सलीम -जयशंकर प्रसाद

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

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pashchimottar simaprant mean ek chhoti-si nadi ke kinare, paha diyoan se ghire hue us chhote-se gaanv par, sandhya apani dhuandhali chadar dal chuki thi. premakumari vasudev ke nimitt pipal ke niche dipadan karane pahuanchi. ary-sanskriti mean ashvatth ki vah maryada anary-dharm ke prachar ke bad bhi us prant mean bachi thi, jisamean ashvatth chaity-vriksh ya vasudev ka avas samajhakar poojit hota tha. mandiroan ke abhav mean to bodhi-vriksh hi devata ki upasana ka sthan tha. usi ke pas lekharam ki bahut purani parachoon ki dookan aur usi se sata hua chhota-sa ghar tha. boodha lekharam ek din jab ‘rama ram jai jai rama’ kahata hua is sansar se chala gaya, tab se vah dookan band thi. usaka putr nandaram saradar santasianh ke sath gho doan ke vyapar ke lie yarakand gaya tha. abhi usake ane mean vilamb tha. gaanv mean das gharoan ki basti thi, jisamean do-char khatriyoan ke aur ek ghar pandit lekharam misar ka tha. vahaan ke pathan bhi shantipoorn vyavasayi the. isilie vajiriyoan ke akraman se vah gaanv sada sashank rahata tha. gulamuhammad khaan-sattar varsh ka boodha-us gaanv ka mukhiya-pray: apani charapaee par apani chaupal mean p da hua kale-nile pattharoan ki chikani maniyoan ki mala apani lambi-lambi uangaliyoan mean phirata hua dikhaee deta. kuchh log apane-apane ooant lekar banij-vyapar ke lie pas ki mandiyoan mean gaye the. l dake bandookean liye paha diyoan ke bhitar shikar ke lie chale gaye the.

pehramakumari dip-dan aur khir ki thali vasudev ko chadhakar abhi namaskar kar rahi thi ki nadi ke utar mean apani patali-dubali kaya mean ladakh data hua, ek thaka hua manushy usi pipal ke pas akar baith gaya. usane ashchary se premakumari ko dekha. usake muanh se nikal p da-‘‘kaphir...!’’

bandook kandhe par rakkhe aur hath mean ek mara hua pakshi latakaye vah dau data chala a raha tha. pattharoan ki nukili chattanean usake pair ko chhooti hi n thian. muanh se siti baj rahi thi. vah tha gulamuhammad ka solah baras ka ladaqa amir khaan! usane ate hi kaha-‘‘premakumari, too thali uthakar bhagi kyoan ja rahi hai? mujhe to aj khir khilane ke toone kah rakkha tha.’’

‘‘haan bhaee amir! maian abhi aur thaharati; par kya karooan, yah dekh n, kaun a gaya hai! isilie maian ghar ja rahi thi.’’

amir ne agantuk ko dekha. use n jane kyoan krodh a gaya. usane k de svar se poochha-‘‘too kaun hai?’’

‘‘ek musalaman’’-uttar mila.

amir ne usaki or se muanh phirakar kaha-‘‘maloom hota hai ki too bhi bhookha hai. chal, tujhe baba se kahakar kuchh khane ko dilava dooanga. haan, is khir mean se to tujhe nahian mil sakata. chal n vahian, jahaan ag jalati dikhaee de rahi hai.’’ phir usane premakumari se kaha-‘‘too mujhe kyoan nahian deti? vah sab a jayange, tab teri khir mujhe tho di hi si milegi.’’

sitiyoan ke shabd se vayu-mandal gooanjane laga tha. natakhat amir ka hriday chanchal ho utha. usane thunakakar kaha-‘‘too mere hath par hi deti ja aur maian khata jaooan.’’

premakumari hans p di. usane khir di. amir ne use muanh se lagaya hi tha ki navaguntak musalaman chilla utha. amir ne usaki or abaki bar b de krodh se dekha. shikari l dake pas a gaye the. ve sab-ke-sab amir ki tarah lambi-chau di haddiyoan vale svasth, gore aur sphoorti se bhare hue the. amir khir muanh mean dalate hue n jane kya kah utha aur l dake agantuk ko gherakar kh de ho gaye. usase kuchh poochhane lage. udhar amir ne apana hath badhakar khir maangane ka sanket kiya. premakumari hansati jati thi aur use khir deti jati thi. tab bhi amir use tarerate hue apani aankhoan mean aur bhi dene ko kah raha tha. usaki aankhoan mean se anunay, vinay, hath, sneh sabhi to maang rahe the, phir premakumari sabake lie ek-ek gras kyoan n deti? natakhat amir ek aankh se ladaqoan ko, doosari aankh se premakumari ko ulajhaye hue khir gatakata jata tha. udhar vah navagantuk musalaman apani tooti-phooti pashto mean l dake se ‘kaphir’ ka prasad khane ki amir ki dhrishtata ka virodh kar raha tha. ve ashchary se usaki batean sun rahe the. ek ne chillakar kaha-‘‘are dekho, amir to sab khir kha gaya.’’

phir sab l dake ghoomakar ab pehramakumari ko gher kar kh de ho gaye. vah sabake ujale-ujale hathoan par khir dene lagi. agantuk ne phir chillakar kaha-kya tum sab musalaman ho?’’

ladaqoan ne ek svar se kaha-‘‘haan, pathan.’’

‘‘aur us kaphir ki di huee....?’’

‘‘yah meri p dosin hai!’’-ek ne kaha.

‘‘yah meri bahan hai.’’ doosare ne kaha.

‘‘nandaram bandook bahut achchhi chalata hai.’’-tisare ne kaha.

‘‘ye log kabhi jhooth nahian bolate’’-chauthe ne kaha.

‘‘hamare gaanv ke lie in logoan ne kee l daiyaan ki hai.’’ -paanchavean ne kaha.

‘‘ham logoan ko gho de par chadhana nandaram ne sikhalaya hai. vah bahut achchha savar hai.’’-chhathe ne kaha.

‘‘aur nandaram hi to ham logoan ko gu d khilata hai.’’-satavean ne kaha.

‘‘tum chor ho.’’-yah kahakar ladaqoan ne apane-apane hath ki khir kha dali aur premakumari hans p di. sandhya us pipal ki ghani chhaya mean punjibhoot ho rahi thi. pakshiyoan ka kolahal shant hone laga tha. premakumari ne sab ladaqoan se ghar chalane ke lie kaha, amir ne bhi navagantuk se kaha-‘‘tujhe bhookh lagi ho, to ham logoan ke sath chal.’’ kintu vah to apane hriday ke vish se chhatapata raha tha. jisake lie vah hijarat karake bharat se chala aya tha, us dharm ka musalaman-desh mean bhi yah apaman! vah udas muanh se usi andhakar mean kattar durdant vajiriyoan ke gaanvoan ki or chal p da.

bhag 2

nandaram poora sadhe chh: phut ka balishth yuvak tha. usake mastak mean kesar ka tika n laga rahe, to kulah aur salavar mean vah solahoan ane pathan hi janchata. chhoti-chhoti bhoori mooanchhean kh di rahati thian. usake hath mean ko da rahana avashyak tha. usake mukh par sansar ki prasann akaanksha hansi banakar khela karati. premakumari usake hriday ki prashant nilima mean ujjval brihaspati grah ki tarah jhalamalaya karati thi. aj vah b di prasannata mean apane ghar ki or laut raha tha. santasianh ke gho de achchhe damoan mean bike the. use puraskar bhi achchha mila tha. vah svayan achchha ghu dasavar tha. usane apana gho da bhi adhik mooly pakar bech diya tha. rupaye pas mean the. vah ek ooanche ooant par baitha hua chala a raha tha. usake sathi log bich ki mandi mean ruk gaye the; kintu kam ho jane par, use to premakumari ko dekhane ki dhun savar thi. oopar soory ki kiranean jhalamala rahi thian. bih d paha di path tha. kosoan tak koee gaanv nahian tha. us nirjanata mean vah prasann hokar gata a raha tha.

‘‘vah pathik kaise rukega, jisake ghar ke kiva d khule haian aur jisaki premamayi yuvati stri apani kali aankhoan se pati ki pratiksha kar rahi hai.’’

‘‘badal barasate haian, barasane do. aandhi usake path mean badha dalati hai. vah u d jayagi. dhoop pasina bahakar use shital kar lega, vah to ghar ki or a raha hai. un komal bhuj-lataoan ka snigdh aliangan aur nirmal dular pyase ko nirjhar aur barphili ratoan ki garmi hai.’’

‘‘pathik! too chal-chal, dekh, teri priyatama ki sahaj nashili aankhe teri pratiksha mean jagati huee adhik lal ho gayi haian. unamean aansoo ki booand n ane pave.’’

paha di prant ko kampit karata hua bandook ka shabd pratidhvanit hua. nandaram ka sir ghoom p da. goli sarr se kan ke pas se nikal gayi. ek bar usake muanh se nikal p da-‘‘vajiri!’’ vah jhuk gaya. goliyaan chal chuki thian. sab khali gayian. nandaram ne sir uthakar dekha, pashchim ki paha di mean jha doan ke bhitar do-tin sir dikhayi p de. bandook sadhakar usane goli chala di.

donoan taraph se goliyaan chalian. nandaram ki jaangh ko chhilati huee ek goli nikal gayi. aur sab bekar rahian. udhar do vajiriyoan ki mrityu huee. tisara kuchh bhayabhit hokar bhag chala. tab nandaram ne kaha-‘‘nandaram ko nahian pahachanata tha? le, too bhi kuchh leta ja.’’ us vajiri ke bhi pair mean goli lagi. vah baith gaya. aur nandaram apane ooant par ghar ki or chala.

salim nandaram ke gaanv se dharmonmad ke nashe mean choor inhian sahadharmiyoan mean akar mil gaya tha. usake bhagy se nandaram ki goli use nahian lagi. vah jha diyoan mean chhip gaya tha. ghayal vajiri ne usase kaha-‘‘too paradeshi bhookha banakar isake sath jakar ghar dekh a. isi nale se utar ja. vah tujhe age mil jayaga.’’ salim udhar hi chala.

nandaram ab nishchint hokar dhire-dhire ghar ki or badh raha tha. sahasa use karahane ka shabd sun p da. usane ooant rokakar salim se poochha-‘‘kya hai bhaee? too kaun hai?’’

salim ne kaha-‘‘bhookha paradeshi hooan. chal bhi nahian sakata. ek roti aur do ghooant pani!’’

nandaram ne ooant baithakar use achchhi tarah dekhate hue phir poochha-‘‘tum yahaan kaise a gaye?’’

‘‘maian hindustan se hijarat karake chala aya hooan.’’

‘‘aho! bhale adami, aisi batoan se bhi koee apana ghar chho d deta hai? achchha, ao, mere ooant par baith jao.’’

salim baith gaya. din dhalane laga tha. nandaram ke ooant ke gale ke b de-b de ghuangharoo us nistabdh shanti mean sajivata utpann karate hue baj rahe the. ullas se bhara hua nandaram usi ki tal par kuchh gunagunata ja raha tha. udhar salim kudhaqar man-hi-man bhunabhunata ja raha tha; parantu ooant chupachap apana path atikraman kar raha tha. dhire-dhire badhऩevale andhakar mean vah apani gati se chal raha tha.

salim sochata tha-‘n hua pas mean ek chhura, nahian to yahian apane sathiyoan ka badala chuka leta!’ phir vah apani moorkhata par jhuanjhalakar vicharane laga-‘pagal salim! too usake ghar ka pata lagane aya hai n.’ isi udhe dabun mean kabhi vah apane ko pakka dharmik, kabhi saty mean vishvas karane vala, kabhi sharan denevale sahadharmiyoan ka pakshapati ban raha tha. sahasa ooant ruka aur ghar ka kiva d khul p da. bhitar se jalate hue dipak ke prakash ke sath ek sundar mukh dikhayi p da. nandaram ooant baithakar utar p da. usane ullas se kaha-‘‘premo!’’ premakumari ka gala bhar aya tha. bina bole hi usane lapakakar nandaram ke donoan hath pak d liye.

salim ne ashchary se prema ko dekhakar chitkar karana chaha; par vah sahasa ruk gaya. udhar pyar se prema ke kandhoan ko hilate hue nandaram ne usaka chauankana dekh liya.

nandaram ne kaha-‘‘prema! ham donoan ke lie rotiyaan chahie! yah ek bhookha paradeshi hai. haan, pahale tho da-sa pani aur ek kap da to dena.’’

prema ne chakit hokar poochha-‘‘kyoan?’’

‘‘yoan hi kuchh cham da chhil gaya hai. use baandh looan?’’

‘‘are, to kya kahian l daee bhi huee hai?’’

‘‘haan, tin-char vajiri mil gaye the.’’

‘‘aur yah?’’-kahakar prema ne salim ko dekha. salim bhay aur krodh se sookh raha tha! ghrina se usaka mukh vivarn ho raha tha.

‘‘ek hindoo hai.’’ nandaram ne kaha.

‘‘nahian, musalaman hooan.’’

‘‘oho, hindustani bhaee! ham log hindustan ke rahane valoan ko hindoo hi sa dekhate haian. tum bura n manana.’’-kahate hue nandaram ne usaka hath pak d liya. vah jhuanjhala utha aur premakumari hans p di. aj ki hansi kuchh doosari thi. usaki hansi mean hriday ki prasannata sakar thi. ek din aur prema ka musakana salim ne dekha tha, tab jaise usamean sneh tha. aj thi usamean madakata, nandaram ke oopar anurag ki varsha! vah aur bhi jal utha. usane kaha-‘‘kaphir, kya yahaan koee musalaman nahian hai?’’

‘‘hai to, par aj to tumako mere hi yahaan rahana hoga.’’ dridhata se nandaram ne kaha.

salim soch raha tha, ghar dekhakar laut ane ki bat! parantu yah prema! oh, kitani sundar! kitana pyar-bhara hriday! itana sukh! kaphir ke pas yah vibhooti! to vah kyoan n yahian rahe? apane bhagy ki pariksha kar dekhe!

salim vahian kha-pikar ek kothari mean so raha aur sapane dekhane laga-usake hath mean rakt se bhara hua chhura hai. nandaram mara p da hai. vajiriyoan ka saradar usake oopar prasann hai. loot mean pak di huee prema use mil rahi hai. vajiriyoan ka badala lene mean usane poori sahayata ki hai. salim ne prema ka hath pakadऩa chaha. sath hi prema ka bharapoor thapp d usake gal par p da. usane tilamila kar aankhean khol di. soory ki kiranean usaki aankhoan mean ghusane lagian.

bahar amir chilam bhar raha tha. usane kaha-‘‘nand bhaee, toone mere lie postin lane ke lie kaha tha. vah kahaan hai?’’ vah uchhal raha tha. usaka oodhami sharir prasannata se nach raha tha.

nandaram mulayam baloan vali cham de ki sadari-jis par reshami sunahara kam tha-liye hue bahar nikala. amir ko pahana kar usake galoan par chapat j date hue kaha-‘‘natakhat, le, too abhi chhota hi raha. maianne to samajha tha ki tin mahinoan mean too bahut badh gaya hoga.’’

vah postin pahanakar uchhalata hua prema ke pas chala gaya. usaka nachana dekhakar vah khilakhila p di. gulamuhammad bhi a gaya tha. usane poochha-‘‘nandaram, too achchhi tarah raha?’’

‘‘haan ji! yahian ate hue kuchh vajiriyoan se samana ho gaya. do ko to thikane laga diya. tho di-si chot mere pair mean bhi a gayi.’’

‘‘vajiri!’’-kahakar boodha ek bar chinta mean p d gaya. tab tak nandaram ne usake samane rupaye ki thaili ulat di. boodha apane gho de ka dam sahejane laga.

prema ne kaha-‘‘baba! tumane kuchh aur bhi kaha tha. vah to nahian aya!’’

boodha tyori badalakar nandaram ko dekhane laga. nandaram ne kaha-‘‘mujhe ghar mean astabal ke lie ek dalan banana hai. isalie baliyaan nahian la saka.’’

‘‘nahian nandaram! tujhako peshavar phir se jana hoga. prema ke lie baliyaan banava la! too apani bat rakhata hai.’’

‘‘achchha chacha! abaki bar jaooanga, to....le hi aooanga.’’

hijarati salim ashchary se unaki batean sun raha tha. salim jaise pagal hone laga tha. manushyata ka ek paksh vah bhi hai, jahaan varn, dharm aur desh ko bhoolakar manushy, manushy ke lie pyar karata hai. usake bhitar ki komal bhavana, shayaroan ki prem-kalpana, chutaki lene lagi! vah prem ko ‘kaphir’ kahata tha. aj usane chapati khate hue man-hi-man kaha-‘‘bute-kaphir!’’

bhag 3

salim ghumakk di-jivan ki lalasaoan se santapt, vyaktigat avashyakataoan se asantusht yuktaprant ka musalaman tha. kuchh-n-kuchh karate rahane ka usaka svabhav tha. jab vah charoan or se asaphal ho raha tha, tabhi turki ki sahanubhooti mean hijarat ka andolan kh da hua tha. salim bhi usi mean jut p da. musalamani deshoan ka atithy k dava hone ka anubhav use afaganistan mean hua. vah bhatakata hua nandaram ke ghar pahuancha tha.

muslim utkarsh ka ubal jab thanda ho chala, tab usake man mean ek svarthapoorn komal kalpana ka uday hua. vah soophi kaviyoan-sa saundaryopasak ban gaya. nandaram ke ghar ka kam karata hua vah jivan bitane laga. usamean bhi ‘bute-kaphir’ ko usane apani sansar-yatra ka charam lakshy bana liya.

prema usase sadharanat: hansati-bolati aur kam ke lie kahati. salim usake lie khilauna tha. do man do viruddh dishaoan mean chalakar bhi niyati se badhy the, ekatr rahane ke lie.

amir ne ek din nandaram se kaha-‘‘us paji salim ko apane yahaan se bhaga do kyoanki usake oopar sandeh karane ka poora karan hai.’’

nandaram ne hansakar kaha-‘‘bhaee amir! vah paradesh mean bina sahare aya hai. usake oopar sabako daya karani chahie.’’

amir ke nishkapat hriday mean yah bat n janchi. vah rooth gaya. tab bhi nandaram ne salim ko apane yahaan rahane diya.

salim ab kabhi-kabhi door-door ghoomane ke lie bhi chala jata. usake hriday mean saundary ke karan jo snigdhata a gayi thi, vah lalasa mean parinat hone lagi. pratikriya arambh huee. ek din use lang da vajiri mila. salim ki usase kuchh batean huee. vah phir se kattar musalaman ho utha. dharm ki prerana se nahian, lalasa ki jvala se!

vah rat b di bhayanak thi. kuchh booandean p d rahi thian. salim abhi sashank hokar jag raha tha. usaki aankhean bhavishy ka drishy dekh rahi thian. gho doan ke pad-shabd dhire-dhire us nirjanata ko bhedakar samip a rahe the. salim ne kiva d kholakar bahar jhaanka. aandheri usake kalush-si phail rahi thi. vah thathakar hans p da.

bhitar nandaram aur prema ka snehalap band ho chuka tha. donoan tandralas ho rahe the. sahasa goliyoan ki k dak dahat sun p di. sare gaanv mean atank phail gaya.

‘‘vajiri! vajiri!’’

un das gharoan mean jo bhi koee astr chala sakata tha, bahar nikal p da. assi vajiriyoan ka dal charoan or se gaanv ko ghere mean karake bhishan goliyoan ki bauchhar kar raha tha.

amir aur nandaram bagal mean kh de hokar goli chala rahe the. karatoosoan ki paratalli unake kandhoan par thi. nandaram aur amir donoan ke nishane achook the. amir ne dekha ki salim pagaloan-sa ghar mean ghusa ja raha hai. vah bhi bhari goli chalakar usake pichhe nandaram ke ghar mean ghusa. bisoan vajiri mare ja chuke the. gaanvavale bhi ghayal aur mritak ho rahe the. udhar nandaram ki mar se vajiriyoan ne moracha chho d diya tha. sab bhagane ki dhun mean the. sahasa ghar mean se chillahat sunaee p di.

nandaram bhitar chala gaya. usane dekha; prema ke bal khule haian. usake hath mean rakt se ranjit ek chhura hai. ek vajiri vahian ghayal p da hai. aur amir salim ki chhati par chadha hua kamar se chhura nikal raha hai. nandaram ne kaha-‘‘yah kya hai, amir?’’

‘‘chup raho bhaee! is paji ko pahale.....’’

‘‘thaharo amir! yah ham logoan ka sharanagat hai.’’-kahate hue nandaram ne usaka chhura chhin liya; kintu durdant yuvak pathan katakata kar bola-

‘‘is sooar ke hath! nahian nandaram! tum hat jao, nahian to maian tumako hi goli mar dooanga. meri bahan, p dosin ka hath pak d kar khianch raha tha. isake hath....’’

nandaram ashchary se dekh raha tha. amir ne salim ki kalaee kak di ki tarah to d hi di. salim chillakar moorchchhit ho gaya. prema ne amir ko pak dakar khianch liya. usaka ranachandi-vesh shithil ho gaya tha. sahaj nari-sulabh daya ka avirbhav ho raha tha. nandaram aur amir bahar aye.

vajiri chale gaye.

-- --

ek din toote hath ko sir se lagakar jab prema ko salam karate hue salim us gaanv se vida ho raha tha, tab prema ko n jane kyoan us abhage par mamata ho ayi. usane kaha-‘‘salim, tumhare ghar par koee aur nahian hai, to vahaan jakar kya karoge? yahian p de raho.’’

salim ro raha tha. vah ab bhi hindustan jane ke lie ichchhuk nahian tha; parantu amir ne k dakakar kaha-‘‘prema! ise jane de! is gaanv mean aise pajiyoan ka kam nahian.’’

salim peshavar mean bahut dinoan tak bhikh maangakar khata aur jita raha. usake ‘bute-kaphir’ vale git ko log b de chav se sunate the.

sanbandhit lekh

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