tN¨ntamÄ þ 01 :cRvPn\n: ]Xns\«pþ]s¯m¼XphÊpÅ k_o\bpsS PohnXamsI amdnadnªXv B sht¡j³ Ime¯mWv. hoSp]Wn XpS§nbXn\m Cfbp¸bpsS æSpw_w AhfpsS ho«nte¡v Xmakw amän. Cfbp½bpw aIëw aIfpw. Øe]cnanXnbpÅXn\m Cfbp½bpw sIm¨ptamfpw D½bpsSIqsS HêapdnbnÂ. ]¯mw¢mkpIgnª jmPlm³ AhfpsS apdnbnepw. ]­v AhscÃmw Hêho«nembnêì. sIm¨nte apX Hêan¨pIfn¨p hfÀ¶XpsIm­mhmw jmsb AhfpsS apdnbn XÅnbXv. AtXm Ahs\ shdpw ]¿\mbn I­XpsImt­m? AdnbnÃ. am{XaÃ, aqìhbknë aq¯ k_o\ Aht\mSp hbÊpaq¸nsâ A[nImcw ImWn¨nêì. FÃmhêw jmPlms\ t]ê Npê¡n jm F¶mWv hnfnç¶Xv. Ah³ Ahsf tN¨o F¶mWv hnfn¡p¶Xv. FSn tNÀ¯pw hnfn¡mdp­v.. jmPlm³ ]I t\csamìw ho«n ImWnÃ. GXpt\chpw Iq«pImêambn Id§n\S¸pw IfnbpamWv. Asæn ]pXnbhoSp]Wnbp¶ Øe¯pw. D¨ív hìIgn¨n«v ho­pw kÀ¡o«n\nd§pw. cm{Xnbmæt¼mÄ am{Xw Ah³ apdnbn Iméw. k_o\sb tN¨nsb¶ \nebn _lpam\n¨nêìsh¦nepw AhÀX½n AI¨sbmìw CÃmbnêì. apdnbpsS c­ä¯mbn C«nê¶ I«nepIfnemWv AhêsS InS¸v. Hê Znhkw D¨íp tijw ]WnsbmìanÃmsX Np½mbnêì aSp¯ AhÄ jmPlmsâ ]pkvXI§Ä FSp¯p shdpsX adn¨pt\m¡m³ XpS§n. At¸mgmWv Hê ]pkvXI¯n\I¯p\nì aS¡nb æsd t]¸dpIÄ In«nbXv. GtXm sIm¨p]pkvXI¯nse t^mt«mIÄ am{XaS§nb æd¨p t]PpIfmbnêìAXv. B ]S§Ä I­v AhÄ sR«nt¸mbn. BZyambn«mbnêì AhÄ A¯cw Nn{X§Ä Imé¶Xv. AhfpsS icocw t]cdnbm¯ GtXm hnImc¯m hnd¨p. lrZbanSn¸v AhÄçXs¶ tIÄ¡mw. FÃm t]PpIfpw Hì adn¨pt\m¡nbn«v AhÄ thKw Xs¶ B ISemÊpIÄ Xncn¨ph¨p. jmPlmt\mShÄ¡v AhÚ tXm¶n. I­mtem Hê ]mh¯m³. I¿nencn¸v CsXms¡bmsW¶v Bcdnbpì. CsXmìw ]mSnsöv ]dªphne¡Ww. sIm¨psNdp¡\tÃ. A§s\sbm¡ Nn´ns¨¦nepw B Nn{X§Ä AhfpsS a\Ên \nìw t]mbnÃ. F¶mepw Cu ]ntÅÀ¡nsXms¡ FhnsS\nì In«pìsh¶v AhÄ AÛpXs¸«p. BImwjbnÂ, Bêw IméIbnsöv Dd¸phê¯nbn«v AhÄ ho­pw B Nn{X§Ä FSp¯pt\m¡n. hndíp¶ ssIItfmsSbmsW¦nepw C¯hW æd¨v hniZambn¯s¶t\m¡n. BWnsâbpw s]Wnsâbpw \áNn{X§Ä. ]cn]qÀ® \ácmbn \nÂç¶ Béw s]®pw sI«n¸nSn¨v \nÂç¶Xpw InSç¶Xpw Hs¡ AXneq­mbnêì. \áamb apeIfpsS Nn{X§fmbnêì BZy ]pd¯nÂ. ]e hep¸¯nepÅ apeIÄ. Dê­Xpw \o­Xpamb N¡apeIÄ. ape¡®pIÄçap­v \à hep¸w. Xsâ apeIÄ¡v AhbpsS ]æXn hep¸w t]mepansöhÄ

2

HmÀ¯p. ]t£ FÃmw hÃy½amêtSXp amXncn Xq§n¡nSçì. XtâXp hmg¡q¼p t]mse apt¶m«v XÅnbmWncnç¶Xv! \n¡dn« kmbn¸v {_mbpw sP«nbpw am{Xw [cn¨ aZm½sb Npw_nçì. {_míp apIfneqsS AhfpsS apeíp ]pd¯p apJw AaÀ¯n¨pw_nç¶XmWv thsdm¶nÂ. asäm¶n AhfpsS ap¶n ap«pæ¯n\n¶bmÄ AhfpsS s]m¡nfn\Sp¯v D½hípì. Ahkm\w AhfpsS sP«nçapIfnepw AbmÄ Np­pIÄ ap«nçì. Nn{X§Ä t\m¡nbncnt¡ DÅn BZyap­mb shdp¸v AenªenªnÃmXmbn. ]Icw AXp ho­qw ho­pw ImWmëÅ Hê B{Klw Ahfn P\n¨p. ASp¯ ]pd¯v tbm\nbpsS ]ecoXnIfnepÅ t¢mk¸v Nn{X§Ä I­v AhÄ¡v \mWw hì. ImSpt]mse tcmaw hfÀ¶Xpw tcma§Ä apgphëw tjhpsNbvXv IfªXpamb tbm\nIÄ. (k_o\ AXphsc XpSIÄ¡nSbnse tcmaw hSn¨n«nÃmbnêì. k_o\ív s»bvUv D]tbmKn¡m³ t]SnbmWv. AhnsS§mëw apdnªp tNmc h¶mtem.) Hê¯n Nq­phnc apgph³ XsâXs¶ tbm\n¡It¯¡v tIänsh¨ncnçì. At¿ ChäIÄs¡m¶nëw \mWantÃ. Hê¯n aqSpwXncnªp æ\nªp \nÂçì. AhfpsS tbm\nçÅnte¡v H꯳ hnc IS¯nh¨ncnçì. k_o\bpsS Xe s]ê¯p. {]mbw C{Xbpamsb¦nepw AhÄ¡v skIvkns\¸än henb AdnshmìanÃmbnêì. BI¸msS s]mXphmbn æsdsbms¡ Adnbmsa¶ÃmsX. henb BWnsâ AcbpsS \áX AhÄ BZyambn«mbnêì Imé¶Xv. AhêsS s]m§n\nÂç¶ kmam\w I­v AhÄ A´w hn«p. HcmWnsâ "Np®n' C{Xbpw hepXmhpsa¶v AhÄ¡dnbnÃmbnêì. \à \ofhpw h®hpw. hSnt]mse \nÂçì. Aä¯n\v \à Nph¸p\ndw. A­nçw \à hep¸w. ]«nIfptSXpt]mse. sIm¨pæ«nIfpsS Np®n am{Xta AhfXphsc I­n«p­mbnêìÅq. B ]S§fn t\m¡nbnê¶t¸mÄ HêXcw Aë`qXn AhÄ¡ë`hs¸«p. XpSIÄ¡nsS Hê InêInê¸v. AhÄ XpSIÄ Iq«n¸nSn¨p. AhÄ¡hnsS sNmdnbWsa¶v tXm¶n. AhÄ Fgpt¶äv t]mbn aq{Xsamgn¨p. jmPlm³ Xncn¨phê¶Xn\nSív ]e{]mhiyw Ahfm Nn{X§Ä FSp¯pt\m¡n. C©nXn¶ æc§s\t¸mse AhÄ \Sì. Ahs\ KpWtZmjn¡Wsa¶ Nn´ sshæt¶cw Bbt¸mtgçw Ahfpt]jn¨p Ignªnêì. Aì ]Xnhpt]mse jmPlm³ Ifnbpw Ignsª¯nbt¸mÄ Ahs\ t\cnSm³ AhÄ¡v Hê hÃmbva D­mbnêì. AhfpsS apJw NphìXpSpçIbpw sNbvXp.. Nn{X§Ä Xm³ FSp¯pt\m¡nbXv Ah³ a\Ênemçtam F¶ t]Snbpw. ]Xnhnëhnê²ambn A¶hÄ Aht\mSv IqSpXsemìw kwkmcn¨nÃ. ]ntä¶v Ah\nÃm¯t¸mÄ Ccn¡s¸mdpXnbnÃmsX Ahfhsâ ]pkvXIs¡«v ]cntim[n¨p A¶hÄ¡v thsd Nn{X§fS§nb ]pXnb Hê æ¯vt]¸dpIÄ In«n. GXms­ÃmXc¯nepapÅ skIvknsâ temI¯nte¡v B Nn{X§Ä k_o\sb æ«ns¡m­pt]mbn. HcmÄ aZm½bpsS apeIfn ]nSn¨p sRç¶]Sw I­t¸mÄ ]­v kvIqfn h¨p\S¶ Hê kw`hw AhfpsS HmÀ½bnse¯n. AhfpsS IqsS¯s¶ ]TnçIbmbnê¶ atljv Bêw ¢mÊneSp¯nÃm¯ Hchkc¯n AhfpsS apeIfn ]nSn¨p ]nXp¡n. t]Sn¨pt]mbn AhÄ. kmdnt\mSp ]dªqsImSpçsa¶v ]dªpsIm­hÄ HmSn¡fªp. kmdnt\mSv ]dªnsænepw atljv ]ns¶ AXmhÀ¯n¨nÃ. ]n¶osSmcn¡Â XncçÅ _Ên h¨v Btcm AhfpsS s\©¯p ]cXnbnêì. AhÄ s]s«¶v apt¶m«p amdn\n¶Xn\m ]ns¶ ieyap­mbnÃ. Cu Bé§Ä¡v F´n\mWv s]®p§fpsS apetbmSn{X XmÂ]cyw. BWv s]®nsâ apeIÄ N¸p¶ ]Sw t\m¡nbnê¶v AhfpsS sIm¨papeIÄ NqSmbn. »uknëapIfneqsS AhÄ Xsâ apebn XShn. Fs´¶nÃm¯ Hê kpJw.. Bsc¦nepw Xsâ apeIÄ Ddp©p¶ cwKw AhÄ k¦ev]n¨pt\m¡n. "tlm!'.

3

shfnbn \n¶v D½bpsS hnfntI«v sR«nsbgpt¶ä AhÄ Nn{X§Ä thKw Xncn¨ph¨v ]pdt¯t¡mSn. iÀ¡cbnte¡v Ddps¼¶ t]mse jmPlm³ ]m¯ph¨nê¶ \áNn{X§fnte¡v Ahkcw In«nbt¸msgÃmw k_o\ Dufnbn«p. Ah\Xv FSp¯pamäq¶Xnë ap³]v ]camh[n XhW B Nn{X§Ä ImWm³ Ahfm{Kln¨p. BWv s]®ns\ ]®p¶ ]et]mknepÅ ]S§Ä I­v AhÄ hm s]mfn¨p. F¦nepw I¸¡ng§pamXncn Ccnç¶ BWnsâ km[\w s]®nsâ C¨ncnt¸m¶ aq{XZzmc¯n F§s\ Ibdpsa¶hÄ¡v ]nSnIn«nbnÃ. Xsâ tbm\nbn Hê s]³kn t]mepw IbdpInà F¶hÄçd¸mbnêì. C\n Xsâ tbm\nbpsS am{Xw æg¸amtWm. BWnsâ kmam\¯nsâ hen¸hpw AhÄ¡v `mh\ sN¿m³ Ignbp¶Xn\v A¸pdambnêì. CsX§s\bmWv s]m§n\nÂç¶Xv? ChcnsX§s\ jÍn¡pÅn ad¨pshípw. AhÄ¡v \qdpIq«w kwib§fp­mbn. s]s«¶hÄ jmPlms\çdnt¨mÀ¯p. sNdp{]mb¯n Ahfhsâ \áX F{Xtbm XhW I­n«p­v. Ahsâ Np®nívv Ct¸mÄ F´v hep¸ap­mhpsa¶hfmtemNn¨p. Dd¡¯nÂt¸mepw Ahsâ \áX AhÄ I­n«nÃ. AsX§s\, cm{Xn Dd§n¡gnªm cmhnsebmWhÄ DWê¶Xv. F´mbmepw C¯cw t^mt«mIsfms¡ Hfn¨ph¨p Imé¶ jPlmsâ Np®nbpw A­nbpw ImWm³ AhÄ¡v AXnbmb B{Klap­mbn. Fs´Ãmw ]S§fmé ]St¨mt\. Hêh³ aeÀìInSç¶ s]®nsâ XpSIÄ¡nSbn Xeh¨v AhfpsS tbm\nbn \çì. aëjy³ C§s\bpsams¡ sN¿ptam. thsdmê ]S¯n Hê¯n Hê ]pêjsâ kmam\w hmíI¯ph¨v Ddp©pIbmWv. A{Xbpw \o­ km[\w apgphëw F§s\ B s]{¼t¶m¯nbpsS hmípÅn Ibdn. AbmfpsS A­nbnepw \ndsb ]qS. A§s\ Hê ]Xn\mdpImcsâ sIm¨p]pkvXI tiJc¯nepsS B ]Xns\«pImcn skIvknsâ Adnbs¸Sm¯ temI¯nse amkvacnI cwK§Ä lrZnØam¡ns¡m­nêì. AtXmsSm¸w AhfpsS kwib§fpw PnÚmkbpw hÀ²n¨p. Ig¸pw. jmPlmsâ \áX ImWmëÅ AhfpsS ISnbpw IqSn¡qSnhì. c­c hÊnsâ {]mbhyXymkap­v AhÀ X½nÂ. sNdp¸¯n Ahsâ Np®n F{XtbmXhW I­n«p­v. Ct¸mÄ Ah³ ]m¯psIm­p sh¨nê¶ Nn{X§Ä I­v, apXnÀ¶t¸mÄ Ahsâ \n¡dnëÅnepw ]ns¶ ep¦nçÅnepw adªpt]mb BW¯s¯ t\cn¡mWmëÅ B{Klw s]ê¯p. AXnëÅ Htcsbmê hgn jmbpsS ep¦n amänt\mçIbmWv. ]mXncm{Xn Ah³ Dd§n¡nSçt¼mÄ Fgpt¶äp t\m¡Wsa¶hÄ Dd¸n¨p. jmPlmsâ "IfIvj³kv' CSínSív amdn. AhÄ¡m Nn{X§Ä I­p aXnbmbnê¶nÃ. ho­pw ho­pw \áNn{X§Ä ImWm³ tamlw. ]t£ jmPlm³ Ah amäns¡m­nêì. "C³^taj³ HmhÀ^vtfm'bn Dd§n¡nS¶ hnImc§Ä Hê Aán]ÀÆXwt]mse Ahfn s]m«ns¯dn¨p. AXhsf apgph\mbn hngp§n. AS¡m\mh¯ Ima¯nsâ hn¯pIÄ Ahfn s]m«napf¨p. t^mt«mIfnse cwK§Ä DuWnepw Dd¡¯nepw AhfpsS a\Ên \n¶v amªnÃ. æfnapdnbnse kzImcyXbn AhÄ Nne ]co£W§Ä sNbvXpt\m¡n. Xsâ sIm¨pape¡®n ]nSn¨p sRcSnbt¸mÄ AhÄ¡v \à kpJw tXm¶n. AhÄ ho­pw ho­pw sRcSn. AhfpsS I®pIÄ ASªpt]mbn. AhfpsS a\Ên hÀ®¯p¼nIÄ ]mdn\Sì. Atcm Xsâ apeIfn ]nSn¨aÀ¯p¶Xmbpw ape¡®pIÄ Ddp©p¶Xmbpw AhÄ k¦ev]n¨p.. AbmfpsS apJ¯në jmPlmsâ Omb BsW¶hÄç tXm¶n. B tXm¶en icocw sR«nhnd¨p. ImepIÄ¡nSbnse ]dbm\mhm¯ Hê kpJ¯n AhÄ `n¯nbn Nmcn I®S¨p \nì.

4

æfnçt¼mÄ XpSIfn tkm¸v tX¨psIm­nê¶t¸mÄ AhfpsS a\Ên Imep Ih¨psh¨p tbm\nçÅn hnceptIäp¶ aZm½bpsS Nn{Xambnêì. AhÄ Xsâ æªphnc ]Xps¡ AIt¯¡v XÅnt\m¡n. t]Snbpw ]cn{`ahpw aqew AhÄ sNdpXmbn hnd¨p. AhÄ æ¯nbnê¶v tcma§Ä¡nSbneqsS hnc tbm\nçÅnte¡v Ibäm³ XpS§n. tkm¸nsâ hgphgp¸p­mbnê¶Xn\m hnc AÂ]w DÅnte¡v Ibdn. XpSIfneqsS sshZpXn {]hln¨Xpt]mse. Fs´mê kpJw! AhfpsS tbm\nbn \n¶v BZyambn ]qÀ¸m Hen¨p. ]eXhW A§s\ sNbvXv ckn¨n«mWv AhÄ Aì æfn¨pIbdnbXv. cm{Xnbn jmbqsS ep¦namänt\m¡Wsa¶hÄ \nÀ_Ôambpw IêXn. CXnë ap¼pÅ cm{XnIfn jm \à Dd¡w ]nSnç¶Xp Im¯nê¶v AhÄ AdnbmsX Dd§nt¸mbn. Aìcm{Xn ]Xnhnepw t\cs¯ AhÄ Dd§m³ X¿msdSpç¶Xp I­v Ah³ AÛpXw Iqdn. ]I Hê]mSv tPmenbp­mbnês¶ìw AXnsâ £oWamsWìw AhÄ ]dªp. Ahs\t´m hmbn¨psIm­nê¶Xn\m AhÄ aqSn¸pX¨p InSì. æd¨pIgnªp hmb\ aXnbm¡n hnfçsISp¯n A¸pds¯ I«nen Ahëw InS¶Xhfdnªp. æsd¡gnªt¸mÄ Ah³ Ahsf ]Xps¡ tN¨osbì c­p XhW hnfn¨p. Ahsfmì sR«nsb¦nepw Dd¡w \Sn¨v A\§msX InSì. F´n\mWv Ah³ hnfn¨sXì F{X BtemNn¨n«pw AhÄ¡v ]nSn In«nbnÃ. ]ns¶ Ah³ hnfn¨nÃ. s_Uvdqw em¼nsâ Ac­sh«¯n Ah³ ]pdwXncnªp InSç¶XhÄ ]pX¸nëÅneqsS I­p. Ahëd§nbntÃ. ]t£ jmPlm³ Dd§p¶Xpw Im¯nê¶ k_o\ Aìw Dd§nt¸mbn. ]ns¶sbt¸mtgm AhfpsS At_m[a\Êv Ahsf X«nbpWÀ¯n. I®pXpd¶Xpw AhfmZyw t\m¡nbXv jmPlmsâ I«nente¡mWv. Ah\hnsS InSìd§pì­v. ]ns¶ t\m¡nbXv t¢m¡nteçw. kabw aqìaWn. AhÄ ]Xnsb Ahs\ jm, jm Fìhnfn¨p t\m¡n. Hc\¡hpanÃ. \à Dd¡w Xs¶. AhÄ iÐap­m¡msX Fgpt¶äp. ]Xps¡ Ahsâ I«nen\n\cnInte¡v \Sì. aeÀì InSìd§pIbmWh³. ]pX¨n«p­v. Xe am{Xw ]pd¯pImWmw. Ahfhsâ apJt¯¡v kp£n¨pt\m¡n. s]s«s¶§mëw DWê¶ e£Wsamìw Imé¶nÃ. F´psImt­m Ahsâ apJ¯p\nìw Is®Sp¡m³ tXm¶nbnÃ. BZyambn Imé¶t]mse AhÄ t\m¡n\nì. AhfpsS DÅnsâbpÅn ]dªdnbn¡m\mhm¯ Fs´ms¡tbm hnImc§Ä IqSnçgªp. A§s\ CXphsc Ahfhs\ t\m¡nbn«nÃ. ta¨p­n tcma§Ä Idp¯p hfÀ¶ncnçì. Chs\¸gm Cu aoisbms¡ h¶Xv! Ah³ kpµc\msW¶v AhÄç tXm¶n. CXnëap³]v CuamXncnsbmìw AhÄ¡v tXm¶nbn«nÃ. D¸bpsS A\nbsâ aI\tÃ. A\nbëXpeyw. At¸mÄ kuµcysams¡ Bêt\mçì. ]t£ Ct¸mÄ Dd§n¡nSç¶ Ahs\ t\m¡n\n¶t¸mÄ F´mWv XsâbpÅn kw`hnç¶Xv. Xms\´mWv sN¿m³ t]mæ¶Xv. AhÄç hÃmbva tXm¶n. AhÄ Xncn¨pt]mbn I«nen¡bdn I®paS¨pInSì. k_o\ív Dd§m³ IgnªnÃ. AhfpsSbpÅn hnNmchpw hnthIhpw hnImchpw X½nepÅ Iq«s¸mcn¨nembnêì. thWtam th­tbm. Xé¸p­mbnê¶n«pw AhÄ hnbÀ¯p. Ahkm\w atljnsâ IchnêXn \nìw HmSnamdnb sIm¨pk_o\sb AhÄ ]n¶nept]£n¨p. AhÄ XpSIÄ Iq«n¸nSn¨p. F{X \nb{´n¨n«pw AhfpsS ssI Xmtg¡v \o­p. ]mhmSíp apIfneqsS tbm\nbn AaÀì. jÍnbpw tNÀ¯v tbm\ohnShn Nq­phnc HmSn¨p. Ahfn \ns¶mê NpSp\nimkw DbÀì. ]cmPbs¸« hnthI¯nsâ s\m¼cw t]mse. AhÄ ho­pw Fgpt¶äp sasà jmbpsS I«nen\êInte¡v \Sì. I«nen\Sps¯¯n AhÄ ]pX¸nsâ Aä¯p]nSn¨v ]Xps¡ Xmtg¡v hen¨p. ]pX¸v kmh[m\w DuÀ¶v AhfpsS Im¡en hoWp. Ahsâ ep¦n Agnªn«p­mbnê¶nÃ. DSp¸pam{Xw apIfnte¡v Ibdn¡nSì. s]m¡nfnë apIfnÂ\n¶v Xmtg¡v Achsc Ahsâ hbÀ A\mhrXambn. Ahsâ s]m¡nfn \nìw XpS§n Xmtg¡v Idp¯ tcma§Ä hfÀ¶Xv AhÄ hyàambpw I­p.

5

AhÄ ]pXs¸Sp¯v Acíptase ]pX¨psImSp¯p. At¸mÄ Ahs\m¶\§n, A{Xam{Xw. Xsâ \áX A\mhcWwsN¿s¸Sm³ t]mæ¶XdnbmsX Ah³ kpJkpjp]vXnbnembnêì. Ahs\ HìIqSn t\m¡nbn«v AhÄ Ahsâ ep¦nbpsS æ¯gn¡m³ ssI\o«n. t]Snbmbnt«m ImWm³t]mæ¶ ImgvN HmÀt¯m AhfpsS lrZbw s]ê¼d sIm«n. icocw Benet]mse hnd¨p. hndíp¶ ssIsIm­v ep¦nbpsS æ¯n ]nSn¨p. ]ns¶ ]Xps¡ hfsc ]Xps¡ æ¯gn¨p. \nhÀì AÂ]t\cw A\§msX \nì. ]ns¶ æ\nªp\n¶v ep¦n c­phit¯çw amän. Ah³ sP«n C«n«p­mbnêì. AhfpsS apJw a§n. C\n sP«n amäp¶sX§s\. Idp¯ Hê sP«nbmWh³ C«nê¶Xv. AXnë]pd¯pIqSn Ahsâ Np®nbpsS BIrXn t]mepadnbm³ ]äp¶nÃ. F¦nepw \à apgbp­hnsS. s]m¡nfnÂ\nì XpS§p¶ tcma§Ä sP«nçÅn A{]Xy£ambn. XpSIÄ¡nSbnepÅ æd¨p tcma§Ä shfnbn ImWmw. Ig¸pIbdnb AhÄ sXm«pt\m¡nbmtem F¶mtemNn¨XmWv. sXmSpt¼mÄ AhëWÀ¶mtem. \ncmitbmsS, F¶m C\nbpw {iançw F¶ ZrV\nÝbt¯msS AhÄ ep¦nbpsS hi§Ä ]nSn¨v ]gbXpt]msebn«p. Xncn¨pt]mbn InSìd§n. ]ntä¶v ]Isems¡ AhÄ ]S§Ä t\m¡nbpw at\mcmPy¯n apgpInbpw kabw t]m¡n. jm D¨íph¶v Blmcw Ign¨n«v ]pd¯pt]mbn. Ahsâ ]mânsâ ap¶n AhÄ HfnI®n«pt\m¡n. sP«nçÅnse Xte¶s¯ apgp¸v AhnsSbpt­m. Aìcm{Xnbpw ]n¶s¯ cm{Xnbnepw AhÄ jmbpsS ep¦nbpcnªp t\m¡n. Hê ^ehpanÃ. sP«n¡pÅn Ahsâ clkymhbh§Ä adªp InSì. sP«n Ducnt\m¡mëÅ ss[cyw AhÄ¡v In«nbXpanÃ. AhfpsS \ncmiX hÀ²n¨p. ]t£ Ig¸p IqSnbtXbpÅq. ]ns¶ c­paqì Znhkt¯¡v jmPlmsâ ]¡Â Nn{X§sfmìw I­nÃ. Ahfcn¨p]d¡n t\m¡n. HìanÃ. Xsâ {]hr¯nIÄ Ah³ a\Ênem¡ntbmsb¶hÄ kwibns¨¦nepw Ah\n \nì A¯c¯nepÅ {]XnIcW§sfmìap­mbnÃ. cm{Xnbn Ah³ Øncambn sP«n [cn¨pXs¶ InSìd§n. AhÄ¡v tZjyambn. Chs\´m Ft¸mgpw s]mXnªpshíp¶Xv. Hcn¡se¦nepw Xpd¶nSt­. CXn\nSbnepw æfnapdnbnse AhfpsS ]co£W§Ä \nÀ_m[w XpSÀì. ]qdn hncen«v kpJn¡m³ AhÄ ]Tn¨p. At¸mÄ Hen¨nd§p¶ tX³ t]mse I«nbpÅ shÅw AhÄ êNn¨pt\mçIbpw sNbvXp Hcn¡Â. jmPlmsâ ]pkvXIs¡«pIÄ AhÄ Fìw ]cntim[nçw. ]pXnb Nn{X§Ä Dt­m Fì t\mçw. A©mas¯ Znhkw AhfpsS Xnc¨nen\v ^ew In«n. ]Xnhnëhnê²ambn AsXmê IYm]pkvXIambnêì. BZyambn hmbnç¶ I¼n¸pkvXIw. skIvknsâ thsdmê temI¯nteçÅ {]thi\w. Hê]mSv Imcy§Ä AhfmIYIfn \nì a\Ênem¡n. ]pXnb ]Z§Ä ]Tn¨p. æd¨pZnhkt¯ív AhÄ jmbpsS P«nbpsS Imcyw adì. Ah³ ]pkvXIw Xncn¨psIm­pt]mæsa¶v `b¶ AhÄ AXnse IYIÄ Hê ]gb t\m«p]pkvXI¯nte¡v ]IÀ¯nsbgpXm³ XpS§n! FgpXn¯nêw ap¼v jm AXp Xncns¨Sp¡êtXsb¶hÄ DÅpêIn {]mÀ°n¨p. AhfpsS {]mÀ°\sImt­m `mKywsImt­m jmPlm³ HcmgvN Ignªn«mWv ]pkvXIw Xncn¨psIm­pt]mbXv. \me©pZnhkwsIm­v Ahfm kvs]j ]Xn¸nse IYIsfÃmw Bêw ImWmsX FgpXnsbSp¯nêì. Hê {]mhiysa¦nepw sP«n Ducnamän InSìd§m¯Xn ]cn`haps­¦nepw AhÄ¡ht\mSv \µn tXm¶n. Ah³ ImcWamWtÃm Xm³ Hcn¡epw ImWmëw hmbn¡mëw CSbnÃm¯ ]pkvXI§Ä ImWm³ ]änbXv. AhÄ¡ht\mSv BZchmbn. IYm]pkvXI§fpw Nn{X§fpw ]ns¶bpw amdn hìsIm­nêì. k_o\bpsS Adnhpw ]Zk¼¯pw hÀ²n¨p.. ]qdv, æ®, IqXn, ]mÂ, tX³, I´v XpS§nb FÃm hmçIfpw AhÄç ]cnNnXambn.. kwib§fpsS F®w KWyambnçdªp Bé§fpsS hmWaSnsb¶ ]cn]mSnsb¸än Adnªp. sImÅmatÃm Ch·mêsS NpçaWn. jmbpsS kmam\w ImWmëÅ

6

AhfpsS A`nemjs¯ Cu hnhc§sfÃmw HìIqSn hÀ²n¸nçIbmé­mbXv. Ahë ]mephêtam? A¿S! jmbpsS Np®nbn \n¶v ]mev Hgpæ¶ ImgvN AhÄ k¦ev]n¨p t\m¡n. AhfpsS ]qdnëÅnse ISn IqSn. jmbpsS ]mev F¶ hnNmcw Xs¶ Ahsf XcfnXbm¡n. AhÄ¡v Ccn¡s¸mdpXnbnÃmXmbn. F¦nepw cm{Xn Dd§n¡nSçt¼mÄ Ahsâ \áX ImWmëÅ AhfpsS {ia§sfÃmw hn^eambn. FÃm cm{XnIfnepw jmPlm³ P«n [cn¨pXs¶ InSìd§n. Hê cm{Xn F§s\tbm DWÀ¶ AhÄ jmbqsS I«nen\Sp¯v \n¶v Ft´m A\¡w tI«p. H¨bp­m¡msX AhÄ Xncnªp t\m¡nbt¸mÄ I­Xv Ah³ Fgpt¶äv Itkcbnenê¶v Ft´m sN¿p¶XmWv. Cê«mbXp sIm­v Hìw hyàambn ImWm³ h¿. s_Uvem¼v I¯p¶nÃ. Ah³ aqSpw Xncnªncnçì. {ItaW ImgvN æd¨pIqSn hyàambn. Xncnªncnç¶ Ahsâ ssI thK¯n Nenç¶Xp I­v _p²naXnbmb AhÄ¡v Imcyw ]nSnIn«n. jm ]mXncm{Xnbn Fgpt¶änê¶v hmWaSnçIbmWv! AXpI­v AhfpsS icoc¯neqsS Hêan¶Â¸nWÀ ]mªpt]mbn. jm! sNdp¡t\! At¸m Ah³ ]mev D­mæambncnçw! AhÄ XpS Iq«n¸nSn¨p. Ahsâ ssIbnenê¶v sRcnbp¶ Np®nsbm¶v F§s\ ImWpw? AXnt¸m hepXmbn«p­mæw. Xncnªncnç¶Xp sIm­v Ahsâ ap³ `mKw ImWm³ h¿. D²cn¨ Ahsâ kmam\w F§s\bncnçsa¶hÄ BtemNn¡th s]«¶h³ hmWaSnç¶Xv \nÀ¯n. ]mep ht¶m. tlbv AXÃ. æd¨pt\cw A\§mXnê¶n«v Ah³ ]Xps¡ ho­pw ]cn]mSn XpS§n. `b¦c³, BkzZn¨v hmWaSnçIbmWv. AhfpsS Imen\nSbnse Xcn¸v IqSn. ]ns¶bpah³ \nÀ¯n Aev]t\cw A\§mXnêì. Ah\o temIs¯mìasöhÄç tXm¶n. jm ho­pw ssIb\¡n¯pS§n. Ahsâ Np®nbn \nì ]mephê¶Xp ImWm³ Ignsª¦nse¶hÄ Bin¨p. C¯hW Ah³ \nÀ¯msX ]nSnçIbmWv. Ahsâ ssI thK¯n Nen¨p. AhÄ DtZzKt¯msS t\m¡n¡nSì. tbm\nçÅn Xcn¸v Aklyambn.... AhfpsS hnc X\nsb ]qdnëÅnteç Ibdn. AXnëÅn \à hgphgp¸v. F{X s]s«¶mWv Xsâ ]qdv sImgsImgm¶mbXv! AhÄ ]Xps¡ jPlmsâ Xmf¯ns\m¯v hnc tIäpIbpw CdçIbpw sNbvXp. jmbpsS Np®nbmWv Xsâ ]qdn tIdnbnd§p¶sX¶v AhÄ k¦ev]n¨p. jm... B Hä BtemN\bn AhfpsS icocamkIew hndsIm­p. AhfpsS hncÂ{]tbmKhpw thK¯nembn... AS¡n¸nSn¨ Hê apcĨ Ah\nÂ\nìbÀ¶Xv AhÄ tI«p. Ahë hì F¶hÄ¡v a\Ênembn. Ahsâ iÐw tI«t¸mgp­mb AhmNyamb Aë`qXnbn AhÄ XpSIÄ Iq«n¸nSn¨v hnc ]camh[n DÅnteç XÅnt¡än. k_o\bpsS ]qdnëÅnÂ\nìw KwKmPew æ¯nsbmgpIn.. AhÄ ]ÃpIÄ ISn¨p]nSn¨v izmkw hnSmsX A\§msX InS¶v XsâbpÅn DdhsbSp¯ kpJkp\manbpsS AeIÄ HSp§tÃsb¶v Bin¨p… ]ns¶ t\m¡nbt¸mÄ ssIbnenê¶ HcpXpWn sIm­h³ XpSíp¶Xp I­p. F¶n«h³ taita Xebpw h¨v æ\nªnêì. ]mhw £oWo¨p Iméw. Ah³ Fgpt¶ev¡m³ t]mæ¶XpI­v AhÄ thKw Dd¡w \Sn¨p InSì. s]s«¶v s_Uvem¼v I¯n. Ah³ Hm¬ NbvXXmWv. Xm³ s]s«ìWÀ¶v Hìw ImWmXncn¡m³ hnf¡v Hm^v sNbvXv ap³ IêXseSp¯n«mWv `b¦c³ hmWaSn XpS§nbXv. Ah³ I«nen Ibdn InS¶XhÄ Adnªp. Ahfpd§msX InSì ]eXpw BtemNn¨p. jmbpsS ap³hiw ImWm³ ]änbnsænepw Ah³ hmWaSn \S¯p¶Xp ImWmëw ]meph¶t¸mgpÅ Ahsâ apcĨ tIÄ¡mëw IgnªXn AhÄ kt´mjhXnbmbn. Fs´mê kv]oUmbnêì Ahsâ ssIív. F¶mepw... jm.. \ê´vsNdp¡t\! Xsâ I¿n¯p§n\S¶ ]¿\mWv. Ah³ ]mep­mbn I¿n¸nSnçì! Xmtbmfn! Ių! AhÄ¡hs\ sI«n¸nSns¨mê D½ sImSp¡m³tXm¶n. Xsâ ap¶n XpWnbpSp¡msX InSt¶mSn¡fn¨ sNdp¡\nXm HmcmWmbncnçì. shdpw km[mcWamb B Adnhv, ]t£, k_o\bn ]SÀ¯pIbmé­mbXv. jmtbmSpÅ Imaw Ahfn thcn«p Xfncn«p.

Ima¯nsâ

Xos¸mcn

7

AhÄ s]s«s¶mê Imcyw HmÀ¯p. Ah\nê¶v hmWaSn¨ tai¡êIn Ahsâ ]m hoéInS¸p­mIntÃ. AhÄ¡Xp ImWWsa¶v tXm¶n. AhnsSt¸mbn t\m¡nbm It­çw. F§s\bncnçsa¶v AdnbmatÃm. AhÄ¡v Fs´¶nÃm¯ Bthiambn. jmbpsS Np®n I­nsænepw Ahsâ 殸menXm Xm³ ImWm³ t]mæì. Ahëd¡amsbìdt¸mÄ AhÄ ]Xnsb Fgpt¶äp. I«nen\SnbnÂ\n¶v s]³tSmÀs¨Sp¯p. Id­pt]mæt¼mÄ D]tbmKn¡mëÅXmWv. iÐap­m¡msX Ah\nê¶ Itkc¡Spt¯¡v \Sì. Ah³ I«nen IangvìInSçì. AhÄ Ah\nêì hmWaSn¨ Øe¯v tSmÀ¨Sn¨p t\m¡n. Hìw I­nÃ. CsXhnsSt¸mbn. AhÄ æ\nªnê¶v XdbnseÃmw kkq£vaw ]cntim[n¨p. bmsXmìanÃ. C{X thKw DW§nt¸mtbm. AhÄ¡v \ncmibmbn. AhÄ Iangvì InSìd§p¶ jmPlms\ ]cn`hwIeÀ¶ tZjyt¯msS t\m¡n. Ft¸mgpw Ch³ Xsâ I­p]nSp¯{ia§sf ]cmPbs¸Sp¯pIbmWtÃm. ]­v ækrXn Im«pt¼mÄ sNbvXnê¶t]mse N´nbnsemê s]S sImSp¯p XncnªpsISsbSm Fì]dªmtem F¶hÄ BtemNn¡mXnê¶nÃ. Aht\tXm XpWn¡jWwsIm­v XpS¨Xv AhÄ HmÀ¯p. AXn Ahsâ ]mensâ Awiw ]änbn«p­mæw. XXv¡mew AXpI­mepw aXn. AhfpsS {]Xo£IÄ¡v ho­pw Poh³ h¨p. ]t£ B XpWnsbhnsS. AXpw AhnsSsbmìw I­nÃ. BissIhnSmsX AhÄ I«nen\Snbnepw tai¸pd¯p _pçIÄ¡nSbnepw FÃmw ]cXnbn«pw I­nÃ. s]s«¶mWv sa¯bpsS Hê`mKw AÂ]w DbÀ¶ncnç¶XhÄ I­Xv. AhfpsS lrZbw sN­ sIm«n. sa¯ ]Xnsb s]m¡nbt¸mÄ AXm AhnsS Hê XpWn¡£Ww Npê«nsh¨ncnçì. AhfXv ]Xps¡ ]pdt¯¡v hens¨Sp¯p. At¸mgmWv Hê sR«temsS AhfXv Xncn¨dnªXv þ AXv jmPlmsâ A­ÀshbÀ Bbnêì. s]s«ì­mb B sR«en AhfXv I«nente¡n«p. asämcmfp]tbmKn¨ ASnh{kvXw AhfmZyambmWv sXmSp¶Xv. AXpw HcmWnsâ. AsXSp¯p t\m¡Wtam th­tbm F¶hÄ ktµln¨p. AhfXnte¡v tSmÀ¨Sn¨pt\m¡n. AXnsâ Hê`mKw \\ªncnç¶XhÄ I­p. AhfpsS I®pIÄ hnSÀì. Cu ]lb³ A­Àshbdn hmWaSns¨mgnçIbmWv sNbvXX¶hÄ¡v a\Ênembn. Ahsâ ]mepsam¯hpw AXn hoWncnçw. AXmWv Xdbnsemìw ImWmXnê¶Xv. hnImcw hnNmcs¯ HmhÀsäbvIv sNbvXXn\m AhÄ ip¢w ]än¸nSn¨ jmPlmsâ A­ÀshbÀ c­phncepsIm­v Xq¡n¸nSn¨v Xsâ I«nente¡v t]mbn. I«nen Ibdnbnê¶n«v Ahfm A­ÀshbÀ tSmÀ¨Sn¨p ]cntim[n¨p XpS§n. ]cn{`ahpw BImwjbpw aqew AhÄ sNdpXmbn hnd¨p. AXnsâ ]e`mK§fpw \\ªp æXnÀ¶nêì. C{Xbpw ]mep hêtam. AXnsâ \ÃXpt]mse \\ª Hê`mK¯v shfp¯\nd¯n Ft´m ]änbncnçì. CXmtWm Bé§fpsS ]mÂ. AXn\n{Xbpw I«nbpt­m. sImgpsImgm¶ncnçì. ]pkvXI¯n FgpXnbXv hmbn¨t¸mÄ Xm³ IêXnbXv ]iphnsâtbm atäm ]mept]msebmsW¶mWv. Xsâ I­p]nSp¯¯n AhÄ¡`nam\w tXm¶n. t\m¡nbncnt¡ AXnsem¶v sXm«pt\m¡m³ Hê DÄt{]cW AhÄç­mbn. IŸlb³ jmbpsS ]memWv. Nq­phnc sIm­hfXn sasà sXm«p. s]s«¶v ssI ]n³hençIbpw sNbvXp. AXneev]w AhfpsS hncen ]än. AhfpsS DSemsI Hìeªp. tbm\nçÅnse InêInê¸v IqSp¶Xhfdnªp. Nq­phncen ]änb ip¢w XÅhncÂsIm­v XpS¨phr¯nbm¡m³ t\m¡nbt¸mÄ AXp ]it]mse H«pì. CXp sImÅmatÃm. H«p¶ 殸mÂ. AhfpsS apJw NphìXpSp¯p. AhÄ I«nent·Â `n¯nbn Nmcn Imepw\o«nbnêì. jmbpsS ]mep]pc­ hncepIÄ Iq«n¸nSn¨pw AIänbpw AhÄ ckn¨p. ]dbm\mIm¯ Hê B´cnIt{]cWbm AhÄ Xsâ Nq­phnc aW¯p. Hê hÃm¯ aWw. AhÄ A­Àshbdn ]änbnê¶ ]m AÂ]w IqSn hncenseSp¯v aW¸n¨p. sImÅmw. AhÄ¡m KÔw Cãambn. jmbpsS ]mensâ aWhpw sImÅmw! AhÄ¡v hÃms¯mê kpJwtXm¶n. icocw NqSp]nSnçì. AhÄ ho­pw Xsâ hncepIÄ aW¯psIm­nêì.

8

F¶n«pw aXnbmImsX AhÄ A­ÀshbÀ c­pssIsIm­pw FSp¯v aq¡në t\sc]nSn¨p aW¯p. At¸mÄ AhÄç asämê KÔamWv In«nbXv. AhÄ AXv amdn amdn ]nSn¨p. HmscmbnS¯pw Hmtcm aWw. Asæn Hê k½n{iKÔw. jmPlm³ Aì]Iepapgph³ C«nê¶ P«nbmWtÃm AsX¶hÄ At¸mgmtWmÀ¯Xv. Ahsâ hnbÀ¸pw aq{Xhpw FÃmw AXn ]änbn«p­mæw. Ct¸mfhÄ¡v Ads¸mìw tXm¶nbnÃ. AhÄ¡{Xív Ig¸v tIdnbn«p­mbnêì. jmbpsS sIm¨p]pkvXI¯nse IYIfnsem¶nse Hê cwKw AhÄt¡mÀ½ hì. Dd§n¡nSç¶ Hê sNdp¡sâ h{kvXw amdn¡nSç¶Xp I­ the¡mcn {kvXo æ\nªp\nì Ahsâ clky`mK§sfms¡ aW¯pt\mç¶ cwKambnêì AXv. AhÀ Ahsâ æ®aWw ]nSn¨p F¶mWXnsegpXnbnê¶Xv. æ®ív aWapt­m F¶hÄ Nn´n¨XpamWv. Ct¸mfhÄ¡v jmPlmsâ æ®aWw AdnbmëÅ ]qXnbmbn. Ah\hnsS IangvìInSçIbmWv. t]mbn aW¯p t\m¡m³ ]änÃ. AhÄ Ahsâ A­Àshbdnsâ æ® hê¶ `mKw FSp¯paW¯p. AhnsS henbaWsamìanÃ. aq{X¯nsâ KÔtabpÅq. F¦nepw ASn`mK¯p \nì thsdmê ]qXnKÔw In«n. XpSIÄ¡nSbn hê¶ `mKambnêì AXv. CXmbncnçw jmbpsS æ®aWsa¶hÄ Dd¸n¨p. æ® ImWm³ ]änsænse´m, Ahsâ æ®aWhpw ]mensâ aWhpw In«nbtÃm. AhÄ hmintbmsS AXnep]cn HêXcw D·mZt¯msS Ahsâ A­Àshbdnsâ Hmtcm`mKhpw amdnamdn aW¯psIm­nêì. A­ÀshbÀ amänamän¸nSn¨v AhfpsS c­pssIbnepw Ahsâ ip¢w ]änbXv AhÄ {i²n¨tXbnÃ. Ahft¸mÄ asämê temI¯mbnêì. aeÀìInSì CSXpssIbn sP«n ]nSn¨paW¯psIm­p heXpssI ]mânçÅnte¡v IS¯n Xcnç¶ ]qdn sh¨aÀ¯n. AhfpsS icocamsI tImcn¯cn¨p. ]qdnsâ NmenepsS AhÄ hnctemSn¨p. Fs´mê kpJw. AhÄ ]Xps¡ Nq­phnc ]qänëÅnte¡v XÅn. AXÂ]w DÅnte¡v Ibdn. AhepsS taemsI kpJXcwK§Ä ]SÀì. AhÄ hnc IbäpIbpw CdçIbpw sN¿m³ XpS§n. BImit¯¡v ]dìt]mæ¶Xp t]mse. ]qdn \nìw tXs\men¨pXpS§n. tX\nsâ hgphgp¸n AhfpsS hnc AÂ]w IqSn DÅnte¡v tIdnbnd§n. Ahft¸mÄ jm hmWaSn¨psIm­nê¶Xv HmÀ¯p. Ahëw CXpamXncn kpJw In«n¡méw. AhfpsS izmkKXn DbÀì. s{_bvknbdnëÅn apeIÄ hn§n. hncepIfpsS thKw IqSn. Xm\n¸w s]m«n¨nXdpsa¶hÄ¡v tXm¶nt¸mbn. s]s«¶mWv AhfpsS I¿nÂ\nìw jmbpsS sP«n DuÀìt]mbXv. AXp IrXyw AhfpsS apJ¯pXs¶ hoé. AhÄ sR«nt¸mbn. ip¢w ]änb sP«nbnse \\hv AhfpsS Ihnfn ]pc­p. ]qdnÂ\nìw AhÄ hnc hens¨Sp¯p. kzt_m[w hos­Sp¯ AhÄ apJ¯p \nìw A­ÀshbÀ FSp¯pamän. CXn\nSbn thsdmì kw`hn¨p. sP«nbn ]ScmsX Ahtijn¨nê¶ æd¨v ip¢w AhfpsS Np­n¸än. sh{]mf¯n AhfXv Np­n¸änb ]mbkw \¡nsbSpç¶t]mse \mç\o«n XpS¨p. \m¡n 殸mensâ Nphbdnªt¸mgmWv AhÄ¡v kw`hn¨sXs´¶v t_m[ap­mbXv. Xm\nt¸mÄ jmbpsS ]memWv êNn¨Xv. AXnsâ êNn ]pfntbm a[pctam AXpc­ptam thsdtbm F¶hÄ¡v thÀXncn¨dnbm\mbnÃ. F¦nepw AhÄ¡Xnãambn. Np­nehtijn¨ _m¡n ]mepw AhÄ aSnIqSmsX \¡nsbSp¯q. AhÄ¡t¸mÄ hÃms¯mê`mhambnêì. ]pkvXI¯nse IYIfn s]®p§Ä 殸mepæSnç¶ ]e cwK§fpw At¸mfhfpsS a\ÊneqsS ISìt]mbn. CXpw AsXms¡t]mse Xs¶. hnbÀ¸nepw ]qÀtX\nepw \\ª Xsâ ]mân Ahfqcnamän XebnWínSbn h¨p. F¶n«v ho­pw ]qdnte¡v hnc IS¯m³ XpS§n. ASp¯pInS¶nê¶ jmbpsS sP«nbnÂ\nìÅ KÔw AhfpsS \mkc{豈 ]nSns¨Sp¯p. hmbn Ahsâ ]mensâ êNn. a\Ên Ah³ hmWaSnç¶ cwKw. AhÄ¡v elcn Ibdn. D·mZw ]nSn¨Xpt]mse AhÄ ]qdn hnc tIänbnd¡n. ip¢w ]änb CSXp ssIhnc hmbnen«p. Xsâ hncens\ jmbpsS æ®bmbn IW¡m¡n AhÄ Ddp©n. heXpssIhnc Xmsg {ZpXKXnbn Nen¨psIm­nêì. AhÄ ho­pw kz]v\temIt¯çbcm³ XpS§n.

9

hmbnse hncense êNnXoÀ¶t¸mÄ AhÄ Ahsâ sP«nsbSp¯v ip¢w ]pc­`mKw sIm­v hnc aqSnbn«v AXp hmíI¯v sh¨p sP«nbpw hncepw tNÀ¯pdp©n. sFkv{Iow ÌnIv t]mse. jmbpsS Np®nbnÂ\n¶mWv B ]m Dudnhê¶sX¶hÄ k¦ev]n¨p. AhfpsS I®pIÄ Iq¼nbSªp. Xms\mê Nn{Xie`ambn amdn ]qhpIfnse tX³ ëIÀ¶v ]dì\SçIbmWv. AhfpsS ]qt©mebnse tX³ XSmIw AWs]m«nsbmgpIn. AhfpsS icoc¯nse kIe tcmaIq]§fpw Fgpì\nì. Xsâ tbm\nçÅn Fs´ms¡tbm s]m«ns¯dnçì. AXp icocs¯Ãmw ]Sêì. s]s«¶hfpsS ssIIÄ \nÝeambn. DS iànbmbn hnd¨p. Xsâ PohnX¯nse icnçapÅ BZys¯ cXnaqÀÑ At¸mghÄ Aë`hnçIbmbnêì . I«nen¡nS¶hÄ InX¨p. At¸mgpw jmbpsS A­Àshbdnsâ Hê`mKw AhfpsS hmbn¯s¶bnêì. XfÀ¨amdn izmkKXn t\scbmbt¸mÄ AhÄ Fgpt¶äv jmbpsS I«nen\cnsIsb¯n Ahsâ A­ÀshbÀ ]gbXpt]mse sh¨p. AhnsS \S¶sXmìadnbmsX AXn Xsâ]¦ns\çdn¨dnbmsX jm At¸mgpw AtX]Sn Iangvì InSìd§pIbmbnêì. Ahfhs\ kmIqXw t\m¡n\nì. Ių. HìadnbmsX InSìd§pì. Ah³ _p¡nsemfn¸n¨ph¨nê¶ ]S§fpw IYIfpw BWv CXphsc AdnbmXnê¶ HêtemIt¯¡v Xs¶ FSps¯dnªXv. t\m¡n\nÂt¡ AhÄ¡ht\mSpÅ BZchv HêXcw Bcm[\bmbn amdpIbmbnêì. CfbXmsW¦nepw Xm\dnbm¯sXs´Ãmw Ah\dnbpì. amdn¡nS¶ ]pXs¸Sp¯v Ahs\ ]pX¸n¨n«v AhÄ Xncn¨psNìInSì. AhfpsS a\Êt¸mÄ Imäpw tImfpsamgnªv im´ambnêì. B im´X XmXvImenIambnêì. AhÄ ho­pw Np«p]gp¯p. AS§m¯ ImaZml¯n\hfncbmbn. _mXvdqan¡bdn AhÄ hncen«p. IYIfn FsX¦nepsam¶nse IYm]m{Xambn AhÄ amdpw. BWnsâ thjw FÃmbvt¸mgpw jmímWhÄ sImSp¯Xv! AhÄ ]m¯p½bmhpt¼mÄ aPoZnsâ thjw jmíp In«pw! ]mdpç«n Ahfpw cmP¸³ jmbpw... AhfpsS Dd¡hpw kam[m\hpw sISp¯nb jm... CXphsc Xsâ Np®n ImWn¨psImSp¡m¯ jm... cm{Xn Xsâ apdnbn Bêw ImWnsÃì hnNmcn¨nê¶v I¿n¸nSnç¶ jm... C§s\ Hê¯n ChnsS hnfdn]nSn¨p \Sçs¶s­¶dnbmsX AXnë ImcW¡mc³ Xm\msW¶dnbmsX Ifn¨p\Sç¶ jm... AhfpsS hncenë ]WnIqSnbXÃmsX Hìw kw`hn¨nÃ... s]s®mês¼«m XSp¡m³ ]änsötÃ. £a\in¨v ISnaq¯v HSphn AhÄ Hìd¨p. F´pw hcs«. C\nsb\nç h¿m. AhÄ jm hmWaSn¡m\mbn Ggpt¶evç¶Xpw Im¯ncn¡m³ XpS§n... IqSpX Dd¡anft¡­nh¶nà AhÄ¡v. Ah³ Fgpt¶äv Xncnªnê¶v ]cn]mSn XpS§nbt¸mÄ AhÄ ]Xps¡ iÐap­m¡msX Fgpt¶äp. AhÄ ]pdIneqsS ]½n¸½n ASp¯psN¶n«v sseän«p. "FSm.' jm sR«n Fgpt¶äp. [rXnbn ep¦nsIm­v Ac ad¨p. AhÄ I«n Npän Ahsâ ap¶n sNì\nì. "\o F´p sN¿pIbmbnêì?' Hìadnbm¯ `mh¯n F¶m Ft´m IÅw I­p]nSn¨ `mh¯n AhÄ tNmZn¨p. "Gbv.. HìanÃ..' jmbpsS apJ¯v càtbm«w CÃ. F´p ]dbWsa¶h\v Hê cq]hpanÃ. I«h\v It¿msS ]nSn¡s¸Spt¼mgpÅ AhØbmbnêì Ah\v. "HìantÃ..? Rm³ I­tÃm?' AhÄ Ahsâ Acbnte¡v bmsXmê \mWhpanÃms¯ t\m¡n. càtbm«w \ne¨ Ahsâ æ® C´y hn«nê¶ hmWw amXncn Xncn¨phoWXn\m AhnsSsbmê Bf\¡hpw CÃm.

10

AhÄ Xsâ Acbnteç t\mç¶XpI­v Ah³ HìIqSn Nqfn. jmbpsS ]cn{`aw I­v AhÄ¡v æd¨pIqSn ss[cyambn. "At¸m CXmé \nsâ ]Wn AtÃ?' AhÄ FÃmw I­p]nSn¨amXncn XpS§n. Ahë Hìw an­m³ IgnªnÃ. "Rm³ ]dªpsImSpçw D½amtcmSv... cm{Xn ChnsS \n\¡nXmWv thesb¶v... Adnbs« ]p¶mctamsâ I¿nenê¸v F´msW¶v!' "Rm³ F´p ImWns¨¶m?..' HSphn Ah³ iÐw hos­Sp¯p. "\o sNbvXsXÃmw Rm³ I­p... Cì am{Xaà ]eZnhkhpw... ]dbpw Rm³...' AXnë \ns\s¡´mSn Fì tNmZn¡m³ Ahë tXm¶nbXmWv. Ahsf ]nW¡s­ì IêXn an­nbnÃ. "`b¦c³... FÃmw Rm³ ]dbpw... \nsâ FÃm FS]mSpw.' "FÃmtam?' "AtXSm ]q¨¡Åm... \o sIm­ph¨phmbnç¶ km[\saÃmw Rm³ I­p]nSn¨p.' Ahsâ iÐw ho­pw t]mbn. Ah³ hm s]mfn¨p \nì. "Rm³ Ahsc hnfn¨pWÀ¯s«? It¿msS ]dbmw sNdp¡sâ anSp¡v..' "\osb´p `mhn¨m tN¨o. CsXmìw \ns¶ _m[nç¶ ImcyaÃtÃm? Rm³ \nâSp¯v Hìw sNbvXnÃ.' "Hìw sNbvXntÃ? Rm³ ASp¯ I«nen InSçt¼mgm \nsâbo FS]mSv. Rm³ Imésa¶v \n\¡dnbm¼mSntÃ? Adnbmw. At¸m Fs¶¡mWn¡m\mWv \nsâ Dt±iyw... ]dbpw Rm³ Ct¸m¯s¶.' "\o ImWmXncn¡m\m hìt\m¡nbsX´n\m?'

Rm³

hnf¡W¨v

]mXncm{Xn

Rm³

...

\o

]½n¸½n

"Blm.. Ct¸m æäw FâXmbn.. Cu apdn FâXm.. AdnbmtÃm... ]ns¶ \o B _pçIsfms¡ sIm­ph¨tXm?' "Fsâ ]pkvXI¯n\Isams¡ t\m¡m³ \nâSp¯v Bê ]dªp?' "Bê ]dsªt¶m? \o \nÃv. C¸w Rm³ ]dªpXcmw. D½amcv hcs«..' "\o F´p hnNmcn¨n«m tN¨o... CXv FÃm Adnbmªn«m...' Ah³ \ymboIcn¡m³ {ian¨p.

B¼ntÅêw

sN¿p¶Xm...

\n\¡nsXmìw

"Adnbmªnt«m... D¸ hê¼w \o Adntªmfpw. AdnbmatÃm D¸sb. sImÃpw \ns¶. BZyw D½tbmSp ]dbs«.' AhÄ hmXnenteç \Sì. "FSn tN¨n. \o FhnSt¸mhpIm. BhiyanÃmsX Fs¶ \o sImg¸¯nemImêXv.' Ah³ AhfpsS ap¶n Ibdn \nì. "amdSm..' "tN¨n.. ¹okv... \osbm¶S§v...'

11

"amdv ap¶n \n¶v.' "FSn... ¹okv... \osbm¶S§v.. Rm³ F´pthtW sN¿mw...' "]dbt­?' "th­.' "\o F´psNbvXpXêsa¶m?' "F´pw. \n\s¡´m th­Xv?' "Mpw. Rm\§s\ s]s«s¶mìw \ns¶ hnSqsÃSm..' AhÄ Xncnªv I«nen sN¶nêì. Ahsâ apJ¯v Bizmkw. "Rm³ ]dbp¶sXms¡ \o tI¡Ww. tI«tÃm? Asæn Rm³ hm¸sb hnfnçw.' Dsƶv Ah³ Xebm«n. Ah³ Aev]w amdn I«nenenêì. "CsXmìw henb ImcyaÃ... FÃmêw sN¿p¶Xm.' Ah³ Ahsf Xé¸n¡m\mbn ]dªp. "F´v?' "CXv.' "GsXSm?' "Rm³ sNbvXpsIm­nê¶Xv.' AhfpsS apJ¯pt\m¡msX Ah³ ]dªp. "\o Ft´m¶m sNbvXpsIm­nê¶Xv?' "\o I­XpXs¶.' "FSm jm.' AhÄ hnfn¨p. "Mpw?' "\o hmWaSnçIbÃmbnêt¶mSm?' Hê IqkepanÃmsXbmWv AhfpsS tNmZyw. Igs¸Sp¯ s]®nsâ ss[cyta! ]¨bmb AhfpsS tNmZyw tI«v ]¿³ sR«n. Ah³ AhfpsS apJ¯v BÝcyt¯msS t\m¡n. AhfpsS apJ¯v Hê ]p©ncn hnSÀì. "AtÃSm?' Ah³ AtXsbì Xebm«n. "Fìw sN¿ptamSm?' Ah³ CsÃì Xebm«n. "\o sImÅmatÃmSm. ]mh¯ms\¡W¡nê¶n«v. icn. _m¡nIqsS \ob§p sNbvtX. Rms\m¶v ImWs«!'

F´mbmepw

\o

sXmS§nbXtÃ.

12

jm ho­pw sR«n. Ahsâ I®pXÅn. Aev]w ap³]v Xm³ sNbvXXv FÃmhtcmSpw ]dbpsa¶v `ojWns¸Sp¯nbhfnXm ]dbpì AhÄ¡Xp ImWWsa¶v! Ah³ hnizmkw hcm¯a«n Ahsf Xpdn¨p t\m¡n. Cu s]mebmSntamÄ¡v F´p]än? "At¿ \osb´mé ]dbp¶Xv tN¨o?' "F´mSm \n\ç \mWam?' "FSo CXv Bsc¦nepw t\m¡n\nç¼w sN¿mhp¶XmtWm? ]ns¶ \osbmê s]®pw' "\o t]Sn¡­Sm... Rm\mtcmSpw ]dbqÃ!' "\n\s¡´mSn h«m? \osbsâ s]§ftÃ?' "Hm AXp kz´w s]§fÃtÃm.' "F¶mepw F\nç h¿m. \n\s¡´p ]än?' "F\ns¡mìw ]änbnÃ. Ft´epw ]änbn«ps­¦n¯s¶ AXp \o ImcWam... _pçIsfms¡ sIm­ph¨v aëjysc Ff¡nbn«v... Rm³ ]dªXptI«nsæn \o æg¸¯nemæta.' A¸w AXméImcyw. Ahë Imcyw FXm­p]nSnIn«n. s]®në Ig¸m. Ahfp Imcyambn«m kwkmcnç¶Xv. Ahsâ t]Sn ædªp. F¶mepw AhfpsS ap¶n h¨v hmWaSnç¶sX§s\? CsXs´mê Iq¯v!' "FSm \nsâ Np®nsbmì ImWs«?' AhÄ ASp¯ Unamâv h¨p. "Ifn aXnbm¡n t]m tN¨n.' "Ifntbm? Imcyambn«m. Rms\mì ImWs« \nsâ hmW¯ns\! sIm¨nte XpWnbnÃmsX \ns¶ Rm³ F{X FSpt¯m­p\S¶n«pÅXm!' "AXv A¶tÃ...' "AXpsIm­p X¶m. \nâXv F{X hepXmsb¶v Rms\mì ImWs«.' Ah³ Nqfnt¸mbn. Hê Cfn¸panÃmsXbmWvv s]®nsâ kwkmcw. aäphÃhêambnês¶¦n \nâXp ImWn¨pX¶m FâXv ImWn¨pXcmw Fì]dtªs\. Ah³ æ´w hngp§nbamXncn angp§kym Cêì. AhÄ Ahsâ ASpt¯ç \o§nbnêì. "ImsWs«Sm.' "F\nç h¿m..' "\n\çhs¿¦n Rm³ t\m¡ns¡mÅmw..' AhÄ Ahsâ ep¦nbn ]nSn¨p. "At¿ tN¨o... At¿ \mWt¡Sv..' "Hê \mWt¡SpanÃ... \o Fsâ ]pd¯v F{XXhW s]Sp¯n«pÅh\m..' "Fsâ s]mì tN¨o \o t]m..' "Rm\§s\ t]mWnsÃSm...' AhÄ Ahsâ ep¦nbn ]nSn¨p hen¨p. Ah³ Is¿Sp¯v AhfpsS I¿n ]nSn¨pXSªp. AhÄ ssI hens¨Sp¯v ep¦n hen¨qcm³ ho­pw {ian¨p.

13

]nSnhen¡nSbn AhfpsS ssI Ahsâ XpSbneaÀì. jmPlmsâ icocw Id­Sn¨ t]mse s]s«ì \nÝeambn. Hês]®nsâ ssI¯ew BZyambn Ahsâ XpSbneaÀ¶t¸mÄ AdnbmsXXs¶ Ahsâ icocw {]XnIcn¨p. Ahsâ {]Xntj[w A{]Xy£ambn. apJ¯p càw Cc¨pIbdn. "tN.. ¨n.' ZpÀºe\mbn Ah³ hnfn¨p. Ahsâ XcfnXkzcw tI«t¸mÄ AhfpsS Bthiw IqSn. ep¦nbnse Ahsâ ]nSp¯w hn«p. AhÄ kabw IfbmsX ep¦n hIªpamän. "tN..¨n.' Ah³ I®S¨p]nSn¨p. æsd\mfpImfmbn Xm³ ImWm³ sImXn¨ BWnsâ GZ³tXm«¯nte¡v AhÄ t\m¡n. AhfpsS icocw NqSp]nSn¨nêì. izmkKXn hÀ²n¨nêì. tcma¡mSv thensI«nb Ahsâ Acbnse kmam\w AhÄ BZyambn I­p. Aev]w ap³]v jm Ahs\ æe¸n¨nê¶Xn\m AXv ]qÀ®ambpw Npê§nbnê¶nÃ. Ahsâ XpSIÄ¡nSbn \o­pInS¶ B tIme³ Np®nsb AhÄ AZv`pXt¯msS, Xcnt¸msS, Zmlt¯msS t\m¡n. kp¶¯psNbvX Ahsâ "aWn' AhÄ hnNmcn¨Xnt\¡mfpw hepXmbnêì. sImÅmatÃm sNdp¡³! C{Xbpw henb km[\amWv Chsâ ImensâSbnepÅsX¶v Bêw IêXqÃ. am{Xaà Hêæ¯p tcmahpw D­v AXnë Npäpw. ]¿³ icnçw BWmbncnçì. AhÄ A`nam\t¯msS Ahs\ t\m¡n. AhfpsS I®pIfn Imaw AebSn¨p. "\o henb BfmbtÃmSm tamt\, Rm\n{Xbpw IêXnbnÃ.' ImaZml¯n s]mXnª A`n\µ\w. AhfpsS hmçIfnse `o£Wn kzcw amdnbnêì. ]Icw ImatamlnXbmb s]®v ImapIsâ ap¶nse¶t]mse Hê ambmtemI¯nembnêì AhÄ. "I­tÃm C\n \o t]m.' Ah³ ep¦n hen¨v IÀ«³ Xmgv¯m³ t\m¡n. ]t£ AhfXv ho­pw ]nSn¨pamän. "FS tamt\ C\nbXv s]m§p¶Xv ImWn¨msWSm..' AhÄ Ah³ ]dªXp tIÄ¡m¯ a«n ]dªp. AhfpsS I®pIÄ Ahsâ Np®nbn \nì amdnbnÃ. BZyambn t\cn Imé¶ B apXnÀ¶ æ®sb t\m¡n AhÄ shÅand¡n. tImgnsb I­ ædp¡s\t¸mse AhÄ Np­p \\¨p. B Np®nsb I¿nseSp¯p Xmtemen¡m³ AhÄç tXm¶n. AtXm AXns\ hmbnseSp¯v Ddp©mt\m. AhÄ Fgpt¶äv I«nen Imepw Xmgv¯nbn«v Cê¶ Ahsâ ap¶n ap«pæ¯n. AhÄ ssIIÄ Ahsâ XpSIfn h¨p. Ahs\mì hnd¨p. AhfpsS heXpssI sasà apIfnte¡ngªp. arZpeamb AhfpsS ssI¯ew arZpeamb Ahsâ XpSbneqsS \o§nbt¸mÄ jmbpsS icocw s]s«ìXs¶ DWÀì.. Ahsâ æ® A\§m³ XpS§n. AhfXp{]Xo£n¨nÃ. Ahsâ aWnbn¸nSn¡m\mWv AhÄ ssI \n«nbXpXs¶. AXnëap³t] AXnXm A\§pì! AhÄ ssI tatem«p \o¡nbXëkcn¨v B æ® Dbcm³ XpS§n. BZyambn Hê æ® I¼nbmæ¶Xp t¢mk¸n I­t¸mÄ AhfpsS Xcn¸v IqSn. AhÄ AdnbmsX Ahsâ XpSbn ]nSn¨p sR¡n. apt¶m«mªnê¶ AhfpsS apeIÄ Ahsâ ap«pIfn AaÀì. ]¿³ \nanjt\cwsIm­v ^pÄ I¼nbmbn. `qKpêXzmIÀjWs¯ shÃphnfn¨v tatem«ps]m§n\n¶ jmtamsâ Np®nI­v AhÄ ImatamlnXbmbn. F{X cm{XnIÄ CXns\sbmì ImWm³ Dd¡anf¨p! Ah³ sP«nçÅn Hfn¸n¨ Np®n. Zpã\v F§s\ tXm¶n ad¨phím³! Fs´mê N´am Ahsâ ImensâSbn \n¶v C§s\ s]m§n\nÂç¶Xp ImWm³. AhfpsS ssI Ahsâ æ®íp Npäpw ]nSnapdp¡nbXv s]s«¶mWv. "lm.. tN¨n...' tjm¡Sn¨t]mse Ah³ hnd¨p. Ahsâ hm Xpdìt]mbn. arZpeamb AhfpsS Ickv]Ài¯m jmbpsS kÀÆmwKw tcmam©wsIm­p. Ahsâ FÃm FXnÀ¸pw eÖbpw

14

]d]dì. Dt¯PnX\mb Ah³ Xsâ ap¡mÂç®sb AhÄç Ifn¡m³ hn«psImSp¯v ]n¶nteç ssIIÄæ¯n Nmªnêì. Xmdmhnsâ Igp¯n ]nSnç¶Xp t]msebmWv k_o\ç BZyw tXm¶nbXv. tkm^väv. ]t£ ]nSnapdp¡nbt¸mÄ Np®nbpsS ZrVX Ahsf AZv`pXs¸Sp¯n. `b¦c _ew! F¶mepw Fs´mê kpJw AXn ]nSn¡m³. icnçw AXns\ hmíI¯m¡n ISn¨pXn¶m\mWv AhÄç tXm¶nbXv. F¦nepw AhÄ ]Xps¡ tatem«pw Xtgm«pw ]nSn¨p hmWaSn¡m³ XpS§n. P\n¨XpapX sN¿p¶ ]Wnsb¶ a«n Ahfhsâ Np®nsb¸nSn¨p æep¡n. jm kpJ¯nsâ FhdÌv Ibdn. ssewKnIm\µ¯nsâ t\À¯ aªpIW§Ä Ahs\ s]mXnªp æfncWnbn¨p. BZyambmWv thsdmê ssI, AXpw Hê s]®nsâ, Ahsâ æ®bn ]nSnç¶Xv. Ahsâ hnImc§Ä täm]v Knbdn æXn¨pbÀ¶p. æ®bnÂ\nìw \ndanÃm¯ tX³ [mcbmbn Hen¨nd§n. k_o\ AZv`pXt¯msS AXn t\m¡n. CXmtWm Chsâ ]mev? "C{X s]s«¶v \n\ç ht¶mSm?' ImawsIm­v am\hpsaÃmw AhtfmSp kemw ]dªnêì.

I®pImWmXmb

s]®nsâ

\mWhpw

"AXv AXÃSn...a­o.. eq{_nt¡j\m...' kpJ¯n\nSbnepw AhëNncn¡m³ tXm¶n. "Hm.. AXp icn... Zv H¯ncn hê¶tÃm.' hncepIfn ]änb AXv AhfpsS ssIbn hgphgp¸p­m¡n. hmWaSn¡v icnçw eq{_nt¡j\mbn. AhÄ DÕmlt¯msS Ahsâ æ®bn ]WnXpSÀì. Hê s]®nsâ ssIbpsS kv]Ài\kpJ¯m jmbpsS £ochnIk\tI{µw s]s«¶v {]hÀ¯n¨p. Ahsâ apJw henªpapdpIn. I®pIfS¨v Np­pIÄ ]mXnXpd¶p. Ah³ N´n I«neneaÀ¯n Ac apIfnte¡v s]m¡n. k_o\ t]Sn¨v hmWaSn \nÀ¯n Ahs\ t\m¡n. "thKw... thKw ]nSnsbSn tN¨n...' Ah³ Xsâ Hê ssI FSp¯v AhfpsS I¿psStaÂh¨v thK¯n ]nSn¨p. Imcyw ]nSnIn«nb AhÄ thK¯n ]nSn¨psImSp¯p. "A B Blv Bmm lm...' Ahsâ Ic¨nept]mes¯ apcĨ tI«v Ahsâ apJt¯ç hm s]mfn¨p t\m¡nbnê¶ k_o\bpsS apJ¯p IrXyambn Ahsâ BZys¯ C³ÌmÄsaâv ]Xn¨p. icnçw F´mWv kw`hn¨sX¶v AhÄ a\Ênemç¶Xnëap³]pXs¶ Ahsâ ]m¡«nIfpsS t_mw_phÀjw XpS§nbnêì. jmbpsS æ®ípNpäpw apdpInbnê¶ AhfpsS hncepIfnepw Ahsâ XpSIfnepw aäpambn AhÄ ImWm³ sImXn¨ Ahsâ 殸m HgpIn... Xo{hamb Hê kvJe\¯në hnt[b\mb jm FÃmw ad¶v ]n¶nte¡v Nmªv I®S¨p InSì. jmbpsS Np®nbnÂ\n¶v Is¿Sp¯v k_o\ Ahsâ Acbnepw ]mep]änb Xsâ ssIIfnepw amdnamdn t\m¡n. Aev]w ap³]v ]m¼pt]mse Xsâ ssIçÅnenê¶v hn§nb Ahsâ Np®n \nev]v aXnbm¡n InS¸v XpS§nbncnçì.. F¶mepw tNens\mê ædhpanÃ. Hen¨nd§nb ]men AXnsâ Xeapgph³ ap§nbt]mep­v. ISnaq¯ sImXnaq¯ ]qdpXcn¨ AhÄ¡v ]menÂIpfn¨ B ]m¼n³æªns\ D½hím³ tXm¶n. B ]mseÃmw Ddp©nbpw \¡nbpw æSn¡m³ tXm¶n. jm Hìw an­msX I®S¨pInSçIbmWv.... AhÄ ]mep]änb Xsâ ssI apJ¯n\Spt¯¡v sIm­phì kq£n¨p t\m¡n. shfp¯psImgp¯v {^jmb "jmþanÂIv'! AhfXv aq¡n\Sp¯psIm­ph¶v C³slbveÀ t]mse DÅnteç AXnsâ KÔw hens¨Sp¯p. AhfpsS icocw s]ê¯pIbdn. jmbpsS Fsʳkv! Xs¶t¸msemê¯nbn Ah\v \ndímëÅ X®ocv. 殸menÂap§nb B hncepIfn AhÄ Np­pIÄ hnSÀ¯n ap¯n. AhfpsS NphìXpSp¯ Np­pIfn 殸m æfnê ]SÀ¯n. \mç\o«n AhfXv êNn¨p. AhfpsS jmbpsS Np®nbnÂ\nìh¶ ]memWvv. AhfpsS jm. AhfpsS sNdp¡³. AhÄ H¡s¯Sp¯psIm­p\S¶ sNdp¡³. Ah³ F{Xtbm {]mhiyw

15

Xsâ ta apÅnbncnçì. AtX t]mse AtXØe¯p\nìh¶Xv! ]ns¶ AhfXv ]Xps¡ Ddp©nsbSp¯p... sFkv{Iow ÌnIv t]mse... I¿n¸änb ‘jmþanÂIv’ Ddp©nsbSp¯p ¢o\m¡nbn«v AhÄ Ahs\ t\m¡n. Ah³ I®S¨pInS¸pXs¶. Ahsâ Np®n ]gb]Snbmbn«p­v. ASp¯pInS¶ Ahsâ sP«nsbSp¯v Ahfhs\ XpS¨p hr¯nbm¡n. "jm..' "Sm tamt\...' "Mpw' "\n\ç kpJnt¨mSm?' adp]Sn]dbmsX Ah³ \mWn¨pXebm«n. Ah³ icnçw t_m[w hos­Sp¯nê¶nÃ. I¿n¸nSn¨psIm­nê¶ Ahs\ k_o\h¶v It¿msS ]nSn¨t¸mÄ t]mbXmWv Ahsâ kzt_m[w. ]n¶oSv \S¶sXms¡ ambtbm kz]v\tam kXytam F´msW¶v Ah³ Xncn¨dnªpXpS§nbnê¶nÃ. Fs´ÃmamWv kw`hn¨Xv! Ahfhsâ s\änbn kvt\l]qÀÆw XtemSn. "A¸w C\n Fsâ s]mìtam³ cm{Xn Hfn¨nêìÅ ]cn]mSnb§p \nÀ¯ntb¡Ww. tI«tÃm?' Ahs\mì sR«n. "C\napX Fsâ AëhmZanÃmsX Cu apdnçÅnÂh¨v \o \nsâ Np®nsb sXmSm³ ]mSnÃ! C\n \nsâbo dºdpaWn FâXm!' Ahfhsâ æ®bn ]nSn¨p ]Xps¡ sR¡n. "dºtdm?' Ahë tNmZn¡mXncn¡m³ IgnªnÃ. AhÄ æep§n¨ncn¨p. AdphmWn¨ncn. ]vcm´nsbs¸mse. FhfpsS s]md¯v GsX¦nepw Pn¶v tIdntbm? "FSm Npê§pIbpw hepXmhpIbpw hfbpIbpw \nhêIbpw Hs¡ sN¿p¶sX´mWv? aé¡qkm! aWn hfÀ¶n«pw a­ hfÀ¶nà sNdp¡sâ!' AhÄ t\mhm¯hn[w Ahsâ sNhnbn¸nSn¨p Ingp¡n. Ah³ Nqfnt¸mbn. Hä cm{XnsIm­v Cu tN¨ns¸mebmSn¨nçh¶ amäta. "a\ÊnemtbmSm tamt\.. C\napX Rm³ ]mephê¯n¯êw \n\¡v. tI«Ãv.' Ah³ ab¡¯nse¶t]mse Xembm«n. "AXpt]mse Xncn¨v \o \n\¡v CãapÅsXÃmw sNbvtXm..' AXp]dªn«v AhÄ Ahsâ c­pssIIfpw GSp¯v Xsâ \ndamdn h¨p. jmbpsS ssIIÄ AdnbsXXs¶ B apgp¸n AaÀì. AhÄ Id­Sn¨t]mse Hì sR«n. jm t]Sn¨ns«¶h®w ssIIÄ ]n³hen¨p. "sImg¸ansÃSm.. \o ]nSnt¨m.' Ah\v Dd¸psImSp¡ms\¶t]mse Ahfhsâ Ihnfnsemê½ sImSp¯p. F¶n«hÄ Ahsâ ]pdt¯ç henªpIbdn. ssIIÄ Ahsâ ]pdIneqsS NpänsbSp¯v Ahs\ s\©n tNÀ¯v hcnªpapdp¡n. AhfpsS apeIÄ Ahsâ s\©neaÀì. jm ho­pw sasà I¼nbmbn¯pS§n. "Sm tams\... \ap¡v kpJn¡msaSm... \½Ä c­pw... Bêadnb¯nÃ... A¸pd¯pInSìd§p¶ sIfhnIÄ¡v HìadnbnÃ. ]qdnIÄ¡v \½sf hnizmkam... thsd BêadnbêXv... Hä aëjyêSp¯pw ]dbêXv! \ns¶bpw sIm¶v Rmëw Nmhpw tI«tÃm?' Ah³ ]ns¶bpw Xebm«n. aµ_p²nsbt¸mse.

16

"hm Xpdì ]d jm tIs«¶v!' AhÄ a{´nçw t]mse ]dªp. "tI«p tN¨o.' "a\ÊnembtÃm?' "a\Ênembn.' "\nâ tN¨nç hs¿Sm... \nsâ _pçIÄ... B AXpt]ms«... \o icnçw Hê BWmbn... Rms\mê s]®pw... \ap¡v kpJn¡msaSm... BÀçw Hê kwibhpw D­mIêXv... FÃmw Cu apdnçÅnÂam{Xw.' "icn tN¨n.' "B _pçIÄ BZyw I­¸w \ns¶ hgç]dbWsa¶m IêXnbXv. F¶n«n¸w, IYbnse ]m¯p½ aPoZnâ ]pd¯pInS¶t]me InSçIbm Rm\n¸w.' AhÄ IcªpsIm­v Nncn¨p. "tN¨n...' F{X s]s«¶mWv AhfqsS `mhw amdp¶Xv. CXp GXp Pn¶¸m! "HìansÃSm...' AhÄ I®pIÄ XpS¨p. "]ns¶ Hê Imcyw. Hê Imcyw am{Xw sN¿m³ Rm³ k½Xn¡qÃ... \nsâ Np®n Fsâ AI¯p tIäm³... AXp am{Xw th­ tams\... thsd F´pthtWepw sN¿mw. AXpam{Xw th­. tI«tÃm' "icn. tN¨n.' ]ns¶ \S¶sXms¡ hfsc s]s«¶mbnêì. AtXm Hê tÉm tamj³ t]msetbm? Hìae¡w adnªv jm AhfpsS apIfnembn. jmbpsS ssI AhfpsS æìt]mes¯ amdn AaÀì. æsd\mfmbn ISnaq¯p \S¶ k_o\ apeIÄ Xsâ kz]v\æamcsâ ssI¸S¯nëÅnenê¶v sRcnªt¸mÄ hmSnb tN¼n³X­pt]mse ægªpt]mbn. AhfpsS kÀÆmwKw kpJIcamb Hê XfÀ¨ív hnt[bambn. Ahsâ NqSpÅ \nizmkw AhfpsS apJ¯pw Igp¯nepw X«n. N¸m¯nbp­m¡m³ amhp ægíp¶Xpt]mse jm AhfpsS apeIÄ c­pssIIÄsIm­pw Ii¡n. Ahsâ Hê ssIçÅn HXp§p¶XÃmbnêì AhfqsS sIm¦. ss\änçapIfneqsS ]mÂçS§fnsem¶n Ah³ ISn¨p. "lm lm hqqq sâ.... jv…' hmçIÄ sXm­bn æSp§n AhÄ ]nSªp. Np­pIÄ hc­pt]mbn AhfpsS. ImepIÄ¡nSbnse B InêInê¸v .. AXnëÅnse XpSn¸v... AhÄ Ahsâ Xebn ]nSn¨v amdneaÀ¯n... jm ssIIÄsIm­hsf hcnªpapdp¡n. Ah³ Acs¡«v AhfpsS Acbn AaÀ¯n. jmbpsS ssIçÅn AhÄ æªns\t¸mse HXp§n. Ahsâ icoc kv]Àitaäv AhÄ ]q¯peªp. "tN¨n...' AhÄç an­m³ h¿. "tN¨n... Sn... tamtf...' tamtf F¶h³ BZyambmWv hnfnç¶Xv. "Mpw.' "CXv... CXqcs«?' "Mpw.'

17

ss\än ]d]dì. ASn¸mhmSbpw Idp¯ {_mbpw Ahtijn¨p. NcnªpInS¶v Ah\hfpsS amkfamb ASnhbdn XtemSn. tcmam©¯m AhfpsS tZlw Imä¯pebp¶ Bene t]mse hndsIm­p. jm AhfpsS X{´nIÄ ao«m³ XpS§n; B{Im´w IqSpXemsW¦nepw. CSXpssIsIm­v AhfpsS heXpapebn ]nSn¨psRcn¨v heXpssIsIm­v AhfpsS s]m¡nfnëNpäpw XtemSn. k_o\bpsS Ac hnÃpt]mse tatem«pbÀìs]m§n¯mì. AhfpsS ASnhbdnse amwkfXbn Ah³ ZbbnÃmsX sRcn¨p... AhfpsS DÅn cXnaqÀÑbpsS Hê Ac§pbÀì. {_m tatem«v s]m¡n amän jm AhfpsS apeIsf t\m¡n. DSbm¯, Debm¯, Ickv]Àitaev¡m¯ £octKmf§Ä. shfpshfp¯ apeIÄ. Xhn«p\nd¯nse h«w. AXnë\Sphnse I®v... ]¨apebn Ahsâ NqSp]nSn¨ Np­aÀì. "kviv..kv.... lm' \áapebn Hê Np­nsâ {]Yakv]Àiw Ahfn Ima¸q¯ncn I¯n¨p. AhÄ XpSIÄ Iq«n¸nSn¨p. AXpt]mse Hê \áapebn BZyambn Np­v sXm«t¸mÄ jmbpw kzÀ¤w I­p. Ah³ apeIfnsem¶ns\ BÀ¯ntbmsS N¸m³ XpS§n. AtXmsSm¸w HêssIsIm­v atäapesb sRcn¨p. Np­pIÄ¡nSbn ape sRs«Sp¯v Ahëdp©n. Np­pw \mçw sIm­Xn sRcn¨p. ]ns¶ ]ÃpIÄ¡nSbn h¨v hen¨p. hfªp]pfªpt]mbn k_o\. icoc¯nsâ FÃm`mK¯p\nìw kpJ¯nsâ NmepIÄ AhfpsS apebnte¡v {]hln¨p. ]mep­mbnês¶¦n AXnÂ\nìw jmbpsS hmbnte¡v sXdnçambnêì. ]Icw AhfpsS ImepIÄ¡nSbn Hê DdhbpsS Bcw`ambn... hm Xpd¶v jm apesb apgph\mbn I¸n. \mç\o«n apebmsI \¡n. AhfpsS amdn Ahsâ Dan\oÀ \ndªp. jm ASp¯ apebnte¡v apJw amänbt¸mtgçw k_o\bpsS DÅn Hê sImSp¦mäv cq]wsIm­nêì. AXv cXnaqÀÑbpsS XncameIÄ DbÀ¯m³ XpS§n. jmbpsS ]ÃpIÄ AhfpsS X®na¯\n Bgv¶t¸mÄ AhÄ Ahsâ Xe]nSn¨v Xsâ amdn iànbmbn AaÀ¯n. "Sm tamt\ tN¨n... ¡v... hê...s¶Sm...' AhfpsS ]qänëÅnÂ\nìw ]meêhn s]m«nsbmgpIn... ImepIÄ sIm­v jmbpsS AcípNpäpw hcnªpapdp¡n Ahsâ Ac Xsâ ImepIÄ¡nSbnte¡v AaÀ¯n. jmbpsS æe¨p\n¶ æ® AhfpsS XpSIfn sRcnªaÀì. AhfpsS ImepIÄ¡nSbnse {]I¼\§fpsS AeIÄ HSp§p¶Xphsc Ahfhs\ AaÀ¯n¸nSn¨p. HSphn Ahsâ]pds¯ ]nSn¯whn«v AhÄ XfÀì InSì. "\n\ç ht¶mSn...' Ah³ IuXpIt¯msS tNmZn¨p. an­m³]ämsX AhÄ Xebm«n. "Rms\mì t\m¡t«?' "]ns¶.' Ahfhsâ apJw]nSn¨p Xsâ apJ¯pc¨p. "jm jm Fsâ æ«m...\o.. \osbsâ sNdp¡\mSm..' tcmaw æê¡m¯ Ahsâ IhnfpIfn Ahfp½ h¨p. AXpt]mcmªv s\änbnepw aq¡nepw Xfncvaoibnepw Hs¡ AhÄ Np­pIfpc¨p. "jm... Fsâ jm... tamt\ æ«m... \o Fsâ BWmSm...Fsâ tam³' AhÄ ]pe¼ns¡m­nêì. shÅw t]mIm¯ jm ho­pw AhfpsS apebn ssIh¨p. Ah³ Xe Xmgv¯n ho­pw ape N¸m³ XpS§n.

18

"tlm.. jm.... ]s¿...

tamt\...'

"Rm³ æSns¡s«So \nsâ ]mev...' Ahsâbpw N½epw \mWhpw FÃmw t]mbnadªnêì. imTy¡mc³ æªns\t¸mse Ah³ apeIÄ amdnamdn N¸n. AtXmsSm¸w Ahsâ HêssI Xmtg¡v AhfpsS clkytI{µw e£yam¡n Cgªp. k_o\bpsS Adnbs¸Sm¯ taJeIfnte¡v t]mIm³ æ®aq¯p\n¶ jmív sh¼embn. Ahsâ ssIIÄ AhfpsS ASnhbän Aev]t\cw X¯n¡fn¨p. ]ns¶bh³ AhfpsS ASn¸mhmS tateç hen¨p Ibän. amwkfamb sImgp¯p anë¯ AhfpsS shůpSIfn Ah³ ssIh¨v AaÀ¯n. tIm¨n¸nSn¨t]mse AhÄ InSp§n. anëanëkamb AhfpsS s\bv¯pSIfn XtemSn Ah³ ckn¨p. ]mhmS AhfpsS Acbn Npê«nh¨n«v Idp¯ ]mânsIm­v adª AhfpsS ImatI{µ¯nte¡h³ \nÀ¶ntajw t\m¡n. ]mânbpsS ap³hiamsI \\ªnêì. ]mânbpsS apIfn Ah³ sasà ssI¸Sw AaÀ¯n. k_o\ {]mhns\s¸mse ædpIn. "jm tamt\..' kabw IfbmsX jm AhfpsS sP«n Ducn¡fªp. tcma¡m«nëÅnse AhfpsS aZ\¸phns\ Ah³ BÀ¯ntbmsS t\m¡n. \\ªpæXnÀ¶ B ]qänëapIfn Ah³ D½h¨p. k_o\ kpJwsIm­v I®Sªpt]mbn. AhfpsS icocw cXnkpJ¯m XpSn¨p. "lm... tamt\.. jm... lm FsâSm..' XpSIÄ AIänh¨v jm AhfpsS ]qdn \¡m³ XpS§n. k_o\ Xebn«Sn¨p. CXpt]msemê kpJmë`hw AhÄç­mbn«nÃ. kzÀ¤w Imé¶t]mse. "B.. lm.. jm... sâ s]mt¶...' Ch³ anSp¡\mbtÃm. icnçw BWmbncnçì. AhÄ¡ht\mSv Imaw aq¯p. AhÄ¡hsâ Np®nsb thWsaì tXm¶n. Xsâ Acbn kpJÖzmeIÄ ]SÀ¯p¶ jmbpsS Np®nsb ISn¨pXn¶mëÅ Zmlw Ieiembn. Ahfhsâ Acbn¸nSn¨v Xncn¨p InS¯n. \áamb Ahsâ AcbnÂ\n¶pXpÅp¶ B tIme³ Np®nsb AhÄ hm Xpd¶v hngp§n... "tlm!' jmbpsS ]m¨p®n AhfpsS hmbnÂ\ndªp. ]uêjw apänb Ahsâ Np®nsb AhÄ BÀ¯ntbmsS Du¼m³ XpS§n. Xsâ ImepIÄ¡nSbn \mçsIm­v kzÀ¤kpJw Xê¶ jmbpsS ImepIÄ¡nSbnse kzÀ¤s¯ AhÄ hmbnen«v N¸n. Xmsg jmbpsS \m¡v AhfpsS ]qänëÅn æ¯nbt¸mÄ Ahfhsâ Np®n A®mçhsc ap«n¨v Ddp©n. A´anÃmtXmSnb hnImc§Ä HSphn hn{ia¯në hgntXSn. k_o\bpsS aZ\¸qhn \nìw c­maXpw tX³ {]hln¨p. BZyambn¡n«nb Hê s]®nsâ aZ\¸pt´³ jm Bthit¯msS \¡nsbSp¯p. tN¨nbpsS ]qÀ¸m æSn¨t¸mÄ Ahsâ æ® AhfpsS hmbnte¡v Npc¯m³ XpS§n. jmbpsS Np®n k_o\bpsS hmbnepw apJ¯pambn ]m Noän. hmíI¯phoW ]mseÃmw AhÄ BßlÀjt¯msS æSn¨nd¡n. XpSÀ¨bmbn c­pXhW ]mept]mb jm XfÀ¶Xpt]mse I®S¨p InSì. \S¶sXms¡ HmÀ½bps­¦nepw AsXmê kz]v\amsW¶mWv Dd¡¯nte¡v hgpXnhogpt¼mÄ Ah³ IêXnbXv. AZv`pXIchpw kpJIchpw Bb Hê a[pckz]v\w. I®S¨pInS¶ jmsb k_o\ kwXr]vXntbmsS t\m¡n. jm... Ių!... Xsâ sNdp¡\mWh³!

19

Ahsâ s\änbnsemê½sImSp¯v ]pXs¸Sp¯v ]pX¸n¨v AhÄ Xsâ I«nen t]mbn¡nSì. (XpSêw)