मृतक-भोज -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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seth ramanath ne rog-shayya par p de-p de nirashapoorn drishti se apani stri sushila ki or dekhakar kaha, 'maian b da abhaga hooan, shila. mere sath tumhean sadaiv hi du:kh bhogana p da. jab ghar mean kuchh n tha, to rat-din grihasthi ke dhandhoan aur bachchoan ke lie marati thian. jab jara kuchh sanbhala aur tumhare aram karane ke din aye, to yoan chho de chala ja raha hooan. aj tak mujhe asha thi, par aj vah asha toot gayi. dekho shila, roo mat. sansar mean sabhi marate haian, koee do sal age, koee do sal pichhe. ab grihasthi ka bhar tumhare oopar hai. maianne rupaye nahian chho de; lekin jo kuchh hai, usase tumhara jivan kisi tarah kat jayaga ... yah raja kyoan ro raha hai ? sushila ne aansoo poanchhakar kaha, ziddi ho gaya hai aur kya. aj sabere se rat lagaye hue hai ki maian motar looanga. 50 ru. se kam mean ayegi motar ? sethaji ko idhar kuchh dinoan se donoan balakoan par bahut sneh ho gaya tha. bole to manga do n ek. bechara kab se ro raha hai, kya-kya araman dil mean the. sab dhool mean mil gaye. rani ke lie vilayati gu diya bhi manga do. doosaroan ke khilaune dekhakar tarasati rahati hai. jis dhan ko pranoan se bhi priy samajha, vah ant ko daktaroan ne khaya. bachche mujhe kya yad kareange ki bap tha. abhage bap ne to dhan ko l dake-l daki se priy samajha. kabhi paise ki chiz bhi lakar nahian di. '

antim samay jab sansar ki asarata kathor saty banakar aankhoan ke samane kh di ho jati hai, to jo kuchh n kiya, usaka khed aur jo kuchh kiya, us par pashchattap, man ko udar aur nishkapat bana deta hai. sushila ne raja ko bulaya aur use chhati se lagakar rone lagi. vah matrisneh, jo pati ki kripanata se bhitar-hi-bhitar t dapakar rah jata tha, is samay jaise khaul utha. lekin motar ke lie rupaye kahaan the ? sethaji ne poochha, 'motar loge beta; apani ammaan se rupaye lekar bhaiya ke sath chale jao. khoob achchhi motar lana. '

raja ne mata ke aansoo aur pita ka yah sneh dekha, to usaka balahath jaise pighal gaya. bola, 'abhi nahian looanga. '

sethaji ne poochha, 'kyoan ? '

'jab ap achchhe ho jayange tab looanga.' sethaji phoot-phootakar rone lage.

tisare din seth ramanath ka dehant ho gaya. dhani ke jine se du:kh bahutoan ko hota hai, sukh tho doan ko. unake marane se du:kh tho doan ko hota hai, sukh bahutoan ko. mahabrahmanoan ki mandali alag sukhi hai, panditaji alag khush haian, aur shayad biradari ke log bhi prasann haian; isalie ki ek barabar ka adami kam hua. dil se ek kaanta door hua. aur pattidaroan ka to poochhana hi kya. ab vah purani kasar nikaleange. hriday ko shital karane ka aisa avasar bahut dinoan ke bad mila hai. aj paanchavaan din hai. vah vishal bhavan soona p da hai. l dake n rote haian, n hansate haian. man mare maan ke pas baithe haian aur vidhava bhavishy ki apar chintaoan ke bhar se dabi huee nirjiv-si p di hai. ghar mean jo rupaye bach rahe the, ve dah-kriya ki bheant ho gaye aur abhi sare sanskar baki p de haian. bhagavanh, kaise be da par lagega.

kisi ne dvar par avaz di. mahara ne akar seth dhaniram ke ane ki soochana di. donoan balak bahar dau de. sushila ka man bhi ek kshan ke lie hara ho gaya. seth dhaniram biradari ke sarapanch the. abala ka kshubdh

hriday sethaji ki is kripa se pulakit ho utha. akhir biradari ke mukhiya haian. ye log anathoan ki khoj-khabar n lean to kaun le. dhany haian ye punyatma log jo musibat mean dinoan ki raksha karate haian. yah sochati huee sushila ghooanghat nikale barothe mean akar kh di ho gayi. dekha to dhaniramaji ke atirikt aur bhi kee sajjan kh de haian.

dhaniram bole 'bahooji, bhaee ramanath ki akal-mrityu se ham logoan ko jitana du:kh hua hai, vah hamara dil hi janata hai. abhi unaki umr hi kya thi; lekin bhagavanh ki ichchha. ab to hamara yahi dharm hai ki eeshvar

par bharosa rakhean aur age ke lie koee rah nikalean. kam aisa karana chahie ki ghar ki abaroo bhi bani rahe aur bhaeeji ki atma santusht bhi ho. ' kuberadas ne sushila ko kanakhiyoan se dekhate hue kaha, 'maryada b di

chiz hai. usaki raksha karana hamara dharm hai. lekin kamali ke bahar paanv nikalana bhi to uchit nahian. kitane rupaye haian tere pas, bahoo ? kya kaha, kuchh nahian ? '

sushila –‘ghar mean rupaye kahaan haian, sethaji. jo tho de-bahut the, vah bimari mean uth gaye. '

dhaniram –‘to yah nayi samasya kh di huee. aisi dasha mean hamean kya karana chahie, kuberadasaji ? '

kuberadas –‘zaise ho, bhoj to karana hi p dega. haan, apani samarthy dekhakar kam karana chahie. maian karz lene ko n kahooanga. haan, ghar mean jitane rupayoan ka prabandh ho sake, usamean hamean koee kasar n chho dani chahie. mrit-jiv ke

sath bhi to hamara kuchh kartavy hai. ab to vah phir kabhi n ayega, usase sadaiv ke lie nata toot raha hai. isalie sabakuchh haisiyat ke mutabik hona chahie. brahmanoan ko to bhoj dena hi p dega jisase ki maryada ka nirvah ho ! '

dhaniram –‘to kya tumhare pas kuchh bhi nahian hai, bahooji ? do-char hazar bhi nahian ! '

sushila --'maian apase saty kahati hooan, mere pas kuchh nahian hai. aise samay jhooth bolooangi. '

dhaniram ne kuberadas ki or ardh-avishvas se dekhakar kaha, 'tab to yah makan bechana p dega. '

kuberadas –‘isake siva aur kya ho sakata hai. nak katana to achchha nahian. ramanath ka kitana nam tha, biradari ke stanbh the. yahi is samay ek upay hai. 10 hazar ru. mere ate haian. sood-batta lagakar koee 15 hazar ru. mere ho jayange. baki bhoj mean kharch ho jayega. agar kuchh bach raha, to bal-bachchoan ke kam a jayaga. '

dhaniram –‘apake yahaan kitane par bandhak rakha tha ? '

kuberadas—‘ 10 hazar rupaye par. rupaye saik de sood. '

dhaniram –‘maianne to kuchh kam suna hai. '

kuberadas –‘usaka to rehananama rakha hai. jabani batachit tho de hi hai. maian do-char hazar ke lie jhooth nahian bolooanga. '

dhaniram—‘ nahian-nahian, yah maian kab kahata hooan. to toone sun liya, baee ! panchoan ki salah hai ki makan bech diya jay. '

sushila ka chhota bhaee santalal bhi isi samay a pahuancha. yah antim vaky usake kan mean p d gaya. bol utha, 'qisalie makan bech diya jay ? biradari ke bhoj ke lie ? biradari to kha-pikar rah legi, in anathoan ki raksha kaise hogi ? inake bhavishy ke lie bhi to kuchh sochana chahie. '

dhaniram ne kop-bhari aankhoan se dekhakar kaha, 'apako in mamaloan mean taang a dane ka koee adhikar nahian. keval bhavishy ki chinta karane se kam nahian chalata. mritak ka pichha bhi kisi tarah sudharana hi p data hai. apaka

kya big dega. hansi to hamari hogi. sansar mean maryada se priy koee vastu nahian ! maryada ke lie pran tak de dete haian. jab maryada hi n rahi, to kya raha. agar hamari salah poochhoge, to ham yahi kaheange. age baee ka akhatiyar hai, jaisa chahe kare; par hamase koee sarokar n rahega. chalie kuberadasaji, chalean. '

sushila ne bhayabhit hokar kaha, 'bhaiya ki batoan ka vichar n kijie,inaki to yah adat hai. maianne to apaki bat nahian tali; ap mere b de haian. ghar ka hal apako maloom hai. maian apane svami ki atma ko dukhi karana

nahian chahati, lekin jab unake bachche thokarean khayeange, to kya unaki atma dukhi n hogi ? beti ka byah karana hi hai. l dake ko padhana-likhana hai hi. brahmanoan ko khila dijie; lekin biradari karane ki mujhamean samarth nahian hai. '

donoan mahanubhavoan ko jaise thapp d lagi itana b da adharm. bhala aisi bat bhi jaban se nikali jati hai. panch log apane muanh mean kalikh n lagane deange. duniya vidhava ko n hansegi, hansi hogi panchoan ki. yah jag-hansaee ve

kaise sah sakate haian. aise ghar ke dvar par jhaankana bhi pap hai. sushila rokar boli, 'maian anath hooan, nadan hooan, mujh par krodh n kijie. ap log hi mujhe chho d deange, to mera kaise nirvah hoga. '

itane mean do mahashay aur a biraje. ek bahut mote aur doosare bahut dubale. nam bhi gunoan ke anusar hi bhimachand aur durbaladas. dhaniram ne sankshep mean yah paristhiti unhean samajha di. durbaladas ne sahridayata se kaha, 'to aisa kyoan nahian karate ki ham log milakar kuchh rupaye de dean. jab isaka l daka sayana ho jayaga, to rupaye mil hi jayeange. agar n bhi mile to ek mitr ke lie kuchh bal kha jana koee b di bat nahian. '

santalal ne prasann hokar kaha, 'itani daya ap kareange, to kya poochhana. '

kuberadas tyori chadhakar bole, 'tum to besir-pair ki batean karane lage durbaladasaji ! is bakhat ke bazar mean kisake pas falatoo rupaye rakhe hue haian. '

bhimachand—‘ so to thik hai, bazar ki aisi mandi to kabhi dekhi nahian;par nibah to karana chahie. '

kuberadas ak d gaye. vah sushila ke makan par daant lagaye hue the. aisi batoan se unake svarth mean badha p dati thi. vah apane rupaye ab vasool karake chho deange. bhimachand ne unhean kisi tarah sachet kiya; 'lekin bhoj to dena hi p dega. us kartavy ka palan n karana samaj ki nak katana hai. '

sushila ne durbaladas mean sahridayata ka abhas dekha. unaki or din netroan se dekhakar boli, 'maian ap logoan se bahar tho de hi hooan. ap log malik haian, jaisa uchit samajhean vaisa karean. '

durbaladas –‘tere pas kuchh tho de-bahut gahane to hoange, baee ? '

'haan gahane haian. adhe to bimari mean bik gaye, adhe bache haian.' sushila ne sare gahane lakar panchoan ke samane rakh diye; 'par yah to mushkil se tin hazar mean utheange.‘ durbaladas ne potali ko hath mean taulakar kaha, 'tin hazar ko kaise jayange. maian sadhe tin hazar dila dooanga. '

bhimachand ne phir potali ko taulakar kaha, 'meri boli, char hazar ki hai. '

kuberadas ko makan ki bikri ka prashn chhe dane ka avasar phir mila, 'char hazar hi mean kya hua jata hai. biradari ka bhoj hai ya dosh mitana hai. biradari mean kam-se-kam das hazar ka kharacha hai. makan to

nikalana hi p dega. '

santalal ne oanth chabakar kaha, 'maian kahata hooan, ap log kya itane nirdayi haian ! ap logoan ko anath balakoan par bhi daya nahian ati ! kya unhean raste ka bhikhari banakar chho deange ? ' lekin santalal ki phariyad par kisi ne dhyan n diya. makan ki batachit ab nahian tali ja sakati thi. bazar manda hai. 30 hazar se besi

nahian mil sakate, 15 hazar to kuberadas ke haian. paanch hazar bacheange. char hazar gahanoan se a jayange. is tarah 9 hazar mean b di kiphayat se brahmabhoj aur biradari-bhoj donoan nipata diye jayange. sushila ne donoan balakoan ko samane karake karabaddh hokar kaha, 'pancho, mere bachchoan ka muanh dekhie. mere ghar mean jo kuchh hai; vah ap sab le lijie; lekin makan chho d dijie mujhe kahian thikana n milega. maian apake pairoan p dati hooan makan is samay n bechean. '

is moorkhata ka kya javab diya jay. panch log to khud chahate the ki makan n bechana p de. unhean anathoan se koee dushmani nahian thi; kintu biradari ka bhoj aur kis tarah kiya jay. agar vidhava kam-se-kam paanch hazar ru. ka joga d aur kar de, to makan bach sakata hai, par vah aisa nahian kar sakati, to makan bechane ke siva aur koee upay nahian.

kuber ne ant mean kaha, 'dekh baee, bazar ki dasha is samay kharab hai. rupaye kisi se udhar nahian mil sakate. bal-bachchoan ke bhag mean likha hoga, to bhagavanh aur kisi hile se dega. hile roji, bahane maut. bal-bachchoan

ki chianta mat kar. bhagavanh jisako janm dete haian, usaki jivika ki jugat pahale hi se kar dete haian. ham tujhe samajhakar har gaye. agar too ab bhi apana hath n chho degi, to ham bat bhi n poochheange. phir yahaan tera rahana mushkil ho jayaga. shaharavale tere pichhe p d jayange. '

vidhava sushila ab aur kya karati. panchoan se l dakar vah kaise rah sakati thi. pani mean rahakar magar se kaun bair kar sakata hai. ghar mean jane ke lie uthi par vahian moorchhit hokar gir p di. abhi tak asha sanbhale huee

thi. bachchoan ke palan-poshan mean vah apana vaidhavy bhool sakati thi; par ab to aandhakar tha, charoan or. seth ramanath ke mitroan ka unake ghar par poora adhikar tha. mitroan ka adhikar n ho to kisaka ho. stri kaun hoti hai. jab vah itani moti-si bat nahian samajhati ki biradari karana aur dhoom-dham se dil kholakar karana lajimi bat hai, to usase aur kuchh kahana vyarth hai. gahane kaun kharide ? bhimachand char hazar dam laga chuke the, lekin ab unhean maloom hua ki unase bhool huee thi. durbaladas ne tin hazar lagaye the. isalie sauda inhian ke hath hua. is bat par durbaladas aur bhimachand mean takarar bhi ho gayi; lekin bhimachand ko muanh ki khani p di. nyay durbal ke paksh mean tha. dhaniram ne kataksh kiya 'dekho durbaladas, mal to le jate ho; par

tin hazar se besi ka hai. maian niti ki hatya n hone dooanga.'

kuberadas bole, 'aji, to ghar mean hi to hai, kahian bahar to nahian gaya. ek din mitroan ki davat ho jayagi ! '

is par charoan mahanubhav hanse. is kam se phurasat pakar ab makan ka prashn utha. kuberadas 30 hazar dene par taiyar the; par qanooni karravaee kiye bina sandeh ki guanjaish thi. yah guanjaish kyoankar rakhi jay. ek dalal

bulaya gaya. nata-sa adami tha, popala muanh, koee 50 ki avastha. nam tha chokhelal.

kuberadas ne kaha, 'chokhelalaji se hamari tis sal ki dosti hai. adami kya ratn haian.'

bhimachand—‘dekho chokhelal, hamean yah makan bechana hai. isake lie koee achchha grahak lao. tumhari dalali pakki.'

kuberadas—‘ bazar ka hal achchha nahian hai; lekin phir bhi hamean yah to dekhana p dega ki ramanath ke bal-bachchoan ko tota n ho. (kan mean) tis se age n jana.'

bhimachand –‘dekhie kuberadas, yah achchhi bat nahian hai.‘

kuberadas –‘to maian kya kar raha hooan. maian to yahi kah raha tha ki achchhe dam lagavana.‘

chokhelal –‘ap logoan ko mujhase yah kahane ki zaroorat nahian. maian apana dharm samajhata hooan. ramanathaji mere bhi mitr the. mujhe yah bhi maloom hai ki is makan ke banavane mean ek lakh se kam ek paee bhi nahian lage, lekin bazar ka hal kya ap logoan se chhipa hai. is samay isake 25 hazar se besi nahian mil sakate. subhite se to koee grahak se das-paanch hazar aur mil jayange; lekin is samay to koee grahak bhi mushkil se mileange. lo dahi aur lav dahi ki bat hai.'

dhaniram –‘25 hazar ru. to bahut kam hai bhaee, aur n sahi 30 hazar ru. to kara do.‘

chokhelal –‘30 kya maian to 40 kara dooan, par koee grahak to mile. ap log kahate haian to maian 30 hazar ru. ki batachit karooanga.'

dhaniram –‘zab tis hazar mean hi dena hai to kuberadasaji hi kyoan n le lean. itana sasta mal doosaroan ko kyoan diya jay.'

kuberadas –‘ap sab logoan ki ray ho, to aisa hi kar liya jay. dhaniram ne 'haan, haan' kahakar hami bhari. bhimachand man mean aianthakar rah gaye. yah sauda bhi pakka ho gaya. aj hi vakil ne bainama likha. turant

rajistri bhi ho gayi. sushila ke samane bainama laya gaya, to usane ek thandi saans li aur sajal netroan se us par hastakshar kar diye. ab use usake siva aur kahian sharan nahian hai. bevapha mitr ki bhaanti yah ghar bhi sukh ke dinoan mean sath dekar du:kh ke dinoan mean usaka sath chho d raha hai.

panch log sushila ke aangan mean baithe biradari ke rukke likh rahe haian aur anath vidhava oopar jharokhe par baithi bhagy ko ro rahi hai. idhar rukka taiyar hua, udhar vidhava ki aankhoan se aansoo ki booandean nikalakar rukke par gir p dian. dhaniram ne oopar dekhakar kaha, 'pani ka chhianta kahaan se aya ? '

santalal –‘baee baithi ro rahi hai. usane rukke par apane rakt ke aansuoan ki muhar laga di hai.'

dhaniram (ooanche svar mean) 'are, to too ro kyoan rahi hai, baee ? yah rone ka samay nahian hai, tujhe to prasann hona chahie ki panch log tere ghar mean aj yah shubh-kary karane ke lie jama haian. jis pati ke sath toone itane dinoan

bhog-vilas kiya, usi ka pichha sudharane mean too du:kh manati hai ? '

biradari mean rukka phira. idhar tin-char din panchoan ne bhoj ki taiyariyoan mean bitaye. ghi dhaniramaji ki adhat se aya. maida, chini ki adhat bhi unhian ki thi. paanchavean din prat:kal brahm-bhoj hua. sandhya-samay biradari

ka jyonar. sushila ke dvar par bagghiyoan aur motaroan ki katarean kh di thian. bhitar mehamanoan ki pangatean thian. aangan, baithak, dalan, barotha, oopar ki chhat niche-oopar mehamanoan se bhara hua tha. log bhojan karate the aur panchoan ko

sarahate the. kharch to sabhi karate haian; par intazam ka salika chahie. aise svadisht padarth bahut kam khane mean ate haian.

'seth champaram ke bhoj ke bad aisa bhoj ramanathaji ka hi hua hai.'

'amritiyaan kaisi kurakuri haian !'

'rasagulle mevoan se bhare haian.'

'sara shrey panchoan ko hai.'

dhaniram ne namrata se kaha, 'ap bhaiyoan ki daya hai jo aisa kahate ho. ramanath se bhaee-chare ka vyavahar tha. ham n karate to kaun karata. char din se sona nasib nahian hua.'

'ap dhany haian ! mitr hoan to aise hoan.'

'kya bat hai ! apane ramanathaji ka nam rakh liya. biradari yahi khana-khilana dekhati hai. rok d dekhane nahian jati.'

mehaman log bakhan-bakhan kar mal u da rahe the aur udhar kothari mean baithi huee sushila soch rahi thi sansar mean aise svarthi log haian ! sara sansar svarthamay ho gaya hai ! sab petoan par hath pher-pher kar bhojan kar rahe haian.

koee itana bhi nahian poochhata ki anathoan ke lie kuchh bacha ya nahian. ek mahina gujar gaya. sushila ko ek-ek paise ki tangi ho rahi thi. nakad tha hi nahian, gahane nikal hi gaye the. ab tho de se baratan bach rahe the. udhar chhote-chhote bahut-se bil chukane the. kuchh rupaye daktar ke, kuchh daraji ke, kuchh baniyoan ke. sushila ko yah rakamean ghar ka bacha-khucha saman bechakar chukani p dian. aur mahina poora hote-hote usake pas kuchh n bacha. bechara santalal ek dookan par munim tha. kabhi-kabhi vah akar ek-adha rupaye de deta. idhar kharch ka hath phaila hua tha. l dake avastha ko samajhate the. maan ko chhe date n the, par makan ke samane se koee khoanchevala nikal jata aur ve doosare l dakoan ko phal ya mithaee khate dekhate, to unake muanh mean pani bharakar aankhoan mean bhar jata tha. aisi lalachayi huee aankhoan se takate the ki daya ati. vahi bachche, jo tho de din pahale meve-mithaee ki or takate n the ab ek-ek paise ki chiz ko tarasate the. vahi sajjan, jinhoanne biradari ka bhoj karavaya tha, ab ghar ke samane se nikal jate; par koee jhaankata n tha.

sham ho gayi thi. sushila choolha jalaye rotiyaan seank rahi thi aur donoan balak choolhe ke pas rotiyoan ko kshudhit netroan se dekh rahe the. choolhe ke doosare aile par dal thi. dal ke pakane ka intajar tha. l daki gyarah sal

ki thi, l daka ath sal ka. mohan adhir hokar bola, ammaan, 'mujhe rookhi rotiyaan hi de do. b di

bhookh lagi hai.' sushila –‘abhi dal kachchi hai bhaiya.‘

revati –‘mere pas ek paisa hai. maian usaka dahi liye ati hooan.'

sushila --'toone paisa kahaan paya ? '

1103

revati –‘mujhe kal apani gu diyoan ki petari mean mil gaya tha.'

sushila –‘lekin jald aiyo.'

revati dau dakar bahar gayi aur tho di der mean ek patte par jara-sa dahi le ayi. maan ne roti-seankakar de di. dahi se khane laga. am l dakoan ki bhaanti vah bhi svarthi tha. bahan se poochha bhi nahian. sushila ne k di aankhoan se dekhakar kaha, 'bahan ko bhi de de. akela hi kha jayaga.'

mohan lajjit ho gaya. usaki aankhean dabadaba ayian. revati boli, 'nahian ammaan, kitana mila hi hai. tum khao mohan, tumhean jaldi niand a jati hai. maian to dal pak jayagi to khaooangi.'

usi vakt do adamiyoan ne avaz di. revati ne bahar jakar poochha, yah seth kuberadas ke adami the. makan khali karane aye the. krodh se sushila ki aankhean lal ho gayian. barothe mean akar kaha, 'abhi mere pati ko pichhe hue mahina bhi nahian hua, makan khali karane ki dhun savar ho gayi. mera 50 hazar ka ghar 30 hazar mean le liya, paanch hazar sood ke u daye, phir bhi taskin nahian hoti. kah do, maian abhi khali nahian karooangi.'

munim ne namrata se kaha, 'baee ji, mera kya akhtiyar hai. maian to keval sandesiya hooan. jab chiz doosare ki ho gayi, to apako chho dani hi p degi. jhanjhat karane se kya matalab.'

sushila bhi samajh gayi, 'thik hi kahata hai. gay hatya ke bal kai din khet charegi. narm hokar boli, 'sethaji se kaho, mujhe das-paanch din ki muhalat dean. lekin nahian, kuchh mat kaho. kyoan das-paanch din ke lie kisi ka ehasan looan. mere bhagy mean is ghar mean rahana likha hota, to nikalata hi kyoan.'

munim ne poochha, 'to kal sabere tak khali ho jayaga ? '

sushila—‘'haan, haan, kahati to hooan; lekin sabere tak kyoan, maian abhi khali kiye deti hooan. mere pas kaun-sa b da saman hi hai. tumhare sethaji ka rat-bhar ka kiraya mara jayaga. jakar tala-vala lao ya laye ho ? '

munim –‘aisi kya jaldi hai, baee. kal savadhani se khali kar dijiega.'

sushila –‘qal ka jhag da kya rakhooan. munimaji, ap jaie, tala lakar dal dijie. yah kahati huee sushila andar gayi, bachchoan ko bhojan karaya, ek roti ap kisi tarah nigali, baratan dhoye, phir ek ekka mangavakar us par apana mukhtasar saman lada aur bhari hriday se us ghar se hamesha ke lie vida ho gayi.

jis vakt yah ghar banavaya tha, man mean kitani umangean thian. isake pravesh mean kee hazar brahmanoan ka bhoj hua tha. sushila ko itani dau d-dhoop karani p di thi ki vah mahine bhar bimar rahi thi. isi ghar mean usake do l dake mare

the. yahian usaka pati mara tha. maranevaloan ki smritiyoan ne usaki ek-ek eeant ko pavitr kar diya tha. ek-ek patthar mano usake harsh se khushi aur usake shok se dukhi hota tha. vah ghar aj usase chhoota ja raha hai.

usane rat ek p dosi ke ghar mean kati aur doosare din 10 ru. mahine par ek gali mean doosara makan le liya.

is naye kamare mean in anathoan ne tin mahine jis kasht se kate, vah samajhanevale hi samajh sakate haian. bhala ho bechare santalal ka. vah das-paanch rupaye se madad kar diya karata tha. agar sushila daridr ghar ki hoti, to pisaee karati, kap de siti, kisi ke ghar mean tahal karati; par jin kamoan ko biradari nicha samajhati hai, unaka sahara kaise leti. nahian to log kahate, yah seth ramanath ki stri hai ! us nam ki bhi to laj rakhani thi. samaj ke chakravyooh se kisi tarah to chhutakara nahian hota. l daki ke do-ek gahane bach rahe the. vah bhi bik gaye. jab rotiyoan hi ke lale the, to ghar ka kiraya kahaan se ata. tin mahine bad ghar ka malik, jo usi biradari ka ek pratishthit vyakti tha aur jisane mritak-bhoj mean khoob badh-badhakar hath mare the, adhir

ho utha. bechara kitana dhairy rakhata. 30 ru. ka mamala hai, rupaye-ath-ane ki bat nahian hai. itani b di rakam nahian chho di jati. akhir ek din sethaji ne akar lal-lal aankhean karake kaha, 'agar too kiraya nahian de sakati, to ghar khali kar de. maianne biradari ke nate itani murauvat ki. ab kisi tarah kam nahian chal sakata.

sushila boli, 'sethaji, mere pas rupaye hote, to pahale apaka kiraya dekar tab pani piti. apane itani murauvat ki, isake lie mera sir apake charanoan par hai, lekin abhi maian bilakul khali-hath hooan. yah samajh lijie ki ek bhaee ke bal-bachchoan ki paravarish kar rahe haian. aur kya kahooan.'

seth –‘chal-chal, is tarah ki batean bahut sun chuka. biradari ka adami hai, to use choos lo. koee musalaman hota, to use chupake se mahine-mahine de deti, nahian to usane nikal bahar kiya hota, maian biradari ka hooan, isalie mujhe kiraya dene ki darakar nahian. mujhe maangana hi nahian chahie. yahi to biradari ke sath karana chahie.'

isi samay revati bhi akar kh di ho gayi. sethaji ne use sir se paanv tak dekha aur tab kisi karan se bole 'achchha, yah l daki to sayani ho gayi. kahian isaki sagaee ki batachit nahian ki ? '

revati turant bhag gayi. sushila ne in shabdoan mean atmiyata ki jhalak pakar pulakit kanth se kaha, 'abhi to kahian batachit nahian huee, sethaji. ghar ka kiraya tak to ada nahian kar sakati, sagaee kya karooangi; phir abhi

chhoti bhi to hai.'

sethaji ne turant shastroan ka adhar diya. kanyaoan ke vivah ki yahi avastha hai. dharm ko kabhi nahian chho dana chahie. kiraye ki koee bat nahian hai. hamean kya maloom tha ki seth ramanath ke parivar ki yah dasha hai.'

sushila –‘to apaki nigah mean koee achchha ghar hai ! yah to ap janate hi haian, mere pas lene-dene ko kuchh nahian hai.'

jhabaramal –‘(in sethaji ka yahi nam tha) lene-dene ka koee jhag da nahian hoga; baeeji. aisa ghar hai ki l daki ajivan sukhi rahegi. l daka bhi usake sath rah sakata hai. kul ka sachcha; har tarah se sanpann parivar

hai. haan, vah dohajoo (doojavar) hai. '

sushila –‘umr achchhi honi chahie, dohajoo hone se kya hota hai.‘

jhabaramal –‘umr bhi kuchh zyada nahian, abhi chalisavaan hi sal hai usaka, par dekhane mean achchha hrasht-pusht hai. mard ki umr usaka bhojan hai. bas yah samajh lo ki parivar ka uddhar ho jayaga.'

sushila ne anichchha ke bhav se kaha, 'achchha, maian sochakar javab dooangi.ek bar mujhe dikha dena.

jhabaramal—‘ dikhane ko kahian nahian jana hai, baee. vah to tere samane hi kh da hai.'

sushila ne ghrinapoorn netroan se usaki or dekha. is pachas sal ke bundhe ki yah habas ! chhati ka maans latakakar nabhi tak a pahuancha hai, phir bhi vivah ki dhun savar hai. yah dusht samajhata hai ki pralobhanoan mean p dakar

maian apani l daki usake gale baandh dooangi. vah apani beti ko ajivan kv aauri rakhegi; par aise mritak se vivah karake usaka jivan nasht n karegi, par usane apane krodh ko shaant kiya. samay ka pher hai, nahian to aisoan ko usase aisa prastav karane ka sahas hi kyoan hota. boli, 'apaki is kripa ke lie apako dhanyavad deti hooan, sethaji, par maian kanya ka vivah apase nahian kar sakati.'

jhabaramal –‘to aur kya too samajhati hai ki teri kanya ke lie biradari mean koee kumar mil jayaga ? '

sushila –‘meri l daki kv aauri rahegi.‘

jhabaramal –‘aur ramanathaji ke nam ko kalankit karegi ? '

sushila –‘tumhean mujhase aisi batean karate laj nahian ati ? nam ke lie ghar khoya, sanpatti khoyi, par kanya kuean mean nahian duba sakati.'

jhabaramal—‘ to mera keraya de de.‘

sushila –‘abhi mere pas rupaye nahian haian.'

jhabaramal ne bhitar ghusakar grihasth ki ek-ek vastu nikalakar gali mean pheank di. gh da phoot gaya, matake toot gaye. sandook ke kap de bikhar gaye. sushila tatasth kh di apane adin ki yah kroor kri da dekhati rahi. ghar ka yoan vidhvans karake jhabaramal ne ghar mean tala dal diya aur adalat se rupaye vasool karane ki dhamaki dekar chale gaye. b doan ke pas dhan hota hai, chhotoan ke pas hriday hota hai. dhan se b de-b de vyapar hote haian; b de-b de mahal banate haian, naukar-chakar hote haian, savari-shikari hoti hai; hriday se samavedana hoti hai, aansoo nikalate haian.

usi makan se mili huee ek sag-bhaji bechanevali khatakin ki dookan thi. vriddha, vidhava nipooti stri thi, bahar se ag, bhitar se pani. jhabaramal ko saik doan sunayian aur sushila ki ek-ek chiz uthakar apane ghar mean le

gayi. 'mere ghar mean raho bahoo. murauvat mean a gayi, nahian to usaki mooanchhean ukha d leti. maut sir par nach rahi hai, age nath, n pichhe pagaha ! aur dhan ke pichhe mara jata hai. jane chhati par ladakar le jayaga. tum chalo mere ghar mean raho. mere yahaan kisi bat ka khataka nahian bas maian akeli hooan. ek tuk da mujhe bhi de dena.'

sushila ne darate-darate kaha, 'mata, mere pas ser-bhar ate ke siva aur kuchh nahian hai. maian tumhean keraya kahaan se dooangi.'

budhiya ne kaha, 'maian jhabaramal nahian hooan bahoo, n kuberadas hooan. maian to samajhati hooan, zindagi mean sukh bhi hai, du:kh bhi hai. sukh mean itarao mat, du:kh mean ghab dao mat. tumhian se char paise kamakar apana pet palati hooan. tumhean us din bhi dekha tha; jab tum mahal mean rahati thian aur aj bhi dekh rahi hooan, jab tum anath ho. jo mizaj tab tha, vahi ab hai. mere dhany bhag ki tum mere ghar mean ao. meri aankhean phooti haian, jo tumase keraya maangane jaooangi.' in saantvana se bhare hue saral shabdoan ne sushila ke hriday ka bojh halka kar diya. usane dekha, sachchi sajjanata bhi daridroan aur nichoan hi ke pas rahati hai. b doan ki daya bhi hoti hai, ahankar ka doosara roop !

is khatakin ke sath rahate hue sushila ko chh: mahine ho gaye the. sushila ka usase din-din sneh badhata jata tha. vah jo kuchh pati, lakar sushila ke hath mean rakh deti. donoan balak usaki do aankhean thian. majal n

thi ki p dos ka koee adami unhean k di aankhoan se dekh le. budhiya duniya sir par utha leti. santalal har mahine kuchh-n-kuchh de diya karata tha. isase roti-dal chali jati thi.

katik ka mahina tha jvar ka prakop ho raha tha. mohan ek din khelata-koodata bimar p d gaya aur tin din tak achet p da raha. jvar itane zor ka tha ki pas kh de rahane se lapat-si nikalati thi. budhiya ojhe-sayanoan ke pas dau dati phirati thi; par jvar utarane ka nam n leta tha. sushila ko bhay ho raha tha, yah taiphaid hai. isase usake pran sookh rahe the. chauthe din usane revati se kaha, 'beti, toone b de panchaji ka ghar to dekha hai. jakar unase kah bhaiya bimar hai, koee daktar bhej dean.'

revati ko kahane bhar ki deri thi. dau dati huee seth kuberadas ke pas gayi. kuberadas bole daktar ki phis 16roo. hai. teri maan de degi ? '

revati ne nirash hokar kaha, 'ammaan ke pas rupaye kahaan haian ? '

kuberadas –‘to phir kis muanh se mere daktar ko bulati hai. tera mama kahaan hai ? unase jakar kah, seva samiti se koee daktar bula le jayan, nahian to khairati aspatal mean kyoan nahian l dake ko le jati ? ya abhi vahi purani boo samaee huee hai. kaisi moorkh stri hai, ghar mean taka nahian aur daktar ka hukum laga diya. samajhati hogi, phis panchaji de deange. panchaji kyoan phis dean ? biradari ka dhan dharm-kary ke lie hai, yoan u dane ke lie nahian hai.'

revati maan ke pas lauti; par jo kuchh suna tha, vah usase n kah saki. ghav par namak kyoan chhi dake. bahana kar diya, b de panchaji kahian gaye haian. sushila to munim se kyoan nahian kaha, ? yahaan kya koee mithaee khaye

jata tha, jo dau di chali ayi ? isi vakt santalal ek vaidyaji ko lekar a pahuancha. vaidy bhi ek din akar doosare din n laute. seva-samiti ke daktar bhi do din b di minnatoan se aye. phir unhean bhi avakash n raha aur mohan ki dasha dinoandin big dati jati thi. mahina bit gaya; par jvar aisa chadha ki ek kshan ke lie bhi n utara. usaka chehara itana sookh gaya tha ki dekh kar daya ati thi. n kuchh bolata, n kahata, yahaan tak ki karavat bhi n badal sakata tha. p de-p de deh ki khal phat gayi, sir ke bal gir gaye. hath-paanv lak di ho gaye. santalal kam se chhutti pata to a jata, par isase kya hota; timaradari dava to nahian hai.

ek din sandhya samay usake hath thande ho gaye. mata ke pran pahale hi se sookhe hue the. yah hal dekhakar rone-pitane lagi. minnatean to bahuteri ho chuki thian. roti huee mohan ki khat ke sat phere karake hath baandhakar

boli, 'bhagavanh ! yahi mere janm ki kamaee hai. apana sarvasv khokar bhi maian balak ko chhati se lagae hue santusht thi; lekin yah chot n sahi jayagi. tum ise achchha kar do. isake badale mujhe utha lo. bas, maian yahi daya chahati hooan, dayamay ? '

sansar ke rahasy ko kaun samajh sakata hai ! kya hamamean se bahutoan ko yah anubhav nahian ki jis din hamane beeemani karake kuchh rakam u dayi, usi din us rakam ka duguna nukasan ho gaya. sushila ko usi din rat ko jvar a gaya aur usi din mohan ka jvar utar gaya. bachche ki seva-shushroosha mean adhi to yoan hi rah gayi thi, is bimari ne aisa pak da ki phir n chho da. maloom nahian, devata baithe sun rahe the ya kya, usaki yachana aksharash: poori huee. pandrahavean din mohan charapaee se uthakar maan ke pas aya aur usaki chhati par sir rakhakar rone laga. mata ne usake gale mean baanhean dalakar use chhati se laga liya aur boli, 'kyoan rote ho beta ! maian achchhi ho jaooangi. ab mujhe kya chianta. bhagavanh palanevale haian. vahi tumhare rakshak haian. vahi tumhare

pita haian. ab maian sab taraph se nishchiant hooan. jald achchhi ho jaooangi.'

mohan bola, 'ziya to kahati hai, ammaan ab n achchhi hoangi.'

sushila ne balak ka chumban lekar kaha, 'ziya pagali hai, use kahane do. maian tumhean chho dakar kahian n jaooangi. maian sada tumhare sath rahooangi. haan, jis din tum koee aparadh karoge, kisi ki koee chiz utha loge, usi din

maian mar jaooangi ? '

mohan ne prasann hokar kaha, 'to tum mere pas se kabhi nahian jaogi maan ? '

sushila ne kaha, 'qabhi nahian beta, kabhi nahian.'

usi rat ko du:kh aur vipatti ki mari huee yah anath vidhava donoan anath balakoan ko bhagavanh par chho dakar paralok sidhar gayi.

is ghatana ko tin sal ho gaye haian, mohan aur revati donoan usi vriddha ke pas rahate haian. budhiya maan to nahian hai; lekin maan se badhakar hai. roj mohan ko rat ki rakhi rotiyaan khilakar guruji ki pathashala mean pahuancha ati hai.

chhutti ke samay jakar liva ati hai. revati ka ab chaudahavaan sal hai. vah ghar ka sara kam pisana-kootana, chauka-baratan, jhadoo-buharoo karati hai. budhiya sauda bechane chali jati hai, to vah dookan par bhi a baithati hai.

ek din b de panch seth kuberadas ne use bula bheja aur bole, ' tujhe dookan par baithate sharm nahian ati, sari biradari ki nak kata rahi hai. khabaradar, jo kal se dookan par baithi. maianne tere panigrahan ke lie jhabaramal ji ko pakka kar liya hai.'

sethani ne samarthan kiya, 'too ab sayani huee beti, ab tera is tarah baithana achchha nahian. log tarah-tarah ki batean karane lagate haian. seth jhabaramal to raji hi n hote the, hamane bahut kah-sunakar raji kiya hai. bas, samajh

le ki rani ho jayagi. lakhoan ki sampatti hai, lakhoan ki. tere dhany bhag ki aisa var mila. tera chhota bhaee hai, usako bhi koee dookan kara di jayagi. seth biradari ki kitani badanami hai ! sethani hai hi.'

revati ne lajjit hokar kaha, 'maian kya janooan, ap mama se kahean.'

seth –‘ vah kaun hota hai ! take par munimi karata hai. usase maian kya poochhooan. maian biradari ka panch hooan. mujhe adhikar hai, jis kam se biradari ka kalyan dekhooan, vah karooan. maianne aur panchoan se ray le li hai. sab mujhase

sahamat haian. agar too yoan nahian manegi, to ham adalati karravaee kareange. tujhe kharach-barach ka kam hoga, yah leti ja.'

yah kahate hue unhoanne 20roo. ke not revati ki taraph pheank diye. revati ne uthakar vahian puraje-puraje kar dale aur tamatamaye mukh se boli, 'biradari ne tab ham logoan ki bat n poochhi; jab ham rotiyoan ko muhataj the. meri mata mar gayi; koee jhaankane tak n aya. mera bhaee bimar hua, kisi ne khabar tak n li. aisi biradari ki mujhe paravah nahian hai.' revati chali gayi, to jhabaramal kothari se nikal aye. chehara udas tha.

sethani ne kaha, 'l daki b di ghamandin hai. aankh ka pani mar gaya hai.'

jhabaramal –‘bis rupaye kharab ho gaye. aisa pha da hai ki ju d bhi nahian sakate.'

kuberadas--‘tum ghab dao nahian; maian ise adalat se thik karooanga. jati kahaan hai.'

jhabaramal –‘ab to apaka hi bharosa hai.'

biradari ke b de panch ki bat kahian mithya ho sakati hai ? revati nabalig thi. mata-pita nahian the. aisi dasha mean panchoan ka us par poora adhikar tha. vah biradari ke dabav mean nahian rahana chahati hai, n chahe. qanoon biradari ke adhikar ki upeksha nahian kar sakata. santalal ne yah majara suna; to daant pisakar bole n jane is

biradari ka bhagavanh kab aant kareange.

revati –‘kya biradari mujhe jabaradasti apane adhikar mean le sakati hai ? '

santalal—‘ haan beti, dhanikoan ke hath mean to qanoon bhi hai.'

revati –‘maian kah dooangi ki maian unake pas nahian rahana chahati.'

santalal –‘tere kahane se kya hoga. tere bhagy mean yahi likha tha, to kisaka bas hai. maian jata hooan b de panch ke pas. '

revati –‘nahian mamaji, tum kahian n jav. jab bhagy hi ka bharosa hai; to jo kuchh bhagy mean likha hoga vah hoga.'

rat to revati ne ghar mean kati. bar-bar nidra-magn bhaee ko gale lagati. yah anath akela kaise rahega, yah sochakar usaka man katar ho jata; par jhabaramal ki soorat yad karake usaka sankalp dridh ho jata. prat:kal revati ganga-snan karane gayi. yah idhar kee mahinoan se usaka nity ka niyam tha. aj jara aandhera tha; par yah koee sandeh ki bat n thi. sandeh tab hua, jab ath baj gaye aur vah lautakar n ayi.

tisare pahar sari biradari mean khabar phail gee seth ramanath ki kanya ganga mean doob gee. usaki lash paee gee.

kuberadas ne kaha, 'chalo, achchha hua; biradari ki badanami to n hogi.'

jhabaramal ne dukhi man se kaha, 'mere lie ab koee aur upay kijie.'

udhar mohan sir pit-pitakar ro raha tha aur budhiya use god mean liye samajha rahi thi beta, us devi ke lie kyoan rote ho. zindagi mean usake dukh-hi-dukh tha. ab vah apani maan ki god mean aram kar rahi hai.

sanbandhit lekh

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