गोरा उपन्यास भाग-15

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

pareshababoo ne kaha, "vinay, lalita ko ek musibat se ubarane ke lie tum koee dussahas poorn kam kar baitho, aisa maian nahian chahata. samaj ki alochana ka adhik mooly nahian hai, jise lekar aj itani halachal hai, do din bad vah kisi ko yad bhi n rahega."

vinay lalita ke prati kartavy nibahane ke lie hi kamar kasakar aya tha, is vishay mean svayan use zara bhi sandeh nahian tha. vah janata tha ki aise vivah se samaj mean mushkil hogi, aur isase bhi adhik gora bahut hi naraz hoga, lekin keval kartavy-budhdi ke sahare in sab apriy kalpanaoan ko usane man se nikal diya tha. aise mauke par pareshababoo ne jab sahasa us kartavy-budhdi ko ek baragi barakhast kar dena chaha tab vinay ekaek use chho d n saka.

vah bola, "ap logoan ka sneh-rrin maian kabhi nahian chuka sakooanga. meri vajah se apake parivar mean kshanik bhi zara-si ashaanti ho, yah bhi mere lie asahy hai."

pareshababoo ne kaha, "vinay, meri bat tum thik tarah samajh nahian pa rahe ho. ham logoan ke prati tumhari jo shradhda hai vah mere lie b di prasannata ki bat haian lekin us shradhda ka kartavy poora karane ke lie hi tum meri kanya se vivah karane ko prastut hue ho, yah meri kanya ke lie shradhda ki bat nahian hai. isilie maianne tumase kaha ki yah sankat aisa b da nahian hai ki isake lie tumhara tyag svikar karane ki zaroorat ho."

vinay ko samajho, kartavy ke bojh se to chhutti mil gee. lekin pianjare ka dvar khula pakar panchhi jaise ph daph dakar u d jata hai, vinay ka man to chhutakare ke marg par vaise nahian dau da. balki vah to hilana hi nahian chahata. kartavy-budhdi ka sahara lekar bahut dinoan ke sanyam ke baandh ko usane anavashyak kahakar to d diya tha. jahaan pahale man dar-darakar pair rakhata tha aur aparadhi-sa sakuchakar laut ata tha, vahaan vah ab j d jamakar baith gaya hai aur ab use lauta lana kathin ho gaya hai. use hath pak dakar jo kartavy-budhdi yahaan tak laee thi, vah kahati hai- ab aur age jane ki zaroorat nahian hai, bhee, chalo laut chalean- par kahata hai-tumhean zaroorat n ho to tum laut jao, maian to yahian bas jaooanga.

jab pareshababoo ne kahian koee ot nahian chho di, tab vinay ne kaha, "ap aisa kabhi n soanche ki maian kartavy ke ahnan par ek kasht svikar karane ja raha hooan. ap logoan ki svikriti mil jae isase b da saubhagy mere lie aur kuchh nahian ho sakata, mujhe itana hi bhay hai ki kahian.... "

saty-premi pareshababoo ne bina sankoch ke kah diya, "tumhean jo bhay hai, usaka koee karan nahian hai. sucharita se maianne suna hai, lalita ka man tumhare prati vimukh nahian hai"

vinay ke man mean anand ki lahar-si dau d gee. lalita ke man ka rahasy sucharita jan gee hai! usane kab jana, kaise jana? do sakhiyoan mean ishare aur anuman se jo batachit huee hogi, usake gahare rahasyamay sukh se vinay bidhd ho utha.

vinay ne kaha, "yadi ap log mujhe is yogy samajhean to mere lie isase b de anand ki bat kuchh aur nahian ho sakati."

pareshababoo ne kaha, "tum zara ruko- ek bar maian oopar ho aooan."

vah varadasuandari ki ray lene ge to varadasuandari ne kaha, "vinay ko diksha leni hogi."

pareshababoo ne kaha, "vah to leni hi hogi."

varadasuandari ne kaha, "yah pahale tay ho jay. vinay ko yahi bulava lo n!"

vinay ke oopar ane par varadasuandari ne kaha, "tab diksha ka din to thik karana hoga."

vinay ne kaha, "diksha ki kya zaroorat hai?"

varadasuandari ne kaha, "zaroorat nahian hai? tum kya kah rahe ho? nahian to brahm-samaj mean tumhara vivah hoga kaise?"

vinay chupachap sir jhukae baitha raha. vah unake ghar mean vivah karane ko razi hua hai, yah sunakar hi pareshababoo ne man liya tha ki vah diksha lekar brahm-samaj mean pravesh karega.

vinay ne kaha, "brahm-samaj ke dharm-mat mean to shradhda hai aur ab tak mera vyavahar bhi unake virudhd nahian raha. phir bhi kya khas taur se diksha lene ki zaroorat hai?"

varadasuandari ne kaha, "jab mat milata hi hai tab diksha lene mean hi kya harj hai?"

vinay ne kaha, "maian hiandoo-samaj ka kuchh nahian hooan, yah bat to maian kabhi nahian kah sakata."

varadasuandari bolian, "tab is bare mean bat karana hi apaki jyadati hai. kya ap ham logoan par upakar karane ke lie daya karake meri l daki se byah karane ko raji hue haian?"

vinay ko gahari thes pahuanchi, use dikh gaya ki usaka prastav sachamuch in logoan ke lie apamanajanak ho gaya hai.

kuchh hi samay pahale sivil mairij ka qanoon pas hua tha. us samay gora aur vinay ne akhabaroan mean is qanoon ke virudhd b di k di alochana ki thi. aj usi sivil mairij ko svikar karake vinay ghoshit karega ki 'maian hiandoo nahian hooan' yah to usake lie b da mushkil hoga.

vinay hiandoo-samaj mean rahakar lalita se vivah karega, yah prastav pareshababoo svikar nahian kar sake. ek lanbi saans lekar vinay uth kh da hua aur donoan ko namaskar karake bola, "mujhe kshama kar dijie, maian apana aparadh aur nahian badhaooanga."

itana kahakar vinay bahar nikal aya. sidhi ke pas akar usane dekha, samane ke baramade ke ek kone mean lalita ek chhota desk lie akeli baithakar chitthi likh rahi hai. pairoan ki ahat pakar lalita ne nazar uthakar vinay ke chehare ki or dekha. usaki vah pal-bhar ki chitavan vinay ke man ko vyathit kar gee. vinay ke sath lalita ka parichay naya nahian tha, kitani hi bar vah usake chehare ki or aauankhean uthakar dekh chuki thi, lekin aj ki is chitavan mean n jane kaisa ek rahasy tha! sucharita ne lalita ke man ka jo rahasy jan liya hai vahi rahasy aj lalita ki kali aauankhoan ki palakoan ki chhaya mean karuna se poorit ek sajal snigdh megh-sa vinay ko dikhaee diya. vinay ki bhi pal-bhar ki drishti mean usake hriday ki sari vedana bijali-si kauandh gee. vah bina batachit kie lalita ko namaskar karake sidhiyaan utarakar chala gaya.

jel se bahar ate hi gora ne dekha, pareshababoo aur vinay phatak ke bahar usaki pratiksha kar rahe the.

ek mahina koee zyada lanba nahian hai. ek mahina se bhi adhik samay gora bandhu-baandhavoan se alag hokar bhraman karata raha hai lekin jel ke ek mahina ke vichchhed ke uparaant bahar akar pareshababoo aur vinay ko dekhakar use aisa laga mano usane purane baandhavoan ke parichit sansar mean phir se janm liya ho. usi rajapath par khule akash ke niche prabhat ke prakash mean pareshababoo ke shaant, saumy, snehapoorn chehare ko dekhakar usane jis bhakti aur anand se unaki charan-dhooli li vaise pahale kabhi nahian li thi. pareshababoo ne use gale se laga liya.

vinay ka hath pak dakar hansakar gora ne kaha, "vinay, skool se lekar barabar tumhare sath hi shiksha pata aya hooan, lekin is skool mean to chakama dekar tumase age nikal gaya."

vinay hans nahian saka, kuchh kah bhi n saka. jel ke aparichit du:khoan ke bhitar se hokar usaka bandhu usake lie mano bandhu se kuchh b da hokar bahar aya hai. ek ganbhir manobhav mean vah chup hi rah gaya. gora ne poochha, "maan kaisi hai?"

vinay ne kaha, "achchhi tarah hai."

pareshababoo ne kaha, "chalo bhaee, ga di tumhare lie iantazar kar rahi hai." tinoan ga di par savar ho rahe the ki haanphata hua avinash a pahuancha. usake pichhe-pichhe l dakoan ki toli bhi thi.

avinash ko dekhate hi gora jaldi se ga di par savar hone laga tha, lekin usase pahale hi pahuanchakar avinash ne rasta rokate hue kaha, "gauramohan baboo, zara rukie." usake yah kahate n kahate l dakoan ne chilla-chillakar gana shuroo kar diya:

"du:kh nishithini hal aji bhor

katil katil adhinata-dor!"

gora ka chehara surkh ho utha. usane apane vajr-svar mean garajakar kaha, "chup karo!"

l dake achakachakar chup ho ge. gora ne poochha, "avinash, yah sab kya mamala hai?"

apani shal ke bhitar se avinash ne kele ke patte mean lipata huakuand ke phooloan ka mota hara nikala aur usake anuvartti ek kishor l dake ne sunahali chhapaee ke ek kagaz se chabhi se chalane vale argan baje ki tarah mahin avaz mean tezi se karamukti ka abhinandan padhana shuroo kar diya.

avinash ki mala ko khijh se ek or hatate hue gora ne dabe hue gusse se kaha, "jan p data hai ab tumhara natak shuroo hua. aj s dak par apani paee ke sath mera svaang sajane ke lie hi kya tum ek mahine se rah dekh rahe the?"

kee din pahale se avinash ne yah yojana bana rakhi thi; usane socha tha ki sabako achanbhe mean dal dega. ham jis samay ki bat kah rahe haian us samay aise ayojanoan ka chalan nahian tha. avinash ne apani mantrana mean vinay ko bhi shamil nahian kiya tha, is apoorv kary ki sari vahavahi vahi lega yahi usaka vichar tha. yahaan tak ki akhabaroan ke lie usaka vivaran bhi usane svayan likhakar taiyar rakha hua tha, lautate hi usaki baki khanapoori karake chhapane bhej dega.

gora ke tiraskar se kshubdh hokar avinash bola, "ap galat kah rahe haian, apane karavas mean jo du:kh bhoga hai, ham logoan ne usase zara bhi kam nahian saha. is ek mahine se barabar ham logoan ka hriday bhi trishagni mean jalata raha hai."

gora ne kaha, "yah tumhari bhool hai, avinash! zara jhaankakar dekhane se hi pata chal jaega ki tush jyoan-ka-tyoan p da hai aur hriday ki bhi koee khas kshati nahian huee hai."

avinash jheanpa nahian, bola, "rajapurush ne apaka apaman kiya hai, lekin aj sari bharat-bhoomi ke pratinidhi hokar ham yah samman ka har.... "

gora ne kaha, "bas, aur nahian saha jata!" aur avinash ko tatha usake gut ko ek taraph hatata hua bola, "pareshababoo aie, ga dar par savar hoie."

ga di par savar hokar pareshababoo ki jan mean jan aee. gora aur vinay bhi pichhe-pichhe savar ho ge.

stimar par savar hokar agale din sabere gora ghar pahuanch gaya. bahar hi usane dekha, usake gut ke logoan ne bhi d laga rakhi thi. kisi tarah unase chhutakara pakar vah bhitar anandamee ke pas pahuancha. vah aj sabere hi naha-dhokar taiyar baithi thi. gora ke jakar unake charan chhookar pranam karate hi unaki aauankhoan se jhar-jhar aauansoo bahane lage. jo aauansoo itane dinoan se unhoanne roke rakhe the aj kisi tarah nahian ruke.

ganga-snan karake krishnadayal ke lautane par gora unase milane gaya. usane door se hi unhean pranam kiya, unake charan nahian chhue. sakuchakar krishnadayal door asan par baithe. gora ne kaha, "baba, maian ek prayashchit karana chahata hooan."

krishnadayal ne kaha, "usaki to koee zaroorat nahian dikhati."

gora ne kaha, "mujhe jel mean aur to koee kasht nahian tha, par yahi lagata rahata tha ki maian apavitr ho gaya hooan. vah glani ab bhi hai, isalie prayashchit karana hi hoga."

chiantit hokar krishnadayal ne kaha, "nahian-nahian, tumhare itana sochane ki zaroorat nahian hai. maian to isaki sammati nahian de sakata.'

gora ne kaha, "achchha, to is bare mean maian panditoan ki ray le looan."

krishnadayal bole, "kisi pandit ki ray nahian leni hogi. maian hi tumhean vidhan deta hooan, tumhean prayashchit ki zaroorat nahian hai."

krishnadayal jaise achar-vichar aur chhuachhoot manane vale vyakti bhi gora ke lie kisi tarah ka niyam-sanyam svikar karana nahian chahate- n keval svikar nahian karate balki ekabaragi to usake virudhd a dakar baith jate haian, isaka karan aj tak gora nahian samajh saka.

bhojan ke lie aj anandamee ne gora ke sath hi vinay ka asan bichhaya tha. gora ne kaha, "maan, vinay ke asan ko tho da door kar do."

achakachakar anandamee ne kaha, 'kyoan, vinay ne kya aparadh kiya hai?"

gora ne kaha, "vinay ne kuchh nahian kiya, maianne hi kiya hai. maian apavitr hooan."

anandamee ne kaha, "so hua kare. vinay itana shudhd-ashudhd nahian manata."

gora ne kaha, "vinay nahian manata, kiantu maian to manata hooan."

bhojan ke bad donoan bandhu jab oopar ke soone kamare mean jakar baith ge tab unhean ek-doosare ko kahane ke lie koee bat hi nahian soojhi. is ek mahine mean jo ek bat vinay ke lie sabase zyada mahatv ki ho uthi thi use vah kaisa gora ke samane chhe de, yah vah soch hi nahian pa raha tha. pareshababoo ke ghar ke logoan ke bare mean gora ke man mean bhi ek jijnasa thi, par usane bhi kuchh n kaha. vinay hi bat chh dega, yah sochakar pratiksha karata raha. halaanki usane pareshababoo se yah bat poochhi thi ki ghar ke sab log kaise haian, lekin vah to keval shishtachar ka saval tha. ve sab achchhi tarah haian matr itani khabar se adhik vistrit vivaran janane ke lie usaka man atur tha.

isi samay mahim kamare mean ae. baithakar sidhi chadhane ke parishram se tho di der haanphate rahakar phir bole, "vinay, itane din to gora ka iantazar raha. ab to aur koee bat nahian hai, ab din aur muhoortt tay kar liya jae. kya ray hai gora- kya bat ho rahi hai, yah to samajh rahe ho n?"

kuchh kahe bina gora tanik-sa hans diya.

mahim bole, "hansate ho? tum soch rahe hoge, abhi tak dada vah bat nahian bhoole. lekin kanya to svapn nahian hai- maian spasht dekh sakata hooan, vah ek thos padarth hai- bhoolane ki guanjaish nahian hai, hansane ki bhi bat nahian hai. gora, ab jaisa bhi ho tay kar dena chahie.'

gora ne kaha, "tay karana jinaka kam hai vah to svayan maujood haian."

mahim ne kaha, "satyanash! unaka to apana hi kuchh thik nahian hai- vah kya thik kareange! tum a ge ho, ab sara bhar tumhare oopar hi hai."

vinay aj ganbhir hokar chup hi raha, apane svabhav-sidhd hasy se bat talane ki bhi usane koee koshish nahian ki.

gora jan gaya ki kahian koee a dachan hai. bola, "maian nimantran pahuanchane ke kam ka bhar le sakata hooan, parosane ko bhi razi hooan, lekin yah bhar maian nahian le sakata ki vinay tumhari kanya se vivah kareange hi. jinake nirdeshan se ye sah bam duniya mean hote haian unase bhi meri koee khas jan-pahachan nahian haian, unhean maian door se hi namaskar karata raha hooan."

mahim bole, "tumhare door rahane se hi vah bhi door hi rah jaeange. yah mat socho. hathath kab akar chauanka deange, kuchh kaha nahian ja sakata. tumhare bare mean unaka kya irada hai yah to thik-thik nahian kah sakata, lekin inako lekar to ek vikat samasya uth kh di huee hai. sari zimmedari akele prajapati thakur par n chho dakar khud bhi kuchh upay n karoge to aant mean pachhatana bhi p d sakata hai yah maian kahe deta hooan."

gora ne kaha, "jo bhar mera nahian hai use n lekar pachhatane ko maian taiyar hooan, lekin use lekar pachhatana to aur bhi mushkil hoga, usi se bachana chahata hooan."

mahim ne kaha, "brahman ka l daka jat, kul, man sab ganva dega aur tum baithe dekhate rahoge? desh-bhar ke logoan ke hiandutv ki raksha ke lie to tumhean niand nahian ati aur idhar tumhara apana param-bandhu jat ko nadi mean bahakar brahm-ghar mean vivah kar baithe to loangoan ko kya muanh dikhaoge? vinay, tum shayad naraz ho rahe hoge, lekin tumhari pith pichhe bahut-se log ye sab batean gora se kahate- balki kahane ko chhatapata rahe haian- maian samane hi kah raha hooan- yah sabhi ke lie uchit hi hoga. agar aphavah jhoothi hi ho to kah dene se hi khatm ho jaegi, aur agar sach ho to soch-samajh lena hoga."

mahim chale ge, tab bhi vinay kuchh nahian bola. gora ne poochha, 'kyoan vinay, kya mamala hai?"

vinay ne kaha, "keval tho di-si khabarean bata dene se sara kuchh samajha sakana bahut mushkil hai, isilie socha tha ki dhire-dhire tumhean sara mamala samajhakar kahooanga. lekin duniya mean kuchh bhi hamari suvidha ke anusar saralata se nahian hona chahata. ghatanaean bhi pahale shikari bagh ki tarah dabe paanv badhati rahati haian aur phir achanak ek hi chhalaang mean gala dhar dabati haian. phir unaki khabar bhi ag ki tarah pahale dabi-dabi sulagati hai aur phir sahasa bh dakakar jal uthati hai tab use sanbhalakar mushkil se ho jata hai. isilie kabhi-kabhi sochata hooan, karm matr ka tyag karake bilh‍kal j da hokar baithane mean hi iansan ki mukti hai."

hansakar gora ne kaha, "tumhare akele j d hokar baithane se bhi kahaan mukti milegi? jab tak sari duniya hi sath-sath j d n ho jae tab tak vah tumhean sthir kyoan rahane degi? ulate isase to aur mushkil ho jaegi. duniya jab kam kar rahi hai tab tum bhi yadi kam n karoge to thage hi jaoge. isalie yahi dekhana hoga ki ghatana tumhari asavadhani mean hi n ho jay- aisa n ho jay ki aur sab to age badh jaean aur tum taiyar bhi n raho."

vinay ne kaha, "yahi bat thik hai. maian hi taiyar nahian rahata. is bar bhi maian taiyar nahian tha. kis taraph kya ho raha hai, maian samajh hi nahian saka. lekin jab ho hi gaya to usaka dayitv to lena hi hoga. jisaka shuroo mean n hona hi achchha tha, use aj apriy hone par bhi asvikar nahian kiya ja sakata."

gora ne kaha, "hua kya hai, yah jane bina usake bare mean koee sahi ray de sakana mere lie to kathin hai."

kh de hokar vinay ne kah hi dala, "anivary ghatanaoan ke karan lalita ke sath mera sanbandh aise mo d par a pahuancha hai ki yadi usase vivah n karooan to use samaj mean hamesha ke lie akaran apaman aur anyay sahate rahana p dega."

gora ne kaha, "kaisa mo d hai, maian to samajhooan." vinay ne kaha, "vah lanbi bat hai. dhire-dhire sab bataooanga, lekin itana to philahal tum man hi lo!"

gora ne kaha, "achchha man hi leta hooan. mujhe is bare mean hi kahana hai ki ghatana agar anivary ho to usaka du:kh bhi nishchit hi hai. samaj mean agar lalita ko apaman bhogana hi hai to usaka upay nahian hai."

vinay ne kaha, "kintu usaka nivaran karana to mere bas ki bat hai."

gora ne kaha, "hai, tab to achchha hi hai. lekin zabaradasti aisi bat kahane se to nahian chalega. zaroorat hone par chori karana ya khoon karana bhi iansan ke bas ki bat hoti hai, lekin kya sachamuch usake bas ki hoti hai? lalita se vivah karake tum lalita ke prati kartavy poora karana chahate ho, lekin vahi kya tumhara sabase b da kartavy hai? kya samaj ke prati koee kartavy nahian hai?"

samaj ke prati kartavy ka smaran karake hi brahm vivah ke lie vinay razi nahian hua, yah bat usane nahian kahi. vah bahas par tul gaya. bola, "is mamale mean shayad meri ray tumase kabhi nahian milegi. maian vyakti ki or khianchakar samaj ke virudhd kuchh nahian kah raha hooan. maian to yah kah raha hooan ki vyakti aur samaj donoan ke oopar dharm hai- usi par drishti rakhakar chalana hoga. jaise vyakti ko bachana mera charam kartavy nahian, vaise hi samaj ko bachana bhi charam kartavy nahian hai, ekamatr dharm ko bachan hi mera charam lakshy hai."

gora ne kaha, "vyakti bhi nahian hai samaj bhi nahian hai, kiantu phir bhi dharm hai, aise dharm ko maian nahian manata."

vinay ko gussa a gaya. bola, "maian manata hooan. vyakti aur samaj ki bhiti par dharm nahian kh da hai, balki dharm ki bhiti par vyakti aur samaj hai. jise samaj chahata hai dharm kahakar usi ko manana p de to samaj ki hi musibat ho jae. agar samaj meri kisi nyay-sangat svadhinata mean badha de to us anuchit badha ko hatakar hi samaj ke prati kartavy poora hota hai. lalita se vivah karana yadi mera anyay n ho, balki uchit ho, tab samaj ke virodh ke karan hi usase hat jana mere lie adharm hoga."

gora ne kaha, "nyay aur anyay kya akele tumhian se bandhe haian? is vivah se apani bhavi santan ko tum kis sthiti mean dal doge, yah kyoan nahian sochate?"

vinay ne kaha, "is tarah sochate rahakar hi to manushy samajik anyay ko chirasthaee bana deta hai. tab phir sahaboan, aphasaroan ki latean khata hua jo kirani baboo hamesha apaman sahata chala jata hai, usi ko phir kyoan dosh dete ho? vah bhi to santan ki hi bat sochate haian."

vinay gora se bahas mean jahaan a pahuancha tha isase pahale usaki vah sthiti nahian thi. kuchh pahale hi samaj se vichchhed ki sanbhavana se usaka man vyakul ho utha tha. is bare mean usane apane sath kisi prakar ki bahas nahian ki thi, aur yadi gora ke sath bahas n uth kh di huee hoti to vinay ka man apane purane sanskaroan ke anusar usaki vartaman pravritti se ulti disha mean hi chalata rahata. lekin bahas karate-karate usaki pravritti karttavy-budhdi ka sahara lekar dhire-dhire bal p dane lagi.

gora se zor ki bahas chhi d gee. gora aisi bahas mean yuktiyaan dene ki or n jakar bahut zor-shor se apani bat kahata tha. itane zor se kam hi log apani bat kahate hoange. aj bhi usane isi zor se hi vinay ki sari batean thelakar gira deni chahi, lekin aj use badha ka samana karana p da. jab tak ek or gora aur doosari or vinay ka keval mat tha, tab tak vinay har manata aya tha, lekin aj donoan or do vastavik manushy the; aj gora kisi vayavy astr se kisi doosare vayavy astr ko nahian kat raha tha, aj ban jahaan akar girate the, vahaan vedana-bhara manushy ka hriday tha.

aantat: gora ne kaha, "maian tumase dalilabazi nahian karana chahata. isamean tark karane layaq khas bat koee nahian hai, yah to hriday se samajhane ki bat hai. brahm l daki se vivah karake tum desh ke sadharan logoan se apane ko alag kar lena chahate ho, yahi mere lie b de khed ki bat hai. aisa kam tum kar sakate ho, maian kisi tarah nahian kar sakata- yahian tumamean aur mujhamean aantar hai, jnan mean ya budhdi mean nahian. jahaan mera prem hai vahaan tumhara prem nahian hai. tum jahaan chhuri marakar apane ko mukt kar lena chahate ho vahaan tumhean koee dard nahian hota, lekin thik vahian par meri dhamani hai. maian apane bharatavarsh ko chahata hooan use tum chahe jitana dosh do, jitani galiyaan do, maian usi ko chahata hooan, usase zyada maian apane ko ya kisi bhi manushy ko nahian chahata. maian aisa zara-sa bhi koee kam nahian karana chahata jisase bharatavarsh se mujhe ek bal-bhar bhi door hatane p de."

vinay kuchh javab dene ki koshish kar hi raha tha ki gora ne kaha, "nahian vinay, tum bekar mujhase tark karate ho. sari duniya ne jis bharatavarsh ko tyag diya hai, usaka apaman kiya hai, maian usi ke sath usi apaman ke asan par hi baithana chahata hooan- yahi mera jati-bhed ka bharavatavarsh, ku-sanskaroan ka bharat-varsh, moorti-poojak bharatavarsh! agar tum isase alag hona chahate ho to tumhean mujh se bhi alag hona hoga."

gora itana kahakar uthakar kamare mean bahar akar chhat par tahalane laga. vinay chupachap baitha raha. tabhi baire ne akar gora ko khabar di ki bahut-se baboo log usase milane ke lie niche pratiksha kar rahe haian. bhagane ka ek bahana pakar gora ko tasalli huee; vah niche chala gaya.

bahar akar usane dekha, aur bahut-se logoan ke sath avinash bhi aya hua hai. gora ne samajh liya tha ki avinash naraz ho gaya hai lekin narazagi ke koee chinh nahian dikhe. vah to aur bhi uchchhvasit prashansa ke sath kal apane hata die jane ki bat sabako suna raha tha. vah kah raha tha, "gauramohan baboo ke prati meri shradhda ab aur bhi bahut badh gee hai. ab tak maian manata tha ki yah asadharan adami haian, lekin kal maian jan gaya ki yah mahapurush haian. kal ham inhean samman dene ge the, jaise khule taur par inhoanne us samman ki upeksha ki vaisa ajakal kitane log kar sakate haian? yah kya koee mamooli bat hai?"

ek to yoan hi gora ka man bechain tha, us par avinash ki is bhavukata se vah tilamila utha. big dakar bola, "dekho avinash, tum log apani bhakti ke dvara hi adami ka apaman karate ho- tum khuleam mera svaang banakar mujhe nach nachana chahate ho, usase iankar kar sakooan itani hayasharm ki bhi asha tum log mujhase nahian karate! aur isako tum log kahate ho, mahapurush ke lakshan! tum logoan ne hamare is desh ko kya ek bhaandoan ka gut samajh rakha hai? sabhi vahavahi pane ke lie nachate phir rahe ho- sachcha kam kyoan koee nahian kar raha hai? mere sath chalana chahate ho to thik hai, jhag da karana chahate ho to vah bhi thik hai, lekin aisi vahavahi mujhe mat dena, yahi meri prarthana hai."

avinash ki shradhda aur bhi badh chali. khile hue chehare se usane upasthit vyaktiyoan ki or dekhate hue gora ki bat ki chamatkarita ki or sabaka dhh‍yan akarshit karana chaha. bola, "ashirvad dijie, apaki tarah ham log bhi isi nishkam bhav se bharatavarsh ke sanatan gaurav ki raksha karate hue apana jivan arpit kar sakean."

yah kahakar avinash ne gora ke pairoan ki dhool lene ke lie jaise hi hath badhae ki gora jald se pichhe hat gaya.

avinash bola, "gauramohan baboo! ham logoan se ap to kisi prakar ka samman grahan nahian kareange. lekin ham logoan ko anand dene se to vimukh mat hoie. ham logoan ne yah nishchay kiya hai ki apake sath ham sab ek din bhoj kareange- isake lie to apako sammati deni hi hogi."

gora ne kaha, "maian prayashchit kie bina tum sabake sath khane nahian baith sakooanga."

prayashchit! avinash ki aauankhean chamak uthian. vah bola, "yah bat hamamean se kisi ko nahian soojhi thi, lekin hiandoo-dharm ke kisi bhi niyam ki upeksha gauramohan baboo kabhi nahian kar sakate."

sabhi ne kaha, "yah to bahut achchhi bat hai. prayashchit ke samay hi sab log ikatthe hoange aur tabhi bhoj hoga. us din desh ke b de-b de adhh‍yapak, panditoan ko nimantrit kiya jaega. hiandoo-dharm aj bhi kaisa jivant hai yah gaur baboo ke is prayashchit ke nimantran se sabako maloom ho jaega."

prayashchit-sabha kab-kahaan bulaee jae, yah saval bhi utha. gora ne kaha, "is ghar mean usaki suvidha nahian hogi. hiandoo-dharm aj bhi kaisa jivant hai yah gaur baboo ke is prayashchit ke nimantran se sabako maloom ho jaega."

prayashchit-sabha kab-kahaan bulaee jae, yah saval bhi utha. gora ne kaha, "is ghar mean usaki suvidha nahian hogi." is par ek bhakt ne ganga ke kinare ke apane bag mean isaki vyavastha karane ka prastav kiya. yah bhi tay ho gaya ki isaka kharcha gut ke sab log milakar uthaeange.

vida lete samach kh de hokar avinash ne vyakhya dene ke dhang se hath hila-hilakar sabako sanbodhit karate hue kaha, "gauramohan baboo naraz ho sakate haian, lekin aj, jab mera hriday bhar utha hai, tab maian yah

bat kahe bina bhi nahian rah sakata ki ved ka udhdar karane ke lie hamari isi puny-bhoomi par avatar ne janm liya tha- vaise hi aj hiandoo-dharm ka udhdar karane ke lie hamane phir avatar ko paya hai. prithvi par sirph hamare hi desh mean chh: rrituean hoangi. ham log dhany haian ki yah saty hamare samane pramanit ho gaya. sab bhaee bolo, gauramohan baboo ki jay!"

avinash ki vakh chaturata se prabhavit hokar sabhi milakar gauramohan ka jayakar karane lage. marmahat hokar gora vahaan se bhag kh da hua.

jel se mukti pane ke bad is samay ek avasad-sa gora ke man par chha gaya. jel mean rahata hua anek bar vah kalpana karata raha tha ki desh ke lie ne utsah se kam karega. lekin aj bar-bar vah apane ap se yahi poochhane laga ki- hay, mera desh kahaan hai? desh kya keval mujh akele ke pas hai? jivan ke sabhi sankalpoan ki bachapan se jis bandhu ke sath charcha karata raha, vah aj itane dinoan bad mahaj ek stri se vivah karane ke lie apane desh ke sare atit aur bhavishy se pal-bhar mean is nirmam bhav se alag ho jane ko tatpar ho gaya. aur jinako sab mere gut ke log kahate haian, itane din unhean itana samajhane-bujhane ke bad bhi unhoanne aj yahi samajha ki maianne keval hiandutv ka udhdar karane ke lie avatar grahan kiya hai, ki maian keval moortiman shastr-vachan hooan! aur bharatavarsh ko kahian sthan nahian mila! chh: rrituean! bharatavarsh mean chh: rrituean haian! shadh rrituoan ke shadayantr mean agar avinash jaisa phal hi phalane ko tha to do-char rrituean kam hone se bhi koee harj n hota.

baire ne akar soochana di, maan gora ko bula rahi hai. sahasa gora chauank-sa utha, man-hi-man kah utha-maan bula rahi hai. is bat ko usane jaise ek naya arth dekar suna. usane kaha- aur jo ho, meri to maan haian aur unhoanne hi mujhe bulaya hai. vahi mujhe sabase mila deangi, vah kisi se koee bhed n rakheangi, maian dekhooan ki jo bhi mere apane haian, ve unake pas baithe haian. jel mean bhi maan ne mujhe bulaya tha, vahaan bhi unhean dekh sakata tha, jel ke bahar bhi maan mujhe bula rahi haian, yahaan bhi maian unhean dekhane nikal p da hooan. kahate-kahate gora ne sharad ki is dopahar ke akash ki or aauankhean uthakar dekha. ek or vinay ki aur doosari or avinash ki taraph se virodh ka svar utha tha vah kuchh dhima p d gaya. dopahar ki dhoop mean mano bharatavarsh ne apani baanhean usaki or phaila dian. samudr paryant phaili huee usaki nadiyaan, paha d aur janata gora ki aauankhoan ke samane jhalak geean, bhitar se uthakar ek mukt nirmal alok is bharatavarsh ko jaise jyotirmay karata hua dikha gaya. gora ka hriday bhar utha, usaki aauankhean chamakane lagian, usake man mean zara bhi nairashy n raha. bharatavarsh ke us aantahin kary ke lie, jisaka phal kahian door bhavishy mean milega, vah anandapoorvak taiyar hone laga. bharatavarsh ki jo mahima usane dhh‍yan mean dekhi hai use vah pratyaksh nahian dekh sakega isaka koee malal use n raha. man-hi-man vah bar-bar duharane laga- maan mujhe bula rahi haian- maian vahian ja raha hooan jahaan annapoorna haian jahaan jagadhdatri baithi haian, usi sudoor kal mean lekin phir bhi isi kshan mean, vahian mrityu ke pas lekin phir bhi jivan ke bich-jis mahima-mandit bhavishy ne mere aj ke din-hin vartaman ko sarthak karake ujjval kar diya hai, maian usi ki or ja raha hooan- usi ati door, ati nikat ki or maan mujhe bula rahi haian. is anand mean gora ne jaise vinay aur avinash ko bhi apane sath pa liya, ve bhi mano usake parae n rahe. doosaroan ke sabhi chhote-chhote virodh mano ek virat charitarth mean vilin ho ge.

jab gora ne anandamee ke kamare mean pravesh kiya tab tab usaka chehara anand ki abha se dipt tha. usaki aauankhean samane ki sabhi chizoan se pare mano ek doosari hi bhavy-moorti ko dekh rahi thian. kamare mean akar ekaek vah tho di der tak yah pahachan hi nahian saka ki usaki maan ke pas doosara kaun baitha hai.

sucharita ne kh de hokar gora ko namaskar kiya. gora ne kaha, "are, ap aee haian, baithie."

gora ne 'ap aee haian, baithie' kuchh aise dhang se kaha mano sucharita ka ana koee sadharan bat nahian hai balki ek vishesh bhav ka uday hai.

ek din sucharita ke sanpark se gora palayan kar gaya tha, pi‍‍‍chhale jitane din vah tarah-tarah ke du:kh aur kam mean ulajha hua bhatakata raha tha, utane din vah bahut-kuchh sucharita ki bat ko apane se door rakh saka tha. lekin jel mean band ho jane par sucharita ki smriti ko vah kisi tarah n hata saka tha. ek samay aisa bhi tha, jab gora ke man mean is bat ka kan bhi nahian tha ki bharatavarsh mean striyaan bhi haian; is saty ko itane dinoan bad usane sucharita mean hi pahachana. sahasa ek kshan mean itani b di aur itani prachin sachchaee ko samane pakar usake aghat se jaise usaki balisht prakriti kaanp uthi. bahar ki dhoop aur khuli hava ki duniya ki yad jab jel mean use satane lagi, tab vah duniya keval usake karmakshetr ke roop mean nahian dikhi, n vah nira purush-samaj hi nazar aee. vah chahe jaise dhh‍yan karane ka yatn karata, usake sammukh bahar ke is suandar sansar ki do adhishthatri deviyoan ki hi moorti ati; chaand-sitaroan ka alok vishesh roop se unhian ke chehare par p data, snigdh nilimayukt akash unhian ke chehare ko gher rahata- ek chehara janm se parichit usaki mata ka tha, aur doosare najuk suandar chehare se usaka parichay naya hi tha.

jel ki ekaki ghutan mean gora us chehare ki smriti se virodh ka bhav n rakh saka. is bhav ki pulak jel mean bhi ek gahari mukti usake nikat le ati, jel ke kathin bandhan usake lie mano chhayamay, jhoothe sapane jaise ho jate. spandit hriday ki sookshm tarangean jel ki divaroan ko bhedakar akash mean milakar vahaan ke phool-pattoan mean laharati rahatian aur karmakshetr mean lilayit hoti rahatian.

gora ne socha tha, kalpana-moorti se bhay ka koee karan nahian hai, isalie is ek mahine tak usane use nirbadh chhoot de rakhi thi. vah samajhata tha ki keval vastavik chizoan se hi darane ka karan ho sakata hai.

jel se bahar ate hi jab gora ne pareshababoo ko dekha tab usaka man anand se labalab ho utha tha. vah anand keval pareshababoo ko dekhane ka nahian tha. usake sath gora ke jel-jivan ki sangini kalpana ne bhi kahaan tak apani maya ladi hai, yah vah pahale nahian samajh paya. kiantu dhire-dhire vah yah samajh gaya. stimar tak pahuanchate-pahuanchate usane spasht anubhav kiya ki pareshababoo use jo itana akrisht kar rahe haian vah keval apane hi gun se nahian.

gora ne itane din bad phir kamar kasi aur bola, "har nahian manooanga." stimar mean baithe-baithe hi usane phir nishchay kar liya ki vah phir kahian door nikal jaega, kisi tarah sookshm bandhan mean bhi apane man ko nahian bandhane dega.

isi bich vinay se usaki bahas chhi d gee thi. vichchhed ke bad bandhu se pahali bheant ke samay hi bahas itani age n badh jati yadi usake bhitar-hi-bhitar gora apane se bhi bahas n kar raha hota. is bahas ke sahare gora apane samane apani pratishtha-bhoomi ko bhi spasht kar lena chahata tha. isilie vah itana zor dekar bat kah raha tha. us zor ki use apane lie hi vishesh zaroorat thi. jab usake us zor ne vinay ke man ko usi tarah uttar dene ke lie uttejit kiya, aur vinay gora ki batoan ka keval khandan karane laga aur unhean nira kathamullapan manakar unake prati vidroh ho utha, tab use zara bhi yah dhh‍yan nahian raha ki gora agar svayan apane par var n kar raha hota to vinay par itane bhishan var kabhi n karata.

vinay ke sath bahas hone ke bad gora ne nishchay kiya- yuddh-kshetr chho d dene se nahian chalega. maian apane pranoan ke bhay se vinay ko chho d jaooan to vinay kabhi nahian bachega.

gora ka man us samay bhavavesh mean tha. us samay sucharita ko vah ek vyakti vishesh ke roop mean nahian dekh raha tha balki ek bhav hi samajh raha tha. sucharita ke roop mean bharat ki nari-prakriti hi usake samane moortiman ho rahi thi. bharatiy grah ko apane puny, sauandary aur prem se madhur aur pavitr karane ke lie hi isaka avirbhav hua hai. jo lakshmi bharat ke bhavishy ko pal-posakar b da karati hai, rogi ki seva karati haian, du:khi ko saanth‍vana deti haian, tuchchh ko bhi prem ka gaurav aur pratishtha deti haian- jisane du:kh aur durgati mean bhi hamamean se ati din ka bhi tyag nahian kiya, avajna nahian ki- jisane hamari pooja ki patr hokar bhi hamamean se ayogyatam ko bhi apani ekaant pooja di, jisake nipun suandar hath hamare kam ke lie samarpit haian aur jisaka chir-sahishnu, kshama bhara prem hamean eeshvar se ek akshay dan ke roop mean mila hai- usi lakshmi ki ek pratichchhavi ko gora apani mata ke pas pratyaksh baithi dekhakar anand-vibhor ho utha. use laga, is lakshmi ki or ham logoan ne dekha hi nahian, ise hamane sabase pichhe thel rakha tha, hamari isase b di durgati aur kya ho sakati hai! use jan p da, desh ka matalab yahi hai, sare bharat ke marmasthan par, pranoan ke niketan shatadal padm par yahi moorti baithi hai, ham hi isake sevak haian. desh ki durgati mean isi ka apaman hai- is apaman ke prati ham log udasin rahe haian, isilie hamara paurush aj kalankit hai.

gora apane hi vicharoan par svayan chakit ho gaya. jab tak bharatavarsh ki nari usake anubhav mean nahian aee thi, tab tak usaki bharatavarsh ki upalabdhi kitani adhoori thi, yah vah isase pahale nahian janata tha. gora ke lie nari jab tak atyant chhayamay thi, tab tak desh se sanbandhit usaka kartavy-bodh kitana adhoora tha! mano shakti thi kiantu usamean pran nahian the, mano peshiyaan thian kiantu snayu-tantu nahian the. pal-bhar mean hi gora samajh gaya ki nari ko ham jitana hi door karake, jitana hi kshudr banakar rakhate haian utana hi hamara paurush bhi kshin hota jata hai.

isalie jab sucharita se gora ne yah kaha, 'ap aee haian' tab vah sirph ek am shishtata ki bat nahian thi- is abhivadan mean usake jivan ka ek naya paya hua anand aur vismay hi prakat hua tha.

karavas ke kuchh chinh gora ke sharir par abhi maujood the. vah pahale se bahut dubala ho gaya tha. jel ke bhojan se use aruchi hone ke karan is ek mahine-bhar vah lagabhag upavas hi karata tha. ujjval gora rang bhi pahale se kuchh maila ho gaya tha. bal bahat chhote katava dene se usake chehare ki krishata aur bhi adhik dikhane lagi thi.

sucharita ke man mean gora ke sharir ki is kshinata se hi ek vishesh vedana janit chianta jag uthi. pranam karake gora ke pairoan ki dhool lene ko usaka man t dap utha. use gora aisi uddipt ag ki shudhd agni shikha-sa prakashaman dikha jisamean dhuaauan ya lak di kuchh bhi n dikh raha ho. ek karuna-mishrit bhakti ke avesh se sucharita ka hriday kaanpane laga, usake muanh se koee bat n nikal saki.

anandamee ne kaha, "mere l daki hoti to mujhe kitana sukh hota, yah maian ab samajh saki hooan, gora! too jitane din nahian tha, sucharita mujhe itani saantvana deti rahi hai ki maian kah nahian sakati. pahale to inaka parichay mere sath nahian tha- lekin du:kh ke samay duniya ki bahut-si b di aur achchhi chizoan se parichay ho jata hai, du:kh ka yah gaurav ab samajh sahi hooan. du:kh mean eeshvar kahaan-kahaan se saantvana pahuancha sakate haian, yah ham hamesha jan nahian pate, isilie du:kh pate haian. beti, tum laja rahi ho, lekin mere du:kh ke samay mean tumane mujhe kitana sukh diya hai, yah bat tumhare samane bhi kahe bina maian kaise rah sakati hooan?"

sucharita ke lajja se lal chehare ki or ek bar kritajnata-bhari drishti se dekhakar gora anandamee se bola, "maan, tumhare du:kh ke din yah tumhare du:kh ka bhar lene aee thian aur aj tumhare sukh ke din bhi tumhare sukh ko badhane aee haian- jinaka dil b da hota hai aisi udarata unhian mean hoti hai."

vinay ne sucharita ka sankoch dekhakar kaha, "didi, chor ke pak de jane par use charoan or se mar p dati hai. aj tum in sabake hathoan p d gee ho, usi ka phal bhog rahi ho. ab bhagakar kahaan jaogi? maian to tumh‍hean bahut din se pahachanata hooan. kiantu maianne kisi ke samane kabhi bhandapho d nahian kiya, chup hi baitha raha hooan. par man-hi-man janata raha hooan ki koee bhi bat bahut din tak gupt nahian rah sakati."

hansakar anandamee bolian, "tum to zaroor hi chup rahe ho! b da aya chup baitha rahane vala! isane jis din se tum logoan ko jana hai usi din se yah tum logoan ka gunagan karate-karate mano aghata hi nahian."

vinay ne kaha, "yah sun rakho, didi! maian gunagrahi hooan, aur akritajn bhi nahian hooan, isaka gavah aur saboot sab hazir hai."

sucharita ne kaha, "isase to apake hi gunoan ka parichay milata hai."

vinay ne kaha, "mere gunoan ka parichay apako mujhase kabhi nahian milega. yadi vah pana chahean to maan ke pas aiega, sunakar achanbhe mean a jaeangi. unake muanh se sunakar to maian hi vismit ho jata hooan. mera jivan-charitr agar maan likhean to maian jaldi hi mar jane ko taiyar hooan."

anandamee ne kaha, "zara suno to is l dake ki bat!"

gora bola, "vinay, tumhare maan-bap ne tumhara nam thik hi rakha tha."

vinay ne kaha, "jan p data hai unhoanne mujhase aur kisi gun ki koee ummid hi nahian ki, isalie vinay ke gun ki duhaee di, nahian to duniya mean b di hansaee hoti."

is prakar pahali bheant ka sankoch door ho gaya.

sucharita ne vida lete samay vinay se kaha, "ap ek bar hamari taraph nahian aeange?"

sucharita ne vinay se to ane ke lie kah diya par gora se nahian kah saki. gora ne isaka thik matalab nahian samajha aur usake man ko kuchh chot pahuanchi. vinay sahaj hi sabake bich apana sthan bana leta hai kiantu gora vaisa nahian kar sakata. isake lie gora ko isase pahale kabhi koee pachhatava nahian hua tha, lekin aj apani prakriti ki is kami ko usane kami ke roop mean hi pahachana.