ग़बन उपन्यास भाग-21

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

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agar is samay kisi ko sansar mean sabase dukhi, jivan se nirash, chiantagni mean jalate hue prani ki moorti dekhani ho, to us yuvak ko dekhe, jo saikil par baitha hua, alpred park ke samane chala ja raha hai. is vakt agar koee kala saanp nazar ae to vah donoan hath phailakar usaka svagat karega aur usake vish ko sudha ki tarah piega. usaki raksha sudha se nahian, ab vish hi se ho sakati hai. maut hi ab usaki chiantaoan ka aant kar sakati hai, lekin kya maut use badanami se bhi bacha sakati hai? sabera hote hi, yah bat ghar- ghar phail jayagi,sarakari rupaya kha gaya aur jab pakadagaya, tab atmahatya kar li! ddal mean kalank lagakar, marane ke bad bhi apani hansi karake chiantaoan se mukt hua to kya, lekin doosara upay hi kya hai. agar vah is samay jakar jalapa se sari sthiti kah sunae, to vah usake sath avashy sahanubhooti dikhaegi. jalapa ko chahe kitana hi du:kh ho, par apane gahane nikalakar dene mean ek kshan ka bhi vilamb n karegi. gahanoan ko giravi rakhakar vah sarakari rupaye ada kar sakata hai. use apana parada kholana p dega. isake siva aur koee upay nahian hai.

man mean yah nishchay karake rama ghar ki or chala, par usaki chal mean vah tezi n thi jo manasik sphoorti ka lakshan hai. lekin ghar pahuanchakar usane socha,jab yahi karana hai, to jaldi kya hai, jab chahooanga maang looanga. kuchh der gap-shap karata raha, phir khana khakar leta.

sahasa usake ji mean aya, kyoan n chupake se koee chiz utha le jaooan?’ kulamaryada ki raksha karane ke lie ek bar usane aisa hi kiya tha. usi upay se kya vah pranoan ki raksha nahian kar sakata- apani jaban se to shayad vah kabhi apani vipatti ka hal n kah sakega. isi prakar aga-pichha mean p de hue sabera ho jayaga. aur tab use kuchh kahane ka avasar hi n milega.

magar use phir shanka huee, kahian jalapa ki aankh khul jay- phir to usake lie triveni ke siva aur sthan hi n rah jayaga. jo kuchh bhi ho ek bar to yah udyog karana hi p dega. usane dhire se jalapa ka hath apani chhati par se hataya, aur niche khadaho gaya. use aisa khyal hua ki jalapa hath hatate hi chauanki aur phir maloom hua ki yah bhram-matr tha. use ab jalapa ke salooke ki jeb se chabhiyoan ka guchchha nikalana tha. der karane ka avasar n tha. niand mean bhi nimnachetana apana kam karati rahati hai. balak kitana hi gaphil soya ho, mata ke charapaee se uthate hi jag p data hai, lekin jab chabhi nikalane ke lie jhuka, to use jan pada jalapa muskara rahi hai. usane jhat hath khianch liya aur laianp ke kshin prakash mean jalapa ke mukh ki or dekha, jo koee sukhad svapn dekh rahi thi. usaki svapn-sukh vilasit chhavi dekhakar

usaka man katar ho utha. ha! is sarala ke sath maian aisa vishvasaghat karooan? jisake lie maian apane pranoan ko bheant kar sakata hooan, usi ke sath yah kapat?

jalapa ka nishkapat sneh-poorn hriday mano usake mukhamandal par aankit ho raha tha. ah jis samay ise jnat hoga isake gahane phir chori ho ge, isaki kya dasha hogi? pachha d khayagi, sir ke bal nochegi. vah kin aankhoan se usaka yah klesh dekhega? usane socha,maianne ise aram hi kaun?sa pahuanchaya hai. kisi doosare se vivah hota, to ab tak vah ratnoan se lad jati. durbhagyavash is ghar mean aee, jahaan koee sukh nahian,ulte aur rona p da.

rama phir charapaee par let raha. usi vakt zalapa ki aankhean khul gee. usake mukh ki or dekhakar boli, ‘tum kahaan ge the? maian achchha sapana dekh rahi thi. bada bag hai, aur ham-tum donoan usamean tahal rahe haian. itane mean tum n jane kahaan chale jate ho, ek aur sadhu akar mere samane khada ho jata hai. bilakul devataoan ka-sa usaka svaroop hai. vah mujhase kahata hai, ‘beti, maian tujhe

var dene aya hooan. maang, kya maangati hai. maian tumhean idhar-udhar khoj rahi hooan ki tumase poochhooan kya maangoob aur tum kahian dikhaee nahian dete. maian sara bag chhan aee. pedoan par jhaankakar dekha, tum n-jane kahaan chale ge ho bas itane mean niand khul gee, varadan n maangane paee.

rama ne muskarate hue kaha, ‘kya varadan maangatian?’

‘maangati jo ji mean ata, tumhean kya bata dooan?’

‘nahian, batao, shayad tum bahut-sa dhan maangatian.’

‘dhan ko tum bahut badi chiz samajhate hoge? maian to kuchh nahian samajhati.’

‘haan, maian to samajhata hooan. nirdhan rahakar jina marane se bhi badatar hai. maian agar kisi devata ko pak d paooan to bina kafi rupaye liye n manooanb maian sone ki divar nahian kh di karana chahata, n rakatthalar aur karanegi banane ki meri ichchha hai. maian keval itana dhan chahata hooan ki zaroorat ki mamooli chizoan ke lie tarasana n p de. bas koee devata mujhe paanch lakh de de, to maian phir usase kuchh n maangooanga. hamare hi garib mulq mean aise kitane hi rees, seth, tallukedar haian, jo paanch

lakh ek sal mean kharch karate haian, balki kitanoan hi ka to mahavar kharch paanch lakh hoga. maian to isamean sat jivan katane ko taiyar hooan, magar mujhe koee itana bhi nahian deta. tum kya maangatian- achchhe-achchhe gahane!’

jalapa ne tyoriyaan chadhakar kaha, ‘kyoan chidhate ho mujhe! kya maian gahanoan par aur striyoan se zyada jan deti hooan- maianne to tumase kabhi agrah nahian kiya?tumhean zaroorat ho, aj inhean utha le jao, maian khushi se de dooangi.’

rama ne muskarakar kaha, ‘to phir batalatian kyoan nahian?’

jalapa—‘maian yahi maangati ki mera svami sada mujhase prem karata rahe. unaka man kabhi mujhase n gire.’

rama ne hansakar kaha, ‘kya tumhean isaki bhi shanka hai?’

‘tum devata bhi hote to shanka hoti, tum to adami ho mujhe to aisi koee stri n mili, jisane apane pati ki nishthurata ka dukhadan roya ho salado sal to vah khoob prem karate haian, phir n jane kyoan unhean stri se aruchi-si ho jati hai. man chanchal hone lagata hai. aurat ke lie isase badi vipatti nahian. us vipatti se bachane ke siva maian aur kya varadan maangati?’ yah kahate hue jalapa ne pati ke gale mean baanhean dal dian aur pranay-sanchit najaroan se dekhati huee boli, ‘sach batana, tum ab bhi mujhe vaise hi chahate ho, jaise pahale chahate the?dekho, sach kahana, bolo!’

rama ne jalapa ke gale se chimatakar kaha, ‘usase kahian adhik, lakh guna!’

jalapa ne hansakar kaha, ‘jhooth! bilakul jhooth! solahoan ana jhooth!’

ramanath—‘yah tumhari zabaradasti hai. akhir aisa tumhean kaise jan pada?’

jalapa—‘aankhoan se dekhati hooan aur kaise jan p da. tumane mere pas baithane ki kasam kha li hai. jab dekho tum gumasum rahate ho mujhase prem hota, to mujh par vishvas bhi hota. bina vishvas ke prem ho hi kaise sakata hai? jisase tum apani buri-se-buri bat n kah sako, usase tum prem nahian kar sakate. haan, usake sath vihar kar sakate ho, vilas kar sakate ho usi tarah jaise koee veshya ke pas jata hai. veshya ke pas log anand uthane hi jate haian, koee usase man ki bat kahane nahian jata. tumhari bhi vahi dasha hai. bolo hai ya nahian? aankhean kyoan chhipate ho? kya maian dekhati nahian, tum bahar se kuchh ghabadae hue ate ho? batean karate samay dekhati hooan, tumhara man kisi aur taraph rahata hai. bhojan mean bhi dekhati hooan, tumhean koee anand nahian ata. dal gadhi hai ya patali, shak kam hai ya zyada, chaval mean kani hai ya pak ge haian, is taraph tumhari nigah nahian jati. begar ki tarah bhojan karate ho aur jaldi se bhagate ho maian yah sab kya nahian dekhati- mujhe dekhana n chahie! maian vilasini hooan, isi roop mean to tum mujhe dekhate ho mera kam hai,vihar karana, vilas karana, anand karana. mujhe tumhari chiantaoan se matalab! magar eeshvar ne vaisa hriday nahian diya. kya karooan? maian samajhati hooan, jab mujhe jivan hi vyatit karana hai, jab maian keval tumhare manoranjan ki hi vastu hooan, to kyoan apani jan vipatti mean dalooan?’

jalapa ne rama se kabhi dil kholakar bat n ki thi. vah itani vicharashil hai, usane anuman hi n kiya tha. vah use vastav mean ramani hi samajhata tha. any purushoan ki bhaanti vah bhi patni ko isi roop mean dekhata tha. vah usake yauvan par mugdh tha. usaki atma ka svaroop dekhane ki kabhi cheshta hi n ki. shayad vah samajhata tha, isamean atma hai hi nahian. agar vah roop-lavany ki rashi n hoti, to kadachit vah usase bolana bhi pasand n karata. usaka sara akarshan,

usaki sari asakti keval usake roop par thi. vah samajhata tha, jalapa isi mean prasann hai. apani chiantaoan ke bojh se vah use dabana nahian chahata tha, par aj use jnat hua, jalapa utani hi chiantanashil hai, jitana vah khud tha. is vakt use apani manovyatha kah dalane ka bahut achchha avasar mila tha, par hay sankoch! isane phir usaki zaban band kar di. jo batean vah itane dinoan tak chhipae raha, vah ab kaise kahe? kya aisa karana jalapa ke aropit akshepoan

ko svikar karana n hoga? haan, usaki aankhoan se aj bhram ka parada uth gaya. use jnat hua ki vilas par prem ka nirman karane ki cheshta karana usaka ajnan tha.

rama inhian vicharoan mean pada-pada so gaya, us samay adhi rat se oopar guzar gee thi. soya to isi sabab se tha ki bahut sabere uth jaooanga, par niand khuli, to kamare mean dhoop ki kiranean a-akar use jaga rahi thian. vah chatapat utha aur bina muanh-hath dhoe, kap de pahanakar jane ko taiyar ho gaya. vah ramesh baboo ke pas jana chahata tha. ab unase yah katha kahani p degi. sthiti ka poora jnan ho jane par vah kuchh-n?kuchh sahayata karane par taiyar ho jaeange.

jalapa us samay bhojan banane ki taiyari kar rahi thi. rama ko is bhaanti jate dekhakar prashn-soochak najaroan se dekha. rama ke chehare par chianta, bhay, chanchalata aur hiansa mano baithi ghoor rahi thian. ek kshan ke lie vah besudh-si ho gee. ek hath mean chhuri aur doosare mean ek karela liye hue vah dvar ki or takati rahi. yah bat kya hai, use kuchh batate kyoan nahian- vah aur kuchh n kar sake, hamadardi to kar hi sakati hai. usake ji mean aya,pukar kar poochhooan, kya bat hai? uthakar dvar tak aee bhirri par rama s dak par door nikal gaya tha. usane dekha, vah badi tezi se chala ja raha hai, jaise sanak gaya ho n dahini or takata hai, n baee or, keval sir jhukae, pathikoan se takarata, pairagadiyoan ki parava n karata hua, bhaga chala ja raha tha. akhir vah lautakar phir tarakari katane lagi, par usaka man usi or laga hua tha. kya bat hai, kyoan mujhase

itana chhipate haian?

rama ramesh ke ghar pahuancha to ath baj ge the. baboo sahab chauki par baithe sandhya kar rahe the. inhean dekhakar ishare se baithane ko kaha, koee adha ghante mean sandhya samapt huee, bole, ‘kya abhi muanh-hath bhi nahian dhoya, yahi lich dapan mujhe napasand hai. tum aur kuchh karo ya n karo, badan ki sagaee to karate raho kya hua, rupaye ka kuchh prabandh hua?’

ramanath—‘isi fikr mean to apake pas aya hooan.’

ramesh—‘tum bhi ajib adami ho, apane bap se kahate hue tumhean kyoan sharm ati hai? yahi n hoga, tumhean tane deange, lekin is sankat se to chhoot jaoge. unase sari batean saph-saph kah do. aisi durghatanaean aksar ho jaya karati haian. isamean darane ki kya bat hai! nahian kaho, maian chalakar kah dooan.’

ramanath—‘unase kahana hota, to ab tak kabhi kah chuka hota! kya ap kuchh bando.st nahian kar sakate?’

ramesh—‘kar kyoan nahian sakata, par karana nahian chahata. aise adami ke sath mujhe koee hamadardi nahian ho sakati. tum jo bat mujhase kah sakate ho, kya unase nahian kah sakate?meri salah mano. unase jakar kah do. agar vah rupaye n dean tab mere pas ana.’

rama ko ab aur kuchh kahane ka sahas n hua. log itani ghanishthata hone par bhi itane kathor ho sakate haian. vah yahaan se utha, par use kuchh sujhaee n deta tha. chauvaiya mean akash se phirate hue jal-bianduoan ki jo dasha hoti hai, vahi is samay rama ki huee. das qadam tezi se age chalata, to phir kuchh sochakar rook jata aur das-paanch qadam pichhe laut jata. kabhi is gali mean

ghus jata, kabhi us gali mean… sahasa use ek bat soojhi, kyoan n jalapa ko ek patr likhakar apani sari kathinaiyaan kah sunaooan. muanh se to vah kuchh n kah sakata tha, par kalam se likhane mean use koee mushkil maloom nahian hoti thi. patr likhakar jalapa ko de dooanga aur bahar ke kamare mean a baithooanga. isase saral aur kya ho sakata hai? vah bhaga hua ghar aya, aur turant patr likha, ‘priye, kya kahooan, kis vipatti mean phansa hua hooan. agar ek ghante ke aandar tin sau rupaye ka prabandh n ho gaya, to hathoan mean hathakadiyaan p d jaeangi. maianne bahut koshish ki, kisi se udhar le looan, kiantu kahian n mil sake. agar tum apane do-ek jevar de do, to maian giroan rakhakar kam chala looan. jyoanhi rupaye hath a jaeange, chhudadooanga. agar majaboori n a p dati to, tumhean kasht n deta. eeshvar ke lie rusht n hona. maian bahut jald chhuda dooanga---’

abhi yah patr samapt n hua tha ki ramesh baboo muskarate hue akar baith ge aur bole, ‘kaha unase tumane?

rama ne sir jhukakar kaha, ‘abhi to mauqa nahian mila.

ramesh—‘to kya do-char din mean mauqa milega- maian darata hooan ki kahian aj bhi tum yoan hi khali hath n chale jao, nahian to gajab hi ho jay! ’

ramanath—‘jab unase maangane ka nishchay kar liya, to ab kya chianta! ’

ramesh—‘aj mauqa mile, to zara ratan ke pas chale jana. us din maianne kitana zor dekar kaha tha, lekin maloom hota hai tum bhool ge.’

ramanath—‘bhool to nahian gaya, lekin unase kahate sharm ati hai.’

ramesh—‘apane bap se kahate bhi sharm ati hai? agar apane logoan mean yah sankoch n hota, to aj hamari yah dasha kyoan hoti?’

ramesh baboo chale ge, to rama ne patr uthakar jeb mean dala aur use jalapa ko dene ka nishchay karake ghar mean gaya. jalapa aj kisi mahila ke ghar jane ko taiyar thi. tho di der huee, bulava a gaya. usane apani sabase suandar sa di pahani thi. hathoan mean jadaoo kangan shobha de rahe the, gale mean chandrahar, aeena samane rakhe hue kanoan mean jhoomake pahan rahi thi.

rama ko dekhakar boli, ‘aj sabere kahaan chale ge the? hath-muanh tak n dhoya. din?bhar to bahar rahate hi ho, shamasabere to ghar par raha karo. tum nahian rahate, to ghar soona-soona lagata hai. maian abhi

soch rahi thi, mujhe maike jana p de, to maian jaooan ya n jaooan? mera ji to vahaan bilakul n lage.

ramanath—‘tum to kahian jane ko taiyar baithi ho .’

jalapa—‘sethaniji ne bula bheja hai, dopahar tak chali aooangi.’

rama ki dasha is samay us shikari ki-si thi, jo hirani ko apane shavakoan ke sath kilol karate dekhakar tani huee bandook kandho par rakh leta hai, aur vah vatsaly aur prem ki kridadekhane mean tallin ho jata hai. use apani or takataki lagae dekhakar jalapa ne muskarakar kaha, ‘dekho,

mujhe nazar n laga dena. maian tumhari aankhoan se bahut darati hooan.’

rama ek hi udan mean vastavik sansar se kalpana aur kavitv ke sansar mean ja pahuancha. aise avasar par jab jalapa ka rom-rom anand se nach raha hai, kya vah apana patr dekar usaki sukhad kalpanaoan ko dalit kar dega? vah kaun hridayahin vyadha hai, jo chahakati huee chidiya ki gardan par chhuri chala dega? vah kaun arasik adami hai, jo kisi prabhat-ddasum ko to dakar pairoan se kuchal dalega- rama itana hridayahin, itana arasik nahian hai. vah jalapa par itana bada

aghat nahian kar sakata usake sir kaisi hi vipatti kyoan n p d jae, usaki kitani hi badanami kyoan n ho, usaka jivan hi kyoan n kuchal diya jae, par vah itana nishthur nahian ho sakata usane anurakt hokar kaha,nazar to n lagaooanga, haan, hriday se laga looanga. isi ek vaky mean usaki sari chiantaean, sari badhaean visarjit ho gee. sneh-sankoch ki vedi par usane apane ko bheant kar diya. is apaman ke samane jivan ke aur sare klesh tuchchh the. is samay

usaki dasha us balak ki-si thi, jo go de par nashtar ki kshanik pida n sahakar usake phatane, nasoor p dane, varsho khat par p de rahane aur kadachit pranaant ho jane ke bhay ko bhi bhool jata hai.

jalapa niche jane lagi, to rama ne katar hokar use gale se laga liya aur is tarah bhianch-bhianchakar use aliangan karane laga, mano yah saubhagy use phir n milega. kaun janata hai, yahi usaka aantim aliangan ho usake karapash mano resham ke sahasroan taroan se sangathit hokar jalapa se chimat ge the. mano koee maranasann kripan apane kosh ki kuji mutthi mean band kie ho, aur pratikshan mutthi kathor p dati jati ho kya mutthi ko balapoorvak khol dene se hi usake pran n nikal jaeange?

sahasa jalapa boli, ‘mujhe kuchh rupaye to de do, shayad vahaan kuchh zaroorat p de. ’

rama ne chauankakar kaha, ‘rupaye! rupaye to is vakt nahian haian.’

jalapa—‘haian haian, mujhase bahana kar rahe ho bas mujhe do rupaye de do, aur zyada nahian chahati.’

yah kahakar usane rama ki jeb mean hath dal diya, aur kuchh paise ke sath vah patr bhi nikal liya.

rama ne hath badhakar patr ko jalapa se chhinane ki cheshta karate hue kaha, ‘kagaz mujhe de do, sarakari kagaz hai.’

jalapa—‘kisaka khat hai .ta do?’

jalapa ne tah kie hue puraje qo kholakar kaha,yah sarakari kagaz hai! jhoothe kahian ke! tumhara hi likha---

ramanath—‘de do, kyoan pareshan karati ho!’

rama ne phir kagaz chhin lena chaha, par jalapa ne hath pichhe udharakar kaha,maian bina padhe n dooangi. kah diya zyada zid karoge, to pha d dalooangi. ramanath—‘achchha pha d dalo.’

jalapa—‘tab to maian zaroor padhooangi.’

usane do qadam pichhe hatakar phir khat ko khola aur padhane lagi. rama ne phir usake hath se kagaz chhinane ki koshish nahian ki. use jan pada, asaman phat padahai, mano koee bhanyakar jantu use niphalane ke lie badha chala ata hai. vah dh d-dh d karata hua oopar se utara aur ghar ke bahar nikal gaya. kahaan apana muanh chhipa le- kahaan chhip jae ki koee use dekh n sake.

usaki dasha vahi thi, jo kisi nange adami ki hoti hai. vah sir se paanv tak kap de pahane hue bhi nanga tha. ah! sara parada khul gaya! usaki sari kapatalila khul gee! jin batoan ko chhipane ki usane itane dinoan cheshta ki, jinako gupt rakhane ke lie usane kaun?kaun?si kathinaiyaan nahian jhelian, un saboan ne aj mano usake muanh par kalikh pot di. vah apani durgati apani aankhoan se nahian dekh sakata jalapa ki sisakiyaan, pita ki jhi dakiyaan, p dosiyoan ki

kanaphusakiyaan sunane ki apeksha mar jana kahian asan hoga. jab koee sansar mean n rahega, to use isaki kya parava hogi, koee use kya kah raha hai. hay! keval tin sau rupayoan ke lie usaka sarvanash hua ja raha hai, lekin eeshvar ki ichchha hai, to vah kya kar sakata hai. priyajanoan ki nazaroan se phirakar jie to kya jie! jalapa use kitana nich, kitana kapati, kitana dhoort, kitana gapodiya samajh rahi hogi. kya vah apana muanh dikha sakata hai?

kya sansar mean koee aisi jagah nahian hai, jahaan vah ne jivan ka sootrapat kar sake, jahaan vah sansar se alag-thalag sabase muanh mo dakar apana jivan kat sake. jahaan vah is tarah chhip jay ki pulis usaka pata n pa sake. ganga ki god ke siva aisi jagah aur kahaan thi. agar jivit raha, to mahinedo mahine mean avashy hi pak d liya jaega. us samay usaki kya dasha

hogi,vah hathakadiyaan aur bediyaan pahane adalat mean khadahoga. sipahiyoan ka ek dal usake oopar savar hoga. sare shahar ke log usaka tamasha dekhane jaeange. jalapa bhi jaegi. ratan bhi jaegi. usake pita, sanbandhi, mitr, apane-parae,sabhi bhinn-bhinn bhavoan se usaki durdasha ka tamasha dekheange. nahian, vah apani mitti yoan n kharab karega, n karega. isase kahian achchha hai, ki vah doob mare! magar phir khayal aya ki jalapa kisaki hokar rahegi! hay, maian apane sath use bhi le dooba! babooji aur ammaanji to ro-dhokar sabr kar leange, par usaki raksha kaun karega- kya vah chhipakar nahian rah sakata- kya shahar se door kisi chhote-se gaanv mean vah ajnatavas nahian kar sakata- sanbhav hai, kabhi jalapa ko us par daya ae, usake aparadhoan ko kshama kar de. sanbhav hai, usake pas dhan bhi ho jae, par yah asanbhav hai ki vah usake samane aankhean sidhi kar sake. n jane is samay usaki kya dasha hogi! shayad mere patr ka ashay samajh gee ho shayad paristhiti ka use kuchh jnan ho gaya ho shayad usane ammaan ko mera patr dikhaya ho aur donoan ghabaraee huee mujhe khoj rahi hoan. shayad pitaji ko bulane ke lie l dakoan ko bheja gaya ho charoan taraph meri talash ho rahi hogi. kahian koee idhar bhi n ata ho kadachit maut ko dekhakar bhi vah is samay itana bhayabhit n hota, jitana kisi parichit ko dekhakar. age-pichhe

chaukanni aankhoan se takata hua, vah us jalati huee dhoop mean chala ja raha tha,kuchh khabar n thi, kidharab sahasa rel ki siti sunakar vah chauank p da. are, maian itani door nikal aya? relaga di samane kh di thi. use us par baith jane ki prabal ichchha huee, mano usamean baithate hi vah sari badhaoan se mukt ho jaega, magar jeb mean rupaye n the. uangali mean aangoothi p di huee thi. usane kuliyoan ke jamadar ko bulakar kaha, ‘kahian yah aangoothi bikava sakate ho? ek rupaya tumhean dooanga.

mujhe ga di mean jana hai. rupaye lekar ghar se chala tha, par maloom hota hai, kahian phir ge. phir lautakar jane mean ga di n milegi aur bada bhari nukasan ho jaega.’

jamadar ne use sir se paanv tak dekha, aangoothi li aur steshan ke aandar chala gaya. rama tikat-ghar ke samane tahalane laga. aankhean usaki or lagi huee thian. das minat guzar ge aur jamadar ka kahian pata nahian. aangoothi lekar kahian gayab to nahian ho jaega! steshan ke aandar jakar use khojane laga. ek kuli se poochha, usane poochha, ‘jamadar ka nam kya hai?’rama ne zaban daantoan se kat li.

nam to poochha hi nahian. batalae kya? itane mean ga di ne siti di, rama adhir ho utha. samajh gaya, jamadar ne charaka diya. bina tikat liye hi ga di mean a baitha man mean nishchay kar liya, saf kah dooanga mere pas tikat nahian hai. agar utarana bhi pada, to yahaan se das paanch kos to chala hi jaooanga. ga di chal di, us vakt rama ko apani dasha par rona a gaya. hay,

n jane use kabhi lautana nasib bhi hoga ya nahian. phir yah sukh ke din kahaan mileange. yah din to ge, hamesha ke lie ge. isi tarah sari duniya se muanh chhipae, vah ek din mar jayaga. koee usaki lash par aansoo bahane vala bhi n hoga. gharavale bhi ro-dhokar chup ho raheange. keval tho de-se sankoch ke karan usaki yah dasha huee. usane shuroo hi se, jalapa se apani sachchi halat kah di hoti, to aj use muanh par kalikh lagakar kyoan bhagana p data. magar kahata kaise, vah apane ko abhagini n samajhane lagati- kuchh n sahi, kuchh din to usane jalapa ko sukhi rakkha. usaki lalasaoan ki hatya to n hone di. rama ke santosh ke lie ab itana hi kafi tha. abhi ga di chale das minat bhi n bite hoange. ga di ka daravaza khula,aur tikat baboo aandar ae. rama ke chehare par havaiyaan u dane lagian. ek kshan mean vah usake pas a jaega. itane adamiyoan ke samane use kitana lajjit hona p dega. usaka kaleja dhak-dhak karane laga. jyoan-jyoan tikat baboo usake samip ata tha, usaki na di ki gati tivr hoti jati thi. akhir bala sir par a hi gee. tikat baboo ne poochha, ‘apaka tikat?’

rama ne zara savadhan hokar kaha, ‘mera tikat to kuliyoan ke jamadar ke pas hi rah gaya. use tikat lane ke lie rupaye die the. n jane kidhar nikal gaya.’

tikat baboo ko yakin n aya, bola, ‘maian yah kuchh nahian janata. apako agale steshan par utarana hoga. ap kahaan ja rahe haian?’ ramanath—‘saphar to badi door ka hai, kalakatta tak jana hai.‘

tikat baboo—‘age ke steshan par tikat le lijiega. ’

ramanath—‘yahi to mushkil hai. mere pas pachas ka not tha. khi daki par badi bhi d thi. maianne not us jamadar ko tikat lane ke lie diya, par vah aisa gayab hua ki lauta hi nahian. shayad ap use pahachanate hoan. lanba-lanba chechakaroo adami hai.‘

tikat baboo—‘is vishay mean ap likha-padhi kar sakate hai? magar bina tikat ke ja nahian sakate.

rama ne vinit bhav se kaha, ‘bhaee sahab, apase kya chhipaooan. mere pas aur rupaye nahian haian. ap jaisa munasib samajhean, karean.’

tikat baboo—‘mujhe afasos hai, baboo sahab, kayade se majaboor hooan.’

kamare ke sare musaphir apas mean kanaphoosi karane lage. tisara darja tha,adhikaansh mazadoor baithe hue the, jo majoori ki toh mean poorab ja rahe the. ve ek baboo jati ke prani ko is bhaanti apamanit hote dekhakar anand pa rahe the. shayad tikat baboo ne rama ko dhakka dekar utar diya hota, to aur bhi khush hote. rama ko jivan mean kabhi itani jheanp n huee thi. chupachap sir jhukae khada

tha. abhi to jivan ki is nee yatra ka aranbh hua hai. n jane age kya? kya vipattiyaan jhelani padeangi. kis-kisake hathoan dhokha khana p dega. usake ji mean aya,ga di se yad p dooan, is chhichhaledar se to mar jana hi achchha. usaki aankhean bhar ai, usane khi daki se sir bahar nikal liya aur rone laga. sahasa ek boodhe adami ne, jo usake pas hi baitha hua tha, poochha, ‘kalakatta mean kahaan jaoge, babooji?’

rama ne samajha, vah ganvar mujhe bana raha hai, jhuanjhalakar bola,’tumase matalab, maian kahian jaooanga!’

boodhe ne is upeksha par kuchh bhi dhyan n diya, bola, ‘maian bhi vahian chalooanga. hamara-tumhara sath ho jayaga. phir dhire se bola,kirae ke rupaye mujhase le lo, vahaan de dena.’

ab rama ne usaki or dhyan se dekha. koee sath-sattar sal ka boodha ghula hua adami tha. maans to kya hadidayaan tak phool gee thian. mooanchh aur sir ke bal mu de hue the. ek chhoti-si baddachi ke siva usake pas koee asabab bhi n tha. rama ko apani or takate dekhakar vah phir bola, ‘ap habade hi utareange ya aur kahian jaeange?’

rama ne ehasan ke bhar se dabakar kaha, ‘baba, age maian utar p dooanga. rupaye ka koee bandobast karake phir aooanga. ’ boodha—‘tumhean kitane rupaye chahie, maian bhi to vahian chal raha hooan. jab chahe de dena. kya mere das-paanch rupaye lekar bhag jaoge. kahaan ghar hai?’

ramanath—‘yahian, prayag hi mean rahata hooan.’

boodhe ne bhakti ke bhav se kaha,many hai prayag, dhany hai! maian bhi triveni ka snan karake a raha hooan, sachamuch devataoan ki puri hai. to kai rupaye nikalooan?’

rama ne sakuchate hue kaha, ‘maian chalate hi chalate rupaya n de sakooanga, yah samajh lo.’

boodhe ne saral bhav se kaha, ‘are babooji, mere das-paanch rupaye lekar tum bhag tho de hi jaoge. maianne to dekha, prayag ke pande yatriyoan ko bina likhae - padhae rupaye de dete haian. das rupaye mean tumhara kam chal jaega?’

rama ne sir jhukakar kaha, ‘haan, itane bahut haian.’

tikat baboo ko kiraya dekar rama sochane laga,yah boodha kitana saral, kitana paropakari, kitana nishkapat jiv hai. jo log sabhy kahalate haian, unamean kitane adami aise nikaleange, jo bina jan - pahachan kisi yatri ko ubar lean. ga di ke aur musaphir bhi boodhe ko shr'ddha ki najaroan se dekhane lage. rama ko boodhe ki batoan se maloom hua ki vah jati ka khatik hai, kalakatta mean usaki shak-bhaji ki dukan hai. rahane vala to bihar ka hai, par chalis sal se kalakatta hi mean rozagar kar raha hai. devidin nam hai, bahut dinoan se tirthayatra ki ichchha thi, badarinath ki yatra karake lauta ja raha hai.

rama ne ashchary se poochha, ‘tum badarinath ki yatra kar ae? vahaan to paha doan ki badi-badi chadhaiyaan haian.’

devidin—‘bhagavan ki daya hoti hai to sab kuchh ho jata hai, babooji! unaki daya chahie.’

ramanath—‘tumhare bal-bachche to kalakatta hi mean hoange?’

devidin ne rookhi hansi hansakar kaha, ‘bal-bachche to sab bhagavan ke ghar ge. char bete the. do ka byah ho gaya tha. sab chal die. maian baitha hua hooan. mujhi se to sab paida hue the. apane boe hue bij ko kisan hi to katata hai!’yah kahakar vah phir hansa, zara der bad bola, ‘budhiya abhi jiti haian. dekhean, ham donoan mean pahale kaun chalata hai. vah kahati hai, pahale maian jaooangi, maian

kahata hooan ,pahale maian jaooanga. dekho kisaki tek rahati hai. ban pada to tumhean dikhaooanga. ab bhi gahane pahanati hai. sone ki baliyaan aur sone ki hasali pahane dukan par baithi rahati hai. jab kaha ki chal tirth kar avean to boli, ‘tumhare tirth ke lie kya dukan mitti mean mila dooan? yah hai ziandagi ka hal, aj mare ki kal mare, magar dukan n chho degi. n koee age, n koee pichhe, n koee rone vala, n koee hansane vala, magar maya bani huee hai.ab bhi ek-n?ek gahana banavati hi rahati hai. n jane kab usaka pet bharega. sab gharoan ka yahi hal hai. jahaan dekho,hay gahane! hay gahane! gahane ke pichhe jan de dean, ghar ke adamiyoan ko bhookha marean, ghar ki chizean becheanb aur kahaan tak kahooan, apani abaroo tak bech dean. chhote-b de, amir-garib sabako yahi rog laga hua hai. kalakatta mean kahaan kam karate ho, bhaiya?’

ramanath—‘abhi to ja raha hooan. dekhooan koee naukari-chakari milati hai ya nahian?’

devidin—‘to phir mere hi ghar thaharana. do kothariyaan haian, samane dalan hai, ek kothari oopar hai. aj bechooan to das hazar milean. ek kothari tumhean de dooanga. jab kahian kam mil jay, to apana ghar le lena. pachas sal hue ghar se bhagakar habade gaya tha, tab se sukh bhi dekhe, du:kh bhi dekhe. ab mana raha hooan, bhagavanh le chalo. haan, budhiya ko amar kar do. nahian, to usaki dukan kaun lega, ghar kaun lega aur gahane kaun lega!

yah kahakar devidin phir hansa, vah itana hanso d, itana prasannachitt tha ki rama ko ashchary ho raha tha. bebat ki bat par hansata tha. jis bat par aur log rote haian, us par use hansi ati thi. kisi javan ko bhi rama ne yoan hansate n dekha tha. itani hi der mean usane apani sari jivan?katha kah sunaee, kitane hi latiphe yad the. maloom hota tha, rama se varsho ki mulakat hai. rama ko bhi apane vishay mean ek managadhant katha kahani p di. devidin—‘to tum bhi ghar se bhag ae ho? samajh gaya. ghar mean jhagada hua hoga. bahoo kahati hogi,mere pas gahane nahian, mera nasib jal gaya. sas- bahoo mean patati n hogi. unaka kalah sun-sun ji aur khatta ho gaya hoga. ramanath—‘haan baba, bat yahi hai, tum kaise jan ge?

devidin hansakar bola,’yah bada bhari kam hai bhaiya! ise teli ki khop di par jagaya jata hai. abhi lanake-bale to nahian haian n?’

ramanath—‘nahian, abhi to nahian haian.’

devidin—‘chhote bhaee bhi hoange?’

rama chakit hokar bola,’haan dada, thik kahate ho tumane kaise jana?’

devidin phir thatatha marakar bola,yah sab karmoan ka khel hai. sasural dhani hogi, kyoan? ’

ramanath—‘haan dada, hai to.’

devidin—‘magar himmat n hogi.’

ramanath—‘bahut thik kahate ho, dada. bade kam-himmat haian. jab se vivah hua apani ladaki tak ko to bulaya nahian.’

devidin--‘samajh gaya bhaiya, yahi duniya ka dastoor hai. bete ke lie kaho chori karean, bhikh maangean, beti ke lie ghar mean kuchh hai hi nahian.’

tin din se rama ko niand n aee thi. dinabhar rupaye ke lie mara-mara phirata, rat-bhar chianta mean padarahata. is vakt batean karate-karate use niand a gee. garadan jhukakar jhapaki lene laga. devidin ne turant apani gathari kholi, usamean se ek dari nikali, aur takht par bichhakar bola, ‘tum yahaan akar let raho, bhaiya! maian tumhari jagah par baith jata hooan.’

rama let raha. devidin bar-bar use sneh-bhari aankhoan se dekhata tha, mano usaka putr kahian paradesh se lauta ho.

sanbandhit lekh

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