खोया हुआ मोती -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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meri nauka ne snan-ghat ki tooti-phooti sidhiyoan ke samip langar dala. sooryast ho chuka tha. navik nauka ke takhte par hi magarib (sooryast) ki namaz ada karane laga. pratyek sajade ke pashchath usaki kali chhaya siandoori akash ke niche ek chamak ke saman khianch jati. nadi ke kinare ek jirn-shirn imarat kh di thi, jisaka chhajja is prakar jhuka hua tha ki usake gir p dane ki har gh di bhari shanka rahati thi. usake dvaroan aur khi dakiyoan ke kiva d bahut purane aur dhile ho chuke the. chahuan or shoonyata chhaee huee thi. us shoony vatavaran mean sahasa ek manushy ki avaz mere kanoan mean sunaee p di aur maian kaanp utha. ap kahaan se a rahe haian? maianne gardan ghumakar dekha to ek pile, lambe aur vridhd manushy ki shakl dikhaee p di jisaki haddi‍yaan nikali huee thian, durbhagy ke lakshan sir se pair tak prakat ho rahe the. vah mujhase do-char sidhiyaan oopar kh da tha. silk ka maila kot aur usake niche ek maili-si dhoti baandhe hue. usaka nirbal sharir, utara hua mukh aur l dakh date hue qadam bata rahe the ki us kshudha-pi dit manushy ko shudhd vayu se adhik bhojan ki avashyakata hai. maian raanchi se a raha hooan.' yah sunakar vah mere barabar usi sidhi par a baitha. aur apaka kam? vyapar karata hooan. kahe ka? imarati lak di, resham aur triphala ka. apaka nam kya hai? ek kshan sone ke bad maianne use apana ek banavati nam bata diya. kintu vah ab mujhe ek-tak dekh raha tha. 'parantu apaka yahaan ana kaise hua? keval manoranjan ke lie ya vayu-parivartan ke lie? maianne kaha-vayu-parivartan ke lie.' yah bhi khoob kahi. maian lagabhag chh: varsh se pratidin yahaan ki taji vayu pet bharakar kha raha hooan aur sath hi pandrah gren kunain bhi; parantu antar kuchh nahian hua. koee labh dikhaee nahian deta. kintu raanchi aur yahaan ke jalavayu mean to prithvi aur akash ka antar hai. isamean sandeh nahian, kintu ap yahaan thahare kis sthan par haian? kya isi makan mean? sambhavat: us vyakti ko sandeh ho gaya tha ki mujhe usake kisi g de hue dhan ka kahian se surag mil gaya hai aur maian us sthan par thaharane ke lie nahian; balki usake g de hue dhan par apana adhikar jamane aya hooan. makan ki bhalaee-buraee ke sambandh mean ek shabd tak kahe bina usane apane us makan ke svami ki pandrah sal poorv ki ek katha sunani arambh kar di- usaki ganji khop di mean gahari aur chamakadar kali aankhean mujhe k aaularij ke purane navik ka smaran kara rahi thian. vah ek sthaniy skool mean adhyapak tha. navik ne samaj se nivritt hokar roti banani arambh kar di. sooryast hone ke samay akash ke siandoori rang par adhikar jamane vali aandheri mean vah khandahar- bhavan ek vichitr-sa bhayavah drishy pradarshit kar raha tha. mere pas sidhi par baithe hue us dubale aur lambe skool mastar ne kaha- mere is gaanv mean ane se lagabhag das sal poorv ek vyakti phanibhooshan sahay is makan mean rahata tha. usaka chacha durgamohan bina apane kisi uttaradhikari ke mar gaya. jisaki sampoorn sanpatti aur vistrit vyapar ka akela vahi adhikari tha. pashchaty shiksha aur nee sabhyata ka bhoot phanibhooshan par savar tha. k aaulej mean kee varshoan tak shiksha prapt kar chuka tha. vah aangrejoan ki bhaanti kothi mean joota pahane phira karata tha, yah kahane ki avashyakata nahian ki ye log unake sath koee vyaparik riyayat dene ke ravadar n the. ve bhali-bhaanti janate the ki phanibhooshan akhir ko ne bangal ki vayu mean saans le raha hai. isake atirikt ek aur bala usake sir par savar thi. arthath usaki patni param sundari thi. yah sundar bala aur pashchaty shiksha donoan usake pichhe aisi p di thian ki toba bhali! kharch sima se bahar. tanik sharir garm hua aur jhat sarakari d aauktar khat-khat karate a pahuanche. vivah sambhavat: apaka bhi ho chuka hai. apako bhi vastav mean yah anubhav ho gaya hai ki stri kathor svabhav vale pati ko sarvada pasand karati hai. vah abhaga vyakti jo apani patni ke prem se vanchit ho, yah n samajh baithe ki vah is sanpatti se mala-mal nahian ya saundary se vanchit hai. vishvas kijiye vah apani sima se adhik komal prakriti aur prem ke karan isi durbhagy mean phansa hua hai. maianne is vishay mean khoob socha hai aur is tathy par pahuancha hooan aur yah hai bhi thik. poochhiye kyoan? lijiye is prashn ka sankshipt aur vistrit uttar is prakar hai. yah to ap avashy maneange ki koee bhi vyakti us samay tak vastavik prasannata prapt nahian kar sakata, jab tak ki use apane janmajat vichar aur svabhavik yogyataoan ke prakat karane ke lie ek vistrit kshetr prapt n ho. harin ko apane dekha hai vah apane siangoan ko vriksh se rag dakar anand prapt karata hai, narm aur najuk kele ke khambhe se nahian. srishti ke arambh se hi nari-jati is jangali aur kathor-svabhav purush ko jitane ke lie vishesh dhang sikhati chali a rahi hai. yadi use pahale hi se ajnakari pati mil jaye to usake ve akarshak hathakande jo usako maan aur dadiyoan se bapauti roop mean mile haian, aur lambe samay se nirantar chalate rahane ke karan sima se adhik saty bhi sidhd hue haian, n keval bekar rah jate haian balki stri ko bhar-svaroop maloom hone lagate haian. stri apane akarshak saundary ke bal par purush ka prem aur usaki ajnakarita prapt karana chahati hai. kintu jo pati svayan hi unake saundary ke samane jhuk jaye, vah vastav mean durbhagyashali hota hai, aur usase adhik usaki patni. vartaman sabhyata ne eeshvar-pradatt upahar arthath purush ki sundar kathorata' usase chhin li hai. purush ne apani nirbalata se stri ke dampaty-bandhan ko b di sima tak dhila kar diya hai. meri is kahani ka abhaga phanibhooshan bhi is navin sabhyata ki chhalana se chhala hua tha aur yahi karan tha ki n vah apane vyapar mean saphal tha aur n grihasth jivan se santusht. yadi ek or vah apane vyapar mean labh se bekhabar tha to doosari or apani patni ke patitv-adhikar se vanchit. phanibhooshan ki patni manimalika ko prem aur vilas-samagri bemaange mili thi. use sundar aur bahumooly sa diyoan ke lie anunay-vinay to kya pati se kahane ki avashyakata n hoti thi. sone ke abhooshanoan ke lie use jhukana n p data tha. isalie usake striyochit svabhav ko ajna dene vale svar ka jivan mean kabhi abhas n hua tha, yahi karan tha ki vah apani premamayi bhavanaoan mean avesh ki sthiti utpann n kar pati thi. usake kan-lo svikar karo' ke madhur shabdoan se parichit the; kintu usake hoanth 'lao' aur 'do' se sarvatha aparichit. usake sidhe svabhav ka pati is mithya-bhavana ki kahavat se prasann tha ki 'karm kiye jao phal ki kamana mat karo, tumhara parishram kabhi akarath nahian jaega'. vah isi mithya bhavana ke pichhe hath-pair mare ja raha tha. parinam yah hua ki usaki patni use aisi mashin samajhane lagi jo bina chalae chalati hai. svayan hi bina kuchh kasht kiye sundar sa diyaan aur bahumooly abhooshan banakar usake kadamoan par dalati rahati. usake purje itane shaktishali aur tikaoo the ki kabhi bhi usako tel dene ki avashyakata n hoti. phanibhooshan ki janmabhoomi aur rahane ka sthan samip hi ek dehat ka gaanv tha, kintu usake chacha ke vyapar ka mukhy sthan yahi shahar tha. isi karan usaki ayu ka adhik bhag yahian vyatit hua tha. vaise maan mar chuki thi; kintu mausi aur mamiyaan adi eeshvar ki kripa se vidyaman thian. parantu vah vivah ke bad hi phauran manimalika ko apane sath le aya. usane vivah apane sukh ke lie kiya tha n ki apane sambandhiyoan ki seva ke lie. patni aur usake adhikaroan mean prithvi-akash ka antar hai. patni ko prapt kar lena aur phir usaki dekh-bhal karana, usako apana banane ke lie kafi nahian hua karata. manimalika sosayati ki adhik bhakt n thi. isalie vyarth ka kharch bhi n karati thi, balki isake pratikool b di savadhani rakhane vali thi. jo upahar phanibhooshan usako ek bar la deta phir kya majal ki usako hava bhi lag jae. vah savadhani se sab rakh diya jata. kabhi aisa nahian dekha gaya ki kisi p dosin ko usane bhojan par bulaya ho. vah upahar ya bheant lene-dene ke paksh mean bhi n thi. sabase adhik ashchary ki bat yah thi ki chaubis sal ki ayu mean bhi manimalika chaudah varsh ki sundar yuvati dikhaee deti thi. aisa pratit hota mano usaka roop-lavany keval sthayi hi nahian, balki chirasthayi rahane vala hai. manimalika ke parshv mean hriday n tha barf ka tuk da tha, jis par prem ki tanik bhi tapan n pahuanchi thi. phir vah pighalata kyoan aur usaka yauvan dhalata kis prakar? jo vriksh pattoan se lada hota hai pray: phal se vanchit rahata hai. manimalika ka saundary bhi phalahin tha. vah santanahin thi. rakh-rakhav aur vyaktigat dekh-rekh karati bhi to kahe ki? usaka sara dhyan apane abhooshanoan par hi kendrit tha. santan hoti to vasant ki mithi-mithi dhoop ki bhaanti usake barf ke hriday ko pighalati aur vah nirmal jal usake dampaty-jivan ke murajhae hue vriksh ko hara kar deta. manimalika grihasth ke kam-kaj aur parishram se bhi n katarati thi. jo kam vah svayan kar sakati usaka parishramik dena use khalata tha. doosaroan ke kasht ka n use dhyan tha aur n nate-rishtedaroan ki chinta. usako apane kam se kam tha. is shaant jivan ke karan vah svasth aur sukhi thi. n kabhi chinta hoti thi, n koee kasht. 'pray: pati ise santosh to kya saubhagy samajheange? kyoanki jo patni har samay pharamaishean lekar pati ki chhati par chadhati rahe vah sare grihasth ke lie ek rog sidhd hoti hai. kam-se-kam meri to yahi sammati hai ki sima se badha hua prem patni ke lie sambhavat: gaurav ki bat ho, kintu pati ke lie ek vipatti se kam sochie to sahi ki kya purush ka yahi kam rah gaya hai ki vah har samay yahi tolata-jokhata rahe ki usaki patni use kitana chahati hai, mera to yah drishtikon hai ki grihasth ka jivan us samay achchha vyatit hota hai jab pati apana kam kare aur patni apana. stri ka saundary aur prem yani tiriya-charitr purush ki budhdi se pare ki chiz hai, kintu stri-purush ke prem ke utar-chadhav aur usake nyoonadhik antar ko gambhir drishti se dekhati rahati hai. vah shabdoan ke lahaje aur chhipi huee bat ke arth ko jhat alag kar leti hai. isaka karan keval yah hai ki jivan ke vyapar mean stri ki pooanji lekar keval purush ka prem hai. yahi unake jivan ka ekamatr sahara hai. yadi vah purush ki ruchi ke vayu ke pravah ko apani jivan-naiya ke vitan se sparsh karane mean saphal ho jae to vishvastat: naiya abhipray ke tat tak pahuanch jati hai. isilie prem ka kalpana-yantr purush ke hriday mean nahian, stri ke hriday mean lagaya gaya hai. prakriti ne purush aur stri ki ruchi mean spasht roop se antar rakha hai, kintu pashchaty sabhyata is stri-purush ke antar ko mita dene par tuli huee hai. stri purush bani ja rahi hai aur purush stri. stri-purush ke charitr tatha usake kary-kshetr ko apane jivan ki pooanji aur purush striyochit charitr tatha nari-karm-kshetr ko apane jivan ka anand samajhane lage haian. isalie yah kathin ho gaya hai ki vivah ke samay koee yah kah sake ki vadhoo stri hai ya strinuma stri purush. isi prakar stri anuman laga sakati hai ki jisake palle vah bandh rahi hai vah purush hai ya purushanuma stri. isalie ki antar keval hriday ka hai. par kya jane ki purush ka hriday maradana hai ya janana? maian bahut der se apako shushk batean suna raha hooan, parantu kisi sima tak kshama ke yogy bhi hooan. maian apanoan se door nirvasit jivan vyatit kar raha hooan. meri dasha us tamasha dekhane vale darshak ke saman hai jo door se grihasth-jivan ka tamasha dekh raha ho aur vah usake gunoan se labh uthakar keval usake lie kuchh soch sakata ho. isilie dampaty-jivan par mere vichar atyant gambhir haian. maian apane shishyoan ke sammukh to vah vichar prakat kar nahian sakata, isi karan apake samane prakat karake apane hriday ko halka kar raha hooan. ap avakash ke samay in par vichar karean. saraansh yah hai ki yadyapi grihasth-jivan mean prakat roop mean koee kasht phanibhooshan ko n tha. samay par bhojan mil jata, ghar ka prabandh sucharu roop se chal raha tha, kintu phir bhi ek prakar ki vikalata aur avishvas usake hriday mean samaya hua tha aur vah nahian samajh pata tha ki vah hai kya? usaki dasha us bachche ke saman thi jo ro raha hai aur nahian janata ki usake hriday mean koee ichchha hai ya nahian. apani jivan-sangini ke hriday ke sneh-rikt sthan ko vah sunahare aur moolyavan abhooshanoan tatha isi prakar ke any upaharoan se bhar dena chahata tha. usaka chacha durgamohan doosari tarah ka vyakti tha. vah apani patni ke prem ko kisi bhi mooly par kray karane ke paksh mean n tha aur n hi vah prem ke vishay mean chi dachi de svabhav ka tha. phir bhi apani jivan-sangini ke prem ki prapti ke lie bhagyashali tha. jis prakar ek saphal dukanadar ko kahian tak be-lihaz hona avashyak hai, thik usi prakar ek saphal pati banane ke lie purush ko kahian tak kathor svabhav ban jana bhi ati avashyak hai. sanurodh apako maian yah sikh deta hooan. thik usi samay gid doan ki chikh-pukar jangal mean sunaee di. aisa jnan hota tha ki ya to ve us skool ke adhyapak ke dampaty-jivan ke manovijnan par ghinauna parihas kar rahe haian ya phanibhooshan ki kahani ke pravah ko kuchh kshanoan ke lie us chikh-pukar se rok dena chahate haian. phir bhi bahut jaldi vah chikh-pukar ruk gee aur pahale se bhi gahan aandheri aur shoonyata vayumandal par chha gee, kintu skool ke adhyapak ne pun: katha arambh ki- sahasa phanibhooshan ke b de vyavasay mean shikshaprad avanati drishtigochar huee. yah kyoan hua? isaka uttar meri budhdi se pare hai. sankshipt mean yah ki kusamay ne usake lie bazar mean sakh rakhana kathin kar diya. yadi kisi prakar kuchh dinoan ke lie vah ek b di pooanji prapt karake mandiyoan mean phaila sakata to sambhav tha ki bazar se mal ko n kharidane ke toofan se bach nikalata, kintu itani b di rakam ka turant prabandh khala ka ghar n tha. yadi sthaniy sahookaroan se karz maangata to anek prakar ki aphavahean phail jatian aur usaki sakh ko asahaniy hani pahuanchati. yadi patr-vyavahar se bhugatan ka dhang karata to rukka ya parche ke bina sanbhav n tha aur isase usaki khyati ko bahut b da aghat pahuanchane ki sambhavana thi. keval ek yukti thi ki patni ke abhooshanoan par rupaya prapt kiya jae aur yah vichar usake hriday mean dridh ho gaya. phanibhooshan manimalika ke pas gaya. parantu vah aisa pati n tha ki patni se spasht aur sabalata se kah sake. durbhagyavash use apani patni se utana ghanishth prem tha jaisa ki upanyas ke kisi nayak ko nayika se ho sakata hai. soory ka akarshan prithvi par bahut adhik hai, kintu adhik prabhavashali nahian. yahi dasha phanibhooshan ke prem ki thi. us prem ka manimalika ke hriday par koee prabhav n tha. kintu marata kya n karata, arthik kathinaee ki charcha, pronot, karje ka kagaj, bazar ke utar-chadhav ki dasha, in sab batoan ko kampit aur asvabhavik svar mean phanibhooshan ne apani patni ko bataya. jhoothe man, asaty vichar aur bhavavesh mean sadharan-si samasya jatil ban gee. aspasht shabdoan mean vishay ki gambhirata bata kar darate-darate abhage phanibhooshan ne kaha-tumhare abhooshan! manimalika ne n 'haan' kahi aur n 'na' aur n usake mukh se kuchh jnat hota tha. us par gahara maun chhaya hua tha. phanibhooshan ke hriday ko gahara aghat pahuancha. kintu usane prakat n hone diya. usamean purushoan ka-sa vah sahas n tha ki pratyek vastu ka vah pratidin nirikshan karata. usake inkar par usane kisi prakar ki chinta pradarshit n ki. vah aise vicharoan ka vyakti tha ki prem ke jagath mean shakti aur adhiky se kam nahian chal sakata. patni ki svikriti ke bina vah abhooshanoan ko chhoona bhi pap samajhata tha. isalie nirash hokar rupaye ki prapti ke lie yuktiyaan sochakar kalakatta chala gaya.

bhag 2

patni apane pati ko pray: janati hai, usaki nas-nas se parichit hoti hai, par pati apani patni ke charitray ka itana gambhir adhyayan nahian kar sakata. yadi pati kuchh gambhir vyakti ho to patni ke charitr ke kuchh bhag usaki tikshn drishti se bachakar jan leta hai. sambhavat: yah saty hai ki manimalika ne phanibhooshan ko achchhi tarah n samajha. ek pashchaty vyakti ka vyaktitv moorkh stri ke andhavishvas- jaise jivan aur usaki samajhaboojh se pray: ooancha hota hai. vah svayan stri ki bhaanti ek romaanchakari vyaktitv banakar rah jata hai aur isi karan purush ki un dashaoan mean se kisi mean bhi phanibhooshan ko poori tarah sammilit nahian kiya ja sakata. moorkh-andha-jangali- manimalika ne apane b de salahakar madhusoodan ko bulaya. yah door ke rishte se chachera bhaee tha aur phanibhooshan ke vyapar mean ek asami ki dekh-rekh par niyukt tha. yogyata ke karan nahian, balki rishtedari ke zor par vah us asami par adhikar jamaye hue tha. kam ki chaturaee ke karan nahian, balki rishtedari ki dhauans mean har mah vetan se bhi adhik rakam le u data tha. manimalika ne sari ramakahani usake samane varnan ki aur ant mean poochha-kya karooan, nek salah do. madhu ne budhdimatt aur dooradarshita ke dhang se sir hilakar kaha-mera matha thanakata hai, is mamale mean kushal dikhaee nahian deti.' saansarik budhdihin vyaktiyoan ko har kary mean sandeh hi dikhaee diya karata hai. unako kisi kam mean kushal nahian dikhaee deti. phanibhooshan ko rupaya to milane se raha, ant mean tumhean abhooshanoan se bhi hath dhone p deange.' saansarik samasyaoan aur purush tatha nari ke sambandh mean jo manimalika ke apane vyaktigat vichar the, unake prakash mean madhu ke nikale hue parinam ka pratham bhag sambhavit aur doosara saty maloom hota tha. vishvas usake hriday se jata raha tha, santan usake thi hi nahian. baki raha pati, vah kisi ginati mean hi n tha. at: usaka sampoorn dhyan apane abhooshanoan par kendrit tha. inhian se usake hriday ki prasannata thi, ye hi usako santan ke saman priy the. santan ko maan se chhin lijie phir dekhie mamata ki kya dasha hoti hai. yahi dasha manimalika ki thi. usaka yah vichar tha ki usake abhooshan pati ke manasooboan ki bheant ho jayeange. phir mujhe kya karana chahie? abhi maike chali jao, sare abhooshan vahaan chho d ao.' chalak madhu ne kaha. is prakar usaki haandi ko bhi baghar lagata hai. yadi sare nahian to kuchh abhooshan madhu ko apane hatthe chadhane ki bhi asha thi. manimalika usi samay sahamat ho gee. badhate hue andhakar se skool ke adhyapak par bhi gambhirata chha gee thi, kintu kuchh kshanoan ke pashchath usane phir varnan arambh kiya-

bhag 3

jhutapute ke samay jabaki savan ki ghataean akash par dera jamae hue thian varsha moosaladhar ho rahi thi, ek nauka ne retili sidhiyoan par langar dala. doosare din prat: ghatatop aandhere mean manimalika aee aur ek moti chadar mean sir se paanv tak lipati huee nauka par savar ho gee! madhu jo rat se usi nauka mean soya hua tha, usaki ahat se jag gaya. 'abhooshanoan ki sandookachi mujhe de do; taki surakshit rakh looan.' 'abhi thaharo jaldi kya hai? chalo to sahi, age dekha jayega.' nauka ka langar utha aur vah phuankarati huee nadi ki laharoan se joojhane lagi. manimalika ne sare abhooshan ek-ek karake pahan liye the. sandook mean band karake le jana asurakshit maloom hota tha. madhu hakka-bakka rah gaya, jab usane dekha ki mani ke pas sandookachi nahian hai. usako isaki kalpana bhi n thi ki usane abhooshanoan ko apane pranoan se laga rakha hai. chahe manimalika ne phanibhooshan ko n samajha tha kintu madhu ke charitr ka ek bahut hi thik andaja lagaya tha. jane se pahale madhu ne phanibhooshan ke ek vishvasi munim ko likh bheja tha ki maian manimalika ke sath usako maike pahuanchane ja raha hooan. yah munim duniya ka anubhavi aur b di ayu ka tha aur phanibhooshan ke pita ke samay se hi usake sath tha. usako manimalika ke jane se bahut chinta aur sandeh hua. usane apane malik ko phauran likha. vafadari aur khairakhvahi ne use prerana di aur apane patr mean apane malik ko khoob khari-khari sunaee. pati ki laj aur dooradarshita donoan ka yah arth nahian hai ki patni ko is prakar svatantr chho d diya jaye. manimalika ke hriday ke sandeh ko phanibhooshan samajh gaya. use atyant du:kh hua. vah is sanbandh mean ek shabd bhi shikayat ka jaban par n laya. apaman aur kasht sahe, kintu usane manimalika par koee dabav dalana uchit n samajha; kintu phir bhi itana avishvas! varshoan se vah mere ekant ki aur saansarik sathi rahi hai. ashchary hai ki usane mujhe tanik bhi n samajha. is mauke par koee aur hota to krodhavesh mean n jane kya kar baithata, kintu phanibhooshan maun tha aur du:kh prakat karake manimalika ko dukhit karana uchit n samajhata tha. purush ko chahie ki vah davanal ki bhaanti jara-jara-si bat par bh dak jae. jis prakar stri savan ke badaloan ki bhaanti bat-bat par aansuoan ki jh di laga deti hai. kintu ab vah pahale-se din kahaan? phanibhooshan ne manimalika ko usaki anupasthiti mean bina soochana die jane ke vishay mean koee daant-phatakar ka patr n likha. balki yah nishchay kar liya ki marate dam tak usake abhooshanoan ka nam tak jaban par n layega. rupaye ki vasooli mean phanibhooshan saphal ho gaya. usake vyaparik raste khul gaye. das din ke pashchath vah apane ghar ko vapas chala, is vichar ko liye hue ki abhooshan maike mean chho dakar manimalika ghar ko vapas a gee hogi. das din pahale ka tuchchh aur asaphal prashn ka uttar jab mastani chal se ghar mean qadam rakhega aur patni ki drishti usaki saphalata se damakate hue mukh par p degi, to vah apane inkar par svayan lajjit hogi aur apani nadani par pashchatap prakat karegi. in vicharoan mean magn phanibhooshan shayan-kaksh mean pahuancha. parantu dvar par tala laga hua tha. tala tu davakar andar ghusa to tijori ke kiva d khule p de the. is aghat se vah l dakh da gaya- shubh chinta aur prem' us samay usake pas nirarthak aur aspasht shabd the. sone ka pianjara, jisaki pratyek sunahari tili ko usane apane pran aur an ka mooly dekar prapt kiya tha, toot chuka tha aur khali p da tha. vah ab divaliya tha aur sivay gahari usaans, aansoo aur hriday ki tis ke atirikt usake pas kuchh n tha. manimalika ko bulane ka dhyan bhi usake hriday mean n aya. usane yah nishchay kar liya ki vah ab chahe ae ya n ae, kintu vridhd munim is nishchay ke virudhd tha. vah anurodh kar raha tha ki kam-se-kam kushal-kshem avashy mangani chahie. itani deri ka koee karan samajh mean nahian ata. usake anurodh se vivash hokar manimalika ke maike ko adami bheja gaya. kintu vah yah ashubh samachar laya ki n yahaan manimalika aee hai n madhu. yah suna to paanv-tale ki zamin nikal gee. nadi-par adami dau daye gaye. khoj aur prayatn mean kisi prakar ki kami n rakhi. kintu pata n chalana tha, n chala. yah bhi maloom n ho saka ki nauka kis disha mean gee hai aur nauka ka navik kaun tha. nirash phanibhooshan hriday masosakar baith gaya.

bhag 4

krishna-janmashtami ki sandhya thi. varsha ho rahi thi. phanibhooshan shayanakaksh mean akela tha. gaanv mean ek vyakti bhi baki n tha. janmashtami ke mele ne gaanv-ka-gaanv soona kar diya tha. mele ki chahal-pahal aur mahabharat ke natak ke shauq ne bachche se lekar boodhe tak ko khianch liya tha. shayan-kaksh ki khi daki ka ek kiva d band tha. phanibhooshan din-duniya se bekhabar baitha tha. sandhya ka jhutaputa ratri ke gahan aandhere mean parivartit ho gaya. kintu is bhayavane aandhere, moosaladhar varsha aur thandi vayu ka usako dhyan bhi n tha. door se gane ki madhur dhvani se usaki shravan-shakti sarvatha besudh thi. divar par vishnu aur lakshmi ke chitr lage hue the. pharsh saf tha aur pratyek vastu upayukt sthan par rakhi huee thi. palang ke samip ek khooanti par ek sundar aur akarshak sa di lataki huee thi. sirahane ek chhoti-si mej par pan ka bi da svayan manimalika ke hath ka bana hua rakha-rakha sookh chuka tha. vibhinn vastuean salike se apane-apane sthan par rakhi huee thian. ek tak mean manimalika ka priy laimp rakha hua tha. jisako vah apane hath se prakashit kiya karati thi aur jo usaki antim vidaee ka smaran kara raha tha. mani ki smriti mean in sampoorn vastuoan ka maun-rudan us kamare ko kamana ka shok-sthal banae hue tha. phanibhooshan ka hriday svat: kah raha tha-pyari mani, ao aur apane pranamay saundary se in sab mean pran phooank do.' kahian adhi rat ke lagabhag jakar booandoan ki t dat d thami. kintu phanibhooshan usi vichar mean khoya baitha tha. aandheri rat ke asimit dhuandhale vayumandal par mrityu ki rajadhani ka sikka chal raha tha. phanibhooshan ki dukhit atma ka rugn svar itana pi damay tha ki yadi mrityu ki niand sone vali manimalika bhi sun paye to ek bar netr khol de aur apane sone ke abhooshan pahane hue us aandhere mean aisi prakat ho jaise kasauti ke kathor patthar par kianchit sunahari rekha.

bhag 5

sahasa phanibhooshan ke kan mean kisi ke pairoan ki-si ahat sunaee di. aisa maloom hota tha ki nadi-tat se vah us ghar ki or vapas a rahi hai. nadi ki kali laharean rat ki aandheri mean maloom n hoti thian. asha ki prasannata ne use jivit kar diya. usake netr chamak uthe. usane aandhakar ke parde ko pha dana chaha, kintu vyarth. jitana adhik vah netr pha dakar dekhata tha, aandhakar ke parde aur adhik gahan hote jate the aur yah maloom hota tha ki prakriti is bhayavani andheri mean manushy ke hastakshep ke virudhd vidroh kar rahi hai. avaz samip mean samipatar hoti gee. yahaan tak ki sidhiyoan par chadhi aur samane dvar par akar ruk gee; jis par tala laga hua tha. dvarapal bhi mele mean gaya tha. dvar par dhimi-si-khut-khut sunaee di. aisi jaisi abhooshanoan se susajjit stri ka hath dvar khatakhata raha ho. phanibhooshan sahan n kar saka. jine se utarakar baramade se hota hua dvar par pahuancha. tala bahar se laga hua tha. sampoorn shakti se usane dvar hilaya. shor-gul se usaka sapana toota to vahaan kuchh n tha. vah pasine mean sarabor tha, hath-paanv thande hue the. usaka hriday timatimate hue dipak ke antim prakash ki bhaanti jalakar bujhane ko taiyar tha. varsha ki t dat d dhvani ke sivay kuchh bhi sunaee n deta tha. phanibhooshan se yah 'vastavikata' kianchit matr bhi vismrit n huee thi ki usaki adhoori ichchhaean poori hote-hote rah geean.

bhag 6

doosari rat ko phir natak hone vala tha, naukar ne ajna chahi to chetavani de di ki bahar ka dvar khula rahe. yah kaise ho sakata hai. vibhinn svabhav ke vyakti bahar se mele mean aye hue haian, durghatana ka sandeh hai.' naukar ne kaha. 'nahian, tum zaroor khula rakho.' 'to phir maian mele nahian jaooanga.' 'tum avashy jao.' naukar ashchary mean tha ki akhir unaka ashay kya hai? jab sandhya ho gee aur chahuanor andhakar chha gaya to phanibhooshan us khi daki mean a baitha. akash par gahara kohara chhaya hua tha, ghanaghor ghataean aisi tuli kh di thian ki jal-thal ek kar dean, chahuanor shoonyata ka rajy tha. aisa maloom hota tha ki sare sansar ka vayumandal maun bhav se kisi madhur dhvani ko sunane ke lie apane kan lagaye hue hai. medhakoan ki nirantar tarr-tarr aur gramin svaangoan ki kampit dhvani bhi us shoonyata mean badhak n maloom hoti thi. adhi rat ke lagabhag phir sampoorn shor, chahal-pahal ratri ke maun mean sone laga. rat ne apane kale vastroan par ek aur kala avaran dal liya. pahali rat ki bhaanti phanibhooshan ko phir vahi avaz sunaee di. usane nadi ki or drishti uthakar bhi n dekha. eeshvar n kare ki koee anadhikar-cheshta dvara samay se poorv hi usaki akaankshaoan ka khoon kar de. vah moortivat baitha raha jaise kisi ne lak di ki pratima ko banakar saresh se kursi par chipaka diya ho. panjoan ki ahat sunasan ghat ki sidhiyoan ki or se akar mukhy dvar mean pravisht huee. chakkar vale jine ki sidhiyoan par chadhakar andar ke kamare ki or badhi. laharoan ki pratispardha mean apane nauka ko dekha hoga. isi prakar phanibhooshan ka hriday balliyoan uchhalane laga. vah avaz baramade se hoti huee shayanakaksh ki or aee aur thik dvar par akar thahar gee. ab keval dvar-pravesh karana shesh tha. phanibhooshan ki akaankshaean machal uthian. santosh ka aanchal hath se jata raha, vah sahasa kursi se uchhal p da. ek du:khabhari chikh-'mani' usake mukh se nikali, kintu du:kh hai ki usake pashchath meandhakoan ki avaz aur varsha ki b di-b di booandoan ki t dat d ke siva aur kuchh n tha.

bhag 7

doosare din mela chhantane laga, dukanean arambh ho geean; darshak apane-apane gharoan ko vapas jane lage. mele ki shobha samapt ho gee. phanibhooshan ne din mean vrat rakha aur sab naukaroan ko ajna de di ki aj rat ko koee bhi vyakti n rahe. naukaroan ka vichar tha ki hamare malik aj kisi vishesh mantr ka jap kareange. sandhya-samay jab kahian bhi akash ki tuk diyoan par badal n the varsha se dhule hue vayumandal se sitare chamakane lage the, poornima ka chaand nikala hua tha, vayu bhi mand-mand bah rahi thi, mele se laute hue darshak apani thakan utar rahe the ve besudh hue so rahe the aur nadi par koee nauka dikhaee n deti thi. phanibhooshan usi khi daki mean a baitha aur takiye se sir lagakar akash ki or dhyan se dekhane laga. usako us samay vah samay yad aya jab vah kalej mean shiksha prapt kar raha tha. sandhya-samay chauk mean letakar apani bhuja par sir rakhakar jhilamilate hue sitaroan ko dekhakar manimalika ki sundar kalpana mean kho jaya karata tha. un dinoan kuchh samay ka bichhoh milan ki ashaoan ko apane aanchal mean liye bahut hi priy maloom hua karata tha; parantu vah sab-kuchh ab 'svapn' maloom hota tha. sitare akash se ojhal hone lage, andhakar ne daanye-baanye aur niche-oopar sab or se parde dalane arambh kar diye aur ye parde aankh ki palakoan ki bhaanti paraspar mil gaye. sansar svapnamay ho gaya. kintu aj phanibhooshan par ek vishesh prakar ka prabhav-sa tha. vah anubhav kar raha tha ki usaki ashaoan ke poorn hone ka samay samip hai. pichhali ratoan ki bhaanti kisi ke paanvoan ki ahat phir snan-ghat ki sidhiyoan par chadhane lagi, phanibhooshan ne aankhean band kar lian aur vicharoan mean nimagn ho gaya. paanv ki ahat mukhy dvar se pravisht hokar sampoorn makan mean hoti huee shayanakaksh ke dvar par akar vilin ho gee. phanibhooshan ka sampoorn sharir kaanpane laga; parantu vah dridh nishchay kar chuka tha ki ant tak aankhean n kholega. ahat kamare mean pravisht huee, khooanti par ki sa di, tak ke laimp, khule hue panadan aur any vastuoan ke pas tho di-tho di der thahari aur ant mean phanibhooshan ki kursi ki or badhi. ab phanibhooshan ne aankhean khol dian. dhimi-dhimi chaandani khi daki se a rahi thi. usaki drishti ke samane ek dhaancha, ek haddiyoan ka panjar kh da tha. usane rom-rom mean chhal, kalaiyoan mean k de, gale mean mala. saraansh yah ki pratyek jo d j daoo abhooshanoan se damak raha tha. sampoorn abhooshan dhile hone ke karan nikale p date the. netr vaise hi b de-b de aur chamakile, parantu prem-bhavana se rikt the. atharah varsh poorv vivah ki rat ko shahanaiyoan ke madhur svaroan mean inhian mohini aankhoan se manimalika ne phanibhooshan ko pahali bar dekha tha. aj vahi aankhean varsha ki bhiangi chaandani mean usake mukh par jami huee thi. panjar ne dayean hath se sanket kiya. phanibhooshan svayan chal p dane vali mashin ki bhaanti utha aur panjar ke pichhe-pichhe ho liya. har qadam par usaki haddi‍yaan chatakh rahi thian, abhooshan jhankrit ho rahe the. ve baramade se hote hue, sidhiyoan ke niche utare aur usi path par ho liye jo snan-ghat par jata tha. aandhere mean juganoo kabhi-kabhi chamak uthate the. madhdam dhimi chaandani vrikshoan ke gahan pattoan mean se nikalane ke lie prayatnashil thi. ve donoan nadi ke tat par pahuanche. panjar ne sidhiyoan se niche utarana arambh kiya. jal par chaandani ka pratibimb nadi ki laharoan se kri da kar raha tha. panjar nadi mean kood p da, usake pichhe phanibhooshan ka paanv bhi nadi mean gaya. usaki svapn ki chhalana tooti to vahaan koee n tha, keval vrikshoan ki ek pankti chaukidari kar rahi thi. ab phanibhooshan ke sampoorn sharir par kampan chhaya hua tha. phanibhooshan bhi ek achchha tairak tha, kintu ab usake hath-paanv bas mean n the. doosare hi kshan vah nadi ke athah jal ki tah mean ja chuka tha. is dard se bhare hue ant par skool ke adhyapak ne kaksha ko samapt kiya. usaki samapti par hamean phir ek bar shoony vayumandal ka anubhav hua. maian bhi maun tha. aandhere mean mere mukh ke vicharoan ka adhyayan vah n kar sakata tha. kya ap isako kahani kahate haian? usane sandeh ki mudra mean poochha. nahian! maian to ise saty nahian samajhata, pratham to isaka karan hai ki meri prakriti upanyas aur kahani-lekhan se ooanchi hai. aur doosara karan yah hai ki maian hi phanibhooshan hooan. maianne bat ko katakar kaha. skool ka adhyapak adhik vyakul nahian tha. kintu apaki patni ka nam? usane poochha. naravada kali.