BÀ.FÂ.

Ìoh³k¬ (1850þ1894)
tdm_À«v eqbnkv Ìoh³k¬ kvtImSvem³Un P\n¨p.
\nba_ncpZ[mcnbmsb¦nepw Fgp¯v sXmgnembn kzoIcn¨p. BZycN\
]Xn\mdmwhbÊn {]kn²s¸Sp¯n. {^m³kv, Cäen, kvs]bn³,
Atacn¡ F¶o cmPy§Ä kμÀin¨p. 1880þ hnhmlnX\mbn.
hockmlknIIrXnbmb {SjÀ sFe³Uv Ìoh³ k¬sâ amÌÀ
]okmWv. InUv\m]vUv, tUm. P¡nÄ, anÌÀ sslUv, _vfmIv Gtdm Ch
aäp {][m\ cN\IfmWv. 1894 Unkw_À aq¶n\v akvXnjvI
tcmKs¯¯pSÀ¶v A´cn¨p.
BÀ.FÂ. Ìoh³k¬
\n[nZzo]v

P\d FUnäÀ
tUm. ]n.sI. cmPtiJc³
kwKrloX ]p\cmJym\w
F. hnPb³

Un kn _pIvkv
Treasure Island

R.L. Stevenson

Nidhidweep
A. Vijayan

Cover Design

Publishers
DC Books

D C BOOKS
BapJw

Hcp `q]S¯nÂ\n¶mbncp¶p FÃmw XpS§nbXv. hnZqcamb Hcp GIm´

Zzo]v. AhnsS \nKqVambn Ipgn¨n« \n[n, `oIccmb ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ,
kz]v\k¦ev]§fnÂ\n¶v shSnacp¶p aW¡p¶ bmYmÀ°y§fnte¡p
sN¶phoW Hcp _mesâ Xo{hm\p`h§Ä FÃmw Ip«nIÄ¡p
th|nbpÅ kmlknI IYIfpsS Ncn{XwXs¶ AXp amänadn¨p. Imew
AXns\ shdpsamcp AsUz©À tÌmdnbnÂ\n¶v aäp Xe§fnte¡p
hfÀ¯n. Hcn¡Â kmlnXy]WvUnXÀ AXns\ aqeyanÃm¯
kmlkIYbmbn XÅn¡fªp. ]n¶oSp h¶hcmIs«, AXnÂ
Kl\§fmb AÀ°§Ä I|p. Cu ]ÞnX ktμl§Ä¡nSbnepw
Hmtcm Xeapdbnepw hmb\¡mÀ B ]pkvXI¯n Bthit¯msS
apgpIn. temIs¯ an¡ `mjIfnepw ]eXhW AXp hnhÀ¯\w
sN¿s¸«p. tdm_À«v eqbnkv Ìoh³ksâ "{SjÀ sFe³Un'sâ
PohNcn{Xw C§s\bpw hnhcn¡mw. Hcp `q]S¯nÂ\n¶p XpS§nb
IYbpsS IY. 1891þse Hcp th\¡me¯v hfÀ¯paI\mb tembvUv
Hmkvt_mWns\ ckn¸n¡m³th|n Ìoh³k¬ Hcp km¦ev]nI Zzo]nsâ
`q]Sw hc¨p. B Nn{Xw s]mSp¶t\ `mh\bn krjvSn¨
Xncbnf¡¯nÂ\n¶mWv Ìoh³k¬ "{SjÀ sFe³Un'sâ \nÀ½nXnbnÂ
apgpInbXv. ]nev¡me¯v ssa ^Ìv _p¡v (1894) F¶ D]\ymk¯nÂ
At±lw FgpXn: ""Fsâ \n[nZzo]nsâ `q]S¯n t\m¡nbncp¶t¸mÄ
]pkvXI¯nse `mhn IYm]m{X§Ä AhnSs¯ km¦ev]nI h\§fnÂ
{]Xy£s¸Sm³ XpS§n. AhcpsS sN¼³apJ§fpw Xnf§p¶
Bbp[§fpw A{]Xo£nXamb aqeIfnÂ\n¶v Fsâ t\À¡p Xe \o«n.
GXm\pw NXpc{i C©pIÄ hcp¶ B ]c¶ `q{]t£]¯n AhÀ
At§m«pant§m«pw k©cn¨p, Gäpap«pIbpw \n[nth« \S¯pIbpw
sNbvXp. XpSÀ¶v Rm³ sNbvXImcyw ap¶n¡| ISemÊn GXm\pw
A[ymb§fpsS ]«nI FgpXpIbmbncp¶p. sk]vXw_dnse Hcp Ipfncp¶
{]`mX¯nÂ, Fcnbp¶ Xo¡pWvU¯n\pw P\en XmfwsIm«p¶
agbv¡pw at[ybncp¶v Rm³ "ko Ip¡v' (AXmbncp¶p BZys¯ t]cv)
FgpXm\mcw`n¨p.''
BZyhmb\bntem A{i²hmb\bntem "{SjÀ sFe³Uv'
_mekmlnXy P\pÊnÂs¸Sp¶ kmlknI IYbmbncn¡pw.
kq£va]mcmbW¯n AXn\v A§s\bmhpI km[yaÃ. Cw¥njnse
B[p\nIXmkmlnXy¯nsâ Ime¯v "{SjÀ sFe³Uv'
IW¡nseSpt¡|XnÃm¯ kmlkIYbmbmWp hnebncp¯s¸«Xv.
Ìoh³k¬ tamis¸« Fgp¯pImc\mbpw. shÀPo\nb
hpÄ^ns\t¸mepÅ B[p\nIÀ Ìoh³ksW XÅn¸dbm³
aSnImWn¨nÃ. {]ikvXamb "t\mÀ«¬ Bt´mfPn Hm^v Cw¥njv
enätd¨À' 1968 apX 2000 hscbpÅ Imes¯ ]Xn¸pIfn Ìoh³ksW
DÄs¸Sp¯nbnÃ. "{SjÀ sFe³Uv' am{Xaà "InUv\m]vUpw' "Z kvs{Sbv©v
tIkv Hm^v tUm. sP¡nÄ B³Uv anÌÀ sslUpw' t]mepÅ
Ìoh³ksâ IrXnIfpw AhKWn¡s¸«p. F¶m C¶v AXà ØnXn.
Ìoh³k¬ hos|Sp¡s¸«ncn¡p¶p. At±ls¯¸än KuchapÅ
]T\§Ä ]pd¯phcp¶p. Cämenb³ D¯cm[p\nI t\mhenÌmb
CXmtem IÂhot\mbpsS "Z t¢msh³ hnkvIu|v' F¶ t\mhen "
{SjÀ sFe³Unse' {SntemWn F¶ IYm]m{Xw {]Xy£s¸SpIt]mepw
sN¿p¶p. kzoUnjv Fgp¯pImc\mb t_ym¬ emÀk¬ "{SjÀ
sFe³Un'se Ccp| {]Xn\mbI\mb temMv tPm¬ knÂhdnsâ
`mh\mßIamb BßIYXs¶ t\mhembn FgpXnbn«p|v.
B¬Ip«nIÄ¡pth|n "Z ko Ip¡v: F tÌmdn t^mÀ t_mbvkv' F¶
t]cn Ìoh³k¬ FgpXnb hocIYbv¡v "\n[nZzo]v' ({SjÀ sFe³Uv)
F¶p t]cpamänbXv Hcp ]{Xm[n]cmbncp¶p. "bMv t^mÄIvkv'
hmcnIbpsS {]km[I\mb sPbnwkv sl³tUgvk¬. 1881 HIvtSm_À
apXÂ 1882 P\phcnhsc "bMv t^mÄIvkn'Â {]kn²s¸Sp¯nb t\mhen\v
"lnkv]mt\ymfbnse elf' F¶ D]ioÀjIwIqSn sl³tUgvk¬
Iq«nt¨À¯p. hmcnIbn t\mhens\m¸w tNÀ¯ncp¶ Nn{X§fnÂ
sl³tUgvk¬ Ìoh³k¬ hc¨ `q]Sw DÄs¸Sp¯nbnÃ. hmb\¡mcnÂ
]eÀ¡pw "{SjÀ sFe³Uv' ckn¡msX t]mbXn\p ImcW§fnsem¶v
AXmbncp¶psh¶v Ìoh³ksW¸än ]Tn¨ ]e \ncq]Icpw
Nq|n¡m«nbn«p|v. F¶m 1883 Unkw_dn Zzo]nsâ `q]Sw klnXw
]pd¯ph¶ ]pkvXIw hmb\bn A¼c¸n¡p¶ {]nbw krjvSn¨p. c|p
\qäm|n\ptijhpw AXp XpScp¶p. ]Xn\©p ZnhkwsIm|v
]Xn\©[ymbw FgpXn¯oÀ¡pIbpw Hmtcm¶pw IpSpw_mwK§sf Dds¡
hmbn¨ptIĸn¡pIbpw sNbvXv Ìoh³k¬ krjvSn¨ Cu "t_mbvkv
tÌmdn' s]¬Ip«nIÄ¡pw enwKt`ZanÃmsX apXnÀ¶hÀ¡pw
{]nb¦camWv. kmlk IYmP\pÊn "{SjÀ sFe³Un'\p apIfnÂ
Nq|n¡m«mhp¶ asämcp IrXn Cw¥njnenÃ.
sdmam³kv F¶ KW\maamWv {SjÀ sFe³Un\p tNcpI.
kmam\yPohnX¯nÂ\n¶p `n¶amb Hcp temIamWv sdmam³kntâXv.
\nKqVXbpsS Ccp«pw aqSnb {]Imihpw Nqgv¶p\nev¡p¶ B temI¯v
kmlknIXbpsS an¶Â¸nWcpIÄ hoinbSn¡p¶p.
AÚmXmhpambpÅ A`napJoIcW¯nÂ\n¶mWv AhnsS ckm\p`qXn
D|mIp¶Xv. kmlknIamb \n[ntXSensâsb¶t]mse Hcp _mesâ
{]mb]qÀ¯nbmIensâbpw [mÀ½nI kμnKv[XIfpsSbpw IYbmWv "
{SjÀ sFe³Uv.' 18þmw \qäm|nsâ a[y¯nse Cw¥|n Pohn¡p¶ Pnw
tlm¡n³kv F¶ ]Xn¶mepImc\mWp IY ]dbp¶Xv. »m¡v
lnÂtImhv F¶ IStemc{Kma¯n AUvand s_³t_m F¶ k{Xw
\S¯p¶ Z¼XnamcpsS aI\mWv Pnw. IYmcw`¯n¯s¶ Ahsâ
Aѳ acn¡p¶p. A½bpw aI\pw tNÀ¶v k{Xw
\S¯ns¡m|pt]mIpt¼mÄ HcpZnhkw _nÃnt_m¬kv F¶ hr²
\mhnI³ AhnsS Xmakn¡ms\¯n. HcmgvNs¯ Xmak¯n\pam{Xw
]Ww \ÂIn AbmÄ AhnsS Ønchmkam¡n. aZymkà\mb t_m¬kv
Bsctbm t]Sn¨v Hfn¨pIgnbpIbmsW¶v Pnw Is|¯n. Hä¡me\mb
Hcph³ Xs¶ tXSnsb¯psa¶v AbmÄ `b¶ncp¶p. GXm\pw amkw
Ignªv »m¡v tUmKv F¶ \nKqV \mhnI³ t_m¬kns\
ImWms\¯n. ASn]nSnbnemWv B kμÀi\w Iemin¨Xv. AtX¯pSÀ¶v
t_m¬kn\v ]£mLmXap|mbn. Pnw Abmsf ip{iqjn¨p. Iym]vä³
^vfnâv F¶ Ip{]kn²\mb ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcsâ A\pbmbnbmbncp¶p
Xms\¶v t_m¬kv shfns¸Sp¯n. AbmfpsS ssIhiapÅ s]«n tXSn
\S¡pIbmWv ^vfnânsâ kwL¯nep|mbncp¶ aäpÅhÀ. B
s]«nbpambmWv k{X¯n t_m¬kv Hfn¨pIgnbp¶Xv.
Ipd¨pZnhk¯n\ptijw k{X¯nse¯nb ]yq F¶ AÔ\mb
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mc³ t_m¬kn\v Hcp ISemkpXp|p ssIamdn. ]gb
^vfnâv kwLmwK§fpsS Bhiy§Ä AwKoIcn¡m³ cm{Xn ]¯p
aWnhsc kabaps|¶p kqNn¸n¡p¶Xmbncp¶p B ISemkv. s]s«¶v
]£mLmXw h¶v t_m¬kv acn¨p. Pnw A½bvs¡m¸w tNÀ¶v AbmfpsS
s]«n s]mfn¨p. AXnÂ\n¶v k{XhmSIbv¡pÅ ]Ww AhÀ FSp¯p. Hcp
XpIÂ]mbv¡äpw s]«nbnÂ\n¶v Pn½n\p In«n. B kab¯v HcpkwLw
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ k{X¯nte¡v Cc¨pIbdn. X§Ä Dt±in¨Xv B
s]«nbnÂ\n¶pw Is|¯m³ AhÀ¡mbnÃ. IÌwkpImÀ h¶Xn\mÂ
sImÅ¡mÀ HmSnc£s¸«p. AXn\nSbn ]yq Hcp IpXncbpsS
Nhnt«äpacn¨p. Øes¯ aPnkvt{Säpw tUmIvSdpamb enhvsksbbmWv
Pnw X\n¡p In«nb XpIÂs¸mXn Gev]n¨Xv. tUmIvSdpsS kplr¯mWv
[\nI\mb {SntemWn {]`p. ISÂs¡mÅIfneqsS Xm³ k¼mZn¨
[\a{Xbpw Iym]vä³ ^vfnâv Hfn¸n¨ph¨ncn¡p¶ clkyZzo]nsâ
`q]Sambncp¶p B s]mXnbn D|mbncp¶Xv. "GXp
Ime¯p|mbhcnepw h¨v Gähpw càZmlnbmb'
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mc\mbncp¶p Iym]vä³ sP. ^vfnâv. shÌn³Uoknsâbpw
sXt¡ Atacn¡bnse bqtdm]y³ tImf\nIfpsSbpw XoctZi§fnÂ
ZoÀLImew AbmÄ sImÅIÄ \S¯n. _nÃn t_m¬kv, C{kmtbÂ
lm³Uvkv, tPm¬ knÂhÀ, ]yq, »mIvtUmKv, tSmw tamÀK³, tPmÀPv sadn
XpS§nbhcmbncp¶p ^vfnânsâ kwLmwK§Ä. sImÅapX apgph³
kzÀ®hpw shÅnbpam¡namän ^vfnâv Hcp Ico_nb³ Zzo]n Hfn¨ph¨p.
AXv Hfn¸n¡m³ AbmÄs¡m¸w t]mb Bdp \mhnIcn HcmÄt]mepw
Zzo]nÂ\n¶p XncnsIh¶ncp¶nÃ. Bdp t]scbpw sIm¶v ^vfnâv Xsâ
\n[nbpsS kvYm\w clkyam¡nh¨p. AXnsâ `q]Sw AbmÄ
kq£n¨ph¨p. acn¡p¶Xn\pap¼v AbmÄ AXv t_m¬kn\p ssIamdn.
^vfnânsâ acWt¯msS sImÅkwLw inYneambn. an¡hcpw
Cw¥|nte¡p aS§n. In«nb ]Wsams¡ AhÀ [qÀ¯Sn¨p. Hä¡me\mb
tPm¬ knÂhÀ am{Xw ]Ww _m¦nen«v {_nÌfnÂ
k{Xwkq£n¸pImc\mbn. `q]Sw In«nb t_m¬kv aäpÅhcnÂ\n¶p
c£s¸Sm³th|n Hfn¨pIgnªp. HSphn B \n[n AbmÄ¡pw
{]tbmP\s¸«nÃ.
Zzo]nsâ `q]Sw In«nbtXmsS tUm. enhvskbpw {SntemWnbpw Pn½ns\
H¸wIq«n \n[nth«bv¡p ]²Xnsbmcp¡n. [\nIs\¦nepw hmbmSnbmb
{SntemWnbmWv bm{Xbv¡pth| ]Ww apS¡nbXv. {_nÌfnse¯n
AbmÄ lnkv]mt\ymf F¶ I¸Âhm§n. Iym]vä³ kvtamsfäns\
I¸n¯m\mbn \nÝbn¨p. {SntemWnbpsS bYmÀ° Dt±iyw
\n[nbt\zjWamsW¶p a\Ênem¡n tPm¬ knÂhÀ DÄs¸sSbpÅ
]gb ^vfnâv kwLmwK§Ä ]ecpw lnkv]mt\ymfbnse \mhnIcmbn
tNÀ¶p. knÂhdmWv B \mhnI kwLs¯ XncsªSp¡m³
{SntemWnsb klmbn¨Xv. Iym]vä³ kvtamsfämIs« Ahcn Ahnizmkw
{]ISn¸n¨p. knÂhdnsâ Ffna\ndª s]cpamäw Pn½ns\ BIÀjn¨p.
AbmfpsS X\n\ndw ]pd¯phcm\ncn¡pIbmsW¶v Ah³
a\Ênem¡nbnÃ. Ico_nb\nte¡p I¸Â ]pds¸«p. e£yØm\w
ASp¡mdmbt¸mÄ tPm¬ knÂhÀ KqVmtemN\ \S¯p¶Xv Pnw
Hfnªp\n¶p tI«p. ^vfnâv kwLmwK§fÃm¯ \mhnIscbpw Xsâ ]
£¯ptNÀ¯v I¸Â ]nSns¨Sp¯v \n[n kz´am¡pIbmbncp¶p
knÂhdnsâ e£yw. \n[n Is|¯n¡gnªm I¸ense Hm^okÀamsc
apgph³ sImÃm\pw AbmÄ \nÝbn¨p. Pnw Cu hnhcw Iym]vä³
kvtamsfäns\bpw {SntemWnsbbpw tUm. enhvsksbbpw Adnbn¨p. I¸Â
\n[nZzo]ns\ kao]n¨bpS³ knÂhdnsâ Iq«mfnIÄ Icbnte¡p ]mªp.
CsXm¶padnbmsX Pn½pw Icbnse¯n. knÂhdnsâ Iq«mfnIÄ
AbmfpsS {i²m]qÀhamb ]²XnDt]£n¨v thKw \n[n Is|¯m\pÅ
]pd¸mSnembncp¶p. B sImÅ¡mcnÂ\n¶v AI¶ Pnw Im«nÂ
Hfn¨ncp¶p. X\ns¡m¸w tNcm¯ tSmans\ knÂhÀ sImÃp¶Xv Pnw
I|p. `bt¶mSnb Ah³ B Zzo]n aq¶p hÀjambn GIm´XbnÂ
Ignbp¶ s_³K®ns\ I|pap«n. ^vfnâv kwL¯nse AwKambncp¶p
Abmfpw. s_³K®pw Pn½pw kplr¯p¡fmbn.
I¸ense _m¡n sImÅ¡msc tXmev]n¨v {SntemWnbpw kwLhpw
Zzo]nse¯n Pn½ns\ kÔn¨p. Zzo]nepÅ sImÅ¡mÀ knÂhdnsâ
t\XrXz¯n Ahsc B{Ians¨¦nepw ^en¨nÃ. cm{XnbnÂ
s_³K®nsâ sIm¨phůn I¸ensâ ASps¯¯n Pnw AXnsâ
\¦qc¡bÀ apdn¨phn«p. ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ I¸enÂ
F¯mXncn¡m³th|nbmbncp¶p AXv. ]IÂsh«¯n Ah³ I¸enÂ
Ibdn. AhnsS BsI c|p sImÅ¡mtc D|mbncp¶pÅq. HcmÄ
acn¨ncp¶p. aZyelcnbn Abmsf sIm¶ A]c\pw apdnthäv
Ahi\mbncp¶p. C{kmtb lm³Uvkv F¶mbncp¶p AbmfpsS t]cv.
NnInÕ \ÂIm³ klmbn¨m ]Icambn I¸ens\ kpc£nXambn
Xoc¯Sp¸n¡m³ klmbw \ÂImsa¶v lm³Uvkv Pn½nt\mSp hmKvZm\w
sNbvXp. F¶m Icbv¡Sp¯t¸mÄ Pn½ns\ sImÃm\mWv AbmÄ
{ian¨Xv. Pn½nsâ shSntbäv lm³Uvkv acn¨p. kpc£nXambn I¸Â
Icbv¡Sp¸n¨v Zzo]nse Hfn¯mhf¯nte¡p \o§nb Pnw AhnsS
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcpsS ]nSnbnembXv a\Ênem¡nbncp¶nÃ. tPm¬
knÂhÀ Ahs\ _μnbm¡n. Ahs\ sImÃm³ aäp ISÂsImÅ¡mÀ
Bhiys¸s«¦nepw knÂhÀ AXn\p X¿mdmbnÃ. ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ c|p
hn`mKambn Xncnªv ]ckv]cw FXncmSm³ XpS§n¡gnªncp¶p.
knÂhdns\ aäpÅhÀ t\XrØm\¯p\n¶p ]pd¯m¡n. sImÅ¡mÀ
\n[nbpsS Øm\w Is|¯nsb¦nepw AhnSw iq\yambncp¶p. aq¶p
hÀjambn Zzo]n Ignbp¶ s_³K¬ t\ct¯Xs¶ AXv \o¡wsNbvXv
Hfn¸n¨ncp¶p. CtXmsS sImÅ¡mÀ knÂhdn\pw Pn½n\pw enhvskbv¡pw
K®n\psaXnsc Xncnªp. iàamb B{IaWambncp¶p XpSÀ¶v.
_p²nimenbmb knÂhÀ tUm. enhvskbv¡p ap¶n IogS§n.
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ ]cmPbs¸«tXmsS AhÀ \n[n hoXns¨Sp¯p. Ggp
e£w ]u|v hnehcp¶ kzÀ®hpw shÅnbpw Bbp[§fpambncp¶p
\n[nbn D|mbncp¶Xv. Xsâ ]¦pambn knÂhÀ c£s¸«p. ]n¶oSv
AbmÄ Hcp Idp¯hÀ¤¡mcnbpsam¯v PohnXamcw`n¨p. s_³K¬
In«nb ]Ww [qÀ¯Sn¨p XoÀ¯p. Iym]vä³ kvtamfäv tPmenbnÂ\n¶p
hncan¨p. [\nI\mb Pnw kaql¯nse am\y]Zhnbnte¡pbÀ¶p.
bqtdm]y³ \mKcnIXbnÂ\n¶p _lpZqcw AIsebpÅ Hcp hnP\
Zzo]pw temIt_m[sam¶panÃmsX AhntS¡pt]mbn
Xo£vWm\p`h§fneqsS ]mIs¸«v ]IzXbmÀPn¨p hfcp¶ Hcp Ip«nbpsS
PohnXhpamWv "{SjÀ sFe³Un'Â hmb\¡msc A`napJoIcn¡p¶Xv.
Pn½ns\¶t]mse hmb\¡mÀ¡pw A]cnNnXamWv B Zzo]pw AhntS¡p
`mKyw tXSnt¸mIp¶hcn Hcp hn`mK¯nsâ Ccp| temIhpw.
[À½m[À½ {]iv\§Ä B A]cnNnXXz¯n A´À`hn¨ncn¡p¶p. Pnw
]dbp¶ IYbpsS cq]¯nemWv t\mhensâ BJym\w. Ahsâ
hfÀ¨bpsS IYbmWXv, AXpsIm|pXs¶ Ahsâ BßIYbpw.
]mhs¸« k{Xw\S¯n¸pImcpsS aI\mb Pnw Zpxkz]v\§fpsS Ip«nbmWv.
kz]v\§fn Xs¶ th«bmSnbn«pÅ Hcp cq]s¯¸än Hcp kμÀ`¯nÂ
Pnw ]dbp¶p|v. sImSp¦mäSn¡p¶ cm{XnIfnÂ, IS¯ncIÄ Xocs¯
sN¦p¯nepw IS¸Åbnse KplmapJ¯pw BªSn¨p NnXdpt¼mÄ,
Hcmbncw cq]§fnÂ, Hcmbncw `oIc`mh§fn Xm³ Abmsf I|n«ps|
¶v Pnw ]dbp¶p. Hä¡me\mb AbmfpsS ImgvNbn Pnw \Sp§n.
apXnÀ¶hcpsS temIs¯¡pdn¨pÅ Ip«nIfpsS ImgvNbmWv Pn½nsâ
Zpxkz]v\w. Xsâ \nb{´W¯n\pa¸pdapÅ B temIhpambn
s]mcp¯s¸«v hfcpIbmWv XpSÀ¶pÅ PohnX¯n Pnw. Ah\p In«nb
`q]Sw apXnÀ¨bnte¡pw apXnÀ¶hcpsS temIs¯
[À½{]iv\§fnte¡pw \bn¡p¶ `q]SwIqSnbmWv. \n[ntXSensâ
IYbnse shdpw BJymXmhÃ, B {]hÀ¯\¯nsâ KXnhnKXnIÄ
amäp¶ apJyIYm]m{XwXs¶bmWv Pnw. Ahsâ BßIYmJym\w 18þmw
\qäm|nse Cw¥|nse kmaqlnIhyhØbpsSbpw
km¼¯nI{Ia¯nsâbpw aqeyk¦ev]¯nsâbpw BJym\wIqSnbmWv.
tImf\nIÄ Øm]n¨psIm|v [\mVyXbnte¡p \o§pIbmbncp¶p
18þmw \qäm|nse Cw¥|v. Gjybnsebpw B{^n¡bnsebpw
Atacn¡bnsebpw tImf\nIÄ Cw¥|n\p \n[nZzo]pIfmbncp¶p. B
Ncn{X bmYmÀ°yw "{SjÀ sFe³Un'Â {]Xn^en¡p¶p. ]Wambncp¶p
B kaql¯nsâ B[mcw. kmlknIamb I¸Âbm{XIfpw
AÚmXXoc§fpw ]W¯nsâ `mKyw km{amPy¯n\p \ÂIn. P·\m
[\nIcmb am\ycpw `mKy¯m [\nIcmb am\ycpw
( B kaql¯n cq]s¸«ncp¶p. c|p hn`mK§fpw "
{SjÀ sFe³Un'ep|v. tUm. enhvskbpw {SntemWnbpw BZy
hn`mK¡mcmWv. knÂhÀ DÄs¸sSbpÅ ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ c|mas¯
Xchpw. s_³KWpw knÂhdpw c|p hn`mK§sfbpwIpdn¨v t\mhenÂ
kwkmcn¡p¶pap|v. ]Ws¯ c|pXc¯n hneaXn¡p¶hcmWv
c|pXc¡mcpw. B `n¶hn`mK§Ä X½nepÅ {]Xybimkv{X]camb
kwLÀjw "{SjÀ sFe³UnÂ' \ndªp \n¡p¶p. \n[ntXSn
[\nIcmIp¶Xn\v X§fptSXmbhn[¯n {ian¡p¶ Cu c|p
hn`mK§fpsSbpw at\m\ne H¶pXs¶bmWv þþþ adp\mSpIfnse
[\t¯mSpÅ BÀ¯n. AXv km{amPyXz¯nsâbpw 18þmw \qäm|nse
bqtdm¸n hnIkn¨ph¶ apXemfn¯¯nsâbpw BÀ¯nbmWv. ImdÂ
amÀIvknsâbpw {^oZvdnjv GwKÂknsâbpw `mjbn ]dªm "\áamb
kzmÀ°w.' \n[ntXSensâ kmlkIYbneqsS Ìoh³k¬ \nÀhln¡p¶
sFdWn \ndª hnaÀi\amsW¶p ImWm³ kq£vaamb I®pIÄ¡p
Ignbpw. AXneqsS [À½s¯ kw_Ôn¨ Ht«sd {]iv\§ÄIqSn
t\mhen At±lw DbÀ¯p¶p|v. hnP\amb Zzo]pw AhnSs¯
kmlkPohnXhpw B {]iv\§fnte¡mWv hmb\¡msc \bn¡p¶Xv.
\nÀP\amb hnZqcZzo]v Hcp an¯pt]mse Cw¥njv kmlnXy¯nÂ
IS¶ph¶Xv Um\nb Uot^mbpsS "tdm_n³k¬
{Iqtkm'(1719)tbmSpIqSnbmWv. \nKqVhpw
a\pjykv]Àita¡m¯Xpamb Zzo]pIsf¸änbpÅ IYIfn {`aw
krjvSn¡m³ AXp ImcWambn. Ìoh³k¬sâ \mhnIcpw A¯csamcp
Zzo]nemWv F¯nt¨cp¶Xv. ""B Zzo]v DbÀ¶ph¶Xn\ptijw AhnsS
BZyambn \¦qcanSp¶h³ X§fmsW¶p tXm¶n¨p''sh¶v Pnw ]dbp¶p.
{IqtkmbpsS amXrIbnepÅ Ht«sd Zzo]mJym\§Ä Cw¥njv
kmlnXy¯n ImWmw. BÀ.Fw. _essâ³ , sP.Fw.
_mcn , F¨v.Pn. shÂkv , hneyw
tlmÄUnMv , tPm¬ ^uÄkv
XpS§nbhscÃmw GsX¦nepw Xc¯n {Iqtkm amXrI ]n
´pSÀ¶hcmWv. Cämenb³ t\mhenÌmb Dws_Àt¯m Ft¡mbpsS "Z
sFe³Uv Hm^v Z tU _nt^mdpw' Cu KW¯nÂs¸Sp¶p.
"Fsâ BZy]pkvXIw' F¶ D]\ymk¯n "{SjÀ sFe³Un'\p
{]tNmZ\taInb Fgp¯pImsc¸än Ìoh³k¬ ]dbp¶p|v. Um\nbÂ
Uot^m, FUvKÀ Ae³t]m, hmjnMvS¬ CÀhnMv, ISÂs¡mÅ¡msc¸än
FgpXnb Iym]vä³ tPm¬k¬ A§s\ NneÀ. \n[nZzo]nsâ
Nn{XW¯n Uot^mbpsS "tdm_n³k¬ {Iqtkm'bpw
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcpsS hnhcW¯n Iym]vä³ tPm¬ksâ "lnÌdn Hm^v
Z s\mt«mdnbkv ss]tdävkp' amWv kzm[o\X sNep¯nbXv. hnP\amb
Zzo]v ]Ým¯eamhpt¼mÄ BJym\¯nÂ\n¶v _mlytemIhpw Imehpw
\o¡wsN¿s¸Sp¶p. \nÝnXhpw ]cnanXhpamb ØeIme§fnte¡pw
GXm\pw IYm]m{X§fnte¡pw am{Xambn BJym\w Npcp§p¶p.
_mlyamb ØeIme§fnÂ\n¶p `n¶amb Cu GIm´amb
ØeImeam\w kmlknIXbpsS am{Xaà [mÀanI kμnKv[XIfpsSIqSn
cwKthZnbmWv.
tdm_n³k¬ {IqtkmbpsS hnP\Zzo]nÂ\n¶v Pn½nsâ Zzo]v
hyXykvXambn¯ocp¶Xv Ht«sd kμnKv[XIfmemWv. GIm´amb
Zzo]nse¯p¶ \mbI³, AhnsS AbmÄ \S¯p¶ kmlk§Ä, HSphnÂ
\m«nte¡p aS¡wþþþCu "{IqtkmamXrI'bmWv Ìoh³kWpw ]n
´pScp¶Xv. Uot^m {IqtkmbneqsS Nn{XoIcn¨Xv IncmXXz¯n\ptaÂ
(bqtdm]y³) kwkvImcw t\Sp¶ hnPbambncp¶p. {Iqtkmsbt¸mse
hnPbnbmb km{amPya\pjy\Ã Pnw tlm¡n³kv. Xsâ Zzo]nÂ\n¶v
{Iqtkm t\SnsbSp¯ ]mT§Ä hnÚm\¯nsâbpw
ITn\m²zm\¯nsâbpamWv. Pnw t\Sp¶XmIs«, kwibmkv]Zamb
Imcy§fpw. Znhmkz]v\§fn {]Xy£s¸«ncp¶ Zzo]nÂ\n¶v
bmYmÀ°y¯nsâ Zzo]nte¡mWv Ah³ F¯p¶Xv. AhnsS Ah³ ]Tn¨
]mT§fn kμnKv[XIfp|v. F´p hnesImSp¯pw \n[n kz´am¡m³
{ian¡p¶ am\yÀ¡pw Aam\yÀ¡panSbnemWv Ah³. {IqtkmbpsS
{]hÀ¯\§sf AbmfpsS hnPbw km[qIcn¡p¶p. Xsâ
`mKt[b¯nsâ bPam\³ AbmÄXs¶bmWv. Pn½nsâ hnPb¯nÂ
A§s\sbmcwianÃ. km[qIcn¡mhp¶ hnPbaà AXv. `uXnIamb
t\«wsIm|v \n[nZzo]nse [mÀanI kμnKv[X ]cnlcn¡m\mhp¶nÃ.
[À½s¯ kw_Ôn¨ Ht«sd A\nÝnXXz§Ä "{SjÀ sFe³UnÂ'
\ndªp\n¡p¶p|v. Cu kμnKv[XbpsS amXrIbmWv temMv tPm¬
knÂhÀ F¶ IYm]m{Xw.
Hcp]t£, "{SjÀ sFe³Un'se bYmÀ° \mbI³ knÂhdmWv.
Iym]vä³ ^vfnânsâ sImÅ¡¸ense c|ma\mbncp¶ B Hä¡mes\
^vfnâpt]mepw `b¶ncp¶p. Iym]vä³ ^vfnâv F¶pt]cpÅ Hcp X¯sb
tXmfn Npa¶p \S¡p¶ knÂhÀ Cw¥njn ]n¶oSp|mb
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcmb IYm]m{X§fpsSsbÃmw krjvSnbn kzm[o\X
sNep¯nbn«p|v. hncp²aqey§fpsS kwtbmKamWv knÂhÀ.
sImebmfnbpw h©I\pamWv AbmÄ; AtXkabwXs¶ [oc\pw
\nÀ`b\pw _p²nimenbpw. Hcphi¯v hnt[bXzhpw
B{inXat\m`mhhpapÅ AbmÄ adphi¯v A{IamkànbpsS
tI{μamWv. Cc«hyànXzapÅ/kμnKv[hyànXzapÅ IYm]m{X§fpsS
krjvSnbn ]n¡me Fgp¯pImÀ¡v amXrIbmWv Ìoh³k¬.
tUmIvSÀ sP¡nfpw anÌÀ sslUpamWv AXnsâ anI¨ DZmlcWw. Cu
IYm]m{X¯nsâ BZncq]amWv temMv tPm¬ knÂhÀ. kzoUnjv
Fgp¯pImc\mb t_ym¬ emÀk¬ tPm¬ knÂhdnsâ
PohNcn{X¯nsâ cq]¯n Hcp t\mhÂXs¶ FgpXnbn«p|v.

a\pjyhyànXz¯nse Cc« kz`mh¯nsâ aqÀ¯ocq]amb knÂhÀ F¶

{]Xn\mbI³ IYm´y¯n AXnPohn¡p¶p. X\n¡p In«nb
\n[n¸¦pambn c£s¸« knÂhdneqsS Ìoh³k¬ HmÀ½n¸n¡p¶Xv F
´mhmw? AbmfpsS AXnPoh\¯neqsS Ìoh³k¬ [mÀ½nIXsb
kw_Ôn¨ Xsâ kμnKv[ ZÀi\amWv AhXcn¸n¡p¶Xv.
"`mcX]cyS\'¯n Ip«nIrjvWamcmcv Aiz°mamhns\¸änbpw
Zptcym[\s\¸änbpw \S¯nb \nco£W§Ä HmÀ½hcp¶p. HcpXcw
Cc«hyànXzambncp¶p Zptcym[\tâXv. A[nImtcÑbpsS BÄcq]amb
AbmÄ Xsâ adphyànXz¯n cmPmsh¶\nebn [À½njvT\pamWv.
Zptcym[\\v almibXzaps|¶v amcmcv \nco£n¨Xv A§s\bmWv.
"a\pjy\nepÅ A[nImchmRvObpsS aqÀ¯o`mhamb Zptcym[\³ B
Zzm]cbpK¯n am{Xw Pohn¨ Hcp hyànbÃ. a\pjykapZmb¯nÂ
F¶pw Pohn¨psIm|ncn¡p¶ imizXmßmhmWv. Abmsf \n§Ä
Nnet¸mÄ ZpjvSs\¶p hnfnt¨¡pw. F¶m AbmfmWv Ct¶mfw
temINcn{Xs¯ \bn¨pt]m¶Xpw \bn¨psIm|ncn¡p¶Xpw F¶v amcmcv
FgpXn. c|p apJ§fpÅ tPm¬ knÂhdpw Cu AÀ°¯n Hcp
hyànbÃ; AXnPohn¨ AbmÄ Hcp imizXmßmhmWv.
A[nImtcÑbpsSbpw h©\bpsSbpw F´n\pwt]m¶ [ocXbpsSbpw
imizXmßmhv. [À½njvTsc¶p tXm¶n¡p¶ ]£¯ns\Xnsc Iem]w
Iq«nb ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcn aämÀ¡pw AXnPohn¡m\mbnÃ. Zzo]n AhÀ
Dt]£n¨p t]m¶hÀ AXnPohn¡psa¶v Dd¸panÃ. F¶m knÂhÀ
AXnPohn¡pIXs¶ sN¿p¶p. AXv knÂhÀ F¶ IYm]m{Xw am{XaÃ,
a\pjy{]IrXnbpsS Hcp khntij`mKw IqSnbmWv. ]mÞhk´XnIÄ
DÄs¸sSbpÅhsc Ccp«n Iq«s¡mesNbvX Aiz°mamhns\
NncRvPohnbm¡n Iev]n¨ hymk`mh\sb hymJym\n¨
Ip«n¡rjvWamcmcv B IYm]m{Xs¯ ]I F¶ a\pjyhnImc¯nsâ
\nXy{]XoIambmWp I|Xv. "]I, ]I F¶p ]dbp¶
a\pjyim]ap|tÃm, AXnsâ {]Xn\n[nbÃmsX asäm¶paà Cu
sNIp¯m³. AXns\, Ahs\ Ft¸mgpw FhnsSbpw
IcpXnbncp¶psImÅpI' F¶ Xm¡oXmWv B
NncRvPohnIev]\bnepÅsX¶v amcmcv ]dªp. hymksâ
CXnlmkam\¯nesænepw tPm¬ knÂhdnsâ AXnPoh\¯neqsS
Ìoh³k¬ `mh\sNbvXXpw a\pjy\nse B A]chyànXzs¯bmWv.
Ip«nIsf ckn¸n¡ms\gpXnb \n[nth«¡YbpsS
AÛpXctkm]mk\bnÂ\n¶v a\pjy{]IrXnbpsS ZzμzmßIXsbbpw
[mÀ½nIXbpsS D`bkz`mhs¯bpw km{amPyXz¯nsâ sImXnIsfbpw
Ipdn¨pÅ At_m[]qÀhamb BhnjvImcambn "{SjÀ sFe³Uv'
amdp¶XmbmWv \mw ImWp¶Xv. ¢mÊn¡pIÄ A§s\bmWv. Ah
]mcmbW¯nsâ At\Iw km[yXIÄ Xpd¶nSp¶p. Ìoh³k¬sâ
km{amPyXz "sPânÂam³amÀ' (P·\m am\ycpw `mKy¯m am\ycpw)
tXSnb hnZqcZzo]pIfnse \n[nIÄ ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcptSXp
am{Xambncp¶nà \½ptSXpt]mepÅ
kwkvIrXnIfptSXpam{Xambncp¶psh¶mWv Ncn{Xw ]Tn¸n¡p¶Xv.

tUm. ]n.sI. cmPtiJc³

\n[n-Zzo-]nsâ `q]Sw
IYm]m{X]cnNbw

Pnw lm¡n³kv
{SjÀ sFeânse tI{μIYm]m{Xamb Iuamc¡mc³. CbmfpsS
BJym\¯neqsSbmWv {SjÀ sFeânse IY A\mhcWw sN¿p¶Xv.
"AUvand s_³thm' F¶ k{Xw \S¯n¸pImcsâ aI³.
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mc\mb Iym]vä³ ^vfnânsâ \nesb¡pdn¨dnbmhp¶
Iym]vä\n (_nÃn t_m¬kv) \n¶v clkyhnhc§fS§p¶ am¸pw
_mKpw e`n¡p¶Xv Pnw lm¡n³kn\mWv. Pn½nsâ _p²n]qÀhamb
{]hÀ¯\amWv \n[ntXSnt¸mIp¶ kwL¯nsâ hnPb¯n\v
ASnØm\w. bm{XmkwL¯nse Iym_n³ t_mbv Øm\amWv Pn½n\p
e`n¨Xv.

Iym]vä³ (_nÃn t_m¬kv)

ISÂs¡mÅ¡mc³ Iym]vä³ ^vfnânsâ klmbnbpw
klbm{XnI\pambncp¶p. \n[nZzo]nse¯m\pÅ hgnbpw aäpw Iym]vä³
^vfnân\ptijw CbmfpsS ssIhiambncp¶p. Cbmsf tXSnsb¯p¶ aäp
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ Iym]väs\ _n F¶p hnfn¡ps¶¦nepw AXv
asämcmfmsW¶mWv Iym]vä³ ]dbp¶Xv.

tUmIvSÀ enhvkn
Pnw lm¡n³knsâ IpSpw_kplr¯mb tUmIvSÀ. H¸w am\y\pw
aPnkvt{SäpwIqSnbmWv. \n[n At\zjW¯nte¡v Pn½ns\ \bn¡p¶Xpw
XpSÀ¶p \S¡p¶ kw`h§fn tUmIvSsd¶ ]cnKW\ ]e
kwLÀjkμÀ`§sf Abhphcp¯m\mbn cNbnXmhv D]tbmKn¡pIbpw
sN¿p¶ IYm]m{Xw. bm{Xbnepw tUmIvSÀ Øm\wXs¶.

{SntemWn {]`p
tUmIvSÀ enhvknbpsS kplr¯v. ITn\lrZb\mb Ct±l¯nsâ
XmXv]cyamWv \n[nth«bv¡p ]n¶n {]hÀ¯n¨Xv. bm{Xbv¡mhiyamb
I¸epw aäp kuIcy§fpw FÃmw kÖoIcn¨Xv {]`p {SntemWnbmWv.
BPm\p_mlp, BdSn Dbcw. \nc´camb bm{Xbm Nph¶ apJw,
Idp¯]pcnI§ÄþþF¶n§s\bmWv t\mhenÌv {SntemWnsb
hc¨pIm«p¶Xv. bm{Xbnse AUvandÂØm\amWv {SntemWn¡pÅXv.
temMv tPm¬ knÂhÀ
{_ntÌmfnÂ\n¶v {SntemWn {]`p I¸ente¡p Is|¯p¶ hr²\mb
\mhnI³. Hä¡me\mb CbmÄ¡v I¸en ]mNI¡mcsâ Øm\amWv.
hmkvXh¯n CbmÄ Iym]vä³ ^vfnânsâ \n[ntXSp¶
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mc³Xs¶bmWv. KqVmtemN\bneqsS bm{Xsb
XIÀ¡p¶Xpw Iem]w D|m¡p¶Xn\pw CbmÄ t\XrXzw \ÂIp¶p.
\n[nZzo]nse Ip¶mb kvss]¥mÊnsâ t]cnÂXs¶ k{Xw \S¯p¶
CbmÄ AXym{Klnbmb [\nI\mWv.

Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv
\n[ntXSnt¸mIp¶ lnkv]mt\ymf I¸ensâ I¸n¯m³. ap³tIm]nbpw
Xpf¨pIbdp¶ t\m«t¯mSpwIqSnb BÄ. bm{Xbn DS\ofw {SntemWn
{]`phpambn kwLÀj¯n GÀs¸Sp¶p. XnIª kwLmSI\mb
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃänsâ ]mShw sIm|mWv ISÂs¡mÅ¡msc
t\cnSm\pÅ Iuiew Pn½nsâ kwL§Ä t\Sn FSp¡p¶Xv.

»mIv tUmKv , ]yq

^vfnânsâ \n[ntXSn \S¡p¶ ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ. »mIv tUmKn\v
sImÅ¡mÀ¡nSbn c|p hncepIfpw ]yqhn\v ImgvNbpw \jvSs¸«ncp¶p.

tSm dn{Uq¯v, tPm¬l|À, dn¨mÀUv tPmbvkv

\n[nZzo]nte¡pÅ bm{Xbn {SntemWnsb A\pKan¡p¶ AbmfpsS
tkhIÀ.

anÌÀ Um³kv
IÌwkv Hm^okÀ

anÌÀ Btcm
lnkv]mt\ymf I¸ense aZy]\mb BZy Hm^okÀ.

C{ktb lm³kv, tPm_v B³tUgvk¬

I¸ÂsImÅ¡mcnÂs¸Sp¶ BfpIÄ.

tNmZymhen
* knÂhdns\ BZyw I|t¸mÄXs¶ Pnw kwibn¡m³ ImcWsa´v?
* B¸nÄ\nd¨ ho¸ F§s\bmWv IYbn Hcp hgn¯ncnhmIp¶Xv?
* temMv tPm¬ knÂhdns\¸änbpÅ \n§fpsS A`n{]mbsa´v?
* s_³KWnsâ ]¦ns\¡pdn¨v hniZoIcn¡pI.
* klbm{XnIcpsS {]iwkbv¡pw AwKoImc¯n\pw Pnw ]m{Xamhp¶p|v.
F¶n«pw, ho|pw \n[nZzo]nte¡v t]mIphm³ Pnw B{Kln¡p¶tXbnÃ.
Pn½n\v Zzo]nt\mSp shdp¸ptXm¶m³ F´mhmw ImcWw?
1

\n[nZzo]nte¡pÅ R§fpsS kmlknIbm{Xsb¡pdn¨p hnkvXcn¨v

FgpXWsa¶v Ft¶mSv Bhiys¸«Xv {SntemWn{]`phpw tUmIvSÀ
enhvknbpw aäpamWv. AhnsS C\nbpw Ipsd \n[n _m¡nbp|v. FÃmw
hniZambn ]dbmw. A¶v Fsâ Aѳ "AUvand s_³s_m' F¶
k{X¯nsâ \S¯n¸pImc\mbncp¶p. A¡me¯v hr²\mb Hcp \mhnI³
AhnsS Xmakn¨ncp¶p. AbmfpsS Ihnfn Hcp henb
apdn¸mSp|mbncp¶p.
B Znhkw F\n¡v Ct¸mgpw \à HmÀ½bp|v. XfÀ¶v Ahi\mbmWv
AbmÄ k{X¯n\p ap¼nse¯nbXv. IqsS ssIh|nbn hensbmcp
s]«nbpw D|mbncp¶p. ZrVKm{X\pw ZoÀLImb\pambncp¶p AbmÄ. apSn
NpaÂhsc \o|pInS¶p. sNfn]pc| \oet¡m«mWv AbmÄ
[cn¨ncp¶Xv. ssI Iodn¸dnªncp¶p. AbmÄ Npäpw t\m¡n
Nqfwhnfn¡pIbpw, ]et¸mgpw ]mSmdpÅ Hcp ]gb ]m«v ]mSpIbpw
sNbvXp.
N¯hsâ s]«nta ]Xn\©pt]Àþþ
Hcp Ip¸n dw tbm tlm tlm...
AbmÄ hSnsIm|v hmXnen X«nhnfn¨p. Aѳ hmXn Xpd¶t¸mÄ
BKX³ Hcp ¥mkv dw Bhiys¸«p. kmhImiw dw IpSn¨psIm|v AbmÄ
NpäpapÅ ]mdap\¼pIfnte¡pw Xmsg BªSn¡p¶
IS¯ncIfnte¡pw t\m¡n\n¶p.
"Cu ]cnkcw F\n¡v hfsc CjvSs¸«p.' AbmÄ ]dªp. F¶n«v Ft
´m BtemNn¨tijw tNmZn¨p: "ChnsS CS]mSpImÀ [mcmfw
hcmdpt|m?'
"hfsc Ipd¨pt]À am{Xw.' Aѳ ]d-ªp.
"icn. F¶m F\n¡p ]änb Øew CXpXs¶. Fsâ s]«nbpw aäpw
FSp-¡m³ H¶p klm-bn-¡-Ww. Rm³ Ipd-¨p-Imew ChnsS X§m³ Xocp-
am-\n-¨p. F\n¡p th|Xv d½pw ]¶n-bn-d-¨n-bpw tImgn-ap-«-bpw. CXnte IS-
¶p-t]mIp¶ I¸-ep-IÄ F\n¡p \nco-£n-¡-Ww. Fs¶ \n§Ä Iym]vä³
F¶p hnfn-¨m aXn.' A{Xbpw]dªv aq¶p-\mev kzÀ®\mW-b-§Ä
AbmÄ FSp¯p hnX-dn.
\mhnIsâ kwkmcw ]cp¡\mbncp¶p. hkv{X§fmIs«, apjnªp
IodnbXpw. F¶mepw AbmfpsS a«pw s]cpamähpw Hcp
Iym]vätâXpt]mse tXm¶n¨p. AbmÄ s]mXpth \nÈ_vZ\mbncp¶p.
 Iym]vä³ FÃm Znhkhpw ssIbnsemcp sSekvtIm¸pambn DÄ¡Sensâ
Xoct¯m taSpIfntem Im¯p\n¡pw. sshIpt¶cambm hocyapÅ
d½pw shÅhpw IpSn¡pw. F¶pw \S¯w Ignªph¶m hà \mhnI\pw
AXphgn h¶ncpt¶m F¶v AbmÄ Xnc¡pambncp¶p. X\n¡p
Iq«n\p]änb hÃhtcbpambncn¡pw Iym]vä³ At\zjn¡p¶sX¶mWv
R§Ä IcpXnbXv. ]t£, A§s\bsöv ]n¶oSv R§Ä¡p
a\Ênembn. GsX¦nepw \mhnI³ k{X¯n Xmak¯n\p h¶mÂ
AbmÄ Hfnªp\n¶v kkq£vaw ho£n¡pambncp¶p. Hcp Znhkw
Iym]vä³ Fs¶ ASp¯p hnfn¨p ]dªp: "Hcp Hä¡me³ \mhnI³
ChnsS hcp¶pt|m F¶v \nco£n¡Ww. Abmsf I|mÂ
hnhcadnbn¡pIbpw thWw. \n\¡p Rm³ Hmtcm amkhpw Hcp
shÅn\mWbw k½m\ambn Xcp¶Xmbncn¡pw.'
AXn-\p-tijw Hä-¡m-epÅ \mhn-I-³ Fs¶ th«-bm-Sm³ XpS§n. sImSp-
¦m-än sI«nSw Cf-Ip-Ibpw IS¡-c-bn Xnc-am-e-IÄ BÀ¯-e-bv¡p-
Ibpw sN¿p-t¼mÄ AbmÄ ]e cq]hpw ssIs¡m|v Fs¶ `b-s¸-Sp-¯n.
ap«n\p Xmsg\n¶v AsÃ-¦n Acbv¡p Xmsg\n¶v B Imep-IÄ apdn-s¨-Sp-
¯-Xp-t]mse tXm¶n. B cq]w Rm³ t]mIp-¶n-S-s¯ms¡ Fs¶ ]n´p-
SÀ¶p. Hä-¡m-epÅ B \mhn-Is\ Rm³ Iym]väs\-¡mfpw `b-s¸-«p.
cm{Xn aq¡äw IpSn¨pIgn-ªm Iym]vä³ ]gb IS¸m«pIÄ ]mSm³
XpS-§pw. aäpÅhÀ AXp {i²n-¡-W-sa¶v AbmÄ¡p \nÀ_-Ô-am-bn-cp-¶p.
FÃmw `oI-c-kw-`-h-§Ä þþ sImÅbpw sImebpw sImSp-¦mäpw bp²-hpwþþ
Npäp-ap-Å-hÀ Abm-fpsS hnh-cWwtI«v `b-s¸«p hnd-¨p. B IY tI«-h-
cmcpw ]n¶oSv k{X-¯n hcn-I-bn-söv AÑ\p tXm¶n. ]t£, Rm³
AXn-t\mSp tbmPn-¨n-Ã. AbmÄ ]d-bp-¶Xp tIÄ¡m³ Bfp-IÄ¡v CjvS-
am-bn-cp-¶p.
Iym]vä-³ BgvN-I-f-Ã, amk-§-tfmfw k{X-¯n Xma-kn-¨p. AbmÄ
AÑs\ Gev]n¨ ]W-saÃmw XoÀ¶pIgn-ªn-cp-¶p. ]t£, IqSp-X tNmZn-
¡m³ AÑ\p ss[cy-ap|m-bn-Ã. At¸m-sgms¡ AbmÄ D¨-¯n aq¡p
Noäp-Ibpw AÑs\ `b-s¸-Sp-¯p¶a«n Xpdn¨pt\m¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp. B
`b-¸m-Sm-bn-cn-¡Ww AÑsâ A´yw s]s«-¶m-hm³ Imc-W-sa¶v F\n¡p
tXm¶n.
R§tfm-sSm¸w Xma-kn-¡p¶ Ime¯v Iym]vä³ Hcn-¡epw hkv{Xw amdn-
bn-cp-¶n-Ã. Ft¸mgpw ]gIn Iodn-b, hr¯n-sI« B tIm«p-am{Xw. AbmÄ
Fs´-¦nepw Fgp-Xp-¶Xv I|n-«n-Ã. Hcp I¯p-t]mepw In«n-bn-cp-¶p-an-Ã.
ASp-¯p-Å-h-tcmtS hÃ-t¸mgpw kwkm-cn-¡q. AXpw dw IpSn¨p-Ign-ªmÂ
am{Xw. Abm-fpsS henb s]«n-bn F´m-sW¶v BÀ¡pw Adn-bn-Ãm-bn-cp-
¶p.
AÑsâ BtcmKyw tami-ambn h¶p. Hcp Znhkw sshIp-t¶cw tUmIvSÀ
enhvkn AÑs\ ImWm-s\-¯n. `£WwIgnªv tUmIvSÀ Hcp ss]¸v hen-
¨p-sIm|n-cp-¶p. Rm³ At¸mÄ IqsS-bp|m-bn-cp-¶p. hr¯n-bpÅ
hkv{Xw[cn-¨, \¶mbn s]cp-am-dp¶, kpap-J-\mb tUmIvSÀ Hcp hi-¯v.
aq¡äw dw IpSn-¨v, apjnª thj-t¯msS, {]mIr-X-\mb \mhn-I³ adp-h-i-
¯v. s]s«¶v Iym]vä³ Xsâ ]g-b -]m«v D¨-¯n ]mSn:
""N¯-hsâ s]«n-ta ]Xn-\-©p-t]Àþ
Hcp Ip¸n dw tbm tlm tlm...''
tUmIvSÀ enhvknsb B ]m«v kv]Àin-¨n-Ã. tUmIvSÀ tIm]-t¯msS
Iym]väs\ H¶p t\m¡pIam{Xw sNbvXp. At±lw hmX-¯n-\pÅ ]pXnb
NnIn-Õ-sb-¡p-dn¨p kwkm-cn-¨p-sIm|n-cn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. s]s«¶v
Iym]vä³ tai-ta iàn-bn CSn-¨p. "an|m-Xn-cn-¡q' F¶v hnfn¨p]d-
ªp.
"Ft¶m-SmtWm?' tUmIvSÀ tNmZn-¨p.
"AsX.' Iym]vä³ Dd-¸n¨p ]d-ªp.
"F\n¡v Ht¶ ]d-bm-\p-Åq. \n§Ä Cu coXn-bn aZy-]m\w XpSÀ-¶mÂ
Hcp hr¯n-sI« sX½mSn sshImsX Cu `qan-bn CÃm-Xm-Ipw. A¡mcyw
F\n-¡p-d-¸m-Wv.'
AXv tIÄ¡|Xmakw Iym]vä³ `b-¦c tZjy-t¯msS NmSn-sb-gp-t¶-äp.
F¶n«v Hcp I¯n hen-s¨-Sp¯v tUmIvS-dpsS t\À¡-Sp-¯p.
tUmIvSÀ A\-§n-bn-Ã. AbmÄ im´-`mhw ssIhn-SmsX, ià-amb `mj-
bn ]dªp: "\nsâ I¯n t]m¡-än-en-Sp-¶-XmWp \Ã-Xv. CsÃ-¦nÂ
cmhnse \ns¶ Rm³ Xq¡n-te-äpw. Rm³ tUmIvSÀ am{X-a-Ã, Hcp aPn-
kvt{SäpIqSn-bm-Wv. AXv HmÀ½-bn-cn-¡-s«.'
Cu ap¶-dn-bn-t¸m-Sp-IqSn tUmIvSÀ IpXn-c-¸p-d¯pIbdn Øewhn«p.
Iym]vä³ s]s«¶v im´-\m-bn. Znh-k-§-tfmfw AbmÄ A§s\ im´-
\mbn ImW-s¸-«p.
AXn\nsS Fsâ AÑsâ BtcmKyw IqSpXÂ tamiamhm³
XpS§nbncp¶p. k{Xw \S¯ns¡m|pt]mtI| D¯chmZnXzw an¡hmdpw
Fsâbpw A½bpsSbpw Npaenembn.
Hcp Znhkw cmhnse Iym]vä³ ]Xnhpt]mse ]pd¯pt]mb kabw.
Rm³ {]`mX`£Ww X¿mdm¡p¶ Xnc¡nembncp¶p. s]s«¶v Hcp
A]cnNnX³ AIt¯¡v IS¶ph¶p. Hät\m«¯n Hcp \mhnI\msW¶p
tXm¶pIbnÃ. AbmfpsS apJw hmSnbncp¶p. CSt¯ ssI¡v c|p
hncepIÄ CÃmbncp¶p.
AbmÄ dw Bhiys¸«v taibpsS ASp¯ncp¶p. Rm\Xv FSp¡m³
XpS§nbt¸mÄ Fs¶ ASp¯phnfn¨p tNmZn¨p: "Fsâ Iq«pImc\mb
_n ChnsSbmtWm Xmakw?'
"\n§fpsS Iq«pImc³ _nÃns\ F\n¡dnbnÃ. F¶m Hcp Iym]vä³
ChnsS Xmakn¡p¶p|v.'
"AbmfpsS Ihnfn Hcp apdn¸mSpt|m?'
"D|v.'
"AbmÄ FhnsSbmWpÅXv?'
"]pd¯p \S¡m³t]mbXmWv. DSt\ F¯pw.' Rm³ ]dªp.
"GXp hgn¡mWv AbmÄ t]mbXv?' A]cnNnX³ A£a\mbn.
"Fsâ Iq«p-Im-c³ _nÃnsâ Btcm-Ky-¯n\v.' F¶p ]dªv AbmÄ dw
Imen-bm-¡n.
F¶m AbmfpsS apJ¯v kt´mj`mhw H«pw D|mbncp¶nÃ. Rm³
]pd¯nd§m³ t\m¡nbt¸mÄ AbmÄ Fs¶ XSªp: "th|,
\ap¡nhnsS Im¯ncn¡mw. _nÃns\ H¶v AÛpXs¸Sp¯Ww.'
Fensb Im¯p\n¡p¶ ]q¨bpsSa«n AbmÄ hmXnen\p ]pdInÂ
adªp \n¶p.
Iym]vä³ Xncns¨¯nb DSt\ {]`mX£Ww Ign¡m³ Xo³taibpsS
ASps¯¯n.
"_nÂ.' A]cnNnX³ hnfn¨p.
Iym]vä³ Xncnªpt\m¡n. A]cnNnXs\ I|Xpw AbmfpsS apJw
hnfdn. Hcp t{]Xs¯ ap¼n I|Xpt]mse Iym]vä³ `b¶p,
"»mIv tUmKv.' sR«temsS Iym]vä³ ]dªp.
"AsX, »mIv tUmKvXs¶.' A]cnNnX³ XpSÀ¶p: "»mIv tUmKv,
I¸ense klbm{XnI³, _nÃns\ ImWm³ AUvand s_³s_m
k{X¯n F¯nbncn¡pIbmWv. \ap¡v ]gb kplr¯p¡sft¸mse
Ccp¶p kwkmcn¡mw.'
AbmÄ Ft¶mSp s]mbvs¡mÅm\pw hmXn aeÀs¡ Xpd¶nSm\pw
]dªp. Rm³ AX\pkcn¨n«v _mdnte¡p t]mbn.
Ipsd t\ct¯¡vv i_vZsam¶pw tI«nÃ. ]n¶oSv kwkmcw D¨¯nÂ
tI«pXpS§n.
"CÃ, CÃ. AsXsâ ssIhianÃ.' Iym]vä³ Aedns¡m|p ]dªp.
s]s«¶v Ft´m s]m«ns¯dn¡p¶ i_vZw tI«p. taibpw ItkcIfpw
X«nadnbp¶p. hmfpIÄ X½n Iq«nap«p¶p. ]ns¶ thZ\sIm|pÅ
\nehnfn. ]ns¶ Rm³ I|Xv »mIv tUmKv ]pdt¯¡p ]mbp¶XmWv.
AbmfpsS CSt¯ NpaenÂ\n¶v càw hmÀs¶mgpIp¶p|mbncp¶p.
]n¶mse Iym]vä\pap|v. c|pt]cpsS ssIbnepw DbÀ¯n¸nSn¨ hmfpw.
Iym]vä³ Ahkm\w AXniànbn Bªpsh«nbXv »m¡v tUmKnsâ
tZl¯v ]t£, sIm|nÃ.
tdmUn F¯n an\näpIÄ¡Iw »mIv tUmKv HmSn, Ip¶pIbdn adnªv
A{]Xy£\mbn. AXp t\m¡n\n¡mt\ Iym]vä\v IgnªpÅq. ]ns¶
AbmÄ I®p XShns¡m|v k{X¯nte¡p aS§n.
DS³Xs¶ Fs¶ hnfn¨p]dªp: "Pnw, thKw Ipd¨p dw sIm|phm.
F\n¡v ChnsS\n¶v c£s¸t« aXnbmhq.'
Rm³ dw FSp¡m³ HmSn. Xncn¨phcpt¼mÄ Ft´m hogp¶ i_vZw
tI«p. Iym]vä³ \o|p\nhÀ¶v \ne¯v hoWpInS¡pIbmWv. i_vZw tI«v
A½bpw HmSnsb¯n.
"\½psS hoSn\v Fs´mcp IjvSImeamWv! \nsâ AÑ\v H«pw kpJanÃ.
Ct¸mÄ CXm C§s\bpw.' A½ IcªpsIm|v ]dbm³ XpS§n.
F´p sN¿Wsa¶v R§Ä¡v Hcp cq]hpw CÃmbncp¶p. Rm³ Ipd¨p
dw AbmfpsS hmbn Hgn¡m³ t\m¡n. ]t£, ]ÃpIÄ ISn¨p]nSn¨
a«nemWv AbmÄ. XmSn¡v Ccp¼pt]mse Dd¸v. s]s«¶v hmXn Xpd¶v
tUmIvSÀ enhvkn IS¶ph¶p. AbmÄ AÑs\ ]cntim[n¡m³
F¯nbXmbncp¶p.
"At¿m, tUmIvSÀ F´mWv sN¿pI? CbmÄ¡v Fhn-sS-bmWp apdnhp
]än-bXv.' R§Ä IcªpsIm|v tNmZn-¨p.
"apdnshm¶panÃ. Hcp BLmXamWv.' tUmIvSÀ ]dªp: "anÊnkv
lm¡n³kv, \n§Ä `À¯mhnsâ ASpt¯¡p sNÃpI. Cu a\pjys\
c£n¡m³ ]äptam F¶v Rms\m¶p t\m¡s«. Pnw, \o t]mbn Hcp
t_kn³ sIm|phm.'
Rm³ t_kn\pambn Xncns¨¯nbt¸mÄ tUmIvSÀ Iym]väsâ
ssI¯| ]cntim[n¡pIbmbncp¶p. AXn ]ebnS¯pw ]¨
Ip¯nbncp¶p "`mKyw ChnsS,' "\Ã Imäv,' "_nÃnt_m³knsâ kz]v\w'
Fs¶ms¡.
"Pn½n\v tNmcI|m t]Snbpt|m?' tUmIvSÀ tNmZn¨p.
"CÃ kmÀ,' Rm³ ]dªp.
"F¶m Cu t_kn³ ]nSn¡v.' AXpw ]dªv AbmÄ IqÀ¯
I¯nsIm|v cà¡pg Iodn Hcp]mSv càw ]pds¯Sp¯p.
Iym]vä³ I®p Xpd¶p. AbmÄ tUmIvSsd Xncn¨dnªp. ]ns¶ Fsâ
t\tc t\m¡n. s]s«¶v AbmfpsS `mhw amdn. Fgpt¶ev¡m³
{ian¨psIm|v AbmÄ tNmZn¨p: "FhnsS »mIv tUmKv?'
"ChnsS »mIv tUmKv H¶panÃ,' tUmIvSÀ ]dªp: "\n§Ä AanXambn
dw IpSn¨ncn¡p¶p. Hcp BLmXw D|mbXmWv.'
AXn\ptijw tUmIvSÀ Iym]vä\v ap¶dnbn¸p \ÂIn: "Rm³
]dªnsöp th|. C\nbpw aZy]n¡m\mWv `mhsa¦n AXv \n§fpsS
Ahkm\ambncn¡pw. Ct¸mÄ GXmbmepw Rm³ \n§sf klmbn¡mw.'
hfsc {]bmks¸«v R§Ä Iym]väs\ Xm§nsbSp¯v
InS¡bnse¯n¨p.
AXn\ptijw tUmIvSÀ Fsâ ssI]nSn¨psIm|v AÑsâ ASpt¯¡p
\S¶p.
2

D¨Ignªt¸mÄ Rm³ Nne acp¶pIfpambn Iym]väsâ ASp¯psN¶p.

AbmÄ AkzØ\pw £oWnX\pambn ImWs¸«p.
"Pnw.' AbmÄ Fs¶ ASp¯phnfn¨p. "Rm³ Ft¸mgpw \nt¶mSv \ÃtX
sNbvXn«pÅq. FÃm amkhpw shÅn\mWb§Ä Rm³ X¶ncp¶phtÃm.
F¶m Ct¸mÄ Fsâ ØnXnbmsI tamiamWv. BÀ¡pw Fs¶ th|.
ZbhpsNbXv Hcp ¥mkv dw...'
"tUmIvSÀ...' Rm³ ]dªp\nÀ¯n.
"tUmIvStdmSv t]mIm³ ]dbv. Fs¶t¸mepÅ \mhnIsc¡pdn¨v
tUmIvSÀ¡v F´dnbmw? Rm³ PohnXw apgph\pw dw IpSn¨mWp Pohn¨Xv.
t\m¡v Fsâ ssI hndbv¡p¶Xv. Hcp ¥mkv dw IpSn¨m Hcp Ipg¸hpanÃ.
Rm³ \n\¡v Hcp kzÀ®\mWbw Xcmw. ZbhpsNbvXv...'
"F\n¡v \n§fpsS ]Wsam¶pw th|. GXmbmepw Hcp ¥mkv dw Xcmw.
Hcp ¥mkv am{Xw.'
Rm³ dw sIm|ph¶t¸mÄ, AbmÄ BÀ¯ntbmsS AXp ]nSn¨phm§n
Hähen¡v apgph³ IpSn¡pIbpw sNbvXp.
"Ct¸mÄ kpJap|v.' AXpw ]dªv Iym]vä³ Fgpt¶ev¡m³ {ian¨p.
]t£, InS¡bnte¡pXs¶ adnªphoWp.
"Pnw, \obm \mhnIs\ C¶p I|ncpt¶m?' AbmÄ tNmZn¨p.
"B »mIv tUmKns\tbm?'
"AsX. Abmsf¯s¶. AbmÄ BÄ alm tamiamWv. AbmfpsS
Iq«pImcpw A§s\Xs¶. AhÀ¡v Bhiyw Fsâ s]«nbmWv.
F\n¡msW¦n ChnsS\n¶p c£s¸Sm\pw km[yaÃ. AXpsIm|v \o
tUmIvSÀ enhvknbpsS ASp¯psN¶p hnhcw ]dbWw. ChnsS h¶mÂ
]gb ^vfnânsâ FÃm Iq«pImscbpw AbmÄ¡v ]nSnIqSm³ Ignbpw. Rm³
^vfnânsâ GähpaSp¯ hnizkvX\mbncp¶p. AbmÄ acn¡p¶Xn\pap¼v
B s]«n Fs¶ Gev]n¨XmWv. FÃmw clkyambncn¡s«.'
]dªXpt]mse sN¿msa¶p]dªv Rm³ Iym]vä\v AbmfpsS acp¶v
sImSp¯p. acp¶p Ign¨v AbmÄ kpJambn Dd§n.
Rm³ FÃm hnhchpw tUmIvSÀ enhvknsb Adnbn¡Wsa¶v
IcpXnbXmbncp¶p. F¶m s]s«¶v AÑsâ AkpJw hÀ[n¡pIbpw
sshIpt¶ct¯msS A´cn¡pIbpw sNbvXp. AÑsâ kwkvImchpambn
_Ôs¸«v Rm³ henb Xnc¡nembncp¶p. AXpsIm|v aäp
Imcy§sf¡pdns¨m¶pw Nn´n¡m³ IgnªnÃ.
 ]ntä¶p cmhnse Iym]vä³ `£Ww Ign¡ms\¯n. hfsc Ipdt¨
AbmÄ `£n¨pÅq. ]t£, dw CjvSwt]mse IpSn¨p. Xte¶pw AbmÄ
[mcmfw IpSn¨ncp¶p. ZpxJmNcW¯n\nSbnepw AbmÄ B ]gb ]m«v
]mSp¶p|mbncp¶p.
Hcp Znhkw Ignªp. D¨Ignªv aq¶paWnbmbn¡mWpw. \Ã XWp¸pw
aªpap|v. At¸mÄ Btcm HcmÄ k{X¯n\pt\tc \S¶phcp¶Xp
I|p. Abmsfmcp I®ps]m«\mbncp¶p. hSnsIm|v \ne¯p X«nbmWv
AbmÄ \S¶ncp¶Xv. I®pw aq¡psaÃmw ad¨ncp¶p. Iodn¸gInb Hcp
henb ta¡p¸mbamWv AbmÄ [cn¨ncp¶Xv. Iq\n¡qSnbmWv \S¯w.
BsI¡qSn t]Sns¸Sp¯p¶ Hcp cq]w. Rm³ BZyambn«mbncp¶p
A§s\sbmcp kXzs¯ ImWp¶Xv.
AbmÄ k{X¯nsâ ap¼nse¯n hnfn¨ptNmZn¨p: "Cu ]mhw AÔ³
Ct¸mÄ FhnsSbmsW¶p ]dªpXcm³ BÀs¡¦nepw Zbhp|mIptam?'
"\n§Ä AUvand s_³s_m k{X¯nsâ ap¼nemWv.' Rm³ ]dªp.
"Hcp sNdp¸¡mcsâ i_vZamWtÃm tIÄ¡p¶Xv. Fsâ ssI]nSn¨v
AIt¯¡p Ibämtam?'
Rms\sâ ssI \o«n. AbmÄ ssIbn acW¸nSn¯amWv ]nSn¨Xv.
Rm³ `b¶v ssIhen¡m³ t\m¡n. ]t£, AbmÄ Fs¶ ASpt¯¡p
hen¨p.
"Mpw. Fs¶ Iym]väsâ ASpt¯¡v sIm|pt]m.'
Rm³ aSn¨p.
"t\tc \S¡v. Asæn \nsâ ssI¯| Rm³ HSn¡pw.' AbmÄ
Fs¶ iànbn hen¨p. Rm³ thZ\sIm|v \nehnfn¨pt]mbn.
"Mm, C\n \S¡v.' B I®ps]m«sâ i_vZ¯n hÃm¯ {IqcX
\ngen¨ncp¶p. Rm³ t\tc `£Wapdnbnte¡p \S¶p.
AhnsS Iym]vä³ IpSn¨p t_m[anÃmsX Ccn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. "_nÂ,
\n§fpsS Hcp kplr¯v CXm F¯nbncn¡p¶p.' F¶v D¨¯nÂ
]dbWsa¶v AbmÄ Fs¶ \nÀ_Ôn¨p i«wsI«nbncp¶p. AX\pkcn¨v
Iym]väs\ I|bpS³ Rm³ Dds¡ hnfn¨p ]dªp.
Iym]vä³ XebpbÀ¯n t\m¡nbtXbpÅq, ssIbnÂ\n¶v dw
X«n¯pfp¼n. s]mSp¶t\ AbmÄ Fgpt¶ev¡m³ {ians¨¦nepw
IgnªnÃ.
"AhnsS¯s¶ Ccp¶m aXn, _nÂ.' BKX³ ]dªp: "F\n¡v
ImWm³ IgnbnÃmbncn¡pw. ]t£, tIÄ¡m³ Ignbpw. _nkn\Êv
_nkn\ÊvXs¶.'
 AbmÄ Ft¶mSv Iym]väsâ CSXpssI]nSn¨v AbmfpsS
heXpssIbpsS ASpt¯¡v \o«n¡mWn¡m³ ]dªp.
B kabw Iym]väsâ ssIbnte¡v AbmÄ Ft´m ssIamdn.
"AXp sNbvXpIgnªp.' I®ps]m«³ AXpw ]dªv Fsâ ssIhn«p.
F¶n«v AXnthKw ]pd¯pIS¶p. AbmfpsS hSnbpsS S]vS]v i_vZw
AI¶pt]mbn.
Iym]vä³ ssI Xpd¶p. Hcp Xp|pISemkv.
"]¯p aWn.' AbmÄ Aedn. "C\n Bdp aWn¡qÀ. F¶mepw Ahsc
R§Ä Xpc¯pw.'
CXp]dªv Iym]vä³ Fgpt¶ev¡m³ t\m¡n. s]s«¶v CSdn
\ne¯phoWp. Iangv¶mWv hoWXv. ssI sXm|bpsS ASp¯pXs¶
sh¨ncp¶p.
Rm³ HmSn ASps¯¯n. At¸mtg¡pw AbmÄ acn¨pIgnªncp¶p.
Iym]väs\ Rm³ CjvSs¸«ncp¶nsænepw AbmfpsS acWw I|t¸mÄ
Rm³ s]m«n¡cªpt]mbn. CXp c|mas¯ acWw. BZys¯
acW¯nsâ thZ\ At¸mgpw a\ÊnÂ\n¶v amdnbncp¶nÃ.
Rm³ FÃm hnhchpw A½tbmSp ]dªp. R§Ä hÃms¯mcp
AhØbnembncp¶p. acn¨ Iym]väsâ [\¯n Hcp hnlnXw R§Ä¡v
AhImis¸«XmsW¶dnbmw. ]t£, »mIv tUmKpw I®ps]m«³ `n£
¡mc\pw AXp hn«pXcm³ X¿mdmIptam F¶ Imcyw kwibambncp¶p.
tUmIvSÀ enhvknsb tXSnt¸mIWsa¶psh¨m A½ Häbv¡mIpw.
ho«nÂXs¶ \n¡p¶ Imcyw R§Ä¡v BtemNn¡mt\ IgnªnÃ.
Hmtcm i_vZhpw t]Sns¸Sp¯p¶Xmbncp¶p. B I®ps]m«s\§m\pw
Xncn¨ph¶mtem? R§Ä AhnSwhn«v AbÂh¡¯pt]mbn klmbw
tXSm³ Xocpam\n¨p.
AbÂ{]tZiw ASp¯msW¦nepw DÄ¡Sensâ adphi¯mbncp¶p.
R§Ä AhnsSsb¯nbt¸mÄ \à Ccp«v. F¦nepw hoSpIfnÂ\n¶v
shfn¨w I|t¸mÄ kt´mjw tXm¶n. R§Ä AhtcmSv kz´w
k¦SØnXn ]dªp. F¶m AhnsS\n¶v R§tfmsSm¸w Xncn¨phcm³
Ahcmcpw X¿mdmbncp¶nÃ. AhscÃmw Iym]vä³ ^vfnâns\¸än
tI«ncp¶p. ^vfnânsâ Iq«pImc³ F¶p tI«bpS³ AhÀ `bwsIm|p
hnd¨p.
AhcpsS `bw I|t¸mÄ A½ ss[cyw kw`cn¨p ]dªp: "\n§fmcpw
hcp¶nsænepw Rm\pw Pn½pw Xncn¨pt]mIpw. acn¨mepw Xct¡Snà B
s]«n R§Ä Xpd¡pw. R§Ä¡v AhImis¸« ]Ww GXmbmepw Rm³
hn«psImSp¡nÃ.'
 R§Ä sN¿p¶Xp henb hnUvVn¯ambncn¡psa¶v FÃmhcpw
]dªp. Bcpw IqsS hcm\pw X¿mdmbncp¶nÃ. HcmÄ R§Ä¡v Hcp
tXm¡v X¶p. asämcmÄ klmb¯n\v tUmIvSÀ enhvknbpsS
ASp¯pt]mImsat¶äp.
Xncn¨p\S¡pt¼mÄ F\ns¡t´m hÃm¯ `bw. BImi¯v
]qÀWN{μ³ DZn¨p Ignªncp¶p. Bcpw ImWmXncn¡m³
i_vZap|m¡msX Hfnªpw ]Xp§nbpamWv bm{X. k{X¯nÂ
Xncns¨¯nbt¸mÄ Bizmkw tXm¶n. Rm³ hmXneS¨p Ipänbn«p.
AI¯v Ccp«mbncp¶p. A½ sagpIpXncn I¯n¨p. Iym]väsâ
ih¯n\cnsI R§Ä \nÈ_vZcmbn Ipd¨pkabw \n¶p. AbmÄ
aeÀ¶mWp InS¡p¶Xv. I®pIÄ Xpd¶ncp¶p. Hcp ssI \o|pInS¶p.
P\me¡À«³ hen¨nSm³ A½ Ft¶mSp ]dªp. "]pd¯p\n¶p
ImWm³ CSbmIcpXv. s]«nbpsS Xmt¡m \aps¡§s\ In«pw?'
Rm³ Iym]väsâ ih¯n\Sp¯p Ip\nªncp¶p. AbmfpsS ssIbpsS
ASp¯mbn \ne¯v Hcp IjWw t]¸À InS¶ncp¶p. "cm{Xn ]¯phsc
kabap|v' F¶v AXn FgpXnbncn¡p¶p. s]s«¶v t¢m¡v ASn¡p¶
i_vZwtI«v R§Ä sR«n.
A½ Xmt¡mensâ Imcyw ]dªp.
Rm³ Iym]väsâ t]m¡äpapgph³ ]cXn. Xmt¡mÂam{Xw I|nÃ.
"Igp¯n sI«nbn«pt|m F¶v t\m¡v.' A½ kwibw {]ISn¸n¨p.
Rm³ jÀ«v Iodn ]cntim[n¨p. Xmt¡m Igp¯n Hcp NcSnÂ
sI«nbn«p|mbncp¶p...
R§Ä Xmt¡mseSp¯v [rXnbn Iym]väsâ s]«nbpsS ASps¯¯n.
A½bmWv s]«n Xpd¶Xv. ]pIbnebpsS cq£KÔw. apIfnÂXs¶
\sÃmcp tIm«v \¶mbn aS¡nsh¨ncp¶p. AXn\nSbn c|p ssIt¯m¡v.
s]«nbpsS Gähpw ASnbn HcpsI«p ISemkv XpWnbn s]mXnªp
sh¨ncp¶p. Iq«¯n kzÀ®\mWb§fpÅ Hcp _mKpw.
A½ kzÀ®\mWb§Ä F®ns¡m|p ]dªp: "F\n¡v
AÀlXs¸«Xp am{Xta Rms\Sp¡q. Hcp s]\nt]mepw IqSpX th|.'
]eXcw \mWb§Ä DÅXpsIm|v Ah F®n Xn«s¸Sp¯pI
{]bmkambncp¶p. ]IpXntbmfambt¸mÄ ]pd¯v, Ip¶n³apIfn \n¶v
Ft´m i_vZw tI«t]mse tXm¶n. aªpI«bn hSn X«p¶Xpt]mepÅ
i_vZw. I®ps]m«\mb B a\pjy³ Xncn¨phcnIbmtWm! Rm³
sR«nhnd¨p.
"\ap¡v ]Wk©nbpambn DSt\ ChnSp¶v c£s¸SWw.' Rm³ A½sb
\nÀ_Ôn¨p.
 At¸mtg¡pw Ip¶n³apIfnÂ\n¶v Hcp hnknensâ i_vZw
DbÀ¶ptI«p.
XpWnbn s]mXnª ISemÊpsI«pambn ]pd¯pIS¶p. sXfnª
\nemhv. Zqsc Bscms¡tbm HmSp¶ i_vZw. HcmfpsS ssIbnÂ
shfn¨ap|mbncp¶p.
A½ ]dªp: "]Wk©nbpambn \o HmSnt¡m. F\n¡v BsI
Xfcp¶Xpt]mse tXm¶p¶p.'
R§fpsS Ahkm\w ASp¯Xpt]mse F\n¡p tXm¶n. C{Xbpw
sshIn¨Xn\v F\n¡v A½tbmSp tZjyw tXm¶p¶p|mbncp¶p. At¸mÄ
A½ Fsâ Npaen XfÀ¶pInS¡pIbmWv. hgnbn sNdnsbmcp
]me¯nsâ ASp¯v R§sf¯n. DS³Xs¶ A½sb hen¨ng¨v Rm³
]me¯nsâ Nph«nse¯n AhnsS Hfn¨ncp¶p.
`bap|mbncps¶¦nepw Fsâ PnÚmkbv¡v H«pw IpdhnÃmbncp¶p.
Rm³ tdmUnse Ipäns¨SnIÄ¡nSbn adªp\n¶v k{X¯nte¡pÅ
hgnbnte¡p t\m¡n. At¸mÄ i{Xp¡fn Gsg«pt]À tdmUneqsS
HmSnhcp¶ ImgvNbmWp I|Xv. aq¶pt]À ssI]nSn¨v H¶n¨mWp
\o§p¶Xv. \SphnepÅ Bsf Rm³ Xncn¨dnªp. I®ps]m«\mb
\mhnI³!
k{X¯n\p t\tcbmWv AhÀ HmSp¶Xv. hnf¡v ssIhiapÅ BÄ
ap¼nÂ. hmXn s]mfn¡m\mbncp¶p Xocpam\w. ]t£, Xpd¶pInS¡p¶
hmXn I|v AhÀ hms]mfn¨p \n¶p.
"AI¯p IS¡v, AI¯p IS¡v.' I®ps]m«³ [rXn]nSn¨p.
\me©pt]À AI¯p IS¶p. ]t£, _nÃnsâ InS¸pI|v AhÀ
kvX_v[cmbn \n¶pt]mbn.
"_n acn¨p.' AhÀ hnfn¨p]dªp.
"AbmfpsS tZlw apgph\pw ]cXnt\m¡Ww. aäpÅhÀ s]«n
Is|Sp¡v.' I®ps]m«³ \nÀt±in¨p.
Iym]väsâ s]«nsbSp¡m³ NneÀ HmSnsb¦nepw AhÀ¡v
\ncmis¸tS|n h¶p. Ft´m AÛpXw kw`hn¨Xmbn AhÀ¡p tXm¶n.
Iq«¯nsemcmÄ P\me Xpd¶v I®ps]m«t\mSv hnfn¨p]dªp: "]yq,
\ap¡p apt¼ Btcm ChnsS h¶n«p|v. s]«nXpd¶v km[\§Ä
FSp¯n«pap|v.'
"AXnepÅ XpIÂk©ntbm?'
"ImWp¶nÃ. H¶pw _m¡nbnÃ.'
"_nÃnsâ tZl¯p\n¶pw hÃXpw Is|Spt¯m?'
"AXpw CÃ.'
 "At¸mÄ k{X¯nse BfpIÄXs¶ FSp¯Xmbncn¡Ww. F\n¡v B
]¿s\ _eamb kwibap|v.' I®ps]m«\mb ]yq Aedns¡m|p
]dªp: "AhÀ Zqscsb§pw t]mbncn¡m\nSbnÃ. Ahsc ]nSnIqSntb
]äq. BZyw hoSp apgph\pw ]cXWw.'
]yqhnsâ A\pbmbnIÄ k{Xw apgph³ Acn¨ps]dp¡n. AeamcIÄ
]cXn. NneÀ tdmUnend§n Npäpw Xncªp. R§sf F§pw
ImWp¶nsöv AhÀ ]yqhnt\mSv ]dbp¶p|mbncp¶p. s]s«¶v,
hcm\ncn¡p¶ A]IS¯nsâ kqN\ F¶t]mse aes©cphnÂ\n¶v Hcp
hnknensâ i_vZw tI«p.
"AXv Un¡mWv. \ap¡pÅ c|mas¯ ap¶dnbn¸v.' Iq«¯n HcmÄ
]dªp.
"Un¡ns\ Imcyam¡|. Ahs\mcp `ocphmWv.' ]yq H¨sbSp¯p: "B ]
¿s\ BZyw I|p]nSn¡Ww. \ap¡p s]s«¶v [\w t\Sm\pÅ
hgnbXmWv. In«nb kμÀ`w shdptX IfªpIpfn¡cpXv. _nÃns\
t\cnÂImWm³ \n§fmsc¦nepw X¿mdmtbm? AXn\v I®ps]m«\mb Cu
Rm³Xs¶ th|nh¶p. F\n¡v ]W¡mc\mtb ]äq. \n§Ä F{Xbpw
thKw Ahsc ]nSnIqSWw.'
]t£, ]yqhnsâ BfpIÄ ho|pw Xncbm³ henb XmXv]cysam¶pw
ImWn¨nÃ.
"FXncmfnIÄ CXm F¯n¡gnªp. B ]¿s\ ]nSnIn«nbm¯s¶
Ah³ km[\§Ä Hfn¸n¨psh¨XmsW¦n F´p sN¿pw?' HcmÄ
tNmZn¨p.
CXpIqSn tI«t¸mÄ ]yq s]m«ns¯dn¡pIbmbncp¶p. tIm]w sIm|v
AbmÄ hndbv¡pIbpw, hSnsIm|v ASp¯pÅhsc BªSn¡pIbpw
sNbvXp. ASntbähÀ ]yqhns\ i]n¨psIm|v hSn]nSn¨p hm§m³ t\m¡n.
AhcpsS D´pw XÅpw _lfhpw \S¡pt¼mÄ FhnsS\nt¶m
IpXncIfpsS Ipf¼Sni_vZw tIÄ¡phm³ XpS§n. Ah k{X¯nsâ
t\À¡p IpXn¡pIbmWv. s]mSp¶t\ Hcp shSnsbm¨ tI«p. AXv asämcp
ap¶dnbn¸mbncp¶p. DS³Xs¶ ]yqhnsâ Iq«mfnIÄ ]ehgn¡v HmSn
c£s¸«p. ]yq th¨pth¨p\S¶v tdmUnse¯n. AbmÄ A\pbmbnIsf
hnfn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p.
"tPmWo, »mIv tUmKv, Un¡vþþ \n§Ä¡mÀ¡pw Cu hbʳ ]yqhns\
Dt]£n¡m³ ]änÃ.'
\nemshfn¨¯n \me©v IpXnckhmcn¡mÀ At¸mÄ k{Xw
e£yam¡n \o§p¶Xp ImWmambncp¶p. ]yq Hfn¡m³ {ians¨¦nepw
FhnsStbm XSªphoWp. AbmÄ Fgpt¶äv ]cn{`at¯msS tdmUv
apdn¨pIS¡m³ t\m¡n. At¸mtg¡pw IpXncIÄ
ASps¯¯n¡gnªncp¶p. ap¶nse khmcn¡mc³ Abmsf Hgnhm¡m³
t\m¡nsb¦nepw IgnªnÃ. ]yq Hcp \nehnfntbmsS \ne¯p hoWp.
Abmsf Nhn«nsaXn¨psIm|v IpXncIÄ IS¶pt]mbn. apJaSn¨phoW
]yq ]n¶oSv A\§nbnÃ.
Hfn¨ncp¶nS¯p\n¶p ]pd¯ph¶v Rm³ khmcn¡msc hnfn¨p.
tUmIvSÀ enhvkntbmSv hnhcw ]dbm³t]mb Hcp ]¿\pw
Iq«¯nep|mbncp¶p. ]t£, hgnbnÂsh¨v Ah³ Nne dh\yq
DtZymKØ·msc ImWpIbpw AhtcmsSm¸w Xncn¨phcnIbpamWp|mbXv.
AhcpsS kq¸ÀsshkÀ anÌÀ Um³kv Bbncp¶p. cm{Xn DÄ¡Sen Hcp
sNdnb I¸Â AhcpsS ZrjvSnbnÂs¸«ncp¶p. AXns\ \nco£n¨mWv
AhÀ R§fpsS ASps¯¯nbXv. Fsâbpw A½bpsSbpw Poh³
c£s¸«Xv A§s\bmWv.
]yq N¯pachn¨p InS¡pIbmWv. R§Ä A½sb kao]s¯mcnS¯v
sIm|pt]mbn. XWp¯shÅw sImSp¯t¸mÄ A½bpsS £oWw amdn.
B kabw anÌÀ Um³kpw aäv Hm^okÀamcpwIqSn I¸Â I|
Øet¯¡p IpXn¨p. ]t£, I¸Â At¸mtg¡pw s]mbv¡gnªncp¶p.
I¸Â \nÀ¯m³ kq¸ÀsshkÀamÀ Bhiys¸s«¦nepw AXp|mbnÃ.
]Icw ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ AbmÄ¡p t\tc \ndsbmgn¡pIbmWp|mbXv.
anÌÀ Um³knt\msSm¸w Rm³ k{X¯nte¡p aS§n. FÃmw
Xmdpamdmbn InS¡p¶p. ssIsb¯mhp¶sXÃmw ASn¨ps]mfn¨n«p|v.
R§fpsS IjvSImew! k{Xw AS¨p]q«pItb C\n c£bpÅq.
anÌÀ Um³kv tNmZn¨p:"]Ww AhÀ¡v BZyta In«nbn«ps|¦nÂ
AhÀ ho|pw ]n¶mte \S¡p¶Xv F´n\mWv? ho|pw ]W¯n\mtWm?'
"AÃ kÀ. ]W¯n\Ã.' Rm³ ]dªp: "B km[\w Fsâ
t]m¡änep|v. Rm\Xv tUmIvSÀ enhvknsb Gev]n¡m\mWv
Dt±in¡p¶Xv. AbmÄ¡Xv `{Zam¡n hbv¡m\dnbmw.'
"AXv \sÃmcp ImcyamWv. \n\¡v k½XamsW¦n Rm³ \ns¶
tUmIvSÀ enhvknbpsS ho«nse¯n¡mw.'
Rm³ ankväÀ Um³kn\v \μn ]dªp. ]n¶oSv A½bpsS ASp¯psN¶v
FhnsSbmWp t]mIp¶Xv F¶ Imcyw Adnbn¨p. At¸mtg¡pw Hcp
Hm^okÀ IpXncsb X¿mdm¡n \nÀ¯nbncp¶p. Rm³ IpXnc¸pd¯v
Hm^okdpsS ]pdInembn Ibdnbncp¶p. DS³Xs¶ tUmIvSÀ enhvknbpsS
hoSns\ e£yam¡n IpXnc IpXn¨p]mªp.
3

tUmIvSÀ enhvknbpsS ho«nse¯nbt¸mÄ \Ã Ccp«mbncp¶p. ]pd¯v

shfn¨ap|mbncp¶nÃ. Rm³ IpXnc¸pd¯p\n¶nd§n hoSnsâ hmXnenÂ
ap«n. DSt\ Hcp ]cnNmcnI³ h¶v hmXn Xpd¶p.
"tUmIvSÀ enhvkn AI¯pt|m?' Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
"CÃtÃm. sshIpt¶cwhsc D|mbncp¶p. tUmIvSÀ Ct¸mÄ {]`phnsâ
ho«n t]mbncn¡pIbmWv.'
"F¶m \ap¡v AhntS¡p t]mImw.' anÌÀ Um³kv ]dªp.
{SntemWn{]`p ASp¯pXs¶bmWp Xmakn¨ncp¶Xv. Rm³ B
ho«nte¡v HmSn. aäpÅhÀ IpXnc¸pd¯mWp h¶Xv.
`rXy³ h¶v hmXnÂXpd¶v \ndsb ]pkvXI AeamcIfpÅ
sse{_dnbnte¡mWv R§sf Iq«ns¡m|p t]mbXv. AhnsS tUmIvSÀ
enhvkn Np|n ss]¸pambn Ccn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. ASp¯pXs¶
{SntemWn {]`phpw.
{]`p Hcp BPm\p_mlphmWv. BdSnbne[nIw s]m¡w ImWpw. \nc
´camb bm{XIÄsIm|v apJw Nph¶v ]cp¡\mbncp¶p. Idp¯
]pcnI§Ä Abmsfmcp £n{]tIm]nbmsW¶v tXm¶n¸n¨p.
"hcq, hcq.' {]`p ]dªp.
tUmIvSÀ R§sf A`nhmZywsNbvXp tNmZn¨p: "F´p|v hntijw?'
anÌÀ Um³kv cm{Xnbnse kw`h§sfÃmw Ahsc ]dªpa\Ênem¡n.
c|pt]cpw apt¼m«p Ip\nªncp¶mWv FÃmw tI«Xv.
]pIhen¡m³t]mepw AhÀ ad¶pt]mbn. Um³kv
]dªhkm\n¸n¨t¸mÄ tUmIvSÀ enhvkn Pn½nsâ t\tc t\m¡n.
"Pnw, \osbmcp [oc³Xs¶. At¸mÄ AhÀ At\zjn¨ hkvXp \nsâ
ssIhiap|v, AtÃ?'
"CXm kÀ.' Rm³ t]m¡änÂ\n¶v s]mXnsbSp¯p \o«n. tUmIvSÀ
AXp hm§n kq£n¨p t\m¡nbtijw t]m¡änen«p.
AbmÄ {]`phnt\mSp ]dªp: "Um³kv aZyw Ign¨pIgnªmÂ
]Xnhpt]mse tPmen¡p t]mIs«. Pn½n\v Fsâ ho«nepd§mw. Ah\v Fs
´¦nepw BlmcwsImSp¡m³ GÀ¸mSp sN¿Ww.'
F\n¡v \à hni¸p|mbncp¶Xn\m hbdp\ndsb Blmcw Ign¨p.
`£Ww Ign¨psIm|ncp¶t¸mÄ anÌÀ Um³kv bm{X ]dªnd§n.
tUmIvSdpw {]`phpw [rXn]nSn¨mWv ]n¶oSv kwkmcn¨Xv.
 "Cu ^vfnâv F¶ a\pjys\¸än Xm³ tI«ncn¡m³ CSbp|v. AtÃ?'
tUmIvSÀ tNmZn¨p.
"tI«n«pt|mt¶m?' {]`p D¨¯n ]dªp. "IS I| Gähpw
`oIc\mb sImÅ¡mc\mWv AbmÄ. aäpÅhscms¡ AbmfpsS ap¼nÂ
shdpw inip¡Ä am{Xw.'
"Rm\pw Abmsf¸än tI«n«p|v. AbmfpsS ssIhiw
]Wap|mbncpt¶m?'
"]Wap|mbncp¶p, kwibanÃ. aäpÅhÀ Poh³ A]ISs¸Sp¯nbXv
B ]W¯n\pth|nbmbncp¶ntÃ?' {]`p tNmZn¨p.
"Hcp]t£, CXnepÅ t]¸dnÂ\n¶v AbmÄ [\w FhnsSbmWv
Hfn¸n¨n«pÅXv F¶Xnsâ hà kqN\bpw e`n¨pIqSmbvIbnÃ. Pn½nsâ
k½Xt¯mSpIqSn \ap¡v Cu s]mXn Agn¡mw.'
XpSÀ¶v tUmIvSÀ s]mXnbgn¨p. AXn c|p hkvXp¡fmWv
D|mbncp¶Xv. H¶v, Hcp ]pkvXIw. asäm¶v koÂsNbvX HcpIhÀ.
"BZyw ]pkvXIw ]cntim[n¡mw.' tUmIvSÀ ]dªp.
Rm\pw {]`phpw ]n¶nÂ\n¶v ]mfnt\m¡n. BZys¯ t]PpIfnÂ
GXm\pw hm¡pIÄ FgpXnbncp¶p. "_nÃn t_m¬knsâ kz]v\w', "dw
aXn' Fs¶ms¡. ASp¯ t]PpIfn GXm\pw Øe§fpsS
t]cpIfmWv. A£mwiw, tcJmwiw XpS§nb AfhpIfpw
tcJs¸Sp¯nbncp¶p. ]ns¶ Ccp]XpsImÃs¯ IW¡pIfpw.
"F\n¡v H¶pw hyàamIp¶nÃ.' tUmIvSÀ enhvkn ]dªp.
"F\n¡v FÃmw hyàamWv,' {]`p ]dªp. "CXv Iym]väsâ A¡u|v
_p¡mWv. Øet¸cpIÄ ImWp¶Xv sImÅbSn¨ ]«W§fpsS
t]cpIfmWv. sImÅapXensâ IW¡pIfmWv t]Pn Iq«nbn«ncn¡p¶Xv.'
"icnXs¶.', tUmIvSÀ k½Xn¨p: "Øm\¡bäa\pkcn¨v XpIbpw
hÀ[n¡p¶p|v. C\n \ap¡v Ihdn F´msW¶p t\m¡mw.'
IhÀ ]e Øe¯pw ko sNbvXncp¶p. tUmIvSÀ {i²n¨v IhÀ
s]m«n¨p. AXn Hcp Zzo]nsâ am¸mWv D|mbncp¶Xv. A£mwiw,
tcJmwiw, Ip¶pIfpsS t]cv, IS¯ochpw DÄ¡SepwþþþA§s\ Hcp
I¸ens\ Zzo]n ASp¸n¡m³th| FÃm hnhchpw AXnep|mbncp¶p.
Zzo]n\v A¼Xp\mgnI \ofhpw A©p\mgnI hoXnbpw D|mbncp¶p. c|p
XpdapJ§Ä, \Sphn Hcp Ip¶v. AhnsS kvss] ¥mkv F¶v
tcJs¸Sp¯nbncp¶p. AXn\p ]pdta Nph¶ "t{Imkv'
ASbmf§ÄþþþhS¡phi¯v c|pw, sX¡p]Snªmdp`mK¯v
H¶pwþþþD|mbncp¶p. AXn\nSbv¡v Nph¶ A£c¯n C§s\
FgpXnbncp¶p, "[\w ChnsSbmWpÅXv.'
 am¸nsâ adphi¯v AtX ssIb£c¯n Ipsd hniZmwi§Ä
D|mbncp¶p. DbcapÅ acw, kvss] ¥mkv, kqNI§fmb
BtcmamÀ¡pIÄ, AØnIqSZzo]v, ]¯v ASn, knÂhÀ _mÀ þþþC§s\
Ahyàamb \nch[n Imcy§Ä.
F\n¡v H¶pw a\ÊnembnÃ. F¶m tUmIvSÀ enhvknbpw {]`phpw
henb BËmZ¯nembncp¶p.
{]`p tUmIvStdmSv ]dªp: "\n§Ä {]mIvSokv DSt\ Dt]£n¡Ww.
\msf Rm³ {_ntÌmfnte¡p t]mhpIbmWv. aq¶v BgvNbv¡pÅnÂ
Cw¥|nse Gähpw \Ã I¸epw \mhnIscbpw \ap¡v e`n¡pw. Pnw
lm¡n³kv Hcp Im_n³t_mbv Bbn IqsShcs«. I¸ense tUmIvSÀ
Xm¦ÄXs¶. Rm³ \mhnI¯eh³. dn{Uq¯v, tPmbvkv, l|À ChÀIqSn
H¸wthWw. Imäv A\pIqeambm bm{X Ffp¸amWv. Øew Is|
¯m\pw {]bmkanÃ. \n[n Is|¯s«, ]ns¶ \msaÃmw tImSoizc·mÀ.'
"{SntemWn{]`p' tUmIvSÀ ]dªp:"Rm³ Xt¶msSm¸w hcmw.
AXpt]mse Pn½pw. ]t£, HcmÄ \t½msSm¸w hcp¶Xn F\n¡p
`bap|v.'
"BcmWbmÄ? Ahsâ t]sc´mWv?' {]`p D¨¯n tNmZn¨p.
"\n§ÄXs¶. ImcWw \n§fpsS \mhn\v Hcp \nb{´Whpw CÃ.'
tUmIvSÀ ]dªp, "Cu t]¸dns\¸än Adnbmhp¶hÀ \½Ä am{XaÃ.
k{Xw B{Ian¨ sImÅ¡mÀ¡pw CXns\¸än Adnbmw. AhÀ \ncmicmWv.
]Ww ssI¡em¡m³ AhÀ F´pw sN¿pw. \½Ä Häbv¡p
k©cn¡p¶Xv icnbÃ. Rm\pw Pn½pw H¶n¨p \n¡mw. Xm³
{_ntÌmfnte¡p t]mIpt¼mÄ tPmbvkns\bpw l|sdbpw IqsS Iq«Ww.
Ct¸mÄ Is|¯nb hkvXphns\¸än Hcmfpw H¶pw ]pd¯p]dbcpXv.'
"tUmIvSÀ enhvko, Xm¦Ä ]dbp¶Xv Ft¸mgpw icnbmWv.' {]`p
]dªp, "Rm³ C\n Hc£cw an|nÃ.'
]t£, R§Ä hnNmcn¨t]mse Imcy§Ä \S¯m³ km[n¨nÃ.
AXn\nsS tUmIvSÀ enhvkn¡v e|\nte¡p t]mtI|nh¶p. ]Icw
NmÀsPSp¡m³ asämcp tUmIvSsd Int«|Xp|mbncp¶p. {]`p BsW¦nÂ
{_ntÌmfnemWpÅXv. Rm³ AbmfpsS ho«n hr²\mb dn{Uq¯nsâ
IqsSbpw. At¸msgÃmw Fsâ a\Ên ISens\¡pdn¨pÅ kz]v\§fpw
kmlkhr¯nIfpambncp¶p. Rm³ Zzo]nsâ FÃm `mK§fpw At\zjn¨p
Is|¯nbXmbn kz]v\w I|p. DbcapÅ kvss] ¥mkv Ip¶nÂ\n¶v
NpäpapÅat\mlcImgvNIÄ I|v Rm³ kt´mjn¨p. Zzo]nse {]mIrX
a\pjycpambn Rm³ Gäpap«n. `oIcP´p¡Ä R§sf ]et¸mgpw
th«bmSn.
 A§s\ BgvNIÄ IS¶pt]mbn. Hcp Znhkw {_nkvtämfnÂ\n¶v
{SntemWn {]`phnsâ I¯v h¶p. tUmIvSÀ Øe¯nsæn Pnw
tlm¡n³knt\mSv I¯v Xpd¶pt\m¡m³ Ihdn tcJs¸Sp¯nbncp¶p.
AX\pkcn¨v Rm³ IhÀ s]m«n¨p. bm{Xbv¡pth| \sÃmcp I¸Â
hm§nb kt´mjhmÀ¯bmbncp¶p I¯nÂ. »m³Unen F¶ ]gsbmcp
kplr¯paptJ\bmWv CS]mSp \S¶Xv. \n[ntXSnbpÅ
bm{Xbv¡msW¶v {]`p ]dªncp¶p.
I¸ensâ t]cv "lnkv]t\ymf.'
{_ntÌmfn FÃm \mhnIscbpw ]cnNbapÅ hr²\mb Hcp
a\pjy\p|mbncp¶p. ]gsbmcp \mhnI\mWv. t]cv temMv tPm¬
knÂhÀ. Hcp Im \jvSs¸« AbmÄ¡v I¸en Hcp Ip¡nsâ tPmen
thWambncp¶p. {]`p Abmsf I¸ense Ip¡mbn \nban¨n«p|v.
A½sb sN¶p I|tijw, DSt\ bm{X ]pds¸SWsa¶pw I¯nÂ
Ft¶mSp kqNn¸n¨ncp¶p.
]ntä¶p cmhnseXs¶ Rm³ dn{Uq¯nsâ IqsS A½sb sN¶pI|p.
AUvand s_³s_mbn A½ k´pjvSbmbn ImWs¸«p. BtcmKyw
sa¨s¸«n«p|v. {]`p th| AäIpä¸WnIÄ sNbvXv hoSv
`wKnbm¡nbncp¶p. A½bv¡v Ccn¡m³ {]tXyIw Itkcbpw
hm§nbncn¡p¶p. klmb¯n\v Hcp ]¿s\bpw Xcs¸Sp¯nbn«p|v.
Rm³ A¶p cm{Xn AhnsS Xmakn¨p. cmhnse A½tbmSv bm{X
]dbpt¼mÄ Fsâ I®p \ndªp. P\n¨phfÀ¶ k{Xhpw ]cnkchpw
hn«pt]mIm³ hÃm¯ hnjaw. AhnsS\n¶nd§n Aev]kab¯n\pÅnÂ
k{Xw I®nÂ\n¶p adªp.
A¶p sshIpt¶cwXs¶ R§Ä {_ntÌmfnte¡v bm{X ]pds¸«p.
F\n¡v \Ã £oWap|mbncp¶p. \Ã XWp¸pw. cm{Xn Rm³
KmV\n{Zbnem|p. DWÀ¶t¸mÄ t\cw ]peÀ¶ncp¶p. henb
sI«nS§fpÅ sXcphv. AhnsS h|n \n¶p.
"Cu Øew GXmWv?' Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
"{_ntÌmÄ. Xmsgbnd§v.' dn{Uq¯v ]dªp.
ASp¯pXs¶bpÅ Hcp k{X¯nemWv {SntemWn{]`p Xmakn¨ncp¶Xv.
R§Ä ]pd¯nd§n \S¶p. IS F\n¡p ]cnNnXamsW¦nepw C{X
ASp¯ A\p`hw BZyambmWv. ]e cmPy§fnÂ\n¶papÅ hnhn[Xcw
I¸epIÄ, sImSnac§Ä, Smdnsâbpw D¸nsâbpw KÔw, ImXn hfban«
I¸n¯m·mÀ, AhcpsS \o| IrXmhpw ]¶nhm t]mepÅ XeapSnbpw.
FÃmw AÛpXIcambn F\n¡p tXm¶n. Rm\pw CXm I¸enÂ
bm{X]pds¸Sm³ t]mIp¶p. AXpw AÚmX Zzo]n Ipgn¨n« \n[n
tXSns¡m|v.
Hcp henb k{X¯nsâ ap¼n R§Ä {SntemWn {]`phns\ I|pap«n.
AbmÄ I¸n¯msâ thj¯nemWv.
"Mm, F¯ntbm!' {]`p R§sf I| DS³ tNmZn¨p. F¶n«p ]dªp:
"tUmIvSÀ e|\nÂ\n¶v C¶sesb¯n. I¸ense FÃm Poh\¡mcpw
X¿mdmWv.'
"Ft¸mgmWv \mw bm{X ]pds¸Sp¶Xv?' Rm³ Xnc¡n.
"\msf¯s¶.' {]`p adp]Sn ]dªp.
]ntä¶v {]`mX`£Ww Ignªt¸mÄ {]`p Hcp Ipdn¸v Fs¶ Gev]n¨p.
AXv tPm¬ knÂhdn\v sImSp¡m\pÅXmWv. knÂhÀ Xmakn¡p¶Xv
kvss] ¥mkv F¶ k{X¯nemWv. AXn\p ap¼n hensbmcp
sSekvtIm¸p|v. Bįnc¡neqsS \S¶v Rm³ AhnsSsb¯n.
]pXpXmbn s]bnâpsNbvX sI«nSw. CS]mSpImscÃmw \mhnIcmWv.
AhÀ hfsc D¨¯n hÀ¯am\w ]dbp¶p|mbncp¶p. F´p
sN¿Wsa¶dnbmsX Hcp \nanjw Rm³ AhnsS kwibn¨p \n¶p.
At¸mÄ ASp¯ apdnbnÂ\n¶v HcmÄ ]pd¯ph¶p. AbmÄ temMv
tPm¬ knÂhdmsW¶v F\n¡p tXm¶n. CSXpImÂ
\jvSs¸«ncps¶¦nepw hSnbpsS klmb¯m AbmÄ A\mbmkamWv
\S¡p¶p|mbncp¶Xv. AbmÄ hfsc k´pjvS\mbn ImWs¸«p.
CSbv¡nsS Nqfw hnfn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p.
{SntemWn{]`phnsâ I¯n kqNn¸n¨ CbmÄ, ap¼v hr²\mhnI³
]dª BfmsW¶v F\n¡p kwibwtXm¶n. ]t£, Hät\m«¯nÂ
Abmsfmcp ISÂs¡mÅ¡mc\msW¶v tXm¶pIbnÃ. AbmfpsS {]IrXw
A§s\bmbncp¶p.
"anÌÀ knÂhÀkmÀ!' Rm³ {]`p X¶ I¯v AbmÄ¡pt\tc \o«n.
AXp hmbn¨ DSs\ F\n¡p ssIX¶v AbmÄ D¨¯n ]dªp: "]pXnb
Im_n³ t_mbv AtÃ? I|Xn kt´mjw.'
s]mSp¶t\ Hcp CS]mSpImc³ AhnsS\n¶v Fgpt¶äv ]pdt¯¡p
t]mbn. F\n¡v Abmsf s]s«¶p a\Ênembn. ap¼v AUvandÂ
s_³s_mbn h¶, c|p hncepIÄ \jvSs¸« \mhnI³!
"]nSn¡v Abmsf. AXv »mIv tUmKmWv,' Rm³ D¨¯n ]dªp.
H¶pw a\Ênemhm¯ a«n knÂhÀ \n¶tXbpÅq.
"{SntemWn{]`p ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcpsS Imcyw ]dªncp¶ntÃ?
AXnsemcmfmWv AbmÄ.' Rm³ hyàam¡n.
 "A§s\tbm? Fsâ ho«n sImÅ¡mtcm?' DSs\ s_³, lmcn F¶o
kplr¯p¡tfmSv »mIv tUmKns\ ]nSnIqSm³ knÂhÀ ]dbmXncp¶nÃ.
tamÀK³ F¶ hr²\mhnIt\mSv A¡mcyw tNmZn¨t¸mÄ,
Adnbnsöp]dªv AbmÄ Hgnªpamdn.
F¶m knÂhÀ Ft¶mSv clkywt]mse ]dªp: "B t]cv Rm³
tI«n«nÃ. ]t£, B a\pjys\ Rm³ I|n«p|v. Hcp I®ps]m«sâIqsS
AbmÄ ChnsS hcmdp|mbncp¶p.'
"B I®ps]m«s\bpw F\n¡dnbmw. ]yq F¶mWv AbmfpsS t]cv.'
»mIv tUmKns\ kvss]¥mÊn I|XpsIm|v Fsâ kwibw
hÀ[n¨tXbpÅq. Rm³ knÂhdns\ kkq£vaw {i²n¡m³ XpS§n.
F¶m kwibw P\n¸n¡m¯hn[¯nepÅ kaÀYamb
s]cpamäambncp¶p AbmfptSXv. s_¶pw lmcnbpw shdpwssItbmsS
Xncns¨¯nbt¸mÄ AbmÄ Ahsc imkn¡p¶Xmbn \Sn¨p. »mIv tUmKv
dw IpSn¨v ]WwXcmsX Øewhn«Xn AbmÄ i]n¡p¶p|mbncp¶p!
knÂhÀ ]dªp: "\ap¡pSs\ Iym]vä³ {]`phns\ Cu hnhcw
Adnbn¡Ww. AXp \½psS ISabmWv. \ns¶ Rm³ AÊsemcp Im_n³
t_mbv B¡n¯oÀ¡pw.'
XpdapJ¯pIqSn \S¡pt¼mÄ knÂhÀ Ft¶mSp ]eXcw
I¸epIsf¡pdn¨p ]dªp. Fs´ms¡ tPmenIfmWv AhnsS
\S¡p¶sX¶v ImWn¨pX¶p. Nc¡pIÄ Ibäp¶Xpw Cd¡p¶Xpw I¸Â
bm{X ]pds¸Sp¶Xpw FÃmw. \mhnIcpsS ]eXcw XamiIÄ AbmÄ
]dbp¶p|mbncp¶p. I¸en \sÃmcp Iq«pImcs\ In«nbXmbn At¸mÄ
F\n¡p tXm¶n.
R§Ä k{X¯nse¯nbt¸mÄ {]`phpw tUmIvSÀ enhvknbpw aZyw
Ign¨psIm|ncn¡pIbmWv. knÂhÀ FÃm hnhchpw ]dªp.
"A§s\btÃ' F¶v Ft¶mSp tNmZn¡pIbpw sNbvXp.
»mIv tUmKv c£s¸«Xn {]`phn\pw tUmIvSÀ¡pw \ncmibmbn.
knÂhÀ Xncn¨p \S¡pt¼mÄ {]`p hnfn¨p ]dªp: "sshIpt¶cw
\mepaWn¡v FÃmhcpw X¿mdmIWw.'
"F\ns¡t´m Cu a\pjys\ ]qÀWambn hnizkn¡m³ Ignbp¶nÃ.'
tUmIvSÀ enhvkn ]dªp. "tbmKy³Xs¶' F¶mWv {]`p {]XnIcn¨Xv.
Rm³ {]`phnsâbpw tUmIvSdpsSbpwIqsS I¸Â ImWm³t]mbn.
lnkv]mt\ymfbpsS ASpt¯¡v Ipsd \St¡|nbncp¶p. R§Ä
I¸en sh¨v "Btcm' F¶p t]cpÅ hr²\mb Hcp \mhnIs\ I|p.
AbmfpsS ImXn hfb§fp|mbncp¶p. {]`phnsâ ASp¯
Iq«pImc\mWbmÄ.
 I¸ensâ Iym]väsâ t]cv kvsamsÃäv. Hcp ap³tIm]n. Xpf¨pIbdp¶
t\m«w. {]`phpambn Hcn¡epw tbmPn¸nÃ.
R§Ä Im_n\n IS¶ DSt\ AbmÄ ]dªp: "Nne Imcy§Ä
Xpd¶p ]dbm\p|v. \n§Ä¡v CjvSs¸SpIbnsöv Adnbmw. I¸ense
Poh\¡mscbpw IqsSbpÅhscbpw H¶pw F\n¡v CjvSambnÃ.'
"Hcp]t£, I¸epw CjvSaÃmbncn¡pw.' {]`p tZjys¸«p]dªp.
At\ym\yapÅ kwkmcw Ahkm\n¸n¡m³ tUmIvSÀ CSs]«p.
"Iym]vä³ ]dbs«. F´psIm|mWv I¸ense Poh\¡msc
CjvSs¸Sm¯sX¶v?'
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv ]dªp: "Fs¶ I¸ense Iym]vä\mbn
hnfn¨t¸mÄ bm{XbpsS Dt±iyw ]caclkyambncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ
I¸enepÅ FÃmhÀ¡pw Fs¶¡mf[nIw Cu clkyadnbmw. \n[n
tXSnbpÅ bm{XbmWt{X! A¯cw bm{X A]ISIcamWv. CXnt\mSIw
Cu hnhcsaÃmw knÂhÀ A§mSn¸m«m¡n¡gnªp.'
"A]ISs¯¸än R§Ä t_m[hm·mcmWv. ]t£, I¸ense Poh\
¡msc F´psIm|mWv hnizkn¡m¯Xv?' tUmIvSÀ tNmZn¨p,
"BfpIsf Rm³ XncsªSp¯XÃ. anÌÀ Btcmhns\t¸mepÅhÀ
\ÃhcmsW¦nepw aäpÅhcpambn N§m¯w IqSpXemWv.'
"icnbmWv. thsdsb´p|v ]dbm³!' tUmIvSÀ tIÄ¡m³ XmXv]cyw
ImWn¨p.
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv XpSÀ¶p: "c|p Imcy§fp|v. H¶v, shSnacp¶pw
Bbp[§fpw sU¡n kq£n¡p¶Xv icnbÃ. AXv Im_n\SnbnÂ
`{Zambn amänsh¡Ww. c|mas¯ Imcyw. \n§fpsSIqsS h¶hcnÂ
NneÀ Im_n\nse _À¯n InS¡Ww.'
"k½Xn¨p.'
"thsdm¶pIqSnbp|v. Zzo]nsâ Hcp am¸v \n§fpsS ssIhiapÅXmbn
a\Ênem¡p¶p. \n[nbncn¡p¶ Øehpw aäpw AXnÂ
tcJs¸Sp¯nbXmbpw ]dªptIÄ¡p¶p. I¸enepÅ FÃmhcpw CXns\
¡pdn¨p ]dbp¶p|v.'
C¡mcyw {]`phns\ sNmSn¸n¨p.
"Rm³ BtcmSpw ]dªn«nÃ. tlm¡n³tkm enhvkntbm ]dªXmhpw.'
tUmIvSÀ CSs]«v ho|pw cwKw im´am¡n.
Iym]vä³ XpSÀ¶p: "B am¸v BcpsS ssIbnemWv DÅsX¶v
F\n¡dnbnÃ. F¶m AXv Bscbpw ImWn¡cpXv. Fs¶tbm
Btcmhns\bpwt]mepw.'
 "AsXmcp clkyambncn¡Wsa¶mtWm? Hcp Iem]¯nsâ kqN\
Xm¦Ä¡p tXm¶p¶pt|m?' tUmIvSÀ tNmZn¨p.
"I¸ensâbpw Poh\¡mcpsSbpw kpc£bv¡v D¯chmZn Rm\mWv.
\½Ä ap³IcpXepIÄ FSp¡Wsa¶mWv Rm³ Dt±in¨Xv.'
knÂhsdbpw Iym]väs\bpwt]mepÅ c|pt]sc Is|¯nbXnÂ
tUmIvSÀ¡v kt´mjw tXm¶n.
"Iym]väs\ F\n¡v CjvSaÃ. AbmfpsS s]cpamäw almtamiamWv.'
{]`p A`n{]mbs¸«p.
Iym]väsâbpw Btcmhnsâbpw t\XrXz¯n sU¡nse Bbp[§fpw
shSnacp¶pw \o¡w sN¿m³ XpS§n. ]pXnb kwhn[m\w
F\n¡njvSs¸«p. Rm\pw dn{Uq¯pw Im_n\nepw Btcmhpw Iym]vä\pw
sU¡nepamWv Ddt§|Xv.
km[\§Ä \o¡ns¡m|ncp¶t¸mÄ knÂhÀ H¶pc|p t]tcmSpIqSn
t_m«nse¯n. AbmÄ I¸ente¡v Hcp Ipc§sâ kmaÀ°yt¯msS
AÅn¸nSn¨v F¯nt\m¡n. Bbp[§Ä amäp¶Xv AbmÄ¡v
CjvSanÃm¯Xpt]mse tXm¶n.
"BfpIÄ¡v hni¡p¶p|mhpw. Xm³ sN¶v `£Ww
X¿mdm¡nhbv¡q.' Iym]vä³ ASp¡fbn tPmensN¿m³ knÂhsd
]dªphn«p. t\m¡n\n¡pIbmbncp¶ Ft¶mSpw t]mIm³]dªp.
Iym]väsâ ]cp¡³kz`mhw F\n¡v H«pw CjvSs¸«nÃ.
4
cm{Xn apgph³ R§Ä km[\§Ä HXp¡nsh¡p¶ Xnc¡nembncp¶p.
{]`phnsâ ]e kplr¯p¡fpw bm{X ]dbms\¯nbncp¶p. cm{Xnbnse
A[zm\wsIm|v Rm³ £oWn¨pd§n. {]`mX¯n\pap¼v I¸Â
]pds¸Sm\pÅ IpgÂhnfnbpbÀ¶p. DS³Xs¶ Poh\¡mÀ AhchcpsS
Øm\§fnse¯n tPmenbn apgpIn. Rm³ sU¡nÂXs¶ \n¶p.
F\n¡v FÃmw ]pXnb A\p`hambncp¶p. tae[nImcnIfpsS \nÀt±i§Ä,
hnknensâ i_vZw, F§pw BfpIfpsS Xnc¡n« Ne\§Ä.
AXn\nsS Hcp \mhnI³ knÂhtdmSv ]gb ]m«p]mSm³ Bhiys¸«p.
AbmÄ DS³Xs¶ ]mSn:
"N¯hsâ s]«nta ]Xn\©pt]Àþ
Hcp Ip¸n dw tbm tlmtlm...'
FÃmhcpw AXv Gäp ]mSp¶p|mbncp¶p.
AUvand s_³t_mhnÂh¶ hr²\mb Iym]vä³ ap¼v B
]m«p]mSnbXv Fsâ HmÀ½bnÂh¶p. At¸mtg¡pw I¸Â bm{X]pds¸«p
Ignªp. IcbnÂ\n¶v R§Ä AI¶I¶p t]mhpIbmWv.
\n[nZzo]nte¡pÅ bm{X.
lnkv]mt\ymf hfsc \Ã I¸embncp¶p. Ignhpä Iym]vä³, \Ã Poh\
¡mÀ. ]t£, \n[nZzo]nse¯p¶Xn\pap¼v AkpJIcamb c|paq¶p
Imcy§Ä kw`hn¨p.
anÌÀ Btcm tamis¸« Hm^okdmbncp¶p. AbmfpsS IognepÅhsc
\nb{´n¡m³ AbmÄ¡p Ignªncp¶nÃ. AhÀ tXm¶nb amXncn
Imcy§Ä sNbvXp. Btcm apgp¡pSnb\mbncp¶p. IpSn¨p t_m[anÃmsX
]et¸mgpw InS¡p¶Xp ImWmw. I¸en C{Xb[nIw IpSn¡m³
In«p¶sX§s\? AsXmcp clkyambncp¶p.
FÃm Imcy§fnepw Btcm A{i² ImWn¨p. AbmÄ BßlXy
sNbvtX¡ptam F¶pt]mepw kwibnt¡| L«w h¶p. A§s\bncnt¡
Hcp cm{Xn I¸enÂ\n¶v AbmÄ A{]Xy£amhpIXs¶ sNbvXp.
"I¸ensâ ta¯«nÂ\n¶v hoWXmbncn¡pw. AtXXmbmepw \¶mbn.'
Iym]väsâ A`n{]mbw AXmbncp¶p.
Btcmhn\p ]Icambn R§Ä¡v tPm_v B³tUgvkvs\bmWp
In«nbXv. AbmÄ \Ã IgnhpÅ Hm^okdmbncp¶p.
{]`p ap¼pw I¸Âbm{X sNbvXn«p|v. B ]cnNbw bm{Xbn henb
D]Imcambn. ImemhØ A\pIqeamIpt¼mÄ AbmÄ Xsâ \nco£Ww
\S¯nt¸m¶p. I¸ensâ Aac¡mc³ Ct{k lmâvkv Bbncp¶p. Hcp
hr²³. ]t£, hnZKv²\mWv, tPm¬ knÂhdnsâ kplr¯pw.
knÂhÀ Xsâ s{I¨v Igp¯n Iq«ns¡«pIbmWv ]Xnhv. At¸mÄ
c|p ssIbpw kzX{´ambn¯ocpw. A§s\bmWvAbmÄ ASp¡fbnÂ
tPmensN¿pI. ImäpwtImfpapÅt¸mgpw AbmÄ sU¡neqsS AXnthKw
k©cn¡pambncp¶p. FÃmhÀ¡pw Abmsf _lpam\amWv. aäpÅhsc
]et¸mgpw klmbn¡pw. Ft¶mSv hfsc ZbtbmSpIqSnbmWv AbmÄ
s]cpamdnbncp¶Xv.
Rm³ ASp¡fbn sN¶m knÂhÀ Fs¶ ASp¯p hnfn¨ncp¯pw.
ckIcamb IYIÄ ]dªptIĸn¡pw.
knÂhÀ Hcp X¯sb t]mänbncp¶p. Iym]vä³ ^vfnâv F¶mWXnsâ
t]cv. bm{X hnPb{]ZamIptam Fs¶ms¡ X¯tbmSv AbmÄ
tNmZn¡mdpap|v. X¯ adp]Sn]dbp¶Xp tIÄ¡m³ \Ã XamibmWv.
]e cmPy§fnepw Xt¶msSm¸w X¯sb AbmÄ sIm|pt]mbn«p|v.
knÂhsd F\n¡p \¶mbn CjvSs¸«p. AbmfpsSIqsS kabw
sNehgn¡m³ F\n¡p kt´mjambncp¶p.
Fs´ms¡bmbn«pw {]`phpw Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäpw X½nepÅ AI¨
Ahkm\n¨nÃ. Iym]väs\ shdp¡p¶ Imcyw {]`p ad¨psh¨nÃ. Xt¶mSp
hÃXpw kwkmcn¨meÃmsX Iym]vä³ At§m«p an|nbXpanÃ.
ImemhØ ]et¸mgpw {]XnIqeambncp¶p. F¦nepw I¸ensâ
ta·sIm|v {]iv\sam¶pap|mbnÃ. ]t£, {]`phnsâ ]e {]hr¯nIfpw
{]iv\§Ä krjvSn¨p. Poh\¡mÀ¡nSbn th| A¨S¡w
Im¯pkq£n¡m³ AbmÄ¡p IgnªnÃ. ]nd¶mÄ BtLmj§fpsS
t]cn ]pÍnMv D|m¡pIbpw CjvSwt]mse aZyw hnf¼pIbpw sNbvXp.
Hcp aqebn Hcp ho¸ \ndsb B¸nÄ. CjvSwt]mse FSp¯pXn¶mw.
]t£, B B¸nÄ \nd¨ ho¸sIm|v Imcyap|mbn. B ho¸
CÃmbncp¶psh¦n R§fpsS Poh³Xs¶ A]IS¯nemtbs\!
R§fpsS bm{X GXm|v Ahkm\n¡mdmbn. cm{Xntbm cmhnsetbm
\n[nZzo]nse¯pw. AXpsIm|v FÃmhcpw henb BËmZ¯nembncp¶p.
cm{Xn Fsâ tPmensbÃmwIgnªv Im_n\nte¡p t]mIpt¼mÄ F\n¡v
Hcp B¸nÄ Xn¶Wsa¶ptXm¶n. Rm³ sU¡ntet¡mSn. FÃmhcpw
]pdt¯¡p t\m¡n\n¡pIbmWv. Aac¡mc³ CSbv¡nsS
hnkneSn¡p¶p|v. XpgbpsS H¨bpw IS¯ncIÄ XgpIp¶ i_vZhpw
am{Xw tIÄ¡mw.
Rm³ B¸nfnsâ ho¸bn Ibdnbncp¶p. Ipd¨v B¸nÄam{Xta
_m¡nbp|mbncp¶pÅq. I¸ensâ Ne\t¯msSm¸w shůnsâ
i_vZhpw tIÄ¡mambncp¶p. s]s«¶v ASp¯p\n¶v Imevs]cpamäw. ho¸
H¶n¨nfIn. HcmÄ ho¸tbmSv Nmcn \nev]mWv. Rm³ t]Sn¨p ]pdt¯¡p
NmtS|Xmbncp¶p. AXn\pap¼v AbmÄ kwkmcn¡m³ XpS§n, AXv
knÂhdmbncp¶p. `bt¯msSm¸w AÛpXhpw Fs¶ ]nSnIqSn. F
´psImt|m I¸ense BfpIfpsS Poh³ A]IS¯nemsW¶v F\n¡p
tXm¶n.
^vfnâv Iym]vä\mbncp¶ Hcp I¸ens\¡pdn¨mWv AbmÄ kwkmcn¨Xv.
X\n¡v Im \jvSs¸«Xns\¸änbpw ]yqhn\v I®v \jvSs¸«Xns\¸änbpw
AbmÄ ]dªp. Hmtcm Øe¯v bm{X sNbvXt¸mgpw Xm³ k¼mZn¨
[\s¯¡pdn¨v knÂhÀ hmNme\mbn. ]yqhnsâ [\s¯¡pdn¨pw HSphnÂ
]m¸cmbn acn¨Xns\¸änbpw ]dªp.
"ISen Hcp `mKymt\zjnbpsS PohnXw _p²nap«pIÄ \ndªXmWv.
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcn ]ecpw In«p¶ ]Ww [qÀ¯Sn¨p XoÀ¡p¶hcmWv.
F¶m Fs¶ t\m¡v. Rm³ F{Xam{Xw k¼mZn¨n«ps|t¶m? FÃm
kpJkuIcy§tfmSpwIqSn Pohn¡Ww. AXmsWsâ {]amWw.'
Un¡v F¶ sNdp¸¡mt\mSmWv knÂhÀ kwkmcn¨psIm|ncp¶Xv.
Ahs\ {]tem`n¸n¨v sImÅ¡mc\mhm³ t{]cn¸n¡pIbmbncp¶p.
"t\m¡v Un¡v, \o sNdp¸amWv. \n\¡v Cu cwK¯v hnPbn¡m³
Ignbpw.' knÂhdnsâ hm¡pIÄ tI«t¸mÄ F\n¡p hÃm¯ tIm]w
h¶p.
"Cu tPmen F\n¡v CjvSaÃmbncp¶p. ]t£, \n§fpsS D]tZiw
tI«t¸mÄ Fsâ a\Êpamdn. C\n Rm³ \n§fpsS `mK¯mWv.' Un¡v
Dd¸psImSp¯p.
knÂhÀ t\cnb Hcp hnkneSn¨p.
At¸mÄ I¸ensâ Aac¡mc³ Ct{k lmâvkv {]Xy£s¸«p.
"Un¡v \t½msSm¸amWv.' knÂhÀ ]dªp.
"AsX\n¡dnbmw. Un¡v hnUvVnsbm¶paÃ. C\n F´n\mWp
\o«ns¡m|p t]mIp¶Xv. Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäns\ F\n¡p aXnbmbn.'
Ct{k A£atbmsS ]dªp.
"Rm³ ]dbp¶XptIÄ¡v.' knÂhÀ ]dªp:"Xnc¡pIq«nbm FÃmw
]mfnt¸mIpw. hm¡nepw s]cpamä¯nepw aäpÅhÀ¡v kwibw tXm¶cpXv.
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv H¶m´cw \mhnI\mWv. {]`phnsâbpw
tUmIvSdpsSbpw ssIhiamsW¦n am¸p|v. FhnsSbmWv sh¨sX¶v
F\n¡dnbnÃ. AhÀ \n[n Is|¯s«. \ap¡v klmbn¡mw. I¸Â
XncnsI ]mXnZqcw ]n¶nSpt¼mÄ \ap¡v ]cn]mSn \S¸m¡Ww. ]ns¶
\½Ä [\nIÀ! \n§Ä¡v Ct¸mÄ th|Xv F´msW¶v F\n¡dnbmw.
Ign¡v, CjvSwt]mse dw FSp¯pIgn¡v.'
"Iym]väs\bpw aäpÅhscbpw ]nSn¨psI«n XShpImcm¡n¡gnªmÂ,
\½Ä ]n¶oShsc F´p sN¿pw.' Un¡v tNmZn¨p,
"Poht\msS hnSp¶ {]iv\anÃ. sIm¶pIfbpw. AXmWv _nkn\Êv.
N¯pIgnªm Fsâ ]qÀÆIY ]dbm³ Ahcp|mhnÃ.' knÂhÀ Dd¨
i_vZ¯n ]dªp.
"Xm³ icn¡pw Hcp [oc³Xs¶.' Ct{kensâ A\ptamZ\w.
"Hcp Imcyw F\n¡p sN¿m\p|v. {]`phns\ F\n¡p kz´w
ssIsIm|v sImÃWw.' A§s\ ]dªv knÂhÀ Hcp B¸nÄ FSp¯p
sImSp¡m³ Un¡nt\mSv Bhiys¸«p.
Fsâ `bw Duln¡mhp¶tXbpÅq. Un¡v Fgpt¶ev¡p¶ H¨ tI«p.
DSt\ Ahs\ XSªv Ct{k ]dªp: "B¸nfÃ, dw BWv th|Xv.'
"Hcp Ip¸n dw FSp¯psIm|phm.' knÂhÀ Xmt¡m Un¡nsâ
t\À¡p \o«n.
Un¡v t]mb DSs\ Ct{kÂ, knÂhdnsâ sNhnbn a{´n¨p:
"asämcmsf¡qSn \½psS Iq«¯nte¡v C\n In«nÃ.'
Un¡v d½nsâ Ip¸nbpamsb¯n. At\ym\yw `mKyw t\À¶psIm|v
AhÀ IpSn XpS§n.
GXm|v B kabw B¸nÄ _mcensâ apIfn t\À¯ shfn¨w. Rm³
taevt]m«pt\m¡n. BImi¯v N{μ³ {]Imin¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. AtX
kabwXs¶ ap¼n Ic I|Xnsâ BËmZi_vZw I¸enÂ\n¶v
D¨¯n apg§n.
5
I¸ensâ sU¡n henb Xnc¡v. Rm³ HmSn AhnsSsb¯n. l|dpw
tUmIvSÀ enhvknbpw AhnsS D|mbncp¶p. I¸ense FÃm Poh\¡mcpw
AhnsS F¯nbncp¶p. aªv Aev]w amdnbn«p|v.
sX¡p]Snªmdp`mK¯v c|p Ip¶pIÄ I®nÂs¸«p. AXnsâ ]n¶nÂ
aq¶masXmcp henb Ip¶v. AXnsâ apIÄ`mKw aªn aqSn¡nS¸mWv.
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv Zzo]nsâ Ing-¡p-h-i-t¯¡v I¸-tem-Sn-¡m³ Iev]\
sImSp-¡p-¶p|m-bn-cp-¶p.
"Cu Zzo]v \n§-fn Bsc-¦nepw ap¼v I|n-«pt|m?' Iym]vä³ tNmZn-¨p.
"Rm³ I|n-«p|v kÀ.' knÂhÀ ]d-ªp: "aps¼mcp Nc¡pI¸-ensâ
IqsS Rm\n-hnsS X§n-bn-«p|v.'
"Zzo]nsâ sX¡p`mK-¯mbn \ap¡v \¦q-c-an-Smw.'
"AtX, kÀ. AØn-IqSZzo]v F¶m-W-Xnsâ t]cv. ap¼v ISÂs¡mÅ-
¡mcpsS {][m\ Xmh-f-am-bn-cp-¶p. henb Ip¶nsâ t]cv kvss]¥mkv
F¶m-Wv. AhnsS\n¶p t\m¡n-bm Npäp-apÅ FÃm ImgvN-Ifpw ImWmw.'
"Fsâ ssIbn-semcp NmÀ«p|v. Øew CXpXs¶bmtWm F¶p
t\m¡mw.'Iym]vä³ ]d-ªp.
knÂhÀ AXn-te¡p angn¨pt\m¡n. NmÀ«n ho|pw t\m¡nb-t¸mÄ
_nÃn-t_m¬knsâ ssIbnÂ\n¶v In«n-b-XÃ AsX¶v F\n¡p tXm¶n.
AXv icn-¡p-Å-Xnsâ Hcp tIm¸n-bm-bn-cp-¶p. Nph¶ t{Imkv AS-bm-f-tam
Ipdn-¸p-Itfm AXn-en-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. knÂ-h-dn\v hnjaw tXm¶n-sb-¦nepw
Abm-fXp ]pd-¯p-Im-«n-bn-Ã.
"sX¡p-`m-K-¯mbn iàn-bmb Hgp-¡p|v. AXp-sIm|v I¸-en\v ]Sn-
ªmtd Xoc-s¯-¯m³ {]bm-k-an-Ã. \ap¡v Cd-§m³]änb Øew AXm-
Wv, kÀ.' knÂhÀ hyà-am-¡n.
"klmbw Bh-iy-ap-Å-t¸mÄ hnfn-¡mw.' Iym]vä³ Abm-sf ]-d-ª-b-¨p.
F{X im´-am-bmWv knÂhÀ Imcy-§Ä ]d-bp-¶Xv? Rm³ AÛp-X-s¸-«p.
AbmÄ Fsâ t\À¡v \S¶p-h-cp-¶Xp I|-t¸mÄ F\n¡p t]Sn tXm¶n.
Abm-sfsâ ssI ]nSn-¨p.
"Cu Zzo]v \ns¶-t¸m-epÅ anSp-¡³Ip«n¡p ]än-b-Xm-Wv. Ifn¡mw. ac-
¯n Ib-dmw. BSp-Isf th«-bm-Smw. F\n¡pw sNdp-¸-am-bn-cp-s¶-¦nÂ
F¶v tXm¶n-t¸m-Ip-¶p. Npän\S-¡m³ t]mIpt¼mÄ Xn¶m³hÃXpw thW-
sa-¦n Cu hr²-t\mSp ]d-bp-Itb th|q.' hfsc kvt\l-]qÀÆw Fs¶
Xtem-Sn-s¡m|v knÂhÀ Xmtgm-«n-d-§n-t¸m-bn.
 Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäpw {]`phpw tUmIvSÀ enhvknbpw Ft´m kwkmcn-
¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. F\n¡v Ah-tcmSp kwkm-cn-¡-W-sa-¶p|m-bn-cp-¶p.
tUmIvSÀ Fs¶ ASp-t¯¡phnfn-¨p. Abm-fpsS ss]¸v Xmsg ad-¶p-sh-¨n-
cp-¶p. AXv F-Sp¯psIm|phcm³ Ft¶m-Sm-h-iy-s¸«p. AXp- sImSp-¡p-
t¼mÄ Rm³ tUmIvS-tdmSv NneXp kwkm-cn-¡m-\p-s|¶p ]d-ªp. `b-¦-c-
amb B hmÀ¯ tI«-t¸mÄ tUmIvS-dpsS apJw s]s«¶p hmSn.
"\μn, Pnw. Rm³ Adn-bm³ B{K-ln-¨ ImcywXs¶.' AbmÄ ]d-ªp.
DSt\ tUmIvSÀ aäp c|p-t]-cp-tSbpw ASp¯p sN¶v kwkm-cn¨p. AhÀ
AÛp-X-sam¶pw {]I-Sn-¸n-¨n-Ã. Iym]vä³ At¸mįs¶ tPm_v B³-tU-
gvks\ hnfn-¨v, FÃm-h-tcmSpw sU¡n lmP-cmIm³ Bh-iy-s¸-«p.
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv ]dªp: "F\n¡v \n§tfmSv Hcp Imcyw ]d-bm-
\p|v. \mw bm{X-t]m-Ip¶ Zzo]v \½Ä I|pIgn-ªp. FÃm-hcpw Ah-c-h-
cpsS tPmen \¶mbnsNbvXp. {]`p hfsc DZm-c-a-Xn-bm-Wv. C\n tUmIvS-dpw
{]`phpw Rm\pw Xmsg Im_n\nÂt]mbn Aev]w aZy-]n-¡-s«. FÃmw \n§-
fpsS Btcm-Ky-¯n\pw `mKy-¯n\pwth|n. \n§-sfÃmw R§-fpsS KpW-
¯n-\p-th|n CjvSw-t]mse dw Ign-¡p-I. {]`phns\-t¸m-epÅ DZm-c-a-Xn¡v
\tam-hmIw.'
\mhn-I-scÃmw BÀ¯pNncn-¨p. AXn NneÀ R§sf
sImÃm³t]mIp¶ Imcyw F\n¡p hniz-kn-¡m-\m-bn-Ã.
"Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃ-än\v Hcp Nntbgvkv IqSn.' knÂhÀ Dd-s¡-]-d-ªp.
\mhn-IÀ ho|pw BËmZw apg-¡n.
am\y-cmb aq¶p-t]cpw Xmtgm-«p-t]m-bn. DS³Xs¶ Fs¶ Xmtgm«p hnfn-
¸n-¨p.
AhÀ aq¶p-t]cpw IqSn-bn-cp¶v ssh³ IpSn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. AhÀ
P\¸m-fn-IÄ Xpd-¶n-«n-cp¶p. N{μsâ {]Imiw I¸en X«n an¶n-¯n-f-
§n.
"Pnw lm¡n³kn\v F´mWv ]d-bm-\p-ÅXv?' {]`p tNmZn-¨p.
Rm³ Hfn-ªn-cp¶p tI« hnh-c-§Ä ]d-ªp. Un¡v, Ct{k- F¶n-h-cp-
ambn knÂhÀ \S-¯nb kw`m-jWw apgp-h-\pw. Bcpw CSbv¡v H¶pw
tNmZn-¨n-Ã. Ah-cpsS I®p-IÄ BZywapXÂ Ah-km\whsc Fsâ apJ-
¯m-bn-cp-¶p.
"Pnw Ccn-¡v.' tUmIvSÀ enhvkn ]d-ªp.
Ah-scs¶ tai-bpsS ASp¯v ]nSn-¨n-cp-¯n.- Hcp ¥mkv \ndsb ssh³
]IÀ¶v F\n¡pX¶p. Fsâ Btcm-Ky¯n\pw `mKy-¯n-\pw ss[cy-
¯n\pwth|n Ahcpw IpSn-¨p.
 ]n¶oSv {]`p, Iym]vä-t\mSv ]dªp: "F\n¡p sXän. \n§Ä ]d-ª-Xp-
icn-bm-bn. Rm³ kzbw -Hcp hnUvVn-bm-bn. C\n FÃmw \n§Ä ]d-bp-
¶Xpt]mse.'
"F\n¡v BZyta Poh-\-¡m-cn henb hnizm-k-an-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. ]t£,
Ah-scmcp Iem-]-¯n\p apXn-cp-sa¶v Rm³ Hcn-¡epw Icp-Xn-b-X-Ã.'
Iym]vä³ ]d-ªp. ASn-b-´c-ambn {i²n-t¡| aq¶p-\mep Imcy-§-sf-¡p-
dn¨v AbmÄ R§-tfmSp kwkm-cn-¨p.
H¶v, \ap¡v bm{X XpSÀt¶]äq. ]n´n-cn-ªm AhÀ \ap-s¡-Xntc
Xncn-bpw. c|v, \n[n Is|-¯p-¶Xphsc \ap¡v th|{X ka-b-ap|v. aq¶v,
Ipd¨pt]À hniz-kvX-cm-bn-«p|v. {]`phnsâ aq¶p-t]cpw kXy-kÔ-cm-Wv.
Pnw lm¡n³kv AS¡w. \½Ä \mept]À. A§s\ BsI Ggp t]cp|v.
i{Xp-¡Ä H«pw {]Xo-£n-¡m¯ ka-b-¯v \½Ä Bª-Sn-¡-Ww. AÃmsX
c£-bn-Ã.'
At¸mÄ tUmIvSÀ ]dªp: "Pn½n\v aäm-tc-¡mfpw \s½ klm-bn-¡m³
Ign-bpw, Pn½ns\ aäp-Å-hÀ¡p kwi-b-an-Ã. AXp-sIm|v Ah-cpsS \o¡-
§Ä {i²n-¡m³ Ign-bpw.'
"Rm³ Pn½n FÃm hnizm-khpw AÀ¸n-¡p-¶p.' {]`p ]d-ªp.
Rm\msI ]cn-{`-an¨pt]mbn. C\n IqsS-bp-Å-h-cpsS c£ Fsâ
ssIbnem-Wv. Rm\-S¡w BsI Ggp-t]À. adp-h-i-¯p-Å-h-cpsS F®-am-
Is« ]s¯m³]-Xv.
Zzo]nsâ sX¡pIng¡p `mK¯v Hcp ssa AI-e-¯n-emWv I¸Â \¦q-c-
an-«-Xv. cmhnse t\m¡n-b-t¸mÄ hyXy-kvX-amb ImgvN-I-fmWv Zzo]n I|-
Xv. \ndsb ImSpw ac-§-fpw. Db-c-apÅ ss]³ ac-§Ä Xe-bp-bÀ¯n
\n¡p-¶p. AXnepw Db-c-¯n Ip¶p-IÄ. kvss]Kvfmkv FÃm-än\pw
aotX s]m§n¡mWp-¶p.
]t£, Zzo]nse ImgvN-IÄ Fs¶ BIÀjn-¨nÃ. \c¨ ImSpIfpw Ip¶p-
I-fnse ]md-¡-Ãp-Ifpw a\-Ên hnjmZw DWÀ¯n. IS¸£n-IÄ
R§Ä¡pNpäpw ]d-¡p-¶p|m-bn-cp-¶p. IS¯nc-IÄ Xoc-t¯¡v Bª-
Sn¨p s]m«n-¨n-X-dn. Fsâ a\-Ên-Sn-bm³ XpS§nbncp¶p. \n[n Zzo]n-s\-¡p-dn-
¨pÅ Nn´ F¶n shdp-¸p-WÀ¯n.
{]`mXw hfsc hnc-k-am-bn-t¯m-¶n. Imänsâ bmsXmcp e£-W-hp-an-Ã.
AXp-sIm|v t_m«p-IÄ ]pd-s¯-Sp¯p Xpg-tb|nh¶p. I¸Â AØn-Iq-S-
Zzo]nsâ kao-]-sa-¯n¡m³, I\-¯-Nq-Sn Hcp-]mSv A[zm-\n-t¡|Xp|m-
bn-cp-¶p.
]t£, Zzo]vv I®nÂs¸«tXmSpIqSn AXphscbpw IrXy-ambn tPmen
sNbvXn-cp¶hÀ¡v aSn. AsXmcp \à e£-W-ambn F\n¡p tXm¶n-bn-Ã.
 am¸nse kqN\b\p-k-cn¨v \n[n-Zzo-]n\pw AØnIqSZzo]n\pw CSbv¡v
I¸Â \¦q-c-an-«p. ASn-h-i¯v sXfnª aWÂ. ]pds¯ i_vZ-tIm-em-l-e-
§ÄtI«v ]£n-IÄ Im«n Cf-In-¸-d-¶p. Ipd¨pIgn-ª-t¸mÄ FÃmw \nÈ-
_vZw.
I¸-en Xncn-s¨-¯n-b-t¸mÄ Bfp-I-fpsS s]cp-amäw IqSp-X tami-am-
bn. AhÀ i]n-¨p-sIm|v sU¡n InS-¶-tX-bp-Åq. Gev]n¨ Hcp
tPmenbpw XmXv]-cy-]qÀÆw sN¿m³ Bcpw X¿m-dm-bn-Ã. Iem-]-¯nsâ
ImÀta-L-§Ä A´-co-£-¯n Dcp|pIqSn-b-Xp-t]msetXm¶n.
\mhn-IÀ At¸mÄ Iem-]-¯n-\n-d-§n-bm Xsâ ]cn-]mSn hnP-bn-¡n-
söv knÂh-dn\v \¶mbn Adn-bm-am-bn-cp-¶p. AXp-sIm|v AbmÄ Hmtcm
{Kq¸nsâbpw ASp¯psN¶v, Nncn-¨p-sIm|v D]-tZ-i-§Ä sImSp-¯p-sIm|n-
cp-¶p. ]m«p-]mSn ckn-¸n-¡m\pw ad¶n-Ã.
R§Ä Im_n-\n Hcp tbmKwtNÀ¶p.
Iym]vä³ ]dªp: "Ct¸mÄ Rms\mcp Iev]\ sImSp-¯m FÃm \mhn-
Icpw FXnÀ¡pw. AhÀ Ft¶mSv adp¯p]d-ªm F\n¡pw ]d-tb|n-h-
cpw. AXp IqSp-XÂ Ipg-¸-am-Wv. Rms\m¶pw ]d-ªn-sÃ-¦ntem, knÂh-dn\v
kwi-b-amhpIbpw sN¿pw. \ap-¡n-t¸mÄ B{i-bn-¡m-hp-¶Xv Hcm-tf-bp-Åq.'
"AXm-cmWv?' {]`p tNmZn-¨p.
"knÂhÀ. \s½-t¸mseXs¶ Imcy-§Ä kz´w hcp-Xn-bn \ndp-¯m³
AbmÄ¡v Gsd XmXv]-cy-ap|v. \ap¡v AbmÄs¡mcp Ah-kcw sImSp-
¡mw. sshIp-t¶cw Bfp-I-tfmSv Ic-bv¡n-d-§m³ ]d-bmw. t]mIm-¯-hsc
\ap-¡v I¸-en FXn-cn-Smw.'
{]`phnsâ Bfp-I-fmb l|À, tPmbvkv, dn{Uq¯v F¶n-h-tcmSv FÃm
hnh-chpw ]d-ªp. Ah-cpsS ssIbn \nd-bpÅ ]nÌ sImSp-¯p. AXn-
\p-tijw Iym]vä³ sU¡nÂs¨¶v Poh-\-¡msc A`nkw-t_m-[\ sNbvXp:
"C¶v hÃm¯ NqSpÅ Znh-k-am-b-Xp-sIm|v \msaÃmw £oWnX-cm-Wv.
AXp-sIm|v Ic-bn-te¡v Hcp bm{Xt]mIp-¶Xv \Ã-Xm-bn-cn¡pw F¶v
F\n¡p tXm¶p-¶p. t_m«p-IÄ shÅ-¯n sdUn-bm-Wv. Ac-a-Wn-
¡qÀIgnªv Hcp shSn-sbm¨ tIÄ¡p-t¼mÄ I¸-en-te¡p aS-§n-h-c-Ww.'
Ic-bn-se-¯n-bm-ep-S³ \n[n Is|-¯W-sa¶ Nn´-bmWv \mhn-IÀ¡p-Å-
sX¶v F\n¡p tXm¶n. AhÀ AXy-[nIw kt´m-j-t¯mSp-IqSn DS³Xs¶
t]mIm-\pÅ Hcp-¡-§Ä XpS-§n.
Iym]vä³ X¡m-e-t¯¡v sU¡nÂ\n¶p -am-dn-\n-¶p. knÂh-dmWv
]mÀ«n-bn th|-hsc Xocp-am-\n-¨-Xv. Abm-fmWv ]mÀ«n-bpsS Iym]vä³.
an¡-hcpw Abmsf A\p-k-cn-¡m³ X¿m-dm-bn-cp-¶p.
 Bdp-t]À I¸-enÂXs¶ \n¡-Ww. _m¡n knÂhÀ AS-¡-apÅ ]Xn-aq-
¶p-t]-cmWv t_m«n-te¡p t]mtI|-Xv.
s]s«¶v Fsâ a\-Ên Hcp an¶Â ]mªp. knÂh-dnsâ Bdp-t]À I¸-
en-ep-s|-¦nÂ, FXn-cn-Sm³ X§-fpsSIqsSbpÅ Bdp-t]ÀaXn. Fsâ Bh-
iy-an-Ã. AXp-sIm|v Rm\pw Ic-bn-te¡p t]mIm³ Xocp-am-\n-¨p.
DS³Xs¶ Rm³ ASp-¯pÅ Hcp t_m«n \pg-ªp-I-bdn Hfn-¨n-cp-¶p.
t_m«v At¸mÄXs¶ ]pd-s¸-Sp-IbpwsNbvXp.
t_m«nse Xpg-¡m-c³ HgnsI Bcpw Fs¶ {i²n-¨n-Ã.
"tlm, Pnt½m? Xe-Xm-gv¯n-bn-cn-¡v.' AbmÄ ]d-ªp. ]t£, asämcp
t_m«n-Â\n¶v knÂhÀ Fs¶ Xncn-¨-dn-ªn-cp-¶p.
R§-fmWp apt¼ F¯n-b-Xv. Ic-bnse Hcp ac-¨n-Ã-bn ]nSn¨v Rm³
NmSn-bn-d-§n. DSs\ HmSn ASp-¯pÅ Im«n-semfn-¨p. knÂhdpw Iq«pImcpw
hfsc ]n¶n-em-bn-cp-¶p.
"Pnw, Pnw.' AbmÄ hnfn-¡p-¶- H¨tI-«p.
Rm³ Im«n-eqsS X¸n-¯-Sªv _lp-Zqcw apt¼m-«p-]mªp.
6
Zzo]n Bįmakap|mbncp¶nÃ. Npäpw t\m¡nbt¸mÄ [mcmfw
]q¡fpÅ kky§Ä I|p. ]teS¯pw ]m¼pIsfbpw. AXnÂ
D{KhnjapÅ H¶v Fsâ t\À¡p Noän.
Rm³ NXp¸pØew IS¶v aWÂ\ndª Hcp {]tZis¯¯n. \ndsb
]¨]pX¨p\n¡p¶ ac§Ä. Hcp `mK¯v sNdnb Hcp ]pg ISente¡v
HgpIp¶p|mbncp¶p. kqcysâ NqSv AklyambntXm¶n. kvss]¥mkv
sXfnªp ImWmambncp¶p. s]s«¶v Im«nÂ\n¶v Nne
i_vZtImemle§Ä tI«p. ]£nIÄ IcªpsIm|v ]d¶p. I¸ense
Iq«pImcn Btcm AhnsSbpÅXpt]mse F\n¡ptXm¶n. `bs¸«pt]mb
Rm³ Hcp ac¯nsâ adhn Hfn¨p\n¶p.
HcmÄ Ft´m kwkmcn¡p¶p. asämcmÄ adp]Sn ]dbp¶p.
BZys¯bmÄ knÂhdmsW¶v Rm³ Xncn¨dnªp. AhcpsS kwkmcw
tIÄ¡m³ Rm³ \ne¯pIqSn Cgªp\o§n. CeIÄ¡nSbneqsS Ahsc
icn¡pw ImWmambncp¶p. knÂhÀ asämcp \mhnIt\mSv
kwkmcn¡pIbmWv.
kqcyshfn¨w AhcpsSta ]Xn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. knÂhÀ sXm¸n
Xmsgbn«v A]ct\mSp ]dªp:
"tSmw, Rm³ \ns¶ CjvSs¸Sp¶XpsIm|mWv ]dbp¶Xv. \nsâ Poh³
c£s¸SWsa¦nÂ, Fsâ ap¶dnbn¸v \o sNhns¡mÅWw.' knÂhÀ
]dªp.
tSmw tamÀKsâ apJwNph¶p. hndbv¡p¶ i_vZ¯n AbmÄ ]dªp:
"knÂhÀ, \n§Ä hr²\pw kXykÔ\pw ]W¡mc\pamWv. ]t£, Hcp
Imcyw Ft¶mSp ]dbcpXv. ISÂs¡mÅ¡mc\mhm³ F\n¡mhnÃ, Poh³
t]mbmepw.'
s]s«¶v Im«nÂ\n¶v Hcp i_vZw DbÀ¶p. Btcm tZjys¸«v
Aedp¶Xpt]mse. AtXmSpIqSn Hcp \o| \nehnfnbpw tI«p. kvss]
¥mÊnse ]mds¡«pIfn AXp {]Xn[z\n¨p. ]£nIÄ IcªpsIm|v
tatem«p]d¶v ho|pw \nÈ_vZambn.
"Ct¸mÄ tI« B \nehnfn F´mWv?' tSmw tNmZn¨p.
"AXv AÃtâXmbncn¡pw.' knÂhÀ Cfn`y¨ncntbmsS ]dªp.
B t]cptI«v tSmw sR«n.
AbmÄ ]dªp: "knÂhÀ, Xm¦Ä hfsc¡mew Fsâ Iq«pImc\m
bncp¶p. C\napXÂ A§s\bÃ. Hcp \mbsbt¸mse NmtI|nh¶mepw
Rms\sâ tPmen ]qÀ¯nbm¡ntb acn¡q. AÃs\ \n§Ä sIm¶p,
AtÃ? CXm, ]äpsa¦n Fs¶¡qSn sImÃv. Rm³ shÃphnfn¡p¶p.'
CXpw ]dªv tSmw IS¯oct¯¡p Xncnªp\S¶p. ]t£,
A[nIwt]mIm³ ]änbnÃ. knÂhÀ Hcp acs¡m¼n ]nSn¨v, Xsâ s{I¨v
AbmÄ¡p t\tc Npgänsbdnªp. Hcp ansskÂt]mse AXv tSmansâ
]pd¯v sN¶phoWp. AbmÄ \new]Xn¨p. Fgpt¶ev¡p¶Xn\pap¼v Hcp
Ipc§s\t¸mse knÂhÀ AbmfpsS ta NmSnhoWp. I¯nsbSp¯v
c|pXhW BªpIp¯n.
B ImgvN I|v Rm³ BsI XfÀ¶pt]mbn. kvss]¥mkv Ip¶v
F\n¡p Npäpw Id§p¶Xmbn tXm¶n. tSmw \ne¯p \nÝe\mbn
InS¡pIbmWv. knÂhÀ I¯nbnse tNmc¸mSpIÄ ]pÃn XpS¨p. Hcp
sIme]mXIw I¬ap¼n \S¶Xmbn F\n¡p hnizkn¡m³
{]bmkwtXm¶n.
knÂhÀ hnknseSp¯v ]eXhW hnfn¨p. AXp aäpÅhÀ¡v Xs¶
ImWm\pÅ knáemWv. F\n¡p `bambn. Rm³ ]nSn¡s¸«mtem?
c|pt]sc AhÀ h[n¨pIgnªp. Fs¶bpw h[n¡ptam?
CSXqÀ¶ Im«nte¡v Rm³ Cgªp\o§n. At¸mÄ ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ
At\ym\yw hnfn¡p¶ i_vZwtI«p. A]ISw ASp¯Xpt]mse tXm¶n.
Rm³ AXnthKw Im«neqsS \o§n. ImSpIS¶p Ignªv Rm³
kIeiànbpsaSp¯v AhnsS\n¶v HmSn.
Fsâ `bw IqSnh¶tXbpÅq. A]cnNnXamb Zzo]nÂ
hgnsXänbXpt]mse tXm¶n. kqcy³ AkvXan¡mdmbn. t_m«nte¡v
F§s\ Xncns¨¯pw? AhtcmsSm¸w t]mIm³ ss[cyw t]mcm. F\n¡p
tXm¶n, FÃmw Ahkm\n¡pIbmsW¶v. I¸ent\mSp hnS! {]`phnt\mSpw
tUmIvStdmSpw Iym]vät\mSpw hnS! H¶pIn ]«nWnsIm|v Rm³ acn¡pw.
Asæn Iem]ImcnIfpsS ssIsIm|v acn¡pw.
Rm³ At¸mgpw HmSpIbmbncp¶p. sNdnb Ip¶nsâ AcnIn Rm³
F¯n¡gnªp. A§n§v Dbcw IqSnb ss]³ac§Ä XebpbÀ¯n
\n¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. NXp¸pØes¯¡mÄ \à ip²hmbphmWv
AhnsS D|mbncp¶Xv.
s]s«¶v hnhcn¡m\mhm¯ Hcp `bw Fs¶ ]nSnIqSn. Hcp ac¯nsâ
adhnÂ\n¶v Hcp kXzw {]Xy£s¸«p. a\pjyt\m IcSntbm Ipc§t\m
F¶p Xncn¨dnbm³ {]bmkw. Idp¯v, PS]nSn¨ Hcp cq]w. knÂhÀt]mepw
Fs¶ C{X `bs¸Sp¯nbn«nÃ. Rm³ XncntªmSm³t\m¡n. B cq]w
asämcphgnbneqsS Xncnªv Fsâ ap¶nse¯n. c|pImenÂ
AXnthK¯nemWv AXv HmSnbXv, AXpsIm|v AsXmcp
a\pjy³Xs¶sb¶v Rm³ Duln¨p.
Im«nse \ct`mPnIsf¸än Rm³ tI«ncp¶p. Rm³ t]Sn¨p \nehnfn¨p.
At¸mgmWv Fsâ ssIhiw ]nÌÄ DÅ Imcyw HmÀ¯Xv. tXm¡pNq|n
Rm³ t\tcbSp¯p. At¸mÄ AbmÄ \ne¯p ap«pIp¯n ssI c|pw
DbÀ¯n.
"\obmcmWv?' Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
"s_³K¬.' AbmÄ ]cp¡³ i_vZ¯n ]dªp: "Rm³ ]mhw
s_³K¬ BWv. Ignª aq¶psImÃambn Rms\mcp a\pjyPohntbmSv
kwkmcn¨n«nÃ.'
AbmÄ \Ã e£W§fpÅ Hcp a\pjy\msW¶v F\n¡ptXm¶n.
AbmfpsS tZlw Icphmfn¨ncp¶p. AbmÄ [cn¨ncp¶Xv \mhnIsâ ]gIn
PoÀWn¨ DSp¸pIfmWv. Acbn Hcp seXÀ s_Âäv.
"I¸e]IS¯nÂs¸«XmtWm?' Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
"AÃ, ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ in£n¨XmWv.'
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ \evIp¶ `b¦cin£sb¸än Rm³ tI«ncp¶p.
in£n¡s¸Sp¶hs\ AÚmXamb GsX¦nepw Zzo]n sIm|pt]mbn
XÅpI. AhnsS¡nS¶p \cIn¨p acn¡pIbÃmsX KXnbnÃ.
"aq¶psImÃambn Fs¶ ChnsS hn«pt]mbn«v. ImbvI\nIfpw
B«pamwkhpw am{Xambncp¶p Fsâ `£Ww. Hcp IjWw Nokv Xn¶m³
sImXnbmhp¶p. ssIhiw D|mIptam?'
"I¸en Xncns¨¯m³ km[n¨m XoÀ¨bmbpw Nokv Xcmw.'
"Xncns¨¯m³ ]änbmtem? BcmWv \n§sf XSbp¶Xv?' s_³K¬
tNmZn¨p.
"\n§fÃ.' Rm³ ]dªp.
"F´mWv t]cv?'
"Pnw.'
"Pnw' AXv BhÀ¯n¨psIm|v s_³K¬ Xr]vXntbmsS Fs¶ t\m¡n,
"Ignª aq¶phÀjw AXnITn\amb PohnXambncp¶p FtâXv. C\n
F\ns¡mcp \Ã a\pjy\mhWw. ap¼v Rm³ A\pkcWbpÅ \Ã
Ip«nbmbncp¶p. \nIrjvSPohnXw C\n th|.' AbmÄ H¶p\nÀ¯n i_vZw
Xmgv¯ns¡m|p ]dªp: "tIÄ¡tWm Rms\mcp [\nI\mWv.' Cu
]mh¯n\v {`m´msW¶v F\n¡p tXm¶n. Fsâ kwibw XoÀ¡m³
AbmÄ ho|pw ]dªp: "[\nI\mWv, [\nI³. Fs¶ Is|¯nb
BZys¯ BÄ \obmWv. Pnw \ns¶ Rms\mcp am\y\m¡pw.'
"Pnw h¶ I¸Â ^vfnânsâ I¸emtWm?' AbmÄ tNmZn¨p.
 "AÃ. ^vfnâv acn¨pt]mbn. ]t£, AbmfpsS Nne BfpIÄ
\nÀ`mKy¯n\v I¸enep|v.'
"Hä¡me³ knÂhÀ F¶ Hcmfpt|m?'
"D|v. AbmÄ I¸ense Ip¡mWv; t\XmhpamWv.'
Rm³ bm{XbpsS FÃm Imcy§fpw Abmsf [cn¸n¨p.s_³K¬
XmXv]cy]qÀÆw {i²n¨p tI«p. Fsâ Xebn sXm«pXtemSnbtijw
AbmÄ ]dªp:"\o \Ã Ip«nbmWv Pnw. \n\s¡s¶ hnizkn¡mw. H¶p
tNmZn¡s«, {]`p F¶ BÄ Hcp am\y\mtWm?'
"Xoˬbmbpw.'
"\ap¡nSbn [\w Xpeyambn hoXn¡m³ AbmÄ k½Xn¡ptam?'
"k½Xn¡psa¶v F\n¡pd¸mWv.'
"Fs¶ AbmÄ \m«nte¡p Iq«ns¡m|pt]mIptam?'
"AXn\pw X¿mdmbncn¡pw. ImcWw ISÂs¡mÅ¡msc
Hgnhm¡pt¼mÄ, I¸ÂtPmen¡v Poh\¡mcpsS Bhiyap|mIpw.'
s_³KWn\v henb BizmkwtXm¶n.
"C\n Rms\mcp Imcyw ]dbmw.' AbmÄ XpSÀ¶p: "Rm³ AbmfpsS
I¸enepÅt¸mgmWv ^vfnâv \n[n Ipgn¨n«Xv. AbmÄ Icbnend§nbXv
Bdp \mhnItcmsSm¸amWv. aS§nh¶Xv AbmÄ am{Xw. _m¡n
Bdpt]scbpw ^vfnâv sIm¶v Ipgn¨paqSn. AXv AbmÄ¡v F§s\
Ignªp F¶Xv almÛpXamWv. ^vfnânsâ Iq«mfn _n t_m¬kv
Bbncp¶p. knÂhÀ NpaXe¡mc\pw. \n[n FhnsSbmsW¶v AhÀ
tNmZn¨p, AXn\v ^vfnânsâ adp]Sn: \n§Ä¡v Zzo]nÂsN¶p Xncªp
t\m¡mw. ]t£, I¸Â \n§Ä¡pth|n Im¯p\nev¡nÃ.'
aq¶psImÃw ap¼mWv asämcp I¸en ChnsS F¯p¶Xv. Cu Zzo]v
I|t¸mÄ Rm³ ]dªp: "^vfnânsâ \n[n ChnsSbmWpÅXv.
\ap¡nhnsS Cd§n AXp Is|¯Ww. ]{´|p Znhkw. BfpIÄ
AXn\pth|n Xncªp. \n[n I|nÃ. Fsâ Iq«pImÀ¡v Ft¶mSv tZjyw
tXm¶n. Hcp {]`mX¯n Fs¶ ChnsS X\n¨m¡n, AhscÃmw
I¸ente¡p aS§n. AhÀ t]mIpt¼mÄ Hcp ssIt¡m«pw Iq´menbpw
F\n¡p X¶n«p ]dªp: "\o ChnsS¯s¶ Xmakn¨v \n[n Is|Sp¡v.'
Hcp t\cs¯ Blmcwt]mepanÃmsX aq¶p hÀjw Rm\nhnsS
Xmakn¨p. CsXÃmw I¸ense BfpItfmSv ]dbWw. s_³K¬ \sÃmcp
a\pjy\msW¶pw ]dbWw.'
Rm³ FÃmw tI«tijw tNmZn¨p: "Fsâ I¸ente¡v F§s\bmWv
F¯pI?'
 "AXn\v Fsâ t_m«p|v. Rm³ kz´w ssIsIm|v D|m¡nbXv. AXv
shfp¯ ]mdbpsS ASnhi¯p|v.'
At¸mÄ Hcp shSnbpsS i_vZwtI«p.
kqcy³ AkvXan¡m³ c|p aWn¡qÀ C\nbpap|v.
ho|pw shSnsbm¨ DbÀ¶p.
"AXm Iem]w XpS§n¡gnªp. thKw Fsâ IqsS hm.'
`bsaÃmw ad¶v Rm³ I¸ensâ Znibnte¡p ]mªp. sXm«p ]n¶mse
s_³KWpw.
HmSpt¼mÄ AbmÄ Hmtcm¶p ]pe¼ns¡m|ncp¶p. "CSXphi¯v
t\m¡v. ac¯nsâ Nph«nÂ. BZys¯ BSns\ Rm³ ChnsSsh¨mWv
sIm¶Xv. CXv skant¯cnbmWv. acn¨hsc ChnsS adhpsN¿p¶p. Rm³
CSbv¡v ChnsS h¶p {]mÀYn¡mdp|v.'
Fsâ `mK¯p\n¶v Hcp adp]Snbpw AbmÄ
{]Xo£n¡p¶p|mbncp¶nÃ.
XpcpXpcm shSnsbm¨ apg§nt¡Ä¡p¶p|mbncp¶p.
]ns¶ \nÈ_vZX.
At¸mÄ Zqsc ]XmI ]mdn¡fn¡p¶Xv Fsâ I®nÂs¸«p.
7
Pnw sImÅ-¡m-tcmsSm¸w Zzo]n-te¡v t]mbXn\p-ti-j-apÅ kw`-h-§Ä
]n¶oSv tUmIvSÀ enhvkn ]d-ªmWv Pnw Adn-bp-¶-Xv. AXn-§-s\-bm-Wv.
tUmIvSÀ enhvkn kw`h§Ä hnhcn¡m³ XpS§n:
lnkv]mt\ymfbnÂ\n¶v c|p t_m«pIÄ ]pds¸«pt]mbXv GXm|v
H¶c aWn¡mWv. Rm\pw {]`phpw Iym]vä\pwIqSn Im_n\nÂ
kwkmcn¨psIm|ncn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Imäv A\pIqeambncp¶psh¦nÂ,
I¸ense Bdp Iem]ImcnIsf ]cmPbs¸Sp¯n R§Ä¡v bm{X
XpScmhp¶tXbpÅq. ]t£, Imänsâ bmsXmcp e£Whpw D|mbnÃ.
At¸mgmWv l|À Xmsgh¶v Pnw lm¡n³kv t_m«nÂIbdn Icbnte¡p
t]mb hnhcw ]dªXv.
Pn½nsâ kpc£sb¡pdn¨p R§Ä DXvIWvTmIpecmbn. Ahs\
ho|pw ImWm³ ]äptam? CXmbncp¶p R§fpsS hnNmcw.
R§Ä sU¡n sN¶pt\m¡n. ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ Bdpt]cpw AhnsS
Im¯ncn¸mWv. c|p t_m«pw Icbnse¯n¡gnªncp¶p. Hmtcm¶nepw
Hmtcm BÄ Ccn¡p¶Xpw I|p.
Icbnse kw`hhnImk§fdnbm³ Rm\pw l|dpwIqSn Hcp t_m«nÂ
Ibdn t]mIm³ Xocpam\n¨p. t_m«nse c|p sImÅ¡mcpw R§sf
AÛpXt¯msS t\m¡n. AhÀ knÂhsd hnhcadnbn¨ncp¶psh¦nÂ
kwKXnbmsI Ipgªpadntªs\. ]t£, AhÀ \nÈ_vZcmbn
Ccp¶tXbpÅq.
sNdnsbmcp hfhnse¯nbt¸mÄ Rm³ Xmsg NmSnbnd§n. c|p
]nÌfpw ssIbnseSp¯p. Ipd¨p Zqcw t]mbt¸mÄ Xdnthen sI«nb HcnSw
I|p. Ip¶nsâ apIfnembn sXfnshÅsamgpIp¶ \ocpdh.
AXn\Sp¯mbn ]¯ncp]Xp t]À¡v Xmakn¡m³]änb Hcp ac¡pSnÂ.
NpaÀ¸eIbv¡p Npäpw shSnsh¡m\pÅ kuIcy¯n\mbn
Zzmc§fp|mbncp¶p. ]pd¯p\n¶phcp¶ A{Iansb t\cnSm\pÅ
kwhn[m\w IpSnen D|mbncp¶p.
F\n¡v Gähpw CjvSambXv ip²PeapÅ \ocpdhbmWv. I¸en B
kuIcyw D|mbncp¶nÃ. Xn¶m³ ]eXpw D|mbncp¶psh¶Xp
icnXs¶. Rm\n§s\ BtemNn¨psIm|ncp¶t¸mÄ, HcmfpsS
acW\nehnfn Fsâ sNhnbnse¯n. Pnw lm¡n³kv acn¨tÃm F¶ Nn
´bmWv BZyw Fsâ a\ÊnepZn¨Xv.
H«pw kabw IfbmsX Rm³ aS§n t_m«n NmSn¡bdn. l|À
AXnthKw Xpgªp. Rm³ I¸en Xncns¨¯n.
 B acW\nehnfn tI«v FÃmhcpw AkzØcmbncp¶p. {]`p
ISemÊpt]mse hnfdnbn«p|v. AbmÄ kzbw i]n¡p¶p|mbncp¶p.
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv ]dªp: "sImÅ¡mcpsSIqsS ]pXpXmbn
tPmen¡ptNÀ¶ Hcmfp|v. \nehnfn tI« DSs\ AbmÄ t_m[wsI«p
hoWp. AbmÄ \t½msSm¸w tNcpsa¶v F\ns¡mcp tXm¶Â.'
Rm³ Fsâ Dt±iyw Iym]vät\mSp ]dªp. dn{Uq¯ns\ ImhÂ
\nÀ¯n. l|À, t_m«v I¸ensâ ]n³hi¯v ASp¸n¨p, Rm\pw
tPmbvkpwIqSn Bbp[§fpw `£Wkm[\§fpw FSp¯psh¨p.
acp¶pIfpÅ Fsâ s]«nbpw t_m«n FSp¯psh¨p.
Iym]vä\pw {]`phpw sU¡nÂXs¶ \n¶p. Iym]vä³ I¸ensâ
Aac¡mc\mb Ct{k lmâvkn\v Hcp Xm¡oXp \evIn: "R§Ä
c|pt]cpsS ssIbnepw tXm¡p|v. \n§Ä Bsc¦nepw FXncn«m A
´yw Dd¸mWv.'
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ sR«nt¸mbn. AhÀ Ft´m IqSnbmtemNn¨v Xmsg
A{]Xy£cmbn. Cu kabwsIm|v km[\§Ä t_m«n \nd¨v Rm\pw
tPmbvkpw Icbnte¡v AXnthKw \o§n. Xdnthen sI«nb Xmhf¯nÂ
km[\§Ä Cd¡nsh¨p. AXp t\m¡m³ tPmbvkns\ GÀ¸mSm¡n.
Rm\pw l|dpw t_m«nte¡p aS§n. sshImsX Rm³ I¸ente¡p
Xncn¨p.
{]`p Fs¶ Im¯p\nev¡pIbmbncp¶p. t_m«n R§Ä ho|pw
`£Wkm[\§Ä \nd¨p. R§Ä Hmtcm tXm¡pw ssIbnseSp¯p.
dn{Uq¯v t_m«n NmSn¡bdn. t_m«v Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃänsâ
ASpt¯¡p \o§n.
"tIÄ¡p¶pt|m? A{_lmw s{KtbmSmWv.' Iym]väsâ i_vZw. "Rm³
I¸enÂ\n¶p t]mhpIbmWv. IqsS \obpw hcWw. \o \Ãh\mWv. IqsS
hcm³ ap¸Xp sk¡âv kabw Xcpw.'
s]s«¶v a¸nSp¯hpw ASnhogp¶ i_vZhpw. A{_lmw s{KbpsS
Ihnf¯v I¯nsIm|pÅ apdnthäp. AbmÄ Iym]väsâ ASpt¯¡v HmSn.
"Rm³ IqsShcmw kÀ.' AbmÄ ]dªp.
s{Kbpw Iym]vä\pw DS³Xs¶ t_m«n NmSn¡bdn. R§Ä t_m«v
Icbnte¡phn«p. B sIm¨pt_m«n R§Ä apXnÀ¶ A©pt]À.
IqSmsX `£Wkm[\§fpw. AXv B t_m«n\v Xm§mhp¶XnÂ
IqSpXembncp¶p.
Hgp¡v R§Ä¡v FXncmbncp¶p. ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcpsS \nÀ¯nbn«
t_m«pIfpsS ASpt¯¡mWv R§fpsS t_m«v \o§nbXv. achoSnsâ
ASpt¯¡Ã.
 "Ipd¨pIqSn iànbn Xpgªmtem?' Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
"F¦n t_m«n shÅw Ibdpsa¶v XoÀ¨.' Iym]vä³ ]dªp.
R§Ä Hcp hn[w {]bmks¸«v t_m«nsâ Xe Ing¡phit¯¡p
Xncn¨p.
"Hgp¡nsâ iàn Ipdbp¶p|v. t_m«v Xoct¯¡p \o¡m³ C\n
{]bmkanÃ.' Iym]vä³ A`n{]mbs¸«p.
s]s«¶v AbmfpsS H¨s]m§n: "tUmIvSÀ ]n¶nte¡p t\m¡v.'
]oc¦n! A¡mcyw R§Ä Xosc ad¶pt]mbncp¶p. A©p sImÅ¡mÀ
tNÀ¶v AXnsâ IhÀ \o¡pIbmWv. R§Ä hÃmsX `bs¸«pt]mbn.
DS³ Cdt§| Øet¯¡v AXnthKw IpXn¨p. At¸mtg¡pw
AXnthKw Hgp¡nÂ\n¶v R§Ä c£s¸«pIgnªncp¶p.
"shSnsh¡m³ anSp¡³ BcmWv?' Iym]vä³ tNmZn¨p.
"{SntemWn {]`p.' Rm³ ]dªp.
AXnsemcmsf shSnsh¨p hogv¯m³ Iym]vä³ ]dªp.
"Ignbpsa¦n Ct{k lmâvkns\¯s¶. AbmÄ ^vfnânsâ K¬am³
Bbncp¶p.'
{]`p XnI¨pw im´\mbn tXm¡pbÀ¯n e£y¯nte¡v shSnsh¨p.
sImÅ¡mÀ ]oc¦n R§fpsS t\À¡v Xncn¨pIgnªncp¶p. Ct{kÂ
lmâvkns\ icn¡pw ImWmw. ]t£, {]`p shSnsh¨t¸mÄ AbmÄ
kaÀ°ambn Ip\nªpIfªp. shSntbäp hoWXv asämcmfmWv.
AbmfpsS \nehnfn I¸en am{XaÃ, adpIcbnepw DbÀ¶papg§n.
Xoc¯nse ac§Ä¡nSbnÂ\n¶p sImÅ¡mÀ hcp¶Xpw AhcpsS
t_m«n Ibdp¶Xpw Rm³ I|p.
"t_m«pIÄ t\tc hcp¶p|v.' Rm³ ]dªp.
"\½Ä DSt\ Icbnse¯Ww.' Iym]vä³ [rXnIq«n.
_o¨nse¯m³ Aev]Zqcta _m¡nbp|mbncp¶pÅq. sImÅ¡mcpsS
t_m«pIÄ Zqscbmbncp¶XpsIm|v t]Sn¡m\nÃmbncp¶p. Hgp¡msW¦nÂ
R§Ä¡v A\pIqehpw. {][m\ _p²nap«v tXm¡nsâ Imcyambncp¶p.
I¸enÂ\n¶v sImÅ¡mÀ R§Ä¡pt\tc ]oc¦nshSn¡v
X¿msdSp¡pIbmbncp¶p. apdnthäv \ne¯p InS¶p ]nSbp¶ Iq«pImcs\
AhÀ Xncnªpt\m¡nbnÃ.
{]`p sImÅ¡mÀ¡p t\tc ho|pw tXm¡pNq|n. sImÅ¡mcnÂ
\n¶pÅ ]oc¦nshSnbpw At¸mgmbncp¶p. AXnsâ i_vZ¯n {]`phnsâ
shSnsbm¨ ap§nt¸mbn. ]oc¦nbp| R§fpsS Xebv¡p apIfneqsS
shůn ]Xn¨p. AXnsâ iànbn t_m«padnªp. aq¶Sntbmfw
XmgvNbp|mbncp¶p.
 Rm\pw Iym]vä\pw hogmsX ImenÂXs¶ \nebpd¸n¨p. aäp aq¶pt]cpw
shůn hoWp IpXnÀ¶p.
F¦nepw Pohm]mbsam¶pw D|mbnÃ. R§Ä Icbnte¡v AXnthKw
\o§n. t_m«nse km[\§Ä \jvSs¸«ncp¶p. \\bm¯Xmbn c|p
tXm¡pam{XtabpÅqþþþ Iym]vä³ Npaen¸nSn¨ tXm¡pw Rm³ Xebv¡p
apIfn DbÀ¯n¸nSn¨ tXm¡pw.
Xoc¯pÅ Im«neqsS sImÅ¡mÀ R§fpsS t\À¡v
hcp¶p|mbncp¶p. XmhfamsW¦n A§p ZqscbmWv. AhÀ sN¶v
B{Ian¨m l|À¡pw tPmbvkn\pw FXnÀ¯p \nev¡m³ ]äpsa¶p
tXm¶p¶nÃ.
R§Ä t_m«v Dt]£n¨v AXnthKw Xoc¯pÅ ImSpIS¶p.
sImÅ¡mcpsS i_vZw tIÄ¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. AhÀ sXm«p ]n¶mse
F¯nbXmbnt¯m¶n.
Rm³ Iym]vät\mSv ]dªp: "\n§fpsS tXm¡v {]`phnsâ ssIbnÂ
sImSp¡v. {]`p shSnhbv¡m³ kaÀ°\mWv.'
s{KbpsS ssIbn Rms\sâ hSnhmfpw sImSp¯p.
Xmhfw R§fpsS sXm«pap¼nemWv. R§Ä acthen IS¶ DSt\
Iem]ImcnIÄ tPmkv B³tUgvksâ t\XrXz¯n AhnsS
{]Xy£s¸«p. s]s«¶pXs¶ {]`phpw Rm\pw shSnbpXnÀ¯p. AtX
kabwXs¶ acho«nÂ\n¶v tPmbvkpw l|dpw shSnsh¨p. Hcp
sImÅ¡mc³ acn¨phoWp. aäpÅhÀ ac§fpsS CSbnte¡v HmSn
c£s¸«p.
tXm¡v ho|pw \nd¨v, R§Ä then IS¶v, hoWpInS¡p¶ i{Xphnsâ
ASp¯p sN¶p. AbmÄ¡v s\©nemWp shSntbäXv. AbmÄ acn¨ncp¶p.
R§fpsS BËmZw \o|p\n¶nÃ. s]s«¶v Im«nÂ\n¶v shSnbp|
Nodnh¶p. dn{Uq¯v \new]Xn¨p. R§Ä Xncn¨p shSnshs¨¦nepw
i{Xphns\ ImWm³ IgnªnÃ.
Iym]vä\pw s{KbpwIqSn dn{Uq¯ns\ ]cntim[n¡p¶Xv Rm³ t\m¡n
\n¶p. FÃmw Ahkm\n¡p¶Xmbn F\n¡p tXm¶n. càw
hmÀ¶psIm|ncp¶ B tZlw Xm§nsbSp¯v R§Ä ho«nse¯n¨p.
]mhw a\pjy³! XpS¡wapXÂ \nÈ_vZ\mbn AbmÄ R§tfmsSm¸w
\n¶p.
{]`p AbmfpsS ssIbn Npw_n¨v Hcp Ip«nsbt¸mse s]m«n¡cªp.
"Rm³ acn¡bmtWm, tUmIvSÀ?'
"dn{Uq¯v ho«nte¡p Xncn¨pt]mhpIbmWv.' tUmIvSÀ ]dªp.
 "Bsc¦nepw F\n¡pth|n {]mÀ°n¡v.' Ahkm\s¯ hm¡pIÄ.
AtXmSpIqSn B icocw \nÝeambn.
Iym]vä³ Xsâ Ioibn Hcp]mSp km[\§Ä sIm|p\S¡p¶Xv
Rm³ {i²n¨ncp¶p. Hcp ss__nÄ, cmPy¯nsâ sImSn, Nne IbdpIÄ,
s]³, ajn, temKv_p¡v, ]pIbneþþA§s\ ]eXpw. l|dpsS
klmbt¯mSpIqSn sImSn hoSnsâ apIfn Xq¡nbn«p.
dn{Uq¯v acn¨t¸mgpw Hcp sImSnsIm|v tZlw ]pX¸n¨ncp¶p.
Iym]vä³ Fs¶ ASp¯p hnfn¨p tNmZn¨p: "C\n F{XImewIqSn \mw
ChnsS \nevt¡|n hcpw?'
"BKÌv Ahkm\whsc F¶mWv »mâventbmSv ]dªXv.
AXn\ptijw \s½ I|nsæn AbmÄ At\zjn¨p hcpw.'
"AXv Hcp \o|ImeamWtÃm. A{Xbpw kabt¯¡v \ap¡v
`£Wap|mIptam? c|mas¯ temUv \ap¡v \jvSs¸«XtÃ?'
At¸mÄ hoSnsâ apIfneqsS Hcp shSnbp| ]mªpt]mbn.
"Hm, shSn! \ap¡v Ipd¨p shSnacp¶tà _m¡nbpÅq?' Iym]vä³
]cn`hs¸«p.
sshIpt¶cw Ipsdt\cw AIse\n¶v shSnbpXnÀ¶p. Nnet¸mÄ
shSnbp| apIfneqsS IS¶pt]mIpw. Asæn \ne¯v aWenÂ
h¶phogpw. Ipsd¡gnªt¸mÄ R§Ä AXp {i²n¡msXbmbn.
"sImÅ¡mÀ ASps¯m¶pw DÅXmbn tXm¶p¶nÃ.' Iym]vä³ ]dªp.
"\ap¡v \½psS km[\§Ä FSp¯psIm|p hcWw. Ct¸mÄ IS im
´amWv.'
s{Kbpw l|dpw `£Wkm[\§Ä sIm|phcmsa¶v k½Xn¨p.
Bbp[§fpambn AhÀ ]pd¯nd§n. ]t£, sImÅ¡mÀ AXn\papt¼
kwKXn ]än¨p. \me©pt]À Xnc¡n«v t_m«nÂ\n¶v `£Wkm[\§Ä
FSp¯p IS¯ns¡m|p s]mbv¡gnªp. knÂhdmbncp¶p AXnsâ
t\Xmhv.
AI¯ncp¶v Iym]vä³ temKv_p¡n Ipdn¸pIÄ FgpXpIbmbncp¶p.
Hmtcmcp¯cpsS t]cpw AhcpsS tPmenbpw tcJs¸Sp¯n. {]
[m\kw`h§Ä FgpXn. dn{Uq¯v shSntbäp acn¨Xv, cmjv{S¯nsâ sImSn
DbÀ¯ns¡«nbXv, Pnw lm¡n³kns\ ImWmXmbXv...
Pnw lm¡n³kn\v F´p]änsb¶v Rm\pw AÛpXs¸SpIbmbncp¶p.
DSs\ R§sf Btcm hnfn¡p¶Xpt]mse tXm¶n.
"tUmIvSÀ, {]`p, Iym]vä³, l|À. \n§fmtWm?'
Rm³ hmXnÂXpd¶p ]pd¯ph¶p. Pnw Hcp ]cn¡panÃmsX Ibdnhcp¶
ImgvNbmWv Rm³ I|Xv.
8

tUmIvSÀ enhvkn Pn½nsâ Xntcm[m\s¯¯pSÀ¶p|mb kw`h§Ä

hnhcn¨Xn\ptijw ho|pw Pn½nsâ BJym\¯nte¡phcp¶p.
sImSn I| DSs\ s_³K¬ Fs¶ XSªp \nÀ¯n ]dªp: "\nsâ
Iq«pImÀ ChnsSbp|v.'
"AhÀ sImÅ¡mcmsW¶p tXm¶p¶p.' Rm³ kwibw {]ISn¸n¨p.
"i{Xp¡fmsW¦n Cu sImSnbà DbÀ¯pI.' s_³K¬ hyàam¡n:
"XoÀ¨bmbpw CXp \nsâ Iq«pImcmWv. ChnsS Ipsd Gäpap«epIÄ
\S¶Xmbn tXm¶p¶p. \nsâ Iq«pImÀ acho«n XmhfaSn¨v i{Xp¡sf
HmSn¨p ImWpw. B hoSv hÀj§Ä¡p ap¼v ^vfnâv \nÀ½n¨XmWv. Rm³
\nsâ IqsS AIt¯¡phcp¶nÃ. \o Imcy§sfÃmw AhtcmSv ]dªmÂ
aXn. AhÀ¡v k½XamsW¦nte, Rm³ \n§fpsS IqsS tNcq. Fs¶
C\nbpw ImWWsa¦n C¶p I| Øe¯v h¶m aXn.'
"F\n¡p a\Ênembn.' Rm³ ]dªp: "tUmIvStdmtSm {]`phnt\mtSm
\n§Ä¡v kwkmcn¡Wsa¶p|v. Rm³ ]dbmw. Ct¸mÄ Rm³ t]ms«.'
s]s«¶v Hcp shSnsbm¨ DbÀ¶p. Hcp ]oc¦nbp| Im«neqsS
IpXn¨ph¶v GXm\pw Zqsc ]qgnbn sXdn¨phoWp. R§Ä c|p
ZniIfnte¡v HmSn.
shSnbp|IÄ ho|pw h¶phogm³ XpS§n. Rm³ Hmtcm
Øe¯p\n¶pw Hfnt¨mSn. XpSÀ¨bmbn shSns]m«nbncp¶Xn\m F\n¡v
achoSnsâbSpt¯¡v t]mIm\mbnÃ.
kqcy³ AkvXan¨pIgnªp. ISÂ im´w. ]Ies¯ NqSn\ptijw
ISenÂ\n¶pÅ Imän\v \Ã IpfnÀatXm¶n. F\n¡v
XWp¡p¶p|mbncp¶p.
I¸Â ]qÀÆØm\¯pXs¶bp|v. sImÅ¡mcpsS Idp¯ sImSn
sImSnac¯n ]mdp¶p|mbncp¶p. Rm³ IS¯oc¯p\n¶p
t\m¡nbt¸mÄ, sImÅ¡mÀ R§fpsS t_m«v ASn¨p XIÀ¡pIbmWv!
ac§Ä¡nSbn Hcp hi¯v Xo I¯p¶p|mbncp¶p. AhcpsS
t_m«pIÄ IcbnÂ\n¶v I¸ente¡pw I¸enÂ\n¶v Icbnte¡pw
k©cn¨psIm|ncp¶p.
Rm³ Zqtc¡p t\m¡nbt¸mÄ Hcp henb ]md I|p. AXn\p
shfp¸p\ndambncp¶p. s_³K¬ ]dª ]md CXmbncn¡Ww. Hcp
t_m«nsâ Bhiyw h¶m ChnsS t\m¡m³ AbmÄ ]dªncp¶p.
 Rm³ Im«neqsS \S¶v achoSnsâ ]n³hi¯pIqsS Iq«pImcpsS
ASps¯¯n. FÃmhcpw Fs¶ Bthit¯msS kzoIcn¨p. Rm³ D|mb
kw`hsaÃmw Ahsc [cn¸n¨p.
ss]³acwsIm|mWv hoSv D|m¡nbn«pÅXv. Npäpw Hm¡pac§fpw
ss]³ac§fpw. IqSmsX ip²Pe¯nsâ Ddhbpw.
NpäpapÅ Zzmc§fneqsS Imäv Nqfw hnfn¡pt¼mÄ aWÂ
hoSn\pÅnte¡p ]mdp¶p|mbncp¶p. Nn½n\nbneqsS apgph³ ]pIbpw
]pdt¯¡p t]mhpIbnÃ. AXn\m ]pItbäv R§Ä Npabv¡pIbpw
I®pXpSbv¡pIbpw sNbvXp. s{KbpsS apJw _m³tUPpsIm|v
s]mXnªncp¶p. Npacnt\mSp tNÀ¶v dn{Uq¯nsâ ihw
InS¸p|mbncp¶p.
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv Bscbpw shdpsX Ccn¡m³ A\phZn¨ncp¶nÃ.
R§sf c|p {Kq¸pIfmbn Xncn¨p. tUmIvSdpw s{Kbpw Rm\pw Hcp {Kq¸v.
{]`phpw l|dpw tPmbvkpw asämcp {Kq¸v. R§Ä
£oWnXcmbncps¶¦nepw c|pt]sc hndIpsIm|phcm\pw c|pt]sc
dn{Uq¯ns\ kwkvIcn¡m\pw Gev]n¨p. ASp¡ftPmen tUmIvSsd
Gev]n¨p. Rm³ hmXnev¡Â Imhencp¶p. Iym]väsâ {i² FÃm
Øe¯pw F¯n.
]pIbnÂ\n¶pw c£s¸«v ip²hmbp izkn¡m³ CSbv¡v tUmIvSÀ
hmXnev¡se¯pw.
"Cu s_³K¬ Hcp a\pjy³Xs¶bmtWm?' tUmIvSÀ tNmZn¨p,
"a\pjy\mWv. ]t£, AbmÄ¡v {`m´mWv.' Rm³ ]dªp.
"aq¶phÀjw Cu Zzo]n Häbv¡p Pohnt¡|nh¶ BÄ¡v A§s\tb
s]cpamdm³ ]äq. Nokv thWsa¶v AbmÄ ]dtªm?'
"thWsa¶p ]dªp.'
"A§s\bmsW¦n Pnw Hcp ImcywsN¿v. Fsâ ssIhiw \Ã
Cämenb³ Nokp|v. AsXSp¯v s_³KWn\v sImSp¡v.'
R§Ä tSmw dn{Uq¯ns\ aW¸c¸n adhpsNbvXp. AXn\ptijw
A¯mgw Ign¨p. ]¶nbnd¨nbpw Hmtcm ¥mkv {_m|nbpw. R§Ä¡v
Ipd¨p `£Wkm[\§tf tijn¨ncp¶pÅq.
sImÅ¡msc Ignbp¶{Xbpw sImesN¿Wsa¶ Nn´bmbncp¶p
R§Ä¡v. ]s¯m¼Xp t]cn Ct¸mÄ ]Xn\©pt]tcbpÅq. AXnÂ
aq¶pt]À apdnthähcmWv. an¡hcpw ]IÂkab¯pt]mepw
apgp¡pSnb·mÀ. NXp¸p\ne¯v Xmakw. HcmgvNsIm|v
]IpXnsb®¯n\p ]\n ]nSn¡psa¶mWv tUmIvSdpsS A`n{]mbw.
 F\n¡v hÃm¯ £oWap|mbncp¶p. Rm³ N¯Xpt]mse
InS¶pd§n. Ft´m i_vZw tI«mWv Rm³ DWÀ¶Xv. FÃmhcptSbpw
{]`mX`£Ww Ignªncp¶p.
At¸mÄ AXyÛpXt¯msS Btcm ]dbp¶Xp tI«p: "F´v? AXv
knÂhdmWtÃm!'
Rm³ NmSnsbgpt¶äp, I®pXncp½n.
NpaÀZzmc¯neqsS]pdt¯¡pt\m¡n. c|pt]À ]pd¯p \nev]mWv. HcmÄ
Hcp shfp¯ sImSnhoip¶p. knÂhÀ AbmfpsS ASp¯pXs¶
\n¡p¶p.
AXp XWp¸pÅ Hcp {]`mXambncp¶p.
"FÃmhcpw AI¯pXs¶ \n¶m aXn. CsXmcp NXnbmsW¶v
F\n¡p tXm¶p¶p.' Iym]vä³ ]dªp.
"A\§cpXv. A\§nbm R§Ä shSnsh¡pw.' Iym]vä³
sImÅ¡mÀ¡p Xm¡oXp \evIn.
"kulrZ¯nsâ sImSn.' knÂhÀ hnfn¨p]dªp.
Iym]vä³ hcm´bn \n¶p R§tfmSp ]dªp: "tUmIvSÀ ]pdt¯¡p
{i²n¡Ww, {]tXyIn¨v hS¡p`mKw. Pnw Ing¡phiw t\m¡Ww. s{K
]Snªmdv. aäpÅhÀ tXm¡p\nd¨v X¿mdmhWw. Pm{KX.'
AXn\ptijw Iym]vä³ sImÅ¡mÀ¡p t\tc Xncnªp: "F´mWv
\n§fpsS Dt±iyw?'
"Iym]vä³ knÂhÀ AhnsSh¶v kÔnkw`mjW¯n\v B{Kln¡p¶p.'
IqsSbpÅ sImÅ¡mc³ ]dªp.
"Iym]vä³ knÂhtdm?' Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv ]pÑkzc¯n tNmZn¨p:
"F¶p apX¡mWv Iym]vä\mbXv?'
"\n§Ä I¸Â Dt]£n¨pt]mbtijw AXnepÅ ]mh§sfÃmw IqSn
Fs¶ Iym]vä\m¡nbXmWv, kÀ.' knÂhdpsS adp]Sn.
"F\n¡v Xt¶mSp kwkmcn¡m³ Hcp XmXv]cyhpanÃ.
X\n¡pthWsa¦n ChnsS h¶v kwkmcn¡mw.'
"AXpaXn, AXpaXn.' knÂhÀ s{I¨kn Du¶n Ipänthen NmSn¡S¶p.
Iym]vä³ Fs¶ Gev]n¨ tPmen Rm³ ad¶pt]mbncp¶p. Rm³
Ing¡phi¯p ho|pw sN¶p \n¶p.
knÂhdn\v Ip¶pIbdm³ {]bmkambncp¶p. ]t£, AsXm¶pw
Imcyam¡msX Iym]väsâ ASps¯¯n. lrZyambn keyq«v sNbvXp.
knÂhÀ am\yambn hkv{Xw [cn¨ncp¶p. ap«phscsb¯p¶ \oet¡m«v.
AXn ]n¨f _«³k.v Xebn tekpÅ at\mlcamb sXm¸n.
Iym]vä³ knÂhdnt\mSv Ccn¡m³ ]dªp.
 "AI¯ncn¡m³ F´mWp ]dbm¯Xv! Cu XWp¸n ]pd¯ncn¡m³
]äptam?' knÂhÀ tNmZn¨p.
"CsXÃmw Xsâ IpX{´§fmWv. Xms\mcp kXykÔ\mbncps¶¦nÂ,
I¸ense ASp¡fbnemWv Ct¸mÄ D|mbncn¡pI. ]t£, Xms\mcp
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mc\mbnt¸mbn.'
Iym]vä³ AXp]dª DSs\ knÂhÀ \ne¯v aWen Ccp¶p. F¶n«p
]dªp: "F´p at\mlcamb Øew! AÃ tUmIvSdpw Pn½pw
ChnsSbp|tÃm? Hcp k´pjvS IpSpw_wt]msebmWv ChnsS
Xmakn¡p¶Xv AtÃ?'
"hÃXpw ]dbm\mWv h¶sX¦n ]dbWw.'
"icn, Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv. F\n¡p ]dbm\pÅXv CXmWv. C¶se
sshIpt¶cw \n§sfÃmwIqSn Djmdmbn Imcy§Ä \nÀÆln¨p. ]t£,
Fsâ Iq«pImÀ ]ecpw C¶se hÃmsX IpSn¨ncp¶p. C\n A§s\
kw`hn¡nÃ. XoÀ¨.'
"\ÃXv.' Iym]vä³ tIm]aS¡n¸dªp.
"C\n {][m\Imcyw. B \n[nbp|tÃm, AXv R§Ä¡p In«ntb]äq.
\n§fpsS ssIhiapÅ B am¸v R§Ä¡pXcWw. CsænÂ...'
"F´mWv Dt±in¡p¶sX¶v F\n¡dnbmw. AXp Rm³ Imcyam¡p¶nÃ.
ImcWw \n§Ä¡v R§sf B{Ian¡m³ ]änà F¶v F\n¡p ]qÀW
t_m[yap|v.'
knÂhÀ At¸mÄ ]dªp: "]mhs¸« R§fpsS t\À¡v
\ndsbmgn¡msX B am¸v R§Ä¡p XcnI. A§s\ sNbvXm R§Ä
Nne kuIcy§Ä sNbvXpXcp¶p|v. R§Ä \n[n Is|¯n
F¶ncn¡s«. \n§Ä¡p IqsShcmw. Icbn GsX¦nepw kpc£nXamb
Øe¯p \n§sf Cd¡n¯cmw. Cu ]dbp¶Xn\v bmsXmcp amähpw
D|mhnÃ. Cu ]dªXv kzoImcyasæn asämcp hgnbp|v. \n§Ä Cu
Zzo]nÂXs¶ Xmakn¡pI. `£yhkvXp¡sfÃmw \ap¡v `mKns¨Sp¡mw.
Rm³ BZywImWp¶ I¸Â \n§sf Iq«ns¡m|p hcm\mbn
Ab¨pXcmw.'
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv Ccn¡p¶nS¯p\n¶v Fgpt¶äp. CSt¯
ssIsIm|v ss]¸nse sh®oÀ X«n Hgnhm¡n.
"C{XbtÃbpÅq?' Iym]vä³ tNmZn¨p,
"AsX.' knÂhÀ Aedn: "]dªXv A\pkcn¡p¶nsæn \n§Ä¡p
e`n¡m\ncn¡p¶Xv shSnbp|IfmWv.'
"hfsc \ÃXv.' Iym]vä³ ]dªp. "C\n Rm³ ]dbp¶Xp tIÄ¡v.
\n§Ä \ncmbp[cmbn Hmtcmcp¯cmbn hcnIbmsW¦nÂ, Rm³ \n§sf
N§ebv¡n«v hnNmcWsN¿pw. Rm³ ap¶dnbn¸p Xcp¶p. \n[n \n§Ä¡v
Is|¯m³ ]äpIbnÃ. I¸temSn¡m\dnbp¶ Hcmfpw \n§fpsS
Iq«¯nenÃ. R§tfmSv bp²wsN¿m\pw \n§Ä¡mhnÃ, \n§Ä
A©pt]cpsS Iq«¯nÂ\n¶mWv s{K c£s¸«v R§fpsSIqsS h¶sX¶
Imcyw adt¡|. FsâbSp¯p\n¶v Ahkm\ambn tIÄ¡p¶
\Ãhm¡pIÄ CsXms¡bmWv. ASp¯XhW \½Ä X½n ImWpt¼mÄ,
shSnbp| sIm|mbncn¡pw adp]Sn. Ct¸mÄ DSs\ Øew hnSv.'
knÂhdpsS apJw tIm]wsIm|p Nph¶p.
"Fgpt¶Â¡m³ ssIsbm¶p ]nSn¡v.' AbmÄ Bhiys¸«p.
Iym]vä³ A\§nbnÃ.
"Bsc¦nepw Fs¶sbm¶v klmbn¡v.'
Hä a\pjy\pw A\§nbnÃ.
knÂhÀ D¨¯n Aedns¡m|v aWeneqsS Cgªp\o§n. hmXnÂ
]nSn¨v s{I¨knsâ klmb¯m Fgpt¶äp. Ddhbnte¡v
ImÀ¡n¨pXp¸n.
"Nncn¡v, CjvSwt]mse Nncn¡v. t\m¡nt¡m, Hcp aWn¡qdn\pÅn Cu
hoSv Rm³ B{Ian¡pw. At¸mÄ NmIp¶hÀ `mKyhm·mÀ.' knÂhÀ
ZrVkzc¯n i]Yw sNbvXv AXnthKw \S¶p. aWen ]eh«w CSdn
hoWp. sImSn]nSn¨ klmbntbmsSm¸w AhnsS\n¶p \S¶v
ac§Ä¡nSbn A{]Xy£\mbn. Iym]vä³ kq£vaambn Abmsf
\nco£n¡pIbmbncp¶p.
knÂhÀ t]mb DSs\ Iym]vä³ R§fpsS t\À¡pXncnªp. s{K HgnsI
aämcpw \nÀ±njvS Øm\¯v D|mbncp¶nÃ. Iym]vä³ hÃmsX {Ip²\mbn.
X§fpsS Øm\§fn sN¶p \n¡m³ AbmÄ BÚm]n¨p.
Iym]vä³ R§sf t\m¡n ]dªp: "s{K am{Xta Iq«¯n bYmÀ°
\mhnI\mbn«pÅq. s{KbpsS t]cv Rm³ temKv_p¡n tNÀ¡p¶p|v.
{]`phns\¸än HmÀ¡pt¼mÄ BÝcyw tXm¶p¶p. tUmIvSÀ Ictk\bnÂ
tPmensNbvX Bfmbns«´m?'
Ipd¨pt\ct¯ au\¯n\ptijw Iym]vä³ ]dbm³ XpS§n: "Hcp
aWn¡qdn\Iw AhÀ \s½ B{Ian¡pw. \mw F®¯n IpdhmWv.
]t£, \½Ä Hfnªp\n¶v B{Ian¡pw. Ahsc tXmev]n¡m³
Ignbpsa¶v F\n¡pd¸p|v.'
AbmÄ hoSn\pNpäpw \S¶v ]cntim[n¨p.
"XobWbv¡v. AXv A]ISamWv. Ct¸mÄ XWp¸nÃtÃm.' ap³IcpXÂ
FSpt¡|Xnsâ BhiyIX Iym]vä³ hyàam¡n. {]`mX`£Ww
Ign¡m¯ Pn½nt\mSv thK¯n `£Ww Ign¨v kz´w Øm\¯v
h¶p\nev¡m³ ]dªp. l|tdmSv FÃmhÀ¡pw Hmtcm ¥mkv {_m|n
sImSp¡m\pw Iym]vä³ \nÀt±in¨p.
AXn\ptijw Iym]vä³ ]cn]mSn hniZoIcn¨p.
"AIt¯¡pÅ {]thi\wXSbm³ hmXnev¡Â tUmIvSÀ \nev¡Ww.
Ing¡phiw \nevt¡|Xv l|À. ]Snªmdphi¯v tPmbvkv. \Ã
shSn¡mc\mb {]`phpw s{Kbpw hS¡p`mKw t\m¡Ww. A]ISw
AhnsSbmWv ]Xnbncn¡p¶Xv. Rm\pw Pn½pw ASp¯p\n¶v tXm¡v
\nd¨p Xcmw.'
kqcy³ DbÀ¶tXmsS NqSn\p iànIqSn. aWÂ
Np«p]gp¯psh«n¯nf§n. NqSp kln¡m³ ]ämsX R§Ä hkv{X§Ä
thÀs]Sp¯n. XnIª DXvIWvTtbmsS B{IaWs¯ t\cnSm³
X¿mdmbn \n¶p.
Hcp aWn¡qÀ Ignªp.
s]s«¶v tPmbvknsâ tNmZyw: "i{Xp¡Ä Bscsb¦nepw I|m shSn
sht¡t|?'
"XoÀ¨bmbpw.' Iym]väsâ adp]Sn.
GXm\pw\nanjw Ignª DSs\ tPmbvkv BZys¯ shSnsh¨p.
DS³Xs¶ AXn\p adp]Snbmbn XpSÀ¨bmbn shSnsbm¨ DbÀ¶p.
shSnbp|IÄ hoSn\p Npäpw h¶p Xd¨p.
"shSn sIm|p ImWptam?' Iym]vä³ Xnc¡n.
"CsömWv tXm¶p¶Xv.' tPmbvkv ]dªp.
Iym]vä³ BZyta ]dªXv icnbmbncp¶p. {][m\ambpw
B{IaWap|mbXv hS¡p`mK¯p\n¶pXs¶. Gtgm Ft«m shSn
hS¡p`mK¯p\n¶p|mbt¸mÄ Ing¡pw ]Snªmdpw \n¶v Hmtcm shSn
am{Xta D|mbpÅq.
s]s«¶v henb AeÀ¨tbmSpIqSn Hcp Iq«w sImÅ¡mÀ
hS¡p`mK¯p\n¶v B{IaWw Agn¨phn«p. Ipc§·msct¸mse AhÀ
thenIbdn adnªp. {]`phpw s{Kbpw ho|pw ho|pw shSnbpXnÀ¯p.
aq¶pt]À \new]Xn¨p. c|pt]À acn¨phoWp. HcmÄ t]SnsIm|p
hoWXmWv. t]Sn¨phoWh³ Fgpt¶äv Poh\pwsIm|v HmSn c£s¸«p.
]t£, then NmSn¡S¶ \mept]À hoSn\p t\tc \o§n. AXnsâ t\
Xmhv tPm_v B³tUgvk¬ Bbncp¶p. AbmÄ CSnapg¡wt]mse
Aedns¡m|ncp¶p.
sImÅ¡mcn HcmÄ l|dpsS tXm¡v _eambn ]nSn¨phm§n,
AbmfpsS Xebv¡v iànbn ASn¨p. ]mhw l|À t_m[wsI«p hoWp
t]mbn. AtXkabw asämcmÄ hSnhmÄsIm|v tUmIvSsd B{Ian¨p.
 hoSpapgph\pw ]pI\ndªp\n¶p. H¶pw hyàaÃ. kÀÆ{X _lfhpw
shSnsbm¨bpw \nehnfnbpw.
"]pd¯nd§n hSnhmÄsIm|v FXncnSv.' Iym]vä³
hnfn¨p]dbp¶p|mbncp¶p.
Rms\mcp hSnhmfpambn ]pdt¯¡p IpXn¨p. Fsâ sXm«p ]n¶nÂ
Btcm D|mbncp¶p. BcmsW¶p hyàaÃ. Fsâ ap¼n Iym]vä³ Hcp
sImÅ¡mc\pambn Gäpap«p¶p|mbncp¶p. AXniàamb t]mcm«¯nÂ
Iym]vä³ sImÅ¡mcs\ ]cmPbs¸Sp¯n. sImÅ¡mcsâ apJt¯ä
hensbmcp apdnhnÂ\n¶v tNmc hmÀ¶psIm|ncp¶p.
"hoSn\p Npäpw t\m¡v. hoSn\p Npäpw t\m¡v.' Iym]vä³ hnfn¨p
]dªpsh¦nepw B i_vZw CSdp¶Xpt]mse F\n¡ptXm¶n.
Rm³ hSnhmÄ DbÀ¯n¸nSn¨v Iym]väs\ A\pkcn¨p. Rm³
B³tUgvksâ ap¼nemWv sN¶ps]«Xv. AbmÄ Aedns¡m|v Hcp
I¯nsIm|v Fs¶ B{Ian¨p. s]mSp¶t\ Rm³ Hgnªpamdn. Xe\mcng
hyXymk¯nemWv Rm³ c£s¸«Xv. Fsâ ]n¶n s{K D|mbncp¶p.
B³tUgvk\v ho|pw Fs´¦nepw sN¿m³ Ignbp¶Xn\pap¼v s{K
Abmsf sh«nhogv¯n. HcmÄ shSntbäv \ne¯pInS¶v
]nSbp¶p|mbncp¶p. aq¶masXmcphs\ tUmIvSÀ apdnthev]n¨ncp¶p.
\memas¯ BÄ thenNmSn adnªv HmSn c£s¸SpIbmWp|mbXv.
Gäpap«en A{IanIsf R§Ä ]qÀWambpw ]cmPbs¸Sp¯n.
tUmIvSdpw Rm\pw s{Kbpw hoSn\pÅnte¡v HmSn. hnPb¯n\v
R§Ä¡pw I\¯hne sImSpt¡|n h¶p. l|À Hcp `mK¯v
InS¡p¶p. Xebv¡v shSntbä tPmbvkpw ]n¶oSv A\§nbnÃ. {]`p,
Iym]väs\ Xm§p¶p|mbncp¶p. c|pt]cpw hnfdnbncn¡p¶p.
"Iym]vä\v apdnthän«p|v.' {]`p ]dªp.
"AhÀ t]mtbm?' Iym]väsâ tNmZyw AXmbncp¶p.
"t]mbn. A©pt]À Hcn¡epw Xncn¨p hcnÃ.' tUmIvSÀ ]dªp.
"A©pt]tcm? \Ã Imcyw.' Iym]vä³ ]dªp. "H³]Xv \membn
Npcp§n. C\n Ahsc ]cmPbs¸Sp¯m³ \ap¡v {]bmkanÃ.'
9

Iem]ImcnIÄ ]n¶oSv Xncn¨p h¶nÃ. Gäpap«en Poh³

A]IS¯nemb F«pt]cn aq¶pt]À¡v At¸mgpw
izmkap|mbncp¶pþþHcp sImÅ¡mc³, l|À, Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv.
sImÅ¡mc³ tUmIvSdpsS I¯nap\bn Ahkm\n¨p. l|sd
c£n¡m³ tUmIvSÀ ]camh[n {ian¨p. ]t£, hnPbn¨nÃ. Iym]väsâ
apdnhv Bg¯nepÅXmbncp¶psh¦nepw A]ISImcnbmbncp¶nÃ.
B³tUgvksâ shSntbäXv H¶v Npaenepw atäXv Imenepw Bbncp¶p.
Iym]vä³ kpJs¸Spsa¶v tUmIvSÀ Dd¸p ]dªp. ]t£, X¡mew
\S¡mt\m Imenf¡mt\m ]mSnÃ.
D¨`£W¯n\ptijw Iym]vä\pw tUmIvSdpw {]`phpwIqSn Ipsd
t\cancp¶p kwkmcn¨p. Ipd¨p kabw Ignªt¸mÄ tUmIvSÀ Fgpt¶äv
sXm¸nsbSp¯p [cn¨p. ]nÌÄ ssIbnseSp¯p. am¸v t]m¡än `{Zam¡n
sh¨p. thenIS¶v hS¡p`mKt¯¡p \S¶v ac§Ä¡nSbn adªp.
Rm\pw s{Kbpw hoSnsâ Hcp aqebn Ccn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. R§Ä
c|pt]À¡pw AÛpXw tXm¶n.
"tUmIvSÀ FhntS¡mWv t]mIp¶Xv? tUmIvSÀ¡v {`m´pt|m?' s{K
tNmZn¨p.
"{`m´Ã. s_³KsW ImWm\mWv t]mIp¶sX¶v F\n¡p tXm¶p¶p.'
Rm³ ]dªp.
Fsâ Dulw icnbmbncp¶psh¶v ]n¶oSv sXfnªp. ho«n hÃm¯
NqSv A\p`hs¸Sp¶p|mbncp¶p. B kabw Im«neqsS \S¶p t]mIp¶
tUmIvStdmSv F\n¡v Akqb tXm¶n. Fsâ a\Ên ]pXnb Nne
Bib§fpZn¨p.
hoSnt\mSv F\n¡p aSp¸ptXm¶n. tNmcbpw ihicoc§fpw.
F§s\sb¦nepw ]pd¯p t]mIWw. t]m¡än _nkv¡äpw s{_Ípw
FSp¯p \nd¨p. c|p ]nÌÄ t]m¡än IcpXnsh¨p.
s_³K¬ Ft¶mSp ]dª shfp¯ ]mdbpsS ASpt¯¡p
t]mIm\mWv Rm³ Xocpam\n¨Xv. AbmÄ ]dªXpt]mse AhnsS
t_m«v Hfn¸n¨p sh¨n«pt|m F¶dnbWw.
Rm³ kmh[m\w ho«nÂ\n¶p ]pd¯nd§n. {]`phpw s{Kbpw Iym]väsâ
apdnhp sI«p¶ Xnc¡nembncp¶p.
Zzo]nsâ Ingt¡ Xoct¯¡mWv Rm³ \S¶Xv. ISenÂ
F¯p¶Xphsc Rm³ Im«neqsS \S¶p. ISensâ Cc¼epw IpfnÀabpÅ
Imäpw. sXt¡ Aäs¯¯nbt¸mÄ, Rm³ Ipän¡mSpIÄ¡nSbneqsS
adªv apt¼m«p \o§n.
sImSn¡qdtb´nb lnkv]mt\ymf F\n¡v ImWmambncp¶p.
ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcpsS Hcp t_m«v AXnsâ sXm«Sp¯p|v. knÂhsdbpw
aäpNnescbpw Rm³ Xncn¨dnªp. AhÀ Nncn¡pIbpw Dds¡ hÀ¯am\w
]dbpIbpw sN¿p¶p|mbncp¶p. Rm³ AIsebmbXpsIm|v AhcpsS
hm¡pIÄ hyàambn tI«nÃ. s]s«¶v t]Sns¸Sp¯p¶ Hcp i_vZw. Rm³
hÃmsX `bs¸«pt]mbn. AXv knÂhdptSXpXs¶bmbncp¶psh¶v
F\n¡p ]n¶oSp a\Ênembn.
sImÅ¡mÀ t_m«v Xoct¯¡v Xpgbm³XpS§n. c|pt]À
I¸enÂXs¶ \n¶p. AhÀ Im_n\nte¡mWv t]mbXv.
kqcy³ AkvXan¨pIgnªp. kabw C\nbpw sshInbm t_m«v Is|
¯p¶ Imcyw {]bmkambncn¡psa¶v F\n¡ptXm¶n. Rm³ shfp¯
]mdbpsS ASps¯¯nbt¸mÄ Ccp«n¯pS§nbncp¶p. ]mdbv¡Snbnembn
]pÃv hfÀ¶paqSnb Hcp Kpl. AXnsâ \Sphn B«n³tXmepsIm|p
\nÀ½n¨ Hcp sNdnb IqSmcw. Rm³ Kplbn \pgªp Ibdn.
IqSmc¯nsâ hiw s]m¡n t\m¡nbt¸mÄ AXm, s_³KWnsâ t_m«v.
Hcp sIm¨p hÅw. achpw B«n³tXmepw D]tbmKn¨mWv AXv
D|m¡nbn«pÅXv. Xpgbpw aäpw AXnÂXs¶bp|mbncp¶p. I\w hfsc
IpdhmbXpsIm|v FSp¯psIm|pt]mIm³ {]bmkanÃ.
hÅw In«nbXpsIm|v Hcp Imcyw sN¿m³ Rm³ Xocpam\n¨p.
cm{XnbpsS adhn I¸ensâ ASpt¯¡p t]mIpI. ]änbm I¸Â
\¦qcanSm³ _Ôn¨n«pÅ IbÀ apdn¡pI. Hgp¡nsâ KXnb\pkcn¨v
I¸Â FhntSs¡¦nepw \o§nt¸mIs«. ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ
]cmPbs¸«XpsIm|v Ignbp¶{Xbpw thKw AhÀ \n[nZzo]nÂ\n¶v
c£s¸Sm³ {ian¡pw. F´p hnesImSp¯mepw th|nà AXv
A\phZn¨pIqSm.
F\n¡v hni¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. Rm³ _nkv¡säSp¯p Ign¨p.
At¸mtg¡pw Ccp«v hÀ²n¨p h¶p. aªpaqSnbXpsIm|v H¶pw
hyàambncp¶nÃ. \n[nZzo]v Ccpfn ap§n¡nS¡pIbmWv. Rm³
KplbnÂ\n¶v hÅw s]m¡nsbSp¯p ]pd¯ph¶p. c|p {]Imiw
am{Xta At¸mÄ ImWm\p|mbncp¶pÅq. H¶v, Xoc¯v sImÅ¡mÀ
Iq«nb XoþþAXn\p Npäpw AhÀ Ccn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. atäXv
I¸enÂ\n¶pÅ t\À¯ shfn¨w.
NXp¸phgnbneqsS {]bmks¸«v IpsdZqcw \S¶mWv Rm³ XncbnfIp¶
Xocs¯¯nbXv. Rm³ hÅw shůn Cd¡nsh¨p.
 hÅw kpc£nXambncp¶psh¦nepw Fs¶t¸mse H¯h®hpw
\ofhpapÅ HcmÄ¡v AXp \nb{´n¡pI {]bmkambncp¶p. Rms\sâ
FÃm Ignhpw {]tbmKn¨pt\m¡n. F¶n«pw hÅw h«wId§nbtXbpÅq.
F¦nepw `mKy¯n\v XncameIÄ Fs¶ I¸ensâ ASpt¯¡v sasÃ
F¯n¨p.
ASps¯¯nbt¸mÄ I¸ensâ hyàamb cq]w Zriyambn. \¦qcan«
Ibdn Rm³ ]nSn¨p. AXp \à _e¯nÂ
henªp\nev¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. BZyw AXp apdn¡msa¶mWv Rm³
hnNmcn¨Xv. AXnsâ Ipg¸w ]n¶oSv F\n¡p a\Ênembn.
henªp\n¡p¶ IbÀ s]s«¶p apdnªm I¸Â CfIn A]ISw
kw`hn¡psa¶v F\n¡ptXm¶n. Fsâ hÅhpw Rm\pw AtXmSpIqSn
shůn ap§pw.
]t£, F\n¡v `mKyap|mbncp¶p. s]s«¶v Imänsâ KXnamdn.
sX¡pIng¡p\n¶pÅ Imäv sX¡p]Snªmdp `mK¯p\n¶v hoim³
XpS§n. AXn\\pkcn¨v I¸Â kmh[m\w Nen¨p. henªp\n¡p¶
IbÀ At¸mÄ Aev]w Abªp.
Rms\sâ I¯nsbSp¯v IbÀ apdn¡m³ XpS§n. I¸Â aμw aμw
CfIp¶p|v. Ahkm\s¯ Cg apdn¡m³ Rm³ ho|pw Im¯ncp¶p. Imäv
Ipsd¡qSn iànbn hoin.
At¸mÄ Im_n\nÂ\n¶v henb _lfwtI«p. Hcp i_vZw. Aac¡mc³
Ct{k lmâvkntâXmsW¶v Rm³ Xncn¨dnªp. atäXv GtXm Hcp
sImÅ¡mctâXmWv. c|pt]cpw aq¡äw IpSn¨n«p|v.
HcmÄ Hgnª aZy¡p¸n P\eneqsS ]pdt¯s¡dnªp. c|pt]cpw
AXy´w £p`nXcmsW¶p tXm¶n. AhÀ At\ym\yw Ielw
XpSÀ¶psIm|ncp¶p.
Imäp hoinbt¸mÄ IbÀ IqSpXÂ Abªp. B X¡wt\m¡n
Ahkm\s¯ CgIqSn Rm³ Adp¯p. Hgp¡n\\pkcn¨v \o§m³ XpS§n.
Fsâ hÅw adnbm\pÅ FÃm km[yXIfpw D|mbncp¶p. I¸ensâ
Aac¯nÂ\n¶v Xq§n¡nS¡p¶ Hcp IbÀ Fsâ ssIbn XSªp.
Rm³ DSs\ AXn apdpsI¸nSn¨p. Im_n\n F´mWv \S¡p¶Xv
F¶dnbm³th|n Rm³ AXneqsS ]nSn¨p Ibdn.
I¸Â AXnthK¯n Nen¨psIm|ncp¶p. AXnsâ ImcWw Xnc¡m³
Hcp sImÅ¡mc\pw X¿mdmhm¯Xv F\n¡v AÛpXambnt¯m¶n. Rm³
Im_n\nte¡v F¯n t\m¡n. AhnsS aÃbp²w \S¡pIbmWv. lmâvkpw
asämcp Iq«mfnbpw X½n AXn`b¦camb t]mcm«w. Hmtcmcp¯cpw
At\ym\yw Igp¯n ]nSnapdp¡nbncn¡p¶p.
 Rms\sâ hůnte¡pXs¶ aS§n. hÅw s]s«¶v CfIn¯ncnªp.
thKw hÀ[n¡pIbpw sNbvXp. At¸mÄ lnkv]mt\ymf
sX¡p`mKt¯¡mWv \o§ns¡m|ncp¶Xv.
]pdt¯¡p t\m¡nbt¸mÄ Rm³ t]SnsIm|v hnd¨pt]mbn.
sImÅ¡mÀ Iq«nb Xo F\n¡p sXm«p ]n¶nÂXs¶bmWv. s]s«¶v
Hgp¡nsâ KXnamdn. I¸ent\msSm¯v Fsâ hÅhpw AXnthKw Nen¨p.
s]s«¶v AXniànbn I¸Â Ipep§n. DSs\ I¸enÂ\n¶v
At\ym\yw hnfn¨p Iqhp¶ i_vZw. c|p IpSnb·mcpw Ielw
aXnbm¡nbXmbn F\n¡p tXm¶n. A]ISs¯¸än AhÀ¡v t_m[yw
h¶pXpS§nbncp¶p.
Rm³ hůn AÅn¸nSn¨p InS¶p. XncameIfn aWn¡qdpItfmfw
DuªmemSn. GXp \nanjhpw A]ISw]ämw. acWw ap¼n ¡|v Rm³
`b¶p. Rm³ hÃmsX Ahi\mbncp¶p. £oWwsIm|p Rm³
Dd§nt¸mbn. Dd¡¯n Rms\sâ \m«nse hoSv kz]v\w
ImWp¶p|mbncp¶p.
Rm³ DWÀ¶t¸mÄ {]Imiw ]c¶pIgnªncp¶p. \n[nZzo]nsâ
sX¡p]Snªmtd `mK¯mWv F¯nbn«pÅsX¶v Rm³ a\Ênem¡n.
At¸mgpw kvss]¥mkv Ip¶v kqcys\ adbv¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. Xpgªv
Icbnend§m\mWv Rm³ BZyw Xocpam\n¨Xv. ]t£, AXv A{X
Ffp¸ambncp¶nÃ. AhnsS XncameIÄ ]mds¡«pIfn AXniànbnÂ
BªSn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. AhnsSsb§m\pw sN¶ps]«m H¶pw
_m¡nbp|mhnà Fs¶\n¡ptXm¶n.
NmÀ«n Hcp acap\¼ns\¸än kqN\bp|mbncp¶p. AhnsS Cd§p¶Xv
IqSpXÂ kpc£nXambncn¡psa¶v tXm¶n. AXv Zzo]nsâ
hS¡p`mK¯mWv. Xoc¯v \ndsb ss]³ac§Ä
hfÀ¶p\nev¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. AhnsS IS im´amWv. sX¡p\n¶pÅ
Imäv A\pIqeambncp¶p. Fsâ sIm¨phůn AhnsS Cd§m³
]äpsa¶v Rm³ IW¡pIq«n.
Icsb e£yam¡n Rm³ Xpgbm³ XpS§n. ]t£, s]s«¶v hÅw
AXniànbmbn CfIn. AXv Hcp Xncamebn IpSp§nbXmWv ImcWw.
Rm³ `b¶pt]mbn. _me³kv sXämXncn¡m³ hůn ]än¡nS¡m³
Fsâ a\Êv a{´n¨p. ]n¶oSv aμw Icbnte¡p Xpgªp \o§n.
]t£, Hcp]mSpt\cw {]bXv\nt¡|nh¶p. acap\¼nsâ
ASps¯¯nbt¸mtg¡pw hÅw Ing¡p`mKt¯¡p Xncnªp.
F\n¡nd§m³ ]änbnÃ. iàamb Hgp¡v acap\¼nÂ\n¶v Fs¶
AIäns¡m|p t]mbn. Icbv¡nd§m³ Ignbm¯Xn henb {]bmkw
tXm¶n. I¬ap¼nÂ\n¶v ac§Ä AI¶I¶p t]mhpIbmWv.
kqcysâ ITn\amb NqSv. tZl¯v sXdn¨phogp¶ ISÂshÅw. Np|nÂ
D¸nsâ cpNn. Aklyamb Zmlw. F\n¡v hÃm¯ XethZ\
A\p`hs¸«p.
Hgp¡nt\msSm¸w Rm\§s\ \o§ns¡m|ncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ I¸Â
t\scap¼n Acssa Zqc¯mWv. shfp¸p\ndapÅ Im³hmkv I¸Â¸mb
shbnteäv shÅnt]mse Xnf§p¶p|mbncp¶p.
hS¡p]Snªmdp`mKt¯¡v \o§ns¡m|ncp¶ I¸Â
]Snªmdp`mKt¯¡p \o§n. Imäv \ne¨p. I¸Â¸mb Abªp
\nÝeambn. \nÊlmbXtbmsS I¸Â AhnsS \nev¡pIbmWv.
"I¸enepÅhÀ Ct¸mgpw IpSn¨v t_m[anÃmsX InS¡pIbmhpw.' Rm³
AaÀjt¯msS kzbw ]dªp.
I¸Â¸mb Imän CfIn hoÀ¯pw Npfp§n hoWpw
Nen¨psIm|ncp¶p. AXnsâ ^eambn I¸Â Ing¡pw ]Snªmdpw
hS¡pw sX¡psams¡bmbn Id§n¯ncnªp. Bcpw \nb{´n¡p¶nsöv
Dd¸mbncp¶p. sImÅ¡mÀ H¶pIn IpSn¨p ab§pIbmhpw, AsænÂ
I¸Â Dt]£n¨pt]mbXmhpw. I¸en F¯m³ Ignªm kpc£nX
Øet¯¡v I¸Â \o¡mambncp¶p F¶v F\n¡p tXm¶n.
I¸epw Fsâ tXmWnbpw HtcthK¯n sX¡p`mKt¯¡v
\o§ns¡m|ncp¶p. Fgpt¶äp Xpgªm F\ns¡m¸sa¯m³ Ignbpw.
]t£, iànam{Xw t]mcm, {i²bpw thWw. tXmWn shdptX
XncnªpIfn¡pw.
Rm³ I¸ens\ kao]n¨psIm|ncp¶p. sU¡n Hcmsfbpw I|nÃ.
I¸Â Dt]£n¡s¸«Xpt]mse F\n¡p tXm¶n.
Ahkm\w B kabw hs¶¯n. Imäv Ipd¨p kabt¯¡v \ne¨p.
Hgp¡n I¸Â Id§n¯ncnªp. Aacw Fsâ t\À¡v F¯n. Im_nsâ
P\Â Xpd¶p InS¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. ]IÂkabambncp¶n«pw Hcp hnf¡v
AhnsS I¯n¡nS¶p.
Nn´n¡mt\m {]hÀ¯n¡mt\m kabw In«nbnÃ. Hcp Xncame Fs¶
s]m¡nsbSp¯p. I¸Â CfIn¯mgv¶p. Hcp ssIsIm|v Aac¯nÂ\n¶p
Xq§p¶ Ibdn Rm³ ]nSnIqSn. I¸ensâ hi¯pÅ ap\¼n Rm³
Nhn«n\n¶p. Ipd¨pt\cw Rm\§s\ Xq§n\n¶p. ]ns¶
AXniànbnepÅ CSnbmbncp¶p. AXnsâ BLmX¯n Fsâ h©n
ap§nt¸mbn. AtXmSpIqSn lnkv]mt\ymfbnÂ\n¶v F\n¡p ]n´ncnbm³
]ämsXh¶p.
10
Rm³ I¸ensâ sU¡n Ibdn. AhnsS Bscbpw ImWm³ IgnªnÃ.
s]s«¶v lnkv]mt\ymf Imän CfIn. Hcp `mKt¯¡v iànbn \o§n.
At¸mgmWv Xmsg sU¡n c|p Imh¡mÀ InS¡p¶Xp I|Xv. HcmÄ
ssI\o«n aeÀ¶p InS¡pIbmWv. Xpd¶ hmbnse ]ÃpIÄ shfnbnÂ
ImWp¶p. AbmÄ sImesN¿s¸«XmWv. ASp¯pXs¶ AXn\p
ImcW¡mc\mb Ct{k lmâvkv Ccn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. Xe Ip´n¨mWv
AbmÄ Ccn¡p¶Xv. BsI hnfdnshfp¯n«p|v. tZl¯v cà¯nsâ
]mSpIÄ. c|p t]cpw IpSn¨v X½n Gäpap«nbXmsW¶v F\n¡ptXm¶n.
Rm³ AÛpXt¯msS angn¨pt\m¡pt¼mÄ, AbmÄ sasÃsbm¶p
\nehnfn¨p. AbmÄ hÃmsX £oWnX\mbncp¶p. Aklyamb thZ\bpw
D|mbncp¶p. Fsâ a\Êenªp. ]t£, B¸nÄ _mcenÂsh¨v Rm³
tI« kwkmcw F\n¡v HmÀ½h¶Xn\m FÃm Zbbpw Fs¶
hn«p]ncnªp.
Rm³ ASp¯p sN¶v AbmÄ¡p hμ\w ]dªp.
lmâvkv I®pangn¨v Fs¶ t\m¡n. F¶n«p ]dªp: "{_m|n.'
Rm³ Xmsg Im_n\n sN¶pt\m¡n. FÃmw hmcnhen¨n« a«nemWv.
\ne¯v BsI a®mWv. FÃm ]q«pIfpw s]mfn¨n«p|v. Uk³ IW¡nÂ
Hgnª Ip¸nIÄ apdnbn NnXdn¡nS¡p¶p. tUmIvSdpsS Hcp saUn¡Â
_p¡v t]Pv Iodnba«n taita Xpd¶pInS¡p¶p|mbncp¶p.
\nehd iq\yambncp¶p. FÃm Ip¸nIfpw Imenbmbncp¶p. ho¸IÄ
H¶pw ImWm³ IgnªnÃ. Hcp Ip¸nbn Aev]w {_m|n Rm³ Is|
¯n. Ipd¨p _nkv¡äpw Hcp IjWw Nokpw GXm\pw ]g§fpw Hcp
aqebn Rm³ tiJcn¨psh¨p. sU¡nse¯nb DSs\ Rm³ Hcp]mSv
shÅsaSp¯p IpSn¨p. AXn\ptijw {_m|nbpambn lmâvknsâ
ASps¯¯n.
In«nb DSs\ Ip¸n H¶msI AbmÄ hmbnte¡p Iagv¯n.
"hÃmsX ]cn¡p ]äntbm?' Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
"tUmIvSdp|mbncps¶¦n Ct¸mÄ Fs¶ kpJs¸Sp¯pambncp¶p.
]t£, AXn\v F\n¡p `mKyanÃ.' lmâvkv acn¨p InS¡p¶hsâ t\À¡v
hncÂNq|n. "AXv \mhnIs\m¶paÃ. \Ãh\mbncp¶p. N¯pt]mbn...
Xm\nt¸mÄ FhnSp¶mWv hcp¶Xv?'
Rm³ ]dªp: "Ct¸mÄ Cu I¸ensâ \nb{´Ww F\n¡mWv. Fs¶
Iym]vä\mbn AwKoIcn¡Ww.'
 lmâvkv tIm]t¯mSpIqSn Fs¶ t\m¡pI am{XwsNbvXp. apJ¯v
`mhhyXymkw h¶psh¦nepw AbmÄ AXy´w Ahi\mbn ImWs¸«p.
AXn\nSbv¡v I¸ense Idp¯sImSn Rm³ Agns¨Sp¯v
hens¨dnªp. "Iym]vä³ knÂhÀ Xpebs«.'
I]St\m«t¯msS lmâvkv tNmZn¨p: "Iym]vä³ lm¡n³kv
Icbnte¡pXs¶bmtWm t]mIm³ Dt±in¡p¶Xv?'
AsXsb¶v Rm³ Dd¸n¨p ]dªp. \Ã hni¸p|mbncp¶XpsIm|v
Rm³ Fsâ `£WsaSp¯p Ign¡m³ XpS§n.
At¸mÄ lmâvkv tNmZn¨p: "I¸Â BcmWv HmSn¡pI? \n\¡v
]cnNbanÃm¯XpsIm|v Rm³ klmbn¡mw. F\n¡v Xn¶m\pw
IpSn¡m\papÅXp X¶m aXn. Fsâ apdnhp sI«m³ Hcp SÆepw thWw.'
"Hcp Imcyw hyàam¡s«.' Rm³ ]dªp: "\n§Ä Dt±in¡p¶
Øet¯¡v I¸Â Xncn¨pt]mInÃ. hS¡p`mK¯pÅ DÄ¡Sense¯n,
AhnsS \¦qcanSm\mWv Rm³ Xocpam\n¨n«pÅXv.'
"FhntS¡mtWm t]mtI|Xv AhntS¡v I¸Â HmSn¡mw. F\n¡v
{]tXyIw XmXv]cysam¶panÃ.' lmâvkv adp]Sn ]dªp.
ap¶p an\n«p IgnªtXbpÅq, lnkv]mt\ymf \n[nZzo]nsâ
Xoc¯pIqSn bm{X XpSÀ¶p. CtX thK¯n t]mhpIbmsW¦n hS¡p
`mKs¯ Xoc¯v sshIpt¶ct¯mSpIqSn F¯mXncn¡nÃ.
Rm³ Xmg¯pt]mbn Fsâ s]«nXpd¶p. AXn A½bpsS Hcp
kn¡v SÆep|mbncp¶p. AXnsâ klmbt¯mSpIqSn lmâvknsâ
tZls¯ apdnhpsI«n. Ipd¨v `£Ww Ign¡pIbpw {_m|n IpSn¡pIbpw
sNbvXt¸mÄ, AbmÄ¡v Fgpt¶äncn¡m\pw kwkmcn¡m\pw Ignªp.
Imäv XnI¨pw A\pIqeambncp¶p. Ip¶pIsfms¡ ]n¶n«v R§Ä
Xmgv¶pInS¡p¶ \nc¸mb aW¯oc¯v F¯n. ss]³ac§Ä ]n¶n«p.
]mds¡«pIfpÅ Ip¶nsâ hfhp Xncnªv Zzo]nsâ hSt¡ ap\¼nse¯n.
bm{XbpsS hnPb¯n F\n¡p kt´mjw tXm¶n. \à ImemhØ.
IpSn¡m³ \Ã shÅhpw `£Whpw. Iq«pImscsbÃmw hn«pt]m¶XnÂ
F\n¡p k¦Sw tXm¶nbnÃ. ImcWw, lnkv]mt\ymfsb Rm³
c£s¸Sp¯nbncn¡p¶p. lmâvknsâ t\m«wam{Xw F\n¡p ]nSn¨nÃ.
AbmfpsS t\m«¯n h©\bpsS Hcwiw Hfnªncn¡p¶Xpt]mse
F\n¡p tXm¶n.
Imäv R§sf hS¡p`mK¯pÅ DÄ¡Sen F¯n¨p. Xoc¯v
ASp¡m³ C\nbpw kmlks¸SWw. iànbmb Hcp thentbäw R§sf
klmbn¨p. lmâvkv \nÀt±i§Ä Xcp¶p|mbncp¶p. AXn\ptijw
R§Ä \nÈ_vZcmbncp¶v `£Ww Ign¨p.
 "F\n¡v Hcp Ip¸n hoªv sIm|ph¶p Xcptam? Cu {_m|n F\n¡p
]äp¶nÃ.' lmâvkv Ft¶mSp ]dªp.
AbmÄ Ifhp ]dbpIbmsW¶v F\n¡dnbmambncp¶p. Fs¶
sU¡nÂ\n¶v X¡mew Hgnhm¡Ww. AXv F´n\msW¶v F\n¡p
a\ÊnembnÃ. AbmÄ Fsâ apJ¯p t\m¡nbtXbnÃ. \mhp\o«n
shdpsX Nncn¨psIm|ncp¶p.
"Rm³ t]mbn hoªp In«ptam F¶p t\m¡mw. ]t£, Ipsd Xnctb|n
hcpw.' A§s\ ]dªv Im_n\nte¡v H¨bp|m¡ns¡m|v Rm³ \S¶p.
A[nIw XmaknbmsXXs¶ jqkv Ducn i_vZap|m¡msX
tImWn¸Snbn Ibdn\n¶v Rm³ lmâvkns\ Hfnªpt\m¡n.
AbmÄ sU¡neqsS Cgªp\o§p¶XmWv I|Xv. sU¡n Hcp
aqebn Hcp IbÀ Npcp«nsh¨ncp¶p. AXn\nSbnÂ\n¶v AbmÄ Hcp
henb I¯n hens¨Sp¯p.
AXv Pm¡än¶Snbn Hfn¸n¨ AbmÄ ]gbØm\¯pXs¶
sN¶ncp¶p.
CXpXs¶bmbncp¶p Rm³ Adnbm³ B{Kln¨Xpw... Ct{kÂ
lmâvkn\v Bhiysa¦n \S¡mw. ssIbn I¯nbp|v. Fs¶
sImÃm\mWv ]cn]mSn. I¸Â kpc£nXØm\¯v F¯nbtijta AXp
\nÀhln¡q. AXphsc Rm³ kpc£nX\mWv.
Rm³ Xmsg\n¶v Hcp Ip¸n hoªpambn Xncns¨¯n. lmâvkv I®S¨v
Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p. ssh³ In«nb DSs\ AbmÄ Ip¸ntbmsS IpSn¡m³
XpS§n. "C\n Ipd¨p ]pIbneIqSn.' AbmÄ ]dªp.
]pI hen¡pt¼mÄ AbmÄ Ft¶mSp ]dªp: "Ct¸mÄ iànbmb
thentbä¯nsâ kabamWv. \ap¡v t\tc DÄ¡Sente¡p {]thin¡m³
Ignbpw.'
hS¡p`mK¯v DÄ¡Sensâ Xoc¯v CSXqÀ¶v [mcmfw
ac§fp|mbncp¶p.
"Hcp I¸Â \nÀ¯m³ ]änb ØeamWnXv.' lmâvkv ]dªp:
"kpμcamb aW¯n«. Npäpw ac§Ä. tXm«¯nse¶t]mse ]q¡Ä.'
Rm³ Ct{k lmâvknsâ \nÀt±i§Ä AtX]Sn A\pkcn¨p. I¸Â
t\tc Xocs¯¯n¨ BËmZ¯nembncp¶p Rm³. AXpsIm|v
lmâvkns\ X¡mew {i²n¡phm³ ad¶p. Rm³ shůnte¡pXs¶
t\m¡nbncn¡pIbmbncp¶p. s]s«¶v ]n¶nsemcp i_vZw
tI«Xmbnt¯m¶n. DÄhnfnbnse¶t]mse Rm³ Xncnªpt\m¡n. sXm«p
]n¶n I¯n DbÀ¯n¸nSn¨psIm|v lmâvkv. Rm³ `bwsIm|p sR«n
\nehnfn¨p. AbmÄ hnfdn]nSn¨ Imfsbt¸mse Aedns¡m|p
apt¼m«mªp. Rm³ s]mSp¶t\ Hgnªpamdn. At¸mÄ Np¡m³
lmâvknsâ s\©nemWp sN¶p X«nbXv. AXv AbmfpsS KXn XSªp.
A]IS¯nÂ\n¶v Rm³ X¡mew c£s¸«p.
Rm³ HmSn sU¡nÂsN¶v ]nÌÄ FSp¯v AbmfpsS t\À¡v
\ndsbmgn¨p. F¶m shSns]m«nbnÃ. ISÂshÅw X«n shSnbp|
\\ªpt]mbncp¶p. AXp amänbnSm³ Rm³ ad¶ncp¶p. Fsâ
A{i²sb Rm³ i]n¨p. Fsâ At¸mgs¯ ØnXn AdhpImcsâ
ap¼n AIs¸« BSns\t¸msebmbncp¶p.
apdnhp]änbncps¶¦nepw lmâvkv AXnthKw \o§p¶p|mbncp¶p.
c|mas¯ ]nÌfpw \\ªncn¡m\nSbpÅXpsIm|v Rm³
]co£W¯n\p apXnÀ¶nÃ. Rm³ kaÀ°ambn Hgnªpamdm³ XpS§n.
Imcyw a\Ênembt¸mÄ lmâvkv \n¶p. R§Ä ]ckv]cw Däpt\m¡n.
Fsâ lrZbw iànbn CSn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p.
s]s«¶v lnkv]mt\ymf \ne¯p X«pIbpw Hcp `mKt¯¡v NcnbpIbpw
sNbvXp. sU¡nte¡v shÅw ASn¨p Ibdn. R§Ä c|pt]cpw
_me³kv \jvSs¸«v \ne¯p hoWpcp|p. ssI\o«n¡nS¡p¶ sU¡nse
ihhpw sX¶nbqÀ¶v AhnsSsb¯n. lmâvknsâ tZl¯mWvv AXp h¶p
ap«nbXv. AbmfXv Zqtc¡v X«n \o¡p¶ Xnc¡nembncp¶p. Rm³
Fgpt¶äp. \\ª sU¡n HmSpI {]bmkambncp¶p. Rm³ I¸ensâ
sImSnac¯n ]nSn¨pIbdn Hcp Øe¯v Ccn¸pd¸n¨p.
Rm³ DS³Xs¶ ]nÌfn ]pXnb shSnbp| \nd¨p. AXp s]m«psa¶v
Dd¸p hcp¯n ho|pw \nd¨p.
Imcy§Ä X\ns¡Xntc \o§p¶Xmbn lmâvkn\p tXm¶n. AbmÄ
I¯n hmbn ISn¨p]nSn¨v, sImSnac¯n Ibdm³ XpS§n. thZ\sIm|v
AbmÄ Rc§p¶p|mbncp¶p. aq¶nsemcp `mKw Ibdn¡gnªt¸mÄ,
Rm³ ]nÌÄ \o«n Abmsf XSªp:
"HcSnIqSn apt¶m«p \o§nbm \nsâ Xe s]m«n¨nXdpw.'
AbmÄ DSs\ \n¶p. kwkmcn¡m³ hmbnÂ\n¶v I¯n Hgnhm¡n.
F¶n«p ]dªp: "Pnw, I¸Â Hcp `mKt¯¡v NcnªnÃmbncps¶¦nÂ,
CXn\p apt¼ \nsâ IY Rm³ Ignt¨s\. F´p sN¿mw? F\n¡p
`mKyanÃ. Hcp Im_n³ t_mbv am{Xamb \ns¶ F\n¡v Iym]vä\mbn
AwKoIcnt¡|n h¶p. Fs¶t¸mse ko\nbdmb Hcp I¸n¯m\v AXp
kln¡mhp¶ ImcyaÃ.'
Cu hm¡pIÄ tI«t¸mÄ F\n¡p kt´mjw tXm¶n. lmâvkns\
tXmev]n¨ kt´mj¯m Rm³ Nncn¨p. s]mSp¶t\ AbmfpsS
heXpssI tatem«p s]m§n. A¼pt]mse Ft´m Fsâ tZl¯p h¶p
Xd¨p. Aklyamb thZ\. Fsâ Npa sImSnact¯mSv tNÀ¯p
]n³sNbvXXpt]mse. B thZ\bn Fsâ c|p ]nÌfpw H¶n¨p
shSnbp|bpXnÀ¯p Xmtgm«p ]Xn¨p. tXm¡pam{Xaà hoWXv, Hcp
\nehnfntbmsS lmâvkpw Xmsg shůn XeIp¯n hoWp. Hcn¡Â
B icocw s]m§nh¶p. ]ns¶ Xmgv¶p adªp.
Fs¶ sImÃm³ {ian¨ AtX Øe¯v lmâvkv ao\pIÄ¡v
`£Wambn.
B ihicocw Fs¶ hÃmsX AkzØ\m¡n. AtX kabw Fsâ
Npa sImSnac¯nÂ\n¶v thÀs]«ncp¶nÃ. I¯n hens¨Sp¡m³
{ians¨¦nepw ]änbnÃ. Rm³ IpXdnt\m¡n. At¸mÄ NÀ½w apdnªp
thÀs]«p. càw hmÀs¶mgpIn. sImSnact¯mSp tNÀ¯psI«nbncp¶
tIm«v Rm³ thÀs]Sp¯n. ]ns¶ Xmsgbnd§n sU¡nse¯n.
Npaenteä apdnhn\v Bgw Ipdhmbncp¶p. AXpsIm|v A]ISIcambn
tXm¶nbnÃ. Rm³ Npäpw It®mSn¨p. I¸ense ihw At¸mgpw
AhnsSbp|mbncp¶p. Rm\Xv hen¨p ISentes¡dnªp.
Ct¸mÄ I¸en Rm³ Häbv¡mbn. kqcy³ AkvXan¡mdmbncp¶p.
ISense Hmf§Ä¡v iàn Ipdªp. sshIpt¶cs¯ Cf¦mänÂ
I¸Â¸mb CfIn¡fn¨p.
I¸ensâ A]ISkm[yXsb¸än F\n¡v Duln¡mambncp¶p.
AXpsIm|v {][m\ I¸Â¸mbbpsS IbÀ Rm³ apdn¨pamän. I¸Â¸mb
shůn ]mdn hoWp. At¸mÄ F\n¡v sN¿mhp¶ Imcyw AXp
am{Xambncp¶p.
t\cw Ccp«n¡gnªncp¶p. Rm³ Hcp Ibdn¸nSn¨v shůnend§n.
Acbv¡p shÅap|mbncp¶p. lnkv]mt\ymfsb AhnsS hn«v Rm³
Icbv¡p Ibdn.
Ct¸mÄ I¸Â ISÂs¡mÅ¡mcnÂ\n¶v apàamWv. R§fpsS
BfpIÄ¡v C\n AXn bm{XsN¿m³ {]bmkanÃ. Fsâ
hockmlknI{]hr¯nIsf¡pdn¨pw bm{Xsb¡pdn¨pw ho«nse¯n
]dbWsa¶ tamlw am{Xta F\n¡p|mbncp¶pÅq.
henb DÕmlt¯mSpIqSn Rm³ achoSns\ e£yam¡n\S¶p.
Ip¶n³apIfneqsS HgpInhcp¶ AcphnbpsS Hmcw tNÀ¶v Im«neqsS
apt¶m«p\o§n. Ip¶n³aqebnÂ\n¶p Xncnªt¸mÄ, s_³KsW B
Øe¯ph¨mWtÃm I|Xv F¶p Rmt\mÀ¯p. At¸mÄ Ccp«n Zqsc
\n¶v Hcp shfn¨w I®nÂs¸«p. s_³K¬ `£Ww ]mIw
sN¿pIbmbncn¡ptam? shfn¨w sImÅ¡mcpsS I®nÂs¸«mÂ
Ipg¸amhntÃ? s_³K¬ C{Xbpw ap³IcpXenÃm¯ BfmWtÃm F¶p
Rm³ AÛpXs¸«p.
\nemhv DZn¨p Ignªncp¶p. Rm³ hfsc {i²n¨mWv apt¼m«p
\o§nbXv. kz´w BfpIÄXs¶ sXän²cn¨v shSnsh¨m Ipg¸amWv.
Rm³ Ing¡p`mK¯pIqSn h¶v Xdnthen IS¶p.
Rm³ i_vZap|m¡msX Cgªp\o§n hoSnsâ aqebnse¯n. Fsâ
lrZbw ]S]Sm F¶v anSn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. Fsâ Iq«pImÀ IqÀ¡w
hen¨v kpJ\n{ZbnemWv. ]qÀWhnizmkt¯mSpIqSnbmWv Rm³ hmXnÂ
Xpd¶v AI¯p IS¶Xv. Rm³ i_vZap|m¡msX Fsâ ]gb Øm\¯v
sN¶p InS¡m³ Xocpam\n¨p. cmhnse DWÀ¶p t\m¡pt¼mÄ
AÛpXs¸«p t]mIWw.
AXn\nSbv¡v Fsâ Im FhnsStbm X«n. AXv HcmfpsS
Imembncp¶p. AbmÄ Xncnªp InS¶XÃmsX DWcpItbm
Fgpt¶ev¡pItbm sNbvXnÃ. At¸mfmWv t]Sn¸n¡p¶ Hcp i_vZw
DbÀ¶ptI«Xv. AXv knÂhdpsSXs¶bmbncp¶p!
H¨ tI«v Dd§p¶hÀ Fgpt¶äp.
"BcmWXv?'knÂhdpsS H¨ s]m§n.
DS³Xs¶ Rm³ XncntªmSn. HcmfpsS tZl¯v iànbn sN¶pap«n.
asämcmfpsS ap¼n sN¶ps]«t¸mÄ AbmÄ Fsâta ]nSnapdp¡n.
"Hcp tSmÀ¨v sIm|phm, Un¡v.'
hoSnsâ AI¯v shfn¨w ]c¶p.
FÃmw ISÂs¡mÅ¡mÀ! XShpImcmbn Fsâ Iq«pImÀ BcpanÃ.
AhscÃmw acWs¸«n«p|mIpsa¶pXs¶ F\n¡ptXm¶n. AhtcmsSm¸w
acn¡m³ Ignbm¯Xn F\n¡p {]bmkap|mbn.
11

acho«n Bdp sImÅ¡mcmbncp¶p D|mbncp¶Xv. A©pt]À IpSn¨p

t_m[anÃm¯hcmbncp¶p. Bdmasâ Xebn tNmc¸mSpIfpÅ
sI«p|mbncp¶p. AbmÄ hÃmsX hnfdnbncp¶p, knÂhdpw
AXpt]mseXs¶.
"Pnw lm¡n³kv R§sf ImWm³ F¯nbXtÃ, kzmKXw.' knÂhÀ
]dªp.
Rms\m¶pw ]dªnÃ. Rm³ NpaÀ Nmcn\n¶v knÂhdpsS apJ¯p
t\m¡n. FXnÀ¡Wsa¶ps|¦nepw Fsâ iàn
tNmÀ¶pt]mIp¶Xpt]mse F\n¡p tXm¶n.
"\ns¶ F\n¡v F¶pw CjvSambncp¶p. \osbmcp [oc\mWv.' knÂhÀ
Fs¶ t\m¡n¸dªp: "\o, R§fpsSIqsS thWsa¶v F\n¡m{Klap|v.
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv Ignhpäh\msW¦nepw ]nSnhmin¡mc\mWv. Abmsf
Hgnhm¡Ww. tUmIvSdpw \n\¡v FXncmWv. \o Xncn¨psN¶m Bcpw
\ns¶ kzoIcn¡pIbnÃ. Iym]vä³ knÂhdnsâIqsS \n¡mt\ C\n \n\
¡v Ignbq.'
Fsâ Iq«pImÀ Pohn¨ncn¸p|v F¶dnªXn F\n¡v Bizmkw
tXm¶n. Ahsc Dt]£n¨Xn AhÀs¡t¶mSv tZjyw tXm¶mXncn¡nÃ.
"Rm³ `ojWns¸Sp¯pIsbm¶paÃ. \o R§fpsSIqsS tNcps¶¦nÂ
kt´mjw. Asöp ]dbm\pÅ kzmX{´yhpw \n\¡p|v.' knÂhÀ
]ns¶bpw ]dªp.
F\n¡p `bwtXm¶n. thWsa¦n sImÅ¡mÀ¡v Fs¶ Ffp¸w
sImÃm³ Ignbpw. Rm³ hÃmsX AkzØ\mbn.
"Rm³ Ct¸mÄXs¶ adp]Sn ]dbtWm?'
"th|. BtemNn¨p ]dªmÂaXn.'
Rm³ ss[cyw kw`cn¨p tNmZn¨p: "Hcp Imcyw AdnbWsa¶p|v.
\n§sfÃmhcpw F´mWnhnsS? Fsâ Iq«pImscms¡ FhnsSbmWv?'
"C¶se cmhnse tUmIvSÀ enhvkn A\pcRvP\NÀ¨bv¡mbn ChnsS
h¶ncp¶p. I¸Â ImWp¶nà F¶ hnhcw AbmÄ Ft¶mSp ]dªp.
ISente¡p t\m¡nbt¸mÄ AXp t_m[ys¸SpIbpw sNbvXp. ]ns¶ Nne
hnet]isems¡ \S¶p. R§Ä¡p th| `£Wkm[\§sfÃmw
A§s\bmWp In«nbXv. AXn\ptijw AhÀ FhnsSbmWp t]mbsX¶v
F\n¡dnbnÃ.' knÂhÀ im´\mbn ss]¸v hen¨p.
 "Xocpam\saSp¡p¶Xn\pap¼v H¶pc|p Imcy§Ä F\n¡v
Adnbm\p|v. \n§sfÃmhcpsSbpw ØnXn tamiamWnt¸mÄ. I¸Â
t]mbn. \n[n \jvSs¸«p. BfpIÄ \jvSambn. \n§fpsS FÃm
]cn]mSnbpw s]mfnªp. AXn\p ImcW¡mc³ BcmsW¶dnbtWm?
AXv Cu \n¡p¶ Rm\mWv. B¸nÄ _mcen Hfn¨ncp¶v \n§fpsS
apgph³ kw`mjWhpw Rm³ tI«ncp¶p. AsXÃmw Rms\sâ
Iq«pImtcmSp ]dªp. I¸ensâ IbÀ apdn¨Xv, I¸enep|mbncp¶hsc
sImes¸Sp¯nbXv, I¸Â Bcpw ImWmsX kpc£nXØm\¯v
F¯n¨Xv þþFÃmw Cu Rm\mWv. XpS¡w apXevt¡ F\n¡p
Pbambncp¶p. C\n F\n¡v \n§sf Hcp t]SnbpanÃ. sImÃWsa¦nÂ
sImÃv, Asæn hn«bbv¡v. Hcp Imcyw Rm³ Dd¸pXcmw. Fs¶
t]mIm\\phZn¨mÂ, Xm¦sf sIme¡bdnÂ\n¶p c£s¸Sp¯m³ Rm³
]camh[n {ian¡pw.'
F\n¡v izmkwap«p¶Xpt]mse tXm¶n. Fs¶ AÛpXs¸Sp¯nbXv
Hcmfpw Ccn¡p¶nS¯p\n¶v A\§nbnà F¶XmWv. AhÀ A¼c¶v
Fs¶¯s¶ t\m¡n.
Rm³ ho|pw ]dªp: "Cu Iq«¯n Gähpw \à a\pjy³
knÂhdmWv. Rm³ acn¡pIbmsW¦n Rm³ ]dª FÃm hnhchpw
tUmIvSsd Adnbn¡m³ aSn¡cpXv.'
"AXp Rm³ sN¿mw.' knÂhÀ hÃms¯mcp a«n ]dªp. AbmÄ
Fs¶ ]cnlkn¡pIbmtWm, Fsâ [ocIrXy§tfmÀ¯v
AÛpXs¸SpIbmtWm F¶v hyàambnÃ.
"»mIv tUmKnsâ ]cnNb¡mc\mWnh³.' tamÀK³ F¶ \mhnI³
]dªp.
"_nÃn t_m¬knsâ ssIbnÂ\n¶p NmÀ«v tamjvSn¨h³ Ch\mWv.
FÃm {]iv\§Ä¡pw D¯chmZnbpw Ch³Xs¶.' asämcp sImÅ¡mc³
]dªp.
"Rm\hs\ sImÃm³ t]mhpIbmWv.' tamÀK³ I¯nbqcn.
"\nÀ¯v. Xm\mWv Iym]vä³ F¶p tXm¶p¶pt|m? ]dbp¶Xv
A\pkcn¨nsæn Xs¶ Rm³ sImÃpw.' knÂhÀ s]m«ns¯dn¨p.
tamÀK³ ]n´ncnsª¦nepw aäpÅhÀ ]ndp]ndp¡p¶p|mbncp¶p.
"tamÀKsâ `mK¯v \ymbap|v.' HcmÄ ]dªp.
"Pn½ns\ DSs\ h[n¡Ww.' asämcmÄ.
"A§s\ thWsa¶pÅhÀ BcmWv? aShmÄsIm|v Rm\hsâ IY
Ign¡pw.' knÂhÀ Aedns¡m|p ]dªp.
Bcpw A\§nbnÃ. FÃmhcpw \nÈ_vZw.
 "\n§sfmcp hÃm¯ hÀKwXs¶.' knÂhÀ XpSÀ¶p: "Fs¶
Iym]vä\mbn XncsªSp¯Xv Fsâ IgnhpsIm|mWv. \n§Ä Fs¶
A\pkcnt¨ ]äq. a\Ênemtbm? F\n¡v Pn½ns\ CjvSamWv. Ahs\
¡mÄ anSp¡\mb Hcp Ip«nsb Rm³ I|n«nÃ. \n§Ä FÃmhcpw
tNÀ¶mepw Ahsâ ASps¯¯nÃ. Ahsâ tZls¯§m\pw
ssIsh¨mep|tÃm...'
AhnsS \o| \nÈ_vZX ]c¶p. hÀ[n¨ lrZbanSnt¸mSpIqSn Rm³
\nhÀ¶p\n¶p, knÂhÀ ssIIÄ tNÀ¯psh¨v {]mÀ°\bvs¡¶t]mse
im´\mbn ]pdwXncnªp \n¶p. amdn\n¶v ]ndp]ndp¯psIm|ncp¶
sImÅ¡msc AbmÄ {i²n¡mXncp¶nÃ.
AXnsemcp \mhnI³ ]dªp: "R§Ä¡p ]pd¯pt]mbn NneXp
kwkmcn¡m\p|v. AXn\pÅ AhImihpw R§Ä¡p|v. \nbasam¶pw
R§Ä sXän¡p¶nÃ.'
AbmÄ Hcp keyq«v sImSp¯v ]pd¯nd§n.
aª¡®pÅ Hcp hnIrXcq]w. Abmsf A\pIcn¨v aäpÅhcpw keyq«v
sNbvXp ]pdt¯¡p \S¶p.
AhÀ ]pd¯pt]mb DSt\ knÂhÀ ]dªp: ""Pnw, \nsâ Poh\v
A]ISkm[yXbp|v. ]t£, Rm³ Ft¸mgpw \nt¶msSm¸ap|mhpw.
\ns¶ F\n¡p hnizmkamWv. Rm³ \nsâIqsS \n¶m \o
Ft¶msSm¸ap|mhpsa¶v Rm³ IcpXp¶p. \ap¡v At\ym\yw
klmbn¨mÂ, \msf \osbs¶ c£n¡psa¶v F\n¡dnbmw.'
F\n¡v Imcy§Ä hyàamhm³ XpS§n.
"FÃmw \jvSs¸«p F¶mtWm?' Rm³ tNmZn¨p.
"AtX, I¸Â t]mbn. Igp¯pw t]mIpw.' knÂhÀ ]dªp: "I¸Â
ImWp¶nsöp h¶t¸mÄ Rm³ \ncmi\mbn. Cu a\pjycp|tÃm,
`ocp¡fpw hnUvVnIfpamWv. AhcnÂ\n¶v \nsâ Poh³ Rm³ c£n¡pw.
]t£, Pnw Dcpfbv¡v Dt¸cnþþ Cu knÂhdns\ \o Igpac¯nÂ\n¶v
c£n¡Ww.'
F\n¡v Bizmkw tXm¶nþþ AhcpsS t\Xmhv Ft¶mSp
c£n¡Wsa¶p ]dbp¶p!
"F\n¡p sN¿m³ ]äp¶sXÃmw Rm³ sN¿mw.' Rm³ ]dªp.
"CXv Hcp hnet]iemWv. Fsâ Imcyw \o ss[cyambn«p ]dbWw.
F¦n c£bp|v.' knÂhÀ ]dbm³ XpS§n:
"Fs¶ a\Ênem¡q, Pnw. Cu Rm³ Poht\msSbp|v. Ct¸mÄ Rm³
{]`phnsâ `mK¯mWv. \o I¸Â kpc£nXØm\¯v F¯n¨XmWtÃm.
AsX§s\sb¶v F\n¡dntb|. Rm³ H¶pw tNmZn¡p¶nÃ. aäpÅhsc
tNmZn¡m³ A\phZn¡pIbpanÃ. th|t¸mÄ th|XpsN¿m³
F\n¡dnbmw. \o sNdp¸amWv. \ap¡p c|pt]À¡pwIqSn ]e henb
Imcy§fpw sN¿m\p|v.'
AbmÄ Ipd¨pIqSn {_m|n IpSn¨p.
F\n¡p X¶Xv Rm³ \nckn¨p.
"F\n¡p a\Ênemhm¯ Hcp Imcyap|v. F´n\mWv tUmIvSÀ F\n¡v
B NmÀ«v X¶Xv?' knÂhÀ tNmZn¨p.
Rm³ Abmsf AÛpXt¯msS angn¨pt\m¡n.
"Ft´m NneXv \ÃXmbmepw No¯bmbmepw AXn Hfnªncn¸p|v.'
F´pw hcs« F¶ a«n AbmÄ Xe Ipep¡n.
Ipd¨v Ignªt¸mÄ Hcp sImÅ¡mc³ Xncn¨ph¶v tSmÀ¨v
Bhiys¸«p. knÂhÀ sImSp¯p, At¸mÄ R§Ä Ccp«nembn.
"\Ã Imäv.' knÂhÀ kvt\l]qÀÆw ]dªp.
Rm³ ]pdt¯¡pt\m¡n. Xmsg sImÅ¡mÀ H¯pIqSnbn«p|v.
Hcphsâ ssIbn Hcp I¯nbpw asämcphsâ ssIbn Hcp ]pkvXIhpw.
AhÀ F´mWp sN¿p¶sX¶v a\ÊnembnÃ. Ipd¨pIgnªt¸mÄ AhÀ
Xncn¨p ho«nte¡p \S¶p.
"AhcXm Xncn¨phcp¶p.' Rms\sâ Øe¯p sN¶p \n¶p.
"AhÀ hcs«. Fsâ ssIbn tXm¡p|v'þþknÂhÀ.
hmXn Xpd¶v A©pt]cpw AI¯pIS¶p. AXn Hcmsf apt¼m«p
XÅn\o¡n.
"hcWw, Rm³ \n§sf Xn¶pIsbm¶panÃ.' knÂhÀ Dds¡]dªp.
Hcp sImÅ¡mc³ apt¼m«ph¶v knÂhdpsS ssIbn Hcp Idp¯
t]¸À sImSp¯p.
"FhnSp¶mWv CXp In«nbXv. ss__nfnÂ\n¶v apdns¨Sp¯XtÃ? GXp
hnUvVnbmWv CXp sNbvXXv?' knÂhÀ Aedn.
"AXv Un¡nsâ ss__nfmWv.' HcmÄ ]dªp.
"Idp¯ t]¸À Xn¶pIgnªntÃ? AXn F´mWv FgpXnbsX¶p
hmbn¨pt\m¡v.' aª¡®pÅ tPmÀÖv ]dªp.
"Rm³ C\napXÂ Iym]vä\Ã F¶tÃ. ASp¯ Iym]vä³ tPmÀÖv
BWv F¶tà FgpXnbncn¡p¶Xv?' knÂhÀ tNmZn¨p,
"R§sf C\n hnUvVnIfm¡m³ k½Xn¡nÃ.' tPmÀÖn\v £a \in¨p.
"\nbasams¡ \n§Ä¡v Adnbpsa¶mWv IcpXnbXv. Rm³ Ct¸mgpw
\n§fpsS Iym]vä\msW¶ Imcyw HmÀ½bncn¡s«.' knÂhÀ ap¶dnbn¸p
\evIn.
 "Rm³ ]dbs«.' tPmÀÖv ]dbm³ XpS§n: "Cu bm{XbpsS
]cmPb¯n\p ImcWw \n§fmWv. ho«nÂ\n¶v i{Xp¡sf c£s¸Sm³
\n§Ä A\phZn¨p. hgn¡psh¨v Ahsc sImÃm³ R§sf k½Xn¨nÃ.
Ahkm\anXm Cu ]¿\pw...'
"XoÀt¶m?' knÂhÀ im´\mbn ]dªp: "C\n {i²n¡v. \n§fmcpw
Fs¶ A\pkcn¨nÃ. lnkv]mt\ymf hn«pt]mcm³ F\n¡p
a\ÊnÃmbncp¶p þþ\n§Ä \nÀ_Ôn¨p. Asæn \n[nbpambn I¸enÂ
\ap¡p aS§mambncp¶p. FÃmw XIcmdnem¡nbXv B³tUgvk\pw
lmâvkpw tPmÀÖpwIqSnbtÃ?' knÂhÀ Ipd¨pkabw \nÀ¯n.
tPmÀÖnsâbpw Iq«mfnIfpsSbpw apJw I|m ]dªXv icn¡pw
Ginbt]mse F\n¡p tXm¶n.
"Rms\m¶p tNmZn¡s«, tUmIvSsd Rm³ sIm¶ncps¶¦nÂ,
AkpJambn InS¶t¸mÄ tPmÀÖns\ NnInÕn¡m³ thtd Bsc¦nepw
D|mIpambncpt¶m? tPmWnsâ Xebv¡v ]cnt¡ät¸mÄ, tUmIvSdtÃ
h¶p c£n¨Xv? \n§Ä Hcp Iq«w hnUvVnIÄXs¶bmWv. C\n Cu ]
¿sâ Imcyw. Ah³ A`bmÀ°nbmbn h¶p IbdnbXmWv. Ahs\ Rm³
sImÃWsa¶mtWm ]dbp¶Xv? i{Xp¡fpsS Imcyw. \n§Ä
]«nWnInS¶p \cIn¨t¸mÄ Blmcw X¶p c£n¨Xv AhcmWv. ]dbq,
Ahsc Rm³ shdptX hn«Xv sXämtWm! AXns\¡mÄ Hs¡ {]
[m\s¸«Xv. CXm t\m¡v. CXv AhÀ X¶XmWv.'
knÂhÀ Hcp t]¸À \ne¯p hens¨dnªp. ap¼v Iym]väsâ
s\©nÂ\n¶v F\n¡p In«nb am¸mbncp¶p AXv. AXv tUmIvSÀ F´n\p
sImSp¯p F¶v F\n¡p a\ÊnembnÃ. sImÅ¡mÀ FenbpsStaÂ
]q¨sb¶t]mse AXnt·Â NmSnhoWp. AhÀ amdnamdn t]¸À
]cntim[n¨p. I|m \n[n ]cntim[n¡pIbmsW¶ptXm¶pw!
"AtX, Iym]vä³ ^vfnânsâ am¸pXs¶.' HcmÄ ]dªp.
"I¸enÃmsX \½Ä CXpsIms|´p sN¿pw!' tPmÀÖv tNmZn¨p.
knÂhÀ NmSnsbWoäp: "I¸enÃ, AtÃ? \oXs¶ AXp ]dbWw.
Xm\pw Iq«pImcpw ImcWamWv F\ns¡sâ I¸Â \jvSs¸«Xv.'
"aXn, aXn.' tamÀK³ CSs]«p.
"Xm³aqew I¸Â \jvSambn. Rm³aqew \n[n Is|¯m³ Ignªp.
At¸mÄ IgnhpÅXv BÀ¡mWv? Cu Rm³ Iym]vä³Øm\w HgnbWw
AtÃ? Hgnbmw, \n§Ä CjvSapÅhsc XncsªSp¯psImÅq.'
"knÂhÀXs¶ Iym]vä³.' AhÀ H¶n¨p]dªp.
"icn.' knÂhÀ tPmÀÖns\ t\m¡n¸dªp: "Iym]vä\mhm³ Xsâ
kabamIp¶Xphsc Im¯ncn¡v. F\n¡v Hcp hntcm[hpanÃ.'
 B cm{Xnbnse hmKzmZw sI«S§n. FÃmhcpw aZyw Ign¨n«v Dd§m³
InS¶p. Imhen\v tPmÀÖns\bm¡n. hnizkvX\söptXm¶nbmÂ
sIm¶pIfbpsa¶p Xm¡oXp \evIm³ knÂhÀ ad¶nÃ.
12

F\n¡p Ipsd t\ct¯¡v Dd¡w h¶nÃ. sImesN¿s¸« Ct{kÂ

lmâvkns\¸änbmWv Rm³ BtemNn¨Xv. knÂhdpsS
kmaÀ°ys¯¡pdn¨pw Rm³ HmÀ¯p. Hcp `mK¯v Iem]ImcnIsf
A\p\bn¸n¨p \nÀ¯pI, adphi¯v Fs¶ D]tbmKn¨v kz´w Poh³
c£n¡m³ {ian¡pI. AbmÄ IqÀ¡w hen¨v Dd§p¶p|mbncp¶p.
{Iqc\msW¶Xv icnXs¶. F¶mepw \m«n Abmsf Im¯ncn¡p¶
Igpacs¯¸än HmÀ¯t¸mÄ F\n¡p klXm]wtXm¶n.
Imh¡mcsâ H¨tI«v Rm\pw aäpÅhcpw DWÀ¶p. "tUmIvSÀ
F¯nt¸mbn.' AbmÄ hnfn¨p ]dbp¶p|mbncp¶p.
tUmIvSsd ImWp¶Xn F\n¡v kt´mjap|mbncp¶p. ]t£,
tUmIvSsd h©n¨ F\n¡v At±l¯nsâ apJ¯pt\m¡m³ {]bmkw
tXm¶n.
knÂhÀ tUmIvSsd A`nhmZyw sNbvXn«p ]dªp: "kÀ, tcmKnIsfÃmw
kpJambn hcp¶p|v. ]ns¶ tUmIvSÀ hnNmcn¡m¯ HcmÄ ChnsSbp|v.'
"Pnw AÃtÃm?'
"AsX, ]gb PnwXs¶.'
"\ÃXv.' tUmIvSÀ ]dªp: "tPmen BZyw. aäp Imcy§Ä ]ns¶. BZyw
Fsâ tcmKnIsf ]cntim[n¡s«.'
tUmIvSÀ Fs¶¡|t¸mÄ Xebm«pIam{Xw sNbvXp. ]ns¶ tPmen
XpSÀ¶p. Cu sImÅ¡mcpsS CSbn tUmIvSÀ¡v Hcp `bhpw
CÃm¯Xpt]mse. hfsc kulmÀ±¯nemWv At±lw tcmKnItfmSv
s]cpamdnbXv. Xm³ Ct¸mgpw I¸ense tUmIvSdpw aäpÅhÀ
\mhnIcpamsW¶a«nÂ.
Xebv¡p ]cn¡pÅ Bsf ]cntim[n¨p tUmIvSÀ ]dªp: "\Ã
amäap|tÃm. \n§fpsS Iq«¯n thtd BÀ¡mWv AkpJapÅXv?'
"Un¡n\v ]\nbmWv.'
tUmIvSÀ, Un¡ns\ ASp¯phnfn¨p ]cntim[n¨pþþþatednb. AXn\pÅ
acp¶v tUmIvSÀ sImSp¯p. AXn\ptijw ]dªp: "C\n B ]¿t\mSv
Rms\m¶p kwkmcn¡s«.'
"th|.' tPmÀÖv ]dªp.
"an|cpXv.' knÂhdpsS H¨ s]m§n: "tUmIvSÀ¡v Cu ]¿t\mSv F¶pw
CjvSambncp¶p. AbmÄ¡v kwkmcn¡m³ Ahkcw sImSp¡Ww. Pnw, \o
s]mbv¡fbnà F¶v Dd¸tÃ?'
 "AsX.' Pnw ]dªp.
]pd¯p\n¶p kwkmcn¡msa¶p]dªv knÂhÀ Pn½ns\
Iq«ns¡m|pt]mbn. aäp sImÅ¡mÀ¡v AXnjvSambnÃ.
knÂhÀ AhtcmSv ]dªp: "tUmIvSsd \ap¡mhiyapÅnSt¯mfw,
At±lw ]dbp¶Xv \mw A\pkcn¡Ww. a\Ênemtbm?'
aäpÅhÀ \nÈ_vZcmbn.
"kmh[m\w \S¡v. thKw \S¶m AhÀ¡v kwibw tXm¶pw.'
knÂhÀ, Pn½ns\ D]tZin¨p. tUmIvSdpsS ASps¯¯nbt¸mÄ knÂhÀ
amdn\n¶p ]dªp: "Pn½ns\ Rms\§s\bmWv c£n¨sX¶v Ah³Xs¶
]dbpw. Rm³ Pn½nt\mSv ImWn¨Xpt]mse Ft¶mSpw Zb ImWn¡Ww,
tUmIvSÀ.'
knÂhÀ BsI amdnbXpt]mse tXm¶n. apJw hnfdnbncn¡p¶p. i_vZw
CSdp¶p|v.
"knÂhÀ F´n\mWv t]Sn¡p¶Xv?' tUmIvSÀ tNmZn¨p.
"F\n¡v t]Snsbm¶panà tUmIvSÀ. ]t£, Xq¡pacs¯ F\n¡p
t]SnbmWv. Rm³ \n§tfmSp sNbvX t{Zml§Ä \n§Ä
ad¶pImWpIbnà F¶dnbmw. AXpt]mse Ipsd \à Imcy§fpw Rm³
sNbvXn«p|tÃm, tUmIvSÀ. AXp ad¡cpsXt¶ At]£bpÅq.'
tUmIvSsdbpw Pn½ns\bpw X\n¨m¡n knÂhÀ Zqsc Hcp ac¡pänbnÂ
Ibdnbncp¶p.
"Pnw, Rm³ \ns¶ Ipäw ]dbpIbÃ. ]t£, Hcp Imcyw. Iym]vä³
kvsamsÃäv BtcmKyt¯mSpIqSnbncp¶t¸mÄ HmSnt¸mIm³ \n\¡v
ss[cyap|mbnÃ. AbmÄ¡v Xosc h¿mXncn¡pt¼mgmWv \o HmSnt¸mbXv.
AXp henb `ocpXzambnt¸mbn.' tUmIvSÀ ]dªp.
F\n¡p Ic¨n h¶p: "tUmIvSÀ Ft¶mSp tZjys¸ScpXv. Rm³
F{Xtbm XhW Fs¶¯s¶ i]n¨p Ignªp. F´mbmepw Fsâ
Poh³ A]IS¯nemWv. knÂhÀ CÃmbncps¶¦n Rm³ Ct¸mÄ
Poht\msS D|mIpambncp¶nÃ. Rm³ acn¡m³ X¿mdmWv. ]t£,
AXn\pap¼v klnt¡|nhcp¶ ]oU\s¯¡pdnt¨mÀ¡pt¼mÄ...'
tUmIvSdpsS a\Êenªp.
"\ap¡v ChnsS\n¶v HmSn c£s¸Smw, Pnw.'
"AXp ]änà tUmIvSÀ. Rm³ knÂhÀ¡v hm¡psImSp¯XmWv. F\n¡p
Xncn¨pt]mIWw. AXn\pap¼v Hcp Imcyw Adnbn¡s«. I¸Â F\n¡v
Xncn¨pIn«nbn«p|v. hSt¡ DÄ¡Sen\v sXm«pXmsgbmWpÅXv.'
"I¸tem!' tUmIvSÀ AÛpXs¸«p.
 Rms\sâ kmlknIbm{X Npcp¡n hnhcn¨p. tUmIvSÀ \nÈ_vZ\mbn
FÃmw tI«p.
"Hmtcm XhWbpw \o R§fpsS Poh³ c£n¡pIbmbncp¶p. Ip«o,
\nsâ Poh³ A]ISs¸Sp¯m³ R§Ä Bscbpw A\phZn¡pIbnÃ.
AhcpsS clky]cn]mSn \o aW¯dnªp. \o s_³KsW I|pap«n.'
tUmIvSÀ A{Xbpw ]dªt¸mÄ knÂhÀ ASps¯¯nbncp¶p. \n[n
Is|Sp¡m³ [rXns¸tS|Xnà F¶v tUmIvSÀ Abmsf D]tZin¨p.
"tUmIvSÀ ]dbp¶Xpt]mse sN¿mw.' knÂhÀ ]dªp: "]t£,
tUmIvSdpsS sNbvXnIsfm¶pw F\n¡p a\Ênemhp¶nÃ. \n§Ä
achoSphn«p t]mbXv F´n\mWv? F\n¡v B NmÀ«v X¶Xv F´n\mWv?
\n§Ä ]dbp¶sXÃmw Rm³ ]qÀWambpw A\pkcn¨n«p|tÃm.'
"AXp ]dbmdmbn«nÃ.' tUmIvSÀ ]dªp: "CsXÃmw Fsâam{Xw
clky§fÃ. ]t£, Hs¶\n¡v Dd¸n¨p]dbmw. \½Ä c|pt]cpw Cu
Zzo]nÂ\n¶v Poht\msS ]pd¯pIS¡pIbmsW¦nÂ, Xs¶ c£n¡m³
Rm³ ]camh[n {ian¡pw.'
knÂhÀ AXoh k´pjvS\mbn.
"asämcp D]tZiwIqSn. Ft¸mgpw Pn½nsâ ASp¯pXs¶thWw.
klmbw Bhiysa¦n Dds¡ hnfn¡Ww. Rm³ th|XpsN¿m³
t]mhpIbmWv.'
tUmIvSÀ enhvkn F\n¡p ssIX¶tijw h\¯nte¡v AXnthKw
\S¶p.
R§Ä X\n¨mbt¸mÄ knÂhÀ ]dªp: "Pnw, Rm³ \nsâ Poh³
c£n¨Xpt]mse \o FtâXpw c£n¨p. tUmIvSÀ HmSn c£s¸Sm³
]dªt¸mÄ \o hnk½Xn¨Xv Rm³ I|p. F\n¡p hnizmkambn. C\n
\n[n tXSnt¸mIWw. \mw c|pt]cpw H¶n¨p \n¶mte \ap¡v
c£s¸Sms\m¡q.'
At¸mÄ HcmÄ {]`mX`£Ww X¿mdmsW¶p h¶p]dªp. R§Ä
\ne¯ncp¶v s{_Ípw _nkv¡äpw Ign¨p.
`£Ww Ign¡pt¼mÄ knÂhÀ Iq«pImtcmSv hfsc kaÀ°ambmWp
kwkmcn¨Xv. "\n§Ä¡v Hcp knÂhdp|tÃm, FÃmw
BtemNn¨psN¿m³... ]ns¶ I¸Â AhÀ¡p In«nbn«p|v.
FhnsSbmsW¶pÅXv \ap¡v \n[n In«nbtijw I|p]nSn¨m aXn.
A`bmÀ°nbmbn h¶ Cu ]¿s\ A]ISw ]ämsX t\m¡Ww. Ah³
A[nIw kwkmcn¡p¶Xv icnbÃ. \n[nbpw I¸epw In«n¡gnªmÂ,
\½psSIqsS Ahs\bpw sIm|pt]mImw.'
 FÃmhcpw \Ã Dt·j¯nembncp¶p. ]t£, F\n¡v hÃm¯ {]bmkw
tXm¶n, knÂhÀ c|p tXmWnbnepw ImÂh¨mWv kwkmcn¡p¶Xv. \n[n
In«n¡gnªm adp`mK¯v, Igpac¯nÂ\n¶p c£s¸Sm³ R§fpsS
`mK¯v.
`£W¯n\ptijw R§Ä \n[ntXSn ]pds¸«p. FÃm \mhnIcpw
Bbp[[mcnIfmWv. knÂhdnsâ ssIbn c|p tXm¡p|v; ]nÌfpw
aShmfpw thtdbpw. X¯ Npaen Ibdnbncn¡p¶p. Fsâ Acbnsemcp
IbÀsI«n Aäw knÂhÀ ]nSn¨n«p|v.
NnecpsS ssIbn Iq´menbpw a®ptImcnbpw. aäp NnecpsS ssIbnÂ
s{_Ípw {_m|nbpw. `£Wkm[\§Ä tUmIvStdmSp hnet]in knÂhÀ
t\ct¯ k¼mZn¨XmWv. CsænÂ, ]«nWn InSt¡|nht¶s\.
bm{Xbn NmÀ«ns\¡pdn¨mbncp¶p NÀ¨ apgph\pw. AhÀ am¸v
kq£vaambn ]cntim[n¨p. Dbcw IqSnb acw, kvss]¥mÊv lukv,
AØnIqSZzo]nsâ hS¡v, ]¯Sn Ing¡vþþC§s\bpÅ kqN\IÄ
AXnep|mbncp¶p.
DbcwIqSnb acw I|p]nSn¡m\mbncp¶p BZys¯ {iaw. Ccp¶qtdm,
ap¶qtdm ASn DbcapÅ Hcp Ip¶mbncp¶p ap¼nÂ. AXn Iqä³
ss]³ac§Ä hfÀ¶p \n¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. Nne ac§Ä¡v \mev]Xpw
A³]Xpw ASn Dbcap|mbncp¶p. Iym]vä³ ^vfnâv ASbmfs¸Sp¯nb
DbcapÅ acw GXmbncn¡pw? FÃmhcpw Xncbp¶p|mbncp¶p.
Ip¶pIbdns¡m|ncp¶t¸mÄ HcmÄ D¨¯n hnfn¡m³ XpS§n.
hnfntI« `mKt¯¡v FÃmhcpw HmSn.
"\n[n Is|¯ntbm?' Xnc¡n«p \S¡pt¼mÄ tamÀK\v kwibw, ]t£,
AXv \n[nbmbncp¶nÃ. Hcp AØnIqSw. hensbmcp ss]³ac¯nsâ
Nph«n InS¡p¶p. ]gInb hkv{X¯nsâ AhinjvS§Ä
Npäpap|mbncp¶p. FÃmhcpw `bt¯mSpIqSn AhntS¡p t\m¡n.
hkv{Xw ]cntim[n¨v tPmÀÖv ]dªp: "Cbmsfmcp \mhnI\mbncp¶p.'
"FÃpIÄ Øm\¯Ã ImWp¶Xv. CXnset´m ]´ntISp|v.' knÂhÀ
A`n{]mbs¸«p.
AØnIqS¯nsâ ImepIÄ Hcp hit¯¡pw ssIIÄ
FXnÀZnibnte¡pw Nq|nbmWp InS¶ncp¶Xv.
knÂhÀ tIm¼kv D]tbmKn¨v AØnIqSZzo]nsâ Zni \nÀWbn¨p.
AØnIqSw AtX ZnibnemWp InS¶ncp¶Xv.
"CsXÃmw Iym]vä³ ^vfnânsâ XamibmWv.' knÂhÀ ]dªp:
"IqsSbpÅ Bdpt]scbpw AbmÄ sImes¸Sp¯n. Hcp icocw tIm¼mkv
t]mse D]tbmKs¸Sp¯m³ ChnsS sIm|ph¶p InS¯nbXmWv. CXv
AÃmÀUn F¶ \mhnI\mbncn¡Ww.'
"AÃmÀUnsb F\nt¡mÀ½bp|v.' tamÀK³ ]dªp: "AbmÄ Ft¶mSv
]Ww ISw hm§nbncp¶p. Fsâ I¯nbpw AbmÄ FSp¯ncp¶p.'
AØnIqS¯nsâ ASp¯v NneÀ Xncªpt\m¡n. I¯n I|pIn«nbnÃ.
"^vfnâv Pohn¨ncp¶psh¦n \½psS A´yhpw ChnsSbmIpambncp¶p.
AhÀ Bdpt]cp|mbncp¶p. \½fpw Bdp t]cp|v. ]t£, AhÀ Ct¸mÄ
shdpw AØnam{Xw.' knÂhÀ ]dªp.
"ChnsS Hcp t{]Xaps|¦n AXp ^vfnântâXmbncn¡pw. AbmfpsS
A´yw Zb\obambncp¶p." HcmÄ ]dªp.
"IpSn¡m³ Aev]w dwt]mepw In«msXbmWv AbmÄ acn¨Xvþþ
"N¯hsâ s]«nta ]Xn\©p t]À'F¶ ]m«p]mSns¡m|v.' asämcmÄ
]dªp.
"Cu kwkmcw \ndp¯Ww. N¯h³ t]mbntÃ? Ah\n\n \S¡m³
]änÃ. \ap¡pt]mbn \n[n At\zjn¡mw.' knÂhÀ \nÀt±in¨p.
R§Ä ho|pw \S¡m³ XpS§n. Im«neqsS \S¡pt¼mÄ Bcpw
_lfwsh¨nÃ. At\ym\yw kwkmcn¨Xv H¨bnÃmsXam{Xw. acn¨pt]mb
sImÅ¡mcsâ {]hÀ¯\§Ä At¸mgpw Ghtcbpw
`bs¸Sp¯p¶p|mbncp¶p.
kaXe¯nse¯nbt¸mÄ FÃmhcpw hn{ian¡m\ncp¶p. knÂhÀ
tIm¼mkv D]tbmKn¨v Nne \nKa\§fnse¯n.
"AØnIqSZzo]n\v heXphi¯mbn DbcapÅ aq¶p ac§Ä ImWp¶p.
AXn\p XmsgbpÅXv kvss]¥mÊmWv. Ct¸mÄ FÃmw hyàambn.
C\nsbÃmw Ffp¸amWv. AXn\nsS \ap¡v `£Ww Ign¡mw.' knÂhÀ
]dªp.
"^vfnâns\¡pdnt¨mÀ¡pt¼mÄ F\n¡p hnit¸
tXm¶p¶nÃ'þþtamÀK³.
"AXn\v AbmÄ acn¨pIgnªntÃ?' knÂhÀ tNmZn¨p.
"hr¯nsI« sNIp¯m³.' asämcmÄ ]dªp.
AØnIqSw I|XpapXÂ FÃmhcpw \nÈ_vZcmbncp¶p.
kwkmcn¡m³Xs¶ t]Sn. h\¯nse \nÈ_vZX
t]Sns¸Sp¯p¶Xmbncp¶p. s]s«¶mWv Im«nÂ\n¶v B ]gb ]m«v
DbÀ¶p tI«Xv.
"N¯hsâ s]«nta ]Xn\©pt]À
bmtlmtlm... Hcp Ip¸n dw.'
 sImÅ¡mÀ t]Sn¨p\nehnfn¨p. A{Xtbsd `bs¸« BfpIsf
Rms\sâ PohnX¯n I|n«nÃ. apJw hnfdnshfp¯p. NneÀ
Ip\nªncp¶p. aäpNneÀ \ne¯v Hfn¡m³ t\m¡n.
"AXv ^vfnâmWv,' tPmÀÖv \nehnfn¨p.
s]s«¶v ]m«p \ne¨p.
kzbw \nb{´n¨psIm|v knÂhÀ ]dªp: " A§s\ BIm³ CSbnÃ.
AXv t{]XaÃ. càhpw aÖbpapÅ GtXm a\pjy\mWv. \s½
`bs¸Sp¯m\pÅ hnZybmWv.'
AbmÄ¡v ss[cyw ho|pIn«nbXpt]mse tXm¶n. ]t£, aäpÅhÀ
t]Sn¨v IqSn \nev¡pIbmWv. AXn\nsS ]gb ]m«v ho|pw DbÀ¶ptI«p.
sImÅ¡mÀ Ipänt]mse \n¶pt]mbn. AhcpsS I®v XebnÂ\n¶v
]pd¯p NmSpsa¶p tXm¶n.
"^vfnânsâ Ahkm\ hm¡pIÄXs¶.' tamÀK³ ]dªp.
Un¡v ss__nÄ \nhÀ¯n D¨¯n {]mÀ°n¡m³ XpS§n. ]t£,
knÂhdn\v Ipep¡sam¶panÃ. AbmÄ a\xssØcyw shSnbmsX
]nSn¨p\n¶p.
"Iq«pImtc.' knÂhÀ ]dªp: "Rm\nhnsS F¯nbn«pÅXv \n[n
In«m³th|n¯s¶bmWv. a\pjyt\m ]nimNnt\m Fs¶ ]n´ncn¸n¡m³
km[yaÃ. ^vfnâns\ Pohn¨ncn¡pt¼mÄXs¶ Rm³ t]Sn¨n«nÃ.
Fgp\qdmbncw ]u|mWv \ap¡p In«m³ t]mIp¶Xv. AXp th|¶p sh¨v
\½Ä XncntªmSpItbm?'
]nimNns\ kq£n¡Wsa¶ ap¶dnbn¸mWv tPmÀÖv \evInbXv. AXp
tI«t¸mÄ aäpÅhÀ¡p t]SnIqSn.
t]SnbpÅhscÃmw knÂhdns\ Npän¸än \n¶p.
"AXv t{]X¯nsâ i_vZamsW¶v F\n¡p tXm¶p¶nÃ.' knÂhÀ
]dªp. "B i_vZ¯n\v Hcp {]Xn[z\n tI«ntÃ? t{]X¯nsâ
i_vZ¯n\p {]Xn[z\n D|mhnÃ.'
tPmÀÖv AXnt\mSp tbmPn¨p, "F\n¡v ^vfnânsâ i_vZwt]msebmWv
tXm¶nbXv. ]t£, ^vfnânsâ i_vZw CXns\¡mÄ
]cp¡\mbncp¶phtÃm. ]ns¶ CXv BcpsS i_vZambncn¡pw?'
"B i_vZw s_³KWntâXmWv.' knÂhÀ Dd¸n¨p ]dªp.
"icnbmWv. s_³KWnsâ i_vZwXs¶.' tamÀK³ ]dªp.
"s_³K¬ acn¨pt]mbntÃ?' Un¡n\v kwibw.
"N¯mepw Csænepw AbmÄ¡v H¶pw sN¿m³]änÃ.' tPmÀÖv
]dªp.
 CXp tI«t¸mÄ FÃmhÀ¡pw Bizmkambn. AhÀ Nncn¨p
hÀ¯am\w]dbm³ XpS§nsb¦nepw i_vZw hÃXpw tIÄ¡p¶pt|m
F¶v CSbv¡v {i²n¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. H¶pw tIÄ¡m¯XpsIm|v
D]IcW§sfÃmsaSp¯v AhÀ ho|pw apt¼m«p \o§n. Un¡n\v t]Sn
amdnbn«nÃ. Ah³ ss__nÄ apdpsI]nSn¨p.
R§Ä Ip¶pIbdn BZys¯ ac¯nsâ ASps¯¯n. e£W§Ä
icnbÃ. c|mat¯Xpw A§s\Xs¶. aq¶mat¯Xn\v Ccp\qdv
ASntbmfw Dbcap|mbncp¶p. sImÅ¡msc BIÀjn¨Xv AXnsâ
hen¸aÃ, AXn\Sp¯v FhnsStbm BWv Fgp\qdmbncw ]u|v
kzÀ®\mWy§Ä DÅXv F¶ Nn´bmWv. ]W¯nsâ Nn´ AhcpsS
`baIän. \S¯¯n\v thKw IqSn.
knÂhÀ Xsâ s{I¨Ên AXnthKw apt¼m«p \o§n. Fsâ
AcbnÂsI«nb IbÀ henbp¶p|mbncp¶p. Abmsfs¶ cq£ambn
t\m¡n. kzÀ®¯nsâ Nn´bn AbmÄ FÃmw ad¶Xpt]mse tXm¶n.
\n[n ssI¡em¡pI, cm{XnbpsS adhn I¸enÂsN¶p IbdpI.
Iq«pImsc apgph\pw sIms¶mSp¡pI, [\nI\mbn ho«nte¡p aS§pI
AbmfpsS Nn´ B hgn¡mbncp¶p.
\n[n tXSp¶hÀs¡m¸w \o§m³ F\n¡p t]SntXm¶n. R§Ä
ImSnsâ AXnÀ¯nbn F¯nbncp¶p. s]s«¶v tPmÀÖnsâ
BËmZi_vZw. FÃmhcpwIqSn apt¼m«p IpXn¨p.
]¯phmc ASps¯¯nbt¸mÄ FÃmhcpw \n¶p. DÅnÂ\n¶v
t\Às¯mcp \nehnfn s]m§n. knÂhÀ s{I¨kpsIm|v \ne¯p am
´nt\m¡n s]s«¶p \n¶p.
Btcm AhnsS Ipgn¨ ASbmfw. Npänepw ]pÃv hfÀ¶p aqSnbncn¡p¶p.
Dt]£n¨ Hgnª ]mbv¡äpIÄ AhnsS NnXdn¡nS¡p¶p|mbncp¶p.
H¶n "hmÄdkv' F¶v FgpXn¡|pþþþ ^vfnânsâ I¸ensâ t]À!
\n[n Btcm Is|Sp¯psIm|pt]mbncn¡p¶p!
Fgp\qdmbncw ]u|v! Bdpt]cpw CSnsht«ät]mse \n¶pt]mbn.
knÂhÀ DS³Xs¶ sR«enÂ\n¶p tamNnX\mbn. Ft´m
Xocpam\n¨pd¨t]mse, AbmÄ Hcp ]nÌÄ Fs¶ Gev]n¨n«p ]dªp:
"A]ISw hcpt¼mÄ D]tbmKn¡m\mWv.'
AbmfpsS kulmÀ±w I|t¸mÄ F\n¡p kwibw. AbmÄ
kmh[m\w IpgnbpsS hS¡p`mKt¯¡p \o§n. Rm\pw knÂhdpw
Hcphi¯v. _m¡n A©pt]À IpgnbpsS adp`mK¯v. sImÅ¡mÀ
BÀ¯ntbmsS Ipgn Inf¨p ]cXpIbmWv. tPmÀÖn\v c|p sNdnb
\mWbw In«n. AbmÄ AXv s]m¡n¸nSn¨p tNmZn¨p:"CXmtWm
Fgp\qdmbncw ]u|v?'
"C\nbpw Ipgnt¨mfq. H¶pw I|pIn«nÃ.' knÂhÀ im´\mbn ]dªp.
"Iq«pImtc, CXp tIt«m?' tPmÀÖv hnfn¨p]dªp.
"ChnsS \n[nbnsöv knÂhdn\v t\ct¯ Adnbmambncp¶p.'
"th|, Iym]vä\mhm³ t\m¡|.' knÂhÀ ]dªp.
FÃmhcpw tPmÀÖnsâ `mK¯mbncp¶p. AhÀ Infbv¡p¶Xp
aXnbm¡n R§Ä¡v A`napJambn h¶p\n¶p. knÂhÀ A\§nbnÃ.
AbmÄ Ahsc kq£vaambn \nco£n¡pIbmbncp¶p.
tPmÀÖv Iq«pImtcmSp ]dªp:"I|ntÃ, AhÀ c|pt]À am{Xw. H¶v
Hä¡me³. atäXv Hcp ]¿³!'
AbmÄ ssI DbÀ¯n H¨sbSp¡m³ XpS§nbtXbpÅq. "sT, sT, sT!'
]n¶nse Im«nÂ\n¶p shSn. tPmÀÖvv Ipgnbnte¡v adnªphoWp.
Xebv¡p sI«pÅh\pw \new]Xn¨p, _m¡n aq¶pt]À Poh\pwsIm|v
HmSn.
tPmÀÖnsâ tZl¯v \ndsbmgn¨tijw knÂhÀ ]dªp: "Ahkm\w
Fsâ ssIsIm|v.'
B kabw ]n¶nse Ipän¡m«nÂ\n¶v tUmIvSdpw s{Kbpw s_³ KWpw
]pd¯ph¶p.
"AhÀ¡v \½psS t_m«v In«m³ CSbm¡cpXv.' tUmIvSÀ [rXnbnÂ
]dªp.
R§Ä AXnthKw IS¯oct¯¡v ]mªp. ]t£, sImÅ¡mÀ
FXnÀZnibnte¡mWv HmSnbXv. R§Ä t_m«n\pw AhÀ¡pw CSbnÂ.
"tUmIvSÀ, Xnc¡pIqt«| Hcp ImcyhpanÃ.' knÂhÀ hnfn¨p]dªp.
R§Ä \ne¯ncp¶p InX¸v amän. At¸mÄ knÂhÀ tUmIvStdmSp
]dªp:"\n§Ä IrXykab¯v F¯nbncp¶nsænÂ, Fsâbpw
Pn½nsâbpw Poh³ A]IS¯nemtbs\.' AbmÄ tUmIvStdmSp \μn
]dªp. F¶n«v s_³KWnsâ t\tc t\m¡n.
"Rm³Xs¶ s_³K¬.' s_³ hyàam¡n.
sImÅ¡mÀ hgnbn Dt]£n¨ Iq´menbpw aäpw s{K FSp¯psIm|p
h¶p. t_m«nsâ ASpt¯¡p \S¡pt¼mÄ tUmIvSÀ kw`hn¨ FÃm
Imcyhpw ]dªp. {][m\ IYm]m{Xw s_³K¬ Xs¶.
s_³ Im«n Aeªp\S¡pt¼mgmWv AØnIqSw Is|¯nbXv.
\n[n Is|¯nbXpw AbmÄXs¶. ss]³ac¯nsâ Nph«nÂ\n¶v \n[n
kz´w Npaen Npa¶v Xsâ Kplbnte¡v AbmÄ F¯n¡pIbmbncp¶p.
 B{IWap|mb Znhkw sshIpt¶cw tUmIvSÀ s_¶nÂ\n¶v FÃm
clky§fpw a\Ênem¡nbncp¶p. ]t£, ]ntä¶v I¸Â
ImWmXmbt¸mÄ, C\n am¸psIm|v Imcyanà F¶v tUmIvSÀ¡p tXm¶n.
AXpsIm|v AbmÄ knÂhdpsS ASps¯¯n am¸v
ssIamdpIbmWp|mbXv. IqSmsX s_¶nsâ Kplbn `£Ww
kp`n£ambXpsIm|v tÌmdnse hn`h§fpw knÂhÀ¡v sImSp¯p.
A¶p cmhnsebmWv acho«n sImÅ¡mtcmsSm¸w Fs¶ tUmIvSÀ
ImWp¶Xv. sImÅ¡mÀ Fs¶ D]{Zhnt¨¡psa¶p tUmIvSÀ¡v tXm¶n.
AbmÄ HmSn Kplbnse¯n s_¶nt\mSpw s{KtbmSpw hnhcw ]dªp.
{]`phns\ Kplbv¡v ImhÂ\nÀ¯n tUmIvSdpw s{Kbpw s_¶v \n[n
Is|¯nb Øet¯¡p ]pds¸«p. ]t£, At¸mtg¡pw knÂhdpw
Iq«cpw ap¼n F¯n¡gnªncp¶p. Ahsc ]n´ncn¸n¡m³ s_³K¬
Ipdp¡phgn¡v AXnthKw HmSn. Hfn¨ncp¶v acn¨pt]mb Iym]vä³
^vfnânsâ i_vZap|m¡n `bs¸Sp¯n. B kab¯n\nSbv¡v tUmIvSdpw
s{Kbpw Øes¯¯n R§sf c£n¡pIbmWp|mbXv.
"Pnw IqsSbp|mbXv Fsâ `mKyw. Asæn Fs¶bpw shSnsh¨p
hogv¯pambncp¶p.' knÂhÀ ]dªp.
"AXn kwibanÃ.' tUmIvSÀ icnsh¨p.
At¸mtg¡pw R§Ä t_m«nsâ ASps¯¯n¡gnªncp¶p. tUmIvSÀ
Iq´mensIm|v Hcp t_m«v \in¸n¨p. atä t_m«n Ibdn hS¡p`mKs¯
DÄ¡Sente¡p R§Ä \o§n.
AhnsSsb¯nbt¸mÄ AÛpXsa¶p]dbs«, I¸Â kzbw
\o§ns¡m|ncn¡p¶XmWv I|Xv. {][m\ I¸Â¸mb Iodnbncp¶p
F¶ÃmsX aäp Ipg¸sam¶pw I¸en\v D|mbncp¶nÃ.
\¦qcapd¸n¨tijw, s{Ksb Imhen\p \ndp¯n R§Ä s_¶nsâ
Kplbnte¡p aS§n.
knÂhsd IqsS¡|t¸mÄ {]`p hÃmsX t£m`n¨p. "Xms\mcp
h©I\mWv. tUmIvSÀ ]dªXpsIm|p am{Xw Rm³ H¶pw sN¿p¶nÃ.
Hcp]mSv BfpIsf \o sIms¶mSp¡nbn«p|v. \n\¡v Hcn¡epw
a\Êam[m\w In«pIbnÃ.'
{]`phnsâ iImcw tI«tijw, knÂhÀ \μn]dªv apd{]Imcw keyq«v
sNbvXp.
R§Ä Kplbv¡pÅn IS¶p. AI¯v [mcmfw Øew. ip²hmbp.
IpSn¡m³ \Ã shÅw. \ne¯v aWemWv. Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv Xo
ImªpsIm|v Hcp hi¯v InS¡p¶p. Hcp `mK¯v Hcp]mSv
kzÀ®¡«nIfpw \mWb§fpw. Iym]vä³ ^vfnânsâ \n[nbmWv. R§Ä
bm{X sNbvXph¶Xv AXn\pth|n¯s¶. ]t£, lnkv]mt\ymfbnse
]Xnt\gpt]À¡v Poh³ \jvSs¸«p. ap¼v F{Xt]À¡v AXpt]mse Poh³
shSntb|n h¶n«p|mIpw?
Iym]vä³ Fs¶ I|t¸mÄ ]dªp:"Pnw, \o anSp¡\mb Ip«nbmWv.
F¶m ho|psamcp I¸Âbm{Xbv¡v \ap¡p c|pt]À¡pwIqSn ]äpsa¶p
tXm¶p¶nÃ.'
"Xm³ F´mWnhnsS?' Iym]vä³, knÂhdnsâ t\tc t\m¡n tNmZn¨p.
"Fsâ Uyq«nsN¿m³ h¶XmWv, kÀ.'
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv H¶p aqfpIam{Xw sNbvXp.
cm{Xn D{K³ `£Wambncp¶p. D¸p]pc«nb B«nd¨nbpw
lnkv]mt\ymfbnse ]gb hoªpw. FÃmhcpw henb
BËmZ¯nembncp¶p. AXn ]¦ptNcm³ knÂhdpw aSn¨nÃ. bm{XbpsS
Bcw`¯nse, hn\bhpw A\pkcWbpapÅ, knÂhÀXs¶!
]ntä¶p cmhnseXs¶ R§Ä tPmen XpS§n. I\¯ kzÀ®¡«nIfpw
\mWb§fpw IS¯Ww. BZyw Xoct¯¡v, AhnsS\n¶v t_m«nÂ
I¸ente¡v. s{Kbpw s_³KWpw t_m«n At§m«pant§m«pw bm{X
sNbvXp. aäpÅhÀ \n[n t_m«nse¯n¨p. henb `mcw Npa¡m³
]äm¯XpsIm|v F\n¡p \mWb§Ä k©nbnem¡p¶
tPmenbmbncp¶p, an¡ cmPy§fntebpw \mWb§Ä AXnep|mbncp¶p.
]e BIrXnbnepw hen¸¯nepapÅ \mWb§Ä.
c|paq¶p ZnhkwsIm|v B tPmen Ignªp. HmSnt¸mb aq¶p
\mhnIsc¡pdn¨pÅ hnhcsam¶pw In«nbnÃ. aq¶mas¯ Znhkw cm{Xn
Rm\pw tUmIvSdpw ]pd¯p \n¡pt¼mÄ, Zqsc \n¶v Btcm ]mSpIbpw
_lfwhbv¡pIbpw sN¿p¶Xpt]mse tXm¶n.
"AXv HmSnt¸mb sImÅ¡mcmWv.' tUmIvSÀ ]dªp.
"FÃmhcpw \¶mbn IpSn¨n«p|v.' knÂhÀ A`n{]mbs¸«p.
"IpSn¨tXm, AÃ ]\n ]nSn¨tXm? Rms\m¶p t]mbn t\m¡nbmtem?'
"th|. Ahsc hnizkn¡m³ ]änÃ.' knÂhÀ, tUmIvSsd ]n´ncn¸n¨p.
Ahkm\w Hcp kp{]`mX¯n R§Ä bm{X ]pds¸«p. AXn\pap¼v
sImÅ¡mcpsS Bhiy¯n\pth|n amwkhpw acp¶pw XpWnbpw
shSnacp¶pw shSnbp|bpw ]pIbnebpw FÃmw R§Ä Zzo]n HcnS¯v
Dt]£n¨ncp¶p. I¸Â Zzo]nsâ sX¡p`mK¯v F¯nbt¸mÄ
aq¶pt]scbpw R§Ä ho|pw I|p. AhÀ aWen ap«pIp¯nbncp¶v
AhtcbpwIqsS sIm|pt]mIm³ bmNn¡p¶p|mbncp¶p. R§Ä¡v
klXm]w tXm¶nsb¦nepw, ho|pw A]ISw £Wn¨phcp¯m³ Bcpw
X¿mdmbncp¶nÃ. AhÀ¡pth|n kq£n¨psh¨ km[\§sf¸än
tUmIvSÀ AhtcmSv hnfn¨p ]dªp.
R§Ä Ahsc IqsSsIm|pt]mIm³ X¿mdsöv Adnªt¸mÄ,
AXnsemcmÄ {Ip²\mbn R§Ä¡p t\tc \ndsbmgn¨p. knÂhdnsâ
Xebv¡p apIfneqsS shSnbp| ]mªpt]mbn.
R§Ä I¸en\I¯pXs¶bncp¶p. D¨tbmSpIqSn \n[nZzo]nse DbÀ¶
]mds¡«pIÄ ImgvNbnÂ\n¶p adªpIgnªncp¶p.
Iym]vä\v kpJanÃm¯XpsIm|v R§Ä¡v thtd klmbnIÄ
Bhiyambncp¶p. ZqscbÃmsX kv]m\njv Atacn¡bpsS Xoc¯pÅ Hcp
XpdapJ¯v R§Ä Cd§n. kqcy³ AkvXan¡m³ XpS§nbncp¶p.
\ot{KmIfpw C´y¡mcpw saIvknt¡mhmknIfpw R§sf Nncn¨psIm|v
hfªp. ]g§fpw ]¨¡dnIfpw hn¡p¶hÀ [mcmfw. Ccp|
Zzo]nÂ\n¶v shfn¨¯nsâ temIs¯¯nbt¸mÄ henb Bizmkw
tXm¶n. kzmZnjvTamb ]g§fpsS cpNn BkzZn¨psIm|v R§Ä cm{Xn
apgph³ Icbn Npän\S¶p. cmhnsebmWv I¸ente¡p aS§nbXv.
I¸en s_³K¬ am{Xta D|mbncp¶pÅq. IqsSbp|mbncp¶
knÂhÀ Hcp t_m«nÂIbdn Ft§m t]mbXmbn AbmÄ ]dªp. Ipd¨p
`£Wkm[\§fpw GXm\pw \mWb§fpw am{Xta AbmÄ IqsS
FSp¯ncp¶pÅq.
\Ã klmbnIsf In«nbXpsIm|v bm{X kpJambncp¶p.
lnkv]mt\ymf, {_nkvtSmfnse¯nb kab¯v anÌÀ »m³Unen R§sf
At\zjn¨p ]pds¸Sm\pÅ X¿msdSp¸nembncp¶p.
In«nb [\sams¡ Hmtcmcp¯cpsS {]IrXa\pkcn¨v D]tbmKn¨p.
Iym]vä³ kvsamsÃäv tPmenbnÂ\n¶p hncan¨p. s{K ]WwsIm|v Hcp
I¸Â hm§n kpJambn IpSpw_PohnXw \bn¨p. s_³K¬ [\sams¡
[qÀ¯Sn¨p XoÀ¯p. HSphn Hcp k{Xw kq£n¸pImc\mbn.
Hä¡mepÅ knÂhdns\¡pdn¨v hnhcsam¶panÃ.
\n[nZzo]n Iym]vä³ ^vfnâv Ipgn¨n« \n[n thtdbpw DÅXmbn
]dbs¸Sp¶p. ]t£, ho|psamcp bm{Xbv¡v F\n¡v XmXv]cyw
tXm¶nbnÃ. IS¯ncIfpsS Cc¼Â tIÄ¡pt¼mÄ
lnkv]mt\ymfbnse `oIcm\p`h§Ä kz]v\¯nepw Fs¶
th«bmSmdp|v.