯nÂ
hgnbnÂh¨v bZrÑbm Ahsf I|pap«pIbmbncp¶p.
Ccp]¯©p hÀjambn H¶ns\bpw kvt\ln¡mXncp¶ gmMv hmÂgm§nsâ
]cp¡³ lrZbw sImsk¯ns\ e`n¨Xp apX ]Xps¡ abs¸«p XpS§n.
F«p hÀjwap¼v sa{Xm\n ZnhyXzw I|p. sImsk¯v "AÑm' F¶p
hnfn¨t¸mÄ kvt\lsas´¶dnªp.
kvs]bn\n I¨hS¡mc\mbncp¶psh¶pw I¨hSw s]mfnªt¸mÄ
\mSphn«p Xsâ aIsfbpwsIm|p kam[m\ambn HcnS¯p Xmakn¡m³
t]m¶XmsW¶pamWv At±lw hr²sb [cn¸n¨ncp¶Xv. aª¡p¸mbhpw
Idp¯ Imepdbpw ]nªnb sXm¸nbpambn hgn\S¡pt¼mÄ bmNI\msW¶p
sXän²cn¨p ]ecpw At±l¯n\p `n£ sImSp¡pw. kt´mjt¯msS At±lw
AXp kzoIcn¡pw. At±l¯nsâ ap¼n ssI\o«p¶ bmNIÀ¡v At±lhpw
`n£ \evIpw. AXp an¡t¸mgpw shÅn\mWb§fmbncn¡pw. A§s\ [Àaw
sImSp¡p¶ bmNI³ AhnS§fnseÃmw kwkmchnjbambn¯oÀ¶p.
Znhkhpw kÔybv¡v hmÂgmMv \S¡m\nd§pw; sImsk¯pw
IqsSbp|mhpw. hgnh¡n Hcp hr£¨ph«n Iodnb jÀ«pw s]mfnª
sXm¸nbpambn Ip\nªncn¡p¶ Hcp bmNIs\ AhÀ ImWmdp|v. Fs
´¦nepw Hcp \mWbw AbmfpsS ]m{X¯n C«psImSp¡pI ]XnhmWv. Hcp
Znhkw sImsk¯v IqsSbp|mbncp¶nÃ. bmNI³ A¶pw
bYmØm\¯p|mbncp¶p. t]m¡änÂ\n¶p \mWbw FSp¯p
]m{X¯nen«psImSp¡m³ Ip\nªt¸mÄ hmÂgmMv bmNIsâ apJt¯¡p
t\m¡n. At±lw sR«nt¸mbn. AXv jmshdpsS apJatÃ? H¶pw an|msX
t]m¶p.
Ipd¨p Znhk§Ä¡ptijw AhÀ Xmakn¡p¶Xnsâ ASp¯ apdnbnte¡v
gthÀ Ibdnt¸mIp¶Xv hmÂgmMv I|p. hr²tbmSv At\zjn¨t¸mÄ
hmSIbv¡p Xmakn¡m³ h¶XmsW¶mWdnªXv. B cm{XnXs¶ At±lw
sImsk¯ns\bpwIq«n AhnsS\n¶nd§n, thK¯n \S¶p. Ft§m«mWp
t]mIp¶sX¶v B Ip«n¡dnbnÃ. hmÂgm§n\pw \nÝbanÃ. AhÄ At
±lt¯mSp ]änt¨À¶p \S¶p. N{μ³ DZn¨v A[nIw DbÀ¶n«nÃ. sXcphpIfnÂ
\ngepw shfn¨hpw CSIeÀ¶p. \ngente¡p amdn At±lw ]nt¶m¡w
t\m¡nbt¸mÄ hnNmcn¨t]mseXs¶ gthdpw aq¶p t]meokpImcpw Hcp
\mev¡hebn \nev¡p¶p. B a\pjy³ Ft§m«p Xncnªp F¶mWhcpsS
BtemN\.
sImsk¯v XfÀ¶pXpS§n. At±lw Ahsf Npaenteän. At¸mtg¡pw
t]meokpImcpsS F®w hÀ²n¨p. AhÀ ]e hgn¡mbn Xncnbp¶Xpw I|p.
At±lw AXnthK¯n \S¶p. Hcp `mch|n skbn³ ]pg IS¡p¶p.
AXnsâ ad]än At±lw ]mew IS¶p. CSt¯m«pw het¯m«pw t]mIp¶ c|p
sXcphpIÄ. At±lw het¯m«pÅXneqsS \S¶p. Ipsd sN¶t¸mÄ hgn
AhnsS ap«n. C\nsb´p sN¿Wsa¶mtemNn¨p Npäpw t\m¡n.
]¯p]Xn\mdSntbmfw DbcapÅ Hcp I·XnemWp ap¶nÂ. AXnsâ
apIfneqsS NmSn F§s\ A¸pd¯p IS¡pw? IqsS sImsk¯pap|v. Ahsf
Dt]£n¨n«p ]ns¶ F´n\p Pohn¡p¶p.
X|phenin£¡me¯v Pbn NmSm\mbn A`ykn¨ Hcp hnZybp|v.
Ip¯s\bpÅ Nphcn ]pdwNmcn\n¶v Imensâ aS¼pw Npaense
amwkt]inIfpw D]tbmKn¨p tatem«p s]m§m³ jm§n\p {]bmkanÃ.
F¶mÂ, Ip«ntbbpsaSp¯v A§s\ Ibdm\mhnÃ. Hcp Ibdp In«nbm ]co
£n¡msa¶p tXm¶n. IbÀ FhnsS\n¶p In«pw? t]meokpImcpsS
Imevs]cpamäw ASp¯Sp¯p hcp¶p. BtemNn¨p\nev¡m³ kabanÃ.
tdmUcpInepÅ hnf¡pImen hnf¡p Xq¡nbncp¶ IbÀ I®nÂs¸«p. H«pw
Xmakn¡msX AXp sN¯nsbSp¯p. Igp¯n sI«nbncp¶ DdpamÂ
sImsk¯nsâ I£¯neqsS Npän AXn Ibdnsâ Hcp Xp¼psI«n. atä
Xp¼p ISn¨p]nSn¨v Hcp \nanjwsIm|v aXnensâ apIfnse¯n. sImsk¯ns\
s]m¡nsbSp¯p. AtXt]mseXs¶ aXnensâ adphit¯¡nd¡n At±lw
DuÀ¶nd§n: "BcmWp \½sf ]nSn¡m³ hcp¶Xv?' t]Sn¨p hnd¨ sImsk¯v
tNmZn¨p.
"sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xo, an|cpXv.' hmÂgmMv AhfpsS hmbvs]m¯n. ]ns¶
AhÄ i_vZn¨nÃ. A¸pd¯p sXcphn At¸mÄ henb Xnc¡p tI«p. gthÀ¡v
tZjyw AS¡m³ IgnªnÃ. hebn IpSp§nb aÕyw NmSnt¸mbn. AhnsS
Imhen\v Bsf \ndp¯nbn«v AbmÄ At\zjWw XpSÀ¶p.
t]meokpImcpsS ]nSnbnÂ\n¶p c£s¸s«¦nepw hs¶¯nb Øew
GXmsW¶v gmMv hmÂgm§n\p a\ÊnembnÃ. P\¯nct¡dnb ]mcokv
]«W¯nsâ \Sp¡v C{X hnP\hpw \nÈ_vZhpamb HcnSapt|m? GXmbmepw
Øew ]cntim[n¡phm³ At±lw XoÀ¨bm¡n. £oWn¨v Dd§n¯pS§nb
sImsk¯ns\ HcnS¯p InS¯n. AhÄ XWp¯p achn¨ncn¡p¶p. Xsâ jÀ«v
Ducn Ahsf ]pX¸n¨p.
 At¸mÄ CShn«nShn«v Hcp aWnInep¡w. hmÂgmMv ]cn{`an¨p. AXm Hcp
hr²³ apS´ns¡m|phcp¶p. B a\pjysâ ImÂap«nt·Â
aWnsI«nbncn¡bmsW¶pw AbmÄ \S¡pt¼mÄ Inep§pIbmsW¶pw At
±l¯n\p a\Ênembn. B a\pjy³ Xs¶ I|v "Ių, Ių' F¶p
]dªp elfbp|m¡nbm \nanj§Ä¡Iw jmshdpsS ssIbneIs¸Spw.
"CXm \qdv {^m¦v.' t]m¡änÂ\n¶p ]WsaSp¯v hmÂgmMv B a\pjys\
kao]n¨p. XebpbÀ¯n t\m¡n B a\pjy³ \nem shfn¨¯n jm§nsâ
apJw I|p.
"tl! ^mZÀ aZensb³! \n§sf§s\ ChnsSsb¯n? Cu XWp¸¯p
jÀ«pIqSn CSmsX \S¡pIbmtWm? AÃ! \n§Ä
BImi¯p\n¶nd§pIbmbncpt¶m? \n§Ä¡v AXn\pw hnjaanÃ.'
"\n§Ä Fs¶ Adnbptam? F\n¡p \n§sf a\ÊnembnÃ.'
"CXv AXntesd BÝcyw. \n§ftà F\n¡v ChnsS tPmen hm§n¯¶Xv.
F¶n«v Fs¶ AdnbnÃt]mepw. CXp s]¯n ]nIv]yp I\ymaTamWv. Rm³
h|n¡mc³ ^qjv sehMv.'
"Hmtlm! Rm³ Ct¸mÄ HmÀ¡p¶p.'
"Fsâ Pohs\ c£n¨ BfmWv. F¶n«v...'
"\n§sf A¶p Rm³ c£s¸Sp¯n. C¶p \n§Ä Fs¶ c£s¸Sp¯Ww.
Rm³ \n§fpsS IqsS ChnsS Xmakn¡pw. k½XatÃ?'
"ssZh¯nsâ A\p{Klw.'
"kvt\lnXm! asämct]£IqSnbp|v. Fs¶¸än \n§Ä¡dnhpÅ Imcyw
BtcmSpw ]dbcpXv. ]ns¶ Ct¸mgs¯ ØnXnsb¡pdn¨v IqSpXsem¶pw
tNmZn¡bpacpXv.'
"icn. kXyhncp²ambn \n§Ä bmsXm¶pw sN¿pIbnsöv F\n¡dnbmw.
AXpsIm|p ]dªXpt]mseXs¶. I\ymaT¯nsâ ]n¶n Hcp
sNä¸pcbp|v F\n¡v. AXn¡qSmw.'
AhÀ c|pt]cpw sImsk¯nsâ ASp¯psN¶p. Xo Iq«n. AhÄ¡p NqSp
sImSp¯p. ^qjv seh§nsâ InS¡bn InS¯n Dd¡n.
gmMv hmÂgmMv I¸enÂ\n¶p hoWp acn¨pt]mb IY gthÀ C³kvs]IvSÀ ]
{Xw hgn Adnªncp¶p. F¶mÂ, Ipd¨pZnhkw Ignªt¸mÄ
samMvs^Àantbbn sX\mÀZnsbdpsS tlm«enÂ\n¶v sImsk¯v F¶
Ip«nsb Hcp hr²³ A]lcn¨Xmb dnt¸mÀ«p I|p. AbmÄ¡p ho|pw
kwibambn. B hr²³ BcmWv? samMvs^Àantbbn t]mIm³
aq¶pZnhks¯ Ah[n thWsa¶v A¶v hmÂgmMv ]dªXv gthÀ HmÀan¨p.
XShpNmSnb Abmsf ]nSnIqSnbXpw samMvs^Àantbbnte¡pÅ
hgnbnÂsh¨mWv. acn¨ ^³Xo\mWv sImsk¯nsâ A½. AXpsIm|v
hmÂgmMv acn¨n«nsöv gthÀ¡v tXm¶n. "Ip«nbpsS ap¯Ñ³ h¶p
sIm|pt]mbn. gthÀ samMvs^Àantbbn At\zjn¨t¸mÄ sX\mÀZnsbÀ
]dªp. AbmÄ A§s\ ]dbm³ ImcWap|v. Ip«nsb A]lcn¨ Bsf
I|p]nSn¨p hnNmcWsN¿m\nSh¶m Xm³ X«nsbSp¯ Bbnc¯ªqdp
{^m¦nsâ Imcyw ]pd¯mbmtem?
gthÀ Xncn¨pt]m¶p. [Àaw sImSp¡p¶ Hcp bmNI³ aIsfbpwsIm|v
k©cn¡p¶ps|¶pw AhÀ ]mcokn\Sp¯mWv Xmakn¡p¶sX¶pw
AbmÄ¡v Adnhp In«n. At\zjWw \S¯m³ Hcp kn.sF.Un.sb
NpaXes¸Sp¯n. AbmÄ bmNIsâ thj¯n tdmUn InS¶p.
AbmÄ¡mWv hmÂgmMv ]Xnhmbn `n£ sImSp¯ncp¶Xv. kn.sF.Un.bnÂ
\n¶p hr²sâ thjs¯¡pdn¨ÃmsX aäp hnhc§sfm¶pw gthÀ¡v In«nbnÃ.
Hcp Znhkw gthÀXs¶ `n£¡mcsâ thj¯n hgnh¡n InS¡pIbpw
AhnsS hmÂgm§ns\ Is|¯pIbpw sNbvXp. IqSpXÂ sXfnhpIÄ
tiJcn¡m³ th|nbmWv AbmÄ tKmÀt_m ho«n apdn hmSIbvs¡Sp¯Xv.
AXnhnkvXrXamb tXm«¯n\p \Sphn B{ia\nba§Ä IÀi\ambn
]men¡p¶ I\ymaTw. BÀ¡pw HcpXc¯nepw {]thin¡m³ ]äm¯ DbÀ¶
I·XnepIÄ. aT¯nsâ aXnÂs¡«n\I¯v c|p ]pcpj·mÀ¡p am{Xta
{]thi\w A\phZn¨n«pÅpþþþþsa{Xm³ Xncpta\n¡pw tXm«¡mc\pw.
tXm«¡mc³ Ft¸mgpw ImÂap«nt·Â aWn sI«nbncn¡pw. \S¡pt¼mÄ i_vZw
tIÄ¡matÃm. C§s\bpÅ Øe¯v hmÂgm§pw sImsk¯pw F§s\
Ign¨pIq«pw? ]pcpj·msc ImWpIt]mepw sN¿m¯ k\ymkn\namÀ
Xmakn¡p¶nS¯v A]cnNnX\mb HcmÄ? Ipsd kabw ^qjv seh§nsâ
Nm¨psI«n¡pSnen Ccn¡mw. Bsc¦nepw AdnªmÂ? hmÂgmMv Xsâ IqsS
ØncXmakam¡m\mWv \nÝbn¨ncn¡p¶sX¶dnª ^qjv seh§nsâ Xe
]pIbm³ XpS§n.
Ahkm\w AbmÄ Hcp hgn I|p]nSn¨p. Xsâ A\pP\mWv Abmsf¶pw
hbÊpIme¯p X\n¡p klmb¯n\v HcmÄIqSnbnsæn _p²nap«msW¶pw
aZÀ kp¸ocnbdnt\mSp ]dbpI. ]t£, AXpw {]bmkw. ]pdt¯¡p IS¶n«p
thWw A\phmZt¯mSpIqSn AIt¯¡p hcm³. AXns\´p sN¿pw?
"aZensb³! \n§sf ChnsS Xmakn¸n¡p¶ Imcyw Rmt\äp. F¶mÂ,
H¶p|v. \n§Ä GXp hgn¡p ht¶m AtX hgn¡pXs¶ ]pd¯p IS¡pI.
]ns¶ A\phmZw hm§n AIt¯¡p IS¡mw.' ^qjv sehMv jm§nt\mSp
]dªp.
"AXp km²yaÃ.'
"F´psIm|v?' Hm! F\n¡p a\Ênembn. \n§Ä kzÀK¯nÂ\n¶v
Cd§nh¶XtÃ.'
"A§s\ ]dtª¡q.'
"tl! aZensb³! Ip«nsb Rm³ ap´ncn¡p«bnem¡n ]pd¯p sIm|pt]mbn
Fsâ kvt\lnXsâ ISbn Gev]n¡mw. \n§Ä ]pd¯p IS¡msX ]änÃ.'
hmÂgmMv Nn´bnem|p. h¶t]mse ]pd¯p IS¶m t]meoknsâ
]nSnbneIs¸Spw. ]pd¯p t]mImXncn¡m\pw h¿.
"N§mXo! Fs¶ Nm¡nem¡n sI«n ]pd¯p IS¯q.'
At¸mtg¡pw ]ÅnbnÂ\n¶v Iq«aWn tI«p. "AhnsS Hcp I\ymkv{Xo
kpJanÃmsX InS¸nembncp¶p. acns¨¶p tXm¶p¶p.'
^qjv sehMv aWnsbSp¯p Imen sI«n. aTm²y£sb ImWm³ t]mbn.
P\ensâ A¸pd¯p IÀ«\p ]n¶n aTm²y£ h¶p:
"^qjv sehMv.'
"Rm³ ChnsSbp|v.'
"\n§sfs¡m|v Hcp Imcyap|v.'
"AXn\mWtÃm Rm\nhnsS.'
"clkyambncn¡Ww.'
"Fs¶ hnizkn¡mw. AhntS¡dnªpIqsS?'
"AdnbmbvIbÃ. hfsc KuchapÅ ImcyamWv.'
"]dbq. CubpÅh³ A\pkcn¡pw.'
"aZÀ {Iqkn^nIvj³ acn¨Xv Adnªncn¡patÃm? {]mÀ°
\bv¡p]tbmKn¨ncp¶ apdn¡I¯pXs¶ Ahsc AS¡w
sN¿Wsa¶mbncp¶p AhcpsS B{Klw. B ]pWyhXnbpsS A´ym`n emjw
km[n¸nt¡|Xv \½psS NpaXebmWv. AXpsIm|v \n§Ä Hcp Ccp¼phSn
sIm|phcWw. \nehdbpsS aqSn¡Ãp s]m¡n arXtZlw AhnsS
kwkvIcn¡mw. tUmIvSÀ ]cntim[\bv¡mbn Ct¸mÄ F¯pw. AXpIgnªmÂ
Xmakn¡cpXv. Fs´ms¡bmWv \½Ä Hcpt¡|Xv?'
"asäm¶pw th|. tUmIvSÀ t]mbn¡gnªv ihicocw \½Ä Dt±in¨
Øe¯v adhpsN¿pI. Hcp ihs¸«n ivaim\¯n sIm|pt]mbn AS¡mw.'
"tl! ^qjv sehMv! ihs¸«n¡v I\w ImWnÃtÃm. ihw s]«nbnensöv
t]meokpImtcm, s]mXpP\§tfm AdnªmÂ?'
"slSm! sNIp¯mt\! MvA! A¡mcyw Rmt\äp. s]«nbn AXn\pÅ
a®p\ndbv¡mw.'
"icn. F¶m FÃmw Pm{KXbmbncn¡s«.'
"F¶mÂ, F\n¡pap|v Hcp Imcyw. ihw AS¡w sN¿p¶Xp
]caclkyambncnt¡t|?'
"]ns¶ kwibapt|m? \n§ÄXs¶ thWw.'
"Hct]£bp|v.'
"]dtªmfq.'
"F\n¡p hbÊmbn. ]ns¶ hmXhpw. ]WnsbSp¡m³ tijn t]mcm. hbÊ
\mb Hc\pP\p|v. Abmsf ChnsS F\n¡p klmb¯n\mbn Xmakn¸n¨mÂ
sImÅmw.'
"^qjv sehMv ChnsS \nev¡q. Rm³ Ct¸mÄ hcmw.'
Aev]kabw Ignªv aTm²y£ ho|pw h¶p. ]ntä¶p apXÂ
ktlmZcs\bpw AbmfpsS aIsfbpw I\ymaT¯n Xmakn¸n¡m³
hntcm[ansöv AhÀ ]dªp.
^qjv sehMv hmÂgm§nsâ ASps¯¯n. hmÂgmMv BtemN\bnembncp¶p.
"{Kl¸ngbmbtÃm! ihs¸«nbn a®n«m AXv Xncn¡tbm adn¡tbm
sN¿pt¼mÄ At§m«pant§m«pw \o§pw.' ^qjv sehMv ]ndp]ndp¯p.
"Rm³ B s]«nbn InS¶psImÅmw.'
"GXp s]«nbnÂ?'
"ihs¸«nbnÂ.'
"Bcp ]dªp A¡mcyw?'
"\n§Ä ]ns¶ ]ndp]ndp¯sX´mWv? Rm³ AXmtemNn¡pIbmbncp¶p.
\n§fmWtÃm ihw AS¡w sN¿p¶Xv.'
"a\pjys\ s]«nbnen«v BWnbSn¡tbm? izmkwap«n NmhntÃ?'
"\n§Ä H¶p sN¿q. BWn ASn¡pt¼mÄ iànbn Dd¸n¡|.
aq¡n\pt\sc apIfnembn c|paq¶p sNdnb Zzmcap|m¡nbm izmkw
Ign¡m³ hnjaanÃ.'
"F¶m Imcyw Pbn¨p.'
"ivaim\¯nse¯n¡n«nbm t]mctÃm. AhnsS s]«nsh¨m IpgnaqSp¶Xp
\n§fmtWm?'
"AXp kmcanÃ. ih¡pgn sh«m³ kÀ¡mcnsâ Hcmfp|v. Hcp IpSnb³. Fsâ
kvt\lnX\m. Ahs\ Rm³ IpSn¸n¨v Hccp¡m¡pw.'
A¶p cm{XnXs¶ ^qjv sehMv sImsk¯ns\ ap´ncn¡p«bnem¡n
kq{X¯n ]pdt¯¡p sIm|pt]mbn. AbmfpsS kvt\lnXsâ ISbnÂ
Gev]n¨p.
"sX\mÀZnsbÀ kv{XobnÂ\n¶p c£s¸Sm³ \mw {ian¡pIbmWv. Hc£cw
an|cpXv. Rm³ h¶p sIm|pt]m¶psImÅmw.' jmMv AhtfmSp ]dªncp¶p.
AXpsIm|v ^qjv sehmMv ]dªXpt]mse A\pkcn¨p.
]ntäZnhkw kÔybv¡v Idp¯ IpcniSbmfapÅ shůpWnsIm|p aqSnb
Hcp ihs¸«n thmKncmÀ ivaim\¯nte¡p sIm|pt]mbn. ap¼nÂ
]ptcmlnX\pw KmbI_me\pw. ]n¶mse hr²\mb ^qjv se hm§pw.
ivaim\¯nsâ tKän F¯nbt¸mÄ h|n \n¶p. AI¯p IS¡Wsa¦nÂ
]mkv hm§Ww. AXn\v Aev]kabsaSp¡pw. tKän\cnIn HcmÄ \nev¡p¶Xv
^qjv sehMv I|p:
"\n§Ä BcmWv?'
"Rm³ ChnSs¯ Ipgnsh«pImc\mWv.'
 "MvG? At¸mÄ sakvXn¶v FhnsS?'
"sakvXn¶p acn¨p. ]Icw Fs¶ \nban¨p.'
"tl! \m«n³]pd¯pImcm! s\t¸mfnb³ Ignªn«v eqbn ]Xns\«ma³.
sakvXn¶p Ignªv {Kn_ntb. Rm\mWv {Kn_ntb.'
"Fsâ kvt\lnX³ acn¨p. AbmÄ Bcmbncp¶p F¶dnbmtam? Hcp
hoªp`cWnbmbncp¶p. C¯cw kμÀ`§Ä R§Ä icnbmbn
BtLmjn¡pw. \Ã Xamibmbncp¶p. N§mXo! {Kn_ntb! \aps¡m¶p
IqSWw.'
"\n§Ä BcmWv?'
"BcmsWt¶m? \n§fpsS kvt\lnX³. I\ymaT¯nse Ipgnsh«pImc³.'
"sImÅmw. At¸mÄ \ap¡p tPmen thKw XoÀ¡Ww.'
"BZyw IpSn. ]ns¶ Ipgn.'
"Rm³ IpSn¡nÃ. Ip«nIÄ GgmWv. AhcpsS hni¸p amäWw.'
"At¸mÄ \n§fpsS Zml¯n\v AhcpsS hni¸p hntcm[nbmWv.'
ivaim\¯nsâ tKäv Xpd¶p. ]mkv ImWn¨v FÃmhcpw AI¯p IS¶p.
ihs¸«n h|nbnÂ\n¶nd¡n Ipgnbn h¨p. A´yIÀ½§Ä Ign¨v
]ptcmlnX\pw aäpÅhcpw t]mbn. ih¡pgnsh«pImÀ am{Xambn. {Kn_nsb
Xq¼sbSp¯p. ^qjv sehMv XSp¯p:
"\nev¡q! kvt\lnXm! \ap¡v H¶p IpSn¨n«mhmw. kabap|v.'
{Kn_nsb Hcp Xq¼ a®v Ipgnbnte¡n«p:
"]Wn BZyw. IpSn ]ns¶.'
"\Ã AÀjmMvsXz hoªv. ]Ww Rm³ sImSp¡mw.'
"Ip«nsb Dd¡n¡nS¯n H¶p ]pX¸n¨pt]mImw. Asæn AXn\p
XWp¡pw.'
ho|pw Hcp Xq¼ a®psh«nbn«p. XpSsc \mep Xq¼ a®v.
^qjv seh§n\p izmkwap«n. {Kn_nbsb aZywsIm|p ab¡m\mhnsöv
AbmÄ¡v t_m²yambn. s]s«¶mWv AXp I|Xv. {Kn_nsbbpsS t]m¡änÂ
Aev]w s]m§n\nev¡p¶ ]mkv. ^qjv sehMv ]Xps¡ hens¨Sp¯v AXp kz
´w t]m¡änem¡n. {Kn_nsb Ip\nªp a®psh«pIbmWv.
"kvt\lnXm, \n§fpsS ]msÊhnsS?'
{Kn_nsb Xq¼ Xmsgbn«p. ]cn{`at¯msS t]m¡än X¸m³ XpS§n.
]mÊnÃ. kabw A©cbmbn. BdpaWn¡p ivaim\¯nsâ tKäv ASbv¡pw.
]ns¶ Xpd¡Wsa¦n ]Xn\©p {^m¦p ]ngbSbv¡Ww. Hcp]t£, ho«nÂ
\n¶v AsXSp¯n«p|mIbnsöv AbmÄ IcpXn. bmsXm¶pw BtemNn¡msX
AbmÄ ho«nte¡v HmSn.
{Kn_nsb t]mb DSs\ ^qjv sehMv ihs¸«nbpsS aqSn Xpd¶p. gmMv
hmÂgm§nsâ cq]w I|v AbmÄ kvXw`n¨pt]mbn. hnfdn shfp¯ apJw.
ASª I®pIÄ. ^qjv seh§n\p XfÀ¨ tXm¶n.
"aZensb³! At±lw acn¨p. C§s\bmWv Rm³ At±ls¯ c
£s¸Sp¯nbXv.'
AbmÄ tX§nt¯§n Icbm³ XpS§n:
"ssZhta! Rm³ C\n F´n\p Pohn¨ncn¡p¶p. B Ip«n¡v C\n Bcp|v?
C§s\ NmIm\mtWm \n§Ä Ct§m«p h¶Xv. tabÀ aZensb³! H¶p
I®pXpd¡q. FWoäphcq.'
tKäv ASbp¶ i_vZw tI«p. ^qjv sehMv ho|pw s]«nbnte¡p t\m¡n.
s]s«¶v AbmÄ ]nt¶m¡w NmSn. gmMv hmÂgm§nsâ I®p Xpd¶ncn¡p¶p.
AXbmsf t\m¡p¶p. ihs¯ I|m `bw. ihw I®p Xpd¶pt\m¡p¶Xv
AXntesd `bw.
"Rm³ Dd§nt¸mbn.' gmMv hmÂgmMv ]dªp.
^qjv sehMv ap«pIp¯n {]mÀ°n¨p:
"Bhq! Fsâ adnbta! \n§Ä Fs¶ t]Sn¸n¨p. tlm! \n§Ä acn¨n«nÃ.
F\n¡p {`m´p]nSn¨p. AhÀ Fs¶ {`m´mkv]{Xnbnem¡pambncp¶p.'
AhÀ c|p t]cpw BËmZt¯msS ihs¸«n kwkvIcn¨v AhnsS\n¶p
]pds¸«p. HcmÄ Xq¼bpw atäbmÄ ]n¡mkpw ssIbnseSp¯p.
ih¡pgnsh«pImcpsS thj¯n kwibw IqSmsX \S¶p. t]mIp¶ hgn
{Kn_nsbbpsS ho«n Ibdn hmXn¡ ap«n. {Kn_nsb ]pd¯ph¶p.
Xq¼bpw ]n¡mkpw AbmÄ¡p sImSp¯p:
"\n§fpsS tPmen Rm³ sNbvXp. \msf sN¶t\zjn¨m \n§fpsS ]mkv
tKäv Imhev¡mcsâ ssIbn ImWmw.'
"AsX§s\?'
"]mkv AhnsS¡fªp \n§Ä. F\n¡p In«n. ihw adhp
sNbvXpt]mcpt¼mÄ AhnsS Gev]n¨p. AXpsIm|p ]ngbSbv¡|.
A{XXs¶.'
"\μn kvt\lnXm! C\n IpSn¡pt¼mÄ sNehv Fsâ hI.'
Hcp aWn¡qÀ Ignªp. gmMv hmÂgm§ns\bpw sImsk¯ns\bpw
Iq«ns¡m|v ^qjv sehMv I\ymaT¯nse¯n. tKänse aWnbSn¨p ^qjv
seh§ns\ ImWphm³ aTm²y£ DXvIWvTtbmsS Im¯ncn¡pIbmbncp¶p.
Ipg¸sam¶pw IqSmsX ihs¸«n kwkvIcn¨p F¶dnªt¸mÄ AhÀ¡p
kam[m\ambn. aTm²y£ gmMv hmÂgm§nsâ hnhc§Ä At\zjn¨p:
"\n§fmWv ^qjv seh§nsâ ktlmZc³?'
"AsX.'
"t]cv?'
"DÂs¯w ^qjv sehMv.'
"\n§Ä kXy{InkvXym\nbmtWm?'
 "IpSpw_¯n FÃmhcpw.'
Ahsc AIt¯¡p IS¯n. sImsk¯ns\ aTw hI ]mTimebnÂ
Xmakn¸n¨p ]Tn¸n¡msa¶v aTm²y£ k½Xn¨p. Ahsf aT¯nte¡m¡n.
sImsk¯n\v BgvNbn Hcp aWn¡qÀ gmMv hmÂgm§ns\ ImWm³
A\phmZw sImSp¯p. AhfpsS PohnXw kpJambn¯oÀ¶XpsIm|v hmÂgmMv
kwXr]vX\mbn. I\ymaThpw AhnSs¯ {]im´amb tXm«hpw \njvIf¦cmb
Ip«nIfpw kvt\l\n[nIfmb k¶ymkn\namcpw hmÂgm§nsâ a\ÊnÂ
{]Imiw ]c¯n. At±l¯nsâ `àn ]ns¶bpw hÀ²n¨p.
acnbpkv
hm«Àeq bp²hpw XpSÀ¶p|mb kw`h§fpw Ignªv Fs«m¼Xp
hÀj¯n\ptijw _pÂhmÀ Zyq sXw¹nepw jmsXmsZm {]tZi¯pw ]
{´|phbÊpÅ Hcp sX½mSns¨¡³ Aeªp \S¶ncp¶p. Khvtdmjv Ip«n
F¶mbncp¶p Ahsâ t]cv. Ahsâ Aѳ sjm³s{Z¯pw A½bpw c|p
ktlmZcnamcpw ]mcokn tKmÀs_m ho«nse Hcp apdnbnemWp
Xmakn¨ncp¶Xv. AXn\p sXm«Sp¯pÅ apdnbn acnbpkv F¶
sNdp¸¡mc\mbncp¶p Xmakw.
BcmWv Cu acnbpkv?
Kn t\mÀam³ F¶ {]`phns\¸än dyq _ptjdbnse Nne BfpIÄ
_lpam\t¯msS kwkmcn¡mdp|v. At±l¯n\p sXm®qdp hbÊmbn.
HcpIme¯p henb \mSphmgnbmbncp¶ AbmÄ Ct¸mgpw Xsâ {]Xm]¯n\p
Ipdshm¶pw hcp¯msX Hcp sNdp¸¡mcsâ NpdpNpdpt¡msS IgnbpIbmWv.
asdbn dyq sZ^n Zyq IÂthdn Bdmw \¼À ho«nemWp Xmakn¡p¶Xv.
\¶mbn aZy]n¡pw. kpJambn `£Ww Ign¡pw. ]Ãn\p bmsXmcp tISpanÃ.
Hcp kv{Xoe¼S\mbncp¶p F¶mWv BfpIÄ ]dbp¶Xv. At±l¯n\p c|p
s]¬a¡fp|v. aq¯hÄ¡v hbÊv A¼Xv. AhÄ AhnhmlnXbmWv. Ahsf
Ct¸mgpw sIm¨pIp«nIsfsb¶t]mse ASn¡pw. c|mas¯ aIÄ Hcp
]«mf¡mcs\bmWv IeymWw Ign¨Xv. Hcp B¬Ip«nbp|mbXn\ptijw
AhÄ acn¨p. ]«mf¡mc³ s\t¸mfnbsâ I£n¡mc\mbXpsIm|v KnÂ
t\mÀam\v AbmtfmSv hntcm[ambncp¶p. aIfpsS acWtijw aIs\ Ahsâ
AÑsâ ASpt¯¡bbv¡nsöpw aIs\ Aѳ ImWpItbm,
kwkmcn¡pItbm sNbvXm Xsâ kz¯nÂ\n¶v Hcp \mWbwt]mepw
t]c¡nSmhn\v sImSp¡p¶Xsöpw At±lw ]dªp. AXpsIm|v aIsâ
`mhnKpWs¯ HmÀ¯v B ]«mf¡mc³ Ip«nsb ImWmsX Ign¨p. F¦nepw
RmbdmgvN Ip«nbpw henb½bpwIqSn ]Ånbn t]mIpt¼mÄ Hcp ]oSnIbpsS
XqWnsâ adhn HXp§n\n¶v \ndª I®pItfmsS HcmÄ B Ip«nsb
t\m¡n¡mWp¶Xp ]ecpw I|n«p|v.
Kn t\mÀam\v Ip«nsb hfsc hmÕeyambncp¶p. Ft¸mgpw Ahs\
iImcn¡psa¦nepw Ah\pth|n F´psN¿phm\pw At±l¯n\p
aSnbp|mbncp¶nÃ. Ah\v hbÊv ]Xnt\gmbn. shfp¯pXSn¨p N´apÅ
anSp¡³ Ip«n. ap¯Ñsâ t_m[\¯n hfÀ¶XpsIm|v cmP`cWI
£ntbmSmbncp¶p Ahsâ Nmbvhv. AXpt]mse AÑs\¡pdn¨v Xosc
_lpam\anÃmsXbpambn¯oÀ¶p. Hcp Znhkw sshIpt¶cw AbmÄ
]pd¯p\n¶p h¶t¸mÄ ap¯Ñ³ Hcp I¯pw ssIbn ]nSn¨p\n¡p¶p.
 "acnbpkv, \o \msf shÀt\m§nte¡p ]pds¸SWw.'
"F´n\v?'
"AÑs\ ImWm³.'
"MvG?'
"AbmÄ kpJanÃmsX InS¡pIbmWv. \ns¶ ImWWsa¶p |t{X.'
{]tXyIn¨v XmÂ]cysam¶pw tXm¶nbnsænepw ap¯Ñ³ ]dª ØnXn¡v
t]mImsa¶p Xocpam\n¨p. ]ntäZnhkw cmhnse ]pds¸«p. kÔybv¡v
shÀt\m§nse¯n. hgnbn I| HcmtfmSv tNmZn¨v hoSp a\Ênem¡n. AbmÄ
AhnsS F¯nbt¸mtg¡pw Aѳ acn¨ncn¡p¶p. ihw kwkvIcn¨n«nÃ.
AhnsS hr²bmb the¡mcnbpw tUmIvSdpw ]ptcmlnX\pw D|mbncp¶p.
hr²bv¡v acnbpkns\ a\Ênembn.
tIWen\p aq¶pZnhkambn ]\n XpS§nbn«v. A¶p ]peÀs¨ Hcp
tamlmekyap|mbn. "Fsâ tam³ h¶nÃ. Rm³ t]mbn Ahs\ ImWpw'
F¶p ]dªp NmSnsbWoäv HmSn. hmXn¡se¯nbt¸mÄ s\©Sn¨p hoWp.
At¸mÄXs¶ acn¨p.
InS¡bn InS¶ ISemkv the¡mcn acnbpknsâ ssIbn sImSp¯p.
acnbpkv hmbn¨p:
"Fsâ aI\v,
hm«Àeq bp²¯nÂsh¨p N{IhÀ¯n F\n¡v {]`pØm\w \ÂIn. Rm³
Fsâ càwsIm|p t\Snb B Øm\w Fsâ aI\p kzoIcn¡pIbpw
D]tbmKn¡pIbpw sN¿mw. bp²cwK¯psh¨v sX\mÀZnsbÀ F¶pt]cmb Hcp
kmÀPâv Fs¶ c£n¨p. samMvs^Àantbbn AbmÄ Hcp tlm«Â
\S¯p¶p|v. Fsâ aI³ Abmsf Is|¯pIbmsW¦n Ignbp¶ FÃm
klmb§fpw sNbvXp sImSp¡Ww tIWÂ s]mMvsagvkn.
acnbpkv I¯p aS¡n t]m¡änen«p. ihkwkvImc¯n\ptijw Xncn¨pt]mbn.
F´mbmepw AÑsâ B{Klw \ndthäWsa¶v AbmÄ \nÝbn¨p. Hcp
IS¸mSp XoÀ¡pI F¶Xn Ihnª {]m[m\ysam¶pw AXn\p|mbncp¶nÃ.
Hcn¡Â ]ÅnbnÂsh¨v tIWÂ s]mMvsagvknsb¡pdn¨v HcmÄ
kwkmcn¡p¶Xv acnbpkv tIÄ¡m\nSbmbn. Abmsf kao]n¨v IqSpXÂ
hnhc§Ä tNmZn¨dnªp. Xs¶ ImWm³ Aѳ hfsc
B{Kln¨ncp¶psh¶pw ap¯Ñsâ IÀi\amb \ntcm[\amWv Xs¶ AÑ\nÂ
\n¶v AIänbsX¶pw AbmÄ acnbpkns\ [cn¸n¨p. ]¯p hÀjt¯mfw FÃm
RmbdmgvNbpw ]Ånbn t]mIp¶ aIs\ t\m¡n Aѳ Icbmdps|¶pwIqSn
tI«t¸mÄ acnbpkn\p henb ]Ým¯m]ambn. tIWens\¡pdn¨pÅ FÃm
Imcy§fpw hniZambn Adnbm³ AbmÄ Xocpam\n¨p. Hcp {KÙimebnÂ\n¶v
tamWn¯nsb ]{X¯nsâ ]gb e¡§Ä Is|Sp¯p hmbn¨pt\m¡n. AXnÂ
\n¶v s\t¸mfnbsâ [ockmlknI{]hr¯nIfpw \oXn\njvTamb
cmPy`cWk{¼Zmbhpw Ipsdsbms¡ Adnbm³ Ignªp. am{XaÃ, tIWÂ
s]mMvsagvknbpsS t]cv ]{X¯nse bp²Imcy dnt¸mÀ«pIfn ]ebnS¯pw
ImWm\nSbmbn. s\t¸mfnbs\bpw AÑs\bpw sXän²cn¨Xn AbmÄ¡p
IpWvTnXw tXm¶n. AbmÄ s\t¸mfnbsâbpw amXrcmPy¯nsâbpw AÑsâbpw
Bcm[I\mbn¯oÀ¶p. AtXmsS ap¯Ñt\mSpw cmP`cWI£ntbmSpw
Akmam\yamb shdp¸pw tXm¶n¯pS§n.
A¡me¯v acnbpkv h¡oÂ]co£bv¡p ]Tn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Hmtcm ImcWw
]dªp ho«nÂ\n¶p t]mIpw. Znhk§Ä Igntª aS§nhcq. Kn t\mÀam\p
kwibambn. acnbpkv GtXm s]®nsâ Ipcp¡n hoWncn¡pIbmsW¶mWv
At±lw hnNmcn¨Xv. Kn t\mÀamsâ acpaI\mbn sXtbmZp F¶p t]cmb
Hcp ]«mf¡mc\p|mbncp¶p. acnbpknsâ bm{XbpsS clkyw I|p]nSn¡m³
Abmsf NpaXes¸Sp¯n.
Hcp Znhkw AbmÄ acnbpkns\ A\pKan¨p. hgnbnÂsh¨v acnbpkv Hcp Ipe
]q¡Ä hm§n. AXpI| sXsbmZp DÅmse Nncn¨p. AbmÄ acnbpkns\ ]n
´pSÀ¶p. shÀt\mMv ]Ånbnse ivaim\¯n Xsâ AÑsâ ih¡ÃdbnÂ
]q¡Ä sh¨v acnbpkv ap«pIp¯n [ym\n¡p¶Xpw Icbp¶Xpw sXsbmZpÂ
I|p. AbmÄ AZv`pXs¸«p. acnbpkv ho«nÂ\n¶pt]mb kab¯v KnÂ
t\mÀam³ AbmfpsS apdn ]cntim[n¨t¸mÄ tbmÀjv s]mMv sagvknbpsS
acW]{Xhpw tIWÂ _mc³ acnbpkv s]mMvsagvkn F¶v A¨Sn¨n«pÅ \qdp
ImÀUpIfpsS Hcp sI«pw Is|¯n. hr²³ tIm]n¨p hnd¨p. AhsbÃmw
hens¨dnªp. acnbpkv Xncn¨phcp¶ kab¯v ap¯Ñ³ Hcp ImÀUv ssIbnÂ
]nSn¨psIm|p \n¡pIbmWv:
"icn! icn! \n§Ä Hcp {]`phmbncn¡p¶p. A`n\μ\w.'
"Rm³ Fsâ AÑsâ aI\mWv.'
"\nsâ Aѳ Rm\mWv.'
"Fsâ Aѳ amXrcmPy¯nsâ \·bv¡pth|n Pohn¨ [oc\mbncp¶p.
kzcmPykvt\lnbmb Ncn{X]pcpj³. aªpw agbpw shbnepw hIsh¡msX
shSnbp|IfpsS \Sphn \n¶psIm|v At±lw t]mcmSn. BtcmcpadnbmsX
acn¨p. F´mWv At±lw sNbvX A]cm[w? cmPys¯bpw ]p{Xs\bpw
th|Xne[nIw kvt\ln¨p.'
"hnUvVn! \nsâ Aѳ BcmsW¶v F\n¡dnb|. AdnªnSt¯mfw B
hÀKw apgph³ sImebmfnIÄ, IÅ·mÀ. t_mW¸mÀ«ns\ klmbn¨hscÃmw
sImÅ¡mcmWv. AhcpsS [ocX F\n¡p tIÄ¡|. hm«ÀeqhnÂsh¨v
{]jy¡mcpsSbpw Cw¥ojpImcpsSbpw ap¼nÂ\n¶v HmSnsbmfn¨ `ocp¡Ä.'
acnbpkv tZjywsIm|p hnd¨p. ap¯Ñs\ A]am\n¡m³ h¿. Xsâ AÑs\
]pÑn¡p¶Xp kln¡m\pw Ignbp¶nÃ.
"_pÀt_mMv cmPIpSpw_w Xpebs«. t]m¯³ t]mÀ¡v eqbn ]Xns\«ma³
Xq¡nteds«.'
hr²sâ apJw hnfÀ¯p. At±lw acnbpkns\ t\m¡n ]pdt¯¡p ssI
Nq|n:
"t]m ]pd¯v.'
acnbpkv ho«nÂ\n¶nd§n.
"B Ipcp¯wsI«h\v Bdmdp amkw IqSpt¼mÄ Adp]Xp \mWbw hoXw
Ab¨psImSp¡Ww. taem Ahsâ t]cpt]mepw F\n¡p tIÄ¡|.' KnÂ
t\mÀam³ aIÄ¡p \nÀtZiw sImSp¯p.
acnbpknsâ PohnXw hfsc t¢iIcambncp¶p. hm¨pw aäp Nne km[\§fpw
hnäv Ipsd \mÄ \nXyX Ign¨p. `£WanÃm¯ ]IepIÄ, Dd¡anÃm¯
cm{XnIÄ, hnf¡nÃm¯ kÔyIÄ, {]hr¯nbnÃm¯ BgvNIÄ,
Bin¡ms\m¶panÃm¯ `mhn, Nhn«n saXn¡s¸« A`nam\w,
\ncmiþþþþCsXms¡bmbncp¶p AbmfpsS A¶s¯ ØnXn. AXn\nSbnÂ
AbmÄ¡v A`n`mjI\mIm\pÅ k¶Xv e`n¨p. ]t£, hcpam\¯n\pÅ
hgnbmbnÃ.
Ipd¨p\mÄ Ignªt¸mÄ Hcp {]kn²oIcWimebn AbmÄ¡v tPmen
In«n. ]{X§Ä¡v ]ckyw FgpXns¡mSp¡pIbpw Ipdn¸pIÄ X¿mdm¡pIbpw
teJ\§Ä ]cn`mjs¸Sp¯pIbpw aäpambncp¶p tPmen. AXnÂ\n¶v
sImïn Fgp\qdv {^m¦v hcpam\ap|mbncp¶p. AXpsIm|v AbmÄ
HXp§n Pohn¨p. A§s\bmWv tKmÀt_m ho«n F¯nbXv.
AÑsâ acW]{Xs¯¡pdn¨v acnbpkv CSbv¡v BtemNn¡pw. At¸mÄ
shSnbp|IfpsS \SphnÂ\n¶v AÑs\ c£s¸Sp¯nb sX\mÀZnsbdpw
HmÀabnse¯pw. AÑ\v At±ls¯ klmbn¡m³ IgnªnÃ. X\ns¡¦nepw
AXp IgnbWw. sX\mÀZnbsd ImWWsa¶p hnNmcn¨v samMvs^ÀantbbnÂ
sN¶t¸mÄ AbmÄ tlm«Â \ndp¯n FhnsStbm t]mbn F¶dnªp. ]n¶oSp
]e Øe¯pw At\zjWw \S¯n. ^eap|mbnÃ. Cu
IjvS¸mSpIÄ¡nSbn ap¯Ñ³ Gev]n¨{]Imcw henb½ acnbpkn\v
]Wab¨p.
"h¡o¸WnsIm|p sNehn\pÅ XpI k¼mZn¡p¶p|v. Cu ]Ww
F\n¡mhiyanÃ' F¶ adp]SntbmsS AXp Xncn¨b¨p. henb½ B hnhcw
ap¯Ñs\ Adnbn¨nÃ.
A¶v {^m³knse cmjv{Sobm´co£w ]pdsa im´ambncps¶¦nepw
`cWamä¯n\pÅ {]hÀ¯\§Ä A§n§v Ahyàambn hym]n¨ncp¶p.
1789þsebpw 1793þsebpw hn¹h§fpsS \nizmk§Ä \ne\n¶ncp¶p.
AhnsSbpw ChnsSbpw {]hÀ¯n¨ncp¶ Nne clkykwL§fmWv
hn¹h¯n\pÅ Hcp¡w Iq«nbXv. AXnsem¶mbncp¶p F._n.kn.
kplrZvkwLw. s]mXpP\§fpsS D¶a\¯n\mbn \nesImÅp¶
kwLamWXv. AXnse AwK§fn `qcn`mKhpw hnZymÀ°nIfmWv.
A³sjmÂdm, sImw_vslÀ, jmMv{]pshÀ, s^bven, IpÀs^cmIv, _sbmsdÂ,
seKvÂ, sjmen, {Kt´À F¶nhcmbncp¶p B kwL¯nse {]apJÀ. Ipd¨p
Znhk§Ä¡Iw acnbpkpw Cu kwLhpambn _Ôs¸«p.
acnbpkn\v hbÊv Ccp]Xmbn. ap¯Ñ\pambn ]ncnªn«v hÀjw
aq¶pIgnªp. ap¯Ñs\ AbmÄ sXän²cn¨XmWv. thÀ]mSv At±l¯nsâ
tZjy¯n\p ia\w hcp¯n. "B Ipcp¯wsI«h³ hs¶¦nÂ
sImÅmambncp¶p. Ahsâ IcW¯p Rm³ c|p sImSp¡pw.' At±lw
CSbv¡p aItfmSp ]dbpw.
tKmÀt_mho«n Xmakn¡p¶ Ime¯v acnbpkv kao]apÅ epIvkw_pÀ
tXm«¯n Nnet¸mÄ \S¡m³ t]mIpambncp¶p. epIvkw_pdnse
\S¸mXIfnsem¶mb dyq Zv epshbn AÑ\pw aIfpamsW¶p tXm¶n¡p¶
Hcp hr²\pw Hcp s]¬Ip«nbpw Znhkhpw sshIpt¶cw Hcp IÃp _©nt·Â
ImäpsIm|ncn¡p¶Xv AbmÄ ImWmdp|v. A§s\ Ahsc ImWm³
XpS§nbn«v Hcp sImÃamsb¦nepw AbmÄ AX{X {i²n¡mdnÃmbncp¶p. hr²
\v Adp]Xv hbÊphcpw. Kuch¡mc³. Ip«n¡v ]Xn\mtem ]Xn\t©m.
saenª icocw. hr²t\mSv Ft¸mgpw Fs´¦nepw tNmZn¨psIm|ncn¡pw.
acnbpkv AhcpsS ap¼neqsS ]e {]mhiyw em¯mdp|v. hr²s\ acnbpkn\v
CjvSs¸«p; s]¬Ip«ntbmSv bmsXmcp XmÂ]cyhpw tXm¶nbnÃ.
kwKXnhim acnbpkn\v Bdpamkt¯¡v epIvkw_pÀ tXm«¯nÂ
t]mIm³ IgnªnÃ. ]n¶oSv Hcp Znhkw AbmÄ B hgntb t]mIpt¼mÄ
]XnhpÅ Øm\¯v hr²\pw s]¬Ip«nbpw Ccp¶ncp¶p. hr²\p
amäsam¶panÃ. F¶mÂ, s]¬Ip«n BsI amdnbncn¡p¶p. ]qhWnª hk
´wt]mse kpμcn. acnbpkv A¶pw AhcpsS ap¼neqsS \S¶p. {]tXyIamb
`mht`Z§sfm¶panÃmsX AhÄ Abmsf t\m¡n. AhfpsS I®pIÄ¡v
AKm[hpw Znhyhpamb Hcp \oenabps|¶v AbmÄ¡v tXm¶n.
epIvkw_pÀ tXm«w Akm[mcWamwhn[w at\mlcambncp¶ Hcp Znhkw.
a\Êp ]qÀWambpw {]IrXnbn ebn¨ acnbpkv B IÃp_©nsâ
AcnIneqsS t]mIbmbncp¶p. s]s«¶v B bphXn XebpbÀ¯n t\m¡n.
AhcpsS I®pIÄ ]ckv]cw Iq«nap«n. AhfpsS t\m«w AZv`pXIcamb Hcp
an¶Ât]mse AbmÄ¡v tXm¶n. AbmÄ t\tc \S¶pt]mbn.
]ntäZnhkw apX acnbpkv tamSnbpÅ hkv{X§Ä [cnt¨ B hgn¡p
\S¶ncp¶pÅp. B bphXnbpw hr²\pw Ccn¡mdpÅ IÃp_©nsâ kao]¯v
AbmÄ t]mImdnÃ. \S¸mXbnÂ\n¶v Aev]w amdn HcnS¯p ]pkvXIw
hmbn¡p¶ a«n AbmÄ Ccn¡pw. Hcp amkw A§s\ Ignªp.
AbmÄ¡v Ft¸mgpw Htc hnNmctabpÅpþþþþB s]¬Ip«nsb¸än am{Xw. Hcp
Znhkw hr²\pw aIfpw t]mbXn\ptijw AhÀ Ccp¶ncp¶ Øe¯pIqSn
AbmÄ t]mIpt¼mÄ Hcp ssItekv AhnsS InS¡p¶Xp I|p. kt
´mjt¯msS AbmÄ AsXSp¯p. c|£c§Ä AXn Xbv¨p]nSn¸n¨ncp¶p.
bp.F^v. DÀkp F¶mWv AhfpsS t]sc¶v AbmÄ A\pam\n¨p. AbmÄ
B ssItekv Npw_n¨p, amtdmSW¨p. cm{Xn AXn Np|pIfaÀ¯n
InS¶pd§n. AhfpsS BXvamhv AXneps|¶v AbmÄ¡v tXm¶n.
Hcp Znhkw hr²\pw aIfpw IÃp_©nÂ\n¶v Fgpt¶äpt]mIpt¼mÄ
acnbpkv Ahsc ]n´pSÀ¶p. AhÀ Xmakn¡p¶ hoSp I|psh¨p. AhcpsS
apdn¡Is¯ hnf¡psISp¯p¶Xphsc AhnsS \n¶p. ]ntäZnhkw AhÀ
epIvkw_pdnte¡p h¶nÃ. kÔyhsc Ahsc Im¯ncp¶p. cm{Xn hoSnsâ
]Sn¡Â sN¶t¸mÄ hnf¡p I¯n¨p I|nÃ. "aq¶mw \nebn Xmakn¡p¶
At±lw FhnsS?' acnbpkv tKäv Imh¡mct\mSv tNmZn¨p.
"At±lw t]mbn.'
"F¶v?'
"C¶se.'
"FhntS¡v?'
"AdnªpIqSm.'
acnbpkn\v ZpxJw tXm¶n. AbmÄ Xncn¨pt]m¶p.
sjm³s{Z¯v IpSpw_s¯ tKmÀt_m ho«nÂ\n¶v Cd¡nhnSm³ AXnsâ
DSaØ \nÝbn¨ncn¡p¶ hnhcw bZrÑbm acnbpkv Adnªp. AhÀ hmSI
sImSp¯n«v Bdpamkambs{X. Bdpamks¯ hmSI IW¡pXoÀ¯v AbmÄ
DSaØbv¡p sImSp¯p. Xm\mWp hmSI sImSp¯Xv F¶v Ahsc
Adnbn¡cpsX¶pw ]dªp.
th\epw ic¯pw t]mbn ag¡mew h¶p. acnbpkv epIvkw_pÀ tXm«¯nÂ
]e XhW t]mbn. ]t£, B s]¬Ip«nsb ImWm³ IgnªnÃ. Hcp Znhkw
cm{Xn AbmÄ \S¡mhnte¡p t]mIpIbmbncp¶p. s]s«¶v Btcm Abmsf
X«ns¡m|p IS¶pt]mbn. Xncnªp t\m¡nbt¸mÄ c|p s]¬Ip«nIÄ.
Iodn¸dnª DSp¸pIÄ. ]mdn¸d¡p¶ apSn. AhcpsS ssIbnÂ\n¶v Hcp
ISemÊpsI«v Xmsg hoWpt]mbXv AhcdnªnÃ. AbmÄ AsXSp¯p.
At¸mtg¡pw AhÀ Zqsc F¯n¡gnªp. AbmÄ AXp ho«nte¡p
sIm|pt]mbn. ho«n sN¶p t\m¡nbt¸mÄ ap{Zsh¡m¯ \mepI¯pIÄ.
FÃmw HcmÄ FgpXnbXmsW¶p ssIb£cwsIm|p a\Ênembn. F¶mÂ,
FgpXnb Bfnsâ t]cv Hmtcm¶nepw Hmtcm¶mWv.
Ipd¨p Znhkw Ignªv acnbpkv Xsâ GIm´amb apdnbn Znhmkz]v\§Ä
I|psIm|ncn¡pt¼mÄ hmXn¡ ap«ptI«p. AI¯p IS¡msa¶v AbmÄ
]dªt¸mtg¡pw hmXn Xpd¶v Hcp s]¬Ip«n {]Xy£s¸«p. timjn¨
icocw. ]n¨¡mcnbpsS thjw. AhÄ Hcp I¯v AbmÄ¡p \o«n. AbmÄ
AXphmbn¨p:
 "Zbm\n[nbmb Ab¡mcm,
Bdpamkwap¼v R§Ä¡pth|n \n§Ä hmSI sImSp¯Xv Rm³ Adnªp.
\μn ]dbp¶p. c|p Znhkambn Fsâ a¡Ä¡p `£Wsam¶pw In«nbn«nsöv
AhÀ ]dbp¶p. AhÀ ]ebnS¯pw Aeªp. `mcybmsW¦nÂ
tcmK_m[nXbmbn InS¡p¶p. Fsâ aq¯ aIÄ \n§fpsS Iev]\t]mse
s]cpamdpw. R§tfmSp Zbhp tXm¶tW.
sjm³s{Z¯v.'
Cu I¯nse ssIb£chpw t\ct¯ In«nbhbnteXpw H¶pXs¶.
Ab¡mÀ Zmcn{Zywaqew hfsc IjvSs¸Sp¶ps|¶pw X\n¡b¨Xpt]mepÅ
I¯pIÄ ]eÀ¡pw ]e t]cnepw Ab¨n«ps|¶pw s]¬a¡sf
]Wbwsh¡p¶ ØnXnhsc AhÀ F¯nbn«ps|¶pw acnbpkn\v
Duln¡phm³ Ignªp. AbmÄ A©p {^ms¦Sp¯v AhÄ¡p sImSp¯p. kt
´mj]qÀÆw Abmsf t\m¡n AhÄ AXp hm§n¨p. Hcp aqfn¸m«pw ]mSn
AhnsS\n¶p \S¶p. Xsâ Ab¡mcpsS ØnXnsb¸än AXphsc
At\zjn¡mXncp¶Xp icnbmbnsöv AbmÄ¡p tXm¶n. Hcp Nphcnsâ
A¸pdhpw C¸pdhpw Ignbp¶hÀ. Ahsc AhKWn¨pIqSm. `n¯n¡p apIfnÂ
Xt«mSp tNÀ¶v Hcp Zzmcw DÅXmbn AbmÄ I|p. s]«n hen¨n«v AXnsâ
apIfn Ibdn\n¶v AbmÄ ASp¯ apdnbnte¡p t\m¡n. At¸mÄ I|
ImgvN hfsc timN\obambncp¶p. sNfn \ndª Xd. s]m«nb N«nIfpw
]m{X§fpw. Iod¯pWnIÄ. c|p Iod¡nS¡IÄ. Hcp hi¯v ASp¸v.
AXn\Sp¯v hbʳ sjm³s{Z¯v Ccps¶gpXp¶p. ASp¸pXn®ta Hcp
XSn¨n Ccn¡p¶p. ASp¯psaenª Hcp s]¬Ip«nbpw. acnbpkn\p I¯p
sIm|ph¶p sImSp¯ s]¬Ip«n ]pd¯p\n¶p Ibdnh¶p hbÊsâ
AcnIn \n¶p:
"AÑm! B a\pjy³ hcp¶p|v.'
CXptI«bpSs\ ]cn{`at¯msS AbmÄ Fgpt¶äp ItkcbpsS Ccn¡p¶
`mKw Nhp«n HSn¨v ASp¸nse Xo sISp¯n. AI¯p P\mebv¡Sp¯ncp¶
s]¬Ip«nsb hnfn¨v P\me¨nà ssIsIm|v CSn¨pSbv¡m³ ]dªp. AbmÄ
]dªXnsâ Imcysas´¶p a\ÊnemImsX AhÄ aSn¨p\n¶p.
CSnsh«p¶Xpt]mse AbmÄ Aedn:
"P\me¨nÃpSbv¡m³.'
t]Sn¨phnd¨v AhÄ P\en BªnSn¨p. XIÀ¶ NnÃpsIm|v AhfpsS
ssI apdnªp tNmc NmSn. F´n\pÅ ]pd¸mSmsW¶v BÀ¡pw a\ÊnembnÃ.
A©pan\n«n\pÅn Hcp hr²\pw Hcp s]¬Ip«nbpw B ho«n\pÅnte¡p
{]thin¨p. acnbpkv A¼c¶p. CXmWÛpXw! Bdpamkw Xm³ At\zjn¨n«v
bmsXmcp hnhchpw In«mXncp¶ Xsâ t{]a`mP\hpw AhfpsS AÑ\pw.
"bPam\t\! AIt¯¡p hcq.' Ip¼n«p kemwsh¨psIm|v sjm³s{Z¯v
BKXs\ kzoIcn¨p.
acnbpkv AtX Øm\¯p\n¶v FÃmw ImWpIbmbncp¶p. "aIfpsS ssIbv¡v
A_²¯n apdnhp ]än. Nnet¸mÄ ssI sh«n¡ftb|nhcpw.
c|pZnhkambn ho«n FÃmhcpw ]«nWnbnemWv. XWp¸n ]pXbv¡m³ Hcp
XpWnt]mepanÃ.' Xsâ Zb\obmhØIsfÃmw sjm³s{Z¯v ]dªp.
hr²sâ aIÄ Hcp s]mXnbn Ipsd XpWnIÄ sIm|ph¶ncp¶p. AXpw
A©p {^m¦pw At±lw AhÀ¡p sImSp¯p: "tamsf ho«nem¡nbn«v Rm³
sshIpt¶cw hcmw. BhiyapÅ XpI At¸mÄ Xcmw.'
hr²\pw aIfpw ]pd¯nd§n. AhnsS Im¯p\n¶ncp¶ h|nbn Ibdn
t]mbn. AI¯p \S¡p¶sXÃmw {i²n¨psIm|ncp¶ acnbpkv Ahsc
A\pKan¡m³ XoÀ¨bm¡n. shfnbnend§n AXphgn h¶ IpXnch|n
\nÀ¯n¨p h|n¡mc³ \mev]Xp kq Iqen Bhiys¸«p. At¸mÄ ssIbnÂ
A{Xbpw XpI CÃmXncp¶Xn\m AbmÄ¡p t]mIm³ IgnªnÃ.
sshIpt¶cw hr²³ hcpt¼mÄ ]n´pSÀ¶v AhcpsS hoSp I|p]nSn¡msa¶
Dt±iyt¯msS acnbpkv apdnbnte¡p Xncn¨pt]m¶p. GWn¸Sn Ibdpt¼mÄ
\S¡mhnsâ AcnIn ]Xp§n\n¶v sjm³s{Z¯v Ip{]kn² sImÅ¡mc\mb
]Mvtjmhpambn kwkmcn¡p¶Xp I|p.
AbmÄ apdnbn IS¶t¸mtg¡pw sjm³s{Z¯nsâ aq¯ aIÄ
]n¶msesb¯n:
"F´p thWw?'
"\n§Ä¡v kpJansöp tXm¶p¶p. Rm³ Fs´¦nepw
sNbvXpXcWsa¦n ]dbq.'
"\obmWv B s]¬Ip«nsbbpw AhfpsS AÑs\bpw hnfn¨psIm|ph¶Xv,
AtÃ? \n\¡v AhcpsS taÂhnemkw Adnbmtam?'
"CÃ.'
"AXv At\zjn¨psIm|phcmtam?'
"F\ns¡´p Xcpw?'
"\n\¡njvSapÅXv.'
AhÄ kt´mjt¯msS ]pd¯p IS¶p.
acnbpkv hmXneS¨p ho|pw Nphcnsâ ]gpXneqsS sjm³s{Z¯nsâ
apdnbnte¡p t\m¡n. AIs¯ kwkmcw AbmÄ¡p \¶mbn tIÄ¡mw:
"sImÃw F«p Ignªp. ]t£, F\n¡bmsf Adnbmw; Ahsfbpw.'
acnbpkv IqSpXÂ {i²n¨p. Xm³ At\zjn¡p¶hsc sjm³s{Z¯n\p
a\Ênembn F¶mWp ]dbp¶Xv.
"AXhfmsWt¶m? Gbv. B sX|ns¸t®m? Akt¯! A§s\sb¦nÂ
AhfpsS hbdp Rm³ Nhp«ns¸m«n¡pw.' tZjywsIm|v sjm³s{Z¯nsâ
`mcybpsS apJw Nph¶p.
 Akm[mcWamb Hcp¡§Ä AhnsS \S¡p¶ps|¶v acnbpkn\p tXm¶n.
"\½psS Ab¡mc³ acnbpkv ]pdt¯¡p t]mbncn¡bmsW¶p tXm¶p¶p.
AbmÄ D|mbmepw Ipg¸anÃ. B h¦³ CXnsem¶pw CSs]SnÃ.'
sjm³s{Z¯nsâ Cu hm¡pIÄIqSn tI«t¸mÄ acnbpkn\p kwibw Cc«n¨p.
"B tImSoizc³ C¶p ssIbnemIpw. Fsâ Zmcn{Zyw C¶p Xocpw.
Asæntem Ahsâ IY Ignbpw.'
sjm³s{Z¯v s]m«n¨ncn¨p. B a\pjy³ Nncn¡p¶Xv BZyambn«mWv
acnbpkv tIÄ¡p¶Xv. ]pd¯p aªp s]¿p¶p|v. ]ns¶bpw NnesXÃmw
`mcysb ]dtªev]n¨v sjm³s{Z¯v apdnbnÂ\n¶nd§n. kmMvsaZmÀ
]Ånbn Hcp aWnbSn¨p. Xsâ DÀkpensâ AÑs\XncmbpÅ \o¡§fmWv
AhnsS \S¡p¶sX¶v acnbpkn\p a\Ênembn. AbmÄ t\sc t]meokv
tÌj\nte¡p ]pds¸«p. t]mIp¶hgn¡v Hcp CShgnbn aq¶p\memfpIÄ
IqSn\n¶p ]dª clky¯nsâ Nne Awi§fpw AbmÄ¡p In«n. AhcpsS
hÀ¯am\hpw sjm³s{Z¯nsâ ho«n \S¡p¶ Hcp¡§fpw X½n Ft´m
_Ôaps|¶p XoÀ¨bmbn. tÌj\n sN¶v C³kvs]IvSsd I|v hnhcw
[cn¸n¨p. ho«p\¼dpw ]dªpsImSp¯p. C³kvs]IvSÀ Aev]kabw
BtemNn¨Xn\ptijw D|IÄ \nd¨ c|p ssIt¯m¡pIÄ acnbpknsâ
ssIbn sImSp¯p:
"CXp \n§fpsS ssIbn Ccn¡s«. \n§Ä apdn¡I¯v Hfn¨ncp¶v AhnsS
\S¡p¶ Imcy§Ä {i²n¡Ww. kwKXn A]ISamsW¶p I|m DS³
apIfnte¡p shSnsh¡Ww. ]ns¶ R§Ä t\m¡ns¡mÅmw.'
A{]Imcw k½Xn¨p ssIt¯m¡p hm§n acnbpkv ho«nte¡p Xncn¨p.
t]mIp¶ hgn¡v sjm³s{Z¯v Ccp¼pISbn Ibdp¶Xpw Hcp Dfn
hm§p¶Xpw AbmÄ I|p. acnbpkv kq{X¯n Xsâ apdnbn Ibdn
I«nen\Snbn Hfn¨p.
]Ånbnse aWn BdSn¨p. acnbpkv Fgpt¶äv sjm³s{Z¯nsâ ho«nte¡p
t\m¡ns¡m|ncp¶p. AhnsS Hcp henb Ccp¼p]m{X¯n sN¦\Â
Fcnbp¶p. ]e Xc¯nepÅ Bbp[§fpw AhnsS kw`cn¨n«p|v.
]pIhen¨psIm|v sjm³s{Z¯v Itkcbn Ccn¡p¶p. thsd c|p
ItkcIfpw AI¯p|v. sjm³s{Z¯nsâ aq¯ aIÄ hmXnev¡Â ImhÂ
\nev¡p¶p.
hmXn Xpd¶p. ap¼n sjm³s{Z¯v. A½bpw ]n¶mse B hr²\pw
AI¯p IS¶p. sjm³s{Z¯v B am\ys\ D]Ncn¨ncp¯n. Abmfpw Hcp
Itkcbn Ccp¶p.
"Ipd¨p ]Ww Rm³ sIm|ph¶n«p|v. XXvImes¯ sNehpIÄ¡pÅXv.'
AXnYn ]dªp.
sjm³s{Z¯v AXp hm§n. AbmÄ IpSpw_¯nse {]mc_v[§sf¡pdn¨p
]eXpw ]dªp. AhcpsS hÀ¯am\¯n\nSbv¡v FhnsS\n¶msW¶dnªnÃ,
\mept]À apdn¡pÅn {]Xy£s¸«p.
"`bs¸tS|. R§fpsS Ab¡mcmWv.' sjm³s{Z¯v AXnYntbmSp
]dªp.
"AXpt]ms«, \n§Ä ]dªph¶Xp apgph\m¡nbnÃtÃm.'
"Mv A! Fsâ ssIbn Hcp Nn{Xap|v. Fsâ a¡sft¸mse Rm³ IcpXp¶
H¶v. ]t£, Ct¸mgs¯ ØnXnbn hnev¡msX ]änÃ. A§v CXp hm§Ww.'
AbmÄ Nn{X¸eI FSp¯pImWn¨p.
"CsXmcp Nmcmb¡SbpsS ]cky¸eIbmWtÃm. aq¶p {^m¦v In«pw.'
"\n§Ä ]Ww kq£n¡p¶ t]m¡äv ]pkvXIw sIm|ph¶n«ntÃ? Bbncw
{Iu¬ In«nbm Xr]vXns¸Smw. a\Ênemtbm?'
sjm³s{Z¯nsâ `mhw amdn. hr²³ NmSnsbWoäp. Imcyw
A]IS¯nemsW¶v At±l¯n\p t_m²yambn. LmXI·mÀ
hfªncn¡p¶p. FÃmhcpsS ssIbnepw amcImbp[§Ä. ASbmfshSn
s]m«n¡m\pÅ kabambn F¶v acnbpkv hnNmcn¨p. AXn\mbn Hcp§n\n¶p.
sjm³s{Z¯v AXnYnbpsS ASpt¯¡p sN¶p:
"Fs¶ a\ÊnembntÃ?'
"CÃ.'
"Rm³ sjm³s{Z¯Ã. sX\mÀZnsbdmWv. samMvs^Àantbbnse
Nmcmb¡S¡mc³. A¶v hm\¼mSn¸£nsbbpw X«nsbSp¯p IS¶pIfª
IÅ\tÃ. \n§sf F\n¡p t\ct¯ a\Ênembn.'
"t{Zmlo!'
"C\n Fs¶ `bs¸Sp¯msa¶p hnNmcn¡|. FhnsS s]m´³hSn?'
sX\mÀZnsbÀ F¶p tI«t¸mÄ acnbpkn\p Xcn¨p. Xsâ AÑsâ Poh³ c
£n¨ B a\pjys\ At\zjn¨p \S¶v bmsXmcp ]nSnbpw In«msX \mep
sImÃw Ignªncn¡p¶p. HSphnenXm Is|¯n. F§s\? Hcp
sIme]mXInbmbn«v.
"Fsâ AÑs\ c£n¨Xv Hcp cm£kt\m? sjm³s{Z¯v F¶ t]cnÂ
ASp¯ apdnbn Xmakn¨ncp¶Xv sX\mÀZnsbÀ? AÑs\ c£n¨Xn\v F´mWv
Ct¸mÄ sImSp¡pI. ssZhta! Rm³ At±l¯n\p Xq¡pacw
k½m\nt¡|nhcptam?'
acnbpkn\p XeNpäp¶Xmbn tXm¶n.
AXnYn CXn\nSbn an¶ÂthK¯n apIfnte¡p NmSn P\ensâ AgnbnÂ
]nSnIqSn. s]s«¶v AhscÃmhcpwIqSn Abmsf hen¨v Xmgt¯¡n«p.
`b¦camb Hcp a¸nSp¯w AhnsS \S¶p. c|paq¶pt]À hoWp. LmXI·mÀ
B hr²s\ I«nent\mSp tNÀ¯p sI«nbn«p. sX\mÀZnsbÀ kv{Xo At
±l¯nsâ apSnbn ]nSn¨p henbmbn. acnbpkv tXm¡v DbÀ¯n. shSn
s]m«n¡msX \nhr¯nbnsö L«ambn. AbmfpsS lrZbanSn¸v
AbmÄ¡pXs¶ A\p`hs¸«p. Hcp sNhnbn Aѳ, sX\mÀZnbsd c
£n¡Wsa¶pw atä sNhnbn Xsâ DÀkp AhfpsS AÑs\ c
£n¡Wsa¶pw ]dbp¶Xmbn AbmÄ¡p tXm¶n.
"AÑm, F\n¡p am¸p XctW.'
acnbpkv tXm¡nsâ Im©nbn ]nSn¨p.
"At±ls¯ sImÃcpXv. bmsXm¶pw sN¿cpXv.' sX\mÀZnsbdpsS
CSnapg§p¶ i_vZw.
"Rm³ ]dbp¶Xpt]mse sNbvXm X\n¡p c£s¸Smw. bmsXmcp D]
{Zhhpw D|mhpIbnÃ. Asæn Xe ImWnÃ.'
hr²³ H¶pw an|nbnÃ. sX\mÀZnsbÀ ISemkpw ajnbpw Xqhepw
FSp¯psIm|p h¶p.
"`b¦c³! Cu elfsbms¡bp|mbn«pw H¶p i_vZn¡WatÃm. Fs¶
sImÃpt¶ F¶p \nehnfns¨¦n hÃhcpw tI«dnªphcpw. At¸mÄ
t]meoknsâ ssIbnÂs¸Spw, AtÃ? Im«pIų! C¡mcy¯n \mw
_Ôp¡fmWv. AXpsIm|v \½Ä ASp¡p¶XmWv \ÃXv. MvDw! FgpXq.'
"Fsâ ssI c|pw sI«nbn«ncn¡pt¼mÄ F§s\ FgpXpw?'
DSs\ Hcp ssIbnsâ sI«gn¨p. atä ssI taibpsS Imen sI«nbn«p.
ISemkpw Xqhepw ASp¯psh¨psImSp¯p. AXnYn XqhseSp¯p.
sX\mÀZnsbÀ ]dªpsImSp¯{]Imcw FgpXn:
"Fsâ {]nbs¸« aItf,
Cu I¯p Xcp¶ BtfmSpIqSn \o ChnSt¯mfw hcWw. Rm³ \ns¶
Im¯ncn¡p¶p. `bs¸tS|.
DÀs_³ ^_À.'
sX\mÀZnsbÀ I¯p hm§n aS¡n. taÂhnemkw FgpXphm³ ]dªp. At
±lw FgpXn:
"aZzmw skz ^_DÀ_³ ^_dpsS hoSv
\¼Àþþþ17
dyp kmMv sZman\nIv ZmMv^À'
AbmÄ `mcysb hnfn¨v I¯p ssIbn sImSp¯p. t\ct¯ X¿mdm¡n
\ndp¯nbncp¶ IpXnch|nbn Ibdn B kv{Xo t]mbn.
hr²sâ t]À se »mMv F¶pw bphXnbpsS t]À DÂkp F¶pw
BsW¶mbncp¶p acnbpknsâ [mcW. AXsöp hyàambn.
GItZiw AcaWn¡qÀ Ignªp. XShp]pÅnsbt¸mse hr²³
A\§mXncn¡pIbmWv. sX\mÀZnsbÀ BtemN\bnembncp¶p. AbmÄ
hr²sâ t\sc Xncnªp:
 "\n§Ä tImSoizc³. c|p e£w {^m¦v F\n¡p XcWw. \n§Ä¡Xp
Ignbpw. AXp k½XamsW¦n aIÄ F¯nbm DS³ \n§Ä¡p t]mImw.
XpI sIm|phcpt¼mÄ aIsfbpw sIm|pt]mImw. t]meoknÂ
AdnhpsImSp¡pItbm atäm sNbvXm aIfpsS Igp¯p Rm³ sRcn¡pw.'
acnbpknsâ DÅp InSp§n.
AcaWn¡qÀ Ignªp. h|n Xmsg h¶p\n¶p. sX\mÀZnsbÀkv{Xo
InX¨psIm|v F¯n:
"IÅtaÂhnemkw. X´¸Sn \½sf ]än¨p. B ho«n BcpanÃ. hfsc
\mfmbn HgnªpInS¡p¶p. ASp¯ ho«n At\zjn¨p. AhÀ¡v HcdnhpanÃ.
hnScpXv Ahs\, Xp|wXp|am¡Ww.'
\nanj§fnse au\¯n\ptijw sX\mÀZnsbÀ Xo¨«nbnte¡pw hr²sâ
apJt¯¡pw Xpdn¨pt\m¡n:
"IÅtaÂhnemkwsIm|v F´p t\Smsa¶mWv \n§Ä hnNmcn¨Xv?'
"kabem`w.'
Aedns¡m|v B hr²³ H¶p IpXdn. At±l¯nsâ ssIIfnsebpw
Imensebpw sI«pIÄ s]m«n. LmXI·mÀ hfªp. Xo¨«nbnÂ
Np«p]gp¯pInS¶ Dfn ssIbnseSp¯v hr²³ kzbw ssI¯|bn Ip¯n.
amwkw Icnª \mäw AhnsS ]c¶p. AbmÄ Dfn hens¨dnªp.
sX\mÀZnsbÀ tai Xpd¶p I¯n FSp¯p: "Ahsâ Igp¯dp¡mw.'
acnbpkv ssIt¯m¡pw ssIbnÂsh¨v A¼c¶p \n¶p. B \nev]nÂ
tai¸pd¯p InS¶ ISemkpIjW¯nse A£c§Ä AbmfpsS
I®nÂs¸«p. "Xos¸«nt¡mepIsf¯nþþþþ' F¶psh¨m t]meokpImÀ F¯n
F¶À°w. sX\mÀZnsbdpsS aIÄ apdnbn h¶t¸mÄ X\ns¡gpXm\dnbmw
F¶p ImWn¡m³ th|n Ipdn¨n«Xmbncp¶p AXv. AbmÄ AXp
Ip\nsªSp¯p. AbmÄ¡v Hcp bpàn tXm¶n. NphcnÂ\n¶v Hcp Ip½mb¡«
ASÀ¯nsbSp¯v B ISemkpIjW¯n s]mXnªv ]gpXneqsS A¸pds¯
apdnbntes¡dnªp. sX\mÀZnsbÀ £W¯n AsXSp¯p. ISemkv hmbn¨
AbmfpsS apJw hnfdn. hr²s\ hn«p: "\ap¡p c£s¸SWw. t]meokv F¯n.
hmXn Xpd¡cpXv. ]n³hi¯pIqSn IbdptImWnbnd¡mw. Fs¸mss\³
FgpXnbn«XmWnXv.'
s]s«¶v Xo sISp¯n. tImWnbnd§m³ Hmtcmcp¯cpw Xnc¡pIq«n:
"\ap¡p \dp¡ns«Sp¡mw. BZyw In«p¶hÀ BZyw Cd§s«. sXm¸n FhnsS?'
DSs\ CS\mgnbnÂ\n¶v Hcp i_vZw:
"sXm¸n Rm³ Xcmw.'
AXv C³kvs]IvSÀ gthÀ Bbncp¶p. sIWnbneIs¸« Fensbt¸mse
AI¯pÅhÀ A§pan§pw ]mªp. shSnbpsS i_vZw Im¯ncp¶p
tIÄ¡mXmbt¸mÄ kwibw tXm¶nbXpsIm|mWv ]pd¯p Im¯p\n¶ncp¶
gthÀ AIt¯¡p h¶Xv. agp, I¯n apXembh ssIbnseSp¯p LmXI·mÀ
C³kvs]IvSsd FXncnSm³ Hcp§n. Hcph³ Xsâ t]m¡än Hfn¨psh¨ncp¶
ssIt¯ms¡Sp¯v sX\mÀZnsbdpsS ssIbn sImSp¯p. sX\mÀZnsbÀ AXv
gthÀ¡p t\sc Nq|n. gthÀ Nncn¨p:
"icn! sh¡q. AXp s]m«nÃ.'
sX\mÀZnsbÀ Im©nhen¨p. AXp s]m«nbnÃ. t]meokpImÀ
]Xn\©pt]cp|mbncp¶p. LmXI·mscsbÃmw AdkväpsNbvXp. CXn\nSbv¡v
sX\mÀZnsbÀ kv{Xo Hcp Iqä³ Icn¦sÃSp¯v jmshdpsS Xebv¡v D¶wsh¨v
Fdnªp. gthÀ s]s«¶v Ccp¶p. IÃv Xebv¡p aosX t]mbn. AXp
Nphcnt·Â X«n Hcp `mKw ASÀ¶p. FÃmhscbpw hne§psh¨p. AhcpsS
t]cpIsfÃmw FgpXn.
"ChÀ sI«nbn«ncp¶ a\pjys\hnsS?' gthÀ tNmZn¨p.
t]meokpImÀ Npäpw t\m¡n. Abmsf I|nÃ. Xnc¡n\nSbn hr²³
IbdptImWnhgn Cd§n HmSn¡fªp: "A¼S sNIp¯mt\! Ah\mbncn¡Ww
CXn h¼³.' gthÀ ]Ãndp½n.
kmMv sZ\n
A¶s¯ kw`h¯n\ptijw tKmÀt_mho«n Xmakn¡m³ acnbpkn\p
`bambn. ]ntäZnhkwXs¶ IpÀs^cmIv F¶ kvt\lnXsâ ho«nte¡p
Xmakw amän. sX\mÀZnsbsdbpw Iq«pImscbpw XShnem¡nbXmbn AbmÄ
Adnªp. AÑsâ acW]{Xs¯¸än AbmÄ HmÀ¡mXncp¶nÃ. Pbnense Hcp
KpakvX³ aptJ\ amkwtXmdpw A©p {^m¦v AbmÄ sX\mÀZnsbÀ¡p
sImSp¯psIm|ncp¶p. Cu XpI BcmWv sImSp¯bbv¡p¶sX¶v
sX\mÀZnsbÀ Adnªncp¶nÃ. acnbpkv Adnbn¨XpanÃ.
amk§Ä A§s\ Ignªpt]mbn. tIkv hnNmcWbn Fs¸mss\\pw
AskÂabpw Ipä¡mcsöp I|Xn\m Ahsc hn«b¨p. hm\¼mSn¸
£nbpsS hoSp I|p]nSn¡m³ Ignbm¯Xn acnbpkn\p ZpxJw tXm¶n. Hcp
Znhkw AbmÄ hgnbn¡qSn \S¡pt¼mÄ hm\¼mSn¸£nbpsS ssaXm\w
F¶ Øes¯¡pdn¨v BfpIÄ kwkcn¡p¶Xp tI«p. AhnsS sN¶mÂ
Ahsf ImWmw F¶bmÄ hnNmcn¨p. ]t£, AhnsS apgph³ sXcªn«pw
Ahsf I|nÃ. F¦nepw Znhkhpw AbmÄ B ssaXm\¯nse
]p¯InSnbn hn{ian¡pambncp¶p. PbnenÂ\n¶p ]pd¯ph¶
Fs¸mss\³ acnbpkns\ ]ebnS¯pw At\zjn¨p. Hcp Znhkw AbmÄ
ssaXm\¯p hn{ian¡pt¼mÄ AhÄ HmSn¡nX¨v AhnsSsb¯n:
"Rm³ F{X \mfmbn \n§sf At\zjn¡p¶p! B hoSp hn«Xp
t]Sn¨n«mtWm? \n§Ä A¶v Gev]n¨ Imcyw HmÀ¡p¶ntÃ? AXp Rm³
tXSn¸nSn¨p.'
acnbpkv Ahsf ImWmt\m AhfpsS kwkmcw tIÄ¡mt\m XmÂ]cyw
ImWn¨nÃ.
"F´v? \n§Ä¡v B taÂhnemkw ths|t¶m?'
"GXp taÂhnemkw?'
"B am\ybphXnbpsS.'
acnbpkv NmSnsbgpt¶äp. AhfpsS ssI c|pw Iq«n¸nSn¨p.
"Xcq, Fs¸mss\³. Fs¶ At§m«p sIm|pt]mIq. Rm³ F
´pthWsa¦nepw Xcmw.'
"Fsâ t]cv \n§Ä¡dnbmw. Fs¶ Fs¸mss\³ F¶p hnfn¡p¶p. lmbv!'
"icn! FhnsSbmWp Øew?'
FsâIqsS hcq. sXcpthm ho«p\¼tcm F\n¡v AdnªpIqSm. t\sc
FXnÀ`mK¯mWv. hosS\n¡dnbmw.'
"]t£, \o kXyw sN¿Ww.'
"kXytam? F´p kXyw?'
 "Cu taÂhnemkw \nsâ AÑ\p ]dªpsImSp¡cpXv.'
"CÃ.'
"BÀ¡pw.'
"CÃ.'
AhÄ AbmÄ¡v B hoSp ImWn¨psImSp¯p.
"icn, F\n¡p X¶ hmKvZm\w HmÀabp|tÃm?'
acnbpkv t]m¡änÂ\n¶v A©p {^ms¦Sp¯v AhfpsS ssIbnÂ
sh¨psImSp¯p. AhÄ \mWbw \net¯¡n«p. IpWvTnXt¯msS Abmsf kq
£n¨pt\m¡n: "F\n¡p \n§fpsS ]Ww th|.'

gmMv hmÂgmMv A©psImÃw I\ymaT¯n AÃednbmsX Xmakn¨p.
sImsk¯nsâ hnZym`ymkw ]ÅnhI ]mTimebn \S¶p. ^qjv sehMv
acn¨p. ]Ånbn¯s¶ C\nbpw Xmakn¡p¶Xmbm sImsk¯nsâ a\Êv
B hgn¡p Xncnsª¦ntem F¶v At±lw `bs¸«p. ITn\{hX¡mcmb
I\ymkv{XoIfpsS PohnXw X|phenin£mØes¯ XShp]pÅnIfptSXn\p
XpeyamWv. e£yw c|msWt¶ hyXymkapÅp. ]pkvXI¯n\pÅnÂsh¨v
ASbv¡s¸« ]pjv]wt]mse aX\n_Ô\IfpsS N«¡q«n\I¯v AhfpsS
PohnXw sRcp¡phm³ At±lw CjvSs¸«nÃ. I\ymaTw hnSphm³Xs¶
XoÀ¨bm¡n.
"F\n¡p hbÊmbn. IpSpw_kz¯p hIbn Ipd¨p ]Ww Fsâ ssIbnÂ
h¶ptNÀ¶n«p|v. F\n¡pw sImsk¯n\pw Pohn¡m³ AXp aXnbmIpw.
tPmen sN¿m\pÅ BtcmKyanÃ. R§sf t]mIm³ A\phZn¡Ww.
sImsk¯ns\ Xmakn¸n¨Xn\pw ]Tn¸n¨Xn\pw {]Xn^eambn A¿mbncw
{^m¦v Ft¶mSp hm§Ww.' jmMv khn\bw aTm²y£tbmSv At]£n¨p.
XpI sImSp¯v A\phmZt¯mSpIqSn AhnsS\n¶p t]m¶p. \Kc¯nÂ
Bįncs¡mgnª dyp ¹psa F¶ Øe¯v Hcp hoSp hmSIbvs¡Sp¯p
Xmakambn. C\n t]meokpImÀ Xs¶ At\zjn¡pIbnà F¶mbncp¶p At
±l¯nsâ hnizmkw. F¦nepw Hcp IcpXse¶ \nebn ]mcokn¯s¶
AI¶ Øe§fnembn c|p hoSpIÄIqSn At±lw hmSIbv¡v
FSp¯n«ncp¶p. t]meokpImÀ sXcbp¶Xmbdnªm Hmtcm ho«nembn
Hfn¡matÃm F¶p hnNmcn¨mWv A§s\ GÀ¸mSp sNbvXXv.
dyp ¹psabn At±l¯nsâ t]cv DÂs¯w ^qjv sehMv F¶mbncp¶p.
AhnSs¯ hoSnsâ ap¼n hnimeamb Hcp tXm«ap|v. Npän¸SÀ¶p
Xg¨phfÀ¶ Hcp ImSv. sImsk¯nsâ hnlmctI{μambncp¶p AXv. XpÊmMv
F¶ the¡mcn am{Xta AhnsS thsd D|mbncp¶pÅp. sImsk¯pw
`rXybpwIqSn _w¥mhn Xmakn¨p. Nmban« P\me¨nÃIfpÅ InS¸papdn,
Ae¦cn¨ Ccn¸papdn F¶nhsbÃmw AhÄ¡mbncp¶p. gmMv hmÂgmMv
]n³apä¯nsâ Aä¯pÅ sNdnb ]pcbn IgnªpIqSn. Hcp ac¡«nÂ,
sa¯¸mb, a¬IqP, ssht¡mÂItkc F¶nhbmWv AXn D|mbncp¶Xv.
sImsk¯pw At±lhpw Hcpan¨mWv `£Ww ]Xnhv. At±l¯n\mbn Hcp
Idp¯¸w tai¸pd¯p|mbncn¡pw.
B ho«n Xmakn¡pt¼mÄ hmÂgmMv \mjW KmÀUn HcwKambn
tNÀ¶p. 1831þse sk³kÊnepw At±l¯nsâ t]À DÄs¸«ncp¶p. c|nepw
t]cv ^qjv sehMv. hÀj¯nÂ, aqt¶m \mtem XhW At±lw bqWnt^mdw
[cn¨v \mjWÂ KmÀUnsâ ]cnioe\¯n\p t]mIpw.
epIvkw_pÀ tXm«¯nse IÃp_©n gm§pw sImsk¯pwIqSn
Ccn¡pt¼mÄ acnbpkns\ ImWmdp|tÃm. hmÂgmMv Abmsf kq£n¨ncp¶p.
AbmÄ HäpImc\mbncn¡ptam? ]qhn\p Npäpw hs|¶t]mse Xs¶ Npän¸än
\S¡p¶ B sNdp¸¡mcs\ hn«v asämcp Øew tXSm³ At±lw
\nÝbn¡pIbmWp|mbXv. sImsk¯n\v AXv A{X CjvSambncp¶nÃ.
F¦nepw AhÄ AXp ]pd¯p ImWn¨nÃ. Aѳ Xs¶ kwibn¨mtem?
AXpsIm|p hoSpamäs¯¸än AhÄ H¶pw tNmZn¨nÃ. ]cnNbanÃm¯hÀ¡p
Is|¯m³ Ignbm¯ Hcp Øe¯mbncp¶p B hoSv.
sImsk¯v an¡t¸mgpw hmÂgm§nsâ ]pcbnembncn¡pw. F¶n«v B
apdnbn XWp¸msW¶p ]cmXn ]dbpw. At±lw ssht¡m InS¡bnÂ
InS¡p¶Xnepw Idp¯ sdm«n Ign¡p¶Xnepw AhÄ FXnÀ¸v {]ISn¸n¨p.
"aItf! F{X BfpIfmWp `£Ww Ign¡m\pw InS¡m\pw hgnbnÃmsX
\½psS \m«n IjvSs¸Sp¶Xv. AXmtemNn¡pt¼mÄ F\n¡p kpJn¡m³
tXm¶p¶nÃ.'
"F¶mÂ, F\n¡pw AÑs\t¸mse aXn.'
"\o s]®tÃ? sIm¨p Ip«nbpw!'
sImsk¯v k½Xn¨nÃ.
"]pcpj·mÀ ZpxJn¡m³ ]nd¶hcmtWm?'
Ahfpw Idp¯ sdm«ntb Xn¶pIbpÅq F¶p imTyw]nSn¨p. A¶papXÂ At
±lw shfp¯sdm«n Xn¶m³ XpS§n.
sX\mÀZnsbdpsS ho«nÂsh¨v gmMv hmÂgmMv ssIbn kzbw
s]mÅn¨p|mb apdnhv ]gp¯p. F§s\tbm apdnªXmsW¶mWv At±lw
sImsk¯nt\mSp ]dªXv. Ipd¨pZnhkt¯¡v At±l¯n\p \à ]\nbpw
D|mbncp¶p. sImsk¯nsâ ip{iqjsIm|v ssIbnse ]gp¸p thKw
kpJ¸«p. am{XaÃ, At±l¯nsâ a\Ên\p kzØXbpw e`n¨p.
Hcp Znhkw sImsk¯v I®mSnbn t\m¡nbt¸mÄ a\sÊm¶p kw{`an¨p:
"t\cv, Rm³ kpμcnXs¶.'
I\ymaT¯nÂsh¨v Ahsf ]nSnIqSnb `bamWXv; kpμcnbmhpIsb¶mÂ
Ft´m IpäIrXywt]mse. Xm³ hncq]nbmsW¶p kam[m\n¡m³ AhÄ
{ians¨¦nepw Ahkm\w kpμcnbmsW¶ kXyw AhÄ¡v AwKoIcnt¡|n
h¶p. A¡mcywsIm|v gmMv hmÂgm§n\pw IpWvTnXamWp|mbXv. AhÄ
Fs¶¶pw X\n¡hImis¸«XmhpIbnsö Bi¦. AhÄ¡pth|n F´pw
\jvSs¸Sp¯m³ B hr²³ X¿mdmWv. ]t£, BtemN\sIm|v
{]tbmP\anÃ.
"AhÄ F´p kpμcnbmWv! Fsâ IY C\n F´mhpw?'
hoSpamäw AhfpsS DÕmlw sISp¯n. aq¶p amkt¯mfw A§s\ Ignªp.
AhfpsS `mht`Zw jmMv {i²n¨p:
"epIvkw_pÀ tXm«¯nte¡p t]mcp¶pt|m?'
"DÆv.'
sImsk¯nsâ hnfdnb apJ¯p {]Imiw ]c¶p.
A¶p tXm«¯n acnbpkns\ I|nÃ. ]ntäZnhkhpw At±lw Ahsf
tXm«¯nte¡p t]mIm³ hnfn¨p.
"CÃ.' a\kvXm]t¯msSbmbncp¶p B adp]Sn.
AhnsS Xmakam¡nbXn\ptijw cmhnse \S¡m³ t]mIp¶Xv At±lw
]Xnhm¡nbncp¶p. an¡hmdpw sImsk¯pw IqsSbp|mhpw. icXvIme¯nse
{]`mX{]`mhw sXfnªp\n¶ Hcp Znhkw. Htc \ncbn Ggv IpXnch|nIÄ
t]mIp¶Xv bm{Xmthfbn AhÀ I|p. Xqtem§nte¡p sIm|pt]mIp¶
XShpImcpsS hml\ tLmjbm{X. Igp¯n Xnf§p¶ Ccp¼p]«bpÅ
AhscsbÃmw Hcpan¨p N§esIm|p _Ôn¨ncp¶p. ss]imNnIamb B
ImgvN jm§n\v Hcp ZpxJkz]v\wt]mse tXm¶n. sImsk¯v AXp I|p
`bs¸«p:
"AÑm! BcmWv h|nbnÂ?'
"XShp]pÅnIÄ.'
"AhÀ FhnsS t]mIp¶p?'
"X|phenin£mØet¯¡v.'
"X|phenin£mØetam? AsX§s\bncn¡pw?'
B tNmZy¯n\p adp]Sn D|mbnÃ.
G{]nÂamk¯nse BZyhmc¯n gmMv hmÂgmMv Hcp bm{X t]mbn.
CSbv¡nSbv¡v At±lw A§s\ t]mImdp|v; an¡hmdpw ]W¯n\v Bhiyw
hcpt¼mÄ. t]mbm c|paq¶pZnhkw Igntª aS§nhcmdpÅp.
hmÂgmMv ho«n CÃmXncp¶ Hcp Znhkw sshIpt¶cw sImsk¯v apdnbnÂ
X\n¨ncn¡pIbmWv. t\cwt]mIm³th|n AhÄ ]nbmt\m Xpd¶psh¨p.
kwKoXtemI¯nÂsh¨v Gähpw at\mlcamb "Im«neebp¶ thS·mtc' F¶
"bqdnbm´n'se kwLKm\w Gäp]mSm³ XpS§n. ]m«hkm\n¨t¸mÄ AhÄ
BtemN\bn apgpIn. s]s«¶p tXm«¯n Imevs]cpamäw tI«Xmbn tXm¶n.
AhÄ £W¯n apIfnte¡p t]mbn. InS¸papdnbpsS P\ Xpd¶p.
tXm«¯nte¡p ]Xp§nt\m¡n. ]qÀWN{μ³ DZn¨p\nev¡p¶p. Xmsg apä¯p
sXm¸nsh¨ a\pjytâXpt]mepÅ \ngÂ. AhÄ t]Sn¨c|p. hà IÅ·mcpw
Ibdn h¶m F´p sN¿pw? AhÄ the¡mcnsb hnfn¨p apdnIsfÃmw
`{Zambn AS¨pInS¶p. ]ntäZnhkw hmÂgmMv h¶t¸mÄ AhÄ B hnhcw
]dªp. A¶p cm{Xn At±lw tXm«¯n ]cntim[\ \S¯n. HSphn At
±lw AXp I|p]nSn¨p. aIsf tXm«¯nte¡p hnfn¨p:
"CXm Ct§m«p hcq. CXtà \o I| \ngÂ?'
]pI¡pgensâ \ngÂ.
sImsk¯ns\ ImWphm\pw kwkmcn¡phm\pw B{Kln¨v acnbpkv ]e
{]mhiyw ho«p]Sn¡Â h¶p t\m¡n Xncn¨pt]mbn. Hcp cm{Xn tKänsâ Agn
Ducn AbmÄ tXm«¯n IS¶p. AhnsS Agn\ncIÄ¡cnInembn Hcp
IÃp_©p|v. AbmÄ AXn Ccp¶p. ]n¶oSv ]et¸mgpw CXmhÀ¯n¨p.
Hcp Znhkw kÔybv¡v sImsk¯v B _©n ImäpsIm|v
Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p. CSbv¡v FWoäv At§m«pw Ct§m«pw \S¶p. Xncn¨ph¶vv
Ccn¡m³ `mhn¨t¸mÄ _©nt·Â Hcp henb IÃv. AhÄ `b¶v AIt¯¡v
HmSn. BcmWv AhnsS IÃpsIm|p sh¨Xv? XptÊm§ns\ hnfn¨p P\epIfpw
hmXnepIfpw IpänbnSphn¨p InS¶p.
]ntä¶p cmhnse PnPvRmktbmsS AhÄ IÃp_©n t\m¡n. AÛpXw!
IÃv AXm AhnsS. HmSns¨¶v AhÄ IÃp s]m¡n. AXnsâ Nph«n Hcp
shfp¯ IhÀ. hgnh¡n \n¶psIm|v Agn\ncbv¡nSbneqsS
ssIbn«psh¨Xmbncn¡Ww B IÃv. Ihdn taÂhnemkanÃ. AhÄ AXp
Xpd¶p. Hcp sNdnb t\m«p]pkvXIancn¡p¶p. BÀ¯ntbmsS AhÄ AXp
hmbn¨p:
"IÃn\p Nph«n lrZbw.'
{]]©w Hcmfnte¡p Npcp§pI, HcmÄ Cuizct\mfw
hepXmhpIþþþþAXmWv A\pcmKw.
tZhIÄ \£{X§sf A`nhmZyw sN¿pIþþþþAXmWv A\pcmKw.
AhfpsS A`mh¯n Fs´mcp iq\yX. lm! {]Wb`mP\w
ssZhambn¯ocp¶p F¶Xv F{X kXyw.
hnclnIfmb Iman\oImapI·mÀ At\Imbncw at\mcmPy§ÄsIm|p
thÀ]mSns\ ]cmPbs¸Sp¯p¶p. {]IrXnsb Xsâ ktμihmlIbm¡m³
A\pcmK¯n\p iànbp|v.
AÃtbm hk´ta! A¶p Rm³ AhÄs¡gpXp¶ ImateJ\amWv.
A\pcmKw! Bcm[\! lrZtbm·mZw!
kzÀKw ssZhs¯s¡m|p ]qÀWamIp¶p; a\pjy³ A\pcmKwsIm|pw.
\mw \£{Xs¯ t\m¡n¡mWp¶Xp c|pImcW§fmemWv. AXp
{]Imiam\amWv. AXv ZpÀ{KlhpamWv. Iptd¡qSn tNtXmlcamb {]Imihpw
Iptd¡qSn al¯camb \nKqVXbpw \½psS ASp¯p|vþþþþkv{Xo!
\ap¡p {]mWhmbp In«nbnsæn izmkwap«pw. A\pcmKw In«mXpÅ acWw
BXvamhnsâ izmkwap«emWv. A\pcmKwsIm|p _Ôn¡s¸«hÀ
HcmXvamhnsâ c|p NndIpIfmWv.
Ct¸mgpw AhÄ epIvkw_pdnte¡p hcmdpt|m? CÃ. AhÄ Bcm[\bv¡p
hcp¶Xv Cu ]ÅnbnemtWm? AÃ. AhÄ Cu ho«n¯s¶bmtWm Xmakw?
ChnsS\n¶p t]mbn. Ct¸mÄ Xmakn¡p¶sXhnsSbmWv? ]dªnÃ.
kz´w BXvamhnsâ taÂhnemkw Adnbnsöph¶m F´p k¦SamWv!
kvt\ln¡p¶XpsIm|v k¦Sa\p`hn¡p¶ A§v A[nIa[nIw
kvt\ln¡pIbmWp th|Xv. kvt\ln¨p acn¡p¶Xp kvt\l¯nÂ
Pohn¡emWv.
lm! \ap¡v Hcp ih¡Ãdbn ASp¯Sp¯p ssItImÀ¯p InS¡m³
Ignsª¦nÂ? kvt\ln¡p¶ Hcmfpansæn kqcy³ X\nsb
AWªpt]mIpw.
]pkvXI¯nse Hmtcm A£chpw BXvamhnsâ XpÅnIfmsW¶v
sImsk¯n\p tXm¶n. AhÄ AXp ho|pw ho|pw hmbn¨p. CXv BscgpXn?
CXv BÀ¡pÅXv? sImsk¯v H«pw kwibn¨nÃ. HcmÄ am{Xw. HcmÄ¡p am{Xw.
At±lw AhÄs¡gpXnbXv. AhÄ AXp ]eh«w Npw_n¨p. AXp aS¡n
»ukn\pÅnsemfn¸n¨v AhÄ AIt¯¡v HmSn. apdnbn Ibdn hmXneS¨p.
sshIpt¶cw gmMv hmÂgmMv ]Xnhpt]mse \S¡m\nd§n. sImsk¯v
tamSnbn hkv{X[mcWw sNbvXp. F´n\v A§s\ sNbvsX¶v
AhÄ¡dnªpIqSm. ]pdt¯¡p t]mImt\m, Bscsb¦nepw kμÀin¡mt\m
Dt±in¨ncp¶nÃ. kÔybv¡ptijw AhÄ tXm«¯nte¡nd§n. XptÊmMv
ASp¡fbn ]WnsbSp¡pIbmWv. NnÃIÄ amSnsbmXp¡n AhÄ
sNSnIÄ¡nSbn Npän\S¶p. AhÄ _©nsâ ASps¯¯n. IÃv At¸mgpw
AhnsS¯s¶bp|v. AhÄ _©n Ccp¶p. B IÃnt·Â ssIsh¨p. Btcm
]n¶n h¶p \n¶Xpt]mse tXm¶n. AhÄ Xncnªpt\m¡n. "At±lw'
\nev¡p¶p.
Xebn sXm¸nbnÃ. hnfÀ¯p saenª icocw. a\pjy\pw t{]Xhpw
AÃm¯ cq]w. AbmÄ sImsk¯nsâ kao]t¯¡p \o§n. AhÄ
\nehnfn¨nÃ. ]nt¶m¡w amdn. Hcp ac¯n sN¶p ap«nb AhÄ AXn Nmcn.
At¸mÄ ZeaÀacwt]mse AbmfpsS i_vZw:
"am¸pXcq, CXm Rm³. Fsâ lrZbw s]m«mdmbn. C§s\ Pohn¡m³
F\n¡p h¿, AXpsIm|mWp h¶Xv. Fsâ I¯p hmbn¨tÃm? Fs¶
a\Ênem¡p¶pt|m? F{X\mfmbn H¶p I|n«v. Hcp sImÃamhmdmbn. Rm³
FhnsSsbÃmw At\zjn¨p. Fsâ tZhXbmWv. Rm³ Bcm[n¡pIbmWv.
Rm³ hÃt¸mgpw H¶p ht¶ms«? Rm³ acn¡mdmsb¶p tXm¶p¶p. Fsâ
kwkmc¯n apjn¸p tXm¶p¶pt|m? Rm³ ]dbp¶sX´msW¶pXs¶
F\n¡dnªpIqSm.'
"Bhq! Fsâ At½!'
XfÀ¶p hogm³ t]mb Ahsf AbmÄ Xm§n amtdmSW¨p. AbmfpsS
Xet¨mdp ]pIbpIbmbncp¶p. AhÄ AbmfpsS ssI]nSn¨p Xsâ
amtdmSptNÀ¯p. AbmÄ hn½n:
"At¸mÄ \n\¡v Ft¶mSp kvt\lap|v.'
"]Xps¡¸dbq. AX§bv¡dnbmatÃm.'
AbmfpsS amdn AhÄ apJw AaÀ¯n. AhÀ c|pt]cpw XfÀ¶p
s_©n Ccp¶p. ]dbm³ AhÀ¡p hm¡pIfnÃ. Hcp Npw_\w.
BImi¯nse \£{X§Ä km£n. c|pt]cpw sR«nsbWoäp. XWp¯
cm{Xnbpw XWp¯ IÃpw Cud³ `qanbpw \\ª]pÃpw H¶pw AhcdnªnÃ.
AhÀ At\ym\yw t\m¡n. AdnbmsX ssIIÄ X½n tNÀ¶p. CSbv¡nSbv¡p
acnbpknsâ ImÂap«v sImsk¯nsâ ImÂap«n sXm«p. c|pt]cpw hnd¨p.
hn¡nhn¡n AhÀ kwkmcn¨p. Gsd t\cw. FÃmw ]dªp Ignªt¸mÄ
AhÄ AbmfpsS Npaen Xe Nmbv¨p:
"t]sc´mWv?'
"acnbpkv. \nsâtbm?'
"sImsk¯v.'
]e cm{XnIfnepw Cu kamKaw \S¶p. lrZbw ]ckv]cw ssIamdn.
hnhml{]XnPvR sNbvXp. acnbpkv tXm«¯nte¡p t]mIp¶Xv Fs¸mss\³
am{Xw I|ncp¶p. AhÄ Ct¸mÄ \nÊlmbbmWv. AÑ\pw A½bpw PbnenÂ.
ktlmZc³ ]mcoknsâ At[mtemI¯nÂ. InS¡m\nSanÃ. AhÄ ]mcoknse
sXcphpsX|nIfn H¶v. F¦nepw AhfpsS lrZb¯n Ft´m
{]XymibpsS civan sXfnªn«p|v. sImsk¯nsâ taÂhnemkw
sImSp¯t¸mÄ acnbpkv k½m\n¨ A©p {^m¦v AhÄ hens¨dnªXv F
´psIm|v?
Hcp sshIpt¶cw sZ A³heoZv \S¡mhneqsS dyp¹p sabnte¡p Xncnbp¶
aqebnÂsh¨v acnbpkv Hcp hnfn tI«p:
"kemw samkyp acnbpkv.'
AbmÄ Xes]m¡n t\m¡n. AXv Fs¸mss\\mWv. A¶p hoSp ImWn¨p
sImSp¯Xn\ptijw AbmÄ Ahsf I|n«nÃ.
"slm! \n§fmtWm? Fs¸mss\³.'
"AsX´m Fs¶ \n§Ä F¶p hnfn¡m³? Rm³ hà sXäpw sNbvtXm?'
"CÃ.'
"]ns¶, ]dbq.' AhÄ¡p a\Ên Ft´m XSªp: "At¸mtgbv
A§s\bmhs«, acnbpkv.' AhÄ thK¯n \S¶pt]mbn.
 tKmÀt_mho«nÂ\n¶v sX\mÀZnbsdbpw Iq«scbpw Adkväv
sNbvXXn\ptijw gthÀ apdn ]cntim[n¨t¸mÄ X|phenin£m Øe¯v
XShp]pÅnIÄ clkyambn kq£n¨psh¡mdpÅ Hcp sNdnb b{´w In«n. Hcp
kq \mWbw c|mbn ]nfÀ¶v AXnsâ DÅn hfsc sNdnb Acw
Hfn¸n¨psh¡p¶ Hcp IqSmWv AXv. ImgvNbn Hcp kq. XShp]pÅnIÄ¡v
Ccp¼gnbpw ]q«pw apdn¡p hm³ H¶mwXcw Bbp[w. gthÀ BÝcys¸«p.
LmXI·mÀ sI«nbn« a\pjy³ HmSnt¸mbXns\¡pdn¨v AbmÄ¡p henb
kwibambn.
LmXIkwLs¯ XShnem¡nsb¦nepw {]tbmP\ap|mbnÃ. N§ebv¡n«v
Ahsc sIm|pt]mIpt¼mÄ CSbv¡psh¨pXs¶ Hcp¯³ NmSnt¸mbn.
sX\mÀZnsbÀ GIm´XShnembncp¶p. Hcp Znhkw Abmfpw kvt\lnX·mcpw
PbnenÂ\n¶v NmSn. IÀi\amb taÂt\m«ap|mbn«pw A§s\ kw`hn¨XnÂ
gthÀ AaÀjs¸«p.
1832 Pq¬ 30 AÀ²cm{Xn. gmMv hmÂgm§nsâ ho«p]Sn¡Â Fs¸mss\³
\nev¡p¶p. At¸mÄ Bbp[[mcnIfmb Bdp t]À aXnen\cnIneqsS AhnsS
F¯n. Ac| shfn¨¯n Fs¸mss\\v BfpIsf a\Ênembn. AhÄ
HmSns¨¶p apt¼ h¶ BfpsS Igp¯n ssINpän:
"AÑm! Aѳ F§s\ ]pd¯p NmSn. A½ FhnsS? F¶p I|XmWv
AÑs\. Aѳ Fs¶sbm¶p sI«n¸nSn¨v D½hbv¡q.'
"\o F´n\nhnsS h¶p? A½bv¡p kpJamWv. \o ChnsS\n¶p t]mhq.
R§Ä R§fpsS tPmen t\m¡s«.'
AhÀ Agnbqcn tKän\I¯v IS¡m\pÅ {iaambn. Fs¸m ss\³ Ahsc
XSp¯p:
"AhnsS BcpanÃ. AXv GtXm ]mh§fpsS hoSmWv.'
"AsXms¡ R§Ä¡dnbmw. \o t]m. \ap¡v F§s\sb¦nepw
IgnªpIqSt|? \ap¡p asä´p|p hgn?'
"AÑm! \n§Ä ]Sn Xpd¶v AI¯p IS¶m Rm³ \nehnfn¡pw.
elfbp|m¡pw. P\§Ä Adnbpw. t]meokpImsc¯pw.'
"\μnbnÃm¯ ]«n!' AXnsemcp¯\mWXp ]dªXv.
Fs¸mss\³ Nodn:
"AsX, Rm³ ]«nbmWv. Ipcbv¡pw. BfpIÄ F¯pw. BZyambn
AÑs\¯s¶ ]nSn¡pw.'
sX\mÀZnsbÀ ]eXpw ]dªpt\m¡n. AhÄ k½Xn¨nÃ. AhÀ
AhnsS\n¶p t]mbn. t]mIpt¼mÄ Hcp¯³ sX\mÀZnsbtdmSp ]dªp:
"AhÄ Ft´m t{]a¯n IpSp§nsb¶p tXm¶p¶p.'
sXcphnsâ aqebn AhÀ \n¶p.
"\½Ä C¶v FhnsS InS¡pw?'
 "]mcokn\SnbnÂ.'
"sX\mÀZnsbÀ, \n§fpsS ]¡Â Xmt¡m Dt|m?'
"MvDw!'
Bdp t]cpw Ccp«n\pÅnte¡v Dufnbn«p.
]pd¯v Cu _lfw \S¡pt¼mÄ acnbpkpw sImsk¯pw tXm«¯nÂ
kÃ]n¨psIm|ncn¡pIbmbncp¶p. LmXI·mÀ h¶Xpw Fs¸mss\³ Ahsc
\ncmicm¡n Xncn¨b¨Xpw Iman\oImapI·mÀ AdnªnÃ.
]ntä¶p \nÝnXkab¯pXs¶ acnbpkv tXm«¯nse¯n. ]Xnhn\p
hn]coXambn ZpxJnXbmbncn¡p¶ sImsk¯ns\bmWv At¸mÄ AbmÄ
I|Xv. AhfpsS I®pIÄ PemÀ{Zambncp¶p.
"F´p]än?' acnbpkv tNmZn¨p.
"C¶p cmhnse Aѳ ]dªp, t]mhm\pÅ Hcp¡w sN¿Wsa¶v.
HcmgvNbv¡Iw bm{X th|nhcpw. Cw¥|nte¡mImw.'
Ipd¨p kabw c|pt]cpw au\ambncp¶p.
"\o t]mbm Rm\pw t]mIpw.'
B hm¡pIÄ Ahsf thZ\n¸n¨p.
"F´mWo ]dbp¶Xv? A§s\sbm¶paÃ. Rm³ t]mIp¶nS¯v A§pw
t]mcpw.'
"Rms\§s\ t]mcpw. Fsâ ssIbn ]Wapt|m? hkv{X§fpt|m?
IpÀs^cmIn\v Ct¸mÄXs¶ ]¯p eqbn \mWbw sImSp¡m\p|v.'
CXptI«v sImsk¯v tX§n¡cªp.
"sImsk¯v! IcbcpXv. Rm³ ]dbp¶Xp tIÄ¡q. \msf Rm³ hcnÃ.'
"MvG?'
"aq¶pZnhkw Igntª C\n Rm³ hcq.'
"At¿m! AXp km²yaÃ.'
"\½psS `mhnsb HmÀ¯p \o AXp kln¡Ww.'
"]pcpj·mÀ `mKyhm·mÀ; kzmX{´yap|v. AhÀ¡p tXm¶p¶nS¯p t]mImw.
kv{XoIÄt¡m? \n§Ä FhnsS Xmakn¡p¶p F¶pXs¶ F\n¡dnbnÃ.
Adnªmepw F´p sN¿m³?'
AbmÄ t]m¡änÂ\n¶p t]\m¡¯nsbSp¯p aXnen hc¨p: "16 dyq Zv e
shsddn.'
AhcpsS I®pIÄ \ndªp. ]ckv]cw BenwK\w sNbvXp.

acnbpknsâ ap¯Ñ³ Kn t\mÀam\v sXm®qsäm¶mas¯ ]nd¶mÄ
Ignªncn¡p¶p. hoSp hn«pt]mb acnbpknsâ Øm\¯v sXsbmZpens\
Zs¯Sp¡msa¶p henb½ B{Kln¨p. F¶mÂ, KnÂt\mÀam\v AbmfpsS
s]m§¨hpw ]{Xmkpw ]nSn¨nÃ. acnbpkns\ HmÀ¯p hr²³ hfsc ZpxJn¨p.
hmÕeyw tZjyambn amdpw. ]ns¶ at\mcmPyamIpw. A§s\ Hcp Znhkw Nn
´maá\mbncn¡pt¼mÄ `rXy³ h¶p tNmZn¨p:
"ChnSp¶v samkyp acnbpkns\ ImWptam?'
"samkyp acnbpkvþþþþ]n¶s¯ t]cv?'
"F\n¡dnªpIqSm. Hcp sNdp¸¡mc³. samkyp acnbpkmsW¶p ]dtª¡q
F¶p ]dªp.'
"icn. hcs«.'
hr²³ Xe hnd¨p hmXn¡te¡p t\m¡nbncp¶p. Hcp sNdp¸¡mc³
AIt¯¡p IS¶p. AXv acnbpkmbncp¶p. B\μwsIm|v At±lw aXnad¶p.
kvt\lw hgnsªmgpIn. s]s«¶v AXv ipWvTnbmbn amdn:
"\o F´n\nhnsS h¶p?'
AXptI«v acnbpkv Xsâ amdt¯¡p h¶p hogWsa¶mWv At±lw
B{Kln¨Xv. ]t£, AbmÄ H¶pw an|msX \n¶p.
"]ns¶ F´n\p h¶p. Ft¶mSp am¸p tNmZn¡mt\m?'
"AÃ kmÀ.'
B adp]Sn ap¯Ñ\v lrZbt`ZIambncp¶p:
"F´pthWw Rm³?'
"kmÀ, Fsâta Zb thWw.'
h¶ DSs\ CXp ]dªncp¶psh¦n ap¯Ñ³ F´p thWsa¦nepw
sImSp¡pambncp¶p.
"Zbtbm? sNdp¸¡mc\v sXm®qdpImcsâ Zbtbm?'
"Rm³ Hcp Imcyw tNmZn¡m³ h¶XmWv. AXn\ptijw s]mbvs¡mÅmw.'
Ah³ t]mIpsa¶p ]dªt¸mÄ At±l¯n\p `bambn. F´ph¶mepw
Ahs\ hn«bbv¡m\mhnÃ.
"\o Ft¶mSp am¸p tNmZn¡q. Fsâ Igp¯n sI«n¸nSn¡q.'
"ap¯Ñm! Fsâ hnhml¯n\p k½Xw XcWw.'
"sImÅmw. \n\¡p k½Xw XcWw. \o IeymWw Ign¡m³ t]mIp¶p.
tamtf!'
henb½ ]pd¯p h¶p. acnbpkns\ I|n«v AhÀ¡v a\ÊnembnÃ.
AbmÄ¡v A{Xbv¡p amäw h¶ncn¡p¶p. Kn t\mÀam³ tZjy¯nemsW¶p
I|v AhÀ DSs\ AIt¯¡pt]mbn.
"\o BscbmWp IeymWw Ign¡m³ t]mIp¶Xv. kv{Xo[\w F´p In«pw?'
"AhÄ¡p kz¯nÃ. AhfpsS Aѳ ]W¡mc\Ã. Rm\pw Zcn{Z\tÃ
ap¯Ñm? Rm³ Ahsf kvt\ln¡p¶p. Ahsf AhfpsS Aѳ Cw
¥|nte¡p sIm|pt]mhpIbmWv. F\n¡v Ahsf hnhmlw sN¿Ww.
Asæn F\n¡p {`m´p ]nSn¡pw. Rm³ acn¡pw. XoÀ¨. dyq ¹psabnÂ
Ccp¼pthenbpÅ tXm«¯nemWv AhfpsS hoSv.'
 "dyq ¹psabn I¼nthenbpÅ tXm«w. Hmtlm! Rm³ tI«n«p|v. B
s]®ns\¸än sXsbmZp ]dªn«p|v. \n\¡v AhfnemWp I¼w, AtÃ? Mv!
IeymWsam¶pw th|. BhiyapÅ ]Ww FSp¯psIm|pt]m. Ahsf
sh¸m«nbm¡nt¡m.'
ap¯Ñsâ hm¡pIÄ acnbpkns\ sNmSn¸n¨p:
"A©psImÃw ap¼v Fsâ AÑs\ Aham\n¨p. Ct¸mÄ Fsâ `mcysbbpw.
C\n \n§fpsS bmsXm¶pw F\n¡mhiyanÃ. Rm³ CXm t]mIp¶p.'
acnbpkv Cd§n \S¶p. A´whn« ap¯Ñ³ hnfn¡m\mªp. ssI \o«n. H¨
s]m§p¶Xn\pap¼v AbmÄ adªpIgnªp. Kn t\mÀam³ aIsf hnfn¨p:
"Ah³ CXm t]mbn. hnfn¡q, hnfn¡q. acnbpkv! acnbpkv!'
acnbpkn\v B hnfn tIÄ¡m³ km[n¨nÃ. ap¯Ñ³ NmcpItkcbnte¡p
adnªp.

1832 PqWn ]mcoknepw kao]{]tZi§fnepw cmP`cW¯ns\Xncmb Hcp
P\Iobhn¹hw \S¶p. A³tjmÂdbmWv AXn\p t\XrXzw sImSp¯Xv.
A¼tXmfw sNdp¸¡mÀ kwLw tNÀ¶p. acnbpkv AXnse Hcp
{]apJmwKambncp¶p. IpÀs^cmIv, Khvtdmjv XpS§nbhcpw kwL¯nse
kPoh{]hÀ¯Icmbncp¶p. AhÀ H¯ptNÀ¶v ]«mfs¯ sNdp¡m³ Hcp
{]Xntcm[t¡m«bp|m¡n. shSnt¡m¸pIÄ kw`cn¨p. apdnthähsc
NnInÕn¡m\pÅ GÀ¸mSpIfpw sNbvXp. sNdnb tXmXnepÅ Hcp
ssk\nIIym¼v.
ap¯Ñt\mSv ]nW§nt¸m¶ acnbpkv F´p sNt¿|q F¶dnbmsX
]ebnS¯pw Aeªp. shfp¸n\p c|paWn¡v AbmÄ IpÀs^cmInsâ
hkXnbnse¯n. jÀ«qcmsX hncn¸n sN¶phoWp. Dd¡apWÀ¶t¸mÄ t\cw
shfp¯ncn¡p¶p. IpÀs^cmIpw A³tjmÂdbpw s^bvenbpw sImw_vt^dpw
]pdt¯¡p t]mIm³ X¿mdmbn sXm¸nbpw XebnÂsh¨p \nev¡p¶p|v. AhÀ
t]mbn Ipd¨pIgnªt¸mÄ Abmfpw ]pdt¯¡nd§n. ]I apgph³
A§pan§pw Npän¯ncnªp. AbmÄ cm{Xn¡pth|n Im¯p. H³]XpaWn¡v
sImsk¯ns\ ImWWw.
gmMv hmÂgmMv cmhnse tXm«¯n \S¡pt¼mÄ aXnen "16 dyq Zv e
shsddn' Fs¶gpXnbncn¡p¶Xp I|p. F´mWXv? BscgpXn? At±lw
hfsct\cw BtemNn¨p. tXm«¯n Btcm IS¶n«ps|¶p XoÀ¨.
\nÝbambpw AsXmcSbmfamWv. Xs¶ Btcm t\m«an«n«p|v. C\n Xmhfw
amdmsX c£bnÃ. s]s«¶v FhnsS\nt¶m Hcp ISemkv At±l¯nsâ ap¼nÂ
h¶phoWp. At±lw Ip\nªv ISemskSp¯v hmbn¨p. "DSs\ Øew hnSpI.'
thKw sN¶v aXnensâ ]pd¯p t\m¡n. apjnª thjw [cn¨ Hcp Ip«n
AhnsS\n¶v HmSp¶Xp I|p. At±lw ho«nte¡p Ibdnt¸mbn. A¶p
sshIpt¶cw \S¡m\nd§nbt¸mÄ At±lw sX\mÀZnbsd ImWm\nSbmbn.
thj{]Ѷ\mbn«mWv AbmÄ \S¶ncp¶sX¦nepw At±l¯n\v
Hät\m«¯n a\Ênembn. AbmÄ Xsâ hkXn¡p Npäw X¡w ]mÀ¯p
\S¡pIbmsW¶v At±lw hnNmcn¨p. Fs´¦nepw ]pXnb hn]¯nsâ
kqN\bmtWm?
sImsk¯nt\mSp ]dªncp¶Xpt]mse aq¶mw Znhkw cm{Xn H³]XpaWn¡v
acnbpkv dyq ¹psabnse¯n. tKänsâ Agn amän tXm«¯nte¡p IS¶p.
F¶mÂ, ]Xnhmbn Im¯p\nev¡mdpÅ Øe¯v sImsk¯ns\ I|nÃ.
P\epIÄ AS¨n«ncn¡p¶p. t\sc hmXn¡te¡p sN¶p ap«nhnfn¨p:
"sImsk¯v! sImsk¯v!' bmsXmc\¡hpanÃ. AhÄ t]mbn¡gnªp. B hoSv
Hcp ivaim\wt]mse tXm¶n AbmÄ¡v. C\n acn¡pIbmWv t`Zw F¶p kzbw
]dªp.
sXcphnse ac§Ä¡nSbneqsS Btcm Abmsf hnfn¡p¶p: "samkyp
acnbpkv.'
"MvG!' AbmÄ Xncnªpt\m¡n.
"\n§Ä ChnsSbpt|m?'
"DÆv.'
"tl! \n§fpsS kvt\lnX·mÀ \n§sf dyq Zv e jMv s{]dnbnse
hgnt¡m«bn Im¯p\nev¡p¶p.'
AbmÄ¡p ]cnNnXamb i_vZw. AXn\v Fs¸mss\sâ Nne¼n¨
]cp¡s\m¨tbmSv kmZriyap|v. AbmÄ tKän\Spt¯¡p sN¶p.
sNdp¸¡mcs\¶p tXm¶nb Btcm HcmÄ HmSp¶Xp I|p.
gthÀ sImSp¯ tXm¡v acnbpknsâ ssIhiap|mbncp¶p. ZpxJwsIm|v {`m
´p]nSn¨ncp¶ AbmÄ t\sc hgnt¡m«bnte¡p Xncn¨p. AÑs\t¸mse
cmPy¯n\pth|n XymKa\pjvTn¡m\pÅ kabamWsX¶v AbmÄ¡v tXm¶n.
am{XaÃ, Xsâ FÃmsaÃmambncp¶ sImsk¯v \jvSs¸« ØnXn¡v
cmPy¯n\pth|nsb¦nepw Xsâ PohnXw {]tbmP\s¸Ss«. Ccp«nÂ
sXcphnsâ Hmcw tNÀ¶v ]Xp§n HmSp¶Xn\nSbn acnbpkv I|Xv Hcp `S³
IpÀs^cmInsâbpw thsdmcp¯³ Khvtdmjnsâbpw t\À¡p tXm¡p
Nq|p¶XmWv. \nanjwsIm|v acnbpkv c|p `S·mscbpw shSnsh¨phogv¯n.
acnbpkn\v Bbp[anÃmXmbn. shSn s]m«n¨p Ignªt¸mÄ c|p
ssIt¯m¡pw AbmÄ hens¨dnªp. kao]ancp¶ shSnacp¶pho¸ AbmÄ
I|p. ]nt¶m¡w Xncnªv At§m«p t\m¡p¶ kab¯v Hcp ]«mf¡mc³
AbmfpsS t\sc D¶w]nSn¨p. s]s«¶v HcmÄ ssIsIm|v tXm¡nsâ hmbv
s]m¯n. shSns]m«n. ]pI ]c¶p. acnbpkv AhnsS\n¶p amdn.
shSnacp¶pho¸bv¡p Xo sImSp¯p. acn¨hcpw ]cpt¡ähcpamb Iq«pImsc
Dt]£n¨v ]«mf¡mÀ \mep]mSpw HmSn. B hgnt¡m« c£s¸«p.
 \mjW KmÀUpIfpw ]«mf¡mcpw X½n ]ebnS¯pw Gäpap«Â \S¶p.
Iem]Øew \nco£n¡ms\¯nb C³kvs]IvSÀ gthÀ hn¹hkwLw ]nSn¨v
ssI c|pw ]nt¶m«m¡n Hcp XqWn sI«nbn«p.
_lfw Hs«m¶p ian¨t¸mÄ acnbpkv sNdnb hgnt¡m« ]cntim[n¡m\mbn
t]mbn. AhnsS ho|pw Hcp kacw \S¡psa¶v AbmÄ¡dnbmw. \ShgnbnÂ
F¯nb kab¯v Btcm hnfn¡p¶p:
"acnbpkv.'
AbmÄ Npäpw t\m¡n. Bscbpw I|nÃ. ho|pw hnfn¡p¶Xp tI«p. AbmÄ
Ip\nªp t\m¡nbt¸mÄ Hcp bphmhv Cgªv Abmsf kao]n¡p¶p.
"acnbpkv! Fs¶ a\ÊnembntÃ? Rm\mWv, Fs¸mss\³.'
acnbpkv DSs\ Xmsgbncp¶p. AXv ]pcpjsâ thjw [cn¨ Fs¸mss\³
Bbncp¶p.
"\n§Ä F§s\ ChnsSsb¯n? ChnsS F´p sN¿p¶p?'
"Rm³ acn¡pIbmWv.'
"\n§Ä¡v F´p]än?'
"\n§fpsS t\sc Hcp ]«mf¡mc³ tXm¡p \o«nbntÃ?'
"DÆv. HcmÄ AXnsâ hmbv s]m¯n.'
"Rm\mWv s]m¯nbXv. thjw amdnbXpsIm|v \n§Ä¡v Bsf
a\ÊnembnÃ.'
"MvG! \n§Ä¡v apdnhp]än. Rm³ AIt¯¡p sIm|p t]mhmw.'
Ahsf s]m¡nsbSp¡m³ AbmÄ {ian¨p. AhÄ ]Xps¡ Rc§n:
"F´m, thZ\nt¨m?'
"shSnbp| Fsâ icoc¯n Ibdn. Fs¶ FhnsS sIm|pt]mbn«pw
{]tbmP\anÃ. Fsâ ASp¯ncn¡q.'
AbmÄ AX\pkcn¨p. AhÄ acnbpknsâ aSnbn Xesh¨p.
"lm! CsX{X kpJw. \n§Ä Cu hgn¡p hcpsas¶\n¡dnbmw. \n§sf
hgnt¡m«bnte¡p hnfn¨ bphmhv Rm\mWv. ChnsS\n¶p \n§Ä¡p c£bnÃ.
F¦nepw \n§Ä¡p aps¼ F\n¡p acn¡Ww. \n§sf B hoSp ImWn¨pX¶
Rm³ F{X hnUvVnbmWv? acnbpkv, Hct]£ am{Xw. AXp km[n¨pXcptam?
kXyw sN¿q.'
"kXyw.'
"Rm³ acn¨m \n§Ä Fsâ s\änbn Hcp Npw_\w XcWw. Rm\Xv
BkzZn¡pw. CXm \n§Ä¡v Hcp I¯v. CXv Fsâ ssIbn In«nbn«v
c|pZnhkambn. Iq«¯n ]dbs«, Rm³ \n§sf kvt\ln¡p¶p.'
]p©ncn¡m³ {ian¨psIm|v AhÄ I¯p \o«n. AhÄ acn¨p. XWp¯
hnbÀ¸pXpÅnIÄ ]än\nev¡p¶ AhfpsS s\änbn AbmÄ Np|pIÄ
tNÀ¯p.
 AbmÄ IhÀ Xpd¶p I¯p hmbn¨p:
"Fsâ {]mW\mYm,
Ct¸mįs¶ ]pds¸t« Ignbq F¶v Aѳ imTyw ]nSn¡p¶p. R§Ä
C¶p sshIpt¶cw dyq Zv temw AÀsabn 7þmw \¼À ho«n D|mIpw.
HcmgvNbv¡pÅn Cw¥|n F¯pw.'
sImsk¯v Pq¬ 4.'
c£mamÀK§sfÃmw ASªncn¡p¶p. hnhml¯n\p ap¯Ñ³ FXncv.
hr²³ aIsfbpwsIm|p hntZit¯¡p t]mIp¶p. bp²cwK¯p\n¶p
tamN\w {]Xo£nt¡|. AbmÄ t]m¡änÂ\n¶p t\m«p]pkvXIw FSp¯v
Hcp GSp Iodn C§s\ FgpXn:
"Hmat\,
\½psS hnhmlw \S¡pIbnÃ. Rm³ ap¯Ñt\mSp tNmZn¨p. At±lw
k½Xn¡p¶nÃ. Rm³ Hcp Zcn{Z³. \obpw A§s\Xs¶. Rm³
HmSnsb¯nbt¸mtg¡pw \o AhnsS\n¶pw t]m¶pIgnªp. Fsâ {]XnPvR
HmÀabp|tÃm. AXp Rm³ \ndthäpw. Rm³ acn¡pIbmWv. \o CXp
hmbn¡pt¼mÄ Fsâ BXvamhv \nsâ ASp¡Â F¯nbncn¡pw. At¸mÄ \o
]p©ncn¡patÃm.
acnbpkv.'
ISemkv aS¡n. taÂhnemkw FgpXn. AXn\ptijw Xsâ
t]m¡äp]pkvXI¯n Ipdn¨p:
"Fsâ t]cv acnbpkv s]mMv sagvkn F¶mWv. Fsâ ihw dyp sZ ^n Zyp
IÂthdn 6þmw \¼À ho«nepÅ Kn t\mÀam³ ap¯Ñ\v
F¯n¨psImSp¡Ww.'
AbmÄ t]m¡äp]pkvXIw ho|pw t]m¡än XncpIn. F¶n«v Khvtdmjns\
hnfn¨p. BËmZt¯msS Ah³ HmSnsb¯n.
"F\n¡pth|n \o Hcp Imcyw sN¿ptam?'
"F´pw. Fsâ Pohs\ c£n¨ BfmWp \n§Ä.'
acnbpkv I¯v Khvtdmjnsâ ssIbn sImSp¯p:
"CXv dyp Zv temw AÀsabn 7þmw \¼À ho«n ^qjv seh§nsâ aIÄ
sImsk¯n\p sImSp¡Ww. Ct¸mįs¶ t]mWw.'
Khvtdmjv I¯p hm§n. {]Xntcm[t¡m«bnse bp²¯n ]s¦Sp¡Wsa¶p
XmÂ]cyap|mbncp¶XpsIm|v Ah³ £Ww t]mbn.
dyp ¹psabnÂ\n¶v gmMv hmÂgm§pw sImsk¯pw ]pds¸« kab¯mWv
AhÄ acnbpkn\pÅ I¯v FgpXnbXv. ]t£, AXp X]menenSm³ km[n¨nÃ.
AXpsIm|v B I¯pw A©p {^m¦pwIqSn tKän ]pcpjthj¯nÂ
\n¶ncp¶ Fs¸mss\s\ Gev]n¨p. "DS³ Øew hnSpI' Fs¶gpXn
Fs¸mss\³ Fdnª ISemkmWv Ahsc A{X thKw hosSmgnªpt]mIm³
t{]cn¸n¨Xv. acnbpkns\bpw sImsk¯ns\bpw AIäpIsb¶Xmbncp¶p
AhfpsS e£yw.
hmÂgm§pw sImsk¯pw XpÊm§pw Pq¬ 4þmw XobXn dyp Zv temw
BÀsabn Xmakam¡n. hmÂgm§nsâ `bw Ipdªp. dyp ¹psa hn«pt]mcm³
sImsk¯n\v CjvSap|mbncp¶nÃ. AhfpsS imTy¯n\p hg§m³ At±lhpw
k½Xn¨nÃ. AhnsS F¯nbtijw XethZ\bmsW¶p ]dªv sImsk¯v
Xsâ InS¸papdnbn Ibdn hmXneS¨p. hmÂgmMv `£Ww
Ign¨psIm|ncn¡pt¼mÄ XpÊmMv ]dªp.
"samkyp, Fs´¦nepw kw`hn¡pw. ]mcokn elf XpS§n.'
At±lw AX{X {i²n¨nÃ; Ft´m BtemN\bnembncp¶p. `£Ww
Ignªp apdnbn At§m«pant§m«pw em¯ns¡m|ncp¶ At±l¯nsâ
I®pIÄ bmZrÑnIambn tai¸pd¯p Ncnªncn¡p¶ I®mSnbn ]Xnªp.
AXnsâ Nph«nepÅ H¸pISemknsâ {]Xn_nw_w I®mSnbn I|p. Hcp
I¯v. At±lw AXp hmbn¨p:
"Fsâ {]mW\mYm,
Ct¸mÄXs¶ ]pds¸t« Ignbq F¶v Aѳ imTyw]nSn¡p¶p. R§Ä C¶p
sshIpt¶cw dyp Zv temw AÀsabn 7þmw \¼À ho«n Bbncn¡pw.
HcmgvNbv¡pÅn Cw¥|n F¯pw.
sImsk¯v Pq¬ 4.'
H¸pISemkv ssIbnseSp¯p I®mSntbmSp tNÀ¯psh¨p t\m¡n. AhfpsS
I¯nsâ icn¸IÀ¸pXs¶. At±lw ho|pw hnNmcaá\mbn. sImsk¯v
X¶nÂ\n¶v AIepIbmtWm? Xsâ FÃmambncp¶ Hma\aIÄ
X\n¡pÅXsöp hcptam? AhÄ¡v Gähpw {]nbs¸«h\mbn asämcmfp|v.
epIvkw_pÀ tXm«¯nse kmbmlv\§Ä.
"AsX, AXv Ah\mWv.'
At±l¯nsâ at\mcmPy¯n\nSbv¡v XpÊmMv At§m«p h¶p:
"GXp {]tZi¯mWXv, Adnbmtam?'
"kÀ, F´v?' AhÄ ]I¨p.
"bp²w \S¡p¶ps|¶p ]dªntÃ, AXv.'
"Hm! AXv! kMvsadnbpsS `mK¯mWv.'
At±lw sXcphnte¡nd§n. tKänsâ Iev]Snbn Ccp¶p. kmMvt]mÄ
]Ånbnse aWn ]Xns\m¶Sn¨p. AtXkab¯pXs¶ lm {]tZi¯p\n¶v
Hcp `b¦ci_vZw amsämens¡m|p. AXp hgnt¡m«bnse
B{IaWambncn¡mw. At±lw Xe DbÀ¯n t\m¡n. Hcp Ip«n sXcphneqsS
hcp¶p. Khvtdmjv! Aev]kabw Ah³ Ft´m BtemNn¨p.
"Ip«o, \n\s¡´m?'
"F\ns¡´m, hni¸v.'
 gmMv hmÂgmMv t]m¡änÂ\n¶v A©p {^m¦v FSp¯v Ah\p sImSp¯p.
BËmZt¯msS AXp taSn¨p Xncn¨pw adn¨pw t\m¡n Ah³ \mWbw At
±l¯n\pXs¶ sImSp¯p:
"CXp \n§ÄXs¶sbSpt¯mfq.'
"\n\¡v ths|¦n th|. \nsâ A½bv¡v sImSp¡q.'
At±l¯nsâ s]cpamäw Ah\p ]nSn¨p:
"\n§Ä Cu sXcphnepÅ BfmtWm?'
"AsX.'
"Ggmw \¼À hoSv GXmWv?'
"CXpXs¶. F´p thWw?'
"Hcp I¯p sImSp¡m\p|v.'
"MvA! a\Ênembn. Rm³ AXpXs¶ Im¯ncn¡pIbmWv.'
"CXp \n§Ä¡pÅXÃ. Hcp kv{Xo¡pÅXmWv. sImsk¯v F¶mWp t]cv.'
"Xt¶¡q. Rm³ sImSpt¯¡mw.'
Ah³ I¯v gmMv hmÂgm§nsâ ssIbn sImSp¯p.
"kMvsadnbnte¡mtWm adp]Sn Abbvt¡|Xv?'
"At¿m hnUvVn¯w! dyp Zv ejMv s{]dnbnse hgnt¡m«bnte¡bbv¡Ww.
Rm³ At§m«mWp t]mIp¶Xv.'
Ah³ AhnsS\n¶p t]mbn. hmÂgmMv AI¯pIS¶p hnf¡p sImfp¯n.
sImsk¯pw XpÊm§pw Dd¡ambncp¶p. hndbv¡p¶ ssItbmsS I¯p
\nhÀ¯n At±lw hmbn¨p: "Rm³ acn¡pI bmWv. CXp hmbn¡p¶ kab¯v
Fsâ BXvamhv \nsâ ASp¯p|mhpw' F¶ Ahkm\hcnIÄ At±l¯nsâ
DÅn X«n. I¯nte¡p Xpdn¨pt\m¡ns¡m|v Aev]kabw Ccp¶p.
Xm³ Ct¸mÄ kt´mjnt¡| kμÀ`amWv. Xsâ PohnXkÀhkzamb
sImsk¯ns\ X«nsbSp¡m³ Xp\nª \oN³ CXm acn¡m³t]mIp¶p.
sImsk¯v C\n Fs¶¶pw XtâXv. hn[nt]mse AXp kw`hn¡p¶p. Cu
I¯v AhÄ ImWcpXv. B a\pjys\¸än AhÄ C\n bmsXm¶pw AdnbcpXv.
AÃ, A§s\bÃ. AbmÄ acn¨n«nÃ. ]Xns\m¶paWn¡ptijw shSnsbm¨
tI«nÃ. ]ntä¶p cmhnse sImsk¯n\p In«Wsa¶pt±in¨v FgpXnb I¯mWv.
BtemN\ B hgn¡p \o§nbt¸mÄ At±l¯n\p ZpxJambn. At±lw
Xmgt¯¡nd§n. tKäv Imhev¡mcs\ hnfn¨pWÀ¯n. Hcp aWn¡qdn\pÅnÂ
\mjW KmÀUnsâ thj¯n tXm¡psaSp¯p hgnt¡m«bnte¡v HmSn.
gmMv hmÂgmMv
{]Xntcm[t¡m«bn s]mcnª bp²w \S¶p. ]«mfw tIm« ]nSns¨Sp¡psa¶
\nebnse¯n. hn¹hI£n¡mcpsS k¶mlw ]cnanXambncp¶p. Ahkm\s¯
kactk\m\nbpw acn¡p¶Xphsc ]«mft¯mSp
sNdp¯p\nev¡Wsa¶mbncp¶p Xocpam\w. ap¶Wnbn¯s¶bp|v acnbpkv.
Khvtdmjv s]s«¶mWv AbmfpsS ap¼nse¯nbXv.
"\o F§s\ ChnsS F¯n? I¯p sImSp¯ntÃ?'
"I¯p sIm|psNÃpt¼mÄ taÂhnemk¡mcn Dd§pIbmbncp¶p. tKäv
Imhev¡mcs\ Gev]n¨p. DWcpt¼mÄ sImSp¡pw.'
Khvtdmjns\ Abbv¡pt¼mÄ acnbpkn\v c|v B{Kl§fmbncp¶p. H¶v,
sImsk¯nt\mSv bm{X ]dbpI; c|v, sX\mÀZnsbdpsS aI\mb Khvtdmjns\
bp²¯nÂ\n¶p c£n¨p IS¸mSp XoÀ¡pI. BZyt¯Xp am{Xta km[n¨pÅp.
IpSpw_{]mc_v[¡mcmbhsc hgnt¡m«bnÂ\n¶p c£s¸Sp¯n Abbv¡m³
hn¹hkwLw BtemNn¨psIm|ncn¡pt¼mÄ gmMv hmÂgmMv AhnsSsb¯n.
]pXnb BÄ Bsc¶v FÃmhcpw At\zjWambn.
"Rm³ Adnbpw At±ls¯. kzmX{´ykac`S\mWv.'
acnbpkv ]dªm ]ns¶ BÀs¡¦nepw kwibapt|m?
hgnt¡m«bpsS t\À¡p shSnsh¡phm³ ]«mfw Hcp§n. X{´]qÀhw AXns\
sNdp¡p¶Xn\v gmMv hmÂgmMv t\XrXzw sImSp¯p. kaccwK¯psh¨v
Khvtdmjv acn¨p. aäpÅhÀ c£s¸«p. A³tjmÂd DÄs¸sS FÃmhcpw
hmÂgm§n\p \μn ]dªp.
XpSÀ¶pÅ sNdp¯p\n¸n\p \nÀt±i§Ä \evIn¡gnªv A³tjmÂd
gthdpsSt\sc Xncnªp. hgnt¡m«bnÂ\n¶v Ahkm\w ]pd¯p IS¡p¶
BÄ jmshdpsS IYIgn¡Wsa¶mPvRm]n¨psIm|v Hcp ssIt¯m¡v
AhnsSsh¨p. CXptI«p\n¶ hmÂgmMv apt¶m«p sN¶p:
"Aev]kabw ap¼v \n§Ä Ft¶mSp \μn ]dªp.'
"DÆv. hn¹hI£n¡pth|n. Cu hgnt¡m« c|p t]cmWp c£n¨Xv. HcmÄ
acnbpkv s]mMvsagvkn. ]ns¶ \n§fpw.'
"Rm³ AXn\p {]Xn^ew AÀln¡p¶pt|m?'
"Xoˬbmbpw.'
"F¶mÂ, Hct]£bp|v.'
"]dbq.'
"B a\pjysâ IY Rm³ Ign¡mw.'
gthÀ Xe DbÀ¯n t\m¡n. jmMv hm jm§ns\ I|p. AbmÄ ]dªp:
"AXpsImÅmw.'
 "càkm£nIfpsS Iq«¯n AbmfpsS ihw CScpXv. asähnsSsb¦nepw
sIm|pt]mIq.' A³tjmÂd \nÀt±in¨p.
aäpÅhscÃmw t]mbn¡gnªt¸mÄ gmMv hmÂgmMv gthdpsS Acs¡«nse
Ibdgn¨v XqWnÂ\n¶p amän\ndp¯n. \ndtXm¡pw ssIbn ]nSn¨v hmÂgmMv
ap¶nepw gthÀ ]n¶nepambn \S¶p. hgnt¡m«bpsS CSs¯ Aä¯v
\n¡pIbmbncp¶ acnbpkv Ahsc I|p. sImÃs¸Sp¶ Bfpw sImÃp¶
Bfpw AbmfpsS a\Ên Nne KXImekw`h§Ä HmÀan¸n¨p. aXnÂs¡«p
IS¶t¸mÄ N¸pNhdpIÄ¡nSbn AÀ²\áamb Hcp kv{Xoicocw gthÀ
I|pþþþþacn¨ Fs¸mss\³. B ih¯nsâ t\sc t\m¡n AbmÄ ]dªp:
"B s]¬Ip«nsb Rm³ Adnbpsa¶p tXm¶p¶p.'
AhÀ hnP\Øes¯¯n. Bcpw ImWpIbnsöv Dd¸mbt¸mÄ hmÂgmMv
\n¶p. gthdpsS Igp¯nse sI«v Agn¨p.
"gthÀ! CXp Rm\mWv.'
"\n§Ä¡p ]Icwho«mw.'
hmÂgmMv t]m¡änÂ\n¶v Hcp aS¡pI¯nsbSp¯p \nhÀ¯n. "I¯n,
AXmWp \n§Ä¡p tbmPn¨Xv.' gthÀ ]dªp.
At±lw AbmfpsS s\©nsebpw Imensebpw sI«pIfpw Agn¨p.
"\n§Ä¡v t]mhmw.'
GXp kmlNcy¯nepw \nehnSm¯ gthÀ AÛpXkvX _v[\mbn:
"Cu bp²¯nÂ\n¶p Rm³ c£s¸Spsa¶p tXm¶p¶nÃ. ssZhKXym c
£s¸Sp¶]£w dyp Zv temw AÀsabn Ggmw\¼À ho«n D|mbncn¡pw.'
"HmÀan¨n«mtWm?'
"t]mhq.'
ho«pt]cv ho|pw tNmZn¨v gthÀ \S¶p. Aev]w t]mbn«p Xncnªp\n¶p:
"\n§Ä Fsâ kzØX \in¸n¨p. Fs¶ sIm¶pIfbq.'
"t]mhq ChnS¶v.'
gthÀ Zqscsb¯nbt¸mÄ jmMv BImit¯¡p shSnsh¨p
hgnt¡m«bnte¡p Xncn¨p t]m¶p. hnhcw A³tjmÂdsb Adnbn¨p:
"AXpIgnªp.'
hmÂgmMv Xncn¨ph¶Xn\ptijamWv ]pÅn gthÀ C³kvs]IvSdmbncp¶p
F¶v acnbpkn\p a\ÊnembXv. acnbpknsâ a\Êp thZ\n¨p.
]«mfw hgnt¡m« hfªp. hn¹hkwL¯n\p c£bnÃmXmbn.
A³tjmÂdbv¡pw acnbpkn\pw apdnhp ]än. k¶²`S·mÀ ASp¯pI|
Nmcmb¡Sbn Ibdn hmXneS¨p. ]«mf¡mcpsS {i² At§m«mbn.
tXmsfÃn shSnbp|sIm|p XeId§n hogm³t]mb acnbpkns\ gmMv
hmÂgmMv Xm§n. XShp]pÅnbmbn ]nSn¡s¸« Xs¶ DS³ shSnsh¨p
sImÃpsa¶v acnbpkv hnNmcn¨p. AbmfpsS t_m[w \in¨p.
 acnbpkns\ FhnsS sIm|pt]mIpw? AXmbn hmÂgm§nsâ Nn´.
F«psImÃw ap¼p I\ymaT¯nsâ ASp¯psh¨v sImsk¯ns\bpw FSp¯p c
£s¸«Xv At±lw HmÀan¨p. Bsfmgnª Øew t\m¡n Ipd¨p \S¶p.
A[nIkabw AhnsS \n¡phm³ km²yaÃ. ]«mf¡mcpsS ]nSnbnemhpw. B
IpSp¡nÂ\n¶v Hcp ]£n¡p am{Xta ]pd¯p IS¡m\mhp. Asæn \new
Ipgn¨p Iotgm«nd§Ww. At±lw AXoh{i²tbmsS Xdbnte¡p t\m¡n.
Im¨ph«n N¸pNhdpIÄ¡nSbn hne§s\ Hcp AgnhmXn I|p.
aosXbpÅ hncnIÃpIÄ amänbncp¶Xn\m AXp Xpd¶p InS¡pIbmWv.
`qanbnend¡nb Hcp ]pI¡pgÂt]msebmbncp¶p AXnsâ DÄhiw. ]ns¶
kwibn¨nÃ. IÃpIÄ hIªpamän, {]PvRbäp InS¶ acnbpkns\ Npaenteän
Xsâ ActbmSp tNÀ¯psI«n. ssIap«pIfpsSbpw ImÂap«pIfpsSbpw
klmbt¯msS Ipgente¡nd§n. ]¯Sntbmfw Bg¯n Xdbnse¯n. Hcp
\o| \nehd. I\¯ Ccp«pw XnIª \nÈ_vZXbpw.
]mcokv ]«W¯nse Agp¡pNmepIfn H¶nsâ XpS¡ambncp¶p AhnsS.
AXneqsS HcmÄ¡v \nhÀ¶p\S¡mw. acnbpkv A\§nbnÃ. hmÂgmMv
]Xps¡¸Xps¡ \S¶p. sNfnsI«nb Xd hgp¡p¶p. ZpÀKÔw
aq¡neSn¨pIbdp¶p. acnbpknsâ ssIIÄ tXmfn Npänbncp¶p. Hcp
ssIsIm|v At±lw acnbpkns\ ]nSn¨p. AbmfpsS ImepIÄ At±l¯nsâ
]n¶n Xq§n¡nS¶p. apJs¯ apdnhnÂ\ns¶men¨ tNmc At±l¯nsâ
Ihnfn H«n¸nSn¨p. acnbpknsâ aq¡p Xsâ sNhntbmSp tNÀ¶ncp¶Xn\mÂ
AbmÄ izkn¡p¶ps|¶p a\Ênembn.
Nphcn ]nSn¨p]nSn¨v AcaWn¡qdmbn \S¡p¶p. s]s«¶p Zqsc ]n¶nÂ
\n¶v Hcp shfn¨w. HmhpNmensâ apJ¯p\n¶v ]cntim[\bv¡mbn Cd§nb
t]meokpImcpsS dm´ensâ shfn¨ambncp¶p AXv. hmÂgmMv A\§msX
`n¯ntbmSp tNÀ¶p \n¶p. t]meokpImÀ¡v At±ls¯ ImWphm³
IgnªnÃ. kwibw XoÀ¡m\mbn AhÀ HmhpNmente¡p shSnh¨p. AXnsâ
D| hmÂgmMv \n¶ncp¶Xn\p kao]wXs¶ `n¯nbnÂsIm|v Ipsd IÃv
ASÀ¶phoWp. ]cntim[\ Ignªv AhÀ t]mbn.
hmÂgmMv ho|pw \S¶p. hni¸pw Zmlhpw icocs¯ £oWn¸n¨pXpS§n.
hnjhmbp izmkwap«ep|m¡n. Imen\Snbn¡qSn FenIÄ HmSn. Hcp XhW
FenbpsS ISn G¡pIbpw sNbvXp. Ipd¨nS sN¶t¸mÄ Hcp ]gpXneqsS
Aev]w shfn¨w In«n. kmhImiw acnbpkns\ tXmfnÂ\n¶nd¡n aXnenÂ
Nmcnbncp¯n. AbmfpsS I®pIÄ ASªncp¶p. tNmc]pc| XeapSn
s\änbn ]än¸nSn¨n«p|v. ssIImepIÄ XWp¯ncp¶p. s\©nÂ
ssIh¨pt\m¡nbt¸mÄ lrZbanSn¸v A\p`hs¸«p.
Nmensâ Aäs¯¯nbm ]pdt¯¡p hgn ImWpsa¶ hnizmk¯nÂ
\S¯w XpSÀ¶p. Ipsd sN¶t¸mÄ Xdbn IÂhncnbnÃmXmbn. sNfnshÅw
Imen X«n. apt¶m«p t]mIpwtXmdpw shÅw IqSnh¶p. HmSshÅw
s\©ns\m¸w s]m§n. At±lw acnbpkns\ s]m¡n¸nSn¨p. At±l¯n\p
kwibambn. aS§nt¸mbmtem? FhntS¡v? hgnt¡m«bntet¡m? ho|pw
\S¶p. shÅw hmbn Ibdpsa¶ ØnXnbmbn. X¸n¯¸n Aev]Zqcw
t]mbt¸mÄ IÂhncnbn ImepX«n. AXn Nhp«n IpgnbnÂ\n¶p Ibdn.
shÅw IpdªpXpS§n. Nmen\p apIfnÂ\n¶p ]ns¶bpw shfn¨w I|p.
ASp¯psN¶p t\m¡nbt¸mÄ Hcp Ccp¼pIpgemWv. AXn¡qSn HcmÄ¡v c
£s¸Sm³ km²yaÃ. At±lw acnbpkns\ ho|pw Nphcn Nmcnbncp¯n.
acnbpknsâ jÀ«p t\scbm¡p¶Xn\nSbn AbmfpsS t]m¡än Hcp
t\m«p]pkvXIw I|p. IpgeneqsS h¶ shfn¨¯n jmMv ]pkvXIw Xpd¶p
hmbn¨p:
"Fsâ t]cv acnbpkv s]mMv sagvkn F¶mWv. Fsâ ihw dyp sZ ^n Zyp
IÂthdn Bdmw \¼À ho«n DÅ Kn t\mÀa³ ap¯Ñ\v
F¯n¨psImSp¡Ww.'
hmÂgmMv ]pkvXIw acnbpknsâ t]m¡än¯s¶h¨p. ho|pw acnbpkns\
Gäns¡m|p \S¶p. \qdSntbmfw sN¶t¸mÄ Ipd¨Ise\n¶p ]IÂshfn¨w
HmhpNmente¡p Xe\o«p¶Xp I|p. Xpc¦w ]pgtbmc¯v Ahkm\n¡p¶p.
At±lw £W¯n AXn\Sps¯¯n. ]t£, Ccp¼gnhmXn Xmgn«p
]q«nbncn¡p¶p. hmÂgmMv AgnhmXn _eambn hen¨pt\m¡n. A\§p¶nÃ.
At±l¯nsâ FÃm BiIfpw AkvXan¨p. CXphsc sNbvX {]bXv\w
hn^ew. C\n F´p sN¿pw? c|pt]cpw HmhpNmen InS¶p acn¡pI.
At{XbpÅp. Xs¶¡pdnt¨m acnbpkns\¡pdnt¨m At¸mÄ At±l¯n\p
k¦Sw tXm¶nbnÃ. ]mhw, sImsk¯v! AhÄ¡v Bcp|v?
AgnhmXnensâ A¸pdw ]pgbpsS Icbmbncp¶p. ]IÂ
Ahkm\n¡mdmbn«nÃ. AgnhmXn Xpd¶ncps¶¦n ]mew IS¶p c
£s¸Smambncp¶p. BtemNn¨n«v Hcp hgnbpw ImWp¶nÃ. hmXnen\p kao]w
acnbpkns\ Nphcn Nmcnbncp¯n hmXnen\p ]pdwXncnªv At±lhpw
Ccp¶p.
s]s«¶v Npaen Btcm ]nSn¨Xmbn At±l¯n\p tXm¶n. XeXncn¨p
t\m¡nbt¸mÄ HcmÄ \nev¡p¶p.
"]IpXn ]¦v F\n¡v.' AbmÄ a{´n¨p.
hmÂgmMv an|nbnÃ. At±l¯n\v Bsf a\ÊnembnþþþþsX\mÀZnsbÀ.
sX\mÀZnsbÀ¡v jm§ns\ a\ÊnembXpanÃ.
"shdpsX ]pgbnen«m AXp s]m§n¡nS¡pw. Hcp IÃpwIqSn sI«nbnSWw.
Ibdp Rm³ Xcmw. In«nbXn ]mXn F\n¡p XcWw.'
hmÂgmMv At¸mgpw H¶pw an|nbnÃ. BfdnbcpXv. sX\mÀZnsbÀ ]dª
Imcyw At±l¯n\p a\Ênembn. Hcmsf sIm¶p ]Ww A]lcn¨p ihw
]pgbn XÅm³ Hcp§pIbmsW¶mhpw sX\mÀZnsbÀ hnNmcn¡p¶Xv.
"Xcm³ Hcp¡amtWm? tNmZn¡s«, Asæn F§s\ ]pd¯pt]mIpw?'
"\n§Ä¡p ]pd¯p t]mIt|?'
"icn, ]IpXn Xcmsa¦n Rm³ Xpd¡mw.'
AbmÄ t]m¡änÂ\n¶v Xmt¡mseSp¯p. jm§n\p izmkw t\sc hoWp.
ssZhw sX\mÀZnsbsd¶ ]nimNnsâ cq]¯n Xs¶ c£n¡phm³
AhXcn¨ncn¡pIbmtWm? sX\mÀZnsbÀ AXn\nSbv¡v c|pt]cpsSbpw
t]m¡än ssIbn«p. ap¸Xp {^m¦v In«n. jmMv A\§nbnÃ. AsX¦nesX¶v
sX\mÀZnsbÀ hnNmcn¨p.
"Cu \nÊmcXpIbv¡pth|n \n§Ä HcmfpsS Igp¯p sRcn¨p.'
Ft¸msg¦nepw Bsf a\Ênem¡m³ Ignªmembn F¶p hnNmcn¨v AbmÄ
acnbpknsâ jÀ«nÂ\n¶v Hcp IjWw IodnsbSp¯p. hmÂgmMv AXdnªnÃ.
"N§mXn¡v C\n ]pd¯p t]mWw, AtÃ? CXp N´ØeamWv. ]pd¯p
IS¡Wsa¦n ]Ww sImSp¡Ww. AXp X¶pIgnªp. C\n t]mImw.'
hmÂgm§ns\ ]pdt¯¡p hn«Xn asämcpt±iyhpap|mbncp¶p. AhnsS
Im¯p\nev¡p¶ t]meokn\v Hcp Ccsb FdnªpsImSp¡m³ Ignªp.
acnbpkns\ tXmfnteäm³ sX\mÀZnsbÀ klmbn¨p. ]n¶mse hcm³ BwKyw
ImWn¨psIm|v AbmÄ ]Xp§n¸Xp§n\S¶p. hmXn Xpd¶v jm§ns\
]pd¯m¡n ho|pw AS¨p]q«n.
skbn³\Zn im´amsbmgpIp¶p. hmÂgmMv acnbpkns\ ]pgh¡¯p InS¯n.
kÔy ab§n¯pS§n. Npäpw \nÈ_vZw. ip²hmbp izkn¨t¸mÄ At±l¯n\v
Bizmkw tXm¶n. ssIbn shÅsaSp¯v acnbpknsâ apJ¯p Xfn¨p.
F¶n«pw t_m[w sXfnªnÃ. Ipd¨pkabw hn{ian¨ tijw acnbpkns\
FSp¡m³ Ip\nªt¸mÄ ]n¶n Imevs]cpamäw tI«p.
Xncnªpt\m¡nbt¸mÄ C³kvs]IvSÀ gthÀ.
hgnt¡m«bnÂ\n¶p c£s¸« AbmÄ AhnSs¯ hnhc§Ä tae[nImcnIsf
Adnbn¨tijw, XShpNmSnb sX\mÀZnbsdbpw Iq«pImscbpw At\zjn¨p
\S¡pIbmWv. AhÀ HmSbn Hfn¨n«ps|¶pw Adnhp In«n. AX\pkcn¨v
]pgtbmc¯p Im¯p \nev¡pIbmbncp¶p.
gthÀ¡v gmMv hmÂgm§ns\ a\ÊnembnÃ.
"BcXv?'
"Rm³.'
"BcmWv Rm³?'
"gmMv hmÂgmMv.'
gthÀ hmÂgm§nsâ Igp¯n\p ]nSnIqSn.
"C³kvs]IvSÀ gthÀ! \n§Ä ]dbp¶nS¯p t]mcm³ Rm³ Hcp¡amWv.
F¶mÂ, AXn\pap¼v Hcp Imcyw sN¿m\p|v. Cu bphmhns\ AbmfpsS
ho«n Gev]n¡Ww.'
gthÀ acnbpknsâ \mUnanSn¸p ]cntim[n¨p: "AbmÄ acn¨p.'
"CÃ, acn¨n«nÃ. Fsâ taÂhnemkw X¶n«p|tÃm? F\n¡v Hfn¨pNmSm³ Dt
±iyanÃ.'
gthÀ FXnscm¶pw ]dªnÃ. Dds¡ hnfn¨p: "h|n¡mc³!'
AhnsS Im¯p\n¶ Iqenh|n F¯n. AhÀ c|pt]cpw tNÀ¶v acnbpkns\
h|nbn Ibän¡nS¯n. h|n AXnthKw HmSn¨pt]mbn. dyp sZ ^n Zyp
IÂthdn Bdmw \¼À hoSnsâ ap¼n h|n \n¶p. gthÀ Cd§n
Imhev¡mcs\ hnfn¨pWÀ¯n hmXn Xpd¸n¨p. acnbpkns\ Xm§nsbSp¯v
AI¯p InS¯n. acnbpknsâ lrZbanSn¸v \n¶n«nsöv jm§n\p
t_m²yambn.
hmÂgmMv At¸mįs¶ AhnsS\n¶nd§n h|nbn Ibdn gthtdmSpIqSn
bm{Xbmcw`n¨p:
"F\n¡v Hcp]ImcwIqSn sNbvXpXcWw.'
"F´p thWw?'
"ho«n H¶p Ibdnbn«pt]mcm³ A\phZn¡Ww.'
"h|n¡mc³! dyp Zv temw AÀsabn Ggmw \¼À hoSv.'
]n¶oSv AhÀ H¶pw kwkmcn¨nÃ. h|n ho«p]Sn¡Â F¯n. AhÀ
h|nbnÂ\n¶nd§n. gthÀ h|n¡mc\p IqensImSp¯p ]dªb¨p: "icn!
Rm³ ChnsS \nev¡mw. \n§Ä t]mbnhcq.'
hmÂgmMv ho«n {]thin¨p. apIfnse X«n Ibdn P\ Xpd¶p
]pdt¯¡p t\m¡nbt¸mÄ AhnsS BcpanÃ. gthÀ t]mbncn¡p¶p.
gthÀ skbn³\Znbnte¡pÅ hgnsb k©cn¨v t\m{XvZman\p kao]apÅ
]me¯n \n¶p. GXm\pw Znhkwap¼v kz´w Pohs\ c£n¨ gmMv
hmÂgm§ns\ Adkväv sN¿mt\m, HutZymKnI IrXy\nÀhlW¯nÂ\n¶p
]n·mdmt\m km²yaÃm¯ ØnXnhntijw. AbmfpsS a\Êv AkzØambn.
t]meokv \nba§Ä¡p hncp²ambn Hcp {Inan\Â]pÅnsb hn«bbv¡m³
C³kvs]IvSÀ gthÀ apXncpItbm? shSnsh¨p sImÃm\pÅ kuIcyw
In«nbn«pw kÀhX{´kzX{´\m¡n Xs¶ hn«b¨ gmMv hmÂgm§ns\ ]nSn¨p
XShnem¡pItbm? F´p thWw? A[nImc¯nsâbpw \nba¯nsâbpw
A¸pd¯v asäs´¦nepw Dt|m? gthÀ \Sp§n. hmÂgmMv AbmfpsS
BXvamhn Hcp `mcambncn¡p¶p. hmÂgm§nsâ ]n¶n aZensbsâ cq]w
{]Xy£s¸Sp¶p. A`nhμy\mb tabÀ. "\ns¶ c£s¸Sp¯nbhs\
]nSn¨psImSp¡pI, F¶n«v tbip{InkvXphns\ in£n¨ \ymbm[n]sâ
Ipf¯n \nsâ Igp\J§Ä IgpIpI!' AsX´mWv, Aicocntbm?
cm{Xn HcpaWnbmbn¡mWpw. ]me¯n\p Iogn shÅw Aedn¸mbp¶p. B
hnja{]iv\¯nÂ\n¶v a\Êns\ tamNn¸n¡m³ BXvalXy am{XamWv
t]mwhgnsb¶v gthÀ IcpXn. Aev]kabw BtemNn¨p \n¶tijw AbmÄ
sXm¸n Ducn ]me¯nsâ ssIhcnbnÂsh¨p. Ib¯nte¡v FSp¯pNmSn.
Ipd¨p Znhk§Ä¡ptijw gthdpsS ihw kao]¯p sI«nbn«ncp¶
hŧġnSbn s]m§n. CXp kw_Ôn¨ ]{XhmÀ¯ hmÂgmMv hmbn¨p.
gthÀ¡v Nn¯{`aambncp¶psh¶mWv dnt¸mÀ«v. "icnbmhmw.' Fs¶
]nSnIn«nbn«pw hn«bbvt¡|nh¶t¸mÄ AbmÄ¡p XoÀ¨bmbpw Nn¯{`aw
_m[n¨ncn¡Ww.' gmMv hmÂgm§n\p tXm¶n.
A\¡aäp \o|p\nhÀ¶p InS¶ acnbpkns\ `rXy\pw tKäv Imhev¡mc\pw
tNÀ¶p tkm^tbmSpIqSn Ccn¸papdnbnte¡p sIm|pt]mbn. tUmIvSÀ h¶p
apdnhpIsfÃmw IgpIn XpS¨p acp¶psh¨psI«n. \mepamkt¯mfw
Bi¦mP\Iamb ØnXnbn Ignªp. A¡mea{Xbpw Kn t\mÀam³
DXvIWvTmIpe\mbncp¶p. CSbv¡p Icbpw. CSbv¡p iImcn¡pw. Nnet¸mÄ
kzbw i]n¡pw. KpcpXcmhØ XcWwsNbvXp F¶p tUmIvSÀ ]dª Znhkw
At±lw B\μwsIm|p \r¯wsh¨p.
hgnt¡m«bnÂ\n¶p ho«nse¯n¨Xv BcmsW¶v acnbpkn\p
a\Ênembncp¶nÃ. Btcm h|nbn sIm|ph¶p InS¯nbn«v At¸mįs¶
Øewhn«p F¶p am{Xw Adnªp. t_m[w sXfnªt¸mÄapX AbmÄ¡v
sImsk¯ns\¡pdn¨pÅ hnNmcambn. F§s\sb¦nepw Ahsf
I|p]nSn¡m³ AbmÄ B{Kln¨p.
Hcp Znhkw ap¯Ñ³ apdnbn h¶p. tcmKw amdnb ØnXn¡v icocw
\¶m¡m\pÅ `£Wsams¡ ]dªp sImSp¯p. acnbpkv I«nenÂ
Fgpt¶äncp¶p. ap¯Ñs\ Hcp Imcyw Adnbn¡m\ps|¶v AbmÄ ]dªp:
"F´mWXv?'
"F\n¡p IeymWw Ign¡Ww.'
"Hmtlm! k½Xw.'
"F§s\ k½Xsa¶v?'
"\o B{Kln¨ s]¬Ip«nsb¯s¶ IeymWw Ign¡mw.'
acnbpkv BÝcys¸«p.
"AhÄ \Ã Ip«nbmWv. \nsâ hnhcw Adnbm³ B hr²³ Znhtk\
hcmdp|v. \o InS¸mbXp apXÂ AhÄ Ft¸mgpw Ic¨nemWv. apdnhp
sI«m\pÅ ]ªn apgph³ Hcp¡nbXv AhfmWv.'
AXp]dªt¸mÄ ap¯Ñ³ Icªpt]mbn. acnbpknsâbpw I®p \ndªp.
samMvs^Àantbbn hfsc¡meambn Hcp hgn¸Wn¡mc\p|mbncp¶p.
tKmÀt_mho«nÂsh¨p gmMv hmÂgm§ns\ hIhcp¯ms\mcp§nbhcnÂ
Abmfpw s]Spw. t]cv _pem{XpsbÂ. IpSn¨p t_m[wsI«ncp¶ AbmfnÂ\n¶p
sXfnshm¶pw In«m¯XpsIm|v t]meokpImÀ Abmsf tamNn¸n¨p. Hcp
Znhkw AbmÄ Icn¦Ãp s]m«n¨psIm|ncn¡pt¼mÄ Hcp hr²³ B
hgnbneqsS ImSnsâ DÅnte¡p t]mIp¶XpI|v _pem{Xpsb Abmsf kq
£n¨pt\m¡n. X|phen in£mØe¯psh¨p I|n«pÅ BfmtWm? AbmÄ
sR«nhnd¨p. ]n¡mkv ssIbnÂ\n¶p hoWp. sjm³s{Z¯nsâ ho«nÂ
Ibdnh¶ hr²\pw [\nI\pamb AXnYn. AsX, ]¯psImÃw ap¼v CtX
Øe¯psh¨p s]«nbpw Npa¶p t]mIp¶Xmbn I| BÄ. AXpXs¶.
AbmÄ Im«nse \nt£]¯nsâ DSaØ\mb `qXs¯ Is|¯n. _pem{Xp
sb At§m«p IpXn¨p. ]t£, AbmÄ F¯nbt¸mtg¡pw hr²³
t]mbn¡gnªncp¶p. AhnsS Hcp ac¯nsâ Nph«n Hcp Hgnª s]«n
InS¡p¶p. ]pXpXmbn a®v Cf¡nb Øe¯v Hcp Xq¼bpap|v.
_pem{Xpsben\p tZjyw kln¡m³ IgnªnÃ.
"A¼Sm IÅm! \o AXp sIm|pt]mbn.'
gmMv hmÂgmMv tabdmbncp¶ Ime¯v hyhkmbime \S¯n k¼mZn¨
Bdpe£w {^m¦v B Im«n Hcp hr£¨ph«n `{Zambn kq£n¨p. ]W¯n\v
Bhiyw hcpt¼mÄ AhnsSs¨¶p Ipgn Xpd¶v FSp¯psIm|p t]m¶ncp¶p.
]¯psImïn\nSbv¡v At±l¯n\p ]Xn\¿mbncw {^m¦ne[nIw
sNehmbn«nÃ.
sImsk¯ns\ ImWm\m{Kln¡p¶p F¶v acnbpkv ]dª A¶pXs¶ KnÂ
t\mÀam³ dyp Zv temw AÀsabn Ggmw\¼À ho«nte¡v `rXys\ Ab¨p.
jmMv sImsk¯ns\bpw Iq«nh¶p. At±l¯nsâ ssIbn henb
]pkvXIwt]mepÅ Hcp s]«n D|mbncp¶p. sImsk¯pw acnbpkpw
Hcn¡Â¡qSn At\ym\yw I|p. ePvPmhnhibmb sImsk¯v apdnbpsS Hcp
aqebn HXp§n\n¶p. sImsk¯ns\ acnbpkn\p hnhmlw
sNbvXpsImSp¡Wsa¶v Kn t\mÀam³ jmMv hm jm§nt\mSv At]£n¨p.
k½X`mh¯n jmMv Xe Ip\n¨p:
"hnhmlw Dd¨p.' Kn t\mÀam³ hnfn¨p ]dªp.
At±lw h[qhc·msc ssIs]m¡nb\p{Kln¨p.
"tl, Ip«nItf! At\ym\yw Bcm[n¨psImÅpI. k½Xw.'
hr²·mÀ c|pt]cpw Hmtcm hÀ¯am\§Ä ]dªncp¶p. sImsk¯n\pw
acnbpkn\pw Ipd¨pkabw sskzcambn kÃ]n¡phm\pÅ
kuIcyap|m¡p¶Xn\mbn Ahsc X\n¨m¡n. NmcpItkcbn ssIap«q¶n,
acnbpkv InS¡pIbmbncp¶p. sImsk¯v AbmtfmSp tNÀ¶p\n¶p. k¦Shpw
ePvPbpw ImcWw kwkmcn¡m³ AhÄ \s¶ _p²nap«n: "ssZhta! F\n¡p
ImWm³ IgnªtÃm. `mKyw! F´n\mWv B \in¨ bp²cwKt¯¡p t]mbXv?
IjvSw \mepamkambn Rm³ PohÑhambn«v. C{X ZbhnÃmXmbtÃm. Rm³ F
´p sXäpsNbvXp? ]änbXp ]än. C\n C§s\ sN¿cpXv. F´m H¶pw
an|m¯Xv? Rm³Xs¶ thWw FÃmw ]dbm³. slm! B apdnhv F{X
hepXmbncp¶p! F´ns\s¶ C§s\ ZpxJn¸n¨p.'
 "Hmat\!' acnbpkn\p asäm¶pw ]dbm³ IgnªnÃ. At¸mtg¡pw BfpIÄ
At§m«p h¶XpsIm|v AhÀ kwkmcw \ndp¯n.
Kn t\mÀam\p sImsk¯ns\ hfsc CjvSs¸«p. XamiIÄ ]dªv At±lw
s]m«n¨ncn¨p.
"kpμcnIfmb s]¬Ip«nItfmSv F\n¡p ]dbphm\pÅXv \n§Ä
Ignbp¶Xpw thKw IeymWw Ign¡n³ F¶mWv. Ahnhm lnXIfmbn
Ignbp¶XpsIm|v BÀ¡v F´p KpWw? s]®mbm IeymWw thWw. AhÀ
AXn\pÅXmWv. kpμc\mb `À¯mhnt\mSpIqsS Pohn¡pI. XpSpXpSp¯
Ip«nIfp|mhpI. ]\n\oÀ¸qt]mepÅ ssIsIm|p \n§fpsS amd¯v
X¸pIbpw {]`mXwt]mse ]p©ncn s]mgn¡pIbpw sN¿p¶ Hma\
¡pªvþþþþAXmWp th|Xv. kÔybv¡p sagpIpXncn I¯n¨psh¨v
"I\ymadntb' F¶p kvXpXn ]mSn Ignbp¶Xns\¡mÄ t`Zw AXmWv.'
CXptI«v sImsk¯v \mWwsIm|p apJw Ip\n¨p. Kn t\mÀam³ ho|pw
hmÂgm§nsâ ASp¯p sN¶ncp¶p. "]ns¶ Hcp Imcyw. Fsâ kz¯n ]IpXn
]Wb¯nemWv. Fsâ Imewhsc AhÀ _p²nap«pIbnÃ. Hcp Ccp]XpsImÃw
Ignbpt¼mÄ Ip«nIÄ t¢in¡pw. kpμcamb ChfpsS ssIIfn De¡
]nSnt¡|nhcpw.'
"sImsk¯n\v Bdpe£w {^m¦v kz¯p|v.'
"F´v? Bdpe£w {^mt¦m?'
"]Xn\membnctam ]Xn\¿mbnctam Ipdtª¡pw.'
gmMv hmÂgmMv Xsâ ssIbnencp¶ ]pkvXIwt]mepÅ s]mXn tai¸pd¯p
sh¨p. AXp Xpd¶p t\m«psI«pIÄ ImWn¨p.
"Cu s]mXn sImÅmw.'
AhnsS D|mbncp¶ Kn t\mÀamsâ aq¯aIÄ AÛpXs¸«p.
"tl! henbt½! acnbpkv ]nSns¨Sp¯Xv tImSoizcnbmb Hcp kpμcnsbbmWv,
Adnbmtam?'
acnbpkpw sImsk¯pw Cu kw`mjW§fnsem¶pw {i²n¨nÃ.
c|p amks¯ kabaps|¦nepw hnhml¯n\pÅ Hcp¡§Ä XpS§n.
hmÂgmMv HcpIme¯v tabdmbncp¶Xn\m hnhmlkw_Ôamb \nba§Ä
Adnbmambncp¶p. sImsk¯nsâ A½sb¡pdn¨pÅ kXymhØ At±lw
shfns¸Sp¯nbnÃ. A\yw\n¶pt]mb Hcp IpSpw_¯nse GI k´XnbmWv
sImsk¯v F¶pw AhfpsS Aѳ I\ymaT¯nse ^qjv sehMv F¶
tXm«¡mc\mbncp¶p F¶pw tcJbp|m¡n. bq{^kn ^qjv sehMv F¶mWv
{]amW§fn AhÄ¡p \evInb t]cv. sImsk¯nsâ t]cnepÅ Bdpe£w
{^m¦v t]cp shfns¸Sp¯m³ CjvSs¸Sm¯ HcmÄ AhÄ¡v CjvSZm\w
sImSp¯XmsW¶pw AXv _m¦n \nt£]n¨ncn¡pIbmbncps¶¶pw
hmÂgmMv Øm]n¨p.
 Iman\oImapI·mÀ Znhkhpw X½n I|ncp¶p. gmMv hmÂgm§nsâ IqsS
sImsk¯v F¶pw Kn t\mÀamsâ ho«n hcpw.
"CsXs´mtcÀ¸mSmWv. h[p hcsâ ho«nte¡v hnhmlm`yÀ°\bpambn
hcnI.' ]ga¡mcnbmb amUw Kn t\mÀam³ Ifnbm¡n.
hnhml¯n\p ap¼mbn Xm³ t\cn«p I|v IrXPvRX ]dtb| Nnecps|¶p
acnbpkv HmÀan¨p. AÑs\ acW¯nÂ\n¶p c£n¨ sX\mÀZnsbÀ. shSntbäp
hgnt¡m«bn XfÀ¶phoW Xs¶ ho«n F¯n¨ APvRmXa\pjy³.
sX\mÀZnsbÀ aäpÅhcpsS ZrjvSnbn IÅ\pw sImÅ¡mc\pamsW¦nepw
X\n¡p IS¸mSp|v. Abmsf acnbpkv ]ebnS¯pw At\zjn¨p.
sX\mÀZnsbdpsS `mcy Pbnen InS¶p acn¨p F¶dnªp. sX\mÀZnsbdpw
Cfb aIfmb AskÂabpw Hfnhn t]mbn. tKmÀt_mhoSv B{Ian¨ tIknÂ
sX\mÀZnsbdpsS Xe sh«Wsa¶mbncp¶p tImSXnhn[n.
hgnt¡m«bnÂ\n¶p Xs¶ c£n¨v ap¯Ñsâ ASps¯¯n¨ Zbmephmb
a\pjy³ BcmWv? F{X BtemNn¨n«pw acnbpkn\v Hcp Xp¼pw In«nbnÃ.
hmÂgmMv BIs«, A¡mcyw BtcmSpw ]dªXpanÃ. "bp²¡f¯nÂ
]cpt¡äp Rm³ hoWt¸mÄ _eapÅ Hcp ssI Fs¶ Xm§n. ]ns¶
bmsXm¶pw HmÀabnÃ. Bcv Fs¶ Ct§ms«¯n¨p? GXp hgn¡p
sIm|pt]m¶p? CSwhew Xncnbm³ ]äm¯ tIm«bnÂ\n¶v F§s\ c
£s¸«p?' acnbpkn\v AsXmcp ISwIYbmbn tXm¶n. kaccwKs¯¯nt¨À¶
^qjv sehMv sImsk¯nsâ AѳXs¶bmbncpt¶m? AtXm, asämcmsf
I|n«v A§s\ sXän²cn¨tXm? ^qjv sehMv BWv c£s¸Sp¯nbsX¦nÂ
F´psIm|v AXp ]dbp¶nÃ.
acnbpkv \S¯nb At\zjW¯n Nne hnhc§Ä Adnbm³ Ignªp. ]t
£, Imcy§Ä ]qÀWambn a\ÊnembnÃ. Xs¶ ho«n F¯n¨ h|n¡mcs\
AbmÄ I|p]nSn¨p.
"Hcp t]meokpImc³ Fsâ h|nbn Ibdn. Hmhp]me¯n\p ap¼n h|n
\ndp¯n¨p. AbmÄ AhnsS Cd§n \n¡pt¼mÄ Agp¡pNmensâ hmXnÂ
Xpd¡p¶Xpw HcmÄ Hcp ihhpwsIm|p ]pdt¯¡p hcp¶Xpw I|p.
t]meokpImc³ Abmsf ]nSnIqSn. ihw c|pt]cpwIqSn h|nbn Ibän. dyp
sZ ^n Zyp IÂthdnbn Ggmw \¼À ho«n ihw Cd¡n. t]meokv
DtZymKØ\pw atäbmfpw Xncn¨pt]m¶v thsdmcp ho«p]Sn¡Â Cd§n.'
h|n¡mc\nÂ\n¶v aäp hnhcsam¶pw In«nbnÃ.
"c|pt]ÀIqSnbmWv \n§sf Xm§nsbSp¯psIm|p InS¯nbXv. H¶v, Hcp
t]meokpImc\mbncp¶p. atäbmÄ ImgvNbn `b¦c\mbn tXm¶n.' ho«nse
tKäpImh¡mc\v A{X am{Xta Adnbq.
Hcp Znhkw sImsk¯pw gmMv hmÂgm§pw ho«n h¶t¸mÄ hgnt¡m«bnÂ
\n¶pw AÛpXIcambn c£s¸« kmlNcys¯¡pdn¨v acnbpkv ]dªp:
 "Fs¶ c£s¸Sp¯nbXv Bcmbmepw At±lw alm\mWv. ssZhs¯t¸mse
{]Xy£s¸«v B]¯nsâ \SphneqsS Fs¶ FSp¯psIm|v
Agp¡pNmen¡qSn ]pgh¡s¯¯n. slm! Fs´Ãmw t¢iw At±lw
kln¨pImWpw. ]pd¯p h¶t¸mÄ At±ls¯ t]meokv ]nSn¨p. Hcp
hn¹hImcnsb c£n¨ Ipä¯n\v, Mm! sImsk¯n\pÅ Bdpe£w {^m¦v
Fsâbmbncps¶¦nÂ?'
"kwibsa´m? AXp \n§fpsSbmWv.'
"F¦n AXpapgph³ B a\pjys\ I|p]nSn¡m³ sNehm¡pw.'
hmÂgmMv A`n{]mbsam¶pw ]dªnÃ.
sImsk¯pw acnbpkpw X½nepÅ hnhmlw 1833 s^{_phcn 16þmw XobXn
Kn t\mÀamsâ ho«nÂsh¨p \S¶p. ap¯Ñsâ taÂt\m«w FÃm
Imcy§fnepw D|mbncp¶p. XteZnhkw sshIpt¶cw gmMv hmÂgmMv KnÂ
t\mÀamsâ ap¼nÂsh¨v A©p e£¯nsb¬]¯n\membncw {^m¦v
acnbpkns\ Gev]n¨p. X\n¡p taen ]cnNmcnIbpsS Bhiyansöp ]dªv
XpÊm§ns\ sImsk¯nsâ IqsS \ndp¯n. A¶v F§s\tbm hmÂgm§nsâ
heXpssIbnse XÅhncen\v apdnhp]än. AXn XpWnsh¨psI«ns¡m|mWv
At±lw hnhml¯n\p h¶Xv. AXn\m h[phnsâ c£nXmhnsâ \nebnÂ
hnhmltcJbn H¸psh¡m³ At±l¯n\p km[n¨nÃ. AsXÃmw KnÂ
t\mÀam³ GsäSp¯p. At±lw AXohkwXr]vX\mbncp¶p. hmÂgmMv kt
´mjw a\Ên HXp¡n.
kmMvt]mÄ ]Ånbn ]ptcmlnXsâ ap¼n acnbpkpw sImsk¯pw
a\ʽXw ]dªp. {]amW§fn H¸psh¨p. tamXncw ssIamdn.
shÅtaem¸n\p Iosg [q]¡pänbnse ]pIbv¡p ]n¶n AhÀ ap«pIp¯n.
]ckv]cw ssItImÀ¯p]nSn¨p.
ho«n AXnYn k¡mc¯n\pÅ GÀ¸mSpIÄ Kw`ocambncp¶p. Ia\obamb
tXmcW§Ä, {]Imiw s]mgn¡p¶ Zo]§Ä, hninjvShn`h§Ä,
IÀ®m\μIcamb kwKoXw. jmMv hmXnen\p ]n¶n Hcp Itkcbn Ccp¶p.
hnhmlthj¯n sImsk¯v At±l¯nsâ ASp¯p sN¶p:
"AÑm, AÑ\nt¸mÄ kt´mjamtbm?'
"DÆv tamtf, Xr]vXnbmbn.'
"F¶mÂ, H¶p Nncn¡q.'
gmMv hmÂgmMv Ahsf tNÀ¯p]nSn¨p.
`£W¯n\pÅ kabambn. sImsk¯ns\ \bn¨psIm|v Kn t\mÀam³
k¡mcapdnbnte¡p h¶p. h[phnsâ CS¯pw he¯pw Hmtcm
NmcpItkcIÄ D|mbncp¶p. AXnYnIÄ Hmtcm Øm\¯ncp¶p. KnÂ
t\mÀam³ sImsk¯nsâ CS¯phi¯ncp¶psIm|v gmMv hmÂgm§ns\
Xnc¡n.
 "^qjv se hmMv FhnsS?'
"apdnhp]änb hncen\p thZ\n¡p¶XpsIm|v At±lw t]mbn.'
]cnNmcnIbmWv adp]Sn ]dªXv.
B Itkcbn acnbpkv Ccp¶p. hnhml¨S§pIÄ awKfIcambn
Ahkm\n¨p.
gmMv hmÂgmMv t\sc kz´w ho«nte¡p t]mbn. apdnbn IS¶p hncense
sI«v Agn¨pIfªp. bYmÀ°¯n apdnhv D|mbncp¶nÃ. AeamcbnÂ\n¶v
Xm³ kZm sIm|p\S¡mdpÅ s]«n ]pds¯Sp¯p Xpd¶p. ]¯psImÃw ap¼v
sX\mÀZnsbdpsS Nmcmb¡Sbn InS¶p IjvSs¸Sp¶ Ime¯v sImsk¯v
[cn¨ncp¶ Iod DSp¸pIfmbncp¶p B s]«nbnÂ. At±lw Ah InS¡bnÂ
\nc¯n. Ahsf BZyw ImWp¶XpsXm«pÅ kw`h§Ä Hmtcm¶mbn At
±l¯nsâ HmÀabn sXfnªp. Ccp«¯v Häbv¡v FSp¯m s]m§m¯
IpS¯n shÅhpambn t]mIp¶ hm\¼mSn¸£n, km[phpw `mKylo\bpamb
^³Xo³, Cuä¸penbmb sX\mÀZnsbÀ, s]¯n ]nIyp I\ymaTw, epIvkw_pÀ
tXm«wþþþþA§s\ Hmtcm¶pw.
hmÂgm§nsâ a\Êv AkzØambn. At±lw B InS¡bnte¡p hoWp.
Xm\n\n F´p sN¿Ww? sImsk¯n\v acnbpkns\ In«n. acnbpkn\v
sImsk¯ns\bpw. AhcpsS ku`mKyPohnX¯n\pÅ k¼¯pw D|mbn.
AsXÃmw Xm³ Hcp¡ns¡mSp¯p. AhcpsS kpJ¯n Xm³
]¦psImÅtWm? \nba{]Imcw Xm³ IpähmfnbmWv. AXnsâ Icn\ngÂ
acnbpknsâ ho«n F´n\p ]c¯Ww? Xm³ X|phenin£
A\p`hn¨h\msW¶v B Ip«nIsf Adnbn¨mÂ? A¶pcm{Xn apgph³
BtemN\bmbncp¶p. At±lw HmÀt¯mÀ¯p Icªp. XfÀ¶pd§n. ]ntä¶v
DWÀ¶t¸mÄ B DSp¸pIÄ Npw_n¨v At±lw Fgpt¶äp. Ft´m NnesXms¡
Xocpam\n¨ a«nembncp¶p At±lw.
sshIpt¶cw Kn t\mÀamsâ ho«nte¡p t]mbn. gmMv hmÂgmMv
AIt¯¡p Ibdnhcp¶Xp I| acnbpkv AXy[nIw kt´mjn¨p:
"AÑm! C¶se CÃmXncp¶Xn R§Ä¡p henb k¦Sap|v, ssIbnse
apdnhv DW§p¶pt|m?'
"DÆv.'
"C¶se AÑs\¸än¯s¶bmbncp¶p sImsk¯nsâ hÀ¯am\w. AhÄ¡v
A§sb F{X CjvSamsWt¶m! C\n ChnsS Xmakam¡Ww. B hoSv
HgnªpsImSp¡mw. BtcmKyImcy§fn Ipd¨p {i²n¡msX ]änÃ. ChnsS
FÃm kuIcy§fpw GÀ¸mSp sNbvXpXcmw. C¶v A¯mgw ChnsSbmWtÃm?'
"kÀ! \n§tfmSv F\n¡p NneXp ]dbm\p|v. Rm³ XShnÂ\n¶p
t]m¶h\mWv.'
F´mWv ^qjv sehMv ]dbp¶Xv? acnbpkv ]I¨pt]mbn. hmÂgmMv ssI
\o«n¡mWn¨p.
"t\m¡q, acnbpkv! Fsâ hnc apdnªn«nÃ. IÅsbm¸n«v \n§fpsS
hnhmltcJ If¦s¸Sp¯mXncn¡m³ sNbvX kq{XamWXv.'
"F´mWnXnsâ AÀ°w?'
"CXnsâ AÀ°wþþþþ? Rm³ X|phenin£ A\p`hn¨h\msW¶v.'
"\n§Ä Fs¶ {`m´p]nSn¸n¡p¶p.'
"sakyp s]mMvsagvkn! Rm³ ]s¯m³]Xp hÀjw tamjW¡pä¯n\p
X|phenin£ A\p`hn¨n«p|v. AXn\ptijw asämcp tIÊn Poh]cy´w
in£n¡s¸«h\mWv. Ct¸mÄ PbnenÂ\n¶p NmSnt¸m¶ncn¡pIbmWv.'
"]dbq, Hs¡¸dbq. H¶pw hnSmsX ]dbq. \n§Ä sImsk ¯nsâ AÑ\tÃ?'
acnbpkn\p hÃm¯ AklyX tXm¶n. hmÂgmMv At£m`y\mbncp¶p.
"XShp]pÅnIfpsS kXyw Bcpw IW¡nseSp¡mdnÃ. F¦nepw ssZhw km
£nbmbn Rm³ ]dbp¶p, sImsk¯v Fsâ aIfÃ. Fsâ t]cv ^qjv sehMv
F¶Ã, gmMv hmÂgmMv F¶mWv. Fs¶ hnizkn¡q. sImsk¯pambn
F\ns¡mcp _ÔhpanÃ.'
"AXv Bsc\n¡v sXfnbn¨pXcpw?'
"Rm³Xs¶. Rm³Xs¶ AXp ]dªntÃ?'
"Rm³ hnizkn¡p¶p.'
"AÑ\pw A½bpw CÃm¯ Ahsf Ip«n¡mewapXÂ kwc£n¨p. Fsâ
NpaXe Rm³ \ndthän. B Bdpe£w {^m¦nsâ Imcy¯nepw \n§Ä¡p
kwibw th|. AXp ]cnip²amb apXemWv. sImsk¯n\pÅXmWXv. Rm³
Ifhp ]dªn«p|v. ]t£, C\n Rm³ ]dbpIbnÃ. CXn\p ap¼p hÃXpw
]dªpt]mbn«pÅXv sImsk¯n\pth|nbmWv. CXm, Fsâ NpaXe XoÀ¶p.'
"F´n\mWv \n§Ä CsXms¡ Ct¸mÄ shfns¸Sp¯nbXv? \n§sf Bcpw
I|p]nSn¨n«nÃtÃm.'
"icnbmWv. Fs¶ Bcpw I|p]nSn¨n«nÃ. ]nSn¡bpanÃ. Rm³ acn¨p F¶
tcJbp|v. F¦nepw Fs¶ HcmÄ I|p]nSn¨ncn¡p¶p. AbmÄ Fs¶ ]nSn¨p
XÅp¶p. aämcpaÃ, Rm³Xs¶, Rm³ Fs¶¯s¶ in£n¡p¶p.'
hmÂgmMv H¶p \ndp¯n ]ns¶bpw XpSÀ¶p:
"]|v Rm³ Hcp IjWw sdm«n I«p. Pohn¡m³th|n. C¶p
Pohn¨ncn¡m\mbn Hcp t]cp tamjvSn¨pIqSm. Rm³ Fs¶ h©n¡p¶Xp
sXämWv. Hcn¡Â \n§Ä Fs¶¸än Adnbm\nSh¶mÂ, Rm³ Hcp
XShp]pÅnbmsW¶dnªm \n§Ä F´p hnNmcn¡pw. slm! AXph¿.
Rm³ a\Êm£nsb h©n¡pIbnÃ, acnbpkv! \n§Ä Ft¶mSp kXyw
sN¿Ww. ssZhta! Fsâ aIÄ CXdnbm³ CSbmbmÂ? F\n¡p acn¨mÂ
aXnbmbncp¶p.'
hmÂgmMv \nÈ_vZambn Icªp. At±l¯nsâ I®oscmgpIp¶Xv acnbpkv
I|p.
"k¦Ss¸tS|. \n§fpsS Imcyw Rm³ clkyambnsh¨p sImÅmw.'
"\μn, acnbpkv. F\n¡p Xr]vXnbmbn. Hcp ImcywIqSn.'
"F´mWv?'
hmÂgm§n\p izmkwap«n. At±lw hn¡nhn¡n ]dªp:
"\n§Ä¡p Imcy§sfÃmw a\ÊnembtÃm? C\n \n§fmWp
Xocpam\nt¡|Xv. Rm³ C\nta sImsk¯ns\ ImWcpsX¶p
hnNmcn¡p¶pt|m?'
"AXmbncn¡pw \ÃsX¶p tXm¶p¶p.'
"Rm³ C\n Ahsf ImWpIbnÃ, CÃ.'
hmÂgmMv ]ndp]ndp¯psIm|v hmXnev¡te¡p \S¶p. Xncn¨ph¶v
acnbpknsâ ssI ]nSn¨p. B apJw Icphmfn¨ncp¶p. Np|pIÄ hnd¨ncp¶p:
"\n§tfmSpIqSn Xmakn¡m\pÅ tbmKyX F\n¡nÃ. Rm³ \n§sf C\n
A[nIImew Ae«pIbnÃ. \n§Ä¡p k½XamsW¦n acn¡p¶Xphsc
hÃt¸mgpw A©pan\n«pt\cw sImsk¯ns\ I|m sImÅmsa¶p|v.
AhfÃmsX F\n¡p asäm¶panÃ.'
"\n§Ä F¶pw sshIpt¶cw h¶psImÅq. sImsk¯v \n§sf
Im¯ncn¡pw.'
gmMv hmÂgmMv t]mbn. At±l¯nsâ ]qÀhIY AdnªXpapXÂ acnbpkv
AkzØ\mbn¯oÀ¶p. X§fpsS k´pjvSamb IpSpw_PohnX¯nÂ
hmÂgmMv A]am\ambn¯ocptam? am{XaÃ, B Bdpe£w {^m¦v At±lw
]dªXpt]mse ]cnip²amtWm? tKmÀt_mho«nÂh¨p|mb kw`h§Ä
AbmÄ sImsk¯pambn kwkmcn¨n«nÃ. ]t£, gmMv hmÂgmMvXs¶bmWv
Xsâ IY ]dªXv. Bcpw t{]cn¸n¨n«Ã. At¸mÄ At±lw kXykÔ\mWv.
F¦nepw X|phenin£ A\p`hn¨ XShp]pÅn shdp¡s¸tS|h\mWv.
AXpsIm|v sImsk¯nt\mSpÅ kvt\l¯n amäw hcpt¯|XpanÃ.
]ntäZnhkw kÔybv¡p sImsk¯ns\ ImWm³ hmÂgmMv h¶p. hoSnsâ
Hgnª aqebnepÅ Hcp apdnbnencp¶mWv AhÀ kwkmcn¨Xv. acnbpkpw
hmÂgm§pw X½n \S¶ kw`mjWw AhÄ Adnªncp¶nÃ. AhfpsS
s]cpamäw F¶s¯bpwt]msebmbncp¶p. F¶mÂ, At±l¯nsâ \ne]mSv
]msS amdnbncp¶p. Ahsf amUw F¶p kwt_m[\ sNbvXp. Npw_n¡phm³
k½Xn¨nÃ. AhÄ ]cn`ht¯msS tNmZn¨p:
"Rm³ kpJn¡p¶Xv \n§Ä¡v tZjyambncn¡pw?'
AXv At±l¯nsâ DÅn X«n F¦nepw CSbv¡nSbv¡ph¶v Ahsf
I|ncp¶p. jm§ns\ ImWmt\m, D]Ncn¡mt\m acnbpkv bmsXmcp
XmÂ]cyhpw ImWn¨nÃ. Hcp Znhkw AhcpsS kw`mjW¯n\nSbnÂ
`À¯mhp ]dª Hcp t\ct¼m¡ns\¸än AhÄ kqNn¸n¨p. AbmfpsS
IpSpw_¯nÂ\n¶pÅ HmlcnsIm|p Ipd¨p IjvSs¸«n«msW¦nepw
IgnªpIqSm³ sImsk¯v Hcp¡amtWm F¶v acnbpkv tNmZn¨t{X. AXnse
KqtVmt±iyw AhÄ¡p ]nSnIn«nbnÃ.
gmMv hmÂgm§n\p Imcyw a\Ênembn. Xm³ sImSp¯ kz¯ns\ kw_Ôn¨v
acnbpkn\p kwibap|v. At±lw sImsk¯ns\ ImWm³ t]mIp¶ ]Xnhv
ths|¶ph¨p. hnhcadnbm³th|n sImsk¯v Bfb¨t¸mÄ X\n¡v
AkpJsam¶pansöpw Hcp bm{Xbv¡v Hcp§pIbmsW¶pw Ahkcw
In«nbm DS³ hcpsa¶pw ]dªb¨p.
Hcp Znhkw sshIpt¶cw Idp¯ hkv{X§fpw I®Sbpw [cn¨ HcmÄ
acnbpkns\ ImWm³ h¶p. acnbpkn\p sImSp¡m³ ]dªv Hcp Ipdn¸v
AbmÄ tKäv Imh¡mcs\ Gev]n¨p. acnbpkv I¯p hm§n. "samkyp
acnbpkv,
Xm¦Ä Adntb|Xmb Nne clky§Ä F\n¡dnbmw. t\cn«p
kwkmcn¡m³ Zbhp|mIWw.
sX\mÀ.'
Abmsf AIt¯¡p hnfn¸n¨p. ssI¸S I|t¸mįs¶ acnbpkn\p
a\Ênembn. Xsâ AÑsâ Poh³ c£n¨ Bsf t\cn«p ImWm³ Ahkcw
e`n¨ncn¡p¶p. C\n Xsâ Pohs\ c£n¨ Bsf¡qSn I|m aXn. ]t£,
kμÀiI³ AIt¯¡p h¶t¸mÄ acnbpkv AÛpXs¸«p. CXmcv!
cmPyX{´PvR·mcpsS [mSnbn thjhpw aoibpw I®Sbpw.
acnbpknsâbpw sImsk¯nsâbpw hnhmltLmjbm{X t]mIp¶ hgn¡p
tImamfnthj¡mcpsS {]IS\ap|mbncp¶p. sX\mÀZnsbdpw aIÄ
AskÂabpw D|mbncp¶p A¡q«¯nÂ. AskÂa gmMv hmÂgm§ns\bpw
sImsk¯ns\bpw sX\mÀZn sbÀ¡v ImWn¨psImSp¯p. At\zjW¯nÂ
acnbpknsâ hnhml¡mcyhpw hmÂgmMv kz¯v ssIamäw sNbvXXpw AbmÄ
Adnªp. AXpsIm|v acnbpknÂ\n¶pw ]Ww ]nSp§m³ h¶XmWbmÄ.
sX\mÀZnsbÀ acnbpkn\p kemw sNbvXp.
"F´p thWw?'
"Rm³ A§sb ]ebnS¯pwsh¨p I|n«p|v.'
"F\n¡dnªpIqSm. F´p thWsa¶p ]dbq.'
"Rm³ aIsfbpw `mcysbbpwIq«n Atacn¡bnte¡p t]mIbmWv. ]\mabnÂ
Hcp kzÀ®hym]mcime Xpd¡Ww. Ipd¨p]Ww thWw. A§p klmbnt¨
]äq. ]Icw A§bpsS \·bv¡mbn AXohclkyamb Nne Imcy§Ä Rm³
]dªpXcmw.'
"]dbq.'
"]caclkyamWv.'
"]dtªmfq. kwibnt¡|.'
 "\n§fpsS ho«n IÅ\pw sIme]mXInbpamb HcmÄ Xmakn¡p¶p|v.'
acnbpkv sR«nhnd¨p.
"Fsâ ho«neà Xmakn¡p¶Xv.'
"X|phenin£mØe¯p\n¶p NmSnt¸m¶ Hcp \oN³, Cu IpSpw_¯nÂ
IS¶p]änbn«p|v. t]cv gmMv hmÂgmMv. F\n¡v Hcp ]Xn\mbncw {^m¦v Xcq,
C\nbpw Rm³ NneXp ]dªpXcmw.'
"AXp \n§Ä ]dbmsXXs¶ F\n¡dnbmw.'
sX\mÀZnsbÀ H¶p Nqfn.
"icn! Adnbmambncn¡pw. Rm³ C\n ]dbm³ t]mIp¶Xv F\n¡p am{Xta
Adnbq. Hcp Ccp]Xn\mbncw {^m¦v.'
"B clkyhpw aäpÅht]mse F\n¡dnbmw.'
"Hcp ]Xn\mbncw {^m¦v.'
"\n§Ä H¶pw ]db|. FÃmw Rm\dnbpw.'
"F´mbmepw Ccp]¯©p {^m¦v Xcq. F\n¡p hni¡p¶p.'
acnbpkv Abmsf Xpdn¨pt\m¡n.
"\n§sf¸änbpÅ clky§fpw F\n¡dnbmw.'
"F¶mÂ, Fsâ t]cv ]dbq.'
"AXpw ]dbmw.'
"Fsâ Ipdn¸n D|mbncp¶tÃm, AtÃ? sX\mÀ.'
"þþþþZnsbÀ.'
"MvG!'
"sX\mÀZnsbÀ.'
"AXmcmWv?'sX\mÀZnsbÀ sR«n.
"sjm³s{Z¯v. ^_´p. samMvs^Àantbbnse Nmcmb¡S ¡mc³.'
"Hcn¡epaÃ.'
"sX½mSn!'
Aªqdp {^m¦nsâ Hcp t\ms«Sp¯v acnbpkv AbmfpsS
t\Às¡dnªpsImSp¯p. AbmÄ AXv BÀ¯ntbmsS FSp¯p:
"icn. C\n \ap¡p Imcyw ]dªpXoÀ¡mw.'
AbmÄ sh¸paoi hen¨pamän. I®S Ducn. s\änbnte¡v Cd¡nbn«ncp¶ apSn
Hcp hit¯¡p amSn.
"AsX. Rm³ sX\mÀZnsbdmWv.'
"\n§Ä hnjant¡|. clky§Ä Rm³Xs¶ ]dbmw. AbmÄ IÅ\pw
sIme]mXInbpamWv. F\n¡dnbmw. Hcp hyhkmbnbpsS ]Ww
X«nsbSp¯XpsIm|v Ių. gthÀ C³kvvs]IvSsd hgnt¡m«bnÂsh¨p
shSnsh¨p sIm¶XpsIm|v sIme]mXIn. F´m, t]msc?'
"\n§Ä ]dbp¶Xv F\n¡p a\ÊnemIp¶nÃ.'
 "Fw. ]«W¯nse tabÀ aZensb³ hyhkmbime \S¯n [mcmfw [\w
k¼mZn¨p. DZmca\kvI\mbncp¶p. AbmÄ XShp]pÅnbmsW¶dnªt¸mÄ
ho|pw Adkväv sN¿s¸«p. AbmfpsS _m¦nen«ncp¶ kz¯p apgph³ CbmÄ
aZensb\msW¶p ]dªp IÅsbm¸n«p hm§n.'
"At§¡p sXäp]än. aZensbsâ ]Ww AbmÄ A]lcn¨nÃ.
aZensb³Xs¶bmWv gmMv hmÂgmMv.'
"F´v?'
"C\n atä Imcyw. gthÀ BXvalXy sN¿pIbmbncp¶p.
hnizmkamIp¶nsæn Cu ]{X§Ä t\m¡q.' sX\mÀZnsbÀ t]m¡änÂ\n¶p
]{X§Ä ]pds¯Sp¯p.
H¶v, 1823 Pqsse 25þmw XobXnbnse "{Zmt¸m»mMv']{Xw. AXn gmMv
hmÂgm§pw tabÀ aZensb\pw HcmfmsW¶p hyàambn ]dbp¶p|v.'
c|v, 1832 Pq¬ 15þmw XobXnbnse "tamWn¯nsb' ]{Xw. AXn gthÀ
BXvalXysNbvXXmb dnt¸mÀ«p|v.
acnbpknsâ a\Ên hmÂgmMv Hcp almsâ cq]w ssIs¡m|p.
"Rm³ At±ls¯ sXän²cn¨p. ]mh§fpsS c£nXmhmbncp¶ tabÀ.
almXvamhv, Ejn.'
"s]cp¦Å³! sImebmfn!'
"\n§Ä hnUvVn¯w ]dbp¶p.'
"hmÂgmMv aZensbsâ ]Ww X«nsbSp¯nsænepw IųXs¶. gthsd
sIm¶n«nsænepw sIme]mXIn.'
"AsX§s\?'
"C\n Rm³ ]dbp¶Xv BÀ¡pw AdnhnÃm¯ AXohKqVamb ImcyamWv.
AXn\p {]Xn^ew thsd thWw.'
acnbpkv Ipd¨pIqSn AbmfpsS ASpt¯¡ncp¶p. sX\mÀZnsbÀ ImenÂ
Imteän Itkcbn Nmªncp¶p.
"samkyp _md³, 1832 Pq¬ 6þmw XobXn ]mcokn elf
\S¶psIm|ncn¡pt¼mÄ Agp¡pNm ]pgbn NmSp¶nS¯v HcmÄ
\nev]p|mbncp¶p. t]meoknsâ ]nSnbn s]SmXncn¡m³. At¸mÄ ihicocw
]pdt¯än HcmÄ AXneqsS hcp¶p. IqenbnÃmsX Bsc¦nepw NpasSSp¡ptam?
Hcp a\pjys\ sImes¸Sp¯n henb XpI X«nsbSp¯v ihw skbn³\ZnbnÂ
sI«n¯mgv¯n. B `b¦c\mWv \n§fpsS _Ôphmbn IqSnbn«pÅ gmMv
hmÂgmMv. slm! hnjhmbp izkn¨p aq¡äw Agp¡pshůneqsS
\mepaWn¡qÀ bm{X. thWsa¦n ihw B sNfn¡p|n Xmgv¯mambncp¶p.
Ft´m AbmÄ AXp sNbvXnÃ. I¼nhmXnensâ Hcp Xmt¡m Fsâ
ssIbnep|mbncp¶p. Rm\mWv Abmsf IS¯nhn«Xv. ]n¶oSv F\n¡v Bsf
]nSnIn«n. gmMv hmÂgmMv. Rm³ B ih¯nsâ jÀ«nÂ\n¶v Hcp IjWw
IodnsbSp¯p. sXfnhp|m¡m³ AXv Bhiyamtb¡mw F¶p hnNmcn¨p. CXm
t\m¡q.'
sX\mÀZnsbÀ Hcp XpWn¡jWw t]m¡änÂ\n¶p hens¨ Sp¯p.
acnbpkv NmSnsbWoäp. Xmt¡m FSp¯v Aeamc Xpd¶p. AXn kq
£n¨psh¨ncp¶ tNmc ]änb Idp¯ DSp¸p ]pds¯Sp¯p. sX\mÀZnsbdpsS
ssIbnencp¶ XpWn¡jWw X«n¸dn¨p Xsâ jÀ«nt\mSp tNÀ¯ph¨p
t\m¡n. jÀ«nsâ Iodnb `mK¯v B IjWw tNÀ¶ncp¶p. sX\mÀZnsbÀ
kvXw`n¨pt]mbn.
"sImÃs¸« sNdp¸¡mc³ BcmsW¶p a\Ênemtbm?'
acnbpkv ho|pw Hcp t\ms«Sp¯v sX\mÀZnsbdpsS apJt¯s¡dnªp.
"ZpjvS³! sX½mSn! NXnb³! \n§Ä B a\pjys\ Ipähmfnbm¡m³ h¶p.
clkyw hnäp ]Wam¡m³ \S¡p¶ Ių. tIWensâ Poh³ \o c£n¨p.
hm«Àeq \ns¶ c£n¨p. Aªqdp {^m¦vIqSn Ccn¡s«. FÃmw
s]dp¡nsbSp¯v t]m ChnS¶v. C\n ChnsS I|pt]mIcpXv.'
sX\mÀZnsbÀ CSnsh«psIm|t]mse achn¨pt]mbn. t\ms«Ãmw FSp¯v
AhnsS\n¶p \S¶p.
AbmÄ t]mb DSs\ acnbpkv tXm«¯nte¡v HmSn. sImsk¯v AhnsS
em¯pIbmbncp¶p.
"sImsk¯v! hcq. \ap¡v AÑs\ ImWm³ t]mImw.'
AbmÄ¡p izmkw In«p¶nÃ. s\©nSn¸p Ipdbv¡m³th|n AbmÄ amd¯p
ssIsh¨p. ASps¯¯nb sImsk¯ns\ sI«n¸nSn¨p.
sImsk¯v! Rm³ Hcp `mKywsI«h\mWv.
AhÄ BsI kw{`an¨p. Hcp \nanjwsIm|v Iqenh|n ]Sn¡se¯n. AbmÄ
h|nbn NmSn¡bdn Ahsfbpw ]nSn¨ncp¯n.
"h|n¡mc³! thKw hnSq. dyp Zv temw AÀsa 7þmw \¼À hoSv.'
h|n AXnthKw ]mªp. sImsk¯n\v H¶pw a\ÊnembnÃ.
"AÑs\ ImWm³. lm! F´p kpJw. F\n¡p tNmZn¡m³ ss[cyap|mbnÃ.'
"\nsâ AÑs\. sImsk¯v! Khvtdmjnsâ ssIbn Rm³ \n\¡p
sImSp¯b¨ I¯v At±l¯n\p In«nbncn¡pw. ssZhZqX\mbn At±lw
hgnt¡m«bnse¯n Fs¶ c£n¨p. ]escbpw. Fsâ ssZhamWt±lw. C\n
Rm\t±ls¯ hnSpIbnÃ.'
sImsk¯ns\ ]ncnªXpapXÂ gmMv hmÂgm§n\v PohnXw
`mcambn¯oÀ¶p. a\Êpw icochpw XfÀ¶p. Ipsd Znhkw AhfpsS hoSn\p
kao]whsc t]mbn Xncn¨phcmdp|mbncp¶p. AIse\n¶p hoSp
t\m¡n¡mWpw. B I®pIÄ \ndbpw. ]n¶oSv AXn\pw h¿mXmbn. At
±l¯n\p ]\n ]nSn¨p. sN¼psIm|pÅ Hcp Ipcnip hm§n Nphcn Xq¡n.
InS¡bv¡v kao]w taita sa{Xm³ sImSp¯ sagpIpXncn¡mepIfpw
sh¨ncp¶p. tcmKi¿bn InS¶v At±lw s\SphoÀ¸n«p. Imh¡mcn
\nÀ_Ôn¡pt¼mÄ Aev]w shÅw IpSn¡pw.
A¶pcm{Xn At±lw hfsc {]bmks¸«v FWoäncp¶p. Npäp]mSpw t\m¡n.
tai¸pd¯p ajnbpw Xqhepw ISemkpw D|mbncp¶p.
"sImsk¯v, \n\¡v \· hcs«. Rm³ t]mIWsa¶p \nsâ `À¯mhv Dt
±in¨Xp \¶mbn. F¶mÂ, AbmfpsS [mcW sXämWv. \o At±ls¯
kvt\ln¡Ww. samkyp s]mMv sagvko, Fsâ Ip«nsb kvt\ln¡tW.
sImsk¯v, \o HmÀan¡pI. Cu ]Ww \ntâXmWv. shfp¯ A¼À
t\mÀshbnÂ\n¶pw Idp¯ A¼À Cw¥|nÂ\n¶pw kv^SnIm`cW§Ä
PÀa\nbnÂ\n¶pw hcp¶p. Ipdª sNehn kv^SnIm`cW§Ä
D|m¡m\pÅ hnZy Rm³ I|p]nSn¨p. Npcp§nb hnebv¡p hnev¡mw.
km[\w sa¨s¸«Xpambncn¡pw. kvs]bn\n AXn\p \à It¼mfap|v. AXv
A¼dnsâ cmPyamWv.'
C{Xbpw FgpXnbt¸mtg¡pw At±l¯nsâ ssIIÄ Ipgªp. c|p ssIbpw
Xebn Xm§n.
"tamtf, sImsk¯v! \ns¶ I|psIm|p Rm³ acnt¨ms«. FÃmw Ignªp.
ssZhta! Rm\n\n Ahsf ImWnÃ.'
hmXnen ap«p tI«p. hmÂgmMv ]n³Xncnªp t\m¡n. "AI¯p hcq.'
hmXn Xpd¶p sImsk¯pw acnbpkpw AI¯p IS¶p. acnbpkv IXInÂ
Nmcn\n¶p. jmMv ssI\o«n hnfn¨p:
"tamtf!'
"AÑm!' sImsk¯v HmSns¨¶v At±l¯nsâ amdn XeNmbv¨p. s\änbnÂ
D½sh¨p. aq¶p t]cpsSbpw I®pIÄ Cud\Wnªp.
"\o h¶p. ssZhta, \o F\n¡p am¸pX¶p.'
"AÑm! Aѳ F\n¡pw am¸pX¶p.'
AhÄ sXm¸nbpw kmÂhbpw I«nente¡v Fdnªp.
"F\n¡v H¶pw a\Ênemhp¶nÃ.'
AhÄ At±l¯nsâ aSnbn Ibdn Ccp¶p. \c¨ XeapSn
Ccphit¯¡pambn ]Ip¯p. s\änbn ho|pw ho|pw D½sh¨p. gmMv
hmÂgm§n\v i_vZw s]m§mXmbn. "Rm\n\n Hcn¡epw Ahsf ImWnsötÃ
hnNmcn¨Xv. acnbpkv! \n§sfbpw. sImsk¯ns\ F\n¡v CSbv¡p ImWWw.
s]mMvsagvko, Rm³ Ahsf \o F¶p hnfnt¨ms«. A[nIkabw th|nhcnÃ.'
"Rm³ the¡mcnsb Ab¨n«v Aѳ ChnsS CsömWtÃm ]dªXv.'
sImsk¯v ]cn`hw ]dªp.
"acnbpkv! \n§Ä F\n¡p am¸p X¶p, AtÃ?'
acnbpkn\p k¦Sw kln¡m\mbnÃ. AbmÄ s]m«n¡cªp.
"sImsk¯v, CXp tIÄ¡p¶pt|m? At±lw Ft¶mSp am¸p tNmZn¡p¶p.
\μnsI«h\mb Ft¶mSv. Fsâ PohnXImew apgph³ At±l¯nsâ
]mZip{iqj sNbvXmepw aXnbmhnÃ. `oIcamb hgnt¡m«. hnjhmbp \ndª
Agp¡pNmÂ. AsXÃmw F\n¡pth|n, sImsk¯n\pth|n..... Fs´´p
XymK§Ä! At±lw ssZhamWv, AÑm!'
acnbpkv At±l¯nsâ ImepIfn ]nSn¨p.
"CsXms¡ F´n\p ]dbp¶p?'
"A§pw sXämWp sNbvXXv. F´psIm|v CsXms¡ F¶n \n¶p
ad¨psh¨p? \n§Ä aäpÅhcpsS Poh³ c£n¡p¶p. AhtcmSv AsXm¶pw
]dbp¶panÃ.'
"Rm³ kXyamWp ]dªXv.'
"apgph³ kXyw A§p ]dªnÃ. aZensb³ A§mbncp¶p F¶p ]dtªm?
gthsd shdpsX hn« Imcyw ]dtªm? Fs¶ c£n¡m³th|n Fs´ms¡
sNbvXp. hÃXpw an|ntbm?'
"Agp¡pNmense IY ]dªncps¶¦n \n§Ä Fs¶ hnSnÃ. IqsS
Xmakn¸n¡pw. HSphn \n§Ä¡p ZpxJ¯n\p ImcWamIbpw sN¿pw.'
"F´p ZpxJw? BÀ¡v? A§v C\nbpw ChnsS Xmakn¡m\mtWm `mhw?
R§Ä Xm§n FSp¯psIm|pt]mIpw. \msf A§v ChnsS D|mhnÃ.'
"\msf Rm³ ChnsS D|mhnÃ, icnbmWv. \n§fpsS IqsSbpw
D|mbncn¡nÃ.'
"]ns¶ ZoÀLbm{Xbv¡mtWm Hcp¡w. R§Ä hnSnÃ.'
"hmXn¡ h|nbp|v. R§Ä sImt| t]mWpÅp.' sImsk¯v At
±ls¯ s]m¡m³ {ian¨p.
"ssZhw Zbm\n[nbmbXpsIm|mWv \n§sf ChnsS F¯n¨Xv. \½Ä
Hcpan¨p Xmakn¡p¶Xp \¶mbncn¡pw. tXm«¯n kwkmcn¨ncn¡mw. cmhnse
At\ym\yw ImWmw. FÃmw sImÅmw. ]t£þþþþ'
At±l¯nsâ I®pIfn Pew s]mSnªp: "IjvSw.'
Dcp|pIqSnb I®p\oÀ¯pÅn Xmsg hoWnÃ. B Øm\¯p ]p©ncn
hnS˦p.
sImsk¯v At±l¯nsâ c|p ssIbpw Iq«n¸nSn¨p:
"ssZhta! ssI c|pw XWp¯ncn¡p¶tÃm. kpJantÃ?'
"\Ã kpJw. Rm³ acn¡pIbmWv.'
sImsk¯pw acnbpkpw \Sp§n.
"acn¡pItbm?' acnbpkv kw{`at¯msS At±ls¯ t\m¡n.
"AsX. AXp kmcanà sImsk¯v! \osb´mWv Ft¶mSp ]dªncp¶Xv,
\nsâ tXm«¯nse Infn. ]dbq. Rm³ \nsâ i_vZw tIÄ¡s«.'
AhÄ Dds¡ \nehnfn¨p.
"AÑm! Aѳ acn¡cpXv. Rm³ k½Xn¡nÃ.'
 "Mv! acn¡m³ k½Xn¡nÃ! hmkvXh¯n Rm³ acn¨Xmbncp¶p. \n§Ä
h¶t¸mÄ Rm³ ho|pw Pohn¨p.'
"At§¡v H¶pw ]änbn«nÃ. Ct¸mÄ acn¡nÃ. A§p hfsc ZpxJn¨p. C\n
AXp|mInÃ. Rm³ am¸p tNmZn¡p¶p. A§bpsS kpJamWv R§fpsS
kpJw.'
"s]mMvsagvko, ssZh\nÝbw amäm\mhnÃ. C\n Rm³ t]mhpIbmWp
th|Xv. \ap¡v th|sXs´¶v \t½¡mÄ \¶mbn ssZh¯n\dnbmw.
sImsk¯v \n§Ä¡ncn¡s«. a¡tf! \n§fpsS PohnXw shbnÂX«n
Xnf§p¶ at\mlc ssaXm\amIs«. \n§Ä¡p Npäpw ]q¦pbnepIfpw ]q¡fpw
\ndbs«. FÃm kzÀ¤ob`wKnIfpw \n§fpsS BXvamhns\ A\p{Kln¡s«.
\nÀKpW\mb Rm³ t]mIs«.'
tUmIvSÀ h¶p.
"hcq tUmIvSÀ. Rm³ bm{X ]dbp¶p. ChÀ Fsâ km[p Ip«nIfmWv.'
acnbpkv tUmIvStdmSp hnhcw tNmZn¨p. AbmÄ adp]Sn H¶pw ]dªnÃ.
Ipd¨pt\ct¯¡v AhnsS \nÈ_vZX hym]n¨p. FÃmhcpsS lrZbhpw
hn§pIbmbncp¶p.
hmÂgmMv sImsk¯ns\ I¬IpfnÀs¡ t\m¡n.
tUmIvSÀ \mUn ]cntim[n¨p t\m¡nbn«p ]Xps¡ ]dªp: "At¸mÄ At
±lw ImWm³ B{Kln¨Xv \n§sfbmWv. ]t£, sshInt¸mbn.'
"acn¡p¶Xp kmcanÃ. Pohn¨ncn¡mXmhpI k¦SwXs¶.' hmÂgmMv
tUmIvStdmSmbn ]dªp.
s]s«¶v At±lw FWoäp\n¶p. acW¸nS¨ntemsS Nphcnsâ ASpt¯¡p
\o§n. klmbn¡m³ sN¶ acnbpkns\bpw tUmIvSsdbpw X«namän. NpacnÂ
Xq¡nbncp¶ sN¼pIpcnip hens¨Sp¯p. NpdpNpdpt¡msS Xncn¨ph¶v Ipcnip
tai¸pd¯psh¨p.
"[Àac£bv¡mbn ]oU A\p`hn¨ almXvamhns\ t\m¡q.'
s]s«¶v At±l¯nsâ s\©p XmWp. Xe Ddbv¡p¶nÃ.
sImsk¯v At±l¯nsâ ]pdw Xm§n: "AÑm R§sf hn«pt]mItÃ. bm{X
]dbm³ th|nbmtWm R§Ä A§bpsS ASpt¯¡p h¶Xv?'
gmMv hmÂgm§n\p ho|pw t_m[w sXfnªp. At±lw sImsk¯nsâ
ssIIfn Npw_n¨p.
"At±l¯n\p t_m[w h¶p tUmIvSÀ.' acnbpkv ]dªp. hmÂgmMv
AXptI«p.
"\n§Ä \ÃhcmWv. acnbpkv, Fs¶ thZ\n¸n¨Xv F´msW¶p ]dbmw.
\n§Ä B ]Ww sXmSnsöp \nÝbn¨ntÃ? AXmWv Fs¶ XfÀ¯nbXv.
Rm³ hyhkmbime \S¯nbmWv ]Ww D|m¡nbXv. B hyhkmb¯nsâ
\S¯n¸ns\¸än CXm Cu ISemkn Rm³ FgpXnsh¨n«p|v. B ]W¯nÂ
bmsXmcp If¦hpanÃ. Cu hyhkmbw \n§Ä¡pw XpS§mw. [\w hmcn¡q«mw.'
hmXnen\¸pd¯p\n¶psIm|v Imhev¡mcn hnfn¨ptNmZn¨p: "]ptcmlnXs\
hnfn¡tWm?'
Xebv¡p apIfn Nq|ns¡m|v hmÂgmMv adp]Sn \evIn:
"F\ns¡mcmfp|mbncp¶p.' At±lw sa{Xms\bmbncn¡Ww a\ÊnÂ
IcpXnbXv.
gmMv hmÂgm§n\p £oWw IqSnh¶p. izmkw CShn«mbn. sImsk¯v
XebW At±l¯nsâ Acs¡«nte¡p XncpInsh¨p. ssIbpw Imepw
Cf¡m³ hnjaambn.
sImsk¯pw acnbpkpw ASp¯psNÃm³ BwKyw ImWn¨p. kabw
ASp¯phcnIbmWv. kwibanÃ.
"ASp¯p hcq, c|mfpw. Rm³ \n§sf AXy[nIw kvt\ln¡p¶p. C§s\
acn¡m³ Ignbp¶Xv F{X `mKyw. B ]Ww sImsk¯nsâ kz´amWv.
\n§Ä¡v btYjvSw A\p`hn¡mw. kpJambn IgnbWw. B
sagpIpXncn¡mepIÄ F\n¡p hfsc hnes¸«XmWv. AXp Rm³
sImsk¯n\p Xcp¶p. Rm³ Hcp Zcn{Z\msW¶pÅ Imcyw \n§Ä
ad¶pt]mIcpXv. Fs¶ FhnsSsb¦nepw Ipgn¨paqSpI. Øew Adnbm³ Hcp
IÃp \m«pI. AXn bmsXm¶pw FgpXnsh¡cpXv. acnbpkv, \n§Ä Fsâ
sImsk¯v Ip«nsb ZpxJn¸n¡cpXv. F\n¡v \n§sf ]qÀ®hnizmkamWv.
sImsk¯v, \o samMvs^Àantb HmÀ¡p¶pt|m? ]¯psImÃw ap¼v Rm³
\nsâ ap¼n hs¶¯nbXv? Ip«nItf, \n§Ä Fs¶ HmÀ¯p IcbcpXv.
sImsk¯v, \nsâ Ipªnss¡ Rm³ BZyambn sXm«Xv A¶mWv. \nsâ
A½bpsS t]cp Rm³ ]dªpX¶n«nÃ. AXn\pÅ kabambn. ^³Xo³!
AXmWhfpsS t]cv. \o HmÀan¡pI. B t]cp ]dbpt¼mÄ \o ap«pIp¯Ww.
\n\¡pth|n AhÄ F{X IjvSs¸«n«ps|t¶m? a¡tf! Rm³ t]mhpIbmbn.
\n§Ä ]ckv]cw kvt\ln¨p Pohn¡pI. H¶pIqSn ASp¯p\nev¡q. \n§fpsS
incÊp ImWn¡q. Rm³ \n§sf A\p{Kln¡s«.'
sImsk¯pw acnbpkpw I®oÀ hmÀ¯psIm|v At±l¯nsâ ap¼nÂ
ap«pIp¯n. incÊn ssIsh¨v At±lw Ahsc A\p{Kln¨p. B ssIIÄ
]ns¶ A\§nbnÃ. At±lw ]nt¶m¡w adnªp. sagpIpXncnshfn¨¯n B
apJw sXfnªp. sImsk¯pw acnbpkpw B ssIIfn Npw_n¨p.
gmMv hmÂgmMv acn¨p.
s]Àesjbnknbnse ivaim\`qanbn ]mh§sf adhp sN¿p¶nS¯v
C¯n¡®n ]SÀ¶p]nSn¨ Hcp Iqä³ tZhXmcpac¯nsâ Nph«nÂ
]pÃpIÄ¡nSbn ]q¸Â ]nSn¨ Hcp IÃp|v. AXn t]scm¶pw
sIm¯nbn«nÃ. hfsc sImçġpap¼v Btcm HcmÄ AXn \mep hcn
IhnX Ipdn¨p. agbpw s]mSnbptaäv AXnt¸mÄ amªpt]mbncn¡p¶p:
"At±lapd§p¶p, hn[nsb´mboSnepw
Pohn¨p ]pam\nh³, acn¨p Poh³t]msI
F{Xtbm km[mcWambXp kw`hn¨p;
]IÂt]msb¶met¸mÄ cm{Xn h¶oSpwh®w.'
A\p_Ôw
hnIvtXmÀ bqtKmbpsS IrXnIÄ


1823 Han of Iceland, Novel
1826 Bug Jargal, Novel
1829 The Last Days of a Condemned Man, Novel
1831 The Hunchback of Notre-dame, Novel
1834 Claude Gueux, Novel
1862 Les Miserables, Novel
1866 Toilers of the Sea, Novel
1869 The Man Who Laughs,1873 '93, Novel
1827 Cromwell, Plays
1829 Marion De Lorme, Play
1830 Hernani, Play
1832 The King Takes His Amusement, Play
1833 Lucrece Borgia, Play
1833 Marie Tudor, Play
1835 Angelo, Play
1838 Ruyblas, Play
1843 The Burgraves, Play
1882 Torquemada, Play
The Genesis of Butterflies, Poetry
The Grave and The Rose, Poetry
More Strong Than Time, Poetry
The Ocean's Song, Poetry
The Poor Children, Poetry
A Sunset, Poetry, Poetry
1834 Literature and Philosophy Mingled, Essay
1842 The Rhine, Travel Book
1848 The Event, Newspaper
1872 The Terrible Year, Essay
1875 Deeds and Words I & II; Before Exile & After Exile, Essays and Speeches
1876 Deeds and Words III; Since Exile, Essays and Speeches
1877 History of A Crime - On Napoleon III
1889 Deeds and Words IV; Since Exile, Essays and Speeches



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