चित्रवाले पत्थर -जयशंकर प्रसाद

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

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maian ‘sangamahal’ ka karmachari tha. un dinoan mujhe vindhy shail-mala ke ek uja d sthan mean sarakari kam se jana p da. bhayanak van-khand ke bich, paha di se hatakar ek chhoti-si dak bangaliya thi. maian usi mean thahara tha. vahian ki ek paha di mean ek prakar ka rangin patthar nikala tha. maian unaki jaanch karane aur tab tak patthar ki kataee band karane ke lie vahaan gaya tha. us jha d-khand mean chhoti-si sandook ki tarah manushy-jivan ki raksha ke lie bani huee bangaliya mujhe vilakshan maloom huee; kyoanki vahaan par prakriti ki nirjan shoonyata, patharili chattanoan se takarati huee hava ke jhoanke ke dirgh-ni:shvas, us ratri mean mujhe sone n dete the. maian chhoti-si khidaqi se sir nikalakar jab kabhi us srishti ke khandahar ko dekhane lagata, to bhay aur udveg mere man par itana bojh dalate ki maian kahaniyoan mean padhi huee atiranjit ghatanaoan ki sambhavana se thik sankuchit hokar bhitar apane takiye par p da rahata tha. antariksh ke gahvar mean n-jane kitani hi ashchary-janak lilaean karake manavi atmaoan ne apana nivas bana liya hai. maian kabhi-kabhi avesh mean sochata ki bhatte ke lobh se maian hi kyoan yahaan chala aya? kya vaisi hi koee adh‌bhut ghatana hone vali hai? maian phir jab apane sathi naukar ki or dekhata, to mujhe sahas ho jata aur kshan-bhar ke lie svasth hokar niand ko bulane lagata; kintu kahaan, vah to sapana ho rahi thi.

rat kat gayi. mujhe kuchh jhapaki ane lagi. kisi ne bahar se khatakhataya aur maian ghabara utha. khidaqi khuli huee thi. poorab ki paha di ke oopar akash mean lali phail rahi thi. maian nidar hokar bola-‘‘kaun hai? idhar khidaqi ke pas ao.’’

jo vyakti mere pas aya, use dekhakar maian dang rah gaya. kabhi vah sundar raha hoga; kintu aj to usake aang-aang se, muanh ki ek-ek rekha se udasinata aur kuroopata tapak rahi thi. aankhean gaddhe mean jalate hue aangare ki tarah dhakh-dhakh kar rahi thian. usane kaha-‘‘mujhe kuchh khilao.’’

maianne man-hi-man socha ki yah apatti kahaan se ayi! vah bhi rat bit jane par! maianne kaha-‘‘bhale adami! tumako itane sabere bhookh lag gayi?’’

usaki dadhi aur mooanchhoan ke bhitar chhipi huee daantoan ki pankti rag d uthi. vah hansi thi ya thi kisi kone ki marmantak pi da ki abhivyakti, kah nahian sakata. vah kahane laga-‘‘vyavahar-kushal manushy, sansar ke bhagy se usaki raksha ke lie, bahut tho de-se utpann hote haian. ve bhookhe par sandeh karate haian. ek paisa dene ke sath naukar se kah dete haian, dekho ise chana dila dena. vah samajhate haian, ek paise ki malaee se pet n bharega. tum aise hi vyavahar-kushal manushy ho. janate ho ki bhookhe ko kab bhookh lagani chahie. jab tumhari manushyata svaang banati hai, to apane pashu par devata ki khal chadha deti hai, aur svayan door kh di ho jati hai.’’ maianne socha ki yah darshanik bhikhamanga hai. aur kaha-‘‘achchha, bahar baitho.’’

bahut shighrata karane par bhi naukar ke uthane aur usake lie bhojan banane mean ghantoan lag gaye. jab maian naha-dhokar pooja-path se nivritt hokar lauta, to vah manushy ekant man se apane khane par juta hua tha. ab maian usaki pratiksha karane laga. vah bhojan samapt karake jab mere pas aya, to maianne poochha-‘‘tum yahaan kya kar rahe the?’’ usane sthir drishti se ek bar meri or dekhakar kaha-‘‘bas, itana hi poochhiega ya aur bhi kuchh?’’ mujhe hansi a gayi. maianne kaha-‘‘mujhe abhi do ghante ka avasar hai. tum jo kuchh kahana chaho, kaho.’’

vah kahane laga-

‘‘mere jivan mean us din anubhootimayi sarasata ka sanchar hua, meri chhati mean kusumakar ki vanasthali aankurit, pallavit, kusumit hokar saurabh ka prasar karane lagi. byah ke nimantran mean maianne dekha use, jise dekhane ke lie hi mera janm hua tha. vah thi mangala ki yauvanamayi oosha. sara sansar un kapoloan ki arunima ki gulabi chhata ke niche madhur vishram karane laga. vah madakata vilakshan thi. mangala ke aang-kusum se makarand chhalaka p data tha. meri dhaval aankhe use dekhakar hi gulabi hone lagian.

byah ki bhi dabha d mean is or dhyan dene ki kisako avashyakata thi, kintu ham donoan ko bhi doosari or dekhane ka avakash nahian tha. samana hua aur ek ghooant. aankhe chadh jati thian. adhar muskarakar khil jate aur hriday-pind parad ke saman, vasant-kalin chal-dal-kisalay ki tarah kaanp uthata.

dekhate-hi-dekhate utsav samapt ho gaya. sab log apane-apane ghar chalane ki taiyari karane lage; parantu mera pair to uthata hi n tha. maian apani gathari jitani hi baandhata, vah khul jati. maloom hota tha ki kuchh chhoot gaya hai. mangala ne kaha-‘‘murali, tum bhi jate ho?’’

‘‘jaooanga hi-to bhi tum jaisa kaho .’’

‘‘achchha, to phir kitane dinoan mean aoge?’’

‘‘yah to bhagy jane!’’

‘‘achchhi bat hai’’-vah ja de ki rat ke saman thande svar mean boli. mere man ko thes lagi. maianne bhi socha ki phir yahaan kyoan thaharooan? chal dene ka nishchay kiya. phir bhi rat to bitani hi p di. jate hue atithi ko tho da aur thaharane ke lie kahane se koee bhi chatur grihasth nahian chookata. mangala ki maan ne kaha aur maian rat bhar thahar gaya; par jagakar rat biti. mangala ne chalane ke samay kaha-‘‘achchha to-’’ isake bad namaskar ke lie donoan sundar hath ju d gaye. chidhaqar man-hi-man maianne kaha-yahi achchha hai, to bura hi kya hai? maian chal p da. kahaan-ghar nahian! kahian aur!-meri koee khoj lenevala n tha.

maian chala ja raha tha. kahaan jane ke lie, yah n bataooanga. vahaan pahuanchane par sandhya ho gayi. charoan or vanasthali saany-saany karane lagi. thaka bhi tha, rat ko pala p dane ki sambhavana thi. kis chhaya mean baithata? soch-vicharakar maian sookhi jhalasiyoan se jhop di banane laga. lataroan ko katakar us par chhajan huee. rat ka bahut-sa aansh bit chuka tha. parishram ki tulana mean vishram kahaan mila! prabhat hone par age badhऩe ki ichchha n huee. jhop di ki adhoori rachana ne mujhe rok liya. jangal to tha hi. lak diyoan ki kami n thi. pas hi nale ki mitti bhi chikani thi. age badhaqar nadi-tat se mujhe nala hi achchha laga. doosare din se jhop di uja dakar achchhi-si kothari banane ki dhun lagi. aher se pet bharata aur ghar banata. kuchh hi dinoan mean vah ban gaya. jab ghar ban chuka, to mera man uchatane laga. ghar ki mamata aur usake prati chhipa hua avishvas donoan ka yuddh man mean hua. maian jane ki bat sochata, phir mamata kahati ki vishram karo. apana parishram tha, chho d n saka. isaka aur bhi karan tha. samip hi saphed chattanoan par jaladhara ke laharile pravah mean kitana sangit tha! chaandani mean vah kitana sundar ho jata hai! jaise is prithvi ka chhaya-path. meri us jhop di se usaka sab roop dikhaee p data tha n! maian use dekhakar santosh ka jivan bitane laga. vah mere jivan ke sab rahasyoan ki pratima thi. kabhi use maian aansoo ki dhara samajhata, jise nirash premi apane aradhy ki kathor chhati par vyarth dhulakata ho. kabhi use apane jivan ki tarah nirmam sansar ki kathorata par chhatapatate hue dekhata. doosare ka du:kh dekhakar manushy ko santosh hota hi hai. maian bhi vahian p da jivan bitane laga.

kabhi sochata ki maian kyoan pagal ho gaya! us stri ke saundary ne kyoan apana prabhav mere hriday par jama liya? vidhava mangala, vah garal hai ya amrit? amrit hai, to usamean itani jvala kyoan hai, jvala hai to maian jal kyoan nahian gaya? yauvan ka vinod! saundary ki bhranti! vah kya hai? mera yahi svadhyay ho gaya.

sharad ki poornima mean bahut-se log us sundar drishy ko dekhane ke lie door-door se ate. yuvati aur yuvakoan ke rahasyalap karate hue jo de, mitroan ki mandaliyaan, parivaroan ka dal, unake anand-kolahal ko maian udas hokar dekhata. dah hoti, jalan hoti. trishna jag jati. maian us ramaniy drishy ka upabhog n karake palakoan ko daba leta. kanoan ko band kar leta; kyoan? mangala nahian. aur kya ek din ke lie, ek kshan ke lie maian us sukh ka adhikari nahian! vidhata ka abhishap! maian sochata-achchha, doosaroan ke hi sath kabhi vah sharad-poornima ke drishy ko dekhane ke lie kyoan nahian ayi? kya vah janati hai ki maian yahian hooan? maianne bhi poornima ke din vahaan jana chho d diya. aur log jab vahaan jate, maian n jata. maian roothata tha. yah moorkhata thi meri! vahaan kisase man karata tha maian? us din maian nadi ki or n jane kyoan akrisht hua.

meri niand khul gayi thi. chaandani rat ka sabera tha. abhi chandrama mean phika prakash tha. maian vanasthali ki rahasyamayi chhaya ko dekhata hua nale ke kinare-kinare chalane laga. nadi ke sangam par pahuanchakar sahasa ek jagah ruk gaya. dekha ki vahaan par ek stri aur purush shila par so rahe hai. vahaan tak to ghoomane vale ate nahian. mujhe kutoohal hua. maian vahian snan karane ke bahane ruk gaya. alok ki kiranoan se aankhe khul gayian. stri ne gardan ghumakar dhara ki or dekha. mai sann rah gaya. usaki dhoti sadharan aur maili thi. sirahane ek chhoti-si potali thi. purush abhi so raha tha. meri-usaki aankhe mil gayian. maianne to pahachan liya ki vah mangala thi. aur usane-nahian, use bhranti bani rahi. vah simatakar baith gayi. aur maian use janakar bhi anajan banate hue dekhakar man-hi-man kudh gaya. maian dhire-dhire oopar chadhऩe laga.

‘‘sunie to!’’ maianne ghoomakar dekha ki mangala pukar rahi hai. vah purush bhi uth baitha hai. maian vahian kh da rah gaya. kuchh bolane par bhi maian prashn ki pratiksha mean yathasthit rah gaya. mangala ne kaha-‘mahashay, kahian rahane ki jagah milegi?’’

‘‘mahashay!’’ aian! to sachamuch mangala ne mujhe nahian pahachana kya? chalo achchha hua, mera chitr bhi badal gaya tha. ekantavas karate hue aur kathor jivan bitate hue jo rekhaean ban gayi thian, vah mere manonukool hi huee. man mean krodh um d raha tha, gala bharrane laga tha. maianne kaha-‘‘jangaloan mean kya ap koee dharmashala khoj rahi haian?’’ vah kathor vyang tha. mangala ne ghayal hokar kaha-‘‘nahian, koee gupha-koee jhop di mahashay, dharmashala khojane ke lie jangal mean kyoan ati?’’

purush kuchh kathorata se sajag ho raha tha; kintu maianne usaki or n dekhate hue kaha-‘‘jhop di to meri hai. yadi vishram karana ho to vahian tho di der ke lie jagah mil jayagi.’’

‘‘tho di der ke lie sahi. mangala, utho? kya soch rahi ho? dekho, rat bhar yahaan p de-p de meri sab nasean ak d gayi haian.’’ purush ne kaha. maianne dekha ki vah koee sukhi parivar ke pyar mean pala hua yuvak hai; parantu usaka rang-roop nasht ho gaya hai. kashtoan ke karan usamean ek katuta a gayi hai. maianne kaha-‘‘to phir chalo, bhaee!’’

donoan mere pichhe-pichhe chalakar jhop di mean pahuanche.

mangala mujhe pahachan saki ki nahian, kah nahian sakata. kitane baras bit gaye. char-paanch dinoan ki dekha-dekhi. sambhavat: mera chitr usaki aankhoan mean utarate-utarate kisi aur chhavi ne apana asan jama liya ho; kintu maian kaise bhool sakata tha! ghar par aur koee tha hi nahian. jivan jab kisi sneh-chhaya ki khoj mean age badha, to mangala ka hara-bhara yauvan aur saundary dikhaee p da. vahian ram gaya. maian bhavana ke ativad mean p dakar nirash vyakti-sa viragi ban gaya tha, usi ke lie. yah meri bhool ho; par maian to use svikar kar chuka tha.

haan, to vah bal-vidhava mangala hi thi. aur purush! vah kaun hai? yahi maian sochata hua jhop di ke bahar sakhoo ki chhaya mean baitha hua tha. jhop di mean donoan vishram kar rahe the. un logoan ne naha-dhokar kuchh jal pikar sona arambh kiya. sone ki ho d lag rahi thi. ve itane thake the ki din-bhar uthane ka nam nahian liya. maian doosare din ka dhara hua namak laga maans ka tuk da nikalakar ag par seankane ki taiyari mean laga kyoanki ab din dhal raha tha. maian apane tir se aj ek pakshi mar saka tha. socha ki ye log bhi kuchh maang baithean tab kya dooanga? man mean to rosh ki matra kuchh n thi, phir bhi vah mangala thi n!

kabhi jo bhoole-bhatake pathik udhar se a nikalate, unase namak aur ata mil jata tha. meri jhop di mean rat bitane ka kiraya dekar log jate. mujhe bhi lalach laga tha! achchha, jane dijie. vahaan us din jo kuchh bacha tha, vah sab lekar baitha maian bhojan banane.

maian apane par jhuanjhalata bhi tha aur un logoan ke lie bhojan bhi banata jata tha. virodh ke sahasr phanoan ki chhaya mean n jane dular kab se so raha tha! vah jag p da.

jab soory un dhaval shilaoan par bahati huee jal-dhara ko lal banane laga tha, tab un logoan ki aankhe khulian. mangala ne meri sulagayi huee ag ki shikha ko dekhakar kaha-‘‘ap kya bana rahe haian, bhojan! to kya yahaan pas mean kuchh mil sakega?’’ maianne sir hilakar ‘nahian’ kaha. n jane kyoan! purush abhi aang daee le raha tha. usane kaha-‘‘tab kya hoga, mangala?’’ mangala hatash hokar boli-‘‘kya karooan?’’ maianne kaha-‘‘isi mean jo kuchh aante-bante, vah kha-pikar aj ap log vishram kijie n!’’

purush nikal aya. usane siki huee batiyaan aur maans ke tuk doan ko dekhakar kaha-‘‘tab aur chahie kya? maian to apako dhanyavad hi dooanga.’’ mangala jaise vyathit hokar apane sathi ko dekhane lagi; usaki yah bat use achchhi n lagi; kintu ab vah dvividha mean p d gayi. vah chupachap kh di rahi. purush ne jhi dakakar kaha-‘‘to ao mangala! mera aang-aang toot raha hai. dekho to botali mean aj bhar ke lie to bachi hai?’’

jalati huee ag ke dhuandhale prakash mean van-bhoj ka prasang chhi da. sabhi batoan par mujhase poochha gaya; par sharab ke lie nahian. mangala ko bhi tho di-si mili. maian ashchary se dekh raha tha ... mangala ka vah pragalbh acharan aur purush ka nishchint shasan. dasi ki tarah vah pratyek bat man lene ke lie prastut thi! aur maian to jaise kisi adh‌bhut sthiti mean apanepan ko bhool chuka tha. krodh, kshobh aur dah sab jaise mitr banane lage the. man mean ek vinit pyar nahian; ajnakarita-si jag gayi thi.

purush ne datakar bhojan kiya. tab ek bar meri or dekhakar dakar li. vahi mano mere lie dhanyavad tha. maian kudhata hua bhi vahian sakhoo ke niche asan lagane ki bat sochane laga aur purush ke sath mangala gahari aandhiyari hone ke pahale hi jhop di mean chali gayi. maian bujhati huee ag ko sulagane laga. man-hi-man soch raha tha, ‘kal hi in logoan ko yahaan se chale jana chahie. nahian to-‘phir niand a chali. rajani ki nistabdhata, takarati huee laharoan ka kalanad, vismriti mean git ki tarah kanoan mean gooanjane laga.

doosare din mujhamean koee katuta ka nam nahian-jhi dakane ka sahas nahian. ajnakari das ke saman maian savinay unake samane kh da hua.

‘‘mahashay! kee mil to jana p dega, parantu tho da-sa kasht kijie n. kuchh saman kharid laie aj-’’ mangala ko adhik kahane ka avasar n dekar maian usake hath se rupaya lekar chal p da. mujhe naukar banane mean sukh pratit hua aur lijie, mai usi din se unake ajnakari bhrity ki tarah aher kar lata. machhali marata. ek nav par jakar door bazar se avashyak samagri kharid lata. haan, us purush ko madira nity chahie. maian usaka bhi prabandh karata aur yah sab prasannata ke sath. manushy ko jivan mean kuchh-n-kuchh kam karana chahie. vah mujhe mil gaya tha. maianne dekhate-dekhate ek chhota-sa chhappar alag dal diya. pyaj-meva, jangali shahad aur phal-phool sab jutata rahata. yah mera parivartan nirlipt bhav se meri atma ne grahan kar liya. mangala ki upasana thi.

kee mahine bit gaye; kintu chhavinath-yahi us purush ka nam tha-ko bhojan karake, madira piye p de rahane ke atirikt koee kam nahian. mangala ki gaanth khali ho chali. jo das-bis rupaye the vah sab kharch ho gaye, parantu chhavinath ki anand nidra tooti nahian. vah nirankush, svachchh pan-bhojan mean santusht vyakti tha. mangala idhar kee dinoan se ghabarayi huee dikhati thi; parantu maian chupachap apani upasana mean nirat tha. ek sundar chaandani rat thi. saradi p dane lagi thi. vanasthali sann-sann kar rahi thi. maian apane chhappar ke niche door se ane vali nadi ka kalanad sun raha tha. mangala samane akar kh di ho gayi. maian chauank utha. usane kaha-‘‘murali!’’

mai chup raha.

‘‘bolate kyoan nahian?’’

maian phir bhi chup raha.

‘‘oh! tum samajhate ho ki maian tumhe nahian pahachanati. yah tumhare bayean gal par jo dadhi ke pas chot hai, vah tumako pahachanane se mujhe vanchit kar le, aisa nahian ho sakata. tum murali ho! ho n! bolo.’’

‘‘haan.’’ mujhase kahate hi bana.

‘‘achchha to suno, maian is pashu se oob gayi hooan. aur ab mere pas kuchh nahian bacha. jo kuchh lekar maian ghar se chali thi, vah sab kharch ho gaya.’’

‘‘tab?’’-maianne virakt hokar kaha.

‘‘yahi ki mujhe yahaan se le chalo. vah jitani sharab thi, sab pikar aj besudh-sa hai. maian tumako itane dinoan tak bhi pahachan kar kyoan nahian boli, janate ho?’’

‘‘nahian.’’

‘‘tumhari pariksha le rahi thi. mujhe vishvas ho gaya ki tum mere sachche chahane vale ho.’’

‘‘isaki bhi pariksha kar li thi tumane?’’ maianne vyang se kaha.

‘‘use bhool jao. vah sab b di du:khad katha hai. maian kis tarah gharavaloan ki sahayata se isake sath bhagane ke lie badhy huee, use sunakar kya karoge? chalo, maian abhi chalana chahati hooan. stri-jivan ki bhookh kab jag jati hai, isako koee nahian janata; jan lene par to usako bahali dena asambhav hai. usi kshan ko pakadऩa purusharth hai.’’

bhayanak stri! mera sir chakarane laga. maianne kaha-‘‘aj to mere pairoan mean pi da hai. maian uth nahian sakata.’’ usane mera pair pak dakar kaha-‘‘kahaan dukhata hai, lao maian dab dooan.’’ mere sharir mean bijali-si dau d gayi. pair khianchakar kaha-‘‘nahian-nahian, tum jao; so raho, kal dekha jayaga.’’

‘‘tum darate ho n?’’-yah kahakar usane kamar mean se chhura nikal liya. maianne kaha-‘‘yah kya?’’

‘‘abhi jhag da chhu daye deti hooan.’’ yah kahakar jhop di ki or chali. maianne lapakakar usaka hath pak d liya aur kaha-‘‘aj thaharo, mujhe soch lene do.’’

‘‘soch lo’’-kahakar chhura kamar mean rakh, vah jhop di mean chali gayi. maian havaee hiandole par chakkar khane laga. stri! yah stri hai? yahi mangala hai, mere pyar ki amooly nidhi! maian kaisa moorkh tha! meri aankhoan mean niand nahian. savera hone ke pahale hi jab donoan so rahe the, maian apane path par door bhaga ja raha tha.

kee baras ke bad, jab mera man us bhavana ko bhula chuka tha, to dhuli huee shila ke saman svachchh ho gaya. maian usi path se lauta. nale ke pas nadi ki dhara ke samip kh da hokar dekhane laga. vah abhi usi tarah shila-shayya par chhatapata rahi thi. haan, kuchh vyakulata badh-si gayi thi. vahaan bahut-se patthar ke chhote-chhote tuk de ludhaqate hue dikhaee p de, jo ghisakar anek akriti dharan kar chuke the. srot se kuchh aisa parivartan hua hoga. unamean rangin chitroan ki chhaya dikhaee p di. maianne kuchh batorakar unaki vichitrata dekhi, kuchh pas bhi rakh liye. phir oopar chala. akasmath vahian par ja pahuancha, jahaan par meri jhop di thi. usaki sab kadiy़aan bikhar gayi thian. ek lak di ke tuk de par lohe ki nok se likha tha-

‘‘devata chhaya bana dete haian. manushy usamean rahata hai. aur mujh-si rakshasi usamean ashray pakar bhi use uja dakar hi pheankati hai.’’

kya yah mangala ka likha hua hai? kshan-bhar ke lie sab batean smaran ho ayian. maian nale mean utarane laga. vahian par yah patthar mila.

‘‘dekhate haian n babooji!’’-itana kahakar murali ne ek b da-sa aur kuchh chhote-chhote patthar samane rakh diye. vah phir kahane laga-‘‘ise ghisakar aur bhi saf kiye jane par vahi chitr dikhaee de raha hai. ek stri ki dhuandhali akriti rakshasi-si! yah dekhie, chhura hai hath mean, aur vah sakhoo ka pe d hai, aur yah hooan maian. tho da-sa hi mere sharir ka bhag isamean a saka hai. yah meri jivani ka aanshik chitr hai. manushy ka hriday n jane kis samagri se bana hai! vah janm-janmantar ki bat smaran kar sakata hai, aur ek kshan mean sab bhool sakata hai; kintu j d patthar-us par to jo rekha ban gayi, so ban gayi. vah koee kshan hota hoga, jisamean antariksh-nivasi koee nakshatr apani antarbhedini drishti se dekhata hoga aur apane adrishy karoan se shoony mean se rang aharan karake vah chitr bana deta hai. ise jitana ghisie, rekhaean saf hokar nikaleangi. maian bhool gaya tha. isane mujhe smaran kara diya. ab maian ise apako dekar vah bat ek bar hi bhool jana chahata hooan. chhote pattharoan se to ap batan ityadi banaie; par yah b da patthar apaki chaandi ki panavali dibiya par thik baith jayaga. yah meri bheant hai. ise ap lekar mere man ka bojh halaka kar dijie.’’

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maian kahani sunane mean tallin ho raha tha aur vah murali dhire se meri aankhoan ke samane se khisak gaya. mere samane usake diye hue chitravale patthar bikhare p de rah gaye.

us din jitane log aye, maianne unhean un pattharoan ko dikhalaya aur poochha ki yah kahaan milate haian? kisi ne kuchh thik-thik nahian batalaya. maian kuchh kam n kar saka. man uchat gaya tha. tisare pahar kuchh door ghoomakar jab laut aya, to dekha ki ek stri meri bangaliya ke pas kh di hai. usaka ast-vyast bhav, unmatt-si tivr aankhean dekhakar mujhe dar laga. maianne kaha-‘‘kya hai?’’ usane kuchh maangane ke lie hath phaila diya. maianne kaha-‘‘bhookhi ho kya? bhitar ao.’’ vah bhayakul aur sashank drishti se mujhe dekhati laut p di. maianne kaha-‘‘leti jao.’’ kintu vah kab sunanevali thi!

chitravala b da patthar samane dikhaee p da. mujhe turant hi stri ki akriti ka dhyan hua; kintu jab tak use khojane ke lie naukar jay, vah paha diyoan ki sandhya ki udas chhaya mean chhip gayi thi.

sanbandhit lekh

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