कर्मभूमि उपन्यास भाग-3 अध्याय-6

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

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

doosare din mandir mean kitana samaroh hua, shahar mean kitani halachal machi, kitane utsav manae ge, isaki charcha karane ki zaroorat nahian. sare din mandir mean bhaktoan ka taanta laga raha. brahyachari aj phir virajaman ho ge the aur jitani dakshina unhean aj mili, utani, shayad umr bhar mean n mili hogi. isase unake man ka vidroh bahut kuchh shaant ho gaya kiantu ooanchi jati vale sajjan ab bhi mandir mean deh bachakar ate aur nak siko de hue katarakar nikal jate the. sukhada mandir ke dvar par kh di logoan ka svagat kar rahi thi. striyoan se gale milati thi balakoan ko pyar karati thi aur purushoan ko pranam karati thi.

kal ki sukhada aur aj ki sukhada mean kitana aantar ho gaya- bhog-vilas par pran dene vali ramani aj seva aur daya ki moorti bani huee hai. in dukhiyoan ki bhakti, shradhda aur utsah dekh-dekhakar usaka hriday pulakit ho raha hai. kisi ki deh par sabut kap de nahian haian, aankhoan se soojhata nahian, durbalata ke mare sidho paanv nahian p date, par bhakti mean mast dau de chale a rahe haian, mano sansar ka rajy mil gaya ho, jaise sansar se dukh-daridrata ka lop ho gaya ho. aisi saral, nishkapat bhakti ke pravah mean sukhada bhi bahi ja rahi thi. pray: manasvi, karmashil, mahattavakaankshi praniyoan ki yahi prakriti hai. bhog karane vale hi vir hote haian.

chhote-b de sabhi sukhada ko poojy samajh rahe the, aur unaki yah bhavana sukhada mean ek garvamay seva ka bhav pradipt kar rahi thi. kal usane jo kuchh kiya, vah ek prabal avesh mean kiya. usaka phal kya hoga, isaki use jara bhi chianta n thi. aise avasaroan par hani-labh ka vichar man ko durbal bana deta hai. aj vah jo kuchh kar rahi thi, usamean usake man ka anurag tha, sadbhav tha. use ab apani shakti aur kshamata ka jnan ho gaya hai, vah nasha ho gaya hai, jo apani sudha-budha bhoolakar seva-rat ho jata hai jaise apani atma ko pa gee hai.

ab sukhada nagar ki netri hai. nagar mean jati-hit ke lie jo kam hota hai, sukhada ke hathoan usaka shriganesh hota hai. koee utsav ho, koee paramarth ka kam ho, koee rasht' ka aandolan ho, sukhada ka usamean pramukh bhag hota hai. usaka ji chahe ya n chahe, bhakt log use khianch le jate haian. usaki upasthiti kisi jalase ki saphalata ki kuanji hai. ashchary yah hai ki vah bolane bhi lagi hai, aur usake bhashan mean chahe bhasha chatury n ho, par sachche udgar avashy hote haian. shahar mean kee sarvajanik sansthaean haian, kuchh samajik, kuchh rajanitik, kuchh dharmik. sabhi nirjiv-si p di thian. sukhada ke ate hi unamean sththarti-si a gee hai. madak vastu-vahishkar-sabha barasoan se bejan p di thi. n kuchh prachar hota tha n koee sangathan. usaka mantri ek din sukhada ko khianch le gaya. doosare hi din us sabha ki ek bhajan-mandali ban gee, kee upadeshak nikal ae, kee mahilaean ghar-ghar prachar karane ke lie taiyar ho geean aur muhalle-muhalle panchayatean banane lagian. ek ne jivan ki srishti ho gee.

ab sukhada ko gariboan ki durdasha ke yatharth roop dekhane ke avasar milane lage. ab tak is vishay mean use jo kuchh jnan tha, vah suni-sunaee batoan par adharit tha. aankhoan se dekhakar use jnat hua, dekhane aur sunane mean b da aantar hai. shahar ki un aandheri tang galiyoan mean, jahaan vayu aur prakash ka kabhi gujar hi n hota tha, jahaan ki zamin hi nahian, divarean bhi sili rahati thian, jahaan durganh‍dh ke mare nak phatati thi, bharat ki kamaoo santan rog aur daridrata ke pairoan tale-dabi huee apane kshin jivan ko mrityu ke hathoan se chhinane mean pran de rahi thian. use ab maloom hua ki amarakant ko dhan aur vilas se jo virodh tha, yah kitana yatharth tha. use khud ab us makan mean rahate, achchhe-achchhe vastr pahanate, achchhe-achchhe padarth khate glani hoti thi. naukaroan se kam lena usane chho d diya. apani dhoti khud chhaantati thi, ghar mean jhadoo khud lagati. vah jo ath baje sokar uthati thi, ab muanh-aandhere uthati, aur ghar ke kam-kaj mean lag jati. naina to ab usaki pooja-si karati thi. lalaji apane ghar ki yah dasha dekh-dekh kudhate the, par karate kya- sukhada ke yahaan to ab nity darabar-sa laga rahata tha. b de-b de neta, b de-b de vidvanh ate rahate the. isalie vah ab bahoo se kuchh dabate the. grihasthi ke janjal se ab unaka man oobane laga tha. jis ghar mean unase kisi ko sahanubhooti n ho, us ghar mean kaise anurag hota. jahaan apane vicharoan ka raj ho, vahi apana ghar hai. jo apane vicharoan ko manate hoan, vahi apane sage haian. yah ghar ab unake lie saray-matr tha. sukhada ya naina, donoan hi se kuchh kahate unhean dar lagata tha.

ek din sukhada ne naina se kaha-bibi, ab to is ghar mean rahane ko ji nahian chahata. log kahate hoange, ap to mahal mean rahati haian, aur hamean upadesh karati haian. mahinoan dau date ho ge, sab kuchh karake har gee, par nashebajoan par kuchh bhi asar n hua. hamari batoan par koee kan hi nahian deta. adhikatar to log apani musibatoan ko bhool jane hi ke lie nashe karate haian vah hamari kyoan sunane lage- hamara asar tabhi hoga, jab ham bhi unhian ki tarah rahean.

kee dinoan se sardi chamak rahi thi, kuchh varsha ho gee thi aur poos ki thandi hava ardr hokar akash ko kuhare se achchhann kar rahi thi. kahian-kahian pala bhi p d gaya tha-munna bahar jakar khelana chahata tha-vah ab latapatata hua chalane laga tha-par naina use thand ke bhay se roke hue thi. usake sir par ooni kanatop bandhati huee boli-yah to thik hai par unaki tarah rahana hamare lie sadhay bhi hai, yah dekhana hai. maian to shayad ek hi mahine mean mar jaooan.

sukhada ne jaise man-hi-man nishchay karake kaha-maian to soch rahi hooan, kisi gali mean chhota-sa ghar lekar rahooan. isaka kanatop utarakar chho d kyoan nahian detian- bachchoan ko gamaloan ke paudho banane ki zaroorat nahian, jinhean loo ka ek jhoanka bhi sukha sakata hai. inhean to jangal ke vriksh banana chahie, jo dhoop aur varsha ole aur pale kisi ki paravah nahian karate.

naina ne muskarakar kaha-shuroo se to is tarah rakha nahian, ab bechare ki saansat karane chali ho. kahian thand-vand lag jae, to lene ke dene p dean.

'achchha bhee, jaise chaho rakho, mujhe kya karana hai?'

'kyoan, ise apane sath us chhote-se ghar mean n rakhogi?'

'jisaka l daka hai, vah jaise chahe rakhe. maian kaun hoti hooan .'

'agar bhaiya ke samane tum is tarah rahatian, to tumhare charan dhodhokar pite ॥'

sukhada ne abhiman ke svar mean kaha-maian to jo tab thi, vahi ab bhi hooan. jab dadaji se big dakar unhoanne alag ghar liya tha, to kya maianne unaka sath n diya tha- vah mujhe vilasini samajhate the, par maian kabhi vilas ki lauandi nahian rahi haan, maian dadaji ko rusht nahian karana chahati thi. yahi buraee mujhamean thi. maian ab alag rahooangi, to unaki ajna se. tum dekh lena, maian is dhang se prashn uthaooangi ki vah bilakul apatti n kareange. chalo, jara d aauktar shantikumar ko dekh avean. mujhe to udhar jane ka avakash hi nahian mila.

naina pray: ek bar roj shantikumar ko dekh ati thi. haan, sukhada se kuchh kahati n thi. vah ab uthane-baithane lage the par abhi itane durbal the ki lathi ke sahare bagair ek pag bhi n chal sakate the. chotean unhoanne khaeean-chh: mahine se shayya-sevan kar rahe the-aur yash sukhada ne loota. vah du:kh unhean aur bhi ghulae dalata tha. yadyapi unhoanne aantarang mitroan se bhi apani manovyatha nahian kahian par yah kaanta khatakata avashy tha. agar sukhada stri n hoti, aur vah bhi priy shishy aur mitr ki, to kadachit vah shahar chho dakar bhag jate. sabase b da anarth yah tha ki in chh: mahinoan mean sukhada do-tin bar se jyada unhean dekhane n gee thi. vah bhi amarakant ke mitr the aur is nate se sukhada ko un par vishesh shradhda n thi.

naina ko sukhada ke sath jane mean koee apatti n huee. renuka devi ne kuchh dinoan se motar rakh li thi, par vah rahati thi sukhada hi ki savari mean. donoan us par baithakar chalian munna bhala kyoan akele rahane laga tha- naina ne use bhi le liya.

sukhada ne kuchh door jane ke bad kaha-yah sab amiroan ke choanchale haian. maian chahooan to do-tin ane mean apana nibah kar sakati hooan.

naina ne vinod-bhav se kaha-pahale karake dikha do, to mujhe vishvas ae. maian to nahian kar sakati.

'jab tak is ghar mean rahooangi, maian bhi n kar sakooangi. isalie to maian alag rahana chahati hooan.'

'lekin sath to kisi ko rakhana hi p dega?'

'maian koee zaroorat nahian samajhati. isi shahar mean hajaroan auratean akeli rahati haian. phir mere lie kya mushkil hai- meri raksha karane vale bahut haian. maian khud apani raksha kar sakati hooan. (muskarakar) haan, khud kisi par marane lagooan, to doosari bat hai.'

shantikumar sir se paanv tak kanbal lapete, aangathi jalae, kursi par baithe ek svasthy-sanbandhi pustak padh rahe the. vah kaise jald-se-jald bhale-change ho jayan, ajakal unhean yahi chianta rahati thi. donoan ramaniyoan ke ane ka samachar pate hi kitab rakh di aur kanbal utarakar rakh diya. aangithi bhi hatana chahate the par isaka avasar n mila. donoan jyoanhi kamare mean aeean, unhean pranam karake kursiyoan par baithane ka ishara karate hue bole-mujhe ap logoan par eershh‍ya ho rahi hai. ap is shit mean ghoom-phir rahi haian aur maian aangithi jalae p da hooan. karooan kya, utha hi nahian jata. ziandagi ke chh: mahine mano kat ge, balki adhi umr kahie. maian achchha hokar bhi adha hi rahooanga. kitani lajja ati hai ki deviyaan bahar nikalakar kam karean aur maian kothari mean band p da rahooan.

sukhada ne jaise aansoo poanchhate hue kaha-apane is nagar mean jitani jagriti phaila di, us hisab se to apaki umr chauguni ho gee. mujhe to baithe-baithae yash mil gaya.

shantikumar ke pile mukh par atmagaurav ki abha jhalak p di. sukhada ke muanh se yah sanad pakar, mano unaka jivan saphal ho gaya. bole-yah apaki udarata hai. apane jo kuchh kar dikhaya aur kar rahi haian, vah ap hi kar sakati haian. amarakant aeange to unhean maloom hoga ki ab unake lie yahaan sthan nahian hai. yah sal bhar mean jo kuchh ho gaya isaki vah svapn mean bhi kalpana n kar sakate the. yahaan sevashram mean l dakoan ki sankhya b di tezise badh rahi hai. agar yahi hal raha, to koee doosari jagah leni p degi. adhh‍yapak kahaan se aeange, kah nahian sakata. sabhy samaj ki yah udasinata dekhakar mujhe to kabhi-kabhi b di chianta hone lagati hai. jise dekhie svarth mean magan hai. jo jitana hi mahanh hai usaka svarth bhi utana hi mahanh hai. yoorop ki dedh sau sal tak upasana karake hamean yahi varadan mila hai. lekin yah sab hone par bhi hamara bhavishy ujjval hai. mujhe isamean sandeh nahian. bharat ki atma abhi jivit hai aur mujhe vishvas hai ki vah samay ane mean der nahian hai, jab ham seva aur tyag ke purane adarsh par laut aeange. tab dhan hamare jivan ka dhh‍yey n hoga. tab hamara mooly dhan ke kaante par n taula jaega.

munne ne kursi par chadhakar mej par se davat utha li thi aur apane muanh mean kalima pot-potakar khush ho raha tha. naina ne dau dakar usake hath se davat chhin li aur ek dhaul jama diya. shantikumar ne uthane ki asaphal cheshta karake kaha-kyoan marati ho naina, dekho to kitana mahanh purush hai, jo apane muanh mean kalima potakar bhi prasann hota hai, nahian to ham apani kalimaoan ko sat paradoan ke andar chhipate hai an.

naina ne balak ko unaki god mean dete hue kaha-to lijie, is mahanh purush ko ap hi. isake mare chain se baithana mushkil hai.

shantikumar ne balak ko chhati se laga liya. us garm aur gudagude sparsh mean unaki atma ne jis paritripti aur madhury ka anubhav kiya, vah unake jivan mean bilakul naya tha. amarakant se unhean jitana sneh tha, vah jaise is chhote se roop mean simatakar aur thos aur bhari ho gaya tha. amar ki yad karake unaki aankheanan sajal ho geean. amar ne apane ko kitane atul anand se vanchit kar rakha hai, isaka anuman karake vah jaise dab ge. aj unhean svayan apane jivan mean ek abhav ka, ek riktata ka abhas hua. jin kamanaoan ka vah apane vichar mean sanpoornat: daman kar chuke the vah rakh mean chhipi huee chiangariyoan ki bhaanti sajiv ho geean.

munne ne hathoan ki syahi shantikumar ke mukh mean potakar niche utarane ka agrah kiya, mano isilie yah unaki god mean gaya tha. naina ne hansakar kaha-jara apana muanh to dekhie, d aauktar sahab is mahanh purush ne apake sath holi khel dali badamash hai.

sukhada bhi hansi ko n rok saki. shantikumar ne shishe mean muanh dekha, to vah bhi zor se hanse. yah kalima ka tika unhean is samay yash ke tilak se bhi kahian ullasamay jan p da.

sahasa sukhada ne poochha-apane shadi kyoan nahian ki, d aauktar sahab-

shantikumar seva aur vrat ka jo adhar banakar apane jivan ka nirman kar rahe the, vah is shayya sevan ke dinoan mean kuchh niche khisakata hua najar jan p d raha tha. jise unhoanne jivan ka mool saty samajha tha, vah ab utana dridh n rah gaya tha. is apatakal mean aise kitane avasar ae, jab unhean apana jivan bhar-sa maloom hua. timaradaroan ki kami n thi. athoan pahar do-char adami ghere hi rahate the. nagar ke b de-b de netaoan ka ana-jana bhi barabar hota rahata tha par shantikumar ko aisa jan p data tha ki vah doosaroan ki daya ya shishtata par bojh ho rahe haian. in sevaoan mean vah madhury, vah komalata n thi, jisase atma ki tripti hoti. bhikshuk ko kya adhikar hai ki vah kisi ke dan ka niradar kare. dan-svaroop use jo kuchh mil jay, vah sabhi svikar karana hoga. in dinoan unhean kitani hi bar apani mata ki yad aee thian. vah sneh kitana durlabh tha. naina jo ek kshan ke lie unaka hal poochhane a jati thi, isamean unhean n jane kyoan ek prakar ki sh‍phoorti ka anubhav hota tha. vah jab tak rahati thi, unaki vyatha jane kahaan chhip jati thi- usake jate hi phir vahi karahana, vahi bechaini unaki samajh mean kadachith yah naina ka saral anurag hi tha, jisane unhean maut ke muanh se nikal liya lekin vah svarg ki devi kuchh nahian .

sukhada ka yah prashn sunakar muskarate hue bole-isilie ki vivah karake kisi ko sukhi nahian dekha.

sukhada ne samajha yah us par chot hai. boli-dosh bhi barabar striyoan ka hi dekha hoga, kyoan-

shantikumar ne jaise apana sir patthar se bachaya-yah to maianne nahian kaha. shayad isaki ulti bat ho. shayad nahian, balki ulti hai.

'khair, itana to apane svikar kiya. dhanyavad. isase to yahi si' hua ki purush chahe to vivah karake sukhi ho sakata hai.'

'lekin purush mean tho di-si pashuta hoti hai, jise vah irada karake bhi hata nahian sakata. vahi pashuta use purush banati hai. vikas ke kram se vah stri se pichhe hai. jis din vah poorn vikas ko pahuanchega, vah bhi stri ho jaega. vatsaly, sneh, komalata, daya, inhian adharoan par yah srishti thami huee hai aur yah striyoan ke gun haian. agar stri itana samajh le, to phir donoan ka jivan sukhi ho jay. stri pashu ke sath pashu ho jati hai, tabhi donoan sukhi hote haian.'

sukhada ne upahas ke svar mean kaha-is samay to apane sachamuch ek avishkar kar dala. maian to hamesha yah sunati ati hooan ki stri moorkh hai, ta dana ke yogy hai, purushoan ke gale ka bandhan hai aur jane kya-kya- bas, idhar se bhi maradoan ki jit, udhar se bhi maradoan ki jit. agar purush nicha hai to use striyoan ka shasan kyoan apriy lage-pariksha karake dekha to hota, ap to door se hi dar ge.

shantikumar ne kuchh jheanpate hue kaha-ab agar chahooan bhi, to boodhoan ko kaun poochhata hai-

'achchha, ap boodhe bhi ho ge- to kisi apani-jaisi budhiya se kar lijie n?'

'jab tum jaisi vicharashil aur amar-jaise ganbhir stri-purush mean n bani, to phir mujhe kisi tarah ki pariksha karane ki zaroorat nahian rahi. amar-jaisa vinay aur tyag mujhamean nahian hai, aur tum jaisi udar aur?'

sukhada ne bat kati-maian udar nahian hooan, n vicharashil hooan. haan, purush ke prati apana dharm samajhati hooan. ap mujhase b de haian, aur mujhase kahian buddhiman haian. maian apako apane b de bhaee ke tuly samajhati hooan. aj apaka sneh aur saujany dekhakar mere chitt ko b di shaanti mili. maian apase besharm hokar poochhati hooan aisa purush jo, stri ke prati apana dharm n samajhe, kya adhikar hai ki vah stri se vrat-dharini rahane ki asha rakhe- ap satyavadi haian. maian apase poochhati hooan, yadi maian us vyavahar ka badala usi vyavahar se dooan, to ap mujhe kshamy samajheange-

shantikumar ne nishank bhav se kaha-nahian.

'unhean apane kshamy samajh liya?'

'nahian .'

'aur yah samajhakar bhi apane unase kuchh nahian kaha- kabhi ek patr bhi nahian likha- maian poochhati hooan, is udasinata ka kya karan hai- yahi n ki is avasar par ek nari ka apaman hua hai. yadi vahi krity mujhase hua hota, tab bhi ap itane hi udasin rah sakate- bolie.'

shantikumar ro p de. nari-hriday ki sanchit vyatha aj is bhishan vidroh ke roop mean prakat hokar kitani karoon ho gee thi.

sukhada usi avesh mean boli-kahate haian, adami ki pahachan usaki sangat se hoti hai. jisaki sangat ap, muhammad salim aur svami atmanand jaise mahanubhavoan ki ho, vah apane dharm ko itana bhool jay yah bat meri samajh mean nahian ati. maian yah nahian kahati ki maian nirdosh hooan. koee stri yah dava nahian kar sakati, aur n koee purush hi yah dava kar sakata hai. maianne sakina se mulakat ki hai. sanbhav hai usamean vah gun ho, jo mujhamean nahian hai. vah jyada madhur hai, usake svabhav mean komalata hai. ho sakata hai, vah prem bhi adhik kar sakati ho lekin yadi isi tarah sabhi purush aur striyaan tulana karake baith jayan, to sansar ki kya gati hogi- phir to yahaan rakt aur aansuoan ki nadiyoan ke siva aur kuchh n dikhaee dega.

shantikumar ne parast hokar kaha-maian apani galati ko manata hooan, sukhadadevi maian tumhean n janata tha aur is bhay mean tha ki tumhari jyadati hai. maian aj hi amar ko patr-

sukhada ne phir bat kati-nahian, maian apase yah prerana karane nahian aee hooan, aur n yah chahati hooan ki ap unase meri or se daya ki bhiksha maangean. yadi vah mujhase door bhagana chahate haian, to maian bhi unako bandhakar nahian rakhana chahati. purush ko jo azadi mili hai, vah use mubarak rahe vah apana tan-man gali-gali bechata phire. maian apane bandhan mean prasann hooan. aur eeshvar se yahi vinati karati hooan ki vah is bandhan mean mujhe dale rakhe. maian jalan yarh eershh‍ya se vichalit ho jaooan, us din ke pahale vah mera aant kar de. mujhe apase milakar aj jo tripti huee, usaka praman yahi hai ki maian apase vah batean kah gee, jo maianne kabhi apani mata se bhi nahian kahian. bibi apaka bakhan karati thi, usase jyada sajjanata apamean paee magar apako maian akela n rahane dooangi. eeshh‍var vah din lae ki maian is ghar mean bhabhi ke darshan karooan.

jab donoan ramaniyaan yahaan se chalian, to d aauktar sahab lathi tekate hue phatak tak unhean pahuanchane ae aur phir kamare mean akar lete, to aisa jan p da ki unaka yauvan jag utha hai. sukhada ke vedana se bhare hue shabd unake kanoan mean gooanj rahe the aur naina munne ko god mean lie jaise unake sammukh kh di thi.