Www kambikathakal in 035

1 Munnar

aq¶mÀ Font : Bhavana {]kmZv

Rm³ sU¶n tPmk^v. Ct¸mÄ _mw¥qcnÂ Hcp sF. Sn.

I¼\nbnÂ tPmen sN¿p¶p. hoSv, tIm«bw. Fsâ A¸¨³

tPmk^v Nmt¡m. dn«tbÀUv BÀan Iym]vä³. Ct¸mÄ Hcp

skIyqcnän kÀÆokv (hmWnPy, hyhkmb Øm]\§Ä¡v

skIyqcnän Poh\¡msc kss¹ sN¿p¶ Øm]\w)

\S¯p¶p. A½ A²ym]nIbmWv.

F\n¡v aq¯Xmbn Hcp tPyjvT\pw, Hcp

ktlmZcnbpap−v. tPyjvT³ s_¶n, Atacn¡bnÂ tkm^väv

shbÀ F³Pn\obdmbn tPmen sN¿p¶p. hnhmlnX³. `mcy

A\nX. _ncpZm\´c _ncpZ[mcn. Atacn¡bnÂ Xs¶

Hcp kv¡qfnÂ A²ym]nI. Fsâ ktlmZcn

`À¯mhns\m¸w IpsshänÂ Xmakn¡p¶p. CXmWv Fsâ

IpSpw_ hnhc§Ä.

Fsâ A¸¨\v ]nXrkz¯mbn In«nb ap¸Xv G¡tdmfw

hcp¶ tXm«`qan aq¶mdnÂ D−v. AhnsS {][m\ambn

Ge¡rjnbmWv DÅXv. A¸¨³ km[mcWbmbn

Irjnbnd¡en\pw, CSbv¡v hfanSoÂ, hnfshSp v̧ kab§fnte

2 Munnar

AhnsS t]mImdpÅp. AÃm¯ kab§fnÂ

taÂt\m«¯n\mbn Hcmsf NpaXes¸Sp¯nbn«p−v.

tXm«¯nsâ \SphneqsS Hcp sNdnb Acphn

HgpIp¶p. R§fpsS tXm«¯nsâ Hcp aqebv¡pÅ

]mds¡«nÂ \n¶pw XpS§n, tXm«¯n\v \SphneqsS HgpIn

t]mIp¶XmWv Cu Acphn. AcphnbpsS ASp¯mbn Hcp

FtÌäv _w¥mhpw D−v.

IqSmsX _w¥mhnÂ \n¶pw Ipd¨v amdn Hcp

Hu«vlukpw, tÌmÀ apdnbpw IqSnbpÅ asämcp

sI«nShpap−v. tXm«¯nse kq£n¸pImc³ AhnsSbmWv

Xmakn¡p¶Xv. sht¡j³ kab§fnsems¡ Rm³ AhnsS

t]mbn X§mdp−v. As¶ms¡ Nne Ahkc§fnÂ

tXm«¯nÂ ]Wn¡p hcp¶ Nne kv{XoIsf t`mKn¡m\pÅ

Ahkchpw H¯n«p−v.

A§s\bncns¡, Fsâ tPyjvTsâ `mcy A\nX, Hcp

amks¯ Ah[n¡v ho«nÂ F¯n. tN«\v eohv In«m¯Xn\mÂ

tN«³ F¯nbncp¶nÃ. A\nXbv¡v Ft¶¡mÄ \mev hbÊv

IqSpXÂ D−v. AXpsIm−v Rm³ Ahsc tN«¯n F¶mWv

hnfn¨ncp¶Xv.

tN«¯n ho«nÂ h¶n«v c−p aq¶v Znhkw Ignªv

AhcpsS ho«ntebv¡v t]mbn. AhcpsS hoSv

N§\mtÈcnbnemWv. R§Ä¡v aq¶mÀ bm{X¡mbn Hcp Po v̧

D−v. Rm³ A\nXsb Po¸nÂ AhcpsS ho«nÂ sIm−m¡n.

3 Munnar

HcmgvN Ignªv Ahsc XncnsI hnfn¡m³

sNÃWsa¶v ]dªv GÀ¸mSm¡nbn«mWv Fs¶ XncnsI

hn«Xv. AXv {]Imcw HcmgvN Ignªv Rm³ Ahsc

Iq«ns¡m−p h¶p. AhÀ hfsc tkmjyembn«mWv Ft¶mSv

s]cpamdp¶Xv.

ho−pw c−p aq¶v Znhk§Ä IqSn Ignªt¸mÄ,

tN«¯nbv¡v t_mdSn¨p XpS§n. AXv I−n«v, aq¶mdnsems¡

H¶p Id§nbn«v hcm³ A½¨n tN«¯ntbmSv ]dªp. Iq«n\v

Fs¶bpw Iq«m³ ]dªp. A¸¨\pw k½Xw aqfnbtXmsS

aq¶mÀ bm{X Xocpam\n¨p.

A§s\ ASp¯ Znhkw R§Ä aq¶mdntebv¡v

Xncn¡m³ Xocpam\n¨p. FtÌänse ImhÂ¡mct\mSv

A¸¨³ Xs¶ hnhc§Ä hnfn¨p ]dªp. R§Ä¡v `£Ww

X¿mdm¡p¶Xn\v Hcmsfbpw NpaXes¸Sp¯n.

A¶v R§fpsS FtÌänÂ t^m¬ IW£³

D−mbncp¶p. F¶mÂ B `mK¯v samss_Â t^mWn\v

td©v In«pambncp¶nÃ.

A§s\ R§Ä Bhiyamb hkv{X§sfms¡

FSp¯psIm−v ASp¯ Znhkw cmhnse Ggv aWn¡v

R§fpsS Po¸nÂ bm{X ]pds¸«p. tN«¯nbpsS I¿nÂ

UnPnäÂ Iymadbpw, hoUntbm Iymadbpw FÃmw D−mbncp¶p.

AsXÃmw R§Ä sIm−pt]mbn.

4 Munnar

Po¸nÂ tN«¯n Fsâ H¸w ap³koänemWv Ccp¶Xv.

etKPv apgph³ ]n¶nse koänÂ h¨p. IymadIÄ R§fpsS

ASp¯v Xs¶ h¨p. tN«¯n Hcp Po³kpw, SojÀ«pamWv

[cn¨ncp¶Xv. Rm³ ]mâpw jÀ«pw. tIm«bw Tu¬ hn«p

Ignªt¸mÄ tN«¯n kwkmcn¨p XpS§n.

“A\nbm AhnsS \Ã XWp v̧ AtÃ. XWp v̧ amäm³

CSbv¡v Hcp kvamsfms¡ ASn¡t−? \o F§s\ hoiptam?”

“A§s\sbm¶panÃ. hÃt¸mgpw Hcp kvamÄ A{Xtb

DÅp. tN«¯nbpsS I¿nÂ tÌm¡pt−m ?”

“At¿m Fsâ I¿nÂ CÃ. Rm³ c−p Ip¸n

sIm−ph¶Xv A¸¨³ FSp¯p.”

“F¦nÂ ]ns¶ \ap¡v CSbv¡v FhnsSsb¦nepw

\ndp¯n hm§mw.”

“FhnsSbm In«p¶Xv F¶v h¨mÂ \o hm§ns¡mÅWw.

F\n¡v AdnbnÃ.”

“AsXms¡ Rm³ Gäp. tN«¯n¡v GXv {_m³UmWv

th−Xv ?”

“A§s\sbm¶panÃ. F\n¡v GXmbmepw aXn. {_mân

\n\¡v CjvSamsW¦nÂ AXv hm§nbmÂ aXn.”

5 Munnar

“\Ã a\s¸mcp¯amWtÃm. F\n¡v {_mânbmWv CjvSw.

A¸¨sâ tIzm«mbnÂ \n¶v Rm³ CSbvs¡ms¡ I«p

IpSn¡mdp−v.”

R§Ä aqhmäp]pg F¯nbt¸mÄ AhnsS Hcp ISbnÂ

Ibdn {]`mX `£Ww Ign¨p. kÀ¡mÀ IÅp ISbnÂ \n¶pw

c−p Ip¸n hnkvInbpw, A©v Ip¸n _nbdpw hm§n. ASp¯

ISbnÂ \n¶pw, tdmÌv sNbvX A−n¸cn v̧, I¸e−n, Nn]vkv

apXembhbpw hm§n.

h−n ho−pw bm{X XpSÀ¶p. CSbv¡v \Ã {]IrXn

Zriy§Ä ImWpt¼mÄ h−n \ndp¯n t^mt«m FSp¯p

sIm−ncp¶p.

Tu¬ hn«v Bsfmgnª Øew F¯nbt¸mÄ tN«¯n

Fs¶s¡m−v h−n \ndp¯n¨n«v Hcp Ip¸n _nbÀ Xpd¶p.

AhÀ AXnÂ \n¶pw c−p IhnÄ IpSn¨n«v F\n¡p X¶p.

Rm\pw c−p IhnÄ IpSn¨n«v XncnsI sImSp¯p.

A§s\ B Hcp Ip¸n apgph³ R§Ä amdn amdn

IpSn¨p XoÀ¯p. CSbv¡v A−n¸cn¸pw sImdn¨p. Imenbmb

Ip¸n tdmUv sskUntebv¡v hen¨v Fdnªn«v ho−pw bm{X

XpSÀ¶p.

HSphnÂ R§Ä aq¶mdnÂ F¯n. hgnbnsems¡

\ndp¯n, ]Xps¡ bm{X sNbvXXn\mÂ aq¶mdnÂ

F¯nbt¸mtgbv¡pw D¨bmbncp¶p. aq¶mÀ TuWnÂ \n¶pw,

6 Munnar

Nn¶¡\mÂ t]mIp¶ hgnbnÂ ]¯v ]Xn\©v IntemaoäÀ

t]mbmte R§fpsS FtÌänÂ F¯q.

AXn\mÂ R§Ä aq¶mÀ TuWnÂ \n¶pw D¨ `£Ww

Ign¨n«v ho−pw bm{X XpSÀ¶p. HSphnÂ R§Ä FtÌänÂ

F¯n. FtÌänse kq£n¸pImc³ AhnsS R§sf Im¯v

\nÂ¸p−mbncp¶p. Abmsfs¡m−v R§fpsS s]«nIÄ

c−p apdnIfnembn FSp¯v shbv¸n¨p.

]mNI¯n\v GÀs¸Sp¯nbncp¶ Hcp kv{Xobpw AhnsS

D−mbncp¶p. AhÀ R§Ä¡pÅ D¨`£Ww X¿mdm¡n

h¨ncp¶p. AhÀ sshIpt¶cw XncnsI t]mIpsa¶pw, ]ns¶

cmhnse h¶v tPmen sN¿psa¶pw Adnbn¨p.

A§s\ A¶v AhÀ X¿mdm¡nb `£W¯nÂ \n¶pw,

R§Ä¡v cm{Xn Ign¡m\pÅXv FSp¯n«v _m¡n AhÀ¡v

Xs¶ sImSp¯p. AhÀ AXpw sIm−v AhcpsS ho«nÂ

t]mbn. kq£n¸pImc³, Hu«v̂ uknemWv InS¡p¶Xv. AXv

FtÌäv _w¥mhnÂ \n¶pw Ipd¨p Zqsc amdnbmWv.

\mev aWnbmbt¸mtgbv¡pw XWp v̧ Bbn¡gnªncp¶p.

R§Ä _w¥mhnse P\epw hmXnepIfpsams¡ AS¨p.

AtXmsS XWp¸n\v Hcp sNdnb ia\w D−mbn.

]ns¶ R§Ä NqSp shÅ¯nÂ Hcp Ipfn \S¯n.

tN«¯n BZyw AhcpsS apdnbnÂ t]mbn Ipfn¨p h¶p. AhÀ

Atacn¡³ kv{XoIÄ [cn¡p¶ amXncnbpÅ ap«phsc am{Xw

7 Munnar

DÅ anUn t]mse Hcp km[\hpw, AXnsâ tIm«pamWv

[cn¨ncp¶Xv.

AXp Ignªv Rm³ Fsâ apdnbnepw t]mbn Ipfn¨p.

Rm³ Ipfn Ignªv Hcp _À½pUbpw SojÀ«pw C«psIm−v

h¶t¸mÄ tN«¯n Hcp Ip¸n Xpd¶v aZy tkh

XpS§nbncp¶p. AhÀ F\n¡pw Hcp ¥mÊnÂ ]IÀ¶p X¶p.

Rm³ AhÀ Ccp¶Xnsâ FXnÀ his¯ ItkcbnÂ

Ccp¶psIm−v AXv ]Xps¡ ap¯n IpSn¨p. CSbv¡v

Nn]vkpw, Iiph−nbpsams¡ sImdn¨psIm−ncp¶p. Fsâ

¥mÊv Hgnªt¸mÄ AhÀ c−p ¥mÊpw ho−pw \nd¨p. AXpw

]Xps¡ AI¯m¡n. cs−®w AI¯v sN¶t¸mtgbv¡pw

XWp v̧ ]¼IS¶p.

“C\n H¶p IqSn thtWmSm ?”

“C¸w CXp aXn. C\n DuWv Ign¡pt¼mÄ H¶pIqSn

Ign¡mw.”

“F¶mÂ ]ns¶ AXv aXn. AXp hsc F´v sN¿pw ?”

“XWp v̧ hoWXpsIm−v C¶v C\n ]pdt¯bvs¡m¶pw

t]mIm³ ]änÃ. ChnsS Ccn¡pItb amÀ¤apÅp.”

AhnsS Sn. hn. H¶pw CÃmbncp¶p. AXpsIm−v Xs¶

kabw Ifbm³ aäp amÀ¤hpw D−mbncp¶nÃ. tN«¯n,

ItkcbnÂ Ccp¶psIm−v, AhcpsS Hcp ImÂ ap¶nÂ

8 Munnar

InS¶ Sot¸mbnÂ Ibän h¨p. At¸mÄ AhcpsS ap«n\v

apIfnÂ \nÂ¡p¶ anUnbpsS CSbneqsS AhcpsS ]mâokv

ImWmambncp¶p.

AXv I−t¸mtgbv¡pw Fsâ Ip«³ A\§m³ XpS§n.

tN«¯nsb¡pdn¨v sXämb NnÍsfm¶pw B \nanjw

hscbpw F\n¡v D−mbncp¶nÃ. ]t£ At¸mgs¯

AhcpsS Ccp¯ I−n«v Fsâ \nb{´Ww hn«p XpS§n.

F¦nepw Rm³ kwba\w ]men¨p.

Rm³ AhcpsS AØm\t¯bv¡v t\m¡mXncn¡m³

Ignbp¶{X {ian¨n«pw CSbvs¡ms¡ AdnbmsX

t\m¡nt¸mbncp¶p. Hcp XhW Rm³ AhcpsS

KplmIhmS¯ntebv¡v t\m¡nbn«v AhcpsS apJ¯v

t\m¡nbt¸mÄ AhÀ Fsâ apJ¯v Xs¶

t\m¡nbncn¡p¶XmWv I−Xv. R§fpsS I®pIÄ X½nÂ

CSªp.

“A\nbm \o F´m ImgvN ImWp¶Xv ? Rm³ Ipd¨p

kabambn ImWp¶p−v.”

Rm³ s]s«¶v N½nt¸mbn. F¦nepw AXv ]pd¯v

Im«msX adp]Sn ]dªp.

“tN«¯nbpsS Ccp v̧ A{X ]ńbÃ. AXm Rm³

t\m¡nbXv.”

“Fsâ Ccp¯bv¡v F´mSm ]ńtISv ?”

9 Munnar

“BsWmcp¯³ C§s\ ap¶nÂ Ccn¡p¶ Imcyw

ad¶t]msebmWv tN«¯n Ccn¡p¶Xv. H¶maXv Hcp

Ip«n¸mhmS. AXv HXp¡n hbv¡msX AI¯pÅXv

ImWn¨psIm−ncp¶mÂ Bcmbmepw t\m¡nt¸mIpw.”

“F¶n«v \o hÃXpw It−m ?”

“Hm F¶m ImWm\m. FÃmw IqSn Hcp Ccp«p t]mse.”

“sIm¨p ]nÅmcv Ccp«v I−mÂ aXn.”

“AXn\v ChnsS Bcm sIm¨p ]nÅmcv ?”

“]ns¶ \o henb Bfmtbm ?”

“]n¶nÃmsX. F\n¡v Ct¸mÄ Ccp]¯n c−v hbÊmbn.

kÀ¡mcnsâ IW¡v {]Imcw Ccp]¯n H¶mas¯ hbÊnÂ

Rm³ IÃymWw Ign¨ncps¶¦nÂ Ct¸mÄ Rm³ Hcv AÑ³

Btbt\. AÃmsX \n§sft¸mse C§s\ Ip«nIfnÃmsX

\S¡¯nÃmbncp¶p.”

AXv ]dªt¸mÄ tN«¯nbpsS apJw hmSn. AXv I−v

Rm³ Sot¸mbnbpsS apIfnencp¶ AhcpsS ImenÂ

]nSn¨psIm−v £a ]dªp.

“At¿m tN«¯o Rm³ tN«¯nsb hnjan¸n¡m³

]dªXÃ. shÅ¯nsâ ]pd¯v AdnbmsX hmbnÂ \n¶v

h¶XmWv.”

10 Munnar

“Hm.. F\n¡v AXnÂ hnjaanÃ. \nsâ tN«\v tPmen

Ignªv AXns\m¶pw kabw In«mdnÃ. hnhmlw Ignªn«v

Ct¸mÄ aq¶v hÀjamIp¶p. CXp hsc \nsâ tN«³ Fs¶

icn¡pw H¶p I−n«pt]mepanÃ. At§À¡v tPmen Ignªv

B^oknÂ \n¶p h¶mÂ ]ns¶bpw em]vtSm¸pambn ]mXncm

hsc Ccp¶v tPmenbmWv. ]ns¶ XfÀ¶p InS¶v Dd¡hpw

BIpw. A[hm hÃt¸mgpw H¶p In«nbmÂ Xs¶ AI¯v

Ibdp¶Xn\v apt¶ Xfcpw. ]ns¶ Rm³ F§s\

KÀ`nWnbmIpw.”

“tN«¯n hnjan¡msX Ccn. FÃmw icnbmIpw.”

“Fs¶ms¡ Xs¶bmWv Rm\pw C{X \mÄ

hnNmcn¨ncp¶Xv. C¸w F\n¡v A§s\ Hcp {]Xo£tb CÃ.

Cu sht¡j\v Rm³ Häbv¡v C§v h¶Xv Xs¶ AXn\v

Fs´¦nepw Hcp ]cnlmcw ImWm³ th−nbmWv.”

“AXn\v thtd F´v ]cnlmcamWv DÅXv ?”

“AXn\tÃ Rm³ \ns¶bpw Iq«n Cu aq¶mÀ {Sn v̧ Xs¶

Atd©v sNbvXXv.”

“At¸mÄ tN«¯n FÃmw IcpXn¡q«n Xs¶bmWv

]pds¸«Xv. AtÃ.”

“FSm a−m CXv Fsâ ¹m³ AÃ. \nsâ A½¨n

Xs¶bm CXv Atd©v sNbvXXv.”

11 Munnar

“AXp icn. FÃmhcpw IqSn H¯pÅ Ifnbmbncp¶p.

AtÃ. A¸¨\v Adnbmtam CXv.”

“A¸¨\pw Adnbmw. Rm³ h¶t¸mÄ Xs¶ A½¨n

Ft¶mSv hnhc§Ä tNmZn¨dnªp. ]ns¶ A¸¨\pw

A½¨nbpw IqSn ¹m³ sNbvXXmWv CXv.”

At¸mÄ kabw A©v aWn Ignªnt« D−mbncp¶pÅp

F¦nepw t\cnb Ccp«v hym]n¨ncp¶p. R§Ä apdn¡pÅnÂ

sseäv sXfn¨ncp¶nÃ. tN«¯n ]Xps¡ Ccp¶nS¯p \n¶pw

Fgpt¶äv Fsâ Itkcbv¡v ASp¯v InS¶ ItkcbnÂ

h¶v Ccp¶p. AhcpsS tXmÄ Fsâ tXmfnÂ X«nbncp¶p.

kmh[m\w AhÀ ssI Fsâ XpSbnÂ h¨p. AtXmsS

Fsâ Ip«³ _ew h¨v Dbcm³ XpS§n. Ah³ P«nbpw

Xpf¨v ]pd¯v hcptam F¶v tXm¶n. Ahsâ A\¡w I−n«v

tN«¯n Fsâ _À½pUbpsS ]pd¯pIqSn Ip®bnÂ XShn.

AtXmsS Ah³ IqSpXÂ _ew h¨v DbÀ¶p h¶p.

tN«¯n, _À½pUbpsS CemÌn¡n\v CSbneqsS ssI

IS¯n, P«nbpsS AI¯v I¿n«v Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p. AhÀ

s]s«¶v Ip® ]pd¯v FSp¯n«v “A\nbm CsX´m Rm³

Cu ImWp¶Xv ? \nsâ tN«sâ km[\w CXnsâ ]IpXntb

DÅp. Rm³ BsI \nsâ tN«sâ Ip® am{Xta I−n«pÅp.

km[mcW Ip®bpsS hen¸w AXmWv F¶mWv Rm³

12 Munnar

IcpXnbncp¶Xv. CXv Ct¸mÄ Fsâ FÃm IW¡v Iq«epw

sXän¨p Ifªp.”

Rm³ tN«¯nbpsS tXmfneqsS I¿n«v Ahsc

F¶ntebv¡v tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨p. AhÀ Fsâ IhnfnÂ

Npw_n¨p. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnse ]nSn hn«ncp¶nÃ. AhÀ

kmh[m\w Ip® sXmen¨v ASn¨p. Rm³ c−mas¯ ssI

sIm−v AhcpsS amdnÂ XgpIn.

AhcpsS tIm«nsâ DÅneqsS ssI IS¯n, AI¯v

[cn¨ncp¶ jÀ«nsâ ]pd¯pIqSn apeIfnÂ XgpIn. AhÀ

Fsâ ssI ]nSn¨v AhcpsS apebnÂ h¨v AaÀ¯n. Rm³

Ahsc tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨psIm−v AhcpsS IhnfnÂ Npw_n¨p.

Rm³ ]Xps¡ AhÀ [cn¨ncp¶ tIm«v Ducn amän.

ASnbnÂ Hcp shÅ jÀ«v D−mbncp¶p. Rm³ AXpw Ducn

amän. At¸mÄ AhcpsS apeIÄ t{_knbdn\pÅnÂ

sImÅmsX ]pdt¯bv¡v apg¨p \n¶p.

AhÀ [cn¨ncp¶Xv, Hcp Atacn¡³ t{_knbÀ

Bbncp¶p. AXv apeIsf icn¡v adbv¡p¶nÃmbncp¶p.

Rm³ t{_knbÀ hit¯bv¡v \o¡nbn«v apeIsf

]pds¯Sp¯p. AhcpsS apeIÄ, H«pw DShv X«msX Hcp

Nnc« Iagv¯nbXp t]mse apt¶m«v DbÀ¶p \n¶p.

AhcpsS, \t¶ shfp¯ icoc¯nÂ, B apeIfpsS

ap³hiw GXm−v ]n¦v \nd¯nÂ Hcp hr¯hpw, AXnsâ

a²y¯mbn {_u¬ \nd¯nÂ Xosc sNdnb ape¡®pIfpw

13 Munnar

IqSn BsI ImWm³ \Ã tNev Bbncp¶p. Rm³ hncÂXp¼v

sIm−v ape¡®n\v Npänepw hr¯w hc¨psIm−ncp¶p.

AtXmsS AhcpsS ape¡®pIÄ _ew h¨v Ipd¨pIqSn

hepXmbn h¶p.

“A\nbm, AhnsS \¶mbn«v Xncps½Sm. \Ã kpJw

tXm¶p¶p−v.”

“tN«³ C§s\sbm¶pw sNbvXv X¶n«ntÃ ?”

“FhnsS. tN«³ C¶phsc Fsâ apebnÂ sXm«n«nÃ.

\obmWv Fsâ apebnÂ BZyambn ]nSn¨Xv.”

“tN«³ ]ns¶ tN«¯nsb F´m sNbvXXv ?”

“Hm, At§cv BsI sN¿p¶Xv Fsâ ]mhmS

DbÀ¯nbn«v, ]mâoknsâ CSbneqsS H¶p tIän c−v Ipep¡v

Ipep¡pw. A{X Xs¶ BsI sN¿p¶Xv.”

“]ns¶ F§s\bm Imcy§Ä \S¶psIm−ncp¶Xv ?”

“Hm, At§cv XfÀ¶v InS¶v Dd¡ambmepw F\n¡v

Dd¡w hcnÃ. ]ns¶ Rm³ hncÂ C«v Hcphn[w Imcyw

km[n¡pw.”

Rm³ Ip\nªv AhcpsS ape¡®v hmbnem¡n

\pWªp. AhÀ Fsâ Xe AhcpsS amdntebv¡v ]nSn¨v

AaÀ¯n h¨p. Hcp ssI sIm−v Rm³ AhcpsS atä

14 Munnar

ape¡®nÂ ]nSn¨v sRcSns¡m−ncp¶p. AhÀ Fsâ

Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n.

“A\nbm, F\n¡v kln¡m³ ]äp¶nÃSm. \o atä ape

IqSn hmbnÂ h¨v N¸n hens¡Sm Ip«m. \nsâ tN«³ Fsâ

aq¶v hÀjw shdptX IfªtÃmSm.”

Rm³ AhcpsS c−p apeIfpw amdn amdn hmbnÂ h¨v

hen¨p IpSn¨p. AhÀ Ip®bnse ]nSn hn«n«v, AhcpsS ]mhmS

DbÀ¯n, ]mâoknsâ ]pd¯pIqSn ]qänÂ

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p.

Rm³ AhcpsS anUnbpsS lq¡pw, knºpw Cf¡n.

AhÀ s]s«¶v Fgpt¶äv Fsâ ap¶nÂ F\n¡v

A`napJambn \n¶p. AhcpsS icoc¯nÂ CdpIn InS¶

anUn Rm³ Xmtgbv¡v ]nSn¨v Ducn.

]ns¶ AhcpsS icoc¯nÂ BsI Ahtijn¨Xv,

A¸¯nsâ ap³`mKs¯ XSn¨ `mKw am{Xw adbv¡p¶ Hcp

]mâokv am{Xambn. Rm³ ]Xps¡ AXpw Xmtgbv¡v

Ducnamän.

AhcpsS ]qÀXS¯nÂ HcmgvNtbmfw hfÀ¨bpÅ Ipän

tcma§Ä hfÀ¶p \n¶p. Rm³ B Ipän tcma¯nÂ ssI

sIm−v XgpIn. AhÀ AhnsS \n¶psIm−p Xs¶ AhcpsS

Hcp ImÂ DbÀ¯n Fsâ XpSIÄ¡nSbnembn ItkcbnÂ

h¨p.

15 Munnar

AhÀ Imense XÅhncÂ sIm−v Fsâ Ip®bnÂ

XgpIn. Rm³ Fsâ ssIhncÂ sIm−v AhcpsS ]qÀ

NmeneqsS XgpIn. AhcpsS ]qÀNmensâ apIfä¯mbn Hcp

\ne¡S Ipcphnsâ hen¸¯nÂ I´v ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn

\n¶p.

Rm³ Fsâ XÅhncen\pw Nq−p hncepw sIm−v AXv

]Xps¡ sRcSn. AXv I−n«v AhÀ “\osb´mSm hm¨n\v Io

sImSp¡pt¶m ? GXmbmepw \ndp¯−. A§s\ Xs¶

]nSnt¨m. \Ã kpJw.”

Rm³ I´v ]nSn¯w XpSÀ¶psIm−ncp¶p. H¸w

\SphncÂ ]qÀXpfbnÂ Ip¯nbnd¡n. AhÀ ItkcbnÂ

Nhp«nbncp¶ ImÂ Ipd¨IqSn DbÀ¯n, ItkcbpsS

his¯ ]SnbnÂ Nhp«n. AtXmsS AhcpsS ]qÀ Iptd¡qSn

hnSÀ¶p. H¸w, ]qänÂ \n¶pw \oscmgp¡pw XpS§n.

At¸mtgbv¡pw AhÀ icn¡v NqSmbn¡gnªncp¶p.

“A\nbm F\n¡v kln¡m³ ]äp¶nÃ. \o Fs¶

Fs´¦nepsams¡ sNs¿Sm.”

AhÀ s]s«¶v Fsâ ap¶nÂ Ip¯n Ccp¶psIm−v,

Fsâ _ÀapUbpw, sP«nbpw IqSn Xmtgbv¡v ]nSn¨v Xmgv¯n.

Rm³ AhnsS Ccp¶psIm−pXs¶ N´n

DbÀ¯ns¡mSp¯p. AtXmsS AhÀ AXv c−pw IqSn

Xmtgbv¡v Ducn amän.

16 Munnar

hkv{X§fpsS ]nSnbnÂ \n¶pw kzX{´ambtXmsS

Fsâ Ip®, kzX{´amb Hcp kv{]nMv t]mse \n¶v BSn.

AhÀ c−p ssI sIm−pw AXnÂ apdpsI ]nSn¨p.

“A\nbm CXv A]mc km[\w Xs¶. \o CXv

F§s\bmSm C{Xbpw hfÀ¯n FSp¯Xv ?”

“Hm, AsXms¡ A§s\b§v ]än. Rm³ BsI

sNbvXXv, shÅw h¨ \mÄ apXÂ apS§msX

hmWaSn¡pambncp¶p. AÃmsX Rms\m¶pw sNbvXn«nÃ.

GXmbmepw Ah\§v hfÀ¶p hepXmbn.”

“At¸mÄ \o Znhkhpw hmWaSn¡mdpt−m”

“Mm. an¡hmdpw FÃm Znhkhpw hmWaSn¡pw. Nne

Znhk§fnÂ c−pw, aq¶pw {]mhiysams¡

ASn¡pambncp¶p.”

“Cu hnZy \n\¡v \nsâ tN«\p IqSn ]dªp

sImSp¡mambncp¶ntÃ. F¦nÂ Rm³ c£s¸t«t\atÃm.”

“Rm\dntªm tN«\v CsXm¶pw henb ]nSnbnÃ F¶v.

Xs¶bpaÃ, Rm\pw tN«\pw X½nÂ F«p hbÊnsâ

hyXymkap−v. AXpsIm−v R§Ä X½nÂ C¯c¯nÂ

ASp¸sam¶panÃmbncp¶p.”

17 Munnar

AhÀ ]Xps¡ Ip\nªv Fsâ Ip®bnÂ Np−pIÄ

AaÀ¯n. Ahsâ Aä¯v Xpfp¼n \n¶ Hcp XpÅn

\ndanÃm¯ {ZmhIw AhÀ \m¡psIm−v \¡nsbSp¯p.

Rm³ AhcpsS XebneqsS hnctemSn¨p. AhÀ ]Xps¡

Ip®bpsS aIpSw hmbv¡pÅnem¡n.

AhÀ \m¡p sIm−v Ip®bpsS aIpS¯n\v Npäpw

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. AtXmsS Fsâ DÅnÂ ]q¯ncn

I¯n. Rm³ AhcpsS Xe ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n. AtXmsS

Ip®bpsS ]IpXn AhcpsS hmbv¡pÅnembn.

Rm³ AhcpsS XebnÂ ]nSn¨v apt¶m«pw ]pdtIm«pw

Nen¸n¨p. H¸w, Fsâ Imensâ s]cphncÂ sIm−v

AhcpsS ]qänÂ XgpIn. AhÀ Hcp ssI sIm−v Fsâ

]dnk©nbnÂ XgpIns¡m−v, Ip® aq©Â XpSÀ¶p.

Fsâ Imense s]cphncÂ AhcpsS ]qÀtX³ sIm−v

IpXnÀ¶p. AhÀ hfsc thK¯nÂ aq©Â XpSÀ¶p.

HSphnÂ Fsâ ASnhbänÂ Hcp DcpÄ s]m«en\pÅ

X¿msdSp v̧ \S¡p¶Xv Rm³ Adnªp. HSphnÂ AXv

kw`hn¨p.

Fsâ Ip®, AhcpsS A®m¡ntebv¡v D−IÄ

hnt£]n¨p. Gsg«p {]mhiyw Ip® AhcpsS hmbnÂ shSn

s]m«n¨p. Ip®bnÂ \n¶pw Ahkm\ XpÅn hsc AhÀ

\¡nsbSp¯p. HSphnÂ Ip® AhcpsS hmbnencp¶v

Npcp§nbt¸mÄ AhÀ AXv ]pds¯Sp¯p.

18 Munnar

“FSm, \nsâ ]men\v \Ã cpNnbmWtÃmSm. F\n¡v hbÀ

\nd¨pw \nsâ ]mÂ In«n.”

“AXv apgph³ IpSn¨msem¶pw KÀ`nWn BI¯nÃ.

AXn\v Cu ]mÂ apgph³ AI¯v \nt£]n¡Ww.”

“Hm, AXv C¸w \nt£]n¨n«v ImcyanÃ. F\n¡v sa³kkv

Bbn«v C¶v Bdv Znhkta Bbn«pÅp. Ct¸mÄ

AIs¯mgn¨msem¶pw KÀ`w D−mI¯nÃ. AXn\v C\nbpw

HcmgvN IqSn IgnbWw. AXp hsc AXv F´n\m ]mgm¡n

Ifbp¶Xv?”

“tN«¯n Fsâ ]mÂ apgph³ IpSn¨ntÃ. C\n F\n¡v

tN«¯nbpsS tX³ IpSn¡Ww.”

“AsX§s\bmSm tX³ IpSn¡p¶Xv ?”

“tN«¯n AhnsS aeÀ¶v InSt¶. tX³ Rm³

IpSnt¨mfmw.”

A§s\ Rm³ Ahsc XdbnÂ aeÀ¯n InS¯nbn«v,

AhcpsS ImepIÄ¡nSbnembn Rm\pw InS¶p. AhnsS

InS¶psIm−v Rm³ AhcpsS ImepIÄ c−p hit¯bv¡pw

AIÀ¯n h¨p.

Rm³ apJw AhcpsS ]qänÂ ap«n¨p. AhcpsS

]qÀNmensâ apIfä¯mbn ]qÀ CXfpIfpsS a²y¯mbn

19 Munnar

I´v ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn \n¶p. Rm³ \m¡v \o«n AXnÂ

kv]Àin¨p. s]s«¶v AhÀ tjm¡Sn¨Xpt]mse sR«n hnd¨p.

Rm³ ]qÀNmensâ Iogäw apXÂ apIfäw hsc \m¡p

sIm−v \¡n. AhÀ Fsâ XebnÂ ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n. AhÀ

s]s«¶v ImÂap«pIÄ aS¡nbn«v ImÂ]mZw XdbnÂ Du¶n.

AtXmsS Fsâ Xe, AhcpsS ImepIÄ¡nSbnembn.

Rm³ AhcpsS I´v, Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n hen¨p

IpSn¨p. AhÀ Fsâ Xe AhcpsS ]qäntebv¡v IqSpXÂ

AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. F\n¡v icn¡v izmkw hen¡m³

]änbnsÃ¦nepw, Rm³ N¸Â XpSÀ¶p.

AhÀ hnImcw sIm−v ]pfªp. Rm³ \m¡v AhcpsS

Xpfbntebv¡v Ip¯nbnd¡n. AXneqsS t\cnb \oscmgp¡v

D−mbncp¶p. Rm³ AXv \¡n IpSn¨p.

AhÀ ImepIÄ, Fsâ tXmfn\v apIfneqsS Fsâ

apXpInÂ Ibän h¨p. Rm³ AhcpsS ]qÀ apgph³ N¸n

hen¨p. H¸w, heXp I¿psS Nq−p hncen\pw, s]cphncen\pw

CSbnÂ AhcpsS I´v FSp¯v sRcSns¡m−pancp¶p.

A[nIw Ignbp¶Xn\v ap¼v AhcpsS \Sp hnÃp t]mse

hfªv DbÀ¶p h¶p. H¸w AhcpsS hmbnÂ \n¶pw

Ahyàamb Nne A]kzc§fpw ]pds¸«psIm−ncp¶p.

HSphnÂ AhcpsS tX³IpSw s]m«n HgpIn. H¸w, AhcpsS

DbÀ¶p \n¶ icocw sh«nbn« t]mse XdbnÂ hoWp.

20 Munnar

AhcpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw HgpInbnd§nb tX³ apgph³

Rm³ \¡n IpSn¨p. AhÀ XfÀ¶p InS¶psIm−v Fsâ

XebnÂ XgpIn. HSphnÂ AhÀ Fsâ Xe ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯n.

Rm³ AhcpsS ASp¯v tNÀ¶p InS¶p. AhÀ Fs¶

sI«n¸nSn¨p Npw_n¨p. AhÀ Fsâ apJ¯v FÃm Øe¯pw

amdn amdn Npw_n¨p

“Fsâ s]m¶p tamt\, \o F´m Fs¶ sNbvXXv?

Rm³ kzÀ¤w Is−Sm. Fsâ PohnX¯nÂ Rm³ C¶phsc

C{Xbpw kpJw A\p`hn¨n«nÃ.”

“tN«¯o CXv shdpw km¼ntf Bbn«pÅp. icn¡pÅ

shSns¡«v C\n ImWm\ncn¡p¶tX DÅq.”

“At¿m, Fsâ N¡tc, CXv Xs¶ F\n¡v kln¡m³

]äp¶Xn\pw A¸pdambncp¶p. At¸mÄ _m¡n IqSn

BIpt¼mtg¡pw Rm³ kpJw sIm−v izmkw ap«n NmIpw.”

Rm³ AhcpsS ASpt¯bv¡v Ncnªp InS¶p sIm−v,

Fsâ Xe, Fsâ heXp ssI sIm−v Xm§n Ahsc

t\m¡n InS¶p. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p sRcn¨p.

AtXmsS, ]IpXn XfÀ¶p InS¶ Ip®, ]Xps¡ Poh³ h¨v

Dbcm³ XpS§n. Rm³ CSXv ssI sIm−v AhcpsS

apebnÂ XgpIn. AhÀ Xe DbÀ¯n Fs¶ Npw_n¨p.

Rm³ Ip\nªv AhcpsS ape¡®n\v Npänepw \m¡p

sIm−v \¡n. AtXmsS ape¡®pIÄ _ew h¨v DbÀ¶p

21 Munnar

h¶p. AhÀ Fsâ XebnÂ ]nSn¨v AhcpsS amdnÂ

AaÀ¯n h¨p. Rm³ ape¡®v Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n

\pWªp.

AhÀ ]Xps¡ NqSp]nSn¨p XpS§n. AXn\\pkcn¨v

Ip®bnse ]nSnbpw apdpIn. AhcpsS Ip®bnse ]nSn

apdpIp¶Xn\v A\pkcn¨v Fsâ \nb{´Whpw hn«p XpS§n.

Ahkm\w Rm³ AhcpsS apIfnÂ Ibdn. AhÀ Fs¶

sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. Fsâ Ip«³, AhcpsS

XpSIÄ¡nSbnÂ Ip¯n¡bdns¡m−ncp¶p.

Rm³ Fsâ ImÂ ap«psIm−v AhcpsS ImepIÄ

XÅn AIÀ¯nbn«v, AhcpsS XpSIfpsS \Sphnembn

ap«pIp¯n DbÀ¶n«v, Ip®, AhcpsS ]qÀNmenÂ ]nSn¨p h¨v

Dc¨p. AhcpsS ImepIÄ IqSpXÂ AIÀ¶p. Rm³

Ip®bpsS Xe, AhcpsS ]qÀNmenÂ ap«n¨p h¨psIm−v

]Xps¡ Fsâ Acs¡«v Xmgv̄ n. ]t£ Ip®bpsS aIpSw

am{Xta DÅnÂ IbdnbpÅp. Rm³ Ipd¨pIqSn _eambn

AaÀ¯n

“A\nbm \o F´v sN¿pIbm. \o hgnbdnbmsX

asähnsStbm BsW¶p tXm¶p¶p Ip¯p¶Xv. F\n¡v \Ã

thZ\ FSp¡p¶p.”

Rm³ H¶pIqSn DbÀ¶n«v, Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v t\m¡n.

Ip®v icnbmb Øe¯v Xs¶bmWv Ip¯nbncn¡p¶Xv.

22 Munnar

“tN«¯o Rm³ icnbmb Øe¯v Xs¶bmWv

Ip¯p¶Xv. ]t£ tN«¯nbpsS Xpf

sNdpXmbXpsIm−mWv thZ\n¡p¶Xv. AXv ]Xps¡

icnbmIpw.”

Rm³ Ip® H¶pIqSn AhnsSsbms¡ h¨v Dc¨p.

AtXmsS AhcpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw Hen¨nd§nb tX³

Ip®bpsS Aä¯v ]pc−p. Rm³ ho−pw Ip®bpsS Xe

]qÀXpfbnÂ tNÀ¯p h¨psIm−v ]Xps¡ AIt¯bv¡v

XÅn. AtXmsS Ip®bpsS ]IpXn AI¯mbn. AhÀ

Np−pIÄ ISn¨p ]nSn¨v, I®pIÄ Cdp¡n AS¨v, Fsâ

tXmfnÂ apdpsI ]nSn¨p. Rm³ Ipd¨p kabw A\§msX

InS¶p. Rm³ Hcp ssI sIm−v AhfpsS apebnÂ

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ AhÀ

“A\nbm apgph³ Ibdntbm ?”

“CÃ tN«¯o. ]IpXntb Bbn«pÅp. tN«¯n¡v

thZ\n¨XpsIm−mWv Rm³ \ndp¯nbXv.”

“C¸w thZ\ Ipdªp. C\n tam³ H¶p tIän

t\m¡ntb.”

Rm³ Ip® Aev]w ]pdt¯bv¡v hen¨n«v, iànbmbn

AIt¯bv¡v XÅn. AtXmsS Ip® ]qÀ®ambn AI¯mbn.

AhÀ thZ\ sIm−v \nehnfn¨p.

23 Munnar

“A\nbm F§ms−ms¡ Iodn s]mfs¶¶v tXm¶p¶p.

Ipg¸amIptam ?”

“H¶panÃ tN«¯o. AXv ]Xps¡ A§v amdns¡mÅpw.”

Rm³ AhcpsS apeIfnÂ apJw AaÀ¯n

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS ]qänencp¶v

hn§ns¡m−ncp¶p. Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ AhcpsS thZ\

amdnbn«v AhÀ N´n apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¯n F\n¡v Adnbn v̧

X¶p. Rm³ ]Xps¡ Ip® Ducn ASn¡m³ XpS§n.

BZysams¡ Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS ]qÀ `n¯nbnÂ

Dcªv F\n¡v sNdpXmbn thZ\n¡p¶p−mbncp¶p. aq¶p

\mev ASn Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw AhcpsS ]qdn\v Aev]w

Abhv h¶p XpS§n. AtXmsS Rm³ ASnbpsS thKX Iq«n.

AhÀ ASnbnÂ InS¶v ]pfªp.

“A\nbm Rm³ kzÀ¤w ImWps¶Sm. \nsâ tN«³ CXp

t]mse Hcn¡Ât]mepw F\n¡v ASn¨p X¶n«nÃSm. At¿m

F\n¡v kln¡m³ ]äp¶nÃSm.”

Rm³ AhcpsS ImepIÄ DbÀ¯n Fsâ tXmfnÂ

h¨p. F¶n«v AhcpsS Acs¡«nÂ ]nSn¨psIm−v

BªSn¨p. H¸w hncÂ sIm−v AhcpsS I´nÂ

sRcSns¡mSp¯p. AhÀ ssIIÄ Xebv¡v ]n¶neqsS

FSp¯n«v XebnWbnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p sIm−v Xebn«v

24 Munnar

Dcp«n. AhcpsS hmbnÂ \n¶pw A]i_vZ§Ä ]pd¯p

h¶psIm−ncp¶p.

AhÀ ssI DbÀ¯n Fsâ tXmfnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p.

s]s«¶v AhcpsS Xe apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¶p h¶p. AXv

A[nIkabw DbÀ¶p \n¶nÃ. AXn\nsS AhcpsS sI«p

s]m«n. AtXmsS Fsâ tXmfnse ]nSn hn«psIm−v AhÀ

I«nenÂ aeÀ¶p hoWp InX¨p.

“A\nbm Rm³ BsI XfÀs¶Sm. Fs¶ C\n H¶n\pw

sImÅnÃ.”

“AsXms¡ C¸w amdpw tN«¯o. F¶n«v tN«¯n C\nbpw

thWsa¶v ]dbpw.”

“icnbmbncn¡mw. ]t£ Ct¸mgs¯ AhØbnÂ

F\n¡v H¶n\pw h¿. \o F\n¡v IpSn¡m³ Ipd¨v shÅw

FSp¯p Xm.”

“tN«¯nbpsS Imcyw Ignªt¸mÄ Fsâ Imcyw ad¶p.

AtÃ ? Zm F\n¡v H¶pw BbnÃ. Ch³ Zm

Ibdps]m«n¡p¶p. Ahs\ Rm³ F´v sN¿Ww ?”

“\o AXv Ducn Fsâ hmbnÂ h¨p Xm. Rm³ B

]mse¦nepw IpSn¡s«.”

25 Munnar

Rm³ s]s«¶v Ip® Ducn AhcpsS hmbntebv¡v

h¨psImSp¯p. AhcpsS ]qÀtX\nÂ IpXnÀ¶ Ip® AhÀ

hmbnem¡n N¸n hen¨p. Rm³ Ip® AhcpsS hmbntebv¡v

XÅns¡mSp¯p. AhÀ Ip®bpsS IS hsc hmbnem¡n N¸n

hen¨p. Ip®bpsS Aäw AhcpsS A®m¡nÂ ap«nbn«v

]et¸mgpw AhÀ¡v izmkw ap«nbncp¶p.

F\n¡v A[nIw kabw ]nSn¨p \nÂ¡m³ IgnªnÃ.

Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS A®m¡ntebv¡v ]mÂ A`nt£Iw

\S¯n. AhÀ AXv apgph³ IpSn¨nd¡n. Ip®bpsS sh«Â

Ahkm\n¨t¸mÄ AhÀ Ip® ]pds¯Sp¯v AXnsâ ]pdw

apgph³ \¡n XpS¨p. Fsâ Ip®bpsS _ew Aev]w

Ipdsª¦nepw, AXnsâ hen¸w Ipdªncp¶nÃ. AXv I−n«v

AhÀ

“A\nbm Ch³ ]¯n Xmgv¯p¶nÃtÃmSm. \nsâ tN«sâ

kmam\w shÅw t]mbmÂ DS³ Imäp t]mb _eq¬ t]mse

s]s«¶v Npcp§patÃm. CXnsâ clkysa´mSm ?”

Rm³ AhcpsS ASp¯v InS¶p..

“AXnÂ clkysam¶panÃ tN«¯o. AsXms¡

Hmtcmcp¯cpsS icoc{]IrXamWv.”

“GXmbmepw \ns¶ k½Xn¨ncn¡p¶p. \o Fs¶

kzÀ¤w ImWn¨p. Ct¸mÄ F\n¡v \nsâ tN«sâ

ASpt¯bv¡v XncnsI t]mImt\ tXm¶p¶nÃ.”

26 Munnar

“F¦nÂ ]ns¶ tN«¯n ChnsSb§v IqSnt¡m.”

“At¸mÄ Rm³ KÀ`nWnbmbmÂ Fsâ KÀ`w \o

GÂ¡ptam ?”

“]ns¶´m Rm³ kt´mjt¯msS GÂ¡mw.”

“F\n¡pw AXv CjvSamWv. ]t£ BfpIÄ F´v

]dbpw?”

“A§s\ FÃmhtcbpw Xr]vXns¸Sp¯n \ap¡v

Pohn¡m³ ]äptam ?”

“F¦nepw \½psS \mStÃ ?”

“AXn\v Hcp hgnbp−v. \n\¡v IqSn AhnsS Hcp tPmen

Xcs¸Sp¯mw. AhnsSbmIpt¼mÄ Bcpw AdnbnÃtÃm.”

“AXv thWsa¦nÂ BtemNn¡mhp¶tX DÅp.”

R§Ä Ipd¨p kabw IqSn A§s\ kwkmcn¨psIm−v

InS¶p.

]ns¶ Fgpt¶äv hkv{Xw [cn¨p. AhÀ Fsâ

_À½pUbpw So jÀ«pamWv [cn¨Xv. ASnbnÂ H¶pw [cn¨nÃ.

Rm³ t]mbn Hcp ssIen FSp¯v DSp¯p. ]ns¶ sseäv

sXfn¨p. tN«¯n AhcpsS hkv{X§sfms¡ FSp¯v

AI¯v sIm−p h¨p.

27 Munnar

XWp v̧ IqSnbXn\mÂ R§Ä c−mfpw Hmtcm I¼nfn

DSp v̧ FSp¯v ]pd¯v [cn¨p. At¸mgpw kabw Bdc

Bbnt« D−mbncp¶pÅp. Rm³ loäÀ Hm¬ sNbvXtXmsS

apdnbnse XWp v̧ amdn. At¸mÄ R§Ä I¼nfn DSp v̧ Ducn

amän. R§Ä¡v {]tXyIn¨v H¶pw sN¿m³ CÃmbncp¶p.

AXn\mÂ R§Ä AIs¯ apdnbnÂ Ibdn I«nenÂ InS¶p.

loädnÂ \n¶pw NqSv hcp¶Xn\mÂ XWp v̧

A\p`hs¸«nÃ. Rm³ tN«¯nbpsS SojÀ«v DbÀ¯n h¨n«v

AhcpsS IÃpt]mse Dd¨ apeIfnÂ XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p.

AhÀ Fsâ ap−nsâ Ip¯v Agn¨v ap−v c−p

hit¯bv¡pw Xpd¶p h¨p. Fsâ Ip® _ewh¨v DbÀ¶p

\n¶ncp¶p. AhÀ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v XgpIn.

“tamt\ F\n¡v \nsâ kmam\w I−n«pw I−n«pw

aXnbmIp¶nÃSm. CXv A¯c¯nepÅ Hcp km[\w Xs¶.”

“tN«sâ Ip® icn¡pw F{Xbp−v ?”

“Hm ! AXv IjvSn¨v Hcp \men©nÂ Xmsgtb ImWq.

\nsâ Cu km[\w I−n«v AXv H¶paÃ. CXn\v Bdn©nÂ

IqSpXÂ \ofw ImWpatÃm.”

“Mm. CXn\v Bdc C©v \ofap−v.”

“\o hmWaSn AÃmsX CXv sIm−v CXn\v ap¼v

Bscsb¦nepw Xm§nbn«pt−mSm?”

28 Munnar

“]ns¶ Rms\´n\m CXv sIm−p \S¡p¶Xv ?”

“\o Bscsbms¡ Xm§nbn«p−v?”

“Hm, A§s\sbm¶panÃ. Rm³ ap¼v Nnet¸msgms¡

sht¡j\v ChnsS hcmdp−mbncp¶p. As¶ms¡

ChnSps¯ Nne ]Wn¡mcnIsf ASn¨n«p−v. ]t£ Rm³

BZyambn ASn¨Xv \½psS ho«nse thebv¡v hcp¶ \fn\n

tN¨nsbbmWv. ”

“AsX§s\bmSm \o \fn\n tN¨nsb hf¨Xv? FÃmw

H¶p hniZambn ]dsbSm.”

“tN«¯o, Rm³ ]¯mw ¢mÊnse ]co£ Ignªp

\nÂ¡p¶ kabw. A¸¨³ cmhnse B^oknÂ t]mIpw.

A½bv¡v ]co£m t]¸À t\m¡m³ D−mIpw. A½¨n cmhnse

Im¸nIpSn Ignªv t]¸À t\m¡m³ Ccn¡pw. ]ns¶ AhnsS

Rm³ Häbv¡v BIpw. t_mdSn amäm\mbn Rm³ ASp¡fbnÂ

\fn\n tN¨nbpsS ASp¯v t]mbn AhcpsS tPmenIsfms¡

t\m¡n \nÂ¡pw.”

“\fn\n tN¨n \sÃmcp Nc¡mWtÃm. t\m¡n \nÂ¡m\pw

am{Xw D−v. h®w A[nIw CsÃ¦nepw ap³ hihpw

]pdIphihpsams¡ Bhiy¯n\v D−tÃm.”

“AXv ]t£ GXm−v Bdv hÀjw ap¼tÃ. A¶v

Ahsc¡mWm³ CXnepw \Ã tNembncp¶p. A¶v AhÀ¡v

29 Munnar

GXm−v ap¸Xv hbÊnÂ Xmsgtb DÅp. AhcpsS `À¯mhv

Ahsc Dt]£n¨p t]mb kabw. AhcpsS aIÄ BcXn¡v

A¶v Ft«m, H³]tXm hbÊv. Pohn¡m³ aäv amÀ¤anÃm¯

AhØbnemWv AhÀ \½psS ho«nÂ tPmen¡v h¶Xv. aIsf

cmhnse Ipfn¸n¨v kv¡qfnÂ t]mIm\pÅ thjhpw [cn¸n¨v

AXn cmhnse hcpw. BZysams¡ A§s\bmbncps¶¦nepw,

]ns¶ \½psS ho«nÂ h¶n«mbn aIfpsS Ipfnbpw thjw

sI«epsams¡. ]ns¶ kv¡qÄ kabamIpt¼mÄ A½bpsS

IqsS AhÄ kv¡qfnÂ t]mIpw. Rm\pw B kab¯v Xs¶

kv¡qfnÂ t]mIp¶Xv. R§fpsS ho«nÂ \n¶pw

kv¡qfntebv¡v ]¯v an\näv \S¡m\pÅ Zqcta DÅp.

AXpsIm−p Xs¶ D¨bv¡v R§Ä ho«nÂ h¶mWv DuWv

Ign¡p¶Xv.

“FSm \o Ncn{Xw ]dbmsX Imcy¯ntebv¡v hm.”

“Mm. A§s\ Rm³ ASp¡fbnÂ sN¶v tN¨nbpsS

ASp¯v tN¨n tPmen sN¿p¶Xv t\m¡n \nÂ¡pw. tN¨n,

ssIenbpw, Cd¡w IqSnb Hcp DSp¸pamWv km[mcW

[cn¡p¶Xv. AhÀ AhcpsS ho«nÂ \n¶pw hcpt¼mÄ

amdnÂ Hcp tXmÀ¯v C«psIm−mWv hcpsX¦nepw, ho«nÂ

h¶mÂ B tXmÀ¯v FSp¯v amänbn«mWv tPmen sN¿p¶Xv.

As¶ms¡ sht¡j\mbmÂ AhcpsS aIfpw H¸w

D−mbncn¡pw. AhÀ AhcpsS Hcp ktlmZcsâ H¸amWv

Xmakn¨ncp¶Xv. ktlmZc\pw hnhmlnX\mbncp¶p.

AbmÄ¡v c−p Ip«nIÄ D−mbncp¶p. Ahcpambn

30 Munnar

tN¨nbpsS aIÄ Ifn¨v hg¡v IqS− F¶v IcpXnbmWv tN¨n

AXns\¡qSn sIm−p hcp¶Xv.

A§s\bncns¡, Fsâ ]¯mw ¢mÊnse dnkÄ«v h¶p.

ASp¯ ¹Êv h®nsâ {]thi\ \S]SnIÄ \S¡p¶tX DÅp.

]t£ kv¡qfnÂ aäv ¢mÊpIÄ¡v ¢mÊv Bcw`n¨p. A§s\

A½bpw, \fn\n tN¨nbpsS aIfpw kv¡qfnÂ t]mbn XpS§n.

sUbnkn tN¨n (AXmbncp¶p Fsâ ktlmZcnbpsS t]cv)

A¶v tImtfPnÂ Un{Kn¡v ]Tn¡p¶p. ho«nÂ Rm\pw, \fn\n

tN¨nbpw am{Xambn.

kv¡qÄ Xpd¶Xnsâ ASp¯ Znhkw, \fn\n tN¨n

ASp¡fbnÂ tPmenbnÂ apgpInb kabw. CXn\nsS tN¨n

Fs¶ hnfn¨p. Rm³ ASp¡fbntebv¡v sNÃpt¼mÄ \fn\n

tN¨n, Nnch XdbnÂ h¨v tX§ Npc−ns¡m−ncn¡p¶p.

NnchbnÂ Ccp¶ tN¨nbpsS ap−v, ap«phsc

Npcp−ncn¡p¶p.

tN¨n Hcp ImÂ NnchbnÂ aS¡n h¨ncn¡p¶p. atä

ImÂ aS¡n XdbnÂ ]mZw Ip¯nbncn¡p¶p. ap−n\nSbnÂ

IqSn tN¨nbpsS XpSbpsS CSp¡v ImWmw. ]t£

AIt¯bvs¡m¶pw ImWm³ h¿. Rm³ AhntSbv¡v

kq£n¨p t\m¡n. Cu kab¯mWv tN¨n Xe DbÀ¯n Fs¶

t\m¡nbXv. Rm³ tN¨nbpsS Imensâ CSbntebv¡v

t\m¡p¶Xv tN¨n I−p.”

31 Munnar

“F´m tamt\ ImgvN ImWp¶Xv ? AhnsS hÃXpw

It−m ?”

“tN¨nbpsS tNmZyw sI«v Rm³ hnfdn shfp¯pt]mbn.

F¦nepw B PmfyX ad¨psIm−v Rm³ ]dªp : tN¨o

Ccp«p ImcWw H¶pw ImWm³ h¿.”

“F¦nÂ tam³ ImgvN ImWmsX t]mbn thKw Hcp

tX§ s]mXn¨psIm−p hm.”

Rm³ \ncmitbmsS ]pdt¯bv¡p t]mbn. Rm³ tX§

s]mXn¨psIm−p XncnsI h¶t¸mgpw tN¨n AhnsS Xs¶

Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Ft£ ap−v Ipd¨pIqSn Xpd¶v,

AhcpsS IfnØew ImW¯¡hn[w ImepIÄ AIÀ¯n

h¨ncp¶p.

“tam³ B tX§ H¶v s]m«n¨p sIm−p hm. Rm³

ChnSp¶v Fgpt¶ämÂ Cu Ccn¸nsâ kpJw t]mIpw.”

Rm³ s]s«¶v tX§ s]m«n¨p sIm−p h¶n«v AXv

sImSp¡p¶Xn\mbn Ip\nªp. At¸mÄ AhcpsS

XpSbnSp¡v Rm³ icn¡pw I−p. AhÀ ]mâokv

[cn¨ncp¶nÃ. AhcpsS ]qÀXS¯nse Idp¯v Ccp−

tcma§Ä hyàambn ImWmambncp¶p. Rm³ kmh[m\w

\nhÀ¶p \n¶p. tN¨n Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡n Nncn¨p. Rm\pw

Hcp hfn¨ Nncn Nncn¨p.

32 Munnar

“tam³ ImgvN ImWm³ am{Xsams¡ hfÀt¶m. Rm³

tams\ sIm¨p sNdp¡\mbn«mWv IcpXnbncp¶Xv. ”

tN¨nbpsS Xpd¶ncp¶ aWnt¸gvkv I−n«v Fsâ Ip«³

Xe s]m¡n XpS§n. Rm³ As¶ms¡ ap«n\v apIfnÂ

\nÂ¡p¶ \n¡dmWv [cn¡p¶Xv. ASnbnÂ P«nbpw

[cn¨ncp¶nÃ. Fsâ \n¡dn\pÅnse A\¡w tN¨nbpw

I−p.

“F´m tamt\ tamsâ \n¡dnsâ ap¶nÂ Hcp apg ?

tam³ AXn\I¯v hÃXpw FSp¯v h¨ncn¡pt¶m.”

]t£ AXn\v adp]Sn ]dbm³ Ignbp¶ am\knI

AhØbnembncp¶nÃ Rm³. AXv I−n«v AhÀ ssI F¯n

Fsâ Ip«sâ ]pd¯pIqSn XgpIn.

“Np½mXmtWm tam³ C§s\ Ip´w hngp§nbt]mse

\nÂ¡p¶Xv ? CXv km[\w Ipd¨v I«nbmWtÃm.” F¶n«pw

Rm³ H¶pw an−nbnÃ. AhÀ ssI F¯n Fsâ \n¡dnÂ

]nSn¨v hen¨v AhcpsS ASpt¯bv¡v \ndp¯n.

AhÀ AhcpsS Hcp ssI kmh[m\w Fsâ \n¡dnsâ

ASnbneqsS DÅntebv¡v IS¯n Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p. Rm³

tjm¡Sn¨Xp t]mse sR«nhnd¨p. Fsâ icoc¯nse

sN¼n¨ sNdp tcma§Ä Fgpt¶äp \n¶p. AhÀ Ip®

kmh[m\w ]pds¯Sp¯p.

33 Munnar

“tamt\ CXv {]mb¯ns\m¯ hen¸aÃtÃm. Np½mXÃ

tam³ C§s\ Fsâ ASp¯v Id§n \n¶Xv. ”

F¶n«pw Rm³ H¶pw an−nbnÃ. F\n¡v icn¡pw

kwkmcn¡m³ Ignbm¯ kvXw`\mhØ Bbncp¶p. tN¨n

AhnsS Ccp¶psIm−p Xs¶ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v

hmWaSn¨p. Rm³ H³]Xmw ¢mÊnÂ ]Tn¡pt¼mÄ apXÂ

hmWaSn¡mdp−mbncps¶¦nepw, asämcmÄ, AXpw Hcp

kv{Xo, Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¡p¶Xv BZyambn«mbncp¶p.

AhÀ Ipd¨p kabw hmWaSn¨n«v ssI amän. F\n¡v hÃm¯

\ncmi tXm¶n.

“tamt\ Ct¸mÄ CXpambn \n¶mÂ ]ä¯nÃ. tamsâ

AÑ\pw A½bpw D®m³ hcp¶Xn\v apt¼ tNmdv

icnbm¡Ww. Ct¸mÄ tam³ t]m. Ahcv DuWv Ign¨v t]mbn«v

Rm³ tam\v FÃmw ImWn¨p Xcmw. AXn\v ap¼v tam³ CXv

Ipep¡n IfbcpXv. tIt«m.”

Rm³ \ncmitbmsS, F¶mÂ ssIhcm³ t]mIp

`mKys¯¡pdn¨v BtemNn¨v ]pd¯v t]mbn. AXv BtemNn¡pw

tXmdpw Ip® ]ns¶bpw s]cp¯v hcm³ XpS§n. A¶v

Fsâ Ip®bv¡v A©v C©v \ofap−mbncp¶p. Rm³

Ipd¨p kabw ]d¼nsems¡ Id§n \S¶p. apdnbnÂ

IbdnbmÂ Nnet¸mÄ Rm³ hmWaSn¨p t]mIpsa¶v

`b¶ncp¶p. Xs¶bpaÃ, F\n¡v tN¨nbpsS apJ¯v

t\m¡m³ Hcp \mWw t]mse.

34 Munnar

A§s\ D¨bmbn. FÃmhcpw DuWv Ign¡m³ F¯n.

tN¨n FÃmhÀ¡pw DuWv hnf¼nsh¨p. R§Ä Ccp¶v DuWv

Ign¨p. ]t£ Rm³ tN¨nbpsS apJ¯v t\m¡msX

Ip\nªncp¶mWv Ign¨Xv. FÃmhcpw D−p Ignªv tN¨n

]m{X§Ä s]dp¡ns¡m−v t]mbn.

]ns¶ tN¨n ASp¡fbnÂ Ccp¶pXs¶ DuWv Ign¨p.

At¸mtgbv¡pw AÑ\pw, A½bpsaÃmw XncnsI t]mbn. Fsâ

lrZbw ]S]Sm CSn¡m³ XpS§n. lrZbanSn¸nsâ SIv.. SIv..

i_vZw ASp¯v \nÂ¡p¶hÀ¡v tIÄ¡mw. Rm³ sN¶v

]pdt¯bv¡pÅ hmXnepIÄ Ipänbn«p. At¸mtgbv¡pw tN¨n

DuWv Ign¨n«v ]m{Xw IgpIp¶ i_vZw tI«p. Rm³

ap³his¯ lmfnÂ Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p.

Rm³ AIt¯bv¡v \S¶p sN¶p. At¸mtgbv¡pw tN¨n

DSp¯ncp¶ ap−nÂ ssI XpS¨psIm−v ASp¡fbnÂ

\n¶pw ]pdt¯bv¡v h¶p.

“tam\v AhnsS Ccp¶n«v £a \in¨p. AtÃ?”

F¶n«pw Rm³ H¶pw an−nbnÃ. tN¨n \S¶v Fsâ

ASp¯v h¶p. R§Ä ssU\nwKv lmfnembncp¶p \n¶Xv.

tN¨n Fsâ tXmfnÂ ssI h¨p. Rm³ Xe Ip\n¨v XdbnÂ

I®pw \«v \nÂ¡pIbmbncp¶p. tN¨n Fsâ apJw ]nSn¨v

DbÀ¯nbn«v Fsâ I®pIfntebv¡v t\m¡n. AhcpsS

apJ¯v t\m¡m³ F\n¡v eÖ Bbncp¶p. Rm³ s]s«¶v

35 Munnar

I®v hit¯bv¡v Xncn¨p. tN¨n Fsâ apJ¯v AaÀ¯n

Npw_n¨p. Rm³ I®pIÄ AS¨p]nSn¨p.

“IÅm! Fsâ apJ¯v t\ms¡Sm tamt\. C§s\

I®S¨p \n¶mÂ F§s\bm FÃmw ImWp¶Xv ?”

AhÀ Fsâ \n¡dnsâ ]pd¯pIqSn Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v

sRcn¨p. AtXmsS ]IpXn DbÀ¶p \n¶ Ip® ]qÀ®ambn

D²cn¨p h¶p. AhÀ Fsâ ap¶nÂ ap«pIp¯n Ccp¶n«v,

\n¡dnsâ IpSp¡pIÄ Agn¨v \n¡À Xmtgbv¡v Ducn amän.

AtXmsS Ip® 120 Un{KnbnÂ \n¶p sh«n hnd¨p.

AhÀ c−p ssI sIm−pw AXnÂ ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n.

At¸mtgbv¡pw Ip®bpsS Aä¯v Hcp XpÅn \ndanÃm¯

{ZmhIw Dudn h¶p. AhÀ AXv \m¡psIm−v \¡nsbSp¯p.

AhcpsS \m¡v sXm«Xpw Rm³ tjm¡Sn¨ t]mse

sR«nhnd¨p.

AhÀ Hcp ssI sIm−v Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨n«v, atä ssI

sIm−v Ip®bv¡v Npänepambn InfnÀ¯v XpS§nbncp¶

sNdnb tcma§fnÂ XgpIn. Rm³ c−p ssI sIm−pw

AhcpsS XebnÂ ]nSn¨p. AhÀ kmh[m\w Ip®bpsS

aIpS¯nÂ \m¡psIm−v Dgnbm³ XpS§n. Fsâ icocw

sR«n Xcn¨p. Fsâ \s«ÃnÂ¡qSn Hcp an¶Â ]mªp

t]mbn.

AhÀ ]Xps¡ Ip® hmbnem¡n N¸n hen¡m³ XpS§n.

Rm³ kzÀ¤¯neqsS HgpIn \S¡p¶Xmbn tXm¶n. Rm³

36 Munnar

AhcpsS Xebnse ]nSn IqSpXÂ apdp¡n. AhÀ iànbmbn

Ip® aq©m³ XpS§n. Ipd¨p kabw Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw

F\n¡v DÅnÂ Fs´ms¡tbm Hcp s]m«ns¯dn \S¡m³

t]mIp¶Xnsâ e£W§Ä I−p XpS§n. Fsâ D¸qän

apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¶p. AtXmsS F\n¡v kvJe\w \S¡m³

t]mIp¶p F¶v a\Ênem¡nb tN¨n Ip® s]s«¶v hmbnÂ

\n¶pw ]pds¯Sp¯p. s]s«¶v B kpJw \jvSs¸« F\n¡v

tZjyhpw \ncmibpw FÃmw h¶p. AXphsc an−msX \n¶

Rm³ s]s«¶v tN¨ntbmSv NqSmbn.

“tN¨n CXv F´v ]Wnbm ImWn¨Xv?”

“Mm. At¸mÄ tam\v \m¡p−v AtÃ. Rm³ C{Xsbms¡

Im«n¡q«nbn«pw tam³ an−mXncp¶t¸mÄ Rm³ IcpXn tam\v

CsXm¶pw CjvSambnÃ F¶v.”

“CjvSaÃmªn«Ã Rm³ an−mXncp¶Xv. F\n¡v an−m³

]ämªn«mWv. tN¨n C§s\sbms¡ sNbvXt¸mÄ Rm³

GtXm kzÀ¤¯neqsS ]d¶p \S¡pIbmbncp¶p. AXm

an−m¯Xv.”

“icn.. icn.. Rm³ C¸w \ndp¯nbnÃmbncps¶¦nÂ

tamsâ ]mÂ ]pd¯p hcpambncp¶p. AXvt]mbn¡gnªmÂ

]ns¶ tam\v thtd H¶pw sN¿m³ ]äpambncp¶nÃ. AXm

Rm³ \ndp¯nbXv.”

37 Munnar

AhÀ s]s«¶v Fgpt¶äv Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨p Np−nÂ

D½ h¨p. AhÀ ]Xps¡ Fsâ Np−pIÄ AhcpsS

hmbv¡pÅnem¡n \pWªp.

“tamt\ C§s\ shdptX \n¶mÂ aXntbm. tam\v FÃmw

ImWt− ?”

“thWw tN¨o. F\n¡v tN¨nbpsS FÃmw ImWWw. ]t£

AXv F§s\bmsW¶v F\n¡v AdnbnÃ. tN¨n Xs¶ FÃmw

]Tn¸n¨p XcWw.”

“AsXms¡ Rm³ ]Tn¸n¨p Xcmw. tam³ tN¨n

]dbp¶Xp t]mse A§v sNbvXmÂ aXn.”

“tN¨o Rm³ CXv BZyambn«mWv.”

“F¶mÂ ]ns¶ \ap¡v XpS§mw. tam³ BZyw Fsâ

XpWnsbms¡ Agn¨p amäv.”

A§s\ Rm³ AhcpsS »uknsâ lq¡pIÄ Cf¡n

AXv ]n¶ntebv¡v Xpd¶p. DS³ tN¨n Xs¶ AXv Ducn amän.

]ns¶ Rm³ tN¨nbpsS t{_knbdnsâ lq¡v FSp¯p AXv

ap¶neqsS Rm³ Xs¶ Ducn amän. AhÀ H¶p

{]khn¨XmsW¦nepw AhcpsS apeIÄ¡v `mcw sIm−pÅ

Hcp sNdnb Ncnhv am{Xta D−mbncp¶pÅp.

kmam\yw hen¸apÅ AhcpsS apeIfpsS a²y¯mbn

c−v cq] Xp«nsâ hen¸¯nÂ Hcp Idp¯ hr¯hpw,

38 Munnar

AXnsâ a²y¯mbn Fsâ sNdphncensâ I\¯nÂ Hcp

sR«pw. Rm³ c−p ssI sIm−pw AhcpsS c−p

apeIfnepw ]nSn¨p sRcn¨p. Hcp kv{XobpsS apebnepÅ

Fsâ BZy ssIsh v̧.

AhcpsS apeIÄ¡v \Ã amÀ±hw D−mbncp¶p. AXn\v

ap¼v Rm³ BcpsSbpw apebnÂ ]nSn¨n«nÃm¯Xn\mÂ

F\n¡v AXnsâ arZpXzw XmcXays¸Sp¯m³

Ignbpambncp¶nÃ. Fsâ I¿psS XtemSÂ Gät¸mtgbv¡pw

AhcpsS apesR«pIÄ _ew h¨v DbÀ¶p h¶p.

]ns¶ Rm³ AhÀ DSp¯ncp¶ ap−nsâ Ip¯v Agn¨v

AXpw Dcnªp amän. ]ns¶ ASn¸mhmSbpsS sI«gn¨v AXv

Xmtgbv¡v DuÀ¯n hn«p. tN¨n Xs¶ Ip\nªv ]mhmS

FSp¯v amän. AhcpsS P\t\{µnbw Rm³ t\m¡n. BZyambn

Hcp kv{XobpsS Kply`mKw ImWpIbmbncp¶p. AhcpsS

DbÀ¶ncp¶ ISn{]tZi¯v kar²ambn Idp¯v Ccp− tcmaw

hfÀ¶p InS¶p.

Rm³ AhcpsS sskeâv hmen {]tZi¯v XgpIn. \Ã

I«nbpÅ tcma§Ä. Rm³ AhcpsS ap¶nÂ ap«pIp¯n

\n¶psIm−v AhcpsS tbm\nbpw Npäp]mSpIfpw t\m¡n

I−p. AhÀ ImepIÄ Aev]w AIÀ¯n Nhp«n. At¸mÄ

Rm³ AhcpsS ]qÀ Np−pIÄ c−p ssI sIm−pw ]nSn¨v

AIÀ¯n. AXnsâ AIw Nph v̧ \nd¯nÂ I−p. AXnsâ

apIfä¯mbn Hcp_Zmw ]cn¸nsâ hen¸¯nÂ Hcp apg

39 Munnar

]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn \nÂ¡p¶p. Rm³ B NmeneqsS

hnctemSn¨p. tN¨n Fsâ XebnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p.

“tamt\ B ]cn¸nÂ ]nSn¨v sRcSv tamt\. tN¨n¡v \Ã

kpJw tamt\.”

“tNö CXmtWm Cu I´v F¶v ]dbp¶ km[\w?”

“AXv Xs¶ tamt\ I´v. ]t£tam³ Cu t]scms¡

FhnSp¶v ]Tn¨p?”

“AXv tNö Rm³ Nne sIm¨p]pkvXIsams¡

hmbn¨n«p−v. AXnÂ \n¶pw In«nbXmWv Cu t]scms¡.”

Rm³ IńÂ ]nSn¨v sRcSns¡m−ncp¶p. Ipd¨p

kabw Ignªt¸mÄ Fsâ I¿nÂ sNdnb \\hv

A\p`hs¸«p. tN¨n \n¶p sRfn]ncn sIm−p. Ipd¨p

Ignªt¸mÄ AhÀ XdbnÂ aeÀ¶p InS¶psIm−v Fs¶

AhcpsS ]pd¯v hen¨p Ibän.

“tamt\ C\n tN¨n¡v kln¡m³ h¿. tam³ tamsâ

kmam\w AI¯v Ibän ASn¨p Xm. F¶mte icnbmIq.”

CXv ]dªn«v AhÀ AhcpsS ImepIÄ AIÀ¯n h¨n«v

Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v AhcpsS ]qÀ XpfbnÂ ap«n¨p h¨p.

“C\n tam³ ]Xps¡ AXv AIt¯bv¡v

Ibänt\m¡ntb.”

40 Munnar

Rm³ ]Xps¡ Fsâ Acs¡«v Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¯n.

AtXmsS Fsâ Ip® kmh[m\w AhcpsS \\ªv

Ipgª ]qäntebv¡v Dufnbn«nd§n. Ip® AIt¯bv¡v

IS¡pwtXmdpw Ip®bnÂ \Ã NqSv A\p`hs¸«p.

Iptd\mfmbn Ip® IbdmXncp¶Xn\mÂ Bbncn¡pw,

AhcpsS ]qän\v \Ã apdp¡ambncp¶p.

BZyambn Fsâ Ip® Hcp ]qänÂ Ibdp¶pXv

A¶mWv. kt´mj¯mÂ Fsâ DÅnÂ tX³ag s]mgnªp.

Fsâ Ip® ]qÀ®ambn AhcpsS ]qänÂ ap§n. Fsâ

Acs¡«v AhcpsS Acs¡«nÂ AaÀ¶p. Rm³ Ipd¨p

kabw A\§msX InS¶p.

“F´v tamt\ aXnbmtbm. tams\´m A\§msX

InS¡p¶Xv ? Ducn ASnt¨.”

AXv tI«t¸mgmWv Rm³ `qanbntebv¡v Cd§nbXv.

AXphsc Rm³ atätXm temI¯mbncp¶p. Rm³

kmh[m\w Ip® Ducn ASn¡m³ XpS§n. Fsâ ASns¡m¸w

Xs¶ tN¨nbpw ASnbnÂ \n¶pw apIfntebv¡v

ASn¨psIm−ncp¶p. Fsâ I¶n ]®Â A[nIkabw \o−p

\n¶nÃ.

Fsâ DÅnÂ Fs´ms¡tbm {]fbw \S¡p¶Xmbn

F\n¡v tXm¶n. Fsâ Xet¨mdn\pÅnÂ Bbncw

]q¯ncnIÄ H¶n¨p I¯nsbcnªp. Fsâ I®nÂ Ccp«p

Ibdp¶Xpt]mse tXm¶n. HSphnÂ Rm³ InX¨psIm−v

41 Munnar

AhcpsS ]pd¯v hoWp. ]t£ tN¨n¡v aXnbmbnÃmbncp¶p.

Fsâ Ip® Npcp§n AhcpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw ]pd¯v

h¶p.

“tamt\ CXv HcpamXncn apXpImf ]iphns\

sa\s¡Sp¯p¶Xp t]mse BbtÃm tamt\. F\n¡v NqSp

]nSn¨p h¶t¸mtgbv¡pw tam\v t]mbtÃm. C\n Rm³ F´v

sN¿pw ?”

“tN¨o F´msW¶dnbnÃ. F\n¡v s]s«¶v t]mbn. Hcp

]t£ BZyambn«v BbXpsIm−v Bbncn¡pw.”

“GXmbmepw Fsâ Imcyw tKmhnµm.”

Rm³ AhcpsS ]pd¯p\n¶pw Cd§n InS¶p. Rm³

hÃmXmbn. F\n¡v Hcp kv{Xosb Xr]vXns¸Sp¯m³

IgnªnÃ F¶ Ipät_m[w. AXv I−n«v tN¨n Fsâ

s\änbnÂ Npw_n¨p. tam³ hnjan¡−. CsXms¡

CXnepÅXmWv. henb tIa·mÀ¡pt]mepw Nnet¸mÄ s]s«¶v

t]mIpw. \ap¡v Ipd¨p Ignªv H¶pIqSn t\m¡mw.

AhÀ Fgpt¶äv Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ apJw AaÀ¯n.

]ns¶ AhÀ, AhcpsS ]qÀtX\nÂ Ipgª Fsâ Ip®

kmh[m\w AhcpsS hmbv¡pÅnem¡n \pWbm³ XpS§n.

AhÀ Ipd¨pkabw \pWªt¸mtgbv¡pw Ah³ Xe

DbÀ¯m³ XpS§n.

42 Munnar

“Zm It−m tamt\. Ch³ ASp¯ bp²¯n\v X¿mdmbn.

C\n tam³ C§s\ aeÀ¶v InS¶mÂ aXn. Rm³ apIfnÂ

Ibdn ASn¡mw.”

A§s\ AhÀ Fsâ Acs¡«n\v Ccphi¯pambn

ap«pIp¯n \n¶p. Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS hnSÀ¶ ]qdv

t\m¡ns¡m−v apIfntebv¡v \n¶p sh«nhnd¨p. AhÀ

]Xps¡ Ip®bpsS Xe AhcpsS ]qÀ XpfbnÂ ap«n¨p

h¨psIm−v kmh[m\w Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¶p. AtXmsS Fsâ

Ip® AhcpsS amf¯ntebv¡v kmh[m\w sRcnªv

AaÀ¶v Ibdnt¸mbn. HSphnÂ AhcpsS Nń Fsâ

Acs¡«nÂ AaÀ¶p.

AhÀ A§s\ Ccp¶psIm−v AhcpsS Agnªp

InS¶ apSn ]n¶ntebv¡v hmcn sI«n h¨p. ]ns¶ AhÀ Fsâ

s\©nÂ ssI Ip¯ns¡m−v Nń DbÀ¯n ASn¡m³

XpS§n. AhÀ s]m§n ASn¡p¶Xn\\pkcn¨v AhcpsS

apeIÄ InS¶p XpÅn¡fn¨p. Rm³ ssI DbÀ¯n AhcpsS

apeIÄ ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n. AhcpsS ASnbpsS thKX

kmh[m\w IqSn¡qSn h¶p.

HSphnÂ AhÀ H¶p sR«n hnd¨p. At¸mtgbv¡pw

Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS ]qänÂ ]mÂ ag s]¿n¨p. AhcpsS

]qÀtX\pw, Fsâ Ip®¸mepw IqSn IeÀ¶v Fsâ

Ip®bneqsS Hen¨v Fsâ Nń hnShntebv¡v Cd§n. AhÀ

Ip\nªv Fs¶ Npw_n¨p. ]ns¶ Fsâ ]pd¯p \n¶pw

Cd§n InS¶p.

43 Munnar

“tam³ t\ct¯ Fs¶ ]äns¨¦nepw, Ct¸mÄ F\n¡v

kt´mjambn tamt\. Iptd \mfpIÄ IqSn Fsâ ]«nWn

tam³ amän X¶p. Fsâ tamfpsS AÑ³ t]mbXn\v tijw

CXv BZyambn«mWv Rm³ H¶p kpJn¨Xv. At§cv t]mbXnÂ

]ns¶ Rm³ Cu kpJw Adnªn«nÃ. C¶v tam³ Fs¶

t\m¡n tNmc IpSn¨t¸mtg Rm³ Xocpam\n¨XmWv

tams\s¡m−v H¶v Du¡n¡Wsa¶v. AsX´mbmepw

km[n¨p. C\n \ap¡v hÃt¸mgpsams¡ C§s\ IqSWw.”

“tN¨o, Rm³ icn¡pw kzÀ¤w I−p. GXmbmepw Fsâ

Iptd \mfmbpÅ Hcp B{Klw km[n¨p.”

“AsX´m tamt\, tam\v Fs¶ Ifn¡Wsa¶v Bin¨p

\S¡pIbmbncpt¶m ?”

“A§s\ tN¨nsb ASn¡Wsas¶m¶pw IcpXnbnÃ.

Bscsb¦nepw In«nbmÂ CXnsâ kpJw H¶v AdnbWsa¶v

hnNmcn¨p. A{Xtb DÅp. ]t£ AXv C{X s]s«¶v

km[n¡psa¶v Rm³ kz]v\¯nÂ t]mepw IcpXnbnÃ.”

A§s\ R§fpsS Ifn ]ns¶ Hcp ]Xnhmbn. F\n¡v

kv¡qÄ Xpd¡p¶Xp hsc FÃm Znhkhpw D¨bv¡v ap¼pw,

D¨ Ignªpw Hmtcm Ifn. CXn\nsS \mep Znhkw AhÀ¡v

sa³kkv BbXn\mÂ B Znhk§fnÂ Ifn \S¶nÃ.

44 Munnar

“FSm AhÀ¡v KÀ`w D−mIpsa¶vt]Snsbm¶pw

CÃmbncpt¶m ?”

“t]Snsbms¡ D−mbncp¶p. R§Ä Ifn XpS§nb

kab¯v AhÀ¡v kpc£nX Imeambncp¶p. AXv

Ignªt¸mÄ AhÀ Hcp KpfnI Ign¡pambncp¶p. AhÀ

ap¼v Ign¨n«pÅ Hcp KpfnI. AXv AhÀ Fs¶s¡m−mWv

hm§n¸n¨ncp¶Xv. ”

“C¸gpw Ahcpambn \o Ifn¡mdpt−m?”

“C¸w A§s\ Ahkcw In«mdnÃ. hÃt¸mgpw am{Xta

Bsfmgnª kabw In«mdpÅp.”

“AXncn¡s«, \n\¡v AhcpsS tamfpambn hÃ

Npän¡fnbpapt−m? AhÄ Øncambn \nsâ apdnbnÂ Ibdn

hcp¶Xv ImWmatÃm.”

“Hm ! Cu tN«¯nbpsS Hcp Imcyw. hÃm¯

kwib§fmWtÃm. Ahfv Nnet¸msgms¡ IW¡v

]Tn¡m\mbn hcp¶XmWv.”

“Mqw… IW¡p ]Tn¯w am{Xambncn¡nÃtÃm. \nsâ

I¿nencn v̧ h¨v t\m¡nbmÂ \o thtd hÃXpsams¡ B

sIm¨ns\ ]Tn¸n¨p ImWWatÃm.”

45 Munnar

“A§s\sbm¶pw CÃ tN«¯o. AhÄ F«mw ¢mÊnÂ

]Tn¡p¶ kab¯v, IW¡n\v tXmäp. asäÃm hnjb§Ä¡pw

tamiaÃm¯ amÀ¡v D−mbncp¶p. Rm³ A¶v

F³Pn\obdnwKn\v aq¶mw hÀjw ]Tn¡p¶p. A¶v AhfpsS

amÀ¡v I−n«v A½bmWv tN¨ntbmSv ]dªXv Fsâ ASp¯v

]dªmÂ IW¡v ]Tn¸n¡psa¶v ]dªXv. ]ns¶ A½

Xs¶ Ft¶mSpw ]dªp, FSm \n\¡v kabapÅt¸mÄ B

sIm¨n\v Ipd¨v IW¡v ]dªpsImSv. \fn\n¡v AXns\

thtd hn«v ]Tn¸n¡ms\m¶pw IgnbnÃ.”

“A§s\bmWv Rm³ Ahsf ]Tn¸n¡m³ XpS§nbXv.

Ct¸mÄ AhÄ ]¯nemWv ]Tn¡p¶Xv.”

“Ahsf Häbv¡v \nsâ apdnbnÂ In«nbmÂ \o shdptX

Ccn¡psa¶v hnizkn¡m³ F\n¡v _p²nap«mWv.”

“A§s\sbm¶pw CÃ tN¨o. hÃt¸mgpsam¶v apebv¡v

]nSn¡m³ ]äpw A{Xtb DÅp. AÃmsX asäm¶n\pw AhÄ

k½Xn¡nÃ.”

“AsX§s\bmSm \o Ahsf hf¨Xv?”

“Hm AsXms¡ A§v \S¶p. A{X Xs¶. AXv A§s\

]dbm\pw am{Xsam¶pw CÃ.”

“F¶mepw \o AsXm¶v ]dsbSm. Rm³ tIÄ¡s«.”

46 Munnar

“AXv ]ns¶, AhÄ F«mw ¢mÊnÂ ]Tn¡p¶ kabw

AhfpsS HmW ]co£ Ignª kab¯mWv ]Tn¯w

XpS§p¶Xv. A¶v AhÄ shdpsamcp sIm¨p Ip«n.

{]mb]qÀ¯n Bbn«nÃmbncp¶p. F¦nepw Hcp \mc§m

hen¸¯nÂ AhfpsS s\©nÂ c−p apgIÄ DbÀ¡p

\nÂ¡p¶Xv ImWmambncp¶p. Iptd \mfmbn AhÄ \½psS

ho«nÂ hcpIbpw, R§Ä H¶n¨v kv¡qfnÂ t]mIpIbpw,

Ifn¡pIbpsams¡ sNbvXncp¶Xn\mÂ R§Ä \Ã

Iq«pImcmbncp¶p.

an¡hmdpw Ah[n Znhk§fnembncp¶p Rm³ Ahsf

]Tn¸n¨ncp¶Xv. B Znhk§fnÂ AhÄ anUnbpw

jÀ«pambncn¡pw [cn¡p¶Xv. ASnbnÂ s]änt¡m«v

[cn¡pambncp¶nÃ. AXn\mÂ Nne Ahkc§fnsems¡

AhfpsS Xmac sam«p t]mse Iq¼n \nÂ¡p¶ ape F\n¡v

ImWm³ Ignbpambncp¶p. B ImgvN Fsâ ap−n\SnbnÂ

Ne\§Ä krjvSn¨ncp¶p.

Rm³ Ccn¡p¶ ItkcbpsS ASp¯mbn«mWv Ahfpw

Itkc C«v Ccn¡p¶Xv. R§fpsS icoc§Ä X½nÂ ap«n

Ccn¡pambncp¶p. ]t£ AXnÂ Akzm`mhnIX H¶pw

CÃmbncp¶p. ImcWw R§Ä H¶n¨v Ifn¡pt¼mÄ, AhÄ

Fs¶bpw, Rm³ Ahsfbpw ]nSn¡mdp−mbncp¶p. Rm³

Ahsf FSo F¶pw, AhÄ Fs¶ A®³ F¶pamWv

hnfn¨ncp¶Xv.

47 Munnar

A§s\bncns¡ Hcp Znhkw R§Ä

]Tn¨psIm−ncp¶t¸mÄ, AhfpsS jÀ«nsâ apIfnse Hcp

_«³kv CfInbn«v, jÀ«nsâ apIÄ `mKw Xpd¶p InS¶p.

AXneqsS F\n¡v AhfpsS Hcp ape hyàambn

ImWmambncp¶p. AXv I−n«v Fsâ Ip«³ hSnbmbn. Rm³

AhtfmSp Ipd¨pIqSn tNÀ¶ncp¶p. At¸mÄ AhfpsS ape

Ipd¨pIqSn ASp¯v ImWm³ Ignªp. Rm³ A§s\ AXv

BkzZn¨v Ccp¶t¸mÄ, CSbv¡v, AhÄ sNbvXpsIm−ncp¶

IW¡v sNbvXv XoÀ¶t¸mÄ Xe DbÀ¯n Fs¶ t\m¡n.

Rm³ AhfpsS s\©nÂ t\m¡nbncn¡p¶Xv AhÄ I−p.

“F´m A®m t\m¡nbncn¡p¶Xv ? A®³

ChnsSsbm¶pw AsÃ¶v tXm¶p¶tÃm.”

“H¶pansÃSo. Rm³ \nsâ hfÀ¨ t\m¡n

Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p.”

“AsX´m Rm³ A§s\ t\m¡nbncn¡pt¼mÄ

hfÀ¶psIm−ncn¡pIbmbncpt¶m?”

“AXsÃSo. \o Hcp s]®mIm³ t]mIp¶Xnsâ

e£W§sfms¡ ImWp¶tÃm.”

“AsX´m A®m, Rm³ CXphsc BWmbncpt¶m ?”

“A§s\bÃ. \o C{X\mfpw Hcp sIm¨p

s]®Ãmbncpt¶m. Ct¸mÄ \o taPdmIm³ XpS§p¶p.”

48 Munnar

“AsX§s\bm A®m taPdmIp¶Xv Adnbp¶Xv ?”

Rm³ ]Xps¡ AhfpsS jÀ«nsâ AI¯v ssI IS¯n

AhfpsS apebnÂ XShnbn«v

“Zm CXp It−m hfcm³ XpS§p¶Xv. CXmWv AXnsâ

BZy e£Ww.”

Fsâ ssI AhnsS sXm«t¸mÄ AhÄ C¡nfnsbSp¯v

Nncn¨p. H¸w AhfpsS I¿nse t\cnb sN¼n¨ tcma§Ä

Fgp¶p \nÂ¡m\pw XpS§n.

“A®m F\n¡v C¡nfnbmIp¶p.”

“AXv BZyambXpsIm−mWv. Cu C¡nfnbpw hfÀ¨bpsS

e£WamWv. ap³s]ms¡ \n\¡v C§s\ sXm«mÂ C¡nfn

D−pIpambncp¶nÃtÃm. C¸gtÃ C¡nfn XpS§nbXv.”

CsXms¡ ]dbpt¼mgpw Rm³ AhnsS

XShns¡m−ncp¶p. kmh[m\w AhfpsS

izmtkmOzmk¯nsâ thKX IqSn¡qSn h¶p. AhfpsS

`mhamäw Rm³ {i²n¨p. AhfpsS jÀ«nsâ Hcp _«³kv

IqSn Cf¡nbn«v c−mas¯ apebpw ]pds¯Sp¯p. Rm³

c−p apeIfnepw amdn amdn XShns¡m−ncp¶p. apeIfpsS

Aäw, ]n¦v \nd¯nembncp¶p. ]pcpj·mcpsS apesR«p

t]mse AhfpsS apebpsS a²y¯v sNdnb XSn v̧

{]Xy£ambn.

49 Munnar

Rm³ AhfpsS IhnfnÂ Fsâ apJw tNÀ¯v Dc¨p.

AhÄ Fsâ ssI ]nSn¨v AhfpsS amdnÂ AaÀ¯n h¨p.

Rm³ Hcp ssI AhfpsS tXmfneqsS C«v Ahsf Fsâ

icoc¯ntebv¡v tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨p. AhfpsS DÅnÂ \n¶pw

{]mhv IpdpIp¶Xpt]mse t\cnb IpdpIÂ tI«p. C{Xbpw

Bbt¸mtgbv¡v Xmsg \n¶pw AhfpsS A½ Ahsf hnfn¨p.

“tamtf, BcXo, \nsâ ]Tn¯w Ignsª¦nÂ C§v

ht¶.”

R§Ä s]s«¶v sR«n Fgpt¶äp. AhÄ jÀ«nsâ

_«³kpIÄ t\tcbm¡nbn«v, Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡msX

_p¡psaSp¯v Xmtgbv¡v t]mbn. Ipd¨v Ignªv Rm\pw

Xmtgb¡v sN¶p. At¸mÄ BcXn, ASp¡fbnÂ AhfpsS

A½sb klmbn¨psIm−v \nÂ¡pIbmbncp¶p. ]t£

Rm³ AhnsS sN¶Xv I−n«pw AhÄ Fsâ apJ¯v

t\m¡nbnÃ. AhfpsS apJ¯v Hcp N½Â D−mbncp¶p.

A¶v ]ns¶ AhÄ Fsâ ap¶nÂ hcmsX Hgnªp

\S¶p. A¶s¯ Znhkw A§s\ IS¶p t]mbn. ASp¯

Znhkw RmbdmgvN Bbncp¶p. cmhnes¯ Im¸nIpSn

Igoªt¸mÄ Rm³ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. AhÄ

]Tn¡m\mbn hcp¶Xpw t\m¡n Rm³ Ccp¶p. Ac

aWn¡qÀ Ignªn«pw Ahsf ImWmXmbt¸mÄ Rm³

Xmtgbv¡v Cd§n sN¶p. Rm³ \fn\n tN¨ntbmSv Ahsf

Xnc¡n.

50 Munnar

“tN¨o BcXn FhnsS ? C¶v AhÄ¡v ]Tn¡t−?

CXphsc apIfntem«v h¶nÃtÃm.”

“Rm³ t\m¡s« tamt\.”

CXv ]dªpsIm−v tN¨n ASp¡fbpsS ]ndIntebv¡v

t]mbn. H¸w Rm\pw. At¸mÄ BcXn AhnsS ]pdIphis¯

hcm´bnÂ Ccn¡p¶Xp I−p. AXv I−n«v tN¨n Ahsf

hnfn¨p.

“tamtf \o AhnsS Fs´Sp¡pIbm. \o C¶v ]Tn¡m³

sNÃp¶ntÃ. sU¶n tam³ Zm \ns¶ ImWmªv Xnc¡n

h¶p.”

Rm³ ]Xps¡ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. ho−pw Hcp

]¯v an\n«p IqSn Ignªt¸mÄ Fsâ apdnbpsS ]pd¯v

sNdnb ImÂs]cpamäw tI«p. ]t£ Bsf AIt¯bv¡v

I−nÃ. Rm³ Fgpt¶äv hmXnÂ¡Â sN¶t¸mÄ, AhÄ

_p¡v s\©nÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨v, Ip\nªv XdbnÂ t\m¡n

IXIn\v ]pd¯v adªp \nÂ¡p¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS

I¿nÂ ]nSn¨v Ahsf apdn¡pÅnem¡n. F¶n«pw AhÄ apJw

DbÀ¯msX XdbnÂ t\m¡n \mWn¨p \n¶p. Rm³ c−p

ssI sIm−pw AhfpsS apJw ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯n. ]t£

At¸mgpw AhÄ Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡nbnÃ.

Rm³ Ip\nªv AhfpsS Np−nÂ Npw_n¨p. At¸mÄ

AhÄ Fsâ apJt¯bv¡v t\m¡n.

51 Munnar

“\o F´mSo HcpamXncn s]W§nbXv t]mse

\nÂ¡p¶Xv ? \n\¡v Rm³ sN¿p¶Xv H¶pw

CjvSs¸Sp¶ntÃ ?”

ho−pw \ni_vZX.

“F´mSo, CjvSs¸«nsÃ¦nÂ ]dªmÂ t]mtc. ]ns¶

Rm³ H¶pw sN¿¯nÃtÃm.”

AhÄ ]Xps¡ Np−pIÄ Nen¸n¨p.

“A®m F\n¡v A®³ sNbvXsXÃmw \¶mbn

CjvSs¸«p. ]t£, F\n¡v A®sâ apJ¯v t\m¡m³ Hcp

\mWw t]mse.”

“AsX´mSo ]pXnbXmbn Fs¶ t\m¡m³ Hcp \mWw ?

Rms\´m XpWn DSp¡msXsb§m\pamtWm \nÂ¡p¶Xv ?”

“F¶mepw AXÃ A®m. C¶se hsc Rm³ I−

A®s\bÃ Rm³ C¶se I−Xv. C¶se A®sâ Hcp

]pXnb apJamWv Rm³ I−Xv. AXpsIm−mWv F\n¡v

A®s\ t\m¡m³ Hcp \mWw.”

“AsX´mSo C¶se apXÂ Fsâ apJ¯n\v amäw ?”

“A®sâ apJ¯n\v amäsam¶panÃ. ]t£ C¶se

A®³ Fs¶ Fs´ms¡tbm sNbvXntÃ. AXnsâ

\mWam.”

52 Munnar

“C¸w \nsâ \mWsams¡ amdntbm ?”

“Ipd¨v. F¶mepw apgph\pw amdnbnÃ.”

“At¸mÄ Rm³ C¶v hÃXpw sNbvXmÂ \nsâ \mWw

ho−pw IqSptam ? C¶se sNbvXsXm¶pw \n\¡v

CjvSambntÃ ? A§s\bmsW¦nÂ C\n Rm³ H¶pw

sN¿p¶nÃ.”

“A®m A®³ sNbvXsXms¡ F\n¡v \¶mbn«v

CjvSs¸«p. F¶mepw AXv BtemNn¡p¼w Hcp \mWw.”

“IÅn! FÃmw \ÃXpt]mse kpJn¨n«v C¸w AhÄ¡v

\mWw. C¶t¯msS \nsâ \mWw apgph³ Rm³ amän

Xcmw.”

Rm³ AhfpsS I¿nencp¶ _p¡v hm§n Fsâ

tai¸pd¯v h¨n«v, Ip\nªv AhfpsS Np−pIfnÂ Npw_n¨p.

AhÄ Fsâ tXmfneqsS I¿n«v Fsâ Xe ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n.

A§s\ Fsâ Npw_\w Hcp ZoÀL Npw_\ambn. AhÄ¡v

izmkw ap«nbt¸mÄ AhÄ Fsâ Xebnse ]nSn hn«p. Rm³

AhfpsS jÀ«nsâ apIfnse c−p _«³kpIÄ Cf¡nbn«v

Fsâ ssI AIt¯bv¡v IS¯n AhfpsS apebnÂ ]nSn¨p.

IÃp t]mse Dd¨ AhfpsS apebnÂ Rm³ XShnbtXmsS

AhfpsS I¿nse tcma§Ä DbÀ¶p h¶p.

53 Munnar

Rm³ Ip\nªv AhfpsS s\änbnÂ D½ h¨p. Rm³

Ahsf hn«n«v t]mbn IXIv AS¨v Ipänbn«p. km[mcW

KXnbnÂ apIfnÂ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v B kab¯v Bcpw

hcmdnÃ. F¦nepw Hcp ap³IcpXÂ F¶ \nebnÂ Rm³

IXIv AS¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS jÀ«v Ducn amän. AhÄ c−p

ssI sIm−pw AhfpsS amdn\v IpdptI ad¨v ]nSn¨p.

AhfpsS apeIÄ icn¡pw hfcm³ XpS§p¶tX

D−mbncp¶pÅp. Rm³ Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨p. Fsâ Ip«³

AhfpsS ASnhbänÂ Ip¯n \n¶p. Rm³ Ip\nªv

AhfpsS ape hmbnÂ h¨v N¸n hen¨p. AhÄ Fsâ Xe

AhfpsS amdntebv¡v ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n h¨p.

Rm³ AhfpsS ape \pWªpsIm−p Xs¶ c−p

ssI sIm−pw AhfpsS anUn ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯nbn«v,

]mâokn\pÅneqsS ssI IS¯n AhfpsS N´nIfnÂ ]nSn¨v

sRcn¨v DS¨p. Rm³ kmh[m\w Hcp ssI AhfpsS

]mâokn\pÅneqsS Xs¶ amt¶m«p \o¡n sIm−p h¶v

AhfpsS A¸¯nÂ ]nSn¨p. AhfpsS A¸w sNdpXmbn

DbÀ¶p hcm³ XpS§p¶tX D−mbncp¶pÅp.

Rm³ ]Xps¡ Nq−phncÂ AhfpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS

HmSn¨p. AhÄ C¡nfnsbSp¯n«v Fsâ ssI ]nSn¨p amäm³

Hcp {iaw \S¯n.. ]t£, AhfpsS {ia¯n\v Hcp iàn

CÃmbncp¶p. Rm³ c−mas¯ ssI sIm−v AhfpsS

ssI ]nSn¨v amän. ]ns¶ kmh[m\w AhfpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS

hncÂ HmSn¨psIm−ncp¶p.

54 Munnar

Rm³ AhfpsS I´n\mbn sXcsª¦nepw, A§s\

Hcp km[\w Fsâ I¿nÂ XSªnÃ. Fsâ ssI

Nen¡p¶Xn\v A\pkcn¨v AhfpsS apJ¯v càw

Cc¨pIbdnbn«v, AhfpsS apJw \¶mbn Nph¶v XpSp¯p.

Rm³ Fsâ Ip® ap−nsâ DÅnÂ \n¶pw ]pds¯Sp¯v

AhfpsS I¿nÂ ]nSn¸n¨p. ]t£ AhÄ sR«n ssI

]n³hen¨p.

Rm³ ape IpSnbpw, ]qän\pÅnse ssI {Iobbpw

XpSÀ¶psIm−ncp¶p. CXn\nsS Rm³ AhfpsS anUnbpsS

lq¡v Cf¡n AXv Xmtgbv¡v ]nSn¨v Ducm³ {ians¨¦nepw

AhÄ anUnbnÂ _eambn ]nSn¨v Fsâ \o¡w XSªp. anUn,

AhfpsS I¿nÂ ]nSn¨v sIm−v \n¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS

apeIfnÂ \n¶pw apJw DbÀ¯nbn«v, AhfpsS Np−pIÄ

Fsâ Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n \pWªp. H¸w AhfpsS

]qÀNmense XgpIepw XpSÀ¶p. AhÄ¡v IqSpXÂ ckw

]nSn¨p XpS§n.

AhÄ anUnbnse ssI hn«n«v Fsâ XebnÂ AaÀ¯n

]nSn¨p. AtXmsS AhfpsS anUn Xmtgbv¡v DuÀ¶p hoWp.

AXv AhfpsS ]mZ¯n\v Npänepambn XdbnÂ InS¶p.

AhfpsS icoc¯nÂ ]ns¶ Hcp ]mâokv am{Xw Ahtijn¨p.

CXn\nsS Fsâ ap−v Ft¸mtgm Agnªp t]mbncp¶p.

Rm³ Ahsfbpw ]nSn¨psIm−v I«nenÂ InS¶p.

Rm³ Ahsf aeÀ¯n InS¯nbn«v, AhfpsS apIfnÂ

Ibdn InS¶p. AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. Rm³

55 Munnar

AhfpsS ]mâokv ]Xps¡ Xmtgbv¡v ]nSn¨v Xmgv¯nbn«v,

Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v AhfpsS XpSbpsS kwKa Øm\¯v

IS¯n, ]qÀNmenÂ h¨v Dc¨p. AhÄ¡v ckw Ibdn h¶p.

B X¡¯n\v Rm³ AhfpsS ]mâokv Ipd¨pIqSn

Xmgv¯nbn«v, Fsâ ImepIÄ sIm−v AXv Xmtgbv¡v Ducn

amän. AhfnÂ\n¶pw henb {]Xntj[sam¶pw D−mbnÃ.

Rm³ AhfpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯nbn«v Ip®

AhfpsS ]qÀNmenÂ Xmsg apXÂ apIfäw hsc

Dc¨psIm−ncp¶p. Ipd¨p Ignªv Rm³ AhfpsS

ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v ASp¸n¨n«v, AhfpsS XpSIfpsS CSbnembn,

]qÀNmenÂ Ip® XncpIn h¨psIm−v s]m§n ASn¨p. AhÄ

AXv \¶mbn kpJn¨p. HSphnÂ Fsâ Ip®, AhfpsS

XpSbnSp¡nÂ OÀ±n¨p. At¸mtgbv¡pw Ahfpw

XfÀ¶ncp¶p. Rm³ Ipd¨p kabw IqSn A§s\ InS¶n«v

Fgpt¶äp.

Rm³ Hcp XpWn FSp¯v AhfpsS XpSbnÂ

]änbncp¶ shÅw XpS¨p Ifªp. ]ns¶ c−mfpw

hkv{X§Ä [cn¨p. Ct¸mgpw AhfpsS apJ¯v \mW¯nsâ

_m¡n D−mbncp¶p. AhÄ Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡msX

Ip\nªv \n¶p. Rm³ Ahsf ]nSn¨v taibv¡v ASp¯v

InS¶ ItkcbnÂ Ccp¯n. asämcp ItkcbnÂ AhÄ¡v

A`napJambn Rm\pw Ccp¶p.

“FSo \nhÀ¶v t\ms¡So IÅ Xncpameo. C{Xbpw kabw

Imepw Ih¨v InS¶v kpJn¨n«v Ct¸mÄ F´mSo Hcp \mWw ?”

56 Munnar

At¸mÄ AhÄ Np−pIÄ Nen¸n¨v XpS§n.

“A®³ Fs´ms¡bm ImWn¨v Iq«nbXv. F\n¡v AXv

HmÀ¯n«v A®sâ apJ¯v t\m¡m³ ]äp¶nÃ. Rm\pw Cu

temIs¯m¶pambncp¶nÃ. Rm³ icn¡pw kzÀ¤w I−p.”

“\n\¡v At¸mÄ \¶mbn kpJn¨p. AtÃ?”

“]n¶ntÃ ! Rm³ Fsâ PohnX¯nÂ C¶phsc

C§s\ Hcp kpJw A\p`hn¨n«nÃ.”

“CXv F´v kpJw ? CsXms¡ shdpw km¼nftÃ.

icnbmb kpJw \o Ipd¨pIqSn hfÀ¶n«v ImWn¨p Xcmw.

]ns¶ \o CsXm¶pw BtcmSpw ]dbcpXv. \nsâ A½

Hcn¡epw CXv AdnbcpXv.”

“AXv ]ns¶ A®³ {]tXyIw ]dªp XctWm.

F\n¡dnbntÃ.”

“AXv aXn. F¦nÂ C\n \ap¡v Ipd¨v ]Tn¡mw.”

Rm³ Fgpt¶äp t]mbn IXIv Xpd¶p h¨n«v h¶v

Ahsf ]Tn¸n¨p. ]Tn¯w Ignªv t]mImdmbt¸mÄ AhÄ

Fs¶ t\m¡n Nncn¨psIm−v \n¶p.

“F´mSo t]mIp¶ntÃ ?”

57 Munnar

“F\n¡v A®sâ ASp¯v \n¶pw t]mIm³

tXm¶p¶nÃ.”

“F¦nÂ ]ns¶ \o ChnsS Ccpt¶m.”

“Fs¶ A½ Xnc¡pw. AsÃ¦nÂ Rm³ ChnsS Xs¶

Ccpt¶t\ambncp¶p.”

Rm³ Fgpt¶äv Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p. AXv

In«n¡gnªt¸mÄ AhÄ apdnbnÂ \n¶pw Cd§n t]mbn.

A§s\ R§fpsS ]Tn¯w XpSÀ¶p. Rm³ Ahsf ]pXnb

IfnIÄ ]ns¶bpw ]Tn¸n¨psIm−ncp¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS

]qÀ N¸n hen¡pIbpw, Ahsf sIm−v Fsâ Ip®

]nSn¸n¨p. ]ns¶ Ahsfs¡m−v hmWaSn¸n¨p. HSphnÂ AhÄ

Fsâ Ip® hmbnÂ h¨v N¸pIbpw sNbvXp. A§s\ Imew

IS¶p t]mbn.

F«mw ¢mÊnse hÀjmhkm\ ]co£ ASp¯ kab¯v

c−p aq¶p Znhkw cm{Xn AhÄ ]Tn¡m\mbn \½psS ho«nÂ

X§nbn«p−v. A¶v R§Ä icn¡v kpJn¨p. ]t£ F«mw

¢mÊnse sht¡j³ kab¯v AhÄ {]mb]qÀ¯nbmbn.

AXn\v tijw AhÄ F¶nÂ \n¶pw Ipd¨v AIew ]men¨p

XpS§n. F¦nepw apebnÂ ]nSn¯sams¡ Ct¸mgpw

XpScp¶p−v. AXnsâ KpWw AhfpsS amdnÂ

ImWm\pap−v.

58 Munnar

Ct¸mÄ AhÄ¡v ]Xn\mev hbÊv IgnªtX DÅp

F¦nepw AhfpsS apeIÄ AhfpsS A½bptSXnt\¡mÄ

hfÀ¨ t\Snbn«p−v. C\n F\n¡v F§s\sb¦nepw Ahsf

hf¨v AhfpsS koÂ s]m«n¡Ww. Rm³ C{Xbpw \mÄ

Ahsf h−n sI«nbn«v, AhfpsS koev s]m«n¨nsÃ¦nÂ ]ns¶

Rms\´n\m CXpw Xq¡nbn«psIm−v \S¡p¶Xv. AXn\pÅ

Hcp Ahkc¯n\mbn Rm³ Im¯ncn¡pIbmWv.

“AXn\v Fsâ klmbw Fs´¦nepw thtWm tamt\ ?”

“t\m¡s«. thWsa¦nÂ Rm³ ]dbmw.”

Cu kaba{Xbpw AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v

kmh[m\w Ipep¡ns¡m−ncn¡pIbmbncp¶p. AXnÂ

\n¶pw HgpIn h¶ eq{_nt¡änwKv HmbnÂ tN«¯nbpsS

I¿nÂ apgph³ ]SÀ¶n«v \Ã hgphgp v̧ A\p`hs¸«p.

Rm\pw AhcpsS SojÀ«v apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¯n h¨n«v

AhcpsS apeIÄ amdn amdn

XgpIns¡m−ncn¡pIbmbncp¶p. AXnsâ ^eambn

AhcpsS apesR«pIÄ _ewh¨v DbÀ¶p \n¶ncp¶p.

AhÀ kmh[m\w Fsâ apIfnÂ Ibdn InS¶p. Rm³

Ahsc \nhÀ¯n Ccp¯nbn«v AhcpsS SojÀ«v apIfntebv¡v

Ducn amän. AhÀ [cn¨ncp¶ _À½pU, AhÀ Xs¶

Xmtgbv¡v Ducn amän. Rm³ DSp¯ncp¶ ap−pw Agn¨p

Ifªp. AtXmsS c−pt]cpw ]qÀ® \ácmbn. AhÀ

Fsâ DbÀ¶p\n¶ Ip®, AhcpsS XpSIÄ¡nSbnÂ

59 Munnar

AaÀ¯n h¨psIm−v Fsâ ]pd¯v Iagv¶p InS¶p. Rm³

Ahsc sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p.

AhÀ AhcpsS \m¡v, Fsâ Np−pIÄ¡nSbneqsS

Fsâ hmbntebv¡v XÅn Ibän. Rm³ AhcpsS \m¡ns\

Fsâ \m¡v sIm−v Npän hcnªp. R§fpsS \m¡pIÄ

Fsâ hmbv¡pÅnÂ InS¶v c−v kÀ¸§sft¸mse

CWtNÀ¶p. AhcpsS Dan\oÀ Fsâ hmbntebv¡v

HgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. Rm³ AXv apgph³ IpSn¨nd¡n. Ipd¨p

Ignªt¸mÄ Rm³ AhcpsS ImepIÄ Fsâ c−p

hit¯bv¡pw ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯n h¨p.

“tN«¯o, Imensâ ap«p Ip¯ns¡m−v Nń Ipd¨v

DbÀ¯ntb.”

“AsXń\m tamt\ ?”

“AsXmXp ]pXnb t]mkmWv tN«¯o. tX§m

s]mXn¡Â F¶v ]dbpw.”

“Mm. tX§m s]mXn¡se¶v Rm³ tI«n«p−v. ]t£ AXv

F§s\bmsW¶v F\n¡v AdnbnÃ.”

“AXv Adnbn¨p Xcm\tÃ Rm³ ChnsS DÅXv. “

AhÀ s]s«¶v ap«p Ip¯n \n¶psIm−v Nń DbÀ¯n.

Rm³ Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v AhcpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ ap«n¨p

h¨p.

60 Munnar

“C\n tN«¯n ]Xps¡ Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¶v Ccpt¶.”

AhÀ kmh[m\w Fsâ Ip®bntebv¡v AaÀ¶p. AhÀ

Xmgv¶p hcp¶Xn\v A\pkcn¨v Ip® kmh[m\w AhcpsS

Kplbv¡pÅnÂ Ibdns¡m−ncp¶p. Xe DbÀ¯n t\m¡nb

F\n¡v, Hcp ]m¼v amf¯nÂ Hfn¡p¶Xpt]mse Ip®

kmh[m\w AIt¯bv¡v Ibdp¶Xv ImWmambncp¶p.

HSphnÂ AXv ]qÀ®ambn amf¯nÂ Hfn¨p. AhcpsS

N´n Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ AaÀ¶p. Rm³ ssI F¯n

AhcpsS apeIfnÂ ]nSn¨v sRcn¨psIm−v Rm³ ASnbnÂ

\n¶pw apIfntebv¡v ASn¨p. AtXmsS Ahcpw N´n s]m¡n

ASn¡m³ XpS§n. kmh[m\w XpS§nb ASnbpsS thKX

]Xps¡ IqSns¡m−ncp¶p.

Ahkm\w AhÀ shfn¨¸mSv Ddªp XpÅp¶Xp

t]mse Fsâ s\©nÂ ssIIÄ Du¶ns¡m−v, Fsâ

Acs¡«nencp¶p XmWvUhamSn. HSphnÂ AhÀ XfÀ¶v

Fsâ amdnÂ hoWp.

F\n¡v shÅw t]mbncp¶nÃ. Rm³ s]s«¶v

Ahscbpw sI«n¸nSn¨psIm−v H¶p ae¡w adnªp.

AtXmsS AhÀ ASnbnepw, Rm³ apIfnepambn. Rm³

AhcpsS tXmfn\v Ccphi¯pw ssIIÄ Du¶ns¡m−v,

Ip® Ducn ASn¡m³ XpS§n.

c−p aq¶v ASn ASn¨p Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw AhÀ

]ns¶bpw NqSmbn XpS§n. AhÀ c−p ssI sIm−pw Fsâ

61 Munnar

tXmfnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. Rm³ ISn aq¯v Hcp hÃm¯

AhØbnembncp¶p. Rm³ ]d¶Sn¨p.

HSphnÂ Fsâ DÅnÂ Fs´ms¡tbm Dcp−p IqSn.

Ahkm\w AXv Hcp t]amcnbmbn AhcpsS ]qänÂ

s]bvXnd§n. At¸mtgbv¡pw AhcpsSbpw c−mas¯

cXnaqÀObpw Bbn¡gnªncp¶p. Fsâ tXmfnepÅ

AhcpsS ]nSn Abªp. AhcpsS ssI ]nSnhn«v I«nenÂ

hoWp. H¸w AhÀ InX¡m\pw XpS§n.

AhcpsS ]qÀ`n¯nIfpsS t]inIÄ Fsâ Ip® hn«p

hn«v AaÀ¯n ]ngnªpsIm−ncp¶p. HSphnÂ AXpw \ne¨p.

Rm³ AhcpsS ]pd¯p\n¶pw sX¶n amdn InS¶p. R§Ä

Iptdkabw A§s\ Xs¶ InS¶p. AXn\nsS AhÀ Fsâ

Ignhns\ ]pIgv̄ ns¡m−ncp¶p.

“tamt\, \o CXv F´v ambmPmeamsWSm ImWn¨Xv ?

F\n¡v k¦Â¸n¡m³ Ignbp¶Xn\pw A¸pdamWv \o Fs¶

kpJn¸n¨Xv. C\n F\n¡v acn¨mepw th−nÃ F¶v

tXm¶nt¸mIp¶p.”

“tN«¯o CXpt]mse C\nbpw [mcmfw theIÄ D−v.

AsXÃmw I−v IgnªmÂ ]ns¶ tN«¯n Fs¶

InS¶pd§m³ t]mepw k½Xn¡¯nÃ.”

62 Munnar

tN«¯n Fsâ ASpt¯bv¡v Ncnªp InS¶psIm−v

Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨psIm−ncp¶p. Rm³ Ahsc

tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨p.

“tN«¯o ChnsS h¨v C§s\sbms¡ kpJn¨n«v tN«¯n

Atacn¡bnÂ sN¶n«v F§s\ InS¶v Dd§pw ? C¡W¡n\v

tN«s\ tN«¯n InS¯n s]mdp¸n¡¯nÃtÃm.”

“AXv HmÀ¡pt¼mgmWv Fsâ DÅnÂ Hcp Fcn¨nÂ.

\o Fs¶ C§s\ kpJn¸n¨n«v, AhnsS sNÃpt¼mÄ Rm³

F´v sN¿psa¶v F\n¡v Hcp cq]hpanÃ. ]t£, Hcp Imcyw

Rm³ Dd¸n¨p Ignªp. Rm³ AhnsS sN¶v Hcp

amk¯n\Iw \n\¡v hnk icns¸Sp¯nbncn¡pw. \o CÃmsX

Ign¨pIq«p¶ Imcyw F\n¡v Nn´n¡mt\ Ignbp¶nÃ.”

A§s\ Ipd¨p kabw IqSn R§Ä kwkmcn¨p InS¶p.

F«p aWnbmbt¸mÄ R§Ä Fgpt¶äp. Rm³ ap−v

DSp¡m³ FSp¯n«v, tN«¯n AXv ]nSn¨p hm§n.

“FSm, DuWv Ign¨n«v h¶v \½Ä Xs¶ CsXÃmw ho−pw

Agn¨pIfbt−. AXv sIm−v C¸w \ap¡v XpWnbnÃmsX

t]mbn `£Ww Ign¡mw.”

A§s\ R§Ä c−mfpw ]nd¶]Sn Xs¶ ASp¡fbnÂ

t]mbn `£Ww Ign¨p. `£WsaÃmw XWp¯v achn¨v

Ccp¶Xn\mÂ R§Ä AsXÃmw H¶pIqSn NqSm¡nbn«mWv

Ign¨Xv. `£Ww Ign¡p¶Xn\v ap¼mbn R§Ä c−v emÀPv

63 Munnar

hoXw Ign¨p. AXnsâ ]pd¯v `£Ww Ign¨t¸mtgbv¡pw

R§Ä \Ã t^manembn.

R§Ä Hcp ]m{X¯nÂ \n¶v c−mfpw hmcn Xn¶p.

CSbv¡v ]ckv]cw At§m«pw Ct§m«pw hmcn sImSp¡pIbpw

sNbvXp. `£Ww Ignªv ]m{X§sfÃmw shÅw Hgn¨v h¨n«v

R§Ä ]ckv]cw tXmfneqsS I¿n«v apdnbntebv¡v \S¶p.

Rm³ Hcp ssI sIm−v AhcpsS apeIsf

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v

sRcn¨psIm−ncp¶p. A§s\ apdnbnÂ

F¯nbt¸mtgbv¡pw R§Ä c−pw NqSmbn¡gnªncp¶p.

tN«¯n Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Np−pIfnÂ Npw_n¨p.

Rm³ Fsâ \m¡v ]Xps¡ AhcpsS Np−pIÄ¡nSbneqsS

hmbv¡pÅntebv¡v IS¯n. \m¡v AhcpsS ]ÃnÂ X«nbt¸mÄ

AhÀ ]ÃpIÄ AIÀ¯n Fsâ \m¡ns\ hmbv¡pÅntebv¡v

kzoIcn¨p. R§fpsS \m¡pIÄ AhcpsS hmbv¡pÅnencp¶v

sI«p]nWªp. c−pt]cpsSbpw Dan\ocv CXn\nsS

]ckv]cw ssIamdnbncp¶p. c−mfpw AXv \pWªv Cd¡n.

]¯v ]Xn\©v an\nt«mfw R§Ä A§s\ sI«n¸nSn¨v

Npw_n¨psIm−v \n¶p. AhcpsS apeIÄ Fsâ amdnÂ

sRcnªv AaÀ¶p. Fsâ Ip®, AhcpsS ASnhbänÂ

Ip¯n \n¶p. Rm³ I«nenÂ Ccp¶n«v, Ahsc Fsâ

ap¶nembn ]nSn¨p \ndp¯n. AhcpsS apeIÄ Fsâ

apJ¯n\v ap¶nembn h¶p. Rm³ Ahsc Fsâ

64 Munnar

ImepIÄ¡v a²y¯mbn ]nSn¨p \ndp¯nbn«v, AhcpsS

apeIfnÂ XgpIn.

Rm³ AhcpsS apeIÄ amdn amdn hmbnÂ h¨v hen¨v

IpSn¨p. AhÀ Fsâ Xe, AhcpsS amdntebv¡v AaÀ¯n

]nSn¨p. Rm³ Hcp ssI sIm−v AhcpsS ]qÀNmenÂ

XgpIn. AhÀ Hcp ImÂ DbÀ¯n I«nenÂ Nhp«n. AtXmsS

AhcpsS ]qÀ hm s]mfn¨p. Rm³ AhcpsS IńÂ ]nSn¨v

sRcSns¡m−ncp¶p.

AhcpsS ]qÀ, tX³ Npc¯m³ XpS§n. Fsâ I¿nÂ

AhcpsS ]qÀtX³ ]pc−p. Rm³ ssI \m¡nÂ h¨v \¡n

IpSn¨p. AXv I−n«v, AhÀ Fsâ ssI ]nSn¨v AhcpsS

hmbnÂ h¨v ssI \¡n. Rm³ ho−pw ssI sIm−v

AhcpsS ]qÀtX³ tXm−nsbSp¯v AhcpsS hmbnÂ

h¨psImSp¯p. AhÀ AXpw \¡n IpSn¨p.

Rm³ AhcpsS c−p ImepIfpw Fsâ Acs¡«n\v

Ccphi¯pambn h¨psIm−v Ahsc Fsâ aSnbnÂ ]nSn¨v

Ccp¯n. Rm³ AhcpsS Nń Aev]w ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯nbn«v,

Ip®, AhcpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ ap«n¨p h¨p. ]ns¶ AhÀ

Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¶v Ccp¶t¸mÄ Ip® kmh[m\w AhcpsS

aZ\sN¸ntebv¡v Bgv¶v Cd§n.

AhÀ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p. AhcpsS apeIÄ

Fsâ s\©n\v apIfnembn AaÀ¶p. Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS

]qän\pÅnÂ sRcnªv AaÀ¶v Ccp¶p. AhÀ Ip−n

sh«n¨v Ip®bnÂ aÀ±w sNep¯n. Rm³ AhcpsS Nń

65 Munnar

Xm§n ]nSn¨psIm−v ASnbnÂ \n¶pw apIfntebv¡v

Xm§ns¡mSp¯p.

AhÀ Fsâ Igp¯nÂ sI«n¸nSn¨psIm−v AhcpsS

Nń DbÀ¯n h¨p. Ip® AhcpsS ]qänÂ Ibdn

Cd§ns¡m−ncp¶p. Ipd¨p kabw Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw

AhcpsS Nń DbÀ¶p Xmgp¶Xnsâ thKX IqSn¡qSn

h¶p. HSphnÂ AhÀ Fsâ Igp¯nÂ sI«n¸nSn¨psIm−v

XfÀ¶v Fsâ tXmfntebv¡v Xe Xmgv¯n InS¶p. AtXmsS

Fsâ Ip®bnÂ AhÀ AaÀ¶v Ccp¶p. F\n¡v shÅw

t]mbn«nÃmbncp¶p.

AhÀ AaÀ¶v Ccp¶tXmsS Ip®bnse Ne\w \ne¨p.

Ip® AhcpsS ]qänÂ sRcp§n AaÀ¶v Ccp¶p.

AhcpsS ]qÀtX³ Ip®bneqsS HgpIn

Cd§ns¡m−ncp¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS NńbnÂ Xm§n

]nSn¨psIm−v Ipd¨p kabw A\§msX Ccp¶p. AXv

Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw AhÀ Xe ]Xps¡ DbÀ¯n.

“A\nbm \n\¡v t]mbnÃ. AtÃ.”

“CÃ tN«¯o. F\n¡v t]mbnÃ.”

“AXv \¶mbn. F\n¡v H¶pIqSn thWw. Rm³ Hcp

A©v an\n«v C§s\ Ccn¡s«. \nsâ Ip® sRcp§n

AI¯v Ccp¶n«v \Ã kpJw.”

66 Munnar

AhÀ Fsâ s\änbnepw, I®nepw, Np−pIfnepw,

Ihnfnepsams¡ amdn amdn Npw_n¨psIm−ncp¶p. Ipd¨p

Ignªt¸mÄ AhÀ Fsâ Igp¯nse ]nSn hn«n«v Fgpt¶äv

I«nenÂ InS¶p.

“A\nbm C\n \o Fsâ apIfnÂ Ibdn ASn¨mÂ aXn.

AÃmsX Fs¶s¡m−v apIfnÂ Ibdm³ h¿. Rm³

£oWn¨p t]mbn.”

Rm³ Fgpt¶äv Ipd¨p shÅw IpSn¨p. AXv I−n«v

Ahcpw Ipd¨v shÅw hm§n IpSn¨p. Rm³ Hcp XpWn

FSp¯v Fsâ Ip®bpw, AhcpsS ]qdpw \¶mbn XpS¨v

hr¯nbm¡n. Rm³ AhcpsS ASp¯v InS¶psIm−v

AhcpsS apeIfnÂ XgpIn. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v

sXmen¨Sn¨p.

Ipd¨p Ignªv Rm³ AhcpsS ]pd¯v Ibdn

InS¶psIm−v AhcpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯n h¨p.

AhÀ Xs¶ Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v AhcpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ

ap«n¨p h¨p. Rm³ Acs¡«v ]Xps¡ Xmgv¯n. Ip®

kmh[m\w AhcpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ IS¶p. HSphnÂ

R§fpsS Acs¡«v X½nÂ tNÀ¶p.

Rm³ AhcpsS c−p hi¯pw ssI Ip¯n DbÀ¶p

\n¶psIm−v Ip® Ducn ASn¨p. ]Xps¡ ]Xps¡ ASnbpsS

thKX IqSn. Ahcpw, ASnbnÂ \n¶pw apIfntebv¡v

ASn¨psIm−ncp¶p. AhÀ¡v CXn\nsS c−v {]mhiyw

67 Munnar

cXnaqÀO D−mbn. HSphnÂ Fsâ Ip® AhcpsS ]qänÂ

]me`nt£Iw \S¯n.

Ahkm\w, Fsâ Ip® Npcp§n, AhcpsS ]qänÂ

\n¶pw ]pd¯v h¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS ]pd¯p \n¶pw

Cd§n InS¶p. c−pt]cpw \¶mbn £oWn¨ncp¶p. Rm³

AhcpsS ASpt¯bv¡v Ncnªp InS¶p sIm−v AhcpsS

]pd¯v ImÂ FSp¯v h¨p.

Hcp ssI AhcpsS apeIfpsS apIfnÂ IpkrXn

Im«ns¡m−ncp¶p. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnepw ]nSn¨v

sXmen¨Sn¨psIm−ncp¶p. A§s\ InS¶v F¸tgm R§Ä

Dd§n. ]ns¶ R§Ä DWÀ¶Xv shfp¸n\v A©v aWn¡mWv.

At¸mgpw R§Ä ]ckv]cw sI«n¸nSn¨v InS¡pIbmbncp¶p.

R§Ä c−mfpw IqSn _m v̄dqanÂ t]mbn aq{Xsamgn¨p.

XncnsI h¶t¸mgpw Ip®, hSn t]mse Xs¶ \n¶ncp¶p.

R§Ä ho−pw Hcp {Sn¸p IqSn ASn¨p. ]ns¶ hkv{X§Ä

[cn¨v c−p apdnIfnembn t]mbn InS¶p.

cmhnse Ggv aWntbmsS ]Wn¡mcn h¶p. AhÀ

_ÃSn¡p¶ i_vZw sI«v Rm³ t]mbn IXIv Xpd¶p.

At¸mtgbv¡pw ASp¯ apdnbnÂ \n¶pw tN«¯nbpw Cd§n

h¶p. ]Wn¡mcn ASp¡fbnÂ t]mbn R§Ä¡v Nmb

D−m¡n X¶p. R§Ä ssU\nwKv lmfnencp¶v AXv IpSn¨p.

NqSv Nmb DÅnÂ sN¶t¸mtgbv¡pw \Ã Dt·jw

ssIh¶p. F«p aWn Ignªt¸mÄ {]`mX `£Ww icnbmbn.

]ns¶ R§Ä AXv Ign¨p. ]¯v aWntbmsS R§Ä

68 Munnar

Po¸pambn ]pd¯v Npäm³ t]mbn. Rm³ Hcp _À½pUbpw

SojÀ«pamWv [cn¨ncp¶Xv. tN«¯n, ap«n\v Xmsg hsc

Cd¡apÅ Hcp anUnbpw tSm¸pw. c−p t]cpw Hmtcm

Pm¡äpw [cn¨p.

R§fpsS tXm«¯nÂ \n¶pw Dt±iw ]Xn\©v

IntemaoäÀ AIsebmbn Im«n\pÅnÂ Hcp XSmIap−v.

km[mWKXnbnÂ AhnsS Bcpw hcmdnÃ. aq¶p hi§fpw

]mds¡«pIfmÂ Npäs¸«v \Ã I®p\ocv t]mse sXfnª

ip²amb shÅw. ]mds¡«pIÄ¡v CSbnÂ \n¶pw

Hen¨nd§p¶ Pew. Cu XSmI¯nÂ \n¶pw, ]pds¸«v

HgpIp¶ Hcp sNdnb \Zn. Npäpw ]£nIfpsS IfIfmchw.

NohoSnsâ aqfÂ. A§s\ kpµcamb {]tZiw.

Rm³ ap¼v ]e {]mhiyw ChnsS h¶n«p−v. Cu

Øe¯nsâ `wKnsb¡pdn¨v hÀ®n¨t¸mÄ Xs¶ tN«¯n¡v

B Øe¯v t]mIWsa¶v \nÀºÔambn. A§s\ R§Ä

AhntSbv¡v Xncn¨p. ]t£, B XSmI¯nsâ ASp¯p hsc

Po v̧ t]mIm³ X¡ hgnbnÃmbncp¶p. CSbv¡v Hcp Øe¯v

Po v̧ \ndp¯nbn«n«v, ImSn\v \SphneqsS GItZiw Hcp

IntemaoäÀ \S¶pthWw AhnsS F¯m³.

A§s\ R§Ä AhnsS Po v̧ \ndp¯nbn«n«v, tXmÀ¯v,

tkm v̧, No v̧, aäv AXymhiy km[\§sfms¡ AS§nb Hcp

sNdnb _mKpw tXmfnÂ Xq¡n ]Xps¡ ImSn\pÅntebv¡v

\S¶p. XWp v̧ AIäm\mbn, Xte Znhkw Ign¨ Ip¸nbnÂ

69 Munnar

_m¡n D−mbncp¶, Ac Ip¸n¡v apIfnepÅ {_m−nbpw

IqsS sIm−p t]mbn.

A[nIw Bcpw k©cn¡m¯, Dcpf³ ]mdIÄ \nc¶p

InS¡p¶ Hcp CSp§nb Im«phgn. Rm³ tN«¯nbpsS

tXmfneqsS I¿n«v Ahsc Fsâ icoc¯nÂ tNÀ¯p

]nSn¨p. AhÀ Hcp ssI Fsâ AcbneqsS Npän ]nSn¨p.

A§s\ R§Ä ]Xps¡ \S¶v HSphnÂ GXm−v Ac

aWn¡qÀ sIm−v XSmI¯n\v ASp¯v F¯n. AhnsS

apgph³ kar²ambn h³ac§Ä hfÀ¶p \n¶ncp¶Xn\mÂ

]Xns\m¶p aWnbmbn«pw ac§fpsS CSbneqsS

Acn¨nd§p¶ t\cnb shbnÂ am{Xta D−mbncp¶pÅp.

XSmI IcbnÂ tXmfnencp¶ _mKv Cd¡n h¨p. Rm³

]Xps¡ XSmI¯ntebv¡v Cd§n. sFkv t]mse XWp¯

shÅw. Rm³ ssI¡p¼nfnÂ Hcp ssI shÅw tImcn apJw

IgpIn. AXv I−n«v tN«¯nbpw ]Xps¡ shÅ¯ntebv¡v

Cd§n. shÅ¯nÂ Cd§n \n¶psIm−v tN«¯nbpw I¿nÂ

shÅw tImcn apJw IgpIn.

“A\nbm Cu shÅ¯n\v F´v XWp¸m. Iptdt\cw

CXnÂ Cd§n \n¶mÂ \½Ä XWp¯v achn¨p

t]mIpatÃm.”

“AsXm¶panÃ tN«¯o. Ipd¨p kabw sIm−v \½Ä Cu

XWp¸pambn ]cnNbs¸Spw. ]ns¶ Hcp {]iv\hpanÃ. \Ã

70 Munnar

kpJambncn¡pw. Rm³ F´mbmepw Ipfn¡m³

t]mIpIbmWv. tN«¯n Ipfn¡ps¶¦nÂ hm.”

“At¿m! Cu XWp¸¯v F§s\bm A\nbm

Ipfn¡p¶Xv? F\n¡v ]äpsa¶v tXm¶p¶nÃ.”

“AXv tN«¯n¡v Adnbmªn«m. \½Ä Cu shÅ¯nÂ

ap§n IgnªmÂ ]ns¶ Icbv¡v Ibdmt\ tXm¶nÃ.

A{Xbv¡v kpJamWv.”

CXpw ]dªpsIm−v Rm³ Icbv¡v Ibdn Fsâ

hkv{X§sfÃmw Ducn amänbn«v Hcp tXmÀ¯v DSp¯p. ]ns¶

Ip¸nbnÂ \n¶pw, Hcp U_nÄ emÀPv Hgn¨v shÅw tNÀ¯v

IpSn¨psIm−v shÅ¯nÂ Cd§n. Rm³ Igps¯m¸w

shÅ¯nÂ ap§n InS¶p. tN«¯n AXpw I−psIm−v

IcbnÂ \n¶p.

Ipd¨p Ignªv Rm³ shÅ¯nÂ DbÀ¶p \n¶p.

Rm³ \n¶ncp¶ Øe¯v Fsâ ap«n\v apIfnÂ hsc

am{Xta shÅw D−mbncp¶pÅp. Rm³ \nhÀ¶p \n¶t¸mÄ,

tXmÀ¯v, XpSIfnÂ \\ªv H«n, Npcp§nb Ip®

tXmÀ¯nsâ hnShneqsS ]pd¯v h¶p. Rm³ A§s\

Xs¶ IcbnÂ Ibdn, tN«¯nbpsS ASp¯v sN¶p.

“A\nbm, C¸w \nsâ sIm¼³ GXm−v Npcp−v Hcp

A«bpsS hen¸atÃ DÅp. tN«sâ kmam\hpw GXm−v

C{Xtb ImWq.”

71 Munnar

AhÀ ]Xps¡ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p. AhcpsS

I¿nse NqSv X«nbt¸mtgbv¡pw Ip® kmh[m\w A\¡w h¨p

XpS§n. Ah³ kmh[m\w hnizcq]w Im«n. Rm³

tN«¯nbpsS hkv{X§Ä Hmtcm¶mbn Agn¨p amän. Rm³

DSp¯ncp¶ tXmÀ¯pw AhÀ CXn\Iw Dcnªp

Ifªncp¶p. Rm³ AhÀ¡pw {_m³Un Hgn¨v IpSn¸n¨p.

Rm³ Ahsc sI«n¸nSn¨p.

Rm³ Ahsc sI«n¸nSn¨psIm−v ]Xps¡

shÅ¯ntebv¡v Cd§n. B XSmI¯nsâ Gähpw Bgw

IqSnb `mK¯v Fsâ tXmÄ hsc shÅap−mbncp¶p.

shÅ¯nÂ Cd§n, XWp v̧ X«nbtXmsS Ip® ho−pw A«

Npcpfp¶Xp t]mse Npcp§n. R§Ä c−mfpw Igps¯m¸w

shÅ¯nÂ ap§n \n¶p. AtXmsS R§fpsS XWp v̧

amdn¡n«n.

R§Ä shÅ¯n\SnbnÂ ap§n \n¶psIm−v ]ckv]cw

sI«n¸nSn¨p. AhcpsS apeIÄ Fsâ amdnÂ AaÀ¶p. Fsâ

Ip®, AhcpsS ASnhbänÂ sXm«p \n¶p. ]t£ Ah³

At¸mgpw Npcp§n Xs¶ InS¶p. R§fpsS Np−pIÄ H¯p

tNÀ¶p. kmh[m\w R§fpsS \m¡pIÄ amdn amdn c−p

t]cpsSbpw hmbv¡pÅnÂ CWtNÀ¶p. AtXmsS R§fpsS

icocw kmh[m\w NqSp ]nSn¡m³ XpS§n.

AtXmsS Fsâ Ip®bpw DWcm³ XpS§n. Ah³

AhcpsS ASnhbänÂ Ip¯m³ XpS§n. tN«¯n Hcp ssI

sIm−v Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¨p. AtXmsS Ah³

72 Munnar

]qÀ® cq]w ssIs¡m−p. AhÀ AhcpsS ImepIÄ

AIÀ¯nbn«v, Ip® ]nSn¨v AhcpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS

Dc¨psIm−ncp¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS apeIÄ sRcn¨pS¨p.

AhÀ aqfm\pw Rc§m\pw XpS§n.

Rm³ Ahsc ]nSn¨v ASp¯p shÅ¯nÂ ap§n¡nS¶

Hcp ]mdbpsS apIfnÂ Ccp¯n. B ]mdbv¡v AhcpsS

N´n hsc s]m¡w D−mbncp¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS ImepIÄ

]nSn¨v AIÀ¯nbn«v, AhcpsS ImepIfpsS \Sphnembn

tNÀ¶p \n¶psIm−v, Ip® ]nSn¨v AhcpsS ]qänÂ ap«n¨p

h¨p. Rm³ ]Xps¡ Acs¡«v ASp¸n¨tXmsS, Ip®

kmh[m\w ]qän\pÅntebv¡v Ibdn. ]qÀ®ambn shÅ¯n\v

ASnbnbnembXn\mÂ Bbncn¡pw Ip® Hcp

{]bmkhpanÃmsX Ibdnt¸mbn.

AhÀ Fsâ tXmfneqsS I¿n«v Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨p.

AhcpsS ImepIÄ sIm−v Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ Npän ]nSn¨p.

Rm³ AhcpsS N´nbnÂ Xm§n ]nSn¨psIm−v, Ahsc

]mdbpsS apIfnÂ \n¶pw s]m¡nsbSp¯p. AhÀ Fsâ

Igp¯nse ]nSn apdp¡n. AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bpw DÅnÂ

h¨psIm−v ]qÀ®ambn Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ AaÀ¶ncp¶p.

Rm³ Ahsc A§s\ ]nSn¨psIm−v, shÅ¯nÂ¡qSn

\S¶p.

ho−pw Rm³ Ahsc ]md¸pd¯v Ccp¯nbn«v,

AhcpsS Acs¡«nÂ ]nSn¨psIm−v kmh[m\w Ip® Ducn

ASn¨p. ]qÀ®ambn shÅ¯n\v ASnbnse ]®Â. AXv

73 Munnar

icn¡pw Hcp ]pXnb ]®Â A\p`hambncp¶p. Rm³

icn¡pw kzÀ¤w I−p. IcbnÂ h¨pÅ ss{U ]®ent\¡mÄ

Gsd kpJw ]IÀ¶ Ifnbmbncp¶p AXv. Ahcpw Cu

]pXnb coXn icn¡pw BkzZn¨p. Fsâ A`n{]mb¯nÂ FÃm

am\y hmb\¡mcpw Ignbpsa¦nÂ Cu coXn H¶p ]co£n¨p

t\m¡Wsa¶mWv Fsâ A`n{]mbw.

shÅ¯n\v ASnbnse ]®Â BbXn\mÂ Bbncn¡pw

F\n¡v shÅw hcp¶Xnsâ Hcp e£Whpw I−nÃ. ]t£

tN«¯n CXn\Iw Hcp {]mhiyw tX³IpSw s]m«n¨p. AXnsâ

Ne\§Ä Fsâ Ip®bnÂ A\p`hs¸«ncp¶p. Rm³

ASnbpsS thKX Iq«n. B XWp¯ A´coIj¯nÂ BbXp

sIm−mbncn¡pw, F\n¡v Aev]w t]mepw £oWw

A\p`hs¸«nÃ. HSphnÂ AhÀ¡v c−maXpw cXnaqÀO

D−mbn. At¸mtgbv¡pw Fsâ Ip®bpw Aan«p s]m«n¨p.

AhÀ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p.

“A\nbm, icn¡pw C¶msWSm Rm³ kzÀ¤w I−Xv.

]®se¦nÂ ]®Â CXmWv.”

“icnbm tN«¯o. Rm\pw icn¡v kpJn¨p. shÅ¯nse

]®Â Xs¶ Gähpw \ÃXv.”

At¸mtgbv¡pw Fsâ Ip® Npcp§m³ XpS§n.

HSphnÂ AXv ]qänÂ \n¶pw ]pd¯v NmSn. H¸w Ip®¸mÂ,

I«bmbn shÅ¯n\v apIfntebv¡v s]m§n h¶p. tN«¯n

74 Munnar

]md¸pd¯p \n¶pw Xmsg Cd§nbn«v, AXv ssI sIm−v

tImcn IpSn¨p.

]ns¶ R§Ä GXm−v Ac aWn¡qÀ IqSn shÅ¯nÂ

ap§n Ipfn¨p. F{X kabw shÅ¯nÂ ap§n InS¶n«pw

R§Ä¡v aXnbmbnÃ. HSphnÂ R§Ä shÅ¯nÂ \n¶pw

Icbv¡v Ibdn. At¸mÄ R§Ä hndbv¡m³ XpS§n. R§Ä

tXmÀ¯v sIm−v icocw apgph³ tXmÀ¯nbn«v, hkv{X§Ä

[cn¨p. ]ns¶ XncnsI Po¸nÂ F¯n. At¸mÄ aWn ]{´−v

Ignªncp¶p.

R§Ä ]ns¶bpw Ipd¨v Øe§fnsems¡ Id§nbn«v,

c−p aWntbmsS ho«nÂ F¯n. ]Wn¡mcn R§Ä¡v

Ign¡m\pÅ `£Ww hnf¼n h¨p. R§Ä `£Ww Ign¨p.

`£Ww Ignªv R§Ä lmfnÂ Ccp¶p. At¸mtgbv¡pw

]Wn¡mcn, `£Ww Ign¨v, ]m{X§sfms¡ IgpIn h¨n«v,

GXm−v aq¶v aWntbmsS AhÀ R§tfmSv bm{X ]dªv

AhcpsS ho«ntebv¡v t]mbn. AhÀ R§Ä¡pÅ cm{Xn

`£Ww icnbm¡n h¨n«p−mbncp¶p. AhÀ C\n \msf

cmhnsetb hcpIbpÅp.

AhÀ t]mb DS³, tN«¯n Fgpt¶äv hoSv AS¨v

]q«nbn«v, Fsâ ASp¯v h¶ncp¶p. AhÀ Fsâ

_À½pUbpsS ImenÂ¡qSn ssI DÅnÂ IS¯n Fsâ

Ip® P«n¡pÅnÂ \n¶pw ]pds¯Sp¯p.

AhcpsS Ickv]Àiw Gä DS³ Ah³ Xe DbÀ¯m³

XpS§n. Rm³ AhcpsS tXmfneqsS I¿n«v Ahsc Fsâ

75 Munnar

icoc¯nÂ tNÀ¯v ]nSn¨p. AhÀ Fsâ IhnfnÂ Npw_n¨p.

Rm³ atä ssI sIm−v AhcpsS DSp¸nsâ ]pd¯pIqSn

AhcpsS apebnÂ ]nSn¨p. AhÀ s]s«¶v Fgpt¶äp \n¶n«v,

Fsâ SojÀ«v apIfntebv¡v Ducn FSp¯p. Rm³ Ahsc

]nSn¨psIm−v apdn¡pÅnÂ t]mbn.

apdnbnÂ sN¶ DS³ Rm³ AhcpsS hkv{X§Ä

Hmtcm¶mbn Ducn amän. AhÀ Fsâ icoc¯nÂ tijn¨

hkv{X§fpw Ducn amän. AhÀ Fs¶ I«nenÂ ]nSn¨v

Ccp¯nbn«v, Fsâ ap¶nembn Ip¯n Ccp¶psIm−v Fsâ

Ip® ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¨p. At¸mtgbv¡pw Ip® \Ã t^manÂ

Bbn¡gnªncp¶p. Ip®bpsS Aä¯v Hcp XpÅn

\ndanÃm¯ {ZmhIw Dudn h¶p. AhÀ \m¡psIm−v AXv

\¡nsbSp¯p. ]ns¶ kmh[m\w Ip®bpsS aIpSw

hmbv¡pÅnem¡n \pWbm³ XpS§n.

Rm³ Is¿¯n AhcpsS apeIfnÂ XgpIn. Rm³

Imensâ XÅhncÂ sIm−v AhcpsS hnSÀ¶ncp¶ ]qänÂ

XgpIn. Rm³ AhcpsS I´nÂ ImÂhncÂ sIm−v

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p. AtXmsS AhÀ kln¡m³ IgnbmsX

Fgpt¶äv Fsâ ap¶nÂ \n¶psIm−v Fsâ tXmfnÂ

AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p.

Rm³ I«nenÂ \n¶pw Fgpt¶äv \n¶n«v, Ahsc

I«nenÂ ssI Ip¯n Ip\n¨p \ndp¯n. Rm³ AhcpsS

]n¶nÂ sN¶p \n¶n«v, AhcpsS ]pdIntebv¡v hnSÀ¶p

\n¶ ]qänÂ XgpIn. Rm³ ssI F¯n AhcpsS Xq§n

76 Munnar

InS¶ apeIfnÂ ]nSn¨p sRcn¨pS¨p. ]ns¶ kmh[m\w

Ip® ]nSn¨ AhcpsS ]qänÂ ap«n¨p h¨n«v kmh[m\w

AIt¯bv¡v XÅn Ibän.

Rm³ AhcpsS Acs¡«nÂ apdpsI ]nSn¨psIm−v

Ip® kmh[m\w AIt¯bv¡v IS¯n. HSphnÂ Fsâ

Acs¡«v, AhcpsS NńbnÂ AaÀ¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS

]pdt¯bv¡v Iagv¶p InS¶psIm−v AhcpsS c−p

hi¯pIqSnbpw ssI IS¯n apeIÄ ]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n.

At¸mtgbv¡pw AhÀ Nń ]n¶ntebv¡v Xmf¯nÂ XÅm³

XpS§n. H¸w Rm\pw Ip® Ducn ASn¨p XpS§n.

kmh[m\w ASnbpsS thKX IqSn¡qSn h¶p. H¸w

AhÀ Nń ]pdtIm«pw XÅn X¶p. HSphnÂ AhÀ XfÀ¶p.

AhÀ I«nenÂ Xe Ip¯ns¡m−v Iagv¶p InS¶p. Rm³

]ns¶bpw Ducn ASn¨psIm−ncp¶p. ho−pw H¶p c−v an\n«v

IqSn Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw Fsâ Ip®bpw AhcpsS

]qäntebv¡v ]mÂ ag s]¿n¨p. AtXmsS Rm\pw XfÀ¶v

AhcpsS ]pdt¯bv¡v Iagv¶p InS¶p.

InX v̧ amdnbt¸mtgbv¡pw R§Ä Fgpt¶äv I«nenÂ

InS¶p. R§Ä A§s\ InS¶v ab§nt¸mbn. A§s\

Znhk§Ä IS¶p t]mbn. BZy Znhk§fnsems¡ R§Ä

icn¡pw ASn¨p s]mfn¨p. Znhkhpw aq¶v þ \mev {]mhiyw

hoXw R§Ä CWtNÀ¶p. F¶mÂ R§Ä aq¶mdnÂ

F¯n \mev Znhkw Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw, R§fpsS

77 Munnar

IfnbpsS coXn amdn. ]ns¶ R§fpsS {i² apgph³

KÀ`[mcWw am{Xambn.

]n¶oSpÅ Znhk§fnÂ R§Ä asäÃm coXnIfpw

Dt]£n¨n«v, tN«¯nsb I«nenÂ aeÀ¯n InS¯nbn«v, Rm³

apIfnÂ Ibdn ASn¡p¶ coXn am{Xta sNbvXpÅp. AXpw

ASn¨p Ignªv, shÅw ]pd¯v t]mImsX, Ip® Iptdt\cw

IqSn AI¯v h¨psIm−v A\§msX InS¡pambncp¶p.

A§s\ aq¶mdnÂ ]¯v Znhkw ]n¶n«p.

At¸mtgbv¡pw, tN«¯nbpsS sa³kkv Ignªn«v ]Xnt\gv

Znhk§Ä Ignªncp¶p. aäv Ipg¸§sfm¶pansÃ¦nÂ

XoÀ¨bmbpw tN«¯n KÀ`nWn Bbncn¡pw F¶v Dd¸mbn.

]Xns\m¶mw Znhkw Ahkm\s¯ Ifnbpw Ignªv D¨bv¡v

R§Ä aS¡ bm{X Bcw`n¨p. kÔytbmsS R§Ä XncnsI

ho«nÂ F¯n.

F\n¡v A¸¨t\bpw, A½¨ntbbpw A`napJoIcn¡m³

aSnbmbncp¶p. F¦nepw AhÀ tNmZn¨Xns\ms¡ adp]Sn

sImSp¯p. A¶v cm{Xnbpw, FÃmhcpw Dd§n¡gnªt¸mÄ

tN«¯n Fsâ apdnbnÂ h¶p. A¶pw R§Ä BtLmjn¨p.

ASp¯ Znhk§fnepw ]IÂ A½ ASp¡fbnÂ ]WnbnÂ

Bbncn¡p¶ kab¯pw, cm{Xnbnepw R§Ä kwKan¨p.

ho−pw HcmgvN IqSn Ignªv tN«¯n XncnsI t]mbn.

t]mIp¶Xn\v ap¼mbn AhÀ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Iptd kabw

Icªp. HSphnÂ Hcp amk¯n\Iw Fs¶¡qSn

Atacn¡bntebv¡v sIm−p t]mIpsa¶v ]dªv bm{Xbmbn.

78 Munnar

AhÀ t]mbn¡gnªv an¡hmdpw Znhk§fnÂ cm{Xn Fs¶

t^mWnÂ hnfn¡pambncp¶p.

HSphnÂ Hcp Znhkw AhÀ Fs¶ hnfn¨v B kt´mj

hmÀ¯ Adnbn¨p. Rm³ HcÑ\mIm³ t]mIp¶p. ASp¯

Znhkw Xs¶ tN«¯n Cu hnhcw A½tbbpw hnfn¨v ]dªp.

AXv AdnªtXmsS ho«nÂ FÃmt]À¡pw kt´mjambn.

tN«¯nbpsS KÀ`¯n\v D¯chmZn Rm\msW¶v R§sf

IqSmsX, Fsâ A¸¨\pw A½¨n¡pw am{Xta Adnbq.

tN«¯n Fs¶ DSt\ Xs¶ sIm−pt]mIpsa¶v

Adnbn¨ncps¶¦nepw, AXv DSs\m¶pw km²yambnÃ.

km[mcW t]mse Znhk§Ä IS¶p t]mbn. CXn\nsS \fn\n

tN¨nbpsS aIÄ BcXnsb i\n, RmbÀ Znhk§fnÂ

]Tn¸n¡pambncp¶p.

A§s\bncns¡ AhÄ¡v ]¯mw ¢mÊnse Ahkm\

]co£ (FÊv.FÊv.FÂ.kn) Bbn. kv¡qfnse ¢mÊv

Ahkm\n¨v ÌUn eohv BbXp apXÂ AhÄ, AhfpsS

ho«nÂ t]mImsX, R§fpsS ho«nÂ \n¶p Xs¶bmWv

]Tn¨psIm−ncp¶Xv.

A§ns\bncns¡, ]co£ ASp¯p h¶ Hcp Znhkw,

kpJanÃmsX Bip]{XnbnÂ InS¡pIbmbncp¶ A¸¨sâ

tPyjvTs\ ImWp¶Xn\mbn A¸¨\pw A½¨nbpw IqSn t]mbn.

A¸¨³ sshIpt¶cw B^oknÂ \n¶pw h¶Xn\v tijamWv

AhÀ t]mbXv. At¸mtgbv¡pw \fn\n tN¨nbpw AhcpsS

79 Munnar

ho«ntebv¡v t]mbn¡gnªncp¶p. ]ns¶ ho«nÂ Rm\pw,

BcXnbpw am{Xambn.

BcXn At¸mÄ ssU\nwKv lmfnencp¶v

]Tn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Rm³ AhÄ Ccn¡p¶ ItkcbpsS

]n¶nembn sN¶p \n¶p. AhÄ Xe DbÀ¯n Fs¶

t\m¡nbn«v, AhfpsS ]Tn¯w XpSÀ¶p. AhÄ Hcp anUnbpw,

Fsâ Hcp ]gb jÀ«pamWv [cn¨ncp¶Xv. Rm³, Fsâ

c−p ssIIfpw AhfpsS tXmfnÂ h¨p. AhÄ ho−pw

Fs¶ t\m¡n. Rm³ km[mcW AhfpsS apebnÂ

]nSn¡pIbpw, D½hbv¡pIbpsams¡ sN¿mdpÅXn\mÂ

AhÄ¡v AXv Hcp {]iv\ambncp¶nÃ.

“F´mWv kmdnsâ Dt±iw. Fs¶ ]Tn¡m³

k½Xn¡¯ntÃ”

“\o ]Tn¡− F¶v Rm³ ]dtªm? \o _p¡pw

FSp¯psIm−p hm. Fsâ apdnbnÂ t]mbncp¶v ]Tn¡mw.

Fs´¦nepw kwibw Ds−¦nÂ Rm³ ]dªp Xcmw.”

“Rm³ hcmw. ]t£ ]Tn¯w aXn. F\n¡v ASp¯mgvN

]co£bmWv.”

“AXns\´m. \n\¡v Adnbm¯sXÃmw Rm³ ]Tn¸n¨p

Xcmw.”

80 Munnar

Rm³ t]mbn IXIv AS¨v Ipänbn«n«v, Fsâ

apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. AhÄ _p¡psaSp¯v Fsâ ]ndtI

sÌ v̧ Ibdn apIfnÂ Fsâ apdnbnÂ F¯n. tai¸pd¯v

_p¡pIÄ h¨n«v, AhÄ ItkcbnÂ Ccp¶p. Rm³ AhnsS

\n¶psIm−p Xs¶ Ip\nªv AhfpsS IhnfnÂ Npw_n¨p.

Rm³ AhfpsS DSp¸nsâ ]pd¯pIqSn AhfpsS apeIfnÂ

]nSn¨p. Fsâ Ip«³ CXn\Iw I¼nbmbn AhfpsS

icoc¯nÂ Ip¯p¶p−mbncp¶p.

“A®m, Zqtcm«v amdn \nÃv. A®sâ tam³ Fs¶ Ip¯p¶p.”

“AXns\´mSo. Ah³ \ns¶ H¶v sXms«¶v h¨v F´m

Ipg¸w ?”

“Ipg¸n¡mXncp¶mÂ aXn.”

“\o Hcp Imcyw sN¿v. Ahs\ ]nSnt¨sc. At¸mÄ ]ns¶

Ah³ Ip¯m³ hc¯nÃtÃm.”

“A®m XamisbSp¡tÃ. F\n¡v ]Tn¡Ww. C§s\bmbmÂ

Rm³ Cd§n t]mIpta.”

“\o ]nW§−. \ap¡v ChnsS Ccp¶v Xs¶ ]Tn¡mw.”

CXv ]dªpsIm−v Rm³ AhfpsS ASp¯v InS¶

ItkcbnÂ Ccp¶p. Rm³ AhÄ Ccp¶ ItkcbpsS

]n¶neqsS I¿n«v, AhfpsS ASpt¯bv¡v tNÀ¶ncp¶p.

81 Munnar

]ns¶ Rm³ AhfpsS IhnfnÂ Npw_n¨p. AhÄ

]pkvXI¯nÂ Xs¶ {i²n¨v Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p.

Ipd¨pIqSn Ignªn«v, Rm³ AhfpsS jÀ«nsâ

_«³kpIfpsS CSbneqsS ssI IS¯n AhfpsS apebnÂ

XgpIn. ]ns¶ ]Xps¡ Rm³ AhÄ [cn¨ncp¶ jÀ«nsâ

_«³kpIÄ Cf¡n AXv Ducn amän. AhÄ Fsâ

{]hr¯nIÄ XSbm³ Hcp hn^e {iaw \S¯nsb¦nepw Rm³

jÀ«v _eambn Xs¶ Ducn amän.

AhfpsS kmam\yw henb apeIÄ, AhÄ [cn¨ncp¶

Idp¯ t{_knbdn\pÅnÂ HXp§msX ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn

\n¶p. Rm³ Ip\nªv AhfpsS t{_knbdn\v ]pd¯pIqSn

AhfpsS apeIfnÂ apJw AaÀ¯n. AhÄ Fsâ XebnÂ

]nSn¨v AaÀ¯n. Rm³ AhfpsS ]n¶neqsS I¿n«v

t{_knbdnsâ lq¡v Cf¡nbn«v AXv ap¶neqsS Ducn amän.

AhfpsS ape C{Xbpw hepXmbXn\p tijw Rm³

BZyambn ImWpIbmWv. CSbvs¡ms¡ apebnÂ

]nSn¡mdps−¦nepw, AXv adbnÃmsX ImWp¶Xv hfsc

\mfpIÄ¡v tijw CXv BZyambmWv. AhfpsS icoc¯n\v

kmam\yw \Ã shfp v̧ \ndamWv. AhfpsS apeIÄ¡v

icoct¯¡mÄ shfp v̧ \ndap−mbncp¶p. AXnsâ

a²y¯mbn ]n¦v \nd¯nÂ henb Hcp hr¯hpw, Aä¯v

s]³knensâ Nph«nse dºdnsâ hen¸¯nÂ {_u¬

\nd¯nÂ apesR«pw. BsI¡qSn ImWm³ \Ã

`wKnbmbncp¶p.

82 Munnar

Rm³ Ip\nªv AhfpsS apesR«pIÄ¡v Npänepw

Fsâ \m¡psIm−v Dgnªp. AtXmsS apesR«pIÄ _ew

h¨v Ipd¨pIqSn hepXmbn ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn h¶p. Rm³

apesR«pIÄ Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n \pWªp. AhÄ Fsâ

Xe, AhfpsS amdntebv¡v AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨psIm−v, Ip\nªv

Fsâ XebnÂ Npw_n¨p.

AhÄ \Ã kpJ¯nÂ ebn¨ncp¶ X¡¯n\v Rm³

AhÄ AdnbmsX AhfpsS anUnbpsS lq¡v Cf¡nbn«v, B

hnShneqsS AhfpsS ]mâokn\pÅntebv¡v ssI IS¯n.

AhÄ Hcp ssI FSp¯v Fsâ I¿psS \o¡w XSªp.

Rm³ AhfpsS apeIÄ amdn amdn hmbnÂ h¨v hen¨p

IpSn¨p. H¸w Hcp ssI sIm−v kzX{´amb apesR«v

Xncp½pIbpw sNbvXp.

AhÄ ]qÀ®ambn B kpJ¯nÂ ebn¨ncp¶ X¡¯n\v

Rm³ ho−pw Fsâ ssI AhfpsS ]mâokn\pÅnÂ

IS¯n. C¯hW AhfpsS FXnÀ v̧ D−mbnÃ. Rm³ ssI

IqSpXÂ DÅntebv¡v IS¯n AhfpsS ]qÀXS¯nÂ

AaÀ¯n. AhnsS \Ã kar²ambn tcmaw hfÀ¶p

InS¶ncp¶p. Rm³ B tcma§fpsS CSbneqsS ssI ho−pw

Xmtgbv¡v sIm−p h¶n«v AhfpsS ]qÀNmenÂ XgpIn.

AhfpsS IpepIÄ ]Xps¡ c−p hit¯bv¡pw AIÀ¶p

h¶p. AtXmsS Fsâ ssIIÄ¡v AhfpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS

kpKaambn Nen¡m³ Ignªp.

83 Munnar

Fsâ hncepIÄ AhfpsS IńÂ sXm«t¸mÄ AhÄ

sR«nhnd¨p. B X¡¯n\v Rm³ AhfpsS Nń Aev]w

DbÀ¯nbn«v, anUnbpw ]m³dokpw IqSn s]s«¶v Xmtgbv¡v

]nSn¨v Ducn. F´mWv kw`hn¡¶Xv F¶v AhÄ¡v

a\ÊnemIp¶Xn\v ap¼v anUnbpw ]mâokpw IqSn XdbnÂ

F¯nbncp¶p. AhÄ s]s«¶v ImepIÄ ASp¸n¨v

h¨psIm−v c−p ssI sIm−pw AhfpsS ]qÀXSw s]m¯n

]nSn¨p.

Rm³ ItkcbnÂ \n¶pw Fgpt¶ät¸mtgbv¡pw Fsâ

ap−v Dcnªv hoWp. AtXmsS c−p t]cpw ]qÀ® \ácmbn.

Fsâ Ip® 120 Un{KnbnÂ \n¶p sh«n hnd¨p. Rm³

AhfpsS ap¶nembn XdbnÂ ap«pIp¯n Ccp¶psIm−v

AhfpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯n. Fsâ apJw, AhfpsS

XpSbnSp¡nÂ AaÀ¶p. aq{X¯ntâbpw, aZPe¯ntâbpw a\w

IpfnÀ¸n¡p¶ amZI KÔw AhnsS \n¶pw DbÀ¶p h¶p.

Rm³ Ahsf ItkcbpsS Aät¯bv¡v \o¡n Ccp¯n.

Ct¸mÄ AhfpsS ]qÀ Fsâ apJ¯n\v sXm«Sp¯mbn

hnSÀ¶p \n¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS kar²amb tcma§Ä c−p

ssI sIm−pw ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯n. AtXmsSm¸w AhfpsS

]qÀNp−pIfpw c−p hit¯bv¡pw hnSÀ¶p h¶p.

AhfpsS ]qÀNmensâ apIfä¯mbn Hcp \ne¡Se

Ipcphnsâ hen¸¯nÂ I´v ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn \n¶p.

Rm³ \m¡v \o«n AhfpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS apIfntebv¡pw

Xmtgbv¡pw Dc¨p. Fsâ \m¡v AhfpsS IńÂ

84 Munnar

sXm«t¸mÄ AhÄ tjm¡Sn¨Xp t]mse sR«n. H¸w AhfpsS

ImepIÄ IqSpXÂ AIÀ¶p h¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS I´v,

Fsâ Np−n\pw \m¡n\pw CSbnem¡n \pWªp. AtXmsS

AhÄ ImepIÄ DbÀ¯n Fsâ c−p tXmfnepambn

h¨psIm−v, Fsâ Xe, AhfpsS ]qäntebv¡v AaÀ¯n

]nSn¨p.

Rm³ AhfpsS ]qÀ apgph\mbn hmbnÂ h¨v N¸n

hen¨p. H¸w Fsâ \m¡v AhfpsS ]qÀ Xpfbntebv¡v

\pgªp Ibdn. AhfpsS ]qÀtX³ Rm³ \¡n

IpSn¨psIm−ncp¶p. HSphnÂ AhfpsS N´n ItkcbnÂ

\n¶pw DbÀ¶p h¶p. ]ns¶ Ahsfm¶p sR«n hnd¨p.

Ahkm\w AhÄ XfÀ¶p ItkcbnÂ Ccp¶p. Fsâ

XebnÂ ]nSn¨ncp¶ ssI Abªp. ImepIÄ Fsâ

tXmfnÂ \n¶pw sX¶n hoWp.

Rm³ Ahsf s]m¡nsbSp¯v I«nenÂ InS¯n. AhÄ

I«nenÂ XfÀ¶p InS¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS ASp¯v Ncnªv

InS¶psIm−v AhfpsS ]pd¯v Fsâ Hcp ImÂ Ibän

h¨p. Rm³ Xe DbÀ¯n AhfpsS apeIfnÂ Npw_n¨p.

\m¡psIm−v ape¡®pIfnÂ Dgnªp. CXn\nsS AhÄ

ssI F¯n Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v sRcn¨psIm−ncp¶p.

Rm³ Hcp ssI sIm−v AhfpsS ]qÀXS¯nÂ

XgpIns¡m−ncp¶p.

kmh[m\w, Fsâ Hcp hncÂ AhfpsS ]qÀ

Nmentebv¡v Acn¨nd§n. ]ns¶ B hncÂ AhfpsS

85 Munnar

]qÀXpfbnÂ Cd§n sN¶p. AhfpsS ImepIÄ AIÀ¶p

h¶p. Fsâ hncÂ AhfpsS XpfbneqsS Ibdnbnd§n.

Ipd¨pIgnªv Rm³ Hcp hncÂ IqSn IS¯n. c−p

hncepIfpw IqSn AhfpsS XpfbneqsS kmh[m\w

Ibdnbnd§ns¡m−ncp¶p. AtXmsS AhfpsS ]qÀXpf

IptdtÈ Abªp hcm³ XpS§n. At¸mtgbv¡pw AhÄ

icn¡pw NqSmbn¡gnªncp¶p.

B X¡¯n\v Rm³ AhfpsS ]pd¯v Ibdn

InS¶psIm−v Ip®bpsS aIpSw AhfpsS ]qÀ NmeneqsS

Dc¨p. ]ns¶ aIpSw ]qÀXpfbnÂ ap«n¨p h¨psIm−v Rm³

]Xps¡ Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¶p. AhÄ thZ\ sIm−v ]pfªp.

Ip®bpsS ]IpXn AI¯v Ibdn. ]ns¶ AXv DÅntebv¡v

IbdmsX hgn apS¡n \n¶p. Rm³ Ipd¨p kabw

A\§msX InS¶p. At¸mtgbv¡pw AhfpsS thZ\

Ipdªp. Rm³ Ip® Ipd¨v ]pdt¯bv¡v hen¨n«v,

iànbmbn H¶v AIt¯bv¡v XÅn. AtXmsS, FÃm

XSÊ§fpw t`Zn¨psIm−v Ip® AhfpsS ]qän\pÅnÂ

Ibdn. AhÄ thZ\sIm−v \nehnfn¨p.

“A®m Rm³ Nmhpta. F\n¡v kln¡m³ h¿m¯

thZ\.”

“AXv kmcanÃ tamtf. AXv C¸w amdpw.”

“A®\v A§s\sbms¡ ]dbmw. tNZ\ kln¡p¶Xv

Rm\tÃ. F§ms−ms¡ Iodn apdnsª¶m tXm¶p¶Xv.”

86 Munnar

“apdnb¯Xpsam¶panÃ tamtf. AXv tamfpsS koev

s]m«nbXnsâ thZ\bm. AX§v t]mIpw. AXv DSt\ amdnbn«v

\Ã kpJw BIpw.”

AhfpsS I®nÂ \n¶pw I®p\oÀ XpÅnIÄ s]mSn¨p

h¶p. Rm³ Np−psIm−v AXv H¸nsbSp¯p. Rm³ Ahsf

sI«n¸nSn¨psIm−v Ipd¨p kabw A\§msX InS¶p. Fsâ

Ip®, AhfpsS ]qänencp¶v hn§n. Ipd¨p

Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw, AhfpsS thZ\ amdn. AhfpsS ]qÀ

`n¯nIÄ kmh[m\w Fsâ Ip®sb sRcn¡m³ XpS§n.

Rm³ ]Xps¡ Ip® Ducn ASn¡m³ XpS§n. aq¶v

\mev ASn ASn¨t¸mtgbv¡pw Ipd¨v Abhv h¶p XpS§n.

AXn\\pkcn¨v Rm³ ASnbpsS thKX Iq«ns¡m−ncp¶p.

AhÄ ImepIÄ DbÀ¯n Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ Npän ]nSn¨p.

Rm³ AhfpsS c−p hi§fnepambn ssI Ip¯n DbÀ¶p

\n¶psIm−v BªSn¨p. AhÄ c−v I¿pw DbÀ¯n Fsâ

tXmfnÂ apdpsI ]nSn¨p.

HSphnÂ AhfpsS N´n apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¶p h¶n«v,

sh«nbn« t]mse I«nenÂ hoWp. tX³IpSw s]m«n HgpIn.

AhfpsS ssIIÄ Abªp. ImepIÄ sI«p hn«v I«nenÂ

]Xn¨p. ]ns¶bpw \me©v ASn IqSn ASn¨t¸mtgbv¡pw

F\n¡pw shÅw h¶p. Fsâ Ip®, AhfpsS ]qänencp¶v

Gsg«v {]mhiyw sh«n hnd¨p. AhfpsS ]qÀ `n¯nIfpw

Fsâ Ip®bnÂ aÀ±w sNep¯ns¡m−ncp¶p.

87 Munnar

HSphnÂ FÃm Ne\§fpw \ne¨p. Ip® Npcp§n

AhfpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw ]pd¯p h¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS

hit¯bv¡v Cd§n InS¶p. Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]qÀtX\pw

Ip®¸mepw IeÀ¶ an{inX¯nÂ càw IqSn IeÀ¶v, Nph v̧

\nd¯nÂ ]änbncp¶p. AhÄ AXv I−p.

“A®m, Rm³ sa³kkv Bbn«v ]¯v ]{´−v

ZnhkambtÃm. ]ns¶ tNmc FhnSp¶m h¶Xv. CXv

apdnªXv Xs¶.”

“AXv apdnªsXm¶pw AÃ tamtf. koev s]m«nbXnsâ

tNcbm. AXv kmcanÃ.”

“A®m F\n¡v sa³kkv Bbn«v ]{´−v Znhkta

Bbn«pÅp. hÃ Ipg¸hpw D−mIptam.”

“Mm. Ipg¸ap−mIm\pÅ km²yX D−v.”

“F¦nÂ ]ns¶ Rm³ acn¡t¯ DÅp.”

“\o C§s\ t]Sn¨mtem. AXns\ms¡ hgnbp−v.”

“F´v hgn. A®³ Fs¶ IÃymWw Ign¡¯nÃ F¶v

F\n¡v Adnbmw. Rm³ A§s\ B{Kln¡p¶XpanÃ.”

“tamtf AXns\ms¡ amÀ¤ap−v.”

“F´v amÀ¤w ?”

88 Munnar

“FSo AXn\tÃ Cu KpfnIIsfms¡ D−m¡n

h¨ncn¡p¶Xv.”

“AXn\v KpfnIbv¡v Rm³ FhnsS t]mIpw ?”

“\o F§pw t]mI−. AsXms¡ Rm³ Xcmw.”

“AXv icn. CsXms¡ tÌm¡v sNbvXv h¨ncn¡pIbmWv.

AtÃ.”

“Mm. AsXms¡ D−v. F¸gm Bhiyw hcp¶Xv F¶v

AdnbnÃtÃm.”

]ns¶ R§Ä c−pw Fgpt¶äv _m¯v dqanÂ t]mbn

IgpIn hr¯nbm¡n h¶p. Rm³ Fsâ AeamcnbnÂ \n¶pw

AhÄ¡v Hcp sF ]nÂ KpfnI sImSp¯p. tai¸pd¯ncp¶

P¤nÂ \n¶pw shÅsaSp¯v AhÄ AXv Ign¨p. ]ns¶

R§Ä hkv{Xw [cn¨v Xmsg h¶p. AhÄ ssU\nwKv

lmfnencp¶v ]Tn¨p. Rm³ Sn. hn. Hm¬ sNbvXv AXpw

I−psIm−ncp¶p.

]ns¶bpw Ac aWn¡qÀ IqSn Ignªt¸mÄ AÑ\pw

A½bpw F¯n. km[mcW t]mse H³]Xv aWntbmsS

R§Ä `£Ww Ign¨p. AhÄ, ASp¡ftbmSv tNÀ¶pÅ

tÌmÀ apdnbnemWv InS¡p¶Xv. ]m{X§sfms¡ IgpIn h¨n«v

AhÄ AhfpsS apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. Rm³ Ipd¨pIqSn

Ignªv Fsâ apdnbnepw t]mbn.

89 Munnar

]n¶oSv ]e Znhk§fnepw R§Ä kwKan¨n«p−v. Nne

Znhk§fnÂ cm{Xn ]Tn¡m³ Fsâ apdnbnÂ h¶t¸mgpw,

Nne Znhk§fnÂ FÃmhcpw Dd§n Ignªv Rm³ AhfpsS

apdnbnÂ sN¶pw, Nnet¸mÄ AhÄ Fsâ apdnbnÂ h¶pw.

A§s\ Znhk§Ä IS¶p t]mbn. AhfpsS ]co£

IgnªtXmsS AhÄ AhfpsS ho«nÂ t]mbn. A§s\ B

Ifn Ahkm\n¨p.

CXn\nsS tN«¯n¡v Ggv amkw KÀ`w Bbt¸mtgbv¡pw

tN«³ tN«¯nsb R§fpsS ho«nÂ sIm−p h¶v B¡n.

tN«¯n Atacn¡bnse tPmen cmPnh¨n«mWv h¶Xv.

tN«¯nbpsS ho«nÂ tN«¯nbpsS A½ CÃm¯Xn\mÂ

{]khw R§fpsS ho«nÂ aXn F¶v Xocpam\n¨ncp¶p.

(tN«¯nbpsS A½, tN«¯nbpsS hnhml¯n\v ap¼v Xs¶

acWaSªncp¶p. ]ns¶ AhcpsS ho«nÂ D−mbncp¶Xv,

tN«¯nbpsS AÑ\pw, ktlmZc\pw `mcybpw, ]ns¶

tN«¯nbpsS Cfb ktlmZcn an\n F¶v hnfn¡p¶

saÀen\pw am{XamWv. tN«³, Irjn Imcy§Ä t\m¡n

Ignbp¶p. tN«sâ `mcybv¡v tPmenbnÃ. ktlmZcn an\n Fw.

F. Ignªp \nÂ¡p¶p. ASp¯ hÀjw _n. FUn\v

tNcm³ Dt±in¡p¶p.)

A¸¨\pw A½¨nbpw InS¡p¶ apdnbpsS ASp¯p Xs¶

Hcp InS¸papdn Ds−¦nepw, tN«¯nbpsS InS v̧, apIfnes¯

\nebnÂ Fsâ apdnbpsS sXm«Sp¯ apdnbnembncp¶p.

tN«³ HcmgvN Ignªv XncnsI t]mbn. AXn\mÂ cm{Xn

90 Munnar

R§Ä¡v kwKan¡m\pÅ Ahkcw D−mbncp¶p. AhcpsS

hbänÂ aÀ±w sImSp¡msX B Znhk§fnÂ Rm³ AhÀ¡v

ASn¨p sImSp¯psIm−ncp¶p.

]t£, {]khw ASp¯p h¶t¸mÄ tN«¯n¡v

apIfntebv¡v Ibdm³ _p²nap«v BbXn\mÂ InS v̧

Xmgs¯ apdnbnembn. H¸w, A½ Iq«p InS¡m\pw XpS§n.

AtXmsS R§fpsS Ifnbpw Ahkm\n¨p.

A§ns\bncns¡, Hcp Znhkw AÀ²cm{XnbnÂ

tN«¯n¡v Nne AkzØXIÄ tXm¶n¯pS§nbXn\mÂ

Ahsc Bip]{XnbnÂ {]thin¸n¨p. ASp¯ Znhkw

D¨tbmsS tN«¯n Hcp B¬Ipªn\v P·w \ÂIn.

kpJ{]khw. A§s\ Fsâ aI³ ]nd¶p. Bip]{XnbnÂ

A½bpw, tN«¯nbpsS ktlmZcsâ `mcybpw, tN«¯nbpsS

A\pP¯n an\nbpw D−mbncp¶p.

Rm\pw A¸¨\pw ho«ntebv¡v t]mbn. ASp¯ Znhkw

apXÂ Fsâ A½bpw, an\nbpw amdn amdn Bip]{XnbnÂ

\n¶p. t\mÀaÂ Uenhdn Bbncp¶Xn\mÂ \memas¯

Znhkw tN«¯nsb Bip]{XnbnÂ \n¶pw UnkvNmÀPv sNbvXv

ho«nÂ sIm−p h¶p. tN«¯n Bhiys¸« {]Imcw

tN«¯nsb klmbn¡m\mbn an\n IqSn R§fpsS ho«ntebv¡v

h¶p.

tN«¯nbpsS ho«nÂ h¨v aps¼ms¡ hÃt¸mgpta Rm³

an\nsb I−n«pÅp. ImWpt¼mÄ Fs´¦nepw

kwkmcn¡psa¶ÃmsX R§Ä X½nÂ ASp¸sam¶pw

91 Munnar

D−mbncp¶nÃ. AhÄ¡v Ft¶¡mÄ Hcp hbÊv IqSpXÂ

D−mbncps¶¦nepw, Rm³ Ahsf t]cmWv hnfn¨ncp¶Xv.

Ahfpw ImgvNbnÂ tN«¯nsb t]mse Xs¶bmbncp¶p.

]t£ AhÄ tN«¯ntb¡mÄ Ipd¨pIqSn Ccp−

\ndamsW¶v am{Xw.

ho«nÂ h¶Xnsâ ASp¯ Znhkw tN«¯n

Fs¶s¡m−v tams\ FSp¸n¨p. F\n¡v sIm¨p Ip«nIsf

FSp¡m³ AdnbnÃmbncp¶p. tN«¯n Ip«nsb FSp¡m³

]Tn¸n¨p X¶p. A§s\ Rm³ CSbvs¡ms¡ tams\

FSp¡m³ XpS§n. an¡hmdpw kab§fnÂ an\n tN«¯nbpsS

ASp¯v Xs¶ D−mbncn¡pambncp¶p. A§s\bncns¡,

tN«¯n ho«nÂ h¶Xnsâ aq¶mw Znhkw, an\n apdnbnÂ

CÃmXncp¶ kab¯v tN«¯nbpsS apdnbntebv¡v Rm³

sN¶p.

“A\nbm \nsâ Imcy§sfm¶pw \S¡p¶nÃ. AtÃ ?”

“Hm... Hcp c£bpanÃ tN«¯o.”

“F\n¡v C\n c−p amkw IgnbmsX H¶pw sN¿m³

]änÃ. ]ns¶ hÃt¸mgpw F§m\pw BcpanÃm¯ kab¯v

h¶mÂ Rm³ thWsa¦nÂ ]nSn¨p IfbpItbm,

N¸n¯cpItbm F§m\pw sNbvXp Xcmw.”

“AsX¦nÂ AXv.”

92 Munnar

“]t£ Ct¸mÄ \o F\n¡v Hcp D]Imcw sNbvXp

XcWw. Rm³ icn¡v `£Ww Ign¨p XpS§nbXnÂ ]ns¶

F\n¡v icn¡pw ]mÂ D−mIp¶p−v. \½psS tam³ AXv

apgph³ IpSn¡p¶nÃ. AXpsIm−v ]mÂ sI«n\n¶n«v F\n¡v

\Ã thZ\ FSp¡p¶p−v. AXpsIm−v \o Ipd¨v ]mÂ

IpSn¡Ww.”

“Rm³ IpSn¡p¶Xp sIm−v Ipg¸antÃ?”

“F´v Ipg¸w. \o ss[cyambn IpSnt¨m.”

A§s\ tN«¯n ap³hiw Xpd¸pÅ ss\änbpsS

apIfnse c−v lq¡pIÄ FSp¯v ape ]pds¯Sp¯p.

tN«¯n ASnbnÂ t{_knbÀ [cn¨ncp¶nÃ. A§s\ Rm³

]mÂ hen¨p IpSn¨p. \Ã a[pchpw Cfw NqSpapÅ ]mÂ

Rm³ \pWªnd¡n.

Cu kab¯v tN«¯n Fsâ ap−n\pÅnÂ I¿n«v Fsâ

Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¨psIm−ncp¶p. Hcp apebnse

]mÂ IpSn¨p XoÀ¶t¸mÄ tN«¯n, ASp¯ ape ]nSn¨v Fsâ

hmbnÂ h¨pX¶p. Rm³ AXnÂ \n¶pw ]mÂ hen¨p

IpSn¨p. AXv Xocp¶Xn\v ap¼mbn Xs¶ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ

\n¶pw ]mÂ Noäobncp¶p. tN«¯n AXv AhcpsS I¿nÂ

FSp¯v \¡n IpSn¨p. A§s\ R§fpsS ]epIpSn

XpSÀ¶psIm−ncp¶p. Znhkhpw Ht¶m ct−m {]mhiyw

tN«¯n Fs¶s¡m−v ]mÂ IpSn¸n¡pambncp¶p. H¸w AhÀ

Fsâ ]mepw IpSn¡pw. A§s\ Znhk§Ä IS¶p t]mbn.

93 Munnar

Hcp Znhkw Rm³ tN«¯nbpsS ]mÂ

IpSn¨psIm−ncp¶ kab¯v an\n apdnbntebv¡v IS¶p

h¶p. At¸mÄ tN«¯n Fsâ Ip® ]pds¯Sp¯v

hmWaSnbpw \S¯p¶p−mbncp¶p. an\n AXv hyàambn

ImWpIbpw sNbvXp. AhÄ Hcp an\näv AXv t\m¡nbn«v

s]s«¶v ]pdt¯bv¡v t]mbn. R§fpsS ]Wn ]IpXnbnÂ

Ahkm\n¸n¨p. Rm³ ]Xps¡ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn.

Ipd¨p Ignªv an\n tN«¯nbpsS apdnbnÂ Ibdn

t]mIp¶Xv Rm³ I−p. ]ns¶ AhnsS c−p t]cpw IqSn

kwkmcn¡p¶Xv tI«p. Rm³ AhcpsS kwkmcw {i²n¨p.

an\n: “tN¨o Rm³ Fsâ ho«nÂ t]mIp¶p. F\n¡v

CsXm¶pw ImWm³ h¿.”

tN«¯n: “tamtf \o Dt±in¡p¶Xp t]mse H¶pw

D−mbn«nÃ. F\n¡v ]mÂ sI«n \n¶v thZ\n¨Xp sIm−v

Ahs\s¡m−v Ipd¨v ]mÂ IpSn¸n¨XmWv. AÃmsX H¶pw

CÃ.”

“]nt¶. ]mev sI«n\n¶v thZ\n¨mÂ ]ns¶

A\nbs\s¡m−v IpSn¸n¡p¶Xv am{XamWtÃm Hcp

]cnlmcw.”

“AÃmsX ]ns¶ Rm³ F´v sN¿Wambncp¶p?”

“tN¨n¡v AXv ]ngnªv Ifbmambncp¶ntÃ.”

94 Munnar

“Hm.. AXv shdptX Ifb− F¶v hnNmcn¨mWv Rm³

Ahs\s¡m−v IpSn¸n¨Xv.”

“AXv a\Ênem¡mw. ]t£ tN¨n thtd Hcp ]Wn

sNbvXpsIm−ncp¶tXm. AXn\v F´v \ymboIcWam

DÅXv?”

“tamtf Rm\pw Hcp s]®tÃ. Ah³ Fsâ ]mÂ

IpSn¨t¸mÄ F\n¡v GXm−v t]mse Hs¡ tXm¶n. At¸mÄ

Rm³ AdnbmsX sNbvXp t]mbXmWv.”

“tN¨n F´v \ymboIcWw ]dªmepw CXv icnbmbnÃ.”

“tamtf AXnsems¡ thtd ]e Imcy§fpw D−v. Rm³

]ns¶ AsXms¡ tamÄ¡v ]dªp Xcmw. C¸w tamfv

kam[m\n¡v.”

]ns¶ an\n H¶pw ]dbp¶Xv tI«nÃ. Rm³ ]pdt¯bv¡v

t]mbn. D¨bv¡v DuWv kab¯mWv ]ns¶ Rm³ XncnsI

h¶Xv. Rm³ an\nbpsS ap¶nÂ s]SmsX Hgnªp amdn

\S¶p. AhÄ Fsâ ap¶nÂ {]Xy£s¸«mÂ Fsâ apJ¯v

t\m¡msX apJhpw hoÀ¸n¨v IS¶p t]mIpambncp¶p.

A¶s¯ Znhkw A§s\ IS¶p t]mbn. ASp¯

Znhkw cmhnse F\n¡v Nmb sIm−p X¶Xv

an\nbmbncp¶p. ]t£, At¸mÄ AhfpsS coXn BsI

amdnbncp¶p. AhÄ Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡n Hcp IÅ Nncn

95 Munnar

Nncn¨n«v t]mbn. apdn¡v ]pd¯v Cd§nbn«v AhÄ Xncnªv

Fs¶ t\m¡nbn«v

“tZ, tN¨n hnfn¡p¶p. At§m«v sNÃm³ ]dbp¶p.”

Rm³ At¸mgpw H¶pw an−m³ ]äp¶

AhØbnembncp¶nÃ. AXpsIm−p Xs¶ Rm³ H¶pw

an−nbnÃ. Rm³ Nmb IpSn¨v Ignªn«v ¥mÊv Xmsg sIm−p

hbv¡m\mbn Cd§n h¶t¸mÄ tN«¯nbpsS apdnbntebv¡v

H¶p ]mfn t\m¡n. At¸mÄ AhnsS tN«¯n am{Xta

D−mbncp¶pÅp. Fs¶ I−v tN«¯n Fs¶ hnfn¨p.

“A\nbm \o Ct§m«p Ibdn ht¶.”

“F´m tN«¯o ? an\nsb tN«¯n F§s\bm

HXp¡nbXv ?”

“AsX´mSm ?”

“AÃ, an\nbv¡v C¶se I−XnÂ \n¶pw Nne

amä§sfms¡ ImWp¶p−v.”

“F´v amäamWv \o I−Xv ?”

“AÃ, C¶se \½fpsS Ifn I−Xn\v tijw AhÄ

Fsâ apJ¯v t\m¡nbn«nÃmbncp¶p. Fs¶ I−mÂ DS³

apJhpw hoÀ¸n¨v IS¶p t]mIpIbmbncp¶p. ]t£ C¶v

AhfmWv F\n¡v Nmb sIm−p X¶Xv. At¸mÄ apJ¯v

96 Munnar

Hcp IÅ Nncnbpw D−mbncp¶p. A¸tg tN«¯n Ahsf

Ip¸nbnem¡n F¶v F\n¡v a\Ênembn.”

“Mm. AXv C¶se cm{Xn Rm³ Ahsf tkm¸n«v ab¡n.

]t£ BZysam¶pw AhÄ ASp¯nÃ. ]ns¶ Rm³ \½psS

IY apgph³ AhtfmSv ]dªp. Ahkm\w AhÄ hgn¡v

h¶p. C\n t]Sn¡ms\m¶panÃ.”

“At¿m! AhÄ C\n AXv BtcmsS¦nepw ]dbptam?”

“AsXm¶panÃ. ]t£ AhÄ Nnet¸mÄ \ns¶ H¶p

hfbv¡m³ t\m¡pw. \o AX§v k½Xn¨p sImSp¡Ww. ]ns¶

AhÄ Cu clkysam¶pw BtcmSpw ]dbnÃ.”

“AhÄ Ct§m«p h¶p ap«nbmÂ Rm³ t\m¡mw.

AÃmsX Rm³ At§m«p sN¶v ap«p¶Xv F§s\bm?”

“\o A§s\sbm¶pw hnNmcn¡−. AhÄ¡v ap³ssI

FSp¡m³ Nnet¸mÄ aSnbmbncn¡pw. \o Hcp sNdnb hgn

Xpd¶p sImSp¯mÂ AhÄ tIdn h¶psImÅpw.”

“tN«¯o AhÄ¡v Ft¶¡mÄ Hcp hbÊv IqSpXemWv.

AsÃ¦nÂ Rm³ Ahsf sI«mambncp¶p.”

“\o Ahsf sI«pIsbm¶pw th−. Ahsf¡qSn \½psS

I¼\nbnÂ sIm−ph¶mÂ aXn. ]ns¶ FÃmw t\tc

Bbns¡mÅpw.”

97 Munnar

]ns¶ tN«¯n Fs¶s¡m−v ]mÂ IpSn¸n¨p. AXv

Ignªv tN«¯n Fsâ Ip«s\ hmbnseSp¯v Ip®¸mepw

IpSn¨p. R§Ä¡v kwKan¡m\pÅ kuIcy¯n\p th−n

a\¸qÀÆambncn¡pw an\n At¸msgm¶pw apIfntebv¡v Ibdn

h¶nÃ.

Rm³ ¥mÊpambn ASp¡fbnÂ sN¶t¸mÄ AhÄ

Nncn¨psIm−v Fsâ I¿nÂ \n¶pw ¥mÊv XncnsI hm§n.

¥mÊv hm§pt¼mÄ AhÄ aämcpw tIÄ¡msX “Nmbpw

]mepsams¡ IpSnt¨m ?” F¶v ]Xps¡ tNmZn¨p. AhnsS

A½bpw \fn\n tN¨nbpw D−mbncp¶Xn\mÂ Rm³ H¶pw

an−msX ]pdt¯bv¡v t]mbn. Rm³ lmfnÂ h¶ncp¶v

]{Xw hmbn¨psIm−ncp¶p.

Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ Rm³ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn.

Ipd¨p Ignªt¸mÄ A½ Fs¶ Im¸n IpSn¡m\mbn

hnfn¨p. Rm³ ssU\nwKv lmfnÂ sN¶t¸mÄ AhnsS

FÃmhcpw Im¸n IpSn¡m\mbn F¯nbn«p−v. R§Ä

ssU\nwKv tS_nfn\v Npänepambn Ccp¶v Im¸n IpSn¨p.

an\n Fsâ sXm«Sp¯ ItkcbnemWv Ccp¶Xv.

tN«¯n F\n¡v FXnsc InS¶ Itkcbnepw. CSbv¡v Rm³

tN«¯nbpsS apJ¯v t\m¡nbt¸mÄ tN«¯n Fs¶ t\m¡n

I®ndp¡n ImWn¨p. an\nsb ssIImcyw sN¿m\pÅ kqN\

Bbncp¶p AXv.

98 Munnar

Rm³ Fsâ ImÂ]mZw AdnbmsX F¶ t]mse

]Xps¡ AhfpsS Imen\Spt¯bv¡v \o¡n. Fsâ ImÂ]mZw

AhfpsS ImenÂ ap«nbt¸mÄ s]s«¶v AhÄ ImÂ hen¨p.

]ns¶ Npäp]mSpw t\m¡nbn«v AhÄ ImÂ]mZw ]Xps¡

Fsâ Imen\Spt¯bv¡v \o«n h¨p.

Rm³ Fsâ ImÂ]mZw AhfpsS ImÂ]mZ¯nÂ h¨p.

]Xps¡ XgpIn. AhÄ AhfpsS c−mas¯ ImÂ]mZw

FSp¯v Fsâ Imen\p apIfnÂ h¨p. Im¸n IpSn Ignªv

BZyw Fgpt¶äXv A¸¨\mbncp¶p. At¸mÄ R§Ä

c−pt]cpw ImepIÄ ]n³hen¨v acymZ¡mcmbn Ccp¶p.

Im¸n IpSn Ignªv Rm³ lmfnÂ h¶ncp¶p. Ipd¨p

Ignªt¸mÄ A¸¨\pw A½¨nbpw t]mbn. t]mIp¶Xn\v

ap¼mbn A½¨n ISbnÂ \n¶pw hm§m\pÅ km[\§fpsS

enÌv X¶p. A¸¨³ Po¸nemWv t]mbXv. tN«¯n {]khn¨Xn\v

tijw, Ip«nsb Po¸nÂ sIm−p t]mbmÂ XWp¸Sn¡pw F¶v

]dªv A¸¨³ Hcp ImÀ hm§nbncp¶p. Rm³ AXpw

sIm−mWv ISbnÂ t]mbXv.

Rm³ ISbnÂ t]mIm³ Cd§nbt¸mÄ an\nbpw AhÄ¡v

Fs´ms¡tbm hm§m\ps−¶pw ]dªv Fsâ IqsS

h¶p. AhÄ Fsâ H¸w ap³koänemWv Ccp¶Xv. Rm³

h−nbpsS ¥mÊv DbÀ¯n h¨n«v F. kn. Hm¬ sNbvXp.

BZysam¶pw c−pt]cpw H¶pw kwkmcn¨nÃ. Ipd¨p Ignªv

Rm³ Xs¶ au\w t`Zn¨p.

99 Munnar

“an\n¡v F´mWv hm§m\pÅXv. GXv ISbnemWv

Ibd−Xv?”

“F\n¡v H¶p c−v km[\§Ä hm§Ww. sU¶n h−n

GsX¦nepw teUokv tÌmdn\v ap¶nÂ \ndp¯nbmÂ aXn.”

“F¶mepw B km[\¯n\v t]cntÃ ? km[\w

F´msW¶v ]dªmÂ Rm³ AXv In«p¶ ISbpsS

ap¶nÂ \ndp¯mw.”

“R§Ä s]®p§Ä¡v thWp¶ km[\§sfms¡ \o

F§s\bm Adnbp¶Xv.”

“AsX´m Rm³ A{X s]m«\mtWm.”

“Mm… \o A{X s]m«s\m¶pasÃ¶v Rm³ C¶se

I−mbncp¶p.”

“Is−¦nÂ Imcyambnt¸mbn.”

“At¶cw c−ntâbpw IY Ign¡m\mWv F\n¡v

tXm¶nbXv.”

“F¶ns«t´ apJhpw hoÀ¸n¨v t]mbXv.”

“AXv ]ns¶ BtemNn¨t¸mÄ XIcp¶Xv Fsâ

tN¨nbpsS PohnXamWtÃm F¶v hnNmcn¨mWv Rm³

100 Munnar

AS§nbXv. ]ns¶ cm{Xn tN¨n kmdnsâ tIa¯c§sfms¡

Ft¶mSv ]dªp. At¸mgmWv Rm³ icn¡pw kmdns\

a\Ênem¡nbXv. \n§fpsS A¸¨\pw A½¨nbpw IqSn

AdnªpÅ Ifn BsW¶v A¸gmWv F\n¡v a\ÊnembXv.”

“AXv ]ns¶ Fsâ tN«\v Hcp hogvN ]änbmÂ

Rm\ÃmsX ]ns¶ BcmWv klmbn¡m\pÅXv. Rm³

Fsâ ISa \nÀÆln¨p Ft¶ DÅp.”

“Hm… tN«t\mSv F´v kvt\lw. tN«s\ A\nb³

C§s\ kvt\ln¨v h©n¡p¶ Imcyw tN«³ Adnb−.”

“Adnªmepw H¶panÃ. tN«s\s¡m−v Ignbmªn«tÃ.”

“Mm… AsXt´m BIs«. \o h−n FhnsSsb¦nepw

\ndp¯v. F\n¡v Hcp ]m¡äv \m]vIn³ (tÌ{^o) hm§Ww.

]ns¶ Ipd¨v s]m«pw, slbÀ ¢n¸psams¡ hm§Ww.”

A§s\ Rm³ h−n Hcp teUokv tÌmdn\v ap¶nÂ

\ndp¯n. AhÄ h−nbnÂ \n¶pw Cd§nbn«pw Rm³

Cd§msX h−nbnÂ Xs¶ Ccp¶p. AXv I−n«v AhÄ

Fs¶ hnfn¨p.

“ \o F´m Cd§m¯Xv ? \o IqSn Cd§n hmSm.”

“s]®p§fpsS kmam\§Ä hm§p¶Xn\v

Rms\´n\mSo hcp¶Xv. \o Xs¶ t]mbn hm§nbmÂ aXn.”

101 Munnar

AXv tI«n«v AhÄ Fsâ tUmdn\Sp¯v h¶v tUmÀ

Xpd¶n«v Fs¶ ]nSn¨nd¡n.

“FSm \o IqSn hmSm F\n¡v Hcp Iq«n\v. \o Fs¶

H¶v slÂ v̧ sNs¿Sm.”

A§s\ Rm\pw h−nbnÂ \n¶v Cd§n h−n tem¡v

sNbvXn«v AhfpsS IqsS ISbntebv¡v t]mbn. AhÄ Fs¶

ap«n Dcp½n \n¶psIm−v AhÄ¡v Bhiyamb km[\§Ä

FSp¯p. AhÄ Hcp slbÀ dnaqhdpw hm§n.

HSphnÂ km[\§Ä apgph³ hm§n Ignªt¸mÄ

IS¡mc³ _nÂ Fsâ I¿nÂ X¶p. AhÄ AXv

X«nsbSp¡m³ {ians¨¦nepw ]Ww Rm³ Xs¶ sImSp¯p.

]ns¶ R§Ä asämcp kq¸À amÀ¡änÂ Ibdn ho«ntebv¡v

Bhiyamb km[\§Ä hm§n. ISbnÂ \n¶pw Cd§n

km[\§sfms¡ h−nbnÂ sIm−p h¨p.

“FSm F\n¡v Zmln¡ps¶Sm. IpSn¡m³ Fs´¦nepw

hm§n XmSm.”

“IpSn¡m³ ]mev aXnsb¦nÂ Rm³ Xcmw.”

“AXv \o \nsâ aähÄ¡v sIm−p sImSp¯mÂ aXn.”

“aähÄ AXv Øncambn IpSn¡p¶p−v. ]ns¶ \n\¡v

sImXnbmsW¦nÂ \n\¡pIqSn Ipd¨p Xcmw.”

102 Munnar

“F\n¡v Hcp sImXnbpanÃ.”

“AXv C¶se F\n¡v a\Ênembn. \nsâ tN¨n

IpSn¡p¶Xv \o sImXntbmsS t\m¡n \n¶tXm.”

“]pXnb ImgvNIÄ I−XpsIm−v t\m¡nt¸mbXmWv.”

“t\m¡nbn«v \n\¡v sImXn h¶ntÃ?”

“]nt¶… hr¯ntISv.”

“AXnse´mSo hr¯ntISv. CsXms¡ a\pjy\v

BhiyapÅ Imcy§ftÃ.”

“F¶v F\n¡v tXm¶nbn«nÃ.”

“AXv \o shdptX ]dbp¶XtÃ”

At¸mtgbv¡pw M§Ä Hcp sFkv{Iow ]mÀedn\v ap¶nÂ

F¯nbncp¶p. R§Ä AXn\pÅnÂ Ibdn Hcp aqebnÂ

InS¶ taibnÂ Ccp¶p. R§Ä Ccp¶Xv FXnÀ

hi§fnembn InS¶ ItkcIfnemWv.

“\n\¡v IpSn¡m³ F´m th−Xv?”

“F\n¡v Hcp hm\ne sFkv{Iow aXn.”

A§s\ Rm³ c−v ]nkbpw, c−v hm\ne sFkv{Ioapw

HmÀUÀ sNbvXp. Rm³ sNcp v̧ Ducn C«n«v, Fsâ Imev \o«n

103 Munnar

AhfpsS ImenÂ XgpIn. AhÄ FXnÀs¸m¶pw {]ISn¸n¨nÃ.

AXv F\n¡v IqSpXÂ ss[cyw \ÂIn. AhÄ Hcp

NpcnZmdmWv [cn¨ncp¶Xv. Rm³ Fsâ ImÂ DbÀ¯n

AhfpsS XpSIÄ¡v CSbnembn, AhÄ Ccp¶ ItkcbnÂ

Nhp«n.

Rm³ XÅhncÂ sIm−v AhfpsS ]qÀXS¯nÂ

XgpIn. AhÄ ItkcbnÂ apt¶m«v \o§nbncp¶v F\n¡v

XgpIm³ kuIcyw D−m¡n X¶p. As¸mtgbv¡pw ks¹bÀ

HmÀUÀ sNbvX km[\§fps#mbn h¶p. AtXmsS Rm³

acymZ¡mc\mbn Ccp¶p. ]ns¶ R§Ä AXv Ign¨n«v

XncnsI t]mcp¶p.

aS¡ bm{XbnÂ AhÄ Fsâ ASpt¯bv¡v

\o§nbncp¶p. AhÄ Hcp ssI Fsâ tXmfnÂ h¨p. Rm³

h−nbpsS KnbÀ amäpt¼mÄ ssI IqSpXÂ Nen¸n¨v

AhfpsS apebnÂ I¿psS ap«p sIm−v AaÀ¯n. ]t£

AhÄ FXnÀs¸m¶pw ImWn¡msX IqSpXÂ ASpt¯bv¡v

\o§n Ccp¶p.

“FSm, \o Fs¶¡qSn h−n HmSn¡m³ ]Tn¸n¡ptam?”

“\n\¡v GXv Xcw ss{UhnwKv BWv ]Tnt¡−Xv?”

“F\n¡v ImÀ HmSn¡m³ ]Tn¨mÂ aXn.”

“thtd ss{UhnwKv D−v. AXv s]s«¶v ]Tn¡mw.”

104 Munnar

“F\n¡v Xev¡mew ImÀ HmSn¡m³ ]Tn¨mÂ aXn.”

“\n\¡v ImÀ HmSn¡m³ A{Xbv¡v sImXnbmtWm?”

“F\n¡v `b¦c B{Klap−v.”

CXpw ]dªpsIm−v AhÄ Imdnsâ ÌnbdnwKnÂ ssI

h¨p. ]ns¶ ho«nÂ F¯p¶Xp hsc AhÄ ÌnbdnwKnÂ

]nSn¨ncp¶p.

“FSo CXv ]pXnb h−nbmWv. CXnÂ ss{UhnwKv

]Tn¨mÂ h−n tISmIpw. \ns¶ Rm³ Po¸nÂ ]Tn¸n¡mw.”

ho«nse¯nbt¸mÄ R§Ä km[\§sfÃmw

FSp¯psIm−v AI¯v t]mbn. D¨bv¡v DuWv Ignªv

Rm³ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. Fs¶ I−v tN«¯n

Fs¶ AhcpsS apdnbntebv¡v hnfn¨p. an\n ]m{X§sfms¡

IgpIm³ \fn\ tN¨nsb klmbn¨n«v, A¸¨\pw A½¨nbpw

XncnsI t]mbnt« apIfntebv¡v hcq.

“A\nbm c−p t]cpw IqSn ]pd¯v t]mbn«v F´mbn.

hÃXpw \S¡ptam?”

“Hcp {]bmkhpanÃmsX AhÄ hoWp. AhÄ F´n\pw

X¿mdmWv. ”

“F¶n«v \o Ahsf hÃXpw sNbvtXm?”

105 Munnar

“AXns\m¶pw kuIcyanÃmbncp¶p. ]t£ AhÄ¡v

AsXms¡ CjvSamWv.”

“]ns¶ \osb´m ap³ssI FSp¡m¯Xv?”

“AsXms¡ Rm³ icnbm¡mw tN«¯o.”

“]t£ kq£n¡Ww. Ipg¸sam¶pw D−mIcpXv. Ahsf

hÃhcptSbpw IqsS sI«n¨p hnSm\pÅXmWv.”

“AXv ]ns¶ {]tXyIw ]dbtWm. AsXms¡ Rm³

t\m¡ns¡mÅmw.”

“]ns¶ tN«¯n Fs¶s¡m−v ]mÂ IpSn¸n¨p.”

“tN«¯n C¶v Fsâ ]mÂ IpSn¡p¶ntÃ?”

“AXv GXmbmepw Ct¸mÄ th−. AhÄ¡v sImSp¡m³

t\m¡v.”

A§s\ Rm³ Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. Rm³

I«nenÂ Ibdn InS¶p. Rm³ AdnbmsX H¶p ab§n.

Dd¡¯nÂ Fsâ s\änbnÂ Btcm Npw_n¡p¶Xmbn

Rm³ kz]v\w I−p. Rm³ s]s«¶v sR«n DWÀ¶t¸mÄ

an\n Fsâ I«nen\Sp¯v h¶v Ip\nªp \n¶psIm−v

Fsâ s\änbnÂ Npw_n¡p¶XmWv Rm³ I−Xv. Rm³

I®v Xpd¶Xpw AhÄ \nhÀ¶p \n¶p. AhÄ PmfyX

adbv¡m³ {ian¡p¶Xp t]mse tXm¶n.

106 Munnar

s]s«¶v AhÄ : “FSm \nsâ s\änbnÂ Hcp s]mSn

Ccp¶p. Rm³ AXv DuXn¡fªXmWv.”

“shdptX DuXtÃ. F\n¡v a\ÊnemIp¶p−v.”

“\n\¡v F´mSm a\ÊnemIp¶Xv? Rm³ \nsâ I¿nÂ

\Ã kn. Un. hÃXpw Dt−m F¶dnbm³ h¶XmWv.”

“\n\¡v F´v kn. Un. BWv th−Xv?”

“sImÅmhp¶ GsX¦nepw kn. Un. aXn.”

“sImÅmhp¶Xv F¶v ]dªmÂ \oe BtWm?”

“AXmbmepw aXn.”

“kn. Un. Xcmw. ]t£ AXv Xmsg kn. Un. t¹bdnÂ C«v

ImWcpXv. ChnsS I¼yq«dnÂ I−mÂ aXn.”

“A§s\bmsW¦nÂ \o AXv I¼yq«dnÂ H¶p C«p Xm.

]t£ AXv C«n«v \o ]pd¯v t]mIWw. Rm³ Häbv¡v

Ccp¶p I−psImÅmw.”

“FSo AXv Häbv¡v ImWp¶XÃ. Häbv¡v I−mÂ Hcp

ckhpw ImW¯nÃ. \ap¡v Hcpan¨v Ccp¶v ImWmw.”

“AXv icnbmI¯nÃ. F\n¡v \mWamIpw. \o tN¨nbpsS

ASp¯v sN¶v Ccp¶mÂ aXn.”

107 Munnar

A§s\ Rm³ \Ã Hcp \mS³ \oe Nn{Xw, I¼yq«dnsâ

lmÀUv UnkvInÂ Xs¶ tkhv sNbvXncp¶Xv AhÄ¡v C«p

sImSp¯p. AXv HmSn XpS§nbt¸mÄ AhÄ Fs¶ XÅn

apdn¡v ]pd¯v B¡nbn«v IXIv AS¨v Ipänbn«p. aäv

amÀ¤§sfm¶pw CÃm¯Xn\mÂ Rm³ tN«¯nbpsS

apdnbnÂ Ibdn sN¶p.

“F´mSm \o Ahsf X\n¨m¡nbn«v Ct§m«p h¶Xv.

Ahsfs´Sp¡p¶p?”

“AhÄ¡v Hcp »q ^nenw ImWWsa¶v. AXpw Häbv¡v.

Rm³ IqSn AhnsS \n¶mÂ AhÄ¡v \mWamIpsa¶v.

A§s\ AhÄ Fs¶ XÅn ]pd¯m¡nbn«v IXIpw AS¨v

Ipänbn«p.”

“F¦nÂ ]ns¶ \o F\n¡v Ipd¨v ]mÂ IpSn¨v Xm.

c−p apebnepw ]mÂ \ndªp \nÂ¡pIbmWv.”

Rm³ AhcpsS ss\änbpsS _«³kpIÄ Cf¡nbn«v,

ape ]pds¯Sp¯v Hmtcm apebnÂ \n¶mbn ]mÂ IpSn¨p.

B kab¯v AhÀ Fsâ ap−n\SnbnÂ I¿n«v Ip® ]nSn¨v

hmWaSn¨psIm−ncp¶p. HSphnÂ Rm³ ]mÂ IpSn¨v

Ignªt¸mÄ AhÀ I«nenÂ InS¶psIm−v, Fs¶

ASpt¯bv¡v tNÀ¯v \ndp¯nbn«v Fsâ Ip® ]nSn¨v

AhcpsS hmbnÂ h¨v Du¼m³ XpS§n.

108 Munnar

Fsâ Ip®, AhcpsS hmbnencp¶v apgp¯p h¶p.

AhÀ AXnsâ IS hsc hmbv¡pÅnem¡n N¸n hen¨p. H¸w

Hcp ssI sIm−v Fsâ ]dnk©nbnepw

DgnªpsIm−ncp¶p. HSphnÂ Fsâ Ip®, AhcpsS

hmbntebv¡v \ndsbmgn¨p. AhÀ AXv apgph³ hen¨p

IpSn¨p. HSphnÂ Ahkm\ XpÅn hsc ]ngnsªSp¯tijw

Npcp§n XpS§nb Ip® AhÀ ]pds¯Sp¯p.

“A\nbm XÂ¡mew C{Xbpw aXn. AI¯v tIän Hcv ASn

ASn¡m³ F\n¡v sImXnbp−v. ]t£ F§s\bm

sN¿p¶Xv. Fs´¦nepw Ipg¸w Bbmtem.”

“AXv GXmbmepw th− tN«¯o. \ap¡v Ct¸mÄ CXp

sIm−v Xr]vXns¸Smw.”

“{]khw Ignªn«v Ct¸mÄ c−mgvNtb BbpÅp.

C\nbpw Hcp amksa¦nepw IgnbmsX c£bnÃ.”

“Rm³ ChnsS Xs¶bntÃ tN«¯o. FÃmw

icnbmbn¡gnªmÂ \ap¡v ASn¨v s]mfn¡mw. XÂ¡mew

tN«¯n £an¨ncn¡v.”

I¼yq«dnse Nn{Xw HmSn Xocm\pÅ kabw

Bbt¸mtgbv¡pw Rm³ Fsâ apdnbpsS ASp¯v sN¶v

IXInÂ ap«n. Hcp an\näv Ignªv AhÄ h¶v IXIv

Xpd¶p.

109 Munnar

“I−p XoÀt¶m?”

AhÄ Hcp \mWt¯msS : “XoÀ¶p.”

“AXv XoÀ¶n«v Ipd¨p kabw BbtÃm. ]ns¶ \o ChnsS

Fs´Sp¡pIbmbncp¶p?”

“\o t]mSm. Rm³ Fs´Sp¡m\m.”

“F\n¡dnªpIqtS \o F´mWv sNbvXXv F¶v.”

“t]mSm. Rms\§pw H¶pw sNbvXnÃ.”

Rm³ AhfpsS XpSbnSp¡nÂ Nq−n¡m«nbn«v : “]ns¶

Zm ChnsSsbms¡ F´m \\ªncn¡p¶Xv?”

AhÄ Hcp Sq]okv ss\äv {UÊv (ss]Pmabpw tSm¸pw)

BWv [cn¨ncp¶Xv. AXnsâ Ihbv¡nS sNdpXmbn

\\ªncp¶p. AhÄ s]s«¶v AhntSbv¡v Ip\nªv

t\m¡nbn«v : “AXv CXv I−t¸mÄ X\ntb \\ªXmWv.”

“A§s\ shdptXsbm¶pw \\b¯nÃ. Npcp§nb ]£w

\o hncse¦nepw C«p ImWpw.”

AhÄ Fsâ tXmfnÂ Hcp ASn ASn¨n«v : “t]mSm

AhnSp¶v.”

110 Munnar

Rm³ s]s«¶v Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. AhÄ

FXnÀs¸m¶pw Im«msX Fsâ s\©nÂ tNÀ¶p \n¶p.

Rm³ Hcp ssI AhfpsS DSp¸nsâ DÅneqsS IS¯n

AhfpsS apebnÂ ]nSn¨p. AhfpsS apeIÄ

t{_knbdn\pÅnÂ sRcp§n AaÀ¶v \Ã IÃp t]mse

Ccp¶p.

Fsâ atä ssI AhfpsS ]n¶neqsS Xmtgbv¡v Nen¨p.

HSphnÂ AXv AhfpsS ss]PmabpsS CemÌn¡n\pÅneqsS

AI¯v IS¶v, ]mâoknsâbpw DÅnÂ¡qSn AhfpsS

kmam\yw \Ã sImgp¯v arZphmb N´nIsf sRcn¨p. AhÄ

Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. R§Ä A§s\ A©v

an\ntämfw BenwK\¯nÂ \n¶p. ]ns¶ AhÄ sR«n

amdnbn«v

“A½ hcmdmbn. Rm³ t]mIs«.”

“\o Fs¶ hÃmsX sImXn¸n¨n«v shdptX A§v

t]mI−” F¶v ]dªpsIm−v Rm³ Ahsf ho−pw

F¶ntebv¡v ]nSn¨v ASp¸n¨p. ]t£ AhÄ IpXdn amdn.

AhÄ Fsâ IhnfnÂ Hcp \pÅv X¶n«v

“C¸w tam³ tN¨n¡v ]mÂ sImSp¯XtÃ DÅp.

XÂ¡mew AXv aXn.”

“F¦nÂ \o cm{Xn hcptam?”

111 Munnar

“A¿Sm! sNdp¡sâ ]qXn sImÅmatÃm.”

“\o ]ns¶ Cu \oe ]Ssams¡ I−n«v hncepan«v

InS¡− F¶v hnNmcn¨m Rm³ H¶p klmbn¡msa¶v

h¨Xv.”

“\o tN¨nsb klmbn¡p¶p−tÃm. AXv t]mtc?”

“F¶mepw tN¨n am{Xw kpJn¡p¶Xv icnbmtWm? \o

Xs¶ hnNmcn¡¯ntÃ Ch\v Fs¶¡qSn H¶v kpJn¸n¨p

X¶mse´m F¶v.”

“F\n¡v A§s\sbm¶pw tXm¶¯nÃ.”

“AXv shdptXbmsW¶v F\n¡dnbntÃ. \n\¡pw

B{Klaps−¶v F\n¡dnbmw.”

“F¶mepw Rm³ Hcp I\yIbtÃSm. Ipg¸w hÃXpw

]änbmtem.”

“AXv \o t]Sn¡−. AXn\pÅ hgn Rm³

t\m¡ns¡mÅmw.”

“F§s\?”

“FSo AXn\mWv Cu KpfnIbpw Ddbpw Hs¶ D−m¡n

h¨ncn¡p¶Xv.”

112 Munnar

“AsXms¡ \nsâ I¿nÂ tÌm¡pt−mSm?”

“KpfnI Nnet¸mÄ ImWpw. Dd hm§Ww. AXv Rm³

hm§ns¡m−p hcmw. F¶mepw Cu DdbnÃmsX Ifn¡p¶Xm

kpJw.”

“F\n¡v CsXm¶pw AdnbnÃ. Ipg¸w D−mI¯nÃ F¶v

\n\¡v ]qÀ® hnizmkw Ds−¦nÂ t\m¡mw.”

“F¦nÂ \o ss[cyambn cm{Xn hm. km[\sams¡

Rm³ icnbm¡n hbv¡mw.”

Rm³ Ahsf H¶pIqSn sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. ]ns¶

AhÄ apdnbnÂ \n¶pw Cd§n t]mbn. Ipd¨p Ignªv A½

h¶p Ignªv Nmbpw IpSn¨n«v Rm³ ]pd¯v t]mbn. Rm³

]Xps¡ \S¶v Ipd¨v ZqscbpÅ Hcp saUn¡Â tjm¸nÂ

\n¶pw KpfnIbpw, Imakq{Xbpw (Dd) hm§n. Ggp

aWntbmsS Rm³ XncnsI ho«nÂ F¯n. Rm³ hcpt¼mÄ

an\n Sn. hn. I−psIm−v lmfnÂ Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Rm³

Fsâ apdnbnÂ t]mbn km[\§sfms¡ h¨v jÀ«pw Ducn

C«n«v tN«¯nbpsS apdnbnÂ sN¶p. (Rm³ km[mcWbmbn

ho«nÂ \nÂ¡pt¼mÄ jÀ«v CSmdnÃ.)

Fs¶ I− DS³ tN«¯n : “A\nbm Fs´ms¡bp−v

hntij§Ä Imcy§Ä ]ptcmKan¡p¶pt−m?”

113 Munnar

“sNdnb {]Xo£ D−v tN«¯o. AhÄ C¶v cm{Xn

hcmsa¶v ]dªncn¡pIbmWv. AYhm AhÄ aSn¨mÂ

tN«¯nFs´¦nepw ImcWw ]dªv At§m«v XÅn hnStW.”

“AsXms¡ Rm³ Gäp. Ahsf¡qSn \½psS hebnÂ

hogv¯n¡gnªmÂ ]ns¶ \ap¡v t]Sn¡msX \½psS Imcyw

\S¯matÃm. AsÃ¦nÂ ]ns¶ AhÄ clkyw ]pd¯p

]dbptam F¶v t]Sn¨v Ignbt−.”

“Ahsf Rm³ I¼n ASn¸n¨v h¨ncn¡pIbmWv.

an¡hmdpw C¶v cm{Xn AhÄ Fs´¦nepw ImcWw D−m¡n

hcpsa¶v Xs¶bmWv Fsâ hnizmkw.”

]ns¶ tN«¯n F\n¡v ]mÂ X¶p. Rm³ ]mÂ IpSn¨

kaba{Xbpw AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v kmh[m\w

hmWaSn¨psIm−ncp¶p. ]t£ AhÀ shÅw

t]mI¯¡hn[w hmWaSn¨nÃ.. Fsâ Ip® I¼nbmbn Xs¶

\n¶p. Ipd¨p kabw Ignªv Rm³ Xmtgbv¡v t]mbn.

DuWv kabambt¸mÄ tN«¯nbpw Ip«nbpambn h¶p.

tams\ XdbnÂ ]mb hncn¨v InS¯nbn«v FÃmhcpw IqSn

`£Ww Ign¨p. `£Ww Ignªv Rm³ Iptd t\cw Sn. hn.

I−ncp¶p. ]m{X§sfms¡ IgpIn h¨n«v, an\nbpw,

tN«¯nbpw apIfntebv¡v t]mbn. Ipd¨p kabw IqSn Ignªv

Rm\pw Fsâ apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. kabw H¨nsâ

thKXbnÂ Cgbp¶Xmbn F\n¡v tXm¶n. HSphnÂ ]¯v

114 Munnar

aWn Ignªt¸mÄ Fsâ apdnbpsS hmXnÂ ]Xps¡

Xpd¶psIm−v an\n AI¯p h¶p. Rm³ Fgpt¶äp sN¶v

Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨p Npw_n¨p. Ct¸mÄ AhfpsS thjw Hcp

anUnbpw SojÀ«pamWv. AhÄ ASnbnÂ t{_knbÀ [cn¨n«nÃ

F¶v kq£n¨p t\m¡nbmÂ a\ÊnemIpw. AhfpsS

ape¡®pIÄ SojÀ«neqsS sXdn¨p \nÂ¡p¶Xv ImWmw.

AhÄ Fsâ amdnÂ Xe tNÀ¯p h¨psIm−p \n¶p.

“Rm³ I¼yq«dnÂ Hcp kn\na I−n«v hcmsa¶v

]dªmWv h¶Xv.”

“F¶n«v tN¨n H¶pw ]dªntÃ?”

“Hm! tN¨n F´v ]dbm³. tN¨n sseäW¨v InS¶p.

AhnsS _Uvem¼nsâ a§nb shfn¨ta DÅq.”

“tN¨n¡v Adnbmambncn¡pw \o »q ^new ImWm\mWv

h¶sX¶v.”

“AsX§s\ Adnbmw? \o ]dtªm?”

“Gbv. Rms\m¶pw ]dªnÃ.”

AhÄ Fs¶ hn«v t]mbn IXIv AS¨v Ipänbn«p. ]ns¶

AhÄ \mWn¨v Fsâ ASpt¯bv¡v h¶p. AhÄ ASp¯p

h¶ DS³ Rm³ AhfpsS SojÀ«v apIfntebv¡v Ducn

FSp¯p. \Ã Dd¨ apeIÄ. H«pw CSnhv X«msX c−v Nnc«

Iagv¯n h¨Xp t]mse sXdn¨p \n¶p. \Ã shfp¯

115 Munnar

apeIfpsS a²y¯mbn ]n¦v \nd¯nÂ c−v hr¯§fpw,

AXnsâ a²y¯mbn {_u¬ \nd¯nÂ ape sR«pIfpw.

“\o IqsSm¶pw CSmsX Chsc Xpd¶n«p sIm−mtWm

\S¡p¶Xv?”

“AXv Rm³ sshIn«v Ipfn¨n«v AXv C«nÃ. Rm³

AsXms¡bn«v sI«ns¡m−v h¶mepw \o AsXÃmw Ducn

amäpatÃm. AXmWv CSmsX h¶Xv.”

“At¸mÄ \o X¿mdmbn Xs¶bmWv h¶ncn¡p¶Xv.

AtÃ. At¸mÄ \o ]dn _mUnbpw C«p ImW¯nÃtÃm.”

AXv ]dªn«v Rm³ AhfpsS anUn ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯n

t\m¡n. Fsâ Dulw icnbmbncp¶p. AhÄ ]mâokpw

C«n«nÃmbncp¶p. AhÄ s]s«¶v c−p ssI sIm−pw anUn

]nSn¨v Xmgv̄ nbn«p.

Rm³ Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨v Fsâ amdnÂ AaÀ¯n.

AhfpsS IÃpt]msebpÅ apeIÄ Fsâ amdnÂ

sRcnªaÀ¶p. Fsâ Ip®, ap−n\pÅnÂ hSn t]mse

DbÀ¶p \n¶p. AXv AhfpsS ASnhbänÂ Ip¯n \n¶p.

Rm³ AhfpsS Np−pIÄ Fsâ hmbv¡pÅnem¡n

\pWªp. Rm³ Fsâ \m¡v AhfpsS hmbv¡pÅntebv¡v

IS¯n.

R§fpsS \m¡pIÄ AhfpsS hmbv¡pÅnÂ

sI«p]nWªp. Fsâ Dan\oÀ AhÄ \pWªnd¡n. AhÄ

116 Munnar

ssI F¯n Fsâ ap−nsâ Ip¯v Agn¨p. AhÄ ssI

hn«t¸mÄ ap−v Xmtgbv¡v DuÀ¶p hoWp. Rm³ AhfpsS

Hcp ssI ]nSn¨v Fsâ Ip®bnÂ h¨p. Np«p]gp¯

Ccp¼nÂ sXm«Xp amXncn AhÄ s]s«¶v ssI ]n³hen¨p.

AhÄ Ip\nªv Ip®bnÂ t\m¡n.

“FSm CXv I−n«v F\n¡v t]SnbmIp¶p.

CsX§s\bmSm AI¯v Ibdp¶Xv?”

“AsXms¡ A§v Ibdn t]mIpw.”

“CsÃSm. Fsâ CXn\I¯v Fsâ Hcp hncÂ

IS¡pt¼mÄ Xs¶ thZ\sbSp¡pw. ]ns¶ F§s\bmSm

CXv Ibdp¶Xv?”

“\nsâ GXn\I¯v? AXn\v t]cntÃ?”

“Fsâ kamam\¯nÂ.”

“FSo AXnsâ t]cmWv ]qdv. R§fpsS Cu

kmam\¯n\v Ip®sb¶pw ]dbpw.”

“AsXms¡ F\n¡v Adnbmw. ]t£ AXv ]dbm³

F\n¡v \mWamWv. AXm ]dbm¯Xv.”

“AXn\v \o \mWn¡p¶Xv F´n\mSo. I®v, aq¡v

Fs¶ms¡ ]db¯ntÃ. AXpt]mse Hcp km[\w

117 Munnar

Xs¶btÃ CsXms¡. AXncn¡s«. \o AXn\I¯v

Øncambn hncenSmdpt−m?”

“t]mSm Rm³ hncsem¶pw CS¯nÃ.”

“]ns¶ \o t\ct¯ ]dªtXm \nsâ Hcp

hncenSpt¼mÄ Xs¶ thZ\n¡psa¶v.”

“AXv Rm³ F¸gpsam¶pw CS¯nÃ. C¶v \nsâ I¼n

]Sw I−t¸mÄ F\n¡v AXn\I¯v Hcp IncpIncp v̧ tXm¶n.

At¸mÄ Rm³ shdptX H¶p hncen«XmWv. ]t£ thZ\

ImcWw aXnbm¡n.”

“FSo AXnÂ¡qSnbtÃ Ip«nIsf {]khn¡p¶Xv. At¸mÄ

AXv Ip«n¡v IS¶phc¯¡hn[w hnIkn¡p¶ntÃ. AXmWv

AXnsâ LS\. \o BZyambn«v BbXp sIm−mWv

A§s\sbms¡ tXm¶p¶Xv.”

“F\n¡v CsXms¡ F§s\ Adnbm\m. Rm³

A§s\sbm¶pw ioen¨n«nÃ.”

“\o Iptd¡mew tImtfPnsems¡ ]Tn¨n«pw CsXm¶pw

]Tn¨ntÃ?”

“]nt¶ tImtfPnÂ CsXms¡btÃ ]Tn¸n¡p¶Xv.”

118 Munnar

“tImtfPnÂ ]Tn¸n¡¯nÃ. ]t£ \nsâ

Iq«pImcnIsfm¶pw CsXm¶pw ]dªp XcntÃ?”

“F\n¡v A§\s¯ Iq«pImscm¶pw D−mbncp¶nÃ.”

“AsXms¡ t]ms«. \½sf´n\m AsXms¡

kwkmcn¡p¶Xv. \n\¡v Adnbm¯sXÃmw Rm³ ]Tn¸n¨p

Xcmw. AXp t]mtc.”

“]Tn¸n¡p¶sXms¡ sImÅmw. Ifn ImcyamIcpXv.”

“AsXms¡ Rm³ t\m¡ns¡mÅmw.”

Rm³ AhfpsS anUnbpsS lq¡v Cf¡n. ]ns¶

AXnsâ Xpd¸nÂ D−mbncp¶ knºpw Ducn. AtXmsS

AhfpsS anUn Xmtgbv¡v DuÀ¶p hoWp. AtXmsS

c−pt]cpw ]qÀ® \ácmbn. AhfpsS ]qÀXSw

tcma§sfms¡ \o¡wsNbvXv \Ã an\pkambn h¨ncp¶p.

Rm³ AhnsS XgpIn. AtXmsS F\n¡v Hcp Imcyw

a\Ênembn. AhÄ tjhv sNbvXXÃ. adn¨v slbÀ dnaqhÀ

D]tbmKn¨mWv tcmaw \o¡w sNbvXXv. tjhv

sNbvXXmsW¦nÂ tcma¯nsâ Ipän I¿nÂ

XSbpambncp¶p.

“At¸mÄ \o CXn\mbncp¶p AtÃ cmhnse slbÀ

dnaqhÀ hm§nbXv.”

119 Munnar

“Rm³ A§s\ IW¡p Iq«nsbm¶paÃ AXv hm§nbXv.

Rm³ c−mgvN IqSpt¼mÄ Øncambn slbÀ dnaqhÀ

D]tbmKn¨v Xmgt¯bpw apIfnet¯bpw tcma§Ä \o¡w

sN¿mdp−v. AXv ho«nÂ Ccn¸p−v. ChnsS CÃm¯Xv

sIm−mWv Rm³ C¶v hm§nbXv.”

“AXn\v \o ]dªmÂ t]mcmbncpt¶m. Rm³ tjhv

sNbvXv Xcpambncp¶tÃm.”

“Fsâ I¿nÂ tjhnwKv sksäm¶pw CÃ. AXpsIm−v

Rm³ km[mcW C§s\bmWv tcmaw Ifbp¶Xv.”

Rm³ I«nenÂ Ccp¶n«v, Ahsf Fsâ ap¶nÂ ]nSn¨p

\ndp¯n. AhfpsS apeIÄ Fsâ apJ¯n\v ap¶nembn

h¶p. Rm³ Ahsf Fsâ ImepIÄ¡v a²y¯mbn ]nSn¨p

\ndp¯nbn«v AhfpsS apeIfnÂ XgpIn. AhfpsS XpSIÄ

Ipd¨v AIÀ¯nbn«v, Ip® AhfpsS XpSIÄ¡nSbnÂ ]nSn¨p

h¨p. AhÄ XpSIÄ sIm−v Ahs\ sRcn¨p.

Rm³ AhfpsS apeIÄ amdn amdn hmbnÂ h¨v hen¨p

IpSn¨p. AhfpsS apesR«pIÄ _ew h¨v DbÀ¶p h¶p.

AXn\v GXm−v Hcp ]pfn¦pcphnsâ hen¸ambn. AhÄ

Fsâ Xe, AhfpsS amdntebv¡v AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. Rm³

AhfpsS apeIfnÂ Fsâ apJw Dckns¡m−ncp¶p. AhÄ

Fsâ apSnbnÂ hnctemSn¨p.

120 Munnar

Rm³ Fgpt¶än«v Ahsf I«nenÂ ]nSn¨v InS¯n. Rm³

AhfpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯nbn«v, I«nenÂ AhfpsS

ASp¯mbn ap«pIp¯n \n¶psIm−v, AhfpsS sh®¡Â

t]mse an\pkamb ]qÀ XS¯nÂ apJw AaÀ¯n. AhfpsS

]qÀ Np−pIÄ ssI hncÂ sIm−v ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯nbn«v, ]qÀ

NmeneqsS Xmsg \n¶pw apIfäw hsc aq¶v sIm−v XgpIn.

AhfpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw GtXm s]À^yqansâ kpKÔw

DbÀ¶p h¶p. Rm³ AXv aXnbmIp¶Xp hsc

hens¨Sp¯p. AhfpsS hnSÀ¶ncp¶ ]qÀNp−pIÄ¡v

CSbnembn apIfä¯v Hcp Iiph−n ]cn¸nsâ hen¸¯nÂ

t\cnb {_u¬ \nd¯nÂ I´v ]pdt¯bv¡v XÅn \n¶p.

Rm³ Nq−phncÂ sIm−v AXnÂ ]Xps¡ hoW ao«n. AhÄ

ImepIÄ AIÀ¯n h¨psIm−v Nń sasÃ DbÀ¯n.

Rm³ Ip\nªv AhfpsS I´v Fsâ

Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n \pWªp. H¸w \m¡psIm−v IńÂ

Dckn. AhÄ Fsâ Xe AhfpsS ]qäntebv¡v AaÀ¯n

]nSn¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS Ińse ]nSn hn«n«v AhfpsS ]qÀ

XpfbnÂ \m¡v IS¯n. AhnsS \n¶pw t\cnb \oscmgp¡v

XpS§nbncp¶p. Rm³ \m¡v sIm−v AXv apgph³ \¡n

IpSn¨psIm−ncp¶p.

Fsâ \m¡v Npcp«n AhfpsS ]qÀ Xpfbntebv¡v

Cd¡n. AhfpsS Nń Aćo£¯ntebv¡v DbÀ¶p h¶p.

Rm³ AhfpsS ]qÀ apgph³ hmbv¡pÅnem¡n N¸n hen¨p.

HSphnÂ AhfpsS tX³ IpSw s]m«n HgpIn. H¸w AhfpsS

121 Munnar

N´n sh«nbn« t]mse I«nenÂ ]Xn¨p. Fsâ XebnÂ

]nSn¨ncp¶ AhfpsS ssI Abªp. HSphnÂ AhÄ Fsâ

Xe ]nSn¨p amäm³ {ian¨p. ]t£ Rm³ AhfpsS tX³

apgph³ IpSn¨p XoÀ¶nt« Xe amänbpÅp. ]ns¶ Rm³

AhfpsS ASp¯v InS¶p. AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p.

“FSm \o AhnsS F´mSm sNbvXXv? Rm³ kzÀ¤w

I−p.”

“A§s\ kzÀ¤w ImWm³ X¡h®w Rm³ H¶pw

sNbvXnÃSo. C¸w C{Xbpw Bbt¸mtgbv¡pw

C§s\bmsW¦nÂ icn¡pÅ ]Wn sNbvXmÂ

F´mbncn¡pw AhØ?”

“At¿m! CXnepw henb kpJtam. F\n¡v k¦ev]n¡m³

]äp¶nÃ.”

“AsXms¡ t\cn«v ImWmw. AÃmsX \o k¦ev]n¡−

Imcysam¶panÃ”.

Rm³ AhfpsS ASpt¯bv¡v Ncnªp InS¶p. Ahfpw

Fsâ ASpt¯bv¡v Ncnªp InS¶pIbmbncp¶p. Fsâ

Ip® AhfpsS ASnhbänÂ ap«n \n¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS

ssI ]nSn¨v Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¸n¨p. AhÄ Ip®bnÂ

]nSn¨v sRcn¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS ssI ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¡m³

]Tn¸n¨p. AhÄ kmh[m\w hmWaSn¨psIm−ncp¶p.

122 Munnar

Rm³ AhfpsS Np−nÂ Npw_n¨p. ]Xps¡ AhfpsS

Np−v Fsâ hmbv¡pÅnem¡n \pWªp. Rm³ Ip® ]nSn¨v

AhfpsS ]qänÂ ap«n¨p h¨n«v ]Xps¡ Fsâ Acs¡«v

Nen¸n¨p. AhÄ icn¡pw kpJn¨p XpS§n. AtXmsS Rm³

Ahsf aeÀ¯n InS¯nbn«v AhfpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v

AIÀ¯n h¨p. Fsâ ssI sIm−v AhfpsS ]qÀNmenÂ

XgpIn.

kmh[m\w Fsâ Nq−p hncÂ AhfpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ

IS¯n. AhÄ ImepIÄ Iptd¡qSn hnSÀ¯n h¨p. Rm³

Nq−phncÂ AhfpsS IńÂ Dckns¡m−v Nq−p hncÂ

kmh[m\w AIt¯bv¡v IS¯n. AhÄ Fsâ I¿nÂ ]nSn¨v

AXns\ {]Xntcm[n¨p. F¦nepw Rm³ ssI amänbnÃ.

AhfpsS IńÂ Ipd¨p kabw IqSn XgpInbt¸mtgbv¡pw

AhfpsS FXnÀ v̧ Ipdªp. ]qänÂ tXs\men¨v \Ã

hgphgp v̧ Bbn«p−mbncp¶p.

Rm³ hncÂ ]Xps¡ Ibänbnd¡n. Ipd¨p Ignªv

Rm³ Fsâ \SphncÂ IqSn Nq−p hncens\m¸w Ibän.

Ipd¨p kabw c−p hncepw sIm−v ]®nbt¸mtgbv¡pw

AhfpsS ]qÀ Xpf hnIkn¨p. Fsâ c−p hncepIfpw {ô

Bbn Ibdn Cd§m³ XpS§n. At¸mtgbv¡pw AhÄ¡v

\¶mbn ckw ]nSn¨p Ignªncp¶p.

Rm³ AhfpsS apIfnÂ Ibdn InS¶psIm−v Ip®

]nSn¨v AhfpsS ]qÀNmeneqsS apIfntebv¡pw Xmtgbv¡pw

Dc¨p. ]ns¶ Ip®bpsS aIpSw AhfpsS ]qÀ XpfbnÂ

123 Munnar

ap«n¨p h¨psIm−v ]Xps¡ Xmtgbv¡v AaÀ¶p. Ip®bpsS

aIpSw DÅnÂ IS¶tXmsS AhÄ \nehnfn¨p.

“FSm aXnsbSm. C\n tIäcpXv. F\n¡v thZ\n¡p¶p.”

“kmcanÃSo. \ns¶ thZ\n¸n¡msX Rm³ Ibämw.”

AXv ]dªn«v Rm³ AhfpsS ape sR«pIÄ amdn amdn

hmbnÂ h¨v hen¨p IpSn¨p. Ipd¨p t\cw ape

IpSn¨t¸mtgbv¡pw AhfpsS {]Xntj[w Ipdªp. At¸mÄ

Rm³ Fsâ Ip® Ipd¨p IqSn iànbnÂ H¶p XÅn.

AtXmsS AXv ]IpXntbmfw AI¯mbn. AhÄ Fs¶ XÅn

amäm³ {ian¨p.

“FSm th−. F\n¡v C{Xbpw thZ\ kln¡ms\m¶pw

h¿. \o AXv FSp¯psIm−v t]m.”

“CÃSo. A§s\ thZ\n¡¯sXm¶pw CÃ. BZyw sNdnb

thZ\ ImWpw. \o AXv ISn¨p ]nSn¨v A§v kln¨mÂ aXn.

]ns¶ \Ã kpJambncn¡pw.”

“F¶mepw B kpJw th−. \o t\ct¯ sNbvXXv

t]mse \¡n kpJn¸n¨mÂ aXn.”

“AXv icn. Rm³ \¡n \ns¶ kpJn¸n¡Ww.

AXpsIm−v \n\¡v kpJw In«pw. ]ns¶ Rm³ F´v

sN¿Ww.”

124 Munnar

“AXv tN¨n hmbnÂ h¨v N¸p¶Xv t]mse Rm³ N¸n

Xcmw. At¸mÄ \n\¡v kpJw In«patÃm.”

“AXv sIm−v ImcyambnÃtÃm. CXnsâ Du« H¶v

icnbm¡n FSp¡t−? \nsâ IÃymWw Ignbpt¼mÄ Ah\v

tIdm\pÅXv AtÃ?”

“AXv At¸mÄ t\m¡nbmÂ t]msc?”

“AXv icnbmI¯nÃ. \½Ä dq«v ¢nbdm¡n h¨ncn¡Ww.

AsÃ¦nÂ Ah³ hnjan¡pw.”

“Ah³ hnjan¡ps¶¦nÂ hnjant¨ms«. F\ns¡´v.”

“F¶v ]dªn«v ImcyanÃ. Ah³ C§s\ Ibänbmepw

thZ\ ImWpw. \nsâ CXn\I¯v Hcp koÂ D−v AXv

s]m«n¡gnªmÂ ]ns¶ {]iv\anÃ.”

“FSm. C¸w thZ\ IpdsªSm. C\n \o ]Xps¡ koev

s]m«n¨v t\m¡ntb.”

Rm³ AhfpsS Np−pIÄ Fsâ Np−pIÄ¡nSbnem¡n

AaÀ¯n h¨p. ]ns¶ Ip® Ipd¨p ]pdt¯bv¡v Ducnbn«v

iànbmbn ho−pw AIt¯bv¡v XÅn. AtXmsS FÃm

{]Xn_Ô§fpw XIÀ¯psIm−v Fsâ Ip«³

e£y¯nse¯n. AhÄ \nehnfns¨¦nepw, i_vZw ]pd¯v

tI«nÃ. AhÄ Fsâ apJw XÅn amänbn«v

125 Munnar

“FSm \o F´m ImWn¨Xv? Fsâ aq{X¡pgnsbÃmw

s]m«n Iodnsb¶m tXm¶p¶Xv. F\n¡v AhnsS apgph³

\odn ]pIbp¶p.”

“AXv kmcansÃSo. AXv Ct¸mg§v amdpw. GXmbmepw

dq«v ¢nbÀ BbntÃ.”

“Fs¶ms¡ \n\¡v ]dbmw. thZ\ Rm\tÃ kln¨Xv.”

Rm³ AhfpsS Np−pIÄ ISn¨v Cu¼n hen¨p. Hcp

ssI sIm−v AhfpsS apeIfnÂ XgpIn. A§s\ Ipd¨p

kabw IS¶p t]mbn. Fsâ Ip® AhfpsS ]qänÂ

\ndªncp¶p hn§n. HSphnÂ AhfpsS thZ\ Ipdªp

hcp¶Xnsâ e£W§Ä I−p XpS§n. AhfpsS ]qÀ

`n¯nIÄ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ sNdnb aÀ±w sNep¯n XpS§n.

Rm³ AhfpsS hi§fnÂ ssI Ip¯n DbÀ¶p

\n¶psIm−v, ]Xps¡ Ip® Ducn ASn¡m³ XpS§n. aq¶v

\mev ASn Ignªt¸mtgbv¡pw AhfpsS ]qÀ sNdpXmbn

Abªp. AhÄ Fsâ tXmfnÂ AaÀ¯n ]nSn¨psIm−v Xe

DbÀ¯n Fs¶ Npw_n¨p. Rm³ ASnbpsS thKX Iq«n.

AhÄ ASnbnÂ InS¶v ]nSªp. AhÄ IogvNp−p ISn¨p

]nSn¨psIm−v Xe I«nenÂ Dcp«n. AhfpsS ImepIÄ

DbÀ¯n Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ Npän ]nSn¨p. Fsâ ASns¡m¸w,

Ahfpw N´n DbÀ¯n ASn¨psIm−ncp¶p.

126 Munnar

“FSm F\n¡v hs¿Sm. Fsâ izmkw \ne¡p¶Xp

t]mse tX#m¶p¶p. Rm³ C¸w Nmhpw. At¿m F´v

kpJsaSm. thKw thKw ASnsbSm.”

“C¶m ]nSnt¨mSo. \nsâ ]qdv C¶p Rm³ ASn¨v

s]mfn¡psaSo.”

“F¦nÂ ASn¨v s]mfns¡Sm.”

Rm³ ASnbpsS thKX Iq«n. AhfpsS ImepIÄ Fsâ

Acs¡«nse ]nSn hn«n«v A´co£¯ntebv¡v DbÀ¶p \n¶p.

“aXntbmSo Ig¸o. \nsâ Ig v̧ C¶v Rm³ amän

XcpsaSo.”

“Np½m hmNIaSn¡msX ASn¨v s]mfnsbSm. At¿mSm

F\n¡v Zm hcps¶Sm.”

“F\n¡pw hcps¶So.”

“ASn¨v Hgn¨v Fsâ ]qdv \ndbvs¡Sm.”

]ns¶ AhfpsS hmbnÂ \n¶v Nne A]kzc§Ä tI«p.

HSphnÂ AXpw \ne¨p. AhfpsS ImepIÄ s]s«¶v I«nenÂ

]Xn¨p. AhÄ InX¡m³ XpS§n. At¸mtgbv¡pw Fsâ

Ip®bpw AhfpsS ]qänÂ shSns¡«p \S¯n. Ah³

Gsg«p {]mhiyw AhfpsS ]qäntebv¡v Kp−pIÄ Ab¨p.

Rm³ AhfpsS icoc¯nÂ `mcw sImSp¡msX AhfpsS

127 Munnar

]pd¯v AaÀ¶p InS¶p. AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p.

B kab¯v tN«¯n IXInÂ ap«n hnfn¨p. AXv tI«v an\n

sR«n hnd¨p.

“FSm, Ipg¸ambtÃm. \o IXIv Xpd¡tÃ. Rm³ Cu

thjsam¶v CSs«.”

Rm³ I«nenÂ \n¶pw Fgpt¶äp. Rm³ Fsâ ap−v

FSp¯v DSp¯psIm−v t]mbn IXIv Xpd¶p. At¸mtgbv¡pw

an\n Fgpt¶äv AhfpsS anUn [cn¡m³ XpS§p¶tX

D−mbncp¶pÅp. AhfpsS anUn, AhÄ ImenÂ¡qSn

Ibäm³ XpS§nbt¸mtgbv¡pw tN«¯n apdnbnÂ Ibdn h¶p.

an\n s]s«¶v anUn hen¨p Ibän. ]t£ AhfpsS Acbv¡v

apIfnÂ At¸mgpw \áambncp¶p.

“tamtf \o ]Wn H¸n¨p. AtÃ. CXn\mtWm \o kn\na

ImWms\¶v ]dªv Ct§m«p h¶Xv?”

“AXv tN¨o, kn\na I−psIm−ncp¶t¸mÄ AdnbmsX

C§s\sbms¡ kw`hn¨p t]mbn.”

“F¶mepw tamtf, \o kq£n¡−mbncpt¶m. hÃ

Ipg¸hpw ]änbmtem?”

“Ipg¸sam¶pw ]ä¯nÃ tN¨o. F\n¡v sa³kkv

BImdmbncn¡pIbmWv. c−v Znhk¯n\Iw BIpw.”

128 Munnar

“\o CXn\v ap¼v C§s\sb§m\pw sNbvXn«pt−m?”

“CÃ tN¨o. CXv BZyambn«mWv.”

“\o B I«nentem«v InSt¶. Rms\m¶v t\m¡s«.”

AhÄ I¿nencp¶ So jÀ«v XebneqsS hen¨v

Ibänbn«psIm−v I«nenÂ InS¶p. tN«¯n AhfpsS anUn

DbÀ¯nbn«v AhfpsS ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v AIÀ¯n ]qÀ

]cntim[n¨p. AhÀ Hcp XpWnsbSp¯v AhfpsS ]qÀ

XpS¨p. ]qÀtX\pw, Ip®¸mepw IeÀ¶ an{inX¯nÂ

càhpw IeÀ¶v Nph v̧ \nd¯nÂ XpWnbnÂ ]än.

“Mm! icn¡pw koÂ s]m«n. Zm tNmc It−m. \o Fsâ

apdnbnÂ sN¶v AhnsS sUtämÄ Ccn¸p−v. AsXSp¯v

\¶mbn«v IgpIv. AsÃ¦nÂ Nnet¸mÄ C³s^Ivj³ BIpw.”

A§s\ AhÄ I«nenÂ \n¶pw Fgpt¶äv tN«¯nbpsS

apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. B kab¯v tN«¯n Fsâ ap−v

amänbn«v Ip® ]nSn¨p t\m¡n.

“Zm t\ms¡Sm tNmc ]änbncn¡p¶Xv. sIm−p t]mbn

IgpsISm.”

Rm³ _m¯vdqanÂ Ibdn Ip® IgpInbn«v XncnsI

h¶p. At¸mÄ tN«¯n Fsâ I«nenÂ Ibdn

Ccn¡pIbmbncp¶p. Rm³ AhcpsS ap¶nÂ sN¶t¸mÄ

129 Munnar

AhÀ Fsâ ap−v ]dn¨p Ifªn«v Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p. Ah³

CXn\Iw A\¡w h¨p XpS§nbncp¶p.

AhÀ Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v sXmen¨Sn¨p. AhcpsS

I¿psS NqSv Gät¸mtgbv¡pw Ip® AXnsâ hnizcq]w Im«n

XpS§n. AhÀ Ip\nªv Fsâ Ip®bnÂ Npw_n¨p. ]ns¶

kmh[m\w AXnsâ aIpSw AhcpsS hmbv¡pÅnem¡nbn«v

\m¡p sIm−v AXnÂ XgpIn. At¸mtgbv¡pw Ah³ ]qÀ®

cq]¯nÂ F¯n¡gnªncp¶p.

AhÀ Ip® ]qÀ®ambn AhcpsS hmbv¡pÅnÂ IS¯n.

AXnsâ Aäw AhcpsS A®m¡nÂ sN¶p ap«n. AhÀ

]Xps¡ Xe ap¶ntebv¡pw ]n¶ntebv¡pw Nen¸n¨p. Ip®

AhcpsS hmbnencp¶v hn§n. Rm³ AhcpsS ss\änbpsS

]pd¯pIqSn AhcpsS apeIfnÂ ]nSn¨v Ii¡n. Cu kab¯v

an\n apdnbntebv¡v IS¶p h¶p. Rm³ tN«¯nbpsS

ss\änbpsS lq¡pIÄ Cf¡nbn«v AhcpsS ape

]pds¯Sp¯p. AXv I−n«v an\n tN«¯nbpsS apeIfnÂ

XgpIn.

“FSo \n\¡v thWsa¦nÂ tN«¯nbpsS ]mÂ Ipd¨v

IpSn¨p t\m¡v.”

CXv ]dªn«v Rm³ tN«¯nsb I«nenÂ ]nSn¨v InS¯n.

AhÀ I«nenÂ InS¶psIm−v Fsâ Ip® ho−pw N¸m³

XpS§n. an\n tN«¯nbpsS ASp¯mbn I«nenÂ ap«pIp¯n

\n¶psIm−v AhcpsS ape hmbnÂ h¨v hen¨p IpSn¨p.

130 Munnar

Rm³ an\nbpsS DSp v̧ ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯nbn«v AhfpsS

apeIfnÂ XgpIn.

an\n, Hcp apebnse ]mÂ IpSn¨v XoÀ¶n«v, ASp¯

apebnse ]mÂ IpSn¡m³ XpS§n. At¸mtgbv¡pw tN«¯n

Fsâ Ip® N¸p¶Xnsâ thKX Iq«n. AhcpsS Xe hfsc

thK¯nÂ DbÀ¶p XmWpsIm−ncp¶p. HSphnÂ Fsâ

Ip®, AhcpsS A®m¡ntebv¡v shSnbp−IÄ DXnÀ¯p

hn«p. AhÀ AXv apgph³ IpSn¨p. Ahkm\ XpÅn hsc

\¡nsbSp¯n«v AhÀ Ip® ]pds¯Sp¯p.

AhÀ ]IpXn Npcp§nb Ip® Hcp I¿nÂ

]nSn¨psIm−v atä ssI sIm−v ]dnk©nbnÂ XgpIn.

At¸mtgbv¡pw an\n ]mÂ IpSn¨p XoÀ¶v apJw

DbÀ¯nbt¸mÄ AhfpsS apeIÄ tN«¯nbpsS apJ¯n\v

t\tc h¶p. tN«¯n DS³ Fsâ Ip®bnse ]nSn hn«n«v,

an\nbpsS tXmfnÂ ]nSn¨v AhfpsS ape, tN«¯nbpsS

apJt¯m«v ASp¸n¨p. ]ns¶ AhÀ Xe DbÀ¯n an\nbpsS

ape hmbnem¡n \pWªp.

an\n, ssI F¯n Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨p Ipep¡n.

Rm³ an\nsb I«nenÂ ]nSn¨v InS¯nbn«v, Rm³ AhfpsS

apIfnÂ Xncnªp InS¶p. At¸mÄ Fsâ Ip® AhfpsS

apJ¯n\Sp¯pw, Fsâ Xe, an\nbpsS Acs¡«n\Sp¯pw

h¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS anUn DbÀ¯nbn«v ImepIÄ ]nSn¨v

AIÀ¯nbn«v, apJw AhfpsS ]qänÂ AaÀ¯n. AhnsS \Ã

131 Munnar

sUtämfnsâ aWw. H¸w AhfpsS ]qänÂ \n¶pw

Hen¨nd§p¶ tX\nsâ aWhpw.

Rm³ \m¡v \o«n AhfpsS ]qÀ tX³ \¡nsbSp¯p.

F¶mÂ AhnsS t\cnb \oscmgp¡v XpSÀ¶psIm−ncp¶p.

Rm³ AhfpsS IńÂ \m¡v sIm−v \¡n. AhÄ Fsâ

Ip® ]nSn¨v AhfpsS hmbv¡pÅnem¡n \pWªp. AhÄ

Ipd¨p kabw \pWªt¸mtgbv¡pw Ip® _ew h¨v

DWÀ¶p. AXv AhfpsS hmbv¡pÅnÂ sRcp§n AaÀ¶v

Ccp¶p.

CXn\nsS tN«¯n Fsâ ]n¶neqsS ssI IS¯n Xq§n

BSns¡m−ncp¶ ]dn k©nbnÂ ]nSn¨v

sRcSns¡m−ncp¶p. Rm³ an\nbpsS ]qÀ apgph\pw

Fsâ hmbv¡pÅnem¡n N¸n hen¨p. AhfpsS Nń

apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¶p h¶p. Rm³ ASp¯v InS¶ XebnW

FSp¯v AhfpsS Nń¡SnbnÂ Ibän h¨p. AtXmsS

AhfpsS ]qÀ apIfntebv¡v DbÀ¶v Xpd¶ncp¶p. AhÄ

XebnWbnÂ Nń AaÀ¯n h¨psIm−v XpSIÄ DbÀ¯n

Fsâ Xe AaÀ¯n h¨p.

Rm³ Fsâ \m¡v Npcp«n AhfpsS ]qÀXpfbnÂ

Ibän Cd¡n ASn¨p. HSphnÂ AhfpsS tX³IpSw s]m«n

HgpIn. Rm³ AXv apgph³ \¡nsbSp¯p. an\nbpsS

Du¼ensâ thKX IqSn h¶p. B kpJ¯nÂ Rm³

AhfpsS ]qänÂ apJw AaÀ¯n InS¶p. HSphnÂ Fsâ

Ip® AhfpsS hmbntebv¡v ]mÂ Hgp¡n hn«p. AhÄ AXv

132 Munnar

apgph³ IpSn¨nd¡n. Ahkm\s¯ XpÅn hsc \¡n

FSp¯n«v AhÄ Fsâ Ip® hmbnÂ \n¶pw

]pds¯Sp¯p. Rm³ AhfpsS ]pd¯p \n¶pw Cd§n

AhfpsS ASp¯v InS¶p. AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v D½ h¨p.

FÃmw Ignªt¸mÄ tN«¯n t]mIm\mbn Fgpt¶äp. AhÀ

an\nsb hnfn¨p.

“FSo hm. C\n \ap¡v t]mImw.”

“tN¨n sNÃv. tam³ Dd§pIbtÃ. C¸w C\n Fsâ

BhiyanÃtÃm. Rm³ Ipd¨p kabw IqSn ChnsS InS¶n«v

hcmw.”

“InS¡p¶sXms¡ sImÅmw. C¶v C\n ]Wnsbm¶pw

H¸n¡cpXv.”

“CÃ tN¨o. Rm³ Ipd¨p Ignªv A§v hcmw.”

A§s\ tN«¯n AhcpsS apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. R§Ä

sseäW¨n«v, \ácmbn Xs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v InS¶v Dd§n.

shfp¸n\v AhcpsS apdnbntebv¡v ]dªp hnSm\mbn Rm³

Ahsf hnfn¨pWÀ¯n. AhÄ I®p Xpd¶v Fs¶ t\m¡n

Nncn¨p.

“FSm Rm³ Ipd¨p IqSn Dd§s«Sm.”

133 Munnar

“FSo t\cw shfp¡mdmbn. Bsc¦nepw DWÀ¶v

hcp¶Xn\v apt¼ \o thjw [cn¨v A¸pds¯ apdnbnÂ

t]mbn InSt¶. AsÃ¦nÂ Ipg¸amIpta.”

“Hm ! C\n F´v Ipg¸amSm thtd D−mIm\pÅXv ?”

“F¶mepw A½¨nsb§m\pw apIfntebv¡v Ibdn h¶v

t\m¡pt¼mÄ \o AhnsSbnsÃ¦nÂ F´v hnNmcn¡pw.”

“F´v hnNmcn¡m³. Ahcv \n\¡v ssek³kv

X¶n«p−tÃm. ]ns¶´m.”

CXv ]dªpsIm−v AhÄ Fsâ ]IpXn DbÀ¶p \n¶

Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v hmWaSn¨p. AtXmsS AXv ]qÀ® cq]w

{]m]n¨p. AXv AhfpsS I¿nencp¶v hn§n.

“FSm CXv C§s\ \nÂ¡p¶Xv I−n«v Rm³

F§s\bmSm a\xkam[m\ambn«v t]mIp¶Xv. H¶pansÃ¦nÂ

\o Xs¶ F´v hnNmcn¡pw.”

“Rm³ A§s\ {]tXyIn¨v H¶pw hnNmcn¡¯nÃ.

Xs¶bpaÃ, \nsâ AhnsSsbms¡ apdnªncn¡pIbtÃ.

AXpsIm−v C¸w tamfv sNÃv.”

“\o t]mSm. apdnªncn¡p¡ps¶¦nÂ Rm\§v kln¨p.

GXmbmepw cmhnse Chs\ H¶p tIän Cd¡nbnt« Rm³

t]mIp¶pÅp.”

134 Munnar

“\n\¡v A{X \nÀºÔamsW¦nÂ \o apIfnÂ Ibdv.

\ap¡v ]pXnb Hcp Ifn t\m¡mw.”

A§s\ Rm³ Ahsf Fsâ apIfnÂ ]nSn¨p InS¯n.

AhÄ Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨p. AhfpsS IqÀ¯ apeIÄ

Fsâ amdnÂ Ip¯n sRcnªv AaÀ¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS

ImepIÄ Fsâ Acs¡«n\v Ccp hi§fnepambn ]nSn¨v ap«p

Ip¯n h¨p. AhfpsS Acs¡«v Aev]w ]nSn¨v DbÀ¯nbn«v,

Ip® AhfpsS ]qÀNmenÂ Dc¨p.

AhÄ Fsâ s\©nÂ ssI Ip¯ns¡m−v \nhÀ¶v

Ccp¶p. Rm³ Ip®bpsS Xe AhfpsS ]qÀNmenÂ ap«n¨p

h¨n«v AhfpsS tXmfnÂ ]nSn¨v Ahsf sasÃ Xmgv¯n.

AtXmsS Ip® kmh[m\w AhfpsS ]qäntebv¡v

Cd§ns¡m−ncp¶p. AhÄ Xe Ip¼n«v AhfpsS

]qäntebv¡v t\m¡ns¡m−v kmh[m\w AaÀ¶v Ccp¶p.

CSbv¡nsS AhÄ Nń sNdpXmbn DbÀ¯pIbpw,

]ns¶ Xmgv¯pIbpw sNbvXpsIm−ncp¶p. Ahkm\w

AhfpsS Nń Fsâ Acs¡«nÂ AaÀ¶p. Rm³ AhfpsS

apeIfnÂ ]nSn¨v sRcn¨p. AhÄ Ip® DÅnÂ h¨psIm−v

Xs¶ Fsâ ]pd¯v Iagv¶p InS¶psIm−v Fsâ Np−nÂ

Npw_n¨p. Rm³ Ahsf sI«n¸nSn¨p.

Rm³ A§s\ InS¶psIm−v ASnbnÂ \n¶pw

apIfntebv¡v ASn¨psImSp¯p. AhÄ Nń sNdpXmbn

DbÀ¯n ]nSn¨p. Rm³ AhfpsS NńbnÂ ]nSn¨v

135 Munnar

DbÀ¯pIbpw Xmgv¯pIbpw sNbvXpsIm−ncp¶p. AXnsâ

kpJw In«nbtXmsS AhÄ AhfpsS ImÂ ]mZw I«nenÂ

Nhp«n Ip¯nbncp¶n«v, Fsâ s\©nÂ ssI Ip¯n

DbÀ¶p \n¶psIm−v X\ntb N´n DbÀ¯n ASn¡m³

XpS§n. H¸w Rm\pw ASnbnÂ \n¶pw ASn¨psImSp¯p.

HSphnÂ AhÄ XfÀ¶v Fsâ ]pd¯v Iagv¶p InS¶p

InX¨p. F\n¡pw shÅw hcmdmbn«p−mbncp¶p. Rm³

AhfpsS N´n ssI sIm−v Xm§n ]nSn¨psIm−v ASnbnÂ

\n¶pw apIfntebv¡v BªSn¨p. \me©v ASn

ASn¨t¸mtgbv¡pw, Fsâ Ip® AhfpsS ]qäntebv¡v

\ndsbmgn¨p.

AhfpsS ]qÀ `n¯nIÄ Fsâ Ip®sb sR¡n

]ngnªpsIm−ncp¶p. HSphnÂ AXnsâ Ne\hpw \ne¨p.

Ipd¨p kabw IqSn AhÄ Fsâ ]pd¯v InS¶p. AhfpsS

InX v̧ amdnbt¸mÄ AhÄ apJw DbÀ¯n Fsâ Np−nepw,

I®nepw, s\änbnepsaÃmw XpcpXpsc Npw_n¨p. ]ns¶

AhÄ Fsâ ]pd¯p \n¶pw Fgpt¶äp amdn.

R§Ä c−pt]cpw Fgpt¶äv _m¯vdqanÂ t]mbn

aq{Xsamgn¨p. ]ns¶ Rm³ AhfpsS ]qdpw, AhÄ Fsâ

Ip®bpw IgpIn hr¯nbm¡n. ]ns¶ R§Ä h¶v hkv{Xw

[cn¨p. AhÄ Hcn¡Â IqSn Fs¶ sI«n¸nSn¨v Npw_n¨n«v

tN«¯nbpsS apdnbntebv¡v t]mbn. At¸mÄ aWn A©v

Ignªncp¶p. Rm³ IXIv AS¨n«v ho−pw I«nenÂ Ibdn

InS¶p. Ignª Imcy§Ä BtemNn¨v InS¶v Rm³

136 Munnar

Dd§nt¸mbn. cmhnse tN«¯n Nmbbpambn h¶v

hnfn¨t¸mgmWv Rm³ DWÀ¶Xv.

“FSm Fgpt¶Âs¡Sm. CXv F´v Dd¡amSm. C¶se

Rm³ t]mbn¡gnªv ]ns¶bpw H¸ns¨¶v tXm¶p¶tÃmSm.

AhtfmSv tNmZn¨n«v AhÄ k½Xn¨nÃ. ]t£ e£Ww I−n«v

Ft´m \S¶Xmbn tXm¶p¶p.”

“AXv ]ns¶ tN«¯o, Ahfv cmhnse H¶p IqSn

In«nbnt« t]mIq F¶v \nÀºÔw ]nSn¨t¸mÄ Rm³ Ahsf

H¶p apIfnÂ Ibän. AXmIpt¼mÄ AhÄ t\m¡nbpw I−pw

sN¿patÃm.”

“Mm… Fs¶ ]«nWn¡v C«n«mWv c−pw IqSn ASn¨v

s]mfn¡p¶Xv. AtÃ.”

“tN«¯n hnjan¡−. AXnsâ FÃm tIm«hpw Rm³

XoÀ¯p Xcmw. Ipd¨p Znhkw IqSn Ignbt«. AXp hsc

tN«¯n H¶p £an¡v.”

tN«¯n Fsâ Ip®bnÂ ]nSn¨v H¶v sRcn¨n«v

apdnbnÂ \n¶pw ]pd¯v t]mbn. A¶pw ASp¯ Znhkhpw

an\n Fsâ apdnbnemWv cm{Xn Dd§nbnXv. Cu c−v

Znhk§fnepw R§Ä icn¡pw BtLmjn¨p. aq¶mw Znhkw

AhÄ¡v sa³kkv Bbn. ]ns¶ \mev Znhkw AhÄ¡v hn{iaw

Bbncp¶p.

137 Munnar

F¶mÂ tN«¯n B Znhk§fnÂ F\n¡v Du¼n X¶p.

XpSÀ¶pÅ Znhk§fnÂ an\nbpambn tIfnIÄ \S¯n.

kpc£nX Znhk§fnÂ R§Ä \nb{´WanÃmsX Ifn¨p.

AÃm¯ Znhk§fnÂ Dd D]tbmKn¨pw, KpfnI Ign¨pw

Ifn¨p.

A§s\ \mfpIÄ IS¶p t]mbn. tN«¯nbpsS {]khw

Ignªv A³]Xv Znhkw Ignªt¸mÄ tN«¯n

Fs¶s¡m−v Ifn¸n¨p. ]ns¶ R§Ä aq¶pt]cpw

IqSnbmbn Ifn. aq¶p amkw Ignªt¸mÄ an\n AhcpsS

ho«ntebv¡v XncnsI t]mbn. ]ns¶bpw c−v amkw Ignªv

F\n¡v _mw¥qcnÂ Hcp I¼\nbnÂ tPmenbmbn. Ct¸mÄ

Rm³ _mw¥qcnemWv. F¶mepw amk¯nÂ Hcn¡Â \m«nÂ

h¶v tN«¯n¡v ASn¨p sImSp¡mdp−v.

]ns¶ _mw¥qcnÂ F\n¡v Nne Npän¡fns¡ms¡

Ahkcw H¯p hcp¶p−v. AXv icnbmbn«v B hntij§Ä

Rm³ \n§tfmsSm¸w ]¦v hbv¡mw. Xev¡mew \ndp¯p¶p.

Www kambikathakal in 035

Documents

Transcript of Www kambikathakal in 035