qfqX$a.L$p¡d `f ApNm h^pfuA¡ R>uA¡ A¡L$ sØ_ _hsf A_¡ A_p¡Mp¡ âep¡N! S>¡dp„ blzdsu hpQL$p¡_u dfÆ dyS>b hpsp® ApNm h^u flu R>¡.

dpÓ `p„Q âL$fZ_u Ap lpõeL$\p_y„ `l¡gy„ âL$fZ g¡ML¡$ sd_¡ `|R¹>ep rh_p g¿ey„ lsy„. gNcN 80 V$L$p hpQL$p¡A¡ buÅ làsp_p A„s¡ ÓuÅ¡ rhL$ë` A¡V$g¡ L¡$ "Nd¡ s¡d L$fu_¡ `uku_u rdrkk_¡ gafpdp„ akphp¡'hpmp¡ rhL$ë` `k„v$ L$f¡gp¡. ÓuÅ âL$fZ_p A„s¡ blzdsu hpQL$p¡A¡ `l¡gp rhL$ë`_¡ A¡V$g¡ L¡$ X$u.L¡$._u A¡ â`p¡Tg `k„v$ L$fu, S>¡dp„ s¡ `u.ku._¡ L$l¡ R>¡, ""sy„ lh¡ d„Sy> v¡$kpC kp\¡ gafy„ L$f!''

sdpfu dfÆ\u Qpgsu hpsp®_p¡ ApS>¡ fS|> L$fuA¡ R>uA¡ `p„Qdp¡ A_¡ R>¡ëgp¡ làsp¡.

L$luA¡ sp¡ L$p¡_¡? (4)
L$luA¡ sp¡ L$p¡_¡? (3)
L$luA¡ sp¡ L$p¡_¡? (2)
L$luA¡ sp¡ L$p¡_¡? (1)

L$luA¡ sp¡ L$p¡_¡? (5)

`uku_u lpgs AÐe„s Mfpb lsu. s¡_u Ap„Mp¡ DÅNfp\u gpgQp¡m lsu, hpm rhMfpe¡gp lsp, NpÓp¡ rir\g lsp„ A_¡ s¡_y„ ApMy„ ifuf ^udy„ ^udy„ ^°|Æ füy„ lsy„.

X$u.L¡$._¡ Å¡sp„ S> `uku s¡_u R>psudp„ dp\y„ Mp¡ku_¡ ^°ykL¡$ ^°ykL¡$ fX$u `X$ép¡. ""X$u.L¡$., lz„ bfbpv$ \C Nep¡! dpfu rdrkk ApMu fps Of_u blpf lsu!''

X$u.L¡$. `Z `uku_u lpgs Å¡C_¡ lgbgu Nep¡. s¡_¡ \p¡X$u hpf fX$hp S> v$u^p¡. `R>u L$üy„, ""A„v$f Aph. Qp bp `uhu R>¡?''

`ukuA¡ X$p¡Ly„$ lgphu _pL$dp„\u v$v$X$sy„ `pZu g|R>sp„ lp `pX$u. X$u.L¡$.A¡ s¡_¡ X$pBt_N V¡$bg `pk¡ b¡kpX$ép¡ A_¡ kl¡S> KQp kpv¡$ b|d `pX$u, ""Af¡ kp„cmp¡? Ap `uku dpV¡$ A¡L$ L$` Qp gphÅ¡ _¡?''

""A¡ gphu...'' X$u.L¡$._u `Ð_u_p AhpS>dp„ `uku_¡ `p¡sp_u d„v$pqL$_u_p cZL$pfp k„cmpep. s¡Z¡ dp\y„ ^yZpìey„. L$p_dp„ Ap„NmuAp¡ Mp¡ku lQdQphu. lp\ hX¡$ dp\p `f_p hpm kfMp L$fhp_p¡ rham âepk L$ep£.

`Z Ap iy„? `uku Ap„Mp¡ Qp¡mhp gpÁep¡. kpd¡\u kpnps¹ d„v$pqL$_u Qp_p¡ L$` gC_¡ Aphu flu lsu! A¡ S> kpX$u, A¡ S> h¡Zu A_¡ A¡ S> rg`¹[õV$L$hpmy„ õdpBg! b¡ OX$u sp¡ `uku_¡ \ey„ L¡$ `p¡s¡ Ecp¡ \C_¡ `ukuL$pL$u_y„ NmQy„ v$pbu_¡ `|R>u _pM¡ L¡$, ""bp¡g? ¼ep„ cV$L$su lsu ApMu fps?''

`Z `ukuL$pL$u_y„ lky„lky„ \sy„ dp¢ A_¡ NfdpNfd Qp_u àepgu Å¡C_¡ `uku qv$Ád|Y$ \C Nep¡. e„Óhs¹ Qp_p¡ L$` lp\dp„ gu^p¡, fL$pbudp„ Qp f¡X$u A_¡ kbX$L$p¡ g¡hp Åe R>¡ Ðep„ d„v$pqL$_u `pR>p„ hþep„, kpX$u_p R>¡X$p_p¡ dygped õ`i® `uku_p Ql¡fp `f \ep¡. `uku\u _ fl¡hpey„. L$` bpSy>dp„ d|L$sp„_u kp\¡ R>¡X$p¡ `L$X$u gu^p¡ A_¡ bp¡gu EW$ép¡, ""d„v$p... b¡ rdr_V$ b¡k sp¡ Mfu?''

""Aëep iy„ L$f¡ R>¡?'' AQp_L$ X$u.L¡$._u b|d k„cmpC. fL$pbu lp\dp„\u R>V$L$u NC. NfdpNfd Qp_p R>p„V$p Qpf¡ sfa EX$ép. ""iu..i¹ iu..i¹'' L$fsp¡ `uku Myfiudp„\u Ecp¡ \C Nep¡.

""Mfp¡ R>¡ ëep sy„ sp¡?'' X$u.L¡$. `V¡$g bp¡ëep, ""L„$C cp_bp_ R>¡ L¡$ _l]? dpfp hpBa_p¡ R>¡X$p¡ i¡_p¡ `L$X¡$ R>¡?''

""Ap ¼ep„ spfu hpBa R>¡?'' `uku bp¡ëep¡, ""Ap sp¡ dpfu d„v$p-'' `uku AV$L$u Nep¡. s¡Z¡ Ap„Mp¡ Qp¡mu. afu Ap„Mp¡ Qp¡mu. v$v$X$sy„ _pL$ kpa L$ey¯. Nmpdp„ X|$dp¡ cfpep¡. A_¡ `ukuA¡ afu W|$W$hp¡ d|¼ep¡, ""epf X$u. L$¡... d_¡ DOpX$u Ap„M_p„ k`_p„ v¡$Mpe R>¡! lz„ Np„X$p¡ \C S>Ci!''

R>psudp„ dp¢ Mp¡ku_¡ fX$sp `uku_u V$pg D`f Apïhpk__p¡ lp\ a¡fìep rkhpe X$u.L¡$._¡ R|>V$L$p¡ _lp¡sp¡.

***

""dpfu `pk¡ A¡L$ ApBqX$ep R>¡.'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ `uku_p V¡$bg `f_u apBgp¡ Mk¡X$sp„ L$üy„, ""Ap`Z¡ spfu hpBa_p¡ `uR>p¡ L$fuA¡!''

""epf spfu `pk¡ Ap b^p ApBqX$ep Aph¡ R>¡ ¼ep„\u?'' `ukuA¡ `¡[Þkg\u fa-V$p¡V$g d|L$sp„ `|R¹>ey„.

""L¡$d? _\u Ndsp¡ ApBqX$ep?''

""A¡d _l], `Z dpfu hpBa_p¡ `uR>p¡ L$fhp dpV¡$ spf¡ Aphhp_u iu S>ê$f R>¡?''

""A¡V$gp dpV¡$-'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ `p¡sp_y„ L$`pm L|$V$sp„ L$ü„y, ""L$dk¡ L$d lz„ spfu hpBa_u `pR>m _\u `X$ép¡ A¡_u sp¡ s_¡ Mpsfu \pe?''

""lp. A¡ hps kpQu.'' `uku bp¡ëep¡, ""A¡L$ iL$d„v$_p _pd `f Qp¡L$X$u d|L$u iL$pe.''

X$u.L¡$.A¡ afu hpf L$`pm awV$éy„. ""Ap rlkpb¡ sp¡ s_¡ Qp_u gpfuhpmp V¡$rZep D`f `Z iL$ li¡, _l]?''

""A¡V$g¡...'' `ukuA¡ buSy>„ fa V$p¡V$g `¡[Þkg hX¡$ gMsp„ L$üy„, ""iL$ sp¡ Mfp¡. L$pfZ L¡$ ApS>L$pg rdrkk dpfp `Ndp„ bfpbf Ou _\u Oksp„ A¡V$g¡ A„^pfpdp„ bfpbf v¡$Mpsy„ _\u.''

X$u.L¡$._¡ d_dp„ \ey„, ""lh¡ sp¡ Ap_u Ap„Mp¡ EOX¡$ A¡ S> kpfy„.''

***

afu A¡hu S> A„^pfu fps. afu A¡ S> `ukuL$pL$u_p¡ iZNpf. afu A¡ S> b¡W$u v$X$u_p¡ V$prgep¡ `yfyj. A_¡ afu A¡ S> d„qv$f_u âv$rnZp. `ukuA¡ X$u.L¡$._¡ `|R¹>ey„, ""L¡$V$gp Ap„V$p \ep?''

""`p„Q, `Z A¡L$ rdr_V$.'' X$u.L¡$. AV$L$u Nep¡. ""Ap`Z¡ L¡$d Ap„V$p dpep® L$fuA¡ R>uA¡? v|$f Ecp flu_¡ Å¡ep L$fuA¡ sp¡ _ Qpg¡?''

""`p¡BÞV$ R>¡.'' `ukuA¡ L$üy„, ""`Z Ap`Z¡ Ap bpSy> lp¡CA¡ A_¡ `¡gp gp¡L$p¡ kps Ap„V$p `|fp L$ep® rh_p S> cpNu Åe sp¡?''

""`p¡BÞV$ R>¡.'' X$u.L$u.A¡ L$b|g L$ey¯.

Ap hMs¡ `uR>p¡ bfpbf \C füp¡ lsp¡. d„v$pqL$_u `¡gp V$prgep `yfyj_p„ `Ngp„ Qp„`su A¡L$ A„^pfu Ngudp„ hmu. A¡L$ buÆ Ngu, `R>u ÓuÆ Ngu, A¡d Qpëey„. R>¡hV¡$ A¡ gp¡L$p¡ S|>_p dL$p__p v$fhpS>¡ Aphu_¡ Ecp„. v$fhpÅ¡ M|ëep¡. Tp„Mp bëb_p âL$pidp„ b„_¡ R>pepAp¡ A„v$f S>su v¡$MpC. v$fhpÅ¡ b„^ \C Nep¡.

""lh¡ iy„?'' `ukuA¡ `|R¹>ey„.

""lz„ `Z A¡ S> `|Ry>„ Ry>„. lh¡ iy„?'' X$u.L¡$. d|„Tpep¡ lsp¡.

""d_¡ gpN¡ R>¡ Ap`Z¡ h¡BV$ L$fuA¡.'' `ukuA¡ L$üy„.

""A¡d? L¡$V$gu hpf?''

""A¡ gp¡L$p¡ `pR>p„ blpf Aph¡ Ðep„ ky^u.'' `uku Av$b hpmu_¡ Ecp¡ füp¡.

""kph N^¡X$p¡ R>¡ _¡?'' X$u. L¡$. AL$mpep¡, ""A„v$f spfu b¥fu `¡gp ÅqX$ep kp\¡-''

""A¡d _l].'' `ukuA¡ kdÅìey„, ""sy„ S>õV$ Bd¡S> L$f. Ap`Z¡ sp¡ kÄS>_ R>uA¡ `Z `¡gp¡ ÅqX$ep¡ sp¡ kÄS>_ _ lp¡e _¡?''

""_\u S>! A¡ ÅqX$ep¡ kÄS>_ _\u S>!'' X$u.L¡$. AL$mpep¡, ""A¡V$g¡ S> sp¡ spfu b¥fu_¡ cfdphu_¡-''

""A¡d _l].'' `ukuA¡ s¡_¡ AV$L$pìep¡. ""X$u.L¡$. sy„ S>õV$ Bd¡S> L$f-''

""iy„ Bd¡S> L$fy„?'' X$u.L¡$. AL$mpep¡.

""A¡ S> L¡$ Ap`Z¡ AQp_L$ A„v$f S>CA¡ A_¡ A¡ gp¡L$p¡- ""`ukuA¡ ApX$p„Ahmp„ hp¼ep¡ NbX$pìep„.'' duÞk L¡$- A¡d_u `p¡rTi_ A¡hu- duÞk L¡$- `¡gy„ L$l¡ R>¡ _¡ f„N¡ lp\- A¡hy„ \pe sp¡, Ap`Z¡ sp¡ kÄS>_ R>uA¡. A_¡ `¡gp ÅqX$ep_¡ iy„? l¢? A¡ sp¡ lgL$V$ R>¡. `Z Ap- rdrkk_¡ L¡$hy„ gpN¡? duÞk L¡$ Ap¡L$hX$® _ gpN¡?''

X$u.L¡$._y„ dp\y„ cdu Ney„. L¡$hu Ås_p¡ R>¡ Ap dpZk? khpf¡ dpfu R>psudp„ dp¢ Mp¡ku_¡ S>¡ `p¡sp_u ÷u dpV¡$ ^°ykL¡$ ^ykL¡$ fX$sp¡ lsp¡ A¡ S> dpZk AÐepf¡ L$p¡_¡ iy„ Ap¡L$hX$® gpN¡ s¡_u apgsy v$gugp¡ L$fu füp¡ lsp¡.

""`phgu R>¡ kpgp, sy„ rbgLy$g `phgu R>¡!'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ ^|„^hpV$ L$pY$ép¡.

""A¡hy„ _\u X$u.L¡$.'' `u.ku._p¡ AhpS> ^°|Æ Nep¡. ""`Z dpfp\u A¡ ×íe Å¡C _l] iL$pe.'' s¡_u Ap„Mp¡ R>gL$pC NC.

X$u.L¡$. Nd MpC Nep¡. `Z Ap kde fpl Å¡hp_p¡ _lp¡sp¡. `uku_y„ bphXy„$ Tpgu_¡ X$u.L¡$. ApNm ^õep¡. S>C_¡ Å¡f\u bpfÏ„ MMX$pìey„. A„v$f\u L$p¡C S>hpb _ Apìep¡ A¡V$g¡ X$püp \C_¡ `ukuA¡ bpfZp `f L$p_ Qp„`u Å¡ep. X$u.L¡$.A¡ afu hpf bpfÏ„ MMX$pìey„. `uku_p L$p_ `f QQfu. R>sp„ s¡ Apds¡d Å¡sp„ bp¡ëep¡, ""X$p¡fb¡g _\u?''

X$u.L¡$._¡ AX$^u v$pT sp¡ Myv$ `uku D`f QX$su lsu. b¡ lp\ hX¡$ Å¡fÅ¡f\u bpfÏ„ lQdQphu _p¿ey„. A„v$f\u `Nfh k„cmpep¡. sfs S> `uku A¡L$ X$Ngy„ Mku_¡ Ecp¡ füp¡ A_¡ rMõkpdp„\u L$p„kL$u L$pY$u dp\y„ Ap¡mhp dp„X$ép¡.

""Aëep d|L$_¡ spfu L$p„kL$u?'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ v$p„s L$QL$Qpìep. `Z `uku L$l¡, ""duÞk L¡$ A¡ dpZk kÄS>_ _ lp¡e. `Z Ap`Z¡ sp¡ -''

""A¡... e !'' S>ÁNyA¡ sfs S> fpd`yfu Qà`y kpd¡ ^fu v$u^y„. ""¼ep l¥? Bs_u fps L$p¡ ¼ep c„L$k L$f f¥gp l¥?''

""A¡ c„L$k_u dpku!'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ bp„ep¡ QX$phu, ""blz Å¡ep„ Aphp„ Qà`y! bphp b_hp_p¡ Y$p¢N L$fu_¡ b¥fp„Ap¡_¡ cfdph¡ R>¡?'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ Op„V$pOp„V$u L$fhp dp„X$u, ""Ofdp„ L$p¡_¡ gpìep¡ R>¡ bp¡g? A_¡ Al] iy„ ^tsN Qpgu füp„ R>¡?''

X$u.L¡$._p¡ Op„V$p¡ A¡V$gp¡ dp¡V$p¡ lsp¡ L¡$ S>ÁNy Ncfpep¡. cNhp¡ A„Qmp¡ ifuf `f\u aNphu_¡ QpLy$ lhpdp„ Oydpìey„. `Z X$u.L¡$. kpdp¡ \ep¡, ""Aph? dfv$_p¡ bÃQp¡ lp¡e sp¡ A¡L$ OkfL$p¡ sp¡ `pX$u bsph?''

A¡ S> nZ¡ `uku_¡ L$p¡Z ÅZ¡ iy„ k|Èey„ s¡ A¡L$ bpfÏ„ ^X$p^X$ DOpX$b„^ L$fu_¡ `R>pX$sp„ Qukp¡ `pX$hp gpÁep¡, ""`L$X$p¡...! `L$X$p¡...! `L$X$p¡...!'' aV$paV$ ApSy>bpSy>_p Ofdp„ gpBV$p¡ \hp gpNu. S>ÁNy_¡ lh¡ cpNu R|>V$hp rkhpe R|>V$L$p¡ S> _lp¡sp¡.

""cpcu ¼ep„ R>¡, ip¡^.'' X$u.L¡$. A¡¼i_dp„ Aphu Nep¡. A„v$f_p Ap¡fX$p MpguMd lsp. `uku gpL$X$p_p¡ v$pv$fp¡ QY$u Nep¡. D`f\u A¡_u Quk k„cmpC, ""d„v$p...! d„v$p..!'' X$u.L¡$. D`f ^ku Nep¡. S>C_¡ Å¡ey„ sp¡ `uku s¡_u hpBa_p Npg \`\`phu füp¡ lsp¡. `ukuL$pL$u ÅZ¡ KOdp„\u ÅÁep„ lp¡e s¡d Ap„Mp¡ Qp¡mu_¡ QL$mhL$m Å¡hp gpÁep„. `R>u cpf¡ kpv¡$ bp¡ëep„, ""Ýep¡_dp¢ c„N `X$pep¡ _?''

""Ýep_? i¡_y„ Ýep_?'' `uku fX$hp S>¡hp¡ \C Nep¡. ""sy„ KOsu lsu, Al] b¡Wu b¡W$u. A_¡ A¡V$gu hpfdp„ ApV$gu KO? \p¡X$u hpf `l¡gp„ sp¡ sy„ `¡gp bphp_u `pR>m `pR>m Qpgsu'su!''

""bphp¡ bphp¡ _p L$fp¡.'' `ukuL$pL$u bp¡ëep„. ""kp^y`yfyj R>. b^p¢_ Aphu L©$`p_p¡ `fkpv$ _l] Apgsp. cpNipmu_¡ S> Aphp kp^y`yfyj_p¡ c¡V$p¡ \pe.''

""^|m cpNipmu?'' `uku dp\¡ lp\ v$C_¡ EcX$L$ b¡ku S> `X$ép. ""dpfp„ sp¡ awV$u Nep„ X$u.L¡$...''

`uku_p¡ `p¡T rbgLy$g `p¡L$ d|L$hp_u s¥epfu_p¡ lsp¡. `Z X$u.L$¡.A¡ TX$` L$fu, ""ApSy>bpSy>_p gp¡L$p¡ Aphu `lp¡„Qi¡ `uku, b^p„_u kpd¡ spf¡ cpcu_u BÄS>s g¡hX$phhu R>¡? Qg, Ecp¡ \p!''

h^y lp¡lp \pe s¡ `l¡gp„ X$u.L¡$.A¡ `uku A_¡ `ukuL$pL$u_¡ Ngu_u blpf L$pY$ép„. S>fp d¡B_ fp¡X$ `f Apìep„ A¡V$g¡ `uku\u bp¡ëep rh_p _ fl¡hpey„, ""bp¡..gp¡, ApV$gp¡ ip¡V®$L$V$ lsp¡ R>sp„ Ap gp¡L$p¡ L¡$V$gy„ afu afu_¡ A„v$f Ne¡gp„?''

X$u.L¡$.A¡ afu hpf L$`pm L|$V$éy„.

***

`uku `pR>p Apd ipZp. A¡V$g¡ rdrkk_¡ `|R>¡ `Z _l] L¡$ sy„ fps_p ¼ep„ S>su lsu _¡ `¡gp¡ V$pghpmp¡ ÅqX$ep¡ L$p¡Z lsp¡? Å¡L¡$ `|R>hy„ lp¡e sp¡ `yR>pe, `Z `uku_¡ A¡d L¡$ _L$pdy„ `pRy>„ rdrkk_¡ Ap¡L$hX®$ gpN¡. A_¡ NfdpNfd awgL$p fp¡V$gu\u dp„X$u_¡ fps_p `N¡ Ou Okhp ky^u_y„ b^y„ ê$V$u_ bfp¡bf Qpgsy„ lp¡e sp¡ Ap`Z¡ qX$õV$b® iy„ L$pd L$fhy„? l¢?

`Z `uku_p¡ A¡L$ âp¡åg¡d `Z Mfp¡. A¡_u q`_ L$p¡C cmsu S S>ÁepA¡ Qp¢V$u Åe. rdrkk¡ A¡L$ qv$hk dgL$psp„ dgL$psp„ L$üy„ L¡$, ""L$D Ry>„, Ap `„v$f, kp¡m _¡ kÑf spfuM_u fÅ gC gp¡ _?''

""L¡$d?'' A¡d `|R¹>ey„ sp¡ kpX$u_p¡ R>¡X$p¡ dp\¡ g¡sp„ bp¡ëep„, ""ri¾¡$V$ R>!''

bþey„ spfy„ rk¾¡$V$, A¡d bbX$sp„ `ukuA¡ `|R¹>ey„, ""L¡$d, ¼ep„L$ S>hp_y„ R>¡?'' sp¡ _¡Z Y$mu Nep„, Npg¡ ifd_p i¡fX$p. ""¼ep¢e _\u S>hp_„y, ApMp¡ v$p'X$p¡ Ofdp¢ _ Ofdp¢ f¡'Å¡ _?'' ApV$gy„ L$l¡sp„ sp¡ v$p„sdp„ kpX$u_p¡ R>¡X$p¡ v$bphu fkp¡X$pdp„ cfpC Nep„.

bk, `uku_u q`_ Apdp„ Qp¢V$u NC. ""b^u ku.A¡g. Mgpk \C NC lp¡e Ðep„ L$`ps¡ `Npf¡ fÅ i¡_u g¡hp_u?''

buÅ qv$hk¡ `ukuA¡ X$u.L¡$. ApNm bmp`p¡ L$pY$ép¡, ""epf, rdrkk Mp¡V$p MQp® S> L$fph¡ R>¡ _¡? lh¡ L$l¡ R>¡ L¡$ L$`psp `Npf¡ ÓZ qv$hk_u fÅ gC_¡ Ofdp„ b¡kp¡.''

""sp¡ s_¡ hp„^p¡ iy„ R>¡?'' X$u.L¡$. bNX$ép¡. ""Ofdp„ S> b¡khp_y„ L$l¡ R>¡ _¡? A„bpÆ sp¡ _\u gC S>su _¡?''

A„bpÆ_y„ _pd `X$sp„_u kp\¡ S> `uku_¡ `¡gp `Qpk lÅf ê$r`ep_u QQfu. ""A¡ S> L$lz„ Ry>„ _¡? Apd¡e A¡ `Qpk lÅf sp¡ Nep Mps¡ S> _¡?''

X$u. L¡$. lh¡ bNX$ép¡, ""s¡ A¡ `Qpk lÅf spfu b¥fuA¡ s_¡ MfQhp L$u^¡gy„? A¡ sp¡ sy„ `¡gu d„Sy>X$u_u `pR>m O¡gp¡ \ep¡ lsp¡ A¡dp„-''

""Å¡ X$u.L¡$.'' `ukuA¡ sfs L$üy„, ""d„Sy> v¡$kpC kp\¡ afu gafy„ L$fhp_p¡ ApBqX$ep spfp¡ lsp¡. lh¡ A¡ `Qpk lÅf `pR>p Aph¡ A¡hu L$p¡C hps lp¡e sp¡ L$f. _rlsf-''

""_rlsf iy„?''

""_rlsf Ap`Z_¡ d„Sy> v¡$kpC `pk¡\u `Qpk lÅf hk|g L$fhpdp„ BÞV²¡$õV$ Mfp¡.'' X$u.L¡$. sp¡ `uku_¡ Å¡C S> füp¡. Mfp¡ R>¡ Ap dpZk? ApV$ApV$gy„ \ey„ R>sp„ lÆ d„Sy> v¡$kpC_y„ _pd d|L$sp¡ _\u?

""Ap¡L¡$.'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ Mp¢Mpfp¡ Mp^p¡. ""Ap`Z¡ d„Sy> v¡$kpC_p `rs `pk¡ S>CA¡. rbQpfp¡ S>¡ÞV$gd¡_ dpZk R>¡. spfp `¡gp d„Sy> kp\¡ `X$ph¡gp ap¡V$p bspX$u_¡ Ap`Z¡ A¡_¡ S> åg¡L$d¡Bg L$fuA¡.''

`uku v„$N \C Nep¡. ""X$u.L¡$., spfu `pk¡ Ap b^p ApBqX$ep Aph¡ R>¡ ¼ep„\u?''

***

L¡$rb__u blpf d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpC_p _pd_y„ `pqV$ey„ hp„Qu_¡ `uku N¡gdp„ Aphu Nep¡. ""Ape lpe X$u.L¡$! Ap sp¡ k¿Ms KQu `pV$} _uL$mu! d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpC!? Ap sp¡ `¡gp¡ Adf AL$bf A¡Þ\_uhpmp¡ S> _¡?''

""A¡ sp¡ dfu Nep¡ V$p¡`p!'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ `uku_¡ Q|` L$ep¡®. ""A_¡ A„v$f S>C_¡ bapV$ _p L$fsp¡. d_¡ S> hps L$fhp v¡$S>¡.''

""kpfy„ kpfy„, `Z b¡ L$fp¡X$\u Ap¡R>pdp„ sp¡ dp_hy„ S> _\u!''

""sy„ d|„Np¡ dfui?'' X$u.L¡$._u Ap„Mp¡ Å¡C_¡ `uku `p¡sp_p S> lp¡W$ D`f Ap„Nmu d|L$u_¡ ""iu..i, iu..i'' L$fhp gpÁep¡. `R>u L„$C k|T¹ey„ _l] A¡V$g¡ rMõkpdp„\u L$p„kL$u L$pY$u, `Z X$u.L¡$._p¡ Ql¡fp¡ Å¡C A¡ `Z `pR>u d|L$u.

A¡L$ L$gpL$ fpl Å¡hX$pìep `R>u d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpCA¡ s¡d_¡ L¡$rb_dp„ bp¡gpìep, ""bp¡gp¡, iy„ R>¡?''

""A¡V$dbp¡çb R>¡ kpl¡b, A¡V$dbp¡çb!'' `uku bp¡gu EW$ép¡. `Z sfs S> X$u. L¡$._p X$p¡mp Å¡C Q|` \C Nep¡. X$u.L¡$.A¡ ip„rs\u ap¡V$p_y„ `¡L¡$V$ L$pY$u_¡ V¡$bg D`f d|L$sp„ L$üy„, ""v¡$kpCkpl¡b, L„$C `Z hps L$fsp„ `l¡gp„ d_¡ gpN¡ R>¡ L¡$ sd¡ Ap ap¡V$p Å¡C gp¡.''

d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpCA¡ `¡L¡$V$ Mp¡ëey„. ap¡V$p Å¡sp„ Å¡sp„ A¡d_p Ql¡fp_p lphcph bv$gpC füp lsp. `l¡gp„ sp¡ s¡Ap¡ b^p ap¡V$p A¡L$v$d TX$`\u Å¡C Nep. `R>u afu hpf Ýep_\u Å¡ep. ÓuÆ hpf Å¡su hMs¡ sp¡ A¡d_p Ql¡fp `f Mpõku d|„ThZ R>hpC NC.

R>¡hV¡$ d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpCA¡ ÓZ ap¡V$p AgN L$ep®. a¡fhu a¡fhu_¡ Å¡ep `R>u L$üy„, ""Ap ÓZ ap¡V$p kpfp R>¡. bp¡gp¡ L¡$V$gp Ap`y„?''

X$u.L¡$. N|„QhpC Nep¡. `uku_¡ sp¡ kdS> S> _ `X$u.

d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpC rMõkpdp„\u `pL$uV$ L$pY$sp„ bp¡ëep, ""Apd sp¡ v$k-v$k ê$r`ep_p¡ cph Qpg¡ R>¡, `Z sd¡ OZp ap¡V$p bNpX$ép R>¡. A¡V$g¡, Qpgp¡_¡, `Qpk ê$r`ep Ap`y„ Ry>„.'' A¡dZ¡ `Qpk_u _p¡V$ ApNm ^fu.

`uku_¡ Q½$f Aphu Nep„. ""`Qpk ê$r`ep?'' A¡ dp„X$ dp„X$ bp¡ëep¡, ""Af¡, dpfp bph_ lÅf R>õkp¡_¡ r`õspguk ê$r`ep Apdp„ O|ku Nep R>¡. _¡ sd¡ -''

X$u.L¡$.A¡ sfs S> `uku_¡ AV$L$pìep¡, ""Sy>Ap¡ v¡$kpCkpl¡b, Ad¡ gp¡L$p¡ dpd|gu ap¡V$p¡N°pafp¡ _\u. dpdgp¡ rkqfek R>¡.'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ Mp¢Mpfp¡ Mp^p¡. ""hps A¡d R>¡ L¡$ sdpfp„ hpBa rdrkk d„Sy> v¡$kpC_¡ Ap cpC kp\¡ Aa¡f R>¡. A_¡ Ap ap¡V$p A¡_u kprbsu R>¡. lh¡ sd¡ sdpfu bv$_pdu _ \pe A¡d BÃR>sp lp¡ sp¡-''

""bv$_pdu?'' d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpCA¡ hÃQ¡\u S> hps L$p`u _pMu. ""bv$_pdu_u hps S> ¼ep„\u Aphhp_u? Ap R>R|>„v$f S>¡hp dpZk kp\¡ dpfu hpBa_¡ Aa¡f \pe A¡hu hps S> L$p¡C_p dpÞepdp„ _\u Aphhp_u!''

""A¡¼$T¡¼V$gu!'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ sfs S> L$üy„, ""Ðep„ S> sdpfu bv$_pdu \hp_u! _p kdS> `X$u? Sy>Ap¡ kdÅhy„.'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ kl¡S> ApNm T|L$u_¡ dyv¹$pkf hps L$fp¡. ""^pfp¡ L¡$ d„Sy>bl¡__¡ L$p¡C l¡ÞX$kd Sy>hpr_ep kp\¡ Aa¡f lp¡e, L¡$ `R>u L$p¡C NpX$u-b„Ngphpmp `¥kpv$pf ip¡Mu_ dpZk Å¡X¡$ Aa¡f \C Åe sp¡ b^p_¡ blz _hpC _\u gpNhp_u. `Z Äepf¡ gp¡L$p¡ ÅZi¡ L¡$ d„Sy> v¡$kpC_¡ Aphp kph R>R|>„v$f S>¡hp dpZk kp\¡ Aa¡f R>¡ Ðepf¡ b^p iy„ L$l¡i¡? R>V$¹! d„Sy> v¡$kpC_¡ buÅ¡ L$p¡C dþep¡ S> _l]? Ap_p L$fsp„ sp¡ d_dp¡l_ iy„ Mp¡V$p¡ lsp¡?''

""A¡V$g¡?'' d_dp¡l_ Myfiudp„\u AX$^p Ecp \C Nep. ""A¡V$g¡ sd¡ L$l¡hp iy„ dpNp¡ R>p¡, L¡$ lz„-''

""Å¡ey„?'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ [õds L$ey¯. ""Ap sp¡ a¼s lz„ S> bp¡ëep¡ A¡dp„ sd¡ ApV$gp AL$mpC Nep! Äepf¡ ApMy„ Npd Aphu hpsp¡ L$fi¡ Ðepf¡ sdpfu iu lpgs \i¡?''

d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpC W„$X$p `X$u Nep. ""ey lh¡ A `p¡BÞV$.'' A¡dZ¡ sfs S> d„Sy> v¡$kpC_¡ ap¡_ Å¡X$ép¡. ""d„Sy>? hp¡V$ BT q^k? Ap iy„ Qpgu füy„ R>¡? sy„ L$p¡C... `uku Qp¡L$ku _pd_p R>R|>„v$f S>¡hp dpZk kp\¡ Aa¡f L$fu flu R>¡?''

kpd¡ R>¡X¡$\u d„Sy>_p Mygpkp Qpëep. d_dp¡l_ Mpõku hpf ky^u ""l„..l„..'' L$fu_¡ kp„cmsp füp. `R>u ap¡_ d|L$u_¡ ip„rs\u bp¡ëep, ""rdõV$f `u.ku. Qp¡L$ku, dpfu hpBa¡ sdpfu rhfyÙ `p¡gukõV¡$i_dp„ aqfepv$ _p¢^phu R>¡.''

""l¢?'' `uku X$OpC Nep¡.

""lp.'' d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpC qfhp¡[ëh„N Q¡f `f T|gsp„ T|gsp„ [õds L$fu füp lsp. ""d„Sy>A¡ aqfepv$ gMphu R>¡ L¡$ sd¡ hpf„hpf ap¡_ L$fu_¡ A¡_¡ Ópk Ap`p¡ R>p¡. Nd¡ Ðepf¡ awgp¡_p byL¡$ gC_¡ O¡f V$`L$u `X$p¡ R>p¡. L$pfZ rh_p dp¢Ou dp¢Ou qNãV$¹k Ap`p¡ R>p¡. R>¡ëgp L¡$V$gpL$ hMs\u sd¡ d„Sy>_¡ sdpfu kp\¡ A„bpÆ S>hp dpV¡$ v$bpZ L$fu füp R>p¡. A_¡ lp... A¡L$ hpf A¡L$ Ap_„v$d¡mpdp„ sd¡ d„Sy>_u AcÖ fus¡ R>¡X$su L$fhp_p¡ âepk `Z L$f¡gp¡!''

""A¡...A¡... A¡...'' `uku_p Nmpdp„\u suZu Quk _uL$mu NC.

`Z X$u.L¡$. ApMp¡ dpdgp¡ sfs kdÆ Nep¡. ap¡V$p c¡Np L$fu_¡ Ecp \sp„ bp¡ëep¡, ""Ad¡ S>CA¡ kpl¡b.''

""Ecp flp¡, ÅAp¡ R>p¡ ¼ep„? d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpC lh¡ Akgu f„Ndp„ Apìep.'' `p¡guk L„$àg¡_ sp¡ \C NC. lh¡ L„$C fõsp¡ sp¡ L$pY$hp¡ `X$i¡ _¡? bpL$u Ap Qp¡L$kukpl¡b_¡ `p¡guk_p X„$X$p Mphp lp¡e sp¡ d_¡ L$p¡C hp„^p¡ _\u.''

""A¡L$ rdr_V$ `uku, s„y S>fp blpf Ecp¡ fl¡_¡? lz„ hps L$fu_¡ Aphy„ Ry>„.'' X$u.L$u.A¡ `uku_¡ Bipfp¡ L$ep£ R>sp„ `uku Ðep„ S> Mp¡X$pC füp¡ A¡V$g¡ X$u.L$¡.A¡ s¡_¡ bphX¡$\u Tpgu_¡ L¡$rb__u blpf d|L$u Aphhp¡ `X$ép¡.

L¡$rb__u blpf d|L¡$gp `pqV$ep D`f `uku_u afu hpf _S>f `X$u. "d_dp¡l_ v¡$kpC' `R>u _p_p Anf¡ "A¡X¹$hp¡L¡$V$' `Z gM¡gy„ lsy„ s¡ lh¡ v¡$Mpey„.

\p¡X$u hpf¡ X$u.L¡$. L¡$rb__u blpf Apìep¡. ""lpi! R>¡hV¡$ `p„Q lÅfdp„ `Ðey„.'' s¡Z¡ `uku_¡ L$üy„.

""bk?'' `uku AL$mpep¡. ""a¼s `p„Q lÅf S> Ap`i¡?''

""Ap`i¡ _l] gëgy!'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ `fk¡hp¡ g|R¹>ep¡, ""Ap`Z¡ kpd¡\u Ap`hp_p! blz Msf_pL$ gp¡L$p¡ R>p¡. ^Zu-^rZepZu b„_¡ c¡Np dmu_¡ bL$fpAp¡_¡ akph¡ R>¡. Ap A¡X$¹hp¡L¡$V$_u sp¡ `p¡gukdp„ `Z `lp¢Q gpN¡ R>¡!''

""A¡ b^y„ sp¡ bfpbf,'' `ukuA¡ V$Qgu Ap„Nmu hX¡$ dp\y„ M„S>hpmsp„ `|R¹>ey„. ""`Z Apdp„ A„bpÆ ApB Áe„y?''

""A¡V$g¡?''

""A¡V$g¡ A¡d L¡$ A¡d_¡ ApV$gp b^p `¥kp_p¡ apev$p¡ \ep¡ sp¡ lh¡ d„Sy>_¡ dpfu Å¡X¡$ A„bpÆ _p dp¡L$g¡?'' `uku AQL$psp„ AQL$psp„ bp¡ëep¡ sp¡ Mfp¡ S> L¡$, ""_p _p, dpf¡ sp¡ d„Sy> v¡$kpC Å¡X¡$ A„bpÆ_u hps \C Ne¡gu lsu.''

X$u.L¡$.A¡... ek, L$`pm L|$V$éy„!

***

`uku Apd ipZp Mfp _¡, A¡V$g¡ `„v$f, kp¡m, kÑf, spfuMp¡ L$`ps¡ `Npf¡ `Z kpQhu gu^u. bfpbf A¡L$ drl_p `R>u `ukuL$pL$uA¡ MyiMbf Apàep : ""L$D Ry>„, lp¢cmp¡ R>p¡? A¡L$ khpi¡f `¢X$p g¡sp Aphp¡ _?''

""L¡$d?''

""A¡L$ dp_sp amu R>¡!'' `ukuL$pL$u lky„lky„ \C füp„ lsp„.

""L¡$hu dp_sp?''

""lpe lpe bþey„, Qd_y„ L$J?'' `ukuL$pL$u Ap„Nmudp„ kpX$u_p¡ R>¡X$p¡ c¡fhsp„ bp¡ëep„, ""d] dp_sp fpMu'su L$ d_¡ lpfp v$p'X$p f¡'i¡ sp¡ khpi¡f `¢X$p QX$pCi!''

""A¡V$g¡?.... A¡V$g¡!?'' `ukuA¡ MyiMyipg \C_¡ `|R¹>ey„.

d„v$pqL$_uA¡ ifdpC_¡ _¡Z TyL$phu_¡ lp `pX$u. `ukuA¡ sfs S> hlpgu `Ð_u_p Npg¡ bQu cfu A_¡ `¢X$p g¡hp v$p¡X$ép.

""Af¡ \¡gu sp¡ g¡sp Åh!'' `ukuL$pL$u rMgrMg lku füp„ lsp„.

`Z `¢X$p_u vy$L$p_¡ OfpL$u_¡ gu^¡ kl¡S> hpf gpNu s¡dp„ `uku_u q`_ cmsu S> S>ÁepA¡ Qp¢V$u NC. ""kpgy„... Ap Jdf¡? Apd sp¡ kdpQpf kpfp S> L$l¡hpe, `Z lz„e bpOp¡ S> L$l¡hpJ _¡? `¡gy„ ri¾¡$V$_y„ sp¡ `|R¹>ey„ S> _l]! Ap`Z_¡ A¡d L¡$ rdrkk_¡ `pRy>„ Ap¡L$hX®$ gpN¡ sp¡?... `Z ¼ep„L$ gp¡Qp¡ sp¡ Mfp¡ S>! Å¡_¡, `¡gp¡ V$prgep¡ ÅqX$ep¡ bphp¡ dpfp¡ b¡V$p¡ lË$p¡L$Ë$p¡ sp¡ lsp¡ S>... Apd cg¡ V$prgep_u D„df gpN¡, `Z kpgp_p„ bphX$p„ L¡$hp„ dS>b|s lsp„? A_¡ A¡d sp¡ rdrkk `Z L„$C A¡V$gu hpfdp„ Ýep_dp„ `lp¢Qu S>sp„ li¡? _½$u L„$CL$...''

`¢X$p_y„ `¡L¡$V$ Aphu Ney„, `¥kp Q|L$hpC Nep R>sp„ `uku_u q`_ Qp¢V¡$gu _¡ Qp¢V$¡gu. ""A¡d sp¡ X$u.L¡$. `Z S>fp c¡v$u sp¡ Mfp¡. `¡gp ÅqX$ep_¡ Å¡C_¡ A¡ ÅZ¡ A¡_¡ Ap¡mMsp¡ lp¡e A¡d Qp¢L$u _l] Ne¡gp¡? dpfp¡ b¡V$p¡ b^y„ ÅZsp¡ gpN¡ R>¡. `Z W$uL$ lh¡, huk hfk¡ Ofdp„ `pfÏ„ b„^pe A¡ sp¡ kpfy„ S> L$l¡hpe _¡? bpL$u... `¡gu d„Sy>...''

Ðep„ sp¡ d„Sy> v¡$kpC S> kpd¡\u Aphsu v¡$MpC. ""lpe `uku!? iy„ hps R>¡? `¢X$p-b¢X$p gu^p R>¡ _¡? Ad_¡ sp¡ L$lp¡? iy„ kdpQpf R>¡?''

""_p _p. Mpk L„$C _l], Ap sp¡-'' `ukuA¡ hps a¡fhu _pMu, ""Ap sp¡ d_¡ âdp¡i_ dþey„!''

""hpD! L$p¡ÞN°¡V¹$k!'' d„Sy>A¡ lp\ rdgpìep. ""Qgp¡ bpe lp¢? ldZp„ S>fp Dsphmdp„ Ry>„. `R>u dmy„ Ry>„. _¡ sd¡ sp¡ lh¡ ap¡_-bp¡_¡e _\u L$fsp? Aphy„ L$fhp_y„? ap¡_ L$fÅ¡ lp¢? _„bf sp¡ R>¡ _¡?''

d„Sy> v¡$kpC hphpTp¡X$p_u S>¡d Aphu_¡ `uku_¡ lQdQphu_¡ Qpgu NC. s¡_u gl¡fpsu NS>Nprd_u S>¡hu Qpg_¡ Å¡sp„ Å¡sp„ `uku r_kpkp¡ _pMu_¡ bbX¹$ep¡, ""kpgu... d__u d_dp„ flu NC!''

""A¡e! iy„ bbX¡$ R>¡!'' X$u.L¡$.A¡ AQp_L$ `pR>m\u Aphu_¡ ^åbp¡ dpep£.

""l¢? L$-L„$C _l].'' `uku gy¿My„ lõep¡.

""Aphy„ S> _¡? Ad_¡ `Z _l] L$l¡hp_y„ _¡?'' `uku_p Mc¡ buÅ¡ ^åbp¡ dpfsp„ X$u.L¡$. lku füp¡ lsp¡. `Z `uku\u L„$C bp¡gpey„ S> _l]. A¡_u q`_ Qp¢V$u NC lsu.

lL$uL$sdp„ sp¡ lh¡ `uku df¡ _l] Ðep„ ky^u s¡_u q`_ A¡L$ S> hp¼e D`f Qp¢V$u fl¡hp_u lsu L¡$, ""kpgy„... L$luA¡ sp¡ L$p¡_¡?''

kdpàs

* * *

grgs gpX$_p klcpNu \hp bv$g Apcpf.

Ap rhcpN Ap`_¡ L¡$hp¡ gpÁep¡?