ഒളിവര് ട്വിസ്റ്റ്

HfnhÀ Sznkvddv NmÄkv Un¡³kv ]p\\cmJym\\w hnt\\mZv \\mcmbW³ 1

Malayalam Language Oliver Twist (Novel) Vinod Narayanan Rights Reserved First Published: Aug 2018 Cover & Tipesetting : Boons Entertainments Published by: Sweet mango Publications Website : boonsgallery.blogspot.com Email: [email protected] All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the writer. 2

വിേനാദ് നാരായണന് 1975 മാർച്ച് 24 തീയതി eറണാകുളം ജി യിെല തൃ ണി റ യിൽ ജനിച്ചു. പിതാവ് േചാ ാനിക്കര െവളു റ ിൽ നാരായണനും മാതാവ് തൃ ണി റ eരൂർ വാണിയ വീ ിൽ ഓമനയുമാണ്. േചാ ാനിക്കര ഗവ.ൈഹ ളിലും തൃ ണി റ ഗവ.േകാളജിലു മായി വിദയ്ാഭയ്ാസം െച . ചരിത്ര ിൽ ബിരുദാന രബിരുദം േനടിയതിനുേശഷം പത്രപ്ര വർ കനായി. iേ ാൾ സവ്ത eഴു കാരനും തിരക്കഥാകൃ മാണ്. a ് ഹ്രസവ്ചിത്രങ്ങൾ തിരക്കഥെയഴുതി സംവിധാനം െചയയ്ുകയും aവ വിവിധ a ാരാ ചലച്ചിത്രേവദികളിൽ പ്രദർശി ിക്കെ ടുകയും പുര ാരാർഹമാവുകയും െച . ആദയ്െ േനാവൽ മായെക്കാ ാരം പ്രസി ീകരിക്കെ ത് 1999 ൽ മേനാരാജയ്ം വാരികയിലാണ്. വിവിധ ആനുകാലികങ്ങളിലായി 3

നാൽപതിൽപരം െചറുകഥകെളഴുതി. വിവിധ പ്രസാധകരിലൂെട നൂറിൽപരം പു കങ്ങൾ പ്രസി ീകരിക്കെ . ദി െറഡ് (േനാവൽ), കാ ാനകളും േപരാച്ചികളും(േനാ വൽ), , െചകു ാൻെറ രഹസയ്ം(േനാവൽ), െകാച്ചുെകാച്ചുനിഗൂഢകഥകൾ (കഥകൾ), ഐതിഹയ്ങ്ങളിെല യക്ഷിക്കഥകൾ e ിവ പ്രധാനപു കങ്ങ ളാണ്. വിലാസം: ‘ ശിവര ിനി’ െച ്. P.O, പിന് : 682608 ൈവക്കം, േകാ യം ജി . Email : [email protected] Website : boonsgallery.blogspot.com 4

Nm-Ä-kv Un-¡³-kv Cw-¥-−n-se em³Uv-t]mÀ-«nÂ1812 s^-{_ph-cn G-gn- \\m-bn-cp-¶p NmÄ-kv tPm¬ l^mw Un-¡³-kv P\\n-¨X.v A-ѳ tPm¬ Un-¡³kv. A-t±-lw t\\- hn t]m-kv-täm-^o-knse H-cp Kp-a-kv-X-\\m-bn-cp¶p. A-½-bp-sS t]-cv F-en-k-_-¯v _m-tcm. F-«p-a-¡- fn c-−m-a-\\m-bn-cp-¶p NmÄ-kv. H-¼-Xp-h-b-kph-sc t¢m-hÀ-se-bv-\\n-se H-cp kv-Iq-fn hn-Zym-`ym-kw sN- bvXp. ]n-s¶ Ip-Spw-_w e-−-\\n-se Imw-U¬ sSu- Wn-te-¡v amdn. I-Sw I-b-dn-b-Xn-s\\ Xp-SÀ-¶v A-ѳ P-bn-en A-S-bv-¡-s¸«p. A-tXm-sS A-½ Ip-Spw-_- ¯n-sâ Npa-X-e G-sä-Sp¯p. A-hÀ H-cp t_mÀ-Un- §v kv-IqÄ Xp-S§n. jq t]m-fo-jn-§v ap-X Np-a- sS-Sp-¸v h-sc sN-bv-Xv sIm-¨p NmÄkpw A½-sb k- lm-bn¨p. A¨-\\v H-cp sse-{_-dn-bp-−m-bn-cp¶p. A- Xv NmÄ-kn-\\v Kp-Ww sN-bvXp. BZyw hm-bn-¨ Ir-Xn tdm-_n³-k¬ {Iqtkm B-bn-cp¶p. NmÄ-kn-se F- gp-¯p-Im-c³ cq-]-s¸-Sm³ B sse-{_-dn h-f-sc-b-[n- Iw k-lm-bn-¨p. 1824  »m-¡v s]-bnâv \\nÀ-an-¡p- ¶ H-cp I-¼-\\n-bn te-_ H-«n-¡-ep-Im-c-\\m-bn tPm-en In-«n. 1832  {Sq-k¬ F-¶ ]-{X-¯n-se dn- t¸mÀ-«-dmbn. ]-e ]-{X-§-fnepw t_m-kv F-¶ Xq-en- Im-\\m-a-¯n kv-sI-¨p-IÄ sN-bv-Xp. 1836  A-t±- lw Im-X-do-s\\ hn-hm-lw sN-bv-Xp. 1837  H-fn-hÀ Szn-kv-äv {]k- o-²o-I-cn¨p. Xp-SÀ-¶v {In-kv-a-kv Im-cÄ, tU-hn-Uv tIm-¸À ^oÂUv, c−v \\-K-c-§-fp-sS I-Y, hn-j-a-Zn-\\§Ä, hen-b hen-b {]-Xo-£IÄ, ]m-gvho- Sv Xp-S§n-b Ir-Xn-IÄ {]-kn-²o-Ir-X-am-bn. 1870 s^- {_p-h-cn 9 \\v A-t±-lw a-c-W-¯n-\\v Io-g-S§n. 5

B-ap-Jw A-\\m-Ym-e-b-¯n ]n-d-¶pho-W H-cp Ip-«n-bp-sS I- Y-bm-Wv H-fn-hÀ Szn-Ìv. Ah-sâ A-ѳ B-cm-sW-¶- dn-bnÃ. A-\\m-Ym-e-b-¯n I-Sp-¯ ]o-V-\\-§Ä G- äp-hm§n-b A-h³ A-hn-sS \\nv-¶v H-fn-t¨m-Sn e-−-\\n- se H-cp X-kv-I-c kw-L-¯n h-¶p-s]«p. B sIm- Å-kw-L-¯n-sâ ta-[m-hn ^mK- n³ F-¶-bm-fm-bn- cp¶p. Ip-«nI-sf D-]-tbm-Kn-¨m-Wv A-bmÄ tamj- Ww \\-S-¯n-bn-cp-¶Xv. ]-«n-Wnbpw A-Xn \\n-¶v D- bnÀ-sIm-− ]-I-bp-am-Wv H-fn-hÀ Szn-Ìn-sâ {]-ta-bw. Cw-¥-−n-se k-¼-¶-X-bp-sS a-dp-]p-d-am-Wv A-\\m- Ycmb Ip-«n-I-fp-sS I-Y-bn-eq-sS h-c-¨p-Im-Wn-¡p- ¶Xv. A-tX-ka-bw Ip-eo-\\-hÀ-K-¯n-sâ {]-Xn-\\n-[n- bm-bn F-gp-Xnt¨À-¡-s¸-« an-ÌÀ {_u¬tem F-¶ [-\\n-I³ H-fn-hÀ Szn-kv-än-s\\ X-kv-I-c-kw-L-¯n \\n¶v cv-£n-¡p-Ibpw sN-¿p¶p. H-fn-hÀ I-\\-¯ k- ¼ ¯n-sâ D-S-a-bm-Ip¶p. A-tX-ka-bw H-fn-h-dp-sS A-ѳ F-tUzÀ-Uv eo-t^mÀ-Un-sâ B-Zy-`m-cy-bnse aI³ a-¦v-kv ^m-Kn-s\\bpw sIm-e-]m-X-I-kw-L- t¯bpw D-]-tbm-Kn-¨v H-fnh-sd th-«-bm-Sp¶p. tem-I ¢m-kn-¡p-I-fp-sS K-W-¯n s]-Sp-¯n-bn-cn-¡p-¶ H-cp {XnÃÀ tÌm-dn-bm-Wv H-fn-hÀ Szn-kväv. 6

1 A-\\mY-sâ ]ndhn cm{Xn Gsdbmbncn¡p¶p. inincImeamWv. \\à aªphogvNbp−v. Cw¥−nse HcnSp§nb sXcphnse PoÀ®n¨ sI«nS¯n\\pÅn B kab¯v Hcp Ipªp ]nd¶Xnsâ Ic¨n tIÄ¡mambncp¶p. B sI«nSw kÀ¡mÀ ^t−mSpIqSn \\S¯s¸Sp¶ Hcp A\\mYmebamWv. Ipªv Ic¨ntemSpIc¨nÂ. AXnsâ A½ {]khw \\S¶bpS³Xs¶ acn¨ncp¶p. A\\mYmeb¯nse At´hmknIfnsemcmfmb kmen F¶ Inghnbpw Hcp kÀ¡mÀ tUmIvSdpamWv ASp¯pÅXv. Xte¶v FhnsS \\nt¶m AeªpXncnªv h¶v hgnbn t_m[w sI«phoW kv{XobmWv {]khn¨Xv. AÚmXbmb B kv{XobpsS Ipªnsâ AÑ\\mcmsW¶dnbm¯Xns\\ sNmÃn Inghnbpw tUmIvSdpw ]dªp Nncn¨p. ImcWw B kv{XobpsS ssIhncen hnhmltamXncw CÃmbncp-¶p. iq-\\yamb B tam-Xn-c-hn-c I-−v tUm-ÎÀ ]d- ªp: 7

“Imc-Ww hf-sc hy-à-am-b-tÃm. t\\m-¡v, C-h-cp-sS jq-kv h-f-sc-tb-sd tX-ªn-cn-¡p¶p. Ip-sd-tb-sd C-hÀ \\-S-¶n-«p-−v. X-sâ tPm-en I-gn-ªv tUm-ÎÀ a-S-§n-t¸mbn. Xp-Ñam-b {]-Xn-^-e-¯n-\\v B A-\\m-Ym-e-b-¯n-se A-t´-hm-kn-I-fp-sS t£-aw t\\m-¡p-¶ H-cm-fm-bn-cp- ¶p B tUmÎÀ. hr² B Ip-ªn-s\\ H-cp ]-g-´p-Wn-bn s]m-Xn- ªp-h¨v s\\-cn-t¸m-Sn-\\-Sp-¯n-cp-¶v aZyw tk-hn- ¡m³ Xp-S§n. B A\\mYmeb¯nte¡v Hcp A\\mYinip IqSn IS¶ph¶ncn¡p¶p. hn-i-¶-t¸m-sgm-s¡ A-h³ hen-b hm-bn I-c- ªp. A\\mYaμnc¯nsâ `mchmlnIÄ hfsc {Iqc·mcmbncp-¶p. B Ipªn\\v Hcp hbÊmbt¸mtg¡pw Ah³ AhnsS henb ieyw krjvSn¡p¶psh¶v ]dªv aq¶p \\mgnIbIsebpÅ thsdmcp Øm]\\¯nte¡v amddn. AXv anknkv am³ F¶ hn[hbpsS Øm]\\ambncp¶p. AhnsS ap¸tXmfw A\\mY¡p«nIÄ D−v. Ip«nsbm¶n\\v Ggcs]³kv hoXw BgvNbnsemcn¡Â kÀ¡mÀ AhÀ¡v {]Xn^ew \\ÂInbncp¶p. ]t£ AhÀ Ip«nIÄ¡v IrXyambn Blmcsam¶pw sImSp¡pIbnsöv am{XaÃ, {Iqcambn ]oUn¸n¡pIbpw sNbv-Xp. 8

]e Ipªp§fpw Bhiy¯n\\v BlmcanÃmsXbpw XWp¸Iddm\\pÅ hkv{X§fnÃmsXbpw AhnsS acn¨phoWp. ]t£ CXns\\sbÃmw AXnPohn¨psIm−v hfÀ¶ \\½psS IYm\\mbI\\mb Ipªn\\v Ct¸mÄ H¼Xp hbÊmbn. Hcp Znhkw hni¸p kln¡msX Ah³ anknkv am\\nt\\mSv Ipd¨pIqSn `£Ww Bhiys¸-«p: “amUw, F-\\n-¡v hn-i-¡p¶p. `£-Ww Xcq.” B [n¡mcw anknkv am\\n\\v kln¡m³ IgnªnÃ. AhÀ Ahs\\ s]mXnsc XÃn. Ahs\\ am{XaÃ, H¸w IqSpX Blmc¯n\\mbn ]m{Xw \\o«nb Ahsâ c−p Iq«pImtcbpw XÃn. aq¶pt]tcbpw shfn¨w Ibdm¯ hndIp]pcbn ]q«nbn«p. Iptd Znhkt¯¡v Ahsc ]«nWn¡n«v ]oUn¸n¡m\\mbncp¶p anknkv am\\nsâ {Iqcamb Xocpam-\\w. ]t£ Ip«nIfpsS `mKy¯n\\v CShIbnse ]cntim[\\m[nImcnbmb ankvddÀ _w_n AhnsSsb¯n. _w_nens\\ I−bpS³ anknkv am³ kq{X¯n Ip«nIsf hndIp]pcbn \\n¶v Xpd¶v hn«n«v AhtcmSv Ipfn¨p \\à hkv{Xw [cn¨p\\n¡m³ Bhiys¸«p. _w_nens\\ kq{Ximenbmb anknkv am³ BZc]qÀhw kzoIcn¨ncp¯n. 9

Abmsf {]oXns¸Sp¯nbm am{Xta anknkv am\\n\\v em`ap−mhpIbpÅq. ankvddÀ _w_n BIs« Hcp s]m§¨¡mc\\pw {Iqc\\pamWv. AbmÄ A\\mYmeb¯nsâ Hm^nkvdqan {][m\\Itkcbn A[nImcn Naªncp¶p. anknkv am³ Iuiew \\ndª I®pItfmsS Hcp aqebn \\n¶p. _w_n tNmZn¨p: “anknkv am³, H¼XphÀjw ap¼v Hcm¬Ip«nsb ChnsS sIm−ph¶Xv \\n§tfmÀ¡p¶pt−m?” “DÆv.” anknkv am³ ]dªp. “B Ip«nsb Ipdn¨pÅ A\\mYmebt_mÀUnsâ At\\zjWw ]qÀ¯nbmbn. Ahsâ t]cv HfnhÀ Sznkvddv F¶mWv. Ah³ AÑt\\m A½tbm addv kz´¡mtcm Csöv sXfnªncn¡p¶p.” AXptI«v anknkv am³ I]SZpxJw A`n\\bn¨v Icªp. F¶n«v ]dªp: “AXv henb k¦SIcamb ImcyamWv. ]-t£ A-h³ A-\\m-Y-\\m-sW-¦n Ah- sâ t]-cv F-§-s\\-bm-Wv I-−p-]n-Sn-¨Xv.” “A-sX-sâ an-Sp-¡m-Wv an-kn-kv am³. ‘F’ ap-X ‘Ck-Uv’ h-sc-bp-Å A-£-c-§-fn \\n-¶v BZyw h- ¶-bmÄ¡p-ap-X t]-cn-«p-Xp-S-§n-b-XmWv. C-h-\\mI- s« ‘H’ B-Wv In-«n-b-Xv. 10

an-kn-kv am-\\n-\\v H¶pw a-\\-kn-em-bn-sÃ-¦nepw A-hÀ _w-_n-en-s\\ A-`n-\\-μ-\\-§Ä sIm-−v s]m-Xnªp. “ssZ-hsa, Xm-¦Ä hen-b {]-Xn-`m-im-en-bmWv. H-cp I-hn-bm-tI-−-bm-fm-Wv Xm¦Ä.” “Rm³ C-t¸-tg H-cp I-hn-bm-W-tÃm. \\q-ä¼-Xv I-hn- X-I-fp-sS H-cp ]p-kvX-Iw X-s¶ {]-kn-²o-I-cn¨p.” “ssZ-hta, Rm\\-Xv hm-bn-¨n-cp¶p. Xm-¦-fmW-tà A- sX-gp-Xn-bXv…!” “XoÀ-¨m-bm-bpw. AXp-t]ms«. HfnhÀ Sznkvddn\\v H¼XphbÊv XnIbpIbmWv. H¼XphbÊv XnIbp¶hÀ¡v kuP\\y Blmcw \\ÂImdnÃ. Ahs\\ Fs´¦nepw sXmgn ]Tn¸n¡Ww. AXn\\mbn Rm\\hs\\ sIm−pt]mhpIbmWv.” _w_n ]dªp. anknkv am³ Iptd¡qSn D¨¯n Icªp: “ssZhta Rm³ emfn¨p hfÀ¯nb Ipªp§sf ]ncnbp¶sX§s\\bmWv. {]tXyIn¨v HenhÀ Sznkvddns\\. CXp lrZbt`ZIw Xs¶.” anknkv am\\nsâ Ic¨nen Ipd¨v hmkvXhhpw D−mbncp¶p. ImcWw BgvNbnsemcn¡epÅ Ggcs]³kv IpdªphtÃm. AhÀ AhnsSsbmcnS¯v NSªncn¡pIbmbncp¶ Henhdns\\ sI«n¸pWÀ¶v Icªp. HenhÀ hnNmcn¨Xv B kv{Xo¡v 11

h«mbnt¸msb¶mWv. B kv{Xo ap-s¼m-cn-¡epw Im-Wn-¨n-«nÃm-¯ kv-t\\-l-t¯m-sS H-fn-h-dn-s\\ Xp- S¨v hr-¯n-bm-¡n Ah-s\\ tNÀ¯p-]n-Sn¨p-sIm-−v _w-_n-en-\\v A-cn-In-se¯n. H-fn-hÀ _w-_n-en-s\\ H-cp AÛp-X h-kv-Xp-hn-s\\ F- ¶-t]m-se t\\m¡n. “\\o F-t¶m-sSm-¸w t]m-cp-t¶m…?” _w-_n tNm-Zn¨p. _w-_n-en-s\\ B-Z-cn-¡m³ H-fn-h-tdm-Sv Nne ssI-bmw- Ky-§Ä an-kn-kv am³ Im-Wn-s¨-¦nepw A-h\\v A- sXm¶pw a-\\-kn-em-bnÃ. X-s¶ C-hn-sS \\nv-¶v sIm-−p-t]m-Im³ Xp-S-§p-I-bm- sW-¶v Ah-\\v a-\\-kn-embn. A-h³ \\n-jv-I-f-¦am-b lr-Z-b-t¯m-sS an-kn-kv am\\n-t\\m-Sv Xsâ-sbm-¸w hcptam F¶v tNm-Zn¨p. s]-s«-¶v B {Iq-cbm-b kv-{Xo-bp-sS I-®p \\n- dªp. A-Xv A-`n-\\-b-am-bn-cp-¶p F-¶v {]-tXy-Iw ]-d-tb-−- XnÃ-tÃm. _w-_n s]-s«-¶v ]dªp: “C-S-bv-s¡m-s¡ Ch-sc h-¶v Im-Wmw.” an-kn-kv am³ I-Sp-¯ Zpx-Jw A-`n-\\-bn¨p-sIm−- v H- fnh-sd sI-«n-¸n-Sn¨p. A-h-cp-sS am-\\kn-I \\n-e sX-än-sb¶v hn-Nm-cn-¨ H-fn- hÀ A-h-cp-sS kv-t\\-l-{]I-S-\\ A-`n-\\-b-§Ä-s¡m- s¡ \\n¶p-sIm-Sp¯p. 12

anknkv am³ Henhdns\\ _w_nent\\msSm¸w bm{Xbm¡n. t]mIm³ t\\cw AhÀ Ah\\v Hcp DW¡sdm«n¡jWhpw Hcp ]gIn¸nªnb DSp¸pw sImSp¯p. _w_nensâ ]n¶mse DSp¸ps]mXnbpw ]nSn¨v sdm«n¡jWw ImÀ¶pXn¶psIm−v CS¡nsS Imddn Debp¶ Hm«hoWp]gInb henb sXm¸n AaÀ¯n h¨psIm−v HenhÀ \\S-¶p. 13

2 ]-g-b Xm-h-f-¯n Henhdpw _w_nepw F¯nbXv H¼Xp hÀjw ap¼v Ah³ ]nd¶p hoW B ]gb A\\mYmeb¯n Xs¶bmbncp¶p. CSnªphogmdmb `n¯n ac¡¼pIÄ sIm−v Xm§n \\nÀ¯nb GXp \\nanjhpw \\new ]Xn¡mhp-¶ H-cp sI-«n-S-am-bnc- p-¶p AXv. B A\\mYmeb¯n\\v H-cp U-b-dÎÀ t_mÀUv D−mbncp¶p. \\me©p am\\y·mÀ AS§p¶XmWv t_mÀUv. sN¶pbSs\\ _w_n Ahs\\ t_mÀUn\\v ap¶n lmPcm¡n. Xsâ {]amWn¯w ImWn¡m³ Nqc sIm−v aq¶p\\mep {]lchpw _w_n Henhdn\\v sImSp-¯p. Ah-s\\ XÃnb-Xv F-´n-\\m-sW-¶v Ah-\\v a-\\-kn-em- bnÃ. “\\nsâ t]sc´mWv?” t_mÀUwK§Ä Henhdns\\ tNmZyw sN¿m³ Bcw`n¨p. Aev]w ap¼v am{XamWv Xsâ t]cv HenhÀ F¶msW¶v _w_n ]dªp X¶Xv. AXh\\p 14

IrXyambn HmÀs¯Sp¡m\\mbnÃ. AtXmsS t_mÀUwK§fpsS ]cnlmkw XpS§n. “Ip«o \\o A\\mY\\mWv.” “A\\mYs\\¶p h¨m F´mWp kÀ?” H¶pw a\\knemIm¯ Henhsd t_mÀUwK§Ä ]SphnUvVnsb¶p ap{Z Ip¯n. D-bÀ-¶ I-tk-cn-bn-en-cp-¶ H-cp am-\\y³ A-h-t\\m-Sv hn-i-Zo-I-cn¨p. “Ip«o, A-\\m-Y-s\\-¶p-h-¨m A-Ñ\\pw A-½bpw _- Ôp-¡fpw hoSpw CÃm-¯-h³ F-¶m-WÀ°w. \\o A-\\m-Y-\\mWv. \\n-\\¡v Cu ]d-ª-sXm¶pw CÃ. a- \\-knem-tbm.” A-Xp-tI-«v H-fn-hÀ s]m-«n-¡-cªp. “G-bv Ip«o, \\o C-Xph-sc A-\\m-Ym-e-b-¯n-se `£- Ww ku-P-\\y-am-bn I-gn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶-tÃm. C-\\n A-Xv ]-änÃ. \\n-\\¡v kz-´w Im-en \\n¡m³ {]m- b-am-bn-cn-¡p¶p. A-hÀ ]-d-ª-Xn-sâ AÀ-Yw F-´m-sW-¶v H-fn-h-dn- \\v Ir-Xy-am-bn a-\\-kn-em-bnÃ. H¼XphbÊp ]qÀ¯nbmbhÀ¡v kuP\\y`£Ww CÃm¯Xn\\m AhÀ Ahs\\mcp tPmen hn[n¨p. ]gIn {Zhn¨ IbdpIÄ apdn¨v \\mcpIfm¡n Xdbn hnXdnbn«Xv ASp¡ns¸dp¡Ww. CXmWv tPmen. 15

Cu tPmen icn¡pw PbnÂ]pÅnIÄ¡v hn[n¡mdpÅ in£bmWv. HfnhÀ Sznkvddn\\v Cu tPmen icn¡pw aSp¯p. am{XaÃ, aq¶p t\\cw Hcp tIm¸ Iªn am{XamWv `£Wambn In«pI. Iªn F¶p t]cv am{Xta DÅq. Iptd shÅw. AXn\\Snbn \\me©v hddv D−mbm `mKyw. BgvNbn c−p XhW Hmtcm DÅn In«pw. RmbdmgvN Hcp IjWw DW¡sdm«n In«pw. hkv{Xw CÃ. DÅXv Hsc®w ]Iepw Dd§m³ t\\c¯psams¡ D]tbmKn¨psIm-ÅWw. H-fn-hÀ hn-i-¶p-he-ªv FÃn³-Iq-Sv t]m-se-bmbn. Hcp Znhkw hni¶p heªn«v Iq«¯nse {]mbw sN¶ Hcp ]¿³ tcmjt¯msS ]dªp: “Cs¶\\n¡v Hcp tIm¸ Iªnsb¦nepw IqSpX In«nbnsæn Iq«¯nepÅ Bscsb¦nepw cm{Xnbn Rm³ ]nSn¨p Xn¶pw.” AXptI«v HenhÀ `b¶pt]mbn. ImcWw AhsâbSp¯mWv B apcS³ sN¡³ InS¡p¶Xv. cm{Xn¡pap¼v Cu {]iv\\¯ns\\mcp ]cnlmcw D−m¡Ww. AXpsIm−v HenhÀ Xs¶ ap³ssIs¿Sp¯v NÀ¨bmcw`n¨p. Hcp tIm¸ Iªn hnf¼pImct\\mSv IqSpX tNmZn¡Ww. BcmWv AXv tNmZn¡pI F¶XmWv {]iv\\w. HSphn \\dp¡n«v Xocpam\\n¨p. HenhÀ Xs¶ tNmZn¡Ww! 16

kÔybmbt¸mÄ hnf¼pImc³ Iªnbpambn h¶p. In«nb Hcp tIm¸ Iªn Hdd hen¡v IpSn¡m\\pÅtX D−mbncp¶pÅq. c−mas¯ tIm¸ Iªn tNmZn¡phm³ Iq«pImÀ Henhsd I®psIm−pw ssI¿psIm−psams¡ t{]cn¸n¨p. Henhdn\\msW¦n t]Snbmbn«p h¿. F´pw hcs«sb¶v IcpXn ss[cy]qÀhw HfnhÀ hnf¼pImct\\mSv C§s\\ tNmZn¨p: “F\\n¡v Hcp tIm¸ Iªn IqSn thWw.” hnf¼pImc³ sR«nt¸mbn. A\\mYmeb¯nsâ Ncn{X¯n A§s\\sbm¶v CXphsc D−mbn«nÃ. “\\osb´m tNmZn¨Xv?” “F\\n¡v Hcp tIm¸ Iªn IqSn thWw.” CXptI«v hndfn]nSn¨ hnf¼pImc³ XhnsIm−v Henhsd s]mXnsc XÃn. BsI _lfambn. hnf¼pImc³ \\nehnfn¡pIIqSn sN¿p¶p−v. _w_n HmSnsb¯n. AbmÄ DS\\Sn Henhdnsâ Ipddw t_mÀUv ap¼msI F¯n¨p. tcmjmIpecmb t_mÀUwK§Ä Henhdn\\v in£ hn[n¨p. Henhdns\\ A\\mYmeb¯n \\n¶v ]pd¯m¡Ww. ]pd¯m¡p¶Xphsc Ccp«papdnbn Hdd¡v ]mÀ¸n¡Ww. 17

A§s\\ in£ \\S¸m¡n. Henhdns\\ Ccp«papdnbn ]q«nbn«p. `£Wkab¯v _w_n B ]n-©p-Ip-ªns\\ hen¨ng¨v Ahsâ Iq«pImÀ Im¬sI sIm−ph¶p \\nÀ¯n Nqc sIm−v {]lcn¨p. F¶n«v ]¨shÅw t]mepw sImSp¡msX Ccp«papdnbn sIm−pt]mbn ]q«nbn«p. taen Bcpw Henhsd t]mse {]XnIcn¡mXncn¡m\\mbncp¶p Cu {IqcX. ASp¯ Znhkw _w_n A\\mYmeb¯n\\pap¼n Hcp ]ckyw ]Xn¨p. “Henhsd sIm−pt]mIp¶hÀ¡v A©ps]³kv {]Xn^ew \\ÂIp¶XmWv.” ]ckyw I−v ]pI¡pgÂXpS¡p¶ tPmen sN¿p¶ Kmw^oÂUv F¶bmÄ hs¶¦nepw A- bm-fpsS {IqcapJw I−v `b¶pt]mb HenhÀ AbmtfmsSm¸w t]mIm³ X\\n¡v ]ddnsöv t_mÀUwK§Ä ap¼msI ]-dªp. “kÀ F-\\n¡v Cu {Iq-c\\m-b a-\\p-jy-sâ H-¸w t]m- Im³ I-gn-bnÃ. A-Xn-t\\-¡mÄ t`Zw Cu A-\\m-Ym-e- b-¯n-se X-S-h-d-bn ]-«n-Wn In-S-¡p-¶-XmWv” a-Pn-kv-t{S-än-\\v A-en-hp tXm¶n. A-bÄ _w-_n-se i-Im-cn-¨v aS¡- n A-b¨p. 18

_w_nen-\\p I-Sp¯ tZjyw h¶p. A-bmÄ A-\\m-Y- em-b-¯n-te-¡v a-S§pw h-gn-sbÃmw H-fnh-sd i-Im- cn-¡p-Ibpw {]-l-cn-¡p-Ibpw sN-bvXp-sIm-−n-cp¶p. _w-_n ASp¯ Znhkw tkmhÀ_dn F¶ ihs¸«n¡mcs\\ Iq«ns¡m−p-h¶p. tkm-hÀ-_-dn- ¡v I-S-bn H-cp k-lm-bn-sb B-h-iy-ap-−m-bn- cp¶p. tkm-hÀ-_dn-sbm-sSm¸w t]mbnsæn sIm¶pIfbpsa¶v _w_n `ojWns¸Sp¯nbXn\\m HfnhÀ t_mÀUwK§tfmSv ]cmXn ]dªnÃ. ]I-cw A-h³ I-cªp. Zp-ã\\m-b _w-_n Ah- s\\ I-c-b-cp-sX-¶v Xm-¡o-Xv sN-bvXp. I-®oÀ Xp-S-¡m³ D-bÀ¯nb Ah-sâ I-c§-sf A-bmÄ X-«n-am-än. _w-_n A-[n-t£-]-n-¨p: “\\o \\-μn-sI-« I-gp-X- bmWv. F-s¶ hg-¡v tIÄ-¸n-¡m-\\m-Wv \\n-sâ `m-h- sa-¦n sIm-¶p I-f-bpw.” t_mÀ-Uw-K-§Ä Ah-sâ hn-[n-sb-gpXn. H-fn-hÀ tkm-hÀ-_-dn-bp-sS i-h-s¸-«n-¡-S-bn tPm- en sN¿-s« F-¶v. A-h-tâ-sX-¶v ]-d-bm-\\m-bn Io-dn-¸-dn-ª H-cp tPm- Un-¡p-¸m-bw am-{X-ta D-−m-bn-cp-¶pÅq. A-Xp-w ssI-bn-se-Sp-¯v A-h³ A-\\m-Ym-e-b-t¯m-Sv bm-{X ]-dªp. A-h³ I®o-tcmsS tkmhÀ_dntbmsSm¸w t]mbn. 19

3 X-kv-I-c-kwLw A¶pXs¶ HenhÀ tkmhÀ_dnbpsS ihs¸«n¡Sbn tPmen¡mc\\mbn. tkmhÀ_dnbpsS `mcybmsW¦n Hcp ZpjvSbm- Wv. Ah-s\\ I-−-bp-S³ A-hÀ tZ-jy-s¸«p: “C-h-s\\m-cp sIm-¨p ]-¿-\\m-W-tÃm. Ch-s\\ F§- s\\ Xo-än-t¸m-äpw?” A-hÀ Ah-sâ I-gp-¯n-\\v ]n-Sn¨v A-I-t¯-¡v XÅn. A-h³ `mKyw sIm-−v ap-J-a-Sn-¨v ho-WnÃ. AhcpsS c−v tPmen¡mcp−v. NmÀtem«n F¶ ]mN¡mcnbmb bphXnbpw t\\mhmt¢t¸mÄ F¶ apXnÀ¶ ]¿\\pw. c−mfpw tkmhÀ_dn¡v ]ddnb tPmen¡mÀ Xs¶. Bhp¶ hn[¯n FÃmhcpw Henhsd t{Zmln¨p. AhntSbpw Ah\\v e`n¨Xv FÃmbnS¯pw e`n¡p¶Xpt]mse ITn\\amb tPmenbpw C¯ncn `£Whpw B«pw Xp¸pw. Henhdn\\v Cu temIw Xs¶ \\in¨ temIambn tXm¶n¯pS§n. 20

H-fnhÀ tPmen¡v tNÀ-¶n«v Ipd¨v Znhk§Ä ]n¶n-«p. ]-Wn-Xo-cm-¯Xpw XoÀ-¶-Xpam-b i-h-s¸-«n-I-fp-sS C- S-bn-ep-Å C-¯n-cn Ø-e-¯m-Wv Ah-sâ cm-{Xn-bp- d¡w. hm-Xn-en Btcm N-hn«n. A-Xm-cm-sW-¶-dn-bm³ A-h³ hm-XnÂ-¸-gp-Xn-eq-sS t\\m¡n. t\\m-hm F-¶ ]-¿-\\m-Wv. A-h³ H-cp sdm-«n I-Sn-¨p-]-dn-¨p-Xn-¶p-sIm-−v Np- hcpw Nm-cn-bn-cn-¡p-I-bmWv. Ah-\\v A-I-¯v I-S-¡m³ th-−n-bmWv. H-fn-hÀ hm-Xn X-pd¶p. “\\n-§fmtWm hm-Xn-en ap-«n-bXv…?” “Rm³ N-hn-«n-b-XmWv. F-t´ ]-cm-Xn-bp-t−m. \\n- \\¡v F-{X h-b-kp-−v?” “]-¯v hb- -kv.” C-h³ F-´n-\\m-Wv Cv-t¸mÄ C-t§m-«v h-¶-sX-¶v a- \\-kn-em-Im-sX H-fn-hÀ tNm-Zn¨p: “C-t¸mÄ Xm-¦Ä¡v F-´m-Wv th-−Xv. i-h-s¸- «nbmtWm?” A-Xp-tI«v t\\m-h-bv-¡v tZjyw h¶p, “ssh-Im-sX \\n-\\¡v H-cp i-h-s¸-«n th-−n h-cpw. \\o F-sâ Io-gn-em-Wv tPm-en sN-¿p-¶-Xv. A-tXmÀ-a thWw.” 21

“i-cn kÀ.” “\\o B P-\\ Xp-d¡v.” H-fn-hÀ A-X-\\p-k-cn¨p. “B ho-Xn A-S-bv-¡v.” H-fn-hÀ AXpw A-\\p-k-cn¨p. “\\n-sâ A-½-bv-¡v kp-JamtWm?” t\\m-h ap-\\ h¨v tNm-Zn¨p. H-fn-hÀ I-cªp. “\\o I-c-bp¶-Xv F-´n-\\mWv?” “F-sâ A½sb HmÀ¯v I-c-ª-XmWv.” “\\n-sâ A½sb HmÀ¯v I-c-bp¶-Xv F-´n-\\mWv. A-hÀ H-cp No-¯ kv-{Xo-bm-bn-cp¶p.” H-fn-h-dn-\\v A-Xv k-ln-¡m³ I-gn-ªnÃ. A-h³ k-I-e i-ànbpw kw-`-cn-¨v t\\mh-sb B-{I- an¨p. A-{]-Xo-£n-Xam-b B-{I-a-W-¯n t\\m-h ]-X-dn- t¸mbn. t\\m-h-bp-sS s\\-©n I-b-dn-bn-cp-¶v H-fn-hÀ Xp-cp- Xp-cm C-Sn¨p. t\\m-h-bv¡v H¶pw sN-¿m³ I-gn-ªnÃ. A-h³ \\n-e-hn-fn¨p. \\n-e-hn-fn tI-«v NmÀ-tem-«nbpw an-kn-kv tkm-hÀ-_- dnbpw Hm-Sn-sb¯n. A-h-ch-s\\ ]n-Sn-¨p-amän. aq-hcpw tNÀ-¶v Ah-s\\ s]m-Xn-sc XÃn 22

H-fn-h-dn-\\v {`m-´p-]n-Sn¨pv F-¶m-W-hÀ I-cp-Xn-bXv. tkm-hÀ_-dn Ø-e-¯nÃm-bn-cp¶p. A-Sn-tb-äv A-h-i\\m-b H-fnh-sd A-hÀ H-cp hn-d-Ip- ]p-c-bn ]q-«n-bn«p. _w-_n-en-s\\ hn-fn-¡-\\mbn an-kn-kv tkm-hÀ_-dn t\\m-hm-¸-¿-s\\ ]-d-ª-b¨p. _w-_n h¶p. ssI-bn-se Nq-c sIm-−v hn-d-Ip-]p-c-bpsS hm-Xn- en i-àn-bm-bn A-Sn¨p-sIm-−v _w-_n tNm- Zn¨p: “H-en-hÀ \\o F-sâ i-Ðw Xn-cn-¨-dn-bp-¶pt−m?” “D−v. F-s¶ Xp-d¶v hnSq. A-sÃ-¦n Rm³ hm- Xn N-hn-«n-s¸m-fn-¡pw.” “\\n-\\¡v F-sâ i-Ðw tI-«n«v t]-Sn tXm¶p-¶ntÃ?” “CÃ.” ss[-cy-t¯m-sS H-fn-hÀ ]-d-ª-t¸mÄ _w-_n sR-«n-t¸mbn. “Ch-\\v {]m-´mWv. A-sÃ-¦n F-s¶ t]-Sn-bn-sÃ-¶v ]-d-bnÃ.” “C-\\n F-´p sN-¿pw?” “\\n-§Ä Ch-\\v amw-k-`£-Ww sIm-Sp-¡m-dp-t−m?” “D−v.” “A-Xm-Wv {]-iv\\w. ZpÀ-ta-Z-kp-sIm-−v {`m-´m-b- XmWv.” “C-Xn-\\v ]-cn-lm-c-sa-´m-Wv kÀ.” “]-¨-sh-Åw sIm-Sp-¡m-Xn-cn-¡p-I. ]-«nWn InS-¯n 23

Ch-sâ ZpÀ-taZ-kv Ip-d-¡pI.” “ssZ-hta, C-h³ R-§Ä¡v H-cp am-c-W-am-b-tÃm.” “C-h-³ F§-s\\ \\-¶m-Ipw. Imc-Ww Ch-sâ A-½ H-cp ZpÀ-¶-S-¯-¡m-cn-bm-bn-cp-¶-tÃm.” C-Xp-tI«v H-fn-hÀ hnd-Ip ap-dn-¡-I¯v In-S-¶v hen- b H-¨-¸m-Sp-−m¡n. A-t¸m-tg¡pw tkmhÀ_-dn h¶p. an-kn-kv tkm-hÀ_-dn hen-b Zp-xJw A-`n-\\-bn¨p- sIm-−v `À-¯m-hn-s\\ F-cn-hv I-bän. “C-h³ H-cp am-c-W-amWv. FÃm-¯n\\pw Imc-Ww C- h-\\mWv. t\\mh-sb C-h³ sImÃm³ t\\m¡n.” tkm-hÀ_-dn A-Xp-tI-«v tIm-]mIp-e-\\mbn. A-bmÄ tNm-Zn¨p: “\\n-\\¡v \\-«-{]m´m-tWm-Sm sX-−n-sN¡m?” “F-sâ A½-sb A-\\m-hiyw ]-d-ªn-«mWv. F-\\n- ¡v {`m-s´m-¶p-anÃ.” H-fn-hÀ ]-dªp. “t\\m-h D-Å-sX-tà ]-d-ªpÅq. \\n-sâ A-½ H-cp No-¯ kv-{Xo-bm-sW-¶v BÀ-¡m-Wv A-dnb- nÃm- ¯Xv.” an-kn-kv tkm-hÀ_-dn ]-d-ª-Xp-tI-«v H-f-nh-dn-\\v tZjyw k-ln-¡-h-¿m-Xmbn. A-h³ hn-d-Ip-]p-c-bp-sS Np-h-cnepw hm-Xn-enepw XÃn. 24

“B kv{Xo ]-d-bp¶-Xv ]-¨-¡-Å-amWv.” H-fn-hÀ D-¨-¯n ]-dªp. A-tXm-sS an-kn-kv tkm-hÀ_-dn I-c-bm³ XpS§n “GtXm sX-−n-sN-¡³ ]-d-bp¶-Xv tI-«ntÃ. Rm³ I-Åw ]-d-bp-I-bm-sW-¶v. \\n-§Ä C-Xv tIÄ-¡p-¶n- tà a-\\pjym..?” an-kn-kv tkm-hÀ-_-dn-bp-sS I-®o-cv I-−v a-\\-kn- fInb tkm-hÀ_-dn tIm-]m-Ip-e-\\m-bn hm-Xn Xp- d¶p. AbmÄ H-fn-hÀ Szn-Ìn-s\\ \\n-e-¯n-«v aÀ-Zn¨p. A-Sn-tb-äv A-h-i-\\m-bn-cp-¶ Ah-sâ t_m-[w a- dªp. t_m-[w a-d-ªn«pw tkm-hÀ_-dn A-Sn \\nÀ-¯n-bnÃ. H-Sp-hn A-bmÄ¡p a-Sp-¯-t¸mÄ A-Snbpw sXm- gnbpw \\nÀ-¯n Ah-s\\ hn-d-Ip-]p-c-¡-I-¯p-X-s¶- bn-«v ]pd-¯v \\n-¶v hm-Xn ]q«n. ]-I ap-gp-h³ A-h³- hn-d-Ip-]p-c-bn In-S¶p. A¶p cm{Xn t_m[w sXfnªt¸mÄ F§s\\sb¦nepw ]pd¯p NmSm³ Ah³ Xocpam\\n¨p. Ahsâ `mKy¯n\\v IpddnbnÃm¯ Hcp P\\Â]mfn B hndIp]pc¡v D−mbncp¶p. Ah³ AXphgn shfnbn NmSntbmSn. At¸mÄ t\\cw ]pecmdmbncp-¶p. _w-_n Ah-s\\ A-hn-tS¡v sIm-−p-h-¶ h-gn Ah-\\v a-\\-kn-em-bn-cp¶p. 25

A-tX h-gn-sb A-h³ ap-t¶m-«v \\-S¶p. A-\\m-Ym-e-b-¯n-\\-Sp-s¯-¯n-b-t¸mÄ A-h³ H-¶p \\n¶p. A-c-− ]p-eÀIm-e sh-fn-¨-¯n Btcm ap-än-¯n- cp¶v ]pÃp ]-dn-¡p-¶p−v. kq-£n¨p-t\\m-¡n-b-t¸mÄ A-\\m-Ym-e-b-¯n-se G- ähpw sNdn-b Ip-«n Un-¡v B-sW-¶v a-\\-kn-embn. A-Øn-Iq-Sw t]m-se-bp-Å cq]w. H-fn-h-dn-\\v I-c-¨n h¶p. A-t¸m-tg-¡pw Un-¡v A-h-s\\ I−p. A-h³ th-en-¡-cn-In-te-¡v Hm-Sns- b¯n. “th-sd-bm-sc-¦nepw F-gp-t¶-än-«p-t−m?” “CÃ. F-\\n-¡p-Å in-£-bm-WnXv. Rm³ C-\\n A[n- I \\mÄ Po-hn-¨n-cn-¡nà F-¶v tUm-ÎÀ B-tcmtSm ]-d-bp¶-Xv Rm³ tI«p. k-Xym-bn-cn-¡pw. Rm-\\n- t¸mÄ am-em-J-am-sc kzv-]v-\\w Im-Wm-dp−v.” H-fn-hÀ t]m-b-Xn-\\v ti-j-ap-Å Im-cy-§-sfÃmw hn-i- Z-am-bn ]-db-Ww F-¶v A-h-\\m-{K-l-ap−- v F-¦nepw A-Xn-\\p-Å B-tcm-Ky-anÃ. A-h³ I-®o-c-Wn-ª I-hnÄ-¯-Sw H-fn-h-dn-\\v t\\- tc \\o«n. H-fn-hÀ Zp-x-J-t¯m-sS \\n-jv-I-f-¦\\mb Ah-sâ H«n- b I-hn-fn D-½ h¨p. A-h³ Un¡n-t\\m-Sv A-Xn-ITn-\\am-b thZ-\\-tbm-sS bm-{X ]-dªp. F-¶n-«v Hm-Sm³ Xp-S§n. 26

IptdZqcw HmSnbt¸mtg¡pw kqcycivanIÄ F¼mSpw ]c¶p Ignªncp¶p. tdmUnsemcnS¯v e−\\nte¡v Fgp]XpIntemaoddÀ Fs¶gpXnb Nq−p]eI I-−p. e−³ \\Kcs¯¸ddn Iq«pImÀ ]dªptI« Adnhp−v. Ah³ thsdm¶pamtemNn¡msX B ]eI Nq−nb hgnsb \\S¶p. Bdp Znhkw Ah\\v \\St¡−n h¶p. cm{Xn GsX¦nepw IS¯n®bntem hgnh¡s¯ hb¸pcbntem InS¶p. ]I \\St¸mSp\\S¸p Xs¶. Blmcw F§p\\n¶pw In«nbnÃ. NnehoSpIfn Ibdn shÅw IpSn¨p. Ggmw Znhkw Ah³ _ÀWddv F¶ ]«W¯nse¯n. t\\cw ]peÀ¶p hcp¶tXbpÅp. hni¸psIm−v klnsI«v Hcp IS¯n®bnencn¡th NpdpNpdp¡pÅ Hcp ]¿s\\ ]cnNbs¸«p. Ahsâ {]mbtabpÅp. thjw I−n«v Zcn{Z\\msW¦nepw Hcp kaÀ°\\mWhs\\¶v Henhdn\\v a\\knembn. HenhÀ Znhk§fmbn `£Ww Ign¨n«nsödnª ]¿³ Ahs\\ ASps¯mcp ISbn sIm−pt]mbn hbdp\\ndsb sdm«nbpw ]¶nbnd¨n¡dnbpw hm§ns¡mSp¯p. PohnX¯n BZyambn ImWp¶ \\à `£Ww BÀ¯ntbmsS HenhÀ Ign-¨p. 27

A-Sp-s¯m-cp I-S-bn \\n-¶v Ah- -³ H-fn-h-dn\\v Ip- d¨v Nm-cmb- hpw hm-§n-s¡m-Sp¯p. Ah³ AXpw a-Sn Iq-Sm-sX hm-§n-¡-gn¨p. At¸mÄ ]¿³ tNmZn¨p: “\\o e−\\nte¡mtWm t]mIp¶Xv?” “AsX ]t£ Fsâ ssI¿n Imsim¶panÃ.” HenhÀ Xsâ ZpxJw shfns¸Sp¯n. “Fsâ t]cv Pm¡v tUm¡n³kv. tUmUvPÀ F¶ hnfn¡pw. Rm³ e−\\nte¡mWv. AhnsS F\\ns¡mcp am\\ys\\ ]cnNbap−v. At±l¯nsâ Iogn \\n\\s¡mcp tPmen icnbm¡n¯cmw. AhnsS kuP\\yBlmchpw kuP\\yXmakhpw e`n¡pw.” tUmUvPÀ AXp]dªtXmsS Henhdn\\v kzÀ¤w ]nSn¨S¡nb kt´mjambn. Ah³ tUmUvPtdmsSm¶n¨v e−\\nte¡v \\S¶p. ]t£ Ah³ {]Xo£n¨ e−ambncp¶nà AXv. e−\\nse DÄ`mKs¯ CSp§nb tNcn{]tZiw t]mepÅ Øew. ZpÀKÔw han¡p¶ {]tZiw. apjnª hkv{Xw [cn¨ Bfp-IÄ. tUmUvPÀ hnP\\amb PoÀWn¨ H-cp _-lp\\ne sI«nS¯nte¡v Ahs\\ sIm−pt]m-bn. cm{Xn hf-sc ssh-In-bn-cp¶p. 28

tUm-Uv-PÀ H-fn-h-tdbpw Iq«n sI-«n-S-¯n-sâ hm- Xn X-Ån-¯pd-¶v AI-¯p I-S¶p. A-h³ H-cp {]-tXy-I X-c-¯n Nq-f-a-Sn¨p. A-t¸mÄ sI-«n-S-¯n-sâ ap-I-fn-e-s¯ \\n-e-bn-se Pm- e-I-¯n a§n-b \\n-d-ap-Å H-cp sh-fn-¨w {]-Xy-£- s¸«p. tUm-UvP-cv B-tcmtSm A-t\\z-jn¨p: “^m-Kn³ A-I-¯pt−m “D-−v... H-¸apÅ-Xv B-c-m-Wv?” “]pXn-b B-fmWv.” A-[n-Iw kw-km-cw D-−m-bnÃ. hm-Xn Xp-d-¡-s¸«p. ]q-X-en-¨ H-cp a-c-t¡m-Wn-bn-eq-sS A-hÀ ap-dn-bn-te- ¡v I-bdn. A-c-− sh-fn-¨w am-{X-ta-bpÅq. H-fn-hÀ A-hn-sS B-I-am-\\w t\\m¡n. PoÀ-Wn-¨ Np-h-cpIÄ. ]g-In {Z-hn-¨ H-cp ta-i, s]m«n-b Ip-¸nIÄ, Zzm-cw ho-W ]m-{X§Ä ap-dn-bp-sS aq-e-bn H-cp s\\-cn-t¸m-Sv F-cn-bp-¶p−v. A-Xn-\\v ap-¶n Ip-¯n-bn-cp-¶v Ft´m ]m-Iw sN- ¿p-¶ {]m-Ir-X-th-j-¡m-c\\m-b H-cp hr²³. H«n-b I-hn-fp-Ifpw \\o-− Xm-Snbpw ap-Sn-bp-ap-Å A- bmÄ ImÂ-ap-«v h-sc \\o-−p-In-S-¡p-¶ H-cp tIm-«v [- cn-¨n-cp¶p. A-hn-sS-hn-sS-bm-bn C-« In-S-¡IÄ. \\m-e©v Ip-«n-IÄ tai-¡v Npäpw C-cp-¶v kÃ-]n¨p- sIm-−n-cn-¡p¶p. A-h-scÃmw tUm-Uv-P-dp-sS co-Xn- bn-em-bn-cp-¶p h-kv{Xw [-cn¨-ncp-¶Xpw s]-cp-am-dn-bn- 29

cp-¶-Xpw. tUm-Uv-PÀ B hr-²-\\-Sp-¯v sN-¶v Im-Xn Ft´m a-{´n¨p. hr-²\\v H-fnh-sd Np-gn-sªm-¶p t\\m¡n. tUm-Uv-PÀ H-fn-h-tdm-Sv ]dªp: “C-Xm-Wv Rm³ ]-d-ª BÄ. t]-cv ^m-Kn³.” ^m-Kn³ Ah-s\\ ]p-©ncn-tbm-sS ssI sIm-Sp-¯v kzo-I-cn¨p. A-t¸m-tg¡pw Ip-«n-I-sfÃmw H-fnh-sd s]m-Xn-ªp. A-h-sâ t]m-¡äpw `m-Þhpw ]cn-tim-[n-¡m-\\m-bn- cp-¶p A-hÀ-¡v XmÂ-]-cyw. H-fn-hÀ A-¼-c¶p-t]mbn. A-hn-sS Xq-¡n-bn-«n-cp-¶ hÀ-W-¯q-hm-e-IÄ Ah- sâ {i-² £-Wn¨p. A-XpI-−v ^m-Kn³ ]dªp: “C-sXÃmw A-e-¡m-\\p-Å-XmWv.” Henhsd X§fnsemcmfmbn AhÀ kzoIcn¨p. \\à `£Whpw Ipd¨p aZyhpw Henhdn\\v In«n. aZyw F¶m F´msW¶v Henhdn\\v henb \\nÝbsam¶pw D−mbncp¶nÃ. Hcp ]m\\obw F¶p IcpXn Ign¨XmWv. ]t£ Ign¨]msS Dd§nt¸m-bn. 30

4 H-cp I-Å-\\m-Ip-¶Xv F§s\\? ASp¯Znhkw I®p Xpd¶t¸mÄ ^mKn³ F¶ hr²³ Ft´m ]mIw sN¿p¶p−v. CS¡nsS Henhsd AbmÄ HfnI®n«p t\\m¡p¶p−v. Inghsâ Cu IÅ¡fn I−t¸mÄ HenhÀ Dd¡apWcm¯Xpt]mse A`n\\bn¨p InS¶v \\nco£n-¨p. hr²³ Xdbnse Hcp XdtbmSv amddn clkyAdbn \\n¶v Hcp s]«n ]pds¯Sp¯p. AXv \\ndsb kzÀW\\mWb§fpw cXv\\m`cW§fpambncp¶p. AXv AbmÄ Ipd¨pt\\cw Hma\\n¨p. HenhdmsW¦n PohnX¯n BZyambmWv kzÀWhpw cXv\\hpsams¡ ImWp¶XpXs¶. Ah³ AXpI−v Xpdn¨pt\\m¡nbncp¶pt]m-bn. ^mKn³ AXv I-−p. tcmjmIpe\\mb ^mKn³ s]mSp¶s\\ Henhdn\\v ta NmSnhoWv Hcp t]\\m¡¯nsbSp¯p \\nhÀ¯n Ahsâ Igp¯n h¨p: “\\o hÃXpw It−m. Is−¦nev ]dbv. \\n\\¡v Poh\\n sImXnbps−¦n ]dbv.” HenhÀ t]Sn¨p hnd¨pt]m-bn. Ah³ ]dªp: “Rms\\m¶pw I−nÃ. Ct¸mÄ 31

Dd¡w hn«v Fgpt¶ddtXbpffq.” “Hcp aWn¡qdmtbm DWÀ¶n«v?” ^mKnsâ kwibw Xocp¶nÃ. “Cà Ct¸mÄ DWÀ¶tXbpffq” Henhdnsâ adp]Sn hnizmkambnt«m Ft´m ^mKn³ AShp amddn. “\\o [oc\\mtWm, `bapt−m Fs¶ms¡bdnbm³ \\S¯nb ]co£WamWv. \\o [oc\\msW¶p sXfnªncn¡p¶p. Cu s]«nbn Fsâ apgph³ k¼mZyhpap−v. acnt¡−nh¶m t]mepw Rm\\nXmÀ¡pw sImSp¡pIbnÃ. AXpsIm−v ]ecpw Fs¶ ]nip¡s\\¶p hnfn¡mdp−v.” ^m-Kn³ H-¶p a-b-¯nem-b-¶v I-−-t¸mÄ H-fn-hÀ tNm-Zn¨p “C-\\n F-\\n-¡v F-gp-t¶Â¡mtam?” “i-cn \\o t]m-bn C¯n-c sh-f-fw sIm−- p hm.” hr-²\\v s]-«n H-fn-¸n¡-W-am-bn-cp¶p. H-fn-hÀ amdn-b X-¡w t\\m-¡n A-bmÄ s]-«n H-fn- ¸n¨p. {]mXen\\v kabambt¸mÄ tUmUvPdpw NmÀenbpw addp Ip«nIfpw h¶p. ^mKnt\\msSm¸w FÃmhcpw Blmcw Ign-¨p. ]ns¶ ]cnioe\\ambncp¶p. ^mKn³ tIm«nsâ t]m¡ddpIfn ]e 32

km[\\§fpan«v apdnbn At§m«pant§m«pw \\S¶p. Ip«nIÄ Hmtcmcp¯cmbn t^mKnsâ tIm«n \\n¶pw ]eXpw tamjvSn¨p. Cu ]-cnioe\\w \\S¶psIm−ncnt¡ \\m³kn F¶pw s_ddv F¶pw t]cmb c−p bphXnIÄ AhnsS h¶p. km-[m-c-W kv-{Xo-I-fp-tSXp-t]m-ep-Å th-j-hn-[m-\\- sam¶pw B-bn-cp-¶nà A-h-cp-tSXv. A-hÀ h-kv{Xw [-cn-¨n-cn-¡p-¶Xpw ap-Sn No-In-bXpw FÃmw {]-ttXy-I co-Xn-bn B-bn-cp¶p. AhÀ NmÄknt\\bpw tUmUvPtdbpw Iq«n ]pdt¯¡v t]m-bn. ]n-¶m-se aäp Ip-«n-Ifpw ]p-d-t¯-¡v t]mbn. FÃmhcpw t]mbt¸mÄ ^mKn\\pw Henhdpw apdnbn X\\n¨mbn. ^m-Kn³ tNm-Zn¨p: “F-´m H-fnhÀ. \\n-\\¡v B I-fn I-fn-¡tWm?” H-fn-hÀ ]n-tÅ-cpsS t]m-¡ä-Sn ]-cn-ioe-\\w I-−v Nn- cn-¨p-a-dn-bp¶-Xv ^m-Kn³ {i-²n-¨n-cp¶p. “]-t£ F-\\n-¡v B I-fn A-dn-bnÃtÃm?” “\\n-s¶ Rm³ ]Tn-¸n-¡m-a-tÃm.” ^mKnsâ tIm«nsâ Ioibn \\n¶v AbmfdnbmsX km[\\§Ä ASn¨pamdd−Xv F§s\\sb¶v ^mKn³ Henhsd ]Tn¸n-¨p. Ahs\\ \\sÃmcp t]m¡ddSn¡mc\\m¡pIbmWv ^mKnsâ e£yw. 33

]cnioe\\hpw addpambn Znhk§Ä ]n¶n-«p. Zn-h-khpw H-tc I-fn X-s¶ B-hÀ-¯n¨p. `-Iv-j-Whpw In-S-¡m-\\n-Shpw In-«n-sb-¦n-epw Xm³ Iq-«n-e-S-¨ H-cp In-fn-sb-t¸m-se-bm-bn F-¶v H-fn-hÀ- ¡v tXm¶n. ^mKn³ Hcp \\à a\\pjys\\m¶pasöv Henhdn\\v t_m[ys¸«p. ]-e k-a-b-§-fn ]-e kz-`m-h-am-Wv A-bmÄ-¡v. tZjyw h¶m Abmsfmcp ]nimNm-Wv. {`m-´- st\\m-se A-e-dp-Ibpw Xp-¸p-Ibpw sN-¿pw. tUm-Uv- P-tdmSpw NmÀen-tbmSpw aäpw Nn-e-t¸mÄ kv-t\\-l- ]qÀ-hhpw a-äv Nn-e-t¸mÄ A-Xn-{Iq-c-ambpw A-bmÄ s]-cp-am-dp¶-Xv I−p. Hcp Znh-kw Ft´m Ip-ä-¯n-sâ t]-cn AbmÄ tUmUvPsd Xdbnen«v Nhn«n¡q«p¶Xv I−v HenhÀ t]Sn¨p hn-d-¨p. I-en-Xp-Ån-s¡m-−v A-bmÄ tUm-UvP-sd H-cp C-g-P- ´p-hn-s\\ F-¶-t]m-se X-d-bn N-hn-«n D-cp-«p-I-bm- bn-cp¶p. C-§-s\\-bp-Å Ø-e¯v F§-s\\ Po-hn-Xw X-Ån- \\o¡pw F¶m-tem-Nn-¨-t¸mÄ Ah-\\v `-bw tXm¶n. F-§-s\\-sb-¦nepw ]p-d¯v I-S¡-Ww F-¶ Nn-´ A-h-\\n-ep-Zn¨p. C-¶v tUm-Uv-PÀ-¡p−m-b A-\\p`-hw \\m-sf X-\\n-¡p- ap-−m-Imw. ss[cyw kw-`-cn-¨v A-h³ ^mKn-t\\m-Sv tNm-Zn¨p: “kÀ, F-\\n-¡v ]p-d¯- nd-§n AÂ-]w \\-S-¶m sIm- 34

Åm-sa-¶p−v. s]m-bv-t¡m-s«..” C-Xv tI-«v cq-£-`m-h-¯n ^m-Kn³ Ahs\\ H-¶p t\\m¡n. H-cp a-dp-]-Snbpw A-bmÄ \\Â-In-bnÃ. B t\\m-«w sIm-−p X-s¶ A-h³ \\-Sp-§n-t¸m-bn- cp¶p. 35

5 sX-äv sN-¿m-¯-h³ ]n-Sn-¡-s¸- Sp¶p Hcp shÅnbmgvN {]mXen\\p tijw tUmUvPtdbpw NmÀentbbpw hnfn¨v ^mKn³ ]dªp: “C¶v Henhtdbpw ]pd¯v sIm−pt]mIWw.” t]mIp¶Xn\\v ap¼v ^mKn³ Nne Xm¡oXp-IÄ HenhÀ¡v \\ÂIn: “CXv e−³ ]«WamWv. IqsSbpÅhÀ ]dbp¶Xv A£cw {]Xn A\\pkcn¡pw. Ahsc A\\pKan¡Ww.” AhnsS h¶n«v BZyambmWv ]pd¯nd§p¶Xv F¶Xn\\m Henhdn\\v DÕmlambn. H-fnh-sd \\-Sp-¡m-bn \\nÀ-¯n-s¡m-−v tUm-Uv-PÀ ap- ¶nepw NmÀ-en ]n-¶n-ep-am-bm-Wv \\-S-¶Xv. A-hÀ H-¯n-cn Zp-cw \\-S¶p. \\-S¶v H-fn-h-dp-sS Im-ep I-g¨p. tUm-Uv-Pdpw NmÀ-enbpw C-Xph-sc H¶pw sN-bv-Xp I-−nÃ. sX-cp-hn-se ]-g-¡-¨-h-S-¡m-sc I-_-fn-¸n¨v ]-g-§Ä I-«p-Xn-¶p-Ibpw sIm-¨p-]n-tÅ-sc t]-Sn-¸n-¡p-I-bp- am-Wv C-cp-h-cp-tSbpw {][m-\\ hn-t\\mZw. 36

C-h-·mÀ ssh-Ip-¶tcw hsc Np-½m sX-cp-hn Np- än \\-S-¶n-«v ^m-Kn-s\\ ]-än-¡p-I-bm-Wv F-¶v H-fn- hÀ¡v tXm¶n. sXcphn NmÀenbpw tUmUvPdpw X\\n sX½mSnIfmbncp¶p. A-h-cp-sS ]-cn-]m-Sn-IÄ Ah-\\v C-ã-s¸-«-sX-bnÃ. X«n¸dn¡p-I, ]n-tÅ-sc t]-Sn-¸n¡pI XpS§nb ]cn]mSnIÄ I−v Henhdn\\v t_mdSn-¨p. CXn\\nSbn Hcp ]pkvXI¡SbpsS ap¼n \\n¶v ]{Xw hmbn¨psIm−ncp¶ {_u¬tem F¶ am\\ysâ t]m¡ddn \\n¶v NmÀenbpw tUmUvPdpw Xqhme tamjvSn¨psIm−v HmSn. AhcpsS ]n-¶m-se H-fn-hdpw HmSn. {_u¬tem ]-t£ Hm-Sp¶ H-fn-h-sd-bm-Wv I-−Xv. A-h-\\m-Wv X-sâ Xqhme tam-ãn¨-Xv F-¶p I-cp-Xn A-bmÄ D-d-s¡ hn-fn-¨p-]dªp: “I-ų...I-ų...” P-\\-¡q-«w H-en-h-dn-\\p ]n-¶m-se a-e-shÅw-t]mse BÀ-¯n-c-¼n-sb-¯n. h-−n-¡mÀ, I-S-¡mÀ, ]mÂ-¡mc³, C-d-¨n-¡-S- ¡mc³, sdm-«n-¡-S-¡mc³, sX-cp-hp-]n-tÅÀ sX-cp-hv \\m-bv-¡Ä Xp-S-§n-b Hcp hen-b kw-Lw X-s¶ Ah-sâ ]n-¶m-se-bp-−m-bn-cp¶p. Hm-Sp-¶ P\\-§-tfm-sSm-¸w tUm-Uv-Pdpw NmÀ-enbpw 37

D-−m-bn-cp¶p. A-h³ Ip-g-ªp-hogpw F-¶ L-«w h-sc-sb-¯n- bn«pw Hm-«w \\nÀ-¯n-bnÃ. \\n-¶m Ah-s\\ FÃm-hcpw Iq-Sn XÃn-s¡mÃp-sa- ¶p-d-¸mWv. H-Sp-hn Btcm Ah-s\\ A-Sn-¨p-ho-gv¯n. A-h³ \\ne-¯p hoWp. P-\\-¡q-«w Ah-s\\ i-cn-¡v s]-cp-amdn. Xqhm-e \\-ã-s¸-« {_u¬tem P-\\-¡q-«-¯n-\\n-S-bn- eq-sS Xn-¡n-Xnc-¡n h¶p. A-t¸m-tg¡pw t]m-eo-kp-Imcpw h¶p. \\n-e¯v ho-Wp In-S-¡p-¶ H-fnh-sd t]m-eo-kp-Im- c³ s]m-¡n-sb-Sp-¯v t\\-tc \\nÀ-¯n A-Sn¨p. “km-td Rm-\\à Xqhme tam-ãn-¨-Xv. th-td c-−v Ip- «n-I-fmWv.” t]m-eo-kp-Im-c³ A-sXm¶pw sN-hn-s¡m-−nÃ. “C-sXm-s¡ FÃm I-Å-·mcpw ]-d-bp-¶-XmWv.” t]m-eo-kn-sâ aÀZ-\\w cq-£-am-b-t¸mÄ {_u¬tem C-s]«p. “Ip-«n-sb C§-s\\ t{Zm-ln¡−.” t]m-eo-kp-ImÀ A-sXm¶pw sN-hn-s¡m-−nÃ. A-h-ch-s\\ ho−pw A-Sn¨p. ap-dn-hp-I-fn \\n-¶v c-àw H-gpIn. Ah-s\\ t]m-eo-kv-tä-j-\\n-se-¯n¨p. A-tXm-sS A-hâ `-bw hÀ-[n¨p. t]m-eo-kp-ImÀ Ah-s\\ C-Sn¨p-sImÃpw F-¶v Ah- \\v tXm-¶n. 38

N-Xp-c-ap-J-ap-Å sXÃpw a-\\-km-£n-bnÃm¯ t]m-eo- kv C³-kv-s]-Sv-IÀ Ah-s\\ C-cp-«p-ap-d-bn X-Åm³ ]-dªp A-hÀ Ah-s\\ H-cp skÃn-en«p. ssh-Im-sX tIm-S-Xn-bn lm-P-cm¡n ^m-Mv F-¶p t]cmb aPnkvt{Sddv Hcp henb {Iqc\\mbncp-¶p. {_u-¬tem-sb A-bÄ ]-cn-l-kn¨p: “X-sâ Xqhm-e \\-ã-s¸-«n-«v A-sX§-s\\ \\v-ã-s¸-«p F¶p-t]mepw X-\\n-¡-dn-bntÃ?” aPnkvt{Sd-dv t]m-eo-kp-Im-c-t\\m-Sv tNm-Zn¨p: “kw`-hw \\-S¶-Xv F-§-s\\-bm-sW-¶v Xm³ ]-dbv.” t]m-eo-kp-Im-c³ ]-cp§n. Imc-Ww A-bmÄ A-sXm¶pw I-−n-cp-¶nÃ. P-\\-§Ä ]-d-ªp-Å A-dn-th DÅq. “th-td B-cm-Wv km-£n-IÄ DÅXv?” “th-sd Bcpw km-£n-I-fnà temÀ-Uv.” aPnkvt{S-d-dn-s³ s]-cp-am-äw {_u¬-tem-sb tZjyw ]n-Sn-¸n¨p. C¯-cw hn-Ín-IÄ \\o-Xn-]oT-¯n h-¶m F- ´mhpw cm-Py-¯n-sâ AhØ. a-säm-cp k-μÀ-`-¯n-em-bn-cp-s¶-¦n Cu a-Pn-kv-t{S- än-s\\ H-cp ]mTw ]Tn-¸n-t¨-s\\-sb¶v {_u-¬tem hn- Nm-cn¨p. {]-Xn-¡q-«n H-en-hÀ X-fÀ-¶p ho-gm³ t]m-Ip¶-Xv I-−v {_u¬-tem ]dªp: 39

“B Ip-«n A-Xm X-fÀ-¶p-ho-gp¶p. B-sc-¦nep-sam- ¶p ]n-Sn¡q.” DS³ aPnkvt{S-ddv H-¨-sb-Sp-¯p. “Cu tIm-S-Xn-bn Rm-\\mWv aPnkvt{Sd-dv. C-hn-sS IÂ-]n-¡m³ Xm-\\m-cmWv?” H-enh-sd Bcpw k-lm-bn-¨nÃ. A-h³ {]-Xn-¡q-«n X-fÀ-¶p-hoWp. Henhsd F§s\\sb¦nepw c£ns¨Sp¡Wsa¶v {_u¬tem¡v B{Klap−mbncps¶¦nepw At±l¯nsâ hm¡pIÄ tIÄ¡ms\\m¶pw aPnkvt{Sddv X¿mdmbnÃ. A-bmÄ hn-[n ]d-ªp: “C-\\n C¯-cw Ip-ä-Ir-Xy- §Ä C-hn-sS \\-S-¡-cpXv. Ch-\\v aq¶v amk-s¯ X-S- hp-in-£ hn-[n-¡p¶p.” A-t¸m-tg-¡pw H-cmÄ A-hn-tS-¡v Hm-Sn- h¶p. “ssa temÀUv, Z-b-hm-bn B Ip-«n-sb in-£n-¡-cp- Xv.” “C-Xp ]-d-bm³ \\o-bm-cmWv. Ch-sâ I-gp-¯n-\\v ]n-Sn- ¨v sh-fn-bn XÅq..” aPnkvt{S-ddv £p-`n-X-\\mbn. “Z-b-hm-bn Rm³ ]-d-bp¶-Xv H-¶p tIÄ-¡Ww.” F´p-sImt−m A-bm-fp-sS sam-gn tIÄ-¡m³ Zp- ã\\mb aPnkvt{Sd-dv X-¿m-dmbn. 40

B a-\\p-jy³ sam-gn sIm-Sp¯p. “Cu Ip-«n-bà tam-ãmhv. Ch-sâ Iq-sS-bp-−m-bn-cp- ¶ a-äv c-−v Ip-«n-I-fm-Wv Xqhme tam-ãn-¨-Xv. C-h³ AI-se \\n-¶v A-h-cp-sS {]-hr-¯n t\\m-¡n \\nÂv- ¡p-I-bm-bn-cp¶p.” “Xm³ -B-cmWv?” “Rm³ Cu am-\\y³ h-¶ ]p-kv-X-I-¡-S-bp-sS D-S-a- bmWv.” A-bmÄ ]-dª-Xv hm-kv-X-h-am-sW-¶v P-Uv-Pn-¡v tXm¶n. A-bmÄ D¯chn«p. “Cu Ip-«n-sb sh-dp-sX hn-«n-cn-¡p¶p.” {_u¬-tem-bv¡v izm-kw t\\-tc hoWp. AXn\\pap¼v Xs¶ HenhÀ {]Xn¡q«n t_m[w sI«v hoWncp-¶p. {_u¬-tem H-cp Ip-Xn-ch-−n hn-fn¨p-sIm-−p-h¶p. Henhsd Gddphm-§n h-−n-bn Ibän ho«nte¡v sIm−pt]m-bn. {_u¬tembpsS hoSv s]âtem F¶ Øe¯mbncp-¶p. hen-b H-cp _w-¥m-hm-bn-cp-¶p {_u¬-tem-bp-tS-Xv. B _w-¥m-hn HenhÀ Iptd Znhk§Ä At_m[mhØbn InS-¶p. {_u¬tembpsS ho«ptPmen¡mcnbmbncp¶ s_Uvhn³ F¶ kv{XobmWv Ahs\\ ip{iqjn¨- Xv. 41

F-{X-Znh-kw A§-s\\ In-S-¶p-sh-¶v A-h-\\pX-s¶ A-dn-bnÃ. GtXm H-cp Znh-kw t_m-[w hoWp. X-\\n-sb \\-S¡mt\\m F-gp-t¶Â¡mt\\m F-s´- ¦nepw {]-hr-¯n sN¿mt\\m Ah-\\p I-gn-bp-am-bn-cp- ¶nÃ. A-{Xbpw ITn-\\am-b aÀ-±-\\-am-bn-cp-¶p P-\\- ¡q-«hpw t]m-eo-kp-Imcpw Iq-Sn Ah-s\\ GÂ-]n- ¨Xv. A-t_m-[m-h-Ø-bn In-S-¡p-t¼mÄ H-cp bph-Xn A-h-\\-Sp-¯p h-cp-am-bn-cp-¶p F-¶v tXm-¶n-bn-cp¶p. A-Xv Ah-sâ A-½-sb-t¸m-se-bm-bn-cp-¶-t{X. ]-t£ Ah-sâ A½-sb A-h³ I-−n-«nÃ-tÃm. Imc-Ww A-h³ P-\\n-¨-t¸m-tg Ah-sâ A½ a-cn¨p- t]m-bn-cp-¶-tÃm. ]-t£ kz-]v-\\-¯n h-cp¶ B bph-Xn XoÀ-¨- bmbpw Ah-sâ A-½ X-s¶-bm-sW-¶v A-h³ hn- iz-kn¨p. t_m[w hoWt¸mÄ HenhÀ s_Uvhnt\\mSv ]d- ªp: “Fsâ A½sbt¸mse Hcp kv{Xo ASp¯ph¶ncn¡p¶Xmbn Rm³ kz]v\\w ImWp- ¶p.” “A-Xv ]\\n-sbm-s¡ D-−m-bXp-sIm-−v tXm-¶n-b-Xm- Wv tams\\.” “i-cn-bm-bn-cn-¡mw. AI-se kzÀ-K-¯n-en-cn¡p-¶ F-sâ A-½ F§-s\\ F-\\n-¡-Sp-¯v h-cm\\- mWv. ]- t£ F-sâ A-kp-J-hnh-cw A-dn-ªm A-½ F- hn-sS-bm-sW-¦nepw Hm-Sn-sb-¯m-Xn-cn-¡nÃ.” 42

Ah-sâ hm-¡p-IÄ tI-«v s_-Uvhn-sâ I-®pIÄ Cu-d-\\-Wnªp. A-½-bp-sS kv-t\\-l-¯n-\\p-th-−n-bp-Å B- Ip-«n-bp- sS Zm-lw A-{X-tb-sd-bp-−m-bn-cp¶p. Zn-h-k-§Ä I-S¶p-t]mbn. Ah-sâ A-kp-J-¯n-\\v H-cp hn-[w i-a-\\-ap-−mbn. A-h³ kz-t_m-[-¯n-embn. B ap-dn-bp-sS Np-h-cn H-cp hen-b s]-bnânw-Kv D- −m-bn-cp¶p. H-cp kv-{Xo-bp-sS Nn-{X-am-bn-cp-¶p AXv. Ah³ Nphcnep−mbncp¶ Nn{X¯nse kv{Xosb t\\m-¡n _-Uvhn-t\\m-Sv tNm-Zn¨p: “AXmcptSXmWv?” “F\\n¡dnbnà tam-t\\.” anknkv s_Uvhn\\v AXmcmsW¶v AdnbnÃmbncp¶p. “F-´v `w-Kn-bm-Wv B Nn-{X-¯n\\v. B kv-{Xo-tbm-Sv hÃm-¯ A-Sp-¸w tXm-¶p-¶p.” “FÃm Nn-{X-Im-c-·mcpw kv-{XoI-sf kp-μ-cn-I-fm- bmWv h-c-¡p-¶Xv.” “B Nn{X¯nse kv{Xo Fs¶tbmÀ¯v hnjan¡p¶Xpt]mse tXm¶p¶p.” HenhÀ ]-dªp. “A-Xv km-c-anÃ.” “]-t£ B Nn{Xw Im-Wp-t¼mÄ F-\\n¡v hen-b 43

hnj-aw tXm-¶p¶p.” “tam³ B Nn{Xw Im-Wm-¯ hn-[w Xn-cn-ªp-In- S¶v D-d-§n-t¡mfq.” ]pd¯pt]mbn h¶ {_u¬temtbmSv s_Uvhn³ \\S¶sXms¡ ]-dªp. {_u¬tem B Nn{Xw {i-²n¨p. A-t¸m-gm-Wv B Nn-{X-¯n-se kv-{Xo-bp-sS ap-J-Ñm-b- bp-am-bn H-fn-h-dn-\\v km-ay-apÅ-Xv A-bmÄ I-−p-]n-Sn- ¨-Xv. B t^m-t«m-bn-ep-Å bp-h-Xn-bptSXp-t]m-se I®pw s\\-änbpw aq¡pw FÃmw H-fn-h-dn-\\p−v. {_u-¬tem B-Ý-cy-s¸-«v F-s´m-s¡tbm ]-d- bm³ Xp-S§n. A-t±-l-¯n-sâ `m-h-am-äw I-− H-fn-hÀ A-¼-c¶p. A-h-\\v- izm-kw -ap-«p-¶-t]m-sebpw X-e I-d-§p-¶- t]m-sebpw tXm¶n. hf-sc t\\-cw I-gn-ªv t_m-[w ho-W-t¸mÄ B t^mt«m Np-h-cn D-−m-bn-cp-¶nÃ. Nn{Xw Im-Wp-t¼mÄ H-fn-h-dn-\\p-Å {]-bm-kw aq-ew {_u¬tem A-Xv am-än h-¨p F-¶v an-kn-kv s_- Uvhn³ ]-dªp. “]-t£ F-\\n-¡m Nn{Xw F-´n-ã-am-bn-cp¶p.” H-fn-hÀ ]-dªp. _-Uvhn³ Ah-s\\ k-am-iz-kn-¸n¨p. 44

6 \\m³-kn tUm-UvPdpw NmÀ-enbpw tNÀ-¶v ]p-kv-X-I-¡-S-bp-sS ap-¶n-se am-\\y-tZ-l-¯n-sâ t]m-¡-ä-Sn-¨-tijw Hm-Sn- c-£-s¸-«Xv F-§-s\\-bm-sW-t¶m? H-fnh-sd I-Å- s\\-¶v hn-fn¨v P-\\-¡q«w Hm-Sn-¡p-t¼mÄ A-h-cp-sS IqsS Hm-Sm³ tUm-Uv-Pdpw NmÀ-enbpw D-−m-bn- cp¶p. Ip-td-Zqcw Hm-Sn-b-ti-jw X§-sf Bcpw kw- i-bn-¡p-¶nà F-¶v D-d-¸p-h-cp-¯n ^m-Kn-sâ k-t¦- X-¯n-te¡v h-¶p. C-cp-h-cp-tSbpw ]-cn-{`-aw I-−v ^m-Kn³ tNm-Zn¨p: “H-fn-hÀ F-hnsS?” tUm-UvPdpw NmÀ-en-bpw a-dp]-Sn ]-d-bm-sX \\n-¶v ]- cp§n. ^m-Kn-\\v tZjyw h¶p. “H-fn-h-sd-hn-sS F-¶m-Wv tNm-Zn-¨-Xv. \\nsâ-sbm-s¡ hm-bn-se-´mWv?” A-Xn\\pw a-dp]-Sn In-«m-sX h-¶-t¸mÄ ^m-Kn³ \\n-e- ¯m-ªp-hn-«p-Ibpw Xp-¸p-Ibpw sN-bvXp. “]-«nI-sf c-s−-®-¯n-t\\bpw Rm-\\n-¶v sImÃpw.” 45

^m-Kn³ sRm-Sn-bn-S-bn tUm-Uv-P-dp-tSbpw NmÀ-en- bp-tSbpw ta Nm-Sn ho-Wv I-gp-¯n ]n-Sn-ap-dp¡n. tUm-Uv-PÀ kz-´w I-gp-¯nse ^m-Kn-sâ I-\\¯ ssI¸-Sw hn-S-hn-¡m³ {i-aw \\-S¯n. “hn-Sv...hn-Sv...Rm³ ]-d-bmw.” “F-¶m ]-dbv.” “H-fnh-sd t]m-eo-kv ]n-Sn-¨p.” tUm-Uv-PÀ H-ä izm-k-¯n ]-dªp. A-tXm-sS ^m-Kn-\\v {`m-´p ]n-Sn-¨-t]m-se-bmbn. “\\m-i-§Ä.. \\n-t¶m-sSm-s¡ Rm-s\\-´m-Wv ]-d-ªp hn-«Xv…?” ^m-Kn³ ssI-bn In-«n-b-X-sÃ-msa-Sp¯v Ah-sc F-dnªp. \\ndsb _n-b-dp-Å H-cp Ip-¸n-sb-Sp¯v tUm-Uv-P-dp- sS t\\-tc F-dn-ªp. `m-Ky-¯n-\\v A-Xv tUm-Uv-P-dp-sS ta sIm-−nÃ. `n-¯n-bn X-«n A-Xv s]m-«n-¨n-Xdn. A-Xn-se aZyw A-t¸mÄ A-t§m«v I-S-¶p-h-¶ _nÂ-ssk-Iv-kn-sâ ta hoWp. ^m-Kn-\\m-Wv A-Xv sN-bv-XXv F-¶-dn-ª-t¸mÄ ssk- Iv-kv No¯- hn-fn¨p. “a-Zy-¯n-\\p ]I-cw Ip-¸n-bm-Wv F-sâ ap-J¯v ho- W-sX-¦n v-A-Sn-¨p X-sâ tj-bv-]v Rm³ am-än- tbs\\.” H-cp I-dp¯ tIm-«pw Np-h¶ sXm-¸n-bp-am-bn-cp-¶p A-bm-fp-sS thjw. H-cp Xqhm-e I-gp-¯n Np-än-bn-«p−v. H-cp \\-in-¨ sX-½m-Sn-bp-sS sI«pw a«pw A-bmÄ- 46

¡p−v. Np-h¶v ho§n-b he-t¯ I®v, a-Zy-]n-¨v NoÀ-¯ X-Sn-b³ ap-Jw, iv-a-{ip-¡Ä \\n-dª apJw. “Um C-hn-sS hm.” ssk-Iv-kv AI-¯p I-S-¶-bp-S³ ]p-d-t¯-¡v t\\m- ¡n hn-fn¨p. H-cp Nm-hm-fn-¸-«n A-\\p-kc-W-tbm-sS A-I-t¯-¡v h-¶p. A-Xv \\μn-tbm-sS ap-dn-bp-sS H-cp aq-e-bn t]m-bn C- cp¶p. ssk-Iv-kv H-cp ]-g-b Itk-c h-en-¨n«v -AXn-t·-en- cp-¶v ^m-Kn-s\\ No-¯ hn-fn-¡m³ Xp-S§n. “X-\\n-¡v {]m-´msW-tSm.. C-{Xbpw A-Xym{K-lw H- cp a-\\p-jy\\pw ]m-SnÃ. Cu ]n-tÅ-cv X-s¶ X-«n-¡-f- bm¯-Xv X-sâ `m-Ky-amWv. C-h-cp-sS Øm\\-¯v Rm- \\m-bn-cp-s¶-¦n ]-t− A-Xv sN-bv-tXs\\.” ssk-Iv-kv ]p-e`yw ]-dªp-sIm-−n-cp¶p. A-Xv Ak-l-\\o-b-am-b-t¸mÄ ^m-Kn³ ]dªp: “H-¶p an-−m-Xn-cn-¡mtam?” “Xm³ BZyw X-sâ tIm-]w A-S-¡v.” ssk-Iv-kv Xn-cn-¨-Sn¨p. AÂ-] t\\-cw I-gn-ªv cw-Kw im-´-am-b-t¸mÄ ssk-Iv-kv ]d-ªp: “FtSm ^m-Kn³, Xsâ Cu ap-Sn-ª C-S¯v Ip- Sn¡m-s\\m-¶p-antÃ. F-\\n-¡n-¯n-cn aZyw thWw.” ^m-Kn³ A-bmÄ-¡v th-−n a-Zy-sa-Sp-¡m³ A-I- t¯-¡v t]mbn. A-t¸mÄ ssk-Iv-kv hn-fn-¨p-]dªp: 47

“Xm-\\Xn hn-j-sam¶pw tNÀ-t¯-¡-cpXv.” ^m-Kn³ H-cp a-Kn a-Zy-hp-am-bn h¶p. ssk-Iv-kv A-Xv H-ä-h-en-¡v Ip-Sn¨- n-«v tUm-Uv-P- tdmSpw NmÀ-en-tbmSpw ku-ay-am-bn tNm-Zn¨p: “k-Xy-¯n F-´m-Wv \\-S-¶Xv?” tUm-Uv-PÀ \\-S-¶-sXÃmw hn-i-Zo-I-cn¨p: “t]m-en-kv Ah-s\\ tNm-Zyw sN-bv-Xv \\-½p-sS k-t¦- Xhpw c-l-ky-hp-saÃmw tNmÀ¯ptam?” ^m-Kn³ Bi-¦-tbm-sS tNm-Zn¨p. ssk-Iv-kv Xm-Sn sNm-dnªp: “A-Xn-\\v km-[y-X-bp−v.” “F-¶m \\n-§Ä-¡m-bn-cn-¡pw ssk-Iv-kv G-ähpw A-]-ISw.” ssk-Iv-kv A-Xn-ã-s¸-Sm-sX ^m-Kn-s\\ Xp-dn¨p- t\\m¡n. B t\\m-«w I-−v ^m-Kn³ X-e Xm-gv¯n. X-§Ä G-ähpw hen-b A-]-I-S-¯n-em-sW-¶ Nn-´ Ah-sc th-«m-bmSn. B-i-¦ L-\\o-`-hn-¨ G-Xm\\pw an-\\n-äp-IÄ I-gn-ª- t¸mÄ ssk-Iv-kv \\ni-Ð-X t`-Zn¨p: “H-fn-hÀ P-bn-en B-sW-¦n Ip-g-¸-anÃ. ]-t£ A-h³ t]m-eo-kn-sâ I-kv-ä-Un-bn B-sW¦n-tem? A-h-ch-s\\ th-− co-Xn-bn tNmZyw sN-bv-Xm \\- ½-sf-]än X-¯ ]-dbpw t]m-se A-h³ ]-d-bpw.” “F-´p sN-¿pw?” “Ah-s\\ t]m-eo-kv sh-dp-sX hn-«mepw Ip-g-¸-amWv. A-h³ A-e-ªp-Xn-cnªv \\-ap-¡v ]-Wn-bp-−m- 48

¡pw.” ssk-Iv-kn-sâ A-`n-{]m-bw ^m-Kn-s\\ `-b-s¸-Sp¯n. “Ip-g-¸-am-hp-atÃm.” A-t¸m-tg-¡pw A-hnS-s¯ \\n-Xy k-μÀ-i-Icm-b \\m³-kn-bpw s_äpw h¶p. A-tXm-sS Iym-¼n H-cp B-ß-hn-izm-kw h¶p. “t]m-eo-kv kv-tä-j-\\n sN-¶v Im-cy-§Ä A-dn- ªp-h-cWw. F-\\n-¡p tXm-¶p-¶Xv \\m³-kn¡- v A- Xn-\\p ]-äp-sa-¶mWv.” ssk-Ivkv ]-dªp. “Rm³ H-ä-bv-¡v t]m-I-W-sa¶mtWm?” \\m³-kn tNm-Zn¨p. “]n-¶ÃmsX. H-cp Im-cy-a-t\\z-jn-¡m³ H-cp kw-Lw B-fp-I-tf-¡q-Sn hn-fn¨mtWm t]m-tI-−Xv…?” ssk-Iv-kv ]-cn-l-kn¨p. ssh-Im-sX \\m³-kn H-cp Ip-eo-\\-bp-h-Xn-bp-sS th- jw [-cn¨v H-fnh-sd Xn-c-¡n-bn-d§n. \\oe shÂh-äv D-Sp-¸pw sh-Å knÂ-¡v jmfpw X-e- bn hen-b Xq-shÅ sXm-¸nbpw hm-\\n-än _mKpw [-cn-¨ \\m³-kn-sb I-−m H-cp {]-`p-Ip-am-cn-bm-sW- s¶ tXm¶q. Im-WmXm-b A-\\pP-s\\ tX-Sn-bn-d§n-b tPy-jvT-¯n- bm-bm-Wv \\m-³-kn sX-cp-hn {]-Xy-£-s¸-«Xv. A-hÄ I-S-I-fnepw ho-Sp-I-fnepw I-b-dn-bd-§n A- t\\z-jn¨p. cm-hn-se ho-Svn \\n¶v hv-¶ A-\\p-P³ C-Xph-sc Xn- cn-s¨-¯n-bn-«nÃ. 49