दो बैलों की कथा -प्रेमचंद

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

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janavaroan mean gadha sabase zyada buddhiman samajha jata hai. ham jab kisi adami ko pahale darje ka bevakooph kahana chahate haian, to use gadha kahate haian. gadha sachamuch bevakooph hai ya usake sidhepan, usaki nirapad sahishnuta ne use yah padavi de di hai, isaka nishchay nahian kiya ja sakata. gayean siang marati haian, byahi huee gay to anayas hi sianhani ka roop dharan kar leti hai. kutta bhi bahut garib janavar hai, lekin kabhi-kabhi use bhi krodh a hi jata hai, kintu gadhe ko kabhi krodh karate nahian suna, n dekha. jitana chaho garib ko maro, chahe jaisi kharab, s di huee ghas samane dal do, usake chehare par kabhi asantosh ki chhaya bhi nahian dikhaee degi. vaishakh mean chahe ekadh bar kulel kar leta hai, par hamane to use kabhi khush hote nahian dekha. usake chehare par sthaee vishad sthayi roop se chhaya rahata hai. sukh-duahkh, hani-labh kisi bhi dasha mean use badalate nahian dekha. rrishiyoan-muniyoan ke jitane gun haian, ve sabhi usamean parakashtha ko pahuanch ge haian, par adami use bevakooph kahata hai. sadgunoan ka itana anadar! 

kadachit sidhapan sansar ke lie upayukt nahian hai. dekhie n, bharatavasiyoan ki aphrika mean kya durdasha ho rahi hai ? kyoan amarika mean unhean ghusane nahian diya jata? bechare sharab nahian pite, char paise kusamay ke lie bachakar rakhate haian, ji to dakar kam karate haian, kisi se l daee-jhag da nahian karate, char batean sunakar gam kha jate haian phir bhi badanam haian. kaha jata hai, ve jivan ke adarsh ko nicha karate haian. agar ve eeant ka javab patthar se dena sikh jate to shayad sabhy kahalane lagate. japan ki misal samane hai. ek hi vijay ne use sansar ki sabhy jatiyoan mean gany bana diya. lekin gadhe ka ek chhota bhaee aur bhi hai, jo usase kam hi gadha hai. aur vah hai ‘bail’. jis arth mean ham 'gadha' ka prayog karate haian, kuchh usi se milate-julate arth mean ‘bachhiya ke taoo’ ka bhi prayog karate haian. kuchh log bail ko shayad bevakoophi mean sarvashreshth kaheange, magar hamara vichar aisa nahian hai. bail kabhi-kabhi marata bhi hai, kabhi-kabhi a diyal bail bhi dekhane mean ata hai. aur bhi kee ritiyoan se apana asantosh prakat kar deta hai, atevan usaka sthan gadhe se nicha hai.

jhoori k pas do bail the- hira aur moti. dekhane mean suandar, kam mean chaukas, dil mean ooanche. bahut dinoan sath rahate-rahate donoan mean bhaeechara ho gaya tha. donoan amane-samane ya as-pas baithe hue ek-doosare se mook bhasha mean vichar-vinimay kiya karate the. ek-doosare ke man ki bat ko kaise samajha jata hai, ham kah nahian sakate. avashy hi unamean koee aisi gupt shakti thi, jisase jivoan mean shreshthata ka dava karane vala manushy vanchit hai. donoan ek-doosare ko chatakar sooanghakar apana prem prakat karate, kabhi-kabhi donoan siang bhi mila liya karate the, vigrah ke nate se nahian, keval vinod ke bhav se, atmiyata ke bhav se, jaise donoan mean ghanishthata hote hi dhaul-dhappa hone lagata hai. isake bina dosti kuchh phusaphasi, kuchh halki-si rahati hai, phir zyada vishvas nahian kiya ja sakata. jis vakt ye donoan bail hal ya ga di mean jot die jate aur garadan hila-hilakar chalate, us samay har ek ki cheshta hoti ki zyada-se-zyada bojh meri hi gardan par rahe. 

din-bhar ke bad dopahar ya sandhya ko donoan khulate to ek-doosare ko chat-choot kar apani thakan mita liya karate, naand mean khali-bhoosa p d jane ke bad donoan sath uthate, sath naand mean muanh dalate aur sath hi baithate the. ek muanh hata leta to doosara bhi hata leta tha. 

sanyog ki bat, jhoori ne ek bar goeean ko sasural bhej diya. bailoan ko kya maloom, ve kahaan bheje ja rahe haian. samajhe, malik ne hamean bech diya. apana yoan becha jana unhean achchha laga ya bura, kaun jane, par jhoori ke sale gaya ko ghar tak goeean le jane mean daantoan pasina a gaya. pichhe se haankata to donoan daean-baane bhagate, pagahiya pak dakar age se khianchata to donoan pichhe ki or zor lagate. marata to donoan siange nichi karake huankarate. agar eeshvar ne unhean vani di hoti to jhoori se poochhate-tum ham gariboan ko kyoan nikal rahe ho ?

hamane to tumhari seva karane mean koee kasar nahian utha rakhi. agar itani mehanat se kam n chalata tha, aur kam le lete. hamean to tumhari chakari mean mar jana kabool tha. hamane kabhi dane-chare ki shikayat nahian ki. tumane jo kuchh khilaya, vah sir jhukakar kha liya, phir tumane hamean is jalim ke hath kyoan beanch diya ?

sandhya samay donoan bail apane ne sthan par pahuanche. din-bhar ke bhookhe the, lekin jab naand mean lagae ge to ek ne bhi usamean muanh nahian dala. dil bhari ho raha tha. jise unhoanne apana ghar samajh rakha tha, vah aj unase chhoot gaya. yah naya ghar, naya gaanv, ne adami unhean begane-se lagate the. 

donoan ne apani mook bhasha mean salah ki, ek-doosare ko kanakhiyoan se dekha aur let gaye. jab gaanv mean sota p d gaya to donoan ne zor marakar pagaha tu da dale aur ghar ki taraph chale. pagahe bahut mazaboot the. anuman n ho sakata tha ki koee bail unhean to d sakega, par in donoan mean is samay dooni shakti a gee thi. ek-ek jhatake mean rassiyaan toot geean.

jhoori pratah kal so kar utha to dekha ki donoan bail charani par kh de haian. donoan ki garadanoan mean adha-adha garaanv latak raha tha. ghutane tak paanv kich d se bhare haian aur donoan ki aankhoan mean vidrohamay sneh jhalak raha hai. 

jhoori bailoan ko dekhakar sneh se gadgad ho gaya. dau dakar unhean gale laga liya. premaliangan aur chumban ka vah drishy b da hi manohar tha. 

ghar aur gaanv ke l dake jama ho ge. aur taliyaan baja-bajakar unaka svagat karane lage. gaanv ke itihas mean yah ghatana abhootapoorv n hone par bhi mahattvapoorn thi, bal-sabha ne nishchay kiya, donoan pashu-viroan ka abhinandan patr dena chahie. koee apane ghar se rotiyaan laya, koee gu d, koee chokar, koee bhoosi.

ek balak ne kaha- ‘‘aise bail kisi ke pas n hoange.’’

doosare ne samarthan kiya- ‘‘itani door se donoan akele chale ae.’

tisara bola- ‘bail nahian haian ve, us janm ke adami haian.’

isaka prativad karane ka kisi ko sahas nahian hua. jhoori ki stri ne bailoan ko dvar par dekha to jal uthi. boli -‘kaise namak-haram bail haian ki ek din vahaan kam n kiya, bhag kh de hue.’ jhoori apane bailoan par yah akshep n sun saka-‘namak haram kyoan haian ? chara-dana n diya hoga to kya karate ?’

stri ne rob ke sath kaha-‘bas, tumhian to bailoan ko khilana janate ho, aur to sabhi pani pila-pilakar rakhate haian.’

jhoori ne chidhaya-‘chara milata to kyoan bhagate ?’

stri chidh gayi-‘bhage isalie ki ve log tum jaise buddhuoan ki tarah bail ko sahalate nahian, khilate haian to rag dakar jotate bhi haian. ye donoan thahare kamachor, bhag nikale. ab dekhooan kahaan se khali aur chokar milata hai. sookhe bhoose ke siva kuchh n dooangi, khaean chahean marean.’

vahi hua. majoor ki b di takid ki gee ki bailoan ko khali sookha bhoosa diya jae.

bailoan ne naand mean muanh dala to phika-phika, n koee chikanahat, n koee ras ! 

kya khaean ? asha-bhari aankhoan se dvar ki or takane lage. jhoori ne majoor se kaha-‘tho di–si khali kyoan nahian dal deta be ?’

‘malakin mujhe mar hi daleangi.’

‘churakar dal a.’

‘na dada, pichhe se tum bhi unhian ki-si kahoge.’

doosare din jhoori ka sala phir aya aur bailoan ko le chala. abaki usane donoan ko ga di mean jota.

do-char bar moti ne ga di ko khaee mean girana chaha, par hira ne sanbhal liya. vah zyada sahanashil tha.

sandhya-samay ghar pahuanchakar usane donoan ko moti rassiyoan se baandha aur kal ki shararat ka maja chakhaya phir vahi sookha bhoosa dal diya. apane donoan baloan ko khali chooni sab kuchh di.

donoan bailoan ka aisa apaman kabhi n hua tha. jhoori ne inhean phool ki chh di se bhi chhoota tha. usaki titakar par donoan u dane lagate the. yahaan mar p di. ahat samman ki vyatha to thi hi, us par mila sookha bhoosa ! naand ki taraph aankhean tak n uthaeean.

doosare din gaya ne bailoan ko hal mean jota, par in donoan ne jaise paanv n uthane ki kasam kha li thi. vah marate-marate thak gaya, par donoan ne paanv n uthaya. ek bar jab us nirdayi ne hira ki nak par khoob dande jamaye to moti ko gussa kaboo se bahar ho gaya. hal lekar bhaga. hal, rassi, jua, jot, sab toot-tatakar barabar ho gaya. gale mean b di-b di rassiyaan n hotian to donoan pak daee mean n ate.

hira ne mook-bhasha mean kaha-bhagana vyarth hai.’

moti ne uttar diya-‘tumhari to isane jan hi le li thi.’

‘abaki b di mar p degi.’

‘p dane do, bail ka janm liya hai to mar se kahaan tak bacheange ?’

‘gaya do adamiyoan ke sath dau da a raha hai, donoan ke hathoan mean lathiyaan haian.’ 

moti bola-‘kaho to dikha dooan maja maian bhi, lathi lekar a raha hai.’

hira ne samajhaya-‘nahian bhaee ! kh de ho jao.’

‘mujhe marega to maian ek-do ko gira dooanga.’

‘nahian hamari jati ka yah dharm nahian hai.’

moti dil mean aianthakar rah gaya. gaya a pahuancha aur donoan ko pak d kar le chala. kushal huee ki usane is vakt marapit n ki, nahian to moti palat p data. usake tevar dekh gaya aur usake sahayak samajh ge ki is vakt tal jana hi bhalamanasahat hai.

aj donoan ke samane phir vahi sookha bhoosa laya gaya, donoan chupachap kh de rahe.

ghar mean log bhojan karane lage. us vakt chhoti-si l daki do rotiyaan lie nikali aur donoan ke muanh mean dekar chali gee. us ek roti se inaki bhookh to kya shant hoti, par donoan ke hriday ko mano bhojan mil gaya. yahaan bhi kisi sajjan ka vas hai. l daki bhairo ki thi. usaki maan mar chuki thi. sauteli maan use marati rahati thi, isalie in bailoan se ek prakar ki atmiyata ho gee thi.

donoan din-bhar jate, dande khate, a date, sham ko than par baandh die jate aur rat ko vahi balika unhean do rotiyaan khila jati. prem ke is prasad ki yah barakat thi ki do-do gal sookha bhoosa khakar bhi donoan durbal n hote the, magar donoan ki aankhoan mean rom-rom mean vidroh bhara hua tha.

ek din moti ne mook-bhasha mean kaha-‘ab to nahian saha jata hira !

‘kya karana chahate ho ?’

‘ekadh ko siangoan par uthakar pheank dooanga.’

‘lekin janate ho, vah pyari l daki, jo hamean rotiyaan khilati hai, usi ki l daki hai, jo is ghar ka malik hai, yah bechari anath ho jaegi.’

‘to malakin ko pheank dooan, vahi to is l daki ko marati hai.

‘lekin aurat jat par siang chalana mana hai, yah bhool jate ho.’

‘tum to kisi tarah nikalane hi nahian dete, batao, tu dakar bhag chalean.’

‘haan, yah maian svikar karata, lekin itani moti rassi tootegi kaise.’

isaka ek upay hai, pahale rassi ko tho da chaba lo. phir ek jhatake mean jati hai.’

rat ko jab balika rotiyaan khila kar chali gee to donoan rassiyaan chabane lage, par moti rassi muanh mean n ati thi. bechare bar-bar zor lagakar rah jate the.

sahasa ghar ka dvar khula aur vah l daki nikali. donoan sir jhukakar usaka hath chatane lage. donoan ki pooanchhean kh di ho geean. usane unake mathe sahalae aur boli-‘khol deti hooan, chupake se bhag jao, nahian to ye log mar daleange. aj ghar mean salah ho rahi hai ki inaki nakoan mean nath dal di jaean.’

usane garaanv khol diya, par donoan chup kh de rahe.

moti ne apani bhasha mean pooanchha-‘ab chalate kyoan nahian ?’

hira ne kaha-‘chalean to, lekin kal is anath par aphat aegi, sab isi par sandeh kareange.

sahasa balika chillaee-‘donoan phoopha vale bail bhage je rahe haian, o dada! dada! donoan bail bhage ja rahe haian, o dada! dada! donoan bail bhage ja rahe haian, jaldi dau do.

gaya h dab dakar bhitar se nikala aur bailoan ko pak dane chala. ve donoan bhage. gaya ne pichha kiya, aur bhi tej hue, gaya ne shor machaya. phir gaanv ke kuchh adamiyoan ko bhi sath lene ke lie lauta. donoan mitroan ko bhagane ka mauqa mil gaya. sidhe dau date chale ge. yahaan tak ki marg ka jnan raha. jis parichit marg se ae the, usaka yahaan pata n tha. ne-ne gaanv milane lage. tab donoan ek khet ke kinare kh de hokar sochane lage, ab kya karana chahie.

hira ne kaha-‘mujhe maloom hota hai, rah bhool ge.’

‘tum bhi betahasha bhage, vahian use mar girana tha.’

‘use mar girate to duniya kya kahati ? vah apane dharm chho d de, lekin ham apana dharm kyoan chhodean ?’

donoan bhookh se vyakul ho rahe the. khet mean matar kh di thi. charane lage. rah-rahakar ahat lete rahe the. koee ata to nahian hai.

jab pet bhar gaya, donoan ne azadi ka anubhav kiya to mast hokar uchhalane-koodane lage. pahale donoan ne dakar li. phir siang milae aur ek-doosare ko thekane lage. moti ne hira ko kee qadam pichhe hata diya, yahaan tak ki vah khaee mean gir gaya. tab use bhi krodh a gaya. sanbhalakar utha aur moti se bhi d gaya. moti ne dekha ki khel mean jhag da hua chahata hai to kinare hat gaya.

are ! yah kya ? koee saan d dauankata chala a raha hai. haan, saan d hi hai. vah samane a pahuancha. donoan mitr bagalean jhaank rahe the. saan d poora hathi tha. usase bhi dana jan se hath dhona hai, lekin n bhi dane par bhi jan bachati najar nahian ati. inhian ki taraph a bhi raha hai. kitani bhayankar soorat hai !

moti ne mook-bhasha mean kaha-‘bure phanse, jan bachegi ? koee upay socho.’

hira ne chiantit svar mean kaha-‘apane ghamand mean phoola hua hai, arajoo-vinati n sunega.’

‘bhag kyoan n chalean?’

‘bhagana kayarata hai.’

‘to phir yahian maro. banda to nau do gyarah hota hai.’

‘aur jo dau dae?’

‘ to phir koee upae socho jald!’

‘upay yah hai ki us par donoan jane ek sath chot karean. maian age se ragedata hooan, tum pichhe se ragedo, dohari mar p degi to bhag kh da hoga. meri or jhapate, tum bagal se usake pet mean siang ghuse d dena. jan jokhim hai, par doosara upay nahian hai.

donoan mitr jan hatheli par lekar lapake. saan d ko bhi sangathit shatruoan se l dane ka tajuraba n tha. 

vah to ek shatru se mallayuddh karane ka adi tha. jyoan-hi hira par jhapata, moti ne pichhe se dau daya. saan d usaki taraph mu da to hira ne rageda. saan d chahata tha, ki ek-ek karake donoan ko gira le, par ye donoan bhi ustad the. use vah avasar n dete the. ek bar saan d jhallakar hira ka ant kar dene ke lie chala ki moti ne bagal se akar usake pet mean siang bhoank diya. saan d krodh mean akar pichhe phira to hira ne doosare pahaloo mean siange chubha diya. 

akhir bechara jakhmi hokar bhaga aur donoan mitroan ne door tak usaka pichha kiya. yahaan tak ki saan d bedam hokar gir p da. tab donoan ne use chho d diya. donoan mitr jit ke nashe mean jhoomate chale jate the.

moti ne saanketik bhasha mean kaha-‘mera ji chahata tha ki bacha ko mar hi dalooan.’

hira ne tiraskar kiya-‘gire hue bairi par siang n chalana chahie.’

‘yah sab dhoang hai, bairi ko aisa marana chahie ki phir n uthe.’ ‘ab ghar kaise pahuanchoge vah socho.’

‘pahale kuchh kha lean, to sochean.’

samane matar ka khet tha hi, moti usamean ghus gaya. hira mana karata raha, par usane ek n suni. abhi do hi char gras khaye the ki adami lathiyaan lie dau d p de aur donoan mitr ko gher liya, hira to me d par tha nikal gaya. moti sianche hue khet mean tha. usake khur kich d mean dhansane lage. n bhag saka. pak d liya. hira ne dekha, sangi sankat mean hai to laut p da. phanseange to donoan phanseange. rakhavaloan ne use bhi pak d liya.

pratahkal donoan mitr kaanji haus mean band kar die ge.

donoan mitroan ko jivan mean pahali bar aisa sabika p da tha ki sara din bit gaya aur khane ko ek tinaka bhi n mila. samajh mean n ata tha, yah kaisa svami hai. isase to gaya phir bhi achchha tha. yahaan kee bhaianse thian, kee bakariyaan, kee gho de, kee gadhe, par kisi ke samane chara n tha, sab zamin par murdoan ki tarah p de the.

kee to itane kamazor ho gaye the ki kh de bhi n ho sakate the. sara din mitr phatak ki or takataki lagae rahate, par koee chara n lekar ata dikhaee diya. tab donoan ne divar ki namakin mitti chatani shuroo ki, par isase kya tripti hoti.

rat ko bhi jab kuchh bhojan n mila to hira ke dil mean vidroh ki jvala dahak uthi. moti se bola-‘ab nahian raha jata moti !

moti ne sir latakae hue javab diya-‘mujhe to maloom hota hai ki pran nikal rahe haian.’

‘ao divar to d dalean.’

‘mujhase to ab kuchh nahian hoga.’

‘bas isi boot par ak date the !’

‘sari ak d nikal gee.’

ba de ki divar kachchi thi. hira mazaboot to tha hi, apane nukile siang divar mean g da die aur zor mara to mitti ka ek chipp d nikal aya. phir to usaka sahas badha usane dau d-dau dakar divar par chotean kian aur har chot mean tho di-tho di mitti girane laga.

usi samay kaanji haus ka chaukidar lalaten lekar janavaroan ki hajiri lene a nikala. hira ka uddanddapann dekhakar use kee dande rasid kie aur moti-si rassi se baandh diya.

moti ne p de-p de kaha-‘akhir mar khaee, kya mila?’

‘apane boote-bhar zor to mar diya.’

‘aisa zor marana kis kam ka ki aur bandhan mean p d ge.’

‘jor to marata hi jaooanga, chahe kitane hi bandhan p date jaean.’

‘jan se hath dhona p dega.’

‘kuchh paravah nahian. yoan bhi to marana hi hai. socho, divar khud jati to kitani jane bach jatian. itane bhaee yahaan band haian. kisi ki deh mean jan nahian hai. do-char din yahi hal raha to mar jaeange.’ ‘haan, yah bat to hai. achchha, to la phir maian bhi zor lagata hooan.’

moti ne bhi divar mean siang mara, tho di-si mitti giri aur phir himmat badhi, phir to vah divar mean siang lagakar is tarah zor karane laga, mano kisi pratidvandi se l d raha hai. akhir koee do ghante ki jor-ajamaee ke bad divar oopar se lagabhag ek hath gir gee, usane dooni shakti se doosara dhakka mara to adhi divar gir p di.

divar ka girana tha ki adhamare-se p de hue sabhi janavar chet uthe, tinoan gho diyaan sarapat bhag nikalian. phir bakariyaan nikalian, isake bad bhaians bhi khasak gee, par gadhe abhi tak jyoan ke tyoan kh de the. 

hira ne poochha-‘tum donoan kyoan nahian bhag jate?’

ek gadhe ne kaha-‘jo kahian phir pak d lie jaean.’

‘to kya haraj hai, abhi to bhagane ka avasar hai.’

‘hamean to dar lagata hai. ham yahian p de raheange.’

adhi rat se oopar ja chuki thi. donoan gadhe abhi tak kh de soch rahe the ki bhagean, ya n bhagean, aur moti apane mitr ki rassi to dane mean laga hua tha. jab vah har gaya to hira ne kaha-‘tum jao, mujhe yahian p da rahane do, shayad kahian bheant ho jae.’

moti ne aankhoan mean aansoo lakar kaha-‘tum mujhe itana svarthi samajhate ho, hira ham aur tum itane dinoan ek sath rahe haian. aj tum vipatti mean p d ge ho to maian tumhean chho dakar alag ho jaooan ?’ hira ne kaha-‘bahut mar p degi, log samajh jaeange, yah tumhari shararat hai.’

moti ne garv se bola-‘jis aparadh ke lie tumhare gale mean bandhana p da, usake lie agar mujhe mar p de, to kya chianta. itana to ho hi gaya ki nau-das praniyoan ki jan bach gee, ve sab to ashirvad deange.’ yah kahate hue moti ne donoan gadhoan ko siangoan se mar-mar kar ba de se bahar nikala aur tab apane bandhu ke pas akar so raha. 

bhor hote hi muanshi aur chaukidar tatha any karmachariyoan mean kaisi khalabali machi, isake likhane ki zaroorat nahian. bas, itana hi kafi hai ki moti ki khoob marammat huee aur use bhi moti rassi se baandh diya gaya.

ek saptah tak donoan mitr vahaan bandhe p de rahe. kisi ne chare ka ek trin bhi n dala. haan, ek bar pani dikha diya jata tha. yahi unaka adhar tha. donoan itane durbal ho ge the ki utha tak nahian jata tha, thathariyaan nikal aeean thian. ek din ba de ke samane duggi bajane lagi aur dopahar hote-hote vahaan pachas-sath adami jama ho ge. tab donoan mitr nikale ge aur log akar unaki soorat dekhate aur man phika karake chale jate. 

aise mritak bailoan ka kaun kharidadar hota ? sahasa ek dadhiyal adami, jisaki aankhean lal thian aur mudra atyant kathor, aya aur donoan mitr ke koolhoan mean uangali godakar muanshiji se batean karane laga. chehara dekhakar aantarjnan se donoan mitroan ka dil kaanp uthe. vah kyoan hai aur kyoan tatol raha hai, is vishay mean unhean koee sandeh n hua. donoan ne ek-doosare ko bhit netroan se dekha aur sir jhuka liya.

hira ne kaha-‘gaya ke ghar se nahak bhage, ab to jan n bachegi.’ moti ne ashraddha ke bhav se uttar diya-‘kahate haian, bhagavan sabake oopar daya karate haian, unhean hamare oopar daya kyoan nahian ati ?’

‘bhagavan ke lie hamara jina marana donoan barabar hai. chalo, achchha hi hai, kuchh din usake pas to raheange. ek bar us bhagavan ne us l daki ke roop mean hamean bachaya tha. kya ab n bachaeange ?’ ‘yah adami chhuri chalaega, dekh lena.’

‘to kya chianta hai ? maans, khal, siang, haddi sab kisi ke kam a jaega.’

nilam ho jane ke bad donoan mitr us dadhiyal ke sath chale. donoan ki boti-boti kaanp rahi thi. bechare paanv tak n utha sakate the, par bhay ke mare girate-p़date bhage jate the, kyoanki vah jara bhi chal dhimi ho jane par danda jama deta tha.

rah mean gay-bailoan ka ek rev d hare-bhare har mean charata najar aya. sabhi janavar prasann the, chikane, chapal. koee uchhalata tha, koee anand se baitha pagur karata tha kitana sukhi jivan tha inaka, par kitane svarthi haian sab. kisi ko chianta nahian ki unake do baee badhik ke hath p de kaise duahkhi haian.

sahasa donoan ko aisa maloom hua ki parichit rah hai. haan, isi raste se gaya unhean le gaya tha. vahi khet, vahi bag, vahi gaanv milane lage, pratikshan unaki chal tej hone lagi. sari thakan, sari durbalata gayab ho gee. ah ! yah lo ! apana hi har a gaya. isi kuean par ham pur chalane aya karate the, yahi kuaan hai.

moti ne kaha-‘hamara ghar najadik a gaya hai.’

hira bola -‘bhagavan ki daya hai.’

‘maian to ab ghar bhagata hooan.’

‘yah jane dega ?’

ise maian mar girata hooan.

‘nahian-nahian, dau dakar than par chalo. vahaan se age ham n jaeange.’

donoan unmatt hokar bachh doan ki bhaanti kulelean karate hue ghar ki or dau de. vah hamara than hai. donoan dau dakar apane than par ae aur kh de ho ge. dadhiyal bhi pichhe-pichhe dau da chala ata tha. jhoori dvar par baitha dhoop kha raha tha. bailoan ko dekhate hi dau da aur unhean bari-bari se gale lagane laga. mitroan ki aankhoan se anand ke aansoo bahane lage. ek jhoori ka hath chat raha tha.

dadhiyal ne jakar bailoan ki rassiyaan pak d lian. jhoori ne kaha-‘mere bail haian.’

‘tumhare bail kaise haian ? maian mavesikhane se nilam lie ata hooan.’

‘‘maian to samajhata hooan, churae lie jate ho! chupake se chale jao, mere bail haian. maian bechooanga to bikeange. kisi ko mere bail nilam karane ka kya akhtiyar haian ?’

'jakar thane mean rapat kar dooanga.’

‘mere bail haian. isaka saboot yah hai ki mere dvar par kh de haian.

dadhiyal jhallakar bailoan ko jabaradasti pak d le jane ke lie badha. usi vakt moti ne siang chalaya. dadhiyal pichhe hata. moti ne pichha kiya. dadhiyal bhaga. moti pichhe dau da, gaanv ke bahar nikal jane par vah ruka, par kh da dadhiyal ka rasta vah dekh raha tha, dadhiyal door kh da dhamakiyaan de raha tha, galiyaan nikal raha tha, patthar pheank raha tha, aur moti vijayi shoor ki bhaanti usaka rasta roke kh da tha. gaanv ke log yah tamasha dekhate the aur hansate the. jab dadhiyal harakar chala gaya to moti ak data hua lauta. hira ne kaha-‘maian to dar gaya tha ki kahian tum gusse mean akar mar n baitho.’

‘ab n aega.’ ‘aega to door se hi khabar looanga. dekhooan, kaise le jata hai.’

‘jo goli marava de ?’

‘mar jaooanga, par usake kam n aooanga.’

‘hamari jan ko koee jan hi nahian samajhata.’ 

‘isalie ki ham itane sidhe haian.’

jara der mean naandoan mean khali bhoosa, chokar aur dana bhar diya gaya aur donoan mitr khane lage. jhoori kh da donoan ko sahala raha tha. vah unase lipat gaya. 

jhoori ki patni bhi bhitar se dau di-dau di aee. usane ne akar donoan bailoan ke mathe choom lie.

sanbandhit lekh

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