गोदान उपन्यास भाग-3

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

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hori apane gaanv ke samip pahuancha, to dekha, abhi tak gobar khet mean ookh go d raha hai aur donoan l dakiyaan bhi usake sath kam kar rahi haian. loo chal rahian thi, bagule uth rahe the, bhootal dhadhak raha tha. jaise prakriti ne vayu mean ag ghol di ho. yah sab abhi tak khet mean kyoan haian? kya kam ke pichhe sab jan dene par tule hue haian? vah khet ki or chala aur door hi se chilla kar bola - ata kyoan nahian gobar, kya kam hi karata rahega? dopahar dhal gee, kuchh soojhata hai ki nahian?

use dekhate hi tinoan ne kudalean utha lian aur usake sath ho lie. gobar saanvala, lanba, ikahara yuvak tha, jise is kam mean ruchi n maloom hoti thi. prasannata ki jagah mukh par asantosh aur vidroh tha. vah isalie kam mean laga hua tha ki vah dikhana chahata tha, use khane-pine ki koee fikr nahian hai. b di l daki sona lajjashil kumari thi, saanvali, sudaul, prasann aur chapal. gadhe ki lal sa di, jise vah ghutanoan se mo d kar kamar mean baandhe hue thi, usake halake sharir par kuchh ladi huee-si thi, aur use praudhata ki garima de rahi thi. chhoti roopa paanch-chh: sal ki chhokari thi, maili, sir par baloan ka ek ghoansala-sa bana hua, ek langoti kamar mean baandhe, bahut hi dhith aur roni.

roopa ne hori ki taango mean lipat kar kaha - kaka! dekho, maianne ek dhela bhi nahian chho da. bahan kahati hai, ja pe d tale baith. dhele n to de jaeange kaka, to mitti kaise barabar hogi?

hori ne use god mean utha pyar karate hue kaha - toone bahut achchha kiya beti, chal ghar chalean. kuchh der apane vidroh ko dabae rahane ke bad gobar bola - yah tum roj-roj malikoan ki khushamad karane kyoan jate ho? baki n chuke to pyada a kar galiyaan sunata hai, begar deni hi p dati hai, najar-najarana sab to hamase bharaya jata hai. phir kisi ki kyoan salami karo!

is samay yahi bhav hori ke man mean bhi a rahe the, lekin l dake ke is vidroh-bhav ko dabana zaroori tha. bola - salami karane n jayan, to rahean kahaan? bhagavan ne jab gulam bana diya hai, to apana kya bas hai? yah isi salami ki barakat hai, ki dvar par man daiya dal li aur kisi ne kuchh nahian kaha . ghoore ne dvar par khooanta ga da tha, jis par kariandoan ne do rupe daan d le lie the. talaiya se kitani mitti hamane khodi, karianda ne kuchh nahian kaha. doosara khode to najar deni p de. apane matalab ke lie salami karane jata hooan, paanv mean sanichar nahian hai aur n salami karane mean koee b da sukh milata hai. ghantoan kh de raho, tab ja kar malik ko khabar hoti hai. kabhi bahar nikalate haian, kabhi kahala dete haian ki phurasat nahian haian.

gobar ne kataksh kiya - b de adamiyoan ki haan-mean-haan milane mean kuchh-n-kuchh anand to milata hi hai, nahian log meanbari ke lie kyoan kh de hoan?

jab sir par p degi tab maloom hoga beta, abhi jo chahe kah lo. pahale maian bhi yahi sab batean socha karata tha; par ab maloom hua ki hamari gardan doosaroan ke pairoan ke niche dabi huee hai, ak d kar nibah nahian ho sakata.'

pita par apana krodh utar kar gobar kuchh shaant ho gaya aur chupachap chalane laga. sona ne dekha, roopa bap ki god mean chadhi baithi hai to eershya huee. use daant kar boli - ab god se utar kar paanv-paanv kyoan nahian chalati, kya paanv toot ge haian?

roopa ne bap ki gardan mean hath dal kar dhithaee se kaha - n utareange jao. kaka, bahan hamako roj chidhati hai ki too roopa hai, maian sona hooan. mera nam kuchh aur rakh do.

hori ne sona ko banavati rosh se dekh kar kaha - too ise kyoan chidhati hai soniya, sona to dekhane ko hai. nibah to roopa se hota hai. roopa n ho, to rupe kahaan se banean, bata?

sona ne apane paksh ka samarthan kiya - sona n ho to mohar kaise bane, nathuniya kahaan se aean, kantha kaise bane?

gobar bhi is vinodamay vivad mean sharik ho gaya. roopa se bola - too kah de ki sona to sookhi patti ki tarah pila hota hai, roopa to ujala hota hai, jaise sooraj.

sona boli - shadi-byah mean pili sa di pahani jati hai, ujali sa di koee nahian pahanata.

roopa is dalil se parast ho gee. gobar aur hori ki koee dalil isake samane n thahar saki. usane kshubdh aankhoan se hori ko dekha.

hori ko ek nee yukti soojh gee. bola - sona b de adamiyoan ke lie hai. ham gariboan ke lie to roopa hi hai. jaise jau ko raja kahate haian, gehooan ko chamar; isalie n ki gehooan b de adami khate haian, jau ham log khate haian.

sona ke pas is sabal yukti ka koee javab n tha. parast ho kar boli - tum sab jane ek or ho ge, nahian rupiya ko rula kar chho dati.

roopa ne uangali mataka kar kaha - e ram, sona chamar-e ram, sona chamar.

is vijay ka use itana anand hua ki bap ki god mean rah n saki. zamin par kood p di aur uchhal-uchhal kar yahi rat lagane lagi - roopa raja, sona chamar - roopa raja, sona chamar!

e log ghar pahuanche to dhaniya dvar par kh di inaki bat joh rahi thi. rusht ho kar boli - aj itani der kyoan ki gobar? kam ke pichhe koee paran tho de hi de deta hai.

phir pati se garm ho kar kaha - tum bhi vahaan se kamaee karake laute to khet mean pahuanch ge. khet kahian bhaga jata tha!

dvar par kuaan tha. hori aur gobar ne ek-ek kalasa pani sir par ooan dela, roopa ko nahalaya aur bhojan karane ge. jau ki rotiyaan thian, par gehooan-jaisi saphed aur chikani. arahar ki dal thi, jisamean kachche am p de hue the. roopa bap ki thali mean khane baithi. sona ne use eershya-bhari aankhoan se dekha, mano kah rahi thi, vah re dular!

dhaniya ne poochha - malik se kya batachit huee?

hori ne lota-bhar pani chadhate hue kaha - yahi tahasil-vasool ki bat thi aur kya. ham log samajhate haian, b de adami bahut sukhi hoange, lekin sach poochho to vah hamase bhi zyada du:khi haian. hamean pet hi ki chianta hai, unhean hajaroan chiantaean ghere rahati haian.

rayasahab ne aur kya-kya kaha tha, vah kuchh hori ko yad n tha. us sare kathan ka khulasa-matr usake smaran mean chipaka hua rah gaya tha.

gobar ne vyangy kiya - to phir apana ilaka hamean kyoan nahian de dete. ham apane khet, bail, hal, kudal sab unhean dene ko taiyar haian. kareange badala? yah sab dhoortata hai, niri motamaradi. jise du:kh hota hai, vah darajanoan motarean nahian rakhata, mahaloan mean nahian rahata, halava-poori nahian khata aur n nach-rang mean lipt rahata hai. maje se raj ka sukh bhog rahe haian, us par du:khi haian!

hori ne jhuanjhala kar kaha - ab tumase bahas kaun kare bhaee! jaijat kisi se chho di jati hai ki vahi chho d deange? hamian ko kheti se kya milata hai? ek ane naphari ki majoori bhi to nahian p dati. jo das rupe mahine ka bhi naukar hai, vah bhi hamase achchha khata-pahanata hai, lekin khetoan ko chho da to nahian jata. kheti chho d dean, to aur karean kya? naukari kahian milati hai? phir marajad bhi to palana hi p data hai. kheti mean jo marajad hai, vah naukari mean to nahian hai. isi tarah jamiandaroan ka hal bhi samajh lo. unaki jan ko bhi to saik doan rog lage hue haian, hakimoan ko rasad pahuanchao, unaki salami karo, amaloan ko khus karo. tarikh par malagujari n chuka dean, to havalat ho jay, ku daki a jae. hamean to koee havalat nahian le jata. do-char galiyaan-ghu dakiyaan hi to mil kar rah jati haian.

gobar ne prativad kiya - yah sab kahane ki batean haian. ham log dane-dane ko muhataj haian, deh par sabit kap de nahian haian, choti ka pasina e di tak ata hai, tab bhi gujar nahian hota. unhean kya, maje se gaddi-masanad lagae baithe haian, saik doan naukar-chakar haian, hajaroan adamiyoan par hukoomat hai. rupe n jama hote hoan; par sukh to sabhi tarah ka bhogate haian. dhan le kar adami aur kya karata hai?

'tumhari samajh mean ham aur vah barabar haian?'

'bhagavan ne to sabako barabar hi banaya hai.'

'yah bat nahian hai beta, chhote-b de bhagavan ke ghar se ban kar ate haian. sanpatti b di tapasya se milati hai. unhoanne poorvajanm mean jaise karm kie haian, unaka anand bhog rahe haian. hamane kuchh nahian sancha, to bhogean kya?'

'yah sab man ko samajhane ki batean haian. bhagavan sabako barabar banate haian. yahaan jisake hath mean lathi hai, vah gariboan ko kuchal kar b da adami ban jata hai.'

'yah tumhara bharam hai. malik aj bhi char ghante roj bhagavan ka bhajan karate haian.'

'kisake bal par yah bhajan-bhav aur dan-dharam hota hai;

'apane bal par.'

'nahian, kisanoan ke bal par aur mazadooroan ke bal par. yah pap ka dhan pache kaise? isilie dan-dharam karana p data hai, bhagavan ka bhajan bhi isilie hota hai. bhookhe-nange rah kar bhagavan ka bhajan karean, to ham bhi dekhean. hamean koee donoan joon khane ko de, to ham athoan pahar bhagavan ka jap hi karate rahean. ek din khet mean ookh go dana p de to sari bhakti bhool jae.'

hori ne har kar kaha - ab tumhare muanh kaun lage bhaee, tum to bhagavan ki lila mean bhi taang a date ho.

tisare pahar gobar kudal le kar chala, to hori ne kaha - jara thahar jao beta, ham bhi chalate haian. tab tak tho da-sa bhoosa nikal kar rakh do. maianne bhola ko dene ko kaha hai. bechara ajakal bahut tang hai.

gobar ne avajna-bhari aankhoan se dekh kar kaha - hamare pas bechane ko bhoosa nahian hai.

'bechata nahian hooan bhaee, yoan hi de raha hooan. vah sankat mean hai, usaki madad to karani hi p degi.'

'hamean to unhoanne kabhi ek gay nahian de di.'

'de to raha tha, par hamane li hi nahian.'

'dhaniya matak kar boli - gay nahian vah de raha tha. inhean gay de dega! aankh mean aanjan lagane ko kabhi chilloo-bhar doodh to bheja nahian, gay de dega!

hori ne kasam khaee - nahian, javani kasam, apane pachhaee gay de rahe the. hath tang hai, bhoosa-chara nahian rakh sake. ab ek gay bech kar bhoosa lena chahate haian. maianne socha, sankat mean p de adami ki gay kya looan. tho da-sa bhoosa die deta hooan, kuchh rupe hath a jaeange to gay le looanga. tho da-tho da karake chuka dooanga. assi rupe ki hai, magar aisi ki adami dekhata rahe.

gobar ne a de hathoan liya - tumhara yahi dharamatmapan to tumhari duragat kar raha hai. saph-saph to bat hai. assi rupe ki gay hai, hamase bis rupe ka bhoosa le lean aur gay hamean de dean. sath rupe rah jaeange, vah ham dhire-dhire de deange.

hori rahasyamay dhang se muskaraya - maianne aisi chal sochi hai ki gay seant-meant mean hath a jae. kahian bhola ki sagaee thik karani hai, bas! do-char man bhoosa to khali apana rang jamane ko deta hooan.

gobar ne tiraskar kiya - to tum ab sabaki sagaee thik karate phiroge?

dhaniya ne tikhi aankhoan se dekha - ab yahi ek udyam to rah gaya hai. nahian dena hai hamean bhoosa kisi ko. yahaan bhola-bholi kisi ka karaj nahian khaya hai.

hori ne apane saphaee di - agar mere jatan se kisi ka ghar bas jay to isamean kaun-si buraee hai?

gobar ne chilam uthaee aur ag lene chala gaya. use yah jhamela bilakul nahian bhata tha.

dhaniya ne sir hila kar kaha - jo unaka ghar basaega, vah assi rupe ki gay le kar chup n hoga. ek thaili ginavaega.

hori ne puchara diya - yah maian janata hooan; lekin unaki bhalamanasi ko bhi to dekho. mujhase jab milata hai, tera bakhan hi karata hai - aisi lakshmi hai, aisi salikedar hai.

dhaniya ke mukh par snigdhata jhalak p di. man bhae mu diya hilae vale bhav se boli - maian unake bakhan ki bhookhi nahian hooan, apana bakhan dhare rahean.

hori ne sneh-bhari muskan ke sath kaha - maianne to kah diya, bhaiya, vah nak par makkhi bhi nahian baithane deti, galiyoan se bat karati hai, lekin vah yahi kahe jay ki vah aurat nahian, lakshmi hai. bat yah hai ki usaki gharavali jaban ki b di tej thi. bechara usake dar ke mare bhaga-bhaga phirata tha. kahata tha, jis din tumhari gharavali ka muanh sabere dekh leta hooan, us din kuchh-n-kuchh zaroor hath lagata hai. maianne kaha - tumhare hath lagata hoga, yahaan to roj dekhate haian, kabhi paise se bheant nahian hoti.

'tumhare bhag hi khote haian, to maian kya karooan.'

'laga apane gharavali ki buraee karane - bhikhari ko bhikh tak nahian deti thi, jha doo le kar marane dau dati thi, lalachin aisi thi ki namak tak doosaroan ke ghar se maang lati thi.'

'marane par kisi ki kya buraee karooan. mujhe dekh kar jal uthati thi.'

'bhola b da gamakhor tha ki usake sath nibah kar diya. doosara hota to zahar kha mar jata. mujhase das sal b de hoange bhola, par ram-ram pahale hi karate haian.'

'to kya kahate the ki jis din tumhari gharavali ka muanh dekh leta hooan to kya hota hai?'

'us din bhagavan kahian-n-kahian se kuchh bhej dete haian.;

'bahuean bhi to vaisi hi chatorin aee haian. abaki saboan ne do rupe ke kharabooze udhar kha dale. udhar mil jay, phir unhean chianta nahian hoti ki dena p dega ya nahian.'

'are bhola rote kahe ko haian?'

gobar a kar bola - bhola dada a pahuanche. man-do-man bhoosa hai, vah unhean de do, phir unaki sagaee dhooandhane nikalo!

dhaniya ne samajhaya - adami dvar par baitha hai, usake lie khat-vat to dal nahian di, oopar se lage bhunabhunane. kuchh to bhalamanasi sikho. kalasa le jao, pani bhar kar rakh do, hath-muanh dhoean, kuchh ras-pani pila do. musibat mean hi adami doosaroan ke samane hath phailata hai.

hori bola - ras-vas ka kam nahian hai, kaun koee pahune haian.

dhaniya big di - pahune aur kaise hote haian. roj-roj to tumhare dvar par nahian ate haian? itani door se dhoop-gham mean ae haian, pyas lagi hi hogi. rupiya, dekh dabbe mean tamakhoo hai ki nahian, gobar ke mare kahe ko bachi hogi. dau d kar ek paise ki tamakhoo sahuain ki dukan se le le.

bhola ki aj jitani khatir huee, aur kabhi n huee hogi. gobar ne khat dal di, sona ras ghol laee, roopa tamakhoo bhar laee. dhaniya dvar par kiva d ki a d mean kh di apane kanoan se apana bakhan sunane ke lie adhir ho rahi thi.

bhola ne chilam hath mean le kar kaha - achchhi gharani ghar mean a jay, to samajh lo lakshmi a gee. vahi janati hai, chhote-b de ka adar-satkar kaise karana chahie.

dhaniya ke hriday mean ullas ka kanpan ho raha tha. chianta aur nirasha aur abhav se ahat atma in shabdoan mean ek komal, shital sparsh ka anubhav kar rahi thi.

hori jab bhola ka khaancha utha kar bhoosa lane aandar chala, to dhaniya bhi pichhe-pichhe chali. hori ne kaha - jane kahaan se itana b da khaancha mil gaya. kisi bh dabhooanje se maang liya hoga. man-bhar se kam mean n bharega. do khaanche bhi die, to do man nikal jaeange.

dhaniya phooli huee thi. malamat ki aankhoan se dekhati huee boli - ya to kisi ko nevata n do, aur do to bharapet khilao. tumhare pas phool-patr lene tho de hi ae haian ki changeri le kar chalate. dete hi ho, to tin khaanche de do. bhala adami l dakoan ko kyoan nahian laya? akele kahaan tak dhoega? jan nikal jayagi.

'tin khaanche to mere die n die jaeange.'

'tab kya ek khaancha de kar taloge? gobar se kah do, apana khaancha bhar kar unake sath chala jae.'

'gobar ookh go dane ja raha hai.'

'ek din n go dane se ookh sookh n jayagi.'

'yah to unaka kam tha ki kisi ko apane sath le lete. bhagavan ke die do-do bete haian.'

'n hoange ghar par. doodh le kar bazar ge hoange.'

'yah to achchhi dillagi hai ki apana mal bhi do aur use ghar tak pahuancha bhi do. lad de, lada de, ladane vala sath kar de.'

'achchha bhaee, koee mat jae. maian pahuancha dooangi. b doan ki seva karane mean laj nahian hai.'

'aur tin khaanche unhean de dooan, to apane bail kya khaeange?'

'yah sab to nevata dene ke pahale hi soch lena tha. n ho, tum aur gobar donoan jane chale jao.'

'murauvat murauvat ki tarah ki jati hai, apana ghar utha kar nahian de diya jata!'

'abhi zamiandar ka pyada a jay, to apane sir par bhoosa lad kar pahuanchaoge tum, tumhara l daka, l daki sab. aur vahaan sait man-do-man lak di bhi ga dani p de.'

'zamiandar ki bat aur hai.'

'haan, vah dande ke zor se kam leta hai n.'

'usake khet nahian jotate?'

'khet jotate haian, to lagan nahian dete?'

'achchha bhaee, jan n kha, ham donoan chale jaeange. kahaan-se-kahaan maianne inhean bhoosa dene ko kah diya. ya to chalegi nahian, ya chalegi to dau dane lagegi.'

tinoan khaanche bhoose se bhar die ge. gobar kudh raha tha. use apane bap ke vyavaharoan mean jara bhi vishvas n tha. vah samajhata tha, yah jahaan jate haian, vahian kuchh-n-kuchh ghar se kho ate haian. dhaniya prasann thi. raha hori, vah dharm aur svarth ke bich mean doob-utara raha tha.

hori aur gobar mil kar ek khaancha bahar lae. bhola ne turant apane-aangauchhe ka bian d bana kar sir par rakhate hue kaha - maian ise rakh kar abhi bhaga ata hooan. ek khaancha aur looanga.

hori bola - ek nahian, abhi do aur bhare dhare haian. aur tumhean n ana p dega. maian aur gobar ek-ek khaancha le kar tumhare sath hi chalate haian.

bhola stanbhit ho gaya. hori use apana bhaee, balki usase bhi nikat jan p da. use apane bhitar ek aisi tripti ka anubhav hua, jisane manoan usake sanpoorn jivan ko hara kar diya.

tinoan bhoosa le kar chale, to rah mean batean hone lagian.

bhola ne poochha - dasahara a raha hai, malikoan ke dvar par to b di dhoomadham hogi?

'haan, tanboo-samiyana g d gaya hai. abaki lila mean maian bhi kam karooanga rayasahab ne kaha hai, tumhean raja janak ka mali banana p dega.'

'malik tumase bahut khush haian.'

'unaki daya hai.'

ek kshan ke bad bhola ne phir poochha - sagun karane ke lie rupe ka kuchh juga d kar liya hai? mali ban jane se to gala n chhootega.

hori ne muanh ka pasina poanchh kar kaha - usi ki chianta to mare dalati hai dada - anaj to sab-ka-sab khalihan mean hi tul gaya. zamiandar ne apana liya, mahajan ne apana liya. mere lie paanch ser anaj bach raha. yah bhoosa to maianne ratoan-rat dho kar chhipa diya tha, nahian tinaka bhi n bachata. zamiandar to ek hi hai, magar mahajan tin-tin haian, sahuain alag aur mangaroo alag aur datadin pandit alag. kisi ka byaj bhi poora n chuka. zamiandar ke bhi adhe rupe baki p d ge. sahuain se phir rupe udhar lie to kam chala. sab tarah kiphayat karake dekh liya bhaiya, kuchh nahian hota. hamara janam isilie hua hai ki apana rakt bahaean aur b doan ka ghar bharean. mool ka duguna sood bhar chuka, par mool jyoan-ka-tyoan sir par savar hai. log kahate haian, sadi-gami mean, tirath-barat mean hath baandh kar kharach karo. muda rasta koee nahian dikhata. rayasahab ne bete ke byah mean bis hazar luta die. unase koee kuchh nahian kahata. mangaroo ne apane bap ke kariya-karam mean paanch hazar lagae. unase koee kuchh nahian poochhata. vaise hi marajad to sabaki hai.

bhola ne karun bhav se kaha - b de adamiyoan ki barabari tum kaise kar sakate ho bhaee?

'adami to ham bhi haian.'

'kaun kahata hai ki ham-tum adami haian. hamamean adamiyat hai kahian? adami vah hai, jinake pas dhan hai, akhtiyar hai, ilam hai. ham log to bail haian aur jutane ke lie paida hue haian. us par ek doosare ko dekh nahian sakata. eka ka nam nahian. ek kisan doosare ke khet par n chadhe to koee jaga kaise kare, prem to sansar se uth gaya.'

boodhoan ke lie atit ke sukhoan aur vartaman ke du:khoan aur bhavishy ke sarvanash se zyada manoranjak aur koee prasang nahian hota. donoan mitr apane-apane dukh de rote rahe. bhola ne apane betoan ke karatoot sunae, hori ne apane bhaiyoan ka rona roya aur tab ek kuean par bojh rakh kar pani pine ke lie baith ge. gobar ne banie se lota aur gagara maanga aur pani khianchane laga.

bhola ne sahridayata se poochha - alagaujhe ke samay to tumhean b da ranj hua hoga. bhaiyoan ko to tumane betoan ki tarah pala tha.

hori ardr kanth se bola - kuchh n poochho dada, yahi ji chahata tha ki kahian jake doob marooan mere jite-ji sab kuchh ho gaya. jinake pichhe apane javani dhool mean mila di, vahi mere muddee ho ge aur jhag de ki j d kya thi? yahi ki meri gharavali har mean kam karane kyoan nahian jati. poochho, ghar dekhane vala bhi koee chahie ki nahian - lena-dena, dharana-uthana, sanbhalana-sahejana, yah kaun kare- phir vah ghar baithi to nahian rahati thi, jha doo-buharoo, rasoee, chauka-baratan, l dakoan ki dekhabhal yah koee tho da kam hai. sobha ki aurat ghar sanbhal leti ki hira ki aurat mean yah salika tha - jab se alagaujha hua hai, donoan gharoan mean ek joon roti pakati hai, nahian sabako din mean char bar bhookh lagati thi. ab khaean char daphe, to dekhooan. is malikapan mean gobar ki maan ki jo duragat huee hai, vah maian hi janata hooan. bechari devaraniyoan ke phate-purane kap de pahan kar din katati thi. apane khud bhookhi so rahi hogi, lekin bahuoan ke jalapan tak ka dhyan rakhati thi. apane deh gahane ke nam kachcha dhaga bhi n tha, devaraniyoan ke lie do-do char-char gahane banava die. sone ke n sahi, chaandi ke to haian. jalan yahi thi ki yah malik kyoan hai. bahut achchha hua ki alag ho ge. mere sir se bala tali.

bhola ne ek lota pani chadha kar kaha - yahi hal ghar-ghar hai bhaiya! bhaiyoan ki bat hi kya, yahaan to l dakoan se bhi nahian patati aur patati isalie nahian ki maian kisi ki kuchal dekh kar muanh nahian band kar sakata. tum jua kheloge, charas pioge, gaanje ke dam lagaoge, magar ae kisake ghar se? kharach karana chahate ho to kamao, magar kamaee to kisi se n hogi. kharach dil khol kar kareange. jetha kamata sauda le kar bazar jayaga to adhe paise gayab. poochho to koee javab nahian. chhota jangi hai, vah sangat ke pichhe matavala rahata hai. saanjh huee aur dhol-majira le kar baith ge. sangat ko maian bura nahian kahata. gana-bajana aib nahian, lekin yah sab kam phurasat ke haian. yah nahian ki ghar ka to koee kam n karo, athoan pahar usi dhun mean p de raho. jati hai mere sir, sani-pani maian karooan, gay-bhaians maian duhooan, doodh le kar bazar maian jaooan. yah grihasthi ji ka janjal hai, sone ki hansiya, jise n ugalate banata hai, n nigalate. l daki hai jhuniya, vah bhi nasib ki khoti. tum to usaki sagaee mean ae the. kitana achchha ghar-bar tha. usaka adami banbee mean doodh ki dukan karata tha. un dinoan vahaan hiandoo-musalamanoan mean danga hua, to kisi ne usake pet mean chhura bhoank diya. ghar hi chaupat ho gaya. vahaan ab usaka nibah nahian, ja kar liva laya ki doosari sagaee kar dooanga, magar vah raji hi nahian hoti. aur donoan bhavajean haian ki rat-din use jalati rahati haian. ghar mean mahabharat macha rahata hai. bipat ki mari yahaan aee, yahaan bhi chain nahian.

inhian dukh doan mean rasta kat gaya. bhola ka purava tha to chhota, magar bahut gulazar. adhikatar ahir hi basate the. aur kisanoan ke dekhate inaki dasha bahut buri n thi. bhola gaanv ka mukhiya tha. dvar par b di-si charani thi, jis par das-barah gaean-bhaiansean kh di sani kha rahi thian. osare mean ek b da-sa takht p da tha, jo shayad das adamiyoan se bhi n uthata. kisi khooanti par dholak latak rahi thi, kisi par majira. ek takh par koee pustak baste mean bandhi rakhi huee thi, jo shayad ramayan ho. donoan bahuean samane baithi gobar path rahi thian aur jhuniya chaukhat par kh di thi. usaki aankhean lal thian aur nak ke sire par bhi surkhi thi. maloom hota tha, abhi ro kar uthi hai. usake maansal, svasth, sugathit aangoan mean mano yauvan laharean mar raha tha. muanh b da aur gol tha, kapol phoole hue, aankhean chhoti aur bhitar dhansi huee, matha patala par vaksh ka ubhar aur gat ka vah gudagudapan aankhoan ko khianchata tha. us par chhapi huee gulabi sa di use aur bhi shobha pradan kar rahi thi.

bhola ko dekhate hi usane lapak kar unake sir se khaancha utaravaya. bhola ne gobar aur hori ke khaanche utaravae aur jhuniya se bole - pahale ek chilam bhar la, phir tho da-sa ras bana le. pani n ho to gagara la, maian khianch dooan. hori mahato ko pahachanati hai n?

phir hori se bola - gharani ke bina ghar nahian rahata bhaiya. purani kahavat hai - 'natan kheti bahuriyan ghar'. nate bail kya kheti kareange aur bahuean kya ghar sanbhaleangi. jab se inaki maan mari hai, jaise ghar ki barakkat hi uth gee. bahuean ata path leti haian; par grihasthi chalana kya janean. haan, muanh chalana khoob janati haian. lauande kahian ph d par jame hoange. sab-ke-sab alasi haian, kamachor. jab tak jita hooan, inake pichhe marata hooan. mar jaooanga, to ap sir par hath dhar kar roeange. l daki bhi vaisi hi. chhota-sa adhauna bhi karegi, to bhun-bhuna kar. maian to sah leta hooan, khasam tho de hi sahega.

jhuniya ek hath mean bhari huee chilam, doosare mean ras ka lota lie b di phurti se a pahuanchi. phir rassi aur kalasa le kar pani bharane chali. gobar ne usake hath se kalasa lene ke lie hath badha kar jheanpate hue kaha - tum rahane do, maian bhare lata hooan.

jhuniya ne kalasa n diya. kuean ke jagath par ja kar muskarati huee boli - tum hamare mehaman ho. kahoge, ek lota pani bhi kisi ne n diya.

'mehaman kahe se ho gaya. tumhara p dosi hi to hooan.'

'p dosi sal-bhar mean ek bar bhi soorat n dikhae, to mehaman hi hai.'

'roj-roj ane se marajad bhi to nahian rahati.

jhuniya hans kar tirachhi najaroan se dekhati huee boli - vahi marajad to de rahi hooan. mahine mean ek bar aoge, thanda pani dooangi. pandrahavean din aoge, chilam paoge. satavean din aoge, khali baithane ko machi dooangi. roj-roj aoge, kuchh n paoge.

'darasan to dogi?'

'darasan ke lie pooja karani p degi.'

yah kahate-kahate jaise use koee bhooli huee bat yad a gee. usaka muanh udas ho gaya. vah vidhava hai. usake naritv ke dvar par pahale usaka pati rakshak bana baitha rahata tha. vah nishchiant thi. ab us dvar par koee rakshak n tha, isalie vah us dvar ko sadaiv band rakhati hai. kabhi-kabhi ghar ke soonepan se ukata kar vah dvar kholati hai; par kisi ko ate dekh kar bhayabhit ho kar donoan pat bhe d leti hai.

gobar ne kalasa bhar kar nikala. saboan ne ras piya aur ek chilam tamakhoo aur pi kar laute. bhola ne kaha - kal tum a kar gay le jana gobar, is bakhat to sani kha rahi hai.

gobar ki aankhean usi gay par lagi huee thian aur man-hi-man vah mugdh hua jata tha. gay itani suandar aur sudaul hai, isaki usane kalpana bhi n ki thi.

hori ne lobh ko rok kar kaha - mangava looanga, jaldi kya hai?

'tumhean jaldi n ho, hamean to jaldi hai. use dvar par dekh kar tumhean vah bat yad rahegi.'

'usaki mujhe b di phikar hai dada!'

'to kal gobar ko bhej dena.'

donoan ne apane-apane khaanche sir par rakhe aur age badhe. donoan itane prasann the, mano byah karake laute hoan. hori ko to apane chirasanchit abhilasha ke poore hone ka harsh tha, aur bina paise ke. gobar ko isase bhi bahumooly vastu mil gee thi. usake man mean abhilasha jag uthi thi.

avasar pa kar usane pichhe ki or dekha. jhuniya dvar par kh di thi, matt asha ki bhaanti adhir chanchal.

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sanbandhit lekh

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