बेटी का धन -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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betava nadi do ooanche kagaroan ke bich is tarah muanh chhipaye hue thi jaise nirmal hridayoan mean sahas aur utsah ki maddham jyoti chhipi rahati hai. isake ek kagar par ek chhota-sa gaanv basa hai jo apane bhagn jatiy chihnoan ke lie bahut hi prasiddh hai. jatiy gathaoan aur chihnoan par mar mitanevale log is bhavanasthan par b de prem aur shraddha ke sath ate aur gaanv ka boodha kevat sukkhoo chaudhari unhean usaki parikrama karata aur rani ke mahal, raja ka darabar aur kuanvar ki baithak ke mite hue chiddoan ko dikhata. vah ek uchchhvas lekar ruandhe hue gale se kahata, mahashay ! ek vah samay tha ki kevatoan ko machhaliyoan ke inam mean asharphiyaan milati thian. kahar mahal mean jhadoo dete hue asharphiyaan bator le jate the. betava nadi roj chadh kar maharaj ke charan chhoone ati thi. yah pratap aur yah tej tha, parantu aj isaki yah dasha hai. in sundar uktiyoan par kisi ka vishvas jamana chaudhari ke vash ki bat n thi, par sunanevale usaki sahridayata tatha anurag ke zaroor kayal ho jate the.

sukkhoo chaudhari udar purush the, parantu jitana b da muanh tha, utana b da gras n tha. tin l dake, tin bahuean aur kee pautr-pautriyaan thian. l daki keval ek gangajali thi jisaka abhi tak gauna nahian hua tha. chaudhari ki yah sabase pichhali santan thi. stri ke mar jane par usane isako bakari ka doodh pila-pila kar pala tha. parivar mean khanevale to itane the, par kheti sirph ek hal ki hoti thi. jyoan-tyoan kar nirvah hota tha, parantu sukkhoo ki vriddhavastha aur puratattv jnan ne use gaanv mean vah man aur pratishtha pradan kar rakkhi thi, jise dekh kar jhagadoo sahu bhitar hi bhitar jalate the. sukkhoo jab gaanvavaloan ke samaksh, hakimoan se hath pheank-pheank kar batean karane lagata aur khandaharoan ko ghuma-phira kar dikhane lagata tha to jhagadoo sahu jo chaparasiyoan ke dhakke khane ke dar se qarib nahian phatakate the t dap-t dap kar rah jate the. atah ve sada is shubh avasar ki pratiksha karate rahate the, jab sukkhoo par apane dhan dvara prabhutv jama sakean.

is gaanv ke zamiandar thakur jitanasianh the, jinaki begar ke mare gaanvavaloan ka nakoan dam tha. us sal jab zila majistret ka daura hua aur vah yahaan ke puratan chihnoan ki sair karane ke lie padhare, to sukkhoo chaudhari ne dabi jaban se apane gaanvavaloan ki duahkh-kahani unhean sunayi. hakimoan se vartalap karane mean use tanik bhi bhay n hota tha. sukkhoo chaudhari ko khoob maloom tha ki jitanasianh se rar machana sianh ke muanh mean sir dena hai. kiantu jab gaanvavale kahate the ki chaudhari tumhari aise-aise hakimoan se mitaee hai aur ham logoan ko rat-din rote katata hai to phir tumhari yah mitrata kis din kam avegi. paropakaray satamh vibhootayah. tab sukkhoo ka mizaj asaman par chadh jata tha. gh di bhar ke lie vah jitanasianh ko bhool jata tha. majistret ne jitanasianh se isaka uttar maanga. udhar jhagadoo sahu ne chaudhari ke is sahasapoorn svamidroh ki riport jitanasianh ko di. thakur sahab jal kar ag ho gaye. apane kariande se bakaya lagan ki bahi maangi. sanyogavash chaudhari ke jimme is sal ka kuchh lagan baki tha. kuchh to paidavar kam huee, us par gangajali ka byah karana p da. chhoti bahoo nath ki rat lagaye hue thi; vah banavani p di. in sab kharchoan ne hath bilakul khali kar diya tha. lagan ke lie kuchh adhik chianta nahian thi. vah is abhiman mean bhoola hua tha ki jis jaban mean hakimoan ko prasann karane ki shakti hai, kya vah thakur sahab ko apana lakshy n bana sakegi ? boodhe chaudhari idhar to apane garv mean nishchiant the aur udhar un par bakaya lagan ki nalish thuk gayi. samman a pahuancha. doosare din peshi ki tarikh p d gayi. chaudhari ko apana jadoo chalane ka avasar n mila.

jin logoan ke badhave mean a kar sukkhoo ne thakur se chhe dachha d ki thi, unaka darshan milana durlabh ho gaya. thakur sahab ke sahane aur pyade gaanv mean chil ki tarah mandarane lage. unake bhay se kisi ko chaudhari ki parachhaeean katane ka sahas n hota tha. kachahari vahaan se tin mil par thi. barasat ke din, raste mean thaur-thaur pani, um di huee nadiyaan, rasta kachcha, bailaga di ka nibah nahian, pairoan mean bal nahian, atah adamapairavi mean mukadame ekatarapha phaisala ho gaya.

kurki ka notis pahuancha to chaudhari ke hath-paanv phool gaye. sari chaturaee bhool gayi. chupachap apani khat par p da-p da nadi ki or takata aur apane man mean kahata, kya mere jite ji ghar mitti mean mil jayaga. mere in bailoan ki suandar jo di ke gale mean ah ! kya doosaroan ka jua p dega ? yah sochate-sochate usaki aankhean bhar atian. vah bailoan se lipat kar rone laga, parantu bailoan ki aankhoan se kyoan aansoo jari the ? ve naand mean muanh kyoan nahian dalate the ? kya unake hriday par bhi apane svami ke duahkh ki chot pahuanch rahi thi !

phir vah apane jhop de ko vikal nayanoan se nihar kar dekhata. aur man mean sochata, kya hamako is ghar se nikalana p dega ? yah poorvajoan ki nishani kya hamare jite ji chhin jayagi ?

kuchh log pariksha mean dridh rahate haian aur kuchh log isaki halaki aanch bhi nahian sah sakate. chaudhari apani khat par udas p de ghantoan apane kuladev mahavir aur mahadev ko manaya karata aur unaka gun gaya karata. usaki chiantadagdh atma ko aur koee sahara n tha.

isamean koee sandeh n tha ki chaudhari ki tinoan bahuoan ke pas gahane the, par stri ka gahana ookh ka ras hai, jo perane hi se nikalata hai. chaudhari jati ka ochha par svabhav ka ooancha tha. use aisi nich bat bahuoan se kahate sankoch hota tha. kadachith yah nich vichar usake hriday mean utpann hi nahian hua tha, kiantu tinoan bete yadi jara bhi buddhi se kam lete to boodhe ko devataoan ki sharan lene ki avashyakata n hoti. parantu yahaan to bat hi nirali thi. b de l dake ko ghat ke kam se phurasat n thi. baki do l dake is jatil prashn ko vichitr roop se hal karane ke mansoobe baandh rahe the.

manjhale jhiangur ne muanh bana kar kaha- uanh ! is gaanv mean kya dhara hai. jahaan hi kamaooanga, vahian khaooanga par jitanasianh ki mooanchhean ek-ek karake chun looanga.

chhote phakk d aianth kar bole- mooanchhean tum chun lena ! nak maian u da dooanga. nakata bana ghoomega.

is par donoan khoob hanse aur machhali marane chal diye.

is gaanv mean ek boodhe brahman bhi rahate the. mandir mean pooja karate aur nity apane yajamanoan ko darshan dene nadi par jate, par kheve ke paise n dete. tisare din vah zamiandar ke guptacharoan ki aankh bachakar sukkhoo ke pas aye aur sahanubhooti ke svar mean bole chaudhari ! kal hi tak miyad hai aur tum abhi tak p de-p de so rahe ho. kyoan nahian ghar ki chiz dhooandh-dhaandh kar kisi aur jagah bhej dete ? n ho samadhiyane pathava do. jo kuchh bach rahe, vahi sahi. ghar ki mitti khod kar tho de hi koee le jayaga.

chaudhari leta tha, uth baitha aur akash ki or nihar kar bola- jo kuchh usaki ichchha hai, vah hoga. mujhase yah jal n hoga.

idhar kee din ki nirantar bhakti aur upasana ke karan chaudhari ka man shuddh aur pavitr ho gaya tha. use chhal-prapanch se ghrina ho gayi thi. pandit ji jo is kam mean siddhahast the, lajjit ho gaye.

parantu chaudhari ke ghar ke any logoan ko eeshvarechchha par itana bharosa n tha. dhire-dhire ghar ke bartan-bhaan de khisakaye jate the. anaj ka ek dana bhi ghar mean n rahane paya. rat ko nav ladi huee jati aur udhar se khali lautati thi. tin din tak ghar mean choolha n jala. boodhe chaudhari ke muanh mean ann ki kaun kahe pani ki ek booand bhi n p di. striayaan bha d se chane bhuna kar chabatian, aur l dake machhaliyaan bhoon-bhoon kar u date. parantu boodhe ki is ekadashi mean yadi koee sharik tha to vah usaki beti gangajali thi. yah bechari apane boodhe bap ko charapaee par nirjal chhatapatate dekh bilakh-bilakh kar roti.

l dakoan ko apane mata-pita se vah prem nahian hota jo l dakiyoan ko hota hai. gangajali is soch-vichar mean magn rahati thi ki dada ki kis bhaanti sahayata karooan. yadi ham sab bhaee-bahan mil kar jitanasianh ke pas jakar daya-bhiksha ki prarthana karean to ve avashy man jayange; parantu dada ko kab yah svikar hoga. vah yadi ek din b de sahab ke pas chale jayan to sab kuchh bat ki bat mean ban jay. kiantu unaki to jaise buddhi hi mari gayi hai. isi udhe dabun mean use ek upay soojh p da, kumhalaya hua mukharaviand khil utha.

pujari ji sukkhoo chaudhari ke pas se uth kar chale gaye the aur chaudhari uchch svar se apane soye hue devataoan ko pukar-pukar kar bula rahe the. nidan gangajali unake pas ja kar kh di ho gayi. chaudhari ne use dekh kar vismit svar mean poochha kyoan beti ? itani rat gaye kyoan bahar ayi ?

gangajali ne kaha- bahar rahana to bhagy mean likha hai, ghar mean kaise rahooan.

sukkhoo ne zor se haank lagayi- kahaan gaye tum krishnamurari, mere duahkh haro.

gangajali kh di thi, baith gayi aur dhire se boli- bhajan gate to aj tin din ho gaye. ghar bachane ka bhi kuchh upay socha ki ise yoan hi mitti mean mila doge ? ham logoan ko kya pe d tale rakhoge ?

chaudhari ne vyathit svar se kaha- beti, mujhe to koee upay nahian soojhata. bhagavanh jo chaheange, hoga. veg chalo giradhar gopal, kahe vilamb karo.

gangajali ne kaha- maianne ek upay socha hai, kaho to kahooan.

chaudhari uth kar baith gaye aur poochha- kaun upay hai beti ?

gangajali ne kaha- mere gahane jhagadoo sahu ke yahaan giroan rakh do. maianne jo d liya hai. dene bhar ke rupaye ho jayange.

chaudhari ne thandi saans le kar kaha- beti ! tumako mujhase yah bat kahate laj nahian ati. ved-shastra mean mujhe tumhare gaanv ke kuean ka pani pina bhi mana hai. tumhari dyodhi mean bhi pair rakhane ka nishedh hai. kya tum mujhe narak mean dhakelana chahati ho ?

gangajali uttar ke lie pahale hi se taiyar thi. boli- maian apane gahane tumhean diye tho de hi deti hooan. is samay le kar kam chalao, chait mean chhu da dena. chaudhari ne k dak kar kaha yah mujhase n hoga.

gangajali uttejit ho kar boli- tumase yah n hoga to maian ap hi jaooangi, mujhase ghar ki yah durdasha nahian dekhi jati.

chaudhari ne jhuanjhala kar kaha- biradari mean kaun muanh dikhaooanga ?

gangajali ne chidh kar kaha- biradari mean kaun dhiandhora pitane jata hai.

chaudhari ne phaisala sunaya- jagahansaee ke lie maian apana dharm n bigadooanga.

gangajali big dakar boli- meri bat nahian manoge to tumhare oopar meri hatya p degi. maian aj hi is betava nadi mean kood padooangi. tumase chahe ghar mean ag lagate dekha jay, par mujhase to n dekha jayaga.

chaudhari ne thandi saans le kar katar svar mean kaha- beti, mera dharm nash mat karo. yadi aisa hi hai to apani kisi bhavaj ke gahane maang kar lao.

gangajali ne gambhir svar mean kaha- bhavajoan se kaun apana muanh nochavane jayaga. unako phikar hoti to kya muanh mean dahi jama tha, kahatian nahian.

chaudhari niruttar ho gaye. gangajali ghar mean ja kar gahanoan ki pitari layi aur ek-ek karake sab gahane chaudhari ke aangochhe mean baandh diye. chaudhari ne aankhoan mean aansoo bhar kar kaha- hay ram, is sharir ki kya gati likhi hai ! yah kah kar uthe. bahut samhalane par bhi aankhoan mean aansoo n chhipe.

rat ka samay tha. betava nadi ke kinare-kinare marg ko chho dakar sukkhoo chaudhari gahanoan ki gathari kaankh mean dabaye is tarah chupake-chupake chal rahe the mano pap ki gathari liye jate haian. jab vah jhagadoo sahu ke makan ke pas pahuanche to thahar gaye, aankhean khoob saf kian, jisase kisi ko yah n bodh ho ki chaudhari rota tha.

jhagadoo sahu dhage ki kamani ki ek moti ainak lagaye bahikhata phailaye huqqa pi rahe the, aur dipak ke dhuandhale prakash mean un aksharoan ko padhane ki vyarth cheshta mean lage the jinamean syahi ki kiphayat ki gayi thi. bar-bar ainak ko saf karate aur aankh malate, par chirag ki batti ukasana ya dohari batti lagana shayad isalie uchit nahian samajhate the ki tel ka apavyay hoga. isi samay sukkhoo chaudhari ne a kar kaha jayaram ji.

jhagadoo sahu ne dekha. pahachan kar bole- jayaram chaudhari ! kaho mukadame mean kya hua ? yah len-den b de jhanjhat ka kam hai. din bhar sir uthane ki chhutti nahian milati.

chaudhari ne potali ko khoob savadhani se chhipa kar laparavahi ke sath kaha- abhi tak to kuchh nahian hua. kal ijarayadigari hone vali hai. thakur sahab ne n jane kab ka bair nikala hai. hamako do-tin din ki bhi muhalat hoti to digari n jari hone pati. chhote sahab aur b de sahab donoan hamako achchhi tarah janate haian. abhi isi sal maianne unase nadi kinare ghantoan batean kian, kiantu ek to barasat ke din, doosare ek din ki bhi muhalat nahian, kya karata ! is samay mujhe rupayoan ki chianta hai.

jhagadoo sahu ne vismit ho kar poochha- tumako rupayoan ki chianta ! ghar mean bhara hai, vah kis din kam avega. jhagadoo sahu ne yah vyangyaban nahian chho da tha. vastav mean unhean aur sare gaanv ko vishvas tha ki chaudhari ke ghar mean lakshmi maharani ka akhand rajy hai.

chaudhari ka rang badalane laga. bole- sahu ji ! rupaya hota to kis bat ki chianta thi ? tumase kaun chhipav hai. aj tin din se ghar mean choolha nahian jala, rona-pitana p da hai. ab to tumhare basaye basooanga. thakur sahab ne to uja dane mean koee kasar n chho di.

jhagadoo sahu jitanasianh ko khush rakhana zaroor chahate the, par sath hi chaudhari ko bhi nakhush karana manjoor n tha. yadi sood-dar-sood chho d kar mool tatha byaj sahaj vasool ho jay to unhean chaudhari par muft ka ehasan ladane mean koee apatti n thi. yadi chaudhari ke aphasaroan ki jan-pahachan ke karan sahu ji ka taiks se gala chhoot jay, jo anek upay karane ahalakaroan ki mutthi garam karane par bhi nity prati unaki toand ki tarah badhata hi ja raha tha to kya poochhana ! bole-

-kya kahean chaudhari ji, kharch ke mare ajakal ham bhi tabah haian. lahane vasool nahian hote. taiks ka rupaya dena p da. hath bilakul khali ho gaya. tumhean kitana rupaya chahie ?

chaudhari ne kaha- sau rupaye ki digari hai. kharch-barch mila kar do sau ke lagabhag samajho.

jhagadoo ab apane daanv khelane lage. poochha- tumhare l dakoan ne tumhari kuchh bhi madad n ki. vah sab bhi to kuchh n kuchh kamate hi haian.

sahu ji ka yah nishana thik p da l dakoan ne laparavahi se chaudhari ke man mean jo kutsit bhav bhare the vah sajiv ho gaye. bole- bhaee, l dake kisi kam ke hote to yah din kyoan dekhana p data. unhean to apane bhog-vilas se matalab. ghar-grihasthi ka bojh to mere sir par hai. maian ise jaise chahooan, sanbhalooan unase kuchh sarokar nahian, marate dam bhi gala nahian chhootata. marooanga to sab khal mean bhoosa bhara kar rakh chho deange. ‘grih karaj nana janjala.’

jhagadoo ne tisara tir mara- kya bahuoan se bhi kuchh n ban p da.

chaudhari ne uttar diya- bahoo-bete sab apani-apani mauj mean mast haian. maian tin din tak dvar par bina ann-jal ke p da tha, kisi ne bat bhi nahian poochhi. kahaan ki salah, kahaan ki batachit. bahuoan ke pas rupaye n hoan, par gahane to haian aur ve bhi mere banaye hue. is durdin ke samay yadi do-do than utar detian to kya maian chhu da n deta ? sada yahi din tho de hi raheange.

jhagadoo samajh gaye ki yah mahaj jaban ka sauda hai aur vah jaban ka sauda bhoolakar bhi n karate the. bole- tumhare ghar ke log bhi anoothe haian. kya itana bhi nahian janate ki boodha rupaye kahaan se lavega ? ab samay badal gaya. ya to kuchh jayadad likho ya gahane giroan rakho tab ja kar rupaya mile. isake bina rupaye kahaan. isamean bhi jayadad mean saik doan bakhe de p de haian. subhita giroan rakhane mean hi hai. haan, to jab gharavaloan ko koee isaki fikr nahian to tum kyoan vyarth jan dete ho. yahi n hoga ki log hanseange so yah laj kahaan tak nibahoge ?

chaudhari ne atyant vinit ho kar kaha- sahu ji, yah laj to mare dalati hai. tumase kya chhipa hai. ek vah din tha ki hamare dada-baba maharaj ki savari ke sath chalate the, ab ek din yah ki ghar-ghar ki divar tak bikane ki naubat a gayi hai. kahian muanh dikhane ko bhi ji nahian chahata. yah lo gahanoan ki potali. yadi lokalaj n hoti to ise lekar kabhi yahaan n ata, parantu yah adharm isi laj nibahane ke karan karana p da hai.

jhagadoo sahu ne ashchary mean ho kar poochha- yah gahane kisake haian ? chaudhari ne sir jhuka kar b di kathinata se kaha- meri beti gangajali ke. jhagadoo sahu stambhit ho gaye. bole- are ! ram-ram !

chaudhari ne katar svar mean kaha- doob marane ko ji chahata hai.

jhagadoo ne b di dharmikata ke sath sthir ho kar kaha- shastra mean beti ke gaanv ka pe d dekhana mana hai.

chaudhari ne dirgh niahshvas chho d kar karun svar mean kaha- n jane narayan kab maut deange. bhaee ki tin l dakiyaan byahian. kabhi bhool kar bhi unake dvar ka muanh nahian dekha. paramatma ne ab tak to tek nibahi hai, par ab n jane mitti ki kya durdasha hone vali hai.

jhagadoo sahu ‘lekha jau-jau bakhashish sau-sau’ ke siddhaant par chalate the. sood ki ek kau di bhi chho dana unake lie haram tha. yadi ek mahine ka ek din bhi lag jata to poore mahine ka sood vasool kar lete. parantu navaratr mean nity durga-path karavate the. pitripaksh mean roj brahmanoan ko sidha baantate the. baniyoan ki dharm mean b di nishtha hoti hai. yadi koee din brahman l daki byahane ke lie unake samane hath pasarata to vah khali hath n lautata, bhikh maangane vale brahmanoan ko chahe vah kitane hi sande-musande hoan, unake daravaze par phatakar nahian sunani p dati thi. unake dharm-shastra mean kanya ke gaanv ke kuean ka pani pine se pyasa mar jana achchha hai. vah svayan is siddhaant ke bhakt the aur is siddhaant ke any pakshapati unake lie mahamany devata the. ve pighal gaye. man mean socha, yah manushy to kabhi ochhe vicharoan ko man mean nahian laya.

nirday kal ki thokar se adharm marg par utar aya hai, to usake dharm ki raksha karana hamara kartavy-dharm hai. yah vichar man mean ate hi jhagadoo sahu gaddi se masanad ke sahare uth baithe aur dridh svar se kaha vahi paramatma jisane ab tak tumhari tek nibahi hai, ab bhi nibaheange. l daki ke gahane l daki ko de do. l daki jaisi tumhari hai vaisi meri bhi hai. yah lo rupaye. aj kam chalao. jab hath mean rupaye a jayan, de dena.

chaudhari par is sahanubhooti ka gahara asar p da. vah jor-jor se rone laga. use apane bhavoan ki dhun mean krishna bhagavanh ki mohini moorti samane virajaman dikhayi di. vahi jhag doo jo sare gaanv mean badanam tha, jisaki usane khud kee bar hakimoan se shikayat ki thi, aj sakshath devata jan p data tha. ruandhe hue kanth se gadgad ho bola-

- jhagadoo, tumane is samay meri bat, meri laj, mera dharm, kahaan tak kahooan, mera sab kuchh rakh liya. meri doobati nav par laga di. krishna murari tumhare is upakar ka phal deange aur maian to tumhara gun jab tak jiooanga, gata rahooanga.

sanbandhit lekh

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