पथ के दावेदार भाग-7

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

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jalamarg se ane vale shatru ke jalayanoan ko rokane ke lie nagar ke aantim chhor par nadi ke kinare mitti ka ek chhota-sa kila hai. usamean santari adhik nahian rahate. keval topean chalane ke lie kuchh gore golandaj rahate haian. aangrejoan ke is vighnahin shaantikal mean yahaan vishesh k daee nahian thi. pravesh ki manahi hai. lekin agar koee bhoola-bhataka vyakti sima ke aandar pahuanch jata to use bhaga dete haian. bas itana hi. bharati kabhi-kabhi akeli yahaan a baithati thi. jin logoan par kile ki raksha ka bhar tha un logoan ne use dekha n ho, aisi bat nahian thi. lekin shayad bhale ghar ki mahila samajhakar vah log apatti nahian karate the.
soory abhi-abhi ast hua tha. aandhera hone mean abhi kuchh der thi. pakshiyoan ki avajean idhar-udhar mandara rahi thian.
sahasa nadi ke dayian or ke mo d se chhoti-si roshani shempen nav samane a gee. nav mean mallah ke atirikt aur koee nahian tha. bharati ke chehare ki or dekhakar usane apani bangala bhasha mean kaha, maan, us par jaogi? ek ana dene se hi us par pahuancha dooanga.
bharati boli, nahian.
mallah ne kaha, achchha do paise hi de do-chalo.
bharati boli, nahian bhaiya, mera ghar isi par hai.
mallah gaya nahian. jara hansakar bola, paisa n ho to n do. chalo tumhean ghooma laooan, yah kahakar usane nav ghat par laga di.
bharati bhayabhit ho uthi. aandhera aur nirjan sthan. vah janati thi ki chatagaanv ke musalaman mallah bahut hi dusht hote haian. kh di hokar krudhd svar mean boli, chale jao varana pulis bula looangi.
mallah darakar ruk gaya. usaki umr pachas ke oopar pahuanch chuki hai lekin abhi tak shauq nahian gaya. bel-butedar luangi pahane hai. lekin tel aur mail se vah bahut hi gandi ho gee huee. sharir par kimati phrak kot hai. shayad kisi purane kap doan ki dukan se kharida gaya hai. sir par beladar chithade qi topi hai.
sahasa pahachanakar bharati boli, bhaiya, apaka chehara chahe jaisa hi kyoan n ho, ap to gale ki avaz tak ko badalakar use musalaman bana chuke ho.
mallah bola, jaooan ya pulis ko bula rahi ho.
bharati boli, pulis ko bulakar tumako giraphtar kara dena hi uchit hoga. apoorv baboo ki ichchha ko apoorn kyoan rahane dooan.
mallah bola, usi ki bat kar raha hooan. ao, jvar ab adhik der tak nahian rahega. abhi do kos rasta chalana hai.
bharati nav par ja baithi. use thelakar d aauktar sahab pakke mallah ki tarah age badhe. jaise donoan hathoan se patavar chalana hi unaka pesha ho.
lama jahaz chala gaya, dekh liya? unhoanne poochha.
haan.
apoorv us or ke pharst klas vale dek par the.
nahian.
d aauktar bole, unake dere par ya aauphis mean jane ka koee upay nahian tha. isalie jeti ke ek or shempan lagakar maian oopar kh da tha. hath uthakar salam karate hi....?
bharati ne bechain hokar kaha, kisake lie?- kisake karan itana b da aur bhayanak kam tum karane ge the bhaiya?
d aauktar ne sir hilakar kaha, maian thik usi karan se gaya tha jis karan tum yahaan akeli baithi ho bahin.
bharati roti huee boli, nahian, bilkul nahian. yahaan to maian aksar hi ati rahati hooan. kisi ke lie nahian ati. kya unhoanne tumhean pahachan liya.
nahian. d aauktar ne kaha, dadhi-mooanchhe badhana sahaj kam nahian hai. lekin maian chahata tha ki apoorv baboo mujhe pahachan lete. par vah itane vyast the ki mujhe dekhane ki unhean phursat hi nahian thi.
isake bad kya hua?
vishesh kuchh nahian.
vishesh kuchh nahian hua, yah to mere bhagy ki bat hai. pahachan lene par vah tumhean giraphtar kara dete aur is apaman se bachane ke lie mujhe atmahatya karani p dati. naukari chali gee, lekin pran to bach ge.
d aauktar chupachap nav khene lage. kuchh der maun rahakar bharati ne poochha, kya soch rahe ho bhaiya?
batao to janooan.
bataooan?-tum soch rahe ho ki bharati l daki hokar bhi manushy ko meri apeksha adhik pahachan sakati hai. apani pran raksha ke lie koee bhi padha-likha adami itani nichata kar sakata hai-lajja nahian, kritajnata nahian, moh, mamata nahian-khabar nahian di, khabar dene ki koshish nahian ki. bhay ke karan janavar ki tarah bhag ge. maian kalpana bhi nahian kar sakata tha. lekin bharati asandigdh roop se jan gee thi-'yahi soch rahe ho n bhaiya?
d aauktar ne koee uttar nahian diya.
meri or ek bar dekho n bhaiya?
d aauktar ne jyoan ki bharati ki or dekha, usake hoanth thar-thar kaanpane laga. boli, manushy hokar manushyata ki kahian bhi koee bat nahian, yah kaise ho sakata hai bhaiya?
yah kahakar usane donoan daantoan ko bhianchakar apane hoanthoan ka kaanpana rok liya. lekin aankhoan ki koroan se aansoo bahane lage.
d aauktar ne n to sahamati prakat ki, n prativad kiya. saantvana tak ki koee bat usake muanh se nahian nikali. keval kshan bhar ke lie aisa laga jaise usaki surama lagi aankhoan ki dipti kuchh phiki p d gee ho.
iravati ki yah chhoti shakha kam gahari aur kam chau di hone ke karan stimar aur b di navean nahian chalati thian. nav kahaan ja rahi hai, bharati ko pata nahian tha.
achanak ek bahut b de vriksh ki ot mean beloan aur vrikshoan se bhare nale mean nav ghusane lagi to yah dekhakar usane chakit hokar poochha, mujhe kahaan le ja rahe ho bhaiya?
apane dere par.
vahaan aur kaun rahata hai?
koee nahian.
mujhe mere dere par kab pahuanchaoge?
pahuancha dooanga. aj rat ya kal savere.
bharati boli, nahian bhaiya, yah nahian ho sakata. mujhe jahaan se lae ho vahi pahuancha do.
lekin mujhe tumase bahut-si batean kahani haian bharati.
bharati ne koee uttar nahian diya. usi tarah sir hilakar apatti prakat karati huee boli, nahian, mujhe vapas pahuancha ao.
lekin kyoan? kya tumhean mujh par vishvas nahian?
bharati sir jhukae chup baithi rahi.
d aauktar ne kaha, tumane is prakar kitani hi ratean apoorv ke sath bitaee haian. kya vah mujhase badhakar vishvasapatr tha tumhara?
bharati chup rahi. usane haan-na, kuchh nahian kaha.
nale mean jitana aandhera tha utana hi vah tang bhi tha. donoan kinaroan par kh de pe doan ki daliyaan bich-bich mean unake sharir par akar lagane lagian.
d aauktar ne kaha, bharati, aj maian tumhean le ja raha hooan vahaan se tumhara udhdar kar sake, sansar mean aisa koee nahian hai. lekin mere man ki bat samajhane mean shayad ab kuchh shesh n raha hoga.
yah kahakar vah zor se hansane lage. aandhere mean unake chehare ko bharati n dekh saki. lekin unaki hansi ne jaise use dhikkara. muanh oopar uthakar shankarahit svar mean boli, tumhare man ki bat samajh sakooan, itani budhdi mujh mean nahian hai. lekin maian tumhare charitr se parichit hooan. akeli rahana mere lie uchit nahian hai isilie kah rahi hooan bhaiya, mujhe kshama karo.
d aauktar ne kuchh der chup rahakar svabhavik shaant svar mean kaha, bharati, tumhean chho dakar ane mean mujhe kasht hota hai. tum meri bahin ho, meri maan ho-yadi svayan yah vishvas n hota to maian is raste se nahian ata. lekin tumhara mooly de sake aisa manushy mere atirikt sansar mean aur koee nahian hai. isake sauvean aansh ka bhi ek aansh agar apoorv samajh jata to usaka jivan sarthak ho jata. tum sansar mean laut jao didi! ham logoan ke bich ab mat raho. keval tumhari bat kahane ke lie hi maian apoorv se milane gaya tha.
bharati chup rahi. aj ek bat tak n kahakar apoorv chala gaya. naukari karane barma aya tha. tho de dinoan ka hi to parichay tha.
vah brahman ka sadachari l daka hai. usaka desh hai, samaj hai, ghar-dvar hai, atmiy-svajan haian. aur bhi kya-kya hai. aur bharati eesaee ki l daki hai. usaka desh nahian. ghar nahian. mata-pita nahian. apana kahane ke lie koee bhi nahian hai.
pas hi pe d-paudhoan ke bich halki-si roshani dikhaee dene lagi. d aauktar ne ishara karake kaha, yahian mera dera hai. khoob azad tha. pata nahian kaisi maya mean jak d gaya hooan. tumhare lie hi chianta mean p da hooan. tumhean ek nirapad ashray mil gaya hai, kash! jane se pahale itana hi dekh leta.
bharati aansoo poanchhakar boli, maian to achchhi hooan bhaiya.
d aauktar ne ek lambi saans lekar kaha, kahaan achchhi tarah ho bahin. mere ek adami ne akar bataya ki tum ghar mean nahian ho. socha, tumhean jeti par pa sakooanga. vahaan jane par tumase bheant n ko saki. abhaga tumhara chain lekar hi nahian bhaga, tumhara sahas bhi chhin le gaya hai.
is bat ka poora arth n samajhakar bharati chup hi rahi.
d aauktar ne kaha, us din rat ko nishchiant man se mere lie bichhauna chho dakar tum niche so gee thian. tumane hansakar kaha tha-bhaiya, tum kya insan ho jo tumase dar lagega. tum so jao. lekin aj vah sahas nahian raha. apoorv nirbhay karane yogy manushy nahian hai. phir bhi vah pas hi tha. isalie shayad aisi ashanka tumhare man mean kal bhi paida nahian huee. ashchary to yah hai ki tum jaisi l daki ki bhay mukt svadhinata ko bhi us jaisa asamarth manushy itani asani se to dakar ja sakata hai!
bharati mithe svar mean boli, lekin upay kya hai bhaiya?
upay shayad n ho. lekin bahin, tumhare charitr par sandeh karane vala aj koee nahian hai. phir agar tumhara hi man rat-din svayan par sandeh karata rahe to tum jiogi kaise?
is tarah apane hriday ka vishleshan karake dekhane ka samay bharati ke pas nahian tha. usaki shradhda aur ashchary ki sima n rahi, lekin vah maun hi rahi.
d aauktar bole, maian ek aur l daki ko janata hooan. vah roosi hai lekin usaki bat jane do. kab tum logoan ki bheant hogi nahian janata. lekin lagata hai ek din zaroor hogi. bhagavan kare ki n ho. tumhare prem ki tulana nahian hai. vahaan se apoorv ko koee hata nahian sakega. lekin svayan ko usake grahan karane yogy banae rakhane ki aj se jo atyant satarkatapoorn jivanavyapi sadhana arambh hogi, usaki pratidin ke asamman ki glani tumhare manushyatv ko ekadam chhota bana degi bharati. jahaan aise shudhd-pavitr hriday ka mooly nahian vahaan man ko isi tarah bahalana p data hai. kaun jane bhagy mean utane dinoan tak jivit rahane ka samay mere lie hai ya nahian. lekin yadi ho didi to bahin kahakar garv karane ke lie savyasachi ke pas kuchh bhi shesh nahian rahega.
bharati ne poochha, to tum mujhe kya karane ko kahate ho? tumane hi to mujhase bar-bar sansar mean laut jane ko kaha tha.
lekin sir nicha karake jane ko nahian kaha tha.
lekin striyoan ka ooancha sir to koee bhi pasand nahian karata.
tab mat jana.
bharati ne hansakar kaha, tum nishchiant rahana bhaiya, mera jana nahian ho sakega. sare rastoan ko apane hath se band karake keval ek rasta khol rakha tha, vah bhi aj band ho gaya, yah tum dekh ae ho. ab jo rasta tum mujhe dikha doge usi raste se chalooangi. meri keval itani-si prarthana svikar kar lena ki apane bhayankar raste par mujhe mat bulana. bhagavan ke saman aprapy vastu ko pane ke bhi jab itane marg haian tab tumhare lakshy tak pahuanchane ke lie raktapat ke atirikt kya doosara marg nahian hai? mera dridh vishvas hai ki manav ki budhdi bilkul samapt nahian ho gee hai. kahian-n-kahian doosara marg avashy hi hai. aj se maian usi path ki khoj mean nikalooangi. bhishan du:kh kya hai-us rat ko mujhe usaka pata lag gaya tha jis rat tum log unaki hatya karane ke lie taiyar ho ge the.
d aauktar ne kaha, yahi mera dera hai, yah kahakar chhoti nav ko kinare par thelakar vah utar p de. phir hath mean lalatanean lekar rasta dikhate hue bole, joote utarakar ao. pairoan mean kich d lagegi.
bharati chupachap utar aee. sagaun ke char-paanch mote-mote khooantoan par purane aur bekar takhtoan se kath ka ek makan bana tha. tooti-phooti lak di ke sidhi se rassi pak dakar oopar pahuanchane par jab sat-ath varsh ke l dake ne akar daravaza khola to bharati ashchary se avakh rah gee. aandar paanv rakhate hi dekha, pharsh par chataee bichhae kam umr ki ek barmi stri so rahi hai. tin-char bachche jahaan-tahaan pade hue haian. ek asahaniy durgandh se kamare ka vayumandal vishakt ho utha hai. pharsh par charoan or bhat, machhali ke kaante aur pyaj-lahasun ke chhilake p de haian. pas hi do-tin kalikh lagi mitti ki chhoti-chhoti handiya p di haian.
d aauktar ke pichhe-pichhe bharati doosare kamare mean pahuanch gee. kahian bhi kisi saman ka jhamela nahian. pharsh par chataee bichhi thi. ek or dari lapetakar rakhi huee thi. d aauktar ne dari jha dakar bichhate hue bharati se baithane ke lie kaha. barmi stri ne kuchh poochha. d aauktar ne barmi bhasha mean hi usaka uttar diya. tho di der bad hi vah l daka ek tashtari mean tho da-sa bhat, pyali mean tarakari aur patte par tho di-si jhulasi huee machhali rakhakar chala gaya. apani lalaten ke prakash mean un khady vastuoan ko dekhate hi bharati ki tabiyat michalane lagi.
d aauktar ne kaha, bhookh to shayad tumhean bhi lagi hogi. lekin yah sab.
bharati ne kaha, nahian, nahian, abhi nahian.
yah eesaee jat-paant nahian manati, lekin jahaan se jis prakar yah chizean laee gee haian us sthan ko vah ate samay hi dekh aee thi.
d aauktar bole, lekin mujhe b di bhookh lagi hai bahin. pahale pet bhar looan, yah kahakar hath dhokar b di prasann mudra mean khane baith ge.
bharati us or dekh nahian saki. ghrina aur chhati ke bhitar ki asim rulaee ki vedana se usane muanh pher liya mano saik doan dharaoan mean bahakar nikalane ki ichchha karane lagi. hay re desh! hay re svadhinata ki pyas! sansar mean in logoan ne apana kahakar kuchh bhi shesh nahian rakha. yah ghar, yah bhojan, yah ghrinit sanbandh, jangali pashuoan jaisa jivan-pal bhar ke lie bharati ko mrityu bhi isase adhik achchhi aur sukhad dikhaee di. mrityu ko to bahutere sahan kar sakate haian lekin yah to tan aur man ko nirantar satate rahana, ichchhanusar har pal atmahatya ki or le jana-is sahishnuta ki svarg ya mrityu mean kya kahian koee tulana hai.
paradhinata ki pi da ne kya in logoan ke jivan ke sabhi pi da-bodh ko poori tarah dhokar saf kar diya hai? kahian kuchh bhi shesh nahian?
use apoorv ki yad a gee use apani naukari chhoot jane ka shok, mitr-mandali mean hath ka kala dag dikhaee dene ki lajja.... yah hi to bharat mata ki sahasr koti santanean haian. khate-pahanate, parikshaean pas karake, naukari mean saphalata pakar, jinaka janm se mrityu tak ka sara jivan atyant nirvighn roop se ek-sa bitata ja raha tha-aur ek hai yah vyakti jo atyant nirvikar, man se atyant triptipoorvak bhat nigal raha hai. pal bhar ke lie bharati ko laga ki himalay ke hajaroan prastar khandoan ke tilamatr hisse se bhi adhik vah log nahian haian aur unhian logoan mean se ek pyar karake, usi ke ghar ki grihini banane se vanchit hone ke du:kh se aj vah apani chhati pha d-pha dakar mar rahi hai.
sahasa vah dridhata bhare svar mean boli, bhaiya tumhara chuna hua yah khoon-kharabi ka marg kisi bhi tarah thik nahian hai. atit ke bhale hi kitane bhi udaharan do, jo atit hai, jo bit chuka hai, vahi chirakal tak bhavishy ki chhati rauandakar use niyantrit karata rahega, yah vighn manav jivan ke lie kisi bhi tarah saty nahian mana ja sakata. tumhare marg ko nahian lekin tumhara sab kuchh visarjit karane vali desh-seva ko maian aj apane sir par utha leti hooan. apoorv baboo sukh se rahean, ab maian unake lie shok nahian karooangi. aj maianne apane jivan ka mantr apani aankhoan se dekh liya hai.
d aauktar ne ashchary se muanh uthakar bhat khate-khate asphut svar mean poochha, kya hua bharati?

hath-muanh dhokar d aauktar baith ge. usi barmi l dake ne ek bahut mota churut pite hue kamare mean pravesh kiya aur kuchh der nak-muanh se dhuaan nikalakar phir vahi churut d aauktar ke hath mean dekar chala gaya.
d aauktar ne hansate hue kaha, isi tarah muft pa lene par maian sansar mean kisi bhi chiz ko chho dana pasand nahian karata bharati. apoorv ke chacha ji ne jab rangoon mean giraphtar kiya tha tab meri jeb mean se gaanje ki chilam nikal p di thi. vah n hoti to shayad mujhe chhutakara bhi n milata. kahakar vah muskurane lage.
bharati yah bat sun chuki thi. boli, hazar bar chhutakara n milane par bhi tum gaanja nahian pite, yah maian janati hooan. lekin yah makan kisaka hai?
mera.
aur yah barmi stri-bachche?
d aauktar hansakar bole, yah sab mere ek musalaman mitr ki sampati haian. meri hi tarah vah bhi phaansi ke mujarim haian. is samay kahian bahar ge haian. parichay n ho sakega.
bharati boli, parichay ke lie maian vyakul nahian hooan. lekin jis tarah tumane is svargapuri mean akar ashray liya hai, isase to achchha tha ki mujhe mere ghar pahuancha ate bhaiya. yahaan to mera dam ghuta ja raha hai.
d aauktar-yah svargapuri tumhean achchhi nahian lagegi, maian janata tha. lekin tumase kahane ke lie mere pas jitani batean haian vah kisi doosare sthan par nahian kahi ja sakati thian bharati! tho da-sa kasht aj tumhean sahana hi p dega.
bharati boli, kya tum kisi doosari jagah ja rahe ho?
d aauktar bole, haan, uttar aur poorv ke deshoan mean ek bar ghoom ana hoga. lautane mean shayad do varsh lag jaean. lekin aj ki rat ke bad phir tumase mil sakooanga, yah bharosa nahian.
d aauktar kuchh der chup rahe. bharati ne samajh liya ki isamean koee parivartan nahian ho sakata. is rat ki samapti ke sath hi vah is sansar mean akeli rah jaegi.
d aauktar bole, 'mujhe dakshin chin ke keantan ke bhitar aur bhi age paidal hi jana p dega. us raste se kam ke silasile mean agar amerika n pahuanch paya to prashaant mahasagar ke dvipoan mean ghoomakar phir isi desh mean lautakar ashray looanga. usake bad jab tak ag n lagegi yahian rahooanga? aur bahin agar lautakar n a saka to khabar to tumhean mil hi jaegi.
is vyakti ke shaant, sahaj kanth ki batean kitani sadharan haian lekin unaka chehara bharati ki aankhoan ke samane nach utha. kuchh der chup rahakar boli, chin desh mean paidal jana kitana bhayanak kam hai, yah maian sun chuki hooan. lekin maian tumako dar dikhalana nahian chahati. agar yahaan se nikal jana hi chahate ho to phir yahian kyoan laut ana chahate ho? tumhari apani janm-bhoomi mean kya tumhare lie koee kam nahian hai?
usi ke kam ke lie to maian is desh ko chho dakar ja raha hooan. is desh mean striyaan svatantr haian. svatantrata ka marg vah samajheangi. un logoan ki mujhe bahut zaroorat hai. agar kabhi is desh many ag jalati dekhi to meri bat yad kar lena, ki us ag ko striyaan hi jala rahi haian. yad rahegi yah bat?
bharati ne kaha, lekin maian to tumhare path ki pathik nahian hooan.
d aauktar bole, yah maian janata hooan, lekin b de bhaee ki bat yad karane mean to koee dosh nahian hai. bhaiya ki bich-bich mean yad to a jaegi.
bharati boli, b de bhaiya ki yad ane ke lie mere pas bahut-si chizean haian. isi tarah shayad tum manushyoan ko apane kumarg mean khianch laya karate ho bhaiya, lekin mujhe nahian khianch sakate.
vah sahasa uth kh di huee. sameti dari jha dakar bichha di. phir baans ke machan par kambal, takiya adi utarakar apane hath se bistar bichhate hue boli, apoorv baboo ke jahaz ke chakke aj mujhe jis marg ka sanket de ge haian mera ek matr marg ab vahi hai. phir jis din bheant hogi us din tum bhi svikar karoge.
d aauktar vyagr hokar bol uthe, tumane achanak yah kya shuroo kar diya bharati? kya is phate kambal ko maian khud nahian bichha sakata tha. isaki to koee zaroorat thi hi nahian.
bharati boli, tumako zaroorat nahian thi, lekin mujhe to thi. phir striyoan ke jivan mean isaki bhi zaroorat n rahe to kis bat ki zaroorat hai, bata sakoge bhaiya?
d aauktar bole, isaka uttar nahian de sakooanga bahin. maian har manata hooan. lekin tumhare atirikt mujhe aur kisi stri se har nahian manani p di.
bharati hansati huee boli, sumitra jiji se bhi nahian?'
nahian.
bichhauna bichh jane par d aauktar us par a baithe. bharati pas baithakar boli, jane se pahale ek bat aur poochhooan to kya chhoti bahan ka aparadh kshama hoga?
kyoan nahian?
sumitra jiji apaki kaun haian?
kuchh der chup rahane ke bad d aauktar ne muskarate hue kaha, vah meri kya hai, isaka uttar jab tak vah svayan n de tab tak jan lene ka koee upay nahian hai. maian to jis din use pahachanata bhi nahian tha, us din maianne svayan apani patni kahakar usaka parichay diya tha. maianne hi usaka nam sumitra rakha tha. maianne suna hai ki usaki maan yahoodi thi, lekin pita the bangali brahman. pahale vah ek sarkas parti ke sath java ge the, phir saravaya rel ke steshan par naukari karane lage. jab tak ve jivit rahe sumitra mishanari skool mean padhati rahi. unake mar jane ke bad paanch-chhah varsh ke itihas ko sunane ki tumhean koee zaroorat nahian.
bharati boli, nahian bhaiya, mujhe sab batao.
d aauktar ne kaha, maian bhi sab nahian janata bharati. keval itana hi janata hooan ki maan, beti, do mama, ek chini aur do madrasi musalaman milakar java mean chhipe dhang se gaanje ke ayat-niryat ka dhandha kar rahe the. maian nahian janata tha ki vah log kya karate haian. bas yahi dekha karata tha ki batasiya se suravaya tak tren dvara sumitra aksar aya-jaya karati thi. atyant suandar hone ke karan bahut se logoan ki tarah meri najar bhi us par p d gee thi. bas sab kuchh yahian tak simit tha. lekin ek din achanak hi parichay ho gaya tega steshan ke vetiang room mean. yah bangali l daki hai is bat ka pata mujhe pahale-pahale nahian chala.
bharati ne kaha, suandari hone ke karan sumitra jiji ko ap phir bhool nahian sake. yahi bat hai n bhaiya?
d aauktar bole, ek din maian java chho dakar kahian aur chala gaya aur shayad use bhool hi gaya. lekin ek varsh ke bad sahasa beankulen shahar ki jeti par sumitra se bheant ho gee. ek baks mean aphim thi aur sumitra ko ghere charoan or pulis kh di thi. mujhe dekhakar usaki aankhoan se aansoo bahane lage. mujhe sandeh nahian raha ki ab mujhe usaki raksha karani p degi. aphim ke baks ko spasht asvikar karake maianne use apani patni bata kar parichay de diya. usane yah nahian socha tha, isalie vah chauank p di. ghatana sumatra mean huee thi isalie maianne usaka nam sumitra rakh diya. vaise usaka vastavik nam roj daood tha. un dinoan beankulen ke mamaloan-mukadamoan ki sunavaee padaang shahar mean hoti thi. vahaan mere ghanishth mitr the pal kroogar. unhian ke pas sumitra ko le gaya. mukadama chala. majistret ne sumitra ko riha kar diya. lekin sumitra ne mujhe rihaee nahian di.
bharati hansakar boli, rihaee ab milegi bhi nahian bhaiya.
d aauktar ne kaha, dhire-dhire usake dal ke log samachar pakar tak-jhaank karane lage. maianne dekha, mere mitr pal kroogar bhi usake sauandary par lattoo ho ge haian. ek din unhian ke pas chho dakar maian chupachap khisak gaya.
bharati boli, un logoan ke bich akeli chho dakar? tum bahut nirdayi ho bhaiya.
d aauktar bole, haan, apoorv ki tarah. phir ek varsh bit gaya. un dinoan maian solivas dvip ke maikasar nagar ke chhote se aprasidhd hotal mean rah raha tha. ek din sham ko kamare mean ghusate hi dekha, sumitra baithi hai. hiandoo striyoan ki tarah tasar ki sa di pahane. usane ek hiandoo stri ki tarah jhukakar pranam kiya aur uthakar boli, maian sab chho dakar chali aee hooan. sampoorn atit ko dho-poanchhakar pheank aee hooan. mujhe apane kam mean shamil kar lo. mujhase badhakar vishvasaniy sathin doosari nahian milegi.
bharati boli, usake bad?
d aauktar ne kaha, bad ki ghatana....bas itana hi kah sakata hooan ki sumitra ke virudhd shikayat karane ka mujhe aj tak koee karan nahian mila. jo ikkis varshoan ke sabhi sanskaroan ko dho-poanchhakar, saf karake a sakati hai usake prati mere man mean shradhda hai lekin vah hai b di nishthur.
bharati ki ichchha huee ki poochhe-'vah nishthur ho sakati hai lekin tum usako kitana pyar karate ho.' lekin laj ke karan poochh n saki. phir us rahasyapoorn yuvati ke hriday ke gopaniy itihas ka aj use pata lag gaya. usaka mamatahin, maun, rahasyapoorn itihas-kisi ka bhi arth samajhana usake lie shesh nahian raha.
sahasa d aauktar ke muanh se asavadhani se ek lambi saans nikal gee. pal bhar ke lie vah lajja se vyakul ho uthe, lekin usi ek pal ke lie. doosare hi pal unaka shaant aur sahaj hasyapoorn svar laut aya. bole, usake bad sumitra ko sath lekar mujhe keantan chala ana p da.
bharati hansi chhipakar boli, n ate bhaiya. tumhean sir ki shapath kisane di thi-batao? ham logoan mean se to kisi ne di-nahian thi.
sir ki shapath kisi ne nahian di, aisi bat nahian hai. lekin maianne socha tha ki vah bat kisi ko bhi maloom n ho sakegi. lekin tumamean ek dosh yah hai ki aant tak n sunane se tumhari jijnasa shaant nahian hoti aur n sunane se tum bahut-si aisi hi batoan ka anuman karati rahogi. isalie suna dena hi achchha hai.
maian bhi yahi kah rahi hooan bhaiya.
d aauktar bole, bat yah hai ki sumitra ne mere hi hotal ki doosari manzil par ek kamara kirae par le liya. maianne bahut mana kiya. lekin vah nahian mani. tab maianne kaha, aisi halat mean mujhe yahaan se chala jana hoga.' yah sunakar usaki aankhoan se aansoo bahane lage. boli, 'ap mujhe ashray dijie.' doosare hi din mamala samajh mean a gaya. daood ka gaiang vahaan dikhaee p da. us gaiang mean lagabhag das adami the. unamean se ek adha arab aur adha nigro tha. chhote-mote hathi ki tarah. vah anayas hi dava kar baitha ki sumitra usaki patni hai.
bharati boli, aur tumhare hi samane! un donoan mean shayad khoob jhag da hua?
d aauktar bole, 'haan. sumitra ne asvikar karate hue kaha, 'sab jhooth hai. ek shadayantr hai.'-asal mean vah log use chori ki aphim bechane ke kam mean vapas le jana chahate the. prashaant mahasagar ke sabhi dvipoan mean unake adde haian. gaiang kafi b da hai jisamean badamash log shamil haian. koee bhi aisa kam nahian hai jise yah log n kar sakate hoan. maian jan gaya ki yah samasya asani se nahian sulajhegi. lekin vilamb unhean sahy nahian tha. vah tatkal nirnay karake sumitra ko khianch le jana chahate the. maianne unhean roka. pulis bulakar giraphtar karane ka dar dikhaya. tab vah log ge. lekin dhamaki dete ge ki un logoan ke hath se aj tak koee nahian bacha.
usake bad?'
d aauktar ne kaha, rat ko savadhan raha. maian janata tha ki vah log dal-bal ke sath lautakar akraman kareange.
bharati ne poochha, bhag kyoan nahian ge? pulis ko khabar kyoan nahian di? dach sarakar ke pas kya pulis nahian hai?
d aauktar ne kaha, thana-pulis mean jana mere lie nirapad nahian tha. lekin vah rat shaantipoorvak bit gee . vahaan samudr ke kinare-kinare chalane vali vyaparik navean milati haian. agale din ek nav thik kar aya. lekin sumitra ko bukhar a gaya. vah uth n saki. kafi rat bite daravaza khulane ki avaz se niand toot gee. khi daki se jhaankakar dekha, daravaza hotal vale ne khola hai aur das adami hotal mean ghus rahe haian. vah chahate the ki mere kamare ke daravaze ko bahar se band kar dean aur bagal ki sidhi se oopar sumitra ke kamare mean chale jaean.
bharati saans rokakar boli, usake bad?
d aauktar bole, maianne daravaza kholakar oopar jane ki sidhi rok li.
bharati ka chehara pila p d gaya. boli, usake bad?
d aauktar ne kaha, usake bad ki ghatana aandhere mean ghati, isalie thik-thik nahian bata sakooanga. lekin apani bat mujhe maloom hai. ek goli mere baean kandhe mean lagi, doosari ghutanoan ke bich. savera hote hi pulis a gee. pahara lag gaya. ga di aee aur pulis chhah-sat adamiyoan ko utha le gee. hotal valoan ne gavahi di ki dakuoan ne dhava bola tha. aangreji rajy hota to mamala kitani door pahuanchata aur kya hota, nahian kaha ja sakata. lekin selivaru ke qanoon-kayade doosare hi haian. mare hue logoan ki jab shinakht nahian huee to shayad unhean kahian ga d-goo d diya.
tumhare hath se kya itane adami mare ge?
maian to nam matr tha. vah to apane hathoan hi mare ge samajho.
bharati chup baithi rahi.
d aauktar bole, usake bad kuchh door nav se, kuchh door gho da ga di se, aur kuchh door stimar se ham log mek da shahar mean pahuanch ge. vahaan se nam-dham badalakar ek chini jahaz se keantan chale ge. age shayad tumhean sunane ki ichchha nahian hai. tumhean keval yahi lag raha hai ki bhaiya ke hathoan mean bhi manushy ka khoon laga hua hai.
bharati ne kaha, mujhe dere par pahuancha dijie bhaiya?
isi samay jaogi?
haan, mujhe pahuancha ao.
chalo, yah kahakar unhoanne pharsh se ek takhta hatakar koee chiz chupake se nikalakar apani jeb mean rakh li. bharati samajh gee ki yah pistaul hai. pistaul usake pas bhi thi. sumitra ke adesh ke anusar vah use bahar jate samay apane sath rakhati thi. yah jnan use aj pahali bar hua ki yah manushyoan ko mar dalane ka yantr hai.
nav par bharati ne dhire-dhire kaha, tum jo bhi kyoan n karo, tumhare atirikt mere lie prithvi par ashray nahian hai, jab tak mere man ki ashaanti nahian mit jati tum tab tak mujhe chho dakar nahian ja sakate bhaiya. bolo, jaoge to nahian?'
d aauktar ne kaha, 'achchha, aisa hi hoga bahin!

nav par baithi huee bharati man-hi-man n jane kitani batean sochati rahi. usake man par sabase jabardast dhakka lagaya sumitra ke itihas ne. usake pratham yauvan ki durbhagyapoorn anokhi kahani ne. sumitra ko mitr samajhane ka dussahas koee bhi stri nahian kar sakati. bharati use pyar nahian kar saki hai. lekin sab batoan mean usaki asamany shreshthata ke karan usane apane hriday ki bhakti use arpit ki thi. lekin us din, apoorv ka aparadh kitana bhi bhayankar kyoan n ho, nari hokar ekadam sahaj bhav se usaki hatya karane ka adesh dene ke karan usaki vah bhakti bhishan bhay mean parivartit ho gee. bharati apoorv ko kitana pyar karati hai yah bat sumitra se chhipi nahian thi. prem kya hai, yah bat bhi usase chhipi nahian hai phir bhi ek nari ke premi ko pran-dand dene mean nari hokar bhi use ratti bhar hichak nahian huee. vedana ki ag se chhati ke bhitar jab is prakar ki jvala bhak-bhak jalane lagati tab vah apane ko yah kahakar samajha leti kikarttavy ke prati is tarah nirmam nishtha n hone par path ke davedaroan ki adhyaksha kaun banati?
nav ke ghat par pahuanchate hi ek adami pe d ke a d se nikalakar samane a kh da hua. use dekhate hi bharati ke paanv bhay se kaanp uthe.
d aauktar ne b di narmi se kaha, yah to apana hira sianh hai. tumako pahuancha dene ke lie kh da hai. kyoan hira sianh ji, sab thik hai n?
hira sianh ne kaha, sab thik hai.'
kya maian bhi chal sakata hooan?
hira sianh bola, apake jane se kya koee rukavat dal sakata hai?
samajh mean a gaya ki pulis vale bharati ke makan par nigah rakh rahe haian. d aauktar ka jana nirapad nahian hai.
bharati chupake se boli, maian nahian jaooangi bhaiya.
lekin tumhean bhagakar chhipane ki zaroorat nahian bharati.
zaroorat p dane par bhag sakooangi. lekin inake sath nahian jaooangi.
d aauktar is apatti ka karan samajh ge. apoorv ke mamale ke vichar ke din hira sianh hi use dhokhe se le aya tha. kuchh sochakar bole, tum to janati ho bharati, kitana kharab hai muhalla. itani rat ge tumhara akeli jana thik nahian hai. aur maian......
vyakul svar mean bharati boli, nahian bhaiya, tum mujhe pahuancha do. maian pagal nahian hooan jo....?
hath chho dakar bharati ko nav se utarate n dekhakar d aauktar ne snehil svar mean kaha, vahaan tumhean vapas le jate hue mujhe bhi lajja maloom hoti hai. kya doosari jagah chalogi, jahaan hamare kavi ji rahate haian? vah nadi ke us par rahate haian.
bharati ne poochha, kaun kavi bhaiya?
hamare ustad ji, behala bajane vale....!
bharati ne prasann hokar kaha, vah kya ghar par mileange? agar adhik sharab pi ge hoange to kahian behosh p de hoange.
d aauktar bole, isamean ashchary nahian. lekin meri avaz sunate hi unaka nasha hiran ho jata hai. navatara unake pas hi rahati hai. sambhav hai tumhean kuchh khilava bhi sakooan.
bharati boli, is dhalati rat mean mujhe khilane ki cheshta mat karo, chalo, vahaan chalean. savera hote hi laut aeange.
d aauktar nav chalane lage to hira sianh aandhere mean gum ho gaya.
bharati ne ashchary se poochha, bhaiya, kya pulis is adami par sandeh nahian karati?
d aauktar bole, nahian. yah taraghar ka chaparasi hai. logoan ke zaroori tar unake ghar pahuanchaya karata hai. isalie din ho ya rat, kisi bhi samay usaka ana-jana sandehajanak nahian hota.
jvar abhi-abhi shuroo hua hai. dhire-dhire b di savadhani se laggi thelate hue nav le jane ke parishram ka anuman karake bharati ne jaldi se kaha, vahaan jane ki zaroorat nahian. chalie apake ghar laut chalean. jvar ke khianchav mean adha ghanta bhi nahian lagega.
d aauktar ne kaha, 'keval isi kam se nahian bharati, ek aur vishesh kam se usase milana chahata hooan.
bharati vyangy bhari hansi ke sath boli, unase kisi adami ko koee kam ho sakata hai, is par mujhe vishvas nahian hota.
d aauktar kahane lage, tum use nahian janati bharati, us jaisa sachcha gunavan adami tumhean kahian nahian mil sakata. apane toote bahale ki hi pooanji ke bal par koee aisa sthan nahian jahaan vah n pahuancha ho. isake atirikt vah bahut b da vidvanh hai. kis pustak mean kahaan kya likha hai-batane vala mere parichitoan mean us jaisa doosara koee bhi nahian hai. use maian vastav mean pyar karata hooan.
bharati man-hi-man apratibh hokar boli, tab tum usaki sharab pine ki adat chhu dane ki koshish kyoan nahian karate?
d aauktar ne kaha, maian kisi se kuchh chhu davane ki koshish nahian karata bharati. vah kavi haian. un logoan ki jati hi alag hoti hai. unake bhale-bure kam ham logoan se mel nahian khate, lekin is karan sansar ke bhale-bure kamoan ke lie bane qanoon unhean kshama nahian karate. unake gunoan ka to sabhi log milakar upabhog karate haian, lekin apane doshoan ke lie vah akele hi dand bhogate haian. isalie kabhi-kabhi jab vah bechara bahut kasht pata hai, jab aisa vyakti jo usake du:kh ka man-hi-man sahayogi hota hai, vah maian hooan.
bharati boli, tum sabhi ke lie du:kh anubhav karate ho bhaiya. tumhara man to striyoan ke man se bhi komal hai. lekin apane us gunavan par vishvas kaise karate ho? sharab ke nashe mean vah sab kuchh prakat bhi to kar sakate haian?
d aauktar bole, keval itana jnan hi to usamean bacha hai. phir usaki batoan par koee adhik vishvas bhi to nahian karata?
bharati ne poochha, unaka nam kya hai bhaiya?
d aauktar ne kaha, atul, suren, dhiren-jab jo nam man mean a jae. -vastavik nam hai-shashipad bhaumik.
shayad vah navatara ke kahane par chalate haian?
yah kahakar d aauktar ne nav ghooma di. pani ke tej bahav ke karan chhoti-si nav bahut tezise chalane lagi aur dekhate-hi-dekhate us par ja lagi. bharati ka hath pak dakar d aauktar nav se utar pade. age badhane par ek tang rasta mila. usake as-pas pani se bhare chhote-b de gandhe the. unake bich se vah rasta aandhere mean chala gaya tha.
bharati ne kaha, bhaiya, phir vaisi hi bhayanak jagah mean le ae. bagh-bhaluoan ki tarah aise sthan ke atirikt tum log aur kahian bhi rahana nahian janate? aur kisi se bhale hi n daro, saanpoan se to daro.
d aauktar hansakar bola, saanp to vilayat se nahian ae bahin. unamean dharm jnan hai. aparadh n karane vale ko vah nahian katate.
yah sunakar bharati ko ek din ki bat yad a gee. us din unake aise hi hasy poorn svar mean yoorop ke virudhd kitani asim ghrina prakat ho gee thi. unhoanne phir kaha, bagh-bhaluoan ki bat kahati ho bahin. maian aksar hi socha karata hooan ki insan n rahakar agar yahaan bagh-bhaloo hi rahate to sambhav hai yah log shikar karane vilayat se yahaan aya karate. aur rat-din khoon choosane ke lie yahaan chipakakar p de rahate.
bharati maun rahi. sari jati ke virudhd itana b da vidvesh use vyathit kar deta tha. man-hi-man kah uthati thi-yah kabhi bhi sach nahian ho sakata. aisa ho hi nahian sakata.
sahasa d aauktar thithakakar kh de ho ge, bole, hamare ustad ji jag rahe haian, aur hosh mean haian. aisa behala tumane kabhi nahian suna hoga bharati!
kuchh age badhakar bharati ruk gee. usaki utsukata nirantar badhati chali ja rahi thi. usaka n koee adi tha n aant. is sansar mean usaki tulana nahian ho sakati. do minat ke lie mano bharati ko hosh hi nahian raha.
d aauktar ne usake hathoan se jara-sa dabakar kaha, chalo.
bharati boli, chalo. maianne aisa kabhi nahian suna tha.
d aauktar bole, maianne bhi isase achchha kabhi nahian suna. lekin is pagal ke hathoan mean p dakar us bechare behala ki durdasha ka aant nahian hai. maianne hi shayad dasiyoan bar usaka udhdar kiya hoga. suna hai, apoorv ke pas paanch rupe mean giravi rakha hua tha.
bharati boli, maian unake nam rupe bhej dooangi.
pe doan ki ot mean ek do manjila makan hai. niche ki manzil par kich d jvar ke pani aur jangali paudhoan ne adhikar kar rakha hai. samane kath ki ek sidhi hai. aur usi ke sabase ooanche sthan par ek toran-sa bana hua hai. usi par ek bahut b di rangin chini lalaten lataki hai jo jhoolati dikhaee de rahi hai. usaki roshani mean spasht dikhaee diya, usake oopar b de-b de kale aangreji aksharoan mean likha hua hai- shashitara l aauj.
bharati ne kaha, makan ka nam rakha hai 'shashitara l aauj', l aauj to samajh gee. lekin shashitara ka kya arth hai?
d aauktar muskarakar bole, shayad shashipad ka shashi aur navatara ka tara milakar shashitara ban gaya hai.
bharati boli, yah anyay hai. anyay ko tum prashray kyoan dete ho?
d aauktar hansakar bole, tum kya apane bhaiya ko sabase shaktiman samajhati ho? koee apane l aauj ka nam shashitara rakhe ya koee pailes ka nam apoorv bharati rakhe-maian kaise rok sakooanga.
bharati krodhit hokar boli, nahian bhaiya, in sab gande kamoan ke lie unhean mana kar do. varana maian unake ghar nahian jaooangi.
d aauktar bole, suna hai, donoan ka vivah hone vala hai. bhagy prasann ho to marane mean kitani der lagati hai bahin! suna hai pandrah din hue vah mar gaya.
du:khi hote hue bhi bharati hans p di, shayad yah khabar jhoothi hai. agar sach bhi hai to kam-se-kam ek varsh tak to unhean rukana hi chahie. nahian to yah kam bahut hi ashobhaniy hoga.
d aauktar bole, achchhi bat hai, kahakar dekhooanga. lekin rukane se ashobhaniy dikhaee dega ya n rukane se-yah sochane ki bat hai.
is sanket se bharati lajjit hokar chup ho gee. sidhi par chadhate hue d aauktar bole, is pagal ke lie hi mujhe kasht hota hai. suna hai, us stri ko bahut pyar karata hai. lekin sansar ke bhale-bure ki pharamaish, mitroan ki abhiruchi- yah sab batean atyant tuchchh haian bharati. maian to keval itani hi kamana karata hooan ki usake prem mean yadi sachchaee ho to yah sachchaee hi usaka udhdar kare.
bharati ne chauankakar poochha, sansar mean kya aisa bhi hota hai bhaiya.
tabhi vah donoan band daravaze ke samane pahuanchakar ruk ge.
behala bajana band ho gaya. tho di der bad daravaza kholakar shashipad bahar ae to sahaj hi d aauktar ko pahachan liya. phir bharati ko pahachanate hi ekaek uchhalakar bole, ap?.... bharati? aie, aie.
yah kahakar unhean aandar le ge. unake anand se chamakate chehare ki kapat rahit abhyarthana se, unake akritrim utsah bhare svagat se bharati ka sara krodh hava ho gaya. shashi ne bistar ke kisi kone se ek b da-sa liphapha nikal bharati ke hath mean dekar kaha, kholakar padhie. parasoan das hazar rupe ka drapht a raha hai-nat e paee lais-maian kaha karata tha ki maian juari hooan, jhootha hooan, sharabi hooan. kaise ho gaya yah? das hajar! nat e paee lais.
is das hazar rupe ke drapht ke sanbandh mean ek purana itihas hai jise yaha bata dena zaroori hai. koee is par vishvas nahian karata tha. sab majak hi u date rahate the. ustad ji ka mooladhan yahi tha. isi ka ullekh karake ekadam sankochahin hokar vah logoan se rupaya udhar maanga karata tha aur jaldi hi byaj-mooladhan poora chuka dene ki saugandh bhi kha leta tha. paanch-sat varsh pahale usake dhanavan nana ki jab mrityu huee to use apane mamere bhaiyoan ke sath sampatti ka ek hissa mila tha. use bechane ki bat ek mahine pahale ho gee thi. kalakatte ke ek et aaurni ne likha tha ki rupe do-ek din mean mil jaeange.
patr samapt karake d aauktar ne poochha, bis hazar rupe ki bat chali thi n shashi?
shashi bole, das hazar hi kya kam haian? mere mamere bhaee haian, sampatti to apane hi ghar mean hi rahi.
d aauktar ne bharati se kaha, isi tarah ka ek pagal mamera bhaee ham logoan ka bhi koee hota...kahakar vah hansane lage.
shashi ko prasannata nahian huee. pranapan se yahi sidhd karane laga ki sampatti ko beche bina hi itana rupaya mil gaya. isalie ki usake bhaee ke saman adarsh purush sansar mean koee nahian hai.
bharati muskarakar boli, thik hai shashi baboo! tumhare un bhaiya ko dekhe bina hi unake dev tuly charitr ko maianne svikar kar liya.
shashi bole, lekin kal mujhe aur das rupe dene hoange, tab us din ke das, kal ke das aur apoorv baboo ke sadhe ath-kul milakar tis rupe parasoan-tarasoan chuka dooanga. dene hi padeange.
bharati hansane lagi. shashi kahane laga, drapht ate hi baiank mean jama kar dooanga. juari, sharabi, spethist- jo bhi ji mean ata raha hai log kahate rahe haian. lekin is bar dikha dooanga. keval byaj se hi grihasthi ka kharch chalaooanga. usamean se bhi bach jaega. dakaghar mean ekauant kholana p dega. ghar mean rakhana thik nahian, paanch-chhah sal mean hi ek makan kharid looanga. kharidana to p dega hi, grihasthi gardan par a p di hai.
d aauktar bharati ke muanh ki or takate hue hansane lage. lekin vah gambhir muanh kie doosari or dekhati rahi.
shashi ne kaha, maianne sharab chho d di hai. shayad apane suna ho.
d aauktar bole, nahian.
ekadam. navatara ne pratijna kara li.
d aauktar bole, shashi, jan p data hai ab shighr yahaan se hil nahian sakoge?
shashi bole, yah bat kaise ho sakati hai? ab maian ap logoan ke sath sanbandh n rakh paooanga. laiph ko ab risk mean nahian dala ja sakata.
d aauktar ne bharati ki or mu dakar muskarate hue kaha, hamare ustad ji mean aur chahe jo bhi dosh ho-lekin aankhoan ka lihaz inamean hai, aisa apavad to b de-se-b da shatru bhi nahian laga sakata. yadi sikh sako to yah vidya tum inase sikh lo.
pratyuttar mean shashi ka paksh lekar bharati ne bahut hi bhali l daki ki tarah kaha, lekin jhoothi asha dene ki apeksha spasht kah dena hi achchha hai. yah bat mujhase nahian hoti. agar shashi baboo se maian yah vidya sikh pati to aj mujhe chhutti mil jati bhaiya.
usake kanth svar ka aantim aansh bhari-sa ho gaya. shashi ne dhyan nahian diya. dhyan dene par usaka tatpary shayad samajh bhi nahian pata. lekin isamean nihit arth jise samajhana chahie tha. unhean samajhane mean der nahian lagi.
do minat tak sabhi maun rahe.
d aauktar ne bat shuroo ki. bole, shashi, do din ke bhitar hi maian ja raha hooan. paidal ke raste se. paisiphik ke sare ailaiand ek bar phir ghoom aooan. kab lautooanga-nahian janata. lautooanga bhi ya nahian, yah kaun janata hai. lekin yadi kabhi lautooan shashi to tumhare ghar mean shayad mujhe sthan nahian milega.
shashi pal bhar unake muanh ki or takataki lagakar dekhata raha. phir bola usaka chehara aur svar ashcharyajanak roop se badal gaya. gardan hilakar bola, mere ghar par apako sada sthan milata rahega.
d aauktar ne kaha, yah kya kahate ho shashi? mujhe sthan dene se b di vipatti manushy ke lie aur kya ho sakati hai?
shashi ne kaha, yah to maian janata hooan ki mujhe jel ki saza milegi. milane do. kahakar vah chup ho gaya. phir palabhar bad bharati ko sambodhit karake dhire-dhire kahane laga, mera aisa mitr aur koee nahian hai. sanh 1911 mean japan ke tokiyo shahar mean bam girane ke karan jab kotakoo ke samooche giroh ko phaansi ki saza mili thi tab d aauktar unake akhabar ke upasampadak the. makan ke samane ke hisse ko pulis ne gher liya tha. maian rone laga to inhoanne kaha, darane se kam nahian chalega shashi, ham logoan ko bhag jana chahie. pichhe ki khi daki se rassi latakakar inhoanne mujhe utar diya phir svayan utar ge-oh, yad hai apako d aauktar sahab? yah kahakar vah atit ki yadoan se romaanchit ho utha.
d aauktar ne hansakar kaha, yad to zaroor hai.
shashi ne kaha, yad rahane ki bat hi hai. ap sahayata n karate to us din ham logoan ki jivan-lila samapt ho jati. shanghaee bot mean phir qadam n rakhana p data. vahaan jaise nate luchche-badamash bharat mean kahian bhi nahian mileange. maian to ap logoan ke bamabaj daste mean shamil nahian tha. bas dere par rahata tha. behala sikhaya karata tha. lekin is bat ko kya koee sunane vala tha? shaitanoan ke n to qanoon hote haian n adalat. pak d pate to mujhe zaroor jibah kar dalate. aj jo ye sab batean kah raha hooan, keval apaki usi kripa se. aisa mitr sansar mean doosara nahian hai. aisi daya bhi sansar mean kahian nahian dekhi.
bharati ki aankhoan mean aansoo bhar ae. boli, apani poori kahani kisi din ham logoan ko suna do n bhaiya. bhagavan ne tumako itani budhdi di thi to kya keval is amooly pran ka mooly samajhane ki budhdi dena hi bhool ge? japaniyoan ke desh mean hi ab phir jana chahate ho?
shashi ne kaha, maian thik yahi bat kahata hooan bharati. kahata hooan, itani b di svarthi, lobhi aur nich jati se kuchh asha mat karo. vah log kisi bhi din apaki koee sahayata nahian kar sakate.
d aauktar ne hansate hue kaha, kamar mean rassi baandhane ki ghatana bhi shashi bhool nahian saka. n is jivan mean vah japaniyoan ko hi kshama kar saka. lekin itana hi unaka sab kuchh nahian hai bharati. itani ashcharyajanak jati bhi sansar mean aur koee nahian hai. keval aj ki bat nahian hai. pratham drishti mean hi jis jati ne yah qanoon bana diya ki jab tak soory-chandr raheange. us rajy mean eesaiyoan ka pravesh nahian hoga. aur agar pravesh karean to unhean kathor dand diya jae. aisi jati bhale hi kuchh bhi kyoan n kare hamare lie abhinandaniy hai.
kahane vale ki donoan aankheanan palabhar mean pradipt dipashikha ki bhaanti damak uthian. us vajr jaisi kathor-bhayankar drishti ke samane shashi udbhraant-sa ho utha. bhayabhit hokar bar-bar sir hilate hue bola, yah to thik hai. bilkul thik hai.
bharati ke muanh se ek bhi shabd nahian nikala. usaka hriday is abhootapoorv aveg se thar-thar kaanp utha. use laga ki is gahari adhi rat mean asann vidaee se thik pahale palabhar ke lie usane us manushy ka svaroop dekh liya.
d aauktar ne apani chhati ki or uangali dikhakar kaha, tum kya kah rahi thi bharati ki is jivan ka mooly samajhane yogy budhdi bhagavan ne mujhe nahian di hai? jhooth hai. sunogi poora sara itihas? keantan ke ek gupt sabha mean sanyal sen ne mujhase kaha tha.....
sahasa bharati bhayabhit hokar bol uthi, lagata hai kuchh log sidhi se oopar chadh rahe haian.
d aauktar ne dhire se pistaul jeb se nikalakar kaha, is aandhakar mean mujhe baandh pane vala adami is sansar mean nahian hai.
shashi ne kaha, aj navatara adi ane vali thi, shayad.....
d aauktar hansakar bole, shayad vah hi hai. bahut halake qadam haian. lekin unake sath 'adi' kaun log haian?
shashi ne kaha, apako maloom nahian? ham logoan ki presideant sahiba a rahi haian. shayad.....
bharati ne vismit hokar poochha, kaun presideant? sumitra jiji?
shashi ne sir hilakar kaha, haan.
yah kahakar vah tezise qadam badhakar dvar kholane laga.
bharati d aauktar ke muanh ki or takati rahi. usake man mean yah bat a gee ki vah apane yahaan ane ka karan samajh chuki hai. aj ki rat bekar nahian jaegi. sambhavit vighn-badhaoan ke bich path ke davedaroan ki aantim mimaansa aj honi avashyak hai. ho sakata hai-ayyar ho, talavalakar ho. aur kaun jane nirapad samajhakar brajendr ne hi shahar chho dakar is jangal mean ashray liya ho. d aauktar ne apane svabhav aur niyam ke anusar pistaul chhipaya nahian. use baean hath mean usi tarah pakade rahe. unake shaant chehare se koee bhi bat jani nahian ja saki. lekin bharati ka chehara ekadam pila p d gaya tha.