गोदान उपन्यास भाग-29

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

nohari un auratoan mean n thi, jo neki karake dariya mean dal deti haian. usane neki ki hai, to usaka khoob dhiandhora pitegi aur usase jitana yash mil sakata hai, usase kuchh zyada hi pane ke lie hath-paanv maregi. aise adami ko yash ke badale apayash aur badanami hi milati hai. neki n karana badanami ki bat nahian. apani ichchha nahian hai, ya samarthy nahian hai. isake lie koee hamean bura nahian kah sakata. magar jab ham neki karake usaka ehasan jatane lagate haian, to vahi jisake sath hamane neki ki thi, hamara shatru ho jata hai, aur hamare ehasan ko mita dena chahata hai. vahi neki agar karane vale ke dil mean rahe, to neki hai, bahar nikal ae to badi hai. nohari charoan or kahati phirati thi - bechara hori b di musibat mean tha. beti ke byah ke lie zamin rehan rakh raha tha. maianne usaki yah dasa dekhi, to mujhe daya aee. dhaniya se to ji jalata tha, vah raan d to mare ghamand ke dharati par paanv hi nahian rakhati. bechara hori chianta se ghula jata tha. maianne socha, is sankat mean isaki kuchh madad kar dooan. akhir adami hi to adami ke kam ata hai. aur hori to ab koee gair nahian hai, mano chahe n mano, vah hamare natedar ho chuke. rupe nikal kar de die, nahian l daki ab tak baithi rahati.

dhaniya bhala yah jit kab sunane lagi thi. rupe khairat die the? b di khairat dene vali. sood mahajan bhi lega, tum bhi logi. ehasan kahe ka! doosaroan ko deti, sood ki jagah mool bhi gayab ho jata, hamane liya hai, to hath mean rupe ate hi nak par rakh deange. hamian the ki tumhare ghar ka bis uthake pi ge, aur kabhi muanh par nahian lae. koee yahaan dvar par nahian kh da hone deta tha. hamane tumhara marajad bana liya, tumhare muanh ki lali rakh li.

rat ke das baj ge the. savan ki aandheri ghata chhaee thi. sare gaanv mean aandhakar tha. hori ne bhojan karake tamakhoo piya aur sone ja raha tha ki bhola a kar kh da ho gaya.

hori ne poochha - kaise chale bhola mahato! jab isi gaanv mean rahana hai to kyoan alag chhota-sa ghar nahian bana lete? gaanv mean log kaisi-kaisi kutsa u daya karate haian, kya yah tumhean achchha lagata hai? bura n manana, tumase sanbandh ho gaya hai, isalie tumhari badanami nahian suni jati, nahian mujhe kya karana tha.

dhaniya usi samay lote mean pani le kar hori ke sirahane rakhane aee. sun kar boli - doosara marad hota, to aisi aurat ka sir kat leta.

hori ne daanta - kyoan be-bat ki bat karati hai. pani rakh de aur ja so. aj too hi kurah chalane lage, to maian tera sir kat looanga? katane degi?

dhaniya use pani ka ek chhianta mar kar boli - kurah chale tumhari bahan, maian kyoan kurah chalane lagi. maian to duniya ki bat kahati hooan, tum mujhe galiyaan dene lage. ab muanh mitha ho gaya hoga. aurat chahe jis raste jay, marad tukur-tukur dekhata rahe. aise marad ko maian marad nahian kahati.

hori dil mean kata jata tha. bhola usase apana dukh-dard kahane aya hoga. vah ulte usi par toot p di. jara garm ho kar bola - too jo sare din apane hi man ki kiya karati hai, to maian tera kya biga d leta hooan? kuchh kahata hooan to katane dau dati hai. yahi soch.

dhaniya ne lallo-chappo karana n sikha tha, boli - aurat ghi ka gh da ludhaka de, ghar mean ag laga de, marad sah lega, lekin usaka kurah chalana koee marad n sahega.

bhola dukhit svar mean bola - too bahut thik kahati hai dhaniya. besak mujhe usaka sir kat lena chahie tha, lekin ab utana paurukh to nahian raha. too chal kar samajha de, maian sab kuchh karake har gaya.

'jab aurat ko bas mean rakhane ka boota n tha, to sagaee kyoan ki thi? isi chhichhaledar ke lie? kya sochate the, vah a kar tumhare pair dabaegi, tumhean chilam bhar-bhar pilaegi aur jab tum bimar p doge, to tumhari seva karegi? to aisa vahi aurat kar sakati hai, jisane tumhare sath javani ka sukh uthaya ho. meri samajh mean yahi nahian ata ki tum use dekh kar lattoo kaise ho ge! kuchh dekhabhal to kar liya hota ki kis svabhav ki hai, kis rang-dhang ki hai. tum to bhookhe siyar ki tarah toot p de. ab to tumhara dharam yahi hai ki gan dase se usaka sir kat lo. phaansi hi to paoge. phaansi is chhichhaledar se achchhi.'

bhola ke khoon mean kuchh sphoorti aee. bola - to tumhari yahi salah hai?

dhaniya boli - haan, meri yahi salah hai. ab sau-pachas baras to jioge nahian. samajh lena, itani hi umir thi.

hori ne ab ki zor se phatakara - chup rah, b di aee hai vahaan se satavanti banake. jabaradasti chi diya tak to pianj de mean rahati nahian, adami kya rahega? tum use chho d do bhola aur samajh lo, mar gee, aur ja kar apane bal-bachchoan mean aram se raho. do roti khao aur ram ka nam lo. javani ke sukh ab ge. vah aurat chanchal hai, badanami aur jalan ke siva tum usase koee sukh n paoge.

bhola nohari ko chho d de, asanbhav! nohari is samay bhi usaki or rosh-bhari aankhoan se tarerati huee jan p dati thi, lekin nahian, bhola ab use chho d hi dega. jaisa kar rahi hai, usaka phal bhoge.

aankhoan mean aansoo a ge. bola - hori bhaiya, is aurat ke pichhe meri jitani saansat ho rahi hai, maian hi janata hooan. isi ke pichhe kamata se meri l daee huee. budhape mean yah dag bhi lagana tha, vah lag gaya. mujhe roj tana deti hai ki tumhari to l daki nikal gee. meri l daki nikal gee, chahe bhag gee, lekin apane adami ke sath p di to hai, usake sukh-du:kh ki sathin to hai. isaki tarah to maianne aurat hi nahian dekhi. doosaroan ke sath to hansati hai, mujhe dekha to kuppe-sa muanh phula liya. maian garib adami thahara, tin-char ane roj ki majoori karata hooan. doodh-dahi, maans-machhali, rab di-malaee kahaan se laooan!

bhola yahaan se pratijna karake apane ghar ge. ab betoan ke sath raheange, bahut dhakke kha chuke, lekin doosare din prat:kal hori ne dekha, to bhola dulari sahuain ki dukan se tamakhoo lie ja rahe the.

hori ne pukarana uchit n samajha. asakti mean adami apane bas mean nahian rahata! vahaan se a kar dhaniya se bola - bhola to abhi vahian hai. nohari ne sachamuch in par koee jadoo kar diya hai.

dhaniya ne nak siko d kar kaha - jaisi behaya vah hai, vaisa hi behaya yah. aise marad ko to chulloo-bhar pani mean doob marana chahie. ab vah sekhi n jane kahaan gee. jhuniya yahaan aee, to usake pichhe danda lie phir rahe the. ijjat big di jati thi. ab ijjat nahian big dati!

hori ko bhola par daya a rahi thi. bechara is kulata ke pher mean p d kar apani ziandagi barabad kie dalata hai. chho d kar jay bhi, to kaise? stri ko is tarah chho d kar jana kya sahaj hai? yah chu dail use vahaan bhi to chain se n baithane degi! kahian panchayat karegi, kahian roti-kap de ka dava karegi. abhi to gaanv hi ke log janate haian. kisi ko kuchh kahate sankoch hota hai. kanaphusakiyaan karake hi rah jate haian. tab to duniya bhi bhola hi ko bura kahegi. log yahi to kaheange, ki jab mard ne chho d diya, to bechari abala kya kare? mard bura ho, to aurat ki gardan kat lega. aurat buri ho, to mard ke muanh mean kalikh laga degi.

isake do mahine bad ek din gaanv mean yah khabar phaili ki nohari ne mare jootoan ke bhola ki chaand ganji kar di.

varsha samapt ho gee thi aur rabi bone ki taiyariyaan ho rahi thian. hori ki ookh to nilam ho gee thi. ookh ke bij ke lie use rupe n mile aur ookh n boee gee. udhar dahina bail bhi baithaoo ho gaya tha aur ek ne bail ke bina kam n chal sakata tha. puniya ka ek bail nale mean gir kar mar gaya tha, tab se aur bhi a dachan p d gee thi. ek din puniya ke khet mean hal jata, ek din hori ke khet mean. khetoan ki jutaee jaisi honi chahie, vaisi n ho pati thi.

hori hal le kar khet mean gaya, magar bhola ki chianta bani huee thi. usane apane jivan mean kabhi yah n suna tha ki kisi stri ne apane pati ko joote se mara ho. jootoan se kya, thapp d ya ghooanse se marane ki bhi koee ghatana use yad n ati thi, aur aj nohari ne bhola ko jootoan se pita aur sab log tamasha dekhate rahe. is aurat se kaise us abhage ka gala chhoote! ab to bhola ko kahian doob hi marana chahie. jab ziandagi mean badanami aur duradasa ke siva aur kuchh n ho, to adami ka mar jana hi achchha. kaun bhola ke nam ko rone vala baitha hai! bete chahe kiriya-karam kar dean, lekin lok-laj ke bas, aansoo kisi ki aankh mean n aega. tirasana ke bas mean p d kar adami is tarah apani ziandagi chaupat karata hai. jab koee rone vala hi nahian, to phir ziandagi ka kya moh aur marane se kya darana!

ek yah nohari hai aur yah ek chamarin hai siliya! dekhane-sunane mean usase lakh daraje achchhi. chahe do ko khila kar khae aur radhika bani ghoome, lekin majoori karati hai, bhookhoan marati hai aur matee ke nam par baithi hai, aur vah nirdayi bat bhi nahian poochhata. kaun jane, dhaniya mar gee hoti, to aj hori ki bhi yahi dasha hoti. usaki maut ki kalpana hi se hori ko romaanch ho utha. dhaniya ki moorti manasik netroan ke samane a kar kh di ho gee! seva aur tyag ki devi! jaban ki tej, par mom-jaisa hriday, paise-paise ke pichhe pran dene vali, par maryada-raksha ke lie apana sarvasv hom kar dene ko taiyar. javani mean vah kam roopavati n thi. nohari usake samane kya hai? chalati thi, to rani-si lagati thi. jo dekhata tha, dekhata hi rah jata tha. yahi pateshvari aur jhianguri tab javan the. donoan dhaniya ko dekh kar chhati par hath rakh lete the. dvar ke sau-sau chakkar lagate the. hori unaki tak mean rahata tha, magar chhe dane ka koee bahana n pata tha, un dinoan ghar mean khane-pine ki b di tangi thi. pala p d gaya tha aur khetoan mean bhoosa tak n hua tha. log jh daberiyaan kha-kha kar din katate the. hori ko kahat ke kaianp mean kam karane jana p data tha. chh: paise roj milate the. dhaniya ghar mean akeli hi rahati thi, kabhi kisi ne use kisi chhaila ki or takate nahian dekha. pateshvari ne ek bar kuchh chhe d ki thi. usaka aisa muanhato d javab diya ki ab tak nahian bhoole.

sahasa usane matadin ko apani or ate dekha. kasaee kahian ka, kaisa tilak lagae hai, mano bhagavan ka asali bhagat hai. ranga hua siyar. aise brahman ko palagan kaun kare.

matadin ne samip a kar kaha - tumhara dahina to boodha ho gaya hori, abaki sianchaee mean n thaharega. koee paanch sal hue hoange ise lae?

hori ne daean bail ki pith par hath rakh kar kaha - kaisa paanchavaan, yah athavaan chal raha hai bhaee! ji to chahata hai, ise piansin de dooan, lekin kisan aur kisan ke bail inako jamaraj hi piansin dean, to mile. isaki gardan par jua rakhate mera man kachotata hai. bechara sochata hoga, ab bhi chhutti nahian, ab kya mera ha d jotega? lekin apana koee kaboo nahian. tum kaise chale? ab to ji achchha hai?

matadin idhar ek mahine se maleriya jvar mean p da raha tha. ek din to usaki na di chhoot gee thi. charapaee se niche utar diya gaya tha. tab se usake man mean yah prerana huee thi ki siliya ke sath atyachar karane ka use yah dand mila hai. jab usane siliya ko ghar se nikala, tab vah garbhavati thi. use tanik bhi daya n aee. poora garbh le kar bhi vah majoori karati rahi. agar dhaniya ne us par daya n ki hoti to mar gee hoti. kaisi-kaisi musibatean jhel kar ji rahi hai! majoori bhi to is dasha mean nahian kar sakati. ab lajjit aur dravit ho kar vah siliya ko hori ke haste do rupe dene aya hai, agar hori use vah rupe de de, to vah usaka bahut upakar manega.

hori ne kaha - tumhian ja kar kyoan nahian de dete?

matadin ne din bhav se kaha - mujhe usake pas mat bhejo hori mahato! kaun-sa muanh le kar jaooan? dar bhi lag raha hai ki mujhe dekh kar kahian phatakar n sunane lage. tum mujh par itani daya karo. abhi mujhase chala nahian jata, lekin isi rupe ke lie ek jajaman ke pas kos-bhar dau da gaya tha. apani karani ka phal bahut bhog chuka. is bamhanee ka bojh ab nahian uthae uthata. luk-chhip kar chahe jitane kukaram karo, koee nahian bolata. paratachchh kuchh nahian kar sakate, nahian kul mean kalank lag jayaga. tum use samajha dena dada, ki mera aparadh kshama kar de. yah dharam ka bandhan b da k da hota hai. jis samaj mean janame aur pale, usaki marajada ka palan to karana hi p data hai. aur kisi jati ka dharam big d jay, use koee vishesh hani nahian hoti, brahman ka dharam big d jay, to vah kahian ka nahian rahata. usaka dharam hi usake pooravajoan ki kamaee hai. usi ki vah roti khata hai. is parasachit ke pichhe hamare tin sau big d ge. to jab bedharam ho kar hi rahana hai, to phir jo kuchh karana hai, paratachchh karooanga. samaj ke nate adami ka agar kuchh dharam hai, to manushy ke nate bhi to usaka kuchh dharam hai. samaj-dharam palane se samaj adar karata hai, magar manushy-dharam palane se to eeshvar prasann hota hai.

sandhya samay jab hori ne siliya ko darate-darate rupe die, to vah jaise apani tapasya ka varadan pa gee. du:kh ka bhar to vah akeli utha sakati thi. sukh ka bhar to akele nahian uthata. kise yah khushakhabari sunae? dhaniya se vah apane dil ki batean nahian kah sakati. gaanv mean aur koee prani nahian, jisase usaki ghanishthata ho. usake pet mean choohe dau d rahe the. sona hi usaki saheli thi. siliya usase milane ke lie atur ho gee. rat-bhar kaise sabr kare? man mean ek aandhi-si uth rahi thi. ab vah anath nahian hai. matadin ne usaki baanh phir pak d li. jivan-path mean usake samane ab aandheri, vikaral mukh vali khaee nahian hai, lahalahata hua hara-bhara maidan hai, jisamean jharane ga rahe haian aur hiran kulelean kar rahe haian. usaka rootha hua sneh aj unmatt ho gaya hai. matadin ko usane man mean kitana pani pi-pi kar kosa tha. ab vah unase kshamadan maangegi. usase sachamuch b di bhool huee ki usane unako sare gaanv ke samane apamanit kiya. vah to chamarin hai jati ki hethi, usaka kya big da. aj das-bis laga kar biradari ko roti de de, phir biradari mean le li jayagi. us bechare ka to sada ke lie dharam nas ho gaya. vah marajad ab unhean phir nahian mil sakata. vah krodh mean kitani aandhi ho gee thi ki sabase unake prem ka dhiandhora pitati phiri. unaka to dharam bhirasht ho gaya tha, unhean to krodh tha hi, usake sir par kyoan bhoot savar ho gaya? vah apane hi ghar chali jati, to kaun buraee ho jati? ghar mean use koee baandh to n leta. des matadin ki pooja isilie to karata hai ki vah nem-dharam se rahate haian. vahi dharam nasht ho gaya, to vah kyoan n usake khoon ke pyase ho jate?

jara der pahale tak usaki najar mean sara dosh matadin ka tha aur ab sara dosh apana tha. sahridayata ne sahridayata paida ki. usane bachche ko chhati se laga kar khoob pyar kiya. ab use dekh kar lajja aur glani nahian hoti. vah ab keval usaki daya ka patr nahian. vah ab usake sanpoorn matrisneh aur garv ka adhikari hai.

katik ki roopahali chaandani prakriti par madhur sangit ki bhaanti chhaee thi. siliya ghar se nikali. vah sona ke pas ja kar yah sukh-sanvad sunaegi. ab usase nahian raha jata. abhi to saanjh huee hai. doangi mil jayagi. vah qadam badhati huee chali. nadi par a kar dekha, to doangi us par thi. aur maanjhi ka kahian pata nahian. chaand ghul kar jaise nadi mean baha ja raha tha. vah ek kshan kh di sochati rahi. phir nadi mean ghus p di. nadi mean kuchh aisa zyada pani to kya hoga! us ullas ke sagar ke samane vah nadi kya chiz thi? pani pahale to ghutanoan tak tha, phir kamar tak aya aur phir aant mean gardan tak pahuanch gaya. siliya dari, kahian doob n jae. kahian koee gadha n p d jay, par usane jan par khel kar paanv age badhaya. ab vah majhadhar mean hai. maut usake samane nach rahi hai, magar vah ghab daee nahian hai. use tairana ata hai. l dakapan mean isi nadi mean vah kitani bar tair chuki hai. kh de-kh de nadi ko par bhi kar chuki hai. phir bhi usaka kaleja dhak-dhak kar raha hai, magar pani kam hone laga. ab koee bhay nahian. usane jaldi-jaldi nadi par ki aur kinare pahuanch kar apane kap de ka pani nicho da aur shit se kaanpati age badhi. charoan taraph sannata tha. gid doan ki avaz bhi n sunaee p dati thi, aur sona se milane ki madhur kalpana use u dae lie jati thi.

magar us gaanv mean pahuanch kar use sona ke ghar jate sankoch hone laga. mathura kya kahega? usake gharavale kya kaheange? sona bhi big degi ki itani rat ge too kyoan aee. dehatoan mean din-bhar ke thake-maande kisan saresham hi se so jate haian. sare gaanv mean sota p d gaya tha. mathura ke ghar ke dvar band the. siliya kiva d n khulava saki. log use is bhesh mean dekh kar kya kaheange? vahian dvar par alav mean abhi ag chamak rahi thi. siliya apane kap de seankane lagi. sahasa kiva d khula aur mathura ne bahar nikal kar pukara - are! kaun baitha hai alav ke pas?

siliya ne jaldi se aanchal sir par khianch liya aur samip a kar boli - maian hooan, siliya.

siliya! itani rat ge kaise aee? vahaan to sab kusal hai?'

'haan, sab kusal hai. ji ghab da raha tha. socha, chalooan, sabase bheant karati aooan. din ko to chhutti hi nahian milati.'

'to kya nadi thaha kar aee hai?'

'aur kaise ati! pani kam tha.'

mathura use aandar le gaya. barothe mean aandhera tha. usane siliya ka hath pak d kar apane or khiancha. siliya ne jhatake se hath chhu da liya. aur rob se boli - dekho mathura, chhe doge to maian sona se kah dooangi. tum mere chhote bahanoee ho, yah samajh lo. maloom hota hai, sona se man nahian patata.

mathura ne usaki kamar mean hath dal kar kaha - tum bahut nithur ho sillo? is bakhat kaun dekhata hai?

kya maian sona se suandar hooan? apane bhag nahian bakhanate ki aisi iandar ki pari pa ge. ab bhauanra banane ka man chala hai. usase kah dooan to tumhara muanh n dekhe.'

mathura lanpat nahian tha, sona se use prem bhi tha. is vakt aandhera aur ekaant aur siliya ka yauvan dekh kar usaka man chanchal ho utha tha. yah tanbih pa kar hosh mean a gaya. siliya ko chho data hue bola - tumhare pairoan mean p data hooan sillo, usase n kahana. abhi jo saza chaho, de lo.

sillo ko us par daya a gee. dhire se usake muanh par chapat jama kar boli - isaki saza yahi hai ki phir mujhase aisi sararat n karana, n aur kisi se karana, nahian sona tumhare hath se nikal jayagi.

'maian kasam khata hooan sillo, ab kabhi aisa n hoga.'

usaki avaz mean yachana thi. sillo ka man aandolit hone laga. usaki daya saras hone lagi.

'aur jo karo?'

'to tum jo chahana karana.'

sillo ka muanh usake muanh ke pas a gaya tha, aur donoan ki saans aur avaz aur deh mean kanpan ho raha tha. sahasa sona ne pukara - kisase batean karate ho vahaan?

sillo pichhe hat gee. mathura age badh kar aangan mean a gaya aur bola - sillo tumhare gaanv se aee hai.

sillo bhi pichhe-pichhe a kar aangan mean kh di ho gee. usane dekha, sona yahaan kitane aram se rahati hai. osari mean khat hai. us par sujani ka narm bistar bichha hua hai, bilakul vaisa hi, jaisa matadin ki charapaee par bichha rahata tha. takiya bhi hai, lihaph bhi hai. khat ke niche lote mean pani rakha hua hai. aangan mean jyotsna ne aina-sa bichha rakha hai. ek kone mean tulasi ka chabootara hai, doosari or juar ke thethoan ke kee bojh divar se laga kar rakhe haian. bich mean pualoan ke gatthe haian. samip hi okhal hai, jisake pas kuta hua dhan p da hua hai. khaparail par lauki ki bel chadhi huee hai aur kee laukiyaan oopar chamak rahi haian. doosari or ki osari mean ek gay bandhi huee hai. is khand mean mathura aur sona sote haian. aur log doosare khand mean hoange. siliya ne socha, sona ka jivan kitana sukhi hai.

sona uth kar aangan mean a gee thi, magar sillo se toot kar gale nahian mili. sillo ne samajha, shayad mathura ke kh de rahane ke karan sona sankoch kar rahi hai. ya kaun jane, use ab abhiman ho gaya ho? sillo chamarin se gale milane mean apana apaman samajhati ho. usaka sara utsah thanda ho gaya. is milan se harsh ke badale use eershya huee. sona ka rang kitana khul gaya hai, aur deh kaisi kanchan ki tarah nikhar aee hai. gathan bhi sudaul ho gaya hai. mukh par grihinitv ki garima ke sath yuvati ki sahas chhavi bhi hai. sillo ek kshan ke lie jaise mantr-mugdh-si kh di takati rah gee. yah vahi sona hai, jo sookhi-si deh lie, jhoante khole idhar-udhar dau da karati thi. mahinoan sir mean tel n p data tha. phate chith de lapete phirati thi. aj apane ghar ki rani hai. gale mean hansuli aur humel hai, kanoan mean karanaphool aur sone ki baliyaan, hathoan mean chaandi ke choo de aur kangan. aankhoan mean kajal hai, maang mean seandur. siliya ke jivan ka svarg yahian tha, aur sona ko vahaan dekh kar vah prasann n huee. ise kitana ghamand ho gaya hai! kahaan siliya ke gale mean baanhe dal ghas chhilane jati thi, aur aj sidhe takati bhi nahian. usane socha tha, sona usake gale lipat kar jara-sa roegi, use adar se baithaegi, use khana khilaegi, aur gaanv aur ghar ki saik doan batean poochhegi aur apane ne jivan ke anubhav bayan karegi - sohagarat aur madhur milan ki batean hoangi. aur sona ke muanh mean dahi jama hua hai. vah yahaan a kar pachhataee.

akhir sona ne rookhe svar mean poochha - itani rat ko kaise chalian, sillo?

sillo ne aansuoan ko rokane ki cheshta karake kaha - tumase milane ko bahut ji chahata tha. itane din ho ge, bheant karane chali aee.

sona ka svar aur kathor hua - lekin adami kisi ke ghar jata hai, to din ko ki itani rat ge?

vastav mean sona ko usaka ana bura lag raha tha. vah samay usaki prem-kri da aur has-vilas ka tha, sillo ne usamean badhak ho kar jaise usake samane se parosi huee thali khianch li thi.

sillo ni:sanjn-si bhoomi ki or tak rahi thi. dharati kyoan nahian phat jati ki vah usamean sama jae. itana apaman! usane apane itane hi jivan mean bahut apaman saha tha, bahut durdasha dekhi thi, lekin aj yah phaans jis tarah usake aant:karan mean chubh gee, vaisi kabhi koee bat n chubhi thi. gu d ghar ke aandar matakoan mean band rakha ho, to kitana hi moosaladhar pani barase, koee hani nahian hoti, par jis vakt vah dhoop mean sookhane ke lie bahar phailaya gaya ho, us vakt to pani ka ek chhianta bhi usaka sarvanash kar dega. siliya ke aant:karan ki sari komal bhavanaean is vakt muanh khole baithi thian ki akash se amrit-varsha hogi. barasa kya, amrit ke badale vish, aur siliya ke rom-rom mean dau d gaya. sarp-dansh ke saman laharean aeean. ghar mean upavas kare so rahana aur bat hai, lekin pangat se utha diya jana to doob marane ki bat hai. siliya ko yahaan ek kshan thaharana bhi asahay ho gaya, jaise koee usaka gala dabae hue ho. vah kuchh n poochh saki. sona ke man mean kya hai, yah vah bhaanp rahi thi. vah baanbi mean baitha hua saanp kahian bahar n nikal ae, isake pahale hi vah vahaan se bhag jana chahati thi. kaise bhage, kya bahana kare? usake pran kyoan nahian nikal jate!

mathura ne bhandare ki kuanji utha li thi ki siliya ke jalapan ke lie kuchh nikal lae, kartavyavimoodh-sa kh da tha. idhar sillo ki saans tangi huee thi, mano sir par talavar latak rahi ho.

sona ki drishti mean sabase b da pap kisi purush ka par-stri aur stri ka par-purush ki or takana tha. is aparadh ke lie usake yahaan koee kshama n thi. chori, hatya, jal, koee aparadh itana bhishan n tha. hansi-dillagi ko vah bura n samajhati thi, agar khule hue roop mean ho, luke-chhipe ki hansi-dillagi ko bhi vah hey samajhati thi, chhutapan se hi vah bahut-si riti ki batean janane aur samajhane lagi thi. hori ko jab kabhi hat se ghar ane mean der ho jati thi aur dhaniya ko pata lag jata tha ki vah dulari sahuain ki dukan par gaya tha, chahe tanbakhoo lene hi kyoan n gaya ho, to vah kee-kee din tak hori se bolati n thi aur n ghar ka kam karati thi. ek bar isi bat par vah apane naihar bhag gee thi. yah bhavana sona mean aur tivr ho gee thi. jab tak usaka vivah n hua tha, yah bhavana utani balavan n thi, par vivah ho jane ke bad to usane vrat ka roop dharan kar liya tha. aise stri-purushoan ki agar khal bhi khianch li jati, to use daya n ati. prem ke lie daanpaty ke bahar usaki drishti mean koee sthan n tha. stri-purush ka ek-doosare ke sath jo kartavy hai, isi ko vah prem samajhati thi. phir sillo se usaka bahan ka nata tha. sillo ko vah pyar karati thi, us par vishvas karati thi. vahi sillo aj usase vishvasaghat kar rahi hai. mathura aur sillo mean avashy hi pahale se saanth-gaanth hogi. mathura usase nadi ke kinare khetoan mean milata hoga. aur aj vah itani rat ge nadi par karake isilie aee hai. agar usane in donoan ki batean n sun li hotian, to use khabar tak n hoti. mathura ne prem-milan ke lie yahi avasar sabase achchha samajha hoga. ghar mean sannata jo hai. usaka hriday sab kuchh janane ke lie vikal ho raha tha. vah sara rahasy jan lena chahati thi, jisase apani raksha ke lie koee vidhan soch sake. aur yah mathura yahaan kyoan kh da hai? kya vah use kuchh bolane bhi n dega?

usane rosh se kaha - tum bahar kyoan nahian jate, ya yahian pahara dete rahoge?

mathura bina kuchh kahe bahar chala gaya. usake pran sookhe jate the ki kahian sillo sab kuchh n kah dale.

aur sillo ke pran sookhe jate the ki ab vah latakati huee talavar sir par gira chahati hai.

tab sona ne b de ganbhir svar mean sillo se poochha - dekho sillo, mujhase saph-saph bata do, nahian maian tumhare samane, yahian apane gardan par gan dasa mar looangi. phir tum meri saut ban kar raj karana. dekho, gan dasa vah samane p da hai. ek myan mean do talavarean nahian rah sakati.

usane lapak kar samane aangan mean se gan dasa utha liya aur use hath mean lie, phir boli - yah mat samajhana ki maian khali dhamaki de rahi hooan. krodh mean maian kya kar baithooan, nahian kah sakati. saph-saph bata do.

siliya kaanp uthi. ek-ek shabd usake muanh se nikal p da, mano gramogon mean bhari huee avaz ho. vah ek shabd bhi n chhipa saki, sona ke chehare par bhishan sankalp khel raha tha, mano khoon savar ho.

sona ne usaki or barachhi ki-si chubhane vali aankhoan se dekha aur mano katar ka aghat karati huee boli - thik-thik kahati ho?

'bilakul thik. apane bachche ki kasam.'

'kuchh chhipaya to nahian?'

'agar maianne ratti-bhar chhipaya ho to aankhean phoot jaean.'

'tumane us papi ko lat kyoan nahian mari? use daant kyoan nahian kat liya? usaka khoon kyoan nahian pi liya, chillaee kyoan nahian?'

sillo kya javab de.

sona ne unmadini ki bhaanti aangare ki-si aankhean nikal kar kaha - bolati kyoan nahian? kyoan toone usaki nak daantoan se nahian kat li? kyoan nahian donoan hathoan se usaka gala daba diya? tab maian tere charanoan par sir jhukati. ab to tum meri aankhoan mean harajaee ho, niri besava! agar yahi karana tha, to matadin ka nam kyoan kalankit kar rahi hai, kyoan kisi ko le kar baith nahian jati, kyoan apane ghar nahian chali gee? yahi to tere ghar vale chahate the. too upale aur ghas le kar bazar jati, vahaan se rupe lati aur tera bap baitha, usi rupe ki ta di pita. phir kyoan us brahman ka apaman karaya? kyoan usaki abaroo mean batta lagaya? kyoan satavanti bani baitho ho? jab akele nahian raha jata, to kisi se sagaee kyoan nahian kar leti! kyoan nadi-talab mean doob nahian marati? kyoan doosaroan ke jivan mean bis gholati hai? aj maian tujhase kah deti hooan ki agar is tarah ki bat phir huee aur mujhe pata laga, to tinoan mean se ek bhi jite n raheange. bas, ab muanh mean kalikh laga kar jao. aj se mere aur tumhare bich mean koee nata nahian raha.

sillo dhire se uthi aur sanbhal kar kh di huee. jan p da, usaki kamar toot gee hai. ek kshan sahas batorati rahi, kiantu apane saphaee mean kuchh soojh n p da. aankhoan ke samane aandhera tha, sir mean chakkar, kanth sookh raha tha, aur sari deh sunn ho gee thi, mano rom-chhidroan se pran u de ja rahe hoan. ek-ek pag is tarah rakhati huee, mano samane gaddha hai, tab bahar aee aur nadi ki or chali.

dvar par mathura kh da tha. bola - is vakt kahaan jati ho sillo?

sillo ne koee javab n diya. mathura ne bhi phir kuchh n poochha.

vahi rupahali chaandani ab bhi chhaee huee thi. nadi ki laharean ab bhi chaand ki kiranoan mean naha rahi thian. aur sillo vikshipt-si svapn-chhaya ki bhaanti nadi mean chali ja rahi thi.