ग़बन उपन्यास भाग-16

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

chay-parti mean koee vishesh bat nahian huee. ratan ke sath usaki ek nate ki bahan aur thi. vakil sahab n ae the. dayanath ne utani der ke lie ghar se tal jana hi uchit samajhab haan, ramesh baboo baramade mean barabar kh de rahe. rama ne kee bar chaha ki unhean bhi parti mean sharik kar lean, par ramesh mean itana sahas n tha. jalapa ne donoan mehamanoan ko apani sas se milaya. ye yuvatiyaan unhean kuchh ochhi jan p dian. unaka sare ghar mean dau dana, dham-dham karake kothe par jana, chhat par idhar-udhar uchakana, khilakhilakar hansana, unhean hu dadangapan maloom hota tha. unaki niti mean bahoo-betiyoan ko bhari aur lajjashil hona chahie tha. ashchary yah tha ki aj jalapa bhi unhian mean mil gee thi. ratan ne aj kangan ki charcha tak n ki.

abhi tak rama ko parti ki taiyariyoan se itani phursat nahian mili thi ki gangoo ki dukan tak jata. usane samajha tha, gangoo ko chhah sau rupaye de dooanga to pichhale hisab mean jama ho jaeange. keval dhaee sau rupaye aur rah jaeange. is naye hisab mean chhah sau aur milakar phir ath sau rah jaeange. is tarah use apani sakh jamane ka suavasar mil jayaga. doosare din rama khush hota hua gangoo ki dukan par pahuancha aur rob se bola, ‘kya rang-dhang hai maharaj, koee nee chiz banavaee hai idhar?’

rama ke talamatol se gangoo itana virakt ho raha tha ki aj kuchh rupaye milane ki asha bhi use prasann n kar saki. shikayat ke dhang se bola, ‘baboo sahab, chizean kitani banian aur kitani bikian, apane to dukan par ana hi chho d diya. is tarah ki dukanadari ham log nahian karate. ath mahine hue, apake yahaan se ek paisa bhi nahian mila.

ramanath—‘bhaee, khali hath dukan par ate sharm ati hai. ham un logoan mean nahian haian, jinase takaza karana p de. aj yah chhah sau rupaye jama kar lo, aur ek achchha-sa kangan taiyar kar do.’

gangoo ne rupaye lekar sandook mean rakhe aur bola,’ban jaeange. baki rupaye kab tak mileange?’

ramanath—‘bahut jald.’

gangoo—‘haan babooji, ab pichhala saf kar dijie.’

gangoo ne bahut jald kangan banavane ka vachan diya, lekin ek bar sauda karake use maloom ho gaya tha ki yahaan se jald rupaye vasool hone vale nahian. natija yah hua ki rama roz takaza karata aur gangoo roz hile karake talata. kabhi karigar bimar p d jata, kabhi apani stri ki dava karane sasural chala jata, kabhi usake lanake bimar ho jate. ek mahina guzar gaya aur kangan n bane. ratan ke takazoan ke dar se rama ne park jana chho d diya, magar usane ghar to dekh hi rakkha tha. is ek mahine mean kee bar takaza karane aee. akhir jab savan ka mahina a gaya to usane ek din rama se kaha, ‘vah suar nahian banakar deta, to tum kisi aur karigar ko kyoan nahian dete?’

ramanath—‘us paji ne aisa dhokha diya ki kuchh n poochho, bas roz ajakal kiya karata hai. maianne badi bhool ki jo use peshagi rupaye de diye. ab usase rupaye nikalana mushkil hai.‘

ratan—‘ap mujhe usaki dukan dikha dijie, maian usake bap se vasool kar looangi. tavan alag. aise beeeman adami ko pulis mean dena chahie.‘

jalapa ne kaha, ‘haan aur kya sabhi sunar der karate haian, magar aisa nahian, rupaye dakar jayan aur chiz ke lie mahinoan daudaean.

rama ne sir khujalate hue kaha, ‘ap das din aur sabr karean, maian aj hi usase rupaye lekar kisi doosare sarraph ko de dooanga.‘

ratan—‘ap mujhe us badamash ki dukan kyoan nahian dikha dete. maian hantar se bat karooan.‘

ramanath—‘kahata to hooan. das din ke aandar apako kangan mil jaeange.‘

ratan—‘ap khud hi dhil dale hue haian. ap usaki lallo-chappo ki batoan mean a jate hoange. ek bar k de p d jate, to majal thi ki yoan hilehavale karata! ‘

akhir ratan badi mushkil se vida huee. usi din sham ko gangoo ne saf javab de diya,bina adhe rupaye liye kangan n ban sakeange. pichhala hisab bhi bebak ho jana chahie.‘

rama ko mano goli lag gee. bola, ‘maharaj, yah to bhalamanasi nahian hai. ek mahila ki chiz hai, unhoanne peshagi rupaye die the. socho, maian unhean kya muanh dikhaooanga. mujhase apane rupayoan ke lie puranot likha lo, staanp likha lo aur kya karoge? ‘

gangoo—‘puranot ko shahad lagakar chatooanga kya? ath-ath mahine ka udhar nahian hota. mahina, do mahina bahut hai. ap to bade adami haian, apake lie paanch-chhah sau rupaye kaun badi bat hai. kangan taiyar haian.‘

rama ne daant pisakar kaha, ‘agar yahi bat thi to tumane ek mahina pahale kyoan n kah di? ab tak maianne rupaye ki koee fikr ki hoti n!‘

gangoo—‘maian kya janata tha, ap itana bhi nahian samajh rahe haian.‘

rama nirash hokar ghar laut aya. agar is samay bhi usane jalapa se sara vrittaant saph-saph kah diya hota to use chahe kitana hi duahkh hota, par vah kangan utarakar de deti, lekin rama mean itana sahas n tha. vah apani arthik kathinaiyoan ki dasha kahakar usake komal hriday par aghat n kar sakata tha. isamean sandeh nahian ki rama ko sau rupaye ke qarib oopar se mil jate the, aur vah kiphayat karana janata to in ath mahinoan mean donoan sarraphoan ke kamase- kam adhe rupaye avashy de deta, lekin oopar ki amadani thi to oopar ka kharch bhi tha. jo kuchh milata tha, sair - sapate mean kharch ho jata aur sarraphoan ka dena kisi ekamusht rakam ki asha mean rooka hua tha. kaudiyoan se rupaye banana vanikoan ka hi kam hai. baboo log to rupaye ki kaudiyaan hi banate haian. kuchh rat jane par rama ne ek bar phir sarraphe ka chakkar lagaya. bahut chaha, kisi sarraph ko jhaansa dooan, par kahian dal n gali. bazar mean betar ki khabarean chala karati haian. rama ko ratabhar niand n aee. yadi aj use ek hazar ka rookka likhakar koee paanch sau rupaye bhi de deta to vah nihal ho jata, par apani jan?pahachan valoan mean use aisa koee najar n ata tha. apane milane valoan mean usane sabhi se apani hava baandha rakkhi thi. khilane-pilane mean khule hathoan rupaya kharch karata tha. ab kis muanh se apani vipatti kahe - vah pachhata raha tha ki nahak gangoo ko rupaye die. gangoo nalish karane to jata n tha. is samay yadi rama ko koee bhayankar rog ho jata to vah usaka svagat karata. kam-se-kam das-paanch din ki muhalat to mil jati, magar bulane se to maut bhi nahian ati! vah to usi samay ati hai, jab ham usake lie bilakul taiyar nahian hote. eeshvar kahian se koee tar hi bhijava de, koee aisa mitr bhi nazar nahian ata tha, jo usake nam pharji tar bhej deta. vah inhian chiantaoan mean karavatean badal raha tha ki jalapa ki aankh khul gee. rama ne turant chadar se muanh chhipa liya, mano bekhabar so raha hai. jalapa ne dhire se chadar hatakar usaka muanh dekha aur use sota pakar dhyan se usaka muanh dekhane lagi. jagaran aur nidra ka aantar usase chhipa n raha. use dhire se hilakar boli, ‘kya abhi tak jag rahe ho?‘ ramanath—‘kya jane, kyoan niand nahian a rahi hai. p de-p de sochata tha, kuchh dinoan ke lie kahian bahar chala jaooan. kuchh rupaye kama laooan.‘

jalapa—‘mujhe bhi lete chaloge n?‘

ramanath—‘tumhean paradesh mean kahaan liye-liye phirooanga? ‘

jalapa—‘to maian yahaan akeli rah chuki. ek minat to rahooangi nahian. magar jaoge kahaan? ‘

ramanath—‘abhi kuchh nishchay nahian kar saka hooan.‘

jalapa—‘to kya sachamuch tum mujhe chho dakar chale jaoge? mujhase to ek din bhi n raha jay. maian samajh gee, tum mujhase muhabbat nahian karate. keval muanh dekhe ki priti karate ho.‘

ramanath—‘tumhare prem-pash hi ne mujhe yahaan baandha rakkha hai. nahian to ab tak kabhi chala gaya hota.‘

jalapa—‘batean bana rahe ho agar tumhean mujhase sachcha prem hota, to tum koee parada n rakhate. tumhare man mean zaroor koee aisi bat hai, jo tum mujhase chhipa rahe ho kee dinoan se dekh rahi hooan, tum chianta mean doobe rahate ho, mujhase kyoan nahian kahate. jahaan vishvas nahian hai, vahaan prem kaise rah sakata hai? ‘

ramanath—‘yah tumhara bhram hai, jalapa! maianne to tumase kabhi parada nahian rakha.‘

jalapa—‘to tum mujhe sachamuch dil se chahate ho? ‘

ramanath—‘yah kya muanh se kahooanga jabhi! ‘

jalapa—‘achchha, ab maian ek prashn karati hooan. sanbhale rahana. tum mujhase kyoan prem karate ho! tumhean meri kasam hai, sach batana.‘

ramanath—‘yah to tumane bedhab prashn kiya. agar maian tumase yahi prashn poochhooan to tum mujhe kya javab dogi? ‘

jalapa—‘maian to janati hooan.‘

ramanath—‘batao.‘

jalapa—‘tum batala do, maian bhi batala dooan.‘

ramanath—‘maian to janata hi nahian. keval itana hi janata hooan ki tum mere rom-rom mean ram rahi ho.‘

jalapa—‘sochakar batalao. maian adarsh-patni nahian hooan, ise maian khoob janati hooan. pati-seva ab tak maianne nam ko bhi nahian ki. eeshvar ki daya se tumhare lie ab tak kasht sahane ki zaroorat hi nahian p di. ghar-grihasthi ka koee kam mujhe nahian ata. jo kuchh sikha, yahian sikhab phir tumhean mujhase kyoan prem hai? batachit mean nipun nahian. roop-rang bhi aisa akarshak nahian. janate ho, maian tumase kyoan prashn kar rahi hooan?‘

ramanath—‘kya jane bhaee, meri samajh mean to kuchh nahian a raha hai.‘

jalapa—‘maian isalie poochh rahi hooan ki tumhare prem ko sthayi bana sakooan.‘

ramanath—‘maian kuchh nahian janata jalapa, eeman se kahata hooan. tumamean koee kami hai, koee dosh hai, yah bat aj tak mere dhyan mean nahian aee, lekin tumane mujhamean kaun?si bat dekhi- n mere pas dhan hai, n roop hai. batao?‘

jalapa—‘bata dooan? maian tumhari sajjanata par mohit hooan. ab tumase kya chhipaooan, jab maian yahaan aee to yadyapi tumhean apana pati samajhati thi, lekin koee bat kahate ya karate samay mujhe chianta hoti thi ki tum use pasand karoge ya nahian. yadi tumhare badale mera vivah kisi doosare purush se hua hota to usake sath bhi mera yahi vyavahar hota. yah patni aur purush ka rivaji nata hai, par ab maian tumhean gopiyoan ke krishna se bhi n badalooangi. lekin tumhare dil mean ab bhi chor hai. tum ab bhi mujhase kisi-kisi bat mean parada rakhate ho!‘

ramanath—‘yah tumhari keval shanka hai, jalapa! maian dostoan se bhi koee durav nahian karata. phir tum to meri hridayeshvari ho.‘

jalapa—‘meri taraph dekhakar bolo, aankhean nichi karana mardo ka kam nahian hai!‘

rama ke ji mean ek bar phir aya ki apani kathinaiyoan ki katha kah sunaooan, lekin mithya gaurav ne phir usaki zaban band kar di. jalapa jab usase poochhati, sarraphoan ko rupaye dete jate ho ya nahian, to vah barabar kahata, ‘haan kuchh-n?kuchh har mahine deta jata hooan, par aj rama ki durbalata ne jalapa ke man mean ek sandeh paida kar diya tha. vah usi sandeh ko mitana chahati thi. zara der bad usane poochha, ‘sarraph ke to abhi sab rupaye ada n hue hoange? ‘

ramanath—‘ab tho de hi baki haian.‘

jalapa—‘kitane baki hoange, kuchh hisab-kitab likhate ho? ‘

ramanath—‘haan, likhata kyoan nahian. sat sau se kuchh kam hi hoange.‘

jalapa—‘tab to poori gathari hai, tumane kahian ratan ke rupaye to nahian de die? ‘

rama dil mean kaanp raha tha, kahian jalapa yah prashn n kar baithe. akhir usane yah prashn poochh hi liya. us vakt bhi yadi rama ne sahas karake sachchi bat svikar kar li hoti to shayad usake sankatoan ka aant ho jata. jalapa ek minat tak avashy sannate mean a jati. sanbhav hai, krodh aur nirasha ke avesh mean do-char katu shabd muanh se nikalati, lekin phir shaant ho jati. donoan milakar koee-n? koee yukti soch nikalate. jalapa yadi ratan se yah rahasy kah sunati, to ratan avashy man jati, par hay re atmagaurav, rama ne yah bat sunakar aisa muanh bana liya mano jalapa ne us par koee nishthur prahar kiya ho bola, ‘ratan ke rupaye kyoan deta. aj chahooan, to do-char hazar ka mal la sakata hooan. karigaroan ki adat der karane ki hoti hi hai. sunar ki khataee mashahoor hai. bas aur koee bat nahian. das din mean ya to chiz hi laooanga ya rupaye vapas kar dooanga, magar yah shanka tumhean kyoan huee? paraee rakam bhala maian apane kharch mean kaise lata.’

jalapa—‘kuchh nahian, maianne yoan hi poochha tha.’

jalapa ko tho di der mean niand a gee, par rama phir usi udhe dabun mean p da. kahaan se rupaye lae. agar vah ramesh baboo se saph-saph kah de to vah kisi mahajan se rupaye dila deange, lekin nahian, vah unase kisi tarah n kah sakega. usamean itana sahas n tha. usane pratahkal nashta karake daftar ki rah li. shayad vahaan kuchh prabandh ho jae! kaun prabandh karega, isaka use dhyan n tha. jaise rogi vaidy ke pas jakar santusht ho jata hai par yah nahian janata, maian achchha hooanga ya nahian. yahi dasha is samay rama ki thi. daftar mean chaparasi ke siva aur koee n tha. rama rajistar kholakar aankoan ki jaanch karane laga. kee dinoan se mizan nahian diya gaya tha, par bade baboo ke hastakshar maujood the. ab mizan diya, to dhaee hazar nikale. ekaek use ek bat soojhi. kyoan n dhaee hazar ki jagah mizan do hazar likh dooan. rasid bahi ki jaanch kaun karata hai. agar chori pak di bhi gee to kah dooanga, mijan lagane mean galati ho gee. magar is vichar ko usane man mean tikane n diya. is bhay se, kahian chitt chanchal n ho jae, usane peansil ke aankoan par roshanaee udhar di, aur rajistar ko daraj mean band karake idhar-udhar ghoomane laga. ikki-dukki gadiyaan ane lagian. ga divanoan ne dekha, baboo sahab aj yahian haian, to socha jaldi se chuangi dekar chhukri par jayan. rama ne is kripa ke lie dastoori ki dooni rakam vasool ki, aur ga divanoan ne shauq se di kyoanki yahi mandi ka samay tha aur barah-ek baje tak chuangighar se phurasat pane ki dasha mean chaubis ghante ka harj hota tha, mandi das-gyarah baje ke bad band ho jati thi, doosare din ka iantazar karana p data tha. agar bhav rupaye mean adha pav bhi phir gaya, to saik doan ke matthe gee. das-paanch rupaye ka bal kha jane mean unhean kya apatti ho sakati thi. rama ko aj yah nee bat maloom huee. socha, akhir subah ko maian ghar hi par baitha rahata hooan. agar yahaan akar baith jaooan to roz dasapaanch rupaye hath a jayan. phir to chhah mahine mean yah sara jhagadasaph ho jay. man lo roz yah chaandi n hogi, pandrah n sahi, das mileange, paanch mileange. agar subah ko roz paanch rupaye mil jayan aur itane hi dinabhar mean aur mil jayan, to paanch-chhah mahine mean maianrh rrin se mukt ho jaooan. usane daraz kholakar phir rajistar nikala. yah hisab laga lene ke bad ab rajistar mean her-udhar kar dena use itana bhanyakar n jan p da. naya rangaroot jo pahale bandook ki avaz se chauank p data hai, age chalakar goliyoan ki varsha mean bhi nahian ghabadata. rama daftar band karake bhojan karane ghar jane hi vala tha ki ek bisati ka thela a pahuancha. rama ne kaha, lautakar chuangi looanga. bisati ne mikait karani shuroo ki. use koee bada zaroori kam tha. akhir das rupaye par mamala thik hua. rama ne chuangi li, rupaye jeb mean rakkhe aur ghar chala. pachchis rupaye keval do-dhaee ghantoan mean a ge. agar ek mahine bhi yah ausat rahe to palla par hai. use itani khushi huee ki vah bhojan karane ghar n gaya. bazar se bhi kuchh nahian mangavaya. rupaye bhunate hue use ek rupaya kam ho jane ka khayal hua. vah sham tak baitha kam karata raha. char rupaye aur vasool hue. chirag jale vah ghar chala, to usake man par se chianta aur nirasha ka bahut kuchh bojh utar chuka tha. agar das din yahi tezi rahi, to ratan se muanh churane ki naubat n aegi.

sanbandhit lekh

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