_hp rdg¡r_ed `l¡gp„_u _pspg_u khpf¡ ÅNsp„h¢s lz„ dpfp lp¡W$ D`f Ap„NmuAp¡ a¡fhy„ Ry>„. lp¡W$_u L$fQguAp¡_p dpB¾$p¡õL$p¡r`L Mp„QpAp¡dp„ L$fp¡bu_u a¡rd_ur_V$u_p¡ õhpv$ k„spC_¡ b¡W$p¡ R>¡. lz„ Æc a¡fhu s¡ R>¡; s¡_u Mpsfu L$fy„ Ry>„.

dpfp Ofdp„ `p„Q`„v$f rN°qV„$ÁT L$pX¹®$T_u kp\¡ gp„by„ A¡L$ bp¡¼k k|s¡gy„ `X$éy„ R>¡. gpg A_¡ gugp TNdNsp rNãV$ f¡`fdp„ `¡L$, QdL$su qfb_\u bp„^¡gy„, lp\dp„ g¡sp„ `„Mu_p lpV®$ S>¡hy„ ^X$L$sy„ aug \pe s¡hy„ gpBh, `¡i_\u ^X$L$sp A¡L$ V$pe_u lpV®$hpmu rNãV$hpmy„. bp¡¼k. _hp rdg¡r_ed_u rNãV$, L$fp¡bu sfa\u, rNãV$ dpfp lp\dp„ d|L$sp„ s¡Z¡ L$üy„ R>¡ L¡$ Apdp„\u vy$r_ep Å¡S>¡ A_¡ d_¡ epv$ L$fS>¡.

ApV$gy„ bp¡gu, c¡V$_y„ bp¡¼k dpfp lp\dp„ Ap`u L$fp¡bu dpfp bpfZpdp„ Ecu fl¡ R>¡. d_¡ cpk \pe R>¡ L¡$ Ap¡fX$p_u v$uhpgp¡ L$fp¡bu_u b°pD_ L$uL$uAp¡ kp\¡ b„^pC NC R>¡; s¡_u L$uL$uAp¡_u kp\¡kp\¡ Ap Ap¡fX$p¡ Np¡m Np¡m af¡ R>¡, L$fp¡bu L„$CL$ L$l¡hp BÃR>¡ R>¡, L$l¡ R>¡ :
"dpf¡ L„$CL$ L$l¡hy„ R>¡.'

lz„ Äep„ Ecp¡ Ry>„ Ðep„ rkd¡ÞV$_u gpv$udp„ dpfp `N Mp¡X$pC Nep R>¡. lz„ lgu iL$sp¡ _\u. dpfp lp¡W$dp„ ågX$_„y k¼ey®g¡i_ AV$L$u Ney„ R>¡. dpfp dNS>dp„ X$p¡`pdpB_ R>gL$pC füy„ R>¡. lz„ _ipdp„ Q|f Ry>„, L$fp¡bu L¡$hm dpfu `pk¡ Ecu lp¡hp_p L¡$adp„ QL$Q|f Ry>„, A_¡ L$fp¡bu L$p„CL$ L$l¡hp dpN¡ R>¡.

"a_u, epl?' L$fp¡bu bp¡g¡ R>¡. A¡_¡ L$l¡hy„ R>¡ L¡$ Ap ÓZ hfkdp„ A¡L$ nZ `Z s¡_¡ dpfu `pk¡ bp¡ghp_p¡ np¡c \ep¡ _\u. A_¡ ApS>¡ bp¡gu iL$su _\u. L$l¡hy„, `Z L$l¡hp_y„ L$p„C _\u; õhf hX$¡ d_¡ AX$L$hy„ R>¡. A¡_p¡ hp¡Bk A¡_p dp¢dp„\u _uL$mu dpfp Bef X²$d_¡ õ`i£ A¡hy„ s¡_¡ L„$CL$ L$fhy„ R>¡. L$l¡hp_y„ L$ÞV¡$ÞV$ L$iy„ _\u.

Ap `l¡gp„ d¢ s¡_¡ L¡$ s¡Z¡ d_¡ L$v$u L$p¡C c¡V$ Ap`u _\u. L¡$d L¡$ L$fp¡bu dpfp rhõsf¡gp Æh__p¡ "kyN„^u A„i' R>¡ A_¡ lz„ L$fp¡bu_u "tS>v$Nu_y„ fpQfQugy„'; A¡ Adpfu ft_N Å¡L$ R>¡. lp¡lp¡lp¡. A_¡ A¡ L$pfZ¡ "Adpf¡ rNãV$_u ap¡dp®rgV$u_u Sê$f _\u.' L$fp¡bu dpfu rNãV$ R>¡. lz„ L$fp¡bu_p Mp¡bpdp„ `X¡$gp¡ Æhsu kp¡Npv$_p¡ L$V$L$p¡. ÓZ hfk\u L$fp¡bu dpfu "â¡rdL$p' lp¡hp_p¡ Arc_e L$f¡ R>¡. A¡ fds Ad¡ fdsp„ fdsp„ c|gu Nep„ R>uA¡ L¡$ fds R>¡. L$fp¡bu L„$C L$lu iL$su _\u.

L$fp¡bu AY$pf hj®\u dp¡V$u Jdf_u R>¡. kNuf dV$u_¡ A¡X$ëV$ b_u NC R>¡. NpX$u a¡fh¡ R>¡. v$pê$ `u iL¡$ R>¡; `p¡sp_p\u dp¡V$u Jdf_p B[ÞX$e_ `yfyj kp\¡ â¡ddp„ `X$u iL$¡ R>¡. L$fp¡bu_p Ql¡fp `f\u d_¡ cpk¡ R>¡ L¡$ L$fp¡bu lh¡ dpfu `pk¡\u `p¡sp_u c¡V$ g¡hp Ecu R>¡.

dpfp lp\dp„ lÆ s¡Z¡ Ap`¡gy„ bp¡¼k R>¡. lÆ s¡ bp¡¼k_p "lpV®$'_p¡ \X$L$pf dpfu Ap„NmuAp¡dp„ aug \pe R>¡. AQp_L$ L$fp¡bu dpfy„ dp\y„ `L$X$u_¡ dpfp lp¡W$ Q|d¡ R>¡.

lz„ lÆ Æhsp¡ Ecp¡ Ry>„.

"d_¡ S>¡ Nd¡ s¡ lz„ gC_¡ flz„ Ry>„,' L$fp¡bu Ap„Mp¡ hX¡$ d_¡ L$l¡ R>¡. "rNa¹V$_u kp\¡kp\¡ s¡_p¡ Ap`_pfp¡ `Z Å¡CA¡ R>¡.' AQp_L$ d_¡ cpk¡ R>¡ L¡$ õV$pfV²¡$L$_p õV$pfri`_u S>¡d L$fp¡bu Tyãa AhpS> kp\¡ ApL$pi h]^u_¡ õ`¡k_p„ L$p¡sfp¡dp„ Agp¡` \C S>i¡. L$fp¡bu L$l¡ R>¡, "lz„ L$pg¡ Aphui.'

^ud¡^ud¡ d_¡ ¿epg Aph¡ R>¡ L¡$ OZp kde\u Ap¡fX$pdp„ lz„ A¡L$gp¡ Ecp¡ Ry>„. L$fp¡buA¡ `l¡gu hpf d_¡ c¡V$ Ap`u R>¡; `l¡gu hpf d_¡ lp¡W$ D`f qL$k L$fu R>¡; L$pg¡ lz„ s¡_¡ L$iuL$ c¡V$ Ap`ui A_¡ qL$k L$fui. dpfp lp\`N Mp¡V$p `X$u Åe R>¡. ApL$pidp„ fps `X¡$ R>¡, dpfp dNS>dp„ Q¡s_p L$fhV$ bv$gu_¡ KOu Åe R>¡. A_¡ khpf `X¡$ R>¡ Ðepf¡ R>¡L$ khpf `X¡$ R>¡.

_hp rdg¡r_ed `l¡gp„_u _pspg_u khpf¡ ÅNsp„h¢s lz„ dpfp lp¡W$ D`f Ap„NmuAp¡ a¡fhy„ Ry>„. L$fp¡buA¡ Ap`¡gy„ bp¡¼k Mp¡gy„ Ry>„. A¡dp„ Ap v|$fbu_ R>¡. A_¡ Ap v|$fbu_dp„\u v|$f_p c|sL$pm_u L¡$ v|$f_p crhóeL$pm_u OV$_pAp¡ v¡$Mpe R>¡.

S>¡ qv$hk\u d¢ _hp¡ ãg¡V$ gu^p¡ R>¡ s¡ qv$hk\u L$fp¡bu d_¡ L$p_dp„ L$üp L$fsu lsu, spf¡ A¡L$ v|$fbu_ gC g¡hy„ Å¡CA¡. v|$fbu_; L¡$d L¡$ dpfp R>Óukdp ãgp¡f D`f_p _hp ãg¡V$_u hp¡g Vy$ hp¡g r`¼Qf rhÞX$p¡dp„\u d¡_l¡V$__u ApL$pif¡Mp v¡$Mpsu lsu. _v$udp„ v$uhX$p sfsp d|¼ep lp¡e s¡d lX$k_ _v$u_p ^yçdkdp„ S>k} rkV$u_p„ W$]NZp„ dL$p_p¡_u bÑuAp¡ lgbgsu, s¡_u `pR>m kqfepd fõspAp¡ D`f NpX$uAp¡_u gpBV$_p„ kp`p¡rgep„ Admpsp„, A_¡ s¡_u `pR>m hV$\u Ecsy„ rhfpV$ d¡_l¡V$_! sp¡tsN R>uZ¡gp Xy„$Nf S>¡hy„ ^pfv$pf, V$Ë$pf, rMgp¥_p_u bpÆ-iy„, _S>v$uL$-iy„ ApL$j®L$ A_¡ A¡hy„ lp\h¢sdp„ gpNsy„. L$fp¡bu_u L$f¡Zf„Nu Ap„Mp¡ A½$X$ Ec¡gp„ A¡ dL$p_p¡_¡ QpV$su QpV$su, Bdpfsp¡_u D`f gV$L$sp ApL$pi_¡ Mp¡sfsu fl¡su; s¡_u cçdfp¡ kpd¡ `pf_u L$fp¡X$p¡ bpfuAp¡_u Qp¡M„X$u bMp¡gp¡dp„\u L$p¡C L$pdpsyf elwv$u qX$hp¡k}_p r_kpkp TX$`hp AprNep_u S>¡d _pQsu sp¡ap_\u.

L$fp¡bu Äepf¡ Äepf¡ dpfp Of¡ Aphsu Ðepf¡ Ðepf¡ _hp¡Y$p â¡eku lp¡hp_p¡ Arc_e L$fu_¡ Ap„Mp¡ `V$`V$phsu, s¡_p Np¡ëX$qai S>¡hp gpg ÅX$p lp¡W$ dpfp L$p__u fyhp„V$u `pk¡ gphu Nfd DÃR>¹hpk a¢L$hp_p v¡$Mph kp\¡ L$l¡su L¡$, s_¡ gh L$fsp„ L$fsp„ spfu â¡rdL$p_¡ A¡ç`pef õV¡$V$ rb[ëX„$N_u gpg gpg ArZepmu _p¢L$ v$¡Mpi¡ Ðepf¡ A¡_y„ dp\y„ aV$L$u S>i¡. `R>u ÅZ¡ A¡ S> hps_y„ A_yk„^p_ lp¡e s¡d dpfy„ dp\y„ `L$X$u bpfu_u blpf_y„ ip„s Ec¡gy„ v|$f_y„ L$p¡C dL$p_ Q]^u_¡ L$l¡su L¡$ L$p¡C qX$hp¡k}, sh„Nf A_¡ L$pdpsyf `yV$p£ qfL$_ `¡BÞV$f spfu A¡ â¡rdL$p \i¡, S>¡ _v$u_u kpd¡ `pf\u s_¡ `yL$pfsu li¡, A_¡ s¡_¡ Å¡hp spf¡ lh¡ v|$fbu_ gC g¡hy„ Å¡Ci¡.

L$fp¡bu `pk¡ A¡L$ lÅf _¡ A¡L$ rhõdeL$pfu L$lp_uAp¡ lsu, A_¡ L$fp¡bu _p¡\® bN®__u rk¼õV$u_pBÞ\ õV²$uV$ D`f_p fuNg rk_¡dpàg¡¼kdp„ Qpgsu tlv$u qaëdp¡_u ip¥L$u_ lsu, S>¡_u lp\`p„h rh_p_u d|M® NX$bX$ L$\pAp¡ L$fp¡bu dgphu, iZNpfu, a¡gphu, awgphu, cp„Nu ccfphu_¡ Afbõsp__u ilf¡Tpv$_u R>V$p\u d_¡ L$l¡su S>¡ lz„ L©$so, õså^ Ap„Mp¡ hX¡$ kp„cmsp¡. L$fp¡bu dpfu kp\¡ tlv$urdrîs A„Nf¡Ædp„ bp¡gsu; s¡_u bp¡gudp„ A¼kf rNep_p_u NguAp¡_p„ suMp„ rhi¡jZp¡, b°yL$gu__u õg¡ÞN_p rhõap¡V$L$ k„bp¡^_p¡ A_¡ tlv$u qaëdp¡_u X$pegp¡Nu L©$rÓdsp Tp„L$su.

L$fp¡bu dpfp dL$p_dp„ kpd¡_u kpBX$ D`f fl¡su lsu, S>¡_u bpfuAp¡dp„\u k¡ÞV$ Å¡Þk v¡$hm_p Ny„bS> v¡$Mpsp. `p„Q NN_Qy„bu dL$p_p¡_u hÃQ¡_p¡ Qp¡L$, Qp¡L$_p ÓZ KQp azhpfp, azhpfp_u Qpf¡ sfa `pfv$i®L$ `pZu_p R>uR>fp lp¡S>, b_phV$u TfZp„, iZNpf_p ^p¡^ A_¡ gpL$X$p_p¡ `|g v¡$Mpsp„; lp¡S>_p `pZudp„ `pL¡$gu bv$pd_p f„N_u Np¡ëX$qai_u cNv$p¥X$ D`f S|>__p¡ sX$L$p¡ kp¡_p_p sX$sqX$ep bp¡gphsp¡. A¡ qv$ip_p A¡`pV®$d¡ÞV¹$k_u bpfuAp¡dp„\u S>k} rkV$u_u r_fnf ip„rs v¡$Mpsu; A_¡ dpfu sfa_p A¡`pV®$d¡ÞV$_u bpfuAp¡dp„\u v¡$Mpsp¡ d¡_l¡V$__p¡ B_rhrTbg L$p¡gplg; gõV$\u W$kp¡W$k cf¡gu gpg gpg _p¢L$hpmy„ A¡ç`pef õV¡$V$ rb[ëX„$N A_¡ `gL¡$ `gL¡$ `gV$sp ApL$pi_p f„Np¡dp„ Np¡ëX$qai_u S>¡d sfhfsp„ hpv$mp„...

L$fp¡bu_p r`sp ä¡ÞQ rNep_p_p d|m b„Npmu S>lpÆ lsp A_¡ dpsp b°yL$gu__u åg¡L$ eyhsu lsu. r`sp_p¡ hZ® íepd lsp¡ A_¡ dpsp_y„ bv$_ kyhZ®Qç`p S>¡hy„ frsrk¼s Nygpbu. L$fp¡bu_u ER>fsu v¡$lv$p„X$u awV$sp cp¡f S>¡hu f¡qX$eÞV$ lsu. s¡_u dpsp_u S>¡d S>, MdZ¡gp sp„bp_u qfb_ S>¡hp s¡_p TuZpTuZp N|„Qmp„hpmp OV$pv$pf hpm L$fp¡bu_p ApBk¾$ud-L$p¡_ S>¡hp g„bNp¡m dp\p D`f [ìlàX$ ¾$ud_u S>¡d dlpgsp. `l¡gu hpf L$fp¡buA¡ d_¡ A¡rgh¡V$f_p `p„S>fpdp„ Å¡ep¡ lsp¡. lz„ eylpDgdp„\u kpdp_ Dspfsp¡ lsp¡ A_¡ L$fp¡buA¡ `Z L$p„C `|R¹>ep L¡$ L$üp rh_p dpfp kpdp__p b¼kp D`pX$u dpfp ãg¡V$dp„ dyL$phhp dp„X$ép lsp. A_¡ buÅ qv$hk¡ Ap`p¡Ap` dpfp Ofdp„ Aphu_¡ b¼kp Mp¡gu_¡ fkp¡X$p_p¡ kpdp_ fkp¡X$pdp„, b¡X$ê$d_p¡ kpdp_ b¡X$ê$ddp„, A¡d Np¡W$hhp dp„X$u lsu.

"spfu Ng®ä¡ÞX$ _\u?'

"_\u.'

"kfk!' L$fp¡bu fkp¡X$p_p L$pDÞV$f D`f b¡ku_¡ `N Tygphhp gpNu lsu. "lz„ spfu Ng®ä¡ÞX$, Ap¡L¡$?' lz„ L$fp¡bu_p k¡L$ÞX¡$ k¡L$ÞX¡$ E`ksp S>sp ê$`_¡ Å¡C fl¡gp¡.

L$fp¡buA¡ kpdp_ Np¡W$hu Ap`¡gp¡; Of kpa L$fu Ap`¡gy„. r`¼Qf rhÞX$p¡_u bpfu rhÞX¡$¼k\u QL$QL$su b_phu Ap`¡gu. `R>u bpfu_u kp„L$X$u `pm_¡ `¡f¡gg ApX$p b¡ku_¡ A¡L$ `N bpfu_u `pm D`f gp„bp¡ L$fu buÅ¡ `N S>du_ D`f Tygphhp gpN¡gu.

^yçdk lp¡e Ðepf¡ kpd¡ `pf_y„ il¡f dpep_u _Nfu_u S>¡d bpfudp„\u Agp¡` \C S>sy„. sX$L$p¡ lp¡e Ðepf¡ afu Ahsfsy„. X²$d fp¡g kp\¡ Å„O¡ \p`p dpfsy„ A_¡ kp„S>¡, b`p¡f¡, `fp¡Y¡$, d^fps _hp_hp h¡i`gV$p L$fu âh¡i L$fsy„.

"Al]\u lz„ A¡L$ B_rhrTbg rQÌ$udp„ spfy„ _pd gMu s¡ rQÌ$u A¡L$ B_rhrTbg L$b|sf_p Nm¡ bp„^u_¡, s¡ L$b|sf_¡ kpd¡ `pf DX$pXy„$ Ry>„. L$b|sf EX¡$ R>¡, EX¡$ R>¡, lX$k_ _v$u_p `V$ D`f\u `kpf \pe R>¡. s¡_y„ qfãg¡¼i_ `pZudp„ X|$bL$u dpf¡ R>¡, L$b|sf _v$udp„ `p¡sp_y„ dp¢ Sy>A¡ R>¡, A_¡ Å¡sp„h¢s s¡ `pf¡hpdp„\u l„k b_u Åe R>¡. A_¡ l„k EX¡$ R>¡, EX¡$ R>¡, EX$sp¡ EX$sp¡ S>C b¡k¡ R>¡, hygh\® V$phf_u V$p¡Q D`f. V$phf_p gpBV$t_N fp¡X$_p krmep_¡ s¡_p `N AX$L$sp„h¢s! l¡e! l„kdp„\u s¡ h¡^fL$p¡L$ b_u Åe R>¡. h¡^fL$p¡L$ `h__u qv$ipdp„ QL$mhL$m af¡ R>¡, af¡ R>¡, afsp„ afsp„ s¡ KQ¡ EX$hp dp„X¡$ R>¡, `©Õhu\u 115 dpCg KQ¡ d„X$fpe R>¡, d„X$fpsp„ d„X$fpsp„ L|$L$X$pdp„\u! dpe dpe! s¡ õ`pe-k¡V¡$gpBV$ b_u Åe R>¡. õ`pe-k¡V¡$gpBV$ s¡_p `phfazg rhqX$ep¡ L$¡d¡fpT d¡_l¡V$__u Bdpfsp¡ D`f s¥_ps L$f¡ R>¡. k¡hÞV$u_ A¡ÞX$ b°p¡X$h¡_p _y½$X$ D`f_u b„^ `X¡$gu õh¡V$ip¡`_p rb[ëX„N_p gp¡ãV$dp„\u b_ph¡gp L$p¡ÞX$p¡rdr_ed_u Ágpk kutgNdp„\u A¡L$ qX$hp¡k}, L$pdyL$, sh„Nf b°prTrge_ `¡BÞV$f s¡_¡ N°pÞX$ ApÞV$ sfa\u hpfkpdp„ dm¡gp Apv$dL$v$ rdffdp„ `p¡sp_p qfãg¡¼i__¡ Qy„b_ L$f¡ R>¡. s¡_u kp\¡ S> k¡V¡$gpBV$_p Nmpdp„\u spfy„ _pd gM¡gu dpfu rQÌ$u R|>V$u `X¡$ R>¡, lhpdp„ Np¡m Np¡m `¡fpbp¡gp L$p¡sfsu, s¡ âZe`rÓL$p bpfudp„\u k„spsu k„spsu L$pdyL$ qX$hp¡k}_p dpv$L$ Ap¡fX$pdp„ âh¡iu lW$ps¹ s¡_p lp\dp„ S>C `X¡$ R>¡. `¡BÞV$f bpfudp„\u _v$u_u Dk `pf rkX$[¼V$h _S>f _pMu_¡ s¡_¡ ip¡^¡ R>¡. `p¡sp_p b„v|$L$ S>¡hp gp„bp v|$fbu_dp„\u spfu bpfu_¡ spL¡$ R>¡. Å¡ Å¡! spfu \_pfu â¡rdL$p lp\ lgphu_¡ s_¡ Apd„Ó¡ R>¡. ìlp¡V$ ^ a½$! spf¡ A¡L$ v|$fbu_ gC g¡hy„ Å¡CA¡.

L$fp¡bu_u Dd„Ncfu klpe bv$g Apcpf dp_hp lz„ `ump Nygpb_p Nygv$õsp gC_¡ s¡_p Of¡ Nep¡ Ðepf¡ s¡_u dpA¡ kpv$ `pX$u_¡ `p¡sp_p b„Npgu lkbÞX$ rdõV$f lpgv$pf_¡ dpfu Ap¡mMpZ Ap`sp„ L$l¡gy„ L¡$ "Ap rdõV$f fp¡bu dl¡sp; kpd¡_u kpBX$_p ãg¡V$dp„ fl¡hp Aph¡gp L$fp¡bu_p B[ÞX$e_ ä¡ÞX$; Ap`Z_¡ dmhp Apìep R>¡.' rdõV$f lpgv$pf¡ Ap„Mp¡ ApX¡$ lp\ fpMu_¡ [õ\f `p„`Zp¡\u d_¡ Å¡ep¡; b¡kpX$u õL$p¡Q_p¡ Ágpk Apàep¡; `p¡sp_p¡ D`pX¡$gp¡ Ágpk A^hÃQ¡ [õ\f fpMu d_¡ kdÅìey„ L¡$, "L$fp¡bu Adpfu gpX¡$ bNpX¡$gu Q„Qm R>p¡L$fu R>¡.' rdõV$f lpgv$pf¡ d_¡ c]s D`f V$p„N¡gp Ård_u fp¡e_p„ `¡B[ÞV„$ÁT A_¡ Ofdp„ W¡$fW¡$f d|L¡$gp„ fpdqL„$L$f_p„ rië` bspìep„. L$fp¡bu_u dpsp L¡$\u lpgv$pf lp\dp„ f¡X$ hpB__p¡ Ágpk D`pX$u Adpfu hpsp¡dp„ Å¡X$php Apìep„. s¡ b¡L$g¡k ågpDT A_¡ dp¡su_u dpmp\u kp¡lpdZp„ gpNsp„ lsp„. A¡ hpf„hpf d_¡ ^pfu ^pfu_¡ Å¡sp„ lsp„. rdõV$f lpgv$pf¡ Ágpkhpmp¡ lp\ lh¡ dpfp Mc¡ d|L¡$gp¡; c]s D`f_p¡ A¡L$ ap¡V$p¡ bsphsp„ s¡ d_¡ L$l¡sp lsp, "Ap Å¡ep fp¡buÞÖ_p\—? A_¡ Ap bp¡ V$pB `l¡f¡gp dpfp ap^f.'

"Ap¡lp¡!' d¢ ap¡V$p¡ sfa Ap„Nmu Q]^u.

"L$fp¡bu_y„ _pd fp¡buÞÖ_p\_u _p¡h¡g D`f\u gu^y„ R>¡, fp¡¼sp¡ L$fp¡bu.'

L¡$\u lpgv$pf dpfu `pk¡ Aphu d_¡ `|R>hp gpÁep„,
"sd¡ cpX¡$\u gu^p¡ L¡$ bpe L$fu gu^p¡, sdpfp¡ L$p¡ÞX$p¡?'

rdõV$f lpgv$pf¡ Ap„M rdQL$pfu. "hud¡_! A¡_¡ b^y„ ÅZhy„ lp¡e. A¡dpB fpBV$?' A¡d_p Ágpkdp„\u bfa_p Qp¡kgp MZ¼ep. "L$fp¡bu blz S> Bd¡rS>_¡qV$h R>p¡L$fu R>¡, sd¡ Å¡ey„ li¡ L¡$ k¡[ÞkqV$h R>¡, rhÛys S>¡hu s¡S>õhu R>¡. A¡_¡ S>¡_u D`f ¾$i \pe s¡_u D`pk_p L$fhp dp„X¡$ R>¡. A¡_¡ X$f _\u gpNsp¡ lV®$ \hp_p¡; `p¡sp_p¡ `Z X$f _\u gpNsp¡, `¡f¡ÞV¹$k_p¡, L$p¡C_p¡.' rdõV$f lpgv$pf_p Ágpk_u _uQ¡\u `pZu_y„ V$u`y„ Ly$sp® D`f `X$éy„. rdõV$f lpgv$pf¡ Ðep„ A„N|W$p¡ Oku Å¡ep¡. `R>u _¡`qL$_\u Ágpk_y„ srmey„ g|R>u gu^y„. "s¡_¡ B[ÞX$e_ qaëdp¡ Å¡hp_p¡ `pNg ip¡M R>¡. sdpfp S>¡hp¡ L$p¡C l¡ÞX$kd B[ÞX$e_ `yfyj Sy>A¡ sp¡ s¡_p D`f s¡_¡ "¾$i' \pe R>¡.'

\p¡X$u hpf Ad¡ b„_¡ L$fp¡bu rhi¡ rhQpfdp„ `X$u S>CA¡ R>uA¡—. "sd_¡ â¡d L$fi¡; sd_¡ cNhp_ b_phu_¡ sdpfu `|Å L$fi¡ A_¡ sdpfp Nm¡ gNpd bp„^u_¡ sdpfp D`f ipk_ L$fi¡.'

afu Ad¡ b„_¡ fpdqL„$L$f_p rië` `pk¡ Ecp„ Ecp„ â¡d_u A_fuT_¡bg_¡k_p¡ rhQpf L$fuA¡ R>uA¡. rdõV$f lpgv$pf L$l¡ R>¡, "v$f¡L$ hps_p¡ Br_rie¡qV$h L$fp¡bu g¡i¡; sd_¡ â¡d L$fhp_p¡ A_¡...' cÖgp¡L$ hp¼e `|fy„ L$fsp _\u, `Z s¡ L$l¡hp dpN¡ R>¡ L¡$ sd_¡ â¡d L$fhp_u A_¡ sd_¡ R>p„X$hp_u `l¡g L$fp¡bu L$fi¡. "A¡_¡ ¿epg _\u fl¡sp¡ L¡$ kpdu ìe[¼s_¡ iy„ \sy„ li¡.' lz„ L$iy„ bp¡gsp¡ _\u. rdõV$f lpgv$pf àepgu afu cf¡ R>¡. lz„ àepgu KQu L$fu s¡d_¡ k|Qhy„ Ry>„ L¡$ L$fp¡bu_p¡ v$f¡L$ Br_rie¡qV$h d_¡ L$b|g R>¡.

lz„ L$pd L$fsp¡ lp¡J sp¡ `Z L$fp¡bu fp¡S> dpfp Ofdp„ Aphsu, L$p¡shpg_u S>¡d dpfp Of_u v$f¡L$ v$uhpg A_¡ v$f¡L$ M|Z¡ `p¡sp_p¡ Ar^L$pf Ål¡f L$fsu, kss A_hfs s¡_u hpsp¡_p¡ sp„sp¡ Qpgsp¡.Av¹$cys dpZkp¡_u, X²$NX$ugfp¡_u, ip¡`L$u`fp¡_u, V²$L$ Qgphsu bpCAp¡_u, õV²$uV$ N¡ÞN¹T_u, Ly„$hpfu dpspAp¡_u, ^_pY$é h¡`pfuAp¡_u A_¡ gX$peL$ _pf„NuhpmpAp¡_u... hpsp¡ d_¡ L$fsu fl¡su.A_¡ L$\p_¡ L$p¡qfep¡N°pa L$fsu, A¡_p bv$__p¡ v¡$Mph, s¡_y„ sfg lg_Qg_, lp\ hX¡$ k|Qhpsp cph, Nmp_p õhf_p¡ L„$`, iåv$Qe_ dpfp dNS>_u bMp¡gp¡dp„ DÑ¡S>L$ fkpeZp¡_„y DÐ`pv$_ L$fsy„ A_¡ dpfp Nmpdp„\u kyM_p kZL$p _uL$msp. Aphsu Ðepf¡ L$ped L$fp¡bu hpkZ ^p¡C Ap`su, V$uhu_u õ¾$u_ kpa L$fu Ap`su, qäS>dp„\u _L$pdu b_¡gu QuÅ¡ a¢L$u Ap`su. lz„ _p `pX$sp¡, sp¡ L$fp¡bu vy$cpep_p¡ Arc_e L$fu_¡ L$l¡su L¡$ lz„ spfu Ng®ä¡ÞX$ Ry>„ sp¡ `R>u? L$fp¡bu dpfp¡ lp\ `L$X$u L$l¡su, "Å¡ spfy„ _pd fp¡bu R>¡, dpfy„ L$fp¡bu. lz„ S>Þdu Ðepf\u sy„ dpfu kp\¡ R>¡.'

s¡ Aph¡ s¡ `l¡gp„ s¡_p ÆÞk_p Okphp_p¡ AhpS> Aphsp¡, `R>u s¡_p bv$__u kyN„^ Ap¡fX$pdp„ âh¡isu A_¡ A¡d L$fp¡bu dpfp Ofdp„ Aphsu. dpfu `uW$ `f ^åbp¡ dpfsu; L$p_dp„ azkazkplV$ L$fsu. dpfp L$p__u fyhp„V$udp„ õV¡$qV$L$ Bg¡[¼V²$rkV$u `¡v$p \su. s¡_p Nep `R>u lz„ OZp kde ky^u Q„Qm fl¡sp¡. L$fp¡bu_u N¡flpS>fudp„ dpfu bpfudp„\u spL$sp¡ fl¡sp¡ `¡gu qa¼i_g "L$pdyL$ qX$hp¡k}'_¡, S>¡ dpfu s\pL$r\s â¡rdL$p b_hp_u lsu s¡_¡. A_¡L$ hpf dpfp L$p__¡ c°dZp \su L¡$ L$fp¡bu_p¡ íhpk d_¡ A\X$pe R>¡, L$fp¡bu L$l¡ R>¡, "lh¡ spf¡ v|$fbu_ gC g¡hy„ Å¡CA¡.'

Ap¡NZukkp¡ _hpÏ„_u _pspg_u khpf¡ dpfp lp¡W$ D`f L$fp¡bu_u Æc_u qa„NfrâÞV$ R>¡. A¡L$ fps_p¡ Ap\p¡ Apìep\u s¡_u a¡rd_ur_V$u_p õ`pBkuk dpfp lp¡W$_p dp„kdp„ rd¼k \ep R>¡; lp¡W$_u dpB¾$p¡õL$p¡r`L$ _h®T \L$u, dpfp b°¡B_dp„ âh¡iu fp¡ gõV$ lZlZ¡ R>¡. Nm¡ â¡d`rÓL$p bp„^u_¡ dpfy„ d_ L$ë`_pdp„ EX¡$ R>¡. EX$sp„ EX$sp„ L$fp¡bu_p Mp¡mpdp„ S>C `X¡$ R>¡. A¡_y„ õL$V®$ k|„O¡ R>¡.

"fp¡bubpby, sy„ spfp dNS>_u Mp¡`fudp„ hk¡ R>¡.' L$fp¡buA¡ d_¡ hpf„hpf L$üy„ R>¡ L¡$ lz„ a¡ÞV$¡kudp„ Æhy„ Ry>„, A_¡ a¡ÞV¡$kudp„ bv$__p, dv$__p âdp¡v$p¡ cp¡Nhy„ Ry>„... A_¡ dpfp d_dp„ L$fp¡bu_¡ k„cpfÏ„ Ap`hp_y„ R>¡, s¡_u Q„Qmsp R>¡. dpfp d_dp„, dpfp lp\dp„, dpfp bV$¼kdp„, dpBÞX$ ey!

lz„ L$fp¡buA¡ d_¡ Ap`¡gy„ rNãV$ bp¡¼k Mp¡gy„ Ry>„. rNãV$bp¡¼kdp„ A¡L$ A¡[ÞV$L$ v|$fbu_ R>¡. v|$fbu_ lp\dp„ gC_¡ lz„ s`pku Å¡J Ry>„. s¡_u b¡ c|„NmuAp¡ b¡ lp\dp„ `L$X$u_¡ bpfu_u blpf _S>f L$fy„ Ry>„. fp¡S> _p_p„, v|$f v¡$Mpsp„ d¡_l¡V$__p„ dL$p_p¡, dL$p_p¡_u bpfuAp¡, fõsp, NpX$uAp¡, dpZkp¡ v|$fbu_dp„\u A¡L$v$d ÅZ¡ R>psuA¡ cV$L$pe R>¡. L$p¡C b„^ `X¡$gu õh¡V$ip¡`_p gp¡ãV$_u bpfudp„ L$ë`¡gu, L$pdyL$, sh„Nf Å`p_uk qX$hp¡k} d_¡ v¡Mpe R>¡. lz„ s¡_u L$pë`r_L$ bpfu sfa lp\ a¡gphy„ Ry>„. s¡ d_¡ L$l¡ R>¡, "lz„ crhóe Ry>„...'

lz„ "crhóe'_¡ spL$u flz„ Ry>„.

L$lz„ Ry>„, "lz„ L$fp¡bu_¡ ip¡^y„ Ry>„, L$fp¡bu dpfu Ng®ä¡ÞX$ R>¡.'

L$pdyL$ Å`p_uk qX$hp¡k} `p¡sp_p õguhg¡k lp\ g„bphu gV$L$p„ dV$L$p„ L$fsu d_¡ kdÅh¡ R>¡. dpfy„ Ýep_ `fp¡hpC Åe R>¡ s¡_p g„bph¡gp lp\ D`f. s¡_p„ Ap„Nmp, _M, _¡Bg `p¡qgi, rlà_p¡qV$L$ R>¡. dpfu L$uL$uAp¡ s¡_p lp\_u A¡L$ gugu _k D`f gkfsu gkfsu s¡_u L$p¡Zu_p MpX$pdp„ Apmp¡V¡$ R>¡. gugu _k_p ^p¡fu fõs¡ W¡$L$su W¡$L$su c|kL$p¡ dpf¡ R>¡ s¡_p bplzd|m_p fp¡d_p„ O_Op¡f frsh_dp„.

"Ap v|$fbu_dp„\u s_¡ iy„ v¡$Mpe R>¡, Mbf R>¡?'

S>¡_u lõsu _\u s¡hu L$pdyL$ Cfp_u qX$hp¡k}_p âõh¡v$_u, A¡_p ðpk_u, dp¢_u Ap¡N£r_L$ hpk d_¡ O¡fu hm¡ R>¡. s¡_p `pfv$i®L$ ifuf_¡ DØ¡iu_¡ dpfu Ap„Mp¡ NpÏ„ Npe R>¡.

"Ap v|$fbu_ R>¡; A¡dp„\u v|$f_u hõsy v¡$Mpe R>¡.'

"A¡dp„\u qX$õV$Þk_u v|$fu_u kp\¡kp\¡, V$pBd_u v|$fu `Z v¡$Mpe R>¡.'

lz„ kp„cmy„ Ry>„.

"Ap v|$fbu__u A¡L$ b¡fgdp„\u c|sL$pm v¡$Mpe R>¡, A_¡ buÆdp„\u crhóeL$pm.'

_v$u_u kpd¡ `pf_p dL$p__u bpfudp„\u dpfu L$pë`r_L$ A¡d¡Tp¡r_e_ â¡rdL$p lp\ lgphu d_¡ kdÅh¡ R>¡.

"A¡dp„ c|s A_¡ crhóe A¡ b„_¡ rd¼k \pe R>¡, A_¡ hs®dp_L$pm b_u Åe R>¡.'

"A¡d?' lz„ `|Ry>„ Ry>„.

"`Z b„_¡ b¡fg_p `phf R>¡. c|sL$pm_u b¡fg_p¡ `phf h^pfp¡ sp¡ c|sL$pm v¡$Mpe... A_¡-'

lz„ v|$fbu_ V$pBd_u v|$fu D`f ap¡L$k L$fy„y> Ry>„.

L$fp¡bu c|sL$pmdp„ _\u. L$fp¡bu crhóeL$pmdp„ _\u. L$fp¡buA¡ dpfp v|$fbu__u ApX¡$ lp\ v$pbu v$u^p¡ R¡. lz„ L$fp¡bu_¡ Å¡hp Qplz„ Ry>„. NC L$pg¡ L$fp¡buA¡ L$üy„ R>¡, lz„ rNãV$ g¡hp Aphui.

lz„ c|sL$pm_u b¡fgdp„\u NC L$pg_¡ qfàg¡ L$fy„ Ry>„. d|hu_u S>¡d L$fp¡bu_p lp¡W$ dpfp lp¡W$_¡ AX$L¡$ R>¡. A_¡ rQÓ Ðep„ [õ\f \C Åe R>¡.

dpfp L$p_dp„ L$fp¡bu L$l¡ R>¡, "bk! Ap ä¡d_¡ Al] äuT L$fu v$CA¡.'

Ap g¡M Ap`_¡ L¡$hp¡ gpÁep¡?