पथ के दावेदार भाग-2

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

upadrav rahit ek saptah ke bad ek din aauphis se lautane par tivari ne prasann hokar kaha, apane suna chhote baboo?
kya
sahab ka pair toot gaya. aspatal mean haian. dekhean bachata hai ya nahian.
tujhe kaise pata laga?
tivari bola, makan malik ka munim hamare zile ka hai. vah aya tha kiraya lene, usi ne bataya hai.
ho sakata hai, kahakar apoorv kap de badalane apane kamare mean chala gaya.
tivari ko poorn vishvas tha ki mlechchh hokar brahman ke sir par jisane gho de ki tarah pair pataka hai, usaka pair n tootega to kya hoga? agale din apoorv ne tivari ko bulakar kaha, 'ek makan mila hai, jakar dekh ao.
tivari ne hansakar kaha, ab doosare makan ki zaroorat nahian p degi baboo! maianne sab thik kar liya hai. agali pahali tarikh ko jane vale chale jaeange.
makan badalane mean kam jhanjhat nahian hai, apoorv achchhi tarah janata tha. lekin sahab ki anupasthiti mean jo upadrav band ho gaya hai vah unake laut ane par bhi band rahega, use aisi asha nahian thi. aauphis jane se pahale tivari ne chhutti maangate hue bataya ki aj dopahar ko vah barmiyoan ke mandir mean tamasha dekhane jaega. apoorv ne hansakar poochha, tujhean tamasha dekhane ka kab se shauq hua hai. tivari?
videsh ka sab kuchh dekh lena chahie baboo!
apoorv bola, avashy, avashy. langada sahab aspatal mean hai. is samay bahar janean mean koee dar nahian hai. chale jana, lekin jaldi hi laut ana.
sahab ki durghatana ke samachar se vah itana prasann tha ki apane yahaan ke jis vyakti se kal usaka parichay hua tha aj usake prastav ko asvikar nahian kar saka.
use jane ki anumati dekar apoorv aauphis chala gaya. usake ek ghante bad hi tivari ko usake gaanv ka vahi vyakti akar barmiyoan ka tamasha dikhane le gaya.
tisare pahar ghar lautakar apoorv ne dekha, daravaze mean tala laga hai. tivari ne vah purana tala badalakar yah naya tala kyoan lagaya, vah do minat tak bahar kh da sochata raha. tabhi oopar se vahi eesaee l daki boli, maian kholati hooan. kahakar vah niche aee aur boli, maan kah rahi thi ki apana tala lagakar maianne achchha nahian kiya. aisa n ho ki maian vipatti mean p d jaooan.
phir dvar kholate hue boli, 'maan bahut darapok hai. big d rahi thian ki agar ap vishvas n kareange to mujhako hi chori ke aparadh mean jel jana p dega. lekin mujhe tanik bhi dar nahian laga.
apoorv bola, lekin hua kya?
kamare mean jakar dekhie, kya hua hai?
apoorv ne kamarean me ghusakar dekha. donoan tranko ke tale toote p de haian. pustakean, kagaj, bistar, kap de adi pharsh par p de haian. usake muanh se nikala, yah sab kaise hua? kisane kiya?
bharati boli, bhale hi kisi ne bhi kiya ho, lekin maianne nahian kiya. phir usane poori ghatana sunaee- dopahar ko tivari jab tamasha dekhane ja raha tha to bharati ki maan ne use dekha tha. tho di der bad niche ke kamare mean khatakhat sunakar bharati ko dekhane ke lie kaha. unaki chhat ke ek kinare ek chhed hai. usi chhed se dekhate hi bharati chilla uthi. jo log baks to d rahe the vah jaldi se bhag ge. tab vah niche akar daravaze mean tala lagakar pahara dene lagi ki kahian vah phir n laut aean.
apoorv palang par baith gaya. bharati ne kaha, is kamare mean apaka bhojan ka to koee saman nahian hai? kya maian kamare mean a sakati hooan?
aie, apoorv ne kaha. phir vimoodh ki tarah usase poochha,ab mujhe kya karana chahie?
bharati ne kaha, sabase pahale yah dekhana chahie ki kya-kya chizean chori gee haian.
apoorv ne kaha, achchha, dekhie n kya-kya chori gaya hai?
bharati ne hansakar kaha, n to maianne apake trank ki chijoan ko pahale kabhi dekha tha aur n chori hi ki hai. isalie kya tha aur kya nahian, maian kaise jan sakati hooan?
apoorv lajjit hokar bola, ap thik kahati haian. achchha to phir tivari ko a jane dijie. vahi sab kuchh janata hai, kahakar idhar-udhar bikhari chijoan ko karuna bhari najaroan se dekhane laga.
usaka nirupay chehara dekhakar bharati hansati huee boli, vah janata hai aur ap nahian janate. achchha maian apako sikha deti hooan ki kis tarah jana jata hai. itana kahakar pharsh par baith gee aur trank ko pas khianchati huee boli, achchha, pahale kap de-latte sanbhal looan. yah kya hai? shayad murshidabadi silk ka soot hai? aise kitane soot haian?
do soot.
mil ge. yah ek aur jo da hai. achchha, dhoti ek, do, tin....chadar ek, do, tin.... thik mil gaya. shayad tin hi jo di thi?
apoorv bola, haan tin hi jo di thi?
yah phlalen ka soot hai. ap vahaan shayad tenis khelate the. haan to ek, do, tin... us alamari mean ek, aur ek ap pahane haian-to phir soot paanch hi jode haian?
apoorv prasann hokar bola, haan thik hai. paanch hi jo de haian.
itane mean ek chamakili vastu dikhaee p di. use bahar nikalakar boli, yah chen sone ki hai. gh di kahaan gee?'
apoorv prasann hokar bola, khair hai ki bach gee. chen shayad vah log dekh nahian sake. yah mere pita ji ki nishani hai.
lekin gh di?
yahaan hai, kahakar apoorv ne gh di dikha di.
bharati boli, chen aur gh di mil gee. ab aangoothiyaan bataie.
apoorv bola, mere pas ek bhi nahian hai.
chalo, yah bhi achchha hua. lekin sone ke batan?
apoorv bola, tasar ke panjabi kurte mean lage the.
bharati ne alamari ki or dekha. phir hansakar boli, lagata hai kurte ke sath vah batan bhi chale ge.
phir poochha, trank mean rupaya tha n?
apoorv ke 'haan' kahane par bharati boli, to phir vah bhi chala gaya.
kitana tha?
yah maloom nahian.
yah to maian pahale hi samajh gee hooan. apake pas mani baig hai n? laie, mujhe dijie dekhooan.
apoorv ne mani baig bharati ko de diya. vah hisab lagakar boli, do sau pachas rupe ath ane haian. ghar se kitane lekar chale the?
apoorv bola, chh: sau rupe.
bharati likhane lagi-jahaz ka kiraya, taange ka bha da, kuli ki mazadoori ...pahuanchakar ghar ke lie tar bheja tha n? achchha, usaka bhi rupaya aur usake bad idhar das dinoan ka kharch.
apoorv bola, vah tivari se bina poochhe kaise bata sakata hooan?
bharati boli, sab maloom ho jaega. do-ek rupe ka aantar p d sakata hai. adhik nahian. kagaz par apane ap hisab likhakar boli, isake atirikt aur koee kharch to nahian hai n?
nahian.
to phir do sau assi rupe chori ge haian.
apoorv chakit hokar bola, itane rupe?-rukie, bis rupe aur kam kijie. jurmane ka rupaya nahian likha?
nahian, vah anyay tha, jhoothamooth ka jurmana. vah maian kam nahian karooangi.
apoorv chakit hokar bola, jurmana to jhoothamooth ho sakata hai lekin jurmana dena to sach hai.
bharati boli, apane diya kyoan? us rupe ko maian kam nahian karooangi. poore do sau assi rupe chori ge haian.
nahian-do sau sath.
nahian, do sau assi rupe.
apoorv ne vivad nahian kiya. is l daki ki prakhar budhdi tatha adbhut tikshn budhdi dekhakar vah chakit rah gaya.
apoorv ne poochha, pulis mean khabar dena kya thik hoga?
bharati boli, kyoan nahian? thik keval isalie hoga ki usase meri kafi khianchatani hogi. vah akar apake rupe de jaeange-aisi to asha hai nahian.
apoorv maun raha.
bharati boli, chori to ho gee. ab agar vah log aeange to apaman bhi arambh ho jaega.
lekin qanoon to hai?
kanoon to hai. lekin maian kisi bhi dasha mean yah nahian karane dooangi. qanoon us din bhi tha jis din ap akaran jurmana de ae the.
apoorv bola, log agar jhooth bolean aur jhoothe mamale ko sidhd karean to isamean qanoon ka kya dosh hai?
bharati lajjit-si ho gee. boli, log jhooth n boleange, jhoothe mamale n chalaeange tabhi jakar qanoon nirdosh hoga-kya apaka mat yahi hai? agar aisa ho to thik hi hai. lekin sansar mean aisa hota nahian. itana kahakar vah hans p di. lekin apoorv maun raha. bharati ka yah chori chhipane ka agrah, is samay use achchha nahian laga. kisi gupt shadayantr ki ashanka se usaka aant:karan dekhate-hi-dekhate kalushit ho utha. us din usaka darate hue sankoch sahit phal-phool dene ke lie ana....usake bad ghatanaoan ko vikrit tatha mithya banakar kahana, nyayalay mean gavahi dena....pal mean sara itihas, bijali ki bhaanti chamak utha. chehara gambhir aur kanth-svar bhari ho utha. yah abhinay hai, chhalana hai.
usake chehare ke is akasmik parivartan ko bharati ne lakshy kiya lekin karan n samajh saki. boli, meri batoan ka apane uttar nahian diya?
apoorv ne kaha, aur kya uttar dooan? chor ko badhava nahian dena chahie. pulis ko khabar dena hi thik hoga.
bharati bhayabhit hokar boli, yah kaisi bat? n to chor hi pak da jaega aur n rupe hi mileange. bich mean mujhe lekar khiancha-tani hogi. maianne dekha hai, tala band kiya hai. sabhi sajakar rakha hai. maian vipatti mean p d jaooangi.
apoorv ne kaha, jo kuchh hua hai, ap vahi kah dijiega.
bharati ne vyakul hokar kaha, kahane se kya hoga? abhi us din apake sath itana b da anyay ho gaya. ek-doosare se parichay nahian. bat-chit nahian. isi bich achanak apake lie dil mean itana dard kyoan hai? pulis kaise vishvas karegi?
apoorv ka man aur bhi sandeh se bhar utha. bola, apaki arambh se aant tak ki jhoothi batoan par to pulis ne vishvas kar liya aur sachchi batoan ka vishvas nahian karegi? rupaya to tho da hi gaya, lekin chor ko bina dand dilae n chho dooanga.
bharati budhdihin ki tarah use dekhati rahi. phir boli, ap kya kahate haian apoorv baboo? pita ji achchhe vyakti nahian haian. unhoanne apake prati bahut b da anyay kiya hai. maianne isamean jo kuchh sahayata ki hai, use bhi maian janati hooan. lekin isaka arth yah nahian hai ki maian apake kamare mean ghoosakar, tala to dakar rupe churaooangi. aisi bat ap soch sakate haian, lekin maian nahian soch sakati. aisi badanami hone par maian bachooangi kaise?
kahate-kahate usake hoanth phoolakar kaanpane lage. unhean zor se dabate-dabate toofan ki tarah kamare se nikalakar chali gee.
agali subah, n jane kya sochakar apoorv thane ki or chal diya. pulis mean riport karana vyarth hai, yah vah janata tha. rupe nahian mileange-yahi nahian, ho sakata hai ki chor pakadean bhi n jaean. lekin us eesaee l daki par usake krodh aur vidvesh ki sima nahian thi. bharati ne svayan chori ki hai ya chori karane mean sahayata ki hai-is vishay mean tivari ki tarah vah abhi tak nishchiant nahian ho saka tha. lekin usaki dushtata tatha chhal ne use buri tarah vichalit kar diya tha. us l daki ki gatividhi ka rahasy khojane par bhi use nahian mila. usane jo kuchh hani ki hai usake lie utana nahian, lekin arambh se usaka vichitr acharan jaise nirantar apoorv ki budhdi ka upahas karata raha hai.
usane abhi thane mean qadam bhi nahian rakha tha ki pichhe se pukar aee, are apoorv! tum yahaan kahaan?
apoorv ne ghoomakar dekha-nimaee baboo kh de haian. ap bangal pulis ke bahut b de aphasar haian. apoorv ke pita ne inaki naukari lagaee thi. nimaee baboo unako dada kahakar pukarate the aur isi sanbandh ke karan apoorv ke ghar ke sabhi log unhean chacha kahate the. svadeshi aandolan ke samay giraphtar hone ke bad apoorv ko jo kisi prakar ka kasht nahian sahana p da tha, usaka bahut kuchh shrey inhian ko tha. apoorv ne pranam karake, apani naukari ki bat batakar poochha, lekin ap is desh mean kaise?
nimaee baboo ne ashirvad dete hue kaha, beta, tum to abhi kal ke ho. jab tumhean ghar-dvar chho dakar itani door ana p da hai to kya maian nahian a sakata? lekin mere pas samay nahian hai. tumhean to aauphis jane mean abhi der hai. ao, chalate-chalate hi do batean kar looanga. maan achchhi hai n? aur bhaee bhi?
sab thik hai kahakar apoorv ne poochha, ap kahaan jaeange?
jahaz ghat par. chalo n mere sath.
chalie-apako kya kahian aur bhi jana hai?
nimaee baboo hansakar bole, jana ho bhi sakata hai. jis mahapurush ko le jane ke lie ghar chho dakar itani door ana p da hai, unaki ichchha par sab nirbhar hai. unaka photograph hai, likhit vivaran hai, lekin yahaan ki pulis mean itani samarthy nahian ki un par hath dal sake. kya maian pak d paooanga? yahi soch raha hooan.
apoorv ne utsuk hokar poochha, yah mahapurush kaun haian chacha ji? jab ap ae haian tab to avashy hi koee khooni asami hai?
nimaee baboo bole, yah to nahian bataooanga beta! kya hai aur kya nahian hai? yah bat thik-thik koee bhi nahian janata. inake virudhd koee nishchit abhiyog bhi nahian hai. phir bhi inaki nirantar nigarani karate rahane mean itani b di sarakar mano nishpran ho gee hai.
apoorv ne poochha, koee asami hai?
nimaee baboo bole, bhaiya politikal to kisi samay tum logoan ko bhi kahate the. lekin vah haian rajadrohi! raja ke shatru! haan, shatru kahalane ke yogy to avashy haian. balihari hai unaki pratibha ki jinhoanne is l dake ka nam savyasachi rakha tha. bandook, pistaul chalane mean nishana achook hota hai. tairakar padma nadi ko parakar jate haian, koee badha nahian p dati. is samay yah anuman kiya gaya hai ki chatagaanv ke raste se paha d par karake inhoanne barma mean padarpan kiya hai. ab maandale se nauka dvara ya jahaz se rangoon ane vale haian ya rel dvara unaka shubhagaman ho chuka hai. koee pakki khabar nahian hai. lekin vah ravana ho chuke haian, yah bat nishchit hai, unake uddeshy ke sanbandh mean koee sandeh ya tark nahian hai. shatru-mitr sabhi ke man mean unaka samman sthir sidhdaant bana hua hai. desh mean akar kis marg se vah apana qadam badhaeange, ham nahian janate. lekin dekho beta, yah sab batean kisi ko batana mat, nahian to is budhape mean sattaees sal ki peanshan rah jaegi.
apoorv utsahit hokar bola, 'itane dinoan yah kahaan-kya kar rahe the. savyasachi nam maianne to kabhi pahale suna nahian.
nimaee baboo ne hansate hue kaha, are bhaiya, itane b de adamiyoan ka kam kya keval ek nam se chalata hai? sambhavat: arjun ki tarah inake bhi anek nam prachalit haian. un dinoan shayad suna bhi hoga, ab pahachan nahian rahe ho. is bich mean kya kar rahe the, isaki bhi poori janakari nahian hai. rajashatru apane kam dhol pit-pitakar karana pasand nahian karate. phir bhi maian itana janata hooan ki vah poona mean tin mahine ki aur doosari bar siangapur mean tin varsh ki saza bhugat chuke haian. yah l daka das-barah bhashaoan mean is prakar bol sakata hai ki kisi videshi ke lie yah jan lena kathin hai ki vah kahaan ke rahane vale haian? suna hai, jarmani ke kisi nagar mean d aauktari padhi hai. phraans mean ianjiniyariang pas kiya hai. ianglaiand ki nahian janata. lekin jab vahaan rah chuka hai to vah avashy hi kuchh-n-kuchh pas kiya hi hoga. in logoan ko n to daya hai, n maya hai, n dharm-karm hai, n kahian ghar-dvar hai. bap re bap! ham log bhi usi desh ke vasi haian. lekin is l dake ne kahaan se akar bangabhoomi mean janm le liya, yah to sochane par bhi nahian jan p data.
apoorv kuchh n bola. kuchh der maun rahakar usane poochha, inako kya ap aj hi giraphtar kareange?
nimaee baboo hansakar bole, pahale paooan to.
apoorv ne kaha, man lijie, pa ge to?
nahian beta, itana asan kam nahian hai. mujhe poora vishvas hai ki aantim pal mean vah kisi aur raste se khisak gaya hoga.
aur agar vah a jae to?
nimaee baboo ne kuchh sochakar kaha, us par barabar najar rakhane ka adesh mila hai, do din dekhata hooan. pak dane ki apeksha jaanch karana zaroori hai. sarakar ka yahi vichar hai.
apoorv is bat par vishvas n kar saka. kyoanki vah usake lie jo kuchh bhi hoan phir bhi haian to pulis ke adami! usane poochha, unaki umr kya hai?
lagabhag tis-battis ki hogi.
dekhane mean kaise haian?
yahi to ashchary hai beta! atyant sadharan manushy hai. isilie to pahachanana kathin hai. pak dana bhi kathin hai. ham logoan ki riport mean yahi bat vishesh roop se likhi huee hai.
apoorv bola, lekin pak de jane ke bhay se hi to yah paidal van laanghakar ae haian.
nimaee baboo bole, ho sakata hai, koee vishesh uddeshy ho. ho sakata hai is raste ko bhi jan lena chahata ho. kuchh bhi nahian kaha ja sakata apoorv! yah log jis path ke pathik haian usamean sadharan manushy ke vichar ke sath inake vichar mel nahian khate. aj isaki bhool hai ya ham logoan ki bhool hai-isaki pariksha hone vali hai. aisa bhi sambhav hai ki ham logoan ki sari dau d-dhoop vyarth ho jae.
apoorv bola, aisa hi ho to achchha hai. maian ant:karan se yahi prarthana karata hooan chacha ji!
nimaee baboo hans p de. bole, moorkh l dake, kahian pulis se aisi bat kahi jati hai? tumane apane ghar ka kya nambar bataya, tis? ho saka to kal aooanga. samane ki jeti par hi shayad yahaan ka stimar kh da hota hai. achchha, tumhare aauphis ka samay ho chuka hai, nee naukari hai. der karana thik nahian. yah kahakar vah doosari or ghoom ge.
apoorv ne kaha, der ki kyoan, aauphis mean gairahajiri ho jane par maian apako chhodooanga nahian. maian nahian chahata ki vah ab apake hath p d jaean, lekin yadi durghatana ho bhi jae to maian ek bar unhean dekh to looanga, chalie.
ichchha n hone par bhi nimaee baboo ne vishesh apatti nahian ki. keval tho da-sa savadhan karate hue kaha, dekhane ka lobh hota hai, maian ise asvikar nahian karata, lekin aise logoan se kisi prakar parichay badhana bhi bhayanak hai-yah jan lo apoorv? ab tum l dake nahian ho. pita jivit nahian haian. bhavishy ko bhi sochana chahie.
apoorv hansakar bola, parichay ka avasar ap log kisi ko dete kahaan haian chacha ji! koee aparadh nahian, koee abhiyog nahian, phir bhi unako jal mean phansane ap itana door chale ae haian.
nimaee baboo tanik-sa muskara p de. bole, yah to karttavy hai.
jis samay donoan jeti par pahuanche, is b di nadi ka vishal stimar kinare lagane ki vala tha. paanch-sat pulis adhikari, sadi poshak mean pahale se hi kh de the. nimaee baboo ke prati un logoan ki aankhoan ka ek prakar ka sanket dekhakar apoorv unhean pahachan gaya. vah sabhi bharatiy the. bharat ke kalyan ke lie sudoor barma mean ek vidrohi ka shikar karane ae haian. shikar ki vastu lagabhag hath a chuki hai. saphalata ka anand tatha uttejana ki prachchhann dipti unake chehare par prapt ho rahi hai.
jahaz ke khalasi us samay jeti par rassi pheank rahe the. kitane hi log reliang pak de dekh rahe the. dek par shor-sharabe aur dau d-dhoop ki sima nahian thi. sambhav hai, inhian logoan ke bich kh da ek vyakti utsuk drishti se kinare ki pratiksha kar raha ho. lekin apoorv ki drishti mean sampoorn drishy aankhoan ke aansuoan se ekadam dhuandhala aur aspasht ho utha. oopar-niche jal mean, sthal mean itane nar-nari kh de haian, kisi ko koee shanka nahian. kisi ka koee aparadh nahian. keval jis vyakti ne apane yuva hriday ke samast sukh, samast svarth tatha sabhi ashaoan ka svechchha se visarjan kar diya hai, karagar tatha mrityu ki rah keval usi ke lie muanh bae kh di hai.
jahaz jeti par akar lag gaya. kath ki sidhi niche laga di gee, lekin apoorv nahian hata. vahian nishchal, pashan moorti ke saman kh da ap-hi-ap kahane laga ki kshan bhar bad tumhare hath mean hathak di p d jaegi. utsuk nar-nari tumhari laanchhana tatha apaman aankhean pha d-pha dakar dekheange. vah jan bhi n paeange ki unhian logoan ke lie tumane sarvasv tyag kar diya hai. isalie in logoan ke bich tumhara rahana n ho sakega. usaki aankhoan se aansoo jhar-jhar girane lage aur jise usane kabhi dekha nahian usi ko sambodhit karake man-hi-man kahane laga-tum to ham logoan ki bhaanti sidhe-sade manushy nahian ho. tumane desh ke lie apana sarvasv tyag diya hai. isilie desh ki naukaean tumhean par nahian kar sakati. tumhean tairakar padma nadi ko par karana p data hai. isalie desh ka raj-path tumhare lie avarudhd hai. tumhean durgam van-parvat laanghane p date haian. he mukti path ke agradoot! he paradhin desh ke rajavidrohi! tumako shat koti namaskar.-itane manushyoan ki bhi d, itane logoan ka ana-jana, itane logoan ki najarean, kisi par bhi usaka dhyan nahian tha. kitana samay bit gaya, isaki use khabar hi nahian thi. achanak nimaee baboo ki avaz se chauankakar jhatapat aankhean poanchh hansane ki cheshta karane laga. usaka karunavihnal bhav dekhakar vah ashyarch mean p d ge. bole, jis bat ka bhay tha, vahi hua, nikal gaya.
kaise nikal gaya?
nimaee baboo bole, 'agar yahi janata to vah kaise nikal jata? subah tin sau yatri, bis-pachchis phirangi sahab, u diya, madrasi, panjabi sau-dedh sau ke lagabhag rahean hoange. shesh barmi the. pata nahian kisaki poshak pahane aur kisaki bhasha bolate-bolate bahar nikal gaya. samajh ge n bhaiya, ham to pulis vale haian. pahachanane ka upay nahian hai ki vah yoropiyan haian ya bangali. jagadish baboo sandeh mean lagabhag chh: bangaliyoan ko pak dakar thane mean le ge haian. ek adami ka chehara unake chehare se mel kha raha hai, aisa jan p data hai. lekin jan p dane se hi kya hota hai. vah nahian hai. kya tum chaloge bhaiya? ek bar us adami ko dekhoge?
apoorv ki chhati dh dak uthi. bola, 'agar ap use marana-pitana chahate haian to maian nahian jana chahata.
nimaee baboo ne hansakar kaha, itane adamiyoan ko to hamane chupachap chho d diya aur yah bechare bangali haian. svayan bangali hote hue kya maian in par atyachar karooanga? are bhaiya, pulis mean sabhi bure hi nahian hote. muanh band karake jitana du:kh hamean sahana p data hai, agar tum janate, to apane is daroga chacha se itani ghrina n kar pate apoorv.'
apoorv bola, ap apana karttavy palan karane ae haian. phir apase ghrina kyoan karooanga chacha? kahakar unake charan chhoo lie.
nimaee baboo ne prasann hokar ashirvad diya aur bole, chalo, jara jaldi chalean. vah log bhookh-pyas se du:khi ho rahe hoange. tho di-bahut jaanch karake chho d diya jaega.
thane ke samane vale b de kamare mean chh: bangali baithe the. jagadish baboo ne isi bich unake tin ke baks aur gathariyaan adi kholakar jaanch arambh kar di thi. jis vyakti par unhean vishesh roop se sandeh tha use ek alag kamare mean band kar rakha tha. yah log naukari ki khoj mean rangoon ae the. inake kam-dham aur vivaran adi likhakar aur unake saman ki jaanch ho chukane ke bad p aaulitikal saspekt savyasachi ko nimaee baboo ke samane upasthit kiya gaya. vah khaansate-khaansate samane aya. umr tis-battis se adhik n rahi hogi, lekin jaisa dubala-patala tha vaisa hi kamazor bhi tha. jara-si khaansi se haanphane lagata tha. aandar ke n jane kis asadhy rog se usaka sampoorn sharir bhi tezise kshay rog ki or dau d raha tha. ashcharyajanak thi to keval usake us rugn chehare mean do adbhut aankhoan ki drishti. yah aankhean chhoti haian ya b di. lambi haian ya gol. dipt haian ya prabhavahin-inaka vivaran dene ki cheshta hi vyarth hai. atyadhik gahare jalashay ki bhaanti unamean n jane kya hai? bhay lagata hai. apoorv to mugdh hokar us or dekh raha tha. achanak nimaee baboo ne usaki vesh-bhoosha ki bahar aur thatabat par apoorv ki drishti akarshit karake hansate hue kaha, babooji ka svasthy to chala gaya hai, lekin shauq mean abhi koee kami nahian aee hai, yah to manana hi p dega. kya kahate ho apoorv?
itani der bad usake pahanave par najar dalakar, muanh pherakar apoorv ne hansi chhipa li. usake sir par b de-b de bal haian, lekin gardan aur kanoan ke pas bilkul nahian hai. sir mean maang kadhi huee hai. baloan mean p de hue nianboo ke tel ki gandh se kamara bhar utha hai. sharir par silk ka kurta hai. chhati ki jeb mean se roomal ka tho da-sa hissa dikhaee de raha hai. chadar nahian hai. badan par vilayati mil ki kali makhamali kinari ki barik dhoti hai. pairoan mean hare rang ke poore moje haian, jo ghutanoan par lal phite se bandhe haian, p aaulish kiya hua pamp shoo hai, pairoan mean jinake taloan ko mazaboot aur tikaoo banane ke lie lohe ke nal j de hue haian. hath mean hiran ke siang ki moothavali beant ki chh di hai. in kee dinoan tak jahaz ki bhi dabha d mean sabhi kap de gande ho ge haian.
unaka sir se pair tak bar-bar nirikshan karake apoorv ne kaha, chacha ji is adami ko ap koee bhi bat poochhe bina chho d dijie. jise ap khoj rahe haian, vah adami yah nahian hai. isaki jamanat maian dene ko taiyar hooan.
nimaee baboo ne hansakar poochha, tumhara nam kya hai ji?'
mera nam girish mahapatr hai.
ekadam mahapatr-tum to tel ki khan mean kam karate the? ab rangoon mean hi rahoge? tumhare baks aur bistar ki talashi to ho chuki hai. dekhooan tumhare pars aur jeb mean kya hai?
usake pars se ek rupaya aur chh: ane nikale. jeb se lohe ka kanpas napane ke lie lak di ka phutarool, kuchh bi diyaan, ek diyasalaee aur gaanje ki chilam nikali.
nimaee baboo ne poochha, tum gaanja pite ho?
usane sankoch se uttar diya, ji nahian.
tab yah chiz jeb mean kyoan hai?
raste mean p di thi. utha li. kisi ke kam a jaegi.
tabhi jagadish baboo kamare mean a ge. nimaee baboo ne hansakar kaha, dekho jagadish, yah kitane paropakari vyakti haian. kisi ke kam a jae, yah sochakar inhoanne gaanje ki chilam raste se uthakar rakh li hai. yah kahakar unhoanne usake daean hath ke aangoothe ko dekhakar hansate hue kaha, gaanja pine ka chidd yah hai bhaiya 'pita hooan', kah dene se kam chal jae. kitane din aur jina hai. yahi to hai tumhara sharir. boodhe ki bat mano, ab mat pina.
ji nahian, maian to pita hi nahian. magar banane ko kahate haian to bana deta hooan.
jagadish chidhakar bola, daya ke sagar haian n. doosaroan ko bana dete haian, svayan nahian pite. jhootha kahian ka.
apoorv ne kaha, samay ho gaya. ab ja raha hooan chacha ji.
nimaee baboo ne uthakar kaha, achchha, tum ja sakate ho mahapatr. kyoan jagadish, ja sakata hai n?
sammati dete hue jagadish bola, lekin mera vichar hai, is nagar mean aur kuchh dinoan tak nigarani ki avashyakata hai. sham ki mel tren par najar rakhana. vah barma mean a gaya hai, yah khabar sach hai.
apoorv thane se bahar a gaya. usake sath hi mahapatr bhi apane toote hue tin ke baks ko aur chataee mean lipate gande bichhaune ke bandal ko bagal mean dabakar uttar ka rasta pak dakar dhire-dhire chala gaya.

kaisi ashcharyajanak bat hai ki savyasachi nahian pak da gaya. dere par lautakar shev banane se lekar sandhya-pooja, snan, bhojan, kap de pahanane, aauphis jane adi ke nity ke kamoan mean koee badha nahian huee. lekin unaka man kis sanbandh mean sochane laga tha, usaka koee pata nahian. usaki aankhean, kan aur budhdi-apane sabhi saansarik karyoan se door hokar kisi anajan, anadekhe rajadrohi ki chianta mean hi nimagn ho ge.
apoorv ko anamana dekhakar talavalakar ne poochha, aj ghar se koee chitthi aee hai kya?
apoorv ne kaha, nahian to.
ghar mean kushal to hai n?
jitana janata hooan-kushal hi hai.
ramadas ne phir koee prashn nahian kiya. tiphin ke samay donoan ek sath hi jalapan karate the. ramadas ki patni ne ek din apoorv se atyant agrah se anurodh kiya tha ki jitane dinoan tak apaki maan ya ghar ki koee aur atmiy stri is desh mean akar dere ki upayukt vyavastha nahian karati-utane dinoan tak is chhoti bahin ke hath ki banaee huee tho di-si mithaee apako rojana leni hi p degi. apoorv sahamat ho gaya tha. aauphis ka ek brahman chaparasi vah sab la deta tha. aj bhi jab vah pas ke ekaant kamare mean bhojan samagri sajakar rakh gaya, tab bhojan karane ke lie baithate hi apoorv ne prasang chhe d diya, kal mere dere par chori ho gee. sab kuchh ja sakata tha. lekin oopar vali manzil par rahane vali krishchiyan l daki ki kripa se rupe-paise ke atirikt aur sab kuchh bach gaya. phir sab kuchh vistar se sunane ke bad, kaha, vastav mean vah aisi kushal l daki hai, aisa lagata nahian tha.
ramadas ne poochha, isake bad?
apoorv ne kaha, tivari ghar mean tha nahian. barmi nach dekhane chala gaya tha. isi bich yah ghatana ho gee. usaka vishvas hai ki yah kam us l daki ke atirikt kisi aur ne nahian kiya hai. mera bhi kuchh-kuchh aisa hi anuman hai. chori bhale hi n kare lekin sahayata avashy ki hai.
isake bad?
phir savere pulis mean khabar dene gaya. lekin vahaan jakar aisa tamasha dekha ki is bat ki yad hi nahian rahi. aj soch raha hooan ki pulis se chor-dakuoan ko pak davana bekar hai. yahi achchha hai ki vah log vidrohiyoan ko hi giraphtar karate rahean, yah kahate hi use girish mahapatr ki yad a gee. hansi rukane par usane vijnan aur chikitsa shastr ke asadharan jnata, vilayat ke d aauktar upadhi dhari, raj shatru mahapatr ke svasthy, shiksha, ruchi, unaka bal-viry, indradhanushi rang ka kurta, hare rang ke moje, lohe ke nal lage pamp shoo, nianboo ke tel se suvasit kesh aur sarvopari paropakary gaanje ki chilam ka avishkar karane ki katha vistarapoorvak sunate-sunate apani utkat hansi ka veg kisi prakar aur ek bar rokakar aant mean kaha, talavalakar mahachatur pulis dal ko aj ki tarah moorkh banate sambhavat: kisi ne kabhi nahian dekha hoga.'
ramadas ne poochha, kya ye log apaki bangal pulis ke haian?
apoorv ne kaha, haan. isake atirikt sabase adhik lajja ki bat yah hai ki inake iancharj mere pitaji ke mitr haian. babooji ne hi ek din inaki naukari lagavaee thi.
tab to apako kisi din isaka prayashchitt karana p dega. yah kahakar ramadas sahasa apratim-sa ho gaya. apoorv usaka chehara dekhate hi usaka tatpary samajh gaya. bola, maian unako chacha ji kahata hooan. vah hamare atmiy haian, shubhakaankshi haian. lekin kya isilie vah mere lie desh se badhakar haian. balki jinhean desh ke rupe kharch karake, desh ke adamiyoan ki sahayata se shikar ki tarah pak dane ke lie ghoom rahe haian, vah hi mere param atmiy haian.
ramadas bola, babooji, yah kahane mean bhi vipatti hai.
apoorv bola, bhale hi talavalakar! keval apane hi desh mean nahian, sansar ke jis kisi desh mean, jis kisi yug mean, jis kisi ne apani janm-bhoomi ko svatantr karane ki cheshta ki hai. usako apana kahane ki samarthy aur kisi mean bhale hi n ho, mujh mean hai. bina aparadh ke hi phirangi l dakoan ne jab mujhe lat marakar pletapharm se bahar nikal diya aur jab maian isaka prativad karane ke lie gaya tab aangrez steshan mastar ne mujhe keval deshi adami samajhakar kutte ki tarah aauphis se nikalava diya. unaki laanchhana, is kale cham de ke niche kam jalan paida nahian karati talavalakar! jo log in jaghany atyacharoan se hamari mataoan, bahanoan aur bhaiyoan ka udhdar karana chahate haian, unako apana kahakar pukarane mean jo bhi kasht p de, maian saharsh jhelane ko taiyar hooan.
ramadas ka suandar gora chehara palabhar ke lie lal ho utha. bola 'yah durghatana to apane mujhe bataee nahian.'
apoorv bola, kahana saral nahian hai ramadas. vahaan kam bharatiy nahian the, lekin mere apaman ka kisi par prabhav nahian p da. lat ki chot se meri haddi-pasali tooti, isi kushal samachar se vah prasann ho ge. kya bataooan, yad ate hi du:kh, lajja tatha ghrina se apane ap manoan mitti mean g d jata hooan.'
ramadas maun ho raha. lekin usaki donoan aankhean dabadaba aeean. tin baj chuke the, vah uthakar kh da ho gaya.
us din chhutti hone se pahale b de sahab ne kaha, hamare mamo ke aauphisoan mean avyavastha ho rahi hai. maandale, shoevi, mikthila aur prom sabhi aauphisoan mean g dab di hai. meri ichchha hai ki tum ek bar jakar un sabako dekh ao. mere n rahane par sara kam tumhian ko karana hoga. ek parichay rahana chahie. isalie agar kal-parasoan....
apoorv bola, maian kal hi bahar ja sakata hooan.
doosare din vah mamo jane ke lie tren mean ja baitha. sath mean ek ardali aur aauphis ka ek hiandustani brahman bhi tha. tivari dere par hi raha. lang da sahab aspatal mean p da hai, isalie ab utana bhay nahian hai. talavalakar ne tivari ki pith thokakar kaha, chianta karane ki koee avashyakata nahian hai. kabhi koee ghatana ho to mujhe khabar dena.
tren chhootane mean lagabhag paanch minat ki der hogi ki sahasa apoorv chauankakar bol utha, vahi to.
talavalakar gardan pherate hi samajh gaya ki vahi girish mahapatr hai. vahi thatabat vala baanhadar kurta, hare rang ke moje, vahi pamp shoo aur gh di. aantar keval itana hi hai ki is bar vah bagh aankit roomal, chhati ki jeb ke bajay gale mean lipata hua hai. mahapatr isi or a raha tha. nikat ate hi apoorv ne pukarakar kaha, kyoan girish, mujhe pahachan sakate ho? kahaan ja rahe ho?
ji haan, pahachan raha hooan. kahaan ke lie prasthan ho raha hai?
is samay to mamo ja raha hooan. tum kahaan chal rahe ho?
girish ne kaha, ji, enaj se do mitroan ke ane ki bat thi, lekin babooji, mujhe log jhooth-mooth tang karate haian. haan, yah avashy hai ki log aphim aur gaanja chhipakar le ate haian, lekin baboo, maian to bahut hi dharmabhiru adami hooan. lekin kahavat hai n-lalat ki likhavat meti nahian ja sakati.
apoorv ne hansate hue kaha, mujhe bhi aisa vishvas hai. lekin tum galat samajh rahe ho bhaee. maian pulis ka adami nahian hooan. aphim-gaanje se mera koee matalab nahian hai. us din to maian keval tamasha dekhane gaya tha.
talavalakar bola, baboo! maianne avashy hi kahian dekha hai.
girish ne kaha, isamean koee ashchary nahian hai baboo! naukari ke lie kitani hi jagah maian ghoomata rahata hooan. achchha, ab ja raha hooan baboo, ram-ram. itana kahakar vah age badh gaya.
apoorv ne kaha, isi savyasachi ke pichhe-pichhe chacha ji apane dal-bal ke sath is desh se us desh mean ghoom rahe haian talavalakar. yah kahakar vah hans p da. lekin talavalakar ne is hansi mean sath nahian diya.
doosare pal siti bajakar tren start ho gee. usane hath badhakar mitr se hath milaya lekin muanh se ek shabd bhi nahian nikala.
apoorv pharst klas ka yatri tha. us kampartameant mean aur koee yatri nahian tha. sandhya ho chali to usane sandhya-pooja ke bad bhojan kiya. usaka brahman ardali savere jalapan rakh gaya tha aur bichhauna bhi bichha gaya. bhojan karane ki bad hath-muanh dho, tript ho itminan se bistar par let gaya. lekin us rat tin bar pulisavaloan ne use jagakar usaka nam, kam aur pata-thikana poochha.
ek bar apoorv bola, maian pharst klas ka yatri hooan. tum rat ke samay meri niand kharab nahian kar sakate.
yah niyam relave karmachariyoan ke lie hai. maian pulis karmachari hooan. chahooan to tumhean khianchakar niche bhi utar sakata hooan.
usaka bhavuk man bhitar-bahar se achhann aur abhibhoot hota chala ja raha tha. achanak zor ka dhakka lagane se usane chauankakar dekha. ramadas ki batean yad a geean. yahaan ane ke bad se is barma desh ki bahut-si vyakt-avyakt kahaniyoan ka usane sangrah kar rakha tha. is prasang mean usane ek din kaha tha, babooji, keval shobha, sauandary hi nahian, prakriti mata ki di huee itani b di sampada kam deshoan mean hai. isake van aur aranyoan ki sima nahian. isaki dharati mean kabhi n samapt hone vali teloan ki khanean haian. isaki hiroan ki mahamoolyavan khanoan ka mooly aanka nahian ja sakata aur vishal vrikshoan ki yah jo gaganachumbi paantean haian, inaki tulana sansar mean kahaan hai! bahut dinoan ki bat hai. yahaan ke bare mean janakar ek din aangrez banie ki lalachi drishti achanak is par asakt ho uthi. bandookean-topean aeean. l daee chhi d gee. yuddh mean parajit durbal-shaktihin raja ko nirvasit kar diya gaya. usaki raniyoan ke sharir ke jevar bechakar l daee ka jurmana vasool kiya gaya. isake bad desh ki, manavata, sabhyata aur nyay-dharm ke kalyan ke lie aangrez rajashakti is vijit desh ka shasan bhar grahan kar, usaka anek prakar se kalyan karane ke lie tan-man se jut gee.
isi prakar n jane kitani batean usake hriday ko alo dit karati rahian. achanak tren ki gati dhimi p dane par use chet hua. jaldi se aankhean poanchhakar usane dekha-steshan a gaya tha.

bachapan se hi striyoan ke prati apoorv ke man mean shradhda ki apeksha ghrina ki bhavana hi adhik thi. bhabhiyaan majak karatian to vah man-hi-man du:khi hota. ghanishthata badhane atian to door hat jata. maan ke atirikt aur kisi ke seva ya dekhabhal use achchhi nahian lagati thi. kisi l daki ke pariksha mean pas hone ke samachar se use prasannata nahian hoti thi. yoorop mean striyaan kamar kasakar rajanitik adhikar pane ke lie l d rahi thian. akhabaroan mean unake samachar padhakar usaka sharir jalane lagata tha. lekin usaka hriday svabhav se hi bhadr aur komal tha. vaise vah nar-nari ka bhed n manakar pranimatr ko atyant prem karata tha. kisi ko tanik-sa bhi kasht dene mean use hichak hoti thi. isilie bharati ko aparadhi janate hue bhi usane dandit nahian hone diya. purushoan mean stri ke sanbandh mean jo kamazoriyaan hoti haian vah use chhoo tak nahian gee thi. is eesaee l daki ko dand dena usake svabhav ke virudhd tha. nari jati ke prati anurag n rakhate hue bhi usaka man bharati ko asani se bahut dinoan tak door hatakar rakh sakega, yah bhi sach nahian tha. phir bhi is nirbhay, mithyavadini yuvati ke prati usake man mean rag-dvesh ki sima nahian thi.
use mamo ae pandrah din ho ge haian. yahaan se kal-parasoan tak mikthila jane ki bat hai. aauphis se lautakar baramade mean baitha man-hi-man sochane laga. nari svadhinata ke sanbandh mean usaka man apani sammati dena nahian chahata tha. isamean mangal nahian hai. yah dharana usaki ruchi tatha sanskar par adharit thi. shastriy anushasanoan mean bhi inake prati gambhir anyay hai is saty ko bhi usaka nyay parayan man kisi prakar svikar nahian karata tha. lekin aj jis karan achanak hi usaki yah dharana mit gee, usaka vivaran is prakar hai-
jis do manjile makan mean usane kamare kirae par lie haian usaki nichali manzil mean ek barmi parivar rahata hai. savere aauphis jane se pahale unake parivar mean ek anarthakari durghatana ho gee. unaki char l dakiyaan haian- sabhi vivahita haian. kisi utsav ke upalaksh mean aj sabhi upasthit hue the. bhoj ke samay samman ke vishay mean pahale to l dakiyoan mean, damadoan mean too-too, maian-maian hone lagi aur khoon-kharabe tak bat pahuanch gee. apoorv khabar lene gaya to suna ki inamean se ek to madras ka chuliya musalaman hai. ek chatagaanv ka bangali portugij hai. ek aianglo iandiyan aur sabase chhota chautha damad ek chini hai. vah sab kee pidhiyoan se is shahar mean rahakar cham de ka vyavasay kar rahe haian.
is prakar prithvivyapi sab jatiyoan ka shvasur banane ka gaurav any sthanoan mean durlabh hote hue yahaan sulabh hai. in sanbandhoan ka pita ne virodh kiya tha, lekin l dakiyoan ki svadhinata ne us par dhyan nahian diya. ek-ek din ek-ek karake l dakiyoan ka ghar par pata nahian raha. phir ek-ek kar vah laut aeean aur unake sath a gaya vichitr damadoan ka yah dal. unaki bhasha alag, bhav-vichar alag, karm aur svabhav alag. shiksha-sanskar kisi ke sath kisi ka mel nahian milata. yah to hamare desh ki hiandoo-muslim samasya ki bhaanti dhire-dhire jatil hoti ja rahi hai. kaise sulajhegi?
apoorv ka man kshobh du:kh aur virakti se du:khi ho utha aur l dakiyoan ki is samajik svatantrata ko bar-bar kosane laga. barma nasht ho raha hai. yoorop nashtapray ho chuka hai. isi prakar ki sabhyata ko apane desh mean lane par ham log bhi samool nasht ho jaeange. is durdin mean agar ham sanshay chho dakar apane puratan sidhdatoan ka palan n kar sake to hamean vinash se koee nahian bacha sakega. isi prakar ki anek vicharadharaoan mean dooba aandhere mean akela baitha raha. lekin durbhagy? yah sidhi-si bat usake man mean ek bar bhi nahian aee ki jis mukti mantr ko vah jivan ka ekamatr vrat manakar tan-man se grahan karana chahata hai usi ki doosari moorti ko hathoan se thelakar mukti ke sachche devata ko hi samman sahit door hata raha hai. mukti kya aisi hi koee chhoti-si vastu hai?
ardali bola, apake jane ki bat to parasoan ke lie thi n?
nahian parasoan nahian kal-ek batti de ja, samaj mean mahilaoan ki svadhinata ka yah naya roop dekhakar usaka man udvign ho utha tha.
doosare din thik samay par vah mikthila ke lie chal p da. lekin vahaan pahuanchane par man nahian laga. deshi aur vilayati palatanoan ki chhavani hai. anek bangali saparivar rahate haian. achchha shahar hai. ne logoan ke lie ghoomakar dekhane ki bahut-si chizean haian. lekin yah sab use achchha nahian laga. man rangoon pahuanchane ke lie chhatapatane laga. mamo mean rahate hue ridayarekt kiya hua maan ka ek patr use mila tha. usake bad ramadas ke do patr ae the. usane likha tha ki jab tak tum laut nahian ate, dera badalane ki koee avashyakata nahian hai. vah svayan jakar dekh aya hai. tivari achchhi tarah rah rahe haian.
steshan par ek l dake ko rel ke karmachariyoan ne tren se utar diya tha. usake badan par maile, phate-purane hait-kot the. sath mean ek toota trank tha. tikat kharidane ke paise se usane sharab pi li thi. usaka bas itana hi aparadh tha. l dake ko pulis le ja rahi hai. yah dekhakar apoorv ne usaka kiraya chuka diya tatha aur char-paanch rupe use dekar vahaan se hata raha tha ki sahasa usane hath jo dakar kaha, maharaj, mera yah trank lete jaie. ise bechakar jo dam mile usamean se apana rupaya kat lijiega aur baki rupaya mujhe lauta dijiega. usake kanth svar se yah spasht ho gaya ki usane yah bat poore hosh-havas mean kahi hai.
apoorv ne poochha, kahaan lautaooan?
l dake ne kaha, apana pata de dijie. maian apako chitthi likh dooanga.
apoorv bola, apana trank apane pas rahane do. maian ise nahian bech sakooanga. mera nam apoorv haladar hai. rangoon ki votha kampani mean naukar hooan. kabhi bhej sako to rupaya bhej dena.
usane kaha, achchha namaskar. maian avashy bhej dooanga. yah daya maian jivan bhar nahian bhoolooanga, yah kahakar ek bar phir namaskar karake trank bagal mean dabakar vah chala gaya.
is bar apoorv ne dhyan se usake chehare ko dekha. ayu adhik nahian hai lekin kitani hai thik-thik batana kathin hai. sambhav hai, nashe ke karan das varsh ka aantar p d gaya ho. sharir ka rang gora hai. lekin dhoop mean jalakar taanbe ke rang jaisa ho gaya hai. sir ke rookhe-sookhe bal mathe ke niche tak jhool rahe haian. aankhoan ki drishti uchhalati-si hai. nak khanjar ki tarah sidhi hai. sharir dubala hai. hath ki aanguliyaan lambi aur patali haian tatha samooche badan par upavas aur atyachar ke chidd aankit haian.
tikat kharidakar apoorv tren mean ja baitha aur doosare din gyarah baje rangoon pahuanch gaya. jab taanga dere par pahuancha to dekha, tivari ko jaise koee utkantha hi nahian. baramade ka daravaza tak nahian khula. ga di ki avaz sunakar bhi niche nahian aya.
usane daravaze par pahuanchakar pukara-tivari-! ai tivari!
tho di der bad dhire se, b di satarkata se daravaza khula. krodh se pagal apoorv kamare mean ghoosate hi avak aur hatabudhdi ho gaya. samane bharati kh di thi. yah kaisi moorti hai usaki? pair mean joote nahian haian, kale rang ki sa di pahane hai, bal sookhe-sookhe bikhare haian. shaant chehare par vishad ki abha hai. us par kabhi krodh bhi kar sakega, yah vichar apoorv man mean la hi nahian saka. bharati boli, a ge? ab tivari bach jaega.
apoorv ne kaha, use kya hua?
bharati ne kaha, idhar bahut se logoan ko chechak ki bimari huee hai. use bhi ho gee. ap oopar chalie, snan karake tho di der aram karane ke bad niche aiega. tivari abhi so raha hai, jagane par bata dooangi.
apoorv ashchary se bola, oopar ke kamare mean?
bharati boli, haan, abhi kamara hamare adhikar mean hai. maian chali gee. khoob saf hai. apako koee kasht nahian hoga. chalie.
kamare mean pharsh par sanvarakar apane hathoan se bistar bichhakar boli, ab ap snan kar lijie.
apoorv ne kaha, pahale sari batean mujhe bataie.
bharati boli, snan karake sandhya-pooja kar lean, tab.
apoorv ne zid nahian ki. kuchh der bad jab vah snan adi samapt karake aya to bharati ne hansakar kaha, apana yah gilas lijie. khi daki par kagaz mean lipati chini rakhi hai. use lekar mere sath nal ke pas aie. kis tarah sharbat banaya jata hai, maian sikha deti hooan.
adhik kahane ki avashyakata nahian thi. pyas se chhati phati ja rahi thi. sharbat banakar usane pi liya.
bharati boli, abhi apako ek kasht aur dooangi.
apoorv bola, kaisa kasht?
bharati boli, niche se maianne koyala lakar rakh diya hai. u diya l dake ko bulakar apake choolhe ko manjava diya hai. chaval hai, dal hai, paraval, ghi, tel, namak sab hai. pital ki bataloee la deti hooan. tho da-sa pani lekar dho lean aur chadha dean. kathin kam nahian haian, maian sab bata dooangi. ap keval chadhaeange aur utareange. aj yah kasht utha lijie, kal doosari vyavatha ho jaegi.
apoorv ne pal bhar maun rahakar poochha, lekin apake bhojan ki vyavastha kya hoti hai? kab apane dere par jati haian?
bharati ne kaha, dere par bhale hi n jaooan, lekin ham logoan ko bhojan ke lie chianta nahian karani p degi.
apoorv ne ghante bhar mean rasoee taiyar ki. bharati kamare ki chaukhat ke bahar kh di hokar boli, yahaan kh de rahane se to koee dosh nahian hota apake khane mean?
apoorv bola, hota to ap kh di n rahatian.
jivan mean pahali bar apoorv ne rasoee banaee hai. hajaroan kamiyaan dekhakar bich-bich mean bharati ka dhiraj tootane laga. lekin jab katore mean dalate samay dal idhar-udhar bikhar gee tab vah sahan n kar paee. krodh se boli, ap jaise nikamme adamiyoan ko bhagavan n jane kyoan janm dete haian? keval ham logoan ko pareshan karane ke lie?
khane ke bad apoorv ne kaha, 'achchha, kya mamala hai, ab mujhe saph-saph bataie. idhar aur bhi das adamiyoan ko chechak ki bimari huee hai. tivari ko huee hai. yahaan tak to samajh gaya, par jab is makan ko chho dakar ap sabhi log chale ge to is bandhuhin desh mean aur isase bhi adhik bandhuhin nagar mean ap usake lie pran dene ke lie kaise thahar geean? kya joseph ne koee apatti nahian ki?
bharati boli, 'baboo ji to aspatal mean hi mar ge the.
mar ge? apoorv sannate mean baitha rah gaya, apake kale kap de dekhakar isi prakar ki kisi bhayankar durghatana ka mujhe anuman kar lena chahie tha.
bharati boli, isase bhi b di durghatana yah huee ki maan achanak svarg sidhar geean....
maan bhi mar geean? apoorv stabdh rah gaya. apani maan ki bat yad karake usaki chhati mean n jane kaisi kanpakanpi hone lagi. bharati ne kisi tarah aansoo roke. muanh pherane par usane dekha ki apoorv sajal aankhoan se usaki or dekh raha hai. do-tin minat bitane par usane dhire se kaha, tivari bahut hi achchha adami hai. meri maan bahut dinoan se bimar thi. ham sabhi janate the ki kisi bhi kshan unaki mrityu ho sakati hai. tivari ne ham logoan ki bahut seva ki. mere yahaan se jate samay bahut roya. lekin maian itana bha da kaise de sakati thi?
apoorv chupachap sunata raha.
bharati ne kaha, apaki vah chori pak di gee hai. rupaya aur batan pulis mean jama haian. apako pata hai?
kahaan? nahian to.
tivari ko us din jo log tamasha dikhane le ge the, unhian ke dal ka kam tha. aur bhi n jane kitane gharoan mean chori karane ke bad shayad chori ka mal baantane mean jhag da ho jane ke karan unamean se ek ne sari batean kholakar bata dian. pulis ke gavahoan mean ek maian bhi hooan. yah pata lagakar vah log ek din mere pas ae the. tabhi maianne yahaan akar yah kaand dekha. mukadame ki tarikh kab hai, yah to maian thik se nahian janati. lekin sab kuchh vapas mil jaega. yah sun chuki hooan.
yah aantim bat agar vah n bhi kahati to achchha hota. kyoanki lajja ke mare apoorv ka muanh keval lal hi nahian ho utha, is mamale mean apane un prakat aur aprakat isharoan ki yad karake usake sharir mean kaante se chubh uthe.
bharati phir kahane lagi, daravaza band tha. hajaroan bar pukarane aur chillane par bhi kisi ne uttar nahian diya. oopar ki manzil ki chabi mere pas thi. daravaza kholakar aandar gee. mere pharsh mean ek chhed ho gaya hai, yah kahakar usane lajja se hansi ko chhipakar kaha, us chhed se apake kamare ka sab kuchh dikhaee deta hai. dekha, sabhi daravaze band haian. aandhere mean koee adami sir se pair tak kap da odhe soya p da hai. tivari jaisa dikhaee diya. usi chhed par muanh rakhakar chilla-chillakar pukara, tivari maian bharati hooan. tumako kya hua? daravaza khol do- phir niche akar isi tarah chikh-pukar machane lagi. bis minat ke bad tivari kisi tarah ghisatakar aya aur daravaza khol diya. usaka chehara dekhakar phir kuchh poochhane ki avashyakata hi nahian rahi. isake tin-char din pahale, samane vale makan ke kamare se pulis vale chechak se bimar do telugu kuliyoan ko pak dakar aspatal le ge the. unaka rona-pitana, gi dagi dana tivari ne apani aankhoan se dekha tha. mere donoan paanv pak dakar bhoan-bhoan karake rote hue bola, maee ji mujhe pleg aspatal mean mat bhejana. bhejane se phir mere pran nahian bacheange. yah bat bilkul jhoothi bhi nahian hai. vahaan se kisi ke jianda lautakar ane ki bat bahut hi kam sunaee deti hai, isi dar se vah rat-din daravaze-khi dakiyaan band karake p da rahata hai. muhalle mean kisi bhi adami ko agar pata chal gaya to phir raksha nahian hai.
apoorv bola, aur ap tabhi se ap din-rat akeli yahaan rah rahi haian. isaki soochana kyoan nahian bheji? hamare aauphis ke talavalakar baboo ko to ap janati haian. unhean kyoan nahian bula liya.
bharati ne kaha, kaun jata? adami kahaan hai? socha tha, shayad halachal poochhane aeange lekin vah nahian ae. aur isake alava bat phail jane ki bhi ashanka thi.
yah to zaroor hai, kahakar apoorv ne ek lambi saans lekar chup rah gaya. bahut der bad bola, apaka chehara kaisa ho gaya?
bharati hansakar boli, yani pahale isase suandar tha?
apoorv is bat ka koee uttar nahian de saka. usaki donoan aankhoan ki mugdh drishti shradhda aur kritajnata se us taruni par tik gee. bola, manushy jo kam nahian karata, use apane kiya hai. lekin ab apaki chhutti hai. tivari mera keval naukar hi nahian hai, mera mitr bhi hai. usaki god aur pith par chadh-chadhakar hi maian b da hua hooan. ab bhojan ke lie ghar jaie. kya ghar yahaan se bahut door hai?'
bharati boli, ham log tel ke karakhane ke pas, nadi ke kinare rahate haian. maian kal phir aooangi.
donoan utarakar niche a ge. tala kholakar donoan kamare mean ghuse. tivari jag jane par bhi besudh-sa p da tha. apoorv usake bistar ke pas akar baith gaya aur jo bartan adi bina maanje-dhoe p de the unhean uthakar bharati snanaghar mean chali gee. usaki ichchha thi ki jane se pahale rogi ke sanbandh mean do-char zaroori batean batakar is bhayanak rog se apane ko surakshit rakhane ki avashyakata ki bat yad dilakar jae. hath ka kam samapt karake inhian batoan ko doharati huee kamare mean lauti to usane dekha ki chetana shoony tivari ke vikrit muanh ki or takataki lagae dekhata hua apoorv patthar ki moorti ki tarah baitha hai. usaka chehara ekadam saphed ho gaya hai. chechak ki bimari usane apane jivan mean kabhi dekhi nahian thi. bharati jab nikat a gee to usaki donoan aankhean chhalachhala uthian. bachchoan ki tarah vyakul svar mean bol utha, maian kuchh n kar sakooanga bharati.
tab to khabar dekar ise aspatal bhej dena p dega. bharati ke shabdoan mean n shlesh tha, n vyangy. lekin lajja se apoorv ka sir jhuk gaya.
bharati boli, din rahate hi kuchh kar dena thik rahega. ap kahean to ghar jate samay kahian se aspatal ko teliphon karati jaooan. vah log ga di lekar aeange aur ise yahaan se utha le jaeange.
apoorv bola, lekin apane hi to kaha hai ki vahaan jane par koee bhi nahian bachata.'
koee bhi nahian bachata-yah maianne kab kaha?
apane kaha tha, adhikaansh rogi mar jate haian.
mar jate haian. isilie hosh rahate vahaan koee nahian jana chahata.
apoorv ne poochha, kya tivari ko bilkul hosh nahian hai.
bharati boli, kuchh to zaroor hai.
tabhi tivari ke karah uthane par apoorv chauank p da. bharati ne pas akar sneh bhare svar mean poochha, kya chahie tivari?
tivari ne kuchh kaha par apoorv use samajh nahian saka. lekin bharati ne savadhani se usaki karavat badalavakar lote se tho da jal usake muanh mean dalakar kaha, tumhare baboo ji a ge haian tivari.
pratyuttar mean tivari ne n jane kya kaha aur phir usaki muandi aankhoan ke kone se aansoo ludhakakar bahane lage. kuchh der kisi ne kuchh nahian kaha. samoocha kamara jaise du:kh aur shok se bojhil ho gaya. kuchh der bad bharati ne kaha, ab ise ap aspatal hi bhej dijie.
apoorv sir hilakar bola, nahian.
achchha, ab maian ja rahi hooan. ho saka to kal aooangi.
jane se pahale bharati boli, sab kuchh hai, keval momabatti khatm ho gee hai. maian niche se ek bandal kharidakar de jati hooan. yah kahakar bahar chali gee. kuchh der bad jab vah momabatti lekar aee, to apoorv apane ko sanbhal chuka tha. momabatti ka bandal dekar bharati ne kuchh kahana chaha. lekin apoorv ke muanh pher lene par usane bhi kuchh nahian kaha. par bharati ne jane ke lie jyoan hi daravaza khola, apoorv ekadam bol utha, 'agar tivari pani chahe? bharati ne kaha, pani de dijiega.
aur agar karavat badalakar sona chahe?
karavat badalakar sula dijiega.
aur maian kahaan soooanga? usake kanth svar ka krodh chhipa nahian raha, bola, bichhauna to oopar ke kamare mean p da hai.
pal bhar maun rahakar vah boli, vah bichhauna jo apaki charapaee par hai ap us par so sakate haian.
aur mere bhojan ka kya hoga?
bharati chup rahi. lekin is asangat prashn se chhipi hansi ke aveg se usaki aankhoan ki donoan palakean jaise kaanpane lagian. kuchh der bad bahut hi gambhir svar mean boli, apake sone aur khane-pine ka bhar kya mere oopar hai?
maian kya kah raha hooan?
is samay to apane yahi kaha hai aur vah bhi gusse se.
apoorv isaka uttar n de saka. usake udas chehare ko dekhate hue bharati ne kaha, apako is tarah kahana chahie tha-kripa karake ap in sabaki vyavastha kar dijie.
apoorv bola, yah kahane mean koee kathinaee to hai nahian.
achchhi bat hai, yahi kahie n.
yahi to kah raha hooan, kahakar apoorv muanh phulakar doosari or dekhane laga.
apane kya kabhi kisi rogi ki seva nahian ki?
nahian.
videsh mean bhi kabhi nahian ae?
nahian, maan mujhe kabhi kahian jane nahian deti thian.
tab unhoanne is bar kaise bhej diya?
apoorv chup raha. maan use kyoan videsh jane par sahamat huee thian yah bat kisi ko batane ki ichchha nahian thi.
bharati boli, itani b di naukari, apako n bhejane se kaise kam chalata. lekin vah sath kyoan nahian aeean?
apoorv kshubdh hokar bola, 'meri maan ko apane dekha nahian hai, nahian to aisa n kahatian. mujhe chho dane mean unaki atma ko atyant du:kh hua hai. doosara karan vah to vidhava haian. is mlechchh desh mean kaise a sakati thian?
mlechchhoan par ap logoan ke man mean itani ghrina hai? lekin rog to keval gariboan ke lie nahian bana hai, apako bhi to ho sakata tha. to kya aisi dasha mean maan n atian?
apoorv ka muanh phika p d gaya. bola, agar is tarah daraogi to maian rat mean akela kaise rahooanga.
n darane par bhi ap akele nahian rah sakeange. ap darapok adami haian.'
apoorv chupachap baitha sunata raha.
bharati boli, achchha bataie, mere hath ka pani pikar tivari ki jati nasht ho gee. rog achchha ho jane par yah kya karega?
apoorv kuchh sochakar bola, usane sachet avastha mean aisa nahian kiya. maranasann bimari ki dasha mean kiya hai. n pita to shayad mar jata. aisi paristhiti mean bhi prayashchit to karana hi p data hai.
bharati boli, hooan. isaka kharch shayad apako hi dena p dega, nahian to ap usake hath ka bhojan kaise kareange?
apoorv bola, maian hi dooanga. bhagavan kare vah achchha ho jae.
bharati boli, aur maian hi seva karake, use achchha kar dooan?
apoorv kritajnata se gadgad hokar bola, apaki b di daya hogi. tivari bach jae. apane hi to use jivan dan diya hai.