दो बहनें- 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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donoan bahanean do sal ke bad ek tisare natedar ke ghar milian aur khoob ro-dhokar khush hueean to b di bahan roopakumari ne dekha ki chhoti bahan ramadulari sir se paanv tak gahanoan se ladi huee hai, kuchh usaka rang khul gaya hai, svabhav mean kuchh garima a gayi hai aur batachit karane mean zyada chatur ho gayi hai. kimati banarasi sa di aur beladar unnavi makhamal ke jampar ne usake roop ko aur bhi chamaka diya-vahi ramadulari, ladaqapan mean sir ke bal khole, phooh d-si idhar-udhar khela karati thi. antim bar roopakumari ne use usake vivah mean dekha tha, do sal pahale. tab bhi usaki shakl-soorat mean kuchh zyada antar n hua tha. lambi to ho gayi thi, magar thi utani hi dubali, utani hi phooh d, utani hi mandabuddhi. jara-jara si bat par roothane vali, magar aj to kuchh halat hi aur thi, jaise kali khil gayi ho aur yah roop isane chhipa kahaan rakha tha? nahian, aankhoan ko dhokha ho raha hai. yah roop nahian keval aankhoan ko lubhane ki shakti hai, resham aur makhamal aur sone ke bal par vah rooparekha tho de hi badal jaegi. phir bhi aankhoan mean samaee jati hai. pachchasoan striyaan jama haian, magar yah akarshan, yah jadoo aur kisi mean nahian.

kahian aeena milata to vah jara apani soorat bhi dekhati. ghar se chalate samay usane aeena dekha tha. apane roop ko chamakane ke lie jitana san chadha sakati thi, usase kuchh adhik hi chadhaya tha. lekin ab vah soorat jaise smriti se mit gayi hai, usaki dhuandhali-si parachhahian bhar hriday-pat par hai. use phir se dekhane ke lie vah bekarar ho rahi hai. vah ab tulanatmak drishti se dekhegi, ramadulari mean yah akarshan kahaan se aya, is rahasy ka pata lagaegi. yoan usake pas mekap ki samagriyoan ke sath chhota-sa aeena bhi hai, lekin bhi d-bha d mean vah aeena dekhane ya banav-siangar ki adi nahian hai. ye auratean dil mean n jane kya samajhean. magar yahaan koee aeena to hoga hi. draiang-room mean zaroor hi hoga. vah uthakar draanig-room mean gayi aur qaddeadam shishe mean apani soorat dekhi. vahaan is vakt aur koee n tha. mard bahar sahan mean the, auratean gane-bajane mean lagi huee thian. usane alochanatmak drishti se ek-ek aang ko, aangoan ke ek-ek vinyas ko dekha. usaka aang-vinyas, usaki mukhachhavi nishkalank hai. magar vah tajagi, vah madakata, vah madhury nahian hai. haan, nahian hai. vah apane ko dhokhe mean nahian dal sakati. karan kya hai? yahi ki ramadulari aj khili hai, use khile jamana ho gaya. lekin is khyal se usaka chitt shant nahian hota. vah ramadulari se hethi banakar nahian rah sakati. ye purush bhi kitane gavadi hote haian. kisi mean bhi sachche saundary ki parakh nahian. inhean to javani aur chanchalata aur hav-bhav chahie. aankhean rakhakar bhi andhe banate haian. bhala in batoan ka apase kya sambandh! ye to umr ke tamashe haian. asali roop to vah hai, jo samay ki paravah n kare. usake kap doan mean ramadulari ko kh da kar do, phir dekho, yah sara jadoo kahaan u d jata hai. chu dail-si najar aye. magar in andhoan ko kaun samajhaye. magar ramadulari ke gharavale to itane sampann n the. vivah mean jo jo de aur gahane aye the, ve to bahut hi nirashajanak the. khushahali ka doosara koee saman bhi n tha. isake sasur ek riyasat ke mukhtaram the, aur doolha kalej mean padhata tha. is do sal mean kahaan se yah hun baras gaya. kaun jane, gahane kahian se maang layi ho. kap de bhi maange ho sakate haian. kuchh auratoan ko apani haisiyat badhakar dikhane ki lat hoti hai. to vah svaang ramadulari ko mubarak rahe. maian jaisi hooan, vaisi achchhi hooan. pradarshan ka yah rog kitana badhata jata hai. ghar mean rotiyoan ka thikana nahian hai, mard 25-30 rupaye par qalam ghis raha hai; lekin deviji ghar se nikaleangi to is tarah ban-thanakar, manoan kahian ki rajakumari haian. bisatiyoan ke aur darajiyoan ke takaje saheangi, bajaj ke samane hath jo deangi, shauhar ki ghu dakiyaan khaeangi, roeangi, rootheangi, magar pradarshan ke unmad ko nahian rokatian. gharavale bhi sochate hoange, kitani chhichhori tabiyat hai isaki! magar yahaan to deviji ne behayaee par kamar baandh li hai. koee kitana hi hanse, behaya ki bala door. unhean to bas yahi dhun savar hai ki jidhar se nikal jaean, udhar log hriday par hath rakhakar rah jaean. ramadulari ne zaroor kisi se gahane aur jevar maang liye besharm jo hai!

usake chehare par atm-samman ki lali dau d gayi. n sahi usake pas jevar aur kap de. use kisi ke samane lajjit to nahian hona p data! kisi se muanh to nahian churana p data. ek-ek lakh ke to usake do l dake haian. bhagavanh unhean chirayu kare, vah isi mean khush hai. khud achchha pahan lene aur achchha kha lene se jivan ka uddeshy nahian poora ho jata. usake gharavale garib haian, par unaki ijjat to hai, kisi ka gala to nahian dabate, kisi ka shap to nahian lete!

is tarah apane man ko dhadhas dekar vah phir baramade mean ayi, to ramadulari ne jaise use daya ki aankhoan se dekhakar kaha-jijaji ki kuchh taraqqi-varakki huee ki nahian bahan! ya abhi tak vahi 75 rupaye par kalam ghis rahe haian?

roopakumari ki deh mean ag-si lag gayi. ophphoh re dimag! manoan isaka pati lat hi to hai. akadaqar boli-taraqqi kyoan nahian huee. ab sau ke gred mean haian. ajakal yah bhi ganimat hai, nahian achchhe-achchhe em0e0 pasoan ko dekhati hooan ki koee take ko nahian poochhata. tera shauhar to ab bi0e0 mean hoga?

ramadulari ne nak sikodaqar kaha-unhoanne to padhऩa chho d diya bahan, padhaqar aukat kharab karana tha aur kya. ek kampani ke ejent ho gaye haian. ab dhaee sau rupaye mahavar pate haian. kamishan oopar se. paanch rupaye roj saphar-kharch ke bhi milate haian. yah samajh lo ki paanch sau ka ausat p d jata hai. dedh sau mahavar to unaka nij kharch hai bahan! ooanche ohade ke lie achchhi haisiyat bhi to chahie. sadhe tin sau bedag ghar de dete haian. usamean se sau rupaye mujhe milate haian, dhaee sau mean ghar ka kharch khushaphaili se chal jata hai. em0e0 pas karake kya karate!

roopakumari is kathan ko shekhachilli ki dastan se zyada mahatv nahian dena chahati, magar ramadulari ke lahaje mean itani vishvasotpadakata hai ki vah apani nimn chetana mean usase prabhavit ho rahi hai aur usake mukh par parajay ki khinnata saf jhalak rahi hai. magar yadi use bilakul pagal nahian ho jana hai to is jvala ko hriday se nikal dena p dega. jirah karake apane man ko vishvas dilana p dega ki isake kavy mean ek chauthaee se zyada saty nahian hai. ek chauthaee tak vah sah sakati hai. isase zyada usase n saha jaega. isake sath hi usake dil mean dhadaqan bhi hai ki kahian yah katha saty nikali to vah ramadulari ko kaise muanh dikhaegi. use bhay hai ki kahian usaki aankhoan se aansoo n nikal p dean. kahaan pachhattar aur kahaan paanch sau! itani b di rakam atma ki hatya karake bhi kyoan n mile, phir bhi roopakumari ke lie asahy hai. atma ka mooly adhik se adhik sau rupaye ho sakata hai. paanch sau kisi halat mean bhi nahian.

usane parihas ke bhav se poochha-jab ejenti mean itana vetan aur bhatta milata hai to ye sare kalej band kyoan nahian ho jate? hajaroan l dake kyoan apani zindagi kharab karate haian?

ramadulari bahan ke khisiyanepan ka anand uthati huee boli-bahan, tum yahaan bhool kar rahi ho. em0e0 to sabhi pas ho sakate haian, magar ejenti birale hi kisi ko ati hai. yah to eeshvar ki den hai. koee zindagi-bhar padhata rahe, magar yah zaroori nahian ki vah vah achchha ejent bhi ho jae. rupaye paida karana doosari bat hai. alim-fazil ho jana doosari bat. apane mal ki shreshthata ka vishvas paida kar dena, yah dil mean jama dena ki isase sasta aur tikaoo mal bazar mean mil hi nahian sakata, asan kam nahian haian ek-se-ek ghaghoan se unaka sabaka p data hai. b de-b de rajaoan aur reesoan ka mat pherana p data hai, tab jake kahian mal bikata hai. mamooli adami to rajaoan aur navaboan ke samane hi n ja sake. pahuanch hi n ho. aur kisi tarah pahuanch bhi jay to jaban n khule. pahale-pahale to inhean bhi jhijhak huee thi, magar ab to is sagar ke magar haian. agale sal taraqqi hone vali hai.

roopakumari ki dhamaniyoan mean rakt ki gati jaise band huee ja rahi hai. nirdayi akash gir kyoan nahian p data! pashan-hridaya dharati phat kyoan nahian jati! yah kahaan ka nyay hai ki roopakumari jo roopavati hai, tamizadar hai, sugh d hai, pati par jan deti hai, bachchoan ko pranoan se zyada chahati hai, tho de mean grihasthi ko itane achchhe dhang se chalati hai, usaki to yah durgati, aur yah ghamandin, badatamij, vilasini, chanchal, muanhaphat chhokari, jo abhi tak sir khole ghooma karati thi, rani ban jae? magar use ab bhi kuchh asha baki thi. shayad age chalakar usake chitt ki shanti ka koee marg nikal aye.

usi parihas ke svar mean boli-tab to shayad ek hazar milane lagean?

‘ek hazar to nahian, par chh: sau mean sandeh nahian?’

‘koee aankhoan ka andha malik phans gaya hoga?’

vyapari aankhoan ke andhe nahian hote didi! unaki aankhean hamari-tumhari aankhoan se kahian tej hoti haian. jab tum unhean chh: hazar kamakar do, tab kahian chh: sau milean. jo sari duniya ko charaye use kaun bevakooph banaega.’

parihas se kam n chalate dekhakar roopakumari ne apaman ka astr nikala-maian to ise bahut achchha pesha nahian samajhati. sare din jhooth ke toomar baandho. yah to thag-vidya hai!

ramadulari zor se hansi. bahan par usane poori vijay payi thi.

‘is tarah to jitane vakil-bairistar haian; sabhi thag-vidya karate haian. apane muvakkil ke phayade ke lie unhean kya nahian karana p data? jhoothi shahadatean tak banani p dati haian. magar unhian vakiloan aur bairistaroan ko ham apana lidar kahate haian, unhean apani kaumi sabhaoan ka pradhan banate haian, unaki gadiy़aan khianchate haian, un par phooloan aur asharphiyoan ki varsha karate haian, unake nam se sadaqean, pratimaean aur sansthaean banate haian. ajakal duniya paisa dekhati hai. ajakal hi kyoan? hamesha se dhan ki yahi mahima rahi hai. paise kaise aean, yah koee nahian dekhata. jo paise vala hai, usi ki pooja hoti hai. jo abhage haian, ayogy haian, ya bhiru haian, ve atma aur sadachar ki duhaee dekar apane aansoo poanchhate haian. nahian, atma aur sadachar ko kaun poochhata hai.’

roopakumari khamosh ho gayi. ab use yah saty usaki sari vedanaoan ke sath svikar karana p dega ki ramadulari sabase zyada bhagyavan hai. isase ab tran nahian. parihas ya anadar se vah apani tangadili ka praman dene ke siva aur kya paegi. use kisi bahane se ramadulari ke ghar jakar asaliyat ki chhan-bin karani p degi. agar ramadulari vastav mean lakshmi ka varadan pa gayi hai to roopakumari apani kismat thoankakar baith rahegi. samajh legi ki duniya mean kahian nyay nahian hai, kahian eemanadari ki poochh nahian hai.

magar kya sachamuch use is vichar se santosh hoga? yahaan kaun eemanadar hai? vahi, jise beeemani karane ka avasar nahian hai aur n itani buddhi ya manobal hai ki vah avasar paida kar le. usake pati 75 rupaye pate haian; par kya das-bis rupaye aur oopar se mil jaean to vah khush hokar le n leange? unaki eemanadari aur satyavadita usi samay tak hai, jab tak avasar nahian milata. jis din mauqa mila, sari satyavadita dhari rah jaegi. aur kya roopakumari mean itana naitik bal hai ki vah apane pati ko haram ka mal hazam karane se rok de? rokana to door ki bat hai, vah prasann hogi, shayad patidev ki pith thokegi. abhi unake daftar se ane ke samay vah man mare baithi rahati hai. tab vah dvar par kh di hokar unaki bat johegi, aur jyoanhi vah ghar mean aeange, unaki jeboan ki talashi legi.

aangan mean gana-bajana ho raha tha. ramadulari umang ke sath ga rahi thi, aur roopakumari vahian baramade mean udas baithi huee thi. n jane kyoan usake sir mean dard hone laga tha. koee gaye, koee nache, usase prayojan nahian. vah to abhagin hai. rone ke lie paida ki gayi hai.

nau baje rat ko mehaman rukhsat hone lage. roopakumari bhi uthi. ekka mॅangavane ja rahi thi ki ramadulari ne kaha-ekka mangavakar kya karogi bahan, mujhe lene ke lie kar ati hogi; chalo do-char din mere yahaan raho, phir chali jana. maian jijaji ko kahala bhejooangi tumhara intajar n karean.

roopakumari ka yah antim astr bhi bekar ho gaya. ramadulari ke ghar jakar halachal ki tol lene ki ichchha gayab ho gayi. vah ab apane ghar jaegi aur muanh dhaanpakar p di rahegi. in phatehaloan mean kyoan kisi ke ghar jae. boli-nahian, abhi to mujhe phurasat nahian hai, bachche ghabara rahe hoange. phir kabhi aooangi.

‘kya rat-bhar bhi n thaharogi?’

‘nahian.’

‘achchha batao, kab aogi? maian savari bhej dooangi.’

‘maian khud kahala bhejooangi.’

‘tumhean yad n rahegi. sal-bhar ho gaya, bhoolakar bhi yad n kiya. maian isi intajar mean thi ki didi bulavean to chalooan. ek hi shahar mean rahate haian, phir bhi itani door ki sal bhar gujar jae aur mulakat tak n ho.’

roopakumari isake siva aur kya kahe ki ghar ke kamoan se chhutti nahian milati. kee bar usane irada kiya ki dulari ko bulaye, magar avasar hi n mila.

sahasa ramadulari ke pati mi. gurusevak ne akar b di sali ko salam kiya. bilakul aangareji saj-dhaj, muanh mean churut, kalaee par sone ki gh di, aankhoan par sunahari ainak, jaise koee siviliyan ho. chehare se jehanat aur sharaphat baras rahi thi. vah itana roopavanh aur sajila hai, roopakumari ko anuman n tha. kap de jaise usaki deh par khil rahe the.

ashirvad dekar boli-aj yahaan n ati to mujhase mulakat kyoan hoti!

gurusevak hansakar bola-yah ulati shikayat! kyoan n ho. kabhi apane bulaya aur maian n gaya?

‘maian nahian janati thi ki tum apane ko mehaman samajhate ho. vah bhi to tumhara hi ghar hai.’

ramadulari dekh rahi thi ki man mean usase eeshrya rakhate hue bhi vah kitani vani-madhur, kitani snigdh, kitani anugrah-prarthini hoti ja rahi hai.

gurusevak ne udar man se kaha-haan, ab man gaya bhabhi sahab, beshak meri galati hai. is drishti se maianne vichar nahian kiya tha. magar aj to mere ghar rahie.

‘nahian aj bilakul avakash nahian hai. phir kabhi aooangi. l dake ghabara rahe hoange.’

ramadulari boli-maian kitana kahake har gayi, manati hi nahian.

donoan bahanean kar ki pichhali sit par baithian. gurusevak draiv karata hua chala. jara der mean usaka makan a gaya. ramadulari ne phir bahan se utarane ke lie agrah kiya, par vah n mani. l dake ghabara rahe hoange. akhir ramadulari usase gale milakar andar chali gayi. gurusevak ne kar badhayi. roopakumari ne u dati huee nigah se ramadulari ka makan dekha aur vah thos saty ek shalaka ki bhaanti usake kaleje mean chubh gaya.

kuchh door jakar gurusevak bola-bhabhi, maianne to apane lie achchha rasta nikal liya. agar do-char sal isi tarah kam karata raha to adami ban jaooanga.

roopakumari ne sahanubhooti ke sath kaha-ramadulari ne mujhase bataya tha. bhagavanh kare, jahaan raho, khush raho. magar jara hath-pair sanbhal ke rahana.

‘maian malik ki aankh bachakar ek paisa bhi lena pap samajhata hooan, bhabhi. daulat ka maja to tabhi hai ki eeman salamat rahe. eeman khokar paise mile to kya! maian aisi daulat ko tyajy samajhata hooan, aur aankh kisaki bachaooan. sab siyah-suphed to mere hath mean hai. malik to raha nahian, keval usaki beva hai. usane sab kuchh mere hath mean chho d rakha hai. maianne usaka karobar sanbhal n liya hota to sab kuchh chaupat ho jata. mere samane to malik sirph tin mahine zinda rahe. magar adami ko parakhana khoob janate the. mujhe 100 rupaye par rakha aur ek mahine mean 200 rupaye kar diya. ap logoan ki dua se pahale hi mahine mean maianne barah hazar ka kam kiya.’

‘kya kam karana p data hai?’ roopakumari ne bina kisi uddeshy ke poochha.

‘vahi mashinoan ki ejenti’ tarah-tarah ki mashinean mangana aur bechana.-thanda javab tha.

roopakumari ka manahoos ghar a gaya. dvar par ek lalaten timatima rahi thi. usake pati umanath dvar par tahal rahe the. magar roopakumari ne gurusevak se utarane ke lie agrah nahian kiya. ek bar shishtachar ke nate kaha zaroor par zor nahian diya, aur umanath to gurusevak se mukhatib bhi n hue.

roopakumari ko vah ghar ab qabristan-sa lag raha tha, jaise phoota hua bhagy ho. n kahian pharsh, n pharanichar, n gamale. do-char tooti-tati tipaiyaan, ek lang di mej, char-paanch purani-purani khatean, yahi us ghar ki bisat thi. aj subah tak roopakumari isi ghar mean khush thi. lekin ab yah ghar use kate kha raha hai. l dake ammaan-ammaan karake dau de, magar usane donoan ko jhidaq diya. usake sir mean dard hai, vah kisi se n bolegi, koee use n chhe de. abhi ghar mean khana nahian paka. pakata kaun? ladaqoan ne to doodh pi liya hai, kintu umanath ne kuchh nahian khaya. isi intajar mean the ki roopakumari aye to pakaye. par roopakumari ke sir mean dard hai. majaboor hokar bazar se pooriyaan lani p deangi.

roopakumari ne tiraskar ke svar mean kaha-tum ab tak mera intajar kyoan karate rahe? maianne to khana pakane ki naukari nahian likhayi hai, aur jo rat ko vahian rah jati? akhir tum koee maharajin kyoan nahian rakh lete? kya zindagi bhar mujhi ko pisate rahoge?

umanath ne usaki taraph ahat vismay ki aankhoan se dekha. usake bigadऩe ka koee karan unaki samajh mean n aya. roopakumari se unhoanne hamesha nirapad sahayog paya hai, nirapad hi nahian, sahanubhootipoorn bhi. unhoanne kee bar usase maharajin rakh lene ka prastav khud kiya tha, par usane barabar yahi javab diya ki akhir mean baithe-baithe kya karooangi? char-paanch rupaye ka kharch badhane se kya fayada? yah paise to bachchoan ke makkhan mean kharch hote haian.

aur aj vah itani nirmamata se ulahana de rahi hai, jaise gusse mean bhari ho.

apani saphaee dete hue bole-maharajin rakhane ke lie to maianne khud tumase kee bar kaha.

‘to lakar rakh kyoan n diya? maian use nikal deti to kahate!’

‘haan yah galati huee.’

‘tumane kabhi sachche dil se nahian kaha, roopakumari ne aur bhi prachand hokar kaha-tumane keval mera man lene ke lie kaha. maian aisi bholi nahian hooan ki tumhare man ka rahasy n samajhooan. tumhare dil mean kabhi mere aram ka vichar aya hi nahian. tum to khush the ki achchhi lauandi mil gayi hai. ek roti khati hai aur chupachap p di rahati hai. mahaj khane aur kap de par. yah bhi jab ghar ki zarooratoan se bache. pachahattar rupalliyaan lakar mere hath par rakh dete ho aur sari duniya ka kharch. mera dil hi janata hai, mujhe kitani katar-vyoant karani p dati hai. kya pahanooan aur kya odhooan! tumhare sath zindagi kharab ho gayi! sansar mean aise mard bhi haian, jo stri ke lie asaman ke tare to d late haian. gurusevak hi ko dekho, door kyoan jao. tumase kam padha hai, umr mean tumase kahian kam hai, magar paanch sau ka mahina lata hai, aur ramadulari rani bani baithi rahati hai. tumhare lie yahi 75 rupaye bahut haian. raan d maan d mean hi magan! tum nahak mard hue, tumhean to aurat hona chahie tha. auratoan ke dil mean kaise-kaise araman hote haian. magar maian to tumhare lie ghar ki murgi ka basi sag hooan. tumhean to koee takaliph hoti nahian. tumhean to kap de bhi achchhe chahie, khana bhi achchha chahie, kyoanki purush ho, bahar se kamakar late ho. maian chahe jaise rahooan tumhari bala se.’

vagbanoan ka yah silasila kee minat tak jari raha, aur umanath chupachap sunate rahe. apani jan mean unhoanne roopakumari ko shikayat ka kabhi mauqa nahian diya. unaka vetan kam hai, yah saty hai, par yah unake bas ki bat to nahian. vah dil lagakar apana kam karate haian, aphasaroan ko khush rakhane ki sadaiv cheshta karate haian isi sal b de baboo ke chhote suputr ko chh: mahine tak bina naga padhaya, isilie to ki vah prasann rahean. ab vah aur kya karean. roopakumari ki khafagi ka rahasy vah samajh gaye. agar gurusevak vastav mean paanch sau rupaye lata hai to beshak vah bhagy ka bali hai. lekin doosaroan ki ooanchi peshani dekhakar apana matha to nahian pho da jata. kisi sanyog se use yah avasar mil gaya. magar har ek ko to aise avasar nahian milate. vah isaka pata lagaeange ki sachamuch use paanch sau hi milate haian, ya mahaj diang hai. aur man liya ki paanch sau milate haian, to kya isase roopakumari ko yah hak hai ki vah unako tane de, aur unhean jali-kati sunaye. agar isi tarah vah bhi roopakumari se zyada roopavati aur sushila ramani ko dekhakar roopakumari ko kosana shuroo karean to kaisa ho! roopakumari sundari hai, mridubhashini hai, tyagamayi hai lekin usase badhaqar sundari, mridubhashini tyagamayi deviyoan se duniya khali nahian hai. to kya is karan vah roopakumari ka anadar karean?

ek samay tha, jab unaki najaroan mean roopakumari se zyada roopavati ramani sansar mean n thi; lekin vah unmad kab ka shant ho gaya. bhavukata ke sansar se vastavik jivan mean aye unhean ek yug bit gaya. ab to vivahit jivan ka unhean kafi anubhav ho gaya hai. ek ko doosare ke gun-dosh maloom ho gaye haian. ab to santosh hi mean unaka jivan sukhi rah sakata hai. magar roopakumari samajhadar hokar bhi itani moti-si bat nahian samajhati!

phir bhi unhean roopakumari se sahanubhooti hi huee. vah udar prakriti ke adami the aur kalpanashil bhi. usaki katu batoan ka kuchh javab n diya. sharbat ki tarah pi gaye. apani bahan ke thath dekhakar ek kshan ke lie roopakumari ke man mean aise nirashajanak, anyayapoorn, du:khad bhavoan ka uthana bilakul svabhavik hai. roopakumari koee sannyasini nahian, viragini nahian ki har ek dasha mean avichalit rahe.

is tarah apane man ko samajhakar umanath ne gurusevak ke vishay mean tahakikat karane ka sankalp kiya.

2

ek saptah tak roopakumari manasik ashanti ki dasha mean rahi. bat-bat par jhuanjhalati, ladaqoan ko daantati; pati ko kosati, apane nasiboan ko roti. ghar ka kam to karana hi p data tha, lekin ab is kam mean use anand n ata tha. begar-si talati thi. ghar ki jin purani-dhurani chijoan se usaka atmiy sambandh-sa ho gaya tha, jinaki saphaee aur sajavat mean vah vyast raha karati thi, unaki taraph ab aankh uthakar bhi n dekhati. ghar mean ek hi khidamatagar tha. usane jab dekha, bahooji ghar ki taraph se khud hi laparavah haian to use kya garaj thi ki saphaee karata. jo chiz jahaan p di thi, vahian p di rahati. kaun uthakar thikane se rakhe. bachche maan se bolate darate the, aur umanath to usake saye se bhagate the. jo kuchh samane thali mean a jata use pet mean dal lete aur daftar chale jate. daftar se lautakar donoan bachchoan ko sath le lete aur kahian ghoomane nikal jate. roopakumari se kuchh kahana barood mean diyasalaee lagana tha. haan, unaki yah tahaqikat jari thi.

ek din umanath daftar se laute to unake sath gurusevak bhi the. roopakumari ne aj kee dinoan ke bad paristhiti se sahayog kar liya tha aur is vakt jhadऩ lie kurasiyaan aur tipaiyaan saf kar rahi thi, ki gurusevak ne andar pahuanchakar salam kiya. roopakumari dil mean kat gayi. umanath par aisa krodh aya ki usaka muanh noch le. inhean lakar yahaan kyoan kh da kar diya? n kahana, n sunana, bas bula laye. use is dasha mean dekhakar gurusevak dil mean kya kahata hoga. magar inhean akl ayi hi kab thi. vah apana parada dhaankati phirati hai aur ap use kholate phirate haian. jara bhi lajja nahian. jaise behayaee ka bana pahan liya hai. barabas usaka apaman karate haian. n jane usane unaka kya biga da hai?

ashirvad dekar kushal-samachar poochha aur kurasi rakh di. gurusevak ne baithate hue kaha-aj bhaee sahab ne meri davat ki hai, maian unaki davat par to n ata; lekin jab unhoanne kaha, tumhari bhabhi ka k da takaja hai, tab mujhe samay nikalana p da tha.

roopakumari ne bat banayi. ghar ka kalah chhipana p da-tumase us din kuchh batachit n ho payi. ji laga hua tha.

gurusevak ne kamare ke charoan taraph najar dau dakar kaha-is pianj de mean to ap logoan ko b di takaliph hoti hogi?

roopakumari ko jnat hua, yah yuvak kitana suruchihin, kitana arasik hai. doosaroan ke manobhavoan ka adar karana jaise janata hi nahian. ise itani-si bat bhi nahian maloom ki duniya mean sabhi bhagyashali nahian hote. lakhoan mean ek hi kahian bhagyavanh nikalata hai. aur use bhagyavanh hi kyoan kaha jae? jahaan bahutoan ko dana n mayassar ho, vahaan tho de se adamiyoan ke bhog-vilas mean kaun-sa saubhagy! jahaan bahut-se adami bhookhoan mar rahe hoan, vahaan do-char adami mohanabhog u dayean to yah unaki behayaee aur hridayahinata hai, saubhagy kabhi nahian.

kuchh chidhaqar boli-pianj de mean kathaghare mean rahane se achchha hai. pianj de mean nirih pakshi rahate haian, kathaghara to ghatak jantuoan ka hi nivas sthan hai.

gurusevak shayad yah sanket n samajh saka, bola-mera to is ghar mean dam ghut jae. maian apake lie apane ghar ke pas hi ek makan thik kara dooanga. khoob lamba-chau da. apase kuchh kiraya n liya jaega. makan hamari malakin ka hai. maian bhi usi ke ek makan mean rahata hooan. saik doan makan haian unake pas, saik doan. sab mere akhtiyar mean hai. jise jo makan chahooan, de dooan. mere akhtiyar mean hai. kiraya looan ya n looan. maian apake lie sabase achchha makan thik karooanga. maian apaka bahut adab karata hooan.

roopakumari samajh gayi, mahashay is vakt nashe mean haian. abhi yoan bahak rahe haian. ab usane gaur se dekha to unaki aankhean siku d gayi thian, gal kuchh phool gaye the. jaban bhi ladakh dane lagi thi. ek javan, khoobasoorat sharif chehara kuchh aisa shekhibaj aur nirlajj ho gaya ki use dekhakar ghrina hoti thi.

usane ek kshan bad phir bahakana shuroo kiya-maian apaka bahut adab karata hooan, ji haan! ap meri b di bhabhi haian. apake lie meri jan hajir hai. apake lie ek makan nahian, sau makan taiyar haian. maian misej lohiya ka mukhtar hooan. sab kuchh mere hath mean hai. sab kuchh, maian jo kuchh kahata hooan, vah aankhean band karake manjoor kar leti haian. mujhe apana beta samajhati haian. maian usaki sari jayadad ka malik hooan. (mi0 lohiya ne mujhe 20 rupaye par rakha, 20 rupaye par. vah b da maladar tha. magar kisi ko nahian maloom; usaki daulat kahaan se ati thi kisi ko nahian maloom. mere siva koee nahian janata. vah khuphiyapharosh tha. kisi se kahana nahian. vah chori se kokin bechata tha. lakhoan ki amadani thi usaki. ab vahi vyapar maian karata hooan. har shahar mean hamare khuphiya ejent haian. mi0 lohiya ne mujhe is phan mean ustad bana diya. ji haan! majal nahian ki mujhe koee giraphtar kar le, b de-b de aphasaroan se mera yarana hai. unake muanh mean notoan ke pulinde thooans-thooansakar unaki avaz band kar deta hooan. koee chooan nahian kar sakata. din-daha de bechata hooan. hisab mean likhata hooan, ek hazar rishvat di. deta hooan, paanch sau. baki yaroan ka hai. bedareg rupaye ate haian aur bedareg kharch karata hooan. budhiy़a ko to ram nam se matalab hai. sattar choohe khake ab haj karane chali hai. koee mera hath pakadऩe vala nahian, koee bolane vala nahian, (jeb se notoan ka ek bandal nikalakar) yah apake charanoan ki bheant hai. mujhe dua dijie ki isi shan se zindagi kat jay jo atma aur sadachar ke upasak haian unhean kuber latean marata hai. lakshmi unako pak dati hai, jo usake lie apana din aur eeman sab kuchh chhodऩe ko taiyar haian. mujhe bura n kahie. maian kaun maladar hooan? jitane dhani haian, ve sab-ke-sab lutere haian, pakke lutere, dakoo. kal mere pas rupaye ho jaean aur maian ek dharmashala banava dooan. phir dekhie meri kitani vah-vah hoti hai. kaun poochhata hai, mujhe daulat kahaan se mili. jis mahatma ko kahie, bulakar usase prashansa karava looan. mi0 lohiya ko mahatmaoan ne dharm bhooshan ki upadhi di thi, in svarthi, pet ke bandaroan ne. us buddhe ko jisase b da kukarmi sansar mean n hoga. yahaan to loot hai. ek vakil adh ghanta bahas karake paanch sau mar leta hai, ek daktar jara-sa nashtar lagakar ek hazar sidha kar leta hai, ek juari spekuleshan mean ek-ek din mean lakhoan ka vara-nyara karata hai. agar unaki amadani jayaj hai to meri amadani bhi jayaj hai. ji haan, jayaj hai, meri nigah mean b de-se-b de maladar ki bhi koee ijjat nahian. maian janata hooan, vah kitana b da hathakandebaj hai. yahaan jo adami aankhoan mean dhool jhoank sake, vahi saphal hai! gariboan ko lootakar maladar ho jana samaj ki purani paripati hai. maian bhi vahi karata hooan, jo doosare karate haian. jivan ka uddeshy hai aisa karana. khoob lootooanga, khoob aish karooanga aur budhape mean khoob khairat karooanga. aur ek din lidar ban jaooanga. kahie gina dooan. yahaan kitane log jua khel-khalakar karo dapati ho gaye, kitane auratoan ka bazar lagakar karo dapati ho gaye ....

sahasa umanath ne akar kaha-mi0 gurusevak, kya kar rahe ho? chalo chay pi lo. thandi ho rahi hai.

gurusevak aisa h dab da utha, mano apane sachet rahane ka praman dena chahata ho. magar paanv ladakh daye aur zamin par gir p da. phir sanbhalakar utha aur jhoomata-jhoomata, thokarean khata, bahar chala gaya. roopakumari ne azadi ki saans li. yahaan baithe-baithe use hauladil-sa ho raha tha. kamare ki hava jaise kuchh bhari ho gayi thi. jo preranaean kee din se achchhe-achchhe manohar roop bharakar usake man mean a rahi thian, aj use unaka asali vibhats, ghinavana roop najar aya. jis tyag, sadagi aur sadhuta ke vatavaran mean ab tak usaki zindagi gujari thi, usamean is tarah ke daanv-peanch, chhal-kapat aur patit svarth ka ghusana bilakul aisa hi tha, jaise kisi bag mean saan doan ka ek jhund ghus aye. in damoan vah duniya ki sari daulat aur sara aish kharidane ko bhi taiyar n ho sakati thi. nahian, ab ramadulari ke bhagy se apane bhagy ka badala n karegi. vah apane hal mean khush hai. ramadulari par use daya ayi, jo bhog-vilas ki dhun aur amir kahalane ke moh mean apani atma ka sarvanash kar rahi hai. magar vah bechari bhi kya kare? aur gurusevak ka bhi kya dosh hai. jis samaj mean daulat pujati hai, jahaan manushy ka mol usake baiank-ekaunt aur tim-tam se aanka jata hai, jahaan pag-pag par pralobhanoan ka jal bichha hua hai aur samaj ki kuvyavastha adami mean eeshrya, dvesh, apaharan aur nichata ke bhavoan ko ukasati aur ubharati rahati hai, gurusevak aur ramadulari us jal mean phans jaean, us pravah mean bah jaean to koee acharaj nahian.

usi vakt umanath ne akar kaha-gurusevak yahaan baitha-baitha kya bahak raha tha? maianne to use vida kar diya. ji darata tha, kahian pulis usake pichhe n lagi ho, nahian to maian bhi gehooan ke sath ghun ki tarah pis jaooan.

ramakumari ne kshama-prarthi netroan se unhean dekhakar javab diya-vahi apani khufiyafaroshi ki diang mar raha tha.

‘mujhe bhi misej lohiya se milane ko kah gaya.’

‘ji nahian, ap apani klarki kiye jaie. isi mean hamara kalyan hai.’

‘magar klarki mean vah aish kahaan? kyoan n sal-bhar ki chhutti lekar jara us duniya ki bhi sair karooan!’

‘mujhe ab us aish ka moh nahian raha.’

‘dil se kahati ho?’

‘sachche dil se.’

umanath ek minat tak chup rahane ke bad phir bole-maian akar tumase yah vrittant kahata to tumhean vishvas ata ya nahian, sach kahana?

‘kabhi nahian, maian to kalpana hi nahian kar sakati ki apane svarth ke lie koee adami duniya ko vish khila sakata hai!’

‘mujhe sara hal pulis ke sab insapektar se maloom ho gaya tha. maianne use khoob sharab pila di thi ki nashe mean bahakega zaroor aur sab kuchh ugal dega.’

‘lalachata to tumhara ji bhi tha.’

‘haan lalachata to tha, aur ab bhi lalach raha hai. magar aish karane ke lie jis hunar ki zaroorat hai, vah kahaan se laooanga?’

‘eeshvar n kare, vah hunar tumamean aye. mujhe to us bechare par taras ati hai. maloom nahian khairiyat se ghar pahuanch gaya ya nahian!’

‘usaki kar thi. koee chinta nahian.’

roopakumari ek kshan zamin ki taraph takati rahi. phir boli-tum mujhe dulari ke ghar pahuancha do. abhi shayad maian usaki kuchh madad kar sakooan. jis bag ki vah sair kar rahi hai usake charoan or nishachar ghat lagaye baithe haian. shayad maian use bacha sakooan.

umanath ne dekha, usaki chhavi kitani daya-pulakit ho uthi hai.

sanbandhit lekh

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