दरोगाजी -प्रेमचंद

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

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kal sham ko ek zaroorat se taange par baitha hua ja raha tha ki raste mean ek aur mahashay taange par a baithe. taangevala unhean baithana to n chahata tha, par inakar bhi n kar sakata tha. pulis ke adami se jhag da kaunamol le. yah sahab kisi thane ke daroga the. ek mukadame ki pairavi karane sadar aye the ! meri adat hai ki pulisavaloan se bahut kam bolata hooan. sach poochhie, to mujhe unaki soorat se napharat hai. unake hathoan praja ko kitane kasht uthane p date haian, isaka anubhav is jivan mean kee bar kar chuka hooan. maian jara ek taraph khisak gaya aur muanh pherakar doosari or dekhane laga ki darogaji bole, ‘zanab, yah am shikayat hai ki pulisavale bahut rishvat lete haian; lekin yah koee nahian dekhata ki pulisavale rishvat lene ke lie kitane majaboor kiye jate haian. agar pulisavale rishvat lena band kar dean to maian halaph se kahata hooan, ye jo b de-b de ooanchi pag diyoanvale rees najar ate haian, sab-ke-sab jelakhane ke andar baithe dikhaee dean. agar har ek mamale ka chalan karane lagean, to duniya pulisavaloan ko aur bhi badanam kare. apako yakin n ayega janab, rupaye ki thailiyaan gale lagaee jati haian. ham hazar inakar karean, par charoan taraph se aise dabav p date haian ki lachar hokar lena hi p data hai.

maianne upahas ke bhav se kaha, ‘zo kam rupaye lekar kiya jata hai, vahi kam bina rupaye liye bhi to kiya ja sakata hai.‘

darogaji hansakar bole, ‘vah to gunah belajjat hoga, bandaparavar. pulis ka adami itana kattar devata nahian hota, aur mera khayal hai ki shayad koee iansan bhi itana belaus nahian ho sakata. aur siangoan ke logoan ko bhi dekhata hooan, mujhe to koee devata n mila ...’

maian abhi isaka kuchh javab de hi raha tha ki ek miyaan sahab lambi achakan pahane, turki topi lagaye, taange ke samane se nikale. darogaji ne unhean dekhate hi jhukakar salam kiya aur shayad mizaj sharif poochhana chahate the ki us bhale adami ne salam ka javab galiyoan se dena shuroo kiya. jab taanga kee qadam age nikal aya, to vah ek patthar lekar taange ke pichhe dau da. taangevale ne gho de ko tej kiya. us bhalemanus ne bhi qadam tej kiye aur patthar pheanka. mera sir bal-bal bach gaya. usane doosara patthar uthaya, vah hamare samane akar gira. tisara patthar itani zor se aya ki darogaji ke ghutane mean b di chot ayi; par itani der mean taanga itani door nikal aya tha ki ham pattharoan ki mar se door ho gaye the. haan, galiyoan ki mar abhi tak jari thi. jab tak vah adami aankhoan se ojhal n ho gaya, ham use ek hath mean patthar uthaye, galiyaan bakate hue dekhate rahe.

jab jara chitt shant hua, maianne darogaji se poochha, ‘yah kaun adami hai, sahab ? koee pagal to nahian hai ?’

darogaji ne ghutane ko sahalate hue kaha, ‘pagal nahian hai sahab, mera purana dushman hai. maianne samajha tha, jalim pichhali batean bhool gaya hoga. varana mujhe kya p di thi ki salam karane jata.‘

maianne poochha, ‘apane ise kisi mukadame mean saza dilaee hogi ?’

'b di lambi dastan hai janab ! bas itana hi samajh lijie ki isaka bas chale, to mujhe zinda hi nigal jay.'

'ap to shok ki ag ko aur bh daka rahe haian. ab to vah dastan sune bagair taskin n hogi.'

darogaji ne pahaloo badalakar kaha, ‘achchhi bat hai, sunie. kee sal hue, maian sadar mean hi tainat tha. bephikri ke din the, taja khoon, ek mashook se aankh l d gee. amadarapht shuroo huee. ab bhi jab us hasina ki yad ati hai, to aankhoan se aansoo nikal ate haian. bazaroo auratoan mean itani haya, itani vapha, itani muravvat maianne nahian dekhi. do sal usake sath itane lutph se gujare ki aj bhi usaki yad karake rota hooan. magar kisse ko badhaooanga nahian, varana adhoora hi rah jayaga. mukhtasar yah ki do sal ke bad mere tabadale ka hukm a gaya. us vakt dil ko jitana sadama pahuancha, usaka ftkr karane ke lie daftar chahie. bas, yahi ji chahata tha ki istipha de dooan. us hasina ne yah khabar suni, to usaki jan-si nikal gee. saphar ki taiyari ke lie mujhe tin din mile the. ye tin din hamane mansoobe baandhane mean kate. us vakt mujhe anubhav hua ki auratoan ko akl se khali samajhane mean hamane kitani b di galati ki hai. mere mansoobe shekhachilli ke-se hote the. kalakatte bhag chalean, vahaan koee dookan khol dean, ya isi tarah koee doosari tajavij karata. lekin vah yahi javab deti ki abhi vahaan jakar apana kam karo. jab makan ka bandobast ho jay, to mujhe bula lena. maian dau di chali aooangi. akhir judaee ki gh di aee. mujhe maloom hota tha ki ab jan n bachegi. ga di ka vakt nikala jata tha aur maian usake pas se uthane ka nam n leta tha. magar maian phir kisse ko tool dene laga. khulasa yah ki maian use do-tin din mean bulane ka vada karake rukhsat hua. par afasos ! ve do-tin din kabhi n aye. pahale das-paanch din to aphasaroan se milane aur ilake ki dekhabhal mean gujare. isake bad ghar se khat a gaya ki tumhari shadi tay ho gee; rukhsat lekar chale ao. shadi ki khushi mean us vapha ki devi ki mujhe fikr n rahi. shadi karake mahine-bhar bad lauta, to bivi sath thi. rahi-sahi yad bhi jati rahi. usane ek mahine ke bad ek khat bheja; par maianne usaka javab n diya. darata rahata tha ki kahian ek din vah akar sir par savar n ho jay; phir bivi ko muanh dikhane layaq bhi n rah jaooan.

sal bhar ke bad mujhe ek kam se sadar ana p da. us vakt mujhe us aurat ki yad aee; socha, jara chalakar dekhana chahie, kis halat mean hai. phauran apane khat n bhejane aur itane dinoan tak n ane ka javab soch liya aur usake dvar par ja pahuancha. daravaza saph-suthara tha, makan ki halat bhi pahale se achchhi thi. dil ki khushi huee ki isaki halat utani kharab nahian hai, jitani maianne samajhi thi. aur, kyoan kharab hone lagi. mujh jaise duniya mean kya aur adami hi nahian haian. maianne daravaza khatakhataya. aandar se vah band tha. avaz aee, ‘qaun hai ?’

maianne kaha, ;vah ! itani jald bhool geean, maian hooan, bashir ...’

koee javab n mila, avaz usi ki thi, isamean shak nahian, phir daravaza kyoan nahian kholati ? zaroor mujhase naraz hai. maianne phir kiva d khatakhataye aur laga apani musibatoan ka qissa sunane. koee pandrah minat ke bad daravaza khula. hasina ne mujhe ishare se andar bulaya aur chat kiva d band kar liye. maianne kaha, ‘maian tumase muaphi maangane aya hooan. yahaan se jakar maian b di mushkil mean phॅs gaya. ilaka itana kharab hai ki dam marane ki muhalat nahian milati.‘

hasina ne meri taraph n dekhakar zamin ki taraph takate hue kaha,’muaphi kis bat ki ? tumase mera nikah to hua n tha. dil kahian aur lag gaya, to meri yad kyoan ati. mujhe tumase koee shikayat nahian. jaisa aur log karate haian, vaisa hi tumane kiya. yahi kya kam hai ki itane dinoan ke bad idhar a to gaye. rahe to khairiyat se ?’

'kisi tarah jianda hooan.'

'shayad judaee mean ghulate-ghulate yah toand nikal aee hai. khuda jhooth n bulavaye, tab se doone ho gaye.'

maianne jheanpate hue kaha, yah sara balagam ka phisad hai. bhala mota maian kya hota. udhar ka pani nihayat balagami hai. tumane to meri yad hi bhula di.‘

usane abaki meri or tej nigahoan se dekha aur boli, ‘khat ka javab tak n diya, ulate mujhi ko ilajam dete ho. maian tumhean shuroo se bevapha samajhati thi aur tum vaise hi nikale. bivi laye aur mujhe khat tak n likha ?’

maianne tajjub se poochha, ‘tumhean kaise maloom hua ki meri shadi ho gee ?’

usane rukhaee se kaha, ‘yah poochhakar kya karoge ? jhooth to nahian kahati. bevapha bahut dekhe, lekin tum sabase badhakar nikale. tumhari avaz sunakar ji mean to aya ki dutkar dooan; lekin yah sochakar daravaza khol diya ki apane daravaze par kisi ko kya jalil karooan.‘

maianne kot utarakar khooanti par lataka diya, joote bhi utar dale aur charapaee par letakar bola, ‘laili, dekho, itani berahami se n pesh ao. maian to apani khataoan ko khud taslim karata hooan aur isilie ab tumase muaphi maangane aya hooan. jara apane najuk hathoan se ek pan to khila do. sach kahana, tumhean meri yad kahe ko ati hogi. koee aur yar mil gaya hoga.‘ laili panadan kholakar pan banane lagi ki ekaek kisi ne kiva d khatakhataye. maianne ghabarakar poochha, ‘yah kaun shaitan a pahuancha ?’

hasina ne hoanthoan par uangali rakhate hue kaha, ‘yah mere shauhar haian. tumhari taraph se jab nirash ho gee, to maianne inake sath nikah kar liya.‘

maianne tyoriyaan chadhakar kaha, ‘to tumane mujhase pahale hi kyoan n bata diya, maian ulate paanv laut n jata, yah naubat kyoan ati. n jane kab ki yah kasar nikali.‘

'mujhe kya maloom ki yah itane jald a pahuancheange. roj to pahar rat gaye ate the. phir tum itani door se aye the, tumhari kuchh khatir bhi to karani thi.'

'yah achchhi khatir ki. batao; ab maian jaooan kahaan ?'

'meri samajh mean khud kuchh nahian a raha hai. ya allah ! kis ajab mean phॅsi.'

itane mean un sahab ne daravaza khatakhataya. aisa maloom hota tha ki kiva d to d dalega. hasina ke chehare par ek rang ata tha, ek rang jata tha. bechari kh di kaanp rahi thi. bas, jaban se yahi nikalata tha, ‘ya allah, raham kar.‘

bahar se avaz aee--‘are, tum kya saresham se so geean ? abhi to ath bhi nahian baje. kahian saanp to nahian sooangh gaya. allah janata hai, ab aur der ki, to kiva d chi dava dalooanga.‘

maianne gi dagi dakar kaha, ‘khuda ke lie mere chhipane ki koee jagah batao. pichhava de koee daravaza nahian ?’

'na !'

'sandas to hai ?'

'sabase pahale vah vahian jayeange.'

'achchha, vah samane kothari kaisi hai ?'

'haan, hai to, lekin kahian kothari kholakar dekha to ?

'kya bahut dabal adami hai ?'

'tum jaise do ko bagal mean daba le.'

'to khol do kothari. vah jyoan hi andar ayega, maian daravaza kholakar nikal bhagooanga.'

hasina ne kothari khol di. maian andar ja ghusa. daravaza phir band ho gaya.

mujhe kothari mean band karake hasina ne jakar sadar daravaza khola aur boli, kyoan kiva d to de dalate ho ? a to rahi hooan.‘

maianne kothari ke kiva doan ke darajoan se dekha. adami kya poora dev tha. andar ate hi bola, ‘tum saresham se so gee thian !’

'haan, jara aankh lag gee thi.'

'mujhe to aisa maloom ho raha tha ki tum kisi se batean kar rahi ho.'

'vaham ki dava to lukaman ke pas bhi nahian.'

'maianne saf suna. koee-n-koee tha zaroor. tumane use kahian chhipa rakha hai.'

'inhian batoan par tumase mera ji jalata hai. sara ghar to p da hai, dekh kyoan nahian lete.'

'dekhooanga to maian zaroor hi, lekin tumase sidhe-sidhe poochhata hooan, batala do, kaun tha ?'

hasina ne kuanjiyoan ka guchchha pheankate hue kaha, ‘aur koee tha to ghar hi mean n hoga. lo, sab jagah dekh ao. suee to hai nahian ki maianne kahian chhipa di ho.‘

vah shaitan in chakamoan mean n aya. shayad pahale bhi aisa hi charaka kha chuka tha. kuanjiyoan ka guchchha uthakar sabase pahale meri kothari ke dvar par aya aur usake tale ko kholane ki koshish karane laga ! guchchhe mean

us tale ki kuanji n thi. bola, is kothari ki kuanji kahaan hai ? hasina ne banavati tajjub se kaha, ‘are, to kya usamean koee chhipa baitha hai ? vah to lak diyoan se bhari p di hai.‘

'tum kuanji de do n.'

'tum bhi kabhi-kabhi pagaloan ke-se kam karane lagate ho. aandhere mean koee saanp-bichchhoo nikal aye to. na bhaiya, maian usaki kuanji n dooangi.'

'bala se saanp nikal ayega. achchha hi ho, nikal aye. is behayaee ki zindagi se to maut hi achchhi !'

hasina ne idhar-udhar talash karake kaha, 'n jane usaki kuanji kahaan rakh di. khayal nahian ata.'

'is kothari mean to maianne aur kabhi tala nahian dekha.'

'maian to roj lagati hooan. shayad kabhi lagana bhool gee hooan, to nahian kah sakati.'

'to tum kuanji n dogi ?'

'kahati to hooan is vakt nahian mil rahi hai.'

'kahe deta hooan, kachcha hi kha jaooanga.'

ab tak to maian kisi tarah jabt kiye kh da raha. bar-bar apane oopar gussa a raha tha ki yahaan kyoan aya. n-jane yah shaitan kaise pesh aye. kahian taish mean akar mar hi n dale. mere hathoan mean to koee chhuri bhi nahian.

ya khuda ! ab too hi malik hai. dam roke hue kh da tha ki ek pal ka bhi mauqa mile, to nikal bhagooan; lekin jab us maradood ne kiva doan ko zor se dhamadhamana shuroo kiya, tab to rooh hi phana ho gee. idhar-udhar nigah dali ki kisi kone mean chhipane ki jagah hai, ya nahian. kiva d ke darajoan se kuchh roshani a rahi thi ! oopar jo nigah uthaee, to ek machan-sa dikhaee diya. doobate ko tinake ka sahara mil gaya. uchakakar chahata tha ki oopar chadh jaooan ki machan par ek adami ko baithe dekhakar us halat mean mere muanh se chikh nikal gee. yah hajarat achakan pahane, gh di lagaye, ek khoobasoorat safa baandh, ukadooan baithe hue the. ab mujhe maloom hua ki mere lie daravaza kholane mean hasina ne itani der kyoan ki thi. abhi inako dekh hi raha tha

ki daravaze par moosal ki chotean p dane lagian. mamooli kiva d to the hi, tin-char chotoan mean donoan kiva de niche a rahe aur vah maradood lalaten lie kamare mean ghusa. us vakt meri kya halat thi, isaka aandazap khud kar sakate haian. usane mujhe dekhate hi lalaten rakh di aur meri gardan pak dakar bola, ‘achchha, ap yahaan tashariph rakhate haian. aie, apaki kuchh khatir karooan. aise mehaman roj kahaan milate haian.‘

yah kahate hue usane mera ek hath pak dakar itane zor se bahar ki taraph dhakela ki maian aangan mean auandha ja gira. us shaitan ki aankhoan se aangare nikal rahe the. maloom hota tha, usake hoanth mera khoon choosane ke lie

badhe a rahe haian. maian abhi zamin se uthane bhi n paya tha ki vah kasaee ek b da-sa tej chhura lie meri garadan par a pahuancha; magar janab, hooan pulis ka adami. us vakt mujhe ek chal soojh gee. usane meri jan bacha li, varana aj apake sath taange par n baitha hota. maianne hath jo dakar kaha, ‘huzoor, maian bilakul bekasoor hooan. maian to mir sahab ke sath aya tha. usane garajakar poochha, qaun mir sahab ?’

maianne ji k da karake kaha, ‘vahi, jo machan par baithe hue haian. maian to huzoor ka gulam thahara, jahaan hukm paooanga,

unake sath jaooanga. meri isamean kya khata hai ?’

'achchha, to koee mir sahab machan par bhi tashariph rakhate haian ?'

usane mera hath pak d liya aur kothari mean jakar machan par dekha. vah hajarat simate-simataye, bhigi billi bane baithe the. chehara aisa pila p d gaya tha, goya badan mean jan hi nahian. usane unaka hath pak dakar ek jhataka diya, to ap dham-se niche a rahe. unaka thath dekhakar ab isamean koee shubaha n raha ki vah mere malik

haian. unaki soorat dekhakar us vakt taras ke sath hansi ati thi.

'too kaun hai be ?'

'ji, maian ... mera makan, yah adami jhootha hai, yah mera naukar nahian hai.'

'too yahaan kya karane aya tha ?'

'mujhe yahi badamash (meri taraph dekhakar) dhokha dekar laya tha.'

'yah kyoan nahian kahata ki maje u dane aya tha. doosaroan par iljam rakhakar apani jan bachana chahata hai, suar ? le, too bhi kya samajhega ki kisake pale p da tha.'

yah kahakar usane usi tej chhure se un sahab ki nak kat li. maian mauqa pakar betahasha bhaga, lekin hay-hay ki avaz mere kanoan mean a rahi thi. isake bad un donoan mean kaisi chhani, hasina ke sir par kya

aphat aee, isaki mujhe kuchh khabar nahian. maian tab se bisoan bar sadar a chuka hooan, par udhar bhoolakar bhi nahian gaya. yah patthar pheankanevale hajarat vahi haian, jinaki nak kati thi. aj n-jane kahaan se dikhaee p d gaye aur meri shamat aee ki unhean salam kar baitha. apane unaki nak ki taraph shayad khayal nahian kiya.‘

mujhe ab khayal aya ki us adami ki nak kuchh chipati thi.bola, ‘haan, nak kuchh chipati to thi. magar apane us garib ko bura charaka diya.‘

'aur karata hi kya ?'

'zaroor daba lete; magar chor ka dil adha hota hai. us vakt apani-apani p di thi ki mukabala karane ki soojhati. kahian us ramajhalle mean dhar liya jata, to abaroo alag jati aur naukari se alag hath dhota.

magar ab is adami se hoshiyar rahana p dega.'

itane mean chauk a gaya aur ham donoan ne apani-apani rah li.

sanbandhit lekh

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