शिकार -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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phate vastroan vali muniya ne rani vasudha ke chaand se mukh de ki or samman bhari aankho se dekhakar rajakumar ko god mean uthate hue kaha, ham gariboan

ka is tarah kaise nibah ho sakata hai maharani ! meri to apane adami se ek din n pate, maian use ghar mean paithane n dooan. aisi-aisi galiyaan sunaooan ki

chhathi ka doodh yad a jay. rani vasudha ne gambhir vinod ke bhav se kaha, kyoan, vah kahega nahian, too mere bich mean bolanevali kaun hai ? meri jo ichchha hogi vah karooanga. too apana roti-kap da mujhase liya kar. tujhe meri doosari batoan se kya matalab ? maian tera gulam nahian hooan.

muniya tin hi din se yahaan l dakoan ko khelane ke lie naukar huee thi. pahale do-char gharoan mean chauka-baratan kar chuki thi; par raniyoan se adab

ke sath batean karana abhi n sikh paee thi. usaka sookha hua saanvala chehara uttejit ho utha. karkash svar mean boli, zis din aisi batean muanh se

nikalega, mooanchhean ukha d looangi sarakar ! vah mera gulam nahian hai, to kya maian usaki lauandi hooan ? agar vah mera gulam hai, to maian usaki lauandi hooan. maian ap

nahian khati, use khila deti hooan; kyoanki vah mard-bachcha hai. palledari mean use bahut kasala karana p data hai. ap chahe phate pahanooan; par use phate-purane nahian

pahanane deti. jab maian usake lie itana karati hooan, to majal hai, ki vah mujhe aankh dikhaye. apane ghar ko adami isalie to chhata-chhopata hai, ki usase

barkha-booandi mean bachav ho. agar yah dar laga rahe, ki ghar n jane kab gir p dega, to aise ghar mean kaun rahega. usase to ookh ki chhaanh hi kahian achchhi.

kal n jane kahaan baitha gata-bajata raha. das baje rat ko ghar aya. maian rat-bhar usase boli, hi nahian. laga pairoan p dane, ghighiyane, tab mujhe daya a

gayi ! yahi mujhamean ek buraee hai. mujhase usaki roni soorat nahian dekhi jati. isi se vah kabhi-kabhi bahak jata hai; par ab maian pakki ho gee hooan. phir

kisi din jhag da kiya, to ya vahi rahega, ya maian hi rahooangi. kyoan kisi ki dhauans sahooan sarakar ? jo baithakar khay, vah dhauans sahe ! yahaan to barabar

ki kamaee karati hooan. vasudha ne usi gambhir bhav se phir poochha agar vah tujhe baithakar khilata tab usaki dhauans sahati ? muniya jaise l dane par utaroo ho gayi. boli, baithakar koee kya khilayega sarakar ? mard bahar kam karata hai, to ham bhi ghar mean kam karati haian ki ghar ke kam mean kuchh lagata hi nahian ? bahar ke kam se to rat ko chhutti mil jati hai. ghar ke kam se to rat ko bhi chhutti nahian milati. purush yah chahe ki mujhe ghar mean bithakar ap sair-sapata kare, to mujhase to n saha jay yah kahati huee muniya rajakumar ko liye hue bahar chali gayi.

vasudha ne thaki huee, ruaansi aankho se khi daki ki or dekha. bahar hara-bhara bag tha, jisake rang-birange phool yahaan se saf najar a rahe the. aur pichhe ek vishal mandir akash mean apana sunahala mastak uthaye, soory se aankhean mila raha tha. striyaan rang-birange vastrabhooshan pahane poojan karane a

rahi thian. mandir ki dahini taraph talab mean kamal prabhat ke sunahale anand se muskara rahe the aur kartik ki shit ravi-chhavi-jivan-jyoti lutati

phirati thi; par prakriti ki yah suramy shobha vasudha ko koee harsh n pradan kar saki. use jan p da praqriti usaki dasha par vyangy se musakira rahi

hai. usi sarovar ke tat par kevat ka ek toota-phoota jhop da kisi abhagini vriddha ki bhaanti ro raha tha. vasudha ki aankhean sajal ho gayian. pushp aur udyan ke madhy mean kh da vah soona jhop da usake vilas aur aishvary se ghire hue man ka sajiv mitr tha. usake ji mean aya, jakar jhop de ke gale lipat jaooan ! aur khoob roooan ! vasudha ko is ghar mean aye paanch varsh ho gaye. pahale usane apane bhagy ko saraha tha. mata-pita ke chhote-se kachche anandahin ghar ko chho dakar, vah ek vishal bhavan mean ayi thi, jahaan sampatti usake pairoan ko choomati huee jan p dati thi. us samay sampatti hi usaki aankho mean sab kuchh thi. pati-prem gaun-si vastu thi; par usaka lobhi man sampatti par santusht n rah saka, pati-prem ke lie hath phailane laga. kuchh dinoan mean use maloom hua, mujhe param-ratn bhi mil gaya; par tho de hi dinoan mean vah bhram jata raha. kuanvar gajarajasianh roopavan the, udar the, balavanh the, shikshit the, vinodapriy the aur prem ka abhinay bhi karana janate the; unake jivan mean prem se kanpit hone vala tar n tha. vasudha ka khila hua yauvan aur devataoan ko bhi lubhane vala roop-rang keval vinod ka saman tha. ghu dadau d aur shikar, satte aur makar jaise sanasani paida karane vale manoranjan mean prem dabakar pila aur nirjiv ho gaya tha. aur prem se vanchit hokar vusadha ki prem-trishna ab apane bhagy ko roya karati thi. do putr-ratn pakar bhi vah sukhi n thi.

kuanvar sahab ek mahine se zyada hua, shikar khelane gaye aur abhi tak lautakar nahian aye. aur yah aisa, pahala hi avasar n tha. haan, ab unaki avadhi badh gayi thi. pahale vah ek saptah mean laut ate the; phir do saptah ka nambar chala aur ab kee bar se ek-ek mahine ki khabar lene lage. sal mean tin-tin mahine shikar ki bheant ho jate the. shikar se lautate, to ghu dadau d ka rag chhi data. kabhi merath, kabhi poona, kabhi bambee, kabhi kalakatta. ghar par hi rahate, to adhikatar lampat reesajadoan ke sath gappean u daya karate. pati ke yah rang-dhang dekhakar vasudha man-hi-man kudhati aur ghulati jati thi. kuchh dinoan se halka-halka jvar bhi rahane laga tha.

vasudha b di der tak baithi udas aankho se yah drishy dekhati rahi. phir teliphon par akar usane riyasat ke mainejar se poochha, "kuanvar sahab ka koee patr aya ?"

phon ne javab diya, "zi haan, abhi khat aya hai. kuanvar sahab ne ek bahut b de sher ko mara hai."

vasudha ne jalakar kaha, "maian yah nahian poochhati ! ane ko kab likha hai ?"

ane ke bare mean to kuchh nahian likha.

yahaan se unaka p dav kitani door hai ?

yahaan se ! do sau mil se kam n hoga. pilibhit ke jangaloan mean shikar ho raha hai.

mere lie do motaroan ka intazam kar dijie. maian aj vahaan jana chahati hooan.

phon ne kee minat bad javab diya, " ek motar to vah sath le gaye haian. ek hakim zila ke bangale par bhej di gayi, tisari baiank ke mainejar

ki savari mean, chauthi ki marammat ho rahi hai."

vasudha ka chehara krodh se tamatama utha. boli, "qisake hukm se baiank ke mainejar aur hakim zila ko motarean bheji gayian ? ap donoan mangava

lijie. maian aj zaroor jaooangi."

'un donoan sahaboan ke pas hamesha motarean bheji jati rahi haian; isalie maianne bhej dian. ab ap hukm de rahi haian, to mangava looanga !'

vasudha ne phon se akar saphar ka saman thik karana shuroo kiya. usane usi avesh mean akar apana bhagy-nirnay karane ka nishchay kar liya tha. parityakta ki bhaanti p di rahakar jivan ko samapt n karana chahati thi. vah jakar kuanvar sahab se kahegi agar ap samajhate haian ki maian apaki sampatti ki lauandi banakar rahooan, to yah mujhase n hoga. apaki sampatti apako mubarak ho. mera adhikar apaki sampatti par nahian, apake oopar hai. agar ap mujhase jau-bhar hatana chahate haian, to maian apase hath-bhar hat jaooangi ! is tarah ki aur kitani hi virag-bhari batean usake man mean bagooloan ki bhaanti uth rahi thian. daktar sahab ne dvar par akar pukara, " maian andar aooan ?"

vasudha ne namrata se kaha, "aj kshama kijie, maian jara pilibhit ja rahi hooan."

daktar ne ashchary se kaha, "ap pilibhit ja rahi haian ! apaka jvar chadh jayaga. is dasha mean maian apako jane ki salah n dooanga."

vasudha ne virakt svar mean kaha, " badh jayaga, badh jay; mujhe isaki chinta nahian hai ! vriddh daktar parada uthakar a gaya aur vasudha ke chehare ki or takata hua bola laie maian temparechar le looan. agar temparechar badha hoga, to maian apako haragij n jane dooanga. 'temparechar lene ki zaroorat nahian. mera irada pakka ho gaya hai.'

'svasthy par dhyan rakhana apaka pahala kartavy hai.'

vasudha ne muskarakar kaha, "ap nishchint rahie, maian itani jald mari nahian ja rahi hooan ! phir agar kisi bimari ki dava maut hi ho, to ap kya kareange ?"

daktar ne do-ek bar agrah kiya phir vismay se sir hilata chala gaya !

relaga di se jane mean akhiri steshan se das kos tak jangali sunasan rasta tay karana p data tha, isalie kuanvar sahab barabar motar hi par jate the. vasudha ne usi se jane ka nishchay kiya. das bajate-bajate donoan motarean ayian. vasudha ne dannaivaroan par gussa utara ab mere hukm ke bagair kahian motar le gaye, to motar ka kiraya tumhari talab se kat looangi. achchhi dillagi hai ! ghar ko royean, ban ki gayean ! hamane apane aram ke lie motarean rakhi haian, kisi ki khushamad karane ke lie nahian. jise motar par savar hone ka shauq ho, motar kharide. yah nahian ki halavaee ki dukan dekhi aur dade ka phatiha padhane baith gaye ! vah chali, to donoan bachche kunamunaye, magar jab maloom hua, ki ammaan b di door haua ko marane ja rahi haian to unaka yatra-prem thanda p da. vasudha ne aj subah se unhean pyar n kiya tha. usane jalan mean socha maian hi kyoan inhean pyar karooan, maianne hi inaka theka liya hai ! vah to vahaan jakar chain karean aur maian yahaan inhean chhati se lagaye baithi rahooan. lekin chalate samay mata ka hriday pulak utha. donoan ko bari-bari se god mean liya, chooma, pyar kiya aur ghante bhar mean laut ane ka vachan dekar vah sajal netroan ke sath ghar se nikali. marg mean bhi use bachchoan ki yad bar-bar ati rahi. raste mean koee gaanv a jata aur chhote-chhote balak motar ki dau d dekhane ke lie gharoan se nikal ate, aur s dak par kh de hokar taliyaan bajate hue motar ka svagat karate, to vasudha ka ji chahata, inhean god mean uthakar pyar kar looan. motar jitane veg se age ja rahi thi, utane hi veg se usaka man samane ke vriksh-samoohoan ke pichhe ki or u da ja raha tha. kee bar ichchha huee, ghar laut chalooan. jab unhean meri ratti bhar paravah nahian hai, to maian hi kyoan unaki fikr mean pran dooan ? ji chahe avean ya n avean; lekin ek bar pati se milakar unase khari-khari bat karane ke pralobhan ko vah n rok saki. sari deh thakakar choor-choor ho rahi thi, jvar bhi ho aya tha, sir pi da se phata p data tha; par vah sankalp se sari badhaoan ko dabaye age badhati jati thi. yahaan tak ki jab vah das baje rat ko jangal ke us dak-bangale mean pahuanchi, to use tan-badan ki sudhi n thi. zor ka jvar chadha hua tha. shor ki avaz sunate hi kuanvar sahab nikal aye aur poochha, "tum yahaan kaise aye ji ? kushal to hai ?"

shophar ne samip akar kaha, "rani sahab ayi haian huzoor ! raste mean bukhar ho aya. behosh p di huee haian.

kuanvar sahab ne vahian kh de kathor svar mean poochha, to tum unhean vapas kyoan

n le gaye ? kya tumhean maloom nahian tha, yahaan koee vaidy-hakim nahian hai.

shophar ne sitapitakar javab diya huzoor, vah kisi tarah manati hi

n thian, to maian kya karata ? kuanvar sahab ne daan ta, chup raho ji, batean n banao. tumane samajha hoga, shikar ki bahar dekheange aur p de-p de soyeange. tumane vapas chalane ko kaha, hi n hoga.

shophar -- vah mujhe daantati thian huzoor !

'tumane kaha, tha ?'

'maianne kaha to nahian huzoor !'

'bas to chup raho ! maian tumako bhi pahachanata hooan. tumhean motar lekar isi vakt lautana p dega. aur kaun-kaun sath haian ?'

shophar ne dabi huee avaz mean kaha, ek motar par bistar aur kap de haian ek par khud rani sahab haian.

'yani aur koee sath nahian hai ?'

'huzoor ! maian to hukm ka tabedar hooan.'

'bas, chup raho !'

yoan jhallate hue kuanvar sahab vasudha ke pas gaye aur ahista se pukara. jab koee javab n mila to unhoanne dhire se usake mathe par hath rakha. sir garm tava ho raha tha. us tap ne mano unaki sari krodh-jvala ko khianch liya. lapakakar bangale mean aye, soye hue adamiyoan ko jagaya,palang bichhavaya, achet vasudha ko god mean uthakar kamare mean laye aur palang par lita diya. phir usake sirahane kh de hokar use vyathit netroan se dekhane

lage. us dhul se bhare mukhamandal aur bikhare hue raj-ranjit keshoan mean aj unhoanne agrahamay prem ki jhalak dekhi. ab tak unhoanne vasudha ko vilasini ke roop mean dekha tha, jise unake prem ki paravah n thi, jo apane banav-siangar hi mean magan thi, aj dhool ke paudar aur pomed mean vah usake

naritv ka darshan kar rahe the. usamean kitana agrah tha, kitani lalasa thi ! apani u dan ke anand mean doobi huee; ab vah pianjare ke dvar par akar pankh ph daph da rahi thi. pianjare ka dvar khulakar kya usaka svagat n karega ? rasoiye ne poochha, kya sarakar akele ayi haian ? kuanvar sahab ne komal kanth se kaha, haan ji, aur kya. itane adami haian, kisi ko sath n liya. aram se relaga di se a sakati thian. yahaan se motar bhej di jati. man hi to hai. kitane zor ka bukhar hai ki hath nahian rakha jata. jara-sa pani garm karo aur dekho, kuchh khane ko bana lo. rasoiye ne socha, thakur-sohati ki sau kos ki dau d bahut hoti hai sarakar ! sara din baithe-baithe bit gaya. kuanvar sahab ne vasudha ke sir ke niche takiya sidha karake kaha, 'kachoomar to ham logoan ka nikal jata hai. do din tak kamar nahian sidhi hoti phir inaki kya bat hai. aisi behooda s dak duniya mean n hogi.'

yah kahate hue unhoanne ek shishi se tel nikala aur vasudha ke sir mean malane lage. vasudha ka jvar ikkis din tak n utara. ghar ke daktar aye. donoan balak, muniya, naukar-chakar, sabhi a gaye. jangal mean mangal ho gaya.

vasudha khat par p di-p di kuanvar sahab ki sushrushaoan mean alaukik anand aur santosh ka anubhav kiya karati. vah dopahar din chadhe tak sone ke adi the, kitane sabere uthate, usake pathy aur aram ki jara-jara si batoan ka kitana khayal rakhate. jara der ke lie snan aur bhojan karate

jate, phir akar baith jate. ek tapasya-si kar rahe the. usaka svasthy big data jata tha, chehare par svasthy ki lali n thi. kuchh vyast se rahate

the. ek din vasudha ne kaha, tum ajakal shikar khelane kyoan nahian jate ? maian to shikar khelane hi ayi thi, magar n jane kis buri sait

se chali ki tumhean itani tapasya karani p d gayi. ab maian bilakul achchhi hooan. jara aine mean apani soorat to dekho. kuanvar sahab ko itane dinoan shikar ka kabhi dhyan hi n aya tha. isaki charcha hi n hoti thi. shikariyoan ka ana-jana, milana-julana band tha. ek bar sath ke ek shikari ne kisi sher ka zikr kiya tha. kuanvar sahab ne usaki or kuchh aisi k davi aankho se dekha ki vah sookh-sa gaya. vasudha ke pas baithane, usase kuchh batean karake usaka man bahalane, dava aur pathy banane mean hi unhean anand milata tha. unaka bhog-vilas jivan ke is kathor vrat mean jaise bujh gaya. vasudha ki ek hatheli par aanguliyoan se rekha khianchane mean magn the. shikar ki bat kisi aur ke muanh se suni hoti, to phir usi agney netroan se dekhate. vasudha ke muanh se yah charcha sunakar unhean du:kh hua. vah unhean itana shikar ka asakt samajhati hai ! amarsh bhare svar mean bole haan, shikar khelane ka isase achchha aur kaun avasar milega !

vasudha ne agrah kiya maian to ab achchhi hooan, sach ! dekho (aeene ki or dikhakar) mere chehare par vah pilapan nahian raha. tum alabatta bimar

se ho jate ho. jara man bahal jayaga. bimar ke pas baithane se adami sachamuch bimar ho jata hai. vasudha ne sadharan-si bat kahi thi; par kuanvar sahab ke hriday par vah chinagari ke saman lagi. idhar vah apane shikar ke khabt par kee bar pachhata chuke the. agar vah shikar ke pichhe yoan n p date, to vasudha yahaan kyoan ati aur kyoan bimar p dati. unhean man-hi-man isaka b da du:kh tha. is vakt kuchh n bole. shayad kuchh bola hi n gaya. phir vasudha ki hatheli par rekhaean banane lage. vasudha ne usi saral bhav se kaha, abaki tumane kya-kya tohaphe jama kiye, jara mangao, dekhooan. unamean se jo sabase achchha hoga, use maian le looangi. abaki maian bhi tumhare sath shikar khelane chalooangi. bolo, mujhe le chaloge n ? maian manooangi nahian. bahane mat karane lagana.

apane shikari tohaphe dikhane ka kuanvar sahab ko maraj tha. saik doan hi khalean jama kar rakhi thian. unake kee kamaroan mean pharsh-gadde, koch, kursiyaan, modhe sab khaloan hi ke the. odhana aur bichhauna bhi khaloan hi ka tha ! baghambaroan ke kee soot banava rakhe the. shikar mean vahi soot pahanate the. abaki bhi bahut se siang, sir, panje, khalean jama kar rakhi thian. vasudha ka in chijoan se avashy manoranjan hoga. yah n samajhe ki vasudha ne sianh-dvar se pravesh n pakar chor daravaze se ghusane ka prayatn kiya hai. jakar vah chizean uthava laye; lekin adamiyoan ko parade ki a d mean kh da karake pahale akele hi usake pas gaye ! darate the; kahian meri utsakuta vasudha ko buri n lage. vasudha ne utsuk hokar poochha, chizean nahian laye ?

'laya hooan, magar kahian daktar sahab n hoan.'

'daktar ne padhane-likhane ko mana kiya tha.' tohaphe laye gaye. kuanvar sahab ek-ek chiz nikalakar dikhane lage.

vasudha ke chehare par harsh ki aisi lali haphtoan se n dikhi thi, jaise koee balak tamasha dekhakar magan ho raha ho. bimari ke bad ham bachchoan ki tarah

jiddi, utane hi atur, utane hi saral ho jate haian. jin kitaboan mean bhi man n laga ho, vah bimari ke bad padhi jati haian. vusadha jaise ullas ki god

mean khelane lagi. chitoan ki khalean thian, baghoan ki, mrigoan ki, sheroan ki. vasudha harek khal nayi umang se dekhati, jaise bayaskop ke ek chitr ke bad doosara

chitr a raha ho. kuanvar sahab ek-ek tohaphe ka itihas sunane lage. yah janavar kaise mara gaya, usake marane mean kya-kya badhaean p dian, kya-kya

upay karane p de, pahale kahaan goli lagi adi. vasudha harek ki katha aankhean pha d-pha dakar sun rahi thi. itana sajiv, sphoortimay anand use aj tak

kisi kavita, sangit ya amod mean bhi n mila tha. sabase sundar ek sianh ki khal thi. vahi usane chhaanti. kuanvar sahab ki yah sabase bahumooly vastu thi. use apane kamare mean latakane ko rakhe hue the. bole tum baghambaroan mean se koee le lo. yah to koee achchhi chiz nahian. vasudha ne khal ko apani or khianchakar kaha, rahane dijie apani salah. maian kharab hi looangi. kuanvar sahab ne jaise apani aankho se aansoo poanchhakar kaha, tum vahi le lo, maian to tumhare khayal se kah raha tha. maian phir vaisa hi mar looanga. 'to tum mujhe chakama kyoan dete the ?'

'chakama kaun deta tha ?'

'achchha, khao mere sir ki kasam, ki yah sabase sundar khal nahian hai ?' kuanvar sahab ne har ki hansi hans kar kaha, "qasam kyoan khayean, is ek khal ke lie ? aisi-aisi ek lakh khalean hoan, to tumhare oopar nyochhavar kar dooan."

jab shikari sab khalean lekar chala gaya, to kuanvar sahab ne kaha, maian is khal par kale oon se apana samarpan likhooanga.

vasudha ne thakan se palang par letate hue kaha, ab maian bhi shikar khelane chalooangi. phir vah sochane lagi, vah bhi koee sher maregi aur usaki khal

patidev ko bheant karegi. us par lal oon se likha jayaga priyatam ! jis jyoti ke mand p d jane se harek vyapar, harek vyanjan par

aandhakar chha gaya tha, vah jyoti ab pradipt hone lagi thi. shikaroan ka vrittant sunane ki vasudha ko chat-si p d gayi. kuanvar sahab ko kee-kee bar apane anubhav sunane p de. usaka sunane se ji hi n bharata tha. ab tak kuanvar sahab ka sansar alag tha, jisake du:kh-sukh, hani-labh, asha-nirasha se vasudha ko koee sarokar n tha. vasudha ko is sansar ke vyapar se koee ruchi n thi, balki aruchi thi. kuanvar sahab is prithakh sansar ki batean usase chhipate the; par ab vasudha unake is sansar mean ek ujjval prakash, ek varadanoan vali devi ke saman avatarit ho gayi thi.

ek din vasudha ne agrah kiya "mujhe bandook chalana sikha do." daktar sahab ki anumati milane mean vilamb n hua. vasudha svasth ho gayi thi. kuanvar sahab ne shubh muhoort mean use diksha di. us din se jab dekho, vrikshoan ki chhaanh mean kh di nishane ka abhyas kar rahi hai, aur kuanvar sahab kh de usaki pariksha le rahe haian. jis din usane pahali chi diya mari, kuanvar sahab harsh se uchhal p de. naukaroan ko inam diye; brahmanoan ko dan diya gaya. is anand ki shubh-smriti mean us pakshi ki mami banakar rakhi gayi. vasudha ke jivan mean ab ek naya utsah, ek naya ullas, ek nayi asha thi. pahale ki bhaanti usaka vanchit hriday ashubh kalpanaoan se trast n tha. ab usamean vishvas tha, bal tha, anurag tha. kee dinoan ke bad vasudha ki sadha poori huee. kuanvar sahab use sath lekar shikar khelane par raji hue aur shikar tha sher ka aur sher bhi vah jisane idhar ek mahine se asapas ke gaanvoan mean tahalaka macha diya tha. charoan taraph andhakar tha, aisa saghan ki prithvi usake bhar se karahati huee jan p dati. kuanvar sahab aur vasudha ek ooanche machan par bandook liye dam sadhe baithe hue the. bahut bhayankar jantu tha. abhi pichhali rat ko vah ek sote hue adami ko khet mean machan par se khianchakar le bhaga tha. usaki chalaki par log daantoan tale aanguli dabaye the. machan itana ooancha tha ki chita uchhalakar n pahuanch sakata tha. haan, usane yah dekh liya ki vah adami machan par bahar ki taraph sir kiye so raha tha. dusht ko ek chal soojhi. vah pas ke gaanv mean gaya aur vahaan se ek lamba baans utha laya. bas ke ek sire ko usane daantoan se kuchala aur jab usaki kachi-si ban gayi,to use n jane agale panjoan ya daantoan se uthakar sone vale adami ke baloan mean phirane laga. vah janata tha, bal baans ke reshoan mean phans jayeange. ek jhatake mean vah abhaga adami niche a raha. isi manas-bhakshi chite ki ghat mean donoan shikari baithe hue the. niche kuchh door par bhaiansa baandha diya gaya tha aur sher ke ane ki rah dekhi ja rahi thi. kuanvar sahab shant the; par vasudha ki chhati dh dak rahi thi. jara-sa bhi patta kh dakata, to vah chauank p dati aur bandook sidhi karane ke badale mean chauankakar kuanvar sahab se chipak jati. kuanvar sahab bich-bich mean usaki himmat bandhate jate the.

'jyoan hi bhaise par aya, maian usaka kam tamam kar dooanga. tumhari goli ki naubat hi n ane pavegi.'

vasudha ne siharakar kaha, aur jo kahian nishana chook gaya to uchhalega ?

'to phir doosari goli chalegi. tinoan bandookean to bhari taiyar rakhi haian.

tumhara ji ghab data to nahian ?'

'bilakul nahian. maian to chahati hooan, pahala mera nishana hota.'

patte kh dakh da uthe. vasudha chauankakar pati ke kandhoan se lipat gayi. kuanvar sahab ne usaki gardan mean hath dalakar kaha, dil mazaboot karo priye.

vasudha ne lajjit hokar kaha, nahian-nahian, maian darati nahian, jara chauank p di thi." sahasa bhaianse ke pas do chinagariyaan-si chamak uthi. kuanvar sahab ne

dhire se vasudha ka hath dabakar sher ke ane ki soochana di aur satark ho gaye. jab sher bhaianse par a gaya, to unhoanne nishana mara. khali gaya. doosara phair kiya. chita jakhmi to hua; par gira nahian. krodh se pagal hokar itani zor se garaja ki vasudha ka kaleja dahal utha. kuanvar sahab tisara phair karane ja rahe the ki chite ne machan par jast mari. usake agale panjoan ke dhakke se machan aisa hila ki kuanvar sahab hath mean bandook liye jhoanke se niche gir p de. kitana bhishan avasar tha ! agar ek pal ka bhi vilamb hota, to kuanvar sahab ki khairiyat n thi. sher ki jalati huee aankhean vasudha ke samane chamak rahi thian. usaki durgandhamay saans deh mean lag rahi thi. hath-paanv phoole hue the. aankhean bhitar ko siku di ja rahi thian; par is khatare ne jaise usaki na diyoan mean bijali bhar di. usane apani bandook sॅbhali. sher ke aur usake bich mean do hath se zyada antar n tha. vah uchakakar ana hi chahata tha ki vasudha ne bandook ki nali usaki aankho mean dalakar bandook chho di. dhayean ! sher ke panje dhile p de. niche gir p da. ab samasya bhishan thi. sher se tin-char qadam par hi kuanvar sahab gire p de the. shayad chot zyada ayi ho. sher mean agar abhi dam hai, to vah un par zaroor var karega. vasudha ke pran aankho mean the aur bal kalaiyoan mean. is vakt koee usaki deh mean bhala bhi chubha deta, to use khabar n hoti ! vah apane hosh mean n thi. usaki moorchchha hi chetana ka kam kar rahi thi. usane bijali ki batti jalaee. dekha sher uthane ki cheshta kar raha hai. doosari goli sir par mari aur usake sath hi rivalvar liye niche koodi. sher zor se gurraya. vasudha ne usake muanh ke samane rivalvar khali kar diya. kuanvar sahab sॅbhalakar kh de ho gaye. dau dakar use chhati se chipata liya. are ! yah kya. vasudha behosh thi. bhay usake pranoan ko mutthi mean liye usaki atm-raksha kar raha tha. bhay ke shaant hote hi moorchchha a gayi. tin ghantoan ke bad vasudha ki moorchchha tooti. usaki chetana ab bhi unhian bhayaprad

paristhitiyoan mean vichar rahi thi. usane dhire se darate-darate aankhean kholian. kuanvar sahab ne poochha," qaisa ji hai priye ?" vasudha ne unaki raksha ke lie donoan hathoan ka ghera banate hue kaha, "vahaan se hat jao ! aisa n ho, jhapat p de."

kuanvar sahab ne hansakar kaha, "sher kab ka thanda ho gaya. vah baramade mean p da hai. aise dil-daul ka aur itana bhayankar sianh maianne nahian dekha. vasudha --tumhean chot to nahian ayi ?"

kuanvar -- bilakul nahian. tum kood kyoan p dian ? pairoan mean b di chot ayi hogi. tum jiti kaise bachian, yah ashchary hai. maian to itani ooanchaee se kabhi

n kood sakata.

vasudha ne chakit hokar kaha, maian ! maian kahaan koodi ? sher machan par aya, itana yad hai. usake bad kya hua, mujhe kuchh yad nahian.

kuanvar ko bhi vismay hua, vah ! tumane us par do goliyaan chalaeean. jab vah niche gira, to tum bhi kood p dian aur usake muanh mean rivalvar ki

nali thooans di. bas vahian thanda ho gaya. b da behaya janavar tha. agar tum chook jatian, to vah niche ate hi mujh par zaroor chot karata. mere pas to

chhuri bhi n thi. bandook hath se chhootakar doosari taraph gir gayi thi. aandhere mean kuchh sujhaee n deta tha. tumhare hi prabhav se is vakt maian yahaan kh da hooan,

tumane mujhe pran-dan diya. doosare din prat:kal yahaan se kooch hua. jo ghar vasudha ko pha de khata tha, usamean aj jakar aisa anand aya,

jaise kisi bichhu de mitr se mili ho. harek vastu usaka svagat karati huee maloom hoti thi ! jin naukaroan aur lauandiyoan se vah mahinoan se sidhe muanh n boli, thi, unase vah aj hans-hansakar kushal poochhati aur gale milati thi, jaise apani pichhali rukhaiyoan ki patauti kar rahi ho.

sandhya ka soory, akash ke svarn sagar mean apani nauka kheta hua chala ja raha tha ! vasudha khi daki ke samane kurasi par baithakar samane ka drishy dekhane lagi. us drishy mean aj jivan tha, vikas tha, unmad tha. kevat ka vah soona jhop da bhi aj kitana suhavana lag raha tha. prakriti mean mohini bhari huee thi. mandir ke samane muniya rajakumaroan ko khila rahi thi. vasudha ke man mean aj kuladev ke prati shraddha jagrit huee, jo barasoan se p di so rahi thi. usane pooja ke saman mangavaye aur pooja karane chali. anand se bhare bhandar se ab vah kuchh dan bhi kar sakati thi. jalate hue hriday se jvala ke siva aur kya nikalati. usi vakt kuanvar sahab akar bole "achchha, pooja karane ja rahi ho. maian bhi vahian ja raha tha. maianne ek manauti man rakkhi hai."

vasudha ne muskarati huee aankho se poochha, qaisi manauti hai ?

kuanvar sahab ne hansakar kaha, "yah n bataooanga."