गोरा उपन्यास भाग-19

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

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gora ajakal alassubah hi ghar se nikal jata hai, vinay yah janata tha. isilie somavar ko sabere vah bhor hone se pahale hi gora ke ghar ja pahuancha aur sidhe oopar ki manzil mean usake sone ke kamare mean chala gaya. vahaan gora ko n pakar usane naukar se poochha to pata chala ki‍ gora pooja-ghar mean hai. isase man-hi-man use kuchh ashchary hua. pooja-ghar ki dehari par pahuanchakar vinay ne dekha, gora pooja ki mudra mean baitha hai. reshami dhoti, kandhe par reshami chadar, kiantu phir bhi usaki vishal deh ka adhikaansh bhag khula hi tha. gora ko yoan pooja karate dekhakar vinay ko aur bhi vismay hua.

joote ki avaz sukar gora ne pichhe phirakar dekha. vinay ko dekhakar vah uth kh da hua aur ghabaraya-sa bola, "is kamare mean n ana."

vinay ne kaha, "daro mat, maian nahian ata. tumase milane aya tha."

bahar akar gora ne kap de badale aur phir vinay ko sath lekar timanzile vale kamare mean chala gaya.

vinay ne kaha, "aj somavar hai."

gora ne kaha, "zaroor somavar hai, panchaang mean bhool ho sakati hai, par aj ke bare mean tumase bhool nahian ho sakati. kam-se-kam itana to nishchit hai ki aj mangalavar nahian hai."

vinay ne kaha, "tum aoge to nahian, yah janata hooan- lekin aj tumhean ek bar bulae bina maian is kam mean pravritt nahian ho sakata. isilie aj sabere uthate hi sidha tumhare pas aya hooan."

kuchh kahe bina gora nishchal baitha raha. vinay ne phir kaha, "to tumhara yahi nishchay hai ki mere vivah mean nahian aoge?"

gora ne kaha, "nahian vinay, maian nahian ja sakooanga."

vinay chup ho gaya. gora ne apane man ki vedana ko chhipakar hansate hue kaha, "maian nahian bhi gaya to kya hua! jit to tumhari hi huee. maan ko to tum khianch hi le ge. maianne to bahut koshish ki, par unhean kisi tarah rok n saka. aant mean apani maan ke bare mean bhi mujhe tumase har manani p di. vinay, yahaan bhi kya ek-ek karake 'sab lal ho jaega'. apane nakshe mean kya maian akela hi bacha rah jaooanga."

vinay ne kaha, "bhaee, mujhe dosh n do! maianne unhean bahut zor dekar hi kaha tha- 'maan, mere byah mean tum kisi tarah nahian ja sakatian.' maan bolian, 'dekh vinoo, jinhean tere byah mean nahian ana ve to tera nyauta pakar bhi nahian aeange- isilie tumase kahati hooan, too kisi ko nyauta bhi mat de aur mana bhi mat kar, chup ho rah.' gora, tum kisi ko nyauta bhi mat de aur mana bhi mat kar, chup ho rah.' gora, tum mujhase kahaan hare ho, tum apani maan se hare ho, hazar bar hare ho. aisi maan aur kahaan milegi?"

anandamee ko rokane ki gora ne poori koshish ki zaroor thi, lekin vah jab usaki bat n manakar, usake krodh aur kasht ki paravah n karake vinay ke vivah mean chali hi geean tab gora ko isase du:kh nahian hua, balki kuchh prasannata hi huee. usaki maan ke asim sneh ka jo aansh vinay ko mila hai, gora se vinay ka vichchhed ho jane par bhi us ganbhir sneh-sudha se vinay ko koee vanchit n kar sakega, yah janakar man-hi-man gora ko tript aur shaanti mili. aur sab or se vah vinay se b di door chala ja sakata hai, kiantu akshay matri sneh ka yah bandhan in donoan purane bandhuoan ko sadaiv nivi d bhav se ek-doosare se baandhe rahega.

vinay ne kaha, "achchha bhaee, to maian chalooan, ana bilh‍kul asanbhav ho to n ana, lekin man mean gussa n rakhana, gora! mere jivan ko is milan se kitani b di sarthakata mili hai, agar yah tum anubhav kar sako to hamare is vivah ko kabhi apane sauhard ke ghere se nirvasit n kar sakoge, yah maian dave se kah sakata hooan."

yah kahakar vinay uth kh da hua. gora ne kaha, "baitho vinay, lagn to rat ko kahian jakar hai, abhi se itani jaldi kyoan?"

gora ke is apratyashit sneh-poorn anurodh se dravit hokar vinay phir baith gaya.

tab bahut dinoan ke bad ye donoan phir pahale ki tarah sabere-sabere ghut-ghutakar batean karane lage. vinay ke hriday ki vina ka jo tar ajakal pancham par tha, usi ko gora ne chhoo diya. jaise phir to vinay ki bat poori hone mean hi n ati thi. aisi kitani hi chhoti-chhoti ghatanaoan ka itihas, jo likhi jane par atyant sadharan balki hasyaspad jan p datian, yoan sunane laga jaise gane ki tan ki tarah pratyek avritti par usamean naya madhury bhar uthata ho. vinay ke man mean jo ashchary-lila ho rahi thi, ati‍ nipun bhasha se vah usake ras-vaichitray ka sookshm, kiantu ganbhir varnan karane laga. kaisa apoorv tha jivan ka yah anubhav! jis anirvachaniy chiz ko vinay ne ji bharakar paya hai, vah kya sabhi pa sakate haian- use grahan karane ki shakti kya sabamean hoti hai? vinay kah raha tha, duniya mean amataur par stri-purush ka jaisa milan dekha jata hai, usamean is tar-svar ki gooanj to nahian sunaee deti! gora un donoan ki tulana any logoan se n kare, yah vinay ka anurodh tha. use lag raha tha ki bilh‍kul aisi ghatana aur kabhi nahian ghati hogi- sabhi se aisa ghatit ho sakata hota to sara samaj hi pranoan ki hilor se chanchal ho uthata, jaise vasant ke ek jhoanke se hi sari van-bhoomi phool-pallavoan se pulakit ho uthati hai. vaisa hone par log aisi saralata se yoan khane-sone mean hi jivan n bita dete! jisamean jitana sauandary, jitani shakti hoti, svabhavataya anek rang-roop dharakar disha-disha mean khil uthati. yah to jadoo ki chh di hai-isake sparsh ki upeksha karake kaun bejan p da rah sakata hai? yah to sadharan vyakti ko bhi asadharan bana deti hai. us prabal asadharan ka svad jivan mean ek bar bhi mil jae to jivan ka sachcha parichay mil jata hai.

vinay bola, "gora, maian tumhean vishvasapoorvak kahata hooan, manushy ki sanpoorn prakriti ko kshan-bhar mean jaga dene ka sadhan yah prem hi hai chahe jis karan ho, is prem ka avirbhav ham logoan mean durbal hota hai aur isilie ham sabhi apani poori upalabdhi se vanchit ho jate haian. hamamean kya hai, yah ham nahian janate. jo bhitar chhipa hua hai use prakash mean nahian la pate. jo jama-pooanji hai usako kharch karana hamare lie asanbhav hota hai, isilie charo aur aisa niranand chhaya rahata hai- aisa niranand! isilie yah bhi tumhari jaise do-ek vyakti hi samajh pate haian ki hamamean apane mean koee mahatta hai, sadharan lagoan ke man mean to isaki chetana hi nahian hoti."

zor se jamhaee lete hue mahim bistar se uthakar muanh dhone jane lage to unake pairoan ki avaz se hi vinay ke utsah ki dhara ruk gee. gora se vida lekar v chala gaya.

chhat par kh de hokar gora ne poorv ke lal akash ki or dekhakar ek lanbi saans li. phir bahut der tak vah chhat par hi tahalata raha, dehat ki or usaka jana n hua.

idhar gora apane hriday ke bhitar jis akaanksha ka, poornata ke jis abhav ka anubhav karata rahata tha, use vah kisi bhi tarah poora n kar pata tha. vah svayan hi nahian, usaka pratyek kam bhi jaise akash ki or hath badhakar maang raha tha, 'prakash chahie, ek ujjval prakash, ek suandar prakash.' mano aur sabhi upakaran prastut the, sona-chaandi, hira-moti kuchh bhi mahanga nahian tha, vajr-kavach bhi durlabh nahian the, keval asha aur saantvana se phoota hua snigdh, suandar, anurag-ranjit prakash hi kahian nahian tha! jo kuchh tha, use badhane ki koee avashyakata nahian thi, keval use chamakane, lavanyamay karake prakashit karane ki pratiksha thi.

jab vinay ne kaha ki kisi-kisi divy kshan mean nar-nari ke prem ke dvara anirvachaniy asadharan jagamaga uthati hai, tab pahale ki bhaanti gora is bat ko mazak mean nahian u da saka. man-hi-man usane svikar kiya ki vah milan samany milan nahian hota, vah paripoornata hoti hai, usake sansparsh se sabhi chizoan ka vaibhav jata hai, vah kalpana ko sharir deta hai aur sharir mean pran bhar deta hai, vah pranoan ke bhitar pranan aur man ke bhitar manan ko keval dugana kar dete haian, yahi nahian, unhean ek ne ras se sarabor bhi kar dete haian.

vinay ke sath samajik sanbandh-vichchhed ke din usaka hriday jaise gora ke hriday mean ek akhand sangit ke sur jaga gaya. vinay chala gaya, din chadh aya, lekin vah sangit bajata hi raha. samudr ki or bahati huee do nadiyoan ke milane par jaisa hota hai, vaise hi gora ke prem ki dhara mean vinay ke prem ki dhara ke girane par usamean tarangoan ki takarahat mukhar ho uthi. jise gora kisi tarah chhipakar, baandhakar dabakar apani aauankhoan se ojhal hi rakhane ki koshish kar raha tha, vah aj kagar to dakar spasht aur prabal roop mean prakat ho utha aur gora mean aj itani shakti n rahi ki use avaidh kahakar usaki nianda kar sake, ya tuchchh kahakar usaki avajna kar sake. sara din aise hi bit gaya. aant mean jab tisara pahar saanjh mean dhala ja raha tha kandhe par chadar dalakar gora bahar nikal p da. apane-ap se bola-jo mera hi hai use maian looanga. nahian to maian prithh‍vi par asampoorn hi rahooanga, vyarth hi ho jaooanga.

sari duniya mean sucharita ek usi ke ahnan ke lie pratiksha kar rahi hai, isake bare mean gora ke man mean tho di bhi shanka n thi. aj sandhh‍ya ko hi vah is pratiksha ko poorn karega.

bhi d-bhare kalakatta shahar ki ek s dak par tezi se gora badhata gaya. usaka man usake sharir ka atikraman hokar kahian chala gaya tha, raste-bhar use vah kisi tarah chhoo n saka.

sucharita ke ghar ke samane akar ekaek gora sachet hokar thithak gaya. vah itani bar vahaan aya tha kiantu aj tak usane dvar kabhi band nahian dekha tha. lekin aj vah n keval udhaka tha, balki dhakka dene par pata chala ki bhitar se band hai. gora tho di der kh da sochata raha, phir usane do-char bar daravaza khatakhataya. baira daravaza kholakar bahar aya. saanjh ke dhuandhale prakash mean gora ko dekhate hi kuchh poochhe jane se pahale hi usane bataya ki chhoti malakin ghar par nahian hai. "kahaan gee hai?"

"lalita didi ke byah ke prabandh mean kuchh dinoan se doosare ghar mean hi haian"

gora ne kshan-bhar ke lie soch liya ki vah vinay ke vivah par pahuanch jaega. isi bich ghar se ek aparichit baboo nikal ae, bole, "kyoan mahashay, kya chahate haian?"

use sir se pair tak dekhakar gora ne kaha, "nahian, kuchh nahian chahata."

kailash ne kaha, "aie n, zara baithie, tambakoo pijie?"

koee sathi n hone se kailash ka samay kate nahian katata tha. chahe koee ho, kisi ek vyakti ko ghar ke bhitar bithakar gapp karane baith sake to chain mile. din mean to gali ke mo d par huqqa hath mean lie kh de-kh de rah chalate logoan ka ana-jana dekhate-dekhate kisi tarah vakt kat jata hai, lakin sham ko kamare ke bhitar usaka dam ghutane lagata hai. harimohini ke sath jo kuchh batachit karani thi vah to sab ho chuki-haramohini ki bat karane ki shakti bhi to bahut kshin thi. isalie kailash nichali manzil mean dyodhi se lage ek chhote kamare mean takht par huqqa lie baithe-baithe bich-bich mean baira ko hi bulakar usi ke sath batean karake vakt katata tha. gora ne kaha, "nahian, maian abhi nahian baith sakata."

kailash phir anurodh karane ja raha tha, lekin palak marane se pahale gora gali ke par nikal gaya.

ek dharana gora ke man mean gahari baithi huee thi. ki usake jivan ki adhikaansh ghatanaean achanak nahian hoti rahian, ya kam-se-kam keval usaki vyaktigat ichchha se nahian hoti rahi. un sabhi mean svadesh-vidhata ka koee-n-koee vishesh abhipray raha hai, jise poorn karane ke lie hi gora ka janm hua hai. isilie apane jivan ki chhoti-chhoti ghatanaoan mean bhi vah koee vishesh arth khojane ki cheshta karata rahata tha. jab aj usane apane man mean itani b di aur itani prabal akaanksha lie akar ekaek dekha ki sucharita ka daravaza band hai, aur daravaza khulavane par suna ki sucharita ghar par nahian hai, tab usane ise bhi ek vishesh abhiprayapoorn ghatana mana. jo usaka marg-nirdesh karate haian. unhoanne apana nishedh aj is dhang se gora ko jata diya hai. is jivan mean sucharita ka dvar usake lie band hai, sucharita usake paksh mean nahian hai. gora- jaise manushy ka apani kamana mean bah jana uchit nahian hai, usaka nij ka koee sukh-du:kh nahian hai. vah bharatavarsh ka brahman hai, bharatavarsh ki or se use devata ki aradhana karani hogi, bharatavarsh ki or se tapasya hi usaka kam hai asakti-anurakti usake lie nahian hai. man-hi-man gora ne kaha- vidhata ne asakti ka sahi roop mujhe dikha diya hai. bata diya hai ki vah shubhr nahian hai, shaant nahian hai. vah man ki tarah chanchal hai, mad ki tarah tivr hai, vah budhdi ko sthir nahian rahane deti, vah ek chiz ko kisi doosare hi roop mean dikhati hai. maian sannyasi hooan, meri sadhana mean usaka koee sthan nahian haian.

bich mean kuchh samay vah atm-vismrit ho gaya tha, yah smaran karake gora pahale se bhi kathor ho utha. vah jo samaj ko bhoolakar ek prabal moh ke vashibhoot ho gaya tha, isaka mool karan usane niyam-palan ki shithilata ko hi samajha.

prat:kalin sandhh‍ya karake gora ne kamare mean akar dekha, pareshababoo baithai haian. usake hriday mean ek bijali-si kauandh gee. pareshababoo ke sath usaka jivan kisi ek sootr ki gahari atmiyata mean bandha hua hai, bhitar-hi-bhitar vah ise svikar kie bina n rah saka. vah pareshababoo ko pranam karake baith gaya.

pareshababoo bole, "vinay ke vivah ki bat to tumane zaroor suni hogi?"

gora ne kaha, "haan!"

pareshababoo bole, "vah brahm mat se vivah karane ko taiyar nahian hai."

gora ne kaha, "tab to usaka yah vivah karana hi thik nahian hai."

pareshababoo tanik hans die kyoanki is bat par koee bahas karane ki avashyakata unhoanne nahian samajhi. phir bole, "hamare samaj mean se koee is vivah mean bhag nahian lega, vinay ke ghar ke log bhi koee nahian aeange, aisa suna hai. apani kanya ki or se maian akela hooan- shayad vinay ki or se tumhare siva koee nahian hoga, isilie is bare mean tumase salah karane aya hooan."

sir hilakar gora ne kaha, "is bare mean mujhase kya salah hogi- maian to isamean nahian hooan."

vismit hokar pareshababoo ne pal-bhar gora ke chehare par nazar tikakar poochha, "tum bhi nahian ho?"

gora pareshababoo ke is vismay se tho da-sa lajjit hua lekin is sankoch ko chhipane ke lie hi usase dugane zor se kaha, "maian isamean kaise p d sakata hooan?"

pareshababoo ne kaha, "maian janata hooan ki tum usake bandhu ho, bandhu ki zaroorat sabase adhik kya aise samay nahian hoti hai?"

gora ne kaha, "maian usaka bandhu zaroor hooan, kiantu sansar mean vahi ekamatr ya sabase adhik kya aise samay nahian hoti hai?"

gora ne kaha, "maian usaka bandhu zaroor hooan, kiantu sansar mean vahi to ekamatr ya sabase b da bandhan nahian hai?"

pareshababoo ne poochha, "gaur, tum kya samajhate ho ki vinay ke acharan se koee anyay ya adharm prakat hota hai?"

gora ne kaha, "dharm ke bhi to do paksh hote haian- ek nity paksh aur ek laukik paksh. dharm jahaan samaj ke niyam mean prakashit hota hai vahaan usaki avahelana nahian ki ja sakati- karane se samaj toot jata hai."

pareshababoo ne kaha- "niyam to anaginat haian. lekin sabhi niyamoan mean dharm hi prakashit hota hai, yah kya nishchit man lena hoga?"

gora ke man ko pareshababoo ne ek aise biandu par chhua jahaan usamean pahale hi se ek manthan ho raha tha aur us manthan se ek sidhdaant bhi upalabdh ho raha tha. isalie jo batean usake bhitar um d rahi thian unhean pareshababoo ke samane kah dalane mean use koee sankoch nahian hua. usaki bat ka nicho d yah tha ki agar ham svayan apane ko niyamoan ke dvara samaj ke adhin n kar lete to samaj ke gahare bhitari uddeshyoan mean badhak ho jate haian, kyoanki ve uddeshy goodh hote haian, unhean spasht dekh sakana har kisi ke lie sanbhav nahian hota. isilie ham mean yah kshamata honi chahie ki bina vichar kie bhi samaj ko manate chal sakean.

sthir hokar pareshababoo ne gora ki bat aant tak suni. jab vah ruk gaya aur apani pragalbhata par kuchh jheanp bhi gaya, tab pareshababoo ne kaha, "tumhari bat mote taur par to maian manata hooan. yah bat thik hai ki pratyek samaj mean vidhata ka ek vishesh abhipray hota hai. yah abhipray sabhi ke samane spasht ho aisa bhi nahian hai. lekin use spasht dekhane ki koshish karana hi to manushy ka kam hai, pe d-paudhoan ki tarah achetan bhav se niyam ko manate jane mean to usaki sarthakata nahian hai."

gora ne kaha, "mera kahana matr yah hai ki pahale samaj ko sab taraph se poori tarah manakar chalane se hi samaj ke yatharth uddeshy ke bare mean hamari chetana nirmal ho sakati hai, usaka virodh karane se ham sirph usamean badha hi nahian dete balki use galat bhi samajhate haian."

pareshababoo ne kaha, "virodh aur badha ke bina to sachchaee ki pariksha ho hi nahian sakati. aur saty ki pariksha kisi ek prachin samay mean manishiyoan ke ek gun ke samane hokar hamesha ke lie samapt ho gee ho, aisa nahian hai. har yug ke samane badhaoan aur virodhoan ke bich se saty ko navin hokar prakat hona hoga. jo ho, in sab batoan ko lekar maian bahas karana nahian chahata. maian manushy ki vyakgit svadhinata ka pakshadhar hooan. usi svadhinata ke bhav se ham thik-thik jan pate haian. ki kaun-sa nity saty hai aur kaun-si nashvar kalpana. isi ko janane aur janane ki cheshta karane par hi samaj ka hit nirbhar karata hai."

pareshababoo yah kahakar uth ge. gora bhi uth kh da hua. pareshababoo ne kaha, "maianne socha tha brahm-samaj ke anurodh se shayad mujhe is vivah se tho da-sa alag rahana hoga, vinay ke mitr ke nate sara kam tum achchhi tarah sampann kara doge. yahian par to atmiyoan se mitr achchhe rahate haian- unhean samaj ka aghat nahian sahana p data. lekin jab tum bhi vinay ko tyag dena hi kartavy samajhate ho tab sara bhar mujh par hi hai, yah kam akele mujhako hi nibahana hoga."

pareshababoo ke akele rahane ka arth vastav mean kitana akela hai, yah us samay gora nahian jan saka tha. varadasuandari unake virudhd kh di huee thian, ghar ki l dakiyaan bhi prasann nahian thian aur harimohini ki apatti ke dar se sucharita ko pareshababoo ne vivah ke bare mean paramarsh karane ke lie bulaya hi nahian tha. udhar brahm-samaj ke sabhi log unake virudhd akramak ho uthe the aur vinay ke chacha se unhean jo do-ek patr mile the unamean unhean kutil, kuchakri aur l dakoan ko biga dane vala kahakar galiyaan hi di gee thian.

ghar mean pareshababoo ke bahar hote hi avinash aur gora ke gut ke do-ek doosare sadasy kamare mean a ge aur pareshababoo ko lakshy karake mazak u dane lage. gora ne kaha, "vah shradhda ke patr haian. shradhda karane ki kshamata tum logoan mean n ho to kam-se-kam unaka mazak karane ke ochhepan se to bacho!"

gora ko phir se apane gut ke logoan ke bich akar apane purane abhyast kamoan mean phansana p da. lekin yah sab niras hai- kitana niras! yah to kuchh bhi nahian hai, ise kam kaha hi nahian ja sakata, isamean kahian koee jivantata nahian hai! is tarah keval likh-padhakar, batean karake, gut baandhakar koee kam nahian hota balki nikammepan ka hi vistar hota jata hai. gora ke man mean yah bat pahale kabhi itane prabal roop mean n aee thi jitani ki is samay aee. nee shakti se chhalakata hua usaka jivan apane mukt bahane ke lie ek naya saty-path dhooandh raha tha. vah use bilh‍kul achchha nahian lag raha tha.

idhar prayashchit sabha ka ayojan zoroan se chal raha tha. is ayojan mean gora ko vishesh utsah tha. vah prayashchit keval jel ki ashuchita ka prayashchit nahian tha, balki isake dvara sabhi or se sanpoorn nirmal hokar jaise nee deh pakar vah apane karmakshetr mean ek bar phir naya janm lena chahata tha. prayashchit ka vidhan le liya gaya tha, din bhi nishchit ho gaya tha, poorv aur pashchim bang ke vikhyat adhh‍yapakoan-panditoan ko nimantran-patr bheje ja rahe the- gora ke gut mean jo dhani the unhoanne rupe bhi juta die. gut ke sabhi log samajhate the ki bahut din bad desh mean ek dhang ka kam hone ja raha hai. avinash ne apane sanpraday ke sabhi loangoan se chupake-chupake salah karake tay kar rakha hai ki us din sabha mean gora ko sab panditoan ki or se phool-chandan, dhany-doorva adi sab upacharoan ke sath 'hiand-dharm-pradip' ki upadhi di jaegi. is bare mean sanskrit mean kuchh shlok likhakar, usake niche sabhi brahman panditoan ke hastakshar karakar, sunahari syahi se chhapakar chandan ke baks mean rakhakar use upahar diya jaega, sath hi maiksasoolar dvara prakashit rrigved ke khand ko bahumooly cham de ki jild bandhakar sabase prachin aur many adhh‍yapakoan ke hathoan bharatavarsh ke ashirvad-svaroop use bheant karaya jaega. is sabase yah bhav atyant prabhavi roop se prakat kiya ja sakega ki dharm-bhrashtata ke adhunik yug mean gora hi ved-vihit sanatan-dharm ka sachcha rakshak hai.

us din ke karyakram ko atyant pritikar aur phaladayak banane ke lie gora se chhipakar usake gut ke logoan ki mitiang barabar chal rahi thi.

apane devar kailash ka harimohini ko ek patr mila tha. usane likha tha, "shri charanoan mean ashirvad. yahaan sab mangal hai. apane kushal samachar se hamari chianta door karean."

yah kahane ki zaroorat nahian ki harimohini ne jab se unaka ghar chho da tha tabhi se unhean is chianta ko dhona p data a raha tha, lekin kushal samachar ka abhav mitane ke lie abhi tak to unhoanne koee koshish nahian ki thi. khudi, patal, bhajahari adi kee logoan ke samachar dekar aant mean kailash ne likha tha, "jis patri ki bat apane likhi hai usaki poori janakari dijiega. apane likha hai ki vah barah-terah baras ki hogi lekin dekhane mean bahut b di dikhati hai, isamean to koee harj nahian hai. usaki jis sanpatti ki bat apane likhi hai us par adhikar jivan-bhar ka hai ya ki chir-sthaee, isaki poori p datal karake likhean to b de bhaiyoan ko batakar unaki sammati le sakooanga. yoan maian samajhata hooan ki ve asahamat n hoange. patri ki hiandoo dharm mean nishtha hai, yah sunakar bephikr hua lekin itane din vah brahm ghar mean pali hai, yah bat kisi ko pata n lage isaka dhh‍yan karana hoga- isalie yah bat aur kisi ko n bataiega. agali poornima ko chandr-grahan hai, ganga-snan ka yog hai, suvidha huee to usi samay akar kany dekh looanga." itane din jaise-taise harimohini kalakatta mean katati rahi thi. lekin sasural laut sakane ki sanbhavana ke aankurit hote hi unaka man utavala ho utha. nirvasan ka ek-ek din unhean asahy lagane laga, ichchha hone lagi ki turant sucharita ko kahakar din tay karake kam sanpann kar dalean. lekin bahut jaldi karane ka bhi unaka sahas n hua. kyoanki sucharita ko jitana hi vah nikat se dekhati thian utana hi samajhati jati thian ki vah use thik tarah samajh nahian saki hai.

harimohini mauke ki tak mean rahane lagian aur sucharita ke prati pahale se bhi adhik sachesht rahane lagian, yahaan tak ki pahale pooja mean bhi vah jitana samay lagati thian usamean dhire-dhire kami hone lagi. jaise sucharita ko vah tho di der ke lie bhi aauankhoan se ojhal n hone dena chahati thi.

sucharita ne lakshy kiya ki sahasa gora ka ana band ho gaya hai. usane samajh liya ki harimohini ne gora ko zaroor kuchh kaha hoga. usane man-hi-man kaha- achchhi bat hai, aisa hi sahi. vah n aean, lekin vahi mere guru haian.

jo guru aauankhoan ke samane rahata hai, usase apratyaksh guru ka prabhav kahian zyada hota hai kyoanki us sthiti mean guru ki upasthiti ki kami man apane bhitar se hi poori tarah leta hai. gora sammukh hota to sucharita usase bahas karati, par ab vah gora ki rachanaean padhakar usake vakyoan ko bina prativad svikar kar leti. jo samajh n ata man-hi-man usake bare mean soch leti, gaur baboo hote to zaroor samajha dete.

kiantu gora ki us tejasvi moorti ko dekhane aur usaki vajr-ganbhir vani sunane ki pipasa kya kisi tarah mit sakati thi? apani is atript aantarik utsukata se sucharita bhitar-hi-bhitar ghutane lagi. rah-rahakar ek tikhe dard ke sath use dhh‍yan ata, kitane log bina kisi prayas ke din-rat gora ka darshan pa sakate haian, lekin us darshan ka koee mahatv vah nahian janate.

ek din lalita ne tisare pahar akar sucharita ke gale se lipatakar kaha, "suchi didi!"

sucharita ne kaha, "kaho lalita?"

lalita ne kaha, "sab nishchit ho gaya hai."

sucharita ne poochha, "kab ka nishchay hua?"

lalita ne kaha, "agale somavar ko."

sucharita ne poochha, "kahaan?"

sir hilakar lalita ne kaha, "vah sab to maian nahian janati, baba ko pata hai."

baanh se lalita ko gherate hue sucharita ne kaha,"too khush hai n?"

lalita ne kaha, "khush kyoan n hoooangi?"

sucharita ne kaha, "too jo chahati thi sab tujhe mil gaya, ab kisi se jhag da karane ko kuchh nahian raha- lekin mujhe bhay lagata hai, kahian isi se ab tera utsah thanda n p d jae."

hansakar lalita ne kaha, "kyoan, jhag da karane ke lie kisi ki kami kyoan hogi? ab to balki dhooandhane ghar se bahar bhi nahian jana p dega."

tarjani se lalita ka gal dabate hue sucharita ne kaha, "yah bat hai! abhi se is sabaki bhi taiyari ho rahi hai. tab to maian vinay se kah dooangi, ab bhi samay hai, vah bechara sanbhal sakata hai."

lalita ne kaha, "ab tumhare bechare ko sanbhalane ka avasar nahian milane ka. ab usaka chhutakara nahian hai. janmapatri mean jo musibat likhi thi vah phal rahi hai, ab to matha pitane ke siva koee chara nahian hai!"

ganbhir hokar sucharita ne kaha, "mujhe kitani prasannata ho rahi hai bata nahian sakati, lalita! vinay jaise svami ke too yogy ho sake, yahi maian prarthana karati hooan."

lalita boli, "vah! kyoan nahian! jaise mere yogy to kisi ko hona nahian hoga. is bare mean unh‍hian se ek bar poochhakar dekh lo n. ek bar unaki ray sun lo, phir tumhean bhi pachhatava hoga ki itani b di acharaj-bhari hasti ka sneh pakar bhi itane dinoan tak tumane apane saubhagy ki pahachana-kitani aandhi ho rahi thian."

sucharita ne kaha, "chalo khair, ab to ek jauhari mil gaya n. jab sahi dam lagane vala mil gaya tab kis bat ka khed- ab ham jaise ana diyoan se sneh maangane ki zaroorat hi nahian hogi."

lalita ne kaha, "hogi kaise nahian? bahut hogi." kahate-kahate usane sucharita ke gal par itane zor ki chutaki kati ki vah 'uph' kar uthi. "tumhare sneh ki zaroorat mujhe barabar hogi. mujhe dhokha dekar vah aur kisi ko dene se nahian chalega."

lalita ke gal se apana gal satate hue sucharita ne kaha, "kisi ko nahian dooangi, kisi ko nahian dooangi."

lalita ne poochha, "kisi ko nahian? ya bilh‍kul kisi ko bhi nahian?"

sucharita ne keval sir hila diya. tab kuchh alag hatakar baithati lalita boli, "dekho bhee suchi didi, tum to janati ho tumhara aur kisi ko pyar karana maian kabhi nahian sah sakati thi. ab tak maianne tumase nahian kaha, aj kahati hooan- gauramohan baboo jab hamare ghar ate the- nahian, didi, aisa karane se nahian chalega, mujhe jo kahana hai aj maian kahakar hi rahooangi-tumase maianne kabhi kuchh nahian chhipaya, lekin n jane kyoan yah ek bat tumase kisi tarah nahian kah saki aur isake lie barabar pi da pati rahi hooan. yah bat kahe bina maian tumase vida lekar nahian ja sakooangi. goramohan baboo jab hamare ghar ate the tab mujhe b da gussa ata tha- kyoan ata tha? tum sochati thian, ki maian kuchh samajhati nahian. maianne dekha tha, tum mere samane unaka nam bhi nahian leti thian. isase mujhe aur bhi gussa ata tha. tum unhean mujhase bhi zyada pyar karo yah maian sah nahian sakati thi.... nahian didi, mujhe kahane do- aur isase mujhe kitana kasht hota tha yah maian ab kya bataooan. aj bhi tum mujhase vah bat nahian karogi agar tumh‍hara.... "

h dab dakar sucharita ne lalita ka muanh bandar karate hue kaha, "lalita, tumhare paanv p dati hooan, vah bat zaban par n la. use sunakar mera dharati mean sama jane ko man ho uthata hai."

lalita ne kaha, "kyoan bhee, unhoanne kya....?"

chhatapatakar sucharita ne kaha, "nahian-nahian. lalita, pagaloan ki-si bat mat kar. jo bat sochi bhi nahian ja sakati vah kahani bhi nahian chahie."

sucharita ke is sankoch par big date hue lalita ne kaha, "lekin bhee, yah to tumhari jyadati hai. maianne khoob dekha hai aur dave se kah sakati hooan ki...."

lalita se hath chhu dakar sucharita kamare se bahar nikal gee. lalita ne pichhe-pichhe dau date hue jakar use pak d liya aur vapas late hue kaha, "achchha-achchha, aur maian kuchh nahian kahati."

sucharita ne kaha, "phir kabhi mat kahana!"

lalita ne kaha, "itani b di pratijna to mujhase nahian nibh sakati. kahane ka din aega to kahooangi, nahian to nahian kahooangi, bas itana vayada kar sakati hooan."

udhar harimohini kuchh dinoan se barabar sucharita par nazar rakhati thian aur usake pichhe-pichhe ghoomati rahati thi. sucharita sab samajhati thi aur harimohini ki yah shankapoorn satarkata usake man par ek bojh-si bani rahati thi. vah bhitar-hi-bhitar chhatapatati rahati lekin kah kuchh bhi n pati thi. aj lalita ke chale jane ke bad bahut thaka-toota man lekar sucharita mez par donoan hathoan ke bich sir tekakar rone lagi. baira kamare mean batti jalane a raha tha, ishare se use rok diya. vah samay harimohini ki sandhh‍ya-vandana ka tha. lekin harimohini ne oopar se hi lalita ko jate hue dekhakar ekaek niche utarakar sucharita ke kamare mean akar pukara, "radharani!"

chhipakar aauansoo poanchhati huee suchita jaldi se uth kh di huee.

harimohini ne poochha, "kya ho raha hai?"

sucharita ne koee uttar nahian diya.

kathor svar mean harimohini ne poochha, "yah sab kya ho raha hai, meri kuchh samajh mean nahian ata."

sucharita ne kaha, "mausi! kyoan din-rat tum mujh par is tarah nigarani rakhati ho?"

harimohini ne kaha, "nigarani kyoan rakhati hooan, yah kya tum nahian samajhatian? yah jo khana-pina chho d rakha hai aur roti ho, ye kis tarah ke lachchhan haian? maian bachchi to nahian hooan, maian kya itana bhi nahian samajhati?"

sucharita ne kaha, "maian tumase kahati hooan mausi, tum kuchh bhi nahian samajhatian. tum itana galat samajhati ho ki mere lie pal-pal aur asahy hota jata hai."

harimohini ne kaha, "achchhi bat hai, maian galat hi samajhati sahi, ab tumhian thik samajha do n!"

poora zor lagakar sucharita ne apana sankoch door karate hue kaha, "achchha, lo maian kahati hooan- maianne guru se ek aisi bat paee hai jo mere lie nee hai, use poori tarah hridayangam karane ke lie b di shakti chahie, usi ka abhav mujhe khatakata hai. apase jhag da karate-karate maian oob gee hooan. lekin mausi, hamare sanbandh ko tumane bahut vikrit karake dekha hai, tumane unhean apaman karake nikal diya hai- tumane unhean jo kuchh kaha hai sab galat hai, mere bare mean jo socha hai sab bhram hai. tumane b da anyay kiya hai! un jaise vyakti ko niche girana to tumhare vash ki bat nahian hai, par mujh par tumane aisa atyachar kyoan kiya- maianne tumhara kya biga da hai? kahate-kahate sucharita ka gala ruandh gaya aur vah doosare kamare mean chali gee.

harimohini hatabudhdi-si kh di rahian. unhaanne man-hi-man kaha-bap re, aisi batean to maianne sat janm mean nahian sunian.

sucharita ke man ko kuchh shaant hone ka samay dekar harimohini use bhojan ke lie bula le geean. usake khane baithane par boli, "dekho radharani, meri umr koee aisi kam nahian hai. hiandoo-dharm mean jo kuchh kaha gaya hai vah bachapan se karati rahi hooan, aur vistar se sab sun bhi chuki hooan. tum yah sab janati nahian, isilie tumhara guru banakar gauramohan tumhean phusala raha hai. maianne bhi usaki kuchh batean suni haian- unamean tatv asal mean kuchh nahian hai, vah shastr usaka khud ka gadha hua hai. yah bat to ham log samajh sakate haian n, jinhoanne guru se upadesh paya hai! radharani, maian tumase kahati hooan, tumhean yah sab karane ki avashyakata nahian hai, jab samay hoga to mere jo guru haian vo aise nakali nahian haian- vahi tumhean mantr deange. tum daro mat, maian tumhean hiandoo-samaj mean khianch laooangi. brahm-ghar mean thian to kya hua? vah bat janega hi kaun? tumhara qad kuchh b da ho gaya hai zaroor, lekin aisi to bahut l dakiyaan hoti haian jo jaldi hi b di lagane lagati haian, phir koee tumhari janm-patri dekhane tho de jaega? aur pas mean jab paisa hai to kahian koee mushkil nahian hogi, sab chal jaega! kevat ka beta kayasth ban gaya, yah to maianne apani aauankhoan se dekha hai. maian hiandoo-samaj mean aise sadbrahman ke ghar tumhean pahuancha dooangi ki kisi ki kuchh kahane ki himmat n hogi, vahi to samaj ke agua haian. isalie tumhean is guru ki sadhana mean yoan ro-rokar marane ki koee zaroorat nahian hai."

jab harimohini ye batean vistar se bakhan rahi thian tab sucharita ki kuchh khane ki ichchha kab ki mar chuki thi aur usake gale se kaur jaise niche nahian utar raha tha. phir bhi vah chupachap hath karake khati rahi, kyoanki vah janati thi, usake kam khane ki bat ko lekar tika-tippani hogi usase usaka koee bhala nahian hoga.

harimohini ne sucharita ki or se jab koee sanket nahian paya to man-hi-man bolian- maian bharapaee in logoan se! idhar hiandoo-hiandoo ki rat lagakar ro rahi hai, udhar itane achchhe suyog ki bat sunakar anasuni kar deti hai! prayashchit nahian karana hoga, koee saphaee nahian deni hogi, keval idhar-udhar do-char rupe kharch karake sahaj hi samaj mean a jaegi- is par bhi jise utsah n ho aur apane ko kahe hiandoo. gora kitana b da chhali hai yah harimohini pahale hi samajh chuki thian, phir bhi is sab chhalachhand ka uddeshy kya ho sakata hai, yah sochane par unhean yahi jan p da ki sare mamale ki j d mean sucharita ki sampatti aur usaka roop-yauvan hi hoga. kanya ka aur usake sath-sath kanpani ke kagaz adi ka udhdar karake un sabako jaldi-se-jaldi sasural roopi durg mean band kar lene mean hi kalyan hai. lekin sucharita ke man ko isake lie abhi tho da aur galana hoga, nahian to vah manegi nahian. isi ke yatn maian harimohini sucharita ke samane din-rat apani sasural ka bakhan karane lagian. unaka kitana asadharan prabhav hai, samaj mean ve log kaise asanbhav ko sanbhav bana sakate haian, anek udaharan dekar harimohini yah batane lagian. unaka virodh karane jakar kitane nishkalank log bhi samaj se apamanit hue haian, aur unake sharanagat hokar kitane log musalaman ke hath ki murgi khakar bhi hiandoo-samaj ka durgam marg hansi-khushi par kar ge haian- in sab ghatanaoan ko nam-dham ka byaura dekar harimohini ne bilh‍kul vishvasaniy bana diya.

sucharita unake ghar n aya kare, apani yah ichchha varadasuandari ne usase chhipaee nahian thi, kyoanki unhean apani spashtavadita par garv tha. jab bhi kisi ke prati vah ni:sankoch kathorata ka vyavahar karati thian tabhi apane is gun ki ghoshana kiya karati thian. isalie sucharita varadasuandari ke ghar mean kisi tarah ke samman ki asha nahian kar sakati, yah unhoanne use b de spasht shabdoan me jata diya tha. sucharita janati thi ki usake unake ghar ane-jane se pareshababoo ko bahut kasht uthana p d jaega. isilie jab tak bahut hi avashyak n ho jae vah unake ghar nahian jati thi, aur isilie roz pareshababoo do-ek bar svayan sucharita ke ghar akar use dekh jate the.

kuchh din se kee chiantaoan aur kam ki vyastata ke karan pareshababoo sucharita ke ghar nahian a sake the. in dinoan pratidin sucharita b di vyagrata ke sath unake ane ki pratiksha kar rahi thi, lekin man-hi-man sankuchit bhi thi. pareshababoo ke sath usake gahare mangal ka sanbandh kabhi toot nahian sakata, yah vah nishchay janati thi, lekin bahar ke do-ek sootr jo use khianch rahe the unaka dansh bhi use chain n lene deta tha. idhar harimohini usake jivan ko din-par-din asahy banae de rahi thian. aant mean sucharita varadasuandari ki narazagi ka samana karane ki sochakar pareshababoo ke ghar chali gee. tisare pahar ka soory us vakt pashchim ki or ke timanzile makan ki a d mean hokar ek lanbi chhaya phaila raha tha, usi chhaya mean sir jhukae pareshababoo apane bagiche mean dhire-dhire akele tahal rahe the.

pas jakar sucharita bhi unake sath-sath chalane lagi. boli, "baba, kaise ho?"

ekaek apani soch mean badha pakar pareshababoo tho di der thithakar ekatak radharani ke chehare ki or dekhate rahe phir bole, "achchha hooan, radho!"

donoan phir tahalane lage. pareshababoo ne kaha, "somavar ko lalita ka vivah hai."

sucharita soch rahi thi, vah poochhegi ki is vivah mean use kisi tarah ki salah ya sahayata ke lie kyoan nahian bulaya gaya, kiantu jhijhak bhi rahi thi kyoanki ab unaki or se bhi kahian kuchh badha a kh di huee thi. nahian to pahale to vah bulae jane ke lie baithi bhi n rahati!

man-hi-man sucharita jo soch rahi thi, usaki bat pareshababoo ne svayan uthaee. bole, "is bar tumhean nahian bula saka, radho?"

sucharita ne poochha, "kh‍yoan, baba?"

pareshababoo sucharita ke is prashn ka koee uttar n dekar chehare ki p datal karate rahe. sucharita se aur n raha gaya, sir jhukakar usane kaha, "tum soch rahe hoge ki mere man mean ek parivartan a gaya hai."

pareshababoo ne kaha, "haan, isilie socha tumase kisi tarah ka anurodh karake tumhean sankat mean nahian dalana chahie."

sucharita ne kaha, "baba, maianne socha tha ki sari bat tumhean bataooangi, lekin idhar milana hi nahian hua. isilie aj maian khud aee hooan. apane man ki bat bahut achchhi tarah tumhean samajha sakane ki kshamata to mujhamean nahian hai- dar lagata hai, kahian kuchh anuchit n kah jaooan!"

pareshababoo bole, "maian janata hooan ye sab batean spasht karake kahana itana asan nahian hai. tumane koee chiz keval bhav roop mean paee hai, usaka anubhav to karati ho usaka akar-prakar tumhare samane spasht nahian hua hai."

kuchh ashvast hokar sucharita ne kaha, "haan, thik yahi bat hai. kiantu mera anubhav kitana prabal hai, yah tumhean kaise bataooan! maianne jaise ek naya jivan paya hai, ek nee chetana. apane ko maianne is kon se, is dhang se pahale kabhi nahian dekha. mere sath ab tak mere desh ke atit aur bhavishy ka koee sanbandh hi nahian tha. lekin vah sanbandh kitana b da aur kitana yatharth hai yah bat maianne aj apane hriday mean itane avarshyajanak roop se pahachani hai ki‍ kisi tarah bhool nahian sakati. baba, maian sach kahati hooan, pahale kabhi maian yah nahian kah sakati thi ki maian hiandoo hooan. lekin ab mera man bina sankoch ke aur bal dekar kahata hai, maian hiandoo hooan.' isase mujhe ek apoorv anand bhi hota hai."

pareshababoo ne poochha, "is bat ke har aansh aur har pahaloo par vichar kiya hai?"

sucharita boli, "par vichar karane ki kshamata mujhamean kahaan hai? lekin isake bare mean maianne bahut padha hai aur bahut charcha bhi ki hai. maianne poori chiz ko jab tak usake sahi aur vistrit roop mean dekhana nahian sikha tha, tab tak maian jise hiandoo kaha jata hai usaki chhoti-chhoti batoan ko hi bahut badhakar dekhati thi- usase mere man mean samoochi chiz ke prati bhari ghrina jagati thi."

usaki bat sunakar pareshababoo ko kuchh ashchary hua. vah spasht samajh sake ki sucharita ke man mean ek ne bodh ka sanchar ho raha haian usane koee saty-vastu paee hai, isilie usamean atm-vishvas jag raha hai. aisi bat nahian hai ki vah kuchh samajhe bina mugdh-si kisi aspasht avesh ke pravah mean bahi ja rahi hai.

sucharita ne kaha, "baba, maian yah bat kyoan kahooan ki maian apane desh aur jati se vichchhinn ek tuchh‍chh manushy hooan? yah kyoan n kahooan ki 'maian hiandoo hooan'."

hansakar pareshababoo ne kaha, "yani tum mujhase hi poochh rahi ho ki maian svayan ko hiandoo kyoan nahian kahata. sochakar dekha jay to isaka koee bahut vishesh karan to nahian hai. yoan ek karan yah hai ki hiandoo mujhe hiandoo nahian manate, doosara karan yah hai ki mera dharm-vishvas jin logoan se milata hai ve apane ko hiandoo nahian kahate."

chup hokar sucharita sochane lagi. pareshababoo bole, "yahi to maianne kaha hi ki ye koee vishesh karan nahian hai, ye to keval oopari batean haian. aisi badhaoan ko amany bhi kiya ja sakata hai. lekin ek ganbhir karan bhitar ka bhi hai. hiandoo-samaj mean pravesh pane ka koee marg nahian hai. kam-se-kam b da daravaza nahian hai, khi dakiyaan-jharokhe ho sakate haian. hiandoo-samaj samuchi manav-jati ka samaj nahian hai- keval unhian ka samaj hai jo daivayog se hiandoo hokar janm lete haian."

sucharita ne kaha, "aise to sabhi samaj hote haian."

pareshababoo "nahian, koee b da samaj aisa nahian hai. musalaman samaj ka sianhadvar manushy-matr ke lie khula hai, khristan samaj bhi sabhi ka svagat karata hai. jo kee-ek aur samaj khristan samaj ke aang haian, un sabamean bhi yahi bat hai. maian yadi aangrez hona chahooan to ek ekadam asanbhav bat nahian hai- ianglaiand mean rahakar maian unake niyam se chalakar aangrez samaj mean shamil ho sakata hooan, yahaan tak ki usake lie mujhe khristan hone ki bhi avashyakata nahian hai. abhimanyu vyooh mean keval ghusana janata tha, usase nikalana nahian; hiandoo usase thik ulta haian usake samaj mean ghusane ka rasta bilh‍kul band hai, nikalane ke raste saik doan-hazaroan haian."

sucharita ne kaha, "lekin baba, phir bhi to ab tak hiandoo samapt nahian hua- unaka samaj to abhi bana hua hai."

pareshababoo ne kaha, "samaj ka kshay hona parakh mean samay lagata hai. purane samay mean hiandoo-samaj ki khi dakiyaan khuli thian. un dinoan is desh ki anary jatiyaan hiandoo-samaj mean pravesh pakar ek gaurav ka anubhav karati thian. idhar musalamano ke raj mean bhi desh mean pray: sabhi jagah hiandoo rajoan-rajava doan ka prabhav adhik tha, isalie samaj se kisi ke nikal jane ke virudhd niyam-bandhanoan ki kami n thi. ab aangrez ke rajy mean sabhi qanoon ke dvara rakshit haian, ab vaise kritrim upayoan se samaj ke dvara par saankal lagae rakhane ka utana avasar nahian hai- isilie kuchh samay se yahi dekhane mean a raha hai ki bharatavarsh mean hiandoo kam ho rahe haian aur musalama badh rahe haian, yadi yahi kram raha to dhire-dhire desh musalaman-pradhan ho jaega, tab ise hiandoostan kahana hi galat hoga."

vyathit hokar sucharita ne kaha, "baba, kya isaka nivaran karana ham sabaka kartavy nahian hai? ham log bhi hiandoo-samaj ka parityag karake use aur kshin kar dean? jabaki yahi to pranoan ki samoochi shakti se use pak de rahane ka samay hai.

sucharita ki pith sneh se thapathapate hue pareshababoo ne kaha, "ham log kya ichchha matr se hi kisi ko pak dakar jilae rakh sakate haian? raksha pane ka ek jagadvyapi niyam hai- jo bhi us svabhavik niyam ko chho data hai use sabhi svabhavik chho d dete haian. hiandoo-samaj manushy ka apaman karata hai, nishedh karata hai, isalie ajakal ke samay mean usake lie atmaraksha kar sakana pratidin kathinatar hota jata hai, kyoanki ab aur ot mean nahian rah sakata- ab duniya mean charoan or marg khud ge haian, charoan or se log us par badhe a rahe haian- ab shastr-sanhita ke baandh banakar ya divarean kh di karake vah apane ko kisi prakar bhi doosaroan ke sanpark se achhoota nahian rakh sakata. ab bhi agar hiandoo-samaj apane bhitar grahan karane ki shakti nahian jagata aur kshay ko hi prashray deta chalata hai, to bahar ke logoan ka yah abadh sanpark usake lie ek saanghatik chot sabit hoga."

du:khi svar mean sucharita ne kaha, "maian yah sab zara nahian samajhati, lekin agar yahi sach ho ki aj sabhi use chho d rahe haian, to aise mauke par maian to use nahian chhodooangi. ham isake durdin ki santan haian, isalie hamean to aur bhi usake sirahane kh de rahana hoga!"

paresh baboo ne kaha, "beti, tumhare man mean jo bhav jag utha hai usake khilaf maian koee bat nahian kahooanga. tum upasana karake, man ko sthir karake, tumhare bhitar jo saty hai, shrey ka jo adarsh hai usi se milakar sari bat par vichar karake dekho, apane ap tumhare samane sab batean dhire-dhire spasht hoti jaeangi. jo sabase b de haian unhean desh ki ya kisi manushy ki tulana mean chhota n karo- vaisa karane mean n tumhara mangal hai, n desh ka. maian to aisa hi manakar ekaant-bhav se unh‍hian ke samane atm-samarpan karana chahata hooan, isi se maian desh ke aur pratyek vyakti ke prati sahaj hi sachcha ho sakooanga."

ek adami ne akar isi samay ek chitthi pareshababoo ke hath mean di. pareshababoo bole, "chashma nahian hai, roshani bhi kam ho gee hai- tumhian padhakar suna do zara."

sucharita ne chitthi padhakar suna di. chitthi brahm-samaj ki ek kameti ki or se aee thi, niche bahut se brahm logoan ke hastakshar the. patr ka bhav yahi tha ki pareshababoo ne abrahm-padhdati se apani kanya ke vivah ki anumati de di hai aur us vivah mean svayan bhi yog dene ko taiyar hue haian, aisi halat mean brahm-samaj unhean apani sadasy-shreni mean kisi prakar nahian rakh sakata. unhean apani or se yadi kuchh kahana ho to agami ravivar se pahale unaka patr kameti ke pas pahuanch jana chahie- us din vichar karake bahumat se aantim nirnay kar liya jaega.

chitthi lekar pareshababoo ne jeb mean rakh li. sucharita unaka dahina hath apane hath mean lekar chupachap unake sath-sath tahalane lagi. dhire-dhire saghan ghani ho gee aur bagiche ke dahini or gali mean ek batti jal gee. sucharita ne mridu svar mean kaha, "baba, tumhari upasana ka samay ho gaya, aj maian tumhare sath upasana par baithooangi."

yah kahati huee sucharita unhean hath pak de-pak de upasana ke kamare mean le gee, jahaan asan pahale se bichha hua tha aur ek momabatti jal rahi thi. aj pareshababoo bahut der tak ekaant upasana karate rahe. aant mean ek chhoti prarthana ke bad vah uth kh de hue.

uhoanne bahar ate hi dekha, upasana-grih ki dehari ke pas hi lalita aur vinay chupachap baithe haian. unhean dekhate hi donoan ne pranam kiya aur unaki charan raj li. pareshababoo ne unake sir par hath rakhakar man-hi-man ashirvad diya. sucharita se bole, "beti, kal maian tumhare ghar aooanga, aj apana kam poora kar looan." yah kahate hue vah apane kamare mean chale ge. sucharita ki aauankhoan se us samay aauansoo jhar rahe the. nistabdh pratima-si vah chupachap baramade ke aandhakar mean kh di rahi. lalita aur vinay bhi bahut der tak kuchh nahian bole. jab sucharita jane lagi tab vinay ne usake samane akar mridu svar mean kaha, "didi, tum hamean ashirvad nahian dogi?"

vinay ke yah kate-kahate usake sath lalita ne bhi sucharita ko pranam kiya. ruandhe hue gale se sucharita ne jo kuchh kaha use keval aantaryami hi sun sake.

pareshababoo ne apane kamare mean akar brahm-samaj ki kameti ko patr likha. usamean unhoanne likha-

"lalita ka vivah mujhako hi sanpann karana hoga. isake lie ap mera bahishkar kar dean to apaka yah nirnay anyayapoorn nahian hoga. is samay eeshvarase meri ekamatr yahi prarthana hai ki mujhe sabhi samajoan ke ashray se bahar nikalakar keval apane charanoan mean sthan dean."

pareshababoo se jo kuchh sucharita ne suna tha vah gora ko batane ke lie usaka man utsuk ho utha. gora jis bharatavarsh ki or usaki drishti ko khianchana chahate the, jisaki or usake man ko prabal prem se akrisht karana chahate the, itane din bad vah bharatavarsh ab kal ke hathoan mean p d gaya hai aur kshay ke muanh mean ja raha hai, yah bat kya gora ne nahian sochi? ab tak bharatavarsh apani abhyaantar vyavastha ke bal par hi bacha raha hai-bharatavasi ko isake lie satark hokar prayatn nahian karana p da. kiantu ab kya yoan nishchiant rahane ka samay hai? aj kya pahale ki tarah keval puratan vyavastha ke bharose baithe raha ja sakata hai?

sucharita sochane lagi- usamean mera bhi to kahian kuchh kartavy hai- vah kartavy kya hai? gora ko chahie tha ki isi kshan usake samane akar use adesh deta, use marg dakhata. man-hi-man sucharita ne kaha- yadi meri sari a dachanoan aur ajnan se mera udhdar karake mujhe mere sahi sthan par kh da kar dete to kya kshudr lok-lajja aur nianda-apavad se hone vali kami bhi poori n ho jati? usaka man atmh-gaurav se bhar utha. usane svayan se poochha- gora ne kyoan usaki pariksha nahian li, kyoan use koee asadhh‍y kam nahian sauanpa? gora ke gut ke itane sab purushoan mean kaun aisa hai jo sucharita ki tarah yoan anayas apana sab-kuchh utsarg kar de sake? atm-tyag ki aisi akaanksha aur shakti ki koee upayogita gora ne nahian dekhi! use lok-lajja ki be diyoan mean bandhi huee karmahinata mean pheank dene se kya desh ki zara bhi hani nahian hogi? sucharita ne is avajna ko asvikar karake door hata diya. usane kaha-yah ho hi nahian sakata ki vah mujh aise chho d dean. mere pas unhean ana hi hoga, mujhe khojana hi hoga, sab lajja aur sankoch unhean chho dana hi hoga- vah chahe jitane b de chahe jitane shaktiman hoan, unhean meri zaroorat hai, unhoanne yah bat ek din apane muanh se kahi thi-aj logoan ki tho di-si bakavas ke karan yah bat vah kaise bhula sakate haian?

dau date hue akar satish ne sucharita se satakar kh de hote hue kaha, "didi!"

usake gale mean baanh dalate hue sucharita ne poochha, "kyoan bhaee, baktyar!"

satish ne kaha, "somavar ko lalita didi ka byah hai kuchh-ek din maian vinay baboo ke ghar jakar rahooanga. unhoanne mujhe bulaya hai."

sucharita ne poochha, "mausi se kaha hai?"

satish ne kaha, "mausi se kaha to vah big dakar boli, maian yah sab kuchh nahian janati, ja apani didi se poochh, vah jo thik samajheangi vahi hoga. didi, tum iankar mat karana! meri padhaee ka vahaan zara harj nahian hoga, maian roz padhanga, vinay baboo bata deange."

sucharita ne poochha, "kam-kaj vale ghar mean jakar too sabako tang karega!"

chhatapatakar satish ne kaha, "nahian didi, maian zara bhi tang nahian karooanga."

sucharita ne phir poochha, "apane kutte khude ko bhi vahaan le jaega kya?"

satish ne kaha, "haan, usako bhi le jana hoga, vinay baboo ne khas taur se kaha hai. usake nam alag se lal kagaz par chhapa hua nimantran-patr aya hai-usamean likha hai, use saparivar jal-pan karane ana hoga."

sucharita ne poochha, "usaka parivar kaun hai?"

phauran satish ne kaha, "kyoan, vinay baboo ne to kaha hai, maian hooan. unhoanne vah argan bhi lete ane ko kaha hai, vah mujhe de dena- maian to dooanga nahian."

sucharita ne kaha, "to d de to chhutti ho! lekin ab samajh mean aya- apane vivah mean argan bajane ke lie hi tere bandhu ne tujhe bulaya hai! maloom hota hai, shahanaee valoan ke paise bachana hi unaka matalab hai!"

sucharita ne kaha, "din-bhar upavas karana hota hai."

is par satish ne bilh‍kul vishvas nahian kiya. tab sucharita ne satish ko god mean khianchate hue poochha, "achchha baktyar, b da hokar too kya banega, bata to?"

satish ke man mean isaka javab taiyar tha. usaki kaksha ke shikshak hi usake lie abadh satta aur asadharan paandity ke adarsh the- usane pahale se hi man-hi-man tay kar rakha tha ki b da hokar vah mastar moshay banega.

sucharita ne kaha, "bhaee, bahut kam karane ko hai. donoan bhaee-bahan ka kam ham donoan milakar kareange- kya ray hai, satish! apane desh ko pran dekar bhi b da banana hoga. nahian, bana to khair kya banana hoga-hamare desh-jaisa b da aur kaun hai! hamean apane pranoan ko hi b da bana hoga. janata hai- samajha kuchh?"

'nahian samajha,' satish yah bat svikar karane vala nahian hai. usane zor dekar kaha, "haan!"

sucharita ne kaha, "hamara desh, hamari jati kitani b di hai, janata hai? yah tujhe maian kaise samajhaooan? hamara desh ek ashchary hai. kitane hazaroan varshoan se vidhata ka ayojan is desh ko duniya mean sabase oopar pratishthit karane ka raha hai, desh-videsh ke kitane loangoan ne akar is ayojan mean yog diya hai, desh mean kitane mahapurushoan ne janm liya hai, kitane mahayuddh hue haian, kitane mahakavy yahaan uchcharit hue haian, kitani mahatapasya yahaan huee haian, is desh ne kitani dishaoan se dharm ko dekha hai aur jivan ki samasya ke kitane samadhan isane prastut kie haian! aisa hai hamara yah bharatavarsh! too ise bahut mahanh manana bhaee- kabhi bhoolakar bhi isaki avajna mat karana. aj tujhe jo kah rahi hooan vah ek din tujhe samajhana hi hoga-halaanki aj bhi maian yah nahian sochati ki too kuchh bhi nahian samajhata, kiantu yah bat tujhe yad rakhani hogi ki too ek bahut b de desh mean janma hai, aur sachche hriday se tujhe is desh par shradhda karani hai aur apana sara jivan lagakar is mahanh desh ka kam karana hai."

tho di der chup rahakar satish bola, "didi, tum kya karogi?"

sucharita ne kaha, "maian bhi yahi karooangi. too meri madad karega n?"

phauran satish ne chhati phulakar kaha, "haan, karooanga!"

jo batean sucharita ke man mean um d rahi thian unhean sunane vala ghar mean to koee nahian, isilie apane is chhote bhaee ko sammukh pakar usi par usaka sara sanchit aveg um d p da. usane jis bhasha mean aur jo kuchh kaha vah ek balak ke lie upayukt to nahian tha. lekin usase sucharita sankuchit nahian huee. apane man ki us uttejit sthiti mean usane yah man liya tha ki jo usane svayan samajha hai use poori tarah kah dalane se hi chhote-b de sab apani-apani shakti ke anusar jaise-taise usaki bat samajh hi leange. use doosare ke samajhane layaq banane ke lie usamean se kuchh bhi rok rakhane se usaki sachh‍chaee vikrit ho jaegi.

satish ki kalpana gatishil ho uthi. vah bola, "b de hokar mere pas jab bahut-bahut paisa hoga tab...."

sucharita ne kaha, "nahian-nahian-nahian! paise ki bat mat kar! bakhtyar, ham donoan ko paise ki avashyakata nahian hai- jo kam hamean karana hai usake lie bhakti chahie, pran chahie."

isi samay anandamee a pahuanchian. unhean dekhakar sucharita ki dhamaniyoan ka rakt mano nach utha. usane anandamee ko pranam kiya. satish ko thik se pranam karana nahian ata tha, jheanpate hue kisi tarah usane kam nibata liya.

satish ko god mean khianchakar anandamee ne usaka matha chooma aur sucharita se kaha, "tumhare sath kuchh salah karane aee hooan, beti- tumhare siva aur koee dikhata nahian. vinay ka kahana hai ki byah usake ghar mean hi hoga, lekin maianne kaha, vah kisi tarah nahian ho sakega- vah kya aisa b da navab hai ki hamare ghar ki l daki yoan sidhi usake ghar akar usase byah karegi? vah nahian hoga. maianne ek aur ghar tay kiya hai, vah vah tumhare ghar se adhik door nahian hai. maian abhi vahian se a rahi hooan. pareshababoo ko kahakar tum razi kar lena!"

sucharita ne kaha, "baba razi ho jaeange."

anandamee bolian, "usake bad beti tumhean bhi vahaan ana hoga. isi somavar ko to byah hi hai- inhian do-char dinoan mean hamean vahaan sab kuchh thik-thak kar lena hoga. samay ab adhik nahian hai. maian akeli hi sab kar sakati hooan, lekin tumhare shamil n hone se vinay ko b da du:kh hoga. vah apane muanh se tumase nahian kah pa raha hai, yahaan tak ki mere samane bhi usane tumhara nam nahian liya- par isi se maian samajh sakati hooan ki is bat ko lekar usake man mean b da klesh hai. tumhare alag rahane se nahian chalega beti, lalita ko bhi usase b da du:kh hoga."

kuchh vismi‍t hokar sucharita ne poochha, "maan, tum kya is byah mean yog de sakogi?"

anandamee ne kaha, "yah kya kah rahi ho, sucharita! yog dena kaisa? maian kya koee gair hooan ki sirph yog dene jaooangi? yah to mere vinay ka byah hai. yahaan to mujhako hi sab karana hoga. lekin maianne vinay se saf kah diya hai ki is byah mean maian usaki koee nahian hooan, maian kanya-paksh ki hooan. vah lalita se byah karane mere ghar a raha hai."

is shubh karm mean maan ke rahate hi lalita ko usaki maan ne chho d diya hai, isase anandamee ka hriday usake prati karuna se bhar utha tha. is karan vah is bat ki poori koshish kar rahi thi ki vivah ke samay anadar ya avajna ka koee chihn n dikhe. unaka yahi sankalp tha ki vahi lalita ki maan ka sthan lekar apane hathoan se use sajaeangi, var ke svagat ki vyavastha kareangi- nimantrit kie ge do-char jan yadi aean to unake svagat-satkar mean koee kami nahian hone deangi, aur us ne ghar ko aise saja deangi jisase ate hi vah lalita ko ek base hue ghar-sa lage.

sucharita ne poochha, "tumhean lekar is sabase koee hangama nahian uth kh da hoga?"

mahim ne ghar-ghar jo hay-toba macha rakhi thi usako yad karate hue anandamee ne kaha, "ho bhi sakata hai, par usase kya? tho da-bahut hangama to hota hi rahata hai, chupachap sah lene se apane-ap tho de din mean shaant bhi ho jata hai."

gora vivah mean shamil nahian ho raha hai, yah anandamee janati thi. sucharita yah janane ke lie utsuk thi ki usane anandamee ko rokane ki bhi cheshta ki ya nahian, lekin unase saph-saph nahian poochh saki. anandamee ne gora ka nam tak nahian liya.

harimohini ko khabar mil gee thi. kiantu vah aram se hath ka kam poora karake hi kamare mean aeean. ate hi bolian, "didi, achchhi to ho? aeean nahian, khabar bhi nahian li."

abhiyog ka uttar n dekar anandamee ne sidhe kaha, "tumhari bhanaji ko lene aee hooan."

unhoanne apana uddeshy spasht bata diya. aprasann chehara lie harimohini tho di der chup rahian, phir bolian, "maian to isamean nahian p d sakati."

anandamee ne kaha, "nahian bahan, maian tumhean ane ko nahian kahati. sucharita ke lie tum fikr n karo- maian to vahaan usake sath hi rahooangi."

harimohini ne kaha, "to maian spasht hi kahooan. radharani to sabase kahati haian ki vah hiandoo haian, ab unaki mati-gati bhi hiandoo dharm ki or palat rahi hai. to ab agar unhean hiandoo-samaj mean ana hai to savadhan hokar rahana hoga. yoan bhi to kitani batean utheangi, unhean to khair kisi tarah maian sanbhal looangi, lekin ab se kuchh din tak inhean bahut sanbhalakar paanv rakhana chahie. pahale hi log poochhate haian, itani umr ho gee, isaka byah kyoan nahian hua- use kisi prakar tal diya ja sakata hai- aisi bat to hai nahian ki prayatn karane se achchha patr nahian mal sakata- lekin vah agar phir apana purana ravaiyya apanaegi to maian kahaan-kahaan sanbhalooangi, tumhian batao. tum to svayan hiandoo ghar ki l daki ho, tum to sab samajhati ho, tum hi kis muanh se aisi bat kah sakati ho bhala? tumhari apani l daki hoti to kya use is vivah mean bhej sakatian, tumhean bhi to sochana p data ki l daki ka byah kaise hoga?"

vismit hokar anandamee ne sucharita ki or dekha. usaka chehara zor se tamatama utha. anandamee ne kaha, "maian koee zor dalana nahian chahati. sucharita ko agar aitaraj ho to maian.... "

harimohini bol uthian, "tum logoan ki bat mujhe to kuchh bhi samajh nahian ati. tumhara hi l daka to unhean hiandoo-mat ki or le jata raha hai, ab tum ekaek kaun-se asaman se tapak p dian?"

kahaan geean vah harimohini, jo pareshababoo ke ghar mean sada aparadhini-si sakuchaee rahati thi, kisi ko zara bhi anukool pakar jo b de agrah se usi ka avalanban karane lagati thian? aj vah apane adhikar ki raksha ke lie baghin-si uth kh di huee thi. yah shanka unhean hamesha chaukanna kie rahati thi ki unaki sucharita ko unase pho d lene ke lie charoan or anek virodh shaktiyaan kam kar rahi haian. kaun paksh mean hai, kaun vipaksh mean, yahi vah nahian samajh pa rahi thian aur isi karan unaka man ashvast nahian hota tha. pahale sare sanshay ko shoony dekhakar unhoanne vyakul man se jis devata ka ashray liya tha usaki pooja mean bhi unaka man ab sthir nahian ho pata tha. ek din unaki vritti ghor sansari thi, jab darun shok se unake man mean vairagy utpann hua tha tab unhoanne socha bhi nahian tha ki phir kisi din unamean rupe-paise, ghar-bar, atmiy-parijan ke lie zara bhi asakti ho sakegi. lekin aj hriday ka ghav tho da-sa bharate hi phir usane sammukh akar unake man ko khianchana aranbh kar diya tha-ek bar phir sari ashaean-akaankshaean apani purani bhookh lekar pahale-jaisi jag uthi thian jinaka kabhi vah tyag kar aee thi. usi ki or lautane ka veg itana ugr ho utha tha ki vah apane grihasthi ke dinoan se bhi zyada bechain ho uthi thian. itane tho de dinoan mean hi harimohini ka chehara, aauankhean, bhav-bhangi batachit aur vyavahar mean aisa akalpaniy parivartan dekhakar anandamee ekaek chakit ho uthian aur unaka sneh poorn komal hriday sucharita ke lie chiantit ho utha. yadi vah janatian ki bhitar-hi-bhitar koee sankat chhipa hua hai to vah sucharita ko bulane kabhi n atian. lekin ab sucharita ko kaise chot se bachaya ja sakata hai yahi unake lie ek samasya ho gee.

gora ko lakshy karake harimohini ne jo bat kahi us par sucharita sir jhukae chupachap uthakar kamare se chali gee.

anandamee ne kaha, "daro mat, bahan! maian pahale nahian janati thi. khair, aur us par zor nahian dalooangi. tum bhi use aur kuchh mat kaho! vah ab tak ek dhang se rahati aee hai, ab ekaek us par adhik dabav dalane se vah nahian sah sakegi."

harimohini ne kaha, "yah kya maian samajhati- itani umr kya yoan hi ho gee. vah tumhare samane hi kahe n? kya maianne use kabhi koee kasht diya hai. jo vah chahati hai vahi to karati hai, maian kabhi koee bat nahian kahati. maian to yahi kahati hooan, bhagavan use salamat rakhean, mere lie vahi bahut hai. mera jaisa bhagy hai, kab kya ho jaega, isi ke bhay se mujhe to niand nahian ati."

anandamee ke jane ke samay apane kamare se nikalakar sucharita ne unhean pranam kiya. anandamee ne karuna-bhare sneh se usake sir par hath rakhate hue kaha, "maian phir aooangi beti, tumh‍hean sab khabar de jaooangi- koee vighn nahian hoga, bhagavan ke arshivad se sab shubh hi sanpann hoga."

sucharita kuchh nahian boli.

doosare din sabere lachhamiya ko sath lekar anandamee ne ne ghar ki bahut dinoan ki jami huee dhool jha d-poanchhakar dho dalane ke lie zoroan se pani baha rahi thian tab ekaek sucharita a pahuanchi. jalchhi se anandamee ne jha doo pheankakar use chhati se laga liya.

isake bad dhone-poanchhane, saman idhar-udhar hatane aur sajane ka kam zoroan se hone laga. kharch ke lie pareshababoo ne sucharita ko yathochit rupaya de diya tha-isi pooanji ko dhh‍yan mean rakhakar donoan-bar-bar soochiyaan banakar usamean kat-chhaant karane lag geean.

tho di der bad hi svayan pareshababoo lalita ko sath lekar a pahuanche. lalita ke lie apana ghar asahy ho utha. koee usase bat karane ka sahas nahian karata tha, kiantu sabaki chuppi hi rah-rahakar use pi da pahuanchati thi. aant mean varadasuandari ke prati sahanubhooti prakat karane ke lie jab unake bandhu-baandhavoan ke jhuand ghar par ane lage, tab pareshababoo ne lalita ko vahaan se hata le jana hi uchit samajha. jate samay lalita varadasuandari ko pranam karane gee, vah muanh phekarakar baithi rahian or usake chale jane par aauansoo bahane lagian. lalita ke vivah ke bare mean lavany aur lila bhi man-hi-man kafi utsuk thian- unhean kisi tarah anumati mil sakati to kshan-bhar bhi deri kie bina ve dau di atian. lekin lalita jab vida lekar jane lagi tab donoan brahm-parivar ka kartavy smaran karake ganbhir chehara banae rahian. dayodhi par lalita ne kshan-bhar ke lie sudhir ko bhi dekha, lekin usake pichhe hi unake samaj ke kuchh bujurg bhi the, isalie vah usase koee bat n kar paee. ga di par savar hokar usane dekha, sit par ek kone mean kagaz mean lipata hua kuchh rakha tha. usane kholakar dekha, jarman silvar ka ek phooladan tha, jis par aangrezi mean khuda hua tha 'anandit danpati ko bhagavan ashirvad dean' aur ek kard par sudhir ke nam par pahala akshar-matr likha usake sath rakha hua tha. lalita ne man k da karake pran kiya tha ki aauankhoan mean aauansoo nahian ane degi, kiantu vida ke kshan mean apane baly-bandhu ka yah ekamatr snehopahar hath mean lie-lie usaki aauankhoan se jhar-jhar aauansoo jharane lage. pareshababoo aauankhean mooandakar chupachap baithe rahe.

"ao, ao beti", kahati huee anandamee lalita ko donoan hathoan se pak dakar kamare mean khianch laeean, jaise ab tak ve usi ki rah dekh rahi thian.

sucharita ko bulakar pareshababoo ne kaha, "lalita hamare ghar se ekabaragi vida lekar aee hai." unaka svar kaanp utha.

pareshababoo ka hath pak date hue sucharita ne kaha, "baba, yahaan use sneh ki koee kami nahian hogi." jab pareshababoo jane ko kh de hue tab anandamee ne mathe par aauanchal khianchakar unake samane akar unhean namaskar kiya. h dab dakar pareshababoo ne pratinamaskar kiya to anandamee ne kaha, "lalita ki or se ap kisi prakar ki fikr n karean. jisake hath use ap sauanp rahe haian usase use kabhi koee kasht nahian hoga. aur bhagavan ne itane dinoan bad meri bhi ek manokamana poori kar di- meri koee beti nahian thi, so mujhe mil gee. vinay ki bahoo ane se meri kanya ki kami door ho jaegi, isaki as lagae maian bahut dinoan se baithi thi- bhagavan ne meri yah kamana jitani der se poori ki utani hi achchhi beti mujhe di, aur aise adbhut dhang se di ki maian kabhi soch bhi nahian sakati thi ki mera itana b da saubhagy hoga."

lalita ke vivah ki halachak aranbh hone ke samay se pareshababoo ke man ko pahali bar sansar mean kahian ek kinara dikha aur atmik saanth‍vana mili.

jel se ane ke bad sare din gora ke pas itani bhi d lagi rahati thi ki unaki stuti, prashansa aur charcha-alochana ki ajasr dhara mean gora ka dam ghutane laga aur usake lie ghar mean rahana mushkil ho gayaan isalie gora ne phir pahale ki tarah gaanvoan ka bhraman aranbh kar diya.

kuchh khakar sabere hi vah ghar se nikal jata aur der rat ko lautata. rel par savar hokar kalakatta ke as-pas ke kisi steshan par utarakar vah dehat mean ghoomata rahata. vahaan bhi kumhar, teli-kevat adi muhalloan mean atithy grahan karata. yah vishalakay gaur-varn brahman kyoan unake gharoan mean yoan bhatakata hai, unaka du:kh-sukh poochhata hai, yah unaki samajh mean nahian ata tha, yahaan tak ki unake man mean tarah-tarah ke sandeh bhi uthate the. lekin gora unake sare sankoch-sandeh ki upeksha karake unake bich vicharan karata. bich-bich mean kuchh khari-khoti bhi use sunana p d jatian, lekin usase bhi vah hatotsahit n hota.

jyoan-jyoan in logoan ke bhitar vah pravesh pata gaya tyoan-tyoan ek hi bat unake man mean chakkar katane lagi. usane dekha, in dehatoan mean samaj ke bandhan padhe-likhe bhadr samaj se kahian adhik sakht haian. har ghar ke khan-pan, uthane-baithane aur har kam-kaj par samaj ki nirankush drishti jaise din-rat nigarani rakhati thian. lokachar par har kisi ka sahaj vishvas tha aur usake bare mean kisi ke man mean kabhi koee prashn hi nahian uthata tha. lekin samaj ke bandhan aur achar-nishtha se kisi ko karm-kshetr mean koee yog milata bhi nahian dikh p data tha. in logoan jaisa darapok, asahay, apana bhala-bura sochane mean asamarth koee aur jiv bhi duniya mean kahian ho sakata, hai, isamean gora ko sandeh hota tha. ye log bhi duniya mean kahian ho sakate haian, isamean gora ko sandeh hota tha. ye log jaise lakir pitate hue chalane ke alava koee mangal hi nahian pahachanate the, n samajhane par samajhate hi the. unake lie dand aur vargavad dvara bandhe rahana hi sabase b di bat thi, kya-kya unhean nahian karana hai aur karane par usake lie kaisa dand milega, isi ke vichar ne jaise unaki prakriti ko sir se pair tak ek jal mean phaans rakha tha- lekin yah jal raja ke bandhan ka nahian tha; balki mahajan ka bandhan tha, rrin ka bandhan tha. in logoan mean aisa koee sootr nahian tha jo sukh-du:kh aur vipatti mean unhean kandhe-se-kandha milakar kh da kar sake. gora yah sune bina n rah saka ki isi achar ke astr se manav, manav ka rakt choosakar nishthurata se usaka sab kuchh chhine le raha tha. usane bar-bar lakshy kiya ki samajik karm mean koee kisi par zara bhi daya nahian karata. ek vyakti ka bap bahut lanbi bimari se kasht bhog raha tha, bap ke ilaj aur patthy ki vyavastha mean bechare ka sab kuchh lut chuka tha, par isake lie usaki kisi ne koee madad nahian ki- ulate gaanv ke logoan ne nirnay kiya ki bap ki lanbi bimari kisi ajnan pap ka phal thi jisake lie bete ko prayashchit karana hoga. us abhage ki daridrata aur becharagi kisi se chhipi n thi, kiantu phir bhi use kshama n mil saki. sabhi karmoan mean yahi halat thi. jaise gaanv ke lie dakaiti ki apeksha pulis ki jaanch-p datal adhik b di durghatana thi, vaise hi maan-bap ki mrityu ki apeksha maan-bap shradhd hi santan ke lie adhik b da durbhagy tha. ay athava samarthy ki kami ki bat sunane ko koee razi nahian tha- jaise bhi ho samaj ki hridayahin maang aksharash: poori karani hogi. vivah ke avasar par l daki ke pita ka bhar du:sah ho uthe, usake lie var-paksh dvara har tarah ki kucheshta ki jati thi aur abhage ko kahian se madad nahian milati thi. gora ne dekha, yah samaj manushy ko zaroorat p dane par madad nahian deta tha, vipatti ane par sahara nahian deta tha, sirph dand dekar use nicha dikhakar aur daridr hi karata tha.

bhadr samaj ke bich rahate hue gora is bat ko bhool gaya tha, kyoanki sabake mangal ke lie ek hokar kh de hone ki prerana us samaj mean bahar se milati rahati thi. is samaj mean ek jagah mil sakane ke lie tarah tarah ke udyog hote dikhate rahate the. inamean vicharaniy bat yahi thi ki ye sare udyog kahian isilie viphal n ho jaean ki sabhi-ek doosare ki nakal kar rahe .

lekin dehat mean, bahar ki shaktiyoan ka dabav jahaan utana nahian p d raha tha, vahaan ki nishcheshtata mean hi gora ne apane desh ki sabase b di durbalata ka bilh‍kul nagn roop dekha. jo dharm seva ke roop mean, prem ke roop mean, karuna ke roop mean, atm-tyag ke roop mean aur manav ke prati shradhda ke roop mean sabako shakti deta hai, pran deta hai, sabaka mangal karata hai, vah vahaan kahian nahian dikhata tha- aur jo achar keval rekhaean khianchata hai, vibhajan karata hai, kasht deta hai, budhdi ki bhi koee paravah nahian karata aur prem ko bhi door hi rakhata hai, vahi chalate-phirate, uthate-baithate, har kisi ke har kam mean a danga lagata rahata hai. moorkhata-bhari roodhivadita ke bhayanak dushparinam gora ko in dehatoan mean kafi spasht aur vibhinn roopoan mean dikhane lage. vah dekhane laga ki manushy ke svasthy, jnan, dharm-budhdi karm, sabhi par itani or se itane prakar ka akraman ho raha hai ki usake lie apane ko bhavukata ke iandrajal mean bhulae rakhana asanbhav ho gaya hai.

aranbh mean hi gora ne dekha ki gaanv ki nich jatiyoan mean striyoan ki sankhya ki kami ke karan ya any kisi bhi karan se ek bahut b di rakam dekar hi vivah ke lie l daki milati thi. anek purushoan ko ajivan aur anekoan ko b di umr tak avivahit rah jana p data tha. udhar vidhava-vivah ka k da nishedh tha. isase samaj ka svasthy ghar-ghar mean dooshit ho raha tha aur isase hone vali badanami aur anisht ko har koee mahasoos bhi karata tha. sabhi hamesha ke lie is buraee ko sahate chalane ke lie vivash the, isaka ilaj ya pratikar karane ki koshish koee nahian kar raha tha. jo gora shikshit samaj mean achar ke bandhan ko kahian shithil hone dena nahian chahata tha, vahi yahaan achar ka virodh karane laga. usane inake purohitoan ko bhi mana liya lekin samaj ke logoan ko kisi tarah razi n kar saka- balki ve gora par big d uthe. unhoanne kaha, "thik hai, jab-brahman vidhava-vivah karane lageange tab ham bhi man leange."

unake naraj hone ka mukhy karan yahi tha ki ve samajhate the gora unhean nimn-jat ka samajhakar unaki avajna kar raha hai, aur yahi prachar karane aya hai ki un jaise nich logoan ke lie hin achar hi upayukt hai.

gora ne dehatoan mean ghoomate hue yah bhi dekha ki musalamano mean aisi chiz thi jisake karan ve ek ho sakate the. gora ne lakshy kiya tha ki gaanv par koee vipatti ane par musalaman log jis tarah kandhe-se-kandha milakar kh de hote the, hiandoo nahian ho pate the. bar-bar gora sochata tha, in donoan nikatatam p dosi samajoan ke bich itana b da aantar kyoan maujood hai? is prashn ka jo uttar usake man mean paida hota use vah kisi tarah manana nahian chahata tha. yah manane mean us b da kasht ho raha tha ki musalaman keval achar se nahian dharm se ek haian. ek taraph jahaan achar ke bandhanoan ne unake sare karm ko vyarth baandhakar nahian rakha tha vahaan doosari taraph dharm ka bandhan unamean ghanishth ekata banae rakhata tha. un sabane milakar ek aisi riti ko apanaya tha jo keval 'na' nahian thi, 'haan' bhi thi, jo rrinatmak nahian thi, dhanatmak thi, jisake lie manushy ek hi pukar par pal-bhar mean ek pankti mean kh de hokar anayas pran tak nyauchhavar kar sakate the.

gora jab bhadr samaj mean lekh likhata tha, vyakhyan deta tha, dalil deta tha, tab vah doosaroan ko samajhane ke lie apane path par lane ke lie svabhavat: apani batoan ko kalpana ke manohar rangoan se rang deta tha. jo sthool tha use vah sookshm vyakhyaoan se dhank deta tha, jo nira anavashyak bhagnavashesh-matr tha use bhi vah chamak se madhakar akarshak banakar dikhata tha. desh ke logoan ka ek gut desh se vimukh tha- desh ki har bat use ghatiya dikhati thi isilie gora desh ke prati prabal anurag se bharakar svadesh ko is mamatvahin drishti se bachane ke lie, desh ki har bat ujjval avaran se dhank dene ki cheshta karata raha tha. vah isi ka abhyast ho gaya tha. yah bat nahian thi ki gora keval vakil ki bhaanti yah sidhd karana chahata tha ki usake paksh ka sabhi kuchh achchha hai, ya ki jo dosh dikhata hai vah bhi ek prakar ke gun hi hai. is par gora sachche man se vishvas karata tha. bilh‍kul asanbhav muddoan par bhi vah apane is vishvas ko hek di ke sath jhande ki tarah virodhiyoan ke samane phaharata hua kh da ho jata tha. usaki keval ek rat thi ki pahale svadesh ke prati svadeshavasiyoan ki shradhda lauta lani hogi, aur sab batean pichhe hoangi.

kiantu vah jab dehatoan mean ata tab usake samane koee shrota nahian hota tha, n sidhd karane ko kuchh hota tha, n virodh paksh ki avajna ko nicha dikhane ke lie shakti jutane ka koee prayojan hota tha. isalie saty ko vahaan kisi tarah ke avaran ke bhitar se dekhane ki avashyakata nahian thi. desh ke prati usake prem ki prabalata hi usaki saty drishti ko asadharan roop se tikshn bana deti thi.

tasar ka kot pahane, kamar mean chadar lapete, hath mean kainvas ka jhola lie svayan kailash ne akar harimohini ko pranam kiya. umr koee paitis ke lagabhag, thigana aur gatha hua sharir, rookha aur bhari chehara, kee dinoan se badhi huee dadhi ghas ke aankuroan-si jhalak rahi thi.

sasural ke atmiy ko bahut din ke bad dekhakar harimohini prasann ho uthian. "are devar ae haian! baitho, baitho!" kahate-kahate jaldi se unhoanne chataee bichha hi di. phir poochha, "hath-paanv dhooge?"

kailash ne kaha, "nahian, koee zaroorat nahian hai. achchha, tumhara svasthy to achchha hi dikh p data hai."

mano svasthy achchha hone ka apaman ki bat manakar harimohini bolian, 'kahaan achchha hai!" aur bimariyoan ki soochi ginati huee bolian, "thkasi tarah piand chhoote to chain mile-maut bhi to nahian ati."

jivan ke prati aisi upeksha par kailash ne apani apatti prakat ki. b de bhaee nahian rahe phir bhi un sabako harimohini ke rahane se kitana b da sahara hai, isake praman svaroop usane kaha, "yah kyoan nahian dekhatian ki tum ho tabhi to kalakatta ana ho saka; kahian kh de hone ki jagah to mili."

ghar ke sab logoan aur gaanv-biradari ke samachar poore byauroan ke sath sunakar sahasa kailash ne charoan or nazar dalakar poochha, "to yah ghar usi ka hai?"

harimohini ne kaha, "haan."

kailash bola, "ghar to pakka hai!"

usaka utsah badhane ke lie harimohini ne kaha, "pakka to hai hi. sab pakka hai."

kailash ne nirikshan karake yah dekh liya ki sab shahatir mazaboot sal ki lak di ke haian aur khi dakiyaan-daravaze bhi am ki lak di ke nahian haian. divarean dedh eeant ki haian ya do eeant ki yah bhi usaki nazar se nahian chhupa. oopar-niche kul milakar kitane kamare haian, yah bhi usane poochhakar jan liya. kul milakar yahi jan p da ki sari bat se vah kafi santusht hua hai. makan banane mean kitana kharch aya hoga, isaka anuman karana usake lie kathin tha, kyoanki is tarah ke saman aur masale ki kimat usaki jani huee nahian thi. bahut sochakar pair-par-pair hilate-hilate akhir mean usane man-hi-man kaha-adhik nahian to das-pandrah hazar to laga hi hoga. lekin prakatat: kuchh kam karake bola, "kya ray hai bhabhi, sat-ath hazar rupaya to laga hoga.... ?"

kailash ke ganvarapan par harimohini ne acharaj prakat karate hue kaha, "kya kahate ho devar, sat-ath hazar kya hota hai! bis hazar se ek paisa kam nahian laga hoga."

kailas b de manoyog se chupachap charoan or ki chizo ka nirikshan karane laga. yah sochakar use apane par b da santosh hua ki abhi zara-sa sammatisoochak sir hila dene se hi sal ki lak di ke shahatiroan aur sagaun ke khi daki-daravazoan samet is pakki imarat ka ekamatr svami bana ja sakata hai. usane poochha, "aur sab to hua, lekin l daki?"

jaldi se harimohini ne kaha, "usaki booa ke ghar se achanak usaka bulava aya tha, vahian gee hai- do-char din ki der ho sakati hai."

kailash bola, "tab phir dekhane ka kaise hoga? mera to ek mukadama bhi hai, kal hi jana hoga."

harimohini bolian, "abhi mukadama rahane do! yahaan ka kam nibatae bina tum nahian ja sakate!"

tho di soch-vichar karake kailash ne aant mean nishchay kiya, bahut hoga to yahi n ki mukadamean mean ekatarapha digri ho jaegi, mamala phiss ho jaega? vah hota rahe- usaki kshati-poorti ka poora prabandh yahaan par hai, yah usane ek bar phir charoan or nazar dau dakar nishchay kar liya. sahasa usane dekha, harimohini ke pooja-grih ke ek kone mean tho da-sa pani jama tha; is kamare mean pani ki nikasi ke lie nali nahian thi, phir bhi harimohini hamesha use dhoti-poanchhati rahati thi, isalie kone mean zara-sa pani aksar rah jata tha. vyast bhav se kailash ne kaha, "bhabhi, yah to thik nahian hai."

harimohini ne poochha, "kyoan, kya bat huee?"

kailash bola, "vah jo vahaan par pani jama ho raha hai, vah hargij nahian hona chahie."

harimohini ne kaha, "lekin kya karooan, devar!"

"n, n, yah nahian chalega. isase to pharsh sil jaega. isi se kahe deta hooan bhabhi, is kamare mean pani-vani girane se nahian chalega."

harimohini chup rah gee tab kailash ne kanya ke roop ke prati jijnasa ki.

harimohini ne kaha, "vah to dekhakar hi janogi. abhi to keval itana hi kah sakati hooan ki tum logoan ke ghar mean aisi suandar bahoo aj tak nahian aee."

kailash kah utha, hamari manjhali bhabhi?"

harimohini kah uthian, "kahaan yah aur kahaan vah! tumhari manjhali bhabhi kya usake samane thahar sakati haian!"

sasural mean manjhali bhabhi suandarata ka adarsh mani jaean, yah harimohini ko vishesh achchha nahian laga, isilie unhoanne yah aur jo d diya- "tum log chahe jo kaho, bhaiya, mujhe to manjhali bahoo se chhoti bahoo kahian zyada pasand hai."

kailash ne manjhali bahoo aur chhoti bahoo ke roop ki tulana mean koee utsah nahian dikhaya. man-hi-man vah kisi ek adrishy moorti ki phool ki pankhu di-si aauankhoan, baansuri-si nasika aur kamar tak jhoolate hue keshoan ki kalpana mean apane ko bharama raha tha.

harimohini ne dekha, is paksh ki avastha to poori tarah ashajanak hai. yahaan tak ki unhoanne samajh liya, jo b da samajik dosh kanya mean hai. vah bhi shayad koee aisa b da vighn n samajha jaega.