तगादा -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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seth chetaram ne snan kiya, shivaji ko jal chadhaya, do dane mirch chabaye, do lote pani piya aur sota lekar tagade par chale. sethaji ki umr koee pachas ki thi. sir ke bal jh d gaye the aur khop di aisi saph-suthari nikal aee thi, jaise oosar khet. apaki aankhean thian to chhoti lekin bilakul gol. chehare ke niche pet tha aur pet ke niche taangean, mano kisi pipe mean do mekhean ga d di gee hoan. lekin, yah khali pipa n tha. isamean sajivata aur karmashilata koot-kootakar bhari huee thi. kisi bakidar asami ke samane is pipe ka uchhalana-koodana aur paiantare badalana dekhakar kisi nat ka chigiya bhi lajjit ho jata. aisi aankhean lal-pili karate, aise garajate ki darshakoan ki bhi d lag jati thi. unhean kanjoos to nahian kaha, ja sakata, kyoanki jab vah dookan par hote, to harek bhikhamange ke samane ek kau di pheank dete. haan, us samay unake mathe par kuchh aisa bal p d jata, aankhean kuchh aisi prachand ho jatian, nak kuchh aisi siku d jati ki bhikhari phir unaki dookan par n ata. lahane ka bap tagada hai, is siddhant ke vah anany bhakt the. jalapan karane ke bad sandhya tak vah barabar tagada karate rahate the. isamean ek to ghar ka bhojan bachata tha, doosare asamiyoan ke mathe doodh, poori, mithaee adi padarth khane ko mil jate the. ek vakt ka bhojan bach jana koee sadharan bat nahian hai ! ek bhojan ka ek ana bhi rakh lean, to keval isi mad mean unhoanne apane tis varshoan ke mahajani jivan mean koee ath sau rupaye bacha liye the. phir lautate samay doosari bela ke lie bhi doodh, dahi, tel, tarakari, upale, eeandhan mil jate the. bahudha sandhya ka bhojan bhi n karana p data tha. isalie tagade se n chookate the. asaman phata p data ho, ag baras rahi ho, aandhi ati ho; par sethaji prakriti ke atal niyam ki bhaanti tagade par zaroor nikal jate.

sethani ne poochha, ‘bhojan ?’

sethaji ne garajakar kaha, ‘nahian.‘

'saanjh ka ?'

'ane par dekhi jayagi.'

sethaji ke ek kisan par paanch rupaye ate the. chh: mahine se dusht ne sood-byaj kuchh n diya tha aur n kabhi koee saugat lekar hajir hua tha. usaka ghar tin kos se kam n tha, isaliye sethaji talate ate the. aj unhoanne usi gaanv chalane ka nishchay kar liya. aj bina dusht se rupaye liye n manooanga, chahe kitana hi roye, ghighiyaye. magar itani lambi yatra paidal karana nindaspad tha. log kaheange nam b de darshan tho de. kahalate seth, chalate haian paidal isalie manthar gati se idhar-udhar takate, rahagiroan se batean karate chale jate the ki log samajhean vayu-sevan karane ja rahe haian. sahasa ek khali ikka unaki taraph jata hua mil gaya. ikkevan ne poochha, ‘qahaan lala, kahaan jana hai ?

sethaji ne kaha, ‘zana to kahian nahian hai, do parag to aur hai; lekin lao baith jayan.‘

ikkevale ne chubhati huee aankhoan se sethaji ko dekha, sethaji ne bhi apani lal aankhoan se use ghoora. donoan samajh gaye, ‘aj lohe ke chane chabane p deange.‘

ikka chala. sethaji ne pahala var kiya, ‘qahaan ghar hai miyaan sahab ?’

'ghar kahaan hai huzoor, jahaan p d rahooan, vahian ghar hai. jab ghar tha tab tha. ab to beghar, bedar hooan aur sabase b di bat yah hai ki bepar hooan. takadir ne par kat liye. lॅdoora banakar chho d diya. mere dada navabi mean chakaledar the huzoor, sat zile ke malik, jise chahean top-dam kar dean, phaansi par lataka dean. nikalane ke pahale lakhoan ki thailiyaan najar chadh jati thian huzoor. navab sahab bhaee ki tarah manate the. ek din vah the, ek din yah hai ki ham ap logoan ki gulami kar rahe haian. dinoan ka pher hai.'

sethaji ko hath milate hi maloom ho gaya, pakka phikait hai, akha debaj, isase pesh pana mushkil hai, par ab to kushti bad gee thi, akha de mean utar p de the .

bole –‘to yah kaho ki badashahi gharane ke ho. yah soorat hi gavahi de rahi hai. dinoan ka pher hai bhaee, sab din barabar nahian jate. hamare yahaan lakshmi ko chanchala kahate haian, barabar chalati rahati haian, aj mere ghar, kal tumhare ghar. tumhare dada ne rupaye to khoob chho de hoange ?’

ikkevala –‘are seth, us daulat ka koee hisab n tha. n jane kitane tahakhane bhare hue the ! boroan mean sone-chaandi ke dale rakhe hue the. javaharat tokariyoan mean bhare p de the. ek-ek patthar pachas-pachas lakh ka. chamak-damak aisi thi, ki chirag mat. magar takadir bhi to koee chiz hai. idhar dada ka chalisavaan hua; udhar navabi burd huee. sara khazana lut gaya. chhak doan par lad-ladakar log javaharat le gaye phir bhi ghar mean itana bach raha tha ki abbajan ne zindagi bhar aish kiya aisa aish kiya, ki kya koee bhakuva karega. solah kaharoan ke sukhapal par nikalate the. age-pichhe chobadar dau date chalate the. phir bhi mere gujar bhar ko unhoanne bahut chho da. agar hisab-kitab se rahata to aj bhala adami hota; lekin rees ka beta rees hi to hoga. ek botal chadhakar bistar se uthata tha. rat-rat bhar mujare hote rahate the. kya janata tha, ek din yah thokarean khani p deangi.‘

seth –‘alla miyaan ka sukur karo bhaee ki eemanadari se apane bal-bachchoan ki paravarish to karate ho. nahian to hamare-tumhare kitane hi bhaee rat-din kukarm karate rahate haian, phir bhi dane-dane ko muhataj rahate haian. eeman ki salamati chahie, nahian din to sabhi ke kat jate haian, doodh-roti khakar kate to kya, sookhe chane chabakar kate to kya. b di bat to eeman hai. mujhe to tumhari soorat dekhate hi maloom ho gaya tha, ki niyat ke saf sachche adami ho. beeemanoan ki to soorat hi se phatakar barasati hai.‘

ikkevala –‘sethaji, apane thik kaha, ki eeman salamat rahe, to sab kuchh hai. ap logoan se char paise mil jate haian, vahi bal-bachchoan ko khila-pilakar p d rahata hooan. huzoor, aur ikkevaloan ko dekhie, to koee kisi marj mean mubtila hai, koee kisi marj mean. maianne toba bola, ! aisa kam hi kyoan karean, ki musibat mean phॅsean. b da kunaba hai huzoor, maan hai, bachche haian, kee bevaean haian, aur kamaee yahi ikka hai. phir bhi allah miyaan kisi tarah nibahe jate haian.‘

seth –‘vah b da karasaj hai khaan sahab, tumhari kamaee mean hamesha barakat hogi.‘

ikkevala—‘ ap logoan ki meharabani chahie.‘

seth –‘bhagavan ki meharabani chahie. tumase khoob bheant ho gee. maian ikkevaloan se bahut ghabarata hooan; lekin ab maloom hua, achchhe-bure sabhi jagah hote haian. tumhare jaisa sachcha, dinadar adami maianne nahian dekha. kaisi saf tabiyat paee hai tumane ki vah !’

sethaji ki ye lachchhedar batean sunakar ikkevala samajh gaya ki yah mahashay parale sire ke baithakabaj haian. yah sirph meri tariph karake mujhe chakama diya chahate haian. ab aur kisi pahaloo se apana matalab nikalana chahie. inaki daya se to kuchh le marana mushkil hai, shayad inase bhay se kuchh le marooan.

bola, ‘magar lala, yah n samajhie ki maian jitana sidha aur nek najar ata hooan, utana sidha aur nek hooan bhi. nekoan ke sath nek hooan lekin buroan ke sath pakka badamash hooan. yoan kahie apaki jootiyaan sidhi kar dooan; lekin kiraye ke mamale mean kisi ke sath riayat nahian karata. riayat karooan to khaooan kya ?’

sethaji ne samajha tha, ikkevale ko hatthe par chadha liya, ab yatra nirvighn aur ni:shulk samapt ho jayagi ! lekin yah alap suna, to kan kh de hue.

bole –‘bhaee, rupaye-paise ke mamale mean maian bhi kisi se riayat nahian karata; lekin kabhi-kabhi jab yar-dostoan ka mamala a p data hai to jhak marakar dabana hi p data hai. tumhean bhi kabhi-kabhi bal khana hi p data hoga.

dostoan se bemurauvati to nahian ki jati.‘

ikkevale ne rookhepan se kaha, ‘maian kisi ke sath murauvat nahian karata. murauvat ka sabak to ustad ne padhaya hi nahian. ek hi chanchool hooan. majal kya ki koee ek paisa daba le. gharavali tak ko to maian ek paisa deta nahian, doosaroan ki bat hi kya hai. aur ikkevale apane mahajan ki khushamad karate haian. usake daravaze par kh de rahate haian. yahaan mahajanoan ko bhi dhata batata hooan. sab mere nam ko rote haian. rupaye liye aur saf dakar gaya. dekhean, ab kaise vasool karate ho bachcha, nalish karo, ghar mean kya dhara hai, jo le loge.‘

sethaji ko mano joo di chadh aee. samajh gaye, yah shaitan bina paise liye n manega. janate ki yah vipatti gale p degi, to bhoolakar bhi ikke par paanv n rakhate. itani door paidal chalane mean kaun pair toote jate the. agar is tarah roj paise dene p de, to phir len-den kar chuka. sethaji bhakt jiv the. shivaji ko jal chadhane mean, jab se hosh sanbhala, ek naga bhi n kiya. kya bhaktavatsal shankar bhagavanh is avasar par meri sahayata n kareange. ishtadev ka sumiran karake bole, ‘kh aau sahab aur kisi se chahe n dabo; par pulis se to dabana hi p data hoga. vah to kisi ke sage nahian hote.‘

ikkevale ne kahakaha, ‘mara qabhi nahian, unase ulte aur kuchh-n-kuchh vasool karata hooan. jahaan koee shikar mila, jhat saste bha de baithata hooan aur thane par pahuancha deta hooan. kiraya bhi mil jata hai aur inam bhi. kya majal ki koee bol sake. laisan nahian liya aj tak, laisan ! maje mean sadar mean ikka dau data phirata hooan. koee sala chooan nahian kar sakata. mele-theloan mean apani khoob ban ati hai. achchhe-achchhe mal chunakar kotavali pahuanchata hooan. vahaan kaun kisi ki dal galati hai. jise chahean rok lean, ek din, do din, tin din. bis bahane haian. kah diya, shak tha ki yah aurat ko bhagaye liye jata tha. phir kaun bol sakata hai. sahab bhi chho dana chahean; to nahian chho d sakate. mujhe sidha n samajhiega. ek hi harami hooan. savariyoan se pahale kiraya tay nahian karata, thikane par pahuanchakar ek ke do leta hooan. jara bhi chian-chap d kiya, to astin chadha, paiantare badalakar kh da ho jata hooan. phir kaun hai jo samane thahar sake.‘

sethaji ko romaanch ho aya. hath mean ek sota to tha, par usaka vyavahar karane ki shakti ka unamean abhav tha. aj bure phॅse, n jane kis manahoos ka muanh dekhakar ghar se chale the. kahian yah dusht ulajh p de, to das-paanch din haldi-soanth pina p de. ab se bhi kushal hai, yahaan utar jaooan, jo bach jay vahi sahi. bhigi billi banakar bole, ‘achchha, ab rok lo khaan sahab, mera gaanv a gaya. bolo, tumhean kya de dooan ?’

ikkevale ne gho di ko ek chabuk aur lagaya aur nirdayata se bola, ‘majoori soch lo bhaee. tumako n baithaya hota to tin savariyaan baitha leta. tinoan char-char ane bhi dete, to barah ane ho jate. tum ath hi ane de do.‘

sethaji ki badhiya baith gee. itani b di rakam unhoanne umr bhar is mad mean nahian kharch ki thi. itani-si door ke lie itana kiraya, vah kisi tarah n de sakate the. manushy ke jivan mean ek aisa avasar bhi ata hai, jab parinam ki use chinta nahian rahati. sethaji ke jivan mean yah aisa hi avasar tha. agar ane-do-ane ki bat hoti, to khoon ka ghooant pikar de dete, lekin ath ane ke lie ki jisaka dvigun ek kaladar hota hai, agar too-too maian-maian hi nahian hathapaee ki bhi naubat aye, to vah karane ko taiyar the. yah nishchay karake vah dridhata ke sath baithe rahe. sahasa s dak ke kinare ek jhoanp da najar aya. ikka ruk gaya, seth ji utar p de aur kamar se ek duanni nikalakar ikkevan ki or badhaee.

ikkevan ne sethaji ke tevar dekhe, to samajh gaya, tav big d gaya. chashani k di hokar kathor ho gee. ab yah daantoan se l degi. ise chubal kar hi mithas ka anand liya ja sakata hai. namrata se bola, ‘meri or se isaki rev diyaan lekar bal-bachchoan ko khila dijiega. allah apako salamat rakhe.‘

sethaji ne ek ana aur nikala aur bole –‘bas, ab jaban n hilana, ek kau di bhi besi n dooanga.‘ ikkevala –‘nahian malik, ap hi aisa kaheange, to ham gariboan ke bal-bachche kahaan se paleange. ham log bhi adami pahachanate haian huzoor.‘ itane mean jhoanp di mean se ek stri gulabi sa di pahane, pan chabati huee nikal aee aur boli, aj b di der lagaee (yakayak sethaji ko dekhakar), ‘achchha aj lalaji tumhare ikke par the. phir aj tumhara mizaj kahe ko milega. ek chehareshahi to mili hi hogi. idhar badha do sidhe se.‘

yah kahakar vah sethaji ke samip akar boli, ‘aram se charapaiya par baitho lala ! b de bhag the ki aj sabere-sabere apake darshan hue.‘

usake vastr mand-mand mahak rahe the. sethaji ka dimag taja ho gaya. usaki or kanakhiyoan se dekha. aurat chanchal, baanki-katili, tej-tarrar thi. sethaniji ki moorti aankhoan ke samane a gee bhaddi, thal-thal, pil-pil, pairoan mean bevay phati huee, kap doan se durgandh u dati huee. sethaji namamatr ko bhi rasik n the, par is samay aankhoan se har gaye. aankhoan ko udhar se hatane ki cheshta karake charapaee par baith gaye. abhi kos bhar ki manzil baki hai, isaka khyal hi n raha. stri ek chhoti-si pankhiya utha laee aur sethaji ko jhalane lagi. hath ki pratyek gati ke sath sugandha ka ek jhoanka akar sethaji ko unmatt karane laga.

sethaji ne jivan mean aisa ullas kabhi anubhav n kiya tha. unhean pray: sabhi ghrina ki drishti se dekhate the. chola mast ho gaya. usake hath se pankhiya chhin leni chahi.

'tumhean kasht ho raha hai, lao maian jhal looan.'

'yah kaisi bat hai lalaji ! ap hamare daravaze par aye haian. kya itani khatir bhi n karane dijiyega. aur ham kis layaq haian. idhar kahian door jana hai ? ab to bahut der ho gee. kahaan jaiega.'

sethaji ne papi aankhoan ko pher kar aur papi man ko daba kar kaha, ‘yahaan se tho di door par ek gaanv hai, vahian jana hai. saanjh ko idhar hi se lautooanga.‘

sundari ne prasann hokar kaha, ‘to phir aj yahian rahiega. saanjh ko phir kahaan jaiega. ek din ghar ke bahar ki hava bhi khaie. phir n jane kab mulakat hogi.‘

ikkevale ne akar sethaji ke kan mean kaha, ‘paise nikalie to dane-chare ka intazam karooan.‘

sethaji ne chupake se athanni nikalakar de di.

ikkevale ne phir poochha, ‘apake lie kuchh mithaee leta aooan ? yahaan apake layaq mithaee to kya milegi, haan muanh mitha ho jayaga.‘

sethaji bole, ‘mere liye koee zaroorat nahian, haan bachchoan ke lie yah char ane ki mithaee livate ana.

chavanni nikalakar sethaji ne usake samane aise garv se pheanki mano isaki unake samane koee hakikat nahian hai. sundari ke muanh ka bhav to dekhana chahate the; par darate the ki kahian vah yah n samajhe, lala chavanni kya de rahe haian, mano kisi ko mol le rahe haian.

ikkevala chavanni uthakar ja hi raha tha ki sundari ne kaha, ‘sethaji ki chavanni lauta do. lapakakar utha li, sharm nahian ati. yah mujhase rupaya le lo. ath ane ki taji mithaee banavakar lao.' usane rupaya nikalakar pheanka ! sethaji mare laj ke g d gaye. ek ikkevan ki bhathiyarin jisaki take ki bhi aukat nahian, itani khatiradari kare ki unake lie poora rupaya nikalakar de de, yah bhala vah kaise sah sakate the. bole –‘nahian-nahian, yah nahian ho sakata. tum apana rupaya rakh lo. (rasik aankhoan ko tript karake) maian rupaya diye deta hooan. yah lo, ath ane ki le lena.‘

ikkevan to udhar mithaee aur dana-chare ki fikr mean chala, ‘idhar sundari ne seth se kaha, vah to abhi der mean ayega lala, tab tak pan to khao.‘

sethaji ne idhar-udhar takakar kaha, ‘yahaan to koee tamboli nahian hai.‘

sundari unaki or katakshapoorn netroan se dekhakar boli, ‘kya mere lagaye pan tamboli ke panoan se bhi kharab hoange ?’

sethaji ne lajjit hokar kaha, ‘nahian-nahian, yah bat nahian, tum musalaman ho n ?’

sundari ne vinodamay agrah se kaha, ‘khuda ki kasam, isi bat par maian tumhean pan khilakar chhodooangi !

yah kahakar usane panadan se ek bi da nikala aur sethaji ki taraph chali. sethaji ne ek minit tak to haan ! haan ! kiya, phir donoan hath badhakar use hatane ki cheshta ki, phir zor se donoan oanth band kar lie par jab sundari kisi tarah n mani, to sethaji apana dharm lekar betahasha bhage. soanta vahian charapaee par rah gaya. bis qadam par jakar ap ruk gaye aur haanphakar bole –‘dekho, is tarah kisi ka dharm nahian liya jata. ham log tumhara chhua pani pi lean to dharm bhrasht ho jay.‘

sundari ne phir dau daya. sethaji phir bhage. idhar pachas varsh se unhean is tarah bhagane ka avasar n p da tha. dhoti khisakakar girane lagi magar itana avakash n tha ki dhoti baandh lean. bechare dharm ko kandho par rakhe dau de chale jate the. n maloom kab kamar se rupayoan ka batua khisak p da. jab ek pachas qadam par phir ruke aur dhoti oopar uthaee, to batua nadarad. pichhe phirakar dekha. sundari hath mean batua liye unhean dikha rahi thi aur ishare se bula rahi thi. magar sethaji ko dharm rupaye se kahian pyara tha. do-char qadam chale phir ruk gaye.

yakayak dharm-buddhi ne d aaut bataee. tho de rupaye ke lie dharm chho de dete ho. rupaye bahut mileange. dharm kahaan milega.

yah sochate hue vah apani rah chale, jaise koee kutta jhag daloo kuttoan ke bich se ahat, dum dabaye bhaga jata ho aur bar-bar pichhe phirakar dekh leta ho ki kahian ve dusht a to nahian rahe haian.

sanbandhit lekh

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