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Page semi-protected Italy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search This article is about the country. For other uses, see Italy (disambiguation). "Italia" redirects here. For other uses, see Italia (disambiguation). Coordinates: 43°N 12°E Italian Republic Repubblica Italiana (Italian) Flag of Italy Flag {{{coat_alt}}} Emblem Anthem: Il Canto degli Italiani (Italian) "The Song of the Italians" Menu 0:00 EU-Italy (orthographic projection).svg Show globe Show map of Europe Show all Location of Italy (dark green) – in Europe (light green & dark grey) – in the European Union (light green) – [Legend] Capital and largest city Rome 41°54′N 12°29′E Official languages Italian Native languages see full list Ethnic groups (2017)[1] 91.5% Italians 8.5% others Religion (2017)[2] 74.4% Catholic Church 22.6% Irreligious 3.0% other Demonym Italian Government Unitary parliamentary republic • President Sergio Mattarella • Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte • President of the Senate Elisabetta Casellati • President of the Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico Legislature Parliament • Upper house Senate of the Republic • Lower house Chamber of Deputies Formation • Founding of Rome 21 April 753 BC • Unification 17 March 1861 • Republic 2 June 1946 • Current constitution 1 January 1948 • Founded the EEC (now EU) 1 January 1958 Area • Total 301,340 km2 (116,350 sq mi) (71st) • Water (%) 2.4 Population • 2017 estimate 60,483,973 Increase[3] (23rd) • Density 201.3/km2 (521.4/sq mi) (63rd) GDP (PPP) 2018 estimate • Total $2.399 trillion [4] (12th) • Per capita $39,499[4] (32nd) GDP (nominal) 2018 estimate • Total $2.181 trillion[5] (8th) • Per capita $35,913[4] (25th) Gini (2016) 33.1[6] medium HDI (2017) Decrease 0.880[7] very high · 28th Currency Euro (€)b (EUR) Time zone UTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST) Date format dd/mm/yyyy (AD) Driving side right Calling code +39c ISO 3166 code IT Internet TLD .itd German is co-official in South Tyrol; French is co-official in the Aosta Valley; Slovene is co-official in the province of Trieste and the province of Gorizia; Ladin is co-official in South Tyrol, in Trentino and in other northern areas; Sardinian is co-official in Sardinia.[8] Before 2002, the Italian lira. The euro is accepted in Campione d'Italia but its official currency is the Swiss franc.[9] To call Campione d'Italia, it is necessary to use the Swiss code +41. The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states. Italy (Italian: Italia [iˈtaːlja] (About this soundlisten)), officially the Italian Republic (Italian: Repubblica Italiana [reˈpubblika itaˈljaːna]),[10][11][12][13] is a country in Europe. Located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares open land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino, and Vatican City. Italy covers an area of 301,340 km2 (116,350 sq mi) and has a largely temperate seasonal and Mediterranean climate. With around 61 million inhabitants, it is the fourth-most populous EU member state and the most populous country in southern Europe. Due to its central geographic location in Europe and the Mediterranean, Italy has historically been home to a myriad of peoples and cultures. In addition to the various ancient Italian tribes and Italic peoples dispersed throughout the Italian Peninsula and insular Italy, beginning from the classical era, Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Greeks established settlements in the south of Italy, with Etruscans and Celts inhabiting the centre and the north of Italy respectively. The Italic tribe known as the Latins formed the Roman Kingdom in the 8th century BC, which eventually became a republic that conquered and assimilated its neighbours. In the first century BC, the Roman Empire emerged as the dominant power in the Mediterranean Basin and became the leading cultural, political and religious centre of Western civilisation. The legacy of the Roman Empire is widespread and can be observed in the global distribution of civilian law, republican governments, Christianity and the Latin script. During the Early Middle Ages, Italy endured sociopolitical collapse and barbarian invasions, but by the 11th century, numerous rival city-states and maritime republics, mainly in the northern and central regions of Italy, rose to great prosperity through shipping, commerce and banking, laying the groundwork for modern capitalism.[14] These mostly independent statelets served as Europe's main trading hubs with Asia and the Near East, often enjoying a greater degree of democracy than the larger feudal monarchies that were consolidating throughout Europe; however, part of central Italy was under the control of the theocratic Papal States, while Southern Italy remained largely feudal until the 19th century, partially as a result of a succession of Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Angevin and Spanish conquests of the region.[15] The Renaissance began in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe, bringing a renewed interest in humanism, science, exploration and art. Italian culture flourished, producing famous scholars, artists and polymaths such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Galileo and Machiavelli. During the Middle Ages, Italian explorers such as Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, John Cabot and Giovanni da Verrazzano discovered new routes to the Far East and the New World, helping to usher in the European Age of Discovery. Nevertheless, Italy's commercial and political power significantly waned with the opening of trade routes that bypassed the Mediterranean.[15][16][17] Centuries of infighting between the Italian city-states, such the Italian Wars of the 15th and 16th centuries, left the region fragmented, and it was subsequently conquered by European powers such as France, Spain and Austria. By the mid-19th century, rising Italian nationalism and calls for independence from foreign control led to a period of revolutionary political upheaval. After centuries of foreign domination and political division, Italy was almost entirely unified in 1871, establishing the Kingdom of Italy as a great power.[18] From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, Italy rapidly industrialised, namely in the north, and acquired a colonial empire,[19] while the south remained largely impoverished and excluded from industrialisation, fuelling a large and influential diaspora.[20] Despite being one of the main victors in World War I, Italy entered a period of economic crisis and social turmoil, leading to the rise of a fascist dictatorship in 1922. Participation in World War II on the Axis side ended in military defeat, economic destruction and the Italian Civil War. Following the liberation of Italy and the rise of the resistance, the country abolished the monarchy, reinstated democracy, enjoyed a prolonged economic boom and, despite periods of sociopolitical turmoil became a major advanced country.[21][22][23] Today, Italy is considered to be one of the world's most culturally and economically developed countries, with its economy ranking eighth largest in the world and third in the Eurozone. As an advanced economy, it has the sixth-largest worldwide national wealth, and is ranked third for its central bank gold reserve. Italy has a very high level of human development, and it stands among the top countries for life expectancy. The country plays a prominent role in regional and global economic, military, cultural and diplomatic affairs, and it is both a regional power[24][25] and a great power.[26][27] Italy is a founding and leading member of the European Union and a member of numerous international institutions, including the UN, NATO, the OECD, the OSCE, the WTO, the G7, the G20, the Union for the Mediterranean, the Council of Europe, Uniting for Consensus, the Schengen Area and many more. As a reflection of its cultural wealth, Italy is home to 54 World Heritage Sites, the most in the world, and is the fifth-most visited country. Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2.1 Prehistory and antiquity 2.2 Ancient Rome 2.3 Middle Ages 2.4 Early Modern 2.5 Italian unification 2.6 Monarchical period 2.7 Fascist regime 2.8 Republican Italy 3 Geography 3.1 Waters 3.2 Volcanology 3.3 Environment 3.4 Biodiversity 3.5 Climate 4 Politics 4.1 Government 4.2 Law and criminal justice 4.3 Foreign relations 4.4 Military 4.5 Administrative divisions 5 Economy 5.1 Agriculture 5.2 Infrastructure 5.3 Science and technology 5.4 Tourism 6 Demographics 6.1 Metropolitan cities and larger urban zone 6.2 Immigration 6.3 Languages 6.4 Religion 6.5 Education 6.6 Health 7 Culture 7.1 Architecture 7.2 Visual art 7.3 Literature 7.4 Theatre 7.5 Music 7.6 Cinema 7.7 Sport 7.8 Fashion and design 7.9 Cuisine 7.10 Public holidays and festivals 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 Bibliography 12 External links Etymology Main article: Name of Italy Expansion of the territory known as Italy and the nearby islands from the establishment of the Roman Republic until Diocletian. Hypotheses for the etymology of the name "Italia" are numerous.[28] One is that it was borrowed via Greek from the Oscan Víteliú 'land of calves' (cf. Lat vitulus "calf", Umb vitlo "calf").[29] The bull was a symbol of the southern Italic tribes and was often depicted goring the Roman wolf as a defiant symbol of free Italy during the Social War. Greek historian Dionysius of Halicarnassus states this account together with the legend that Italy was named after Italus,[30] mentioned also by Aristotle[31] and Thucydides.[32] The name Italia originally applied only to a part of what is now Southern Italy, according to Antiochus of Syracuse, the southern portion of the Bruttium peninsula corresponding to the modern province of Reggio, and part of the provinces of Catanzaro and Vibo Valentia. But by his time Oenotria and Italy had become synonymous, and the name also applied to most of Lucania as well. The Greeks gradually came to apply the name "Italia" to a larger region, but the Peninsula and its borders expanded over time.[33] According to Strabo's Geographica, before the expansion of the Roman Republic, the name was used by Greeks to indicate the land between the strait of Messina and the line connecting the gulf of Salerno and gulf of Taranto, corresponding roughly to the current region of Calabria. Later the term was extended by Romans to include the Italian Peninsula up to the Rubicon, a river located between Northern and Central Italy. In 49 BC, with the Lex Roscia, Julius Caesar gave Roman citizenship to the people of the Cisalpine Gaul,[34] while in 42 BCE the hitherto existing province was abolished, thus extending Italy to the north up to the southern foot of the Alps.[35][36] It was during the reign of Emperor Augustus that the term was expanded to cover the entire peninsula until the Alps.[36] The islands of Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily and Malta were added to Italy by Diocletian in 292 AD.[37] History Main article: History of Italy Prehistory and antiquity Main articles: Prehistoric Italy, Etruscan civilisation, Magna Graecia, and Nuragic civilisation Etruscan fresco in the Monterozzi necropolis, 5th century BC. Matera, which dates from Palaeolithic, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Thousands of Palaeolithic-era artifacts have been recovered from Monte Poggiolo and dated to around 850,000 years before the present, making them the oldest evidence of first hominins habitation in the peninsula. Excavations throughout Italy revealed a Neanderthal presence dating back to the Palaeolithic period some 200,000 years ago,[38] while modern Humans appeared about 40,000 years ago. Archaeological sites from this period include Addaura cave, Altamura, Ceprano, and Gravina in Puglia.[39] The Ancient peoples of pre-Roman Italy – such as the Umbrians, the Latins (from which the Romans emerged), Volsci, Oscans, Samnites, Sabines, the Celts, the Ligures, and many others – were Indo-European peoples. The main historic peoples of possible non-Indo-European heritage include the Etruscans, the Elymians and the Sicani in Sicily, and the prehistoric Sardinians, who gave birth to the Nuragic civilisation. Other ancient populations being of undetermined language families and of possible non-Indo-European origin include the Rhaetian people and Cammuni, known for their rock carvings in Valcamonica, the largest collections of prehistoric petroglyphs in the world.[40] A well-preserved natural mummy known as Ötzi the Iceman, determined to be 5,000 years old (between 3400 and 3100 BCE, Copper Age), was discovered in the Similaun glacier of South Tyrol in 1991.[41] The first foreign colonizers were the Phoenicians, who initially established colonies and founded various emporiums on the coasts of Sicily and Sardinia. Some of these soon became small urban centers and were developed parallel to the Greek colonies; among the main centers there were the cities of Motya, Zyz (modern Palermo), Soluntum in Sicily and Nora, Sulci, and Tharros in Sardinia.[42] Between the 17th and the 11th centuries BC Mycenaean Greeks established contacts with Italy[43][44][45][46] and in the 8th and 7th centuries BC a number of Greek colonies were established all along the coast of Sicily and the southern part of the Italian Peninsula, that became known as Magna Graecia. The Greek colonization placed the Italic peoples in contact with democratic government forms and with elevated artistic and cultural expressions.[47] Ancient Rome Main article: Ancient Rome Further information: Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, and Roman Empire The Colosseum in Rome, built c. 70 – 80 AD, is considered one of the greatest works of architecture and engineering of ancient history. The Roman Empire at its greatest extent, 117 AD. Rome, a settlement around a ford on the river Tiber conventionally founded in 753 BC, was ruled for a period of 244 years by a monarchical system, initially with sovereigns of Latin and Sabine origin, later by Etruscan kings. The tradition handed down seven kings: Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius and Tarquinius Superbus. In 509 BC, the Romans expelled the last king from their city and established an oligarchic republic. In the wake of Julius Caesar's rise and death in the first century B.C., Rome grew over the course of centuries into a massive empire stretching from Britain to the borders of Persia, and engulfing the whole Mediterranean basin, in which Greek and Roman and many other cultures merged into a unique civilisation. The long and triumphant reign of the first emperor, Augustus, began a golden age of peace and prosperity. The Italian Peninsula was named Italia and, as the territory of the city of Rome, maintained a special status which made it "not a province, but the Domina (ruler) of the provinces".[48] More than two centuries of stability followed, during which Italy was referred to as the rectrix mundi (queen of the world) and omnium terrarum parens (motherland of all lands).[49] The Roman Empire was among the most powerful economic, cultural, political and military forces in the world of its time, and it was one of the largest empires in world history. At its height under Trajan, it covered 5 million square kilometres.[50][51] The Roman legacy has deeply influenced the Western civilisation, shaping most of the modern world; among the many legacies of Roman dominance are the widespread use of the Romance languages derived from Latin, the numerical system, the modern Western alphabet and calendar, and the emergence of Christianity as a major world religion.[52] The Indo-Roman trade relations, beginning around the 1st century BCE, testifies to extensive Roman trade in far away regions; many reminders of the commercial trade between the Indian subcontinent and Italy have been found, such as the ivory statuette Pompeii Lakshmi from the ruins of Pompeii. In a slow decline since the third century AD, the Empire split in two in 395 AD. The Western Empire, under the pressure of the barbarian invasions, eventually dissolved in 476 AD, when its last Emperor Romulus Augustulus was deposed by the Germanic chief Odoacer, while the Eastern half of the Empire survived for another thousand years. Middle Ages Main article: Italy in the Middle Ages The Iron Crown of Lombardy, for centuries symbol of the Kings of Italy. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Italy fell under the power of Odoacer's kingdom, and, later, was seized by the Ostrogoths,[53] followed in the 6th century by a brief reconquest under Byzantine Emperor Justinian. The invasion of another Germanic tribe, the Lombards, late in the same century, reduced the Byzantine presence to the rump realm of the Exarchate of Ravenna and started the end of political unity of the peninsula for the next 1,300 years. The Lombard kingdom was subsequently absorbed into the Frankish Empire by Charlemagne in the late 8th century. The Franks also helped the formation of the Papal States in central Italy. Until the 13th century, Italian politics was dominated by the relations between the Holy Roman Emperors and the Papacy, with most of the Italian city-states siding with the former (Ghibellines) or with the latter (Guelphs) from momentary convenience.[54] Marco Polo, explorer of the 13th century, recorded his 24 years-long travels in the Book of the Marvels of the World, introducing Europeans to Central Asia and China.[55] It was during this chaotic era that Italian towns saw the rise of a peculiar institution, the medieval commune. Given the power vacuum caused by extreme territorial fragmentation and the struggle between the Empire and the Holy See, local communities sought autonomous ways to maintain law and order.[56] The Investiture controversy, a conflict over two radically different views of whether secular authorities such as kings, counts, or dukes, had any legitimate role in appointments to ecclesiastical offices such as bishoprics, was finally resolved by the Concordat of Worms. In 1176 a league of city-states, the Lombard League, defeated the German emperor Frederick Barbarossa at the Battle of Legnano, thus ensuring effective independence for most of northern and central Italian cities. Flag of the Italian Navy, displaying the coat of arms of the most prominent maritime republics: Venice, Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi In coastal and southern areas, the maritime republics grew to eventually dominate the Mediterranean and monopolise trade routes to the Orient. They were independent thalassocratic city-states, though most of them originated from territories once belonging to the Byzantine Empire. All these cities during the time of their independence had similar systems of government in which the merchant class had considerable power. Although in practice these were oligarchical, and bore little resemblance to a modern democracy, the relative political freedom they afforded was conducive to academic and artistic advancement.[57] The four most prominent maritime republics were Venice, Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi. Venice and Genoa were Europe's gateway to trade with the East, and a producer of fine glass, while Florence was a capital of silk, wool, banks and jewellery. The wealth such business brought to Italy meant that large public and private artistic projects could be commissioned. The republics were heavily involved in the Crusades, providing support but most especially taking advantage of the political and trading opportunities resulting from these wars.[57] In the south, Sicily had become an Islamic emirate in the 9th century, thriving until the Italo-Normans conquered it in the late 11th century together with most of the Lombard and Byzantine principalities of southern Italy.[58] Through a complex series of events, southern Italy developed as a unified kingdom, first under the House of Hohenstaufen, then under the Capetian House of Anjou and, from the 15th century, the House of Aragon. In Sardinia, the former Byzantine provinces became independent states known in Italian as Giudicati, although some parts of the island became controlled by Genoa or Pisa until the Aragonese annexation in the 15th century. The Black Death pandemic of 1348 left its mark on Italy by killing perhaps one third of the population.[59][60] However, the recovery from the plague led to a resurgence of cities, trade and economy which allowed the bloom of Humanism and Renaissance, that later spread to Europe. Early Modern Main articles: Italian Renaissance, Italian Wars, and History of Italy (1559–1814) Italian states before the beginning of the Italian Wars in 1494. In the 14th and 15th centuries, northern-central Italy was divided into a number of warring city-states, the rest of the peninsula being occupied by the larger Papal States and the Kingdom of Sicily, referred to here as Naples. Though many of these city-states were often formally subordinate to foreign rulers, as in the case of the Duchy of Milan, which was officially a constituent state of the mainly Germanic Holy Roman Empire, the city-states generally managed to maintain de facto independence from the foreign sovereigns that had seized Italian lands following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. The strongest among these city-states gradually absorbed the surrounding territories giving birth to the Signorie, regional states often led by merchant families which founded local dynasties. War between the city-states was endemic, and primarily fought by armies of mercenaries known as condottieri, bands of soldiers drawn from around Europe, especially Germany and Switzerland, led largely by Italian captains.[61] Decades of fighting eventually saw Florence, Milan and Venice emerged as the dominant players that agreed to the Peace of Lodi in 1454, which saw relative calm brought to the region for the first time in centuries. This peace would hold for the next forty years. The Renaissance, a period of vigorous revival of the arts and culture, originated in Italy due to a number of factors: the great wealth accumulated by merchant cities, the patronage of its dominant families,[62] and the migration of Greek scholars and texts to Italy following the Conquest of Constantinople at the hands of the Ottoman Turks.[63][64][65] The Italian Renaissance peaked in the mid-16th century as foreign invasions plunged the region into the turmoil of the Italian Wars. Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance man, in a self-portrait, c. 1512. Royal Library, Turin The Medici became the leading family of Florence and fostered and inspired the birth of the Italian Renaissance,[62][66] along with other families of Italy, such as the Visconti and Sforza of Milan, the Este of Ferrara, and the Gonzaga of Mantua. Greatest artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Giotto, Donatello, Titian and Raphael produced inspired works – their paintwork was more realistic-looking than had been created by Medieval artists and their marble statues rivalled and sometimes surpassed those of Classical Antiquity. Humanist historian Leonardo Bruni also split the history in the antiquity, Middle Ages and modern period.[67] The ideas and ideals of the Renaissance soon spread into Northern Europe, France, England and much of Europe. In the meantime, the discovery of the Americas, the new routes to Asia discovered by the Portuguese and the rise of the Ottoman Empire, all factors which eroded the traditional Italian dominance in trade with the East, caused a long economic decline in the peninsula. Christopher Columbus leads expedition to the New World, 1492. His voyages are celebrated as the discovery of the Americas from a European perspective, and they opened a new era in the history of humankind and sustained contact between the two worlds. Italian explorers and navigators from the dominant maritime republics played a key role in ushering the Age of Discovery and the European colonization of the Americas. The most notable among them were: Christopher Columbus, who led led the first European expeditions to the Caribbean and Central and South America, and he is credited with discovering the New World and the opening of the Americas for conquest and settlement by Europeans;[68] John Cabot, the first European to explore parts of the North American continent in 1497;[69] Amerigo Vespucci, who first demonstrated in about 1502 that the New World was not Asia as initially conjectured, but a fourth continent previously unknown to people of the Old World (America is named after him)[70][71]; and Giovanni da Verrazzano, renowned as the first European to explore the Atlantic coast of North America between Florida and New Brunswick in 1524.[72] Furthermore, the Papal States was involved in resolving disputes between competing colonial powers. The only attempt by an Italian state to colonise the Americas was taken into consideration by Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who organised an expedition in 1608 under the command of Robert Thornton to northern Brazil and the Amazon river; after Ferdinando's death the following year, nobody after him was interested in the establishment of an overseas colony.[73] However, Italian nobleman Giovanni Paolo Lascaris, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller of Malta (then part of Sicily), possessed some Caribbean islands that were colonized from 1651 to 1665.[74] Following the Italian Wars (1494 to 1559), ignited by the rivalry between France and Spain, the city-states gradually lost their independence and came under foreign domination, first under Spain (1559 to 1713) and then Austria (1713 to 1796). In 1629–1631, a new outburst of plague claimed about 14% of Italy's population.[75] In addition, as the Spanish Empire started to decline in the 17th century, so did its possessions in Naples, Sicily, Sardinia, and Milan. In particular, Southern Italy was impoverished and cut off from the mainstream of events in Europe.[76] In the 18th century, as a result of the War of Spanish Succession, Austria replaced Spain as the dominant foreign power, while the House of Savoy emerged as a regional power expanding to Piedmont and Sardinia. In the same century, the two-century long decline was interrupted by the economic and state reforms pursued in several states by the ruling élites.[77] During the Napoleonic Wars, northern-central Italy was invaded and reorganised as a new Kingdom of Italy, a client state of the French Empire,[78] while the southern half of the peninsula was administered by Joachim Murat, Napoleon's brother-in-law, who was crowned as King of Naples. The 1814 Congress of Vienna restored the situation of the late 18th century, but the ideals of the French Revolution could not be eradicated, and soon re-surfaced during the political upheavals that characterised the first part of the 19th century. Italian unification Main article: Italian unification Animated map of the Italian unification, from 1829 to 1871 The birth of the Kingdom of Italy was the result of efforts by Italian nationalists and monarchists loyal to the House of Savoy to establish a united kingdom encompassing the entire Italian Peninsula. Following the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the political and social Italian unification movement, or Risorgimento, emerged to unite Italy consolidating the different states of the peninsula and liberate it from foreign control. A prominent radical figure was the patriotic journalist Giuseppe Mazzini, member of the secret revolutionary society Carbonari and founder of the influential political movement Young Italy in the early 1830s, who favoured a unitary republic and advocated a broad nationalist movement. His prolific output of propaganda helped the unification movement stay active. Italy's "Fathers of the Fatherland" Giuseppe Mazzini, leader of the Italian revolutionary movement, and Giuseppe Garibaldi, celebrated as one of the greatest generals of modern times[79] and the "Hero of the Two Worlds".[80] The most famous member of Young Italy was the revolutionary and general Giuseppe Garibaldi, renowned for his extremely loyal followers,[81] who led the Italian republican drive for unification in Southern Italy. However, the Northern Italy monarchy of the House of Savoy in the Kingdom of Sardinia, whose government was led by Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, also had ambitions of establishing a united Italian state. In the context of the 1848 liberal revolutions that swept through Europe, an unsuccessful first war of independence was declared on Austria. The Kingdom of Sardinia again attacked the Austrian Empire in the Second Italian War of Independence of 1859, with the aid of France, resulting in liberating Lombardy. In 1860–1861, Garibaldi led the drive for unification in Naples and Sicily (the Expedition of the Thousand),[82] while the House of Savoy troops occupied the central territories of the Italian peninsula, except Rome and part of Papal States. Teano was the site of the famous meeting of 26 October 1860 between Giuseppe Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel II, last King of Sardinia, in which Garibaldi shook Victor Emanuel's hand and hailed him as King of Italy; thus, Garibaldi sacrificed republican hopes for the sake of Italian unity under a monarchy. Cavour agreed to include Garibaldi's Southern Italy allowing it to join the union with the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1860. This allowed the Sardinian government to declare a united Italian kingdom on 17 March 1861.[83] Victor Emmanuel II then became the first king of a united Italy, and the capital was moved from Turin to Florence. In 1866, Victor Emmanuel II allied with Prussia during the Austro-Prussian War, waging the Third Italian War of Independence which allowed Italy to annexe Venetia. Finally, in 1870, as France abandoned its garrisons in Rome during the disastrous Franco-Prussian War to keep the large Prussian Army at bay, the Italians rushed to fill the power gap by taking over the Papal States. Italian unification was completed and shortly afterward Italy's capital was moved to Rome. After the unification, Victor Emmanuel, Garibaldi, Cavour and Mazzini have been referred as Italy's Four Fathers of the Fatherland.[79] Monarchical period Main articles: Kingdom of Italy, Italian Empire, and Military history of Italy during World War I Victor Emmanuel II, 1st king of Italy, and Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, 1st Prime Minister of Italy The new Kingdom of Italy obtained Great Power status. The Constitutional Law of the Kingdom of Sardinia the Albertine Statute of 1848, was extended to the whole Kingdom of Italy in 1861, and provided for basic freedoms of the new State, but electoral laws excluded the non-propertied and uneducated classes from voting. The government of the new kingdom took place in a framework of parliamentary constitutional monarchy dominated by liberal forces. From 2 November 1899 to 7 September 1901, Italy participated as part of the Eight-Nation Alliance forces during the Boxer Rebellion in China. On 7 September 1901, a concession in Tientsin was ceded to the country, and on 7 June 1902, the concession was taken into Italian possession and administered by a consul. The Altare della Patria in Rome, national monument of Italy dedicated to King Victor Emmanuel II, holds the tomb of the Unknown Soldier since the end of World War I. In 1913, male universal suffrage was adopted. As Northern Italy quickly industrialised, the South and rural areas of the North remained underdeveloped and overpopulated, forcing millions of people to migrate abroad, while the Italian Socialist Party constantly increased in strength, challenging the traditional liberal and conservative establishment. The pre-war period dominated by Giovanni Giolitti, Prime Minister five times between 1892 and 1921, was characterized by the economic, industrial and political-cultural modernization of Italian society. Starting from the last two decades of the 19th century, Italy developed into a colonial power by forcing Somalia, Eritrea and later Libya and the Dodecanese under its rule.[84] Italy, nominally allied with the German Empire and the Empire of Austria-Hungary in the Triple Alliance, in 1915 joined the Allies into World War I with a promise of substantial territorial gains, that included western Inner Carniola, former Austrian Littoral, Dalmatia as well as parts of the Ottoman Empire. The country gave a fundamental contribution to the victory of the conflict as one of the "Big Four" top Allied powers. The war was initially inconclusive, as the Italian army got stuck in a long attrition war in the Alps, making little progress and suffering very heavy losses. Eventually, in October 1918, the Italians launched a massive offensive, culminating in the victory of Vittorio Veneto. The Italian victory[85][86][87] marked the end of the war on the Italian Front, secured the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was chiefly instrumental in ending the First World War less than two weeks later. During the war, more than 650,000 Italian soldiers and as many civilians died[88] and the kingdom went to the brink of bankruptcy. Under the Peace Treaties of Saint-Germain, Rapallo and Rome, Italy gained a permanent seat in the League of Nations's executive council and obtained most of the promised territories, but not Dalmatia (except Zara), allowing nationalists to define the victory as "mutilated". Moreover, Italy annexed the Hungarian harbour of Fiume, that was not part of territories promised at London but had been occupied after the end of the war by Gabriele D'Annunzio. Fascist regime Main articles: Italian Fascism and Military history of Italy during World War II Benito Mussolini, duce of Fascist Italy The socialist agitations that followed the devastation of the Great War, inspired by the Russian Revolution, led to counter-revolution and repression throughout Italy. The liberal establishment, fearing a Soviet-style revolution, started to endorse the small National Fascist Party, led by Benito Mussolini. In October 1922 the Blackshirts of the National Fascist Party attempted a coup (the "March on Rome") which failed but at the last minute, King Victor Emmanuel III refused to proclaim a state of siege and appointed Mussolini prime minister. Over the next few years, Mussolini banned all political parties and curtailed personal liberties, thus forming a dictatorship. These actions attracted international attention and eventually inspired similar dictatorships such as Nazi Germany and Francoist Spain. In 1935, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia and founded the Italian East Africa, resulting in an international alienation and leading to Italy's withdrawal from the League of Nations; Italy allied with Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan and strongly supported Francisco Franco in the Spanish civil war. In 1939, Italy annexed Albania, a de facto protectorate for decades. Italy entered World War II on 10 June 1940. After initially advancing in British Somaliland, Egypt, the Balkans and eastern fronts, the Italians were defeated in East Africa, Soviet Union and North Africa. Maximum extent of the Italian Empire (1940–43) The Armistice of Villa Giusti, which ended fighting between Italy and Austria-Hungary at the end of World War I, resulted in Italian annexation of neighbouring parts of Yugoslavia. During the interwar period, the fascist Italian government undertook a campaign of Italianisation in the areas it annexed, which suppressed Slavic language, schools, political parties, and cultural institutions. During World War II, Italian war crimes included extrajudicial killings and ethnic cleansing[89] by deportation of about 25,000 people, mainly Jews, Croats, and Slovenians, to the Italian concentration camps, such as Rab, Gonars, Monigo, Renicci di Anghiari and elsewhere. In Italy and Yugoslavia, unlike in Germany, few war crimes were prosecuted.[90][91][92][93] Yugoslav Partisans perpetrated their own crimes during and after the war, including the foibe killings. Meanwhile, about 250,000 Italians and anti-communist Slavs fled to Italy in the Istrian exodus. An Allied invasion of Sicily began in July 1943, leading to the collapse of the Fascist regime and the fall of Mussolini on 25 July. Mussolini was deposed and arrested by order of King Victor Emmanuel III in co-operation with members of the Grand Council of Fascism, who lost faith in him for having led Italy to ruin by allying with Germany. On 8 September, Italy signed the Armistice of Cassibile, ending its war with the Allies. The Germans helped by the Italian fascists shortly succeeded in taking control of northern and central Italy. The country remained a battlefield for the rest of the war, as the Allies were slowly moving up from the south. In the north, the Germans set up the Italian Social Republic (RSI), a Nazi puppet state with Mussolini installed as leader after he was rescued by German paratroopers. The post-armistice period saw the rise of a large anti-fascist resistance movement, the Resistenza. In late April 1945, with total defeat looming, Mussolini attempted to escape north,[94] but was captured and summarly executed near Lake Como by Italian partisans. His body was then taken to Milan, where it was hung upside down at a service station for public viewing and to provide confirmation of his demise.[95] Hostilities ended on 29 April 1945, when the German forces in Italy surrendered. Nearly half a million Italians (including civilians) died in the conflict,[96] and the Italian economy had been all but destroyed; per capita income in 1944 was at its lowest point since the beginning of the 20th century.[97] Republican Italy Main article: History of the Italian Republic Alcide De Gasperi, first republican Prime Minister of Italy and one of the Founding Fathers of the European Union Italy became a republic after a referendum[98] held on 2 June 1946, a day celebrated since as Republic Day. This was also the first time that Italian women were entitled to vote.[99] Victor Emmanuel III's son, Umberto II, was forced to abdicate and exiled. The Republican Constitution was approved on 1 January 1948. Under the Treaty of Peace with Italy of 1947, most of Julian March was lost to Yugoslavia and, later, the Free Territory of Trieste was divided between the two states. Italy also lost all of its colonial possessions, formally ending the Italian Empire. Italian Somaliland was made a United Nations Trust Territory under Italian administration until 1 July 1960. Fears in the Italian electorate of a possible Communist takeover proved crucial for the first universal suffrage electoral outcome on 18 April 1948, when the Christian Democrats, under the leadership of Alcide De Gasperi, obtained a landslide victory. Consequently, in 1949 Italy became a member of NATO. The Marshall Plan helped to revive the Italian economy which, until the late 1960s, enjoyed a period of sustained economic growth commonly called the "Economic Miracle". In 1957, Italy was a founding member of the European Economic Community (EEC), which became the European Union (EU) in 1993. The signing ceremony of the Treaty of Rome at the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the Capitoline Hill. Italy is a founding member of all EU institutions. From the late 1960s until the early 1980s, the country experienced the Years of Lead, a period characterised by economic crisis (especially after the 1973 oil crisis), widespread social conflicts and terrorist massacres carried out by opposing extremist groups, with the alleged involvement of US and Soviet intelligence.[100][101][102] The Years of Lead culminated in the assassination of the Christian Democrat leader Aldo Moro in 1978 and the Bologna railway station massacre in 1980, where 85 people died. In the 1980s, for the first time since 1945, two governments were led by non-Christian-Democrat premiers: one republican (Giovanni Spadolini) and one socialist (Bettino Craxi); the Christian Democrats remained, however, the main government party. During Craxi's government, the economy recovered and Italy became the world's fifth largest industrial nation, after it gained the entry into the G7 Group in '70s. However, as a result of his spending policies, the Italian national debt skyrocketed during the Craxi era, soon passing 100% of the country's GDP. In the early 1990s, Italy faced significant challenges, as voters – disenchanted with political paralysis, massive public debt and the extensive corruption system (known as Tangentopoli) uncovered by the Clean Hands investigation – demanded radical reforms. The scandals involved all major parties, but especially those in the government coalition: the Christian Democrats, who ruled for almost 50 years, underwent a severe crisis and eventually disbanded, splitting up into several factions.[103] The Communists reorganised as a social-democratic force. During the 1990s and the 2000s (decade), centre-right (dominated by media magnate Silvio Berlusconi) and centre-left coalitions (led by university professor Romano Prodi) alternately governed the country. In the late 2000s, Italy was severely hit by the Great Recession. From 2008 to 2013, the country suffered 42 months of GDP recession. The economic crisis was one of the main problems that forced Berlusconi to resign in 2011. The government of the conservative Prime Minister was replaced by the technocratic cabinet of Mario Monti. Following the 2013 general election, the Vice-Secretary of the Democratic Party Enrico Letta formed a new government at the head of a right-left Grand coalition. In 2014, challenged by the new Secretary of the PD Matteo Renzi, Letta resigned and was replaced by Renzi. The new government started important constitutional reforms such as the abolition of the Senate and a new electoral law. On 4 December the constitutional reform was rejected in a referendum and Renzi resigned after few days on 12 December; the Foreign Affairs Minister Paolo Gentiloni was appointed new Prime Minister. Italy was affected by the European migrant crisis in 2015 as it became the entry point and leading destination for most asylum seekers entering the EU. Since 2013, the country took in over 700,000 migrants and refugees,[104] mainly from sub-Saharan Africa,[105] which caused great strain on the public purse and a surge in the support for far-right, euroskeptic or eurocritical political parties.[106][107] After a strong showing of the Five Star Movement and the League in the 2018 general election, university professor Giuseppe Conte became the Prime Minister at the head of a populist coalition.[108] Geography Main article: Geography of Italy Topographic map of Italy Italy is located in Southern Europe, between latitudes 35° and 47° N, and longitudes 6° and 19° E. To the north, Italy borders France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, and is roughly delimited by the Alpine watershed, enclosing the Po Valley and the Venetian Plain. To the south, it consists of the entirety of the Italian Peninsula and the two Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia, in addition to many smaller islands. The sovereign states of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within Italy, while Campione d'Italia is an Italian exclave in Switzerland. The country's total area is 301,230 square kilometres (116,306 sq mi), of which 294,020 km2 (113,522 sq mi) is land and 7,210 km2 (2,784 sq mi) is water. Including the islands, Italy has a coastline and border of 7,600 kilometres (4,722 miles) on the Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian seas (740 km (460 mi)), and borders shared with France (488 km (303 mi)), Austria (430 km (267 mi)), Slovenia (232 km (144 mi)) and Switzerland (740 km (460 mi)). San Marino (39 km (24 mi)) and Vatican City (3.2 km (2.0 mi)), both enclaves, account for the remainder. The Apennine Mountains form the peninsula's backbone and the Alps form most of its northern boundary, where Italy's highest point is located on Monte Bianco (4,810 m or 15,780 ft).[note 1] The Po, Italy's longest river (652 kilometres or 405 miles), flows from the Alps on the western border with France and crosses the Padan plain on its way to the Adriatic Sea. The five largest lakes are, in order of diminishing size:[109] Garda (367.94 km2 or 142 sq mi), Maggiore (212.51 km2 or 82 sq mi, whose minor northern part is Switzerland), Como (145.9 km2 or 56 sq mi), Trasimeno (124.29 km2 or 48 sq mi) and Bolsena (113.55 km2 or 44 sq mi). Although the country includes the Italian peninsula, adjacent islands and most of the southern Alpine basin, some of Italy's territory extends beyond the Alpine basin and some islands are located outside the Eurasian continental shelf. These territories are the comuni of: Livigno, Sexten, Innichen, Toblach (in part), Chiusaforte, Tarvisio, Graun im Vinschgau (in part), which are all part of the Danube's drainage basin, while the Val di Lei constitutes part of the Rhine's basin and the islands of Lampedusa and Lampione are on the African continental shelf. Camera-photo.svg This article contains too many pictures, charts or diagrams for its overall length. Please help to improve this article by removing or adjusting the sand­wich­ing of text between two im­ages and indiscriminate galleries in accordance with the Manual of Style on use of images. (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Monte Bianco in Aosta Valley, the highest point in the European Union. Dolomites in the Italian alps. Undulating landscape in Tuscany. Apennine landscape in Marche. Faraglioni rocks, Capri. Coastline of Scoglio il Morto island, Sardinia. The Scala dei Turchi in Sicily. Rabbit Beach in the island of Lampedusa. Waters See also: List of rivers of Italy and List of lakes of Italy Four different seas surround the Italian Peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea from three sides: the Adriatic Sea in the east,[110] the Ionian Sea in the south,[111] and the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west.[112] Most of rivers of Italy drain either into the Adriatic Sea, such as the Po, Piave, Adige, Brenta, Tagliamento, and Reno, or into the Tyrrhenian, like the Arno, Tiber and Volturno. The waters from some border municipalities (Livigno in Lombardy, Innichen and Sexten in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol) drain into the Black Sea through the basin of the Drava, a tributary of the Danube, and the waters from the Lago di Lei in Lombardy drain into the North Sea through the basin of the Rhine.[113] In the north of the country are a number of subalpine moraine-dammed lakes, the largest of which is Garda (370 km2 or 143 sq mi). Other well known of these subalpine lakes are Lake Maggiore (212.5 km2 or 82 sq mi), whose most northerly section is part of Switzerland, Como (146 km2 or 56 sq mi), one of the deepest lakes in Europe, Orta, Lugano, Iseo, and Idro.[114] Other notable lakes in the Italian peninsula are Trasimeno, Bolsena, Bracciano, Vico, Varano and Lesina in Gargano and Omodeo in Sardinia.[115] Lake Como, known for its environment with prestigious villas, is often cited as the most beautiful lake in the world.[116] Pink flamingos at Delta of the Po river. The Riviera in Liguria. The Gulf of Macari in San Vito Lo Capo. Volcanology See also: Volcanology of Italy The Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano in Sicily. The country is situated at the meeting point of the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate, leading to considerable seismic and volcanic activity. There are 14 volcanoes in Italy, four of which are active: Etna (the traditional site of Vulcan's smithy), Stromboli, Vulcano and Vesuvius. The latter one is the only active volcano in mainland Europe and is most famous for the destruction of Pompeii and Herculanum in the eruption in 79 AD. Several islands and hills have been created by volcanic activity, and there is still a large active caldera, the Campi Flegrei north-west of Naples. The high volcanic and magmatic neogenic activity is subdivided into provinces: Magmatic Tuscan (Monti Cimini, Tolfa and Amiata); Magmatic Latium (Monti Volsini, Vico nel Lazio, Colli Albani, Roccamonfina); Mount Vesuvius, as seen from the Mount Somma. Ultra-alkaline Umbrian Latium District (San Venanzo, Cupaello and Polino); Vulcanic bell (Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei, Ischia); Windy arch and Tyrrhenian basin (Aeolian Islands and Tyrrhenian seamounts); African-Adriatic Avampa (Channel of Sicily, Graham Island, Etna and Mount Vulture).[117] Until the 1950s, Italy was the first and only country to exploit geothermal energy to produce electricity in the Larderello area, and later in the Mount Amiata area. The high geothermal gradient that forms part of the peninsula makes potentially exploitable also other provinces: research carried out in the 1960s and 1970s identifies potential geothermal fields in Lazio and Tuscany, as well as in most volcanic islands.[118] Environment See also: List of national parks of Italy and List of regional parks of Italy National and regional parks in Italy After its quick industrial growth, Italy took a long time to confront its environmental problems. After several improvements, it now ranks 84th in the world for ecological sustainability.[119] National parks cover about 5% of the country.[120] In the last decade, Italy has become one of the world's leading producers of renewable energy, ranking as the world's fourth largest holder of installed solar energy capacity[121][122] and the sixth largest holder of wind power capacity in 2010.[123] Renewable energies now make up about 12% of the total primary and final energy consumption in Italy, with a future target share set at 17% for the year 2020.[124] Gran Paradiso, established in 1922, is the oldest Italian national park However, air pollution remains a severe problem, especially in the industrialised north, reaching the tenth highest level worldwide of industrial carbon dioxide emissions in the 1990s.[125] Italy is the twelfth largest carbon dioxide producer.[126][127] Extensive traffic and congestion in the largest metropolitan areas continue to cause severe environmental and health issues, even if smog levels have decreased dramatically since the 1970s and 1980s, and the presence of smog is becoming an increasingly rarer phenomenon and levels of sulphur dioxide are decreasing.[128] Many watercourses and coastal stretches have also been contaminated by industrial and agricultural activity, while because of rising water levels, Venice has been regularly flooded throughout recent years. Waste from industrial activity is not always disposed of by legal means and has led to permanent health effects on inhabitants of affected areas, as in the case of the Seveso disaster. The country has also operated several nuclear reactors between 1963 and 1990 but, after the Chernobyl disaster and a referendum on the issue the nuclear programme was terminated, a decision that was overturned by the government in 2008, planning to build up to four nuclear power plants with French technology. This was in turn struck down by a referendum following the Fukushima nuclear accident.[129] Deforestation, illegal building developments and poor land-management policies have led to significant erosion all over Italy's mountainous regions, leading to major ecological disasters like the 1963 Vajont Dam flood, the 1998 Sarno[130] and 2009 Messina mudslides. Biodiversity Main articles: Fauna of Italy and Flora of Italy The Italian wolf, which inhabits the Apennine Mountains and the Western Alps, features prominently in Latin and Italian cultures, such as in the legend of the founding of Rome.[131] Italy has the highest level of faunal biodiversity in Europe, with over 57,000 species recorded, representing more than a third of all European fauna.[132] The Italian peninsula is in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, forming a corridor between central Europe and North Africa, and has 8,000 km (5,000 mi) of coastline. Italy also receives species from the Balkans, Eurasia, the Middle East. Italy's varied geological structure, including the Alps and the Apennines, Central Italian woodlands, and Southern Italian Garigue and Maquis shrubland, also contribute to high climate and habitat diversity. Italian fauna includes 4777 endemic animal species, such as the Sardinian long-eared bat, Sardinian red deer, spectacled salamander, Brown cave salamander, Italian cave salamander, Monte Albo cave salamander, Sardinian brook newt, Italian newt, Italian frog, Apennine yellow-bellied toad, Aeolian wall lizard, Sicilian wall lizard, Italian Aesculapian snake, and Sicilian pond turtle. There are 102 mammals species in Italy, such as the Alpine marmot, Etruscan shrew (the smallest mammal in the world), and European snow vole; notable large mammals are the Italian wolf, Marsican brown bear, Pyrenean chamois, Alpine ibex, rough-toothed dolphin, crested porcupine and Mediterranean monk seal. Italy has also recorded 516 bird species and 56213 invertebrates species. The flora was traditionally estimated to comprise about 5,500 vascular plant species.[133] However, as of 2005, 6,759 species are recorded in the Data bank of Italian vascular flora.[134] Geobotanically, the Italian flora is shared between the Circumboreal Region and Mediterranean Region. Italy is a signatory to the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats and the Habitats Directive both affording protection to the Italian fauna and flora. Climate Main article: Climate of Italy Southern Italy has a Mediterranean climate (Levanzo island pictured). Because of the great longitudinal extension of the peninsula and the mostly mountainous internal conformation, the climate of Italy is highly diverse. In most of the inland northern and central regions, the climate ranges from humid subtropical to humid continental and oceanic. In particular, the climate of the Po valley geographical region is mostly continental, with harsh winters and hot summers.[135][136] The coastal areas of Liguria, Tuscany and most of the South generally fit the Mediterranean climate stereotype (Köppen climate classification Csa). Conditions on peninsular coastal areas can be very different from the interior's higher ground and valleys, particularly during the winter months when the higher altitudes tend to be cold, wet, and often snowy. The coastal regions have mild winters and warm and generally dry summers, although lowland valleys can be quite hot in summer. Average winter temperatures vary from 0 °C (32 °F) on the Alps to 12 °C (54 °F) in Sicily, like so the average summer temperatures range from 20 °C (68 °F) to over 25 °C (77 °F). Winters can vary widely across the country with lingering cold, foggy and snowy periods in the north and milder, sunnier conditions in the south. Summers can be hot and humid across the country, particularly in the south while northern and central areas can experience occasional strong thunderstorms from spring to autumn.[137] Politics Main article: Politics of Italy Italy has been a unitary parliamentary republic since 2 June 1946, when the monarchy was abolished by a constitutional referendum. The President of Italy (Presidente della Repubblica), currently Sergio Mattarella since 2015, is Italy's head of state. The President is elected for a single seven years mandate by the Parliament of Italy and some regional voters in joint session. Italy has a written democratic constitution, resulting from the work of a Constituent Assembly formed by the representatives of all the anti-fascist forces that contributed to the defeat of Nazi and Fascist forces during the Civil War.[138] Government Sergio Mattarella President of Italy since 2015 Giuseppe Conte Prime Minister of Italy since 2018 Italy has a parliamentary government based on a mixed proportional and majoritarian voting system. The parliament is perfectly bicameral: the two houses, the Chamber of Deputies that meets in Palazzo Montecitorio, and the Senate of the Republic that meets in Palazzo Madama, have the same powers. The Prime Minister, officially President of the Council of Ministers (Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri), is Italy's head of government. The Prime Minister and the cabinet are appointed by the President of the Republic of Italy and must pass a vote of confidence in Parliament to come into office. To remain the Prime Minister has to pass also eventual further votes of confindence or no confidence in Parliament. The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of Italy. The prime minister is the President of the Council of Ministers—which holds effective executive power— and he must receive a vote of approval from it to execute most political activities. The office is similar to those in most other parliamentary systems, but the leader of the Italian government is not authorised to request the dissolution of the Parliament of Italy. Another difference with similar offices is that the overall political responsibility for intelligence is vested in the President of the Council of Ministers. By virtue of that, the Prime Minister has exclusive power to: co-ordinate intelligence policies, determining the financial resources and strengthening national cyber security; apply and protect State secrets; authorise agents to carry out operations, in Italy or abroad, in violation of the law.[139] A peculiarity of the Italian Parliament is the representation given to Italian citizens permanently living abroad: 12 Deputies and 6 Senators elected in four distinct overseas constituencies. In addition, the Italian Senate is characterised also by a small number of senators for life, appointed by the President "for outstanding patriotic merits in the social, scientific, artistic or literary field". Former Presidents of the Republic are ex officio life senators. Italy's three major political parties are the Five Star Movement, the Democratic Party and the Lega. During the 2018 general election these three parties won 614 out of 630 seats available in the Chamber of Deputies and 309 out of 315 in the Senate.[140] Berlusconi's Forza Italia which formed a centre-right coalition with Matteo Salvini's Northern League and Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy won most of the seats without getting the majority in parliament. The rest of the seats were taken by Five Star Movement, Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party along with Achammer and Panizza's South Tyrolean People's Party & Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party in a centre-left coalition and the independent Free and Equal party. Law and criminal justice Main articles: Law of Italy and Judiciary of Italy The Supreme Court of Cassation The Italian judicial system is based on Roman law modified by the Napoleonic code and later statutes. The Supreme Court of Cassation is the highest court in Italy for both criminal and civil appeal cases. The Constitutional Court of Italy (Corte Costituzionale) rules on the conformity of laws with the constitution and is a post–World War II innovation. Since their appearance in the middle of the 19th century, Italian organised crime and criminal organisations have infiltrated the social and economic life of many regions in Southern Italy, the most notorious of which being the Sicilian Mafia, which would later expand into some foreign countries including the United States. Mafia receipts may reach 9%[141][142] of Italy's GDP.[143] A 2009 report identified 610 comuni which have a strong Mafia presence, where 13 million Italians live and 14.6% of the Italian GDP is produced.[144][145] The Calabrian 'Ndrangheta, nowadays probably the most powerful crime syndicate of Italy, accounts alone for 3% of the country's GDP.[146] However, at 0.013 per 1,000 people, Italy has only the 47th highest murder rate[147] compared to 61 countries and the 43rd highest number of rapes per 1,000 people compared to 64 countries in the world. These ones are relatively low figures among developed countries. Law enforcement Main article: Law enforcement in Italy An Alfa Romeo vehicle of the Carabinieri corps Law enforcement in Italy is provided by multiple police forces, five of which are national, Italian agencies. The Polizia di Stato (State Police) is the civil national police of Italy. Along with patrolling, investigative and law enforcement duties, it oversees the security of transportations. The Carabinieri is the common name for the Arma dei Carabinieri, a Gendarmerie that also serves as the military police for the Italian armed forces. The Guardia di Finanza, (English: Financial Guard) is a corps under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance, with a role as police force. The Corps controls financial, economic, judiciary and public safety. The Polizia Penitenziaria (Prison Guards, literally Penitentiary Police) operate the Italian prison system and handle the transportation of inmates. Foreign relations Main article: Foreign relations of Italy Group photo of the G7 leaders at the 43rd G7 summit in Taormina Italy is a founding member of the European Economic Community (EEC), now the European Union (EU), and of NATO. Italy was admitted to the United Nations in 1955, and it is a member and a strong supporter of a wide number of international organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization (GATT/WTO), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe, and the Central European Initiative. Its recent or upcoming turns in the rotating presidency of international organisations include the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 2018, the G7 in 2017 and the EU Council from July to December 2014. Italy is also a recurrent non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the most recently in 2017. Italy strongly supports multilateral international politics, endorsing the United Nations and its international security activities. As of 2013, Italy was deploying 5,296 troops abroad, engaged in 33 UN and NATO missions in 25 countries of the world.[148] Italy deployed troops in support of UN peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Mozambique, and East Timor and provides support for NATO and UN operations in Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania. Italy deployed over 2,000 troops in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from February 2003. Italy supported international efforts to reconstruct and stabilise Iraq, but it had withdrawn its military contingent of some 3,200 troops by 2006, maintaining only humanitarian operators and other civilian personnel. In August 2006 Italy deployed about 2,450 troops in Lebanon for the United Nations' peacekeeping mission UNIFIL.[149] Italy is one of the largest financiers of the Palestinian National Authority, contributing €60 million in 2013 alone.[150] Military Main article: Italian Armed Forces The aircraft carrier MM Cavour A Eurofighter Typhoon operated by the Italian Air Force The Italian Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabinieri collectively form the Italian Armed Forces, under the command of the Supreme Defence Council, presided over by the President of Italy. Since 2005, military service is voluntary.[151] In 2010, the Italian military had 293,202 personnel on active duty,[152] of which 114,778 are Carabinieri.[153] Total Italian military spending in 2010 ranked tenth in the world, standing at $35.8 billion, equal to 1.7% of national GDP. As part of NATO's nuclear sharing strategy Italy also hosts 90 United States B61 nuclear bombs, located in the Ghedi and Aviano air bases.[154] The Italian Army is the national ground defence force, numbering 109,703 in 2008. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft the Mangusta attack helicopter, in the last years deployed in EU, NATO and UN missions. It also has at its disposal a large number of Leopard 1 and M113 armoured vehicles. The Italian Navy in 2008 had 35,200 active personnel with 85 commissioned ships and 123 aircraft.[155] It is a blue-water navy. In modern times the Italian Navy, being a member of the EU and NATO, has taken part in many coalition peacekeeping operations around the world. The Italian Air Force in 2008 had a strength of 43,882 and operated 585 aircraft, including 219 combat jets and 114 helicopters. A transport capability is guaranteed by a fleet of 27 C-130Js and C-27J Spartan. An autonomous corps of the military, the Carabinieri are the gendarmerie and military police of Italy, policing the military and civilian population alongside Italy's other police forces. While the different branches of the Carabinieri report to separate ministries for each of their individual functions, the corps reports to the Ministry of Internal Affairs when maintaining public order and security.[156] Administrative divisions Main articles: Regions of Italy, Metropolitan cities of Italy, Provinces of Italy, and Municipalities of Italy Italy is subdivided into 20 regions (regioni), five of these regions having a special autonomous status that enables them to enact legislation on some of their local matters. The country is further divided into 14 metropolitan cities (città metropolitane) and 96 provinces (province), which in turn are subdivided in 7,960 municipalities (2018) (comuni).[157] Apulia Basilicata Calabria Sicily Molise Campania Abruzzo Lazio Umbria Marche Tuscany Sardinia Emilia-Romagna Liguria Piedmont Friuli- Venezia Giulia Aosta Valley Trentino- Alto Adige Veneto Lombardy Adriatic Sea Ionian Sea Mediterranean Sea Tyrrhenian Sea Ligurian Sea Region Capital Area (km2) Area (sq mi) Population Nominal GDP EURO billions (2016)[158] Nominal GDP EURO per capita(2016) [159] Abruzzo L'Aquila 10,763 4,156 1,331,574 32 24,100 Aosta Valley Aosta 3,263 1,260 128,298 4 34,900 Apulia Bari 19,358 7,474 4,090,105 72 17,800 Basilicata Potenza 9,995 3,859 576,619 12 20,600 Calabria Catanzaro 15,080 5,822 1,976,631 33 16,800 Campania Naples 13,590 5,247 5,861,529 107 18,300 Emilia-Romagna Bologna 22,446 8,666 4,450,508 154 34,600 Friuli-Venezia Giulia Trieste 7,858 3,034 1,227,122 37 30,300 Lazio Rome 17,236 6,655 5,892,425 186 31,600 Liguria Genoa 5,422 2,093 1,583,263 48 30,800 Lombardy Milan 23,844 9,206 10,002,615 367 36,600 Marche Ancona 9,366 3,616 1,550,796 41 26,600 Molise Campobasso 4,438 1,713 313,348 6 20,000 Piedmont Turin 25,402 9,808 4,424,467 129 29,400 Sardinia Cagliari 24,090 9,301 1,663,286 34 20,300 Sicily Palermo 25,711 9,927 5,092,080 87 17,200 Tuscany Florence 22,993 8,878 3,752,654 112 30,000 Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Trento 13,607 5,254 1,055,934 42 39,755 Umbria Perugia 8,456 3,265 894,762 21 24,000 Veneto Venice 18,399 7,104 4,927,596 156 31,700 Economy Main article: Economy of Italy Milan is a global financial centre and a fashion capital of the world. Italy has a major advanced[160] capitalist mixed economy, ranking as the third-largest in the Eurozone and the eighth-largest in the world.[161] A founding member of the G7, the Eurozone and the OECD, it is regarded as one of the world's most industrialised nations and a leading country in world trade and exports.[162][163][164] It is a highly developed country, with the world's 8th highest quality of life in 2005[165] and the 26th Human Development Index. The country is well known for its creative and innovative business,[166] a large and competitive agricultural sector[167] with the world's largest wine production,[168] and for its influential and high-quality automobile, machinery, food, design and fashion industry.[169][170][171] A Ferrari 488. Italy maintains a large automotive industry,[172] and is the world's seventh largest exporter of goods.[173] Italy is the world's sixth largest manufacturing country,[174] characterised by a smaller number of global multinational corporations than other economies of comparable size and a large number of dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises, notoriously clustered in several industrial districts, which are the backbone of the Italian industry. This has produced a manufacturing sector often focused on the export of niche market and luxury products, that if on one side is less capable to compete on the quantity, on the other side is more capable of facing the competition from China and other emerging Asian economies based on lower labour costs, with higher quality products.[175] Italy was the world's 7th largest exporter in 2016. Its closest trade ties are with the other countries of the European Union, with whom it conducts about 59% of its total trade. Its largest EU trade partners, in order of market share, are Germany (12.9%), France (11.4%), and Spain (7.4%).[176] Italy is part of a monetary union, the Eurozone (dark blue) and of the EU single market. The automotive industry is a significant part of the Italian manufacturing sector, with over 144,000 firms and almost 485,000 employed people in 2015,[177] and a contribution of 8.5% to Italian GDP.[178] Fiat Chrysler Automobiles or FCA is currently the world's seventh-largest auto maker.[179] The country boasts a wide range of acclaimed products, from very compact city cars to luxury supercars such as Maserati, Lamborghini, and Ferrari, which was rated the world's most powerful brand by Brand Finance.[180] Italian FCA brands cars have also won 12 times at the European Car of the Year, with 9 awards won by Fiat (the most of any manufacturer), 2 by Alfa Romeo, and one by Lancia. Italy is part of the European single market which represents more than 500 million consumers. Several domestic commercial policies are determined by agreements among European Union (EU) members and by EU legislation. Italy introduced the common European currency, the Euro in 2002.[181][182] It is a member of the Eurozone which represents around 330 million citizens. Its monetary policy is set by the European Central Bank. Italy has been hit hard by the Financial crisis of 2007–08, that exacerbated the country's structural problems.[183] Effectively, after a strong GDP growth of 5–6% per year from the 1950s to the early 1970s,[184] and a progressive slowdown in the 1980-90s, the country virtually stagnated in the 2000s.[185][186] The political efforts to revive growth with massive government spending eventually produced a severe rise in public debt, that stood at over 131.8% of GDP in 2017,[187] ranking second in the EU only after the Greek one.[188] For all that, the largest chunk of Italian public debt is owned by national subjects, a major difference between Italy and Greece,[189] and the level of household debt is much lower than the OECD average.[190] A gaping North–South divide is a major factor of socio-economic weakness.[191] It can be noted by the huge difference in statistical income between the northern and southern regions and municipalities.[192] The richest department, Alto Adige-South Tyrol, earns 152% of the national GDP per capita, while the poorest region, Calabria, 61%.[193] The unemployment rate (11.1%) stands slightly above the Eurozone average,[194] but the disaggregated figure is 6.6% in the North and 19.2% in the South.[195] The youth unemployment rate (31.7% in March 2018) is extremely high compared to EU standards.[196] Agriculture Vineyards in the Chianti region, Tuscany. The Italian food industry is well known for the high quality and variety of its products. According to the last national agricultural census, there were 1.6 million farms in 2010 (−32.4% since 2000) covering 12.7 million hectares (63% of which are located in Southern Italy).[197] The vast majority (99%) are family-operated and small, averaging only 8 hectares in size.[197] Of the total surface area in agricultural use (forestry excluded), grain fields take up 31%, olive tree orchards 8.2%, vineyards 5.4%, citrus orchards 3.8%, sugar beets 1.7%, and horticulture 2.4%. The remainder is primarily dedicated to pastures (25.9%) and feed grains (11.6%).[197] Italy is the world's top wine producer,[198] and one of the leading in olive oil, fruits (apples, olives, grapes, oranges, lemons, pears, apricots, hazelnuts, peaches, cherries, plums, strawberries and kiwifruits), and vegetables (especially artichokes and tomatoes). The most famous Italian wines are probably the Tuscan Chianti and the Piedmontese Barolo. Other famous wines are Barbaresco, Barbera d'Asti, Brunello di Montalcino, Frascati, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Morellino di Scansano, and the sparkling wines Franciacorta and Prosecco. Quality goods in which Italy specialises, particularly the already mentioned wines and regional cheeses, are often protected under the quality assurance labels DOC/DOP. This geographical indication certificate, which is attributed by the European Union, is considered important in order to avoid confusion with low-quality mass-produced ersatz products. Infrastructure Main article: Transport in Italy FS' Frecciarossa 1000 high speed train, with a maximum speed of 400 km/h (249 mph),[199] is the fastest train in Italy and Europe In 2004 the transport sector in Italy generated a turnover of about 119.4 billion euros, employing 935,700 persons in 153,700 enterprises. Regarding the national road network, in 2002 there were 668,721 km (415,524 mi) of serviceable roads in Italy, including 6,487 km (4,031 mi) of motorways, state-owned but privately operated by Atlantia. In 2005, about 34,667,000 passenger cars (590 cars per 1,000 people) and 4,015,000 goods vehicles circulated on the national road network.[200] The national railway network, state-owned and operated by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, in 2008 totalled 16,529 km (10,271 mi) of which 11,727 km (7,287 mi) is electrified, and on which 4,802 locomotives and railcars run. The national inland waterways network comprised 1,477 km (918 mi) of navigable rivers and channels in 2002. In 2004 there were approximately 30 main airports, including the two hubs of Malpensa International in Milan and Leonardo da Vinci International in Rome, and 43 major seaports, including the seaport of Genoa, the country's largest and second largest in the Mediterranean Sea. In 2005 Italy maintained a civilian air fleet of about 389,000 units and a merchant fleet of 581 ships.[200] Italy needs to import about 80% of its energy requirements.[201][202][203] Main article: Water supply and sanitation in Italy Italy does not invest enough to maintain its drinking water supply. The Galli Law, passed in 1993, aimed at raising the level of investment and to improve service quality by consolidating service providers, making them more efficient and increasing the level of cost recovery through tariff revenues. Despite these reforms, investment levels have declined and remain far from sufficient.[204][205][206] Science and technology Main article: Science and technology in Italy Clockwise from left: Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electric battery and discoverer of methane;[207] Galileo Galilei, recognised as the Father of modern science, physics and observational astronomy;[208] Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of the long-distance radio transmission;[209] Enrico Fermi, creator of the first nuclear reactor, the Chicago Pile-1[210] Through the centuries, Italy has fostered the scientific community that produced many major discoveries in physics and the other sciences. During the Renaissance Italian polymaths such as Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), Michelangelo (1475–1564) and Leon Battista Alberti (1404–72) made important contributions to a variety of fields, including biology, architecture, and engineering. Galileo Galilei (1564–1642), a physicist, mathematician and astronomer, played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include key improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations, and ultimately the triumph of Copernicanism over the Ptolemaic model. Other astronomers suchs as Giovanni Domenico Cassini (1625–1712) and Giovanni Schiaparelli (1835–1910) made many important discoveries about the Solar System. In mathematics, Joseph Louis Lagrange (born Giuseppe Lodovico Lagrangia, 1736–1813) was active before leaving Italy. Fibonacci (c. 1170 – c. 1250), and Gerolamo Cardano (1501–76) made fundamental advances in mathematics. Luca Pacioli established accounting to the world. Physicist Enrico Fermi (1901–54), a Nobel prize laureate, led the team in Chicago that developed the first nuclear reactor and is also noted for his many other contributions to physics, including the co-development of the quantum theory and was one of the key figures in the creation of the nuclear weapon. He, Emilio G. Segrè (1905–89) who discovered the elements technetium and astatine, and the antiproton), Bruno Rossi (1905–93) a pioneer in Cosmic Rays and X-ray astronomy) and a number of Italian physicists were forced to leave Italy in the 1930s by Fascist laws against Jews,.[211] Other prominent physicists include: Amedeo Avogadro (most noted for his contributions to molecular theory, in particular the Avogadro's law and the Avogadro constant), Evangelista Torricelli (inventor of barometer), Alessandro Volta (inventor of electric battery), Guglielmo Marconi (inventor of radio), Galileo Ferraris and Antonio Pacinotti, pioneers of the induction motor, Alessandro Cruto, pioneer of light bulb and Innocenzo Manzetti, eclectic pioneer of auto and robotics, Ettore Majorana (who discovered the Majorana fermions), Carlo Rubbia (1984 Nobel Prize in Physics for work leading to the discovery of the W and Z particles at CERN). Antonio Meucci is known for developing a voice-communication device which is often credited as the first telephone.[212][213] Pier Giorgio Perotto in 1964 designed the first Desktop Computer, the Programma 101, arguably the first kind of commercial personal computer. In biology, Francesco Redi has been the first to challenge the theory of spontaneous generation by demonstrating that maggots come from eggs of flies and he described 180 parasites in details and Marcello Malpighi founded microscopic anatomy, Lazzaro Spallanzani conducted important research in bodily functions, animal reproduction, and cellular theory, Camillo Golgi, whose many achievements include the discovery of the Golgi complex, paved the way to the acceptance of the Neuron doctrine, Rita Levi-Montalcini discovered the nerve growth factor (awarded 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine). In chemistry, Giulio Natta received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963 for his work on high polymers. Giuseppe Occhialini received the Wolf Prize in Physics for the discovery of the pion or pi-meson decay in 1947. Ennio de Giorgi, a Wolf Prize in Mathematics recipient in 1990, solved Bernstein's problem about minimal surfaces and the 19th Hilbert problem on the regularity of solutions of Elliptic partial differential equations. Tourism Main article: Tourism in Italy The Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of major tourist destinations[214] Italy is the fifth most visited country in the world, with a total of 52.3 million international arrivals in 2016.[215] The total contribution of travel & tourism to GDP (including wider effects from investment, the supply chain and induced income impacts) was EUR162.7bn in 2014 (10.1% of GDP) and generated 1,082,000 jobs directly in 2014 (4.8% of total employment).[216] Italy is well known for its cultural and environmental tourist routes and is home to 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the most in the world.[217] Milan is the 6th most visited city in Europe and the 14th in the world, with an average of 7.65 million international arrivals in 2016 while Rome is the 8th and 16th resptectively, with 7.12 million tourists.[218] In addition, Venice and Florence are also among the world's top 100 destinations. Italy's most-visited landmarks include e.g. Coloseum and Roman Forum, Pompeii, Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell'Accademia, Castel Sant'Angelo, Boboli Garden, Venaria Reale, Turin Egyptian Museum, the Borghese Gallery, the Royal Palace of Caserta, Cenacolo Vinciano Museum, Villa d'Este, Pitti Palace, the Excavations of Hercolaneum, Naples National Archaeological Museum, the Medici Chapels, Ostia Antica Excavations and Museum, Blu Grotto, Venice National Archaeological Museum, Lake Como and Pinacoteca di Brera.[219] Demographics Main article: Demographics of Italy Map of population density in Italy as of the 2011 census. Population pyramid 2016 At the end of 2013, Italy had 60,782,668 inhabitants.[220] The resulting population density, at 202 inhabitants per square kilometre (520/sq mi), is higher than that of most Western European countries. However, the distribution of the population is widely uneven. The most densely populated areas are the Po Valley (that accounts for almost a half of the national population) and the metropolitan areas of Rome and Naples, while vast regions such as the Alps and Apennines highlands, the plateaus of Basilicata and the island of Sardinia are very sparsely populated. The population of Italy almost doubled during the 20th century, but the pattern of growth was extremely uneven because of large-scale internal migration from the rural South to the industrial cities of the North, a phenomenon which happened as a consequence of the Italian economic miracle of the 1950–1960s. High fertility and birth rates persisted until the 1970s, after which they start decline. The population rapidly aged. At the end of the 2000s (decade), one in five Italians was over 65 years old.[221] However, in recent years Italy experienced a significant growth in birth rates.[222] The total fertility rate has also climbed from an all-time low of 1.18 children per woman in 1995 to 1.41 in 2008.[223] The TFR is expected to reach 1.6–1.8 in 2030.[224] From the late 19th century until the 1960s Italy was a country of mass emigration. Between 1898 and 1914, the peak years of Italian diaspora, approximately 750,000 Italians emigrated each year.[225] The diaspora concerned more than 25 million Italians and it is considered the biggest mass migration of contemporary times.[226] As a result, today more than 4.1 million Italian citizens are living abroad,[227] while at least 60 million people of full or part Italian ancestry live outside of Italy, most notably in Argentina,[228] Brazil,[229] Uruguay,[230] Venezuela,[231] the United States,[232] Canada,[233] Australia[234] and France.[235] vte Largest cities or towns in Italy ISTAT estimates for 31 December 2014 Rank Name Region Pop. Rank Name Region Pop. Rome Rome Milan Milan 1 Rome Lazio 2,872,021 11 Venice Veneto 264,579 Naples Naples Turin Turin 2 Milan Lombardy 1,337,155 12 Verona Veneto 260,125 3 Naples Campania 978,399 13 Messina Sicily 240,414 4 Turin Piedmont 896,773 14 Padua Veneto 211,210 5 Palermo Sicily 678,492 15 Trieste Friuli-Venezia Giulia 205,413 6 Genoa Liguria 592,507 16 Taranto Apulia 202,016 7 Bologna Emilia-Romagna 386,181 17 Brescia Lombardy 196,058 8 Florence Tuscany 381,037 18 Prato Tuscany 191,002 9 Bari Apulia 327,361 19 Parma Emilia-Romagna 190,284 10 Catania Sicily 315,601 20 Modena Emilia-Romagna 185,148 Metropolitan cities and larger urban zone Source:[236][237] Metropolitan city Region Area (km2) Population (1 January 2016) Functional Urban Areas (FUA) Population (2016) Rome Lazio 5,352 4,340,474 4,414,288 Milan Lombardy 1,575 3,208,509 5,111,481 Naples Campania 1,171 3,113,898 3,418,061 Turin Piedmont 6,829 2,282,127 1,769,475 Palermo Sicily 5,009 1,271,406 1,033,226 Bari Apulia 3,821 1,263,820 749,723 Catania Sicily 3,574 1,115,535 658,805 Florence Tuscany 3,514 1,113,348 807,896 Bologna Emilia-Romagna 3,702 1,005,831 775,247 Genoa Liguria 1,839 854,099 713,243 Venice Veneto 2,462 855,696 561,697 Messina Sicily 3,266 640,675 273,680 Reggio Calabria Calabria 3,183 555,836 221,139 Cagliari Sardinia 1,248 430,413 488,954 Immigration Main article: Immigration to Italy Italy is home to a large population of migrants from Eastern Europe and North Africa In 2016, Italy had about 5.05 million foreign residents,[238] making up 8.3% of the total population. The figures include more than half a million children born in Italy to foreign nationals—second generation immigrants, but exclude foreign nationals who have subsequently acquired Italian citizenship;[239] In 2016, about 201,000 people acquired Italian citizenship[240] (130,000 in 2014).[241] The official figures also exclude illegal immigrants, that were estimated in 2008 to number at least 670,000.[242] Starting from the early 1980s, until then a linguistically and culturally homogeneous society, Italy begun to attract substantial flows of foreign immigrants.[243] After the fall of the Berlin Wall and, more recently, the 2004 and 2007 enlargements of the European Union, large waves of migration originated from the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe (especially Romania, Albania, Ukraine and Poland). An equally important source of immigration is neighbouring North Africa (in particular, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia), with soaring arrivals as a consequence of the Arab Spring. Furthermore, in recent years, growing migration fluxes from Asia-Pacific (notably China[244] and the Philippines) and Latin America have been recorded. Currently, about one million Romanian citizens (around 10% of them being from the Romani people ethnic group[245]) are officially registered as living in Italy, representing thus the most important individual country of origin, followed by Albanians and Moroccans with about 500,000 people each. The number of unregistered Romanians is difficult to estimate, but the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network suggested in 2007 that there might have been half a million or more.[246][note 2] Overall, at the end of the 2000s (decade) the foreign born population of Italy was from: Europe (54%), Africa (22%), Asia (16%), the Americas (8%) and Oceania (0.06%). The distribution of immigrants is largely uneven in Italy: 87% of immigrants live in the northern and central parts of the country (the most economically developed areas), while only 13% live in the southern half of the peninsula. Languages Main articles: Languages of Italy, Italian language, and Regional Italian Geographic distribution of the Italian language in the world Native language Secondary or non-official language Italian-speaking minorities According to the first article of the framework law no.482/99, following Art. 6 of the Italian Constitution, Italy's official language is Italian.[248] It is estimated that there are about 64 million native Italian speakers[249][250][251] while the total number of Italian speakers, including those who use it as a second language, is about 85 million.[252] Italian is often natively spoken in a regional variety, not to be confused with Italy's regional and minority languages;[253][254] however, the establishment of a national education system has led to a decrease in variation in the languages spoken across the country during the 20th century. Standardisation was further expanded in the 1950s and 1960s due to economic growth and the rise of mass media and television (the state broadcaster RAI helped set a standard Italian). All the minority language groups officially recognised by Italy[255] Twelve historical minority languages are formally recognised by the framework law no.482/99: Albanian, Catalan, German, Greek, Slovene, Croatian, French, Franco-Provençal, Friulian, Ladin, Occitan and Sardinian.[248] Of these, four languages even enjoy a co-official status in their respective region: French in the Aosta Valley — although Franco-Provencal is more commonly spoken there;[256] German in South Tyrol, and Ladin as well in some parts of the same province and in parts of the neighbouring Trentino; and finally, Slovene in the province of Trieste, Gorizia and Udine. A number of other Ethnologue, ISO and UNESCO languages are not recognised by the Italian law. Like France, Italy has signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, but has not ratified it.[257] Because of recent immigration influx, Italy has sizeable populations whose native language is not Italian, nor a regional language. According to the Italian National Institute of Statistics, Romanian is the most common mother tongue among foreign residents in Italy: almost 800,000 people speak Romanian as their first language (21.9% of the foreign residents aged 6 and over). Other prevalent mother tongues are Arabic (spoken by over 475,000 people; 13.1% of foreign residents), Albanian (380,000 people) and Spanish (255,000 people). Other languages spoken in Italy are Ukrainian, Hindi, Polish and Tamil amongst others.[258] Religion Main article: Religion in Italy Italy is home to many of the world's largest, oldest and opulent churches. Clockwise from left: Florence Cathedral, which has the biggest brick dome in the world;[259][260] St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church of Christendom;[261] Milan Cathedral, the largest Italian church and the third largest in the world;[262] and St Mark's Basilica, one of the best known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture[263] In 2017, the proportion of Italians who identified themselves as Roman Catholic was 74.4%.[2] Since 1985, it is no longer officially the state religion.[264] The Holy See, the episcopal jurisdiction of Rome, contains the central government of the Roman Catholic Church. It is recognised by other subjects of international law as a sovereign entity, headed by the Pope, who is also the Bishop of Rome, with which diplomatic relations can be maintained.[265][266] Often incorrectly referred to as "the Vatican", the Holy See is not the same entity as the Vatican City State, which came into existence only in 1929. In 2011, minority Christian faiths in Italy included an estimated 1.5 million Orthodox Christians, or 2.5% of the population;[267] 500,000 Pentecostals and Evangelicals (of whom 400,000 are members of the Assemblies of God), 251,192 Jehovah's Witnesses,[268] 30,000 Waldensians,[269] 25,000 Seventh-day Adventists, 26,925 Latter-day Saints, 15,000 Baptists (plus some 5,000 Free Baptists), 7,000 Lutherans, 4,000 Methodists (affiliated with the Waldensian Church).[270] Religion in Italy (2017)[2] Catholicism   74.2% No Religion   21.4% Other religions   2.0% One of the longest-established minority religious faiths in Italy is Judaism, Jews having been present in Ancient Rome since before the birth of Christ. Italy has for centuries welcomed Jews expelled from other countries, notably Spain. However, as a result of the Holocaust, about 20% of Italian Jews lost their lives.[271] This, together with the emigration that preceded and followed World War II, has left only around 28,400 Jews in Italy.[272] Soaring immigration in the last two decades has been accompanied by an increase in non-Christian faiths.There are more than 800,000 followers of faiths originating in the Indian subcontinent with some 70,000 Sikhs with 22 gurdwaras across the country,[273] The Italian state, as a measure to protect religious freedom, devolves shares of income tax to recognised religious communities, under a regime known as Eight per thousand. Donations are allowed to Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu communities; however, Islam remains excluded, since no Muslim communities have yet signed a concordat with the Italian state.[274] Taxpayers who do not wish to fund a religion contribute their share to the state welfare system.[275] Education Main article: Education in Italy Bologna University, established in AD 1088, is the world's oldest academic institution. Education in Italy is free and mandatory from ages six to sixteen,[276] and consists of five stages: kindergarten (scuola dell'infanzia), primary school (scuola primaria), lower secondary school (scuola secondaria di primo grado, upper secondary school (scuola secondaria di secondo grado) and university (università).[277] Primary education lasts eight years. Students are given a basic education in Italian, English, mathematics, natural sciences, history, geography, social studies, physical education and visual and musical arts. Secondary education lasts for five years and includes three traditional types of schools focused on different academic levels: the liceo prepares students for university studies with a classical or scientific curriculum, while the istituto tecnico and the Istituto professionale prepare pupils for vocational education. In 2012, the Italian secondary education was evaluated as slightly below the OECD average, with a strong and steady improvement in science and mathematics results since 2003;[278] however, a wide gap exists between northern schools, which performed significantly better than the national average (among the best in the world in some subjects), and schools in the South, that had much poorer results.[279] Tertiary education in Italy is divided between public universities, private universities and the prestigious and selective superior graduate schools, such as the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa. The university system in Italy is generally regarded as poor for a world cultural powerhouse, with no universities ranked among the 100 world best and only 20 among the top 500.[280] Bologna University, founded in 1088, is the oldest university in continuous operation,[281] as well as one of the leading academic institutions in Italy and Europe.[282] Health Main article: Healthcare in Italy Olive oil and vegetables are central to the Mediterranean diet. The Italian state runs a universal public healthcare system since 1978.[283] However, healthcare is provided to all citizens and residents by a mixed public-private system. The public part is the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, which is organised under the Ministry of Health and administered on a devolved regional basis. Healthcare spending in Italy accounted for 9.2% of the national GDP in 2012, very close the OECD countries' average of 9.3%.[284] Italy in 2000 ranked as having the world's 2nd best healthcare system,[283][285] and the world's 2nd best healthcare performance. Life expectancy in Italy is 80 for males and 85 for females, placing the country 5th in the world for life expectancy.[286] In comparison to other Western countries, Italy has a relatively low rate of adult obesity (below 10%[287]), as there are several health benefits of the Mediterranean diet.[288] The proportion of daily smokers was 22% in 2012, down from 24.4% in 2000 but still slightly above the OECD average.[284] Smoking in public places including bars, restaurants, night clubs and offices has been restricted to specially ventilated rooms since 2005.[289] In 2013, UNESCO added the Mediterranean diet to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of Italy (promoter), Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Croatia.[290][291] Culture Main article: Culture of Italy Villa Capra "La Rotonda", one of the influential Palladian villas of the Veneto. For centuries divided by politics and geography until its eventual unification in 1861, Italy's culture has been shaped by a multitude of regional customs and local centres of power and patronage.[292] Italy had a central role in Western culture for centuries and is still recognised for its cultural traditions and artists. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, a number of magnificent courts competed for attracting the best architects, artists and scholars, thus producing a great legacy of monuments, paintings, music and literature. Despite the political and social isolation of these courts, Italy's contribution to the cultural and historical heritage of Europe and the world remain immense.[293] Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites (54) than any other country in the world, and has rich collections of art, culture and literature from many periods. The country has had a broad cultural influence worldwide, also because numerous Italians emigrated to other places during the Italian diaspora. Furthermore, Italy has, overall, an estimated 100,000 monuments of any sort (museums, palaces, buildings, statues, churches, art galleries, villas, fountains, historic houses and archaeological remains),[294] and according to some estimates the nation is home to half the world's great art treasures.[295] Architecture Main article: Architecture of Italy Italy has a very broad and diverse architectural style, which cannot be simply classified by period, but also by region, because of Italy's division into several regional states until 1861. This has created a highly diverse and eclectic range in architectural designs. Italy is known for its considerable architectural achievements,[296] such as the construction of arches, domes and similar structures during ancient Rome, the founding of the Renaissance architectural movement in the late-14th to 16th centuries, and being the homeland of Palladianism, a style of construction which inspired movements such as that of Neoclassical architecture, and influenced the designs which noblemen built their country houses all over the world, notably in the UK, Australia and the US during the late 17th to early 20th centuries. Several of the finest works in Western architecture, such as the Colosseum, the Milan Cathedral and Florence cathedral, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the building designs of Venice are found in Italy. The city of Venice, built on 117 islands The Leaning Tower and the Duomo of Pisa The Royal Palace of Caserta Castel del Monte, built by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Temple of Concordia in the Valley of the Temples, Agrigento Italian architecture has also widely influenced the architecture of the world. British architect Inigo Jones, inspired by the designs of Italian buildings and cities, brought back the ideas of Italian Renaissance architecture to 17th-century England, being inspired by Andrea Palladio.[297] Additionally, Italianate architecture, popular abroad since the 19th century, was used to describe foreign architecture which was built in an Italian style, especially modelled on Renaissance architecture. Visual art Main article: Art of Italy The Last Supper (1494–1499), Leonardo da Vinci, Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan The history of Italian visual art is one of the most important parts of Western painting history. Roman art was influenced by Greece and can in part be taken as a descendant of ancient Greek painting. However, Roman painting does have important unique characteristics. The only surviving Roman paintings are wall paintings, many from villas in Campania, in Southern Italy. Such painting can be grouped into 4 main "styles" or periods[298] and may contain the first examples of trompe-l'œil, pseudo-perspective, and pure landscape.[299] Panel painting becomes more common during the Romanesque period, under the heavy influence of Byzantine icons. Towards the middle of the 13th century, Medieval art and Gothic painting became more realistic, with the beginnings of interest in the depiction of volume and perspective in Italy with Cimabue and then his pupil Giotto. From Giotto on, the treatment of composition by the best painters also became much more free and innovative. They are considered to be the two great medieval masters of painting in western culture. Michelangelo's David (1501–1504), Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence The Italian Renaissance is said by many to be the golden age of painting; roughly spanning the 14th through the mid-17th centuries with a significant influence also out of the borders of modern Italy. In Italy artists like Paolo Uccello, Fra Angelico, Masaccio, Piero della Francesca, Andrea Mantegna, Filippo Lippi, Giorgione, Tintoretto, Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raphael, Giovanni Bellini, and Titian took painting to a higher level through the use of perspective, the study of human anatomy and proportion, and through their development of an unprecedented refinement in drawing and painting techniques. Michelangelo was an active sculptor from about 1500 to 1520, and his great masterpieces including his David, Pietà, Moses. Other prominent Renaissance sculptors include Lorenzo Ghiberti, Luca Della Robbia, Donatello, Filippo Brunelleschi and Andrea del Verrocchio. The Birth of Venus (1484-86), Sandro Botticelli, Uffizi Gallery, Florence In the 15th and 16th centuries, the High Renaissance gave rise to a stylised art known as Mannerism. In place of the balanced compositions and rational approach to perspective that characterised art at the dawn of the 16th century, the Mannerists sought instability, artifice, and doubt. The unperturbed faces and gestures of Piero della Francesca and the calm Virgins of Raphael are replaced by the troubled expressions of Pontormo and the emotional intensity of El Greco. In the 17th century, among the greatest painters of Italian Baroque are Caravaggio, Annibale Carracci, Artemisia Gentileschi, Mattia Preti, Carlo Saraceni and Bartolomeo Manfredi. Subsequently, in the 18th century, Italian Rococo was mainly inspired by French Rococo, since France was the founding nation of that particular style, with artists such as Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Canaletto. Italian Neoclassical sculpture focused, with Antonio Canova's nudes, on the idealist aspect of the movement. In the 19th century, major Italian Romantic painters were Francesco Hayez, Giuseppe Bezzuoli and Francesco Podesti. Impressionism was brought from France to Italy by the Macchiaioli, led by Giovanni Fattori, and Giovanni Boldini; Realism by Gioacchino Toma and Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo. In the 20th century, with Futurism, primarily through the works of Umberto Boccioni and Giacomo Balla, Italy rose again as a seminal country for artistic evolution in painting and sculpture. Futurism was succeeded by the metaphysical paintings of Giorgio de Chirico, who exerted a strong influence on the Surrealists and generations of artists to follow. Literature Main article: Literature of Italy Italian literature began after the founding of Rome in 753 BC. Latin literature was, and still is, highly influential in the world, with numerous writers, poets, philosophers, and historians, such as Pliny the Elder, Pliny the Younger, Virgil, Horace, Propertius, Ovid and Livy. The Romans were also famous for their oral tradition, poetry, drama and epigrams.[300] In early years of the 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi was considered the first Italian poet by literary critics, with his religious song Canticle of the Sun.[301] Dante, poised between the mountain of Purgatory and the city of Florence, displays the famous incipit "Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita" of the Divine Comedy in a detail of Domenico di Michelino's painting, 1465 Another Italian voice originated in Sicily. At the court of Emperor Frederick II, who ruled the Sicilian kingdom during the first half of the 13th century, lyrics modelled on Provençal forms and themes were written in a refined version of the local vernacular. The most important of these poets was the notary Giacomo da Lentini, inventor of the sonnet form, though the most famous early sonneteer was Petrarch.[302] Guido Guinizelli is considered the founder of the Dolce Stil Novo, a school that added a philosophical dimension to traditional love poetry. This new understanding of love, expressed in a smooth, pure style, influenced Guido Cavalcanti and the Florentine poet Dante Alighieri, who established the basis of the modern Italian language; his greatest work, the Divine Comedy, is considered among the foremost literary statements produced in Europe during the Middle Ages; furthermore, the poet invented the difficult terza rima. The two great writers of the 14th century, Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio, sought out and imitated the works of antiquity and cultivated their own artistic personalities. Petrarch achieved fame through his collection of poems, Il Canzoniere. Petrarch's love poetry served as a model for centuries. Equally influential was Boccaccio's The Decameron, one of the most popular collections of short stories ever written.[303] Niccolò Machiavelli, founder of the modern political science and ethics Italian Renaissance authors produced a number of important works. Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince is one of the world's most famous essays on political science and modern philosophy, in which the effective truth is taken to be more important than any abstract ideal. Another important work of the period, Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's unfinished romance Orlando Innamorato, is perhaps the greatest chivalry poem ever written. Baldassare Castiglione's dialogue The Book of the Courtier describes the ideal of the perfect court gentleman and of spiritual beauty. The lyric poet Torquato Tasso in Jerusalem Delivered wrote a Christian epic, making use of the ottava rima, with attention to the Aristotelian canons of unity. Giovanni Francesco Straparola and Giambattista Basile, which have written The Facetious Nights of Straparola (1550–1555) and the Pentamerone (1634) respectively, printed some of the first known versions of fairy tales in Europe.[304][305][306] In the early 17th century, some literary masterpieces were created, such as Giambattista Marino's long mythological poem, L'Adone. The Baroque period also produced the clear scientific prose of Galileo as well as Tommaso Campanella's The City of the Sun, a description of a perfect society ruled by a philosopher-priest. At the end of the 17th century, the Arcadians began a movement to restore simplicity and classical restraint to poetry, as in Metastasio's heroic melodramas. In the 18th century, playwright Carlo Goldoni created full written plays, many portraying the middle class of his day. Pinocchio is the world's most translated non-religious book[307] and a canonical piece of children's literature.[308] The Romanticism coincided with some ideas of the Risorgimento, the patriotic movement that brought Italy political unity and freedom from foreign domination. Italian writers embraced Romanticism in the early 19th century. The time of Italy's rebirth was heralded by the poets Vittorio Alfieri, Ugo Foscolo, and Giacomo Leopardi. The works by Alessandro Manzoni, the leading Italian Romantic, are a symbol of the Italian unification for their patriotic message and because of his efforts in the development of the modern, unified Italian language; his novel The Betrothed was the first Italian historical novel to glorify Christian values of justice and Providence, and it has been called the most famous and widely read novel in the Italian language.[309] In the late 19th century, a realistic literary movement called Verismo played a major role in Italian literature; Giovanni Verga and Luigi Capuana were its main exponents. In the same period, Emilio Salgari, writer of action adventure swashbucklers and a pioneer of science fiction, published his Sandokan series.[310] In 1883, Carlo Collodi also published the novel The Adventures of Pinocchio, the most celebrated children's classic by an Italian author and the most translated non-religious book in the world.[307] A movement called Futurism influenced Italian literature in the early 20th century. Filippo Tommaso Marinetti wrote Manifesto of Futurism, called for the use of language and metaphors that glorified the speed, dynamism, and violence of the machine age.[311] Modern literary figures and Nobel laureates are Gabriele D'Annunzio from 1889 to 1910, nationalist poet Giosuè Carducci in 1906, realist writer Grazia Deledda in 1926, modern theatre author Luigi Pirandello in 1936, short stories writer Italo Calvino in 1960, poets Salvatore Quasimodo in 1959 and Eugenio Montale in 1975, Umberto Eco in 1980, and satirist and theatre author Dario Fo in 1997.[312] Prominent Italian philosophers include Cesare Beccaria, Giordano Bruno, Benedetto Croce, Marsilio Ficino, and Giambattista Vico. Theatre Main article: Commedia dell'arte See also: Theatre of ancient Rome La Scala is ranked the best opera house in the world.[313] Italian theatre can be traced back to the Roman tradition. The theatre of ancient Rome was a thriving and diverse art form, ranging from festival performances of street theatre, nude dancing, and acrobatics, to the staging of Plautus's broadly appealing situation comedies, to the high-style, verbally elaborate tragedies of Seneca. Although Rome had a native tradition of performance, the Hellenization of Roman culture in the 3rd century BCE had a profound and energising effect on Roman theatre and encouraged the development of Latin literature of the highest quality for the stage. As with many other literary genres, Roman dramatists was heavily influenced or tended to adapt from the Greek. For example, Seneca's Phaedra was based on that of Euripides, and many of the comedies of Plautus were direct translations of works by Menander.[314] During the 16th century and on into the 18th century, Commedia dell'arte was a form of improvisational theatre, and it is still performed today. Travelling troupes of players would set up an outdoor stage and provide amusement in the form of juggling, acrobatics and, more typically, humorous plays based on a repertoire of established characters with a rough storyline, called canovaccio. Plays did not originate from written drama but from scenarios called lazzi, which were loose frameworks that provided the situations, complications, and outcome of the action, around which the actors would improvise. The characters of the commedia usually represent fixed social types and stock characters, each of which has a distinct costume, such as foolish old men, devious servants, or military officers full of false bravado. The main categories of these characters include servants, old men, lovers, and captains.[315] Carlo Goldoni, who wrote a few scenarios starting in 1734, supersed the comedy of masks and the comedy of intrigue by representations of actual life and manners through the characters and their behaviours. He rightly maintained that Italian life and manners were susceptible of artistic treatment such as had not been given them before. The Teatro di San Carlo in Naples is the oldest continuously active venue for public opera in the world, opening in 1737, decades before both the Milan's La Scala and Venice's La Fenice theatres.[316] Music Main article: Music of Italy Giacomo Puccini, Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot, are among the most frequently worldwide performed in the standard repertoire[317][318] From folk music to classical, music has always played an important role in Italian culture. Instruments associated with classical music, including the piano and violin, were invented in Italy,[319][320] and many of the prevailing classical music forms, such as the symphony, concerto, and sonata, can trace their roots back to innovations of 16th- and 17th-century Italian music. Italy's most famous composers include the Renaissance composers Palestrina, Monteverdi and Gesualdo, the Baroque composers Scarlatti, Corelli and Vivaldi, the Classical composers Paisiello, Paganini and Rossini, and the Romantic composers Verdi and Puccini. Modern Italian composers such as Berio and Nono proved significant in the development of experimental and electronic music. While the classical music tradition still holds strong in Italy, as evidenced by the fame of its innumerable opera houses, such as La Scala of Milan and San Carlo of Naples (the oldest continuously active venue for public opera in the world),[316] and performers such as the pianist Maurizio Pollini and tenor Luciano Pavarotti, Italians have been no less appreciative of their thriving contemporary music scene. Luciano Pavarotti, one of the most influential tenors of all time Italy is widely known for being the birthplace of opera.[321] Italian opera was believed to have been founded in the early 17th century, in cities such as Mantua and Venice.[321] Later, works and pieces composed by native Italian composers of the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi and Puccini, are among the most famous operas ever written and today are performed in opera houses across the world. La Scala operahouse in Milan is also renowned as one of the best in the world. Famous Italian opera singers include Enrico Caruso and Alessandro Bonci. Introduced in the early 1920s, jazz took a particularly strong foothold in Italy, and remained popular despite the xenophobic cultural policies of the Fascist regime. Today, the most notable centres of jazz music in Italy include Milan, Rome, and Sicily. Later, Italy was at the forefront of the progressive rock and pop movement of the 1970s, with bands like PFM, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Le Orme, Goblin, and Pooh.[322] The same period saw diversification in the cinema of Italy, and Cinecittà films included complex scores by composers including Ennio Morricone, Armando Trovaioli, Piero Piccioni and Piero Umiliani. In the early 1980s, the first star to emerge from the Italian hip hop scene was singer Jovanotti.[323] Popular Italian metal bands such as Rhapsody of Fire, Lacuna Coil, Elvenking, Forgotten Tomb, and Fleshgod Apocalypse are also seen as pioneers of various heavy metal subgenres.[324] Giorgio Moroder, pioneer of Italo disco and electronic dance music, is known as the "Father of Disco"[325] Italy was also an important country in the development of disco and electronic music, with Italo disco, known for its futuristic sound and prominent use of synthesisers and drum machines, being one of the earliest electronic dance genres, as well as European forms of disco aside from Euro disco (which later went on to influence several genres such as Eurodance and Nu-disco).[326] By circa 1988, the genre had merged into other forms of European dance and electronic music, such as Italo house, which blended elements of Italo disco with traditional house music; its sound was generally uplifting, and made strong usage of piano melodies. Some bands of this genre are Black Box, East Side Beat, and 49ers. By the latter half of the 1990s, a subgenre of Eurodance known as Italo dance emerged. Taking influences from Italo disco and Italo house, Italo dance generally included synthesizer riffs, a melodic sound, and the usage of vocoders. Notable Italian DJs and remixers include Gabry Ponte (member of the group Eiffel 65), Benny Benassi, Gigi D'Agostino, and the trio Tacabro. Producers such as Giorgio Moroder, who won three Academy Awards and four Golden Globes for his music, were highly influential in the development of electronic dance music.[325] Today, Italian pop music is represented annually with the Sanremo Music Festival, which served as inspiration for the Eurovision song contest, and the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto.[327] Singers such as Mina, Andrea Bocelli, Grammy winner Laura Pausini, Zucchero, Eros Ramazzotti and Tiziano Ferro have attained international acclaim. Cinema Main article: Cinema of Italy The history of Italian cinema began a few months after the Lumière brothers began motion picture exhibitions. The first Italian film was a few seconds, showing Pope Leo XIII giving a blessing to the camera. The Italian film industry was born between 1903 and 1908 with three companies: the Società Italiana Cines, the Ambrosio Film and the Itala Film. Other companies soon followed in Milan and in Naples. In a short time these first companies reached a fair producing quality, and films were soon sold outside Italy. Cinema was later used by Benito Mussolini, who founded Rome's renowned Cinecittà studio for the production of Fascist propaganda until World War II.[328] After the war, Italian film was widely recognised and exported until an artistic decline around the 1980s. Notable Italian film directors from this period include Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Sergio Leone, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Luchino Visconti, Michelangelo Antonioni and Roberto Rossellini; some of these are recognised among the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time.[329][330][331] Movies include world cinema treasures such as Bicycle Thieves, La dolce vita, 8½, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West. The mid-1940s to the early 1950s was the heyday of neorealist films, reflecting the poor condition of post-war Italy.[332][333] Entrance to Cinecittà in Rome, the largest film studio in Europe As the country grew wealthier in the 1950s, a form of neorealism known as pink neorealism succeeded, and other film genres, such as sword-and-sandal followed as spaghetti westerns, were popular in the 1960s and 1970s. Actresses such as Sophia Loren, Giulietta Masina and Gina Lollobrigida achieved international stardom during this period. Erotic Italian thrillers, or giallos, produced by directors such as Mario Bava and Dario Argento in the 1970s, also influenced the horror genre worldwide. In recent years, the Italian scene has received only occasional international attention, with movies like Life Is Beautiful directed by Roberto Benigni, Il Postino: The Postman with Massimo Troisi and The Great Beauty directed by Paolo Sorrentino. The aforementioned Cinecittà studio is today the largest film and television production facility in continental Europe and the centre of the Italian cinema, where a large number of biggest box office hits are filmed, and one of the biggest production communities in the world. In the 1950s, the number of international productions being made there led to Rome's being dubbed "Hollywood on the Tiber". More than 3,000 productions have been made on its lot, of which 90 received an Academy Award nomination and 47 of these won it, from some cinema classics to recent rewarded features (such as Roman Holiday, Ben-Hur, Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, The English Patient, The Passion of the Christ, and Gangs of New York).[334] Italy is the most awarded country at the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, with 14 awards won, 3 Special Awards and 31 nominations. As of 2016, Italian films have also won 12 Palmes d'Or (the second-most of any country), 11 Golden Lions and 7 Golden Bears. Sport Main article: Sport in Italy The Azzurri, here players of 2012, is the men's national football team. The most popular sport in Italy is, by far, football.[335] Italy's national football team (nicknamed Gli Azzurri – "the Blues") is one of the world's most successful team as it has won four FIFA World Cups (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006).[336] Italian clubs have won 48 major European trophies, making Italy the second most successful country in European football. Italy's top-flight club football league is named Serie A and ranks as the third best in Europe and is followed by millions of fans around the world. Starting in 1909, the Giro d'Italia is the Grands Tours' second oldest.[337] Other popular team sports in Italy include volleyball, basketball and rugby. Italy's male and female national volleyball teams are often featured among the world's best. The Italian national basketball team's best results were gold at Eurobasket 1983 and EuroBasket 1999, as well as silver at the Olympics in 2004. Lega Basket Serie A is widely considered one of the most competitive in Europe. Rugby union enjoys a good level of popularity, especially in the north of the country. Italy's national team competes in the Six Nations Championship, and is a regular at the Rugby World Cup. Italy ranks as a tier-one nation by World Rugby. The men's volleyball team won three consecutive World Championships (in 1990, 1994, and 1998) and earned the Olympic silver medal in 1996, 2004, and 2016. A Ferrari SF71H by Scuderia Ferrari, the oldest surviving and most successful Formula One team.[338] Italy has a long and successful tradition in individual sports as well. Bicycle racing is a very familiar sport in the country.[339] Italians have won the UCI World Championships more than any other country, except Belgium. The Giro d'Italia is a cycling race held every May, and constitutes one of the three Grand Tours, along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, each of which last approximately three weeks. Alpine skiing is also a very widespread sport in Italy, and the country is a popular international skiing destination, known for its ski resorts.[340] Italian skiers achieved good results in Winter Olympic Games, Alpine Ski World Cup, and World Championship. Tennis has a significant following in Italy, ranking as the fourth most practised sport in the country.[341] The Rome Masters, founded in 1930, is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. Italian professional tennis players won the Davis Cup in 1976 and the Fed Cup in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013. Motorsports are also extremely popular in Italy. Italy has won, by far, the most MotoGP World Championships. Italian Scuderia Ferrari is the oldest surviving team in Grand Prix racing, having competed since 1948, and statistically the most successful Formula One team in history with a record of 232 wins. Historically, Italy has been successful in the Olympic Games, taking part from the first Olympiad and in 47 Games out of 48. Italian sportsmen have won 522 medals at the Summer Olympic Games, and another 106 at the Winter Olympic Games, for a combined total of 628 medals with 235 golds, which makes them the fifth most successful nation in Olympic history for total medals. The country hosted two Winter Olympics (in 1956 and 2006), and one Summer games (in 1960). Fashion and design Main articles: Italian fashion and Italian design Prada shop in Milan Italian fashion has a long tradition, and is regarded as one most important in the world. Milan, Florence and Rome are Italy's main fashion capitals. According to Top Global Fashion Capital Rankings 2013 by Global Language Monitor, Rome ranked sixth worldwide when Milan was twelfth.[342] Major Italian fashion labels, such as Gucci, Armani, Prada, Versace, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, Fendi, Moschino, Max Mara, Trussardi, and Ferragamo, to name a few, are regarded as among the finest fashion houses in the world. Also, the fashion magazine Vogue Italia, is considered one of the most prestigious fashion magazines in the world.[343] Italy is also prominent in the field of design, notably interior design, architectural design, industrial design and urban design. The country has produced some well-known furniture designers, such as Gio Ponti and Ettore Sottsass, and Italian phrases such as "Bel Disegno" and "Linea Italiana" have entered the vocabulary of furniture design.[344] Examples of classic pieces of Italian white goods and pieces of furniture include Zanussi's washing machines and fridges,[345] the "New Tone" sofas by Atrium,[345] and the post-modern bookcase by Ettore Sottsass, inspired by Bob Dylan's song "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again".[345] Today, Milan and Turin are the nation's leaders in architectural design and industrial design. The city of Milan hosts Fiera Milano, Europe's largest design fair.[346] Milan also hosts major design and architecture-related events and venues, such as the "Fuori Salone" and the Salone del Mobile, and has been home to the designers Bruno Munari, Lucio Fontana, Enrico Castellani and Piero Manzoni.[347] Cuisine Main article: Italian cuisine Some of the most popular Italian foods: pizza (Margherita), pasta (Carbonara), espresso, and gelato The Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BC. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, and Jewish.[348] Significant changes occurred with the discovery of the New World with the introduction of items such as potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and maize, now central to the cuisine but not introduced in quantity until the 18th century.[349][350] Italian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity,[351][352][353] abundance of difference in taste, and is known to be one of the most popular in the world,[354] wielding strong influence abroad.[355] The Mediterranean diet forms the basis of Italian cuisine, rich in pasta, fish, fruits and vegetables and characterised by its extreme simplicity and variety, with many dishes having only four to eight ingredients.[356] Italian cooks rely chiefly on the quality of the ingredients rather than on elaborate preparation.[357] Dishes and recipes are often derivatives from local and familial tradition rather than created by chefs, so many recipes are ideally suited for home cooking, this being one of the main reasons behind the ever-increasing worldwide popularity of Italian cuisine, from America[358] to Asia.[359] Ingredients and dishes vary widely by region. A key factor in the success of Italian cuisine is its heavy reliance on traditional products; Italy has the most traditional specialities protected under EU law.[360] Cheese, cold cuts and wine are a major part of Italian cuisine, with many regional declinations and Protected Designation of Origin or Protected Geographical Indication labels, and along with coffee (especially espresso) make up a very important part of the Italian gastronomic culture.[361] Desserts have a long tradition of merging local flavours such as citrus fruits, pistachio and almonds with sweet cheeses like mascarpone and ricotta or exotic tastes as cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon. Gelato,[362] tiramisù[363] and cassata are among the most famous examples of Italian desserts, cakes and patisserie. Public holidays and festivals Main articles: Public holidays in Italy and Italian festivals The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world and one of the "Big Three" alongside Cannes and Berlin.[364][365] Public holidays celebrated in Italy include religious, national and regional observances.[366] Italy's National Day, the Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day) is celebrated on 2 June each year, and commemorates the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946. The Saint Lucy's Day, which take place on 13 December, is very popular among children in some Italian regions, where she plays a role similar to Santa Claus.[367] In addition, the Epiphany in Italy is associated with the folkloristic figure of the Befana, a broomstick-riding old woman who, in the night between 5 and 6 January, bringing good children gifts and sweets, and bad ones charcoal or bags of ashes.[368] The Assumption of Mary coincides with Ferragosto on 15 August, the summer vacation period which may be a long weekend or most of the month.[369] Each city or town also celebrates a public holiday on the occasion of the festival of the local patron saint, for example: Rome on 29 June (Saints Peter and Paul) and Milan on 7 December (S. Ambrose).[370] There are many festivals and festivities in Italy. Some of them include the Palio di Siena horse race, Holy Week rites, Saracen Joust of Arezzo, Saint Ubaldo Day in Gubbio, Giostra della Quintana in Foligno, and the Calcio Fiorentino. In 2013, UNESCO has included among the intangible cultural heritage some Italian festivals and pasos, such as the Varia di Palmi, the Macchina di Santa Rosa in Viterbo, the Festa dei Gigli in Nola, and faradda di li candareri in Sassari.[371] Other festivals include the carnivals in Venice, Viareggio, Satriano di Lucania, Mamoiada, and Ivrea, mostly known for its Battle of the Oranges. The prestigious Venice International Film Festival, awarding the "Golden Lion" and held annually since 1932, is the oldest film festival in the world.[364] See also flagItaly portal Italian cuisine portal Ancient Rome portal Index of Italy-related articles Outline of Italy Notes Official French maps show the border detouring south of the main summit, and claim the highest point in Italy is Mont Blanc de Courmayeur (4,748 m or 15,577 ft), but these are inconsistent with an 1861 convention and topographic watershed analysis. According to Mitrica, an October 2005 Romanian report estimates that 1,061,400 Romanians are living in Italy, constituting 37% of 2.8 million immigrants in that country[247] but it is unclear how the estimate was made, and therefore whether it should be taken seriously. References "Foreign citizens 2017". ISTAT. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018. 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އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް އަޑި ޖިންނި، މިކަމުގައި ދައްކަން ބޭނުންނުވަނީ، ދަދުވަރު ޙައްލާލައިގެން ދާސިއާ ޖިންނީގެ ބޯކާލަފާނެ ކަމަށްޓަކައެވެ. މިހެން މިކަން ދިމާވެއްޖެ ނަމަ ޖިންނީގެ މޫނުމަތިން ރޫތަކެއް ލައި ޖިންނި މާއަވަހާ މުސްކިޅި ވެދާނެތީއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް، އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް ޖިންނީގެ ސިކުނޑީގެ ހުރި ފެންވަރު ދަދުވަރުއަށް ނާންގާނަމަ ޖިންނީގެ ފަރާތުން ފަސޭހަ ކަމާއިއެކު ދަދުވަރުއަށް ކެއްސެއް ދެވިދާނެ ކަން ޖިންނި ޤަބޫލުކުރެއެވެ. "އެހެންވީމާ ޖިންނިންތީ ވަރަށްރަގަޅު ވައްޓަފާޅިއެއް ގެންގުޅޭ ބައެއްދޯ. އަހަރެމެން އިންސާނުން ތިކަމާ ދެރަވެ ހިތާހިތުން ހަސަދަވެރި ވަން. ޔަޤީނުން ވެސް އެހެނެއްކަމަކު ޖިންނިންނަށް އެކަމާ ގެއްލުމެއް ދިނުމަށް ނުރާވާނަން. އެއަށްވުރެ އަހަރެމެން މާ ހެޔޮވާނެ." ފާއިޒާ ބޭނުންވީ ޖިންނީގެ ބަހަށް ތާއީދު ކުރުމަށެވެ. ދެން ޖިންނި ބުނާ އެއްޗެއް ބަލާލުމުގެ ބޭނުމުގައެވެ. އިތުރަށް ޖިންނިއާ ދައްކާ ވާހަކަ އޮމާންކޮށްލައި އަދިވެސް ބޮޑަށް ވާހަކަ ދިގު ދެއްމުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. "އަހަރެން ހީކުރީ ފާއިޒާ ލަސްލަހުން ވާހަކަދައްކާތީ އަހަރެންނަށް ހުތުރު އެއްޗެއް ބުނަންއުޅޭ ކަމަށް. އެކަމަކު މި ފިޔަވަޅު މަތިން ގުޑިނުލާހާ ހިނދަކު ފާއިޒާއަށް މަށާ އިދިކޮޅަށް އެއްޗެއް ނުބުނެވޭ ފަދަ އެއްޗެއް އަހަރެންގެ ހަށިގަނޑުގައި ރަށްކާކޮށްފައި އޮންނާނެ. އަހަރެން އަބަދުވެސް ހުންނާނީ އިންސާނުން ކިބައިން ރަށްކާތެރިވެ. އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް ޖެހިލުމެއް ނެތި. އަތުގެ ބާރަކީވެސް އަހަރެންގެ ކިބާގައި ވާކަމެއް. ދޭތެރެއެއް ބަލާލާފައި އަހަރެންގެ އަތް ދަމާލައިފި ނަމަ ދާސިއާއަކަށް މިތަނުގައި ނުހުރެވޭނެ." މި ޖިންނި ވެސް ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް ފަންޑިތަވެރިކަން ދަންނަ ވާހަކަ ފާއިޒާއަށް އަންގާލިއެވެ. އެއީ ގެއެއްގެ ގޭތެރެކަމުން އެ ގޭގެ ހުރުމަތްތެރިކަން ނުކެނޑޭފަދަ ގޮތަކަށެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ލިބިފައިވާ ބާރެއްގެ ވާހަކަދެއްކުން އެއީ ކުށެއް ނޫންކަން މި ޖިންނިއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. އިރު އަރައިފިއެވެ. އޭރު ފަތިސްވަން އުޅޭތީ ފާއިޒާ ކައިރިން ޖިންނި ގޮސްފިއެވެ. ފައިޒާގެ ނަސީބު ރަގަޅުކަމުން ފާއިޒާއަށް އެއްވެސް ތުރާލެއް ނުވެއެވެ. އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް ހުންއައުން ފަދަ ކަމެއް ވެސް އެންމެ ކުޑަމިނުން ނެތެވެ. ހިތުގައި ރޭވިގޮތައް ކަންތައްތައް ޖިންނިއާ ދޭތެރޭގައި ކުރެވުނީތީ ފާއިޒާ އުފާވިއެވެ. ****** 4 ލަތީފާ، ލަތީފުއާ މާގިނައިން ވާހަކަދައްކާތީ ލަތީފާގެ މަންމަގެ ގާތް މީހެއް ކަމުގައިވާ އަބީރާހު ކައިރިއަށް ލަތީފާ ރަސްގެތީމަށް ލަތީފާ ފޮނުވާލައިފިއެވެ. ދެން އަނެއްކާވެސް ފާއިޒާ ވިސްނަން ފެށީ ފަޒުނާގެ ފަރާތުން ކަންތައްތައް ކުރިމަތިވާނެ ގޮތަކާއި މެދުގައެވެ. ފާއިޒާގެ ލޮލުން ކިތައް ކަރުނަތިކި އެ ދުވަހު ވެއްޓޭނެ ބާވައޭ ފާއިޒާ ހިތައްއެރިއެވެ. ފާއިޒާގެ ގާތް އެކުވެރިއެއް އެރަށުގައި ނެތުމުން އެބައި ފުރިހަމަކުރާނެ ގޮތަކާއި މެދުވެސް ފާއިޒާ ވިސްނިއެވެ. ޔަޤީނުން ވެސް ދިރިހުއްޓައި ވަޅެއް ނުލާނޭ ފާއިޒާގެ ހިތައްއެރިއެވެ. ނުރޯން ހުއްޓައި ރޮވޭގޮތް އެވަގުތު ވުމުން ހެދުމުން ލޯކައިރިން ފައިބާފާ ކަރުނަ ތިކިތައް ފުހެލިއެވެ. "އިތުރަށް ވަގުތު ދުވާލައި މިގޭ މަސައްކަތް ނުކުރަން ފަތްޖެހެނދު މަތީ އޮންނާނެ ކަމެއްނެތް. ހަމަމިހާރު ތެދުވޭ." ފަޒުނާ، ފާއިޒާ ފަތްޖެހެނދުން ބޭރުކޮށްލަން ހިފިއެވެ. "ތިހެން ނަހަދާ!... ތިހެން ނަހަދާ!..." ލަތީފާ ސިއްސައިގެން ދިޔައެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް ކޮށްމެހެން އަމުރުކުރާނެ ކަމެއްނެތް. އަހަރެންމީ ލަތީފާ ކުޅެން ގެންގުޅޭ ބުދެއް ނޫން. މައިމީހާ މިރަށަށް ފޮނުވައި އެލީ ނުލަފާ ކަމެއް ހުރީމައެއްނު." ފަޒުނާގެ ދެލޯ ލަތީފާއާ ދިމާލަށް ބޮޑުކޮށްލިއެވެ. އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް ލަތީފާ އެއީ އިންސާނެއް ކަމަށް ނުބަލާ ކަހަލައެވެ. ލަތީފާގެ ދެލޮލުން އަންނަ ކަރުނަ ވެސް ނުފެންނަ ކަހަލައެވެ. "އަހަރެން ވެސް މީ އިންސާނެއް. ވަލު ޖަނަވާރެއް ނޫން. އަހަރެން ކިބާގައި ވެސް އެހެން އިންސާނުންގެ ކިބާގައި ހުންނަ ކަރާމަތްތެރިކަން ހުންނާނެ." ލަތީފާ ހިތްވަރުކޮށްފައި ލަސްލަހުން ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. ފަޒުނާ، ލަތީފާ އަށް ނޭންގި ހުއްޓައި ދޭނީ ކޮށްފަދަ ބަހުގެ ހަމަލައެއް ކަން ނޭންގިހުރެއެވެ. "މާ ބޮޑަށް ދީނުގެ ވާހަކަ އަހަރެން ކައިރީ ދައްކާނެ ކަމެއްނެތް. މިގޭގައި އުޅޭނަމޭ ހިތު އޮތިއްޔާ އަވަހާ ގޮސް ތެލިތައް ދޮވޭ. މީހުންނަށް އަދަބު އިހުތިރާމު ކުރުމުގެ ކަންފުޅެއް ނެތް މީހުން އުޅެންޖެހޭނީ ގުލާނު ކޮށްދީގެން." ފަޒުނާ ބޭނުންވީ އަވަހަށް އެތަނުން ފާއިޒާ ފޮނުވާލުމަށެވެ. 5 އައިޝާ އަވަސް އަވަހަށް ބަދިގެ ފަރާތައް ދިއުމަށްޓަކައި ހިނގައިގަތެވެ. ގަނެފައިވާ ބިރެއްގެ ބޮޑުކަމުންނެވެ. ލަސްކޮށްފި ނަމަ އެރަށުން ފުރައިގެން ގޮސް މައިންބަފައިންގެ ބަސް ޤަބޫލުނުކުރާ ކުއްޖެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި އުޅެން ޖެހިދާނެތީއެވެ. އައިޝާގެ ހިނގުމުގައި ހާނސްކަންވެސް އެކުލެވިގެން ވެއެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް އެ ހާނސް ކަމަށް ލުޔެއް ލިބުނީ މުޙައްމަދުގެ ހުވަފެނެއް މަތިން ހަނދާންވުމުންނެވެ. މުޙައްމަދުގެ ރަށްޓެހި ދާއޫދުއާއެކު މާލެ އައިސް، މާލެއިން ރަސްގެތީމަށް އައިތަން އެ ހުވަފެނުގައި ފެނިފައި ވާތީއެވެ. މިމަންޒަރު އައިޝާއަށް ފެނިފައި އައިޝާ، މުޙައްމަދު ނޭންގޭކަމަށް ހަދައިގެން އުޅޭތީއެވެ. މިދަތުރުގައި މުޙައްމަދު އައިސް އުޅުނީ އެރަށު ކުޑަކަތީބުގެ ގޭގައެވެ. ފަސްފަހަތުން އުންމުކުލްސުމް އައީ އައިޝާ ކަންތައްކުރަނީ ފަރުވާކުޑަކޮށްތޯ ބެލުމަށެވެ. އިތުރަށް އުންމުކުލްސުމް، އައިޝާއާ ދިމާލަށް އެއްޗެއް ނުބުނެ ކެތްކޮށްލައިގެން ހުރީ ފަހުން ކިޔާނެ އެތިވަރުތައް ހިތުގައި ރާވަމުން ދާތީއެވެ. އުންމުކުލްސުމުގެ މާމަ ނިޔާވެގެން މޫނުބަލަން ރަސްގެތީމު ސަހަރާއަށް އައިޝާ ދާން ނިންމާފިއެވެ. މިކަމަށް އުންމުކުލްސުމް އައިޝާ އާ ދެކޮޅުހެދިއެވެ. ސަބަބަކަށް ވަނީ އެފަދަ ކަމެއް އައިޝާ ކޮށްފިނަމަ އައިޝާ ދެކެވާ ރުޅިގަނޑު މަތަވެދާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އަނެއްކޮޅުން އައިޝާ އުންމުކުލްސުމްއަށް ވީ އެންމެއަވަހަކާ އެގެއިން ފޮނުވާލަން ހަމަޖައްސާފާ އޮތުމެވެ. ****** އެހެންދުވަހެއްގެ ރޭގަނޑުގެ ވަގުތެކެވެ. އައިޝާއަށް ނުނިދި އޮށްވައި ދަންވަރު ވެއްޖެއެވެ. މިވަގުތު އައިޝާއަށް ކުރެވެމުން ދިޔައީ ޖިންނި އައިސްދާނެ ކަމުގެ ހިޔާލެވެ. ޖިންނި އައިއްޔާ ޖީންނީގެ ބޭނުންތައް ފުއްދުމަށް މުޙައްމަދުގެ ވާހަކަދައްކާނެ ކަން އެނގެއެވެ. "އައިޝާ... އަހަރެންނަށް ހީވަނީ އައިޝާއަށް ނުނިދި އުނދަގޫ ތިވަނީ މުޙައްމަދު، އައިޝާ ކައިރިއަށް ނާންނާތީ

                                                                                                

                                

                                                                                                                                            

At Ben's Bakery we're dedicated to the craft of baking, and treat every bread, cake and pastry with the love it truly deserves. Come visit our store and taste some of our baked goods, fresh out of the oven. We promise you won't regret it.

                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                

                

The most popular baked goods at Ben's Bakery

            

                                                                                                                                                                

                

                

Cookies

                                                                                                                                     

                

                

Croissants

                                                                                                                                     

                

                

Cupcakes

                                                                                                                                                     

We carefully source all the ingredients, and bake everything by hand in our bakery in Düsseldorf. This is why our large group of regular customers buy all of their bread, cakes and pastries at Ben's Bakery.

                                                                                                                                                                

Who we are

                            

    

                                                                                                                                    

Our store

                            

    

                                                                                                                                    

Visit us

                            

    

                                                                                                                                            

އޭގެ

    

ކަން އަންނާނެ ކަމަށް ހީވުމެވެ. ލޫތުގެ އުނދަގޫތަކުގެ އަޑުފައްގަނޑުން ޖިންނީގެ ސިކުނޑިއަށް ގުޑުން ގެނުވޭނެ ކަމަށް ހީވުމެވެ. އިތުރު ވިސްނުމަކަށް ޖިންނި ދާން ބޭނުމެއް ނުވެއެވެ. ސަބަބަކީ ދެރަކަމުގެ އަލާމާތްތައް ފެންނަން ފެށުމުން ލަތީފާދެކެ ވާ ލޯބީގެ ނުވަތަ ފަހަރެއްގައި ލަތީފާއާއި ލަތީފު އިނދެގެން ދަރިއެއް ލިބިއްޖެނަމަ އެ ދަރިއާ ލަތީފާއާއި ލަތީފު، ޖިންނިއާ ގުޅާދޭނަމަ އެ ދަރި ދެކެ ވާނެ ލޯބި މަތިން ޖިންނި ހަނދާންވުމުން، ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ކުރިމަގު އޮތީ މި ގުޅުމަށް ފުރަގަސް ދިނުމުން ކަމަށް ޖިންނިއަށް ހީވާތީއެވެ. ލަތީފާ ޖިންނީގެ ހަނދާންވާ ވަގުތުތަކުގައި ލަތީފާގެ ކިޑުނީގައި މައްސަލައެއް އުޅޭކަމަށް ހީވާން ފަށައިފިއެވެ. އެއްވެސް އޮޅުވުމެއް ނެތި ލަތީފާގެ ހަނދާނަށް ވެސް މިކަމުގެ އުނދަގޫވާން ފެށުމުން ވަރަށް ފަސޭހަ ކަމާއިއެކު ޑޮކުޓަރަށް ދައްކައިފިއެވެ. ޑޮކުޓަރުގެ ފުރަތަމަ ބަހުންވެސް ލަތީފާގެ މޫނުމަތީގައި ޕަސްލާފައި އެތިފަހަރެއް ޖެހިކަހަލައެވެ. ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ އެއްވެސް ބޭނުމެއް ނެތޭ ލަތީފާ ހިތާތާ ކިޔާލިއެވެ. ޑޮކުޓަރު ލަތީފާ އެފަދަ ބައްޔެއްގައި ދިޔައީމާ ސާބަހުގެ ހަމަ އެއްވެސް ބަހެއް ނުބުނުމުން ލަތީފާގެ އެތެރެ ހަށީގައި ލޭ ނުހިނގާ ކަހަލައެވެ. ****** ލަތީފާއަށް، ޖިންނީގެ ކިބައިން ސަލާމާތް ނުވެވޭނެހެން ހީވުމުން ޖިންނީގެ ވާހަކަ ލަތީފާގެ މަންމަ ލުބުނާ ކައިރީ ދައްކައިފިއެވެ. މި ދުވަސްވަރަކީ އާންމުކޮށް ސިޓީ ފޮނުވައިގެން ވާހާކަދައްކާ ދުވަސްވަރު ކަމުގައި ވިޔަސް މި ދުވަސްވަރާއި އަޅާބަލާއިރު ތަންޚޮޅެއް މަދުކޮށް ފޯނުގެ މުއާސަލާތު އޮތް ދުވަސްވަރު ކަމުން ލަތީފާ މިވާހަކަތައް ލުބުނާ ކައިރީ ދެއްކީ ރަސްގެތީމު އޮފީހު ފޯނުން ގުޅައިގެންނެވެ. ލުބުނާ މިވާހަކަތައް އަޑުއަހާފައި އިންތިހާއަށް ކަންބޮޑުވިއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މާލޭގައި ލަތީފާ ހުރުމަށްވުރެ ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ލަތީފާ ހުރުން އަދިވެސް ރަގަޅުކަމަށް ވިސްނީ ލަތީފާ އަދި މީހަކާ ދެވާ ހިޔާލު ނުގެންގުޅޭތީއާއި ލަތީފާ، ލުބުނާގެ އެހެން ދަރިންނަށްވުރެ ދެރަކޮށް ކިޔަވާފައި ހުރުމުންނެވެ. ލޯބީގެ ވާހަކަތަކަކީ ލަތީފާގެ ފަރާތުން ލުބުނާ އަހަން ބޭނުން ނުވާ ވާހަކަތަކަކަށް ވާއިރު އެފަދަ ވާހަކަތައް ލުބުނާ ކައިރީ ދެއްކުމަށް ލަތިފާ ޖެހިލުން ވެއެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް ލުބުނާއަކީ ލަތީފާ ވިހާ ބޮޑުކުރި މަންމައަށް ވާތީ އެތެރެފުއް ލުބުނާއަށް ދެއްކުމަށް ލަތީފާ ބޭނުން ވެއެވެ. ލުބުނާގެ ފިރިމިހާ އަދި ލަތީފާގެ ބައްޕަ ލޫތު މާލެ ކައިރީ ރިސޯޓަކަށް ދާގޮތައް ހަމަޖެހިއްޖެއެވެ. އެއީ ރަށްޓިއްސެއް ބުނެގެން އެ ރިސޯޓްގައި ހުރި ފިހާރަތަކެއް ބަލާލަން ކުރާ ދަތުރެކެވެ. ލޫތުއާ އެކު ލޫތު އޭނައާ އެކު ގެންދިއުމުގެ އެހެން ބޭނުމެއް އެބައޮތެވެ. އެއީ ލަތީފާއަކީ އެގޭ އެހެން ކުދިންނަށް ވުރެ ފެންވަރުދައް ކުއްޖެއް ކަމުގައި ވިޔަސް ލޫތުގެ ރަޙުމަތްތެރި ހަސަނަކީ ވިޔަފާރި ކުރާ މީހަކަށް ވާތީ ލަތީފާގެ ކައިވެންޏައް ލޫތު ކައިރިން އެދުމެވެ. ރިސޯޓައް އެރިއިރު ލޫތުމެންނަށް ސައިހަދާ ރިސޯޓްގެ ގޮނޑުދޮށައް ރިސޯޓްގެ ބައެއް މުވައްޒަފުން އެއްވެ ތިއްބެވެ. ރިސޯޓްގެ މުވައްޒަފުން ހިންހަމަޖެހޭކަހަލަ ރިސޯޓްގެ ކުރިއެރުމަށް މަގުފަހިވުމުގެ ކަންތައްތަކެއް ކުރުމުގެ ބޮޅުފަތި މިމީހުން އަޔުމުން ގެތޭނެތީއެވެ. ރިސޯޓައް އެރި ގޮތައް ހަސަނުގެ ވާހަކަ ހުރިގޮތުން ލޫތު ފިހާރައީގެ ދޮރުގައި ހިފާލިއިރު ލޫތުއަށް ލަތީފާގެ ފޯނެއް އާދެއެވެ. ހަސަނުގެ ކަންފަތުގައި ލަތީފާގެ އަޑުޖެހުމުން ހަސަނުގެ ގައިން ހީބިހި ނަގައިގެން ދިޔައެވެ. ހަސަނު ކެތްތެރި ކަމާއިއެކު ލޫތުގެ ފޯނުގެ އަޑު ބާރުކަމުން ލަތީފާއާއި ލޫތު ދައްކާވާހަކަ އަޑުއަހަން ހުއްޓެވެ. ****** ލުބުނާއަށް ލަތީފާ ފޯނުން ގުޅިތާ ދެތިން ދުވަސްފަހުން، ލަތީފާގެ ވާހަކަތަކަށް ކެތްނުކުރެވިގެން ލަތީފާއަށް ލުބުނާ ފޯނުން ގުޅިއެވެ. މި ކޯލު ނުކުރާނަމަ ލުބުނާ ދެކެމުން އައީ ލުބުނާގެ ދިރިއުޅުމުގައި ޔަޤީންކުރަން ޖެހޭ ކަންތައްތަކަށް ބަދަލުތަކެއް އަންނާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. އެއްވެސް ހާލެއްގައި ދަރިއެކޭ ކިޔާފައި ދަރިއަށް އަދަބު އަޙުލާގު ދަސްކޮށް ނުދީ ފަރު ނުޖެއްސުމަށެވެ. އަދި ލަތީފާއާ ދިމާލަށް އެއްޗެތި ކިޔާގަތުމުގެ ބޭނުމުގައެވެ. ދާރިނާ މިކަންކުރީ ދާރިނާއަށް ކޮށްމެވެސް އުނދަގުލެއް ވާތަން ހުވަފެނުން ފެނިގެންނެވެ. ދާސިއާ އެގޭ އެހެން ކުދިންނަށްވުރެ ދައްކަން އެނގިހުރެއެވެ. އެއްވެސްވަރަކަށް ދާސިއާއަށް އަދަބު އިޙުތިރާމު ކުރުމުގެ މޫނުމަތި ދެއްކިޔަސް އެފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް ނޫނެވެ. ނުރަގަޅު ނަތީޖާއެއް ނުކުމެދާނެ ކަމަށް ބިރުން ހުރެއެވެ. ****** ފާއިޒާ މަސައްކަތް ކުރަނީ ރަގަޅަށްތޯ ފަޒުނާ ފާރަލަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ****** ދާސިއާއަށް އެއްދުވަހެއްގައި ދަދުވަރު ފޯނުން ގުޅިއެވެ. ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރު ގުޅުމުން އަތިރިމަށްޗަށް އައެވެ. ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރު ރަސްގެތީމު ހޮޅުއަށީގައި ތިބެ މެންދުރު ގަޑީގައި ނިދިއައިސްގެން އޮށޯވެ އެތަނުގައި ނިދިއެވެ. އެ ހޮޅުއަށްޓަކީ ރަސްގެތީމު ވަލުތެރޭގައި ހުންނަ ހޯޅުއަށްޓެކެވެ. އެހިސާބައް އާންމު ގޮތެއްގައި މީހުން އައިސް ނޫޅެއެވެ. އެހެން ދުވަހެއްގައި ރަސްގެތީމު ކައިރީ މީހުން ނޫޅޭ ރަށަކަށް ދަތުރުގޮސްފައި ދާސިއާ ގިފިއްޔަށް ފެންވަރަން ވަންކަން، ދާސިއާގެ އަންޑަސްކޯޓު ފެނުމުން ދަދުވަރަށް އެނގުނެވެ. ****** ދާސިއާއަށް އާމުދަނީއެއް ހޯދުމުގެ މުހިންމު ކަން ބޮޑުވެއްޖެއެވެ. ސަބަބަކަށް ވަނީ ދަދުވަރުއާ ކައިވެނި ކުރުން ލަސް ވަމުން ދާތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް ބައިވަރު ފައިސާތަކެއް ނުލިބުނަސް ހަމަޖެހެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާ ހޯދުމުގެ ގޮތުން ކުރާ ކަންތައްތަކުގެ ނަތީޖާ ރަގަޅުވާނެ ކަން ވެސް ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ހީކުރިގޮތުން ދަދުވަރުގެ ބައްޕަ އަތުގައި ފައިސާ ގިނަވީމާ ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާ އަދާކުރާކަށް ނުޖެހޭނެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ދާސިއާގެ ގާތުގައި ދާސިއާއާ އެއްކޮށް ކިޔެވި އުނގޫފާރު ރަށްޓިއްސެއް ބުނީ ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާއަކަށް ވަނުން ބުއްދިވެރި ކަމަށެވެ. ފަން ޖިފުޓިގަނޑެއްގައި ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ދުވަސްތައް ހޭދަކުރުން ބުއްދިވެރި ނޫން ވާހަކައެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ރަސްޓިހި ކުއްޖާ މާނަކުރީ ދާސިއާ ހުންން ގޭ މީހުން ދާސިއާއަށް ރަގަޅު ނޫން ގޮތަށެވެ. މީނާ ރަސްގެތީމަށް އައިސް އުޅުނީ ޓީޗަރެއްގެ ގޮތުގައެވެ. ރަސްގެތީމު ސުކޫލުގައި ވަޒީފާ އަދާކުރާށެވެ. އަދި ފަން ޖިފުޓިގަނޑެކޭ ދާސިއާގެ ރަޙުމަތްތެރިއާ ބުނި ބަހުގެ މާނަ ދާސިއާ ކުރަނީ، ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާއަކަށް ނުދަންޏާ ދާސިއާގެ ދިރިއުޅުން ވިއްސިވިހާލިވާ ގޮތުގައެވެ. އެއްވެސް އޮޅުމެއް ނެތްގޮތުގައި ދާސިއާ އިންދަން ބޭނުންވާ ލޯބީގެ ބަގީޗާއިން އެންމެ މަލެއް ވެސް ބިނދެވޭނީ ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާއަށް ގޮސްގެން ކަމަށްވާތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާއަށް ދާ އޮފީހުގެ ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި ދާސިއާގެ އަތައް އަރާނެ ދުވަހަކަށް ދާސިއާ އިންތިޒާރު ކުރެއެވެ. އެއީ ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް އަމިއްލަމީހުން މަސައްކަތްކޮށް އޮފީސް ހަދައިގެން އުޅޭކަން އެނގޭތީއެވެ. ބޭނުމަކީ އެފަދަ ދުވަސްވަރެއްގައި ދަދުވަރާ ކައިވެނި ކުރާ ވާހަކަ ތަންކޮޅެއް ބޮޑައް ދެއްކުމެވެ. އެންމެފަހުން އަބީރާހުގެ އުނދަގޫތައް ހަނދާން ނައްތާލާފައި އެރަށު އާންމު ފަރުދަކު ހިންގާ އޮފީހަކަށް ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާއަށް ދާން ފަށައިފިއެވެ. ****** ދުވަސްތައް މާޒީގެތެރެއަށް ގުނެމުން ދެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ އެ ޖިންނިއާ ދިމާނުވާތާ ދުވަސްތަކެއް ވެއެޖެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ކަންބޮޑުވީ އަނެއްކާވެސް ޖިންނި އައިސްފިނަމަ ދައްކާނެ ވާހަކަތަކެއް ނޭންގޭތީއެވެ. "އަހަރެން ވަރަށް ކަންބޮޑުވޭ މާގިނައިން ޖިންނި މިގެއަށް އަންނާތީ. އަހަރެންނަށް ރަގަޅީ ޖިންނީ، ޖިންނީގެ ގޭގައި މަޑުކުރިއްޔާ." ދާސިއާ އެއްރެއެއްގެ ދަނަވަރު ވަގުތެއްގައި ޖިންނިއާ ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. ****** ލަތީފާގެ ކިޑުނީގެ ބައްޔަށް ބޭސްކުރަން ފެށިއްޖެއެވެ. ލަތީފުއަށް އެބަލީގައި ޙާސްކަން އެކުލެވިގެން ވާތީ ލަތީފާ ރަސްގެތީމު އޮފީހު ފޯނުން ލަތީފުއާ ގުޅިއެވެ. އޭރު ލަތީފު ހުރީ މާލޭގައެވެ. ލަތީފުގެ ބައްޕަގެ ފިހާރައެއް މާލޭގައި ހުންނާތީ އެ ފިހާރައަށް ކާށި، ބަރަބޯ، ކަރާ ފަދަ ތަކެތި ހިފައިގެން ގޮހެވެ. ލަތީފުގެ މައިންބަފައިންގެ ދަރިން ގިނަކަމުން ލަތީފަކީ އެ އާއިލާގެ ދަށު ދަރަޖައީގެ މީހެކެވެ. އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް ލަތީފުއާ ލަތީފާ ގޫޅިއިރު ލަތީފު، ލަތީފާ ކައިރިއަށް އައިސްފާނެ ކަމަށް ލަތީފާ ނުވިސްނައެވެ. ސަހީމާ ދެން ވިސްނަން ފެށީ ސަހީމާގެ ނިކަމެތި ކަމުގެ ކޮޅުނެތް ކޮޅާ މެދުގައެވެ. ސަހީމާގެ މައިންބަފައިން ސަހީމާ ކިޔެވުމަށް ދައްކަމުން ރަސްގެތީމާށް ފޮނުވާލި ކަމާއި ސާހުމެންގެ އާއިލާއިން ސަހީމާގެ ނިކަމެތި ކަމުން ސާހު، ސަހީމާއާ ގުޅުން ނުބޭއްވުމަށް ތަކުރާރުކޮށް އެ އާއިލާއިން ބުނަމުންދާ ވާހަކަ ސާހު ސަހީމާ ކައިރީ ބުނެފައި ވާތީއެވެ. ސަހީމާ ޤަބޫލުކުރަން ފެށީ ސަހީމާގެ ކިޑުނީ ބައްޔަށް ފަހު އެހެން ބައްޔެއް ސަހީމާގެ ގައީގަ އަށަގަންނާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. އިތުރަށް މި ބަލިތަކުން ސަލާމަތް ވުމަށްޓަކައި ކުރާނެ ކަމެއް ލަތީފާއަށް ވިސްނުމަށް މަޖުބޫރު ވިއެވެ. ނޭންގުމެއްގެ ތެރޭގައި ބަލިމީހެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ގޭގައި މަޑުކޮށްގެން އިނުން ބުއްދިވެރި ނޫންކަމަށް ސަހީމާއަށް ވިސްނުނެވެ. ދެން އަނެއްކާ އެއީ ރަސްގެތީމުއަށް ވާތީއެވެ. މާލެ އާއި ރަސްގެތީމާ އަޅާބަލާއިރު ތަފާތުތަކެއް ހުރީމައެވެ. ކާހިއްކެނޑުމަކީ އާންމުގޮތެއްގައި ސަހީމާއަށް ވާކަމެކެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ސުރަށްޔާ މިކަންކަން ކަމަކަށް ނަހަދަނީ އާންމުކޮށް ބައެއް މީހުން މި ވާހަކަދައްކައި އުޅޭތީއެވެ. ސުރަށްޔާ ފިކުރު ބޮޑުވަނީ ސުރަށްޔާއަށް މީހަކު ނުރުހުންވާ ފަދަ ކަމެއް ކުރެވިފައި ވުމާއި މެދުގައެވެ. ސައިންސުވެރިން ދިރާސާތަކުން ދައްކާ ގޮތައް، ސުރައްޔާގެ ފެންވަރު ދައްކަމުގައި ވިޔަސް، އަނެއް ބަޔަކަށް ސުރަށްޔާގެ ފެންވަރު މަށްޗެވެ. އެއީ ސައިންސުވެރިން ބެލި ބެލުމުގައި މީހަކު ދައްހެން ބަޔަކަށް ހީވާނަމަ އަނެއް ބަޔަކަށް އެ މީހަކު މަތިވެއެވެ. އެއީ ދުނިޔެ ހިނގަނީ ތޮށަލި ދުޅަޔަށްވާ އުސޫލުން، ދައްވުމަކަށް ފަހު މަތިވުމެއް އަންނަ އުސޫލަށެވެ. ސުރަށްޔާ ކިޑުނީ އޮޕަރޭސަން ކުރަން މާލެދާ ވާހަކަ ބުނުމުން ރަސްގެތީމު ސުރަށްޔާ ހުންނަ ގޭގެ ވެރިމީހާ ކަމުގައިވާ ސާހިދާ ހެދީ އަޑު ނުއިވޭ ކަމަށެވެ. އަދި މިވަރުން ނިންމާނުލައި ދެން އާނިޔަތައް އެގޭގައި ދެން މާލެ އިން ރަސްގެތީމަށް އަޔުމަށް ފަހު ނުހުރެވޭނެ ވާހަކަ ބުންޏެވެ. މިކަމާ އާނިޔަތު އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް އަޅާނުލާ ހުރުމުން އާސިޔަތު، އާނިޔަތު ގަޔަށް އިތުރަށް ޖެސުން ކުރުމުގެ ގޮތުން ކާންއިން ބަތްތަށި ޖެހިއެވެ. މިކަމުގެ ސަބަބުން އާނިޔަތު ޖެހިގެން އަންނަ ދުވަހުގެ ރޭގައި ރަސްގެތީމު އަލިމަސް ދޯނިން ފުރަން ހަމަޖެހިފައި އޮށްވާ ނުފުރޭގޮތައް ހަމަޖައްސަން ޖެހުނެވެ. އެއީ އާނިޔަތުގެ ވާހަކަ އަލިމަސް ދޯނީ ނެވި މުއާޒު ކައިރީ އާސިޔަތު ދެއްކުމުގެ ސަބަބުން، އާސިޔަތުގެ ބަހަށް މުއާޒު ބާރުދޭން ބޭނުން ވުމުގެ ސަބަބުންނެވެ. ލަތީފާ މިވާހަކަތައް ލަތީފުއަށް ގުޅައިގެން ރަސްގެތީމު އޮފީހަށް ގޮސް ފޯނުން ދެއްކުމަށް ހިތައްއެރިއެވެ. ލަތީފާ އޮފީހައް ދިއުމުގެ ކުރިން އިތުރަށް ސުރަށްޔާގެ ކަންތައްތައް މިހުންނަ ގޮތާއިމެދު ލަތީފާ ހުންނަ މަތަރަސްމާގޭ ކައރީ ހުންނަ ސަހަރާއެއްގެ ފާރުމަތީ އަތް ބާއްވާލައިގެން އެވާހަކަތަކާއި މެދު ވިސްނަން ހުއްޓެވެ. ދެފަހަރެއްގެ މަތިން ލަތީފާ، ލަތީފުއަށް ގުޅަށް އޮފީހައް ދިއުމުގެ ކުރިން އަނބުރާލާފައި މަތަރަސްމާ ގެއާ ދިމާލައް އައެވެ. ސަބަބަކަށް ވަނީ ލަތީފާ، ލަތީފު ކައިރީ އެވާހަކަތައް ދެއްކުމަށް ޖެހިލުން ވުމެވެ. އަބަދު ލަތީފު ކައރީ އެފަދަ ވާހަކަތައް ދައްކާނަމަ ލަތީފާއަށް ލަތީފުދޭ ސަމާލުކަން ކުޑަވެދާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. ލަތީފާ އެންމެފަހުން ކެތްނުކުރެވިގެން ރަސްގެތީމު އޮފީހަށް ގޮސް ލޮމުރަތުއާ ގުޅިއެވެ. ގާތްގަނޑަކަށް އޭރު ގަޑިން މެންދުރުން އަނބުރައި 3 ޖަހާފާނެއެވެ. އޭރު ލަތީފާ، ލޮމުރަތުއަށް ވެދާނެ އުނދަގުލަކަށް އަދި ފަހުން އެ ގުޅުމަށް ވެދާނެ ގޮތެއް ހަނދާނެއް ނެތެވެ. ފޯނުން ލަތީފާ، ލޮމުރަތުއާ ގުޅުމުން ލަތީފާގެ ހިތުގައިވާ ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ޔަޤީންކަމަށް ހިތްވަރު ލިބުނެވެ. އާދައިގެމަތިން ކަންތައްތައް ގެންދިއުމަށް ލަތީފާގެ ހަށިގަނޑައް ބާރު ލިބޭގޮތް ވިއެވެ. ލޯބީގެ ގުޅުމަކީ މިފަދަ ގާތްކަމެއް އެކުލެވިގެންވާ ގުޅުމެއް ކަން ޤަބޫލުކުރެވުނެވެ. އިތުރަށް އާނިޔަތުގެ ކަންތައްތަކާއި ލަތީފު ވިސްނަން މަޖުބޫރު ވިއެވެ. ****** ދުވަސްކޮޅެއް ފަހުން މާލެއިން ކިޑުނީ ބައްޔަށް ފަރުވާ ކުރުމަށްފަހު އަޔުމުން، ރަސްގެތީމުން ލަތީފާއާ ފުރަތަމަވެސް ދިމާވީ ކުރީ އެ ރަށަށް ލަތީފާ އައިތަނާ ދިމާވި ހަސަނާއެވެ. "ލަތީފާ ކިހިނެއްތް؟ ހާދަ ނުވަގުތެއްގަ." ލަތީފާއާ ސަލާމްކޮށްލަމުން ހަސަނު ބުނެލިއެވެ. އޭރު ހަސަނު ހުރީ އެރަށު ދުއވާ ކާރަކަށް ފޯނުން ގުޅައިގެން ތަނަކަށް ދިއުމުގެ މަގުމަތީގައެވެ. "އަހަރެން މިދަނީ މިތާ މިހެރެ ފިލްމުދައްކާ ތަނަށް ފިލުމެއް ބަލާލަން." ހަސަނު، ލަތީފާގެ މޫނަށް ބަލާލިއެވެ. ****** "މިހާރު ރޭގަނޑު ގަޑިން އެއޮށް 8 ޖަހަނީ. އަހަރެން މާކަ ގިނައިރެއް ނުވެ މިބުރު ނިންމާލާފާ ގެއަށް ވަންނާނަން." ލަތީފާ، ހަސަނަށް ފުން ނަޒަރަކުން ބަލާލީ ހަސަނަކީ ލަތީފުގެ އެރަށުގެ ޙާއްސަ ރަޙުމަތްތެރިއަކަށް ވާތީއެވެ. ލަތީފާއަށް ރަސްގެތީމަކީ ހިތްފަސޭހަ ރަށަކަށް ވާތީ ހަސަނަށް ލަތީފާގެ ފަރާތުން ޙާއްސަ ގަދަރެއް އޮވެއެވެ. އެއީ ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ލަތީފާ އުޅޭއިރު ލަތީފާ ދެކެ ލަތީފާގެ މަންމަ ކުލްސުމްއާއި ރަސްގެތީމު ލަތީފާ ހުންނަ ގޭގެ ޒާހިރާ ކިތައްމެ ރުޅިއެރިޔަސް، ލަތީފާގެ މަންމަ ބުނެގެން އެރަށަށް އައިސް އުޅުނަސް، ރަގަޅު ރޭވުމަކަށް ތަންދޭގޮތައް ހަސަނުމެން ފަދަ މީހެއްގެ ހެޔޮ ބަހަކާއެކު ފައިހަމަ ކޮށްލައިގެން، އެރަށުގައި އުޅުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ****** ލަތީފުއާއި ލަތީފު އެންމެފަހުން ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ބައްދަލިވި ފަހަރު ލަތީފު ވަނީ ލަތީފާއަށް ހަސަނު ތައަރަފު ކޮށްދީފައެވެ. މި ދުވަހު ލަތީފާގެ މޫނުމަތިން އެއްވެސް އޮމާންކަމެއް ނުފެނި އޮވެފައި ލަތީފު ވާހަކަދައްކާލުމުން ލަތީފާގެ ހިތުގައި ދުނިޔޭގައި އުޅުމުގެ ވިންދު އާވެގެން ދިޔައެވެ. ހަސަނު، ލަތީފާކުރެން ހާލު އަހުވާލު އޮޅުންފިލުވައި ހަދާލިއެވެ. އެއީ އެއްވެސް ހާލެއްގައި ލަތީފާ، ހަސަނަށް ހިތްކިޔާތީއެއް ނޫނެވެ. މިދުވަހު ވާރޭ ވެހެން ފެށުމުން ލަތީފާއަށް ހީވީ ލަތީފާގެ ދިރިއުޅުމުގައި ކުރިލައި ހެދެން ފެށިހެންނެވެ. އިތުރަށް ބަހެއް ނުބުނެ ލަތީފުއަށް ބަލަހަށްޓައިގެން ހުރެވުނެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މިދުވަހު ލަތީފުއާ އެކު ގިނަ ވަގތުތައް ލަތީފާ ހޭދަކޮށްފައި ލަތީފާ އެރަށު ހުންނަ ގެޔަށް ދިޔައީ ދަންވަރު ވަގުތެއްގައެވެ. ލަތީފާގެ ހިތުގައި ލަތީފާއަށް ޔަޤީންކަން އޮންނަންޏާ ލަތީފާއަށް ލަތީފާގެ މުސްތަގުބަލުގެ ރޭވުމުގެ ތަޅުދަނޑި ނުގެއްލޭނެ ކަން އެނގެއެވެ. ޖެހިގެން އައި ދުވަހު ލަތީފާއާއި ލަތީފު ބައްދަލުވިއެވެ. ލަތިފާގެ އަތުކުރީގައި މިދުވަހު ލަތީފު ރަންކުލައީގެ ގަޑިއެއް އަޅައިދިނެވެ. ލަތީފާއަކީ ދެރަ ނިކަމެއްޗެއް ކަމުގައި ވިޔަސް ލަތީފުގެ ހިތުގައި ލަތީފާއަށް އޮންނަ ގަދަރު މި ގަޑިން ލަތީފާއަށް ލަތީފު އަންގައިދޭން ބޭނުންވެއެވެ. ލަތީފާއަކީ އާމްމުކޮށް އަވިއައިނު އަޅާ އުޅޭ ކުއްޖަކަށް ވާތީ އިތުރު ހަދިޔާއެއްގެ ގޮތުން ލަތީފާއަށް ލަތީފު ހަދިޔާއެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ރީތި އަވި އައިނެއްވެސް މިދުވަހު ދިނެވެ. ލަތީފާގެ އޮމާން ފަން އިސްތަށިގަނޑު މިދުވަހުގައި ލަތީފުގެ އަތުން ރީތިކޮށްލަމުން ލަތީފާގެ ދެ ލޮލުގައި މި އަވި އައިނު ލަތީފު އަޅާދިނުމުން ލަތީފާ ވައްތަރުވީ މަސްހޫރު ފިލްމިސްޓާޜަކާއެވެ. ލަތީފާ ގެއަށް ދާން މިދުވަހު އުޅެން ފެށުމުން ލަތީފު އެތަނުގައި އަދި އެހަށް މަޑުކޮށްލިއެވެ. މިދުވަހު ލަތީފާ، ލަތީފު ކައިރިއަށް އައިސް އުޅުނީ ލަތީފާ ހުންނަ ގޭގެ ކުއްޖެއްގެ ސައިކަލުގައި ކަމަށް ވާތީ، ގެއަށް ދިއުމަށްޓަކާ ސައިކަލު ދުއްވާލާފަ ވެސް ލަތީފު ކައިރިން ދުރަށް ދާހިންނުވާތީ ލަތީފާ އަނބުރާލާފާ އައިސް ސައިކަލުގައި ލަތީފު ކައިރީ މަޑުކޮށްލިއެވެ. އަދި ކޫރީގައި ލަތީފާ ސައިކަލު ބަހަށްޓާފައި ހުރި ތަން ނޫން އެހެން ތަނެއްގައި ސައިކަލު ބަހަށްޓާފައި ސައިކަލުން ފައިބާ ލަތީފު ކައިރިއަށް ލަތީފާ އައެވެ. މިވަގުތު ލަތީފު ކޮނޑުގައި އޮތް ދަބަސް ނެގުމަށް ފަހު އެ ދަބަސް ހުޅުވާލާފައި އެ ދަބަހުން ނަގައި ލަތީދފާއަށް ރީތި ބޯ ވާހަކަ ފޮތެއް ދިއްކޮށްލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެން ހީނުކުރަން ލަތީފު އަހަރެންނަށް ވާހަކަ ފޮތެއް ގެންނާނެ ކަމަށް. އަހަރެންނަށް ހީވަނީ މިފޮތުގެ އަގު 500 ރުފިޔާއަށް ވުރެ ބޮޑުވާނެހެން. މި ބޭރުގަނޑުން ހާމަކޮށްދެނީ ބިރުވެރި ވާހަކައެއްކަން. މި ބޭރު ގަނޑުން ފެންނަ 3 މަހާނަ މީގެތެރެއިން ރެއެއްގައި ހުވަފެނުން ފެނިދާނެ ކަހަލަ. މިވާހަކައިން އަހަރެންގެ ހިޔާލުތަކަށް ޒަލްޒަލާއެއް ގެނެސް ދުނިޔޭގައި އުޅުމުގެ ހިތްވަރު އާވެގެން ދާނެ. މިފޮތް ކިޔުމުގައި އެއްވެސް ކަމެއް ސަކަރާތަކަށް ނަހަދާ ފޮތް 1 ދުވަހުން ކިޔައި ނިންމާލެވޭނެ. އަހަރެންގެ އުންމީދުތަކުގައި މިފަދަ ފޮތަކުން ރަގަޅު ކުލައަކުން މާނަ ފުން ގޮތަކަށް ފަވާލެވޭނެ. އަހަރެންގެ ކުރިމަގުގެ ކުރިބޯށި ފަސޭހަ ކަމާއިއެކު ޙާސިލު ކުރެވޭނެ. އަހަރެންނަށް ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ޖާދޫތައް ކެތްތެރި ކަމާއިއެކު ދަސްވެގެންދާނެ. އެންމެ ސިކުންތެއް ވެސް ހިންހަމަނުޖެހި ހުންނާކަށް ނުޖެހޭނެ." ލަތީފާ މަޑު ހިނިތުންވުމެއް ލަތީފުއަށް ހިނިތުން ވެލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެން ހީކުރީ އަހަރެންގެ ދަބަހުގައި ލަތީފާއަށް ދޭން އިތުރު ވާހަކަފޮތެއް އޮންނާނެ ކަމަށް. އެކަމަކު އިތުރު ފޮތެއް މި ދަބަހުގައި ނެތް." ލަތީފު، ލަތީފާގެ މޫނަށް ބަލާލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް ހީވަނީ އަހަރެން ދެން ގެޔަށް އޮށޯވެލަން ދާންވީހެން. ހީވަނީ މިހާރު އެނދު ފެންނަހެން. ބައެއްފަހަރު ގޭގެ ދޮރުން ވަނުމުގެ ބަދަލުގައި އަވަސްކުރަން ހަދައިގެން ގޭގެ ފާރުމަތިން އެރިދާނޭ ވެސް ހިތައްއަރާ. މިކަހަލަ ވަގުތެއްގައި އިތުރު ބަހަނާއެއް ދައްކާކަށް ބޭނުމެއް ނުވޭ. ބައެއް ފަހަރު ހިތައްއަރާ އަދި މަޑުކޮށްލަންވީއޭ، ގެއަށް ދިއުމަށްވުރެ މިތާ ލަތީފު ކައިރީ މަޑުކުރިއްޔާ އަހަރެންގެ ކުރިމަގު އުޖާލާ ވާނޭ." ލަތީފާ ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް ވާޅަކަށް ދެމިލިއެވެ. "ތީ ރަގަޅު ހިޔާލެއް. ތިހާވަރުގައި ލަތީފާގެ ހިޔާލުތައް ހުރިއްޔާ މިހާރު ގޭގެ ދޮރުފަތުގެ ތަޅުފަތްގަނޑުގައި ހިފިފައި ތިހިރީ. ދެން އިތުރު މީހަކަށް ލަތީފާ ނުވަންނަނިސް ނުވަދެވޭނެ ކަހަލަ." ލަތީފު، ލަތީފާގެ ވާހަކަ ރަގަޅަށް އަޑުއަހާލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެން ދިއުމުން އިތުރު ޝަކުވާއެއް ފަހުން ނާންނެކަމަށް ހީކުރަން." ލަތީފާ ދާން ހިނގައިގަތުމުގެ ކުރިން ހަމަޖެހުމުގެ ނޭވައެއް ލިއެވެ. "މިވަގުތައް އެންމެރަގަޅު. ދެން އަނެއްކާ މިވަގުތު މިރަށު މިއުޅެނީ ކުޑަކަމެއް ކޮށްލަންވެގެން. އެއީ ބައްޕަ ދެންމެ ގުޅާފާ ބުނެގެން މިރަށުން ސައިހޮޓަލެއް ކުއްޔަށް ނަގަންވެގެން. އެގްރީމެންޓް މިހަދަނީ 5 އަހަރަށް. އަހަރެމެންގެ މިކަމުގެ ތަޖުރިބާއާ އެކު ހީވަނީ 100 ޕަސެންޓްކޮށް ބަރާބަރަށް އެ ހޮޓާ ހިންގުމުގައި 5 އަހަރު ފުރިހަމަ ކުރެވޭނެހެން. އަހަރެމެން ކަންތައް ކުރާނީ ތަނުގެ މުވައްޒަފުންނަށާ ހަދާ ކާތަކެތީގެ ރަހައަށް ޙާއްސަ ސަމާލުކަމެއް ދީގެން. ދެރަކަމަކީ ހޮޓާ ފަށާތަނުން މިރަށު ބަޔަކު މި މަސައްކަތައް ލަންޑެއް ދީފާނެތީ." ލޮމުރަތު ބޭނުންވީ އެ ރަށުގައި ހޮޓާ ހިންގަން ފެށެންދެން މަޑުކުރާ ވާހަކަ ލާތީފާ ކައިރީ ބުނެލުމަށެވެ. "ކީތްވެ މިރަށު މީހުން ލަނޑެއް ދީފާނޭ ތިބުނީ......." ލަތީފާ އަހާލިއެވެ. "އެހެން މިބުނީ މިތާ ކައިރީ ރަށެއްގައި މިފަދަ ހޮޓަލެއް ހިންގަން ފެށިތަނާ އެރަށު ބަޔަކުގެ ނުފޫޒުގައި އެ ހޮޓާ ހުއްޓާލަން ޖެހުނީމާ." ލޮމުރަތު ރަސްގެތީމުގެ އަތިރިމަށްޗާ ދިމާލަށް ބަލާލިއެވެ. އޭރު ލޮމުރަތުގެ އެހެން ރަޙުމަތްތެރިއެއް ލޮމުރަތާ ދިމާލަށް ލޮމުރަތާ ވާހަކަދައްކާލަން ހިނގާފައި އާދެއެވެ. "އަހަރެން އިތުރަށް ތިވާހަކަ ދައްކާލަން ބޭނުން. އެއީ މިރަށުގައި ހުންނައިރު، އަހަރެންނަކީ ދެރަ ނިކަމެއްޗަކަށް ވާތީ، އެ ހިޓާ ހިންގާއިރު އެ ހޮޓަލުގެ މުވައްޒަފުންނާ މިހެން އައިސް ވާހަކަދައްކާލުމުން ހިންހަމަޖެހުން ލިބޭނެތީ." ލަތީފާ ބޭނުންވީ ލޮމުރަތާއެކު އެތާ ކައިރީގައި ހުރި ކުޑަ މާރޓަކަށް އެއްޗެއް ބޮއެލަން ވަދެލުމަށެވެ. "ކޮންއެއްޗެއް ބޭނުންވަނީ......" އެ މާރޓްގެ ސޭޓް ސުވާލުކުރިއެވެ. އޭރު އެ މާރޓްގެ ސޭޓް އެ ފިހާރައީގެ ކައުންޓަރ މަތީގައިވާ ކޮންޕިއުޓަރަކުން އަމީތާބުގެ ކުރީގެ ފިލުމެއް ބަލަމުން ގެންދިޔައެވެ. "އަދި އެހަށް ބޭނުންވަނީ އަތް ދޮވެލަން. މިތާ ކައީރީ ހުރި ހޮޓާ ބަންދުކޮށްފައި ހުރީމަ މިއައީ، މިތަނުން ފެންފުޅިއެއް ގަނެގެން އަތް ދޮވެލަންވެގްން." ލަތީފާ، ލޮމުރަތައް ބަލާލަމުން ބުނެލިއެވެ. އެއީ ލަތީފާއާއި ލޮމުރަތު އޮރެންޖު ކައިފާ އަތުން ވަސްދުވާތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާ އިތުރަށް މިވަގުތު ހިތުގައި ރާވާލީ ދަދުވަރާއެކު މިފަދަ އޮރެންޖް ކާ ކިތައްމެ ދުވަހެއް އަންނާނެ ކަމެވެ. ލަތީފާ ހީކުރަނީ، އޮމާންކޮށް ދުނިޔޭގެ ޖައްވު ދައްކަންޏާ އެމީހުން ހަޔާތް ވެސް އޮމާންކޮށް ދައްކާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. ހަޔާތައް ދިމާވާ މުސީބާތްތަކަކީ އެމީހަކު ކުރިޔާލައި ފިޔަވަޅު އަޅައިފި ނަމަ ދިމާނުވާނެ މުސީބާތްތަކެއް ކަމަށެވެ. ލަތީފާ ކުޑައިރުކޮޅަކު ލޮމުރަތުމެން ހިފާފައިވާ ހޮޓާ ކައިރީގައި މަޑުކޮށްލާނަމޭ ހިތާ މަޑުކޮށްލިއެވެ. އެވަގުތު އެތަނަށް ލޮމުރަތުގެ އިތުރު ދެ ރަހުމަތްތެރިން އައިސް ލޮމުރަތުއާ ވާހަކަދައްކަން ފެށިއެވެ. މިމީހުން ވާހަކަދެއްކީ ރަސްގެތީމުގެ އާންމު ތަރަށްގީއާ ބެހޭގޮތުންނެވެ. ދާސިއާ، ލޮމުރަތުމެން ދައްކާވާހަކަ އަޑުއަހާފައި، ވާހަކަދައްކަން އެތާގައި ހުޢްޓެވެ. މިވަގުތު ދާސިއާގެ މޫނުމަތިން ދާސިއާ ގެއަށް ދާން ބޭނުންވެފަ ހުރިހެން ހީވާތީ، ރަސްގެތީމު ސަހަރާ މަގުންލާފައި ގެއަށް ދިމުމަށް ލޮމުރަތު، ދާސިއާ ކައިރީ ބުންޏެވެ. މިދުވަސްވަރަކީ ރިޔާސީ އިންތިހާބައް ވޯޓްލާން ކައިރިވަމުން އައި ދުވަސްވަރެކެވެ. އެހެންވެ ދާސިއާ ވިސްނަމުން އައީ އެކަންކަމާމެދުގައެވެ. ދާސިއާ ގެއަށް ދާން ފުރަތަމަ ފިޔަވަޅު އެޅުމާއިއެކު ލޮމުރަތު، ދާސިއާގެ އަތުގައި ހިފަހަށްޓާލަމުން ބުނީ، ދާސިއާ ކޮށްމެވެސް ކަމަކާ ވިސްނާ ވާހަކައެވެ. އަދި އެރަށަށް އަންނަން އެ އުޅޭ މިނިޓަރު އަންނަންދެން އެތަނުގައި މަޑުކޮށްލާ ވާހަކަ ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާ ކައިރީ ބުނެލިއެވެ. އޮމާންކޮށް ބޯ އޮމާން ނުކޮށްލައި ހުއްޓައި އެހާ ގިނަބަޔަކަށް ފެނުނީތީ ދާސިއާ ލަދުގަތެވެ. މައިންބަފައިން ހެޔޮ އެދުން ނުލިބޭ ކުއްޖެއްކަން އެތާ ތިބި ބައެއް މީހުންނަށް އެނގިދާނެތީއެވެ. އެފަދަ މީހުންގެ އިހާނެތި ބަސްތަކުގެ ސިކާރައަކަށް ވެވިދާނެތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާ އަތްބެލި މީހެއް ބުނި ފަދައިން ދާސިއާގެ ނަސީބު ލިބުމުގެ ކުރިން ހިތާމަވެރި ކަންތައްތަކެއް ދިމާވެދާނެ ކަން ޤަބޫލުކުރެވުނެވެ. ދާސިއާ ލޮލުގެ ކަރުނަ ހިފަހަށްޓަލީ އެއްވެފައި ތިބި މީހުންނަށް ބަލާލަމުން ފަހަރެއްގައި އެތަނުގައި ދާރިނާގެ ފިރިމީހާ ދަމީރު ހުރެފާނެތީއެވެ. އޭނާ ދާސިއާގެ ވާހަކަތައް އެތަނުގައި ތިބި މީހުންކައިރީ ބޮޑުކޮށްގެން ދައްކާފަނެތީއެވެ. އިތުރު ބަޔަކަށް ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރު އެއްކޮށް އުޅޭ މަންޒަރު ފެނިއްޖެ ނަމަ، ދޭތެރެއަކުން ދާސިއާ އުޅޭ ގޭގެ ކަންތައް ގޯސްވެ ދާސިއާ ރަސްގެތީމު ސިއްޙީމަރުކަޒުގައި އެޑުމިޓްވާން ޖެހިދާނެތީއެވެ. އިތުރަށް އެއްވެފައި ތިބި މީހުންގެ މަންޒަރު ބާލާން ދާސިއާއަށް ކެތްނުކުރެވޭނެ ކަހަލައެވެ. މުސްތަގުބަލުގެ ދުރުމި އަޅާއިރު ތާކުންތާކު ނުޖެހޭ ވިސްނުންތަކެއް ވިސްނަން ޖެހިދާނެތީއެވެ. އަމާންކަމަކީ ކޮށްމެ އިންސާނަކަށް ވެސް ބޭނުންވާ ކަމަކަށް ވާއިރު، ކެޔުން ބޮޔުން ފަދައިން އަމިއްލަ ހަށިގަނޑުގެ ރަށްކަލަށް ބޭނުންވާނެތީއެވެ. "ދެން އަނެއްކާ އެތަނުގައި އެއޮތީ މީހުންތައް އެއްވެފަ......" ދަދުވަރު އެއްވެފައި ތިބި މީހުންނާ ދިމާލަށް ބަލާލިއެވެ. އެކަމުން އެއްބައިވަންތަ ކަން ދޭހާވާކަން ދަދުވަރުގެ ބަލާލުމުން އެނގެއެވެ. އޮފީހުން ރާވާ ގޮތްތަކަށް ރަސްގެތީމު ރަށްޔިތުން ބޯލަނބާ ކަން ވެސް މި އެއްވުމުން ހާމަވެއެވެ. "ދެންމެ މިތަނަށް ލޮމުރަތާ އެކު އައިއިރު ކޮށްމެވެސް މީހަކު އަހަރެންނަށް އޮފީސް ކައިރިން ގޮވާހެން ހީވި. އެހެންވެ އެކަމާ މިވިސްނަނީ. އަހަރެންގެ ހިތައް މިއަރަނީ އަނެއްކާ އަހަރެން ގެޔަށް ދާތަނުން އެމީހާ ކުލްސުމް ކައިރީ މިމަންޒަރު ފެނުނު ވާހަކަ ބުނެފައި ވާނަމަ، ގެއަށް ދާތަނުން ފޮށިހިފައިގެން ނުކުންނަން ޖެހިދާނެ ބާވައޭ!" ދާސިއާގެ ދެ ލޮލުން ކަރުނަ ހިލިގަތެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް ހީނުވޭ މިކަންތައް އެހާ ބޮޑު ކަމަކަށް ވާނެހެން. މިކަމުގެ ނަތީޖާ މާ ގޯސްވަންޏާ މިރަށުން އެހެން ގެއެއް ހޯދާ. އަހަރެން ދާސިއާއަށް މިރަށުން ހުންނާނެ ގެއެއް ހޯދާދިނިންޔާ މީހުން ހީކުރާނީ އަހަރެމެންގެ ލޯބީގެ ކުޅިގަނޑު މާ މަށްޗަށް ދިޔައިއްޔޭ." ދަދުވަރު ހަމަޖެހުމުގެ ނޭވައެއް ލިއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަކީ ހިތްގައިމު ދޮންކުލައެއް ލިބިފައިވާ ކުއްޖަކަށް ވާއިރު ދަދުވަރަކީ ވެސް ހަމަ އެފެންވަރުގެ ހިތްގައިމު ދޮން ކުލައެއް ލިބިފައިވާ ކުއްޖެކެވެ. ދާސިއާ މޫނުގެ އޮމާންކަމާއި އެއްވަރަށް އަތްފައިގެ އޮމާންކަން ވެސް ފުރިހަމައެވެ. މަޑު ވައިރޯޅި ޖެހޭ ދުވަސްތަކުގައި ދާސިއާގެ އޮމާން ކުރުކޮށް ކޮށާލާފައިވާ އިސްތަށިގަނޑު ވިހުރިވެލާއިރު ދުނިޔޭގެ ޖައްވައް އަމާންކަން ގެނެސްދެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ލަތީފާގެ މަންމަ އާއި ބައްޕައަކީ ހިތްގައިމު ކަޅު ކުލައެއް ލިބިފައިވާ ދެމީހުންނެވެ. ހަމަ މިމޭރުމުން ލަތީފުގެ މަންމަ އާއި ބައްޕައަކީ ވެސް ހިތްގައި ކަޅުކުލައެއް ލިބިފައިވާ ދެމީހުންނެވެ. ދުނިޔޭގައި އުޅޭއިރު ދުނީޔޭގެ ދުވަސްތަކުގައި ކުލަޖެއްސުމުގައި މީހާ ހުންނަ ކުލައެއް މުހިންމެއް ނޫނެވެ. "ދަދުވަރަށް ފޯނެއް އައި ވާހަކަ ދެންމެ މީހެއް ބުނިހެން ހީވަނީ......" އެ އަޑު ދަދުވަރަށް ނީވޭހެން ހީވާތީ ރަސްގެތީމު އޮފީހު ޕިޔޯނު ބުނި ވާހަކަ ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރު ކައިރީ ބުނެލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް އެނގިއްޖެ. އެ ގުޅަނީ އަހަރެން ބަލާއަންނަ ޔާގޫތު 2 ދޯނީ ނެވިމީހާ. އެ ދޯނި އެ އޮތީ ފަރެސް މާތޮޑާގަ. އެއީ އާންމުގޮތެއްގައި މަސްފަދަ ތަކެތި ހިފައިގެން ރާއްޖޭގެ އެކި ރަށްރަށަށް ދަތުރުކުރާ ދޯންޏެއް." ދަދުވަރު ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް ދާސިއާއަށް ދަދުވަރު ކުރިއަށް ކުރަން އޮތް ދަތުރު ތަފުސީލުކޮށްލަ ދިނެވެ. "އަހަރެމެން އެފަހަރު ވަން މާރޓުން ގަތް ދެ ފުޅި މިއޮތީ މީގެއިން ފުޅިއެއް ދަދުވަރު ބޭނުންވާނެ ކަމަށް މިދިއްކުރަނީ. އޭރުން އަހަރެން މިތަނުގައި ހުރުމަށް އިތުރު ހިތްވަރެއް ލިބޭނެ." ދާސިއާ މިހެން ބުނިއިރު ދަދުވަރުގެ އަނެއް ތިން އެކުވެރިން އެތަނުން ގޮސްފިއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ހުރީ އެމީހުން ދިއުމުން ދަދުވަރަށް ފުޅި ދިއްކޮށްލާނެ ވަގުތަކަށް ބަލާލަ ބަލާލައެވެ. އިތުރު އެއްވެސް ވާހަކައެއް ދަދުވަރުއާ އެއަށް ފަހު ދެއްކުމަށް ނިންމައިގެން ހުރެއެވެ. "ވަރަށްބޮޑަށް ޝުކުރިއްޔާ." ދަދަދުވަރު ބުނެލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް މިރަށު ދަދުވަރު ހުންނަ ގެ ނޭންގޭ. އެ ގެ އަހަރެންނަށް ދައްކަންވީ ނޫން." ދާސިއާ ހަމަހިމޭން ވެލިއެވެ. "މިއޮތީ ކުރި މަތީގައި މިރަށު ސަހަރާމަގު މި މަގުން ގޮސް ދެ ގޯޅިއެއް އަޅާއިރަށް އެގެ ފެންނާނެ." ދަދުވަރު ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. "އަހަރެން މިހުންނަނީ އަދި ހަނދންނެތިފަ. އެ އަންނަ ދޯނީގެ ނެވިމީހާއާ ފޯނުން ވާހަކަދެއްކުމަށް އޮފީހަށް ދަނީ ކޮންއިރަކުން؟" ދާސިއާ ބޭނުންވީ ދަދދުވަރުގެ މަސައްކަތައް ބުރޫ ނޭރުވުމަށެވެ. "ދާސިއާ ތިހެން ބޫނީމަ ހީވަނީ. އަނެއްކާ އޮފީހުގެ ޕިޔޯނު އައިސްފަ ފޯނެއް އަނެއްކާ އައިވާހަކަ ބުނެދާނެހެން." ދަދުވަރު ނިންމީ އަދި އޮފީހަށް ދޯނީގެ ނެވި މީހާއާ ވާހަކަދައްކާލަން ދިޔުން ގަޑިއިރެއްވަރު މަޑުކޮށްލުމަށެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް ފެނޭ އަހަރެމެންގެ މި ބައްދަލުވުން ނިންމާލުމުގެ ކުރިން ތަނަކަށް ވަދެ އޮރެންޖް ޖުހެއް ބޯލަން." އޮރެންޖް ޖޫހަކީ ދާސިއާއަށް ވަރަށް މީރު ބުޔުމެކެވެ. "އަހަރެން ހީކުރިތަނަށް ތިޔައީ......" ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާގެ ކުރީގައި ހުރެ އައިސް ވަނީ އެރަށު ބޮޑު މަގުގައި ހުރި ރެސްޓޯރެންޓަކަށެވެ. ޖެހިގެން އައިދުވަހު އަނެއްކާ ދާސިއާއި ދަދުވަރު ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ބައްދަލު ކުރިއެވެ. "ކޮށްމެވެސް މޭޒެއް ކައިރީ އިށީންނަމާ ހިނގާ......" ދަދުވަރު ދާސިއާއަށް ބުނެލިއެވެ. "މިއީ ވަރަށް އަރާމު ގޮނޑިއެއް........" ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރުގެ ރުހުމާއިއެކު އެ ރެސްޓޯރެންޓުގެ ގޮނޑިއެއްގައި އިށީދެނލިއެވެ. އޭރު އެ ރަސްޓޯރެންޓު މޭޒުކައިރީ ފައިސާ ދެއްކުމުގައި މީހުންތައް ގިނަވެފައި އޮތެވެ. "ހިނގާ ޗިކަން ފުރައިޑު ރައިސް ކާން..... އަދި ދާސިއާ ކައިރީ ނުބުނެ މިއުޅެނީ..... މިތާ ކައިރީ ރިސޯޓެއްގައި އުޅޭ ރަށްޓިއްސަކު އެ ރިސޯޓައް ކެޔުމަކަށް ދައުވަތު ދީފައި އެބައޮތް. އަހަރެންނަށް ހީނުވޭ އެ ރިސޯޓައް ދާސިއާ ދާނެހެންނެއް. މިވާހަކަ ދެއްކީމާ ދާސިއާގެ މޫނުމަތިން ކޮށްމެވެސް ކަންބޮޑުވުމެއް އެބަފެނޭ. އަހަރެންނަށް ހީވަނީ ގެއަށް ދިޔުމުން ސުރަށްޔާ ކަންތައް ކުރާނެ ގޮތަކާއިމެދު ވިސްނާހެން. އަހަރެންނަށް ހީވަނީ އަހަރެންނާ އެކު އުޅެގެން ނަތީޖާ ގޯސް ނުވާނެހެން." ދަދުވަރަށް ވެސް ނުތަނަވަސް ކަން އިޙުސާސް ކުރެވުނެވެ. "އަހަރެން އެހާ ބޮޑަށް ސުރަށްޔާއާ ދޭތެރޭ ނުވިސްނަން. އޭނައާ ދޭތެރޭގައި މާބޮޑަށް އަހަރެން ވިސްނީމާ އަހަރެން ބަލިވޭ....." ދާސިއާ ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް މި ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި މިތާ ބޭއްވުނީމަ ހީވަނީ، މި ތަޅުފަނޑިފަތި ބާއްވާފަ ދެވިދާނެހެން. އަހަރެންނަށް ރަގަޅީ ދާސިއާ މި ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި ގެންދަން ހަނދާންކޮށްދިނިއްޔާ........" ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާގެ މޫނަށް ބަލާލީ ދާސިއާ ވެސް އެ ތަޅުދަޑިފައްޗަށް ބަލާލުމުން، އެހެން ދުވަހެއްގައި އެ ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި އެ ރެސްޓޯތެންޓްގައި ބާއްވާފައި ދެވިގެން އަނެއްކާ އައިސް، އެ ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި ނަގަންޖެހިފައި އޮތީމައެވެ. ދާސިއާ އައި ދަދުވަރަކީ އެއް އުމުރެއްގެ ދެމީހުންނެވެ. މި ދެ މީހުންގެ އުމުރު 100 އަހަރަށް ދިގުވެދާނެއެވެ. އެހެން މިކަން ވާނަމަ ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރުގެ ގަބުރު ވަރަށް ގިނަ މީހުންނަށް ފެންނާނެއެވެ. އެތައް ބަޔަކު ދާސިއާއި ދަދުވަރަށް ހެޔޮދުއާ ކުރުމަށްޓަކައި އެތައް ގިނަ ރޭވުންތަކެއް ރާވާނެއެވެ. އޮމާން ކަމާއި އަދަބުވެރި ކަމާއި އެކު ދޭތެރެއެއް ވެސް މަޑުޖައްސާ ނުލައެވެ. މިފަދަ އުމުރެއްގައި މި ދެ މީހުންގެ ގަބުރު އެއް ގަބުރަށް ފަހު އަނެއް ގަބުރު ދެ ސަންދޯކަށް ލާނެއެވެ. ކޮށްމެ ގަބުރެއް ވަކިވަކިންނެވެ. އެވަގުތު ދާސިއާ އަދި ދަދުވަރުގެ މޫނުމަތިން އުޖާލާކަން ދުނިޔެއަށް ދައްކާނެއެވެ. މި ދެމީހުންގެ ސަންދޯއް މަތީގައި 100 އަހަރުގެ ބޯޑުތައް ބެހެއްޓިފައި ހުންނާނެއެވެ. ނޫންނަމަ މި ދެމީހުންގެ އުމުރު، 63 އަހަރާއި 76 އަހަރަށް، މީގެ އިތުރަށް ބުނާނަމަ 73 އަހަރާއި 86 އަހަރަށް، ދެމިގެންދާނެއެވެ. މިއީ މި ދެމީހުން ހުވަފެނުން ދެކެމުން އަންނަ ގޮތެވެ. އެކި މީހުންގެ އުމުރުތައް ތަފާތެވެ. އެކިމީހުން ދެކޭގޮތް ވެސް ތަފާތެވެ. ތަފާތު މިޙުންގެ ރޭވުންތައް ވެސް ތަފާތެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރު ގުޅުންތައް ވަނީ ލާމެހި ގުޅިފައެވެ. ކުރަން ހަމަޖެހިފައިވާ ދަތުރުގައި ދާސިއާ ގޮވައިގެން ދިޔުމަށް ދަދުވަރުގެ ހިތައް ކިތައްމެ ފަހަރަކު އަރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާ އުޅޭ ގެއަށް ގޮސް ވަގުތުން ދާސިއާގެ ތަންމަތި ކޮނޑަށްލުމަށް ފަހު ރަސްގެތީމުން ގާޑިޔަލެއް ހޯދައިގެން އެ ތަންމަތި މީހެއްލއްވައި އަތިރިމަށްޗަށް ގެނައުމަށް ދަދުވަރު ބޭނުންވިއެވެ. އެފަދަ ވަގުތެއްގައި، ދޯނީގެ ފަޅުވެރި މިޙަގެ ބަސް ހުންނާނެ ގޮތަކާއިމެދު ދަދުވަރު ވިސްނީ ދާސިއާގެ މޫނުމަތީގެ ކުލަވަރު ފަހަރެއްގައި ބަދަލުވެދާނެތީ ދެރަވެ ހުރެއެވެ. ދަދުވަރުގެ ހިޔާލުގައި އެ ދާން އުޅޭ ދޯނީގައި ހުންނަ ބަނގުލަދޭސް މީހާގެމަތިން ތަފާތު ކުލައެއް ޖެހެންފެށިއެވެ. އޭނާ ދަދުވާރާ އޮންނަ ގާތްކަން ދާސިއާ ބާއްވައި ދާސިއާއަށް ފަދައިން ދަދުވަރަށް އެ ދޯނީގައި އުޅޭ ބަނގުލަދޭސް ކަށްކާލައްވައި މީރު ކާއެއްޗެތި ހަދާދީފާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އެއްވެސް މުސީބާތެއް އެ ދަތުރުގައި ދިމާނުވާނެކަން ދަދުވަރު ފަދައިން ދާސިއާ ހަނދާން ކުރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ނަމަވެސް އޭރު ދާސިއާމެން އެ ދަތުރުގައި ދިއުމަށްޓަކައި ނުފުރައެވެ. ސަބަބަކަށް ވަނީ ދާސިއާ އެ ދަތުރުގައި ގޮސްފާނެ ވާހަކަ ދާރިނާ ގާތުގައި މިހެއް ކުޓުވުމުންނެވެ. ބަނގުލަދޭސް ދެމީހެއް ރަސްގެތީމު ފާލަން މަށްޗަށް ދަދުވަރަން އެރުނު އިރުތާ ކުޑައިރުކޮޅެއް ވީތަނާ ދަދުވަރުގެ ފޮށި އާއި އަތްދަބސް ދޯންޏައް އަރުވައިފިއެވެ. މި ވަގުތު އެ ދެމީހުން ދަދުވަރު ބުނިގޮތައް ކަންތައް ނުކުރާތީ އެ ދެމީހުންނާއި ދަދުވަރާއި ދެމެދުގައި ޒުވާބެއް ހިނގިއެވެ. ދަދުވަރު މި ދަތުރުގައި ދޯނީގައި މަކުނުދޫއަށް ޖެއްސުމަށް ފަހު މާލެ ދިޔައެވެ. ފުރަތަމަވެސް ދަދުވަރު މާލެ ދިޔުމުން ހަނދާންވީ ދާސިއާގެ މަށްޗެވެ. އެހެންވެ މާލޭގެ މަޖީދީމަގުގެ ތަފާތު ފިހާރަތަކަށް ވަނުމަށް ފަހު ދާސިއާއަށް ރީތި 3 ހެދުން ގަނެ ދާސިއާއަށް ފޮނުވުމަށްޓަކައި ޕާރުސަލު ކޮށްލިއެވެ. އަދި ރޭވުންތެރިކަމާއިއެކު ރަގަޅު ލިޔުންކޮޅެއް ކަރުދާސްކޮޅެއްގައި ލިޔުމަށް ފަހު ދާސިއާއަށް ފެންނާނެ ގޮތައް އޭގެ ތެރެއަށް ވައްޓާލިއެވެ. މިދުވަހު ރަސްގެތީމަށް ފުރާ ދޯންޏަކާ އެ ޕާރުސަލު ހަވާލުކުރުމަށް ފަހު ދާސިއާއަށް ހެޔޮދުއާ ކޮށްލުމަށްޓަކައި ނަމާދައް ދަދުވަރު ދިޔައެވެ. އޭރު ދަދުވަރު ދިޔަ މިސްކިތުގައި ވަރަށް ގިނަމީހުން ނަމާދަށް ގޮސްއޮތެވެ. އެ މިސްކިތުން ދަދުވަރާއި ދާސިއާގެ ގާތް ތިމާގެ މިހުން ފެނި، ދަދުވަރު ނަމާދު ނިންމުމަށް ފަހު އެމީހުންނާ ވާހަކަދައްކައި ހެދިއެވެ. "އަހަރެމެން ސަފާރީ ދޯންޏެއް ބަންނަން މިއުޅެނީ، އެކަމަކު އަހަރެމެން މި ސަފާރީ ދޯނި ވިއްކާ ނުލައި ދެން ބަންނަ ސާފާރީ ދޯނި ވިއްކާލަން ގަސްދުމިކުރަނީ........." މާލޭގެ ބަނދަރުން ދަދުވަރާ، ދަދުވަރުއާ އެއްކޮށް ކިޔެވި ރަޙުމަތްތެރިއަކާ ދިމާވިއެވެ. "ތިވާހަކަ ދައްކާލަން ސައެއް ބޯލަން ހޮޓަލަކަށް ވަންނަންވީނު....." ދަދުވަރު ބުންޏެވެ. "ކޮންކަމެއްގައި އަތިރިމަށްޗަށް އައިސް ތިއުޅެނީ......" ދަދުވަރުގެ ރަހުމަތްތެރިޔާ ނަސީރު ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. "މި އުޅެނީ އިންނަން އުޅޭ ކުއްޖާއަށް ހަދިޔާއެއް ރަސްގެތީމަށް ފޮނުވާލަން..........." ދަދުވަރު ހިނިތުންވެލިއެވެ. ދަދުވަރަށް އެ ވަން ހޮޓަލުގެ ހެދިކާ ވަރަށް މީރުވިއެވެ. އަދި ދަދުވަރު ދެތިން ހެދިކާއެއް އެ ހޮޓަލުން ނަސީރާއެކު ކެޔުމަށް ފަހު އެ ހޮޓަލުގައި ކަށްކާފައިވާ ޙާއްސަ ބަތެއް ނަސީރާއިއެކު ކައިހެދިއެވެ. ނަސީރު އެ ބަތައް ދަދުވަރު ފަދައިން ތައުރީފު ކުރިއެވެ. މި ކެޔުމުގެ ތޭރޭގައި ދަދުވަރާއި ނަސީރު ހަމަޖެއްސީ ދަދުވަރާއި ދާސިއާގެ ކައިވެންޏައް ފަހު ދާސިއާ ބޭނުން ނަމަ ސިރީލަންކާއަށް ގޮސްލުމަށެވެ. އަދި އެ ދަތުރު ނިންމުމަށް ފަހު ސަފާރީ ދޯނި ބަނދެ ނިމިފައިވާނަމަ އެ ދޯނި ބަލާލަން އަލިފުއްޓަށް ދިއުމަށެވެ. ދާސިއާއި ދަދުވަރު މާލޭގައި އެއްދުވަހެއްގައި ދަދުވަރު އުޅެމުން އައި ގޭގައި ރޯދަވިއްލަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. އެއީ ދާސިއާ ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ހުރުމަށްފަހު މާލެ ދުވަސްކަޅަކަށް އައިސް އުޅުނު ދުވަސަތަކުގެ ތެރެއިން ދުވަހެކެވެ. މިދަތުރުގެ ކަންތައް ދާސިއާ ރާވައިގެން ހުރިގޮތައް ކުރިޔަށް ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާމެން ރޯދަވިއްލުމަށް ފަހު އެވަރުން ނުވެގެން އެގެ ކައިރީ ހުރި ފިހާރައަކުން ޕެކެޓެއް ބޮއެ ހެދިއެވެ. ދާސިއާމެން ދެން ނިންމީ ޖެހިގެން އަންނަ ދުވަހަކީ އީދު ދުވަހަށްވާތީ އީދު ނަމާދުކޮށް މެންދުރު ކެޔުމަށް ފަހު މޫދައް އެރެން ދިޔުމަށެވެ. ދާސިއާމެން މާލެ ކައިރީ ރަށަކަށް މޫދައް ދިޔައިރު ދާސިއާމެންގެ އިތުރަށް ބައިވަރު ކުދިންނާއި މީހުން މޫދައް އެރި ތިއްބެވެ. ދަދުވަރާއި ދާސިއާއަށް ވީ މޫދައް އެރުން ވަރަށް މަޖާ ކަމަށެވެ. މޫދުގައި އޮތް އިރުވެސް ދާސިއާ ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ ދާސިއާގެ ނިކަމެތި ކަމާއި މެދުގައެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ދިރިއުޅުމުގައި ފިޔަވަޅުތައް އެއްވެސް ރޭވުންތެރި ކަމެއް ނެތި އެޅެމުން ދާތީއެވެ. ދެން ފަހަރެއްގައި ދަދުވަރު ބުންޏަސް ދަދުވަރާއެކު މޫދައް އެރި މަޖާކުރުމަށް ނާއުމަށް ދާސިއާގެ ހިތައް އަރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ބައެއް ފަހަރު ދަދުވަރު ދާސިއާއަށް އޮޅުވާލުންތަކެއް އޮޅުވާލާ ކަމަށް ދާސިއާއަށް ހީވަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. މިކަމުގައި އަޑީގައި ހުރެ ޖިންނި ދަދުވަރަށް ވަސްވާސް ދީފާނޭ މިއީ ދާސިއާގެ ހިތުގައި އުފެދެމުން ދިޔަ ސުވާލުތަކެކެވެ. މޫދައް އެރި އުޅުމުގައި ދާސިއާ ލައިގެން ހުރި ހެދުން ކަމުނުދާތީ ވެސް ދާސިއާގެ ފިކުރު ބޮޑުވާގޮތް ވިއެވެ. ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރު ވާހަކަދައްކަމުން ދިޔައިރު ދަދުވަރު ބުނާ ބަސްތަކުގައި އެހެން މާނައެއް ނޫނީ ޢޭގެ އަޑީގައި ފޮރުވިފައިވާ އެހެން ކަންތައްތަކެއް ވާކަމަށް ދާސިއާއަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވެމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދެރަކަމަކީ މި ކަންތައްތަކުގެ ސަބަބުން ދާސިއާގެ ނިކަމެތި ކަމަށް އިތުރު ބޮޅުތަކެއް ގެތިދާނެތީ ކަން ދާސިއާގެ ލޮލުން ފައިބާ ކަރުނައިން ދާސިއަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވެމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާ ނަމާދުގައި ސަޖިދާގައި ގިނަވަގުތު އޮތުމަށް މިކަންތައްތައް މަޖުބޫރު ކުރުވަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ވާނުވާ ނޭންގި ބިޔަޖަންގެއްޔެއްގައި ހިންގަންޖެހިދާނެ ކަމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ހެއްދެވި ފަރާތުން ފުރިހަމަ އެއްބައިވަންތަ ކަމާއި ހަމަހަމަ އުސޫލަކަށް އެދެވޭތީއެވެ. މާލެ އައިއިރު ދާސިއާމެންގެ މަންމަ ސުރަށްޔާ ތިބި ގެއިން ސުރަށްޔާމެން ނުކުތުމަށް ތައްޔާރުވަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ސަބަބަކީ ސުރަށްޔާމެން ތިބި ގެ ތަޅާލާފައި އަލުން ހަދަން ބޭނުންވެފައި ވާތީއެވެ. މިވަގުތުތަކުގައި ސުރަށްޔާ ދާސިއާއަށް އޮމާންކޮށް މޫނުމަތި ދެއްކިޔަސް ސުރަށްޔާގެ މޫނުމަތި ދާސިއާއަށް އޮމާނެއް ނޫނެވެ. މައިވަންތަ ކަމުގެ ލޯބި ދުނިޔަޔައަށް އުފަންނުވާ ކަހަލައެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ބައްޕަ އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް މި ކަންކަމާ އަޅާނުލާތީ ދާސިއާ ދެރަވެއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް މި ކަންކަން ހަމަޖައްސަން ހަދާނެ ގޮތެއް ނޭންގެއެވެ. އިންތިހާއަށް މި ކަންކަމާ ހިތާމަކޮށްގެން ޙައްލެއް ނުލިބޭނެ ކަން ދާސިއާއަށް ނުވިސްނަން ހުއްޓަސް ވިސްނެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ފަދަ ނުވިސްނޭ ނިކަމެއްޗަކަސް އެގޭގައި ކިޔަވައިގެން ތިބި ދާސިއާއަށް ވުރެ ފުންނާބު އުސް ކުދިން ތިއްބައި ދާސިއާއަށް ދާސިއާގެ ކުރިމަގު އުޖާލާކުރުމަށް ހެދޭނެ ހަމައެއްވެސް ގޮތެއް ނެތް ކަހަލައެވެ. މަޑުމަޑުން އައިސް ދާސިއާގެ ކޮނޑުގައި ދަދުވަރު އަތްޖަހާލިއެވެ. އޭރު އަދި ދާސިއާމެން ދާސިއާގެ މަންމަގެ ނުރުހުންތަކަށް އަނެއްކާ ކެތް ނުކުރެވިގެން އެނބުރި ރަސްގެތީމަށް ނުދެއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް މީހެއްގެ ފަރާތުން ފަހުން އެނގެމުން ދިޔައީ ދަދުވަރު ފަހަރެއްގައި ދެކުދިން ތިބި އަންހެނަކާ ކައިވެނި ކޮށްފާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. އެއީ އެ އަންހެން މިހާއަކީ މުންސަނދި މާލޭގައި ގެދޮރު ހުރި އަންހެނަކަށް ވާތީ އަނެއްކާ އެ އަންހެން މިހާގެ ދަރިން ބޮޑެތިވެފައި ވާތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގުނު ގޮތުން އެ އަންހެން މީހާގެ ކުރީގެ ފިރިމީހާގެ އަދި ދެ ކުދިންގެ ބައްޕަގެ ރުހުން ދަދުވަރާ ކައިވެނި ކުރުމަށް ލިބިދާނެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ދާސިއާ މިކަންކަން އަދި ކަމަކަށް ނަހަދައެވެ. ދަދުވަރު ، ދާސިއާމެންގެ ދޮރުމަތީގައި ދަދުވަރުގެ ޜަޙުމަތްތެރިއަކާ ވާހަކަދައްކަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް ދަދުވަރުއާއި އެ އަނަހެންމީހާ ކަމުގައިވާ އާނިޔަތުގެ ކަންތައް އެނގިފައިވާކަން އެނގޭތީ ދަދުވަރު ހުރީ ހިސާބަކަށް ދާސިއާދެކެ ޖެހިލުން ވެފައެވެ. ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރާ ދޭތެރޭގައި އެއްވެސް ދާސިއާއާ އަޅާލުމެއް ނެތް މީހެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ދެކޭފާނެ ކަން ދަދުވަރަށް އެނގެއެވެ. ގޭގެ ދޮރުގެ އެތެރެއިން ދާސިއާ ފެންނާތީ ދަދުވަރު ދާސިއާއަށް ބަލަހަށްޓައިގެން ހުއްޓެވެ. އޭރު ދާސިއާ ބޯ އޮމާންކޮށްލައިގެން މަތަރަސްމާގޭ ކޮޓަރިއެއްގެ ތެރެއިން ނުކުންނަނީއެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ އިސްތަށިގަނޑުން ރަގަލަށް ދާސިއާގެ ބޯ ދޮވެލާފައި ރަގަޅު އިސްތަށީގައި ލާ ކުރީމްއެއް ލާފައި ހުރިކަން އެނގެއެވެ. އިތުރަށް މީގެ ތެރެއިން ދުވަހެއްގައި ދާސިއާގެ ބޯ ދޮންނަން ބޭނުން ނުވާނެ ފަދައެވެ. ދާސިއާ އަމިއްލައަށް ލޯގަނޑު ކައިރީ ހުއްޓިލާފައި އިސްތަށިގަނޑާއި މެދު ފަޙުރުވެލިއެވެ. ދެން އައި ސިކުތުގައި ދާސިއާއަކީ ނިކަމެތި އަންހެން ކުއްޖަކަށް ވާތީ އެކަމާ ފިކުރު ބޮޑުވިއެވެ. ބައެއްފަހަރު ލޯގަނޑު ކައިރީ ހުރިއިރު ދާސިއާގެ ހިތައް ބަލާލެވޭ ގޮތުން މޮޔަކަންތައް ކުރެވެއޭ ދާސިއާގެ ހިތައް އަރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ކޮށްމެ ކަމެއް ވަރިހަމަ ނުކޮށްލެވޭނެތީ ދާސިއާއަށް ދެރަގޮތެއް ވެދާނެތީ ހަމަޖެހުމުގެ ނޭވައެއް ލިއެވެ. ބައެއް ފަހަރު ދާސިއާ އަމިއްލައަށް ދާސިއާގެ ރޭވުންތެރި ކަމެއް ނޭތޭ ހިތައް އަރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. އެއީ ދަދުވަރު އެހެން އަންހެނެއްގެ އަތްމަށްޗަށް ދާސިއާގެ އަތުން ދޫވުމުގެ މަންޒަރުތައް ކުރިމަތިވަމުން އަންނާތީއެވެ. ހަމަޖެހުމުގެ ނޭވައެއް ލަމުން ދާސިއާ، ދާސިއާގެ ފައިކޮޅަށް ބަލާލިއެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ބުރުސޫރާގެ ނިކަމެތިކަން ޤަބޫލުކުރެވިގެން ނުވަތަ ނުކުރެވިގެންނެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ހެދި ބޮޑުވަމުން އަންނަ ހަށިގަނޑުނިކަމެތި ވާކަށް ދާސިއާ ބޭނުމެއް ނޫނެވެ. އެކަމަކު ދާސިއާ ގަބުރަކަށް ވުމަށް ބޭނުން ނުވާ ފަދައިން ދޭތެރެއެއްގެ ވަގުތު ވައްޓާނުލައި ދަދުވަރާ ބެހޭގޮތުން ވިސްނެން ފެށުމުން ދާސިއާގެ ހަނދާނަށް އަދި ދާސިއާގެ ހަށިގަނޑަށް ކިލަނބު ކަމެއް އަންނާތީ ދާސިއާ ދެލޮލުން ކަރުނަ އާދެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ވިސްނީ އޭނައާއި ދަދުވަރާ މެދު ބަޔަކު މީހުން މޮޔަތަކެކޭ ބުނެފާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އެހާ ގިނަދުވަހު އެކު އުޅެފާ ދަދުވަރު އެހެން އަންހެނެއް ހޯދުމުން، ދަދުވަރާއި ދާސިއާ ނުގުޅޭކަން އެފަދަ ބަޔަކަށް ހާމަވާތީއެވެ. އެބައިމީހުން އެފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް ދެކެން ފެށުމުން ދާސިއާ މަގުމަތީގައި ހިނގަން ލަދުގަނެއެވެ. ނަތީޖާއެއް ދާސިއާގެ އެއްވެސް ހިނގުމަކުން ނުނުކުންނާނެ ކަން ދާސިއާއަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވެން ފަށިފައި ވާތީއެވެ. ދެން ދާސިއާ ތައްޔާރުވަމުން ދިޔައީ ރަގަޅު ވަގުތެއް ބަލައި ދަދުވަރާ ބައްދަލުކޮށް ދަދުވަރާ ގުޅެން އެ އުޅޭ އާނިޔަތުގެ ވާހަކަދެއްކުމަށެވެ. ދަދުވަރު އެ ގުޅެން އުޅޭ އާނިޔަތުގެ ދޮށީ ދަރިއަކީ އުމުރުން 15 އަހަރު ވެފައިވާ ކުއްޖަކަށް ވާތީ އަދި އާނިޔަތުގެ ހަގު ދަރީގެ އުމުރަކީ 11 އަހަރު ކަމަށް ވާތީ އާނިޔަތުއަށް މުސްކުޅިއެކޭ ބުނެފާނެތީ ވެސް ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރާ ވާހަކަދައްކަން ލަދުގަންނަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާ ފަދަ ޒުވާން ކުއްޖެއް ގުޅެން ހުއްޓައި ދަދުވަރު މުސްކުޅިއަކާ ގުޅޭތީއެވެ. ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާއާ ބެހޭގޮތުން ނިކަމެއްޗެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ދެކުނީ ކަމަށް ވެދާނެތީ އަނެއްކާ ވެސް ދާސިއާގެ ފިކުރު ބޮޑުވާގޮތް ވިއެވެ. ދަދުވަރުމެންގެ ދިރިއުޅުމުން އެއްވެސް އޮމާން ކަމެއް ނުފެންނާނޭ ހިތައް އެރުމުން ދާސިއާގެ ކައިރިއަށް ހިނި އަންނަނީ ދަދުވަރު ޒުވާން ލެއަކާ ނުގުޅިދާނެތީއެވެ. މިކަމުގައި ދަދުވަރުގެ ޒިންދަގީ ފެނަށް ގޮސްފިނަމަ ދާސިއާ ކުރާނެ ކަމެއް ނެތެވެ. ދަދުވަރަށް އޮޅުވާނުލައި އާނިޔަތައް ކަންތައްތައް ގެންދެވިދާނެ ކަމާއިމެދު ދާސިއާއަށް އާނިޔަތާ މެދު ޝައްކެވެ. ދަދުވަރަށް ދެރަގޮތެއް ވެދާނެތީ ދާސިއާއަށް ރޮވޭގޮތް ވިއެވެ. ދަދުވަރަށް މުސްކުޅި އަންހެނެއްގެ ފަރާތުން މޮޔަވުން ކަހަލަ ކަމެއް ކުރިމަތި ވެދާނެއެވެ. އެއީ އޭނާ ދަދުވަރަށް ފަނޑިތަ ހަދައިގެންނެވެ. އެއީ ދަދުވަރުގެ ލޯބި ހޯދަން ދަދުވަރަށް ނޭންގި މަސައްކަތްކޮށްގެން ކަން ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. އެއްވެސް އޮޅުމެއްނެތި އެފަދަ އަންހެނުންގެ ވައްޓަފާޅި ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގޭ ކަހަލައެވެ. ނުބައި ރޭވުން ތެރިކަމުގެ ސިކާރައަކަށް ދަދުވަރު ހުށައެޅޭތަން ދެކެން ދާސިއާ ބޭނުމެއް ނޫނެވެ. ފުރަތަމަ ދަދުވަރަށް ދައްކާނީ ރަގަޅު މޫނުކަން އަދި ފަހުން ދަދުވަރަށް ދައްކާނީ ގޯސް މޫނުކަން ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. ފުރަތަމަ އަބުރުވެރި އަންހެއްނެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ދަދުވަރާ އާނިޔަތު އިނދެފިނަމަ، ދެން އާނިޔަތު ދަދުވަރަށް ދައްކާނީ އެއާ މުޅިމް ހިލާފު ދިރިއުޅުމެއް ކަން ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. އެއްދުވަހެއްގައި ދާސިއާއަށް ދަދުވަރު އިންނަން އުޅޭ އާނިޔަތު މަގުމަތިން މީހަކު ދައްކާލިއެވެ. އޭރު ދާސިއާ ރަސްގެތީމަށް ފުރައިގެން ނުދެއެވެ. މިވަގުތު އިންތިހާއަށް ދާސިއާގެ މޫނުމަތިން ކަނިބުރައިގެން ދިޔައެވެ. އާނިޔަތަކީ މާލޭގައި ގެދޮރުހުރި ބޮޑާ އަންހެނަކަށް ވާތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް މިދުވަހު ތަންކޮޅަކަށް އެ މަގުން ހިގާފައި ދިޔަތަނާ ދަދުވަރު ފެނުނެވެ. މިވަގުތު ލަތީފާގެ ހިތުގައި ވިންދުޖަހާލީ ހިތާމައިން ފުރިގެންވާ ގޮތަކަށް ކަރުނަ އަންނަ ގޮތަށެވެ. މި ކަރުނަ ތިކިތައް ލަތީފާގެ ލޮލުން ފޭދެން ފެށިއެވެ. ދަދުވަރު މިވަގުތު ހިތައް އެރީ ދަދުވަރަށް ހައްޤީ ދާސިއާ ބާވައެވެ؟ ނޫނީ އާނިޔަތު ބާވައެވެ؟ މި ދެމީހުން ކުރެ ކޮށްމެވެސް އެކަކާ ކައިވެނީގެ ގޮތުން ގުޅެވޭނެ ބާވައެވެ؟ މި ދެމީހުން ސަހަރާގައި ފަސްދަށަށް ލާއިރު ދަދުވަރު މި ދުނިޔޭގައި ހުންނާނެ ބާވައެވެ؟ އަނެއްކާ އާނިޔަތުގެ އުމުރަކީ 100 އަހަރު ކަމުގައި ނުވަތަ 90 އަހަރު ކަމުގައި ނުވަތަ 80 އަހަރު ކަމުގައި ވެދާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. މި ދެމީހުންނަށް ދަދުވަރު އަދަބު އިޙުތިރާމު ކުރަން ޖެހެނީ އަންހެނުންނަށް ވާތީއެވެ. ދަދުވަރުގެ ހިތުގައި އަންހެނުންނަށް ޙާއްސަ ގަދަރެއް އޮންނާތީއެވެ. އަންހެނެއް ހިންހަމަނުޖެހޭނެ ނަމަ އެދިމާވާ ކަމެއް ލަތީފުއަށް ވަރިހަމަ ނުކޮށްލެވޭނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އިންތިހާ ދަރަޖައީގެ މަތީވެރި ދަރަޖަ މިދުނިޔޭގައި އަންހެނުންނަށް ލިބިފައި ވާތީއެވެ. އިންސާނެއް މަރުވެގެން ވަޅުލުމުގެ ކަންތައްތައް ކުރިޔަށް ދާއިރު ސަންދޯއް ލުމަށް ހަމަޖެހިފައިވާ ކޮނެފައިވާ ވަޅަށް ލުމަށް ފަހު އާލިމު ތިން ވެލިމުއް އެފަދަ ސަންދޯކެއް މަށްޗަށް އަޅާލާނެއެވެ. މިފަދަ ވަގުތެއްގައި އެ ސަންދޯކުގައި އޮތީ އަސްވާ ކަމުގައި ވުމަށް އާލިމު ބޭނުމެއް ނުވާނެއެވެ. އެއީ ފާތުންނާއިއެކު ލޯބިން ގުނިފައިވާ ދުވަސްތައް މަތިން ހަނދާން އާވަމުން ދާތީއެވެ. އަދި މިފަދަ ސަންދޯކެއްގައި އައިޝަތުމަށް ވެސް އާލިމު ބޭނުން ނުވާނެއެވެ. އެއީ އަސްވާއާ ކައިވެނި ނުކުރެވިއްޖެ ނަމަ އައިޝަތުއާ ކައިވެނި ކުރެވޭނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އެއް އިންސާނަކު މަރުވުމާއި އަނެއް އިންސާނަކު މަރުވުމާ ދެމެދު ސިކުންތުތަކެއްގެ ނުވަތަ މައިކްރޯ ސިކުންތުތަކެއްގެ ނުވަތަ ދުވަސްތަކެއްގެ ތަފާތު ވެއެވެ. މިދުރު މިނަށް ލަތީފު ބޭނުންވަނީ ލަތީފާ ނުވަތަ އާނިޔަތު ލަތީފުގެ ފަރާތުން ހުށައެޅުމަށެވެ. އެއި ލޯތްބައް ލިބެންވޭ އަގު ކޮށްމެ އިންސާނަކަށް ވެސް ލިބެންވާއިރު ލަތީފު ފަދައިން ލަތީފު ގައިން ބާރު ދޫވަން ބޭނުންނުވާ ފަދައިން އެމީހުންގެ ގައިން ވެސް ބާރު ދޫވަން ބޭނުންނުވާ އެއްޗެވެ. އިންސާނުންގެ ހިތަކީ ތަފާތު އެއްޗެކެވެ. އިންސާނުންނާ މޮޔަވެފައި ހުއްޓައި އެކުސިޑެންޓުވުން ކަހަލަ ކަންތައް ދިމާވެފައި އެބަހުއްޓެވެ. މީގެ އަސްލު ދެނެގަންނައިރު އެއިރު އެކުސިޑެންޓުވާ އިންސާނާ އެކުސިޑެއްޓު ވެފައި ވަނީ އަމިއްލަ އެދުން ދުނިޔޭގެ އަމާން އޮމާން ދުވަސްތައް ހޭދަކުރެވެން އޮށްވާ ބޮޑުވެގެންނެވެ. އެވަގުތު އޭނާއަށް އޭނާގެ ސަންދޯއް ވަޅުލެވިފައިވާތަން ފެނިފައި ވިޔަސް އެކަންކަން ކަމަކަށް ނަހަދައެވެ. އާލިމު، އާނިޔަތުގެ ކަންތައް އަސްވާގެ ހިތައް އުނދަގޫވާ ގޮތައް ގެންދިޔުން، އާލިމަށް މަތީގައި ދެންނެވި ގޮތުގެ އަސްލަކަށް ބެލެވެއެވެ. މިއީ އައިޝަތު އިންތިހާއަށް ދެރަވާ ކަމެކެވެ. ގާތުން ކިރުދޭ މައިން އެ ކިރުދިން ދަރިންނަން ކަމޭހިތަން ބޭނުންވާ ފަދައިން އައިޝަތު، އާލިމަށް ކަމޭހިތަން ބެނުން ވެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މިކަންތައްތަކުގެ ތެރެއަށް އާނިޔަތު ވަނުމުން އައިޝަތުގެ ދިރިއުޅުމަށް ބަނަކަން އަންނާތީ ޙައްޤު ގޮތުގައި އައިޝަތު ހުންނަން ބޭނުންވެއެވެ. އައިޝަތު ދިޔަ މަގުމަތީގައި އާލިމުގައިގާ ލައިގަތެވެ. އައިޝަތު އެ ލައިގަތުމުން ހިތައް އެރީ ޖިނާ އަނެއްކާ އާނިޔަތު ދޫކޮށްލާފައި އައިޝަތު ގުޅެން ބޭނުންވީ ކަމަށެވެ. އާނިޔަތުއަކީ މާލޭ މީހަކަށް ވެފައި އައިޝަތުއަކީ ވެސް ރަސްގެތީމުގައި މިހާރު އުޅުނަސް މާލޭ މީހަކަށް ވާތީ މި ދެމީހުންގެ އައިޑީ ކާޑުގައި ތަފާތުތަކެއް ވާތީ ޖިނާ އާމިނަތައް އިސްކަން ދީފާނެ ކަމަށް އާމިނަތު ޤަބޫލުކުރިއެވެ. އާމިނަތުމެންގެ ގެ މާލޭގައި ހުރުމަކީ ޖިނާއަށް، ޖިނާގެ ކުރިމަގު އުޖާލާ ކުރުމަށް އެޅޭ ރަގަޅު ފިޔަވަޅަކަށް ވެއެވެ. ހަމަ މިގޮތައް އަނިޔަތުގެމެންގެ ގެ މާލޭގައި ހުންނާތީ ޖިނާ ވިސްނާ ގޮތުން ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރެއްގެ ތަފާތުތަކެއް ހުއްޓަސް އާނިޔަތުއާ ވެސް ފައިތިލަ ސާބިތުކުރެވިދާނެއެވެ. "ހަލޯ.... ހަލޯ......" އާމިނަތުމެންގެ ފޯނުން އާމިނަތު، ޖިނާއާ ގުޅިއެވެ. "ކިހިނެތްވީ؟" ޖިނާ ސުވާލުކުރިއެވެ. "މިއުޅެނީ މަންމަގެ އުނދަގޫ ބޮޑުވެގެން ރަސްގެތީމަށް ފުރޭތޯ........އަހަރެން ހިއެއް ނުކުރަން މިކަންތައްތައް މިހާ ހިސާބައްދާނެ ކަމަށް. މިއަދު އިންތިހާއަށް ބިރުވެސްގަނެފި. އަހަރެން މިއުޅެނީ މި ކަންކަން މުސީބާތަކަށް ނަހަދައި ދާން." އާމިނަތުގެ ދެ ލޮލުން ކަރުނަ އައެވެ. ****** ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރު މުސްތަގުބަލު ރޭވިއިރު ދާސިއާ ބޮޑައް އިސްކަން ދިނީ ފުރަތަމަ ލިބޭ ދަރިފުޅަށް އިސްކަން ދިނުމަށެވެ. އެއީ ކޮށްމެ ކަމެއްގެ ވެސް ހަގީގަތެއް އެކުލެވިގެން ވާތީ އެފަދަ ކަންކަމަށް ވިސްނާފައެވެ. މިފަދަ މޭރުމަކުން ބަލާއިރު މަރުވީމާ މީހާ ހިނަވާ މިހާގެ ވެސް ހައިސިއްޔަތެއް އޮންނާނެއެވެ. އަދި ހަމަ މިފަދައިން މަރުވާ މީހާގެ ވަޅުކޮންނަ ފަރާތުގެވެސް ޙައިސިއްޔަތެއް އޮންނާނެއެވެ. އެފަދަ މީހެއްގެ ކިބާގައިވެސް ޝިޔާނާ ފަދައިން ހަނދާންތަކެއް ހުންނާނެއެވެ. އިންތިހާއަށް ޝިޔާނާ މިހާރުވެސް އާނިޔަތުގެ ތިމާގެ މީހެއް މަރުވެގެން އެ މިހާ ހިނަވައި ކަފުންކޮށް ސަންދޯކަށްލައި ވަޅުލިދުވަސް އާނިޔަތު ހަދާން އެބަހުއްޓެވެ. އޭގެ ދެދުވަސް ފަހުން އެ ތައްހާން އާނިޔަތާ ބައްދަލުވެގެން އެ ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. ދެކޮޅަށް ކިރިލަ ކިރިލާ ހުރެފައި ޝިޔާނާއާ ދިމާލަށް އެދުވަހު ދިޔައީ އެވާހަކަ ޝިޔާނާއާ ނުދައްކާ ފަރު ނުޖެހޭނެތީއެވެ.ތައްހާން ބައެއް ފަހަރަށް ޝިޔާނާއަށް ރާވައިގެން ކުރަން ބޭނުންވާ ކަންތައް ނުކުރެވި ވެއެވެ. ޝިޔާނާގެ ހިތުގައި އެފަދަ ކަންކަމަށް ޔަޤީންކަން އޮންނައިރުވެސް މެއެވެ. މިފަދަ ހިޔާލުތައް ކުރެވެން ފެށުމުން އާލިމުގެ ލޯތްބާއި މެދު ޝިޔާނާއަށް ޔަޤީންކަން ކުޑަވެއެވެ. ތައްހާނު އާނިޔަތު ކުރެން ދަދުވަރުގެ ވާހަކަ އޮޅުންފިލުވައި ހެދިއެވެ. މީހަކު އަނެއް މީހާ ކައިރިން ސަލާންޖަހާ އުސޫލުންނެވެ. ****** ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ ދުވަހެއްގައި ވެސް އާނިޔަތު މަތިން ހަނދާން ނުނެތޭނެ ކަމަށެވެ.އާލިމު

                                                                                                                        

އަހަރެންގެ

    

.ބުރޫ އަރާފާނެ. އޭނާގެ މިޒާޖާ ވައްޓަފާޅި އެނގޭ. ދަދުވަރު އެއްވެސް ކަމެއް ތަރުތީބުން ކައްސާލާ ގޮތައް ނުކުރާނެ. އަހަރެން ލަތީފުއާ ލޯބިން ވާހަކައެއް ދެއްކިޔަސް އެކަމުގެ ދެކޮޅު ބަލައިގެން ވާހަކަދައްކާނީ. އަހަރެން ކެޔުމަކަށް ލަތީފައް ދައުވަތު ދިނަސް އެކަމެއް ޤަބޫލެއް ނުކުރާނެ. އަހަރެން ހީނުކުރާ ކަހަލަ ކަންތައް ވެސް އެކަމަކު ލަތީފު ކޮށްއުޅޭ. އެއްދެވަހެއްގައި ދަދުވަރާ ވާހަކަދައްކަނިކޮށް ކަރުބުޑުން ލޭއައި. އަހަރެން ފަހުން އެކަމާ ވިސްނާލުމުން އެނގުނީ އެކަން އެހެންވީ ދަދުވަރުގެ ބައެއް އާދަކާދަތައް ހުންނަގޮތުން ކަމަށް." އައިޝާ ބޭނުންވި ޖިންނިއަށް އިތުރަށް އޮޅުންފިލުވައި ދިނުމަށެވެ. ޖިންނީގެ ރޭވުންތައް ކާމިޔާބު ކުރުމުގެ ނިޔަތުގައެވެ. ބައެއް ފަހަރަށް މިވަގުތު ދާސިއާގެ ހިތައް އެރީ ކާށި ކެވޭނީ ދަތްހުއްޓައި ކަމަށް ވާތީ ޒުވާން ދުވަސްވަރުގެ ބޭނުން ޖިންނީގެ ފަރާތުން އެހެން އިންސާނުންނަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވޭ ފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް ހިފުމަށެވެ. "އަހަރެން މުޙައްމަދުއާ ވާހަކަދައްކާނަން. އަހަރެންގެ ހިޔާލުގައި މުޙައްމަދު މިކޮޅަށް ގެނައުން މާކަ އުނދަގުލެއް ނުވާނެ. އަހަރެން ހުންނާނީ އެތެރެފުއް ފަދައިން ބޭރުފުއް ރީތިކޮށްގެން ސީދަލަށް. އަހަރެން ސާހިދުގެ ބޭނުންތައް ފުއްދައި ދޭގޮތުގެ ވާހަކަދެއްކުމުން ދޭތެރެއެއް ހޯދާލައިގެން އަންނާނެ. ބައެއް މީހުން ބުނޭ ސާހިދުއާ ގޫޅުން ބަދަހިކުރުމަކީ އެހާ ފަސޭހަ ކަމެއް ނޫނޭ. އެކަމަކު ސާހިދުގެ ވައްޓަފާޅި އެނގޭ މީހެއް އެހެން ނުބުނާނެ. އެއްވެސް ފަދަހަރެއްގައި ދަދުވަރުގެ ފަސްފަހަތުން ދަދުވަރުއަށް އުދަގޫވާ ގޮތައް އަހަރެން ހިނގާފައެއް ނޯންނާނެ. އެކަމަކު ބައެއް ފަހަރު ދަދުވަރު ހީކޮށްފައި އެބައޮތް އަހަރެން ލޯބީގެ ދަޅަދައްކަނީއޭ. އަހަރެން ފަހަރެއްގައި ވެސް އެފަދަ ލައްޒަތެއް ބޭނުންވެގެން އަމިއްލައަށް އަނދަގޮނޑިއެއް ނުޖެހޭނަން. އަހަރެންގެ ހިޔާލުތައް ބައެއްފަހަރަށް ދަދުވަރުއާ އިދިކޮޅު ކޮށްލަން ޖެހޭތީ ދެރަވޭ، ބައެއް ފަހަރު ވަގުތުގެ ގޮތުން." ޖިންނިއަށް އޮތް ޔަޤީންކަން ޖިންނި ހާމަކުރިއެވެ. ދަރިންގެ ދަރިންނަށް އަދި ދަރިފަސްކޮޅަށް ގުޅުން އޮންނަން ރާވާތީ އުފާވެ ހުރެއެވެ. "އަހަރެން މުޙައްމަދައް ސިޓީއެއް ފޮނުވިއްޔާ ކިހިނެތްވާނެ؟ އެހެން މިބުނީ މުޙައްމަދާ ގުޅޭނެ އިތުރު ގޮތެއް ނެތީމަ. ފޯނުވެސް އޮތީ ނީއްވާލާފަ. އެރަށަށް މިރަށުން ދޯންޏެއް ފުރަން އެބައުޅޭ." އައިޝާ ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. "ކޮށްމެހެން އަދި އެހާއަވަހާ ފިޔަވަޅު އަޅާނެ ކަމެއްނެތް. ލަސްލަހުން ކަންތައްތައް ގެންދަން ހިޔާލު ބަހަށްޓަންވީ. އިންތިހާއަށް ހިތުގައި ބާއްވަންވީ އުންމުކުލްސުމްގެ ފަރާތުން ލިބޭ އުނދަގޫތަކުގެ ބަދަލު އުންމުކުލްސުމްއަށް ލިބޭނެ ކަމަށް. އަހަރެންނަށް އަބީރާހު ކަންތައް ކުރާ ގޮތް އެނގޭ. އިންތިހާ ދަރަޖައިގެ ރުޅިވެރިކަން އަބީރާހުގެ ހިތުގައި ދާސިއާމެދު އުފެދިފައިވޭ. ދާސިއާގެ މަންމަ ގާތްގަނޑަކަށް ދާސިއާ މިރަށަށް ފޮނުވިއިރު ވިސްނާފައި އޮތީ އަބީރާހުއާ ވާހަކަދައްކައިގެން ދަދުވަރު ނޫން އެހެން މީހަކާ ކައިވެނި ކުރެވޭތޯ. އަހަރެންނަށް އެނގޭ ދަސިއާގެ މަންމަ އާމިނަތު އަދި އަބީރާހު ވެސް އަހަރެންނަށް ދުއްތުރާ ދިނުމަށް ފަންޑިތަ ހަދާކަން. އެމީހުންގެ އުނދަގޫތަކުން އަހަރެންގެ ހަށިގަނޑައް ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް އުދަގޫތަކެއް ވިޔަސް، މިވަގުތު އެއްވެސް ޙާސް ކަމެއް ނެތް. ދާސިއާގެ ބައްޕަ މި ކަންކަމާ އެހާ ބޮޑައް އަޅާނުލާކަން އެނގޭ. އެހެންވެ އަހަރެން ކުރަން ގަސްދުކުރާ ދުއްތުރާތަކުން އޭނަ ސަލާމަތް ވާނެ. ނަމަވެސް އޭނަގެ ދުއްތުރާތައް އަހަރެންނާ ކުރިމަތި ވެއްޖެނަމަ އޭނައާ ވެސް އަހަރެންގެ ދުއްތުރާތަކާ ކުރިމަތިވާނެ. ދެރަކަމަކީ މި އެންމެން ތަންދޮރު ބަލާނުލައި ކަމެއް ކޮށްފާނެތީ. އޭރުން އަހަރެންގެ ފަރާތުން ތިބޭ ބައިން ވެސް އިންތިހާ ދަރަޖައިގެ ދުއްތުރާތަކާ އެ މީހުންނާ ކުރިމަތި ކުރުވާނެ." ޖިންނި ބޭނުންވީ ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް ވާހަކަދައްކާ މަޢުލޫ ބަދަލުކޮށްލުމަށެވެ. "ކީއްވެ... އުންމުކުލްސުމްގެ ވާހަކަދައްކަން ތި ފެށީ. ޖިންނިއަށް އެކަންތައް އެނގުނީ ކިހިނެތް. އަހަރެންގެ ދެ ލޮލުން ކަރުނަ އައިސްދާނެތީ އެ ވާހަކަ ނުދައްކަން މި ހުންނަނީ." އައިޝާ އަށް ވިސްނުނީ ކުލްސުމްގެ ވާހަކަދައްކާ ނަމަ އެ ގެއިން ނުކުންނަން ޖެހިދާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. އެރަށުގައި ވަންނާނެ ގެއެއް ނެތި އެ ވާހަކަދެއްކުން ބުއްދިވެރި ނޫން ކަމުގައެވެ. ދެރަގޮތެއް ވެދާނެ ކަމަށް ކުރިޔާލައި ފިޔަވަޅު އެޅުމުގެ ގޮތުންނެވެ. އާދުވަހަކަށް ހެދުނުވުމުން 

                                                                                                                                                

ތިމާގެ

    

ށް ވަނެވެ. އެ ރެސްޓޯރެންޓްގައި އިން އިރު އެ ރެސްޓޯރެންޓުގެ އެހެން މޭޒެއްގެ ކައިރީގައި ތިބި ދެތިން މީހެއްގެ މަތިން މާޓްގައި ހުރިއިރު ސުރައްޔާ ހަނދާންވާން ފަށައިފިއެވެ. ލަތީފާ އާއި ލަތީފު ސައިކަލު ދުއްވާލަން ދިޔައެވެ. ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް ވާރޭވެހިފައިވާ ދުވަހެކެވެ. ލަތީފު ސައިކަލު ދުއްވާލެއް ބާރުކަމުން ލަތީފާ އިނީ ހިންހަމަޖެހިފައެވެ. އިތުރަށް ބުނާނެ ބަހެއް ނޭންގިފައެވެ. މިއީ މާލެ ގޮސް މިދެމީހުން އުޅޭ ވަގުތެއްކަމުން އިތުރު މުސީބާތެއް ނުޖެހޭނެ ކަމަށް ދާސިއާ ލަފާކުރިއެވެ. ދާސިއާ އެދުވަހު ސައިކަލު ދަދުވަރާއެކު ދުއްވާފައި އައިސް ދަދުވަރުމެންގެ ގޭގެ އެނދުމަތީގައި އިށިންތަނާ ދާސިއާގެ ފަލަމަށްގަނޑުން އެ އެނދުމަތީގައި އޮތް ބިއްލޫރިގަނޑަކުން ކަފައިގެން ދިޔައެވެ. ވަގުތުން ދާސިއާ ގޮވައިގެން ދަދުވަރު މާލޭ ހޮސްޕިޓަލަށް ދިޔައެވެ. ޑޮކްޓަރު ރަގަޅަށް ބެލުމަށް ފަފު ދާސިއާގެ ފަލަމަށްގަނޑުގައި ބޭސް އެޅިއެވެ. ލަތީފާ އިނީ ލަތީފު ގައިގާ ޖެހިދާނެތީ ކަންބޮޑުވެފައެވެ. އެންމެފަހުން ލަތީފާގެ މޭ ލަތީފު ގައިގާ ޖެހުނެވެ. ލަތީފާ ބޭރުގައުމަކަށް ގޮސް ގާނޫނު ކިޔަވަން ބޭނުންވާތީ އިނގިރޭސި، ސުކޫލަކަށް ގޮސް ކިޔަވަން ފަށައިފިއެވެ. ދާސިއާ އިނގިރޭސި ކިޔަވަން ފެށި ދުވަސް ނޫން އަނެއް ދުވަހު ފެށިގެން ދާސިއާގެ މަންމަ ދާސިއާ ކައިރިންލާފައި ދާއިރުވެސް ބަހެއް ނުކިޔާ ހުންނަން ފަށައިފިއެވެ. ދާސިއާ މިކަމާ ވަރަށް ހިތާމަކުރިއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ތިންހަތަރު ފަހަރު ދާރިނާ އޮންނަ ކޮޓަރިއަށް ވަންނަން އުޅެފައިވެސް ދާރިނާ، ދާސިއާއާ ބަސްނުކިޔާތީ ގަނެފައިވާ ލަދެއްގެ ބޮޑުކަމުން އެ ކޮޓަރިއަށް ނުވަދެއެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ މަންމަ ބައެއްފަހަރު ދާސިއާގެ ކުރިމަތިންލާފައި ވެސް ދެއެވެ. އެކަމަކު ހަމަ އެވެސްވަރަކަށް ދާސިއާއާ އަޅައެއް ނުލައެވެ. ދާސިއާ މިވާހަކަ ދާސިއާގެ ރަޙުމަތްތެރިއަކަށް ފޯނުން ގުޅައިގެން ކިޔާދިނެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގުނު ގޮތުން ދާރިނާ ވެސް އެއްދުވަހެއްގައި މާފުއްޓައް ދާން ފުރަން އުޅެމުން ދާރިނާގެ ރަޙުމަތްތެރިއެއްގެ ކައިރީ ދާސިއާގެ ވާހަކަ ދައްކާފައި ވެއެވެ. "އަހަރެން މިއައީ ދާސިއާ ގާނޫނު ކިޔަވަން ބޭރުގައުމަކަށް ދާންވެގެން އިނގިރޭސި ކިޔަވަން ފެށި ޙަބަރު ލިބިގެން. ނާއިސް ލަސްވީ މިތާ ކައިރީ ރަށެއްގައި ދުވަސްކޮޅަކު އުޅެން ޖެހުނީމަ." ދާސިއާގެ ރަޙުމަތްތެރި އާސިޔާ އައިސް، ދާސިއާމެންގެ ގެއަށް ވަނެވެ. އޭރު ދާސިއާ އޮތީ ކޮޓަރީގެ ދޮރު ކުޑަކޮށް ޖަހާލައިގެން އޮށޯވެލައިގެންނެވެ. ލަތީފާއަށް ލަތީފާގެ ސަނަދުތައް ކިޔަވާ ސުކޫލާއި ހަވާލުކޮށްދިނީ ލަތީފުއެވެ. މި ސަނަދުތައް ހަވާލުކުރުމުގެ ތެރޭގައި ދާސިއާއާ ދަދުވަރުގެ ދެމެދުގައި ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރެއްގެ ހަމަނުޖެހުމެއް ހިނގިއެވެ. މި ކަންކަން ދާސިއާ ވެސް އަދި ދަދުވަރު ވެސް ކަމަކަށް ނަހަދައެވެ. ދާސިއާ މިދުވަހު ކުރުގޮތަކަށް ދާސިއާގެ ސީވީގައިވާ އެއްޗެހި ދަދުވަރަށް ކިޔާދިނެވެ. ދަދުވަރު ބުނަމުން ދިޔައީ ސީވީ ދާސިއާ ކިޔަވާންދާން އުޅޭ ސުކޫލައް އީމެއިލް ކުރިނަމަ ރަގަޅުވާނެ ވާހަކައެވެ. ދާސިއާ މިދުވަހު ދަދުވަރަށް ފޯނުން ގުޅުމުގެ ކުރިން އެނދުމަތީގައި އޮށޯވެ ތައްޔާރު ކުރެވިފައިވާ ސީވީ އޮތީ ރަގަޅަށްތޯ ވިސްނާލައި އެދުން ތެދުވެ އެ ޗެކުކޮށް ހަދާލިއެވެ. ސައިކަލުގައި ދާސިއާ ގޮވައިގެން ދަދުވަރު މިދުވަހު ދިޔައީ ހަމަހިމޭން ޖައްވެއްގައި ސައިކަލު ދުއްވަމުންނެވެ. ލަތީފާ އިނގިރޭސި ކިޔަވަން ފެށުމުން، ލަތީފާއާއި ލަތީފުގެ ގުޅުން އިތުރަށް ވަރުގަދަވަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. މި ގުޅުން ދުވަހުން ދުވަހަށް ވަރުގަދަވަމުން ދާކަމުގެ ހެއްކެއްގެ ގޮތުން އެއްދުވަހެއްގައި ސުކޫލުއޮތް ކޮންސެޓަކަށް ދިޔުމަށް ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރަށް ޓިކެޓެއް ދިއްކޮށްލިއެވެ. މިވަގުތު ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާގެ އަތައް އޭގެ އަގައްވާ ފައިސާ ދިއްކޮށްލިއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ދާސިއާ ބުނީ އެ ޓިކެޓްގެ އަގައް ދަދުވަރުގެ އަތުން ފައިސާ ބޭނުން ނޫން ވާހަކައެވެ. ދާސިއާ ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ އޭނަ ފިޔަވައި ދަދުވަރު ގަޔާވާ އެހެން އަންހެން ކުއްޖެއް މިދުނިޔޭގައި ހުރެފާނެ ކަމާއި މެދުގައެވެ. އެފަދަ ކުއްޖެއް ހުރެއްޖެ ނަމަ ދާސިއާއަށް ލަނޑެއް ލިބިދާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. ލޯތްބަކީ ދެފަރާތުގެ އެއްބާރުލުން ލިބިގެން ކުރެވޭ ކަމަކަށް ވާތީ ދަދުވަރާއެކު އެހެން އަންހެން ކުއްޖަކާއެކު އުޅޭ މަންޒަރު ފެނިއްޖެނަމަ ދާސިއާ އިންތިހާއަށް ދެރަވެ ދާސިއާގެ ދެލޮލުން ކަރުނަ އޮހޮރަން ޖެހިދާނެ ކަމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ދުނިޔޭގެ ކަންތައްތައް ހިނގަމުން ދާގޮތައް ބަލާއިރު އަދި މޫސުމަށް އަންނަމުންދާ ބަދަލުތަކަށް ބަލާއިރު ކުރިމަގު ރޭވުމުގައި ދާސިއާ ގެންގުޅޭ އުސޫލުތައް ދަދުވަރާ ތަފާތެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ހިޔާލުތައް ވަރަށް މުންސަންޖެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ބޮޑުމަންޒަރު ނުވަތަ ލޮލަށް ފެންނަނީ ދަދުވަރު މުއްސަދި ދިރިއުޅުމެއްގައި ފަތަމުން ދާއިރު ދާސިއާ ނިކަމެއްޗެއް ފަދައިން ދަދުވަރުގެ ބަހަށް އާނ ބަސް ބުނަމުން ދާތަނެވެ. ދާސިއާ އާއި ދަދުވަރުގެ ފާއިތުވި ދުވަސްތަކަށް ބަލާއިރު ދަދުވަރުގެ މުސްތަގުބަލަށް މުންސަނދި ކަމުގެ އެތައް ބޮޅުތަކެއް ގެތިދާނެއެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ހިޔާލުތަކުގެ ކުލަވަރަށް ވެސް އެތައް ބޮޅުތަކެއް ގެތިދާނެއެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ހިޔާލުތަކުގެ ކުލަޖެހޭނީ ދާސިއާގެ 5 ވަނަ ޖީލުން ކަމަށް ވެދާނެއެވެ. އެދުވަހު ދަދުވަރުގެ ފެންވަރު ތަފާތު ވެދާނެއެވެ. ދަދުވަރުގެ ފަރާތުން ދާސިއާ ފަދަ އެހެން ކުއްޖަކާ ގުޅުން ބާއްވާ މަންޒަރެއް ފެންނާނީ ދަދުވަރާ ގުޅުން ބާއްވާ ކުއްޖެއްގެ ކިބައީގައި ވެސް ދާސިއާ ފަދަ ކޮށްމެވެސް ފެންވަރެއް ހުރެގެން ކަމަށް ދާސިއާ ޤަބޫލުކުރެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރުގެ ވާހަކަތައް ކަނުލައި އަޑުއަހައެވެ. އަދި ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރުގެ ކޮށްމެ ވާހަކައަކަށް އަމަލުކުރެވޭތޯ ކަނޑައަޅައި މަސައްކަތް ކުރެއެވެ. މިކަމުގައި ދާސިޢާ އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް ދަދުވަރަށް އޮޅުވާނުލަނީ ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާގެ އަތުން ދޫވެގެން ދިޔުމުގެ ބިރު އޮތީމައެވެ. މަރުވުމަށް ފަހު ކޮނެފައި ކޮށްމެ ވަޅަކަށް އެންމެ މީހެއް ލާފަދައިން، ކޮށްމެ މީހެއްވެސް ކެޔުމަށްޓަކައި އެއް ތަށި ބޭނުންކުރާ ފަދައިން ދާސިއާ ބޭނުންވަނީ، އަމާން އޮމާން ކަމާއިއެކު އެކެއްގެ ލޯބިން މިދުނިޔޭގައި ފުއްދާލުމަށެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް ލޯބީގެ ގޮތުން މާގިނަ މީހުންނާ ގުޅެންޏާ ނަތީޖާ ރަގަޅުނުވާނެ ކަމަށް ފެންނާތީއެވެ. ދޫނި ސޫފިވެސް އެއެއްޗެއްގެ ހާލި ފަސޭހަ ކަމާއިއެކު ދެނެގަނެއެވެ. އެހެންކަމުން ދާސިއާގެ މަޤާމު ދާސިއާއަށް ރަގަޅަށް އެނގެއެވެ. އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް ކަންބޮޑުވެގެން ބަނޑުފުރާނަ މުއްތި ނުކުރެވިގެން ދާސިއާ އުޅެން ޖެހޭނީ ދާސިއާގެ މަޤާމު މަތިން ދާސިއާ ޙަދާން ނެތިގެން ކަމަށް ދާސިއާ ޤަބޫލުކުރެއެވެ. "އަހަރެން ދަދުވަރަށް މިގުޅީ ލަސްވެގެން....." ދާސިއާމެންގެ ގޭގައި ހުންނަ ފޯނުން ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރާ ގުޅިއެވެ. "މިހާރު މިދަނީ....." ދަދުވަރުގެ އަޑުގައި އެކުލެވިގެން ވަނީ ފިލުމީ މަންޒަރެއްގެ އަޑެވެ. ދާސިއާއެކު ރަގަޅު ގޭމެއް ކުޅެން ދަދުވަރު ބޭނުން ވާތީއެވެ. "އަހަރެން އަރަންވީތަ؟......." ދަދުވަރު އައިސް ދާސިއާގެ ކައިރީ ސައިކަލުގައި މަޑުކޮށްލިއެވެ. އޭރު ދާސިއާ މެންގެ ގެ ދާސިއާގެ ދައްތަގެ ކައިވެނި ސަޔަށް ތައްޔާރު ކުރަމުން ދެއެވެ. އެކަށީގެންވާ ވަރަށް ރީތި ލަވަތައް ސްޕީކަރުތަކުން ޖަހަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ހީވަނީ އެގެ ޤައުމީ ކަމަކަށް ތައްޔާރު ވާހެންނެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް ބައެއް ފަހަރަށް ހީވަމުން ދިޔައީ އެ ކޮންސެޓް ނިންމާފައި އެ ދެ މީހުން ކައިވެނި ކުރަންވީ ކަމަށެވެ. ނޫނީ އެ ދެ މީހުންގެ ކައިވެނި ކުރުމުގެ ނަމޫނާއެއް ދައްކަނީ ކަމަށެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް އަދި ދަދުވަރަށް އެ ކޮންސެޓް ރީތިވިއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް އެ ކޮންސެޓުން ދާސިއާ ދަންނަ މޫނުތައް ފެންނަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދަދުވަރަށް ވެސް ދަދުވަރު ދަންނަ މޫނުތައް އެ ކޮންސެޓުން ފެންނަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. އެކިއެކި ކުލާސްތައް ވަކިވަކިން ކޮންސެޓް ހުށައަޅަމުން ގެންދިޔައެވެ. ދުވަހަކީ ލަތީފާ ގަނޫނު ކިޔަވާ ސުކޫލުގެ ތަމްސީލު އޮންނަ ދުވަހެވެ. ދާސިއާ ނަމާދުކޮށްލައިގެން ނުކުތްއިރު ދާރިނާ ހުރީ ދާސިއާގެ ފޮތްތައް އުކާލާފައެވެ. ދާރިނާ ސަބަބަކަށް ނަގަނީ ދާސިއާއަށް ކުލާހުން ލިބިފައިވާ މާކުސް ދައްކަމެވެ. ދާސިއާ ސުކޫލުގެ އަންހެން ފުޓްބޯޅަ ޓީމުގައި ބައިވެރިވެފައި ފުޓްބޯޅަ ކުޅެން ދާންޖެހުނު ގަޑިޖެހުނު އިރުވެސް ފްޓުބޯޅަ ކުޅެން މިދުވަހު ނުދެވުނެވެ. މިދުވަހު ދާސިއާ ދެ ހިތާމަ ކުރަންޖެހުނެވެ. އެއްވެސް އަގެއްނެތް ކުއްޖެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ކުލާހުގެ ކުދިން ދާސިއާމެދު ދެކިދާނެތީ ދާސިއާ ވިސްނިއެވެ. ސަލާން ޖަހައިގެން ކާން ޖެހުނަސް ވަގުތުން އެގެއިން ނުކުމެގެން ނުދާން ދާސިއާ ނިންމިއެވެ. އަބުރުވެރި އަންހެން ކުއްޖަކަށް ވުމުގެ މަގުސަދުގައެވެ. ދާސިއާ މިވަގުތު ބޮލުގެ ބޭނުން ހިފައިގެން އިތުރަށް ރޭވީ މި ފަދަ ގޮތެއް ދާސިއާގެ މަންމަ ދާރިނާގެ ފަރާތުން ނުވާނެ ގޮތަކާއި މެދުގައެވެ. ލަތީފާ ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ ލަތީފު ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް ދާސިއާމެން ފުޓްބޯޅަ މުބާރާތް އޮންނަ ތަނަށް އައިސް އުޅޭތީ އެކަމާ މެދުގައެވެ. އެ ފުޓްބޯޅަ މުބާރާތް އޮންނަ ތަނުގައި ހަމައެކަނި ދަދުވަރު ދަނަން ކުއްޖަކަށް ހުރި ދާސިއާ ކަމުގައި ވާތީ ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާއާ ވާހަކަދައްކަން ލަދުގަނެފާނެ ކަމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ދުވަހަކީ ދާސިއާ އުޅޭ ސުކޫލުގެ ތަމުސީލު ކުޅެން ހަމަޖެހިފައި އޮތް ދުވަހެވެ. ތަމްސީލު ކުޅެން ހެދުން އެޅުމުގެ ތެރޭގައި، ލަތީފުގެ އެހީތެރިކަމަށް ބޭނުންވެގެން ލަތީފުގެ އަތް ލަތީފާގެ މޭމަތީގައި ޖެހޭގޮތް ވިއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ތަމްސީލަށް ތައްޔާރުވިއިރު ލާފާއިވާ ކޯޓް ފަޓްލޫނުގެ ރީތިކަމުން ދާސިއާ ވައްތަރީ މިނިސްޓަރަކާއެވެ. ދާސިއާ އެހެން މިނިސްޓަރުންނާ ވާދަކޮށް ހާރިޖީ ވަޒީރުގެ މަޤާމު ދާސިއާމެން ކުޅުނު ތަމްސީލުން ފުރައިދެއެވެ. އެއްރެއެއްގެ ދަންވަރު ވަގުތެއްގައި ޖިންނިދެކެ ބިރުން ހުރެފައި، ދާސިއާ އެ ހުންނަ ގޭގެ ގޭތެރެއަށް ނުކުތެވެ. އޭރު ޖިންނި އެތަނުން ހިނގައްޖެއެވެ. މިވަގުތު ދާސިއާ ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ ޖިންނިއަށް ދާސިއާގެ ދުވަސްދުއްވާލުމުގައި ކިހާދުވަހެއް ނަގާނެ ކަމާއި މެދުގައެވެ. އެއީ ޖިންނީގެ ވާހަކަހުންނަ ގޮތުންނެވެ. ޖިންނީގެ ވާހަކައީގައި ކުރިޢާ އަޅާބަލާއިރު ތަފާތުތަކެއް ހުރުމުންނެވެ. "ދާސިއާ..... ދާސިއާ..... އަހަރެން ލުބުނާއަށް މި ގޮވަނީ އަހަރެމެންގެ ގުޅުމަށް ހެޔޮ ބަދަލުތަކެއް ގެނައުމަށްޓަކާ. އަދައްވުރެ ފަހި މާދަމައަކަށް އެދޭތީ. ރަގަޅު ތިލަފަތަކުން އަހަރެމެންގެ ގުޅުން ރަގަޅަށް ކިރައި ހަމަހަމަ ކުރުމަށްޓަކާ. ހަމައެކަނި ލުބުނާދެކެ ނޫނީ ލުބުނާއަށް ލިބެން އުޅޭ ދަރިދެކެ ލޯބިވުމަކުން މި ގުޅުން ފުއްދާލެވޭކަށް ނެތް. އޮޔެ ހުރީ ރަގަޅަށް. " ޖިންނީ އަނެއްކާވެސް އެގޭ ގޯއްޗެތެރަށް ވަނެވެ. ކޮށްމެވެސް ލަނޑެއް ދާސިއާއަށް ދީފައި ނޫނީ ނުދިއުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. މިފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް ދާސިއާގެ ކަންތައް ކުރިއަށް ގެންދާނަމަ ދާސިއާގެ ލޯބި ކާމިޔާބު ކުރެވޭ އެއްޗެވެ. ދެރަ ކަމެއް ޖިންނިއާ ކުރިމަތި ނުވާނެކަން ޖިންނިއަށް ޤަބޫލު ކުރެވޭތީއެވެ. ****** އެހެން ރެއެއްގައި ޖިންނި ބޭނުންވީ ދާސިއާ އެގެއިން ނެރެލައިގެން ރަސްގެތީމު ވަލަށް ގެންދިއުމަށެވެ. ގެންގޮސް ހޭނައްތައިލުމަށެވެ. އިރުއެރުމުން ދާސިއާ ހޯދަން މީހުން އަންނާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އެރެއަށްފަހު ދާސިއާގެ ލޯބި ޖިންނީގެ މަށްޗައް އިތުރު ކުރުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ޖިންނި ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ އިތުރަށް ޖިންނިއާ ދާސިއާއާ ދޭތެރަށް މީހަކަށް ނުވަދެވޭނެ ވަރަށެވެ. ދާސިއާއާ ދަދުވަރުގެ ފަރާތުން ލިބޭ ދަރިއަކާ ލޯބީގެ ގޮތުން ގުޅުމަށް ހުންނަން ކެތް ނުކުރެވިގެންނެވެ. ގާތްގަނޑަކަށް މުޅިން ޔަޤީންވާ ގޮތައް ދުނިޔަ ހިތަކަށް ލިބުމުން ލިބުނު ފުރުސަތުގެ ބޭނުން ހިފުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ދާސިއާއާއި ދާސިއާގެ ދަރިން ކުރެ ކޮށްމެވެސް އެކެއް ކާމިޔާބު ކުރުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ޖިންނި ހާންސް ކަމެއް އިތުރަށް ދުނިޔޭގެ އުފާވެރި ދުވަސްތައް ވޭތުކުރުމުގައި ނުގެންގުޅެން ވެގެންނެވެ. ދޭތެރެއަކުން ހިންހަމަނުޖެހޭ ކަމެއް ހިތައް މަދުފަހަރެއްގައި ކުރިމަތި ވިޔަސް އެކަންތައް ކަމަކަށް ނުހެދުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ނަތީޖާއަކީ އިންސާނުން ފަދައިން ޖިންނި ބޭނުންވާ ގޮތައް ގަދައަޅައި މަސައްކަތްކޮށްފި ނަމަ ނެރެވިދާނެ އެއްޗަކަށްވާތީއެވެ. ކޮށްމެ އިންސާނެއް ފަދައިން ޖިންނި ވެސް ފުރިހަމަ ނަތީޖާއަކަށް ކޮށްމެ ކަމެއްގައި ވެސް އުންމީދު ކުރެއެވެ. މިފަދަ ނަތީޖާއަކަށް ހުޝިޔާރު ރޭވުންތަކަކަށް ބޭނުން ވެއެވެ. ޖަހާހާ ބެރަކަށް ނުނަށާ ގޮތަށެވެ. އުންމީދުން ފުރިގެންވާ ހިޔާލުތަކެއް ހިތްމަށްޗަށް ގެނެސްގެން ހުރެއެވެ. ވިއްސާރައަކަށް އަށްވަކަށް ބެލުމެއް ނެތިއެވެ. ވައިޖެހޭ ކޮޅަށް އޮޑި ދުއްވާލާ ގޮތަށެވެ. ޓަސްޓަސް ލާފައި ހިތުގައި ބައެއްފަހަރު ޖަހާ ވިންދު އަވަސްވަމުން ދިޔައަސް އިދިކޮޅުން ނުކުންނަ މީހުންގެ އަތްމަށްޗަށް ނުދެމޭ ގޮތަށެވެ. ވާނުވާ ބެލުމުގެ ސަމުގާ ނިއްވާ ނުލައި އެ ސަމުގާގެ ކޮށްމެ މަންޒަރަކަށް ހޭއަރައި ވިސްނައިގެން ހުރެއެވެ. ****** ސެޕްޓެންބަރ މަހެއްގެ 18 ވަނަ ދުވަހެވެ. ޖިންނީގެ އުނދަގުލާ ހުރެ އެދުވަހު ރޭގަނޑު ދާސިޢާ ގެއިން ނުކުންނަން ޖެހިއްޖެއެވެ. ސަބަބަކަށް ވަނީ ދާސިއާ، ޖިންނިއާ ދެމެދު ދެއްކިފައިވާ ވާހަކަތަކަށް ދާސިއާއަށް އަމަލު ނުކުރެވުމެވެ. ޖިންނިއަށް ދާސިއާގެ ވާހަކަތަކަކީ ދޮގު ބުހުތާން ވާހަކަތަކެއް ހެން ހީވުމެވެ. ޖިންނިއަށް ދާސިއާގެ ސަބަބުން ނުއުފުލޭ ވަރުގެ ބުރައެއް ޖެހިދާނެހެން ހީވުމެވެ. މި މުސީބާތުގައި ޖިންނި ވާނުވާ ނޭންގި ފަތަން ޖެހިދާނެ ކަމެވެ. ދެރަކަމަކީ ޖިންނީގެ އާއިލާއަށް މި ކަމުގެ ގެއްލުން ފޯރަފާނެ ކަމުގެ ބިރު ޖިންނިއަށް ހީވުމެވެ. ލޯބީގެ ވާހަކަތަކަކުން މިކަން ހަމަ ޖައްސާލެވޭކަށް ނެތްކަމަށް ޖިންނިއަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވުމެވެ. ޖިންނީގެ ހަނދާނަށް އަންނަނީ މިފަދަ ކަމެއް ދެވަނަ ފަހަރަށް ދާސިއާގެ ފަރާތުން ކުރިމަތިވެއްޖެ ނަމަ، ދާސިއާއާ ވާހަކަދައްކައިގެން ފައިދާ ނެގުމުގެ މުހިންމު ކަން ތަކުރާރުކޮށް ކުރީގައި ވިސްނާފާވާ ކަމެވެ. އެއްވެސް ޔަޤީން ކަމެއް ނެތި ދާސިއާ ގުޅުން ކަނޑާލައިފި ނަމަ ފަހުން ހިތާމަ ކުރަން ޖެހިދާނެ ކަމެވެ. ****** ދާސިއާއަށް ނިދިފައި ކަހަލަ ގޮތަކަށް އޮވެފައި ޖިންނި ހީކުރިގޮތާ ހިލާފައް ހޭލެވިއްޖެއެވެ. ****** ޖިންނި އެއްރެއެއްގައި ދާސިއާ ދިމާލަށް ޙާއްސަ ބެލުމަކުން ބަލާލިއެވެ. ޖިންނި ދާސިއާ ކައިރިއަށް ދިޔައީ ކޮށްމެވސް މުސީބާތެއް ޖިންނިއަށް އަންނަން އުޅޭހެން ހީވާތީ ކެތް ނުކުރެވިގެންނެވެ. ދެރަކަމުގެ ކޮޅެއް ނެތޭ ޖިންނި ހިތައްއެރީ އިންސާނުން، ޖިންނިންގެ ފަރާތުން ސަލާމަތައް އެދޭ ފަދައިން ޖިންނި، ދާސިއާ ކުރެން ސަލާމަތައް އެދޭން ޖެހުމުންނެވެ. މިއަކީ ޒަމާނެއްގައި ވެސް ޖިންނި ކުރަން ވިސްނާފާވާ ކަމެއް ނޫނެވެ. ދޭތެރެއަކުން ޖިންނި ފެނުމުން ދާސިއާގެ ބޮލައް ތަދުވާގޮތް ވިއެވެ. އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް ޖިންނިއަށް ސަލާމަތުގެ އަތެއް ދިއްކޮށްނުލެވޭނޭ ފަހުން ޖިންނި ހިތައް އެރިއެވެ. ****** ޖިންނި ހަމަޖެހިލައިގެން ހުރެ ދާސިއާ ޖިންނީގެ އަވައީގައި ޖެއްސިއެވެ. އެއްވެސް އޮޅުމެއް ނެތްގޮތުގައި ޖިންނި މިކަން ކުރީ ލަތީފާގެ ލޯތްބައް އެދި ސަލާމްޖަހަން ބޭނުން ވެގެންނެއް ނޫނެވެ. ލަތީފާގެ ބައްޕަ ލުގުމާނު، ޖިންނިއަށް ފަންޑިތަ ހަދާތީއެވެ. އެ ފަންޑިތަތަކުގެ ޙާނސްކަން ޖިންނީގެ ހިތުތެރޭގައި ބޮޑުވަމުން އެވަގުތައް ދާތީއެވެ. ޖިންނިއަށް ޔަޤީންކަން ކުޑަވާ އިތުރު ސަބަބަބެއް ޖިންނިއަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރަން މަޖުބޫރު ވެއްޖެއެވެ. އޮމާންކޮށް ދެކެމުން އައި މުސްތަގުބަލުގެ ދުވަސްތަކަށް ބަނަކަން އަންނާނެ ކަމަށް ހީވުމެވެ. ލޫތުގެ އުނދަގޫތަކުގެ އަޑުފައްގަނޑުން ޖިންނީގެ ސިކުނޑިއަށް ގުޑުން ގެނުވޭނެ ކަމަށް ހީވުމެވެ. އިތުރު ވިސްނުމަކަށް ޖިންނި ދާން ބޭނުމެއް ނުވެއެވެ. ސަބަބަކީ ދެރަކަމުގެ އަލާމާތްތައް ފެންނަން ފެށުމުން ލަތީފާދެކެ ވާ ލޯބީގެ ނުވަތަ ފަހަރެއްގައި ލަތީފާއާއި ލަތީފު އިނދެގެން ދަރިއެއް ލިބިއްޖެނަމަ އެ ދަރިއާ ލަތީފާއާއި ލަތީފު، ޖިންނިއާ ގުޅާދޭނަމަ އެ ދަރި ދެކެ ވާނެ ލޯބި މަތިން ޖިންނި ހަނދާންވުމުން، ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ކުރިމަގު އޮތީ މި ގުޅުމަށް ފުރަގަސް ދިނުމުން ކަމަށް ޖިންނިއަށް ހީވާތީއެވެ. ލަތީފާ ޖިންނީގެ ހަނދާންވާ ވަގުތުތަކުގައި ލަތީފާގެ ކިޑުނީގައި މައްސަލައެއް އުޅޭކަމަށް ހީވާން ފަށައިފިއެވެ. އެއްވެސް އޮޅުވުމެއް ނެތި ލަތީފާގެ ހަނދާނަށް ވެސް މިކަމުގެ އުނދަގޫވާން ފެށުމުން ވަރަށް ފަސޭހަ ކަމާއިއެކު ޑޮކުޓަރަށް ދައްކައިފިއެވެ. ޑޮކުޓަރުގެ ފުރަތަމަ ބަހުންވެސް ލަތީފާގެ މޫނުމަތީގައި ޕަސްލާފައި އެތިފަހަރެއް ޖެހިކަހަލައެވެ. ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ އެއްވެސް ބޭނުމެއް ނެތޭ ލަތީފާ ހިތާތާ ކިޔާލިއެވެ. ޑޮކުޓަރު ލަތީފާ އެފަދަ ބައްޔެއްގައި ދިޔައީމާ ސާބަހުގެ ހަމަ އެއްވެސް ބަހެއް ނުބުނުމުން ލަތީފާގެ އެތެރެ ހަށީގައި ލޭ ނުހިނގާ ކަހަލައެވެ. ****** ލަތީފާއަށް، ޖިންނީގެ ކިބައިން ސަލާމާތް ނުވެވޭނެހެން ހީވުމުން ޖިންނީގެ ވާހަކަ ލަތީފާގެ މަންމަ ލުބުނާ ކައިރީ ދައްކައިފިއެވެ. މި ދުވަސްވަރަކީ އާންމުކޮށް ސިޓީ ފޮނުވައިގެން ވާހާކަދައްކާ ދުވަސްވަރު ކަމުގައި ވިޔަސް މި ދުވަސްވަރާއި އަޅާބަލާއިރު ތަންޚޮޅެއް މަދުކޮށް ފޯނުގެ މުއާސަލާތު އޮތް ދުވަސްވަރު ކަމުން ލަތީފާ މިވާހަކަތައް ލުބުނާ ކައިރީ ދެއްކީ ރަސްގެތީމު އޮފީހު ފޯނުން ގުޅައިގެންނެވެ. ލުބުނާ މިވާހަކަތައް އަޑުއަހާފައި އިންތިހާއަށް ކަންބޮޑުވިއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މާލޭގައި ލަތީފާ ހުރުމަށްވުރެ ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ލަތީފާ ހުރުން އަދިވެސް ރަގަޅުކަމަށް ވިސްނީ ލަތީފާ އަދި މީހަކާ ދެވާ ހިޔާލު ނުގެންގުޅޭތީއާއި ލަތީފާ، ލުބުނާގެ އެހެން ދަރިންނަށްވުރެ ދެރަކޮށް ކިޔަވާފައި ހުރުމުންނެވެ. ލޯބީގެ ވާހަކަތަކަކީ ލަތީފާގެ ފަރާތުން ލުބުނާ އަހަން ބޭނުން ނުވާ ވާހަކަތަކަކަށް ވާއިރު އެފަދަ ވާހަކަތައް ލުބުނާ ކައިރީ ދެއްކުމަށް ލަތިފާ ޖެހިލުން ވެއެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް ލުބުނާއަކީ ލަތީފާ ވިހާ ބޮޑުކުރި މަންމައަށް ވާތީ އެތެރެފުއް ލުބުނާއަށް ދެއްކުމަށް ލަތީފާ ބޭނުން ވެއެވެ. ލުބުނާގެ ފިރިމިހާ އަދި ލަތީފާގެ ބައްޕަ ލޫތު މާލެ ކައިރީ ރިސޯޓަކަށް ދާގޮތައް ހަމަޖެހިއްޖެއެވެ. އެއީ ރަށްޓިއްސެއް ބުނެގެން އެ ރިސޯޓްގައި ހުރި ފިހާރަތަކެއް ބަލާލަން ކުރާ ދަތުރެކެވެ. ލޫތުއާ އެކު ލޫތު އޭނައާ އެކު ގެންދިއުމުގެ އެހެން ބޭނުމެއް އެބައޮތެވެ. އެއީ ލަތީފާއަކީ އެގޭ އެހެން ކުދިންނަށް ވުރެ ފެންވަރުދައް ކުއްޖެއް ކަމުގައި ވިޔަސް ލޫތުގެ ރަޙުމަތްތެރި ހަސަނަކީ ވިޔަފާރި ކުރާ މީހަކަށް ވާތީ ލަތީފާގެ ކައިވެންޏައް ލޫތު ކައިރިން އެދުމެވެ. ރިސޯޓައް އެރިއިރު ލޫތުމެންނަށް ސައިހަދާ ރިސޯޓްގެ ގޮނޑުދޮށައް ރިސޯޓްގެ ބައެއް މުވައްޒަފުން އެއްވެ ތިއްބެވެ. ރިސޯޓްގެ މުވައްޒަފުން ހިންހަމަޖެހޭކަހަލަ ރިސޯޓްގެ ކުރިއެރުމަށް މަގުފަހިވުމުގެ ކަންތައްތަކެއް ކުރުމުގެ ބޮޅުފަތި މިމީހުން އަޔުމުން ގެތޭނެތީއެވެ. ރިސޯޓައް އެރި ގޮތައް ހަސަނުގެ ވާހަކަ ހުރިގޮތުން ލޫތު ފިހާރައީގެ ދޮރުގައި ހިފާލިއިރު ލޫތުއަށް ލަތީފާގެ ފޯނެއް އާދެއެވެ. ހަސަނުގެ ކަންފަތުގައި ލަތީފާގެ އަޑުޖެހުމުން ހަސަނުގެ ގައިން ހީބިހި ނަގައިގެން ދިޔައެވެ. ހަސަނު ކެތްތެރި ކަމާއިއެކު ލޫތުގެ ފޯނުގެ އަޑު ބާރުކަމުން ލަތީފާއާއި ލޫތު ދައްކާވާހަކަ އަޑުއަހަން ހުއްޓެވެ. ****** ލުބުނާއަށް ލަތީފާ ފޯނުން ގުޅިތާ ދެތިން ދުވަސްފަހުން، ލަތީފާގެ ވާހަކަތަކަށް ކެތްނުކުރެވިގެން ލަތީފާއަށް ލުބުނާ ފޯނުން ގުޅިއެވެ. މި ކޯލު ނުކުރާނަމަ ލުބުނާ ދެކެމުން އައީ ލުބުނާގެ ދިރިއުޅުމުގައި ޔަޤީންކުރަން ޖެހޭ ކަންތައްތަކަށް ބަދަލުތަކެއް އަންނާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. އެއްވެސް ހާލެއްގައި ދަރިއެކޭ ކިޔާފައި ދަރިއަށް އަދަބު އަޙުލާގު ދަސްކޮށް ނުދީ ފަރު ނުޖެއްސުމަށެވެ. އަދި ލަތީފާއާ ދިމާލަށް އެއްޗެތި ކިޔާގަތުމުގެ ބޭނުމުގައެވެ. ދާރިނާ މިކަންކުރީ ދާރިނާއަށް ކޮށްމެވެސް އުނދަގުލެއް ވާތަން ހުވަފެނުން ފެނިގެންނެވެ. ދާސިއާ އެގޭ އެހެން ކުދިންނަށްވުރެ ދައްކަން އެނގިހުރެއެވެ. އެއްވެސްވަރަކަށް ދާސިއާއަށް އަދަބު އިޙުތިރާމު ކުރުމުގެ މޫނުމަތި ދެއްކިޔަސް އެފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް ނޫނެވެ. ނުރަގަޅު ނަތީޖާއެއް ނުކުމެދާނެ ކަމަށް ބިރުން ހުރެއެވެ. ****** ފާއިޒާ މަސައްކަތް ކުރަނީ ރަގަޅަށްތޯ ފަޒުނާ ފާރަލަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ****** ދާސިއާއަށް އެއްދުވަހެއްގައި ދަދުވަރު ފޯނުން ގުޅިއެވެ. ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރު ގުޅުމުން އަތިރިމަށްޗަށް އައެވެ. ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރު ރަސްގެތީމު ހޮޅުއަށީގައި ތިބެ މެންދުރު ގަޑީގައި ނިދިއައިސްގެން އޮށޯވެ އެތަނުގައި ނިދިއެވެ. އެ ހޮޅުއަށްޓަކީ ރަސްގެތީމު ވަލުތެރޭގައި ހުންނަ ހޯޅުއަށްޓެކެވެ. އެހިސާބައް އާންމު ގޮތެއްގައި މީހުން އައިސް ނޫޅެއެވެ. އެހެން ދުވަހެއްގައި ރަސްގެތީމު ކައިރީ މީހުން ނޫޅޭ ރަށަކަށް ދަތުރުގޮސްފައި ދާސިއާ ގިފިއްޔަށް ފެންވަރަން ވަންކަން، ދާސިއާގެ އަންޑަސްކޯޓު ފެނުމުން ދަދުވަރަށް އެނގުނެވެ. ****** ދާސިއާއަށް އާމުދަނީއެއް ހޯދުމުގެ މުހިންމު ކަން ބޮޑުވެއްޖެއެވެ. ސަބަބަކަށް ވަނީ ދަދުވަރުއާ ކައިވެނި ކުރުން ލަސް ވަމުން ދާތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް ބައިވަރު ފައިސާތަކެއް ނުލިބުނަސް ހަމަޖެހެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާ ހޯދުމުގެ ގޮތުން ކުރާ ކަންތައްތަކުގެ ނަތީޖާ ރަގަޅުވާނެ ކަން ވެސް ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ހީކުރިގޮތުން ދަދުވަރުގެ ބައްޕަ އަތުގައި ފައިސާ ގިނަވީމާ ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާ އަދާކުރާކަށް ނުޖެހޭނެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ދާސިއާގެ ގާތުގައި ދާސިއާއާ އެއްކޮށް ކިޔެވި އުނގޫފާރު ރަށްޓިއްސެއް ބުނީ ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާއަކަށް ވަނުން ބުއްދިވެރި ކަމަށެވެ. ފަން ޖިފުޓިގަނޑެއްގައި ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ދުވަސްތައް ހޭދަކުރުން ބުއްދިވެރި ނޫން ވާހަކައެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ރަސްޓިހި ކުއްޖާ މާނަކުރީ ދާސިއާ ހުންން ގޭ މީހުން ދާސިއާއަށް ރަގަޅު ނޫން ގޮތަށެވެ. މީނާ ރަސްގެތީމަށް އައިސް އުޅުނީ ޓީޗަރެއްގެ ގޮތުގައެވެ. ރަސްގެތީމު ސުކޫލުގައި ވަޒީފާ އަދާކުރާށެވެ. އަދި ފަން ޖިފުޓިގަނޑެކޭ ދާސިއާގެ ރަޙުމަތްތެރިއާ ބުނި ބަހުގެ މާނަ ދާސިއާ ކުރަނީ، ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާއަކަށް ނުދަންޏާ ދާސިއާގެ ދިރިއުޅުން ވިއްސިވިހާލިވާ ގޮތުގައެވެ. އެއްވެސް އޮޅުމެއް ނެތްގޮތުގައި ދާސިއާ އިންދަން ބޭނުންވާ ލޯބީގެ ބަގީޗާއިން އެންމެ މަލެއް ވެސް ބިނދެވޭނީ ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާއަށް ގޮސްގެން ކަމަށްވާތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާއަށް ދާ އޮފީހުގެ ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި ދާސިއާގެ އަތައް އަރާނެ ދުވަހަކަށް ދާސިއާ އިންތިޒާރު ކުރެއެވެ. އެއީ ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް އަމިއްލަމީހުން މަސައްކަތްކޮށް އޮފީސް ހަދައިގެން އުޅޭކަން އެނގޭތީއެވެ. ބޭނުމަކީ އެފަދަ ދުވަސްވަރެއްގައި ދަދުވަރާ ކައިވެނި ކުރާ ވާހަކަ ތަންކޮޅެއް ބޮޑައް ދެއްކުމެވެ. އެންމެފަހުން އަބީރާހުގެ އުނދަގޫތައް ހަނދާން ނައްތާލާފައި އެރަށު އާންމު ފަރުދަކު ހިންގާ އޮފީހަކަށް ދާސިއާ ވަޒީފާއަށް ދާން ފަށައިފިއެވެ. ****** ދުވަސްތައް މާޒީގެތެރެއަށް ގުނެމުން ދެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ އެ ޖިންނިއާ ދިމާނުވާތާ ދުވަސްތަކެއް ވެއެޖެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ކަންބޮޑުވީ އަނެއްކާވެސް ޖިންނި އައިސްފިނަމަ ދައްކާނެ ވާހަކަތަކެއް ނޭންގޭތީއެވެ. "އަހަރެން ވަރަށް ކަންބޮޑުވޭ މާގިނައިން ޖިންނި މިގެއަށް އަންނާތީ. އަހަރެންނަށް ރަގަޅީ ޖިންނީ، ޖިންނީގެ ގޭގައި މަޑުކުރިއްޔާ." ދާސިއާ އެއްރެއެއްގެ ދަނަވަރު ވަގުތެއްގައި ޖިންނިއާ ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. ****** ލަތީފާގެ ކިޑުނީގެ ބައްޔަށް ބޭސްކުރަން ފެށިއްޖެއެވެ. ލަތީފުއަށް އެބަލީގައި ޙާސްކަން އެކުލެވިގެން ވާތީ ލަތީފާ ރަސްގެތީމު އޮފީހު ފޯނުން ލަތީފުއާ ގުޅިއެވެ. އޭރު ލަތީފު ހުރީ މާލޭގައެވެ. ލަތީފުގެ ބައްޕަގެ ފިހާރައެއް މާލޭގައި ހުންނާތީ އެ ފިހާރައަށް ކާށި، ބަރަބޯ، ކަރާ ފަދަ ތަކެތި ހިފައިގެން ގޮހެވެ. ލަތީފުގެ މައިންބަފައިންގެ ދަރިން ގިނަކަމުން ލަތީފަކީ އެ އާއިލާގެ ދަށު ދަރަޖައީގެ މީހެކެވެ. އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް ލަތީފުއާ ލަތީފާ ގޫޅިއިރު ލަތީފު، ލަތީފާ ކައިރިއަށް އައިސްފާނެ ކަމަށް ލަތީފާ ނުވިސްނައެވެ. ސަހީމާ ދެން ވިސްނަން ފެށީ ސަހީމާގެ ނިކަމެތި ކަމުގެ ކޮޅުނެތް ކޮޅާ މެދުގައެވެ. ސަހީމާގެ މައިންބަފައިން ސަހީމާ ކިޔެވުމަށް ދައްކަމުން ރަސްގެތީމާށް ފޮނުވާލި ކަމާއި ސާހުމެންގެ އާއިލާއިން ސަހީމާގެ ނިކަމެތި ކަމުން ސާހު، ސަހީމާއާ ގުޅުން ނުބޭއްވުމަށް ތަކުރާރުކޮށް އެ އާއިލާއިން ބުނަމުންދާ ވާހަކަ ސާހު ސަހީމާ ކައިރީ ބުނެފައި ވާތީއެވެ. ސަހީމާ ޤަބޫލުކުރަން ފެށީ ސަހީމާގެ ކިޑުނީ ބައްޔަށް ފަހު އެހެން ބައްޔެއް ސަހީމާގެ ގައީގަ އަށަގަންނާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. އިތުރަށް މި ބަލިތަކުން ސަލާމަތް ވުމަށްޓަކައި ކުރާނެ ކަމެއް ލަތީފާއަށް ވިސްނުމަށް މަޖުބޫރު ވިއެވެ. ނޭންގުމެއްގެ ތެރޭގައި ބަލިމީހެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ގޭގައި މަޑުކޮށްގެން އިނުން ބުއްދިވެރި ނޫންކަމަށް ސަހީމާއަށް ވިސްނުނެވެ. ދެން އަނެއްކާ އެއީ ރަސްގެތީމުއަށް ވާތީއެވެ. މާލެ އާއި ރަސްގެތީމާ އަޅާބަލާއިރު ތަފާތުތަކެއް ހުރީމައެވެ. ކާހިއްކެނޑުމަކީ އާންމުގޮތެއްގައި ސަހީމާއަށް ވާކަމެކެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ސުރަށްޔާ މިކަންކަން ކަމަކަށް ނަހަދަނީ އާންމުކޮށް ބައެއް މީހުން މި ވާހަކަދައްކައި އުޅޭތީއެވެ. ސުރަށްޔާ ފިކުރު ބޮޑުވަނީ ސުރަށްޔާއަށް މީހަކު ނުރުހުންވާ ފަދަ ކަމެއް ކުރެވިފައި ވުމާއި މެދުގައެވެ. ސައިންސުވެރިން ދިރާސާތަކުން ދައްކާ ގޮތައް، ސުރައްޔާގެ ފެންވަރު ދައްކަމުގައި ވިޔަސް، އަނެއް ބަޔަކަށް ސުރަށްޔާގެ ފެންވަރު މަށްޗެވެ. އެއީ ސައިންސުވެރިން ބެލި ބެލުމުގައި މީހަކު ދައްހެން ބަޔަކަށް ހީވާނަމަ އަނެއް ބަޔަކަށް އެ މީހަކު މަތިވެއެވެ. އެއީ ދުނިޔެ ހިނގަނީ ތޮށަލި ދުޅަޔަށްވާ އުސޫލުން، ދައްވުމަކަށް ފަހު މަތިވުމެއް އަންނަ އުސޫލަށެވެ. ސުރަށްޔާ ކިޑުނީ އޮޕަރޭސަން ކުރަން މާލެދާ ވާހަކަ ބުނުމުން ރަސްގެތީމު ސުރަށްޔާ ހުންނަ ގޭގެ ވެރިމީހާ ކަމުގައިވާ ސާހިދާ ހެދީ އަޑު ނުއިވޭ ކަމަށެވެ. އަދި މިވަރުން ނިންމާނުލައި ދެން އާނިޔަތައް އެގޭގައި ދެން މާލެ އިން ރަސްގެތީމަށް އަޔުމަށް ފަހު ނުހުރެވޭނެ ވާހަކަ ބުންޏެވެ. މިކަމާ އާނިޔަތު އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް އަޅާނުލާ ހުރުމުން އާސިޔަތު، އާނިޔަތު ގަޔަށް އިތުރަށް ޖެސުން ކުރުމުގެ ގޮތުން ކާންއިން ބަތްތަށި ޖެހިއެވެ. މިކަމުގެ ސަބަބުން އާނިޔަތު ޖެހިގެން އަންނަ ދުވަހުގެ ރޭގައި ރަސްގެތީމު އަލިމަސް ދޯނިން ފުރަން ހަމަޖެހިފައި އޮށްވާ ނުފުރޭގޮތައް ހަމަޖައްސަން ޖެހުނެވެ. އެއީ އާނިޔަތުގެ ވާހަކަ އަލިމަސް ދޯނީ ނެވި މުއާޒު ކައިރީ އާސިޔަތު ދެއްކުމުގެ ސަބަބުން، އާސިޔަތުގެ ބަހަށް މުއާޒު ބާރުދޭން ބޭނުން ވުމުގެ ސަބަބުންނެވެ. ލަތީފާ މިވާހަކަތައް ލަތީފުއަށް ގުޅައިގެން ރަސްގެތީމު އޮފީހަށް ގޮސް ފޯނުން ދެއްކުމަށް ހިތައްއެރިއެވެ. ލަތީފާ އޮފީހައް ދިއުމުގެ ކުރިން އިތުރަށް ސުރަށްޔާގެ ކަންތައްތައް މިހުންނަ ގޮތާއިމެދު ލަތީފާ ހުންނަ މަތަރަސްމާގޭ ކައރީ ހުންނަ ސަހަރާއެއްގެ ފާރުމަތީ އަތް ބާއްވާލައިގެން އެވާހަކަތަކާއި މެދު ވިސްނަން ހުއްޓެވެ. ދެފަހަރެއްގެ މަތިން ލަތީފާ، ލަތީފުއަށް ގުޅަށް އޮފީހައް ދިއުމުގެ ކުރިން އަނބުރާލާފައި މަތަރަސްމާ ގެއާ ދިމާލައް އައެވެ. ސަބަބަކަށް ވަނީ ލަތީފާ، ލަތީފު ކައިރީ އެވާހަކަތައް ދެއްކުމަށް ޖެހިލުން ވުމެވެ. އަބަދު ލަތީފު ކައރީ އެފަދަ ވާހަކަތައް ދައްކާނަމަ ލަތީފާއަށް ލަތީފުދޭ ސަމާލުކަން ކުޑަވެދާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. ލަތީފާ އެންމެފަހުން ކެތްނުކުރެވިގެން ރަސްގެތީމު އޮފީހަށް ގޮސް ލޮމުރަތުއާ ގުޅިއެވެ. ގާތްގަނޑަކަށް އޭރު ގަޑިން މެންދުރުން އަނބުރައި 3 ޖަހާފާނެއެވެ. އޭރު ލަތީފާ، ލޮމުރަތުއަށް ވެދާނެ އުނދަގުލަކަށް އަދި ފަހުން އެ ގުޅުމަށް ވެދާނެ ގޮތެއް ހަނދާނެއް ނެތެވެ. ފޯނުން ލަތީފާ، ލޮމުރަތުއާ ގުޅުމުން ލަތީފާގެ ހިތުގައިވާ ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ޔަޤީންކަމަށް ހިތްވަރު ލިބުނެވެ. އާދައިގެމަތިން ކަންތައްތައް ގެންދިއުމަށް ލަތީފާގެ ހަށިގަނޑައް ބާރު ލިބޭގޮތް ވިއެވެ. ލޯބީގެ ގުޅުމަކީ މިފަދަ ގާތްކަމެއް އެކުލެވިގެންވާ ގުޅުމެއް ކަން ޤަބޫލުކުރެވުނެވެ. އިތުރަށް އާނިޔަތުގެ ކަންތައްތަކާއި ލަތީފު ވިސްނަން މަޖުބޫރު ވިއެވެ. ****** ދުވަސްކޮޅެއް ފަހުން މާލެއިން ކިޑުނީ ބައްޔަށް ފަރުވާ ކުރުމަށްފަހު އަޔުމުން، ރަސްގެތީމުން ލަތީފާއާ ފުރަތަމަވެސް ދިމާވީ ކުރީ އެ ރަށަށް ލަތީފާ އައިތަނާ ދިމާވި ހަސަނާއެވެ. "ލަތީފާ ކިހިނެއްތް؟ ހާދަ ނުވަގުތެއްގަ." ލަތީފާއާ ސަލާމްކޮށްލަމުން ހަސަނު ބުނެލިއެވެ. އޭރު ހަސަނު ހުރީ އެރަށު ދުއވާ ކާރަކަށް ފޯނުން ގުޅައިގެން ތަނަކަށް ދިއުމުގެ މަގުމަތީގައެވެ. "އަހަރެން މިދަނީ މިތާ މިހެރެ ފިލްމުދައްކާ ތަނަށް ފިލުމެއް ބަލާލަން." ހަސަނު، ލަތީފާގެ މޫނަށް ބަލާލިއެވެ. ****** "މިހާރު ރޭގަނޑު ގަޑިން އެއޮށް 8 ޖަހަނީ. އަހަރެން މާކަ ގިނައިރެއް ނުވެ މިބުރު ނިންމާލާފާ ގެއަށް ވަންނާނަން." ލަތީފާ، ހަސަނަށް ފުން ނަޒަރަކުން ބަލާލީ ހަސަނަކީ ލަތީފުގެ އެރަށުގެ ޙާއްސަ ރަޙުމަތްތެރިއަކަށް ވާތީއެވެ. ލަތީފާއަށް ރަސްގެތީމަކީ ހިތްފަސޭހަ ރަށަކަށް ވާތީ ހަސަނަށް ލަތީފާގެ ފަރާތުން ޙާއްސަ ގަދަރެއް އޮވެއެވެ. އެއީ ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ލަތީފާ އުޅޭއިރު ލަތީފާ ދެކެ ލަތީފާގެ މަންމަ ކުލްސުމްއާއި ރަސްގެތީމު ލަތީފާ ހުންނަ ގޭގެ ޒާހިރާ ކިތައްމެ ރުޅިއެރިޔަސް، ލަތީފާގެ މަންމަ ބުނެގެން އެރަށަށް އައިސް އުޅުނަސް، ރަގަޅު ރޭވުމަކަށް ތަންދޭގޮތައް ހަސަނުމެން ފަދަ މީހެއްގެ ހެޔޮ ބަހަކާއެކު ފައިހަމަ ކޮށްލައިގެން، އެރަށުގައި އުޅުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ****** ލަތީފުއާއި ލަތީފު އެންމެފަހުން ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ބައްދަލިވި ފަހަރު ލަތީފު ވަނީ ލަތީފާއަށް ހަސަނު ތައަރަފު ކޮށްދީފައެވެ. މި ދުވަހު ލަތީފާގެ މޫނުމަތިން އެއްވެސް އޮމާންކަމެއް ނުފެނި އޮވެފައި ލަތީފު ވާހަކަދައްކާލުމުން ލަތީފާގެ ހިތުގައި ދުނިޔޭގައި އުޅުމުގެ ވިންދު އާވެގެން ދިޔައެވެ. ހަސަނު، ލަތީފާކުރެން ހާލު އަހުވާލު އޮޅުންފިލުވައި ހަދާލިއެވެ. އެއީ އެއްވެސް ހާލެއްގައި ލަތީފާ، ހަސަނަށް ހިތްކިޔާތީއެއް ނޫނެވެ. މިދުވަހު ވާރޭ ވެހެން ފެށުމުން ލަތީފާއަށް ހީވީ ލަތީފާގެ ދިރިއުޅުމުގައި ކުރިލައި ހެދެން ފެށިހެންނެވެ. އިތުރަށް ބަހެއް ނުބުނެ ލަތީފުއަށް ބަލަހަށްޓައިގެން ހުރެވުނެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މިދުވަހު ލަތީފުއާ އެކު ގިނަ ވަގތުތައް ލަތީފާ ހޭދަކޮށްފައި ލަތީފާ އެރަށު ހުންނަ ގެޔަށް ދިޔައީ ދަންވަރު ވަގުތެއްގައެވެ. ލަތީފާގެ ހިތުގައި ލަތީފާއަށް ޔަޤީންކަން އޮންނަންޏާ ލަތީފާއަށް ލަތީފާގެ މުސްތަގުބަލުގެ ރޭވުމުގެ ތަޅުދަނޑި ނުގެއްލޭނެ ކަން އެނގެއެވެ. ޖެހިގެން އައި ދުވަހު ލަތީފާއާއި ލަތީފު ބައްދަލުވިއެވެ. ލަތިފާގެ އަތުކުރީގައި މިދުވަހު ލަތީފު ރަންކުލައީގެ ގަޑިއެއް އަޅައިދިނެވެ. ލަތީފާއަކީ ދެރަ ނިކަމެއްޗެއް ކަމުގައި ވިޔަސް ލަތީފުގެ ހިތުގައި ލަތީފާއަށް އޮންނަ ގަދަރު މި ގަޑިން ލަތީފާއަށް ލަތީފު އަންގައިދޭން ބޭނުންވެއެވެ. ލަތީފާއަކީ އާމްމުކޮށް އަވިއައިނު އަޅާ އުޅޭ ކުއްޖަކަށް ވާތީ އިތުރު ހަދިޔާއެއްގެ ގޮތުން ލަތީފާއަށް ލަތީފު ހަދިޔާއެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ރީތި އަވި އައިނެއްވެސް މިދުވަހު ދިނެވެ. ލަތީފާގެ އޮމާން ފަން އިސްތަށިގަނޑު މިދުވަހުގައި ލަތީފުގެ އަތުން ރީތިކޮށްލަމުން ލަތީފާގެ ދެ ލޮލުގައި މި އަވި އައިނު ލަތީފު އަޅާދިނުމުން ލަތީފާ ވައްތަރުވީ މަސްހޫރު ފިލްމިސްޓާޜަކާއެވެ. ލަތީފާ ގެއަށް ދާން މިދުވަހު އުޅެން ފެށުމުން ލަތީފު އެތަނުގައި އަދި އެހަށް މަޑުކޮށްލިއެވެ. މިދުވަހު ލަތީފާ، ލަތީފު ކައިރިއަށް އައިސް އުޅުނީ ލަތީފާ ހުންނަ ގޭގެ ކުއްޖެއްގެ ސައިކަލުގައި ކަމަށް ވާތީ، ގެއަށް ދިއުމަށްޓަކާ ސައިކަލު ދުއްވާލާފަ ވެސް ލަތީފު ކައިރިން ދުރަށް ދާހިންނުވާތީ ލަތީފާ އަނބުރާލާފާ އައިސް ސައިކަލުގައި ލަތީފު ކައިރީ މަޑުކޮށްލިއެވެ. އަދި ކޫރީގައި ލަތީފާ ސައިކަލު ބަހަށްޓާފައި ހުރި ތަން ނޫން އެހެން ތަނެއްގައި ސައިކަލު ބަހަށްޓާފައި ސައިކަލުން ފައިބާ ލަތީފު ކައިރިއަށް ލަތީފާ އައެވެ. މިވަގުތު ލަތީފު ކޮނޑުގައި އޮތް ދަބަސް ނެގުމަށް ފަހު އެ ދަބަސް ހުޅުވާލާފައި އެ ދަބަހުން ނަގައި ލަތީދފާއަށް ރީތި ބޯ ވާހަކަ ފޮތެއް ދިއްކޮށްލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެން ހީނުކުރަން ލަތީފު އަހަރެންނަށް ވާހަކަ ފޮތެއް ގެންނާނެ ކަމަށް. އަހަރެންނަށް ހީވަނީ މިފޮތުގެ އަގު 500 ރުފިޔާއަށް ވުރެ ބޮޑުވާނެހެން. މި ބޭރުގަނޑުން ހާމަކޮށްދެނީ ބިރުވެރި ވާހަކައެއްކަން. މި ބޭރު ގަނޑުން ފެންނަ 3 މަހާނަ މީގެތެރެއިން ރެއެއްގައި ހުވަފެނުން ފެނިދާނެ ކަހަލަ. މިވާހަކައިން އަހަރެންގެ ހިޔާލުތަކަށް ޒަލްޒަލާއެއް ގެނެސް ދުނިޔޭގައި އުޅުމުގެ ހިތްވަރު އާވެގެން ދާނެ. މިފޮތް ކިޔުމުގައި އެއްވެސް ކަމެއް ސަކަރާތަކަށް ނަހަދާ ފޮތް 1 ދުވަހުން ކިޔައި ނިންމާލެވޭނެ. އަހަރެންގެ އުންމީދުތަކުގައި މިފަދަ ފޮތަކުން ރަގަޅު ކުލައަކުން މާނަ ފުން ގޮތަކަށް ފަވާލެވޭނެ. އަހަރެންގެ ކުރިމަގުގެ ކުރިބޯށި ފަސޭހަ ކަމާއިއެކު ޙާސިލު ކުރެވޭނެ. އަހަރެންނަށް ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ޖާދޫތައް ކެތްތެރި ކަމާއިއެކު ދަސްވެގެންދާނެ. އެންމެ ސިކުންތެއް ވެސް ހިންހަމަނުޖެހި ހުންނާކަށް ނުޖެހޭނެ." ލަތީފާ މަޑު ހިނިތުންވުމެއް ލަތީފުއަށް ހިނިތުން ވެލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެން ހީކުރީ އަހަރެންގެ ދަބަހުގައި ލަތީފާއަށް ދޭން އިތުރު ވާހަކަފޮތެއް އޮންނާނެ ކަމަށް. އެކަމަކު އިތުރު ފޮތެއް މި ދަބަހުގައި ނެތް." ލަތީފު، ލަތީފާގެ މޫނަށް ބަލާލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް ހީވަނީ އަހަރެން ދެން ގެޔަށް އޮށޯވެލަން ދާންވީހެން. ހީވަނީ މިހާރު އެނދު ފެންނަހެން. ބައެއްފަހަރު ގޭގެ ދޮރުން ވަނުމުގެ ބަދަލުގައި އަވަސްކުރަން ހަދައިގެން ގޭގެ ފާރުމަތިން އެރިދާނޭ ވެސް ހިތައްއަރާ. މިކަހަލަ ވަގުތެއްގައި އިތުރު ބަހަނާއެއް ދައްކާކަށް ބޭނުމެއް ނުވޭ. ބައެއް ފަހަރު ހިތައްއަރާ އަދި މަޑުކޮށްލަންވީއޭ، ގެއަށް ދިއުމަށްވުރެ މިތާ ލަތީފު ކައިރީ މަޑުކުރިއްޔާ އަހަރެންގެ ކުރިމަގު އުޖާލާ ވާނޭ." ލަތީފާ ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް ވާޅަކަށް ދެމިލިއެވެ. "ތީ ރަގަޅު ހިޔާލެއް. ތިހާވަރުގައި ލަތީފާގެ ހިޔާލުތައް ހުރިއްޔާ މިހާރު ގޭގެ ދޮރުފަތުގެ ތަޅުފަތްގަނޑުގައި ހިފިފައި ތިހިރީ. ދެން އިތުރު މީހަކަށް ލަތީފާ ނުވަންނަނިސް ނުވަދެވޭނެ ކަހަލަ." ލަތީފު، ލަތީފާގެ ވާހަކަ ރަގަޅަށް އަޑުއަހާލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެން ދިއުމުން އިތުރު ޝަކުވާއެއް ފަހުން ނާންނެކަމަށް ހީކުރަން." ލަތީފާ ދާން ހިނގައިގަތުމުގެ ކުރިން ހަމަޖެހުމުގެ ނޭވައެއް ލިއެވެ. "މިވަގުތައް އެންމެރަގަޅު. ދެން އަނެއްކާ މިވަގުތު މިރަށު މިއުޅެނީ ކުޑަކަމެއް ކޮށްލަންވެގެން. އެއީ ބައްޕަ ދެންމެ ގުޅާފާ ބުނެގެން މިރަށުން ސައިހޮޓަލެއް ކުއްޔަށް ނަގަންވެގެން. އެގްރީމެންޓް މިހަދަނީ 5 އަހަރަށް. އަހަރެމެންގެ މިކަމުގެ ތަޖުރިބާއާ އެކު ހީވަނީ 100 ޕަސެންޓްކޮށް ބަރާބަރަށް އެ ހޮޓާ ހިންގުމުގައި 5 އަހަރު ފުރިހަމަ ކުރެވޭނެހެން. އަހަރެމެން ކަންތައް ކުރާނީ ތަނުގެ މުވައްޒަފުންނަށާ ހަދާ ކާތަކެތީގެ ރަހައަށް ޙާއްސަ ސަމާލުކަމެއް ދީގެން. ދެރަކަމަކީ ހޮޓާ ފަށާތަނުން މިރަށު ބަޔަކު މި މަސައްކަތައް ލަންޑެއް ދީފާނެތީ." ލޮމުރަތު ބޭނުންވީ އެ ރަށުގައި ހޮޓާ ހިންގަން ފެށެންދެން މަޑުކުރާ ވާހަކަ ލާތީފާ ކައިރީ ބުނެލުމަށެވެ. "ކީތްވެ މިރަށު މީހުން ލަނޑެއް ދީފާނޭ ތިބުނީ......." ލަތީފާ އަހާލިއެވެ. "އެހެން މިބުނީ މިތާ ކައިރީ ރަށެއްގައި މިފަދަ ހޮޓަލެއް ހިންގަން ފެށިތަނާ އެރަށު ބަޔަކުގެ ނުފޫޒުގައި އެ ހޮޓާ ހުއްޓާލަން ޖެހުނީމާ." ލޮމުރަތު ރަސްގެތީމުގެ އަތިރިމަށްޗާ ދިމާލަށް ބަލާލިއެވެ. އޭރު ލޮމުރަތުގެ އެހެން ރަޙުމަތްތެރިއެއް ލޮމުރަތާ ދިމާލަށް ލޮމުރަތާ ވާހަކަދައްކާލަން ހިނގާފައި އާދެއެވެ. "އަހަރެން އިތުރަށް ތިވާހަކަ ދައްކާލަން ބޭނުން. އެއީ މިރަށުގައި ހުންނައިރު، އަހަރެންނަކީ ދެރަ ނިކަމެއްޗަކަށް ވާތީ، އެ ހިޓާ ހިންގާއިރު އެ ހޮޓަލުގެ މުވައްޒަފުންނާ މިހެން އައިސް ވާހަކަދައްކާލުމުން ހިންހަމަޖެހުން ލިބޭނެތީ." ލަތީފާ ބޭނުންވީ ލޮމުރަތާއެކު އެތާ ކައިރީގައި ހުރި ކުޑަ މާރޓަކަށް އެއްޗެއް ބޮއެލަން ވަދެލުމަށެވެ. "ކޮންއެއްޗެއް ބޭނުންވަނީ......" އެ މާރޓްގެ ސޭޓް ސުވާލުކުރިއެވެ. އޭރު އެ މާރޓްގެ ސޭޓް އެ ފިހާރައީގެ ކައުންޓަރ މަތީގައިވާ ކޮންޕިއުޓަރަކުން އަމީތާބުގެ ކުރީގެ ފިލުމެއް ބަލަމުން ގެންދިޔައެވެ. "އަދި އެހަށް ބޭނުންވަނީ އަތް ދޮވެލަން. މިތާ ކައީރީ ހުރި ހޮޓާ ބަންދުކޮށްފައި ހުރީމަ މިއައީ، މިތަނުން ފެންފުޅިއެއް ގަނެގެން އަތް ދޮވެލަންވެގްން." ލަތީފާ، ލޮމުރަތައް ބަލާލަމުން ބުނެލިއެވެ. އެއީ ލަތީފާއާއި ލޮމުރަތު އޮރެންޖު ކައިފާ އަތުން ވަސްދުވާތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާ އިތުރަށް މިވަގުތު ހިތުގައި ރާވާލީ ދަދުވަރާއެކު މިފަދަ އޮރެންޖް ކާ ކިތައްމެ ދުވަހެއް އަންނާނެ ކަމެވެ. ލަތީފާ ހީކުރަނީ، އޮމާންކޮށް ދުނިޔޭގެ ޖައްވު ދައްކަންޏާ އެމީހުން ހަޔާތް ވެސް އޮމާންކޮށް ދައްކާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. ހަޔާތައް ދިމާވާ މުސީބާތްތަކަކީ އެމީހަކު ކުރިޔާލައި ފިޔަވަޅު އަޅައިފި ނަމަ ދިމާނުވާނެ މުސީބާތްތަކެއް ކަމަށެވެ. ލަތީފާ ކުޑައިރުކޮޅަކު ލޮމުރަތުމެން ހިފާފައިވާ ހޮޓާ ކައިރީގައި މަޑުކޮށްލާނަމޭ ހިތާ މަޑުކޮށްލިއެވެ. އެވަގުތު އެތަނަށް ލޮމުރަތުގެ އިތުރު ދެ ރަހުމަތްތެރިން އައިސް ލޮމުރަތުއާ ވާހަކަދައްކަން ފެށިއެވެ. މިމީހުން ވާހަކަދެއްކީ ރަސްގެތީމުގެ އާންމު ތަރަށްގީއާ ބެހޭގޮތުންނެވެ. ދާސިއާ، ލޮމުރަތުމެން ދައްކާވާހަކަ އަޑުއަހާފައި، ވާހަކަދައްކަން އެތާގައި ހުޢްޓެވެ. މިވަގުތު ދާސިއާގެ މޫނުމަތިން ދާސިއާ ގެއަށް ދާން ބޭނުންވެފަ ހުރިހެން ހީވާތީ، ރަސްގެތީމު ސަހަރާ މަގުންލާފައި ގެއަށް ދިމުމަށް ލޮމުރަތު، ދާސިއާ ކައިރީ ބުންޏެވެ. މިދުވަސްވަރަކީ ރިޔާސީ އިންތިހާބައް ވޯޓްލާން ކައިރިވަމުން އައި ދުވަސްވަރެކެވެ. އެހެންވެ ދާސިއާ ވިސްނަމުން އައީ އެކަންކަމާމެދުގައެވެ. ދާސިއާ ގެއަށް ދާން ފުރަތަމަ ފިޔަވަޅު އެޅުމާއިއެކު ލޮމުރަތު، ދާސިއާގެ އަތުގައި ހިފަހަށްޓާލަމުން ބުނީ، ދާސިއާ ކޮށްމެވެސް ކަމަކާ ވިސްނާ ވާހަކައެވެ. އަދި އެރަށަށް އަންނަން އެ އުޅޭ މިނިޓަރު އަންނަންދެން އެތަނުގައި މަޑުކޮށްލާ ވާހަކަ ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާ ކައިރީ ބުނެލިއެވެ. އޮމާންކޮށް ބޯ އޮމާން ނުކޮށްލައި ހުއްޓައި އެހާ ގިނަބަޔަކަށް ފެނުނީތީ ދާސިއާ ލަދުގަތެވެ. މައިންބަފައިން ހެޔޮ އެދުން ނުލިބޭ ކުއްޖެއްކަން އެތާ ތިބި ބައެއް މީހުންނަށް އެނގިދާނެތީއެވެ. އެފަދަ މީހުންގެ އިހާނެތި ބަސްތަކުގެ ސިކާރައަކަށް ވެވިދާނެތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާ އަތްބެލި މީހެއް ބުނި ފަދައިން ދާސިއާގެ ނަސީބު ލިބުމުގެ ކުރިން ހިތާމަވެރި ކަންތައްތަކެއް ދިމާވެދާނެ ކަން ޤަބޫލުކުރެވުނެވެ. ދާސިއާ ލޮލުގެ ކަރުނަ ހިފަހަށްޓަލީ އެއްވެފައި ތިބި މީހުންނަށް ބަލާލަމުން ފަހަރެއްގައި އެތަނުގައި ދާރިނާގެ ފިރިމީހާ ދަމީރު ހުރެފާނެތީއެވެ. އޭނާ ދާސިއާގެ ވާހަކަތައް އެތަނުގައި ތިބި މީހުންކައިރީ ބޮޑުކޮށްގެން ދައްކާފަނެތީއެވެ. އިތުރު ބަޔަކަށް ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރު އެއްކޮށް އުޅޭ މަންޒަރު ފެނިއްޖެ ނަމަ، ދޭތެރެއަކުން ދާސިއާ އުޅޭ ގޭގެ ކަންތައް ގޯސްވެ ދާސިއާ ރަސްގެތީމު ސިއްޙީމަރުކަޒުގައި އެޑުމިޓްވާން ޖެހިދާނެތީއެވެ. އިތުރަށް އެއްވެފައި ތިބި މީހުންގެ މަންޒަރު ބާލާން ދާސިއާއަށް ކެތްނުކުރެވޭނެ ކަހަލައެވެ. މުސްތަގުބަލުގެ ދުރުމި އަޅާއިރު ތާކުންތާކު ނުޖެހޭ ވިސްނުންތަކެއް ވިސްނަން ޖެހިދާނެތީއެވެ. އަމާންކަމަކީ ކޮށްމެ އިންސާނަކަށް ވެސް ބޭނުންވާ ކަމަކަށް ވާއިރު، ކެޔުން ބޮޔުން ފަދައިން އަމިއްލަ ހަށިގަނޑުގެ ރަށްކަލަށް ބޭނުންވާނެތީއެވެ. "ދެން އަނެއްކާ އެތަނުގައި އެއޮތީ މީހުންތައް އެއްވެފަ......" ދަދުވަރު އެއްވެފައި ތިބި މީހުންނާ ދިމާލަށް ބަލާލިއެވެ. އެކަމުން އެއްބައިވަންތަ ކަން ދޭހާވާކަން ދަދުވަރުގެ ބަލާލުމުން އެނގެއެވެ. އޮފީހުން ރާވާ ގޮތްތަކަށް ރަސްގެތީމު ރަށްޔިތުން ބޯލަނބާ ކަން ވެސް މި އެއްވުމުން ހާމަވެއެވެ. "ދެންމެ މިތަނަށް ލޮމުރަތާ އެކު އައިއިރު ކޮށްމެވެސް މީހަކު އަހަރެންނަށް އޮފީސް ކައިރިން ގޮވާހެން ހީވި. އެހެންވެ އެކަމާ މިވިސްނަނީ. އަހަރެންގެ ހިތައް މިއަރަނީ އަނެއްކާ އަހަރެން ގެޔަށް ދާތަނުން އެމީހާ ކުލްސުމް ކައިރީ މިމަންޒަރު ފެނުނު ވާހަކަ ބުނެފައި ވާނަމަ، ގެއަށް ދާތަނުން ފޮށިހިފައިގެން ނުކުންނަން ޖެހިދާނެ ބާވައޭ!" ދާސިއާގެ ދެ ލޮލުން ކަރުނަ ހިލިގަތެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް ހީނުވޭ މިކަންތައް އެހާ ބޮޑު ކަމަކަށް ވާނެހެން. މިކަމުގެ ނަތީޖާ މާ ގޯސްވަންޏާ މިރަށުން އެހެން ގެއެއް ހޯދާ. އަހަރެން ދާސިއާއަށް މިރަށުން ހުންނާނެ ގެއެއް ހޯދާދިނިންޔާ މީހުން ހީކުރާނީ އަހަރެމެންގެ ލޯބީގެ ކުޅިގަނޑު މާ މަށްޗަށް ދިޔައިއްޔޭ." ދަދުވަރު ހަމަޖެހުމުގެ ނޭވައެއް ލިއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަކީ ހިތްގައިމު ދޮންކުލައެއް ލިބިފައިވާ ކުއްޖަކަށް ވާއިރު ދަދުވަރަކީ ވެސް ހަމަ އެފެންވަރުގެ ހިތްގައިމު ދޮން ކުލައެއް ލިބިފައިވާ ކުއްޖެކެވެ. ދާސިއާ މޫނުގެ އޮމާންކަމާއި އެއްވަރަށް އަތްފައިގެ އޮމާންކަން ވެސް ފުރިހަމައެވެ. މަޑު ވައިރޯޅި ޖެހޭ ދުވަސްތަކުގައި ދާސިއާގެ އޮމާން ކުރުކޮށް ކޮށާލާފައިވާ އިސްތަށިގަނޑު ވިހުރިވެލާއިރު ދުނިޔޭގެ ޖައްވައް އަމާންކަން ގެނެސްދެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ލަތީފާގެ މަންމަ އާއި ބައްޕައަކީ ހިތްގައިމު ކަޅު ކުލައެއް ލިބިފައިވާ ދެމީހުންނެވެ. ހަމަ މިމޭރުމުން ލަތީފުގެ މަންމަ އާއި ބައްޕައަކީ ވެސް ހިތްގައި ކަޅުކުލައެއް ލިބިފައިވާ ދެމީހުންނެވެ. ދުނިޔޭގައި އުޅޭއިރު ދުނީޔޭގެ ދުވަސްތަކުގައި ކުލަޖެއްސުމުގައި މީހާ ހުންނަ ކުލައެއް މުހިންމެއް ނޫނެވެ. "ދަދުވަރަށް ފޯނެއް އައި ވާހަކަ ދެންމެ މީހެއް ބުނިހެން ހީވަނީ......" އެ އަޑު ދަދުވަރަށް ނީވޭހެން ހީވާތީ ރަސްގެތީމު އޮފީހު ޕިޔޯނު ބުނި ވާހަކަ ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރު ކައިރީ ބުނެލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް އެނގިއްޖެ. އެ ގުޅަނީ އަހަރެން ބަލާއަންނަ ޔާގޫތު 2 ދޯނީ ނެވިމީހާ. އެ ދޯނި އެ އޮތީ ފަރެސް މާތޮޑާގަ. އެއީ އާންމުގޮތެއްގައި މަސްފަދަ ތަކެތި ހިފައިގެން ރާއްޖޭގެ އެކި ރަށްރަށަށް ދަތުރުކުރާ ދޯންޏެއް." ދަދުވަރު ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް ދާސިއާއަށް ދަދުވަރު ކުރިއަށް ކުރަން އޮތް ދަތުރު ތަފުސީލުކޮށްލަ ދިނެވެ. "އަހަރެމެން އެފަހަރު ވަން މާރޓުން ގަތް ދެ ފުޅި މިއޮތީ މީގެއިން ފުޅިއެއް ދަދުވަރު ބޭނުންވާނެ ކަމަށް މިދިއްކުރަނީ. އޭރުން އަހަރެން މިތަނުގައި ހުރުމަށް އިތުރު ހިތްވަރެއް ލިބޭނެ." ދާސިއާ މިހެން ބުނިއިރު ދަދުވަރުގެ އަނެއް ތިން އެކުވެރިން އެތަނުން ގޮސްފިއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ހުރީ އެމީހުން ދިއުމުން ދަދުވަރަށް ފުޅި ދިއްކޮށްލާނެ ވަގުތަކަށް ބަލާލަ ބަލާލައެވެ. އިތުރު އެއްވެސް ވާހަކައެއް ދަދުވަރުއާ އެއަށް ފަހު ދެއްކުމަށް ނިންމައިގެން ހުރެއެވެ. "ވަރަށްބޮޑަށް ޝުކުރިއްޔާ." ދަދަދުވަރު ބުނެލިއެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް މިރަށު ދަދުވަރު ހުންނަ ގެ ނޭންގޭ. އެ ގެ އަހަރެންނަށް ދައްކަންވީ ނޫން." ދާސިއާ ހަމަހިމޭން ވެލިއެވެ. "މިއޮތީ ކުރި މަތީގައި މިރަށު ސަހަރާމަގު މި މަގުން ގޮސް ދެ ގޯޅިއެއް އަޅާއިރަށް އެގެ ފެންނާނެ." ދަދުވަރު ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. "އަހަރެން މިހުންނަނީ އަދި ހަނދންނެތިފަ. އެ އަންނަ ދޯނީގެ ނެވިމީހާއާ ފޯނުން ވާހަކަދެއްކުމަށް އޮފީހަށް ދަނީ ކޮންއިރަކުން؟" ދާސިއާ ބޭނުންވީ ދަދދުވަރުގެ މަސައްކަތައް ބުރޫ ނޭރުވުމަށެވެ. "ދާސިއާ ތިހެން ބޫނީމަ ހީވަނީ. އަނެއްކާ އޮފީހުގެ ޕިޔޯނު އައިސްފަ ފޯނެއް އަނެއްކާ އައިވާހަކަ ބުނެދާނެހެން." ދަދުވަރު ނިންމީ އަދި އޮފީހަށް ދޯނީގެ ނެވި މީހާއާ ވާހަކަދައްކާލަން ދިޔުން ގަޑިއިރެއްވަރު މަޑުކޮށްލުމަށެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް ފެނޭ އަހަރެމެންގެ މި ބައްދަލުވުން ނިންމާލުމުގެ ކުރިން ތަނަކަށް ވަދެ އޮރެންޖް ޖުހެއް ބޯލަން." އޮރެންޖް ޖޫހަކީ ދާސިއާއަށް ވަރަށް މީރު ބުޔުމެކެވެ. "އަހަރެން ހީކުރިތަނަށް ތިޔައީ......" ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާގެ ކުރީގައި ހުރެ އައިސް ވަނީ އެރަށު ބޮޑު މަގުގައި ހުރި ރެސްޓޯރެންޓަކަށެވެ. ޖެހިގެން އައިދުވަހު އަނެއްކާ ދާސިއާއި ދަދުވަރު ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ބައްދަލު ކުރިއެވެ. "ކޮށްމެވެސް މޭޒެއް ކައިރީ އިށީންނަމާ ހިނގާ......" ދަދުވަރު ދާސިއާއަށް ބުނެލިއެވެ. "މިއީ ވަރަށް އަރާމު ގޮނޑިއެއް........" ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރުގެ ރުހުމާއިއެކު އެ ރެސްޓޯރެންޓުގެ ގޮނޑިއެއްގައި އިށީދެނލިއެވެ. އޭރު އެ ރަސްޓޯރެންޓު މޭޒުކައިރީ ފައިސާ ދެއްކުމުގައި މީހުންތައް ގިނަވެފައި އޮތެވެ. "ހިނގާ ޗިކަން ފުރައިޑު ރައިސް ކާން..... އަދި ދާސިއާ ކައިރީ ނުބުނެ މިއުޅެނީ..... މިތާ ކައިރީ ރިސޯޓެއްގައި އުޅޭ ރަށްޓިއްސަކު އެ ރިސޯޓައް ކެޔުމަކަށް ދައުވަތު ދީފައި އެބައޮތް. އަހަރެންނަށް ހީނުވޭ އެ ރިސޯޓައް ދާސިއާ ދާނެހެންނެއް. މިވާހަކަ ދެއްކީމާ ދާސިއާގެ މޫނުމަތިން ކޮށްމެވެސް ކަންބޮޑުވުމެއް އެބަފެނޭ. އަހަރެންނަށް ހީވަނީ ގެއަށް ދިޔުމުން ސުރަށްޔާ ކަންތައް ކުރާނެ ގޮތަކާއިމެދު ވިސްނާހެން. އަހަރެންނަށް ހީވަނީ އަހަރެންނާ އެކު އުޅެގެން ނަތީޖާ ގޯސް ނުވާނެހެން." ދަދުވަރަށް ވެސް ނުތަނަވަސް ކަން އިޙުސާސް ކުރެވުނެވެ. "އަހަރެން އެހާ ބޮޑަށް ސުރަށްޔާއާ ދޭތެރޭ ނުވިސްނަން. އޭނައާ ދޭތެރޭގައި މާބޮޑަށް އަހަރެން ވިސްނީމާ އަހަރެން ބަލިވޭ....." ދާސިއާ ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. "އަހަރެންނަށް މި ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި މިތާ ބޭއްވުނީމަ ހީވަނީ، މި ތަޅުފަނޑިފަތި ބާއްވާފަ ދެވިދާނެހެން. އަހަރެންނަށް ރަގަޅީ ދާސިއާ މި ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި ގެންދަން ހަނދާންކޮށްދިނިއްޔާ........" ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާގެ މޫނަށް ބަލާލީ ދާސިއާ ވެސް އެ ތަޅުދަޑިފައްޗަށް ބަލާލުމުން، އެހެން ދުވަހެއްގައި އެ ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި އެ ރެސްޓޯތެންޓްގައި ބާއްވާފައި ދެވިގެން އަނެއްކާ އައިސް، އެ ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި ނަގަންޖެހިފައި އޮތީމައެވެ. ދާސިއާ އައި ދަދުވަރަކީ އެއް އުމުރެއްގެ ދެމީހުންނެވެ. މި ދެ މީހުންގެ އުމުރު 100 އަހަރަށް ދިގުވެދާނެއެވެ. އެހެން މިކަން ވާނަމަ ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރުގެ ގަބުރު ވަރަށް ގިނަ މީހުންނަށް ފެންނާނެއެވެ. އެތައް ބަޔަކު ދާސިއާއި ދަދުވަރަށް ހެޔޮދުއާ ކުރުމަށްޓަކައި އެތައް ގިނަ ރޭވުންތަކެއް ރާވާނެއެވެ. އޮމާން ކަމާއި އަދަބުވެރި ކަމާއި އެކު ދޭތެރެއެއް ވެސް މަޑުޖައްސާ ނުލައެވެ. މިފަދަ އުމުރެއްގައި މި ދެ މީހުންގެ ގަބުރު އެއް ގަބުރަށް ފަހު އަނެއް ގަބުރު ދެ ސަންދޯކަށް ލާނެއެވެ. ކޮށްމެ ގަބުރެއް ވަކިވަކިންނެވެ. އެވަގުތު ދާސިއާ އަދި ދަދުވަރުގެ މޫނުމަތިން އުޖާލާކަން ދުނިޔެއަށް ދައްކާނެއެވެ. މި ދެމީހުންގެ ސަންދޯއް މަތީގައި 100 އަހަރުގެ ބޯޑުތައް ބެހެއްޓިފައި ހުންނާނެއެވެ. ނޫންނަމަ މި ދެމީހުންގެ އުމުރު، 63 އަހަރާއި 76 އަހަރަށް، މީގެ އިތުރަށް ބުނާނަމަ 73 އަހަރާއި 86 އަހަރަށް، ދެމިގެންދާނެއެވެ. މިއީ މި ދެމީހުން ހުވަފެނުން ދެކެމުން އަންނަ ގޮތެވެ. އެކި މީހުންގެ އުމުރުތައް ތަފާތެވެ. އެކިމީހުން ދެކޭގޮތް ވެސް ތަފާތެވެ. ތަފާތު މިޙުންގެ ރޭވުންތައް ވެސް ތަފާތެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރު ގުޅުންތައް ވަނީ ލާމެހި ގުޅިފައެވެ. ކުރަން ހަމަޖެހިފައިވާ ދަތުރުގައި ދާސިއާ ގޮވައިގެން ދިޔުމަށް ދަދުވަރުގެ ހިތައް ކިތައްމެ ފަހަރަކު އަރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާ އުޅޭ ގެއަށް ގޮސް ވަގުތުން ދާސިއާގެ ތަންމަތި ކޮނޑަށްލުމަށް ފަހު ރަސްގެތީމުން ގާޑިޔަލެއް ހޯދައިގެން އެ ތަންމަތި މީހެއްލއްވައި އަތިރިމަށްޗަށް ގެނައުމަށް ދަދުވަރު ބޭނުންވިއެވެ. އެފަދަ ވަގުތެއްގައި، ދޯނީގެ ފަޅުވެރި މިޙަގެ ބަސް ހުންނާނެ ގޮތަކާއިމެދު ދަދުވަރު ވިސްނީ ދާސިއާގެ މޫނުމަތީގެ ކުލަވަރު ފަހަރެއްގައި ބަދަލުވެދާނެތީ ދެރަވެ ހުރެއެވެ. ދަދުވަރުގެ ހިޔާލުގައި އެ ދާން އުޅޭ ދޯނީގައި ހުންނަ ބަނގުލަދޭސް މީހާގެމަތިން ތަފާތު ކުލައެއް ޖެހެންފެށިއެވެ. އޭނާ ދަދުވާރާ އޮންނަ ގާތްކަން ދާސިއާ ބާއްވައި ދާސިއާއަށް ފަދައިން ދަދުވަރަށް އެ ދޯނީގައި އުޅޭ ބަނގުލަދޭސް ކަށްކާލައްވައި މީރު ކާއެއްޗެތި ހަދާދީފާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އެއްވެސް މުސީބާތެއް އެ ދަތުރުގައި ދިމާނުވާނެކަން ދަދުވަރު ފަދައިން ދާސިއާ ހަނދާން ކުރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ނަމަވެސް އޭރު ދާސިއާމެން އެ ދަތުރުގައި ދިއުމަށްޓަކައި ނުފުރައެވެ. ސަބަބަކަށް ވަނީ ދާސިއާ އެ ދަތުރުގައި ގޮސްފާނެ ވާހަކަ ދާރިނާ ގާތުގައި މިހެއް ކުޓުވުމުންނެވެ. ބަނގުލަދޭސް ދެމީހެއް ރަސްގެތީމު ފާލަން މަށްޗަށް ދަދުވަރަން އެރުނު އިރުތާ ކުޑައިރުކޮޅެއް ވީތަނާ ދަދުވަރުގެ ފޮށި އާއި އަތްދަބސް ދޯންޏައް އަރުވައިފިއެވެ. މި ވަގުތު އެ ދެމީހުން ދަދުވަރު ބުނިގޮތައް ކަންތައް ނުކުރާތީ އެ ދެމީހުންނާއި ދަދުވަރާއި ދެމެދުގައި ޒުވާބެއް ހިނގިއެވެ. ދަދުވަރު މި ދަތުރުގައި ދޯނީގައި މަކުނުދޫއަށް ޖެއްސުމަށް ފަހު މާލެ ދިޔައެވެ. ފުރަތަމަވެސް ދަދުވަރު މާލެ ދިޔުމުން ހަނދާންވީ ދާސިއާގެ މަށްޗެވެ. އެހެންވެ މާލޭގެ މަޖީދީމަގުގެ ތަފާތު ފިހާރަތަކަށް ވަނުމަށް ފަހު ދާސިއާއަށް ރީތި 3 ހެދުން ގަނެ ދާސިއާއަށް ފޮނުވުމަށްޓަކައި ޕާރުސަލު ކޮށްލިއެވެ. އަދި ރޭވުންތެރިކަމާއިއެކު ރަގަޅު ލިޔުންކޮޅެއް ކަރުދާސްކޮޅެއްގައި ލިޔުމަށް ފަހު ދާސިއާއަށް ފެންނާނެ ގޮތައް އޭގެ ތެރެއަށް ވައްޓާލިއެވެ. މިދުވަހު ރަސްގެތީމަށް ފުރާ ދޯންޏަކާ އެ ޕާރުސަލު ހަވާލުކުރުމަށް ފަހު ދާސިއާއަށް ހެޔޮދުއާ ކޮށްލުމަށްޓަކައި ނަމާދައް ދަދުވަރު ދިޔައެވެ. އޭރު ދަދުވަރު ދިޔަ މިސްކިތުގައި ވަރަށް ގިނަމީހުން ނަމާދަށް ގޮސްއޮތެވެ. އެ މިސްކިތުން ދަދުވަރާއި ދާސިއާގެ ގާތް ތިމާގެ މިހުން ފެނި، ދަދުވަރު ނަމާދު ނިންމުމަށް ފަހު އެމީހުންނާ ވާހަކަދައްކައި ހެދިއެވެ. "އަހަރެމެން ސަފާރީ ދޯންޏެއް ބަންނަން މިއުޅެނީ، އެކަމަކު އަހަރެމެން މި ސަފާރީ ދޯނި ވިއްކާ ނުލައި ދެން ބަންނަ ސާފާރީ ދޯނި ވިއްކާލަން ގަސްދުމިކުރަނީ........." މާލޭގެ ބަނދަރުން ދަދުވަރާ، ދަދުވަރުއާ އެއްކޮށް ކިޔެވި ރަޙުމަތްތެރިއަކާ ދިމާވިއެވެ. "ތިވާހަކަ ދައްކާލަން ސައެއް ބޯލަން ހޮޓަލަކަށް ވަންނަންވީނު....." ދަދުވަރު ބުންޏެވެ. "ކޮންކަމެއްގައި އަތިރިމަށްޗަށް އައިސް ތިއުޅެނީ......" ދަދުވަރުގެ ރަހުމަތްތެރިޔާ ނަސީރު ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. "މި އުޅެނީ އިންނަން އުޅޭ ކުއްޖާއަށް ހަދިޔާއެއް ރަސްގެތީމަށް ފޮނުވާލަން..........." ދަދުވަރު ހިނިތުންވެލިއެވެ. ދަދުވަރަށް އެ ވަން ހޮޓަލުގެ ހެދިކާ ވަރަށް މީރުވިއެވެ. އަދި ދަދުވަރު ދެތިން ހެދިކާއެއް އެ ހޮޓަލުން ނަސީރާއެކު ކެޔުމަށް ފަހު އެ ހޮޓަލުގައި ކަށްކާފައިވާ ޙާއްސަ ބަތެއް ނަސީރާއިއެކު ކައިހެދިއެވެ. ނަސީރު އެ ބަތައް ދަދުވަރު ފަދައިން ތައުރީފު ކުރިއެވެ. މި ކެޔުމުގެ ތޭރޭގައި ދަދުވަރާއި ނަސީރު ހަމަޖެއްސީ ދަދުވަރާއި ދާސިއާގެ ކައިވެންޏައް ފަހު ދާސިއާ ބޭނުން ނަމަ ސިރީލަންކާއަށް ގޮސްލުމަށެވެ. އަދި އެ ދަތުރު ނިންމުމަށް ފަހު ސަފާރީ ދޯނި ބަނދެ ނިމިފައިވާނަމަ އެ ދޯނި ބަލާލަން އަލިފުއްޓަށް ދިއުމަށެވެ. ދާސިއާއި ދަދުވަރު މާލޭގައި އެއްދުވަހެއްގައި ދަދުވަރު އުޅެމުން އައި ގޭގައި ރޯދަވިއްލަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. އެއީ ދާސިއާ ރަސްގެތީމުގައި ހުރުމަށްފަހު މާލެ ދުވަސްކަޅަކަށް އައިސް އުޅުނު ދުވަސަތަކުގެ ތެރެއިން ދުވަހެކެވެ. މިދަތުރުގެ ކަންތައް ދާސިއާ ރާވައިގެން ހުރިގޮތައް ކުރިޔަށް ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާމެން ރޯދަވިއްލުމަށް ފަހު އެވަރުން ނުވެގެން އެގެ ކައިރީ ހުރި ފިހާރައަކުން ޕެކެޓެއް ބޮއެ ހެދިއެވެ. ދާސިއާމެން ދެން ނިންމީ ޖެހިގެން އަންނަ ދުވަހަކީ އީދު ދުވަހަށްވާތީ އީދު ނަމާދުކޮށް މެންދުރު ކެޔުމަށް ފަހު މޫދައް އެރެން ދިޔުމަށެވެ. ދާސިއާމެން މާލެ ކައިރީ ރަށަކަށް މޫދައް ދިޔައިރު ދާސިއާމެންގެ އިތުރަށް ބައިވަރު ކުދިންނާއި މީހުން މޫދައް އެރި ތިއްބެވެ. ދަދުވަރާއި ދާސިއާއަށް ވީ މޫދައް އެރުން ވަރަށް މަޖާ ކަމަށެވެ. މޫދުގައި އޮތް އިރުވެސް ދާސިއާ ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ ދާސިއާގެ ނިކަމެތި ކަމާއި މެދުގައެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ދިރިއުޅުމުގައި ފިޔަވަޅުތައް އެއްވެސް ރޭވުންތެރި ކަމެއް ނެތި އެޅެމުން ދާތީއެވެ. ދެން ފަހަރެއްގައި ދަދުވަރު ބުންޏަސް ދަދުވަރާއެކު މޫދައް އެރި މަޖާކުރުމަށް ނާއުމަށް ދާސިއާގެ ހިތައް އަރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ބައެއް ފަހަރު ދަދުވަރު ދާސިއާއަށް އޮޅުވާލުންތަކެއް އޮޅުވާލާ ކަމަށް ދާސިއާއަށް ހީވަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. މިކަމުގައި އަޑީގައި ހުރެ ޖިންނި ދަދުވަރަށް ވަސްވާސް ދީފާނޭ މިއީ ދާސިއާގެ ހިތުގައި އުފެދެމުން ދިޔަ ސުވާލުތަކެކެވެ. މޫދައް އެރި އުޅުމުގައި ދާސިއާ ލައިގެން ހުރި ހެދުން ކަމުނުދާތީ ވެސް ދާސިއާގެ ފިކުރު ބޮޑުވާގޮތް ވިއެވެ. ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރު ވާހަކަދައްކަމުން ދިޔައިރު ދަދުވަރު ބުނާ ބަސްތަކުގައި އެހެން މާނައެއް ނޫނީ ޢޭގެ އަޑީގައި ފޮރުވިފައިވާ އެހެން ކަންތައްތަކެއް ވާކަމަށް ދާސިއާއަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވެމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދެރަކަމަކީ މި ކަންތައްތަކުގެ ސަބަބުން ދާސިއާގެ ނިކަމެތި ކަމަށް އިތުރު ބޮޅުތަކެއް ގެތިދާނެތީ ކަން ދާސިއާގެ ލޮލުން ފައިބާ ކަރުނައިން ދާސިއަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވެމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާ ނަމާދުގައި ސަޖިދާގައި ގިނަވަގުތު އޮތުމަށް މިކަންތައްތައް މަޖުބޫރު ކުރުވަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ވާނުވާ ނޭންގި ބިޔަޖަންގެއްޔެއްގައި ހިންގަންޖެހިދާނެ ކަމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ހެއްދެވި ފަރާތުން ފުރިހަމަ އެއްބައިވަންތަ ކަމާއި ހަމަހަމަ އުސޫލަކަށް އެދެވޭތީއެވެ. މާލެ އައިއިރު ދާސިއާމެންގެ މަންމަ ސުރަށްޔާ ތިބި ގެއިން ސުރަށްޔާމެން ނުކުތުމަށް ތައްޔާރުވަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ސަބަބަކީ ސުރަށްޔާމެން ތިބި ގެ ތަޅާލާފައި އަލުން ހަދަން ބޭނުންވެފައި ވާތީއެވެ. މިވަގުތުތަކުގައި ސުރަށްޔާ ދާސިއާއަށް އޮމާންކޮށް މޫނުމަތި ދެއްކިޔަސް ސުރަށްޔާގެ މޫނުމަތި ދާސިއާއަށް އޮމާނެއް ނޫނެވެ. މައިވަންތަ ކަމުގެ ލޯބި ދުނިޔަޔައަށް އުފަންނުވާ ކަހަލައެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ބައްޕަ އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް މި ކަންކަމާ އަޅާނުލާތީ ދާސިއާ ދެރަވެއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް މި ކަންކަން ހަމަޖައްސަން ހަދާނެ ގޮތެއް ނޭންގެއެވެ. އިންތިހާއަށް މި ކަންކަމާ ހިތާމަކޮށްގެން ޙައްލެއް ނުލިބޭނެ ކަން ދާސިއާއަށް ނުވިސްނަން ހުއްޓަސް ވިސްނެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ފަދަ ނުވިސްނޭ ނިކަމެއްޗަކަސް އެގޭގައި ކިޔަވައިގެން ތިބި ދާސިއާއަށް ވުރެ ފުންނާބު އުސް ކުދިން ތިއްބައި ދާސިއާއަށް ދާސިއާގެ ކުރިމަގު އުޖާލާކުރުމަށް ހެދޭނެ ހަމައެއްވެސް ގޮތެއް ނެތް ކަހަލައެވެ. މަޑުމަޑުން އައިސް ދާސިއާގެ ކޮނޑުގައި ދަދުވަރު އަތްޖަހާލިއެވެ. އޭރު އަދި ދާސިއާމެން ދާސިއާގެ މަންމަގެ ނުރުހުންތަކަށް އަނެއްކާ ކެތް ނުކުރެވިގެން އެނބުރި ރަސްގެތީމަށް ނުދެއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް މީހެއްގެ ފަރާތުން ފަހުން އެނގެމުން ދިޔައީ ދަދުވަރު ފަހަރެއްގައި ދެކުދިން ތިބި އަންހެނަކާ ކައިވެނި ކޮށްފާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. އެއީ އެ އަންހެން މިހާއަކީ މުންސަނދި މާލޭގައި ގެދޮރު ހުރި އަންހެނަކަށް ވާތީ އަނެއްކާ އެ އަންހެން މިހާގެ ދަރިން ބޮޑެތިވެފައި ވާތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގުނު ގޮތުން އެ އަންހެން މީހާގެ ކުރީގެ ފިރިމީހާގެ އަދި ދެ ކުދިންގެ ބައްޕަގެ ރުހުން ދަދުވަރާ ކައިވެނި ކުރުމަށް ލިބިދާނެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ދާސިއާ މިކަންކަން އަދި ކަމަކަށް ނަހަދައެވެ. ދަދުވަރު ، ދާސިއާމެންގެ ދޮރުމަތީގައި ދަދުވަރުގެ ޜަޙުމަތްތެރިއަކާ ވާހަކަދައްކަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް ދަދުވަރުއާއި އެ އަނަހެންމީހާ ކަމުގައިވާ އާނިޔަތުގެ ކަންތައް އެނގިފައިވާކަން އެނގޭތީ ދަދުވަރު ހުރީ ހިސާބަކަށް ދާސިއާދެކެ ޖެހިލުން ވެފައެވެ. ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރާ ދޭތެރޭގައި އެއްވެސް ދާސިއާއާ އަޅާލުމެއް ނެތް މީހެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ދެކޭފާނެ ކަން ދަދުވަރަށް އެނގެއެވެ. ގޭގެ ދޮރުގެ އެތެރެއިން ދާސިއާ ފެންނާތީ ދަދުވަރު ދާސިއާއަށް ބަލަހަށްޓައިގެން ހުއްޓެވެ. އޭރު ދާސިއާ ބޯ އޮމާންކޮށްލައިގެން މަތަރަސްމާގޭ ކޮޓަރިއެއްގެ ތެރެއިން ނުކުންނަނީއެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ އިސްތަށިގަނޑުން ރަގަލަށް ދާސިއާގެ ބޯ ދޮވެލާފައި ރަގަޅު އިސްތަށީގައި ލާ ކުރީމްއެއް ލާފައި ހުރިކަން އެނގެއެވެ. އިތުރަށް މީގެ ތެރެއިން ދުވަހެއްގައި ދާސިއާގެ ބޯ ދޮންނަން ބޭނުން ނުވާނެ ފަދައެވެ. ދާސިއާ އަމިއްލައަށް ލޯގަނޑު ކައިރީ ހުއްޓިލާފައި އިސްތަށިގަނޑާއި މެދު ފަޙުރުވެލިއެވެ. ދެން އައި ސިކުތުގައި ދާސިއާއަކީ ނިކަމެތި އަންހެން ކުއްޖަކަށް ވާތީ އެކަމާ ފިކުރު ބޮޑުވިއެވެ. ބައެއްފަހަރު ލޯގަނޑު ކައިރީ ހުރިއިރު ދާސިއާގެ ހިތައް ބަލާލެވޭ ގޮތުން މޮޔަކަންތައް ކުރެވެއޭ ދާސިއާގެ ހިތައް އަރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ކޮށްމެ ކަމެއް ވަރިހަމަ ނުކޮށްލެވޭނެތީ ދާސިއާއަށް ދެރަގޮތެއް ވެދާނެތީ ހަމަޖެހުމުގެ ނޭވައެއް ލިއެވެ. ބައެއް ފަހަރު ދާސިއާ އަމިއްލައަށް ދާސިއާގެ ރޭވުންތެރި ކަމެއް ނޭތޭ ހިތައް އަރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. އެއީ ދަދުވަރު އެހެން އަންހެނެއްގެ އަތްމަށްޗަށް ދާސިއާގެ އަތުން ދޫވުމުގެ މަންޒަރުތައް ކުރިމަތިވަމުން އަންނާތީއެވެ. ހަމަޖެހުމުގެ ނޭވައެއް ލަމުން ދާސިއާ، ދާސިއާގެ ފައިކޮޅަށް ބަލާލިއެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ބުރުސޫރާގެ ނިކަމެތިކަން ޤަބޫލުކުރެވިގެން ނުވަތަ ނުކުރެވިގެންނެވެ. ދާސިއާގެ ހެދި ބޮޑުވަމުން އަންނަ ހަށިގަނޑުނިކަމެތި ވާކަށް ދާސިއާ ބޭނުމެއް ނޫނެވެ. އެކަމަކު ދާސިއާ ގަބުރަކަށް ވުމަށް ބޭނުން ނުވާ ފަދައިން ދޭތެރެއެއްގެ ވަގުތު ވައްޓާނުލައި ދަދުވަރާ ބެހޭގޮތުން ވިސްނެން ފެށުމުން ދާސިއާގެ ހަނދާނަށް އަދި ދާސިއާގެ ހަށިގަނޑަށް ކިލަނބު ކަމެއް އަންނާތީ ދާސިއާ ދެލޮލުން ކަރުނަ އާދެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ވިސްނީ އޭނައާއި ދަދުވަރާ މެދު ބަޔަކު މީހުން މޮޔަތަކެކޭ ބުނެފާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އެހާ ގިނަދުވަހު އެކު އުޅެފާ ދަދުވަރު އެހެން އަންހެނެއް ހޯދުމުން، ދަދުވަރާއި ދާސިއާ ނުގުޅޭކަން އެފަދަ ބަޔަކަށް ހާމަވާތީއެވެ. އެބައިމީހުން އެފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް ދެކެން ފެށުމުން ދާސިއާ މަގުމަތީގައި ހިނގަން ލަދުގަނެއެވެ. ނަތީޖާއެއް ދާސިއާގެ އެއްވެސް ހިނގުމަކުން ނުނުކުންނާނެ ކަން ދާސިއާއަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވެން ފަށިފައި ވާތީއެވެ. ދެން ދާސިއާ ތައްޔާރުވަމުން ދިޔައީ ރަގަޅު ވަގުތެއް ބަލައި ދަދުވަރާ ބައްދަލުކޮށް ދަދުވަރާ ގުޅެން އެ އުޅޭ އާނިޔަތުގެ ވާހަކަދެއްކުމަށެވެ. ދަދުވަރު އެ ގުޅެން އުޅޭ އާނިޔަތުގެ ދޮށީ ދަރިއަކީ އުމުރުން 15 އަހަރު ވެފައިވާ ކުއްޖަކަށް ވާތީ އަދި އާނިޔަތުގެ ހަގު ދަރީގެ އުމުރަކީ 11 އަހަރު ކަމަށް ވާތީ އާނިޔަތުއަށް މުސްކުޅިއެކޭ ބުނެފާނެތީ ވެސް ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރާ ވާހަކަދައްކަން ލަދުގަންނަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާ ފަދަ ޒުވާން ކުއްޖެއް ގުޅެން ހުއްޓައި ދަދުވަރު މުސްކުޅިއަކާ ގުޅޭތީއެވެ. ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާއާ ބެހޭގޮތުން ނިކަމެއްޗެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ދެކުނީ ކަމަށް ވެދާނެތީ އަނެއްކާ ވެސް ދާސިއާގެ ފިކުރު ބޮޑުވާގޮތް ވިއެވެ. ދަދުވަރުމެންގެ ދިރިއުޅުމުން އެއްވެސް އޮމާން ކަމެއް ނުފެންނާނޭ ހިތައް އެރުމުން ދާސިއާގެ ކައިރިއަށް ހިނި އަންނަނީ ދަދުވަރު ޒުވާން ލެއަކާ ނުގުޅިދާނެތީއެވެ. މިކަމުގައި ދަދުވަރުގެ ޒިންދަގީ ފެނަށް ގޮސްފިނަމަ ދާސިއާ ކުރާނެ ކަމެއް ނެތެވެ. ދަދުވަރަށް އޮޅުވާނުލައި އާނިޔަތައް ކަންތައްތައް ގެންދެވިދާނެ ކަމާއިމެދު ދާސިއާއަށް އާނިޔަތާ މެދު ޝައްކެވެ. ދަދުވަރަށް ދެރަގޮތެއް ވެދާނެތީ ދާސިއާއަށް ރޮވޭގޮތް ވިއެވެ. ދަދުވަރަށް މުސްކުޅި އަންހެނެއްގެ ފަރާތުން މޮޔަވުން ކަހަލަ ކަމެއް ކުރިމަތި ވެދާނެއެވެ. އެއީ އޭނާ ދަދުވަރަށް ފަނޑިތަ ހަދައިގެންނެވެ. އެއީ ދަދުވަރުގެ ލޯބި ހޯދަން ދަދުވަރަށް ނޭންގި މަސައްކަތްކޮށްގެން ކަން ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. އެއްވެސް އޮޅުމެއްނެތި އެފަދަ އަންހެނުންގެ ވައްޓަފާޅި ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގޭ ކަހަލައެވެ. ނުބައި ރޭވުން ތެރިކަމުގެ ސިކާރައަކަށް ދަދުވަރު ހުށައެޅޭތަން ދެކެން ދާސިއާ ބޭނުމެއް ނޫނެވެ. ފުރަތަމަ ދަދުވަރަށް ދައްކާނީ ރަގަޅު މޫނުކަން އަދި ފަހުން ދަދުވަރަށް ދައްކާނީ ގޯސް މޫނުކަން ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. ފުރަތަމަ އަބުރުވެރި އަންހެއްނެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ދަދުވަރާ އާނިޔަތު އިނދެފިނަމަ، ދެން އާނިޔަތު ދަދުވަރަށް ދައްކާނީ އެއާ މުޅިމް ހިލާފު ދިރިއުޅުމެއް ކަން ދާސިއާއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. އެއްދުވަހެއްގައި ދާސިއާއަށް ދަދުވަރު އިންނަން އުޅޭ އާނިޔަތު މަގުމަތިން މީހަކު ދައްކާލިއެވެ. އޭރު ދާސިއާ ރަސްގެތީމަށް ފުރައިގެން ނުދެއެވެ. މިވަގުތު އިންތިހާއަށް ދާސިއާގެ މޫނުމަތިން ކަނިބުރައިގެން ދިޔައެވެ. އާނިޔަތަކީ މާލޭގައި ގެދޮރުހުރި ބޮޑާ އަންހެނަކަށް ވާތީއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް މިދުވަހު ތަންކޮޅަކަށް އެ މަގުން ހިގާފައި ދިޔަތަނާ ދަދުވަރު ފެނުނެވެ. މިވަގުތު ލަތީފާގެ ހިތުގައި ވިންދުޖަހާލީ ހިތާމައިން ފުރިގެންވާ ގޮތަކަށް ކަރުނަ އަންނަ ގޮތަށެވެ. މި ކަރުނަ ތިކިތައް ލަތީފާގެ ލޮލުން ފޭދެން ފެށިއެވެ. ދަދުވަރު މިވަގުތު ހިތައް އެރީ ދަދުވަރަށް ހައްޤީ ދާސިއާ ބާވައެވެ؟ ނޫނީ އާނިޔަތު ބާވައެވެ؟ މި ދެމީހުން ކުރެ ކޮށްމެވެސް އެކަކާ ކައިވެނީގެ ގޮތުން ގުޅެވޭނެ ބާވައެވެ؟ މި ދެމީހުން ސަހަރާގައި ފަސްދަށަށް ލާއިރު ދަދުވަރު މި ދުނިޔޭގައި ހުންނާނެ ބާވައެވެ؟ އަނެއްކާ އާނިޔަތުގެ އުމުރަކީ 100 އަހަރު ކަމުގައި ނުވަތަ 90 އަހަރު ކަމުގައި ނުވަތަ 80 އަހަރު ކަމުގައި ވެދާނެ ކަމަށެވެ. މި ދެމީހުންނަށް ދަދުވަރު އަދަބު އިޙުތިރާމު ކުރަން ޖެހެނީ އަންހެނުންނަށް ވާތީއެވެ. ދަދުވަރުގެ ހިތުގައި އަންހެނުންނަށް ޙާއްސަ ގަދަރެއް އޮންނާތީއެވެ. އަންހެނެއް ހިންހަމަނުޖެހޭނެ ނަމަ އެދިމާވާ ކަމެއް ލަތީފުއަށް ވަރިހަމަ ނުކޮށްލެވޭނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އިންތިހާ ދަރަޖައީގެ މަތީވެރި ދަރަޖަ މިދުނިޔޭގައި އަންހެނުންނަށް ލިބިފައި ވާތީއެވެ. އިންސާނެއް މަރުވެގެން ވަޅުލުމުގެ ކަންތައްތައް ކުރިޔަށް ދާއިރު ސަންދޯއް ލުމަށް ހަމަޖެހިފައިވާ ކޮނެފައިވާ ވަޅަށް ލުމަށް ފަހު އާލިމު ތިން ވެލިމުއް އެފަދަ ސަންދޯކެއް މަށްޗަށް އަޅާލާނެއެވެ. މިފަދަ ވަގުތެއްގައި އެ ސަންދޯކުގައި އޮތީ އަސްވާ ކަމުގައި ވުމަށް އާލިމު ބޭނުމެއް ނުވާނެއެވެ. އެއީ ފާތުންނާއިއެކު ލޯބިން ގުނިފައިވާ ދުވަސްތައް މަތިން ހަނދާން އާވަމުން ދާތީއެވެ. އަދި މިފަދަ ސަންދޯކެއްގައި އައިޝަތުމަށް ވެސް އާލިމު ބޭނުން ނުވާނެއެވެ. އެއީ އަސްވާއާ ކައިވެނި ނުކުރެވިއްޖެ ނަމަ އައިޝަތުއާ ކައިވެނި ކުރެވޭނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އެއް އިންސާނަކު މަރުވުމާއި އަނެއް އިންސާނަކު މަރުވުމާ ދެމެދު ސިކުންތުތަކެއްގެ ނުވަތަ މައިކްރޯ ސިކުންތުތަކެއްގެ ނުވަތަ ދުވަސްތަކެއްގެ ތަފާތު ވެއެވެ. މިދުރު މިނަށް ލަތީފު ބޭނުންވަނީ ލަތީފާ ނުވަތަ އާނިޔަތު ލަތީފުގެ ފަރާތުން ހުށައެޅުމަށެވެ. އެއި ލޯތްބައް ލިބެންވޭ އަގު ކޮށްމެ އިންސާނަކަށް ވެސް ލިބެންވާއިރު ލަތީފު ފަދައިން ލަތީފު ގައިން ބާރު ދޫވަން ބޭނުންނުވާ ފަދައިން އެމީހުންގެ ގައިން ވެސް ބާރު ދޫވަން ބޭނުންނުވާ އެއްޗެވެ. އިންސާނުންގެ ހިތަކީ ތަފާތު އެއްޗެކެވެ. އިންސާނުންނާ މޮޔަވެފައި ހުއްޓައި އެކުސިޑެންޓުވުން ކަހަލަ ކަންތައް ދިމާވެފައި އެބަހުއްޓެވެ. މީގެ އަސްލު ދެނެގަންނައިރު އެއިރު އެކުސިޑެންޓުވާ އިންސާނާ އެކުސިޑެއްޓު ވެފައި ވަނީ އަމިއްލަ އެދުން ދުނިޔޭގެ އަމާން އޮމާން ދުވަސްތައް ހޭދަކުރެވެން އޮށްވާ ބޮޑުވެގެންނެވެ. އެވަގުތު އޭނާއަށް އޭނާގެ ސަންދޯއް ވަޅުލެވިފައިވާތަން ފެނިފައި ވިޔަސް އެކަންކަން ކަމަކަށް ނަހަދައެވެ. އާލިމު، އާނިޔަތުގެ ކަންތައް އަސްވާގެ ހިތައް އުނދަގޫވާ ގޮތައް ގެންދިޔުން، އާލިމަށް މަތީގައި ދެންނެވި ގޮތުގެ އަސްލަކަށް ބެލެވެއެވެ. މިއީ އައިޝަތު އިންތިހާއަށް ދެރަވާ ކަމެކެވެ. ގާތުން ކިރުދޭ މައިން އެ ކިރުދިން ދަރިންނަން ކަމޭހިތަން ބޭނުންވާ ފަދައިން އައިޝަތު، އާލިމަށް ކަމޭހިތަން ބެނުން ވެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މިކަންތައްތަކުގެ ތެރެއަށް އާނިޔަތު ވަނުމުން އައިޝަތުގެ ދިރިއުޅުމަށް ބަނަކަން އަންނާތީ ޙައްޤު ގޮތުގައި އައިޝަތު ހުންނަން ބޭނުންވެއެވެ. އައިޝަތު ދިޔަ މަގުމަތީގައި އާލިމުގައިގާ ލައިގަތެވެ. އައިޝަތު އެ ލައިގަތުމުން ހިތައް އެރީ ޖިނާ އަނެއްކާ އާނިޔަތު ދޫކޮށްލާފައި އައިޝަތު ގުޅެން ބޭނުންވީ ކަމަށެވެ. އާނިޔަތުއަކީ މާލޭ މީހަކަށް ވެފައި އައިޝަތުއަކީ ވެސް ރަސްގެތީމުގައި މިހާރު އުޅުނަސް މާލޭ މީހަކަށް ވާތީ މި ދެމީހުންގެ އައިޑީ ކާޑުގައި ތަފާތުތަކެއް ވާތީ ޖިނާ އާމިނަތައް އިސްކަން ދީފާނެ ކަމަށް އާމިނަތު ޤަބޫލުކުރިއެވެ. އާމިނަތުމެންގެ ގެ މާލޭގައި ހުރުމަކީ ޖިނާއަށް، ޖިނާގެ ކުރިމަގު އުޖާލާ ކުރުމަށް އެޅޭ ރަގަޅު ފިޔަވަޅަކަށް ވެއެވެ. ހަމަ މިގޮތައް އަނިޔަތުގެމެންގެ ގެ މާލޭގައި ހުންނާތީ ޖިނާ ވިސްނާ ގޮތުން ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރެއްގެ ތަފާތުތަކެއް ހުއްޓަސް އާނިޔަތުއާ ވެސް ފައިތިލަ ސާބިތުކުރެވިދާނެއެވެ. "ހަލޯ.... ހަލޯ......" އާމިނަތުމެންގެ ފޯނުން އާމިނަތު، ޖިނާއާ ގުޅިއެވެ. "ކިހިނެތްވީ؟" ޖިނާ ސުވާލުކުރިއެވެ. "މިއުޅެނީ މަންމަގެ އުނދަގޫ ބޮޑުވެގެން ރަސްގެތީމަށް ފުރޭތޯ........އަހަރެން ހިއެއް ނުކުރަން މިކަންތައްތައް މިހާ ހިސާބައްދާނެ ކަމަށް. މިއަދު އިންތިހާއަށް ބިރުވެސްގަނެފި. އަހަރެން މިއުޅެނީ މި ކަންކަން މުސީބާތަކަށް ނަހަދައި ދާން." އާމިނަތުގެ ދެ ލޮލުން ކަރުނަ އައެވެ. ****** ދާސިއާއާއި ދަދުވަރު މުސްތަގުބަލު ރޭވިއިރު ދާސިއާ ބޮޑައް އިސްކަން ދިނީ ފުރަތަމަ ލިބޭ ދަރިފުޅަށް އިސްކަން ދިނުމަށެވެ. އެއީ ކޮށްމެ ކަމެއްގެ ވެސް ހަގީގަތެއް އެކުލެވިގެން ވާތީ އެފަދަ ކަންކަމަށް ވިސްނާފައެވެ. މިފަދަ މޭރުމަކުން ބަލާއިރު މަރުވީމާ މީހާ ހިނަވާ މިހާގެ ވެސް ހައިސިއްޔަތެއް އޮންނާނެއެވެ. އަދި ހަމަ މިފަދައިން މަރުވާ މީހާގެ ވަޅުކޮންނަ ފަރާތުގެވެސް ޙައިސިއްޔަތެއް އޮންނާނެއެވެ. އެފަދަ މީހެއްގެ ކިބާގައިވެސް ޝިޔާނާ ފަދައިން ހަނދާންތަކެއް ހުންނާނެއެވެ. އިންތިހާއަށް ޝިޔާނާ މިހާރުވެސް އާނިޔަތުގެ ތިމާގެ މީހެއް މަރުވެގެން އެ މިހާ ހިނަވައި ކަފުންކޮށް ސަންދޯކަށްލައި ވަޅުލިދުވަސް އާނިޔަތު ހަދާން އެބަހުއްޓެވެ. އޭގެ ދެދުވަސް ފަހުން އެ ތައްހާން އާނިޔަތާ ބައްދަލުވެގެން އެ ވާހަކަދެއްކިއެވެ. ދެކޮޅަށް ކިރިލަ ކިރިލާ ހުރެފައި ޝިޔާނާއާ ދިމާލަށް އެދުވަހު ދިޔައީ އެވާހަކަ ޝިޔާނާއާ ނުދައްކާ ފަރު ނުޖެހޭނެތީއެވެ.ތައްހާން ބައެއް ފަހަރަށް ޝިޔާނާއަށް ރާވައިގެން ކުރަން ބޭނުންވާ ކަންތައް ނުކުރެވި ވެއެވެ. ޝިޔާނާގެ ހިތުގައި އެފަދަ ކަންކަމަށް ޔަޤީންކަން އޮންނައިރުވެސް މެއެވެ. މިފަދަ ހިޔާލުތައް ކުރެވެން ފެށުމުން އާލިމުގެ ލޯތްބާއި މެދު ޝިޔާނާއަށް ޔަޤީންކަން ކުޑަވެއެވެ. ތައްހާނު އާނިޔަތު ކުރެން ދަދުވަރުގެ ވާހަކަ އޮޅުންފިލުވައި ހެދިއެވެ. މީހަކު އަނެއް މީހާ ކައިރިން ސަލާންޖަހާ އުސޫލުންނެވެ. ****** ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ ދުވަހެއްގައި ވެސް އާނިޔަތު މަތިން ހަނދާން ނުނެތޭނެ ކަމަށެވެ.އާލިމު

                                                                                                                        

މިކަމުގެ

    

.އަހަރެންނަށް ބައެއް ފަހަރު ވިސްނޭ.ހައްތަހާވެސް އަހަރެންގެ ފިކުރު ބެހެއްޓޭތޯ މި ބަލަނީ ދެފަރާތައް ފައިދާވާ ގޮތައް. މި ގުޅުމުގައި އިތުރު ހަރުފަތް ތަކަކަށް ދެވިދާނެ. އިތުރު ގޮތޮތަކަށް ރޭވިދާނެ. ނަމަވެސް ކޮށްމެ އުސޫލެއްގައި ވެސް އަހަރެންނަށް ކާމިޔާބު ލިބެންވާނެ. އަހަރެންގެ ކާމިޔާބަކީ އެއްވެސް އިންސާނަކަށް ބަދަލު ކުރެވޭނެ ކަމެއް ނޫން. އެއްގަމުގައި ދިރިއުޅޭ ކުކުޅު، ހާ ފަދައިން ގޮތެއް ފޮތެއް ނެތި އަހަރެން ނޫޅޭނަން. މިހެން ބުނާއިރު ވެސް އެނގޭ އެ އެއްޗެހި ކިބައީގައި ވެސް ކޮށްމެވެސް އުސޫލުތަކެއް ހުންނާނެ ކަން. އެއެއްޗެހި ކާންދޭ ފަރާތް ދަންނަފަދައިން އަބީރާހު އަހަރެންނާ މެދު ވިސްނަންޖެހޭނެ." ބަދަލުތަކަކަށް ނުވަތަ ބަދަލަކަށް ޖިންނި އަބީރާހުގެ ފަރާތުން ބޭނުން ވެއެވެ. ޖިންނި، ފާއިޒާ ކުރެން އެތަނުން ދިއުމުގެ އިޒުނައަކަށް އެދުނެވެ. ދެވަނަ ބައްދަލުވުމެއް އެއަށްވުރެ ކުލަގަދަކޮށްލުމުގެ ނިޔަތުގައެވެ. ދެން ޖިންނި ވިސްނީ ދެންވާނެ ބައްދަލުވުމަކާއި ބެހޭގޮތުންނެވެ. އަބީރާހު ހަނދާން ހުންނަވަރު ކޮށްލުމުގެ ގޮތުންނެވެ. އެއްވެސް އޮމާން ކަމެއް އެ ބައްދަލުވުމުން ދައްކާކަށް ބޭނުމެއް ނޫނެވެ. ގަދައަޅައި މަސައްކަތްކޮށްފި ނަމަ ޖިންނީގެ މަގުސަދުތައް ޙާސިލްވާނެ ކަން ޖިންނިއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. އިތުރު ރޭވުމަކަށް ބޭނުން ނުވާނެ ކަން ވެސް ޖިންނިއަށް ބައެއް ފަހަރު ވިސްނެމުން ދެއެވެ. ޖިންނި ސިކުނޑިގައި ނުލާފާކަން ވަރުގަދަޔަށް ދާސިއާ ދޭތެރޭގައި ދައްކާލުމަށް އުފެދިގެން ދިޔައެވެ. އެކަމުން އިތުރަށް ދިރިހުރުމަށްޓަކައި ޖިންނިއަށް ހިތްވަރު ލިބޭނެ އެއްޗެވެ. ކެޔުން ބޮޔުންމަތިން ޖިންނި ހަނދާން ނެތުނު ކަހަކލައެވެ. އެ ވިސްނުމަށް ތަން ދިނުމުގެ ގޮތުންނެވެ. އިތުރަށް މުޅިއުމުރުގައި ވެސް ކާން ނުޖެހޭނޭ ޖިންނި ހިތައްއެރިއެވެ. އެއި ދާސިއާއަށް ދައްކަން އެއުޅޭ ނުލަފާކަމުން އެހެން ޖިންނިނަށް ވެސް ފައިދާ ކުރާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އިތުރަށް ދާސިއާ ދައްކާ ވާހަކައީގެ އަޑުއެހުމުގެ ބޭނުމެއް ނެތެވެ. އަދި އިތުރަށް ރޭވުމުގެ ބޭނުމެއް ވެސް ނެތެވެ. ޖިންނި އެއަށްވުރެ ކުޅަދާނައެވެ. ކާމިޔާބުގެ ތަޅުދަނޑިފަތި އޮތީ ޖިންނީގެ އަތުގައި ކަމަށް ޖިންނި ދެކެއެވެ. އެއްވެސް އިންސާނަކަށް އެކަން ބަދަލުނުކުރެވޭނެ ކަން ޖިންނި ޤަބޫލުކުރެއެވެ. އެއްވެސް ހާލެއްގައި މިފަދައިން ޖިންނިއަށް ލިބިފައި މިފަދަ ބާރުތަކަށް އިންސާނަކަށް ޖިންނިއަށް ޔަޤީންކަން ކުޑަ ނުކުރެވޭނެ ކަމަށްވެސް ޖިންނި ދެކެއެވެ. ލޯތްބަކީ ޖިންނީގެ ސިކުޑީގައި ބިންވަޅުނެގޭ ކަމެއް ކަމުން އެފަދަ ކަމަކަށް ފެންބޮވާގަނެ ދަނޑިވަޅު ނުބަލައި ލޯތްބައް އުމުރު ހުސްކޮށްލުމަކީ ޖިންނި ބޭނުންވާ ކަމެއްނޫނެވެ. އިންތިހާއަށް ދިރިއުޅުމައިގެން ކުރިއަށް ދިއުމަކީ އަދި ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ހަރުފތްތައް ޝައުނޤުވެރި ކަމާއިއެކު ހަރުފަތަކަށް ފަހު ހަރުފަތެއް ކުރިއަށް ގެންދިއުމަކީ ޖިންނީގެ ހިތް ގޮވަގޮވާ އޮންނަ ކަމެކެވެ. ތާރީޙުގެ ދުވަސްތައް ޖިންނި ގުނުމުގައި ބައެއް ފަހަރަށް ވިސްނަން ޖެހެއެވެ. އެއީ އުމުރުގެ ބާކީ އޮތްދުވަސްތަކަށް އަމާން ކަމަކަށް ފަހަރެއްގައި ކަންތައް ގެންދެވޭ ގޮތަކުން ޖާގަ ނުލިބިދާނެ ކަމަށްޓަކައެވެ. އެކުވެރި ކަމަކީ މިފަދަ ހިޔާލުތައް ކުރެވޭ ވަގުތު ޖިންނި ލޯބިކުރާ ކަމެކެވެ. އެކުވެރި ކަމުގެ ސަބަބުން ކާމިޔާބުގެ ތަޅުދަނޑިއަށް، އެ ތަޅުދަނޑީގައި ހިންހަމަޖެހުމާއިއެކު އަތްޖެހުމަށްޓަކައި، އެވެސް ބުރުލެއް ނާރާނެތީ ޖިންނީގެ ދެ ލޯ ބައެއް ފަހަރަށް ދާސިއާއާ އެއްވެސް ހިފެހެއްޓުމެއް ނެތި ހަމަކޮށްލެވޭ ގޮތް ވެއެވެ. އެއްވެސް ފަހަރެއްގައި ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ކަމެއްގައި އަށްދިއްޔޯތް ބުނުމަކީ ޖިންނި ވިސްނާ ކަމެއް ނޫނެވެ. ބައެއް ފަހަރަށް ޖިންނިއަށް އަރިދަފުސް ރޯގާ ވައްތަރު ކުރެއެވެ. ޖިންނި ސަބަބަކަށް ދެކެނީ ޖިންނީގެ ބައްޕެގެ ބައެއް ނަސޭހަތްތަކުގައި ރަގަޅަށް ނިހިފެހެއްޓެނީ ކަމެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މިފަދަ ލަނޑެއް ދިނުމުގެ ކުރިމަގު ދާސިއާއަށް، ޖިންނިއަށް ކޮށާ ނުދެވޭނެ ކަން ޖިންނި ޤަބޫލުކުރެއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ރޮށްވާލައިގެން ނަމަވެސް ޖިންނީގެ ނިޔަފަތިތަކުގެ ސިކާރައަކަށް ދާސިއާ ހަދާނެ ބާވައެވެ؟ އޮމާންކޮށް ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ ދުވަސްތައް މި ޖިންނި ދާސިއާއެކު ދުއްވާލަން ބޭނުން ނުވަނީ ކީތްވެ ބާވައެވެ؟ ދޭތެރެއެއް ރަގަޅު ދަނޑިވަޅެއް ބަލާފައި މި ޖިންނިއަށް އިންސާނަކު ލަނޑެއް ދީފާނެ ބާވައެވެ؟ އެވަރު މި ޖިންނި ހުންނާނީ ވިސްނައިގެންނެވެ. ޔަޤީނުން ވެސް ޖިންނި މިކަމުގައި އަނދަގޮޑި ޖެހެންޏާ މިކަމުގެ އުނދަގޫ ދާސިއަށް ފޯރާނެ ކަން ޖިންނިއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. ސަމާސާ ގޮތްގަނޑަކީ ޖިންނި މިކަމުގައި ބޭނުންވާ ގޮތްގަނޑެއް ނޫނެވެ. އަދި ސީދަލަށް ހުރުމަށްވެސް ޖިންނި ބޭނުމެއް ނުވެއެވެ. ޖިންނި ވާހަކަދެއްކީ ބިރުވެރި ކަމެއް އިތުރަށް އަބީރާހުއަށް ދައްކާލުމަށް ހިތުގައި ގަދަކޮށް ފަވާލައިގެން ހުރެއެވެ. ޕަސްލާފައި އަބީރާހުގެ ގައިގާ އެތިފަހަރެއް ޖަހަފިނަ އިތުރަށް އަބީރާހު ހަނދާން ހުރެފާނެ ކަމަށް ޖިންނި ވިސްނިއެވެ. އެ އެތިފަހަރު އަބީރާހުގެ ގައިގާ ޖެހުމުގައި އިތުރު ރޭވުމަކަށް ޖިންނި ބޭނުމެއް ނުވެއެވެ. އޮމާން ކަމަކަށް ކުރަކި ކަމަކަށް ވެސް ޖިންނި ބޭނުމެއް ނުވެއެވެ. ޖިންނިއަށް އޮންނަ ޔަޤީކަން ބޮޑުކަމުން ނަތީޖާ ނުކުންނާނީ ރަގަޅަށް ކަން ޖިންނިއަށް އެނގެއެވެ. އެއްވެސް ހާލެއްގައި ރަށްކާވުމުގެ ގޮތުން އަބީރާހުއަށް ކަންތައް ނުކުރެވޭނެތީ އަބީރާހުގެ ލޯބި ކާމިޔާބު ކުރުމުގެ ކުރިން އެތަކެއް އެތިފަހަރެ

                                                                                                                                                

ލޯބީގެ

    

"މިހާރު މިދަނީ....." ދަދުވަރުގެ އަޑުގައި އެކުލެވިގެން ވަނީ ފިލުމީ މަންޒަރެއްގެ އަޑެވެ. ދާސިއާއެކު ރަގަޅު ގޭމެއް ކުޅެން ދަދުވަރު ބޭނުން ވާތީއެވެ. "އަހަރެން އަރަންވީތަ؟......." ދަދުވަރު އައިސް ދާސިއާގެ ކައިރީ ސައިކަލުގައި މަޑުކޮށްލިއެވެ. އޭރު ދާސިއާ މެންގެ ގެ ދާސިއާގެ ދައްތަގެ ކައިވެނި ސަޔަށް ތައްޔާރު ކުރަމުން ދެއެވެ. އެކަށީގެންވާ ވަރަށް ރީތި ލަވަތައް ސްޕީކަރުތަކުން ޖަހަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ހީވަނީ އެގެ ޤައުމީ ކަމަކަށް ތައްޔާރު ވާހެންނެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް ބައެއް ފަހަރަށް ހީވަމުން ދިޔައީ އެ ކޮންސެޓް ނިންމާފައި އެ ދެ މީހުން ކައިވެނި ކުރަންވީ ކަމަށެވެ. ނޫނީ އެ ދެ މީހުންގެ ކައިވެނި ކުރުމުގެ ނަމޫނާއެއް ދައްކަނީ ކަމަށެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް އަދި ދަދުވަރަށް އެ ކޮންސެޓް ރީތިވިއެވެ. ދާސިއާއަށް އެ ކޮންސެޓުން ދާސިއާ ދަންނަ މޫނުތައް ފެންނަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދަދުވަރަށް ވެސް ދަދުވަރު ދަންނަ މޫނުތައް އެ ކޮންސެޓުން ފެންނަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. އެކިއެކި ކުލާސްތައް ވަކިވަކިން ކޮންސެޓް ހުށައަޅަމުން ގެންދިޔައެވެ. ދުވަހަކީ ލަތީފާ ގަނޫނު ކިޔަވާ ސުކޫލުގެ ތަމްސީލު އޮންނަ ދުވަހެވެ. ދާސިއާ ނަމާދުކޮށްލައިގެން ނުކުތްއިރު ދާރިނާ ހުރީ ދާސިއާގެ ފޮތްތައް އުކާލާފައެވެ. ދާރިނާ ސަބަބަކަށް ނަގަނީ ދާސިއާއަށް ކުލާހުން ލިބިފައިވާ މާކުސް ދައްކަމެވެ. ދާސިއާ ސުކޫލުގެ އަންހެން ފުޓްބޯޅަ ޓީމުގައި ބައިވެރިވެފައި ފުޓްބޯޅަ ކުޅެން ދާންޖެހުނު ގަޑިޖެހުނު އިރުވެސް ފްޓުބޯޅަ ކުޅެން މިދުވަހު ނުދެވުނެވެ. މިދުވަހު ދާސިއާ ދެ ހިތާމަ ކުރަންޖެހުނެވެ. އެއްވެސް އަގެއްނެތް ކުއްޖެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ކުލާހުގެ ކުދިން ދާސިއާމެދު ދެކިދާނެތީ ދާސިއާ ވިސްނިއެވެ. ސަލާން ޖަހައިގެން ކާން ޖެހުނަސް ވަގުތުން އެގެއިން ނުކުމެގެން ނުދާން ދާސިއާ ނިންމިއެވެ. އަބުރުވެރި އަންހެން ކުއްޖަކަށް ވުމުގެ މަގުސަދުގައެވެ. ދާސިއާ މިވަގުތު ބޮލުގެ ބޭނުން ހިފައިގެން އިތުރަށް ރޭވީ މި ފަދަ ގޮތެއް ދާސިއާގެ މަންމަ ދާރިނާގެ ފަރާތުން ނުވާނެ ގޮތަކާއި މެދުގައެވެ. ލަތީފާ ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ ލަތީފު ކޮށްމެވެސް ވަރަކަށް ދާސިއާމެން ފުޓްބޯޅަ މުބާރާތް އޮންނަ ތަނަށް އައިސް އުޅޭތީ އެކަމާ މެދުގައެވެ. އެ ފުޓްބޯޅަ މުބާރާތް އޮންނަ ތަނުގައި ހަމައެކަނި ދަދުވަރު ދަނަން ކުއްޖަކަށް ހުރި ދާސިއާ ކަމުގައި ވާތީ ދަދުވަރު، ދާސިއާއާ ވާހަކަދައްކަން ލަދުގަނެފާނެ ކަމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ދުވަހަކީ ދާސިއާ އުޅޭ ސުކޫލުގެ ތަމުސީލު ކުޅެން ހަމަޖެހިފައި އޮތް ދުވަހެވެ. ތަމްސީލު ކުޅެން ހެދުން އެޅުމުގެ ތެރޭގައި، ލަތީފުގެ އެހީތެރިކަމަށް ބޭނުންވެގެން ލަތީފުގެ އަތް ލަތީފާގެ މޭމަތީގައި ޖެހޭގޮތް ވިއެވެ. ދާސިއާ ތަމްސީލަށް ތައްޔާރުވިއިރު ލާފާއިވާ ކޯޓް ފަޓްލޫނުގެ ރީތިކަމުން ދާސިއާ ވައްތަރީ މިނިސްޓަރަކާއެވެ. ދާސިއާ އެހެން މިނިސްޓަރުންނާ ވާދަކޮށް ހާރިޖީ ވަޒީރުގެ މަޤާމު ދާސިއާމެން ކުޅުނު ތަމްސީލުން ފުރައިދެއެވެ. އެއްރެއެއްގެ ދަންވަރު ވަގުތެއްގައި ޖިންނިދެކެ ބިރުން ހުރެފައި، ދާސިއާ އެ ހުންނަ ގޭގެ ގޭތެރެއަށް ނުކުތެވެ. އޭރު ޖިންނި އެތަނުން ހިނގައްޖެއެވެ. މިވަގުތު ދާސިއާ ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ ޖިންނިއަށް ދާސިއާގެ ދުވަސްދުއްވާލުމުގައި ކިހާދުވަހެއް ނަގާނެ ކަމާއި މެދުގައެވެ. އެއީ ޖިންނީގެ ވާހަކަހުންނަ ގޮތުންނެވެ. ޖިންނީގެ ވާހަކައީގައި ކުރިޢާ އަޅާބަލާއިރު ތަފާތުތަކެއް ހުރުމުންނެވެ. "ދާސިއާ..... ދާސިއާ..... އަހަރެން ލުބުނާއަށް މި ގޮވަނީ އަހަރެމެންގެ ގުޅުމަށް ހެޔޮ ބަދަލުތަކެއް ގެނައުމަށްޓަކާ. އަދައްވުރެ ފަހި މާދަމައަކަށް އެދޭތީ. ރަގަޅު ތިލަފަތަކުން އަހަރެމެންގެ ގުޅުން ރަގަޅަށް ކިރައި ހަމަހަމަ ކުރުމަށްޓަކާ. ހަމައެކަނި ލުބުނާދެކެ ނޫނީ ލުބުނާއަށް ލިބެން އުޅޭ ދަރިދެކެ ލޯބިވުމަކުން މި ގުޅުން ފުއްދާލެވޭކަށް ނެތް. އޮޔެ ހުރީ ރަގަޅަށް. " ޖިންނީ އަނެއްކާވެސް އެގޭ ގޯއްޗެތެރަށް ވަނެވެ. ކޮށްމެވެސް ލަނޑެއް ދާސިއާއަށް ދީފައި ނޫނީ ނުދިއުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. މިފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް ދާސިއާގެ ކަންތައް ކުރިއަށް ގެންދާނަމަ ދާސިއާގެ ލޯބި ކާމިޔާބު ކުރެވޭ އެއްޗެވެ. ދެރަ ކަމެއް ޖިންނިއާ ކުރިމަތި ނުވާނެކަން ޖިންނިއަށް ޤަބޫލު ކުރެވޭތީއެވެ. ****** އެހެން ރެއެއްގައި ޖިންނި ބޭނުންވީ ދާސިއާ އެގެއިން ނެރެލައިގެން ރަސްގެތީމު ވަލަށް ގެންދިއުމަށެވެ. ގެންގޮސް ހޭނައްތައިލުމަށެވެ. އިރުއެރުމުން ދާސިއާ ހޯދަން މީހުން އަންނާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އެރެއަށްފަހު ދާސިއާގެ ލޯބި ޖިންނީގެ މަށްޗައް އިތުރު ކުރުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ޖިންނި ވިސްނަމުން ދިޔައީ އިތުރަށް ޖިންނިއާ ދާސިއާއާ ދޭތެރަށް މީހަކަށް ނުވަދެވޭނެ ވަރަށެވެ. ދާސިއާއާ ދަދުވަރުގެ ފަރާތުން ލިބޭ ދަރިއަކާ ލޯބީގެ ގޮތުން ގުޅުމަށް ހުންނަން ކެތް ނުކުރެވިގެންނެވެ. ގާތްގަނޑަކަށް މުޅިން ޔަޤީންވާ ގޮތައް ދުނިޔަ ހިތަކަށް ލިބުމުން ލިބުނު ފުރުސަތުގެ ބޭނުން ހިފުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ދާސިއާއާއި ދާސިއާގެ ދަރިން ކުރެ ކޮށްމެވެސް އެކެއް ކާމިޔާބު ކުރުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ޖިންނި ހާންސް ކަމެއް އިތުރަށް ދުނިޔޭގެ އުފާވެރި ދުވަސްތައް ވޭތުކުރުމުގައި ނުގެންގުޅެން ވެގެންނެވެ. ދޭތެރެއަކުން ހިންހަމަނުޖެހޭ ކަމެއް ހިތައް މަދުފަހަރެއްގައި ކުރިމަތި ވިޔަސް އެކަންތައް ކަމަކަށް ނުހެދުމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ނަތީޖާއަކީ އިންސާނުން ފަދައިން ޖިންނި ބޭނުންވާ ގޮތައް ގަދައަޅައި މަސައްކަތްކޮށްފި ނަމަ ނެރެވިދާނެ އެއްޗަކަށްވާތީއެވެ. ކޮށްމެ އިންސާނެއް ފަދައިން ޖިންނި ވެސް ފުރިހަމަ ނަތީޖާއަކަށް ކޮށްމެ ކަމެއްގައި ވެސް އުންމީދު ކުރެއެވެ. މިފަދަ ނަތީޖާއަކަށް ހުޝިޔާރު ރޭވުންތަކަކަށް ބޭނުން ވެއެވެ. ޖަހާހާ ބެރަކަށް ނުނަށާ ގޮތަށެވެ. އުންމީދުން ފުރިގެންވާ ހިޔާލުތަކެއް ހިތްމަށްޗަށް ގެނެސްގެން ހުރެއެވެ. ވިއްސާރައަކަށް އަށްވަކަށް ބެލުމެއް ނެތިއެވެ. ވައިޖެހޭ ކޮޅަށް އޮޑި ދުއްވާލާ ގޮތަށެވެ. ޓަސްޓަސް ލާފައި ހިތުގައި ބައެއްފަހަރު ޖަހާ ވިންދު އަވަސްވަމުން ދިޔައަސް އިދިކޮޅުން ނުކުންނަ މީހުންގެ އަތްމަށްޗަށް ނުދެމޭ ގޮތަށެވެ. ވާނުވާ ބެލުމުގެ ސަމުގާ ނިއްވާ ނުލައި އެ ސަމުގާގެ ކޮށްމެ މަންޒަރަކަށް ހޭއަރައި ވިސްނައިގެން ހުރެއެވެ. ****** ސެޕްޓެންބަރ މަހެއްގެ 18 ވަނަ ދުވަހެވެ. ޖިންނީގެ އުނދަގުލާ ހުރެ އެދުވަހު ރޭގަނޑު ދާސިޢާ ގެއިން ނުކުންނަން ޖެހިއްޖެއެވެ. ސަބަބަކަށް ވަނީ ދާސިއާ، ޖިންނިއާ ދެމެދު ދެއްކިފައިވާ ވާހަކަތަކަށް ދާސިއާއަށް އަމަލު ނުކުރެވުމެވެ. ޖިންނިއަށް ދާސިއާގެ ވާހަކަތަކަކީ ދޮގު ބުހުތާން ވާހަކަތަކެއް ހެން ހީވުމެވެ. ޖިންނިއަށް ދާސިއާގެ ސަބަބުން ނުއުފުލޭ ވަރުގެ ބުރައެއް ޖެހިދާނެހެން ހީވުމެވެ. މި މުސީބާތުގައި ޖިންނި ވާނުވާ ނޭންގި ފަތަން ޖެހިދާނެ ކަމެވެ. ދެރަކަމަކީ ޖިންނީގެ އާއިލާއަށް މި ކަމުގެ ގެއްލުން ފޯރަފާނެ ކަމުގެ ބިރު ޖިންނިއަށް ހީވުމެވެ. ލޯބީގެ ވާހަކަތަކަކުން މިކަން ހަމަ ޖައްސާލެވޭކަށް ނެތްކަމަށް ޖިންނިއަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވުމެވެ. ޖިންނީގެ ހަނދާނަށް އަންނަނީ މިފަދަ ކަމެއް ދެވަނަ ފަހަރަށް ދާސިއާގެ ފަރާތުން ކުރިމަތިވެއްޖެ ނަމަ، ދާސިއާއާ ވާހަކަދައްކައިގެން ފައިދާ ނެގުމުގެ މުހިންމު ކަން ތަކުރާރުކޮށް ކުރީގައި ވިސްނާފާވާ ކަމެވެ. އެއްވެސް ޔަޤީން ކަމެއް ނެތި ދާސިއާ ގުޅުން ކަނޑާލައިފި ނަމަ ފަހުން ހިތާމަ ކުރަން ޖެހިދާ

                                                                                                                        

ނުދިނުމުގެ

    

ލުއިކަމެއް ލިބުމަށް ފެނުނު މަންޒަރަކީ ސުނާމީގައި ހާލުޖެހިގެން ރާއްޖޭގެ އެކި ހިސާބުން ކޮޅުފުއްޓައް ބަދަލުވެފައިވާ 600 ވަރަކަށް މީހުން ކޮޅުފުށީ އޮފީސް ކައިރީ ސަފުހަދާފައިވާ މަންޒަރެވެ. ފާއިޒާ ވެސް ލަހެއްފަހެއް ނެތި ލިބިފައިވާ ނިކަމެތިކަން އިޙުސާސްވެފައި އެ ސަފައް އެރިއެވެ. ****** ވިއްސާރަ ދުވަހެކެވެ. ތިން ހަތަރުފަހަރަށް ލަތީފާ އަތުގައި އޮތް ފޯނަށް ބަލާލާފިއެވެ. ލަތީފު ގުޅާފާވާ ކަން ހަނދާންވާލެއް ބޮޑުކަމުންނެވެ. އެތަކެއް ފަހަރު ލަތީފުގެ ލޯތްބާއި މެދު ހިޔާލުކުރެވެމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ލަތީފާގެ ސިކުނޑިއަށް ހާނސްކަން އިތުރުވަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ އުންމީދުތައް ފެނަށްދާހެން ލަތީފާއަށް ހީވާން ފަށައިފިއެވެ. ރާވައިގެން ހުރި ގޮތައް ވިއްސާރަކަމުން ބައްދަލު ނުވެދާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. ލަތީފާގެ މޫނުމަތިން އެއްވެސް އޮމާން ކަމެއް ނެތްތާގައި، ލަތީފާގެ ހަށިގަނޑުގައި ޖަހާ ވިންދު މަދުވަމުން ދާތީއެވެ. ބައެއްފަހަރު ގުޅާފައި، ލަތީފު ކައިރީ ރޮއެގަންނަން ވެސް ލަތީފާގެ ހިތައް އަރަމުން ދިޔައެވެ. ދާސިއާއާ ގުޅާލުމަށް ފަހު ދާސިއާ މެންގެ ގެއަށް އާކިފު ހިނގައްޖެއެވެ. އާމިނަތު އޭރު ހުރީ އާކިފައް ސައި ހަދާފައެވެ. އާކިފު ދިޔައިރު އާކިފު ހުރީ ދެ ހިޔާލެއްގައެވެ. ލަތީފާމެންގެ ގެޔަށް ދިޔުމުން ފަހަރެއްގައި ލަތީފާގެ މަންމަ އާމިނަތު އެއްޗެހި ކިޔާފާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. އެއްވެސް އަދަބެއް ސަދަބެއް ނެތް ހުއްޖެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ލަތީފުއާ މެދު ދެކެފާނެ ކަމަށްޓަކައެވެ. އެކަމަކު ލޯބިވަންޏާ، ލަތީފު މިކަން ކުރުމަކުން މައްސަލައެއް ނޫން ކަމަށް ލަތީފު ދެކެއެވެ. މިފަދަ ކަންކަން ނުކުރެވެންޏާ ދިރިއުޅުމުގެ އެއްވެސް އުންމީދެއް ނެތް ކަމަށް ލަތީފު ދެކެއެވެ. ލަތީފާމެންގެ ގެ ކަމުގައިވާ ގުލްދަސްތާ ގެއަށް އައި މަގުމަތީގައި ދޭތެރެއެއް ބަލާލައިގެން ސަލާމަތް ވެވޭތޯ ލަތީފު މަސައްކަތްކުރިއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ލަތީފުގެ ހިޔާލު ބަދަލުވާ ގޮތެއް ނުވިއެވެ. ގުލްދަސްތާ ގެއަށް ދިޔުމުގައި އެއްވެސް މުސީބާތެއް ނެތްކަމަށް ލަތީފުއަށް ފެނުނީއެވެ. އާކިފު ސައިބޯން އިށީނުމުން އެތަނަށް ލަތީފާގެ ބައްޕަ އައިސްފިއެވެ. ލަތީފާ އަވަސްވެގަތީ ދަދުވަރުއާ ދާއޫދުއަށް ސައިހެދުމަށެވެ. އެވަގުތު ދާސިއާ، ދަދުވަރަށް ލޯބީގެ ނަޒަރަކުން ބަލާލިއެވެ. ލަތީފާއަށް ލަތީފުއާ ކައިވެނި ކުރެވޭނެ ކަން ޔަޤީންވާ ކަހަލައެވެ. އަނެއްކާ މި ކައިވެންޏައް ދާއޫދު މަރުޙަބާ ކިޔަނީ ކަމަށް ލަތީފާ ހީކުރިއެވެ. މިވަގުތު ލަތީފާ އިންތިހާއަށް އުފާވިއެވެ. ދޭތެރެއަކުން ސައިހެދުން މަޑުޖައްސާލާފާ ލަތީފުމެންނާ ވާހަކަދައްކާލަން ދިޔުމަށްވެސް ލަތީފާގެ ހިތައް އެރިއެވެ. އެއީ ލަތީފާ ކައިވެންޏަކަށް ޝައުޤުވެރިވާލެއް ބޮޑުކަމުންނެވެ. އަނެއްކާވެސް ދޭތެރެއަކުން ލަތީފުއަށް ނުބަލަން ހުރެފައި، ލަތީފާ ލަތީފުއަށް ބަލާލައެވެ. ލަތީފާ ކަންބޮޑުވީ، އެ މަންޒަރު ދާއޫދުއަށް ފެނިދާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. މިކަމުން މުސީބާތެއް ލަތީފާއަށް ކުރިމަތި ނުވާނެކަން ލަތީފާއަށް ޤަބޫލުކުރެވުނެވެ. އެކަމަކު ކޮށްމެ ކަމެއްގައިވެސް ހައްދެއް އޮންނާނެތީ ކޮށްމެސް މިންވަރެއްގައި ހުންނަން ލަތީފު ބޭނުންވިއެވެ. އިތުރަށް ލަތީފާ މިކަމުގައި ވިސްނަން ނަހަދައެވެ. މަސައްކަތައިގެން ކުރިއަށް ދިޔައެވެ. ކުރާކަންތަކުން ރަގަޅުނަތީޖާ ނެރުމުގެ އުންމީދުގައެވެ. މި ބަލާލުމުގައި ތަފާތު ހިޔާލުތަކަކަށް ތަންދޭކަން ލަތީފުއަށް އެނގުނެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ކެތްކޮށްލައިގެން ލަތީފާ ކައިރިއަށް ނުގޮސް މަޑުކޮށްލައިގެން ސައިމޭޒު ކައިރީގައި ލަތީފު އިނެވެ. މި މަންޒަރު ދާއޫދުއަށް ބަލަން ކެތް ނުކުރެވޭ ކަހަލައެވެ. ޕަސްލާފައި އެތަނުން ތެދުވެގެން ގޮސް ލަތީފާ ގައިގާ އެތިފަހަރެއް ޖެހުމަށް ދާއޫދު ބޭނުންވިއެވެ. އެއީ ލަތީފާ، ލަތީފުއާ ކައިވެނި ކުރުމަށް ނުރުހޭތީއެވެ. މި ކައިވެނި ދާއޫދު ލޮލުން ދެކުމަށް ބޭނުން ނުވާތީއެވެ. ލަތީފާ ކުޑައިރު ބަލާ ބޮޑުކުރީ ދާއޫދުގެ ބަސް އަހާނެކަމަށް ހީކޮށެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މިކަހަލަ ހިޔާލުތައް ލަތީފާ ކޮށެއް ނަހަދައެވެ. ސަބަބަކަށް ވަނީ މާބޮޑައް ވިސްނާނަމަ ލަތީފާ ބަލިވާ ކަމަށްޓަކައެވެ. ވީހާވެސް ވަރަކުން ލަތީފާ ބަލަނީ ހަމަހިމޭން ޖައްވެއްގައި އިނދެވޭތޯއެވެ. ލަތީފާ ޤަބޫލުކުރާ ގޮތުން ކޮށްމެމީހަކީ ޒައީމާއެއް އަދި ޒައީމެއް ނޫނެވެ. އެހެންކަމުން ލަތީފާގެ ވަރުން ފުއްދާލުމަކީ ލަތީފާ ބޭނުންވާ ގޮތެވެ. ބައެއް މީހުން ލަތީފާގެ އަދަބެއް ސަދަބެއް ނެތް ކަމަށް ދެކުނަސް، ދެރަވާން ޖެހޭލެއް ބޮޑުކަމުން، އެކަހަލަ ހިޔާލުތަކަށް ތަން ނުދިނުމުގެ ގޮތުން ލަތީފާ ވަރަށް ގިނަފަހަރަށް ލަތީފުއާ ފޯނުން ގުޅާލައި ހަދައެވެ. ކޮށްމެހެން ލަތީފުއާ ވާހަކަދެއްކުމުގައި ފަހުންވާނޭ ގޮތަކަށް ލަތީފާ ނުވިސްނަނީ، ލަތީފައް ހިތުގައިވާ ޔަޤީން ކަމަށް ބަދަލެއް އައިސްފާނެ އެއްޗެވެ. މީގެ އިތުރަށް އިންތިހާއަށް ލަތީފުދެކެ ލޯބިވާތީއެވެ. ބައެއް ފަހަރަށް ލަތީފުއާ ސަމާސާ ކުރުމަކީ ވެސް ލަތީފާ ގެންގުޅޭ ކަމެކެވެ. އެއީ ހަމަޖެހިލުމުގެ ގޮތުންނެވެ. ލަތީފާ ބަލަހަށްޓައިގެން ހުއްޓައި އާކިފު އަތުން ލަތީފާގެ ބައްޕަ ހަސަނު ގަޔަށް އާކިފު ބޯންއިން ސައިތަށި ބަންޑުން ވެއްޖެއެވެ. މިކަމުގައި ލަތީފާ ބެލީ ލަތީފުގެ ކުށެއް ނެތްކަމަށެވެ. އެއީ ލަތީފާ، ލަތީފު ދެކެ ލޯބިވާތީއެވެ. ނުލާހިކު ވަރުން ކަހަލަ ގޮތަކަށް ލަތީފު ގެނެސްފައި، ގަސްދުގައި

                                                                                                                                                

Nepal

    

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Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल (Nepali) Saṅghīya Lokatāntrik Gaṇatantra Nepāl Flag of Nepal Flag {{{coat_alt}}} Emblem Motto: जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी (Sanskrit) Mother and Motherland are Greater than Heaven (English) Anthem: सयौं थुँगा फूलका (Nepali) Made of Hundreds of Flowers (English) Location of Nepal Location of Nepal Capital and largest city Kathmandu 28°10′N 84°15′ECoordinates: 28°10′N 84°15′E Official languages Nepali (at national level; in 6 provinces) Maithili and Bhojpuri (at national level; in 1 federal state) English (de facto lingua franca; legal documents) Recognised national languages AwadhiBhojpuriBajjikaDoteliGurungKirantiLimbuMagarMaithiliNewarRaiTharuUrdu[1] Ethnic groups (2011[2] [needs update]) Ethnic demography [show] Religion 81.3% Hinduism 9% Buddhism 4.4% Islam 3% Kirant 1.4% Christianity 0.4% Animism 0.5% Irreligion[3][4] Demonym Nepalese Government Federal parliamentary republic • President Bidhya Devi Bhandari • Vice President Nanda Kishor Pun • Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli • Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra • Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina • House Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara[5] Legislature Federal Parliament • Upper house National Assembly • Lower house House of Representatives Formation • Kingdom declared 25 September 1768[6] • State declared 18 May 2006[7] • Republic declared 29 May 2008 • Current constitution 20 September 2015 Area • Total 147,181 km2 (56,827 sq mi) (93rd) • Water (%) 2.8 Population • 2016 estimate 28,982,771[8] (48th) • 2011 census 26,494,504[2] • Density 180/km2 (466.2/sq mi) (62nd) GDP (PPP) 2018 estimate • Total $84 billion[9] • Per capita $2,842[9] GDP (nominal) 2018 estimate • Total $27 billion[9] • Per capita $919[9] Gini (2010) Negative increase 32.8[10] medium HDI (2017) Increase 0.574[11] medium · 149th Currency Nepalese rupee (NPR) Time zone UTC+05:45 (Nepal Standard Time) DST not observed Driving side left Calling code +977 ISO 3166 code NP Internet TLD .np.नेपाल Nepal (/nəˈpɔːl/ (About this soundlisten);[12] Nepali: नेपाल About this soundNepāl [neˈpal]), officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (Nepali: सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल Saṅghīya Lokatāntrik Gaṇatantra Nepāl),[13] is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is located mainly in the Himalayas but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. With an estimated population of 26.4 million, it is 48th largest country by population and 93rd largest country by area.[2][14] It borders China in the north and India in the south, east, and west while Bangladesh is located within only 27 km (17 mi) of its southeastern tip and Bhutan is separated from it by the Indian state of Sikkim. Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains,[15] subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and largest city. Nepal is a multiethnic nation with Nepali as the official language. The name "Nepal" is first recorded in texts from the Vedic period of the Indian subcontinent, the era in ancient India when Hinduism was founded, the predominant religion of the country. In the middle of the first millennium BCE, Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in Lumbini in southern Nepal. Parts of northern Nepal were intertwined with the culture of Tibet. The centrally located Kathmandu Valley was the seat of the prosperous Newar confederacy known as Nepal Mandala. The Himalayan branch of the ancient Silk Road was dominated by the valley's traders. The cosmopolitan region developed distinct traditional art and architecture. By the 18th century, the Gorkha Kingdom achieved the unification of Nepal. The Shah dynasty established the Kingdom of Nepal and later formed an alliance with the British Empire, under its Rajput Rana dynasty of premiers. The country was never colonised but served as a buffer state between Imperial China and British India.[16][17][18] Parliamentary democracy was introduced in 1951, but was twice suspended by Nepalese monarchs, in 1960 and 2005. The Nepalese Civil War in the 1990s and early 2000s resulted in the proclamation of a secular republic in 2008, ending the world's last Hindu monarchy.[19] The Constitution of Nepal, adopted in 2015, establishes Nepal as a federal secular parliamentary republic divided into seven provinces. Nepal was admitted to the United Nations in 1955, and friendship treaties were signed with India in 1950 and the People's Republic of China in 1960.[20][21] Nepal hosts the permanent secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), of which it is a founding member. Nepal is also a member of the Non Aligned Movement and the Bay of Bengal Initiative. The military of Nepal is the fifth largest in South Asia; it is notable for its Gurkha history, particularly during the world wars, and has been a significant contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2.1 Ancient 2.2 Medieval 2.3 Kingdom of Nepal (1768–2008) 2.4 Republic of Nepal (2008–present) 3 Geography 3.1 Climate 3.2 Geology 3.3 Environment 4 Politics 4.1 Government 4.2 Administrative divisions 4.3 Foreign relations and military 5 Economy 6 Infrastructure 6.1 Energy 6.2 Transport 6.3 Telecommunications and mass media 6.4 Science and technology 6.5 Community forestry 7 Crime and law enforcement 8 Demographics 8.1 Languages 8.2 Religion 8.3 Education 8.4 Health 8.5 Largest cities 9 Culture 9.1 Holidays and festivals 9.2 Cuisine 9.3 Sports 9.4 Units of measurement 10 See also 11 References 12 Further reading 13 External links Etymology Local legends have it that a Hindu sage named "Ne" established himself in the valley of Kathmandu in prehistoric times, and that the word "Nepal" came into existence as the place was protected ("pala" in Pali) by the sage "Nemi". It is mentioned in Vedic texts that this region was called Nepal centuries ago. According to the Skanda Purana, a rishi called "Nemi" used to live in the Himalayas.[22] In the Pashupati Purana, he is mentioned as a saint and a protector.[23] He is said to have practised meditation at the Bagmati and Kesavati rivers[24] and to have taught there.[25] The name of the country is also identical in origin to the name of the Newar people. The terms "Nepāl", "Newār", "Newāl" and "Nepār" are phonetically different forms of the same word, and instances of the various forms appear in texts in different times in history. Nepal is the learned Sanskrit form and Newar is the colloquial Prakrit form.[26] A Sanskrit inscription dated 512 CE found in Tistung, a valley to the west of Kathmandu, contains the phrase "greetings to the Nepals" indicating that the term "Nepal" was used to refer to both the country and the people.[27][28] It has been suggested that "Nepal" may be a Sanskritization of "Newar", or "Newar" may be a later form of "Nepal".[29] According to another explanation, the words "Newar" and "Newari" are vulgarisms arising from the mutation of P to V, and L to R.[30] History Main article: History of Nepal Lumbini, listed as the birthplace of Gautama Buddha by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention Ancient Neolithic tools found in the Kathmandu Valley indicate that people have been living in the Himalayan region for at least eleven thousand years.[31] Nepal is first mentioned in the late Vedic Atharvaveda Pariśiṣṭa as a place exporting blankets, and in the post-Vedic Atharvashirsha Upanishad.[32] In Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar it is mentioned as a border country. The Skanda Purana has a separate chapter known as "Nepal Mahatmya", which explains in more detail about the beauty and power of Nepal.[33] Nepal is also mentioned in Hindu texts such as the Narayana Puja.[32] Legends and ancient texts that mention the region now known as Nepal reach back to the 30th century BC.[34][pages needed] The Gopal Bansa were likely one of the earliest inhabitants of Kathmandu valley. The earliest rulers of Nepal were the Kiratas (Kirata Kingdom), peoples often mentioned in Hindu texts, who ruled Nepal for many centuries.[34] Various sources mention up to 32 Kirati kings.[35] Around 500 BCE, small kingdoms and confederations of clans arose in the southern regions of Nepal. From one of these, the Shakya polity, arose a prince who later renounced his status to lead an ascetic life, founded Buddhism, and came to be known as Gautama Buddha (traditionally dated 563–483 BCE).[36] By 250 BCE, the southern regions had come under the influence of the Maurya Empire of North India and later became a vassal state under the Gupta Empire in the 4th century CE.[36] There is a quite detailed description of the kingdom of Nepal in the account of the renowned Chinese Buddhist pilgrim monk Xuanzang, dating from about 645 CE.[37][38] Stone inscriptions in the Kathmandu Valley are important sources for the history of Nepal. The kings of the Lichhavi dynasty have been found to have ruled Nepal after the Kirat monarchical dynasty. The context that "Suryavansi Kshetriyas had established a new regime by defeating the Kirats" can be found in some genealogies and Puranas.[35] It is not clear yet when the Lichhavi dynasty was established in Nepal. According to the opinion of Baburam Acharya, the prominent historian of Nepal, Lichhavies established their independent rule by abolishing the Kirati state that prevailed in Nepal around 250 CE.[35] The Licchavi dynasty went into decline in the late 8th century, and was followed by a Newar or Thakuri era. Thakuri kings ruled over the country up to the middle of the 12th century CE; King Raghav Dev is said to have founded the ruling dynasty in October 869 CE.[39] King Raghav Dev also started the Nepal Sambat.[40] Medieval Main articles: Malla (Nepal) and Khasa kingdom Tara, ca. 13th century, Nepal, Walters Art Museum Basantpur royal complex In the early 12th century, leaders emerged in far western Nepal whose names ended with the Sanskrit suffix malla ("wrestler"). These kings consolidated their power and ruled over the next 200 years, until the kingdom splintered into two dozen petty states. Another Malla dynasty beginning with Jayasthiti emerged in the Kathmandu valley in the late 14th century, and much of central Nepal again came under a unified rule. In 1482, the realm was divided into three kingdoms: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. Kingdom of Nepal (1768–2008) Main article: Kingdom of Nepal lA ceremonial crown of Nepalese royalty Sino-Nepalese War King Tribhuvan giving an audience to British general Claude Auchinleck at the royal palace in Kathmandu, 1945 Elvis Presley with King Mahendra and Queen Ratna of Nepal in 1960 Prime Minister of Israel David Ben Gurion and Prime Minister of Nepal B. P. Koirala In the mid-18th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah, a Gorkha king, set out to put together what would become present-day Nepal. He embarked on his mission by securing the neutrality of the bordering mountain kingdoms. After several bloody battles and sieges, notably the Battle of Kirtipur, he managed to conquer the Kathmandu Valley in 1769. A detailed account of Prithvi Narayan Shah's victory was written by Father Giuseppe, an eyewitness to the war.[41] The Gorkha control reached its height when the North Indian territories of the Kumaon and Garhwal Kingdoms in the west to Sikkim in the east came under Nepalese control. A dispute with Tibet over the control of mountain passes and inner Tingri valleys of Tibet forced the Qing Emperor of China to start the Sino-Nepali War compelling the Nepali to retreat and pay heavy reparations to Peking. Rivalry between the Kingdom of Nepal and the East India Company over the control of states bordering Nepal eventually led to the Anglo-Nepali War (1815–16). At first, the British underestimated the Nepali and were soundly defeated until committing more military resources than they had anticipated needing. They were greatly impressed by the valour[citation needed] and competence of their adversaries. Thus began the reputation of Gurkhas as fierce and ruthless soldiers. The war ended in the Sugauli Treaty, under which Nepal ceded recently captured lands as well as the right to recruit soldiers. Madhesis, having supported the East India Company during the war, had their lands gifted to Nepal.[42] Factionalism inside the royal family led to a period of instability. In 1846, a plot was discovered revealing that the reigning queen had planned to overthrow Jung Bahadur Kunwar, a fast-rising military leader. This led to the Kot massacre; armed clashes between military personnel and administrators loyal to the queen led to the execution of several hundred princes and chieftains around the country. Jung Bahadur Kunwar emerged victorious and founded the Rana dynasty, later known as Jung Bahadur Rana. The king was made a titular figure, and the post of Prime Minister was made powerful and hereditary. The Ranas were staunchly pro-British and assisted them during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (and later in both World Wars). Some parts of the Terai region populated with non-Nepali peoples were gifted to Nepal by the British as a friendly gesture because of her military help to sustain British control in India during the rebellion. In 1923, the United Kingdom and Nepal formally signed an agreement of friendship that superseded the Sugauli Treaty of 1816.[42] Legalized slavery was abolished in Nepal in 1924.[43] Nevertheless, an estimated 234,600 people are enslaved in modern-day Nepal, or 0.82% of the population.[44] Debt bondage even involving debtors' children has been a persistent social problem in the Terai. Rana rule was marked by tyranny, debauchery, economic exploitation and religious persecution.[45][46] In the late 1940s, newly emerging pro-democracy movements and political parties in Nepal were critical of the Rana autocracy. Meanwhile, with the invasion of Tibet by China in the 1950s, India sought to counterbalance the perceived military threat from its northern neighbour by taking pre-emptive steps to assert more influence in Nepal. India sponsored both King Tribhuvan (ruled 1911–55) as Nepal's new ruler in 1951 and a new government, mostly comprising the Nepali Congress, thus terminating Rana hegemony in the kingdom.[42] After years of power wrangling between the king and the government, King Mahendra (ruled 1955–72) scrapped the democratic experiment in 1959, and a "partyless" Panchayat system was made to govern Nepal until 1989, when the "Jan Andolan" (People's Movement) forced King Birendra (ruled 1972–2001) to accept constitutional reforms and to establish a multiparty parliament that took seat in May 1991.[47] In 1991–92, Bhutan expelled roughly 100,000 Bhutanese citizens of Nepali descent, most of whom have been living in seven refugee camps in eastern Nepal ever since.[48] In 1996, the Communist Party of Nepal started a violent bid to replace the royal parliamentary system with a people's republic. This led to the long Nepali Civil War and more than 12,000 deaths. On 1 June 2001, there was a massacre in the royal palace. King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and seven other members of the royal family were killed. The alleged perpetrator was Crown Prince Dipendra, who allegedly committed suicide (he died three days later) shortly thereafter. This outburst was alleged to have been Dipendra's response to his parents' refusal to accept his choice of wife. Nevertheless, there is speculation and doubts among Nepali citizens about who was responsible. Following the carnage, King Birendra's brother Gyanendra inherited the throne. On 1 February 2005, King Gyanendra dismissed the entire government and assumed full executive powers to quash the violent Maoist movement,[47] but this initiative was unsuccessful because a stalemate had developed in which the Maoists were firmly entrenched in large expanses of countryside but could not yet dislodge the military from numerous towns and the largest cities. In September 2005, the Maoists declared a three-month unilateral ceasefire to negotiate. In response to the 2006 democracy movement, King Gyanendra agreed to relinquish sovereign power to the people. On 24 April 2006 the dissolved House of Representatives was reinstated. Using its newly acquired sovereign authority, on 18 May 2006 the House of Representatives unanimously voted to curtail the power of the king and declared Nepal a secular state, ending its time-honoured official status as a Hindu Kingdom. On 28 December 2007, a bill was passed in parliament to amend Article 159 of the constitution – replacing "Provisions regarding the King" by "Provisions of the Head of the State" – declaring Nepal a federal republic, and thereby abolishing the monarchy.[49] The bill came into force on 28 May 2008.[50] Republic of Nepal (2008–present) The Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) won the largest number of seats in the Constituent Assembly election held on 10 April 2008, and formed a coalition government, which included most of the parties in the CA. Although acts of violence occurred during the pre-electoral period, election observers noted that the elections themselves were markedly peaceful and "well-carried out".[51] Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, the first President of Nepal The newly elected Assembly met in Kathmandu on 28 May 2008, and, after a polling of 564 constituent Assembly members, 560 voted to form a new government,[50] with the monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which had four members in the assembly, registering a dissenting note. At that point, it was declared that Nepal had become a secular and inclusive democratic republic,[52][53] with the government announcing a three-day public holiday from 28–30 May. The king was thereafter given 15 days to vacate Narayanhity Palace so it could reopen as a public museum.[54] Nonetheless, political tensions and consequent power-sharing battles have continued in Nepal. In May 2009, the Maoist-led government was toppled and another coalition government with all major political parties barring the Maoists was formed.[55] Madhav Kumar Nepal of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) was made the Prime Minister of the coalition government.[56] In February 2011 the Madhav Kumar Nepal Government was toppled and Jhala Nath Khanal of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) was made the Prime Minister.[57] In August 2011 the Jhala Nath Khanal Government was toppled and Baburam Bhattarai of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) was made the Prime Minister.[58] The political parties were unable to draft a constitution in the stipulated time.[59] This led to dissolution of the Constituent Assembly to pave way for new elections to strive for a new political mandate. In opposition to the theory of separation of powers, then Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was made the chairman of the caretaker government. Under Regmi, the nation saw peaceful elections for the constituent assembly. The major forces in the earlier constituent assembly (namely CPN Maoists and Madhesi parties) dropped to distant 3rd and even below.[60][61] In February 2014, after consensus was reached between the two major parties in the constituent assembly, Sushil Koirala was sworn in as the new prime minister of Nepal.[62][63] On 25 April 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal.[64] Two weeks later, on 12 May, another earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 hit Nepal, which left more than 8,500 people dead and about 21,000 injured.[65] In 20 September 2015, a new constitution, the "Constitution of Nepal 2015" (Nepali: नेपालको संविधान २०७२) was announced by President Ram Baran Yadav in the constituent assembly. The constituent assembly was transformed into a legislative parliament by the then-chairman of that assembly. The new constitution of Nepal has changed Nepal practically into a federal democratic republic by making 7 unnamed states. In October 2015, Bidhya Devi Bhandari was nominated as the first female president.[66] Geography Main article: Geography of Nepal A map of Nepal. A topographic map of Nepal. Köppen climate classification map of Nepal Nepal is of roughly trapezoidal shape, 800 kilometres (500 mi) long and 200 kilometres (120 mi) wide, with an area of 147,181 km2 (56,827 sq mi). See [[List of political and geographic subdivisions by total area from 100,000 to 1,000,000 km2 | List of territories by size]] for the comparative size of Nepal. It lies between latitudes 26° and 31°N, and longitudes 80° and 89°E. Nepal is commonly divided into three physiographic areas: Himal, Pahad and Terai. These ecological belts run east–west and are vertically[clarification needed] intersected by Nepal's major, north to south flowing river systems. The southern lowland plains or Terai bordering India are part of the northern rim of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Terai is a lowland region containing some hill ranges. The plains were formed and are fed by three major Himalayan rivers: the Kosi, the Narayani, and the Karnali as well as smaller rivers rising below the permanent snowline. This region has a subtropical to tropical climate. The outermost range of foothills called Sivalik Hills or Churia Range, cresting at 700 to 1,000 metres (2,300 to 3,280 ft), marks the limit of the Gangetic Plain; however broad, low valleys called Inner Tarai Valleys (Bhitri Tarai Uptyaka) lie north of these foothills in several places. Pahad is a mountain region that does not generally contain snow. The mountains vary from 800 to 4,000 metres (2,600 to 13,100 ft) in altitude with progression from subtropical climates below 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) to alpine climates above 3,600 metres (11,800 ft). The Lower Himalayan Range, reaching 1,500 to 3,000 metres (4,900 to 9,800 ft), is the southern limit of this region, with subtropical river valleys and "hills" alternating to the north of this range. Population density is high in valleys but notably less above 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) and very low above 2,500 metres (8,200 ft), where snow occasionally falls in winter. Himal is the mountain region containing snow and situated in the Great Himalayan Range; it makes up the northern part of Nepal. It contains the highest elevations in the world including 8,848 metres (29,029 ft) height Mount Everest (Sagarmāthā in Nepali) on the border with China. Seven other of the world's "eight-thousanders" are in Nepal or on its border with China: Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Kangchenjunga, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu. Climate Nepal has five climatic zones, broadly corresponding to the altitudes. The tropical and subtropical zones lie below 1,200 metres (3,900 ft), the temperate zone 1,200 to 2,400 metres (3,900 to 7,900 ft), the cold zone 2,400 to 3,600 metres (7,900 to 11,800 ft), the subarctic zone 3,600 to 4,400 metres (11,800 to 14,400 ft), and the Arctic zone above 4,400 metres (14,400 ft). Nepal experiences five seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. The Himalaya blocks cold winds from Central Asia in the winter and forms the northern limit of the monsoon wind patterns. In a land once thickly forested, deforestation is a major problem in all regions, with resulting erosion and degradation of ecosystems. Nepal is popular for mountaineering, having some of the highest and most challenging mountains in the world, including Mount Everest. Technically, the southeast ridge on the Nepali side of the mountain is easier to climb, so most climbers prefer to trek to Everest through Nepal. Nepal’s highest mountains[67] Mountain Height Section Location Mount Everest (Highest in world) 8,848 m 29,029 ft Khumbu Mahalangur Khumjung VDC, Solukhumbu District, Sagarmatha Zone (Nepal-China Border) Kangchenjunga (3rd highest) 8,586 m 28,169 ft Northern Kanchenjunga Lelep VDC / Yamphudin VDC, Taplejung District, Mechi Zone (Nepal-Sikkim Border) Lhotse (4th highest) 8,516 m 27,940 ft Everest Group Khumjung VDC, Solukhumbu District, Sagarmatha Zone (Nepal-China Border) Makalu (5th highest) 8,462 m 27,762 ft Makalu Mahalangur Makalu VDC, Sankhuwasabha District, Kosi Zone (Nepal-China Border) Cho Oyu (6th highest) 8,201 m 26,906 ft Khumbu Mahalangur Khumjung VDC, Solukhumbu District, Sagarmatha Zone (Nepal-China Border) Dhaulagiri (7th highest) 8,167 m 26,795 ft Dhaulagiri Mudi VDC / Kuinemangale VDC, Myagdi District, Dhawalagiri Zone Manaslu (8th highest) 8,156 m 26,759 ft Mansiri Samagaun VDC, Gorkha District / Dharapani VDC, Manang District, Gandaki Zone Annapurna (10th highest) 8,091 m 26,545 ft Annapurna Ghandruk VDC, Kaski District, Gandaki Zone / Narchyang VDC, Myagdi District, Dhawalagiri Zone Geology Main article: Geology of Nepal Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) and Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) were the first to reach the summit of Everest. The collision between the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia, which started in the Paleogene period and continues today, produced the Himalaya and the Tibetan Plateau. Nepal lies completely within this collision zone, occupying the central sector of the Himalayan arc, nearly one third of the 2,400 km (1,500 mi)-long Himalayas.[68][69][70][71][72][73] The Indian plate continues to move north relative to Asia at about 50 mm (2.0 in) per year.[74] This is about twice the speed at which human fingernails grow, which is very fast given the size of the blocks of Earth's crust involved.[original research?] As the strong Indian continental crust subducts beneath the relatively weak Tibetan crust, it pushes up the Himalayan Mountains. This collision zone has accommodated huge amounts of crustal shortening as the rock sequences slide one over another. Based on a study published in 2014, of the Main Frontal Thrust, on average a great earthquake occurs every 750 ± 140 and 870 ± 350 years in the east Nepal region.[75] A study from 2015 found a 700-year delay between earthquakes in the region. The study also suggests that because of tectonic stress transfer, the earthquake from 1934 in Nepal and the 2015 earthquake are connected – following a historic earthquake pattern.[76] Erosion of the Himalayas is a very important source of sediment, which flows to the Indian Ocean via several great rivers: the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra River systems.[77] Environment The dramatic differences in elevation found in Nepal result in a variety of biomes, from tropical savannas along the Indian border, to subtropical broadleaf and coniferous forests in the Hill Region, to temperate broadleaf and coniferous forests on the slopes of the Himalaya, to montane grasslands and shrublands and rock and ice at the highest elevations. At the lowest elevations is the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion. These form a mosaic with the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests, which occur from 500 to 1,000 metres (1,600 to 3,300 ft) and include the Inner Terai Valleys. Himalayan subtropical pine forests occur between 1,000 and 2,000 metres (3,300 and 6,600 ft). Above these elevations, the biogeography of Nepal is generally divided from east to west by the Gandaki River. Ecoregions to the east tend to receive more precipitation and to be more species-rich. Those to the west are drier with fewer species. From 1,500 to 3,000 metres (4,900 to 9,800 ft), are temperate broadleaf forests: the eastern and western Himalayan broadleaf forests. From 3,000 to 4,000 metres (9,800 to 13,100 ft) are the eastern and western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests. To 5,500 metres (18,000 ft) are the eastern and western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows. Landscapes and Climates of Nepal NASA Landsat-7 Image of Nepal. Nepal shares its boundaries with India and China Mount Everest, the highest peak on earth, lies on the Nepal-China border Barun Valley, one of many valleys in the Himalaya created by glacier flows. View of Khartuwa village from Thakuri village of Sitalpati, Shankhuwasabha, eastern Nepal. The Annapurna range of the Himalayas. Phoksundo Lake Kali Gandaki Gorge is one of the deepest gorges on earth. Marshyangdi Valley Wind erosion in Kalopani A field in Terai Phulchowki Hill Hills view of Ghorahi, Dang View of mountains Cascade view of mountains from Jiri, Nepal View of mountain from Jiri, Nepal Politics Main article: Politics of Nepal Main office holders Bidhya Devi Bhandari Bidhya Devi Bhandari, President of Nepal since 29 October 2015 Khadga Prasad Oli Khadga Prasad Oli, Prime Minister since 15 February 2018 Nepal has seen rapid political changes during the last three decades. Up until 1990, Nepal was a monarchy under executive control of the King. Faced with a communist movement against absolute monarchy, King Birendra, in 1990, agreed to a large-scale political reform by creating a parliamentary monarchy with the king as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of the government. Nepal's legislature was bicameral, consisting of a House of Representatives called the Pratinidhi Sabha and a National Council called the Rastriya Sabha. The House of Representatives consisted of 205 members directly elected by the people. The National Council had 60 members: ten nominated by the king, 35 elected by the House of Representatives, and the remaining 15 elected by an electoral college made up of chairs of villages and towns. The legislature had a five-year term but was dissolvable by the king before its term could end. All Nepali citizens 18 years and older became eligible to vote. The executive comprised the King and the Council of Ministers (the cabinet). The leader of the coalition or party securing the maximum seats in an election was appointed as the Prime Minister. The Cabinet was appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Governments in Nepal tended to be highly unstable, falling either through internal collapse or parliamentary dissolution by the monarch, on the recommendation of the prime minister, according to the constitution; no government has survived for more than two years since 1991. A popular democratic movement in April 2006 brought about a change in the nation's governance: an interim constitution was promulgated, with the King giving up power, and an interim House of Representatives was formed with Maoist members after the new government held peace talks with the Maoist rebels. The number of parliamentary seats was also increased to 330. In April 2007, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) joined the interim government of Nepal. In December 2007, the interim parliament passed a bill making Nepal a federal republic, with a president as head of state. Elections for the constitutional assembly were held on 10 April 2008; the Maoist party led the results but did not achieve a simple majority of seats.[78] The new parliament adopted the 2007 bill at its first meeting by an overwhelming majority, and King Gyanendra was given 15 days to leave the Royal Palace in central Kathmandu. He left on 11 June.[79] On 26 June 2008, the prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who had served as Acting Head of State since January 2007, announced that he would resign on the election of the country's first president by the Constituent Assembly. The first round of voting, on 19 July 2008, saw Parmanand Jha win election as Nepali vice-president, but neither of the contenders for president received the required 298 votes and a second round was held two days later. Ram Baran Yadav of the Nepali Congress party defeated Maoist-backed Ram Raja Prasad Singh with 308 of the 590 votes cast.[80] Koirala submitted his resignation to the new president after Yadav's swearing-in ceremony on 23 July 2008. Prachanda speaking at a rally in Pokhara. On 15 August 2008, Maoist leader Prachanda (Pushpa Kamal Dahal) was elected Prime Minister of Nepal, the first since the country's transition from a monarchy to a republic. On 4 May 2009, Dahal resigned over on-going conflicts with regard to the sacking of the Army chief. Since Dahal's resignation, the country has been in a serious political deadlock with one of the big issues being the proposed integration of the former Maoist combatants, also known as the People's Liberation Army, into the national security forces.[81] After Dahal, Jhala Nath Khanal of CPN (UML) was elected the Prime Minister. Khanal was forced to step down as he could not succeed in carrying forward the Peace Process and the constitution writing. On August 2011, Maoist Babu Ram Bhattarai became third Prime Minister after the election of constituent assembly.[82] On 24 May 2012, Nepals's Deputy PM Krishna Sitaula resigned.[83] On 27 May 2012, the country's Constituent Assembly failed to meet the deadline for writing a new constitution for the country. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai announced that new elections would be held thar later year. "We have no other option but to go back to the people and elect a new assembly to write the constitution," he said in a nationally televised speech. One of the main obstacles has been disagreement over whether the states that will be created will be based on ethnicity.[84] This election was delayed by the Election Commission for a year, eventually occurring in late 2013 and electing the country's Second Constituent Assembly. This assembly promulgated the extant Constitution of Nepal in 2015. Nepal is one of the few countries in Asia to abolish the death penalty.[85] Nepal is the only Asian country where the possibility of same-sex marriage has been proposed in the high court and in the legislature although same-sex marriage currently does not exist in Nepal (see also LGBT rights in Nepal and Same-sex marriage in Nepal). The decision was based on a seven-person government committee study, and enacted through Supreme Court's ruling November 2008. The ruling granted full rights for LGBT individuals, including the right to marry,[86] and Nepalese now can get citizenship as a third gender rather than male or female as authorised by Nepal's Supreme Court in 2007.[87] Government Main articles: Government of Nepal and Constitution of Nepal Nepal is governed according to the Constitution of Nepal, which came into effect on 20 September 2015, replacing the Interim Constitution of 2007. The Constitution was drafted by the Second Constituent Assembly following the failure of the First Constituent Assembly to produce a constitution in its mandated period. The constitution is the fundamental law of Nepal. It defines Nepal as having multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious, multi-cultural characteristics with common aspirations of people living in diverse geographical regions, and being committed to and united by a bond of allegiance to the national independence, territorial integrity, national interest, and prosperity of Nepal. All Nepali people collectively constitute the nation. Entrance to Singha Durbar, the seat of the Nepali government in Kathmandu The Constitution of Nepal has defined three organs of the government.[88] Executive: The form of governance of Nepal is a multi-party, competitive, federal democratic republican parliamentary system based on plurality. The executive power of Nepal rests with the Council of Ministers in accordance with the Constitution and Nepali law. The President appoints the parliamentary party leader of the political party with the majority in the House of Representatives as a Prime Minister, and a Council of Ministers is formed in his/her chairmanship. The executive power of the provinces, pursuant to the Constitution and laws, is vested in the Council of Ministers of the province. The executive power of the province shall be exercised by the province Head in case of absence of the province Executive in a State of Emergency or enforcement of Federal rule. Every province has a ceremonial Head as the representative of the Federal government. The President appoints a Governor for every province. The Governor exercises the rights and duties as specified in the constitution or laws. The Governor appoints the leader of the parliamentary party with the majority in the Provincial Assembly as the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers are formed under the chairpersonship of the Chief Minister. Legislative: The Legislature of Nepal, called Federal Parliament, consisting of two Houses, namely the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. Except when dissolved earlier, the term of House of Representatives is five years. The House of Representatives consist of 275 members: 165 members elected through the first-past-the-post electoral system consisting of one member from each of the one hundred and sixty five electoral constituencies formed by dividing Nepal into 165 constituencies based on geography and population; 110 elected from proportional representation electoral system where voters vote for parties, while treating the whole country as a single electoral constituency. The National Assembly is a permanent house. The tenure of members of National Assembly is six years. The National Assembly consists of 59 members: 56 members elected from an Electoral College, comprising members of provincial Assembly and chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of Village councils and Mayors and Deputy Mayors of Municipal councils, with different weights of votes for each, with eight members from each state, including at least three women, one Dalit, and one person with a disability or a member of a minority. 3 members, including at least one woman, are to be nominated by the President on the recommendation of the Government of Nepal. A Pradesh Sabha or Provincial Assembly is the unicameral legislative assembly for a federal province.[89] The term for the Provincial Assembly is five years, except when dissolved earlier. Judicial: Powers relating to justice in Nepal are exercised by courts and other judicial institutions in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, other laws, and recognised principles of justice. Nepal has a unitary three-tier independent judiciary that comprises the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice of Nepal, 7 High Courts, and a large number of trial courts. Administrative divisions Main article: Administrative divisions of Nepal As of 3 April 2018, Nepal is divided into 7 provinces and 77 districts. It has 753 local units. There are 6 metropolises, 11 sub-metropolises, 276 municipal councils, and 460 village councils for official works. The constitution grants 22 absolute powers to the local units while they share 15 more powers with the central and state governments.[90] Sudurpashchim Karnali Province 5 Gandaki Province 3 Province 2 Province 1 No. Provinces Capital Districts Area (km2) Population (2011) Density (people/km2) 1 Province No. 1 Biratnagar 14 25,905 km2 4,534,943 175 2 Province No. 2 Janakpur 8 9,661 km2 5,404,145 559 3 Province No. 3 Hetauda 13 20,300 km2 5,529,452 272 4 Gandaki Pradesh Pokhara 11 21,504 km2 2,413,907 112 5 Province No. 5 Butwal 12 22,288 km2 4,891,025 219 6 Karnali Pradesh Birendranagar 10 27,984 km2 1,168,515 41 7 Sudurpashchim Pradesh Godavari 9 19,539 km2 2,552,517 130 Total Nepal Kathmandu 77 147,181 km2 26,494,504 180 Foreign relations and military Main articles: Foreign relations of Nepal and Nepalese Armed Forces Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C. Gurkha Memorial, London Nepal has close ties with both of its neighbors, India and China. In accordance with a long-standing treaty, Indian and Nepali citizens may travel to each other's countries without a passport or visa. Nepali citizens may work in India without legal restriction. The Indian Army maintains seven Gorkha regiments consisting of Gorkha troops recruited mostly from Nepal. However, in the years since the Government of Nepal has been communised and dominated by socialists, and India's government has been controlled by more right-wing parties, India has been remilitarising the "porous" Indo-Nepali border to stifle the flow of Islamist groups.[91] Nepal established relations with the People's Republic of China on 1 August 1955, and relations since have been based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Nepal has aided China in the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and China has provided economic assistance for Nepali infrastructure. Both countries have cooperated to host the 2008 Summer Olympics summit of Mt. Everest.[92] Nepal has assisted in curbing anti-China protests from the Tibetan diaspora.[93] Nepal's military consists of the Nepali Army, which includes the Nepali Army Air Service. The Nepali Police Force is the civilian police and the Armed Police Force Nepal[94] is the paramilitary force. Service is voluntary and the minimum age for enlistment is 18 years. Nepal spends $99.2 million (2004) on its military—1.5% of its GDP. Much of the equipment and arms are imported from India. Consequently, the US provided M16s, M4s, and other Colt weapons to combat communist (Maoist) insurgents. The standard-issue battle rifle of the Nepali army is the Colt M16.[95] In the new regulations by Nepali Army, female soldiers have been barred from participating in combat situations and fighting in the frontlines of war. However, they are allowed to be a part of the army in sections like intelligence, headquarters, signals, and operations.[96] Economy Main article: Economy of Nepal A proportional representation of Nepal's exports. The Mountain Museum in Pokhara, the country's second largest city and a hub of tourism in Nepal Terraced rice farming in Nepal Nepalese silver currency, 1695 Nepalese Chamber of Commerce, Lhasa, 1955 Nepal's gross domestic product (GDP) for 2012 was estimated at over $17.921 billion (adjusted to nominal GDP).[9] In 2010, agriculture accounted for 36.1%, services comprised 48.5%, and industry 15.4% of Nepal's GDP.[97] While agriculture and industry are contracting, the contribution by the service sector is increasing.[97][98] Agriculture employs 76% of the workforce, services 18% and manufacturing and craft-based industry 6%. Agricultural produce – mostly grown in the Terai region bordering India – includes tea, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, and water buffalo meat. Industry mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce, including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Its workforce of about 10 million suffers from a severe shortage of skilled labour. Nepal's economic growth continues to be adversely affected by the political uncertainty. Nevertheless, real GDP growth was estimated to increase to almost 5 percent for 2011–2012. This is an improvement from the 3.5 percent GDP growth in 2010–2011 and would be the second-highest growth rate in the post-conflict era.[99] Sources of growth include agriculture, construction, financial and other services. The contribution of growth by consumption fuelled by remittances has declined since 2010/2011. While remittance growth slowed to 11 percent (in Nepali Rupee terms) in 2010/2011, it has since increased to 37 percent. Remittances are estimated to be equivalent to 25–30 percent of GDP. Inflation has been reduced to a three-year low of 7 percent.[99] The proportion of poor people has declined substantially since 2003. The percentage of people living below the international poverty line (people earning less than US$1.25 per day) has halved in seven years.[99] At this measure of poverty the percentage of poor people declined from 53.1% in 2003/2004 to 24.8% in 2010/2011.[99] With a higher poverty line of US$2 per-capita per day, poverty declined by one-quarter to 57.3%.[99] However, the income distribution remains grossly uneven.[100] Kathmandu street vendors In a recent survey, Nepal has performed extremely well in reducing poverty along with Rwanda and Bangladesh as the percentage of poor dropped to 44.2 percent of the population in 2011 from 64.7 percent in 2006—4.1 percentage points per year, which means that Nepal has made improvement in sectors like nutrition, child mortality, electricity, improved flooring and assets. If the progress of reducing poverty continues at this rate, then it is predicted that Nepal will halve the current poverty rate and eradicate it within the next 20 years.[101][102] The spectacular landscape and diverse, exotic cultures of Nepal represent considerable potential for tourism, but growth in the industry has been stifled by political instability and poor infrastructure. Despite these problems, in 2012 the number of international tourists visiting Nepal was 598,204, a 10% increase on the previous year.[103] The tourism sector contributed nearly 3% of national GDP in 2012 and is the second-biggest foreign income earner after remittances.[104] The rate of unemployment and underemployment approaches half of the working-age population. Thus many Nepali citizens move to other countries in search of work. Destinations include India, Qatar, the United States, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Brunei Darussalam, Australia, and Canada.[105][106] Nepal receives $50 million a year through the Gurkha soldiers who serve in the Indian and British armies and are highly esteemed for their skill and bravery. As of 2010, the total remittance value is around $3.5 billion.[106] In 2009 alone, the remittance contributed to 22.9% of the nation's GDP.[106] A long-standing economic agreement underpins a close relationship with India. The country receives foreign aid from the UK,[107][108] India, Japan, the US, the EU, China, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries. Poverty is acute; per-capita income is around $1,000.[109] The distribution of wealth among the Nepali is consistent with that in many developed and developing countries: the highest 10% of households control 39.1% of the national wealth and the lowest 10% control only 2.6%. The government's budget is about $1.153 billion, with an expenditure of $1.789 billion (FY 20005/06). The Nepali rupee has been tied to the Indian rupee at an exchange rate of 1.6 for many years. Since the loosening of exchange rate controls in the early 1990s, the black market for foreign exchange has all but disappeared. The inflation rate has dropped to 2.9% after a period of higher inflation during the 1990s. Nepal's exports of mainly carpets, clothing, hemp, leather goods, jute goods and grain total $822 million. Import commodities of mainly gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products and fertiliser total US$2 billion. European Union (EU) (46.13%), the US (17.4%), and Germany (7.1%) are its main export partners. The European Union has emerged the largest buyer of Nepali ready-made garments (RMG). Exports to the EU accounted for "46.13 percent of the country's total garment exports".[110] Nepal's import partners include India (47.5%), the United Arab Emirates (11.2%), China (10.7%), Saudi Arabia (4.9%), and Singapore (4%). Besides having landlocked, rugged geography, few tangible natural resources and poor infrastructure, the ineffective post-1950 government and the long-running civil war are also factors in stunting the nation's economic growth and development.[111][112][113] Infrastructure Energy Main article: Energy in Nepal Middle Marshyandi Hydroelectricity Dam. Nepal has significant potential to generate hydropower, which it plans to export across South Asia The bulk of the energy in Nepal comes from fuel wood (68%), agricultural waste (15%), animal dung (8%), and imported fossil fuels (8%).[114][115] Except for some lignite deposits, Nepal has no known oil, gas or coal deposits. All commercial fossil fuels (mainly oil and coal) are either imported from India or from international markets routed through India and China. Fuel imports absorb over one-fourth of Nepal's foreign exchange earnings.[115] Only about 1% energy need is fulfilled by electricity. The perennial nature of Nepali rivers and the steep gradient of the country's topography provide ideal conditions for the development of some of the world's largest hydroelectric projects. Current estimates put Nepal's economically feasible hydropower potential to be approximately 83,000 MW from 66 hydropower project sites.[115][116] However, currently Nepal has been able to exploit only about 600 MW from 20 medium to large hydropower plants and a number of small and micro hydropower plants.[114] There are 9 major hydropower plants under construction, and additional 27 sites considered for potential development.[114] Only about 40% of Nepal's population has access to electricity.[114] There is a great disparity between urban and rural areas. The electrification rate in urban areas is 90%, whereas the rate for rural areas is only 5%.[115] Power cuts of up to 22 hours a day take place in peak demand periods of winter and the peak electricity demand is almost the double the capability or dependable capacity.[117] The position of the power sector remains unsatisfactory because of high tariffs, high system losses, high generation costs, high overheads, over staffing, and lower domestic demand.[115] Transport Main article: Transport in Nepal Means of transport in mountain area Nepal remains isolated from the world's major land, air and sea transport routes although, within the country, aviation is in a better state, with 47 airports, 11 of them with paved runways;[118] flights are frequent and support a sizable traffic. The hilly and mountainous terrain in the northern two-thirds of the country has made the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. In 2007 there were just over 10,142 km (6,302 mi) of paved roads, and 7,140 km (4,437 mi) of unpaved road, and one 59 km (37 mi) railway line in the south.[118] More than one-third of its people live at least a two hours walk from the nearest all-season road. Only recently all district headquarters (except for Simikot and Dunai) became reachable by road from Kathmandu. In addition, around 60% of the road network and most rural roads are not operable during the rainy season.[119] The only practical seaport of entry for goods bound for Kathmandu is Kolkata in West Bengal state of India. Internally, the poor state of development of the road system makes access to markets, schools, and health clinics a challenge.[111] Telecommunications and mass media According to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority MIS May 2012 report,[120] there are seven operators and the total voice telephony subscribers including fixed and mobile are 16,350,946, which gives a penetration rate of 61.42%. The fixed telephone service account for 9.37%, mobile for 64.63%, and other services (LM, GMPCS) for 3.76% of the total penetration rate. Similarly, the numbers of subscribers to data/internet services are 4,667,536, which represents 17.53% penetration rate. Most of the data service is accounted by GPRS users. Twelve months earlier the data/internet penetration was 10.05%, thus this represents a growth rate of 74.77%.[120] Not only has there been strong subscriber growth, especially in the mobile sector, but there was evidence of a clear vision in the sector, including putting a reform process in place and planning for the building of necessary telecommunications infrastructure. Most importantly, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) and the telecom regulator, the National Telecommunications Authority (NTA), have both been very active in the performance of their respective roles.[121] Despite all the effort, there remained a significant disparity between the high coverage levels in the cities and the coverage available in the underdeveloped rural regions. Progress on providing some minimum access had been good. Of a total of 3,914 village development committees across the country, 306 were unserved by December 2009.[121] In order to meet future demand, it was estimated that Nepal needed to invest around US$135 million annually in its telecom sector.[121] In 2009, the telecommunication sector alone contributed to 1% of the nation's GDP.[122] As of 30 September 2012, Nepal has 1,828,700 Facebook users.[123] As of 2007, the state operates two television stations as well as national and regional radio stations. There are roughly 30 independent TV channels registered, with only about half in regular operation. Nearly 400 FM radio stations are licensed with roughly 300 operational.[118] According to the 2011 census, the percentage of households possessing radio was 50.82%, television 36.45%, cable TV 19.33%, computer 7.23%.[2] According to the Press Council Nepal, as of 2012 there are 2,038 registered newspapers in Nepal, among which 514 are in publication.[124] In 2013, Reporters Without Borders ranked Nepal at 118th place in the world in terms of press freedom.[125][126] Science and technology Main article: Science and technology in Nepal Erected by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1702, Nyatapola is an important tourist attraction in the historical city of Bhaktapur. Historical kingdoms that existed in the Kathmandu valley are found to have made use of some clever technologies in numerous areas such as architecture, agriculture, civil engineering, water management, etc. The Gopals and Abhirs, who ruled the valley up until c. 1000 BC, used temporary materials for construction such as bamboo, hay, timber, etc. The Kirat period (700 BC – 110 AD) employed the technology of brick firing as well as produced quality woolen shawls. Similarly, stupas, idols, canals, self-recharging ponds, reservoirs, etc. constructed during the Lichhavi era (110–879 AD) are intact to this day, which manifests the ingenuity of traditional architecture. Moreover, the Malla period (1200–1768 AD) saw an impressive growth in architecture, on par with its advanced contemporaries. An archetypal example of Malla architecture is Nyatapola, a five-storied, 30-metre tall temple in Bhaktapur, which has strangely survived at least four major earthquakes, including the April 2015 Nepal earthquake.[127] Nepal was a late entrant into the modern world of science and technology. Nepal’s first institution of higher education, Tri-Chandra College, was established by Chandra Shumsher in 1918. The college introduced science at the Intermediate level a year later, marking the genesis of formal science education in the country.[127] However, the college was not accessible to the general public, but only to a handful of members of the Rana regime. Throughout the Rana regime that lasted for well over a century, Nepal was effectively isolated from the rest of the world. Owing to this isolation, Nepal was relatively untouched by and unfamiliar of social transformations brought about by the British invasion in India and the Industrial Revolution in the West.[128] However, after the advent of democracy and abolition of Rana regime in 1951, Nepal broke free from the shackles of self-imposed isolation and opened up to the outside world. This opening marked the initiation of S&T activities in the country.[129] An underdeveloped country, Nepal is plagued with problems such as poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and the like. Consequently, science and technology have invariably lagged behind in the priority list of the government. On the other hand, citing poor university education at home, tens of thousands of Nepali students leave the country every year, with half of them never returning.[130][131] These factors have been huge deterrents to the development of science and technology in Nepal. Community forestry The Community Forestry Program in Nepal is a participatory environmental governance that encompasses well-defined policies, institutions, and practices. The program addresses the twin goals of forest conservation and poverty reduction. As more than 70 percent of Nepal's population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, community management of forests has been a critically important intervention. Through legislative developments and operational innovations over three decades, the program has evolved from a protection-oriented, conservation-focused agenda to a much more broad-based strategy for forest use, enterprise development, and livelihood improvement. By April 2009, one-third of Nepal's population was participating in the program, directly managing more than one-fourth of Nepal's forest area.[132][133] The immediate livelihood benefits derived by rural households bolster strong collective action wherein local communities actively and sustainably manage forest resources. Community forests also became the source of diversified investment capital and raw material for new market-oriented livelihoods. Community forestry shows traits of political, financial, and ecological sustainability, including an emergence of a strong legal and regulatory framework, and robust civil society institutions and networks. However, a continuing challenge is to ensure equitable distribution of benefits to women and marginalised groups. Lessons for replication emphasise experiential learning, establishment of a strong civil society network, flexible regulation to encourage diverse institutional modalities, and responsiveness of government and policymakers to a multistakeholder collaborative learning process.[134][135] Crime and law enforcement Main article: Law enforcement in Nepal See also: Directorate of Military Intelligence, Nepal; National Investigation Department of Nepal; and Human trafficking in Nepal Law enforcement in Nepal is primarily the responsibility of the Nepali Police Force, which is the national police of Nepal.[136] It is independent of the Nepali Army. In the days of its establishment, Nepal Police personnel were mainly drawn from the armed forces of the Nepali Congress Party that fought against the feudal Rana autocracy in Nepal. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and National Investigation Department of Nepal (NID) are the investigation agencies of Nepal. They have offices in all 75 administrative districts, including regional offices in five regions and zonal offices in 14 zones. Numbers vary from three to five members at each district level in rural districts, and numbers can be higher in urban districts. They have both Domestic and International surveillance units, which mainly deals with cross border terrorists, drug trafficking and money laundering.[137][138][139][140] A 2010 survey estimated about 46,000 hard drug users in the country, with 70% of the users to be within the age group of 15 to 29.[141] The same survey also reported that 19% of the users had been introduced to hard drugs when they were less than 15 years old; and 14.4% of drug users were attending school or college.[141] Only 12 of the 17 municipalities studied had any type of rehabilitation centre.[141][142] There has been a sharp increase in the seizure of drugs such as hashish, heroin and opium in the past few years; and there are indications that drug traffickers are trying to establish Nepal as a transit point.[143] Human trafficking and child labour are major problems in Nepal.[144][145][146] Nepali victims are trafficked within Nepal, to India, the Middle East, and other areas such as Malaysia and forced to become prostitutes, domestic servants, beggars, factory workers, mine workers, circus performers, child soldiers, and others. Sex trafficking is particularly rampant within Nepal and to India, with as many as 5,000 to 10,000 women and girls trafficked to India alone each year.[147][148][149] Capital punishment was abolished in Nepal in 1997.[150] In 2008, the Nepali government abolished the Haliya system of forced labour, freeing about 20,000 people.[151] However, the effectiveness of this has been questioned by the Asian Legal Resource Centre.[152] Demographics Main article: Demographics of Nepal Nepalese women dancing for Teej Population density map of Nepal Comparison Of Nepal Population Population pyramid 2016 According to the 2011 census, Nepal's population grew from 9 million people in 1950 to 26.5 million. From 2001 to 2011, the average family size declined from 5.44 to 4.9. The census also noted some 1.9 million absentee people, over a million more than in 2001; most are male labourers employed overseas, predominantly in South Asia and the Middle East. This correlated with the drop in sex ratio from 94.41 as compared to 99.80 for 2001. The annual population growth rate is 1.35%.[2] The citizens of Nepal are known as Nepali or Nepalese. The country is home to people of many different national origins. As a result, Nepalese do not equate their nationality with ethnicity, but with citizenship and allegiance. Although citizens make up the majority of Nepalese, non-citizen residents, dual citizens, and expatriates may also claim a Nepalese identity. Nepal is multicultural and multiethnic country because it became a country by occupying several small kingdoms such as Mustang, Videha (Mithila), Madhesh, and Limbuwan in the 18th century. The oldest settlements in Mithila and Tharuhat are Maithil. Northern Nepal is historically inhabited by Kirants Mongoloid, Rai and Limbu people. The mountainous region is sparsely populated above 3,000 m (9,800 ft), but in central and western Nepal ethnic Sherpa and Lamapeople inhabit even higher semi-arid valleys north of the Himalaya. The Nepali speaking Khas people mostly inhabit central and southern regions. Kathmandu Valley, in the middle hill region, constitutes a small fraction of the nation's area but is the most densely populated, with almost 5 percent of the nation's population. The Nepali are descendants of three major migrations from India, Tibet, and North Burma and the Chinese state of Yunnan via Assam. Among the earliest inhabitants were the Kirat of east mid-region, Newars of the Kathmandu Valley, aboriginal Tharus of Tharuhat, Despite the migration of a significant section of the population to the Madhesh (southern plains) in recent years, the majority of Nepalese still live in the central highlands; the northern mountains are sparsely populated. Kathmandu, with a population of over 2.6 million (metropolitan area: 5 million),[dubious – discuss] is the largest city in the country and the cultural and economic heart. According to the World Refugee Survey 2008, published by the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Nepal hosted a population of refugees and asylum seekers in 2007 numbering approximately 130,000. Of this population, approximately 109,200 persons were from Bhutan and 20,500 from People's Republic of China.[153][154] The government of Nepal restricted Bhutanese refugees to seven camps in the Jhapa and Morang districts, and refugees were not permitted to work in most professions.[153] At present, the United States is working towards resettling more than 60,000 of these refugees in the US.[48] Population Structure Data Size Population 26,494,504 (2011) Growth rate 1.35% Population below 14 Years old 34.19% Population of age 15 to 59 54.15% Population above 60 8.13% Median age (average) 20.07 Median age (male) 19.91 Median age (females) 20.24 Ratio (male:female) 100:94.16 Life expectancy (average) (reference:[155]) 66.16 Years Life expectancy (male) 64.94 Life expectancy (female) 67.44 Literacy rate (average) 65.9% Literacy rate (male) 75.1% Literacy rate (female) 57.4% A Nepalese Tibetan monk Languages Main article: Languages of Nepal Nepal's diverse linguistic heritage stems from three major language groups: Indo-Aryan, Tibeto-Burman, and various indigenous language isolates. The major languages of Nepal (percent spoken as native language) according to the 2011 census are Nepali (44.6%), Maithili (11.7%), Bhojpuri (6.0%), Tharu (5.8%), Tamang (5.1%), Nepal Bhasa (3.2%), Bajjika (3%) and Magar (3.0%), Doteli (3.0%), Urdu (2.6%), Awadhi (1.89%), and Sunwar. Nepal is home to at least four indigenous sign languages. Derived from Sanskrit, Nepali is written in Devanagari script. Nepali is the official language and serves as lingua franca among Nepali of different ethnolinguistic groups. The regional languages Maithili, Awadhi, Bhojpuri and rarely Urdu of Nepali Muslims are spoken in the southern Madhesh region. Many Nepali in government and business speak Maithili as the main language and Nepali as their de facto lingua franca. Varieties of Tibetan are spoken in and north of the higher Himalaya where standard literary Tibetan is widely understood by those with religious education. Local dialects in the Terai and hills are mostly unwritten with efforts underway to develop systems for writing many in Devanagari or the Roman alphabet. Religion Main article: Religion in Nepal Religion in Nepal (2011)[3] religion percent Hindu   81.3% Buddhist   9.0% Muslim   4.4% Folk   3.0% Christian   1.42% Other   0.9% Sadhus in Pashupatinath Temple The significant majority of the Nepalese population follows Hinduism. Shiva is regarded as the guardian deity of the country.[156] Nepal is home to the famous Lord Shiva temple, the Pashupatinath Temple, where Hindus from all over the world come for pilgrimage. According to Hindu mythology, the goddess Sita of the epic Ramayana, was born in the Mithila Kingdom of King Janaka Raja. Lumbini is a Buddhist pilgrimage site and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Kapilavastu district. Traditionally it is held to be the birthplace in about 563 B.C. of Siddhartha Gautama, a Kshatriya caste prince of the Sakya clan, who as the Buddha Gautama, founded Buddhism. The holy site of Lumbini is bordered by a large monastic zone, in which only monasteries can be built. All three main branches of Buddhism exist in Nepal and the Newa people have their own branch of the faith.[157] Buddhism is also the dominant religion of the thinly populated northern areas, which are mostly inhabited by Tibetan-related peoples, such as the Sherpa. The Buddha, born as a Hindu, is also said to be a descendant of Vedic Sage Angirasa in many Buddhist texts.[158] The Buddha's family surname is associated with Gautama Maharishi.[159] Differences between Hindus and Buddhists have been minimal in Nepal due to the cultural and historical intermingling of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Moreover, traditionally Buddhism and Hinduism were never two distinct religions in the western sense of the word. In Nepal, the faiths share common temples and worship common deities. Among other natives of Nepal, those more influenced by Hinduism were the Magar, Sunwar, Limbu and Rai and the Gurkhas.[160] Hindu influence is less prominent among the Gurung, Bhutia, and Thakali groups who employ Buddhist monks for their religious ceremonies.[160] Most of the festivals in Nepal are Hindu.[161] The Machendrajatra festival, dedicated to Hindu Shaiva Siddha, is celebrated by many Buddhists in Nepal as a main festival.[162] As it is believed that Ne Muni established Nepal,[163] some important priests in Nepal are called "Tirthaguru Nemuni". Islam is a minority religion in Nepal, with 4.2% of the population being Muslim according to a 2006 Nepali census.[164] Mundhum, Christianity and Jainism are other minority faiths.[165] Education Main article: Education in Nepal The overall literacy rate (for population age 5 years and above) increased from 54.1% in 2001 to 65.9% in 2011. The male literacy rate was 75.1% compared to the female literacy rate of 57.4%. The highest literacy rate was reported in Kathmandu district (86.3%) and lowest in Rautahat (41.7%).[2] While the net primary enrollment rate was 74% in 2005;[166] in 2009, that enrollment rate was 90%.[167] However, increasing access to secondary education (grade 9–12) remains a major challenge, as evidenced by the low net enrollment rate of 24% at this level. More than half of primary students do not enter secondary schools, and only one-half of them complete secondary schooling. In addition, fewer girls than boys join secondary schools and, among those who do, fewer complete the 10th grade.[168] Nepal has seven universities: Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, Pokhara University, Purbanchal University, Mahendra Sanskrit University, Far-western University, and Agriculture and Forestry University.[169] Some newly proposed universities are Lumbini Bouddha University, and Mid-Western University. Some fine scholarship has emerged in the post-1990 era.[170] Health Main article: Health in Nepal Kunde Hospital in remote Himalayan region Public health and health care services in Nepal are provided by both the public and private sectors and fare poorly by international standards.[citation needed] According to 2011 census, more than one-third (38.17%) of the total households do not have a toilet.[2] Tap water is the main source of drinking water for 47.78% of households, tube well/hand pump is the main source of drinking water for about 35% of households, while spout, uncovered well/kuwa, and covered well/kuwa are the main source for 5.74%, 4.71%, and 2.45% respectively.[2] Based on 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) data, Nepal ranked 139th in life expectancy in 2010 with the average Nepali living to 65.8 years.[171][172] Diseases are more prevalent in Nepal than in other South Asian countries, especially in rural areas. Leading diseases and illnesses include diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, goitres, intestinal parasites, leprosy, visceral leishmaniasis and tuberculosis.[173] About 4 out of 1,000 adults aged 15 to 49 had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the HIV prevalence rate was 0.5%.[174][175] Malnutrition also remains very high: about 47% of children under five are stunted, 15 percent wasted, and 36 percent underweight, although there has been a declining trend for these rates over the past five years, they remain alarmingly high.[176] In spite of these figures, improvements in health care have been made, most notably in maternal-child health. In 2012, the under-five infant mortality was estimated to be 41 out of every 1000 children.[177][178] Overall Nepal's Human Development Index (HDI) for health was 0.77 in 2011, ranking Nepal 126 out of 194 countries, up from 0.444 in 1980.[179][180] Largest cities As Nepal is one of the developing or so called under developed country, like other things its cities or urban areas are also increasing day by day. More than 20 % people lives in the urban area or simply in cities. Kathmandu is the largest city of Nepal. People of Kathmandu are lucky enough to travel in Aeroplane before any land transport. It is also called as the City of Temple as it has numerous temples of Hindus god and goddess and that's of Buddhism. It also have 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is one of the oldest city of South Asia. It is also the capital city of Nepal. It also have many palace and historically important sites such as Singha Durbar, The other largest cities of Nepal are Pokhara, Biratnagar, Lalitpur, Bharatpur, Birgunj, Dharan, Hetauda and Nepalgunj. vte Largest cities or towns in Nepal Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration [1] Rank Name Province Pop. Rank Name Province Pop. Kathmandu Kathmandu Pokhara Pokhara 1 Kathmandu Province No. 3 975,453 11 Tulsipur Province No. 5 141,528 Lalitpur Lalitpur Bharatpur Bharatpur 2 Pokhara Gandaki 414,141 12 Itahari Province No. 1 140,517 3 Lalitpur Province No. 3 284,922 13 Nepalgunj Province No. 5 138,951 4 Bharatpur Province No. 3 280,502 14 Butwal Province No. 5 138,741 5 Birgunj Province No. 2 240,922 15 Dharan Province No. 1 137,705 6 Biratnagar Province No. 1 214,662 16 Kalaiya Province No. 2 123,659 7 Janakpur Province No. 2 159,468 17 Jitpur Simara Province No. 2 117,496 8 Ghorahi Province No. 5 156,164 18 Mechinagar Province No. 1 111,797 9 Hetauda Province No. 3 152,875 19 Budhanilkantha Province No. 3 107,918 10 Dhangadhi Sudurpashchim 147,741 20 Gokarneshwar Province No. 3 107,351 Culture Main articles: Culture of Nepal and Music of Nepal The Nepalese actress and UN Goodwill Ambassador Manisha Koirala Folklore is an integral part of Nepali society. Traditional stories are rooted in the reality of day-to-day life, tales of love, affection and battles as well as demons and ghosts and thus reflect local lifestyles, culture, and beliefs. Many Nepali folktales are enacted through the medium of dance and music. Most houses in the rural lowlands of Nepal are made up of a tight bamboo framework and walls of a mud and cow-dung mix. These dwellings remain cool in summer and retain warmth in winter. Houses in the hills are usually made of unbaked bricks with thatch or tile roofing. At high elevations construction changes to stone masonry and slate may be used on roofs. Nepal's flag is the only national flag in the world that is not rectangular in shape.[181] The constitution of Nepal contains instructions for a geometric construction of the flag.[182] According to its official description, the red in the flag stands for victory in war or courage, and is also the colour of the rhododendron, the national flower of Nepal. Red also stands for aggression. The flag's blue border signifies peace. The curved moon on the flag is a symbol of the peaceful and calm nature of Nepali, while the sun represents the aggressiveness of Nepali warriors. Holidays and festivals Main article: List of festivals in Nepal With 36 days a year, Nepal is the country that enjoys the most number of public holidays in the world.[183] The Nepali year begins in 1st of Baisakh in official Hindu Calendar of the country, the Bikram Sambat, which falls in mid-April and is divided into 12 months. Saturday is the official weekly holiday. Main annual holidays include the Martyr's Day (18 February), and a mix of Hindu and Buddhist festivals such as Dashain in autumn, Tihar in mid-autumn and Chhath in late autumn. During Swanti, the Newars perform the Mha Puja ceremony to celebrate New Year's Day of the lunar calendar Nepal Sambat. Being a Secular country Nepal has holiday on main festivals of minority religions in the nation too.[161] Cuisine Main article: Nepalese cuisine The national cuisine of Nepal is Dhindo and Gundruk.The staple Nepali meal is dal bhat. Dal is a lentil soup, and is served over bhat (boiled rice), with tarkari (curried vegetables) together with achar (pickles) or chutni (spicy condiment made from fresh ingredients). It consists of non-vegetarian as well as vegetarian items. Mustard oil is a common cooking medium and a host of spices, including cumin, coriander, black pepper, sesame seeds, turmeric, garlic, ginger, methi (fenugreek), bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, chilies and mustard seeds are used in cooking. Momo is a type of steamed dumpling with meat or vegetable fillings, and is a popular fast food in many regions of Nepal. Sports Main article: Sports in Nepal Association football is the most popular sport in Nepal[184] and was first played during the Rana dynasty in 1921.[185] The one and only international stadium in the country is the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium where the national team plays its home matches.[186] Cricket has been gaining popularity since the last decade. Since the establishment of the national team, Nepal has played its home matches on the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground.[187] The national team has since won the 2012 ICC World Cricket League Division Four and the 2013 ICC World Cricket League Division Three[188] simultaneously, hence qualifying for 2014 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. They also qualified for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh,[189] and this qualification has been the farthest the team have ever made in an ICC event. On 28 June 2014, the ICC awarded T20I status to Nepal, who took part and performed exceptionally well in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.[190][191] Nepal had already played three T20I matches before gaining the status, as ICC had earlier announced that all matches at the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 would have T20I status.[192] Nepal won the 2014 ICC World Cricket League Division Three held in Malaysia and qualified for the 2015 ICC World Cricket League Division Two.[193] Nepal finished fourth in the 2015 ICC World Cricket League Division Two in Namibia[194] and qualified for the 2015–17 ICC World Cricket League Championship.[195] But Nepal failed to secure promotion to Division One and qualification to 2015–17 ICC Intercontinental Cup after finishing third in the round-robin stage.[196][197] Basanta Regmi became the first bowler to take 100 wickets in the World Cricket League. He achieved this feat after taking 2 wickets against Netherlands in the tournament.[198] After finishing 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two at second place Nepal claims the place in 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. On 15 March 2018 Nepal claimed One Day International (ODI) status for the first time with their win over Papua New Guinea in the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier play off encounter.[199][200] Units of measurement Main article: Nepalese customary units of measurement Although the country has adopted the metric system as its official standard since 1968,[201] traditional units of measurement are still commonplace. The customary units of area employed in the Terai region – such as katha, bigha, etc. – sound similar to those used elsewhere in South Asia. However, they vary markedly in size, as they seem to have been standardised to different measures of area. 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Retrieved 5 December 2012. "Flag Description". Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. compare this copy of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal Archived 1 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Jha, Manish (7 October 2016). "Regular breaks". Nepali Times. Retrieved 14 October 2016. "Football at the heart of the Himalayas". FIFA.com. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2013. "Football History in Nepal". ANFA. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2013. "GoalNepal.com – ANFA Starts Location-Hunt For International Stadium". "Grounds in Nepal". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 18 December 2012. "Airee, Vesawkar carry Nepal to Div 3 title". Espn Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 May 2013. "2014 T20 WC Fixtures". 27 October 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013. "Results of ICC Board meeting in Melbourne". International Cricket Council. Archived from the original on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014. "Nepal, Netherlands get T20 international status". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 June 2014. "Big stage for two debutants". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 June 2014. "Pun, Malla and Budhaayer shine as Nepal wins Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3". International Cricket Council. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014. "Scorecard of 3rd Place Playoff: Kenya v Nepal, WCL Division Two 2015". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 January 2015. "Kenya and Nepal will take their places in the ICC World Cricket League Championship". International Cricket Council. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015. "Redemption for Netherlands, regret for Nepal". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 January 2015. "WCL Division Two 2015 Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 January 2015. "Regmi completes 100 wickets in WCL". The Himalayan Times. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015. "Nepal make cricket history after securing ODI status". "'Biggest day in Nepal cricket history' – Khadka". ESPNcricinfo. 15 March 2018. "Standard Measurement and Weight Act, 1968". Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2016. Further reading Shaha, Rishikesh (1992). Ancient and Medieval Nepal. New Delhi: Manohar Publications. ISBN 978-81-85425-69-6. Tiwari, Sudarshan Raj (2002). The Brick and the Bull: An account of Handigaun, the Ancient Capital of Nepal. Himal Books. ISBN 978-99933-43-52-3. "India Nepal Open Border". Nepal Democracy. Retrieved 23 September 2005. "Football at the heart of the Himalaya". FIFA. Archived from the original on 9 September 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2005. "Nepal: Information Portal". Explore Nepal. Retrieved 1 September 2007. Haven, Cynthia (24 August 2010). "The Best Memoir You Never Heard Of: "Shadow Over Shangri-La"". San Francisco Chronicle. "Nepal: A state under siege". The South Asian: Featured Articles. Archived from the original on 31 December 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2005. "Nepal: Basic Fact Sheet". Nepal homepage. Archived from the original on 24 May 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2005. Sharma, Sushil (29 August 2005). "Jailed ex-PM in Nepal court plea". BBC News. Retrieved 29 September 2005. "Nepal's new emblem". Citizen Journalism Nepal. Archived from the original on 9 February 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2007. Hagmuller, Gotz (2003). Patan Museum: The Transformation of a Royal Palace in Nepal. London: Serindia. ISBN 978-0-906026-58-8. Dixit, Kunda (2006). A people war: Images of the Nepal conflict 1996–2006. Kathmandu: nepa-laya. Crossette, Barbara (1995). So Close to Heaven: The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas. New York: Vintage. ISBN 978-0-679-74363-7. Bista, Dor Bahadur (1967). People of Nepal. Department of Publicity, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of Nepal. ISBN 978-99933-0-418-0. Whelpton, John (2005). A History of Nepal. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-80470-7. Michael Hutt, ed., Himalayan 'people's war' : Nepal's Maoist rebellion, London: C. Hurst, 2004 Matthiessen, Peter (1993). The Snow Leopard. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-00-272025-0. Simpson, Joe (1997). Storms of Silence. Mountaineers Books. ISBN 978-0-89886-512-7. Upadhyay, Samrat (2001). Arresting God in Kathmandu. Mariner Books. ISBN 978-0-618-04371-2. Joseph R. Pietri (2001). The King of Nepal. Indianapolis, IN: Indiana Creative Arts. ISBN 978-0-615-11928-1. Herzog, Maurice (1951). Annapurna. The Lyons Press. ISBN 978-1-55821-549-8. Murphy, Dervla (1968). The Waiting Land: A Spell in Nepal. Transatlantic Arts. ISBN 978-0-7195-1745-7. Rishikesh Shaha (2001). Modern Nepal: A Political History. Manohar Publishers and Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-403-8. Jane Wilson-Howarth (2012). A Glimpse of Eternal Snows: a family's journey of love and loss in Nepal. Bradt Travel Guides, UK. p. 390. ISBN 978-1-84162-435-8. Glacial Lakes and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in Nepal. – International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, March 2011 External links Nepal at Wikipedia's sister projects Government Official website of the Government of Nepal Official Site of Nepal Tourism Board General information Nepal from the BBC News "Nepal". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 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Uzbekistan

    

YOU CAN EDIT THIS PAGE! Just click any blue "Edit" link and start writing! Earth : Asia : Central Asia : Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Book a Hotel In Out Uzbekistan Banner.jpg Understand Get in Get around See Do Buy Eat Sleep Stay safe Registan, Samarkand Location Uzbekistan in its region.svg Flag Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Quick Facts Capital Tashkent Government Republic; Authoritarian rule Currency Uzbek Som (UZS) Area total: 447,400 km2 water: 22,000 km2 land: 425,400 km2 Population 25,563,441 Language Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1% Religion Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3% Electricity 220V 50Hz Country code 998 Internet TLD .uz Time Zone UTC+5 Uzbekistan is within the South-Central Asian Union and has borders with other member states of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. It is doubly landlocked, but includes the southern shoreline of the Aral Sea. Understand The meaning of the name Uzbek is disputed. One version is that it is derived from Turkic 'uz/öz' ('good' or 'true') and 'bek' ('guardian'). History Uzbekistan is rich in history. Samarkand was conquered by Alexander the Great. Islam was introduced by Arabs in the 8th-9th century. The most famous leader to come from Uzbekistan is Tamerlane who was born in Shahrisabz south of Samarkand. Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of age agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers more than half dry. Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991, following the break up of the Soviet Union. The country is nominally a democracy, however, from 1991 to 2016 the country was run by President Islam Karimov, whose security services are widely believed to have killed several hundred protesters in Andijan in 2005 and have been responsible for some severe breaches of the most basic human rights (torture and killings). Karimov passed away in September 2016, and the country has since been locked in political tensions as individuals are now eager to improve the Uzbek economy and ease its isolated position from the rest of the world. The country is extremely wealthy in natural resources, yet very little wealth falls into the hands of the locals. Climate Mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east. Geography Uzbekistan measures 1450 km West to East and 930 km North to South. Mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) and Zarafshon; Ferghana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west. Syr Darya crosses the Ferghana Valley and runs on the North East edge of the Kizil Kum Desert. It is 2212 km long (3019 km including its source Naryn). In antiquity, it was called Jaxartes. Syr Darya flows into the (smaller) Northern part of the Aral Sea. Amu Darya rises in the Hindukush and has a length of 2540 km. It was called Oxus in antiquity. It can be a rapid river in spring and is called Dsaihun (suffering from rabies) in Arabic. The river has changed its course several times. Konye Urgench in Turkmenistan, the capital of the old empire of Chwarezm, was situated on the banks of the Amu Darya. Today the distance between the river and the old city is about 40 km. Amu Darya flows into the (bigger) Southern part of the Aral Sea. Holidays Ramadan dates 16 May–14 Jun 2018 (1439 AH) 6 May–3 Jun 2019 (1440 AH) 24 Apr–23 May 2020 (1441 AH) Exact dates depend on local astronomical observations and vary from one country to another. Ramadan ends with the Eid ul-Fitr festival extending over several days. Jan 1 New Year (Yangi Yil Bayrami) Mar 8 International Women's Day (Xalqaro Xotin-Qizlar Kuni) Mar 21 Navroz [1] (Persian New Year) (Navro'z Bayrami) May 9 Remembrance Day, Peace Day or Liberation Day (Xotira va Qadirlash Kuni), remembering that Uzbek troups participated in the Soviet army and that 500.000 Uzbek soldiers were killed in World War II. Sep 1 Independence Day (Mustaqillik Kuni), remembering the proclamation of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 Oct 1 Teachers' Day (O'qituvchi va Murabbiylar Kuni) Dec 8 Constitution Day (Konstitutsiya Kuni), remembering the proclamation of the first constitution of independent Uzbekistan in 1992. Holidays in accordance with the lunar year: the dates of these holidays vary according to the lunar calendar. Kurban Kait (Qurbon Hayit) Ramadan (Ramazon Hayit), (Islamic fasting month) Regions Uzbekistan regions map.png Ferghana Valley The most fertile and populous part of the country, but also its most unstable with different ethnic groups like Uzbek and Kyrgyz have disputes. Northern Uzbekistan Geographically dominated by the vast red sands of the seemingly endless Kyzylkum Desert and politically dominated by Qaraqalpaqstan, the vast autonomous republic of the Qaraqalpaqs, Uzbekistan's North is most notable in travel circles for the ancient Silk Road city of Khiva, and for the dying Aral Sea. Samarkand through Bukhara This is truly the heart of the Silk Road, the passage along the Zeravshan River valley through Central Asia's most important historical cities of Samarkand and Bukhara and heavily populated mainly with Ethnic Tajiks. Southern Uzbekistan The one mountainous part of the country, where Uzbekistan meets the mighty Pamir Mountains, is heavily ethnic Tajik. Tashkent Region The political and economic center of the country, surrounding the capital, Tashkent. Cities Tashkent — the modern capital and largest city. Ferghana — Center of the Ferghana valley and one of the important industrial cities. Andijan — Uzbekistan's fourth largest city, right in the heart of the vibrant but combustible Ferghana Valley. Bukhara — a legendary Silk Road capital, 2,500 years old, the historical center of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with magnificent examples of monumental, medieval Islamic and Central Asian architecture. Khiva, site of the Itchan Kala Namangan — the third largest city, at the northern edge of the Ferghana Valley. Nukus — the capital of Qaraqalpaqstan on the Amu Darya, surrounded by a region devastated by the environmental degradation wrought by the drying of the Aral Sea. Samarkand — the nation's second largest city, the whole of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the most famous Silk Road attraction of them all, the Registan. Shakhrisabz — a small city, whose historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its impressive monuments from the Timurid Dynasty. Termez — the southernmost city near the border with Afghanistan, named by Alexander the Great's forces for the intense temperatures they found here (thermos = hot). Several of these were once great trading cities on the Silk Road. Other destinations Aral Sea — a lesson in the perils of environmental degradation, the drying of the Aral Sea has ravaged a region roughly the size of Germany with disease, birth defects, agricultural and economic devastation, and one-time cargo ships lying on their side in the dust. Get in From July 2018 there is an e-visa system for most countries Uzbek e.visa. 20 US dollars. From 10 February 2018, citizens of Israel, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and Japan can visit Uzbekistan without visas for the period of 30 days. From 15 July 2018, citizens of the 102 countries are allowed to stay up to 5 days in Uzbekistan without a visa if they are transiting through the international airports of Uzbekistan but for now(10.09.2018) your both tickets should be purchased from Uzbekistan Airways otherwise you will be rejected. To obtain a transit visa, airlines should provide information about a tourist in advance to Border security of State Security Service and Uzbekistan Airlines is the only which does so. If you fly with another airlines you have to check with your airlines before check-in if they provide such information. Visas are required for everyone apart from passport holders of CIS countries. A 'Letter of Invitation' (LOI) is no longer required by citizens of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States, but is still required for most others under the simplified visa procedure. (As of April 2017, letters of invitation were required.) Update: Since July 2017, Uzbekistan offers a full online process for certain citizens that wish to apply for a visa. The eVisa can be applied or on the governments website. You can find detailed description as well as a lot of usefull information regarding the Uzbekistan eVisa on this website. Uzbekistan has an agreement with other embassies such as Georgian embassy , Russian embassy and Kazakhastan embassy wich can issue visas in some cases under request. To apply for a visa complete the application form from here, print out the resulting pdf and take to your printed form, together with some photos and a photocopy of your passport to your nearest Uzbek embassy. They will then ask the MFA in Tashkent for permission to issue a visa, which takes 7-14 days. Once this permission is granted you can pick up your visa. To avoid 2 trips to the embassy you can get an LOI in advance (by email) and once approval has been granted you can pick up your visa from your chosen embassy in only 1 visit - this is handy for people travelling who want to pick up a visa 'on the go'. A LOI can be obtained from travel companies (sometimes a hotel booking is required) or from many hotels (ask in advance). The LOI will typically cost US$30-40 for a short stay. Do inform the LOI issuing agency if you require single or double entry visa as this needs to be stated in the LOI. For the latest information see the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [2]. In the UK, you need to submit 2 copies of a visa application with passport photos attached, a printed confirmation of your visa payment (a bank transfer to the consul's bank account), your passport, and photocopies of your passport. Contrary to the advice on their website, you do not need to send every photocopied page, including blank pages. Simply sending the pages that have passport stamps is enough. Within 3 days of entrance to the country, you need to make registration, an official statement, indicating the address you are staying at. If you stay at reasonable hotels, they will do it by default, however if you stay at a house, you will face a lot of bureaucratic paperworks in order to register yourself. Border officials often do not ask for these if you are friendly but they could and the fines can be stiff. If you are, say, travelling by bicycle and cannot make it to a registered hotel every night, just try to register when you can and avoid large gaps. Most immigrations officials will understand that you tried. An overwhelming number of foreigners who experience registration repercussions do so in Tashkent. Many of these cases involve an attempt to do something obviously illegal such as purchase registration slips from hotels, who in turn call the police. If you are concerned, just avoid Tashkent. When you enter Uzbekistan expect fairly lengthy immigration and passport procedures, but these are fairly painless. In particular you will be asked to declare all the money you are bringing into the country - don't worry about this - declare everything you have and make sure you have less money when you leave. The Uzbek govt don't want precious foreign currency leaving the country. Also ensure that this declaration is made in duplicate and to keep one copy of the declaration form with you, duly signed and stamped by the customs official as this will be required at the time of departure as a proof of money that you brought in. The rest of the declaration sections is straightforward - apart from a confusingly-worded "Availability of baggage" option to answer 'Yes' or 'No' to. If you have any hand or hold luggage you can mark this 'Yes'. ***UPDATE 2018***: As of 2018, there is no customs check if arriving by plane. Customs doesn't check how much money you bring in any longer. There is still a $2000 limit but customs also doesn't check when you depart either so the limit doesn't matter unless you make it hard for yourself by voluntarily declaring you have more than $2000. Travel permits are required for the mountain areas near the border to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, including great parts of the Ugam-Chatkal National Park and Zaamin National Park. By plane Tashkent, (IATA: TAS, ICAO: UTTT), is the main international airport of Uzbekistan. The airport itself is reasonably modern and has various international carriers operating as well as the national Uzbekistan Airways [3]. Though the airport infrastructure is good, the staff is not. Expect pointless bureaucracy and an unhelpful attitude from most of them. Baggage claim and customs procedures can be time-consuming - allow two hours. There are airports at Andijan, Bukhara, Ferghana, Karshi, Namangan, Nukus, Samarkand, Tashkent, Termez and Urgench. By train Usable passenger services only exist to Kazakhstan and via Kazakhstan to Russia and Ukraine. These include the following trains: Tashkent - Moscow (3 times weekly): Train 6 Uzbekistan leaves Moscow on Mon, Wed and Fri at 23:15 and arrives in Tashkent at 22:35 on Wed, Fri and Sun. The distance from Moscow to Tashkent by rail is 3,369 km. Tashkent - Ufa (3 times weekly) Tashkent - Celjabinsk (once weekly) Tashkent - Kharkov (once weekly)- This train is suspended since war broke out in Eastern Ukraine. Tashkent - Saratov (every 4 days) Nukus - Tashkent - Almaty (once weekly) There are also railway lines linking Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. However, service to Turkmenistan is suspended. Note that the train cars are very old, built during the former Soviet Union. The equipment is outdated and mostly on the life support, there are no showers, the toilets are small and dirty, and there is no air conditioning. Even the undocumented Uzbek workers in Moscow typically fly home instead of taking a train. Only consider this option if you have taken the regional trains in Russia and know what you're getting into. By car There are roads from surrounding countries but the borders may not be open and there have been security problems. There is a risk of land mines in some border areas. From Afghanistan The Friendship Bridge, 10 km south of Termiz, links Afghanistan with Uzbekistan. From Kazakhstan There are three main border crossings between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan : Gisht Kuprik (Chernyaevka) between Shymkent and Tashkent is the main road crossing between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan . A shared taxi or marschrutka from Kolos bus stop at Shymkent to the border costs about US$ 4. The trip takes about 1 hour. The border is open 7am to 9pm (Tashkent time). You will have to walk over the border and to take a taxi from the border to Tashkent, which will cost about UZS 6000. There are reports of waiting times up to 5 or 6 hours at the border. There is another crossing between Beyneu in Western Kazakhstan and Kungrad in Uzbekistan. And another crossing that allows vehicles through at Chinaz in Uzbekistan. This is a good option if you are looking to avoid Tashkent. Very disorganized border, but friendly. From Kyrgyzstan Busses from Bishkek to Uzbekistan stop at Gisht Kuprik (Chernyaevka) border. You will have to take a taxi from the border to Tashkent for UZS 6000. A transit visum for Kazakhstan is required. You can take a taxi or minibus from Jalal Abad to Khanabad (20som) and walk over the border. You can take a taxi (50som) or minibus (5 som) from Osh to Dustlyk (Dostyk) and a shared taxi from there to Andijan in Uzbekistan From Tajikistan It is about 55 km from Dushanbe to the border at Denau. Taxis depart from Zarnisar Bazaar in Dushanbe. A seat in a taxi will cost about 8TJS and the trip will take about 90 minutes. There are Miníbusses from the border to the town of Denau. From there you will have to take a shared taxi to Samarkand. You will have to take a shared taxi from Penjikent to the Tajik-Uzbek border (5 TJS, 22 km) and another one from the border to Samarkand (about 50 km). By bus When land borders are open, buses run to all neighbouring countries. By boat Apart from the southern section of the inland Aral sea, Uzbekistan is land-locked. Get around By train The main line Tashkent - Samarkand - Bukhara is served by two express trains named "Registon" and "Sharq": The "Registon" brings you from Tashkent in less than 4 hours to Samarkand and the "Sharq" makes the 600-km-journey Tashkent - Bukhara (with intermediate stop in Samarkand) in about 7,5 hours. A daily overnight train from Tashkent to Bukhara offers the possibility to travel during the night and win one day. Comfortable sleeping cars allow a good sleep. Recently a new train "Afrosiob" started operating on Tashkent - Samarkand line. This Talgo-250-type train makes a respective distance in 2 hours time. Unlike to ordinary local trains, there are 3 classes in "Afrosiob": economy class - 36 persons per carriage room, in business and VIP. Economy class costs 46 thousand soums (roughtly $25 at official rate), business class - 65 thousand soums and VIP - 80 thousand soums. You may also expect some free drinks and snacks. It is planned to extend the "Afrosiob" line to Bukhara and, subsequently, to Khiva by 2014-2015. Overnight trains also run from Tashkent and Samarkand to Urgench (3 times weekly) and to Nukus - Kungrad (2 times weekly), so it's also possible to travel to Khiva (30 kilometers from Urgench, taxi/bus available) or to the Aral lake (Moynaq, 70 km from Kungrad) by train. There are three types of trains: fast trains (tezyurar poyezd) or express trains (train nos 1 to 149) high-speed trains (yuqori tezlikdagi poyezd) (train nos 151 to 169), and passenger trains (yo'lovchi tashuvchi poyezd) (train nos 171 to 699). There are four types of sleepers: soft wagon (alohida xonali vagon) - 2 berth compartments kupeli vagon - 4 berth compartments platskart vagon - benches in a large car umumiy vagon - don't take that one By shared taxi The second best option, and an experience. Don't be put off - these are pretty safe as far as the people go, the roads are a different story - when they exist! But for getting between Nukus and Khiva, or Khiva to Urgench to Bukhara, this is the only realistic way to go. The taxi driver will have a destination city - so at the ranks ask around for the city you're headed to. If you match, you then negotiate a rate. Ask around beforehand, you can quite easily get ripped off, because each passenger negotiates separately with the driver, so he can charge locals normal rates and take you for all you have. Rates are roughly $3 for a shared journey of about 200 km and about $10-15 to travel from Tashkent to Bukhara by shared taxi. These rates can vary based on time of day or year. Once you've done that, you wait. The car only leaves when full, or when the driver gets bored enough. If possible, get thr front passenger seat - 'only a lemon takes the middle seat'. Don't be polite about this - you do NOT want that middle seat. When it's 50C+ in the middle of the desert, with no airconditioning (you pay extra for a car with that), you want to be as close to a window as possible, and with only one person sweating against you! Also, the roads are slow and sometimes barely existent - dirt tracks with potholes. It takes 6-8 hours from Urgench to Bukhara if you're lucky. Still, the car will probably make it - when you do this section you'll understand why you don't want to risk the bus. By bus Bus travel is only for the truly adventurous and not for anyone in a hurry in Uzbekistan. But City buses faultlessly pure and many city buses of the Mersedes-Benz brand (European quality). If you do travel any distance on a bus in Uzbekistan, take toilet paper with you and be careful what you eat at stops along the way. Others You can travel by private taxi, minibus, or normal bus. While there are official taxis, most cars will become taxis if you wave them down. Meters are rare, so negotiate the price beforehand. By car Drive on the right. International driving permit required. Minimum age: 17. Speed limit: 60 to 80 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on highways. There are several paved highways with two lanes in Uzbekistan: AH5 from Gishtkuprik/Chernyavka on the border to Kazakhstan via Tashkent, Syrdaria, Samarkand, Navoi and Bukhara to Alat on the border to Turkmenistan (680 km), AH7 from the border to Kyrgysztan via Andijon, Tashkent and Syrdaria to Xovos/Khavast on the border to Tajikistan (530 km), AH62 from Gishtkuprik/Chernyavka on the border to Kazakhstan via Tashkent, Syrdaria, Samarkand and Guzar to Termez on the border to Afghanistan (380 km), AH63 from Oazis on the border to Kazakhstan in the North West of Uzbekistan via Nukus and Bukhara to Guzar (950 km paved road, 240 km unpaved) AH65 from Uzun on the border to Tajikistan to Termez on the border to Afghanistan (180 km) Urban transport During the day the metro (underground train) is the good option. After 12 midnight you are recommended to use taxi services. It is better to call the taxi (car-service) to pick you up in advance. Some car-services can serve the foreign speaking tourists. You can get more information in the hotel. Talk The majority of citizens are ethnic Uzbeks and most speak Uzbek - the official language - as their first language. Uzbek is a Turkic language influenced by Persian, Arabic and Russian, and is written using the Latin script. Russian is widely spoken, being the native language of around 14% of the population and spoken by most as a second language, especially in urban areas. There are also significant numbers of ethnic Tajiks and Kazakhs in Uzbekistan, often speaking their native tongue as a first language. In Samarkand and Bukhara, for instance, one is just as likely to hear Tajik being spoken as Uzbek. In the semi-autonomous region of Karalkalpakstan in western Uzbekistan, the ethnic Karalkalpaks speak their own language, which is related to Kazakh. Many Karalkalpaks also speak Russian. In the cities, more and more people understand English, especially those in the hotel and catering trades. See Architecture Uzbekistan has preserved a rich architectural heritage. The construction of monumental buildings was seen as a matter of prestige, emphasizing the power of the ruling dynasty, leading families and higher clergy. The external appearance of towns was determined to a great extent by their fortifications. The walls were flanked at regular intervals by semicircular towers and the entrances to towns were marked by darwazas (gates). These gates usually had a high vault and a gallery for lookout and were flanked by two mighty towers. The doors were closed at night and in case of danger. Along the main streets were rows of shops, specialized in different goods and many skilled craftsmen had their workshops in these stalls. The most important covered markets are called tag, tim or bazaars' (shopping passages) and charsu (crossroads, literally "four directions"). In big cities the ark (fortress) was the administrative center. It contained the emir's palace, chancellery, treasury, arsenal and the jail for high-ranking prisoners. The towns also had large public centers, consisting of a maydan (open square) surrounded by large buildings for civil or religious purposes. Religious buildings The Friday Mosque (Masjid-i Juma) is located in the town. It had a spacious courtyard with a surrounding gallery and a maqbara (screened-off enclosure) in the main axis. A typical example is the Kalan Mosque at Bukhara. The Oratory Mosque (Namazgah) is situated outside of the town. Prayers at two important Muslim festivals were conducted in public. The worshippers gathered in an open space in front of the building where the minbar (imam's pulpit) stood. The Neighbourhood Mosque was smaller in size and consisted of a covered hall with the mihrab and an exterior gallery with columns. They were built from donations of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood and are often richly decorated. An example of this type is the Baland (Boland) Mosque at Bukhara. The Madrasa is an institition for higher education of ulama (Islamic scholars). The madrasa has a courtyard with two or four aywand (arched portals) on the axes which were used as classrooms in the summer, a row of cells on one or two floors, darskhana (lecture rooms) in two or four corners and a mosque for daily prayer. The main facade has a high portal with two or four minaret-like towers at the corners of the building. Madrasas from the 16th and 17th cent. which have been preserved are Madar-Khan, Abdullah Khan, Kukaldash, Nadir Devan Begi and Abdul Aziz Khan at Bukhara, Sher-Dor and Tilla-Kari at Samarkand, Kukaldash and Baraq Khan in Tashkent, Said Ataliq at Denau and Mir Rajab Dotha at Kanibadam. Madrasas built in the 18th and 19th cent. include Narbuta Bi at Kokand, Qutlugh Murad Inaq, Khojamberdybii, Khoja Moharram, Musa Tura and Allah-Quli Khan in Khiva. The Khanaqah was originally a guest house for travelling Sufis near the residence of their pir (spiritual masters). Under the Timurids they became meeting places of the followers of a Sufi order, attended by representatives of the ruling elite and often a zikr-khana (room for exposition and Sufi rites) was added. Examples of khanaqas from the 16th and 17th cent include Zaynuddin, Fayzabad, Bahaudin and Nadi Divan-Begi at Bukhara, Mulla Mir near Ramitan, Qasim Shaiykh at Karmana and Imam Bahra near Khatirchi. Memorial buildings were erected in the 14th and 15th cent for Temur and his family, e.g. Gur-Amir and Shah-i Zinda at Samarkand and at Shakrizabs. In the 16th and 17th cent. fewer mausoleums were built. An example from this period is the Qafal Shashi Mausoleum in Tashkent. Monumental buildings were often erected near holy tombs. At Bukhara a monumental kanaqah was built near the founder of the Naqshbandi order, Bahauddein and at Char Bakr, the family necropolis of the powerful Juybari shaykhs. From the 16th cent. onwards mauseoleums for rulers were no longer built. The rulers were interred in madrasas, the Shaybanids of Samarkand in the Abu Said Mausoleum on the Registan, Ubaydullah Khan from Bukhara in the Mir-i Arab Madrasa and Abdul Aziz Khan in the Abdul Aziz Madrasa. Civic architecture Market buildings (Charsu, Tim, Taq) form the very heart of an oriental town. The charsu is a building covered by a central dome, standing at the crossroads, surrounded by shops and workshops covered by small domes. The tim is a trading passage and the taq a domed building on a smaller scale built at the intersection of major streets. At Bukhara the Taq-i Zargaran (Goldsmiths' Dome) has an octagonal central space covered by a dome set on 32 intersecting arches. Shops and workshops around the central space are toppes by small domes. Caravanserais played an important role along the trade routes. According to the traditional plan a caravanserai is a rectangular building with a large courtyard, galleries for animals and baggage, lodgings for the travellers and a mosque. The outer walls were high and thick, the entrance was well guarded and at the corners there were towers for defense. The best example is at Rabat al-Malik. A small number of caravanserais have survived, partly in ruins, e.g. the caravanserai near the Qaraul Bazar on the road from Bukhara to Karshi, the Abdullah Khan caravanserai on the road from Karshi to Termez. Bathhouses from the 16th and 17th cent. have been preserved at Samarkand, Sahrh-i Sabz, Bukhara and Tashkent. They are heated by a system of channels under the floor, distributing the heat uniformly through the whole building. Some of them have rooms for disrobing, hot and cold rooms, a massage room or a water closet. Bathhouses are covered with domes which give them their characteristic external appearance. Architectural Ensembles The Pay-i Kalan (Pedestal of the Great at Bukhara, The Kosh Madrasa at Bukhara, The Lab-i Hauz at Bukhara, The Registan at Samarkand The Char-Bakr Complex at Sumitan, outside of Bukhara Nature Reserves Jeyran Ecological Centre, (40 km from Bukhara). The jeyran (Central Asian gazelle) was hunted in the last century by men in jeeps and helicopters. Today, the Uzbekistan jeyran is included in the Red Book of Endangered Species). The Jeyran ecological centre was founded about 1985 and is the only one of its kind in Central Asia. At the beginning 42 jeyrans were brought here, but today 700 unique animals live here in a fenced area of 5000 hectares. Besides jeyrans, Prezhevalskiy horses and koulans are bred in the reserve. edit Kitab State Geological Reserve. edit Kyzylkum Tugai and Sand Reserve, (in the north-west of Bukhara Province). The reserve was founded in 1971. It covers the flood-lands of the Amu Darya river and the sand-dune desert near-by. The riverside vegetation occupies an area of 3177 hectares and the sand area is 2544 hectares. The best time to visit the reserve is spring. According to ornithologists there are 190 species of birds in the reserve, including herons, river terns, wild ducks, sandpipers NS turtle-doves. The reserve has a lush flora of poplars, silver oleasters and riverside willows. Deer, wild boars, wolves, jackals, foxes, hares and reed cats live on the tugai woods and zhe population of jeyrans is being restored. edit Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biospheric Reserve. The Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biospheric Reserve is being implemented by the government of Uzbekistan, Global Ecology Fund and UN Development Program and co-financed by German Union of Nature Protection. The reserve lies between the desert and mountain systems of Central Asia. It consists of the southern part of the Kyzylkum Desert, lakes Aydarkul and Tuzgan and the mountain ridges of Nuratau and Koitash. The existing Nurata Reserve and Arnasay Ornithological Reserve on Lake Tuzgan will be integrated into the new Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biospheric Reserve. Among the animals integtrated in the Red Book of Endagered Species are the Severtsev ram or Kyzylkum ram, golden eagle, bearded and black griffon-vulture. In the reserve are rare sorts of walnut-trees, Central Asian juniper, Bukhara almond-trees, pistachio-trees, wild vines, apricot-trees, apple-trees and various sorts of dog-roses. Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biospheric Reserve will be included in the UNESCO global list of biosphere reserves. The experiences will be used in founding biosphere reserves in the Central Kyzylkum Desert, Southern Ustyurt Desert and the tugai woods of the river Amu Darya. edit Ugam-Chatkal National Park, (in the spurs of the Western Tien Shan, about 80 km from Tashkent). Ugam-Chatkal National Park is one of the oldest nature reserves in Uzbekistan, founded in 1947. The Western Tien Shan is the natural habitat to 44 species of mammals, 230 species of birds and 1168 species of plants including several endemic plants. In the National Park live white-claw bears, wolves, Tien Shan foxes, red marmots, stone-martens, Turkestan lynx, snow leopards, wild boars, badgers, Siberian roes, mountain goats and Tien Shan wild rams as well as wild turkeys, mountain partridges, golden eagles, bearded and eagle vultures. The slopes of the Pskem ridge are covered with walnut-trees, wild fruit trees and wild bushes. The banks of the river are occupied by archa (Central Asian juniper). The Chimgan-Charvak-Beldersay Resort Zone, covering an area 100,000 hectares, has three health-recreation complexes: 'Charvak', 'Chimgan' and 'Beldersay'. edit Do Camel trekking, (in the yurt camps at Lake Aidarkul or Ayaz-Quala). edit Bird watching. edit Trekking, (in the Ugam Chatkal National Park). edit Rafting, (in the Chatkal or Syr-Darya Rivers). edit Skiing. edit Buy Uzbekistan had for a long time found itself in the curious position of having a large current account surplus (from the sale of gas) and a black market / parallel exchange rate (the Uzbek som isn't freely convertible). However as of September 2017, the government has partly liberalised the exchange rate system, with the official rate changing from US$1: UZS4,200 to US$1: UZS8,100, better than the black market rate of around UZS7,700. However, it is early days, and travelers should still bring cash for their entire trip. U.S. Dollars are best but Euros are also easy to change. It remains to be seen if informal money changers disappear, or whether a black market will continue. You may still hear prices quoted in dollars but it is important to ask if these represent the bank or "official" rate or the market or "black market" rate. The most popular note is still the 1000 som, so be prepared to carry around stacks of money. Money changers can be found at the entrances to most bazaars, on major tourist streets, mobile phone stores or small grocery shops. Hotels can also usually arrange transfers, although this rate may be less-than-ideal. Usually some negotiation is recommended for exchanging, although you generally won't save more than a few percentage points. ATMs exist. Some are empty, while others dispense som at the official bank rate. Far more useful are the couple of dollar ATMs that exist in Samarkand and Tashkent. Banks and some stores will do dollar advances with a commission that ranges from 1 to 4 percent. The amount of cash is declared both entering and leaving the country. Make sure the amount held when exiting is less than with entering or prepare for questions from customs officials. An ATM or bank slip may help. Prices on the street and in craft stores tend to be flexible. Be ready to bargain. Prices in big department stores and grocery stores are fixed. Bazaars are the best place to observe the daily life of the locals. The Oloy bozori is one of the oldest and most famous bazaars of Central Asia. You will find beautiful rugs, silk, spices, handicrafts and traditional clothes in the Eski Juva and ChorSu bazaars in the Old City of Tashkent. Typical souvenirs are: babaichik, figurines, tubeteika, traditional Uzbek caps and Shiljait, Shilajit means "Conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness". It is used in Ayurvedic medicine as an herbal rejuvenator, nerve tonic and natural stimulator. World class collection of Art at the Nukus Museum-Savitsky Collection. Eat When you go to restaurants, always ask for menu or price if they do not provide one. While some of the well-established restaurants are surprisingly good value by Western standard, some of the random or less popular restaurants try to take advantage of tourists by ripping off up to 5 times of normal price. Osh (Plov) is the national dish. It's made of rice, carrots, onions, and mutton, and you will eat it if you go to Uzbekistan. Each region has its own way of cooking plov, so you should taste it in different places. According to the legend plov was invented by the cooks of Alexander the Great. Plov can also be made with peas, carrots, raisins, dried apricots, pumpkins or quinces. Often spices as peppers, crushed or dried tomatoes are added. Chuchvara - similar to ravioli and stuffed with mutton and onions (aka 'pelmeni' in Russian). Manti - lamb and onion filled dumpling-like food, often with onions, peppers and mutton fat. Somsa, which are pastry pockets filled with beef, mutton, pumpkin or potatoes. In spring time "green somsas" are made from so-called "yalpiz" a kind of grass which grows in the mountains and in rural parts of regions. And the amazing thing is people just pick them up for free and make tasty somsas. You can find somsas being cooked and sold on the streets. Lagman - thick soup with meat, potatoes, spices, vegetables and pasta. By right, it should include 50 ingredients. Often carrot, red beet, cabbage, radish, garlic, tomatoes, peppers and onions are added. The noodles should be very thin. Shashlik - grilled meat. Usually served only with onions. Veal or mutton is marinated in salt, peppers and vinegar and eight to ten pieces of meat are grilled on a spit over the open fire. Bread - Uzbeks eat lots of bread (in uzbek its called non). Round bread is called lepioshka. You can buy it anywhere, while in the bazar it costs around 400 sum. Samarkand is very famous for the bread. The characteristic Samarkand bread obi-non is traditionally baked in clay furnaces. Bread is served to every meal. Mastava. rice soup with pieces of onion, carrots, tomatoes, peas and eventually wild plums edit Shurpa. soup of mutton (sometimes beef), vegetables edit Beshbarmak. a speciality of the nomad Kazakhs, boiled meat of sheep or ox and pieces of liver, served with onions, potatoes and noodles edit Being an historic crossroads and part of numerous empires, Uzbek food is very eclectic in its origins. Indian, Iranian, Arab, Russian, and Chinese influences are present in this unique cuisine. Drink Tea, particularly green tea, is a national drink of Uzbekistan. Vodka is also famous though, as a result of more than a century of Russian domination of the land. Tea is served virtually everywhere: home, office, cafes, etc. Uzbek people drink black tea in winter and green tea in summer, instead of water. If tea is served in the traditional manner, the server will pour tea into a cup from the teapot and then pour the tea back into the teapot. This action is repeated three times. These repetitions symbolize loy (clay) which seals thirst, moy (grease) which isolates from the cold and the danger and tchai (tea or water) which extinguishes the fire. If you are being served tea in an Uzbek home, the host will attempt at all times to make sure your cup is always filled. If the host stops filling your cup, it probably means that it is time for you to leave, but this occurs really rarely, because Uzbeks are very hospitable. The left hand is considered impure. The tea and the cups are given and taken by the right hand. A mind-numbing variety of brands of wine and vodka are available almost everywhere. Wine produced in Uzbekistan has won numerous international prestigious awards for a high quality. There's nothing to wonder about, since sun in this country shines almost every day. Although Uzbekistan is predominately Muslim, for the most part the Islam practiced there tends to be more cultural than religious. Beer is available in every shop and is treated as soft drink and does not require any license to sell. There are special licensed shops selling Vodka, Wine and other Drinks. Russian made vodka is available in only few shops. Kimiz is an alcoholic, prepared from mares' milk. Visitors should consider tap water to be unsafe to drink in regions, while in capital of Uzbekistan the water is safe for drinking. In any case drinking bottled water is advised. Nightlife In Tashkent there are various night (dance) clubs and restaurants. They usually work till late night/early morning. Take enough cash because drinks and snacks are much more expensive than in daytime restaurants. Also you can find overnight Uzbek "chill-out" restaurants where you enjoy traditional food lying on large wooden sofas (tapchans/suri). It is not recommended to hang out on the street or parks after 11 p.m. Even if you do not face problems with criminals you definitely attract unwanted interest of local police (militsiya) patrolling the area. Sleep Hotels There are many hotels in the country. In Tashkent there are various types of hotels you can stay, it can cost you US$60 and more depending on how much you're willing to pay for your pleasure in hotel. Yurt stays Nurata Yurt Camp, about 500 km (7 hours drive) from Tashkent, 250 km /3 hours drive) from Samarkand and Buchara, near Aydakul Lake, US$ 60 per person incl. full board and camel trip. The Yurts can accommodate 8 to 10 people. Ayaz Kala Yurt Camp, about 100 km from Khiva, 70 km from Urgench, 450 km from Buchara and 150 km from Nukus. phone 2210770, 2210707, 3505909, fax 53243-61. Access from Khiva and Urgench is via a pontoon bridge over the Amu Darya River. The yurts are on a hill about 30 meters high, near the archaeological site of Ayaz Kala. The ancient fortresses of Ayaz Kala are nearby. US$ 60 per person incl. three meals. The yurts can accomodate 20 to 25 persons. Aydar Yurt Camp, in the Navoi region in the center of the Kyzyl Kum desert, 10 km from Lake Aydar Kul, approx. N 41.030407, E 66.01324. The Aydar Yurt Camp is famous for camel safaris. Learn Stay safe The areas of Uzbekistan bordering Afghanistan should be avoided for all but essential travel. Extreme caution should also be exercised in areas of the Ferghana Valley bordering Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. There have been a number of security incidents in this region, as well as several exchanges of gunfire across the Uzbek/Kyrgyz border. Some border areas are also mined. Travellers should therefore avoid these areas and cross only at authorized border crossing points. If visiting mountainous border villages near Tajikistan that don't have official border crossings, one almost always has to register at the local police office, regardless of the nationality. There is a penalty for not doing that. It is also advised to generally not to wander alone along the border during official national holidays, especially Novruz. For the most part, Uzbekistan is generally safe for visitors, perhaps the by-product of a police state. There are many anecdotal (and a significant number of documented) reports of an increase in street crime, especially in the larger towns, particularly Tashkent. This includes an increase in violent crime. Information on crime is largely available only through word of mouth - both among locals and through the expat community - as the state-controlled press rarely, if ever, reports street crime. As economic conditions in Uzbekistan continue to deteriorate, street crime is increasing. Travel Warning WARNING: If you are LGBT, stay out of Uzbekistan. Violence happens towards LGBT in Uzbekistan all the time and police either join in on the violence or turn a blind eye to violence towards LGBT. No businesses are LGBT friendly. Uzbekistan imposes criminal punishment as high as the 3-years of imprisonment for homosexuality. Normal precautions should be taken, as one would in virtually any country. Especially in the cities (few travellers will spend much time overnight in the small villages), be careful after dark, avoid unlighted areas, and don't walk alone. Even during the day, refrain from openly showing significant amounts of cash. Men should keep wallets in a front pocket and women should keep purses in front of them with a strap around an arm. Avoid wearing flashy or valuable jewellery which can easily be snatched. Scams are not unheard of. One of the most common (and one that is not limited to Uzbekistan) involves a stranger coming up to the victim and saying they have found cash lying on the street. They will then try to enlist you in a complicated scheme that will result in you "splitting" the cash - of course only after you have put up some of your own. The entire scenario is ludicrous, but apparently enough greedy foreigners fall for it that it continues. If someone comes up to you with the "found cash" routine, tell them straight away that you are not interested (in whatever language you choose) and walk away. Also beware of locals you don't know who offer to show you the "night life." This should be completely avoided, though some visitors seem to leave their common sense at home. While all of these precautions should be observed during travel virtually anywhere in the world, for some reason many tourists in Uzbekistan seem to lower their guard. They should not. It is also possible that you will be asked by police (Militsiya) for documents. This doesn't happen often, but it can, and they have a legal right to do so. By law, you should carry your passport and visa with you in Uzbekistan, as well as the registration (propiska), though in practice, it is better to make a color scan of the first two pages of your passport and your Uzbek visa before you arrive. Carry the colour copies with you when you're walking around, and keep the original documents in the hotel safe. The scanned documents will almost always suffice. If not, make it clear to the Militsiya officer that he will have to come to your hotel to see the originals. Unless they have something out of the norm in mind (such as a bribe) they will almost always give you a big smile and tell you to go along. Always be polite with the Militsiya, but also be firm. While almost all of them take bribes, they take them from locals. For the most part, they understand that going too far with a foreigner will only cause them problems, especially if the foreigner is neither being abusive nor quaking with fear. There is a new decree saying that it is prohibited in Tashkent to stay at night clubs and such establishments after 23:00, so you better leave before this time unless you want to deal with the local police. One note about locals offering to show you around: It is common for younger Uzbeks (usually male) who speak English to try and "meet" foreigners at local hotels and offer to serve as interpreters and guides. This is done in daylight and in the open, often in or near some of the smaller but better hotels. This can be rewarding for both the local and the visitor. The local is usually trying to improve their English or French (occasionally other languages, but usually English) and to make a few dollars/euros. If you are approached by a clean-cut person offering such services, and you are interested, question them about their background, what they are proposing to do for you and how much they want to charge you (anywhere between $10-$25 a day is realistic depending on their services and how long they spend with you). Most of the legitimate offers will be from young people who have studied in the West on exchange programs and/or studied at the University of World Diplomacy and/or Languages in Tashkent. If everything seems to fit, their language skills are good and they seem eager and polite, but not pushy, you may want to consider this. They should offer to show you museums, historical sites, cafés, bazaars, cultural advice, generally how to get around, etc. They should ask you what you want to see and/or do. Often this works out well. However, for your and their protection, do not attempt to engage in political discussions of any type. Again, if they are proposing "night life" (or related) services, do NOT take up their offers. Stay healthy Uzbekistan has not implemented a no-smoking policy in bars and restaurants, unlike many Western countries. Consequently, enclosed spaces can be very unpleasant for non-smokers, especially in the cold weather. Fruits and vegetables should be peeled before consumption. Avoid drinking Uzbek (locally produced) vodka. Most Uzbek Vodkas can even be dangerous for your health. Respect In Uzbekistan, and in Central Asia in general, elderly people are greatly respected. Always treat the elderly with great respect and be deferent to them in all situations. Also be polite with females. Traditionally it is not welcomed to flirt openly with women. If you are a male and there is an option to address a male with a question instead of a female, do so. Contact Cell phone or mobile connection works in most parts of Uzbekistan and the services are cheap. There are several popular cell/mobile service providers in Uzbekistan - Ucell [4], Beeline, Perfectum Mobile, UMS. A foreigner can get a SIM card only after showing his passport and registration in the mobile service providers regional main offices. For activating the cell phone connection a person has to be registered. All other vendors are not allowed to sell to foreigners and refuse it. You can find Internet cafés in most of the cities. Speeds can sometimes be fast but generally speed is relatively slow. Further Reading Colin Thubron, The Lost Heart of Asia, 1994, Penguin Create category This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow! 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