गोरा उपन्यास भाग-8

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

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gulab ke phooloan ka yahaan tho da-sa itihas bata dean.

gora to rat ko pareshababoo ke ghar chala aya, par majistret ke ghar abhinay mean bhag lene ki bat ke lie vinay ko kasht bhogana p da.

lalita ke man mean us abhinay ke lie koee utsah raha ho, aisa nahian tha, balki aisi batean use bilh‍kul napansad thian. lekin vinay ko kisi tarah is abhinay ke lie pak dava pane ki mano jaise zid than li thi. jo bhi kam gora ki ray ke virudhd ho, vahi vinay se karavana vah chah rahi thi. vinay gora ka aandhabhakt hai, yah bat lalita ko kyoan itani khal rahi thi, yah vah svayan bhi nahian samajh pa rahi thi, kiantu use aisa lag raha tha ki jaise bhi ho, sab bandhan katakar vinay ko mukt kar lene se hi vah chain ki saans le sakegi.

lalita ne choti jhulate hue sir hilakar kaha, "kyoan mahashay, abhinay mean buraee kya hai?"

vinay ne kaha, "abhinay avagun chahe n bhi ho kiantu, majistret ke ghar abhinay karane jana mere man ko thik nahian lagata."

lalita, "ap apane man ki bat kah rahe haian ya aur kisi ke?"

vinay, " aur kisi ke man ki bat kahane ka dayitv mujh par nahian hai, aur yah kam hai bhi mushkil. ap chahe mat manie, maian hamesha apane man ki bat hi kahata hooan- kabhi apane shabdoan mean, kabhi shayad aur kisi ke."

is bat ka lalita ne koee uttar nahian diya, keval tanik-si muskara di. lekin tho di der bad boli, "jan p data hai, apake dost gora baboo samajhate haian ki majistret ka nimantran n manana hi bahut b di bahaduri ka kam hai aur isi prakar aangrezoan se l daee l di jaegi."

uttejit hokar vinay ne kaha, "mere dost aisa shayad n bhi samajhate hoan, lekin maian samajhata hooan. l daee nahian to aur kya hai? jo adami hamean tuchchh samajhata hai- samajhata hai ki kanishthi ke ishare se bulae jane se hi ham kritarth ho jaeange, usaki is upeksha bhavana ke sath upeksha se hi l daee n karean to atm-samman kaise bachega?"

aant mean vinay ne kaha, "dekhie, ap bahas kyoan karati haian- ap yah kyoan nahian kahatian ki 'meri ichchha hai ki ap abhinay mean bhag lean' usase mujhe apaki bat rakhane ke lie apani ray ka balidan karane ka sukh to milega."

lalita ne kaha, "vah, maian aisa kyoan kahane lagi! sachamuch hi apaki yadi koee ray ho to use ap mare anurodh par kyoan chho d deange? lekin pahale vah sachamuch apaki ray to ho."

vinay ne kaha, "achchha, yahi sahi. meri sachamuch koee ray n sahi. apaka anurodh bhi n sahi, apaki dalil se harakar hi maian abhinay mean bhag lene ko razi ho gaya- yah hi sahi."

tabhi varadasuandari ke kamare mean ane par vinay ne uthakar unase kaha, "abhinay ki taiyari ke lie mujhe kya karana hoga, bata dijiega."

garv se varadasuandari ne kaha, "usaki apako fikr nahian karani hogi, ham ap ko achchhi tarah taiyar kar deangi. sirph abhyas ke lie apako roz niyam se ana hoga."

vinay ne kaha, "achchhi bat hai. to ab aj chalooan."

varadasuandari bolian, "abhi kaise, khana khakar jana."

vinay ne kaha, "aj rahane dijie."

varadasuandari ne kaha, "nahian, nahian, aisa nahian ho sakata."

khana vinay ne vahian khaya, lekin aur dinoan ki-si svabhavik praphullata usamean n thi. sucharita bhi n jane kaisi anamani hokar chup thi. jab lalita se vinay ka jhag da ho raha tha tab vah baramade mean tahalati rahi thi. rat ko batachit kuchh jamian nahian.

chalate samay lalita ka chehara dekhakar vinay ne kaha "maianne har bhi man li, tab bhi apako prasann n kar saka."

asani se lalita roti nahian, kiantu aj n jane kya hua ki usaki aauankhoan se aauansoo phoot p dana chah rahe haian. n jane kyoan aj vah vinay baboo ko bar-bar aise koanch rahi hai aur svayan bhi kasht pa rahi hai.

vinay jab tak abhinay mean bhag lene ko razi nahian ho raha tha, tab tak lalita ko use manane ki zid chadhati ja rahi thi. lekin vinay ke razi hote hi usaka sara utsah mar gaya. bhag n lene ke paksh mean jitane tark the usake man mean prabal ho uthe. tab usaka man dagdh hokar kahane laga- keval mera anurodh rakhane ke lie vinay baboo ka yooan razi hona thik nahian hua. anurodh-kyoan rakheange anurodh vah samajhate haian, mera anurodh rakhakar unhoanne mujh par ehasan kiya hai- unake itane-se ehasan ke lie hi jaise maian mari ja rahi hooan.

lekin ab aise kudhane se kya fayada! sachamuch hi usane vinay ko abhinay mean shamil karane ke lie itana zor lagaya tha. shishtachar vash vinay ne usaki yah zid man li. is par gussa karake bhi kya fayada? is bat se lalita ko apane oopar itani ghrina aur lajja hone lagi jo svabhavataya to itani bat ke lie nahian honi chahie thi. aur din man chanchal hone par vah sucharita ke pas jati thi, aj nahian gee; kyoanki vah svayan nahian samajh saki ki usaka hriday bhedakar kyoan usaki aauankhoan se aauansoo phoote p d rahe the.

agale din subah hi sudhir ne guladasta lakar lavany ko diya tha. us guladaste mean ek tahani par do adhakhile gulab the. unhean lalita ne guladaste se nikal liya. lavany ne poochha "yah kya kar rahi hai?"

lalita ne kaha, "guladaste ke itane sab ghatiya phool-pattoan ke bich achchhe phool bandhe dekhakar mujhe takaliph hoti hai. aise sab chizoan ko rassi se zabaradasti ek sath baandh dena jangalipan hai."

lalita ne yah kahakar sab phool khol die aur unhean alag-alag karake kamare mean jahaan-tahaan saja diya! keval dono adhakhile gulab utha le gee. satish ne dau date hue akar poochha, "didi, phool kahaan se mile?"

usaki bat ka lalita ne koee uttar n dekar kaha, "aj apane dost ke ghar nahian jaega?"

satish tab tak vinay ki bat nahian soch raha tha, lekin ab usaka zikr hote hi uchhalakar bola, "jaooanga." kahate-kahate vah phauran jane ke lie utavala ho utha.

use pak dakar lalita ne poochha, "vahaan jakar too kya karata hai?"

satish ne sankshep mean kaha, "batean karata hooan."

lalita ne poochha, "vah tujhe itani tasvirean dete haian, too bhi unhean kuchh kyoan nahian deta?"

satish ke lie vinay aangrezi patr-patrikaoan se tarah-tarah ki tasvirean katakar rakhata tha. ek kapi banakar satish ne usamean yah tasvirean chipakakar rakhana shuroo kar diya tha. is tarah kapi bhar dene ka use aisa nasha-sa chadh gaya tha ki koee achchhi pustak dekhane par usamean se tasvirean kat lene ko usaka man chhatapata uthata tha. isi lalach ke karan kee bar use apani didi se phatakar khani p d gee hai.

pratidan ka bhi samaj mean ek uttaradayitv hota hai, yah bat aj sahasa samane ane par satish bahut chiantit ho utha. apane toote tin ke dibbe mean usane jo kuchh apani niji sanpatti sahej rakhi hai unamean se kisi par se bhi vah apani asakti ke lagav ko asani se n hata sakega. satish ka udvign chehara dekhakar hansakar lalita ne usake gal mean chutaki katate hue kaha, "bas, rahane de, itana ganbhir hone ki zaroorat nahian hai. chal, ye do gulab ke phool hi unhean de ana."

itani jaldi samasya ka nidan hota dekhakar vah khil utha aur phool lekar tatkal apane dost ka rrin-mochan karane chal p da.

raste mean hi vinay se usaki bheant ho gee. door se hi, "vinay baboo, vinay baboo" pukarata hua vah vinay ke pas pahuancha aur kurte ki ot mean phool chhipae hue bola, "bataie, maian apake lie kya laya hooan?"

vinay se har manavakar usane gulab nikale. vinay ne kaha, "vah, kitane suandar! lekin satish baboo, yah apaki apani vastu to nahian hai. chori ka mal lekar aant mean kahian pulis ke chakkar mean to p dana hoga?"

in do gulaboan ko thik apani vastu kaha ja sakata hai ya nahian, is bare mean satish tho di der asamanjas mean raha. phir kuchh sochakar bola, "nahian, vah! lalita dadi ne svayan mujhe die haian apako dene ke lie!"

yah bat yahian samapt ho gee aur tisare pahar unake ghar jane ka ashvasan dekar vinay ne satish ko vida kar diya.

lalita ki kal rat ki batoan se chot khakar vinay usaki pi da bhool nahian saka tha. vinay ke sath kisi ka kabhi jhag da nahian hota, isilie aisi tikhi chot ki apeksha vah kisi se nahian karata. ab tak lalita ko vah sucharita ki anuvarttini ke roop mean hi dekhata aya tha. lekin kuchh din se lalita ko lekar usaki avastha vaisi hi ho rahi thi jaisi us hathi ki jo barabar aankush ka aghat khate rahane mean mahavat ko bhoolane ka mauqa hi nahian pata. lalita ko kaise tho da-sa prasann karake shaanti paee ja sakati hai, yahi jaise vinay ki mukhy chianta ban gee thi. sandhh‍ya ko ghar lautakar lalita ki tikhi vyangy-bhari batean ek-ek karake usake man mean gooanj uthati thian aur usaki niand ko bhaga deti thi. maian gora ki chhaya matr hooan mera apana kuchh nahian hai. lalita yah kahakar meri avajna karati hai, lekin yah bat bilh‍kul jhooth hai. man-hi-man isake virudhd vah anek yuktiyaan juta leta; lekin phir bhi ve sab usake kisi kam n atian, kyoanki lalita ne aisa spasht akshep to kabhi us par lagaya nahian- is bare mean bahas karane ka to mauqa hi use kabhi nahian mila. usake pas javab mean kahane ke lie itani batean thian ki unaka prayog n kar sakane se usaka kshobh aur badhata jata tha. aant mean kal rat ko jab har manakar bhi usane lalita ka chehara prasann n dekha tab ghar akar vah bahut bechain ho gaya. man-hi-man vah poochhane laga- sachamuch kya maian itani avajna ka patr hooan?

isalie satish se jab usane suna ki lalita ne satish ke hath usake lie do gulab ke phool bheje haian tab use gahara ullas hua. usane socha, abhinay mean bhag lene ke lie razi ho jane par lalita ne sandhi ke pratik ke roop mean hi use ye do gulab bheje haian. pahale usane socha, phool ghar rakh aooan. phir usaka man hua, nahian, shaanti ke in phooloan ko maan ke pairoan par chadhakar pavitr kar laooan.

us din jab tisare pahar vinay pareshababoo ke ghar pahuancha tab satish lalita ke pas baitha apani skool ki padhaee dohara raha tha. vinay ne lalita se kaha, "lal rang to l daee ka pratik hota hai, isalie sandhi ke phool saphed hone chahe the."

lalita ne bat n samajhakar vinay ke chehare ki or dekha. tab vinay ne chadar ki ot se nikalakar saphed kaner ka ek guchchha lalita ke samane rakhate hue kaha, "apake donoan phool kitane bhi suandar rahe hoan unamean krodh ke rang ki jhalak thi hi, mere ye phool suandarata mean unake pas nahian phatakate, kiantu shaanti ke shubhr rang mean namratapoorvak apake samane prastut hai."

kanoan tak lal hote hue lalita kaha, "mere phool inhean ap kaise kahate haian?"

kuchh apratibh hate hue vinay ne ha, "tab to maian galat samajha. satish baboo, kisake phool apane kisako de die?'

satish ne zor se kaha, "vah, lalita didi ne to dene ko kaha tha."

vinay, "kise dene ko kaha tha?"

satish, "apako."

aur bhi lal hokar uthate hue lalita ne satish ki pith par thapp d marate hue kaha, "tere-jaisa budhdoo bhi aur nahian dekha, vinay baboo ki tasviroan ke badale unhean phool dena too nahian chahata tha?"

hatabudhdi hokar satish ne kaha, "haan, to! lekin tumhian ne mujhe dene ko nahian kaha kya?"

satish ke sath jhag da karane jakar lalita aur bhi ulajhan mean p d gee thi. vinay ne samajh liya ki phool lalita ne bhi bheje the, lekin vah aprakat hi rahana chahati thi. usane kaha, "khair, apake phooloan ka dava to maian chho d hi deta hooan. phir bhi mere in phooloan ke bare mean to koee bhool nahian hai. hamare vivad ke nibatare ke shubh upalakshy mean ye kuchh phool.... "

sir hilakar lalita ne kaha, "hamara vivad hi kaun-sa hai, aur usaka nibatara bhi kaisa?"

vinay ne kaha, "to shuroo se aant tak sab maya hai? vivad bhi jhooth, phool bhi jhooth, nibatara bhi jhooth! sip dekhakar chaandi ka bhram hua ho, yah nahian; sip hi bhram tha! tab vah jo majistret sahab ke yahaan abhinay karane ki ek bat suni thi, vah bhi kya.... ?"

shighrata se lalita ne kaha, "ji nahian, vah jhooth nahian hai. lekin use lekar jhag da kaisa? ap yah kyoan sochate haian ki usake lie apako razi karane ke lie maian koee l daee chhe d rahi thi, ya ki apake razi hone se maian kritarth huee? abhinay karana agar apako thik maloom nahian hota hai, to kisi ki bhi bat manakar ap kyoan razi hoan?"

lalita yah kahati huee mere kamare se chali gee. sabhi kuchh ulta hi ghatit hua. aj lalita ne tay kar rakha tha ki vah vinay ke age apani bhool svikar karegi, aur usase yahi anurodh karegi ki vah abhinay mean bhag n le, lekin bat jis dhang se chali aur jidhar vah mu d gee, usaka natija thik ulta hua. vinay ne samajha tha ki usane jo itane din tak abhinay ke bare mean virodh zahir kiya tha usi ka gussa ab tak lalita ke man mean rah gaya hai. usane sirph oopar se har man li hai, kiantu man mean usaka virodh bana hua hai, isi bat ko lekar lalita ka kshobh door nahian ho raha hai. is sare prakaran se lalita ko itani pi da pahuanchi hai, yah sochakar vinay du:khi ho utha. usane man-hi-man nishchay kiya ki is bat ko lekar vah hansi mean bhi koee zikr nahian karega aur aisi nishtha aur kushalata se yah kam sanpann karega ki koee us par kam ke prati udasinata ka arop n laga sake.

sabare se hi sucharita apane sone ke kamare mean akeli baithakar 'khrist ka anukaran' namak aangrezi dharm-granth padhane ka prayatn kar rahi thi. aj usane apane doosare niyamit kamoan mean bhi yog nahian diya. bichabich mean kitab se man uchat jane se usake akshar usake samane dhuandhale p d jate the. agale hi kshan apane oopar vah krodhit hokar aur bhi veg se apane chitt ko pustak mean lagane lagati thi, har manana kisi tarah nahian chahati thi.

achanak door svar se use laga, vinay baboo ae haian. chauankakar usane pustak rakh di, kshubdh usaka man bahar ke kamare mean jane ke lie chhatapata utha. phir apani is akulata par bhi hokar kursi par baithakar usane kitab utha li. kahian phir koee avaz n sunaee de, isalie apane donoan kan band karake vah padhane ka prayatn karane lagi.

isi samay kamare mean lalita aee. usake chehare ki or dekhakar sucharita boli, 'ari tujhe kya hua hai?"

b de zor se sir hilakar lalita ne kaha, "kuchh nahian."

sucharita ne kaha, "vinay baboo ae haian. vah shayad tumase bat karana chahate haian."

aur bhi koee vinay baboo ke sath aya hai ya nahian, sucharita yah prashn aj kisi tarah nahian poochh saki. aur koee aya hai ya nahian, sucharita yah prashn aj kisi tarah nahian poochh saki. aur koee aya hota to nishchay hi lalita usaka bhi ullekh karati, kiantu phir bhi man sanshay rahit n ho saka. aur adhik apane ko bechain karane ki koshish‍ n karake ghar ae atithi ke prati kartavy ka dhh‍yan karake vah bahar ke kamare ki taraph chal di. lalita se usane poochha, "too nahian jaegi?"

kuchh adhir hokar lalita ne kaha, "tum jao n, maian pichhe aooangi."

sucharita ne bahar vale kamare mean jakar dekha, vinay satish se bat kar raha tha.

sucharita ne kaha, "baba bahar ge haian, abhi a jaeange. maan us abhinay ki kavita kanthasth karane ke lie lavany aur lila ko lekar mastar sahab ke ghar gee huee hai- lalita kisi tarah nahian gee. maan kah gee hai, ap aean to apako bithae rakha jay- aj apaki pariksha hogi."

sucharita ne kaha, "sabhi yadi abhineta ho jaean to duniya mean darshak kaun hoga?"

sucharita ko in sab mamaloan se varadasuandari yathasanbhav alag hi rakhati thi. isilie apane gun dikhane ke lie use is bar bhi nahian bulaya gaya tha.

aur dinoan in vyaktiyoan ke ikatthe hone par batoan ka abhav nahian hota tha. aj donoan or hi aisa kuchh hua tha ki batachit kisi tarah jami hi nahian. sucharita gora ki charcha n karane ka pran karake aee thi. aur vinay bhi sahaj bhav se pahale ki bhaanti gora ki bat nahian kar saka. use lalita aur shayad ghar ke sabhi log gora ka ek kshudr anugami-bhar samajhate haian, yah sochakar gora ki charcha karane mean use jhijhak ho rahi thi.

aisa kee bar hua ki pahale vinay aya hai aur usake bad hi gora bhi a gaya hai; aj bhi aisa ho sakata hai, yah sochakar sucharita jaise kuchh pareshan-si thi. kahian gora a n jay, ise lekar use ek bhay tha, aur vah kahian n ae, is ashanka se use kasht bhi ho raha tha.

vinay ke sath do-char ukh di-ukh di batean kare sucharita aur upay n dekhakar satish ki tasviroan vali kapi lekar usake sath tasviroan ke bare mean batachit karane lagi. bich-bich mean tasvirean sajane ke dhang ki buraee karake usane satish ko chidha diya. bahut big dakar satish ooanche svar se bahas karane laga aur vinay mez par p de hue apane prati upahar kaner ke guchchhe ki or dekhata hua lajja aur kshobh se bhara man-hi-man sochane laga ki aur nahian to keval shishtachar ke lie hi lalita ko usake phool svikar kar lene chahie the.

sahasa pairoan ki avaz se chauankakar sucharita ne dekha haranababoo kamare mean pravesh kar rahe the. usaka chauankana kafi spasht dikh gaya tha, isase sucharita ka chehara raktabh ho utha tha. kursi par baithate hue haranababoo bole, "kahie, apake gaur baboo nahian ae?"

haranababoo ke is gair-zaroori prashn se virakt hokar vinay ne kaha, "kyoan, apako unase kuchh kam hai kya?"

haranababoo ne kaha, "ap hoan aur vah n hoan, aisa to kam hi dekha jata hai, isilie poochha."

man-hi-man vinay ko b da gussa aya. kahian vah prakat n ho jae, isalie usane sankshep mean kaha, "vah kalakatta mean nahian haian."

haran, "prachar karane ge haian shayad?"

vinay ka gussa aur badh gaya. usane koee uttar nahian diya. sucharita bhi bina kuchh kahe uthakar chali gee. tezi se uthakar haranababoo sucharita ke pichhe chale, lekin us tak pahuanch nahian sake. unhoanne door se hi pukara, "sucharita, ek bat kahani hai."

sucharita ne kaha, "meri tabiyat thik nahian hai." kahane ke sath-sath usake kamare ka kiva d band ho gaya.

isi samay varadasuandari akar abhi‍nay mean vinay ka rol use samajhane ke lie use doosare kamare mean liva le gee. tho di der bad hi lautakar usane dekha ki akasmat mez par se phool gayab ho ge haian. us rat lalita varadasuandari ke abhinay ke maidan mean nahian aee aur sucharita bhi apani pustak, 'khrist ka anukaran' god mean rakhe-rakhe, roshani ki ek kone mean ot dekhakar bahut rat bite tak dvar ke bahar aandhakar ki or dekhati baithi rahi. usane jaise marichika-sa aparichit ek apoorv desh dekha tha, ab tak ke jivan ke sare anubhav se vah desh bilh‍kul bhinn tha aur isilie usake jharokhoan mean jo die jalate the, ve aandheri rat mean chamakate nakshatroan ki tarah ek rahasyapoorn doori se man ko bhit kar rahe the. usaka man kah raha tha- mera jivan kitana tuchchh hai- ab tak jise atal samajhati rahi vah sab sandigdh ho gaya hai aur jo pratidin karati rahi vah arthahin- vahian shayad sab jnan sanpoorn hoga, karm mahanh ho uthega aur jivan sarthakata pa sakega-us apoorv, aparichit, bhayankar desh ke ajnat sianh dvar ke samane kaun mujhe le aya mera hriday kyoan aise kaanp raha hai, kyoan age badhana chahane par mere pair aise dagamaga jate haian?

abhinay ke poorvabhyas ke lie vinay rozana ane laga. ek bar sucharita usaki or dekh bhar leti, phir apane hath ki pustak ki or man laga deti ya apane kamare ki or chali jati. vinay ke akele ane ka adhoorapan pratidin usake man ko pi da pahuanchata, kiantu vah kabhi koee prashn poochhati. kiantu jyoan-jyoan din bitate jate, gora ke virudhd sucharita ke man mean ek shikayat ka-sa bhav badhata jata. mano unaki us din jo bat huee thi, usamean kuchh aisa nihit raha tha ki gora phir ane ke lie vachanabadhd hai.

aant mean sucharita ne jab suna ki gora achanak bina karan hi kuchh din ke lie kahian ghoomane nikal gaya hai aur usaka kuchh pata-thi‍kana nahian hai, tab usane bat ko ek mamooli khabar ki tarah u da dena chaha, kiantu tab bhi usake man mean kasak bani hi rahi. kam karate-karate sahasa yah bat use yad a jati-kabhi anamani baithi-baithi vah chauankakar yah pati ki vah man-hi-man thik yahi bat soch rahi thi.

us din gora ke sath usaki batachit ke bad achanak vah aise lapata ho jaega, sucharita ne aisi kalh‍pana bhi nahian ki thi. gora ke mat se apane sanskaroan ke karan itana adhik bhinn hone par bhi us din usake bhitar vidroh ki pravritti zara bhi nahian rahi thi. gora ke mat-manyataoan ko usane thik-thik bhale hi n samajha ho, kiantu vyakti gora ko vah jaise kuchh-kuchh samajh saki thi. gora ke mat chahe jo rahe hoan, unase vah vyakti tuchchh nahian ho gaya hai, avajna ke yogy nahian ho gaya hai balki unase usake atm ki shakti pratyaksh huee hai- yah usane prabalata se anubhav kiya tha. aur kisi ke muanh se ve sab batean vah n sah sakati, balki krudhd hoti, us vyakti ko moorkh samajhati, use daant-dapatakar sudharane ke lie uttejit ho uthati, lekin gora ke sanbandh mean us din aisa kuchh nahian laga. gora ki batoan ne usake dridh charitr ke, usaki budhdi-ganbhir marmabhedi svar ki prabalata ke sath milakar ek jivant aur saty akar dharan kar liya tha. ye sab mat aur vishvas chahe sucharita svayan n bhi apana sake, kian‍tu aur koee unhean is prakar poori budhdi se, poori shradhda se, aur sanpoorn jivan arpit karake grahan kare to use dhikkarane jaisi koee bat nahian hai, balki virodh sanskaroan ka atikraman karake us par shradhda bhi ki ja sakati hai, us din sucharita ke man par yah bhav poori tarah chha gaya tha. man ki aisi avastha sucharita ke lie bilh‍kul nahian thi. matabhed hone par vah atyant asahishnu thi. pareshababoo ke ek tarah nirlipt, samahit, shaant jivan ka udaharan samane rahane par bhi, sucharita kyoanki bachapan se hi saanpradayikata se ghiri rahi thi, isalie mat-sidhdaantoan ko vah atyant ekaant roop se grahan karati thi. pahale-pahal usi din vyakt mat ko mila hua dekhakar usane jaise ek sajiv sanpoorn padarth ki rahasyamay satta ka anubhav kiya. manav-samaj ko keval mera paksh aur tumhara paksh namak do saphed aur kale bhagoan mean bilh‍kul alag-alag baantakar dekhane ki bhed-drishti pahale-pahal vah usi din bhool saki thi aur bhinn mat ke manushy ko bhi prathamat: manushy manakar aise bhav se dekh saki thi ki mat ki bhinnata gaun ho gee thi.

sucharita ne us din anubhav kiya ki usake sath batachit karane mean gora ko ek aannad ki anubhooti hoti hai. yah kya sirph apani ray zahir karane ka hi anand tha? us anand dene mean kya sucharita ka koee yogadan nahian tha? shayad nahian tha. shayad gora ke nikat kisi vyakti ka koee mooly nahian hai, vah apane mat aur uddeshy lekar hi sabhi se door ho gaya hai- manushy usake lie keval mat ka prayog karane ke sadhan haian.

kuchh dinoan se sucharita upasana mean vishesh roop se man lagane lagi thi. mano vah pahale se bhi adhik pareshababoo ka sanvat chahane lagi thi. ek din pareshababoo akele apane kamare mean baithe padh rahe the ki sucharita bhi chupachap jakar unake pas baith gee.

kitab mez par rakhate hue pareshababoo ne poochha, "kyoan radho?"

sucharita ne kaha, "kuchh nahian."

uttar dekar mez par rakhe hue kagaz aur kitabean, jo ki pahale se hi vyavasthiti aur sajakar rakhe hue the, idhar-udhar karake phir se sanvarakar rakhane lagi. tho di der bad boli, "baba, jaise pahale tum mujhe padhate the, ab kyoan nahian padhate?"

pareshababoo ne snehabhav se tanik muskarakar kaha, "meri chhatr to mere skool se urttin hokar chali gee. ab to tum khud padhakar samajh sakati ho."

sucharita ne kaha, "nahian, maian kuchh nahian samajh sakati, maian pahale ki tarah tumase padhooangi."

pareshababoo ne kaha, "achchha thik hai, kal se padhaooanga."

phir tho di der chup rahakar sucharita sahasa bol uthi, "us din vinay baboo se jati bhed ki bahut-si batean sunian- tumane mujhe usake bare mean kabhi kuchh kyoan nahian samajhaya?"

pareshababoo ne kaha, "beti, tum to janati ho tumhare sath maianne barabar aisa vyavahar rakha hai ki tum sab kuchh apane ap sochane-samajhane ki koshish karo meri ya kisi aur ki bhi bat keval abhyast hone ke karan nahian mano. koee saval thik se man mean uthane se pahale hi koee upadesh dena aur bhookh lagane se pahale hi khana paros dena ek hi bat hai, usase keval aruchi aur apach hoti hai. tum jab bhi mujhase prashn poochhogi, apani samajh se maian usaka uttar dooanga."

sucharita ne kaha, "maian prashn hi poochh rahi hooan, jati-bhed ko ham log bura kyoan kahate haian?"

pareshababoo ne kaha, "ek billi ko thali ke pas bithakar khane se to dosh nahian hota, lekin ek manushy ke us kamare mean ane bhar se bhi khana pheank dena hota hai, jis jati-bhed ke karan ek manushy ke prati doosare manushy mean aisa apaman aur ghrina ka bhav paida ho use adharm n kaha jay to kya kaha jay? jo log manushy ki aisi bhayanak upeksha kar sakate haian ve kabhi duniya mean b de nahian ho sakate, doosaroan ki upeksha unhean bhi sahani hogi."

gora ke manh se suni huee bat ka anusaran karate hue sucharita ne kaha, "aj-kal ke samaj mean jo vikritiyaan a gee haian unamean anek dosh ho sakate haian, ve dosh to samaj ki sabhi chizoan mean a ge haian- isi karan kya asal chiz ko bhi doshi thaharaya ja sakata hai?"

apane svabhavik shaant svar mean pareshababoo ne kaha, "asal chiz kahaan hai, yadi yah janata to bata sakata. maian to aauankhoan se dekhata hooan ki hamare desh mean manushy manushy se asahaniy ghrina karata hai aur usase ham sab alag-alag hue ja rahe haian, aisi sthiti mean ek kalpanik asal chiz ki bat sochakar man ko dilasa dene ka kya arth hota hai?"

sucharita ne phir gora ki bat ko hi doharate hue kaha, "lekin sabhi ko saman drishti se dekhana to hamare desh ka charam tatv raha hai?"

pareshababoo bole, "saman drishti se dekhana to budhdi ki bat hai, hriday ki bat nahian. saman drishti mean prem bhi bhi nahian hai, ghrina bhi nahian hai- saman drishti to rag-dvesh se pare hai. manushy ka hriday aisi rag-dveshavihin jagah barabar nahian tik sakata. isilie hamare desh mean aise samy-tatv ke rahate bhi nich jati ko devalay tak mean ghusane nahian diya jata. jab devata ke ghar mean bhi hamare desh mean samata nahian hai, tab darshan-shastr mean us tatv ke rahane, n rahane se kya hoga!"

bahut der tak sucharita chup baithi man-hi-man pareshababoo ki bat samajhane ka prayatn karati rahi. aant mean boli, "achchha baba, tum vinay baboo vagairah ko ye sab batean samajhane ka upay kyoan nahian karate?"

pareshababoo tho da hansakar bole, "budhdi kam hone ke karan vinay baboo vagairah ye sab batean n samajhate hoan aisa nahian hai, balki unaki budhdi adhik hai isilie ve samajhana nahian chahate keval samajhana hi chahate haian. jab ve log dharm ki rah se arthath sabase b de saty ki rah se ye batean sachche dil se samajhana chaheange abhi ve ek doosari rah se dekh rahe haian, meri bat abhi unake kisi kam n aegi."

yadyapi gora ki bat sucharita ne lagan ke sath hi suni thi, phir bhi vah usake sanskaroan ke viparit jati thi, isilie use kasht hota tha aur ashaanti se ghiri rahati thi. pareshababoo se bat karake aj use us virodh se tho di der ke lie mukti mili. gora, vinay ya aur koee bhi kisi vishay ko pareshababoo se adhik achchhe dhang se samajha sakata hai, yah bat sucharita kisi tarah man mean nahian ane dena chahati. jinaka pareshababoo se matabhed hua hai, sucharita un par krudhd hue bina nahian rah saki hai. idhar gora se parichay hone ke bad vah gora ki bat ko krodh athava avajna karake u da nahian pa rahi thi, isilie sucharita ko klesh ho raha tha. isi karan shishukal ki tarah phir pareshababoo ki jnan-chhaya ke niche nirbhay ashray pane ke lie usaka man vyakul ho utha tha. kursi se uthakar daravaze tak jakar sucharita ne phir lautakar pareshababoo ke pichhe khe ho unaki kursi ki pith par hath tikakar kaha, "baba, aj sham ko apaki upasana ke samay maian bhi sath baithooangi."

pareshababoo ne kaha, "achchha."

taduparaant apane kamare mean jakar sucharita kiva d band kare ekagr ho gora ki bat ko ekadam vyarth karane ka prayatn karane lagi. lekin gora ka vivek aur vishvas se pradipt chehara hi usaki aauankhoan ke samane ghoomata raha. use lagata raha ki gora ki bat keval bat bhar nahian hai, vah mano gora svayan hai, us bat ki ek akriti hai, usamean gati hai, pran haian- vah vishvas ki dridhata aur svadesh-prem ke dard se bhara hua hai vah kelav mat nahian hai ki usaka prativad karake use khatm kiya ja sake- vah ek sanpoorn vyakti hai aur vah vyakti bhi sadharan vyakti nahian hai. use hata dene ke lie hath karyarat hi nahian hota. is gahare dvandv mean p dakar sucharita ko jaise rona a gaya. koee use itani b di duvidha mean dalakar poornat: udasin bhav se achanak door chala ja sakata hai! yah bat sochakar usaka hriday phatane laga, par sath hi apane kasht pane par sucharita ka apane prati dhikkar bhi simahin tha.

abhinay ke mamale mean tay hua ki aangrez kavi draidan ki ek sangit kavita vinay natakiy bhavabhivyakti ke sath padhata jaega aur rangamanch par l dakiyaan upayukt saj-sajja ke sath kavita mean varnit drishy ka mook abhinay karati raheangi. isake alava l dakiyaan aangrezi kavita ki punaravritti aur gan adi bhi kareangi.

vinay ko varadasuandari ne bharosa dilaya tha ki ve sab milakar usaki taiyari kara deangi. vah svayan to bahut sadharan aangrezi hi janati thian, kiantu apane samaj ke do-ek panditoan par bharosa kar rahi thian. lekin jab abhyas ke lie sab jama hue to apani avritti ke dvara vinay ne varadasuandari ke pandit samaj ko vismit kar diya. apani mandali se bahar ke is adami ko sikha-padhakar taiyar karane ke shrey se varadasuandari vanchit rah geean. isase pahale jin logoan ne vinay ko am adami samajhakar usaki paravah nahian ki thi, ab usaka aangrezi ka jnan dekhakar usaka samman karane ko vivash ho ge. yahaan tak ki haranababoo ne bhi vinay se kabhi-kabhar apane patr mean likhane ka anurodh kiya, aur sudhir bhi unaki chhatr-sabha mean vinay se kabhi-kabhi aangrezi mean vaktavy dene ka agrah karane laga.

lalita ki halat ajab thi. vinay ko kisi se koee sahayata nahian leni p di isase vah bahut prasann thi, lekin isi se man-hi-man use ek asantosh bhi tha. vinay un sabamean kisi se kam nahian hai, balki un sabase parangat hi hai, isase man-hi-man vah svayan ko shreshth samajhega aur unase kuchh bhi sikhane ki use avashyakata n hogi, yah bat use kachot rahi thi. vinay ke sanbandh mean vah thik kya chahati hai, usaka man kya hone se apani sahaj avastha mean a sakega, yah vah svayan bhi nahian samajh pati thi. isase usaki aprasannata chhoti-chhoti batoan mean bhi rookhe dhang se prakat hokar ghoom-phirakar vinay ko hi nishana banane lagi. vinay ke prati yah nyay nahian hai aur shishtachar bhi nahian hai. yah vah khoob samajh rahi thi. samajhakar use du:kh hota tha aur vah apane ko sanyat karane ki kafi koshish bhi karati thi lekin achanak kisi bahut hi sadharan bat par usake aantash ki ek aantarjvala sanyam ka shasan to dakar phoot p dati thi. vah svayan nahian jan pati thi ki aisa kyoan hota hai. ab tak jis chiz mean bhag lene ke lie vah lagatar vinay par dabav dalati rahi thi, ab usi se hatane ke lie usane vinay ki nak mean dam kar diya. lekin vinay akaran hi ab sare ayojan ko biga dakar kaise alag ho jay? samay bhi adhik nahian tha aur apane mean ek nee nipunata pahachanakar vinay ko kuchh utsah bhi ho aya tha. aant mean lalita ne varadasuandari se kaha, "maian isamean nahian rahooangi."

apani manjhali l daki ko varadasuandari achchhi tarah janati thian, isilie atyant shankit hokar unhoanne poochha, "kyoan?"

lalita ne kaha, "mujhase nahian hota."

asal mean bat yah bat thi ki jab se vinay ko ana di sanbhav n raha, tabhi se kisi tarah bhi lalita vinay ke samane kavita ki avritti ya abhinay ka abhyas karane ko razi nahian hoti thi. vah kahati- maian apane-ap alag abhyas karooangi. isase halaanki sabhi ke abhyas mean badha p di thi, lekin lalita ko kisi tarah manaya nahian ja saka. aant mean har manakar abhyas se lalita ko alag karake hi kam chalana p da.

kiantu jab lalita ne aantim samay par bilh‍kul hi alag ho jana chaha tab varadasuandari ke sir par jaise bijali giri. vah janati thian ki is samasya ko sulajhana unake vash ki bat nahian hai, isalie unhoanne pareshababoo ki sharan li. asadharan batoan mean pareshababoo kabhi un l dakiyoan ki ichchha-anichchha mean hastakshep nahian karate the. lekin chooanki unhoanne majistret ko vachan diya hai aur usi ke anusar us taraph se sara prabandh bhi kiya gaya hai, samay bhi bahut kam hai, ye sab batean sochakar pareshababoo ne lalita ko bulakar usake sir par hath pherakar kaha, "lalita, ab tumhara alag ho jana to thik nahian hoga."

rooandhe hue gale se lalita ne kaha, "baba, mujhase nahian hota. mujhe ata hi nahian."

pareshababoo bole, "achchha nahian kar paogi, usamean tumhara aparadh nahian hoga, par karogi hi nahian to anyay hoga."

sir jhukae lalita kh di rahi. pareshababoo kahate ge, "beti jab tumane jimma liya hai tab nibahana to tumhean hoga hi. kahian ahankar ko thes n lage, yah sochakar bhagane ka samay to ab nahian hai. lagane do thes, usaki upeksha karake bhi tumhean kartavy karana hi hoga. kya itana bhi nahian kar sakogi?"

muanh uthakar lalita ne pita ki or dekhakar kaha, "kar sakooangi."

us din sham ko vishesh roop se vinay ke samane hi apana sab sankoch tyagakar ek atirikt josh ke sath, spardha lagakar, lalita apane kartavy ki or agrasar huee. vinay ne ab tak usaki avritti nahian suni thi, aj sunakar chakit rah gaya. itana spasht, atruti uchcharan-kahian koee atak nahian, aur bhav-prakatan mean ek aisa ni:sanshay utsah ki use sunakar vinay ko ashatit anand hua. lalita ka mridu kanth-svar bahut der tak usake kanoan mean gooanjata raha.

kavita ki bhavapoorn achchhi avritti karane vala shrota ke man mean ek vishesh moh utpann karata hai. kavita ka bhav usake padhane vale ko mahima mandit karata hai, vah usake kanth-svar, usaki mukh-rashi aur usake charitr mean haian, vaise hi kavita ki avritti karane vale ko kavyapath.

vinay ke lie lalita bhi kavita dvara mandit hone lagi. itane din tak apani tikhi batoan se vah anavarat vinay ko uttejit karati rahi thi. jaise jahaan chot lagi ho bar-bar hath vahian pahuanchata hai, vaise hi vinay bhi kee din se lalita ki tikhi batoan aur danshak hasy ke siva kuchh soch hi nahian pata tha. aisa lalita ne kyoan kiya, vaisa kyoan kaha, bar-bar use isi bat ke bare mean sochana p data raha hai. lalita ke kshobh ka rahasy jitana hi vah nahian samajh saka usi anupat mean lalita ki chianta usake man par aur adhikar jamati rahi haian. sabere niand se jagakar sahasa yahi bat use yad ho aee hai pareshababoo ke ghar jate samay pratidin usake man mean yah sandeh utha hai ki aj lalita n jane kaise pesh aegi. jis din lalita zara-si prasann dikhi hai, us din vinay ne rahat ki lanbi saans li hai aur is bat ko lekar vichar kiya hai ki kaise usake is bhav ko sthaee banaya ja sakata hai, yadyapi aisa koee upay kabhi nahian soch paya jo usake vash ka ho.

pichhale kee din ke is manasik dvandv ke bad lalita ki kavy avritti ke madhury ki visheshata ne vinay ko prabal roop se prabhavit kiya. use itana achchha laga ki vah yah soch hi nahian paya ki kin shabdoan mean usaki prashansa kare. achchha-bura kuchh bhi lalita ke muanh par kahane ka use sahas nahian hota kyoanki manav-charitr ka yah sadharan niyam ki achchha kahane se achchha lage, lalita par lagoo nahian bhi ho sakata hai- balki shayad sadharan niyam hone ke karan hi lagoo n ho sake. isilie vinay ne utphull hriday se varadasuandari ke samane lalita ki yogyata ki adhik hi prashansa ki. isase vinay ki vidya aur budhdi ke bare mean varadasuandari ki shradhda aur bhi badh gee hai.

acharaj ki ek aur bhi bat dekhane mean aee. lalita ne jyoan hi svayan yah anubhav kiya ki usaki avritti aur abhinay nirdosh hue haian, vah apane kartavy ki duroohata ke par vaise hi niras bhav se chal nikali, jaise koee sugathit nauka laharoan ko katati huee badhati chali jati hai. vinay ke prati usaki katuta bhi jati rahi aur usako vimukh karane ki cheshta bhi usane chho d di. balki abhinay ke bare mean usaka utsah bahut badh gaya aur abhinay ke mamale mean vah vinay ko poora sahayog dene lagi, yahaan tak ki avritti ke ya aur kisi bhi vishay ke sanbandh mean vinay se upadesh lene mean bhi use apatti n rahi.

lalita mean is badalav se vinay ki chhati par se jaise ek bhari bojh-sa utar gaya. vah itana anand magn hua ki vah jab-tab anandamee ke pas jakar chhote balakoan ki bhaanti oodham karane laga. sucharita ke pas baithakar bahut sari batean karane ki soojh bhi use thi, lekin sucharita se aj-kal usaki bheant hi n hoti. avasar milate hi vah lalita ke sath batachit karane baith jata, halaanki lalita se batean karane mean use vishesh satark rahana p data, lalita man-hi-man us par aur usaki sabhi batoan par b di k daee ke sath manan karati hai, yah janakar lalita ke samane usaki batoan ki dhara sahaj veg se nahian bahati thi. lalita bich-bich mean kah uthati thi, "ap aise kyoan batean karate haian mano kitaboan mean se padhakar ae hoan aur use hi duhara rahe hoan?"

vinay javab deta, "maian itane varshoan se keval kitabean hi padhata raha hooan, isilie man bhi chhapi huee kitab-jaisa ho gaya hai."

lalita kahati, "ap zyada achchhi tarah bat kahane ki chesht n kiya karean- apani bat apane sidhe-saral dhang se kah diya karean. ap aise sanvarakar karean-apani bat apane sidhe-saral dhang se kah diya karean. ap aise sanvarakar bat kahate haian to mujhe bhram hota hai ki aur kisi ki bat ko ap saja-sanvarakar kah rahe haian.

isalie kabhi koee bat apani svabhavik kshamata ke karan saph-suthare dhang se vinay ke man mean ati bhi thi to lalita se kahate samay vah yatnapoorvak use saral banakar aur chhoti karake kahata tha. koee alankrit vaky sahasa usake muanh se nikal jane par vah jheanp jata tha.

lalita ke man ke bhitar akaran ghiri huee ghata chhat jane se usaka hridayakash ujjval ho utha. usamean yah parivartan dekhakar varadasuandari ko bhi ashchary hua. ab pahale ki bhaanti lalita bat-bat mean apatti karake vimukh hokar nahian baith jati, balki sab kamoan mean utsah ke sath sahayog deti hai. agami abhinay ki saj-sajja adi sabhi vishayoan mean use rozana tarah-tarah ki nee batean soojhati rahatian aur unhian ko lakar vah sabhi ko pareshan kar deti. is mamale mean varadasuandari ka kitana hi adhik utsah raha ho kharch ki bat bhi vah sochati thian, isilie jab lalita abhinay ke mamale mean udasin thi, tab unake chiantit hone ka jitana karan tha, ab usaki utsahit avastha se bhi utana hi sankat paida ho gaya. lekin lalita ki uttejit kalpana-vritti par chot karane ka bhi sahas nahian hota tha, kyoanki lalita ko jis kam mean uth‍sah hota usamean tho di bhi kami rah jane se vah itani udasin ho jati thi ki phir us kam mean sahayog dena hi usake lie sanbhav nahian rah jata tha.

anek bar apane utsah mean lalita ke pas bhi jati. sucharita hansati, bat karati; lalita ko usaki batoan mean bar-bar ek rukavat ka anubhav hota, jisake karan naraz hokar vah laut ati.

usen ek din pareshababoo se jakar kaha, "baba, suchi didi kone mean baithi-baithi kitab padheangi aur ham natak karane jaeangi, yah nahian hoga. unhean bhi hamare sath shamil hona hoga."

kuchh dinoan se pareshababoo bhi soch rahe the ki n jane kyoan sucharita apani bahanoan se door hatati ja rahi hai. unhean shanka ho rahi thi ki aisi halat usake charitr ke lie svasthyakar n hogi. lalita ki bat sunakar aj unhean laga ki amod-pramod mean sab sath shamil n hone se sucharita ka yah durav badhata hi jaega. unhoanne lalita se kaha, "apani maan se kaho n!"

lalita ne kaha, "maan se to kahooangi, kiantu suchi didi ko razi karane ka zimma apako lena hoga."

jab pareshababoo ne sucharita se kah diya tab vah aur apatti n kar saki tatha apane kartavy-palan mean lag gee.

sucharita ke apane ekaant kone se nikalakar bahar ate hi vinay ne phir usake sath pahale ki bhaanti batachit ka silasila jamane ki cheshta ki. par idhar kee dinoan se n jane kya ho gaya tha ki vah sucharita ke pas pahuanch hi nahian pata. usake chehare par, usaki drishti mean ek aisi doori rahati ki usaki or badhane mean jhijhak hoti. pahale bhi kam-kaj aur milane-julane mean sucharita mean ek shithilata rahati thi, par ab to vah jaise bilh‍kul alag ho gee thi. abhinay aur abhyas mean vah jo yog dene lagi thi, usase bhi usaka alagav kam nahian hua. kam ke samay usaka jitana bhag hota, poora hote hi vah alag ho jati. sucharita ki is doori se vinay ko pahale to b di thes pahuanchi. vinay milanasar adami tha, jinase usaka apanatv hota unaki or se kisi prakar ki a dachan hone par vinay ko b di pi da hoti. is parivar mean itane dinoan se vishosh roop se vah sucharita se hi samman pata raha hai, ab bina karan sahasa upekshit hone se use b da kasht hua. lekin jab usane dekha ki aise hi karan se lalita bhi sucharita par naraz ho rahi hai, tab use saanth‍vana mili aur usaki ghanishthata lalita se aur bhi badh gee. sucharita ko use aur door hatane ka mauqa n dekar usane svayan hi sucharita ka nikat-sanpark chho d diya aur dekhate-dekhate is prakar sucharita vinay se bahut bahut door chali gee.

is bar itane din gora ke anupasthiti rahane se vinay pareshababoo ke parivarajanoan se bina kisi badha ke achchh tarah ghul-mil gaya tha. vinay ke svabhav ka is prakar nirbadh parichay pakar pareshababoo ke ghar ke sabhi log poornaroop se santusht the. udhar vinay ko bhi is tarah apani sahaj-svabhavik avastha prapt karake jo anand mila, vah pahale kabhi nahian mila tha. vah in sabaka achchha lagata hai, is bat ka anubhav karake usaki achchha lagane ki shakh‍ti jaise aur badh gee.

apani prakriti ke is vikas ke samay, apane ko ek svatantr satta ke roop mean anubhav karane ke samay sucharita vinay se door ho gee, aur kasi doosare samay yah kshati, isaka aghat vinay ke le asahy hota, par is samay vah use sahaj hi aprabhavi kar gaya. yah bhi ashchary ki bat thi ki lalita ne bhi sucharita ka bhav-parivartan janakar bhi pahale ki tarah usake prati narazagi nahian dikhaee. kya kavy-avritti aur abhinay ke utsah ne hi us par poora adhikar kar liya tha?

idhar haranababoo bhi abhinay mean sucharita ko yog dete dekhakar sahasa utsahi‍‍t ho uthe. unhoanne svayan prastav kiya ki vah bhi 'peradaiz last' ke ek aansh ka path kareange aur draidan ke kavy ki avritti ki bhoomika ke roop mean sangit ki mohini shakti ke bare mean ek chhota-sa bhashan bhi deange. varadasuandari ko man-hi-man yah bahut bura laga, aur lalita bhi isase prasann nahian huee. haranababoo majistret se svayan milakar pahale hi yah mamala pakka kar ae the. jab lalita ne kaha ki karyakram ko itana lanba kar dene par majistret shayad etaraz karean tab haranababoo ne jeb se majistret ka kritajnata prakat karata hua patr nikalakar lalita ko dikhakar use niruttar kar diya.

bina karan gora yatra par chala gaya, kab lautakar ayega yah koee nahian janata. sucharita ne yadyapi soch rakha tha ki is bare mean kisi bat ko man mean sthan n degi, phir bhi roj hi usake man mean yah asha uthati ki shayad aj gora a jae. vah is asha ko kisi tarah man se n nikal pati. jis samay gora ki udasinata aur apane man ki vivashata ke karan sucharita ko bahut adhik pi da ho rahi thi, jab kisi tarah is jal ko katakar bhag jane ke lie usaka man vyakul ho raha tha, tab ek din haranababoo ne pareshababoo se phir anurodh kiya ki vishesh roop se eeshvar ka nam lekar sucharita ke sath unaka sanbandh pakka kar diya jay.

pareshababoo ne kaha, "abhi to vivah mean bahut der hai, itani jaldi bandh jana kya sahi rahega?"

haranababoo bole, "vivah se kuchh samay pahale aisi badhd avastha mean rahana donoan ke man ki ekalayata ke lie meri samajh mean vishesh avashyak hai. pahale parichay aur vivah ke bich ek aisa adhh‍yatmik sanbandh, jisamean samajik dayitv nahian hai phir bhi bandhan hai-bahut hitakari hoga."

pareshababoo ne kaha, "achchha, sucharita se poochh dekhooan."

haranababoo ne kaha, "unhoanne to pahale hi sammati de di hai."

haranababoo ke prati sucharita ke manobhav ke sanbandh mean pareshababoo ko ab bhi sandeh tha. unhoanne isilie svayan sucharita ko bulakar haranababoo ka prastav usake sammukh rakha. sucharita apane duvidha mean p de hue jivan ko kahian bhi aantim roop se samarpit kar sake to use shaanti mile, isalie usane avilamb aise nishchit dhang se hami bhar di ki pareshababoo ka sab sandeh mit gaya. vivah se itana pahale bandh jana thik hai ya nahian, is bat ko achchhi tarah soch lene ke lie sucharita se unhoanne anurodh kiya, phir bhi sucharita ne prastav ke bare mean koee apatti nahian ki.

braunalo sahab ke nimantran se ni‍patakar ek vishesh din nishchit karake sabhi ko bulakar bhavi danpati ka sanbandh pakka kar diya jay, yah tay ho gaya.

sucharita ko tho di der ke lie laga jaise usaka man rah ke gras se mukt ho gaya. usane man-hi-man nishchay kiya ki haranababoo se vivah ho jane par brahm-samaj ke kam mean jut jane ke lie vah dridh hokar apane man ko taiyar karegi. usane pran kiya ki pratidin vah tho da-tho da karake haranababoo se hi dharm-tatv sanbandhi aangrezi pustakean padhegi aur unake nirdesh ke anusar chalegi. jo kathin hoga, balki jo apriy hoga, usi ko grahan karane ki pratijna man-hi-man karake use ek santosh ka anubhav hua.

haranababoo dvara sampadit aangrezi patr kuchh dinoan se usane nahian padha tha, aj prakashit hote hi vah usake pas pahuanch gaya. shayad haranababoo ne vishesh roop se usake lie bhijava diya tha.

patr lie kamare mean jakar sucharita sthir chitt hokar baith gee aur param kartavy ki tarah use pahali pankti se padhane lagi. man mean shradhda lekar, svayan ko chhatr manakar vah patrika se adesh grahan karane lagi.

kiantu pal ke sahare bahati huee nav hathath paha d se takarakar tedhi ho gee. patr ke is aank mean 'purani pidhi' namaka ek prabandh tha, jisamean aise logoan par kataksh kiya gaya tha jo vartaman kal mean rahate hue bhi prachin kal ki or muanh kie rahate haian. unaki yuktiyaan asangat nahian thian balki sucharita svayan aisi hi yuktiyaan khojati rahi thi, kiantu prabandh padhate hi vah jan gee ki vah gora ko lakshy karake likha gaya hai. halaanki usamean gora ka nam ya usake likhe hue kisi prabandh ka koee zikr n tha. sainik jaise bandook ki pratyek goli se ek-ek adami ko mar girakar prasann hota hai, is prabandh ke pratyek vaky se vaise hi kisi sajiv padarth ko bidhd kar sakane ka ek hiansamay anand prakat ho raha tha.

vah prabandh sucharita se sahan nahian hua. usaki pratyek yukti ko kat pheankane ko vah chhatapata uthi. usane man-hi-man socha- gauramohan baboo chahean to is prabandh ko dhool dhoosarit kar sakate haian. gora ka ujjval chehara usaki aauankho ke age sajiv ho utha aur usaka prabal kanth-svar sucharita ke hriday pradesh ke bhitar tak gooanj gaya. chehare aur us kanth-svar ki asadharanata ke age is prabandh aur isake lekhak ki kshudrata use itani ochhi jan p di ki patr ko usane pharsh par pheank diya.

us din bahut dinoan ke bad apane-ap sucharita vinay ke pas akar baithi aur batoan-batoan mean boli, "achchha, apase to kaha tha ki jin patroan mean ap logoan ke lekh chhape haian, ap padhane ke lie deange-abhi tak to die nahian?"

yah nahian kah saka vinay ki is bich sucharita ka badala hua rukh dekhakar use apana vayada poora karane ka hausala nahian hua. usane kaha, "maianne ve sab ikatthe kar rakhe haian, kal le aooanga."

agale din pustikaoan aur patroan ki potali lakar vinay sucharita ko de gaya. unhean pakar sucharita ne phir unhean padha nahian, baks mean band karake rakh diya-padhane ki bahut adhik ichchha huee thi isilie nahian padha. vah man ko kisi tarah bhi bhatakane nahian degi. usane pratijnapoorvak vidrohi chitt ko ek bar phir haranababoo ke shasan ko sauanpakar rahat paee.

ravivar ki subah anandamee pan laga rahi thian aur shashimukhi unake pas baithi supari katakar dher laga rahi thi. isi samay kamare mean vinay ke ate hi apani god ki supariyaan pheankakar h dab dati huee shashimukhi uthakar bhag gee. anandamee tho da-sa muskara di.

b di jaldi vinay sabase ghul-mil jata tha. ab tak shashimukhi se bhi usaka kafi mel-jol tha. donoan hi ek-doosare ko kafi chhakate bhi rahate the. vinay ke joote chhipakar shashimukhi vinay se kahani sunane ki yukti kiya karati thi. vinay ne shashimukhi ke hi jivan ki do-ek sadharan ghatanaean lekar unhian mean khoob namak-mirch lakakar kuchh kahaniyaan gadh rakhi thian. inake sunae jane par shashimukhi bahut chidhati thi. pahale to vah sunane vale par jhooth bolane ka arop lagakar zor-shor se prativad karati, phir harakar bhag jati thi. usane bhi badale mean vinay ke jivan-charitr ko to d-maro dakar kahani gadhane ki koshish ki thi, kiantu rachana-shakti vinay ke barabar n hone ke karan isamean vishesh saphalata n pa saki thi.

jo ho, vinay ke pahuanchate hi shashimukhi sab kam chho dakar usake sath chhe d-chha d karane dau di ati thi. itana utpat karane par kabhi-kabhi anandamee use daant deti thian, kiantu kusoor akeli shashimukhi ka nahian tha, kyoanki pahale vinay hi use itana chidha deta tha ki vah apane ko rok n sakati thi. vahi aj jab vinay ko dekhate hi h dab dakar kamare se bhag gee to anandamee ko hansi a gee, kiantu yah hansi sukh ki nahian thi.

is chhoti-si ghatana se vinay ko bhi aisa dhakka pahuancha ki vah kuchh der tak gumasum baitha raha. usake lie shishamukhi se vivah karana kitana asangat hoga, yah aisi chhoti-chhoti batoan se hi pratyaksh ho jata tha. vinay ne isake lie jab hami bhari thi, tab keval vah gora ke sath apani mitrata ki bat hi sochata raha tha, svayan vivah ko usane kalpana ke dvara moort karake nahian dekha tha. isake alava vinay ne is bat par gaurav karate hue patroan mean anek lekh bhi likhe the ki hamare desh mean vivah sanskar mukhyataya vyaktigat sanbandh nahian balki parivarik sanbandh hai, usane vivah ke sanbandh mean apani svayan ki niji ichchha ya anichchha ko koee mahatv nahian diya tha. aj jab shashimukhi vinay ko dekhakar use apana var jan daantoan se jibh katakar bhag gee, tab jaise shashimukhi ke sath apane bhavi sanbandh ka use ek sakar roop dikh p da. usaka samoocha aant:karan pal-bhar mean hi vidrohi ho utha. gora use usaki prakriti ke virudhd kitani door tak lie ja raha tha, yah samajhakar gora ke oopar gussa ho aya aur apane prati dhikkar ka bhav paida hua. yah yad karake ki shuroo se hi anandamee ne is vivah ka nishedh kiya tha, vinay ka man unaki dooradarshita ke prati ek vismay-mishrit shradhda se bhar aya.

vinay ke man ka bhav anandamee ne samajh liya. use doosari or pravritti karane ke lie unhoanne kaha, "vinay, kal gora ki chitthi aee thi."

vinay ne kuchh anamane bhav se hi kaha, "kya-kya likha hai?"

anandamee bolian, "apani to kuchh khas khabar nahian di. desh ke chhote logoan ki durdasha dekhakar du:khi hokar likha hai. ghoshapa da nam ke kisi gaanv mean majistret ne kya-kya anyay kie haian, usi ka varnan hai."

vinay ne gora ke virudhd uttejana ke karan hi adhir hokar kaha, 'gora ki nazar bas us doosari taraph hi hai. aur ham log jo samaj ki chhati par savar hokar roz n jane kitane anyay karate haian, un sabaki lipa-poti karate hue kya yah kahate rahana hoga ki aisa satkarm doosara kuchh ho hi nahian sakata!"

sahasa gora par aise arop lagakar vinay apane ko jaise doosare paksh mean kh da kar raha ho, yah dekhakar anandamee hans dian.

vinay ne kaha, "maan, tum hans rahi ho, soch rahi ho ki ekaek vinay ko itana gussa kyoan a raha hai. kyoan gussa a raha hai, tumhean batata hooan. us din sudhir ne hati steshan par mujhe apane ek mitr ke bagan mean le gaya tha. ham logoan ke siyaladah se chalate hi barish shuroo ho gee. sodapur steshan par ga di ruki to dekha ki sahabi kap de pahane hue ek bangali ne thath se sir par chhata lagae hue apani bahoo ko ga di se utara. bahoo ki god mean chhota bachcha bhi tha, badan ki moti chadar se kisi prakar bachche ko dhakakar vah bechari khule pletapharm par ek or kh di thand aur lajja se siku dati huee bhigati rahi, aur pati mahoday saman ke pas chhata lagae kh de chillate rahe. maianne pal-bhar mean hi samajh liya ki sare bangal mean, chahe dhoop ho chahe barish, chahe bhadr ghar ki ho chahe mamooli, kisi stri ke sir par chhata nahian hota. jab dekha ki svami to nirlajj bhav se sir par chhata tane kh de haian aur unaki stri apane ko chadar se dhakati huee chupachap bhig rahi hai aur man-hi-man bhi is durvyavahar se du:khi nahian hai, aur steshan par maujood logoan mean se kisi ko bhi isamean koee anauchity nahian dikhata tabhi se maianne nishchay kar liya hai ki ab kabhi muanh se kavitaee ki ve sab jhoothi batean nahian nikalooanga ki ham log striyoan ko bahut adhik samman karate haian, unhean lakshmi aur devi manate haian.

desh ko ham log matribhoomi kahate haian, lekin desh ki is matri-moorti ki mahima yadi ham desh ki striyoan mean hi pratyaksh n karean- agar budhdi se, shakti se, udar kartavy-bodh se striyoan ko unake satej, saral, sanpoorn roop mean n dekhean, apane gharoan mean keval durbalata, sankirnata aur adhoorapan hi dekhate rahean to desh ka roop hamare sammukh kabhi ujjval nahian ho sakata."

sahasa apane utsah par jheanpakar vinay ne apane sahaj-svabhavik svar mean kaha, "maan, tum soch rahi ho, bich-bich mean vinay aisi b di-b di batean karata hua aksar lekchar jha da karata hai aur aj bhi usako bulas lagi hai. meri batean lekchar-jaisi adat ke karan ho jati haian, lekin aj yah lekchar nahian de raha hooan. desh ki l dakiyoan ka desh ke lie kitana mahatv hai, pahale yah maian achchhi tarah nahian samajhata tha, kabhi sochata bhi nahian tha. maan, aur zyada bakabak nahian karooanga, maian zyada bolata hooan isilie meri bat ko koee mere man ki bat nahian samajhata. ab se tho da bola karooanga."

aur adhik der vinay nahian thahara, vaisa hi utsah-bhara man lie chala gaya.

anandamee ne mahim ko bulakar kaha, "beta, apani shashimukhi ka vivah vinay ke sath nahian hoga." mahim, "kyoan, tumhari ray nahian hai?"

anandamee, "yah sanbandh aant tak tikega nahian, isalie meri ray nahian hai, nahian to meri ray bhala kyoan n hoti."

mahim, "gora razi ho gaya hai, vinay bhi razi hai, tab tikega kyoan nahian? yah zaroor hai ki tumhari ray n hogi to vinay haragij shadi nahian karega, yah maian janata hooan."

anandamee, "vinay ko maian tumase adhik janati hooan."

mahim, "gora se bhi adhik?"

anandamee, "haan, gora se bhi adhik janati hooan, isalie har taraph se sochakar hi meri ray nahian hai."

mahim, "achchha, gora vapas a jay.... ."

anandamee, "mahim, meri bat suno. ise lekar yadi adhik dabav daloge to age chalakar musibat hogi. maian nahian chahati ki is mamale mean gora vinay se kuchh kahe."

"achchha dekha jaega", kahate hue mahim ne ek aur pan muanh mean dabaya aur gusse se bhare hue kamare se chale ge.