कर्मभूमि उपन्यास भाग-1 अध्याय-16
| chitr:Icon-edit.gif | is lekh ka punarikshan evan sampadan hona avashyak hai. ap isamean sahayata kar sakate haian. "sujhav" |
idhar kuchh dinoan se amarakant myunisipal bord ka meanbar ho gaya tha. lala samarakant ka nagar mean itana prabhav tha aur janata amarakant ko itana chahati thi ki use dhola bhi nahian kharch karana p da aur vah chun liya gaya. usake mukabale mean ek nami vakil sahab kh de the. unhean usake chauthaee vot bhi n mile. sukhada aur lala samarakant donoan hi ne use mana kiya tha. donoan hi use ghar ke kamoan mean phansana chahate the. ab vah padhana chho d chuka tha aur lalaji usake mathe sare bhar dalakar khud alag ho jana chahate the. idhar-udhar ke kamoan mean p dakar vah ghar ka kam kya kar sakega. ek din ghar mean chhota-mota toofan a gaya. lalaji aur sukhada ek taraph the, amar doosari taraph aur naina madhayasth thi.
lalaji ne toand par hath pherakar kaha-dhobi ka kutta, ghar ka n ghat ka. bhor se pathashala jao, saanjh ho to kaangres mean baitho ab yah naya rog aur besahane ko taiyar ho. ghar mean laga do ag .
sukhada ne samarthan kiya-haan, ab tumhean ghar ka kam-dhandha dekhana chahie ya vyarth ke kamoan mean phansana- ab tak to yah tha ki padh rahe haian. ab to padh-likh chuke ho. ab tumhean apana ghar sanbhalana chahie. is tarah ke kam to ve uthavean, jinake ghar do-char adami hoan. akele adami ko ghar se hi phursat nahian mil sakati. oopar ke kam kahaan se kare-
amar ne kaha-jise ap log rog aur oopar ka kam aur vyarth ka jhanjhat kah rahe haian, maian use ghar ke kam se kam zaroori nahian samajhata. phir jab tak ap haian, mujhe kya chianta- aur sach to yah hai ki maian is kam ke lie banaya hi nahian gaya. adami usi kam mean saphal hota hai, jisamean usaka ji lagata ho. len-den, banij-vyapar mean mera ji bilakul nahian lagata. mujhe dar lagata hai ki kahian bana-banaya kam biga d n baithooan.
lalaji ko yah kathan sarahin jan p da. unaka putr banij-vyavasay ke kam mean kachcha ho, yah asanbhav tha. popale muanh se pan chabate hue bole-yah sab tumhari mutamaradi hai. aur kuchh nahian, maian n hota, to tum kya apane bal-bachchoan ka palan-poshan n karate- tum mujhi ko pisana chahate ho. ek l dake vah hote haian, jo ghar sanbhalakar bap ko chhutti dete haian. ek tum ho ki bap ki h dadiyaan tak nahian chho dana chahate.
bat badhane lagi. sukhada ne mamala garm hote dekha, to chup ho gee. naina uangaliyoan se donoan kan band karake ghar mean a baithi. yahaan donoan pahalavanoan mean mallayu' hota raha. yuvak mean chusti thi, phurti thi, lachak thi boodhe mean peanch tha, dam tha, rob tha. purana phikait bar-bar use dabana chahata tha par javan pattha niche se sarak jata tha. koee hath, koee ghat n chalata tha.
aant mean lalaji ne jame se bahar hokar kaha-to baba, tum apane bal-bachche lekar alag ho jao, maian tumhara bojh nahian sanbhal sakata. is ghar mean rahoge, to kiraya aur ghar mean jo kuchh kharch p dega usaka adha chupake se nikalakar rakh dena p dega. maianne tumhari ziandagi bhar ka theka nahian liya hai. ghar ko apana samajho, to tumhara sab kuchh hai. aisa nahian samajhate, to yahaan tumhara kuchh nahian hai. jab maian mar jaooan, to jo kuchh ho akar le lena.
amarakant par bijali-si gir p di. jab tak balak n hua tha aur vah ghar se phata-phata rahata tha, tab use aghat ki shanka do-ek bar huee thi, par balak ke janm ke bad se lalaji ke vyavahar aur svabhav mean vatsaly ki snigdhata a gee thi. amar ko ab is kathor aghat ki bilakul shanka n rahi thi. lalaji ko jis khilaune ki abhilasha thi, unhean vah khilauna dekar amar nishhchiant ho gaya tha, par aj use maloom hua vah khilauna maya ki janjiroan ko to d n saka.
pita putr ki talamatol par naraj ho ghu dake-jhi dake, muanh phulae, yah to usaki samajh mean ata tha, lekin pita putr se ghar ka kiraya aur rotiyoan ka kharch maange, yah to maya-lipsa ki-nirmam maya-lipsa ki-parakashtha thi. isaka ek hi javab tha ki vah aj hi sukhada aur usake balak ko lekar kahian aur ja tike. aur phir pita se koee sarokar n rakhe. aur agar sukhada apatti kare to use bhi tilaanjali de de.
usane sthir bhav se kaha-agar apaki yahi ichchha hai to yahi sahi.
lalaji ne kuchh khisiyakar poochha-sas ke bal par kood rahe hoge -
amar ne tiraskar bhare svar mean kaha-dada, ap ghav par namak n chhi dakean. jis pita ne janm diya, jab usake ghar mean mere lie sthan nahian hai, to kya ap samajhate haian maian sas aur sasur ki rotiyaan todooanga- apaki daya se itana nich nahian hooan. maian mazadoori kar sakata hooan aur pasine ki kamaee kha sakata hooan. maian kisi prani se daya ki bhiksha maanphana apane atm-samman ke lie ghatak samajhata hooan. eeshvar ne chaha to maian apako dikha dooanga ki maian mazadoori karake bhi janata ki seva kar sakata hooan.
samarakant ne samajha, abhi isaka nasha nahian utara. mahina grihasthi ke charakhe mean p dega to aankheanan khul jaeangi. chupachap bahar chale ge. aur amar usi vakt ek makan ki talash karane chala.
usake chale jane ke bad lalaji phir aandar ge. unhean asha thi ki sukhada unake ghav par maraham rakhegi par sukhada unhean apane dvar ke samane dekhakar bhi bahar n nikali. koee pita itana kathor ho sakata hai, isaki vah kalpana bhi n kar sakati thi. akhir yah lakhoan ki sanpatti kis kam aegi - amar ghar ke kam-kaj se alag rahata hai, yah sukhada ko khud bura maloom hota tha. lalaji isake lie putr ko ta dana dete haian, yah bhi uchit hi tha lekin ghar ka aur bhojan ka kharch maanphana yah to nata hi to dana tha. to jab vah nata to date haian to vah rotiyoan ke lie unaki khushamad n karegi. ghar mean ag lag jae, usase koee matalab nahian. usane apane sare gahane utar dale. akhir yah gahane bhi to lalaji hi ne die haian. maan ki di huee chizean bhi utar pheanki. maan ne bhi jo kuchh diya tha, dahej ki purauti hi mean to diya tha. use bhi lalaji ne apani bahi mean taank liya hoga. vah is ghar se keval ek sa di pahanakar jaegi. bhagavanh usake munne ko kushal se rakhean, use kisi ki kya paravah yah amooly ratn to koee usase chhin nahian sakata.
amar ke prati is samay usake man mean sachchi sahanubhooti utpann huee. akhir myunisipailiti ke lie kh de hone mean kya buraee thi- man aur pratishtha kise pyari nahianhoti - isi meanbari ke lie log lakhoan kharch karate haian. kya vahaan jitane meanbar haian, vah sab ghar ke nikhattoo hi haian - kuchh nam karane ki, kuchh kam karane ki lalasa prani matr ko hoti hai. agar vah svarth sadhan par apana samarpan nahian karate, to koee aisa kam nahian karate, jisaka yah dand diya jae. koee doosara adami putr ke is anurag par apane ko dhany manata, apane bhagy ko sarahata.
sahasa amar ne akar kaha-tumane aj dada ki batean sun lian - ab kya salah hai -
'salah kya hai, aj hi yahaan se vida ho jana chahie. yah phatakar pane ke bad to maian is ghar mean pani pina haram samajhati hooan. koee ghar thik kar lo.'
'vah to thik kar aya. chhota-sa makan hai, saph-suthara, nichibag mean. das rupaye kiraya hai.'
'maian bhi taiyar hooan.'
'to ek taanga laooan ?'
'koee zaroorat nahian. paanv-paanv chaleange.'
'sandook, bichhavan yah sab to le chalana hi p dega ?'
'is ghar mean hamara kuchh nahian hai. maianne to sab gahane bhi utar die. mazadooroan ki striyaan gahane pahanakar nahian baitha karatian.'
stri kitani abhimanini hai, yah dekhakar amarakant chakit ho gaya. bola-lekin gahane to tumhare haian. un par kisi ka dava nahian hai. phir adho se zyada to tum apane sath laee thian.
'ammaan ne jo kuchh diya, dahej ki purauti mean diya. lalaji ne jo kuchh diya, vah yah samajhakar diya ki ghar hi mean to hai. ek-ek chiz unaki bahi mean darj hai. maian gahanoan ko bhi daya ki bhiksha samajhati hooan. ab to hamara usi chiz par dava hoga, jo ham apani kamaee se banavaeange.'
amar gahari chianta mean doob gaya. yah to is tarah nata to d rahi hai ki ek tar bhi baki n rahe. gahane auratoan ko kitane priy hote haian, yah vah janata tha. putr aur pati ke bad agar unhean kisi vastu se prem hota hai, to vah gahane haian. kabhi-kabhi to gahanoan ke lie vah putr aur pati se bhi tan baithati haian. abhi ghav taja hai, kasak nahian hai. do-char din ke bad yah vit़shhna jalan aur asantosh ke roop mean prakat hogi. phir to bat-bat par tane mileange, bat-bat par bhagy ka rona hoga. ghar mean rahana mushkil ho jaega.
bola-maian to yah salah dooanga sukhada, jo chiz apani hai, use apane sath le chalane mean maian koee buraee nahian samajhata.
sukhada ne pati ko sagarv drishti se dekhakar kaha-tum samajhate hoge, maian gahanoan ke lie kone mean baithakar roooangi aur apane bhagy ko kosooangi. striyaan avasar p dane par kitana tyag kar sakati haian, yah tum nahian janate. maian is phatakar ke bad in gahanoan ki or takana bhi pap samajhati hooan, inhean pahanana to doosari bat hai. agar tum darate ho ki maian kal hi se tumhara sir khane lagooangi, to maian tumhean vishvas dilati hooan ki agar gahanoan ka nam meri jaban par ae, to jaban kat lena. maian yah bhi kahe deti hooan ki maian tumhare bharose par nahian ja rahi hooan. apani gujar bhar ko ap kama looangi. rotiyoan mean zyada kharch nahian hota. kharch hota hai adanbar mean. ek bar amiri ki shan chho d do, phir char ane paise mean kam chalata hai.
naina bhabhi ko gahane utarakar rakhate dekh chuki thi. usake pran nikale ja rahe the ki akeli is ghar mean kaise rahegi- bachche ke bina to vah gh di bhar bhi nahian rah sakati. use pita, bhaee, bhavaj sabhi par krodh a raha tha. dada ko kya soojhi- itana dhan to ghar mean bhara hua hai, vah kya hoga- bhaiya hi gh di bhar dookan par baith jate, to kya big d jata tha- bhabhi ko bhi n jane kya sanak savar ho gee. vah n jatian, to bhaiya do-char din mean phir laut hi ate. bhabhi ke sath vah bhi chali jae, to dada ko bhojan kaun dega- kisi aur ke hath ka banaya khate bhi to nahian. vah bhabhi ko samajhana chahati thi par kaise samajhae- yah donoan to usaki taraph aankheanan uthakar dekhate bhi nahian. bhaiya ne abhi se aankheanan pher lian. bachcha bhi kaisa khush hai- naina ke du:kh ka paravar nahian hai .
usane jakar bap se kaha-dada, bhabhi to sab gahane utarakar rakhe deti haian.
lalaji chiantit the. kuchh bole nahian. shayad suna hi nahian.
naina ne jara aur zor se kaha-bhabhi apane sab gahane utarakar rakhe deti haian.
lalaji ne anamane bhav se sir uthakar kaha-gahane kya kar rahi haian-
hutar-utarakar rakhe deti haian.'
'to maian kya karooan?'
'tum jakar unase kahate kyoan nahian?'
'vah nahian pahanana chahati, to maian kya karooan .'
'tumhian ne unase kaha hoga, gahane mat le jana. kya tum unake byah ke gahane bhi le loge?'
'haan, maian sab le looanga. is ghar mean usaka kuchh bhi nahian hai.'
'yah tumhara anyay hai.'
'ja aandar baith, bak-bak mat kar .'
'tum jakar unhean samajhate kyoan nahian?'
'tujhe b da dard a raha hai, too hi kyoan nahian samajhati?'
'maian kaun hoti hooan samajhane vali- tum apane gahane le rahe ho, to vah mere kahane se kyoan pahanane lagian?'
donoan kuchh der tak chupachap rahe. phir naina ne kaha-mujhase yah anyay nahian dekha jata. gahane unake haian. byah ke gahane tum unase nahian le sakate.
'too yah qanoon kab se jan gee.'
'nyay kya hai aur anyay kya hai, yah sikhana nahian p data. bachche ko bhi bekasoor saza do to vah chupachap n sahega.'
'maloom hota hai, bhaee se yahi vidya sikhati hai.'
'bhaee se agar nyay-anyay ka jnan sikhati hooan, to koee buraee nahian.'
'achchha bhaee, sir mat kha, kah diya aandar ja. maian kisi ko manane-samajhane nahian jata. mera ghar hai, isaki sari sanpada meri hai. maianne isake lie jan khapaee hai. kisi ko kyoan le jane dooan?'
naina ne sahasa sir jhuka liya aur jaise dil par zor dalakar kaha-to phir maian bhi bhabhi ke sath chali jaooangi.
lalaji ki mudra kathor ho gee-chali ja, maian nahian rokata. aisi santan se besantan rahana hi achchha. khali kar do mera ghar, aj hi khali kar do. khoob taangean phailakar soooanga. koee chianta to n hogi. aj yah nahian hai, aj vah nahian hai, yah to n sunana p dega. tumhare rahane se kaun sukh tha mujhe-
naina lal aankheanan kie sukhada se jakar boli-bhabhi, maian bhi tumhare sath chalooangi.
sukhada ne avishvas ke svar mean kaha-hamare sath hamara to abhi kahian ghar-dvar nahian hai. n pas paise haian, n baratan-bhaande, n naukar-chakar. hamare sath kaise chalogi- is mahal mean kaun rahega-
naina ki aankheanan bhar aeean-jab tumhian ja rahi ho, to mera yahaan kya hai-
pagali sillo aee aur thattha marakar boli-tum sab jane chale jao, ab maian is ghar ki rani banooangi. is kamare mean isi palang par maje se soooangi. koee bhikhari dvar par aega to jhadoo lekar dau dooangi.
amar pagali ke dil ki bat samajh raha tha par itana b da khatala lekar kaise jae ghar mean ek hi to rahane layaq kothari hai. vahaan naina kahaan rahegi aur yah pagali to jina muhal kar degi. naina se bola-tum hamare sath chalogi, to dada ka khana kaun banaega, naina- phir ham kahian door to nahian jate. maian vada karata hooan, ek bar roj tumase milane aya karooanga. tum aur sillo donoan raho. hamean jane do.
naina ro p di-tumhare bina maian is ghar mean kaise rahooangi bhaiya, socho din-bhar p de-p de kya karooangi- mujhase to chhin bhar bhi n raha jaega. munne ki yad kar-karake roya karooangi. dekhate ho bhabhi, meri or takata bhi nahian.
amar ne kaha-to munne ko chho d jaooan- tere hi pas rahega.
sukhada ne virodh kiya-vah kaisi bat kar rahe ho- ro-rokar jan de dega. phir mera ji bhi to n manega.
sham ko tinoan adami ghar se nikale. pichhe-pichhe sillo bhi hansati huee chali jati thi. samane ke dookanadar ne samajha, kahian nevate jati haian par kya bat hai, kisi ke deh par chhalla bhi nahian n chadar, n dharaoo kap de .
lala samarakant apane kamare mean baithe huqqa pi rahe the. aankheanan uthakar bhi n dekha. ek ghante ke bad vah uthe, ghar mean tala dal diya aur phir kamare mean akar let rahe.
ek dookanadar ne akar poochha-bhaiya aur bivi kahaan ge, lalaji-
lalaji ne muanh pherakar javab diya-mujhe nahian maloom-maianne sabako ghar se nikal diya. maianne dhan isalie nahian kamaya hai ki log mauj u daean. jo dhan ko mitti samajhe, use dhan ka mooly sikhana hoga. maian aj bhi attharah ghante roj kam karata hooan. isalie nahian ki l dake dhan ko mitti samajhean. meri hi god ke l dake mujhe hi aankheanan dikhaean. dhan ka dhan dooan, oopar se dhauans bhi sunooan. bas, jaban n kholooan, chahe koee ghar mean ag laga de. ghar ka kam choolhe mean jae, tumhean sabhaoan mean, jalasoan mean anand ata hai, to jao, jalasoan se apana nibah bhi karo. aisoan ke lie mera ghar nahian. l daka vahi hai, jo kahana sune. jab l daka apane man ka ho gaya to kaisa l daka .
renuka ko jyoanhi sallo ne khabar di, vah badahavas dau di aeean, mano beti aur damad par koee b da sankat a gaya hai. vah kya gair thian, unase kya koee nata hi nahian- unako khabar tak n di aur alag makan le liya. vah yah bhi koee l dakoan ka khel hai. donoan bilalle. chhokari to aisi n thi, par lauande ke sath usaka bhi sir phir gaya.
rat ke ath baj ge the. hava abhi tak garm thi. akash ke tare gard se dhauandhale ho rahe the. renuka pahuanchian, to tinoan nikalue kothe ki ek charapaee par barabar chhat par man mare baithe the. sare ghar mean aandhakar chhaya hua tha. becharoan par grihasthi ki nee vipattia p di thi. pas ek paisa nahian. kuchh n soojhata tha, kya karean.
amar ne unhean dekhate hi kaha-are tumhean kaise khabar mil gee ammaanji achchha, is chu dail sillo ne jakar kaha hoga. kahaan hai abhi khabar leta hooan .
renuka aandhore mean jine par chadhane se haang gee thian. chadar utarati huee bolian-maian kya dushman thi ki mujhase usane kah diya to buraee ki- kya mera ghar n tha, ya mere ghar rotiyaan n thian- maian yahaan ek kshan-bhar to rahane n dooangi. vahaan paha d-sa ghar p da hua hai, yahaan tum sab-ke-sab ek bil mean ghuse baithe ho. utho abhi. bachcha mare garmi ke kumhala gaya hoga. yahaan khatean bhi to nahian haian aur itani-si jagah mean sooge kaise- too to aisi n thi sukhada, tujhe kya ho gaya- b de-boodhe do bat kahean, to gam khana hota hai ki ghar se nikal kh de hote haian- kya inake sath teri budhdi bhi bhrasht ho gee-
sukhada ne sara vritaant kah sunaya aur is dhang se ki renuka ko bhi lala samarakant ki hi jyadati maloom huee. unhean apane dhan ka ghamand hai to use lie baithe rahean. marane lagean, to sath lete jaean .
amar ne kaha-dada ko yah khayal n hoga ki ye sab ghar se chale jaeange.
sukhada ka krodh itani jald shaant hone vala n tha. boli-chalo, unhoanne saf kaha, yahaan tumhara kuchh nahian hai. kya vah ek daphe bhi akar n kah sakate the, tum log kahaan ja rahe ho- ham ghar se nikale. vah kamare mean baithe tukur-tukur dekha kie. bachche par bhi unhean daya n aee. jab itana ghamand hai, to yahaan kya adami hi nahian haian- vah apana mahal lekar rahean, ham apani mehanat-majoori kar leange. aisa lobhi adami tumane kabhi dekha tha ammaan, bivi geean, to inhean bhi daant batalaeean. bechari roti chali aeean.
renuka ne naina ka hath pak dakar kaha-achchha, jo hua achchha hi hua, chalo der ho rahi hai. maian maharajin se bhojan ko kah aee hooan. khatean bhi nikalava aee hooan. lala ka ghar n uj data, to mera kaise basata-
niche prakash hua. sillo ne k dave tel ka chirag jala diya tha. renuka ko yahaan pahuanchakar bazar dau di gee. chirag, tel aur ek jhadoo laee. chirag jalakar ghar mean jhadoo laga rahi thi.
sukhada ne bachche ko renuka ki god mean dekar kaha-aj to kshama karo ammaan, phir age dekha jaega. lalaji ko yah kahane ka mauqa kyoan dean ki akhir sasural bhaga. unhoanne pahale hi tumhare ghar ka dvar band kar diya hai. hamean do-char din yahaan rahane do, phir tumhare pas chale jaeange. jara ham dekh to lean, apane boote par rah sakate haian ya nahian-
amar ki nani mar rahi thi. apane lie to use chianta n thi. salim ya d aauktar ke yahaan chala jaega. yahaan sukhada aur naina donoan be-khat ke kaise soeangi- kal hi kahaan se dhan baras jaega- magar sukhada ki bat ki bat kaise kate.
renuka ne bachche ki muchchhiyaan lekar kaha-bhala, dekh lena jab maian mar jaooan. abhi to maian jiti hi hooan. vah ghar bhi to tera hi hai. chal jaldi kar.
sukhada ne dridhata se kaha-ammaan, jab tak ham apani kamaee se apana nibah n karane lageange, tab tak tumhare yahaan n jaeange jaeange par mehaman ki tarah. ghante-do ghante baithe aur chale ae.
renuka ne amar se apil ki-dekhate ho beta, isaki batean. yah mujhe bhi gair samajhati hai.
sukhada ne vyathit kanth se kaha-ammaan, bura n manana aj dadaji ka bartav dekhakar mujhe maloom ho gaya ki dhaniyoan ko apana dhan kitana pyara hota hai- kaun jane kabhi tumhare man mean bhi aise hi bhav paida hoan to aisa avasar ane hi kyoan diya jae- jab ham mehaman ki tarah...
amar ne bat kati. renuka ke komal hriday par kitana kathor aghat tha.
'tumhare jane mean to aisa koee harj nahian hai sukhada tumhean b da kasht hoga.'
sukhada ne tivr svar mean kaha-to kya tumhian kasht sah sakate ho- maian nahian sah sakati- tum agar kasht se darate ho, to jao. maian to abhi kahian nahian jane ki.
natija yah hua ki renuka ne sillo ko ghar bhejakar apane bistar mangavae. bhojan pak chuka tha isalie bhojan bhi mangava liya gaya. chhat par jhadoo di gee aur jaise dharmashala mean yatri thaharate haian, usi tarah in logoan ne bhojan karake rat kati. bich-bich mean majak bhi ho jata tha. vipattia mean jo charoan or aandhakar dikhata hai, vah hal n tha. aandhakar tha, par ooshakal ka. vipattia thi par sir par nahian, pairoan ke niche.
doosare din savere renuka ghar chali geean. unhoanne phir sabako sath le chalane ke lie zor lagaya par sukhada raji n huee. kap de-latto, baratan-bhaan de, khat-khatoli koee chiz lene par raji n huee. yahaan tak renuka naraj ho geean. aur amarakant ko bhi bura maloom hua. vah is abhav mean bhi us par shasan kar rahi thi.
renuka ke jane ke bad amarakant sochane laga-rupaye-paise ka kaise prabandh ho- yah samay pri pathashala ka tha. vahaan jana lajami tha. sukhada abhi savere ki niand mean magn thi, aur naina chiantatur baithi soch rahi thi-kaise ghar ka kam chalega- us vakt amar pathashala chala gaya par aj vahaan usaka ji bilakul n laga. kabhi pita par krodh ata, kabhi sukhada par, kabhi apane ap par. usane apane nirvasan ke vishay mean d aauktar sahab se kuchh n kaha. vah kisi ki sahanubhooti n chahata tha. aj apane mitroan mean se vah kisi ke pas n gaya. use bhay hua, log usaka hal-sunakar dil mean yahi samajheange. maian unase kuchh madad chahata hooan.
das baje ghar lauta, to dekha sillo ata gooanth rahi hai aur naina chauke mean baithi tarakari paka rahi hai. poochhane ki himmat n p di, paise kahaan se ae- naina ne ap hi kaha-sunate ho bhaiya, aj sillo ne hamari davat ki hai. lak di, ghi, ata, dal sab bazar se laee hai. bartan bhi kisi apane jan-pahachan ke ghar se maang laee hai.
sillo bol uthi-maian davat nahian karati hooan. maian apane paise jo dakar le looangi.
naina hansati huee boli-yah b di der se mujhase l d rahi hai. yah kahati hai-maian paise le looangi maian kahati hooan-too to davat kar rahi hai. batao bhaiya, davat hi to kar rahi hai-
'haan aur kya davat to hai hi.'
amarakant pagali sillo ke man ka bhav ta d gaya. vah samajhati hai, agar yah n kahooangi, to shayad yah log usake rupayoan ki laee huee chiz lene se iankar kar deange.
sillo ka popala muanh khil gaya. jaise vah apani drishti mean kuchh ooanchi ho gee hai, jaise usaka jivan sarthak ho gaya hai. usaki roopahinata aur shushkata mano madhury mean naha uthi. usane hath dhaokar amarakant ke lie lote ka pani rakh diya, to paanv zamin par n p date the.
amar ko abhi tak asha thi ki dada shayad sukhada aur naina ko bula leange par jab ab koee bulane n aya aur n vah khud ae to usaka man khakra ho gaya.
usane jaldi se snan kiya par yad aya, dhaoti to hai hi nahian. gale ki chadar pahan li, bhojan kiya aur kuchh kamane ki toh mean nikala.
sukhada ne muanh latakakar poochha-tum to aise nianshchit hokar baith rahe, jaise yahaan sara iantajam kie ja rahe ho. yahaan lakar bithana hi janate ho. subah se gayab hue to dopahar ko laute. kisi se kuchh kam-dhandho ke lie kaha, ya khuda chhappar ga dakar dega- yoan kam n chalega, samajh ge-
chaubis ghante ke aandar sukhada ke manobhavoan mean yah parivartan dekhakar amar ka man udas ho gaya. kal kitane badh-badhakar batean kar rahi thi, aj shayad pachhata rahi hai ki kyoan ghar se nikale .
eekhe svar mean bola-abhi to kisi se kuchh nahian kaha. ab jata hooan kisi kam ki talash mean.
'maian jara jaj sahab ki stri ke pas jaooangi. unase kisi kam ko kahooangi. un dinoan to mera b da adar karati thian. ab ka hal nahian janati.'
amar kuchh nahian bola-yah maloom ho gaya ki usaki kathin pariksha ke din a ge.
amarakant ko bazar ke sabhi log janate the. usane ek khad़dar ki dookan se kamishan par bechane ke lie kee than khad़dar ki sa diyaan, janphar, kurte, chadarean adi le lian aur unhean khud apani pith par ladakar bechane chala.
dookanadar ne kaha-yah kya karate ho baboo, ek majoor le lo. log kya kaheange- bhala lagata hai.
amar ke aant:karan mean kraanti ka toofan uth raha tha. usaka bas chalata to aj dhanavanoan ka aant kar deta, jo sansar ko narak banae hue haian. vah bojh uthakar dikhana chahata tha, maian majoori karake nibah karana isase kahian achchha samajhata hooan ki haram ki kamaee khaooan. tum sab moti toand vale haramakhor ho, pakke haramakhor ho. tum mujhe nich samajhate ho isalie ki maian apani pith par bojh lade hue hooan. kya yah bojh tumhari aniti aur adharm ke bojh se zyada lajjaspad hai, jo tum apane sir par lade phirate ho aur sharamate jara bhi nahian- ulate aur ghamand karate ho-
is vakt agar koee dhani amarakant ko chhe d deta, to usaki shamat hi a jati. vah sir se paanv tak baeed bana hua tha, bijali ka jianda tar.