अनाथ -रविन्द्र नाथ टैगोर

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

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gaanv ki kisi ek abhagini ke atyachari pati ke tiraskrit karmoan ki poori vyakhya karane ke bad p dosin taramati ne apani ray sankshep mean prakat karate hue kaha- ag lage aise pati ke muanh mean.

sunakar jayagopal baboo ki patni shashikala ko bahut bura laga aur thes bhi pahuanchi. usane jaban se to kuchh nahian kaha, par andar-hi-andar sochane lagi ki pati jati ke mukh mean sigaret sigar ki ag ke siva aur kisi tarah ki ag lagana ya kalpana karana kam-se-kam nari jati ke lie kabhi kisi bhi avastha mean shobha nahian deta?

shashikala ko gum-sum baitha dekhakar kathor hriday taramati ka utsah doona ho gaya, vah boli- aise khasam se to janm-janm ki raand bhali. aur chatapat vahaan se uthakar chal di, usake jate hi baithak samapt ho gee.

shashikala gambhir ho gee. vah sochane lagi, pati ki or se kisi dosh ki vah kalpana bhi nahian kar sakati, jisase unake prati aisa kathor bhav jagrit ho jaee. vicharate-vicharate usake komal hriday ka sara pratiphal apane pravasi pati ki or uchchhvasit hokar dau dane laga. par jahaan usake pati shayan kiya karate the, us sthan par donoan baanhean phailakar vah auandhi p di rahi aur barambar takie ko chhati se lagakar choomane lagi, takie mean pati ke sir ke tel ki sugandh ko vah mahasoos karane lagi aur phir dvar band karake baks mean se pati ka ek bahut purana chitr aur smriti-patr nikalakar baith gee. us din ki nistabdh dopahari, usaki isi prakar kamare mean ekant-chinta, purani smriti aur vyatha ke aansuoan mean bit gee.

shashikala aur jayagopal baboo ka dampaty jivan koee naya ho, so bat nahian hai. bachapan mean shadi huee thi aur is dauran mean kee bal-bachche bhi ho chuke the. donoan ne bahut dinoan tak ek sath rahakar sadharan roop mean din kate. kisi bhi or se in donoan ke aparimit sneh ko dekhane kabhi koee nahian aya? lagabhag solah varsh ki ek lambi avadhi bitane ke bad usake pati ko mahaj kam-dham dhooandhane ke lie achanak paradesh jana p da aur vichchhed ne shashi ke man mean ek prakar ka prem ka toofan kh da kar diya. virah-bandhan mean jitani khianchaee hone lagi, komal hriday ki phaansi utani hi k di hone lagi. is dhili avastha mean jab usaka astitv bhi maloom nahian p da, tab usaki pi da andar se tisean marane lagi. isi se, itane din bad, itani ayu mean bachchoan ki maan banakar shashikala aj basant ki dupahariya mean nirjan ghar mean virah-shaiya par p di nav-vadhoo ka-sa sukh-svapn dekhane lagi. jo sneh ajnat roop jivan ke age se baha chala gaya hai sahasa aj usi ke bhitar jagakar man-hi-man bahav se viparit tairakar pichhe ki or bahut door pahuanchana chahati hai. jahaan svarnapuri mean kuanj vanoan ki bharamar hai, aur sneh ki unmad avastha kintu us atit ke svarnim sukh mean pahuanchane ka ab upay kya hai? phir sthan kahaan hai? sochane lagi, abaki bar jo vah pati ko pas paegi tab jivan ki in shesh gh diyoan ko aur basant ki abha bhi nishphal nahian hone degi. kitane hi divas, kitani hi bar usane chhoti-moti batoan par vad-vivad karake itana hi nahian, un batoan par kalah kar-karake pati ko pareshan kar dala hai. aj atript man ne bhi ekant ichchha se sankalp kiya ki bhavishy mean kadapi sangharsh n karegi, kabhi bhi unaki ichchha ke virudhd nahian chalegi, unaki ajna ko poori tarah palegi, sab kam unaki tabiyat ke anusar kiya karegi, sneh-yukt vinamr hriday se apane pati ka bura-bhala vyavahar sab chupachap sah liya karegi; karan pati sarvasv hai, pati priyatam hai, pati devata hai.

bahut dinoan tak shashikala apane mata-pita ki ekamatr ladali beti rahi hai. un dinoan jayagopal baboo vastav mean mamooli naukari kiya karate the, phir bhi bhavishy ke lie use kisi prakar ki chinta n thi. gaanv mean jakar poorn vaibhav ke sath rahane ke lie usake shvasur ke pas paryapt matra mean chal-achal sanpatti thi.

isi bich, bilkul hi asamay mean shashikala ke vridhd pita kaliprasann ke yahaan putr ne janm liya. saty kahane mean kya hai? bhaee ke is janm se shashikala ko bahut du:kh hua aur jayagopal baboo bhi is nanhe sale ko pakar vishesh prasann nahian hue.

adhik ayu mean bachcha hone ke karan us par mata-pita ke la d-pyar ka koee thikana n raha. us navajat chhote doodh-pite nidratur sale ne apani ajnanata mean n jane kaise apane komal hathoan ki chhoti-chhoti mutthiyoan mean jayagopal baboo ki sari ashaean pisakar jab chakanachoor kar dian tab vah asam ke kisi chhote bagiche mean naukari karane ke lie chal diya?

sabane kaha suna ki pas mean hi kahian chhota-mota kam-dhandha khoj karake yahian raho to achchha ho, kintu chahe gusse ke karan se ho ya gairoan ki naukari karane mean shighr hi amir banane ki dhun se ho, usane kisi ki bat par dhyan nahian diya. shashi ko bachchoan ke sath usake mayake mean chho dakar vah asam chala gaya. vivah ke uparant is dampati mean yah pahala vichchhed tha.

pati ke chale jane se, shashi ko dudhamuanhe bhaee par b da krodh aya. jo man ki pi da ko spasht roop mean kah nahian sakata, usi ko krodh adhik ata hai. chhota-sa navajat shishu maan ke stanoan ko choomata aur aankh mianchakar nishchintata se sota, aur usaki b di bahan apane bachchoan ke lie garm doodh, thanda bhat skool jane ki der ityadi anek karanoan se rat-din roothakar muanh phulaye rahati aur sare parivar ko pareshan karati.

tho de din bad hi bachche ki maan ka svargavas ho gaya. marate samay maan apane god ke bachche ko l daki ke hath sauanp gee.

ab to bahut hi shighr matrihin shishu ne apani kathorahridaya didi ka hriday jit liya. ha ha, hi-hi karata hua vah shishu jab apani didi ke oopar ja p data aur apane bina daant ke chhote se mukh mean usaka muanh, nak, kan sab kuchh le jana chahata, apani chhoti-si mutthi mean usaka joo da pak dakar jab khianchata aur kisi kimat par bhi hathoan mean aee vastu ko chho dane ke lie taiyar n hota, divakar ke uday hone se pahale hi uthakar jab vah girata-p data hua apani didi ko komal sparsh se pulakit karata, kilakariyaan mar-marakar shor machana arambh kar deta, aur jab vah kramash: di...di...didi pukar-pukarakar barambar usaka dhyan bantane laga aur jab usane kam-kaj aur phursat ke samay, us par upadrav karane arambh kar die, tab shashi se sthir nahian raha gaya. usane us chhote se svatantr premi atyachari ke age poore taur par atmasamarpan kar liya. bachche ki maan nahian thi, isi se shayad us par usaki suraksha ka adhik bhar a p da.

bhag 2

shishu ka nam hua nilamani. jab vah do varsh ka hua tab usake pita asadhyam rogi ho gaye. bahut hi shighr chale ane ke lie jayagopal baboo ko likha gaya. jayagopal baboo jab mushkil se us soochana ko pakar sasural pahuanche, tab shvasur kaliprasann maut ki gh diyaan gin rahe the.

marane se poorv kaliprasann ne apane ekamatr nabalig putr nilamani ka sara bhar damad jayagopal baboo par chho d diya aur apani achal sanpatti ka ek chauthaee bhag apani beti shashikala ke nam kar diya.

isalie chal-achal sanpatti ki suraksha ke lie jayagopal baboo ko asam ki naukari chho dakar sasural chale ana p da.

bahut dinoan ke uparant pati-patni mean milan hua. kisi j d-padarth ke toot jane par, unake jo doan ko milakar kisi prakar use jo da ja sakata hai, kintu do manavi hridayoan ko, jahaan se phat jate haian, virah ki lanbi avadhi bit jane par phir vahaan thik pahale jaisa jo d nahian milata? karan hriday sajiv padarth hai; kshanoan mean usaki parinati hoti hai aur kshan mean hi parivartan.

is ne milan par shashi ke man mean abaki bar ne hi bhavoan ka shriganesh hua. mano apane pati se usaka pun: vivah hua ho. pahale dampaty mean purani adatoan ke karan jo ek j data-si a gee thi, virah ke akarshan se vah ekadam toot gee, aur apane pati ko mano usane pahale ki apeksha kahian adhik poornata ke sath pa liya. man-hi-man mean usane sankalp kiya ki chahe kaise hi din bitean, vah pati ke prati uddipt sneh ki ujjvalata ko tanik bhi mlan n hone degi.

kintu is ne milan mean jayagopal baboo ke man ki dasha kuchh aur hi ho gee. isase poorv jab donoan avichchhed roop se ek sath raha karate the, jab patni ke sath usake poore svarth aur vibhinn karyoan mean ekata ka sanbandh tha, jab patni ke sath usake jivan ka ek nity saty ho rahi thi aur jab vah use prithakh karake kuchh karana chahate the to dainikacharya ki rah mean chalate-chalate avashy unaka paanv akasmat gahare gart mean p d jata. udaharanat: kaha ja sakata hai ki paradesh jakar pahale-pahal vah bhari musibat ka shikar ho gaye. vahaan unhean aisa pratit hone laga, mano akasmat unhean kisi ne gahare jal mean dhakka de diya hai. lekin kramash: unake us vichchhed mean ne kary ko thekali laga di gee.

keval itana hi nahian; apitu pahale jo unake din vyarth alasy mean kat jaea karate the, udhar do varsh se apani arthik avastha sudharane ki koshish ke roop mean unake man mean ek prakar ki jabardast kraanti ka uday hua. unake man ke sammukh maladar banane ki ekanishth ichchha ke siva aur koee chiz nahian thi. is ne unmad ki tivrata ke age pichhala jivan unako bilkul hi sarahin-sa drishtigat hone laga.

nari jati ki prakriti mean khas parivartan le ata hai sneh, aur purush jati ki prakriti mean koee khas parivartan hota hai, to usaki j d mean rahati hai koee-n-koee dusht-pravritti.

jayagopal baboo do varsh pashchath akar patni se mile to unhean hoo-b-hoo pahali-si patni nahian mili. unaki patni shashi ke jivan mean unake navajat sale ne ek nee hi paridhi sthit kar di hai, jo pahale se bhi kahian adhik vistrit aur sankirnata se kosoan door hai. shashi ke man ke is bhav se vah bilkul hi anabhijn the aur n isase unaka mel hi baithata tha. shashi apane is navajat shishu ke sneh mean se pati ko bhag dene ka bahut yatn karati, par usamean ise saphalata mili ya nahian, kahana kathin hai.

shashi nilamani ko godi mean uthakar hansati huee pati ke samane ati aur unaki god mean dene ki cheshta karati, kintu nilamani poori takat ke sath didi ke gale se chipat jata aur apane sambandh ki tanik bhi paravah n karake didi ke kandhe se muanh ko chhipane ka prayatn karata.

shashi ki ichchha thi ki usake is chhote se bhaee ko man bahalane ki jitani hi prakar ki vidya ati hai, sabaki sab bahanoee ke age prakat ho jaee. lekin n to bahanoee ne hi is vishay mean koee agrah dikhaya aur n sale ne hi koee dilachaspi dikhaee. jayagopal baboo ki samajh mean yah bilkul n aya ki is dubale-patale chau de mathe vale manahoos soorat kale-kaloote bachche mean aisa kaun-sa akarshan hai, jisake lie us par pyar ki itani phijoolakharchi ki ja rahi hai.

pyar ki sookshm se sookshm batean nari-jati chat se samajh jati hai. shashi turant hi samajh gee ki jayagopal baboo ko nilamani ke prati koee khas ruchi nahian hai aur vah shayad man se use chahate bhi nahian haian. tab se vah apane bhaee ko b di satarkata se pati ki drishti se bachakar rakhane lagi. jahaan tak ho sakata, jayagopal ki virag drishti us par nahian p dane pati.

aur is prakar vah bachcha us akeli ka ekamatr sneh ka adhar ban gaya. usaki vah is prakar dekhabhal rakhane lagi, jaise vah usaka b de yatn se ikattha kiya hua gupt dhan hai. sabhi janate haian ki sneh jitana hi gupt aur jitana hi ekant ka hota, utana hi tej hua karata hai.

nilamani jab kabhi rota to jayagopal baboo ko bahut hi jhuanjhalahat ati. at: shashi jhat se use chhati se lagakar khoob pyar kar-karake hansane ka prayatn karati; khasakar rat ko usake rone se yadi pati ki niand uchatane ki sambhavana hoti aur pati yadi us rote hue shishoo ke prati hiansatmak bhav se krodh ya ghrina zahir karata hua tivr svar mean chilla uthata, tab shashi mano aparadhini-si sankuchit aur asthir ho jati aur usi kshan use godi mean lekar door jakar pyar ke svar mean kahati- 'so ja mera raja baboo, so ja' vah so jata.

bachchoan-bachchoan mean bahudha kisi-n-kisi bat par jhag da ho hi jata hai? shuroo-shuroo mean aise avasaroan par shashi apane bhaee ka paksh liya karati thi; karan usaki maan nahian hai. jab nyayadhish ke sath-sath nyay mean bhi antar ane laga tab hamesha hi nirdosh nilamani ko k da-se-k da dand bhugatana p data. yah anyay shashi ke hriday mean tir ke saman chubh jata aur isake lie vah dandit bhaee ko alag le jakar, use mithaee dekar khilaune dekar, gal choom karake, dilasa dene ka prayatn kiya karati.

parinam yah dekhane mean ata hai ki shashi nilamani ko jitana hi adhik chahati, jayagopal baboo utana hi us par jalate-bhunate rahate aur vah jitana hi nilamani se ghrina karate, gussa karate shashi utana hi use adhik pyar karati.

jayagopal baboo un iansanoan mean se haian jo ki apani patni ke sath kathor vyavahar nahian karate aur shashi bhi un striyoan mean se hai jo snigdh sneh ke sath chupachap pati ki barabar seva kiya karati hai. kintu ab keval nilamani ko lekar andar-hi-andar ek guthali-si pakane lagi jo us dampati ke lie vyatha de rahi hai.

is prakar ke nirav dvandv ka gopaniy aghat-pratighat prakat sangharsh ki apeksha kahian adhik kashtadayak hota hai, yah bat un samavayaskoan se chhipana kathin hai jo ki vivahit duniya ki sair kar chuke hoan.

bhag 3

nilamani ki sari deh mean keval sir hi sabase b da tha. dekhane mean aisa pratit hota jaise vidhata ne ek khokhale patale baans mean phooank marakar oopar ke hisse par ek handiya bana di hai. d aauktar bhi aksar bhay pragat karate hue kaha karate ki l daka us dhaanche ke saman hi nikamma sabit ho sakata hai. bahut dinoan tak use bat karana aur chalana nahian aya. usake udasin gambhir chehare ko dekhakar aisa pratit hota ki usake mata-pita apani vridhdavastha ki sari chintaoan ka bhar, isi nanhe-se bachche ke mathe par lad gaye haian.

didi ke yath‍n aur seva se nilamani ne apane bhay ka samay par karake chhathe varsh mean padarpan kiya.

kartik mean bhiya-dooj ke din shashi ne nilamani ko ne-ne, badhiya vastr pahanaye, khoob sajadhaj ke sath baboo banaya aur usake vishal mathe par tika karane ke lie thali sajaee. bhiya ko pat de par bithakar aangoothe mean roli lagakar tika laga hi rahi thi ki itane mean poorvokt muanhaphat p dosin tara a pahuanchi aur ane ke sath hi bat-hi-bat mean shashi ke sath sangharsh arambh kar diya.

vah kahane lagi- hay, hay! chhipe-chhipe bhiya ka satyanash karake that-bat se lok dikhaoo tika karane se kya fayada?

sunakar shashi par ek sath ashchary, krodh aur vedana ki damini-si toot p di. ant mean use sunana p da ki ve donoan aurat-mard milakar salah karake nabalig nilamani ki achal sanpatti ko malagujari-vasooli mean nilam karavakar pati ke phuphere bhaee ke nam kharidane ke sajish kar rahe haian.

shashi ne sunakar kosana shuroo kiya- jo log itani b di jhoothi badanami kar rahe haian, bhagavan kare unaki jibh jal jaee. aur ashru bahati huee sidhi vah pati ke pas pahuanchi tatha unase sab bat kah sunaee.

jayagopal baboo ne kaha- ajakal ke jamane mean kisi ka bharosa nahian kiya ja sakata. upendr mera saga phuphera bhaee hai, us par sari achal sanpatti ka bhar dalakar maian nishchiant tha. usane kab malagujari nahian bhari aur kab nilam mean hasilapur kharid liya, mujhe kuchh pata hi nahian laga.

shashi ne ashchary ke sath poochha- tum nalish nahian karoge?

jayagopal baboo ne kaha- bhaee ke nam nalish kaise karooan aur phir nalish karane se kuchh phal bhi nahian nikalega, gaanth se aur rupaye-paise ki barbadi hogi?

pati ki bat par bharosa karana shashi ka karttavy hai kintu vah kisi bhi tarah bharosa n kar saki? tab phir usaki apani sukh ki ghar-grihasthi aur sneh ka dampaty jivan sab-kuchh sahasa bhayanak roop mean usake samaksh a kh da hua. jis ghar-dvar ko vah apana ashray samajh rahi thi, achanak dekha ki usake lie vah ek nishthur phaansi ban gaya hai, jisane charoan or se un donoan bahan-bhaee ko gher rakha hai. vah akeli abala hai, asahay nilamani ko kaise bachaye, usaki kuchh samajh mean nahian ata. jaise-jaise vah sochane lagi. vaise-vaise bhay aur ghrina se sankat mean p de hue abodh bhaee par usaka pyar badhata hi gaya. usaka hriday mamata aur aankhean ashruoan se bhar aeean. vah sochane lagi yadi use upay maloom hota to vah lat sahab ke darabar mean apani arji dilavati aur vahaan se bhi kuchh n hota to maharani viktoriya ke pas khat bhejakar apane bhaee ki jayadad avashy bacha leti aur maharani sahiba nilamani ki varshik sat sau atthavan rupaye labh ki jayadad hasilapur kadapi nahian bikane deti.

is prakar shashi jabaki sidha maharani viktoriya ke darabar mean nyay karake apane phuphere devar ko thik karane ka upay soch rahi thi, tab sahasa nilamani ko tivr jvar chadh aya aur aisa daura p dane laga ki hath-paanv tan gaye aur barambar behoshi badhane lagi.

jayagopal ne gaanv ke ek deshi kale d aauktar ko bulavaya. shashi ne achchhe d aauktar ke lie prarthana ki to jayagopal baboo ne uttar diya- kyoan? motilal kya bura d aauktar hai?

shashi jab unake paanvoan par gir gee, apani saugandh khilakar bhayabhit hirani ki tarah niharane lagi, tab jayagopal baboo ne kaha- achchha, shahar se d aauktar bulavata hooan, thaharo.

shashi nilamani ko chhati se chipakaye p di rahi. nilamani bhi ek pal ke lie bhi use aankhoan se ojhal nahian hone deta; bhay khata ki use dhokha dekar didi usaki kahian chali jaee aur isalie vah sada usase chipata rahata; yahaan tak ki so jane par bhi palloo kadapi nahian chho data.

sara din isi prakar bit gaya. sandhya ke bad diya-batti ke samay jayagopal baboo ne akar kaha- shahar ka d aauktar nahian mila, vah door kahian mariz dekhane gaya hai. aur isake sath hi yah bhi kaha- mukadame ke karan mujhe abhi isi samay bahar jana p d raha hai. maianne motilal se kah diya hai, donoan vakt akar, achchhi prakar se dekhabhal kiya kareange.

rat ko nilamani aantasant bakane laga. bhor hote hi shashi aur kuchh bhi n sochakar khud rogi bhaee ko lekar nav mean baith kalakatta ke lie chal di.

kalakatta jakar dekha ki d aauktar ghar par hi haian; kahian bahar nahian gaye haian. bhale ghar ki stri samajhakar d aauktar ne jhatapat usake lie thaharane ka prabandh kar liya aur usaki madad ke lie ek adhe d vidhava ko niyukt kar diya. nilamani ka ilaj chalane laga.

doosare hi din jayagopal baboo bhi kalakatta a dhamake. mare gusse ke ag-baboola hokar usane shashi ko tatkal hi ghar lautane ka hukm diya.

shashi ne kaha- 'mujhe yadi tum kat bhi dalo, tab bhi maian abhi ghar nahian lautane ki. tum sab milakar mere nilamani ko mar dalana chahate ho. usake bap nahian, maan nahian, mere siva usaka hai hi kaun? maian use bachaooangi, bachaooangi, avashy bachaooangi.

jayagopal baboo bhavavesh mean akar bole-to tum yahian raho, mere ghar ab kadapi mat ana.

shashi ne usi kshan tapak se kaha-tumhara ghar kahaan se aya? ghar to mere bhaee ka hai.

jayagopal baboo bole- achchha dekha jaega.

kuchh dinoan tak is ghatana ko lekar mohalle ke logoan mean chuhalabajiyaan chalati rahian, anek vad-vivad hote rahe. tabhi p dosin tara ne kaha- are! khasam ke sath l dana hi ho to ghar par rahakar l do n, jitana l dana ho. ghar chho dakar bahar l dane-jhag dane ki kya zaroorat, kuchh bhi ho, akhir hai to apana gharavala hi?

hath mean jo kuchh jama-pooanji thi sab kharch karake, abhooshan adi jo kuchh bhi the sab bechakar kisi prakar shashi ne apane nabalig bhaee ko maut ke muanh se nikal liya? aur tab use pata laga ki duar-gaanv mean un logoan ki jo b di bhari kheti ki zamin thi aur us par unaki pakki haveli bhi thi, jisaki varshik ay lagabhag dedh sahasr thi. vah bhi zamiandar ke sath milakar jayagopal baboo ne apane nam kara li hai. ab sari achal sanpatti usake pati ki hai, bhaee ka usamean kuchh bhi hak nahian raha hai.

rog se chhutakara milane par nilamani ne karun svar mean kaha- didi! ghar chalo. vahaan apane sathiyoan se khelane ke lie usaka ji machal raha hai. isi se prerit hokar vah bar-bar kahane laga- didi! apane usi ghar mean chalo n.

sunakar shashi rone lagi, boli- ham logoan ka ab ghar kahaan hai?

lekin, keval rone se hi phal kya? ab didi ke siva is duniya mean usake bhaee ka hai hi kaun? yah sochakar shashi ne aankhean poanchh dalian aur sahas batorakar dipti-majistret tarini baboo ke ghar jakar, usaki patni ki sharan li.

majistret sahab jayagopal baboo ko bhali-bhaanti janate the. bhale ghar ki bahoo-beti ghar se nikalakar zamin-jayadad ke lie pati se jhag dana chahati hai, is bat par ve shashi par gussa hue. use batoan se phusalaye rakhakar usi samay unhoanne jayagopal baboo ko patr likha. jayagopal baboo sale sahit shashi ko jabardasti nav par baithakar gaanv le gaya.

is dampati ka dvitiy vichchhed ke bad, phir vah dvitiy milan hua. janm-janm ka sath srishtikarta ka vidhan jo thahara.

bahut dinoan bad ghar lautakar purane sathiyoan ko pakar nilamani bahut khush hua anandapoorvak ghoomane-phirane laga. usaki nishchiant khushi ko dekhakar bhitar-hi-bhitar shashi ki chhati phatane lagi.

bhag 4

sharad rritu aee. majistret sahab gaanvoan mean chhanabin karane daure par nikale aur shikar karane ke lie, jangal se sate hue ek gaanv mean tamboo tan gaye. gaanv ke marg mean sahab ke sath nilamani ki bheant huee. usake sabhi sathi sahab ko dekhakar door hat gaye. nirikshan karata raha. n jane sahab ko usase kuchh dilachaspi huee, usane pas bulakar poochha- tum skool mean padhate ho?

balak ne chupachap kh de rahakar sir hila diya- haan.

sahab ne pun: poochha- kaun-si pustak padhate ho?

nilamani 'pustak' shabd ka matalab n samajh saka, at: sahab ke muanh ki or dekhata raha.

ghar pahuanchakar nilamani ne sahab ke sath apane is parichay ki bat khoob utsah ke sath didi ko bataee.

dopahar ko achakan, pajama, pag di adi baandhakar jayagopal baboo sahab ka abhivadan karane ke lie pahuanche. sahab us samay tamboo ke bahar khuli chhaya mean kaimp mej lagaye baithe the. sipahi vagaira ki charoan or dhoom machi huee thi. unhoanne jayagopal baboo ko chauki par baithakar gaanv ke halachal poochhe. jayagopal baboo sarvasadharan gaanv valoan ke samane jo is prakar b dappan ka sthan ghere baitha hai, isake lie vah man-hi-man phoola nahian sama raha hai usake man mean bar-bar yah vichar uth rahe the ki is samay chakravarti aur nandi gharane ka koee akar dekh jata to, kitana achchha hota?

itane mean nilamani ko sath liye avagunthan tane ek stri sidhi sahab ke samane akar kh di ho gee, boli- sahab apake hath mean maian is anath bhaee ko sauanp rahi hooan, ap isaki raksha kijie.

sahab poorv parichit gambhir prakriti vale balak ko dekhakar usake sath vali stri ko bhale ghar ki bahoo-beti samajh kar, usi kshan uth ke kh de ho gaye, bole- ap tamboo mean aiye.

mujhe jo kuchh kahana hai, vah yahian kahooangi.

jayagopal baboo ka chehara phika p d gaya aur ghabarahat ke mare aisa ho gaya, mano aangare par achanak usaka paanv p d gaya ho. gaanv ke log tamasha dekhane ke lie khisak-khisakakar pas ane ki cheshta karane lage. tabhi sahab ne beant uthaya aur sab bhag kh de hue.

tab phir shashikala ne apane anath bhaee ka hath thamate hue us anath bachche ka sara itihas shuroo se akhir tak kah sunaya. jayagopal baboo ne bich-bich mean rukavat dalane ki cheshta ki, par sahab ne garajakar use jahaan ka tahaan baitha diya. chup raho. aur beant ke sanket se use chauki se uthakar samane kh da hone ka hukm diya.

jayagopal baboo shashi ko man-hi-man kosata hua samane kh da raha aur nilamani apani didi se bilkul chipatakar muanh banaye chupachap kh da sunata raha.

shashi ki bat sun lene par sahab ne jayagopal baboo se kee prashn poochhe aur unaka uttar pakar, bahut der tak chup rahakar shashi ko sambodhit karake bole-beti! yah mamala meri kachahari mean nahian chal sakata, par tum bephikr raho, is vishay mean mujhe jo kuchh karana hoga, avashy karooanga. tum is anath bhaee ko lekar bedhak dak ghar ja sakati ho.

shashi ne kaha- sahab jab tak is anath ko apana makan nahian mil sakata tab tak ise lekar ghar jane ka sahas maian nahian kar sakati. ab, yadi ap ise apane pas nahian rakhate to aur koee bhi is anath ki raksha nahian kar sakata?

sahab ne poochha- tum kahaan jaogi?

shashi ne uttar diya- maian apane pati ke ghar laut jaooangi, meri kuchh fikr nahian hai. sahab muskaraya aur tabij bandhe aur dubale-patale, ganbhir svabhav vale kale rang ke us dukhi anath balak ko apane pas rakhane ko taiyar ho gaya.

isake uparant shashi jab vida hone lagi, tab balak ne usaki dhoti ka chhor pak d liya.

sahab ne kaha- beta! tum daro mat, ao, mere pas ao.

avagunthan ke bhitar ashruoan se jharana bahate aur poanchhate hue anath ki didi ne kaha- mera raja bhaiya hai n, ja, ja, sahab ke pas ja-teri didi tujhase phir milegi, achchha.

itana kahakar usane nilamani ko utha chhati se laga liya, aur mathe par, pith par hath pherakar kisi prakar usake patale hathoan se apani dhoti ka chhor chhu daya aur b di tezise vahaan se chal di. sahab ne turant hi baean hath se us anath balak ko rok liya aur balak- 'didi! didi!' chillata hua jor-jor se rone laga. shashi ne ek bar mu dakar, door se apana dahina hath uthakar, apani or se use chup hone ke lie saantvana di aur apane took-took hue hriday ko lekar aur bhi tezise age nikal gee.

phir bahut dinoan tak us purani haveli mean pati-patni ka milan hua. srishtikarta ka vidhan jo thahara.

lekin yah milan adhik din tak n rah saka. karan, isake kuchh hi din bad, ek din bhor hote hi gaanv valoan ne suna ki rat ko jayagopal baboo ki stri haije se mar gee aur rat hi ko usaka antim sanskar ho gaya.

vida ke samay shashi apane anath bhaee ko vachan de aee thi ki usaki didi usase phir milegi, pata nahian us vachan ko vah nibha saki athava nahian.