`mkhxhpw hnjvwpkl{k\mahpw simspøv {]txyix ImWn Zo nøns hn Z i\w KoXmclkyw J]m Znam. Cu A ymbw, _m_ kv] in v ]cn]qxam nb ` n hnjbamb ]pkvxi߃ ` am p ]mcmbwøn\v simsp p Xpw a p Imcyßfpw {]Xn]mZn p p. apjhpc Hcmƒ kap{zøn apßnbm F m Xo ßfnepw ]pwy\znifnepw kv\m\w snbvx ^ew kn n p p. AXpt]mse Hcmƒ kzvkpcp]mzßfn \akvicn m {Xnaq ØnIsfbpw ]c{_ søbpw \akv cn ^ew kn n p p. Iev]{ZpaXpey\pw ]pwy{]zmbnbpw Bb kmbn\myn\v hnpbw Biwkn pi. `Khm kmbn\my! AhnSpsØ IY tiƒ m Rßfn B{Klw hf Ønbmepw. NmXI] n h jpew ]m\w snbvxv 1
k pjvs\mhpw t]mse Cu IYIfn \n v hmb\ m AarX[mc ]T\w snbvxv k pjvscmhs Cu IYtI psim v hmb\ mcpw AhcpsS IpSpw_ßfpw kmxznikpww hf Øs. AXmbXv AhcpsS tzlw hnb Øv, IÆp\\ v {]mw t\tcbmbn, a\w im ambn, tcmal jw A\p`hn v, Ah Dds Ic pw hnxpωn c pw AhcpsS hntzzjßfpw hyxymkßfpw hen s dp ßfpw C mxhs. Ch kw`hn m Kpcphns A\p{Klw Ahcn Bthin Xns e WamWv. Cu hi hnimcßfpw {]XnIcWßfpw \nßfn Bhn `hn m Kpcp k pjvs\mbn \nßsf Bfl \n hrxnbnte v \bn pw. AXpsIm v ambbpss irwjebn \n v tamn\w e`n m\p G hpw \ am w, ]cn]q Æambpw Xr]vXntbmSpIqSnbpw _m_ v Bflm Ww snøemwv. thz߃ v \nßsf ambmkmkcw ISØnhnSm Ignbp n. kzvkpcphn p am{xsa AXv km[n v \n߃ v kiepohpmeßfnepw sszhi nsb ImWn p Xcm IgnbpIbp q. ]cn]mh\am nb ]pkvxiw simsp _m_bpss D]tZiw simsp ens hnhn[ k{ºzmbßsf n apºv ]d n p t m. CXn Hcp k{ºzmbsø] n {]kvxmhn mw. km[mcwbmbn ` m ]mcmbwøn\p GsX nepw ]pkvxiw sim pt]mbn _m_bpss Iøn simspøv Xncn p hmß Hcp ]Xnhmbncp p. _m_ sxm v Ahsb ]cn]mh\am emwv Dt±iw. B ]pkvxi߃ ]mcmbww snøptºmƒ Ah p _m_bpss kmao]yw A\p`hs p. 2
Hcn Im malmp\n Hcp GI\mYv `mkhxw ]pkvxihpambn jn ±nbn h p. ima AXv hmbn ms\spøv akvpn±n sn p. _m_ AsXSpØv Xncn pw adn pw t\m n ima v simspøv AXv kq nt mfm ]d p. ima AXv Im malmp\nbpss XmsW pw, as ns msp Wsa pw ]d p. _m_ ]d p. 'A Rm \n\ px Xp sim v \o kq n p sh p XmWv \ Xv. AXv \n\ v D]Imc{]Zamhpw.' Cßs\ ]e ]pkvxißfpw imasb Gev]n ep v. Im malmp\n as mcp tim nbpambn h v _m_bpss Iøn simspøp. _m_ AXv {]kmzsa \nebn as n simspøv AXv kq n m\pw AXpsIm v KpWw hcpsa pw ]d p. Im AXv \akv mctømsp IqSn Xncn phmßn. imabpw hnjvwp kl{k\mahpw ima _m_bpss {]nbwic\mb ` \mbxn\m, _m_ pw Abmƒs mcp hnjvwp kl{k\maw {]kmzambn simspøv {]txyix ImWn Wsa p mbncp p. CXv Xmsg ]dbpw {]ImcamWv snbvxxv. Hcn Hcp cmazmkn (Ejn cmazmkns A\pbmbn) jn ±nbn h v Ipd pimew Xmakn p. AbmfpsS Zn\Ncy C{]ImcamWv. cmhnse Fgpt v ] p tx v Ipfn v Imhn hkv{xw [cn v `kvaw ]qin ` ntbmsp IqSn hnjvwp kl{k\mahpw B ymfl cmambwhpw hmbn pw. Abmƒ Cu ]pkvxi߃ ]ehpcphmbn ncp p. _m_ imabv hnjvwp kl{k\maw ]Tn n Wsa v Xocpam\n p. Hcp Znhkw _m_ cmazmknsb hnfn v X\n v hb n 3
thz\bmsw pw kp map n Ign Wsa pw AßmSnbn t]mbn hmßns m p hcwsa pw ]d p. cmazmkn hmb\ \n Øn AßmSn pt]mbn. _m_ DSs\ Xmsg Cdßn cmazmkn hmbn p ÿeøv sn v hnjvwp kl{k\maw FSpØv Xs ÿm\øp h ncp v imatbmsv ]d p.: "ima Cu ]pkvxiw hfsc Aaqeyhpw i naøpamwv. Rm CXv \n\ v kωm\n p p. \o AXv hmbn q. Hcn Rm AXy[nIw thz\b\p`hn p lrzbw Xfcm XpSßn Poh Xs A]ISØnembn. Aßs\ A]ISkabØv Cu ]pkvxiw s\ ØS n ]nsn t mƒ Fs mcp kam[m\amwv In nbsxt m! A mlpxs Cdßn h p c n p F p Rm IcpXn. AXpsIm v CXp Rm \n\ p Xcp p. AXp kmh[m\w Ipd pipd mbn hmbn pi. Hcp Znhkw Hcp \masa nepw hmbn pi. AXv \n\ v KpWw snøpw.' ima AXv X\n p ths pw AXns DSabmb cmazmkn, tim]njvt\pw {`m \pw ]nsnhmin mc\pambxn\m iwvt p hcpsa pw, Xm \ms\mbxpsim v tzh\mkcn A cw th t]mse hmbn m Ignbns pw adp]sn ]d p. ima hnnmcn Xv _m_ Xs cmazmknbpambn X n m t\m bmsw mwv. _m_ Abmsf Fßns\ IcpXp p F bmƒ dn piqsmbncp p. _m_, Cu hnjvwp kl{k\maamb IWvTm`cWw imabpss IgpØn s n ]macs\ nepw {]nbwic\mb Abmsf temihym]cøn \n v c n Wsa mwv Dt±in ncp Xv. `Kh maøns i n hn{ipxamwv. AXv F m ]m]øn \n pw Zp ΔnNmcßfn \n pw \sω c n v 4
P\\acWßsf C mxm p p. CXnepw Ffp amb km[\bn. AXv a\ v ip nbm m G hpw ] nbxmwv. AXn\v NSßpw Hcp pw H pw Bhiyan. AXv hfsc Ffp hpw hfsc ^e{]zhpamwv. Cu km[\, Bhiys ns nepw ima ioen Wsa mbncp p _m_bpss Dt±iw. AXmWv _m_ Abmsf \n _ n Xv. apºntxt]mse GI\mYv alcmpv hnjvwpkl{k\maw Hcp Ab hmkn km[p {_m Ws\ \n _ n p hmbn n v IjvS msn \n p c n Xmbn ti n p v. hnjvwpkl{k\maw hmbn epw ]Tn epw a\xip nhcpøm\p Xpd hgnbmbxn\memwv _m_ imasb \n _ n Xv. cmazmkn kp map nbpambn thkw asßn h p. A mnn Nm\n At mƒ AhnsSbp mbncp Xp sim v Abmƒ \mczs ]WnsbSpØv kw`hn sx mw cmazmkntbmsv ]d p. cmazmkn tim]n m XpSßn. Abmƒ imasb iimcn m XpSßn. Abmsf imabpss Bhiy{]ImcamWv _m_ acp n b sx pw Aßns\ ]pkvxiw Icÿ am nbxmsw pw imasb Ip s SpØn. imasb NoØ ]d v HSphn ]pkvxiw DSs\ as n In nbns n Abmƒ imabpss ap n sh v Xs Øm Xe X ns mfn psa v ]d p. ima ]expw kam[m\n n n pw ^eap mbn. At mƒ _m_ Zbm]q Δw AbmtfmSv ]d p. "Hm cmazmkn! \n߃ s mwv ] nbxv? F n\mwn{x tim]n p Xv? ima \ΩpsS Ip nbs F n\mwhs\ A\mhiyambn 5
NoØ]dbp Xv? F mwv \nßfnßs\ elf mcm\mbxv? \n߃ v kuayambpw a[pcambpw kwkmcn m\dn piqss? Cu ]pwy ]pkvxi߃ \nxyw hmbn n pw a\ v ]cnip amhmsxbpw tim]w AS m hømsxbpw BWt m ImWp Xv. F p Xc mc cmazmknbmwv \n߃? CXnsems \n߃ \n Ωa\mbncn s. Cu ]pkvxiw C{Xb[Inw \n߃ B{Kln p Xv hntcm[m`mkas? icnbmb cmazmkn v aaxbn msx F mhtcmspw kaxbmwp mth Xv. \n߃ imatbmsv Hcp ]pkvxiøn\pth n iwvtiqsp p. t]mbn AhnsS Ccn q. ]Ww simspøm th {X ]pkvxiw In pw. ]s a\pjys\ In n. \ t]mse BtemNn v Zm nwyw ImWn q. \nßfpss ]pkvxiw F n\pam{xap v? ima Xv th mbncp p. Rm\sXSpØv Ah\p simspøxmwv. ima AXv hmbn p \ mhpsa v IcpXn Rm\h\v simspøp. "_m_bpss kuayhpw Zbm]chpw AarXp Xpeyhpamb hm piƒ F{X a[pcambncp p sht m AXns ^ew hnkvabmhlambncp p. cmazmkn kam[m\n v AXn\v ]Icw ] cxv\ KoX In nbm axn F v imatbmsv ]d p. ima kt mjn p "F n\v H v. ]ØptIm niƒ ]Icw Xcmw' F v ]d p. HSp w kwkxn HØp Xo mbn. Hcp tnmzyw Ahtijn p XmWv. Abmƒ p Xmev]cyan mø tzhs\ kw_ n ] cxv\kox v F n\mwv cmazmkn Bhiys Xv? F pw ]pwy]pkvxi߃ akvpnzn _m_bpss ap nencp v hmbn p Abmƒ F n\v 6
imatbmsv _m_bpss ap n sh p tim]n p? \ap v BscbmWv Ip w ]dtb Xv F dnbn. Ip w B XΩn ] psh Wsa pw Adnbn. H pam{xw ]dbmw. Cu kw`hw Cßs\ \S ns n hnjvwpkl{k\maw ]Tn p Xns amlmflyw ima v a\ nemhpambncp n. ]n osv ima kl{k\maw apgph ]Tn v A w a\ nem n, ]p\m F n\obdnwkv timtfpnse s{]m^kdpw {ioam `q nbpss PmamXmhpamb s{]m^ \m s Fw. F. v hnhcn v simsp m t]mepw Abmƒ v Ign p. hn Z i\w Hcn Im mkmsl_v Zo nøv ImeØv IpfnIgn v AbmfpsS hmubn [ym\n ncn ptºmƒ hn Z i\w kn n p. ]n osv _m_bpss ASp t]mbt mƒ _m_tnmzn p: hn ]tt h nt? \n߃ I n nt? hn ]nsn m In mø BfmWv, apdps ]nsn ns n hgpxn c s Spw. D v Hcp hgn hs mc 20,25 ] ]p hn ens Nn{X ßfpambn h p. AXv [ym\øn I t]mse Xs bmbncp p. _m_bpss hm piƒ Hm Ω h v AXn \n v Hcp ]Sw hmßn ]qpmapdnbn Bcm[\ mbn sh p. KoXmclkyw _m_ v {_ hnzy ]Tn p hsc CjvSambncp p. Ahsc t{]m mln n pibpw snøpw. DZmlcWØn\v Hcn _m p kmsl_v tpmkn v Hcp ]m k In n. AXn temiam\yxneis KoXclkyambncp p. AXv 7
I Øpsh v Abmƒ akvpn±n h v _m_sb \akvicn t mƒ ]pkvxiw _m_bpss Im howp. _m_ AsX msw t\zjn p. ]pkvxiw _m_bpss Iøn simspøp. AXv Xpd v t\m n Hcp Ddp ni aosxsh v tpmkn v simspøv _m_ C{]Imcw ]d p: "CXv apgph hmbn pi. \n\ v t\ ap mhpw." J] Zn ZºXnIƒ J] Zn ZºXnIsf n ]d v Cu A ymbw Ahkm\n n mw. Hcn ZmZmkmsl_v J] Zn IpSpw_ktaXw jn ±nbn h v Ipd v amkw Xmakn p. ZmZmkmsl_v km[mcw mc\mbncp n. Abmƒ ]W mc\pw {]ikvx\pamb AacmhXn (_odm )bnse h oepw su ln Iu kn Hm^v sãbn nse saºdpambncp p. ]e ` mcpw _m_tbmsv h Øam\w ]d pw hmzn psim ncps nepw aq pt] AXmbXv J] Zn, \q m, `q n Ch am{xw kzm \n»_vzcmbncn pw. Ah ho\nxcpw, k kz`mhnifpambncp p. ZmZmkmsl_n\v hnzymcwys ] Zin hymjym\n v ]dbm IqSn Ign ncps nepw akvpn±n _m_bpss km n yøn H pw an mxncn emwv ]Xnhv. GXp ]WvUnX\pw {_ m\nbpss ap n H pw A t m. ]mwvunxyw {]Imin n. ZmZkmsl_v, \mepamkw Xmakns nepw `mcy Ggpamkw Xmakn p. c pt]cpw jn ±nbnse Xmakw sim v k pjvscmbn. F m D pw _m_ v ss\thzyw sim ph v _m_ kzoicns, Ah ` Ww Ign ep q. AhcpsS ` nbpss ÿncx I v _m_ v AXv a p h v a\ nem n simsp Wsa v 8
txm n. Hcp D v Ah k km (tkmxºv ]mbkw) ]qcn, tnmdv, kq v, ]mbkw apxembxv akvpn±nte p sim ph p. _m_ km[mcwawn qdpitfmfw Xmakn eps nepw CXp I DSs\ Fgpt v, aqsn FSpØpam n kpjambn FSpØp ` n m XpSßn. AXpI v ima tnmzn p. "F mwn{x ] t`zw? a p h sim phcp ` Ww hens dn v AXn t\m pit]mepw snøen. ]s CXv ASptØ v hen psh p \ t]mse Ign p p. F mwv CubΩbpsS ` Ww C{X a[pcap XmtWm? R߃ nxv a\ nemhp n " _m_ At mƒ Cßs\ hnhcn p:"cu ` Ww bym Øn Akm[mcWamWv. ap P Øn Cu kv{xo Hcp I hs mcs [mcmfw ]m \ Ip XSn Hcp ]iphmbncp p. ]ns AXns\ ImWmXmbn. AXv Hcp txm mcs IpSpw_Ønepw Hcp {XnbIpSpw_Ønepw P\n p. Hcp I hs mcs\ I ymww Ign p. ]n osv Hcp {_m WIpSpw_Øn Ahƒ P\n p. Rm hfsc ImeØn\ptijw Ahsf ImWpIbmWv. AhfpsS ]m{xøn \n v Ipd v a[pcxcamb ` Wsa nepw Rm Ign s ". _m_ \ t]mse Ign v Xr]vXnhs v ImWn m H p tx n, Iøpw hmbpw IgpIn kzÿm\øv h ncn pibpw snbvxp. Ah _m_sb \akvicn v _m_bpss Im XtemSnsImSpØp. _m_ AhtcmSv kwkmcn v AhcpsS Iøv Atßm pw XtemSnsImSpØp. Cu At\ym\y]cnNmcw I v, ima Xamibmbn ]d p "CXv \ mbncn p p, `Khm\pw ` \pw At\ym\w ]cnncn p Xv \s mcp ImgvNXs bmwv" AhcpsS 9
hn\bhpw ` nbpwi v _m_ AhtcmSv sas lrzyamb kzcøn "cmpm cma, cmpm cma" F v Ft mgpw F mbvt mgpw P]n m ]d p. "\o Aßns\ snbvxm \ns PohntXmt±iw k^eamipw, a\»m n e`n pw, \n\ p \ Xphcpw "F v _m_ ho pw AhtcmSv ]d p. B ymflni Imcy߃ ]cnnban møh v CXv \n mcambn txm pw. ]s Imcyw Aßs\b. AXn v kmt XnIambn "i n]mxw" F p ]dbmw. AXmbXv Kpcp injy\v X]:i n {]Zm\w snø. _m_bpsshm piƒ F{Xam{Xw i naøpw ^ehøpamwv! \nanjwsim v Ah, AhcpsS lrzbøn sim v ÿnc{]xnjvtnxambn. Cu IY Kpcpinjy mcpss _ w F{]ImcamWv th sx v sxfnbn p XmWv. Ccphcpw At\ym\yw Htct]mse kvt\ln bpw ]cnncn bpw thww. Ah XΩn t`zan. Ccphcpw H mwv. H n\v as m n msx \ne\nev]n. injy Kpc]mZØn \akvicn p p F Xv ]pdsa ImWp Xv am{xamwv. B cniambpw kxyønepw Ah H mwv. Ah XΩn t`zw D Xmbn ImWp h A]IzaXnIfpw A]q ÆcpamWv. {io kmbnsb \an phn temiim n `hn s! 10