,dp

   fjt[ miwe;J rhj;jg;gl;l ntfj;jpy; bjhl;oypy; FHe;ij tpHpj;J tpl;lJ.

  gtpj;uh mij vLj;J be";rpy; mizj;Jf; bfhz:lhs;.

  ……c';fg;ght[f;F te;j nfhgj;ij ghj;jpah> For;rpl;L te;jh vg;go cd;idj; bjhlyhk;> eP jpdKk; rphpr;rpl;oUf;fqk;/ re;njh#kh ,Uf;fqk;Djhd ck; ngU epj;ahD tr;rpUf;nfd;. mg;go ep$khnt ck;nky capuh ,Ue;jh Fof;fhk tul;Lnk††

  FHe;ij rpq';fptpl;L fz:fis \oaJ.

  ……mth; beidr;rh nghfwJf;Fk; ,d;bdhU vlk; ,Uf;F/ epj;jpf;Fl;o. mjhd; uhf;bfl;nghy bfsk;gpg; nghapl;lhh;.††

  gtpj;uh rphpj;Jf; bfhz:L brhd;dhYk; Fuypy; Jf;fk; nrh;e;jpUe;jJ.
‰ ‰ ‰

  fhiyapy; mts; tpHpj;J miwia tpl;L btspte;j nghJ/ m';nf fhh;j;jpnfad; gijg;g[ld; epd;wpUe;jhd;.

  ……vd;d fhh;j;jp>††

  ……m';;f ghU';ff;fh...††

  khoapypUe;J mts; Qhiyg; ghh;j;jhs; jpLf; fpl;lhs;.

  Qhy; nrhghtpy; rptRe;jh; RUz:L gLj;jpUe;jhd;.

  nrhghitr; Rw;wp m';f';nf rpfbul; Jz:l';fs;. rpfbul; thrk; ,g;nghJk; fdkhff; fhw;wpy; bjh';fpaJ.

  ……vg;nghJk; ehY kzpf;F lhz:q vGe;jpLthnuf;fh... ,d;dpf;F ,d;Dk; vGe;Jf;fiy ghU';f.†† -fhh;j;jp nfad; ftiyahd Fuypy; brhd;dhd;.

  fofhuj;ijg; ghh;j;jJk; gtpj;uh gjwpdhs;.

  ……Inah buhk;g nyl;lhapUr;R fhh;j;jp. rh;$hpf;F lakhapUr;Rd;D fj;jg; nghwhh;.. eP xU epkp#k; FHe;ijiag; ghj;Jf;f...†† vd;whs; gofspy; ntfkhf ,w';fpdhs;.

  rptRe;jiur; Rw;wpf; fple;j rpfbul; Jz:l';fisg; ghh;j;jhy;/ ,ut[ mtd; J}';fhky; btF neuk; tpHpj;jpUe;jhd; vd;W njhd;wpaJ. me;jf; fisg;g[ fhuzkhf ,g;nghJ vGe;jphpf;ftpy;iy nghYk;.

  gtpj;uh mtidj; bjhl;L cYf;fpdhs;.

  ……lakhr;rp';f...†† vd;whs;.

  rptRe;jh; fz:fisf; f#:lg;gl;Lj; jpwe;jhd;. tpHpfs; btFthf rpte;jpUe;jd. ghh;it gtpj;uhtplkpUe;J tpyfp fofhuj;jpd; gf;fk; nghdJ. neuj;ijg; ghh;j;jJk; mtd; bew;wpapy; RUf;ff; nfhLfs;. gijg;g[ ,y;yhky; bky;y vGe;J cl;fhh;e;jhd;.

  ……me;j blypnghid vL†† vd;whd;.

  fhh;f;Fby!; nghid vLj;J bfhLj;jhs;. f;spdpf;fpw;F lay; bra;jhd;. ……#pth ngrnwd;.. Kjy; rh;$hpia miukzp neuk; js;sp Muk;gpf;fyhk;... Mkh... nj';f;a{†† vd;whd;.

  mtSf;Fj; bjhpe;J rptRe;jh; vt;tst[ jhkjkhfg; gLj;jhYk;/ kWehs; rh;$hpiaj; js;spg;nghl;lnj ,y;iy. ,ut[ mtd; J}f;fk; tuhky; g[uz:L jtpj;jjhf epidt[ ,y;iy.

  Ke;jpd ,ut[ mtDf;F Vw;gl;l FHg;gk;jhd; mtDila J}f;fkpd;ikf;Ff; fhuzk; vd;W vz:zpanghJ mtSs; xU Fw;w czh;t[ vGe;jJ.

  ……!hhp';f†† vd;whs;/ bghJthf brhy;yptpl;L Fdpe;J rpfbul; Jz:l';fisg; bghWf;fyhdhs;.

  ……ehd; jhd; !hhp brhy;yqk;..†† vd;whd;/ rptRe;jh; kyh;e;J g[d;difj;J. ……ehd; g[wg;glwJf;F vy;yhk; buo gz:q†† vd;W brhy;yptpl;L ghj;+k; nehf;fp tpiue;jhd;.

  gtpj;uhtpw;F befpH;r;rpahf ,Ue;jJ.

  Mdhy; mtd; vg;nghJ te;jhYk; mtd; kPJ F';Fkf;fiu ,Uf;fpwjh/ jiyKo xl;oapUf;fpwjh/ bgz:fs; mzpa[k; gh;`g; a{kpd; thrk; ,Uf;fpwjh vd;W ftdpg;gJ gtpj;uhtpd; ,ay;ghfp tpl;lJ.

  vd;djhd; gf;Ftg;gl;L tpl;ljhf mts; epidj;Jf; bfhz:lhYk;/ ,e;j tp#aj;jpy; kl;Lk; mts; xU ruhrhpg; bgz:zhfj;jhd; ,Uf;fpwhs; vd;gij epidf;ifapy; mtSf;Ff; Tr;rkhapUf;Fk;.

  MdhYk;/ mtSila bgUk;ghyhd bghGJfis Mf;ukpf;f epj;ah ,Ue;jJ.

  epj;ah tsh;e;jJ. if cijj;jJ/ fhy; cijj;jJ/ fz:fs; bray; bgw;W/ xyp th';fp/ xyp vGg;gp/ rphpj;J/ Fg;g[wg;gLj;J...

  epj;ah g{ittpl ntfkhf kyh;e;jJ. epyit tpl ntfkhf tsh;e;jJ.

  fhh;j;jpnfad; njhis tpl;L ,w';f kWj;jJ. mtd; brUg;g[fs; mzpe;jhny mtd; gpd;dhy; jtH;e;J XoaJ.

  fhh;j;jpnfad; mijj; njhl;lj;jpw;F miHj;Jg; nghtjpy;/ g{f;fisf; fhl;o mjd; rphpg;gpy; re;njh#g;gLtjpy;/ bghk;ikfshy; mij re;njh#g;gLj;Jtjpy; nghpd;gk; bfhz:lhd;.

  epj;ahtpw;F MW khjk; MdnghJ/ mijf; fhuzk; itj;J cjtpf;F xU bgz:kzp njitapy;iy vd;W gtpj;uh brhy;yp tpl;lhs;. ntiyf;fhhpa[k; epWj;jg;gl;lhs;.

  rptRe;jh; …cd; ,#:lk;† vd;W Rygkhfj; jPh;g;g[ vGjp tpl;lhd;.

  ,e;j MW khj';fspy; rptRe;jh; vj;jid ,ut[fs; gLf;ifaiwf;Fs; te;jhd; vd;gij Rygj;jpy; vz:zp tplyhk;. mjpYk; ,uz:nl ,uz:L Kiwjhd; gtpj;uhtpd; njfj;ij rPz:Lk; mst[ epjhdj;jpy; ,Ue;jhd;.

  rpy ,ut[fs; mtDila jdpaiwapy; tp!;fp brythdJ. rpy ,ut[fs; tPl;ow;F btspna tp!;fp jhfk; jzpe;jJ.

  Kjypy; mtd; tPL jpUk;ghj ,ut[fspy; f;spdpf;fpw;F nghd; bra;J gjl;lg;gl;L mtd; iel; ?l;oapy; ,Ug;gjhf eh;!; brhd;dij ek;ghky; mtDld; ngr gpothjk; bra;J-

  mg;g[wk; gtpj;uh rkhjhdkhdhs;.

  tPl;ow;Fj; jpUk;gpa gpd; mtDila jdp miwapy;/ jdpikapy; Rth;fis btwpj;Jf; bfhz:L tp!;fp mUe;Jtij tpl btspna Foj;Jtpl;L tPL jpUk;g[tJ mtDf;F MWjyhapUg;gJ g[hpe;jJ.

  vg;goapUe;jhYk;/ ,ut[ gd;dpbuz:L kzpf;Fs; tPL jpUk;g[tJ vd;gJ mtd; tHf;fkha; ,Ue;jJ.

  mtisg; ghh;j;jJk; jh;k r';flj;Jld; g[d;difj;J tpl;L rpy rkak; mts; ifahy; rhg;gpl;L/ rpy rkak; btspna rhg;gpl;L tpl;ljhfr; brhy;yptpl;L mtd; J}';fg; nghdhd;. kwf;fhky; epj;ahtpd; tsh;r;rp gw;wp/ mjd; nrl;ilfs; gw;wp tprhhpg;ghd;. fhiy vGe;jJk;/ epj;ahitf; bfh";rptpl;Lj;jhd; f;spdpf; fpw;Ff; fpsk;g[thd;.

  mUz: ntiy bra;a[k; nQhl;liyf; fz:Lgpof;f mts; ,UKiw Kaw;rp bra;jnghJk; btw;wp fpilf;f tpy;iy.

  kWgo re;jpf;f ntz:Lk; vd;w mjph;#:lk; ,Ue;jhy; me;j re;jpg;g[ jhdhf epfH;e;J tpl;Lg; nghfl;Lk; vd;W mts; rkhjhdk; bra;J bfhz:lhs;.

  uhkgj;ud; mt;tg;nghJ tUthh;. FHe;ijf;F gp!;bfl;/ nff; vd;W mth; trjpf;nfw;g VjhtJ th';fp tUthh;. ngj;jpia jiyf;F nky; cah;j;jp bfh";rp tpl;Lg; nghthh;.

  rpWj;ij bghk;ik

  FHe;ijf;F if typf;ff; TlhJ vd;gjw;fhf g";R milj;J bkj;bjd;W ,Ue;j bghk;ik.

  ……mf;fh ,';f ghU'; ff;fh...†† vd;W fhh;j;jpnfad; Ttpdhd;.

  ……vd;d fhh;j;jp>†† -gtpj;uh fpr;rdpypUe;J ifiaj; Jilj;Jf; bfhz:L gugug;ghf te;J nrh;e;jhs;.

  ……k;kh...k;kh...z:zh...†† vd;wJ epj;ah.

  ……ghh;j;jP';fshf;fh> rpWj;ija[k;/ MLk; xz:nzhl xz:q bfh";rpl;L ,Uf;fwij ghk;g[k;/ g{ida[k;/ jtisa[k;/ eha[k;/ ehpa[k;/ Fu';Fk; vy;yhk; xz:q nky xz:q tpGe;J bflf;F. ghU';f... ek;k epj;jpf; Fl;o nahl fhl;Ly vy;yh kpUfKk; xj;Jikaha; gHfpl;oUf;F';f...

  fhh;j;jpnfaDk; rpd;df; FHe;ij nghy me;jf; fhl;rpia urpj;J ifjl;o rphpg;gijg; ghh;j;J gtpj;uh mtd; jiyapy; bry;ykhfj; jl;odhs;.

  ……fhh;j;jp... mg;gona xt;bthU bghk;ikiaf; fhl;o mnjhl ngiua[k; epj;aht[f;F brhy;ypf; bfhL...††

  ……rhpf;fh...†† vd;wtd; mts; vjphpy; jaf;fj;njhL jiy brhhpe;jhd;.

  ……vd;d fhh;j;jp>††

  ……bghk;ika rpd;dr; rpd;djh ghh;j;J urpr;rijy;yhk; neh;y ghh;j;jh epj;jpf; Fl;o vt;tst[ re;njh#g;gLk;>††

  ……g[hpay...††

  ……kpUff;fhl;rp rhiyf;F miHr;rpl;Lg; ngha; xt;bthU rp';fj;ija[k;/ g[ypiaa[k; ghh;j;jh ,J vg;go Mr;rhpakh thiag; bghse;Jfpl;L ghf;Fk;††

  gtpj;uhtpw;Fk; me;j Ioah gpoj;jpUe;jJ.

  ……"hapw;Wf;fpHik nghfyhk;. Ko";rh epj;ahnthl mg;ghita[k; tur;brhy;yyhk;†† vd;whs;/ gtpj;uh.

  ……rhp';f†† vd;whs;/ gtpj;uh. ……Mdh xU mg;ghd;w Kiwy c';f FHe;ijf;fhft[k; bfh";rk; neuk; xJf;fqk;fwija[k; nahrpr;Rg; ghU';f.††

  ……vd;d gtp/ vd; epyik bjhp";r ePna ,g;gog; ngrpdh vg;go> Xnf. ,e;j thuk; eP nghapl;L te;JL... mLj;j "hapj;Jf;fpHik `g;hP gz:zpf;f Koa[khd;D ghf;fnwd;...††

  nghd; bra;jJk; uhkgj;ud; te;J nrh;e;jhh;.

  ……epj;ahf;Fl;o...†† vd;W mij jd; jiyf;F nkny cah;j;jp RHw;wpdhh;.

  ……ghh;j;Jg;gh†† vd;whs;/ gtpj;uh.

 ……ePna vd; FHe;ij... cd; FHe;ijia ehd; bjhl;lJk; vg;go gjWJ ghh;†† vd;W uhkgj;ud; rphpj;jhh;.

  bjhiyngrp xypj;jJ.

  gtpj;uh vLj;jhs;.

  ……lhf;lh; ,Uf;fhuh>†† -bgz: Fuy;. mtSf;Fg; ghpr;rakhd Fuy;

  ……f;spdpf;jhd; nghapUf;fhU... eP';f eh;!; ghDkjpjhnd>††

  kWKid rw;nw ja';fp tpl;L ……Mkhk;†† vd;wJ.

  ……v';nfh;e;J ngrwP';f> f;spdpf;nyh;e;J jhnd>††

  ……,y;yf;fh... ehd; tPl;nyh;e;J ngrnwd;.. f;spdpf;Ff;F nghd; br";nrd;.. m';nfh;e;J bfsk;gpl;ljh brhd;dh';f...††

  ……VjhtJ mtrukhd tp#akh ghD>††

  ……,y;yf;fh... mth; tPl;Lf;F te;jJk; ehd; nghd; bra;";nrd;D brhy;wP';fsh>††

  ……,U';f... ,g;gj;jhd; "hgfk; tUJ. f;spdpf;nyh;e;J mth; mg;nghnyh nghfg; nghwjh brhd;dhU/ ghD...††

  nghid itj;j gpwFk; gtpj;uhtpw;F mo kdjpy; tz:lyha; xU cWj;jy; ,Ue;J bfhz:nl ,Ue;jJ.

  ghD vjw;F rptRe;jiuj; njLfpwhs;>

  ……nghyhkhk;kh>†† vd;W uhkgj;ud; nfl;lJk;/ me;j vz:z';fis cjwpdhs;.

 ……nghyhkh Fl;o>†† vd;W epj;ahitj; J}f;fpf; bfhz:lhs;.

  mjd; gpukpg;g[ fz:fspy; bjhpe;jJ. rp';fk; fh;$pj;j nghJ rphpj;J if jl;oaJ. rpWj;ij cWkpanghJ mjw;Fk; re;njh#k; fhl;oaJ. Fu';F gw;fisf; fhl;oa nghJk; cw;rhfj;njhL Js;spaJ.

  epj;ahitg; nghynt fhh;j;jpnfaDk; xt;bthU kpUfj;ija[k; Mr;rhpakhfg; ghh;j;J urpg;gij gtpj;uh urpj;jhs;.

  mLj;jJ Kjiyfs; ghh;itf;F itf;fg;gl;l ,lk;.

  uhkgj;ud; fhh;j;jpnfadplkpUe;J FHe;ijia th';fpf; bfhz:lhh;. ……m';f ghh;j;jpah/ jz:zpy ghjpa[k;/ jiuy ghjpa[kh gLj;jpUf;F... mJjhd; Kjiy...†† FHe;ijia RtUf;F cs;ns J}f;fpf; fhl;odhh;.

  FHpf;Fs; ehd;ife;J Kjiyfs; jz:zPhpy; bjhpe;jd. ,uz:L bghpa Kjiyfs; fiuapy; thia kpfg; bghpjha; jpwe;J itj; jpUf;f/ myFf; Th;ikaha; ,Ue;j xU rpWgl;rp mtw;wpd; gy; ,Lf;FfspypUe;J ,iwr; rpj; Jz:l';fis gakpy;yhky; bfhj;jpaJ.

  jpObud;W uhkgj;ud; Kfk; khwpaJ. if tpYf;bfd;W cjwpaJ. mth; gpoj;jpUe;j FHe;ij epj;ah mth; ifapypUe;J eGtpaJ. FHpf;Fs; eGtp neu Kjiyapd; mUnf tpGe;jJ.