नागपूजा -प्रेमचंद

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

pratahkal tha. ashadh ka pahala dauang da nikal gaya tha. kit-patang charoan taraph reangate dikhayi dete the. tilottama ne vatika ki or dekha to vriksh aur paudhe aise nikhar gaye the jaise sabun se maile kap de nikhar jate haian. un par ek vichitr adhyatmik shobha chhayi huee thi mano yogivar anand mean magn p de hoan. chi diyoan mean asadharan chanchalata thi. dal-dal, pat-pat chahakati phirati thian. tilottama bag mean nikal ayi. vah bhi inhian pakshiyoan ki bhaanti chanchal ho gayi thi. kabhi kisi paudhe ko dekhati, kabhi kisi phool par p di huee jal ki booandoan ko hilakar apane muanh par unake shital chhiante dalati. lal birabahootiyaan reang rahi thian. vah unhean chunakar hatheli par rakhane lagi. sahasa use ek kala brihatkay saanp reangata dikhayi diya. usane chilla kar kaha-ammaan, nag ji ja rahe haian. lao tho da-sa doodh unake lie katore mean rakh dooan.

ammaan ne kaha-jane do beti, hava khane nikale hoange.

tilottama-garmiyoan mean kahaan chale jate haian? dikhayi nahian dete.

maan-kahian jate nahian beti, apani baanbi mean p de rahate haian.

tilottama-aur kahian nahian jate?

maan-beti hamare devata haian, aur kahian kyoan jayange? tumhare janm ke sal se ye barabar yahian dikhayi dete haian? kisi se nahian bolate. bachcha pas se nikal jay, par jara bhi nahian takate. aj tak koee chuhiya bhi nahian pak di.

tilottama-to khate kya hoange?

maan-beti, yah log hava par rahate haian. isi se inaki atma divy ho jati hai. apane poovarjanm ki batean inhean yad rahati haian. anevali batoan ko bhi janate haian. koee b da yogi jab ahankar karane lagata hai to use dandasvaroop is yoni mean janm lena p data hai. jab tak prayashchitt poora nahian hota, tab tak vah is yoni mean rahata hai. koee-koee to sau-sau, do-do sau varsh tak jite rahate haian.

tilottama-inaki pooja n karo, to kya karean.

maan-beti kaisi bachchoan ki-si batean karati ho. naraz jo jayan to sir par n jane kya vipatti a p de. tere janm ke sal pahale-pahal dikhayi diye the. tab se sal mean das-paanch bar avashy darshan de jate haian. inaka aisa prabhav hai ki aj tak kisi ke sir mean dard tak nahian hua.

2

kee varsh ho gaye. tilottama balika se yuvati huee. vivah ka shubh avasar a pahuancha. barat ayi, vivah hua, tilottama ke pati-grih jane ka muhoortt a pahuancha.

nayi vadhoo ka shrriangar ho raha tha. bhitar-bahar halachal machi huee thi, aisa jan p data tha bhagad d p di huee hai. tilottama ke hriday mean viyog-duahkh ki tarangean uth rahi haian. vah ekaant mean baith kar rona chahati hai. aj mata-pita, bhaeeband, sakhiyaan-saheliyaan sab chhoot jayeangi. phir maloom nahian kab milane ka sanyog ho. n jane ab kaise adamiyoan se pala p dega. n jane unaka svabhav kaisa hoga. n jane kaisa bartav kareange. ammaan ki aankhean ek kshan bhi n thameangi. maian ek din ke lie kahian chali jati thi to ve ro-rokar vyathit ho jati thian. ab yah jivanaparyant ka viyog kaise saheangi? unake sir mean dard hota tha to jab tak maian dhire-dhire n malooan, unhean kisi tarah kal-chain hi n p dati thi. baboo ji ko pan banakar kaun dega? maian jab tak unaka bhojan n banaooan, unhean koee chiz ruchati hi n thi? ab unaka bhojan kaun banayega? mujhase inako dekhe bina kaise raha jayega? yahaan jara sir mean dard bhi hota tha to ammaan aur baboo ji ghabara jate the. turant vaidy-hakim a jate the. vahaan n jane kya hal hoga. bhagavanh band ghar mean kaise raha jayega? n jane vahaan khuli chhat hai ya nahian. hogi bhi to mujhe kaun sone dega? bhitar ghut-ghut kar marooangi. jagane mean jara der ho jayegi to tane mileange. yahaan subah ko koee jagata tha, to ammaan kahati thian sone do. kachchi niand jag jayegi to sir mean pi da hone lagegi. vahaan vyangy sunane p deange, bahoo alasi hai, din bhar khat par p di rahati hai. ve (pati) to bahut sushil maloom hote haian. haan, kuchh abhimani avashy haian. kahian unaka svabhav nithur hua to ...?

sahasa usaki mata ne a kar kaha-beti, tumase ek bat kahane ki yad n rahi. vahaan nag-pooja avashy karati rahana. ghar ke aur log chahe mana karean; par tum ise apana kartavy samajhana. abhi meri aankhean jara-jara jhapak gayi thian. nag baba ne svapn mean darshan diye.

tilottama-ammaan, mujhe bhi unake darshan hue haian, par mujhe to unhoanne b da vikaral roop dikhaya. b da bhayankar svapn tha.

maan-dekhana, tumhare ghar mean koee saanp n marane paye. yah mantr nity apane pas rakhana.

tilottama abhi kuchh javab n dene payi thi ki achanak barat ki or se rone ke shabd sunayi diye, ek kshan mean hahakar mach gaya. bhayankar shok-ghatana ho gayi. var ko saanp ne kat liya. vah bahoo ko vida karane a raha tha. palaki mean masanad ke niche ek kala saanp chhipa hua tha. var jyoan hi palaki mean baitha, saanp ne kat liya.

charoan or kuharam mach gaya. tilottama par to mano vajrapat ho gaya. usaki maan sir pit-pit kar rone lagi. usake pita baboo jagadishachandr moorchhit ho kar gir p de. hridrog se pahale hi se grast the. jha d-phooank karane vale aye, d aauktar bulaye gaye, par vish ghatak tha. jara der mean var ke hoanth nile p d gaye, nakh kale ho gaye, moorchchha ane lagi. dekhate-dekhate sharir thanda p d gaya. idhar usha ki lalima ne prakriti ko alokit kiya, udhar timatimata hua dipak bujh gaya.

jaise koee manushy boroan se ladi huee nav par baitha hua man mean jhuanjhalata hai ki yah aur tej kyoanh nahian chalati, kahian aram se baithane ki jagah nahian, yah itani hil kyoan rahi hai, maian vyarth hi isamean baitha; par akasmath nav ko bhanvar mean p date dekh kar usake mastool se chipat jata hai, vahi dasha tilottama ki huee. abhi tak vah viyog-duahkh mean hi magn thi, sasural ke kashtoan aur durvyavasthaoan ki chiantaoan mean p di huee thi. par, ab use hosh aya ki is nav ke sath maian bhi doob rahi hooan. ek kshan pahale vah kadachith jis purush par jhuanjhala rahi thi, jise lutera aur dakoo samajh rahi thi, vah ab kitana pyara tha. usake bina ab jivan ek dipak tha, bujha hua. ek vriksh tha, phal-phool vihin. abhi ek kshan pahale vah doosaroan ki eershya ka karan thi, ab daya aur karuna ki.

tho de hi dinoan mean use jnat ho gaya ki maian pati-vihin ho kar sansar ke sab sukhoan se vanchit ho gayi !

3

ek varsh bit gaya. jagadishachandr pakke dharmavalambi adami the, par tilottama ka vaidhavy unase n saha gaya. unhoanne tilottama ke punarvivah ka nishchay kar liya. hansanevaloan ne taliyaan bajayian par jagadish baboo ne hriday se kam liya. tilottama par sara ghar jan deta tha. usaki ichchha ke viruddh koee bat n hone pati, yahaan tak ki vah ghar ki malakin bana di gayi thi. sabhi dhyan rakhate ki usaka ranj taja n hone paye. lekin usake chehare par udasi chhayi rahati thi, jise dekhakar logoan ko duahkh hota tha. pahale to maan bhi is samajik atyachar par sahamat n huee, lekin biradarivaloan ka virodh jyoan-jyoan badhata gaya usaka virodh dhila p data gaya. siddhaant roop se to prayah kisi ko apatti n thi kintu use vyavahar mean lane ka sahas kisi mean n tha. kee mahinoan ke lagatar prayas ke bad ek kulin siddhaantavadi, sushikshit var mila. usake gharavale bhi raji ho gaye. tilottama ko samaj mean apana nam bikate dekh kar duahkh hota tha. vah man mean kudhati thi ki pita ji nahak mere lie samaj mean nakkoo ban rahe haian. agar mere bhagy mean suhag likha hota to yah vajr hi kyoan girata. use kabhi-kabhi aisi shanka hoti thi ki maian phir vidhava ho jaooangi. jab vivah nishchit ho gaya aur var ki tasvir usake samane ayi to usaki aankhoan mean aansoo bhar aye. chehare se kitani sajjanata, kitani dridhata, kitani vicharashilata tapakati thi. vah chitr ko liye hue mata ke pas gayi aur sharm se sir jhukakar boli-ammaan, mujhe muanh to n kholana chahie, par avastha aisi a p di hai ki bina muanh khole raha nahian jata. ap baboo ji ko mana kar dean. maian jis dasha mean hooan santusht hooan. mujhe aisa bhay ho raha hai ki abaki phir vahi shok ghatana ...

maan ne sahami huee aankhoan se dekh kar kaha-beti kaisi ashakun ki bat muanh se nikal rahi ho. tumhare man mean bhay sama gaya hai. isi se yah bhram hota hai. jo honi thi, vah ho chuki. ab kya eeshvar tumhare pichhe p de hi raheange?

tilottama-haan, mujhe to aisa maloom hota hai.

maan-kyoan, tumhean aisi shanka kyoan hoti hai?

tilottama-n jane kyoan? koee mere man mean baitha hua kah raha hai ki phir anisht hoga. maian prayah nity daravane svapn dekha karati hooan. rat ko mujhe aisa jan p data hai ki koee prani jisaki soorat saanp se bahut milati-julati hai meri charapaee ke charoan or ghoomata hai. maian bhay ke mare chuppi sadh leti hooan. kisi se kuchh kahati nahian.

maan ne samajha yah sab bhram hai. vivah ki tithi niyat ho gayi. yah keval tilottama ka punassanskar n tha, balki samaj-sudhar ka ek kriyatmak udaharan tha. samaj-sudharakoan ke dal door se vivah mean sammilit hone ke lie ane lage, vivah vaidik riti se hua. mehamanoan ne khoob vyakhyan diye. patroan ne khoob alochanaean kian. baboo jagadishachandr ke naitik sahas ki sarahana hone lagi. tisare din bahoo ke vida hone ka muhoortt tha.

janavase mean yathasadhy raksha ke sabhi sadhanoan se kam liya gaya tha. bijali ki roshani se sara janavasa din-sa ho gaya tha. bhoomi par reangati huee chianti bhi dikhayi deti thi. keshoan mean n kahian shikan thi, n silavat aur n jhol. shamiyane ke charoan taraph kanatean kh di kar di gayi thian. kisi taraph se ki doan-mako doan ke ane ki sambhavana n thi; par bhavi prabal hoti hai. pratahkal ke char baje the. taraganoan ki barat vida ho rahi thi. bahoo ki vidaee ki taiyari ho rahi thi. ek taraph shahanaiyaan baj rahi thian. doosari taraph se vilap ki arttadhvani uth rahi thi. par tilottama ki aankhoan mean aansoo n the, samay najuk tha. vah kisi tarah ghar se bahar nikal jana chahati thi. usake sir par talavar latak rahi thi. rone aur saheliyoan se gale milane mean koee anand n tha. jis prani ka pho da chilak raha ho use jarrah ka ghar bag mean sair karane se zyada achchha lage, to kya ashchary hai.

var ko logoan ne jagaya. baja bajane laga. vah palaki mean baithane ko chala ki vadhoo ko vida kara laye. par joote mean pair dala hi tha ki chikh mar kar pair khianch liya. maloom hua, paanv chinagariyoan par p d gaya. dekha to ek kala saanp joote mean se nikal kar reangata chala jata tha. dekhate-dekhate gayab ho gaya. var ne ek sard ah bhari aur baith gaya. aankhoan mean aandhera chha gaya.

ek kshan mean sare janavase mean khabar phail gayi, log dau d p de. aushadhiyaan pahale hi rakh li gayi thian. saanp ka mantr jananevale kee adami bula liye gaye the. sabhi ne davaiyaan dian. jha d-phooank shuroo huee. aushadhiyaan bhi di gayian, par kal ke samane kisi ka vash n chala. shayad maut saanp ka vesh dhar kar ayi thi. tilottama ne suna to sir pit liya. vah vikal hokar janavase ki taraph dau di. chadar odhane ki bhi sudhi n rahi. vah apane pati ke charanoan ko mathe se laga kar apana janm saphal karana chahati thi. ghar ki striyoan ne roka. mata bhi ro-rokar samajhane lagian. lekin baboo jagadishachandr ne kaha-koee haraj nahian, jane do. pati ka darshan to kar le. yah abhilasha kyoan rah jay. usi shokanvit dasha mean tilottama janavase mean pahuanchi, par vahaan usaki taskin ke lie maranevale ki ulti saansean thian. un adhakhule netroan mean asahy atmavedana aur darun nairashy.

is adbhut ghatana ka samachar door-door tak phail gaya. j davadigan chakit the, yah kya majara hai. atmavad ke bhakt jnatabhav se sir hilate the mano ve trikaladarshi haian. jagadishachandr ne nasib thoank liya. nishchay ho gaya ki kanya ke bhagy mean vidhava rahana hi likha hai. nag ki pooja sal mean do bar hone lagi. tilottama ke charitr mean bhi ek vishesh antar dikhane laga. bhog aur vihar ke din bhakti aur devaradhana mean katane lage. nirash praniyoan ka yahi avalamb hai.

tin sal bite the ki dhaka vishvavidyalay ke adhyapak dayaram ne is kisse ko phir taja kiya. ve pashu-shastr ke jnata the. unhoanne saanpoan ke achar-vyavahar ka vishesh riti se adhyayan kiya. ve is rahasy ko kholana chahate the. jagadishachandr ko vivah ka sandesha bheja. unhoanne tal-matol kiya. dayaram ne aur bhi agrah kiya. likha, maianne vaijnanik anveshan ke lie yah nishchay kiya hai. maian is vishadhar nag se l dana chahata hooan. vah agar sau daant lekar aye to bhi mujhe koee hani nahian pahuancha sakata, vah mujhe kat kar ap hi mar jayega. agar vah mujhe kat bhi le to mere pas aise mantr aur aushadhiyaan haian ki maian ek kshan mean usake vish ko utar sakata hooan. ap is vishay mean kuchh chianta n kijie. maian vish ke lie ajey hooan. jagadishachandr ko ab koee ujr n soojha. haan, unhoanne ek vishesh prayatn yah kiya ki dhake mean hi vivah ho. atev ve apane kutumbiyoan ko sath lekar vivah ke ek saptah pahale gaye. chalate samay apane sandook, bistar adi khoob dekhabhal kar rakhe ki saanp kahian unamean chhip kar n baith jaye. shubh lagn mean vivah-sanskar ho gaya. tilottama vikal ho rahi thi. mukh par ek rang ata tha, ek rang jata tha, par sanskar mean koee vighn-badha n p di. tilottama ro-dhokar sasural gayi. jagadishachandr ghar laut aye, par aise chiantit the jaise koee adami saray mean khula hua sandook chho d kar bazar chala jay.

tilottama ke svabhav mean ab ek vichitr roopaantar hua. vah auroan se hansati-bolati, aram se khati-piti, sair karane jati, thiyetaroan aur any samajik sammelanoan mean sharik hoti. in avasaroan par prophesar dayaram se bhi b de prem ka vyavahar karati, unake aram ka bahut dhyan rakhati. koee kam unaki ichchha ke viruddh n karati. koee ajanabi adami use dekh kar kah sakata tha, grihini ho to aisi ho. doosaroan ki drishti mean is dampati ka jivan adarsh tha, kintu aantarik dasha kuchh aur hi thi. unake sath shayanagar mean jate hi usaka mukh vikrit ho jata, bhauanhean tan jatian, mathe par bal p d jate, sharir agni ki bhaanti jalane lagata, palakean khuli rah jatian, netroan se jvala-si nikalane lagati aur usamean se jhulasati huee lapatean nikalatian, mukh par kalima chha jati aur yadyapi svaroop mean koee vishesh aantar n dikhayi deta; par n jane kyoan bhram hone lagata, yah koee nagin hai. kabhi-kabhi vah phuankarane bhi lagati. is sthiti mean dayaram ko usake samip jane ya usase kuchh bolane ki himmat n p dati. ve usake roop-lavany par mugdh the, kintu is avastha mean unhean usase ghrina hoti. use isi unmad ke aveg mean chho d kar bahar nikal ate. d aauktaroan se salah li, svayan is vishay ki kitani hi kitaboan ka adhyayan kiya, par rahasy kuchh samajh mean n aya, unhean bhautik vijnan mean apani alpajnata svikar karani p di.

unhean ab apana jivan asahy jan p data. apane dussahas par pachhatate. nahak is vipatti mean apani jan phansayi. unhean shanka hone lagi ki avashy koee pret-lila hai. mithyavadi n the, par jahaan buddhi aur tark ka kuchh vash nahian chalata, vahaan manushy vivash ho kar mithyavadi ho jata hai.

shanaiah-shanaiah unaki yah halat ho gayi ki sadaiv tilottama se sashank rahate. usaka unmad, vikrit mukhakriti unake dhyan se n utarate. dar lagata ki kahian yah mujhe mar n dale. n jane kab unmad ka aveg ho. yah chianta hriday ko vyathit kiya karati. hipnatijm, vidyutashakti, aur kee naye arogy-vidhanoan ki pariksha ki gayi. unhean hipnatijm par bahut bharosa tha; lekin jab yah yog bhi nishphal ho gaya to ve nirash ho gaye.

4

ek din prophesar dayaram kisi vaijnanik sammelan mean ge hue the. laute to barah baj gaye the. varsha ke din the. naukar-chakar so rahe the. ve tilottama ke shayanagrih mean yah poochhane gaye ki mera bhojan kahaan rakha hai. aandar qadam rakha hi tha ki tilottama ke sirahane ki or unhean ek ati bhimakay kala saanp baitha hua dikhayi diya. pro. sahab chupake se laut aye. apane kamare mean ja kar kisi aushadhi ki ek khurak pi aur pistaul tatha saanga lekar phir tilottama ke kamare mean pahuanche. vishvas ho gaya ki yah vahi mera purana shatru hai. itane dinoan mean toh lagata hua yahaan a pahuancha. par ise tilottama se kyoan itana sneh hai. usake sirahane yoan baitha hua hai mano koee rassi ka tuk da hai. yah kya rahasy hai. unhoanne saanpoan ke vishay mean b di adbhut kathaean padhi aur suni thian, par aisi kutoohalajanak ghatana ka ullekh kahian n dekha tha. ve is bhaanti sashastr ho kar phir kamare mean pahuanche to saanp ka pata n tha. haan, tilottama ke sir par bhoot savar ho gaya tha. vah baithi huee agney netroan se dvar ki or tak rahi thi. usake nayanoan se jvala nikal rahi thi. jisaki aanch do gaj tak lagati. is samay unmad atishay prachand tha. dayaram ko dekhate hi bijali ki tarah un par toot p di aur hathoan se aghat karane ke badale unhean daantoan se katane ki cheshta karane lagi. isake sath hi apane donoan hath unaki garadan mean dal diye. dayaram ne bahutera chaha; e di-choti tak ka zor lagaya ki apana gala chhu da lean, lekin tilottama ka bahupash pratikshan saanp ki ke dali ki bhaanti kathor evan sankuchit hota jata tha. udhar yah sandeh tha ki isane mujhe kata to kadachith ise jan se hath dhona pade़. unhoanne abhi jo aushadhi pi thi, vah sarp vish se adhik ghatak thi. is dasha mean unhean yah shokamay vichar utpann hua. yah bhi koee jivan hai ki dampati ka uttaradayitv to sab sir par savar, par usaka sukh nam ka nahian, ulate rat-din jan ka khataka. yah kya maya hai. vah saanp koee pret to nahian hai jo isake sir akar yah dasha kar diya karata hai. kahate haian aisi avastha mean rogi par jo chot ki jati hai, vah pret par hi p dati hai. nichi jatiyoan mean isake udaharan bhi dekhe haian. ve isi hais-bais mean p de hue the ki unaka dam ghutane laga. tilottama ke hath rassi ke phandoan ki bhaanti unaki garadan ko kas rahe the. ve din asahay bhav se idhar-udhar takane lage. kyoankar jan bache, koee upay n soojh p data tha. saans lena dustar ho gaya, deh shithil p d gayi, pair tharatharane lage. sahasa tilottama ne unake baanhoan ki or muanh badhaya. dayaram kaanp uthe. mrityu aankhoan ke samane nachane lagi. man mean kaha-yah is samay meri stri nahian, vishaili bhayankar nagin hai. isake vish se jan bachani mushkil hai. apani aushadhi par jo bharosa tha, vah jata raha. chooha unmatt dasha mean kat leta hai to jan ke lale p d jate haian. bhagavanh ! kitana vikaral svaroop hai ! pratyaksh nagin maloom ho rahi hai. ab ulati p de ya sidhi is dasha ka aant karana hi p dega. unhean aisa jan p da ki ab gira hi chahata hooan. tilottama bar-bar saanpoan ki bhaanti phuankar mar kar jibh nikale hue unaki or jhapatati thi. ekaek vah b de karkash svar se boli-‘moorkh? tera itana sahas ki too is sanudari se premaliangan kare.’ yah kah kar vah b de veg se katane ko dau di. dayaram ka dhairy jata raha. unhoanne dahina hath sidha kiya aur tilottama ki chhati par pistaul chala diya. tilottama par kuchh asar n hua. usaki baanhean aur bhi k di ho gayian. aankhoan se chinagariyaan nikalane lagian. dayaram ne doosari goli dag di. yah chot poori p di. tilottama ka bahu-bandhan dhila p d gaya. ek kshan mean usake hath niche ko latak gaye, sir jhuk gaya aur vah bhoomi par gir p di.

tab vah drishy dekhane mean aya jisaka udaharan kadachith aliphalaila aur chandrakaanta mean bhi n mile. vahian palang ke pas, zamin par ek kala, dirghakay sarp p da t dap raha tha. usaki chhati aur muanh se khoon ki dhara bah rahi thi.

dayaram ko apani aankhoan par vishvas n ata tha. yah kaisi adbhut pret-lila thi ! samasya kya hai. kisase poochhooan? is tilasm ko to dane ka prayatn karana mere jivan ka ek kartavy ho gaya. unhoanne saange se saanp ki deh mean ek kocha mara aur phir ve use latakaye hue aangan mean laye. bilakul bedam ho gaya tha. unhoanne use apane kamare mean le jakar ek khali sandook mean band kar diya. usamean bhus bharava kar baramade mean latakana chahate the. itana b da gehuanvan saanp kisi ne n dekha hoga.

tab ve tilottama ke pas gaye. dar ke mare kamare mean qadam rakhane ki himmat n p dati thi. haan, is vichar se kuchh taskin hoti thi ki sarp pret mar gaya hai to usaki jan bach gayi hogi. is asha aur bhay ki dasha mean ve aandar gaye to tilottama aine ke samane kh di kesh sanvar rahi thi.

dayaram ko mano charoan padarth mil gaye. tilottama ka mukh-kamal khila hua tha. unhoanne kabhi use itana praphullit n dekha tha. unhean dekhate hi vah unaki or prem se chali aur boli-aj itani rat tak kahaan rahe?

dayaram premonmatt ho kar bole-ek jalase mean chala gaya tha. tumhari tabiyat kaisi hai? kahian dard nahian hai?

tilottama ne unako ashchary se dekh kar poochha-tumhean kaise maloom hua? meri chhati mean aisa dard ho raha hai, jaise chilak p d gayi ho.

sanbandhit lekh

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