बैंक का दिवाला -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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lakhanoo neshanal baiank ke daftar mean lala saeeandas aramakursi par lete hue sheyaroan ka bhav dekh rahe the aur soch rahe the ki is bar hissedaroan ko munapha kahaan se diya jayaga. chay, koyala ya joot ke hisse kharidane, chaandi, sone ya ruee ka satta karane ka irada karate; lekin nukasan ke bhay se kuchh tay n kar pate the. naj ke vyapar mean is bar b da ghata raha; hissedaroan ke dhadhas ke lie hani-labh ka kalpit byora dikhana p da aur napha pooanji se dena p da. isase phir naj ke vyapar mean hath dalate ji kaanpata tha.

par rupaye ko bekar dal rakhana asambhav tha. do-ek din mean use kahian n kahian lagane ka uchit upay karana zaroori tha; kyoanki dairektaroan ki timahi baithak ek hi saptah mean hone vali thi. aur yadi us samay koee nishchay hi n hua, to age tin mahine tak phir kuchh n ho sakega, aur chhamahi munaphe ke bantavare ke samay phir vahi pharaji karravaee karani p degi, jisako bar-bar sahan karana baiank ke lie kathin hai. bahut der tak is ulajhan mean p de rahane ke bad saeeandas ne ghanti bajayi. is par bagal ke doosare kamare se ek bangali baboo ne sir nikal kar jhaanka.

saeeandas-taja-stil kampani ko ek patr likh dijie ki apana naya baileans shit bhej dean.

baboo-un logoan ko rupaya ka garaj nahian. chitthi ka javab nahian deta.

saeeandas-achchha; nagapur ki svadeshi mil ko likhie.

baboo-usaka karobar achchha nahian hai. abhi usake mazadooroan ne h datal kiya tha. do mahina tak mil band raha.

saeeandas-aji, to kahian likho bhi ! tumhari samajh mean sari duniya beeemanoan se bhari hai.

baboo-baba, likhane ko to ham sab jagah likh dean; magar khali likh dene se to kuchh labh nahian hota.

lala saeeandas apani kul-pratishtha aur maryada ke karan baiank ke mainejiang dairektar ho gaye the par vyavaharik batoan se aparichit the. yahi bangali baboo inake salahakar the aur baboo sahab ko kisi karakhane ya kampani par bharosa n tha. inhian ke avishvas ke karan pichhale sal baiank ka rupaya sandook se bahar n nikal saka tha, aur ab vahi rang phir dikhayi deta tha. saeeandas ko is kathinaee se bachane ka koee upay n soojhata tha. n itani himmat thi ki apane bharose kisi vyapar mean hath dalean. bechaini ki dasha mean uth kar kamare mean tahalane lage ki daraban ne a kar khabar di-barahal ki maharani ki savari ayi hai.

2

lala saeeandas chauank p de. barahal ki maharani ko lakhanoo aye tin-char din hue the aur har ek ke muanh se unhian ki charcha sunayi deti thi. koee unake pahanave par mugdh tha, koee suandarata par, koee unaki svachchhand vritti par. yahaan tak ki unaki dasiyaan aur sipahi adi bhi logoan ki charcha ke patra bane hue the. rayal hotal ke dvar par darshakoan ki bhi d lagi rahati hai. kitane hi shaukin, bephikare log, itar-pharosh, bajaj ya tambakoogar ka vesh dhar kar unaka darshan kar chuke the. jidhar se maharani ki savari nikal jati, darshakoan ke that lag jate the. vah-vah, kya shan hai ! aisi iraki jo di lat sahab ke siva kisi raja-rees ke yahaan to shayad hi nikale, aur sajavat bhi kya khoob hai ! bhee, aise gore adami to yahaan bhi dikhayi nahian dete. yahaan ke rees to mrigaank, chandroday, aur eeshvar jane, kya-kya khak-bala khate haian, par kisi ke badan par tej ya prakash ka nam nahian. ye log n jane kya bhojan karate aur kis kuean ka pani pite haian ki jise dekhie, taja sev bana hua hai. yah sab jalavayu ka prabhav hai.

barahal uttar disha mean nepal ke samip, aangareji rajy mean ek riyasat thi. yadyapi janata use bahut maladar samajhati thi; par vastav mean us riyasat ki amadani do lakh se adhik n thi. haan, kshetraphal bahut vistrit tha. bahut bhoomi oosar aur uja d thi. basa hua bhag bhi paha di aur banjar tha. zamin bahut sasti uthati thi.

lala saeeandas ne turant alagani se reshami soot utar kar pahan liya aur mez par a kar shan se baith gaye, mano raja-raniyoan ka yahaan ana koee sadharan bat hai. daftar ke klark bhi sanbhal gaye. sare baiank mean sannate ki halachal paida ho gayi. daraban ne pag di sanbhali. chaukidar ne talavar nikali, aur apane sthan par kh da ho gaya. pankha-kuli ki mithi niand bhi tooti aur bangali baboo maharani ke svagat ke lie daftar se bahar nikale.

saeeandas ne bahari that to bana liya, kiantu chitt asha aur bhay se chanchal ho raha tha. ek rani se vyavahar karane ka yah pahala hi avasar tha; ghabarate the ki bat karate bane ya n bane. reesoan ka mizaj asaman par hota hai. maloom nahian, maian bat karane mean kahian chook jaooan. unhean is samay apane mean ek kami maloom ho rahi thi. vah rajasi niyamoan se anabhijn the. unaka samman kis prakar karana chahie, unase batean karane mean kin batoan ka dhyan rakhana chahie. unaki maryada-raksha ke lie kitani namrata uchit hai, is prakar ke prashn se vah b de asamanjas mean p de hue the, aur ji chahata tha kisi tarah pariksha se shighr hi chhutakara ho jay. vyapariyoan, mamooli jamiandaroan ya reesoan se vah rukhaee aur saphaee ka bartav kiya karate the aur padhe-likhe sajjanoan se shil aur shishtata ka. un avasaroan par unhean kisi vishesh vichar ki avashyakata n hoti thi; par is samay b di pareshani ho rahi thi. jaise koee lanka-vasi tibbat mean a gaya ho, jahaan ke rasm-rivaj aur batachit ka use jnan n ho.

ekaek unaki drishti gh di par p di. tisare pahar ke char baj chuke the, parantu gh di abhi dopahar ki niand mean magn thi. tarikh ki suee ne dau d mean samay ko bhi mat kar diya tha. vah jaldi se uthe ki gh di ko thik kar dean, itane mean maharani ka kamare mean padarpan hua. saeeandas ne gh di ko chho da aur maharani ke nikat ja bagal mean kh de ho gaye. nishchay n kar sake ki hath milayean ya jhuk kar salam karean. rani ji ne svayan hath badha kar unhean is ulajhan se chhu daya.

jab kursiyoan par baith gaye, to rani ke praivet sekretari ne vyavahar ki batachit shuroo ki. barahal ki purani gatha sunane ke bad usane un unnatiyoan ka varnan kiya, jo rani sahab ke prayatn se huee thian. is samay naharoan ki ek shakha nikalane ke lie das lakh rupayoan ki avashyakata thi; parantu unhoanne ek hiandustani baiank se hi vyavahar karana achchha samajha. ab yah nirnay neshanal baiank ke hath mean tha ki vah is avasar se labh uthana chahata hai ya nahian.

bangali baboo-ham rupaya de sakata hai, magar kagaj-pattar dekhe bina kuchh nahian kar sakata.

sekretari-ap koee jamanat chahate haian.

saeeandas udarata se bole-mahashay, jamanat ke lie apaki jaban hi kafi hai.

bangali baboo-apake pas riyasat ka koee hisab-kitab hai ?

lala saeeandas ko apane hedaklark ka duniyadari ka bartav achchha n lagata tha. vah is samay udarata ke nashe mean choor the. maharani ki soorat hi pakki jamanat thi. unake samane kagaz aur hisab ka varnan karana baniyapan jan p data tha, jisase avishvas ki gandh ati hai.

mahilaoan ke samane ham shil aur sankoch ke putale ban jate haian. saeeandas bangali baboo ki or kroor-kathor drishti se dekh kar bole-kagajoan ki jaanch koee avashyak bat nahian hai, keval hamako vishvas hona chahie.

bangali baboo-dairektar log kabhi n manega.

saeeandas-hamako isaki parava nahian, ham apani zimmedari par rupaye de sakate haian.

rani ne saeeandas ki or kritajnatapoorn drishti se dekha. unake hoanthoan par halaki muskarahat dikhalayi p di.

3

parantu dairektaroan ne hisab-kitab, ay-vyay dekhana avashyak samajha, aur yah kam lala saeeandas ke sipurd hua, kyoanki aur kisi ko apane kam se phursat n thi ki vah ek poore daftar ka muayana karata. saeeandas ne niyamapalan kiya. tin-char din tak hisab jaanchate rahe. tab apane itaminan ke anukool riport likhi. mamala tay ho gaya. dastavez likha gaya, rupaye de diye gaye. nau rupaye saik de byaj thahara.

tin sal tak baiank ke karobar mean achchhi unnati huee. chhathe mahine bina kahe-sune paiantalis hazar rupayoan ki thaili daftar mean a jati thi. vyavahariyoan ko paanch rupaye saik de byaj de diya jata tha. hissedaroan ko sat rupaye saik de labh tha.

saeeandas se sab log prasann the, sab log unaki soojh-boojh ki prashansa karate. yahaan tak ki bangali baboo bhi dhire-dhire unake kayal hote jate the. saeeandas unase kaha karate-baboo ji, vishvas sansar se n lupt hua hai aur n hoga. saty par vishvas rakhana pratyek manushy ka dharm hai. jis manushy ke chitt se vishvas jata rahata hai use mritak samajhana chahie. use jan p data hai, maian charoan or shatruoan se ghira hua hooan. b de se b de siddh mahatma bhi use range-siyar jan p date haian. sachche se sachche deshapremi usaki drishti mean apani prashansa ke bhookhe hi thaharate haian. sansar use dhokhe aur chhal se paripoorn dikhayi deta hai. yahaan tak ki usake man se paramatma par shraddha aur bhakti lupt ho jati hai. ek prasiddh philasaphar ka kathan hai ki pratyek manushy ko jab tak ki usake viruddh koee pratyaksh praman n pao bhalamanas samajho. vartaman shasan pratha isi mahattvapoorn siddhaant par gathit hai. aur ghrina to kisi se karani hi n chahie. hamari atmaean pavitr haian. unase ghrina karana paramatma se ghrina karane ke saman hai. maian yah nahian kahata hooan ki sansar mean kapat-chhal hai hi nahian; hai, aur bahut adhikata se hai parantu usaka nivaran avishvas se nahian manav charitr ke jnan se hota hai aur yah eeshvaradatt gun hai. maian yah dava to nahian karata parantu mujhe vishvas hai ki maian manushy ko dekh kar usake aantarik bhavoan tak pahuanch jata hooan. koee kitana hi vesh badale, rang-roop sanvare, parantu meri aantardrishti ko dhokha nahian de sakata. yah bhi dhyan rakhana chahie ki vishvas se vishvas utpann hota hai aur avishvas se avishvas. yah prakritik niyam hai. jis manushy ko ap shuroo se hi dhoort, kapati, durjan, samajh leange, vah kabhi apase nishkapat vyavahar n karega. vah ekaek apako nicha dikhane ka yatn karega. isake viparit ap ek chor par bhi bharosa karean, to vah apaka das ho jayega. sare sansar ko loote parantu apako dhokha n dega. vah kitana hi kukarmi, adharmi kyoan n ho, par ap usake gale mean vishvas ki janjir dal kar use jis or chahean, le ja sakate haian. yahaan tak ki vah apake hathoan punyatma bhi ban sakata hai.

bangali baboo ke pas in darshanik tarkoan ka koee uttar n tha.

4

chauthe varsh ki pahali tarikh thi. lala saeeandas baiank ke daftar mean baithe dakiye ki rah dekh rahe the. aj barahal se paiantalis hazar rupaye aveange. abaki inaka irada tha ki kuchh sajavat ke saman aur mol le lean. ab tak baiank mean teliphon nahian tha. usaka bhi takhamina manga liya tha. asha ki abha chehare se jhalak rahi thi. bangali baboo se hans kar kahate the-is tarikh ko mere hathoan mean adabada ke khujali hone lagati hai. aj bhi hatheli khujala rahi hai. kabhi daftari se kahate-are miyaan sharafat, jara sagun to vicharo; sirph sood hi sood a raha hai ya daftaravaloan ke lie nazarana-shukarana bhi. asha ka prabhav kadachith sthan par bhi hota hai. baiank bhi aj khula hua dikhayi p data tha.

dakiya thik samay par aya. saeeandas ne laparavahi se usaki or dekha. usane apani thaili se kee rajistari lifaphe nikale. saeeandas ne lifafe ko u dati nigahoan se dekha. barahal ka koee lifafa n tha. n bima, n muhar, n vah likhavat. kuchh nirasha-si huee. ji mean aya, dakiye se poochhean, koee rajistari rah to nahian gayi par ruk gaye; daftar ke klarkoan ke samane itana adhairy anuchit tha. kintu jab dakiya chalane laga tab unase n raha gaya ? poochh hi baithe-are bhaee, koee bima ka lifafa rah to nahian gaya ? aj use ana chahie tha. dakiye ne kaha-sarakar bhala aisi bat ho sakati hai ! aur kahian bhool-chook chahe ho bhi jay par apake kam mean kahian bhool ho sakati hai ?

saeeandas ka chehara utar gaya, jaise kachche rang par pani p d jay. dakiya chala gaya, to bangali baboo se bole-yah der kyoan huee ? aur to kabhi aisa n hota tha.

bangali baboo ne nishthur bhav se uttar diya-kisi karan se der ho gaya hoga. ghabarane ki koee bat nahian.

nirasha asambhav ko sambhav bana deti hai. saeeandas ko is samay yah khayal hua ki kadachith parsal se rupaye ate hoan. ho sakata hai, tin hazar asharphiyoan ka parsal kara diya ho. yadyapi is vichar ko auroan par prakat karane ka unhean sahas n hua, par unhean yah asha us samay tak bani rahi jab tak parsalavala dakiya vapas nahian gaya. aant mean sandhya ko vah bechaini ki dasha mean uth kar ghar chale gaye. ab khat ya tar ka iantazar tha. do-tin bar jhuanjhala kar uthe, daant kar patr likhooan aur saf-saf kah dooan ki len-den ke mamale mean vada poora n karana vishvasaghat hai. ek din ki der bhi baiank ke lie ghatak ho sakati hai. isase yah hoga ki phir kabhi aisi shikayat karane ka avasar n milega; parantu phir kuchh soch kar n likha.

sham ho gayi thi, kee mitr a gaye. gapashap hone lagi. itane mean postamain ne sham ki dak di. yoan vah pahale akhabaroan ko khola karate par aj chitthiyaan kholian; kintu barahal ka koee khat n tha. tab bedam ho ek aangarezi akhabar khola. pahale hi tar ka shirshak dekh kar unaka khoon sard ho gaya. likha tha-

‘kal sham ko barahal ki maharani ji ka tin din ki bimari ke bad dehaant ho gaya.’

isake age ek sankshipt not mean yah likha hua tha-barahal ki maharani ki akal mrityu keval is riyasat ke lie hi nahian, kintu samast praant ke lie shok-janak ghatana hai. b de-b de bhishagachary (vaidyaraj) abhi rog ki parakh bhi n kar paye the ki mrityu ne kam tamam kar diya. rani ji ko sadaiv apani riyasat ki unnati ka dhyan rahata tha. unake tho de-se rajyakal mean hi unase riyasat ko jo labh hue haian, ve chirakal tak smaran raheange. yadyapi yah mani huee bat thi ki rajy unake bad doosare ke hath jayaga, tathapi yah vichar kabhi rani sahiba ke kartavy palan mean badhak nahian bana. shastranusar unhean riyasat ki jamanat par rrin lene ka adhikar n tha. parantu praja ki bhalaee ke vichar se unhean kee bar is niyam ka ullanghan karana p da. hamean vishvas hai ki yadi vah kuchh din aur jivit rahatian, to riyasat ko rrin se mukt kar detian. unhean rat-din isaka dhyan rahata tha. parantu is asamayik mrityu ne ab yah phaisala doosaroan ke adhin kar diya. dekhana chahie, in rrinoan ka kya parinam hota hai. hamean vishvast riti se yah maloom hua hai ki naye maharaj ne, jo ajakal lakhanoo mean virajaman haian, apane vakiloan ki sammati ke anusar mritak maharani ke rrin sambandhi hisaboan ko chukane se inakar kar diya hai. hamean bhay hai ki is nishchay se mahajani tole mean b di halachal paida hogi aur lakhanoo ke kitane hi dhan-sampatti ke svamiyoan ko yah shiksha mil jayagi ki byaj ka lobh kitana anishtakari hota hai.

lala saeeandas ne akhabar mej par rakh diya aur akash ki or dekha, jo nirasha ka aantim ashray hai. any mitroan ne bhi yah samachar padha. in prashn par vad-vivad hone laga. saeeandas par charoan or se bauchhar p dane lagi. sara dosh unhian ke sir par madha gaya aur unaki chirakal ki karyakushalata aur parinamadarshita mitti mean mil gayi. baiank itana b da ghata sahane mean asamarth tha. ab yah vichar upasthit hua ki kaise usake pranoan ki raksha ki jay.

5

shahar mean yah khabar phailate hi log apane rupaye vapas lene ke lie atur ho gaye. subah se sham tak lenadaroan ka taanta laga rahata tha. jin logoan ka dhan chaloo hisab mean jama tha, unhoanne turant nikal liya, koee ujr n suna. yah usi patr ke lekh ka phal tha ki neshanal baiank ki sakh uth gayi. dhiraj se kam lete, to baiank sanbhal jata. parantu aandhi aur toofan mean kaun nauka sthir rah sakati hai ? aant mean khajaanchi ne tat ulat diya. baiank ki nasoan se itani raktadharaean nikalian ki vah pran-rahit ho gaya.

tin din bit chuke the. baiank ghar ke samane sahastroan adami ekatr the. baiank ke dvar par sashastr sipahiyoan ka pahara tha. nana prakar ki aphavahean u d rahi thian. kabhi khabar u dati, lal saeeandas ne vish-pan kar liya. koee unake pak de jane ki soochana lata tha. koee kahata tha-dairektar havalat ke bhitar ho gaye.

ekaek s dak par se ek motar nikali aur baiank ke samane a kar ruk gayi. kisi ne kaha-barahal ke maharaj ki motar hai. itana sunate hi saik doan manushy motar ki or ghabaraye hue dau de aur un logoan ne motar ko gher liya.

kuanvar jagadishasianh maharani ki mrityu ke bad vakiloan se salah lene lakhanoo aye the. bahut kuchh saman bhi kharidana tha. ve ichchhaean jo chirakal se aise suavasar ki pratiksha mean bandhi thian, pani ki bhaanti rah pa kar ubali p dati thian. yah motar aj hi li gayi thi. nagar mean ek kothi lene ki batachit ho rahi thi. bahumooly vilas-vastuoan se ladi ek ga di barahal ke lie chal chuki thi. yahaan bhi d dekhi, to socha, koee navin natak hone vala hai, motar rok di. itane mean saik doan ki bhi d lag gayi.

kuanvar sahab ne poochha-yahaan ap log kyoan jama haian ? koee tamasha hone vala hai kya ?

ek mahashay, jo dekhane mean koee big de rees maloom hote the, bole-ji haan, b da majedar tamasha hai.

kuanvar-kisaka tamasha hai ?

vah-takadir ka.

kuanvar mahashay ko yah uttar pa kar ashchary to hua, parantu sunate aye the ki lakhanoo vale bat-bat mean bat nikala karate haian, atah usi dhang se uttar dena avashyak hua. bole-takadir ka khel dekhane ke lie yahaan ana to avashyak nahian.

lakhanavi mahashay ne kaha-apaka kahana sach hai, lekin doosari jagah yah maja kahaan ? yahaan subah se sham tak ke bich bhagy ne kitanoan ko dhani se nirdhan aur nirdhan se bhikhari bana diya. savere jo log mahal mean baithe the, unhean is samay vriksh ki chhaya bhi nasib nahian. jinake dvar par sadavart khule the, unhean is samay rotiyoan ke lale p de haian. abhi ek saptah pahale jo log kal-gati, bhagy ke khel aur samay ke pher ko kaviyoan ki upama samajhate the is samay unaki ah aur karun krandan viyogiyoan ko bhi lajjit karata hai. aise tamashe aur kahaan dekhane mean aveange ?

kuanvar-janab, apane to paheli ko aur gadha kar diya. dehati hooan, mujhase sadharan taur se bat kijie.

is par ek sajjan ne kaha-sahab, yah neshanal baiank hai. isaka divala nikal gaya hai. adab-arj, mujhe pahachana ?

kuanvar sahab ne usaki or dekha, to motar se kood p de aur unase hath milate hue bole-are, mistar nasim ? tum yahaan kahaan ? bhaee tumase milakar b da anand hua.

mistar nasim kuanvar sahab ke sath deharadoon-kalej mean padhate the. donoan sath-sath deharadoon ki paha diyoan par sair karate the, parantu jab se kuanvar mahashay ne ghar ke jhanjhatoan se vivash hokar kalej chho da, tab se donoan mitroan mean bheant n huee thi. nasim bhi unake ane ke kuchh samay pichhe apane ghar lakhanoo chale aye the.

nasim ne uttar diya-shukr hai, apane pahachana to. kahie, ab to pau-barah hai. kuchh dostoan ki bhi sudh hai ?

kuanvar-sach kahata hooan. tumhari yad hamesha aya karati thi. kaho, aram se to ho ? maian rayal hotal mean tika hooan, aj ao, to itminan se batachit ho.

nasim-janab, itminan to neshanal baiank ke sath chala gaya. ab to roji ki fikr savar hai. jo kuchh jama-pooanji thi, sab apako bheant huee. is divale ne fakir bana diya. ab apake daravaze par a kar dharana dooanga.

kuanvar-tumhara ghar hai, bekhatake ao. mere sath hi kyoan n chalo. kya batalaooan, mujhe kuchh bhi dhyan n tha ki mere inakar karane ka yah phal hoga. jan p data hai baiank ne bahuteroan ko tabah kar diya.

nasim-ghar-ghar matam chhaya hua hai. mere pas to in kap doan ke siva aur kuchh nahian raha.

itane mean ek tilakadhari pandit ji a gaye aur bole-sahab, apake sharir par vastr to haian. yahaan to dharati-akash kahian thikana nahian. raghoji pathashala ka adhyapak hooan. pathashala ka sab dhan isi baiank mean jama tha. pachas vidyarthi isi ke asare sanskrit padhate aur bhojan pate the. kal se pathashala band ho jayegi. door-door ke vidyarthi haian. vah apane ghar kis tarah pahuancheange, eeshvar hi janean.

ek mahashay, jinake sir par panjabi dhang ki pag di thi, gadhe ka kot aur chamaraudha joota pahane hue the, age badh aye aur netritv ke bhav se bole-mahashay, is baiank ke phelyor ne kitane hi ianstityooshanoan ko samapt kar diya. lala dinanath ka anathalay ab ek din bhi nahian chal sakata. usake ek lakh rupaye doob gaye. abhi pandrah din hue, maian deputeshan se lauta to pandrah hazar rupaye anathalay kosh mean jama kiye the, magar ab kahian kau di ka thikana nahian !

ek boodhe ne kaha-sahab, meri to ziandagi bhar ki kamaee mitti mean mil gayi. ab kafan ka bhi bharosa nahian.

dhire-dhire aur log bhi ekatr ho gaye aur sadharan batachit hone lagi. pratyek manushy apane pasavale ko apani duahkhakatha sunane laga. kuanvar sahab adhe ghante tak nasim ke sath kh de ye vipath kathaean sunate rahe. jyoan hi motar par baithe aur hotal ki or chalane ki ajna di, tyoan hi unaki drishti ek manushy par p di, jo prithvi par sir jhukaye baitha tha. yah ek ahir tha jo l dakapan mean kuanvar sahab ke sath khela tha. us samay unamean ooanch-nich ka vichar n tha, kabaddi khele, sath pe doan par chadhe aur chi diyoan ke bachche churaye the. jab kuanvar ji deharadoon padhane gaye, tab yah ahir ka l daka shivadas apane bap ke sath lakhanoo chala aya. usane yahaan ek doodh ki dookan khol li thi. kuanvar sahab ne use pahachana aur uchch svar se pukara-are shivadas idhar dekho.

shivadas ne boli suni, parantu sir oopar n uthaya. vah apane sthan par baitha hi kuanvar sahab ko dekh raha tha. bachapan ke ve din yad a rahe the, jab vah jagadish ke sath gulli-danda khelata tha, jab donoan buddhe gaphoor miyaan ko muanh chidha kar ghar mean chhip jate the, jab vah isharoan se jagadish ko guru ji ke pas se bula leta tha, aur donoan ramalila dekhane chale jate the. use vishvas tha ki kuanvar ji mujhe bhool gaye hoange, ve l dakapan ki batean ab kahaan ? kahaan maian aur kahaan yah ! lekin kuanvar sahab ne usaka nam lekar bulaya, to usane prasann hokar milane ke badale aur bhi sir nicha kar liya aur vahaan se tal jana chaha. kuanvar sahab ki sahridayata mean vah samyabhav n tha. magar kuanvar sahab use hatate dekh kar motar se utare aur usaka hath pak d kar bole-are shivadas, kya mujhe bhool gaye ?

ab shivadas apane manoveg ko rok n saka. usake netr dabadaba aye. kuanvar ke gale se lipat gaya aur bola-bhoola to nahian. par apake samane ate lajja ati hai.

kuanvar-yahaan doodh ki dookan karate ho kya ? mujhe maloom hi n tha, nahian athavaroan se pani pite-pite jukam kyoan hota ? ao, isi motar par baith jao. mere sath hotal tak chalo. tumase batean karane ko ji chahata hai. tumhean barahal le chalooanga aur ek bar phir gulli-dande ka khel kheleange.

shivadas-aisa n kijie, nahian to dekhanevale hanseange. maian hotal mean a jaooanga. vahi hajarataganj vale hotal mean thahare haian n ?

kuanvar-haan, avashy aoge n ?

shivadas-ap bulayeange, aur maian n aooanga ?

kuanvar-yahaan kaise baithe ho ? dookan to chal rahi hai n ?

shivadas-aj savere tak to chalati thi. age ka hal nahian maloom.

kuanvar-tumhare rupaye bhi baiank mean jama the kya ?

shivadas-jab aooanga to bataooanga.

kuanvar sahab motar par a baithe aur draivar se bole-hotal ki or chalo.

draivar-huzoor ne vhaitave kampani ki dookan par chalane ki ajna jo di thi.

kuanvar-ab udhar n jaooanga.

draivar-jekab sahab baristar ke yahaan bhi n chaleange ?

kuanvar-(jhuanjhala kar) nahian, kahian mat chalo. mujhe sidhe hotal pahuanchao.

nirasha aur vipatti ke in drishyoan ne jagadishasianh ke chitt mean yah prashn upasthit kar diya tha ki ab mera kya kartavy hai ?

6

aj se sat varsh poorv jab barahal ke maharaj thik yuvavastha mean gho de se gir kar mar gaye the aur virasat ka prashn utha to maharaj ke koee santan n hone ke karan, vansh-kram milane se unake sage chachere bhaee thakur ramasianh ko virasat ka hak pahuanchata tha. unhoanne dava kiya, lekin nyayalayoan ne rani ko hi hakadar thaharaya. thakur sahab ne apilean kian, privi kauansil tak gaye, parantu saphalata n huee. mukadamebaji mean lakhoan rupaye nasht hue, apane pas ki milakiyat bhi hath se jati rahi; kintu har kar bhi vah chain se n baithe. sadaiv vidhava rani ko chhe date rahe. kabhi asamiyoan ko bh dakate, kabhi asamiyoan se rani ki buraee karate, kabhi unhean jali mukadamoan mean phansane ka upay karate, parantu rani b de jivat ki stri thian. vah bhi thakur sahab ke pratyek aghat ka muanhato d uttar detian. haan, is khianchatan mean unhean b di-b di rakamean avashy kharch karani p dati thian. asamiyoan se rupaye n vasool hote isalie unhean bar-bar rrin lena p data tha. parantu qanoon ke anusar unhean rrin lene ka adhikar n tha. isalie unhean ya to is vyavastha ko chhipana p data tha, ya sood ki gahari dar svikar karani p dati thi.

kuanvar jagadishasianh ka l dakapan to la d-pyar mean bita tha, parantu jab thakur ramasianh mukadamebaji se bahut tang a gaye aur yah sandeh hone laga ki kahian rani ki chaloan se kuanvar sahab ka jivan sankat mean n p d jaye, to unhoanne vivash ho kar kuanvar sahab ko deharadoon bhej diya. kuanvar sahab vahaan do varsh tak to anand se rahe, kintu jyoan hi kalej ki pratham shreni mean pahuanche ki pita paralokavasi ho gaye. kuanvar sahab ko padhaee chho dani p di. barahal chale aye, sir par kutumb-palan aur rani se purani shatruta ko nibhane ka bojh a p da. us samay se maharani ke mrityu-kal tak unaki dasha bahut giri rahi. rrin ya striyoan ke gahanoan ke siva aur koee adhar n tha. us par kul-maryada ki raksha ki chinta bhi thi. ye tin varsh tak unake lie kathin pariksha ke samay the. aye din sahookaroan se kam p data tha. unake nirday banoan se kaleja chhid gaya tha. hakimoan ke kathor vyavahar aur atyachar bhi sahane p date; parantu sabase hriday-vidarak apane atmiyajanoan ka bartav tha, jo samane bat n karake bagali chotean karate the, mitrata aur aiky ki a d mean kapat hath chalate the. in kathor yatanaoan ne kuanvar sahab ko adhikar, svechchhachar aur dhan-sampatti ka jani dushman bana diya tha. vah b de bhavuk purush the. sambandhiyoan ki akripa aur desh-bandhuoan ki durniti unake hriday par kala chihn banati jati thi. sahity-prem ne unhean manav-prakriti ka tattvanveshi bana diya tha aur jahaan yah jnan unhean pratidin sabhyata se door liye jata tha, vahaan unake chitt mean jan-satta aur samyavad ke vichar pusht karata jata tha. un par prakat ho gaya tha ki yadi sadvyavahar jivit hai, to vah jhoanp doan aur gariboan mean hi hai. us kathin samay mean, jab charoan or aandhera chhaya hua tha, unhean kabhi-kabhi sachchi sahanubhooti ka prakash yahian drishtigochar ho jata tha. dhan-sampatti ko vah shreshth prasad nahian, eeshvar ka prakop samajhate the jo manushy ke hriday se daya aur prem ke bhavoan ko mita deta hai; yah vah megh hai, jo chitt ke prakashit taroan par chha jata hai.

parantu maharani ki mrityu ke bad jyoan hi dhan-sampatti ne un par var kiya, bas darshanik tarkoan ki yah dhal choor-choor ho gayi. atmanidarshan ki shakti nasht ho gayi. ve mitr ban gaye jo shatru sarikhe the aur jo sachche hitaishi the ve vismrit ho gaye. samyavad ke manogat vicharoan mean ghor parivartan arambh ho gaya. hriday mean asahishnuta ka udbhav hua. tyag ne bhog ki or sir jhuka diya, maryada ki be di gale mean p di. ve adhikari, jinhean dekh kar unake tevar badal jate the, ab unake salahakar ban gaye. dinata aur daridrata ko, jinase unhean sachchi sahanubhooti thi, dekh kar ab vah aankhean mooand lete the.

isamean sandeh nahian ki kuanvar sahab ab bhi samyavad ke bhakt the, kintu un vicharoan ke prakat karane mean vah pahale ki-si svatantrata n thi. vichar ab vyavahar se darata tha. unhean kathan ko kary-roop mean parinat karane ka avasar prapt tha; par ab kary-kshetr kathinaiyoan se ghira hua jan p data tha. begar ke vah jani dushman the; parantu ab begar ko band karana dushkar pratit hota tha. svachchhata aur svasthyaraksha ke vah bhakt the, kintu ab dhan vyay n karake bhi unhean gramavasiyoan ki hi or se virodh ki shanka hoti thi. asamiyoan se pot ugahane mean kathor bartav ko vah pap samajhate the; magar ab kathorata ke bina kam chalata n jan p data tha. saraansh yah ki kitane hi siddhaant, jin par pahale unaki shraddha thi ab asangat maloom hote the.

parantu aj jo duahkhajanak drishy baiank ke hate mean najar aye unhoanne unake daya-bhav ko jagrat kar diya. us manushy ki-si dasha ho gayi, jo nauka mean baitha suramy tat ki shobha ka anand uthata hua kisi shmashan ke samane a jaye, chita par lashean jalati dekhe, shok-santaptoan ke karun krandan ko sune aur nav se utar kar unake duahkh mean sammilit ho jay !

rat ke das baj gaye the. kuanvar sahab palang par lete the. baiank ke hate ka drishy aankhoan ke samane nach raha tha. vahi vilap-dhvani kanoan mean a rahi thi ! chitt mean prashn ho raha tha, kya is vidambana ka karan maian hi hooan ! maianne to vahi kiya, jisaka mujhe qanoonan adhikar tha. yah baiank ke sanchalakoan ki bhool hai, jo unhoanne bina poori jamanat ke itani rakam karz de di. lenadaroan ko unhian ki garadan napani chahie. maian koee khudaee faujadar nahian hooan, ki doosaroan ki nadani ka phal bhogooan. phir vichar palata, maian nahak is hotal mean thahara. chalis rupaye pratidin dene p deange. koee char sau rupaye ke matthe jayegi. itana saman bhi vyarth hi liya. kya avashyakata thi ? makhamali gadde ki kursiyoan ya shishe ki sajavat se mera gaurav nahian badh sakata. koee sadharan makan paanch rupaye par le leta, to kya kam n chalata ? maian aur sath ke sab adami aram se rahate. yahi n hota ki log nianda karate. isaki kya chianta. jin logoan ke matthe yah that kar raha hooan, ve garib to rotiyoan ko tarasate haian. ye hi das-barah hazar rupaye laga kar kuean banava deta, to sahastroan dinoan ka bhala hota. ab phir logoan ke chakame mean n aooanga. yah motarakar vyarth hai. mera samay itana mahanga nahian hai ki ghante-adh-ghante ki kiphayat ke lie do sau rupaye mahine ka kharch badha looan. faka karanevale asamiyoan ke samane motar dau dana unaki chhatiyoan par mooang dalana hai. mana ki ve rob mean a jayeange, jidhar se nikal jaooanga, saik doan striyaan aur bachche dekhane ke lie kh de ho jayeange, magar keval itane hi dikhave ke lie itana kharch badha़na moorkhata hai. yadi doosare rees aisa karate haian to karean, maian unaki barabari kyoan karooan ? ab tak do hazar rupaye salana mean mera nirvah ho jata tha. ab do ke badale char hazar bahut haian. phir mujhe doosaroan ki kamaee is prakar u dane ka adhikar hi kya hai ? maian koee udyog-dhandha, koee karobar nahian karata jisaka yah napha ho. yadi mere purakhoan ne hathadharmi, jabaradasti se ilaka apane hathoan mean rakh liya, to mujhe unake loot ke dhan mean sharik hone ka kya adhikar hai ? jo log parishram karate haian, unhean apane parishram ka poora phal milana chahie. rajy unhean keval doosaroan ke kathor hathoan se bachata hai. use is seva ka uchit muavaja milana chahie. bas, maian to rajy ki or se yah muavaja vasool karane ke lie niyat hooan. isake siva in gariboan ki kamaee mean mera aur koee bhag nahian. bechare din haian, moorkh haian, bejaban haian, is samay ham inhean chahe jitana sata lean. inhean apane svatv ka jnan nahian. maian apane mahattv ko nahian samajhata par ek samay aisa avashy ayega, jab inake muanh mean bhi juban hogi, inhean bhi apane adhikaroan ka jnan hoga. tab hamari dasha buri hogi. ye bhog-vilas mujhe apane adamiyoan se door kiye dete haian. meri bhalaee isi mean hai, ki inhian mean rahooan, inhian ki bhaanti jivan-nirvah aur inaki sahayata karooan. koee chhoti-moti rakam hoti, to kahata lao, jis sir par bahut bhar hai, usi tarah yah bhi sahi. mool ke alava kee hazar rupaye sood ke alag hue. phir mahajanoan ke bhi tin lakh rupaye haian. riyasat ki amadani dedh-do lakh rupaye salana hai, adhik nahian. maian itana b da sahas karooan bhi, to kis birate par ? haan, yadi bairagi ho jaooan to sambhav hai, mere jivan mean-yadi kahian achanak mrityu n ho jay to yah jhag da pak ho jay. is agni mean koodana apane sampoorn jivan, apani umangoan aur apani ashaoan ko bhasm karana hai. ah ! in dinoan ki pratiksha mean maianne kya-kya kasht nahian bhoge. pita ji ne is chianta mean pran-tyag kiya. yah shubh muhoort hamari aandheri rat ke lie door ka dipak tha. ham isi ke asare jivit the. sote-jagate sadaiv isi ki charcha rahati thi. isase chitt ko kitana santosh aur kitana abhiman tha. bhookhe rahane ke din bhi hamare tevar maile n hote the. jab itane dhairy aur santosh ke bad achchhe din aye to usase kaise vimukh hua jaye. phir apani hi chianta to nahian, riyasat ki unnati ki kitani hi skimean soch chuka hooan. kya apani ichchhaoan ke sath un vicharoan ko bhi tyag dooan. is abhagi rani ne mujhe buri tarah phansaya, jab tak jiti rahi, kabhi chain se n baithane diya. mari to mere sir par yah bala dal di. parantu maian daridrata se itana darata kyoan hooan ? daridrata koee pap nahian hai. yadi mera tyag hajaroan gharanoan ko kasht aur duravastha se bachaye to mujhe usase muanh n mo dana chahie. keval sukh se jivan vyatit karana hi hamara dhyey nahian hai. hamari man-pratishtha aur kirti sukh-bhog hi se to nahian hua karati. rajamandiroan mean rahane valoan aur vilas mean rat ranapratap ko kaun janata hai ? yah unaka atm-samarpan aur kathin vratapalan hi hai, jisane unhean hamari jati ka soory bana diya hai. shriramachandr ne yadi apana jivan sukh-bhog mean bitaya hota to aj ham unaka nam bhi n janate. unake atm-balidan ne hi unhean amar bana diya. hamari pratishtha dhan aur vilas par avalambit nahian hai. maian motar par savar hua to kya, aur tattoo par chadha to kya, hotal mean thahara to kya aur kisi mamooli ghar thahara to kya. bahut hoga, tallukedar log meri hansi u daveange. isaki parava nahian. maian to hriday se chahata hooan ki un logoan se alag-alag rahooan. yadi itani nianda se saik doan parivaroan ka bhala ho jaye, to maian manushy nahian, yadi prasannata se use sahan n karooan. yadi apane gho de aur phitan, sair aur shikar, naukar-chakar aur svarth-sadhak hit-mitroan se rahit ho kar maian sahòoan amir-garib kutumboan ka, vidhavaoan, anathoan ka bhala kar sakooan, to mujhe isamean kadapi vilamb n karana chahie. sahòoan parivaroan ke bhagy is samay meri mutthi mean haian. mera sukh-bhog unake lie vish aur mera atm-sanyam unake lie amrit hai. maian amrit ban sakata hooan, vish kyoan banooan ? aur phir ise atm-tyag samajhana bhi meri bhool hai. yah ek sanyog hai ki maian aj is jayadad ka adhikari hooan. maianne use kamaya nahian. usake lie rakt nahian bahaya. n pasina bahaya. yadi vah jayadad mujhe n mili hoti to maian sahòoan din bhaiyoan ki bhaanti aj jivikoparjan mean laga rahata. maian kyoan n bhool jaooan ki maian is rajy ka svami hooan. aise hi avasaroan par manushy ki parakh hoti hai. maianne varshaane pustakavalokan kiya, varshoan paropakar ke siddhantoan ka anuyayi raha. yadi is samay un siddhaantoan ko bhool jaooan, svarth ko manushyata aur sadachar se badhane dooan to vastutah yah meri atyant kayarata aur svarthaparata hogi. bhala svarthasadhan ki shiksha ke lie gita, mil, emarsan aur arastoo ka shishy banane ki kya avashyakata thi. yah path to mujhe apane doosare bhaiyoan se yoan hi mil jata. prachalit pratha se badh kar aur kaun guru tha ? sadharan logoan ki bhaanti kya maian bhi svarth ke samane sir jhuka dooan ? to phir visheshata kya rahi ? nahian, maian nanashans (vivek-buddhi) ka khoon n karooanga. jahaan puny kar sakata hooan, pap n karooanga. paramatmanh, tum meri sahayata karo, tumane mujhe rajapoot-ghar mean janm diya hai. mere karm se is mahanh jati ko lajjit n karo. nahian, kadapi nahian, yah gardan svarth ke sammukh n jhukegi. maian ram, bhishm, aur pratap ka vanshaj hooan. sharir-sevak n banooanga.

kuanvar jagadish sianh ko is samay aisa jnat hua, mano vah kisi ooanchi minar par chadh gaye haian. chitt abhiman se poorit ho gaya. aankhean prakashaman ho gayian. parantu ek hi kshan mean is umang ka utar hone laga, ooanchi minar ke niche ki or aankhean gayian. sara sharir kaanp utha. us manushy ki-si dasha ho gayi, jo kisi nadi ke tat par baitha usamean koodane ka vichar kar raha ho.

unhoanne socha, kya mere ghar ke log mujhase sahamat hoange ? yadi mere karan ve sahamat bhi ho jayean, to kya mujhe adhikar hai ki apane sath unaki ichchhaoan ka bhi balidan karooan ? aur-to-aur, mata ji kabhi n maneangi, aur kadachith bhaee log bhi asvikar karean. riyasat ki haisiyat ko dekhate hue ve kam-se-kam das hazar salana ke hissedar haian. aur unake bhag mean kisi prakar ka hastakshep nahian kar sakata. maian keval apana malik hooan, parantu maian bhi to akela nahian hooan. savitri svayan chahe mere sath ag mean koodane ko taiyar ho, kiantu apane pyare putr ko is aanch ke samip kadapi n ane degi.

kuanvar mahashay aur adhik n soch sake. vah ek vikal dasha mean palang par se uth baithe aur kamare mean tahalane lage. tho di der bad unhoanne jangale ke bahar ki or jhaanka aur kiva d khol kar bahar chale gaye. charoan or aandhera tha. unaki chiantaoan ki bhaanti samane apar aur bhayankar gomati nadi bah rahi thi. vah dhire-dhire nadi ke tat par chale gaye aur der tak vahaan tahalate rahe. akul hriday ko jal-tarangoan se prem hota hai. shayad isilie ki laharean vyakul haian. unhoanne apane chanchal chitt ko phir ekagr kiya. yadi riyasat ki amadani se ye sab vrittiyaan di jayeangi, to rrin ka sood nikalana bhi kathin hoga. mool ka to kahana hi kya ! kya ay mean vriddhi nahian ho sakati ? abhi astabal mean bis gho de haian. mere lie ek kafi hai. naukaroan ki sankhya sau se kam n hogi. mere lie do bhi adhik haian. yah anuchit hai ki apane hi bhaiyoan se nich sevaean karayi jayan. un manushyoan ko maian apane sir ki zamin de dooanga. sukh se kheti kareange aur mujhe ashirvad deange. bagichoan ke phal ab tak daliyoan ki bheant ho jate the. ab unhean bechooanga, aur sabase b di amadani to bayaee ki hai. keval maheshaganj ke bazar ke das hazar rupaye ate haian. yah sab amadani mahant ji u da jate haian. unake lie ek hazar rupaye sal hona chahie. abaki is bazar ka theka dooanga. ath hazar se kam n mileange. in madoan se pachis hazar rupaye ki varshik ay hogi. savitri aur lalla l dake ke lie ek hazar rupaye kafi haian. maian savitri se spasht kah dooanga ki ya to ek hazar rupaye masik lo aur mere sath raho ya riyasat ki adhi amadani le lo, aur mujhe chho d do. rani banane ki ichchha ho, to khushi se bano, parantu maian raja n banooanga.

achanak kuanvar sahab ke kanoan mean avaz ayi-ram nam saty hai. unhoanne pichhe mu d kar dekha. kee manushy ek lash liye ate the. un logoan ne nadi kinare chita banayi aur usamean ag laga di. do striyaan chiangha d kar ro rahi thian. is vilap ka kuanvar sahab ke chitt par kuchh prabhav n p da. vah chitt mean lajjit ho rahe the ki maian kitana pashan-hriday hooan. ek din manushy ki lash jal rahi hai, striyaan ro rahi haian aur mera hriday tanik bhi nahian pasijata ! patthar ki moorti ki bhaanti kh da hooan. ekabaragi stri ne rote hue kaha-hay mere raja ! tumhean vish kaise mitha laga ? yah hriday-vidarak vilap sunate hi kuanvar sahab ke chitt mean ek ghav-sa lag gaya. karuna sajag ho gayi aur netr ashrupoorn ho gaye. kadachith isane vish-pan karake pran diye haian. hay ! use vish kaise mitha laga. isamean kitani karuna hai, kitana dukh, kitana ashchary ! vish to k dava padarth hai. kyoankar mitha ho gaya ! katu vish ke badale jisane apane madhur pran de diye us par koee b di musibat p di hogi. aisi hi dasha mean vish madhur ho sakata hai. kuanvar sahab t dap gaye. karunik shabd bar-bar unake hriday mean gooanjate the. ab unase vahaan kh da n raha gaya. vah un adamiyoan ke pas aye, ek manushy se poochha-kya bahut dinoan se bimar the ? is manushy ne kuanvar sahab ki or aansoo-bhare netroan se dekh kar kaha-nahian sahab, kahaan ki bimari ! abhi aj sandhya tak bhali-bhaanti batean kar rahe the ! maloom nahian, sandhya ko kya kha liya ki khoon ki kai hone lagi. jab tak vaidyaraj ke yahaan jayan, tab tak aankhean ulat gayian. na di chhoot gayi. vaidyaraj ne akar dekha, to kaha-ab kya ho sakata hai ? abhi kul baees-teees varsh ki avastha thi. aisa pattha sare lakhanoo mean nahian tha.

kuanvar-kuchh maloom hua, vish kyoan khaya ?

us manushy ne sandeh-drishti se dekh kar kaha-mahashay, aur to koee bat nahian huee. jab se yah b da baiank toota hai, bahut udas rahate the. koee hazar rupaye baiank mean jama kiye the. ghi-doodh-malaee ki b di dookan thi. biradari mean man tha. vah sari pooanji doob gayi. ham log rokate rahe ki baiank mean rupaye mat jama karo; kintu honahar yah thi. kisi ki nahian suni. aj sabere stri se gahane maangate the ki giravi rakh kar ahiroan ke doodh ke dam de dean. usase batoan-batoan mean jhag da ho gaya. bas n jane kya kha liya.

kuanvar sahab ka hriday kaanp utha. turant dhyan aya-shivadas to nahian hai ! poochha-inaka nam shivadas to nahian tha. us manushy ne vismay se dekh kar kaha-haan, yahi nam tha. kya apase jan-pahachan thi ?

kuanvar-haan, ham aur yah bahut dinoan tak barahal mean sath-sath khele the. aj sham ko vah hamase baiank mean mile the. yadi unhoanne mujhase tanik bhi charcha ki hoti, to maian yathashakti unaki sahayata karata. shok ?

us manushy ne tab dhyanapoorvak kuanvar sahab ko dekha, aur ja kar striyoan se kaha-chup ho jao, barahal ke maharaj aye haian. itana sunate hi shivadas ki mata jor-jor se sir patakati aur roti huee akar kuanvar ke pairoan par gir p di. usake mukh se keval ye shabd nikale-‘beta, bachapan se jise tum bhaiya kaha karate the.’-aur gala ruandh gaya.

kuanvar mahashay ki aankhoan se bhi ashrupat ho raha tha. shivadas ki moorti unake samane kh di yah kahati dekh p dati thi ki tumane mitr ho kar mere pran liye !

7

bhor ho gayi. parantu kuanvar sahab ko niand n ayi. jab se vah gomati tir se laute the, unake chitt par ek vairagy-sa chhaya hua tha. vah karunik drishy unake svarth ke tarkoan ko chhinn-bhinn kiye deta tha. savitri ke virodh, lalla ke nirasha-yukt hath aur mata ke kushabdoan ka ab unhean leshamatr bhi bhay n tha. savitri kudhegi kudhe, lalla ko bhi sangram ke kshetr mean koodana p dega, koee chianta nahian ! mata pran dene par tatpar hogi, kya harj hai. maian apani stri-putr tatha hit-mitradi ke lie sahòoan parivaroan ki hatya n karooanga. hay ! shivadas ko jivit rakhane ke lie maian aisi kitani riyasatean chho d sakata hooan. savitri ko bhookhoan rahana p de, lalla ko mazadoori karani p de, mujhe dvar-dvar bhikh maangani p de, tab bhi doosaroan ka gala n dabaooanga. ab vilamb ka avasar nahian. n jane age yah divala aur kya-kya apattiyaan kh di kare. mujhe itana aga-pichha kyoan ho raha hai ? yah keval atm-nirbalata hai varana yah koee aisa b da kam nahian, jo kisi ne n kiya ho. aye din log rupaye dan-puny karate haian. mujhe apane kartavy ka jnan hai. usase kyoan muanh mo dooan. jo kuchh ho, jo chahe sir p de, isaki kya chianta. kuanvar ne ghanti bajayi. ek kshan mean aradali aankhean malata hua aya.

kuanvar sahab bole-abhi jekab baristar ke pas jakar mera salam do. jag gaye hoange. kahana, zaroori kam hai. nahian, yah patr lete jao. motar taiyar kara lo.

8

mistar jekab ne kuanvar sahab ko bahut samajhaya ki ap is daladal mean n phansean, nahian to nikalana kathin hoga. maloom nahian, abhi kitani aisi rakamean haian jinaka apako pata nahian hai, parantu chitt mean dridh ho janevala nishchay choone ka pharsh hai, jisako apatti ke thape de aur bhi pusht kar dete haian, kuanvar sahab apane nishchay par dridh rahe. doosare din samachar-patroan mean chhapava diya ki mrit maharani par jitana karz hai vah ham sakarate haian aur niyat samay ke bhitar chuka deange.

is vijnapan ke chhapate hi lakhanoo mean khalabali p d gayi. buddhimanoan ki sammati mean yah kuanvar mahashay ki nitaant bhool thi aur jo log qanoon se anabhijn the, unhoanne socha ki isamean avashy koee bhed hai. aise bahut kam manushy the, jinhean kuanvar sahab ki niyat ki sachchaee par vishvas aya ho parantu kuanvar sahab ka bakhan chahe n hua ho, ashirvad ki kami n thi. baiank ke hajaroan garib lenadar sachche hriday se unhean ashirvad de rahe the.

ek saptah tak kuanvar sahab ko sir uthane ka avakash n mila. mistar jekab ka vichar saty siddh hua. dena pratidin badhata jata tha. kitane hi pronot aise mile, jinaka unhean kuchh bhi pata n tha. jauhariyoan aur any b de-b de dookanadaroan ka lena bhi kam n tha. aandajan terah-chaudah lakh ka tha. mijan bis lakh tak pahuancha. kuanvar sahab ghabaraye. shanka huee-aisa n ho ki unhean bhaiyoan ka gujara bhi band karana p de. jisaka unhean koee adhikar nahian tha. yahaan tak ki satavean din unhoanne kee sahookaroan ko bura-bhala kah kar samane se door kiya. jahaan byaj ki dar adhik thi, use kam karaya aur jin rakamoan ki miyadean bit chuki thian, unase inakar kar diya.

unhean sahookaroan ki kathorata par krodh ata tha. unake vichar se mahajanoan ko doobate dhan ka ek bhag pa kar hi santosh kar lena chahie tha. itani khianchatan karane par bhi kul unnis lakh se kam n hua.

kuanvar sahab in kamoan se avakash pa kar ek din neshanal baiank ki or ja nikale. baiank khula hua tha. mritak sharir mean pran a gaye the. lenadaroan ki bhi d lagi huee thi. log prasannachitt laute ja rahe the. kuanvar sahab ko dekhate hi saik doan manushy b de prem se unaki or dau de. kisi ne ro kar, kisi ne pairoan par gir kar aur kisi ne sabhyatapoorvak apani kritajnata prakat ki. vah baiank ke karyakarttaoan se bhi mile. logoan ne kaha-is vijnapan ne baiank ko jivit kar diya. bangali baboo ne lala saeeandas ki alochana ki-vah samajhata tha sansar mean sab manushy bhalamanas hai. hamako upadesh karata tha. ab usaki aankh khul gee hai. akela ghar mean baitha rahata hai. kisi ko muanh nahian dikhata. ham sunata hai, vah vahaan se bhag jana chahata tha. parantu b da sahab bola, bhagega to tumhara oopar varant jari kar dega. ab saeeandas ki jagah bangali baboo mainejar ho gaye the.

isake bad kuanvar sahab barahal aye. bhaiyoan ne yah vrittaant suna, to big de, adalat ki dhamaki di. mata ji ko aisa dhakka pahuancha ki vah usi din bimar ho kar ek hi saptah mean is sansar se vida ho gayian. savitri ko bhi chot lagi, par usane keval santosh hi nahian kiya, pati ki udarata aur tyag ki prashansa bhi ki. rah gaye lal sahab. unhoanne jab dekha ki astabal se gho de nikale jate haian, hathi makanapur ke mele mean bikane ke lie bhej diye gaye haian aur kahar vida kiye ja rahe haian, to vyakul ho pita se bole-baboo ji, yah sab naukar, gho de, hathi kahaan ja rahe haian ?

kuanvar-ek raja sahab ke utsav mean.

lal ji-kaun se raja ?

kuanvar-unaka nam raja dinasianh hai.

lal ji-kahaan rahate haian ?

kuanvar-daridrapur.

lal ji-to ham bhi jayeange.

kuanvar-tumhean bhi le chaleange; parantu is barat mean paidal chalane valoan ka samman savaroan se adhik hoga.

lal ji-to ham bhi paidal chaleange.

kuanvar-vahaan parishrami manushy ki prashansa hoti hai.

lal ji-to ham sabase zyada parishram kareange.

kuanvar sahab ke donoan bhaee paanch-paanch hazar rupaye gujara lekar alag ho gaye. kuanvar sahab apane aur parivar ke lie kathinaee se ek hazar salana ka prabandh kar sake, par yah amadani ek rees ke lie kisi tarah paryapt nahian thi. atithi-abhyagat pratidin tike hi rahate the. un sabaka bhi satkar karana p data tha. b di kathinaee se nirvah hota tha. idhar ek varsh se shivadas ke kutumb ka bhar bhi sir par p da, parantu kuanvar sahab kabhi apane nishchay par shok nahian karate. unhean kabhi kisi ne chiantit nahian dekha. unaka mukhamandal dhairy aur sachche abhiman se sadaiv prakashit rahata hai. sahity-prem pahale se tha. ab bagabani se prem ho gaya hai. apane bag mean pratahkal se sham tak paudoan ki dekh-rekh kiya karate haian aur lal sahab to pakke krishak hote dikhaee dete haian. abhi nav-das varsh se adhik avastha nahian hai, lekin aandhere muanh khet pahuanch jate haian. khane-pine ki bhi sudh nahian rahati.

unaka gho da maujood hai; parantu mahinoan us par nahian chadhate. unaki yah dhun dekh kar kuanvar sahab prasann hote haian aur kaha karate haian-riyasat ke bhavishy ki or se nishchiant hooan. lal sahab kabhi is path ko n bhooleange. ghar mean sampatti hoti, to sukh-bhog, shikar, durachar ke siva aur kya soojhata ! sampatti bechakar hamane parishram aur santosh kharida, aur yah sauda bura nahian. savitri itani santoshi nahian. vah kuanvar sahab ke rokane par bhi asamiyoan se chhoti-moti bheant le liya karati hai aur kul-pratha nahian to dana chahati.

sanbandhit lekh

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