,dp ,e;j thuk;
 f;;spdpf;nf gugug;ghapUe;jJ.

 uhkgj;uid Mjuthfg; gw;wpago gtpj;uh me;j fhhplhhpy; EiHe;jhs;.

  mtisg; ghh;j;jJk; xU eh;!; gugug;ghdhs;.

  ……nklk;... eP';fsh... cl;fhU';f... lhf;lh; gp!pah ,Uf;fhU†† vd;W fpl;lj;jl;l FWf;fpy; kwpj;J ehw;fhypiaf; fhl;odhs;.

  ……lhf;lh; +kpy cf;fhuyh kpy;y>†† vd;whh;/ uhkgj;ud;.

  ……xd; kpdpl; rhh;... lhf;lh; `g;hPah ,Uf;fhuhd;D ghh;j;jplnwd;.††

  ……eh;!; mth;fisj; jhz:o tpiue;J rptRe;jhpd; miwf; fjit brd;wile;J jl;odhs;.

  rpy tpehofspy; miwf; fjt[ jpwe;J xU bgz: btspna te;jhs;. g[lit cLj;jpapUe;jhs;. clk;nghL xl;oapUe;j g[lit. mJ mts; njhspy; tGf;fp ,w';f/ myl;rpakhf rhp bra;J fhhplhhpy; mth;fisf; fle;J mtrukhf ele;jhs;. me;j Kfj;ij Vw;bfdnt ghh;j;jpUe;jhw; nghy; epidtpy; xU ,lwy;

  gtpj;uh nahrpf;Fk; Kd;/ fjt[ jpwe;J eh;!; mth;fis lhf;lhpd; miwf;Fs; Tg;gpl;lhs;.

 ……th gtp... vd;d jpOh;D>†† vd;whd;/ rptRe;jh;.

 ……my;th fpswpl;oUe;jh. jpOh;D typ mjpfkhfp kaf;fkhapl;lhshk;. ehd; filnyh;e;J jpUk;gpdg;ngh/ nth;j;J tpWtpWj;J cf;fhe;jpUe;jh†† vd;whh;/ uhkgj;ud;.

 ……xU nghd; gz:zpapUf;ff;TlhJ>††

  ……buz:L \q jlit l;iu gz:zpndd;. ek;gh; bfilf;fy... laj;ij nt!;l; gz:z ntz:lhnkd;D g[wg;gl;L te;Jl; nlhk;†† vd;whs;/ gtpj;uh. vGe;J rptRe;jhpd; fd;dj;jpy; xl;oapUe;j rpfg;g[g; bghl;ilj; nja;j;jhs;.

 mJ ifnahL xl;o te;jJ. bew;wpapy; ,Lk; !;of;fh; bghl;L. mijg; ghh;j;jJk; rptRe;jhpd; Kfk; epwkpHe;jJ.

 ……fhiyy vd; +k;y xU FHe;ijiaf; bfh";rpl;oUe;njd;. mJ bej;jpy ,Ue;j !;of;fh; vk;nky xl;oUr;R nghyUf;F...†† vd;whd;.

  mtDila miwapypUe;J mtrukhf btspg;gl;l bgz: ahh; vd;w milahsk; ,g;nghJ gtpj;uhtpw;F epidt[ te;Jtpl;lJ. fy;ahzj;jpy; mwpKfk; bra;J itj;jhnd- rPdpah; eh;!; ghDkjp vd;W- mts;jhnd> mts; bew;wpapy; bghl;L ,Ue;jjh>

  gtpj;uh nahridapy; ,Ue;jnghnj uhkgj;ud; rptRe;jhplk; ngrptpl;lhh;.

 rptRe;jh; ,d;lh;fhkpy; ngrpdhd;. ……fPjkhypdp... vd; xa;`g[f;F typ te;JUr;Rd;D beidf;fnwd;... jpnal;liu buo gz:wP';fsh>††

  lhf;lh; fPjhkhypdp rpy tpehofspy; me;j miwf;Fs; gpuntrpj;jhs;. gtpj;uhitg; ghh;j;Jg; g[d;difj;jhs;.

 ……th';fk;kh†† vd;W Mjuthf mtis vGg;gp btspna miHj;Jg; nghdhs;. gpd;dhnyna rptRe;jUk; bjhlh;e;jhd;.

  ……bghz: bfhHe;ij..††

  rptRe;jh; re;njh#khfr; brhd;dhd;. ……\q fpnyht[f;Ff; bfh";rk; TLjyh btapl;... ey;y bQy;j;jpah ,Uf;F nggp...††

  ……ehh;ky; blypthpjhnd>†† vd;whh;/ uhkgj;ud; Mtyhf.

  ……ehh;ky;jhd;... Mdh nyf;Ftk; tr;R vLf;f ntz:oapUe;jJ.††

  ……ehd; ghh;f;fyhkh>††

  ……f;sPd; gz:zpl;oUf;fh';f. ,d;Dk; gj;J epkp#j;Jy btspa tUk;.. mg;g[wk;/ khkh... gtpj;uhit ,g;g ek;k tPl;Lf;F miHr;rpl;Lg; nghaplyhk;/ ,y;y>††

  ……xz:q/ buz:L khrk; bghwe;j tPl;Ly bu!;l; vLj;jpl;L th;wJjhnd ey;yJ khg;gps;is>††

  ……bu!;l; jhnd> tPl;y bQy;g;g[f;F Ms; nghl;Llnwd;/ khkh. eP';fSk; te;JU';f...††

 ……,y;y khg;gps;is... buz:L khrk; mjpfk;dh/ xU khrkhtJ v';f tPl;y mt ,Uf;fl;Lk;... bQy;g;g[f;F Ms; ehd; nghl;Lf;fnwd;†† vd;whh;/ uhkgj;ud; tpl;Lf; bfhLf;fhky;.

  rptRe;jh; mtiu Kiwj;Jg; ghh;j;jhd;. ……mg;g[wk; c';f ,#:lk;†† vd;whd;.

  ……Vk;kh>†† uhkgj;ud; Fuypy; rpd;d Vkhw;wk;. ……Fiw";rJ xU khrkhtJ ek;k tPl;y eP ,Ug;ngd;D khg;gps;isfpl;l brhd; ndndk;kh. bfhHe;ij bghwe;J gj;Jehs; jhdk;kh Mt[J>††

  ……,y;yg;gh... ,';f ,Ue;jhYk;/ m';f ,Ue;jhYk; xz:qjhd;... eP';f vd;idg; gj;jp ftiyg;glhjP';f. ehd; vd;id ftdkha; ghh;j;Jg;ngd;.††

  gtpj;uh gpothjk; gpoj;jhy; mjpy; Vnjh fhuzk; ,Uf;Fk; vd;W uhkgj;uDf;F njhd;wpaJ.

  ……rhpk;kh†† vd;whh;/ Vkhw;wk; Fiwahky;.

  md;iwf;F Kd;dwptpg;g[ ,y;yhky; f;spdpf; nghd nghJ rptRe;jhpd; miwap ypUe;J mtrukhf btspg;gl;l eh;!; ghDkjp rptRe;jhpd; fd;dj;jpy; xl;oapUe;j !;of;fh; bghl;L

 mts; gpwe;j tPl;ow;Ff; fpsk;gp te;J tpl;ljhy;/ rptRe;jUf;F Vf;fk; te;J tpl;ljh>

  mg;goahdhy; me;j nuh$hf; fojk; vGjpats; ghDkjpjhdh> mg;goapUe;jhYk; ,g;goah gl;lg;gfypy; ntiy bra;a[k; ,lj;jpy;... xU ntis vd; re;njfk;jhd; mtrukhdnjh> cz:ikapnyna rptRe;jhpd; fd;dj;jpy; xl;oa !;of;fh; mtd; bfh";rpa FHe;ijaplkpUe;J te;jpUf;Fnkh>

  vg;goahf ,Ue;jhYk;/ rptRe;jhpd; ghh;itapnyna ,Ug;gJ vd;W mts; jPh;khdpj;Jtpl;lhs;.

 FHe;ij J}spapy; rpq';fpaJ.

 Jzpia tpyf;fpf; FHe;ijiag; ghh;j;jhs;.

  gutrk; be";ir Kl;oaJ. bkhl;L bkhl;lhf vt;tst[ rpd;d";rpW fz:fs;. uj;jk; gha[k; rpte;j fd;d';fs;. brf;fr; rpte;j kpf bky;ypa ,jH;fs;. eL';Fk; gp";Rf; iffs;/ fhy;fs;. bfhl;lhtp tpLifapy; g{tpjH;nghy Fl;o ehf;F

  vd;d xU mw;g[jkhd gilg;g[

 mjd; khRglhj rUkj;ij !;ghprpf;ifapy;/ mjd; bkj;bjd;w Fjpfhiyj; bjhl;Lg; ghh;f;ifapy;/ mjd; g{bkhl;L tpuy;fisj; jPz:L ifapy; mtSs; xU kpd;rhuk; XoaJ. khh;gpy; ghrk; Kl;oaJ.

  ,J nghJk;- ,dp ,J nghJk;. ,e;j caph; bkhl;L nghJk;. ,ijg; ghh;j;Jf; bfhz:oUe;jhny mts; thH;f;if mh;j;jKs;sjhfp tpLk;.

  FHe;ij vy;yh tpuy;fisa[k; jd; tha;f;Fs; milj;Jf; bfhs;sg; ghh;j;J '; 'h vd;wJ.

  ……grpf;Fjhlh> th... th...††

  gtpj;uh FHe;ijia ms;sp be";rpy; mizj;Jf; bfhz:lhs;.

  ……ehisf;F mg;gh tPl;Lf;Fg; nghyhkhlh>†† vd;W jd; \f;fhy; mjd; cr;rpia curpdhs;.

  tz:zf; fhfpjj; njhuz';fs; fhw;wpy; ifairj;Jf; Tg;gpl;ld. $pfpdhr; RUs;fs; RHd;W RHd;W ntof;if fhl;od.

  lhf;!papypUe;J mts; ,w';fpanghJ fhh;j;jpnfad; Xnlho te;jhd;. fjitj; jpwe;J gpoj;jhd;.

  ……mf;fh... rphpf;FJ mf;fh...†† vd;W mtnd FHe;ijnghy; ifbfhl;o FJ}fypj;jhd;.

 ……vJf;F fhh;j;jp ,j;jid my';fhuk;yhk;> ,Jf;F ,ijbay;yhk; ghf;fj; bjhpa[kh>††

  ……my';fhuk; FHe;ij ghh;f;fwJf;fpy;y mf;fh... vd; re;njh#j;Jf;Fjhd;... mf;fh ,g;gof; bfhL';ff;fh... ehd; J}f;fpl;L tnud;..††

  ……,d;Dk; jiy epf;fy fhh;j;jp. FHe;ijia vg;goj; J}f;fqk;D brhy;ypj; jnud;.. mJ tiuf;Fk; mtrug; glhj..†† gtpj;uh mtd; cw;rhfj;ij urpj;Jf; bfhz:nl tPl;ow;Fs; EiHe;jhs;.

 ……ngU vd;df;fh tr;rpUf;fP';f>††

  ……epj;ahd;w ngh; cdf;F gpor;rpUf;fh fhh;j;jp>††

  ……Inah buhk;g ey;y ,Uf;Ff;fh... mz:zDf;F vd;d ngU gpor;RJf;fh>††

  ……mth; brhd;d ngh;jhd; mJ..††

  ……epj;ah... epj;jpf; Fl;o... epj;jpr; bry;yk;...†† fhh;j;jp nfad; mts; Tlnt FHe; ijiag; ghh;j;J bfh";rpf; bfhz:L ele;jhd;.

  ……fhh;j;jp/ lhf;!pnyh;e;J bgl;obay;yhk; vLj;jpl;L te;Jnld;†† vd;W gtpj;uh brhd;dgpd;jhd; mij kwe;J tpl;lnj epidt[f;F te;J lhf;!pf;F Xodhd;.

  uhkgj;udplkpUe;J bgl;ofisg; gpL';fpdhd;.

  ……fhiu ehd; mDg;gpapUe;njd; gtp... mJf;Fs;s bfsk;gpl;O';fshnk†† vd;whd;.

  ……Mkh';f. ey;y neuk; ghh;j;jpUe;jhU mg;gh- mjhd;..†† gtpj;uh md;nghL g[d;difj;jhs;.

  ……vd; bry;yf; Fl;o v';nf>†† -rptRe;jh; iffGtpaJk; bjhl;oiyg; ngha;g; ghh;j;jhd;. tpuy; Kl;oia FHe;ijapd; Kfthapy; nja;j;jhd;. ……vd;d ntiy btl;o Kwpr;rpl;nld;D ,g;go fisr;Rg; ngha; bfhl;lhtp tplnw/ epj;ahf; fz:q>†† vd;W mjd; \f;ifr; bry;ykhf epkpz:odhd;.

  gtpj;uhtpw;F mtd; Kfj;J gutrj;ijg; ghh;f;f re;njh# kha; ,Ue;jJ. FHe;ijiaf; bfh";rptpl;L mtd; jpUk;gpdhd;.

  mtd; rhg;gpl te;J cl;fhh;e;jnghJ mtisawp ahknyna ghh;it mtd; fd;dj;jpy;/ fGj;jpy;/ rl;ilf; fhyhpy; vd;W nka;e;jJ.

  v';fhtJ !;of;fh; bghl;L xl;oapUf;fpwjh>

  mts; re;njfj;ijg; gw;wp ve;j re;njfKk; ,y;yhky; mtd; ,ay;ghfj;jhd; ngrpdhd;/ rphpj;jhd;/ rhg;gpl;lhd;/ tprhhpj;jhd;/ g[wg;gl;lhd;. gtpj;uh thry; tiu brd;whs;.

  ……mg;gh tPl;Ly me;j gpahndh ,Uf;F';f..††

 ……Mkh mij thrpf;fqk;D cdf;Fj; njhqdh clnd vLj;jpl;L tu Vw;ghL gz:nwd;/ gtp.. ,y;y bfh";r ehs; m';nfna ,Uf;fl;Lkh>††

 ……,Uf;fl;Lk;†† vd;whs;/ gtpj;uh.

  ,ut[ tiu fhh;j;jpnfad; FHe;ijiana Rw;wpr; Rw;wp te;J bfhz:oUe;jhd;. epj;ahtpd; mk;kh vd;gjw;fhfnt gtpj;uhtpw;F xU khpahij jUthd; nghypUe;jJ.

 gtpj;uhtpw;F cldpUe;j cjtp bra;a xU ntiyf;fhuk;khs; Vw;ghL bra;ag;gl;oUe;jhs;. FHe;ijapd; xt;bthU rpq';fYf;Fk; mts; VjhtbjhU mh;j;jk; brhd;dhs;.

  gtpj;uh gLf;ifaiwf;Fs; EiHe;jhs;.

 Rthpy; khl;lg;gl;l fpU#:z Xtpaj;ijf; FHe;ijf;Ff; fhl;odhs;.

  ……fd;Df;Fl;o... ,e;j Xtpak; ghh;j;jpah... ,Jy ,Uf;fw fpU#:ziug; nghy eP bfhG bfhGd;D tsuqk;/ g[hpa[jh>††

  FHe;ijf;fhfj;jhd; xtpaj;ij ,iltplhky; ghh;j;jhs; vd;whYk;/ mtisawpahknyna m';F mUz: Kfk; g{j;jJ.

  mUqf;Fk; brhy;y ntz:Lk;.

  j';f tpf;fpufk;nghy; xU bgz: FHe;ij gpwe;jpUf;fpwJ vd;W mtdplk; brhy;y ntz:Lk;

  ……fhh;j;jp... ,';f thnad;...††

  fhh;j;jpnfad; Xnlho te;jhd;.

  ……vd;df;fh ntqk;>††

  fhh;j;jpnfaidf; nfl;fyhk; vd;W vz:zpf; Tg;gpl;L tpl;lhYk;/ mUizg;gw;wp mtdplk; tprhhpf;f ntz:lhk; vd;W jpObud;W xU jaf;fk; te;jJ.

  ……xz:qkpy;y... ehisf;F xU brf;fg;g[f;Fg; nghfqk;... "hgfg;gLj;Jd;D brhy;yf; Tg;g[l;nld;..†† vd;W vijnah brhy;yp mtid mDg;gp tpl;lhs;.

  mUz: Vnjh xU el;rj;jpu nQhl;lypy; ePr;ry; fw;Wj; jUgtd; vd;W fhh;j;jpnfad; brhd;dJ epidt[f;F te;jJ. kWehs; tprhhpf;fyhk; vd rkhjhdk; bra;J bfhz:lhs;.

  gLf;ifaiwf;Fs; mtd; EiHe;jJk; gtpj;uh rw;nw Kfk; Rspj;jhs;.

  ……For;rpUf;fP';fsh>†† vd;whs;.

  ……Mkh gtp.. Fl;o J}';fpor;rh>†† rptRe;jh; bjhl;oiy beU';fpdhd;.

  ……jg;gh beidr;Rf;fhjP';f†† vd;whs; gtpj;uh Fuiy cah;j;jp. ……For;rpUf;Fk;nghJ FHe;ijiaj; bjhlhjP';f..††

  rptRe;jh; jpLf;fpl;L epd;whd;. mtisg; ghh;j;jhd;.

  ……,J vdf;Fk; FHe;ij gtpj;uh..††

  ……Mdh mg;gid mJ Fofhudhg; ghh;f;f ntzh';f.. FHe;ijiaf; bfh";rqk;dh Fof;fhk th';f..††

  ……,g;g vd;id btspna nghfr; brhy;wpah>†† rptRe;jUf;F jpObud;W Vd; mt;tst[ nfhgk; te;jJ bjhpatpy;iy.

  tpUl;bld;W fjit miue;J rhj;jp btspnawpdhd;.