दण्ड -प्रेमचंद
| chitr:Icon-edit.gif | is lekh ka punarikshan evan sampadan hona avashyak hai. ap isamean sahayata kar sakate haian. "sujhav" |
sandhya ka samay tha. kachahari uth gayi thi. ahalakar aur chaparasi jebean khanakhanate ghar ja rahe the. mehatar koo de tatol raha tha ki shayad kahian paise-vaise mil jayan. kachahari ke baramadoan mean saandoan ne vakiloan ki jagah le li thi. pe doan ke niche muharriroan ki jagah kutte baithe najar ate the. isi samay ek boodha adami, phate-purane kap de pahane, lathi tekata hua, jant sahab ke bangale par pahuancha aur sayaban mean kh da ho gaya. jant sahab ka nam tha mistar ji. sinha. aradali ne door hi se lalakara- kaun sayaban mean kh da hai ? kya chahata hai.
boodha- garib bamhan hooan bhaiya, sahab se bheant hogi ?
aradali- sahab tum-jaisoan se nahian mila karate.
boodhe ne lathi par ak dakar kaha- kyoan bhaee, ham kh de haian ya dakoo-chor haian ki hamare muanh mean kuchh laga hua hai ?
aradali- bhikh maangakar mukadama l dane aye hoge ?
boodha- to koee pap kiya ? agar ghar bechakar mukadama nahian l date to kuchh bura karate haian ? yahaan to mukadama l date-l date umar bit gayi; lekin ghar ka paisa nahian kharacha. miyaan ki jooti miyaan ka sir karate haian. das bhalemanasoan se maangakar ek ko de diya. chalo chhutti huee. gaanv-bhar nam se kaanpata hai. kisi ne jara bhi tir-pir ki aur maianne adalat mean dava dayar kiya.
aradali- kisi b de adami se pala nahian p da abhi ?
boodha- aji, kitane hi b doan ko b de ghar bhijava diya, tum ho kis pher mean. haee-kort tak jata hooan sidha. koee mere muanh kya ayega bechara ! gaanth se to kau di jati nahian, phir darean kyoan ? jisaki chiz par daant lagaye, apana karake chho da. sidhe n diya to adalat mean ghasit laye aur raged-raged kar mara, apana kya big data hai ? to sahab se ittala karate ho ki maian hi pukarooan ?
aradali ne dekha; yah adami yoan talanevala nahian to jakar sahab se usaki ittala ki. sahab ne huliya poochha aur khush ho kar kaha- phauran bula lo.
aradali- hajoor, bilakul phatehal hai.
sahab- gud di hi mean lal hote haian. jakar bhej do.
mistar sinha adhe d adami the, bahut hi shaant, bahut hi vicharashil. batean bahut kam karate the. kathorata aur asabhyata, jo shasan ka aang samajhi jati hai, unako chhoo bhi nahian gayi thi. nyay aur daya ke devata maloom hote the. nigah aisi barik payi thi ki soorat dekhate hi adami pahachan jate the. dil-daul devoan ka-sa tha aur rang abanoos ka-sa. aramakursi par lete hue pechavan pi rahe the. boodhe ne jakar salam kiya.
sinaha- tum ho jagath paande ! ao baitho. tumhara mukadama to bahut hi kamazor hai. bhale adami, jal bhi n karate bana ?
jagat- aisa n kahean hajoor, garib adami hooan, mar jaooanga.
sinaha- kisi vakil-mukhtar se salah bhi n le li ?
jagat- ab to sarakar ki saran mean aya hooan.
sinaha- sarakar kya misil badal deange; ya naya qanoon gadheange ? tum gachcha kha gaye. maian kabhi qanoon ke bahar nahian jata. janate ho n apil se kabhi meri tajavij radd nahian hoti ?
jagat- b da dharam ho sarakar ! (sinha ke pairoan par ginniyoan ki ek potali rakhakar) b da dukhi hooan sarakar !
sinaha- (muskarakar) yahaan bhi apani chalabaji se nahian chookate ? nikalo abhi aur os se pyas nahian bujhati. bhala dahaee to tum poora karo.
jagat- bahut tang hooan dinabandhu !
sinaha- dalo-dalo kamar mean hath. bhala kuchh mere nam ki laj to rakho.
jagat- lut jaooanga sarakar !
sinaha- lutean tumhare dushman, jo ilaka bechakar l date haian. tumhare jajamanoan ka bhagavanh bhala karean, tumhean kis bat ki kami hai.
mistar sinaha is mamale mean jara bhi riayat n karate the. jagath ne dekha ki yahaan kaiyaanpan se kam n chalega to chupake se 5 ginniyaan aur nikalian. lekin unhean mistar sinaha ke pairoan par rakhate samay usaki aankhoan se khoon nikal aya. yah usaki barasoan ki kamaee thi. barasoan pet katakar, tan jalakar, man baandhakar, jhoothi gavahiyaan dekar usane yah thati sanchay kar payi thi. usaka hathoan se nikalana pran nikalane se kam dukhadayi n tha.
jagat paande ke chale jane ke bad, koee 9 baje rat ko, jant sahab ke bangale par ek taanga akar ruka aur us par se pandit satyadev utare jo raja sahab shivapur ke mukhtar the.
mistar sinaha ne muskarakar kaha- ap shayad apane ilake mean gariboan ko n rahane deange. itana julm !
satyadev- garibaparavar, yah kahie ki gariboan ke mare ab ilake mean hamara rahana mushkil ho raha hai. ap janate haian, sidhi uangali ghi nahian nikalata. zamiandar ko kuchh-n-kuchh sakhti karani hi p dati hai, magar ab yah hal hai ki hamane jara chooan bhi ki to unhian gariboan ki tyoriyaan badal jati haian. sab muft mean zamin jotana chahate haian. lagan maangiye to faujadari ka dava karane ko taiyar ! ab isi jagath paande ko dekhie. ganga kasam hai huzoor, sarasar jhootha dava hai. huzoor se koee bat chhipi to rah nahian sakati. agar jagath paande yah mukadama jit gaya to hamean boriya-bandhana chho dakar bhagana p dega. ab huzoor hi basaean to bas sakate haian. raja sahab ne huzoor ko salam kaha hai aur arj ki hai ki is mamale mean jagath paande ki aisi khabar lean ki vah bhi yad kare.
mistar sinaha ne bhanvean siko dakar kaha- qanoon mere ghar to nahian banata ?
satyadev- huzoor apake hath mean sabakuchh hai.
yah kahakar ginniyoan ki ek gaddi nikalakar mej par rakh di. mistar sinaha ne gaddi ko aankhoan se ginakar kaha- inhean meri taraph se raja sahab ki najar kar dijiega. akhir ap koee vakil to kareange hi. use kya dijiega ?
satyadev- yah to huzoor ke hath mean hai. jitani hi peshiyaan hoangi utana hi kharch bhi badhega.
sinaha- maian chahooan to mahinoan lataka sakata hooan.
satyadev- haan, isase kaun inakar kar sakata hai.
sinaha- paanch peshiyaan bhi hueean to apake kam se kam ek hazar u d jayeange. ap yahaan usaka adha poora kar dijie to ek hi peshi mean vara-nyara ho jay. adhi rakam bach jay.
satyadev ne 10 ginniyaan aur nikalakar mej par rakh dian aur ghamand ke sath bole- hukm ho to raja sahab se kah dooan, ap itminan rakhean sahab ki kripadrishti ho gayi hai.
mistar sinaha ne tivr svar mean kaha- ji nahian, yah kahane ki zaroorat nahian. maian kisi shart par yah rakam nahian le raha hooan. maian karooanga vahi jo qanoon ki mansha hogi. qanoon ke khilaf jau-bhar bhi nahian ja sakata. yahi mera usool hai. ap log meri khatir karate haian, yah apaki sharaphat hai. maian use apana dushman samajhooanga jo mera eeman kharidana chahe. maian jo kuchh leta hooan, sachchaee ka inam samajhakar leta hooan.
2
jagat paande ko poora vishvas tha ki meri jit hogi; lekin tajabij suni to hosh u d gaye ! dava kharij ho gaya ! us par kharch ki chapat alag. mere sath yah chal ! agar lala sahab ko isaka maja n chakha diya to bamhan nahian. haian kis pher mean ? sara rob bhula dooanga. yahaan gadhi kamaee ke rupaye haian. kaun pacha sakata hai ? ha d pho d-pho dakar nikaleange. dvar par sir patak-patak kar mar jaooanga.
usi din sandhya ko jagath paande ne mistar sinaha ke bangale ke samane asan jama diya. vahaan baragad ka ghana vriksh tha. mukadamevale vahian sattoo, chabaina khate aur dopahari usi ki chhaanh mean katate the. jagath paande unase mistar sinaha ki dil kholakar nianda karata. n kuchh khata n pita, bas logoan ko apani ramakahani sunaya karata. jo sunata vah jant sahab ko char khoti-khari kahata- adami nahian pishach hai, ise to aisi jagah mare jahaan pani n mile. rupaye ke rupaye liye, oopar se kharache samet digri kar di ! yahi karana tha to rupaye kahe ko nigale the ? yah hai hamare bhaee-bandoan ka hal. yah apane kahalate haian! inase to aangrez hi achchhe. is tarah ki alochanaean din-bhar hua karatian. jagath paande ke as-pas athoan pahar jamaghat laga rahata.
is tarah char din bit gaye aur mistar sinaha ke kanoan mean bhi bat pahuanchi. any rishvati karmachariyoan ki tarah vah bhi hek d adami the. aise nirdvandv rahate mano unhean yah bimari chhoo tak nahian gayi hai. jab vah qanoon se jau-bhar bhi n talate the to un par rishvat ka sandeh ho hi kyoankar sakata tha, aur koee karata bhi to usaki manata kaun ? aise chatur khila di ke viruddh koee jabte ki karravaee kaise hoti ? mistar sinaha apane aphasaroan se bhi khushamad ka vyavahar n karate. isase hukkam bhi unaka bahut adar karate the. magar jagath paande ne vah mantr mara tha jisaka unake pas koee uttar n tha. aise baang d adami se aj tak unhean sabika n p da tha. apane naukaroan se poochhate- buddha kya kar raha hai ! naukar log apanapan jatane ke lie jhooth ke pul baandh dete- huzoor, kahata tha bhoot banakar lagooanga, meri vedi bane to sahi, jis din marooanga, us din ke sau jagath paande hoange. mistar sinaha pakke nastik the; lekin ye batean sun-sunakar sashank ho jate aur unaki patni to thar-thar kaanpane lagatian. vah naukaroan se bar-bar kahatian usase jakar poochha, kya chahata hai. jitana rupaya chahe le le, hamase jo maange vah deange, bas yahaan se chala jay. lekin mistar sinaha adamiyoan ko ishare se mana kar dete the. unhean abhi tak asha thi ki bhookh-pyas se vyakul hokar buddha chala jayaga. isase adhik bhay yah tha ki jara bhi naram p da aur naukaroan ne mujhe ulloo banaya.
chhathe din maloom hua ki jagath paande abol ho gaya hai, usase hila tak nahian jata, chupachap p da akash ki or dekh raha hai. shayad aj rat ko dam nikal jay. mistar sinaha ne lanbi saans li aur gahari chianta mean doob gaye. patni ne aankhoan mean aansoo bharakar agrahapoorvak kaha- tumhean mere sir ki kasam, jakar kisi tarah is bala ko talo. buddha mar gaya to ham kahian ke n raheange. ab rupaye ka muanh mat dekho. do-char hazar bhi dene p dean to dekar use manao. tumako jate sharm ati ho to maian chali jaooan.
sinaha- jane ka irada to maian kee din se kar raha hooan; lekin jab dekhata hooan vahaan bhi d lagi rahati hai, isase himmat nahian p dati. sab adamiyoan ke samane to mujhase n jaya jayaga, chahe kitani hi b di aphat kyoan n a p de. tum do-char hazar ki kahati hoan, maian das-paanch hazar dene ko taiyar hooan. lekin vahaan nahian ja sakata. n jane kis buri sait se maianne isake rupaye liye. janata ki yah itana phisad kh da karega to phatak mean ghusane hi n deta. dekhane se to aisa sidha maloom hota tha ki goo hai. maianne pahali bar adami pahachanane mean dhokha khaya.
patni- to maian hi chali jaooan ? shahar ki taraph se aooangi aur sab adamiyoan ko hatakar akele mean bat karooangi. kisi ko khabar n hogi ki kaun hai. isamean to koee haraj nahian ?
mistar sinaha ne sandigdh bhav se kaha- ta danevale ta d hi jayeange, chahe tum kitana hi chhipao.
patni- ta d jayange ta d jayan, ab kisase kahaan tak darooan. badanami abhi kya kam ho rahi hai, jo aur ho jayagi. sari duniya janati hai ki tumane rupaye liye. yoan hi koee kisi par pran nahian deta. phir ab vyarth ki aianth kyoan karo ?
mistar sinaha ab marmavedana ko n daba sake. bole- priye, yah vyarth ki aianth nahian hai. chor ko adalat mean beant khane se utani lajja nahian ati, stri ko kalank se utani lajja nahian ati, jitani kisi hakim ko apani rishvat ka parada khulane se ati hai. vah zahar khakar mar jayaga; par sansar ke samane apana parada n kholega. apana sarvanash dekh sakata hai; par yah apaman nahian sah sakata, jianda khal khianchane, ya kolhoo mean pere jane ke siva aur koee sthiti nahian hai jo use apana aparadh svikar kara sake. isaka to mujhe jara bhi bhay nahian hai ki brahman bhoot banakar hamako satayega, ya hamean usaki vedi banakar poojani p degi, yah bhi janata hooan ki pap ka dand bhi bahudha nahian milata; lekin hiandoo hone ke karan sanskaroan ki shanka kuchh-kuchh bani huee hai. brahmahatya ka kalank sir par lete hue atma kaanpati hai. bas, itani bat hai. maian aj rat ko mauqa dekhakar jaooanga aur is sankat ko katane ke lie jo kuchh ho sakega, karooanga. khatir jama rakho.
3
adhi rat bit chuki thi. mistar sinaha ghar se nikale aur akele jagath paande ko manane chale. baragad ke niche bilakul sannata tha. aandhakar aisa tha mano nishadevi yahian shayan kar rahi hoan. jagath paande ki saans jor-jor se chal rahi thi mano maut jabaradasti ghasite liye jati ho. mistar sinaha ke royean kh de ho gaye. buddha kahian mar to nahian raha hai ? jebi lalaten nikali aur jagath ke samip ja kar bole- paande ji kaho kya hal hai ?
jagat paande ne aankhean khol kar dekha aur uthane ki asaphal cheshta karake bola- mera hal poochhate ho ? dekhate nahian ho, mar raha hooan ?
sinaha- to is tarah kyoan pran dete ho ?
jagat- tumhari yahi ichchha hai to maian kya karooan ?
sinaha- meri to yahi ichchha nahian. haan, alabatta mera sarvanash karane par tum tule hue ho. akhir maianne tumhare dedh sau rupaye hi to liye haian. itane hi rupaye ke lie tum itana b da anushthan kar rahe ho !
jagat- dedh sau rupaye ki bat nahian hai. jo tumane mujhe mitti mean mila diya. meri digri ho gayi hoti to mujhe das bighe zamin mil jati aur sare ilake mean nam ho jata. tumane mere dedh sau nahian liye, mere paanch hazar biga d diye. poore paanch hajar; lekin yah ghamand n rahega, yad rakhana. kahe deta hooan, satyanash ho jayaga. is adalat mean tumhara rajy hai; lekin bhagavanh ke darabar mean viproan hi ka rajy hai. vipr ka dhan lekar koee sukhi nahian rah sakata.
mistar sinaha ne bahut khed aur lajja prakat ki, bahut anunay-vinay se kam liya aur aant mean poochha- sach batalao paande, kitane rupaye pa jao to yah anushthan chho d do.
jagat paande zor lagakar uth baithe aur b di utsukata se bole- paanch hazar se kau di kam n looanga.
sinaha- paanch hazar to bahut hote haian. itana julm n karo.
jagat- nahian, isase kam n looanga.
yah kahakar jagath paande phir let gaya. usane ye shabd itane nishchayatmak bhav se kahe the ki mistar sinaha ko aur kuchh kahane ka sahas n hua. rupaye lane ghar chale; lekin ghar pahuanchate-pahuanchate niyat badal gayi. dedh sau ke badale paanch hazar dete kalak hua. man mean kaha- marata hai mar jane do, kahaan ki brahmahatya aur kaisa pap ! yah sab pakhand hai. badanami n hogi ? sarakari mulajim to yoan hi badanam hote haian, yah koee nayi bat tho de hi hai. bacha kaise uth baithe the. samajha hoga, ulloo phansa. agar 6 din ke upavas karane se paanch hazar milean to maian mahine mean kam-se-kam paanch marataba yah anushthan karooan. paanch hazar nahian, koee mujhe ek hi hazar de de. yahaan to mahine bhar nak rag data hooan tab jake 600 rupaye ke darshan hote haian. noch-khasot se bhi shayad hi kisi mahine mean isase zyada milata ho. baitha meri rah dekh raha hoga. lega rupaye, muanh mitha ho jayaga.
vah charapaee par letana chahate the ki unaki patniji akar kh di ho gayian. unake sir ke bal khule hue the, aankhean sahami hueean, rah-rahakar kaanp uthati thian. muanh se shabd n nikalata tha. b di mushkil se bolian- adhi rat to ho gayi hogi ? tum jagath paande ke pas chale jao. maianne abhi aisa bura sapana dekha hai ki abhi tak kaleja dh dak raha hai, jan sankat mean p di huee hai. jake kisi tarah use talo.
mistar sinaha- vahian se to chala a raha hooan. mujhe tumase zyada fikr hai. abhi akar kh da hi hua tha ki tum ayian.
patni- achchha ! to tum gaye the ! kya batean hueean, raji hua ?
sinaha- paanch hazar rupaye maangata hai !
patni- paanch hazar !
sinaha- kau di kam nahian kar sakata aur mere pas is vakt ek hazar se zyada n hoange.
patni ne ek kshan sochakar kaha- jitana maangata hai utana hi de do, kisi tarah gala to chhoote. tumhare pas rupaye n hoan to maian de dooangi. abhi se sapane dikhaee dene lage haian. mara to pran kaise bacheange. bolata-chalata hai n ?
mistar sinaha agar abanoos the to unaki patni chandan. sinaha unake gulam the, unake isharoan par chalate the. patniji bhi pati-shasan mean kushal thian. sauandary aur ajnan mean apavad hai. suandari kabhi bholi nahian hoti. vah purush ke marmasthal par asan jamana janati hai !
sinaha- to lao deta aooan; lekin adami b da chaggh d hai, kahian rupaye lekar sabako dikhata phire to ?
patni- isako yahaan se isi vakt bhagana hoga.
sinaha- to nikalo, de hi dooan. ziandagi mean yah bat bhi yad rahegi.
patni ne avishvas bhav se kaha- chalo, maian bhi chalati hooan. is vakt kaun dekhata hai ?
patni se adhik purush ke charitr ka jnan aur kisi ko nahian hota. mistar sinaha ki manovrittiyoan ko unaki patniji khoob janati thian. kaun jane raste mean rupaye kahian chhipa dean, aur kah dean, de aye. ya kahane lagean, rupaye le kar bhi nahian talata to maian kya karooan. jakar sandook se notoan ke puliande nikale aur unhean chadar mean chhipakar mistar sinaha ke sath chalian. sinha ke muanh par jha doo-si phiri huee thi. lalaten liye pachhatate chale jate the. 5000 ru. nikale jate haian. phir itane rupaye kab mileange; kaun janata hai ? isase to kahian achchha tha ki dusht mar hi jata. bala se badanami hoti, koee mere jeb se rupaye to n chhin leta. eeshvar kare mar gaya ho !
abhi tak donoan adami phatak hi tak aye the ki dekha, jagath paande lathi tekata chala ata hai. usaka svaroop itana daravana tha mano shmashan se koee murada bhaga ata ho.
inako dekhate hi jagath paande baith gaya aur haanphata hua bola- b di der huee, laye ?
patniji bolian- maharaj, ham to a hi rahe the, tumane kyoan kasht kiya ? rupaye lekar sidhe ghar chale jaoge n ?
jagat- haan-haan, sidha ghar jaooanga. kahaan haian rupaye dekhooan !
patniji ne notoan ka pulianda bahar nikala aur lalaten dikhakar bolian- gin lo. poore 5000 rupaye haian !
paande ne pulianda liya aur baithakar use ulat-pulatakar dekhane laga. usaki aankhean ek naye prakash se chamakane lagian. hathoan mean notoan ko taulata hua bola- poore paanch hazar haian ?
patni- poore gin lo !
jagat- paanch hazar mean do tokari bhar jayagi ! (hathoan se batakar) itane sare hue paanch hazar !
sinaha- kya ab bhi tumhean vishvas nahian ata ?
jagat- haian-haian, poore haian, poore paanch hazar ! to ab jaooan, bhag jaooan ?
yah kahakar vah pulianda lie kee qadam l dakh data hua chala, jaise koee sharabi, aur tab dham se zamin par gir p da. mistar sinaha lapakakar use uthane dau de to dekha usaki aankhean pathara gayi haian aur mukh pila p d gaya hai. boloan- paande-paande, kya kahian chot a gayi ?
paande ne ek bar muanh khola jaise marati huee chi diya sir latakakar choanch khol deti hai. jivan ka aantim dhaga bhi toot gaya. oanth khule hue the aur notoan ka pulianda chhati par rakha hua tha. itane mean patniji bhi a pahuanchian aur shav ko dekhakar chauank p dian !
patni- ise kya ho gaya ?
sinaha- mar gaya aur kya ho gaya ?
patni- (sir pitakar) mar gaya ! hay bhagavan ! ab kahaan jaooan ?
yah kahakar vah bangale ki or b di teji se chalian. mistar sinaha ne bhi notoan ka pulianda shav ki chhati par se utha liya aur chale.
patni- ye rupaye ab kya hoange ?
sinaha- kisi dharm-kary mean de dooanga.
patni- ghar mean mat rakhana, khabaradar ! hay bhagavanh !
4
doosare din sare shahar mean khabahar mashahoor ho gayi- jagath paande ne jant sahab par jan de di. usaka shav utha to hajaroan adami sath the. mistar sinaha ko khullam-khulla galiyaan di ja rahi thian.
sandhya samay mistar sinaha kachahari se akar man mare baithe the ki naukaroan ne akar kaha- sarakar, hamako chhutti di jay ! hamara hisab kar dijie. hamari biradari ke log dhamakate haian ki tum jant sahab ki naukari karoge to hukka-pani band ho jayaga.
sinaha ne jhallakar kaha- kaun dhamakata hai ?
kahar- kisaka nam batayean sarakar ! sabhi to kah rahe haian.
rasoiya- huzoor, mujhe to log dhamakate haian ki mandir mean n ghusane paoge.
sinaha- ek mahine ki notis diye bagair tum nahian ja sakate.
saees- huzoor, biradari se biga d karake ham log kahaan jayange ? hamara aj se istipha hai. hisab jab chahe kar dijiega.
mistar sinaha ne bahut dhamakaya, phir dilasa dene lage; lekin naukaroan ne ek n suni. adh ghante ke aandar saboan ne apana-apana rasta liya. mistar sinaha daant pisakar rah gaye; lekin hakimoan ka kam kab rukata hai ? unhoanne usi vakt kotaval ko khabar di ki kee adami begar mean pak d aye. kam chal nikala.
usi din se mistar sinaha aur hindoo samaj mean khianchatan shuroo huee. dhobi ne kap de dhona band kar diya. gvale ne doodh lane mean anakani ki. naee ne hajamat banani chho di. in vipattiyoan par patniji ka rona-dhona aur bhi gajab tha. inhean roj bhayankar svapn dikhaee dete. rat ko ek kamare se doosare mean jate pran nikalate the. kisi ka jara sir bhi dukhata to nahoan mean jan sama jati. sabase b di musibat yah thi ki apane sambandhiyoan ne bhi ana-jana chho d diya. ek din sale aye, magar bina pani pieye chale gaye. isi tarah ek bahanoee ka agaman hua. unhoanne pan tak n khaya. mistar sinaha b de dhairy se yah sara tiraskar sahate jate the. ab tak unaki arthik hani n huee thi. garaj ke bavale jhak marakar ate hi the aur najar-najarana milata hi tha. phir vishesh chianta ka koee karan n tha.
lekin biradari se bair karana pani mean rahakar magar se bair karana hai. koee-n-koee aisa avasar a hi jata hai, jab hamako biradari ke samane sir jhukana p data hai. mistar sinaha ko bhi sal ke andar hi aisa avasar a p da. yah unaki putri ka vivah tha. yahi vah samasya hai jo b de-b de hek doan ka ghamand choor-choor kar deti hai. ap kisi ke ane-jane ki parava n karean, hukka-pani, bhoj-bhat, mel-jol kisi bat ki parava n karean, magar l daki ka vivah to n talanevali bala hai. usase bachakar ap kahaan jayeange ! mistar sinaha ko is bat ka dagadaga to pahile hi tha ki triveni ke vivah mean badhaean p deangi; lekin unhean vishvas tha ki dravy ki apar shakti is mushkil ko hal kar degi. kuchh dinoan tak unhoanne jan-boojhakar tala ki shayad is aandhi ka zor kuchh kam ho jay; lekin jab triveni ka solahavaan sal samapt ho gaya to tal-matol ki guanjaish n rahi. sandeshe bhejane lage; lekin jahaan sandeshiya jata vahian javab milata- hamean manjoor nahian. jin gharoan mean sal-bhar pahale unaka sandesha pakar log apane bhagy ko sarahate, vahaan se ab sookha javab milata tha- hamean manjoor nahian. mistar sinaha dhan ka lobh dete, zamin najar karane ko kahate, l dake ko vilayat bhejakar ooanchi shiksha dilane ka prastav karate kiantu unaki sari ayojanaoan ka ek hi javab milata tha- hamean manjoor nahian. ooanche gharane ka yah hal dekhakar mistar sinaha un gharanoan mean sandesh bhejane lage, jinake sath pahale baithakar bhojan karane mean bhi unhean sankoch hota tha; lekin vahaan bhi vahi javab mila- hamean manjoor nahian. yahaan tak ki kee jagah vah khud dau d-dau dakar gaye. logoan ki minnatean kian, par yahi javab mila- sahab, hamean manjoor nahian. shayad bahishkrit gharanoan mean unaka sandesh svikar kar liya jata; par mistar sinaha janaboojhakar makkhi n nigalana chahate the. aise logoan se sambandh n karana chahate the jinaka biradari mean koee sthan n tha. is tarah ek varsh bit gaya.
misez sinaha charapaee par p di karah rahi thian, triveni bhojan bana rahi thi aur mistar sinaha patni ke pas chianta mean doobe baithe hue the. unake hath mean ek khat tha, bar-bar use dekhate aur kuchh sochane lagate the. b di der ke bad rogini ne aankhean kholian aur boli- ab n bachooangi. paande meri jan le kar chho dega. hath mean kaisa kagaz hai ?
sinaha- yashodanandan ke pas se khat aya hai. paji ko yah khat likhate hue sharm nahian ati, maianne isaki naukari lagayi. isaki shadi karavayi aur aj usaka mizaj itana badh gaya hai ki apane chhote bhaee ki shadi meri l daki se karana pasand nahian karata. abhage ke bhagy khul jate !
patni- bhagavanh, ab le chalo. yah durdasha nahian dekhi jati. aangoor khane ka ji chahata hai, mangavaye haian ki nahian ?
sinaha- maian jakar khud leta aya tha.
yah kahakar unhoanne tashtari mean aangoor bharakar patni ke pas rakh diye. vah utha-uthakar khane lagian. jab tashtari khali ho gayi to bolian- ab kisake yahaan sandesha bhejoge ?
sinaha- kisake yahaan bataooan ! meri samajh mean to ab koee aisa adami nahian rah gaya. aisi biradari mean rahane se to yah hazar daraja achchha hai ki biradari ke bahar rahooan. maianne ek brahman se rishvat li. isase mujhe inakar nahian. lekin kaun rishvat nahian leta ? apane gauan par koee nahian chookata. brahman nahian khud eeshvar hi kyoan n hoan, rishvat khanevale unhean bhi choos leange. rishvat denevala agar nirash hokar apane pran de deta hai to mera kya aparadh ! agar koee mere phaisale se naraz hokar zahar kha le to maian kya kar sakata hooan. is par bhi maian prayashchitt karane ko taiyar hooan. biradari jo dand de, use svikar karane ko taiyar hooan. sabase kah chuka hooan mujhase jo prayashchitt chaho kara lo par koee nahian sunata. dand aparadh ke anukool hona chahie, nahian to yah anyay hai. agar kisi musalaman ka chhua bhojan khane ke lie biradari mujhe kalepani bhejana chahe to maian use kabhi n manooanga. phir aparadh agar hai to mera hai. meri l daki ne kya aparadh kiya hai. mere aparadh ke lie l daki ko dand dena sarasar nyay-viruddh hai.
patni- magar karoge kya ? koee panchayat kyoan nahian karate ?
sinaha- panchayat mean bhi to vahi biradari ke mukhiya log hi hoange, unase mujhe nyay ki asha nahian. vastav mean is tiraskar ka karan eershya hai. mujhe dekhakar sab jalate haian aur isi bahane se mujhe nicha dikhana chahate haian. maian in logoan ko khoob samajhata hooan.
patni- man ki lalasa man hi mean rah gayi. yah araman liye sansar se jana p dega. bhagavanh ki jaisi ichchha. tumhari batoan se mujhe dar lagata hai ki meri bachchi ki n-jane kya dasha hogi. magar tumase meri aantim vinay yahi hai ki biradari se bahar n jana, nahian to paralok mean bhi meri atma ko shaanti n milegi. yah shok meri jan le raha hai. hay, bachchi par n-jane kya vipatti anevali hai.
yah kahate misez sinaha ki aankhoan se aansoo bahane lage. mistar sinaha ne unako dilasa dete hue kaha- isaki chianta mat karo priye, mera ashay keval yah tha ki aise bhav mere man mean aya karate haian. tumase sach kahata hooan biradari ke anyay se kaleja chalani ho gaya hai.
patni- biradari ko bura mat kaho. biradari ka dar n ho to adami n-jane kya-kya utpat kare. biradari ko bura n kaho. (kaleje par hath rakhakar) yahaan b da dard ho raha hai. yashodanandan ne bhi kora javab de diya. kisi karavat chain nahian ata. kya karooan bhagavanh.
sinaha- daktar ko bulaooan ?
patni- tumhara ji chahe bula lo, lekin maian bachooangi nahian. jara tibbo ko bula lo, pyar kar looan. ji dooba jata hai. meri bachchi ! hay meri bachchi !!