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>¡ A_¡ hpsp®_p¡ A„s `Z sd¡ S> gphip¡.

dpÓ `p„Q âL$fZ_u Ap lpõeL$\p_y„ `l¡gy„ âL$fZ g¡ML¡$ sd_¡ `|R¹>ep rh_p g¿ey„ lsy„. `f„sy âL$fZ A¡L$ A¡hp rÓc¡V¡$ Aphu_¡ `|fy„ \ey„ R>¡ L¡$ Äep„\u hpsp® Nd¡ s¡ fõs¡ ApNm h^u iL¡$. `Z L$ep fõs¡?

âL$fZ_p A„s¡ ÓZ rhL$ë`p¡ Apàep lsp, s¡dp„\u sd_¡ Ndsp rhL$ë` `f sd¡ [¼gL$ L$ey¯ lsy„. Ad¡ ^pep£ lsp¡ s¡\u h^y qfõ`p¡Þk Ad_¡ dþep¡ R>¡. kp¥\u h^y hpQL$p¡A¡ `l¡gp¡ rhL$ë` `k„v$ L$ep£ lsp¡. d„Sy> v¡$kpC A¡L$ âp¡a¡i_g åg¡L$d¡Bgf R>¡ A_¡ s¡ A¡L$ Msf_pL$ A„X$fhëX®$ N¢N_u kæe R>¡ s¡d dp_u_¡ hpsp® ApNm Qpg¡ s¡hy„ L$l¡_pfp blzdsudp„ lsp. g¡ML$ grgs gpX$ lh¡ hpsp® ApNm Qgph¡ R>¡. hp„Qhp_y„ Q|L$ip¡ _l]. lh¡\u v$f b¡ âL$fZ hÃQ¡_p¡ kdeNpmp¡ V|„$L$p¡ fl¡i¡. TV$TV$ rhL$ë` v¡$Å¡.

Qp¡\p âL$fZ `R>u `p„Qdp âL$fZdp„ hpsp®_p¡ A„s iu fus¡ gphhp¡ s¡ `Z sd¡ S> L$l¡ip¡. S>¡ hpQL¡$ k|Qh¡gp¡ A„s kp¥\u h^y fkâv$ li¡ s¡_¡ 200 ê$r`ep_u qL„$ds_y„ A¡L$ NyS>fpsu `yõsL$ B_pddp„ `Z dmi¡.

sp¡, L$lp¡, Ap buÅ âL$fZ `R>u grgs gpX$ iy„ L$f¡?

L$luA¡ sp¡ L$p¡_¡? (1)

L$luA¡ sp¡ L$p¡_¡? (2)

lp, buÅ qv$hk¡ Mf¡Mf AZ^pey¯ bÞey„.

X$u.L¡$. `V¡$g s¡_u `pk¡ lp„amp¡ap„amp¡ \sp¡ Apìep¡ A_¡ L$p_ `pk¡ dp¢ gphsp„ bp¡ëep¡, ""Aëep `uku, sy„ dfu S>hp_p¡ R>¡! s_¡ L„$C cp_ R>¡, `¡gu d„Sy v¡$kpC Mf¡Mf L$p¡Z R>¡?''

""L$p¡Z R>¡?'' `uku_y„ ùv$e b¡ ^bL$pfp Q|L$u Ney„.

""âp¡a¡i_g åg¡L$d¡Bgf R>¡!'' X$u. L¡$.A¡ ^X$pL$p¡ L$ep£.

""A„...l„.'' `l¡gp sp¡ `uku_¡ kdS> S> _ `X$u. R>sp„ s¡Z¡ afu hpf L$üy„, ""A„... l„.'' `R>u N„cufsp\u A¡L$ Ap„Nmu `p¡sp_u v$pY$u `f d|L$u_¡ ÓuÆ hpf ""A„... l„.'' L$fu_¡ Dd¡ey¯, ""âp¡a¡i_g R>¡ A¡V$g¡ sp¡... QpS>® `Z h^pf¡ g¡su li¡ _„C?''

""QpS>®? i¡_p¡ QpS>?'' X$u.L¡$. spX|$¼ep¡, ""Aëep, A¡ bpC s_¡ bv$_pd L$fhp dpN¡ R>¡. gp¡L$p¡_¡ bv$_pd L$fu_¡ s¡d_u `pk¡\u `¥kp `X$phhp_p¡ s¡_p¡ ^„^p¡ R>¡! A¡V$g¡ A¡ âp¡a¡i_g L$l¡hpe.''

""A„... l„.'' `ukuA¡ h^y A¡L$ A„lL$pfp¡ L$ep£.

""iy„ A„l,'' X$u. L¡$.A¡ `uku_¡ lgpìep¡, ""sy„ iy„ kdS>¡gp¡?''

""L„$C _l], L„$C _l].'' `ukuA¡ dpMu DX$pX$sp¡ lp¡e s¡d lp\ lgpìep¡.

`Z `R>u `uku Mf¡Mf rhQpfdp„ `X$ép¡. `uku Äepf¡ rhQpfdp„ lp¡e Ðepf¡ s¡_u A¡L$ Mpk dyÖp Å¡hp S>¡hu lp¡e R>¡. s¡ s¡_p X$pbp lp\_u V$Qgu Ap„Nmu hX¡$ s¡_u V$pg_¡ A¡hu fus¡ M„S>hpm¡ R>¡ L¡$ S>¡\u V$pg_¡ Y$p„L$hp dpV¡$ dp\p_u `pR>m_u bpSy>\u Ap¡mu_¡ ApNm gph¡gp gp„bp hpm kl¡S> `Z rhQqgs _ \pe. X$p¡L$u Óp„ku fpMu_¡ `uku Ap `p¡Tdp„ rdq_dd AX$^p L$gpL$ ky^u [õ\f flu iL$sp¡ lsp¡.

Å¡L¡$ v$k rdr_V$ `R>u X$u.L¡$. `V¡$g_u ^ufS> M|V$u. s¡Z¡ `|R¹>ey„. ""iy„ rhQpf¡ R>¡?''

""Mpk L„$C _l],'' `ukuA¡ s¡_u V$Qgu Ap„Nmu_p _Mdp„\u A„N|W$p_p _M hX¡$ L$Qfp¡ v|$f L$fsp„ L$üy„, ""Mpgu awgL$p fp¡V$gu_p¡ âp¡åg¡d \pe.''

""A¡V$g¡?''

""A¡V$g¡ A¡d L¡$ dpfu rdqkk NfdpNfd awgL$p fp¡V$gu kfk b_ph¡ R>¡. fp¡S> khpf¡ bfpbf _h _¡ `„Qph_¡ d_¡ cpZpdp„ s¡_u a|gL$p fp¡V$gu Mphp_u Apv$s `X$u NC R>¡.'' `ukuA¡ N„cufsp`|h®L$ L$üy„, ""Apv$s sp¡ `X¡$ S> _¡? huk hfk \ep„ gÁ__¡! `Z lh¡ Qgphu g¡hy„ `X¡$, A¡hy„ b_¡.''

""A¡Vg¡?'' X$u.L¡$. cX$¼ep¡, ""`uku sy„ i¡_p rhQpfp¡ L$fu füp¡ R>¡?''

""lh¡ sp¡ R|>V$pR>¡X$p S> \hp_p _¡?'' `uku rkqfek lsp¡. ""`¡gu d„Sy> âp¡a¡i_g R>¡. dpfu b¥fu kpsdy„ `pk _¡ ApW$dy„ a¡Bg R>¡. d„Sy> L$l¡i¡ A¡V$g¡ A¡ sp¡ dp_u S> g¡hp_u L¡$ dpf¡ _¡ d„Sy>_¡ gafy„ R>¡... `R>u iy„ \pe? R|>V$pR>¡X$p S> \pe _¡?'' `ukuA¡ s¡_u v$pY$u `f Ap„Nmu d|L$sp„ Dd¡ey¯, ""lp, Ou Okhp_p¡ âp¡åg¡d `Z \pe.''

""Ou? A¡ hmu iy„?''

""k|sp„ `l¡gp„ rdqkk d_¡ `N¡ Ou Oku Ap`¡ R>¡.'' `ukuA¡ L$üy„, ""dpfp Qídp„_p _„bf Ap¡R>p L$fhp dpV¡$.''

X$u.L¡$. `V¡$g sp¡ `uku_¡ Å¡sp¡ S> flu Nep¡. L¡$hu Ås_p¡ R>¡ Ap dpZk? d„Sy> v¡$kpC _pd_u L$p¡C dpep_¡ s¡_y„ `k® `pRy>„ Ap`hp_¡ blp_¡ b¡ hpf dmu iy„ Apìep¡, Ap sp¡ R>¡L$ R|>V$pR>¡X$p ky^u_p rhQpf L$fhp dp„X$ép¡ ! huk-huk hfk_p„ gÁ_Æh__p¡ L„$C dsgb S> _l]? rdqkk A¡V$g¡ iy„, a¼s `p„Q awgL$p fp¡V$gu? fp¡S>_u?

""Apd¡e Adpf¡ L„$C R>p¡L$fp„-R>¥ep„ sp¡ R>¡ _l],'' `uku L$lu füp¡ lsp¡, ""lh¡ \hp_p„e _l]. A¡V$g¡ Å¡ Ap d„Sy-''

""Aëep `uku!?'' lh¡ X$u. L¡$._p¡ r`Ñp¡ Nep¡, ""s_¡ L„$C cp_bp_ R>¡? sy„ iy„ bp¡gu füp¡ R>¡? Ap `¡gu, åg¡L$d¡Bgf bpC kp\¡ gÁ_ L$fhp_p¡ Bfpv$p¡ R>¡?''

""A¡V$g¡- Ap sp¡-'' `uku AQp_L$ qX$a¡[Þkh b_u Nep¡. ""Ap sp¡ iy„ R>¡, hk® L$d Vy$ hk®! l¢ l¢! A¡ Ap`Z_¡ bv$_pd L$f¡ A¡_p L$fsp„ Ap`Zu Å¡X¡$ `fZu S> S>su lp¡e sp¡, l¢ l¢, A¡_¡ sp¡ apev$p¡ S> R>¡ _¡?''

`uku_¡ Apd bpOp_u S>¡d v$p„s L$pY$sp¡ Å¡C_¡ X$u. L¡$._¡ A¡hu MuS> QX$u Aphu L¡$ b¡ lp\ hX¡$ s¡_u bp¡Qu Tpgu_¡ lQdQphu _p¿ep¡, ""X$ap¡m! spfu kp\¡ gÁ_ L$fhpdp„ A¡_¡ apev$p¡ _\u!!''

X$u. L¡$._y„ L$l¡hy„ sp¡ A¡d lsy„ L¡$ spfu kp\¡ gÁ_ L$fhpdp„ L$p¡C_¡ apev$p¡ _\u! Mpsfu _ \su lp¡e sp¡ `|R>u Å¡S>¡ spfu hpBa_¡! `Z s¡Z¡ `p¡sp_u Æc `f L$pb| fp¿ep¡. \p¡X$u hpf `R>u `p¡sp_p lp\ D`f `Z L$pb| fp¿ep¡.

R>¡hV¡$ `ukuA¡ s¡_p¡ L$p¡gf R>p¡X$pìep¡, lQdQu Ne¡gp„ Qídp„ kfMp L$ep¯, rMõkpdp„\u L$p„kL$u L$pY$u Afukp_u dv$v$ rh_p AY$pf rdr_V$ ky^u hpm Ap¡þep bpv$ s¡ õhõ\ \ep¡. Å¡L¡$ õhõ\ \ep `R>u_p¡ s¡_p¡ `l¡gp¡ khpg X$u. L¡$._¡ afu Aõhõ\ b_phu d|L¡$ s¡hp¡ lsp¡ :

""L¡$d, d„Sy> v¡$kpC dpfu kp\¡ `fZ¡ sp¡ A¡_¡ apev$p¡ _ \pe?''

X$u.L¡$. `V¡$g¡ L$`pm L|$V$éy„. `R>u `uku_¡ ip„rs\u b¡kpX$u_¡ kdÅìey„ L¡$ d„Sy> v¡$kpC_¡ L$p¡C_u kp\¡ gÁ_ L$fhpdp„ fk _ lp¡e. s¡_¡ dpÓ kpd¡_p dpZk_¡ bv$_pdu_p¡ X$f bspX$u_¡ `¥kp L$Y$phhpdp„ S> fk lp¡e. A¡L$ hpf A¡ spfu `pk¡\u `¥kp L$Y$phu g¡i¡ `R>u s¡_¡ `X$sp¡ d|L$u_¡ buÅ¡ riL$pf ip¡^i¡.

""A„...l„!'' `ukuA¡ Ap hMs¡ Mf¡Mf O¡O|f AhpS>¡ A„lL$pfp¡ L$ep£. X$u.L¡$. `V¡$g_¡ gpÁey„ L¡$ ApMf¡ `uku_p c¡Ådp„ ApMu hps bfpbf fus¡ b¡ku NC R>¡.

`Z X$u.L¡$. `V¡$g_u ^pfZp Mp¡V$u lsu.

`ukuA¡ kl¡S> Mp¢Mpfp¡ Mp^p¡. X$pbp lp\_u V$Qgu Ap„Nmu hX¡$ V$pg `f_p hpm kl¡S> `Z rhQrgs _ \pe s¡ fus¡ M„S>hpþep. `R>u ÅZ¡ s¡ blz ANÐe_u hps L$l¡sp¡ lp¡e s¡d bp¡ëep¡, ""A¡_p¡ A\® A¡d \ep¡ L¡$ Äep„ ky^u d„Sy> v¡$kpC_¡ dpfu `pk¡\u `¥kp _l] dm¡ Ðep„ ky^u s¡ buÅ¡ riL$pf _l] ip¡^¡!''

Ap hps X$u.L$¡$._¡ S>fpe _ kdÅC.

***

`Z `uku_p dNS>dp„ ApMp¡ àgp_ ¼guAf lsp¡.

s¡_¡ lsy„ S> L¡$ d„Sy> v¡$kpC_p¡ kpd¡\u ap¡_ Aphi¡. A_¡ Mf¡Mf Apìep¡. X$u.L¡$. `V¡$g ap¡__p qfqkhf `f lp\ fpMu_¡ ^udp AhpS>¡ b|d `pX$u füp lsp : ""`uku...! `¡gu d„Sy> v¡$kpC_p¡ ap¡_ R>¡!''

`ukuA¡ s¡_p„ L$p¡gf kfMp L$ep¯, ê$dpg hX¡$ Qídp„ g|R¹>ep„, L$p„kL$u hX¡$ s¡_u V$pg Y$p„L$sp hpm `Z Ap¡þep. X$u.L¡$. KQp¡_uQp¡ \C füp¡ lsp¡, `Z `uku A¡L$v$d õhõ\ lsp¡. lp\dp„ ap¡_ gC_¡ s¡ bp¡ëep¡, ""lgp¡?''

""lp...e!'' kpd¡ R>¡X¡$\u rMgrMg lkhp_p¡ AhpS> Apìep¡, ""sd_¡ \sy„ li¡ L¡$ lz„ L¡$hu Ry>„ _l]? ap¡_¡e _\u L$fsu? `Z bp¡gp¡, L$ep£ L¡$ _l]?''

""lp, lp¢?'' `ukuA¡ Mp¡V$p¡Mp¡V$p¡ DÐkpl bspX$ép¡. ""bp¡gp¡, iy„ lsy„?''

""L¡$d, L„$C L$pdL$pS> lp¡e sp¡ S> ap¡_ \pe?'' d„Sy>A¡ gl¡L$p¡ L$ep£, ""Adpfp\u A¡d _¡d ap¡_ _ \pe?''

""\pe _¡?''

""bpL$u kpQy„ L$J?'' d„Sy> bp¡gu, ""dpf¡ Mf¡Mf sdpfy„ L$pd R>¡ ! kp„S>¡ O¡f Aphp¡_¡—?''

""kp„S>¡?'' `ukuA¡ cph Mp^p¡, ""ApS>¡ sp¡ dpf¡ Ap¡.V$u. R>¡.''

""Ap¡.V$u.?''

""Ap¡hfV$pBd! Sy>Ap¡_¡ L¡$V$gy„ b^y„ L$pd R>¡?'' `ukuA¡ cph h^pep£.

""AÃR> AÃR>p,'' d„Sy>A¡ qfkpdZp„ gu^p„, ""Adpfp L$fsp„ `Qpk-kp„BW$ ê$r`ep_p Ap¡.V$u._u qL„$ds h^pf¡, A¡d S> _¡?''

R>¡hV¡$ d„Sy>_p "Åh Åh lh¡ !', "dpfp kd, bk?' "Aphy„ iy„ L$fp¡ R>p¡?' "bk, ApV$gu S> ä¡ÞX$qi` _¡?' hN¡f¡_u ^pfu Akf \C. `ukuA¡ Ap¡.V$u. S>sp¡ L$ep£ A_¡ 201, fÐ_drZ A¡`pV®$d¡ÞV¹$k_u hpV$ `L$X$u.

S>sp„ S>sp„ `uku `p¡sp_p õL|$V$f_p rdffdp„ Å¡C_¡ rhQpfhp gpÁep¡ lsp¡ L¡$, ""X$u. L¡$._u hps bp¡Nk S> gpN¡ R>¡. ApV$gu kpfu g¡X$u L„$C åg¡L$d¡Bgf lp¡e? A_¡, A¡_¡ Ap`Zu ä¡ÞX$qi` Ndsu lp¡e sp¡ S> `p¡sp_¡ O¡f bp¡gph¡ _¡? X$u. L¡$._¡ L¡$d _\u bp¡gphsu?'' `uku Mf¡Mf lhpdp„ EX$u füp¡ lsp¡.

`Z õL|$V$f_p rdff¡ S> `uku_¡ `pR>p¡ ^fsu `f ApÎep¡. L$pfZ L¡$ fÐ_drZ A¡`pV®$d¡ÞV$ _uQ¡ õL|$V$f `pL®$ L$fu_¡ rdffdp„ Å¡ey„ Ðepf¡ s¡_u ApM¡ApMu V$pg DOpX$u `X$u NC lsu A_¡ `h__¡ gu^¡ hpm_u b¡ÓZ gV$p¡ fuskf tiNX$p„_u S>¡d Ecu \C NC lsu.

M¡f, hpm_¡ ìeh[õ\s L$fhp S>ê$fu lsp A¡V$g¡ õL|$V$f_p rdff kpd¡ Ecp flu_¡ `|fu kpX$p Qp¥v$ rdr_V$ gNu L¡$ic|jp L$fhu `Z Ar_hpe® lsu. Ap kpX$p Qp¥v$ rdr_V$dp„ `uku_¡ s¡_p¡ Ap¡qfqS>_g àgp_ epv$ Aphu Nep¡.

`, fÐ_drZ A¡`pV®$d¡ÞV$_u X$p¡fb¡g s¡Z¡ v$hpbu L¡$ sfs S> s¡_p ^pep® âdpZ¡ qMgrMg lksu d„Sy> v¡$kpCA¡ v$fhpÅ¡ Mp¡ëep¡. s¡_p ^pep® âdpZ¡ S> d„Sy>A¡ s¡_p¡ lp\ `L$X$u_¡ A„v$f M¢Ãep¡. A_¡ ^pep® âdpZ¡ S> d„Sy>A¡ v$fhpÅ¡ `Z b„^ L$fu v$u^p¡!

`Z L$p¡C ap¡V$p¡N°paf lp\dp„ L$¡d¡fp¡ gC_¡ kpd¡ S> Ecp¡ li¡ A¡hy„ s¡Z¡ _lp¡sy„ ^pey¯!

Å¡L¡$ d„Sy> v¡$kpC_u sfL$ub `Z kph _pMu v¡$hp S>¡hu _lp¡su, ""lpe lpe, `uku, lh¡ sd_¡ iu fus¡ L$lz„? sdpf¡ Adpfp _pV$L$dp„ A¡[¼V„$N L$fhu `X$i¡! Adpfu gpep¡_¡k ¼gb R>¡ _¡, A¡dp„ dpf¡ A¡L$ fp¡d¡[ÞV$L$ L$p¡d¡X$u _pV$L$ cS>hhp_y„ R>¡. blz _p_y„ R>¡, sd_¡ S>fpe hp„^p¡ _ql Aph¡, lh¡ _p _ `pX$sp lp¢?

bp¡gp¡, Qpf S> qv$hk_p¡ V$pBd R>¡. sd¡ qflk®g L$fhp Aphip¡_¡? fps_p kl¡S> dp¡Xy„$ \i¡, `Z sdpfy„ õL|$V$f sp¡ R>¡ S> _¡?

A_¡ bp¡gp¡, L$pg¡ sp¡ ¼gbdp„ _pV$L$_y„ `p¡õV$f `Z gNpX$u v¡$hy„ `X$i¡! sd¡ \p¡X$p `p¡T Ap`p¡_¡ A¡V$g¡ Ap cpC ap¡V$p `pX$sp„ \pe? lh¡ Å¡, `uku àgu...T ! _p _l] `pX$hp_u, Ap¡L¡$?''

V|„$L$dp„ `uku_¡ Mbf sp¡ lsu S> L¡$ s¡_p ap¡V$p `X$i¡. `Z Ap fus¡ `X$i¡ s¡hu L$ë`_p _lp¡su! b¡ÓZ ap¡V$p `X$ép Ðep„ ky^u sp¡ `uku bpOp¡ S> füp¡, `Z `R>u AQp_L$ s¡ d|X$dp„ Aphu_¡ bp¡ëep¡, ""ap¡V$pdp„ lz„ L$p¡d¡qX$e_ sp¡ gpNui. `Z Ap fp¡d¡[ÞV$L$ L$p¡d¡X$u R>¡ A¡hy„ iu fus¡ Mbf `X$i¡?''

""hp...D!'' d„Sy>_¡ `Z L$ë`_p _lp¡su L¡$ riL$pf ApV$gu TX$`\u t`S>fpdp„ akpi¡.

"fp¡d¡[ÞV$L$ L$p¡d¡X$u' dpV¡$_p ap¡V$p_y„ k¡i_ S>fp gp„by„ Qpëey„. L$pfZ L¡$ dpÓ d„Sy> S> _l], lh¡ sp¡ `uku `Z `p¡T Ap`hpdp„ `fa¡¼i__p¡ ApN°l fpMu füp¡ lsp¡. ap¡V$p¡N°paf `Z DÐkpldp„ lsp¡, L$pfZ L¡$ Qpf-`p„Q ap¡V$pdp„ `shp_¡ bv$g¡ Al] sp¡ ApMp¡ fp¡g `|fp¡ \pe A¡V$gp¡ rbT_¡k dmu füp¡ lsp¡.

A¡L$ AÐe„s fp¡d¡[ÞV$L$ `p¡T Ap`su hMs¡ `uku_p d_dp„ b¡ nZ dpV¡$ A¡L$ ce„L$f rhQpf TbL$u Nep¡ :

""Å¡ dpfp¡ àgp_ K^p¡ `X¡$ sp¡ Ap A¡L$ A¡L$ ap¡V$p¡ d_¡ L¡$V$gp ê$r`ep_p¡ `X¡$?''

`Z `ukuA¡ sfs S> A¡ rhQpf dNS>dp„\u M„M¡fu _p¿ep¡, A¡d rhQpf L$fu_¡ L¡$: ""b^p_¡ åg¡L$d¡Bg \hp_p¡ QpÞk Ap¡R>p¡ dm¡ R>¡? l¢?''

***

Å¡L¡$ `uku_p¡ A¡ `l¡gp¡ A_¡ R>¡ëgp¡ QpÞk lsp¡.

L$pfZ L¡$ buÅ S> qv$hk¡ d„Sy> v¡$kpC_p¡ Ap¡qakdp„ ap¡_ Aphu Nep¡, ""`¡gy„ _pV$L$ sp¡ L¡$Þkg \ey„! Ap`Zp ap¡V$p¡ bpsg Nep, _l] `uku?''

`Z `uku sfs S> kdÆ Nep¡. ap¡_ d|L$sp„_u kp\¡ S> s¡ kpl¡b_u fÅ gC_¡ _pW$p¡. s¡Z¡ A¡L$ kf_pdy„ `l¡g¡\u ip¡^u fp¿ey„ lsy„-

õVy$qX$ep¡ rhT_

(L$p¡çàeyV$f hX¡$ Ba¡¼V$ L$fu_¡ ap¡V$p¡N°pa L$fu Ap`hpdp„ Aphi¡.)

`ukuA¡ Qpf`p„Q qaëdu d¡N¡rT_p¡ `Z c¡Np„ L$fu fp¿ep„ lsp„. õVy$qX$ep¡ rhT_dp„ S>C_¡ s¡Z¡ L$üy„, ""bp¡k, Ap`Z¡ A¥ðep® fpe Å¡X¡$ `p¡T Ap`sp„ lp¡CA¡ A¡hu Ba¡¼V$ \pe?''

ap¡V$p¡N°paf s¡_u kpd¡ Å¡C S> füp¡. `Z `ukuA¡ lksp„ lksp„ L$üy„, ""Ap sp¡ b¡ OX$u Nçds Mpsf! L¡$V$gp `¥kp \pe?''

V|„$L$dp„ R>õkp¡-kpskp¡ ê$r`epdp„ `uku R> rlfp¡B_p¡ kp\¡ fp¡d¡[ÞV$L$ `p¡Tdp„ Np¡W$hpep- A¥ðep®, L$qfídp, fhu_p, rië`p, sb| A_¡ dp^yfu! ap¡V$p¡N°paf¡ AS>®ÞV$_p¡ QpS>® gNpX¡$gp¡ A¡V$g¡ buÅ qv$hk¡ ap¡V$p dmu `Z Nep. bk, lh¡ `¡gu d„Sy> v¡$kpC s¡_p ap¡V$p hX¡$ ¼epf¡ Ap¾$dZ L$f¡ s¡_u S> fpl Å¡hp_u lsu.

***

`ukuA¡ blz fpl Å¡hu _ `X$u.

by^hpf¡ S> Ap¾$dZ \ey„. `uku Ap¡qak¡\u Of¡ Apìep¡ Ðepf¡ rdqkk_p¡ awg¡gp¡ \p¡bX$p¡ A_¡ k|S>¡gu Ap„Mp¡ Å¡C_¡ s¡ kdÆ Nep L¡$ ap¡V$p Ofdp„ Aphu Nep R>¡. R>sp„ s¡ L„$C bp¡ëep¡ S> _l]. Q|`Qp` Mp^y„. L$fp¡X$`rs Å¡ey„, Of Of L$u L$lp_u Å¡ey„, fp¡S> _lp¡sp¡ Å¡sp¡ R>sp„ kpk cu L$cu blz `Z Å¡ey„. rdqkk `Z L$iy„ bp¡ëep rh_p kp¡ap `f `|smp_u S>¡d b¡ku flu.

R>¡hV¡$ k|sp„ `l¡gp„ `uku_p `N¡ Ou Oksp„ Oksp„ rdqkk_u Ap„Mp¡dp„\u Ap„ky_u ^pf Qpgu.

`uku L$l¡, ""Ap V$`L$p„ ¼ep„\u `X¡$ R>¡? kpgy„, Ap`Ï„ ^pb„y guL$ \hp dp„X$éy„ L¡$ iy„?''

A¡V$g¡ rdqkk\u _ fl¡hpey„, ""Ap d„Sy>X$u Ly$Z k¡? hul-hul hfl gNu Ad] sdpfu i¡hp L$fu B_y„ L$p¢e _„B? ip¡¼e_¡ Ofdp¢ Opghu 'su sp¡ Adp¢_¡ `¡'gp„ L¡$'hy„ sy„, T¡f `u _ dfu _p Äep lp¡s?''

`ukuA¡ v$gugp¡ L$fhp_p¡ v¡$Mph L$ep£. `Z rdqkk Q„qX$L$p b_u Nep„ lsp„. ^X$p^X$ `¡gp ap¡V$p a¢¼ep. ""Ap Sy>Ap¡! Ly$Z R> Ap? Ly$cpfÅA¡ sp¡ sdp¡_¡ L$pNm¡e g¿ep¡ R>! Ap sp¡ dy„ kps Qp¡`X$u `pk Ry>„ A¡V$g¡ hp¢Ãep¡!''

S>hpbdp„ `ukuA¡ lzL$d_p„ `Ñp„ L$pY$ép„. A¥ðep®, L$qfídp, fhu_p, rië`p, sb| A_¡ dp^yfu kp\¡_p `p¡sp_p fp¡d¡[ÞV$L$ `p¡T bspX$u `ukuA¡ L$üy„, ""lh¡ Aphp ap¡V$p¡ sp¡ L$p¡çàeyV$fdp„ L$fphhp lp¡e A¡V$gp \pe! bpL$u A¥ðep® kp\¡ Aphp¡ ap¡V$p¡ Å¡ep¡ lp¡e sp¡ kgdp_ d_¡ Æhsp¡ R>p¡X¡? A¡V$g¡ sy„ fX$hp_y„ fl¡hp v¡$ A_¡ Ou Ok!''

`Z rdqkk dp_¡ S> _l]. L$l¡, ""A¡ d„Sy>X$u kgdp_ Å¡X¡$ L$p¡ç`yV$f Ba¡L Qd _\ L$fphsu? sdpfpdp„ A¡ lz„ cpmu NC k¡¡? Af¡f¡... dpfp„ sp¡ bpf¡ hp'Z X|$bu Áep„... L$p¡C d_¡ T¡f gpC Apgp¡...''

rdqkk¡ S>¡ fus¡ W|$W$hp¡ d|¼ep¡ s¡ Å¡C_¡ sp¡ `uku_u R>psu b¡ku NC. s¡_¡ \ey„ L¡$ lh¡ sp¡ ApMu bpÆ lp\dp„\u NC!

***

`Z bpÆ kph `gV$pC NC.

d„Sy> v¡$kpC_¡ sp¡ L$ë`_p `Z _lp¡su L¡$ bpÆ ApV$gu lv¡$ `gV$pC S>i¡. Äepf¡ s¡ `uku_u rdqkk_¡ dmhp Aphu Ðepf¡ s¡_p d_dp„ lsy„ L¡$ lz„ gV$L$pdV$L$p L$fu_¡ `¡gp ap¡V$p `pR>p dpNui A_¡ `uku kp\¡_p k„b„^_u lmhu R>sp„ õ`ô$ rlÞV¹$k Ap`ui s¡_p gu^¡ `uku_p k„kpfdp„ ApN gpNu S>i¡.

`Z Al] sp¡ `uku_u rdqkk `p¡s¡ S> lp¡rgL$p_y„ õhê$` ^pfZ L$fu_¡ ^ku Aphu, ""Af¡ Å Å d„Sy>X$u! spfp S>¡hu sp¡ lÅf ApB S>B! dpfp¡ ^Zu sp¡ spfp S>¡hu_¡ lz„O¡e _„B! dpfp ^Zu_¡ lpgudhpgu ldS>¡ k? Ap Å¡! Ap A¥ðep®, Ap dp^yfu, Ap L$qfídp, Ap b^u dpfp ^Zu `pR>m O¡gu k¡! s_ sp¡ NyS>fpsu r`¼Qfp¡dp„e L$p¡C qlfp¡B_ _ b_ph...!''

d„Sy> v¡$kpC_y„ sp¡ dNS> L$pd L$fsy„ b„^ \C Ney„! `uku_u rdqkk s¡_p `rs_¡ L$p¡C dlp_ àg¡bp¡e kdS>su lsu L¡$ iy„? d„Sy>A¡ Aphy„ A`dp_ ¼epf¡e _lp¡sy„ Å¡ey„. s¡ kX$kX$pV$ v$pv$fp Esfu NC.

L$pf_p¡ v$fhpÅ¡ Mp¡gu_¡ s¡ kuV$ `f akX$pC `X$u Ðepf¡ s¡_y„ dp\y„ apV$apV$ \C füy„ lsy„. s¡Z¡ sfs S> dp¡bpBg D`pX$u_¡ A¡L$ _„bf Å¡X$ép¡ :

""lgp¡ S>ÁNy, Ab L$p¡C _ep BgpS> L$f_p `X¡$Np!''

""Ap` lzL$d L$fp¡ d¡X$d!'' kpd¡\u AhpS> Apìep¡.

d„Sy>_u Ap„Mp¡dp„ gpgpi Esfu Aphu. s¡Z¡ L$W$p¡f AhpS>¡ L$üy„, ""S>ÁNy, syd A¡L$ L$pd L$fp¡...''

lh¡, sd¡ S> L$lp¡, d„Sy> v¡$kpC S>ÁNy_¡ ip¡ lzL$d L$f¡?

_uQ¡ Ap`¡gp ÓZ rhL$ë`p¡dp„\u L$p¡C A¡L$ D`f [¼gL$ L$fp¡.