dpfu bp_p¡ Äepf¡ lz„ rhQpf L$fy„ Ry>„ Ðepf¡ dpfu kdn lpX$_u A_¡ d__u L$p¡C cX$huf ìe[¼s_y„ rQÓ MXy„$ \pe R>¡. Apd sp¡, bp_y„ Æh_ ¼epf¡L$ L$fyZ, ¼epf¡L$ kyMv$, afu L$fyZ, afu `pRy>„ kyMv$ A¡d sX$L$pR>p„eX$p S>¡hy„ füy„ R>¡. A¡d_¡ Å¡J Ry>„ Ðepf¡ _kub kp\¡ bp\p¡qX$ep„ cfsp ep¡Ùp S>¡hp¡ A¡d_p¡ Ql¡fp¡ d_¡ v¡$Mpe R>¡. Q¡s_p A¡d_p Ql¡fpdp„ QdL$su lp¡e R>¡.

bp `p„Q¡L$ hj® `l¡gp„ sp¢s¡f hj®_u he¡ A„^ \ep„. \p¡X$pL$ drl_p sp¡ _fL$_u eps_p h¡W$sp„ lp¡e s¡hy„ gpÁey„. ApV$gu Æh_c|Mu ìe[¼s_u _S>f_p¡ v$uhp¡ fpd \C Nep¡. `Z \p¡X$p drl_pdp„ S> A¡d_u Q¡s_pA¡ fpM M„M¡fu. Ofdp„ ^ud¡^ud¡ L$p¡C_u dv$v$ rh_p afhp dp„X$éy„. `X$u Åe A_¡ L$p¡C Ecp„ L$fhp Åe sp¡ L$l¡ : "dpfu d¡m¡ d_¡ Ecu \hp v$p¡.'

vy$M A¡ ÅZ¡ bp_p Æh__u Å¡X$L$u bl¡_ R>¡. `Z A¡d_p l¥epdp„ A¡V$gu tlds Ecfpe L¡$ vy$M A¡d_¡ A_¡ Ad_¡ L$p¡W¡$ `X$u Åe. bp_p Æh_ `f _S>f _pMy„ Ry>„ sp¡ gpN¡ R>¡ L¡$ 78 hj®_p Apeyóedp„ L$V$L¡$ L$V$L¡$ `p„Óuk¡L$ hj® kyMdp„ Nep„ A_¡ bpL$u_p„ Qpmuk¡L$ hj® cpscps_p„ k„L$V$ cp¡Nìep„. A¡d_y„ Æh_ bpm`Z\u OX$`Z ky^u ku^p„ QX$pZ S>¡hy„ lsy„. `Z A¡d_p dp¢ D`f sp¡ Äepf¡ Å¡CA¡ Ðepf¡ Y$pm Esfsp„ lp¡e s¡hu Myipgu v¡$Mpe. d¢ `yõsL$p¡dp„ huf _f-_pfuAp¡ rhi¡ hp„Ãey„ R>¡, `Z _S>f¡ L$p¡C huf_¡ r_lpþep lp¡e sp¡ bp_¡. Ap gMy„ Ry>„ Ðepf¡ A¡d S>ê$f gpN¡ L¡$ dpfpdp„ k„sp_klS> c[¼s li¡ A¡V$g¡ bp_u ApL©$rs v$p¡fsp„ v$p¡fsp„ f„N_u A¡L$b¡ `]R>uAp¡_p h^y gkfL$p L$ep® R>¡. lz„ QdÐL$pfdp„ dp_sp¡ _\u, `Z Äepf¡ bp_p Æh_ `f rhQpf L$fy„ Ry>„ Ðepf¡ d_¡ s¡ L¡$hm A¡ QdÐL$pf S> gpN¡ R>¡. Ap QdÐL$pf v¥$hu i[¼s_p¡ _l] `Z Æh_i[¼s_p¡ R>¡. Æh_ Æhhp S>¡hy„ R>¡ A¡ hps lz„ kdÄep¡ lp¡J sp¡ bp_u L$`fu `Z Ap_„v$de Æh_epÓpdp„\u iu¿ep¡ Ry>„.

bp_p ìe[¼sÐh_u kp¥\u dp¡V$u gpnrZsp A¡d_u r_c®esp R>¡. A¡d_u r_c®esp _kub kpd¡_p Mp¢Mpfp_u R>¡. A¡ ApW$ hj®_p„ lsp„ Ðepf¡ Ap„Mp¡ NC. b¡ hj® `|fp¡ A„^p`p¡ füp¡. A¡ kde¡ NY$X$p_p L$p¡C h¥v$_u v$hp L$fphu A_¡ Ap„M `pR>u Aphu, `Z Ap„M Æh_cf _bmu flu. `Z Ap„M_y„ Mduf A¡hy„ QdL¡$ L¡$ Ap`Z_¡ gpN¡ L¡$ A¡d_¡ cNhp_¡ iy„ Ap„Mp¡ Ap`u R>¡? `Z d_¡ A¡ Ap„Mp¡dp„ Ace h^y v¡$Mpep¡ R>¡. A¡d_p Æh_dp„ A¡L$ hpf _l] `Z ÓZ¡L$ hpf Apc s|V$u `X$éy„, `Z A¡dZ¡ S>fpe¡ ApÐdv$ep epÃep rh_p _kub kpd¡ tiNX$p„ cfpìe¡ fp¿ep„. dpfu tS>v$Nudp„ `Z Äepf¡ sX$L$p¡-R>p„eX$p¡ Aph¡ Ðepf¡ s¡d_¡ sp¡ Apip S> v¡$Mpe. Aphp kde¡ bp L$l¡ : "`X$uA¡ _l] sp¡ Ecp„ ¼ep„\u \CA¡?'

A¡d_¡ d_ v$ep A¡V$gu klS> R>¡ L¡$ hpshpsdp„ L$p¡C_y„ A¡hu fus¡ cgy„ L$fu _pM¡ L¡$ L$p¡C ÅZ¡ `Z _l]. A¡dZ¡ `p¡s¡ vy$M Å¡e¡gy„, cp¡Nphp_p sX$L$p h¡W¡$gp, L$pgp„ ap¡g¡gp„ A_¡ W$uL$W$uL$ kpl¡bu `R>u h¥^ìedp„ Æh__p ApL$fp A_ychp¡ \e¡gp. `Z A¡dZ¡ Ap b^y„ Av$çe Apipdp„ Ap¡Npmu v$u^y„. A¡d_p Qpf v$uL$fpAp¡_¡ Å¡C_¡ L$l¡sp„ : "lz„ iy„ L$fhp tQsp L$fy„? dpfu `pk¡ Qpf gpM ê$r`ep R>¡.'

Ad¡ S>¡ i¡fudp„ fl¡sp„ lsp„ Ðep„ gNcN b^p_u [õ\rs kp^pfZ lsu. `p¡s¡ ANhX$dp„ lp¡e sp¡`Z buÅ_u ANhX$ bp ApNm\u `pdu Åe A_¡ Aklpe `pX$p¡iu lp\ gp„bp¡ L$f¡ s¡ `l¡gp„ S> bp `p¡sp_p¡ lp\ gp„bp¡ L$fu A¡_u tQsp dV$pX$u v¡$. Apdp„ dpfp r`sp_p¡ `Z apmp¡ li¡. s¡ A¡d dp_sp L¡$ AphL$_p AdyL$ V$L$p L$p¡C_¡ cZphhp dpV¡$ L¡$ L$p¡C_y„ k„L$V$ lmhy„ L$fhp dpV¡$ hp`fhp Å¡CA¡. bp Ap b^y„ Å¡sp„. A¡d_pdp„ `Z Ap L$Z `X¡$gp¡. bp`yÆ_u L$fyZp^pfp hfku A¡V$g¡ bp_y„ v$ep_y„ bu dpÓ R>p¡X$ _ füy„ `Z h©n bÞey„. bp_p Æh__u M|bu A¡ R>¡ L¡$ Nd¡ s¡ \pe sp¡e A¡d_p¡ Æh Nygsp_ L$ep® L$f¡. A¡d_¡ ANhX$p¡ `X¡$ sp¡e A¡ sp¡ ANhX$p¡dp„\u `Z Ap_„v$ r_Qp¡h¡. bp_¡ d¢ L$v$u lspi Å¡ep„ _\u. A¡d_¡ sp¡ d^fps¡ `Z dÝepl¹_ v¡$Mpe. Ap_y„ L$pfZ A¡ L¡$ A¡d_pdp„ _uX$f r_Z®e g¡hp_u klS> i[¼s R>¡.

dpfp r`sp_p Ahkp_ `R>u kps¡L$ hj£ lz„ N°¡ÄeyA¡V$ \ep¡. Ap Afkpdp„ dpfp a¥bp_p v$uL$fp A_¡ îud„s h¡`pfu S>NÆh_v$pk v¡$kpC dpfp„ bp_¡ dmhp Apìep. dpdp_u klpe\u A¡ KQp Aph¡gp A¡V$g¡ s¡d_¡ \ey„ L¡$ dpdu_¡ (dpfp„ bp_¡) ipsp \pe A¡hy„ L$p„CL$ L$fuA¡—. A¡V$g¡ s¡dZ¡ L$üy„ : "dpdu, hpX$ugpg_¡ lz„ L$gL$Ñp gC S>J A_¡ Adpfp ^„^pdp„ A¡L$ Ap_u cpN Ap`y„.' bpA¡ dpfu kpd¡ Å¡ey„ A_¡ `|R¹>ey„ : "s_¡ iy„ gpN¡ R>¡?' d¢ L$üy„ : "L$p¡C gpeL$ps hNf `Z ApV$gp b^p `¥kp dm¡ sp¡ Ap`Zu tQsp V$m¡. `Z dpfp¡ rhQpf sp¡ Ad¡qfL$p cZhp S>hp_p¡ R>¡. `Z ÓZ _p_p cpCAp¡_p Aæepk, lz„ Ad¡qfL$p S>Ci sp¡ L$v$pQ bNX$i¡. lz„ L$dpsp¡ lp¡Ci sp¡ s¡ cZu iL$i¡.' bpA¡ sfs S> S>NÆh_cpC_¡ L$üy„ : "Adpfy„ S>¡ \i¡ s¡ \i¡. A¡_p Ad¡qfL$p cZhp S>hpdp„ Ap`Z¡ L$p¡CA¡ hQdp„ Aphhy„ _\u.' A¡dZ¡ Ap`rÑ `Z A¡V$gu d½$dsp\u õhuL$pfu L¡$ dpfp cpC X$OpC Nep. Ap âk„N_p¡ rhQpf L$fy„ Ry>„ Ðepf¡ d_¡ gpN¡ R>¡ L¡$ bp_p tldscep® r_Z®e¡ d_¡ L$p¡gkp_p¡ h¡`pfu \sp¡ bQpìep¡. L$p¡gkp_p h¡`pfdp„ L$iy„ S> Mp¡Vy„$ _\u. d_¡ sp¡ Ap`Z¡ Dh¡Mpe¡gp h¡`pfuhN® âÐe¡ dp_ R>¡. `Z dpf¡ cZhy„ lsy„ A_¡ L¡$hm rhÛpâh©rÑ L$fhu lsu. Ap hps bp ÅZsp„ lsp„ A¡V$g¡ s¡dZ¡ s¡d_y„ vy$M v|$f \pe s¡hu hps `Z õhuL$pfu _l]. A¡ kde¡ dpfp d__u [õ\rs A¡hu lsu L¡$ îud„s cpC `pk¡\u klpe dm¡ sp¡ õhuL$pfhu. afL$ A¡V$gp¡ S> lsp¡ L¡$ d_¡ Nfubu_u tQsp lsu, bp_¡ dpfp Mfp kyM_u tQsp lsu.

dpfp bp`yÆ bÓuk hj®_u he¡ rh^yf \ep. b¡ hj®_u _p_u v$uL$fu lsu. A¡dZ¡ buSy>„ gÁ_ L$ey¯- dpfp„ bp Q„`pbl¡_ kp\¡. bp_u Jdf Ðepf¡ `„v$f¡L$ hj®_u lsu. gÁ_ `R>u `p„Q¡L hj£ dpfp¡ S>Þd \ep¡. dp¡V$p v$uL$fp sfuL¡$ lz„ A¡d_u _ÆL$, `Z bp`y_u kp\¡ h^pf¡ _ÆL$. bp A_¡ bp`yÆ_p k„b„^_p¡ rhQpf L$fy„ Ry>„ Ðepf¡ gpN¡ R>¡ L¡$ A¡ b„_¡dp„ A¡hp NyZ lsp L¡$ k„kpf kyMdp„ Qpëep¡. bp A¡ qv$hkp¡dp„ kpdpÞe N©rlZu S>¡hp„ lsp„. A¡d_¡ blpf_u vy$r_ep_u L$iu NspNd _ lsu. bp`yÆ_u R>ÓR>pep A¡V$gu kh®ìep`u L¡$ bp_¡ sX$L$p¡ iy„ A_¡ R>p„eX$p¡ iy„ A¡_u L$p„C Mbf _l]. bp`yÆ_p¡ õhcph _fd, \p¡X$p¡ ¾$p¡^u `Z â¡dpm. v$ep sp¡ A¡d_u Ap„Mp¡dp„ R>gL$pe. L$p¡C ê$qY$dp„ dp_¡ _l]. kpdprS>L$ ky^pfpdp„ A¡d_¡ A¡V$gp¡ fk R>¡ L¡$ Adpf¡ Ðep„ L$p¡C gpS> L$pY$u_¡ Aph¡ sp¡ s¡ rQX$pe. dpfp„ dpdu `fZu_¡ Apìep„ A_¡ gpS> L$pY$u Ðepf¡ bp`yÆA¡ s¡ R>p¡X$ph¡gu.

A¡d_u buÆ dpÞesp A¡ lsu L¡$ `yfyj¡ ÷u_y„ L$pd L$fhy„ Å¡CA¡. d_¡ A¡L$ rQÓ bfpbf epv$ Apìep S> L$f¡ R>¡. dpfp¡ _p_p¡ cpC ip¥Q Nep¡ lp¡e sp¡ bp`yÆ bp_¡ L$v$u bp¡gph¡ _l]. lz„ L$lz„ L¡$ bp_¡ bp¡gphp¡ Ðepf¡ L$l¡ L¡$ bpmL$_y„ b^y„ L$pd L$fhy„ Å¡CA¡. khpf¡ EW$u_¡ v|$^ Adpfp b^p_y„ bp`yÆ S> s¥epf L$f¡. A¡ `R>u A¡d_u L$p¡C S>hpbv$pfu _l]. `Z Of¡ lp¡e Ðepf¡ AX$^u N©rlZu_u S>¡d bp_¡ dv$v$ L$f¡. Adpf¡ O¡f A¡L$ L$pdhpmu bpC lsu, `Z bp`yÆ dp_sp L¡$ kp¥A¡ `p¡s`p¡sp_y„ L$pd L$fhy„ Å¡CA¡. A¡ A¡d `Z L$l¡sp L¡$ Äep„\u QuS> gu^u lp¡e Ðep„ `pR>u d|L$uA¡ sp¡ Of k„cpm_pf_¡ fpls dm¡.

bp eyhp_udp„ A¡V$gp„ ky„v$f lsp„ L¡$ Adpfp k„b„^uAp¡ A¡d_¡ L$l¡sp L¡$ sdpf¡ A¡L$pv$ v$uL$fu lp¡e sp¡ kpfy„. `Z dpfu Ap¡fdp_ bl¡__¡ v$uL$fu L$fsp„ h^pf¡ hlpg Ap`¡gy„. Ap\u klS> cph¡ bp¡gsp„ L¡$, "cNhp_¡ d_¡ A¡L$ v$uL$fu Ap`u S> R>¡_¡!' hpÐkëe sp¡ bp_u ÅZ¡ L¡$ R>Ì$u B[ÞÖe.

bp_¡ Ad¡ dÅL$dp„ Ad¡qfL$_ kpky L$luA¡ R>uA¡. AÐepf¡ sp¡ A¡ `\pfuhi R>¡, `Z Äepf¡ A¡d_u srbes kpfu lsu, Ap„M NC _lp¡su A_¡ A„Np¡ rir\g \ep„ _ lsp„ Ðepf¡ s¡dZ¡ A¡hy„ L$v$u fp¿ey„ _lp¡sy„ L¡$ Ap L$pd kpky_y„ A_¡ Ap L$pd hlz_y„. B[Þv$fp kp\¡ dpfy„ gÁ_ \ey„ Ðepf¡ s¡ BÞV$f ApV¹k®dp„ lsu. gÁ_ `R>u s¡ L$p¡g¡S>dp„ cZu. s¡ dy„bC L$p¡g¡S>dp„ cZsu Ðepf¡ bp kNu dp _ g¡ A¡V$gu L$pmÆ g¡sp„. L$p¡g¡S>\u kp„S>¡ `pR>u Aph¡ Ðepf¡ A¡_p dpV¡$ dp¡k„bu_p¡ fk s¥epf fpM¡. B[Þv$fp AX$^y„`X$^y„ Of_y„ L$pd L$f¡ Ðep„ L$l¡ : "lh¡ sy„ hp„Qhp Qpgu Å.' A¡d_¡ A¡d \sy„ L¡$ v$uL$fu lp¡s sp¡ Ap`Z¡ Apd S> L$l¡s_¡! Adpfp Qpf¡e cpCAp¡_u hlzAp¡ kp\¡ s¡d_¡ kNu dp S>¡hp¡ k„b„^. A¡L$ Of¡ h^pf¡ fl¡ sp¡ buÅ O¡f\u W$`L$p¡ dm¡ L¡$ Adpf¡ Ðep„ sp¡ drl_p¡ S> füp„. A¡d_y„ hs®_ A¡hy„ L¡$ Qpf¡e Ofdp„ A¡ klS> fus¡ Ar^óW$psp sfuL¡$ õhuL$pfpe. `Z A¡d_u kÑp L¡$hm õ_¡l_u kÑp R>¡. `\pfuhi \ep„ `Z A¡dZ¡ A¡d_u hlpg L$fhp_u i[¼s S>fpe dp¡mu _\u \hp v$u^u.

Óprls_¡ `Z hlpg L$fhy„ A¡ bp_¡ dpV¡$ klS> R>¡. dp¡V$p dpZkp¡ Aph¡ A¡d_y„ kÞdp_ L$f¡ A¡ kdÆ iL$pe A¡hy„ R>¡. `Z L$p¡C OkpC Nep lp¡e A¡hp kNp„k„b„^uAp¡ kpd¡ L$p¡Z Sy>A¡? Aphp S|>_p k„b„^uAp¡ Aph¡ Ðepf¡ bp Np¡m_p„ NpX$p„ R>p¡X¡$. d_¡ A¡d gpN¡ R>¡ L¡$ bpA¡ S>¡ kl_ L$ey¯ s¡\u s¡d_u klp_yc|rs_p¡ rhõspf OZp¡ dp¡V$p¡ \ep¡. A¡d_u A¡L$ V¡$h d_¡ Ndu NC. A¡ L$l¡ : "Ap`Z¡ MpCA¡ A¡ _p¡L$f Mpe.' L$p¡C `fv¡$i\u Qp¡L$g¡V$ gpìey„ lp¡e sp¡ bp Of_p„ b^p„ g¡ `R>u L$l¡ L¡$ "A¡L$ L¡$iy_¡ Ap`uiy„.' `Z dp¡V$p cpN¡ sp¡ A¡hy„ b_¡ L¡$ bp A¡ gp¡L$p¡_p¡ cpN A¡L$ bpSy> spfhu g¡. hpshpsdp„ L$l¡ : "L$p¡C dp¡V$p dpZk Apìep lp¡e sp¡ Ap`Z¡ s¡d_¡ v$bpZ L$fu A¡L$b¡ QuÅ¡ h^pf¡ ^fuA¡, Ap gp¡L$p¡_¡ cNhp_ rkhpe L$p¡Z `|R>_pfy„ R>¡?'

bp_u cpjp h¡^L$ A_¡ h¡Nugu. ìe[¼sÐh A¡hy„ L¡$ s¡ `pZudp„ hl¡hp dp„X¡$. hps dp„X¡$ sp¡ Ecp \hp_y„ d_ _ \pe. A¡d_u hpsQus ¼epf¡L$ kpfp _pV$L$_p k„hpv$p¡ S>¡hu gpN¡. Adpfp S>¥_ kp^yAp¡ âÐe¡ A¡d_¡ Apv$f, `Z A„^c[¼s _l]. A¡L$ hpf kp^yAp¡_u dep®v$pAp¡ rhi¡ hps L$fsp„ lsp„ Ðepf¡ A¡L$pA¡L$ bp¡ëep„ : "kp^yAp¡ dp\y„ d|„X$ph¡ R>¡ `Z d_ d|„X$phsp _\u.'

kp^y_u hps _uL$mu R>¡ Ðepf¡ A¡L$ âk„N epv$ Aph¡ R>¡. dpfp r`sp_p Ahkp_ `R>u Adpfu [õ\rs kp^pfZ \C NC—. Aphp„ Ly$Vy„$bp¡_¡ N©lõ\p¡ `pk¡\u Apr\®L$ klpe A`phu A¡L$pv$ R>p¡L$fp_¡ kp^y v$unp Ap`u v¡$. bpmv$unp kpd¡ dp¡V$p¡ rhfp¡^ lsp¡ sp¡`Z Aphp A^d} L$pd_¡ L¡$V$gpL$ îphL$p¡ A_¡ kp^yAp¡ ^d® dp_¡. Aphp hpsphfZdp„ A¡L$ kp^yA¡ bp_¡ `|R¹>ey„ : "sdpf¡ Qpf v$uL$fp R>¡. A¡L$ v$uL$fp¡ Ad_¡ Ap`p¡.' bp Ap kp„cmu õså^ \C Nep„. sfs S> L$m hmu A_¡ L$üy„ : "Sy>Ap¡, dlpfpS>kpl¡b, Aphu hps L$fhu lp¡e sp¡ dpfp Ap„NZ¡ hlp¡fhp _ Aphip¡.'

cpfs_u Nfubu L¡$d lmhu \C iL¡$ s¡ rhi¡ d¢ "f„L$_y„ Apep¡S>_' _pd_y„ `yõsL$ g¿ey„. d_¡ \ey„ L¡$ A`®Z L$p¡_¡ L$fy„? sfs rhQpf Tb¼ep¡ : "buÅ L$p¡_¡? bp_¡.' d¢ S>¡ A`®Z`„[¼sAp¡ gMu s¡dp„ kdN° A\®s„Ó_u kdõep_p¡ DL¡$g k|rQs \pe R>¡. sd¡ sdpfp dpV¡$ h`fpi Ap¡R>p¡ L$fp¡ A_¡ buÅ_p¡ rhQpf L$fp¡ sp¡ Þepeu A_¡ _fhp¡ Apr\®L$ rhL$pk kp^u iL$p¡. `Z Ap sp¡ dpf¡ ApX$hps sfuL¡$ L$l¡hy„ lsy„. dpfu BÃR>p A¡hu lsu L¡$ Ap Apr\®L$ r_b„^p¡ `pR>m bp_y„ L¡$hy„ â¡fZpbm lsy„ s¡ dpf¡ k|Qhhy„. lz„ Nfubu rhi¡ A„N°¡Æ A_¡ NyS>fpsudp„ kss gMsp¡ lp¡J Ry>„ s¡_y„ â¡fL$bm bp_y„ Æh_ R>¡. s¡dZ¡ bp¡ëep„ L$fsp„ L$fu_¡ d_¡ iuMìey„ R>¡. Ap\u d¢ "f„L$_y„ Apep¡S>_' s¡d_¡ A`®Z L$fsu hMs¡ Ap b¡ `„[¼sAp¡ gMu :
ùv$e_¡ L¡$mhsu afsu r_ipm sd¡,
g¡hp L$fsp„ v¡$hp_u Å¡ V¡$h `X¡$ sp¡ sd_¡ Nd¡.

Ap g¡M Ap`_¡ L¡$hp¡ gpÁep¡?