(,J KUfjh]; uh[huhkd; vd;nwhU ,sk; thypgupd; rkPgj;jpa mDgtj;ijAk;> mjd; gpd; tpisTfisAk; tpgupf;Fk; cz;ikf; fij.  KUfjh]; vk;ik kpfTk; tpUk;gpf; Nfl;lgbahYk;> mtUf;F ,yq;ifj; jkpoHfshd ehk; cjt Ntz;Lk; vd;w Nehf;fj;jpNyAk;jhd;> mtUila fijia ,q;F gpuRupf;fpNwhk;.  ,f;fijia KUfjh]; vkf;F nrhd;dgbNa Kbe;jtiu vOjpapUf;fpNwhk;.  cq;fshy; Kbe;j cjtpia ,tUf;F nra;Ak;gb KUfjh]pd; rhHgpy; Nfl;Lf; nfhs;fpNwhk;. ed;wp -MrpupaH FO.)

mz;iz vdf;F nrhe;j CH cUk;gpuha;.  mq;Nf “kh];lH uh[huhkd;” vd;why; Nuhl;L eha;f;Ff; $l njupAk;. mg;gb xU nry;thf;F.  ,e;jg; gpur;rpid mq;Nf njhlq;fpapUf;fhl;b> ehd; tho; ehspNy ,e;j ehl;bw;F te;jpUf;fkhl;Nld;.  ehNlhz;iz ,J? kdprd; thOthNd ,q;if…. ghHj;jPq;fNs: ehd; VNjh nrhy;y te;J vq;NfNah Ngha;tpl;Nld;. Kjypiy vd;Dila gpur;ridia tpsq;fp ehd; nrhy;yg;Nghwij cq;fSila gj;jpupifapNy Nghlg;NghwJf;F jhqf;;]; mz;iz. cq;fSf;Fj; njupahNj mtdtd; ,q;if gpy;bq;Ff;F gpy;bq; Ngg;gH mbj;J tpLfpwhd;. xU Ngid gpbj;J jkpo; vOjf; $batndy;yhk; vOJwhd;. Mdhy; cq;fspl;il ehd; te;jpUf;fpwndd;why; . . . vdf;Fj; njupAk; vJ ey;yJ vJ nfl;lJ vd;W.

     CupNy ehd; vg;gb ,Ue;jdhd; mz;iz? vq;fil FLk;gk; vg;gpb ,Ue;jJ? cq;fSf;F cUk;gpuhapNy nrhe;jk; VjhtJ ,Uf;fpdk; vd;why; tprhupj;Jg; ghUq;Nfh. ngUikahf; fijg;gpdk;.

     Mdhy; ,q;Nf te;J vdf;Fg; igj;jpak; vd;Nw KbntLj;jpl;lhq;fs;.  ,J vq;Nf njhlq;fpdJ vd;W vdf;F ,d;Dk; Qhgfk; ,Uf;FJ> mz;iz.  xU 2-3 tUrj;jpw;F Kd;dhNy ,tq;fnsy;yhUk; - ,tq;fnsz;L vd;Ndhil WhkpNy ,Ue;jJfs; - vd;idg; gw;wp ef;fyhff; fijf;fj; njhlq;fpdhq;fs;.  vd;d ehd; 32Mk; ,d;Dk; fypahzk; fl;bf; nfhs;Nyiyahk;… mjhk; ,jhk; vd;W njupahNj?  gpwF xU ehs>; ,td; uQ;fDk; NkhfDk; 2 NgUf;F 60 nlhyH vd;W xd;iw WhKf;Ff; $l;bf; nfhz;L te;jpl;lhq;fs;.  uQ;rd; vd;idAk; $g;gpl;lhd;. vdf;F md;ilf;F vd;d ele;jNjh njupahJ> rup vd;wpl;ld;. 3 NgUf;F 80 nlhyH jhd; mz;iz!

     ,tq;fs; vd;id Kjw; Ngh vd;whq;fs;. gpd;id ehDk; xU WhKf;if $l;bf; nfhz;L NghNdd;. mg;gj;jhd; mz;iz mtis xOq;fhfg; ghHj;jd;. ngupa cUg;gb ,y;iy. ngaupw;F mq;NfAk; ,q;NfAk; vd;W ,Uf;f Ntz;baitfs; vy;yhk; ,Ue;jJ. xNu Nkf;fg; mz;iz! Kfj;jpiy ahNuh nkhlHz; MHl; fPwpdkhjpup.  ,q;Nfjhd; mz;iz gpur;rid njhlq;fpdJ.  vdf;F vJTk; O.K. Mdhy; xU kDrd; kpdf;nfl;L xd;iwr; nra;Naf;if> nra;tJ rupah gpioah vd;W nrhy;YNwy;iyNa? mts; GUtj;ij topj;Jg; Nghl;L fPwp tpl;bUf;fpwhs;. mJ vg;g ghHj;jhYk; mts; Mr;rupag;gLfpw khjpup ,Uf;FJ.  vg;g re;Njhrg;gLfpwhs; vg;g re;Njhrg;gliy vd;W vdf;Fj; njupa Ntz;lhNk?  vdf;F Mj;jpuk; mz;iz. mtspNy> vd;Ndhl ,Ue;jJfNshl> ,e;j ehl;bNy… vy;yhupNyAk;jhd;.

     vy;NyhupNy ,Uf;fpd;w Mj;jpuj;ijAk; mtspNy fhl;bNdd;. md;iwf;F ,uT te;j khjpup Kd;Nd gpd;Nd te;jjpy;iy vdf;F. vd;d? Nfhgkz;iz! mtis Whik tpl;L XLk; tiu> thapNy uj;jk; tUk; tiu mbj;Njd;. mtq;fs; ,uz;L NgUk; clNd te;J VNjh Jf;fk; yprhupf;fpw khjpup  Nfs;tp Nfl;lhq;fs;. “vd;d jh]; mz;iz ,g;gpbr; nra;J Nghl;Bq;fs;? cq;fSf;F vd;d ele;jJ?” ehd; xd;Wk; giwNaiy. vdf;F xd;Wk; elf;Nfiy. mJjhd; gpur;rpid. mg;gNt njhlq;fpdtq;fs; ,e;j tprud; gpur;rhuj;ij. ,g;g ,uz;L khjj;jpw;F Kjy; ele;j rpy rk;gtq;fshNy mJ Kj;jpl;LJ.

     ,J tiuf;Fk; ehd; nrhd;dijf; Nfl;Ll;L ePq;f epidf;fyhk; ehd; VNjh gpur;ridiaj; Njbg; Nghwtd; vd;W.  ,y;iyaz;iz> ehd; mg;gpbg;gl;ltd; ,y;iy. vd;id mg;gpb tsHf;Nfiy. CupNy tprhupr;Rg; ghUq;Nfh njupAk;. ehd; ,q;Nf te;J /gf;lupapy; Ntiy nra;fpNwd; vd;W nrhd;dhNy rdk; rpupf;Fk;.  vq;fil FLk;gk; Ntiy nra;J thog;gpwf;Nfiy mz;iz. vy;yhk; ,e;jg; gpur;rid mq;Nf njhlq;fpdjhiy...  vg;gpb ,Ue;jdhd; mq;Nf?

     ehd; Ntiyf;Fg; Ngha; te;jhy;> ,q;Nf WhKf;Fs;Ns vd;il ghl;Lf;F ,Uf;fpwdhd;.  xU ehSk; xU gpur;ridf;Fk; NghNwiy.  fpoikf;F ,uz;L u[pdp glk; ghHg;Ngd;.  kw;w ehspNy ahH ebj;jhYk; guthapy;iy vd;W VjhtJ xU glk; ghHg;Ngd;.  u[pdpAlila mUik xUj;jUf;Fk; tpsq;fpNwiy.  mtd;iu ebg;G vd;d> ];iuy; vd;d. vy;yhUk; mtd; fkiy VNjh ngupa ebfd; vd;W GOfpf; nfhz;lUg;ghq;fs;. mtd; vd;d ngupa ebfd;?  njhl;ljw;nfy;yhk; %iyapy ,Ue;J ngl;il khjpup mOJ nfhz;bUg;ghd;.  cJ ebg;Ngh nrhy;Yq;Nfh? ghHj;jPq;fNs> gpwFk; vq;NfNah Nghapl;ld;.

     gpwF ghUq;Nfh> ,g;g xU ,uz;L khjj;jpw;F Kjy;> xU ehspuT  - xU 12;:30 ,Uf;Fk;. ehd; rHr;-nty];yp re;jpg; gf;fj;jhiy te;J nfhz;bUe;jdhd;.  mjpiy xU Nlhdw;]; fil xd;W ,Uf;Fk;> mjw;Fg; gf;fj;jpNy xU nghk;gpisAk;> Mk;gpisAk; rz;il NghLfpw khjpup ,Ue;jJ.  fpl;lg;Nghdhy; Mk;gpis Made in Sri Lanka khjpup ,Ue;jJ.  Mdhy; Ms; gL ];iuy;.  mz;iz> ehd; FspupNy eLq;fpf; nfhz;bUf;fpNwd;>  mtd; Nfhkzk; fl;bd khjpup Nrhl;]; Nghl;bUf;fpwhd;.  NkNy VNjh fiwahd; mupr;r uPNrl; xd;W.  khHgpNy xU NjhL. 

     Ms; vd;idf; fz;lJk; xU %iyf;F ,Oj;Jf; nfhz;L Ngha>; “md;gNu ePH jkpo; NgRtPNuh?” vd;fpwhd;. ,td; NgRfpwJ jhd; jkpo; vd;why; vdf;Fr; rj;jpakha; jkpo; njupahJ.  ehd; jiyahl;bNdd;. “ehd; ck;$l tUfpNwd;> ePUk; ehDk; gu];guk; njupe;jtHfs;.  ,ij mq;Nf nrhy;Yk;.” 

     mq;Nf mts; fish-net stocking ,y; xapyhf vd;idNa ghHj;Jf; nfhz;bUe;jhs;.  vdf;F xd;WNk tpsq;Nfiy.

     “mz;iz vdf;F cq;fisj; njupahJ. ehd; Vd; ngha; nrhy;y Ntz;Lk;?”.  

     “khdplNu... md;gNu ehd; nrhy;tijf; NfSk;; ckf;F kpf ey;yJ.”

     ehd; Nfl;Nld;. fish-net ,lk; Ngha; mts;... mJ... mtd; - mtd; mz;iz! Nrt; gz;zpa gr;ir Kfj;jpNy> epw;fpw KiwNa rupapy;iy> mz;iz. fhiy mfl;bf; nfhz;L - xU nghk;gpis mg;gpb epw;f khl;lhs;.  mtsplk; mtd; nrhd;dijr; nrhy;yp tpl;Lj; jpUk;g> ahNuh fhiug;gf;fj;jpy; epWj;jp> “You wanna go fishing babe?” vd;fpwhd;.  Fish-net,  “Why not?” vd;wgb fhupy; Vwpdhs;.

     “nuhk;g ed;wp ez;gNu.”

     “guthapy;iy> mg;g tUfpNwd; mz;iz.”

     “Vd; thq;fNsd; Mfhuk; VjhtJ cz;L kfpoyhk;?” vd;whd;; Nlhdw;iwf; fhl;b. VNdh njupatpy;iy> mz;iz> mtd; nrhy;tnjw;nfy;yhk; jiyahl;l Ntz;Lk; Nghy ,Ue;jJ - Ml;bNdd;.

     cs;Ns nspr;rj;jpy;jhd; Mis ey;yhg;ghh;j;Njd;. xU 5 mb 6 mq;Fyk; ,Ug;ghd;. jiy kapiu rj;ah fky; khjpup ntl;b ,Ue;jhd;.

     “mz;izf;F rpNyhNdh?”

     mz;iz> “,y;iy md;gNu> ahk; vt;tplj;jpYk; ,Ug;Nghk;. vd;id ckf;F ed;F njupAk;.  rpe;jpAk; ez;gNu>”  vd;whH.  ehd; rpe;jpj;Njd;;. Fok;gpNdd;.

     rpe;jpf;ifapy;> mtupd; fz;fisg; ghHj;Njd;.  ahNuh Rj;jpayhy; cr;rpapy; mbj;j khjpup ,Ue;jJ.  mz;iz! mtH  rptngUkhd;!;  Nkhfdkhf vdf;Fg;; gf;fj;jpy; Gd;diff;Fk; rptngUkhd;! ehd; vd;wjhy; Ngrhky; ,Ue;Njd;.  vq;fil mg;GNth> Mr;rpNah ,Ue;jpUe;jhy; gpuhzid tpl;bUf;Fq;fs;.

     mtH> mz;iz> ,q;Nf ehujNuhL xU ehisf;F Kjy; te;jtuhk;.  ,tUila it/g; - ahNuh GJR - mustang fhnuhd;iw T.V. apy; ghHj;Jg; Nghl;L> mJ NtZk; vd;W Nfl;ljhNy> xd;W thq;f ,q;Nf te;jpUf;fpwhH.  mq;Nf> ,q;Nf ,Uf;fpw T.V. station vy;yhk; ,Of;Fkhk;> mz;iz.  mg;gpb te;jjpNy> ehujH uhj;jpup ghHf;Nly; gf;fk; ahNuhNlh jq;fpapUf;fg; Nghl;lhuhk;.  mjhd; ,tH fish-net XL New;Wj; jq;fpapUe;jtuhk;. Ms; GJR vd;W Vkhj;jpg; Nghl;lhs; fish-net.

     ehq;fs; ,uz;L NgUk; xU miu kzpj;jpahykhff; fijj;Njhk;.  ehd; Nfl;Nld; mtupl;il> Vd; ©kpf;F te;J fhH thq;f Ntz;Lk; vd;W.  mjw;F mtH nrhd;dhH:  “md;gNu> khdplupd; iftz;zNk jdp. ehd; khdpluplk; ,Ue;J vt;tsT fw;Wf; nfhz;Nld; njupAkh? vd;d Rfk; ,q;Nf! vt;tsT tpj;jpahrq;fs;!  ehq;fs; vy;NyhUk; NjtNyhfj;jpy; Mapuf;fzf;fhd Mz;Lfshf> xNu tpjj;jpy;> xd;iwNa nra;J nfhz;bUf;fpNwhk;. ,q;F gytpjkhf> GJikahf nra;fpwhHfs;.  ehDk; ehujUk; $l - ehujH vd;wTld; jhd; Qhgfk; tUfpwJ. md;gNu syringe ,Uf;fpwjh?”

     “syringe vd;why;...”

     “Crp md;gNu... Crp> ifapy; Fj;Jk; Crp”

     vd;dj;Jf;F Crp vd;W vdf;F tpsq;Nfy;iy. “vd;dplk; ,y;iy Iah!”

      “vdf;F kpf mtruk;! Crp ,g;nghOJ Njit!”  mtH nfhQ;rk; Nfhgg; gl;lJ NghypUe;jJ.

     “ehd; ehujiu cldbahfr; re;jpf;f Ntz;Lk;. tUfpNwd; md;gNu.”

     “Iah> ePq;fs; NghfKjy; xU tpz;zg;gk;... xU tuk; Nfl;f Ntz;Lk;”.

      “NfSk;> vdf;F kpf mtrukhf Crp Njit!”

     “vd;id ,q;F vy;NyhUk; igj;jpak; vz;nly;yhk; fijf;fpwhq;fs;. xNu gpur;rpid> ePq;fs; jaT gz;zp ,e;jg; gpur;rpidia vg;gbj; jtpHg;gJ vd;W mwpTiu gz;z Ntz;Lk;.”

     “md;gNu> epiwag; ngha; nrhy;Yk;; xUj;jiuAk; ek;ghNjAk;; ckf;fhf thOk;.  gpur;rid Kbe;jJ.  tuth?”

     “kw;wJ> cq;fisr; re;jpj;jjpy; kpf;f kfpor;rp. ehujiu Nfl;ljhfr; nrhy;Yq;Nfh.  KUfd;> gps;isahH vy;NyhiuAk; Nfl;ljhfr; nrhy;Yq;Nfh.”

     “rup. tUfpNwd; md;gNu”.

mtH Nghapl;lhH. vdf;F vy;yhNk xU fdT khjpup ,Ue;eJ. Side walk ,Ny ahNuh xUj;jd; jz;zpapNy> epyhitf; $g;gpl;Lf; nfhz;bUe;jhd;.

     ehd; mz;iz> rptngUkhDila advise If; Nfl;bUf;f Ntz;Lk;.  Mdhy;> ehd; vd;d nra;Njd;> tPl;il NghdTlNd rptngUkhidf; fz;Nld; vd;W nrhy;yp tpl;Nld;.  mtq;fs; vy;NyhUf;Fk; ntwp. ntwp vd;whNy Rk;kh ntl;bf;fij fijg;ghq;fs;.  xUj;jd; KaYf;F 2 fhy; vz;Lthd;. ,d;ndhUj;jd; ,tH vd;d nra;fpwhH ghHg;gk; vd;w khjpup> ,y;iy %d;W fhy; vz;Lthd;.  mtq;fSf;F ,J xU nghOJ Nghf;fz;iz.  vt;tsT Neue;jhd; ghHj;j glj;ijNa jpUk;gj;jpUk;g ghHg;gJ.

     ehd; ,e;jf; fijiar; nrhd;dTlNd kh];lH vd;W xUj;jH ,Ue;jtH. mtH nrhd;dhH> “Nla;> ahulh flTs;? ahulh rptngUkhd;? vdf;F Kd;dhNy tur;nrhy;Y ghHg;gk;. tukhl;lhd;lh mtd;! gak;! M! gak;!  flTshk; kz;zhq;fl;b> vy;yhk; Rj;J khj;Jlh.  Vd;lh> Nla;> rptypq;fk; vd;why; tpOe;J Fk;gpLwhsit> Mdhy; vd;idf; Fk;gpLfpwhsitNah? ,y;iy!  vd;dl;lil ypq;fk; ,y;iyNah? rptypq;fk; Njit mitf;F.”

     “kh];uH> jh]; VNjh rptngUkhidf;fz;lJ vd;wnwy;Nyh nrhy;YJ>“ vd;whd; Nkhfd;.

     “mbrf;if! ,tDf;F vd;d cz;ikahfNt foz;Ll;LJ Nghyj;jhd; ,Uf;FJ.”

     “kh];lH! fijf;fpwijg; ghHj;Jf;fijAq;Nfh...”

     “vd;dlh jh]; ntUl;Lwha;? cd;il rptngUkhidf; $l;bf; nfhz;L thtd;> ghHg;gk;... ntl;bLtd; njupANk?” kh];lH ntFz;lhH.

     vdf;Fs;Ns ,Ue;j Nfhgk; vy;yhk; ntspg;gl;L> vd;d ele;jJ vd;W njupaKjNy> vd;iff;Ff; fj;jp te;J> kh];liug; gjk; ghHj;J> Xba Nkhfdpd; fhiyf; fPwp... vy;yhk; gioa fij.  Rk;kh rpd;df; fhaq;fs; jhd;.  Mdhy;> ,tq;fs; nghyp];> NfhHl;]; vd;W Ngha; nguprhf;fpl;lhq;fs;.

     mz;iz> Nfhl;biy mtq;fs; ,Jjhd; vdf;F Kjy; Fw;wk; vz;ljhiy fine Xil vd;id tpl ,Ue;jtq;fs;. Mdhy; ,tq;fs; ehd; foz;l Nf];> nghJkf;fSf;F Mgj;J vd;nwy;yhk; fij tpl;lhq;fs;. eLuhj;jpupapNy flTisf; fz;lnjz;L nrhy;fpNwdhk;> Nfhgg; gLfpNwdhk;> fj;jpia vLf;fpNwdhk;. fijf;fj; njupe;jtq;fnsy;yhk; ey;ytq;fs;> mz;iz; vdf;Fj; fijf;fj; njupNaiy. 

     gpwF> Nfhl;bNy> nrhy;ypg; Nghl;lhd;> ehd; fl;lhakhf xU psycho-analyst  re;jpj;J> mtH vd;idg; gw;wp vd;d epidf;fpwhH vd;gijg; nghWj;Jj; jhd; Nkyjpfkhf VjhtJ nra;ayhk; vd;W. gpd;Nd ehDk; xU psycho-analyst ,lk; 4> 5 fpoikahfg; NghNdd;.

     mtd; ahuz;iz ehd; tprNuh ,y;iyNah vd;W nrhy;tjw;F? ehd; disturbed Mk;> $Ljyhf ntWg;GzHr;rp nfhz;bUf;fpNwdhk;... cnjy;yhk; xU njhopNyh> mz;iz? ,Jf;F xU gbg;G Ntiw! Ngrhky; gpr;irnaLf;fyhk;> mz;iz!

     ,tq;fs; ahuz;iz vd;idg; gw;wpr; nrhy;tjw;F? ,e;jr; rptngUkhidf; fz;Nld; vd;wjpNyjhNd ,e;jg; gpur;rid njhlq;fpaJ? ,jw;F mq;NfNa Kw;Wg;Gs;sp itj;JtpLfpNwd; ghUq;Nfh. cq;fSila gj;jpupif thrpf;fpwtHfs; ahuhtJ> ehd; ,J tiuf;Fk; nrhd;dkhjpup rptngUkhidNah> ehujiuNah fz;bUe;jhy; cq;fSf;F vOjr; nrhy;Yq;Nfh. xU MshtJ fz;bUf;fNtz;Lk>; mz;iz.  gpwF fhl;LfpNwd; ahUf;F tprH vd;W.

      ,t;tsT Neuk; cq;fSld; ,Ue;J fijj;jjw;F VjhtJ vd;idg; gw;wp tpj;jpahrkhfj; njupANjh mz;iz? vy;yhiuAk; Nghyj;jhd; ehDk; ,Uf;fpNwd;.  vg;gb ,Ue;jdhd; mz;iz Cupiy... ,g;gb Mf;fpl;lhq;fs;!  ahUf;fz;iz igj;jpak;?

      vtDf;Fg; igj;jpak; ,y;iy?    

                                                      (Njly;> 1992)

Written By: Suresh Subramaniam