wlalf. w;a Woõj ^2fldgi& wo ;uhs uf.a „ú;h fjkia Wk oji. ≤ka fj,dj ? 9hs. uf.a we¥ Wv wo ojfi Wk is¦ùï isyslrñka bkakj. m,fj⁄ j;djg wlal uf.a wf;a .eyqj. ta jf.au uq,ajrg iajhx úkaokh ,nk yeá;a bf.k .;a;. tfyu ys;k .uka lčifï nl,a tl .,j, u,ačh tčhg wrka wdYap¹hu;a NdKafv †yd ne¨j. fïl yqr;,a lrñka ;uhs wkqIs wlal udj †jHf,`flg f.k.sfha. uu ndf.g ke., ÿhk u,ačh wkqIs wlalj isyslrñka fyd,jkak .;a;. fmriu biirg miaig lf,a wlal lrmq yeáhg. ta o¹Ykh uf. biairy ueú, fmkaj. wf;a .yk fjf,a wlalf. weia foflka úys¦k ldkaÿh, wef. r;= fof;d,a jčka udj ism.;a yeá, w;aj, ishqï fud,leá nj, l÷ n%d tflka tčhg mekak ;ka jčka udj ms×ueoao yeá, l,j weÿ,ačSfuka ll=,a ,o myi ljÕj;a wu;l fkdjk is¦ùï. fïj isyslrñka u,ačh fyd,jkúg udj bfíu weúiaiqkd. wlal lroa† jf.a uq÷ weÛu r;aù.k u,ačhf. fldkg Ÿ× ^miqj wlal Ÿh, ¦kafk le× nj& tkj ≤kqk. “´´´´….. wkqIs wlafla….. wkqIs wlafla” ŸhŸh uu blauKska fyd,jkak .;a;. uf. ys;g ≤kqfka thd fyd,jkj jf.hs. ≤fkk ikSmh udrhs. uu k;r fkdlru fyd,jkj. ug lE.yqk tlmdrgu wkqIs wlafla wkqIs wlafla Ÿh,. ta foa Wkd. u,ačh fl,jfrka Wvg úisWk le× jegqfK uf.au uQKQg. foj⁄ ief¹ mmqjg. B,Ûg nvg. uu ;du;a wlalj isys lr lr wf;a .ykj. thdf. ll=,a uq, fudk jf.ao Ÿh, ys;kj. ug ⁄kao .sfha tfyu bkak úg†. myqjÕ weyerefka wïu l;d lroa†. fyd¥gu oj,afj,d. wefÛa le× jegqk ;ekaj, fõ¨k me,a,ï. “jreK my<g tkak mq;d fyd¥gu oj,afj,d.” uu ⁄†.eg lvlv my,g .shd. “y× ,iaiKhs miai me;a;g wõj jefgklka ⁄okjo b,kaÕ×@” “uu b,kaÕ×fhlahe. ;du fmdähsfka.” “wfmdhs Tõ. Tkak uQfK /jq,;a tkj. fï f;atl î, uQK fy`oka weú;a lEu ld, udu,f. †yd hkak.” “ta fudlgo@” “uu okafk keye. wkqIs l;d l,d. mq;dg Ÿh, fudkjo lr.kak ÿfhkj Ÿõfj. uu mq;dj tjkaakï Ÿõj. fufy ⁄lï lïuečlfï bkakjg jeäh fyd¥hs wlalf. jevlg .sysska Woõfjkak.” ‘uhs f.`â. wlal Wfoau ,Eiaÿfj,.’ uu ysÿka i;=gqjqkd. “jefâ fudllao Ÿh, wlal Ÿõfj keoao@” “fudllao Bfh lrmq jefâ b;=re ál bjr lrkak ´k Ÿõfj.” “wddddd…. talo@ y× uu hkakï.” yeŸ blauKska kd, ld, uu udu,f. †yd .shd. kekao wo;a udj ms<s.;a; biairy b¥,. “wkqIs fukak ¦fõ u,ač wdj. takak mq;d we;=,g. wlal Wfoa b¥ka n,ka bkakj Bfh Thd Woõ lrmq jefâ wo bjr lrkak

Ÿh,.” wlal ;rmamqj Wv. wo iq¦ .jqula we¥, bkafk. uu lduf¹ we;=,g .shd. wlal fmakak keye. thd bath room tfl b¥ka l;d lrkj. “jreK lduf¹ fÕr jy, f,dla lrkak. uu bath room tfla.” fÕr jy, uu t;kg .shd. “Thd fÕr jeyqjo@” “Tõ wlafl.” “f,dla lrdo@” “Tõ.” “tfykï we;=,g tkak.” “Bath room tl we;=,go@” “Tõ <ufhd. blauka lrkak.” uu okakE wo fudkj fjhso Ÿh,. uu fyñysg .syska bath room tfla fÕr we×h. we;=, iEfykak f,dl=hs. wlalf. lduf¹ jf.au ì;aÿfh f,dl= lkakdähla yhslr,. w⁄;a me;af; ug msámd, wlal bkakj. uu fÕr,Û b¥ka n,d bkakj. thd fudkj kuq;a lrkj fy,fjk ú†fhka ug fmakafk. wlal uf.a me;a;g fyñka yereK. we¥, bkak .jqu Wv b¥ka my,gu we×, m¨ folg. fn%ish¹ tlla keye. ;kafol .jqfu m¨ folg jeys, Wkdg ;ka w;r fonqlal=j fmakj. flat nv. nq×h ,iaiKhs. t;kg myčka ySks bÛáhhs m,,a Wl=,hs. r;=mdg mEkaáhla we¥,. uf.a weia Bg;a my,g †j.shd. l,jd rU l¥ka jf.a. uiska ms×,. ll=,a fol ŸÜgq lrka ⁄id l,j w;r Ÿis bvla keye. fmdäu bvla fmakak ÿfhkafk ll=,a fol tl;= fjk ;ek mEkaáhg háka ;=kauq,af, ú;rhs. uf. yDo iamkaokh jeäfj, yqiau .kak;a wudrehs. wlal uf.a ,Ûg wdfj .jqu ;j ;j w×ñka. ≤ka ;kafol fyd¥g fmakj. fyd¥g jevqk taj ⁄fr`.shs. ;o ¦Tqre meye ⁄m,a ;kaj, ¦Uqrejkaa rjqï meÉ folla ueo ÿfhkafk. “tkak ,Ûg” weh Ÿõj. uu ;du weia f,dl= lrka n,d bkakj. “fudlo nhfj, jf.a@” uf.a u,ačh ke.sg,;a bjrhs. nfhka nfhka uu thd ,Ûg ŸÜgq Wkd. “Th T I¹Ü tl .,jkak” wlal wK lrkj. blauKgu tal uu .ef,õj. wlal Wrysia .iai, .jqu w;a foflka mkak, .ef,õj. thd ≤ka ux biairy mEkaáhla ú;rla we¥mq bá rEmhla jf.a bkafk. wlal uf.a Wrysia jčka w,a,, ,Ûg weoao. w; my,g Õ, bfKka we,a¨j. udj .efykak .;af; i;=g jeälug weÿjqk Woafõ. njg. thd lčiu Wäka ke.sg, bkak u,ačhj w;.dkj. uf. weÛmqqrd lrkaÜ tlla je¦k jf.a. “mEkaáh msáka bkak udj ≤l, Thdg fuÉpr blauKska ke.a.o@” uu l;d keye. wlal uf.a lčiu .,j, ≤ïu. ≤ka uu thd b†×msg fy÷fjka ke., ÿhk u,ačh ll=,a ueo mEkaáh †ydjg flčka lrka bkakj. wlalg y× yemS. uu fy÷fjka thd b†×msg bkakjg. wlal uf.a w;afol w,a,, thdf. bÛáfh ÿhd.;a;. t;k y×u is⁄ªhs. mEkaáh bKg myčka ÿfhkafk. uu bKjfÜ w;..d mEkaáfh t,diaála máh ,Ûgu .shd. wlal ;j;a ug ŸÜgqWk ⁄id u,ačh mEkaáh Wäka ll=,a uq, .Ejqkd. tal y×hgu kx.s nndf. lg flčka ysg, ÿfhkafk. ta fj,dfj wms fokaku ta †yd ne¨j. u,ačh y×hgu t;kghs ;ofjkafk. wkqIs wlal t;fldg oKysia kj kj uf. u,ačsh mEkaáh Wäka kx.s nndf. .Eùf.k l,j ue†ka my,g nyskak ie,eiaiqj. ≤ka thd u,ačhj l,j foflka ;olrka

bK biairyghs miaighs .iaikj. wms fokaku tfyu lrlr yskdfjù wfma wjhjhka i;=gq lr.kakj. “u,a,S Thd udj ;Dmaÿu;a lrkj r;a;rka” Ÿh, ;†ka udj je<¥ .;a;. wfma ⁄rej;a isrere tŸfkl .eàfuka ,efnk úkaokh y×u wk¹.hs. wlal keú, my,g w;la hj, u,ačh yqr;,a lrlr uhs,a w;.dkj. ta tlalu uf.a l,j;a w.dkj. ;kafol uf. uQfK j†kj. thd .d, ÿhk fikaÜ iqj¥ udj msiaaiq jÜgkj. uu thdf. bfKka my,g .syska ;Ügï ñ×l=j. mEkaáh Wäka w;.Ej;a y×u is⁄ªhs. “wfka meáfh`” thd fl¢×.Ej. “Thdg ;j w;.dkak ´ko@” “Tõ wlafl.” “tfykï ≤ka we¥g huq.” wms we¥ ,Ûg .shd. uu fy÷fjka. thdf. wefÛa mEkaáh ú;rhs. “jdäfjkak.” “jdäfjkafk fldfyo@” “we¥Wv ìug ll=,a Õ,.” thd uf.a biairy ysgf.k. ≤ka kx.snnd uf. lg flčka. uu t;kg Ÿiaa tlla ¦kak. “Thdg n,kak ´ko@” “wlal Bfh Ÿõfj fmkakkj Ÿh,@” “tfykï uf. mEkaáh md;a lrkak.” uf.a i;=g byjyd .shd. w;afol .efykj. uu t,diaála nEkaâ tl wiaig weÛsč hj, mEkaáh md;al,d. tal fr`,a fjù md;afjkafk ál ál. l÷mdg uhs,a tčhg tkj l,j uq,g mEkaáh md;afjoa†. tlu uhs,a f.dvhss. wlal Ÿõj y×. uq¨ pQju jeys, uhs,a f.dvŸka. ug bfíu uf.a tl †yd ne¨k. pQá uhs,a.ia álla ú;rhs ug ÿfhkafk. uhs,a f.dvg thdf. pQj fmakafk;a keye. ;%sfl`Khl yevhg ll=,a uq, uhs,a ÿfhkafk. uu ys;=fj keye t;k fu;rï <iaiK nj. ke., ÿhk u,ačh hlvhla jf.a ;ohs ≤ka. uu mEkaaáh ;j;a md;al,d. wlal mEkaaáh ll=,a foflka mkak, ≤ïu. ≤ka fï ldurh we;=f, wjq#21 wlaalhs, wjq#15 u,ačhs wuq ÿ;a; fy÷fjka. wlal uf.a T÷fjka w,a,f.k pqj uf.a lfÜ .Eõj. ta;a .Efjkafk uhss,a. thd ll=,laa we¥ Wv ÿh, uf.a lgg pQj f.kdj. t;kska ug wuq;=u iqj¥la ≤kqfk. ta iqj¥ thd .d, ÿnqK inka iqj¥ tlal Õähhs, pQj, iqj¥hs l,jï Wk tlla. uQK álla Wvg yefrõju pQ lg flčkau uf.a f;d,aj, .EjqKd. ≤ka uf.a lg iïmq¹Kfhka wlalf. pQfjka jeys,. fï ;uhs thdf. ryia .=ydj. ug ≤fkkj t;k y×u is⁄ªhs. ta jf.au riafkhs. “wddddyayayaya……∑∑∑ y× ikSmhs jia;=fõ” wlal fl¢×.dkj uf.a lgg pQj ;o lrlr. uf. uqKg f;; .ÿhla ≤kqk. ta thdf. cQiaj,g. y×u pu;aldr cklhs. ug fïl lkak ys;hs. ´k flkaf.ähla Ÿh, ys;ka †j †lalrd. thdf. ;o Ÿ×,a,g †j mQish we;=,gu .shd yq;=f;d,a w;×ka. we;=, álla ¨kq ryhs. “´´´….. wdhs……jreK ;j lrkak ;j lrkak. t;k fyd¥g f,jlkak meáfh`……” wkqIs wlal fldªrkj T÷j ;j ;j;a pQjg ;olrñka. ug we;=f, clit tl wyqfj, †fjka ms×ueoao. wlal ;j ;j;a ;†ka pQj lfÜ W,k fõf. jeäl,d. ≤kakï fu;k bkafk uu ljÕj;a fkd≤lmq wkqIs flfkla. thd lrk fõf. jeä⁄id uu miai ;†ka ñ×l, w,a,f.k bkafk. uf. kyhhs f;d¨hs †jhs yeu tllau .eiais,af, ierlug pQjf. yeu ;eklu .Efjkj. ta yeu ;eklu;a thdf. cQia .Eú,. ta ,efnk ñysr wÿ úYsIaghs. iEfyk fj,djla ta

fi,a,u lrmq wlal tal kj;a;, uf. uQK w;a folkau w,a,f.k flčka ysg.;a;. “yd …….‘≤ka ke.sákak meáfh`” wlal Ÿõj. uu;a ke.sÜgd. uf.a T÷j lerfkj thd uf. uQKg lrmq jefâghs, uu thdf. pQjg lrmq foaj,ghs. ke.g, bkak;a wudrehs. wlalg Õäh;a Õ,. mQishj uf. uQfK w;=,a,kak ,enqKg ikaf;`fika bkafk. uf. ke.sg, bkak u,ačhd r;ajqk hlvhla jf.a flčka fj, cQia .,k wlalf. pQj †yd n,ka bkafk. wlal udj nÕf.k f;d,a Wrñka wef¥a fmr¨kd. uf.a w;la wrka thdf. ;fka Wäka ÿh, ;ol,d. uu ;kafol udrefjka udrejg Wrñka ñ×lkj. wlal ll=,la uf. weÛ Wäka Õ, pQQj uf.a tlg ;olrkj T÷j w;..d. u,ačhj uhs,a w;×ka thdf. ;=kauq,a, wiaigu .syska. wlal w;Ÿka u,ačhd ms×u†ñka w⁄la wÿka wegfol ñ×lkak .;a;. ≤ka ,djg wf;a .yñka f;dka., ÑÉÑfh f;d,a j,hs, uhs,a j,hs w;=,a,kj. “fufyu lrkfldg fldfyduo Thdg ≤fkkafk@ Thd wdio tfyu lrkjg@” “Tõ wlafl. udrhs.” uu ;j ;j;a u,ačhd ;ol,d fyd¥g thdf. pQfj .Efjkak. “Thd okakjo ta fudlo Ÿh,@” thd lmá yskdjla Õ, uf.ka wykj u,ačhd ms×u†ñka. uu thd †yd ne¨fj W;a;f¹ fkdokak ⁄id. “ta ;uhs Thdf. tl .djkafk wlalf. pQ tflhs, uhs,aj,hs ⁄id. tal wyk tl;a Thdg iemhsfkao@” uf.a ySka iskdj ≤l, Ÿõfj. ysgmq .uka wlal u,ačhd yq;= f;d,aj, w;=,a,kak .;a;. wms fokaku ta †yd n,ka bkafk. thd pQ lfÜ Wvghs my,ghs w;=,a,kj. t;k f;; uq¦ fudf,dla yfï fudÜgqj .Efjk fldg ≤fkk ikSmh fï uq÷ ;=ka f,`flj;a ke;=j weÿ. ≤ka ;uhs ⁄hu fi,a,u mgka .;af;. wlal udj thdf. weÛ Wvg weo, .;a;. wms fokakf. uhs,a tlg .Efjkj. thd u,ačhd w,a,f.k l,j álla m,,a lr, pQfj .Efjkak ue†ka ÿhka ll=,a ;ol,d. u,ačhd ≤ka iekaâúÉ fj,. wïfu` ikSfm! “u,ač meáfhd ≤ka miai Wiamd;a lrkak” wlal udj nÕf.k bU bU Ÿõj. thdf. cQia .Ejqk u,ačhd ll=,a fol w;fr pQfj weÿ,af,kj Wiamd;a fjkfldg. “uf. r;a;rka u,a,S Thd wdio@” “Tõ wlafl. fufyu lrkfldg y×u ikSmhs.” thd uf.a f;d,a Wr, lg we;=,g †jÕ, ug Wrkak Ÿõj. uu †j Wrk .uka thdf. ;ka fol;a ms×ueoao. álŸka wlal Ÿhkj “uf. ⁄m,a fol;a Wrkak meáfhd Tfyduu.” ta ief¹ wlal;a miai Wiaikj uu .yk mdrg. “≤ka Thdg fldfyduo meáfhd@” “†jHf,`fl .shd jf.hs.” thdf. ll=,a j,g ;ojqk u,ačhdf. fmriu by, my, hkj ug f;afrkj y×hg wf;a .ykj jf.a. yenehs fï jefâ Bg jvd pQka. uu;a fkdkej;S .ykj. thd uf.a ;Ügï ñ×lñka bK ;o lr.kakj. uu thdj nÕf.k .yk .uka me;a;g fmr¨fka wlalf. rjqï mql ñ×lkak ys;df.k. mql ñ×lk .uka m¨fol w;frka ys, fydhkj. thdg tal f;areKd. “;j álla my,ska ÿfhkafk r;a;rka. t;k we;=,g weÛs,a,la Tnkak” Ÿõj. weÛs,a, we;=,g hkafk keye. y× ;ohs. “Th uf.a cQia .d, Tnkak fld,af,d.” ta if¹ kï wudrefjka ;og weÛs,a, we;=,g .shd. “≤ka lčka biairy pQjg l,djf.a lrkak.” uu;a weÛs,af,ka mqlg iemla fokj. “ïïïïïï…….” wlal;a fl¢×.dkj. ysgmq .uka fukak

thdf. weÛs,af, fl,.d, uf.a mqlg weÛs,a, .ykj. ug ×fokj;a tlal,. ta;a u,ačhdg ,efnk iem ⁄id צu hgm;a Wkd. uf.a i¹jdxf.u ys× jeàf.k tkj. uu .yk fõ. jeäl,d. “Thdg hkak tkjo jreK@” “´´´´õõõ wlafla ……Tõ…….” Ÿh, uu thdj nÕf.k ;ka brejd. “w×kak. w×kak meáfh`. uf. ll=,a fofla w×kak.” wlal udj ;j ;olr, nÕf.k Ÿõj. Bfhg;a jvd f.dvla le× wo ug .shd. taj Tlafldu wlalf.hs uf.hs uhs,aj,hs thdf. ll=, foflhs yeu;eku. ál fj,djla wms Ÿia lrlr ysáh. “fldfyduo meáfhd Thdf. taj wlalf. ll=,afol ueoafo .shdu@” “IQ……..Ÿh, jevla kE ≤kqk ikSfm. †jHf,`flu ;uhs.” wlal uhs,aj, ÿnqk le× wefÛa .d.;a;. uf.a fmriu my,gu .syska fgdmd r;=fj,. “u,ač okakjo wms lf,a fudllao Ÿh,@” uu keye Ÿhkak T÷j jekqj. “ta lrmq jefâg Ÿhkafk .,a lmkj Ÿh,.” “ug f;areKd. biafl`f, f,dl= whsh, .,la lmuqo u,ač@ Ÿh, l;d lrkafk Th jefâ lrkak ;uhs.” “ta Wkdg u,ač fjk wh tlal Th jefâg hkak tmd.” “wehs ta@” “´l krl jevla wms l,dg. u,ač ldgj;a tfyu Ÿhkj fkfuhs wms lrmq jefâ.” “kE wlafl uu Ÿhkafk keye. ta;a ug wdihs ;j ojil wlalg lrkak.” “n,uq wms fjk ojil. ≤ka wms huq kdkak.” “uu Wfoa kd, wdfj.” “tfykï weÛ fy`o.kak. uu kdkak ´k. wms bath room tlg .syska wlal udj fy`ok .uka f;d,la ≤ïu. ≤ka Thd weªï we¥f.k fldïmshqg¹ fi,a,ï lrkak uu kd, tklï. tÕ oj,ag uu tfyka ld, f.or .sfha.

3jk fldgig