गरीब की हाय -प्रेमचंद

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

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muanshi ramasevak bhauanhe chadhae hue ghar se nikale aur bole- ‘is jine se to marana bhala hai.’ mrityu ko prayah is tarah ke jitane nimantran diye jate haian, yadi vah sabako svikar karati, to aj sara sansar uja d dikhaee deta.

muanshi ramasevak chaandapur gaanv ke ek b de rees the. reesoan ke sabhi gun inamean bharapoor the. manav charitr ki durbalataean unake jivan ka adhar thian. vah nity munsiphi kachahari ke hate mean ek nim ke pe d ke niche kagajoan ka basta khol ek tooti-si chauki par baithe dikhaee dete the. kisi ne kabhi unhean kisi ijalas par qanooni bahas ya mukadame ki pairavi karate nahian dekha. parantu unhean sab log mukhtar sahab kahakar purakarate the. chahe toofan aye, pani barase, ole girean par mukhtar sahab vahaan se tas se mas n hote. jab vah kachahari chalate to dehatiyoan ke jhund-ke-jhund unake sath ho lete. charoan or se un par vishvas aur adar ki drishti p dati. sabamean prasiddh tha ki unaki jibh par sarasvati virajati haian. ise vakalat kaho ya mukhtari, parantu yah keval kul-maryada ki pratishtha ka palan tha. amadani adhik n hoti thi. chaandi ke sikkoan ki to charcha hi kya, kabhi-kabhi taanbe ke sikke bhi nirbhay unake pas ane se hichakate the.

muanshiji ki qanoonadani mean koee sandeh n tha. parantu ‘pas’ ke bakhe de ne unhean vivash kar diya tha. khair, jo ho, unaka yah pesha keval pratishtha-palan ke nimitt tha; nahian to unake nirvah ka mukhy sadhan as-pas ki anath, par khane-pine mean sukhi vidhavaoan aur bhole-bhale kintu dhani vriddhoan ki shraddha thi. vidhavaean apana rupaya unake yahaan amanat rakhatian. boodhe apane kapootoan ke dar se apana dhan unhean sauanp dete. par rupaya ek bar unaki muththi mean jakar phir nikalana bhool jata tha. vah zaroorat p dane par kabhi-kabhi karz le lete the. bhala, bina karz lie kisi ka kam chal sakata hai ? bhor ko saanjh ke karar par rupaya lete, par vah saanjh kabhi nahian ati thi. saraansh muanshiji karz lekar dena sikhe nahian the. yah unaki kul-pratha thi.

yahi sab mamale bahudha muanshi ji ke sukh-chain mean vighn dalate the. qanoon aur adalat se to unhean koee dar n tha. is maidan mean usaka samana karana pani mean magar se l dana tha. parantu jab koee dusht unase bhi d jata, unaki eemanadari par sandeh karata aur unake muanh par bura-bhala kahane par utaroo ho jata, tab muanshiji ke hriday par b di chot lagati. is prakar ki durghatanaean prayah hoti thian. har jagah aise ochhe log rahate haian, jinhean doosaroan ko nicha dikhane mean hi anand ata hai. aise logoan ka sahara pakar kabhi-kabhi chhote adami muanshiji ke muanh lag jate the. nahian to, ek kuanj din ki itani majal nahian thi ki aangan mean jakar unhean bura-bhala kahe. muanshiji usake purane gahak the; barasoan tak usase sag-bhaji li thi. yadi dam n diya jay, to kuanj din ko santosh karana chahie tha. dam jaldi ya der se mil hi jate. parantu vah muanhaphat kuanj din do hi barasoan mean ghabara gee, aur usane kuchh ane paisoan ke lie ek pratishthit adami ka pani utar liya. jhuanjhalakar muanshiji apane ko mrityu ka kaleva banane par utaroo ho ge, to isamean unaka kuchh dosh n tha.

isi gaanv mean mooanga nam ki ek vidhava brahmani rahati thi. usaka pati brahma ki kali palatan mean havaladar tha aur l daee mean vahian mara gaya. sarakar ki or se usake achchhe kamoan ke badale mooanga ko paanch sau rupaye mile the. vidhava stri, jamana najuk tha, bechari ne sab rupaye muanshi ramasevak ko sauanp die, aur mahine-mahine tho da-tho da usamean se maangakar apana nirvah karati rahi.

muanshiji ne yah kartavy kee varsh tak to b di eemanadari ke sath poora kiya par jab boodh hone par bhi mooanga nahian mari aur muanshi ji ko yah chianta huee ki shayad usamean se adhi rakam bhi svarg-yatra ke lie nahian chho dana chahati, to ek din unhoanne kaha—mooanga! tumhean marana hai ya nahian ? saph-saph kah do ki maian apane marane ki fikr karooan ? us din mooanga ki aankhe khulian, usaki niand tooti, boli—mera hisab kar do. hisab ka chittha taiyar tha. ‘amanat’ mean ab ek kau di baki n thi. mooanga ne b di k daee se muanshiji ka hath pak d kar kaha—abhi mere dhaee sau rupaye tumane daba rakhe haian. maian ek kau di bhi n chho dooangi.

parantu anathoan ka krodh patakhe ki avaz hai, jisase bachche dar jate haian aur asar kuchh nahian hota. adalat mean usaka kuchh zor n tha. n likha-padhi thi, n hisab-kitab. haan, panchayat se kuchh asara tha. panchayat baithi, kee gaanv ke log ikatthe hue. muanshiji niyat aur mamale ke saf the, unhean panchoan ka kya dar ! sabha mean kh de hokar panchoan se kaha— ‘bhaiyoan! ap log satyanarayan aur kulin haian. maian ap sab sahaboan ka das hooan. ap sab sahaboan ki udarata aur kripa se, daya aur prem se mera rom-rom kritajn hai aur ap log sochate haian ki is anathini aur vidhava stri ke rupaye h dap kar gaya hooan?’

panchoan ne ek svar se kaha—nahian, nahian ! apase aisa nahian ho sakata.

ramasevak—yadi ap sab sajjanoan ka vichar ho ki maianne rupaye daba liye, to mere lie doob marane ke siva aur koee upay nahian. maian dhanadhy nahian hooan, n mujhe udar hone ka ghamand hai, par apani kalam ki kripa se, ap logoan ki kripa se kisi ka mohataj nahian hooan kya maian aisa ochha ho jaooanga ki ek anathini ke rupaye pacha looan ?

panchoan ne ek svar se phir kaha—nahian, nahian ! apase aisa nahian ho sakata. muanh dekhakar tika kadha jata hai. panchoan ne muanshiji ko chho d diya. panchayat uth gee. mooanga ne ah bharakar santosh kiya aur man mean kaha—achchha, achchha ! yaha n mila to n sahi, vahaan kahaan jayega?

ab koee mooanga ka duahkh sunanevala aur sahayak n tha. daridrata se jo kuchh duahkh bhogane p date haian, vah sab use jhelane p de. vah sharir se pusht thi, chahati to parishram kar sakati thi; par jis din panchayat poori huee, usi din usane kam n karane ki kasam kha li. ab use rat-din rupayoan ki rat lagi rahati. uthate-baithate, sote-jagate, use keval ek kam tha aur vah muanshi ramasevak ka bhala manana. apane jhop de ke daravaze par baithi huee vah rat-din unhean sachche man se asisa karati. bahudha apane asis ke vakyoan mean aise kavita ke vaky aur upamaoan ka vyavahar karati ki log sunakar achambhe mean a jate.

dhire-dhire mooanga pagali ho chali. nange-sir, nange sharir, hath mean ek kulha di liye hue sunasan sthanoan mean ja baithati.

jhop di ke badale ab vah maraghat par, nadi ke kinare khandaharoan mean ghoomati dikhaee deti. bikhari huee latean, lal-lal aankhean, pagaloan-sa chehara, sookhe hue hath-paanv. usaka yah svaroop dekhakar log dar jate the. ab koee use hansi mean bhi nahian chhe data. yadi vah kabhi gaanv mean nikal ati, to striyaan gharoan ke kiva d band kar letian. purush katarakar idhar-udhar se nikal jate aur bachche chikh marakar bhagate. yadi koee l daka bhagata n tha, to vah muanshi ramasevak ka suputr ramagulam tha. bap mean jo kuchh kor-kasar rah gee thi, vah bete mean poori ho gee thi ! l dakoan ka usake mare nak mean dam tha. gaanv ke kane lang de adami usaki soorat se chidhate the aur galiyaan khane mean to shayad sasural mean anevale damad ko bhi itana anand n ata ho ! vah mooanga ke pichhe taliyaan bajata, kuttoan ko sath lie hue us samay tak rahata, jab tak vah bechari tang akar gaanv se nikal n jati. rupaya-paisa, hosh-havas khokar use pagali ki padavi mili aur ab vah sachamuch pagali thi. akeli baithi apane-ap ghantoan batean kiya karati jisamean ramasevak ke maans, haddi, cham de, aankhean, kaleja adi ko khane, masalane, nochane, khasotane ki b di utkat ichchha prakat ki jati thi aur jab usaki yah ichchha sima tak pahuanch jati, to vah ramasevak ke ghar ki or muanh karake khoob chillakar aur daravane shabdoan mean haank lagati, tera lohoo piooangi.

prayah rat ke sannate mean yah garajati huee avaz sunakar striyaan chauank p dati thian. parantu is avaz se bhayanak usaka thathakar hansana tha ! muanshiji ke lahoo pine ki kalpit khushi mean vah zor se hansa karati thi. is, thathane se aisi asurik uddandata, aisi pashavik ugrata tapakati thi ki rat ko sunakar logoan ka khoon thanda ho jata tha. maloom hota, mano, saik doan ulloo ek sath hans rahe haian.

muanshi ramasevak b de hausale aur kaleje ke adami the. n unhean divani ka dar tha n faujadari ka. parantu mooanga ke in daravane shabdoan ko sunakar vah bhi saham jate. hamean manushy ke nyay ka dar n ho, parantu eeshvar ke nyay ka dar pratyek manushy ke man mean kabhi-kabhi aisi hi bhavana utpann kar deta—unase adhik unaki stri ke man mean. unaki stri b di hi chatur thi. vah unako in sab batoan mean prayah salah diya karati thi. un logoan ki bhool thi, jo log kahate the ki muanshiji ki jibh par sarasvati virajati haian. vah gun to unaki stri ko prapt tha. bolane mean vah utani hi tej thi, jitana muanshiji likhane mean the aur yah donoan stri-purush prayah apani avash dasha mean salah karate ki ab kya karana chahie?

adhi rat ka samay tha. muanshiji nity niyam ke anusar apani chianta door karane ke lie sharab ke do-char ghooant pikar so ge the. yakayak mooanga ne unake daravaze par akar zor se haank lagayi, ‘tera lahoo piooangi’ aur khoob khilakhilakar hansi.

muanshiji yah bhayavah thahaka sunakar chauank p de. dar ke mare pair thar-thar kaanpane lage. kaleja dhak-dhak karane laga dil par bahut zor dal kar unhoanne daravaza khola, jakar nagin ko jagaya. nagin ne jhuanjhalakar kaha—kya hai; kya kahate ho ?

muanshiji ne dabi avaz se kaha—vah daravaze par kh di hai. nagin uth baithi—kya kahati hai ?

‘tumhara sir.’

‘kya daravaze par a gee ?’

‘haan, avaz nahian sunati ho.’

nagin mooanga se nahian, parantu usake dhyan se bahut darati thi, to bhi use vishvas tha ki maian bolane mean use zaroor nicha dikha sakati hooan. sanbhalakar boli—kaho to maian usase do-do batean kar looan ? parantu muanshiji ne mana kiya.

donoan adami pair dabae dyodhi mean gaye aur daravaze se jhaankakar dekha mooanga ki dhuandhali moorat dharati par p di thi aur usaki saans tezise chalati huee sunaee deti thi. ramasevak ke lahoo maans ki bhookh mean vah apana lahoo aur maans sukha chuki thi. ek bachcha bhi use gira sakata tha. parantu usase sara gaanv thar-thar kaanpata tha. ham jite manushy se nahian darate, par murde se darate haian. rat gujari. daravaza band tha, par muanshiji aur nagin ne baithakar rat kati, mooanga bhitar nahian ghus sakati thi, par usaki avaz ko kaun rok sakata tha mooanga se adhik daravani usaki avaz thi.

bhor ko muanshiji bahar nikale aur mooanga se bole—yahaan kyoan p di hai ?

mooanga boli— tera lahoo piooangi.

nagin ne bal khakar kaha—tera muanh jhulas dooangi.

par nagin ke vish ne mooanga par kuchh asar n kiya. usane zor se thahaka lagaya, nagin khisiyani-si ho gee. hansi ke samane muanh band ho jata hai. muanshiji phir bole— yahaan se uth ja.

‘n uthooangi.’

‘kab tak p di rahegi ?’

‘tera lahoo pikar jaooangi.’

muanshiji ki prakhar lekhani ka yahaan kuchh zor n chala aur nagin ki ag-bhari batean yahaan sard ho geean. donoan ghar mean jakar salah karane lage, yah bala kaise talegi ? is apatti se kaise chhutakara hoga ?

devi ati hai to bakare ka khoon pikar chali jati hai, par yah dain manushy ka khoon pine ayi hai. vah khoon, jisaka agar ek booand bhi kalam banane ke samay nikal p dati thi, to athavaroan aur mahinoan sare kunabe ko afasos rahata aur yah ghatana gaanv mean ghar-ghar phail jati. kya vahi lahoo pikar mooanga ka sookha sharir hara ho jaega ?

gaanv mean yah charcha phail gee, mooanga muanshiji ke daravaze par dharana diye baithi hai. muanshiji ke agaman mean gaanvavaloan ko b da maja ata tha. dekhate-dekhate saik doan adamiyoan ki bhi d lag gee. is daravaze par kabhi-kabhi bhi d lagi rahati thi. yah bhi d ramagulam ko pasand n thi. mooanga par use aisa krodh a raha tha ki yadi usaka vash chalata, to vah ise kuean mean dhakel deta. is tarah ka vichar uthate hi ramagulam ke man mean gudagudi sama gee aur vah b di kathinata se apani hansi rok saka. aha ! vah kuean mean girati to kya maje ki bat hoti ! parantu yah chu dail yahaan se talati hi nahian kya karooan ?

muanshiji ke ghar mean ek gay thi, jise khali, dana aur bhoosa to khoob khilaya jata, par vah sab usaki haddiyoan mean mil jata, usaka dhaancha pusht hota jata tha. ramagulam ne usi gay ka gobar ek haan di mean ghola aur sabaka-sab bechari mooanga par uan del diya. usake tho de-bahut chhiante darshakoan par bhi dal diye. bechari mooanga ladaphad ho gee aur log bhag kh de hue. kahane lage, yah muanshi ramagulam ka daravaza hai. yahaan isi prakar ka shishtachar kiya jata hai. jald bhag chalo, nahian to ab isase bhi badh kar khatir ki jayagi. idhar bhi d kam huee, udhar ramagulam ghar mean jakar khoob hansa aur khoob taliyaan bajayian. muanshiji ne vyarth ki bhi d ko aise sahaj mean aur aise sundar roop se hata dene ke upay par apane sushil l dake ki pith thoki. sab log to champat ho ge, par bechari mooanga jyoan-ki-tyoan baithi rah gee.

dopahar huee. mooanga ne kuchh nahian khaya. saanjh huee. hazar kahane-sune se bhi khana nahian khaya. gaanv ke chaudhari ne b di khushamad ki. yahaan tak ki muanshiji ne hath tak jo de, par devi prasann n huee. nidan muanshiji uthakar bhitar chale ge. vah kahate the ki roothane vale ko bhookh ap hi mana liya karati hai. mooanga ne yah rat bhi bina dana-pani ke kat di. lalaji aur lalain ne aj phir jag-jagakar bhor kiya. aj mooanga ki garaj aur hansi bahut kam sunaee p dati thi. gharavaloan ne samajha, bala tali, sabera hote hi jo daravaza kholakar dekha, to vah achet p di thi, muanh par makkhiyaan bhinabhina rahi haian aur usake pran-pakheroo u d chuke haian. vah is daravaze par marane hi ayi thi. jisane usake jivan ki jama-pooanji har li thi, usi ko apani jan bhi sauanp di. apane sharir ki mitti tak usako bheant kar di. dhan se manushy ko kitana prem hota hai ! dhan apani jan se bhi zyada pyara hota hai, visheshakar budhape mean. rrin chukane ke din jyoan-jyoan pas ate jate haian, tyoan-tyoan usaka byaj badhata jata hai.

yah kahana yahaan vyarth hai ki gaanv mean is ghatana se kaisi halachal machi aur muanshi ramasevak kaise apamanit hue. ek chhote-se gaanv mean aisi asadharan ghatana hone par jitani halachal ho sakati, usase adhik hi huee. muanshiji ka apaman jitana hona chahie tha, usase bal barabar bhi kam n hua. unaka bacha-khucha pani bhi is ghatana se chala gaya. ab gaanv ka chamar bhi unake hath ka pani pine ka, unhean chhoone ka ravadar n tha. yadi kisi ghar se koee gay khooante par mar jati hai, to vah adami mahinoan dvar-dvar bhi maangata phirata hai. n naee usaki hajamat banave, n kahar usaka pani bhare, n koee use chhue. yah gohatya ka prayashchit tha. brahmahatya ka dand to isase bhi k da hai aur isamean apaman bhi bahut hai. mooanga yah janati thi aur isilie is daravaze par akar mari thi. vah janati thi maian jite-ji to kuchh nahian kar sakati, marakar usase bahut kuchh kar sakati hooan. gobar ka upala jab jal kar khak ho jata hai,, tab sadhu-sant use mathe par chadhate haian; patthar ka dhela ag mean jalakar ag se adhik tikha aur marak hota hai.

muanshi ramasevak qanoonadaan the. qanoon ne un par koee dosh nahian lagaya tha. mooanga kisi qanooni dapha ke anusar nahian mari thi. tajirat hind mean usaka koee udaharan nahian milata tha. isalie jo log unase prayashchit karavana chahate the, unaki bhari bhool thi. kuchh harj nahian, kahar pani n bhare, n sahi. vah pani bhar leange. apana kam ap karane mean bhala laj hi kya ? bala se naee bal n banavega. hajamat banane ka kam hi kya hai ? dadhi bahut sundar vastu hai. dadhi mard ki shobha aur siangar hai aur jo phir baloan se aisi ghin hogi, to ek-ek ane mean to asture milate haian. dhobi kap de n dhoega, isaki bhi kuchh paravah nahian. sabun to gali-gali kau diyoan ke mol ata hai. ek batti sabun mean darjanoan kap de aise saf ho jate haian, jaise bagule ke par. dhobi kya khakar aisa saf kap da dhoega ? patthar par patak-patakar kap doan ka latta nikal leta hai. ap pahane, doosaroan ko bha de par pahanae, bhatti mean chadhae, reh mean bhigoe ! kap doan ki to durgati kar dalata hai. jabhi to kurte do-tin sal se adhik nahian chalate. nahian to dada har paanchavean baras do-tin achakan aur do kurate banavaya karate the. muanshi ramasevak aur unaki stri ne din-bhar to yoan hi kahakar apane man ko samajhaya. saanjh hote hi unaki tarkanaean shithil ho geean.

ab unake man par bhay ne chadhaee ki. jaise-taise rat bitati thi, bhay bhi badhata jata tha. bahar ka daravaza bhool se khula rah gaya tha, par kisi ki himmat n p dati thi ki jakar band to kar aye. nidan nagin ne hath mean diya liya. muanshiji ne kulha da, ramagulam ne gan dasa, is dhang se tinoan adami chauankate-hichakate daravaze par aye. yahaan muanshiji ne bahaduri se kam liya. unhoanne nidh dak daravaze se bahar nikalane ki koshish ki. kaanpate hue, par ooanchi avaz mean nagin se bole—tum vyarth darati ho, vah kya yahaan baithi hai ? par unaki pyari nagin ne unhean aandar khianch liya aur jhuanjhalakar boli—tumhara yahi l dakapan to achchha nahian. yah dangal jitakar tinoan adami rasoee ke kamare mean aye aur khana pakane laga.

parantu mooanga unaki aankhoan mean ghusi huee thi. apani parachhaee ko dekhakar mooanga ka bhay hota tha. aandhere kone mean mooanga baithi maloom hoti thi. vahi haddiyoan ka dhaancha, vahi bikhare hue bal, vahi pagalapan, vahi daravani aankh, mooanga ka nakhashikh dikhaee deta tha. isi kothari mean ate dal ke kee matake rakhe hue the, vahaan kuchh purane chith de bhi p de hue the. ek choohe ko bhookh ne bechain kiya (matakoan ne kabhi anaj ki soorat n dekhi thi; par sare gaanv mean mashahoor tha ki is ghar ke choohe gajab ke dakoo haian), to vah un danoan ki khoj mean, jo matakoan se kabhi nahian gire the, reangata hua is chith de ke niche a nikala. kap de mean kh dakh dahat huee. phaile hue chith de mooanga ki patali taange ban geean, nagin dekhakar jhijhaki aur chik uthi. muanshiji badahavas hokar daravaze ki or lapake, ramagulam dau dakar unaki taange se lipat gaya. chooha bahar nikal aya. use dekhakar in logoan ke hosh thikane hue. ab muanshiji sahas karake matake ki or chale. nagin ne kaha—rahane bhi do, dekh li tumhari maradanagi.

muanshiji apani priya nagin ke is anadar par bahut big de—kya tum samajhati ho, maian dar gaya ? bhala, dar ki kya bat thi ! mooanga mar gayi; kya vah baithi hai ? maian kal nahian daravaze ke bahar nikal gaya tha. tum rokati rahian maian n mana.

muanshiji ki is dalil ne nagin ko niruttar kar diya. kal daravaze ke bahar nikal jana ya nikalane ki koshish karana sadharan kam n tha. jisake sahas ka aisa praman mil chuka ho, use darapok kaun kah sakata hai ? yah nagin ki hathadharmi thi.

khana khakar tinoan adami sone ke kamare mean aye. parantu mooanga ne yahaan bhi pichha n chho da. batean karate the, dil ko bahalate the, nagin ne raja haradaul aur rani sarandha ki kahaniyaan kahian, muanshiji ne faujadari ke kee mukadamoan ka hal kah sunaya. parantu to bhi, in upayoan se bhi mooanga ki moorti unaki aankhoan ke samane se n hatati thi. jara khatakhatahat hoti tab tinoan chauank p date. udhar pattiyoan mean sanasanahat huee ki idhar tinoan ke roangate kh de ho ge. rah-hakar ek dhimi avaz dharati ke bhitar se unake kanoan mean ati thi—‘tera lahoo piooangi’.

adhi rat ko nagin niand se chauank p di. vah in dinoan garbhavati thi lal-lal aankhoanvali, tej aur nukile daantoanvali mooanga usi ki chhati par baithi huee jan p dati thi. nagin chikh uthi. bavali ki tarah aangan mean bhag ayi aur yakayak dharati par chitt gir p di. sara sharir pasine-pasine ho gaya. muanshiji bhi usaki chikh sunakar chauanke, par dar ke mare aankhean n khulian. aandhoan ki tarah daravaza tatolate rahe. bahut der ke bad unhean daravaza mila. aangan mean aye nagin zamin par p di hath-paanv patak rahi thi. use uthakar bhitar laye, par rat-bhar usane aankhean n kholian. bhor ko akabak bakane lagi. tho di der mean jvar ho aya. badan lal tava-sa ho gaya. saanj hote-hote sannipat ho aya aur adhi rat ke samay jab sansar mean sannata chhaya hua tha, nagin is sansar se chal basi. mooanga ke dar ne usaki jan li jab tak mooanga jiti rahi, vah nagin ki phuphakar se sada darati rahi. pagali hone par bhi usane kabhi nagin ka samana nahian kiya, par apani jan dekar usane aj nagin ki jan li bhay mean b di shakti hai. manushy hava mean ek girah bhi nahian laga sakata, par isane hava mean ek sansar rach dala hai.

rat bit gayi. din chadhata ata tha, par gaanv ka koee adami nagin ki lash uthane ko ata n dikhaee diya. muanshiji ghar-ghar ghoome par koee n nikala. bhala, hatyare ke daravaze par kaun jae ? hatyare ki lash kaun uthae ? is samay muanshiji ka robadab, unaki prabal lekhani ka bhay aur unaki qanooni pratibha ek bhi kam n ayi. charoan or se harakar muanshiji phir apane ghar aye. yahaan unhean aandhakar-hi-aandhakar dikhata tha, daravaze tak to aye, par bhitar pair nahian rakha jata tha. n bahar hi kh de rah sakate the. bahar mooanga thi, bhitar nagin. ji ko k da karake ‘hanuman chalisa’ ka path karate hue ghar mean ghuse. us samay unake man par jo bitati thi, vahi janate the. unaka anuman karana kathin hai. ghar mean lash p di huee; n koee age, n pichhe. doosara byah to ho sakata tha. abhi isi phagun mean to pachasavaan laga hai. par aisi suyogy aur mithi bolivali stri kahaan milegi ? afasos ! ab tagada karane valoan se bahas kaun karega, kaun unhean niruttar karega? len-den ka hisab-kitab kaun itani khoobi se karega ? kisaki k di avaz tir ki tarah tagadedaroan ki chhati mean chubhegi ? yah nukasan ab poora nahian ho sakata. doosare din muanshiji lash ko ek thelega di par ladakar gangaji ki taraph chale.

shav ke sath jane valoan ki sankhya kuchh bhi n thi. ek svayan muanshiji, doosare unake putraratn ramagulamaji ! is beijjati se mooanga ki lash bhi nahian uthi thi. mooanga ne nagin ki jan lekar bhi muanshiji ka piand n chho da. unake man mean har ghadi mooanga ki moorti virajaman rahati thi. kahian rahate, unaka dhyan isi or raha karata tha. yadi dil-bahalav ka koee upay hota, to shayad vah itane bechain n hote; par gaanv ka ek putali bhi unake daravaze ki or n jhaankata tha. bechare apane hathoan pani bharate, ap hi baratan dhote. soch aur krodh, chianta aur bhay, itane shatruoan ke samane ek dimag kab tak thahar sakata ? visheshakar vah dimag, jo roj,-roj qanoon ki bahasoan mean kharch ho jata tha.

akele kaidi ki tarah unake das-barah din to jyoan-tyoan kar kate. chaudahavean din muanshiji ne kap de badale aur boriya-basta liye hue kachahari chale. aj unaka chehara kuchh khila hua tha. jate hi mere muvakkil mujhe gher leange. meri matamapursi kareange. maian aansuoan ki do-char booandean gira dooanga. phir bainamoan, rehanamoan aur sulahanamoan ki bharamar ho jaegi. mutthi garam hogi. sham ko jara nashepani ka rang jam jaega, jisake chhoot jane se ji aur bhi uchat ho raha tha. inhian vicharoan mean magn muanshiji kachahari pahuanche.

par vahaan rehanamoan ki bharamar aur bainamoan ki badh aur muvakkiloan ki chahal-pahal ke badale nirasha ki retili bhoomi najar ayi. basta khole ghanto baithe rahe, par koee najadik bhi n aya. kisi ne itana bhi n poochha ki ap kaise haian ? ne muvakkil to khair, b de-b de purane muvakkil, jinaka muanshiji se kee pidhiyoan se sarokar tha, aj unase muanh chhipane lage. vah nalayaq aur ana di ramajan, jisaki muanshiji hansi u date the aur jise shuddh likhana bhi n ata tha, gopiyoan mean kanhaiya bana hua tha. vah re bhagy ! muvakkil yoan muanh phere chale jate haian, mano kabhi ki jan-pahachan hi nahian. din-bhar kachahari ki khak chhanane ke bad muanshiji apane ghar chale. nirasha aur chinta mean doobe hue jyoan-jyoan ghar ke nikat ate the, mooanga ka chitr samane ata jata tha. yahaan tak ki jab ghar ka dvar khola aur do kutte, jinhean ramagulam ne band kar rakha tha, jhatapat bahar nikale, to muanshiji ke hosh u d ge; ek chikh marakar zamin par gir p de.

manushy ke man aur mastishk par bhay ka jitana prabhav hota hai, utana aur kisi shakti ka nahian ! prem, chinta, nirasha, hani yah sab man ko avashy dukhit karate haian; yah hava ke halake jhoanke haian aur bhay prachand aandhi hai. muanshiji par isake bad kya biti, maloom nahian. kee din tak logoan ne unhean kachahari jate aur vahaan se murajhae hue lautate dekha. kachahari jana unaka kartavy tha aur yadyapi vahaan muvakkiloan ka akal tha, to bhi tagadevaloan se gala chhu dane aur unako bharosa dilane ke lie ab yahi ek lataka rah gaya tha. isake bad vah kee mahine tak dikh n p de. badrinath chale gaye.

ek din gaanv mean ek sadhu aya, bhabhoot ramae, lambi-lambi jataean, hath mean kamandal. isaka chehara muanshi ramasevak se bahut milata-julata tha. bolachal bhi adhik bhed n tha. vah ek pe d ke niche dhooni ramae baitha raha. usi rat ko muanshi ramasevak ke ghar dhuaan utha, phir ag ki jvala dikhane lagi aur ag bh dak uthi. gaanv ke saik doan adami dau de, ag bujhane ke lie nahian, tamasha dekhane ke lie. ek garib ki hay mean kitana prabhav hai ! ramagulam muanshiji ke gayab ho jane par apane mama ke yahaan chal gaya aur vahaan kuchh dinoan raha, par vahaan usaki chal-dhal kisi ko pasand n ayi.

ek din usane kisi ke khet mean mooli nochi. usane do-char dhaul lagae. us par vah is tarah big da ki jab usake chane khalihan mean aye, to usane ag laga di. sara-ka-sara khalihan jalakar khak ho gaya. hajaroan rupayoan ka nukasan hua. pulis ne tahakikataki, ramagulam pak da gaya. isi aparadh mean vah chunar ke ripharmetari skool mean maujood hai

sanbandhit lekh

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