$ OUT=$(smenu -a i:7/4,b -ia -- t0001.in)

a b c aa bb cc aba 
0:01252c 2:24 4:24 6:07 7:07 9:24 10:24 12:24 13:24 15:01252c 16:01252c 17:01252c 
$ 

$ echo ":$OUT:"

:aa:

$ exit 0