डामुल का कैदी -प्रेमचंद

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

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das baje rat ka samay, ek vishal bhavan mean ek saja hua kamara, bijali ki aangithi, bijali ka prakash. b da din a gaya hai. seth khoobachandaji aphasaroan ko daliyaan bhejane ka saman kar rahe haian. phaloan, mithaiyoan, mevoan, khilaunoan ki chhoti-chhoti paha diyaan samane kh di haian. munimaji aphasaroan ke nam bolate jate haian. aur sethaji apane hathoan yathasamman daliyaan lagate jate haian. khoobachandaji ek mil ke malik haian, bambee ke b de thikedar. ek bar nagar ke meyar bhi rah chuke haian. is vakt bhi kee vyapari-sabhaoan ke mantri aur vyapar mandal ke sabhapati haian. is dhan, yash, man ki prapti mean daliyoan ka kitana bhag hai, yah kaun kah sakata hai, par is avasar par sethaji ke das-paanch hazar big d jate the. agar kuchh log tumhean khushamadi, to di, ji-huzoor kahate haian, to kaha, karean. isase sethaji ka kya big data hai. sethaji un logoan mean nahian haian, jo neki karake dariya mean dal dean. pujariji ne akar kaha, ‘sarakar, b da vilamb ho gaya. thakuraji ka bhog taiyar hai.‘  any dhanikoan ki bhaanti sethaji ne bhi ek mandir banavaya tha. thakuraji ki pooja karane ke lie ek pujari naukar rakh liya tha. pujari ko rosh-bhari aankhoan se dekhakar kaha, ‘dekhate nahian ho, kya kar raha hooan? yah bhi ek kam hai, khel nahian, tumhare thakuraji hi sabakuchh n de deange. pet bharane par hi pooja soojhati hai. ghante-adha-ghante ki der ho jane se thakuraji bhookhoan n mar jayange.' pujariji apana-sa muanh lekar chale gaye aur sethaji phir daliyaan sajane mean masarooph ho gaye. sethaji ke jivan ka mukhy kam dhan kamana tha aur usake sadhanoan ki raksha karana unaka mukhy kartavy. unake sare vyavahar isi siddhant ke adhin the. mitroan se isalie milate the ki unase dhanoparjan mean madad milegi. manoranjan bhi karate the, to vyapar ki drishti se; dan bahut dete the, par usamean bhi yahi lakshy samane rahata tha. sandhya aur vandana unake lie purani lakir thian, jise pitate rahane mean svarth siddh hota tha, mano koee begar ho. sab kamoan se chhutti mili, to jakar thakuradvare mean kh de ho gaye, charanamrit liya aur chale aye. ek ghante ke bad pujariji phir sir par savar ho gaye. khoobachand unaka muanh dekhate hi jhuanjhala uthe. jis pooja mean tatkal fayada hota tha, usamean koee bar-bar vighn dale to kyoan n bura lage? bole qah diya, ‘abhi mujhe phurasat nahian hai. khop di par savar ho gaye ! maian pooja ka gulam nahian hooan. jab ghar mean paise hote haian, tabhi thakuraji ki bhi pooja hoti hai. ghar mean paise n hoange, to thakur ji bhi poochhane n ayeange. pujari hatash hokar chala gaya aur sethaji phir apane kam mean lage. sahasa unake mitr keshavaramaji padhare. sethaji uthakar unake gale se lipat gaye aur ‘bole qidhar se? maian to abhi tumhean bulane vala tha.‘ keshavaram ne muskarakar kaha, ‘itani rat gaye tak daliyaan hi lag rahi haian? ab to sameto. kal ka sara din p da hai, laga lena. tum kaise itana kam karate ho, mujhe to yahi ashchary hota hai. aj kya program tha, yad hai?’ sethaji ne gardan uthakar smaran karane ki cheshta karake kaha, ‘kya koee vishesh program tha? mujhe to yad nahian ata (ekaek smriti jag uthati hai) ‘achchha, vah bat ! haan, yad a gaya. abhi der to nahian huee. is jhamele mean aisa bhoola ki jara bhi yad n rahi.‘ 'to chalo phir. maianne to samajha tha, tum vahaan pahuanch gaye hoge.' 'mere n jane se laila naraz to nahian huee?' 'yah to vahaan chalane par maloom hoga.' 'tum meri or se kshama maang lena.' 'mujhe kya garaj p di hai, jo apaki or se kshama maangooan ! vah to tyoriyaan chadhaye baithi thi. kahane lagi unhean meri paravah nahian to mujhe bhi unaki paravah nahian. mujhe ane hi n deti thi. maianne shaant to kar diya, lekin kuchh bahana karana p dega.' khoobachand ne aankhean marakar kaha, ‘maian kah dooanga, gavarnar sahab ne zaroori kam se bula bheja tha.‘ 'ji nahian, yah bahana vahaan n chalega. kahegi tum mujhase poochhakar kyoan nahian gaye. vah apane samane gavarnar ko samajhati hi kya hai. roop aur yauvan b di chiz hai bhaee sahab ! ap nahian janate.' 'to phir tumhian batao, kaun-sa bahana karooan?' 'aji, bis bahane haian. kahana, dopahar se 106 digri ka jvar tha. abhi utha hooan.' donoan mitr hanse aur laila ka mujara sunane chale. 2 seth khoobachand ka svadeshi mil desh ke bahut b de miloan mean hai. jab se svadeshi andolan chala hai, mil ke mal ki khapat dooni ho gayi hai. sethaji ne kap de ki dar mean do ane rupaya badha diye haian phir bhi bikri mean koee kami nahian hai; lekin idhar anaj kuchh sasta ho gaya hai, isalie sethaji ne majoori ghatane ki soochana de di hai. kee din se majooroan ke pratinidhiyoan aur sethaji mean bahas hoti rahi. sethaji jau-bhar bhi n dabana chahate the. jab unhean adhi majoori par naye adami mil sakate haian, tab vah kyoan purane adamiyoan ko rakhean. vastav mean yah chal purane adamiyoan ko bhagane hi ke lie chali gayi thi. aant mean majooroan ne yahi nishchay kiya ki h datal kar di jay. prat:kal ka samay hai. mil ke hate mean majooroan ki bhi d lagi huee hai. kuchh log charadivari par baithe haian, kuchh zamin par; kuchh idhar-udhar mataragashti kar rahe haian. mil ke dvar par kaanstebaloan ka pahara hai. mil mean poori h datal hai. ek yuvak ko bahar se ate dekhakar saik doan majoor idhar-udhar se dau dakar usake charoan or jama ho gaye. harek poochh raha tha, ‘sethaji ne kya kaha,?’ yah lamba, dubala, saanvala yuvak majooroan ka pratinidhi tha. usaki akriti mean kuchh aisi dridhata, kuchh aisi nishtha, kuchh aisi ganbhirata thi ki sabhi majooroan ne use neta man liya tha. yuvak ke svar mean nirasha thi, krodh tha, ahat samman ka rudan tha. 'kuchh nahian hua. sethaji kuchh nahian sunate.' charoan or se avajean ayian, ‘to ham bhi unaki khushamad nahian karate.‘ yuvak ne phir kaha, ‘vah majoori ghatane par tule hue haian, chahe koee kam kare ya n kare. is mil se is sal das lakh ka fayada hua hai. yah ham logoan hi ki mehanat ka phal hai, lekin phir bhi hamari majoori kati ja rahi hai. dhanavanoan ka pet kabhi nahian bharata. ham nirbal haian, nissahay haian, hamari kaun sunega? vyapar-mandal unaki or hai, sarakar unaki or hai, mil ke hissedar unaki or haian, hamara kaun hai? hamara uddhar to bhagavanh hi kareange. ek majoor bola, ‘sethaji bhi to bhagavanh ke b de bhagat haian.‘ yuvak ne muskarakar kaha, ‘haan, bahut b de bhakt haian. yahaan kisi thakuradvare mean unake thakuradvare ki-si sajavat nahian hai, kahian itana vidhipoorvak bhog nahian lagata, kahian itane utsav nahian hote, kahian aisi jhaanki nahian banati. usi bhakti ka pratap hai ki aj nagar mean itana samman hai, auroan ka mal p da s data hai, inaka mal godam mean nahian jane pata. vahi bhaktaraj hamari majoori ghata rahe haian. mil mean agar ghata ho to ham adhi majoori par kam kareange, lekin jab lakhoan ka labh ho raha hai to kis niti se hamari majoori ghatayi ja rahi hai. ham anyay nahian sah sakate. pran kar lo ki kisi bahari adami ko mil mean ghusane n deange, chahe vah apane sath fauj lekar hi kyoan n aye. kuchh paravah nahian, hamare oopar lathiyaan barasean, goliyaan chalean ...’ ek taraph se avaz ayi –‘sethaji !’ sabhi pichhe phir-phirakar sethaji ki taraph dekhane lage. sabhi ke cheharoan par havaiyaan u dane lagian. kitane hi to darakar kaanstebaloan se mil ke andar jane ke lie chirauri karane lage, kuchh log ruee ki gaanthoan ki a d mean ja chhipe. tho de-se adami kuchh sahame hue par jaise jan hatheli par lie yuvak ke sath kh de rahe. sethaji ne motar se utarate hue kaanstebaloan ko bulakar kaha, ‘in adamiyoan ko marakar bahar nikal do, isi dam.‘ majooroan par dande p dane lage. das-paanch to gir p de. baki apani- apani jan lekar bhage. vah yuvak do adamiyoan ke sath abhi tak data kh da tha. prabhuta asahishnu hoti hai. sethaji khud a jayan, phir bhi ye log samane kh de rahean, yah to khula vidroh hai. yah beadabi kaun sah sakata hai. jara is lauande ko dekho. deh par sabit kap de bhi nahian haian; magar jama kh da hai, mano maian kuchh hooan hi nahian. samajhata hoga, yah mera kar hi kya sakate haian. sethaji ne rivalvar nikal liya aur is samooh ke nikat akar use jane ka hukm diya; par vah samooh achal kh da tha. sethaji unmatt ho gaye. yah hek di ! turant hed kaanstebal ko bulakar hukm diya, ‘in adamiyoan ko giraphtar kar lo.‘ kaanstebaloan ne tinoan adamiyoan ko rassiyoan se jak d diya aur unhean phatak ki or le chale. inaka giraphtar hona tha ki ek hazar adamiyoan ka dal rela marakar mil se nikal aya aur kaidiyoan ki taraph lapaka. kaanstebaloan ne dekha, bandook chalane par bhi jan n bachegi, to mulajimoan ko chho d diya aur bhag kh de hue. sethaji ko aisa krodh a raha tha ki in sare adamiyoan ko top par u dava dean. krodh mean atmaraksha ki bhi unhean paravah n thi. kaidiyoan ko sipahiyoan se chhu dakar vah janasamooh sethaji ki or a raha tha. sethaji ne samajha sab-ke-sab meri jan lene a rahe haian. achchha! yah lauanda gopi sabhi ke age hai ! yahi yahaan bhi inaka neta bana hua hai ! mere samane kaisa bhigi billi bana hua tha; par yahaan sabake age-age a raha hai. sethaji ab bhi samajhauta kar sakate the; par yoan dabakar vidrohiyoan se dan maangana unhean asahy tha. itane mean kya dekhate haian ki vah badhata hua samooh bich hi mean ruk gaya. yuvak ne un adamiyoan se kuchh salah ki aur tab akela sethaji ki taraph chala. sethaji ne man mean kaha, shayad mujhase pran-dan ki shartean tay karane a raha hai. sabhi ne apas mean yahi salah ki hai. jara dekho, kitane nishshank bhav se chala ata hai, jaise koee vijayi senapati ho. ye kaanstebal kaise dum dabakar bhag kh de hue; lekin tumhean to nahian chho data bacha, jo kuchh hoga, dekha jayaga. jab tak mere pas yah rivalvar hai, tum mera kya kar sakate ho. tumhare samane to ghutana n tekooanga. yuvak samip a gaya aur kuchh bolana hi chahata tha ki sethaji ne rivalvar nikalakar phayar kar diya. yuvak bhoomi par gir p da aur hath-paanv pheankane laga. usake girate hi majooroan mean uttejana phail gayi. abhi tak unamean hiansa-bhav n tha. ve keval sethaji ko yah dikha dena chahate the ki tum hamari majoori katakar shant nahian baith sakate; kintu hiansa ne hiansa ko uddipt kar diya. sethaji ne dekha, pran sankat mean haian aur samatal bhoomi par rivalvar se bhi der tak pranaraksha nahian kar sakate; par bhagane ka kahian sthan n tha ! jab kuchh n soojha, to vah ruee ke gaanth par chadh gaye aur rivalvar dikha-dikhakar niche valoan ko oopar chadhane se rokane lage. niche paanch-chh: sau adamiyoan ka ghera tha. oopar sethaji akele rivalvar lie kh de the. kahian se koee madad nahian a rahi hai aur pratikshan pranoan ki asha kshin hoti ja rahi hai. kaanstebaloan ne bhi aphasaroan ko yahaan ki paristhiti nahian batalayi; nahian to kya ab tak koee n ata? keval paanch goliyoan se kab tak jan bachegi? ek kshan mean ye sab samapt ho jayangi. bhool huee, mujhe bandook aur karatoos lekar ana chahie tha. phir dekhata inaki bahaduri. ek-ek ko bhoonakar rakh deta; magar kya janata tha ki yahaan itani bhayankar paristhiti a kh di hogi. niche ke ek adami ne kaha, ‘laga do gaanthoan mean ag. nikalo to ek machis. ruee se dhan kamaya hai, ruee ki chita par jale.‘ turant ek adami ne jeb se diyasalaee nikali aur ag lagana hi chahata tha ki sahasa vahi jakhmi yuvak pichhe se akar samane ho gaya. usake paanv mean patti bandhi huee thi, phir bhi rakt bah raha tha. usaka mukh pila p d gaya tha aur usake tanav se maloom hota tha ki yuvak ko asahy vedana ho rahi hai. use dekhate hi logoan ne charoan taraph se akar gher liya. us hiansa ke unmad mean bhi apane neta ko jita-jagata dekhakar unake harsh ki sima n rahi. jayaghosh se akash gooanj utha 'gopinath ki jay.' jakhmi gopinath ne hath uthakar samooh ko shant ho jane ka sanket karake kaha, ‘bhaiyo, maian tumase ek shabd kahane aya hooan. kah nahian sakata, bachooanga ya nahian. sambhav hai, tumase yah mera antim nivedan ho. tum kya karane ja rahe ho? daridr mean narayan ka nivas hai, kya ise mithya karana chahate ho? dhani ko apane dhan ka mad ho sakata hai. tumhean kis bat ka abhiman hai? tumhare jhop doan mean krodh aur ahankar ke lie kahaan sthan hai? maian tumase hath jo dakar kahata hooan, sab log yahaan se hat jao. agar tumhean mujhase kuchh sneh hai, agar maianne tumhari kuchh seva ki hai, to apane ghar jao aur sethaji ko ghar jane do.‘ charoan taraph se apattijanak avajean ane lagian; lekin gopinath ka virodh karane ka sahas kisi mean n hua. dhire-dhire log yahaan se hat gaye. maidan saf ho gaya, to gopinath ne vinamr bhav se sethaji se kaha, ‘sarakar, ab ap chale jayan. maian janata hooan, apane mujhe dhokhe se mara. maian keval yahi kahane apake pas a raha tha, jo ab kah raha hooan. mera durbhagy tha, ki apako bhram hua. eeshvar ki yahi ichchha thi. sethaji ko gopinath par kuchh shraddha hone lagi hai. niche utarane mean kuchh shanka avashy hai; par oopar bhi to pran bachane ki koee asha nahian hai. vah idhar-udhar sashank netroan se takate hue utarate haian. janasamooh kuchh das gaj ke antar par kh da hua hai. pratyek manushy ki aankhoan mean vidroh aur hiansa bhari huee hai. kuchh log dabi jaban se par sethaji ko sunakar ashisht alochanaean kar rahe haian, par kisi mean itana sahas nahian hai ki unake samane a sake. us marate hue yuvak ke adesh mean itani shakti hai. sethaji motar par baithakar chale hi the ki gopi zamin par gir p da. sethaji ki motar jitani tezise ja rahi thi, utani hi tezise unaki aankhoan ke samane ahat gopi ka chhayachitr bhi dau d raha tha. bhaanti-bhaanti ki kalpanaean man mean ane lagian. aparadhi bhavanaean chitt ko andolit karane lagian. agar gopi unaka shatru tha, to usane kyoan unaki jan bachayi aisi dasha mean, jab vah svayan mrityu ke  je mean tha? isaka unake pas koee javab n tha. niraparadh gopi, jaise hath baandhe unake samane kh da kah raha tha apane mujh begunah ko kyoan mara? bhog-lipsa adami ko svarthandh bana deti hai. phir bhi sethaji ki atma abhi itani abhyast aur kathor n huee thi ki ek niraparadh ki hatya karake unhean glani n hoti. vah sau-sau yuktiyoan se man ko samajhate the; lekin nyay-buddhi kisi yukti ko svikar n karati thi. jaise yah dharana unake nyay-dvar par baithi satyagrah kar rahi thi aur varadan lekar hi talegi. vah ghar pahuanche to itane dukhi aur hatash the, mano hathoan mean hathak diyaan p di hoan ! pramila ne ghab dayi huee avaz mean poochha, ‘h datal ka kya hua? abhi ho rahi hai ya band ho gayi? majooroan ne danga-phasad to nahian kiya? maian to bahut dar rahi thi.‘ khoobachand ne aramakursi par letakar ek lambi saans li aur bole, ‘quchh n poochho, kisi tarah jan bach gayi; bas yahi samajh lo. pulis ke adami to bhag kh de hue, mujhe logoan ne gher liya. bare kisi tarah jan lekar bhaga.jab maian charoan taraph se ghir gaya, to kya karata, maianne bhi rivalvar chho d diya. pramila bhayabhit hokar boli, ‘qoee jakhmi to nahian hua?’ 'vahi gopinath jakhmi hua, jo majooroan ki taraph se mere pas aya karata tha. usaka girana tha ki ek hazar adamiyoan ne mujhe gher liya. maian dau dakar ruee ki gaanthoan par chadh gaya. jan bachane ki koee asha n thi. majoor gaanthoan mean ag lagane ja rahe the.' pramila kaanp uthi. 'sahasa vahi jakhmi adami uthakar majooroan ke samane aya aur unhean samajhakar meri pranaraksha ki. vah n a jata, to maian kisi tarah jita n bachata.' 'eeshvar ne b di kushal ki ! isilie maian mana kar rahi thi ki akele n jao. us adami ko log aspatal le gaye hoange?' sethaji ne shok-bhare svar mean kaha, ‘mujhe bhay hai ki vah mar gaya hoga .jab maian motar par baitha, to maianne dekha, vah gir p da aur bahut-se adami use gherakar kh de ho gaye. n-jane usaki kya dasha huee.‘ pramila un deviyoan mean thi jinaki nasoan mean rakt ki jagah shraddha bahati hai. snan-pooja, tap aur vrat yahi usake jivan ke adhar the. sukh mean, du:kh mean, aram mean, upasana hi usaka kavach thi. is samay bhi us par sankat a p da. eeshvar ke siva kaun usaka uddhar karega ! vah vahian kh di dvar ki or tak rahi thi aur usaka dharm-nishth man eeshvar ke charanoan mean girakar kshama ki bhiksha maang raha tha. sethaji bole yah majoor us janm ka koee mahanh purush tha. nahian to jis adami ne use mara, usi ki pranaraksha ke lie kyoan itani tapasya karata ! pramila shraddha-bhav se boli, bhagavanh ki prerana aur kya ! bhagavanh ki daya hoti hai, tabhi hamare man mean sadvichar bhi ate haian. sethaji ne jijnasa ki --‘to phir bure vichar bhi eeshvar ki prerana hi se ate hoange?’ pramila tatparata ke sath boli, ‘eeshvar anand-svaroop haian. dipak se kabhi andhakar nahian nikal sakata. sethaji koee javab soch hi rahe the ki bahar shor sunakar chauank p de. donoan ne s dak ki taraph ki khi daki kholakar dekha, to hajaroan adami kali jhandiyaan lie dahini taraph se ate dikhaee diye. jhandiyoan ke bad ek arthi thi, sir-hi-sir dikhaee dete the. yah gopinath ke janaje ka juloos tha. sethaji to motar par baithakar mil se ghar ki or chale, udhar majooroan ne doosari miloan mean is hatyakand ki soochana bhej di. dam-ke-dam mean sare shahar mean yah khabar bijali ki tarah dau d gayi aur kee miloan mean h datal ho gayi. nagar mean sanasani phail gayi. kisi bhishan upadrav ke bhay se logoan ne dookanean band kar dian. yah juloos nagar ke mukhy sthanoan ka chakkar lagata hua seth khoobachand ke dvar par aya hai aur gopinath ke khoon ka badala lene par tula hua hai. udhar pulis-adhikariyoan ne sethaji ki raksha karane ka nishchay kar liya hai, chahe khoon ki nadi hi kyoan n bah jay. juloos ke pichhe sashastr pulis ke do sau javan dabal march se upadravakariyoan ka daman karane chale a rahe haian. sethaji abhi apane kartavy ka nishchay n kar paye the ki vidrohiyoan ne kothi ke daftar mean ghusakar len-den ke bahikhatoan ko jalana aur tijoriyoan ko to dana shuroo kar diya. munim aur any karmachari tatha chaukidar sab-ke-sab apani-apani jan lekar bhage. usi vakt bayian or se pulis ki dau d a dhamaki aur pulis-kamishnar ne vidrohiyoan ko paanch minat ke andar yahaan se bhag jane ka hukm de diya. samooh ne ek svar se pukara -- gopinath ki jay ! ek ghanta pahale agar aisi paristhiti utpann huee hoti, to sethaji ne b di nishchintata se upadravakariyoan ko pulis ki goliyoan ka nishana banane diya hota; lekin gopinath ke us devopam saujany aur atm-samarpan ne jaise unake man:sthit vikaroan ka shaman kar diya tha aur ab sadharan aushadhi bhi un par ramaban ka-sa chamatkar dikhati thi. unhoanne pramila se kaha, ‘maian jakar sabake samane apana aparadh svikar kiye leta hooan. nahian to mere pichhe n-jane kitane ghar mit jayange.‘ pramila ne kaanpate hue svar mean kaha, ‘yahian khi daki se adamiyoan ko kyoan nahian samajha dete? ve jitana majoori badhane ko kahate hoan; badha do.‘ 'is samay to unhean mere rakt ki pyas hai, majoori badhane ka un par koee asar n hoga.' sajal netroan se dekhakar pramila boli, ‘tab to tumhare oopar hatya ka abhiyog chal jayaga.‘ sethaji ne dhirata se kaha, bhagavanh ki yahi ichchha hai, to ham kya kar sakate haian? ek adami ka jivan itana moolyavanh nahian hai ki usake lie asankhy janean li jayan.‘ pramila ko maloom hua, sakshath bhagavanh samane kh de haian. vah pati ke gale se lipatakar boli, ‘mujhe kya kah jate ho?’ sethaji ne use gale lagate hue kaha, ‘bhagavanh tumhari raksha kareange.‘ unake mukh se aur koee shabd n nikala. pramila ki hichakiyaan bandhi huee thian. use rota chho dakar sethaji niche utare. vah sari sampatti jisake lie unhoanne jo kuchh karana chahie, vah bhi kiya, jo kuchh n karana chahie, vah bhi kiya, jisake lie khushamad ki, chhal kiya, anyay kiye, jise vah apane jivan-tap ka varadan samajhate the, aj kadachith sada ke lie unake hath se nikali jati thi; par unhean jara bhi moh n tha, jara bhi khed n tha. vah janate the, unhean damul ki saja hogi; yah sara karobar chaupat ho jayaga, yah sampatti dhool mean mil jayagi, kaun jane pramila se phir bheant hogi ya nahian, kaun marega, kaun jiyega, kaun janata hai, mano vah svechchha se yamadootoan ka ahvan kar rahe hoan. aur vah vedanamay vivashata, jo hamean mrityu ke samay daba leti hai, unhean bhi dabaye hue thi. pramila unake sath-hi-sath niche tak ayi. vah unake sath us samay tak rahana chahati thi, jab tak janata use prithakh n kar de; lekin sethaji use chho dakar jaldi se bahar nikal gaye aur vah kh di roti rah gayi. bali pate hi vidroh ka pishach shant ho gaya. sethaji ek saptah havalat mean rahe. phir un par abhiyog chalane laga. bambee ke sabase nami bairistar gopi ki taraph se pairavi kar rahe the. majooroan ne chande se apar dhan ekatr kiya tha aur yahaan tak tule hue the ki agar adalat se sethaji bari bhi ho jayan, to unaki hatya kar di jay. nity ijalas mean kee hazar kuli jama rahate. abhiyog siddh hi tha. mulajim ne apana aparadh svikar kar liya tha. unake vakiloan ne unake aparadh ko halaka karane ki dalilean pesh kian. phaisala yah hua ki chaudah sal ka kalapani ho gaya. sethaji ke jate hi mano lakshmi rooth gayian; jaise us vishalakay vaibhav ki atma nikal gayi ho. sal-bhar ke andar us vaibhav ka kankal-matr rah gaya. mil to pahale hi band ho chuki thi. lena-dena chukane par kuchh n bacha. yahaan tak ki rahane ka ghar bhi hath se nikal gaya. pramila ke pas lakhoan ke abhooshan the. vah chahati, to unhean surakshit rakh sakati thi; par tyag ki dhun mean unhean bhi nikal pheanka. satavean mahine mean jab usake putr ka janm hua, to vah chhote-se kiraye ke ghar mean thi. putr-ratn pakar apani sari vipatti bhool gayi. kuchh du:kh tha to yahi ki patidev hote, to is samay kitane anandit hote. pramila ne kin kashtoan ko jhelate hue putr ka palan kiya; isaki katha lambi hai. sabakuchh saha, par kisi ke samane hath nahian phailaya. jis tatparata se usane dene chukaye the, usase logoan ki us par bhakti ho gayi thi. kee sajjan to use kuchh masik sahayata dene par taiyar the; lekin pramila ne kisi ka ehasan n liya. bhale gharoan ki mahilaoan se usaka parichay tha hi. vah gharoan mean svadeshi vastuoan ka prachar karake gujar-bhar ko kama leti thi. jab tak bachcha doodh pita tha, use apane kam mean b di kathinaee p di; lekin doodh chhu da dene ke bad vah bachche ko daee ko sauanpakar ap kam karane chali jati thi. din-bhar ke kathin parishram ke bad jab vah sandhya samay ghar akar balak ko god mean utha leti, to usaka man harsh se unmatt hokar pati ke pas u d jata jo n-jane kis dasha mean kale kosoan par p da tha. use apani sampatti ke lut jane ka leshamatr bhi du:kh nahian hai. use keval itani hi lalasa hai ki svami kushal se laut avean aur balak ko dekhakar apani aankhean shital karean. phir to vah is daridrata mean bhi sukhi aur santusht rahegi. vah nity eeshvar ke charanoan mean sir jhukakar svami ke lie prarthana karati hai. use vishvas hai, eeshvar jo kuchh kareange, usase unaka kalyan hi hoga. eeshvar-vandana mean vah alaukik dhairy, sahas aur jivan ka abhas pati hai. prarthana hi ab usaki ashaoan ka adhar hai. pandrah sal ki vipatti ke din asha ki chh aauh mean kat gaye. sandhya ka samay hai. kishor krishnachandr apani mata ke pas man-mare baitha hua hai. vah maan-bap donoan mean se ek ko bhi nahian p da. pramila ne poochha, kyoan beta, tumhari pariksha to samapt ho gayi? balak ne gire hue man se javab diya, ‘haan ammaan, ho gayi; lekin mere parache achchhe nahian hue. mera man padhane mean nahian lagata hai.‘ yah kahate-kahate usaki aankhean dabadaba ayian. pramila ne sneh-bhare svar mean kaha, ‘yah to achchhi bat nahian hai beta, tumhean padhane mean man lagana chahie.‘ balak sajal netroan se mata ko dekhata hua bola, ‘mujhe bar-bar pitaji ki yad ati rahati hai. vah to ab bahut boodhe ho gaye hoange. maian socha karata hooan ki vah ayeange, to tan-man se unaki seva karooanga. itana b da utsarg kisane kiya hoga ammaan? us par log unhean nirdayi kahate haian. maianne gopinath ke bal-bachchoan ka pata laga liya ammaan ! unaki gharavali hai, mata hai aur ek l daki hai, jo mujhase do sal b di hai. maan-beti donoan usi mil mean kam karati haian. dadi bahut boodhi ho gayi hai.‘ pramila ne vismit hokar kaha, ‘tujhe unaka pata kaise chala beta?’ krishnachandr prasannachitt hokar bola, ‘maian aj us mil mean chala gaya tha. maian us sthan ko dekhana chahata tha, jahaan majooroan ne pitaji ko ghera tha aur vah sthan bhi, jahaan gopinath goli khakar gira tha; par un donoan mean ek sthan bhi n raha. vahaan imaratean ban gayi haian. mil ka kam b de zor se chal raha hai. mujhe dekhate hi bahut-se adamiyoan ne mujhe gher liya. sab yahi kahate the ki tum to bhaiya gopinath ka roop dharakar aye ho. majooroan ne vahaan gopinath ki ek tasvir lataka rakhi hai. use dekhakar chakit ho gaya ammaan, jaise meri hi tasvir ho, keval mooanchhoan ka antar hai. jab maianne gopi ki stri ke bare mean poochha,, to ek adami dau dakar usaki stri ko bula laya. vah mujhe dekhate hi rone lagi. aur n-jane kyoan mujhe bhi rona a gaya. bechari striyaan b de kasht mean haian. mujhe to unake oopar aisi daya ati hai ki unaki kuchh madad karooan.‘  pramila ko shanka huee, l daka in jhag doan mean p dakar padhana n chho d baithe. boli, abhi tum unaki kya madad kar sakate ho beta? dhan hota to kahati, das-paanch rupaye mahina de diya karo, lekin ghar ka hal to tum janate hi ho. abhi man lagakar padho. jab tumhare pitaji a jayan, to jo ichchha ho vah karana.‘ krishnachandr ne us samay koee javab n diya; lekin aj se usaka niyam ho gaya ki skool se lautakar ek bar gopi ke parivar ko dekhane avashy jata. pramila use jeb-kharch ke lie jo paise deti, use un anathoan hi par kharch karata. kabhi kuchh phal le lie, kabhi shak-bhaji le li. ek din krishnachandr ko ghar ane mean der huee, to pramila bahut ghabarayi. pata lagati huee vidhava ke ghar par pahuanchi, to dekha ek tang gali mean, ek sile, s de hue makan mean gopi ki stri ek khat par p di hai aur krishnachandr kh da use pankha jhal raha hai. mata ko dekhate hi bola, ‘maian abhi ghar n jaooanga ammaan, dekho, kaki kitani bimar hai. dadi ko kuchh soojhata nahian, binni khana paka rahi hai. inake pas kaun baithe?’ pramila ne khinn hokar kaha, ‘ab to andhera ho gaya, tum yahaan kab tak baithe rahoge? akela ghar mujhe bhi to achchha nahian lagata. is vakt chalo.sabere phir a jana.‘ rogini ne pramila ki avaz sunakar aankhean khol dian aur mand svar mean boli, ‘ao mataji, baitho. maian to bhaiya se kah rahi thi, der ho rahi hai, ab ghar jao; par yah gaye hi nahian. mujh abhagini par inhean n jane kyoan itani daya ati hai. apana l daka bhi isase adhik meri seva n kar sakata.‘ charoan taraph se durgandh a rahi thi. umas aisi thi ki dam ghuta jata tha. us bil mean hava kidhar se ati? par krishnachandr aisa prasann tha, mano koee paradeshi charoan or se thokarean khakar apane ghar mean a gaya ho. pramila ne idhar-udhar nigah dau dayi to ek divar par use ek tasvir dikhayi di. usane samip jakar use dekha to usaki chhati dhakh se ho gayi. bete ki or dekhakar boli, ‘toone yah chitr kab khianchavaya beta?’ krishnachandr muskarakar bola, ‘yah mera chitr nahian hai ammaan, gopinath ka chitr hai.‘ pramila ne avishvas se kaha, ‘chal, jhootha kahian ka.‘ rogini ne katar bhav se kaha, ‘nahian ammaan ji, vah mere adami hi ka chitr hai. bhagavanh ki lila koee nahian janata; par bhaiya ki soorat itani milati hai ki mujhe acharaj hota hai. jab mera byah hua tha, tab unaki yahi umr thi, aur soorat bhi bilakul yahi. yahi hansi thi, yahi batachit aur yahi svabhav. kya rahasy hai, meri samajh mean nahian ata. mataji, jab se yah ane lage haian, kah nahian sakati, mera jivan kitana sukhi ho gaya. is muhalle mean sab hamare hi jaise majoor rahate haian. un sabhoan ke sath yah l dakoan ki tarah rahate haian. sab inhean dekhakar nihal ho jate haian.‘ pramila ne koee javab n diya. usake man par ek avyakt shanka chhayi thi, mano usane koee bura sapana dekha ho. usake man mean bar-bar ek prashn uth raha tha, jisaki kalpana hi se usake royean kh de ho jate the. sahasa usane krishnachandr ka hath pak d liya aur balapoorvak khianchati huee dvar ki or chali, mano koee use usake hathoan se chhine liye jata ho. rogini ne keval itana kaha, ‘mataji, kabhi-kabhi bhaiya ko mere pas ane diya karana, nahian to maian mar jaooangi.,’ pandrah sal ke bad bhootapoorv seth khoobachand apane nagar ke steshan par pahuanche. hara-bhara vriksh thooanth hokar rah gaya tha. chehare par jhurriyaan p di hueean, sir ke bal san, dadhi jangal ki tarah badhi huee, daantoan ka kahian nam nahian, kamar jhuki huee. thooanth ko dekhakar kaun pahachan sakata hai ki yah vahi vriksh hai, jo phal-phool aur pattiyoan se lada rahata tha, jis par pakshi kalarav karate rahate the. steshan ke bahar nikalakar vah sochane lage qahaan jayan? apana nam lete lajja ati thi. kisase poochhean, pramila jiti hai ya mar gayi? agar hai to kahaan hai? unhean dekh vah prasann hogi, ya unaki upeksha karegi? pramila ka pata lagane mean zyada der n lagi. khoobachand ki kothi abhi tak khoobachand ki kothi kahalati thi. duniya qanoon ke ulatapher kya jane? apani kothi ke samane pahuanchakar unhoanne ek tamboli se poochha, ‘kyoan bhaiya, yahi to seth khoobachand ki kothi hai.‘ tamboli ne unaki or kutoohal se dekhakar kaha, khoobachand ki jab thi tab thi, ab to lala desharaj ki hai. 'achchha ! mujhe yahaan aye bahut din ho gaye. sethaji ke yahaan naukar tha. suna, sethaji ko kalapani ho gaya tha.' 'haan, bechare bhalamanasi mean mare gaye. chahate to bedag bach jate. sara ghar mitti mean mil gaya.' 'sethani to hoangi?' 'haan, sethani kyoan nahian haian. unaka l daka bhi hai.' sethaji ke chehare par jaise javani ki jhalak a gayi. jivan ka vah anand aur utsah, jo aj pandrah sal se kumbhakaran ki bhaanti p da so raha tha, mano nayi sphoorti pakar uth baitha aur ab us durbal kaya mean sama nahian raha hai. unhoanne is tarah tamboli ka hath pak d liya, jaise ghanishth parichay ho aur bole, ‘achchha, unake l daka bhi hai ! kahaan rahati hai bhaee, bata do, to jakar salam kar aooan. bahut dinoan tak unaka namak khaya hai.‘ tamboli ne pramila ke ghar ka pata bata diya. pramila isi muhalle mean rahati thi. sethaji jaise akash mean u date hue yahaan se age chale. vah tho di door gaye the ki thakuraji ka ek mandir dikhayi diya. sethaji ne mandir mean jakar pratima ke charanoan par sir jhuka diya. unake rom-rom se astha ka ऱet-sa bah raha tha. is pandrah varsh ke kathin prayashchitt mean unaki santapt atma ko agar kahian ashray mila tha, to vah asharan-sharan bhagavanh ke charan the. un pavan charanoan ke dhyan mean hi unhean shanti milati thi. din bhar ookh ke kolhoo mean jute rahane ya phav de chalane ke bad jab vah rat ko prithvi ki god mean letate, to poorv smritiyaan apana abhinay karane lagatian. vah apana vilasamay jivan, jaise rudan karata hua unaki aankhoan ke samane a jata aur unake ant:karan se vedana mean doobi huee dhvani nikalati eeshvar ! mujh par daya karo. is daya-yachana mean unhean ek aisi alaukik shanti aur sthirata prapt hoti thi, mano balak mata ki god mean leta ho. jab unake pas sampatti thi, vilas ke sadhan the, yauvan tha, svasthy tha, adhikar tha, unhean atm-chintan ka avakash n milata tha. man pravritti hi ki or dau data tha, ab in smritiyoan ko khokar dinavastha mean unaka man eeshvar ki or jhuka. pani par jab tak koee avaran hai, usamean soory ka prakash kahaan? vah mandir se nikalate hi the ki ek stri ne usamean pravesh kiya. khoobachand ka hriday uchhal p da. vah kuchh kartavy-bhram-se hokar ek stambh ki a d mean ho gaye. yah pramila thi. in pandrah varshoan mean ek din bhi aisa nahian gaya, jab unhean pramila ki yad n ayi ho. vah chhaya unaki aankhoan mean basi huee thi. aj unhean us chhaya aur is saty mean kitana antar dikhayi diya. chhaya par samay ka kya asar ho sakata hai. us par sukh-du:kh ka bas nahian chalata. saty to itana abhedy nahian. us chhaya mean vah sadaiv pramod ka roop dekha karate the abhooshan, muskan aur lajja se ranjit. is saty mean unhoanne sadhak ka tejasvi roop dekha aur anurag mean doobe hue svar ki bhaanti unaka hriday tharathara utha. man mean aisa udgar utha ki isake charanoan par gir panooan aur kahooan devi ! is patit ka uddhar karo, kintu turant vichar aya qahian yah devi meri upeksha n kare. is dasha mean usake samane jate unhean lajja ayi. kuchh door chalane ke bad pramila ek gali mean mu di. sethaji bhi usake pichhe-pichhe chale jate the. age ek kee manzil ki haveli thi. sethaji ne pramila ko us chal mean ghusate dekha; par yah n dekh sake ki vah kidhar gayi. dvar par kh de-kh de sochane lage qisase poochhooan? sahasa ek kishor ko bhitar se nikalate dekhakar unhoanne use pukara. yuvak ne unaki or chubhati huee aankhoan se dekha aur turant unake charanoan par gir p da. sethaji ka kaleja dhakh-se ho utha. yah to gopi tha, keval umr mean usase kam. vahi roop tha, vahi dil tha, mano vah koee naya janm lekar a gaya ho. unaka sara sharir ek vichitr bhay se sihar utha. krishnachandr ne ek kshan mean uthakar kaha, ‘ham to aj apaki pratiksha kar rahe the. bandar par jane ke lie ek ga di lene ja raha tha. apako to yahaan ane mean b da kasht hua hoga. aie andar aie. maian apako dekhate hi pahachan gaya. kahian bhi dekhakar pahachan jata.‘   khoobachand usake sath bhitar chale to, magar unaka man jaise atit ke kaantoan mean ulajh raha tha. gopi ki soorat kya vah kabhi bhool sakate the? is chehare ko unhoanne kitani hi bar svapn mean dekha tha. vah kaand unake jivan ki sabase mahattvapoorn ghatana thi aur aj ek yug bit jane par bhi vah unake path mean usi bhaanti atal kh da tha. ekaek krishnachandr jine ke pas rukakar bola, zakar ammaan se kah aooan, ‘dada a gaye ! apake lie naye-naye kap de bane rakhe haian.‘ khoobachand ne putr ke mukh ka is tarah chumban kiya, jaise vah shishu ho aur use god mean utha liya. vah use liye jine par chadhe chale jate the. yah manollas ki shakti thi. tis sal se vyakul putr-lalasa, yah padarth pakar, jaise us par nyochhavar ho jana chahati hai. jivan nayi-nayi abhilashaoan ko lekar unhean sammohit kar raha hai. is ratn ke lie vah aisi-aisi kitani hi yatanaean saharsh jhel sakate the. apane jivan mean unhoanne jo kuchh anubhav ke roop mean kamaya tha, usaka tattv vah ab krishnachandr ke mastishk mean bhar dena chahate haian. unhean yah araman nahian hai ki krishnachandr dhan ka svami ho, chatur ho, yashasvi ho; balki dayavanh ho, sevashil ho, namr ho, shraddhalu ho. eeshvar ki daya mean ab unhean asim vishvas hai, nahian to un-jaisa adham vyakti kya is yogy tha ki is kripa ka patr banata? aur pramila to sakshath lakshmi hai. krishnachandr bhi pita ko pakar nihal ho gaya hai. apani sevaoan se mano unake atit ko bhula dena chahata hai. mano pita ki seva hi ke lie usaka janm hua. mano vah poorvajanm ka koee rrin chukane ke lie hi sansar mean aya hai. aj sethaji ko aye satavaan din hai. sandhya ka samay hai. sethaji sandhya karane ja rahe haian ki gopinath ki l daki binni ne akar pramila se kaha, “mataji, ammaan ka ji achchha nahian hai ! bhaiya ko bula rahi haian. pramila ne kaha, aj to vah n ja sakega. usake pita a gaye haian, unase batean kar raha hai. “ krishnachandr ne doosare kamare mean se usaki batean sun lian. turant akar bola, ‘nahian ammaan, maian dada se poochhakar jara der ke lie chala jaooanga.‘ pramila ne big dakar kaha, ‘too kahian jata hai to tujhe ghar ki sudhi hi nahian rahati. n-jane un sabhoan ne tujhe kya booti suangha di hai. 'maian bahut jaldi chala aooanga ammaan, tumhare pairoan p data hooan.' 'too bhi kaisa l daka hai ! vah bechare akele baithe hue haian aur tujhe vahaan jane ki p di huee hai.' sethaji ne bhi ye batean sunian. akar bole, ‘kya haraj hai, jaldi ane ko kah rahe haian to jane do.‘ krishnachandr prasannachitt binni ke sath chala gaya. ek kshan ke bad pramila ne kaha, ‘zab se maianne gopi ki tasvir dekhi hai, mujhe nity shanka bani rahati hai, ki n-jane bhagavanh kya karane vale haian. bas yahi maloom hota hai.‘ sethaji ne gambhir svar mean kaha, ‘maian bhi to pahali bar dekhakar chakit rah gaya tha. jan p da, gopinath hi kh da hai.‘ 'gopi ki gharavali kahati hai ki isaka svabhav bhi gopi hi ka-sa hai.' sethaji goodh muskan ke sath bole, ‘bhagavanh ki lila hai ki jisaki maianne hatya ki, vah mera putr ho. mujhe to vishvas hai, gopinath ne hi isamean avatar liya hai.’ pramila ne mathe par hath rakhakar kaha, ‘yahi sochakar to kabhi-kabhi mujhe n-jane kaisi-kaisi shanka hone lagati hai’ sethaji ne shraddha-bhari aankhoan se dekhakar kaha, bhagavanh jo kuchh karate haian, praniyoan ke kalyan ke lie karate haian. ham samajhate haian, hamare sath vidhi ne anyay kiya; par yah hamari moorkhata hai. vidhi abodh balak nahian hai, jo apane hi siraje hue khilaune ko to d-pho dakar anandit hota hai. n vah hamara shatru hai, jo hamara ahit karane mean sukh manata hai. vah param dayalu hai, mangal-roop hai. yahi avalamb tha, jisane nirvasan-kal mean mujhe sarvanash se bachaya. is adhar ke bina kah nahian sakata, meri nauka kahaan-kahaan bhatakati aur usaka kya ant hota.‘ binni ne kee qadam chalane ke bad kaha, ‘maianne tumase jhooth-mooth kaha, ki ammaan bimar hai. ammaan to ab bilkul achchhi haian. tum kee din se gaye nahian, isilie unhoanne mujhase kaha, is bahane se bula lana. tumase vah ek salah kareangi.’ krishnachandr ne kutoohal-bhari aankhoan se dekha. 'tumase salah kareangi? maian bhala kya salah dooanga? mere dada a gaye, isilie nahian a saka.' 'tumhare dada a gaye ! unhoanne poochha hoga, yah kaun l daki hai?' 'nahian, kuchh nahian poochha,.' 'dil mean to kahate hoange, kaisi besharam l daki hai.' 'dada aise adami nahian haian. maloom ho jata ki yah kaun hai, to b de prem se batean karate. maian to kabhi-kabhi dara karata tha ki n-jane unaka mizaj kaisa ho. sunata tha, kaidi b de kathor-hriday hua karate haian, lekin dada to daya ke devata haian.' donoan kuchh door phir chupachap chale gaye. tab krishnachandr ne poochha, ‘tumhari ammaan mujhase kaisi salah kareangi?’ binni ka dhyan jaise toot gaya. 'maian kya janooan, kaisi salah kareangi. maian janati ki tumhare dada aye haian, to n ati. man mean kahate hoange, itani b di l daki akeli mari-mari phirati hai.' krishnachandr kahakaha, marakar bola, ‘haan, kahate to hoange. maian jakar aur j d dooanga. binni big d gayi. 'tum kya j d doge? batao, maian kahaan ghoomati hooan? tumhare ghar ke siva maian aur kahaan jati hooan?' 'mere ji mean jo ayega, so kahooanga; nahian to mujhe bata do, kaisi salah hai?' 'to maianne kab kaha, tha ki nahian bataooangi. kal hamare mil mean phir h datal hone vali hai. hamara manijar itana nirdayi hai ki kisi ko paanch minit ki bhi der ho jay, to adhe din ki talab kat leta hai aur das minit der ho jay, to din-bhar ki majoori gayab. kee bar sabhoan ne jakar usase kaha,-suna; magar manata hi nahian. tum ho to jara-se; par ammaan ka n-jane tumhare oopar kyoan itana vishvas hai aur majoor log bhi tumhare oopar b da bharosa rakhate haian. sabaki salah hai ki tum ek bar manijar ke pas jakar dotook batean kar lo. haan ya nahian; agar vah apani bat par a da rahe, to phir ham bhi h datal kareange.' krishnachandr vicharoan mean magn tha. kuchh n bola. binni ne phir uddand-bhav se kaha, ‘yah k daee isilie to hai ki manijar janata hai, ham bebas haian aur hamare lie aur kahian thikana nahian hai. to hamean bhi dikha dena hai ki ham chahe bhookhoan mareange, magar anyay n saheange.‘ krishnachandr ne kaha, ‘upadrav ho gaya, to goliyaan chaleangi.' 'to chalane do. hamare dada mar gaye, to kya ham log jiye nahian.' donoan ghar pahuanche, to vahaan dvar par bahut-se majoor jama the aur isi vishay par batean ho rahi thian. krishnachandr ko dekhate hi sabhoan ne chillakar kaha, ‘lo bhaiya a gaye.‘ vahi mil hai, jahaan seth khoobachand ne goliyaan chalayi thian. aj unhian ka putr mazadooroan ka neta bana hua goliyoan ke samane kh da hai. krishnachandr aur mainejar mean batean ho chukian. mainejar ne niyamoan ko narm karana svikar n kiya. h datal ki ghoshana kar di gayi. aj h datal hai. mazadoor mil ke hate mean jama haian aur mainejar ne mil ki raksha ke lie fauji garad bula liya hai. mil ke mazadoor upadrav nahian karana chahate the. h datal keval unake asantosh ka pradarshan thi; lekin fauji garad dekhakar mazadooroan ko bhi josh a gaya. donoan taraph se taiyari ho gayi hai. ek or goliyaan haian, doosari or eeant-patthar ke tuk de. yuvak krishnachandr ne kaha, ap log taiyar haian? hamean mil ke andar jana hai, chahe sab mar dale jayan. bahut-si avajean ayian sab taiyar haian. jisake bal-bachche hoan, vah apane ghar chale jayan. binni pichhe kh di-kh di boli, ‘bal bachche, sabaki raksha bhagavanh karata hai.‘ kee mazadoor ghar lautane ka vichar kar rahe the. is vaky ne unhean sthir kar diya. jay-jayakar huee aur ek hazar mazadooroan ka dal mil-dvar ki or chala. fauji garad ne goliyaan chalayian. sabase pahale krishnachandr phir aur kee adami gir p de. logoan ke paanv ukh dane lage. usi vakt khoobachand nange sir, nange paanv hate mean pahuanche aur krishnachandr ko girate dekha. paristhiti unhean ghar hi par maloom ho gayi thi. unhoanne unmatt hokar kaha, qrishnachandr ki jay ! aur dau dakar ahat yuvak ko kanth se laga liya. mazadooroan mean ek adbhut sahas aur dhairy ka sanchar hua. 'khoobachand.' is nam ne jadoo ka kam kiya. is 15 sal mean khoobachand ne shahid ka ooancha pad prapt kar liya tha. unhian ka putr aj mazadooroan ka neta hai. dhany hai bhagavanh ki lila ! sethaji ne putr ki lash zamin par lita di aur avichalit bhav se bole bhaiyo, yah l daka mera putr tha. maian pandrah sal damul kat kar lauta, to bhagavanh ki kripa se mujhe isake darshan hue. aj athavaan din hai. aj phir bhagavanh ne use apani sharan mean le liya. vah bhi unhian ki kripa thi. yah bhi unhian kripa hai. maian jo moorkh, ajnani tab tha, vahi ab bhi hooan. haan, is bat ka mujhe garv hai ki bhagavanh ne mujhe aisa vir balak diya. ab ap log mujhe badhaiyaan dean. kise aisi viragati milati hai? anyay ke samane jo chhati kholakar kh da ho jay, vahi to sachcha vir hai, isalie bolie krishnachandr ki jay ! ek hazar galoan se jay-dhvani nikali aur usi ke sath sab-ke-sab halla marakar daftar ke andar ghus gaye. garad ke javanoan ne ek bandook bhi n chalaee, is vilakshan kaand ne inhean stambhit kar diya tha. mainejar ne pistaul utha liya aur kh da ho gaya. dekha, to samane seth khoobachand ! lajjit hokar bola, ‘mujhe b da du:kh hai ki aj daivagati se aisi durghatana ho gayi, par ap khud samajh sakate haian, kya kar sakata tha.‘ sethaji ne shant svar mean kaha, ‘eeshvar jo kuchh karata hai, hamare kalyan ke lie karata hai. agar is balidan se mazadooroan ka kuchh hit ho, to mujhe jara bhi khed n hoga.‘ mainejar samman-bhare svar mean bola, lekin is dharana se to adami ko santosh nahian hota. jnaniyoan ka bhi man chanchal ho hi jata hai. sethaji ne is prasang ka ant kar dene ke irade se kaha, ‘to ab apakya nishchay kar rahe haian?’ mainejar sakuchata hua bola, ‘maian is vishay mean svatantr nahian hooan. svamiyoan ki jo ajna thi, usaka maian palan kar raha tha.‘ sethaji kathor svar mean bole, ‘agar ap samajhate haian ki mazadooroan ke sath anyay ho raha hai, to apaka dharm hai ki unaka paksh lijie. anyay mean sahayog karana anyay karane ke hi saman hai.‘ ek taraph to mazadoor log krishnachandr ke dah-sanskar ka ayojan kar rahe the, doosari taraph daftar mean mil ke dairektar aur mainejar seth khoobachand ke sath baithe koee aisi vyavastha soch rahe the ki mazadooroan ke prati is anyay ka ant ho jay. das baje sethaji ne bahar nikalakar mazadooroan ko soochana di mitro, eeshvar ko dhanyavad do ki usane tumhari vinay svikar kar li. tumhari hajiri ke lie ab naye niyam banaye jayange aur juramane ki vartaman pratha utha di jayagi. mazadooroan ne suna; par unhean vah anand n hua, jo ek ghanta pahale hota.krishnachandr ki bali dekar b di-se-b di riyasat bhi unake nigahoan mean hey thi. abhi arthi n uthane payi thi ki pramila lal aankhean kiye unmatt-si dau di ayi aur us deh se chimat gayi, jise usane apane udar se janm diya aur apane rakt se pala tha. charoan taraph hahakar mach gaya. mazadoor aur malik aisa koee nahian tha, jisaki aankhoan se aansuoan ki dhara n nikal rahi ho. sethaji ne samip jakar pramila ke kandho par hath rakha aur bole, ‘kya karati ho pramila, jisaki mrityu par hansana aur eeshvar ko dhanyavad dena chahie, usaki mrityu par roti ho.‘ pramila usi tarah shav ko hriday se lagaye p di rahi. jis nidhi ko pakar usane vipatti ko sampatti samajha tha, pati-viyog se andhakaramay jivan mean jis dipak se asha, dhairy aur avalamb pa rahi thi, vah dipak bujh gaya tha. jis vibhooti ko pakar eeshvar ki nishtha aur bhakti usake rom-rom mean vyapt ho gayi thi, vah vibhooti usase chhin li gayi thi. sahasa usane pati ko asthir netroan se dekhakar kaha, ‘tum samajhate hoge, eeshvar jo kuchh karata hai, hamare kalyan ke lie hi karata hai. maian aisa nahian samajhati. samajh hi nahian sakati. kaise samajhooan? hay mere lal ! mere la dale ! mere raja, mere soory, mere chandr, mere jivan ke adhar ! mere sarvasv ! tujhe khokar kaise chitt ko shant rakhooan? jise god mean dekhakar maianne apane bhagy ko dhany mana tha, use aj dharati par p da dekhakar hriday ko kaise sanbhalooan. nahian manata ! hay nahian manata !!’ yah kahate hue usane zor se chhati pit li. usi rat ko shokatur mata sansar se prasthan kar gayi. pakshi apane bachche ki khoj mean pianjare se nikal gaya. tin sal bit gaye. shramajiviyoan ke muhalle mean aj krishnaashtami ka utsav hai. unhoanne apas mean chanda karake ek mandir banavaya hai. mandir akar mean to bahut sundar aur vishal nahian; par jitani bhakti se yahaan sir jhukate haian, vah bat isase kahian vishal mandiroan ko prapt nahian. yahaan log apani sampatti ka pradarshanakarane nahian, balki apani shraddha ki bheant dene ate haian. majaboor striyaan ga rahi haian, balak dau d-dau dakar chhote-mote kam kar rahe haian. aur purush jhaanki ke banav-shrriangar mean lage hue haian. usi vakt seth khoobachand aye. striyaan aur balak unhean dekhate hi charoan or se dau dakar jama ho gaye. yah mandir unhian ke satath udyog ka phal hai. mazadoor parivaroan ki seva hi ab unake jivan ka uddeshy hai. unaka chhota-sa parivar ab virat roop ho gaya hai. unake sukh ko vah apana sukh aur unake du:kh ko apana du:kh manate haian. mazadooroan mean sharab, jue aur duracharan ki vah kasarat nahian rahi. sethaji ki sahayata, satsang aur sadvyavahar pashuoan ko manushy bana raha hai.  sethaji ne bal-roop bhagavanh ke samane jakar sir jhukaya aur unaka man alaukik anand se khil utha. us jhaanki mean unhean krishnachandr ki jhalak dikhayi di. ek hi kshan mean usane jaise gopinath ka roop dharan kiya. sethaji ka rom-rom pulakit ho utha. bhagavanh ki vyapakata ka, daya ka roop aj jivan mean pahali bar unhean dikhayi diya. ab tak, bhagavanh ki daya ko vah siddhant-roop se manate the. aj unhoanne usaka pratyaksh roop dekha. ek path-bhrasht patanonmukhi atma ke uddhar ke lie itana daivi vidhan ! itani anavarat eeshvariy prerana ! sethaji ke manas-pat par apana sampoorn jivan sinema-chitroan ki bhaanti dau d gaya. unhean jan p da, jaise aj bis varsh se eeshvar ki kripa un par chhaya kiye hue hai. gopinath ka balidan kya tha? vidrohi mazadooroan ne jis samay unaka makan gher liya tha, us samay unaka atm-samarpan eeshvar ki daya ke siva aur kya tha, pandrah sal ke nirvasit jivan mean, phir krishnachandr ke roop mean, kaun unaki atma ki raksha kar raha tha? sethaji ke ant:karan se bhakti ki vihvalata mean doobi huee jay-dhvani nikali qrishn bhagavanh ki jay ! aur jaise sampoorn brahmaand daya ke prakash se jagamaga utha.

sanbandhit lekh

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