पथ के दावेदार भाग-6

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

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apoorv ke is tarah bahar chale jane par sabhi ashchary mean p d ge. bairistar krishna ayyar ne poochha, yah kaun hai d aauktar? bahut hi bhavuk.
usaki bat mean spasht ulahana tha ki aise logoan ka yahaan kya kam hai?
d aauktar tho da hans p de.
prashn ka uttar diya talavalakar ne, yah haian mistar apoorv haladar! hamare aauphis mean mere supiriyar aphasar haian. lekin bahut antarang haian. mere rangoon ke pratham parichay ki kahani nahian suni. yah ek....
sahasa bharati par najar p date hi rukakar usane kaha, vah jo kuchh bhi ho, pratham parichay ke din se hi ham log mitr haian.
d aauktar hansakar bole, bhavukata nam ki vastu sarvada buri nahian hoti krishna ayyar! aur tumhari tarah sabhi ko kathor patthar ban jane se kam nahian chalega. aisa sochana bhi thik nahian hai.
krishna ayyar bole, aisa maian bhi nahian sochata. lekin kamare ko chho dakar unake vicharane ke lie sansar mean sthan to kam hai nahian.
talavalakar man-hi-man krodhit ho utha. jise bar-bar apana param mitr bata raha hai, use usi ke samane avaanchhit vyakti sidhd karane ki cheshta se usane apana apaman samajhakar kaha, mistar ayyar, apoorv baboo ko maian pahachanata hooan. yah sach hai ki ham logoan ke mantr ki diksha lie unhean bahut din nahian hue. lekin mitr ki akalpit mrityu se tho da-sa vichalit ho jana, ham logoan ke lie bhi koee bhayanak aparadh nahian hai. sansar mean chalane-phirane ke lie apoorv baboo ko sthan ki kami nahian hai. aur mujhe asha hai ki is makan mean bhi unake lie sthan ki kami nahian p degi.
d aauktar bole, avashy nahian p degi talavalakar, avashy nahian p degi. phir vah vishesh roop se bharati ko lakshy karake bole, lekin yah mitrata nam ki vastu sansar mean kitani kshan bhangur hai bharati. ek din jisake sanbandh mean socha bhi nahian ja sakata, doosare hi din jara-sa karan paida ho jane par hamesha ke lie vichhoh ho jata hai. yah bhi sansar mean koee asvabhavik nahian hai talavalakar! isake lie bhi taiyar rahana chahie. manushy bahut hi durbal prani hai. sansar ke dhakke sanbhalane ke lie isi bhavukata ki avashyakata p dati hai.
in sab batoan ka uttar nahian, prativad bhi nahian. sab maun rahe. lekin bharati ka chehara udas ho utha. bharati janati hai ki akaran kuchh kahana d aauktar ka svabhav nahian hai.
d aauktar ne gh di dekhakar kaha, mera to jane ka samay ho raha hai bharati! rat ki ga di se ja raha hooan talavalakar!
kahaan aur kisalie? apane ap batae bina anavashyak kautoohal prakat karane ka niyam in logoan mean nahian hai.
talavalakar ne poochha, mere lie apaka adesh?
d aauktar ne hansakar kaha, adesh to hai, lekin ek bat hai, barma mean sthan ka abhav ho hi jae to apane desh mean nahian hoga, yah nishchit hai. mazadooroan par jara najar rakhana.
talavalakar ne gardan hilakar kaha, achchha, phir kab bheant hogi?
d aauktar ne kaha, nilakaant joshi ke shishy ho tum, phir yah prashn kaise kar baithe?
talavalakar chup ho raha. d aauktar ne kaha, ab der mat karo, jao. ghar pahuanchate-pahuanchate bhor ho jaegi. -aur ayyar, kya yahian praiktis karane ka nishyach kar liya hai?
krishna ayyar ne sir hilakar sammati prakat ki. kirae ki ga di bahar kh di pratiksha kar rahi thi. donoan bahar jane lage to talavalakar ne kaha, aandhere mean apoorv baboo kahaan chale ge. bheant nahian huee....
lekin is bat ka uttar dena kisi ne avashyak nahian samajha. kuchh hi der bad ga di ki avaz se maloom ho gaya ki vah log chale ge.
tum kya samajhati ho....apoorv chala gaya? d aauktar ne kaha.
bharati boli, nahian sambhav hai as-pas khojane se mil jaeange. apase bina bheant kie vah nahian jaeange.
d aauktar bole, tum yahi kam karo. adhik nahian thahar sakata bahin!
nahian. vah isi bich a jaeange, yah kahakar daravaze ke bahar bharati ne najarean dau daee aur parichit pairoan ki avaz ki pratiksha mean bechain ho uthi. ji chaha dau dakar kahian ap-pas se use palabhar mean khoj lae. lekin itani vyakulata dikhane mean use aj lajja maloom huee. d aauktar ne gh di ki or dekha. bharati ne gh di par najar dali. paanch-chh: minat se adhik samay nahian tha.
ap kya paidal hi jaeange?
nahian. do bajakar bis minat par b di s dak se ek gho da ga di gujaregi. chh:-sat ane mean steshan pahuancha degi.
paisa n dene par bhi pahuancha degi. lekin jane se pahale kya sumitra jiji ko dekhane nahian jaeange? vah sachamuch bimar haian.
d aauktar ne kaha, maianne kab kaha ki bimar nahian haian? lekin d aauktar ko dikhae bina bimari kaise achchhi hogi?
bharati boli, apase achchha d aauktar kaun milega?
d aauktar ne majak mean uttar diya, tab to ho chuki achchhi. abhyas chhoote bahut din bit chuke haian. phir baitha-baitha kisi ka ilaj karata rahooan, itana samay kahaan hai mere pas?
bharati bol uthi, apake pas bhala samay kahaan hai! koee mar bhi jae to bhi apako samay nahian milaga. kya desh ka kam aisa hi hota hai?
d aauktar ka hansata hua chehara palabhar ko gambhir hokar phir pahale jaisa ho gaya. bharati yah dekhate hi apani galati samajh gee. sumitra kaun hai? d aauktar ke sath usaka sabandh kya hai? aur kis tarah vah is dal mean shamil huee, bharati ko is sabandh mean kuchh bhi maloom nahian tha. in logoan ki sanstha mean vyaktigat parichay ke prati jijnasa nishidhd mana jata hai. isilie anuman ke siva thik taur se kuchh bhi jan lene ka upay nahian tha. keval stri hone ke nate hi usane sumitra ka manobhav kuchh-kuchh jan liya tha. lekin apani usi anubhooti ko adhar manakar itana b da ishara kar baithane se vah keval sankoch mean hi nahian p d gee balki bhayabhit bhi ho uthi. bhayabhit vah d aauktar se nahian sumitra se huee. yah bat kisi bhi tarah usake kan tak pahuanch jane se kam big d jaega. unaka aur parichay maloom n hone par bhi pahale se hi us shaant, tikshn, vidya-budhdishalini ramani ke durbhedy gambhirata ke parichay se koee bhi aparichit nahian tha. unake svaroop aur bhashan se unake prakhar saundary ke har padakshep se, unake sanyam-gambhir vartalap se, unake achanchal acharan ki gambhirata se, is dal mean rahate hue bhi unaki asim doori ko sab log bhali-bhaanti anubhav karate the. yahaan tak ki unaki bimari ke sanbandh mean bhi apane ap kisi prakar ki alochana karane ka bhi kisi ko sahas nahian hota tha. lekin ek din is n bedhi jane vali kathorata ko bedhakar unaki atyant gupt durbalata, us din apoorv aur bharati ke samane prakat ho gee thi jis din ek adami ko vida karate samay sumitra svayan ko sanbhal nahian saki thian. aur usi se vah mano apane ko sabase alag-bahut door hata le gee haian. vah vishal vyavadhan, doosare ki bin maangi sahanubhooti ke akarshan se sankuchit hone ka tho da bhi abhas milate hi usaki apane jivan ke prati aantar mean chhipi goodh vedana sahasa bh dak uthegi, is bat ka anubhav karake bharati ka kshubdh chitt ashanka se bhar jata tha.
d aauktar ne aram kursi par achchhi tarah letakar apane donoan pair mej par phaila die aur phir aram ki saans chho dakar bol uthe, oh.....
bharati ashchary se bole, ap to khoob so lie?
d aauktar naraj hokar bolean, kyoan, kya maian gho da hooan jo jara-sa letate hi niand a jaegi? mujhe niand a rahi hai. tum logoan ki tarah kh de-kh de maian nahian so sakata.
kh de-kh de ham log bhi nahian so sakate. lekin agar koee yah kahe ki ap dau date-dau date so sakate haian to mujhe ashchary nahian hoga. apake is sharir se kya kuchh nahian ho sakata koee nahian janata, lekin samay ho gaya. isi samay n chal p dane se ga di nahian milegi. chali jaegi.
chali jane do, b di zor ki niand a rahi hai bharati. aankheanan nahian khol sakata, yah kahakar d aauktar ne aankheanan mooand lian.
yah sunakar bharati ne pulakit man se anubhav kiya ki keval mere anurodh se hi aj unaka jana sthagit ho gaya. nahian to niand to door, bijali girane ki duhaee dekar bhi unake sankalp mean badha nahian dali ja sakati. usane kaha, agar sachamuch hi niand a rahi ho to oopar jakar so jaie n.
d aauktar ne aankheanan band kie hi poochha, tum kya apoorv ki bat dekhati huee sari rat jagakar bitaogi?
bharati boli, mujhe kya garaj? kothari mean so jaooangi.
d aauktar bole, krodh karake leta to ja sakata hai lekin soya nahian ja sakata. bichhaune par p dakar chhatapatate rahane se badhakar doosari koee saza nahian hoti. isase yahi achchha hoga ki tum use khoj lao. maian kisi se nahian kahooanga.
bharati ka chehara lal p d gaya. kuchh der maun rahane ke bad svayan ko sanbhal kar boli, achchha d aauktar sahab, bistar par p dakar chhatapatate rahane se badhakar aur koee saza nahian hoti-yah bat ap kaise jan ge?
log kahate haian. vahi sunakar.
apane anubhav se nahian janate?
d aauktar bole, bahin, ham abhagoan ko to sone ke lie bistar bhi nasib nahian hote. phir chhatapatana kaisa. itani baboogiri ke lie phursat kahaan?
bharati boli, achchha d aauktar sahab, sab log kahate haian ki ap mean krodh hai hi nahian. kya yah bat sach hai?
log jhooth kahate haian. vah mujhe dekh nahian sakate.
bharati hansakar boli, ya atyadhik pyar karate haian? vah to yah bhi kahate haian ki ap mean n man hai n abhiman. n daya-maya hai. hriday adi se aant tak patthar ban gaya hai.
d aauktar ne kaha, yah bhi atyadhik pyar ki bat hai. isake bad?
bharati boli, isake bad, us prastar moorti par keval ek pratima khudi huee hai-janmabhoomi ki pratima. usaka n adi hai, n aant hai aur n kshay hai. vah pratima hamean dikhaee nahian deti. isilie ham log apake pas rah pate haian. nahian to.... kahate-kahate sahasa vah ruk gee. phir boli, kaise bataooan d aauktar sahab, ek din jab mean sumitra bahin ke sath barma ayaran kampani ke karakhanean ke pas se ja rahi thi, us din yahaan karakhane ke ne bayalar ki pariksha ho rahi thi. log kh de-kh de tamasha dekh rahe the. kale parvat ke saman vah ek vishal j d-piand se adhik aur kuchh bhi nahian tha. sahasa usaka daravaza khul jane par aisa laga manoan usake bhitar ag ka toofan uth raha hai. agar usamean is prithvi ko bhi uthakar dal diya jae to vah ise bhi bhasm kar dega. maianne suna hai ki vah akela hi us vishal karakhane ko jala sakata hai. daravaza band ho gaya to vah poorvavat shaant j d-piand ban gaya. usake bhitar ka ratti bhar bhi prakash bahar nahian raha. sumitra bahin ke muanh se gahari saans nikal gee. maianne ashchary se poochha kya bat hai jiji! sumitra ne kaha, is bhayankar yantr ko yad rakhana bharati. isase tum apane d aauktar sahab ko pahachan sakogi. yahi hai unaki yatharth pratimoorti.
d aauktar ne anyamanask ki tarah muskarate hue kaha, sabhi log kya mujhe pyar hi karate haian? lekin niand ke mare to aankhoan se ab kuchh bhi dikhaee nahian de raha bharati. kuchh upay karo. lekin isase pahale-vah adami kahaan chala gaya, kya ek bar pata nahian lagaogi?
lekin ap yah bat kisi se kah nahian sakate.
nahian. lekin mujh se lajja karane ki avashyakata nahian hai.
nahian. manushy se hi manushy ko lajja hoti hai, yah kahakar vah lalaten lekar bahar chali gee.
lagabhag pandrah minat bad akar boli, apoorv baboo chale ge.
ashchary se d aauktar bole, itane aandhere mean akele?
aisa hi lagata hai.
ashchary hai.
maianne apake lie bistar thik kar diya hai.
aur tum.
maian pharsh par kambal bichhakar so jaooangi.
d aauktar bole, achchha chalo. lajja manushy manushy se karata hai. maian to patthar raha.
oopar ke kamare mean d aauktar let ge. bharati ne pharsh par bistar bichha diya.
d aauktar ne use dekhakar kaha, sab log milakar is tarah meri upeksha karate haian to mere atm samman ko chot lagati hai. yani mujhase koee bhay nahian hai.
bharati boli, ratti bhar bhi nahian. apase kisi ka leshamatr bhi akalyan nahian ho sakata.
d aauktar se hansakar boli, achchha, kisi din pata chal jaega.
bichhaune par letakar bharati ne poochha, apaka savyasachi nam kisane rakha tha d aauktar sahab?
d aauktar hansakar bole, yah nam diya tha pathashala mean pandit ji ne. unake yahaan am ka ek bahut ooancha pe d tha. keval maian hi dhele bharakar us par lage amoan ko to d sakata tha. ek chhat par se koodane par mera dayaan hath moch kha gaya. d aauktar ne us par patti baandhakar mere gale se lataka diya. yah dekhakar sabhi hay-hay karane lage. lekin pandit ji ne prasann hokar kaha, jane do, dhele ki chot khane se mere am to bach ge. pakane par shayad do-char muanh mean dal sakooanga.
bharati boli, ap b de dusht the.
d aauktar bole, doosare din phir am girane laga. pandit ji ko pata chal gaya. unhoanne mujhe pak d liya. kuchh der meri or dekhakar bole, galati huee beta savyasachi. am ki asha ab nahian karata. dayaan hath to d chuke ho, bayaan hath chal raha hai. bayaan hath toot jane par sanbhav hai donoan pair chaleange. ab kasht mat karo. jo am bache haian unhean maian tu dava deta hooan.
bharati boli, pandit ji ka diya hua nam hai yah?
d aauktar bole, haan, mera asali nam tabhi se log bhool ge.
bharati phir boli, achchha, sabhi log jo kahate haian ki desh aur ap milakar ekakar ho ge haian. yah kaise hua?
d aauktar bole, yah bhi bachapan ki ghatana hai. is bich mean kya-kya aya aur chala gaya, lekin vah din aj bhi yad hai. hamare gaanv ke pas vaishnavoan ka ek math tha. ek din rat ke samay dakuoan ne us math par akraman kiya. rone-dhone ki avaz se log ikatthe ho ge. lekin dakuoan ke pas ek deshi bandook thi, jisase vah log goliyaan chalane lage. yah dekhakar koee unake pas n ja saka. mere ek chachere bhaee the. atyant sahasi aur paropakari. vah jane ke lie chhatapatane lage. lekin jane par nishchay hi mrityu hogi, yah sochakar sabane unako pak d liya. apane ko kisi tarah n chhu da sakane par vah vahian se nishphal uchhal-kood machane lage aur dakuoan ko gali dene lage, lekin usaka koee phal nahian hua. dakuoan ne keval ek bandook ke zor se do-tin sau adamiyoan ke samane baba ji ko khooante mean baandhakar jala dala. maian us samay balak tha bharati! lekin aj bhi marate hue baba ji ki chikhean sunaee p dati haian. oh, kitana hriday vidarak artanad tha vah.
bharati ne poochha, isake bad?
d aauktar bole, isake bad?
d aauktar bole, baba ji ko samooche gaanvavaloan ke samane mar dala gaya. dakuoan ne lootapat ka kam b di asani se poora kar liya. jate samay dakuoan ke saradar ne apane pita ki saugandh khakar b de bhaiya ko sunakar kaha, aj to ham log thak ge haian. par ek mahine ke aandar hi lautakar ham isaka badala leange. b de bhaiya zila majistret ke pas jakar roe-dhoe ki mujhe ek bandook chahie. lekin pulis ne kaha, nahian mil sakati. kyoanki do sal pahale kisi atyachari pulis ianspektar ke kan mal dene ke aparadh mean unhean do mahine ki jel ki saza mil chuki thi. bhaiya se majistehrat ne kaha, jo itana darata hai vah ghar-dvar bechakar mere zile se kisi doosare zile mean chala jae.
bharati uttejit hokar boli, nahian di?
d aauktar ne kaha, nahian, aur yahi nahian, bade bhaiya ne jab dhanush-ban aur barachha banavaya to pulis unhean bhi chhin le geean.
isake bad?
isake bad ki ghatana sankshipt hai. usi mahine mean saradar ne apani pratijna poori kar li. is bar usake pas ek bandook aur thi. ghar ke sabhi log bhag ge. par bade bhaiya ko koee bhi diga n saka. dakoo ki goli khakar unhoanne pran tyag die.
pran tyag die?
haan, goli lagane ke bad char ghante jivit rahe. gaanv bhar ikattha hokar ho-halla machane laga. koee dakuoan ko gali dene laga. koee sahab ko. keval bhaiya chupachap p de rahe. dehati gaanv hi to tha. aspatal das-barah kos door tha. rat ke samay d aauktar patti baandhane ke lie aya to bhaiya ne usaka hath hatakar kaha, rahane do, maian jina nahian chahata. yah kahate-kahate patthar ke us devata ki avaz jara-si kaanp uthi. b de bhaiya mujhe bahut hi pyar karate the. mujhe rote dekhakar unhoanne meri or dekha aur phir dhire-dhire bole, chhi:! l dakiyoan ki tarah is gay, bhe d, bakariyoan ke sur-mean-sur milakar too mat ro shail! lekin rajy karane ke lobh se jin logoan ne samooche desh mean manushy kahalane yogy ek bhi prani baki nahian chho da, un logoan ko apane jivan mean kabhi kshama mat karana? ghrina se usake muanh se uph, ah tak bhi nahian nikali aur is abhishapt paradhin desh ko chirakal ke lie vah chho dakar chale ge. keval maian hi janata hooan bharati- kitana b da aur vishal hriday us din sansar se vida ho gaya.
bharati chupachap baithi rahi. kisi samay ek chhote se gaanv mean huee durghatana ki kahani hi to hai. daka p dane par do-char ajnat, aprasidhd adamiyoan ke pran nasht hue, itana hi to. jagath ke b de-b de virodhoan ke asahaniy du:khoan ke mukabale mean yah hai kya chij? phir bhi is patthar par kitana gahara ghav kar gee hai. tulana aur ganana ki drishti se durbaloan ke du:khad itihas mean hatya ki yah nirmamata bahut hi tuchchh hai. is bangadesh mean hi rojana n jane kitane log chor-dakuoan ke hathoan marate haian. lekin isamean kya itani hi-si bat hai? kya yah patthar itane se aghat se hi vidirn ho gaya hai? bharati ko sahasa laga, jaise samoochi bali ki dussah laanchhana aur apaman ki glani se us patthar ke chehare par kali syahi ki moti tah pot di hai.
vedana se bharati bol uthi, bhaiya....?
d aauktar ne gardan uthakar poochha, mujhe bula rahi ho?
bharati boli, haan.... kya aangrejoan se tumhari sandhi nahian ho sakati?
nahian, mujhase badhakar unaka shatru aur koee nahian hai.
bharati man-hi-man du:khi hokar boli, kisi se dushmani ya kisi ka ahit karane ki tum kamana kar sakate ho, yah bat maian soch bhi nahian sakati bhaiya.
d aauktar bole, bharati, yah bat tumhare muanh se hi shobha de sakati hai. maian tumhean ashirvad deta hooan ki tum sukhi hoo. yah kahakar vah jara hans p de. lekin bharati janati thi ki is hansi ka koee mooly nahian hai. shayad yah kuchh aur hi ho.
d aauktar ne kaha, bharati, hamara desh unake hathoan mean chala gaya hai. isi karan maian unaka shatru nahian hooan. kabhi yah desh musalamanoan ke hathoan mean bhi chala gaya tha lekin samast sansar mean manavata ki itani b di shatru jati aur koee nahian hai. yahi in logoan ka vyavasay hai. yahi inaka mooladhan hai. yadi tumase ban sake to desh ke sabhi logoan ko, bhale hi vah purush hoan ya stri, is saty ko samajha dena.
bharati maun baithi n jane kya sochane lagi. lekin ek samoochi jati ke virudhd itane b de abhiyog ko saty manakar us par vishvas n kar paee.

bharati ke dal ke ek adami ne akar ek patr diya. patr sumitra ke hath ka likha hua tha. patr mean usane likha tha ki jaisi avastha mean ho tatkal patr vahak ke sath chali ao.
niche utarakar dekha, daravaze ke samane parichit ga di kh di hai lekin ga divan badal gaya hai. lekin ga di kyoan aee hai? sumitra ke ghar tak jane mean tin-char minat se adhik samay nahian lagata. usane poochha, kya bat hai hira sianh, sumitra kahaan haian?
hira sianh path ke davedar ke sadasy n hote hue bhi vishvasapatr hai, panjabi sikh hai. pahale haangakaang pulis mean sarvis karata tha. ab rangoon ke tar ghar mean pyoon ka kam karata hai.
usane dhire se kaha, char-paanch mil door, bahut hi gupt aur avashyak sabha ho rahi hai. apake n jane se kam nahian chalega.
bharati ne prashn nahian kiya. saanjh ke aandhere mean ga di ki khi dakiyaan band karake chal p di. hira sianh sarakari pyoon ki yoonipharm mean sarakari saikil par savar hokar doosare raste se chal p da.
rat ke lagabhag das baje ga di ek bagiche mean pahuanchakar ruk gee. hira sianh pahale hi pahuanch chuka tha. usane ga di ka daravaza khol diya. sir ke oopar b de-b de pe d chhae hue the. jisake karan aandhakar itana durbhedy ho gaya tha ki hath sujhaee nahian de raha tha. lambi-lambi aur ghani ghas ke bich ek pagadandi ka chidd matr dikhaee de raha tha. isi bhayanak raste par hira sianh apani saikil ki chhoti-si lalaten ki roshani se rasta dikhate hue age-age chalane laga.
us pagadandi par chalate hi bharati ke man mean rah-rahakar yah vichar ane laga ki is bhayankar sthan mean akar maianne achchha nahian kiya.
tho di der bad vah log ek tooti-phooti purani imarat ke samane pahuanch ge. bade hal ke kone mean oopar chadhane ki sidhiyaan haian. sidhiyaan kath ki bani huee haian. bich-bich mean sidhiyoan ke kuchh takhte nahian haian. bharati hira sianh ka hath pak dakar doosari manzil par pahuanch gee. aur phir samane ka baramada par karake b di kathinaee se nishchit sthan par pahuanch gee. kamare mean ek chataee bichhi thi. ek or do momabattiyaan jal rahi thian. unhian ke pas samane asan par sumitra baithi thi. doosare chhor par d aauktar baithe the. unhoanne sneh bhare svar mean kaha, ao bharati, mere pas akar baitho.
bharati jaldi se d aauktar ke pas ja baithi. usake kandho par bayaan hath rakhakar d aauktar ne jaise chupachap use dhadhas bandhaya. hira sianh aandar nahian aya. daravaze ke pas hi kh da raha. bharati ne charoan or najar dali. jo log baithe the unamean se paanch-chh: ko to vah bilkul hi nahian pahachanati thi. parichitoan mean se d aauktar aur sumitra ke atirikt ramadas talavalakar aur krishna ayyar the.
aparichitoan par najar dalate hi sabase pahane usaki najar ek bhayanak chehare vale adami par p di. vah gerue rang ka lamba chola pahane tha. sir par bahut b di pag di thi. usaka muanh b di haan di ki tarah golakar aur sharir gaiande ke saman sthool, maansal aur sookha tha. b di-b di aankhoan ke oopar bhauanhoan ka chidd tak nahian. k di-k di siankoan ki tarah kh di mooanchhean shayad door se gini ja sakati thian. rang taanbe jaisa. use dekhate hi spasht maloom ho jata tha ki vah anary mangoliya jati ka hai. us vibhats bhayanak adami ki or bharati aankh uthakar nahian dekh saki. do minat tak samooche kamare mean sannata chhaya raha. phir sumitra ne pukarakar kaha, bharati, maian tumhare man ki bat janati hooan? isalie meri ichchha nahian thi ki tumhean yahaan bulakar du:khi karooan. lekin d aauktar ne aisa nahian karane diya. janati ho, apoorv baboo ne kya kiya hai.
bharati maun dekhati rah gee.
sumitra boli, votha kampani ne ramadas ko barkhast kar diya hai. apoorv ki bhi vahi dasha hoti. lekin kamishnar ke samane ham logoan ki sari batean sach-sach kah dene se hi usaki naukari bach gee. vetan kam nahian tha. paanch-chhah sau ke lagabhag hoga.
ramadas bola, haan.
sumitra boli, 'path ke davedar' vidrohiyoan ka dal hai aur ham log chhipakar rivalvar rakhate haian-yah sari batean bhi unhoanne bata dian. isake lie kya dand hai bharati?
bhayankar akriti vala adami garajakar bola, deth.
bharati chup thi.
ramadas bola, savyasachi hi d aauktar bane haian. yah samachar unhean mil chuka hai. apoorv baboo ne yah bat bata dene mean kasar nahian rakhi hai. hotal ke kamare mean hi unhean pak da ja sakata hai. isake pahale maian rajanitik aparadh mean do varsh jel kat chuka hooan, yah bhi bata diya.
sumitra ne kaha, bharati, tum janati ho ki d aauktar pak de jaeange to usaka parinam kya hoga? phaansi ho jaegi. agar usase bach bhi ge to 'traansoprotreshan'. sabhasadagan, ap log is aparadh ka dand kya nishchit karate haian?
sabhi ek sath bol uthe-deth.
bharati, tumhean kuchh kahana hai?
bharati ne sir hilakar bataya-kuchh nahian.
vah bhayankar adami bola, yah bhar maian apane oopar leta hooan.
krishna ayyar ne daravaze ki or dekhakar hira sianh se kaha, bagiche ke kone mean ek sookha kuaan hai. kuchh adhik mitti dalakar aur phir usake oopar tho di sookhi pattiyaan dal deni chahie. gandh n nikalane pae.
hira sianh bola, is kam mean kami n hogi.
talavalakar bola, ab baboo sahab ko bulakar saza suna deni chahie.
apoorv ke aparadh ka vichar paanch minat mean hi samapt ho gaya. vichar karane valoan ki ray jitani sankshipt thi utani hi spasht bhi. samajh mean n ane yogy koee jatilata nahian thi.
bharati ne sab kuchh sun liya. lekin usake kanoan aur budhdi ke bich kahian ek aisi durbhedy divar kh di ho gee thi ki koee bhi bahari vastu use bedhakar aandar nahian pahuanch sakati thi. isi se arambh se aant tak jo koee kuchh kahata tha bharati akul drishti se usake muanh ki or mu dakar dekhane lagati thi. keval itani hi bat usaki samajh mean a rahi thi ki apoorv ne bahut b da aparadh kiya hai is desh mean usaka jivan sankat mean hai. lakin vah sankat itana nikat a pahuancha hai, yah vah bilkul nahian samajh sakian.
sumitra ke ishare se ek adami uthakar bahar chala gaya aur do minat ke bad hi apoorv ko lekar a gaya. apoorv ke donoan hath pith ki or rassi se mazabooti ke sath bandhe hue the aur kamar mean ek bhari patthar jhool raha tha.
doosare hi pal bharati chetana shoony hokar d aauktar ke sharir par ludhak p di. lekin is samay sabaki najarean apoorv par tiki huee thian. isalie d aauktar ke siva aur koee is bat ko nahian jan saka.
bharati ke yahaan pahuanchane se pahale hi apoorv ka bayan liya ja chuka tha. usane koee bhi bat asvikar nahian ki thi. aauphis ke b de sahab aur pulis ke b de sahab donoan ne milakar usase sari batean jan li thian. lekin usane is dal aur desh se itani b di shatruta kaise ki, is bat ko vah ab bhi nahian jan saka tha.
aj din ke das bajane se pahale hi ramadas ne akar yah khabar sumitra ko suna di thi. dand nishchit ho gaya. yah sankshep mean is prakar hai.
aauphis ki chhutti ke bad aj apoorv paidal ghar jane ka sahas n kar sakega. yah sochakar in logoan ne kirae ki ga di hira sianh ki sahayata se aauphis ke pas kh di kar di. is phande mean apoorv ne sahaj hi paanv rakh die. kuchh der chalakar ga divan ne kaha ek bhari rolar ke toot jane ke karan gali ka mo d band ho gaya hai. ghoomakar jana hoga. apoorv ne svikar kiya aur usake bad anyamanask-sa ho ge. lekin ghante bhar bad jab use hosh hua to dekha, hira sianh ga di mean pistaul lie kh da hai.
sumitra ne pukarakar kaha, apoorv baboo, ham logoan ne apako pran-dand diya hai. apako kuchh kahana hai?
apoorv ne sir hilakar kaha, nahian.
d aauktar ne poochha, hira sianh tumhari pistaul kahaan hai?
hirasianh ne sumitra ki or ishara kiya.
d aauktar ne hath badhakar kaha, pistaul dekhooan to sumitra?
sumitra ne belt se pistaul kholakar d aauktar ke hath mean de di.
d aauktar ne poochha, aur kisi ke pas rivalvar hai?
aur kisi ke pas nahian hai-yah bat sabane bata di. tab sumitra ki pistaul apani jeb mean rakhakar d aauktar ne halki-si muskarahat ke sath kaha, tumane kaha, tum logoan ne pran-dand diya hai. lekin bharati ne nahian diya.
sumitra ne bharati ki or dekhakar kaha, bharati nahian de sakati.
d aauktar ne kaha, de pana uchit nahian hai. kyoan bharati?
bharati chup rahi. is kathinatam prashn ke uttar mean usane auandhi letakar d aauktar ki god mean apana muanh chhipa liya.
d aauktar ne usake sir par ek hath rakhakar kaha, apoorv baboo ne jo kuchh kar dala hai, vah laut nahian sakata. usaka parinam ham logoan ko bhogana hi p dega. dand dene par bhi aur n dene par bhi bhogana p dega. isalie isaki avashyakata nahian. bharati inaka bhar apane oopar le le.
sumitra ne kaha, nahian.
sabhi ek sath bol uthe, nahian.
vah bhayanak adami sabase adhik uchhala. usane apane donoan panje uthakar bharati ki or ishara karake koee bat kahi.
sumitra ne kaha, ham sabaka mat ek hi hai. itane b de anyay ko prashray dene se ham logoan ka sara kam toot-phootakar samapt ho jaega?
d aauktar ne kaha, agar samapt ho jae to usaka upay hi kya hai?
sumitra ke sath hi paanch-sat adami garaj uthe, upay kya hai? desh ke lie, svadhinata ke lie ham log aur koee bat nahian maneange. apake akele ki bat se kuchh nahian ho sakata.
logoan ko garajana band ho jane par d aauktar ne uttar diya. is bar unaki avaz ashyarchajanak roop se shaant aur narm sunaee di. usamean ratti bhar bhi utsah aur uttejana nahian thi. unhoanne kaha-sumitra, vidroh ko prashray mat do. tum log janate ho ki mere akele ka mat tum ek sau adamiyoan se bhi adhik kathor hai.
phir us bhayankar manushy ko sambodhit karake bole, brajendr bataviya mean ek bar tumane mujhe dand dene ke lie vivash kiya tha, ab doosari bar vivash mat karo.
bharati jyoan-ki-tyoan p di thi. usaka sharir thar-thar kaanp raha tha. usaki pith par pyar se hath pherate hue d aauktar ne svabhavik svar mean kaha, daro mat bharati, apoorv ko maian abhay deta hooan.
bharati ne muanh oopar nahian uthaya. use vishvas bhi nahian hua. usake daean hath ki uangaliyaan apani mutthi mean dabakar use apani or khianchakar dhire-dhire kaha, lekin in logoan ne to abhay diya nahian, sahaj deange bhi nahian. lekin yah log is bat ko nahian samajhate ki maian jise abhay de dooan use chhua bhi nahian ja sakata. phir tanik hansakar bole, achchha khana nahian milata bharati. adha pet khakar hi din kat jate haian. phir bhi yah log samajhate haian ki maianne jise abhay de diya use chhua ja sakata hai. in tho di-si dubali-patali uangaliyoan ke dabav se aj bhi brajendr jaise b de-se-b de bagh ke panje choor-choor ho jaeange. kya kahate ho brajendr.
chatagaanv ko mag dhuandhala muanh lie chup rah gaya. d aauktar ne kaha, lekin apoorv ab yahaan n rahe to achchha hai. yah desh chala jae. apoorv tretar nahian hai. svadesh ko sampoorn hriday se pyar karata hai. lekin bahut hi durbal hai. ham log sadasyoan se bhi anurodh kar sakate haian ki ab sabha samapt kar dijie. yah kahakar unhoanne sumitra ki or dekha.
sumitra unhean kabhi tum aur kabhi ap kahakar samman ke sath sambodhit kiya karati thi. ab bhi usi tarah boli, adhikaansh sadasyoan ka mat jahaan kisi vyakti vishesh ki sharirik shakti ki tulana mean mahatvahin ho, use aur jo chahe kaha jae, sabha nahian kah sakate. lekin is natak ka abhinay karane ka hi agar apaka irada tha to dopahar ke pahale hi kyoan nahian bata diya tha?
d aauktar ne kaha, abhinay hota to achchha hota. lekin vishesh sthiti ke karan agar abhinay ho bhi gaya sumitra to yah to tum logoan ko manana p dega ki abhinay achchha hi raha.
ramadas bola, aisa ho sakata hai, maianne socha bhi nahian tha.
d aauktar bole, mitrata namak vastu kitani kshanabhangur hai, is bat ko bhi tumane kabhi socha tha talavalakar? aisa saty sansar mean durlabh hi hai.
krishna ayyar ne kaha, tum logoan ki barma ki ektiviti samapt ho gee. ab bhag jana p dega.
d aauktar bola, p dega hi. lekin samay ko dekhate hue sthan chho d dena aur ektiviti chho d dena ek chiz nahian hai ayyar. agar bahut din tak kisi sthan par nishchiant bhav se rahane ko jagah n mile to usake lie shikayat karana ham logoan ko shobha nahian deta. yah kahakar vah bharati ko ishara karake uth kh de hue aur bole, hira sianh, apoorv baboo ke bandhan khol do. chalo bharati tum logoan ko kisi nirapad sthan par pahuancha dooan.
hira sianh adesh palan karane ke lie badha to sumitra ne kathor svar mean kaha, abhinay ke aantim aank mean taliyaan bajane ko ji chahata hai. lekin yah koee bat nahian hai. bachapan mean shayad kahian kisi upanyas mean padhi thi. lekin yah yugal milan ham logoan ke samane ho jata to aur kahian koee kami n rah jati. kya kahati ho bharati?
bharati lajja se mano mar jane ki sthiti mean ho gee. d aauktar ne kaha, lajjit hone ki to isamean koee bat hai nahian bharati. balki maian chahata hooan ki abhinay samapt karane ke jo malik haian vah kisi din isamean jara-si kami n rakhean. phir jeb se sumitra ki pistaul nikalakar usake pas rakhakar bole, maian in logoan ko pahuanchane ja raha hooan. lekin bhay ki koee bat nahian hai. mere pas pistaul aur bhi hai.
d aauktar ne kanakhiyoan se brajendr ki or dekhakar hansate hue kaha, tum log jo majak mean kaha karate the ki maian ulloo ki tarah aandhere mean bhi dekh leta hooan, is bat ko tum log aj bhool mat jana.
yah kahakar vah apoorv ko sath lekar bahar jane ke lie taiyar ho ge.
sahasa sumitra kh di hokar boli, kya phaansi ki dori apane hi hath se apane gale mean dale bina kam nahian chal sakata?
d aauktar ne hansate hue kaha, ek sadharan dori se darane se kaise kam chalega sumitra?
kisi kam ko hath mean lene se pahale manushy ko mrityu ka bhay dikhana kitana arthahin hai. yah yad karake sumitra svayan hi lajjit ho gee. boli, sab kuchh titar-bitar ho gaya. lekin phir kab bheant hogi?
d aauktar ne kaha, koee avashyakata p dane par hi hogi.
vah avashyakata kabhi p degi.
zaroor padegi yah kahakar apoorv aur bharati ko sath lekar vah savadhani se niche utar ge.
jo ga di bharati ko lekar aee thi abhi tak kh di thi. ga divan ko jagakar usamean tinoan baithakar chal p de.
bahut der ki khamoshi bhang karake bharati ne poochha, bhaiya, ham log kahaan ja rahe haian?
apoorv ke ghar d aauktar ne uttar diya.
lekin do mil chalane ke bad jab ga di rukava kar d aauktar utarane lage to bharati ne ashchary se poochha, yahaan kyoan?
d aauktar ne kaha, ab lautooanga. vah log pratiksha kar rahe hoange, kuchh-n-kuchh nirnay to ho hi jana chahie.
nirnay? bharati vyakul hokar boli, yah n ho sakega. ap mere sath chalie. lekin yah kahate hi bharati sumitra ki tarah udas ho geean. phir dhire se boli, tumhari mujhe bahut zaroorat hai bhaiya.
maian janata hooan. apoorv baboo, kya parasoan jahaz se ghar ja sakeange?
apoorv bola, ja sakooanga.
bharati boli, bhaiya mujhe ghar jana hoga.
d aauktar bole, nahian. tumhare kagaj-patr, 'path ke davedar' ka khata pistaul-karatoos-navatara sab hata chuki hogi. subah talashi mean deshi sharab ki botal aur toota hua behala, pulis ke sahab ko isake alava aur kuchh hath nahian lagega. kal nau-das baje ke lagabhag ghar lautakar rasoee taiyar karake khane-pine ke bad tumhean jara-sa so rahane ke lie bhi shayad samay mil jaega. rat ko do-tin baje ke lagabhag phir milooanga. kuchh khane-pine ko rakhana.
bharati chup rahi. man-hi-man boli, is tarah atyadhik sajag n hone par kya is maranayajn mean koee sath ana chahata hai?
bhaiya, tum sabake hit-ahit ki chianta rakhate ho. sansar mean mera apana koee nahian hai. apane path ke davedar se mujhe vida mat kar dena bhaiya.
aandhere mean hi d aauktar ne barabar sir hilakar kaha, bhagavan ke kam se kisi ko vida kar dene ka adhikar kisi ko nahian hai lekin isaki dhara tumhean badal deni p degi.
bharati ne kaha, tumhian badal dena.
d aauktar ne isaka uttar nahian diya. sahasa vyagr hokar bole, bharati, ab mere pas samay nahian hai. maian ja raha hooan. yah kahakar palak jhapakate hi aandhere mean gum ho ge.

sthan ki kami ke karan ga di mean donoan ek-doosare se satakar baithe the. ek ghante tak ga di gharagharati huee chalati rahi. lekin donoan mean koee batachit nahian huee. ga di akar apoorv ke ghar ke daravaze par ruk gee. bharati daravaza kholakar apoorv ke sath utar aee. usane ga divan se poochha, kitana kiraya hua?
ga divan ne hansakar kaha, nat e paee-gudanait too yoo. yah kahakar ga di haankata hua chala gaya.
bharati ne poochha, tivari hai?
haan.
oopar jakar, daravaza khatakhatakar apoorv ne tivari ko jagaya. kiva d kholakar dipak ki roshani mean tivari ki najar sabase pahale bharati par p di. apoorv kal aauphis gaya tha aur aj bhor ki bela mean ghar lauta hai rat bita kar. sath mean bharati hai. isalie tivari ko samajhane ke lie kuchh baki nahian raha. krodh se usaka sampoorn sharir jalane laga aur bina kuchh kahe vah tezise apane bistar par jakar chadar odh kar so gaya.
tivari bharati ko bahut pyar karata tha. ek din isi ne use asann mrityu ke muanh se bachaya tha. isalie eesaee hone par bhi shradhda ki drishti se dekhata tha. lekin idhar kuchh dinoan se jo paristhiti utpann huee thi usase tivari ke man mean apoorv ke sanbandh mean tarah-tarah ki sanbhav-asanbhav samajhakar dushchintaean jag uthi thian. yahaan tak ki jati nasht hone tak ki. sarvanash ki vah moorti aj ekadam tivari ke man patal par sakar aankit ho uthi.
use is tarah so jate dekh apoorv ne poochha, kiva d band nahian kie tivari?
bharati boli, maian band kar deti hooan.
apoorv ne apane sone ke kamare mean jakar dekha, bichhauna jyoan-ka-tyoan p da hai.
bharati boli, ap aram kursi par baithie. maian sab thik kar deti hooan.
apoorv ne pukara, 'tivari, ek gilas pani la de.
pani ki surahi aur gilas ki or ishara karake bichhauna bichhati huee bharati boli, sote hue adami ko kyoan jagate haian apoorv baboo, ap hi le lijie.
ek hi saans mean gilas khali karake apoorv baithane ja raha tha ki bharati ne kaha, ab vahaan nahian, bichhaune par so jaie.
apoorv shaant balak ki tarah let gaya. masahari dalakar bharati use charoan or se dabane lagi to apoorv ne poochha, tum kahaan soogi?
bharati ne aram kursi ki or uangali uthakar kaha, savera hone mean ab ghanta bhar rah gaya hai. ap so kyoan nahian jate?
apoorv ne usaka hath pak dakar kaha, vahaan nahian, mere pas baitho.
apake pas? bharati ke ashchary ka thikana nahian raha. apoorv aur chahe jaisa bhi ho, in mamaloan mean vah kabhi atm vismrit nahian hota tha. kitani hi ratean unhoanne ek kamare mean bitaee thian. lekin maryada ke virudhd usake acharan se koee ishara ya bat prakat nahian huee thi.
apoorv ne kaha, yah dekho, un logoan ne mera hath to d diya, tum mujhe in logoan ke bich kyoan khianch le geean.
usaki bat ka aantim aansh sahasa rulaee se ruandh gaya. bharati masahari ko ek or se uthakar usake pas baith gee. jaanch karake usane dekha, kasakar baandhane ke karan hathoan mean jagah-jagah kali nasean ubharakar phool aee haian. apoorv ki aankhoan mean se aansoo gir rahe the. bharati ne aanchal se unhean poanchhakar saantvana bhare svar mean kaha, dar ki koee bat nahian. maian tauliya bhigokar lapet deti hooan. do-ek din mean sab thik ho jaega.
yah kahakar vah uth gee aur snan ghar se ek aangochha bhigokar le aee aur use hath par baandhakar bahut hi komal svar mean boli, jara so jane ki koshish kijie, maian apake mathe par hath pher deti hooan. yah kahakar dhire-dhire hath pherane lagi.
apoorv bola, kal jahaz milata to kal hi chala jata.
bharati boli, parasoan hi chale jaiega.
gurujanoan ki bat n manane ka phal hai. maan ne mujhe mana kiya tha.
maan shayad apako ane dena nahian chahati thian.
lekin maianne anasuna kar diya. usi ka yah phal hua. honahar hokar rahata hai. durga-durga kahate hue parasoan jahaz par baith jaooan, kahakar usane lambi saans li.
lekin isake sath hi doosare vyakti ne jo usaki saans ki apeksha saik doan guna gahari saans li, vah use nahian jan saka.
apoorv bola, is makan mean paanv dharate hi tumhare pita se jhag da hua, adalat mean jurmana hua. mujhe isi se chet jana chahie tha.
bharati chup rahi.
tivari ne mujhe bar-bar savadhan kiya. paanch sau rupe mahine ki naukari chali gee. is umr mean kitane log pate haian. phir yah hath maian logoan ke samane dikhaooanga kaise?
bharati ne dhire-dhire kaha, tab tak hath ke dag mit jaeange.
usake muanh se isase adhik bat nahian nikali. apoorv ke sir par jo hath ab chalana nahian chahata tha. is atyant sadharan aur tuchchh vyakti ko vah man-hi-man pyar karane lagi hai, is bat ko anubhav karake vah apane ap hi laj ke mare mar si gee. yah bat usake dal ke bahut se log jan ge haian. aj apoorv ki jan bachane jakar vah un sabake samane aparadhini aur sumitra ki najaroan mean chhoti ho gee hai. lekin is atyant tuchchh vyakti ki hatya karane ki nichata-aur ochhepan se vah un logoan ko bacha saki hai - is bat ko manakar use garv ka anubhav bhi hua.
apoorv bola, dag to sahaj mean jaega nahian. koee poochhega to kya uttar dooanga? isilie to log kaha karate haian ki bangaliyoan ke l dake bi.e.-em.e. pas to kar lete haian lekin b di naukari nahian sanbhal sakate.
achchha, ab so jaie yah kahakar bharati uth kh di huee.
mathe par tho di der aur hath pher do bharati.
nahian, maian bahut thak gee hooan.
to rahane do, rat bhi ab baki nahian rahi.
bharati pas ki kothari mean dek cheyar par ja baithi. apoorv ke kamare mean achchhi aram kursi thi. lekin us tuchchh adami ki upasthiti mean ek hi kamare mean rat bitane mean aj use atyant lajja mahasoos huee. use khayal aya ki kis tarah aur kitani agadh karuna se apoorv sunishchit aur asann mrityu se mukti pa gaya hai.
lekin itani b di bat vah jaise ekadam bhool hi gaya hai. usane apane ghanisht mitr talavalakar ke prati, apane dal ke prati aur vishesh roop se us d aauktar ke prati kaisa jaghany aparadh kiya hai, yah bat use yad hi nahian hai. chianta hai to keval b di naukari aur hathoan ke dag ki.
jab bharati ko samane vali khuli khi daki se bhor ka ujala dikhaee diya to usane chupachap dvar khola aur tezise pair badhakar s dak par pahuanch gee.

agale din tisare pahar sabhi batoan aur sari ghatanaoan ka vistar se ek-ek kar varnan kar chukane ke bad aant mean bharati ne kaha-apoorv baboo mahanh purush haian, aisa samajhane ki bhool maianne kabhi nahian ki lekin yah bhi nahian socha tha ki vah itane sadharan aur tuchchh adami haian.
d aauktar savyasachi usaki or dekhakar gambhir svar mean bole, lekin maian janata tha. vah itana tuchchh n hota to kya tumhare is athah prem ko itane tuchchh karan se chho dakar chala jata? jane do. jan bach gee bahin.
idhar-udhar bikhari chijoan, vishesh roop se pharsh par bikhari p di pustakoan ke dher dekhane se hi yah bat samajh mean a jati hai ki kuchh der pahale pulis is kamare ki talashi le chuki hai. un sabako sanvarakar rakhati huee bharati batachit kar rahi thi. apane hath ka kam band karake ashchary se aankheanan uthakar boli, tum hansi kar rahe ho bhaiya?
nahian to?
zaroor kar rahe ho.
d aauktar bole, mujh jaise adami se, jo bam-pistaul lie logoan ki hatya karata phire, aise majak ki asha karati ho?
bharati boli, maian to yah nahian kahati ki tum manushyoan ki hatya karate phirate ho. yah kam to tum kar hi nahian sakate. lekin majak ke atirikt yah aur kya ho sakata hai? do-tin ghante ke aandar hi jo sab kuchh bhoolakar keval hath ke dag aur paanch sau rupe ki naukari yad rakh saka usase badhakar kshudr vyakti to maian doosara nahian dekh pati. tumane kaha tha ki mera moh hai. achchhi bat hai agar aisa ho to ashirvad do ki mera yah moh hamesha ke lie door ho jae aur maian poore tan-man ke sath tumhare desh ke kam mean lag jaooan.
d aauktar hansakar bole, tumhare muanh ki bhasha to moh katane ke lie uchit hi maloom ho rahi hai, isamean bilkul sandeh nahian, lekin kathinaee yah hai ki tumhare gale ki avaz mean isaki halki-si jhalak tak nahian hai. khair, vah chahe jo ho bharati, hamare desh ka kam tum tilabhar nahian kar sakogi. tum se to apoorv baboo hi bahut achchhe haian, tum logoan mean ek din samajhauta bhi ho sakata hai.
bharati boli, isaki arth hai ki maian desh ko pyar nahian kar sakati?
anek parikshaean dene se pahale kuchh nahian kaha ja sakata.
bhaiya, maian tumhari sabhi parikshaoan mean uttirn ho sakooangi. tumhare kam mean itane svarth, itane sandeh aur itani kshudrata ke lie sthan nahian hai.
usaki uttejana par d aauktar hans pade aur phir natakiy mudra mean apane mathe ko thokate hue bole, hae re mere durbhagy! desh ka arth tumane kya samajh liya hai? lambi-chau di zamin, nadi aur paha d? keval ek apoorv ke karan hi tumhean jivan se aruchi ho gee. vairagin hona chahati ho. tum yah nahian janati ki yahaan saik doan-hajaroan apoorv hi nahian unake b de bhaee log bhi rahate haian. aur paradhin desh ka sabase b da abhishap yah kritaghnata hi to hai. jisaki seva karogi vah hi tumhean sandeh ki najaroan se dekheange. jinake pran bachaogi, vah hi tumhean bech dena chaheange. moorkhata aur kritaghnata pag-pag par suee ki tarah paanv mean chubhati rahegi, yahaan n shradhda hai, n sahanubhooti. koee pas tak nahian bulaega. koee koee sahayata dene nahian aega. vishaila nag samajhakar log door hat jaeange. desh pyar karane ka yahi puraskar hai bharati. yadi isase adhik ka dava karana ho to vah paralok mean hi ho sakata hai. itani bhayankar pariksha tum kyoan dene jaogi bahin! maian tumhean ashirvad deta hooan ki apoorv ke sath sukh se raho. maian nishchit roop se janata hooan ki apani samast duvidhaoan aur sanskaroan ko dabakar kisi din vah tumhare mooly ko avashy jan jaega.
bharati ki aankheanan aansuoan se bhar uthian. kuchh der chupachap muanh jhukae rahakar usane poochha, kya tum mujh par vishvas n kar pane ke karan kisi tarah mujhe vidakar dena chahate ho bhaiya?
usake is saral aur sankoch rahit prashn ka koee aisa hi sidha-sa uttar shayad d aauktar ke hoanthoan par nahian aya. hansakar bole, tumhari tarah mamata, maya koee sahaj mean chho d sakata hai bahin? lekin kal tum apani aankhoan se hi to dekh chuki ho ki isamean kitani chori-chhipa ya kitani hiansa aur kitana bhishan krodh bhara hua hai. tumhari or dekhane se lagata hai ki tum in karyoan ke lie nahian ho. tumhean isamean khianch lana uchit nahian hua. tumase kam lene ka ek din hai-vah din jis din mere lie chhutti lene ka paravana aega.
is bar bharati apane aansuoan ko n rok saki. lekin phauran hath se poanchhakar boli, tum bhi ab in logoan ke sath mat raho bhaiya.
usaki bat sunakar d aauktar hans p de, bole, is bar bahut hi moorkhata ki bat ho gee bharati.
bharati ne vichalit hue bina kaha, maian janati hooan. lekin yah sabhi log bahut hi bhayankar aur nishthur haian.
aur maian?
tum bhi b de nirdayi ho.
sumitra kaisi lagi bharati?
bharati ka sir jhuk gaya. lajja ke karan uttar n de saki. lekin uttar maanga bhi nahian gaya.
kuchh der donoan chupachap baithe rahe. lekin is chhoti-si khamoshi mean hi us ashcharyamay vyakti ke usase bhi adhikar ashcharyamay hriday ke rahasy se avritt aantasthal mean sahasa bijali-si kauandh uthi.
lekin doosare hi pal d aauktar ne sab kuchh dabakar bachche ki tarah sir hilakar snigdh svar mean kaha, apoorv ke sath tumane bahut b da anyay kiya hai bharati. itana bhayankar kaand isamean chhipa hai ki isaki us bechare ne kalpana bhi shayad nahian ki hogi. tumase sach kahata hooan, itana chhota, itana kshudr vah bilkul nahian hai. naukari karane videsh aya hai, ghar mean maan hai, bhaee haian. desh mean bandhu-baandhav haian. saansarik unnati karake das-paanch mean b da adami banega-yahi usaki asha hai. likhana-padhana sikha hai. bhale adami ka l daka hai. paradhinata ki lajja anubhav karata hai. aur vah bangali l dakoan ki tarah vastav mean desh ka kalyan chahata hai. isilie jab tumane kaha ki 'path ke davedar' ke sadasy ban jao, tab usane kah diya, 'bahut achchha.' tumhari bat man lene se usaka kabhi koee ahit nahian hoga, use vishvas hai. is parae desh mean, apad-vipad mean tumhian ek matr sahara thian. par tum hi use achanak mrityu ke muanh mean dhakel dogi, kya vah janata tha?
bharati ne aankh poanchhane ke lie muanh nicha karake kaha, tum unake lie itani vakalat kyoan karate ho? vah isake yogy nahian hai. sari batean kal unake muanh se hi sun chuki hooan. isake bad un par shradhda rakhana uchit nahian hai.
d aauktar ne hansakar kaha, jivan mean agar ek anuchit kam tum kar dalogi to kya hoga? tumane dhyan se nahian dekha bharati, lekin maianne dekha hai. un logoan ne jab use rassi se baandh to vah avakh ho gaya. un logoan ne poochha, tumane yah sab batean kahi haian. usane kaha, haan. un logoan ne kaha, isaka dand hai mrityu, tumako marana hoga.- isake uttar mean vah takataki baandhe takata rah gaya. maian janata hooan, us samay usaki vihnal aankheanan kisi ko khoj rahi thian. isilie maianne tumhean bulane ke lie adami bheja tha bahin. ab usane tumako chahe jo bhi kuchh kaha ho bharati, lekin is dhakke se vah ab tak shayad sanbhal nahian saka hai.
bharati apane ap par kaboo n rakh saki. aankhoan se jhar-jhar aansoo bahate hue boli, mujhe yah sab batean suna rahe ho bhaiya? tum se badhakar adhik vipatti mean aur koee nahian p da. phir bhi keval mera muanh dekhakar unhean bachane ke lie tumane ghar-bahar dushman paida kar lie.
yah bat to hai.
phir tum unako bachane kyoan ge. batao?
apoorv ko bachane gaya? are chhi:.... maian bachane gaya. bhagavan ki is amooly kriti ko, jo vastu tum logoan ki tarah sadharan nari ko dhyan mean rakhakar taiyar huee hai. kya koee moorkh aisa hai jo brajendr jaise barbaroan ko use nasht kar dalane ke lie de deta? keval itani hi bat thi bharati. ....keval itani hai. anyatha manushy ke pranoan ka mooly kya ham logoan ki drishti mean kuchh hai? ek prani ko di ke barabar nahian.....kahakar d aauktar hansane lage.
bharati ne aankheanan poanchhate-poanchhate kaha, kyoan hansate ho bhaiya? tumhari hansi dekhakar mere badan mean ag lag jati hai. ji chahata hai, tumhean aanchal mean baandhakar kisi jangal mean le jakar sada ke lie chhipakar rakh dooan. jo log tumhean pak dakar phaansi deange, vah hi kya tumhara mooly janate haian? unhean kya jnan ho jaega ki unhoanne sansar ka kitana b da sarvanash kar dala hai? apane desh ke hi adami tumako hatyara, dakoo, khoon ka pyasa, n jane kya-kya kahate haian. lekin maian sochati hooan ki tumhare hriday mean itana sneh, aur itani karuna hai, ki tum in logoan ke sath kaise ho?
d aauktar ne kaha, tumhean ek kahani sunata hooan. nilakaant joshi nam ka ek maratha yuvak tha. tumane use nahian dekha. lekin maianne jab se tumhean dekha hai, usaki yad ati rahati hai. vah bhi thik tumhare jaisa hi tha. raste mean murde ko le jate dekhakar usaki aankhoan se aansoo girane lagate the. ek rat ham donoan ne kolambo ke ek park mean ashray liya. pe d ke niche p di ek beanch par sone ke lie ge to dekha, us par ek adami soya p da hai. adami ki ahat pate hi vah kahane laga-'pani pani......' charoan aur asahy durgandh a rahi thi. diyasalaee jalakar usake muanh ki or dekhate hi samajh mean a gaya ki use haija ho gaya hai. nilakaant usaki bimari mean lag gaya. pau phatane lagi to maianne kaha, 'joshi' yah adami saanjh ke aandhere mean naukaroan ki najar se bachakar is park mean rah gaya hai. lekin savera hone par yah yahaan nahian rahane paega. ham loga varant shuda mujarim haian. yah to marega hi, sath hi ham log bhi phans jaeange. chalo, yahaan se khisak chalean.'.... nilakaant rone laga. bola, 'is halat mean ise chho dakar kaise jaooan bhaee. tum jao. maian yahian rah jata hooan.' maianne bahut samajhaya, lekin joshi ko vahaan se nahian hila saka.
bharati ne bhayabhit hokar poochha, isake bad kya hua?
d aauktar ne kaha, samajhadar adami tha. savera hone se pahale hi usane aankheanan mooand lian. tab maian nilakaant ko vahaan se hata saka. palabhar maun rahakar, lambi saans bharakar bole, siangapur mean joshi ko phaansi ho gee. vah sena ke sainikoan ke nam bata dene par use kshama kiya ja sakata tha, gavarnameant ne bahut koshishean kian. lekin joshi ne jo ek bar mana kiya to phir usamean koee aantar nahian hua. aant mean use phaansi de di gee, jinake lie usane pran die, unhean vah achchhi tarah pahachanata bhi nahian tha ab bhi vaise l dake is desh mean janm lete haian bharati. nahian to maian bhi shesh jivan tumhare aanchal ke niche chhipakar bita dene ko sahamat ho jata.
bharati ne ek lambi saans li.
d aauktar bole, nar-hatya karana mera vrat nahian hai bahin.
lekin avashyakata p dane par?
lekin brajendr ki avashyakata aur savyasachi ki avashyakata ek nahian hai.
bharati boli, maian janati hooan, lekin maian tumhari hi avashyakata ki bat poochh rahi hooan bhaiya.
d aauktar ne yah sunakar dhire-dhire kaha, meri us avashyakata ka din kab aega, kaun janata hai? lekin bharati tum yah janana mat chaho. usake svaroop ko tum kalpana mean bhi sahan n kar paogi.
isake atirikt kya aur koee marg nahian hai?
nahian.
bharati hat budhdi-si ho gee. vyakul hokar boli, isake atirikt aur koee marg nahian ho sakata bhaiya?
nahian, marg avashy hai. svayan ko bhulave mean dalane ke anek marg haian lekin saty tak pahuanchane ke lie aur koee doosara marg nahian hai.
bharati svikar n kar saki. madhur svar mean boli, bhaiya, tum jnani ho. is ekamatr lakshy ko samane rakhakar tum sansar bhar mean ghoom ae ho. tumhari janakariyoan ki sima nahian hai. maianne tum jaisa mahanh vyakti aur koee nahian dekha. mujhe to aisa lagata hai ki tumhari seva karate hue maian sara jivan bita sakati hooan. tumhare sath mera tark karana shobha nahian deta. bolo, mere aparadh kshama kar doge?
d aauktar ne hansakar kaha, bhala tumane kya aparadh kiya hai?
bharati usi snigdh vinay se boli, maian eesaee hooan. bachapan se hi aangrejoan ko apana atmiy samajhakar itani b di huee hooan. aj unake prati man mean ghrina paida karate hue bahut kasht hota hai, lekin yah bat tumhare atirikt aur kisi ke samane nahian kah sakati. phir bhi tum logoan ki tarah hi maian bharatavarsh ke bang desh ki l daki hooan. mujh par avishvas mat karo.
usaki bat sunakar d aauktar ne snehapoorvak apana dayaan hath usake mathe par rakhakar kaha, yah ashanka kyoan karati ho bharati, tum janati ho, tum par mera kitana vishvas hai. tumhean kitana sneh karata hooan.
bharati boli, janati hooan. aur kya meri or se thik yahi bat tum nahian janate bhaiya? tumhean bhay nahian hai. tumako bhay dikhaya bhi nahian ja sakata. keval isilie tumase nahian kah sakati ki tum ab is makan mean mat ana. lekin yah bhi janati hooan ki aj rat ke bad phir kabhi-nahian nahian, so nahian. shayad bahut dinoan tak phir bheant n ho. us din jab tumane sari aangrez jati par bhishan arop lagaya tha, maianne prativad nahian kiya tha. lekin eeshvar se nirantar yahi prarthana karati rahi hooan ki itana b da vidvesh kahian tumhare aantar ke sampoorn saty ko dhak n de. bhaiya, phir bhi maian tum logoan ki hi hooan.
d aauktar bole, maian janata hooan tum hamari ho.
to is marg ko tum tyag do.
d aauktar chauank p de, kaun-sa marg?
viplavavadiyoan ka yah marg.
chho dane ko kyoan kahati ho?
bharati ne kaha, tumako maian marane nahian de sakati. sumitra marane de sakati hai, lekin maian nahian. maian bharat ki mukti chahati hooan-nishkapat aur nissankoch bhav se. durbal, pi dit aur bhookhe-nange bharatavasiyoan ke lie ann-vastr chahati hooan. svadhinata ke anand ka upabhog karana chahati hooan. itane b de saty tak pahuanchane ke lie is nirmam kary ke atirikt aur koee marg nahian hai, maian aisa soch bhi nahian sakati. vishv bhraman karake tumane keval isi marg ko jana hai. srishti ke arambh se aj tak ke svadhinata ke saik doan tirthayatriyoan ke pad chidd hi tumhari drishti mean spasht ho uthe haian. lekin vishv manav ki ekaant sadabudhdi ki dhara kya is prakar samapt ho gee hai ki is rakt rekha ke atirikt kisi marg ka chidd kabhi dikhaee hi nahian dega? aisa nishthur vidhan kisi prakar bhi saty nahian ho sakata. bhaiya, manav ki itani b di paripoornata tumhare atirikt maianne aur kahian bhi nahian dekhi. nishthurata ke bahu prachalit marg par ab tum mat chalo. vah dvar shayad aj bhi band hai. use ham logoan ke lie khol do. vishv ke samast praniyoan ko pyar karate hue ham tumhara anusaran karate hue badhate rahean.
bharati ke sir par hath rakhakar, do-char bar thapakiyaan dekar d aauktar bole, ab samay nahian hai bahin, maian ja raha hooan.
koee uttar nahian doge bhaiya?
bhagavan tumhara bhala karean, uttar mean bas itana kahakar d aauktar dhire-dhire bahar nikal ge.