ग़बन उपन्यास भाग-22

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

jab rama kothe se dham-dham niche utar raha tha, us vakt zalapa ko isaki zara bhi shanka n huee ki vah ghar se bhaga ja raha hai. patr to usane padh hi liya tha. ji aisa jhuanjhala raha tha ki chalakar rama ko khoob khari-khari sunaooan. mujhase yah chhal-kapat! par ek hi kshan mean usake bhav badal ge. kahian aisa to nahian hua hai, sarakari rupaye kharch kar dale hoan. yahi bat hai, ratan ke rupaye saraph ko die hoange. us din ratan ko dene ke lie shayad ve sarakari rupaye utha lae

the. yah sochakar use phir krodh aya,yah mujhase itana parada kyoan karate haian? kyoan mujhase badh-badhakar batean karate the? kya maian itana bhi nahian janati ki sansar mean amir-garib donoan hi hote haian?kya sabhi striyaan gahanoan se ladi rahati haian?gahane n pahanana kya koee pap hai? jab aur zaroori kamoan se rupaye bachate haian,to gahane bhi ban jate haian. pet aur tan katakar, chori ya beeemani karake to gahane nahian pahane jate! kya unhoanne mujhe aisi gee-gujari samajh liya! usane socha, rama apane kamare mean hoga, chalakar poochhooan, kaun se gahane chahate haian. paristhiti ki bhayankarata ka anuman karake krodh ki jagah usake man mean bhay ka sanchar hua. vah badi tezi se niche utarib use vishvas tha, vah niche baithe hue iantazar kar rahe hoange. kamare mean aee to unaka pata n tha. saikil rakkhi huee thi, turant daravaze se jhaanka. s dak par bhi nahian. kahaan chale ge? ladake.

donoan padhane syal ge the, kisako bheje ki jakar unhean bula lae. usake hriday mean ek ajnat sanshay aanddarit hua. phauran oopar gee, gale ka har aur hath ka kangan utarakar roomal mean baandha, phir niche utari, s dak par akar ek taanga liya, aur kochavan se boli,chuangi kachahari chalo. vah pachhata rahi thi ki maian itani der baithi kyoan rahi. kyoan n gahane utarakar turant de die. raste mean vah donoan taraph bade dhyan se dekhati jati thi. kya itani jald itani door nikal ae? shayad der ho jane ke karan vah bhi aj taange hi par ge haian, nahian to ab tak zaroor mil ge hote. taange vale se boli, ‘kyoan ji, abhi tumane kisi babooji ko taange par jate dekha?’

taange vale ne kaha,’haan maeeji, ek baboo abhi idhar hi se ge haian.’

jalapa ko kuchh dhadhas hua, rama ke pahuanchate-pahuanchate vah bhi pahuanch jaegi. kochavan se bar-bar ghodatez karane ko kahati. jab vah daftar pahuanchi, to gyarah baj ge the. kachahari mean saik doan adami idhar-udhar dau d rahe the. kisase poochhe? n jane vah kahaan baithate haian. sahasa ek chaparasi dikhalaee diya. jalapa ne use bulakar kaha, ‘suno ji, zara baboo ramanath ko to bula lao.

chaparasi bola,unhian ko bulane to ja raha hooan. bade baboo ne bheja hai. ap kya unake ghar hi se aee haian?’

jalapa—‘haan, maian to ghar hi se a rahi hooan. abhi das minat hue vah ghar se chale haian.’

chaparasi—‘yahaan to nahian ae.’

jalapa bade asamanjas mean p di. vah yahaan bhi nahian ae, raste mean bhi nahian mile, to phir ge kahaan? usaka dil baansoan uchhalane laga. aankhean bhar-bhar ane lagian. vahaan bade baboo ke siva vah aur kisi ko n janati thi. unase bolane ka avasar kabhi n pada tha, par is samay usaka sankoch gayab ho gaya. bhay ke samane man ke aur sabhi bhav dab jate haian. chaparasi se boli,zara bade baboo se kah do---nahian chalo, maian hi chalati hooan. bade baboo se kuchh batean karani haian. jalapa ka thath-bat aur rang-dhang dekhakar chaparasi rob mean a gaya, ulte paanv bade baboo ke kamare ki or chala. jalapa usake pichhe-pichhe ho li. bade baboo khabar pate hi turant bahar nikal ae.

jalapa ne qadam age badhakar kaha, ‘kshama kijie, baboo sahab, apako kasht hua. vah pandrah-bis minat hue ghar se chale, kya abhi tak yahaan nahian ae?’

ramesh—‘achchha ap misej ramanath haian. abhi to yahaan nahian ae. magar daftar ke vakt sair - sapate karane ki to usaki adat n thi.’

jalapa ne chaparasi ki or takate hue kaha, ‘maian apase kuchh arz karana chahati hooan.’

ramesh—‘to chalo aandar baitho, yahaan kab tak kh di rahogi. mujhe ashchary hai ki vah ge kahaan! kahian baithe shataranj khel rahe hoange.‘

jalapa—‘nahian babooji, mujhe aisa bhay ho raha hai ki vah kahian aur n chale ge hoan. abhi das minat hue, unhoanne mere nam ek puraza likha tha. (jeb se tatol kar) ji haan, dekhie vah puraza maujood hai. ap un par kripa rakhate haian, to koee parada nahian. unake jimme kuchh sarakari rupaye to nahian nikalate!’ ramesh ne chakit hokar kaha, ‘kyoan, unhoanne tumase kuchh nahian kaha?’

jalapa—‘kuchh nahian. is vishay mean kabhi ek shabd bhi nahian kaha!’

ramesh—‘kuchh samajh mean nahian ata. aj unhean tin sau rupaye jama karana hai. parasoan ki amadani unhoanne jama nahian ki thi? not the, jeb mean dalakar chal die. bazar mean kisi ne not nikal lie. (muskarakar) kisi aur devi ki pooja to nahian karate?’

jalapa ka mukh lajja se nat ho gaya. boli, ‘agar yah aib hota, to ap bhi us ilazam se n bachate. jeb se kisi ne nikal lie hoange. mare sharm ke mujhase kaha n hoga. mujhase zara bhi kaha hota, to turant rupaye nikalakar de deti, isamean bat hi kya thi.’

ramesh baboo ne avishvas ke bhav se poochha, ‘kya ghar mean rupaye haian?’

jalapa ne nishank hokar kaha, ‘tin sau chahie n, maian abhi liye ati hooan.’

ramesh—‘agar vah ghar par a ge hoan, to bhej dena.’

jalapa akar taange par baithi aur kochavan se chauk chalane ko kaha. usane apana har bech dalane ka nishchay kar liya. yoan usaki kee saheliyaan thian, jinase use rupaye mil sakate the. striyoan mean bada sneh hota hai. purushoan ki bhaanti unaki mitrata keval pan?pabho tak hi samapt nahian ho jati, magar avasar nahian tha. sarraphe mean pahuanchakar vah sochane lagi, kis dukan par jaooan. bhay ho raha

tha, kahian thagi n jaooan. is sire se us sire tak chakkar laga aee, kisi dukan par jane ki himmat n p di. udhar vakt bhi nikala jata tha. akhir ek dukan par ek boodhe sarraph ko dekhakar usaka sankoch kuchh kam hua. sarraph bada ghagh tha, jalapa ki jhijhak aur hichak dekhakar samajh gaya, achchha shikar phansa. jalapa ne har dikhakar kaha,ap ise le sakate haian?’

sarraph ne har ko idhar-udhar dekhakar kaha, ‘mujhe char paise ki guanjaish hogi, to kyoan n le looanga. mal chokha nahian hai.’

jalapa—‘tumhean lena hai, isalie mal chokha nahian hai, bechana hota, to chokha hota. kitane mean loge?’

sarraph—‘ap hi kah dijie.’

sarraph ne sadhe tin sau dam lagae, aur badhate-badhate char sau tak pahuancha. jalapa ko der ho rahi thi, rupaye liye aur chal kh di huee. jis har ko usane itane chav se kharida tha, jisaki lalasa use balyakal hi mean utpann ho gee thi, use aj adhe damoan bechakar use zara bhi duahkh nahian hua, balki garvamay harsh ka anubhav ho raha tha. jis vakt rama ko maloom hoga ki usane rupaye de die haian, unhean kitana anand hoga. kahian daftar pahuanch ge hoan to bada maza ho yah sochati huee vah phir daftar pahuanchi. ramesh baboo use dekhate hue bole, ‘kya hua, ghar par mile?’

jalapa—‘kya abhi tak yahaan nahian ae? ghar to nahian ge. yah kahate hue usane notoan ka pulianda ramesh baboo ki taraph badha diya. ramesh baboo notoan ko ginakar bole, ‘thik hai, magar vah ab tak kahaan haian. agar n ana tha, to ek khat likh dete. maian to bade sankat mean pada hua tha. tum bade vakt se a gee. is vakt tumhari soojh-boojh dekhakar ji khush ho gaya. yahi sachchi deviyoan ka dharm hai.’

jalapa phir taange par baithakar ghar chali to use maloom ho raha tha, maian kuchh ooanchi ho gee hooan. sharir mean ek vichitr sphoorti dau d rahi thi. use vishvas tha, vah akar chiantit baithe hoange. vah jakar pahale unhean khoob a de hathoan legi, aur khoob lajjit karane ke bad yah hal kahegi, lekin jab ghar mean pahuanchi to ramanath ka kahian pata n tha.

jageshvari ne poochha, ‘kahaan chali gee thian is dhoop mean?’

jalapa—‘ek kam se chali gee thi. aj unhoanne bhojan nahian kiya, n jane kahaan chale ge.’

jageshvari--’daftar ge hoange.’

jalapa—‘nahian, daftar nahian ge. vahaan se ek chaparasi poochhane aya tha.’

yah kahati huee vah oopar chali gee, bache hue rupaye sandook mean rakhe aur pankha jhalane lagi. mare garami ke deh phuanki ja rahi thi, lekin kan dvar ki or lage the. abhi tak use isaki zara bhi shanka n thi ki rama ne videsh ki rah li hai.

char baje tak to jalapa ko vishesh chianta n huee lekin jyoan-jyoan din dhalane laga, usaki chianta badhane lagi. akhir vah sabase ooanchi chhat par chadh gee, halaanki usake jirn hone ke karan koee oopar nahian ata tha, aur vahaan charoan taraph nazar daudaee, lekin rama kisi taraph se ata dikhaee n diya. jab sandhya ho gee aur rama ghar n aya, to jalapa ka ji ghabarane laga. kahaan chale ge? vah daftar se ghar ae bina kahian bahar n jate the. agar kisi mitr ke ghar hote, to kya ab tak n lautate?maloom nahian, jeb mean kuchh hai bhi ya nahian. bechare dinabhar se n maloom kahaan bhatak rahe hoange. vah phir pachhatane lagi ki unaka patr padhate hi usane kyoan n har nikalakar de diya. kyoan duvidha mean p d gee. bechare sharm ke mare ghar n ate hoange. kahaan jay? kisase poochhe?

chirag jal ge, to usase n raha gaya. socha, shayad ratan se kuchh pata chale. usake bangale par gee to maloom hua, aj to vah idhar ae hi nahian. jalapa ne un sabhi parko aur maidanoan ko chhan dala, jahaan rama ke sath vah bahudha ghoomane aya karati thi, aur nau bajate-bajate nirash laut aee. ab tak usane apane aansuoan ko roka tha, lekin ghar mean qadam rakhate hi jab use maloom ho gaya ki ab tak vah nahian ae, to vah hatash hokar baith gee. usaki yah shanka ab dridh ho gee ki vah zaroor kahian chale ge. phir bhi kuchh asha thi ki shayad mere pichhe ae hoan aur phir chale ge hoan. jakar jageshvari se poochha, ’vah ghar ae the, ammaanji?’

jageshvari--’yar-dostoan mean baithe kahian gapashap kar rahe hoange. ghar to saray hai. das baje ghar se nikale the, abhi tak pata nahian.’

jalapa—‘daftar se ghar akar tab vah kahian jate the. aj to ae nahian. kahie to gopi baboo ko bhej dooan. jakar dekhean, kahaan rah ge.’

jageshvari--’lanake is vakt qahaan dekhane jaeange. unaka kya thik hai. tho di der aur dekh lo, phir khana uthakar rakh dena. koee kahaan tak iantazar kare.’

jalapa ne isaka kuchh javab n diya. daftar ki koee bat unase n kahi. jageshvari sunakar ghabada jati, aur usi vakt rona-pitana mach jata. vah oopar jakar let gee aur apane bhagy par rone lagi. rah-rahakar chitt aisa vikal hone laga, mano kaleje mean shool uth raha ho bar-bar sochati, agar ratabhar n ae to kal kya karana hoga? jab tak kuchh pata n chale ki vah kidhar ge, tab tak koee jay to kahaan jay! aj usake man ne pahali bar svikar kiya ki yah sab usi ki karani ka phal hai. yah sach hai ki usane kabhi abhooshanoan ke lie agrah nahian kiyarri lekin usane kabhi spasht roop se mana bhi to nahian kiya. agar gahane chori jane ke bad itani adhir n ho gee hoti, to aj yah din kyoan ata. man ki is durbal avastha mean jalapa apane bhar se adhik bhag apane oopar lene lagi. vah janati thi, rama rishvat leta hai,

noch-khasotakar rupaye lata hai. phir bhi kabhi usane mana nahian kiya. usane khud kyoan apani kamali ke bahar paanv vlaya- kyoan use roz sair - sapate ki soojhati thi? upaharoan ko le-lekar vah kyoan phali n samati thi? is zimmedari ko bhi is vakt zalapa apane hi oopar le rahi thi. ramanath ne prem ke vash hokar use prasann karane ke lie hi to sab kuchh karate the. yuvakoan ka yahi svabhav hai. phir usane unaki raksha ke lie kya kiya- kyoan use yah samajh n aee

ki amadani se zyada kharch karane ka dand ek din bhogana p dega. ab use aisi kitani hi batean yad a rahi thian, jinase use rama ke man ki vikalata ka parichay pa jana chahie tha, par usane kabhi un batoan ki or dhyan n diya.

jalapa inhian chiantaoan mean doobi huee n jane kab tak baithi rahi. jab chaukidaroan ki sitiyoan ki avaz usake kanoan mean aee, to vah niche jakar jageshvari se boli, ’vah to ab tak nahian ae. ap chalakar bhojan kar lijie.’

jageshvari baithe-baithe jhapakiyaan le rahi thi. chauankakar boli, ’kahaan chale ge the? ’

jalapa—‘vah to ab tak nahian ae.’

jageshvari--’ab tak nahian ae? adhi rat to ho gee hogi. jate vakt tumase kuchh kaha bhi nahian?’

jalapa—‘kuchh nahian.’

jageshvari--’tumane to kuchh nahian kaha?’

jalapa—‘maian bhala kyoan kahati.’

jageshvari--’to maian lalaji ko jagaooan?’

jalapa—‘is vakt zagakar kya kijiega? ap chalakar kuchh kha lijie n.’

jageshvari--’mujhase ab kuchh n khaya jayaga. aisa manamauji l daka hai ki kuchh kaha n suna, n jane kahaan jakar baith raha. kam-se-kam kahala to deta ki maian is vakt n aooanga.’

jageshvari phir let rahi, magar jalapa usi tarah baithi rahi. yahaan tak ki sari rat guzar gee,paha d-si rat jisaka ek-ek pal ek-ek varsh ke saman kat raha tha.

sanbandhit lekh

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