cm{Xn- a g

Malayalam

Raathrimazha Novel By

Josy Vagamattam First C.I.C.C. Impression - February 2017 Copies - 1000 Cover Design : Hasan Darvish Typesetting :

Milan Graphics, Junior Janatha Road, Vyttila, Kochi - 19 Ph: 98950 83350 Publishers :

C.I.C.C. BOOK HOUSE Press Club Road, Ernakulam Kochi - 11. PH : 0484-2353557/9847165324 ISBN No:978-93-5093-028-1 e-mail : [email protected]

cm{Xn- a g t\mh¬

tPmkn hmK-a‰w

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kn.-sF.-kn.-kn.-_p-°v lukv {] v¢∫v tdmUv, Fd-Wm-Ipfw sIm®n ˛ 11, t^m¨ ˛ 0484˛2353557/9847165324 hne:

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kn.- s F.- k n.- k n.- b psS Cu h¿jsØ Nne t\mh- e p- I ƒ ss{Iw {Xn√- d p- I ƒ Irjv W - X p- f kn kp[m- I ¿ awK- t fm- Z bw Xqh¬sIm- ´ mcw Ia- e m- t Km- h nµv km¥- z \w tPmkn hmK- a ‰w \nem- Ø ncn Pn. Dj cm{Xn- a g tPmkn hmK- a ‰w th\¬hoSv kp[m- I ¿ awK- t fm- Z bw \o≠-Ic (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) sagp- t hen _m_pPn Hm¿thm¨ ]mekv (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) tPkn Pq\n-b¿ IS¬t∏mcv (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) sagp- t hen _m_pPn kv t \l- Z qXv tPmbv k n ka- b - X ocw kn.-hn. \n¿Ωe kz¿§- h m- X n¬ ]£n tPmkn hmK- a ‰w PSmbp (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) sI.- h n.- A - \ n¬ KmÃnen sUØv (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) _m‰¨ t_mkv HmIv k n- P ≥ (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) sI.- h n.- A - \ n¬ \n\- ° m- b v . .. Ia- e m- t Km- h nµv AYo\ Ia- e m- t Km- h nµv Ggn¬ sNm∆ tkmaP \ºq- X ncn XemJv kp[m- I ¿ awK- t fm- Z bw ssIX- h - c - º nse \nemhv Pn. Dj ]qa©w kp[m- I ¿ awK- t fm- Z bw IqS- ∏ n- d ∏v tkmaP \ºq- X ncn ]n∂n¬ Hcmƒ (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) sI.hn. A\n¬ ssh‰v ln¬ (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) sagp- t hen _m_pPn ap√- s ∏- c n- b m¿ (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) sagp- t hen _m_pPn Nph- ∏ p- I q- S m- c - ß ƒ kp[m- I ¿ awK- t fm- Z bw {Zmhn- U ≥ tPmkn- h m- K - a ‰w Ce- s ]m- g nbpw inincw tPmbv k n Xcw- K nWn tPmknhmK- a ‰w ]mcn- P mXw sI.- s I.- k p- [ m- I - c ≥ Ah- k m- \ - Z n- h kw tPmbv k n au≠≥anÃv tPmkn- h m- K - a ‰w Kcp- U - ] - © an (am- { ¥n- I w) G‰p- a m- \ q¿ inh- I p- a m¿ hew- ] n- c n- i wJv (am- { ¥n- I w) G‰p- a m- \ q¿ inh- I p- a m¿ Un.- F ≥.- F . (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) sI.- h n. A\n¬ IY CXp- h sc tPmbv k n FIv k v t πmUv (ss{Iw {Xn√¿) F≥.- s I. iin- [ - c ≥ Akp- c - P ∑w (am- { ¥n- I w) G‰p- a m- \ q¿ inh- I p- a m¿ Im¿ØnI tPmbv k n th\¬∏- d - h - I ƒ tPmbv k n temdn- s Ø- c phv tPmkn hmK- a ‰w temdn- ° m- c ≥ t\m_nƒ tPmkn hmK- a ‰w Bdm- ´ p- I - S hv (am- { ¥n- I w) G‰p- a m- \ q¿ inh- I p- a m¿

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am\Øv ag-°m¿ Dcp-≠p-Iq-Sn. Im¿ap-In¬∏-Ssb ]e ASp-°p-If - mbn AWn-\n-cØ - n-s°m≠v ]Sn™m-dp-\n∂pw Im‰m-™p-ho-in. Xpem-h¿j-t°m-fm-Wv. ag DSs\ D≠m-tb-°pw. BIm-iØv Ahn-S-hnsS CSn-an-∂-ep-Iƒ. CS-bv°nsS henb CSn-ap-g-°-߃. XnSp-°-Øn¬ Idn-°-c-®p-sIm-≠n-cn-°p-I-bm-bn-cp∂ doØmΩ aIsf hnfn-®p. ""tamtf skeo...'' adp-]Sn In´m™v Ah¿°-cniw h∂p. Iptd-°qSn Dds° hnfn-®p: ""FSo skeo-\m...'' ""F∂m AΩ-®o...?'' apdn-°-I-Øn-cp∂v amkn-I-bnse XpS¿°Y hmbn-°p-I-bm-bncp∂ sken≥ XnÆ-bn-te-bv°n-d-ßn-h-∂p. hmb-\-bpsS ck-®-c-Sp-s]m-´n-®-Xn-ep≈ \ockw apJ-Øv. ""\o Fs¥-Sp-°p-hmSo Ahn-sS?'' ""hmbn-°p-hm-cp-∂p.'' ""ag hcp∂ I≠n-t√...? an‰Øp sIS-°p∂ hnd-sIms° s]dp°n ASp-°-tf-tem-´n-Sv...'' sken≥ A\p-k-cn-®p. k‘-y-bm-bn-´pw ag s]bvXn-√. At∏m-gpw ag-bv°p≈ Hcp-°-߃ am\Øv XIr-Xn-bmbn \S°p-∂p-≠m-bn-cp-∂p. ""I¿Ømth t]amcn s]øm-\p≈ Hcp-°-am... Fs¥mcp CSow an∂-epw. tamtf skeo... apdn-°-I-tØm´p tIdn-t∏m-sc. CSn-an∂-ep-≈-t∏m Igp-Øn¬ kz¿Æ-s®-bn-\n-t´m≠v shfo-se-d-ßcp-sX∂p ]d-™n-´n-t√?'' doØmΩ aIsf iIm-cn-®p. sken≥ apdn-°-I-tØbv°p Ib-dn. c≠p-t]cpw IqSn P\epw hmXn-ep-sa√mw AS-®p. cm{Xn-bm-b-tXmsS ag XI¿Ø-Sn®p s]øm≥ XpS-ßn.

8

cm{Xn- a g

Xp≈n-s°m-cp-Ip-S-sa∂ IWs° s]øp∂ t]am-cn. AI-º-Sn°v sImSp-¶m-‰v. sNIn-Sp-s]m-´n-°p∂ CSn-ap-g-°-߃! ""Cu s]cp-a-tgØv A∏-®-s\-ßs\ hcptam Bthm?'' sken≥ hym-Ip-e-s∏-´p. ""t\cm... AXn-bm-\n∂v sImtSw hSo-sam∂pw sIm≠p-t]mbn-´n-√.'' doØmΩ ]d-™p. ""kn_n-®m-bt\w ImWp-∂n-√-t√m?'' sken\v DXv°-WvT-bm-bn. agbv°p ]nt∂bpw i‡n IqSn-°qSn h∂p. Ip∂n≥ap-I-fnse ]\-a-c-Øn\v CSn-sh-´n. d_¿ ac-߃ Im‰Øv IS-]p-gIn hoWp. hr£-inJc-߃ hgn-h-°p-I-fn¬ HSn-™p-ho-Wp-In-S-∂p. Im\-If - nepw ssItØm-Sp-If - nepw Ie-°s - h≈w Iqew IpØnsbm-gp-In. ag-b-ØmWv Zm\n-tb¬ h∂-Xv. IpS-bp-≠m-bn-cp-∂n´pw A-bm-fmsI \\-™n-cp-∂p. ""tamtf skeo...'' ap‰-Øp-\n∂p hnfn-tI´ DSs\ doØmΩ hmXn¬ Xpd-∂p. Zm\n-tb¬ IpS aS°n sIm®p-Xn-Æ-bn¬ Nmcn-h-®p. ""Fs¥mcp apSn™ ag. IS-°m-c≥ A∏q-∏‚-Sp-Øq∂v IpS hmbv] taSn®p t]m∂p. F∂n´pw tase√mw \\-™p.'' Zm\n-tb¬ XnÆ-bn¬ Ib-dn. sken≥ tXm¿sØ-Sp-Øp-sIm-≠p-h-∂p. ""A∏®m Xe tXm¿Øv. sh≈w Xmgv∂m¬ ]\n-]n-Sn-°pw.'' Abmƒ tXm¿Øp-ta-Sn®v Xe-Xp-h¿Øn. Xe-bn¬ ]mXnbpw Ij-≠n-bpsS ssIh-i-Øn-em-Wv. apSn-bp≈ `mK-am-sW-¶n¬ C∏-gsØ h\w-t]m-se-bpw. AhnS-hnsS Hmtcm- ap-Sn-\m-cv. Zm\n-tb¬ j¿´-gn-®p. doØmΩ AXp ]ngn™v Ag-bn-en-´p. sken≥ Ae°n aS-°n-h-®n-cp∂ ssIen FSpØp sIm≠ph∂p sImSp-Øp. ""kn_n-®≥ CXp-hsc h∂n-t√?'' Zm\n-tb¬ tNmZn-®p. ""Hm... Ah≥ hc-tW¬ ]mXn-cm-{Xn-bmIpw. I≈pw IpSn®p No´pw Ifn®p \S-°p-h-t√?'' ""CXp-t]mse CSow an∂epw Im‰pw ag-bp-sam-s°-bp-≈t- ∏mƒ Ah\v t\csØ ho´n¬ h∂p-Iq-sS... shdpsX ho´n-en-cn-°p-∂hsc Xo Xo‰n-°m≥...'' Zm\n-tb¬ Bfl-K-X-ambn ]d™p. Zm\n-tb-en-t‚bpw doØm-Ω-bp-sSbpw aqØ k¥-Xn-bmWv kn_n-®≥.

cm{Xn- a g

9

BsI c≠p-a-°-tf-bp-≈q. kn_n-®\pw sken-\pw. Zm\n-tb¬ hmf-ßm\w A©p-I≠w dq´n-tem-Sp∂ "sI∂Un' _ nse ss{Uh-dm-Wv. B dq´v \jvS-am-sW∂pw ]d™v _ p-Sa At¥mWn apXemfn AXp-\n¿Øm≥ Btem-Nn-®p-sIm-≠n-cn-°-bm-Wv. ss{Uh¿ tPmen-bn¬\n-∂p≈ hcp-am-\w-sIm-≠mWv Zm\ntb-ens‚ IpSpw_w Ign-™p-t]m-Ip-∂-Xv. tPmen-bn-√m-Xm-bm¬ sX≠n-b-Xp-X-s∂. ImcWw Xma-kn-°p∂ hoSpw ]Xn-\-©p-sk‚p ÿe-hp-a√msX Zm\n-tb-en\v `qk-z-sØm-∂p-an-√. BsI-bp≈ kºm-Z-y-amWv hoSpw ÿe-hpw. AXp-Xs∂ Ct∏mƒ ]W-b-Øn-ep-am-Wv. Zm\n-tb-en\v hb p \mev]-Øn-b-©m-bn. ss{Uh-dmbn tPmen sNøm≥ XpS-ßn-bn´v Ccp-]-Xp-h¿jw Ign-™p. F∂n´pw Imc-y-am-sbm∂pw kºm-Zn-°m-s\m-Øn-√. aIs\ ]Tn-∏n®v Fw.-F. _ncp-Z-[m-cn-bm-°n. aIƒ tImtf-Pn¬ ]Tn-®p-sIm-≠n-cn-°p-∂p. Ah¿°p-th-≠n-bmWv Abmfpw doØm-Ωbpw Pohn-°p-∂Xv. Ah-cn-emWv apgp-h≥ {]Xo-£-bpw. kn_n-®s\ ]Tn-∏n®v Fw.-F.-°m-c-\m-°m≥ Hcp-]mSp ]Ww sNe-hm-bn. doØm-Ω-bm-sW-¶n¬ Bip-]-{Xn-bn¬\n-∂n-d-ßp∂ t\c-an√. Ft∏mgpw Fs¥-¶nepw kpJ-t°-Sp-I-fp-≠m-bn-s°m-≠n-cn-°pw. X∑qew hfsc Acn-jvSn-®mWv B IpSpw_w aptºm-´p-s]mbvs°m-≠n-cn-°p-∂-Xv. ag sXs√m∂v AS-ßn. Ipcn-ip-hc - ®p IpSpw-_{- ]m¿∞\ sNm√n-bt- ijw Ah-sc√mw AØm-g-Øn-\n-cp-∂p. I™nbpw sNΩo≥ NΩ-¥n-bp-ap-≠v. sNΩo≥ NΩ¥n Zm\n-tb-en\v hf-sc-bn-jvS-am-Wv. ]®-°∏ ]pgp-ßn-b-Xp-ap-≠m-bn-cp-∂p. ]ns∂ D®-bv°sØ aØn-°-dn-bpsS _m°n-bn-cp-∂-Xpw. I™n-Ip-Sn-®p-sIm-≠n-cp-∂-t∏mƒ Zm\n-tb¬ ]d-™p: ""Ah-\n-ßs\ \S-∂m¬ Xmt¥m-∂n-bm-bn-t∏m-Ip-a-t√m?'' ""Bcm kn_n-®-\-t√?'' ""AsX. kn_n-®s‚ Imc-yw-X-s∂.'' ""\nß-sfm∂v hnfn®v kvt\l-am-bn´v D]-tZ-in-°v. Ah≥ anSp°-\m... tPmen-bn-√m-tØs‚ \ntj-[am ImWn-°p-∂Xp apgph≥. Ct{Xw {]mb-am-bn-´pw, Fw.-F.-°m-c-\m-bn-´pw A∏≥ _p≤n-

10

cm{Xn- a g

ap´n kºm-Zn-°p-∂-Xp-sIm-≠p-th-W-at√m Pohn-°m≥ F∂p hnNm-cn-®n-´p≈ Ipd-®nem Ah-\v. \nß-fm-tcm-sS-¶nepw ]d™v Ah-s\mcp tPmen taSn-®p-sIm-Sp-°v.'' ""Rm≥ {ian-°m-™n-´m-tWm-So... C∂-sØ-°m-eØv FhnsS In´m\m tPmen? ]Xn-\m-bnc-°-W-°n\p cq]m tImg sImSp-°t≠... AXn\p \Ω-s°-hn-Sp∂m Imiv...?'' ""tPmen-bn-√m≠p \S-∂m¬ Ah≥ h√msX NoØ-bm-Ipw.'' ""tPmen In´p-sa-So... \o t\m°n-t°m.. Ah-s\mcp sdbn-©m∏o-k-dm-Ipw. cq]m-sb-{Xbm iº-fw.'' ""iIew I™n-IqSn CS-s´?'' ""th≠. aXn.'' Abmƒ tπs‰-SpØv I™n-sh≈w samØn-°p-Sn-®p. kn_n h∂-t∏mƒ cm{Xn ]Øp-aWn Ign-™p. ag \ne-®ncp∂p. acw s]øp-∂p-≠v. Im‰-Sn-°p-tºmƒ ac-ßfn¬\n∂pw sh≈-Øp-≈n-Iƒ s]mSp∂s\ hogp-∂p. BIm-iØv Aßnßv CSn-an-∂-ep-Iƒ. tXm´n-eqsS ae-sh≈w Cc-®p-]m-bp∂ H®. CS-bv°nsS i‡n-Ip-d™ CSn-ap-g-°-߃. ""Fhn-Sm-cp-s∂Sm Ct{Xw t\cw?'' kn_n h∂-bp-Ss\ Zm\n-tb¬ tNmZn-®p. ""Rm\m Ih-te-sem-≠m-cp-∂p.'' Ah≥ Iqk-en-√msX ]d™p. ""\osb∂pw ]mXn- c m- { Xn- b m- I p- t ºmtg ho´n¬ hcsØm t≈m...? k‘-ybv°p apºp-h-∂m-se-¥m?'' ""t\csØ h∂n´v F∂m sNøm-\m?'' kn_n Aa¿j-tØmsS tNmZn®p ""NpΩm Ih-e-sX≠n \S°p∂-Xn-t\-°mƒ t`Z-a-t√Sm Aht\ms‚ ho´n-en-cn-°p-∂-Xv?'' ""ho´n-en-cp∂p aSp-Øp. h√n-SØpw d_-dp-sh-´m-t\m, Iqen-∏Wnt°m t]mIm- s a- ∂ p- h - ® m¬ A∏- ® ≥ kΩ- X n- t °- e m... At∂cw A¥- p-Ip-d-hv.'' ""Iqen-∏-Wn°p t]mIm-\√ \ns∂ FtΩ-hsc ]Tn-∏n-®-Xv.'' ""F∂m¬ If-IvSdp ]Wn taSn-®p-Xm... F¥m Xcm-Ø-Xv? Rms\{X Ime-am-bn´v tPmen-bn-√msX Cßs\ sX≠n-\-S-°p∂p?'' ""\ns∂-t∏mse sXmgn-en-√mØ HØncnt∏cp-≠v. Ah-sc√mw I≈pw IpSn®v No´pw Ifn®v N¥-s\-c-ßp-hmtWm sNøp-s∂?'' ""F\n°p aSp-Øp... Cu X≠pw XSow ht®m≠v Hcp ]Wow sNømsX A∏t‚w AtΩtSw sNe-hn¬ Ign-bm≥ hø. Rm≥

cm{Xn- a g

11

\mSp-hn´v Ftßm-s´-¶nepw t]mIm≥ Xocp-am-\n-®n-cn-°p-hm... Fs∂-s°m-≠p≈ ieyw Xocp-a-t√m.'' ""s]mbvt°m... Bcp-]-d™p t]mI-≠m-∂v... \ns∂-sbms° hf¿Øn ]Tn-∏n®-Xns‚ hnti-jw. Fs‚ IsÆm-∂-S-b-s´. \osbms° ]Tn-t®m-fpw.'' Zm\n-tb¬ hnj-a-tØm-sS-bmWp ]d-™-Xv. ""F∂Xm a\p- j - y s\ C∏- d - b p- ∂ - X v ? NpΩm th≠m- Ø sXm∂pw ]d-b≠ tIt´m... hm kn_n-®m... h∂p I™n-Ip-Sn®n´v InS-°v.'' ""F\n°p th≠m.'' kn_n ]nW-ßn-bm-Wv. ""h∂p h√Xpw Ign-t®®p t]mbn-°n-S-s°Sm...'' ""ths≠∂p ]d-™n-t√...'' kn_n Ahs‚ I´n-en¬ sN∂p-In-S-∂p. HSp-hn¬ Zm\n-tb¬ Fgp-t∂-‰p-sN-∂p. ""h∂v AØmgw Ign-®n´p InS-°v...'' Abmƒ Ahs‚ ssIbn¬ ]nSn®v Fgp-t∂-ev]n-®p. Ah≥ A\p- k - c - W - b p≈ Ip´n- s b- t ∏mse ASp- ° - f - b ntebv°p t]m∂p. doØmΩ I™n hnf-ºn-s°m-Sp-Øp. ""FSm... tamt\...'' Zm\n-tb¬ hnfn-®p. ""Cu IpSpw-_-Øns‚ \s´-√m-tI-≠-h\m \o. \ns‚ \∑bv°p-th-≠nbm ]d-bp-s∂. Hcp tPmen In´p-∂-Xp-hsc \o £an°v.'' ""Rm≥ d_¿ Sm∏nw-Kn\p s]mbvt°m-fmw.'' ""\ns∂ Ct{Xw ]Tn-∏n-®n´v Iqen-∏-Wn°p hn´m¬ F\n°p \mW-t°Sm tamt\...'' ""tPmen sNøp-∂X - n¬ Hcp \mW-t°-Sp-an-√. F√m tPmen°pw A¥- p-≠v. Ct{Xw {]mb-am-bn´pw Blmcw Ign-°-tW¬ A∏®≥ IjvS-s∏´p ]Wn-sb-Sp-Øn-´p-th-W-a-t√m∂v Hm¿°pºw henb hnj- a am F\n- ° v . .. F\n- s °m∂p klm- b n- ° m≥ t]mepw...'' ""kmc-an-√-Sm... Hs° icn-bm-hpw.'' Zm\n-tb¬ A`n-am-\-tØmsS Ahs‚ inc- n¬ Xtem-Sn. kn_n im¥-\m-bn-cp∂v AØmgw Ign-®p. ]ns∂ Fgp-t∂‰p-h∂v InS-∂p. Xma-kn-bmsX Dd-°-am-bn. ASpØ {]`m-Xw. Xte-Zn-hkw ag s]bvX-Xn-\m¬ \√ Ipfn-cv. Zm\n-tb¬ cmhnse Fgp-t∂-‰p. F´p-a-Wn°v h≠n Ãm‚p-hn-tS-≠-Xm-Wv. s]s´-∂-bmƒ Ipfn-s®m-cp-ßn.

12

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doØmΩ ]p´pw IS-e°dn-bpw D≠m-°n-s°m-Sp-Øp. AX-bmƒ s]s´∂p Ign-®n´v t]mIm-s\m-cp-ßn. ap‰-tØ-bv°n-d-ßn-b-t∏mƒ sken≥ hnfn-®p. ""A∏-®m...'' Zm\n-tb¬ Xncn-™p. ""F¥hm tamtf...?'' ""C∂se ]d-™Xp ad-°t√.. kmcn.'' ""Rm≥ ad-°p-thm.. sIm≈mw. Fs‚ tamƒ°n∂p kmcnbpw hmßn-®p-sImt≠ Rm≥ hcq.'' Zm\n-tb-en\v C∂p iºfw In´pw. sken≥ Pohn-X-Øn-en-Xp-hsc kmcn-bp-Sp-Øn-´n-√. kmcn-bp-Sp-°m≥ henb sImXn-bm-W-hƒ°v. Ah-fpsS {]mb-Øn-ep≈ s]¨Ip-´n-Iƒ ]ecpw kmcn-bpSpØv tImtf-Pn¬ hcm-dp-≠v. ]t£ Ahƒ°p am{Xw lm^v kmcn. hfsc \mfp-I-fmbn Ahƒ Zm\n-tb-en-t\mSp ]d-bp-∂-XmWv Hcp kmcn hmßn-s°mSp-°m≥. C∂v hmßn-s°m-Sp-°m-sa-t∂-‰n-cn-°-bmWv Abmƒ. sken\v kt¥m-jw-sIm≠v Xp≈n-®m-S-Wsa∂p tXm∂n. XnÆ-bn-te-bv°n-d-ßn-h∂ kn_n-tbmSv A-hƒ sIm©n-∏-d™p: ""A∏≥ Cs∂-\n°v kmcn hmßn-t®m-≠p-h-cq-t√m...'' ""s\K-fn-°msX s]tÆ... s\e-Øp-\n-ev°v.'' Ah-\-hsf imkn-®p. kmcn-bp-Sp-°m\pw am{Xw Ahƒ hf¿∂n-cn-°p-∂p. ]Xn-s\´p-h-b- p≠v A-hƒ°v. anSp-°n. NpW-°p-´n. tImtf-Pn¬ Ah-tf-°mƒ kpµ-cn-Iƒ thsd-bn-√. \√ apJ-{io. ImWp-∂-h¿ ho≠pw ho≠pw t\m°n-t∏m-Ipw. `wKn-bp≈ IÆp-Iƒ. a[p-c-\m-c-ß-b-√n-t]m-ep≈ Np≠n-W-Iƒ. c‡w sXms´-Sp-°m-hp∂ Ihn-fn-W-Iƒ. IS-s™-Sp-Ø-t]m-se-bp≈ Ah-b-h-`w-Kn. aIsf ImWp-tºmƒ doØm-Ωbv°v D≈n¬ Xobm-Wv. ]®-°-cn-ºp-t]m-esØ s]Æv. ct≠m aqt∂m sIm√w Ign-™m¬ sI´n-®p-hn-S-Ww. F∂mte a\- -am-[m-\-ap-≠m-hq. doØmΩ Hm¿Øp. * * *

cm{Xn- a g

13

emÃv {Sn∏m-Wv. s]m≥Ip-∂Øv _kv Ãm‚n¬ Zm\n-tb¬ _kv \n¿Ønbn´p. Im∏n-Ip-Sn-°m≥ ka-b-ap≠v. Zm\n-tb¬ Nmb-°-S-bn¬ Ibdn Hcp Nmb IpSn-®p. I≠-IvSdpw ¢o\dpw s]mtdm´ Xn∂m-\n-cp-∂p. ""Rm\n∏w hcmw.'' Zm\n-tb¬ Cd-ßn. sXmSn-bn¬ kn¬°v lukn¬ Ibdn A-bmƒ sken\p kmcnbpw kn_n-®\v j¿´pw doØm-Ωbv°v ssIenbpw a‰pw hmßn. F√mw ]Øp-an-\n-‰p-sIm≠v Ign™p D®- b v ° p- a ptº Abmƒ°v _kv Iº- \ n- b psS B^okn¬\n∂pw iºfw In´n-bn-cp-∂p. Ah-km-\sØ {Sn∏v Ahn-sS-sb-Øp-tºmƒ cm{Xn-bm-Ipw. AXp-sIm-≠mWv D®-bv°p-aptº iºfw hmßn-b-Xv. sken-\p≈ kmcnbpw a‰v XpWn-Ø-c-ßfpw hmßn-s°m≠v Zm\n-tb¬ _ n¬ Xncn-s®-Øn. XpWn-Ø-c-߃ ss{Uh-dpsS ko‰n\p Io-gn¬ sh®p. _kv s]m≥Ip∂w Ãm‚n¬ \n∂pw bm{X XpS¿∂p. sshIp-t∂-c-tØmsS ag tImcn-s®m-cn-™p-Xp-S-ßn. BImiw ag-°m¿aqSn Idp-Øp. ImX-S-∏n-°p∂ CSn-ap-g-°-ßfpw an∂-sem-fn-Ifpw. Nodn-b-Sn-°p∂ Im‰v. tdmUn¬ ]e-bn-SØpw ac-®n-√-Iƒ HSn-™p-In-S-∂p. k‘-y-bmb {]Xo-Xn. sse‰n-´p-sIm-≠mWv hml-\-߃ HmSp-∂-Xv. Zm\n-tb¬ Hcp hfhv Xncn-bp-I-bm-bn-cp-∂p. Cd-°-am-Wv. kv]oUv IqSn-bt∏mƒ Zm\n-tb¬ t{_°v Nhp-´n. Zm\n-tb-ens‚ Ds≈m-∂p Imfn. t{_°v In´p-∂n-√. c≠p-aq∂v XhW s]U¬ ]ºv sNbvXv t{_°v Nhp-´n. C√. c£-bn-√. tdmUn\p hoXn-Ip-d-hm-Wv. sSe-t^m¨ tI_n-fn-Sm≥ Hcp-hiw Ipgn®v aÆp-tIm-cn-bn-´ncn-°-bm-Wv. Zm\n-tb¬ Knb¿ Uu¨ sNøm≥ {ian-®p. Knb¿ hogp-∂n-√. Cd-°-Øn¬ IpØs\ ]m™p-sIm-≠n-cn-°p∂ _kv. I≠-IvSsd hnfn®v Zm\n-tb¬ ]d-™p. ""h≠otS t{_°v t]mbn. F√m-hcpw ]nSn-®n-cp-t∂m-fm-ºd.''

14

cm{Xn- a g

I≠-IvS¿ Bfp-I-tfmSv ]d-™p: ""h≠osS t{_°v t]mbn. F√m-hcpw Iºn-tbepw kot‰epw apdpsI ]nSn-t®m-Ww.'' _ n¬ Iq´-°-c-®n-em-bn. ""t{_°p-t]m-tb.. h≠osS t{_°p-t]m-tb....'' Btcm \ne-hn-fn-®p. ho≠pw Hcp hf-hv. IpØn-Øn-cn-™p≈ hf-hv. Zm\n-tb¬ Ãnb-dnwKv B™p-Xn-cn-®p. FXntc XSn-temUpw Ib‰n Hcp temdn. IÆ-S®p Xpd-°p∂ \nan-jw-sIm≠v F√mw Ign-™p. ame-∏-S°w s]m´p-∂-t]mse `b-¶-c-amb i_vZw. Bfp-I-fpsS Iq´-\n-e-hn-fn. No‰p∂ c‡hpw NnX-dp∂ amwk-Øp-≠-Ifpw. Ccp-ºp-Iq-Sm-c-Øns‚ XIn-Sp-Iƒ°n-S-bn¬ sRcn-™-a-cp∂ a\p-j-y-Po-hn-X-߃!

c≠v A]-I-S-hm¿Ø-b-dn™v \m´p-Im¿ HmSn-°q-Sn. ag At∏mgpw XI¿Ø-Sn-®p-s]-bvXp. _ n-\p-≈n¬\n∂v ]cn-t°-‰-h-cpsS {]mW-]-cm-{I-a-tØm-sSbp≈ \ne-hnfn At∏mgpw XpS¿∂p-sIm-≠n-cp-∂p. temdn-bn-ep-≠m-bn-cp-∂-h¿°pw Kpcp-X-c-amb ]cn-°p-I-tf-‰ncp-∂p. _ ns‚ ap≥hiw CSn-®p-X-I¿Øv temdn _ n-\p-≈ntebv°v Ibdn \n¬°p-∂p. _ ns‚ ap≥`mKw ]mtS sRcn™p XI¿∂p-t]m-bn. HmSn-°q-Snb Bfp-Iƒ Ccp-ºp-X-In-Sp-Iƒ sh´n-s∏m-fn®v ]cnt°‰ bm{X-°msc ]pd-sØ-Sp-Øp. AXp-hgn h∂ hml-\-ß-fn¬I-b‰n Ahsc Bip-]-{Xn-bntebv°p sIm≠p-t]m-bn. kao-]-ÿ-e-ß-fn¬ Xma-kn-°p-∂-h-cpsS kz-Im-c-y-hm-l-\ßfpw AXn-\mbn D]-tbm-Kn-°-s∏-´p. Nne ZpjvS∑ - m¿ \jvSt- am¿Øv kz¥w h≠n hn´p-sIm-Sp-°m≥ Xøm-dm-bn-√. c£m-{]-h¿Ø-\-߃°n-S-bn¬ Hcp kv{XobpsS kz¿Æ-ame tamjvSn-°m≥ {ian® Hcmsf a‰p-≈-h¿ ]nSn-IqSn X√n. ""Ahs\ shdpsX hnS- c p- X v . t]meo- k n- t e- e v ] n- ° - W w. s]cbv°v Xo IØpºw hmtgw hmg-°ptew IqSn sh´p-∂-h\m Ah≥...'' Hcmƒ ]d-™p.

cm{Xn- a g

15

Bfp-Iƒ tamjvSm-hns\ ]nSn-®p-sI-´n-bn-´-Sn-®p. Btcm t^m¨ sNbvX-X-\p-k-cn®v Iptd-°-gn-™-t∏mƒ t]meokpw ^-b¿t^mgvkpw ]ms™-Øn. Ahcpw c£m-{]-h¿Ø-\-ß-fn¬ apgp-In. ag Aev]-sam∂p ian-®p. ]cn-k-c-sØ-ºmSpw tNmc-bp-sSbpw amwk-Øn-s‚bpw cq£K-‘w. Zm\n-tb¬ hf-s™m-Sn™ Ãnb-dnw-Kn\p-aosX Iangv∂p c‡Øn¬ Ipfn®p InS-∏p-≠m-bn-cp-∂p. Abmƒ sken-\p-th≠n BZ-y-ambn hmßn® kmcnbpw doØm-Ω-bv°pw kn_n-®\pw th≠n hmßn® Pufn-Ø-c-ßfpw ko‰n-\-Sn-bn¬ c‡-Øn¬ IpXn¿∂p-In-S-∂p. * * * doØmΩ BSn\v πmhne C´p-sIm-Sp-°p-I-bm-bn-cp-∂p. At∏mƒ Ab¬]-°Ø - p-Im-c\ - mb sIm®p-]p-cb - v°¬ h¿°n®≥ HmSn-°n-X-®p-h-∂p. ""tNS-Øo.. tNS-Øo...'' Abmƒ hnb¿∏n¬ Ipfn®v InX-t∏msS hnfn-®p. ""F¥m h¿°n-®m?'' doØm-Ωbv°v DXv°-WvT-bm-bn. ""tNS-Øo... hmf-ßm\w SuWo∂p Xncn-®p-h-cp-tºmƒ Zm\ntb¬ tN´≥ HmSn® sI∂Un _ v...'' ""_ v... F¥p-]‰n h¿°n-®m? H∂p-s]-s´∂p ]d-bv...?'' doØm-Ω ]c-th-i-tØmsS tNmZn-®p. ""_ v... Hcp temdo-am-bn´v Iq´nbnSn-®p...'' ""sls‚ I¿Øm-th... F∂n-´v?'' B kv{Xo s\©n¬ ssIh®p \ne-hn-fn-°p-tºmse tNmZn®p. Ah-cpsS apJw IS-em-kp-t]mse hnf-dn. ""Zm\n-tb-ep-tN-´s\ Bip-]-{Xo-tem´p sIm≠p-t]m-bn-´p-≠v. Kpcp-X-c-am-sW∂m tI´-Xv... HØn-cn-t∏cp acn-®p. kn_n-®≥ Bip-]-{Xo-tem´p t]mbn-´p-≠v.'' ""ssZh-ta... NXn-®-t√m...!'' doØm-Ω-bpsS IÆp-I-fn¬ Ccp-´p-I-b-dn. Ah¿ ap‰Øv t_m[w-sI-´p-ho-Wp. `b-∂p-t]mb h¿°n-®≥ doØm-Ωsb Xmßn-sb-SpØv XnÆbn¬ InS-Øn. Ipd®p XWpØ sh≈-sa-SpØv apJØp Xfn-®p. At∏m-tgbv°pw sken≥ tImtf-Pp-hn´p h∂p. doØm-Ω XnÆ-bn¬ t_m[-an-√msX InS-°p-∂Xp I≠v Ahƒ sR´n. ""AtΩ... AΩ-®o...'' Ahƒ ASp-Øp-sN∂p Ipep-°n-hn-fn-®p.

16

cm{Xn- a g

]t£ A\-°-an-√. ""Fs‚ AΩ-bvs°∂m ]‰n h¿°n-®m?'' ""Zm\n-tb-ep-tN-´≥ HmSn-°p∂ sI∂Un _ v Hcp temdo-ambn´p Iq´n-bn-Sn-®p. Rm\m hnhcw ChnsS h∂p ]d-™tX tNSØn t_m[w-sI´p hoWp.'' sken≥ \Sp-ßn. Ah-fpsS Iøn¬\n∂pw ]pkvX-I-ßfpw IpSbpw Du¿∂p Xmsg hoWp. * * * Pn√m Bip-]-{Xn-bnse AX-ym-ln-X-hn-`m-K-Øn\p apºn¬ henb Xn°pw Xnc-°pw. A]-I-S-Øn-\n-c-bm-b-h-cpsS _‘p-°-fmWv F√mw. Nne¿ AS-°n-∏n-Sn®v Ic-bp-∂p. Nne¿ IÆp-Xp-S-bv°p-∂p. tXßp-∂p. Ah-cpsS {]nb-s∏-´-h¿ Pohn-®n-cn-∏pt≠m Ds≠-¶n¬Øs∂ Kpcp-X-cm-h-ÿ-bn-emtWm Fs∂m∂pw Adn-™p-Iq-Sm. tUmIvS¿am¿ [rXn-bn¬ AX-ym-ln-X-hm¿Un-tebv°v hcnIbpw t]mhp-Ibpw sNøp-∂p. IqsS acp-∂p-t{Sbpw ªUv t_m´nepw •qt°mkv t_m´n-epsam-s°-bmbn t\gvkp-am-cpw. A‰≥U¿am¿ kvs{S®-dn¬ ]cn-t°‰ Nnesc Hm∏-td-j≥ Xntb-‰-dn-tebv°p sIm≠p-t]m-Ip-∂p. sh≈-h-kv{Xw-sIm≠p aqSnb arX-tZ-l-߃ tam¿®-dn-bntebv°p \o°p-∂p. doØm-Ωbpw sken-\pw-IqSn Bip-]-{Xn-bn-se-Øn. c≠p-t]cpw Ic-bp-∂p-≠m-bn-cp-∂p. Zm\n-tb-en-s\-∏‰n Hcp-hn-h-c-hp-an-√. Pohn-®n-cn-∏pt≠m acn-t®m, Cu Bip-]-{Xn-bn¬Ø-s∂bmtWm {]th-in-∏n-°-s∏-´Xv Fs∂m∂pw Adn-™p-Iq-Sm. Btcm-SmWp tNmZn-°p-I. A]-I-S-sØ-°p-dn®v Bfp-Iƒ Ahn-S-hnsS Iq´w IqSn-\n∂v kwkm-cn-°p-∂p. ""Cd-°-an-dßn hcp-tºmƒ temdosS t{_°v t]mbn´v h∂nSn-®-Xm-sW∂m ]d-bp-s∂.'' Hcmƒ ]d-bp-∂p. ""ss{Uh-d-t∏mtg acn-s®∂m tI´-Xv.'' doØm-Ω-bpw sken\pw sR´n. ""temdosS ss{Uhtdm _ ns‚ ss{Uh-tdm?'' as‰-bmƒ tNmZn-°p-∂p. ""AX-dn-™p-Iq-Sm... c≠pw t]mbn-°m-Wp-a-t√m. A{X henb CSn-b-√m-bn-cp-t∂m!'' sken≥ kn_n-®s\ Ahn-sS-sb√mw t\m°n-bn´v I≠n-√.

cm{Xn- a g

17

kn_n-®-s\-hnsS t]mbn? A‰≥U¿am¿ kvs{S®-dn¬ Hmtcm arX-tZ-lhpw ]pd-tØbv°p sIm≠p-h-cp-tºmƒ {]nb-s∏-´-h-cpsS lrZ-b-t`-Z-I-amb Ic-®n¬ Db¿∂p. sI∂Un _ ns‚ ss{Uh¿°v F¥p-]-‰n-sb∂v sken≥ ]e-tcmSpw tNmZn-®p. Adn-™p-Iq-Sm... Adn-™p-IqSm F∂ adp-]Sn am{Xw. hnßn-s∏m-´p∂ skens\ Nne¿ kl-Xm-]-tØmsS t\m°n. HSp-hn¬ t\gvkn-t\mSp tNmZn-®p: ""_ ns‚ ss{Uh¿s°-¥p-]-‰n-sb-∂-dn-bm-tam?'' ""\nß-fmcm ss{Uh-dp-sS?'' ""aI-fm...'' ""Abmsf Hm-∏-td-j≥ Xntb-‰-dn-tebv°v sIm≠p-t]m-bn-cn°-bm...'' ""FhnsS Hm∏-td-j≥ Xntb-‰-dv?'' ""Ahn-sS-t∏m-Im-s\m-°p-tI-e.'' ""AI-Øp-tI-dp-∂n-√. ]pd-Øp-\n-t∂m-fmw.'' ""Zm.. Cu CS-\m-gn-bn-eqsS sN∂v he-tØm-´p-Xn-cn-b-Ww. Atß-b-‰-Øm...'' sken≥ AΩ-tbbpw Iq´n XnSp-°-Øn¬ Atßm-t´m-Sn. AhnsS sN∂-t∏mƒ Hm∏-td-j≥ Xntb-‰-dn\p apºn¬ kn_n®≥ IÆo-tcmsS \nev]p-≠v. hmXn¬ AS-™p-In-S-°p-∂p. kn_nsb I≠-tXmsS doØmΩ hmhn-´p-I-c-™p. sken\pw Ic-™p. ""kn_n-®m-bm... \ΩsS A∏-®≥...'' kn_n ssIen-ap-≠ns‚ Xpºp-b¿Øn IÆpw apJhpw XpS®p. AΩ-tbbpw s]ß-tfbpw Bi-z-kn-∏n-t°-≠Xv Ah-\m-Wv. s]s´∂v Hm∏-td-j≥ Xntb-‰-dns‚ hmXn¬ Xpd-°-s∏-´p. ssIte-kp-sIm≠v apJw XpS®v tUmIvS¿ ]pd-tØbv°p h∂p. ""ss{Uh¿ Zm\n-tb-ens‚ Bsc-¶n-ep-apt≠m C°q-´-Øn¬?'' Bƒ°q-´-Øn-tebv°p t\m°n tUmIvS¿ tNmZn-®p. ""Rß-fp-≠v.'' kn_n apt∂m´p Ib-dn-\n-∂p. ""\nß-fm-cm?'' ""Rm≥ aI-\m-Wv.'' ""Abmw tkmdn. Zm\n-tb¬ acn-®p. R߃ ]c-am-h[n {ian®p. ]t£ c£-s∏-Sp-Øm≥ Ign-™n-√.'' AXp tI´-]msS doØmΩ {]⁄-b‰p \new-]-Xn-®p.

Rs.190