ഡ്രാക്കുള

{_mwtÌm¡À {Um¡pf ]p\\cmJym\\w hnt\\mZv \\mcmbW³ 1

Malayalam Language Dracula (Novel - Re told) Vinod Narayanan Rights Reserved First E book Edition: March 2020 Cover & Typesetting: Boons Entertainments Published by NYNA BOOKS MSME/UAN Regd. KL07D0004957 www.nynabooks.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

hnt\\mZv \\mcmbW³ 1997  BZy sNdpIY ]£nIÄ tNt¡dp¶nSw {]kn²oIcn ¨Xv awKfw hmcnIbnembncp¶p. XpSÀ¶v \\nch[n B\\p ImenI§fnembn 45 sNdpIYIÄ FgpXn. BZys¯ t\\mh  ambs¡m«mcw 1999  at\\mcmPyw hmcnIbn JWvUix {]kn²oIcn¨p. ]pkvXIcq]¯n BZys¯ IrXnbmbn ambs¡m«mcw ]pd¯v h¶Xv kJn _pIvkneqsSbmbncp¶p. kpcm _pIvkv, Ipcpt£{X {]Imi³, Ask³Uv _pIvkv, jmtcm¬ _pIvkv, F¨v B³Uv kn _pIvkv, ayqkkv _p Ivkv XpS§nb {]km[IcneqsS 160 ¸cw ]pkvXI§Ä {]kn²oIcn¨p. Batkm¬, t]m¯n, HmÄ HmXÀ, eo³ ]_v XpS§nb A´mcmjv{S {]km[IcneqsS Cw¥ojnepw aebmf ¯nepambn 45 ¸cw ]pkvXI§Ä C _p¡v, {]nâUv _p Ivkv F¶n§s\\ {]kn²oIcn¡s¸«p. {]kn²oIcn¡s¸« ]pkvXI§fn \\sÃmcp ]¦pw _mekm lnXyIrXnIfmbncp¶p. ImÀ«qWnÌpw BÀ«nÌpamb Cfb ktlmZc³ A\\n \\mcmbW³ BWv Cu ]pkvXI§Ä¡v FÃmw Xs¶ Nn{X§Ä cNn¨Xv. _meca AaÀNn{XIYIÄ, Ipcpt£{XbpsS _mekmlnXyhn`mKamb \\·_pIvkv XpS §nbhbneqsS \\nch[n _mekmlnXyIrXnIfpw shfn¨w I−p. b£n¡YIÄ, sX\\mencma³ IYIÄ, PmXIIYIÄ, C´y³ \\mtSmSn¡YIÄ, alm`mKhXw Nn{XIYIÄ, sIm¨p 3

sIm¨p\\nKqVIYIÄ, tKm{XIYIÄ, Ip«n¡YIÄ F¶nh {]kn²amWv. ss{Iw {XnÃdpIfn anI¨ hnÂ]\\ t\\SnbXv Zn sdUv, sNIp ¯msâ clkyw, U_nÄ aÀUÀ, apwss_ dtÌmdâv, \\mbn I F¶nhbmWv. Pmck¦ev]w XpS§nb sNdpIYm kamlm c§fpw P\\ {i² t\\Sn. 1975 amÀ¨pamk¯n Xr¸qWn¯pdbn P\\n¨p. hfÀ¶Xv tNmäm\\n¡c F¶ {Kma¯nÂ. Aѳ tNmäm\\n¡c shfp¼ d¼n \\mcmbW³ Ip«n. A½ Xr¸qWn¯pd FcqÀ hmWnb ¯v ho«n Hma\\. kvIqÄ hnZym`ymkw tNmäm\\n¡c kÀ¡m À sslkvIqfnÂ. tImfPv hnZym`ymkw Xr¸qWn¯pd Kh. tImfPnÂ. almßmKmÔnbqWnthgvknänbn \\n¶v _ncpZm \\´c_ncpZw t\\SnbXn\\v tijw ]{X{]hÀ¯I\\mbn. \\nc h[n {lkzNn{X§Ä¡v Xnc¡YsbgpXn. ss\\kmansâ H«I §Ä, 14 tU, X¦aWnbpsS Pmc³ F¶o Nn{X§Ä kwhn[m \\w sNbvXp. Ggv {lkzNn{XXnc¡YIÄ kamlcn¨v IÅv, I¸, Icnao³ F¶ ]pkvXIw {]kn²oIcn¨p. hnhn[ A´m cmjv{S Ne¨n{XtafIfn \\n¶v ]pckvImcw t\\Sn. Ct¸mÄ ssh¡¯n\\Sp¯v sN¼n Xmakn¡p¶p. hnemkw: inhcRvPn\\n, a¯p¦Â tdmUv, sN¼v.]n.H, ssh¡w. Email: [email protected] Blog: vinodnarayana.blogspot.com 4

temI¯nse slmdÀ t\\mhepIfnse CXnlmkamWv {_mwtÌm¡dpsS hnJymX XqenIbn ]nd¶ {Um¡pf. ImÀ]m¯nb³ ae\\ncIfnse {Sm³knÂhm\\nbbn C¶pw kPohambpÅ {Um¡pft¡m«bnse {Um¡pf{]`phnsâ acWm\\´c PohnXIYbmWv {Um¡pf F¶ t\\mhen\\m[mcw. kw{`aP\\Iamb B t\\mhensâ k¯ H«pw tNmÀ¶pt]mImsXbpÅ kzX{´ ]p\\cmJym\\amWv Cu ]pkvXIw. 5

H¶v. Hcp tabv H¶n\\v e−\\n \\n¶v AUzt¡äv ]oäÀ tlm¡n³kv GÂ]n¨ Hcp ZuXyhpambn sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À ImÀ]m¯nb³ ae\\ncIfnse {Sm³knÂhm\\nbbnte¡v Xoh−n Ibdn. e−\\n \\n¶v hnb¶bnte¡pw AhnsS \\n¶v t¢mk³_À¤v hgn {Sm³knÂhm\\nbbnse _nkv{Soäv F¶ sNdnb ]«W¯nte¡pw F¯nt¨cm³ aq¶p ZnhksaSp ¯p. _pt¡mhn\\bnte¡p t]mIp¶ t_mÀtKm Npc ¯nsâ AXnÀ¯n¸«WamWv _nkv{Soäv. ImÀ]m ¯nb³ ae\\ncIÄ¡nSbnse h\\mXnÀ¯n IqSnbm WXv. AhnsS tKmÄU³ {Iu¬ tlm«ense¯nb sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À¡v dnkv]vj\\nencp¶ tlm«Â Poh\\¡mcn Hcp I¯p \\ÂIn. AXn C§s\\ FgpXnbnbncp¶p. “kvt\\lnXm, ImÀ]m¯nb³ aeapIfnte¡v kzmK Xw. C¶p cm{Xn tlm«en hn{ian¡pI. \\osf ]I aq¶p aWn¡v _pt¡mhn\\bnte¡pÅ IpXn ch−nbn \\n§Ä¡v koäv _p¡v sNbvXn«p−v. t_mÀtKm Npc¯n h¨v Fsâ IpXnch−n \\n§ sf Fsâ tIm«bnte¡v sIm−phcpw. F¶v {Um¡pf{]`p.” 6

I¯p hmbn¨v sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À Bizmkw sIm−p. {Um¡pf{]`p FÃmw GÀ¸mSm¡nbn«p−v. ]cnNmcnI sPm\\mXs\\ apdn ImWn¨psImSp¯p. ]t£ AhnsS I−pap«nb FÃmhcpw Ft´m `b s¸Sp¶Xpt]mse sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À¡v tXm¶n. At±lw ]cnNmcnItbmSv ]dªp: “t\\cw Ccp«n ¯pS§n. ]pd¯nd§n AÂ]t\\cw \\S¡Wsa¶p −mbncp¶p. ]t£ FÃmhÀ¡pw Ft´m Hcp `bw t]mse.” ]cnNmcnI ]t£ tNmZy¯n\\pÅ adp]Snbà ]d ªXv: “]cnip²mßmhn\\v kvXpXnbmbncn¡s«.... Fsâ ssZhta, Rm³ thKw `£Ww sIm−p hcmw.” AhÀ AXp]dªn«v hmXn¡se¯n HmÀan¸n¨p: “]nt¶bv cm{Xn ]pd¯nd§mXncn¡p¶XmWv \\ÃXv.” sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À A¼c¶v BßKXw sNbvXp: “ChnSs¯ BfpIÄ F´mWn{X `bs¸Sp¶Xv? h¶t¸mÄ apX {i²n¡p¶XmWnXv.” ]cnNmcnI thKw `£Ww sIm−p h¶p. `£Ww Ign¨v sPm\\mX³ B cm{Xn kpJambn Dd§n. ]ntä¶v ]I aq¶p aWntbmsS _pt¡mhn\\ bnte¡pÅ IpXnch−n {]Xo£n¨v sPm\\mX³ 7

tlmÀ¡À tlm«en\\p ap¶n aäp]e bm{XnItcmSp sam¸w Im¯p \\n¶p. At¸mÄ tlm«ense ]cnNmcnI Hcp sIm´ sIm−p h¶v sPm\\mX\\v sImSp¯n«p ]dªp: “kmdns\\ ssZhw c£n¡s«. C¶v tabv \\mev skâv tPmÀÖv tUbmWv. cm{Xn kIe ZpjvSmßm¡fpw DWcp¶ Znhkw. kmÀ AhntS¡v t]mImXncps¶ ¦nse¶v R§Ä {]mÀ°n¡p¶p.” “F´p]än FÃmhÀ¡pw. Ft¶mSpÅ kvt\\l¯n\\v hfsc \\μnbp−v. ]t£ t]mImXncn¡m³ \\nÀhml anÃ. Rm³ t]mbv hct«.” AXptI«v ]cnNmcnI klXm]t¯msS sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡sd H¶p t\\m¡nbn«v dnk]vj\\nte¡v t]mbn. At¸mtg¡pw IpXnch−n h¶p. sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡dpw aäp bm{X¡mcpw AXn Ibdn. ct−m aqt¶m bm{X¡mÀ t\\ct¯ AXnep −mbncp¶p. IpXnch−n s]mSn]d¯n ]mªp. h−n¡mc³ Xncnªpt\\m¡n sPm\\mXt\\mSv tNmZn¨p: “_pt¡mhn\\bn kmdn\\v Bsc¦nepap t−m?” “t_mÀtKm Npc¯n F\\n¡pÅ h−n hcpw.” 8

“ssZhta….!” h−n¡mc³ ]ndp]ndp¯p. bm{X¡mÀ sPm\\mXs\\ Xpdn¨p t\\m¡n. “AhntS¡v t]mIm³ \\n§Ä¡v hà {`m´pap t−m?” Hcp bm{X¡mcn tNmZn¨p. sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À A¼ct¸msS Ahsc t\\m¡n. asämcpbm{X¡mc³ Hcp sNdnb Ipcnin ap¯n {]mÀ°n¡p¶XptI«p: “ssZhta, Ccp«p¶Xn\\p ap¼v t_mÀtKm Npcw IS¡m³ IgntbWta..” ZpÀLSamb ae¼mXIfneqsS IpXnch−n Bbks¸«p \\o§n. IpXncIfpsS {]bmkw I−v tPm\\mX³ tNmZn¨p: “]mX hfsc ZpÀLSamWtÃm h−n¡mcm..\\ap¡nd§n \\S¶mtem? IpXncIfpsS Bbmkw Ipdbpw.” “th−...th−..hml\\¯n \\n¶v Cd§n¡qSm. ChnsSbpÅ sN¶mbv¡Ä `oIc³amcmWv. C¶p cm{Xn \\n§Ä¡v ]eXpw a\\knemIpw. Ccp«p¶Xn\\p ap¼v t_mÀtKm Npcw IS¡m³ t\\m¡s«.” h−n¡mc³ ]dªp. At¸mtg¡pw t\\cw Ccp«n¯pS§n. 9

IpXnch−n Hcp hn[w t_mÀtKm Npc¯nse¯n. h−n¡mc³ ]dªp: “Npcsa¯n. kmdns\\ sIm−pt]mIm\\pÅ h−n ImWp¶nÃtÃm. kmÀ _pt¡mhn\\bnte¡v hcpt¶m?” AXptI«v Hcp bm{XnI ]dªp: “AXmbncn¡pw \\ÃXv. AYhm ChnsSbnd§ps¶¦n Cu sIm´ IqSn ssI¿n ht¨mfq..” sPm\\mX³ A¼ct¸msS tNmZn¨p: “F´mWn§s\\ FÃmhcpw IqsSIqsS Ipcnip hc¡p¶Xv?” s]s«¶v henb i_vZap−m¡ns¡m−v s]mSn]Se §fpbÀ¯n FhnsS \\nt¶m Hcp IpXnch−n ]msª¯n. “AXm Ah³ .....Ah³ h¶p Ignªp…!” h−n¡mc³ hndbtemsS ]dªp. “Rm\\Â]w sshInt¸mbn AtÃ? Fsâ bm{X¡m cs\\ \\o _pt¡mhn\\bnte¡v sIm−pt]mtbt\\ AtÃ...?” atä h−n¡mc³ Xamicqt]Wbpw F¶m `oj WnbpsS i_vZ¯nepw ]dªp. Bcpw Nncn¨nÃ. sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À atä h−nbnte¡v Ibdn. Ibdm³ ]pXnb h−n¡mc³ ssI ]nSn¨v klm bn¨p. AbmfpsS ssI¸Sw sFkv t]mse XWp¯n cn¡p¶pXmbn sPm\\mX\\v A\\p`hs¸«p. Idp¯p 10

]c¶ sXm¸nbpw sN¼n¨ IqÀ¯ XmSnbpapÅ h−n¡mcsâ apJw hyàambnÃ. “kmtd, cm{Xn \\à XWp¸p−v tIt«m. koän I¼n fnbpap−v. ]ns¶ \\à {_m−n h−nbnep−v. FSp ¯p IpSnt¨mfq. kmdnsâ bm{X kpJIcambn cn¡Wsa¶v {]`p {]tXyIw ]dªn«p−v.” h−n¡mc³ ]dªp. c−v. h−n Hcp Ipep¡t¯msS bm{Xbmcw`n¨p. h\\yamb thKambncp¶p B IpXncIÄ¡v. bm{Xbn epS\\ofw sN¶mbv¡fpsS `oIcamb HmcnbnSepIÄ tI«psIm−ncp¶p. sPm\\mX\\v `bw tXm¶n. B `oI cm´cojw I−t¸mÄ B bm{X ths−¶v h¡mam bncp¶psh¶v At±l¯n\\v tXm¶n. CS¡nsS aeIÄ¡nSbn Hcp \\oeshfn¨w Zriyam hpIbpw h−n¡mc³ h−n \\ndp¯n Cd§nt¸mhp Ibpw sNbvXp. At¸mtg¡pw sN¶mbv¡Ä h¶v h−nsb s]mXnªv Hmenbn«p. sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À `b¶p hnd¨psIm−v Btcm sS¶nÃmsX ]dªp: “F´mWm \\oeshfn¨w? CbmfhnsS F´psN¿m³ t]mIp¶p. Cu sN¶m bv¡Ä Ft¶bpw IpXncItfbpw _m¡n ht¨¡p tam? ssZhta..” 11

h−n¡mc³ XncnsI h¶v h−nbn Ibdn. sN¶m bv¡sfsbÃmw AbmÄ ssIIÄ sIm−v B«ntbm Sn¨p. Hcp Zo\\XbmÀ¶ tam§temsS AhsbÃmw AhsbÃmw Zqtc¡v amdnt¸mbn. ae¼mXbneqsSbpÅ bm{X ]nt¶bpw XpSÀ¶p. sPm\\mX³ H¶p ab§nt¸mbn. h−n Hcp Ipep¡t¯msS \\n¶t¸mgmWv At±lw Fgpt¶äXv. “kÀ, {Um¡pf{]`phnsâ tIm«sb¯n. Cd§nbm epw.” h−n¡mc³ ]dªp. “tlm, Bizmkambn. A]ISw ]nSn¨ Hcp `b¦c bm{X IgnªtÃm. icn¡pw `b¶pt]mbn tIt«m.” h−n¡mc³ H¶p ]dbmsX h−n Xncn¨phn«p. Idp¯ncp− `oamImcamb B tIm«bpsS ap¶n sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À Im¯p \\n¶p. AhnsSsb§pw Hcp shfn¨w t]mepanÃ. A[nIw Im¯p \\n¶v apjntb−n h¶nà sPm\\mX\\v. tIm«hmXn Xpd¡s¸«p. ssI¿n hnf¡pambn Kw`ocmImc\\mb Hcp hr²³ {]Xy£s¸«p. At±l¯n\\v shfp¯p\\c¨ XeapSnbp−mbncp¶p. sadq¬ \\ndapÅ Hcp KuWmWv At±lw [cn¨ncp¶Xv. 12

“sNdp¸¡mcm, \\n§Ä¡v {Um¡pf{]`phnsâ tIm«bnte¡v kzmKXw.” At±lw hnf¡pbÀ¯n¸nSn¨v sPm\\mX\\v AI t¯¡pÅ hgn ImWn¨psIm−v ]dªp. “hfsc \\μn, {Um¡pf{]`p FhnsSbmWv?” “anÌÀ sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À, Rm³ Xs¶bmWv {Um¡pf{]`p. apdnbnte¡p h¶mepw. Ipfn¨p hcp t¼mtg¡pw A¯mgw X¿mdmbncn¡pw.” “Xm¦fpsS BXnYy¯n\\v \\μn {]`q..” sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À Ipfn Ignªp h¶t¸mtg ¡pw tai¸pd¯v `£Ww X¿mdmbncp¶p. `£W ¯n\\ncp¶ tPm\\mX³ {]`phn\\v Hcp seäÀ sIm Sp¯p. “At§¡v Xcm³ AUz. ]oäÀ tlm¡n³kv X¶b ¨ I¯mWnXv.” {]`p I¯p hmbn¨p. F¶n«p ]dªp : “hmXtcmK apÅXpsIm−v Hcp \\o−bm{X Akm[yambXn\\m emWv hnizkvX\\mb sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡sd Ab ¡p¶Xv. F¶v anÌÀ tlm¡n³kv ]dªncn¡p¶p. \\μn kÀ. `£Ww Ign¡q. tImgn¡dnbpw Nokpw kemUpap−v.” 13

sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À `£Ww Ign¨v hn{I an¡m³ InS¶p. At¸mÄ {]`p Hcp Npcp«p \\o«n. AXp hm§th sPm\\X³, {]`phnâ Nne {]tXyIX IÄ {i²n¨p. {]`phnsâ DÅwssI¿nepw tcma§fp −v. hncepIfn IqÀ¯ \\J§Ä. hmb Xpd¡p t¼mÄ tIm¼ÃpIÄ AÂ]w \\o−XmtWm Fs¶m cp kwibw am{Xaà ASp¯p hcpt¼mÄ `b¦c ZpÀKÔhpap−v. CsXs´mcp a\\pjy\\msWt¶mÀ ¯v sPm\\mX³ Npcp«n\\v Xo ]nSn¸n¨p. At¸mÄ {Um¡pf{]`p apdnbpsS hmXn¡se¯n ]dªp : “£an¡Ww tIt«m. t\\cw sshInbXp sIm−v the¡mcmcpanÃ. C\\n \\¶mbn Dd§n t¡mfq. \\msf D¨hsc Rm\\nhnsS D−mhnÃ.” aq¶v. ]ntä¶v hfsc sshInbmWv sPm\\mX³ Dd ¡apWÀ¶Xv. AXpw sshIpt¶cambt¸mÄ. eLp `£Ww tai¸pd¯p−mbncp¶p. H¸w Hcp I¯pw. AXn C§s\\ FgpXnbncp¶p. “ Rm³ Øe ¯nÃ. Im¯ncnt¡−. þ F¶v {Um¡pf{]`p.” sPm\\mX³ {]mX Ign¨p. ]ns¶ apdnbmIam\\w It®mSn¨p. kzÀW]m{X§Ä, hnen]nSn¨ PmeI 14

hncnIfpw Ipjy\\pIfpw ^ÀWn¨dpIfpw. ]t£ apJw t\\m¡m³ FhntSbpw Hcp I®mSn ImWm\\n Ã. am{XaÃ, ]cnNmcIsc Btcbpw shfnbn I−nÃ. kÔy Ignªp. Blmcw Ign¨ tijw sPm\\mX³ sXm«Sp¯ apdn Xpd¶p t\\m¡n. Hcp henb {KÙimebmbncp¶p AXv. sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À AXn \\n¶v c−p ]pkvXI§Ä adn¨p t\\m¡n. {]` s]mSp¶t\\ hmXn¡ {]Xy£s¸«p. “Fsâ sse{_dn CjvSamtbm? e−\\nte¡p t]mIm³ Xocpam\\n¨t¸mÄ apX Fsâ Cw¥njv sa¨s¸Sp¯m³ ]pXnb ]pkvXI§fmWv Iq«v.” {]`p ]dªp. “A§bptSXv \\à Cw¥ojmWtÃm. ]ns¶t´..?” sPm\\mX³ tNmZn¨p. “Fs¶ Np½msX ]pIgv¯msX sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ ¡À. e−³Imc\\mb \\n§Ä Cw¥ojnepÅ Fsâ t]mcmbvaIÄ IqSn ]cnlcn¨p XcWw tIt«m. ]ns¶sbmcp Imcyw. ChnsS ]q«nbn«ncn¡p¶ apdn Ifnsem¶pw AXn{Ian¨p IbdcpXv. A]ISap −mtb¡mw.” 15

“{]`p, £an¡tW, tNmZn¡p¶XpsIms−m¶pw tXm¶cpXv. Cu tZis¯ Imcy§Ä ]eXpw hnNn {XamWtÃm. BfpIÄ¡v `b¦ct]Sn. hcp¶ hgn¡v h−n¡mc³ \\oeshfn¨w ImWp¶nSs¯ms¡ h−n \\ndp¯n t\\m¡p¶Xpw I−p.” “anÌÀ sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À, CXv {Sm³knÂhm\\n bbmWv. \\qäm−pIfmbn hÃm¨nIfpw kmIvk¬ kpw XpÀ¡nIfpw bp²w sNbvXv càsamgp¡nb a®v. i{Xp¡sf `b¶v k¼¯v Ipgn¨n« Øe ¯mWv \\oeshfn¨w ImWpI. h−n¡mc³ AS bmfw h¡m³ t]mbXmbncn¡pw. ]ns¶, Xmgvhc bnse IÀjIcmsW¦n henb t]Sns¯m−·m cmWv. Nmhmfn¸«nIsft¸mepw `bamWhÀ¡v. Cw¥ −pImc\\mb \\n§Ä¡v ChnsS ]eXpw Akm[mc Wambn tXm¶ntb¡mw. C\\n \\n§Ä e−\\nse \\½psS FtÌäns\\¡pdn¨v ]dbq.” sPm\\mX³ Xsâ _mKpXpd¶v GXm\\pw tcJmNn{X §fpw `q]S§fpw {]`phns\\ ImWn¨p.sPm\\mX³ ]dªp: “ChnsSbmWv Cw¥−nse hÀ^veoäv F¶ Øew.ChnsS A§p hm§m\\pt±in¡p¶ Cu FtÌän\\v Ccp]tX¡À hnkvXoÀWap−v. AhnsS Hcp ]gb Icn¦Â _w¥mhp−v. AXnsâ B[mc§ fpw Xodp \\S¯m\\pÅ aäp ISemkpIfpw Rm³ sIm−p h¶n«p−v. A§v H¸p h¨m am{Xw aXn.” 16

“FtÌäpw _wKvfmhpw F\\n¡v CjvSambn. GIm´ hpw AÔImcabhpamWXv. ISemkpIÄ icnbm ¡ns¡mÅq. \\msf ImWmw. KpUvss\\äv.” ]ntä¶v ]peÀs¨ kqcy\\pZn¡p¶Xn\\p ap¼pXs¶ Fgpt¶ä sPm\\mX³ H¸w sIm−ph¶ncp¶ sNdnb I®mSn t\\m¡n tjhv sN¿pIbmbncp¶p. “tjhv sN¿m³ Fsâbo sIm¨pI®mSn Xs¶ th−n h¶p.I®mSnbnÃm¯ sIm«mcw Hcp IjvSw Xs¶.” sPm\\mX³ BßKXw \\S¯th s]mSp¶t\\ IqÀ ¯ \\J§fpÅ Hcp Icw tXmfn kv]Àin¨p. sR«n¯ncnª sPm\\mXsâ IhnÄ t»Uv sIm−v apdnªp. {]`p BÀ¯ntbmsS apdnhnte¡v t\\m¡n a{´n¨p “càw....càw....” sPm\\mX³ icn¡pw `b¶pt]mbn. {]`p ]n¶n h¶p \\n¶Xv At±lw AdnªtXbnÃ. I®mSnbn {]Xn_nw_w I−XpanÃ. {]`p ]ndp]ndp¡p¶Xv sPm\\mX³ hyàambn tI«p: “ càw.. NpSptNmcbpsS \\ndhpw aWhpw.. tl.. F´mWo Igp¯nse \\in¨ ame..?” {]`p sPm\\mXsâ Igp¯nte¡v Nq−n ]nt¶m¡w \\o§n. “At§s¡´p ]än, CsXmcp sIm´btÃ..?” 17

{]`p tIm]t¯msS s]«¶v sPm\\mXsâ I®mSn X«n¸dn¨v PmeI¯neqsS ]pdt¯s¡dnªp Ifªp. “Cu \\in¨ I®mSnbmsWÃm¯n\\pw ImcWw. Chn sS apdnhp−mIp¶Xpw tNmcsbmen¸n¡p¶Xpw kq£n¨p thWw.” AXp]dªn«v {]`p tIm]t¯msS apdn hn«nd§n t¸mbn. \\mev. A¶p ]I sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À Hä¡v Blmcw Ign¨p. {]`p `£Ww Ign¡p¶Xv CXp hsc ImWm¯Xn sPm\\mX\\v AÛpXw tXm¶n. {]`phnsâ tIm« H¶p Npän¡mWWsa¶v sPm\\m X³ Xocpam\\n¨p. At±lw Xpd¶p InS¶ncp¶ PmeI¯n\\cnIn sN¶p \\n¶p. AhnsS \\n¶p t\\m¡nbt¸mÄ sN¦p¯mb hensbmcp ]mds¡«n 18

\\papIfnemWv tIm«bncn¡p¶Xv F¶v hyàambn. At±lw BßKXw sNbvXp. “Fsâ ssZhta , CsXs´mcp tIm«bmWv. aq¶p `mK¯pw hgnIfnÃ. Bbnc¯ntetd ASn Xmsg ISepw sImSpw h\\hpw ]mds¡«pIfpw am{Xw.” {Um¡pft¡m«bpsS `oIcX a\\knembt¸mÄ sPm\\mX\\v `btadn. {][m\\lmfn sN¶v AS¨n«n cn¡p¶ apdnhmXn Ipep¡n t\\m¡n. Hcp c£ bpanÃ. FÃm hmXnepIfpw AS¨p]q«nbncn¡p¶p. “ssZhta. Hcp a\\pjyPohnsbt]mepw ChnsS ImWm\\nÃ. Xs¶ {]`p XShnem¡nbncn¡pI bmtWm ?” lXmi\\mb sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À XncnsI X\\n¡ \\phZn¨ apdnbn h¶v I«nen Ibdn InS¶p. sIm´ `{Zambn ssI¿n ]nSn¨p: “{Um¡pf{]`p km[mcW¡mc\\Ã., Cu tIm«bn {]`phpw Xm\\paÃmsX aämcpansöv Dd¸mbncn¡p¶p. B h−n¡mc\\pw Cbmfpw H¶p Xs¶bmWv. ssZhta BfpIÄ apgph³ Ipcniphc¨Xv Np½msXbÃ.” BIpeamb Nn´ItfmsS sPm\\mX³ Dd§nt¸mbn. cm{Xnbn {]`p h¶v sPm\\mXs\\ hnfn¨pWÀ¯n. A¶v AÀ²cm{Xn hsc {]`p sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡ tdmSv kwkmcn¨ncp¶p: “hntcm[ansæn A§sb ¸än IqSpX ]dbmtam?” 19

sPm\\mX³ tNmZn¨p. {]`p DÕmlt¯msS kwkmcn¨pXpS§n. “lqWcmPmhv BänebpsS ]n·pd¡mc\\mWv Rm³. aKvbmÀ, ew_mÀUv, BkÀ_ÀKm³ F¶o \\in¨ hwi§tfbpw XpÀ¡nItfbpw Xpc¯nbXv Cu Rm\\mWv. l^vkv _À¤pItfbpw dpamt\\m^pI tfbpw On¶`n¶am¡n. càw F¼mSpw càw.. i{Xp¡fpsS cà¯n ap§n¡pfn¨h\\mWo {Um¡pf.” Bthi`cnX\\mb {Um¡pf{]`p A«lkn¨p. At¸mÄ At±l¯nsâ tIm¼ÃpIÄ hyàambn shfnbn ImWmambncp¶p. `b¶p hnfdnb sPm\\mX³ Nn´n¨p: “Cuizcm, \\qäm−pIÄ¡pap¼pÅ {Sm³knÂhm\\nbbpsS Ncn{XamWtÃm CXv. CbmÄ a\\pjyt\\m AtXm t{]Xtam?” B kwkmcw s]mSp¶s\\ Ahkm\\n¸n¨ {]`p th−Xne[nIw hn\\bw {]ISn¸n¨v apdnhn«pt]mbn. ]ntä¶v cm{Xnbn {]`p sPm\\mXt\\mSv tNmZn¨p: “an. sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À, e−\\n hym]mcCS]mSn\\v Htckabw H¶ne[nIw GPâpamÀ¡v ]äptam?” “Ft´ R§fpsS tkh\\w At§¡v Xr]vXnIc asöpt−m..?” sPm\\mX³ tNmZn¨p. 20

“Gbv {]iv\\§sfm¶panÃ, \\n§Ä ]oäÀ tlm¡n³ kn\\v BZyI¯b¨tijw ]n¶oSv aäphÃhÀ¡pw FgpXntbm?” “CÃ, FgpXWsa¶p−v.” “F¶m FgpXnt¡mfq, \\n§Ä Ft¶msSm¸w Hcp amkwIqSn ChnsS Xmakn¡p¶p. I¯pIfn CS ]mSpImcy§fÃmsX ChnSs¯ asäm¶pw FgpXn t¸mIcpXv.” “Hcpamkw Rm\\nhnsS Xmakn¡tWm?” “\\n§fnhnsS h¶ncn¡p¶Xv Fsâ kuIcyw IqSn t\\m¡m\\mWv. Hcp Imcyw IqSn. \\n§Ä¡v Dd¡w hcpt¼mÄ \\n§Ä¡v Rm³ A\\phZn¨ Øe¯p am{Xw InS¶pd§pI. BhiyanÃm¯ Imcy§fn XebnSmXncn¡pI.” C§s\\sbmcp Xm¡oXv sImSp¯n«v {]`p apdnhn«nd §nt¸mbn. AÂ]kabw Ignªv sPm\\mX³ tImWn¸Sn Ibdn apIfnse PmeI¯n\\cnInse¯n. At¸mÄ A¼cn¸n¡p¶ Hcp ImgvN I−p. Xmsg sN¦p¯mb NpacneqsS {]`p Hcp DSp¼nt\\t]mse Xmtg¡nd§nt¸mIp¶p. \\nemhnsâ shfn¨¯n AXv {]`p Xs¶bmsW¶v sPm\\mX³ Dd¸m¡n. “AXpicn, {]`p ]pd¯pt]mIp¶Xv Cu amÀ¤¯n eqsSbmWv.{]`phnsâ cm{Xnbm{X Hcn¡epw \\ÃXn \\mhnÃ. ssZhta Rm³ henb B]¯nemWtÃm.” 21

At±lw ]ndp]ndp¯p. `b]chi\\mb sPm\\mX³ c£mamÀ¤w tXSn tIm« bnemsI Aeªp. ]e hmXnepIfpw Xmgn«v ]q«nbn cn¡p¶Xv I−p. ap³hmXn Xpd¡pI Akm[yam sW¶v t\\ct¯ Xs¶ sPm\\mX\\v a\\knembn. ]pXnb Xmgn«q]q«nb Hcp apdn sPm\\mX³ ]q«ps]m fn¨p Xpd¶p. hnimeamb Hcp A´x¸pcambncp¶p AXv. “ssZhta CXv ]−v {]`pIpamcnIÄ hkn¨ncp¶ CSamWtÃm..!” sPm\\mX³ AÛpXw Iqdns¡m−v Hcp cmPIobamb tkm^bn IbdnInS¶p. “]s¯m¼Xmw \\qäm−n Pohn¨ncp¶ Hcp {]`p IpamcnbpsS i¿..Hm.. icocw tImcn¯cn¡p¶p.” tIm«bpsS ]pdt¯¡v Xpd¡p¶ _m¡Wnbn aq¶p kpμcnIfmb bphXnIÄ \\n¡p¶Xv \\nem hnsâ shfn¨¯n sPm\\mX³ I−p. Hcp {]`p Ipamcnbpw tXmgnIfpamWsX¶v sPm\\mX³ BÝ cyt¯msS a\\knem¡n. “Cu \\in¨ tIm«bn aq¶p kpμcnItfm..CXv kXytam AtXm anYytbm..?” sPm\\mX³ hnkvabt¯msS \\n¡th aq¶p kpμ cnIfpw sPm\\mX\\cnInse¯n. hiyamb KÔw {]kcn¸n¡p¶ aZmekIÄ. Iq«¯n {]`pIpam 22

cnsb¶v tXm¶n¸n¨hÄ sPm\\mXsâ ASp¯ncp¶p. sPm\\mX\\v lrZbw \\ne¨pt]mIp¶Xpt]mse tXm¶n. AhÄ sPm\\mXs\\ Npw_n¡m³ {ian¨p. “BZyw Rm³. AXpIgnªv Fsâ tXmgnIÄ btY jvSw Cbmsf ]¦phs¨Spt¯mfq.” bphXn a{´n¨Xv sPm\\mX³ kz]v\\¯nse¶t]mse tI«p. AhfpsS Np−pIÄ sPm\\Xsâ Igp¯n kv]Àin¨p. s]mSp¶t\\ Hcp A«lmkw tI«p. bphXn ]nSsªgpt¶äp. {Um¡pfbmbncp¶p AXv. “Gbv, \\osb´mWnbmsf sN¿p¶Xv…?” {]`p HmSn h¶v aq¶p bphXnItfbpw XÅnamän. “Bcp ]dªp Cbmsf kv]Àin¡m³. CbmÄ Ct¸mÄ Fsâ kwc£WbnemWv. Rm\\nbmsf \\n§Ä¡p hn«pXcpwhsc Cbmsf sXm«pt]mI cpXv.” {]`p tIm]t¯msS ]dªp. ”]t£ Ct¸mÄ R§Ä¡v Zmln¡p¶p.” bphXnIÄ sIm©n¸dªp. 23

“Zmlw AsXmcn¡epw XocpIbnÃ. B Nm¡psI«n \\I¯v Hcp a\\pjy¡pªmWv. FSp¯psIm−p Zqtct]mIq.” {Um¡pf{]`p Hcp Nm¡psI«v Nq−n¡mWn¨p. AbmÄ AXv At¸mÄ AhnsSs¡m−ph¶n «tXbÅq. .bphXnIÄ BÀ¯ntbmsS Nm¡psI«psaSp¯v HmSnt¸mbn. “\\mi§Ä.” {Um¡pf ]ndp]ndp¯p. sPm\\mX³ aZy]n¨Xpt]msemcp AÀ[t_m[mh Øbn CsXÃmw I−p. A©v. ]ntä¶v {]`mX¯n X\\n¡\\phZn¨ apdnbn se I«nen InS¡pIbmbncp¶p sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ ¡À. DWÀs¶gpt¶ä At±lw A¼ct¸msS BtemNn¨p : “ssZhta, F§s\\ apdnbnse¯n. Ignª cm{Xnbnse kw`h§Ä kz]v\\amtWm AtXm kXyamtWm..?” 24

sPm\\mX³ thKw Xs¶ Xtecm{Xnbn I− A´x¸pc¯nsâ hmXne¡se¯n. AXv ]pXnb Xmgn«v ]q«nbncn¡p¶Xv I−p. A¶p cm{Xn {]`p ISp¸n¨ apJt¯msS apdnbnse ¯n. A{X kpJIcaÃm¯ kzc¯n {]`p apJhpc bnÃmsX kwkmcn¨pXpS§n : “anÌÀ sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À, \\n§Ä DS³ F\\n¡v c−paq¶p I¯pIsfgpXn¯cWw. Ct¸mįs¶ thWw. \\n§fpsS ChnSs¯ tPmenIÄ Xocmdmbn cn¡p¶p DSt\\ ]pds¸Sp¶p F¶v BZys¯ Is¯gpXv. AXv anÌÀ tlm¡n³kn\\pÅXmWv. AXnsâ XobXn ]{´−v F¶p h¡Ww.” “F\\n¡v ]pds¸Smdmtbm?” sPm\\mX³ BImw£tbmsS tNmZn¨p. “]dbp¶X\\pkcn¡v. c−mas¯ I¯n \\n§Ä tIm«bnse Xmakw Ahkm\\n¸n¨psh¶pw ASp¯ {]`mX¯n ]pds¸Sp¶psh¶pw FgpXpI. B I¯nse XobXn ]s¯m¼Xv F¶p h¡Ww.” sPm\\mX\\v H¶pw a\\knembnÃ. At±lw kwib t¯msSbncn¡th {]`p ]nt¶bpw ]dªp. “Ccp]¯nsbm¼Xmw XobXn \\n§Â _nkv{Soän F¯nt¨À¶ncn¡p¶p F¶v aq¶mas¯ I¯nsegp XpI.” 25

“CsXms¡ ]pds¸«pIgnªv Rm³Xs¶ FgpXn Ab¡p¶XtÃ. CXv Rm³ t\\ct¯ FgpXn Xm¦Ä ¡v Xcp¶sX´n\\mWv?” sPm\\mXsâ tNmZy¯n\\v {]`p `ojWnbpsS kzc ¯n adp]Sn ]dªp : “\\n§Ä ]pds¸StWm th−tbm F¶v Rm³ Xocpam\\n¡pw. ]dbp¶ X\\pkcn¨m am{Xw aXn.” A{Xbpw ]dªv {]`p B I¯pIfpw FgpXn hm§n sImSp¦mäpt]mse ]pdt¯¡v t]mbn. {]`p tIm«bn \\ns¶mcn¡epw Xs¶ ]pd¯phnSn söv sPm\\mX\\v Dd¸mbn. ]I apgph³ At±lw tIm«bn Aeªp \\S¶p. “{]`phnsâ Bhiyw Ignªv Xs¶ B aq¶p b£nIÄ¡pw IqSn `£n¡m³ Fdnªp sImSp ¡pw. AXn\\pap¼v ]pd¯pNmSWw.” sPm\\mX³ tIm«bn \\n¶v ]pd¯pNmSm\\pÅ hgn IÄ ]cXn. tIm«bpsS shfnbn Xmsgbmbn Bfp IfpsS i_vZw tI«t¸mÄ sPm\\mXsâ apJw hnI kn¨p. At±lw PmeI¯neqsS HmSn h¶p t\\m¡n bt¸mÄ Xmsg Iptd Pn]vknIÄ Ft´m sN¿p¶Xp I−p. tIm«bn h¶n«v a\\pjyPohnIsf BZyam bn ImWpIbmWv sPm\\mX³. At±lw DS³Xs¶ apdnbntet¡mSnt¸mbn c−p I¯pIÄ X¿mdm¡n. H¶v At±l¯nsâ {]nbs¸« Iq«pImcn ao\\maptd¡pw atäXv ]oäÀ tlm¡n³kn 26

\\pw Bbncp¶p. Xsâ Poh³ A]IS¯nemsW ¶pw tIm«bnse A]ISIcamb kIehnhc§fpw AXn At±lw FgpXn. At±lw PmeI¯n\\ncnIn aS§nh¶v i_vZap −m¡n Xmsg \\n¡p¶ Pn]vknIfpsS {i² £Wn¨p. I¯pIÄ Fdnªp sImSp¯n«p ]dªp : “ktlmZcm, CsXm¶p t]mÌp sN¿tW..” “kmÀ, \\n§Ä ]dªXpt]mse sNbvtXmfmw.” Pn]vkn ]dªp. sPm\\mX\\v kt´mjambn. Xm³ c£s¸«p F¶v sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À IcpXn. I¯pIn«nbm ]oäÀ tlm¡n³kv th− \\S]SnIÄ FSp¡pw F¶pd ¸mbncp¶p. sPm\\mX³ apdnbn t]mbn Bizm kt¯msS InS¶p. ]t£ A¶p cm{Xnbn ssI¿n B c−p I¯pIfpambn {Um¡pf{]`p apdnbntet¡ ]mªp h¶p. {]`phnsâ apJw tIm]w sIm−v Pzen¡pIbmbn cp¶p: “\\n§Ä sXäp sNbvXp. Pn]vknIÄ Ft¶mSp IqdpÅhcmWv. \\n§Ä CXn Fs´m s¡bmWv FgpXn h¨ncn¡p¶Xv. \\n§Ä¡v ZpxJn t¡−n hcpw anÌÀ sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À.” 27

{]`p B I¯pIÄ hen¨pIodn Npcp«nsbdnªp. Ahkm\\{]Xo£bpw ssIhn« sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ ¡À XIÀ¶pt]mbn. Bdv. ]ntä¶v t\\cw shfp¯t¸mÄ sPm\\mX³ icn¡pw sR«n. sPm\\mXsâ km[\\§sfÃmw A{] Xy£ambncn¡p¶p. taibpw AeamcbpsaÃmw iq\\yambncp¶p. PmeI¯neqsS Xmtg¡p t\\m¡nb t¸mÄ c−p Nc¡pIpXnch−nIfn \\n¶v Pn]vkn IÄ henb Imens¸«nIÄ Cd¡p¶XpI−p. sPm\\mX³ Ahsc t\\m¡n klmb¯n\\v hnfn¨t]£ns¨¦nepw Pn]vknIÄ tI«`mhw \\Sn ¨nÃ. Pn]vknIfn \\n¶v Hcp klmbhpw e`n¡nà F¶p a\\knem¡nb sPm\\mX³ A¶pcm{Xnbn Dd¡anf¡m³ Xocpam\\n¨p. cm{Xnbmhp¶Xphsc At±lw aSpt¸msS Im¯ncp¶p. CS\\mgnbn Hcp \\ng Nen¡p¶XpI−v ]n´pSÀ¶p sN¶t¸mÄ {Um¡pf{]`p t]mIp¶XpI−p. sPm\\mX\\pambn kwkmcn¡m³ \\n¡msX {]`p t\\tc At±l¯nsâ apdnbnte¡mWv t]mIp¶ sX¶v Duln¨ sPm\\mX³ {]`p F´mWp sN¿p¶ sX¶dnbm³ clkyambn ]n¶mse sN¶p. 28

i_vZap−m¡msX tKmhWn Ibdn apIfnse¯n PmeI¯neqsS Xmtg¡v t\\m¡nbt¸mÄ Xmsg \\ne bnse PmeI¯neqsS Hcp Nm¡pambn {]`p Npacn eqsS Xmtg¡v \\q−nd§p¶XpI−p. sPm\\mXsâ HmhÀtIm«mWv {]`p [cn¨ncn¡p¶Xv. ]nimNn\\nI Ä¡pÅ Ccsb ]nSn¡m\\pÅ t]m¡mWsX¶v sPm\\mX\\v a\\knembn. {Um¡pf{]`p Xncn¨phcp¶Xphsc PmeI¯n\\ cnIn Im¯p\\n¡msa¶v IcpXnb sPm\\mX³ B `oIccm{Xnbn tIm«bpsS apä¯v \\n¶v HmcnbnSp¶ sN¶mbv¡tfbpw A´coj¯neqsS ]pIaªpt]mse ]mdn\\S¡p¶ `oIcb£nItfbpw I−v `b¶v XncnsI Xsâ apdnbn A`bw {]m]n¨p. sshImsX tIm«¡pshfnbn Hcp Ipªnsâ Zo\\ amb Ic¨n tI«p. apdnbpsS hmXn Xpd¡m³ {ian¨ sPm\\mX\\v AXv shfnbn \\n¶v ]q«nbncn ¡pIbmWv F¶p a\\knembn. Hcp kv{XobpsS hnem]w tI«v Xsâ apdnbpsS PmeI¯neqsS sPm\\mX³ Xmtg¡p t\\m¡nbt¸m Ä tIm«bpsS apä¯v Hcp kv{Xobpw {]`phpw \\n ¡p¶Xp I−p. {]`phnsâ Nm¡psI«n DÅXv Ipªmbncn¡pw F¶v sPm\\mX³ Duln¨p. “F\\ns¡sâ Ipªns\\ XmSm \\cI]nimtN…?” B kv{Xo im]hN\\§Ä DXnÀ¯p. 29

“i_vZn¡cpXv. \\o Xncn¨pt]m.” {]`p Xm¡oXv \\ÂIn. “Fsâ Ipªns\\bn§v XmSm ZpjvSm.” kv{Xo Aedn¡cªp. {]`p Ft´m i_vZw ]pds¸Sphn¨t¸mÄ \\mepNpäpw \\n¶v sN¶mbv¡fpsS HmcnbnS tI«p. “Cu \\in¨hfpsS ]cmXn XoÀ¡v thKw.” {]`p sN¶mbv¡tfmSv Bhiys¸«p. sRmSnbnSbn sN¶mbv¡Ä kv{Xosb hfªp. Ah H¶S¦w B kv{XobpsS ta NmSn hoWv B{Ian¨v sIm¶p Xn¶p¶Xv I−p \\n¶ sPm\\mX\\v Xes]cp¡p¶Xpt]mse tXm¶n. ]ntä¶v {]`mX¯n apdnbpsS hmXn Xpd ¶p InS¶ncp¶p. ssZh¯n\\p \\μn ]dªpsIm−v sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À tIm«bpsS sXt¡Aä¯pÅ P\\en\\Sp¯p sN¶p. AXn\\pXmsgbmWv {]`phnsâ apdnbnte¡p Xpd¡p¶ PmeIw. F´ph¶mepw {]`phnsâ apdn ]cntim[n¡Wsa¶v sPm\\mX³ Dd¸n¨p. “{Um¡pf{]`phns\\ ]IÂshfn¨¯n CXphsc I−n«nÃ. aäpÅhÀ Dd§pt¼mÄ DWcpIbpw 30

AhÀ DWcpt¼mÄ Dd§pIbpw sN¿p¶ Hcp sNIp¯m\\mWXv.” sPm\\mX³ ]ndp]ndp¯psIm−v PmeIw hgn AÅn ¸nSn¨v Xmtg¡nd§n. XmsgbpÅ {]`phnsâ PmeI ¯nte¡v ]nSn¨pIbdn AXphgn AIt¯¡nd§nb At±lw {]`phnsâ apdnbnbpsS aqebn Iptd kzÀW\\mWb§Ä Iq¼mcw Iq«nbncn¡p¶Xv I−p. ^ÀWn¨dpIsfÃmw s]mSn]nSn¨p InS¶n cp¶p. sPm\\mX³ AhnSamsI ]cXnsb¦nepw {]`p hns\\ I−nÃ. apdnbn \\n¶v Hcp Xpc¦aps−¶v sPm\\mX³ a\\ knem¡n. At±lw AXphgn IS¶p. AÂ]w sN¶ t¸mÄ ihIpSoc§fpsS Hcp apdnbnte¡mWv Xpc¦w Xpd¶Xv. AhnsS IÃdIÄ am{Xta DÅq. iha®v Cf¡nbn«n«p−v. ]pXpXmbn as®Sp¯ e£W§Ä D−v. Pn]vknIÄ¡v ]Wn ChnsS bmbncp¶p F¶v sPm\\mX³ Duln¨p. AhnsSsbÃmw ]cXnb sPm\\mX³ HSphn {Um¡p f{]`phnsâ ih¡Ãd I−v A¼c¶pt]mbn. Hcp Xpd¶ IÃdbv¡pÅn Dd§n¡nS¡p¶ {Um¡pf {]`p. “ssZhta Cu sNIp¯m³ Dd§pIbmtWm AtXm acn¨pInS¡pIbmtWm. ]pdwhmXnepIfpsS Xmt¡m epIÄ CbmfpsS Ioibn ImWWw.” 31

sPm\\mX³ {Um¡pf{]`phnsâ tIm«p]cXm³ XpS §th {]`p I®pIÄ Xpd¶v XeXncn¨v sPm\\mXs\\ Xpdn¨p t\\m¡n. sPm\\mX³ Hcp AeÀ¨tbmsS XncntªmSn PmeIw hgn Xsâ apdnbn Xncns¨¯n. A¶v Ccp]¯nsbm¼Xmw XobXnbmsW¶v sPm\\mX³ Znhk§Ä F®n a\\knem¡n. {]`p FgpXnhm§nb aq¶mas¯ I¯nse XobXn. A¶p cm{Xn {Um¡pf{]`p apdnbn h¶p. ]I \\S¶ Imcy§sf¸än {]`p XoÀ¨bmbpw t£m`nt¨¡pw F¶p IcpXnsb¦nepw AXp−mbnÃ. sPm\\mX³ ss[cyw Ahew_n¨v tNmZn¨p: “F\\n¡v aS§msa¶v ]dªncp¶ XobXn C¶m bncp¶p.” “\\n§Ä s]mbvt¡mfq. t]mI−m¶mcp ]dªp. thWsa¦n Cu cm{Xn Xs¶ s]mbvt¡mfq. l..l” {]`p ]pÑt¯msS Nncn¨p. “\\n§Ä ]cnlkn¡−, Rm\\nt¸mįs¶ bm{X Xncn¡p¶p.” sPm\\mX³ Fgpt¶äv hmXn¡te¡p \\S¶p. “s]mbvt¡mfq.” {]`p Nncn¨p. 32

sPm\\mX³ {][m\\lmfnte¡pÅ tKmhWnbnd§n. ]n¶mse hnf¡pw Xq¡n {]`phpw h¶p. ]t£ Xpd¶p InS¶ {][m\\hmXneneqsS `oIcambn Hmen bn«psIm−v sN¶mbv¡Ä h¶p. sPm\\mX³ XncnsI tKmhWn Ibdn. “Zbhmbn Cu \\mi§sf HmSn¨phnSq. Rm³ Cu tIm«bn \\n¶v t]mIp¶nÃ, F´m t]mtc..?” “anÌÀ sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À, \\n§Ä acymZ ]Tn¨n cn¡p¶p. C\\n \\n§fpsS apdnbn Ibdn hmXne St¨mfq.” sPm\\mX³ apdnbn Ibdn hmXneS¨p. ]pd¯v AXn\\p ]q«p hogp¶ i_vZw tI«p. sshImsX sN¶mbv¡fpsS HmenbnS ]qÀWambn \\ne¨p. taibn XeNmbvNv \\ncmi\\mbn InS¶ sPm\\mX³ Btcm ]ndp]ndp¡p¶XptI«v sNhntbmÀ¯p. AXv Xsâ apdnbpsS hmXnen\\pap¶n \\n¶msW¶v a\\ knem¡nb sPm\\mX³ hmXn ]gpXn sNhn tNÀ ¯v kw`mjWw {ihn¨p. “Èv, \\n§sf´n\\nhnsS h¶p?” AXv {]`phnsâ i_vZambncp¶p. “Abmsf R§Ä¡v hn«p Xcq.” bphXnIfpsS Nne¼n¨ i_vZw. 33

“\\msf cm{Xn Ah³ \\n§Ä¡pÅXmWv. C¶p Xncn sI t]m.” {Um¡pf{]`p ]dbp¶Xp tI«p. sPm\\mX³ hmXn hen¨p Xpd¶p. hmXnen\\pshfnbn {]`phpw aq¶v b£nIfpambncp¶p. “hmXneSt¨mfq ktlmZcm..” {]`p sPm\\mXt\\mSv ]dªp. F¶n«v b£nIÄ¡p t\\tc Xncnªv C§s\\ BÚm]n¨p: “Zqsct]m \\mi§sf..” b£nIfpsS BÀ¯ntbmsSbpÅ t\\m«w I−p `b¶ sPm\\mX³ hmXneS¨p. “\\msf cm{Xn Cu sNIp¯m³ tIm«bn Fsâ Pohs\\mSp§pw. Fsâ càw B aq¶p b£nIfpw IqSn Duän¡pSn¡pw.” acWw ap¶n¡− sPm\\mX\\v B cm{Xn Dd¡w h¶nÃ. ]ntä¶v t\\cw shfp¯t¸mÄ apdn Xpd¶v ]pd ¯nd§nb sPm\\mX³ ap³hmXn Xpd¡m³ {ian s¨¦nepw AXp ]gb]Sn ]q«nbncp¶p. DS³Xs¶ Xte¶p sNbvXt]mse {]`phnsâ IÃd¡cnIn se¯n. At¸mÄ {]`phnsâ ihs¸«n aqSnbXmbn I−p. {]`phnsâ tIm«n \\n¶v Xmt¡m¡q«w Is−Sp¡msa¶v [mcWbn s]«nbpsS AS¸p Xpd¶ sPm\\mX³ IqSpX sNdp¸¡mc\\mb 34

{Um¡pf{]`phnt\\bmWv I−Xv. {]`p Hcp bphmhm bncn¡p¶p. IShmbneqsS ]pXpcàw HgpIp¶p−v. “Cu sNIp¯ms\\ ChnsSh¨v Ct¸mįs¶ Ah km\\n¸n¡Ww.” sPm\\mX³ ]ndp]ndp¯psIm−v ASp¯pInS¶ Hcp jÆ FSp¯v {]`phnsâ Xe¡p t\\tc Ip¯n. s]mSp¶t\\ {]`p Xesh«n¨p. F¶n«v sPm\\mXs\\ Xpdn¨p t\\m¡n. B Ip¯v {]`phns\\ GinbtX bnÃ. sPm\\mX³ `b¶v HmSn¡fªp. apdnbnse¯n PmeI¯neqsS Xmtg¡v t\\m¡nbt¸mÄ Pn]vkn Ifpw tPmen¡mcmb tÉmhm¡pIfpw h−nIfpam bn h¶ncn¡p¶Xp I−p. sPm\\mX³ t\\m¡nbncn t¡ hensbmcp s]«n Pn]vknIÄ AI¯p \\n¶v Npa¶psIm−p h¶v h−nbn Ibäp¶Xp I−p. B s]«n¡I¯v {Um¡pf{]`phnsâ iht]SIw D−mbncn¡psa¶v sPm\\mX\\v Dd¸mbncp¶p. sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À thKw HmSn {][m\\lmfnse ¯n. ap³hmXn Xpd¶p InS¡pIbmWv. kt´mj t¯msS AhntSt¡mSnb sPm\\mX\\p ap¶n hmXn  henb i_vZt¯msS ASªp. C\\nbo tIm«bn Hcp \\nanjw t]mepw X§p¶Xv _p²nbsöv a\\knemb sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡À tIm«bpsS `n¯n hgn Xmtg¡nd§m³ Xocpam\\n¨p. sPm\\mX³ PmeIw hgn Xmtg¡p t\\m¡n. Xmsg AKm[amb sIm¡bnte¡v t]mIp¶ sN¦p ¯mb tIm«`n¯n I−p. F´ph¶mepw B `n¯n 35

hgn Xmtg¡nd§m³Xs¶ XoÀ¨bm¡nb sPm\\m X³ FÃmw ssZh¯nsâ Ic§fneÀ¸n¨v Poh³ c£n¡m\\pÅ Gähpw ZpÀLSamb ]emb\\w Bcw`n¨p. Ggv. e−³ \\Kcw. {]k¶amb B kmbmÓ¯n Xnc¡nÃm¯ IS ¯oc¯v ao\\mapsd kvt\\lnXbmb eqkntbmsSm¸w Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p. ao\\ ]dªp: “eqkn, \\nsâ Iq«pImc³ BÀXsd ImWp¶nÃtÃm. Bfv h¶m \\ns¶ GÂ]n¨n«v F\\n¡§pt]mImambncp¶p.” “\\obnhnsS Np½mXncn¡q ao\\. t]mbn«v \\n\\s¡´m ]Wn. \\nsâ N§mXn sPm\\mX³ {Sm³knÂhm\\nbm bnse Hcp kpJhmktI{μ¯netÃ. `mKyhm³.” “c−pamkw Ignªp. Bfn§p h¶p Ignªm DSt\\ hnhmlsa¶mWp ]dªXv.” “\\n§fpsS IÃymWw Ignªm DS³ Xs¶ Ftâ bpw BÀXdtSbpw hnhmlambncn¡pw.” 36

eqkn eÖtbmsS ]dªp. AhfpsS IhnfpIÄ AcpWm`ambn. At¸mÄ AhnsSbp−mbncp¶ _o¨v Imh¡mc³ Hcp ss_t\\m¡pedneqsS Zqtc Hcp I¸Â I−v hnfn¨p ]dªp: “B I¸ens\\t´m Ipg¸ap− tÃm?” eqknbpw ao\\bpw AXptI«v _o¨v Imh¡mc³ ]dªZn¡nte¡v t\\m¡n. “icnbmWv AXv BSnbpeªv hgn sXän \\S¡p ¶p.” ao\\ ]dªp. “I¸n¯m\\nÃm¯Xpt]mse...” eqkn Iq«nt¨À¯p. “ssZh¯n\\dnbmw…!” _o¨v Imh¡mc³ ]ndp]ndp¯p. ]ntä¶v sUbven sSe{Km^v ]{X¯n Hcp hmÀ¯ h¶p. AXn§s\\bmbncp¶p. “ZpcqlXbpWÀ¯p¶ I¸Â. e−³ \\Kc¯n\\p kao]w ISen Hcp AÚmXI¸Â ZpcqlXbp WÀ¯n {]Xy£s¸«ncn¡p¶p. \\nb{´Ww \\jvS 37

s¸«Xpt]mse ISen Aeªp\\S¡p¶ I¸en BfpIÄ Bcpw Csöp tXm¶p¶p.” A¶pcm{Xn XpdapJ¯n\\p apIfn BImiw Icn\\oe\\odambn. A´cojw iàambn Ccp−p. ImemhØm \\nco£WtI{μ¯nsâ A\\u¬ kvsaâv h¶p. “iàamb aqSÂaªv cq]s¸«n«p −v. sX¡p]Snªmd³ Imäv iàn {]m]n¨ncn¡p ¶p. sImSp¦män\\p km[yXbpÅXn\\m ao³]nSp ¯¡mÀ {i²n¡pI.” A´cojw s]mSp¶t\\ hÃm¯ `oXn ]c¯n `b¦c ambn amdnbXn\\m BfpIÄ ]cn{`m´ntbmsS ]dªp. “ ssZhta Fs´mcp adnambw. kÔyhsc \\à shbnembncp¶p. temImhkm\\amtWm CXv…?” cm{Xn ]¯paWn IgnªtXmsS hÆmepIÄ Iq« t¯msS ]d¡m\\pw \\mbv¡Ä HmcnbnSm\\pw XpS§n. “Fs´mcp ImämWnXv. hÆmepIÄ CfInbncn¡p ¶Xv I−ntÃ….?” _p¡vtjm¸nsâ j«dpIÄ Xmgv¯ns¡m−v I¨hS ¡mc³ ]dªp. “sN½cnbmSpIÄ Iq«t¯msS Icbp¶XptIt«m. \\mbv¡fpsS HmcnbnSemsW¦n AklyamWv.” 38

iàamb Imän IpS Xpd¡m³ ]mSps]«psIm−v Hcp kv{Xo ]dªp. “ssZhta \\Sp¡Sen \\n¶v `b¦camb Hcp apcĨ Rm³ tI«p.” XpdapJs¯ t]mÀ«À ]dªp \\nÀ¯nbXn\\p ]n¶m se iàamb sImSp¦mäv hoinbSn¨p.ISen ao³ tXmWnIÄ adnªp hoWp. ]d¶p t]mImXncn¡m³ BfpIÄ hnf¡pImepIfnepw I¼n¯qWpIfnepw iàambn ]nSn¨p \\n¶p. “IÀ¯mth Im¯psImÅtW..” Hcp kv{Xo Ipcniphc¨p {]mÀ°n¨p. Imän\\nSbn ]mbIÄ FÃmw hnSÀ¯nb Hcp I¸Â ]mªp hcp¶XpI−p. AXnthKambncp¶p AXnsâ hchv. “HmSnamdnt¡m. AXv _À¯v XIÀ¯v Icbnte¡p Ibdpw. `b¦c thKXbmWv.” Btcm hnfn¨p ]dªp. BfpIÄ \\nehnfntbmsS ]c¡w ]mªp. I¸Â XpdapJs¯ _À¯v XIÀ¯v CSn¨p \\n¶p. sUanäÀ F¶mbncp¶p AXnsâ t]cv. s]mSp¶t\\ Xs¶ A´cojw {]k¶ambn. Imäp \\ne¨p. ImÀ taL§fpw aqSÂaªpw \\o§n. BfpIÄ AÛpX s]«psIm−v I¸en\\p Npäpw IqSn. At¸mÄ Btcm \\nehnfntbmsS I¸Â¯«nte¡v Nq−n. 39

“ssZhta, AXm I¸Â¯«n I¸n¯ms\\ sIm¶v Np¡m\\n sI«nh¨ncn¡p¶p.” FÃmhcpw AhntS¡v t\\m¡n. B kabw I¸Â¯«n Akmam\\yamb hen¸ap Å Hcp Idp¯\\mb {]Xy£s¸«p. “At¿m Hcp sNIp¯m³ \\mb. Fs´mcp hen¸am WXn\\v.” Hcp kv{Xo hnfn¨p ]dªp. \\mb I¸Â¯«n \\n¶v Icbnte¡v NmSn ]Ån skant¯cnbnte¡v HmSnt¸mbn. F«v. ]ntä¶v {]`mX¯n B djy³ I¸Â A[nIrXÀ ]cntim[n¨p. I¸en a®p \\nd¨ Iptd s]«nIÄ Is−¯n. DtZymKØÀ tcJIÄ ]cntim[n¨n«v ]dªp: “A¼Xv acs¸«nIfnepw a®v \\nd¨ncn¡p¶p. hnäv_n bnse GPâpw h¡oepamb ankväÀ hnÃnMvSWnsâ t]cnemWv Nc¡v _p¡v sNbvXncn¡p¶Xv.” 40

hnÃnMvSWns\\ hnhcadnbn¡m³ GÀ]mSm¡n. s]«n¡Is¯ a®n\\v ih¸d¼nse a®nsâ ZpÀ KÔambncp¶p. I¸Â Acn¨ps]dp¡nb DtZymK ØÀ¡v AXn a\\pjysc Btcbpw Is−¯m\\m bnÃ. I¸n¯ms\\ hfsc {Iqcambn sIm¶v Np¡m\\n  sI«nh¨ncn¡p¶Xv I−v PVw ]cntim[n¨ t¸mÄ Hcp Ubdn In«n. Iym]väsâ B Ubdn¡pdn ¸pIÄ hmbn¨ DtZymKØÀ sR«nt¸mbn. B Ipdn¸pIfpsS kmcw C§s\\bmbncp¶p. “Iym]vä\\S¡w H¼Xp tPmen¡mcpw A¼Xv a®p \\nd¨ s]«nIfpw I¸enep−mbncp¶p. aä¸m³ ap\\¼v IS¶t¸mįs¶ tPmen¡mÀ AkzØcm Ip¶Xv Iym]vä³ I−p]nSn¨p. A]cnNnX\\mb Hcp `b¦ca\\pjy³ I¸eneps−¶v Poh\\¡mÀ ]d ªXv Iym]vä³ BZyw hnizkn¨nÃ. XpSÀ¶v Poh\\ ¡scsbms¶m¶mbn ImWmXmbn. Pn{_mÄ«À ISen Sp¡v IS¶tXmsS ISÂt£m`w Bcw`n¨p. HSphn Iym]vä\\pw c−v tPmen¡mcpw am{Xw Ahtijn¨p. Ahkm\\s¯ cm{Xn tPmen¡mcn Hcmsf `b¦ca \\pjy³ sImÃp¶Xv I−v c−mas¯ tPmen¡mc³ ISen NmSn BßlXy sNbvXp. Hä¡mb Iym]vä\\v ap¶n I\\¯ aqS aªv ]SÀ¶p…” B Ubdn¡pdn¸pIÄ AhnsS Ahkm\\n¨ncn¡pI bmWv. AXn\\ptijw B `b¦ca\\pjy³ Iym]vä t\\bpw sIm¶ncn¡pw F¶ kzm`mhnI \\nKa\\¯n se¯n DtZymKØÀ. “hnNn{Xhpw ZpcqlhpamWnXv…!” 41

DtZymKØÀ H¶S¦w ]dªp. Iym]väsâ ihaS¡v I−pIgnªv cm{Xnbn Htc dqan Dd§m³ InS¡pIbmWv eqknbpw ao\\m aptdbpw. “Ft´m AkzØX tXm¶p¶p ao\\m..” eqkn ]dªp. “Iym]väsâ ihaS¡v I−n«mIpw. \\o \\¶msbm¶p d§v eqkn.” ao\\ Ahsf kam[m\\n¸n¨p. Ccphcpw Dd§m³ InS¶p. A¶v AÀ[cm{Xn Ignªv sR«nbpWÀ¶ ao\\, eqknsb AhfpsS s_Ín ImWmsX h¶t¸mÄ ]cn{`m´bmbn. “IÀ¯mth, eqknsbhnsSt¸mbn. kabw c−paWn Ignªp.” ao\\ eqknsbt¯Sn kzoIcWapdnbnte¡v h¶t¸m Ä ap³hmXn Xpd¶pInS¡p¶XpI−p. AhnsS \\n¶v t\\m¡nbm DZym\\w ImWmw. Ac− \\nem hn eqkn DZym\\¯nse IÂs_©n Ccn¡p¶ Xp I−p. “Cu sImSpw aª¯v AhÄ¡hnsSt¸mbncn¡m³ h«pt−m…?” 42

ao\\ ]ndp]ndp¯psIm−v eqkn¡Spt¯¡v sNÃp t¼mÄ eqkn¡p]n¶n Ccp«nembn Hcp Idp¯ cq]w \\n¡p¶XpI−p. Hcp kXzambncp¶p AXv. AXv eqknbpsS Igp¯n Npw_n¡p¶p. “IÀ¯mth CsX´p kXzamWv…!” ao\\m \\nehnfntbmsS HmSns¨¶p. B kXzw adªp t]mbn. ao\\ eqknsb Xm§nsbSp¯p. eqkn AÀ[ t_m[mhØbnembncp¶p. AhÄ F§s\\ AhnsS sb¯n F¶Xv AhÄ¡dnbnÃmbncp¶p. ao\\ eqkn sb apdnbn sIm−ph¶p InS¯n. AhfpsS Igp ¯n kqNn¸mSpIÄ t]mse c−papdnhpIÄ hyà ambn ImWmambncp¶p. ]ntä¶v ]I apgph³ eqkn kpJambpd§n. ]t£ cm{Xnbmbt¸mÄ AhÄ Hcp {`m´nbpsS a«n InS¡bn Fgpt¶äncp¶v PmeI¯n\\pt\\tc ssI\\o«n. “tlbv..AXm..” AXpI−v ao\\m HmSns¨¶p. “F´m eqkn \\n\\¡v ]änbXv…?” eqkn Np−n¡mWn¨bnSt¯¡v ao\\ t\\m¡nb t¸mÄ PmeI¯n Hcp IShmXn ]nSn¨ncn ¡p¶Xp I−p. ao\\ AXp Imcyam¡nbnÃ. “AsXmcp hmhetÃ, AXns\\ \\obn{X `b¡p¶sX´n\\mWv…?” 43

ao\\ eqknsb ]nSn¨v InS¡bn InS¯n. Hcp Znhkw sIm−v AhÄ hnfdnshfp¯pt]mbn cp¶p. ]ntä¶v cm{Xn ao\\ B \\Sp¡p¶ ImgvN I−p. InS¸dbnse Xpd¶n« PmeI¯neqsS ]pdt¯¡v Xebn«v \\n¡pIbmWv eqkn. Hcp `oamImc\\mb IShmXn eqknbpsS Igp¯n Npw_n¡p¶p. a\\pjymImcapÅ Hcp IShmXnembncp¶p AXv. “ssZhta, B kXzatà AXv. eqknsb AsX´p sN¿pIbmWv.” ao\\m HmSn h¶p. IShmXn ]d¶pt]mbn. eqkn XfÀ¶v ao\\bpsS ssIIfnte¡v hoWp. AhÄ eqknbpsS Igp¯v ]cntim[n¨p. càw In\\nbp¶ c−p kqNn¸mSpIÄ I−p. ao\\ At¸mįs¶ tUm. skÀhm³Uns\\ hnhc adnbn¨p. tUm. skÀhm³Uv tUm. hm³sh³kn§v F¶bmfpambn AhnsSsb¯nt¨À¶p. tUm. hm³sh³kn§v eqknsb ]cntim[n¨p. “eqknbn \\n¶v tNmc hfscb[nIw \\jvSs¸«ncn ¡p¶p. AXmbXv Btcm Ahfn \\n¶v càw DuänsbSp¯ncn¡p¶p. eqknbpsS Poh³ A] IS¯nemWv. DSt\\ eqkn¡v càw sImSpt¯ ]äq.” At±lw ]dªp. 44

“F¶m Rm³ Fsâ kplr¯v Izn³sktbbpw eqknbpsS Iq«pImc³ BÀXtdbpw hnfn¡mw.” skÀhm³Uv ]dªp. At±lw DS³ Xs¶ Izn³sktbbpw BÀXtdbpw Iq«nsb¯n. \\mept]cpw eqkn¡v càw sImSp¯p. hm³sh³kn§v eqknbpsS apdn shfp¯pÅn¸q¡ fpw sh©cn¨ A¸hpw sIm−v Ae¦cn¨p. AtXmsS eqkn AÂ]w {]k¶hXnbmbn. AhÄ BÀXdpsS ssI]nSn¨p. “F\\ns¡´mWv kw`hn¨Xv BÀXÀ?” “\\n\\s¡m¶pw kw`hn¨n«nÃ.” BÀXÀ eqknsb Bizkn¸n¨p. hm³sh³kn§v ao\\sb hnfn¨p \\nÀ¯n clkyam bn ]dªp. “Hcn¡Â¡qSn eqkn B{Ian¡s¸«m ]ns¶sb\\n s¡m¶pw sN¿m\\mhnÃ.” H¼Xv. AhcpsS ]cn{ia§Ä \\njv^eambn. A¶pcm{Xnbn B `oIckXzw eqknsb PmeI 45

¯nte¡v BIÀjn¨phcp¯n ]nt¶bpw càw Duän¡pSn¨p. ]ntäZnhkw eqkn acn¨p. eqknbpsS arXtZlw ]Ånskant¯cnbn AS¡w sNbvXp. eqknbpsS acWw Gsd ]nSn¨p Ipep¡nbXv ao\\mapsdtbbpw BÀXtdbpambn cp¶p. BÀXÀ icn¡pw XfÀ¶pt]mbn. _pUms]Ìnse skâv. tPmk^v Bip]{Xn bn \\n¶v ao\\maptd¡v Hcp knÌÀ AKXbpsS I¯p e`n¨p. sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡sd¡pdn¨pÅ Xmbncp¶p B I¯v. “{]nbs¸« ao\\m, anÌÀ sPm\\mX³ tlmÀ¡ dpsS B{Kl{]ImcamWv Cu I¯b¡p¶Xv. Chn sS At±lw NnInÕbnemWv. t¢mk³_À¤n \\n¶pw sdbnÂthtÌj³ A[nImcnIfmWv ChnsS sb¯n¨Xv. ITn\\amb akvXnjvIPzchpw aäpap−v. \\¶mbn `b¶n«p−v. sN¶mbv¡Ä, t{]X§Ä, cà c£ÊpIÄ, ]nimNp¡Ä Fs¶ms¡ At_m[mh Øbn Aednbncp¶p. Ct¸mÄ tcmKw t`Zambn hcp¶p.” I¯p hmbn¨ ao\\ sPm\\mXs\\ ImWm³ XnSp¡ s¸«p. GXm\\pw Znhk§Ä¡Iw sPm\\mX³ e− \\nse¯n. eqknbpsS ZmcpWamb acWhmÀ¯ Xs¶bmbncp¶p sPm\\mX³ BZyw {ihn¨Xv. {Um¡pf{]`p e−³\\Kc¯n IS¶p Ignsª ¶pw AbmÄ Xs¶bmWv eqknbpsS Poh³ IhÀ ¶sX¶pw sPm\\mX³ a\\knem¡n. FÃm hnhc§ 46

fpw sPm\\mX³ tUm. hm³sl³kn§pambn ]¦p h¨p. c−p Znhkw Ignªv Hcp s{Sbn\\n h¨v tUm. hm³sl³kn§v skÀhm³Uns\\ Hcp ]{X hmÀ¯ ImWn¨psImSp¯p. lm_msÌkv F¶ Øe¯v Ip«nIsf X«ns¡m−pt]mIp¶Xmbpw Ahicmb \\nebn Is−¯nb Nne Ip«nIfpsS Igp¯n c−p]mSpIÄ D−mbncp¶Xmbpw BWv hmÀ¯. “eqknbpsS Igp¯n D−mbncp¶ kqNn¸mSpIÄ t]msebtà CXv…?” tUm. hm³sl³kn§v tNmZn¨p. Ccphcpw DS³Xs¶ AXnsemcp Ipªns\\ AUvanäv sNbvXncp¶ tlmkv]näense¯n kwib \\nhmcWw \\S¯n. B Ipªnsâ Igp¯n eqkn bpsS Igp¯n I−Xpt]mse c−p kqNn¸mSpIÄ D−mbncp¶p. Bip]{XnbnÂ\\n¶nd§nb tUm. hm³sl³kn§v skÀhm³Unt\\mSv ]dªp : “\\ap¡n¶v cm{Xn cl kyambn eqknbpsS IÃd s]mfn¡Ww.” “F´n\\v…?” “AXv hgnsb a\\knemIpw.” A¶p cm{Xnbn tUm. hm³sl³kn§pw skÀhm³Upw clkyambn ]Ånskant¯cnbn 47

se¯n. IÃd I−p]nSn¨v ihs¸«n Xpd¡m³ t\\m¡th AXnsâ aqSn Cf¡namänh¨ncn¡p¶Xv I−p. s]«n iq\\yambncp¶p. “ssZhta, eqknbpsS arXtZlw CXnenÃ. FhnsS t¸mbn AXv?” skÀhm³Uv BÝcyt¯msS tNmZn¨p. “Bcpw tamjvSn¨Xà XoÀ¨.” tUm. hm³sl³kn§v ]dªp. Acphcpw IÃd¡v shfnbn IS¶p. “skÀhm³Uv, \\n§Ä Cu hr£¯nsâ adhn \\n¡q. Nne ImgvNIÄ ImWm³ Ignbpw.. Rm\\n t¸mÄ hcmw.” tUm. hm³sl³kn§v skÀhm³Unt\\mSv \\nÀt± in¨n«v Ft§mt«m adªp. sshImsX skÀhm³Uv B ImgvN I−p. ac§Ä¡nSbneqsS Hcp shfp¯cq]w HgpIn \\o§p ¶p. AXv eqknbmbncp¶p. AhfpsS ssI¿n Ft´m D−mbncp¶p. tUm. hm³sl³kn§v Ah sf ]n´pScp¶p−v. skÀhm³Uv apt¶m«p IpXn¨p. tUm. hm³sl³ kn§v eqknbpsS ssI¿nencp¶Xv X«n¸dn¨p. AsXmcp Ipªmbncp¶p. eqkn DS³Xs¶ IÃdbn te¡v ]mªpt]mbn. 48

“Aev]w IqSn sshInbncps¶¦n Cu Ipªnsâ IY Igntªt\\.” tUm. hm³sl³kn§v ]dªp. Ccphcpw tNÀ¶ Ipªns\\ _oäv t]meokv ImW ¯¡hn[w tdmUn h¨p. ]ntä¶v cm{Xn eqknbpsS IÃd AhÀ ho−pw Xpd¶p. eqkn AXn\\pÅn¯s¶bp−m bncp¶p. arXicoc¯n\\v Hcp Ipg¸hpanÃ. AXv AgpIn¯pS§nbn«nà F¶pam{Xaà ]pXpPoh³ XpSn¡p¶Xpt]msebncp¶p. tUm. hm³sl³kn§v eqknbpsS A[c§Ä ]nfÀ¶pt\\m¡n. tIm¼ÃpIÄ c−pw hfÀ¶ncp¶p. “t\\m¡v. Cu IqÀ¯ tIm¼ÃpIÄ D]tbmKn¨v ChÄ càw IpSn¡p¶p. eqknbpw Hcp càc£ Êmbn amdnbncn¡p¶p.” tUm. hm³sl³kn§v ]dªp. “eqkn¡v \\sÃmcp acWm\\´ctam£w e`n¡ntà kÀ.” skÀhm³Uv tNmZn¨p. “XoÀ¨bmbpw \\ap¡Xv sN¿Ww. \\msf cm{XnbmI s«.” 49