xU ifjpapd; nksdk; fiye;jNghJ..!

                                             (FU mutpe;jd;)

vd;Wkpy;yhjthW me;jr; rpiwr;rhiy gugug;ghf ,Ue;jJ. fle;j ,uz;L ehl;fshf rpiwr;rhiyapd; Kd;gFjpia kl;Lk; $l;bg; ngUf;fpr; Rj;jk; nra;J nfhz;bUe;jNghNj ahNuh mq;F tUif jug;Nghfpwhu;fs; vd;gijf; ifjpfs; Gupe;J nfhz;lhu;fs;. ,g;gbahd rk;gtq;fs; Rje;jpujpd tpohtpd; NghNjh my;yJ murpay; thjpfs; ahuhtJ gpwe;jjpdk; nfhz;lhLk; NghNjh kl;Lk;jhd; elg;gJz;L. mg;Nghnjy;yhk; tha;f;F Urpaha; ey;y rhg;ghLk; ,dpg;Gk; fpilf;Fk;. Rje;jpujpd tpoh vd;why; rpwpa Fw;wk; nra;J rpiwf;F te;jtu;fspy;> ed;dlj;ijapy; cs;stu;fSf;Fr; rpy rkak; rpiwapypUe;J tpLjiyAk; fpilg;gJz;L;. nrd;w khjNk> Njrpaf; nfhbNaw;wp [dfdkd ghbr; Rje;jpujpdf; nfhz;lhl;lq;fs; vy;yhk; Kbe;Jtpl;ld. vdNt ahNuh murpay; thjpfs;jhd; tug;Nghfpwhu;fs; vd;gijf; ifjpfs; Cfpj;Jf; nfhz;lhu;fs;. vd;Wkpy;yhj mjprakha; md;W rpiw mjpfhupfs;$l Neu;j;jpahf cil mzpe;J te;jpUe;jhu;fs;.

mjpfhiyj; Jhf;fj;ijf; fiyj;Jf; nfhz;L rpiwr;rhiyapy;> ngz;fs; gFjpapy; gthdp gLj;jpUe;j miw thrw; fjT jpwf;fg;gl;lJ. vd;d> VJ vd;W njupahjjhy;> gthdp ntWkNd fz;fis %bf; nfhz;L Jhq;FtJ Nghd;w ghtidNahL nksdkhfg; gLf;ifapNyNa fple;jhs;. ahNuh mUNf ele;J tUk; rj;jk; Nfl;lJ.

‘vOe;jpU..!’ vd;whs; mUNf te;j ngz; gzpahsu;. gthdp vOe;J epd;W epj;jpiuj; Jhf;fj;NjhL Nrhk;gy; Kwpj;jhs;.

te;jts; thl;lrhl;lkha; rpiwg; gzpahsUf;F cupa rPUilapy; ,Ue;jhs;. ngz;ikapd; espdk; nfhQ;rk;$l ,y;yhky;> Mz;ikj; jd;ikapd; mfq;fhuj;NjhL ,Ug;gJNghyj; Njhw;wk; je;jhs;. ,g;gbg; gl;ltu;fsplk; tha; jpwe;jhNy> ‘glhu;’ vd;W fd;dj;jpy; Xq;fp miwjhd; tpOk; vd;gijr; rpiwr;rhiyapy; ngw;w mDgt%yk; czu;e;J nfhz;l gthdp> vJTk; NgrhJ mtisNa ghu;j;jgb epd;whs;.

‘,e;jh ,ijg;gpb> Fspr;R cilkhj;jpf; nfhz;L rPf;fpuk;th’ vd;W mtsJ ifapNy ryit nra;j nts;isepw NriyiaAk;> Nky; mq;fpiaAk; jpzpj;jhs; me;jg; ngz; gzpahs;.

vJTk; NgrhJ gthdp Fspayiwf;Fr; nrd;W Fspj;J cil khw;wpf; nfhz;L te;jhs;. jdf;Fkl;Lk; mjpfhiyapy; Vd; ,e;j cgrhuk; vd;gJ mtSf;Fg; Gupatpy;iy. Mz; ngz; vd;w tpj;jpahrk; ,y;yhky;> re;ju;g;gk; fpilj;jhy; mtsJ ,sikiag; gUfj;Jbf;Fk; vj;jidNah tf;fpug; Ngu;topfs; mq;NfNa fz;Kd;dhy; fhj;jpf;fpwhu;fs; vd;gij mts; mwpths;. rpiwr;rhiyf;Fs; elf;Fk; vj;jidNah Ntz;lhj rk;gtq;fs; gw;wp Vw;fdNt ,ts; epiwaf; Nfs;tpg; gl;bUe;jjhy; nfhQ;rk; eLf;fkhfNt ,Ue;jJ.

‘jiy thupdpah> ,njd;d gj;jpu fhspkhjpup Kbia tpupr;R tpl;bUf;fpwha;> Nghb rPf;fpuk; jiyia thupl;Lth!’ vd;W kPz;Lk; tpul;bdhs; me;j gzpahsu;. ahNuh vd;idg; ngz; ghu;f;f tUtJNghy; Vd; ,e;j Mu;g;ghl;lk;?

,ts; mtru mtrukhfr; rPg;ig vLj;J jiy thupf; nfhz;il Kbe;J nfhz;L te;jhs;. Kfj;jpNy xUtpj Nrhfk; FbapUe;jhYk;> md;wyu;e;j jhkiuaha; Kfk; gsPr;nrd;wpUe;jJ.

fWg;ngd;whYk; ,tsplk; xUtpj trPfuk; Fbnfhz;bUf;fpwJ vd;gij kdJf;Fs; gjpj;Jf; nfhz;lhs; me;jg; ngz; gzpahsu;.

rw;W Neuj;jhy; ngupa mjpfhup xUtu; mq;Nf te;jhu;. ‘,tsh..?’ vd;w re;Njfj;NjhL mtis NkYk; fPOk; ghu;j;jhu;.

‘ngau; vd;d?’ vd;W Nfl;lhu;> ‘gthdp’ vd;W xw;iwr; nrhy;ypy; ,ts; gjpy; nrhd;dhs;. ‘jpkpu; ,d;Dk; mlq;ftpy;iy’ vd;W kdJf;Fs; fWtpf;nfhz;L> mtsJ miw Rj;jkh ,Uf;fpwjh vd;W vl;bg; ghu;j;jhu;.

‘ePah nghWg;G?’ vd;W> jpUk;gp me;jg; ngz; gzpahsiuf; Nfl;lhu;.

‘Mkh!’ vd;whs; mts;.

‘mtisr; nrf; gz;zpdpah?’ re;Njfj;NjhL Nfl;lhu;.

‘,y;iy!’ vd;whs;.

‘jpUk;gTk; xU jg;Gr; nra;a ,lk; nfhLf;fhNj> $l;bl;Lg;Ngh..!’ Fuypy; mjpfhuj; Njhuiz njupe;jJ.

ngz; gzpahsu; gae;JNgha; gthdpapd; ifiag; gpbj;J jwjwvd;W xJf;Fg; Gwkha; ,Oj;Jr; nrd;whs;. gpbapd; ,Wf;fj;jpy; Ntjid jhq;f Kbahky; gthdp ifia cjwNt gzpahsUf;Ff; Nfhgk; te;Jtpl;lJ.

‘Vd;b nfhz;lJjhd; nfhz;Bq;f cq;f Cupiy ntr;Rr; nra;jpUf;fyhNk> Vd;b ,q;if te;J njhiyr;rPq;f?’ fLg;NghL jpl;bdhs;.

mts; Vd; jd;idj; jpl;Lfpwhs; vd;gJ kw;wf; ifjpfSf;Fg; Gupahtpl;lhYk; mts; vd;d nrhy;fpwhs; vd;gJ gthdpf;Fg; Gupe;jJ.

kiwthd xU ,lj;jpy; mtis tpl;L> mtsJ Milfis cUtpdhs; me;jg; ngz; gzpahsu;. gthdpNah ntl;fg;gl;L ,uz;L iffisAk; khu;Gf;Ff; FWf;Nf fl;bf; nfhz;L mtkhdg;gl;L epd;whs;.

‘eP nfl;l Nfl;Lf;F> cdf;F ntl;fk; Ntw tUFjhf;Fk;..!’ vd;W vupr;rNyhL Vrpf; nfhz;Nl> gthdp clk;gpy; VjhtJ kiwj;J itj;jpUf;fpwhsh vd;w re;Njfj;NjhL mtsJ clk;gpy; XuplKk; kpr;rk; tplhky; jltpg; ghu;j;jhs;. mtsJ ifgl;l ,lnky;yhk; ehf;fpspg;GOf;fs; Cu;tJ Nghd;w czu;tpy;> mtkhdk; jhq;f Kbahky; gthdp mg;gbAk; ,g;gbAk; nespe;jhs;.

‘rup> lhd;];]hbdJ NghJk;> rPf;fpuk; th!’ vd;W nrhy;ypf; nfhz;Nl me;jg; gzpahsu; ,lj;ij tpl;lfyNt> gthdp jhWkhwha;f; fple;j Nriyia vLj;J kPz;Lk; mzpe;J nfhz;L jdJ miwf;Fr; nrd;whs;.

‘,e;jghu;> cd;idg; ghu;f;fg; ngupa ,lj;jpy ,Ue;J tu;whq;f. gt;tpakha; ele;J nfhs;sZk;> GupAjh?’ vd;W me;j mjpfhup; mjl;lNt> mts; rup vd;W jiy mirj;jhs;.

‘VjhtJ Vlh$lkha; ele;J nfhz;bNah mg;Gwk; vq;fpl;l jg;gkhl;lha;> GupAjh?’ kPz;Lk; kpul;bdhu;.

jpBnud ahNuh jljlntd;W Xbte;jhu;fs;. epkpu;e;J ghu;j;jhs;. fWg;Gg; G+idfs;. ,tu;fs; vq;Nf ,q;Nf? murpaNyhL njhlu;Gilatu;fs; ahuhtJ tUfpwhu;fNsh?

mtu;fs; vy;yhg; gf;fKk; #o;e;J nfhz;L> jq;fspd; fl;Lg;ghl;by; me;j ,lj;ijf; nfhz;L te;jhu;fs;. mtu;fspy; xUj;jd; thf;fpNuhf;fpapy; VNjh nrhy;yNt> rw;W Neuj;jpy; me;jg; gugug;Gf;F kj;jpapy; jpBnud me;jg; ngz;kzp Njhd;wpdhs;. mtsJ eilapYk;> ghu;itapYk; ,sikj; Jbg;G Js;spj; njwpj;jJ. ntspehl;L ehfupfj;jpy; tsu;e;jts;Nghyj; Njhd;wpdhYk;> mlf;f xLf;fkha; mofhd gr;ir epwj;jpy; Nriy mzpe;jpUe;jhs;.

mts; nrd;w miwf;Fg; gthdpia me;j mjpfhup mioj;Jr; nrd;whu;.

gthdp cs;Ns te;jJk;> jdpg;gl;l Kiwapy; gthdpNahL VNjh Ngr tpUk;gpats;Nghy> mUNf epd;w kw;wtu;fisg; ghu;j;J ntspNa nry;Yk;gb irif nra;jhs;.

jaf;fj;NjhL mtu;fs; tpyfpr;nrd;wJk;> xU fzk; gthdpiaj; jPu;f;khfg; ghu;j;Jtpl;L> ‘cl;fhU’ vd;whs;. gthdp Kjypy; jaq;fpdhYk; VNjh ke;jpuj;jpw;Ff; fl;Lg;gl;lJNghy mUNf cl;fhu;e;jhs;.

‘vd;id ahnud;W cdf;Fj; njupAjh?’

gthdp ‘njupahJ’ vd;W jiyairj;jhs;.

‘ehd;jhd; gpupaju;]pdp! vd;whs;.

gthdp> ahuha; ,Uf;Fk; vd;W rpe;jidia Xltpl;lhs;.

‘,d;Dk; cdf;Fg; Gupaiyah?’ vd;whs;.

kPz;Lk; gthdp ‘,y;iy’ vd;W iffis tpupj;J irif nra;jhs;.

‘vd;Dila mg;ghtpd; kuzj;jpw;F ePAk; xU fhuzk;!’ vd;whs; mts; epjhdkhf.

,g;Ngh gthdpf;F VNjh GuptJNghyTk;> mNjrkak; jpBnud mtisg; ghu;j;jjpy; mjpu;r;rpahfTk; ,Ue;jJ.

vd;idj;Njb ,ts; ,q;Nf vjw;F te;jhs;? gthdpapd; kdijg; gbj;jts;; Nghy mtNs gjpy; nrhd;dhs;.

‘vdf;F epk;kjpapy;iy. ele;jij vy;yhk; kwe;jplZk; vd;Wjhd; ,Ue;Njd;. Mdhy; KbaiyNa> vd;d ele;jJ vd;W vdf;Fj; njupaZk;!’ vd;whs;.

mts; vd;d nrhy;y Kw;gLfpwhs; vd;gJ ,tSf;Fg; Gupatpy;iy.

‘cd;NdhL nfhQ;rk; jdpNa NgrZk;!’ vd;W nrhd;dts;> jpBnud

‘ePNad; ,g;gbr; nra;jha;?’ vd;W Nfl;lhs;.

Nfl;Fk;NghNj mts; mOJtpLths; Nghy ,Ue;jJ.

gthdp mjw;Fg; gjpy; nrhy;yj;jaq;fpdhs;.

Xw;iw thu;j;ijapy; nrhy;yf;$ba gjpyh> nrhy;yp Kbg;gjw;F!

gthdpapd; ePz;l nksdk; mtis NkYk; rq;flg;gl itj;jJ. ,tsplk; ,Ue;J VjhtJ Kiwapy; gjpy; vLf;fNtz;Lk; vd;gjpy; mts; Mu;tk; fhl;bdhs;.

‘vd;Dila mg;gh kpfTk; ey;ytu;> mtUila ey;y Fzq;fs; gw;wp cdf;Ff; nfhQ;rk;$lj; njupe;jpUf;f epahakpy;iy! vd;d ,Ue;jhYk; eP ,ijr; nra;jpUf;ff;$lhJ..!’ vd;wtspd; fz;fs; fyq;fpd.

mts; kdRf;Fs; mOfpwhs; vd;gJ ,tSf;Fr; rl;nld;W Gupe;jJ.

mNj Nghd;w typiaAk; NtjidiaAk; ,j;jid fhykha; ,tSk; mDgtpj;Jf; nfhz;LjhNd ,Uf;fpwhs; vd;gJ mtSf;Fg; Gupe;jpUf;f epahakpy;iy. mts; Fsp&l;ba miwapy; nrhFRnkj;ijapy; gLj;Jf; nfhz;L mDgtpf;Fk; mNj Ntjidia> ,tNsh rPnkd;l;Lj; jiuapy; fhw;Nwhl;lkpy;yhj rpiwr;rhiyapy; ifjpaha; ,Ue;J nfhz;L mDgtpf;fpwhs;. mt;tsTjhd;!

‘mts; vd;d nrhd;dhYk;> VrpdhYk; NgrpdhYk; Njitapy;yhky; eP tha; jpwf;ff;$lhJ’ vd;W rpiwr;rhiy mjpfhup fhiyapy; jpUk;gj; jpUk;g ,tis vr;rupj;Jtpl;Lr; nrd;wJ Qhgfk; te;jJ. vdNt nksdk; fhg;gJ ey;yJ vd;W epidj;jts;> tha; jpwthJ epidTfis kPl;bg; ghu;j;jhs;.

‘vdf;Fk; GupAJ gpupah> cd;Dila mg;gh kpfTk; ey;ytu;jhd; Mdhy; jtwhdtu;fshy; topfhl;lg;gl;L mtu;fs; tpupj;j tiyf;Fs; rpf;fpf; nfhz;L fz; %bj;jdkha; ,Ue;jjhy; te;j tpidjhd; ,J! eP cd;Dila mg;ghit kl;Lk;j;jhd; ,oe;jha;> ehd; vd; FLk;gj;ijNa ,oe;J tpl;Nld; vd;gJ cdf;Fj; njupAkh?; vd;Dila mg;ghTk;> vq;fs;Nky; md;igAk;> ghrj;ijAk; ms;spas;spf; nfhl;batu;jhd; vd;gJ cdf;Fj; njupe;jpUf;f epahakpy;iy. tajhd fhyj;jpy; fhe;jpapd; gf;juhd mtu; ve;j xU gpur;ridAk; Ntz;lhk; vd;WjhNd jhDk; jd;ghLkha; tPl;bNy mile;J fple;jhu;. fhuzkpy;yhky; mtiu ntspNa ,Oj;J te;J tPjpapy; itj;Jr; Rl;Lf; nfhd;wNghJ ,Nj Nfs;tpjhd; vd; kdjpYk; vOe;jJ. rkhjhdj;ij epiy ehl;lte;jtu;fsh> my;yJ vq;fisf; nfhd;W Ftpf;f te;tu;fsh vd;w re;Njfk; mg;NghJjhd; vq;fs; vy;NyhUf;Fk; Vw;gl;lJ.  epahak; Nfl;ljw;fhfNt vd;Dila mf;fh me;j rpg;gha;fshy; ghypay; ty;YwTf;F cs;shf;fg;gl;lhs; vd;gjhtJ cdf;Fj; njupAkh gpupah? ,JNghd;w Ntjid jUk; gyrk;gtq;fs; vq;f kz;zpNy ele;jJ cdf;Fj; njupe;jpUf;f epahakpy;iy> Vndd;why; vy;yhNk %bkiwf;fg; gl;Ltpl;ld. NtypNa gapiu Nka;e;jhy; ahuplk; ehq;fs; KiwapLtJ?

gthdpapd; ePz;l nksdj;jhy; gpupah kPz;Lk; epiy Fiye;jhs;.

‘nrhy;Nyd;> eP Vd; ,g;gbr; nra;jha;?’ ,tsJ iffisg; gw;wpf; nfhz;L> tpil njupe;J nfhs;Sk; Mtypy; mts; kPz;Lk;  Nfl;lhs;.

gjpy; nrhy;tjh> tpLtjh? ,dpAk; nghWg;gjpy; gadpy;iy vd;W gthdp epidj;jhs;. mtis mwpahkNy> Mw;whikahy; kdRf;Fs; nte;J nfhz;bUe;j thu;j;ijfs;> nksdj;ij cilj;J nfhz;L ntspNa njwpj;jd.

‘Vd;dh> vd;Dila mg;ghTk; ey;ytu;jhd;!’ vd;whs; gthdp.

vjpu;ghuhky; te;J tpOe;j thu;j;ijapd; cz;ik RlNt> me;j mjpu;r;rpapy; gpupah fyq;fpg;Nghdhs;. ,tsJ iffisg; gw;wpapUe;j mtsJ iffs; jhdhfNt jsu;e;jd.

‘Iahk; n]hwp..!’ vd;W kl;Lk; nrhy;yptpl;L eilgpzkha;; ntspNawpdhs; gpupah.