tN¨ntamÄ þ 03 :cRvPn\n: lmbv. CsXmê slävtdmskIvjz C³skÌv I¼n¡YbmsW¦nepw tlmtamskIvjz ImgvN¸mSneqsS FgpXnbXmWv. BZykamKa¯nsâ ]ntä¶v cmhnse Fgpt¶ät¸mÄ k_o\bpsS icocw apgph³ thZ\. ]qänse thZ\bmbnêì Akl\obw. \Sçt¼mgpw thZ\. aq{Xsamgn¨t¸mÄ \à \oäÂ. ]qdnsâ FhnsSsbms¡tbm apdnªn«p­v. AhÄ¡v hnjaambn. ASp¡fbnsem¶v Id§nbn«v AhÄ Xncn¨p apdnbnÂs¨ì. jm AXphsc Fgpt¶än«nÃ. BZyambn Hê s]®ns\ ]®nbXnsâ Bekyw XoÀ¡ms\¶h®w aqSn¸pX¨p InSçIbmWh³. AhÄ¡v Ien¸v tXm¶n. C¶se Fs´mê iànbmbnê¶p Ah\v. ]qdpw ASn¨ps]mfn¨n«v Hìadnbm¯`mh¯n kpJambn InSìd§pì. Xsâ thZ\ Ah\dnbpìt­m. AhÄ IXIv Nmcnbn«v Ahsâ I«nen\cnIne¯n Ahs\ X«n hnfn¨p. ‘F´mSn tN¨n.’ Ah³ I®pangn¨p. ‘F´m?’ ‘FSm `b¦c thZ\,’ AhÄ XpSbnte¡v Nq­n¸dªp. Ahë Imcyw a\ÊnemIm³ AÂ]t\csaSp¯p. Hê s]m«n¨ncnbmbnêì {]XnIcWw. AhÄ tZjyt¯msS Ahsâ hmb s]m¯n¸nSn¨p. "F´mSm InSì Nncnç¶Xv. \obmWnXns\Ãmw ImcW¡mc³.' ‘t]Sn¡s­Sn tN¨o ætd¡gnbp¼w AXpamdns¡mÅpw. BZyambXp sIm­m.’ ‘AhnsSsbms¡ apdnsª¶m tXmì¶Xv. \à \oäÂ,’ AhÄ ho­pw ]dªp. ‘kmcanÃ.’ IŨncntbmsS Ah³ ]dªp. Ahsâ DZmko\Xbpw emLhXzhpw I­v AhÄ¡v tIm]hpw Xm]hpw D­mbn. ‘ASn¨pIodnbn«v tNmZnç¶XptI«ntÃ.’ ‘AXp]ns¶ s]®nsâ...’ Ahë ]dªpapgpan¸n¡m³ Ignbp¶Xnë ap³]v AhÄ I«nen Ibdn Ahsâ s\©në apIfneqsS apJwsIm­phh¶v Ahs\ ISp¸ns¨mì t\m¡n. XeXmgv¯n Ahsâ Iogv¨p­n AhÄ D½sh¨p. F¶n«v Hä¡Sn! AhfpsS ]ÃpIÄ Ahsâ Iogv¨p­nemgvì. thZ\sIm­v ]pfª Ah³ Ahsf XÅnamän. Ahsâ Np­v apdnªv càw s]mSnªp.

2

‘A§s\ Rm³ am{Xw \odn\S¡­! C\n \n\çw \odpw, \o F\nçX¶ thZ\íp ]Icambn!’ AhÄ D·mZn\nsbt¸mse Nncn¨p. cmhnse Xs¶ X\nçIn«nb k½m\hpambn hnj®\mbn Ah³ I®pXpdn¨ncnt¡, ‘t]mbn ]Ãp tXsíSm, hm \mdpì’ Fì]dªpsIm­v hnPbm{iofnXsbt¸mse Ahsfgpt¶äpt]mbn. {]`mXIrXy§sfÃmw Ignªp Ah³ apdnbn Ibdnbt¸mÄ AhÄ ]pdtIsNì. ‘\n\s¡t¶mSv tZjyamtWm?’ Ah³ apJw hoÀ¸n¨p \n¶XÃmsX Hìw an­nbnÃ. ‘\½psS IêXepIsfÃmw C¶se sXän…’ AhÄ ]dªpXpS§n. ‘\o Fs¶ tXm¸n¨pIfªp…’ AhfpsS I®pIÄ \ndªp. AXpI­hsâ ]nW¡w AenªnÃmXmbn. ‘a\¸qÀhaà tN¨o... B kab¯p FÃm I¬t{Smfpw t]mbn…’ Ah³ ]dsªm¸n¨p. \nsâ Np­p t\m¡s«. thZ\bpt­m?’ Ahfhsâ Np­p ]nfÀ¯n ‘icn t]ms«… ]cntim[n¨p. \mçsIm­v apdn¸mSn Dckn. ‘kmcansÃSm. \o F\nç X¶ thZ\ s]s«ìad¡m³ ]mSnÃ. ]ns¶... \o Cì ]pds¯§pw t]m­m... ChnsS¯s¶ ImWWw...’ ‘AsX´m?’ ‘F\n¡n¶v \ns¶ I­psIm­ncn¡Ww... Fs¶ BZyambn Aë`hn¨h\tÃ. \ap¡nhnsS hÃXpw ]dªncn¡mw.’ At¸mÄ Ahsf´p ]dªmepw Ah\ëkcnçambnêì. A§s\ hfsc \mfpIÄçtijw jmPlm³ {]mXenë tijw ho«n¯s¶bnêì. AXpI­v Ahsâ D½amÀ AÛpXw Iqdn. Ah³ ho«n Imésa¶dnªt¸mÄ AhÀ D¨íp tijw GtXm _Ôphns\¡mWm³ t]mbn. A§s\ k_o\bpw jmbpw ho«n X\n¨mbn. AhÀ t]mb DSs\ AhÄ Ahs\bpw hnfn¨psIm­v apdn¡I¯p Ibdn IXIS¨p. jmsb ]nSn¨v ASp¯nê¯n AhÄ sNbvXsX¶dnbmtam? C\nbn¸w ...'

]dªp,

"FSm

tamt\

\½fn¶se

F´m

"C\nbn¸w?' "C\nbn¸w AXp sN¿mXncn¡m³ hs¿Sm!' "tN¨o...' "F´mSm \n\¡v tht­?' "AXÃSo..' "F¶m C\n \ap¡v FÃmw sN¿msaSm......' k_o\ Aht\mSv tNÀ¶nê¶v Ahsâ Igp¯neqsS I¿n«v tXmfn Xe Nmbv¨p. "C¶se F´mbnêì sNdp¡sâ Hê aq¨v. ... C§s\bpapt­m B{Im´w.' "F¶n«v \osb´p sN¿phmêì... ]än¸nSn¨nê¶ntÃ?'

3

"A¿Sm! At¶cw thsdt´m sN¿m³ ]äpw?' Ahfhs\ ASp¸n¨v Ihnfn ap¯n. "AXp X¶m F\nçw ]änbXv.' "tlm Ft´mê kpJambnêì... FSm jm... \o anSp¡\mSm.. anSp¡³...' AhÄ Ahs\ sa¯bnteç adn¨n«p. apJt¯mSpapJw t\m¡n AhÀ NcnªpInS¶p. " F¶mepw Fsâ jm \o C¶se tN¨nsb Ft´ms¶Sm sNbvXXv tamt\..' "Rm³ \ns¶ ]®nsbSn tN¨o.' "tlm Fâ jm... Rm³ H¯ncn Bin¨XmSm tamt\... CXv... \ns¶s¡m­v sN¿n¡Wsa¶v.. F\nç t]Snbmbnêì..]t£ \o ]Wn]än¨p... Xmtbmfn...' AhÄ jmbpsS apSnbn XgpIn... "XmtbmfnbsÃSn... A¡mtbmfn Fì]d...' "BtemNn«v F\n¡v kln¡m³ ]äp¶nsÃSm tamt\... Hê kz]v\w t]mse... \obpw Rmëw.. tlm..' AhÄ Ahs\ hen¨Sp¸n¨p. F¶n«v Ahsâ anëkamb Ihnfn \¡n.. "tlm jm... ]dsbSm tamt\ \o tN¨nsb F´mWv sNbvXsX¶v...' Ahfhsâ sNhnbn ]dªp. "Rm³ \ns¶ ]®nsbSn tN¨ntamtf..' "icnçw?' "Rm³ \ns¶ icnçw ]®nsbSo s]t®..' Ahfhsâ ]pd¯v Ibdn¡nSì. AhfpsS amdv Ahsâ s\©n AaÀì. c­pssIsIm­pw Ahsâ Ihnfn\nêhihpw tNÀ¯p ]nSn¨p. "C\ow ]®n¯êtamSm?' "XcmsaSo.' "Fìw?' Xe Xmgv¯n AhÄ Ahsâ aq¡n³ Xp¼¯v Hì \¡n. "Mpw' "C\nsbsâ PohnXw apgphëw \ns¶ F\nç thWw!' "FSn...' "Mpw?' "AsX§\mSn?' "t]Sn¨pt]mbmSm? Fs¶ Bsc¦nepw hì sI«pw. Rm³ I­n«nÃm¯ tI«n«nÃm¯ H꯳... Ahs\{X sImÅmambnê¶mepw \o Ah\dnbmsX høgpw FâSp¯p hcWw!' "Mpw.' "hcqtÃSm?' "hcmw.' "AXpt]mse \o IeymWw Ign¨mepw FâSp¯v hcWw. hêtam?'

4

"hcmsaSo..' "\o thsd Bsctbm ]®nt¡m... ]t£ \o tN¨oSSp¯pw hcWw...' "Ig¸n.' "BsWSm. \obm Fsâ Ig¸v Ff¡nbXv... C\n \o Xs¶ AXp XoÀ¡Ww...' AhÄ Ahsâ Ihnfn¸nSn¨p ëÅn. "GsäSn tN¨n.' "Fìh¨v \obn¶se sNbvXXv Rm³ ssIençapIfneqsS ]nSn¨p sRcn¨p.

ad¶n«nÃ.

AXnëÅ

in£

D­v...'

Ahfhsâ

"lm.. Rm³ N¯pt]mhpsaSo.' "FSm Rm³ \nsâ Bcm?' "\o Fsâ tN¨n.' "icn, \o Fsâ Bcm?' "Bcm?' "\o Fsâ sNdp¡\m...sNdp¡³...' "icn.' "\o shf¨nev ImWnçtam?' "Cà tN¨n.' "anSp¡³... \o Fs¶ ]®n¯êtam?' "XêsaSo.' "FsâSm I®m...' AhÄ Ahs\ sI«n¸nSn¨p. \ap¡n¯ncnt\cw ap­nÃmsX sI«n¸nSn¨p sIS¡mw.'

"FÃmw

DcnªpIfsbSm

tamt\.

A§s\ ]pXnb Hê A[ymbw Xpdì AhÀ... XpSÀìÅ cm{XnIfn ]pXnsbmê DuÀÖt¯msS AhÄ Ah\n ]SÀì. AhfpsS sNdp¡sâ hocyw AhÄ B\µt¯msS kzoIcn¨p. tN¨ntamfpsS Ig¸pw Xsâ Xcn¸pw XoÀ¡m³ jmPlm³ BßmÀ°ambn ]WnsbSp¯p. jm k_o\ív Hê elcnbmbn... aäpÅhêsSap¶n h¨v AhÄ tN¨nsbt¸mse s]êamdn. apdn¡I¯v Ahscmäímæt¼mÄ AhÄ asämcmfmbn... F{X æSn¨mepw aXn hcms¯mê ap´ncn¨mdpt]mse Ahfhs\ ëIÀì... tX·mhn apÃhÅnsb¶t]mse Ah\n AhÄ ]än¸nSn¨p... Htc kabw ImapI\mbpw Ifn¡q«pImc\mbpw apXnÀs¶mêsNdp¡\mbpw Ahfhs\ I­p... AhÄ¡v Ahs\ Hì sXm«nsæn Aìd¡anÃ. cm{Xn Ah³ ]Tn¯w(?) Ignªv {^o Bbm AhÄ ASp¯psNÃpw. ]ns¶ æsdt\cw irwKmchÀ¯am\hpw ]dªncnçw. sIm¨mbnê¶t¸mÄ Ah³ Im«nb "kmlk'IrXy§sf¸än¸dªv Ahs\ Ahs\ Cfçw.

5

]ns¶ AhÄ¡v Ahsâ kÀÆ Imcy§fpw AdnbWw. Id§n¯ncnªv Ahkm\w Fs´¦nepw I¼n¡mcy¯nse¯pw. "FSm jm... tamt\...' "Fs´Sn tN¨o?' "\n\s¡ìapXemSm ]mev D­mbXv?' "tM? l lm lm.. ln...' "F´mSm tamt\?' "FâSo.. tamtf A§s\bà ]dbp¶Xv...ln lo.' Ah³ NncnbS¡m³ ]mSps]«p. "]ns¶? \o Cfn¡msX ]dsbSm sNdp¡m.' "AtXbv shÅw sht¨m F¶mWv tNmZnç¶Xv.' "Hm A§s\bmtWm! AXv Rms\§s\ Adnbpw \n§sS `mj?' "`mjbsÃSn. AXp IqSpXepw henb Bé§fv ]ntÅsc¸än¸dbp¶Xm. shÅw shím¯ ]¿³ Fs¶ms¡ ]dbpw.' "Blm? A¸w Cu ]¿\v F¸gm shÅw sh¨Xv?' Ahfhsâ Igp¯nepsS ssIhf¨v ASp¸n¨v Igp¯n Np­aÀ¯ns¡m­v tNmZn¨p. "AsXms¡ F´n\mSo Adnbp¶Xv?' "Hê ckw. sâ sNdp¡s\¸än Adnbm³. ]d F¸gm?' "AXv Ggn ]Tnç¼w.' "At¿mSm? s\mW! A{X sIm¨ntetbm?' "s\mWbsÃSn. BZysams¡ \qept]msebpÅ eq{_nt¡j\m hê¶Xv. ]ns¶ icnçw shÅw hêw. F«n ]Tnç¶ FÃmhëw shÅw shípw.' "At¿m Fsâ dtº! A¸w F«n¸Tnç¶hs\ms¡ ]®m³ ]äptam?' "FSo Ig¸o... hnNmcn¨m ]äpw. ]t£ B {]mb¯nev ]®Wsas¶mìw tXm¶qÃm.' "CtÃ? AsX´m?' "FÃmw a\Ênembnhê¶XtÃbpÅq. ]ns¶ t]Snbpw. A¸w s]¼nÅmêsS samebpw \áXbpw Hs¡ ImWmëw ]nSn¡mëam Cãw. ]ns¶¸ns¶ høgpw Hfn¨nê¶v hmWaSnçw. ]¯nsems¡ F¯pt¼mtg Øncambn hmWaSn¡q..' "A¿S. Rm³ IêXnbXv henb A¼ntÅÀt¡ Cu kmam\w s]m§qsh¶m!' "FSn a­o, Ig¸o, æ®bn Bsc¦nepw sXm«m GXp{]mb¯nepw AXp s]m§pw. \o A¸pds¯ \men ]Tnç¶ \mkndnsâ Np®nbn¸nSn¨v t\m¡v! AXp s]m§p¶Xp ImWmw! ]t£ AXv A¸w Np½m A§v s]m§p¶Xm.' "FâSm CsXms¡ Rms\§s\ Adnbpw!?' "FSn Ig¸o CsXms¡ \osb´n\dnbWw? sI«nç¼w Ah³ ]®n¯êhtÃm?'

6

"AX¸gtÃSm Ig¸m.' Ahfhs\ sa¯bnteç XÅnbn«v sI«n¸nSn¨p Ihnfnsems¡ D½h¨p. jm Hì adnªv AhfpsS apIfnembn. "\o `qtemI Ig¸nbmSo.' F¶n«h³ AhfpsS apeIfn sR¡n¸nXp¡n. "FSm FSm F\nç Igs¸Sp¯XpsIm­m \nsâ Ig¸pXoê¶Xv!' jm AhfpsS ss\än Ducnamän. F¶n«v Ahs\mìw an­msX AhfpsS anÂabn ]nXp¡ns¡m­nêì. "FSm \o F´p sN¿p¶Xv?' "Rm³ \nsâ samebn ]nSnçhmSo.' "\n\ç shÅw sht¨mSm FâhnsS ]nSn¡m³?' "shs¨Sn ]qdo.' "F¶m Fâ ]qän s\dbsbSm \nsâ shÅw.' "]ns¶t¸mtcSo tamtf. æsdt\cw C§s\ ]nSnt¨m­ncn¡mw.' "t]mscSm... shÅw sh¨ Imcysams¡ ]dªv Fs¶ Ff¡nbn«v...' Ahfhsâ Xe]nSn¨p Xmgv¯n Ihnfn ISn¨p. "FSnsbSo... 殸pcmWw ]dªpXpS§nbXv \obtÃSo?’ Ahfhs\ icnçw s\©nÂtNÀ¯p hcnªpapdp¡n. "t\m¡nt¡m, C\n AI¯ptIdp¼w Rm\hs\ ]q«n«v ASípw.' "A¸tgm?' "A¸gv \nâSp¯v sI©msX Xs¶ F\nç tXm춼w shÅw XpdìhnSmw.' "tN¨ns¸t® ]qdns¸t® ]p­¨ns¸t® s\d¨pXcmsaSo.... Np®n¯®n t]mbm ckhpw t]msbSo... Rm\mZyw \nsâ anÂasb Hì sskkm¡s«.' Ah³ AhfpsS {_m Ducn. Icn¡n³ apeIÄ AhfpsS amd¯pInSì XpÅn. "anÂatbm?' "Mm, CsXSn a­o.' Ah³ k_o\bpsS ]mÂçS§fn c­pssIIfpw AaÀ¯n¸nXp¡n. "lm l ]Xps¡¸nSnsbSm ]¶o.' "]Xps¡¸nSn¨m \nsâ Ig¸p amdpthmSo.' jm Xe Xmgv¯n XÅn\n¶ ape¡m¼nsâ êNnt\m¡n. ]ns¶ AXnë Npäpw \¡n. " kv.. lm.. Um jm... \o thsd GsX¦nepw s]®nsâ samebn ]nSn¨n«pt­mSm N¡tc?' "AsX´n\mSo \o Adnbp¶Xv?' jm k_o\bpsS apesR«pIÄ c­pw hncepIÄsIm­v Htckabw sRcSn. "lm.. lv Rm\dnbs«Sm Fsâ tamsâ I¼n¸cn¸mSnIsfms¡.' "Rm³ ]dªn«v \o Akqbs¸Sm\m?' sam«pIfn RcSns¡m­v AhfpsS apeIÄ¡nSbn Ah³ apJw ]qgv¯n. ]ns¶ AhnsS sasáSn¨p. "CsÃSm. F\n¡Xp tI«m \nt¶mSpÅ Cãw IqSt¯bpÅq, aoiæê¯ sNdp¡m!'

7

"FSo \nsâ ]pd¯v GXv Pn¶m tIdnbXv? Fsâ FÃm I¼n¨cn{Xhpw \n\¡dnbWw.' Xe DbÀ¯n Ah³ tNmZn¨p. "FSm C¶se hsc \ns¶ I­Xv ]­p Rm³ kvIqfn sIm­pt]mb 檳 jm Bbn«m. Rm³ H¡¯ph¨v sIm­p\S¶, Fsâ hmepw]nSn¨p \S¶ sNdp¡³. Rm³ Fs´Ãmw Imcy§Ä \ns¶ ]Tn¸n¨ncnçì. \o Fs´Ãmw Imcy§Ä Ft¶mSphì ]dªncnçì. F¶n«v Hê kp{]`mX¯n t\mç¼w \o shÅwh¨v aoiæê¯v æ®bpwsIme¸n¨nê¶v I¿n¸nSnçì! AXpI­¸w F\nç kln¨nsÃSm!' "AXpsIm­v…' "C¸w ho­pw \o Fsâ sNdp¡\mbn...' Ahfhsâ æ®bn kvt\lt¯msS ]nSn¨pæep¡n. ‘Fâ AS¸v \obmtW Xpd¶Xv! \nsâ æ®, \nâ­n, \nsâ ]mev, \nsâ ]®ev A§s\ \n\çÅXnseÃmw F\nçap­v Hê AhImiw. AXpsIm­v, \nsâ sIm¨psIm¨pclky§sfms¡ Adnbms\mê sImXnsbSm N¡tc!' "A¿So! Fsâ æ® \nâXm?' sRcSns¡m­p tNmZn¨p.

jm

AhfpsS

c­papeIsfbpw

sRcn¨v

sR«pIsf

"BsWSm.' AXv t_m[ys¸Sp¯ms\¶h®w AhÄ Xsâ XpSbn æ¯ns¡m­nê¶ jmbpsS I¼nç®bn ]nSn¨v sR¡n. "Fâ ]mev \nâXm?' apebn AaÀ¯n sRcn¨psIm­p Ah³ tNmZn¨p. "Mpw.' Ahfpw æ®bnse ]nSp¯w apdp¡n. "Fâ ]®Â \nâXm?' ape¡®n iànbmbn sRcSns¡m­p Ah³ tNmZn¨p. "BsWSm N¡tc!' "tN¨n... tamtf' jm apt¶m«mªv AhfpsS Ihnfn AaÀ¯n¨pw_n¨p. "A¸w F\nç thsd Bscbpw ]®t­?' ]ns¶ Ah³ tNmZn¨p. "A¿Sm! Ahsâsbmê ]qXn! \n\¡n¸w FhnS thsdmê ]qdv In«pw.' "In«psaSo. s]®p§fp thsdbpap­v.' jmbpsS ssIIÄ Xmtgç \o­v AhfpsS ASn¸mhmS Agn¡m³ XpS§n. "Mpw Im¯nêt¶m.' "Hs­So.' "A¿Sm. BscSm I®m AXv?' "AsXms¡bp­v.' AhfpsS ]mhmS Ah³ Ducnamän. "Mpw. Ahsf Rm³ shSnh¨v sImÃpw!' "sImXn¨n. tXmçt­m \n\¡v?' Ahsâ ssI sasà Xmtg¡v AhfpsS hrµmh\¯nte¡v Ibdn. "FSm sImXnbm. _\nb³ Ducn¡sfsbSm tamt\. \nsâ icoc¯nsâ NqSv tN¨nç In«s«.'

8

Ah³ SoþjÀ«v Ducnb]msS Ahfhs\ ]nSn¨v s\©nen«v Ahsâ I£§Ä¡nSbneqsS ssIIÄIS¯n \áamb s\©pIÄ tNÀ¯p hcnªp]nSn¨ph¨p æsdt\cw. "lm sâ jm.. IÅs¨dp¡m...' Ahsâ Igp¯nsems¡ AhÄ D½h¨p. AhfpsS ]nSn Abªt¸mÄ jm AhfpsS \\hnte¡v ho­pw ssIsIm­pt]mbn. "A¸w ]dsbSm tams\, Dt­m?' "Ft´m¶v?' "samebn ]nSn¨n«pt­m¶v IÅm.' "\osbs¶ shdptX hnSqetÃ. Ds­Sn ]mdq.' "Xnê«p¸bev! BsctbSm I®m?' "Hìc­pt]sc!' "ASSm.. H¶Ã c­m!' Ah³ thsdmê s]®nsâ apebn ]nSnç¶ cwKw BtemNn¨t¸mÄ AhÄ¡v Akqbbà tXm¶nbXv. jmtbmSv IqSpX ImaamWv. Fsâ sNdp¡t\! AhÄ BtemNn¨Xv A§s\bmWv. AhÄ Ahs\ ho­pw Cdp¡nhcnªp. IÅ¡gpthdn. an­m¸q¨sbt¸mse \S¶n«v... "Bscms¡bmSm?' "AXp ]dbqÃm...' "Fsâ s]mì ap¯tÃ. ]dsbSm I®m..' "Mqlpw.' "HcmfpsSsb¦nepw t]ê ]d!' "Mpw... AJne.' "AJnem? \nâ Iq«pImcâ A\nb¯n?' "Mpw.' AhfpsS aZ\s¨¸nëapIfn Ah³ XtemSn. AhÄ hndsIm­p. ]qÀ¨meneqsS Ah³ hnctemSn¨t¸mÄ Ahsâ apXpIn AhÄ ssI apdp¡n. AJne... k_o\bpsS a\Ênse Im³hmkn AJnebpsS Nn{Xw sXfnªp hì. Mpw... sNdp¡sâ kabw sImÅmw! "lm... Sm tamt\.. AhÄ FXnÀ¯ntÃ?' "Mqlpw.' "Ahfp \nsâ Pq\nbdtÃ. At¸m F§s\?' "Rm³ \nJnensâ ho«n t]mb¸w.' "`b¦c³! Bêw ImWqtÃ?' "Mqlpw.' "AhÄ¡nãam AtÃ?'

9

"Mpw!' Ahsâ \o­ hnc k_o\bpsS ]qhnëÅnteç Ibdn. AhÄ ImepIÄ Iq«n¸nSn¨p. " lm B... \o \ÃXpt]mse ]nSnt¨mSm tamt\?' "kabw In«t­ tN¨o.' "XpWn¡I¯qsS ]nSnt¨mSm?' "CsÃSn sImXn¨o.' AhfpsS ]qänëÅn Ah³ hncen«v A\¡n. AhÄ kpJwsIm­v Rc§n. "\n\¡nãam AtÃ, Ahsf?' "Ahfp Igs¸Sp¯p \SçIbm. Fs¶¡mé¼w apebpw XÅnt¨m­p hêw. Hmtcm kwibhpw tNmZnt¨m­v.' "samebn¸nSnç¶ Imcy¯nem kwibw?' "AsÃSn ]qdn. ]Tnç¶ Imcyam.' jm tN¨nbpsS DÅnte¡v hnc sasà IbäpIbpw CdçIbpw sNbvXp. AhfpsS tZl¯p\n¶v Bhn ]d¡m³ XpS§n... "A..A..AhfpsS samesb§ës­Sm?' "s\©p \ndsb samebmSn. XÅn \nevç¶Xp Imét¼mtg I¼nbmæw!' AXp]dªn«v Ah\hfpsS samebnsemê sNdnb ISnsImSp¯p. "lm... FSm... Fsâ... FSm Ahsf \n\ç ]®t­?' "AXn\hsf kuIcy¯në In«t­So?' "In«nbm ]®ptam?' AhÄ ssI \o«n Ahsâ æ®bn ]nSn¨p B«m³ XpS§n. "Mpw.' "\n\ç t]SnbntÃ?' "CsÃSo. \½fp X½n sN¿p¶Xnë ap¼mbnês¶¦n Rm³ t]Snçambnêì. Ct¸m CÃ.' "lm æ«m... FSm Ahsf In«nbm F§s\bmé sN¿m³t]mWXv?' "FâSo.. ]qdnt¨¨o \n\s¡s´ms¡ AdnbWw Ig¸o... ' "]dsbSm N¡tc... \nsâ s]mì tN¨nbtÃ..' AhÄ Xe DbÀ¯n jmbpsS apJs¯Ãmw D½ h¨p. "BZyw Rm\hfpsS sameIsf ]nSns¨mSípw. ]ns¶ AhfpsS »uskms¡ Ducnamän B In®³ sameIsf Ddp©pw... Ddp©nbpdp©n AhfpsS shÅw hê¯pw.' jm hnc ]qänëÅn thK¯n Nen¸n¨p. k_o\bpsS izmkKXn D¨¯nembn. "F¶nt«mSm I®m... \osb´p sN¿pw?' "F¶n«v, Rm\hfpsS _m¡n XpWnsbÃmw Ducn¡fªn«v...' "]®ptam?' "CsÃSo... BZyw F\n¡hfpsS A¸w Xn¶Ww. Bêw sXmSm¯ AhfpsS A¸w..' "tlm... A§s\... F§s\?'

10

"AhfpsS sXmSsbÃmw AIänh¨v Rm\hfpsS ]qdn \¡ns¡mSpçw... F¶n«v..' "jm tamt\.. N¡tc C\n\nsâ æ® tN¨nbpsS ]qän tIän hs¿Sm BZyw...' jm Fgpt¶äv AhfpsS ImepIÄ AIänh¨v ap«pæ¯n\n¶v ]Xps¡ Xsâ æ®sb k_o\bpsS Xnfíp¶ ]qänteç XÅn. "lm av...' AhÄ BßlÀjt¯msS AhfpsS I¼nç«sâ ]uêjs¯ ]qdpXpdì kzoIcn¨p. "lm... Fsâ N¡tc... tN¨nbpsS kzÀ¤ta...' tX³ Hê¡n Im¯nê¶ AhfpsS Ima¸qhn Ahsâ h­v ]qÀ®ambpw Ibdn. Im´§sft¸mse AhêsS icoc§Ä kwtbmPn¨p... Ima]pjv]§Ä H«nt¨À¶ Aë`qXnbn AhÀ sXÃpt\ct¯ív FÃmw adì. "tN¨o...' "jmmm...' k_o\ jmsb apt¶m«p hen¨v sI«n¸nSn¨v Ahsâ s\©nsems¡ \¡n. AhfpsS ssI hnSphn¨v jm sasà sasà k_o\bpsS aZ\¸q¦mh\¯n Xsâ ImahnÃns\ Duªmem«m³ XpS§n. ]qhnepcªv AXv apt¶m«pw ]nt¶m«pw Nen¨p. "lm F¶nt«mSm I®m?' "F¶n«v Rm\hfpsS I´v X¸nsbSp¯v Ddp©pw... AhfpInSì ]nSípw... I´pdp©n Hcn¡epw ad¡m¯hn[w AhfpsS ]mephê¯pw Rm³.' "B... æ«m A§s\... slâ jmm.... tamt\....' jm thK¯n Duªmem«m³ XpS§n... "...F¶n«v Ahsf aeÀ¯n¡nS¯n, æ® I­n«nÃm¯ AhfpsS ]qänte¡v Rms\sâ sIm¨s\ tIänhnSpw... AhfpsS samesbms¡ H¶qSn N¸n Rm\hsf Aë`hn¨p XpS§pw.' "B... jm... thKw sN¿Sm...' ‘…F¶n«v CXpt]mse ]®psaSo Rm\m ]qdnsb. ]®n¸®n \nd¨psImSpçw. AhfpsS koev s]m«n¨v ajn \ndípw.'

AhfpsS ]qdn Rm³

jm \nÀ¯msX tN¨nsb ]®m³ XpS§n. Ahsâ æ® AhfpsS ]qän AXnthK¯n tIdnbnd§n. AhÄ AhâSnbn¡nSì ]pfªp... "slSm AhÄ¡v \ns¶ CãamhpsaSm… \nsâ æ®bpw... \nsâ ]®epw FÃmw kq¸dmSm tamt\.' k_o\bpsS cXn\neb¯n jmbpsS æ® kpJkv^penwK§Ä AhfpsS DSemsI¸SÀìIbdn.

Dcknbpckn\o§nbt¸mÄ

D­mb

"lm B .. A§s\ ]s®Sm \nsâ tN¨nsb... Fsâ I®m.. \obmsWSm Fsâ BWv... tN¨nbpsS sNdp¡m... Fs´mê kpJmSm \o tN¨nç Xê¶Xv... s]mt¶ tN¨nbn \ndsbSm anSp¡m \nsâ BW¯w...' k_o\bpsS ]qt©mebn hk´ag s]mSnªp. AhfpsS Pohmßmhpw ]camßmhpw ]pfI¨mÀ¯Wnªp... "Fsâ jm... Fsâ tamt\... Fsâ I®m...' jmbpsS cXniànbn AhÄ \nÀhrXn sIm­p.

11

"Zm hês¶So tN¨ntamtf \nâ I®sâ... ' jmbpsS tIme³æ®bnÂ\n¶v ]mev Ahsâ tN¨nbpsS ]qänte¡v A\k}Xw {]hln¨p... k_o\bpsS DÅn jmbpsS XmXv¡menI ia\ambn.

NqSp]mÂ

Noäns¯dn¨phoWt¸mÄ

AhfpsS

Ig¸n\v

k_o\bpsS ssIIÄçÅn AhfpsS amdn jm XfÀìInSì... AhfpsS æª\mbn... AhfpsS sNdp¡\mbn... ***** Xsâ sNdp¡\v AJnesb¶ s]s¦m¨nt\mSv A`nemjw Ds­¶ clkyw Xpcs¶Sp¯ k_o\ AXns\¸än ]eh«w BtemNn¨p. ImWm³ sImÅmhp¶ s]®mWv AJne. jmíp tNêw! AhÀ ]®p¶ cwKw AhÄ a\Ên I­pt\m¡n. jmbpsS cXneoeIfn ab§nb AJnebn Ah³ {]thinç¶tXmÀ¯t¸mÄ AhÄ¡v hÃms¯mê kpJw tXm¶n... \nJnensâ Ahyàamb Nn{Xhpw At¸mghfpsS a\ÊneqsS HmSnt¸mbn. HêZnhkw sshæt¶cw AhÄ _mXvdqanëÅn æfn¡m\mbn Ibdnbt¸mÄ jm hì ap«n. "F´mSm?' "FSn tN¨n s]s«¶nd§v. F\n¡v æfn¨ns«mcnS¯p t]mWw.' "FSm Rm\n¸w tIdnbtXbpÅq. \o sImsd Ignªphm.' AhÄ AI¯p\nì hnfn¨p]dªp. "At¿m AXp ]äqÃ. F¶m \o Fd§v. Rm³ æfn¨n«v \n\ç æfn¡mw.' "F\nç h¿m. \o t]mbn«phm.' AhÄ _ew ]nSn¨p. Ahs\ sImc§v Ifn¸nçIbmWv. "tN¨o IXhp sXmdsbSn.' Ah³ hmXnen \nÀ¯msX ap«n. _lfw tI«p s]®p§Ä Bsc¦nepw hêsa¶v IêXn AhÄ IXIv Xpdì. ep¦n am{XapSp¯v I¿n tXmÀ¯pambn Ah³ \nevçIbmWv. BsI hnbÀ¯pæfn¨n«p­v. "¹okv, tN¨o. \osbmìamdn¯m. Hc©panë«v aXn.' Ahsâ AÀ²\áamb icoc¯n AhfpsS I®pIfpS¡n. hnbÀ¸n æfn¨v anë§p¶ Ahsâ tZlw I­t¸mÄ AhfpsS I®pIÄ Xnf§n. "\o FhnSì hêIbm?' "Ifn¨n«p hêhmSn. IfnXoÀ¶bpSs\ C§p hì. HcnS¯pt]mWw.' AXméImcyw. C§s\ Ahs\ ImWmdnÃ. AhÄ tUmÀ aeÀs¡ Xpdì. Ah\It¯ç Ibdn. ]pd¯nd§msX AhÄ IXIS¨p æänbnSpIbmWv sNbvXXv. "\o t]mWntÃ?'Ah³ AZv`pXw Iqdn. "\aps¡mêan¨p æfn¡msaSm.' AhÄ Hê IŨncntbmsS ]dªp. "At¿m A¸pd¯v Bfp­v!' "Hm Ahê än.hn.bpsS ap¶nemSm. BImiw CSnªphoWmepw AdnbqÃm.' AhÄ \nÊmca«n ]dªp.

12

"\o Ifn¡msX t]m tN¨o...' "\o hnbÀ¯pæfn¨v \nevç¶XpImWm³ \à tNev!' "Fsâ tN¨o.. \o Fs¶ sImg¸¯nemçw.' Ahë tZjyhpw hì. AhÄ Ahsâ ASp¯psNì \nì. I¿n tXmÀ¯pambn Ah³ hms]mfn¨p\nevçIbmWv. hnbÀ¸nÂæXnÀ¶ Ahsâ icocKÔw AhfpsS \mkmc{Ô§fn Cc¨pIbdn. Imaw Ahfn Npcam´n. "\ns¶ Rm³ æfn¸n¨pXcmw.' "\o t]m tN¨o.' AhfXp tIÄ¡m¯a«n Ahs\ `n¯nbn XÅn\nÀ¯n. "\nsâ s]md¯p\nìÅ aWw ... \à ckw.' ]ns¶ Ahfhsâ Igp¯n \¡m³ XpS§n. Ahsâ FXnÀ¸v AenªnÃmsXbmbn. "Rm³ \ns¶ \¡n hr¯nbm¡n¯cmw Fsâ æ«m...' "FSn Ig¸o Fsâ s]mdw apgph³ Agp¡m...' "kmcanÃm, \o Fsâ sNdp¡\tÃ..' AhÄ æ\nªp\nì Ahsâ s\©papgph³ \¡n. "Fsâ jm... sâ N¡tc..' AhÄ Ahsâ apJs¯Ãmw D½hípIbpw \çIbpw sNbvXp. "FSn... aXn..' "an­mXncnsbSm... \obn¸w F§pw t]m­m..' Ahfhsâ ep¦n DcnªpIfªp. A­Àshbdn \n¶ Ahsâ ap¶nehÄ ap«pæ¯n. I¼nbSn¨æ® IqSmcwsI«nb P«nbpw BsI \\ªpæXnÀ¶nêì. "CX¸Sn \\ªncnçhmWtÃmSm. \o s]Spt¯m CXnev?' AhÄ Ifnbm¡n. "t]mSn IgptX.. AXpapgph³ hnbÀ¸m...' "Rm³ t\m¡s«.' AhÄ \\ª B P«nçapIfn D½h¨p. "icnbm CX¸Sn \nsâ hnbÀ¸pXs¶. Fs´mê Nqcm..' AhÄ P«nbpsS \\ª`mKw hmbnem¡n N¸n. Ahsâ hnbÀ¸v AXnÂ\nìw ]ngnsªSp¡ms\¶t]mse. ]ns¶ Ahfm P«n DucnsbSp¯v ‘amänh¨p’. "Fsâ ]nÅmsc Xm§nb XpWnbm CXv!' Ahsâ æ®bpw A­nIfpamWv AhfpsS ]ntÅcv! F¶n«hÄ ho­pw Ahsâ ap¶n ap«pæ¯n. "\nsâ hnbÀ¸p \mäsaÃmw Rm³ amän¯cmw.' AhÄ jmbpsS tI{µkÀÆIemimebnÂapgph³ \¡m³ XpS§n. XpSIfnseÃmw \¡nbn«v Xp§n¡nS¶ A­nIÄ c­pw AhÄ hmbnseSp¯p Ddp©n. Gähpw HSphnemWv æe¨p\n¶v BSnb Ahsâ æ®bnte¡v AhÄ {i² ]Xn¸n¨Xv. "Fsâ sIm¨p sNdp¡³ Im¯nêì aSpt¯mSm' Fì tNmZn¨psIm­v AhfXns\ ap¯§Ä sIm­paqSn. ]ns¶ apgphëw \¡n¯pS¨p. NpänepapÅ tcma¡mSpw AhÄ N¸n. Ahkm\w Xsâ hmípÅnte¡v AhfXns\ IS¯nhn«p. AXhfpsS hmbnenêì XpÅn¡fn¨p. aXnhêthmfw Du¼nbn«v AhÄ Fgpt¶äp. DSp¯nê¶sXÃmw AhÄ Ducnsbdnªp. "F´mSn tN¨ntamsf \n\s¡sâ ]meptht­?' jm Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨v `n¯nbn Xncn¨p\nÀ¯n Acs¡«v AhfpsS AcbneaÀ¯n. Ahsâ æ® AhfpsS hbän Dcªp. "\nsâ hnbÀs¸Ãmw Rm³ \¡nsbSps¯Sm N¡tc..' Ahfhsâ sNhnbn¸dªp.

13

"Fsâ hnbÀ¸v \n\¡nãamtbmSn tamtf?' AhfpsS apeIÄ c­pw AaÀ¯n Rcn¨psIm­v Ah³ tNmZn¨p. "\nsâ FÃmw F\n¡nãamSm... Fsâ N¡cç«m..' "Fsâ ]cn]mSn \o Xpes¨Sn ]qdo..' Ah³ æ\nªp AhfpsS ]mÂçS§fnsem¶ns\ Ddp©m³ XpS§n. "AXp \o DSps¸mìanSmsX hnbÀ¯pæfn¨p \nevç¶XpI­¸w F\nç kln¨nsÃSm N¡tc..' "At¸m \n\s¡´p tXm¶nsbSn tN¨ntamtf?' AhfpsS ]mÂsR«n ]nSn¨p sRcn¨n«v Ah³ tNmZn¨p. "\ns¶ ISn¨p ISn¨p Xn¶m³ tXm¶nsbSm Fsâ sNdp¡m.' "F¶n«v \nsb´p sNbvsXSn tamtf?' "Rm³ Fsâ sNdp¡sâ s]mds¯ hnbÀs¸Ãmw \¡ns¯msSs¨Sm. Ahsâ hbdnepw ImensâSbnepw Hs¡ \¡n.. B lm lm…' "]ns¶tbmSo tamtf?' jm AhfpsS apesR«n ISn¨phen¨p. "lm av. ]ns¶ Ahsâ am§bpw amWnbpw Ddp©nsbSm tamt\..' "F¶n«v \n\ç aXnbmtbmSo ]qdo..' apebnÂ\n¶v apJapbÀ¯n Ah\hfpsS Igp¯n \¡n. "CsÃSm ]qdm..' "\nâ Ig¸p amdotÃSo Ig¸o..' "CsÃSm I®m...' "A¸w C\n \o F´psN¿pw B\¡g¸o.' "C\n \o Fs¶ ]s®Sm N¡tc.' Ahfhsâ ImXntemXn. "Ct¸mtgmSo??' "Ct¸m¯s¶ ]s®Sm N¡tc..' "ChnsSht¨mSo?' "ChnsSh¨pXs¶ Fs¶ ]s®Sm N¡tc.' "Bsc¦nepw h¶mtemSo?' "Rm³ æfnç¼w Bêw hcqsÃSm.' "ChnsSh¨v F§s\ ]®psaSn Ig¸o...' Ah\hfpsS sImgp¯N´nbn ]nSn¨p Ii¡n. "C\n ]t®­Xv \nsâ NpaXe ssacm­o!' Ahfhsâ apXpIn \Jw Xmgv¯n. "At¿mSo... æfn¡m³h¶ Fs¶ ]nSn¨p\nÀ¯n \¡n I¼nbm¡nbn«v C¸w Fsâ ]Wnsbt¶m IgIg¸o..' AhfpsS ]qänëapIfn Ahsâ ssI ]cXn\Sì. AI¯ptIdmëÅ hgn Xncç¶t]mse.

14

"l lm slSm... \nsâ Ig¸pw Fsâ sImXnbpw XocWsa¦n ... l Mv lq... hncep amän...æ® tIän¸s®Sm N¡tc...' "\nt¶m­v F§s\ ]®pw tN¨o..' Ah³ æ®]nSn¨p AhfpsS ]qän Dc¨p. "jm tamt\ \obnì GXp IfnbmSm Ifn¨Xv?' "^pSvt_msfSo tN¨o...' "F¶n«p \o tKmfSnt¨mSm tamt\?' "CsÃSo tamtf... Rm³þ' "jm... jm... ]qdoStamt\.. IWmsImWmì ]dbmsX tKmfSn¡m³ t\ms¡Sm ssaêsNdp¡m...' jm Npänepw t\m¡n. ]gb æfnapdnbmWv. XpWnIgpIm\mbn knaân XoÀ¯ tait]mses¯ `mKw Ah³ {i²n¨p. k_o\sbbpw sIm­v Ah\t§m«p \o§n. knaâv taibn Ahsf¸nSn¨p InS¯n. Xq¡nbn« AhfpsS ImepIÄ AIänh¨v Ah\hfpsS ]qän æ®ap«n¨p. ]ns¶ sasà DÅnteç XÅn. AhfpsS eq{_nt¡j\n ap§nb ]qdnëÅnte¡v Ahsâ ]uêjw A\mbmkw Ibdnt¸mbn. AhfpsS ]qänëÅn \ndªp\n¶ jmbpsS tIme³ æ® tXtcm«w XpS§n. "jm FsâSm tamt\ anSp¡m.. ]s®Sm \nsâ tN¨n¸qdnsb..' k_o\ ]pe¼n. jm AhfpsS DÅnte¡v \of³ æ® sasà tIäpIbpw CdçIbpw sNbvXp. "kpJw­mSo ]pdo.' "tlm... \o sXm«m tN¨n¡v kpJta DtÅmSm... \ÃXpt]mse ]s®Sm N¡tc.tamt\.' "\ÃXpt]mse ]®n¯cmw tN¨o... \obo Imsem¶v s]m¡n sh¿v... A§s\... C¸w \nâ sNdp¡\v Ffp¸ambn...' "\osbsâ sNdp¡³ X¶mSm ssatc...' "FSn ]qdo \obo æfnapdoh¨v hncen«n«pt­mSo?' "Hs­Sm ssatc...' "IÅn! Ft´mÀ¯mSo hncen«Xv?' "lm lm A lXv jmP.. lm.. s\¶ ssacs\ HmÀ¯mSm.. lm..' "slm.. AXmcmSo ]p­¨o...' "Ah\n¸w... l.. lq tlm.. Hm.. ..t¯m­ncnçhmSm... Fs¶. lm Fsâ jm.. thKw Iqs«Sm ]qdm…' jm XÅensâ thKw Aev]w Iq«n. "F§ës­So tN¨ntamtf?' "tlm.. kzÀ¤w... Fsâ tamt\..' "slSm... \obpw ASn¨n«ntÃSm hmWw... CXn\I¯ph¨v... ssacm...' "Ds­Sn ]mdq..'

15

"Bsc... HmÀ¯m.. sNbvXXv.. lm. .. B..' "]escbpw...' "l.. Ahsf.. lhsftbmSm...' "BscsbSo ]mdq?' jmbpsS ASnív thKw Iq«n. Ahsâ Acs¡«v AhfpsS N´nbn CSn¨p iÐap­m¡n. Ahsâ A­n AhfpsS IqXnbn Dcªp. "AhsfSm.. A.. AJne..' "...' "FSm..' "Ds­So ]qdo..' "lm.. FSm \o Ahsf... ]®p¶Xv... F\nç ImWWw!' "AsX§\mSo Ig¸o...' Ah³ k_o\bpsS ]qdnte¡v BªSn¡m³ XpS§n.. "\o Ahsf... lm.. \½psS ho«ns¡m­phm... slsâSm... lm thKw...' A§s\ knaâvtaibn AhÄ¡nêhihpw ssIæ¯n AhfpsS ImepIÄ s]m¡naS¡n jm Ig¸nt¨¨nsb æfnapdnbn h¨v Hm¡m³ XpS§n. æfn¡m³ h¶ sNdp¡ë In«nb ]Wntb! jm ZbbnÃmsX tIänbSn¨p... AhfpsS icocw apgph³ æep§n. Ahsâ ]p­¨ntamfpsS ]p­bn Ah³ ]dntIän¯m§n. Ahsâ icocw ho­pw hnbÀ¸nÂçfn¨p. "FSn Ig¸n... F\n¡n¸w hêw... C¸w \ndbpsaSo \nsâ B\¸qdv...' "jm jm jm tamt\... s]mt¶...B lm...' "tN¨o....' Ahsâ æ®bnse ]mepapgph³ AhfpsS ]qäntes¡mgpIn. aZ\s¸mbvIsb Xé¸n¨psIm­v Ahsâ aZ\Pew AXnepdªp...

DêIn¯nf¨

AhfpsS

*** ]n¶oSv sI«n¸nSn¨p \n¶v æfn¨Xnëtijw Ah³ tNmZn¨p: "AsX§s\ \SçsaSo?' "GXv?' "\n\ç ImWWsaì ]dªXv.' "FSm AhÄ \n\ç hg§ptam?' "sNe¸w.' "FSm.. AhÄç k½Xsa¦n AXp \S¸nem¡m³ ]änb Htc Hê Øew \½psS s_Uvdqam. Rm³ ChnsS DŸw BÀçw kwibw D­mhnÃ... ]t£ Ahsf ChnsS F¯nç¶ Imcyw... AXv \nsâ I¿nem...' "AXm {]iv\w... AhÄç ChnsS hcm³ Hê ImcWw thWatÃm?'

16

"BtemNocv.' "icn..' "FSm...' "Mpw?' "\o s]®p§fp æfnç¶nS¯v F´p sN¿p¶Xv?' "FSn...' "Fd§nt¸mSm sNdp¡m... \à hoç h¨pXêw Rm³..'