ग़बन उपन्यास भाग-41

ratan patroan mean jalapa ko to dhadhas deti rahati thi par apane vishay mean kuchh n likhati thi. jo ap hi vyathit ho rahi ho, use apani vyathaoan ki katha kya sunati! vahi ratan jisane rupayoan ki kabhi koee haisiyat n samajhi, is ek hi mahine mean rotiyoan ko bhi muhataj ho gee thi. usaka vaivahik jivan bahut sukhi n ho, par use kisi bat ka abhav n tha. mariyal gho de par savar hokar bhi yatra poori ho sakati hai agar s dak achchhi ho, naukar-chakar, rupay-paise aur bhojan adi ki samagri sath ho ghodabhi tez ho, to poochhana hi kya! ratan ki dasha usi savar ki-si thi. usi savar ki bhaanti vah mandagati se apani jivan-yatra kar rahi thi. kabhi-kabhi vah gho de par jhuanjhalati hogi, doosare savaroan ko u de jate dekhakar usaki bhi ichchha hoti hogi ki maian bhi isi tarah u dati, lekin vah dukhi n thi, apane nasiboan ko roti n thi. vah us gay ki tarah thi, jo ek patali-si pagahiya ke bandhan mean p dakar, apani nad ke bhoose-khali mean magan rahati hai. samane hare-hare maidan haian, usamean sugandhamay ghasean lahara rahi haian, par vah pagahiya tudakar kabhi udhar nahian jati. usake lie us pagahiya aur lohe ki janjir mean koee aantar nahian. yauvan ko prem ki itani kshudha nahian hoti, jitani atm-pradarshan ki. prem ki kshudha pichhe ati hai. ratan ko atmapradarshan ke sabhi upay mile hue the. usaki yuvati atma apane rriangar aur pradarshan mean magn thi. hansi-vinod, sair-sapata, khana-pina, yahi usaka jivan tha, jaisa prayady sabhi manushyoan ka hota hai. isase gahare jal mean jane ki n use ichchha thi, n prayojanab sanpannata bahut kuchh manasik vyathaoan ko shaant karati hai. usake pas apane dudyakhoan ko bhulane ke kitane hi dhang haian, sinema hai, thietar hai, desh-bhraman hai, tash hai, palatoo janavar haian, sangit hai, lekin vipannata ko bhulane ka manushy ke pas koee upay nahian, isake siva ki vah roe, apane bhagy ko kose ya sansar se virakt hokar atm-hatya kar le. ratan ki takadir ne palata khaya tha. sukh ka svapn bhang ho gaya tha aur vipannata ka kankal ab use khada ghoor raha tha. aur yah sab hua apane hi hathoan!

panditaji un praniyoan mean the, jinhean maut ki fikr nahian hoti. unhean kisi tarah yah bhram ho gaya tha ki durbal svasthy ke manushy agar pathy aur vichar se rahean, to bahut dinoan tak ji sakate haian. vah pathy aur vichar ki sima ke bahar kabhi n jate. phir maut ko unase kya dushmani thi, jo khvamakhvah unake pichhe p dati. apani vasiyat likh dalane ka khayal unhean us vakt aya, jab vah maranasann hue, lekin ratan vasiyat ka nam sunate hi itani shokatur, itani bhayabhit huee ki panditaji ne us vakt tal jana hi uchit samajhab tab se phir unhean itana hosh n aya ki vasiyat likhavate. panditaji ke dehavasan ke bad ratan ka man itana virakt ho gaya ki use kisi bat ki bhi sudh-budh n rahi. yah vah avasar tha, jab use vishesh roop se savadhan rahana chahie tha. is bhaanti satark rahana chahie tha, mano dushmanoan ne use gher rakkha ho, par usane sab kuchh manibhooshan par chho d diya aur usi manibhooshan ne dhire-dhire usaki sari sanpatti apaharan kar li. aise-aise shadayantr rache ki sarala ratan ko usake kapat-vyavahar ka abhas tak n hua. phanda jab khoob kas gaya, to usane ek din akar kaha, ‘aj bangala khali karana

hoga. maianne ise bech diya hai. ‘

ratan ne zara tez hokar kaha, ‘maianne to tumase kaha tha ki maian abhi bangala n bechooangi. ‘

manibhooshan ne vinay ka avaran utar pheanka aur tyori chadhakar bola, ‘apamean batean bhool jane ki buri adat hai. isi kamare mean maianne apase yah zikr kiya tha aur apane hami bhari thi. jab maianne bech diya, to ap yah svaang khada karati haian! bangala aj khali karana hoga aur apako mere sath chalana hoga. ‘

‘maian abhi yahian rahana chahati hooan.’

‘maian apako yahaan n rahane dooanga. ‘

‘maian tumhari lauandi nahian hooan.’

‘apaki raksha ka bhar mere oopar hai. apane kul ki maryada-raksha ke lie maian apako apane sath le jaooanga. ‘

ratan ne hoanth chabakar kaha, ‘maian apani maryada ki raksha ap kar sakati hooan. tumhari madad ki zaroorat nahian. meri marzi ke bagair tum yahaan koee chiz nahian bech sakate. ‘

manibhooshan ne vajr-sa mara, ‘apaka is ghar par aur chachaji ki sanpatti par koee adhikar nahian. vah meri sanpatti hai. ap mujhase keval guzare ka saval kar sakati haian. ‘

ratan ne vismit hokar kaha, ‘tum kuchh bhang to nahian kha ge ho? ‘

manibhooshan ne kathor svar mean kaha, ‘maian itani bhang nahian khata ki besirapair ki batean karane lagooanb ap to padhi-likhi haian, ek bade vakil ki dharmapatni thian. qanoon ki bahut-si batean janati hoangi. sammilit parivar mean vidhava ka apane purush ki sanpatti par koee adhikar nahian hota. chachaji aur mere pitaji mean kabhi alagaujha nahian hua. chachaji yahaan the, ham log iandaur mean the, par isase

yah nahian siddh hota ki hamamean alagaujha tha. agar chacha apani sanpatti apako dena chahate, to koee vasiyat avashy likh jate aur yadyapivah vasiyat qanoon ke anusar koee chiz n hoti, par ham usaka samman karate. unaka koee vasiyat n karana sabit kar raha hai ki vah qanoon ke sadharan vyavahar mean koee badha n dalana chahate the. aj apako bangala khali karana hoga. motar aur any vastuean bhi nilam kar di jaeangi. apaki ichchha ho, mere sath chalean ya rahean.

yahaan rahane ke lie apako das-gyarah rupaye ka makan kafi hoga. guzare ke lie pachas rupaye mahine ka prabandh maianne kar diya hai. lena-dena chuka lene ke bad isase zyada ki guanjaish hi nahian. ‘

ratan ne koee javab n diya. kuchh der vah hatabuddhi-si baithi rahi, phir motar mangavaee aur sare din vakiloan ke pas dau dati phiri. panditaji ke kitane hi vakil mitr the. sabhi ne usaka vrittaant sunakar khed prakat kiya aur vakil sahab ke vasiyat n likh jane par hairat karate rahe. ab usake lie ek hi upay tha. vah yah siddh karane ki cheshta kare ki vakil sahab aur unake bhaee mean alahadagi ho gee thi. agar yah siddh ho gaya aur siddh ho jana bilakul asan tha, to ratan us sanpatti ki svamini ho jaegi. agar vah yah siddh n kar saki, to usake lie koee chara n tha. abhagini ratan laut aee. usane nishchay kiya, jo kuchh mera nahian hai, use lene ke lie maian jhooth ka ashray n looangi. kisi tarah nahian. magar aisa qanoon banaya kisane? kya stri itani nich, itani tuchchh, itani nagany hai? kyoan? din-bhar ratan chianta mean doobi, maun baithi rahi. itane dinoan vah apane ko is ghar ki svamini samajhati rahi. kitani badi bhool thi. pati ke jivan mean jo log usaka muanh takate the, ve aj usake bhagy ke vidhata ho ge! yah ghor apaman ratan-jaisi manini stri ke lie asahy tha. mana, kamaee panditaji ki thi, par yah gaanv to usi ne kharida tha, inamean se kee makan to usake samane hi bane, usane yah ek kshan ke lie bhi n khayal kiya tha ki ek din yah jayadad meri jivika ka adhar hogi. itani bhavishy-chianta vah kar hi n sakati thi. use is jayadad ke kharidane mean, usake sanvarane aur sajane mean vahi anand ata tha, jo mata apani santan ko phalate-phalate dekhakar pati hai. usamean svarth ka bhav n tha, keval apanepan ka garv tha, vahi mamata thi, par pati ki aankhean band hote hi usake pale aur god ke khelae balak bhi usaki god se chhin lie ge. usaka un par koee adhikar nahian! agar vah janati ki ek din yah kathin samasya usake samane aegi, to vah chahe rupaye ko luta deti ya dan kar deti, par sanpatti ki kil apani chhati par n ga dati. panditaji ki aisi kaun bahut badi amadani thi. kya garmiyoan mean vah shimale n ja sakati thi? kya do-char aur naukar n rakkhe ja sakate the? agar vah gahane hi banavati, to ek-ek makan ke mooly ka ek-ek gahana banava sakati thi, par usane in batoan ko kabhi uchit sima se age n badhane diya. keval yahi svapn dekhane ke lie! yahi svapn! isake siva aur tha hi kya! jo kal usaka tha usaki or aj aankhean uthakar vah dekh bhi nahian sakati! kitana mahanga tha vah svapn! haan, vah ab anathini thi. kal tak doosaroan ko bhikh deti thi, aj use khud bhikh maangani p degi. aur koee ashray nahian! pahale bhi vah anathini thi, keval bhram-vash apane ko svamini samajh rahi thi. ab us bhram ka sahara bhi nahian raha!

sahasa vicharoan ne palata khaya. maian kyoan apane ko anathini samajh rahi hooan? kyoan doosaroan ke dvar par bhikh maangooan? sansar mean lakhoan hi striyaan mehanat-mazadoori karake jivan ka nirvah karati haian. kya maian koee kam nahian kar sakati? maian kapada kya nahian si sakati? kisi chiz ki chhoti-moti dookan nahian rakh sakati? lanake bhi padha sakati hooan. yahi n hoga, log hanseange, magar mujhe us hansi ki kya parava! vah meri hansi nahian hai, apane samaj ki hansi hai.

sham ko dvar par kee thele vale a ge. manibhooshan ne akar kaha, ‘chachiji, ap jo-jo chizean kahean ladavakar bhijava dooan. maianne ek makan thik kar liya hai.’

ratan ne kaha, ‘mujhe kisi chiz ki zaroorat nahian. n tum mere lie makan lo. jis chiz par mera koee adhikar nahian, vah maian hath se bhi nahian chhoo sakati. maian apane ghar se kuchh lekar nahian aee thi. usi tarah laut jaooangi.’

manibhooshan ne lajjit hokar kaha,’apaka sab kuchh hai, yah ap kaise kahati haian ki apaka koee adhikar nahian. ap vah makan dekh lean. pandrah rupaya kiraya hai. maian to samajhata hooan apako koee kasht n hoga. jo-jo chizean ap kahean, maian vahaan pahuancha dooan.’

ratan ne vyangyamay aankhoan se dekhakar kaha, ‘tumane pandrah rupaye ka makan mere lie vyarth liya! itana bada makan lekar maian kya karooangi! mere lie ek kothari kafi hai, jo do rupaye mean mil jayagi. sone ke lie zamin hai hi. daya ka bojh sir par jitana kam ho, utana hi achchha!

manibhooshan ne bade vinamr bhav se kaha, ‘akhir ap chahati kya haian?use kahie to!’

ratan uttejit hokar boli, ‘maian kuchh nahian chahati. maian is ghar ka ek tinaka bhi apane sath n le jaooangi. jis chiz par mera koee adhikar nahian, vah mere lie vaisi hi hai jaisi kisi gair adami ki chizab maian daya ki bhikharini n banooangi. tum in chizoan ke adhikari ho, le jao. maian zara bhi bura nahian manati! daya ki chiz n jabaradasti li ja sakati hai, n jabaradasti di ja sakati hai. sansar mean hazaroan vidhavaean haian, jo mehanat-majoori karake apana nirvah kar rahi haian. maian bhi vaise hi hooan. maian bhi usi tarah majoori karooangi aur agar n kar sakooangi, to kisi gadadhe mean doob meeangi. jo apana pet bhi n pal sake, use jite rahane ka, doosaroan ka bojh banane ka koee hak nahian hai.‘ yah kahati huee ratan ghar se nikali aur dvar ki or chali. manibhooshan ne usaka rasta rokakar kaha, ‘agar apaki ichchha n ho, to maian bangala abhi n bechooan.‘

ratan ne jalati huee aankhoan se usaki or dekha. usaka chehara tamatamaya hua tha. aansuoan ke um date hue veg ko rokakar boli, ‘ maianne kah diya, is ghar ki kisi chiz se mera nata nahian hai. maian kirae ki lauandi thi. laudi ka ghar se kya sanbandh hai! n jane kis papi ne yah qanoon banaya tha. agar eeshvar kahian hai aur usake yahaan koee nyay hota hai, to ek din usi ke samane us papi se poochhooangi, kya tere ghar mean maan-bahanean n thian? tujhe unaka apaman karate lajja n aee? agar meri zaban mean itani takat hoti ki sare desh mean usaki avaz pahuanchati, to maian sab striyoan se kahati,bahano, kisi sammilit parivar mean vivah mat karana aur agar karana to jab tak apana ghar alag n bana lo, chain ki niand mat sona. yah mat samajho ki tumhare pati ke pichhe us ghar mean tumhara man ke sath palan hoga. agar tumhare purush ne koee lanaka nahian chhoda, to tum akeli raho chahe parivar mean, ek hi bat hai. tum apaman aur majoori se nahian bach sakatian. agar tumhare purush ne kuchh chhoda hai to akeli rahakar tum use bhog sakati ho, parivar mean rahakar tumhean usase hath dhona p dega. parivar tumhare lie phooloan ki sej nahian, kaantoan ki shayya hai, tumhara par lagane vali nauka nahian, tumhean nigal jane vala jantu.‘

sandhya ho gee thi. gard se bhari huee phagun ki vayu chalane valoan ki aankhoan mean dhool jhoank rahi thi. ratan chadar sanbhalati s dak par chali ja rahi thi. raste mean kee parichit striyoan ne use toka, kee ne apani motar rok li aur use baithane ko kaha, par ratan ko unaki sahridayata is samay ban-si lag rahi thi. vah tezi se qadam uthati huee jalapa ke ghar chali ja rahi thi. aj usaka vastavik jivan aranbh hua tha.

sanbandhit lekh

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