,dp
 miHg;g[ kzp tplhky; xypj;jJ.

 rptRe;jh; rypg;ghdhd;. kJtpd; ghuk; kz:ilapy; fdj;jJ. gofs; ,w';fp te;J fjitj; jpwe;jhd;.

 ……tPl;y ,Uf;fwt';fs;yhk; v';nflh vHbtLf;fg; nghapl;lh';f> vt;tst[ neukh kzpaor;rpl;oUf;nfd; bjhpa[kh>†† vd;W mjpuof;Fk; Fuypy; nfl;Lf; bfhz:L bgl;oa[ld; cs;ns EiHe;jhs; mtd; mk;kh. ……Ml;nlht[f;Ff; fhR bfhLj;J mDg;gpU.††

 rptRe;jh; mk;khit rw;Wk; vjph;ghh;f;ftpy;iy.

 J}f;fk; bjspahj epiyapy; mts; glglbtd;W brhd;d bjy;yhk; mtd; kz:ilapy; VWk; Kd;/ Ml;nlh oiuth; vjpnu te;J epd;whd;.

 mtid mDg;gptpl;L/ rptRe;jh; cs;ns EiHe;j nghJ/ mk;kh cs;siwapy; vy;yhk; njo tpl;L jpUk;gp apUe;jhs;.

 ……gtpj;uh v';nflh>††

 ……mt';fg;ght[f;F clk;g[ rhpapy;y... ghj;Jf;fg; nghapUf;fh...††

 ……vg;ngh>††

 ……gjpid";R ehshr;R.††

 ……ehY ehsh tPl;Ly nghd; vLf;f Mspy;yhk mor;rpl;o Ue;jnj.. f;spdpf;Ff;F nghd; gz:zg;gy;yhk; lhf;lh; rh;$hpy ,Uf;fhU/ o!;lg; gz:z KoahJd;D brhy;ypl;lh';f...†† -mk;kh rypj;Jf; bfhz:lhs;.

 mk;kh nghd; gz:zpajhf f;spdpf;fpy; brhy;yhky; ,y;iy. mtd;jhd; mijg; bghUl;gLj;jtpy;iy.

 ……me;jg; ga v';nf>††

 ……fhh;j;jpah> mtid ntiyia tpl;L epWj;jpl;nlk;kh.††

 ……mk;kh mjph;e;J ngha; ghh;j;jhs;. ……epWj;jpl;oah> Vd;>††

 ……mtd; rhpapy;yk;kh...†† mts; nkny tptu';fs; nfl;Fk;Kd;/ ……f;spdpf; fpsk;g neukhr;Rk;kh... eP';f thP';fd;D bjhpahjjhy fha;fwp vJt[k; th';fp tf;fy... guthy;iy... nQhl;ly;nyh;e;J ogd; th';fp mDg;gnwd;. Ch;y vy;yhk; brsf;fpak; jhndk;kh>††

 ……khg;gps;isf;F iQjuhghj;Jf;F ouhd;!;gh; Mapor;rp. ngf;fp'; MS';f te;jpUf;fh';f. mjdhy xU gj;J ehisf;F eP';f ntzh ngha; bu!;l; vLj;Jf;F';fd;D khg;gps;is brhd;dhU. vd; jiyy vd;d vGjpapUf;nfh mJjhd; elf;Fk;>††

 ……Vk;kh rypr;Rf;fwP';f>††

 ……gpd;nd> bu!;l; vLf;f Koa[kh vd;dhy> cf;fhu tr;rp nrhW nghl kUkf ,Uf;fhsh vd;d> ciHr;R rhg;gpLw uhrpjhd; vdf;F... vLgpo ntiy bra;awJf;F ,Ue;j igaida[k; mDg;gpl;nl... RLjz:zp bk#pdhtJ ntiy bra;a[jh>††

 rptRe;jUf;F mtSf;F gjpy; brhy;Yk; bghWik ,y;iy. njhs;fisf; FYf;fp tpl;L efh;e;jhd;.

 gtpj;uh <uf; Te;jiy fhrpj;Jz:lhy; lg;lg; vd;W moj;Jj; Jilj;Jf; bfhz:oUe;jhs;. mg;ghthy; Kd;ig tpl ,g;nghJ ed;whf ngr KofpwJ. FHwy; ,y;yhky; bjspthf thh;j;ijfis cr;rhpf;Fk; mstpw;F ehf;Fg; g[usj; Jt';fptpl;lJ. Mdhy; ifa[k;/ fhYk; ,d;Dk; mth; fl;Lg;ghl;ow;Fs; tutpy;iy.

 Fspg;gJk;/ cilfs; mzptJk; mtUf;F cjtpapd;wp Koahj fhhpa';fshfnt ,Ue;jd.

 mg;ghit ftdpj;Jf; bfhs;Sk; bghWg;gpd; fhuzkhf/ rptRe;jiug; ghh;f;fg; nghfhky; ,Ug;gJ xU tpjj;jpy; mtSf;F epk;kjpahfnt ,Ue;jJ. xU nghypahd cwit ehlfkhLtJ mtSf;Fg; gpof;ftpy;iy.

 rptRe;jhpd; mk;kh jpObud;W ChpypUe;J te;jpUf;fpwhs; vd;W mtd; nghd; bra;J brhd;dhd;.

 ……,d;Dk; xU thuj;Jy mk;kh j';if tPl;Lf;Ff; bfsk;gpg; nghapLth';f... mk;kht[f;Fg; nghd; gz:zp buz:buhU thh;j;ij khpahijf;fhfg; ngrwjh ,Ue;jh ngR...††

 gtpj;uhtpw;F ,#:lkpy;iy. Mdhy; gz:g[ mtis nghd; bra;aj; J}z:oaJ.

 ……ey;yh ,Uf;fpah>†† -khkpahhpd; Fuypy; el;g[ ,y;iy. ghpt[ ,y;iy. bkypjhd vhpr;ry;jhd; ,Ue;jJ. ……c';fg;ght[f;F clk;g[ rhpapy;yhl;o xU eh;i!g; nghl;Lu ntz:oaJjhnd> VjhtJ Kjpnahh; ,y;yj;Jy nrh;j;jpl;lh mt';fns ghj;Jg;gh';fns... eP rpthit mk;nghd;D tpl;Ll;Lg; nghapl;ona..††

 ……mjhd; eP';f te;jpUf;fP';f nsk;kh... gpur;rpid jPh;e;JLr;R.†† vd;whs; gtpj;uh rw;nw r{lhf.

 ……jhyp fl;Ld bghz:lhl;oia tpl jhahh; vd;d ghj;Jf;f Koa[k;> ,njh ehisf;nf khg;gps;is fpl;nlh;e;J nghd; te;jJd;dh ehd; \l;iliaj; J}f;fpl;L Xlqk;.††

 kfid tpl kfSk;/ khg;gps;isa[k;/ nguf; FHe;ija[k;jhd; ,tSf;F Kf;fpakhk;. Mdhy; ehd; vd; mg;ghit ftdpj;Jf; bfhs;s epidj;jhy; jg;ghk;

 gtpj;uhtpw;F vhpr;ry; te;jJ. nghd; bra;J ngrpa nghJ/ ehfhPfk; fUjpahtJ mtSila khkpahh;- mts; mg;ghtpd; cly;epiy gw;wp xU thh;j;ijTl tprhhpf;fhjJ mtSs; btWg;igf; fpz:oaJ.

 ntz:lhk; ,g;nghJ vjw;F mtisg; gw;wpa epidg;g[>

 gtpj;uh Jz:ilf; Te;jnyhL KWf;fpf; bfhz:ilahff; fl;of; bfhz:lnghJ me;j xyp kpje;J te;jJ.

 xyp vd;W brhy;tJ jtW. ,jak; tiu brd;W ,jaj;ijna bky;y mirj;Jg; ghh;j;j ,ir.

 fP nghh;oy; kndh$; Fkhhpd; tpuy;fs; tpisahl mtd; miwapypUe;J ,dpa ,ir kpje;J me;j tPl;ilna epiwg;gij mts; jpdk; jpdk; re;njh#j;Jld; mDgtpj;Jf; bfhz:oUe;jhs;. me;j bky;ypira[ld; ,jak; xd;wp tpLk;nghJ/ fle;j fhyj;jpd; frg;ghd fdt[fs; vy;yhk; fiue;J nghapd. mts; Mde;jj;ij mUnf ,Ue;J mDgtpj;jhs;.

 ,g;nghJk; ,ira[ld; xd;wp fz:fis \of; bfhz:lhs;.

 kndh$;Fkhhpd; tpuy;fs; tpj;ij g[hpe;jd. ,ir miyahf vGk;gpaJ. flyhfg; gue;jJ. thdhf epHy; je;jJ. kiHahff; Fsph;e;jJ. xU ghliy Koj;J/ mLj;jg; ghliy mtd; ,irf;fj; Jt';Fk;Kd; xU rpW ,ilbtsp tpGe;jJ.

 me;j ,ilbtspapy; Fuy; FWf;fpl;lJƒ ……mf;fh††

 epkph;e;jhs;.

 fhh;j;jpnfad;.

 ……fhh;j;jp... th... th... vg;goapUf;nf>†† vd;W kyh;e;J tuntw;whs;.

 fhh;j;jpnfad; bts;isa[k;/ bts;isa[khf cLg;g[ mzpe;jpUe;jhd;.

 ……mf;fh/ ehd; ,g;g ntiyf;Fg; nghnwd;... c';fg;ght[f;F rpfpr;ir juhnu lhf;lh; \h;j;jp.. mtnuhl fpspdpf;y vd;id thh;L ghah nrh;j;Jf;fpl;oUf;fhU.. ek;k mz:zDk; mtUk; ez:gh;fs;jhd;. mjdhy mtUf;F vd;idg; gj;jpj; bjhpa[k;. mz:zd; nfhgk; jPuw tiuf;Fk; jd; f;spdpf;y ,Uf;fyhk;D mth; brhy;ypl;lh Uf;fh..†† fhh;j;jpnfad; fz:fs; eide;jpUe;jd.

 ……bthpFl;...†† gtpj;uh mtd; ifiag; gpoj;Jf; FYf;fpdhs;. ……buhk;g re;njh#kh ,Uf;F/ fhh;j;jp...††

 ……Mdh mz:zd; nfhgk; ,d;Dk; jPuiyf;fh... f;spdpf; ek;gUf;F nghd; gz:zp/ ntiy bfilr;r tp#aj;ij mth; fpl;l brhd;ndd;. xU thh;j;ij Tlg; ngrhk bghRf;Fd;D hprPtiu tr;rpl;lhU...†† mtd; Fuy; fufuj;jJ.

 ……vy;yhk; xUehs; rhpahg; nghapLk;/ fhh;j;jp..††

 ……,g;gj;jhd; c';f \";rpy me;jg; giHa re;njh#k; jpUk;g[Jf;fh... mijg; ghh;j;jh vdf;F buhk;g re;njh#kh ,Uf;F.††

 ……cf;fhU... ogd; buoaha;or;rp.††

 ……bghpatiug; ghj;Jl;L tnud;f;fh...†† vd;W uhkgj;ud; gLf;f itf;fg;gl;oUe;j miwf;Fs; nghdhd;.

 mthplk; ngrptpl;L jpUk;gpdhd;. jiutpy; rg;gz kpl;L mkh;e;jhd;. jaf;fkhd Fuypy; nfl;lhd;.

 ……mf;fh... m';f +k;y nghl;L g{l;of; fplf;Fnjd;D gpahndhit vLj;J J}R jl;o/ hpg;ngh; gz:zp ,';nf bfhz:L te;jP';f.. ,g;ngh mJ ,';f J}R nrh;e;jpl;oUf;nff;fh... Vd;>††

 gtpj;uh gjpy; ,d;wpj; jLkhwpdhs;.

 ……vd;d ,Ue;jhYk; ,J me;j tPl;Lg; bghUs;/ fhh;j;jp.††

 ……gpahndhjhd; me;j tPl;Lf;Fr; brhe;jk;... mJy th;u ,ir Tlthf;fh me;j tPl;Lf;Fr; brhe;jk;>††

 RhPh; vd;w nfs;tp. gtpj;uh jpifg;g[ld; fhh;j;jpnfaidg; ghh;j;jhs;. mtd; njhiria g[l;L thapy; nghl;lhd;. brhd;dhd;„

 ……mg;gog; ghh;j;jh/ eP';f Tl me;j tPl;ilr; nrh;e;j t';fjhd;f;fh... mJf;fhf ,e;j tPl;Lf;F te;jh \r;R tplhkyh ,Uf;fP';f>††

 gtpj;uhit ,onghy; jhf;fpaJ me;jf; nfs;tp.

 vt;tst[ mw;g[jkhf rpe;jpf;fpwhd; ,td;> fy;Y}hpf;Fg; nghd gog;ghspfis tpl/ fs;skpy;yhj me;j mwpt[ ve;j tpjj;jpy; kl;lk;> vd;d xU epahakhd nfs;tp nfl;Ltpl;lhd;> eP kl;Lk; Raeyj;njhL ,';nf te;Jk; \r;R tpLfpwha;. gpahndh tpd; \r;ir kl;Lk; Vd; mlf;fptpl;lha; vd;W bghl;oy; miwfpw khjphp nfl;L tpl;lhd;.

 fhh;j;jpnfad; ogd; rhg;gpl;Ltpl;Lg; nghd gpd;Dk; me;jf; nfs;tp mtis epHy;nghy; Juj;jpaJ.

 gpahndhit ,g;nghJ ghh;j;jnghJ/ \h;r;irahfpf; fPnH fplf;Fk; xU FHe;ijiag; ghh;g;gJ nghy; ,Ue;jJ.

 Xodhs;. gpahndhtpy; ,irf; fl;ilfis tUodhs;.

 ……!hhplh... ,j;jid ehs; cd;id ehd; myl;rpag;gLj;jpdJ kd;dpf;f Koahj Fj;jk;jhd;... Mdh ,dp nkYk; cd;id myl;rpag; gLj;jkhl;nld;...†† vd;W Fdpe;J gpahndhtpw;F Kj;jk; je;jhs;.

 if jl;ly; rj;jk; nfl;lJ. jpUk;gpdhs;.

 kndh$;Fkhh; J}zpy; xU njhis rha;j;J xapyhf epd;wpUe;jhd;. Kfj;jpy; vg;nghJk; ,Uf;Fk; mnj trPfug; g[d;dif.

 gtpj;uhtpd; Kfk; rpte;jJ.

 ……kndh$;Fkhh;... vdf;fhf ,e;j gpahndhy xU jlit thrpr;Rf; fhl;LtP';fsh>†† vd;whs;.

 mtd; g[d;difa[ld; gpahndhit beU';fpdhd;.

 gtpj;uh mtruk; mtrukhf jd; glitj; jiyg;ghy;/ gpahndhtpd; nkw;g[wj;ija[k;/ RUjpf; fl;ilfisa[k; J}R jl;odhs;.

 kndh$;Fkhh; gpahndhtpd; Kd; mkh;e;jhd;. gj;J tpuy;fshYk; gj;J RUjpf; fl;ilfis mGj;jp RUjp nrh;j;jhd;. me;j hP';fhuk; me;j miwia/ me;j tPl;il/ me;jj; bjUit/ ,e;j cyfj;ijna epiwj;jJ nghypUe;jJ gtpj;uhtpw;F.

 mtDila tpuy;fs; btF ,ay;ghf RUjpf; fl;ilfspd; kPJ ele;jd. Xod. jhtpd.

 ,ir Fk;bkd;W vGe;jJ.

 gtpj;uh fz:fis \odhs;. \oa fz:fspypUe;J fz:zPh; g[uz:lJ.

 vd;d mw;g[jkha; thrpf;fpwhd; ,td;

 epkpl';fs; fiue;jd. mtd; me;j ,irj; Jqf;fpw;F Kw;Wg; nghl;lJk;/ gtpj;uh fz:fisj; jpwe;jhs;. fz:fspy; gutrk; Kl;o epd;wJ.

 ……kndh... vdf;F Kiwah gpahndh thrpf;f fj;Jj; jUtP';fsh/ kndh> g;sP!;..†† Fuy; cUfp te;jJ.

 kndh$;Fkhh; mtis md;g[ld; ghh;j;jhd;. el;ghd g[d;difia tphpj;jhd;.

 ……eP';f vg;g nfl;lhYk;..†† vd;whd;.

 gtpj;uh mtd; iffisg; gw;wp vLj;J Kj;jkpl;lhs;.

 ……ed;wp kndh... ed;wp...†† -fz:fspy; Mde;jf; fz:zPh;. Fuypy; gutr eLf;fk;.

 kndh$;Fkhh; g[d;dif tpyfhky; jd; iffis bky;y tpLtpj;Jf; bfhz:lhd;. gtpj;uhtpd; ,jH;fspy; ,Ue;j <uk; mtd; ifapy; ,d;Dk; ,Ue;jJ.

 mtDf;Fs; xU rpyph;g;g[ vGk;gpaJ.

 ,e;j cwt[ ,irapd; bfhLf;fy;/ th';fnyhL kl;Lk; epd;Wtplg; nghtjpy;iy vd;W mtd; cs;Szh;t[ guguj;jJ.