श्रीकांत उपन्यास भाग-9

भारत डिस्कवरी प्रस्तुति
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chitr:Icon-edit.gif is lekh ka punarikshan evan sampadan hona avashyak hai. ap isamean sahayata kar sakate haian. "sujhav"

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kalakatte ke ghat par jahaz ja bhi da dekha, jeti ke oopar bankoo kh da hai. vah sidhi se chatapat oopar chadh aya aur zamin par sir tek pranam karake bola, "maan raste par ga di mean rah dekh rahi haian. ap niche jaie, maian saman lekar pichhe ata hooan."

bahar ate hi aur bhi ek adami jhukakar pair chhookar kh da ho gaya. maianne kaha, "are ratan kaho, achchhe to ho?"

ratan kuchh hansakar bola, "apake ashirvad se. aie." yah kahakar usane rasta dikhate hue ga di ke samip lakar daravaza khol diya. rajalakshmi boli, "aie, aur ratan, tum log ek aur ga di karake pichhe se a jana do baj rahe haian, abhi tak inhoanne nahaya-khaya bhi nahian, ham log dere par chalate haian. ga di haankane ko kah de." maian ga di par baith gaya. ratan ne 'ji, achchha' kahakar ga di ka daravaza band kar diya aur ga divan ko haankane ke lie ishara kar diya. rajalakshmi ne jhukakar pad-dhooli li aur kaha, "jahaz mean kasht to nahian hua?"

"nahian."

"tabiyat bahut kharab ho gayi thi kya?"

"tabiyat kharab to zaroor ho gayi thi, parantu bahut nahian. kintu tum bhi to svasth nahian dikh p datian. ghar se kab aeean?"

"parasoan. abhaya ke dvara tumhare ane ki khabar pate hi ham log ghar se chal diye. ana to tha hi, isalie do din pahale hi chale ae. yahaan par tumhean kitana kam karana hai, maloom hai?"

maian bola, "kam ki bat phir hogi- kintu tum aisi kyoan dikhaee de rahi ho? tumhean kya hua tha?"

rajalakshmi hans di. is hansi ko dekhakar hi aj khayal aya ki n jane kitane dinoan se yah hansi nahian dekhi aur sath hi ek kitani b di adamy ichchha ko us samay chupachap daman kar dala, so us antaryami ke sivay aur kisi ne nahian jana. kintu, dirgh shvas ko maian usase chhipa nahian saka. usane vismit ki tarah kshan-bhar tak meri taraph takate rahakar phir hansakar poochha, "kaisi dikh p dati hooan maian-bimar?"

ekaek is prashn ka uttar n de saka. bimar? haan, kuchh bimar-si jan p dati hai. kintu nahian, yah kuchh bhi nahian hai. khayal hua, mano vah kitane hi desh-videsh paidal chalakar, tirthatan karake, usi samay laut aee hai- aisi murajhaee-si, aisi thaki-si. apana bhar ap vahan karane ki jaise usamean shakti hi nahian hai pravritti bhi nahian hai- is samay vah keval nishchint, nirbhay hokar aauankhean mooandakar sone ki jara-si jagah dhooandh rahi hai. mujhe niruttar dekhakar boli, "kyoan, kahate kyoan nahian?"

maianne kaha, "mat kahalavao."

rajalakshmi bachchoan ki tarah zor se sir hilakar boli, "nahian, kahana hi hoga. log to kahate haian ki dekhane mean bilku.l badasoorat ho gayi hooan. yah sach hai?"

maianne gambhir hokar kaha, "haan sach hai."

rajalakshmi hans p di, boli, "tum adami ko is qadar apratibh kar dete ho ki bas-achchha, isamean bura kya hai? achchha hi to hai! sundarata lekar ab maian karooangi kya? tumhare sath mera sundar-asundar ka-achchhi-buri dikh p dane ka to sambandh hai nahian, jo maian isaki chinta mean mar jaooan!"

maianne kaha, "so to thik hai, chinta mean marane ka koee karan nahian hai. ek to log yah bat tumase kahate nahian, isake sivay, yadi ve kahean bhi to tum vishvas karane vali nahian. man hi man samajhati to ho ki..."

rajalakshmi gusse se bol uthi, "tum antaryami jo ho ki sabake man ki bat janate ho. maian kabhi yah bat nahian sochati. tum khud hi sach-sach kaho, jab vahaan shikar karane gaye the tab tumane jaisa dekha tha, ab bhi kya maian vaisi rahi hooan? tab se to kitani badasoorat ho gayi hooan."

maianne kaha, "nahian, balki tabase achchhi dikh p dati ho."

rajalakshmi ne pal-bhal mean khi daki ke bahar muanh pherakar apana hansata hua chehara shayad meri mugdh drishti ki or se hata liya aur koee uttar n dekhakar chuppi sadh li. kuchh der bad parihas ke sab nishan apane chehare par se door karake usane apana chehara phir is or pher liya aur poochha, "tumhean kya bukhar a gaya tha? us desh ka hava-pani maphik nahian ata?"

maianne kaha, "n ave to upay hi kya hai? jaise bane vaise maphik hi kar lena p data hai." maian man hi man nishchint roop se janata tha ki rajalakshmi is bat ka kya uttar degi. kyoanki, jis desh ka jal-vayu aj tak apana nahian ho saka, kisi sudoor bhavishy mean bhi use apane anukool kar lene ki asha ke bharose vah kisi tarah bhi mere laut jane par sammat nahian hogi, balki ghor apatti uthakar rukavat dalegi-yahi mera khayal tha. kintu, aisa nahian hua. vah kshan-bhar maun rahakar komal-svar se boli, "so sach hai. isake sivay, vahaan par aur bhi to bahut-se bangali rahate haian. unhean jab maphik ata hai tab tumhean hi kyoan n maphik avega? kya kahate ho?" mere svasthy ke sambandh mean usaki is prakar ki udvegahinata ne mujhe chot pahuanchaee. isilie, keval ek ishare-bhar se 'haan' kahakar chup ho gaya. ek bat maian bar-bar sochata tha ki apani pleg ki katha kis roop mean rajalakshmi ke kanoan par dalooan. sudoor pravas mean jis samay mere din jivan-mrityu ke sandhi-sthal mean bit rahe the us samay ke hajaroan tarah ke du:khoan ka varnan sunate-sunate usake hriday ke bhitar kaisa toofan uthega! donoan netroan ko plavit karake kaise aauansuoan ki dhara bah nikalegi. kah nahian sakata ki ise kitane rasoan aur kitane rangoan se bharakar maian kalpana ke netroan se din-pratidin dekhata raha hooan. is samay isi kalpana ne mujhe sabase adhik lajjit kiya; socha-chhi:-chhi: saubhagy se koee kisi ke man ki bat nahian janata. nahian to- parantu jane do us bat ko. man hi man kaha, aur chahe jo karooan, apani us marane-jine ki kahani isase n kahooanga.

bahoobazar ke dere par a pahuancha. rajalakshmi ne hath dikhakar kaha, "yah jina hai, tumhara kamara tisare manzil par hai. jara jakar so raho, maian jati hooan." yah kahakar vah apane rasoee-ghar ki or chal di.

kamare mean ghusate hi dekha ki kamara mere hi lie sajaya gaya hai. pyari patane ke makan se meri kitabean, aur mera huqqa tak lana nahian bhooli hai. sooryast ka ek kimati chitr mujhe bahut pasand tha. vahaan par usane use apane kamare mean se nikalakar mere sone ke kamare mean taang diya tha. us chitr tak ko vah kalakatte apane sath laee hai aur thik usi tarah usi dival par taang diya hai. mere likhane-padhane ka saj-saranjam, mere kap de, meri lal makhamali chattiyaan, thik usi tarah yatnapoorvak sajakar rakkhi huee haian. vahaan ek aram-kursi maian sada hi vyavahar mean lata tha. use shayad lana sambhav nahian hua, isilie, usi tarah ki ek nayi kursi khi daki ke samip rakkhi huee hai. dhire-dhire jakar maian usi ke oopar aauankhean mooandakar let gaya. jan p da, jaise bhate ki nadi mean jvar ke jalochchhvas ka shabd muhane ke nikat phir sunaee de raha hai. naha-khakar thakavat ke mare din-dopahar ko hi so gaya. niand tootate hi dekha-pashchim ki or ki khi daki se sham ki dhoop mere pairoan ke samip akar p d rahi hai aur pyari ek hath ke bal mere muanh par jhuki huee doosare hath se aauanchal ke chhor se sir, kandhe aur chhati par ka pasina poanchh rahi hai. boli, "pasine se takiye aur bichhaune bhig gaye haian. pashchim ki or khula hone se yah kamara b da garam hai. kal doosare manzil par apane pas ke kamare mean hi tumhare bistar kar dooangi." yah kahakar meri chhati ke bilkuhal nikat baithakar pankha uthakar hava karane lagi. ratan ne kamare mean akar poochha, "maan, baboo ke lie chay le aooan?"

"haan, le a. aur bankoo yadi makan mean ho to use jara bhej dena." maianne phir apani aauankhean band kar lian. tho di hi der bad bahar se chattiyoan ki avaz sun p di. pyari ne pukarakar kaha, "kaun, bankoo? "jara idhar to a."

usake pairoan ke shabd se maloom hua ki usane atishay sankuchit bhav se andar pravesh kiya hai. pyari usi tarah pankha jhalate boli, "jara kagaj-pensil lekar baith ja. kya-kya lana hai, usaki pheharist banakar daraban ke sath jara bazar ja beta, ghar mean kuchh hai nahian."

maianne dekha, yah ek bilku'l naya vakaya hai. bimari ki bat alahada par use chho dakar isake pahale kisi din mere bichhaune ke itane samip baithakar usane hava tak nahian ki thi. kintu yah bhi, n ho to, maian ek din sambhav man sakata. kintu, yah jo usane ranch-matr bhi duvidha nahian ki, sab naukar-chakaroan ke, yahaan tak ki bankoo ke samane bhi darp ke sath apane apako prakat kar diya- isake apoorv saundary ne mujhe abhibhoot kar dala. mujhe us din ki bat yad a gayi jis din patane ke makan se mujhe isalie bida leni p di thi ki yah bankoo hi kuchh aur khayal n karane lage. us din ke sath aj ke acharan mean kitana antar hai.

chij-bast ki pheharist banakar bankoo chala gaya. ratan bhi chay-tamakhoo dekar niche chala gaya. pyari kuchh der chupachap mere muanh ki or niharati rahi; phir ekaek boli, "tumase maian ek bat poochhati hooan- achchha, rohini baboo aur abhaya mean se kisaka pyar adhik hai, bata sakate ho?"

maianne hansakar kaha, "jo tum par poori tarah havi ho gayi hai, nishchay se us abhaya ka hi pyar adhik hai."

rajalakshmi bhi hans p di, boli, "yah tumane kaise jana ki vah mujh par havi ho gayi hai?"

maianne kaha, "chahe jaise jana ho, par bat sach hai ya nahian, yah batao?"

rajalakshmi kshan-bhar sthir rahakar boli, "so jaise bhi ho, kintu, adhik pyar to rohini baboo hi karate haian. darasal ve itana pyar karate the, isilie unhoanne itana b da du:kh apane sir par utha liya. anyatha yah unaka koee avashy karttavy to tha nahian. unaki abhaya ko kitana sa svarth-tyag karana p da?"

usake saval ko sunakar maian sachamuch hi vismit ho gaya. maian bola, balki maian to thik isase ulata dekhata hooan. aur us hisab se jo kuchh kathin du:kh-bhog aur tyag hai, vah sab abhaya ko hi karana p da hai. tum is abhrant saty ko kyoan bhooli jati ho ki rohini baboo chahe jo karean, samaj ki najaroan mean akhir ve mard haian.

rajalakshmi ne sir hilakar kaha, "maian kuchh bhi nahian bhoolati. unhean mard batalakar sahaj mean bach nikalane ke jis mauke ki or tum ishara kar rahe ho vah atyant kshudr aur adham purushoan ke lie hai- rohini baboo sarikhe manushy ke lie nahian. shauq poora ho gaya, athava kuchh sar n raha, to chho d-chha dakar pheankakar bhag sakate haian aur ghar lautakar phir gany-many bhadr manushyoan ki tarah jivan-yatra kar sakate haian- yahi n kahate ho? kar sakate haian-thik hai; kintu, kya sabhi kar sakate haian? tum kar sakate ho? tab, jo nahian kar sakata usake bojh ke vajan ko to jara soch dekho. use apana nindit jivan makan ke nirale kone mean kat dalane ka bhi subhita nahian. use to sansar ke bich dvandv-yuddh mean utar ana hoga, avichar aur apayash ka bojha chupachap akele hi vahan karana p dega. apane ekant-sneh ki patri ko- bhavi santan ki janani ko samaj ke sare apamanoan aur akalyanoan se bachakar rakhana hoga. tum kya ise mamooli kasht samajhate ho? aur, sabase badhakar du:kh yah hai ki jo anayas hi is du:kh ke bojhe ko utarakar khisak sakata hai, sarvanashi vikat pralobhan se apane apako rat-din bachakar chalane ka gurubhar bhi usako hi liye ghoomana p data hai. du:kh ke tarajoo mean is atmotsarg ke sath samataulata banae rakhane ke lie jis prem ki zaroorat hai, use yadi purush apane bhitar se bahar n prakat kar sake, to kisi bhi stri ke lie yah sambhav nahian hai ki vah use poora kar sake."

is bat ko is pahaloo se, is tarah, kabhi sochakar nahian dekha tha. rohini ka vah sidha-sada gumasum bhav aur usake bad, abhaya jab apane pati ke ghar chali gayi tab usake usi shant mukhamandal ke oopar aparisim vedana ko chupachap sahan karane ka jo chitr maianne apani aauankhoan dekha tha, vahi pal-bhar mean jyoan ka tyoan, pratyek rekha sahit mere man mean khianch gaya. kintu, muanh se maianne kaha, "chitthi mean to tumane sirph abhaya ke lie hi pushpaanjali bheji thi."

rajalakshmi boli, "unaka jo prapt hai vah aj bhi unhean hi deti hooan. kyoanki, mera vishvas hai ki jo bhi pap ya aparadh tha usane unake antarik tej se jalakar unhean shuddh-nirmal kar diya hai. yadi aisa n hota, to aj ve bilkukal sadharan striyoan ke saman hi tuchchh-hin ho jati."

"hin kyoan?"

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "khoob! pati-parityag ke pap ki bhi koee sima hai? us pap ko dhvanhas karane yogy ag unamean n hoti to aj ve..."

maianne kaha, "ag ki bat jane do. kintu unaka pati kaisa nasht hai, so to ek daphe soch dekho."

rajalakshmi boli, "purush jati chirakal se hi uchchhriankhal rahi hai- chirakal se hi kuchh-kuchh atyachari bhi rahi hai; kintu, isilie to stri ke paksh mean bhag kh de hone ki yukti kam nahian de sakati. stri-jati ko sahan karana hi hoga; nahian to sansar nahian chal sakata."

bat sunakar mere sare vichar g dab da gaye. man hi man bola, "yah striyoan ka vahi sanatan dasatv ka sanskar hai! kuchh asahishnu hokar poochha, "to phir abhi tak tum 'ag ag, kya bak rahi thian?"

rajalakshmi ne hansakar kaha, "kya bak rahi thi, sunoge? aj hi do ghante pahale patane ke thikane par likhi huee abhaya ki chitthi mili hai. ag kya hai, janate ho? us din 'pleg' kahakar jab tum unaki turant ki jamaee girasti ke dvar par ja kh de hue tab jis vastu ne tumhean nirbhayata se bina kisi soch-vichar ke bhitar bula liya, maian usi ko kahati hooan unaki 'ag'. us samay unhean apane sukh ka khayal nahian tha. jo tej manushy ko karttavy samajhakar samane ki or hi dhakelata hai, duvidha se pichhe nahian hatane deta, ab tak maian usi ko 'ag-ag' kah rahi thi. ag ka ek nam 'sarvabhukh' hai, so kya tum nahian janate? vah sukh aur du:kh- donoan ko khianch leti hai, use kisi tarah ka bhed-vichar nahian hota. unhoanne ek aur bat kya likhi hai, janate ho? ve rohini baboo ko sarthak kar dena chahati haian. kyoanki unaka vishvas hai ki keval apane jivan ki sarthakata ke bhitar se hi sansar mean doosare ke jivan mean sarthakata pahuanchaee ja sakati hai; aur vyarthata se sirph akela hi jivan vyarth nahian hota- vah apane sath aur bhi anek jivanoan ko juda-juda dishaoan se vyarth karake vyarth ho jata hai. bilkunal sach hai n?" itana kahakar vah ekaek shvas chho dakar chup ho rahi. isake bad ham donoan hi bahut der tak maun rahe. jan p data hai, kahane ko kuchh n hone ke karan hi ab vah mere sir ke rookhe baloan ko apani aanguliyoan se vyarth hi idhar-udhar viparyast karane lagi. usaka yah acharan bhi bilku'l naya tha. sahasa boli, "ve khoob shikshita haian n? nahian to, itani tejasvita nahian hoti."

maianne kaha, "haan, darasal ve ek shikshita ramani haian."

rajalakshmi boli, "kintu, ek bat unhoanne mujhase chhipaee hai. maan hone ke lobh ko ve chitthi ke andar bar-bar daba gayi haian."

maianne kaha, "kya unhean yah lobh hai? kahaan, maian to nahian suna?"

rajalakshmi bol uthi, "jao,- yah lobh bhala kis stri ko nahian hai? kintu kya isalie use mardoan se kahate phirana chahie? tum to khoob ho!" maianne kaha, "to phir tumhean bhi hai, kya?"

"jao!" kahakar vah akasmath lajja se lal ho gayi aur doosare hi kshan apane arakt mukh ko chhipane ke lie bichhaune par jhuk gayi. usi samay astonmukh soory ki kiranoan ne pashchim ki khuli huee khi daki se pravesh kiya tha. vah arakt abha usake megh ke saman kale keshoan par vichitr shobha ke sath bikhar gayi. aur, kanoan ke hire ke donoan latakanoan mean nana varnoan ki dyuti jhilamil karati huee khelane lagi. kshan-bhar bad hi apane apako sanbhalakar aur sidhe baithakar usane kaha, "kyoan, kya mere l dake-bachche nahian haian jo lobh hoga, l dakiyoan ka byah kar chuki hooan, l dake ko byahane aee hooan,- ek-do nati-pote ho jaanyage, unako lekar sukh-svachchhata se rahooangi,- mujhe abhav kis bat ka hai?"

maian chup ho raha. is bat ko lekar bahas karane ki pravritti nahian huee.

rat ko rajalakshmi ne kaha, "bankoo ke byah ke lie to ab bhi das-barah din ki der hai; chalo n kashi chalean, tumhean apane guruji ko dikha laooan."

maianne hansakar kaha, "maian kya koee numaishi chiz hooan?"

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "yah sochane ka bhar jo log dekhate un par hai, tum par nahian."

maianne kaha, "aise hi sahi, parantu, isase mujhe hi kya labh aur tumhare gurudev ko bhi kya labh hoga?"

rajalakshmi ne gambhir hokar kaha, "labh tum logoan ko nahian hai, kintu mujhe hai n ho, to keval mere lie hi chale chalo."

isalie maian raji ho gaya. age bahut samay tak lagn n thi, isilie us samay jaise charoan or se vivahoan ki badh a gayi thi. jab tak baind ka karnet aur baig-paip ki baansuri vividh tarah ke vady-bhadoan ke sahayog se manushy ko pagal bana dalane ki tajavij kar rahi thi. ham logoan ki steshan-yatra ke samay bhi is tarah ki kuchh uttam avajoan ki jh d prachand veg se bah gayi. veg ke kuchh kam ho jane par rajalakshmi ne sahasa prashn kiya, achchha, tumhare mat se yadi sabhi log chalane lagean, to phir gariboan ka vivah hi n ho aur ghar-girasti bhi n bane. tab phir srishti kaise rahe?"

usaki asadharan gambhirata dekhakar maian hans p da. bola, "srishti-raksha ke lie chinta karane ki tumhean jara bhi zaroorat nahian. kyoanki hamari tarah chalane vale log duniya mean adhik nahian haian. kam se kam apane is desh mean to nahian hai; yah kaha ja sakata hai."

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "n rahana hi bhala hai. keval b de adami hi manushy haian? aur kya garib bechare sansar mean kahian se bah ae haian? bal-bachchoan ko lekar ghar-girasti karane ki sadh kya unhean nahian hoti?" maianne kaha, "par isaka kya yah arth hai ki sadh hoti hai isalie use prashray dena hi chahie?"

rajalakshmi ne poochha "kya nahian mujhe samajha do."

kuchh der chup rahakar maianne kaha, "sabhi daridroan ke sambandh mean mera yah mat nahian hai. mera mat keval daridr bhale adamiyoan ke sambandh mean hai aur mera vishvas hai ki tum usaka karan bhi janati ho."

rajalakshmi ne zid ke svar mean kaha, "tumhara yah mat galat hai."

mujh par bhi mano zid savar ho gayi, maianne kah dala, "hazar galat hone par bhi kam se kam tumhare muanh se to yah bat shobha nahian deti. bankoo ke bap ne sirph bahattar rupayoan ke lobh se donoan bahinoan ko vyah liya tha,- vah din abhi itana purana nahian hua hai ki bhool gayi hoo. khair manao ki us adami ka pesha hi yahi tha. nahian to, kalpana karo, yadi vah tumhean apane ghar le jata, tumhare do-char bal-bachche ho jate-tab ek daphe soch dekho ki tumhari kya dasha hoti?" rajalakshmi ki aauankhoan mean jaise jhag dane ka bhav ghana ho utha; boli, "bhagavan jinhean bhejate haian, unaki dekh-bhal bhi kar karate haian. tum nastik ho, isilie vishvas nahian karate."

maianne bhi javab diya, "maian nastik hoooan chahe jo hoooan parantu astik logoan ko bhagavan ki zaroorat kya keval isilie hai?- in sab bachchoan ko adami banane ke lie?" rajalakshmi ne kruddh kanth se kaha, "bhale hi ve n banavean. kintu maian tumhari tarah darapok nahian hooan. maian dvar-dvar bhiksha maangakar bhi unhean adami banati. aur jo bhi ho, nachane-gane vali banane ki apeksha vah mere hak mean bahut achchha hota?"

maianne phir aur tark nahian kiya. alochana bilkuel hi vyaktigat aur apriy dhang par utar aee thi, isalie, maian khi daki ke bahar raste ki or dekhata hua baitha raha. hamari ga di dhire-dhire sarakari aur gair sarakari aauphis kvartars chho dakar bahut door a p di. shanivar ka din hai, do baje ke bad adhikaansh daftaroan ke klark chhutti pakar dhaee ki tren pak dane ke lie tezise chale a rahe haian. pray: sabhi ke hathoan mean kuchh n kuchh khady-samagri hai. kisi ke hath mean ek-do b di-b di machhaliyaan, kisi ke roomal mean bakare ka maans, kisi ke hath mean ganvee-gaanv mean nahian milane vali hari tarakariyaan aur phal. sat dinoan ke bad ghar pahuanchakar utsuk bal-bachchoan ke muanh par jara-si anand ki hansi dekhane ke lie qarib-qarib sabhi apane-apane samarthy ke anusar tho di-bahut mithaee chadar ke chhor mean baandhakar bhage ja rahe haian. pratyek ke muanh par anand aur tren pak dane ki utkantha ek sath is tarah parisphutit ho uthi hai ki rajalakshmi ne mera hath khianchakar atyant kutoohal ke sath poochha, "haan ji, ye sab log is tarah steshan ki or kyoan bhag rahe haian? aj kya hai?"

maianne ghoomakar kaha, "aj shanivar hai. ye sab daftaroan ke klark haian, ravivar ki chhutti mean ghar ja rahe haian."

rajalakshmi ne gardan hilakar kaha, "haan yahi maloom hota hai. aur dekho sab ek n ek khane ki chiz liye jate haian. ganvee-gaanv mean to yah sab milata nahian, isalie maloom hota hai, bal-bachchoan ko hath mean dene ke liye kharide lie jate haian, kyoan n?"

maianne kaha, "haan."

usaki kalpana tezise dau dane lagi. isilie, usane usi kshan kaha "a:, l dake-l dakiyoan mean aj kitana utsah hoga. kolahal machaeange, gale se lipatakar bap ki god mean chadhane ki cheshta kareange, maan ko khabar dene rasoeeghar mean dau d jaanyage, ghar-ghar mean aj mano ek kand-sa mach jayega. kyoan n?" kahate-kahate usaka sara muanh ujjval ho utha.

maianne svikar karate hue kaha, "khoob sambhav hai."

rajalakshmi ne ga di ki khi daki mean se aur bhi kuchh der unaki taraph niharate rahakar ekaek ek gahari ni:shvas chho d di aur kaha, "haan ji, unaki tanakha kitana hogi?"

maianne kaha, "klarkoan ki tanakhvah aur kitani hoti hai,- yahi bis-pachchis tis rupaye.

rajalakshmi ne kaha- "kintu, ghar to inake maan hai, bhaee-bahin haian, stri haian, l dake-bachche haian."

maianne itana aur jo d diya, "do-ek vidhava bahinean haian: shadi-byah, kriya-karm, lok-vyavahar, bhalamansi hai; kalakatte ka bhojan-kharch hai, lagatar rogoan ka kharchan hai,-bangali klark-jivan ka sab kuchh inhian tis rupayoan par nirbhar rahata hai."

rajalakshmi ki mano saans hi atakane lagi. vah bahut vyakul hokar bol uthi,

"tum nahian janate. in logoan ke ghar zamin-jayadad bhi hai, nishchay se hai."

usaka muanh dekhakar nirash karate hue mujhe vedana huee, phir bhi, maianne kaha, "maian in logoan ki ghar-girasti ka itihas khoob ghanishthata se janata hooan. maian nishchayapoorvak janata hooan ki inamean se chaudah ane logoan ke pas kuchh bhi nahian hai. yadi naukari chali jay to ya to inhean bhikshavritti karani hogi ya phir poore parivar ke sath upavas karana hoga. in logoan ke l dake-l dakiyoan ki kahani sunogi?"

rajalakshmi akasmath donoan hath uthakar chilla uthi, "nahian-nahian, nahian sunooangi,- maian nahian sunana chahati."

yah bat maian usaki aauankhoan ki or niharate hi jan gaya ki usane pranapan se aauansuoan ko rok rakkha hai. isilie maianne aur kuchh n kahakar phir raste ki or muanh mo d liya. bahut der tak usaki koee ahat nahian mili. itani der, shayad, apane apase vakalat karake aur ant mean apane kutoohal ke nikat hi parajay manakar usane mere kot ka khooant pak dakar khiancha aur palatakar dekhate hi karun kanth se kaha, "achchha to, kaho unake l dake-l dakiyoan ki kahani. kintu tumhare pairoan p dati hooan, jhooth-mooth badhakar mat kahana. duhaee hai tumhari!"

usaki minnat karane ki bhav-bhangima dekhakar hansi to chhooti, kintu, hansa nahian. balki kuchh atirikt gambhirata se bola, "badhakar kahana to door, tumhare poochhane par bhi maian nahian sunata, yadi tumane abhi kuchh hi pahale apane sambandh mean bhikh maangakar bachchoan ko adami banane ki bat n kahi hoti. bhagavan jinhean bhejate haian, unaki suvyavastha ka bhar bhi ve lete haian, yah bat avashy hai. ise asvikar karooan to shayad nastik kahakar phir bhala-bura kahogi; kintu santan ki javabadari bap ke oopar kitani hai aur bhagavan ke oopar kitani hai, in do samasyaoan ki mimaansa tum khud hi karo. maian jo janata hooan keval vahi kahooanga,- hai n thik?"

yah dekhakar ki vah chupachap meri or jijnasu-mukh se nihar rahi hai, maianne kaha, "bachcha paida hone par use kuchh din chhati ka doodh pilakar jilae rakhane ka bhar, maian samajhata hooan, usaki maan ke oopar hai. bhagavan ke oopar achal bhakti hai, unaki daya par bhi mujhe andhavishvas hai, kintu phir bhi, maan ke badale is bhar ko khud apane oopar lene ka upay unake pas hai ki nahian,..."

rajalakshmi naraj hokar hans p di aur boli, "dekho chaturaee rahane do- yah maian bhi janati hooan."

"janati ho? tab jane do, ek jatil samasya ki mimaansa ho gayi. kintu, tis rupaye ke ghar ki janani ke doodh ka srot sookh jane mean der kyoan nahian lagati, yah janana ho to kisi tis rupaye masik ke ghar ki jachcha ke ahar ke samay upasthit rahana avashyak hoga. kintu, tumase jab yah nahian ho sakata tab is vishay mean n ho to meri bat man lo."

rajalakshmi malin mukh kiye chupachap meri or takati rahi.

maian bola, "dehat mean go-dugdh ka bilkusal abhav hai, yah bat bhi tumhean man leni hogi."

rajalakshmi ne chat se kaha, "so to maian khud bhi janati hooan. ghar mean gay ho tab to thik, nahian to, ajakal sir patakakar mar jane par bhi kisi gaanv mean ek booand doodh pana kathin hai dhor hi nahian haian, doodh kahaan se ho?"

maianne kaha, "khair aur bhi ek samasya ka samadhan ho gaya. tab phir bachchoan ke bhag mean raha khalis svadeshi tal-talaiyoan ka jal aur videshi dabboan ka khalis barli (jau) ka choora. abhagiyoan ke bhagy mean aksar unaka svabhavik khady,- tho da- bahut mata ka doodh bhi, juta sakata hai, kintu vah saubhagy bhi in sab gharoan mean adhik dinoan tak tikane ka niyam nahian. kyoanki charek mahine ke bhitar hi aur ek nootan agantuk apane avirbhav ka notis dekar apane bhaee ke doodh ka hak ekadam band kar deta hai. yah shayad tum..."

rajalakshmi lajja ke mare lal hokar bol uthi, "haan haan, janati hooan, janati hooan. mujhe vyakhya karake samajhane ki zaroorat nahian. tum isake bad ki bat kaho."

maianne kaha, "isake bad dhar dabata hai bachche ko pet ka dard aur svadeshi maleriya bukhar. tab bap ka kartavy hota hai videshi kunain aur barli ka choora jutana. aur maan ke sir par p data hai, jaisa ki maianne pahale kaha, prasootigrih mean pun: bharti hone ke bich ke samay ki phurasat mean in sabako khalis deshi jal mean gholakar pilane ka kam! isake bad yathasamay sootika-grih ka jhag da mitane par navajat shishu ko god mean lekar bahar ana aur pahale bachche ke lie kuchh din tak rona."

rajalakshmi nili p dakar boli, "rona kyoan?"

maianne kaha, "are, yah to mata ka svabhav hai! aur aisa svabhav jo klark ke ghar mean bhi anyatha nahian ho sakata jab ki bhagavan dayitv se mukt karane ke lie us pahale bachche ko apane shricharanoan mean bula lete haian."

itani der bahar ki or takate rahakar hi batean kar raha tha. akasmath najar ghumakar dekha ki usaki b di-b di aauankhean ashru-jal mean tair rahi haian. mujhe atyant du:kh maloom hua. socha, is bechari ko vyarth du:kh dene se kya labh? adhikaansh dhaniyoan ke saman jagat ke is virat du:kh ki bajoo yadi isake lie bhi agochar bani rahati to kya harj tha! bhayankar daridrata se pi dit bangal ke kshudr naukarapesha grihasth-parivar keval ann ke abhav se hi, maleriya haija adi ke bahane, din par din shoony hote ja rahe haian,- yah bat any bahut-se b de adamiyoan ki tarah, n hota, yah bhi n janati. isase kya aisi koee b di bhari hani ho jati!

thik aise hi samay rajalakshmi aauankhean poanchhate-poanchhate avaruddh kanth se bol uthi, "bhale hi klark hoan, phir bhi ve tumase kee darje achchhe haian. tum to patthar ho! tumhean svayan koee du:kh nahian hai, isilie in logoan ke du:kh kasht is tarah ahlad ke sath varnan kar rahe ho. kintu mera to hriday phata jata hai."

yah kahakar vah aauanchal se bar-bar aauankhean poanchhane lagi. isaka maianne koee prativad nahian kiya, kyoanki, isase koee labh n hota. balki namrata ke sath kaha, "in logoan ke sukh ka hissa bhi to mere bhagy mean nahian hai. ghar pahuanchane ki unaki utsukata bhi to ek sochane-dekhane ki chiz hai."

rajalakshmi ka muanh hansi aur aauansuoan se ek sath dipt ho utha. vah boli, "maian bhi to yahi kahati hooan. aj pita a rahe haian, isalie sare bal-bachche rasta dekh rahe haian. unhean kasht kis bat ka hai? un logoan ki tanakha shayad kam ho, kintu vaisi baboogiri bhi to nahian hai. kintu phir bhi kya pachis-tis hi rupaya?-itana kam? kabhi nahian. kam se kam sau-dedh sau rupaye to hoange, maian nishchay se kahata hooan."

maianne kaha, "ho bhi sakata hai. maian shayad thik-thik nahian janata."

utsah pakar rajalakshmi ka lobh badh gaya. atishay kshudr klark ke lie bhi dedh sau rupaya mahina use nahian jancha. boli, "kya tum samajhate ho ki keval usi masik par hi unaka sara daromadar hai? oopar se bhi to kitana hi pa jate haian."

maianne kaha, "oopar se? pyala?"

ab usane kuchh nahian kaha. vah muanh bhari karake raste ki or takati huee baithi rahi. kuchh der bad bahar ki or drishti rakkhe hue hi usane kaha, "tumhean jitana hi dekhati hooan tumhare oopar se mera man utana hi hatata jata hai. tum janate ho ki tumhean chho dakar meri or koee gati nahian hai, isilie tum mujhe is qadar chhedate ho!

itane dinoan bad, aj shayad pahale hi pahal maianne usake donoan hath zor se apani or khianch liye aur usake muanh ki or dekhakar mano kuchh kahana bhi chaha; kintu itane mean hi ga di steshan ke samip akar kh di ho gayi. ek svatantr dibba rijarv kar liya gaya tha, phir bhi, bankoo kuchh saman lekar dopahar ke pahale hi a gaya tha. kochabaks par ratan ko dekhate hi vah dau d aya. maian hath chho dakar sidha baith gaya. jo bat muanh par a gayi thi. vah chupachap andar mean jakar chhip gayian.

dhaee baje ki lokal tren chhootane hi ko thi. hamari tren usake bad jati thi. isi samay ek praudh avastha ka daridr bhala adami ek hath mean tarah-tarah ki hari tarakariyoan ki potali aur doosare hath mean dandi par baitha hua ek mitti ka pakshi liye, keval pletapharm par lakshy rakkhe aur sab dishaoan ke jnan se shoony hokar dau data hua rajalakshmi ke oopar a p da. mitti ka khilauna niche girakar choor ho gaya. vah hay-hay karake shayad use batorane ja raha tha ki pandeji ne huankar marakar ek chhalaang mean usaki gardan dhar dabaee aur bankoo chh di uthakar 'andhe' adi kahakar marane ko taiyar ho gaya. maian kuchh doori par anyamanask-sa kh da tha,-ghab dakar rangabhoomi par a gaya. vah bechara bhay aur sharm ke mare bar-bar kahane laga, "dekh nahian paya maan, mujhase b da kasoor ho gaya..."

maianne use chatapat chhu da diya aur kaha, "jo hona tha so ho gaya, ap shighr jaie, apaki ga di chhoot rahi hai."

us bechare ne phir bhi apane khilaune ke tuk de ikattha karane ke lie kuchh der idhar-udhar kiya aur ant mean dau d laga di. kintu adhik door nahian jana p da, ga di chal di. tab lautakar phir usane ek dapha kshama maangi aur vah un toote tuk doan ko batorane mean pravritt ho gaya. yah dekhakar maianne jara hansakar kaha, "isase ab kya hoga?" usane kaha, "kuchh nahian mahashay, l daki bimar hai. pichhale somavar ko ghar se ate samay usane kah diya tha- "mere lie ek khilauna kharid lana." kharidane gaya to bachchoo ne garaj samajhakar dam haanke, "do ane-ek paisa bhi kam nahian. khair vahi sahi. ramaram karake kisi tarah poore ath paise pheankakar le aya. kintu dekhie durbhagy ki bat ki ain mauke par phoot gaya, rogi l daki ke hath mean n de saka. bitiya rokar kahegi, "baba, lae nahian!" kuchh bhi ho, tuk de hi le jaooan, dikhakar kahooanga, beti, is mahine ki tanakha pane par pahale tera khilauna kharidooanga, tab aur kam karooanga."

itana kahakar sare tuk de batorakar aur chadar ke chhor mean baandhakar kahane laga, "apaki stri ko shayad bahut chot lag gayi hai, maianne dekha nahian- nukasan ka nukasan hua aur ga di bhi nahian mili. mil jati to rogi bitiya ko adha ghante pahale pahuanchakar dekh leta." kahate-kahate vah phir pletapharm ki or chal diya. bang pandeji ko lekar kisi kam se kahian anyatr chala gaya tha. maianne ekaek pichhe ki or ghoomakar dekha, rajalakshmi ki aauankhoan se savan ki dhara ki tarah aauansoo bah rahe haian. vyast hokar nikat jakar poochha, "zyada chot a gayi kya? kahaan lagi hai?"

rajalakshmi ne aauanchal se aauankh poanchhakar kaha, "haan, bahut chot lagi hai- parantu lagi hai aisi jagah ki tum jaise patthar n use dekh use dekh sakate haian aur n samajh sakate haian!"


000

shrimanh bankoo ko badhye hokar hamare lie svatantr dabba kyoan rizarv karana p da unase jab maian is bat ki poochhatachh kar raha tha tab rajalakshmi kan lagakar sun rahi thi. is samay unake jara anyatr jate hi rajalakshmi ne bilkukal hi gale p dakar mujhe suna diya ki apane lie phijool ke kharch karana vah jitana hi napasand karati hai usake bhagy se utani hi ye sab vidambanaean upasthit ho jati haian. vah boli- "yadi un logoan ki tripti sekand klas ya pharst klas mean jane se hi hoti ho to thik hai; par mere lie to auratoan ka dabba tha. relave kampani ko phijool hi itane adhik rupaye kyoan diye jaany?"

bankoo ki kaiphiyat ke sath usaki maan ki is mitavyay-nishtha ka koee vishesh samanjasy maian nahian dekh paya. kintu, aisi batean striyoan se kahane se vyarth ka kalah hota hai. atev, chupachap maian keval sunata raha. kuchh bola nahian.

pletapharm ki ek beanch par baithakar poorvokt sajjan tren ki pratiksha kar rahe the. samane se jate hue maianne poochha, "ap kahaan jaanyage?"

ve bole, "bardavan."

kuchh age jate hi rajalakshmi ne mujhase dhire se kaha, "to phir ve anayas hi apane dabbe mean chal sakate haian, n? kiraya to dena n hoga- phir kyoan nahian unhean bula lete!" maianne kaha, "tikat to nishchay se kharid liya gaya hai- kirae ke paise nahian bacheange."

rajalakshmi boli- "bhale hi kharid liya gaya ho-bhi d ke kasht se to bach jaanyage."

maianne kaha, "unhean abhyas hai, ve bhi d ki takaliph ki paravah nahian karate."

tab rajalakshmi ne zid karake kaha, "nahian-nahian, tum unase kaho. ham log tin adami batachit karate hue jaanyage, itana rasta maje se kat jayega."

maianne samajh liya ki is samay use apani bhool mahasoos ho rahi hai. bankoo aur apane naukar-chakaroan ki najar mean mere sath akeli alahada dabbe mean baithane ki khatak ko vah kisi tarah kuchh halaka kar lena chahati hai. phir bhi maianne isako aur bhi adhik aauankhoan mean aanguli dalakar dikhane ke abhipray se laparavahi ke bhav se kaha, "zaroorat kya hai ek anavashyak adami ko dabbe mean bulane ki? tum mere sath jitani chaho utani batean kar lena- maje se samay kat jayega."

rajalakshmi ne mujh par ek tikshn kataksh nikshep karake kaha- "so maian janati hooan. mujhe chhakane ka itana b da mauqa kya tum chho d sakate ho?"

itana kahakar vah chup ho rahi. kintu tren ke steshan par ate hi maianne jakar kaha, "ap kyoan nahian hamare dabbe mean baith jaany. ham do ko chho dakar usamean aur koee nahian hai. bhi d ki takaliph se ap bach jaanyage."

kahane ki zaroorat nahian, unhean raji karane mean koee takaliph nahian uthani p di. anurodh karane-bhar ki der thi ki ve apani potali lekar hamare dabbe mean a baithai.

tren do-char steshan hi par kar paee thi ki rajalakshmi ne unake sath khoob batachit karana shuroo kar diya aur kuchh hi steshanoan ko par karate-karate to unake ghar ki khabarean, muhalle ki khabarean yahaan tak ki as-pas ke gaanvoan tak ki khabarean kured-kuredakar jan lian.

rajalakshmi ke gurudev kashi mean apane nati patinoan ke sath rahate haian, unake lie vah kalakatte se anek chizean liye ja rahi thi. bardavan najadik ate hi trank kholakar unamean se chunakar ek sabj rang ki reshami ki sa di bahar nikali aur kaha, "sarala ko usake khilaune ke badale sa di de dena."

ve sajjan pahale to avakh ho rahe, bad mean salajj bhav se jaldi se bole- "nahian beti, sarala ko maian abaki daphe khilauna kharid dooanga- ap sa di rahane dean. isake sivay, yah to bahut beshakimati kap da hai beti!"

rajalakshmi ne kap de ko unake pas rakhate hue kaha, "beshakimati nahian hai aur aur kimat kuchh bhi ho, ise usake hath mean dekar kahiega ki tumhari mausi ne achchhe hone par pahirane ke lie diya hai!"

sajjan ki aauankhean chhalachhala aeean. adha ghante ki batachit mean hi ek aparichit adami ki pi dita kanya ko ek moolyavanh vastu ka upahar dena, unhoanne shayad apane jivan mean aur kabhi nahian dekha tha. kaha, "ashirvad dijie ki vah achchhi ho jay; kintu, garibi ka ghar hai, itane kimati kap de ka vah kya karegi beti? ap use uthakar rakh lijie." itana kahakar unhaanne meri or bhi ek daphe dekha. maianne kaha, "jab usaki mausi pahirane ke lie de rahi hai tab apaka le jana hi uchit hai." phir hansakar kaha, "sarala ka bhagy achchha hai, ham logoan ki bhi koee mausi-ausi hoti to b da subhita hota! abaki bar mahashay, apaki l daki, ap dekheange ki, chatapat achchhi ho jayagian

us samay us purush ke samast chehare se kritajnata mano uchhal p dane lagi. aur apatti n karake unhoanne us vastr ko grahan kar liya. ab donoan janoan mean phir batachit hone lagi. grihasthashram ki batean, samaj ki batean, sukh-du:kh ki batean, aur n jane kya-kya. maian sirph khi daki ke bahar takata hua stabdh hokar baitha raha aur jo prashn apane apase bahut bar poochh chuka tha vahi is chhoti-si ghatana ke sootr ke sahare phir mere man mean uth kh da hua ki is yatra ka ant kahaan hai?

ek das-barah rupaye ka vastr dan kar dena rajyalakshmi ke lie kathin bat thi aur nayi. usake das-dasi shayad is bat ka kabhi khayal bhi nahian karate. kintu meri chinta doosari hi thi. yah di huee chiz dan ke hisab se usake lie kuchh n thi. yah maian janata tha. kintu, maian soch raha tha ki usake hriday ki dhara jis or lakshy karake apane apako ni:shesh karane ke lie uddam ke lie gati se dau di chali ja rahi hai, usaka avasan kahaan hoga aur kis tarah?

samast ramaniyoan ke antar mean 'nari' vas karati hai ya nahian, yah zor se kahana atyant du:sahas ka kam hai. kintu nari ki charam sarthakata matritv mean hai, yah bat shayad khoob gala pha d karake pracharit ki ja sakati hai.

rajalakshmi ko maianne pahichan liya tha. yah maianne vishesh dhya napoorvak dekha tha ki usamean ki pyari baee apane aparinat yauvan ke samast durdamy manastapoan ke sath prati-muhoort mar rahi hai. aj us nam ka uchcharan karane se bhi vah mano lajja ke mare mitti mean mil jati hai. mere lie ek yah samasya ho gayi.

sarvasv lagakar sansar ka upabhog karane ka vah uttam aveg rajalakshmi mean ab nahian hai; aj vah shant, sthir haian usaki kamana vasana aj usi ke madhyap mean is tarah gota laga gayi hai ki bahar se ekaek sandeh hota hai ki vah hai bhi ya nahian. usi ne is samany ghatana ko upalakshy karake mujhe phir smaran dila diya ki aj usake parinat yauvan ke sugambhir tal-desh se jo matritv sahasa jag utha hai, turant hi jage hue kumbhakarn ke saman usaki virat kshudha ke lie ahar kahaan milega? usake santan hone par jo bat sahaj aur svabhavik ho sakati, usi ke abhav mean samasya is tarah ekant jatil ho uthi hai.

us din patane mean usake jis matriroop ko dekhakar maian mugdh aur abhibhoot ho gaya tha, aj usi moorti ka smaran karake atyant vyatha ke sath maian keval yahi sochane laga ki itani b di ag ko keval phooank marakar nahian bujhaya ja sakata. isilie, aj parae l dake ko putr kalpit karane ke khilava d se rajalakshmi ke hriday ki trishna kisi tarah bhi nahian mit rahi hai. isalie aj ek matr bankoo hi usake lie paryapt nahian hai, aj duniya mean jahaan jitane bhi l dake haian un sabaka sukh-du:kh bhi usake hriday ko alo dit kar raha hai.

bardavan mean ve mahashay utar gaye. rajalakshmi bahut der chupachap baithi rahi. maianne khi daki ki or se drishti hatakar poochha, "yah rona kisake lie hua? sarala ke lie, ya usaki maan ke lie?"

rajalakshmi ne muanh uthakar kaha, "maloom hota hai, tum itani der tak ham logoan ki bat chit sun rahe the."

maianne kaha, "yoan hi anayas. svayan bat n karane par bhi bahar se bahut-si batean manushy ke kanoan mean a ghusati haian. sansar mean bhagavan ne kam bolane valoan ke lie is dand ki srishti kar rakkhi hai. isase bachane ki koee yukti nahian. khair jane do, kintu yah aauankhoan ka pani kisake lie jhara, so nahian bataya?"

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "meri aauankhoan ka pani kisake lie jharata hai, yah janane se tumhean koee labh nahian."

maianne kaha, "labh ki asha nahian karata- keval nukasan bachakar hi chala ja sake to kafi hai. sarala athava usaki maan ke lie jitani ichchha ho aauansoo bahao, mujhe koee apatti nahian-kintu, usake bap ke lie bahana maian pasand nahian karata."

rajalakshmi keval ek 'hooan' karake khi daki ke bahar jhaankane lagi.

socha tha ki yah dillagi nishphal nahian jayegi, anek ruandhe hue jharanoan ke dvar khol degi. kintu, so to hua nahian; hua yah ki ab tak vah is or dekh rahi thi so dillagi sunakar us or ko muanh pherakar baith gayi.

kintu bahut der se maun tha- batachit karane ke lie bhitar hi bhitar ek aveg upasthit ho gaya tha. isalie adhik der tak chup n rah saka aur bola, "bardavan se kuchh khane ko mol le liya hota!"

rajalakshmi ne koee javab nahian diya, vah usi tarah chup bani rahi.

maian bola, "doosare ke du:kh mean ro-rokar nad baha diya, aur ghar ke du:kh par kan hi nahian detian! tumane yah vilayat se laute huoan ki vidya kahaan se sikh li?"

rajalakshmi ne is daphe dhire se kaha, "dekhati hooan ki vilayat se laute huoan par tumhari bhari bhakti hai!"

maianne kaha, "haan, ve log bhakti ke patr jo haian!"

"kyoan, unhoanne tumhara kya biga da hai?"

"abhi tak to kuchh nahian biga da kintu, bad mean kahian kuchh biga d n dean, is dar se pahale hi bhakti karata hooan."

rajalakshmi ne kshan-bhar chup rahakar kaha, "yah tum logoan ka anyay hai. tum logoan ne unhean apane dal se, jati se, samaj se-sab or se bahishkrit kar diya hai. phir bhi, yadi ve log tumhare lie tho da-sa bhi kuchh karate haian, to utane hi ke lie tumhean unaka kritajn hona chahie."

maianne kaha, "ham log bahut zyada kritajn hote, yadi ve us krodh ke karan poore-poore musalaman ya kristan ho jate! un logoan mean jo apane ko 'brahm' kahate haian ve brahm-samaj ko nasht karate haian, jo 'hindoo' kahate haian ve hindoo samaj ko hairan karate haian. yadi ve pahale yah thik karake ki svayan kaun haian doosaroan ke lie rone baithate to usase unaka khud ka kalyan hota aur jinake lie rote haian unaka bhi shayad kuchh upakar ho jata."

rajyalakshmi boli, "kintu, mujhe to aisa nahian jan p data."

maianne kaha, "nahian jan p data to koee vishesh hani nahian. kintu, jisake lie is samay ataka hua hooan vah any bat hai. kahaan, usaka to koee javab hi nahian diya?" is daphe rajalakshmi ne hansakar kaha, "aji, usake lie atakana nahian p dega. pahale tumhari bhookh to pak jay, usake bad vichar kiya jayega."

maianne kaha, "tab vichar kya hoga, jis-kisi steshan se jo kuchh milega vahi nigalane ko de dogi!-kintu, so nahian hoga, maian kahe rakhata hooan."

mera uttar sunakar vah mere muanh ki or kuchh der chupachap dekhati rahi aur phir kuchh hansakar boli, "so maian kar sakati hooan- tumhean vishvas hota hai?"

"maianne kaha- "khoob! itana-sa bhi vishvas tum par nahian hoga?"

"to thik hai!" kahakar vah phir apani khi daki se bahar jhaankati huee chupachap baithi rahi.

agale steshan par rajalakshmi ne ratan ko bulakar khane ke lie jagah kara di aur use huqqa lane ka hukm dekar thali mean samast khady-samagri sajakar samane rakh di. dekha, is vishay mean kahian bindu-bhar bhi bhool-chook nahian huee hai- mujhe jo kuchh achchha lagata hai vah sab chun-chun kar sangrah karake laya gaya hai.

beanch par ratan ne bistar kar diye. itaminan ke sath bhojan samapt karake gu dagu di ki nali muanh mean dalakar aram se aauankhean mooandane ki taiyari kar raha tha ki rajalakshmi boli, "khane ki chizean utha le ja ratan, inamean se jo bhave so kha lena- aur tere dibbe mean aur bhi koee khave to de dena."

kintu, ratan ko atyant lajjit aur sankuchit lakshy karake maianne kuchh, acharaj ke sath poochha, "kahaan, tumane to kuchh khaya nahian?"

rajalakshmi boli, "nahian, mujhe bhookh nahian hai. ja n ratan, kh da kyoan hai? ga di chal degi jo!"

ratan lajja ke mare mano g d gaya. "mujhase b di bhool ho gayi baboo musalaman kuli se khana chhoo gaya hai! kitana hi kahata hooan- maan, steshan se kuchh kharid lane do, kintu kisi tarah manati hi nahian." itana kahakar usane mere muanh par apani katar-drishti dali jaise meri hi anumati chah raha ho.

kintu maian kuchh kahooan, isake pahale hi rajalakshmi ne use dhamakakar kaha, tooan jayega nahian, kh da-kh da tark karega?"

ratan phir kuchh n bola aur bhojan ke bartan hath mean lekar bahar chala gaya. tren ke chalate hi rajalakshmi mere sirahane a baithi aur sir ke baloan mean dhire-dhire aanguliyaan chalate-chalate boli, "achchha dekho..."

bich mean hi tokakar bola, "dekhooanga phir kabhi. kintu..."

usane bhi mujhe usi gh di tokakar kaha, "tumhean 'kintu' se shuroo karake lekchar n dena hoga, maian sab samajh gayi. maian musalaman se ghrina nahian karati; usake chhoo lene se bhojan nasht ho jata hai, so bhi nahian manati. yadi aisa hota to tumhean apane hathoan se vah bhojan n parosati."

"kintu, tumane khud kyoan nahian khaya?"

"striyoan ko nahian khana chahie."

"kyoan?"

"kyoan aur kya? striyoan ko khane ki manaee hai."

"aur purushoan ke lie manaee nahian hai?"

rajalakshmi ne mera sir hilakar kaha- nahian, mardoan ke lie ye bandhe hue aeen-kanoon kisalie? ve jo ichchha ho khavean, jo ichchha ho pahinean, jaise bhi ho sukh se rahean- ham log achar ka palan karati javean, bas yahi bahut hai. ham to saik doan kasht sah sakati haian, kintu kya tum log sah sakate ho? yahi dekho n sham hote n hote hi bhool ke mor aauankhoan ke age aandhera dekhane lage the!"

maianne kaha, "ho sakata hai, kintu, ham kasht nahian sahan kar sakate, isamean ham logoan ke lie bhi to koee gaurav ki bat nahian hai."

rajalakshmi ne sir hilakar kaha- "nahian, isamean tumhara jara bhi agaurav nahian hai. tum log ham logoan ki tarah dasi ki jati nahian ho jo kasht sahan karake jao. lajja ki bat to hamare lie hai, yadi ham kasht n sahan kar sakean."

maianne kaha, "yah nyay-shastr tumhean sikhaya kisane? kashi ke guruji ne?"

rajalakshmi mere muanh ke atyant nikat jhukakar kshan-bhar sthir ho rahi, phir muskarakar boli, "mujhe jo kuchh shiksha mili hai sab tumhare hi samip- tumase badhakar guru mera aur koee nahian."

maianne kaha, "tab to phir, guru se tumane thik ulati bat sikh rakkhi hai. maianne kisi din nahian kaha ki tum log dasi ki jati ho. balki, maian to yahi bat chirakal se manata hooan ki tum dasi nahian ho. tum kisi tarah bhi ham logoan ki apeksha til-bhar chhoti nahian ho."

rajalakshmi ki aauankhean chhalachhala aeean, boli, "so maian janati hooan. aur janati hooan isilie to yah bat tumhare samip sikh paee hooan. tumhari tarah yadi sabhi purush yahi bat soch sakate, to phir prithvi-bhar ki samast striyoan ke muanh se yahi bat sun p dati. kan b da hai aur kan chhota, yah samasya hi kabhi n uthati."

"arthath, yah saty bina kisi vichar ke sabhi man lete?"

rajalakshmi boli, "haan."

tab maianne hansakar kaha, "saubhagy se prithvi-bhar ki striyaan, tumhare sath sahamat nahian haian, yahi khairiyat hai. kintu, apani jati ko itana hin samajhate tumhean laj nahian ati?"

mere upahas par rajalakshmi ne dhyakan diya ya nahian, isamean sandeh hai. yah bahut hi sahaj bhav se boli, "kintu, isamean to hinata ki koee bat nahian hai."

maianne kaha, "so thik hai, ham log malik haian aur tum dasi, yah sanskar is desh ki striyoan ke man mean is tarah baddhamool ho gaya hai ki isaki hinata bhi tumhari najar mean nahian ati. jan p data hai ki isi pap se prithvi ke sare deshoan ki striyoan ki apeksha tum sachamuch hi aj chhoti ho gayi ho."

rajalakshmi ekaek sakht hokar baith gayi aur donoan netroan ko pradipt karake boli, "nahian, is karan nahian. tumhare desh ki striyaan apane apako chhota samajhane ke karan chhoti nahian ho gayian. sach yah hai ki tumhian logoan ne unhean chhota samajhakar chhota bana diya hai, aur tum khud bhi chhote ho gaye ho."

yah bat mujhe akasmath kuchh nayi-si maloom huee. isamean jo kuchh goodh arth chhipa hua tha vah dhire-dhire suspasht-sa hone laga. sachamuch hi isamean bahut-sa saty chhipa hua hai jo ab tak mujhe drishtigochar nahian hua tha.

rajalakshmi boli, "tumane to us bhadr purush ke sambandh mean majak kiya tha kintu usaki bat sunakar meri aauankhean kitani khul gayi haian, so tum nahian janate."

'nahian janata', yah svikar karate hi vah kahane lagi, "nahian janate isake karan haian. kisi bhi vastu ko janane ke lie jab tak manushy ke hriday ke bhitar ek tarah ki vyakulata nahian uthati tab tak sab kuchh usaki najar mean dhuandhala hi bana rahata hai. itane din tumhare muanh se sunakar socha karati thi ki sachamuch ki sachamuch hi yadi hamare desh ke logoan ka du:kh itana adhik hai, sachamuch hi yadi hamara samaj itana adhik andha hai, to usamean manushy jita hi kyoankar hai, aur usako manakar hi kyoan chalata hai?"

maian chupachap sun raha hooan, yah dekhakar vah ahiste-ahiste kahane lagi, "aur tum bhi kya samajhoge? kabhi in logoan ke bich rahe nahian, kabhi in logoan ke sukh-du:kh bhoge nahian; isilie bahar hi bahar bahar ke samaj ke sath tulana karake samajhate ho ki in logoan ke kashtoan ki shayad koee sima hi nahian. dhani zamiandar pulav khaya karata hai. vah apani kisi daridr praja ko basi bhat khate dekhakar sochata hai ki 'isake du:kh ki koee sima nahian hai'- jis tarah vah bhoolata hai usi tarah tum bhoolate ho." maianne kaha, "tumhara tark yadyapi nyay-shastr ke niyamanusar nahian chal raha hai, phir bhi poochhata hooan ki tumane kaise jana ki mujhe desh ke sambandh mean isase adhik jnan nahian hai?"

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "ho hi kaise sakata hai? duniya mean tumhare jaisa svarthi koee bhi hai kya? jo keval apane hi aram ke lie bhagata phirata hai, vah ghar ki khabar janega hi kahaan se? tum jaise log hi to samaj ki adhik ninda karate phirate haian jo samaj se koee sambandh hi nahian rakhate, balki usaki or se sarvatha upekshit rahate haian. tum log n to achchhi tarah parae samaj ko janate ho aur n achchhi tarah apane hi samaj ko."

maianne kaha, "isake bad?"

rajalakshmi boli, "isake bad bahar rahakar bahari samajik vyavastha dekhakar tum log soch mean mare jate ho ki hamari striyaan makan mean kaid rahakar din-rat kam kiya karati haian, isalie unake saman du:khi, unake saman pi dit, unake saman hin, shayad aur kisi desh ki striyaan nahian haian. kintu kuchh din hamari chinta chho dakar keval apani hi chinta kar dekho, apane ko kuchh ooancha uthane ki cheshta karo!- yadi kahian kuchh sachamuch ka dosh hoga to vah keval usi samay najar ayega- usase pahale nahian."

"isake bad?"

rajalakshmi ne kruddh hokar kaha, "tum mujhase majak kar rahe ho, yah maian janati hooan. kintu, maian majak ki bat nahian kar rahi hooan. ghar ki malakin sab logoan se kharab khati-piti hai, kabhi-kabhi to naukaroan ki apeksha bhi. bahudha use naukaroan se bhi adhik mehanat karani p dati hai. kintu, tum is du:kh se vyakul hokar rote hue mat phiro; ham logoan ko dasi ke saman hi bani rahane do, doosare deshoan jaisi rani bana dalane ki cheshta mat karo;- maian yahi bat tumase kahati hooan."

maianne, kaha, yadyapi tum tark-shastr ke gathe par pair dekar use duba dene ki tajabij kar rahi ho, kintu, phir bhi yah svikar karata hooan ki shastranusar tark karane ka rasta mujhe bhi nahian mil raha hai."

usane kaha, "isamean tark karane- jaisa kuchh bhi nahian hai."

maianne kaha, "ho bhi, to vah shakti mujhamean nahian hai-b di niand a rahi hai. kintu, "tumhari bat ek tarah se samajh raha hooan."

rajalakshmi jara chup rahakar boli, "hamare desh mean chahe jis karan ho, chhote-b de, ooanch-nich, sabhi logoan mean rupayoan ka lobh bahut hi badh gaya hai. koee bhi tho de mean santusht hona nahian janata, chahata bhi nahian. isase kitana anisht hua hai, isaka pata maianne pa liya hai."

"bat sach hai, kintu tumane pata kis tarah paya?"

rajalakshmi boli, "rupayoan ke lobh se hi to meri yah dasha huee hai! kintu poorv kal mean shayad itana lobh nahian tha."

maianne kaha, "is itihas ko maian thik-thik nahian janata."

vah kahane lagi, "itana kabhi nahian tha. us samay mata rupaye ke lobh se apani beti ko kabhi is raste par nahian dhakelati, us samay dharm ka dar tha. aj to mere pas rupayoan ki kami nahian hai kintu mere saman du:khi bhi kya koee hai? raste ka bhikhari bhi, maian samajhati hooan, mujhase bahut adhik sukhi hai."

usaka hath apane hath mean maian rakhakar poochha, "tumhean sachamuch hi itana kasht hai!"

rajalakshmi ne kshan-bhar maun rahakar aur ek bar aauanchal se aauankh-muanh poanchhakar kaha, "meri bat mere antaryami hi janate haian."

isake bad donoan hi gumasum ho rahe. ga di ki raphtar kam hokar vah ek chhote steshan par akar kh di ho gayi. kuchh der bad usane phir chalana shuroo kiya. maianne kaha, "kya karane se tumhara shesh jivan sukh se kat sakata hai, yah mujhe batala sakati ho?"

rajalakshmi boli, "yah maianne soch rakkha hai mera sara dhan yadi kisi tarah chala jay, kuchh n bach rahe-ekabaragi nirashray ho jaooan, to..."

ab phir bilku'l gumasum ho rahe. usaki bat itani spasht thi ki sabhi samajh sakate haian, mujhe bhi masajhane mean der n lagi. kuchh der chup rahakar poochha, "yah khayal kab se aya tumhare man mean?"

rajalakshmi boli, "jis din abhaya ki bat suni usi din se."

"maine kaha, "kintu, un logoan ki jivan-yatra to bich mean hi khatm huee nahian jati. bhavishy mean ve kitana du:kh pa sakate haian, so to tum janati nahian."

vah sir hilakar boli, "nahian, janati nahian, yah saty hai; kintu ve chahe kitana hi du:kh kyoan n pavean, mere saman du:kh kisi din n paveange, yah maian nishchayapoorvak kah sakati hooan."

aur bhi kuchh der chup rahakar maianne kaha, "lakshmi, tumhare lie maian apana sarvasv tyag kar sakata hooan; kintu ijjat ka tyag kaise karooan?"

rajalakshmi boli, "maian kya tumase kuchh tyagane ko kahati hooan? ijjat hi to manushy ki asali chiz hai. usaka yadi tyag nahian kar sakate to tyag ki bat hi kyoan muanh par late ho? tumase to maianne kuchh bhi tyag karane ke lie nahian kaha."

maianne kaha, "kaha nahian, so thik hai; kintu, kar sakata hooan. ijjat jane ke bad purush ka jita rahana ek vidambana hai. keval is ijjat ko chho dakar tumhare lie maian sabhi kuchh visarjit kar sakata hooan."

rajalakshmi ne sahasa hath khianch liya aur kaha, "mere lie tumhean kuchh bhi visarjit karana p dega. kintu tum kya yah samajhate ho ki keval tum logoan ke hi ijjat hai, ham logoan ki koee ijjat nahian? ham logoan ke lie usaka tyag dena kya itana adhik sahaj hai? phir bhi, tum logoan ke lie hi saik doan-hajaroan striyoan ne ise dhool ki tarah pheank diya hai, yah avashy hi tum nahian janate, par maian janati hooan."

mere kuchh bolane ki cheshta karate hi usane rokar kaha, "rahane do, ab aur kuchh kahane ki zaroorat nahian. tumhean itane din maianne jo samajha tha vah galat tha. tum so jao- ab is sambandh mean maian bhi kabhi koee aisi bat n kahooangi, tum bhi n kahana." itana kahakar vah uthi aur apani beanch par ja baithi.

doosare din thik samay par kashi a pahuancha aur pyari ke makan mean hi thahara. oopar ke do kamaroan ko chho dakar qarib sara ka sara makan juda-juda umr ki vidhava striyoan se bhara hua tha.

pyari boli, "ye sab meri kiraedar haian." itana kahakar vah muanh phirakar kuchh hans di.

maianne kaha, "hansi kyoan? shayad kiraya ada nahian hota?"

pyari boli, "nahian, balki kuchh n kuchh aur dena p data hai."

"isake mani?"

pyari is daphe hans p di aur boli, "isake mani hai, bhavishy ki asha par mujhako hi inhean khana-kap da dekar jilae rakhana hai. jiti raheangi tabhi to bad mean deangi, yah bhi kya nahian samajh sakate?"

maianne bhi hansakar kaha, "samajhata nahian to! is tarah bhavishy ki asha par kitane logoan ko tumhean gupachup ann-vastr jutana-patana p data hoga- maian keval vahi soch raha hooan!" inake sivay meri do-ek rishtedar bhi haian."

"so bhi hai kya? kintu, maloom kaise hua tumhean ki rishtedar haian?"

pyari jara sookhi hansi hansakar boli, "maan ke sath ane par is kashi mean hi to meri 'maut' huee thi, shayad tumhean yah yad nahian raha. tab asamay mean hi jinhoanne meri 'sadgati' ki thi, un logoan ka vah upakar kya pran rahate kabhi bhoola ja sakata hai?"

maian chup ho raha. pyari kahane lagi- "in logoan ka vah sharir b da hi dayapoorn hai. isilie, pas rakhakar in par jara k di najar rakhati hooan, jisase inhean aur adhik upakar karane ka suyog n mile."

usake chehare ki or niharate hi ekaek mere muanh se bahar nikal gaya, "tumhare hriday ke bhitar kya hai-bich-bich mean use hi chirakar dekhane ki ichchha hoti hai rajalakshmi!"

"marane par dekhana. achchha, kamare mean jakar so jao. rasoee ban jane par utha dooangi." itana kahakar aur hath ke ishare se kamara dikhakar vah jine se niche utar gayi. maian vahian par kuchh der chupachap kh da raha. yah nahian ki aj maianne usake hriday ka koee naya parichay prapt kiya ho, kintu, mere khud ke hriday mean yah samany kahani ek naye chakkar ki srishti kar gayi.

rat ko pyari boli, "tumhean phijool kasht dekar itani door le aee. gurudev tirthatan karane nikal gaye haian, unase nahian mila saki."

maianne kaha, "isake lie maian jara bhi du:khit nahian hooan. ab to kalakatte laut chalana hoga n?"

pyari ne gardan hilakar bataya, "haan."

maianne kaha, "kya mera sath chalana avashyak hai? n ho to maian jara aur pashchim ki or ghoom ana chahata hooan."

pyari ne kaha, "bankoo ke byah mean to ab bhi kuchh der hai. chalo n, maian bhi prayag chalakar snan kar aooan."

maian jara mushkil mean p d gaya. mere door ke rishte ke ek chacha vahaan naukari karate haian. socha tha ki vahian jakar thaharooanga. sivay isake aur bhi kee parichit mitr dost vahaan rahate haian.

pyari ne nimesh-matr mean mere man ka bhav ta dakar kaha, "maian sath rahooangi to shayad koee dekh lega, yahi n?'

apratibh hokar kaha, "vastav mean kalank chiz hi aisi hai ki log jhoothe kalank ka bhi bhay kiye bagair nahian rah sakate."

pyari ne jabardasti hansate hue kaha, "so thik hai. gat sal are mean to tumhean ek tarah se god mean liye hi liye mere din-rat kate haian. saubhagy se us dasha mean kisi ne tumhean nahian dekha. us jagah shayad tumhari jan-pahichan ka koee bandhu-bandhav nahian tha."

maianne atishay lajjit hokar kaha, "mujhe tana marana vritha hai. manushyata ke lihaz se maian tumhari apeksha bahut hin hooan, is bat ko maian asvikar karata nahian."

pyari tikshn svar se bol uthi, "tana! tumhean tana mar sakooangi, yahi sochakar shayad maian vahaan gayi thi, kyoan? dekho, manushy ke pi da pahuanchane ki bhi ek had hoti hai- use mat laangh jana."

kuchh der chup rahakar phir boli, "thik, kalank hi to hai! yadi maian hoti to is kalank ko sir par lekar logoan ko bulakar dikhati phirati, par aisi bat muanh se bahar n nikal sakati."

maianne kaha, "tumane mujhe pran-dan zaroor diya hai-kintu, maian atyant chhota adami hooan rajyalakshmi, tumhare sath tulana hi nahian ho sakati." rajalakshmi darpayukt svar mean boli, "pran-dan yadi diya hai to apani hi garaj se diya hai, tumhari garaj se nahian. usake lie tumhean ratti-bhar bhi ahasan manane ki zaroorat nahian. kintu maian tumhean chhota-chhoti tabiyat ka adami nahian khayal kar sakati. aisa hota to aphat katati, gale mean phaansi lagakar sari jvala ko ju da sakati." itana kahakar vah mere javab ki rah dekhe bagair hi kamare se bahar chali gayi.

doosare din subah rajalakshmi chay dekar chupachap chali ja rahi thi ki maianne bulakar kaha, "bat-chit band hai kya?"

vah palatakar kh di ho gayi, boli, "nahian to, kuchh kahoge?"

maianne kaha, "chalo, ek daphe prayag ghoom avean?"

"thik to hai, jaie."

"tum bhi chalo."

"anugrah karate ho kya?"

"nahian chahatian?"

"nahian. zaroorat hogi tab maang looangi, is samay nahian." itana kahakar vah apane kam se chali gayi.

mere muanh se keval ek lambi saans bahar nikal gayi, kintu koee bat nahian nikali.

dopahar ko bhojan ke samay maianne hansakar kaha, "achchha lakshmi, mujhase bolana band karake kya tumase raha jayega jo is asadhyah-sadhan ki koshish kar rahi ho?" rajalakshmi ne shant-gambhir mudra se kaha- "samane hone par kisi se nahian raha jata- mujhase bhi nahian raha jayega. isake sivay, yah meri ichchha bhi nahian hai."

"tab phir ichchha kya hai?"

rajalakshmi boli, "maian kal se hi soch rahi hooan ki is khianch-tan ko band kiye vagair nahian chal sakata. tumane bhi ek tarah se saph-saph jata diya hai aur maian bhi ek tarah se khoob jan gayi hooan. galati meri hi huee, yah maian svikar karati hooan, kintu..."

use sahasa rukate dekh maianne poochha, "kintu, kya?"

rajalakshmi boli, "kintu, kuchh bhi nahian. yah jo ek nirlajj vachal ki tarah yachana karati tumhare pichhe-pichhe ghoomati phirati hooan," itana kahakar usane ekaek apana muanh mano ghrina se siko d liya aur kaha, "l daka hi kya sochata hoga, naukar-chakar hi man hi man kya kahate hoange! ram, ram, mano maianne ise ek hansi ka vyapar bana dala hai."

kuchh der thahar kar phir kahane lagi, "budhape mean yah kya mujhe sohata hai? tum ilahabad jana chahate the, jao. phir bhi yadi ho sake to barma ravana hone ke pahile ek daphe bheant kar jana." itana kahakar vah chali gayi.

sath hi sath meri bhookh bhi gayab ho gayi. usaka muanh dekhakar aj mujhe pahale hi pahal jnat hua ki yah sab man-manauval ka mamala nahian hai, sachamuch hi usane kuchh n kuchh sochakar sthir kar liya hai.

sandhyash ke samay aj ek hindustani dasi jal-pan adi samagri lekar aee to usase kuchh acharaj ke sath pyari ka hal poochha. javab sunakar maianne aur bhi acharaj ke sath jana ki pyari makan mean nahian hai, vah saj-siangar karake phitan par kahian gayi hai. phitan kahaan se aee, use saj-siangar karake kahaan jane ki zaroorat p d gayi- so kuchh bhi n samajha. tab svayan usi ke muanh ki vah bat yad a gayi ki vah kashi mean hi ek din 'mari' thi.

yah sach hai ki kuchh bhi samajh mean n aya, phir bhi, is khabar se sara man besvad ho gaya.

sham huee, ghar-ghar mean die jale, kintu rajalakshmi nahian lauti.

chadar kandhoan par dalakar jara ghoom ane ke lie bahar nikal p da. raste-raste chakkar katata, bahut dekhata-sunata, rat ke das baje ke bad makan par lauta, to suna ki pyari tab bhi lautakar nahian aee hai. mamala kya hai? kuchh dar-sa maloom hone laga. soch hi raha tha ki ratan ko bulakar sara sankoch door karake is sambandh ka pata lagaooan ya nahian ki ek bhari jo di ke gho doan ki tapoan ka shabd sunaee diya. khi daki mean se jhaanka to dekhata hooan ek b di bhari phitan makan ke samane akar kh di hai.

pyari utarakar aee. jyotsna ke alok mean usake sarvaang ke jevar jhalamala uthe. jo do bhale adami phitan mean baithe the ve dhime svar se jan p da, pyari ko sambodhan kar kuchh kah rahe haian jise maian sun n saka. ve bangali haian ya bihari, so bhi n jan saka. chabuk khakar gho de palak marate n marate aauankhoan ke ojhal ho gaye.


000


rajalakshmi ne meri khabar lene ke lie usi saj-siangar ke sath mere kamare mean pravesh kiya.

maian uchhalakar aur usaki or dahina hath pasarakar thietari gale se bola, "ari pakhandini rohini1! too govind2 lal ko nahian pahachanati? aha! aj yadi mere pas ek pistaul hoti, ya ek talavar hi hoti!"

rajalakshmi ne sookhe kanth-svar se kaha, "to kya karate?- khoon?"

hansakar bola, "nahian pyari, mujhe itana b da navabi shauq nahian hai. isake sivay is bisavian shatabdi mean aisa nishthur rakshas dham kaun hai jo sansar ki itani b di anand ki khan ko patthar se mooand de? balki, arshivad deta hooan ki he baee-kul-shiromani! tum dirghajivi hoo- tumhara sundar roop trilok vijayi ho, tumhara kanth-svar vina-vinindit ho, tumhare in donoan charan kamaloan nrity urvashi-tilottama ka garv kharv kar de, aur maian door se tumhara jay-gan karake dhany hoooan!" pyari boli, "in sab batoan ka arth?"

maianne kaha, "arthamanarthamh-! use jane do. maian isi ek baje ki ga di se bida hota hooan. abhi to prayag jata hooan, isake bad jaooanga bangaliyoan ke paramatirth chakaristan- arthath barma ko. yadi samay aur suyog hoga, to milakar jaooanga."

"maian kahaan gayi thi, yah sunana bhi avashyak nahian samajhate?"

"nahian, bilkutal nahian."

"yah bahana pakar kya tum ekadam chale ja rahe ho?"

maianne kaha, "is papi muanh se ab bhi kuchh nahian kah sakata. is gorakh-dhandhe se yadi par ho sakooan to..."

pyari kuchh der chupachap kh di rahi aur boli, "tum kya mujh par jo ji chahe vahi atyachar kar sakate ho?"

maian bola, "jo ji chahe? bilkunal nahian. balki, jan-anajan mean yadi bindumatr atyachar kiya ho to usake lie kshama chahata hooan."

"isake mane, aj rat ko hi tum chale jaoge?"

"haan."

"mujhe bina aparadh dand dene ka tumhean adhikar hai?"

1-2. bankimababoo ke 'vishavriksh' namak upanyas ke do patr.

"nahian, til-bhar bhi nahian. kintu, yadi mere jane ko hi tum 'dand dena' samajhati ho, to vah adhikar mujhe zaroor hai."

pyari ne hathath koee javab nahian diya. mere muanh ki or kuchh kshan chupachap dekhate rahakar kaha, "maian kahaan gayi thi, kyoan gayi thi- nahian sunoge?"

"nahian, meri sammati lekar to tum vahaan gayi nahian thi, jo laut akar usaka hal sunaogi. sivay isake; usake lie mere pas n samay hai aur n ichchha."

pyari chot khaee huee sarpini ki tarah ekaek phuankar uthi, "meri bhi sunane ki ichchha nahian hai. maian kisi ki kharidi huee baandi nahian hooan jo kahaan jaooan aur kahaan n jaooan, isaki anumati leti phirooan! jate ho, jao!" yoan kahakar roop aur alankaroan ki ek hilor-si uthakar vah tezike sath kamare se bahar ho gayi.

adami ga di bulane gaya. koee ghante-bhar bad sadar daravaze par ek ga di ke kh de hone ka shabd sunakar baig hath mean lekar ja hi raha tha ki pyari akar pichhe kh di ho gayi. boli, "ise kya tum bachchoan ka khilava d samajhate ho? mujhe akeli chho dakar chale jaoge, to naukar-chakar kya socheange? tum kya in logoan ke samane bhi mujhe muanh dikhane yogy n rakkhoge?"

palatakar kh de hokar kaha, "apane naukaroan ke sath tum nipatati rahana- mera usase koee talluk nahian."

"vah n ho n sahi, kintu lautakar maian bankoo ko hi kya javab dooangi?"

"yahi javab de dena ki ve pashchim ko ghoomane chale gaye haian.",

"is par kya koee vishvas karega?

"jis par vishvas kiya ja sake aisi hi koee bat banakar kah dena."

pyari kshan-bhar maun rahakar boli, "yadi kuchh anyay hi kar baithi hooan to kya vah maph nahian ho sakata? tum kshama n karoge to aur kaun karega?"

"maian bola, "pyari, yah to ek baandi-dasi sarikhi bat huee. tumhare muanh se to nahian sohati."

is tane ka pyari sahasa koee uttar n de saki. usaka muanh lal ho gaya, vah chupachap kh di rahi. yah saf maloom ho gaya ki vah pranapan se apane apako sanmhaalane ki cheshta kar rahi hai. bahar se ga divan ne chillakar der ka karan poochha. mere chupachap baig hath mean lete hi pyari dhap se pairoan ke samip baith gayi aur ruddh svar mean bol uthi, "maian sachamuch ka aparadh kabhi kar hi nahian sakati, yah janate hue bhi yadi tum dand dena chahate ho to apane hath se do, kintu, ghar-bhar ke logoan ke samip mera sir nicha mat karo. yadi aj tum is tarah chale jaoge to maian ab kisi ke samip kabhi apana muanh ooancha karake kh di n ho sakooangi."

hath ka baig niche rakhakar ek chauki par baith gaya aur bola- "achchha aj tumhare-hamare bich antim phaisala ho jay. tumhara aj ka acharan maianne maph kar diya. kintu, maianne bahut vichar karake dekha hai ki ham donoan ka milana-julana ab nahian ko sakega."

pyari ne apana atyant utkanthit muanh mere muanh ki or uthakar darate hue poochha, "kyoan?"

maian bola, "apriy saty sah sakogi?"

pyari gardan hilakar asphut svar mean kaha, "haan, sah sakooangi."

kintu, kisi adami ke vyatha sahane ko taiyar ho jane se hi kuchh vyatha dene ka kary sahaj nahian ho jata. mujhe bahut der tak chupachap baithakar sochana p da. phir bhi maianne sthir kar liya ki aj kisi tarah bhi apana irada nahian badalooanga aur isilie ant mean maianne dhire se kaha, "lakshmi, tumhara aj ka vyavahar maph karana kitana hi kathin kyoan n ho, maianne maph kar diya. kintu, tum svayan is lobh ko kisi tarah nahian chho d sakogi. tumhare pas bahut dhan-daulat hai- bahut-sa roop-gun hai. bahutoan par tumhara asim prabhutv bhi hai. sansar mean isase badhakar lobh ki vastu aur koee nahian hai. tum mujhe pyar kar sakati ho, kintu is moh ko kisi tarah bhi nahian kat sakogi."

rajalakshmi ne mridu kanth se kaha, "arthath is tarah ka kam maian bich-bich mean karooangi hi?"

javab mean maian keval maun ho raha. vah khud bhi kuchh der chup rahakar boli, "usake bad?"

"usake bad ek din tash ke makan ki tarah sab gir p dega. us din ki us hinata se to yahi bhala hai ki aj mujhe hamesha ke lie rihaee de do-tumhare samip meri yahi prarthana hai."

pyari bahut der tak muanh nicha kiye chupachap baithi rahi. isake bad jab usane muanh uthaya tab dekha, usaki aauankhoan se pani gir raha hai. use aauanchal se poanchhakar poochha, "kya maianne kabhi tumhean koee chhota kam karane ke lie pravritt kiya hai?"

is girati huee ashru-dhara ne mere sanyam ki bhit par chot pahuanchaee; kintu, bahar se maianne use kisi tarah prakat nahian hone diya. shant dridhata ke sath kaha, "nahian, kisi din nahian. tum svayan chhoti nahian ho. chhota kam tum svayan kabhi kar nahian sakati aur doosaroan ko bhi nahian karane de sakatian."

phir kuchh thaharakar kaha, "kintu duniya to manasa pandit ki pathashala ki us rajalakshmi ko pahichanegi nahian. vah to pahichanegi sirph patana ki prasiddh pyari baee ko. tab duniya ki najaroan mean kitana chhota ho jaooanga, so tum kya nahian dekh sakati? batalao, tum use kis tarah rokogi?"

rajalakshmi ne ek lambi saans chho dakar kaha, "kintu, use to sachamuch mean chhota hona nahian kahate?"

maianne kaha, "bhagavan ki najar mean n ho, kintu, sansar ki aauankhean bhi to upeksha karane ki chiz nahian hai lakshmi."

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "kintu, unhian ki najar ko hi to sabase pahale manana uchit hai."

maianne kaha, ek tarah se yah bat sach hai. kintu, unaki najar to hamesha dikh nahian p dati aur phir jo drishti sansar mean das adamiyoan ke bhitar se prakash pati hai, vah bhi bhagavan ki hi drishti hai rajalakshmi, ise bhi asvikar karana anyay hai."

"isi dar se tum mujhe janm-bhar ke lie chho dakar chale jaoge?"

maian bola, "phir milooanga. tum kahian bhi kyoan n hoo, barma jane ke pahale maian ek daphe aur bhi tumase mil jaooanga."

rajalakshmi tezike sath sir hilakar rooanase svar se kah uthi, "jate ho to jao. kintu tum mujhe chahe jaisa kyoan n samajho, mujhase badhakar apana tumhara aur koee nahian. par usi se mujhako tyag kar jana das adamiyoan ki nigah mean dharm hai, yah bat maian kabhi svikar nahian karooangi." itana kahakar vah tezise kamara chho dakar chali gayi.

gh di nikalakar dekha, ab bhi samay hai, ab bhi shayad ek baje ki ga di mil jay. chupachap baig uthakar dhire se utarakar maian ga di mean ja baitha.

inam ke lobh se ga divan ne pranapan se dau dakar steshan pahuancha diy. kintu usi kshan pashchim ki tren ne pletapharm chho d diya. poochhane se maloom hua ki adha ghante bad hi ek tren kalakatte ki or jayegi. socha, chalo, yahi achchha hai; gaanv ka muanh bahut din se nahian dekha- us jangal mean hi jakar baki ke kuchh din kat dooan.

isalie, pashchim ke badale poorv ka tikat kharid kar adha ghante ke bad ek viparit-gamini bhaph ki ga di mean baithakar kashi se chal diya.


000 bahut dinoan bad phir ek din sham ko gaanv mean akar pravesh kiya. mera makan us samay sage-sambandhi rishtedaroan tatha unake bhi rishtedaroan se bhara hua tha. b de maje se sare ghar ko gherakar unhoanne apani ghar-girasti phaila rakkhi thi, kahian suee rakhane ke lie bhi jagah nahian thi.

mere ekaek a pahuanchane aur vahaan rahane ke irade ko sunakar anand ke mare unaka chehara syah ho gaya. ve kahane lage, "aha, yah to b de anand ki bat hai. is bar byah karake sansari ban jao shrikant, ham log dekhakar apani aauankhean thandi karean."

maianne kaha, "isilie to aya hooan. is samay kam se kam meri maan ka kamara khali kar do, maian apane hath-paanv phailakar jara let rahooan."

mere pita ki mameri bahin apane pati-putr ke sath kuchh din se rah rahi thi. ve akar bolian, "thik to kahate ho!"

maianne kaha, "achchha, n ho to maian bahar ke kamare mean p d rahooanga."

jakar dekha, kone mean surkhi, aur ek kone mean choone ka dher laga hua hai. usake bhi 'malik' bole, "thik to hai. dekhata hooan ki ve sab chizean to jara dekh-sunakar hatani p deangi. par kamara to chhota nahian hai, tab tak n ho to is kinare ek takht-posh bichhakar- kya kahate ho shrikant?"

maianne kaha, "achchha rat-bhar ke lie n ho to yahi sahi."

vastav mean maian itana thak gaya tha ki maloom hota tha jahaan bhi ho jara-si sone ko jagah bhar mil jay to jan mean jan a jay. barma ki us bimari ke bad se ab tak sharir poori taur se svasth aur sabal n ho paya tha. bhitar hi bhitar ek tarah ka avasad pray: bhi anubhav hota tha. isi se sham ke bad jab matha dukhane laga tab vishesh acharaj nahian hua.

nayi bani huee bahin ne akar kaha- "are yah to jara garmi-si chadh gayi hai bhat khakar sone se hi chali jayegi."

tathastu. vahi hua. gurujan ki ajna shirodhary karake garmi door karane ke lie bhat khakar shayya grahan kar li. par subah niand tooti khoob achchhi tarah bukhar liye hue! didi ne sharir par hath rakhakar kaha, "kuchh nahian, yah to maleriya hai, isamean bhojan kiya jata hai."

kintu ab haan mean haan n mila saka. bola, "nahian jiji, maian ab tak tumhare maleriya-raj ki praja nahian bana hooan. unaki duhaee dekar atyachar kiya jana shayad maian sahan nahian kar sakooan. aj meri langhan hai."

sari rat gujari, doosara din gujara, usake bad ka din bhi kat gaya, kintu bukhar ne pichha nahian chho da. balki, use adhikadhik chadhate dekh man hi man vyakul ho utha. govind d aauktar is bela us bela dekhane ane lage. na di, pak dakar, jibh dekhakar, pet thokakar 'susvadu' oshadhiyoan ki yojana kar keval 'lagat ke dam' bhar lene lage, kintu ek-ek din karake sara saptah isi tarah gujar gaya. mere pita ke mama, mere baba akar bole, "isilie to bhiya, maian kahata hooan ki vahaan khabar patha do, tumhari phua ko a jane do. bukhar to jaise..."

bat poori n hone par bhi maian samajh gaya ki baba kuchh mushkil mean p d gaye haian. is tarah aur bhi char-paanch din bit gaye, kintu, bukhar mean koee farq nahian hua. us din subah govind d aauktar ne akar yathariti davaee dekar tin din ke baki 'lagat ke dam' maange. shayya mean p de-p de kisi tarah hath badhakar apana baig khola- dekha to mani-baig gayab hai! atishay shankit hokar maian uth baitha. baig ko auandha karake har ek chiz alag-alag karake khoj ki; kintu jo nahian tha so nahian mila.

govind d aauktar mamala samajhakar chintit hokar bar-bar saval karane lage, "kuchh chala gaya hai kya?"

maianne kaha, "nahian, kuchh bhi to nahian gaya."

kintu unaki dava ka mooly jab maian n de saka tab ve samajh gaye. stambhit ki tarah kuchh der kh de rahakar unhoanne poochha, "the kitane?"

"kuchh tho de-se."

"chabi ko jara savadhani se rakhana chahie bhiya. khair, tum parae nahian ho, rupaye ki chinta mat karana. achchhe ho jao, usake bad jab subhita ho bhej dena. ilaj mean koee kasar n hogi." itana kahakar d aauktar sahab gair hokar bhi param atmiy se bhi adhik santvana dekar chale gaye. unase kah diya ki "yah bat koee sun n pave."

d aauktar sahab bole, "achchha, achchha, dekha jayega."

dehat mean vishvas par rupaye udhar dene ki chal nahian hai. rupaya hi kyoan, ek chavanni bhi khali hath udhar maangane par log samajhate haian ki yah adami khalis dillagi kar raha hai. kyoanki, is bat ki dehat ke log kalpana bhi nahian kar sakate haian ki sansar mean itana nasamajh bhi koee hai jo khali hath udhar chahata hai, atev, maianne yah koshish bhi nahian ki. pahale se hi sthir kar liya tha ki isaki soochana rajalakshmi ko nahian dooanga. jara svasth ho jaooan tab jo ho sakega karooanga. man mean sambhavat: yah sankalp tha ki abhaya ko patr likhakar rupaye mangaooanga. kintu, isake lie samay nahian mila. sahasa seva-shushroosha ka sur bhi 'tara' se 'udara' mean utar p date hi samajh gaya ki meri vipatti ki bat makan ke bhitar chhipi nahian rahi hai.

paristhiti ko sankshep mean jatakar rajalakshmi ko ek chitthi likhi avashy, kintu usamean maian apane apako itana hin, apamanit, mahasoos karane laga ki kisi tarah bhi use n bhej saka- pha dakar pheank diya. doosara din isi tarah kat gaya. kintu, isake bad ke din ne kisi tarah bhi katana n chaha. us din kisi or se koee rasta n dekh pakar ant mean ek tarah se jan par khelakar hi kuchh rupayoan ke lie rajalakshmi ko patr likhakar patana aur kalakatte ke thikane par bhej die. vah rupaye bhejegi, isamean jara bhi sandeh nahian tha, phir bhi, us din subah se hi mano ek prakar ke utkanthit sanshay se postamain ki asha mean samane ki khuli khi daki mean se raste ke oopar apani drishti bichhae hue unmukh p da raha.

samay nikal gaya. aj ab usaki asha nahian hai. aisa sochakar karavat badalane ki taiyari kar raha tha ki us samay door par ek ga di ke shabd se chakit hokar takiye par bhar dekar uth baitha. ga di akar thik samane hi kh di ho gayi. dekhata hooan, kochavan ke bagal mean ratan baitha hai. usake niche utarakar ga di ka daravaza kholate hi jo dikhaee diya us par saty manakar vishvas karana kathin ho gaya.

prakat roop se din ke samay is gaanv ke raste par rajalakshmi akar kh di ho sakati hai, yah meri kalpana ke bhi pare ki bat thi.

ratan bola- "ye haian babooji."

rajalakshmi ne keval ek bar mere muanh ki or dekha. ga divan bola- "maan, der lagegi? gho da khol dooan?"

"jara thaharo." kahakar usane avichilit dhir pad rakhate hue mere kamare mean pravesh kiya. pranam karake, pairoan ki dhooli mastak par lagakar aur hath se mastak aur chhati ka uttap dekhakar kaha, "is samay to ab bukhar nahian hai. us joon sat baje ki ga di se jana ho sakega? gho de chho d dene ko kah dooan?"

maian abhibhoot ki tarah usake muanh ki or nihar raha tha. bola, "do din se bukhar ana to band hai, kya mujhe aj hi le chalana chahati ho?"

rajalakshmi boli, "n ho to aj rahane do. rat mean chalane ki zaroorat nahian, sardi lag sakati hai, kal subah hi chaleange."

itani der mean jaise maian hosh mean a gaya. bola, "is gaanv mean is muhalle ke bich tum aee kis sahas se? tum kya sochati ho ki yahaan tumhean koee bhi n pahichan sakega?" rajalakshmi ne sahaj mean hi kaha, "bhale hi pahichan lean. yahian to paida huee aur b di huee aur yahian par log mujhe pahichan n sakeange? jo dekhega vahi pahichan lega." "tab?"

"kya karooan batao? mera bhagy! nahian to tum yahaan akar bimar hi kyoan p date?"

"aee kyoan? rupaye mangae the, rupaye bhej dene se hi to chal jata!"

"so kya kabhi ho sakata hai? aisi bimari ki khabar sunakar kya keval rupaye bhejakar hi sthir rah sakati hooan?"

maianne kaha, "tum to shayad sthir ho gayian, kintu mujhe to bahut hi asthir kar diya. abhi hi yahaan jab sab a p deange tab tum apana muanh kis tarah dikhaogi, aur maian hi kya javab dooanga?"

rajalakshmi ne javab mean keval ek bar aur apane lalat ko chhookar kaha, "javab aur kya doge- mera bhagy!"

usaki beparavahi aur udasinata se atyant asahishnu hokar bola, "bhagy to thik hai! kintu laj-sharm ko ekabaragi hi chat baithi ho? yahaan muanh dikhate bhi tumhean hichakichahat nahian huee?"

rajalakshmi ne vaise hi udas kanth se javab diya, "meri laj-sharam jo kuchh hai so is samay bas tum hi ho."

isake bad ab maian aur kahooan hi kya! sunooan bhi kya? aauankhean mooandakar chupachap let raha.

kuchh der bad poochha, "bankoo ka vivah nirvighn ho gaya?"

rajalakshmi boli, "haan."

"abhi kahaan se a rahi ho?- kalakatte se?"

"nahian patane se. vahian par tumhari chitthi mili thi."

"mujhe kahaan le jaogi?- patane?"

rajalakshmi ne kuchh sochakar kaha, "ek bar to vahaan tumhean jana hi p dega. pahale kalakatte chalean, vahaan par tumhean dikha looan, usake bad tandurust hone par..."

maianne saval kiya, "kintu, usake bad bhi mujhe patana kyoan jana p dega?"

rajalakshmi boli, dan-patr ki to vahian rajistari karani p degi. likha-padhi ek tarah se sab kar aee hooan; kintu tumhare hukm ke bina to kuchh ho n sakega." atyant acharaj ke sath poochha, "kya bat ka dan-patr? kisake nam?"

rajalakshmi boli, "makan to donoan bankoo ko diye haian. keval kashi ka makan gurudev ko dena vichara hai. aur kampani ke kagaj, gahane vagairah ka hissa-baant bhi apani samajh-boojh ke anusar ek tarah se kar aee hooan. ab tumhare kahane- bhar ki..."

mere acharaj ki sima nahian rahi, bola, "aisi avastha mean ab tumhara khud ka aur kya rah gaya? bankoo yadi tumhara bhar n le to? ab usaki khud ki girasti ho gayi, ant mean yadi vah bhi tumhean khane ko n de to?"

"kya maian vah chahati hooan? nij ka sab kuchh dan karake kya usi ke hath ka diya khaooangi? tum bhi khoob ho!"

dhiraj ko aur n sanmhal sakane ke karan maian uthakar kruddh kanth se bola, "harishchandr ke saman yah durbuddhi tumhean di kisane? khaogi kya? budhape mean kisaki gal-grah banane jaogi!"

rajalakshmi boli, "tumhean gussa karane ki zaroorat nahian hai, tum laut jao. jisane mujhe yah buddhi di hai vahi mujhe khane ko dega. maian hazar boodhi ho jaooangi vah mujhe kabhi gal-grah nahian samajhega! tum phijool sir garm mat karo- shanti se let raho."

maian shant hokar let raha. samane ki khuli khi daki se doobate hue soory ki kiranoan se ranga hua vichitr akash dikh p da. svapnavisht ki tarah nirnimesh drishti se usi or niharate-niharate jan p dane laga- mano ek adbhut shobha aur saundary mean sara vishv-brahmand baha ja raha hai. tinoan lokoan ke bich rog-shok, abhav-abhiyog, hiansa-dvesh, ab kahian bhi kuchh nahian hai.

is nirvakh nistabdhata mean magn rahakar donoan ne kitana samay bita diya, samajhata hooan, isaka kisi ne hisab hi nahian kiya. sahasa daravaze ke bahar manushy ke gale ki avaz sunakar ham donoan hi chauank p de aur rajalakshmi ke shayya chho dane ke pahale hi d aauktar sahab ne prasann baba ko sath mean liye andar pravesh kiya. kintu, usake oopar drishti p date hi rukakar kh de ho gaye. baba jab diva-nidra le rahe the tab yah khabar unake kanoan mean avashy p d gayi thi ki koee bandhu kalakatte se ga di lekar mere pas aya hai, kintu vah koee stri ho sakati hai, yah shayad kisi ki kalpana mean bhi nahian tha. isilie, shayad ab tak ghar ki striyaan bhi bahar nahian aeean thian.

babaji atyant vilakshan adami the. unhoanne kuchh der rajalakshmi ke niche jhuke hue mukh ki or dekhakar kaha, "yah l daki kaun hai shrikant? kuchh pahichani huee-si maloom hoti hai."

d aauktar sahab bhi pray: sath hi sath kah uthe, "chhote kaka, mujhe bhi aisa lagata hai jaise inhean kahian dekha hai."

maianne tirachhi najar se dekha, rajalakshmi ka sara mukh-mandal jaise murde ki tarah phak ho gaya hai usi kshan jaise koee mere hriday ke bhitar se bol utha-"shrikant, is sarvasv-tyagini stri ne keval tumhare lie hi svechchha se yah du:kh apane sir par utha liya hai."

ekabaragi sari deh romaanchit ho uthi, man hi man bola, mujhe saty se matalab nahian, aj maian mithya ko hi sar par dharan karooanga aur doosare hi kshan usake hath ko jara dabakar kah baitha, "tum apane pati ki seva karane aee ho. tumhean laj kis bat ki hai rajalakshmi? ye baba aur d aauktar sahab haian, inako pranam karo."

pal-bhar ke lie donoan ki char aauankhean ho gayian; isake bad usane uthakar zamin par sir tekakar donoan ko pranam kiya.

shrikaant upanyas
bhag-1 | bhag-2 | bhag-3 | bhag-4 | bhag-5 | bhag-6 | bhag-7 | bhag-8 | bhag-9 | bhag-10 | bhag-11 | bhag-12 | bhag-13 | bhag-14 | bhag-15 | bhag-16 | bhag-17 | bhag-18 | ubhag-19 | bhag-20

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