ग़बन उपन्यास भाग-53

chau ki shital, suhavani, sphoortimayi sandhya, ganga ka tat, tesuoan se lahalahata hua dhak ka maidan, baragad ka chhayadar vriksh, usake niche bandhi huee gaean, bhaiansean, kaddoo aur lauki ki beloan se laharati huee jhoanpadiyaan, n kahian gard n gubar, n shor n gul, sukh aur shaanti ke lie kya isase bhi achchhi jagah ho sakati hai? niche svarnamayi ganga lal, kale, nile avaran se chamakati huee, mand svaroan mean gati, kahian lapakati, kahian jhijhakati, kahian chapal, kahian ganbhir, anant aandhakaraki or chali ja rahi hai, mano bahuranjit balasmriti krida aur vinod ki god mean khelati huee, chiantamay, sangharshamay, aandhakaramay bhavishy ki or chali ja rahi ho devi aur rama ne yahian, prayag ke samip akar ashray liya hai.

tin sal guzar ge haian, devidin ne zamin li, bag lagaya, kheti jamaee, gay-bhaiansean kharidian aur karmayog mean, avirat udyog mean sukh, santosh aur shaanti ka anubhav kar raha hai. usake mukh par ab vah jardi, jhurriyaan nahian haian, ek nee sphoorti, ek nee kaanti jhalak rahi hai. sham ho gee hai, gaean-bhaiansean har se lautianb jaggo ne unhean khooante se baandha aur thoda-thoda bhoosa lakar unake samane dal diya. itane mean devi aur gopi bhi bailaga di par daanthean lade hue a pahuancheb dayanath ne baragad ke niche zamin saf kar rakhi hai. vahian daanthean utari gee. yahi is chhoti-si basti ka khalihan hai.

dayanath naukari se barakhast ho ge the aur ab devi ke asisteant haian. unako samachar-patroan se ab bhi vahi prem hai, roj kee patr ate haian, aur sham ko phursat pane ke bad muanshiji patroan ko padhakar sunate aur samajhate haian. shrotaoan mean bahudha asapas ke gaanvoan ke das-paanch adami bhi a jate haian aur roz ek chhotimoti sabha ho jati hai.

rama ko to is jivan se itana anurag ho gaya hai ki ab shayad use thanedari hi nahian, chuangi ki ianspektari bhi mil jay, to shahar ka nam n le. pratahkal uthakar ganga-snan karata hai, phir kuchh kasarat karake doodh pita hai aur din nikalate-nikalate apani davaoan ka sandook lekar a baithata hai. usane vaidy ki kee kitabean padhali haian aur chhoti-moti bimariyoan ki dava de deta hai. das-paanch mariz roz a jate haian aur usaki kirti din-din badhati jati hai. is kamase chhutti pate hi vah apane bagiche mean chala jata hai. vahaan kuchh saph-bhaji bhi lagi huee hai, kuchh phal-phaloan ke vriksh haian aur kuchh j di-bootiyaan haian. abhi to bag se keval tarakari milati hai, par asha hai ki tin-char sal mean nianboo, amarood,ber, narangi, am, kele, aanvale, katahal, bel adi phaloan ki achchhi amadani hone lagegi.

devi ne bailoan ko ga di se kholakar khooante se baandha diya aur dayanath se bola,’abhi bhaiya nahian laute?’

dayanath ne daanthoan ko sametate hue kaha, ‘abhi to nahian laute. mujhe to ab inake achchhe hone ki asha nahian hai. zamane ka udhar hai. kitane sukh se rahati thian, ga di thi, bangala tha, darajanoan naukar the. ab yah hal hai. saman sab maujood hai, vakil sahab ne achchhi sanpatti chho di tha, magar bhaee-bhatijoan ne h dap li. devidin—‘ ‘bhaiya kahate the, adalat karatian to sab mil jata, par kahati haian, maian adalat mean jhooth n bolooangi. aurat bade ooanche vichar ki hai.’

sahasa jageshvari ek chhote-se shishu ko god mean liye hue ek jhoanp de se nikali aur bachche ko dayanath ki god mean deti huee devidin se boli, ‘bhaiya, zara chalakar ratan ko dekho, jane kaisi huee jati hai. zohara aur bahoo, donoan ro rahi haian! bachcha n jane kahaan rah ge!

devidin ne dayanath se kaha, ‘chalo lala, dekhean.’

jageshvari boli, ‘yah jakar kya kareange, bimar ko dekhakar to inaki nani pahale hi mar jati hai.’

devidin ne ratan ki kothari mean jakar dekha. ratan baans ki ek khat par p di thi. deh sookh gee thi. vah sooryamukhi ka-sa khila hua chehara murajhakar pila ho gaya tha. vah rang jinhoanne chitr ko jivan aur spandan pradan kar rakkha tha, u d ge the, keval akar shesh rah gaya tha. vah shravan-priy, pranaprad, vikas aur ahlad mean dooba hua sangit mano akash mean vilin ho gaya tha, keval usaki kshin udas pratidhvani rah gee thi. zohara usake oopar jhuki use karoon,

vivash, katar, nirash tatha trishnamay najaroan se dekh rahi thi. aj sal-bhar se usane ratan ki seva-shushroosha mean din ko din aur rat ko rat n samajha tha. ratan ne usake sath jo sneh kiya tha, us avishvas aur bahishkar ke vatavaran mean jis khule niahsankoch bhav se usake sath bahanapa nibhaya tha, usaka ehasan vah aur kis tarah manati. jo sahanubhooti use jalapa se bhi n mili, vah ratan ne pradan ki. duahkh aur parishram ne donoan ko mila diya, donoan ki atmaean sanyukt ho gee. yah ghanishth sneh usake lie ek naya hi anubhav tha, jisaki usane kabhi kalpana bhi n ki thi. is mauke mean usake vanchit hriday ne pati-prem aur putr-sneh donoan hi pa liya. devidin ne ratan ke chehare ki or sachiant najaroan se dekha, tab usaki na di

hath mean lekar poochha,‘kitani der se nahian bolian ?’

jalapa ne aankhean poanchhakar kaha, ‘abhi to bolati thian. ekaek aankhean oopar chadhagee aur behosh ho gee. vaidy ji ko lekar abhi tak nahian ae?’

devidin ne kaha, ‘inaki dava vaidy ke pas nahian hai. ’yah kahakar usane tho di-si rakh li, ratan ke sir par hath phera, kuchh muanh mean budabudaya aur ek chutaki rakh usake mathe par laga di. tab pukara, ‘ratan beti, aankhean kholo.’

ratan ne aankhean khol dian aur idhar-udhar sakapakaee huee aankhoan se dekhakar boli,‘meri motar aee thi n? kahaan gaya vah adami? usase kah do, tho di der ke bad lae. zohara –‘ aj maian tumhean apane bagiche ki sair karaooangi. ham donoan jhoole par baitheangi.’

zohara phir rone lagi. jalapa bhi aansuoan ke veg ko n rok saki. ratan ek kshan tak chhat ki or dekhati rahi. phir ekaek jaise usaki smriti jag uthi ho, vah lajjit hokar ek udas muskarahat ke sath boli, ‘maian sapana dekh rahi thi, dada!’

lohit akash par kalima ka parada p d gaya tha. usi vakt ratan ke jivan par mrityu ne parada dal diya.

ramanath vaidyaji ko lekar pahar rat ko laute, to yahaan maut ka sannata chhaya hua tha. ratan ki mrityu ka shok vah shok n tha, jisamean adami hay- hay karata hai, balki vah shok tha jisamean ham mook roodan karate haian, jisaki yad kabhi nahian bhoolati, jisaka bojh kabhi dil se nahian utarata.

ratan ke bad zohara akeli ho gee. donoan sath soti thian, sath baithati thian, sath kam karati thian. akele zohara ka ji kisi kam mean n lagata. kabhi nadi-tat par jakar ratan ko yad karati aur roti, kabhi us am ke paudho ke pas jakar ghantoan kh di rahati, jise un donoan ne lagaya tha. mano usaka suhag lut gaya ho jalapa ko bachche ke palan aur bhojan banane se itana

avakash n milata tha ki usake sath bahut uthati-baithati, aur baithati bhi to ratan ki charcha hone lagati aur donoan rone lagatian.

bhadoan ka mahina tha. prithvi aur jal mean ran chhidahua tha. jal ki senaean vayuyan par chadhakar akash se jal-sharoan ki varsha kar rahi thian. usaki thal-senaoan ne prithvi par utpat macha rakkha tha. ganga gaanvoan aur kasboan ko niphal rahi thi. gaanv ke gaanv bahate chale jate the. zohara nadi ke tat par badh ka tamasha dekhane lagi. vah krishaangi ganga itani vishal ho sakati hai, isaka vah anuman bhi n kar sakati thi. laharean unmabha hokar garajatian, muanh se phan nikalatian, hathoan uchhal rahi thian. chatur dakaitoan ki tarah paiantare badal rahi thian. kabhi ek qadam atian, phir pichhe laut p datian aur chakkar khakar phir age ko lapakatian. kahian koee jhoanpada dagamagata tezi se baha ja raha tha, mano koee sharabi dauda jata ho kahian koee vriksh dal-pattoan samet doobata-utarata kisi pashanayug ke jantu ki bhaanti tairata chala jata tha. gaean aur bhaiansean, khat aur takhte mano tilasmi chitroan ki bhaanti aankhoan ke samane se nikale jate the. sahasa ek kishti nazar aee. us par kee stri-purush baithe the. baithe kya the, chimate hue the. kishti kabhi oopar jati, kabhi niche ati. bas yahi maloom hota tha ki ab ulati, ab ulati. par vah re sahas sab ab bhi ‘ganga mata ki jay’ pukarate jate the. striyaan ab bhi ganga ke yash ke git gati thian

jivan aur mrityu ka aisa sangharsh kisane dekha hoga. donoan taraph ke adami kinare par, ek tanav ki dasha mean hriday ko dabae kh de the. jab kishti karavat leti, to logoan ke dil uchhal-uchhalakar othoan tak a jate. rassiyaan pheankane ki koshish ki jati, par rassi bich hi mean phir p dati thi. ekaek ek bar kishti ulat hi gee. sabhi prani laharoan mean sama ge. ek kshan kee stri-purush, doobate-utarate dikhaee die, phir nigahoan se ojhal ho ge. keval ek ujali-si chiz kinare ki or chali a rahi thi. vah ek rele mean tat se koee bis gaz tak a gee. samip se maloom hua, stri hai. zohara –‘ jalapa aur rama, tinoan kh de the. stri ki god mean ek bachcha bhi nazar ata tha. donoan ko nikal lane ke lie tinoan vikal ho uthe, par bis gaz tak tairakar us taraph jana asan n tha. phir rama tairane mean bahut kushal n tha. kahian laharoan ke zor mean paanv ukh d jaean, to phir bangal ki kha di ke siva aur kahian thikana n lage.

zohara ne kaha, ‘maian jati hooan!’

rama ne lajate hue kaha,‘jane ko to maian taiyar hooan, lekin vahaan tak pahuanch bhi sakooanga, isamean sandeh hai. kitana to d hai!’

zohara ne ek qadam pani mean rakhakar kaha,‘nahian, maian abhi nikal lati hooan.’

vah kamar tak pani mean chali gee. rama ne sashank hokar kaha,’kyoan nahak jan dene jati ho vahaan shayad ek gaddha hai. maian to ja hi raha tha.’

zohara ne hathoan se mana karate hue kaha, ’nahian-nahian, tumhean meri kasam, tum n ana. maian abhi liye ati hooan. mujhe tairana ata hai.’

jalapa ne kaha, ‘lash hogi aur kya! ’

ramanath-- ‘shayad abhi jan ho’

jalapa--‘achchha, to zohara to tair bhi leti hai. jabhi himmat huee. ’

rama ne zohara ki or chiantit aankhoan se dekhate hue kaha, haan, kuchh-kuchh janati to haian. eeshvar kare laut aean. mujhe apani kayarata par lajja a rahi hai.

jalapa ne behayaee se kaha,‘isamean lajja ki kaun?si bat hai. mari lash ke lie jan ko jokhim mean dalane se fayada, jiti hoti, to maian khud tumase kahati, jakar nikal lao.’

rama ne atm-dhikkar ke bhav se kaha, ‘yahaan se kaun jan sakata hai, jan hai ya nahian. sachamuch bal-bachchoan vala adami namard ho jata hai. maian khada raha aur zohara chali gee.’

sahasa ek zor ki lahar aee aur lash ko phir dhara mean baha le gee. zohara lash ke pas pahuanch chuki thi. use pak dakar khianchana hi chahati thi ki is lahar ne use door kar diya. zohara khud usake zor mean a gee aur pravah ki or kee hath bah gee. vah phir sanbhali par ek doosari lahar ne use phir dhakel diya. rama vyagr hokar pani mean yad pada aur zor-zor se pukarane laga, ‘zohara zohara! maian ata hooan.’

magar zohara mean ab laharoan se l dane ki shakti n thi. vah veg se lash ke sath hi dhare mean bahi ja rahi thi. usake hath-paanv hilana band ho ge the. ekaek ek aisa rela aya ki donoan hi usamean sama gee. ek minat ke bad zohara ke kale bal nazar ae. keval ek kshan tak yahi aantim jhalak thi. phir vah najar n aee.

rama koee sau gaz tak zoroan ke sath hath-paanv marata hua gaya, lekin itani hi door mean laharoan ke veg ke karan usaka dam phool gaya. ab age jay kahaan? zohara ka to kahian pata bhi n tha. vahi akhiri jhalak aankhoan ke samane thi. kinare par jalapa kh di hay-hay kar rahi thi. yahaan tak ki vah bhi pani mean kood p di. rama ab age n badhasaka. ek shakti age khianchati thi,

ek pichhe. age ki shakti mean anurag tha, nirasha thi, balidan tha. pichhe ki shakti mean kartavy tha, sneh tha, bandhan tha. bandhan ne rok liya. vah laut p da. kee minat tak jalapa aur rama ghutanoan tak pani mean kh de usi taraph takate rahe. rama ki zaban atm-dhikkar ne band kar rakkhi thi, jalapa ki, shok aur lajja ne. akhir rama ne kaha, ‘pani mean kyoan kh di ho? sardi ho jaegi.

jalapa pani se nikalakar tat par kh di ho gee, par muanh se kuchh n boli,mrityuke is aghat ne use parabhoot kar diya tha. jivan kitana asthir hai, yah ghatana aj doosari bar usaki aankhoan ke samane charitarth huee. ratan ke marane ki pahale se ashanka thi. maloom tha ki vah tho de dinoan ki mehaman hai, magar zohara ki maut to vajraghat ke saman thi. abhi adha gh di pahale tinoan

adami prasannachitt, jal-krida dekhane chale the. kise shanka thi ki mrityu ki aisi bhishan pida unako dekhani p degi. in char saloan mean johara ne apani seva, atmatyag aur saral svabhav

se sabhi ko mugdh kar liya tha. usake atit ko mitane ke lie, apane pichhale dagoan ko dho dalane ke lie, usake pas isake siva aur kya upay tha. usaki sari kamanaean, sari vasanaean seva mean lin ho gee. kalakatta mean vah vilas aur manoranjan ki vastu thi. shayad koee bhala adami use apane ghar mean n ghusane deta. yahaan sabhi usake sath ghar ke prani ka-sa vyavahar karate the. dayanath aur jageshvari ko yah kahakar shaant kar diya gaya tha ki vah

devidin ki vidhava bahoo hai. zohara ne kalakatta mean jalapa se keval usake sath rahane ki bhiksha maangi thi. apane jivan se use ghrina ho gee thi. jalapa ki vishvasamay udarata ne use atmashuddhi ke path par dal diya. ratan ka pavitr,nishkam jivan use protsahit kiya karata tha. tho di der ke bad rama bhi pani se nikala aur shok mean dooba hua ghar ki or chala. magar akasar vah aur jalapa nadi ke kinare a baithate aur jahaan zohara doobi thi us taraph ghantoan dekha karate. kee dinoan tak unhean yah asha bani rahi ki shayad zohara bach gee ho aur kisi taraph se chali ae. lekin dhire-dhire yah kshin asha bhi shok ke aandhakar mean kho gee. magar abhi tak

zohara ki soorat unaki aankhoan ke samane gira karati hai. usake lagae hue paudhe, usaki pali huee billi, usake hathoan ke sile hue kap de, usaka kamara, yah sab usaki smriti ke chihn unake pas jakar rama ki aankhoan ke samane zohara ki tasvir kh di ho jati hai.

sanbandhit lekh

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