"Jonoiko Ganapati -- A Bengali Short Story by "Ayan"

BPS@ wHA

~S

~S@q wHA@ wU cUcS | ~AT A@  cUc S, ~T T wHA ~Xg -  T ~Xg U@ ~AT ~w AZAS, gAcKFR Zc A@S ^ |  s Aavwm  @S ^ Sq, TS jq oS U@q ~T Aavwm cU A@ - c  Aav s cr ~oH  AS Ac@ @  S |   ~T TU@ AaU c, ~\ T BSF | j oS OUA AO Trq Wv @ -  rK Uq  OU s AcmpA ~U | wHA Qn  cFv AS, jvq co  ~oHL AO@ |

~AT ZS cFU | cF vASej BSF  @ ha | cFU @a@Aa cr A@a cS Bw ~a | j@v rASc Z ~AT, Bfc ~ w cA UT TA@A rF | cFU @ ~qr A@UATv k TA@A | AU mvrS Av T Ag  sAS | ASAS @c | T-TU aAv AaU, ~T cFU Ac TUc ^F |

wHA  ~T AO AaU  T | TUc @U j@v c O cAa - OTl@ j@Av  AU | ASBS ASAv BSU o ASAa, ~AT R BS aS | c r-ATASv ToF WAT  R ~gF, ~T m -vm Zq gU Uw, TA@A @ A@ak ~cAo  @U ToF m, r Z ZS WS BU | cr A@a OU-@Jv cJ@R ~a | A Bwv A jU ~crF Or prF A@av AcA@  s - UUO TAv, aS-avS wa, @U@ZS, @Sv, j@q@T O TSK, qT ~TR WT  | WT-WT gcv ZS c ~a, ZSq  ~T@ @U |

U@Av@ ~AT ~wq UQ @AaUT | ~T r BSU o fvv ca - T j@v ~FTA@S "ccU @F", OZ S, @S R@TFS, TIA hO, Tv wJRU dKAU O, AQHf AST ~oAS@ S@ T Z ~S@v | H BfS ~ OT BF@v | jAU T  rK  ja ZS, A Bw UR TA@A j@vR i Sq |  rv-jwv ks  cr wq Uw | -LLR A@ @ @ BF@v  @ sZS gcAa, ZSq ZUT v ZU U r fv Z Aa | ~T T R r fvv ZAU |

c a ~w U@Av A@ ~ j@c OZ AaU | j@Av aU c iAaU j@ZS c^@ AS | U@Av v@ WA-AA Z cr Ac T cUU, "c:, cr gU jwS |"

csnv c ATAU Wxv-a@ T c, ~q Wxv T aS O@ eO U | aS O@U cq B v, U j@v vUR c OU | @a@Aa j@Av avZv r AaU, ZS@ Ag mvrS cv AgU | @U ST jA@-RA@ W UwUT | cU AQ AQ ha, @a@Aa @S vU-mJR OZ U S | cv ~crF  ZR BSF Jc, A@  @ZS ! jZSq cB v |

TS j@BS r AcAn @AaU | ~T @a @U, AcmvR AaU, q A v gS wU | q U@Av@ ZS @a@Aa AZAS |

c iq ~AcArF   ~T OZOAZ U | @U OrT  AaU , c ~T cI ~Aco AS s ~AT sZS  A@ A@AaUT, -R ~T A@q OAaU |

OZOAZ R ~oWxv q U@Av ~T@ @U |

"FU" rNv r @ g ~q ~AT @UT, jr pA ~@KH BSF jq rNvq cFcY  @ |

ZUT r fvv OU ja  | @S R@TFS Sq c S ~ vA jZSR ~a | BF@vv BSU A@ fvv Z |

 qr ~ATR ~T r J@ fvv  jUT |

"~S  @ cU qha @a - ~AT wHA, j Vqv UvSxv |" cUq  cA AU | A@a U@ mgcq ha ASB ^ cFAL @r qha scf rA A ~  KH @ | j Vqv UvSxv  ~R @T @c gc v r @ AS cAAaUT - ~Acy @UT s wHA Qn cFv ZvU S, R Fr@ cr TUT |

"~T ST S", cUUT | ZS ~cAo s-@BS AQH gf ST cUAa, @q Tc A@a cIAS, gc  A@ @a, jcR q AXfc cU BSF PA UT | S ~T@ ~c@ @ wHA cUU "S | cewAU | A@ @S ?"

Bcc ~AT v @ j@v ATF @ cU AUT | BfcS ~S@ A@a R qha AaU ~T, AAF@ @ d @ PcAS@, rAS@, Fv-vq  IJ-O@O@ jAA@Avg, qFA qFA (T ~HF@  BU jmvv j@@f TFSB RR Z AaU j@@U) @Svq cmcA AS | c jZS @S ~OS U@ AB @U s ZAr j@v cAS cU Aq | TB Uw cr | ASB@ @TS sS ~OS TS  - U@R @ZS ~Xg @B S ~c@  s | jZS ~AcArF Xgv @S @B S, cUUT s cFewU qAS qASvAvv ~ ^ AjqOA @Aa AAB | jTAS jTjA-v AAB ASq @Aa, vv @R T, A@ AO UqS ~ASEO R cA ASB swF AS ^ @ ~ cFv AS jwqAS, cF b@ Aa | gU O@A, gU TqS | c ~T @@BS c^ AO @,  ToF cFU ~q ~q j AR ~a j@BS |

"c: c: Zc gU, ~S T j@BS@q ~AT ZJBAaUT | qASg AS ~T A@a r ~a |"

qASg ! R cc,  s gA wUTU cm |

"qASg  ~crF ~T @B @S @ Sq |"

" UR, AABj vv @aS sZS, A@a ASEOq BScS |"

qha @AaU "S BAS S" cU A, A@ U AmvB cU A@a @ S | a jTjA ~FmvAAB en^ j@v R AaU | sAR Rc ASca ~w@ ABAS, cq  gU wAa, c jq oS ~o@-BS U@@ gBe- gBe A A c cUq TS U |

"FJ, Aa  cvq | cUS A@ r ~S |"

"FJ, ~S cUS s qASg B^ AaU "Acw-cFe" ST@ TAcmH, q  ?

W SUT, "~T" q cAU |

"~ rK c Acw-n-j, Ai@ ?"

c:, jq  OTl@ sw R wa R@ wq AT R | Am F cUUT, "S"|

jq v ~r @AS wHA, A@av Wc Aw cUU, S TS ?

"TS jZS ~cAo s FTH R wa  Acw n cS s @T |"

"A@ ~AT s A@aAS ~wq UT ...."|

"gU AUZa ZS | Acw cFe-j m-vqT PA AaU | m AS@T ABRTAv c | F@v Qn BSU AUAvAgAv q@rS UAw ASv @ArS MJaS s | q ~Ssf TAcr ASZS AnrS ~,  ToF jZS@ FTH sv@ cO cAr TS @a v qSqSqvAU jFAe TU, ~l s ~S TAcr AO@U cUS T Uq @c, Tc S | j@v s ~cAo c  Acw n  av - ~c q Ac^q A sR jq ARAv Ai@ S cUq o SR a | "

cr TS A SU wHA |  TZv ~SFA@ AA ~mv m cUU "AO@U o cq sc, @ZS Tc S .... A@ @S ? rv ~T rF |

ASca R j@T wkb c cF BU T @ cAI A  ~Lwc U iAaUT | wHA r  cB^  cUUT, "AcS  @S  cU S, A@gc q cU |"

"J:" @ j@v ~o-AhaUF rN @ wHA cUU " s cUaS" |

"~AS U A@ AS @B @aS ?"

gkc ~q~qjA ~Av AS A@ c @a |

cU AUT |

" ABAS A@ A@ Uw ?"

A@aAS ~wq gkc  Z @Aa | qSAmvAvvR j@c AwAaUT | R UFcv ha "UB UFc", ASZS c c UB ~a |

"UB ! c: | ASEOq ASB PA @S S, cq @ ~SS | r A@ R s SA@ Acr @ ~TAS @  ?"

BAU TU ZAa | UBU g A@S v  gkc@ AB @ AS | c ASW S, R ASEOq cq @q ~S |

"S, jZS ~ A@ R sc, ~FTA@ @q ~TAS @  |"

":, wHA jvq ~r @AaU | gA ZAr U  | Jv O cUU, "jZSR ~FTA@ | ~ha S, ~S A@ TS , g R ~FTA@ gc jZS @v ?"

J a cJOUT | ~crK AABj BU @v cS wa | ~FTA@ ~wS AS ~AT ~ s wU AvAa, jv ~T j@v A AcK cU s |

d @UT, "ZS ATmv wHA, j@v r R ~SF j@v r gc@ TL@ cU s ZSq sZS v empA@ gc Aw J | ~T Qn Ai@ jvq Wva | ~FTA@ jZS cn aA a, ~T ~O ~OS, @c, BT@, wS - AcrK @ r scTB  ~FTA@ a A@a gcq  S | ~ q@SAT@ A@ A sA cUS, R\ cF, ~q jT j OU @ cUS ?

TOA@  wHA cUU, "~S @SAS ~FTA@ s qha AS ?"

AB~q AS j@T QAaUT cv, A@ ZO jce rK s^ @JAT BSF cFv jwAS |

"qha s AS  cUc S, A@ ZUT s jrR @B @ sw ~a | ~q-~q-j A- sZS b@  UT ZS TS U A@ ~ c ~FTA@ ~FTA@ @ | jZS  gUq sw-Aco Aha |

"A@ v@ ? v@ haS jZS ?"

  AS, AS- @B @ T Tv  JO B  gkc | "@S o  v@U @ ~T A R AO" s TIToF cU S  S, A@ -r @ c DKA^  AZAS |

"S, TS v@v  cT c @ S, @B ~S^ cUR A@a ~a ...."

" ~BSf" gA wHA cUU, "~FTA@ ASEOq ~S@ cAr S ?"

"FJ ~T Ac oU  Tq |"

"J | R ~AS jZSq aS | v@ Ug Sq ~ R SBR SAS, co jZSR oK A@a @SAS cU |"

Wc wUT TSF | "SB AAS TS ?"

~c TOA@ U wHA |  j AcK-~T O Sf-@-S gc AZ cUU, "~AS A@ BSS s jr F@ AcZF cFA Tm wAAcAo R @ SB Z ~FTA@, ~Ao@erq R  U ! jq s rU AUAvArSU, jq ...", cU g cl BSfA@ A s TA@S AcrKH Av w @U U ceU @U TkU  jce @l A sc | "j clwU c@v R ZU WJAv, Bmv WJAv | R OqU j QT ~, S OqU R  s | SqU j T RU r OUha, jv Acr  ~S ?"

j@vS @U cU TU wHA | fAT AB  a U@v |

~AT j@v Tp J J @UT | j cFv TS ha r JA Zc BS U R-HWv UqS rA^wUcc T |

"s@w, ~U @v cAU ~S@ | qAS j S ?"

j jZS@ ~SFT BSA @wB | ~AT ~AcArF cFU @@UfS c qeAB @wBq A, ~Ao@er ^ A@a @ @ S |

"FJ, A |"
"w nc ~w nc j @fZS AaUS ? ~FTA@ @ AaU, TS ~FTA@ AwA @ |"

- S j @f Z @q gU wa c, ~AT TS Z c, gca A@ j !

"TS Sq ! A@ ~ @ sc," r  wHA | "c BS ZS, @fv ~T |"

"q SA@ ? ~AS U gUq UZS cU c |"

S cUv jQn ~g  | ~AcArF ~T  BSF ~Q S @q d @U  |

"jv  BSSq s g AcAUxv U@, pBSrfU U@ ToF  cq@ ~FTA@ AS S | ~q~qAv @ s c,  ~Ao@erq OU s ~FTA@ | jq "cS-S"-j ~FTA@ @v UgcS ha v @ZS gc ZaS ? s B^ jZS, PA a, w ia jZS,  rK s^ R rv@ ~R ^ @a | ~FTA@ jq Tk  r B gf dH dLkH  @B @a | j a ~FTA@ OUcq S | ~O ~FTA@ ~T OZ C, rS @, jTS gc Z sS   @U ~T cJOc | o ~T @S, Tm pf Acr rU Aq R jq TSgc | pf Acr cSU@ AS ~FTA@ wA OT fT MJa sc | A@ AcAST A@aq c S, jv A@aq OU  S | ~AT q mc @Aa s jq Tm rU ~FTA@ @a @ "TwB-@" Ac @d@ | jq, odS clA@ r AcAUS U | cr gU ~qA S ?"

~qAv gU S T^ v Ai@ cI i UT S ~AT | OrT ToF A wHA OZv m Z AhaUT | ~T gv Z Oqa  | j@T pA Z A@ cU AO v ~T BS Sq | ~T-~T @ FJ, TS,   cvq ~cAo jAwAa - ~T@ AT  cUU "U@ A@ cUU  ~AcArF ~T A@a j s S | ~T @B ~AT @q sc |" j@v T cUU, "~S @a @ j@v sF ~r @ A A@ ?"

jq Za ~c sF A@ |

"~AT ! ~AT ~c A@gc sF @c ?"

"cS-S" A@gc ~v@S s  @ ~S Tv BScS | ~T UZ BSF U ~R TU c ~q-~q-j A AcZF PcAS@ cUUS - jq jq jq - UZv@ ~ BU @ sc |

~q-~q-j A AcZF PcAS@ | U@v ZAa ~T T ITU UU |

"JS, JS, AcZF PcAS@ ~c A@ | ~AT  c A jqO A @Aa |"

" A@ ? ~B S @, JO ca, r ca - j@AS  ~AS AcZF PcAS@ cSq, ~AT S  j@v ~wT AUZ AUT | a ~S ST  aAa S |" ~AT o cUc "~q ~q j A AcZF PcAS@ | j ~S ~Av @ ?"

gc ZUT s cFv TS @S wwU ~r co Sq, ~q ~q j A  ~eZF PcAS@ ~aS,  ToF @ cUaS U@ BSc A@ @ ? jv AS Tq c WTc @BS ?

e ~T Tv BSS sq  |

" A@av Ar rSc, A@ ~T TS  rT, ~LS, jUq rK s^ dLkH  J | TS, v@ qv  ~AS ~v@ aS S, S ! RZS v@ cTq cAr @c | ~ B @ @@ jZS o ZR c S | TpH BfcSsn, cAr sw Aco - jc@ ha @  oTn r A @cFco ~ AcAn  sR @ WpH | v S @U TS  ....|

@v rK S @q a AUT |

wHA TZv Zq cIUT s "Axvmv" j j@T TFTF, j@W @ @ cr rq @a | W S cUU | "SS S | gU cUaS ~AS | v@ TS Rc ~LS, rT,   cA sc | ~S TS U AU IAU sZS cUc "S cFv j@ ATAUS | OU ~, ~R Ac | ZS @ @c ~S rT | w^f c T EOr A cA sc | ~ sA ~AS AF AFq ZF S, v@ g ZU R LLR S sS, U gcaS R ~S@ jZS A@a @ c ! A@F cS S |   ~v@ scS | BSS, w T o ~T jmvv @a j@v m  OqAa ~AT, A@aq  iAa S | rUU @Bq d @c S | A jT j @a sq, @Uv @a sq, B@U cU  Sq, jq Sq, Rq Sq | ~ATR aAAS, AO ATASmv ~cAo AwAa, AOAi jS R S@ TS o cUAa, jq s cB^ U, BS jv A@ ? c A@a AS | @U o IJA@Aa | R cUa ~T @S K AhaS ? j ~T A@a @ Sq, AO ATASmv cUUR A@a c S, R cc ~a | cI aS s @ j QT s A jT OqUR A@a  S |"

wHA gK nTq Z ha - j^ qeAB O ~QA rN cFc @ OUa  | QH ~AT cI UAa s U@v Ai@ oH S,  mgAc@R S | Ai@ @v ~mgAc@  v Z qha U ~T | wU ~AcArF ~AT jAq OAU, avcU j@v wAU ~T@ mU sc T  @AaU | q mpA jZSR B  ~a TS | wHA sA wUq , c cr Sf wUq cU c - Zc @T wUq "Acw cFe" AS gc @ | ~ha, Acw cFe AS R rv Ai@ A@ AaU ? AB @ ~wq  AT AUT | BS U  |

c ToF U@ cr @T | ~o@ Avq ZAU | U@~U AvU aSA@ bU ~a  WT^ cI AS | AFq, c co j@BS U@R Bw Sq |

cr B OUa cv, j@vS AcA@ wJ wJ rN @ @ | ~T BS@q cr B B @ cU ha | wHA ~crF AB,  jTASq B cUa | R ~T@ IJ@  R @ S ha |

U@v@ "@UAvgv" @ AO, UUTScc @ |

"~AS il j  aUS @S ?"

 A j@v T ASU wHA | co jq il  AcS BSFq |

"cc cUU cU | r ca a ZS ~T j | cc j@AS @ cUU, ~S@ r c @a, jc ASB TAv c @ |" ~T j@v @A FxvrS ~a @kw | cc ZS c  Awa, j@ ~ OU a S | j ~T@ a OqAaU S, ~U ~AT ZS A@av AOR @AaUT |

"AO |" ~AT fAT AcAm UT |

"FJ, AO | qUv @ @q ~AT FUAU S @ AwAa | ZS SS j@v jS TU AS AO @Aa | q Tq  S ~T@ UArR A OqU |"

"S !" "" cU ~T J-v Ov @ c^ U S |

"FJ S | sR sZS  Ai@-i@  wa, ZSq clwU Ag ~v@ AU | s AU S ~T@ |"

"U ?" ~AT cUUT, "~FTA@ U cq@ AS s Oqa S cUS |" R @ ToF J@ oAa cU TS U ~T |

~c j@v A  ~T@ A AU wHA | ZS A@ rSU BS ~T QT | R R r oHL@ @ZSR b@ c S | s ~oH q jZS @ AS sc | jvq R AUA | sZS cIU, ZS @ .... s@w, s ~AT AaUT ~crF, c  caZS@  | ~T j@BS TA (AA A@ec TTfR  , "~Axv" cUAaU wHA) @S ZS, TTr qASgAAv ~ @FAUAS ~Fv jU j-  | cUUT s c sc  @a,  wU Ag | OU wUT | q  ZU ~ U |

"ZU TS ?"

"~AS gcaS A@, ~AT c AwAaUT SA@ ~FTA@ ! ~AT AwAaUT ~FTA@ B @ |"

 wf wU  cUU, "~AT j@BS Ar\f |"

"~ha !"
"FJ, ~AT wS wq |"
"c:, q SA@ !"
"FJ, ~AT wS w, SO cpA ST A |"

v @ ~T gd v R OU wU | TZv ~ TS A@ IJ@ U |

"A@ cUUS ?"

"Acr ha S !" TOA@ U wHA | AFq ~AT cpA ST A | j a c   g WAaUT | TSv gfKH ~r^  AaU ZS, j@v ~cUcS ZJBAaU | oT ABASv AS @SASq T WTqAS, A@ q T TS U, Z s@ S A@ ~a cFv ToF | jq s o, ^Ff, f, A@ - j Ai@ A@ oS TSK | A@aAS Wq ~crF cIUT s ~w s gcT j c^ q oHv ~S@vq Ai@ - ~Ao@er "oAT@"-q j@c -TB, cB, BAUA Rm c OT | j@BS ^Ff@R ZJB AhaUT S s A@S oH TSK Oq j@OUR ~U | U a A sZS  W Ac-Ac @Aa, Ai@ ZSq AKF j@BS Z UT | @ ~crF Ai@ ^Ff cU s S | TBOF Ai@q, A@ oT-vT AS Zc j@v T WT S, ASB TS @, a j@v Q U U, ~ TI ToF ~Xg gc SO-w | wJ U@ @ Ai@ cI i  S |  ~crF BS s U@v SO-wS Ai@ q @T cAr cpA , A@ cq v@ kH mgAc@ j@v WvS Ac TS ASAaU  ASBR @S@T Ac @ S | ZS ~T cFv Zc ~EOs UwAaU, j@T j@BS U@  wJ A Ac AccAO R AO | jZS ~crF cAI jvq ~T r U@ mgc .... sq@, ~AT R ~oHL Bq ~Sgc @ AaUT - U@v AFq @pA a^ cI | v@ A@av AS^HR  @  | QH R  Uw @T ~AT, T T ~T@ ^ OZ Z, jA OU O @ |  sZS cIU s ~AT ~SF T Sq, R H, R ~oHL@ ~AT S Aq, ZS ~T@ ASB cA@a B @ ArAZ AU | AcrK A@a ,   U-U AcrK a^ SO | @ @S dL Sq, A@ j@v a^ @ Oq, c ~U ha  ~ U | wS w ~ "cpA SO" SO T T cpA ~ASAaUT ~T | a A@ fQH j@ rU cpA | gc ZS q wS QT | T T AKF @AmS@UR cpA  S | R@ ~T  AS jUT | A@aq ~ OqAaU S wT a, A@ ~T TS U R jq ~oH QT @B Uwc ~T r - ~S@ Bw cpA s @, AFq @ | B @q AS jUT - A@ ZJO AZ  S, AU wU | wTR AS ~, @ wU @ BS | c ~T s ArAZ AAaU, ~AT Ai@ @UT  S @ ~AT ~^ O @ Zc | qT ~ STUT | A@ j@BS U@R Acr @U S ~T | cBd@ cU A AU cq | jTSA@ ~T ASB cA U@ ~cAo | ~O ~AT U Aa, OFU AS cpA SATAa, cq cUa @@Uf, cpA q | TB cFv A@ BSS - AF@ cBd@ jZS cq Acr @, T U, ~ ~T@ @ R AU S | ~AT cUAa S s "cpA f" ~AT PA @Aa, A@ jv ~crFq Ai@ s O ~oFc A v@ ~AT  ~ @Aa, Ag S @U @ SO ~ wS ASZJgc @ cpA ST  S | q U@v cIAaU s ~T ToF ~a, q ~T@ ArAZAaU | A@ jq ha r j@BSR ~T@ Acr @U S | q BSFq ~AT r aUT |"

~cw R wU @Ja | F@Av rN Ai@ Ai@ cha | ~T ~rr -j@BS Bw ia R wU ~RB | w ~T ~ wHA A@ ~c@  j@c @U | ~T@ OZ A cU OqU, "A@ c@c@ @Aa jq wUv  ? @ AS ~  wU S |"

" ?"

"~FTA@ U ~FU Aw iUT TA cA | TS ZS j@vq gcS -A@gc j@v sw R sc | gwF gUq cU c, ZUT  @aq sw | SA^@ ZS TIA oS Z OUa | -AST cpA AS | ~AT mSf j@v @wB AcS A cUUT s cpA ~Sc | @  AU S T | ~AT U aUT S | cUUT ~T@ AZ ~T@ T ~AT cfO cpA SO ~ wS @c |  U OANcr Wxv ToF cpA cq | c@v @wB@ BSUT | AS AS cfO cr Ag U | U@ qA @ ~ "S-TFS"-@ Z ja | ~T wSU qeAB ~Sc @ UAaUT | @UT T | U@ , U, SO cr gw @U | ~S@  SOq d @U ~T  |  cU @ ~crF cFv@ AAAU SAS | c AS sZS Wxv O cpA SA^@@ gA A wU ~cRAc mA @ A, U@ ~ jv@ "~ Acw B@" cU A A U S | @wB @wB ~T aAc cU | me T ~T  Z @ jUS | j@T O cpA c@U SA^@ AS | A ~AT AcZF  wUT | sZSq sq j@v AcrU AUTABS ~T@ U @ UwU | ~AT A@ Zq, A@ @A, @  ATAr c ZJAv Z  UwU | ~AT ~crF @ @AAS, s ZAr @ AwAa | qAToF ~ -j@Bw @ UT | SOUT, wqUT, cBwq cpA U | ZS A Acj ~T@ @U |

"A Ac j !" A Ac j ~FTA@ ~SFT STB @ @AS |

FJ, A Ac j ~T@ @Fv, AgAR @ cUU |

"@US ~AS ?"

TOA@ U wHA, ZSq  UwU | mUU cUU T wS A@a rN ~rfU, \v c | gc ZS - ~FTA@ | sZS O-~Q rN a U@ @q cU S, ZS ~T wS@ cU ~rfU | ~crF ~T wS ~AT cpA@ @\S @AaUT Sf Ac, s@ ~S@ B @U c  ASB@ J  | v @ T ~AT cr v Aa |  rf@ A@av ZUTU gK cHS @Aa, A@ v BS ~AA @ZS AS | ~ Rq clwU cU A@S ~AT ~rfU, jv A@ F @ s SA@ ! ~T mofS mQ @ OqU R |"

"A@ @US U ?"

"cU AUT Rc c-vc S | AgAR @   ~T wS Ai@ s@T ~a gc @, SqU @ S | ~AT A@ \vc S | R ZS ~T jBxv@ oU |"

"cc, j ToF ~c jBxvR Bw @ UUS @ @ ?"

"  Bv scq | ~FTA@ ~AS TSF AcZF aS A@ SAS, ~TAS ~S@ j@BS jBxv o Uc | ~TAv ~crF cr gU AaU, qAUS, ^f | OTl@ F PA  AwAaU ~T ToF |" wHA OZ TS co q ^f jBxv g iU, TS U @TS sS ~SFTSm  wU OZv |

"S:,  s, ~AT ABAS  Aq |"

"~S c^R A@ ~q ~q j A ~a ?" R ST  AB @U wHA |

Bfc ceU UZ cSS gU gA @ | R T cB AOAi AUZ ~AT @@ AZAS | BT c ~ FAU OB a w\ cq  S |

w TFSBTxv  OAaU, ~q ~q jT-j O^ AS | wSv ASR R Z AaU, Zc s Z w  S, c TI TI U gU  s |

"c: Zc qxvAmve c^  ~S | R @ AAB AS co |"

"S, Bfc qeABf ~ w q@SAT wBrS @a | w  Tmv @ @q a ~q-~q-jT-j b@U | Bfc wBrS  ~ AS, jZS U vqT AF @a |

@vwU cAS cAUAS |
wHA QH Sv  ~a | ~T @UB j@BS  AaUS, A@ j@v ~Z AaU cU  @ S S | wHAR A@ @T SA@ ? AB @c gcUT A@  TS U ~g c |

cv S AU @@c | j@ j@ i U cq | ~S@q  v@v@ Zc | wR Acmv A@Sa  F@v |

c aU ~c ~T @ d U | wHA wUv B @ cU U gC d @a, c JA @ T UQ @AaUT |  ~crF R gQ Sq | q j@qgc @ cU s UwU |

"~S c^ ~FTA@ @ A@ T ? AwA AS R A@ gca ?"

"TFSBTxv @a, S !  TS ~ j@BS vSArU nf |"

"ASB mofS cO  @v ~AT WpH @A |" wB iU wHA | "~AS ~T@ cc cUAaU, R ~T wS j@v rNR \vqAS | A Ac j-j AxvR Z @AaU ~T , cUAaU T wS j@v AAgUrS, o j@v \vR, Uq s T OR c | R TZ UA T OU jAaUT | ~  @q ...." wHA Av A@av ^ ZU | " @q, cIUS, ~T Aa aAS R |"

"Aa aAS TS ? ~S@  @ cha SA@ ?"

"~T AAv wAAcAo R SZH | R O @Sgc ~T@ AA AS s | A@ ~ATR Ai@ @ UAa T wUR ~ R  o c S | A@aq ~FTA@ ASB@ cOc S | j@c AwAa, R AZ AAa ~AT A@, cF | jc Td@ R jq gc s jq AgAv SwU c S R | A@ TrA@U U .... "

"A@, A@ TrA@U ?"

"TrA@U ha jq r, jq r TSK, s jZSR ~T@ mf@ @ S, ~T H@ TS S, ~T Ar\@ TS S | jZSR j cI UT S s @pA YlA o@o@AS S q ~AT, ~T wS ~AT @pA @r | q BSFq ~AT cpA@ ~S A | ~ R cU ~T wS SA@ ~empA ! rU cB^ U | @S AgcS jr @ OU sc S cUS ? s r wfc,  r A@gc ASB Ag ~v@ Z  BSS ?"

~T qha @AaU Sv ZU AS R OZv gU @ Z, Ai@ @v ~S Ia ZS @ | c @U Ar U ia, S@ v  @ @Ja |

"A@gc ?"

"S AZ | Tm oH ToF @T BA @ c s T TS @S AgcS@ ZUq AT T SfO @ rXo BSc, ~w@ AS U@ cQ|H s@T @, @T | @mv AmvT gfKH BS, c B^ AcO S, Ag AcO | Ag Qn s AF@ cQ|H, j@Tn q v@  vS@ ~mf@ @ r @ sc | ~FTA@ sq AwA U@, Ag swF T ~ S   | j r TR  S, rXoR @ S, U @S, @S :Z Ag jZS  @c?"

W SUT ~AT, R @ U iA@ sRq jZS ~T @B |

"jZS A ~  cFU cA iAaUT | ZS@  @ AZ ~T cA Ai@ \vA@ j@v AUTABS JA ~a | ~FTA@ @ sv ~T U @, Ai@ q@T j@v | AS  AS JA @ q AUTABS | ~T@ Ug Z | BST s ~AT Aw B ZU i Uq Rv a c | ~T@ R cU OAaU s FZ , wAv T - jq@T B-B wA T@ A A - AT o ~T  sR | wAv TS A ~AT  Jv sT, cT qg OZ TS  UT | TZS@ jq@T @U,  sZS ZU s ~AT A@aq  c S, wA ~ c^  wU | , R!  sv @U v ~oH,  ~AcrF ...."

~AT ~c j@v TS A@ IJ@ UT |

"~FTA@ rK A@ ~AT cr hapU  AaUT | T ZT, T-cAB @T - ~U R SBA @ cU ~ Z O AwAaU cU S | TS  ~T qha T ~AT s ZAr @c, R A@ ! jZS j @B ~gc ~c Rq KU T O A iU | Acw  OSS  ?"

Acw @ cFU @ mvfv cU s  | AcrU AcrU @S  ~crF @ mvfv@ aA sc, c mv cr d | cFU O aU-T q@j j@Tn vqT U Acw  W cS, ~TR @Aa j@c |

"cFU @ Acw  AOSc S ?"

"S cU ZS j@v c ~a BSS ?"

c RZS wZS@ ~a | wv cFU rq c gA | j ZUZAU T ZR g ~SF @S r  cU TS  S | c "S" cU @S c TS a S |

"sq@, S cU j@v Acw  ~a | ~Xg c, Rv ZS ~FmvSv T K@ AcrS @ |  S ~AT j@ ^cU Aw O SO-wS A @AaUT | cA AAaUT  AS g |  cU, A@a @ Sq, cA c c q AB-A wT ZAa | cr gUq ha | AAB j@v A@ AS, co ASA TFwSAv@ S^ A@ A@a Zha | il wT AT j@ ^f WAK@ cUUS "~T j@v dLkH WKH ~a |"  s ZU, ~AS gc cS S !"

q AB-A wT TIZS TK@ A@ Z  v AFq ~AT gc UT S |

"j@BS ~FmvSv@ ZU, TrkSF g cha | q OU jU T prF, j@Av  AZ ZU T R  sha | a, a cr A@aQH U AZv | cF@w ^ ATAB@ ,  il A@ U, SfO ST @U , ST ST Ie @ BU  wU | mnfS UZ v iU q q xv v@ @, q qU UB jgAAe | cIUS cFv?"

~mf@ @c S s j oS ~JU cF-F ~T T A@aTn b@U S | ~c@ gcv TZ v iAaU ASEOq, wHA j@T TvcAXo Axvmv Z cr r a TS U |

"~FmvSv TS A@ ? S, R BS s wA ~AT S AwAaUT | T R A T AZ  cha | v @ ? ~AT, ZU ~@r  sAha, ~l s ZAr @Aa |  BU  wUT,  ~ jgc ASB qha T cAAc T @B @U, cAr mofSO  s  @ cU, ~T AHA c oe | ~T Ar\f LL, ~ cpA ~S QT, TS s BSF ~T@ R @, v ~AT ASBq rK @ UAa ~m ~m | v R A@aq  A O S | q BSFq j @ | A@ xvv ha R QT , Bmv ~gcSf !"

q AB-A wT AT ~FTA@ wHA@ coS @ Aha, @v gc Aw ~T A  wU, A@ jZS  j@c OU S, U@v BfcS j@v dLkH cF jv |

"FJ, AFq gc s S |"

"~T Tm OU-OUS R BS | T ~AT s ZS AvAg qABA ZAa, R R BS | ~T  ZS T-R ZAaU, ~c@  ~T@ AB @U "jv A@ ZU  ? ~AT A@a cAUAS, cUU T g  s Zc | A@ AS @ ~AT coS  wUT | ~T e@\R AXH U, A@aq R  o c S | j  ~R TH Aa s ~T@ R OZ OZ Za, j@  j@ UgS AZa, A@ ~AT R  Uc, A@aq R jq TmAS TS Sc S |"

~T ZS j@T ~R A@a ~oH WvS S qha @a, AB @UT, "~ A@ TH US ?"

wHA cUU "~S@, ~S@,  ToF j@v cUAa, SUq cIcS @ R MJa  | AS AcAvr @A^U j@v ecA@ US ha | rF jZS@ jTcFA SS empA@ ~A  U@ AO @A R | ~T @a j@v @ AaU | wAaUT | c s j@v A  AwAaU | sZS MJaUT ZS q ~A cp Aha, co AcAcA  | AcAcA g A@ A@ @g @  AS | ZUokU ~cAo MJaAaU, ~AT sR Tnq j@v U@ i Aw R @S-@S A@a cUU, - Rq clv ~T A@ A@ - j@c rK A cAaUT ~AT - cUU "q ~U Av F  ~ OAU OFAUS | W gA U@ @ A@a cIU S, ~AT a | A@  ZS, c TS R@T j@v @ R@ A cUU,  ~T@ rSc cU | cq R @S |"

~T TS U cAU U  ~AS B i wUS Tq, j@c OAU OFAUS  ~S@ US @ AU | A@-S A@ AAn c gc gcS mq qhav Z AUT |

TZ cUUT "~S@ A Aha S U R |"

S gc U wHA | "HH O @a @c @ U | A@ ~T BR c sha, ~ | o r U@ j@v sF - A@ sF s j@T c S  S | @kw qTA mUU U@O A jUT A@aAS ~w | chOU@ BSUT ~FTA@ ~wS @, R T BS OqUT, ~AS gc cS S A@ AH T R | ~AT To  wAa qg-A aUT @ S | ~T rA cA Aa R |

"chO ~LSS ~S@ Tq c Oq cAr  |

" s cUaS S | Rq  ~T ~r | R Ai@ @ PA @ c |"

cFU fTS OU jAa ~T | ~ co ~oWxv ToFq MJa sc c mvrS |

wHA @ co rK  wU | ~T@ A@av Acf T@ W S i BSU A@ OU wU  | ~ATR ~T BSU A@ OU wUT |

JOv cB wa, ~U C SAU @ @TU  d @a | ks A@ ~crF jZS gU @ @S sha S | ~ ATASv r@ q sc | ~@r A@a aS-avS TW ~a | cr Br j@ZS ksm c cI sha | TWU w ZS AcAg^ C Z sc, U@ cB @ ~ @ cAS |

cFU ksmU gA ^  |

w aS A cUU "A@ ~ @AaAU cU  | cXo j@v wU  ~QH c@c@ | Tm c U@ @AhaU ~ AaU |"

U@BS s @ha v ~AT cIAaUT | cUUT, "U@v A@ cr qxvAmve |"

"Z  qxvAmve, ~m wU rU |"

cFU j wa | @Sv qeAB |

"S !"

A @UT |

~c r Av A ja wHA | "~S Tv BSUS S  ~FTA@ @ | ~AT AUZT |"

"cUUT s, Rqvq ~T T |"

"TS Rq ~LS cFv | j@A@ A ZU ~crF v j@v Ao ~mq cv | ~LS O c ~ A@ ~a TSK |"

cIUT S  AFq  U A@S |  jQH@ @ ~Ssf  ASB s ~FTA@ scf UgS Rq cmAv Aq ha @a  ~ TS @A AUT S | c  UZ@ BU @ BSF  dH @S ~qA R AO AaU ~T, A@ A@ @c, j AcK s AFq ~S@ gc A@a c @ AAS |

cFU vATS sZS cv b@U ZS ksv j@v @TUUc UB^ T wU | v @ Z U qha @a |

cq i a Av a | TS A@a U@ ww TU,  j@-j@ @ U ST UwU |

wHA j@v Tn q cFw |  jAw Aw v@ @ @S J@ ST a |

~AT ZS Av U @ F@ c @Aa | A@a S cUq OU wU wHA ~T j@v ~c@q UwU |

 ST sR Tnq c ASBS ~T A@ O SgkA A  UwU |

"~S Pos ~a cv, ~AT U  ASBq wU  sT |" j@BS cUU |

Bfc cUU "R@ c@ s AAU @S cU  ?"

~AT c A@ O UT j@c | A@ cI OqUT @ BS |

"S |"

qeABf "q" ceU ASv coS s @S j@v  , A@ ~AT ASAEO s wHA jq rK "q" ceU "AT"|

TB OZ j@BS wU ~T  ASWxv ~U "~AS" @ "AT" ST jU, jv j@v WvS cv |

A@ec ~ATq j@ T Ji, kH Aavwm j@ TSK s@ ASWxv o s ZAr cAIa |

ksv@ ~ Z sha S |

wHA j@c A @U | ZUT Sv ZU Ua  |

jq UZ ~S @TS UwU ?