Boston d{¨=ç BÒb{m{¨ b¢Q¶m{¨. N¢þän¨ d{p{¨¨n¨N{¨=Z© KN{ V=Z p{m{=\}o¾ ðni\¢ p}d{ñ ztp{¨¨Ûb}ñÔ T{ªÐzt¨d}Ôm{¨. p}w³äp{m¾ ùw{äN¢ _²÷b{¨. ÛQÀ=\+ Þh½m+ o¾ ztp{¨¨Ûb}ðÔ µg*t T¶Ðztª Dd}Ôb¢ p}w{ä Q{b¢. p{¨üd{b¢ i=Q}w}zR|_{=o¾ N{öµt T¾Z ño|N{¨zeT{Æ m{=Q{¨ ñw{äÞo¾ @N{Á\¾ L\} BN{Á\¾ L\} ðq{àÒi=Q} _¶n¨_{¨d}Ôl¨. N¢Z¡N¥ il{¨Z ±eÒb{ ±eÒb{ f½N{T²ÞZ¨ @m{Z¡T²ÞZ¨ N¼i×m¢T²ÞZ© N{Ûm{j²=èn T{¨ËZ© Hp{m{ª o¶N{¨=\} _{\{¨Ðztª. p{¨|p{¨©nze¦Õ\{l¨_¶ Q¾f}o+ ze«m+ d{¨=\¢ p{çÆd{ AËm¢Ë*t KN}l{¨d{ ÞQ}zt¨ð=\} f}nù¨Q{\{ f½zt¨N{¨ð î=Z© £tµtÁ*e n¨ p¶zt¨N{¨=Z© N{ªm{¨Æ=Z|\{¨. C p}d{o¾ Em{~eT{¨ÆN{n¨ N{ª\} HN{Á\¾ Q{*e ç*e @l¨f½l¶¨l¨. ztp{¨¨Ûb{= p{¨üd{b¢ AN}q{= @ñÔ KN{ ñöm{=Q{¨ f»Q{o|Q} N{ö~t _{\{¨Ðzt¨d}Ôl¨. b{ªm{=Q} KN{ p{¨©n W³ËZ¤n ù¨b{ Q{=c{N{= N{¨zeÕn¨ j¼ÃQ{¨ N{¨zeÕn¨ Jm{d+ Lm+ N{¨zeÕnª m{=Q{¨n zem{ß_}Þo|Q} ðm¢ßN}m{=Q} _{\{¨Ðzt¨d}Ôl¨. óT+ m¾Í\{¨ Q¶Z¨ il{¨Z T²ËZ¨ N¢=b{ KN{ m¢x}, p²¨\{ ZzeZf} øb¢ö=T{¨N{¨=Z© KN{ N}N¢. ño|=Vd{ zeZ|Ôl{¨N+ N}£g N¼ËZ¨ m}ZN¢ N{ËZ·~t @p{¨|l{¨N{=Q} KN{ p¶¨N{. N{ý=Q} ~vËnd+ ˱tl¨m+ p²o+ N{=T{¨N{zeÕ p}d{o¾ _{w{_{w} p²¨m{¨Ðu½=b¢. ~tßø¨Ù=Q+ ze«o+ Hb{¨m{¨Q} T¾w} N{±g p{m{=\}o¾ p²l¨Zm+ KN{_{d{¨ Q{Í\{= p²©T¶_{¨Þo¾ ±eËZ¨N{¨ð A N{=T{¨Q¾ze¦m{= N¶~t T{ªÐzt¨d}Ô\{¨.

Boston _²n¨Q{p{¨|Ùl¨ j¶ø=\¾ b{ÃQ{m{ N{Ëm²Þd{¨ zeN{ÁN¢ _¾~t C çÛ_{= o¾N¢ T{ªÐu½=b¢. N¢Z¡N¥ N¢=b{d¶ j¶*t p²¨=Z+ b{ÃQ{m{ Q{T{Æ~eN{Ám{=Q{¨ ~eÞö~eÞn KN{Z¡ Q{¨=Û\{=Q} p{¨¨\{¨T{¨N{¨ð N{ªm{¨Æ=b¢. ztd+ µr\+ ù¨=ç Cb{¨m{¨Q}ö N¼ËZ¡ p}d{VÞn¨ b}ðù¨b{ ze\¢d{ze¦Õ\{Þo| p{¨Q{_{Q} N{ýä~eÕ p{¨m¢=_{ o¾zeöN¢ p{¨¨\{¨T{¨N{¨=Z©.

"p²ýä A ~eÞö~eÞnð _²èÆd}?" @=b¢.

"d¶d{¨ _²Ðu}d{¨=\{¨" @d}Ô\{¨ @_{d{¨ ze¦ÐztN{=o¾=ç _{o²Ð_{N{¨=\}d¶.

"@j}× ... I want that kitty. T{ª\{¨ i¨Èëb¢ j²=T+ N¢=b¢N¢ Ho| b{ªm¢f½_¾=b¾ ....!" zeN{Ád{ Hp{m{ª o¶d{ze¦Õ\{¨ Bo|Q¶ p{¨¨Òb{¨Q} p{¨|ÞZ|\{¨_{¨=b¢ .... @=b{¨o¾ ~eÞö~eÞn zt=Q{î.....

@_{d{¨ p{¨=T{= ù¨b{ N}w{§ä p{¨¨\¶zt¨N{¨ð U}ï N¢=b{ _{nQ{\{ ±eËZ¨N{¨ð ze¦ÐztN{=o¾N¢ b{ªm¢f½l¶¨\{¨. \¾m+ T{ze¦Õ¹\²_¶ T{ze¦Õd{ _{o²Ðî "_{\¢~tf½_}p+ W|Ðm{" @ð KN{ N}zrd+ ø~tm¢.

A @p{¨|Ùl¨ o|=W+ o¾=ç ¹±eN¢ d{\{¨Ðzt¨=Z· p¶¨d¶Vm+ ød{l{¨=Q} o¶ç ðni\¢ ø*r T¶µt\{¨. ±eÒb}l{¨d{. Am{\{¨Q{¨n ¹±eQ} f»\{¨ÃQ}. _²Þn T¼N}Á h}m{Ùo+ Q} ZN+ T¶zt¨N{¨d}Ô\{¨. \²*tÁ ù¨b{ '@c¢N}d{=b{ Q¼\}l+¨ B.A. ' @ð.

d¾m{¨ zt¨d}Ôo| p{¨¨=b{¨N{¨ _²çÆ @Þnm¢Q} o¾o¾zeo¶ d{p{¦ßN{¨=Z© 'Kc¢N¾d¼=b¼ Q¾\¾l+¨ k¼l²¨¨=N¼m¼, Ûf»T¼Æd¼Ô .... ' @d{¨N{¨=b¢ ¹±eN¢ £tm¢l{¨*t Q} p²¨¨zv= ±eËZ¡. C p{¨©\{¨ p}m}Þo¾ KÍ\¢l{¨|zt KèÆm}d{ËZ¨ Ûf}ËN¥*t T¶~t=b{=_} p¶¨d¶Vm+ ù¨b{ p}\}nð Dio|Z=.

Al{¨d{ Û±g=Þ\¥Q} d{øß 'd¼p²¨¨Ðµr p{¨|ÿ... ' @d}Ô\{¨.

'd¼p²¨¨Ëµr Kc¢N¼ j}iª... N¶ø¨Z¡ @U¼=î? '

Al{¨d{=Z· _{d{N¢ BËzr=. ztm¥ß*t Q{¨m¢=ç I çd{Ô N{=Þ±el¨=Z+ T¶~td} \²\+ £tm¢l{¨*t Q} ïzt¨N{¨=Z|\{¨, b{p{\{n¨ òQ¢=T{¨N{¨ð. Bo|Z¡ m¾l{¨o+ Z¼j¶N¾ N{=±eñ ¹U²m{Ùd+ o|Z¡ Bd{ze \¢Q¢ÔZ¤ @=Z· BËzr=. _{d{ð Ib¾ b{ªm{b¶q{= d{¨=\¢ øëZ+ N¢ p{çÆd{ l{¨¨p{m}^¤ o|Q} ÛZ¤Z+ T¶Ðu}\{¨. Bb{=Z· BËzr=. b{ÃQ{m{u} p²Ðw· N²l²©N}m¢Õd+ Al¨o+ p}ztd{ p¶Ðu}\{¨ çd{Ôd}Z¡ ÊW|zeN}nð çp{¦ßp{¨ð çp{¨¨Ù_{ª, C p}ztd{=Z· BËzr=. Hze¦Õ\{¨ zem{b¥*e p{çÆd} N¾^}m+Á únÕ= o|Q} Ñ~tm{=Q} _{d{N¾zt= ±eÒb{±eÒb{ T¶_{¨nªze¦N{¨=Z© C \²*tÁ b{ÃQ{m¶ ...

BËzr=Q} Al{¨ðÔ Q{¨m¢=ç d{p{¦ßN{¨=Z© ÞQ}*t _{n¨ze¦n¨ ï~t ¹j²Z¡N¢ T{ª~t=b¢. p}d{VÞn¨ Cb{¨m{¨Q}ö ±gÞw{§p{¨ð p²¨¨zv=ù¨b{ N¼ËZ·l¨. zeT{Æm{=Q{¨ m²l¨d+ N¾Z+ p¶zt¨N{¨ð @nªÚø¨d{= ðT²Æd{ zeËZ¨N{¨ð KN{_{d{¨ T{ze¦Õ\{¨ T¶zt¨N{¨=Z© p{m{=\} o¾=ç zem{¨Q²ËZ¨N{¨=Z© f½l¶¨\{¨. p²¨ÞZ¨ b¢Q{¨_{¨=Z· p²d{N{ d{¨=ç _{nù¨b{ d{ÞnQ} f»\¢Q} øze¦ÕN{¨=b¢ - Q¼\{¨Q{¨ m{ª= ztm¥ß*t óüm¥ ~eÞn -

zt¨p{Ïm{p{¨¨P¡. 'W¾m+ m¶ im+ u} üê' @ð d{øß=b¢, N¢þä Q}m{ zeËZ¡d{ b}ðp{¨Ù Q¢=Vn¨ HÛm{Z¡ ±eb}n p{¨c{Ú øze¦ÕN{¨ð. @o| N}m{^= o¶N{¨=\} d{p{¦ß_{ªd¶ D=Z¨=b¢ ... d{p{¦ßp{¨¨P¡! @c¢N}d{=b{ Q¼\}l+¨ ze=~e=T¶\{¨ Q¼\{¨Q{¨.

zeð~eÞn Q¼\{¨Q{¨ zeËZ¨N{¨ð p²d{N¶ p{еt µe=Z+ ¹±eN¢ HÐî zeËZ¨N{¨ð p²¨ÞZ¨b¢Q¢ Q¾\{ p}m{=Z N¢Z¡N¥ b{ÃQ{m¢N¢ d{\¢ç=b¢. j²=èN¥ Q¾\{N¥ p{¨c{Ú f»\¢ W|Q}o¾ ~eÞö~eÞn...... o¶b{¨! ðm}q{ VÞn¨ T{ÞnQ} ztªb¢Q} p²¨¨zv=ù¨b{ N¼ËZ¡=b¢. zt¨p{Ïm{p{¨¨P¡ Ûzeq}ÔÑm{N{=Q} N{ßq{Æd+ p{¨|m+Á o|Q{ ðni\¢ T{ªÐzt¨d}Ôb¢.

"òÞ÷ a¥... òÞ÷!"

"òÞ÷...?"

"üÿ.. òÞ÷!"

"òÞ÷ÿ...? im+ u}_+ p¶¨..? B_+ ñ _{ªh}d+ p¶¨..?" p{¨þä N}m{^= o¶ð d{p{¦ßn¨ d{øß Q¼\{¨Q{ª _{d{© Q}Þo¾N¢ HQ¢m¢f½N{¨=\} m²=\{¨ T¶_{¨Ðo¾ Q{¨=ë zeËZ¨N{¨=b¢.

"üÿ.. üÿ... òÞ÷! l{¨üÿ.. µe.."

ð=\} _{\¢~tf½l¨ zt¨p{Ïm{p{¨¨P¡ p²¨¨zv= zeëo+ o|Q{ ±eËZ¡ "p¶¨p+¨ u}j+ @ð p}d{o¾ p{^¡N¢f½_{¨d{ÔËZ¨ zt=ÊVn¨ T¶~t o¾zeöN¢ o|Q{¨_¾=b¢.

BztN{o¾ ÛN¾Zd+â zeN{Á d{\{¨Ðztª N}£g m{=Q{¨ p}d{ N}np{o¾ ~eÞnn¨ p{b¢öd{ N}l¨_{= ze\{p{n¨ b¢Q{¨n¨Q} T{ªÐztª ztªm{ÚT{ÛN{= T²N¢Ád{ b}ßm{= b{ÃQ{m¢N¢ p{çÆ ðni\¢=b¢. zt¨p{Ïm{p{¨¨P¡ Q¼\{¨Q{¨ p{¨¨\¢ç _{n¨ze¦ ï~t zeËZ¨N{¨=b¢. o|=W+ o¾ p¶¨d¶Vm+ p{¨þä o¶ç p{=Q¢ ø*r T¶Ðµt _{d{N¢ o¾zen Ib¾ DÛN¾zr=Q} p²öîQ} KN{ p{¨©n, HzeÕZ¡o| m}l{¨o+ Q} A T¾w}N¢ C p¶¨m}ÆN¥ C N{ý=Q}N¥ j¾Ëztd+ d{¨=\¢ b¢Q¢d{ m}^¤ o|Q{ B=N¾ p{¨©n. zem}ÃQ} p²ýä _{n¨ze¦ ï~t=b¢. m}p+¨ B=N} p²©N}w·äzt¨N{¨ð j²\+ ù¨b{ T{b{¨p{¦N{¨=Z¨d}Ô\{¨.

" Where's the kitty?" @d}Ô\{¨ T{b{¨p{¦N{¨=Z©d¶.

"p²ýf½l¨=b¢"

"zv§ÿ ! HN{Á\¢N²ýä=b¢ T²f}Ù..!" @d}Ô\{¨ ze¦ÐztN{= o¾d¶ N{w³äQ{m¶~t. øzt¨m{¨Q} N{¨m¥Æo¾ N{ªni\¢ "@j}×.. m}= I want that kitty" @=b¢.

" I don't know why... I wanted that poor thing so ... much. It isn't fun to be a poor kitty out in the rain."

m}p+¨ _{b¶N{c}Úd{=Q} T{b{¨p{¦N{¨=Z¨d}Ô\{¨.

o¶ç Û\{~tâ=Q+ Z·òo+ Hb{¨m{¨Q} iÞnù¨b{ N{ªm{¨Æð µv=\+ ø¨Ûm{m+ o¾ p²¨¨zv= T{ªzt¨N{¨=b¢, zem¢ûnd{Q}. p{¨¨=b{¨ N{w{©ä,p{¨¨N{¨Á, d¾m{¨,... C T²=ze, A T²=ze, ±eb}n¨ _{\{¨ze¦N{¨ð p{¨þä d¾m{¨. _{m{p}_{ p²¨\{ñ p²¨w¾ä p{¨¨_}Ún Q¼n¨zt¨ñ V\{ p{çÆ p²¨\{ ù¨=ç Q{¨=\²n ù¨b{ ze\{Z|ñÔ Ëzt\¥ T¶~t=b¢. Dd{ÔËZ¨=\¢ ±vl¨m+ ÞN¢*e ï~t ze\¶~t íËZ=_} ø\¢Q} zem{T{¨N{¨ð p{¨þä @Òb{=o¾N¢ T{ªÐztªd¶ BZ¨ îm¢Q¢ 'T{ª\{¨! C hair style! ' @=b¢.

m}p+¨ x{^= µtze¦ _{o²Ðî T{ª~t 'f}_{ V\¶ j}p{¦=b¢ o²Òb{ª' @d}Ô\{¨.

"I get so tired of it. T{ª\{¨... Bo| h½Ío+ T¶~t ÞN¢*e T¶Ðµt j}Q{¨=\{b{ª.....?"

¹±eVp{¨| ztÒm{¨N{¨=Z© BZ¨ îm{N{¨Á=\}d¶ "@j}×, f}_{b¶ j}p{¦=b¢o¶ nÞnª.." @d}Ô\{¨ N¼=T²= øzt¨Q{¨ ïQ{o| u}Q{¨_{¨=Z· "really" @ð b}ðÔ @b¢ø¨ zeËZ¡.

ø¨Ûm{m+ zeN{Ád{ ze\¶~t o¶ç N¢Z¡N¥ b{ÃQ{m{N¢ p²ýä ¹±eN¢ T{ª~t=b¢.

p{¨üd{b¢ ztp{¨¨Ûb}ðÔ N{öµt b{ÃQ{m{ k{ªb¢SÙ=\{n m¶O Aøm¢ o|Q{ @n¨N{¨Áf½l¨ N{w{ä ñw{ä f»m{o¾=ç @=_} KN¶ ±eÒb{ ztp{¨¨Ûb{=o| D=b¢. B=N{ èN{Z¡ ze\{¨_¾=b¢.±vl¨m+ ~ed+ d¾ÞZ¾ ±eËZ¨N{¨ð p²d{N¢Á îm¢Q¢ "BÞZ| h½Ío+ T¶zt¨N{¨ð ÞN¢*e ±eËZ¨N{¨=Z|.... That's what I want to do .... and I want to have that kitty. I want it to sit in my lap and purr when I stroke him.... you know?!"

" O really?"

"T{ª\{¨ A p}d{o¾... T²ÞZ N¢=b{N¢=b{ N{ªm{¨Æð T}l+¨ _}Q}n¨Ô=b¢. ... p}d{o¾ _{\{¨Ðztª ~eÞö~eÞnð ±eËZ¨N{¨ð Bo| óT{p{¨ÙZ d{\{¨Ðztª ... and I want new clothes..."

"@j}×.... Ib¾ KN{ i¨N+ T{b{¨p{¦N¾p{T{¨Æ N{b}? Get something to read" @d}Ô\{¨ ze¦ÐztN{= o¾=ç. üm{×m+ b¥f}n¨ ø¨d{¨N{¨ ø¨d{¨N{¨p{¨ð p}d{o¾ EQ{¨_{¨d}Ôl¨. j}Q} èN{Z¡ ze\¢=b¢. f½N{T²ÞZ¨ @m{Z¡ T²ÞZ¨ p}d{ f}ZN¢ ìiª_}Þo|Q} _{nnªze¦_{¨d}Ôl¨.

"Il+¨.. d}N} ~eo+ ~eÞn N}p}o|ÔN{¨" @=b¢. " I want it right now. If I cann't have S-knot or a new dress or any fun, I can have a cat!"

m}= øð~e=T{¨N¾o¶b{¨ ztm¢ÃQ}. ¹j²Z p{m{=\}o¾ Z|m+Æ ¹o²Z+ b¥ze= Eze¦N{¨=Z© Hp{m¾. Hp{m¾ _{n¨ze¦ N¼ËZ·m{¨. 'P¡l¶¨?' @d{m¢T¶\{¨ _{n¨ze¦N¶~t T{ª~t.

Q{¨p{¨Ù= ¹j²Z _{\¢ iËZÞo¾ zt¨p{Ïm{p{¨¨P¡ ðni\¢ D=b¢, o¶_{ N{d{N}=im{= m{=Q{¨ p{¨T{Æn ~eÞö~eÞnð Q{¨=\²nN¢ zvÐ_{¨N{¨ð. ~eÞö~eÞn nö_{ p²¨¨zv=o¾N¢ T{ª~t ' ø¨l{¨|p+ ÿ ' @ð zenN{m¢=ç=b¢.

"Kc¢N¾ j}iª @*e ^¾=N¾ zeÿl¨ I òÞ÷c} ze[¢T¼=ï..."