tN¨ntamÄ þ 02 ]ntä¶v ]Isems¡ Ahsf I­t¸mÄ jm apJw sImSp¯nÃ. ImWm¯a«nemWv Ah³ s]êamdnbXv. AhÄ¡v hnjaambn. cm{Xn hfsc sshInbmWh³ apdnbn h¶Xv. h¶]msS Ah³ hnf¡W¨p InSì. k_o\ Aev]t\cw F´psN¿Wsa¶dnbmsX InSì. ]ns¶ AhÄ Fgpt¶äp hnf¡n«v Ahsâ I«nen\êInÂs¨ì. Ah³ aqSn¸pX¨p InSçIbmWv. "jm...' AhÄ ]Xnsb hnfn¨p. Ah³ A\§nbnÃ. ]ns¶bpw hnfn¨p. t\m c£. AhÄ I«nen\êIn Cê¶v Ahs\ æep¡nhnfn¨p. "FSm.. jm..' HSphneh³ apJ¯p\nì ]pX¸p amän. "F´m..' "\osb´mSm C§s\?' "F§s\?' "Hìadnbm¯ t]mse?' "tN¨n..' "FSm C¶se \S¶Xv \n\¡v CãambntÃ?' "C¶se F´p \Ss¶¶m..?' Ah\hfpsS apJ¯p t\m¡nbnÃ. "Mmlm Hìw \S¶ntÃ?' au\w... AXp \o­pt]mbn. "icn F¶m Rm³ t]mWv...' AhÄ Fgpt¶ev¡m³ XpS§n. Ah³ s]s«¶v AhfpsS I¿n ]nSn¨p. "tN¨n...' AhÄ ho­panêì. "C¶se \S¶sXÃmw kXyam?' AhêsS I®pIÄ X½n Iq«nap«n. Ahsâ DÅnse kwLÀjw AhÄç a\Ênembn. AhÄ sasà Xebm«n. "\n\ç hnjaams¿¦nÂ...'

2

"tN¨n...' Ah³ Ahsf hen¨p I«nente¡n«p... Ahsâ ]pdt¯¡hÄ hoé. "kXyw?' Ah³ Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨p. Ahsâ icockv]Àiw Ahsf s]mÅn¨p. AhÄ Xebm«n. Hì adnªv Ah³ AhfpsS ]pd¯mbn. AhfpsS s\©nÂInSìsIm­v Ah³ HìIqSn tNmZn¨p. "kXyw?' AhÄ ho­pw Xebm«n. "Hì hm Xpdì ]d k_o\m!' Ah³ AhfpsS t]cv hnfnç¶ AXy]qÀÆw \nanj§fn H¶v. "kXyw…' "\o ]dª Hê Imcysamgn¨p F´pw sN¿mw?' "sN¿mw…' "tN¨n...' "jm...' AhêsS I®pIÄ X½nepS¡n \nì... HSphn X½n Hê A­ÀÌm³UnMv D­mbt]mse Ah³ Nncn¨p. Ahfpw. "FSo...' "FSm...' "`b¦cn.' "`b¦c³.' "Rm³ BtemNnç¶sX´msW¶v \n\¡dnbmtamSo.' "Mqlpw.' "]­v ]­v Hcn¡Â \ns¶¡mWmsX sXc¡n \S¶ Rm³ hì s]«Xv æ¯nbnêì s]Spç¶ \nsâ ap¶nÂ... \o NmSn Fgpt¶äv cm£knbmbn Fsâ N´n¡v \à hoçh¨p Xì... Rm³ Ictªmt­mSn...' "FSm...' "Aì \nsâ ]qdv Rm³ I­Xpt]mepanÃ. Ct¸m... \o Hä ZnhkwsIm­v FÃmw sXmdìh¨p...' "FSm... AXnë ImcWsa´msW¶v Adnbmtam?' "F´m?' "\o Xs¶... Aì \o Hìadnbm¯ ]o¡ncns¨¡\mbnêì... Ct¸m \o hfÀìhfÀ¶v tN¨ntb¡mÄ AdnhpÅ Hê t]m¡ncns¨¡\mbn...' "FSn...'

3

"AsXÃmw t]ms«Sm... C¶se cm{Xn apX \½Ä ]pXnsbmê ... hgnbnem... \½Ä c­pt]êw am{Xw... At¸mgpw Rm³ \nsâ tN¨n Xs¶... \osbsâ sNdp¡ëw... henb sNdp¡³! \n\¡n\n hnjasamìanÃtÃm?' "CÃSn tN¨n...' A§s\ AhÀ k_o\ ]dªt]mse Hê ]pXnb bm{X XpS§n... cm{XnIÄ AhÀçÅXmbn... ]I AhÀ tN¨nbpw A\nbëw... cm{Xn apdnçÅn AhÀ Béw s]®pambn... A§s\b§s\ cm{XnIÄ ISìt]mbn. k_o\ hne¡nb HêImcy¯nsemgn¨v asäÃm¯nepw AhÀ _nêZsaSp¯p. *** km[mcW cm{XnbnemWv AhêsS Iem]cn]mSnIÄ Act§dp¶Xv. Nnet¸mÄ AXncmhnsebpw. ]I ]änÃ... Hê\mÄ D¨ív D®m\mbn jm hose¯nbt¸mÄ AhnsS Btcbpw I­nÃ. hnfn¨n«v Hc\¡hpw CÃ. Chscms¡ hoSpw Xpd¶n«v FhnsSt¸mbn? FÃmbnShpw t\m¡nbn«v Ahkm\amWv ASp¡fbn IbdnbXv. s]s«¶v HêtPmSn ssIIÄ Ahs\ ]n¶n \nìw hebw sNbvXp. BZysamì sR«nsb¦nepw Ah\v Bsf a\Ênembn. k_o\. "t]Sn¨p t]mbtÃmSo...' AhÄ Ahsâ Igp¯në ]n¶n sNdnsbmê ISn sImSp¯p. "lm... hnsSSo tN¨o \n\ç ]vcm´mtbm... Bsc¦nepw ImésaSo.' AhÄ ]pdIn¡qSn Ahsâ tI{µ¯n ]nSns¨mì sR¡n. "l... FSo..' Ah³ AhfpsS Is¿Sp¯p amän Xncnªp \nì. AhÄ æé§n¨ncn¨p. "BêansÃSm ChnsS... \½Ä c­pt]êw am{Xw.' "Ahscms¡ FhnsS?' "Ahcn\n sshInt« F¯q... AXphsc \½Ä Häív.' AhÄ Ahsâ tImfdnsâ Cêhi¯pw ]nSn¨v ASp¸n¨psIm­v Ahsâ Ihnfnsemê½ sImSp¯p. jm ssI DbÀ¯n AhfpsS tKmf§fn ]nSn¨p. AhfpsS amdv DbÀì Xmé. "\ns¶ Rm³ Im¯ncnçIbmbnêì. BZyambn«m ]I \½fn§s\ Häív...' "F\nç hniçs¶So...' "Hm Ahsâsbmê Xoäs¡mXn...' AhÄ Ahs\ ]pdtIm«p XÅn `n¯nbn ap«n¨p \nÀ¯n. "\n\¡nì \à aWamWtÃmSn tN¨n.' Ah³ AhtfmSp ]dªp. "Hm.. AsXmê ]pXnb tkm¸nsâbm...' "\Ã... aWw... Hê amXncn...'

4

"Hê amXncn?' "Hê amXncn I¼nbmç¶ aWw!' "\n\ç I¼nbmsbmSm æ«m?' "Bbn hês¶Sn.' "t\m¡s«.' AhÄ Ahsâ ]mânë apIfneqsS I¼nbpsS Izmfnän sSÌv sNbvXp. "\n\t¡ C¯ncn¡gnªv Rm³ tNmdn«p Xcmw...' AhÄ Ahsâ jÀ«nsâ _«ëIÄ hnSphn¨psIm­v ]dªp... "\n\¡v Rm³ Hê kvs]j H­m¡n h¨n«p­v...' "Ft´ms¶Sn?' "AsXmê clkyamSm...' jÀ«nsâ Xpd¶ taÂ`mKw AIän¸nSn¨v AhÄ Ahsâ s\©n D½ h¨p... ]ns¶ Ahsâ æªp®n apeIfnepw. "lm.. tN¨o..' ‘FsâSmm… A\§msX \nsÃSm... Rm³ ]I shfn¨¯n \ns¶ icnçsam¶v ImsWs«Sm...’ _«ëIsfÃmw hnSphn¨v k_o\ jmbpsS jÀ«v Ducn amän. ‘]IseÃmw aqSns¸mXnªp \SçhmtÃm sNdp¡³. Im¡ sIm¯ptamSm.’ ho«nepw Ah³ Ft¸mgpw jÀ«nt« \S¡q. Acíp ta \á\mb Ahs\ AhÄ ætd t\cw t\m¡n\nì. BZyambn Imé¶t]mse. ]ns¶ Xangv kn\nabn Imé¶t]mse ssI c­pw Npê«n¸nSn¨v Ahsâ Ihnfn tNÀ¯ph¨n«v s\änbn kvt\lt¯msS D½ h¨p. Ahsâ ssIIÄ AhfpsS amd¯v ]Xps¡ ]nXp¡ns¡m­nêì. AhÄ ]s¿ ssI DbÀ¯n Nq­phncÂsIm­v Ahsâ s\änbn sXm«p. ]ns¶ B hnc ]Xps¡ Xtg¡v Nen¨p. aq¡neqsS Np­pIfneqsS XmSnbneqsS Xncn¨v IhnfpIfneqsS. Xmtg¡v s\©neqsS apeIfneqsS s]m¡nfneqsS B Nq­phnc k©cn¨p... Ah\n C¡nfn D­m¡ns¡m­v... Ahsâ s\©nepw hbänepw AXv ]eXhW h«w Npän. Ahkm\w Ahfhsâ apJw ]nSn¨pbÀ¯n Ahsâ Ihnfn Np­pIÄ H«n¨p. ]ns¶ s\änbnÂ... XmSnbnÂ... s]mSnaoibnÂ... Ahsâ Id]pcfm¯ Np­pIfnepw AhfmZyambn ap¯an«p. jmsbmì InSp§n... êNn Adnbms\¶t]mse B Np­pIÄç ]pdta AhÄ sasÃsbmì \mt¡mSn¨p. jm AhfpsS apebnse ]nSn¯w hn«v Ahsf CdpsI sI«n¸nSn¨p. AhfpsS \ndamdv Ahsâ s\©n Dcªp... "Hm jm... Fsâ jm...' AhÄ a{´n¨p. ]n¶oSv æ\nªv Ahsâ æªpapeIfn AhÄ \¡n... ho­pw Xmtgç \o§n Ahsâ s]m¡nfnepw þ ægnbnÃm¯ s]m¡nfn þ AhÄ \mçc¨p.. s]m¡nÄ \ndªncnç¶ sam«n \çt¼mÄ Ahë hÃm¯ kpJamWv. "B.. FSn s]t®...' Ahsâ Nne¼Â AhÄç elcnbmbn. Ahsâ ap¶n ap«pæ¯n \n¶n«v ]mânë apIfnembn hbdn AhÄ D½ h¨p. "A.. l lm â av tb' jm AhfpsS IhnfpIfn ssIIÄ tNÀ¯p]nSn¨p apt¶m«p hfªp, Ahsâ Xe aeÀì apJw tatem«mbn. koenwKv h«w Id§p¶Xmbn Ahë tXm¶n.

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ASnhbänse AhnSs¯ \ëë¯ tcma§fn AhfpsS Dan\ocv ]SÀì. AhfpsS hnêXn æfnêtImcn Ahsâ I®Sªp. _«ëw kn¸pw Agn¨v Ahsâ ]mâv Ducn AhÄ Xmtg¡n«p. P«nçÅn apgp¡¼nbmb Ahsâ æ® tXs\men¸n¨p XpS§nbnêì. P«nbpsS ap³`mKw tX\n \\ªp. P«nam{Xw [cn¨p\n¶ jmsb AhÄ Fgpt¶äp\nì sI«n¸nSn¨p. Ahsâ \of³ Igp¯n AhÄ \¡n. AtXmsSm¸w AhÄ ssI¸Sw ]Xps¡ Ahsâ P«nçapIfn AaÀ¯n. jmbpsS Acbn B\µ¸q¯ncn I¯n.. AhÄ sasà P«nçapIfneqsS XShn¯pS§nbt¸mÄ jm hnd¨p.. "tN¨o..' Ah³ AhfpsS amdnëapIfn apJw tNÀ¯ph¨p. {Xkn¨p\nÂç¶ AhfpsS apeIsf Ah³ ]nSn¨p sRcn¨p. »uknëapIfneqsS AhfpsS apesR«n ]nSn¨p sRcSn. Ig¸n {_m C«n«nÃmbnêì. "lm jm...' jm Ahfn«nê¶ jÀ«v c­pssIsIm­pw sam¯¯n tatem«ps]m¡n. shfn¨w I­ apeIsf Ah³ ho­pw sRcn¨p. ]ns¶ I¼nbSn¨t]mse XÅn\n¶ ape¡®pIsf ISn¨pdp©n... "Fâ jm..B tamt\.. A§s\ Dus¼Sm tN¨nsb.' ]mÂçS§Ä Ddp©nbn«v jm Xe DbÀ¯n. "tN¨n.' "tams\.' c­pt]êw hnbÀ¯pXpS§nbnêì. AhÄ ho­pw ISìIbäw XpS§n. k_o\bpsS ssI Ahsâ P«nçÅnte¡vv ëgªpIbdn. Ah\n \nìw lm Fs¶mê iÐw tI«p. "slâSo...' kzX{´ambnê¶ ssIsIm­v Ah\hsf s\©ntem«v tNÀ¯p ]nSn¨p. AhfpsS hncepIÄ Ahsâ tcma§fn ]nSn¨p hen¨p. anëkamb Ahâ tcma§Ä AhÄ¡nãambnêì.. ]ns¶ AhÄ ssI DÅnteç \o¡n Ahsâ D­Isf Xmtemen¨p. At¸msgÃmw AhfpsS Np­pIÄ Ahsâ Igp¯nepw s\©nepw ]cXn\Sì. AhÄ Ahsâ P«n c­pssIsIm­pw ]nSn¨v Ducnamän. Ibdqcnhn« Imfsbt¸mse sIm¨pjm XpÅn¨mSn. Ahâ Hä¡®nÂ\nìw Hen¨psIm­nê¶ tX³[mc k_o\ æ\nªv \¡nsbSp¯p. æ\nªp\n¶ k_o\sb jm ]nSn¨p t\sc\nÀ¯n. AhfpsS æ­nIfn ]nSn¨p ]nXp¡nbn«v Ah\hfpsS ]mhmS s]m¡n. AhÄ ]mânbpw C«n«nÃmbnêì. AhfpsS tcma¡m«n Ah³ XShn. F¶n«v AhfpsS ]qÀ¨men hnctemSn¨p. "av..Mv.. l...' AhÄ \nìeªp. tX\n ap§nb AhfpsS ]qdnëÅnte¡v Ah³ Hê hnc sasà IS¯n. "lm lm.. jm..' Ah³ hnc Ibänbnd¡m³ XpS§nbt¸mÄ AhÄ XSªp. "]ns¶sbSm æ«m..' ]qÀtX\n ap§nb Ahsâ hnc FSp¯v AhÄ Ahsâ hmbn sh¨psImSp¯p. F¶n«v AhÄ Ahsâ ap¶n ap«pæ¯n. Xdbn ap«pImen \n¶v sh«nsh«n\nÂç¶ Ahsâ æ®bn ssI sIm­v ]nSn¨n«v AhÄ Ahsâ XpSIfpsS DÄhiw \¡m³ XpS§n. kzÀ¤t¯ípÅ C³Ìâv ^vssfäv In«nb jmbpsS

6

icocw C¡nfnkpJ¯m hndsIm­p.. AhfpsS \m¡nsâ kv]Àihpw Xé¸pw Ah\n ]dªdnbn¡m\mhm¯ Aë`qXn Dfhm¡n. XpSbnSpçIfn \mhpsIm­p æfnê hnXdn Ahsâ Hä¡®\nÂ]nSn¨v ]Xnsb hmWaSn¡mëw XpS§n. XpSbnÂ\nìw ]ns¶ AhfpsS \mhv Aev]w AbªpXq§n¡nS¶ Ahsâ A­nbnte¡v \o§n. AhfpsS Dan\ocn A­nk©n \\ªp. Xsâ jmbpsS A­nIÄ! ]­pI­n«pŸw k©n¡I¯v Fs´¦nepw DÅ e£WanÃmbnêì. Ct¸m AXn\I¯v icnçw henb c­p ap«IÄ! hn¯p­mæ¶Xv CXnemt{X. sNdp¡sâ hnt¯! AhÄ AêatbmsS Hmtcm ap«bpw Ddp©n. AhfpsS hmbnse NqSpw Xé¸pw Gä A­nk©n Npê§ns¨dpXmbn. AhÄ hmbXpdì Ahsâ A­napgph\mbn hngp§nbn«v AXns\ \mçsIm­pgnªp. Ahsâ Kply`mKs¯ KÔw AhfpsS Bthis¯ hÀ²n¸n¨p. jmPlmë X\n¡nt¸mÄ ]mephêsa¶v tXm¶n. Ahs\t´m Akv]ãambn ]pe¼n. Ahfhsâ æ®bnse hmWaSn \nÀ¯n. A­nIsf hn«n«v AhÄ æ®sb AêatbmsS D½h¨p. Fsâ sNdp¡sâ æ®! jm ]dªXëkcn¨v Ahfnt¸m æ®sbt¶ ]dbq. Np®n sIm¨p]ntÅÀ¡mWt{X! AhÄ AXns\ ]Xnsb \¡m³ XpS§n. tatem«p s]m§n\n¶ æ®sb ISbnÂ\n¶v A{K¯nte¡hÄ \¡n. jmbpsS æ®. He¡¡p®! Fs´mê \ofw. Fs´mê anë¡w. GXps]®nëw Cãamhpw. ISn¨pISn¨p Xn¶Ww. F¶mepw tN¨nç Xs¶ BZyw In«nbtÃm sâ æ«sâ æ«s\... CXmWh³ GsX¦nepw s]®nsâ ]qän tIäm³ t]mæ¶Xv. "tlm!' CXneqS Ahâ ]msemgpIn AhÄsS ]qän \ndbpw.. "tlm l tlm!' AtXmÀ¯t¸mtg AhfpsS InêInê¸v ]¯paS§mbn. \¡n \¡n HSphn enwKaæS¯nse¯n. Nphì XpSp¯v Nm¼¡t]mse amwkfamb 殯esb AhÄ Np­pIÄçÅnem¡n DÅnteçdp©n. jm ASnapX apSnhsc hndsIm­p. ]ns¶bhÄ kp¶¯v sNbvX Ahsâ BW¯w hmípÅnem¡n N¸m\mcw`n¨p. "lm tN¨n...' \mçsIm­v 殡gp¯n Dcknbt¸mÄ jm GgpkzÀ¤§fpw Hêan¨pI­p. Ahsâ æ® IqSpX _ewh¨p. Ah³ c­psIm­pw AhfpsS Xe ]nSn¨v AhfpsS hmípÅnte¡v æ® XÅpIbpw CdçIbpw sNbvXp.. Xm\n\n GXp\n\njhpw ]mepNpc¯psa¶h\v a\Ênembn. Ah³ XÅp¶Xv \nÀ¯n. At¸mÄ k_o\ hn­pw Xe \o«n Du¼n. ‘F\n¡n¸w hêw,’ Ah³ apc­p. AhfXp tI«`mhanÃmsX Du¼Â XpSÀì. AhÄçth­Xp CXpXs¶. jm AhfpsS hmbn¯s¶ ]mepNpc¯Ww. AhfpsS sNdp¡sâ ]mev {^jmbn HêXpÅnbpw IfbmsX êNn¡Ww. Ahsâ 殸m sXdn¡m³ ]ns¶ IqSpX kabsamìsaSp¯nÃ. Ah³ AhfpsS Xe]nSn¨ph¨p Acs¡«p apt¶m«pXÅn. Ahsâ enwKm{Kw AhfpsS sXm­bn X«pIbpw H¸w AXnÂ\nì ]mephêIbpw sNbvXp. ‘l lm Bmmmmlv' Noäns¯dn¨ Ahsâ tcXÊv AhfpsS A®m¡n sNì]Xn¨p hmb apgph³ \ndªp. AhfXp AarXv IWs¡ ëWªnd¡n. Ahsâ æ®bnÂ\n¶qdnh¶ Ahkm\XpÅn ]mepw \¡nsbSp¯v AXns\ hr¯nbm¡nbn«mWv Ahsfgpt¶äXv. £oWn¨pt]mb jm AhnsS¡nS¶ Hê Itkcbn¡bdn Cêì. Ahs\ kpJn¸n¨ kwXr]vXntbmsS AhÄ tNmZn¨p. ‘cknt¨mSm æ«m?’ shÅw t]mb Ahs\m¶v aqfpIam{Xw sNbvXp.

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AhÄ Ahsâ aSnbn Imev Ih¨ph¨v Ah\v A`napJambn Cêì. "FSn Fsâ Imev.' "Hm Imens\mê sImg¸hpanÃ.' AhÄ Ahsâ aoibpsS Aä¯p ]nSn¨p hen¨p. "tNmdp tht­Sm.' "Ft´m¶mSn kvs]jÂ?' "\n\¡nãs¸«Xm..' "F´v?' "***'. Ahsâ Cã `£WamWv. "Xm¦vskSo s]mì tN¨n.' Ah³ AhfpsS Ihnfn ëÅn. ‘\o {UÊv C«p hm. At¸mtgç Rm³ tNmsdSp¯p hímw.’ "\obtÃSo FÃmw Dcnªp IfªXv.' "IW¡mbnt¸mbn. t]mbn X¸nsbSv.' … ]n¶oSv, Ah³ tNmdp Xnì¶Xpw t\m¡n hnf¼ns¡mSp¯p sIm­v AhÄ ASp¯nêì. "Sm.. jm...' "Rm³ \n\¡v tNmdv hmbn h¨pXct«Sm tamt\? ]­t¯t¸mse?' Ah³ Nncn¨p. "C¸gtà ]äq.' Ah³ Xebm«n. AhÄ ]m{X¯n \n¶v tNmdpw Idnbpw Dêfbm¡n Ahsâ Xpd¶ hmbnteç h¨p sImSp¯p... Ahkm\w Ah³ Hêêf AhfpsS hmbnepw h¨p sImSp¯p. At¸mÄ AhfpsS I®p \ndªXv F´psIm­mbncnçw? **** k_o\ BZyambn I­Xpw kv]Àin¨Xpamb ]pêjenwKw jmPlmtâXmWv. AXhÄ¡v \t¶ t_m[nçIbpw sNbvXp. AXnsâ BIrXnbpw {]IrXnbpw Ahsf hnkvabn¸n¨p. F{Xsb{X tÌPpIfmbn«mWXp cq]w amdp¶Xv. \ofwsh¨Xpw F¶m ZrVamIm¯Xpamb AhØbn AXns\ emfn¡m³ AhÄ¡v hfsc Cãambnêì. ssIçÅnÂsh¨v ]m¼pt]mse Ccnç¶ B amwkZÞns\ sRcn¡mëw ]nXp¡mëw XpS§pt¼mÄ AhmNyamb kpJw AhÄç­mæw. jmbpsS tImept]mse \o­phfÀ¶ æ® AhÄs¡mê H_vskj\mbn. Ahsâ æ®aWw AhÄ¡nt¸mÄ lrZnØamWv. jm hmíI¯p ]mepNpc¯p¶Xn AhÄ¡v CãamsW¦nepw AXnt\¡mÄ Cãw Ahsâ Ip®apebn \nì ]mepsXdnç¶Xp ImWm\mWv. shfp¯v sImgp¯ ]mev æ®bnÂ\nìw ]pdt¯¡v Noäns¯dnç¶XpImWm³ Fs´mê BthiamWhÄ¡v. jmív ]mephê¶ kab¯v Ahfhsâ æ® Ahsâ ASnhbdnsâ t\À¡v Xncn¨p]nSnçw. ]mepapgph³ Ahsâ

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hbän hogpw. CShn«nShn«v Ahsâ enwK¯nÂ\nìw Noäp¶Xpt]mse ]m sXdnç¶Xv AhÄ tcmalÀjt¯msS t\m¡nbncnçw. ]mensâ æs¯mgp¡v Ignªm AhÄ ho­pw Ahsâ æ® hmbnemçw. Ahtijnç¶ ]mepw \¡nsbSp¯v æ® hr¯nbmçw. ASp¯Xmbn Ahsâ hbän hoW ]mseÃmw \¡nsbSp¡emWv. sImgp¯ 殸m Ahsâ tcmaclnXamb s\©nÂ\nìw \¡n¯pSípt¼mÄ AhÄ¡v Xsâ kz´w Imen\nSbneë`hs¸Sp¶ Xcn¸v \Âæ¶ kpJw A\nÀhN\obambnêì. æ®tbmSqÅ AhfpsS {]Xn]¯n Ahfn A´Àeo\ambnêì. kmlNcyw H¯ph¶t¸mÄ AXv kSæSsªgpt¶äp. **** jmbpw k_o\bpw X½nepÅ AKaymKa\w F¶ al¯mb IÀ½]cn]mSn hnPbIcamb c­pamkw ]n¶n«p. XÅamÀt¡m ]nÅamÀt¡m bmsXmê kwibhpanÃ. k_o\bpsS hneç­mbnê¶Xn\m ]®Â F¶ Iemis¡m«Â am{Xw AhXcn¸n¨nÃ. ]eXhW kqNn¸n¡m³ apXnÀs¶¦nepw cm£knsb `b¶v Ah³ hm Xpd¶nÃ. DÅXpsIm­v Ah³ HmWw D­p. Hê cm{Xn jm I«nen Nmcn¡nSì Ft´m hmbn¨psIm­ncns¡ AhfSp¯psN¶v Ahsâ AcnIn Cêì. Ah\Xv {i²n¡m¯a«n hmb\ XpSÀì. ‘F´mSm tamt\ C{X henb hmb\?’ ‘Hm HìanÃ.’ Ah³ _p¡nÂ\nìw Is®Sp¡msX ]dªp. Ahsâ ASp¯mbn AhÄ I«nen ssIæ¯n Xe ssIbn¯m§n NcnªpInSì. æsdt\cw Hìw an­msX Ahsâ apJ¯pXs¶ t\m¡ns¡m­nêì. ap³]v AhÄ {i²n¡mXnê¶ Ahsâ apJs¯ FÃmw Ct¸mÄ AhÄ¡nãamWv. Ah³ apSnNoæ¶ coXn. Ahsâ hoXntbdnb s\än... I«n¸pcnI§Ä... sIm¨paq¡v... Idp¸Sn¡m¯ Np­pIÄ... sNdnb aoi... FÃmw AhÄ¡nt¸mÄ s]ê¯nãamWv. AXnsems¡ t\m¡ns¡m­ncn¡m³ F´p ckamWv. kpJhpw. Xsâ jm... Xsâ sNdp¡³... kpµc³! AhÄ heXpssI ]Xps¡ Ahsâ ASnhbän h¨p. AXhnsS æsd cq]§Ä hc¨p. sasÃsasà AhfpsS ssI Ahsâ jÀ«n\SnbneqsS AIt¯¡v ISì Ahsâ \áamb s\©n kv]Àin¨p. Ahs\mì Ipep§n. _p¡nÂ\nìw Is®Sp¯v Ahsf t\m¡n. AhÄ I®S¨pImWn¨p. Ahsâ Np­n Hê aµlmkw hncnªp. AhfpsS hncepIÄ s]m¡nfnÂ\n¶p Xmtgçw Xncn¨p tateçw k©cn¨p. Ahsâ æªptcma§fn ]nSn¨phen¨p. sIm¨pjm DWÀì P«nçÅn Xe DbÀ¯n¡mésa¶hÄ¡dnbmw. Ahsâ a\ximkv{Xhpw `qanimkv{Xhpw ckX{´hpw AhÄ ]Tn¨pIgnªp. DuÀÖX{´w, ]t£, æd¨pIqsS ]Tn¡më­v. Nnekab¯v icocw ëdp§nt¸mæ¶ hn[¯nem sNdp¡sâ ]nSn¯w. hmbn¨psIm­nê¶ _p¡v Xmsg h¨p jm ssI c­pw Xeív Iosgh¨p Ahsf¯s¶ t\m¡n¡nSì. ‘kpJw­mSm?’ AhÄ tNmZn¨p. ‘Mpw.’ tN¨n¸qdn Xsâ kmam\w Imésa¶v t]Sn¨n«mWv FÃmcm{XnIfnepw Xm³ A­ÀshbÀ C«pInSìd§nbsX¶ \ákXyw Ahfh\n \nìw a\Ênem¡nbnêì. F¦nepw Ct¸mgpw

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cm{Xn Ah³ A­ÀshbÀ CSpw. AXqcm\pÅ AhImiw AhÄ GsäSp¯ncnçì. AYhm cm{Xn Ah\Xv CSp¶Xpw Duê¶Xpw AhfpsS Cãaëkcn¨mbn. ASnhbänse AhfpsS Ickv]Ài¯m æfnêtImcn Ahsâ I®Sªp. AhfpsS ssI¸Sw ]Xps¡ Ahsâ jÍnçapIfn AaÀì. Ahsâ ASnhbÀ tatems«m¶v s]m§n¯mé. AhÄ sasà jÍnçapIfneqsS XShnbt¸mÄ Ahsâ HêssI AhfpsS ]n¶nepsS AhfpsS amdnse¯n. {Xkn¨p\nÂç¶ AhfpsS apeIfnsem¶n AaÀ¯n. Ahë]nSn¡m³ ]mI¯n AhÄæd¨pIqSn apIfnte¡v \o§n¡nSì. ]ns¶bhfpsS ssI Ahsâ jÍn¡qSmc¯nëÅnte¡v Ibdn. ‘kv Êv lm.’ AhfpsS hncepIÄ Ahsâ Cê­`qJÞ¯n ]cXn\Sì.. ssI Ahsâ XpSbnSp¡nte¡v \o§n.. Ah\t¸mtgçw Xsâ ssI AhfpsS s\©nëÅnte¡v IS¯n _eq¬t]mse s]m«m³ ]mI¯n \nÂç¶ apeIsf Ii¡n¯pS§nbnêì. c­pssIIfpwsIm­v jm AhfpsS CêapeIfpw DS¨p. AhfpsS arZpeamb ssIhncepIÄ Ahsâ hocëNpäpw apdpIn. ‘XncnªpInSs¡Sn tN¨o, Rm³ \nâhnsS hncenSs«.’ "C¯ncn¡gnbs«Sm...' Ahsâ hnc AhnsSsb¯nbm AhfpsS \nb{´WsaÃmw t]mæw. AXnëap³]v AhÄ¡hs\ Aë`hn¡Ww. Ahfhsâ hocs\¸nSn¨p æep¡n. Ahsâ {]Xntj[w Hê koev¡mc¯n ap§nt¸mbn. Ahsfgpt¶äv Ahsâ ep¦n Agn¨pamän. ]ns¶ Ahsâ ImepIÄ c­phit¯çw amänbn«v æ\nªp P«nçÅn hoÀ¸pap«n\n¶ Ahsâ enwKm{K¯n XpWnçapIfneqsS D½h¨p. 殯ebn NqSpÅ D½In«nbt¸mÄ jm Ac AhfpsS apJt¯ç XÅn. s]s«¶v shfnbn Hê henb iÐw tI«v AhÀ NmSn Fgpt¶äp. Bsc¦nepw h¶mtem. jm Fgpt¶äv apdnç ]pd¯nd§n t\m¡n. HìanÃ. AI¯p Ibdn IXIS¨p. ]ns¶ apdnbnse ASªp InS¶ P\ Xpdì shfnbnteç t\m¡n. shfnbn Nmcnh¨nê¶ joäneqsS ]q¨ NmSn HmSnb iÐambnêì AhÀ tI«Xv. ]pds¯ \nemhnte¡v jm t\m¡n \nì. At¸mgmWv Ah\Xp I­Xv. Hê ]q¨ thsdm¶ns\ HmSn¨psIm­p hêì. Béw s]®pw. I­³ N¡nsb sskkm¡m³ t\mçIbmWv. Ahë Nncn hì. F¦nepw Ah³ t\m¡n \nì. ]Xp§n¸Xp§n Cê¶n«v I­³ N¡nbpsS t\À¡v Hä¨m«w. AXp s]¬]q¨bpsS ]pd¯v icnçw s]mknj\n sNì hoé. ]n¶nsemc\¡w tI«v Ah³ Xncnªp t\m¡n. k_o\bmWv. Ahfpw I­nêì ]q¨Isf. jm Ahsf ]nSn¨p Icheb¯nsemXp¡n. Ahsâ iànbn AhÄ sRcnªp... Ah³ AhfpsS Igp¯n \¡n. "FSn...tamtf' ‘jm…' AhcpsS icoc§Ä ho­pw NqSp ]nSn¨p. XSÊs¸« Iem]cn]mSn ho­pw XpS§n. AhfpsS ss\änbpw ]mhmSbpw Ah³ Agn¨p Ifªp. AhÄ Ahsâ jÀ«pw ssIenbpw Ducn. \á icoc§Ä X½nepcckn.

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jm sasà Ahsf Xncn¨v P\en tNÀ¯p \nÀ¯n... {_mípapIfneqsS B amwkçìIsf iànbmbn sRcn¨p]ngnªp. AhfpsS hm Xpdìt]mbn. F¦nepw Fs´mcë`qXn... {_m Ducnsbdnªv CfwIcn¡v t]mes¯ B apeIsf Ah³ Bhmln¨p.... jm ape Du¼p¶tXmsSm¸w AhfpsS ]mânçÅn ssIIS¯n ]cXn. ]qÀ]oT`qanbmsI shÅs¸m¡¯n ap§nb t]mse. ChfpsS ]qdnsâ hmjÀ t]mtbm. jm Nn´n¨pt]mbn. Ft¸mÄ sXm«mepw eoç Xs¶! Ahs\¸änbpsÅmê Nn´ am{Xw aXn AhÄ¡v tXs\men¡ms\¶v B ]qdoStam\v CXphscbpw a\ÊnembnsöXv AhfpsS `mKytam ZuÀ`mKytam? Ah³ hnc ]Xps¡ \\ªpæXnÀ¶ AhfpsS hnShnte¡v Ibän. AhnsS Ahsâ hncenëw \m¡nëw am{Xta {]thi\apÅq. cm£knbpsS iàamb hneç­v. ape Ddp©ns¡m­pXs¶ jm hncepsIm­hsf ]®m³ XpS§n. Ahsâ \Sphnc kmam\yw \¶mbn ]qänëÅn tIdnbnd§n. Ahsâ Cc«{]tbmK¯n AhÄ sagpæt]mse DêIn. "lm jm Bmmmmm... sâSm...' k_o\bpsS amdv DbÀìXmé. icocamsI hnbÀ¯pXpS§n... Ahkm\w æ\nªv Ah³ AhfpsS ]mân Ducnamän. Ahsâ P«nbpw Ducn. ap«pæ¯n\n¶v ImSp]nSn¨ AhfpsS ISnXS¯nse Ima¸qhnëapIfn Ah³ Np­aÀ¯n. s]®nsâ aZ\¸qhv. Du¼mt\ ]äqsh¦nepsa´m, AXh\v {^obmbn In«nbncnçì. k_o\bpsS XSn¨ ]qÀ¨p­pIfn Ah³ \of¯n \mt¡mSn¨p. k_o\ ]nS¨p. AhfpsS arZpeXbn Ahsâ \m¡v ]q¯ncn I¯n¨p. AhfpsS sNdp¡sâ arKob tNmZ\bn AhÄ ]pfIwsIm­p. AhÄç InS¡m³ tXm¶n. jm AhfpsS ]qÀ¨p­pIÄ hnSÀ¯nh¨v amdnamdn N¸n. icocamsI XpSn¨ AhÄ P\egnIfn apdpsI¸nSn¨p ssk¡nÄ Nhn«n.. kz]v\wImWm³ am{Xw ]äp¶ B ku`mKys¯ jm ImashdntbmsS Du¼n. k_o\ \nì XpÅn. Hen¨nd§nb AhfpsS ]meh³ \¡nsbSp¯p... ]ns¶ CXfpIÄ AIän¸nSn¨v Ah³ \m¡v sasà DÅnteç XÅn¡bän. ]qhnsâ DÅnte¡v IqÀ¸n¨ \m¡v Ibänbnd¡n jm k_o\bpsS ]qdn \mç sIm­v ]®m³ XpS§n... k_o\bpsS N´n P\ensâ ]Snbn Ibänh¨v AhfpsS ImepIÄ s]m¡n jm Xsâ tXmfpIÄ¡nêhihpambn h¨n«v AhfpsS Ihbn apJw ]qgv¯n. hncepIÄsIm­v ImaaµnchmXn Xpd¶v Ah³ \mç sIm­hsf ]®n. DÅn Hfn¨nê¶ æªpI´ns\ Ah³ Is­¯n. AXns\ \mçsIm­v Xnê½nbt¸mÄ k_o\ ]nSªp. Np­pIÄ¡nSbn h¨v Ah\Xv Ddp©n. AhÄ ]qdv Ahsâ apJt¯ç XÅn. AhÄ¡v XfÀ¨bë`hs¸«p. "Sm.. tams\... tN¨n¡v hs¿Sm...B B..' AhÄ Xmtg¡nêìt]mbn. jm Ahsf s]m¡nsbSp¯p I«nen InS¯n. F¶n«hfpsS ]pd¯h³ Ibdn¡nSì. \áamb AhfpsS icoc¯n \áamb Ahsâ tZlw H«n¸nSn¨p. Ahsâ æ® AhfpsS ASnhbän tX³\qepsIm­p Nn{XcN\ XpS§n. AhfpsS aqhm­³ am§Isf ho­pw Ah³ BÀ¯ntbmsS ISn¨pdp©n.. Ahsâ A[cIcNe\§Äs¡m¯v k_o\ A]iÐ§Ä ]pds¸Sphn¨p. AhfmsI Deªpt]mbnêì. jm Ahsf Iangv¯n¡nS¯n ]n¶neqShsf sI«n¸nSn¨p. AhfpsS apgp¯ æ­nhnShn Ah³ æ® XnêInh¨p.. AI¯pIbän¡qSm¯Xn\m Nnet¸msgs¡ Ahcn§s\bmWv sN¿p¶Xv. AhfpsS amkfamb æ­n¡nSbn sh¨v Ah\hsf h­nsI«n shÅw Ifbpw. Cdp¡n¸nSn¨ AhfpsS sXmSIÄ¡nSbneqsS Ah³ hnImcZÞv Nen¸n¨p. AhfpsS apXpIneh³ \¡n... AhfpsS s\©n ssIIS¯n apesb sRcnçIbpw ]n³Igp¯n \çIbpw sNbvXp. C¡nfnbnepw aZ¯nepw AhÄ ]q¯peªp. Xsâ ImatZhsâ {]hr¯nIÄ Ahsf ]chibm¡n.

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Ahsâ ]ÃpIÄ AhfpsS Igp¯n Bgvì. k_o\ Imaelcnbn A¸q¸³ XmSnt]mse ]d¡m³ XpS§n. ]n³Igp¯nse a[pc£X¯n AhÄ aXnadì. jm Ahsf Xncn¨pInS¯n Ahfn ]SÀ¶p. AhfXdnªnÃ. Ah³ ao«nb arZpeX{´nIÄ A\k}Xw I¼\w sN¿pIbmbnêì. AhsfÃmw ad¶v ImaKoXw ]mSn... jmbpsS D¯pwK]uêjw AhfpsS ASnhbän Dcªp. AhfpsS ]qdnsâ am[pcyw Ahsâ Np­nÂ\nìw amªnê¶nÃ. AhfpsS ]qdnsâ KÔw Ahs\ hn«pt]mbnê¶nÃ. AhfpsS ]qdnsâ amkvacnIXbnÂ\n¶v Ahë tamN\w In«nbnê¶nÃ. t`mKXrjvW Ah\n I¯nÖzen¨p. jmbpsS aWn AhfpsS aWnbdhmXnen ap«n... k_o\bXv AdnªtXbnÃ. Hê Iemis¡m«nsâ Ac§v Hê§pIbmbnêì. AXnsâ Iu­vUu¬ XpS§pIbmbn... AhfpsS aZ\¸qhns\ Xsâ aZ\ZÞn tImÀs¯Sp¡m³ Ahsâ icocw hy{KXsIm­p.. \nb{´W§fpsS sI«ps]m«n. Ah\v ]nSn¨p\n¡m\mbnÃ. CWtNcmëÅ icoc¯nsâ B{Im´¯n Ah³ æ® AhfpsS cXnKrlIhmS¯n h¨v DÅnte¡v XÅn. \à hgphgp¸p­mbnê¶n«pw AXv Aev]w am{Xw apt¶m«p Ibdn. ]pXp¸qdnsâ {]Xntcm[w iàw Xs¶. AhÄ¡v thZ\n¨p. F´mWv kw`hnç¶sX¶hÄ Adnªphê¶Xnëap¼v Xs¶ Ah³ ]qÀhm[nIw iàntbmsS BªpXÅn. I¶n¸qdnsâ thens¡«v XIÀ¯psIm­v I¶n¡p® DÅn {]thin¨p. k_o\bpsS sXm­bn Hê BÀ¯\mZw æSp§n. BZykamKa¯nsâ thZ\bn AhfpsS I®pXÅn. 殯e DÅnembtXmsS apt¶m«pÅ {]bmWw kpKaambn. jm ho­pw DÅnte¡v XÅn. CfwNqSp­mbnê¶ ]qdnëÅnte¡v Np«p]gp¯ Ahsâ ]uêjw sRê§n¡bdn. Ahs\ XÅnamämëÅ k_o\bpsS {iaw hn^eambn.. Pzenç¶ Ima¯nsâ DuÀÖ¯n Hê DSp¼ns\t¸mse Ah\hfn ]än¸nSn¨p. Ch\n{Xbpw iàntbm. Ahsf InS¡bn AaÀ¯n¸nSn¨v AhfpsS DÅnte¡h³ \nÀ±bw {]thin¨p. C\nsbmê Xncn¨pt]m¡nsöhfdnªp. XSªp\nÀ¯nbnê¶ FÃm hneçIfpw XIÀ¯v s]®n tNcmëÅ BWnsâ arKobhmk\ípw arKobiànípw AhÄ IogS§n. Acs¡«pIÄ X½neSp¯p. tcma¡mSpIÄ X½n ]nWªp. A§s\ BZyambn jmbpsS tIme³æ® k_o\bpsS ]qdnëÅnte¡v Ibdnt¸mbn. ]qÀ®ambpw. thZ\ ISn¨aÀ¯n AhÄ X¶nteíaÀ¶ ]pêjs\ ssIIÄsIm­v hebw sNbvXp tNÀ¯p]nSn¨p. Xsâ æ® k_o\bpsS ]qdnëÅnse Dujvafamb hcthev]v Gäphm§nbt¸mÄ jmbpsS BW¯w hnPbImlfw apg¡n. Ahsâ icocw D·mZelcnbn ap§n. BZyambn Hês]®ns\bnXm IogS¡nbncnçì. Ah\hfnte¡v HìIqSn tNÀ¶aÀì... "lm... tN¨n.... tN¨ntamtf...' s]®v... AhfpsS ImepIÄ¡nSbnse hrµmh\w. AXnëÅnte¡v BWnsâ ImepIÄ¡nSbnse aZ\icw ]mbpt¼mÄ krãn¡s¸Sp¶ kzÀ¤w... sasÃbh³ DucnbSn¨p. arZpeamb ]qdnsâ DÄ`n¯nIÄ¡nSbneqsS Ahsâ t`mKZÞv sRê§n \o§nbt¸mÄ H¶Ã Hcmbncw kzÀ¤§fh³ I­p. ImtamÀÖ¯m Ahsâ icocw I¯n.

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"lm B... tN¨ntamtf...' {ItaW Ahsâ Ne\§Ä¡v NSpeX IqSn. Ah\hsf thK¯n ]®m³ XpS§n. H«pw {]Xo£n¡msX jmbpsS æ® ]qänëÅnte¡v Ibdnbt¸mfp­mb sR«epw {]Xntj[hpw thZ\bpw k_o\bn \nì {ItaW A{]Xy£ambn. ]qän æ®bpsS Ne\w krãn¨ cXnkpJ¯n AhÄ FÃmw adì Aht\mSp tNÀì. "jm... Fsâ jm... tamt\...' jm, AhfpsS sNdp¡³, CXm AhfpsS kv{XoXzw ]nSns¨Sp¯ncnçì. Ahsâ ]uêjanXm XsâbpÅn tXtcm«w \S¯pì. F´v kpJkzÀ¤amWv Ahs\\n¡v Xê¶Xv! Cu kpJamtWm Xm\n{X\mfpw ths­ì sh¨Xv! F{Xtbm B\µIcw. Fsâ jm GXp kzÀ¤t¯¡mSm \o tN¨nsb sIm­pt]mæ¶Xv. kpcXkpJ¯m AhfpsS I®pIfSªp. AhfpsS a\Ên Hìam{Xw. jm. jm. AhfpsS jm. Ahfneaê¶ Ahsâ icocw... Ahfn \ndªv Dcªp Ibdp¶ Ahsâ ]uêjw... Ah\hfn ]SÀ¯p¶ cXnkpJXcwK§Ä. Ah\hfn sImfp¯p¶ kpcXkpJPzmeIÄ... Ah³ XÅp¶Xn\ëkcn¨v AhÄ Acs¡«v apt¶m«v XÅn. Xsâ A´¸pc¯n ISìIbdnb Ahsâ Np®nsb ssIhnSm³ AhÄ Hê¡ambnê¶nÃ. AXns\ sam¯ambn DÄs¡mÅm\mbn AhÄ Acs¡«pbÀ¯n XÅn... AhfpsS ssIhncepIÄ Ahsâ apXpIn AÅn¸nSn¨p. BZys¯ ]®ensâ kpJ¯n AhscÃmw adì. ]ckv]cw kzÀ¤obmë`qXn ]IÀ¶v AhÀ H«nt¨À¶v H¶mbn. "jm... tamt\... B lm..' "tN¨ntamtf...' s]®nsâ ]qdns\ CSn¨psaXn¨v jm AhfpsS DÅnte¡v æ® Bªmªv XÅn. "jm..' "C¸w hêsaSo.' "hcs«Sm tamt\.. …' ‘tN¨ntamtf...’ jm æ® AhfpsS ]qänsâ DÅnsâbpÅnte¡v BªpXÅn... Ahfnepw cXnaqÀÑbpsS ImlfapbÀì… AhÄ ]qÀ`n¯nIÄsIm­v æ®sb sRê¡n. c­pamkw ap³]v BZyambn AhfpsS ssIhncepIfmWv AXns\ sRê¡nbXv. ]ns¶ AhfpsS Np­pIÄ. Ahkm\anXm... jmbpsS Im¯ncn¸n\pw hncmaamhpì. Iu­vUu¬ Ahkm\n¡mdmbn... aq¶v ..c­v... H¶v.. FÃm iànbpsaSp¯v Ah\hsf AaÀ¯n¸nSn¨p... "l lm B..m..' k_o\sb ]®nsaê¡nb jm æ® AhfpsS ]pänëÅnte¡v XÅn¸nSn¨v Ahfnteç BZyambn ]¼psN¿m³ XpS§n. Ahsâ 殸m AhfpsS ]qdnëÅn iànbmbn ]Xn¨p. Ima¨qSn Np«p]gp¯nê¶ AhfpsS DÅns\ Xé¸n¨psIm­v Ahsâ ]m Ahfn XIÀ¯ps]bvXp. BZyambn 殸m Fäphm§nb AhfpsS ]qÀ Ahsâ ]mensâ hchn \nÀhrXnsIm­p XpSnsIm«n.

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jmbpsS Imackw AhfpsS ]qhnëfn ]Xn¨ \nanjw AhfpsS icocw tImÄabnÀs¡m­p. Xs¶bnXm Xsâ jm sh«n¸nSn¨ncnçì. B Xncn¨dnhn AhfpsS AWs¡«v j«À Xpdì... BZyw X¶n Ima¯nsâ hn¯pIÄ hnX¨ jmbpsSXs¶ hn¯pIÄ AhÄ Xsâ ]qdnëÅn kzoIcn¨p.. HêXpÅnt]mepw ]pdt¯ç IfbmsX Ahfhsâ ]mÂagsb DÄs¡m­p... "j...m tam..t\.. â N¡tc..' "Nv tN.. ¨n... tam.. tf...' Imamán krãn¨ hnbÀ¸n æfn¨ B c­p \áicoc§fpw ]ckv]cw ]pWÀ¶v XfÀì InSì. A§s\ k_o\bpsS c­pamkw \o­ D]tcm[w XIÀ¯v jm anssÊ hnPbIcambn hnt£]n¨p.

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