अपरिचिता -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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aj meri ayu keval sattaees sal ki hai. yah jivan n dirghata ke hisab se b da hai, n gun ke hisab se. to bhi isaka ek vishesh mooly hai. yah us phool ke saman hai jisake vaksh par bhramar a baitha ho aur usi padakshep ke itihas ne usake jivan ke phal mean guthali ka-sa roop dharan kar liya ho.

vah itihas akar mean chhota hai, use chhota karake hi likhooanga. jo chhote ko sadharan samajhane ki bhool nahian kareange ve isaka ras samajheange.

k aaulej mean pas karane ke lie jitani parikshaean thian sab maianne khatm kar li haian. bachapan mean mere suandar chehare ko lekar panditaji ko semal ke phool tatha makal phal (bahar se dekhane mean suandar tatha bhitar se durgandhayukt aur akhady gude vala ek phal) ke sath meri tulana karake hansi u dane ka mauqa mila tha. tab mujhe isase b di lajja lagati thi; kiantu b de hone par sochata raha hooan ki yadi punarjanm ho to mere mukh par suroop aur panditaji ke mukh par vidroop isi prakar prakat ho. ek din tha jab mere pita garib the. vakalat karake unhoanne bahut-sa rupaya kamaya, bhog karane ka unhean pal-bhar bhi samay nahian mila. mrityu ke samay unhoanne jo lanbi saans li thi vahi unaka pahala avakash tha.

us samay meri avastha kam thi. maan ke hi hathoan mera lalan-palan hua. maan garib ghar ki beti thian; at: ham dhani the yah bat n to ve bhoolatian, aur n mujhe bhoolane detian bachapan mean maian sada god mean hi raha, shayad isilie maian aant tak poori taur par vayask hi nahian hua. aj hi mujhe dekhane par lagega jaise maian annapoorna ki god mean gajanan ka chhota bhaee hoooan.

mere asali abhibhavak the mere mama. ve mujhase mushkil se chh: varsh b de hoange. kiantu, phalgu ki reti ki tarah unhoanne hamare sare parivar ko apane hriday mean sokh liya tha. unhean khode bina is parivar ka ek bhi booand ras pane ka koee upay nahian. isi karan mujhe kisi bhi vastu ke lie koee chianta nahian karani p dati.

har kanya ke pita svikar kareange ki maian satpatr hooan. huqqa tak nahian pita. bhala adami hone mean koee jhanjhat nahian hai, at: maian nitaant bhalamanas hooan. mata ka adesh manakar chalane ki kshamata mujhamean hai- vastut: n manane ki kshamata mujhamean nahian hai. maian apane ko aant:pur ke shasananusar chalane ke yogy hi bana saka hooan, yadi koee kanya svayanvara ho to in sulakshanoan ko yad rakhe.

b de-b de gharoan se mere vivah ke prastav ae the. kiantu mere mama ka, jo dharati par mere bhagy devata ke pradhan ejeant the, vivah ke sanbandh mean ek vishesh mat tha. amir ki kanya unhean pasand n thi. hamare ghar jo l daki ae vah sir jhukae hue ae, ve yahi chahate the. phir bhi rupaye ke prati unaki nas-nas mean asakti samaee huee thi. ve aisa samadhi chahate the jisake pas dhan to n ho, par jo dhan dene mean truti n kare. jisaka shoshan to kar liya jae, par jise ghar ane par gu dagu di ke badale bandhe hukke mean(gu dagu di huqqa adhik samman-soochak samajha jata hai, bandha huqqa mamooli huqqa hota hai.) tanbakoo dene par jisaki shikayat n sunani p de.

mera mitr harish kanapur mean kam karata tha. chhuttiyoan mean usane kalakatta akar mera man chanchal kar diya. bola, suno ji, agar l daki ki bat ho to ek achchhi-khasi l daki hai.

kuchh din pahale hi em.e. pas kiya tha. samane jitani door tak drishti jati, chhutti dhoo-dhoo kar rahi thi; pariksha nahian hai, ummidavari nahian, naukari nahian; apani jayadad dekhane ki chianta bhi nahian, shiksha bhi nahian, ichchha bhi nahian- hone mean bhitar maan thian aur bahar mama.

is avakash ki marubhoomi mean mera hriday us samay vishvavyapi nari-roop ki marichika dekh raha tha- akash mean usaki drishti thi, vayu mean usaka nishvas, taru-marmar mean usaki rahasyamayi batean.

aise mean hi harish akar bola, agar l daki ki bat ho to. mera tan man vasant vayu se dolayit bakul van ki navapallav-rashi ki bhaanti dhoop-chhaanh ka pat bunane laga. harish adami tha rasik, ras uandelakar varnan karane ki usamean shakti thi, aur mera man tha trirshatt.

maianne harish se kaha, ek bar mama se bat chalakar dekho!

baithak jamane mean harish advitiy tha. isase sarvatr usaki khatir hoti thi.

mama bhi use pakar chho dana nahian chahate the. bat unaki baithak mean chali. l daki ki apeksha l daki ke pita ki janakari hi unake lie mahattvapoorn thi. pita ki avastha ve jaisi chahate the vaisi hi thi. kisi jamane mean unake vansh mean

lakshmi ka mangal ghat bhara rahata tha. is samay use shoony hi samajho, phir bhi tale mean tho da-bahut baki tha. apane praant mean vansh-maryada ki raksha karake chalana sahaj n samajhakar ve pashchim mean jakar vas kar rahe the. vahaan garib grihasth ki hi bhaanti rahate the. ek l daki ko chho dakar unake aur koee nahian tha. atev usi ke pichhe lakshmi ke ghat ko ekadam auandha kar dene mean hichakichahat nahian hogi.

yah sab to suandar tha. kiantu, l daki ki ayu pandrah ki hai yah sunakar mama ka man bhari ho gaya. vansh mean to koee dosh nahian hai? nahian, koee dosh nahian- pita apani kanya ke yogy var kahian bhi n khoj pae. ek to var ki hat mean manhagaee thi, tis par dhanush-bhang ki shart, at: bap sabr kie baithe haian,-kiantu kanya ki ayu sabr nahian karati.

jo ho, harish ki saras rachana mean gun tha mama ka man naram p d gaya. vivah ka bhoomika-bhag nirvighn poora ho gaya. kalakatta ke bahar baki jitani duniya hai, sabako mama aandaman dvip ke aantargat hi samajhate the. jivan mean ekabar vishesh kam se ve konnagar tak ge the. mama yadi manu hote to ve apani sanhita mean hav da ke pul ko par karane ka ekadam nishedh kar dete. man mean ichchha thi, khud jakar l daki dekh aooan. par prastav karane ka sahas n kar saka.

kanya ko ashirvad dene (bangaliyoan mean vivah pakka karane ke lie ek rasm hoti hai- jisamean var-paksh ke log kanya ko aur kanya-paksh ke log var ko ashirvad dekar koee abhooshan de jate haian.) jinako bheja gaya ve hamare vinu dada the, mere phuphere bhaee. unake mat, ruchi evan dakshata par maian solah ane nirbhar kar sakata tha. lautakar vinu dada ne kaha, buri nahian hai ji! asali sona hai.

vinu dada ki bhasha atyant sanyat thi. jahaan ham kahate the 'apoorv', vahaan ve kahate 'kamachalaoo'. atev maian samajha, mere bhagy mean panchashar ka prajapati se koee virodh nahian hai.

bhag 2

kahana vyarth hai, vivah ke upalakshy mean kanya paksh ko hi kalakatta ana p da. kanya ke pita shanbhoonath baboo harish par kitana vishvas karate the, isaka praman yah tha ki vivah ke tin din pahale unhoanne mujhe pahali bar dekha aur ashirvad ki rasm poori kar ge. unaki avastha chalis ke hi as-pas hogi. bal kale the, mooanchhoan ka pakana abhi praranbh hi hua tha. roopavan the, bhi d mean dekhane par sabase pahale unhian par najar p dane layaq unaka chehara tha.

asha karata hooan ki mujhe dekhakar ve khush hue. samajhana kathin tha, kyoanki ve alpabhashi the. jo ekadh bat kahate bhi the use mano poora zor dekar nahian kahate the. is bich mama ka muanh abadh gati se chal raha tha- dhan mean, man mean hamara sthan shahar mean kisi se kam nahian tha, ve nana prakar se isi ka prachar kar rahe the. shanbhoonath baboo ne is bat mean bilkul yog nahian diya- kisi bhi prasang mean koee 'haan' ya 'hooan' tak nahian sunaee p di. maian hota to nirutsahit ho jata, kiantu mama ko hatotsahit karana kathin tha. unhoanne shanbhoonath baboo ka shaant svabhav dekhakar socha ki adami bilkul nirjiv hai, tanik bhi tej nahian. samadhiyoan mean aur jo ho, tej bhav hona pap hai, atev, man-hi-man mama khush hue. shanbhoonath baboo jab uthe to mama ne sankshep mean oopar se hi unako vida kar diya, ga di mean bithane nahian ge.

dahej ke sanbandh mean donoan pakshoan mean bat pakki ho gee thi. mama apane ko asadharan chatur samajhakar garv karate the. batachit mean ve kahian bhi koee chhidr n chho date. rupaye ki sankhya to nishchit thi hi, oopar se gahana kitane bhar evan sona kis dar ka hoga, yah bhi ekadam tay ho gaya tha. maian svayan in batoan mean nahian tha; n janata hi tha ki kya len-den nishchit hua hai. maian janata tha ki yah sthool bhag hi vivah ka ek pradhan aang hai; evan us aansh ka bhar jinake oopar hai ve ek kau di bhi nahian thagaeange. vastut: atyant chatur vyakti ke roop mean mama hamare sare parivar mean garv ki pradhan vastu the. jahaan kahian bhi hamara koee sanbandh ho parvat hi budhdi ki l daee mean jiteange, yah bilkul pakki bat thi. isalie hamare yahaan kabhi n rahane par bhi evan doosare paksh mean kathin abhav hote hue bhi ham jiteange, hamare parivar ki zid thi- isamean chahe koee bache ya mare.

haldi chadhane ki rasm b di dhoomadham se huee. dhone vale itane the ki unaki sankhya ka hisab rakhane ke lie klark rakhana p data. unako vida karane mean avar paksh ka jo nakoan-dam hoga usaka smaran karake mama ke sath svar milakar maan khoob hansi.

baiand, shahanaee, phaiansi kansart adi jahaan jitane prakar ki joradar avajean thian, sabako ek sath milakar barbar kolahal roopi mast hathi dvara sangit sarasvati ke parviann ko dalit-vidalit karata hua maian vivah ke ghar mean ja pahuancha. aangoothi, har, jari, javaharat se mera sharir aisa lag raha tha jaise gahane ki dukan nilam par chadhi ho. unake bhavi jamata ka mooly kitana tha yah jaise kuchh matra mean sarvaang mean spasht roop se likhakar bhavi sasur ke sath mukabala karane chala tha.

mama vivah ke ghar pahuanchakar prasann nahian hue. ek to aangan mean baratiyoan kai baithane ke layaq jagah nahian thi, tis par sanpoorn ayojan ekadam sadharan dhang ka tha. oopar se shanbhoonath baboo ka vyavahar bhi nihayat thanda tha. unaki vinay ajasr nahian thi. muanh mean shabd hi n the. baithe gale, ganji khop di, krishnavarn evan sthool sharir vale unake ek vakil mitr yadi kamar mean chadar baandhe, barabar hath jo de, sir hilate hue, namratapoorn smitahasy aur gadgad vachanoan se kansart parti ke karatal bajane vale se lekar varakarta tak pratyek ko bar-bar prachur matra mean abhishikt n kar dete to shuroo mean hi mamala is par ya us par ho jata.

mere sabha mean baithane ke kuchh der bad hi mama shanbhoonath baboo ko bagal ke kamare mean bula le ge. pata nahian, kya batean hueean. kuchh der bad hi shanbhoonath baboo ne akar mujhase kaha, lalaji, jara idhar to aie!'

mamala yah tha- sabhi ka n ho, kiantu kisi-kisi manushy ka jivan mean koee ek lakshy rahata hai. mama ka ekamatr lakshy tha-ve kisi bhi prakar kisi se thage nahian jaeange. unhean dar tha ki unake samadhi unhean gahanoan mean dhokha de sakate haian- vivah-kary samapt ho jane par us dhokhe ka koee pratikar n ho sakega. ghar-kiraya, saugat, logoan ki vidaee adi ke vishay mean jis prakar ki khianchatani ka parichay mila usase mama ne nishchay kiya tha- lene-dene ke sanbandh mean is adami ki keval jabani bat par nirbhar rahane se kam n chalega. isi karan ghar ke sunar tak ko sath lae the. bagal ke kamare mean jakar dekha, mama ek kursi par baithe the. ek sunar apani tarajoo, bat aur kasauti adi lie zamin par.

shanbhoonath baboo ne mujhase kaha, tumhare mama kahate haian ki vivah-kary shuroo hone ke pahale hi ve kanya ke sare gahane janchava dekheange, isamean tumhari kya ray hai?

maian sir nicha kie chup raha.

mama bole, vah kya kahega. maian jo kahooanga, vahi hoga.

shanbhoonath baboo ne meri or dekhakar kaha, to phir yahi tay raha? ye jo kaheange vahi hoga? is sanbandh mean tumhean kuchh nahian kahana hai?

maianne jara gardan hilakar ishare se bataya, in sab batoan mean mera bilkul bhi adhikar nahian hai.

achchha to baitho, l daki ke sharir se sara gahana utarakar lata hooan. yah kahate hue ve uthe.

mama bole, anupam yahaan kya karega? vah sabha mean jakar baithe.

shanbhoonath bole, nahian, sabha mean nahian, yahian baithana hoga.

kuchh der bad unhoanne ek aangochhe mean bandhe gahane lakar chauki ke oopar bichha die. sare gahane unaki pitamahi ke jamane ke the, ne phaishan ka barik kam n tha- jaisa mota tha vaisa hi bhari tha.

sunar ne hath mean gahane uthakar kaha, inhean kya dekhooan. isamean koee milavat nahian hai- aise sone ka ajakal vyavahar hi nahian hota.

yah kahate hue usane makar ke muanh vala mota ek bala kuchh dabakar dikhaya, vah tedha ho jata tha.

mama ne usi samay not-buk mean gahanoan ki soochi bana li- kahian jo dikhaya gaya tha usamean se kuchh kam n ho jae. hisab karake dekha, gahana jis matra mean dene ki bat thi inaki sankhya, dar evan tol usase adhik thi.

gahanoan mean ek jo da iyariang tha. shanbhoonath ne usako sunar ke hath mean dekar kaha, jara isaki pariksha karake dekho!

sunar ne kaha, yah vilayati mal hai, isamean sone ka hissa mamooli hi hai.

shanbhoo baboo ne iyariang jo di mama ke hath mean dete hue kaha, ise ap hi rakhean!

mama ne use hath mean lekar dekha, yahi iyariang kanya ko dekar unhoanne ashirvad ki rasm poori ki thi.

mama ka chehara lal ho utha, daridr unako thagana chahega, kiantu ve thage nahian jaeange is anand-prapti se vanchit rah ge, evan isake atirikt kuchh oopari prapti bhi huee. muanh atyant bhari karake bole, anupam, jao tum sabha mean jakar baitho!

shanbhoonath baboo bole, nahian, ab sabha mean baithana nahian hoga. chalie, pahale ap logoan ko khila dooan.

mama bole, yah kya kah rahe haian? lagn

shanbhoonath baboo ne kaha, usake lie chianta n karean- abhi uthie!

adami nihayat bhalamanas tha, kiantu aandar se kuchh zyada hathi pratit hua. mama ko uthana p da. baratiyoan ka bhi bhojan ho gaya. ayojan mean adanbar nahian tha. kiantu rasoee achchhi bani thi aur sab-kuchh saph-suthara. isase sabhi tript ho ge.

baratiyoan ka bhojan samapt hone par shanbhoonath baboo ne mujhase khane ko kaha. mama ne kaha, yah kya kah rahe haian? vivah ke pahale var kaise bhojan karega!

is sanbandh mean ve mama ke vyakt kie mat ki poorn upeksha karake meri or dekhakar bole, tum kya kahate ho? bhojan ke lie baithane mean koee dosh hai?

moortimati matri-ajna-svaroop mama upasthit the, unake virudhd chalana mere lie asanbhav tha. maian bhojan ke lie n baith saka.

tab shanbhoonath baboo ne mama se kaha, ap logoan ko bahut kasht diya hai. ham log dhani nahian haian. ap logoan ke yogy vyavastha nahian kar sake, kshama kareange. rat ho gee hai, ap logoan ka kasht aur nahian badhana chahata. to phir is samay-

mama bole, to, sabha mean chalie, ham to taiyar haian.

shanbhoonath bole, tab apaki ga di bulava dooan?

mama ne ashchary se kaha, majak kar rahe haian kya?

shanbhoonath ne kaha, majak to ap hi kar chuke haian. majak ke sanpark ko sthayi karane ki meri ichchha nahian hai.

mama donoan aankheanan vispharit kie avakh rah ge.

shanbhoonath ne kaha, apani kanya ka gahana maian chura looanga, jo yah bat sochata hai usake hathoan maian kanya nahian de sakata.

mujhase ek shabd kahana bhi unhoanne avashyak nahian samajha. karan, pramanit ho gaya tha, maian kuchh bhi nahian tha.

usake bad jo hua use kahane ki ichchha nahian hoti. jha d-phanoos to d-pho dakar chij-vastu ko nasht-bhrasht karake baratiyoan ka dal daksh-yajn ka natak poora karake bahar chala aya.

ghar lautane par baiand, shahanaee aur kansart sab sath nahian baje evan abhrak ke jha doan ne akash ke taroan ke oopar apane karttavy ka nirvah karake kahaan mahanirvan prapt kiya, pata nahian chala.

bhag 3

ghar ke sab log krodh se ag-baboola ho ge. kanya ke pita ko itana ghamand kaliyug poorn roop se a gaya hai!

sab bole, dekhean, l daki ka vivah kaise karate haian. kiantu, l daki ka vivah nahian hoga, yah bhay jisake man mean n ho usako dand dene ka kya upay hai?

bangal-bhar mean maian hi ekamatr purush tha jisako svayan kanya ke pita ne janavase se lauta diya tha. itane b de satpatr ke mathe par kalank ka itana b da dag kis dusht grah ne itana prachar karake gaje-baje se samaroh karake aank diya? barati yah kahate hue matha pitane lage ki vivah nahian hua, lekin hamako dhokha dekar khila diya- sanpoorn ann sahit pakvashay nikalakar vahaan pheank ate to afasos mitata.

'vivah ke vachan-bhang ka aur man-hani ka dava karooanga' kahakar mama ghoom-ghoomakar khoob shor machane lage. hitaishiyoan ne samajha diya ki aisa karane se jo tamasha baki rah gaya hai vah bhi poora ho jaega.

kahana vyarth hai, maian bhi khoob krodhit hua tha. 'kisi prakar shanbhoonath buri tarah harakar mere pairoan par a gire,' mooanchhoan ki rekha par tav dete-dete keval yahi kamana karane laga.

kiantu, is akrosh ki kali dhara ke samip ek aur srot bah raha tha, jisaka rang bilkul bhi kala nahian tha. sanpoorn man us aparichit ki or dau d gaya. abhi tak use kisi bhi prakar vapas nahian mo d saka. divar ki a d mean rah gaya. usake mathe par chandan charchit tha, deh par lal sa di, chehare par lajja ki lalaee, hriday mean kya tha yah kaise kah sakata hooan! mere kalpalok ki kalpalata vasant ke samast phooloan ka bhar mujhe nivedit kar dene ke lie jhuk p di thi. hava a rahi thi, sugandh mil rahi thi, pattoan ka shabd sun raha tha- keval ek pag badhane ki der thi- isi bich vah pag-bhar ki doori kshan-bhar mean asim ho gee.

itane din tak roj sham ko maianne vinu dada ke ghar jakar unako pareshan kar dala tha. vinu dada ki varnan-shaili ki atyant saghan sankshiptata ke karan unaki pratyek bat ne sphulliang ke saman mere man mean ag laga di thi. maianne samajha tha ki l daki ka roop b da apoorv tha; kiantu n to use aankhoan dekha aur n usaka chitr, sab-kuchh aspasht rah gaya. bahar to usane pak d di hi nahian, use man mean bhi n la saka- isi karan bhoot ke saman dirgh nishvas lekar man us din ki us vivah-sabha ki divar ke bahar chakkar katane laga.

harish se suna, l daki ko mera photograph dikhaya gaya tha. pasand avashy kiya hoga. n karane ka to koee karan hi n tha. mera man kahata hai, vah chitr usane kisi baks mean chhipa rakha hai. kamare ka daravaza band karake akeli kisi-kisi nirjan dopahari mean kya vah use kholakar n dekhati hogi? jab jhukakar dekhati hogi tab chitr ke oopar kya usake mukh ke donoan or se khule bal akar nahian p date hoange? akasmath bahar kisi ke pair ki ahat pate hi kya vah jhat-pat apane sugandhit aanchal mean chitr ko chhipa n leti hogi?

din bit jate haian. ek varsh bit gaya. mama to lajja ke mare vivah sanbandh ki bat hi n chhe d pate. maan ki ichchha thi, mere apaman ki bat jab samaj ke log bhool jaeange tab vivah ka prayatn kareangi.

doosari or maianne suna ki shayad us l daki ko achchha var mil gaya hai, kiantu usane pran kiya hai ki vivah nahian karegi. sunakar man anand ke avesh se bhar gaya. maian kalpana mean dekhane laga, vah achchhi tarah khati nahian; sandhya ho jati hai, vah bal baandhana bhool jati hai. usake pita usake muanh ki or dekhate haian aur sochate haian, 'meri l daki dinoandin aisi kyoan hoti ja rahi hai?' akasmath kisi din usake kamare mean akar dekhate haian, l daki ke netr aansuoan se bhare haian. poochhate haian, beti, tujhe kya ho gaya hai, mujhe bata? l daki jhatapat aansoo poanchhakar kahati hai, 'kahaan, kuchh bhi to nahian hua, pitaji!' bap ki ikalauti l daki hai n- b di la dali l daki hai. anavrishti ke dinoan mean phool ki kali ke saman jab l daki ekadam murjha gee to pita ke pran aur adhik sahan n kar sake. man tyagakar ve dau dakar hamare daravaze par ae. usake bad? usake bad man mean jo kale rang ki dhara bah rahi thi vah mano kale saanp ke saman roop dharakar phuphakar uthi. usane kaha, achchha hai, phir ek bar vivah ka saj sajaya jae, roshani jale, desh-videsh ke logoan ko nimantran diya jae, usake bad tum var ke maur ko pairoan se kuchalakar dal-bal lekar sabha se uthakar chale ao! kiantu jo dhara ashru-jal ke saman shubhr thi, vah rajahans ka roop dharan karake boli, jis prakar maian ek din damayanti ke pushpavan mean gee thi mujhe usi prakar ek bar u d jane do-maian virahini ke kanoan mean ek bar sukh-sandeh de aooan. isake bad? usake bad du:kh ki rat bit gee, nav varsha ka jal barasa, mlan phool ne muanh uthaya- is bar us divar ke bahar sari duniya ke aur sab log rah ge, keval ek vyakti ke bhitar pravesh kiya. phir meri kahani khatm ho gee.

bhag 4

lekin kahani aise khatm nahian huee. jahaan pahuanchakar vah anant ho gee hai vahaan ka tho da-sa vivaran batakar apana yah lekh samapt karooanga.

maan ko lekar tirth karane ja raha tha. bhar mere hi oopar tha, kyoanki mama is bar bhi hav da pul ke par nahian hue. relaga di mean so raha tha. jhoanke khate-khate dimag mean nana prakar ke bikhare svapnoan ka jhunajhuna baj raha tha. akasmath kisi ek steshan par jag p da, vah bhi prakash-aandhakar-mishrit ek svapn tha. keval akash ke taragan chiraparichit the- aur sab aparichit aspasht tha; steshan ki kee sidhi kh di battiyaan prakash dvara yah dharati kitani aparichit hai evan jo charoan or hai vah kitana adhik door hai, yahi dikha rahi thian. ga di mean maan so rahi thian; batti ke niche hara parda tanga tha, trank, baks, saman sab ek-doosare ke oopar titar-bitar p de the. vah mano svapnalok ka ulata-pulata saman ho, jo sandhya ki hari batti ke timatimate prakash mean hone aur n hone ke bich n jane kis dhang se p da tha.

is bich us vichitr jagath ki adbhut rat mean koee bol utha, jaldi a jao, is dibbe mean jagah hai.

laga, jaise git suna ho. bangali l daki ke mukh se bangala boli kitani madhur lagati hai isaka poora-poora anuman aise anupayukt sthan par achanak sunakar hi kiya ja sakata hai. kiantu, is svar ko niri ek l daki ka svar kahakar shreni-bhukt kar dene se kam nahian chalega. yah kisi any vyakti ka svar tha, sunate hi man kah uthata hai, 'aisa to pahale kabhi nahian suna.'

gale ka svar mere lie sada hi b da saty raha hai. roop bhi kam b di vastu nahian hai, kiantu manushy mean jo aantaratam aur anirvachaniy hai, mujhe lagata hai, jaise kanth-svar usi ki akriti ho. chatapat jangala kholakar maianne muanh bahar nikala, kuchh bhi n dikha. pletapharm par aandhere mean kh de gard ne apani ek aankh vali lalaten hilaee, ga di chal di; maian jangale ke pas baitha raha. meri aankhoan ke samane koee moorti n thi, kiantu hriday mean maian ek hriday ka roop dekhane laga. vah jaise is taramayi ratri ke saman ho, jo avrit kar leti hai, kiantu use pak da nahian ja sakata. jo svar! aparichit kanth ke svar! kshan-bhar mean hi tum mere chiraparichit ke asan par akar baith ge ho. tum kaise adbhut ho- chanchal kal ke kshubdh hriday ke oopar ke phool ke saman khile hoan, kiantu usaki laharoan ke aandolan se koee pankhu di tak nahian hilati, aparimey komalata mean jara bhi dag nahian p data.

ga di lohe ke mridang par tal deti huee chali. maian man-hi-man gana sunata ja raha tha. usaki ek hi tek thi- 'dibbe mean jagah hai.' hai kya, jagah hai kya jagah mile kaise, koee kisi ko nahian pahachanata. sath hi yah n pahachanana- matr kohara hai, maya hai, usake chhinn hote hi phir parichay ka aant nahian hota. o sudhamay svar! jis hriday ke tum adbhut roop ho, vah kya mera chir-parichit nahian hai? jagah hai, hai, jaldi bulaya tha, jaldi hi aya hooan, kshan-bhar bhi der nahian ki hai.

rat mean thik se niand nahian aee. pray: har steshan par ek bar muanh nikalakar dekhata, bhay hone laga ki jisako dekh nahian paya vah kahian rat mean hi n utar jae.

doosare din subah ek b de steshan par ga di badalani thi hamare tikit pharst klas ke the- asha thi, bhi d nahian hogi. utarakar dekha, pletapharm par sahaboan ke ardaliyoan ka dal saman lie ga di ki pratiksha kar raha hai. fauj ke koee ek b de janaral sahab bhraman ke lie nikale the. do-tin minit ke bad hi ga di a gee. samajha, pharst klas ki asha chho dani p degi. maan ko lekar kis dabbe mean chadh looan, is bare mean b di chianta mean p d gaya. poori ga di mean bhi d thi. daravaze-daravaze jhaankata hua ghoomane laga. isi bich saikand klas ke dibbe se ek l daki ne meri maan ko lakshy karake kaha, ap hamare dibbe mean aie n, yahaan jagah hai.

maian to chauank p da. vahi adbhut madhur svar aur vahi git ki tek 'jagah hai' kshan-bhar ki bhi der n karake maan ko lekar dibbe mean chadh gaya. saman chadhane ka samay pray: nahian tha. mere-jaisa asamarth duniya mean koee n hoga. us l daki ne hi kuliyoan ke hath se jhatapat chalati ga di mean hamare bistaradi khianch lie. photo khianchane ka mera ek kaimara steshan par hi chhoot gaya- dhyan hi n raha.

usake bad- kya likhooan, nahian janata. mere man mean ek akhand anand ki tasvir hai- use kahaan se shuroo karooan, kahaan samapt karooan? baithe-baithe ek vaky ke bad doosare vaky ki yojana karane ki ichchha nahian hoti.

is bar usi svar ko aankhoan se dekha. is samay bhi vah svar hi jan p da. maan ke muanh ki or taka; dekha ki unaki aankhoan ke palak nahian gir rahe the. l daki ki avastha solah ya satrah ki hogi, kiantu navayauvan ne usake deh, man par kahian bhi jaise jara bhi bhar n dala ho. usaki gati sahaj, dipti nirmal, sauandary ki shuchita apoorv thi, usamean kahian koee j data n thi.

maian dekh raha hooan, vistar se kuchh bhi kahana mere lie asanbhav hai. yahi nahian, vah kis rang ki sa di kis prakar pahane hue thi, yah bhi thik se nahian kah sakata. yah bilkul saty hai ki usaki vesh-bhoosha mean aisa kuchh n tha jo use chho dakar vishesh roop se aankhoan ko akarshit kare. vah apane charoan or ki chijoan se badhakar thi- rajanigandha ki shubhr manjari ke saman saral vriant ke oopar sthit, jis vriksh par khili thi usaka ekadam atikraman kar gee thi. sath mean do-tin chhoti-chhoti l dakiyaan thian, unake sath usaki hansi aur batachit ka aant n tha. maian hath mean ek pustak lie us or kan lagae tha. jo kuchh kan mean p d raha tha vah sab to bachchoan ke sath bachapane ki batean thian. usaka visheshatv yah tha ki usamean avastha ka aantar bilkul bhi nahian tha- chhotoan ke sath vah anayas aur anandapoorvak chhoti ho gee thi. sath mean bachchoan ki kahaniyoan ki sachitr pustakean thian- usi ki koee kahani sunane ke lie l dakiyoan ne use gher liya tha, yah kahani avashy hi unhoanne bis-pachchis bar suni hogi. l dakiyoan ka itana agrah kyoan tha yah maian samajh gaya. us sudha-kanth ki sone ki chh di se sari kahani sona ho jati thi. l daki ka sanpoorn tan-man poori tarah pranoan se bhara tha, usaki sari chal-dhal-sparsh mean pran um d raha tha. at: l dakiyaan jab usake muanh se kahani sunatian tab kahani nahian, usi ko sunatian; unake hriday par pranoan ka jharana jhar p data. usake us udbhasit pran ne meri us din ki sari soory-kiranoan ko sajiv kar diya; mujhe laga, mujhe jis prakriti ne apane akash se veshtit kar rakha hai vah us taruni ke hi aklaant, amlan pranoan ka vishv-vyapi vistar hai. doosare steshan par pahuanchate hi usane khomache vale ko bulakar kaphi-si dal-moth kharidi, aur l dakiyoan ke sath milakar bilkul bachchoan ke saman kalahasy karate hue nissankoch bhav se khane lagi. meri prakriti to jal se ghiri huee thi- kyoan maian atyant sahaj bhav se, us hansamukh l daki se ek mutthi dal-moth n maang saka? hath badhakar apana lobh kyoan nahian svikar kiya.

maan achchha aur bura lagane ke bich duchiti ho rahi thian. dibbe mean maian hooan mard, to bhi ise koee sankoch nahian, khasakar vah is lobh ki bhaanti kha rahi hai. yah bat unako pasand nahian a rahi thi; aur use behaya kahane ka bhi unhean bhram n hua. unhean laga, is l daki ki avastha ho gee hai, kiantu shiksha nahian mili. maan ekaek kisi se batachit nahian kar patian. logoan ke sath door-door rahane ka hi unako abhyas tha. is l daki ka parichay prapt karane ki unako b di ichchha thi, kiantu svabhavik badha nahian mita pa rahi thian.

isi samay ga di ek b de steshan par akar ruk gee. un janaral sahab ke sathiyoan ka ek dal is steshan se chadhane ka prayatn kar raha tha. ga di mean kahian jagah n thi. kee bar ve hamare dibbe ke samane se nikale. maan to bhay ke mare j d ho gee, maian bhi man mean shaanti ka anubhav nahian kar raha tha.

ga di chhootane ke tho di der pahale ek deshi rel-karmachari ne dibboan ki do baianchoan ke siroan par nam likhe hue do tikit latakakar mujhase kaha is, dibbe ki ye do baianchean pahale se hi do sahaboan ne rijarv kara rakhi haian, ap logoan ko doosare dibbe mean jana hoga.

maian to jhatapat ghabarakar kh da ho gaya. l daki hiandi mean boli, nahian, ham dibba nahian chho deange.

us adami ne zid karate hue kaha, bina chho de koee chara nahian.

kiantu, l daki ke utarane ki ichchha ka koee lakshan n dekhakar vah utarakar aangrez steshan-mastar ko bula laya. usane akar mujhase kaha, mujhe khed hai, kiantu-

sunakar maianne 'kuli-kuli' ki pukar lagaee. l daki ne uthakar donoan aankhoan se ag barasate hue kaha, nahian, ap nahian ja sakate, jaise haian baithe rahie!

yah kahakar usane daravaze ke pas kh de hokar steshan-mastar se aangreji mean kaha, yah dibba pahale se rijarv hai, yah bat jhooth hai.

yah kahakar usane nam likhe tikatoan ko kholakar pletapharm par pheank diya.

is bich mean vardi pahane sahab ardali ke sath daravaze ke pas akar kh da ho gaya tha. dibbe mean apana saman chadhane ke lie pahale usane ardali ko ishara kiya tha. usake pashchath l daki ke muanh ki or dekhakar, usaki bat sunakar, mukhamudra dekhakar steshan-mastar ko tho da chhupa aur usako ot mean le jakar pata nahian kya kaha. dekha gaya, ga di chhootane ka samay bit chukane par bhi aur ek dibba jo da gaya, tab kahian tren chhooti. l daki ne apana dalabal lekar phir dubara dal-moth khana shuroo kar diya, aur maian sharm ke mare jangale ke bahar muanh nikalakar prakriti ki shobha dekhane laga.

ga di kanapur mean akar ruki. l daki saman baandhakar taiyar thi- steshan par ek abangali naukar unako utarane ka prayatn karane laga.

tab phir maan se n raha gaya. poochha, tumhara nam kya hai, beti?

l daki boli, mera nam kalyani hai.

sunakar maan aur maian donoan hi chauank p de.

tumhare pita-

ve yahaan d aauktar haian unaka nam shanbhoonath sen hai.

usake bad hi ve utar geean.

upasanhar

mama ke nishedh ko amany karake mata ki ajna thukarakar maian ab kanapur a gaya hooan. kalyani ke pita aur kalyani se bheant huee hai. hath jo de haian, sir jhukaya hai, shanbhoonath baboo ka hriday pighala hai. kalyani kahati hai, maian vivah nahian karooangi.

maianne poochha, kyoan?

usane kaha, matri-ajna.

jab ho gaya! is or bhi matul haian kya?

bad mean samajha, matri-bhoomi hai. vah sanbandh toot jane ke bad se kalyani ne l dakiyoan ko shiksha dene ka vrat grahan kar liya hai.

kiantu, maian asha n chho d saka. vah svar mere hriday mean aj bhi gooanj raha hai- vah mano koee us par ki vanshi ho- meri duniya ke bahar se aee thi, mujhe sare jagath ke bahar bula rahi thi. aur, vah jo rat ke aandhakar mean mere kan mean p da tha, 'jagah hai,' vah mere chir-jivan ke sangit ki tek ban gee. us samay meri ayu thi teees, ab ho gee hai sattaees. abhi tak asha nahian chho di hai, kiantu matul ko chho d diya hai. ikalauta l daka hone ke karan maan mujhe nahian chho d sakian.

tum soch rahe hoge, maian vivah ki asha karata hooan. nahian, kabhi nahian. mujhe yad hai, bas us rat ke aparichit kanth ke madhur svar ki asha- jagah hai. avashy hai. nahian to kh da hoooanga? isi se varsh ke bad varsh bitate jate haian- maian yahian hooan. bheant hoti hai, vahi svar sunata hooan, jab avasar milata hai usaka kam kar deta hooan- aur man kahata hai- yahi to jagah mili hai, o ri aparichita! tumhara parichay poora nahian hua, poora hoga bhi nahian, kiantu mera bhagy achchha hai, mujhe jagah mil chuki hai.