vupepyk;

RopGuk;. j. gpughfud;

ghYf;F ghyfd; Ntz;baOjpl…………

           'Lk;. LLLk;. Lk;"

     'zq;' nfd;W xUKiw Nfhapy; KOtJk; FYq;fp mjpHe;J mlq;fpaJ.

     'vd;u mk;khshr;rp! ePjhd; fhg;ghj;j NtZk;" tNahjpgf; Funyhd;W %iyapypUe;J gjw;wkha; vOe;jJ. vd;d nra;tnjd;W Gupahky;> efj;ij fbj;Jj; Jg;gpagb jd; gaj;ijg; Nghf;f utp ntFthf Kad;Wk; Kbatpy;iy. ,d;dKk; mtd; fhJfspy; Fz;Lr; rj;jq;fs; vjpnuhypj;Jf;nfhz;NlapUe;jd. gfy; NtisapYk; me;jf; Nfhapy; kz;lgk; ,Uz;L fple;jJ. 

     rz;ilapy; mNfhuq;fSf;Fg; gae;J #upad; $l ghJfhg;gha; Nkff;$l;l gJq;F Fopf;Fs; xspe;J tpl;lJ Nghyj; Njhd;wpaJ. 

    'kyH! tprH Ntiy nra;J Nghl;ld;"

     'vd;dg;gh? 'ghq;f;' Gj;jfnkd;dj;ijahtJ tpl;bl;L te;jpl;baNs?" 

     'rPr;rp! mnjy;yhk; nfhz;le;jdhd;. fhag;Nghl;l ney;iy cs;Sf;f J}f;fp itf;fhky; te;jpl;ld;."

  ahNuh xU gpufpUjp me;j Neuj;jpYk; kidtpaplk; fhag;Nghl;l ney;iyg; gw;wpf; ftiyg;gl;lhd;. utpf;F vupr;ry; te;jJ.      ',Q;r vy;yhUk; tpbag;gpwj;jpypyapUe;J tapj;ijf; fhag;Nghl;bl;L vg;g capH NghFNjhntz;L Vq;fpf; nfhz;bUf;fpwk;. ,tnud;ndz;lhy; fhag;Nghl;l ney;iyg;gw;wpf; ftiyg;gLfpwhH." ahNuh xUtH rw;Wg; gykhfNt KZKZj;jhH.  

     'nrhr;. nrhr;. nrhr;"

vq;Nfh grpahy; XykpLk; gy;ypapd; xyp Nfl;lJ. 

     'cr;rj;Jg; gy;yp nrhd;dh mr;rkpy;iy xUj;jUk; gag;gplhijAq;Nfh. vq;fSf;F xz;Lk; elf;fhJ." mq;fpUe;j mWgJ NgUf;Fk; MWjy; $WtJ Nghy; 'mWgJ taJ'   jd; Nkjhtpj; jdj;ijf; fhl;bf; nfhz;lJ. utpapd; tapw;Wf;Fs; czT Ntz;Lnkd;W rpWFly; ngUq;FlYf;F mtrukhf kf[H nfhLj;jJ. 

     nghOJGyU Kd;dNu - ehw;GwKk; ntbNahirfshy; mjpu - vd;d elf;fpwnjd;gNj Gupahky; ifapy; mfg;gl;l rhkhd;fNshL mk;kd; Nfhapypy; milf;fykhNdhupy; utpapd; FLk;gKk; xd;W. FLk;gnkd;why; utpAk; jhAk; kl;Le;jhd;. fhiyapy; vOk;gpaJk; gy;Jyf;fpa gpd;Ng VjhtJ rhg;gpLtij tof;fkhff; nfhz;ltd; ,d;W toikf;F khwhf tha;$lf; fOthky; ciug;igia mtpo;j;J rpy 'gp];fw;Wf;fis' rhg;gplj; njhlq;fpdhd;. 

     'Lk;. LLk;. Lk;" 

     kPz;LnkhUKiw Nfhapw; Rw;Wg;Gwk; mjpHe;J Ngha; mlq;fpaJ. utpapd; ifapypUe;j gp];fw;Wf;fs; gaj;jpy; tha;f;Fs; nry;tjw;Fg; gjpyhf topkhwpf; fPNo tpOe;J tPzhfpd. Mjutha; mtd; jiyia xU fuk; tUbaJ. njhl;lJ ahnud;W jpUk;gpg; ghHf;fhkNyNa mtDf;Fj; njupe;jJ. 

     'mk;kh!!"

     'vd;dg;G rupahag; gae;J NghdpNah?"

     ',y;iyaiz" 

     ek;g tpy;iynad;gij jhapd; Kfk; Jy;ypakhf fhl;baJ. ifapypUe;j 'gp];fw;wpy;'  ,uz;ilj; jhaplk; ePl;bdhd;.

     ',e;jhiz! tpbaj; njhlf;fk; ePAnkhz;LQ; rhg;gpNliy"

     'Ntz;lhkg;G ! MWjyha; tPl;l Ngha; rhg;gpLtk;"

     ;tPL? ; 

     ;ehq;fs; jpUk;gpg; NghNff;f tPL tPlhj;jhd; ,Uf;FNkh? ,y;yhl;b cUf;FiyQ;R Ngha; …….. ntWq;fw;Ftpayha; …..kz;Nklha; ………" 

     mg;gb epidf;fNt utpahy; KbahkypUe;jJ. tpaHitj; jpl;Lf;fshy; clk;G gpRgpRj;jJ. nghJthf rdneUf;fbnad;gJ utpf;Fg; gpbf;fNt gpbf;fhj tprak;. 

     Mdhy; ,g;NghJ - 

     mk;kd; NfhapYf;Fs; mWgJ NgNuhL xUtdha;- kw;wtHfspd; %r;Rf;fhw;wpd; c~;zj;ij czuf;$ba neUf;fj;jpy; erpgLtij capuhirahy; nghWj;Jf; nfhz;lhd;. 

     nfhQ;rk; J}uj;NjapUe;j J}Nzhukha; rha;e;jgb jd;idNa ghHj;Jf; nfhz;bUe;j fdfNuhL fijj;jhtJ kdk; nfhQ;rk; ,Wf;fk; jsHe;J ,jkhFk;. Nghy utpf;Fj; Njhd;wpaJ. 

     'vd;dz;iz" mg;gb cj;Jg; ghj;Jf;nfhz;bUf;fpwpas;" 

     ',y;iyalh jk;gp ! ehDk; fhyikapy ,Ue;J xz;Lk; rhg;gpNliy" fdfH vjw;F mbNfhYfpwhnud;W utp Gupe;J nfhz;L> nfhQ;r gp];fw;Wf;fis mtuplk; ePl;bdhd;. miunehbapy; mj;jid gp];fw;Wf;fSk; fdfupd; tapw;Wf;Fs; GFe;J gJq;fpf; nfhz;ld. 

     'jk;gp utp! ,e;jr; rj;jq;fnsy;yhk; vg;g XAk;?" tapW FspHe;j re;Njhrj;jpy; tk;gsg;gjw;Ff; fdfH vj;jdpj;jhH. 

     'vdf;nfg;gbaz;iz njupAk;" ehDk; cq;fis khjpupj;jhNd Xbae;J ,e;jf; NfhapYf;Fs;s ,Uf;fpwd;." 

     'uz;L gFjpf;Fk; rupahd ,og;ghk;. ;uTz; ; gf;fk; mwk;Gwkh mk;Gyd;Rfs; Xbj;jpupAjhk;. vy;yhkwpe;j ty;ytuha;j; jd;id ,dq;fhl;Ltjw;fhf fw;gidapy; cjpj;jtw;iwg; Gjpa tje;jpfshf cytpl;lhH fdfH. 

     'MMa;q;q; …………. MMa;q;q;"  

     rpd;df;Foe;ij xd;wpd; mOif utpapd; ftdj;ij mjd;gf;fkha; <Hj;Jf; nfhz;lJ. 

     mfytpupj;j mofpa fupa ,ikfNshL $ba jd; rpd;dtpopfshy; Rw;WKw;Wk; ghHj;jgb jspHf;fhy;fis cijj;Jj; jd; Mj;jpuj;ij typAWj;jpagb me;jf; Foe;ij mOJ nfhz;bUe;jJ. utpf;Fk; Foe;ijg; gps;isfnsd;why; nfhs;is Mir. me;j Mir capUf;Fg; gae;J jQ;rk; Gfe;jpUf;Fkplj;jpYk; mtid tpl;lfyhjjhy; me;jf; Foe;ijia Ntbf;if ghHf;fj; njhlq;fpdhd;. 

     jd;NdhL fijj;Jf; nfhz;bUe;j utp rl;nldf; ftdk; fiye;J> Foe;ijiag; guhf;Fg; ghHg;gijf; fz;lhH fdfH> gf;fj;jpypUe;j xUtuplk; elf;Fk; rz;ilia gw;wpj; jhd; cz;lhf;fpa ;tje;jp ituir ; gug;Gtjpy; mjp jPtpukha; <Lglj; njhlq;fpdhH. 

     ePz;l NeukhfpAk; jhapd; mizg;gpypUe;j me;jf; Foe;ijapd; mOif epw;ftpy;iy. 'jpNd~;Fl;b! vd;u nry;ynky;Nyh! ,g;g vd;dj;Jf;fg;G mOfpwha;?" jhapd; Mwjyhd tprhupg;gpid tpsq;fhj me;jj;  ;jpNd~;Fl;b ; ,d;Dk; mOJ nfhz;bUe;jJ. 

     'MuhuhuhNuh …………….! XHNuhNuhNuh…………!

     jhapd; jhyhl;bidf; Nfl;Lj; J}q;Ftjw;Fg; gjpyhf Foe;ij jd; mOifia ,ul;bg;ghf;fpaJ. gr;rpsq;Foe;ijnahd;W ,g;gb mOtijf; fz;L utpahy; rfpf;fKbatpy;iy. jhapd; mizg;gpy; ,Ue;Jk; me;jf;Foe;ij mOfpd;wnjd;why; mjw;Fg; grpiaj; jtpu Ntnwhd;Wk; fhuzkhf ,Uf;f KbahJ. 

     me;epadhd jdf;Nf me;jf;Foe;ij grpahy;jhd; mOfpd;wnjd;gij Cfpf;f Kbfpd;w NghJ ngw;wjha; Vd; ,d;Dk; czuhky; ,Uf;fpwhnsd mtd; vz;zpf;nfhz;lhd;. mJ jtnwd mLj;j nehbNa mtDf;Fg; Gupe;jJ. 

     'fyh ! ctd; mg;NghijapypapUe;J fj;jpf;nfhz;Nl ,Uf;fpwhd;. ck;khy rkhspf;f Vyhl;b vd;dl;lj; jhUk; nfhQ;r Neuk; ehd; itr;rpUf;fpwd; " mtSf;F cjtp Gupaf; fztd; Kd; te;jhd;. 

     ',y;iyag;gh! gps;isf;Fr; rupahd grp . tpba ntspf;fpNlf;f Fbr;r ghNyhl vt;tsT Neue;jhd; gps;isAk; ,Uf;Fk;? mJ jhd; mOJ nfhz;bUf;fpwhd;." 

     gjpy; $wptpl;L me;jg; ngz; Rw;WKw;Wk; Nehl;lkpl;lhs;. ;,t;tsT rdj;Jf;F Kd;dhy gps;isf;F vg;gb ghy; FLf;fpwJ.? ; vd;w vz;zk; Foe;ijf;Fg; ghy; nfhLf;f epidj;j mtspd; -fyhtpd;- Kaw;rpia Xuq;fl;l itj;jJ. vd;whYk; mts; kde;jsuhJ ;#g;gpg;Nghj;jypy; ; jahuha; itj;jpUe;j ;yf;Nlh[d; ; ghiy Foe;ijf;F Gfl;lj; njhlq;fpdhs;. 

     Muk;gj;jpy; jd; mOifia jw;fhypfkhf %l;il fl;b itj;Jtpl;Lg; ghiyf;Fbj;j Foe;ij ;mJ jd; jhapd; ghyy;y! ; vd;gij czHe;J nfhz;lJk; - me;jg; ghiyj; njhlHe;J Fbf;fhJ mlk; gz;zp kPz;Lk; jd; mOifia muq;Nfw;wj; njhlq;fpaJ. 

     'vd;u nry;ynky;Ny! Fog;gb nra;ahky; Fbag;G! " jhapd; nfQ;riy jpNd~; vd;fpd;w me;jf; Foe;ij nfhQ;rKk; Nfl;ljha; njupatpy;iy. me;jg;ngz;-fyh- kPz;LnkhUKiw Rw;wpapUe;j rdq;fis Nehl;lkpl;lhd; . capUf;F cj;juthjkpy;yhJ mq;F FOkpapUe;j NtisapYk; - kPiritj;jpUe;j rpy n[d;kq;fspd; fz;fs; fyhitNa fz;nfhj;jpg; ghk;ghf ghHj;Jf;nfhz;bUe;jd. ,ijnay;yhk; J}uj;NjapUe;J ftdpj;Jf;nfhz;bUe;j utpahy; nghWf;f Kbatpy;iy. cs;Su vOe;j Mj;jpuj;ij ntspg;gLj;j topGupahJ kdJf;Fs;NsNa GOq;fj;njhlq;fpdhd;.    

     'ce;j vspaJfSf;F capUf;Fg; gag;gpLfw Neuj;jpiyAk; G+e;J G+e;J ghf;fpw eha;g;Gj;jp tpl;Lg; Nghfiy" vd;W vz;zpf;nfhz;Nl nkJtha; NtWgf;fk; jpUk;gp cl;fhHe;J nfhz;lhd; utp. 

     'fyh! jpNdir vd;dl;lj; jhUk;!"

     fyhtpd; fztd; gps;isiaf; ifNaw;Wf; nfhz;lhd;. jhd; ifkhw;wg;gl;l NghJ jd;grp jPHf;fglyhnkd;w vz;zj;jpy; nfhQ;r Neuk; mikjpaha; ,Ue;j Foe;ij nfhQ;rNeuj;jpy; gioagb mOifg; gy;ytpia cr;r];jhapy; ghlj; njhlq;fpaJ. 

     rpwpJ Neuk; rkhjhdg;gLj;jp mOifia epWj;jKad;W fztd; Njhw;Wg; Nghdijf; fz;l fyh> gps;isia kPz;Lk; thq;fpf; nfhz;lhs;. 

     gps;isapd; mOifia epWj;jpf; fhl;Lk; tPk;NghL Kjypy; Foe;ijiaj; J}f;fpa fztd;> xd;Wk; Ngrhky; jd; Njhy;tpia xg;gf;nfhs;gtidg; Nghy Foe;ijia nfhLj;Jtpl;L JNzhL rha;e;J mkHe;J nfhz;lhd;. 

     ePz;l Neukha; mjpHTr; rj;jq;fs; vJTk; Nfl;fhjjhy; Nfhapypy; $bapUe;j rdj;jpilNa epk;kjpg; ngU%r;Rf;fs; voj; njhlq;fpd. 

     'rz;ilnay;yhk; KbQ;RJ Nghy fplf;FJ"     'mg;gpbr; nrhy;NyyhJ jpBnuz;L Jtq;fpdhYk; Jtq;Fk;. vJf;Fk; Mapj;jkha; ,Uf;NfhZk;". 

     ',t;tsT NeuKk; xU mRkhj;jKk; ,y;iy ,dpr; rz;il Jtq;Fnkz;Nl epidf;fpwha; vdf;nfz;lh mjpy ek;gpf;ifapy;iy" 

     'vq;fl ehl;by vg;g rz;il Jtq;Fk;. vg;g KbAk; vz;L tbtha;r; nrhy;NyyhJ . vJf;Fk; nfhQ;r NeukpUe;J ghg;gk;." 

Fz;Lr;rj;jq;fs; Nfl;fhjjhy; Vw;gl;l mikjp ,t;thwhd ciuahly;fs; cUthtjw;F VJthfpaJ. 

     vd;whYk; ,d;Dk; utpapd; %isapy; XH Xuj;jpy; nky;ypajha; mjpHtpd; vjpnuhypfs; Nfl;Lf;nfhz;NljhdpUe;jd. mtd; rpy kzpj;Jspfspw;F Kd;G ntbj;j Fz;Lr;rj;jq;fspd; jhf;fj;jpypUe;J KOtJkha; kPsKbahJ edTk;> edtpypAk; nfhz;l ,ul;ilr; nraw;ghLilatdha; > J}NzhL rha;e;jpUe;j jd; jhapd; kbapy; Mjutha; gLj;Jf;nfhz;lhd;. 

     jpNd~; vd;w me;jf; Foe;ijAk; grp kaf;fj;jpy; mkpo;e;JNgha;> mOifia epWj;jptpl;L jd;jhapd; Njhspy; rha;e;jpUe;jJ. 

';ghYf;Fg; ghyfd; Ntz;baOjplg;

     ghw;fly; <e;j gpuhd;…………" 

     utpapd; kdRf;Fs; me;jf; Foe;ijiag; ghHj;jJk; fhuzkpy;yhJ me;jg;ghly; xypj;jJ. 

     'Ke;jpj;jhdh Nfhapy;y grpahy mOj Foe;ijf;Fg; ghw;fliyNa FLj;j flTs;> ,e;j gps;isapd;u grp jPu vd;d nra;ag; NghFJ……….?" 

     mtd; rpe;jidapy; Nfs;tp vOe;jJ. 

     'vy;yhUk; neLff; NfhapYf;Fs;s milQ;r fplf;fpwnjz;L KbT

     gz;zpl;baNs? rj;jq;fSk; fdNeukhf;Nff;Nfiy ,dpnahz;Lk; elf;fhJ

     thq;Nfh! vy;yhUk; mtutw;w tPLfSf;Fg; Nghtk;" 

     tPwhg;G trdk; Ngrpagb fdfH Gwg;gl> Ml;L ke;ijaha; milgl;bUe;j rdq;fs; jj;jk; %l;il Kbr;Rf;fNshL tPLfs; Nehf;fpg; Gwg;glj; njhlq;fpdH. 

     khiy kq;fpf; nfhz;bUe;jJ. fhiyapy; ele;j Aj;jj;jpd; Nfhuj;jhNyh vd;dNth Nkw;Fj;jpirthdk; rptg;gha; tpupe;jpUe;jJ. rdq;fisg; NghyNt gwitf;$l;lq;fSk; jj;jk; ,Ug;gplq;fSf;F Ntfkha; tpiue;J nfhz;bUe;jd. 

'rpy Ntisapy mJfs; $l rz;ilf;Fg; gae;J ,lk;ngaHe;jpl;L> ,g;g jpUk;gTk; jq;fl ,lj;Jf;Fg; NghFJfNsh? " vd;W utpapd; kdJ vz;zpf;nfhz;lJ.

'cq;fh! cq;f………..NkNy ghUq;Nfh!!!" 

nkJtha; efHe;J nfhz;bUe;j rdf;$l;lk; rl;nld ryryj;jJ. vjw;fha; me;j mtyf;Fuy; vd;W mwptjw;fha; xU nrf;fd; nksdj;jpy; fiue;J NghdJ. mg;gbf; fope;J Nghd xU nrf;fdpy; jk;ik Nehf;fp tUk; Mgj;ij mtHfsidtUk; czHe;J nfhz;ldH. 

'ca;q;q;q;………….ca;q;q;q;………."

thdj;jpiuiaf; fpopj;jgb -

,ae;jpuf;fOFfs; jpBnudj; Njhd;wp -

'ca;q;q;;………….ca;q;q;;………."

Ntfkhff; Fj;jp -

'CCCa;q;q;;q;…………"

epkpHe;J-

'ca;a;a;a;a;q;q;……………"

jd; tapw;wpypUe;J Fz;Lfis vr;rkpl'LLLk;!!"

'vd;u INah!!!!" 

epyk;> kuk;> Nfhapy; ………………… vy;yhNk mNfhukha; Mb mjpHe;jJ mlq;Ftjw;F mjpf Neuk; gpbj;jJ. kuf;fpis Kjy; kz;jpl;btiu jirg;gpz;lq;fs; mq;Fyj;jpw;nfhd;wha;- 

mf;FNtW MzpNtwhfg; gpa;e;J tpjtpjkha; mzptFj;Jr; rpjwpf;fple;jd. 

fz;Zf;nfl;ba J}uk; tiu rptg;gha; uj;jk; glHe;jpUe;jJ -

'vd;u INah! vd;id tpl;bl;Lg; Nghl;baNs!!?

'mk;kh! mk;kh!! vd;iuak;kh!!!??

'flTNs! ,g;gb typf;FNj!"

'INah! vd;u fhy;……….vd;u fhy; vq;Nf? "

$f;Fuy;fs; nrtpg;giwiaf; fpopf;Fk; Ntfj;NjhL gutpd.

utpf;F %r;R Kl;baJ.

KJF vupe;jJ.

vOk;gNt Kbatpy;iy.kpf mjpfkha; jhd; fhag;gl;bUg;gijAk;> ,d;Dk;jhd; capNuhbUg;gijAk; cWjpg;gLj;jpf; nfhz;lJk;. mtd; kdk; mLj;j Njlypy; Fjpj;jJ.

'mk;kh vq;Nf?"

tpopfSf;F tPupa%l;br; Rw;WKw;Wk; ghHj;jhd;.

mNjh! mNjh! <d];tuj;jpy; Kdfpagb nts;isr; rPiyahy; Kfj;jpypUe;J ,uj;jj;ij Jilj;jgb ,Ug;gJ ahH?

utpapd; mk;khth? Mk; mJ utpapd; mk;khNt jhd;! utpAk; jd; jhiaf; fz;L nfhz;lhd;.

'flTNs! ckf;F ed;wp!" 

jhia mioj;J jhd; capNuhbUg;gij czHj;Jtjw;fha; nfhQ;rk; jiyia caHj;jpdhd;. ,g;NghJ mtdhy; jhia ed;whfg; ghHf;f Kbe;jJ. mj;NjhL ,d;Dk; rpy fhl;rpfSk; vNjr;irahf mtd; fz;zpy;gl;ld. 

nfhQ;r Neuj;jpw;F Kd;G Foe;ijapd; mOifia epWj;jg; Nghuhba fyh vd;w ngz;Zk;> mts; fztDk; %iyf;nfhd;wha; mq;fq;fs; rpjwpr; rpije;jpUe;jhHfs;. 

'MMq; …………… MMq;!"

,njd;d rj;jk;? 

me;jf; Foe;ij jpNd~; nky;ynky;yj; jto;e;J te;jJ. me;jf; Foe;ij vd;d nra;ag; Nghfpd;wnjdg; gugug;NghL ghHj;jhd;. 

Foe;ij jd; jhapd; rlyj;ij mZfpaJ.

nkJtha; efHe;J jhapd; neQ;Rg;gFjpf;F te;J -

khHgpdpy; thapidg; gjpj;J -

ghypidg; gUfj; njhlq;fpaJ.

     ,g;NghJ me;jg; ngz;zpd; khHgoif vtDk; cw;Wg; ghHf;fNtapy;iy. utpf;F mOif> Mj;jpuk;> mDjhgk; vy;yhNk xd;wha;f; fye;J te;jd. 

     'ghYf;Fg; ghyfd; Ntz;baOjpl ………….."

  kPz;Lk; me;jg; ghly; kdjpy; xypj;jJ. utp Foe;ijiag; ghHj;J ghHj;J moj;njhlq;fpdhd;. Foe;ij ,g;NghJ jhd; mOifia epWj;jpj; jhapd; ghiyf; Fbg;gjpy; jPtpukha; <Lglj; njhlq;fpaJ.