The Secret Of The Cemetery-to Prvn

Tombstone - kvamc-I-ine Obelisk – inem-tKm-]pcw Take care of uniformity among different translators about 1.

how people address among themselves, especially Feluda and his associates. Also about any other recurring characters.

2.

How names are pronounced: Mitter - anäÀ, an¯À, Topshe -

Ah³, At±-lw, AbmÄ, Xm³, Xm¦Ä, \n§Ä, \o … tXm]vsj, tSm]vsj, Xt]-jv, … Holwell Monument. John Zephaniah Holwell was the leader of the little band of Europeans left in peril after the sack of calcutta by the Nawab of Bengal in 1756. After a short resistance, Holwell and his gallant party were forced to surrender and were thrust, 146 of them in a guard-room, 18 by 15 feet ' the -Black Hole of Calcutta.'. Only 23 came out alive, including Holwell, who wrote an account of their awful sufferings.

skan-t¯-cn-bnse \nKq-VX H¶v ]peIv tLmj-ensâ kn\na I¡-«-bnse ‘]mc-ssUkv kn\na’-bn 25 Znhkw XnI-¨-Xnsâ aq¶mw \mÄ. tlm¬ apg¡n henb i_vZ-tLm-j-t¯msS Hcp amÀ¡v-þ2 Aw_m-k-UÀ ImÀ R§-fpsS hmXn¡ h¶p-\n-¶p. AsXmcp km[m-cW tlm¬ Bbn-cp-¶n-Ã. `b-¦c D¨-¯n-epÅ ayqknIv t\m«p-I-fmbn-cp¶p AXnsâ i_vZw. ]peIv tLmj t_mws_-bn-epÅ Hcp kn\n-am-kw-hn-[m-b-I\mWv; ]mc-ssU-kn HmSp¶ kn\na emÂtam-l³ _m_phnsâ Hcp IYsb Bkv]-Z-am-¡n-bp-Å-Xm-Wv. Cu kw`hw BtLm-jn-¡m³ emÂtam-l³ _m_p Hcp ImÀ hm§m³ Btem-Nn-¡p¶ Imcyw R§Ä¡-dn-bm-am-bn-cp¶p; ]t£ AXv C{X-thKw kw`-hn-¡p-sa¶p R§-fmcpw {]Xo-£n-¨n-cp-¶n-Ã. ImÀ hm§pI am{X-a-Ã, ss{Uh-sd-¡qSn \nb-an-¨n-cp¶p At±lw. At±-l-¯n\p ss{UhnwKv Adn-bnÃ; ]Tn-¡-W-sa¶v B{Kl-hp-an-Ã. A¡mcyw At±lw BhÀ¯n-¨m-hÀ¯n¨p ]d-bm-dp-

ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. HSp¡w Hcp Znhkw ‘F´p-sIm−v?’ F¶p s^eqZ tNmZn-¨p. AXn\p hni-Zo-I-cWw h¶p: GXm−v A©p hÀjw ap³]v, Hcp kplr-¯nsâ Imdn At±lw ss{UhnwKv ]T\w XpS-§n-bn-cp-¶p. c−p Znh-ks¯ ]T\w Ignªn-t«-bp-Åq. a\-Ên-semcp Kw`o-c³ t\mh-en-\pÅ t¹m«p-ambn BWv A¶v ss{UhnwKv ]T-\-¯n\p Ib-dn-b-Xv. ^Ìv Knb-dn \n¶p sk¡³Un-te¡v CSp-t¼mÄ h−n-sbm¶v Deªp; t\mh-ensâ t¹m«v a\-Êp-hn«v ]mdn-¸-d-¶p-t]m-bn. F{X {ian¨n«pw AXp Xncn-¨p-]n-Sn-¡m³ Ign-ªn-Ã. “AXnsâ k¦Sw F\n-¡n-¸gpw amdn-bn-«n-Ã.” emÂtam-l³ _m_p ]d-ªp. shÅ DSp¸pw Im¡n {Suk-dp-an« ss{UhÀ hmXn Xpd-¶p-]n-Sn¨p. emÂtam-l³ _m_p tdmUn-tebv¡p NmSn-bn-d-§m³ XpS§n-b-t¸mÄ t[m¯n-bpsS \o−p-In-S¶ Aä¯p Imep-S¡n th¨p-ho-gm³ t]mbn. GXm-bmepw B apJs¯ Nncn A§-s\Xs¶ \n¶p. s^eq-Z-bpsS apJw Kuc-h-]qÀ®-am-bn-cp-¶p. R§Ä aq¶p-t]cpw AI-¯p-I-S¶v Ccn-¸p-d-¸n¨ tijta At±lw hmb Xpd-¶p-Åq. '-`o-I-c-amb B tlm¬ amän Ipd-¨p-IqSn ]cn-jvIr-Xhpw a\p-jy¸-äp-Å-Xp-amb Hcp tlm¬ ]nSn-¸n-¡p-¶-Xp-hsc R§-fpsS cP\n sk³ tdmUn-tebv¡v Xm¦-fpsS Imdn\p {]th-i\w A\ph-Zn-¡m³ km[n-¡p-¶-X-Ã.” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hnsâ apJ¯v Ipä-t_m-[hpw \mW-t¡Spw Nph-¶p. “dnkvImWv FSp-¡p-¶-sX¶v F\n-¡-dn-bm-am-bn-cp-¶p. F¦nepw B IS-bnse sNdp-¡³ AXp h¨p-tIĸn-¨-t¸mÄ... AsXs¶ hÃmsX sImXn-¸n-¨p-I-f-ªp. Pm¸-\okv BWv, Adnbmtam?” “sNhn s]m«n-¡p-¶Xv; sRc-¼p-I-sf-¡qSn XIÀ¯p-I-f-bpw. lnµn kn\n-a-IÄ \n§sf C{X-thKw Iog-S-¡p-sa¶v Rm³ {]Xo-£n-¨n-cp-¶n-Ã. Xm¦-fpsS Imdnsâ Ifdpw Ipd¨p I«n-bm-Wv. Z£n-tW-´y³ kn\n-a-Isf HmÀ½n-¸n-¡pw.”

“anÌÀ an¯À, ¹ooo-kv,” emÂtam-l³ _m_p ssIIÄ Iq¸n. “B tlm¬ Rm³ \msf-¯s¶ amän-t¡m-fmw; B IfÀ amäm³ \nÀ_-Ôn-¡-cp-tX. B ]¨ F\n¡p henb CjvS-amWv.” s^eqZ bp²-a-h-km-\n-¸n¨v Nmb HmÀUÀ sN¿m³ XpS-§n-bt¸mÄ emÂtam-l³_m_p ]dªp: “Nmb \ap¡p ]n¶oSp IpSn-¡mw. Ct¸m-sgm¶p Id-§m³ t]mImw. Xm¦-sfbpw amÌÀ Xt]-jn-s\bpw Fsâ Imdn Ibän ]«-W-¯n-sem¶p Id-§nbn-sÃ-¦n F\n-s¡mcp kam-[m-\-an-Ã. Ft§m-«mWv t]mtI−Xv?” s^eqZ adp-s¯m¶pw ]d-ªn-Ã. Hcp \nanjw Btem-Nn-¨n«v At±lw ]dªp: “tXm]vsjsb \ap¡v NmÀW-¡nsâ ih-IpSocw Im«n-s¡m-Sp-¡mw.” “NmÀW¡v? Pm_v NmÀW¡v?” emÂtam-l³ _m_p tNmZn-¨p. ‘Pm_v’ F¶mWv At±lw D¨-cn-¨Xv. s^eqZ ]dªp: “AÃ.” “]ns¶, thsdbpw NmÀW¡v Dt−m?” “]nt¶, Dd-¸mbpw [mcmfw t]À D−m-Ip-atÃm. ]t£ I¡« \Kcw Øm]n-¨- NmÀW¡v Ht¶-bp-Åq.” “AtX, AXp Xs¶... At±ls¯ Xs¶-bmWv Rm³” “At±-l-¯nsâ t]cv tPm_v F¶m-Wv. ‘sP.-H.-_n.’ Pm_v F¶p ]d-ªm ChnsS AÀ°w Iqen In«p¶ GsX-¦nepw tPmen F¶m-Wv. BfpsS t]cv tPm_v F¶p Xs¶ ]d-b-Ww. an¡-hcpw AXp sXän-¨mWv ]d-bp-¶-Xv. \n§Ä icn Adn-tb− Bfm-Wv.” ASp-¯-Im-e-¯mbn s^eq-Z-bpsS lcw ]gb I¡-«-bm-Wv. Hcp sIme-]m-X-I-t¡kv At\z-jn-¡m³ ^m³kn sebv\n t]mb-t¸mÄ XpS-§n-b-XmWv AXv. ^m³kn sebv³ F¶ t]cv

Xq¡n-s¡m-ÃpI F¶À°-apÅ ‘^m³kn’ F¶ C´y³ hm¡nÂ\n¶v In-«n-b-XmsW¶pw Ccp-\qdv hÀjw ap³]v \µ-IpamÀ ChnsS Xq¡n-s¡m-Ã-s¸-«n-cp¶p F¶pw Adn-ª-t¸mÄ apX s^eq-Zbv¡v I¡-«-bpsS Ncn-{X-¯n AKm-[-amb XmÂ]-cyanf-In. Ign-ª aq¶p amk-¯n-\p-Ån At±lw AkwJyw ]pkvX-I-§Ä hmbn-¡p-Ibpw \qdp-I-W-¡n\v Nn{X§fpw Uk³ IW-¡n\p am¸p-Ifpw ]Tn-¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp. A§s\ F\n¡pw Ipd¨p hnhcw h¨p; hnti-jn¨pw hnIvtSmdnb satam-dn-b-en sNe-h-gn¨ c−v kmbm-Ó-§-fnÂ. UÂln, B{K F¶n-h-bp-ambn Xmc-Xayw sN¿p-t¼mÄ I¡« hfsc sNdp-¸-am-sW-¦nepw Ah-fpsS {]m[m\yw H«pw Ipd-hà F¶mWv s^eq-Z-bpsS aXw. XmPv altem Ip¯_v an\mtdm tPm[v]q-cnepw PbvkmÂta-dnepw DÅ-Xp-t]m-es¯ tIm«-Itfm hmcm-W-kn-bnse hniz-\m-Y-Ken t]mse {]i-kvX-amb sXcp-hpItfm H¶pw I¡-«-bn CsÃ-¶Xp icn Xs¶. “F¦nepw tXm]vsj, \o H¶v HmÀ¯p-t\m-¡pI” Hcn-¡Â s^eqZ Ft¶mSv ]d-ªp, “Hcp-Zn-hkw KwKm-Xo-c¯v Cu¨-bpw sImXpIpw ]m¼p-Ifpw \ndª Hcp shfn-{¼-tZ-i¯v shdp-sXbn-cn-¡p-t¼mÄ Hcp Cw¥o-jp-Im-c\v tXm¶p¶p AhnsS Hcp \Kcw ]Wn-b-W-sa-¶v. H«pw t\cw If-bmsX ImSp sh«n-s¯-fn¨p sI«n-S-§fpw sXcphp-Ifpw ]WnXp; hgn-b-cn-In Kymk sseäp-Ifpw ]nSn-¸n-¨p. B sXcp-hp-I-fn-eqsS IpXn-c-¡p-f-¼pIÄ ]mªp-\S-¶p; Hcp iXm-_vZ-¯n-\p-Ån AhnSw ‘sIm«m-c§-fpsS \Kcw’ F¶v Adn-b-s¸-Sm\pw XpS-§n. B \K-c-¯nsâ C¶s¯ ØnXn F´m-sW-¶Xp \ap¡p X¡mew ad-¶p-I-fbmw. Ct¸mÄ Ncn{Xw am{Xw I−m a-Xn. ]t£ Nne a\pjyÀ¡v Ct¸mÄ sXcp-hp-I-fpsS t]cp-IÄ amä-Ww, AS-bm-f§Ä amä-Ww, A§s\ Ncn{Xw ambv¨p-I-f-b-Ww. AXp icnbmtWm? AYhm, AXp km[y-amtWm? {_n«o-jp-ImÀ sNbvXsXm-s¡bpw Ah-cpsS kuI-cy-¯n-\p-th−n Bbn-cp¶p F¶p ]d-bmw, icn Xs¶. ]t£ A¶v A-hÀ AsXms¡ sNbvXn-Ãm-bn-cp-s¶-¦n \nsâ s^ep an¯À C¶v F´p sNbvtXs\? \nsâ s^eqZ F¶ {]tZmjv N{µ an¯À GtXm Pao-µm-cpsS Hm^n-knse seUvP-dp-IÄ¡p ta Ian-gv¶p-InS¶p ¢mÀ¡nsâ t]\-bp-´p-¶Xv a\-Ên I−p-t\m-¡q...

Npäpw Iptd aµ-·mÀ, ‘^nwKÀ{]nâv’ F¶p ]d-ªm Hmtcmtcm tcJ-I-fn H¸n-Sm-\-dn-bm-¯-hÀ ]Xn-¡p¶ hnc-e-Sbmfw F¶p-am{Xw a\-Ên-em-Ip-¶-hÀ.” R§Ä _n.-_n.-Un. _mKn-tebv¡p t]mbn. ap³]v AXv UÂlukn kvIzbÀ F¶m-bn-cp¶p Adn-b-s¸-«n-cp-¶-Xv, C´ybn dbnÂthbpw sSen-{Km^pw \S-¸m-¡p-Ibpw \m«p-cm-Py§sf Iq«n-t¨À¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp {]i-kvX-\mb KhÀWÀ P\d UÂlukn {]`p-hnsâ kvamc-I-am-bn-cp¶p AXv. _n.-_n.-Un. _mKnse Ccp-\qdp hÀjw ]g-¡-apÅ skâv tPm¬kv ]ÅnbpsS Npäp-h-f-¸n-em-bn-cp¶p tPm_v NmÀW-¡nsâ ih-Ip-So-cw þ I¡-«-bn CjvSnI D]-tbm-Kn¨pÅ BZys¯ \nÀ½nXn CXm-W-s{X. emÂtam-l³ _m_p AXp I−Xpw ‘D{K³’ F¶p a{´n-¨p. Hcp-]t£ Ccp− taL-§fpw a§nb BImihpw CSn-ap-g-¡-§fpw tNÀ¶p krjvSn¨ A´-co£w -Iq-Snbmhmw At±-l-¯n A§-s\-sbmcp {]Xn-I-cWw Df-hm-¡n-bXv. ih-Ip-So-c-¯nse amÀ_nÄ ^e-I-¯Â kq£n¨p t\m¡nbn«v At±lw ]dªp: “t\m¡q, tPm_v F¶p t]mep-a-Ã, tPm_kv F¶mWv Fgp-Xn-bn-cn-¡p-¶-Xv. AsX´m A§s\?” “tPm_kv F¶Xv tPm_v F¶-Xnsâ e¯o³ t]cm-Wv. B ^e-I-¯n Fgp-Xn-bn-cn-¡p-¶-sXms¡ e¯o-\n BsW¶p I−ntÃ?” s^eqZ hni-Zo-I-cn-¨p. “I−n-ÃtÃm kÀ. AXv Cw¥ojv Aà F¶p am{Xta F\n¡p ImWm³ Ign-ªn-«p-Åq; F\n¡v HcphI a\-Ên-em-bn«p-an-Ã. Abm-fpsS t]cn\p apI-fn F´m Un.-H.-Fw. Fs¶-gp-Xn-bn-cn¡p-¶Xv?” ‘tUman-\kv Hman\w amPn-kvXÀ’. ssZh-amWv kIe¯n-sâbpw A[n-\m-Y³ F¶v AÀ°w. AXn\p Xmsg-bpÅ hm¡p-IÄ IqSn {i²n-¡q. Hcp hm¡v {]tXy-In-¨pw. amÀa-sd. _wKm-fn-bnse ‘amÀaÀ’ \n§Ä¡-dn-bm-atÃm AtÃ? AXpw Cu ‘amÀasd’bpw H¶p Xs¶-bmWv þ amÀ_nÄ. ck-sa-´m-sW-¶p-h-¨m amÀaÀ F¶ hm¡v kwkvIr-X-¯nÂ\n¶p h¶-XÃ; AsXmcp t]Àjy³ hm¡m-Wv. amÀaÀ ku[v þ amÀ_nÄ ku[w

F¶À°w þ F¶ hm¡mWv ck-Icw; ImcWw ‘ku[v’ kwkvIr-X-am-Wv. \½psS `mj-bn t]Àjy³, kwkvIrXw hm¡p-IÄ \½Ä t]mep-a-dn-bmsX Iq«n-¡-eÀ¯n [mcmfw D]tbm-Kn-¡p-¶p-−v. DZm-l-c-W-¯n-\v...’ s^eq-Zbv¡p ]dªp apgp-an-¸n-¡m³ Ign-bpw-ap³]v XnI¨pw A{]-Xo-£n-X-ambn Hcp I\¯ s]mSn-¡mäv Bªp-ho-in. AXv F´n-sâtbm ap¶-dn-bn-¸m-sW¶v emÂtam-l³ _m_p ]d-ªp. AXp-t]m-se-sbm¶v Rm³ I−n-«n-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. R§-sf-Ãm-hcpw ImÀ e£y-am¡n ]mªp; F§-s\-sbm-s¡tbm AXn-sâ-bpÅn \q−p-I-b-dn. ss{UhÀ lcn At¸mÄ Xs¶ h−n ÌmÀ«v sNbvXv Fkv¹-t\-Un-te¡p hn«p. s]mSn-bpsS ]mfn-sIm−p aqSnb \ne-bn jloZv an\mÀ I−p. h−n-bpsS P\m-e-IsfÃmw AS-¨n-cp-¶-Xn-\m Imänsâ thKw \nÀ®-bn-¡m³ Ignªn-Ã. ]t£ h®w Ipdªp \of-apÅ Hcp NqcÂtai Imän Id-§n-¡-d§n ]d-¶p-h-cp-¶Xp Rm³ I−p. ssaXm-\¯nsâ Zni-bn \n¶p h¶ AXv Hcp U_nÄ U¡À _knsâ apI-fn X«n-bn«v IÀk¬ ]mÀ¡nsâ hit¯¡p ]d-¶p-t]m-bn. ]mÀ¡v kv{Soän-\-Sp¯v F¯n-b-t¸m-gm-W-dn-bp-¶Xv {Smw sse\n\p IpdpsI acw hoW-Xn-\m {Smap-I-sfm¶pw HmSp-¶nÃ. ]mÀ¡v kv{Soänse ]gb skan-t¯cn IqSn R§sf Im«n-¯c-W-sa¶v s^eqZ hnNm-cn-¨n-cp¶p. Imäp-aqew B ]²Xn Dt]£n-¨p. R§Ä AhnsS t]mbn-cp-s¶-¦n ]ntä¶p ]{X-§-fn hmÀ¯-bmbn h¶ Hcp kw`-h-¯n\p ZrIvkm£n-I-fm-Im³ Igntª-s\. Pq¬ 24se Cu sImSp-¦m-än (aWn-¡q-dn 145 Intem-ao-äÀ thKw) ku¯v ]mÀ¡v kv{Soäv skan-t¯-cn-bn Hcp acw IS-]p-gIn hoWv \tc-{µ-\mYv _nizmkv F¶ a[y-h-bkvI\v Kpcp-X-c-ambn ]cp-t¡-äp. Cu ]pcm-X\ skan-t¯-cn-bn t\cw-t]mb t\c¯v AbmÄ F´p sN¿p-I-bm-bn-cp¶p F¶v Hcp ]{X-¯nepw Fgp-Xn-¡-−n-Ã.

c−v ]ntä¶p {]`mXw apgp-h³ ag-bm-bn-cp-¶p. D¨-I-gn-ª-t¸m-gmWv H¶p tXmÀ¶-Xv. s^eqZ I¡-«-bp-sSbpw lud-bp-sSbpw Hcp ]gb am¸v kwL-Sn-¸n-¨n-cp-¶p, 1932-te-Xv. hb-dp-\n-d¨v In¨qcnbpw Hmwseäpw im¸n« tijw At±lw hmbn apdp-¡m³ \nd¨v Hcp NmÀan-\mdpw I¯n-¨p-]n-Sn¨v am¸v \nhÀ¯n. AXp \nhÀ¯n-h-bv¡m³ th−n apdn-bnse ^À®n-¨-sdms¡ HXp¡nhbvt¡-−n-h-¶p. Bdv ASn \ofw hoXn D−m-bn-cp¶p AXn-\v. ‘cP\n sk³ tdmUv t\m¡-−. A¡m-e¯v Chn-S-sams¡ H¶m´cw ImSm-bn-cp¶p’ F¶p ]d-ªp-sIm−v R§Ä am¸v ]cntim-[n-¨p-sIm-−n-cn-¡p-t¼m-gmWv emÂtam-l³ _m_p-hnsâ hc-hv. Icn-\oe ]mâvkpw aª _pjv jÀ«pw. “Fgp-]-¯mdv ac§-fmWv C¶-es¯ Imän hoW-Xv.’ At±lw Adn-bn-¨p. “\n§Ä ]dª Imcyw sNbvXn-«p-−v. C\n taen Fsâ Imdnsâ tlm¬ tI«v \n§Ä¡p lnµn kn\n-am-Km-\-§Ä HmÀ½ hcn-Ã.” R§Ä¡p ]pd¯p t]mIm³ Xnc-¡n-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. AXp-sIm−v Hcp Nmb IqSn IpSn-¨nt« ]pd-¯n-d-§n-bp-Åq. Imäp-hn-X¨ \miw emÂtam-l³ _m_p-hnsâ Imdn-en-cp¶v Rm³ t\cn-«p-I−p. IS-]p-g-Inb ac-§-fpsS F®w hnh-cn-¡p¶ ]{X dnt¸mÀ«v Rm\pw I−n-cp¶p; ]t£ Rm\Xv hniz-kn-¨n-cp-¶n-Ã. ]mÀ¡v kv{Soän F¯p-¶-Xn\p ap³]p Xs¶ 19 ac-§Ä hoWp-In-S¡p¶Xv Rm³ F®n. aqs¶®w ktX¬ Ah-\yq-hn Xs¶bm-bn-cp-¶p. ]mÀ¡v kv{Soäv skan-t¯-cn-bpsS Ihm-S-¯n-se-¯n-b-t¸mÄ (Ahn-tS-bv¡mWv t]mIp-¶-sX¶v s^eqZ ]d-ªXv ImaIv kv{Soänse-¯n-b-t¸mÄ am{X-am-bn-cp-¶p) Rm³ emÂtam-l³ _m_phnsâ t\tc Adn-bm-sX-sbm¶p t\m¡n-t¸m-bn. At±lw {]k¶-X-sbms¡ \jvS-s¸«v Ccn-¡p-¶p. s^eqZ tNmZy-`m-h-¯n At±-ls¯ t\m¡n. ‘1941 Rm³ dm©n-bn Bbn-cn-¡p-t¼mgm-Wv. Hcp Cw¥o-jp-Im-csâ kwkvImcw ImWm-\n-S-bm-bn. ih-

s¸«n IÃ-d-bn-te¡p Xmgv¯n AhÀ a®p hmcn-bn«p XpS-§pt¼mÄ AhÀ D−m-¡nb B i_vZw... `oI-c-am-bn-cp¶p AXv.’ At±lw ]d-ªp. “B i_vZw F-´m-bmepw ChnsS tIÄt¡-−n-h-cn-Ã.” s^eqZ At±-ls¯ kam-[m-\n-¸n-¨p. “Ht¶-Im \qäm-−n-\nsS Bscbpw ChnsS kwkvI-cn-¨n-«n-Ã.” Ihm-S-¯nsâ he¯p amdn-bm-bn-cp¶p Imh¡m-csâ apdn. ]IÂk-a-b¯v BÀ¡pw skan-t¯-cn-bpsS DÅn IS¡mw; Imh¡m-c\v s]mXpsh Imcy-amb ]Wn-sbm-¶p-ansöp kmcw. “amÀ_nÄ ^e-I-§Ä Bcpw ASÀ¯n-s¡m−p t]mIp-¶n-söp am{Xw Dd-¸p-h-cp-¯n-bm aXn-bmIpw AbmÄ¡v ]IÂ. Cäm-en-b³ amÀ_n-fn\v D{K³ hne In«pw.” s^eqZ ]dªp. F¶n«v At±lw “Nu¡o-Zm...À” F¶p \o«n-hnfn-¨p. Imh¡m-c³ apdn-bn \n¶v Cd-§n-h-¶p. I−m-e-dnbmw _nlm-dn-bm-sW¶v. AbmÄ ]pI-bne Nh-bv¡p-¶p-−m-bn-cp¶p; At¸mÄ hmbn-tebv¡v C«-tX-bp-sŶp tXm¶p-¶p. “Hcp _wKmfn _m_p-hn\v C¶se ChnsS h¨p ]cp-t¡-äncpt¶m? acw hoWv?” “DÆv kÀ.” “AhnSw H¶p Im«n-¯-cptam?” “t\tc s]mbvs¡m-Åq. At§-b-ä-¯p-\n¶v CS-t¯¡p Xncn-bpt¼mÄ AhnSw ImWmw. acw Ct¸mgpw Ahn-sS-¯-s¶-bp-−v.” AbmÄ Im«n-¯¶ IÃp-]m-Inb ]mX-bn-eqsS þ AXv BsI ]pÃp-aq-Sn-bn-cp¶p þ \nc-\n-c-bmb ih-¡-Ã-d-IÄ¡n-S-bneqsS R§Ä \S-¶p. Ah-bvs¡Ãmw 12 ASn apX 14 ASn hsc Db-c-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. R§-fpsS he-Xp-`m-K¯v Ipd¨p Zqscbmbn I− Hcp ih-Ip-So-c-¯n\v aq¶p-\n-e-s¡-«n-S-¯nsâ Db-cap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. AXv alm-]-WvUn-X-\m-bn-cp¶ hneyw

tPm¬knsâ ihIpSo-c-am-bn-cn-¡p-sa¶v s^eqZ ]d-ªp. I¡-«-bnse Gähpw Dbcw IqSnb ih-Ip-So-c-am-W-Xv. Hmtcm IÃ-dbv¡pw Idp-¯tXm shfp-¯tXm Bb amÀ_n-fn XoÀ¯ ^e-I-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. AXn Hmtcm-cp-¯cpw P\n¨ Xob-Xnbpw acn¨ Xob-Xnbpw aäp Nne hnh-c-§fpw sIm¯n-bncp-¶p. Nne henb ^e-I-§-fn hyàn-bpsS kw£n]vX PohnN-cn{Xw hsc D−m-bn-cp-¶p. henb XqWp-IÄ t]mse Db-c-apÅ-h-bm-bn-cp¶p Ah. ASn-`mKw hnim-ew, apI-fn-tebv¡pbcpt´mdpw hoXn Ipd-ªp-h-¶p. ‘_pÀJ-b-Wnª `qX-§Ä’ F¶mWv emÂtam-l³ _m_p Ahsb hnfn-¨-Xv. Ne-\-ti-jnbn-sÃ-¶-sXm-gn-¨m At±lw ]d-ªXv GXm−v icn-bp-am-bn-cp¶p. ih-s¸-«n-bn-e-S¨v `qan-¡-Sn-bn-ep-d-§p¶ Poh-\p-IÄ¡p Imh \n¡p¶ `qX-K-W-§-fm-bn-cp¶p Ah. Chbv¡v Cw¥o-jn F´mWp ]d-bp-¶-sX-¶-dn-bmtam? Hs_-enkvIv. inem-tKm-]pcw. s^eqZ ]d-ªp. emÂtam-l³ _m_p B hm¡v A©p-X-hW BhÀ¯n¨v Dcp-hn-«p. IS-¶p-t]m-Ip¶ hgn Rm³ B ^e-I-§-fn t\m¡n Ah-bnse t]cp-IÄ D¨¯n hmbn-¨p-sIm-−n-cp-¶p: PmIvk¬, hmSvkv, shÂkv, emÀ¡n³, Knº¬kv, HmÄUmw...! Nne ^e-I-§-fn Htc IpSpw-_-t¸cv þ acn-¨hÀ _Ôp-¡-fm-I-Ww. AXp-hsc I−-Xn Gähpw ]g-¡-apÅ XobXn 1779 Pqsse 28 Bbn-cp¶p þ {^©v hn¹-h-¯n\pw 12 hÀjw ap³]v. B ]mX-bpsS At§-b-ä¯v F¯n-b-t¸m-gmWv skan-t¯cn F{X hep-Xm-sW¶v F\n¡p a\-Ên-em-Ip-¶-Xv. ]mÀ¡v kv{Soän¡qSn t]mIp¶ hml-\-§-fpsS i_vZw t\À¯p amt{X tIÄ¡m³ Ign-bp-¶p-Åq. AhnsS c−m-bn-c-¯n-tesd ih¡Ã-d-I-fp-s−¶v s^eqZ Ft¶mSp ]d-ªp. e£w cq] Xcm-sa¶p ]d-ªm t]mepw AhnsS Xma-kn-¡m³ Xm³ X¿m-dm-hn-söv temhÀ kÀ¡p-eÀ tdmUn skan-t¯-cn-tbmSp tNÀ¶p \n¡p¶ Hcp A¸mÀSvsaâv t»m¡v Nq−n emÂtaml³ _m_p ]d-ªp. ‘IS-]p-g-Inb acw’ `oam-Im-c-\mb Hcp amhnsâ Ce-IÄ \ndª hen-sbmcp sIm¼m-bn-cp-¶p. Hcp ih-Ip-So-c-¯nsâ hen-tbmcp `mKw XIÀ¯mWv AXp hoWn-cn-¡p-¶-Xv. sNdp-Nn-Ã-IÄ Ahn-ShnsS NnX-dn-¡n-S-¡p-¶p.

R§Ä tISp ]änb ih-Ip-So-c-¯n-te¡p \S-¶p. AXn-t\mSp tNÀ¶ ]nÃÀ aäp-Å-h-sb-¡mÄ sNdp-Xm-bn-cp-¶p; emÂtam-l³ _m_p-hnsâ tXmsfm¸w Db-cta AXn-\p-−m-bncp-¶p-Åq. acw hogp-¶-Xn\p ap³]p Xs¶ AXv tISp-IÄ ]änb \ne-bn-em-bn-cp-¶p-sh¶v I−m-e-dn-bmw. hr-£-in-Jc¯n \n¶p c£-s]« `mK¯pw s]m«-ep-IÄ. tX¸p s]mfn-ªp-t]mbn CjvSn-I-IÄ sXfn-ªp-\n¡p-¶p. acw hoWv amÀ_nÄ ^e-I¯nsâ Ipd-¨p-`m-Khpw XIÀ¶n-cp-¶p. AXnsâ Ij-W§Ä ]pÃn NnX-dn-¡n-S-¡p-¶p. ag-bn FÃm-bn-Shpw IpXnÀ¶p sNfn-]n-Sn-¨mWv InS-¶n-cp-¶-Xv. F¶m Chn-S-am-bncp¶p skan-t¯-cn-bn Gä-hp-a-[nIw sNfn-Iq-Sn-¡n-S-¶n-cp-¶-Xv. “AXp-sIm-Åmw. tKmUv F¶ `mKw Ct¸mgpw ^e-I-¯n tISp IqSmsX Ccn-¡p-¶p. t\m¡q!” emÂtam-l³ _m_p AXn-i-bw-sIm-−p. “icn-bm-Wv. ASp¯ hcn-bn hÀjhpw sIm¯n-h-¨n-«p-−v. CtÃ?” s^eqZ tNmZn-¨p. “Hm, icn-bm-W-tÃm. 185-þ Ah-km-\s¯ A¡w ASÀ¶p-t]m-bn. ssZh-amWv kI-e-¯n-sâbpw A[n-\m-Y³’ F¶ Fgp-¯nsâ `mK-am-bn-cn¡pw ‘tKmUv’ F¶-Xv, AtÃ?” “A§-s\-bmtWm tXm¶p-¶Xv? aäp ^e-I-§-sfm¶pw {i²n¨p t\m¡n-bnà AtÃ? ASp-¯p-Å-Xn t\m¡q.” s^eq-ZbpsS i_vZ-¯n Ak-ln-jvWp-X-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. ASp¯ ih-Ip-So-c-¯n henb ^e-I-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. AXn-segp-Xn-bn-cp-¶Xv: To The memory of  Capt P.O’Reilly, H.M. 44th Regt.  who died 25th May, 1823 aged 38 years 

“t]cn\p t\tc Xmsg Xob-Xn. I−ntÃ? an¡ ^e-I-§fpw CtX coXn-bnemWv Fgp-Xn-bn-«p-Å-Xv. AXp-a-Ã, atä-sX-¦nepw ^e-I-¯n ‘tKmUv’ Fs¶mcp hm¡v I−n-cpt¶m?” s^eqZ ]d-ªXv icn-bm-bn-cp-¶p. ap¸-tXmfw ^e-I-§-Ä Rm³ hmbn-¨n-cp-¶p. H¶nepw ssZh-s¯-¸än ]cmaÀi-an-Ã. “ ‘tKmUv’ F¶Xv acn¨ a\p-jysâ t]cm-sW-¶mtWm ]d-bp¶Xv?” emÂtam-l³ _m_p tNmZn-¨p. “sslµ-h-cn Cuiz-c³, `K-hm³ Fs¶ms¡ t]cp It−¡mw; ]t£ kmbn-¸-·mÀ tKmUv F¶p t]cnSpsa¶p Rm³ Icp-Xp-¶n-Ã. B ^eIw kq£n-¨p-t\m-¡q. Pn F¶ A£-c-¯n\p ap³]v Ipd-t¨sd Øeap−v. AXn-\À°w B hi¯p aäp hm¡p-IÄ CÃm-bn-cp¶p F¶m-Wv. ]t£ ‘Un’¡p tijw F´m-bn-cp-¶p-sh¶v ]d-bm³ Ffp-¸-a-Ã. F\n¡p tXm¶p-¶Xv ‘PnHUn’ F¶Xv Abm-fpsS t]cnsâ BZys¯ A£-c-§-fm-bn-cn-¡p-sa-¶m-Wv. tKmUv{^n, sKmZmÀZv Fs¶ms¡-bp-Å-Xp-t]m-se.” “F¦n¸ns¶ t\cw If-b-−. \ap¡v B Ij-W-§Ä tNÀ¯p-h-¨p-t\m-¡mw...” emÂtam-l³ _m_p B s]m«nb Ij-W-§-fp-sSbpw NnÃ-I-fpsSbpw ASp-t¯¡p \S-¶p-I-gn-ªn-cp-¶p. IÃ-d-bpsS ASp-s¯¯n-bXpw At±lw th¨p-ho-gm³ XpS§n; Ipgn-bntem atäm Im Nhn-«n-bn-s«-¶-t]m-se. GXm-bmepw hogpw-ap³t] s^eqZ Xsâ \o− Ic-§Ä \o«n At±-ls¯ ]nSn¨p t\tc \nÀ¯n. F\n-¡msI Bi-b-¡p-g-¸-am-bn. ChnsS F§-s\-bmWv Hcp Ipgn D−m-Ip-I. ‘CXp hnNn-{X-am-bn-cn-¡p¶p’ F¶p s^eqZbpw ]d-ªp. ‘Imän HSn-ªp-ho-WXv amhnsâ sIm¼m-bn-cp¶ntÃ? Chn-sS-bnXm aäp Nne Ce-Ifpw [mcm-f-ap-−tÃm? FhnsS-\n¶p h¶p?” skan-t¯-cn-bn-em-sW-¶Xp Xs¶ emÂtam-l³ _m_p-hn\v Akz-Ø-X-bp-f-hm-¡n-bn-cp-¶p. AXnsâ IqsS CXp-IqSn Bb-

t¸mÄ At±lw BsI XfÀ¶p. iàn hos−-Sp-¡m-s\¶ a«n R§-fpsS FXnÀh-i-t¯¡p Xncnªv At±lw \n¶p. “tXm]vsj, Cu Ce-Ifpw I¼p-Ifpw s]dp-¡n-am-äm³ klm-bn¡q. \¶mbn {i²n-¡-Ww.” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. Ahn-S-saÃmw hr¯n-bm-¡n-b-t¸mÄ IÃ-d-bpsS kao-]-¯mbn GXm−v c−Sn Bg-¯n Hcp Ipgn. AXp hf-sc-¡m-e-ambn AhnsS DÅ-XmtWm AtXm ]pXp-Xmbn Bsc-¦nepw Ipgn-¨XmtWm F¶v F\n¡v Hcp-]n-Snbpw In«n-bnÃ; Hcp-]t£ s^eqZbv¡p a\-Ên-em-bn-¡m-Wpw. At±-l-¯nsâ t\m«w NnX-dn-¡nS¶ amÀ_nÄ Ij-W-§-fn-te-bv¡m-bn. R§Ä Ah s]dp-¡n¡q«n PnKvtkm ]kn Ifn-¡p¶ Ip«n-I-sf-t¸mse tNÀ¯p-h¨p. HSp¡w In«nb Nn{Xw C§-s\-bm-bn-cp¶p: Sacred to The memory of  THOMAS _WIN  Obt. 24th April _8, AET 70_  “tKmUvhn³” s^eqZ Dds¡ hnfn-¨p-]-d-ªp. Abm-fpsS t]cv tKmUvhn³ F¶m-bn-cp-¶p. ‘H_n-äqkv’ acWw G{]n 24\v; ‘Gbväm-änkv’ {]mbw 70. C\n-bpÅ {]iv\w...” “Rm³ ]dbmw” emÂtam-l³ _m_p-hnsâ A«-lmkw Fs¶ sR«n-¨p-Ifªp. R§Ä Xncn-ªp-t\m-¡p-t¼mÄ At±lw Ccp−p ]c¶v NXp-c-¯n-epÅ Hcp km[\w DbÀ¯n-¸n-Sn-¨n-cn¡p-¶p. “»q t^mIvkn A¯m-g-¯n\v 37 cq] XnI-bptam?” “F´m Xm¦-fpsS ssIbnÂ?” BImw-£-b-S-¡m-\m-hmsX Rm\pw s^eq-Zbpw At±-l-¯n-\-Sp-t¯¡p IpXn-¨p. emÂtaml³ _m_p-hnsâ CS-Xp-ssI-bn Idp¯ Hcp ]gvkv. he-XpssI-bn Ipd¨p cq]m-t\m-«p-IÄ. ]gvknepw t\m«p-I-fnepw sNfn ]pc-−n-«p-−v. `bw amdn emÂtam-l³ _m_p Ct¸mÄ k´p-jvS-\m-bn-cp-¶p. s^eq-Zbv¡v {][m-\-s¸« Hcp AS-bm-famWv Xm³ Is−-¯n-b-sX¶v At±-l-¯n\v Adn-bm-am-bn-cp-¶p.

s^eqZ ]gvkv hm§n AXnsâ Ad-I-fn D−m-bn-cp-¶sXÃmw hen¨p ]pd-s¯-Sp-¯p. \mep km[-\-§-fmWv AXn-ep-−m-bn-cp¶Xv: 1. Hcp-]nSn hnkn-änwKv ImÀUp-IÄ. F³.-Fw.-_n-izmkv F¶p t]cp-−v. hnem-ktam t^m¬ \¼tcm CÃ. ‘B ]{X-hmÀ¯-bn sXäp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. \tc-{µ-\mYv F¶mWv Abm-fpsS t]cv Fgp-Xn-bn-cp-¶-Xv. bYmÀ°¯n \tc-{µ-tam-l³ F¶m-bn-cp¶p th−-Xv.’ s^eqZ ]d-ªp. 2. ]gb ]{X-§-fn \n¶p apdn-s¨-Sp¯ c−p Ij-W-§Ä. H¶m-a-t¯-Xn ]mÀ¡v kv{Soän Hcp skant¯cn ]Wn-Xn-«p-s−¶ hmÀ¯; c−m-a-t¯-Xv HmIvSÀe\n kvamcIw þ Ct¸m-gs¯ jloZv an\mÀ þ \nÀ½mWw kw_-Ôn-¨-Xv. F-¶p-h-¨m c−pw 150 þ 200 hÀjw ]g-¡-ap-Å-h. C{X ]g-¡-apÅ dnt¸mÀ«p-IÄ _nizmkv F§s\ kwL-Sn-¸n¨p F¶-Xn s^eqZ BImw£ {]I-Sn-¸n-¨p. 3. ]mÀ¡v kv{Soänse HmIvkv^Uv _pIv I¼-\n-bn \n¶v 12.50 cq]-bpsS Hcp Imjv sat½m. 4. Hcp sNdnb IjWw shÅ-¡-S-em-kv. AXn t_mÄ t]mbnâv t]\ sIm−v Fs´m-s¡tbm Ip¯n-¡p-dn-¨n«p-−v. Ah hmbn-¨n«v F\n¡v H¶pw a\-Ên-em-bn-Ã. hnIvtSm-dnb F¶ t]cp am{X-amWv F\n¡p ]nSn-In-«n-bXv. “B tamWyp-saân-s\-¡p-dn¨v kw_-Ôn¨v Hcp BÀ«n-¡nÄ hmbn-¨n«p c−p Znh-kta BbpÅq” emÂtam-l³ _m_p ]d-ªp. “Fsâ HmÀ½-bn AsX-gp-Xn-b-bm-fpsS t]cv _nizmkv F¶m-Wv. AtX, AXp Xs¶-bmWv t]cv, _nizm-kv.” “Fhn-sS-bmWv AXp hmbn-¨-sX-t¶mÀ½-bpt−m?”

“GtXm Hcp amkn-I-bn-em-Wv. seJm\n AsÃ-¦n hnNn-{X-]{X. ho«n-se-¯p-t¼mÄ t\m¡n-bn«p Rm³ ]d-bmw.” emÂtam-l³ _m_p-hnsâ HmÀ½ A{X hniz-kn-¡m³ sImÅp-¶-X-Ã. AXp-sIm−v s^eqZ B hnjbw X¡m-et¯¡v Ahn-sS-bp-t]-£n-¨p. IS-em-knse hm¡p-IÄ At±lw Xsâ t\m«v_p-¡n Ipdn-s¨-Sp-¯p. ISemkpw aäp km[-\-§fpw Xncn¨p ]gvkn Xs¶ h¨n«v AXv t]m¡-än Xncp-In. F¶n«v tISp-h¶ IÃ-d-bpsS Npän\pw hni-Z-ambn ]cn-tim-[n-¨p. Ahn-sS-\n¶p Is−-Sp¯ c−p km[-\-§fpw At±lw t]m¡-än Xncp-In. H¶v {_u¬ \nd-apÅ Hcp Pm¡äv _«¬; c−v IpXnÀ¶ Hcp t^mw _p¡v þ IpXn-c-¸-´-b-¯n\p t]mIp-¶-h-cpsS ssIhiw ImWm-dpÅ Xcw. “\ap¡v Imh¡m-c-t\mSv A¸w kwkm-cn¨ tijw ho«nte¡p aS-§mw. ho−pw ImÀtaLw aqSn-¯p-S-§n-bn-«p-−v.” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. “Xm¦Ä B ]gvkv Xncn-sI-s¡m-Sp-¡ptam?” emÂtam-l³ _m_p tNmZn-¨p. “XoÀ¨-bmbpw. Abmsf GXv Bip-]-{Xn-bn-te-¡mWp sIm−p-t]m-b-sX¶v At\z-jn-¨p-t\m-¡-Ww. an¡-hmdpw \msf Rm³ Abmsf kµÀin-¡pw.” “AbmÄ acn-¨p-t]m-sb-¦ntem?” “A§s\ hnNm-cn¨v Abm-fpsS apX ssIb-S-¡n-hbv¡m³ ]mSn-Ã-tÃm. AXv A[mÀ½n-I-atÃ?” A-Xp-a-à 37 cq]bv¡v »q t^mIvkn \n¶v BsI Nmbbpw km³Uvhn¨pw In«n-bm-em-bn; AXp-sIm−v A¯m-g-kz]v\w Dt]-£n-¨m aXn.” t\tc ]pdw-Xn-cnªv R§Ä IÃ-d-\n-c-IÄ¡n-Sn-bn-eqsS IhmSw e£y-am¡n \S-¶p. s^eqZ \nÈ-_vZ-\m-bn-cp-¶p. At±lw Hcp NmÀan-\mÀ I¯n-¨p. ASp¯ Ime¯mbn ]pI-hen Ipd-s¨-¦nepw Fhn-sS-sb-¦nepw Fs´-¦n-

ep-samcp \nKq-V-X-bpsS aW-a-Sn-¨m bm{´n-I-am-sbt¶mWw At±lw knK-cäv hmbn Xncp-Ipw. R§Ä ]mXn-h-gn-sb-¯n-b-t¸mÄ s^eqZ s]s«¶p \n¶p. F\n¡p Imcyw ]nSn-In-«n-bn-Ã. At±-l-¯nsâ I®p-IfpsS ]mX ]n´p-SÀ¶ Fsâ I®p-IÄ F¯n-\n-¶Xv At¸mgpw Fcn-ªp-sIm-−n-cn-¡p¶ Hcp knK-cäv Ipän-bnÂ. ankv amÀK-cäv sSw]nÄ«¬ Fs¶-gp-Xnb ih-Ip-So-c-¯nsâ ap¶nse ]pÃn Hcp CjvSn-I-¡-j-W-¯nsâ tate-bn-cp¶v AXv Fcn-bp-I-bm-Wv. ]pI-bpsS t\cnb Xncn Db-cp-¶p. ag ASp-s¯-¯n-bn-cp-¶-Xn-\m t\cnb Imäp-t]m-ep-an-Ã. AXn\m ]pI \¶mbn ImWm³ Ign-ªp. knK-c-sä-Sp-¯p-sIm−v s^eqZ ]dªp: “tKmÄUv ^vsfbv¡v”. emÂtam-l³ _m_p ]dªp: “\ap¡p ho«n t]mImw.” Rm³ tNmZn¨p: “CXp hen-¨p-sIm-−n-cp-¶-bmÄ Chn-sS-hn-sS-sb-¦nepw Dt−m-sb¶p Rm³ t]mbn t\m¡t«?” “ChnsS Npän-¸än \n¡m³ Dt±-iy-ap-−m-bn-cp-s¶-¦n AbmÄ knK-cäv ssIbn¯s¶ ]nSn-t¨-t\; AX-sÃ-¦n Ipän \ne-¯n«p Nhn-«n-s¡-Sp-¯n-tb-t\. AbmÄ HmSn-t¸m-bXm-sW-¶-Xn kwi-b-anÃ. c£-s]-Sm³ AbmÄ¡p XnSp¡ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p.” R§Ä sNÃp-t¼mÄ Imh¡m-csâ apdn-bn Bcp-an-Ã. AÂ]w Ign-ª-t¸mÄ AbmÄ Ipän-¡m-«n \n¶p {]Xy£-s¸-«p. apdn-bn-se-¯n-b-bp-S³ AbmÄ ]dªp: “Hcp Fensb sIms−-¡-f-ªn«p hcn-I-bm-Wv.” Fen¡p ih-kw-kvIm-c-ip-{iq-j-sbm-cp-¡m³ t]mb-Xm-bncp¶p AbmÄ Ipän-¡m-«nÂ! s^eqZ t\tc Imcy-¯n-te¡p IS-¶p. “]cp-t¡-ä-bmsf BZyw I−Xv BcmWv? acw hoWp ]cpt¡-ä-bmsf?”

BZyw I−Xp Xm\m-sW¶v Imh¡m-c³ k½-Xn-¨p. acw hogp-t¼mÄ AbmÄ skan-t¯-cn-bn D−m-bn-cp-¶n-Ã. Imän ]d-¶p-t]mb Xsâ jÀ«v Xncn-s¨-Sp-¡m³ ]mÀ¡v kv{Soänsâ Zni-bn t]mb-Xm-bn-cp¶p AbmÄ. Xncn¨p hcpt¼m-gmWv ]cp-t¡äp InS-¡p-¶-bmsf I−-Xv. ASp-¯n-sSbmbn AbmÄ CS-bv¡nsS h¶n-cp-¶-Xn-\m Xncn-¨-dn-bm³ am{Xw ]cn-N-b-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. “thsd Bsc-¦nepw C¶se ChnsS h¶n-cpt¶m?” “Adn-bnà _m_p. C¶se Rm³ jÀs«-Sp-¡m³ HmSn-t¸mIp-t¼mÄ ChnsS aämcpw CÃm-bn-cp-¶p.” “]t£ Cu IÃ-d-IÄ¡p ]n¶n Hfn-¨n-cn-¡m³ Ffp-¸amWv, AtÃ?” Imh¡m-c³ B km[yX k½-Xn-¨p. Hfn-¨p-I-fn¡m³ ]änb CS-am-WtÃm F¶v Btem-Nn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp¶p Rm\pw. \tc³ _nizm-kns\ ]cp-t¡äp I−-t¸mÄ AbmÄ ]pd-¯nd§n hgn-bn I− Hcp kmln-ºn-t\mSv hnh-c-§Ä ]dªp. Abm-fpsS hnh-cWw tI«n«v AXv skâv tkthygvknse ]ptcm-ln-X-\m-bn-cp-s¶¶p tXm¶p-¶p. At±-l-amWv SmIvkn hnfn-¨p-sIm-Sp-¯Xpw _nizm-kns\ Bip-]-{Xn-bn F¯n-¡m³ th−-sXms¡ sNbvX-Xpw. “C¶v Bsc-¦nepw AÂ]w ap³]v?”

ChnsS

hcp-¶Xv

{i²n-¨n-cpt¶m?

“A¸w ap³]v?” “Dw.” AbmÄ Bscbpw I−n-cp-¶n-Ã, ImcWw AbmÄ tKän-\Sp¯v Fhn-sSbpw CÃm-bn-cp-¶tÃm. Ipän-¡m-«n Fen-bpsS A´y-IÀ½-§Ä \nÀÆ-ln-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶ntÃ! Fensb AS¡n-¡-gn-ª-t¸mgpw AbmÄ¡v apdn-bn-te¡p Xncn-sI-t¸mIm³ Ign-ªnÃ; At¸m-tg¡v {]Ir-Xn-bpsS hnfn tXm¶n.

“\n§Ä cm{Xn apgp-h³ Chn-sS-bp-−m-Iptam?” “DÆv kÀ. ]t£ cm{Xn Imh-ensâ Bh-iy-ta-bn-Ã. BfpIÄ¡v ChnsS IS-¶p-h-cm³ Xs¶ `b-am-Wv. cm{Xn ChnsS hcm³ Bcpw ss[cy-s¸-Sn-Ã.” “F´m \n§-fpsS t]cv?” “_mcw-tZhv” “Hm icn. CXm” F¶p ]dªv s^eqZ Abm-fpsS ssIbn Hcp c−p-cq]m t\m«v Xncp-In-h-¨p. Cu sIm¨p {]hr¯n `mhn-bn henb ^e-§Ä Xs¶ sIm−p-h-¶pX¶p.

aq¶v “tKmUvhn³. tXmakv tKmUvhn³” kn±p- A¦nfnsâ apJ¯v Bdp Npfn-hp-IÄ sXfn-ªp. ‘anÌÀ F³ssk-t¢m-]o-Unb’ F¶mWv kn±p A¦nfns\ Rm³ hnfn-¡p-¶-Xv. s^eqZ hnfn-¡p-¶Xv ‘anÌÀ s^mt«m-{Km-^nIv sa½dn’ F¶pw. c−pw At±-l-¯n\v Gähpw CW-§p-¶h Xs¶. ImWp-¶tXm tIÄ¡p-¶tXm hmbn-¡p-¶tXm Bb Hcp Imcyhpw At±lw ad-¶p-t]m-IpI-bn-Ãþ HmÀ¯n-cn-¡m³ am{Xw {][m-\-sa¶v At±-l-¯n\p tXm¶p-s¶-¦nÂ. s^eqZ CS-bv¡nsS k-lmbw tXSn At±ls¯ ImWm-dp-−v. C¶pw AXmWv Dt±-iyw. F¶pw cmhnse kn±p A¦n XSm-I-¯nsâ `mK-t¯¡p \S-¡m³ t]mIpw. GXm\pw ssaep-IÄ \S-¶n«v Bd-ctbmsS XncnsI ho«n-se-¯pw. sImSpw-a-g-bpÅ Znh-k-§fn t]mepw At±lw \S¯w apS-¡p-I-bn-Ã; IpSbpw NqSn \S-¡pw. Xncn-¨p-h-¶m Znhm-\n Ibdn Hä Ccn-¸mWv; ]ns¶ Znhkw apgp-h³ Ahn-sS-¯-s¶. Ipfn-¡m\pw `£Ww Ign-¡m\pw am{XamWv Ahn-sS-\n¶v Fgp-t¶Â¡p¶-Xv. thKw Xncn-s¨-¯p-Ibpw sN¿pw. Ccn-¡p-¶-Xn\p ap³]n Hcp sUkvIv D−v. AXn A«n-bn«p h¨n-cn¡p¶ ]pkvX-I-§fpw amkn-I-Ifpw ]{X-§-fpw. kn±p A¦nÄ Hcn-¡epw H¶pw Fgp-Xm-dn-à þ I¯p-Itfm IW-¡pItfm tUm_n sIm−p-t]m-Ip¶ XpWn-bpsS ]«n-Itbm H¶pw. hmbn-¡pI am{X-amWv At±l¯nsâ [À½w F¶p tXm¶pw. At±-l-¯n\p sSen-t^mWpw CÃ. Gs´-¦nepw Bh-iy-¯n\p R§sf _Ô-s¸-S-W-sa-¦n P\mÀ±s\ þ the-¡m-c³ þ ]d-ª-b-bv¡pw. ]¯p an\n-än-\p-Ån ktµiw R§-fpsS ASp-¡-se-¯pw. kn±p A¦nÄ hnhmlw Ign-¨n-cp-¶n-Ã. `mcybv¡p ]Icw ]pkvX-I-§-tfm-sSm-¸-am-bn-cp¶p At±lw Xma-kw. ‘Fsâ `mcy, Fsâ a¡Ä, Fsâ A½, Aѳ, ktlm-Z-c³, ktlm-Z-cn, tUmIvSÀ, Kpcp-\m-Y³... Pohn-X-

¯n thW-sa¶p tXm¶m-hp¶ FÃmw ChnsS Cu ]pkvXI-§Ä¡n-S-bn-ep-−v. ]pkvX-I-§-fmWv Fsâ IpSpw-_w, Fsâ Iq«p-ImÀ’ F¶mWv At±lw ]d-bm-dp-Å-Xv. ]gb I¡-«-sb-¡p-dn¨v s^eq-Z-bn PnÚmk DWÀ¯n-b-Xn Hcp ]¦v At±-l-¯n\v Ah-Im-i-s¸-«-Xm-Wv. F¶p-h-¨v, kn±p A¦n-fn-\v Adn-bm-hp-¶Xv I¡-«-bpsS Ncn{Xw am{XaÃ; temI-¯nsâ apgp-h³ Ncn-{Xhpw At±-l-¯n-\-dn-bmw. I«³Nmb sam¯n-¡p-Sn¡p¶-Xn-\nsS At±lw ‘tKmUvhn³’ F¶ t]cv Dcp-hn-«p-sIm-−n-cp-¶p. F¶n«p ]dªp, “B t]cv tI«m-ep-S³ Bcp-sSbpw a\-Ên HmSn-sb¯pI sjÃn-bpsS A½m-bn-b-Ñ-\m-Wv. C´y-bn-tebv¡p h¶ Hcp tKmUvhns\ F\n-¡-dn-bmw. GXp hÀj-amWv \n§-fpsS tKmUvhn³ acn-¨Xv?” “1858.” “F¶m-bn-cp¶p P\\w?” “1788” “Dw... Rm³ Dt±-in-¡p¶ tKmUvhn³ Xs¶-bmIpw AXv. 1858tem 59tem I¡« dnhyq-hn Hcp teJ\w h¶n-cp-¶p. tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ aIÄ ssjÀen Fgp-Xn-bXv; Aà AhcpsS t]cv jmÀeäv F¶m-Wv. AXp Xs¶, jmÀeäv tKmUvhn³. kz´w ]nXm-hn-s\-¡p-dn-¨mbn-cp¶p Ah-cpsS teJ-\w. lm... Ct¸m-sg-\n¡v FÃmw HmÀ½-h-cp-¶p-−v... UnbÀ s^eq, Akm-[m-c-W-amb Hcp IY-bm-W-Xv. hb-Êmbn-¡-gnªv AbmÄs¡´p ]än F¶v aI-fpsS teJ-\¯n H¶pw ]d-bp-¶n-Ã. AbmÄ C´y-bn h¶-bp-S³ sNbvX-sX-s´t¶m? ... t\mh-en-sems¡ hmbn-¡p-t¼mse tXm¶pw. \o eIvt\mbn t]mbn-«ntÃ?” s^eqZ Xe-bm-«n. Hudw-K-ko_v N{I-hÀ¯n-bp-tS-Xm-bn-cp¶ Hcp tamXncw tamjvSn-¡-s¸« tIknsâ \nKq-V-X-IÄ At±lw Npcp-f-gn-¨Xv eIvt\m-bn h¨m-bn-cp-¶p. {]-K-Û\mb Ipäm-t\z-j-I³ F¶v At±-l-¯n\p t]cp t\Sn-s¡mSp¯ tIkm-bn-cp¶p AXv.

“At¸m \n\¡v kmZ¯v Aen-sb-¡p-dn¨pw AtÃ?” -kn±p A¦nÄ tNmZn-¨p.

Adnbmw

“DÆv.” “A¡m-e¯v kmZ¯v Aen eIvt\m-bnse \hm_v Bbn-cp¶p. UÂln-bn kp¯m³ `c-W-¯nsâ AkvX-a-\-Imew. sIm«mcPohn-X-¯nsâ BÀ`m-S-§-sfÃmw D−m-bn-cp¶Xv eIvt\m-bn-em-bn-cp-¶p. kmZ¯v sNdp-¸-Im-e¯v I¡«-bn-em-bn-cp-¶p. Nne Cw¥o-jp-Im-cp-am-sbms¡ ]cn-N-bhpw AÂ]w Cw¥ojv ]cn-Úm-\hpw D−m-bn-cp¶ AbmÄ¡p {]nbw ]mÝmXy Pohn-X-co-Xn-I-fm-bn-cp-¶p. Ak^vþD-Zv-þ-Zuf acn-¨-t¸mÄ hkoÀ Aen \hm_v Bbn. kmZ¯v A¶v _\m-d-kn BWv. Ak-^nsâ ]n´p-SÀ¨-bmbn knwlmk\w tamln-¨n-cp¶ AbmÄ Akz-Ø\pw ZpxJnX-\p-am-bncp-¶p. F´m-bmepw hmknÀ Aen s]s«¶p Xs¶ H¶n\pw sImÅm-¯-h-s\¶ t]cp k¼m-Zn-¨p. kln-sI« {_n«o-jpImÀ shdpw \mep amk-¯n-\p-Ån Abm-fpsS `cWw Ahkm-\n-¸n¨v kmZ-¯ns\ A[n-Im-c-¯n-te-än. AXn\p \µnbmbn AbmÄ {_n«o-jp-ImÀ¡p sImSp-¯Xv Hu[nsâ ]IpXn-bm-bn-cp-¶p. {_n«ojv CuÌv C´ym I¼-\n¡v eIvt\mbn henb kzm[o-\-apÅ Ime-am-Wv. FÃm \hm-_p-amcpw Ahsc XmWp-h-W-§n-bmWv \ne-\n-¶n-cp-¶-Xv. eIvt\m-bnse sXcp-hp-I-fn-sems¡ \ndsb {_n«o-jp-Imcpw aäp bqtdm-]y-·m-cp-am-bn-cp-¶p. \hm-_nsâ ]«m-f-¯nse Hm^n-kÀam-cn¯s¶ {_n«o-jp-Imcpw U¨p-Im-cpap-−m-bncp-¶p. I-¨-h-S-¡mÀ, tUmIvSÀamÀ, Nn{X-Im-c-·mÀ, _mÀ_ÀamÀ, kvIqÄ A[ym-]-Icn hsc [mcmfw bqtdm]y-·m-cp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. F¶m hnti-jn¨v Hcp tPmenbpw sN¿m-\-ÃmsX F¯n-b-hcpw A¡q-«-¯n-ep-−m-bn-cp-¶p. F§-s\bpw ]W-ap-−m-¡pI F¶ Hä e£yta AhÀ¡p−m-bn-cp-¶p-Åq. F§-s\bpw \hm-_ns\ {]oWn-¸n¨v AbmfnÂ\n¶p In«m-hp-¶Xv Duän-sb-Sp-¡pI F¶-Xm-bn-cp¶p Ah-cpsS \bw. C¡q-«-¯n-em-bn-cp¶p tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ Øm\w. Cw¥-−n \n¶pÅ sNdp-¸-¡m-c³. ksÊIvkntem kt^m-¡ntem \n¶p-f-f-h³... AtXm ktd-bn Bbn-cpt¶m? F\n¡p \à HmÀ½-bn-Ã. GXm-bmepw \hm-

_nsâ k¼-¶-X-sb-¡p-dn¨v tI«v AbmÄ eIvt\m-bn-se-¯n. I−m kpµ-c³, \¶mbn kwkm-cn-¡m-\p-a-dn-bmw. {_n«ojv dkn-Uâv anÌÀ sNdn-bpsS {]oXn ]nSn-¨p-]-äm³ AbmÄ¡v A[n-I-Imew th−n-h-¶n-Ã. sNdn Hcp ip]mÀi¡¯p \ÂIn, AXp-ambn AbmÄ \hm-_v kmZ¯v Aen-bpsS sIm«m-c-¯n-se-¯n. F´n-emWv sshZKv[yw F¶v \hm_v tNmZn-¨p. bqtdm-]y³ `£-W-t¯mSv \hm-_n\pÅ XmÂ]cyw AbmÄ tI«n-«p-−m-bn-cp-¶p; AbmÄ \à ]mN-I¡m-c-\m-bn-cp¶p Xm\pw. Xms\mcp anI¨ ]mN-I-¡m-c-\msW¶pw \hm-_n\v kZy-sbm-cp-¡m³ XmÂ]-cy-ap-s−¶pw AbmÄ DWÀ¯n-¨p. tXmakv tKmUvhn³ D−m-¡nb `£Ww Ign¨ kmZ¯v Aen At¸mįs¶ Abmsf sIm«mcw ]mN-I-¡m-c-\mbn \nb-an-¨p. \hm_v t]mIp-¶n-Ss¯Ãmw H¸-ap-−m-IpI Hcp apÉnw ]mN-I-¡m-c\pw tXmakv tKmUvhn\pw Bbn-cp-¶p. KhÀWÀþP\-d eIvt\m-bn F¯p-t¼m-sgÃmw kmZ¯v At±-ls¯ hncp-¶n\p £Wn-¡pw. At±-ls¯ {]oXn-s¸Sp-¯n-bm Fs´-¦n-ep-sams¡ t\«-ap-−mIpw F¶p {]Xo£n-¨p-sIm-−p-X-s¶-bm-bn-cp¶p Cu hncp-¶p-IÄ. AXn\v At±lw B{i-bn-¨n-cp-¶Xv tKmUvhnsâ ]mN-I-ssh-ZKv[yw Xs¶-bm-bn-cp-¶p. ]pXnb Fs´-¦nepw hn`-hw-sIm−v \hm_nsâ {]oXn t\Sm-\m-bm AbmÄ¡v D{K³ k½m-\-§Ä e`n-¡p-am-bn-cp-¶p. NnÃd ]W-sam-¶p-aÃ; \½Ä eIvt\mbnse \hm-_n-s\-¸-än-bmWv kwkm-cn-¡p-¶-Xv. At±-l¯nsâ HuZmcyw At±-l-¯nsâ \ne-hm-c-¯n\p tNÀ¶-Xmbn-cp-¶p. tXmakv tKmUvhn³ k¼m-Zn-¨p-Iq-«nbXv F{Xsb¶v Duln-¡mt\ Ign-bq. \à In«-t¸m-cn-sÃ-¦n AbmÄ ASp-¡-f-¸-Wn-s¡m¶pw \n¡n-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. A¯-c-samcp a\p-jyt\ Bbn-cp-¶nà AbmÄ. GXm-bmepw HSp¡w AbmÄ eIvt\m hn«p I¡-«-bn-se¯n. Hcp ]«mf Iym]väsâ aIÄ sPbv³ amU¡ns\ hnhmlw Ign-¨p. aq¶p amk-¯n-\p-Ån AbmÄ kz´w dtÌm-dâv XpS§n þ Ipdª Øe-s¯m-¶p-a-Ã, Nucw-Kn-bpsS lrZ-b-¯n¯-s¶. Ahn-sSbpw AbmÄ¡p h¨Sn h¨Sn Ib-ä-am-bn-cp-¶p. ]t£ A\n-hm-cy-am-

bXv ]n´p-SÀs¶-¯pI Xs¶ sNbvXp. Ft¶bv¡pw \ne-\n¡n-Ã-tÃm. \n¡ptam?”

\Ã-Imew

“tKmUvhn\v NqXp-I-fn-bn hÃmsX I¼w Ib-dn-¯p-S-§n. eIvt\m-bn h¨p-Xs¶ AbmÄ tImgn-t¸mcn\pw ]m{SnPv ]£n-IÄ X½n-epÅ t]mcn\pw aäpw hmXp-h¨n-cp-¶p. A§s\ AbmÄ [mcmfw ]Ww t\Sn; A{X Xs¶ \jvS-s¸-Sp-Ibpw sNbvXp. I¡-«-bn h¨pw AtX I¼w At±-ls¯ ]nSn-Iq-Sn... CXn-\-¸p-d-sam¶pw aI-fpsS teJ-\-¯n ]d-ªn-cp-¶n-Ã. AbmÄ acn¨v GXm\pw amk§Ä¡p-Ån-emWv CXp {]kn-²o-I-cn-¨-sX-¶mWv Fsâ HmÀ½. AXp-sIm−v kz´w ]nXm-hnsâ ZuÀ_-ey-§-sf-¡pdn¨v AhÀ¡v Hcp-]mSv Fgp-Xm³ Ign-ªn-«p-−m-hn-Ã. C\n, \n\¡v AXp hmbn-¡-W-sa-¶p-s−-¦n Gjym-änIv skmssk-än-bn sN¶m aXn. XoÀ¨-bmbpw asäm-cp-]mSv hni-Zmw-i-§fpw AXnÂ\n¶p In«pw. ck-I-c-amb Cu IY tI«p-I-gnªn«pw Rm\pw s^eq-Zbpw GXm\pw \nanjw \nÈ-_vZ-cm-bn-¯s¶ Ccp-¶p. kn±p A¦nÄ Xs¶-bmWv ho−pw kwkm-cn-¨p-Xp-S-§n-b-Xv. “F´m Ct¸m tXmakv tKmUvhns\-¸än XmÂ]cyw tXm¶m³?” “AXp Rm³ ]d-bmw. ]t£ AXn\p ap³]v F\n¡p asämcp Imcyw IqSn Adn-bm-\p-−v. \tc{µ _nizm-kn-s\-¸än tI«n-«pt−m? ]gb I¡-«-sb-¸än Fgp-Xp-¶-bmÄ...” “F´n-emWv AbmÄ Fgp-Xm-dp-ÅXv?” “AsX-\n¡p \à \nÝ-b-an-Ã.” “A{X Adn-b-s¸-Sm¯ amkn-I-I-fn hÃ-Xp-am-sW-¦n Rm³ I−n-cn-¡m-\n-S-bn-Ã. Rm³ s]mXpth amkn-I-hmb\ \nÀ¯n-bn-cn-¡p-I-bm-Wvþ F¶p-h-¨m ]Xn-hp-Å-h-sbmgn-sI. F´m Ct¸m?” s^eqZ Ignª Znh-ks¯ kw`-h-§Ä hnh-cn-¨p. “Imän ac-s¡m¼p hoWp ]cp-t¡-ä-bm-fpsS ]gvkv Ccp-]Xv ASn

AIse ImW-s¸-«Xv F´p-sIm−v F¶-XmWv Fsâ kwib-¯n\p \nZm-\w.” “lvw” kn±p-h-¦nÄ AÂ]-t\cw Nn´m-aá\m-bn-cp¶p. ]ns¶ ]dªp: “C¶se Imänsâ thKw aWn-¡q-dn sXm®qdp ssa Bbn-cp-¶p. ]gvkv jÀ«nsâ t]m¡-än-embn-cps¶¦n AbmÄ Hm«w XpS-§n-b-t¸mÄ sXdn-¨p-t]m-bn«p-−m-Ipw. Imäv AXns\ Ipd-¨p-IqSn Zqc-t¯bv¡v ASn-¨psIm-−p-t]m-b-Xp-am-Imw. Hm«-¯n-\n-S-bn-em-bn-cn¡pw acw hoW-Xv. AXn-se´m C{X Akzm-`m-hn-I-X-bp-ÅXv?” “AbmÄ hoWXv tKmUvhnsâ IÃ-d-bpsS sXm«-Sp-¯m-Wv.” “AXn-s\´m?” “IÃ-d-bpsS ASp-¯mbn Hcp Ipgn-bp-−m-bn-cp¶p; Btcm Ipgn-¨p-Xp-S-§nb amXn-cn.” C¯-hW kn±p-h-¦n-fnsâ I®p-IÄ angn-ªp-h-¶p. “Mvtl! IÃ-d-am-´tem? kw`hw Kuchw Xs¶-bm-W-tÃm. hniz-kn¡m³ Xs¶ ]äp-¶n-Ã. IÃ-d-IÄ am´n ih-sa-Sp¯v saUn¡Â tImf-Pp-IÄ¡p hn¡p-¶-Xmbn tI«n-«p−v. ]t£ Ccp-\qdp hÀjw ]g-¡-apÅ Cu PU-¯n-\p-ta F´p sN¿m-\mWv? Ipd¨v AØn-IÄ hÃXpw In«n-bm-embn. ]pcm-h-kvXp-aq-ey-hp-an-Ã, hnäm Imipw In«n-Ã. B Ipgn ]pXn-b-Xm-sW¶p \n\-¡p-d-¸mtWm?” “\qdp iX-am\w Dd-s¸m-¶p-an-Ã. Xq¼-bp-sSbpw ]nIv-þ-BIvkn-sâbpw ]mSp-IÄ hÃXpw Ah-ti-jn-¨n-cp-s¶¦n¯s¶ ag-bn FÃmw Hen-¨p-t]m-bn-cp-¶p. F¦n-epw...” kn±p-h-¦nÄ ho−pw \nÈ-_vZ-X-bn-te¡p aS-§n. HSp¡w, Xe Ipep-¡n-s¡m−p ]d-ªp. “tamt\ s^eq, CsXmcp ]mgv]-Wn-bm-sW-¶mWv F\n¡p tXm¶p-¶-Xv. \Ã

sam©pÅ tIskm-¶p-antà \n\¡v At\z-jn-¡m³. AXpsIm-−mtWm H¶p ]S-¨p-−m-¡n-sb-Sp-¡m³ ]b-äp-¶Xv?” s^eqZ Nncn¨p þ Np−p tIm«n-bpÅ {]i-kvX-amb B Nncn. ]t£ H¶pw ]d-ªn-Ã. kn±p-h-¦nÄ XpSÀ¶p: “tKmUvhn³ IpSpw-_-¯nse Bsc-¦nepw ChnsS Ah-tijn-¨n-cp-s¶-¦n IqSp-X hnhcw hÃXpw In«n-tb-t\. D−mIp-sa¶v F\n¡p henb {]Xo-£-bn-Ã. Cw¥o-jp-Im-cmcpw Xs¶ ChnsS XpS-cm³ an\-s¡-«nÃ; ss¢hnsâ Imew apX Cub-Sp-¯-Imew hsc Chn-sS-bp-−m-bn-cp¶ _mÀshÂ, ssSäveÀ apX-emb GXm\pw IpSpw-_-§-sfm-gnsI. s^eqZ Xpdp¸p ]pd-s¯-Sp-¯p. “tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ acW-tijw aq¶p Xe-ap-d-IÄ IqSn Abm-fpsS IpSpw_w ChnsS-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. A{Xbpw hnhcw F\n-¡-dn-bmw.” “Hm, AXp icn!” kn±p-h-¦nÄ AXn-i-bn-¨p. A¦n-fnsâ ASp¡-te¡p t]mIp-¶-Xn\p ap³]v A¶p cmhnse H¶c aWn¡qÀ R§Ä temhÀ kÀ¡p-eÀ tdmUn-epÅ asämcp skan-t¯-cn-bn Kth-j-W-¯n-em-bn-cp-¶p. AXv ]mÀ¡v kv{Soäv skan-t¯-cn¡p tijw \nÀ½n-¨-Xm-Wv. Ct¸mgpw D]tbm-Kn-¡p-¶-Xp-am-Wv. “R§Ä jmÀeäv tKmUvhnsâ ih-Ip-Socw I−p. AhÀ acn-¨Xv 1886 BWv. Adp-]-¯n-tb-gm-as¯ hb-ÊnÂ.” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. “Ah-fpsS t]cn tKmUvhn³ F¶p-X-s¶-bm-bn-cpt¶m D−m-bn-cp-¶-Xv. At¸m-g-hÀ hnhmlw Ign-¨n-cp-¶n-söp kmcw. \à H¶m-´cw Fgp-¯p-Im-cn-bm-bn-cp-¶p.” “jmÀe-än\p sXm«-Sp-¯p-Xs¶ ktlm-Z-c³ tUhn-Unsâ ih-Ip-So-cw. AbmÄ acn-¨Xv 1874 BWv.” s^eqZ t\m«v_p¡v FSp¯v Hcp enÌv X¸n-sb-Sp-¯p. “InZÀ¸q-cnse InUv B³Uv I¼-\n-bn slUv Akn-Ìâv Bbn-cp¶p AbmÄ. Abm-fpsS sXm«-Sp-¯mbn e^vä-\âv tIWÂ

B³{Uq tKmUvhn\pw `mcy F½-bpw. B³{Uq 1882epw Ah-cpsS aI³ NmÄkv 1920epw acn-¨p. NmÄkn-s\bpw sXm«-Sp-¯mWv AS-¡n-bn-cn-¡p-¶-Xv. Abm-sfmcp tUmIvS-dmbn-cp-¶p.” “sImÅmw. ^pÄ amÀ¡v” kn±p-h-¦nÄ {]km-Zn-¨p. “C\nbnt¸m Xnc-tb-−Xv B IpSpw-_-¯nse Bsc-¦nepw Ct¸mÄ I¡-«-bn Pohn-¡p-¶p-t−m-sb-¶m-Wv. sSent^m¬ Ub-d-IvS-dn-bn tKmUvhn³ F¶p t]cpÅ Bsc¦n-ep-apt−m?” “Hcm-fp-−v. Rm³ hnfn-¨p-t\m-¡n. ]t£ tXmakv tKmUvhn\p-ambn _Ô-sam-¶p-an-Ã.”

Abmġv

“Ipsd-¡qSn Npgnªp ]cn-tim-[n-¨p-t\m-¡q. Nne-t¸mÄ hà _Ôhpw It−-¡pw. AsX-§s\ Is−-¯m³ ]äp-sa¶v F\n¡v Hcp Dul-hp-an-Ã. ]t£ \n\¡v AXp Ign-ªm tXmakv tKmUvhn³ F¶ Cu ckn-I³ IYm-]m-{X-s¯-¡pdn¨v Iptd hnh-c-§Ä IqSn In«n-tb-¡pw. IÃ-d-am-´-ensâ IY-sbms¡ Akw-_-Ô-am-sW-¶mWv F\n¡p tXm¶p-¶-Xv. F´m-bm-epw, KpUv e¡v.”

\mev ho«n-se-¯n-¡-gnªpw D¨-hsc Rm³ ]nSn-¨p-\n-¶p. ]ns¶ F\n¡v AS-¡n-h-bv¡m-\m-bn-Ã. Rm³ s^eq-Z-tbmSp tNmZn¨p. “\tc³ _nizm-knsâ ]gvkn \n¶v Hcp IS-emkv In«nbntÃ? AXn-se´m Fgp-Xn-bn-cn-¡p-¶Xv?” _nizm-kns\ ]mÀ¡v tlmkv]n-ä-en AUvanäv sNbvXn-cn¡p-I-bm-sW¶v s^eqZ At\z-jn-¨-dn-ªn-cp-¶p. sshIpt¶cw Ahn-sS-t¸mbn Abmsf ImWm-sa¶pw ]gvkpw aäpw Xncn-sI-tb¸n-¡m-sa¶pw At±lw Xocp-am-\n-¨n-cp-¶p. Fsâ tNmZyw tI«-t¸mÄ At±lw t\m«v_p¡v Xpd¶v Fsâ t\tc \o«n. “CXnÂ\n¶v Fs´-¦nepw AÀ°w Is−-¯m-\m-bm t\m_ k½m\w In«n-tb-¡pw.” t\m«v_p-¡nse hc-bn« Xmfn Xmsg-¸-d-bp¶ hm¡p-IÄ Fgp-Xn-bn-cn-¡p-¶p. B/S 141 for WG Victoria & P.C. (44?)  Re Victoria’s letters try MN, OU, GAA, SJ, WN  t\m_ k½m\w ssIhn-«p-t]m-btÃm F¶v Rm³ hnNm-cn¨p. “CbmÄ¡v hnIvtSm-dnb cmÚn-sb¡p-dn¨v Fs´ms¡tbm XmÂ]-cy-§-fp-s−¶p tXm¶p¶p; ]t£ hnIvtSmdnb & ]n.-kn. F¶p-h-¨m F´m-sW¶v Duln-¡m³ ]äp¶n-Ã.” “]n.-kn. F¶m {]n³kv I¬tkmÀ«v F¶m-hpw. F¶p-h¨m BÂ_À«v cmP-Ip-am-c³.” “F¶mepw asäm¶pw ]nSn-In-«p-¶n-ÃtÃm” “A§s\ ]d-b-cp-Xv. t^mÀ, ss{S F¶o hm¡p-I-fpsS AÀ°hpw Adn-bm-a-tÃm.” At§À¡pw IqSp-X-sem¶pw ]nSn-In-«n-bn-«n-söv s^eq-ZbpsS aqUv I−m Adn-bm-am-bn-cp-¶p. DÅXp ]d-ªm kn±p-h-¦nÄ ]d-ª-XmWv Imcy-sa¶v F\n¡pw tXm¶n. Hcp-

]t£ s^eqZ cl-ky-§Ä I−p-]n-Sn-¡m³ Xnc-bp-¶Xv Hcp cl-kyhpw CÃm-¯n-S-¯m-bn-cn-¡mw. s]s«-¶mWv F\n¡v Fcn-ªp-sIm-−n-cp¶ knK-c-änsâ Imcyw HmÀ½ h¶-Xv. R§sf I−v HmSn-¡-f-ªXv Bcm-Wv? Imäpw agbpapÅ B kÔy-bn AbmÄ AhnsS F´p sN¿p-Ibm-bn-cp-¶n-cn¡pw? \mep aWn¡v emÂtam-l³ _m_p R§sf Iq«n ]mÀ¡v tlmkv]n-ä-en t]mIm-sa¶v Xocp-am-\n-¨n-cp-¶p. At±lw ka-b-¯p-Xs¶ F¯n. ssIbn Hcp amkn-I-bp-ap-−v. “Rm³ ]d-ªntÃ? CXm ‘hnNn-{X-]{X’bpsS tIm¸n. CXnep−v \tc³ _nizm-knsâ teJ-\w. kvamc-I-¯nsâ Nn{Xhp-ap-−v. hfsc tamiw A¨-Sn-bm-Wv.” “]t£ teJ-Isâ t]cv \tc-{µ-\mYv _nizmkv F¶m-Wv, \tc-{µ-tam-l³ F¶-Ã. CXp thsd BfmtWm?” “AÃ.” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. “F\n¡p tXm¶p-¶Xv hnkn-änwKv ImÀUn sXäp-]-än-b-Xm-Ip-sa-¶m-Wv. \ne-hmcw Ipdª GsX-¦nepw \mS³ {]kn-emIpw AXv A¨-Sn-¨-Xv. AhÀ F³.-F³. F¶-Xn\p ]Icw F³.-Fw. F¶v ASn-¨p-h-¨n-«p−m-Ipw. At§À {]q^v t\m¡m-s\m¶pw an\-s¡-«p-Im-WpI-bp-an-Ã. At±-l-¯nsâ ]gvkn \½Ä B ]{X I«nw-KpIÄ I−-Xm-W-tÃm. Ct¸m-gnXm Abm-fpsS teJ-\-hpw... CXp shdpw bmZr-Ýn-I-X-bmbn Fgp-Xn-¯-Ån-¡q-Sm.” s^eqZ B teJ\¯neqsS It®m-Sn-¨n«v amknI tai-¸pd¯p h¨p. “Abm-fpsS `mj sImÅmw. ]t£ ]d-ªn-cn¡p¶ Imcy-§-fn henb ]pXp-a-sbm-¶p-an-Ã. C\n-bnt¸m I−p-]n-Sn-t¡-−Xv Cu Fgp-¯p-Im-c³ Xs¶-bmtWm ]cpt¡äv Bip-]-{Xn-bn InS-¡p-¶Xv F¶m-Wv.” ]mÀ¡v tlmkv]n-ä-ense tUm. jnIvZ-dns\ _m_bv¡p ]cnN-b-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. At±lw H¶p-c−p XhW R§-fpsS ho«n h¶n-«p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. A§s\ At±-l-¯n\v s^eqZsb Adn-bm-am-bn-cp-¶p. s^eqZ ImÀUv sImSp-¯-b¨v

A©p an\n-än-\p-Ån R§sf tUm. jnIvZ-dpsS Hm^n-knte¡p hnfn-¨p. “F´m ChnsS? ]pXnb tIkv hÃ-Xp-amtWm?” s^eq-Zsb Adn-bm-hp-¶-h-scÃmw At±-ls¯ Fhn-sS-sb¦nepw h¨v A{]-Xo-£n-X-ambn I−m Cu tNmZy-amWv BZyw tNmZn-¡p-I. s^eqZ ]p©n-cn-¨p. “Rm³ Xm¦-fpsS tcmKn-I-fn-sem-cmÄ¡v \jvS-s¸-«p-t]mb Hcp km[\w Xncn-sI-tb¸n-¡m³ h¶Xm-Wv.” “Bcp-tS-XmWv?” “anÌÀ _nizm-kv. \tc³ _nizm-kv. an\n-bm-¶v...” “]t£ At±lw s]mbv¡-gn-ª-tÃm. Ht¶m ct−m aWn¡qtd Bbn-«p-Åq. ktlm-Z-c-\mWv Iq«n-s¡m-−p-t]m-Im³ Imdp-ambn h¶-Xv.” “AXp icn. ]t£ ]{X-§-fn-ep-−m-bn-cp-¶-Xv...” “F´m-bn-cp¶p ]{X-§-fnÂ? AbmÄ¡p Kpcp-X-c-amb ]cp¡m-sWt¶m? F´pw s]cp-¸n-¨p-Im-«pI ]{X-¡mÀ¡p ]Xnhm-Wv. hen-sbmcp acw tZl¯p hoWn-cp-s¶-¦n AbmÄ Pohn-¡pI t]mep-an-Ã-tÃm. Hcp inJ-c-amWv anÌÀ _nizmknsâ ta hoW-Xv. ]cp-¡n-s\-¡mÄ IqSp-X-embn tjm¡n\m-bn-cp-¶p At±-l-¯n\v NnInÂk th−Xv. heXp ssI¯-−bv¡p ]cp-¡p-−m-bn-cp-¶p; Xe-bn GXm\pw Xp¶n-s¡-«epw th−n-h-¶p. A{Xtb DÅq.” “Hcp Imcyw ]d-ªp-X-cm³ Ign-bptam? AXv ]gb I¡-«sb-¸än amkn-I-I-fn-sems¡ Fgp-Xp¶ \tc³ _nizmkv Xs¶-bmtWm?” “AtX. At±lw Xs¶.- AbmÄ B ka-b¯v skan-t¯-cnbn t]mbXv F´n-\m-sW-¶-dn-bm³ F-\n¡pw PnÚm-kbp-−m-bn-cp¶p. At¸m-gmWv ]gb I¡-«-sb-¸än \S-

¯p¶ Kth-j-W-¯nsâ Imcyw AbmÄ ]d-ª-Xv. \à hnj-b-amWv Is−-¯n-bn-cn-¡p-¶-sX¶v Rm³ ]d-bp-Ibpw sNbvXp. C¶s¯ I¡-«-bn \n¶v F{X AI¶p \n¡m³ Ign-bpt¶m A{Xbpw \Ã-Xv.” “At±-l-¯nsâ tXm¶n-bXv?”

]cp-¡p-IÄ

kzm`m-hn-I-am-sW-¶mtWm

“Ct¸m-gmWv Unä-IvSo-hnsâ tNmZyw shfn-bn h¶-Xv.” s^eq-Zbv¡v N½Â ad-¨p-h-bv¡m-\m-bn-Ã. “Rm³ Dt±-in-¨Xv... At±lw Xs¶ ]dtªm acw hoWmWv ]cp-¡p...” “hen-sbmcp ac-¯nsâ sIm¼v hoWn-cp-¶p-sh-¶Xv icnbtÃ? A¡m-cy-¯n kwi-b-sam-¶p-an-Ã. AbmÄ B ]cnk-c¯v D−m-bn-cp¶p Xm\pw. At¸m-¸ns¶ AXp tNmZyw sNt¿− Imcy-apt−m?” “kwi-b-I-c-ambn Fs´-¦nepw DÅ-Xmbn At±lw kqNn¸nt¨m?” “CÃ. H¶p-an-Ã. acw hogp-¶Xv At±lw ImWp-Ibpw AXnsâ i_vZw tIÄ¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp-sh¶v At±lw Xs¶ ]d-ªp... AXnsâ inJ-c-§Ä F{X {]tZ-it¯bv¡p ]SÀ¶mWv hogp-¶Xv Fs¶m¶pw AXn-\n-S-bn {i²n-¡m-\m-hn-Ã-tÃm. ]t£... Dwww, t_m[w sXf-ª-t¸mÄ At±lw ‘hnÂ’ F¶ hm¡v c−p-aq¶p XhW Dcp-hn-«n-cp¶p. F¶m ]n¶o-sSm-cn-¡epw AtX-¸än bmsXm¶pw ]dª-Xp-an-Ã.” “At±-l-¯nsâ apgp-h³ t]cv Adn-bmtam?” “AXv B ]{X-hmÀ¯-bn-ep-−m-bn-cp-¶-tÃm. \tc-{µ-\mYv _nizm-kv.”

“asäm-¶p-Iq-Sn. £an-¡-Ww. Rm³ Xm¦-fpsS Hcp-]mSv kabw A]-l-cn-¡p-¶p. At±lw F´p thj-amWv [cn-¨ncp-¶-sX¶v HmÀ½-bpt−m?” “XoÀ¨-bm-bpw. jÀ«pw ]mâvkpw. \ndw t]mepw F\n¡v HmÀ½-bp-−v. shÅ jÀ«pw _nkvIväv If-dpÅ ]mâvkpw. ¥mIvtkm _nkvI-ä-Ã, {Iow {Im¡-dnsâ IfÀ... l l l!” tUmIvSÀ jnIvZ-dnsâ ssIbn \n¶v _nizm-knsâ hnemkw IqSn kwL-Sn-¸n¨v R§Ä AhnSw hn«n-d-§n. _nizm-knsâ hoSv \yq Ben-¸q-cn-em-bn-cp-¶p. t\tc At§m«mWv R§Ä t]mb-Xv. AhnsS Hcp hoSv I−p-]n-Sn-¡m³ A{X Ffp-¸-sam-¶p-a-Ã. `mKy-h-im emÂtam-l³ _m_phnsâ ss{UhÀ¡v I¡-«-bpsS sXcp-hp-IÄ \¶mbn Adnbm-am-bn-cp-¶p. aq¶p an\n-än-tesd th−n-h-¶nà _nizmknsâ hoSp I−p-]n-Sn-¡m³. c−p \ne sI«n-S-am-bn-cp-¶p. Ccp-]Xp hÀj-t¯mfw ap³]p ]Wn-I-gn-¸n-¨-Xm-I-Ww. ap³h-is¯ tKän\p ]pd¯mbn Hcp Idp¯ Aw_m-k-UÀ ImÀ ]mÀ¡v sNbvXn-«p−v. hoSnsâ s\bnw-t¹-än c−p t]cp-IÄ: F³.-_n-izm-kv, Pn.-_n-izm-kv. R§Ä aWn-b-Sn-¨p. Hcp the-¡m-c³ hmXn Xpd-¶p. “\tc³ _nizmkv ho«n-ept−m?” “At±-lw kpJ-an-Ãm-Xn-cn-¡p-I-bm-Wv.” “At±lw kµÀi-Isc kzoI-cn-¡m³ XpS-§n-bn-«ntÃ? F\n¡v At±-ls¯ AXym-h-iy-ambn ImW-Ww. Hcp sNdnb...” “Bsc-bmWv ImtW-−Xv?” the-¡m-csâ ]n¶n {]Xy-£s¸« BfmWv tNmZn-¨-Xv. \m¸-¯-©n-t\m-S-Sp¯ {]mbw. ¢o³ tjhv sNbvX apJw. I®p-IÄ¡v Cfw Xhn«p \ndw. ss]-Pm-abpw _pjv jÀ«pw [cn¨v tate Hcp jmÄ ]pX-¨n-cn-¡p-¶p.

“\tc³ _nizm-knsâ ]gvkv Xncn-t¨Â¸n-¡m-\mWv Rm³ h¶-Xv. ]mÀ¡v kv{Soäv skan-t¯-cn-bn h¨v At±-l-¯n\p \jvS-s¸-«-Xm-W-Xv.” “AXp icn. Rm³ At±-l-¯nsâ ktlm-Z-c-\m-Wv. ht¶mfq. ZmZ InS-¡p-I-bm-Wv. _m³tU-Pp-IÄ Agn-¨n-«n-Ã. kwkmcn-¡m-s\ms¡ ]äpw. F¶mepw AXp-t]m-semcp A]-I-Sw... AXp hen-sbmcp tjm¡m-bnt¸mbn...!” apIÄ\n-e-bn-te-¡pÅ tKmh-Wn-¸n-S-IÄ¡p ]n¶n Hcp s_Uvdq-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. anÌÀ _nizmkv B apdn-bn-em-bncp¶p hn{i-aw. ktlm-Z-c-s\-¡mÄ Ccp− \nd-am-bn-cp¶p At±-l-¯n\v; I«n-ao-i-bp-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. Xe _m³tUPvsIm−p aqSn-bn-cn-¡p-¶p; F¦nepw B Xe Ij-−n-bmsW¶v Bcpw ]d-bmsX Xs¶ a\-Ên-em-¡mw. CS-Xp-ssI-bn ]nSn-¨n-cp¶ ]{Xw Xmgv¯n-¸n-Sn¨v Xe-Ip-\n¨v At±lw D]-Nmcw sNbvXp. heXp ssI¯-−-bnepw Hcp _m³tU-Pv, AXp-sIm−v c−p-ssIbpw tNÀ¯v \akvImcw ]d-bm³ \à _p²n-ap-«p-−m-Ipw. ktlm-Z-c³ apdnhn«p t]mbn. c−p Itk-c-IÄ IqSn sIm−p-h-cm³ AbmÄ the-¡m-c-t\mSv hnfn-¨p-]-d-bp-¶Xp tI«p. \tc³ _nizmknsâ apdn-bn Hä Itk-ctb D−m-bn-cp-¶p-Åq. AXv s_Ín \n¶v Gsd AI-se-b-ÃmsX Hcp sUkvIn-t\mSp tNÀ¯v C«n-cn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. s^eqZ _nizm-knsâ ]gvkv FSp¯v At±-l-¯n\p sImSp¯p. “Xm¦v bq, Xm¦v bq shcn a¨v. hÃm¯ _p²n-ap-«mbn AtÃ?” “tlbv, _p²n-ap-s«m-¶p-an-Ã. R§Ä bmZr-Ýn-I-ambn AhnsS-sb-¯n, Fsâbo kplr¯v AXp I−-¯n, At¸m-¸ns¶...” s^eqZ hn\-b-]qÀÆw ]d-ªp.

_nizmkv CS-XpssI sIm−v ]gvkv Xpd¶v AXnsâ Ad-Ifn HmSn-¨p-t\m-¡n. ]ns¶ s^eq-Z-bpsS t\À¡v BÝcyt¯msS t\m¡n. “bmZr-Ýn-I-am-bn... skan-t¯-cn-bntem?” s^eqZ Nncn-¨p. “Rm\pw AXp-Xs¶ tNmZn-¡m³ XpS-§p-Ibm-bn-cp-¶p, Xm¦-tfm-Sv. I¡-«-bpsS Ncn{Xw kw_Ôn¨ ]T-\-§Ä \S-¯p-¶p−v AtÃ?” _nizmkv s\Sp-hoÀ¸n«p: “D−m-bn-cp-¶p. F\n¡p th− in£bpw In«n. Kth-j-W-§Ä XpS-cp-¶Xv hmbp-`-K-hm³ CjvS-s¸-Sp-¶n-söp tXm¶p-¶p.” “ ‘hnNn-{X-]{X’bnse teJ-\w...?” “AtX, Rm³ Xs¶-bmWv Fgp-Xn-b-Xv. tamWypsaâns\ kw_-Ôn-¨p-Å-XtÃ? Fsâ teJ-\-§-fn-sem-¶mW-Xv. Rm³ aäp ]teS¯pw teJ-\-§Ä Fgp-Xm-dp-−v. Ignª hÀjw hsc F\n¡v DtZym-K-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. hncan¨ tijw Fs´-¦nepw sNbvXp-sIm-−n-cn-¡t−? Rms\mcp Ncn-{X-hn-ZymÀ°n-bm-bn-cp-¶p. B hnjbw F\n¡p henb CjvS-hp-am-bn-cp-¶p. tImf-Pn ]Tn-¡p¶ Ime¯v Hcn¡Â Rm³ _mKv _km-dn \n¶v UwUw hsc \S-¶p-t]m-bn-«p-−v. ss¢hnsâ hoSv Hcp-t\m¡p ImWm³. AXp I−n-«pt−m? ASp-¯-Imew hsc AXv Ahn-sS-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. _w¥mhv t]mse ]WnX Hcp hoSv. ap³`n-¯n-bn CuÌv C´ym I¼-\n-bpsS HutZym-Kn-I-ap{Z D−m-bn-cp-¶p. “{]kn-U³kn tImf-Pn-emtWm ]Tn-¨Xv?” UkvIn\p t\tc apI-fn-embn `n¯n-bn Hcp {Kq¸v t^mt«m D−m-bn-cp-¶p. ‘{]kn-U³kn tImfPv Bepw\n Atkm-kntb-j³, 1953’ F¶v AXn Fgp-Xn-bn-cp-¶p.” “Rm³ am{X-a-Ã, Fsâ aI³, Fsâ ktlm-Z-c³, Aѳ, ap¯-ѳ FÃm-hcpw {]kn-U³kn-bn-emWv ]Tn-¨-Xv.

AsXmcp IpSpw_ ]mc-¼-cy-am-Wv. R§Ä c−p-t]cpw þ Rm\pw Kncn\pw tKmÄUv saU t\Sn-b-h-cmWv F¶Xp ]d-bm³ Cs¶-\n¡p \mW-am-Ip-¶p.” “AXn \mWn-¡m-s\-´n-cn-¡p¶p?” “AXp-sIm−v R§Ä Fhn-sSbpw F¯n-bn-Ã-tÃm. Pohn-X¯n R§Ä F´p t\Sn? Rms\mcp DtZym-K-Ø-\m-bn. Kncn³ _nkn-\kv t\m¡n-\-S-¯p-¶p. A{X Xs¶. R§sf Bcpw Adn-bp-¶n-Ã. R§-fpsS t]cv BÄ¡mÀ¡v Hcp ]cnN-b-hp-an-Ã.” s^eqZ ASp-¯p-sN¶v B t^mt«m \nco-£n-¡p-¶p-−m-bncp-¶p. ]ns¶ B t\m«w Ahn-Sps¯ sUkvInte¡p ]mªp. AhnsS Hcp \oe t\m«v_p¡v Xpd-¶p-In-S¡p-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. GXm−v ]¯p-hcn Fgp-Xn-bn-«p-−v. A{X-am-{Xw. “Xm¦-fpsS t]cv \tc{µ\mYv F¶mtWm AtXm \tc-{µ-taml³ F¶mtWm? tNmZn-¡p-¶Xv £an-¡-Ww.” _nizmkv asät´m Imcy-¯n {i²n-¨n-cn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. c−mw-h«w tNmZn-¨nt« At±lw tI«p-Åq. Hcp ]p©n-cnbpw A¸w BÝ-cyhpw At±-l-¯nsâ apJ¯p sXfn-ªp. “Rm\-dn-bp-¶n-S-t¯mfw \tc-{µ-\mYv F¶p-X-s¶-bm-Wv. t]cn kwibw tXm¶m³am{Xw F´p-−mbn?” “hnkn-änwKv ImÀUn I−Xv F³.-Fw.-_n-izmkv F¶m-Wv.” “Hm, AXv. AXv A¨-Sn-¸n-im-Nm-Wv. ImÀUv BÀs¡-¦nepw sImSp-¡p-t¼mÄ Rm\Xp Xncp-¯m-dp-−v. Fw. sh«n F³. Fs¶-gp-Xpw. ]pXnb ImÀUv ASn-¡m³ henb _p²n-ap-s«m¶p-an-Ã, ]t£ Ft´m CXp-hsc \S-¶n-Ã. DÅ-Xp-]-dªm F\n¡v ImÀUnsâ Bh-iy-ta-bn-Ã. Ipds¨®w ]gvkn sIm−p-\-S-¡p-¶Xv F´n-\m-sW-¶p-h-¨m ASp-¯n-sS-bmbn ayqkn-b-§fpw aäpw kµÀin-¡p-¶-Xn-\m Ahn-Sps¯ Hm^n-kÀamÀ¡p sImSp-t¡-−n-h-cpw. AXn\nsS tNmZn-¡-s«, Xm¦Ä B ]gb skan-t¯-cn-sb-¡p-dn¨v

Fgp-Xm-s\m¶pw t]mIp-¶n-ÃtÃm AtÃ? Xm¦-sf-t¸m-epÅ sNdp-¸-¡m-tcmSp aÂk-cn-¨p-\n¡m³ F\n-¡m-hn-Ã.” “Rm³ Fgp-Xm-dn-Ã.” t]mIm-s\-gp-t¶-äp-sIm−v s^eqZ ]dªp. “F\n¡v Imcy-§Ä ]Tn-¡m³ henb CjvS-am-Wv, A{X-am-{Xw. CSbv¡v Hcp A`yÀ°-\. Kth-j-W-¯n-\nSbv¡v tKmUvhn³ IpSpw-_-s¯-¡p-dn¨v Fs´-¦nepw hnh-c§Ä In«n-bm Fs¶ Adn-bn-¡ptam? henb klm-b-am-bncn-¡pw.” “tKmUvhn³?” “Dw. tXmakv tKmUvhns\ AS-¡n-bn-cn-¡p-¶Xv ]mÀ¡v kv{Soäv skan-t¯-cn-bn-em-Wv. \n§sf A]m-b-s¸-Sp¯n B hr£-in-Jcw tKmUvhnsâ ih-Ip-So-chpw XIÀ¯mWv hoW-Xv.” “t\cmbpw?” “tKmUvhn³ IpSpw-_-¯nse thsd A©p t]sc temhÀ kÀ¡p-eÀ tdmUnse skan-t¯-cn-bnepw AS-¡n-bn-«p−v.” “AXp sImÅmw. ]pXnb hnh-c-sa-s´-¦nepw In«n-bm XoÀ¨-bmbpw Adn-bn-¡mw. ]t£ AXn\v Xm¦-fpsS A{Ukv In«-Ww.” s^eqZ At±-l-¯n\v Hcp ImÀUv sImSp-¯p. “ss{]häv C³sh-Ìn-tK-äÀ! AXmtWm Xm¦-fpsS tPmen?” _nizmkv H¶p sR«n-b-Xp-t]mse tXm¶n. “Dw.” “I¡-«-bn ss{]häv Unä-IvSo-hp-amÀ Ds−¶p tI«n-cp-¶p. Hcmsf t\cn«p ImWp-¶Xv BZy-am-bm-Wv.”

A©v “hnIvtSm-dn-b-sb-¸än F´m At±-l-t¯mSv tNmZn-¡m-Xn-cp¶Xv?” Nucw-Kn-bn-te¡p aS-§p-t¼mÄ Rm³ s^eq-Z-tbmSp tNmZn-¨p. R§Ä emÂtam-l³ _m_p-hnsâ Imdn-emWv bm{X; »q t^mIvkn sIm−p-t]mbn Nmbbpw km³Uvhn¨pw hm§n¯t¶ AS§q F¶ hmin-bn-emWv At±-lw. B dÌdânse kµÀi\w Imcy-§-sfÃmw amän-a-dn-¡p-sa¶v Bcdnªp? s^eq-Z-bpsS adp-]-Sn: “Rm³ ]gvknse IS-em-kp-I-sfms¡ Xpd-¶p-t\m-¡n-sb-¶-dn-bp-¶Xv _nizm-kn\v A{X kt´m-jI-c-am-hn-Ã. clky tImUp-Itfm \mS-Iob cl-ky-§tfm H¶pw Xs¶ D−m-hn-sÃ-¦nepw kzImcy Bh-iy-¯n-\pth−n Ipdn¨ Npcp-s¡-gp-¯p-I-fmWv Ah. Ipd-ª-]£w aämcpw AXp ImW-cp-sX-s¶-¦nepw At±l¯n\p Dt±-iy-ap−m-bn-cp-¶n-cn-¡pw.” “AXp icn-bm-Wv.” emÂtam-l³_m_p A¸w Akz-Ø-\m-bn-cp-¶p. s^eqZ AXp {i²n-¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp. “F´p-]än, I®p-I-fn Cu A\m-kàn?” “Rm³ ]peIv tLmjn\p th−n \sÃmcp t¹m«v Btem-Nn¨p-h-¨n-cp-¶-Xm-Wv. AXpw Kw`oc hnPbw BtI-−-XmWv þ C¶v Abm-sf-gp-Xn-bn-cn-¡p¶p lnµn kn\n-a-bn Ct¸mÄ {XnÃpw ss^äpw H¶p-aà th−-sX¶v; Ct¸mÄ FÃmhÀ¡pw th−Xv `ànbpw ssZh-§-fp-am-W-s{X. ‘Pbv kt´mjn am’bpsS hnP-b-¯n\p tij-amWv Cu ]pXnb s{S³Uv. Ht¶mÀ¯p-t\m¡q!” “]ns¶´m? F´m {]iv\w? Xm¦Ä¡v ssZh§fpw aX§fpw `ànbpw H¶pw Xosc ]Yy-a-sÃ-¶pt−m?”

AXn-s\mcp adp-]-Sn-bpsS Bh-iy-ap-s−¶v emÂtam-l³ _m_p-hn\v tXm¶n-bn-Ãm-bn-cn-¡pw. At±lw H¶pw ]d-ªnÃ. ‘\cIw’ F¶p ]pe-¼n-bn«v \nÈ-_vZ-X-bn-te¡p hgp-Xn-hoWp. AXp ]peIv tLmj-ensâ I¯n-s\-¡p-dn-¨-Ãm-bn-cp¶p; R§-fpsS CS-Xp-`m-K-¯mbn I− ImgvN-bm-bn-cp¶p AXn\p {]tIm-]-\w. _nÀfm ¹m\-tä-dnbw IS¶v ImÀ NucwKn-bn {]th-in-¨n-cp-¶p. ssaXm-\s¯ ad-¨p-sIm−v Hcp henb a¬Iq-\. `qKÀ` sdbn-ens\ ‘\cI sdbnÂ’ F¶mWv Cubn-sS-bmbn emÂtam-l³_m_p hnti-jn-¸n¡p-¶-Xv. ImÀ H¶n-\p-]n-¶mse H¶mbn K«-dp-I-fn NmSn-s¡m-−n-cp¶p. Hmtcm Nm«-¯nepw emÂtam-l³_m_p sR«p-¶p-−mbn-cp-¶p. “\n§Ä Icp-Xp-¶{X tami-sam-¶p-aà Fsâ Imdnsâ kv{]n§p-IÄ. K«-dp-I-sfm-¶p-an-Ãm¯ sdUv tdmUn Ib-dp-t¼mÄ \n§Ä¡p a\-Ên-emIpw Cu IpSp¡-sam¶pw Fsâ Imdnsâ Ipg-¸-a-sÃ-¶v.” “AsÃ-¦nepw R§Ä¡p ]cm-Xn-sbm¶pw CÃ. Ipd-ª]£w IÃp-]m-Inb tdmsU-¦nepw D−-tÃm. Ccp-\qdp hÀjw ap³]v Ch-sbÃmw \m«n³]p-d-h-gn-I-fm-bn-cp-¶p. Hscm-äsb®w IÃp-]m-In-bn-cp-¶n-Ã. k¦Â¸n-¡m³ Ign-bptam?” “A¶v tdmUp-I-fn HmSm³ Aw_m-k-U-dp-IÄ CÃm-bn-cp¶p. tdmUp-I-fn C{X Xnc-¡p-an-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p.” “icn-bm-Wv. tdmUn A{X-b-[nIw Bfp-I-sfm¶pw CÃm-bncp-¶p. [mcm-f-ambn D−m-bn-cp-¶Xv ihw-Xo-\n-¸-£n-I-fm-bn-cp¶p.” “ihw-Xo-\n-¸-£n-Itfm?” “AtX. C¶p Im¡bpw Ipcp-hnbpw ImW-s¸-Sp-¶-Xp-t]mse kÀÆ-km-[m-c-W-am-bn-cp¶p A¶v Ah. \mep-\m-ec ASn Db-c-apÅ henb ]£n-I-fm-bn-cp¶p Ah. sXcp-hn ImWp¶ kÀÆ amen-\y-§fpw Ah sIm¯n-s¸-dp-¡n. KwK-

bn-sem-gp-Ip¶ Hcp ihw I−m AXn Ib-dn- \Zn-bnsemcp kuP-\y-bm-{X-tbm-sS-bm-bn-cn¡pw `£-Ww.” “AXp `b-¦-cw. BsI-¡qSn h\y-Xbpw Im«m-f-¯-hp-am-bn-cp¶n-cn-¡p-atÃm A¶v.” “]t£, B Im«p-]-£n-IÄ sskzcw hnl-cn-¨n-cp¶ AtX \K-c-¯n Xs¶-bm-bn-cp¶p KhÀWÀ P\-d-ensâ `h\pw skâv tPm¬kv tZhm-e-bhpw ]mÀ¡v kv{Soäv skan-t¯cnbpw Xob-äÀ tdmUnse Xob-ä-dp-Ifpw {_n«o-jp-Im-cpsS aäv A\-h[n sI«n-S-§fpw ØnXn sNbvXn-cp-¶-Xv. ‘sshäv Su¬’ F¶m-bn-cp¶p B {]tZiw Adn-b-s¸-«n-cp-¶-Xv. \m«pIm-cmb C´y-¡msc B {]tZ-i¯v Xma-kn-¡m³ A\p-h-Zn¨n-cp-¶n-Ã. D¯c I¡« Adn-b-s¸-«n-cp-¶Xv ‘»m¡v Su¬’ F¶m-bn-cp-¶p.” “Fsâ tNmc Xnf-bv¡p¶p CsXms¡ tI«n-«v.” emÂtaml³_m_p ]d-ªp. ]mÀ¡v kv{Soän IS-¶-bp-Ss\ »q t^mIvkn-se-¯pw-ap³]v s^eqZ ss{Uh-tdmSv h−n \nÀ¯m³ ]d-ªp. “F\n¡v B _pIvtjm¸n Hcp Imcyw t\m¡m-\p-−v.” emÂtam-l³_m_p-hnsâ ]pkvX-I-§Ä HmIvkv^Uv _p¡v I¼\n hnän-cp-¶nÃ; AXn-\m At±-l-¯n\v AhtcmSv XmÂ]-cy-an-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. ‘tImfPv kv{Soänse _pIvtjm¸p-Ifpw _men-K-RvPnse »m¡v _pIvtjm¸pw \oWmÄ hmgs«’ F¶v At±lw R§-tfmSp ]d-bm-dp-−mbn-cp-¶p. s^eqZ IS-bn Ibdn sjÂ^p-I-fn BsI H¶p t\m¡nb tijw Iu−-dn sN¶p \n¶p. Nph¸pw \oebpw t\m«v_p-¡p-IÄ, ^b-ep-IÄ, Ub-dn-IÄ, Ipdn-¸p]p-kvX-I-§Ä þ A§s\ [mcmfw km[-\-§Ä AhnsS ASp-¡n-h-¨n-cp-¶p. s^eqZ Hcp \oe t\m«v_p¡v FSp¯v hne t\m¡n. 12.50 cq]. AtX-t]m-se-bpÅ Hcp t\m«v_p¡v \tc³ _nizm-knsâ tai-bn R§Ä I−n-cp-¶p.

“F´p klm-b-amWv kÀ th−Xv” IS-bnse tPmen-¡m-c³ IS-¶p-h-¶p. “hnIvtSm-dnb cmÚn-bpsS Dt−m?” s^eqZ tNmZn-¨p.

I¯p-I-fpsS

IfIvj³

“hnIvtSmdnb cmÚn-bpsS? Cà kÀ. ]»n-j-dpsS t]cp ]dbp-I-bm-sW-¦n R§Ä F¯n-¨p-X-cmw. amIvan-Ãt\m HmIvkv^Uv bqWn-th-gvkn-äntbm BsW-¦n Ah-cpsS I¡« Hm^n-kn¯s¶ At\z-jn-¡mw.” Hcp \nanjw Btem-Nn-¨n«v s^eqZ ]dªp: “icn, Rm³ ]ns¶ h¶p-sIm-Åmw.” R§Ä ]pd-¯n-d-§n. ImÀ »q t^mIvkn\p ap³]n ]mÀ¡v sNbvXn-cp-¶p. R§Ä dtÌm-dân-te¡p \S-¶p. “\n¡q” t]m¡-än \n¶v Xsâ t\m«v_p¡v hen-s¨-Sp¯p-sIm−v s^eqZ ]d-ªp, “Cu BÄ¡q-«-¯n¡qSn \S-¶p-sIm−v hmbn-¡m³ ]än-Ã.” GXm\pw \nan-j-§Ä¡p tijw t\m«v_p¡v AS-¨p-h¨v At±lw \S¯w XpSÀ¶p. “Fs´-¦nepw Is−-¯ntbm?” Rm³ tNmZn-¨p. “BZyw \ap¡v DÅn IS¶v kzØ-ambn Hcn-S-¯n-cn¡mw” Ccp-¶p-I-gn-ª-t¸mÄ emÂtam-l³_m_p Xm³ F´psIm−v B dtÌm-dâv Xs¶ Xnc-sª-Sp¯p F¶p hni-ZoI-cn-¨p. ‘»q t^mIvkv’ F¶ t]cv CjvS-s¸-«-Xp-sIm−p am{X-am-Ws{X At±lw AhnsS t]mIm³ Xocp-am-\n-¨-Xv. AhnsS AXn\p ap³]p h¶n-t«-bnÃ; ]mÀ¡v kv{Soän Hcp tlm«-enepw CXp-hsc `£Ww Ign-¨n-«n-Ã-s{X. “Rm³ Xmakn-¡p-¶Xv tKmÀ]m-dnÂ. Fsâ ]»n-jÀam-scÃmw tImfPv

kv{SoänÂ. ]ns¶ Cu `mK¯p hcm\pw `£Ww Ign¡m\pw F\n¡v Ah-k-c-ap-−m-In-Ã-tÃm.” Nmbbpw km³Uvhn¨pw HmÀUÀ sNbvXp Ign-ª-t¸mÄ s^eqZ t\m«v_p-s¡-Sp¯v tai-¸p-d-¯p-h-¨p. AXp Xpd-¡p¶-Xn-\nsS At±lw ]dªp: “BZys¯ hcn Ct¸mgpw Fs¶ Ipg-¡p-¶p. GXm-bmepw c−m-as¯ hcn-bpsS Ipcp¡-gn-¡m³ Ign-sª-¶mWv Rm³ hniz-kn-¡p-¶-Xv. Cu A£-c-§-sfÃmw t^mdn³ ]»n-jÀam-cpsS t]cp-I-fpsS Npcp-s¡-gp-¯m-Wv.” “GXv A£-c-§Ä?” “Fw.-Fw., H.-bp., Pn.-F.-bp., Fkv.-sP., U»p.-F³. F¶nh bYm-{Iaw amIvan-ó, HmIvkv^Uv bqWn-th-gvknän {]kv, tPmÀPv Ae³ B³Uv A¬hn³, knUvPvhn¡v B³Uv PmIvk¬, sshU³s^ÂUv B³Uv \nt¡mÄk¬ F¶o {]km-[-I-cm-Wv.” “Cuizcm! C{Xbpw hntZ-i-\m-a-§Ä Hcn-¡Ât¸mepw X«n¯-S-bmsX ]d-sªm-¸n-¡m³ \n\¡p Ign-ª-tÃm. \nsâ \mhns\ ssZhw Im¡-s«.” emÂtam-l³_m_p ]d-ªp. “Imcyw hfsc hyà-am-Wv. hnIvtSm-dnbm cmÚn-bpsS I¯p-IÄ kam-l-cn¨ {KÙ-a-t\z-jn¨v ChÀs¡ms¡ FgpXm³ XpS-§p-I-bm-bn-cp¶p anÌÀ _nizmkv; Hcp-]t£ FgpXn-¡-gn-ªn-cn-¡mw. ]t£ C{X-sbm¶pw IjvS-s¸-tS− Imcy-an-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. t\tc {_n«ojv Iu¬kn-entem \mj\ sse{_-dn-bntem sN¶p tNmZn-¨m aXn-bm-bn-cp-¶p. Ipsd I¯p-I-sf-¦nepw At¸mįs¶ ssIbn In«n-tbs\.” s^eqZ t\m«v_p¡v aS-¡n-h¨v km³Uvhn¨v ]m{X§Ä¡p tai-bn Øe-sam-cp-¡n. ]ns¶ Hcp NmÀan-\mÀ I¯n-¨p. emÂtam-l³_m_p hnc-ep-IÄsIm−p Xmfw-]n-Sn¨v Hcp ]mÝmXy CuWw aqfm³ XpS-§n. \ap¡v ]pd-s¯-hnsS-sb-¦nepw t]mImw. F¶p-h-¨m ]«-W-¯nÂ\n¶p ]pd-

¯v. Hmtcm XhW \½Ä A§s\ t]mbn-«p-Å-t¸mgpw \n\¡v \sÃmcp tIkv In«n-bn-«p−v; F\n¡v \sÃmcp t¹m«pw. ]t£ Ct¸m Fhn-sS-bmWv t]mIpI? h\y-X-\ndª ]cp-¡³ Øe-§Ä thWw. ka-X-e-§-fn-se-hn-sSbpw th− þ ]¨¸pw \\hpw Ae-k-Xbpw im´-Xbpw DÅ Øe-§-sfm¶pw th−. \ap¡p th−-Xv…” km³Uvhn¨v F¯n-b-Xp-sIm−v emÂtam-l³_m_p ]dªp-]qÀ¯n-bm-¡m³ \n¡msX `£-W-¯n-te¡p IS-¶p. FÃm-hÀ¡pw \à hni-¸p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. emÂtam-l³_m_p hen-sbmsc km³Uvhn¨n hep-Xmbn ISn-¨n«v aq¶p-X-hW Nh-¨p, s]s«¶p \nÀ¯n. At±-l-¯nsâ I®p-IÄ hep-XmIp-¶Xp Rm³ {i²n¨p; At±lw a{´n¨p: “ssZh-¯n\p kvXpXn, ssZh-¯n\p kvXpXn-bm-bn-cn-¡-s«.” At±-l-¯nsâ hmbnÂ\n¶v sdm«n-bpsS Ij-W-§Ä s]mSnªv tai-¸pd¯p hoWp. F´mWv kw`-hn-¨-sXt¶m? Rm\pw s^eq-Zbpw ]pd¯v sXcp-hn-te¡p t\m¡n-bn-cn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p; emÂtaml³_m_p dtÌm-dân-\p-Ån-te¡p Xncn-ªpw. Gähpw ]n¶n-embn Xmgv¶ Hcp ¹mävt^mw D−m-bn-cp-¶p. kmbm-Ó-§-fn ssehv _m³Unsâ kwKo-X-]-cn-]m-Sn-IÄ \S-¡m-dp-s−¶p hyàw. ¹mävt^m-an-ep-−m-bn-cp¶ ssk³ t_mÀUv BWv emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hns\ A¼-c-¸n-¨-Xv. AXn _m³Unsâ t]cp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. AXn\p Xmsg ‘Kn¯mÀ þ {Inkv tKmUvhn³’ F¶pw Fgp-Xn-bn-cp-¶p. s^eqZ hnc sRmSn¨v Hcp shbväsd hnfn-¨p. “C¶p cm{Xn kwKo-X-]-cn-]mSn Dt−m?” “DÆv kÀ.” “F\n¡p \n§-fpsS amt\-P-tcmSv H¶p kwkm-cn-¡m³ Ignbptam?” {Inkv tKmUvhnsâ A{Ukv kwL-Sn-¸n-¡pI F¶-Xm-bncp¶p At±-l-¯nsâ Dt±-iyw. AXn\v At±lw Hcp IY

Na-¨p-I-gn-ªn-cp-¶p. amt\-PÀ h¶p. s^eqZ ]dªp:

R§-fpsS

ASp-t¯¡p

“_men-KRvPv ]mÀ¡n a³kp-Jm-\n-bpsS ho«n Hcp hnhmlap−v. AhÀ \sÃmcp _m³Uv kwLs¯ Xnc-bp-Ibm-Wv. \n§-fpsS dtÌm-dânse _m³Un-s\-¸än Rm³ [mcmfw tI«n-«p-−v. A-hÀ hnhm-l-¨S-§p-IÄ¡pw aäpw ]mSm³ X¿m-dm-Iptam? Xm¦Ä¡-dn-bmtam?” “XoÀ¨-bm-bpw. AXmWv Ah-cpsS {][m\ hcp-am-\w.” “{Inkv tKmUvhn³ Atà _m³Uv \bn-¡p-¶Xv? F\n¡v At±-l-¯nsâ A{Ukv Xcmtam?” amt\-PÀ hnemkw Hcp Xp−p-I-S-em-kn-se-gpXn s^eqZbv¡p \ÂIn. 14/1 dn¸¬ sebv³. atä-sXmcp Znh-k-am-bn-cp-s¶-¦nepw R§Ä [mcmfw ka-bsa-Sp¯p `£Ww Ign¨v C¯ncn t\cw hÀ¯-am-\hpw ]dªn-cp-¶-Xn\p tijta ]pd-¯n-d-§p-am-bn-cp-¶p-Åq. C¶v FÃmw thKw Ign-ªp. s^eqZ Hä km³Uvhnt¨ Ign-¨pÅq. hni¸p t]mbn F¶mWv At±lw ]d-ª-Xv. emÂtaml³_m_p AXn-io{Lw A[zm-\n-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. kz´w ]m{X-¯nse aqs¶®w IqSmsX s^eqZ _m¡n-h¨ c−pw-IqSn At±lw AI-¯m-¡n. “]Ww sImSp¯p hm§p¶Xv; \à `£-W-hpw. F´n\m shdptX If-bp-¶Xv?” At±lw ]d-ªp. dn¸¬ sebv³ 14/1sâ ASp-s¯-¯p-t´mdpw Fsâ lrZ-ban-Sn¸p IqSn-h-¶p. kmZ¯v Aen-bpsS sIm«m-c-¯nse BÀ`m-S-¯nsâ IY-I-sfm¶pw ad-¡m³ F\n¡p Ign-ªn-Ã. dn¸¬ sebv\nse hoSnsâ ]pdw-ImgvN XnI¨pw A\m-IÀjIhpw hr¯n-lo-\-hp-am-bn-cp-¶p. c−pw X½n-epÅ A´cw `oI-c-am-bn-t¯m-¶n. AÛp-X-s¸-tS− Imcy-sam-¶p-an-söv s^eqZ ]d-ªp. k¼¯pw {]Xm-]hpw [mcm-f-apÅ GXp IpSpw-_hpw \me©v Xe-ap-d-IÄ sIm−v sImSpw-Zm-cn-{Zy-¯nte¡p Iq¸p-Ip-¯mw. Ah-cpsS Zpcn-X-§Ä¡v Hc-dp-Xn-bp-ap−m-In-Ã. B sXcp-hnse hoSp-I-sfm¶pw A{X sNdp-Xm-bn-cp-

¶n-Ã. aq¶pw \mepw \ne-I-fp−v FÃm-¯n-\pw. ]t£ AXnsem-¶nÂt¸mepw IS-¶p-sN-Ãm³ F\n¡p tXm¶n-bn-Ã. FÃmw t{]X-_m-[-bp-Å-h-bm-sW¶v Hä-t\m-«-¯n a\-Ênem-Ip-sa¶v emÂtam-l³_m_p ]d-ªp. tNmZn¨v hoSv AXp-X-s¶-bm-sW¶v Dd-¸n-¡m³ 14/1sâ hmXn¡se apdp¡m³IS-¡m-c-t\mSv tNmZn-¡m-sa¶v s^eqZ Xocp-am-\n-¨p. “tKmUvhn³ Fs¶m-cm-fmtWm ChnsS Xma-kn-¡p-¶Xv?” “KpUn³ kmln_v? GXv? ]m«p-]m-Sp-¶-bmtfm?” “AtX, At±-l-a-ÃmsX thsd-bm-cm-Wp-ÅXv?” “Imc-W-h-cp-−v. amÀInkv kmln-_v. amÀInkv KqUn³.” “GXp \ne-bn-emWv AhÀ?” “c−m-a-s¯. aq¶m-a-t¯-Xn AÀ¡nkv kmln_v D−v.” “AÀ¡nkpw amÀIn-kpw. ktlm-Z-c-·m-cmtWm emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hn\v PnÚm-k-bm-bn.

AhÀ?”

“Aà kÀ. AÀ¡nkv kmln_v F¶p-h-¨m AÀ¡nkv kmln-_v. amÀInkv kmln_v F¶p-h-¨m amÀInkv KqUn³… c−m-as¯ \ne-bn sN¶m aXn. At±-ls¯ ImWmw.” AÀ¡n-kv-þ-amÀInkv kw`m-jWw Ah-km-\n-¸n¨v s^eqZ apI-fn-te¡p \S-¶p. R§Ä ]n¶m-se-bpw. F\n¡p sXän-bn-Ã. sI«n-S-¯nsâ DÄh-ihpw ]pdw-t]m-seX-s¶. Pq¬am-k-am-b-Xn-\m sshIp-t¶cw Bd-c-bmbn«pw ]pd¯p \à shfn-¨ap−v; ]t£ tKmh-Wn-¸-Sn-bpsS Nph-«n Ipäm-¡p-än-cp-«v. s^eqZ \nÝ-b-ZmÀVy-t¯msS ]SnI-b-dm³ XpS-§n. At±-l-¯n\v Hcp {]tXyI Ign-hp-−vþ Ccp-«nepw I®pImWmw, km[m-c-W-¡m-sc-¡m-sfÃmw \¶mbn ImWm³ Ign-bpw. ssIh-cn-bn ]nSn¨v X¸n-¯SªmWv emÂtam-l³_m-_phnsâ Ib-äw. At±lw ]ndp]n-dp-¡p-¶p-−m-bn-cp¶p: “]q¨-bpsS ImgvN-bpÅ IÅ-·m-sc-

¸än tI«n-«p−v; A§-s\-sbmcp Unä-IvSo-hns\ ImWp-¶Xv BZy-am-Wv.” c−mw\ne-bn \ndª im´-X-bm-bn-cp-¶p. BsI-bpÅ i_vZw, AXpw t\À¯-Xv, kwKo-X-am-bn-cp¶p; tdUn-tbmbnÂ\nt¶m atäm hcp-¶-Xv. ]Sn-IÄ Ah-km-\n-¡p-¶n-S-¯pXs¶ Hcp hmXnepw AXn\p ]n¶n _m¡-Wn-bpw D−mbn-cp-¶p. B hmXn-en-eqsS Ipd¨v ]IÂsh-fn¨w DÅn IS¡p-¶p-−v. samsskIv ]mInb Xd-bnse Nn{X-§Ä B shfn-¨-¯n ImWmw. R§-fpsS CS-Xp-`m-K¯v Hcp apdn-bp−v. ]t£ AXv iq\y-am-bn-cp¶p; DÅn Iqcn-cp«v am{Xw. AXn-\p-a-¸p-d-¯pÅ apdn-bn sseäv Hm¬ sNbvXn-«p-−v. AXnsâ shfn¨w hmXn¸-Snbpw IS¶v CS-\m-gn-bn-se-¯p¶p-−v. shfn¨w h¶p-ho-gp-¶n-S¯v Hcp Idp¯ ]q¨ Npcp−p-IqSn R§sf¯s¶ t\m¡n-s¡m−v Ccn-¡p-¶p. Xebv¡p apI-fn aq¶mw \ne-bnÂ\n¶v Hcp a\p-jysâ i_vZw tI«p. ]ns¶ s\©p-]-dªn Btcm Npa-bv¡p-¶-Xpt]mse tXm¶n. “\ap¡p t]mImw. CXp dn¸¬ sebv\nsâ skan-t¯-cn-bmWv.” emÂtam-l³_m_p Xnc-¡p-Iq-«n. s^eqZ c−m-as¯ apdn-bpsS hmXn¡-tebv¡p sN¶p. “Bsc-¦n-ep-apt−m AI¯v?” \nÈ-_vZX am{X-am-bn-cp¶p AÂ]-k-a-b-t¯-¡v. ]ns¶ Hcp i_vZw: “Bcm AXv?” F´p ]d-b-W-sa-¶m-tem-Nn¨v s^eqZ AÂ]-k-a-b-sa-Sp-¯p. A£-a-tbmsS B i_vZw ho−pw: “AI-t¯bv¡p hm. F\n-¡n-hn-Sp¶v Cd-§m³ h¿.” “\o AI-t¯bv¡p t]mIp-I-bmtWm? \ap¡p Xncn-¨p-t]mbmtem?” emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hnsâ tNmZyw Ah-K-Wn-¨p-sIm−v s^eqZ AI-t¯¡p \S-¶p. Kcp-U-\mWv At±-lw. R§Ä hm am{Xw. At±lw ap³t] \S-¶p, CSw-hew sh«n-¨psIm-−v.

“IS-¶p-hcq” B i_vZw I¸n-¨p.

Bdv R§Ä aq¶p-t]cpw AI-t¯¡p IS-¶p. icm-icn hep-¸-apÅ-Xm-bn-cp¶p B enhnwKv dqw. hmXn-en\p t\tc FXnÀhi¯v Hcp ]gb tkm^. aq¶p-\m-en-S¯v Iodn IbÀ ]pdt¯¡p XÅn-\n¸p-−v. tkm^-bpsS ap³]n-embn amÀ_nÄ ]e-I-bpÅ Hcp tai. ]−p-]-s−mcp Ime-s¯¦nepw AXp I−m amÀ_n-fm-sW¶p tXm¶p-am-bn-cp-¶p. R§-fpsS CS-Xp-`m-K¯v ]pcm-X-\am-sbmcp _pIv sIbvkv, AXn-\p-Ån ]Xn-\-t©mfw ]pcm-X\ {K-Ù-§Ä. sIbvkn\p apI-fn {_mkv sIm−pÅ ]q¸m-{X-¯n s]mSn-]n-Sn¨ ¹mÌnIv ]q¡Ä. Ah-bpsS \ndw Duln-s¨-Sp¡m³t]mepw Ign-bn-Ã. `n¯n-bn Xq§p¶ s{^bnw sNbvX Nn{Xw Xncn-¨-dn-bm³ Ign-bm¯hn[w s]mSn-aq-Sn-bn-cp¶p. AsXmcp IpXn-c-bm-sW¶p tXm¶n, AsÃ-¦n Hcp s{Sbn³. End 12/2/2007 4:02 AM  Start 12/2/2007 4:11 AM  tkm^-bpsS ASp¯v asämcp tai-bn Hcp ^nen]vkv tdUntbm þ AXn\v s^eq-Z-sb-¡mÄ {]mb-ap-−m-Ipw. AXv Ct¸mgpw `wKn-bmbn {]hÀ¯n-¡p¶p; R§Ä tI« t\À¯ kwKoXw ]pd-s¸-«n-cp-¶Xv AXnÂ\n-¶m-bn-cp-¶p. Rc-¼p-IÄ angn-¨p-\n¡p¶ t\À¯p-hn-f-dnb Hcp ssI \o−p-h¶v AXnsâ _«¬ Xncn¨v tdUntbm Hm^v sNbvXp. B ssIbpsS DSa tkm^-bn-en-cp¶v R§-sf-¯s¶ t\m¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. aSn-bn Hcp Ipj³. Im Hcp Ìqfn Ib-än-h-¨n-cn-¡p-¶p. BfpsS \ndw I−m-ednbmw ]qÀÆn-I-cn-emtcm {_n«ojv k¦-c-ap-s−-¶v. \cbv¡p Iog-S-§msX Ah-ti-jn-¨n-cp¶ GXm\pw apSn-\m-cp-IÄ kzÀ®-\n-d-am-bn-cp-¶p. apdn-bnse _Ä_n\v 25 hmSvtk tijn-bpÅq; AXp-sIm−v Abm-fpsS I®p-I-fpsS \ndw a\-Ên-em-¡m³ Ign-ªn-Ã.

“kÔn-hmXw ImcWw F\n¡v A\-§m³ Ign-bn-Ã. the¡m-csâ klmbw IqSntb Xocq. B aqV³ Xcw-In-«p-t¼msgms¡ ap§n-¡-f-bpw.” AbmÄ hni-Zo-I-cn-¨p. s^eqZ kzbw ]cn-N-b-s¸-Sp-¯n. t\tc Imcy-¯n-te¡p IS¶p. R§-fpsS ap¶-dn-bn-¸n-Ãm-sX-bpÅ hchv Abmsf Atem-k-c-s¸-Sp-¯ntbm F¶-dn-bnÃ; GXm-bmepw A§-s\sbm¶pw AbmÄ {]I-Sn-¸n-¨n-Ã. “GXm\pw Nne hnh-c-§Ä tXSn am{X-amWv R§Ä h¶n-cn¡p-¶-Xv. ]s¯m-¼Xmw \qäm-−n Cw¥-−nÂ\n¶p h¶ tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ hwi-]-c-¼-c-bn s]«-bm-fmtWm Xm¦Ä?” AbmÄ I®p-I-fp-bÀ¯n s^eq-Zsb t\m¡n. Abm-fpsS I®p-I-fnse a§nb \oe-\ndw Rm³ I−p. GXm\pw \nanjw Xpdn-¨p-t\m-¡nb tijw AbmÄ tNmZn¨p: “Fsâ apXp-ap-¯-Ñsâ Imcy-sams¡ GXp \c-I-¯nÂ\n-¶mWv \n§Ä a\-Ên-em-¡n-bXv?” “At¸m Fsâ Dulw icn-bm-Wv.” “AtX. AXp am{X-a-Ã. Hcn-¡Â tKmUvhntâ-Xm-bn-cp¶ Hcp km[-\hpw Fsâ ssIh-i-ap-−v. A§-s\-bmWv Fsâ hey½ ]d-ªn-«p-Å-Xv. \qän-b³]Xv hÀjw… Hm, \cIw!” “F´m, F´p-]än?” “B sX−n, Acm-¡n-kvþ NXn-b³, X«n-¸p-Im-c³! Ah³ C¶se cm{Xn-bmWv AXv FsâbSp¯p \n¶v FSp-¯p-sIm−p-t]m-b-Xv. C¶p sshIn«p Xncn-¨p-X-cm-sa¶p ]d-ªp. sshIn«v Ah-cpsS kt½-f-\-am-Wv. C¶p hymg-am-WtÃm AtÃ? icn. apI-fnÂ\n¶v hnNn-{X-amb ]e i_vZ-§fpw tIÄ¡pw. GXm\pw \nanjw IqSn Im¯n-cp-¶m aXn.” apdn ap³]-s¯-¡mfpw Ccp-−-Xp-t]mse tXm¶n. Fsâ Bi-¦-Ifpw Bi-b-¡p-g-¸-§fpw sIm−mtWm? AtXm cm{Xn-bm-b-Xp-sImt−m? H¶p-a-Ã, CSn apg-§p-¶p-−v. BIm-

i¯p ag-ta-L-§Ä aqSn-bn-cn-¡p-¶p. shdp-sX-bà apdn-bn Ccp«n\p I«n IqSn-b-Xv. tKmUvhn\v A`n-ap-J-ambn ssI¯m-§n-Ãm¯ Hcp Itk-c-bnemWv s^eqZ Ccn-¡p-¶-Xv. sXm«-Sp¯v Hcp Cukn sNbdn emÂtam-l³_m-_p; ]t£ At±lw A{X ‘Cukn’ AÃm-bn-cp-¶p. Itk-c-bn \ndsb aq«-bp-Å-Xp-t]mse A§p-an§pw amdn-amdn Ccn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp¶p At±-lw. s^eqZ tKmUvhns\¯s¶ t\m¡n-bn-cn-¡p-I-bm-Wv. Hcp hm¡p-t]mepw Dcn-bm-Sp-¶n-sÃ-¦nepw ‘Rm\nXm ChnsS ImXp-IqÀ¸n¨p sdUn-bm-Wv, ]d-bm-\p-Å-sXms¡ ]dtªmfq’ F¶v hyà-ambn ]d-bp-¶-Xp-t]m-se. “B\-s¡m-¼p-sIm-−pÅ Hcp sN¸mWv AXv. AXn-\pÅnepw Nne km[-\-§-fp-−v. c−p ]gb ss]¸p-IÄ, shÅn-sIm-−pÅ Hcp s]mSn-¸m-{Xw, Hcp I®-S, ]«n s]mXnª Hcp s]mXn-bpw. Hcp-]t£ AXn-semcp ]pkvX-Iam-bn-cn¡mw þ Rm³ CXp-hsc t\m¡n-bn-«n-Ã. R§-fpsS ssIhiw [mcmfw ]pcm-h-kvXp-¡-fp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. Fsâ aI³ þ B sX−n þ FÃmw hnäp-Xp-e-¨p. Ah³ tImfPnÂ\n¶p NmSn-t¸m-¶p, I©m-hp-hen XpS-§n, ]Xp-s¡-¸Xps¡ ho«nÂ\n¶v km[-\-§Ä Hmtcm-t¶m-tcm-¶mbn s]m¡n-s¡m−p t]mIm³ XpS-§n. B s]«n Ah-s\-Sp-¡mXn-cp-¶Xv F´p-sIm-−m-sW¶v F\n¡v Hcp ]nSnbpw In«p¶n-Ã. Hcp-]t£ Ah³ FSp-t¯-s\, -A-Xn\p ap³]v Ah³ \à ØnXn-bn-em-bn. AXp-sIm-−m-bn-cn-¡pw. Ah-s\mcp kwKoX {Sq¸p-−v. Ahsâ k¼m-Zyw-sIm-−mWv R§Ä Pohn-¡p-¶-Xv, Cu ImWp-¶-Xns\ PohnXw F¶p ]d-bm-sa¦nÂ. AsÃ-¦n CsXm-s¡-¸-d-bm\pw aIs\ Ipä-s¸-Sp¯m\pw F\n-s¡´p Imcyw. IqSp-Xepw Fsâ-Xs¶ sXäpI-fm-bn-cp-¶p. tXmakv tKmUvhn³ FÃmw Xpe-¨Xv NqXp-I-fn¨m-sW¶p tI«n-«p-−v. AtX im]w Fs¶bpw ]nSn-Iq-Sn-bncp-¶p.” tKmUvhn³ \nÀ¯n. \nÀ¯msX A{X-tbsd kwkm-cn-¨-XpsIm-−m-bn-cn-¡mw, At±lw InX-bv¡p-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. At±-l-¯nsâ apJw sRfn-]n-cn-sIm−p; hmXw \¶mbn

iey-s¸-Sp-¯p-¶p-−v. kwkmcw XpS§n:

GXm-bmepw

At±lw

ho−pw

“sNdp-¸-am-bn-cn-¡p-t¼mÄ Hcp XhW Rm³ Cw¥-−n t]mbn-cp-¶p. e−-\nse anUvem³Uv _m¦n ImjyÀ Bbn-cp¶p Fsâ A½m-h³. aq¶p amkw þ A{Xtb F\n¡v AhnsS \n¡m³ Ign-ªp-Åq. XWp¸p kln¡m³ Ign-ªn-Ã, `£-Whpw ]än-bnÃ. C´y³ `£-W-§Ä am{Xta F\n¡p ioe-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p-Åq. Rm³ Xncn¨p I¡-«bv¡p t]m¶p. ChnsS h¶p hnhmlw Ign-¨p. `mcy acn-¨n«v ]¯p hÀj-am-bn. Ct¸m F\n¡v BsI-bp-ÅXv {InÌ-^-dm-Wv. Ahs\ Nne-t¸mÄ Znh-k-¯n Hcp-X-hW ImWpw. Nne-t¸mÄ AXp-t]m-ep-an-Ã. ho«n-ep-Å-t¸mįs¶ Ah³ Ahsâ apdn-bn AS-¨n-cp¶v Kn¯mÀ hmbn-¡pw. Ah³ \¶mbn Kn¯mÀ ao«pw.” S¸v, S¸v, S¸v, S¸v… R§-fpsS Xebv¡p apI-fn hnNn-{Xamb i_vZ-§Ä XpS-§n-bn-cp-¶p. CS-bv¡nsS \n¡pw, ho−pw XpS-§pw. R§-fpsS \ng-ep-IÄ BSm³ XpS-§n; apI-fnse i_vZ-¯n-s\m¸w koen-§n Xq§n-¡n-S-¡p¶ sseäpw BSp-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. Ct¸mÄ F\n¡pw emÂtaml³_m-_p-hn-s\-t¸mse t]Sn tXm¶n-¯p-S-§n. C§-s\sbmcp ho«nÂ, C¯-c-samcp apdn-bn BZy-am-bmWv Rm³ Ib-dp-¶X; C¯-c-samcp IY tIÄ¡p-¶Xpw BZy-am-Wv. F´p \c-I-am-bn-cn¡pw apI-fn-es¯ \ne-bnÂ?” tKmUvhn³ Xe-bp-bÀ¯n-b-Xp-t]m-ep-an-Ã. “AXv B \miw]n-Sn¨ tai-bm-Wv. AXp NmSp-I-bm-Wv. AXn\p Npäpw \mev s]cp-¦-Å-·mÀ Ccn-¡p-¶p. acn¨ Hmtcm-cp-¯-cpsS Bßmhv _m[-Iq-Sp-¶-Xp-sIm-−mWv Itkc InS¶p NmSp-¶Xv F¶mWv Ah-·mÀ ]d-bp-¶-Xv.” “Bscm-s¡-bmWv AhÀ?” “Acm-¡nkpw Iq«p-Im-cpw. t{]X-]-T-\-kw-Lw. c−p PqX·mÀ, Hcp ]mgvkn, ]ns¶ Acm-¡n-kpw. Fs¶-¡qSn hen¨p Iq«-¯n-en-Sm³ AhÀ BhXp {ian-¨p. Rm³ hg-§n-bn-Ã.

Hcp-Zn-hkw Acm-¡n-knsâ ap³]n h¨v Rm³ tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ Imcyw Ft´m ]d-ªp. At±-l-hpambn kwkm-cn-¡m³ kuI-cy-ap-−m-¡m-sa¶pw ]dªv XpS§n Acm-¡n-kv. Rm³ ]dªp ths−-¶v. GXm-bmepw Hcp-]mSv sshImsX Rm³ At±-ls¯ t\cn¡mWpw. HSp-hnÂ, C¶se Acm-¡nkv ]d-ªp…” tKmUvhn³ \nÀ¯n. tai ]ns¶bpw NmSm³ XpS-§n-bn-cp¶p. “]t£, F´n-\mWv AbmÄ \n§-fpsS ssIbnÂ\n¶v B s]«n sIm−p-t]m-bXv?” “AXmWp ]d-ªp-h-cp-¶-Xv. Fsâ km¶n-[y-an-ÃmsX Xs¶ AhÀ tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ Bßm-hp-ambn _Ô-s¸-Smsa¶v AbmÄ ]d-ªp. At±-l-¯n-tâ-Xm-bn-cp¶ Fs´¦nepw km[\w In«n-bm aXn-b-s{X. GXm-bmepw i_vZw tI«n«v AhÀ hnP-bn-¨p-sh¶p thWw Icp-Xm³.” S¸v, S¸v, S¸v… tai ho−p NmSp-I-bm-Wv. “Cu CS-]m-Sp-IÄ apgp-h³ Ccp-«n-emtWm?” s^eqZ tNmZn¨p. “X«n-¸p-I-sfÃmw Ccp-«n-em-WtÃm Ac-t§-dp-¶-Xv.” tKmUvh³ ]d-ªp. At±-l-¯nsâ i_vZ-¯n ]pÑ-ap-−mbn-cp-¶p. “R§Ä¡p apI-fn-te¡p t]mImtam?” Cu hm¡p-IÄ tI«Xpw emÂtam-l³_m_p Itk-c-bpsS ssI¸n-Sn-bn apdp-sI-¸n-Sn-¨p. At±-l-¯nsâ hntbm-P-\-¡pdn-¸m-bn-cp¶p AXv. B \ne-]mSv icn-h-bv¡p-¶-Xm-bn-cp¶p tKmUvhnsâ adp-]-Sn. “B apdn-bn-te¡v AhÀ Bscbpw IS-¯n-Ã. AwK-§Ä¡p am{X-amWv {]th-i-\w. Acm-¡n-kn\v Hcp the-¡m-c-\p−v; Abm-fmWv hmXn Im¡p-¶-Xv. ]t£ BÀs¡-¦nepw acn¨-h-cpsS Bßm-¡-fp-ambn kwkm-cn-¡m³ klmbw thW-

sa-¦n Ahsc IS-¯n-hn-Spw. Ccp-]Xp cq] AUzm³kv. Bßm-hp-ambn kwkm-cn-¡m³ Ign-ªm \qdp-cq] thsdbpw.” “Hm, AXp icn. Xm¦v bq anÌÀ tKmUvhn³. Xm¦Ä hf-sctbsd klm-bn-¨p. Cu hchp sIm−v Hcp-]mSv KpW-§Ä In«n. hfsc \µn-bp-−v. Xm¦sf _p²n-ap-«n-¨-Xn tJZap−v.” “KpUv ss\äv” tKmUvhnsâ saen-ªp-hn-f-dnb ssI Hcn-¡Â¡qSn tdUntbm-bpsS t\À¡p \o−p. tKmh-Wn-¸n-Sn-bpsS ASp¯p h¶-t¸mÄ R§sf sR«n-¨psIm−v s^eqZ apI-fn-te¡p Ib-dn-t¸m-bn. “F´m-bnXv s^ep_m-_q. B ]Sn-IÄ apI-fn-te-¡m-Wv, Xmtg-¡-Ã.” emÂtam-l³_m_p hnfn-¨p-]-d-ªp. “t]Sn-¡msX tIdn-hm” F¶m-bn-cp¶p adp-]-Sn. R§Ä sNÃp-t¼mÄ Acm-¡n-knsâ tkh-I-\p−v hmXn¡Â. ep¦n-bmWv thjw. “Bsc-sb-¦nepw t\m¡n h¶-XmtWm?” AbmÄ tNmZn-¨p. “\n§sf klm-bn-¡m³ h¶-XmWv R§Ä” CXp ]d-bp-¶Xn-\nsS s^eqZ A©p cq]-bpsS Hcp t\m«v AbmÄ¡p t\tc \o«n. AbmÄ sR«n-t¸m-bn-cp-¶p. Ipd-¨p-IqSn ASp¯p sN¶n«v s^eqZ Abm-fpsS sNhn-bn sasà a{´n¨p: “B apdn FÃm hi-¯p-\n¶pw AS-¨n-«pt−m? \nsâ bP-am-\\pw Iq«p-Imcpw Ccn-¡p¶ B apdn.” Iminsâ amPn-¡m-bn-cn-¡pw, AbmÄ c−p hmXn-ep-Ifpw Fhn-sS-bm-sW¶p ]d-ªp-X-¶p. CS-\m-gn-bn-te-¡pÅ hmXn ]q«n-bn-cp-¶p, asäm¶v s_Uvdqan-te-¡p-Å-XmWv. AXp Xpd-¶n-«p-−v.

“\o hnti-jn-s¨m¶pw sNt¿-−. s_Uv dqw Im«n-¯-cp-I. CsÃ-¦n IqSp-X {]iv\-§-fp-−m-Ipw. R§Ä s]meo-kpIm-cm-Wv. Ct±-l-amWv C³kvs]-IvSÀ.” emÂtam-l³_m_p s]s«¶v s]cp-hn-c-en Ip´n-¨p-\n¶v c−n©v Dbcw Iq«n. AhnsS shfn-¨-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. s^eqZ A©p-cq-]m-t\m«v tkh-Isâ ssIbn h¨p-sIm-Sp-¯p, bm{´n-I-am-sb-t¶mWw ssI¸¯n AXn-s\ Bh-cWw sNbvXp. “Fsâ IqsS hcq. ]t£…” “]t£Isfm-¶p-an-Ã. \nsâ bP-am-\sâ kplr-¯p-¡-fn-semcmsf Xnc-ªp-h-¶-XmWv R§Ä. \n\t¡m bP-am-\t\m Ipg-¸-sam¶pw hcn-I-bn-Ã. AXp Rm³ Dd-¸p-X-cmw.” “hcq.” s_Uvdq-anepw Xpd¶ hmXn-en-\-¸p-ds¯ apdn-bnepw AÔIm-c-am-bn-cp-¶p. R§Ä At§m«p IS-¶p. F§pw \nÈ-_vZX. A¸w ap³]p am{X-amWv tai aq¶p {]mhiyw NmSp¶Xp R§Ä tI«-Xv. kwLw tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ Bßmhp hcm³ izmk-a-S-¡n-¸n-Sn¨p Im¯n-cn-¡p-I-bmsW¶p hyà-am-bn-cp-¶p. emÂtam-l³_m_p D¨-¯n InX-bv¡p-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. AXnsâ i_vZw tI«v t{]X-]T\kwLw R§-fpsS km¶n[yw Xncn-¨-dn-bp-sa¶p Rm³ `b-¶p. s^eqZ hmXn-en-t\mSp Ipd-¨p-IqSn ASp-¯n-cp-¶p. Fhn-sS-\nt¶m as®-®-bpsS aWw. Hcp ]q¨ Ic-ªp. Nnet¸m Xmsg¡− B Idp¯ ]q¨-bm-Ipw. “tXmþ-akv tKmUvhn³! tXmþ-am-þkv tKmUvhn³!” sXm− Imdn-b-Xp-t]m-se-bpÅ hnNn-{X-amb Ir{Xn-a-i-_vZ¯n c−p-X-hW B t]cv hnfn-¡-s¸-«p. Hcp sRc-§Â t]mse. A§-s\-bmWv AhÀ Bßm-hns\ £Wn-¡p-¶sX¶p hyà-am-bn. “Xm¦Ä R§-tfm-sSm-¸-apt−m? R§-tfm-sSm-¸-apt−m?”

D¯-c-an-Ã. i_vZ-ta-Xp-an-Ã. Ac an\nän IS-¶p-t]m-bn. AtX tNmZyw BhÀ¯n-¨p. IqSp-X iàn-tbmsS: “tXmakv tKmUvhn³… Xm¦Ä R§-tfm-sSm-¸-apt−m?” “CþXm! Dþ−v!” Fsâ sXm«-Sp¯v Hcp Im h\y-ambn hnd-bv¡p-¶Xv Rm\dn-ªp. tai-bpsS ImeÃ; Hcp a\p-jy-tâXp Xs¶. AXp emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hnsâ ap«p-I-fm-bn-cp-¶p. “CXm Rm³ h¶p. Rm\nXm Chn-sS-bp−v!” ‘ChnsS’ F¶mWv B i_vZw ]d-ª-sX-¦nepw AXv AXnhn-Zq-c-X-bnÂ\n¶p h¶-Xp-t]mse tXm¶n. kwLw tNmZy-§Ä XpSÀ¶p: “Xm¦Ä k´p-jvS-\mtWm? Xm¦Ä kam-[m-\-¯n-emtWm \mfp-IÄ Ign-¡p-¶Xv?” “Aev-þÃm!” ho−pw \nÈ-_vZ-X. Hcp an\n-tämfw \nÈ-_vZ-Xbv¡p tijamWv Acm-¡nkpw Iq«p-Imcpw ASp¯ tNmZyw tNmZn-¨Xv: “F´mWv \n§-fpsS Ak-´p-jvSn¡p ImcWw?” “F\n-¡v… F\n-¡v… F\n-s¡-sâ… Fsâ sN¸p thWw!” Cu adp-]-Sn-sb-¯p-SÀ¶v hnNn-{X-amb Fs´m-s¡tbm kw`hn-¨p. cà-ap-d-ªp-t]m-Ip¶ Hc-eÀ¨ ASp¯ apdnbnÂ\n¶p ]pd-s¸-«p þ `b-P-\y-amb Hc-eÀ¨. ASp¯ \nanjw, Btcm Fsâ ssI¯p-¼n ]nSn¨p hen-¨p. Fsâ sNhn-bn Hcp i_vZw a{´n-¨p. “tXm]vtj, hcq.” ]pds¯ Imh¡m-c³ BsI A´n-¨p-t]m-bn-cp-¶p. AXpsIm−v AbmÄ R§sf XS-bp-Itbm R§-fpsS ]n¶mse hcp-Itbm H¶pw sNbvXn-Ã. Hä an\n-än. R§Ä dn¸¬

sebv³ ]n¶n«v tdmbvUv kv{Soän ]mÀ¡v sNbvXn-cn-¡p¶ Imdn-\-Sp-t¯¡p \o§n-¡-gn-ªn-cp-¶p. “AsXmcp Kw`o-c³ tjm Bbn-cp-¶p. C½m-Xn-cn-sbm-s¶§m\pw Bsc-¦nepw Hcp kn\n-a-bn ImWn-¨n-cp-s¶-¦n AXv FÃm t_mIvkv Hm^nkv sdt¡mÀUpw XIÀt¯-t\.” emÂtam-l³_m_p ]d-ªp. Cu kvXpXn¡p ]n¶nse IY hfsc efn-X-am-bn-cp-¶p. kmZ¯v Aen tXmakv tKmUvhn\p sImSp¯ B\-s¡m-¼psIm-−pÅ s]«n AXm s^eq-Z-bpsS ssIbn `{Z-am-bn-cn¡p-¶p.

Ggv ]ntä¶p cmhnse s^eqZ Fs¶ apdn-bn-te¡p hnfn-¨p. Xte¶p cm{Xn emÂtam-l³_m_p R§sf sIm−p-hn-«t¸mÄXs¶ Ipfnbpw A¯m-ghpw Ign¨v apdn-bnÂI-bdn hmXn-e-S-¨-XmWv s^eq-Z. F\n-¡m-sW-¦n acym-Z-bv¡p-d§m\pw Ign-ªn-Ã. hÃm-s¯mcp \nKq-V-X-bnemWv sN¶ps]-«n-cn-¡p-¶-Xv. eIvt\m-bnse `qÂ`q-emb C{X Ipg¸w ]nSn¨-Xm-bn-cp-s¶¶p tXm¶p-¶n-Ã. Rm³ sNÃp-t¼mÄ s^eqZ I«n-en Ccn-¡p-I-bm-Wv. ap³]n tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ s]«n. AXn-ep-−m-bn-cp-¶sXms¡ I«n-en \nc-¯n-bn-«n-cn-¡p-¶p. ]pI-bne \nd-bv¡mhp¶ c−p ss]¸p-IÄ þ ]t£ Ah Rm³ CXp-hsc I−n-«pÅ ss]¸p-IÄ t]mse-sbm-¶p-aà Ccn-¡p-¶-Xv, Hcp aq¡n-s¸m-Sns¨¸v, kzÀ® s{^bn-apÅ Hcp I®-S, XpI¨-«bpÅ \mep t\m«v_p-¡p-IÄ. \men-sâbpw ]pdw-N-«-bn kzÀ®n-en-]n-I-fn ‘Ubdn’ Fs¶-gp-Xn-bn-«p-−v. Ah s]mXnªp-h-¨n-cp¶ kn¡nsâ IjWw Hcp-h-i¯p amdn-¡n-S¸p-−v; AXp sI«n-bn-cp¶ \oe dn_-Wpw. Hcp t\m«v_q¡v Fsâ t\tc \o«n-s¡m−p s^eqZ ]dªp “BZys¯ t]Pv adn¨p t\m¡q, {i²n-¡-Ww.” “tM… CXp jmÀeäv tKmUvhnsâ Ub-dn-bm-W-tÃm.” “Dw. CsXÃmw Ah-cpsS Ub-dn-I-fm-Wv. 1858 apX 1862 hsc-bp-Å-h. Ah-cpsS `mjbpw Fgp¯pw Hcp-t]mse hyàhpw efn-X-hp-am-Wv. cm{Xn apgp-h\pw th−n-h¶p CsXÃmw hmbn-¨p-XoÀ¡m³. Aaq-ey-§fmb Ch-sbÃmw dn¸¬ sebv\nse Hcp Ccp− aqe-bn InS-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp¶p-sh¶v HmÀ¯p-t\m-¡q. Ahn-iz-k-\obw!” Rm³ BZys¯ t]Pn-te¡p Xs¶ t\m¡n-bn-cp-¶p. AXp adn-¡m³ F\n¡p ss[cyw h¶n-Ã. A{X-ta s]mSn-bm-dmbmWv Hmtcm t]Ppw Ccn-¡p-¶-Xv.

“Acm-¡nkv AXp Xpd-¶p-t\m-¡n-bn-cp¶p.” s^eqZ ]dªp. “F§-s\-b-dnbmw?” “A{i-²-ambpw thK-¯nepw t]Pv adn-¨m AXnsâ he-Xpap-IÄ`mKw s]m«m³ XpS-§pw. t\m¡n-t¡mfq” F¶p ]dªn«v s^eqZ Hcp t]Pv adn¨p Im«n-¯-¶p. “]ns¶, Cu dn_¬ t\m¡q. Nne `mK-§Ä {Zhn¨p-t]m-bn-cn-¡p-¶p, Hcp \qdp-hÀj-¯n-te-sd-bmbn sI«n-s¸m-Xn-ªp-h-¨n-cn-¡p-I-bmbn-cp-¶ntÃ! ]t£ AXnsâ tISp IqSmsX Nne `mK-§fn ]ncnªpw s]m«m³ XpS-§nbpw Ccn-¡p-¶Xp I−ntÃ. ]pXnb sI«n-Sm³ {ian-¨-Xnsâ ^e-am-Wv. sI«-gn-¨Xv Bcp Xs¶-bm-bmepw AtX Øm\-¯p-Xs¶ sI«n-hbv¡m³ {i²n-¨n-Ã.” “ssIbnse Cu Idp¯ Id Fhn-Sp-¶mWv?” s^eq-Z-bpsS apdn-bn IS-¶-t¸mÄ Xs¶ Rm³ {i²n-¨n-cp-¶-Xm-W-Xv. “AXp asämcp kqN-\-bm-Wv. hni-Zmw-i-§Ä ]ns¶-¸-d-bmw. AXv B aq¡n-s¸m-Sn-s¨¸nÂ\n¶p ]än-b-Xm-Wv.” “Ub-dn-I-fn \n¶v Fs´ms¡ hnh-c-§Ä In«n?” tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ Ah-km-\-hÀj-§-sf-¸-än-bmWv Ah. At¸m-tg¡v Abm-fpsS ssIbnse ]W-saÃmw XoÀ¶p-I-gnªn-cp¶p; Hcp-Xcw aqcm¨n kz`m-hhpw Bbn-cp-¶p. B¬a¡-fn HcmÄ acn-¨p-t]m-bn, asä-bmsf þtU-hn-Uns\ þ AbmÄ¡v CjvStam hnizm-ktam CÃm-bn-cp-¶p. Hcp-X-c¯n AbmÄ¡v Bscbpw hnizm-k-an-Ãm-bn-cp-¶pþ jmÀeän-s\-t¸m-epw. F¶n«pw jmÀeäv Abmsf kvt\ln-¨p, AbmÄ¡p-th−n {]mÀ°n-¨p, Bhp-¶n-S-t¯mfw \¶mbn Abmsf ]cn-N-cn-¨p. AbmÄ NqXp-I-fn¨v FÃmw \in-¸n-¨p-If-ªn-cp-¶p. kao-]s¯ Cw¥ojv h\n-X-IÄ¡p th− Xp¶Â¸-Wn-IÄ sNbvXpw ImÀs¸-äp-I-fp-−m-¡n-bp-amWv jmÀeäv Pohn-¡m-\pÅ hI k¼m-Zn-¨n-cp-¶-Xv. \hm-_nÂ

\n¶p In«nb hne-]n-Sn¨ k½m-\-§-sfÃmw tKmUvhn³ hnäpXp-e-¨n-cp-¶p. _m¡n-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶Xv aq¶p km[-\-§Ä am{X-am-bn-cp-¶p. Cu s]«n, aq¡n-s¸m-Sns¨¸v, ]ns¶ kmZ¯v Aen \ÂInb BZy-k-½m-\-hpw.” “AXv AbmÄ jmÀe-än\p sImSpt¯m?” “CÃ. AX-bmÄ BÀ¡pw sImSp-¯n-Ã. AXp Xsâ ih-¯ns\m¸w AS¡w sN¿-W-sa¶v acn-¡pw-ap³]v AbmÄ aItfmSp ]d-ªn-cp-¶p. jmÀeäv ]nXm-hnsâ A´ym-`n-emjw km[n-¨p-sIm-Sp-¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp.” “F´m-bn-cp¶p B hnti-j-s¸« km[\w?” “ jmÀeäv AXns\ hnti-jn-¸n-¡p-¶Xv ‘Aaq-ey-amb s]cnK dn¸o-äÀ’ F¶mWv.” “Mvtl… F´p km[-\-am-WXv?” “Ahn-sS-bmWv \nsâ s^eq-Zbpw Ccp-«n¯¸p-¶-Xv. Fsâ UnIvj\dn {]Imcw AXv Hcp tXm¡v BImwþ ]nÌ amXncn H¶v; AsÃ-¦n Hcp hm¨v. s]cn-K F¶Xv \nÀ½mXm-hnsâ t]cm-bn-cn-¡pw. kn±p-h-¦n-fn\pw \à XoÀ¨-bn-Ã. \o FWo-¡p-¶-Xn\p ap³]v Rm³ cmhnse At±-l-¯n-sâb-Sp¯p t]mbn-cp-¶p. C\n-bnt¸m hnImkv N{I-hÀ¯n¡v Fs´-¦n-ep-a-dn-bm-tam-sb¶v At\z-jn-¨p-t\m-¡mw.” ]mÀ¡v kv{Soänse ]mÀ¡v HmIvj³ lukn-em-bn-cp¶p hnImkv N{I-hÀ¯n¡p tPmen. s^eq-Zbv¡v At±-ls¯ \à ]cn-N-b-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. ap³s]mcp At\z-j-W-hp-ambn _Ô-s¸«v ]e-X-hW HmIvj³ lukn t]mtI-−n-h-¶t¸m-gmWv s^eqZ Abm-fp-ambn ASp-¯-Xv. “Ignª Znhkw Rm³ B IS-bpsS ASp-¯p-IqSn t]mbXm-Wv. P\m-e-bv¡Â [mcmfw hm¨p-Ifpw t¢m¡p-Ifpw

{]ZÀin-¸n-¨n-cp-¶p. tKmUvhnsâ dn¸o-äÀ tXm¡-Ã, hm¨p-Xs¶-bm-sW¶v Fsâ a\Êp ]d-bp-¶p.” ]ns¶ s^eqZ Ft¶mSv jmÀe-änsâ Ub-dn-bn hmbn¨ Iptd-¡m-cy-§Ä IqSn ]d-ªp. ‘_p²n-a-Xn-bmb ]p¶mc acp-a-IÄ’ F¶p jmÀeäv hnfn-¡p¶ Hcp IYm-]m-{X-ap-−v. ap¯-ѳ tXma-kns\ shdn-]n-Sn-¸n-¡p¶ Ft´m H¶v AhÄ sNbvXn-«p-−v. ]t£ acn-¡p-¶-Xn\p ap³]v At±lw Ah-tfmSp £an-¡p-Ibpw A\p-{K-l-§Ä \ÂIp-Ibpw sNbvXn-cp-¶p. ktlm-Z-c-·m-cmb tUhn-Un-s\bpw tPmWn-s\bpw Ipdn¨pw jmÀeäv Fgp-Xn-bn-cp-¶p.- tem-hÀ kÀ¡p-eÀ tdmUnse skan-t¯-cn-bn tUhn-Unsâ ih-Ip-Socw R§Ä I−n-cp¶p. tPm¬ Cw¥-−n-te¡p Xncn-sI-t¸mbn Ahn-sS-h¨v Bß-lXy sN¿p-Ibpw sNbvXp. AXn-\pÅ {]tIm-]\w F´m-bn-cps¶¶v jmÀe-än\v Adn-hnÃ. C¯n-cn-t\cw Ign-ª-t¸mÄ emÂtam-l³_m_p F¯n. “C¶-se-hsc Rm³ [À½-k-¦-S-¯n-em-bn-cp-¶p. ASp¯ kn\n-abv¡p th−n \sÃmcp IY-sb-gp-Xm³ ]peIv ]d-ªncp-¶p. `àn hnj-b-amb H¶v. ho«n¯s¶ X§n Fgp¯p XpS-§-Wtam AtXm \n§-tfm-sSm¸w IqSn Cu tIkv CXÄhn-cn-bp-¶Xp ImWtWm F¶ kwi-b-¯n-em-bn-cp¶p Rm³. C¶-es¯ kw`-h-t¯m-Sp-IqSn Fsâ kwi-b-saÃmw \o§n. F´m-bmepw aX-s¯-¡mÄ \ÃXv {Xn Xs¶. B s]«n-bnÂ\n¶v Imcy-ambn Fs´-¦nepw I−p-In-«ntbm?” “DÆv. \qän-bn-cp-]-¯©p hÀjw ]g-¡-apÅ Ub-dn-IÄ Is−-¯n. tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ ih-Ip-Socw am´n-¯p-d¶m Hcp ‘s]cn-K dn¸o-äÀ’ In«p-sa¶v Ah Fs¶ ]Tn-¸n¨p. “]oäÀ? F´p ]oäÀ?” “\ap¡p ]pd-t¯¡p t]mImw. h−n-bn F{X s]t{Smfp−v?”

“]¯p enäÀ D−v. C¶p cmhnse \nd-¨-tX-bp-Åq.” “\¶mbn. C¶p Iptd HmtS-−n-h-cpw.” s\än-Np-fn-¨p-sIm-−mWv s^eqZ ]mÀ¡v HmIvj³ lukntebv¡p IS-¶-Xv. hcq. “hcq anÌÀ an¯À? Fs´m-s¡bm hntijw? Cs¶sâ `mKy-Zn-h-k-am-sW¶p tXm¶p-¶p. ]pXnb GsX-¦nepw tIkp-am-bn-«mtWm hchv?” hnImkv N{I-hÀ¯n R§sf FXn-tc-äp. XSn¨ a\p-jy³, hmbv \ndsb apdp-¡m³Xp¸Â \nd-ªn«v IhnÄ H¶p-IqSn hoÀ¯n-cn-¡p-¶p. AbmfpsS {]IrXw I−n«v D¯-c-I¡-«-¡m-c-\m-sW¶p tXm¶n-. “\n§Ä¡p \à `mKy-§Ä D−m-sb¶p tXm¶p-¶p. CubSp¯ Znhkw P\m-e-bv¡Â Rm³ Gsg«p t¢m¡p-IÄ I−n-cp¶p þ sNdpXpw hep-Xp-am-bn. Ah-sbÃmw hnäpXoÀt¶m?” “t¢m¡v? t¢m¡mtWm th−Xv? F´p Xc-amWv th−Xv? `n¯n-bn Xq¡p¶ Xctam? AtXm Aemw t¢mt¡m?” s^eqZ At¸mgpw Npän\pw t\m¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. \ofw IqSn-b, Akm-[m-c-W-amb t]cpÅ Hcp t¢m¡n-s\-¸än Fs´-¦nepw hnh-c-ap-−m-Im³ km[y-X-bpÅ Bfà N{IhÀ¯n F¶v F\n¡p tXm¶n. GXm-bmepw s^eqZ AbmtfmSp tNmZn-¨p-t\m-¡n. “ ‘dn¸o-äÀ’. AXv Hcp-Xcw Aemw t¢m¡v Bbn-cn-¡m-\mWv km[yX. ]t£ s]cn-K F¶p-h-¨m F´m-sW¶v F\n¡v Hcp-]n-Snbpw In«p-¶n-Ã. ]t£ kmc-an-Ã. t¢m¡p-Isf-¸-än-sbms¡ \à And-hpÅ Hcmsf F\n¡p ]cn-N-b-ap−v. Abm-fpsS ho«n Ccp-\q-än-b³]Xp t¢m¡p-IÄ Ds−¶mWv tI«p-IÄhn. t¢m¡p-IÄ At±-l-¯n\p {`m´m-Wv.” “DtÆm! BcmWv At±lw?” “anÌÀ Nu[cn. alm-tZhv Nu[-cn.”

“_wKm-fn-bmtWm?” “AtX, ]t£ A±lw hfÀ¶-sXms¡ ]Ýn-ta-´y-bn-se-hnsStbm BsW¶p tXm¶p-¶p. AtXm D¯-tc-´y-bn-em-tWmsb-¶-dn-bn-Ã. At±lw _wKmfn kwkm-cn-¡p-¶Xv A{X `wKn-bm-bn-s«m-¶p-a-Ã. an¡-hmdpw Cw¥o-jmWv ]d-bp-¶-Xv. \à And-hpÅ a\p-jy-\m-Wv. ChnsS hcp-¶-Xn\p ap³]v t_mws_-bn-em-bn-cp-s¶¶p tXm¶p-¶p. F´p ]pcm-hkvXp I−mepw sIm¡nsemXp-§p-¶-Xm-sW-¦n hm§pw. \n§Ä ap³]n-hnsS I− t¢m¡p-I-sfms¡ At±-l-¯nsâ ho«n-emWn-t¸m-gp-Å-Xv. \à And-hp-Å-bm-fm-Wv. \n§Ä H¶v At±ls¯ I−p kwkm-cn-¨p-t\m-¡q. At±lw ]{X-¯n ]cky-sams¡ sImSp-¯n-cp-¶p, I−ntÃ?” “F´p ]c-ky-am-bn-cp¶p?” “]pcm-X-\-amb t¢m¡p-IÄ sImSp-¡m-\p-Å-hÀ Nu[-cn-bpambn _Ô-s¸-S-W-sa-¶v.” “At¸m AXo-h-k-¼-¶-\m-bn-cn-¡-W-a-tÃm.” “AtX kÀ. At±-l-¯n\p kz´-ambn XpWn-an-Ãp-Ifpw kn\nam Xob-ä-dp-Ifpw tXbn-e-t¯m-«-§fpw NW-an-ÃpIfpw ]´-b-¡p-Xn-c-Ifpw Ib-äp-a-Xnbpw Cd-¡p-a-Xnbpw… kÀh-Xcw _nkn-\kpw D−v.” “At±lw Fhn-sS-bmWv Xma-kn-¡p-¶-sX¶v Adn-bmtam?” “Dw. Ben-¸qÀ ]mÀ¡nepw KwKm-Xo-c¯v {Kma-¯nepw Hmtcm hoSp-I-fp-−v. At±-l-¯nsâ ]cp-¯n-anÃpw Chn-sS-b-Sp¯v Fhn-sStbm BWv. Ct¸mÄ I¡-«-bn-ep-s−¶p tXm¶p¶p.- ]t£ \n§Ä sshIp-t¶cw sNÃp-¶-XmWv \Ã-Xv. Ct¸mÄ Hm^n-kn-em-bn-cn-¡pw. Hcp-\n-anjw \n¡q… Rm³ At±-l-¯nsâ A{Ukv Xcmw.” alm-tZhv Nu[-cn-bpsS hnemkw Ipdn-s¨-Sp¯v R§Ä HmIvj³ lukv hn«n-d-§n.

“\n§Ä Fs¶ Fkv¹-t\-Unse \mj-\ sse{_dn doUnwKv dqan Cd-¡n-hn-«n«v ]mÀ¡v kv{Soäv skan-t¯-cnbn t]mbn t\m¡n-bn«p hcq. AhnsS ]d-b-¯-¡-Xmbn Fs´-¦nepw kw`-hn-¨n-«p-t−m-sb¶p t\m¡-Ww.” “]d-b-¯-¡-Xmbn” emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hnsâ kzc-¯n hnd-b-ep-−m-bn-cp-¶p. “Dw… IqSp-X-sem¶pw sN¿m-\n-Ã. tKmUvhnsâ IÃ-d-bpsS Npäpw H¶p t\m¡p-I. C¶v AhnSw s]mXpsh DW-§n-¡n-S¡p-I-bm-bn-cn-¡pw. c−p Znh-k-am-bn«p ag-sbm¶pw s]bvXn«n-Ã-tÃm. Npäp-]m-Sp-sam¶v t\m¡n-bn«v XncnsI h¶v Fs¶ Iq«n-bm aXn. ho«n t]mbn DuWp-I-gn-¡m³ kabw In«nÃ; ]pd-s¯-hn-sS-\n-s¶-¦nepw Ign-¡mw. C¶v Hcp-]mSv Imcy-§Ä sNbvXp-XoÀ¡m-\p-−v. dn¸¬ sebv\n-te¡p Xncn-sI-t¸m-Im\p-s−¶ Imcyhpw ad-¡-cp-Xv.” tKmUvhnsâ s]«n {_u¬ t]¸-dn s]mXnªv ssIbn ]nSn-¨n-«p-−m-bn-cp¶p s^eq-Z. “\«p-¨-bpsS ]IÂsh-fn-¨-¯n t]Sn-¡m-s\m-¶p-an-Ã. cm{Xnbm-bn-¡-gn-ªm-te skan-t¯-cn-bn t]mIm³ t]Sn-t¡−Xp-Åq.” kzbw ss[cy-s¸-Sp-¯m-s\-t¶mWw emÂtaml³_m_p ]d-ªp. “a\-Êp-\n-dsb AÔ-hn-izm-k-§Ä Ip¯n-\n-d-¨n-cn-¡p-IbtÃ? AsÃ-¦n ]I-em-bmepw cm{Xn-bm-bmepw `qX-§sfbpw t{]X-§-sf-bp-sam¶pw t]Sn-t¡− Imcy-an-Ã.” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. doUnwKv dqan-te-¡pÅ bm{X-bv¡nsS R§Ä Hcp {Sm^nIv Pman IpSp-§n. Im¯p-In-S-¡p-t¼mÄ emÂtam-l³_m_p tNmZn¨p: “\n§fo At\z-jn-¡p¶ t¢m¡v þ AtXm hmt¨m, F´m-bmepw þ AXv Hcp t]m¡äv hm¨v Bbn-¡qtS?” “]d-bm³ h¿”

“]g-sbmcp t]m¡äv hm¨v BsW-¦n Fsâ ssIbn A¯-c-sam-¶p−v.” “Bcp-tS-Xm-bn-cp¶p?” “ap¯-Ñ-tâ-Xv. At±-l-¯nsâ aq¶p km[-\-§Ä F\n¡p ssIh-¶n-«p-−v. hm¨v, thm¡nwKv ÌnIv, SÀ_³. ]tc-X\mb ]ymco-Nc¬ KwtKm-]m-[ym-bv. ]ymco-N-c¬ F¶ t]cv Fhn-S¶p In«n-sb¶p ]d-bmtam?” “FhnS¶pw h¶-X-Ã. AXv F¶pw Chn-sS-¯-s¶-bp-−m-bncp-¶p. Xm¦sfmcp Fgp-¯p-Im-c-\tÃ? F¶n«v ‘]ymcn’ F¶Xnsâ AÀ°-a-dn-ªp-IqtS? cm[-bpsS asämcp t]cm-Wv, A{X-X-s¶.” “Xm¦vbq kÀ. GXm-bmepw B hm¨v Xm¦Ä¡p k½m-\n¡m³ Rm\m-{K-ln-¡p-¶p.” s^eqZ AÛp-X-s¸«p: “F\nt¡m? F´n\v?” “Fsâ AwKo-Im-c-¯n-sâbpw BZ-c-hn-sâbpw ap{Z-bmbn Fs´-¦nepw Xc-W-sa¶v Rm³ Iptd \mfmbn B{K-ln-¡p¶p. Fsâ lnµn kn\n-a-bpsS hnP-b-¯n\p Xm¦-fpsS kw`m-h\ NnÃ-d-b-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. Cu ImÀXs¶ AXnsâ ^eam-W-tÃm. B hm¨v H¶p I−p-t\m¡v. BÀ¡-dnbmw AsXmcp s]cn-¸-äÀ… F´m-W-Xv… AXv BtWm-sb-¶v.” “AXn-s\mcp km[y-X-bp-an-Ã. k½m-\-hm-KvZm-\-¯n\p \µn. \n§-fpsS hm¨v \¶mbn ]cn-N-cn-¡-s¸-Sp-sa¶v Rm\nXm Dd¸p Xcp-¶p. ]s¯m³]Xmw \qäm-−nsâ ]g-¡hpw t]dn \S-¡p-¶-Xm-sW-¦n XoÀ¨-bmbpw AXp ]Xn-hmbn D]-tbmKn-¡m-s\m¶pw km[n-¡nÃ; ]t£ F´m-bmepw Rm³ apS§msX Io sImSp¯v AXp kq£n-¨psIm-Åmw. AXnt¸mgpw {]hÀ¯n-¡p-¶-XmtWm?” “D{K-\m-bn-«v.”

s^eq-Zsb doUnwKv dqan hn«v Rm\pw emÂtam-l³_m-_hpw-IqSn skan-t¯-cn-bn-se-¯p-t¼mÄ 12 aWn Bbn-cp-¶p. Chn-Sps¯ CS-]mSv Ign-ªm Xncn-sI-s¨¶v s^eq-Zsbbpw Iq«n ‘ss\kmwkv’ t]mbn a«¬ tdmÄ Ign¡mw. s^eq-Z-bpsS ¹m\mWv; sNehpw At§-cpsS hI Xs¶. ]t£ AXn\p ap³]v dn¸¬ sebv\n Xncn-sIs¨¶v tKmUvhnsâ s]«n Xncn-¨p-sIm-Sp-¡-Ww.” ]mÀ¡v kv{Soän Xnc¡p hfsc Ipd-ªn-cp-¶p. skant¯cnbn \nÈ-_vZ-X-bp-−v. {][m-\-I-hm-S-¯n¡qSn IS¶v R§Ä Imh¡m-c³ _mcw-tZ-hns\ Xnc-ªp. ImWm-hp-¶n-S-s¯-§p-anÃ; hnfn-¨n«pw {]Xn-I-c-W-an-Ã. asämcp aqjn-Isâ PU-hp-ambn ih-Zm-l-¯n\p t]mbn-cn¡pw. skan-t¯-cn¡p Ipdp-sI-bpÅ hgn-bn-eqsS R§Ä \S-¶p. emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hnsâ t]Snsb Rm\pw s^eq-Zbpw tNÀ¶p Ifn-bm-¡m-dp-−m-bn-cp¶p; Ah-sbÃmw shdpw AÔ-hn-izm-k-§-fm-sW¶v s^eqZ ]d-bm-dp-ap-−m-bncp¶p; ]t£ Chn-Sps¯ A´-co-£-¯n Aip-`-I-c-amb Ft´m \nd-ªp-\n-¶n-cn-¶p-sh¶p ]d-bmsX h¿. ih-Ip-Soc-§fpw henb ac-§fpw Ipän-¡m-Sp-Ifpw ASn-¡m-Sp-Ifpw FÃmw-IqSn BsI t]Sn-s¸-Sp-¯p¶ A´-co-£-¯n\v B¡w-Iq-«n. F¶mÂt¸mepw emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hnsâ s]cp-amäw hnNn-{X-amw-hn[w AXn-`m-hp-I-am-bn-cp-¶p. Cu ]IÂsh-fn-¨-¯n Abm-sf-´n-\mWv C{X `b-s¸-Sp-¶sX¶v F\n¡p a\-Ên-em-bn-Ã. I¬tIm-Wn-eqsS kvamc-Iinem-^-e-I-§-fnte¡p t\m«-a-b¨v a{´w-sNm-Ãp-¶-Xp-t]mse Ft´m ]pe-¼n-s¡m-−v sasÃ-sa-sÃ-bmWv At§À \S-¡p¶-Xv. Gsd ]Wn-s¸-«n-«mWv At§-cp-sS a{´-W-§Ä ]nSns¨-Sp-¡m-\m-b-Xv. AsX-´m-bmepw tIÄ¡m³ Ign-ªXp `mKy-am-bn. “¹okv, anÌÀ ]maÀ, ¹okv anÌÀ lman«¬, ankv kvan¯v… \n§-tfm-Spw-Iq-Sn-bm-Wv; Zb-hmbn R§-fpsS Igps¯m-Sn-¡-cptX; Cu tPmen-bp-ambn R§Ä apt¶m-«p-t]m-Is«. \n§Ä F{X-am{Xw X¶n-cn-¡p-¶p, Fs´Ãmw hm§n-bn-

cn-¡p-¶p, Fs´Ãmw ]mT-§Ä ]Tn-¸n-¨n-cn-¡p-¶p… anÌÀ Imws_Â, anÌÀ BUw, ]ns¶ anÌÀ… F\n¡p Xm¦fpsS t]cp-¨-cn-¡m³ t]mepw ]äp-¶n-Ã… Rm³ \n§-tfmSv At]-£n-¡p-¶p. \n§-tfm-sS-Ãm-h-tcm-Sp-am-bn… \n§Ä Hcp]nSn a®p am{X-am-sW-¦nÂ, A§-s\-X-s¶ XpS-cp-I… at®mSp a®v, a®v… a®v!” “F´m-bnXv? F´m a®nsâ CS-]mSv?” “{]nb Xt]-jv. CsXms¡ Rm³ \t¶ Ip«n-bm-bn-cn-¡pt¼mÄ hmbn-¨-Xm-Wv. ‘a\pjym \o a®m-Ip-¶p, a®n-te¡p aS-§p-Ibpw sN¿pw’ Ch-sc-Ãm-hcpw a®n-te¡p aS-§n-bn-cn¡p-¶p. “F¦n¸ns¶ F´mWp t]Sn-¡m-\n-cn-¡p-¶Xv?” “AsXmcp Ihn Fgp-Xn-b-XtÃ? Ihn-IÄ ]d-bp-¶Xv Ft¸mgpw icn-bm-bn-s¡m-Å-W-sa-¶n-Ã-tÃm.” R§Ä CS-t¯¡p Xncn-ªp. Hcp ac-s¡m¼v Ct¸mgpw Ahn-sS-¯s¶ InS-¡p-¶p. \new \¶mbn DW-§n-bn-«p−v. ]t£ tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ IÃ-dbv¡p Npäpw Hcp henb a¬Iq-\. “a®v… a®v… a®v…” Hcp b{´-a-\p-jy-s\-t¸mse B hm¡p-IÄ ]pe-¼n-s¡m−v þ Hcp-]t£ ss[cyw kw`-cn-¡m--\mImw þ emÂtaml³_m_p IÃ-d-bpsS ASp-¡-te¡p \S-¶p. s]s«¶p InXt¸msS \n¶p, ‘Akv, Akv, AØn!’ F¶p ]d-ªn«v apgpan-¡m-\m-ImsX sh«n-bn« hmg-t]mse adnªp-ho-Wp. hoWXv B a¬Iq-\-bn-te-¡v. At±lw hoW-Xn\p sXm«p-Xs¶ Hcp henb Ipgn. \à Bg¯n Ipgn-¨n-«p-−v. Ipgn-bpsS H¯-\-Sp-¡mbn ]IpXn a®n adª \ne-bn Hcp Xe-tbm-«n.

-F«v ]¯p Xh-W-sb-¦nepw Ipep-¡n-hn-fn-¨n-«mWv emÂtaml³_m_p I®p Xpd-¶-Xv. t_m[w sXfn-ªn-sÃ-¦n Rm\msI Ipg-§n-tb-s\. A§-s\-sbmcp kml-N-cy-¯n sN¶p-s]-Sp-¶Xv BZy-am-Wv. Fgp-t¶äv s]mSn-sbms¡ X«n¡p-S-ªv At±lw Djm-dm-bn. t]Sn-¨p-I-gn-ªm km[m-cW-¡m-sc-¡mÄ s]s«¶v Fgp-¯m-ImÀ¡v t_m[-t¡m-Sp-−mIp-sa¶v At±lw ]d-ªp. Imc-Ww, AhÀ¡v `mh-\m-iàn IqSp-X-em-WtÃm! “AÔ-hn-izm-k-sa-s¶ms¡ \nsâ ktlm-Z-c³ ]d-ªXp shdp-sX-bm-Wv. F\n¡v A§-\s¯ {]iv\-sam-¶p-an-Ô At±lw ]d-ªp. Hcp \nanjw t]mepw If-bmsX R§Ä s^eq-Zsb Iq«m³ t]mbn. At±lw doUnwKv dqanse ]Wn-sbms¡ XoÀ¯n-cp¶p. IÃd am´n-¡p-gn-¨n-cn-¡p-¶Xpw Xe-tbm«n sXfn-ªp\n¡p-¶-Xp-sams¡ At±lw \nco-£n-¨p. ]ns¶ IÃdbv¡p Npäpw {i²m-]qÀÆw ]cn-tim-[n¨p; ]t£ Hcp a¬sh-«n-b-ÃmsX asäm¶pw I−n-Ã. AXv Hcp ]¯-Sn-bIse InS-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. C¯-hW GXm-bmepw _mcw-tZhv Ahn-sS-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. temhÀ kÀ¡p-eÀ tdmUn-\-cn-In Abm-fpsS acp-a-Isâ apdp-¡m³ IS-bn Ah-t\mSv Ft´m hntijw ]d-bm³ t]mb-Xm-bn-cp¶p F¶v AbmÄ hni-Zo-I-cn-¨p. IÃd am´p¶ hnh-c-sam¶pw Abmfdn-ªn-cp-¶n-Ã. AXp sNbvXXv Bcm-bmepw AbmÄ Xte¶p cm{Xn aXn NmSn¡-S-¶mWv DÅn IS-¶n-«p-−m-IpI F¶v AbmÄ ]d-ªp. Abm-sf-¡qSn Iq«n s^eqZ Ce-Ifpw a®pw-sIm−v B Ipgn aqSn. Cu hnh-c-sam¶pw BtcmSpw ]d-tb-s−¶v s^eqZ _mcw-tZ-hns\ N«w-sI-«n. ]mÀ¡v kv{SoänÂ\n¶p R§Ä t\tc t]mbXv dn¸¬ sebv\n-te-¡m-Wv.

14/1sâ hmXn¡-se-¯n-b-t¸mÄ sNdn-sbmcp Xmakw t\cn«p. Hcp sNdp-¸-¡m-c³ ]Sn-bn-d§n hcp-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. ssIbn-semcp XpIÂs¸«n þ Kn¯mÀ s]«n. Ccp-]-¯-©n-\Sp¯ {]mbw; ]mÀ¡v kv{Soäv ]cn-k-c¯v kmbm-Ó-§-fn ImWm-dpÅ aäp sNdp-¸-¡m-cpsS `mh-lm-hm-Zn-I-sfm-s¡bp−v AbmÄ¡pw. IqSp-X-sem¶pw hni-Zo-I-cn-t¡-−-Xn-ÃtÃm. CbmÄ {Inkv tKmUvhn³ Xs¶. »q t^mIvknse ]ms«ms¡ Ignªv cm{Xn sshIntb C\n-bt±lw Cu ho«n-te¡p hcpI-bp-Åq. AbmÄ t]mbn-¡-g-ª-t¸mÄ R§Ä apI-fn-te¡p Ib-dn. Ignª Xh-W-t¯-Xp-t]mse \nÈ-_vZ-am-bn-cp-¶nà c−mw\n-e-bnse hoSv. tKmUvhnsâ enhnwKv dqan \n¶v D¨-¯nepÅ kwkmcw tIÄ¡mw. AXn-sem¶v R§Ä Xncn-¨-dnªp. atäXv Acm-¡nkv BI-Ww. H¶m-as¯ i_vZw iImcn-¡p-Ibpw `oj-Wn-s¸-Sp-¯p-Ibpw sN¿p-¶p. c−m-a-t¯Xv ssZ\y-X-tbmsS Btcm-]-W-§Ä \ntj-[n-¡p-¶p. c−pt]cpw ‘s]«n’ F¶ hm¡v [mcm-f-ambn D]-tbm-Kn-¡p-¶p-−v. s^eqZ CS-\m-gn-bn-eqsS IS¶v hmXn-en ap«n. shSn-bp-−t]mse Hcp tNmZyw sXdn-¨p-h¶p: “Bcm-W-hnsS?” -R-§Ä apdn-bn-te¡p IS-¶p. c−m-a-s¯-bm-fpsS Xz¡v hnf-dnb \n-d-am-bn-cp-¶p; aªbpsS IeÀ¸p-−v. \ndsb Npfn-hp-IÄ. Xe Ij-−n-bm-Wv. c−p kzÀ®-¸-Ãp-IÄ. 65 þ 66 hbÊp ImWpw. s^eqZ t\tc tKmUvhnsâ ASps¯¯n s]mXnb-gn¨v At±-l-¯nsâ ssIbn h¨p-sIm-Sp¯p. “C¶se CXv FSp-¯p-sIm-−p-t]m-Im-\pÅ {]tem`\w F\n¡v AXn-Po-hn-¡m-\m-bn-Ã. Fsâ Kth-j-W-§-fn CXp hfsc klm-b-I-am-Ipw.” GXm\pw \nanjw Xpdn-¨p-t\m-¡n-bn-cp-¶n«v tKmUvhn³ s]m«n-s¸m-«n-¨n-cn-¨p. “\n§-f-hsc hnUvVn-I-fm-¡n, hnUvVn-IÄ, t`mj³amÀ, aµ-_p-²n-IÄ, h©-IÀ, X«n-¸p-ImÀ, IÅ-·mÀ!” ]ns¶ At±lw asä-bmsf t\m¡n-bn«p ]¨-¸-cn-lm-k-¯n XpSÀ¶p: “tSmw tKmUvhnsâ Bßmhv s]«n-bp-ambn \S-¶p-

t]mbn AtÃ? Cbm-fmtWm tSmw tKmUvhn³? Cu \n¡p¶ sNdp-¸-¡m-c³? … CXm, CXmWv anÌÀ Acm¡n-kv. Fsâ apIÄ\n-e-bn hkn-¡p¶ \à Ab¡mc³. Fsâ hymgm-gvN-km-bm-Ó-§Ä \in-¸n-¨p-sIm−v InS¶p-Nm-Sp-¶Xv Cbm-fpsS tai-bm-Wv.” Acm-¡nkv Hcp hnUvVn-sb-t¸mse B s]«n-bn-te¡p Xpdn¨p-t\m¡n \n¶p. ]ns¶ \nÈ-_vZ-ambn s^eq-Zsb t\m¡n, ]ns¶ B hnUvVn-t\m«w hmXn¡-te¡p Xncn-¨p, sasà At§m«p \o§m³ XpS-§n-b-t¸mÄ- s^-eqZ Dds¡ hnfn¨p: “anÌÀ Acm-¡nkv” AbmÄ Ne-\-aäp s^eq-Zsb t\m¡n. “B s]«n-bnse hkvXp-¡-fn-sem¶v Ct¸mgpw Xm¦-fpsS ssIh-iw-X-s¶-bps−¶p Rm³ Icp-Xp-¶p.” s^eqZ im´-\m-bn-¸-d-ªp. “H¶p-an-Ã.” Acm-¡nkv Ae-dn. AsÃ-¦n¯s¶ AXn-se´m-Wp-Å-sX¶v \osb-§n-s\-b-dn-bm³? amÀ¡kv, s]«n-Xpd¶p t\m¡q Fs´-¦nepw \jvS-s¸-«n-«p-t−m-sb-¶v.” At¸m tKmUvhnsâ t]cv amÀ¡kv F¶m-Wv. AXmWv BÀ¡n-kv-þ-amÀ¡nkv F¶ hnfn-bpsS cl-kyw. amÀ¡kv tKmUvhn³ s]«n-Xp-d¶p ]cn-tim-[n-¨p. F¶n«v A¸w Akz-Ø-X-tbmsS tNmZn¨p: “F´m anÌÀ an¯À, FÃmw `{Z-ambn ImW-s¸-Sp-¶p−tÃm?” “B aq¡n-s¸m-Sn-s¨¸v Hs¶-Sp-¯p-t\m-¡q. ac-X-Ihpw amWnIyhpw C{µ-\o-e-¡-Ãp-Ifpw sIm−v Ae-¦-cn-¡-s¸-«-XmWv AsX-¶mWv jmÀeäv tKmUvhnsâ Ub-dn-bn ]d-bp-¶-Xv.” tKmUvhn³ sN¸v FSp¯p ]cn-tim-[n-¨p. “hne-Ip-dª Hcp ]pXnb sN¸p-hm§n ]pcm-h-kvXp-t]mse tXm¶n-¡m³ Idp¸p\ndw ]qin Acm-¡nkv \n§sf I_-fn¸n-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-s¶¶v Ct¸mÄ a\-Ên-em-bntÃ?”

A©p an\n-än-\Iw Acm-¡nkv apI-fn-es¯ ^vfmänÂt]mbn bYmÀ° sN¸p-ambn Xncn-s¨¯n. “ssZh-¯m-sW, ASp¯ hymgmgvN \nsâ tai InS¶p XpÅn-bm Rm³ s]meokns\ hnfn-¡pw.” tKmUvhn³ ]d-ªp. \mW-t¡Spw ]cn-{`m´nbpw \ndª apJ-t¯msS Acm-¡nkv hmXnÂ\q−p ]pdt¯¡p t]mbn. “Xm¦vbq anÌÀ an¯À.” tKmUvhn³ Bizm-k-t¯msS ]dªp. “jmÀeänsâ Ub-dn-IÄ F´p Xm¦Ä¡p hà Dul-hp-apt−m?”

hne-]n-Sn-¨-Xm-sW¶v

“CÃ. s]«n-bn B Ub-dn-IÄ D−m-bn-cp-s¶¶v F\n¡v Adnbp-I-t]m-ep-an-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. D-Å-Xp-]-d-bm-atÃm anÌÀ an¯À, ]qÀÆn-I-cpsS Imcy-§-fn F\n¡p Xcn¼pw XmÂ]cy-an-Ã. H-cÀ°-¯n Ct¸mÄ H¶n-s\-¸-änbpw F\n¡v Hcp Xm¸-cy-hp-an-Ã. shdpsX ac-Whpw Im¯v C§-s\-bn-cn-¡pI-bm-Wv. Ftâ-sX¶p ]d-bm³ BsI-bp-ÅXv B ]q¨-bmWv. ap³]v Hcp kplr-¯n-sâ-b-Sp-¯p-t]mbn t]m¡À Ifn¨n-cn-¡p-am-bn-cp-¶p. kÔn-hm-X-¯nsâ klm-b-¯m Ct¸m AXpw apS-§n.” “A§-s\-bm-sW-¦n Xm¦-tfmSv GXm\pw tNmZy-§Ä tNmZn-¡p-¶-Xn henb Imcy-ap-−m-Inà AtÃ?” “F´p tNmZy-§Ä?” “Xm¦-fpsS apXp-ap-¯-Ñsâ t]cv tUhnUv F¶m-bn-cp-¶p. At±-ls¯ temhÀ kÀ¡p-eÀ tdmUnse skan-t¯-cn-bnemWv AS-¡n-bn-cn-¡p-¶-Xv. icn-btÃ?” “Dw.” “tUhn-Un\v cpt¶m?”

ktlm-Z-ct\m

ktlm-Z-cntbm

D−m-bn-

“-A-dn-bn-Ã. Fsâ ]qÀÆn-I-cn-sem-cmÄ Bß-lXy sNbvXn-cp¶p. AXv tUhn-Unsâ ktlm-Z-ct\m atäm BtWm-sb¶p XoÀ¨-bn-Ã.” “tUhn-Unsâ aIsâþ AXm-bXv Xm¦-fpsS ap¯-Ñsâþ t]cv B³{Uq F¶mbn-cpt¶m?” “AtX, At±lw ]«m-f-¯n-em-bn-cp-¶p.” “jmÀeäv Hcp acp-a-I-sf-¸än ]d-bp-¶p-−v. AhÄ H¶p-In \n§-fpsS ap¯-Ñsâ ktlm-Z-cn…” “Fsâ ap¯-ѳ GI-k-´m-\-am-bn-cp-¶p.” “F¦n AhÄ Ikn³ Bbn-cp-¶n-cn-¡mw.” “AsX-\n-¡-dn-bn-Ã. Fsâ HmÀ½ hÃmsX XfÀ¶n-cn-¡p-¶p. AXp-a-Ã, R§-fpsS IpSpw-_-§Ä \n§-fpsS _wKmfn Iq«pIp-Spw-_-§Ä amXncn Hcp-an-¨Ã Pohn-¡p-¶-Xv. R§Ä Iq«w]n-cnªv Ah-c-h-cpsS hgn-¡p-t]m-Ipw.” skmsskän kn\na Xob-ä-dn\v FXnÀhiw ‘ss\kmwkn’ Ccn-¡p-I-bmWv R§Ä. a«¬ tdmfp-IÄ Ign-¡p-¶-Xn-\nsS s^eqZ emÂtam-l³_m-_p-h-t\mSv tNmZn¨p: “\tc³ _nizm-kn-s\-¸än F´p tXm¶p¶p? Hcp hyàn F¶ \nebv¡v?” Nh-¨p-XoÀ¯v hmbn-ep-ÅXp hngp-§n-bn«v emÂtaml³_m_p {]Xn-h-Nn¨p: “Ft´, \sÃmcp a\p-jy-\msW¶p tXm¶n. ImgvN-bn¯s¶ aXn-¸p-f-hm-¡p¶ Ft´m H¶p-−v.” “F\n¡pw BZyw A§-s\-bmWv tXm¶n-b-Xv.” “Ct¸m A§-s\-b-sÃ-¶pt−m?”

“AÃ. Hcp sXänsâ t]cn Hcm-fpsS kz`m-hs¯ apgp-h³ CSn-¨p-Xmgv¯n¡mWp-¶Xv icn-b-Ã. F¦nepw AbmÄ sNbvXXv hen-b Ipä-am-Wv.” emÂtam-l³_m-_phpw Rm\pw `£Ww \nÀ¯n sNhn IqÀ¸n-¨p. “Abm-fpsS ]gvknse ]{X-¡-«nw-Kp-IÄ HmÀ½-bntÃ? \mj\ sse{_dn doUnwKv dqanse 150-þ200 hÀjw ]g-¡apÅ ]{X-§-fnÂ\n¶v t»Uv D]-tbm-Kn¨v cl-ky-ambn apdns¨-Sp-¯-XmWv Ah-sb¶v C¶p Rm³ Is−-¯n. C-¯cw Ipä-hm-fn-Isf Pbn-en-en-Sp-I-bmWv th−-Xv.” \tc³ _nizmkv doUnwKv dqan sse{_dn Poh-\-¡m-cpsS I®p-sh-«n-¨v, imk-a-S-¡n-¸n-Sn¨v cl-ky-ambn B ]{X-¡-jW-§Ä sh«n-sb-Sp-¡p-¶Xp a\-Ên ImWm³ Rm³ {ian¨p… ]t£ B cwKw ]qÀ¯n-bm-¡m³ F\n¡p km[n-¨n-Ã. Hmtcm-cp-¯À Fs´Ãmw Xc-¯n {]hÀ¯n-¡p-sa¶v apJw I−v Duln-¡m³ t]mepw Ign-bn-Ã. “CsXm-cp-Xcw tcmK-am-Wv. ]nSn-¡-s¸-SmsX C¯cw IrXy§Ä \nÀÆ-ln-¡p-¶-Xn NneÀ¡v Hcp-Xcw {Iqc-k-t´m-jamWv. X§Ä aäp-Å-h-sc-¡mÄ anSp-¡-cm-sW¶p hnNm-cn¨v AhÀ kt´m-j-a-S-bp-¶p. F{X IjvS-am-Wv.” s^eqZ ]dªp. a«¬ tdmÄ XoÀ¯p-I-gnªv R§Ä eÊn HmÀUÀ sNbvXp. s^eqZ _nÃp sIm−p-h-cm\pw ]d-ªp. At¸mtg¡v c−-c-bm-bn-cp-¶p. t¢m¡p-I-fpsS X¼p-cm³ anÌÀ Nu[-cnsb ImWm-dm-I-W-sa-¦n C\nbpw aq¶p aWn-¡qÀ IqSn Ign-b-Ww. s]cn-K dn¸o-äÀ {]iv\w ]cn-l-cn-¨-ÃmsX s^eqZ AS-§n-söv F\n-¡p-d-¸p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. “]gb I¡-«-bnse ihw-Xo-\n-¸-£n-IÄ `£Ww tamln¨v ]mc-¸-äp-I-fn h¶n-cp¶v Ic-ªp-hn-fn-¡p-am-bncpt¶m? emÂtam-l³_m_p tNmZn-¨p.

tdmUn-\-`n-ap-J-ambn Hcp P\m-e-bpsS ASp-¯m-bn-cp¶p R§Ä Ccp-¶n-cp-¶-Xv. AXn-\-¸p-ds¯ ]mc-¸-än-en-cp¶v Hcp Im¡ Ic-bp-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. AXmWv tNmZy-¯n\p {]tIm]-\w. “km[y-X-bn-Ã. ]t£ Ah aXn-ep-I-fnepw then-s¡-«p-Ifnepw h¶n-cn-¡p-am-bn-cp-¶p. A¡m-es¯ Nn{X-§-fn AXn\p th−p-thmfw sXfn-hp-I-fp-−v.” “Ah F§-s\-bm-bn-cp-¶p-sh¶p t]mepw F\n-¡-dn-bn-Ã.” “\ap¡v ImgvN-_w-¥m-hn-te¡p t]mImw. AXmWv Hcp hgn. AsÃ-¦n tImÀ¸-td-j³ kv{Soäv hgn t]mImw. ap\n-kn-¸Â _nÂUnwKnsâ ap³`n-¯n-bn Ah-cpsS ap{Z-bp-−v. AXn ihw-Xo-\n-¸-£n-bpsS Nn{X-ap-−v. AXp Im«n-¯-cmw.” “\n§-fn-t¸mgpw AXns\ tImÀ¸-td-j³ kv{Soäv F¶mtWm hnfn-¡p-¶Xv?” Hcp Nncn-tbmsS emÂtam-l³_m_p tNmZn¨p. “Hm, AXn\p ]pXnb t]cn-«tÃm AtÃ. ‘kptc³ _m\ÀPn tdmUv’ BWv Rm\p-t±-in-¨Xv.” s^eqZ s]s«¶p \nÀ¯n. I®p-I-Ä¡p `mh-am-äw. t]m¡änÂ\n¶p t\m«v_p¡v X¸n-sb-Sp¯v Ft´m XnSp-¡-¯n t\m¡n. _nÃp sIm−p-h-cm-¯-Xn Akz-Ø-\m-bn, ]Xn-hnÃm¯hn[w A£-a-\mbn ‘shbväÀ’ F¶v D¨-¯n hnfn-¨p. _nÃ-S-¨p-I-gn-ªXpw R§Ä Imdn NmSn-¡-b-dn. s^eqZ ss{Uh-tdmSv t]mtI− Øew ]d-ªp. kptc³ _m\ÀPn tdmUn-se-¯n-b-t¸mÄ s^eqZ Hmtcm sI«n-S-¯n-sâbpw \¼À Xnc-bm³ XpS-§n. FÃm-¯n-epsam¶pw hyà-ambn \¼À ImWm-am-bn-cp-¶n-à þ I¡-«-bnse hoSp-I-fpsS s]mXp-shbpÅ ØnXn-bm-W-Xv. “h−n sasà t]mIs«” “tXm]vsj, 141 I−m ]d-b-Ww.” s]s«¶v F\n¡v HmÀ½ h¶p. 141 SNB. kptc-{µ-\mYv _m\ÀPn. Fsâ lrZbw thK-¯n anSn-¡m³ XpS-§n.

“AXm Ahn-sS.” ImÀ \nÀ¯n. sI«n-S-¯n\p ]pd¯v Hcp t_mÀUv D−m-bn-cp-¶p. “_q¬ B³Uv sjt¸Uv”. B&S, AXm R§Ä AXp Is−¯n-bn-cn-¡p-¶p. emÂtam-l³_m-_phpw Rm\pw ^eq-Z-bpsS IqsS DÅn-te¡p sN¶p. apIÄ\n-e-bn-te¡v en^väv D−m-bn-cp-¶p. AXnÂ\n-¶n-d§n-bXv H¶mw \ne-bnse dnk-]vj-\n-te-¡m-Wv. Poh-\-¡m-cn-semcmÄ R§sf kzoI-cn-¡m³ HmSn-h-¶p. H¶-d-¨p-\n-¶n«v s^eqZ tNmZn¨p þ tNmZyw a−-¯-c-sa¶p tXm¶pw. “Av… ChnsS, hnIvtSm-dn-b-bpsS Nn{X-apt−m?” “hnIvtSm-dnb satam-dn-b-en-tâ-XmtWm?” “AÃ, hnIvtSm-dnb cmÚn-bp-sS.” “D−m-hm³ hgn-bn-Ã. C´y kµÀin-¨-h-cpsS Nn{X-§Ä am{Xta R§-fpsS ]¡-ep-Åq. FtUzÀUv F«m-a³, tPmÀPv A©m-a³, UÂln UÀ_mÀ…” “Cu Nn{X-§-sfms¡ Ct¸mgpw e`y-amtWm?” “DÆv. ]t£ DS³ {]nâv e`n-¡n-Ã. R§-fpsS ]¡Â s\K-äo-hpIÄ D−v. Bh-iy-¡mÀ HmÀUÀ X¶m {]nâv FSp-¯p-sIm-Sp¡pw. 1854\p tijapÅ FÃm Nn{X-§-fp-sSbpw s\K-äo-hp-IÄ R§-fpsS ]¡-ep-−v.” “Mvtl! 1854 apX-ep-ÅtXm?” “_q¬ B³Uv sjt¸ÀUv temI-¯nse t^mt«m-{Km-^nIv ÌpUn-tbm-I-fn Gähpw ]g-¡-ta-dnb c−m-at¯Xm-Wv.” “F¶p-h-¨m Bbn-c-¡-W-¡n\p s\K-äo-hp-IÄ D−m-hntÃ?” “DÆp kÀ, Fsâ IqsS h¶m Im«n-¯-cmw. AXm B `n¯nbn Xp§p¶ t^mt«m It−m? 1880 FSp-¯-Xm-Wv.- tam-Wypsaânsâ apI-fnÂ\n-¶v.

AXp-hsc Rm³ B t^mt«m {i²n-¨n-cp-¶n-Ã. Ct¸m Rm\Xp hyà-am-bn-¡-−p. HcSn hoXnbpw A©-Sn-tbmfw \ofhpw hcpw. \qdp hÀjw ap³]v tamWyp-saânsâ apI-fnÂ\n¶p t\m¡nbm I¡« F§-s\-bn-cpt¶m A§s\ Xs¶-bp-−m-bncp¶p AXv. UÂlukn kvIzbÀ, Fkv¹-t\-bvUv, Ahn-sS-\n¶p hS-t¡m«v A§s\ \o−p-In-S-¡p-¶p. FÃm sI«n-S-§Ä¡pw aotX ]Ån-tKm-]p-c-§Ä. _lp-\n-e-s¡-«n-S-§-sfm¶pw ImWm-\nÃ. kzØ-Xbpw kam-[m-\hpw \ndª ]«-Ww, AXn kwi-ban-Ã. R§se s\K-äo-hp-IÄ kq£n-¨n-cn-¡p¶ apdn-bn-te¡p sIm−p-t]m-bn. Fsâ I®p-X-Ån-t¸m-bn. Xd-\n-c¸p apX koenwKv hsc Db-c-apÅ sjÂ^p-IÄ. FÃm-¯nepw Xn§n-\ndªv _u¬\n-d-apÅ NXp-c-s¸-«n-IÄ. s]«n-I-fn DÅ-S-¡¯nsâ hni-Zmw-i-§fpw Xob-Xn-bpw. s^eZq B sjÂ^p-IÄ ]cn-tim-[n-¨p, Nne-h-bnse Xob-XnIÄ kq£va-ambn t\m¡p-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. ]ns¶ hm¨n-te¡p t\m¡n-bn«p R§-tfmSp ]dªp “\n§Ä c−p-t]-cpw-IqSn ]pds¯-§m\pw \S-¡m³ s]mbvs¡m-Åq. Hcp aWn-¡qÀ Ignªp h¶m aXn. F\n-¡n-hnsS Ipd¨p ]Wn-bp-−v.” R§Ä en^vän-\-Sp-t¯¡p aS-§n. “\nsâ Iknsâ CÑ-IÄ F\n¡p IÂ]-\-t]m-se-bm-Wv. H¶pw F\n¡p \nc-kn-¡m³ Ign-bm-dn-Ã. hÃm-s¯mcp ]gvk-Wm-en-än-bmWv AbmÄ¡v. hcq, \ap¡v {^m¦v tdmkn-te¡p t]mImw.” ImÀ kptc³ _m\ÀPn tdmUn Xs¶ \nÀ¯n-bn«v R§Ä Nucw-Kn-bn-eqsS {Km³Uv tlm«-en-te¡p \S-¶p. emÂtaml³_m_p F´n-\mWv acp-¶p-I-S-bn-te¡p t]mIp-¶-sX¶v F\n¡p a\-Ên-em-bn-Ã; Adn-b-W-sa¶p tXm¶n-bp-an-Ã. kabw sImÃ-W-sa¶ Hä e£yta R§Ä¡p-Åq. aäp-Å-hsc CSn-¨p-ho-gv¯msX {i²n¨v R§Ä Xnc-t¡-dnb tdmUn-eqsS \S-¶p. “\nsâ Iknsâ a\-Ên F´m-sW¶p \n\¡p hà Dul-hp-apt−m?” emÂtam-l³_m_p tNmZn-¨p.

F\n¡v Hsc-¯pw-]n-Sn-bp-an-söp k½-Xn-t¡-−n-h-¶p. BsIt¯m¶nb Imcyw: ‘s^eq-Zbv¡p ]pdta aämtcm IqSn jmÀe-änsâ Ubdn hmbn-¨n-«p−v; tKmUvhnsâ ih-Ip-Socw am´n-b kw`-h-hp-ambn AXn\v Ft´m _Ô-ap-−v.’ “Ccp-\qdp hÀj-sams¡ Hcp AØn-IqsS Hcp-tISpw IqSmsX Ccn-¡p-sa¶v \n\¡v Adn-bm-am-bn-cpt¶m?” B tNmZyw Fs¶ tPm_v NmÀW-¡nsâ IÃ-d-sb¸än s^eqZ ]dª Hcp IY HmÀ½n-¸n-¨p. Rm\Xv emÂtam-l³_m_p-hn\p ]d-ªp-sIm-Sp-¯p. NmÀW-¡nsâ ac-W-tijw 200 hÀjw Ign-ª-t¸mÄ skâv tPm¬kv NÀ¨nse Hcp ]ptcm-lnX\p kwibw þ a®n-\-Sn-bn F´mWv D−m-IpI F¶v. NmÀW-¡ns\ bYmÀ°-¯n AhnsS kwkvI-cn-¨n-cpt¶m AtXm shdpsX Hcp ih-Ip-Socw sI«n-bp-bÀ¯n-b-tX-bptÅm F¶p kwi-bw. kwibw aq¯v At±lw AhnSw Ipgn-¸n-¨p. \meSn hsc Ipgn-¨n«pw H¶pw I−n-Ã. Ipd-¨p-IqSn Xmtg¡p sN¶-t¸mÄ AØn-Iq-S-¯n \n¶v Cf-In-t¸m-¶ Hcp ssI. ]ptcm-ln-X³ thKw-Xs¶ IÃd aqSn. R§Ä {^m¦v tdmÊn F¯n. emÂtam-l³_m_p Iu−-dn\-Sp-t¯¡p \S-¡p-t¼mÄ Rm³ asäm-cmsf I−p; thKw-Xs¶ Xncn-¨-dn-bp-Ibpw sNbvXp. Kncn³ _nizm-kv, \tcsâ ktlm-Zc³. At±-l-¯n\v R§sf s]s«¶p ]nSn-In-«n-bn-Ã. c−p-aq¶p XhW R§-fpsS t\À¡p t\m¡nb tij-amWv At±-lsam¶p ]p©n-cn-¨-Xv. ssIbn hen-sbmcp s]mXn-bp-−v. AXn ‘tlmt¦mMv ss{U¢o-t\gvkv’ Fs¶-gp-Xn-bn-«p-−v. “ltem, Rm³ tPyjvT-\p-th−n Nne acp-¶p-IÄ hm§m³ h¶-Xm-Wv.” At±lw ]d-ªp. “At±-l-¯n-s\-§-s\-bp−v?” emÂtam-l³_m_p tNmZn-¨p. “sa¨-s¸-«p-h-cp¶p. Xm¦v bq. \n§-tfm-sSm¸w Ignª Znhkw D−m-bn-cp-¶-bmÄ Unä-IvSohv BtWm? {]tZmjv an¯À? tPyjvT³ ]d-ªp. Rm³ B t]cp tI«n-«p-−v…”

Kncn³ _nizmkv kwkmcw \nÀ¯n. s\än-Np-fnªv Ft´m Nn´n-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp¶p AbmÄ. “At±-l-sa-t¸m-gmWv km[m-c-Wbmbn ho«n-ep-−m-IpI?” “AXp ]d-bm-s\-fp-¸-a-Ã. AXn-ep-sa-fp¸w \n§Ä hcp-¶-Xn\p ap³]v t^m¬ hnfn-¡p¶-Xm-Wvt#. R§-fpsS \¼À sSent^m¬ Ub-d-IvS-dn-bn-ep-−v. “lvww… F\n-s¡m¶p ImtW− Imcy-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. kmc-an-Ã, Rm³ hnfn-¨n«p h¶p-sIm-Åmw. Rm³ At±-ls¯ ImWm³ hcp-sa¶v anÌÀ anä-dn-t\mSp ]d-bq.” bm{X-]-dªv R§Ä \yq amÀ¡-änse IS-I-fn Ib-dn-bn-d§n \S-¶p-\-S¶v tam¯n-io kv{Soän-se-¯n. kptc³ _m\ÀPn tdmUn-te¡p aS-§m-s\m-cp§n. _q¬ B³Uv sjt¸ÀUvkn\p ]pd¯v Imdn-\-cn-In s^eqZ Im¯p-\n¸p−m-bn-cp-¶p. {]Xo-£n-¨-Xnepw t\ct¯ At±-l-¯nsâ tPmen ]qÀ¯n-bm-bn-cp-¶p. Kncn³ _nizm-kns\ I−-Imcyw Rm³ s^eq-Z-tbmSp ]d-ªp. At±lw ]pcnIw Npfn-¨p. “AbmÄ F´p ]dªp?” Ahy-à-amb adp-]-Sn-sIm−v s^eqZ Xr]vX-\m-Ip-I-bn-söv F\n-¡-dn-bm-am-bn-cp-¶p. AXp-sIm−v Rm³ FÃmw hni-Z-am-bn¯s¶ ]d-ªp. ss{U¢o-\nwKv IS-bpsS t]cpÅ IqSnsâ Imcyw hsc. s^eqZ FÃmw \nÈ-_vZ-\m-bn-\n¶p tI«p. \n§-fp-t±-in¨ ]Wn ]qÀ¯n-bm-¡ntbm? FÃmw `wKn-bmbn Iem-in-s¨¶p Icp-X-s«.” emÂtam-l³_m_p tNmZn-¨p. “Hm, sdUn. Ahn-S-samcp kzÀ®-J\n Xs¶-bm-Wv. Rm³ ISbnÂ\n¶p Xs¶ anÌÀ Nu[-cnsb hnfn-¨n-cp-¶p. Abm-fpsS i_vZw shÂshäv t]mse ]Xp-]-Xp-¯n-cn-¡p-¶p. At±lw ho«n Xncn-s¨-¯n-bn-«p-−v; \½psS kµÀi\w Dd-¸m-bn.

H³]Xv t¢m¡pIÄ aWn-b-Sn-¡p-¶Xv Rm³ tIÄ¡m-¯-sXm-¶p-aÃ. ]t£ R§Ä alm-tZhv Nu[-cn-bpsS ho«n-tebv¡v Bdp aWn¡p ImÂIp-¯p-t¼mÄ t¢m¡p-IÄ Hmtcm-¶mbn aWn-b-Sn¡m³ XpS-§n-bXv Hcp hntijw Xs¶-bm-bn-cp-¶p. AXp-am-Xncn Hcp kwKoXw AXp-hsc Rm³ tI«n-cp-¶n-Ã. “Cuiz-cm, kzÀ¤-¯nsâ hmXn-ep-I-fn-eqsS Dugv¶n-d-§p-IbmtWm \½Ä?” emÂtam-l³_m_p BÝcyw D¨-¯n {]ISn-¸n-¨p. “Fs´mcpÖze kzoI-c-Ww.” sN¶-]mtS Nu[-cnsb ImWms\m¶pw Ign-ªn-Ã. At±-l¯nsâ Poh-\-¡m-cn-sem-cmÄ R§sf sNdn-sbmcp Hm^n-kn sIm−p-t]mbn Ccp-¯n. Nu[cn Xnc-¡n-em-sW¶pw A¸t\cw Im¯n-cn-¡-W-sa¶pw ]d-ªp. B sNdnb apdnbn¯s¶ c−p t¢m¡p-I-fp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. H¶v `n¯n-bnÂ, asäm¶v _pIvsjÂ^n-epw. t¢m¡p-I-fpsS aWn-b-Sn-i_vZw \ne-¨-t¸mÄ A`u-an-I-amb Hcp \nÈ-_vZX B hoSns\bmsI Nqgv¶p-\n-¶p. -`o-am-Im-c-amb Hcp B[p-\nI sI«n-S-am-bn-cp¶p AXv. amÀ_nÄ Xd-bpsS Xnf-¡¯n apJw t\m¡m-am-bn-cp-¶p. GXm\pw \nanjw Ign-ª-t¸mÄ Hcp i_vZw. hoSn-\p-Ån Fhn-sS-\nt¶m BWv AXp hcp-¶-Xv. AXv alm-tZhv Nu[-cnbpsS i_vZ-am-sW¶p s^eqZ ]dªp; AXn\p shÂshänsâ ]Xp-]-Xp-¸p-t−m-sb¶v F\n¡p Xncn-¨-dn-bm³ Ign-ªn-Ã. GXm-bmepw B i_vZw D¨-¯n-em-Ip-Ibpw Hc-«-lm-k-ambn amdp-Ibpw sNbvX-t¸mÄ AYhm ]Xp-]-Xp-¸p-−m-bn-cp-s¶¦nÂXs¶ FÃmw t]mbva-d-ªn-cp-¶p. Nu[cn Bsctbm iIm-cn-¡p-I-bm-Wv. R§Ä aq¶p-t]cpw izmk-a-S-¡n-¸n-Sn¨v ImtXmÀ¯p. c−m-a-s¯-bmÄ At¸mgpw im´-am-bn-¯-s¶-bmWv kwkm-cn-¡p-¶-Xv; AXp-sIm−v AbmÄ ]d-bp-¶Xp R§Ä¡p tIÄ¡m³ h¿. ]t£ ho−pw Nu[-cn-bpsS i_vZw DbÀ¶p-s]m-§n. “C¯cw CS-]m-Sp-I-fn Rm³ ap³IqÀ ]Ww \ÂIm-td-bp-Å-

X-Ã. \n§-fpsS ieyw Imc-W-amWv X¶-Xv. Ct¸mÄ ]d-bp¶p AXp apgp-h³ sNe-hm-bnt¸m-sb-¶v. kXyw ]d-bm-a-tÃm, \n§fpsS Hcp hm¡p-t]mepw F\n¡p hnizm-k-an-Ã. C{Xbpw sNdnsbmcp tPmen¡v Rms\-´n-\mWv C{X-b-[nIw ]Ww apS-¡p¶Xv? F\n-s¡mcp ]nSnbpw In«p-¶n-Ã. icn icn… ]Ww Rm³ Xcmw. B km[\w F\n¡p c−p Znh-k-¯n-\p-Ån In«-Ww. C\n Hgn-I-gn-hp-I-sfm¶pw ]än-Ã. tI«tÃm!” ]cn-]qÀ® \nÈ-_vZ-X-bm-bn-cp¶p A¸-t\-c-t¯-¡v. ]ns¶ ap³hm-Xn¡-te¡p \o§p¶ Ime-Sn-i_vZw tI«p. Hcp an\näv Ign-ª-t¸mÄ Nu[-cn-bpsS tkh-I³ aS-§n-h-¶p. “Fsâ IqsS hcq” AbmÄ ]d-ªp. ImgvNbv¡v Nu[cn shÂshäv t]mse-X-s¶-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p þ ASn-ap-Sn. sshIn«v Bdp aWn Ign-ªn«pw Abm-fpsS Ihn-fpIÄ¡p an\p-khpw Xnf-¡hpw \jvS-s¸-«n-cp-¶n-Ã. Znhkw c−pX-hW tjhv sN¿p-¶p-−v, \nÝ-bw. Rm³ a\-ÊntemÀ¯p. ]ns¶-sbm-cn-¡Â emÂtam-l³_m_p ]dªp: “Hcp Cu¨-sb-§m³ Abm-fpsS apJ¯p t]mbn Ccp-¶n-cp-s¶¦n ImÂh-gpXn hoWp-t]m-tb-s\.” R§Ä IS-¶p-sN¶ henb enhnwKv dqw AXnsâ DS-asbt¸mse-Xs¶ Xnf-¡hpw an\p-khpw DÅ-Xm-bn-cp-¶p. Hcp Xcn s]mSn-t]mepw Fhn-sSbpw ImWm-\n-Ã. aqe-I-fn-sem¶pw amdmetbm F«p-Im-entbm NnXtem H¶p-an-Ã. kzÀ®w-sIm-−pÅ Hcp knK-cäv tlmÄUÀ Npt−m-S-Sp-¸n-¨psIm−v Nu[cn tNmZn¨p: Xm¦Ä B t¢m¡v sIm−p-h-¶n«pt−m?” R§-sf-Ãm-hcpw bYmÀ°-¯n sR«n-t¸m-bn. “t¢m¡v? GXp t¢m¡v?” “GtXm Hcp t¢m¡nsâ Imcy-hp-ambn _Ô-s¸«p ImWm³ hcp¶p F¶tà ]d-ªn-cp-¶Xv? Rm³ hnNm-cn¨p ]{X-¯n Fsâ ]ckyw I−p hnfn-¨-Xm-Ip-sa-¶v.”

“£an-¡Ww anÌÀ Nu[cn. Rm³ Xm¦-fpsS ]ckyw I−n-Ã. F\n¡p Nne hnh-c-§Ä thWw. Hcp-]t£ AsXmcp t¢m¡pambn _Ô-s¸-«-Xm-bn-cn-¡mw. B hnj-b-¯n Xm¦Ä henb ]WvUn-X-\m-sW¶p Rm\-dn-ªp. AXp-sIm-−m-Wv…” shÂshäv apJ¯v Npfn-hp-IÄ {]Xy-£-s¸-«p. Nu[cn Itk-cbn H¶n-f-In-bn-cp-¶p. AbmÄ A£-a-\m-bn-cp-¶p. “Hcp-]mSp kabw A\p-h-Zn-¡m-\m-hnà anÌÀ an¯À. Rm³ Su¬hn«v Hcp bm{X-bvs¡m-cp-§p-I-bm-Wv. thKw ]d-ªp-XoÀ¡-Ww.” “ ‘s]cn-K dn¸o-äÀ’ F¶m F´mWv? AXp-am-{Xta F\n¡v Adntb-−-Xp-Åq. shÂshäv s]s«¶p IÃp-t]mse ISp-¯p. hmbnÂ\n¶v C¯ncn AI-¯n-bmWv knK-cäv tlmÄUÀ ]nSn-¨n-cn-¡p-¶-Xv. Nu[-cn-bpsS I®p-IÄ Ca-Nn-½m³ t]mepw ad¶v s^eq-Z-sb¯s¶ t\m¡n. “Fhn-S¶p In«n B t]cv?” “]s¯m-¼Xmw \qäm-−nse Hcp t\mh-enÂ\n-¶v.” Bhiyw h¶m \pW-]-d-bm³ s^eq-Zbv¡p aSn-sbm-¶p-an-Ãmbn-cp-¶p. ap³]pw Rm³ AXp {i²n-¨n-«p-−v. dn¸o-äÀ F¶m tXmt¡m t¢mt¡m BIm-sa¶v F\n-¡-dn-bmw. Rm³ UnIvj\dn t\m¡n. ]t£ s]cn-K F´m-sW¶p ]d-ªp-Xcm³ BÀ¡pw Ign-ªn-Ã. Nu[cn s^eq-Z-sb-¯s¶ kq£n-¨p-t\m-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. kwkm-cn-¨p-Xp-S-§n-b-t¸mÄ shÂsh-än\p aqÀ¨-h-¨n-cp-¶p. “AÀ°-a-dn-bm¯ Hcp hm¡p I−m AÀ°w tXSn XnI¨pw A]-cn-Nn-X-cpsS ASp-¡Â t]mIpI \n§-fpsS ]Xn-hmtWm anÌÀ an¯À?” Nu[cn At¸mgpw s^eq-Z-sb-¯s¶ kq£n-¨p-t\m-¡p-I-bm-bncp-¶p. “Bhiyw tXm¶n-bm sN¿m-dp−v.”

“Ct¸m-sg-´mWv A§-s\-sbmcp Bhiyw F¶p Nu[cn tNmZn¡p-sa¶p Rm³ Icp-Xn. F¶m Fs´-¦nepw tNmZn-¡p-I-bÃ, s^eq-Zsb Xpdn-¨p-t\m-¡n-s¡m-−n-cn-¡p-I-bmWv AbmÄ sNbvX-Xv. GXm\pw sk¡³Up-IÄ Ignªv AbmÄ tNm-Zn¨ tNmZyw tI«-t¸mÄ Fsâ lrZbw tamt«mÀ ]nSn-¸n-¨-Xp-t]mse anSn-¨p. ASp¯ tai-bnse t¢m¡nsâ SnIvSnIv i_vZw t]mse lrZ-b-an-Sn-¸nsâ i_vZw Fsâ ImXp-I-fn h¶-e-¨p. “\n§-sfmcp Unä-IvSohv BWv AtÃ?” s^eq-Z-bpsS ssØcyw Fs¶ A¼-c-¸n-¨p-I-f-ªp. A©p sk¡³Uv Ign-ªmWv At±-l-¯nsâ adp-]Sn h¶Xv. ]t£ kwkm-cn-¨p-Xp-S-§n-b-t¸mÄ B i_vZw XnI¨pw kzm`m-hn-Ihpw Hgp-¡p-Å-Xp-am-bn-cp-¶p. “Xm¦Ä hnh-c-§sfÃmw \¶mbn Adnbp-¶p-−-tÃm.” “AÃmsX ]än-ÃtÃm anÌÀ an¯À. hnh-c-§Ä tiJ-cn-¨p-X-cm³ F\n¡v Bfp-I-fp−v.” “Fsâ tNmZyw Xm¦Ä ad-¶-Xp-t]mse tXm¶p-¶p. Hcp]t£ Xm¦Ä¡v Adnbn-Ãm-bn-cn-¡mw. AX-Ã, Adn-bm-sa¦nepw ]d-bm³ Xm¸-cy-an-sÃ-¦n A[nIw sa\-s¡-Sp-¯msX Rm³ t]mtb-¡mw.” “AhnsS Ccn-¡q, anÌÀ an¯À” s^eqZ FWn¡m³ XpS-§n-bn-cp-¶p. At¸m-gmWv B I¸\ h¶-Xv. Rm³ s]s«¶p emÂtam-l³_m-_phns\ t\m¡n. kzbw Fgp-t¶Â¡m³t]mepw Ign-bm-¯-hn[w iàn tNmÀ¶p-t]m-b-Xp-t]mse ImW-s¸«p At±lw. “Zb-hmbn Ccn-¡q.” Nu[cn ]d-ªp. s^eqZ Ccp-¶p. “dn¸o-äÀ F¶m tXm¡m-Wv. ]t£ AXn-s\m¸w ‘s]cn-KÂ’ F¶p-IqSn tNÀ¯m AsXmcp hm¨m-bn. t]m¡äv hm¨v. {^m³knkv s]cn-KÂ. Hcp Cw¥o-jp-Im-c³. ]Xn-s\«mw \qäm−nsâ A´y-¯n s]cn-K-en-s\-t¸mse hnZ-Kv[-cmb hm¨p-

\nÀ½m-Xm-¡Ä thsd-bn-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. Ccp-\qdp hÀjw ap³]v temI-¯nse Gähpw anI¨ hm¨p-IÄ \nÀ½n-¨n-cp-¶Xv kznävkÀe³Un-em-bn-cp-¶n-Ã, Cw¥-−n-em-bn-cp-¶p.” “Hcp s]cn-K dn¸o-ä-dn\v C¶v F´p hne-hcpw?” “A¯-c-samcp hm¨v hm§m³ \n§-sf-s¡m−p Ign-bnà anÌÀ an¯À.” “AsX-\n-¡-dn-bmw.” “F\n¡p Ign-bpw.” “AXpw F\n-¡-dn-bmw.” “]ns¶-sb-´n-\mWv AXnsâ hne-bdn-bp-¶Xv?” “shdpw PnÚm-k.” “AÀ°-iq-\y-amb PnÚm-k. Hcp Imcy-hp-an-Ã.” Nu[cn HSp-hn-es¯ ]pI-bp-sa-Sp¯v knK-cäv tlmÄUdnÂ\ns¶-Sp¯ Ipän kv^SnIw -sIm-−pÅ Bjv t{Sbn Ip¯n-s¡-Sp-¯n. F¶n«v FWo-äp-\n-¶p. “Bh-iy-apÅ hnhcw In«n-¡-gn-ªntÃ? C\n \n§Ä¡p t]mImw. I¡-«-bn Htc-sbmcp s]cn-K dn¸o-ätd DÅq. AXv Fsâ ssIbn h¶p-tN-cm³ t]mIp-I-bm-Wv, \n§-fpsS ssIbn-e-Ã… ]ymtc-emÂ!” R§Ä h¶-t¸mÄ FXn-tcä B a\p-jy³ ho−pw h¶p. R§Ä apdn-hn-«n-d-§p-t¼mÄ shÂsh-änsâ ]Xp-]-Xp-t¸msS B i_vZw ho−pw: “Fsâ ssIhiw asäm-cp-Xcw dn¸o-ädpw D−v anÌÀ an¯À. AXnsâ i_vZw t¢m¡n \n¶p ]pd-s¸-Sp-¶{X C¼-I-c-a-Ã.” Ben-¸qÀ ]mÀ¡nÂ\n-¶pÅ aS-¡-bm-{X-bn-em-bn-cp¶p R§Ä. ag-Im-cWw Imdnsâ NnÃp-IÄ ho−pw DbÀ¯n-bn-cp-¶p.

R§Ä PUvPkv tImÀ«v tdmUn F¯n-b-t¸m-gmWv ag XpS§n-b-Xv. “Abm-fmWv Cu IY-bnse \mb-I-s\¶p tXm¶p-¶tÃm.” emÂtam-l³_m_p ]d-ªp. s^eqZ adp-]-Sn-sbm¶pw ]d-ªn-Ã. At±lw P\m-ebn¡qSn ]pd-t¯¡p t\m¡n-bn-cn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. emÂtaml³_m-_p-hn\v A[n-I-k-abw an−m-sX-bn-cn-¡m³ Ign-bn-Ã. At±lw ho−pw XpS-§n. “\mb-I-s\-¶-Ã, Hcp-]t£ hnÃ-s\¶m-bn-cn¡pw hnfn-t¡-−-Xv. ]t£ Xm¦Ä Ft¶mSp ap³]p ]dªn-«p-−-tÃm, Ipäm-t\z-j-W-¯n Bcpw kwi-b-¯n\v AXoX-cà F¶v. Bcp thW-sa-¦nepw hnóthj-¯n-se-¯mw. AXp-sIm−v Rm³ B hm¡v D]-tbm-Kn-¨n-söp am{Xw. F´n\mWp Rm\n-§s\ kwi-bn-¡p-¶-sX¶v F\n-¡-dn-bn-Ã. Hcp ih-Ip-Socw Btcm am´n-bn-cn-¡p¶p þ AXn-se-´m-Wn{X Ipä-Ic-am-bp-ÅXv?” At¸mgpw s^eqZ H¶pw Dcn-bm-Sn-bn-Ã. emÂtam-l³_m-_phn\v £a \in-¨p. “s^ep _m_q, \n§Ä¡n-sX-´p-]än? FÃmw ths−-¶p-h-bv¡p-I-bmtWm? F¦n C\n-sb´m \½psS Imcyw? Abm-fpsS s]cp-amäw I−n«v F\n-s¡sâ ssIbpw Imepw ac-hn-¨p-t]m-bn. AXnsâ IqsS B t¢m¡p-IfpsS aWn-b-Sn-bpw. Ct¸m-gnXm \n§-sfm¶pw an−p-¶p-an-Ã, A´-co-£-amsI aqSn-s¡-«n-bn-cn-¡p-¶p. hgn-bmsI Ipgn-bpw…!” HSp-hn s^eqZ hm Xpd-¶p. “sXän-t¸mbn anÌÀ KmwKp-en. hen-sbmcp Ipcp-¡nÂ\n¶p ]pd-t¯-¡pÅ hgn Is−-¯n-¡-gnbp-t¼mÄ Bsc-¦nepw ths−-¶p-h-bv¡ptam?” “]cn-lmcw Is−-¯n-sbt¶m?” “Dw. F¦nepw Ct¸m-gp-a-dn-bnà atä Aä-s¯-´m-sW-¶v. H¶pw A{X t\tchm t\tct]m a«-Ã. Hmtcm hfhpw Xncnhpw {i²tbmsS XcWw sNbvXmte adp-]p-d-s¯-¯q.” R§Ä ho«n-se-¯n-¡-gnªpw ag XpS-cp-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. cmhnse t\ct¯ hcm-sa¶p ]dªv emÂtam-l³_m_p t]mbn.

“Fsâ klmbw IqSmsX \n§Ä¡v H¶pw km[n-¡p-sa¶p tXm¶p-¶nà s^ep _m_q.” t]mIm³t\cw At±lw ]d-ªp. _kn-em-bn-cp¶p bm{X-sb-¦n F{X kabw shdp-sX-t]m-Ip-ambn-cp-s¶¶v Btem-Nn-¨p-t\m-¡q. D¨bv¡p `£Ww Ign-¡p¶ t\c¯v s^eqZ t\m«v_p-¡n Ft´m Ipdn-¡p-¶Xp Rm³ {i²n-¨n-cp-¶p. A¯m-gw-I-gnªv Rm³ At±-l-¯nsâ apdn-bnÂt]mbn AsX-´m-sW¶p I−p]n-Sn-¨p. At±-l-s¯-¸än Bi¦ tXm¶n-bn-cp-¶-Xp-sIm−v F\n¡p t\cn«p kwkm-cn-¡p-Ibpw thW-am-bn-cp-¶p. alm-tZhv Nu[-cnsb ImWp-Ibpw Abm-fpsS kwkmcw tIÄ¡p-Ibpw sNbvX F\n¡v Bi-¦-s¸-Sm³ hI-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. Abm-fpsS apJw HmÀ½-bn h¶-t¸m-sgms¡ Fsâ lrZbw ]nS-ªp. lotdmtbm hnÃt\m þ emÂtam-l³_m_p F´p-Xs¶ hnfn¡p¶p-sh-¶Xp Imcy-aÃ; Fs¶ kw_-Ôn-¨n-S-t¯mfw AbmÄ Hcp `oI-c-IYm-]m-{Xam-bn-cp-¶p.- -]p-dta shÂshäv ab-apÅ AbmfpsS DÅv acp-`q-an-bnse IÅn-s¨-Sn-t]mse ]cp-¡\pw apÅp-IÄ \nd-ª-Xp-am-bn-cp-¶p. s^eq-Zbv¡v sNdnb Bi-¦-t]mepw DÅ-Xmbn tXm¶n-bn-Ã. t\m«v_p-¡nse Hcp Nn{X-¯n {i²n-¨n-cn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp¶p At±-lw. Rm³ Ib-dn-s¨-¶-t¸mÄ AXv Fsâ t\tc \o«n: “Cu hr£hpw AXnsâ inJ-c-§fpw {i²n-¡q.” AXv GXm−v C{]-Im-c-am-bn-cp-¶p. tXmakv tKmUvhn³ (1788 þ 1858) tUhnUv tKmUvhn³ (1816 þ 1874)

tPm¬ tKmUvhn³ (1818 þ 1858)

B³{Uq tKmUvhn³ (1847 þ 1882)

?????

NmÄkv tKmUvhn³

jmÀeäv tKmUvhn³ (A-hnhm-ln-X) (1819 – 1886)

(1880- þ 1920) amÀIkv tKmUvhn³ (1914þ ) {InÌ-^À tKmUvhn³ (? – ) “he-Xp-h-i¯p hÃm-s¯mcp iq\y-X-bntÃ?” s^eqZ tNmZn-¨p. “AXp kzm`m-hn-I-atÃ? jmÀeäv hnhmlw Ign-¨n-cp-¶n-ÃtÃm?” “jmÀe-änsâ Imcy-aà Rm³ Nn´n-¡p-¶-Xv. AXv t\tchm tIkm-Wv. tPm¬ F¶ a\p-jy-\mWv {]iv\-¡m-c-s\¶p tXm¶p-¶p. B Hcp imJ ]qÀ®-ambpw ImgvN-bnÂ\n¶p adªn-cn-¡p-¶p. ]t£, AXnsâ adp-X-e-bv¡Â \n¶p NneXp Rm³ I−-Xp-t]mse tXm¶p-¶p. hyà-ambn ImWm³ Ignªm Cu {]iv\-¯n\p kam-[m\w In«n-tb-¡pw. Hcp]t£ \msf cmhn-se-Xs¶.” s^eqZ ho−pw IS-¦-Y-IÄ kwkm-cn-¡m³ XpS-§n. AXv At±l-¯nsâ ioe-am-Wv. AYhm tNmZn-¨mepw H¶pw shfn-s¸-Sp¯n-söv F\n-¡-dn-bm-am-bn-cp-¶p. R§Ä kwkm-cn-¨p-sIm-−n-cns¡ ag \ne-¨p. Fs¶ A¼-c-¸n¨p-sIm−v s^eqZ NmSn-sb-gp-t¶-äp. “Xm¦Ä ]pd-¯p-t]m-Ip-I-bmtWm?” “AtX kÀ.” “F´m? Ft§m-«mWv?” “Rm³ Uyq«n {]th-in-t¡-−n-bn-cn-¡p-¶p.” “Uyq«n?” “Dw. C¶p cm{Xn Rm³ Imh Uyq«n-bn-em-Wv.”

s^eqZ \mbm«v _qSvkv ]pd-s¯-Sp-¯n-cp-¶p. Hmtcm XhW B _qSvkv ImWp-t¼mgpw Rm³ tcmam-©-a-Wn-ªp-t]mIpw; Ahtbmtcm¶pw s^eq-Z-bpsS Hmtcmtcm kml-kn-I-X-I-fp-ambn _Ô-s¸-«hbm-Wv. C¶p cm{Xn At±lw skan-t¯-cn-bn Imhen\p t]mIp-I-bm-sW-¦n Gähpw tbmPn¨ thj-am-W-Xv.” “cm{Xn skan-t¯-cn-bn-te-bv¡mtWm?” t\cnb ]XÀ¨-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p.

Fsâ

i_vZ¯n\p

“thsd-hn-sS-t¸m-Im³?” “Hä-bv¡mtWm?” “t]Sn-t¡-−. Iq«n\v Hcm-fp-−v. Fsâ dn¸o-äÀ.” s^eqZ ‘tImÄ«v .32’ FSp¯p t]m¡-än h¨p. F\n-¡Xp Xosc CjvS-s¸-«nÃ. “AhnsS F´p kw`-hn-¡p-sa-¶mWp IcpXp-¶Xv? B ih-¡pgn Ft¸mtg Ipgn-¨p-I-gn-ª-Xm-Wv. hm¨v Bsc-¦nepw Is−-¯n-sb-¦n sIm−p-t]m-bn-«p-ap-−v.” “CÃ. Ipgn-¨-hÀ Bcp-X-s¶-bm-bmepw B Xe-tbm-«n I−-\nanjw HmSn-¡-f-ªp. A{Xbv¡p `b-s¸-«n-cp-¶p AhÀ. Asæn B a¬sh«n AhnsS A§s\ Dt]-£n-¨p-t]m-In-Ãm-bn-cp¶p. H¶p-In XncnsI sIm−p-t]m-Ipw, AsÃ-¦n Fhn-sS-sb¦nepw Hfn-¨p-h-t¨-s\.” A§-s\-sbmcp t_m[w F\n-s¡-´mWp tXm¶m-Xn-cp-¶Xv?

]¯v s^eqZ Ft¸m-gmWv Xncn-s¨-¯n-b-sX¶v ssZh-¯nt\ Adnbq. ]p-eÀs¨ Rms\-Woäp Xgs¯ \ne-bn-se-¯p-t¼mÄ GtgIm-em-bn-cp-¶p. s^eq-Z-bpsS apdn-bpsS hmXn AS-¨n-«p-−v. Nnet¸mÄ Dd-¡-am-bn-cn-¡pw. Ignª c−p cm{Xnbpw Xosc Dd§n-bn-«n-Ã-tÃm. H³]Xp aWn-bm-b-t¸mÄ hmXn Xpd-¶p. Ipfnbpw tjhn-§psams¡ Ign-ªn-cp-¶p. apJ¯v AÂ]w t]mepw £oW-an-Ã. Fs¶ I−-t¸mÄ ssIbpsS s]cp-hn-c Cf-¡n-¡m-Wn¨p; cm{Xn skan-t¯-cn-bn hnti-jn-s¨m¶pw kw`-hn-¨nà F¶ kqN-\. H³]-X-c-bm-b-t¸mÄ emÂtam-l³_m_p F¯n. “CjvS-s¸-Sp-tam-sb¶p t\m¡v.” At±lw ]d-ªp. ]d-ªn-cp-¶-Xp-t]mse At±lw ap¯-Ñsâ hm¨v sIm−p-h-¶ncp-¶p. knÂhÀ sNbv\pÅ knÂhÀ hm¨v. “\à kpµ-c³ hm¨v.” Hcp Ime¯v Iq¡v-þ-sIÂhn {]i-kvXcmb hm¨v \nÀ½m-Xm-¡-fm-bn-cp-¶p.” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. “\n§-f-t\z-jn-¡p¶ B km[-\-a-ÃtÃm CXv AtÃ?” emÂtaml³_m_p tNmZn-¨p. CXp I¡-«-bn-ep-−m-¡n-b-Xm-Wv.” “DÆv. ]t£ CXv F\n¡p Xc-W-sa¶v kXy-ambpw Xm¦Ä A`ne-jn-¡p-¶pt−m?” “XoÀ¨-bm-bpw. Fsâ A\p-{K-l-§fpw Biw-k-I-fp-a-S-¡w. \ns¶-¡mÄ aq¶c hb-Ên\p aq¯-XmWv Rm³; AXp-sIm−v Fsâ A\p-{K-l-§Ä \nc-kn-¡-cp-Xv.” “Xm¦v bq.” s^eqZ B hm¨v Xqhm-e-bn s]mXnªv t]m¡-än-en-«p. F¶n«v t^mWnsâ ASp-t¯¡p \o§p-t¼m-tg¡v Btcm R§-fpsS hmXn-en Xpcp-Xpcm ap«n.

Rm³ Xpd-¶-t¸mÄ Kncn³ _nizm-kv. hcp-sa¶v Ignª Znhkw AbmÄ kqNn-¸n-¨n-cp-s¶-¦nepw Rm³ Xosc {]Xo-£n¨n-cp-¶n-Ã. AXpw C{X s]s«-¶v. AbmÄ tPmen¡p t]mIp¶ hgn-bm-sW¶p tXm¶n-¨p. [cn-¨n-cn-¡p-¶Xv kyq«v; ssIbn {_o^vsI-bvkv. “Rm³ C§s\ CSn-¨p-I-b-dn-h-¶-Xp sXämbn Icp-X-cp-Xv. Rm³ \n§sf hnfn-¡m³ {ian-¨n-cp-¶p, ]t£ sse³ In«n-bnÃ. ]¯p an\n-sä-¦nepw t^m¬ Ub sNbvXp sa\-s¡-«p.” Abm-fmsI Akz-Ø\mbn-cp-¶p. “AXnse´m? F\n¡p {]iv\-sam-¶p-an-Ã. AsÃ-¦nepw GsX¦nepw t^m¬ th− ka-b¯p {]hÀ¯n-¨m AXtà AÛpXw? F´m Ct§m«p hcm³ hntijw?” anÌÀ _nizmkv Hcp Itk-c-bn-en-cp-¶p. Rm\pw emÂtaml³_m-_phpw Znhm-\nepw s^eqZ skän-bn-epw. “Ft§m«p Xncn-b-W-sa-¶-dn-bmsX hnj-an-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp¶p Rm³.” AbmÄ s\än-bnse hnbÀ¸v Xqhm-sem-I−v H¸n. “s]meo-kns\ F\n-¡{X hnizm-k-sam-¶p-an-Ã. Xm¦Ä R§sf kµÀin¨ ØnXn-¡v…” “F´m? F´p-]än?” _nizmkv sXm− t\tc-bm-¡n-bn«p ]dªp: “Fsâ ktlmZ\v ]cp-t¡-äXv acw hoWn-s«m-¶p-a-Ã.” \nÈ-_vZ-X-bpsS GXm\pw \nan-j-§Ä IS¶p-t]m-bn. s^eq-ZbmWv AXv `RvPn-¨-Xv. “]ns¶ F´mWp kw`-hn-¨Xv?” “At±-ls¯ sImÃm³ {ian-¨-Xm-Wv. B ASn a\x]qÀÆ-am-bn-cp¶p.” s^eqZ \nÊw-K-\mbn t]m¡-änÂ\n¶p NmÀan-\mÀ FSp¯v _nizm-knsâ t\tc \o«n; Abm-fXp \nc-kn-¨p. s^eqZ Hs¶-Sp-

¯p. “]t£ acw hoW-Xm-sW¶ Imcy-¯n At±lw Dd-¨p\n¡p-I-bm-WtÃm?” “kz´w aIs\ Ipä-hm-fn-bm-¡pt#¶-Xnepw t`Zw acn-¡p-I-bmsW-¶mWv At±-l-¯nsâ \ne-]m-Sv.” “kz´w aIt\m?” “aq¯ aI-\m-Wv. {]im´. Cf-b-bmÄ Cw¥-−n-em-Wv.” “{]im´ F´mWp sN¿p-¶Xv?” “Ah³ F´mWp sN¿m-¯Xv F¶p ]d-bp-I-bmhpw Ffp-¸w. \nb-a-hn-cp-²-ambn Fs´-Ãm-apt−m AXn-seÃmw B sNdp-¡\v ssIbp-−v. aqt¶m \mtem hÀjta BbpÅp Ah³ C§-s\bm-bn-«v. Fsâ tPyjvT¯n þ Ahsâ A½ þ 1970 acn-¨p. Ah-s\-s¡m−v kln-sI«v tPyjvT³ GXm−v Hcp amkw ap³]v Ahs\ hn¸-{X-¯n \n¶v Hgn-hm-¡p-sa¶p `oj-Wns¸-Sp-¯n. kz¯p apgp-h³ kpim-´\v þ Cf-b-h\v þ \ÂIpsa¶v At±lw ]d-ªp.” “{]im´ \n§Ä Xma-kn-¡p¶ ho«n Xs¶-btà Xma-kn-¡p¶Xv?” “Ah\p Xma-kn¡mw. AXn-\pÅ Ah-Im-i-ap-−v. Ah-\mbn Hcp apdn Hgn-¨n-«n-«p-ap-−v. ]t£ Ah³ AhnsS Xma-kn-¡n-Ã. Fhn-sS-bmWp Xma-kn-¡p-¶-sX¶p ]d-bm³ Ign-bp-I-bp-an-Ã. Hcp KmwKnsâ IqsS-bm-W-h³. FÃmw H¶n-s\m¶p anI¨ {Inan\Â. A¶v B sImSp-¦mäp h¶n-Ãm-bn-cp-s¶-¦n Ah³ AÑs\ sIm¶p-I-f-tªs\.” “tPyjvT³ F´mWv ]d-bp-¶Xv? CsXms¡ kw_-Ôn¨v?” “acw hoWp Xs¶-bmWv ]cp¡v F¶v At±lw XoÀ¯p-]-d-bp¶p. X\n¡p ]cp-t¡-äXp kz´w aI-\nÂ\n-¶m-sW¶p hniz-kn¡m³ At±lw CjvS-s¸-Sp-¶n-Ã. F\n¡p ]t£ ]d-bmsX h¿. {]im´ Fsâ acp-a-I-s\m-s¡-¯-s¶, ]t£ Xm¦Ä Fs´-

¦nepw sNbvXn-sÃ-¦n Ah³ C\nbpw AÑs\ sImÃm³ {ian¡pI Xs¶ sN¿pw.” “\tc³ _nizmkv ]pXn-sbmcp hn¸{Xw Abmsf sIm¶mepw aI\v H¶pw In«n-ÃtÃm?”

Fgp-Xn-bmÂ,

“AXp icn-bm-Wv. ]t£ km¼-¯n-I-t\«w am{X-am-bn-s¡m-ÅW-sa-¶nà Ft¸mgpw e£yw. shdpsX Ien-I-bdn Dd-ªp-XpÅp-¶-Xn-\nsS kw`-hn-¨p-t]m-Imw. {]Xn-Imcw ho«m\pw IW-¡pXoÀ¡m\pw sImÃp-¶-h-cpw [mcm-f-ap-−-tÃm. AXp am{X-a-Ã, tPyjvT³ F´m-bmepw hn¸{Xw amäm-s\m¶pw t]mIp-¶n-Ã. At§-cpsS _p²n t\tcbm-hn-Ã. ]nXr-kvt\lw GX-f-hp-hsc t]mIp-sa¶v anÌÀ an¯À, Xm¦Ä¡-dn-bn-Ã. “Cu Znh-k-§-fn-seÃmw Rm³ ho«n¯-s¶-bp-−m-bn-cp¶p. ]t£ C¶p Rm³ AXym-h-iy-ambn Su¬ hn«p t]mIp-Ibm-Wv. Nne _nkn-\kv Bh-iy-§-fp-−v. AXp-sIm-−mWv Rm³ Xm¦-fp-sS-b-Sp-¡Â h¶-Xv. Ign-bp-sa-¦n Zb-hm-bn…” knK-c-änse Nmcw Bjvt{S-bn X«n-bn-«p-sIm−v s^eqZ ]dªp: “£an-¡Ww anÌÀ _nizm-kv, Rm³ asämcp tIknsâ Xnc-¡n-em-Wv. \n§-fpsS ktlm-Z-c\v Fs´-¦nepw Xc-¯n-epÅ kwc-£Ww thW-sa-¶Xn kwi-b-anÃ. ]t£ acw hoWp Xs¶-bmWv ]cp-s¡¶v At±lw iTn-¡p¶n-S-t¯mfw Imew temI-s¯mcp s]meokv tk\bv¡pw At±ls¯ klm-bn-¡m³ Ign-bn-Ã.” Kncn³ _nizmkv t]mbn. \\-ªp-]n-gnª Iptd Znh-k-§Ä¡p tijw kqcys\ I−-Xnsâ BËm-Z-¯n-em-bn-cp¶p AbmÄ hcp-¶-Xp-hsc R§Ä. B BËmZw \in-¸n-¡m³ AbmÄ¡p Ign-ªp. ‘hnNn{Xw!’ F¶p ]d-ªp-sIm−v s^eqZ _nizm-knsâ hc-hpaqew apS-§nb t^m¬hn-fn-bn-te¡p IS-¶p. “ltem kp{lo-Zv, s^ep-hm-Wv.”

kp{loZv sk³Kp-]vXbpw s^eq-Zbpw tImf-Pn Hcp-an¨p ]Tn-¨h-cm-Wv. “Hcn-¡Â \nsâ ho«n Rm³ Hcp {]kn-U³kn tImfPv amKkn³ I−n-cp-¶p. iXm-_vZn-tbm-S-\p-_-Ôn-¨pÅ {]tXyI ]Xn¸m-bn-cp¶p AXv. \nsâ ktlm-Z-c-tâ-Xm-bn-cp-s¶-¶mWv Fsâ HmÀ½. 1955 {]kn-²o-I-cn-¨-Xm-bn-cn-¡pw. AXv Ct¸mgpw Ahsâ ssIbn-ep-−m-Iptam? … Hm, \¶m-bn. \o Hm^n-kn t]mIp-¶Xn\p ap³]v AXv the-¡m-cs\ G¸n-¡ptam? Rms\mcp ]¯-c-bm-Ip-t¼mÄ h¶v hm§n-s¡m-Åmw. AXym-h-iyam-Wv. HmÄssdäv. Xm¦vkv F tem«v.” Nmb IpSn¨v R§Ä ]pd-s¸-«p. s^eq-Zbv¡v aq¶n-S¯p t]mIW-am-bn-cp¶p þ \tc³ _nizm-kv, _q¬ & sjt¸-Uv, ]mÀ¡v kv{Soäv skan-t¯-cn. \tc³ _nizm-knsâ Imcyw ]d-bp-¶Xp tI«-t¸mÄ F\n¡v AÛpXw tXm¶n. s^eqZ hni-Zo-I-cn¨p: “Abm-fpsS ktlm-Z-c³ ]dª Imcy-§Ä XoÀ¯v Ah-K-Wn¡m³ Ign-bp-¶n-Ã. AXp-sIm−v _nizm-kns\ F´m-bmepw Hcn¡Â¡qSn kµÀin-¡-Ww. \n§Ä c−p-t]-cpw-IqSn skan-t¯cn-bn-te¡p t]mtc− Imcy-an-Ã, ]t£ C¶p cm{Xn-bnse Imhen\v \n§sf c−p-t]-scbpw Rm³ £Wn-¨p-sIm-Åp-¶p. cm{XnbpsS a²y-¯n Ahn-Sps¯ A´-co£w ImWp-Ibpw A\p-`hn-¡p-Ibpw Xs¶ thWw. AsÃ-¦n Akm-[m-c-W-amb Hc-\p`q-Xn-bmIpw \n§Ä¡p \jvS-s¸-Sp-I.” “Pbv kt´mjn am!” emÂtam-l³_m_p ]d-ªp. A¸-t\-c¯n\p tijw At±lw XpSÀ¶p-tNm-Zn¨p “kt´m-jn-bpsS aIs\ SmÀksâ aI-s\-t¸m-se-bm-¡n-¡qtS? F´m A`n{]mbw?” At±-l-an-t¸mgpw ]peIv tLmj-ensâ Hm^À Xs¶ Nn´n-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. \tc³ _nizm-knsâ imco-cn-Im-tcmKyw Iptd sa¨-s¸-«n-cp-¶p. thZ\ \¶mbn Ipd-sª¶pw H¶p-c−p Znh-k-¯n-\p-Ån _m³tUPv \o¡m-sa¶pw At±lw ]d-ªp. F¦nepw AbmfpsS apJ¯v henb kt´m-j-sam-¶p-an-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. F¶p am{Xaà Hcp-Xcw ¾m\-Xbpw hnjm-Zhpw {]I-S-am-bn-cp-¶p.

“H¶p-c−p Imcy-§Ä tNmZn-¨-dn-b-W-sa-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. A[n-Ik-a-b-sa-Sp-¡n-Ã.” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. “hntcm-[-an-sÃ-¦n Hcp-Imcyw Rm³ tNmZn-t¨m-s«: Xm¦Ä tIk-t\z-jWw \S-¯p-I-bmtWm? Xm¦-sfmcp Unä-IvSohv BsW¶v F\n-¡-dn-bmw…” “Dulw XnI¨pw icn-bm-Wv. kXy-§Ä ad-¨p-h-bv¡m³ {ian¡m-Xn-cp-¶m AXv Fs¶ hf-sc-b-[nIw klm-bn-¡pw.” _nizmkv I®p-IÄ apdp-¡n-b-S-¨p, AKm-[-amb GtXm thZ\ ISn-¨-aÀ¯p-¶-Xp-t]m-se. s^eq-Z-bpsS tNmZy-§Ä¡p adp-]Sn ]d-bpI A{X Ffp-¸-am-In-söv AbmÄ¡p tXm¶n-bncn-¡mw. “Bip-]-{Xn-bn h¨p t_m[w sXfn-ª-t¸mÄ \n§Ä ‘hnÂ’ F¶v BhÀ¯n¨p ]d-ªn-cp-¶p. F´p-sIm-−m-WXv? _nizmkv I®p-IÄ Xpd-¶n-Ã. s^eqZ ho−pw tNmZn¨p: “F´mWv Cu hnÂ?” Ct¸mÄ \tc³ I®p-IÄ Xpd-¶p. kwkm-cn-¨p-Xp-S-§p-t¼mÄ Abm-fpsS Np−p-IÄ sNdp-Xmbn hnd¨p. “\n§-fpsS tNmZy§Ä¡p adp-]Sn ]d-bm³ F\n¡p _m[y-X-sbm-¶p-an-ÃtÃm AtÃ?” “XoÀ¨-bmbpw CÃ.” “F¦n ]d-bm-Xn-cn-¡m-\mWv F\n-¡n-jvSw.” s^eqZ \nÈ-_vZ-\m-bn-cp-¶p. R§-fpw. _nizmkv Zqc-t¯bv¡p t\m¡n-bn-cp-¶p.t# “Dw……… icn. Rm³ asämcp Imcyw tNmZn-¡-s«.” “\nÈ_vZ ]men-¡m-\pÅ Ah-Imiw F\n-¡p-−v.” “XoÀ¨-bm-bpw. AXp \n§-fpsS Ah-Imiw Xs¶-bm-Wv.”

“tNmZn-t¨m-fq.” “BcmWv hnIvtSm-dnb?” “hnIvtSm-dnb?” “Dw… Hcp Imcyw Rm³ Xpd-¶p-]-d-bp-I-bm-Wv. \n§fpsS ]gvknse km[-\-§Ä Rm³ Xpd-¶p-t\m-¡n-bn-cp-¶p. AXn-semcp Xp−p-I-S-em-knÂ…” R§sf A¼-c-¸n-¨p-sIm−v _nizmkv s]m«n-¨n-cn-¡m³ XpS-§n. “AXp hfsc ]gb IY-bm-Wv. Rm\-sXÃmw ad-¶p-Xs¶ t]mbncp-¶p. Rm³ hnc-an-¡p-¶-Xn\p ap³]m-Wv. Fsâ-sbmcp kl-{]hÀ¯-\p-−m-bn-cp¶p, t\mÀ«¬. Pn½n t\mÀ«¬. Bwt¥m C´y-\m-Wv. Abm-fpsS ap¯-Èn-sb-gp-Xnb Iptd I¯p-IÄ ho«nep-s−¶v Hcp-Zn-hkw Abm-sf-t¶mSp ]d-ªp. Rm³ Ah t\cn I−n-t«-bn-Ã. Iem-]-¯nsâ Ime¯v B kv{Xo s_dmw]q-cn-em-bn-cp¶p þ A¶v Gtgm Ft«m hbÊp ImWpw. I¯pIÄ Iptd-¡mew Ignªv Fgp-Xn-b-XmWv; ]t£ Ah-bn _mey-Im-e-kva-c-W-I-fp-−v. A¯cw kwK-Xn-IÄ¡v C¶p \à Unam³Uv BW-tÃm. [mcmfw ]pkvX-I-§fpw Cd-§p-¶p-−v. GXm\pw hntZi {]km-[-I-cpsS hnemkw sImSp-¡m-sa¶p Rm³ t\mÀ«-tWmSp ]d-ªp; AbmÄ¡v A¯cw Imcy-§-fnsem¶pw Hcp ]nSn-]m-Sp-an-Ã. Hcp \nan-jw, Rm³ B IS-emkv Hs¶-Sp-t¯m-s«.” _nizmkv ssI \o«n Hcp tai-h-en¸p Xpd¶v ]gvkv ]pd-s¯-Sp¯p. B IS-emkv AXn-ep-−m-bn-cp-¶p. “CXm t\m¡q. _q¬ & sjt¸-Uv. Ahn-sS-t¸mbn Ah-cpsS ssIbn ap¯-Èn-bpsS Nn{X-§Ä hÃ-Xp-ap-t−m-sb¶p ]cntim-[n-¡m³ Pn½n-tbmSp ]d-bm\n-cn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp¶p Rm³. aäp-Å-h-sbÃmw Hmtcmtcm ]»n-jÀam-cpsS t]cnsâ Npcp-s¡-gp¯p-I-fm-Wv. GXm-bmepw Cu IS-emkv Pn½n t\mÀ«Wp sImSp¡m³ CS-h-¶n-Ã. AbmÄ aª-¸n¯w ]nSn¨p InS-¸n-em-bn. BdmgvN Ah-[n-bnem-bn-cp¶p AbmÄ. ]ns¶ tPmen Dt]-£n¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp.”

s^eqZ t]mIm-s\-gp-t¶-äp. “Xm¦v bq anÌÀ _nizm-kv. C{Xbpw aXn. Hä-¡mcyw IqSn ]d-bm-\p-−v, hfsc tami-sa¶p Rm³ Icp-Xp¶ H¶n-s\-¸-än.” “F´m-WXv?” “C\n taen Fs¶-¦nepw sse{_-dn-I-fn t]mIp-¶p-s−-¦n Zb-hmbn ]gb ]pkvX-I-§-fp-sStbm amkn-I-I-fp-sStbm ]pd§Ä apdn-s¨-Sp-¡-cp-Xv. AXp am{X-amWv Fsâ A`yÀ°-\. KpUv ss_.” R§Ä apdn-hn-«n-d-§n. _nizmkv apJ-¯p-t\m-¡m-\m-ImsX \n¶p. \tc³ _nizm-knsâ ho«nÂ\n¶p R§Ä t]mbXv s_\n-\µ³ kv{Soäntebv¡m-Wv. s^eq-Z-bpsS kplr¯v kp{loZv sk³Kp-]vX-bpsS ho«n-te-¡v. Abm-fpsS the-¡m-c³ s^eqZbv¡v Hcp XSn-b³ ]pkvXIw \ÂIn. {]kn-U³kn tImfPv iXm_vZn kvamcI amkn-I-bm-bn-cp¶p AXv. _q¬ & sjt¸-Unte¡p t]mIpw-hgn s^eqZ AXv hfsc {i²-tbmsS t\m¡p-¶Xp-I-−p. ‘HmÀ¯p-t\m-¡n-bmÂ…!” F¶v CSbv¡p aq¶p-XhWsb¦nepw Dds¡ Bß-KXw sN¿p-¶Xpw tI«p. _q¬ & sjt¸-Un At±lw BsI ]¯p an\ntä FSp-¯pÅq. Hcp Nph¶ Ih-dp-ambn thKw Cd-§n-h-¶p. AXn-\p-Ån henb Hcp t^m«m BsW¶p hyàw; Hcp-]t£ H¶n-tesd t^mt«m-I-fp-−m-Imw. “BcpsS t^mt«m BWXv?” emÂtam-l³_m_p tNmZn-¨p. “ayq«n\n”. Rm\pw emÂtam-l³_m-_phpw ]c-kv]cw t\m¡n. Cu t^mt«m, AYhm t^mt«m-IÄ, s]mXp-P-\-¯n\p ImWm-\pÅ-Xà F¶ s^eq-Z-bpsS adp-]-Sn-bnÂ\n¶p hyà-am-bn-cp-¶p. “\ap¡p skan-t¯-cn-bn-te¡p t]mImw. ]t£ Ct¸mÄ \n§Ä Fsâ IqsS t]mtc-−. FÃmw `{Z-a-tÃ-sb¶p t\m¡n Rm³ thKw hcmw.”

emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hnsâ ss{UhÀ ImÀ skan-t¯-cn-bpsS ap³]n \nÀ¯n. s^eqZ tKäv IS-¶p-t]m-Ip-t¼mÄ Imh¡mc³ _mcw-tZhv At±-ls¯ keyq«v sN¿p-¶Xv Rm³ I−p. GXm\pw an\n-äp-IÄ¡p-Ån¯s¶ s^eqZ Xncn-sI-sb¯n Imdn Ib-dn ‘Hmt¡bv’ ]d-ªp. A¶p cm{Xn ]¯-cbv¡v R§-sf-Ãm-hcpw IqSn skan-t¯-cn-bn t]mI-W-sa¶p Xocp-am\n-¨p. Cu \mS-I-¯nse A´y-cwKw XpS-§p-I-bmbn F¶v Ft´m Ft¶mSp a{´n-¨p.

]Xn-s\m¶v cl-ky-§-fpsS Ipcp-¡p-gn-¡m-\pÅ bm{X-I-fn Rm\pw s^eqZbpw Hcp-an¨v Hcp-]mSv Øe-§-fn k©-cn-¨n-«p−v þ kn¡nw, eIvt\m, cmP-Øm³, knwe, hmcm-W-kn. FÃm-bn-S¯pw [mcmfw kml-k-§Ä {]hÀ¯n-¨n-«p-ap-−v. ]t£ càw I«-bm¡p¶ Xc-¯n-sem-c-\p-`hw I¡-«-bnÂ\n¶p ]pd-¯p-I-S-¡p-It]mepw sN¿m¯ C¯-hW D−m-Ip-sa¶v Rm³ k¦Â¸n-¡pI-t]mepw sNbvXn-cp-¶n-Ã. B A´y-Zn-\s¯ emÂtam-l³_m_p ‘»mIv seäÀ tU’ F¶p hnfn¨p; ]n¶oSv At±lw AXv ‘»mIv seäÀ ss\äv’ F¶p Xncp-¯n. C§-s\-sbmcp Ipcp-¡n CXp-hsc AI-s¸-«n«n-söv F\n¡p k½-Xn-t¡-−nbpw h¶p. kabw ]men-¡p-¶-Xn F¶pw IWn-i-¡m-c-\mWv emÂtaml³_m-_p. ImÀ hm§n-b-tXmsS Cu IWn-iX H¶p-IqSn IÀ¡-i-am-bn. A¶p cm{Xn R§-fpsS ho«n-se-¯n-b-t¸mÄ At±lw ]Xn-hp-t]mse Xpcp-Xpcm ap«n _l-f-ap-−m-¡p-I-b-Ã, am\y-ambn hmXn-en ap«p-I-bmWv sNbvX-Xv. Rm\pw s^eqZbpw A¯m-g-sams¡ Ign¨v Hcp-§n-bn-cn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. Rm\pw \mbm«v _qSvkv AWn-ªn-cp-¶p. FtâXv Ignª hÀjw hm§n-bnt« DÅq; s^eq-Z-bp-tSXv ]Xn-s\m¶p hÀjw ]g-¡-ap-Å-Xm-Wv. AXv A{X \à I−o-j-\n-eà F¶p tXm¶p¶p; At±lw AXnsâ tkmfn Fs´m-s¡tbm sN¿p¶Xp I−n-cp-¶p. Ct¸m \S-¡p-t¼mÄ IptdsÈ apS-´p-−v. Hcp sNcp-¸p-Ip-¯n-bpsS ASp¯p t]mIp-I-bm-bn-cp¶p \Ã-sX¶p tXm¶p¶p; A]-ISw ]Xn-bn-cn-¡p¶ Hcp cm{Xn-bmWv hcm³ t]mIp-¶-sX-¦n s\m−n-\-S-¡p-¶Xv H«pw \Ã-X-Ã-tÃm. hmXn-en ap«ptI«-bp-S³ R§Ä FWoäp ]pd-s¸-«p. s^eq-ZbpsS ssIbn-semcp {_u¬ tXmÄk-©nbp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. _q¬ & sjt¸-Un \n¶p In«nb Nph¶ IhÀ AXn \n¶v F¯n-t\m-¡p-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. Ccp− \nd-apÅ hkv{Xta [cn¡mhq F¶v R§sf N«w-sI-«n-bn-cp-¶p. emÂtam-l³_m_p Idp¯ kyq«v BWv [cn-¨n-cp-¶-Xv. At±lw enhnwKv dqan-te¡p IS-¶p-h-¶p. “tamtU¬ saUn-knsâ iàn! \n§Ä AXn-i-bn-

¨p-t]m-Ipw. Rc-¼p-IÄ¡p km´z-\-ta-Ip¶ Hcp KpfnI Fsâ tUmIvSÀ ]d-ªp-X-¶p. At±lw ]d-ª-Xp-t]mse A¯mgw Ign-ª-t¸mÄ Rm³ Hsc®w Ign-¨p. Ct¸m-sg-\n¡v \à Dt·jw tXm¶p-¶p. Cu temIs¯ apgp-h³ t\cn-«p-I-fbmw F¶-t]m-se. UnbÀ Xt]-jv, F´pw-h-c-s«. \ap¡v A´yw-hsc s]mcp-X-Ww, AtÃ? Btcm-SmWv FXn-cn-tS-−-sX¶v At±-l¯n\v bmsXmcp cq]-hp-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶n-Ã; F\n-¡pw. skan-t¯-cn-bpsS {][m\ sKbvän \n¶v AÂ]w Zqc-¯mbn ImÀ \nÀ¯n-bn-Sm³ s^eqZ \nÀt±-in-¨p. AXn-sâbpw \ndw \n§-fpsS thjw-t]mse Ccp-−-Xm-bn-cp-s¶-¦n F{X \¶m-bncp-¶p.” skâv tkthygvkv Ignªv tdmhvU¬ kv{Soänse Ihe F¯p-¶-Xn\pw ap³]p Xs¶ h−n \nÀ¯m³ s^eqZ ss{UhÀ lcn-tbmSp ]d-ªp. “\n§Ä c−p-t]cpw \S-¶p-sImÅq. Rm³ lcn¡p Nne \nÀt±-i-§Ä sImSp-¯n«p hcmw.” Rm\pw emÂtam-l³_m-_phpw IqSn \S-¶p. s^eq-Z-bpsS \nÀt±-i-§-sf-´m-bn-cp-s¶¶v ssZh-¯n\p am{X-a-dn-bmw. GXmbmepw R§-fpsS {]hÀ¯\w kw_-Ôn¨v AbmÄ¡pw \à BImw-£-bp-s−¶pw IqsS-¡q-Sm³ Hcp-¡-am-sW¶pw lcnbpsS apJ-`mhw I−m-e-dnbmw. GXm\pw \nan-j-§Ä¡p-Ån s^eqZ R§-tfm-sSm-¸-sa-¯n. “C{X anSp-¡-\mb ss{Uhsd In«n-bXp \n§-fpsS `mKyw. hnizkn-¡m\pw sImÅm-hp-¶-h-\m-sW¶p tXm¶p-¶p. GXm-bmepw Ahs\ Iptd Npa-X-e-IÄ G¸n-¨-tXmsS F\n¡v Iptd `mcsam-gn-ª-Xp-t]mse tXm¶p-¶p.” “F´p Npa-X-e-IÄ?” “A§s\ Imcy-ambn H¶pw-X-s¶-bn-Ã, ChnsS FÃmw `wKnbmbn Iem-in-¡p-I-bm-sW-¦nÂ. AsÃ-¦n FÃmw lcnsb B{i-bn-¨n-cn-¡pw.” IqSp-X-se-s´-¦nepw ]d-bm³ s^eqZ X¿m-dm-bn-Ã. h-enb Ccp¼p tKäv Xpd-¶n-«p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. CsX§s\? Rm³ tNmZn-¨-t¸mÄ s^eqZ sasà a{´n¨p: “km[m-cW cm{Xn tKä-

IÄ ]q«n-bn-Sp-I-bmWv sN¿m-dv. C¶-t¯¡p {]tXyI kÖo-IcWw sNbvX-XtÃ? aXn-en\p apI-fn NnÃp-I-j-W-§Ä Xd-¨p-h¨n-cn-¡p-I-bm-Wv. aXnÂNm«w A]-I-S-am-Ipw. _mcw-tZhns\ ImWp-¶n-Ã-tÃm.” Imh¡m-csâ apdn-bn Hcp hnf¡p an¶p-¶p-−m-bn-cp¶p. ]t£ DÅn Bcp-an-söp tXm¶n. apdn¡p Npäpw ]c-Xnsb-¦nepw Bscbpw ImWm³ Ign-ªn-Ã. s^eq-Z-bpsS apJw Npfn-bp-¶Xv ]mÀ¡v kv{Soän \ns¶-¯p¶ a§nb shfn-¨¯n Rm³ I−p. Imh¡m-c³ apdn-bn-ep-−m-Ip-sa-¶m-bncp¶p s^eq-Z-bp-am-bpÅ [mc-W. AXp ]men-¡-s¸-Sm-¯-XmWv Cu Npfn-h\p Imc-Ww. GXm-bmepw kabw If-bmsX apt¶m«p \S-¡m³ R§Ä Xocp-am-\n-¨p. \Sp-¡pÅ {][m\ hgn-bn-eq-sS-bmbn-cp-¶nà C¯hW bm{X. GXm\pw NphSp apt¶m«p \S-¶n«v s^eqZ CSt¯¡p Xncn-ªp. kvamc-I-ineIÄ¡n-S-bn-eqsS R§Ä \S-¶p. Imän\v Hcp-hn[w iàn-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. taL-§Ä BIm-i-¯neqsS HmSn-\-S-¡p-¶p. Ah-bv¡n-S-bn-eqsS hnf-dnb AÀ²-N-{µ³ CS-bv¡nsS Xe-Im-«n. At¸mÄ amÀ_nÄ ^e-I-§-fnse t]cpIÄ ImWm-bn-h-¶p; s]s«-¶p-Xs¶ Ah Ccp-fn ad-bpw. R§Ä hen-sbmcp kvamc-I-inebv¡p ]n¶n-se-¯n-b-t¸mÄ N{µ³ apJw Im«n; ‘kmap-h IXv_À«v tXm¬lnÂ’, Rm³ AXnse t]cp hmbn-¨p. DbÀ¶p-t]m-Ip¶ inem-tKm-]pcw Bbncp-¶nà AXv. Hcp ¹mävt^m-an\p Npäpw XqWp-IÄ; AXn\p aosX Hcp Xmgn-I-¡p-Sw. aq¶p-t]À¡v Hfn-¨n-cn-¡m³ aXn-bmb CSw Ahn-sS-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. \à Ccp-«pw. sabn³ tdmUn \n¶pÅ shfn¨w B `mK¯v hogp-¶n-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. F¶m het¯m«p t\m¡n-bm IÃ-d-IÄ¡n-S-bn-eqsS tKänsâ Hcp `mKw ImWp-Ibpw sN¿mw. skan-t¯-cn-bn R§-sfm-gnsI aämcpw Cà F¶p-d-¸p-Å-XpsIm-−m-IWw s^eqZ kwkm-cn-¨p-Xp-S-§n. i_vZw Xmgv¯nbmWv kwkm-cn-¨-Xv. “CsXm¶p Npäpw Xfn¡q” F¶p ]d-ªpsIm−v Hcp Ip¸nbpw AS-¸pw-IqSn emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hn\p sImSp-¯p. “X.. X.. Xfn-¡mt\m?”

“ImÀt_m-fnIv BknUv BWv, ]m¼p-Isf AI-än-\nÀ¯m³.” thKw ]Wn-XoÀ¯v emÂtam-l³_m_p Xncn-s¨-¯n. “AXp \¶m-bn. henb Bizm-kw. B Kpfn-I-bv¡p-t]mepw ]m¼p-Itfm-SpÅ Fsâ-t]Sn AS-¡m³ Ign-ªn-cp-¶n-Ã.” “`qX-t{]-X-§-tfm-SpÅ t]Sntbm? AXp t]mtbm?” “]qÀ®-am-bpw.” Xh-f-IÄ Ic-bp-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p, Noho-Sp-I-fpw. NnX-dnb taL-iI-e-§Ä ]d-¶p-t]m-Ip-¶p. Ah-bn Nne-Xn\p aäp-Å-h-sb¡mÄ I«n-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. AXp-sIm−v R§Ä¡p Npäp-apÅ Ccp-«n\v CS-bv¡nsS I«n IqSp-Ibpw Ipd-bp-Ibpw sNbvXp-sIm−n-cp-¶p. A§s\ CS-bv¡nsS kvamc-I-ineIÄ H¶msI Hcp Ccp-«p-Iq-\-bmbn amdpw; ]ns¶ A¸w Ignªv N{µ³ Xe-Im«p-t¼mÄ Hmtcm-t¶m-tcm¶v hyXn-cn-à-ambn a§n-s¯-fn-ªp-ImWm-dm-Ipw. s^eqZ Hcp ]mbv¡äv NyqbnwKv Kw ]pd-s¯-Sp¯p R§Ä¡p X¶p, F¶n«v At±-lhpw Ipd¨p hmbn-te-¡n-«p. tdmUn h−n-I-fpsS i_vZw Ipd-ªp-Ip-d-ªp-h-¶p. Rm³ sk¡³Up-I-sf-®n. GXm−v Ac an\näv t\c-t¯¡v Hä h−nbpsS t]mepw i_vZw tI«n-Ã; Xh-f-Ifpw Noho-Sp-Ifpw Imän-epc-bp¶ Ce-I-fpsS aÀ½-chpw am{Xw. “]mXn-cm{Xn!” emÂtam-l³_m_p a{´n-¨p. F´p ]mXn-cm-{Xn. Hcp \nanjw ap³]p Rm³ hm¨n t\m¡pt¼mÄ 11.25 Bbn-t«-bp-Åq. “]mXn-cm{Xn BIpw ap³t] F´n-\mWv ]mXn-cm{Xn F¶p hnfn¨p-Iq-hp-¶Xv?” Rm³ tNmZn-¨p. “F¶p-h-¨mÂ… ]mXn-cm-{Xn¡v khn-ti-j-am-b… B… Ft´m H¶v AXn-\ntÃ?” “Ft´m¶v H¶v?”

“]mXn-cm{Xn¡p skan-t¯-cn-bnÂ, HmÀ¯p-t\m-¡v. hntijw Xs¶-bm-Wv. Rm\Xv Fhn-sStbm hmbn-¨p.”

AXp

“F¶p-h-¨m t{]X-§-fn-d-§p¶ t\c-am-sW-¶mtWm Dt±-in-¨Xv.” adp-]-Sn¡p ]Icw emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hn \n¶p ]pd-s¸-«Xv hnNn-{X-amb Hcp i_vZ-am-bn-cp¶p; AXv Hcp NoäÂi-_vZ-¯n Ah-km-\n-¨p. Fsâ-b-cn-In t\Às¯mcp i_vZw. s^eqZ Xos¸-«n-bp-c¨v ssIsIm−p ad-¨p-]n-Sn-¨n-«p-−v. Hcp knK-cäv I¯n¨v At±lw ]pI-bq-Xn. At¸mgpw ssIsIm-−pÅ ad amänbn-cp-¶n-Ã. taL-§Ä¡p I«n-IqSn h¶p. h−n-I-fpsS i_vZw ]qÀ®-ambn \ne-¨n-cp-¶p. Imäpw \nÈ-_vZ-am-bn. FÃm i_vZhpw Hgn-ªp-t]mbn-cn-¡p-¶p. Noho-Sp-Ifpw Xh-f-Ifpw Dd-¡-am-bn. Fsâ icocw XWp-¯p-dªp; sXm− hc-−p. Rm³ Np−p-IÄ \¡n, ]t£ Ah DW-§n-¯-s¶-bn-cp-¶p. Hcp aq§ D¨-¯n aqfn. emÂtam-l³_m_p c−p-ssI-I-fpwsIm−v sNhn s]m¯n. s^eqZ sasà FWo-äp. R§-fp-sS-b-Sp¯v Fhn-sStbm Hcp ImÀ h¶p \n¡p-¶p. AXv Fhn-sS-bmWv \nÀ¯n-b-sX¶p IrXy-ambn ]d-bm³ Ign-bnÃ. ]t£ ]mÀ¡v kv{Soän-e-Ã, ]Sn-ªmdv tdmhvU¬ kv{SoänemWv F¶v F\n¡p tXm¶n. skan-t¯-cn¡v tdmhvU¬ kv{Soän-te¡p Xpd-¡p¶ tKäp-I-sfm-¶p-an-Ã. henb aXn am{Xw, AXnsâ apI-fn Ip¸n-¨n-Ãp-IÄ. Imdnsâ hmXn-e-S-bp¶ i_vZw tI«p. R§-fpsS I®p-IÄ tKän Xd-ªp-\n-¶p. emÂtaml³_m_p kwkm-cn-¡m³ hmb-Xp-d-¡p-t¼mgv¡v s^eqZ tXmfn-e-aÀ¯n hne-¡n. tKän-eqsS Bcpw AI-t¯¡p h¶n-Ã. AÀ²-cm{Xn B ImÀ h¶-Xn\p Nne-t¸mÄ asä-s´-¦nepw aXnbmb Imc-W-ap-−m-Imw. B {]tZ-i¯v [mcmfw A¸mÀSvsaâpIfpw hoSp-I-fp-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. Bsc-¦nepw kn\na Igntªm atäm sshIn F¯n-b-Xm-Imw. A§-s\-bm-bn-cn-¡-tW-sb¶v Fsâ DÅp-cp-In. R§Ä¡v Bi-¦-sbm-gn-ªn-cn-¡m-atÃm!

s^eqZ Fgp-t¶äv]pdw \nhÀ¯n aXn-en Nmcn \n¡p-I-bmWv. apJ-¯n\p t\tc Hcp XqWv. F§pw Iqcn-cp-«v. BÀ¡pw R§sf ImWm³ Ign-bn-Ã. ]t£ R§-sf-§s\ Ahsc ImWpw? AYhm A§-s\-bm-sc-¦nepw Ds−-¦nÂ? H¶pw ImtW− Bh-iy-an-söv Hcp an\näv Ign-ª-t¸m-tg¡v F\n¡p ]nSn-In-«n. I®p-IÄ D]-tbm-Kn-t¡− Bh-iy-ta-bn-Ã. Fs´m-s¡-bmWp kw`-hn-¡p-¶-sX¶v ImXp-IÄ R§Ä¡p ]d-ªp-X-¶p. “XUv… XUv… XUv… XUv…” Btcm \new Ipgn-¡p-I-bm-Wv. B i_vZw Iptd t\c-t¯¡p XpSÀ¶p. R§Ä izmk-a-S¡n Im¯p-\n-¶p. “XUv… XUv…” ]ns¶ AXp \ne-¨p. AXm Hcp {]Im-iw. Zqsc-bpÅ c−v inemtKm-]p-c-§Ä¡n-S-bn-eqsS a§nb Hcp shfn¨w AhnsS ]pÃn ]Xn-¨p. AXv \nÝ-e-am-bn-cp-¶n-Ã, Cf-IpIbpw ]pÃn-\p-ta BSn-¡-fn-¡p-Ibpw sN¿p-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. Hcp tSmÀ¨n \n¶p hcp¶ shfn-¨-am-sW¶p a\-Ên-em-bn. s]s«¶v AXv A{]-Xy-£-am-bn. “AhÀ aXn NmSn.” AaÀ¯n-¸n-Sn¨ ]Ãp-IÄ¡n-S-bn-eqsS s^eqZ ]d-ªp. “Rm³ ]n¶mse t]mImw.” At±lw ImÀ ho−pw ÌmÀ«v sN¿p-¶-Xn\p ImtXmÀ¯n-cp-¶p. Hcp an\näv IS-¶p-t]mbn. ]ns¶ H¶p-Iq-Sn. ]ns¶bpw H¶v. ‘hnNn{Xw’ s^eqZ ]d-ªp. tdmhvU¬ kv{Soän \nt¶m ]mÀ¡v kv{Soän \nt¶m i_vZsam-¶p-an-Ã. h¶ ImÀ AtX Øe¯p Xs¶ InS-¡p-¶p. F´mWv kw`-hn-¡p-¶Xv? c−p an\näv IqSn IS-¶p-t]m-bn. taL-§Ä¡n-S-bn-eqsS A¼n-fn¡e sXfn-ªp. ImWm-hp-¶n-S-s¯m¶pw Bcp-an-Ã. “tXm]vsj, CXp ]nSn-¨p-sIm-Åq.” s^eqZ tXmÄk©n Fsâ ssIbn X¶n«v ]pÃn-te-bv¡n-d-§n. tSmÀ¨nsâ shfn¨w I−

`mKw e£y-am¡n At±lw \S-¶p-Xp-S-§n. At±-l-s¯-¸än Bi-¦-s¸-tS− Imcy-sam-¶p-an-Ã. ssIbn tImÄ«v .32 D−v. sshImsX AXnsâ AeÀ¨ Cu skan-t¯-cn-bpsS \nÈ-_vZXsb `RvPn-¡pw. ]t£… s^eqZ Ct¸mgpw apS-´n-bmWv \S-¸v. Hcp _q«v \à sa\-t¡-Sp-−m-¡p-¶p-s−¶p hyàw. t\cnb apS-t´-bpÅq. ]t£ D−v. F´n-\mWv At±lw AXp kzbw \¶m-¡n-bsX¶p ssZh-¯n\p am{X-a-dn-bmw. R§Ä Im¯n-cp-¶p. s^eq-Z-bpsS dnthmÄhÀ Ft´ Ae-dm¯Xv? \nÈ-_vZX XpSÀ¶-tX-bp-Åq. “A_²w! \nsâ Ikn³ henb A_-²-amWv Im«n-b-Xv.” emÂtam-l³_m_p ]X-dnb i_vZ-¯n ]d-ªp. At±lw IqSp-X kwkm-cn-¡p-¶-Xn \n¶p hne-¡m³ Rm³ ]m¼p Noäp¶ amXncn i_vZ-ap-−m-¡n. s^eqZ Ccp-«n ad-ªp-I-gn-ªn-cp-¶p. Cu ih-Ip-So-c-§Ä¡-¸pdw F´mWp kw`-hn-¡p-¶-sX¶v F\n¡p bmsXmcp Dul-hp-an-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. Ft´m Hcp i_vZw tIt«m? AtXm shdpsX tXm¶n-b-XmtWm? t¢m¡n aWn-b-Sn-¨p. AÀ²-cm-{Xn-bm-bn-cn-¡p-¶p. B t¢m¡v Fhn-sS-bm-Wmthm? skâv t]mÄkntem? Imäp hcp-¶Xv AhnsS-\n-¶m-Wv. Imäp ]Sn-ªm-dp-\n-¶m-sW-¦n _men-K-RvPnse R§-fpsS ho«n Ben-¸qÀ ImgvN-_w-¥m-hnse knwl-§Ä Ae-dp-¶Xp tIÄ¡m-am-bn-cp-¶p. Hm… AXv Hcp ImÀ ÌmÀ«m-¡n-b-Xnsâ i_vZ-am-bn-cp-¶p. asämcp hmXn-e-S-ªp. Hcp ImÀ Cc-¼n-¸m-ªp. C\n R§Ä Im¯n-cp-¶p-Iq-Sm. F\n¡p t]Snsbm¶pw tXm¶nbnÃ; ]t£ Ft´m Hcp Bi-¦-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶p. R§-fn-cp-hcpw FWo-äp. emÂtam-l³_m_p Ft´m ]pe-¼p¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. AXp Ku\n-t¡-s−¶p Rm³ Xocp-am-\n-¨p. Ct¸mÄ AXn-\pÅ ka-b-an-Ã. IÃ-d-IÄ¡n-S-bn-eqsS hgn X¸n¯-Sªv R§Ä Bhp-¶{X thK-¯n \S-¶p. ‘tacn FÃnkv’ Fs¶-gp-Xnb Hcp kvamc-I-inebpw IS¶p R§Ä \o§n. emÂtam-l³_m_p Fsâ DSp-¸nsâ ]n¶n ]nSn-¨n-cp-¶p.

R§-fpsS Imen-\-Sn-bn ]pÃp-IÄ \\-ªn-cp-¶p, \à XWp-¸pap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. F\n¡p hmbn-¡m³ Ignª ASp¯ ^e-I-¯n ‘tPm¬ amÀ«n’vsâ t]cm-bn-cp-¶p. ]ns¶ kn´nb tImfn-äv, Iym]vä³ Chm³kv. ]ns¶-sbmcp inem-tKm-]p-cw. Idp¯ Hcp amÀ_nÄ ]e-I-bnÂ… “¢¡v” Rm³ F´ntem Nhn-«n. Im ]n³h-en-¨n«p Rm³ t\m¡n. N{µ³ ho−pw ]pd-s¯-¯n-bn-cp-¶p. Rm³ B hkvXp FSp¯p-t\m-¡n. NmÀan-\m-dnsâ Hcp ]mbv¡-äv. AXp Imen-b-Ã-tÃm. Ipsd-sb®w _m¡n-bp-−-tÃm. FÃmw HSn-ªp-N-X-ªn-«p-−v. s^eqZ?! ]ns¶ F´mWp kw`-hn-¨-sX¶p hyà-ambn ]d-bm³ F\nt¡mÀ½-bn-Ã. BsI HmÀ½-bp-ÅXv Fsâ hmbbv¡p ta Hcp k½À±w, AaÀ¯n-h-¨-t]mse emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hnsâ Ic¨nensâ t\À¯ i_vZw.

]{´−v ]pcn-bnse IS-¸p-d¯p InS-¡p-I-bm-sW-¶m-Wv t_m[w hoWt¸mÄ Rm³ BZyw hnNm-cn-¨Xv. C{X ià-amb Imäv IS-¸pdt¯ In«q. Fsâ sNhnbpw aq¡p-sams¡ ac-hn-¨n-cp-¶p. Imän apSn ]mdp-¶p-−v. ]t£ IS-se-hnsS? shÅ-sa-hnsS? aW-¸pdw? Ae-dp¶ Xnc-ame-IÄ? i_vZw tIÄ¡p-¶p-−v… ]t£ \nÝ-b-ambpw AXp Xnc-am-e-I-fp-tS-X-Ã. Imen-bmb tdmUn-eqsS Iqcn-cp-«n ]mªpt]m-Ip¶ Hcp Imdnsâ ]n³ko-än-emWv Rm³. Fsâ he-Xp-`mK¯v emÂtam-l³_m-_p. CS-Xp-h-i¯v Hcp A]-cn-Nn-X³. CXp-hsc Abmsf I−n-t«-bn-Ã. ss{UhÀ SÀ_³ [cn-¨n-«p-−v. Abm-fpsS ASp¯p asäm-cmfpw D−v. Bcpw H¶pw kwkm-cn¡p-¶n-Ã. Rm³ Xe-bp-bÀ¯n-b-t¸mÄ CS-Xp-h-is¯ a\p-jy³ Fs¶ t\m¡n. AbmÄs¡mcp {Inan-\-ensâ apJ-ap-−v. ]t£ Abmsfm¶pw ]d-ªn-Ã. F´n\p ]d-bm³? R§Ä \ncm-bp-[-cm-Wv, AbmÄ¡p bmsXm-cp-X-c-¯nepw `oj-Wn-bp-bÀ¯m³ tijn-bpan-Ã. s^eq-Z-bpsS ssIh-i-am-sW-¦n Bbp-[-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. At±lw Fhn-sS-sb¶v Hcp ]nSn-bp-an-Ã. At±-l-¯nsâ _mKv Fs¶ G¸n-¨n-cp-¶-tÃm. AsX-hn-sS-t¸mbn. AXm Fsâ Xe-bpsS ]n¶nÂ. ]n¶nse NnÃn-\-Sp-¯v. AXnsâ hÅn Fsâ Ihn-fn-ep-c-kn. “]mXn-cm{Xn” emÂtam-l³_m_p ]d-ªp. Rm³ hi-t¯¡v At±-ls¯ t\m¡n. I®p-IÄ AS-ªp-X-s¶-bn-cn-¡p-¶p. “]mXn-cm{Xn! am! Pbv am! am kt´mjn!... ]mXncm” “an−m-Xn-cn-s¡tSm” Fsâ CS-Xp-h-i-¯n-cn-¡p¶ {Inan-\ `oj-Wn-s¸-Sp-¯n. Fsâ I®p-IÄ¡p `mc-ta-dn. ho−pw BsI Ccp-«v. Imdnsâ i_vZw t\À¯p-t\À¯v CÃm-Xm-bn.

]ns¶ I®p Xpd-¶-t¸mÄ GsX-¦nepw t£{X-am-bn-cn-¡p-sa¶mWv Rm³ Icp-Xn-b-Xv. ]t£ t£{X-a-Ã, AsXmcp ]Ån-bmsW¶p tXm¶n. aWn-IÄ ]n¯-f-bpsS i_vZ-aà D−m-¡p-¶-Xv. Ah-bpsS CuW-¯n\v hntZ-i-Xm-fw. ]t£ AXv t£{Xhpw ]Ån-bp-sam¶pw AÃm-bn-cp-¶p. GtXm ho«nse kzoI-c-W-ap-dn-bm-bn-cp¶p AXv. koen-§n \n¶v Hcp Ae-¦m-c-hn-f¡p Xq§n-¡n-S-¡p¶p; AXp sXfn-¨n-«n-Ã. apdn-bn BsI henb shfn-¨-sam-¶p-an-Ã. shÂshäv hncn-bpÅ Hcp skän¡cnIn Hcp tS_nÄ emw]v. shÂshäv hncn-bn« asämcp skänbn-emWv Rm³ Ccn-¡p-¶-Xv. Ccn-¡p-I-b-Ã, Nmcn-¡n-S-¡p-Ibm-Wv. Fsâ-b-cn-In emÂtam-l³_m-_p. At±-l-¯nsâ I®p-IÄ Ct¸mgpw AS-ªp-Xs¶ Ccn-¡p-¶p. FXnÀh-i¯v Hcp Itk-c-bn s^eq-Z. apJw Ccp-−n-cn-¡p-¶p. s\än-bpsS he-Xp-h-i¯v Ft´m apdn-hp-−v. \ocpw-h-¨n-«p-−v. R§-fpsS CS-Xp-h-i¯v ]ymtc-em F¶ t]cn R§-f-dn-bp¶ BÄ ssIbn-semcp tImÄ«v .32 dnthmÄhdpw ]nSn¨p \n¡p-¶p. dnthmÄhÀ s^eq-Z-bp-tS-Xm-sW¶p tXm¶p-¶p. apdn-bn aäp aq¶p-t]À IqSn \n¡p-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. FÃmhcpw R§-sf-¯-s¶-bmWv t\m¡p-¶-Xv. ]t£ Bcpw H¶pw kwkm-cn-¡p-¶n-Ã. kwkm-c-¯nsâ Ip¯-I-bp-Å-bmÄ hcm-\n-cn¡p-¶-tX-bp-Åp-sh¶p tXm¶n. Ahn-sS-bp-Å-Xnse Gähpw henb skän þ Idp¯ shÂshäv hncn-bp-ÅXv þ Hgn-ªp-In-S¡p-¶p; Bsctbm Im¯n-cn-¡p-¶-Xp-t]m-se. Hcp-]t£ AXv Nu[-cn-bm-Iptam? ]t£ CXv GXm-bmepw Ben-¸q-cnse B[p\n-I-co-Xn-I-fpÅ BUw-_-c-ho-S-Ã. hfsc ]gb Hcp hoSm-Wv. koenwKn\v GXm−v ap¸-XSn Db-c-ap-−v. D¯-chpw Igp-t¡m-epsaÃmw Ccp-¼p-]-«-IÄ. Hcp IpXn-cbv¡p IS-¡m³ am{Xw hep-¸ap−v hmXn-en-\v. AXp-sIm−pw Ign-ªn-Ã. \ndsb t¢m¡p-IÄ. NneXv t\tc Fgp-t¶-äp-\n¡p-¶p, NneXv `n¯n-bn Xq§p-¶p. t\tc \nÀ¯n-bn-cn-¡p¶ t¢m¡p-I-fn-sem-¶n\v Hcp icm-icn a\pjysâ Db-c-ap-−m-bn-cp¶p; Hcp-]t£ AXnepw AÂ]w IqSpXÂ. Cu t¢m¡p-I-fpsS aWn-\m-Z-amWv AÂ]w ap³]p tI«-Xv. kabw shfp-¸n\v c−p-a-Wn.

s^eq-Z-bpsS I®p-IÄ F\n¡v Hcp Xh-Wtb ImWm³ Ignªp-Åq. Ah-bpsS `mhw Ft¶mSp ]dªp: “H¶pw t]Sn-t¡−. Imcy-§-sfms¡ `wKn-bm-¡m³ Rm\n-hn-sS-bntÃ!” s^eq-ZbpsS apJw hmbn-¡m³ Rm³ ]Tn-¨p-I-gn-ªn-cp-¶p. AXpsIm−v F\n¡p \à ss[cyw tXm¶n. “KpUv tamWnwKv anÌÀ an¯À.” Cu Biw-km-h-N-Êp-I-fp-XnÀ¯ Bsf ImWm³ ]ns¶bpw GXm\pw \nan-j-§Ä IqSn-sb-Sp-¯p. sseän\p t\tc ]n¶nse hmXn-en¡q-Sn-bmWv AbmÄ AI-t¯¡p h¶-Xv-. -A-bm-fpsS i_vZ-¯n\v Ct¸mgpw shÂsh-änsâ ]Xp-]-Xp-¸p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. ap³]-s¯-¡mÄ arZphm-bn-cp¶p F¶p ]d-bp-I-bmhpw icn. Imc-W-hp-ap-−v, Ct¸mÄ AbmÄ¡m-WtÃm hyà-amb taÂss¡. “AsX-´mWv? \o AXp apgp-h³ \¶mbn Xnc-ªp-Igntªm ]ymtc-emÂ?” s^eq-Z-bpsS tXmÄk©n Nq−n AbmÄ tNmZn-¨p. F§-s\tbm AXv s^eq-Z-bpsS ssIbn Xncn-sI-sb-¯n-bn-cp-¶p. Iptd t]¸-dp-Ifpw Hcp t\m«v_p¡pw GXm\pw t^mt«m-Ifpw am{Xta AXn-ep-Åq-sh¶v ]ymtc-em bP-am-\s\ Adnbn-¨p. Hcp Ip¸p-IqSn D−m-bn-cp-¶p, ]t£ AXv AhÀ FSp-¯p-am-änbn-cp-¶p. “Xm¦sf Ct§m«p hen-¨p-sIm−p htc-−n-h-¶-Xn F\n¡p tJZ-ap−v anÌÀ an¯À. Zb-hmbn tIm]n-¡-cp-Xv.” Nu[-cn-bpsS hm¡p-I-fn Kmw`ocyw hgn-bp-¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. B s]cn-K dn¸o-ä-dn-t·Â \n§Ä¡pÅ Xm¸cyw I−-t¸mÄ F\n¡p tXm¶n AXv Fsâ ssIbn-se-¯p-¶Xp ImWm³ \n§ÄIqSn D−m-I-W-sa¶v. _Âh-´v, hm¨v ¢o³ sNbvXp Igntªm?” Ahn-sS-bp-−m-bn-cp-¶-h-cn Hcp-h³ Xe-bm-«n. hr¯n-bm-¡p¶ tPmen GXm−p ]qÀ¯n-bm-bn, hm¨v DS³ Xs¶ sIm−p-hcpw F¶v AbmÄ DWÀ¯n-¨p.

Nu[cn XpSÀ¶p: “AXv Ccp-\qdp hÀj-ambn Hcp IÃ-d-bn Dd§p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. BZy-sam¶pw hneyw AXv Ft¶mSp shfn-s¸Sp-¯n-bn-Ã. Ahsâ ssIhiw Hcp s]cn-K Ds−¶p am{Xta ]d-ªpÅq; AXp sIm−p-h-cmsa¶p ]d-ªn«v \o−p\o-−p-t]m-Ip-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. HSp-hn Rm³ k½À±w ià-am-¡nb-t¸m-gmWv AXv `qKÀ`-¯n-em-sW¶pw AXp-sIm-−mWv Xma-ksa-¶pw ]d-ªXv. ih-¯n-s\m¸w AS¡w sNbvX-Xm-b-Xn-\m AXp \¶mbn hr¯n-bm-¡n-bn«v Fsâ-b-Sp-¡Â sIm−p-h¶m aXn-sb¶mWv Rm³ Fsâ-bm-fp-I-tfmSp ]d-ªn-cn-¡p-¶Xv. sUtämÄ sIm−p XpS-bv¡-W-sa-¶p-hsc Rm³ ]d-ªn-«p−v.” s^eqZ Nu[-cn-sb-¯s¶ kq£n-¨p-t\m-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. At±l-¯nsâ apJ-¯p-\n¶v B a\-Ên-se-´m-sW¶p hmbn-s¨-Sp¡m³ Ign-ªn-Ã. emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hn-s\bpw Fs¶bpw t¢mtdmt^mw aW-¸n-¨mWv t_m[w-sI-Sp-¯n-b-Xv. s^eq-Zsb Xe-bv¡-Sn¨p hogn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. “anÌÀ an¯À, Cu hm¨nsâ Imcyw \n§-sf-§-s\-bmWv AdnªXv?” “]s¯m³]Xmw \qäm-−n Pohn-¨n-cp¶ Hcm-fpsS Ub-dn-¡p-dn¸p-I-fn-eq-sS. AXv Cu hm¨nsâ DS-a-bpsS aI-fm-bn-cp-¶p.” “Ubdn? Hcp I¯v AsÃ-¶p-d-¸mtWm?” “AÃ. Ub-dn-¡p-dn-¸p-X-s¶.” Nu[cn Hcp ]mbv¡äv t^mdn³ knK-cäpw kzÀ® tlmÄUdpw sseädpw ]pd-s¯-Sp-¯p. “hney-ans\ AdnbntÃ?” knK-cäv tlmÄU-dn Xncp-Ip-¶-Xn\nsS AbmÄ tNmZn-¨p. “hneyw F¶p t]cpÅ Bscbpw F\n¡p ]cn-N-b-an-Ã.”

Nu[-cn-bpsS U¬ln sseä-dnsâ Aä¯p Xo sXfn-ªp. “At¸mÄ B Ub-dn-bn hmbn-¨Xp aXn-bm-bn-cp¶p \n§-fpsS BÀ¯n Bfn-¡-¯n-¡m³, AtÃ?” “BÀ¯ntbm? Fà anÌÀ Nu[-cn. AXp \n§-fpsS Ip¯-IbtÃ?” Nu[-cn-bpsS shÂshäv apJ¯v Hcp \ng ]SÀ¶p. c−p hncep-IÄ¡n-S-bn ]nSn-¨n-cp¶ knK-cäv tlmÄUÀ hnd-¨p. “anÌÀ an¯À, Ft¶mSp kwkm-cn-¡p-t¼mÄ kq£n-¡-Ww.” “kXyw ]d-bp-t¼mÄ F§-s\bmWp ]d-bp-¶-sX¶p Rm³ {i²n-¡m-dn-Ã. tKmUvhnsâ IÃ-d-bn \n¶v B hm¨v \jvS-s¸Sp-¶n-se¶v Dd-¸p-h-cp-¯pI F¶ Hä Dt±-iyta F\n-¡p-−m-bncp-¶p-Åq. \n§-sf-t¸m-semcp a\pjy\v…” s^eq-Zbv¡p ]d-ªp-ap-gp-an-¸n-¡m³ Ign-ªn-Ã. Ft´m Hcp km[\w Hcp ]«p-Xq-hm-e-bn {]Xn-jvTn¨v HcmÄ IS-¶p-h-¶p. Nu[cn AXv FSp-¯Xpw Fsâ-b-Sp¯v Ccn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp¶ emÂtam-l³_m_p sRfn-]n-cn-sIm−p hn¡n-hn-¡n-¸-dªp: “F…-F-sâ… Fsâ…” At±lw At¸mÄ I®p-Xp-d-¶n-t«-bp-Åq. Xpd-¶-]mtS ImWp¶Xv Nu[-cn-bpsS ssIbn-en-cn-¡p¶ B hkvXp-hm-Wv. AXv At±-l-¯n\p \à ]cn-N-b-apÅ Ft´m BsW¶p tXm¶p-¶p. Nu[-cn-bpsS `mh-amäw hÀ®n-¡m³ km[y-am-bn-cp-¶n-Ã. kwKoX-¯nse k]vX-kz-c-§fpw ag-hn-Ãnse Ggp \nd-§-fp-ambn At`Zy-amb _Ô-ap-s−¶v s^eqZ Hcn-¡Â Ft¶mSp ]d-ªn-cp¶p. ]t£ Hcp a\p-jysâ apJ¯v C{X thK-¯n \nd-§Ä an¶n-a-d-bp-sa¶v F\n¡p k¦Â¸n-¡m³ t]mepw Ign-ªncp-¶nÃ. Hcm-fpsS sXm−-bnÂ\n¶v Hmtcm sk¡³Unepw Hmtcmtcm kzcw ]pd-s¸-Sp-¶Xpw Rm³ BZy-ambn tIÄ¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. Abm-fpsS hmbnÂ\n¶p hoW sXdn-IÄ tIÄ¡m³ _p²n-ap«m-bn-cp¶p, ChnsS ]d-bm³ ]äp-I-bp-an-Ã. s^eqZ ]qÀ®-ambpw im´-\mbn ImW-s¸-«p. CsXÃmw At±-l-¯nsâ sNbvXn-I-fm-

sW¶v F\n¡p a\-Ên-em-bn. D¨-I-gnªv skan-t¯-cn-bn t]mb-t¸mÄ H¸n¨ ]Wn-I-fm-I-Ww. At¸m A§-s\-sbmcp hm¨v bYmÀ°-¯n CsÃ-¶mtWm? {`m´-s\-t¸mse Nu[cn B Iq¡v-þ-sIÂhn hm¨v ASp-¯pÅ Hcp Itk-c-bn-te¡p hen-s¨-dn-ªp. “hney-ans\ hnfn¡v” AbmÄ Ae-dn. “B dnthmÄhÀ Cs§-Sp¡v”. dnthmÄhÀ Nu[-cn¡p sImSp-¯n«v ]ymtc-em ]pd-t¯¡p t]mbn. ‘sX−n, Ių’ Fs¶ms¡ Nu[cn CS-bv¡nsS ]d-bp¶p-−m-bn-cp-¶p. AbmÄ A£-a-\mbn apdn-bn-e-§n§p \S-¶p. GXm\pw \nan-j-§Ä¡p-Ån ]ymtc-em ]n¶nse hmXn-eneqsS IS-¶p-h-¶p. tXmsfm¸w apSn \o«n-h-fÀ¯nb, aoi Iogv¯m-Sn-tbmfw XmWn-d-§nb Hcmsfbpw sIm−mWv hchv. ]mâvkpw jÀ«pw tIm«¬ Pm¡-äp-amWv Abm-fpsS thjw. “F´p hm¨mWv \o Cu Ipgn-s¨-Sp-¯p-sIm-−p-h-¶n-cn-¡p¶Xv?” Nu[cn Ae-dn. AbmÄ XncnsI tkm^-bn Ccn-¡p-Ibm-bn-cp-¶p. ssIbn dnthmÄh-dp-−v. t\m«w s^eq-Z-bpsS apJ-¯p-X-s¶. “AhnsS I− AtX km[-\-amWv Rm³ sIm−p-h-¶n-cn-¡p-¶Xv. \n§-sf-t¸m-semcp hnZ-Kv[s\ C¡m-cy-¯n I_-fn-¸n-¡msa-¶p Rm³ Icp-Xptam?” \hm-K-X³ ]d-ªp. “At¸mÄ B It¯m? AsXmcp \pW-bm-bn-cpt¶m?” Nu[-cnbpsS i_vZ¯n B apdnsbm¶msI {]I-¼-\w-sIm−p. “AXp Rms\-§-s\-b-dnbpw anÌÀ Nu[cn? \ap¡v B{i-bn¡m³ B I¯p am{Xta D−m-bn-cp-¶p-Åq. CXm AXv.” B a\p-jy³ Hcp ]gb I¯v ]pd-s¯-Sp¯v Nu[-cn¡p sImSp¯p. Abm-fXp hm§n HmSn-¨p-t\m-¡n-bn«v Htc-dp-h-¨p-sIm-Sp-¯p. s^eqZ B \nanjw s]m«n-¨n-cn-¡m³ XpS-§n. \à t\c-t¼m¡v Bkz-Zn-¨pÅ Nncn. Gsd-¡m-e-¯n\p tij-am-bn-cp¶p At±lw AXp-t]mse Nncn-¨p-tIÄ¡p-¶-Xv.

“anÌÀ an¯À, F´m-Wn{X Nncn-¡m-\p-ÅXv?” Nu[cn tcmjwsIm-−p. Bbm-k-s¸«p kzbw \nb-{´n-¨n«p s^eqZ ]d-ªp: “\n§-fpsS \mS-Io-b-amb Hcp-¡-§-sfÃmw C§-s\-sbmcp iq\y-X-bn-em-WtÃm Iem-in-¨-sX-t¶mÀ¯p Nncn-¨p-t]m-b-XmWv.” Nu[cn ssIbn dnthmÄh-dp-ambn Fgp-t¶äv s^eq-Z-bpsS ASp-¡-te¡p kmh-[m\w \S-¶p-. “Fsâ \mSIw ]qÀ¯n-bmbn F¶mtWm \o Icp-Xn-bXv? bYmÀ° hm¨v \nsâ ssIbn Csöv Rms\-§s\ Dd-¸n¡pw? \o B skan-t¯-cn-bn Hcp]m-Sp-X-hW Ib-dn-bn-d-§n-bn-cp-¶-tÃm. C¶p sshIn-«p-t]mepw hneyw F¯p-¶-Xn\pw F{Xtbm ap³t] \o F¯n-bn-cp-¶p. B hm¨v \nsâ ssIbn-ep-s−-¦n AXp hm§msX \ns¶ Rm³ hn«-b-bv¡p-sa¶p Icp-Xntbm? \obXv Fhn-sS-sb-¦nepw Hfn-¸n¨n-«p-−m-Ip-sa¶v F\n-¡-dn-bmw. ]t£ AsX-Sp¯v F\n¡p Xt¶ ]äq. a\-Ên-em-Ip-¶pt−m anÌÀ an¯À? AYhm A§s\-sbmcp hm¨v bYmÀ°-¯n CsÃ-¦n¯-s¶, B I¯p hen-sbmcp If-hm-sW-¦n¯s¶ \ns¶ Rm³ shdpsX hnSpsa¶p tamln-¡p-¶pt−m? F´nepw Xe-bn-Sp¶ \nsâbo kz`mhw F\n¡p henb iey-ap-−m-¡p-¶p-−v. AXp-sIm−v, \mSIw Ign-sª¶p Icp-tX− anÌÀ an¯À. AXp XpS-§nbnt« DÅq. s^eqZ ]d-ªp-Xp-S-§n-b-t¸mÄ B i_vZ-¯nsâ khn-ti-jX Rm³ Xncn-¨-dn-ªp. GXp tIkpw ss¢am-Ivkn-se-¯p-t¼mgmWv At±-l-¯n\v B i_vZw ssIh-cp-I. AXp Sn_-ä³ IpgÂhn-fnsb A\p-kva-cn-¸n-¡p-¶p-sh-¶mWv emÂtaml³_m_p ]d-bm-dp-Å-Xv. “sXän-t¸mbn anÌÀ Nu[-cn. \mS-I-¯nsâ \nb-{´Ww Ct¸mÄ \n§-fpsS ssII-fn-eÃ; Fsâ ssII-fn-em-Wv. C\n-b-t§m«v Fsâ kwh-[m-\-¯n-emWv Ifn. \n§-fm-tWm, hneyw F¶p hnfn-¡p¶ Abm-fmtWm IqSp-X henb IÅ-s\¶v Rm³ Xocp-am-\n-¡pw.” \nan-j-t\-c-¯n-\p-Ån apdn-bmsI Iem]`qan-bmbn. ]ymtc-emens\ XÅn-a-dn-¨n«v Hä-¨m-«-¯n\v hneyw hmXn¡-tebv¡v HmSn. Nu[cn shSn-h-s¨-¦nepw e£yw-I-−n-Ã. sIm−Xv t\tc

\nÀ¯n-bn-cp¶ Hcp t¢m¡nÂ. AXnsâ Ub s]m«n-¯IÀ¶p; BÝcyw ]SÀ¯n-s¡m−v AXp aWn-ap-g-¡m³ XpS-§n. AhnsS \n¶n-cp¶ aäp c−p-t]-cpw-IqSn hney-ans\ ]nSn-¡m³ HmSn. AhÀ¡v A[nIw t]mIm³ Ign-ªn-Ã. Bbp-[-[m-cn-Ifmb Hcp Iq«w t]À hgn-ap-S¡n FXntc h¶p. FÃm-h-scbpw XS-ªp-\nÀ¯n AhÀ apdn-bn-te¡p IS-¶p-h¶p; hneyans\ apdn-bn-te¡p XÅn-hn-«p. B kwLs¯ \bn-¨n-cp-¶Xv Hcp s]meokv C³kvs]-IvSÀ BsW¶v ]d-tb− Bh-iy-an-Ãmbn-cp-¶p. At±-l-¯n\p ]n¶n A©p tIm¬Ì-_nÄamÀ. Ah-cpsS tXmfn\p apI-fn¡qSn F¯n-t\m-¡p-¶ PnÚmk ]SÀ¶ apJ-¯nsâ DSa emÂtam-l³_m-_p-hnsâ ss{UhÀ lcn-Z-¯. “kºm-jv, anÌÀ Z¯” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. “Xm¦Ä s^ep an¯À AtÃ?” C³kvs]-IvSÀ tNmZn-¨p. “F´p \c-I-amWv ChnsS kw`-hn-¡p-¶Xv? Nu[-cnsb F\n-¡-dn-bmw. HmSn-t¸m-Im³ {ian¨ Cu a\p-jy³ BcmWv?” adp-]Sn ]d-bp-¶-Xn\p ap³]v s^eqZ \o− Nph-Sp-IÄh¨v Nu[-cn-bpsS ASp-¡-tebv¡p \S¶v Abm-fn \n¶p kz´w dnthmÄhÀ Xncn¨phm§n. BsI XIÀ¶n-cp¶ Nu[cn H¶p {]Xn-tj-[n-¡p-I-t]mepw sNbvXn-Ã. “Xm¦v bp anÌÀ Nu[-cn. \n§-fpsS tkm^-bn Ccp-¶p-sImÅq. Cu \mS-I-¯nsâ Ah-km\ ko³ ImWm³ AXmWv kuI-cyw. Idp¯ shÂshäv \n§Ä¡p \¶mbn CW-§p-¶pap-−v.” s^eq-Z-bpsS t\m«w Nu[-cn-bnÂ\n¶p amdn. “anÌÀ hneyw! B hn¤pw h¸p-ao-ibpw ^näv sNbvXp-I-gn-bp-t¼mÄ \n§fpsS apXp-ap-¯-È-s\-t¸mse Xs¶-bp-−v. Ah-sbm¶v FSp¯p amämtam?” tIm¬Ì-_nÄam-cn-sem-cmÄ hney-ansâ apSnbpw aoibpw ]nSn¨p-h-en-¨p. Ah thKw Ducn-t¸m-¶p. At¸mÄ I− apJw þ AÛpXw þ AXv \tc³ _nizm-knsâ ktlm-Z-c³ Kncn³ _nizmkv Bbn-cp-¶p.

“C\n ]dbq anÌÀ _nizm-kv, \n§-fpsS apgp-h³ t]sc´mWv?” “F´m? Fsâ t]cp \n§Ä¡-dnbntÃ?” “\n§Ä¡p c−p t]cp-I-fp-−v. c−pw IqSn tNÀ¶m \n§fpsS apgp-h³ t]cm-bn, icn-btà hneyw Knco-{µ-\mYv _nizmkv? H¶p-a-sÃ-¦nepw {]kn-U³kn tImfPv amkn-I-bn kzÀ®-saU tPXm-¡-fpsS ]«n-Ibnse-¦nepw \n§-fpsS t]cv AXmWv. \n§-fpsS ktlm-Z-c³ ssa¡nÄ \tc-{µ-\mYv _niz-kpw, AtÃ? \n§-fpsS ktlm-Z-csâ hnkn-änwKv ImÀUnse ‘Fw’ F¶ A£-c-¯nsâ ]n¶nse clkyw AXtÃ? \n§Ä s]mXpth _wKmfn t]cmWv D]-tbm-Kn-¡p-¶Xv F¶-Xp-sIm−v At±lw ‘Fw.-F³.’ F¶-Xn\p ]Icw ‘F³.-Fw.’ F¶v A¨-Sn¨p-sh¶p am{Xw. icn-btà Rm³ ]d-bp-¶Xv?” Kncn³ _nizmkv \nÈ-_vZ\mbn \n¶-tX-bp-Åq. s^eq-Zb ]dªXp icn-bm-bn-cp-¶p. “\n§-fpsS ktlm-Z-c³ F§-s\-bmWv \n§sf hnfn-¡p-¶Xv?” “F§s\ hnfn-¨m \n§Äs¡´m?” “icn. \n§Ä ]d-bn-sÃ-¦n Rm³ ]d-bmw. ‘hnÂ’ F¶mWv At±lw \n§sf hnfn-¡p-¶-Xv. Bip-]-{Xn-bn h¨p t_m[w sXfn-ª-t¸mÄ At±lw c−p-X-hW BhÀ¯n-¨Xp \n§-fpsS t]cm-bn-cp-¶p. AtÃ?” s^eqZ _mKn \n¶v henb Nph¶ Hcp IhÀ ]pd-s¯-Sp-¯p. AXn Hcp t^mt«m-bm-bn-cp-¶p. “Cu Bfp-Isf And-bp-tamsb¶p t\m¡q _nizm-kv. \n§-fpsS ho«n CXnsâ tIm¸n D−m-In-Ã. ]t£ _q¬ & sjt¸-Un D−m-bn-cp-¶p.” Hcp Z¼-Xn-I-fpsS t^mt«m-bm-bn-cp¶p AXv. hnhmlw Ignª DSs\ FSp-¯-Xv. ]pcp-j³ Kncn³ _nizm-kn-s\-t¸m-se-X-s¶. kv{Xo {_n«ojv hwi-P.

“Chsc Adn-bptam? CbmÄ ]mÀhXn Nc¬ þ ]n.-kn.-_n-izm-kv, \n§-fpsS apXp-ap-¯-ѳ. At±lw {InkvXp-a-Xm-\p-bmbn Bbncp-¶p-sh¶v thjw I−m-e-dn-bmw. kv{Xo tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ sIm¨p-a-IÄ hnIvtSm-dnb. Ch-cp-tS-XmWv B I¯v. bYmÀ°¯n hnhm-l-¯n\pw ap³]p Xs¶ AhÀ t^mt«m FSp-¯n-cp¶p. AXn-sâbpw tIm¸n _q¬ & sjt¸-Un D−v. \n§-fpsS apXp-ap-¯-Ñ-\p-am-bpÅ {]W-b-¯nsâ t]cn hnIvtSm-dnb Ah-fpsS ap¯-Ñsâ þ tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ þ A{]oXn k¼mZn-¨n-cp-¶p. GXm-bmepw acn-¡pw-ap³]v At±lw Ah-tfmSp £an-¡p-Ibpw A\p-{K-l-§Ä \ÂIpIbpw sNbvXp. Hcp hÀj¯n\p tijw AhÀ ]mÀhXn Nc-\p-ambn hnhm-ln-X-bm-bn. “CXn-\À°w I¡-«-bnse Hcp IpSpw-_-a-Ã, c−p IpSpw-_§Ä tXmakv tKmUvhn\p-ambn _Ô-s¸-«n-cn-¡p¶p F¶m-Wv þ H¶v dn¸¬ sebv\nÂ, asäm¶v \yq Ben-¸q-cnÂ. IqSp-X IuXpIw c−p IpSpw-_-§-fp-sSbpw ssIhiw tSmw tKmUvhns³d hm¨n-s\-¸-än-bpÅ ]cm-aÀi-§Ä D−m-bn-cp-¶psh-¶Xm-Wv. H¶v hnIvtSm-dn-b-bpsS I¯v; c−v tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ aIÄ jmÀe-änsâ Ub-dn.” F{X hnNn{Xw! IY-Isf¡mÄ hnNn-{X-amb hkvXp-X-IÄ. -\tc³ _nizm-knsâ ho«nse Hcp {S¦n hnIvtSm-dnb Fgp-Xnb I¯p-I-fpsS Hcp Iq¼m-c-ap-−m-bn-cp-¶p. Zim-_vZ-§-fmbn AhnsS InS-¶n«pw Bcpw H¶p hmbn-¨p-t\m-¡m³ sa\-s¡-«n-Ã. \tc³ _nizmkv I¡-«-sb-¸än ]Tn-¡m³ XpS-§n-b-tijw Hcn-¡Â Ah Is−-¯p-Ibpw Hs¶m-gn-bmsX hmbn-¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp. A§-s\- s]cn-K dn¸o-ä-dnsâ IY At±-l-a-dn-bpIbpw ktlm-Z-c-³ Kncnt\mSv ]d-bp-Ibpw sNbvXp. s^eq-Z-bpsS tNmZy-i-c-§Ä¡p ap¶n Iptd-sÈ-Ip-td-sÈbmbn Kncn³ _nizmkv shfn-s¸-Sp-¯n-b-XmWv Cu hnh-c-§Ä. _nizmkv GXm−p XfÀ¶p-I-gn-ªn-cp-¶p, ]t£ s^eqZ Ahkm-\n-¸n-¨n-«n-Ã. “\n§Ä¡p IpXn-c-¸-´-b-¯n\p t]mIp¶ ioeapt−m anÌÀ _nizmkv?” Kncn³ _nizmkv Fs´-¦nepw ]d-bpw-ap³t] Nu[cn CSbv¡p Ib-dn. “Ah³ Fsâ ssIbn \n¶v ap³IqÀ ]Ww hm§n.

AXv ]´-b-¯n sIm−p-t]mbn Xpe-¨p. F¶n-«n-t¸mÄ Hcp Iq¡v-þ-sIÂhn hm¨p-ambn h¶n-cn-¡p-¶p.” s^eqZ Nu[-cn-bpsS hm¡p-IÄ Ku\n-¨n-Ã. “tXmakv tKmUvhn\n \n¶p ]mc-¼-cy-ambn In«n-b-Xm-W-Xv. AXn\p th−n-bmtWm C{X henb kml-k-¯n\p apXnÀ¶Xv?” Kncnsâ adp-]-Sn-bn Bth-i-ap-−m-bn-cp¶p: “anÌÀ an¯À, HcpImcyw \n§Ä ad-¡p-¶p. kz´w kz¯v IÃ-d-bn Ipgn-¨n-Sm\pÅ kzmX{´yw BÀ¡p-ap-−v. ]t£ \qdp hÀjw Ignªv AXp kzImcykz¯m-sW¶v BÀ¡pw Ah-Im-i-s¸-Sm³ Ign-bnÃ. B hm¨v tSmw tKmUvhnsâ kzs¯m-¶p-a-Ã.” “AsX-\n-¡-dn-bmw. B hm¨v Ct¸mÄ cmjv{S-¯nsâ kz¯m-Wv. \n§Ä¡pw AXn-t·Â Ah-Im-i-an-Ã. skan-t¯-cn-bn \n¶v AXp tamjvSn¨p F¶Xp am{X-aà \n§-fpsS t]cn-epÅ Ipäw. asämcp {Inan-\ Ipäw IqSn-bp-−v.” “F´p Ipäw?” s^eqZ t]m¡-än \n¶v sNdn-sbmcp hkvXp hen-s¨-Sp-¯p. “Cu _«¬ \n§Ä [cn-¨n-cn-¡p¶ Pm¡-än-te-XtÃ? AXv Cub-Sp¯ Znh-k-atà tlmt¦mMv tem¬{Un-bn Ae-¡n-hm§n-bXv?” ssIbnse _«¬ s^eqZ _nizm-knsâ Pm¡-änse _«-Wp-Ifp-ambn H¯p-t\m-¡n. “AXn-s\´m? F´p sXfn-bn-¡m-\mWp \n§Ä {ian-¡p-¶Xv? Rm³ skan-t¯-cn-bn t]msbt¶m? t]mbn-cp-¶p, Rm\Xp \nc-kn-¡p-¶n-Ã-tÃm.” “Cu Pm¡-äv \n§-fp-tS-X-Ã, \n§-fpsS ktlm-Z-c-tâ-Xm-sW¶p Rm³ ]d-ªm \nc-kn-¡ptam?” “\n§-sf´p {`m´mWo ]d-bp-¶Xv anÌÀ an¯À?”

“{`m´p ]d-bp-¶Xv \n§-fm-Wv. \n§-fn-¶se R§-fpsS ho«n h¶v Hcp sI«p \pW hnf-¼n. Ct¸m AXp ho−pw BhÀ¯n¡p-¶p. \n§Ä C«n-cn-¡p¶ Pm¡äv \n§-fpsS tPyjvT-tâ-XmWv. B sImSp-¦m-än\p ap³]v skan-t¯-cn-bn-em-bn-cp-¶-t¸mÄ At±lw [cn-¨n-cp-¶Xv AXm-bn-cp-¶p. tKmUvhnsâ IÃd am´nbn-cn-¡p-¶Xv At±lw I−p, AXp \n§-fm-sW¶pw I−p. \n§sf hne-¡m³ {ian-¨p. \n§Ä At±-l-¯nsâ Xe-bv¡Sn¨p þ hen-sbmcp hSntbm atäm sIm−v. \tc³ _nizm-kn\p t_m[w ad-ªp. \n§Ä Hcp-]t£ Abmsf sImt¶s\. ]t£ B \nanjw sImSp-¦mäp XpS-§n. \n§Ä HmSn-t¸mIm³ {ian-¨p. acw…” “tPyjvT³ \pW ]d-ª-Xm-sW-¶mtWm \n§Ä ]d-ªp-h-cp¶Xv? At±lw Xs¶ ]d-ªntà ac-s¡m¼p s]m«n-ho-Wv…?” s^eq-Zsb XS-bm³ Ign-bn-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. At±lw XpSÀ¶p. “ac¯nsâ sIm¼v HSn-ªp- \n§-fpsS ]pd¯p ho-Wp. \n§Ä¡p Pm¡äv CÃm-bn-cp-¶p. apdn-hp-IÄ aqSn-h-bv¡m³ \n§Ä \tcsâ Pm¡äv Agn¨v kzb-a-Wn-ªp. At¸m-gmWv _«¬ ASÀ¶p-t]m-¶Xpw t]m¡-än \n¶p ]gvkv Ducv¶p-ho-W-Xpw. \n§-fpsS t]m¡-än \n¶v IpXn-c-¸-´-b-¯nsâ t^mw _p¡pw…” _nizmkv ho−pw hmXn¡-tebv¡v HmSn c£-s]-Sm³ {ian-¨p. C¯-hW s^eqZ Xs¶ Abmsf Xncn-¨p-]n-Sn¨p. Pm¡äv Agn¨-t¸mÄ jÀ«n-\-Sn-bn _m³tUPv [cn-¨n-cn-¡p-¶p. “\n§sf c£n-¡m³th−n ktlm-Z-c³ Hcp-]mSv \pW-IÄ ]dªp. At±lw \n§sf Hcp-]mSv kvt\ln-¡p-¶p. Hcp]t£ Bh-iy-¯n-e-[n-Iw.” s^eqZ Ip¡v sIÂhn hm¨pw hnIvtSm-dn-b-bpsS I¯pw s]dp¡n-sb-Sp-¯p. Ah kz´w _mKn XncpIn At±lw Nu[-cnbpsS t\À¡p Xncn-ªp. “\n§-fpsS t¢m¡p-I-sf-Ãmw-IqSn tNÀ¶v ]mXn-cm-a-Wn-IÄ apg-¡p-¶Xp tIÄ¡m³ C¶v F\n¡p Ign-ªn-Ã. C\n-sbm-cp-\mÄ Ign-bp-sa¶p {]Xo-£n-¡mw.”

aq¶m-as¯ {ia-¯n-s\m-Sp-hn-emWv emÂtam-l³_m_p ho−pw t_m[w sXfn-ª-Xv. At±lw ho−pw t_m[w-sI-«sXm¶pw Adn-bm-Xn-cp¶ F\n¡v \mS-I-¯nse Gähpw \mS-Iob-amb cwKw \jvS-am-bn. “Cu temI-¯nse alm-tZhv Nu[-cn-amsc \nebv¡p \nÀ¯m³ ]mSm-Wv. s]meo-kn-\p-t]mepw Imcy-ambn H¶pw sN¿m³ Ign-bnÃ. lnäve-sd-t¸m-se-bm-W-hÀ. Bhiyw hcpt¼mÄ Bfp-Isf hnebv¡p hm§m³ t]mepw Ign-bpw.” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. R§Ä KwK-bpsS Ic-bn-en-cn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. Nu[-cn-bpsS {Kmao-W-h-k-Xn-bn \n¶v A©p an\näv Zqc-ta-bpÅq Cu kv\m\L«-¯n-te-¡v. Ing-¡³ N{I-hmfw Nph-¡m³ XpS-§n-bncp-¶p. s^eq-Z-bpsS Hmtcm \nÀt±-ihpw Indp-IrXyw ]men-¡m³ lcn-Z-¯bv¡p Ign-ªn-Ãm-bn-cp-s¶-¦n R§Ä¡v F´p kw`hn-t¨t\ F¶v ssZh-¯n\p am{Xta Adn-bq. (‘F´p kw`-hn¡m³? acWw!’ emÂtam-l³_m_p {]Jym-]n-¨p.) AbmÄ R§sf ]nSn-Iq-Sn-bn« Imdns\ ]n´p-SÀ¶p; F¶n«v t\tc s]meo-kns\ Adn-bn-¨p. \à ss[cyhpw D¯-c-hm-Zn-¯t_m-[hpw DÅ HcmÄt¡ CsXms¡ C{X `wKn-bmbn sN¿m³ Ign-bq. lcn Fhn-sS-\nt¶m kwL-Sn-¸n¨v Hcp a¬]m-{X-¯n Nmb sam¯n-¡p-Sn-¡p-I-bmWv emÂtam-l³_m_p. At±lw ]dªp: “Hcp ]p¯³ Imdp-sIm−v Fs´ms¡ sN¿m-sa¶p I−ntÃ!” “Hcp kwi-b-hp-an-Ã.” s^eqZ ]d-ªp. “Ignª aq¶p Znh-kambn \n§-fpsS Imdns\ hÃmsX IjvS-s¸-Sp-¯n. \K-c-¯n-se¯n-bm F\n¡p c−p Øe-§Ä IqSn kµÀin-¡m-\p-−v. AXn\p tijw \n§-fpsS ImÀ D]-tbm-Kn-¡p-I-tb-bn-söv Rm³ hmKvZm\w sN¿p¶p þ GXm\pw Znh-k-t¯-bvs¡-¦nepw.” “c−p Øe-§tfm? Fhn-sS-sbm-s¡-bmWv t]mtI-−Xv?”

“BZyw \tc³ _nizm-kn-sâ-b-Sp-¡Â. kw`-hn-¨-sXms¡ AbmtfmSp ]d-b-Ww; hnIvtSm-dn-b-bpsS I¯p-IÄ Xncn-¨p-\ÂIWw.” “c−m-atXm?” “ku¯v ]mÀ¡v skan-t¯-cn-bn”. “C..-C..-C-\nbpw?” “hà cq]-hp-apt−m \n§Ä¡v… Hmtcm NphSpw F{X {i²tbm-sS-bmWv Rm³ h¨-sX-¶v. CXp-Im-cWw F\n¡v Ah-tcmSv t\cmw-h®w t]mcm-Sm³ t]mepw Ign-ªn-Ã.” s^eqZ CS-Xp-Im-ense _qSvkv Agn-¨p. F¶n«v AXn-\p-Ån ssIbn«v Hcp U½n tkmfnse clky Ad-bnÂ\n¶v I¼n-fnbn s]mXnª Hcp km[-\-sa-Sp-¯p. Cu _l-f-§-sfms¡ Ign-ªn«pw AXn\p XI-cm-sdm¶pw kw`-hn-¨n-cp-¶n-Ã, Ub s]m«n-b-sXm-gn-sI. “CXv CXnsâ DS-a-bpsS ]¡Â Xncn-t¨Â¸n-¡t−?” \hm_v kmZ¯v Aen tXmakv tKmUvhnsâ ]mN-I-ssh-Z-Kv[y¯n\p \ÂInb BZy-k-½m\w s^eq-Z-bpsS hnc-ep-IÄ¡nSbn Xq§n-bm-Sn. Cw¥-−nse Gähpw anI¨ hm¨v \nÀ½m-Xm¡-fn-sem-cm-fmb {^m³knkv s]cn-K \nÀ½n¨ dn¸o-äÀ hm¨v. Ccp-\qdp hÀjw bP-am-\sâ AØn-Iq-S-¯n-\p Iq«m-bn-cp-¶-h³. F¶n«pw DZbkqcysâ BZy-In-c-W-§Ä X«n-b-t¸mgs¯ AXnsâ Xnf¡w R§-fpsS I®p-IÄ aª-fn-¸n-¨p.

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