कायर -प्रेमचंद

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

yuvak ka nam keshav tha, yuvati ka prema. donoan ek hi kalej ke aur ek hi klas ke vidyarthi the. keshav naye vicharoan ka yuvak tha, jat-paant ke bandhanoan ka virodhi. prema purane sanskaroan ki kayal thi, purani maryadaoan aur prathaoan mean poora vishvas rakhanevali; lekin phir bhi donoan mean gadha prem ho gaya tha. aur yah bat sare kalej mean mashahoor thi. keshav brahman hokar bhi vaishy kanya prema se vivah karake apana jivan sarthak karana chahata tha. use apane mata-pita ki paravah n thi. kul-maryada ka vichar bhi use svaang-sa lagata tha. usake lie saty koee vastu thi, to prem thi; kintu prema ke lie mata-pita aur kul-parivar ke adesh ke viruddh ek qadam badhana bhi asambhav tha.

sandhya ka samay hai. viktoriya-park ke ek nirjan sthan mean donoan amane-samane hariyali par baithe hue haian. sair karane vale ek-ek karake vida ho gaye; kintu ye donoan abhi vahian baithe hue haian. unamean ek aisa prasang chhi da hua hai, jo kisi tarah samapt nahian hota.

keshav ne jhuanjhalakar kaha—isaka yah arth hai ki tumhean meri paravah nahian hai?

prema ne usako shant karane ki cheshta karake kaha—tum mere sath anyay kar rahe ho, keshav! lekin maian is vishay ko mata-pita ke samane kaise chhe dooan, yah meri samajh mean nahian ata. ve log purani roodhiy़oan ke bhakt haian. meri taraph se koee aisi bat sunakar man mean jo-jo shankaean hoangi, unaki tum kalpana kar sakate ho?

keshav ne ugr bhav se poochha—to tum bhi unhian purani roodhiyoan ki gulam ho?

prema ne apani b di-b di aankhoan mean mridu-sneh bharakar kaha—nahian, maian unaki gulam nahian hooan, lekin mata-pita ki ichchha mere lie aur sab chijoan se adhik many hai.

‘tumhara vyaktitv kuchh nahian hai?’

‘aisa hi samajh lo.’

‘maian to samajhata tha ki ye dhakosale moorkhoan ke lie hi haian; lekin ab maloom hua ki tum-jaisi vidushiyaan bhi unaki pooja karati haian. jab maian tumhare lie sansar ko chhodऩe ko taiyar hooan to tumase bhi yahi asha karata hooan.’

prema ne man mean socha, mera apani deh par kya adhikar hai. jin mata-pita ne apane rakt se meri srishti ki hai, aur apane sneh se use pala hai, unaki maraji ke khilaf koee kam karane ka use koee hak nahian.

usane dinata ke sath keshav se kaha—kya prem stri aur purush ke roop hi mean rah sakata hai, maitri ke roop mean nahian? maian to atma ka bandhan samajhati hooan.

keshav ne kathor bhav se kaha—in darshanik vicharoan se tum mujhe pagal kar dogi, prema! bas, itana hi samajh lo maian nirash hokar zinda nahian rah sakata. maian pratyakshavadi hooan, aur kalpanaoan ke sansar mean pratyaksh ka anand uthana mere lie asambhav hai.

yah kahakar usane prema ka hath pakadaqar apani or khianchane ki cheshta ki. prema ne jhatake se hath chhu da liya aur boli—nahian keshav, maian kah chuki hooan ki maian svatantr nahian hooan. tum mujhase vah chiz n maango, jis par mera koee adhikar nahian hai.

keshav ko agar prema ne kathor shabd kahe hote to bhi use itana du:kh n hua hota. ek kshan tak vah man mare baitha raha, phir uthakar nirasha bhare svar mean bola—‘jaisi tumhari ichchha! ahista-ahista kadam-sa uthata hua vahaan se chala gaya. prema ab bhi vahian baithi aansoo bahati rahi.

2

rat ko bhojan karake prema jab apani maan ke sath leti, to usaki aankhoan mean niand n thi. keshav ne use ek aisi bat kah di thi, jo chanchal pani mean padऩe vali chhaya ki tarah usake dil par chhayi huee thi. pratikshan usaka roop badalata tha. vah use sthir n kar sakati thi. mata se is vishay mean kuchh kahe to kaise? lajja muanh band kar deti thi. usane socha, agar keshav ke sath mera vivah n hua to us samay mera kya katrtavy hoga. agar keshav ne kuchh uddandata kar dali to mere lie sansar mean phir kya rah jayaga; lekin mera bas hi kya hai. in bhaanti-bhaanti ke vicharoan mean ek bat jo usake man mean nishchit huee, vah yah thi ki keshav ke siva vah aur kisi se vivah n karegi.

usaki mata ne poochha—kya tujhe ab tak niand n ayi? maianne tujhase kitani bar kaha ki tho da-bahut ghar ka kam-kaj kiya kar; lekin tujhe kitaboan se hi phurasat nahian milati. char din mean too paraye ghar jayagi, kaun jane kaisa ghar mile. agar kuchh kam karane ki adat n rahi, to kaise nibah hoga?

prema ne bholepan se kaha—maian paraye ghar jaooangi hi kyoan?

mata ne muskarakar kaha—l dakiyoan ke lie yahi to sabase b di vipatti hai, beti! maan-bap ki god mean palakar jyoan hi sayani huee, doosaroan ki ho jati hai. agar achchhe prani mile, to jivan aram se kat gaya, nahian ro-rokar din katana p da. sab kuchh bhagy ke adhin hai. apani biradari mean to mujhe koee ghar nahian bhata. kahian l dakiyoan ka adar nahian; lekin karana to biradari mean hi p dega. n jane yah jat-paant ka bandhan kab tootega?

prema darate-darate boli—kahian-kahian to biradari ke bahar bhi vivah hone lage haian!

usane kahane ko kah diya; lekin usaka hriday kaanp raha tha ki mata ji kuchh bhaanp n jayan.

mata ne vismay ke sath poochha—kya hinduoan mean aisa hua hai!

phir usane ap-hi-ap us prashn ka javab bhi diya—aur do-char jagah aisa ho bhi gaya, to usase kya hota hai?

prema ne isaka kuchh javab n diya, bhay hua ki mata kahian usaka ashay samajh n jayan. usaka bhavishy ek andheri khaee ki tarah usake samane muanh khole kh da tha, manoan use nigal jayaga.

use n jane kab niand a gayi.

3

prat:kal prema sokar uthi, to usake man mean ek vichitr sahas ka uday ho gaya tha. sabhi mahattvapoorn phaisale ham akasmik roop se kar liya karate haian, mano koee daivi-shakti hamean unaki or khianch le jati hai; vahi halat prema ki thi. kal tak vah mata-pita ke nirnay ko many samajhati thi, par sankat ko samane dekhakar usamean us vayu ki himmat paida ho gayi thi, jisake samane koee parvat a gaya ho. vahi mand vayu prabal veg se parvat ke mastak par chadh jati hai aur use kuchalati huee doosari taraph ja pahuanchati hai. prema man mean soch rahi thi—mano, yah deh mata-pita ki hai; kintu atma to meri hai. meri atma ko jo kuchh bhugatana p dega, vah isi deh se to bhugatana p dega. ab vah is vishay mean sankoch karana anuchit hi nahian, ghatak samajh rahi thi. apane jivan ko kyoan ek jhoothe samman par balidan kare? usane socha vivah ka adhar agar prem n ho, to vah deh ka vikray hai. atm-samarpan kyoan bina prem ke bhi ho sakata hai? is kalpana hi se ki n jane kis aparichit yuvak se usaka vivah ho jayaga, usaka hriday vidroh kar utha.

vah abhi nashta karake kuchh padhऩe ja rahi thi ki usake pita ne pyar se pukara—maian kal tumhare prinsipal ke pas gaya tha, ve tumhari b di tariph kar rahe the.

prema ne saral bhav se kaha—ap to yoan hi kaha karate haian.

‘nahian, sach.’

yah kahate hue unhoanne apani mej ki daraj kholi, aur makhamali chaukhatoan mean j di huee ek tasvir nikalakar use dikhate hue bole—yah ladaqa ayi0si0es0 ke imtahan mean pratham aya hai. isaka nam to tumane suna hoga?

boodhe pita ne aisi bhoomika baandh di thi ki maan unaka ashay n samajh saki lekin prema bhaanp gayi! unaka man tir ki bhaanti lakshy par ja pahuancha. usane bina tasvir ki or dekhe hi kaha—nahian, maianne to usaka nam nahian suna.

pita ne banavati ashchary se kaha—kya! tumane usaka nam hi nahian suna? aj ke dainik patr mean usaka chitr aur jivan-vrittant chhapa hai.

prema ne rukhaee se javab diya—hoga, magar maian to us pariksha ka koee mahattv nahian samajhati. maian to samajhati hooan, jo log is pariksha mean baithate haian ve palle sir ke svarthi hote haian. akhir unaka uddeshy isake siva aur kya hota hai ki apane garib, nirdhan, dalit bhaiyoan par shasan karean aur khoob dhan sanchay karean. yah to jivan ka koee ooancha uddeshy nahian hai.

is apatti mean jalan thi, anyay tha; nirdayata thi. pita ji ne samajha tha, prema yah bakhan sunakar lattoo ho jayagi. yah javab sunakar tikhe svar mean bole—too to aisi batean kar rahi hai jaise tere lie dhan aur adhikar ka koee mooly hi nahian.

prema ne dhithaee se kaha—haan, maian to isaka mooly nahian samajhati. maian to adami mean tyag dekhati hooan. maian aise yuvakoan ko janati hooan, jinhean yah pad jabaradasti bhi diya jae, to svikar n kareange.

pita ne upahas ke dhang se kaha—yah to aj maianne nee bat suni. maian to dekhata hooan ki chhoti-chhoti naukariyoan ke lie log mare-mare phirate haian. maian jara us ladaqe ki soorat dekhana chahata hooan, jisamean itana tyag ho. maian to usaki pooja karooanga.

shayad kisi doosare avasar par ye shabd sunakar prema lajja se sir jhuka leti; par is samay usaki dasha us sipahi ki si thi, jisake pichhe gahari khaee ho. age badhऩe ke siva usake lie aur koee marg n tha. apane avesh ko sanyam se dabati huee, aankhoan mean vidroh bhare, vah apane kamare mean gayi, aur keshav ke kee chitroan mean se vah ek chitr chunakar layi, jo usaki nigah mean sabase kharab tha, aur pita ke samane rakh diya. boodhe pita ji ne chitr ko upeksha ke bhav se dekhana chaha; lekin pahali drishti hi mean usane unhean akarshit kar liya. ooancha qad tha aur durbal hone par bhi usaka gathan, svasthy aur sanyam ka parichay de raha tha. mukh par pratibha ka tej n tha; par vicharashilata ka kuchh aisa pratibimb tha, jo usake man mean vishvas paida karata tha.

unhoanne us chitr ki or dekhate hue poochha—yah kisaka chitr hai?

prema ne sankoch se sir jhukakar kaha—yah mere hi klas mean padhate haian.

‘apani hi biradari ka hai?’

prema ki mukhamudra dhoomil ho gayi. isi prashn ke uttar par usaki kismat ka phaisala ho jayaga. usake man mean pachhatava hua ki vyarth maian is chitr ko yahaan layi. usamean ek kshan ke lie jo dridhata ayi thi, vah is paine prashn ke samane katar ho uthi. dabi huee avaz mean boli—‘ji nahian, vah brahman haian.’ aur yah kahane ke sath hi kshubdh hokar kamare se nikal gayi manoan yahaan ki vayu mean usaka gala ghuta ja raha ho aur divar ki a d mean hokar rone lagi.

lala ji ko to pahale aisa krodh aya ki prema ko bulakar saph-saph kah dean ki yah asambhav hai. ve usi gusse mean daravaze tak aye, lekin prema ko rote dekhakar namr ho gaye. is yuvak ke prati prema ke man mean kya bhav the, yah unase chhipa n raha. ve stri-shiksha ke poore samarthak the; lekin isake sath hi kul-maryada ki raksha bhi karana chahate the. apani hi jati ke suyogy var ke lie apana sarvasv arpan kar sakate the; lekin us kshetr ke bahar kulin se kulin aur yogy se yogy var ki kalpana bhi unake lie asahy thi. isase b da apaman ve soch hi n sakate the.

unhoanne kathor svar mean kaha—aj se kalej jana band kar do, agar shiksha kul-maryada ko dubona hi sikhati hai, to ku-shiksha hai.

prema ne katar kanth se kaha—pariksha to samip a gayi hai.

lala ji ne dridhata se kaha—ane do.

aur phir apane kamare mean jakar vicharoan mean doob gaye.

4

chh: mahine gujar gaye.

lala ji ne ghar mean akar patni ko ekant mean bulaya aur bole—jahaan tak mujhe maloom hai, keshav bahut hi sushil aur pratibhashali yuvak hai. maian to samajhata hooan prema is shok mean ghul-ghulakar pran de degi. tumane bhi samajhaya, maianne bhi samajhaya, doosaroan ne bhi samajhaya; par us par koee asar hi nahian hota. aisi dasha mean hamare lie aur kya upay hai.

unaki patni ne chintit bhav se kaha—kar to doge; lekin rahoge kahaan? n jane kahaan se yah kulachchhani meri kokh mean ayi?

lala ji ne bhavean sikodaqar tiraskar ke sath kaha—yah to hazar dapha sun chuka; lekin kul-maryada ke nam ko kahaan tak roean. chidiy़a ka par kholakar yah asha karana ki vah tumhare aangan mean hi phudakati rahegi bhram hai. maianne is par par thande dil se vichar kiya hai aur is natije par pahuancha hooan ki hamean is apaddharm ko svikar kar lena hi chahie. kul-maryada ke nam par maian prema ki hatya nahian kar sakata. duniya hansati ho, hanse; magar vah jamana bahut jald anevala hai, jab ye sabhi bandhan toot jaeange. aj bhi saik doan vivah jat-paant ke bandhanoan ko todaqar ho chuke haian. agar vivah ka uddeshy stri aur purush ka sukhamay jivan hai, to ham prema ki upeksha nahian kar sakate haian.

vriddha ne kshubdh hokar kaha—jab tumhari yahi ichchha hai, to mujhase kya poochhate haian? lekin maian kahe deti hooan, ki maian is vivah ke najadik n jaooangi, n kabhi is chhokari ka muanh dekhooangi, samajh looangi, jaise aur sab ladaqe mar gaye vaise yah bhi mar gayi.

‘to phir akhir tum kya karane ko kahati ho?’

‘kyoan nahian us ladaqe se vivah kar dete, usamean kya buraee hai? vah do sal mean sivil saravis pas karake a jayaga. keshav ke pas kya rakha hai, bahut hoga kisi daftar mean klark ho jayaga.’

‘aur agar prema pran-hatya kar le, to?’

‘to kar le, tum to use aur shah dete ho? jab use hamari paravah nahian hai, to ham usake lie apane nam ko kyoan kalankit karean? pran-hatya karana koee khel nahian hai. yah sab dhamaki hai. man gho da hai, jab tak use lagam n do, pu_e par hath bhi n rakhane dega. jab usake man ka yah hal hai, to kaun kahe, keshav ke sath hi zindagi bhar nibah karegi. jis tarah aj usase prem hai, usi tarah kal doosare se ho sakata hai. to kya patte par apana maans bikavana chahate ho?

lalaji ne stri ko prashn-soochak drishti se dekhakar kaha—aur agar vah kal khud jakar keshav se vivah kar le, to tum kya kar logi? phir tumhari kitani ijjat rah jayagi. vah chahe sankoch-vash, ya ham logoan ke lihaz se yoan hi baithi rahe; par yadi zid par kamar baandh le, ham-tum kuchh nahian kar sakate.

is samasya ka aisa bhishan ant bhi ho sakata hai, yah is vriddha ke dhyan mean bhi n aya tha. yah prashn bam ke gole ki tarah usake mastak par gira. ek kshan tak vah avakhï baithi rah gayi, manoan is aghat ne usaki buddhi ki dhajjiyaan u da di hoan. phir parabhoot hokar boli—tumhean anokhi hi kalpanaean soojhati haian. maianne to aj tak kabhi bhi nahian suna ki kisi kulin kanya ne apani ichchha se vivah kiya hai.

‘tumane n suna ho; lekin maianne suna hai, aur dekha hai aur aisa hona bahut sambhav hai.’

‘jis din aisa hoga; us din tum mujhe jiti n dekhoge.’

‘maian yah nahian kahata ki aisa hoga hi; lekin hona sambhav hai.’

‘to jab aisa hona hai, to isase to yahi achchha hai ki hamian isaka prabandh karean. jab nak hi kat rahi hai, to tej chhuri se kyoan n kate. kal keshav ko bulakar dekho, kya kahata hai.’

5

keshav ke pita sarakari penshanar the, mizaj ke chi dachi de aur kripan. dharm ke adambaroan mean hi unake chitt ko shanti milati thi. kalpana-shakti ka abhav tha. kisi ke manobhavoan ka samman n kar sakate the. ve ab bhi us sansar mean rahate the, jisamean unhoanne apane bachapan aur javani ke din kate the. navayug ki badhati huee lahar ko ve sarvanash kahate the, aur kam-se-kam apane ghar ko donoan hathoan aur donoan pairoan ka zor lagakar usase bachae rakhana chahate the; isalie jab ek din prema ke pita usake pas pahuanche aur keshav se prema ke vivah ka prastav kiya, to boodhe pandit ji apane ap mean n rah sake. dhuandhali aankhean phadaqar bole—ap bhang to nahian kha gaye haian? is tarah ka sambandh aur chahe jo kuchh ho, vivah nahian hai. maloom hota hai, apako bhi naye jamane ki hava lag gayi.

boodhe baboo ji ne namrata se kaha—maian khud aisa sambandh nahian pasand karata. is vishay mean mere bhi vahi vichar haian, jo apake; par bat aisi a p di hai ki mujhe vivash hokar apaki seva mean ana p da. ajakal ke ladaqe aur l dakiyaan kitane svechchhachari ho gaye haian, yah to ap janate hi haian. ham boodhe logoan ke lie ab apane siddhantoan ki raksha karana kathin ho gaya hai. mujhe bhay hai ki kahian ye donoan nirash hokar apani jan par n khel jayan.

boodhe pandit ji zamin par paanv patakate hue garaj uthe—ap kya kahate haian, sahab! apako sharam nahian ati? ham brahman haian aur brahmanoan mean bhi kulin. brahman kitane hi patit ho gaye hoan, itane maryada-shoony nahian hue haian ki baniye-bakkaloan ki ladaqi se vivah karate phirean! jis din kulin brahmanoan mean l dakiyaan n raheangi, us din yah samasya upasthit ho sakati hai. maian kahata hooan, apako mujhase yah bat kahane ka sahas kaise hua?

boodhe baboo ji jitana hi dabate the, utana hi pandit ji big date the. yahaan tak ki lala ji apana apaman zyada n sah sake, aur apani takadir ko kosate hue chale gaye.

usi vakt keshav kalej se aya. pandit ji ne turant use bulakar kathor kanth se kaha—maianne suna hai, tumane kisi baniye ki ladaqi se apana vivah kar liya hai. yah khabar kahaan tak sahi hai?

keshav ne anajan banakar poochha—apase kisane kaha?

‘kisi ne kaha. maian poochhata hooan, yah bat thik hai, ya nahian? agar thik hai, aur tumane apani maryada ko dubana nishchay kar liya hai, to tumhare lie hamare ghar mean koee sthan nahian. tumhean meri kamaee ka ek dhela bhi nahian milata. mere pas jo kuchh hai, vah meri apani kamaee hai, mujhe akhtiyar hai ki maian use jise chahooan, de dooan. tum yah aniti karake mere ghar mean qadam nahian rakh sakate.’

keshav pita ke svabhav se parichit tha. prema se use prem tha. vah gupt roop se prema se vivah kar lena chahata tha! bap hamesha to baithe n raheange. mata ke sneh par use vishvas tha. us prem ki tarang mean vah sare kashtoan ko jhelane ke lie taiyar maloom hota tha; lekin jaise koee kayar sipahi bandook ke samane jakar himmat kho baithata hai aur qadam pichhe hata leta hai, vahi dasha keshav ki huee. vah sadharan yuvakoan ki tarah siddhantoan ke lie b de-b de tark kar sakata tha, jaban se unamean apani bhakti ki dohaee de sakata tha; lekin isake lie yatanaean jhelane ki samathry usamean n thian. agar vah apani zid par a da aur pita ne bhi apani tek rakhi, to usaka kahaan thikana lagega? usaka jivan hi nasht ho jayaga.

usane dabi jaban se kaha—jisane apase yah kaha hai, bilkul jhooth kaha hai.

pandit ji ne tivr netroan se dekhakar kaha—to yah khabar bilakul galat hai?

‘ji haan, bilakul galat.’

‘to tum aj hi isi vakt us baniye ko khat likh do aur yad rakho ki agar is tarah ki charcha phir kabhi uthi, to tumhara sabase b da shatru hoooanga. bas, jao.

keshav aur kuchh n kah saka. vah yahaan se chala, to aisa maloom hota tha ki pairoan mean dam nahian hai.

6

doosare din prema ne keshav ke nam yah patr likha—

‘priy keshav!’

tumhare poojy pitaji ne lala ji ke sath jo ashisht aur apamanajanak vyavahar kiya hai, usaka hal sunakar mere man mean b di shanka utpann ho rahi hai. shayad unhoanne tumhean bhi daant-phatakar batayi hogi, aisi dasha mean maian tumhara nishchay sunane ke lie vikal ho rahi hooan. tumhare sath har tarah ka kasht jhelane ko taiyar hooan. mujhe tumhare pitaji ki sampatti ka moh nahian hai, maian to keval tumhara prem chahati hooan aur usi mean prasann hooan. aj sham ko yahian akar bhojan karo. dada aur maan donoan tumase milane ke lie bahut ichchhuk haian. maian vah svapn dekhane mean magn hooan jab ham donoan us sootr mean bandh jayange, jo tootana nahian janata. jo b di-se-b di apatti mean bhi atoot rahata hai.

tumhari—

prema!

sandhya ho gayi aur is patr ka koee javab n aya. usaki mata bar-bar poochhati thi—keshav aye nahian? boodhe lala bhi dvar ki or aankh lagaye baithe the. yahaan tak ki rat ke nau baj gaye, par n to keshav hi aye, n unaka patr.

prema ke man mean bhaanti-bhaanti ke sankalp-vikalp uth rahe the, kadachit unhean patr likhane ka avakash n mila hoga, ya aj ane ki phurasat n mili hogi, kal avashy a jaeange. keshav ne pahale usake pas jo prem-patr likhe the, un sabako usane phir padha. unake ek-ek shabd se kitana anurag tapak raha tha, unamean kitana kampan tha, kitani vikalata, kitani tivr akaanksha! phir use keshav ke ve vaky yad ae; jo usane saik doan hi bar kahe the. kitani bar vah usake samane roya tha. itane pramanoan ke hote hue nirasha ke lie kahaan sthan tha, magar phir bhi sari rat usaka man jaise sooli par tanga raha.

prat:kal keshav ka javab aya. prema ne kaanpate hue hathoan se patr lekar padha. patr hath se gir gaya. aisa jan p da, mano usaki deh ka rakt sthir ho gaya ho. likha tha—

‘maian b de sankat mean hooan, ki tumhean kya javab dooan! maianne idhar is samasya par khoob thande dil se vichar kiya hai aur is natije par pahuancha hooan ki vartaman dashaoan mean mere lie pita ki ajna ki upeksha karana du:sah hai. mujhe kayar n samajhana. maian svarthi bhi nahian hooan, lekin mere samane jo badhaean haian un par vijay pane ki shakti mujhamean nahian hai. purani batoan ko bhool jao. us samay maianne in badhaoan ki kalpana n ki thi!’

prema ne ek lambi, gahari, jalati huee saans khianchi aur us khat ko phadaqar pheank diya. usaki aankhoan se ashrudhar bahane lagi. jis keshav ko usane apane ant:karan se var liya tha, vah itana nishthur ho jayaga, isaki usako ratti bhar bhi asha n thi. aisa maloom p da, mano, ab tak vah koee sunahala svapn dekh rahi thi; par aankh khulane par vah sab kuchh adrishy ho gaya. jivan mean jab asha hi lupt ho gayi, to ab andhakar ke siva aur kya raha! apane hriday ki sari sampatti lagakar usane ek nav ladavayi thi, vah nav jalamagn ho gayi. ab doosari nav kaun vahaan se ladavaye; agar vah nav tooti hai to usake sath vah bhi doob jayagi.

mata ne poochha—kya keshav ka patr hai?

prema ne bhoomi ki or takate hue kaha—haan, unaki tabiyat achchhi nahian hai—isake siva vah aur kya kahe? keshav ki nishthurata aur bevaphaee ka samachar kahakar lajjit hone ka sahas usamean n tha.

din bhar vah ghar ke kam-dhandhoan mean lagi rahi, mano use koee chinta hi nahian hai. rat ko usane sabako bhojan karaya, khud bhi bhojan kiya aur b di der haramoniyam par gati rahi.

magar sabera hua, to usake kamare mean usaki lash p di huee thi. prabhat ki sunahari kiranean usake pile mukh ko jivan ki abha pradan kar rahi thian.