X$p¡. dyLy$g Qp¡L$ku

X$p¡¼V$f_¡ dmu_¡ Apìep bpv$ k„op kl¡S> lmhu \C. s¡_¡ _hpC A¡ hps_u lsu L¡$ s¡_p cprh `rs kd\® rkhpe `Z vy$r_epdp„ OZp b^p_¡ Aphy„ \sy„ lsy„. Cjp®, i„L$p A_¡ hl¡d S>¡Z¡ R>¡ëgp R> drl_p\u k„op-kd\®_y„ Æhhy„ vy$óL$f b_phu v$u^y„ lsy„. lSy> sp¡ s¡Ap¡_p rhhpl_¡ A¡L$ hj® dp„X$ `|fy„ \ey„ lsy„ A_¡ gÁ_ \hp_p„ bpL$u lsp„. Å¡ AÐepf\u S> kd\® ApV$gp¡ Cjp®my A_¡ hl¡dugp¡ lp¡e sp¡ ApMy„ Æh_ L¡$hy„ Åe? Ap âï_ k„op_¡ R>¡ëgp R> drl_p\u `uX$sp¡ lsp¡. A_¡ A¡V$gp dpV¡$ S> s¡ ApS>¡ X$p¡¼V$f âkpv$_¡ dmhp Aphu lsu. AgbÑ, s¡ kd\®_p i„L$piug hs®__¡ L$pfZ¡ `p¡sp_¡ \sp„ vy$:M, Ar_Öp_p¡ BgpS> `|R>hp Aphu lsu. `f„sy X$p¡¼V$f¡ Äepf¡ L$üy„ L¡$ kd\®_u `Z kpfhpf \C iL$i¡ Ðepf¡ s¡Z¡ NS>b_y„ kyM A_ycìey„.

sp¡ hps Apd lsu. A¡L$d¡L$_p â¡ddp„ `X$u_¡ k„op-kd\£ Ne¡ hj£ rhhpl L$ep® lsp. `l¡gp R> drl_p b^y„ bfpbf Qpëey„. `Z Ðepf bpv$ AQp_L$ kd\®_p¡ õhcph bv$gphp dp„X$ép¡. s¡ OZu hpf fpÓ¡ k„op_¡ Of¡ ap¡_ L$fu_¡ `|R>sp¡, ""lSy> _\u Aphu? L$p¡_¡ dmhp NC R>¡?'' sp¡ buS>¡ qv$hk¡ k„op_u `pR>m `pR>m k„spsp¡ k„spsp¡ s¡_u Ap¡qak ky^u Å¡hp S>sp¡ L¡$ k„op L$p¡_u kp\¡ af¡ R>¡, L$p¡_u kp\¡ lm¡dm¡ R>¡! A¡V$gy„ S> _l], ApW$ qv$hk `R>u s¡Ap¡ `l¡gu hpf dmsp„ lp¡e Ðepf¡, ""lh¡ srbes kpfu R>¡_¡?'' A¡hy„ `|R>hp_¡ bv$g¡ kd\® k„op_p h÷ D`f `X¡$gu L$fQguAp¡ Å¡C d_dp„ L$ip¡L$ AZR>pS>sp¡ spmp¡ d¡mhhpdp„ ìeõs fl¡sp¡.

^ud¡ ^ud¡ kd\®_p hl¡dp¡ s\p A¡_¡ L$pfZ¡ \sp TOX$p A¡V$gp h^u Nep L¡$ k„opA¡ A¡L$ hpf sp¡ Aph¡idp„ Aphu S>C kd\® kp\¡ bp¡ghp_y„ b„^ L$fu v$u^y„. `p¡sp_p QpqfÔe A„N¡ \su i„L$pAp¡ k„op\u g¡idpÓ kl_ _lp¡su \C iL$su.

R>¡hV¡$ lpfu-\pL$u_¡ s¡Z¡ dçdu kdn `p¡sp_u d_p¡ìe\p W$pghu : ""dpfp„ kd\® kp\¡ gÁ_ _l] \C iL$i¡ dçdu! lz„ s¡_¡ ApV$ApV$gp¡ â¡d Ap`y„ Ry>„ R>sp„ s¡ d_¡ QpqfÔelu_ kdS>¡ R>¡. kd\®_¡ Ap iy„ \C Ney„ R>¡?'' `f„sy dçduA¡ k„op_¡ Dsphm¡ r_Z®e _ g¡hp kdÅhu, ""lSy> sdpfp gÁ__¡ A¡L$ hj®_u hpf R>¡ k„op! sd¡ b„_¡ A¡L$buÅ_¡ `yóL$m Qplp¡ R>p¡ A¡ lz„ ÅÏ„ Ry>„. sp¡ `R>u R|>V$p `X$hp_u hps L¡$d L$f¡ R>¡? A¡_p L$fsp„ L$p¡CL$_u kgpl g¡! kd\®_p dp¡V$p cpC_¡ dmu Å¡! X$p¡¼V$f A„L$g_¡ `|R>u Å¡! kd\® kpfp¡ R>p¡L$fp¡ R>¡. sy„ Dsphmdp„ L$p¡C `Ngy„ _ cfu b¡ksu.''

A_¡ AL$mpe¡gu-d|„Tpe¡gu k„op X$p¡¼V$f A„L$g_u kgpl dyS>b kpBL$p¡\¡fr`õV$_¡ dmu Aphu. Qpf qv$hk `R>u s¡ Äepf¡ afu hpf \¡fr`õV$_¡ dmhp NC Ðepf¡ s¡_u kp\¡ kd\® `Z lsp¡.

k„opA¡ kd\®_¡ kpfhpf g¡hp dpV¡$ s¥epf L$ep£ lsp¡. A_¡ kd\® sfs S> s¥epf \ep¡ `Z lsp¡. L¡$d L¡$ `p¡sp_p bv$gpe¡gp, rhrQÓ \C Ne¡gp õhcph_u s¡_¡ `p¡sp_¡ `Z ÅZ lsu S>. s¡ `p¡s¡ d_p¡d_ kdS>sp¡ S> lsp¡ L¡$ k„op ku^u, kfm, â¡dpm A_¡ QpqfÔeiug R>p¡L$fu R>¡. s¡d R>sp„ L$p¡Z ÅZ¡ L¡$d L$ip„L$ ANçe L$pfZp¡kf kd\®_¡ hpf„hpf k„op "`p¡sp_u _\u flu' A_¡ "buÅ_u \C NC R>¡' A¡hu v$l¡is \su lsu A_¡ A¡V$g¡ S> fp¡S>bfp¡S>_u h¡v$_pAp¡, `uX$pAp¡ s\p bp¡gpQpguAp¡dp„\u R|>V$hp kd\® `Z \¡fr`õV$_¡ dmhp s¥epf \C Nep¡.

\¡fr`õV$ kp\¡_u s¡d_u dygpL$ps Mpõku ApipAp¡ S>NpX$_pfu _uhX$u. k„op-kd\® b„_¡A¡ \¡fr`õV$ kp\¡ dy¼s d_¡ s¡d_u dyíL¡$guAp¡_u QQp® L$fu. L$v$pQ `l¡gu hpf. _p_u _p_u hpsp¡ dp¡V$p A„sfpep¡ Ecp L$f_pf. AX$^u lmhpi sp¡ s¡dZ¡ hpsp¡ L$fhp_¡ gu^¡ S> A_ychu. s¡dZ¡ dp¡L$m¡ d_¡ b^y„ S> L$üy„. A¡L$p„sdp„ EdV$u Aphsp„ X|$kL$p„, d_dp„ âÄhmsp¡ Cjp®_p¡ A[Á_, ùv$edp„ EW$sp T|fp`p_p `X$Op, b^y„ S>. A¡L$d¡L$_u _ Ndsu hpsp¡ `Z ApV$gp d¥Óu`|Z®, kyd¡mcep® hpsphfZdp„ \C iL$su lp¡e R>¡ s¡ Al¡kpk s¡d_¡ `l¡gu hpf \ep¡. A_¡ s¡\u S> buÆ dygpL$ps_p A„s¡ \¡fr`õV¡$ k|Qh¡gu rhrQÓ S>Zpsu kpfhpf g¡hpe b„_¡ s¥epf \C Nep„.

Æ, lp. rhrQÓ gpNsu kpfhpf. k„op-kd\£ ¼epf¡e Aphy„ Å¡ey„, ÅÎey„, hp„Ãey„ L¡$ kp„cþey„ _lp¡sy„. s¡d_¡ A¡d lsy„ L¡$ \¡fr`õV$ b„_¡_¡ gX$pC _ L$fhp kdÅhi¡, kgplp¡ Ap`i¡, â¡d_y„ dplpÐçe kdÅhi¡ A_¡ S>hpbv$pfu`|h®L$ hs®hp_y„ k|Q_ L$fi¡. h^pfpdp„ KOhp dpV¡$_u v$hpAp¡ Ap`i¡ A_¡ blzblz sp¡ L$l¡i¡, ""S>gv$u\u gÁ_ L$fu gp¡ A¡V$g¡ b^u sL$guap¡ dV$u S>i¡.'' `f„sy \¡fr`õV¡$ Apdp„_y„ L$iy„ S> L$üy„ L¡$ L$ey¯ _l].

A¡ S> sp¡ dyØp¡ R>¡. \¡fr`õV¡$ s¡d_¡ afu hpf bp¡gpìep„ Ðepf¡ hs®Z|L$ A„N¡_p¡ A¡L$ gp„bp¡ dykØp¡ s¥epf L$ep£ lsp¡, S>¡ dyS>b b„_¡ S>Z¡ hs®hp_y„ lsy„. \¡fr`õV¡$ k„op-kd\® b„_¡ kp\¡ `l¡gp„ A¡L$gp A_¡ Ðepf bpv$ kp\¡ dmu_¡ Ap hps L$fu.

\¡fr`õV¡$ s¥epf L$f¡gp dyØp âdpZ¡ hs®hp_y„ kd\® dpV¡$ \p¡Xy„$ AOfy„ S>Zpsy„ lsy„, ""Sy>Ap¡ rd. kd\®! sdpf¡ ApS>\u S> Ap_y„ `pg_ L$fhp_y„ R>¡. k„op_p„ QpqfÔe, hapv$pfu A„N¡ Nd¡ s¡hp rhQpfp¡ Aph¡ sdpf¡ A¡ k„op_¡ S>Zphhp_p _\u. V²$pe Vy$ L„$V²$p¡g ep¡fk¡ëa. rhQpfp¡ cg¡ Aphsp. A¡ âNV$ _ \hp Å¡CA¡. A¡_¡ Ap^pf¡ \su sdpd hs®Z|L$p¡ `Z b„^. A¡V$g¡ L¡$ k„op_y„ `k® Q¡L$ L$fhy„, gp„bu âï_p¡ÑfuAp¡ L$fhu, `pR>m `pR>m S>hy„ hN¡f¡. b^y„ S> b„^ L$fhp_y„ kdÄep? A_¡ lp! gX$pC sp¡ _\u S> L$fhp_u, Ap¡L¡$?'' \¡fr`õV¡$ `|R¹>ey„ A_¡ kd\£ `p¡sp_u s¥epfu âv$ri®s L$fu.

Ap dykØp_p buÅ cpNdp„ k„opA¡ L$C fus¡ hs®hp_y„ lsy„ s¡_u hps lsu, s¡ kp„cmu_¡ k„op_¡ `mcf sp¡ Apòe® \ey„. s¡_¡ ApMu hps _pV$L$ue gpNu. `f„sy sp¡e s¡ s¥epf lsu. Æh__p f„Nd„Q `f k„b„^p¡_u Ap„V$uO|„V$uhpmy„ A¡L$ h^y _pV$L$ cS>hhp s¡ L$qV$bÙ lsu, S>¡_u iê$Aps buÅ qv$hk_u khpf\u S> L$fu v¡$hp_u lsu. A¡ ApMu fps k„op_¡ KO _ Aphu. s¡_p d_dp„ ÓZ _pdp¡ S> O|dfpsp„ füp„ : fp¡Tu, kudp ApÞV$u A_¡ îphZu.

buS>¡ qv$hk¡ hl¡gu khpf¡ S> k„opA¡ kd\®_¡ ap¡_ L$fu_¡ S>NpX$u v$u^p¡. L$ipe Mpk L$pd hNf. kd\£ Äepf¡ `|R¹>ey„ Ðepf¡ k„opA¡ S>Zpìey„, ""Adõsp¡ S> ap¡_ L$ep£ lsp¡, sy„ Of¡ S> R>¡ L¡$ _l] s¡ ÅZhp dpV¡$. sy„ OZu hpf bpSy>hpmp„ kudp ApÞV$u_¡ Ðep„ S>sp¡ lp¡e R>¡ _¡!''

kp„S>¡ kd\®_u Ap¡qak b„^ \hp_p kde¡ s¡Ap¡ OZu hpf dmsp„. kd\® k„op_¡ g¡hp Aphsp¡. ApS>¡ kp„S>¡ `Z s¡dZ¡ dmhp_y„ lsy„. `Z bÞey„ K^y„. kd\®_u Ap¡qak b„^ \hp_¡ lSy> hpf lsu. A¡hpdp„ k„op S> Ðep„ Aphu `lp¢Qu. Aphy„ sp¡ ¼epf¡e bÞey„ S> _lp¡sy„.

kd\® A„v$f L¡$rb_dp„ lsp¡. s¡_u L¡$rb_dp„\u A¡L$ R>p¡L$fu blpf _uL$mu L¡$ sfs S> k„op v$pMg \C NC. ""L¡$d v$p¡õs! fp¡Tu lsu _¡? blz gp„bp¡ kde A„v$f b¡ku flu! L„$C Mpk L$pd li¡, kd\®Ly$dpf rÓh¡v$u! Ap fp¡Tubl¡_ ApS>L$pg blz V$u`V$p¡` \C_¡ af¡ R>¡, s¡ sd_¡ Myi L$fhp dpV¡$ L¡$ `R>u A¡d S>!'' k„opA¡ ApX¡$^X$ bp¡ghp dp„X$éy„.

kd\® ^|„Ap„`|„Ap„ \C Nep¡ `Z `p¡sp_u Ap¡qak lp¡hp\u s¡ kdkdu_¡ b¡ku füp¡. s¡Z¡ k„op_¡ rh_„su L$fu L¡$ s¡ blpf Åe sp¡ kpfy„. A_¡ k„op afu R>¡X$pC `X$u : ""L¡$d! lz„ blpf ÅJ A_¡ `¡gu awgaV$pL$ fp¡Tu b¡bu_¡ A„v$f dp¡L$gy„! `fZhy„ R>¡ dpfu kp\¡ A_¡ L¡$rb_dp„ A¡_¡ b¡kpX$hu R>¡?''

""fp¡Tu Al]_u V$pBr`õV$ R>¡ k„op! sy„ àguT Mp¡V$p¡ sdpip¡ _ L$f,'' kd\® AL$mpC EW$ép¡ lsp¡. `Z k„op dQL$ _lp¡su Ap`su. ""kpfy„! lz„ ÅJ Ry>„. sd¡ sdpfu qX$ef V$pBr`õV$ kp\¡ b„^ L¡$rb_dp„ S>gkp L$fp¡. lz„ A¡_u Mpsfu L$fhp S> Aphu lsu rd. rÓh¡v$u! \¡Þ¼k A gp¡V$!''

fpÓ¡ v$k hpÁep li¡. R>¡ëgp ÓZ L$gpL$\u kd\®_y„ d_ ^|„^hpsy„ lsy„. s¡_¡ kdÅsy„ _lp¡sy„ L¡$ iy„ L$fhy„. X$p¡¼V$f¡ L$üy„ lsy„ s¡ b^y„ bfpbf `Z R>¡L$ Aphy„? iy„ k„op kpQ¡kpQ Aphy„ dp_su li¡? AL$mpC_¡ A¡_p `N dpdp_p Of sfa hþep. X$p¡¼V$f_¡ L$pg¡ dmui, ApS>¡ `l¡gp„ îphZu_¡ dmhy„ `X$i¡. s¡ S> k„op_¡ kdÅhu iL$i¡. s¡Z¡ d_p¡d_ rhQpey¯ `Z S>¡hp¡ X$p¡fb¡g hpÁep¡ A_¡ dpdp_y„ Of_y„ bpfÏ„ M|ëey„ L¡$ s¡_¡ A¡L$ h^y ApOps gpÁep¡.

bpfÏ„ Mp¡gu_¡ v$fhpÅ hÃQ¡ gp`fhplucfu ×rô$ gC k„op Ecu S> lsu. Ap AL$ëàe lsy„.

""k„op! sy„ Al]! îphZu_¡ Of¡ fpÓ¡ kpX$p v$k¡ iy„ L$f¡ R>¡?'' kd\®\u `|R¹>ep hNf flu iL$pey„ _l].

sfs S>hpb dþep¡, ""fpÓ¡ kpX$p v$k¡ îphZu _pd_u eyhp_ R>p¡L$fu_¡ Of¡ sd¡ iy„ L$fhp `^pep® R>p¡, rd. kd\®?'' k„op_p õhfdp„ _fu L$X$hpi lsu.

kd\£ s¡_¡ d_phhp L$p¡rii L$fu Å¡C, ""k„op sy„ Aphy„ L¡$d L$f¡ R>¡? X$p¡¼V$f¡ L„$C R>¡L$ Aphy„ _lp¡sy„ L$üy„!''

sfs S> k„op_p¡ hmsp¡ Op Apìep¡, ""kd\®! lz„ `|Ry>„ Ry>„ L¡$ sy„ Ap iy„ L$fu füp¡ R>¡? khpf¡ kudp ApÞV$u_¡ Ðep„ `X$ép¡ fl¡ R>¡, b`p¡f¡ spfu V$pBr`õV$ Ng® kp\¡ A_¡ A¡V$gy„ Ap¡Ry>„ lp¡e s¡d fpÓ¡ dpfu ä¡ÞX$ îphZu kp\¡! s_¡, s_¡ \C iy„ Ney„ R>¡ kd\®?''

buÅ qv$hk\u Ap S> rkgrkgp¡ Qpgy füp¡. k„op_u `|R>`fR>, s`pk, Åk|ku, kd\® dpV¡$ Mpõkp„ AL$mph_pfp„ lsp„. s¡_y„ L$pd `Z OZu hpf Mp¡fhpC S>sy„. s¡_¡ `p¡sp_u v¥$r_L$ ìehõ\p Åmhhpdp„ `Z sL$gua `X$su lsu. s¡d R>sp„ s¡ \¡fr`õV$_u kgpl_p¡ b_¡ A¡V$gp¡ Adg L$fhp âeÐ_ L$fsp¡.

A_¡ sp¡e sL$guap¡ h^su S> Qpgu. k„op ¼epf¡L$ sp¡ sdpip¡ L$fhp ky^u `lp¢Qu S>su lp¡e A¡d gpNsy„, `Z dlÒh_y„ A¡ lsy„ L¡$ k„op_u âï_p¡Ñfu V$pmhp_p âepkdp„ _¡ âepkdp„ kd\® `p¡sp_u S|>_u V¡$hp¡ hukfu füp¡ lsp¡. b_sy„ A¡hy„ L¡$ kd\®_¡ `p¡sp_¡ rhQpf Aph¡ L¡$ k„op dpfu kpdy„ Å¡su li¡ L¡$ _l] s¡ `l¡gp„ sp¡ k„op S> `|R>u _pM¡ L¡$, ""L$p¡_u kpd¡ Å¡sp lsp?'' A¡d `p¡sp_u i„L$p_¡ bv$g¡ k„op_u i„L$pAp¡_y„ kdp^p_ L$fhpdp„ S> s¡_p¡ dp¡V$p cpN_p¡ kde MQp®C S>sp¡.

Ap_y„ kd\®_¡ `Z ^ud¡ ^ud¡ cp_ \hp dp„X$éy„ lsy„. ¼epf¡L$ X$p¡¼V$f kdn sp¡ ¼epf¡L$ k„op kdn s¡ bp¡gu `Z EW$sp¡, ""Ap s¡ L¡$hu tS>v$Nu? ApMp¡ qv$hk L$p¡CL$_p hl¡d_¡ v|$f L$fhp_u dl¡_s `pR>m S> L$pY$hp_p¡?'' A_¡ A¡ S> sp¡ dyØp¡ lsp¡ S>¡ s¡Z¡ `p¡s¡ kdS>hp_p¡, iuMhp_p¡ lsp¡.

A_¡ A¡hp¡ qv$hk Apìep¡ `Z Mfp¡. drl_pAp¡_u dygpL$psp¡_¡ A„s¡ \¡fr`õV$ kp\¡_u Ap s¡d_u R>¡ëgu dygpL$ps lsu. ""sd_¡ epv$ R>¡ rd. kd\® L¡$ sd¡ R>¡ëgp `„v$f¡L$ qv$hkdp„ A¡L¡$e hpf k„op D`f iL$ _\u L$ep£?'' \¡fr`õV¡$ `|R¹>ey„, ""_p, `Z d_¡ A¡V$gy„ Qp¡½$k epv$ epv$ R>¡ L¡$ k„opA¡ lh¡ dpfp `f iL$ L$fhp_y„ Ap¡Ry>„ L$ey¯ R>¡,'' kd\£ S>hpb Apàep¡. A_¡ sfs lmhpi\u k„op bp¡gu `X$u, ""lz„ lh¡ spfp D`f g¡idpÓ i„L$p _l] L$fy„, bk!''

""Ap_¡ "fp¡g qfhT®g' L$l¡hpe R>¡,'' \¡fr`õV¡$ L$üy„ A_¡ ApNm h^pey¯, ""d_dp„\u i„L$p_p¡ L$uX$p¡ _pb|v$ L$fhp ¼epf¡L$ Aphy„e L$fhy„ `X¡$ R>¡. kd\® i„L$p L$f_pf_p `pW$dp„\u "i„L$piug_¡ S>hpb Ap`_pf'_p `pW$dp„ dyL$pe s¡ S>ê$fu lsy„. `Z A¡_p kpfp \hp dpV¡$_y„ Ap A¡L$dpÓ L$pfZ _\u. L$v$pQ kp„Ðh_ dþey„ lp¡e, lz„ "A_hp¡ÞV¡$X$' Ndu _ iLy„$ A¡hp¡, Qplu _ iL$pe A¡hp¡ Ry>„, A¡hu gpNZuAp¡ k„op_u suh° i„L$piugspA¡ OV$pX$u v$u^u. k„op `|R>¡ L¡$ ¼ep„ Nep¡ lsp¡? Ðepf¡ kd\®_¡ gpN¡ L¡$ k„op_¡ dpfu M|b v$fL$pf R>¡ A_¡ L$v$pQ A¡V$g¡ `Z kd\®_u S>¡gku OV$u lp¡e.

""S>¡ lp¡e s¡, lz„ Myi Ry>„ X$p¡¼V$f,'' kd\£ `|fy„ L$ey¯ Ðep„ S> s¡_¡ hÃQ¡\u AV$L$phsp„ k„op bp¡gu EW$u, ""`Z lz„ Myi _\u s¡_y„ iy„? d¢ cg¡ kd\®_¡ ky^pfhp S>¡gk hpBa_p¡ `pW$ cS>ìep¡ `Z lh¡ d_¡ Mf¡Mf S> kd\® `f hl¡d `X¡$ R>¡ s¡_y„ iy„?''

""M|b kl¡gp¡ D`pe R>¡'' X$p¡¼V$f¡ `|fy„ L$fsp„ L$üy„, ""sd¡ afu S>¡gk lkbÞX$_p `pW$dp„ Aphu Åh rd. kd\®!'' A_¡ klz dy¼s d_¡ lku `X$ép„.

(Ap g¡M ÅZusp kpBL$uA¡qV²$õV$ A_¡ k¡¼k \¡fr`õV$ X$p¡. dyLy$g Qp¡L$ku_p "A„Ns A„Ns `yõsL$dp„\u g¡hpdp„ Apìep¡ R>¡.)

hpQL$p¡_p âï_p¡_p X$p¡. dyLy$g Qp¡¼kuA¡ Ap`¡gp h^y DÑfp¡ hp„Qhp Al] [¼gL$ L$fp¡