आँख की किरकिरी उपन्यास भाग-7

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is lekh ka punarikshan evan sampadan hona avashyak hai. ap isamean sahayata kar sakate haian. "sujhav"

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47

annapoorna kashi se aee. dhire-dhire rajalakshmi ke kamare mean jakar unhean pranam karake unake charanoan ki dhool mathe li. bich mean is bilagav ke bavajood annapoorna ko dekhakar rajalakshmi ne mano koee khoee nidhi paee. unhean laga, ve man ke anajan hi annapoorna ko chah rahi thian. itane dinoan ke bad aj pal-bhar mean hi yah bat spasht ho uthi ki unako itani vedana mahaz isashlie thi ki annapoorna n thian. ek pal mean usaki chuki chitta ne apane chirantan sthan par adhikar kar liya. mahendr ki paidaish se bhi pahale jab in dinoan jithani-devarani ne vadhoo ke roop mean is parivar ke sare sukh-du:khoan ko apana liya tha- pooja-tyoharoan par, shok-mrityu mean donoan ne grihasthi ke rath par sath-sath yatra ki thi- un dinoan ke gahare sakhitv ne rajalakshmi ke hriday ko aj pal-bhar mean achchhann kar liya. jisake sath sudoor atit mean unhoanne jivan ka arambh kiya tha- tarah-tarah ki rukavatoan ke bad bachapan ki sahachari gadhe du:kh ke dinoan ke unaki bagal mean kh di huee. yah ek ghatana unake maujooda sukh-du:khoan, priy ghatanaoan mean smaraniy ho gee. jisake lie rajalakshmi ne ise bhi berahami se chot pahuanchaee thi, vah aj kahaan hai!

annapoorna bimar rajalakshmi ke pas baithakar unaka dayaan hath apane hath mean leti huee bolian- "didi!" rajalakshmi ne kaha- "manjhali!"

unase aur bolate n bana. aauankhoan mean aauansoo bahane lage. yah drishy dekhakar asha se n raha gaya. vah bagal ke kamare mean jakar zamin par baithakar rone lagi.

rajalakshmi ya asha se annapoorna mahendr ke bare mean kuchh poochhane ka sahas n kar sakian. sadhucharan ko bulakar poochha- "mama, mahendr kahaan hai?"

mama ne mahendr aur vinodini ka sara qissa kah sunaya. annapoorna ne poochha- "bihari kahaan hai?"

sadhucharan ne kaha- "kafi dinoan se ve idhar ae nahian. unaka hal thik-thik nahian bata sakata."

annapoorna bolian- "ek bar bihari ke yahaan jakar khoj-khabar to le aie!"

sadhucharan ne usake yahaan se lautakar bataya- "ve ghar par nahian haian, apane bali vale bagiche mean ge haian."

annapoorna ne d aauktar navin ko bulakar mariz ki halat ke bare mean poochha. d aauktar ne bataya, "dil ki kamazori ke sath hi udari ho aee hai, kab achanak chal basean, kahana mushkil hai." sham ko rajalakshmi ki takaliph badhane lagi. annapoorna ne poochha- "didi, navin d aauktar ko bulava bhejooan?"

rajalakshmi ne kaha- "nahian bahan, navin d aauktar ke karane se kuchh n hoga."

annapoorna bolian- "to phir kise bulavana chahati ho tum?"

rajalakshmi ne kaha- "ek bar bihari ko bulava sako, to achchha ho."

annapoorna ke dil mean chot lagi. us din kashi mean unhoanne bihari ko daravaze par se hi aandhere mean apamanit karake lauta diya tha. vah takaliph ve aj bhi n bhula saki thian. bihari ab shayad hi ae. unhean yah ummid n thi ki is jivan mean unhean apane kie ka prayashchit karane ka kabhi mauqa milega.

annapoorna ek bar chhat par mahendr ke kamare mean gee. ghar-bhar mean yahi kamara anand-niketan tha. aj us kamare mean koee shri nahian rah gee thi- bichhaune betaratib p de the. saj-saman bikhare hue the, chhat ke gamaloan mean koee pani nahian dalata tha, paudhe sookh ge the.

asha ne dekha, mausi chhat par gee hai. vah bhi dhire-dhire unake pichhe-pichhe gee. annapoorna ne use khianchakar chhati se lagaya aur usaka matha chooma. asha ne jhukakar donoan hathoan se unake paanv pak d liye. bar-bar unake paanvoan se apana matha lagaya. boli- "mausi, mujhe ashirvad do, bal do. adami itana kasht bhi sah sakata hai, maianne yah kabhi socha tak n tha. mausi, is tarah kab tak chalega?"

annapoorna vahian zamin par baith gee. asha unake pairoan par sir rakhakar lot gee. annapoorna ne usaka sir apani god mean rakh liya aur chupachap devata ko yad karane lagian.

zamane ke bad annapoorna ke sneh-sane maun ashirvad ne asha ke man mean baithakar shaanti ka sanchar kiya. use laga, usaki manokamana poori ho gee hai. devata us- jaisi nadan ki upeksha kar sakate haian, magar mausi ki prarthana nahian thukara sakate.

man mean dilasa aur bal pakar asha b di der ke bad ek lanba ni:shvas chho dakar uth baithi. boli- "mausi, bihari bhaee sahab ko ane ke lie chitthi likh do!" annapoorna bolian- "uanhooan, chitthi nahian likhooangi."

asha- "to unhean khabar kaise hogi?"

annapoorna bolian- "maian kal khud usase milane jaooangi."

48

jin dinoan bihari pashchim mean bhatakata phir raha tha, usake man mean aya, 'jab tak koee kam lekar n baithooan chain n milega.' yahi sochakar usane kalakatta ke garib kiraniyoan ke muft ilaj aur seva-jatan ka bhar uthaya. garmi ke dinoan mean dabar ki machhaliyaan jis tarah kam pani aur kich d mean kisi prakar jianda rah leti haian, tang galiyoan ke sankare kamaroan mean parivar ka bojh uthane vale bechare kiraniyoan ki zindagi vaisi hi hai-un dubale, pile p de, chinta se pisane vale bhadravarg ke logoan ke prati bihari ko bahut pahale hi daya ho aee thi- isalie usane unhean bagiche ki chhaanh aur ganga-tat ki khuli hava dan dene ka sankalp kiya.

bali mean usane bagicha kharida aur chini karigaroan se chhote jhoanp de banavane shuroo kie. lekin man ko rahat n mili. kam mean lagane ka din jyoan-jyoan qarib ane laga, usaka man apane nishchay se digane laga. bar-bar usaka man yahi kahane laga- "is kam mean koee sukh nahian, ras nahian, sauandary nahian-yah mahaz ek niras bhar hai." kam ki kalpana ne isake pahale kabhi bhi bihari ko itana pareshan nahian kiya. kabhi aisa bhi tha ki bihari ko khas koee zaroorat hi n thi, jo kuchh bhi samane a jata, usi mean vah sahaj hi apane ko laga sakata tha. ab usake man mean n jane kaun-si bhookh jagi hai, use bujha lene ke pahale aur kisi bhi chiz mean usaki asakti nahian hoti. jaisi shuroo se adat rahi hai, is-us mean hath dalakar dekhata aur doosare hi kshan use chho dakar chhutakara pana chahata! bihari mean yauvan siku dakar aram kar raha tha. usane kabhi sajnan hokar is taraph dekha bhi nahian, lekin vinodini ke sparsh ne use dhadhaka diya. abhi-abhi paida hue garu d ki tarah apani khurak ke lie vah sari duniya ko jhianjho dati phir rahi hai.

bihari ka jo pichhala jivan sukh aur santosh se kat gaya, use vah ab bhari nukasan samajhata. aisi meghaghiri saanjh jane kitani aeean, poornima ki kitani ratean- ve sab hathoan mean amrit ka patra liye bihari ke soone hriday ke dvar se chupachap laut geean- un durlabh shubh gh diyoan mean kitane git ghute rahe, kitane utsav n ho pae, isaki koee had nahian. bihari ke man mean jo purani sudhiyaan thian, unhean vinodini ne udyat chumban ki raktim abha se aisa phika aur tuchchh kar diya tha. jivan ke zyadatar din mahendr ki chhaya mean kate! unaki sarthakata kya thi? prem ki vedana mean sare jal-thal-akash ke kendr-kuhar se aisi tap mean is tarah baansuri bajati hai, yah to achetan bihari kabhi soch bhi n paya tha. vinodini ne bihari ko baanhoan mean lapetakar achanak ek pal mean jis anokhe sauandary-lok mean pahuancha diya, use vah kaise bhoole! phir bhi us vinodini se bihari aj is tarah door kyoan hai? isalie ki vinodini ne jis sauandary-ras se bihari ka abhishek kiya us sauandary ke anukool sansar mean vinodini se kisi sanbandh ki vah kalpana nahian kar sakata.

vah n to manini ka man bhang karana chahata hai, n saundary ko kalankit karana chahata hai aur n hi mahendr se kuhani baji karana hota hai. shayad yahi vajah hai ki vah chahakar bhi kuchh nahian kar pata. apane bagiche ke dakkhin mean phale jamun-tale bihari megh-ghire prabhat mean chupachap p da tha, samane se kothi ki doangi a-ja rahi thian. alasaya-sa vah usi ko dekh raha tha. vela dhire-dhire badhati ja rah thi. naukar ne akar poochha, "bhojan ka prabandh kare ya nahian?" bihari ne kaha-"abhi rahane do."

itane mean usane chauankakar dekha, samane annapoorna kh di hai. badahavas-sa vah uth p da, donoan hathoan se unake paanv pak dakar zamin par matha tekakar pranam kiya. annapoorna ne b de sneh se apane daean hath se usake badan aur mathe ko chhua. bhar ae se svar mean poochha- "too itana dubala kyoan ho gaya hai, bihari?"

bihari ne kaha- "taki tumhara sneh pa sakooan."

sunakar annapoorna ki aauankhean baras p dian. bihari ne vyast hokar poochha- "tumane abhi bhojan nahian kiya hai, chachi?"

annapoorna bolian- "abhi mere khane ka samay nahian hua."

bihari bola- "chalo-chalo, maian rasoee ki jugat kie deta hooan. ek yug ke bad tumhare hath ki rasoee pattal ka prasad pakar ji jaooanga maian."

mahendr aur asha ke bare mean bihari ne koee charcha nahian ki. isaka daravaza to ek din khud annapoorna ne hi apane hathoan band kar diya tha. man mean bharakar usane usi nishthur nishedh ka palan kiya. kha chukane ke bad annapoorna ne kaha- "ghat par nav taiyar hai bihari, chal, kalakatta chal!"

bihari bola- "kalakatta se mera kya lena-dena."

annapoorna ne kaha- "didi bahut bimar hai, ve tumhean dekhana chahati haian ek bar."

sunakar bihari chauank utha. poochha- "aur mahendr bhaiya."

annapoorna- "vah kalakatta mean nahian hai, bahar gaya hai."

sunate hi bihari ka chehara saphed p d gaya. vah chup raha.

annapoorna ne poochha- "tujhe kya maloom nahian hai sara qissa ?"

bihari bola- "kuchh to maloom hai, aant tak nahian."

is par annapoorna ne vinodini ko lekar mahendr ke bhag jane ka qissa bataya. bihari ki nigah mean jal-thal-akash ka rang hi badal gaya, usaki kalpana ke khazane ka sara ras sunate hi k dava ho gaya- "to kya vah mayavini us din sham ko mere sath khel, khel gee? usaka prem-nivedan mahaz makkari tha! vah apana gaanv chho dakar behaya ki tarah mahendr ke sath bhag gee!"

49

bihari soch raha tha, dukhiya asha ki or vah dekhega kaise! dayodhi ke aandar qadam rakhate hi svamihin ghar ki ghanibhoot pi da use daboch baithi. ghar ke naukar-darabanoan ki or takate hue baurae hue mahendr ke bhag jane ki sharm ne usake sir ko ga d diya. purane aur jane-pahachane naukaroan se usane pahale ki tarah mulayamiyat se kushal-kshem n poochhi. haveli mean jane ko mano usake qadam nahian uth rahe the. duniya ke samane khule-am mahendr bebas asha ko jis gahare apaman mean chho d gaya hai, jo apaman aurat ke sabase b de parade ko ugha dakar use sari duniya ki kautoohal-bhari kripa-drishti ke bich kh da kar deta hai, usi apaman ke avaranahin svaroop mean bihari sakuchaee aur dukhit asha ko kaun-se pran lekar dekhega!

lekin in chintaoan aur sankoch ka mauqa hi n raha. haveli mean pahuanchate hi asha dau di-dau di aee aur bihari se boli- "bhaee sahab, jara jaldi ao, maan ko dekho jaldi!"

bihari se asha ki khulakar batachit hi pahali thi. durdin ka mamooli jhataka sari rukavatoan ko u da le jata hai-jo door-door rahate haian, badh un sabako achanak ek sankari jagah mean ikattha kar deti hai.

asha ki is sankochahin akulahat se bihari ko chot lagi. is chhote-se vakaye se hi vah samajh saka ki mahendr apani girasti ki kaisi mitti palid kar gaya hai.

bihari rajalakshmi ke kamare mean gaya. achanak saans ki takaliph ho jane se rajalakshmi phiki p d gee thian-lekin vah takaliph zyada der nahian rahi isalie sanbhal geean.

bihari ne rajalakshmi ko pranam kiya. charanoan ki dhool li. rajalakshmi ne use pas baithane ka ishara kiya aur dhire-dhire kaha- "kaisa hai bihari? jane kitane dinoan se tujhe nahian dekha!"

bihari ne kaha- "tumane apani bimari ki khabar kyoan nahian bhijavaee? phir kya maian zara bhi der kar pata."

rajalakshmi ne dhime-se kaha- "yah kya mujhe maloom nahian, bete! tujhe kokh mean nahian rakha maianne, lekin tujhase badhakar mera apana kya duniya mean hai koee?"

kahate-kahate rajalakshmi ki aauankhoan se aauansoo bahane lage. bihari jhatapat utha. takhoan par dava-daroo ki shishiyoan ko dekhane ke bahane usane apane-apako jabt kiya. usake bad akar usane rajalakshmi ki nabz dekhani chahi. rajalakshmi bolian- "meri nabz ko chho d- maian poochhati hooan, too itana dubala kyoan ho gaya hai?"

apane dubale hathoan se rajalakshmi ne bihari ki gardan ki haddi chhookar dekhi.

bihari ne kaha- "jab tak tumhare hath ki rasoee nasib nahian hoti, yah hava dhakane ki nahian. tum jaldi thik ho jao maan, maian itane mean rasoee ka intazam kar rakhata hooan."

rajalakshmi phiki hansi hansakar bolian- "haan, jaldi-jaldi intazam kar, bete- teri dekh-rekh ke lie koee bhi nahian hai. ari o manjhali- tum log ab bihari ki shadi kara do, dekho n, isaki shakl kaisi ho gee hai." annapoorna ne kaha- "tum changi ho lo, didi- yah to tumhari hi zimmedari hai."

rajalakshmi bolian- "mujhe ab yah mauqa n milega. bahan, bihari ka bhar tumhian logoan par raha, ise tum log sukhi rakhana? maian isaka rrin nahian chuka saki, lekin bhagavan bhala kare isaka." yah kahakar unhoanne bihari ke mathe par apana dayaan hath pher diya.

asha se kamare mean n raha gaya. vah rone ke lie bahar chali gee. annapoorna ne bhari huee aauankhoan se bihari ko sneh-bhari drishti se dekha.

rajalakshmi ko achanak n jane kya yad a gaya. bolian- "bahoo, ari o bahoo!" asha ke andar ate hi bolian- "bihari ke khane ka iantajam kiya ya nahian?"

bihari bola- "tumhare is petoo ko sabane pahachan liya hai maan. dayodhi par ate hi nazar p di, aande vali machhaliyaan liye vaishnavi jaldi-jaldi andar ja rahi hai, maian samajh gaya, abhi is ghar se meri khyati miti nahian hai."

aur bihari ne hansakar asha ki or dekha.

asha aj sharmaee nahian. sneh se hansate hue usane yah dillagi kabool ki. is ghar ke lie bihari kya hai, pahale asha yah poori tarah n janati thi- bahut bar ek be-matalab ka mehaman samajhakar usane usaki upeksha ki hai, bahut bar usaki yah berukhi usake vyavahar mean saf jhalak p di hai. usi afasos se dhikkar se usaki shraddha aur karuna ki taraph tezi se um d p di hai.

rajalakshmi ne kaha- "manjhali bahoo, yah maharaj ke bas ki bat nahian, rasoee ki nigarani tumhean karani p degi. kafi k dava n ho to apane is 'baangal'1 ¬l dake ko khana nahian ruchata."

bihari bola- "maan, tumhari maan vikramapur ki l daki thian aur tum nadiya zile ke ek bhale ghar ke l dake ko baangal kahati ho! mujhe yah bardasht nahian."

is par kafi dillagi rahi. bahut dinoan ke bad mahendr ke ghar ki mayoosi ka bhar mano halka ho gaya.

itani batean hoti rahian, magar kisi bhi taraph se kisi ne bhi mahendr ka nam n liya. pahale bihari se mahendr ki charcha hi rajalakshmi ki ekamatr bat hua karati thi. mahendr ne apani maan ka isake lie bahut bar mazak bhi u daya hai. aj usi rajalakshmi ki zaban par bhoolakar bhi mahendr ka nam n ate dekhakar bihari dang rah gaya.

rajalakshmi ko jhapaki lag gee. bahar jakar bihari ne annapoorna se kaha- "maan ki bimari to sahaj nahian lagati."

annapoorna bolian- "yah to saf hi dekh rahi hooan." kahakar annapoorna khi daki ke pas baith geean.

b di der chup rahakar bolian- "mahendr ko too khoj nahian laega, bete! ab to der karana vajib nahian janchata."

bihari kuchh der chup raha, phir bola- "jo hukm karogi, vah karooanga. usaka pata maloom hai kisi ko?"

annapoorna- "pata thik-thik kisi ko maloom nahian, dhooandhana p dega. aur ek bat tumase kahooan- asha ka khyal karo. agar vinodini ke changul se mahendr ko too n nikal saka, to vah zianda n rahegi." man-hi-man tikhi hansi-hansakar bihari ne socha, 'maian doosare ka uddhar karooan- bhagavan mera uddhar kaun kare!' bola- "vinodini ke jadoo se mahendr ko sada ke lie bacha sakooan, maian aisa kaun-sa mantar janata hooan, chachi!" itane mean maili-si dhoti pahane adha ghooanghat nikale asha apani mausi ke paanvoan ke pas a baithi. usane samajha tha, donoan mean rajalakshmi ki bimari ke bare mean batean ho rahi haian isilie chali aee. pativrata asha ke chehare par gum-sum du:kh ki maun mahima dekhakar bihari ke man mean ek apoorv bhakti ka sanchar hua. shok mean garm aauansoo se sianchakar is taruna ne pichhale yug ki deviyoan-jaisi ek atoot maryada paee hai. rajalakshmi ki dava aur pathy ke bare mean asha se batean karake bihari ne use vahaan se jab vida kiya, to ek usaans bharakar usane annapoorna se kaha- "mahendr ko maian us changul se nikalooanga." bihari mahendr ke baiank mean gaya. vahaan use pata chala mahendr in dinoan unaki ilahabad- shakha se len-den karata hai.

50

steshan jakar vinodini auratoan vale dayodhe darje ke dibbe mean ja baithi. mahendr ne kaha, "are, kar kya rahi ho, maian tumhara doosare darje ka tikat le raha hooan."

vah boli "beja kya hai, yahaan aram se hi rahooangi." mahendr tajjub mean p d gaya. vinodini svabhav se hi shaukin thi. garibi ka koee bhi lakshan use n suhata tha. apani garibi ko vah apane lie apamanajanak hi manati thi. mahendr ne itana samajh liya tha ki kabhi usake ghar ki khushahali, vilas ki samagriyoan aur auroan ki apeksha unake dhani hone ke gaurav ne hi vinodini ke man ko akarshit kiya tha. is dhan-daulat ki, in sare aram aur gaurav ki vah sahaj hi malakin ho sakati thi, is kalpana ne use b da uttejit kar diya tha. aj jab usako mahendr par prabhutv pane ka mauqa mila hai, anachahe bhi vah usaki dhan-daulat ko apane kam mean la sakati hai, to vah kyoan aisi asahy upeksha se yoan tanakar takaliphadeh sharmanak dinata apana rahi hai? vah mahendr par kam-se-kam nirbhar rahana chah rahi thi.

mahendr ne poochha- "pachhaanh ki taraph jahaan bhi chahe, chalo! subah jahaan ga di rukegi utar padeange."

mahendr ko aisi yatra mean koee akarshan nahian. aram n mile to takaliph hoti hai. b de shahar mean rahane ki ichchha-jagah n mile to mushkil. idhar man mean yah dar laga raha ki vinodini chupachap kahian utar n p de.

is tarah vinodini shani grah ki tarah ghoomane aur mahendr ko ghumane lagi. kahian bhi chain n lene diya. vinodini b di jaldi doosare ko apana bana sakati hai. kuchh hi der mean hamasapharoan se mitaee kar leti. jahaan jana hota vahaan ki sari batoan ka ata-pata laga leti, ratrishala mean thaharati aur jahaan jo kuchh dekhane jaisa hota, un bandhuoan ki madad se dekhati. apani avashyakata se mahendr vinodini ke age roj-roz apane ko bekar samajhane laga. tikat lene ke sivay koee kam nahian. shuroo-shuroo ke kuchh dinoan tak vah vinodini ke sath-sath chakkar kata karata tha, lekin dhire-dhire vah asahy ho gaya. kha-pikar vah so jane ki fikr mean hota, vinodini tamam din ghooma karati. mata ke la d mean pala mahendr yoan bhi chal sakata hai, koee sochata bhi n tha.

ek din ilahabad steshan par donoan ga di ka intazar kar rahe the. kisi vajah se ga di ane mean der ho rahi thi. is bich aur jo ga diyaan a-ja rahi thian, vinodini unake musaphiroan ko gaur se dekh rahi thi. shayad use yah ummid thi ki pachhaanh mean ghoomate hue charoan taraph dekhate-dekhate achanak kisi se bheant ho jaegi. kam-se-kam ruandhi gali ke sunasan ghar mean bekar ki tarah baithakar apane ko ghoant marane ki apeksha khoj-bin mean, is khuli rah ki chahal-pahal mean shanti thi.

achanak udhar kaanch ke ek baks par nazar p date hi vinodini chauank uthi. usamean un logoan ki chitthiyaan rakhi jati haian, jinaka pata nahian chalata. usi baks ke patro mean se ek mean usane bihari ka nam dekha. bihari nam kuchh asadharan nahian. yah samajhane ki koee vajah n thi ki yah bihari vinodini ka hi vaanchhit bihari ka sandeh n hua. usane thikana yad kar liya. mahendr ek beanch par b da khush baitha tha. vinodini usake pas jakar boli-"kuchh dinoan yahian rahooangi."

vinodini apane ishare par mahendr ko nacha rahi thi aur phir bhi usake bhookhe-pyase man ko khurak tak n deti thi, isase usake paurush garv ko thes lag rahi thi aur usaka man din-pratidin bagi hota ja raha tha. ilahabad rukakar kuchh din sustane ka mauqa mile to mano vah bhi jay- lekin ichchha ke anukool hone ke bavajood usaka man vinodini ke khyal par razi hone ko sahasa taiyar n hua. usane naraz hokar kaha- "jab nikal hi p da to jakar hi rahooanga, ab laut nahian sakata."

vinodini boli- "maian nahian jaooangi."

mahendr bola- "to tum akeli raho, maian chalata hooan."

vinodini boli- "yah sahi." aur bejhijhak usane ishare se kuli ko bulaya aur steshan se chal p di.

purush ke kartatv-adhikar se paripoorn mahendr syah-soorat liye baitha rah gaya. jab tak vinodini aauankhoan se ojhal n ho gee, vah dekhata raha. bahar akar dekha, vinodini ek bagghi par baithi hai. usane chupachap saman rakhavaya aur kochabaks par baith gaya. apane abhiman ki mittipalid hone ke bad usamean vinodini ke samane baithane ka muanh n raha.

lekin ga di chali, to chali. ghanta-bhar bit gaya, shahar chho dakar vah khetoan ki taraph ja nikali. ga divan se poochhane mean mahendr ko sankoch hua. shayad ga divan yah sochega ki asal mean andar ki aurat hi malakin hai, is bekar adami se usane yah bhi salah nahian ki hai ki kahaan jana hai. vah k dava ghooant pikar chupachap kochabaks par baitha raha.

ga di yamuna ke nirjan tat par sundar dhang se lagae ek bagiche ke samane akar ruki. mahendr hairat mean p d gaya. 'kisaka hai yah bagicha? isaka pata vinodini ko kaise maloom hua?'

phatak band tha. chikh-pukar ke bad boodha rakhavala bahar nikala. usane kaha- "bagiche ke malik dhani haian, bahut door nahian rahate. unaki ijazat le aean to yahaan thaharane dooanga."

vinodini ne ek bar mahendr ki taraph dekha. bagiche ke sundar ghar ko dekhakar mahendr lubha gaya tha- bahut dinoan ke bad kuchh dinoan ke lie rukane ki ummid se vah khush ho gaya. vinodini se kaha- "chalo, us dhani ke pas chalean. tum bahar ga di par rahana, maian andar jakar kiraya tay kar looanga."

vinodini boli- "maian ab chakkar nahian kat sakati. tum jao, maian tab tak yahian sustati hooan. darane ki koee bat nahian."

mahendr ga di lekar chala gaya. vinodini ne us boodhe brahman ko bulakar usake bal-bachchoan ke bare mean poochha; ve kaun haian, kahaan kam karate haian, bachchiyoan ki shadi kahaan huee hai. usaki stri ke dehant ho jane ki bat sunakar karun svar mean boli- "oh, tab to tumhean kafi takaliph hai. is umr mean duniya mean nire akele p d ge ho, koee dekhane vala nahian!"

aur batoan-batoan mean vinodini ne poochha- "yahaan bihari baboo n the?"

boodhe ne kaha- "ji haan, the kuchh din. maanji kya unako pahachanati haian?" vinodini boli- "ve hamare apane hi haian."

boodhe se bihari ka jo huliya mila, use vinodini ko koee shubaha n raha. ghar bulakar usane sab kuchh poochh-tachh liya ki bihari kis kamare mean sota tha, kahaan baithata tha. usake chale jane ke bad se ghar band p da tha, isase laga ki usamean bihari ki gandh hai. lekin yah pata n chal saka ki bihari gaya kahaan- shayad hi vah phir laute.

mahendr kiraya chukakar malik se vahaan rahane ki ijazat le li.