ग़बन उपन्यास भाग-14

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

us din se jalapa ke pati-sneh mean seva-bhav ka uday hua. vah snan karane jata, to use apani dhoti chuni huee milati. ale par tel aur sabun bhi rakkha hua pata. jab daftar jane lagata, to jalapa usake kap de lakar samane rakh deti. pahale pan maangane par milate the, ab zabaradasti khilae jate the. jalapa usaka rukhadekha karati. use kuchh kahane ki zaroorat n thi. yahaan tak ki jab vah bhojan karane baithata, to vah pankha jhala karati. pahale vah badi anichchha se bhojan banane jati thi aur us par bhi begar-si talati thi. ab bade prem se rasoee mean jati. chizean ab bhi vahi banati thian, par unaka svad badhagaya tha. rama ko is madhur sneh ke samane vah do gahane bahut hi tuchchh janchate the.

udhar jis din rama ne gangoo ki dukan se gahane kharide, usi din doosare sarraphoan ko bhi usake abhooshan-prem ki soochana mil gee. rama jab udhar se nikalata, to donoan taraph se dukanadar uth-uthakar use salam karate, ‘aie babooji, pan to khate jaie. do-ek chizean hamari dukan se to dekhie.‘

rama ka atm-sanyam usaki sakh ko aur bhi badhata tha. yahaan tak ki ek din ek dalal rama ke ghar par a pahuancha, aur usake nahian-nahian karane par bhi apani sandookachi khol hi di.

rama ne usase pichha chhudane ke lie kaha, ‘bhaee, is vakt mujhe kuchh nahian lena hai. kyoan apana aur mera samay nasht karoge. dalal ne bade vinit bhav se kaha, ‘babooji, dekh to lijie. pasand ae to lijiega, nahian to n lijiega. dekh lene mean to koee harj nahian hai. akhir reesoan ke pas n jayan, to kisake pas jayan. auroan ne apase gahari rakamean marian, hamare bhagy mean bhi bada hoga, to apase char paisa pa jaeange. bahooji aur maeeji ko dikha lijie! mera man to kahata hai ki aj ap hi ke hathoan bohani hogi.‘

ramanath—‘auratoan ke pasand ki n kaho, chizean achchhi hoangi hi. pasand ate kya der lagati hai, lekin bhaee, is vakt hath khali hai.‘

dalal hansakar bola, ‘babooji, bas aisi bat kah dete haian ki vah! apaka hukm ho jay to hazar-paanch sau apake oopar nichhavar kar dean. ham log adami ka mizaj dekhate haian, babooji! bhagavanh ne chaha to aj maian sauda karake hi uthooanga.‘

dalal ne sandookachi se do chizean nikalian, ek to ne phaishan ka jadaoo kangan tha aur doosara kanoan ka riang donoan hi chizean apoorv thian. aisi chamak thi mano dipak jal raha ho das baje the, dayanath daftar ja chuke the, vah bhi bhojan karane ja raha tha. samay bilakul n tha, lekin in donoan chizoan ko dekhakar use kisi bat ki sudh hi n rahi. donoan kes liye hue ghar mean aya. usake hath mean kes dekhate hi donoan striyaan toot p dian aur un chizoan ko nikal-nikalakar dekhane lagian. unaki chamak-damak ne unhean aisa mohit kar liya ki gun-dosh ki vivechana karane ki unamean shakti hi n rahi. jageshvari—‘ajakal ki chizoan ke samane to purani chizean kuchh janchati hi nahian.

jalapa—‘mujhe to un purani chizoan ko dekhakar kai ane lagati hai. n jane un dinoan auratean kaise pahanati thian.‘

rama ne muskarakar kaha,’to donoan chizean pasand haian n?’

jalapa—‘pasand kyoan nahian haian, ammaanji, tum le lo.’

jageshvari ne apani manovyatha chhipane ke lie sir jhuka liya. jisaka sara jivan g!hasthi ki chiantaoan mean kat gaya, vah aj kya svapn mean bhi in gahanoan ke pahanane ki asha kar sakati thi! ah! us dukhiya ke jivan ki koee sadh hi n poori huee. pati ki ay hi kabhi itani n huee ki bal-bachchoan ke palan-poshan ke uparaant kuchh bachata. jab se ghar ki svamini huee, tabhi se mano usaki tapashcharya ka aranbh hua aur sari lalasaean ek-ek karake dhool mean mil gee. usane un abhooshanoan ki or se aankhean hata lian. unamean itana akarshan tha ki unaki or takate hue vah darati thi. kahian usaki virakti ka parada n khul jay. boli,’maian lekar kya karooangi beti, mere pahanane-odhane ke din to nikal ge. kaun laya hai beta? kya dam haian inake?’

ramanath—‘ek sarraph dikhane laya hai, abhi dam-am nahian poochhe, magar ooanche dam hoange. lena to tha hi nahian, dam poochhakar kya karata ?’

jalapa—‘lena hi nahian tha, to yahaan lae kyoan?’

jalapa ne yah shabd itane avesh mean akar kahe ki rama khisiya gaya. unamean itani uttejana, itana tiraskar bhara hua tha ki in gahanoan ko lauta le jane ki usaki himmat n p di. bola,to le looan?’

jalapa—‘ammaan lene hi nahian kahatian to lekar kya karoge- kya muft mean de raha hai?’

ramanath—‘samajh lo muft hi milate haian.‘

jalapa—‘sunati ho ammaanji, inaki batean. ap jakar lauta aie. jab hath mean rupaye hoange, to bahut gahane mileange.‘

jageshvari ne mohasakt svar mean kaha,’rupaye abhi to nahian maangata?’

jalapa—‘udhar bhi dega, to sood to laga hi lega?’

ramanath—‘to lauta dooan- ek bat chatapat tay kar dalo. lena ho, le lo, n lena ho, to lauta do. moh aur duvidha mean n p do…’

jalapa ko yah spasht batachit is samay bahut kathor lagi. rama ke muanh se use aisi asha n thi. iankar karana usaka kam tha, rama ko lene ke lie agrah karana chahie tha. jageshvari ki or lalayit najaroan se dekhakar boli,’lauta do. rat-din ke takaze kaun sahega.‘

vah kesoan ko band karane hi vali thi ki jageshvari ne kangan uthakar pahan liya, mano ek kshan-bhar pahanane se hi usaki sadh poori ho jayagi. phir man mean is ochhepan par lajjit hokar vah use utarana hi chahati thi ki rama ne kaha, ‘ab tumane pahan liya hai ammaan, to pahane raho maian tumhean bheant karata hooan.‘

jageshvari ki aankhean sajal ho gee. jo lalasa aj tak n poori ho saki, vah aj rama ki matri-bhakti se poori ho rahi thi, lekin kya vah apane priy putr par rrin ka itana bhari bojh rakh degi ?abhi vah bechara balak hai, usaki samarthy hi kya hai? n jane rupaye jald hath aean ya der mean. dam bhi to nahian maloom. agar ooanche damoan ka hua, to bechara dega kahaan se- use kitane takaze sahane p deange aur kitana lajjit hona p dega. katar svar mean boli, ‘nahian beta, maianne yoan hi pahan liya tha. le jao, lauta do.‘

mata ka udas mukh dekhakar rama ka hriday matri-prem se hil utha. kya rrin ke bhay se vah apani tyagamoorti mata ki itani seva bhi n kar sakega?mata ke prati usaka kuchh kartavy bhi to hai? bola,rupaye bahut mil jaeange ammaan, tum isaki chianta mat karo. jageshvari ne bahoo ki or dekha. mano kah rahi thi ki rama mujh par kitana atyachar kar raha hai. jalapa udasin bhav se baithi thi. kadachit use bhay ho raha tha ki mataji yah kangan le n lean. mera kangan pahan lena bahoo ko achchha nahian laga, isamean jageshvari ko sandeh nahian raha. usane turant kangan utar dala, aur jalapa ki or badhakar boli,’maian apani or se tumhean bheant karati hooan, mujhe jo kuchh pahanana-odhana tha, odh-pahan chuki. ab zara tum pahano, dekhooan,’

jalapa ko isamean zara bhi sandeh n tha ki mataji ke pas rupaye ki kami nahian. vah samajhi, shayad aj vah pasij gee haian aur kangan ke roope de deangi. ek kshan pahale usane samajha tha ki rupaye rama ko dene p deange, isilie ichchha rahane par bhi vah use lauta dena chahati thi. jab mataji usaka dam chuka rahi thian, to vah kyoan iankar karati, magar oopari man se boli,’ rupaye n hoan, to rahane dijie ammaanji, abhi kaun jaldi hai?’

rama ne kuchh chidhakar kaha,’to tum yah kangan le rahi ho?’

jalapa—‘ammaanji nahian manatian, to maian kya karooan?

ramanath—‘aur ye riang, inhean bhi kyoan nahian rakh letian?’

jalapa—‘jakar dam to poochh ao.

rama ne adhir hokar kaha,’tum in chizoan ko le jao, tumhean dam se kya matalab!’

rama ne bahar akar dalal se dam poochha to sannate mean a gaya. kangan sat sau ke the, aur riang dedh sau ke, usaka anuman tha ki kangan adhikase-adhik tin sau ke hoange aur riang chalis-pachas rupaye ke, pachhatae ki pahale hi dam kyoan n poochh lie, nahian to in chizoan ko ghar mean le jane ki naubat hi kyoan ati? udharate hue sharm ati thi, magar kuchh bhi ho, udharana to p dega hi. itana bada bojh vah sir par nahian le sakata dalal se bola, ‘bade dam haian bhaee, maianne to tin-char sau ke bhitar hi aanka tha.‘ dalal ka nam charanadas tha. bola,dam mean ek kau di pharak p d jay sarakar, to muanh n dikhaooan. dhaniram ki kothi ka to mal hai, ap chalakar poochh lean. dam di rupaye ki dalali alabatta meri hai, apaki marazi ho dijie ya n dijie.‘

ramanath—‘to bhaee in damoan ki chizean to is vakt hamean nahian leni haian.‘

charanadas—‘aisi bat n kahie, babooji! apake lie itane rupaye kaun badi bat hai. do mahine bhi mal chal jay to usake doone hath a jayange. apase badhakar kaun shaukin hoga. yah sab reesoan ke hi pasand ki chizean haian. ganvar log inaki kadr kya janean.‘

ramanath—‘sadhe ath sau bahut hote haian bhee!‘

charanadas—‘rupayoan ka muanh n dekhie babooji, jab bahooji pahanakar baitheangi, to ek nigah mean sare rupaye tar jayange.‘

rama ko vishvas tha ki jalapa gahanoan ka yah mooly sunakar ap hi bichak jayagi. dalal se aur zyada batachit n ki. aandar jakar bade zor se hansa aur bola, ‘apane is kangan ka kya dam samajha tha, maanji?’

jageshvari koee javab dekar bevakooph n banana chahati thi,in jadaoo chizoan mean nap-taul ka to kuchh hisab rahata nahian jitane mean tai ho jay, vahi thik hai.

ramanath—‘achchha, tum batao jalapa, is kangan ka kitana dam aankati ho? ’

jalapa—‘chhah sau se kam ka nahian.’

rama ka sara khel big d gaya. dam ka bhay dikhakar rama ne jalapa ko dara dena chaha tha, magar chhah aur sat mean bahut thoda hi aantar tha. aur sanbhav hai charanadas itane hi par razi ho jay. kuchh jheanpakar bola,kachche nagine nahian haian.’

jalapa—‘kuchh bhi ho, chhah sau se zyada ka nahian.’

ramanath—‘aur riang ka? ’

jalapa—‘adhik se adhik sau rupaye! ’

ramanath—‘yahaan bhi chookian, dedhasau maangata hai.’

jalapa—‘jattoo hai koee, hamean in damoan lena hi nahian.

rama ki chal ulti p di, jalapa ko in chizoan ke mooly ke vishay mean bahut dhokha n hua tha. akhir rama ki arthik dasha to usase chhipi n thi, phir vah sat sau rupaye ki chijoan ke lie muanh khole baithi thi. rama ko kya maloom tha ki jalapa kuchh aur hi samajhakar kangan par laharaee thi. ab to gala chhootane ka ek hi upay tha aur vah yah ki dalal chhah sau par razi n ho bola, ‘vah sadhe ath se kau di kam n lega.‘ jalapa—‘to lauta do.‘

ramanath—‘mujhe to lautate sharm ati hai. ammaan, zara ap hi dalan mean chalakar kah dean, hamean sat sau se zyada nahian dena hai. dena hota to de do, nahian chale jao.‘

jageshvari--’haan re, kyoan nahian, us dalal se maian batean karane jaooan! ‘

jalapa—‘tumhian kyoan nahian kah dete, isamean to koee sharm ki bat nahian.‘

ramanath—‘mujhase saf javab n dete banega. duniya-bhar ki khushamad karega. chuni chuna,ap bade adami haian, rees haian, raja haian. apake lie dedhasau kya chiz hai. maian usaki batoan mean a jaooanga. ‘

jalapa—‘achchha, chalo maian hi kahe deti hooan.‘

ramanath—‘vah, phir to sab kam hi ban gaya.

rama pichhe dubak gaya. jalapa dalan mean akar boli, ‘zara yahaan ana ji, o sarraph! lootane ae ho, ya mal bechane ae ho! ‘

charanadas baramade se uthakar dvar par aya aur bola, ‘kya hukm hai, sarakar.

jalapa—‘mal bechane ate ho, ya jatane ate ho? sat sau rupaye kangan ke maangate ho? ‘

charanadas—‘sat sau to usaki karigari ke dam haian, hoojoor! ‘

jalapa—‘achchha to jo us par sat sau nichhavar kar de, usake pas le jao. riang ke dedhasau kahate ho, loot hai kya? maian to donoan chizoan ke sat sau

se adhik n dooangi. charanadas—‘bahooji, ap to aandher karati haian. kahaan sadhe ath sau aur kahaan sat sau? ‘

jalapa—‘tumhari khushi, apani chiz le jao.‘

charanadas—‘itane bade darabar mean akar chiz lauta le jaooan?’ ap yoan hi pahanean. das-paanch rupaye ki bat hoti, to apaki zaban ne udharata. apase jhooth nahian kahata bahooji, in chizoan par paisa rupaya nagad hai. usi ek paise mean dukan ka bhada, baka-khata, dastoori, dalali sab samajhie. ek bat aisi samajhakar kahie ki hamean bhi char paise mil jaean .savere-savere lautana n p de.

jalapa—‘kah die, vahi sat sau.‘

charanadas ne aisa muanh banaya, mano vah kisi dharm-sankat mean p d gaya hai. phir bola—‘sarakar, hai to ghata hi, par apaki bat nahian talate banati. rupaye kab mileange?’

jalapa—‘jaldi hi mil jayange.’

jalapa aandar jakar boli—‘akhir diya ki nahian sat sau mean- dedhasau saf udae lie jata tha. mujhe pachhatava ho raha hai ki kuchh aur kam kyoan n kaha. ve log is tarah gahakoan ko lootate haian.’

rama itana bhari bojh lete ghabara raha tha, lekin paristhiti ne kuchh aisa rang pakada ki bojh us par lad hi gaya. jalapa to khushi ki umang mean donoan chizean liye oopar chali gee, par rama sir jhukae chianta mean dooba khadatha. jalapa ne usaki dasha janakar bhi in chizoan ko kyoan thukara nahian diya, kyoan zor dekar nahian kaha—‘ maian n looangi, kyoan duvidho mean p di rahi. sadhe paanch sau bhi chukana mushkil tha, itane aur kahaan se aeange.‘

asal mean galati meri hi hai. mujhe dalal ko daravaze se hi dutkar dena chahie tha. lekin usane man ko samajhaya. yah apane hi papoan ka to prayashchit hai. phir adami isilie to kamata hai. rotiyoan ke lale tho de hi the? bhojan karake jab rama oopar kap de pahanane gaya, to jalapa aine ke samane kh di kanoan mean riang pahan rahi thi. use dekhate hi boli —‘aj kisi achchhe ka muanh dekhakar uthi thi. do chizean muft hath a gee.‘

rama ne vismay se poochha , ‘muft kyoan? rupaye n dene p deange? ‘

jalapa—‘rupaye to ammaanji deangi? ‘

ramanath—‘kya kuchh kahati thian? ‘

jalapa—‘unhoanne mujhe bheant die haian, to rupaye kaun dega? ‘

rama ne usake bholepan par muskarakar kaha, yahi samajhakar tumane yah chizean le lian ? ammaan ko dena hota to usi vakt de detian jab gahane chori ge the.kya unake pas rupaye n the?‘

jalapa asamanjas mean p dakar boli, to mujhe kya maloom tha. ab bhi to lauta sakate ho kah dena, jisake lie liya tha, use pasand nahian aya. yah kahakar usane turant kanoan se riang nikal lie. kangan bhi utar dale aur donoan chizean kes mean rakhakar usaki taraph is tarah badhaee, jaise koee billi choohe se khel rahi ho vah choohe ko apani pak d se bahar nahian hone deti. use chho dakar bhi nahian chho dati. hathoan ko phailane ka sahas nahian hota tha. kya usake hriday ki bhi yahi dasha n thi? usake mukh par havaiyaan u d rahi thian. kyoan vah rama ki or n dekhakar bhoomi ki or dekh rahi thi - kyoan sir oopar n uthati thi? kisi sankat se bach jane mean jo hardik anand hota hai, vah kahaan tha? usaki dasha thik us mata ki-si thi, jo apane balak ko videsh jane ki anumati de rahi ho vahi vivashata, vahi katarata, vahi mamata is samay jalapa ke mukh par uday ho rahi thi. rama usake hath se kesoan ko le sake, itana kada sanyam usamean n tha. use takaze sahana, lajjit hona, muanh chhipae phirana, chianta ki ag mean jalana, sab kuchh sahana manjoor tha. aisa kam karana namanjoor tha jisase jalapa ka dil toot jae, vah apane ko abhagin samajhane lage. usaka sara jnan, sari cheshta, sara vivek is aghat ka virodh karane laga. prem aur paristhitiyoan ke sangharsh mean prem ne vijay paee.

usane muskarakar kaha, ‘rahane do, ab le liya hai, to kya lautaean. ammaanji bhi hanseangi.

jalapa ne banavati kaanpate hue kanth se kaha,apani chadar dekhakar hi paanv phailana chahie. ek nee vipatti mol lene ki kya zaroorat hai! rama ne mano jal mean doobate hue kaha, eeshvar malik hai. aur turant niche chala gaya. ham kshanik moh aur sankoch mean p dakar apane jivan ke sukh aur shaanti ka kaise hom kar dete haian! agar jalapa moh ke is jhoanke mean apane ko sthir rakh sakati, agar rama sankoch ke age sir n jhuka deta, donoan ke hriday mean prem ka sachcha prakash hota, to ve path-bhrasht hokar sarvanash ki or n jate. gyarah baj ge the. daftar ke lie der ho rahi thi, par rama is tarah ja raha tha, jaise koee apane priy bandhu ki dah-kriya karake laut raha ho.