प्रतिज्ञा उपन्यास भाग-7

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

lala badariprasad ko dananath ka patr kya mila aghat ke sath hi apaman bhi mila. vah amritaray ki likhavat pahachanate the. us patr ki sari namrata, vinay aur pran, us lipi mean lop ho ge. mare krodh ke unaka mastishk khaul utha. dananath ke hath kya toot ge, jo usane amritaray se yah patr likhaya. kya usake paanv mean meanhadi lagi thi, jo yahaan tak n a sakata tha? aur yah amritaray bhi kitana nirlajj hai. vah aisa patr kaise likh sakata hai! jara bhi sharm nahian aee.

ab tak lala badariprasad ko kuchh-kuchh asha thi ki shayad amritaray ki avesh mean ki huee pratijna kuchh shithil p d jae. likhavat dekh kar pahale vah yahi samajhe the ki amritaray ne kshama maangi hogi, lekin patr padha to asha ki vah patali-si dori bhi toot gee. dananath ka patr pa kar shayad vah amritaray ko bula kar dikhate aur pratisparddha ko jaga kar unhean panje mean late. yah asha ki dhajji bhi u d gee. is jale par namak chhi dak diya amritaray ki likhavat ne. krodh se kaanpate hue hathoan se dananath ko yah patr likha -

lala dananath ji, apane amritaray se yah patr likha kar mera aur prema ka jitana adar kiya hai, usaka ap anuman nahian kar sakate. uchit to yahi tha ki maian use pha d kar pheank deta aur apako koee javab n deta, lekin...

yahian tak likh pae the ki devaki ne a kar b di utsukata se poochha - 'kya likha hai baboo amritaray ne?'

badariprasad ne kagaz ki or sir jhukae hue kaha - 'amritaray ka koee khat nahian aya.'

devaki - 'chalo, koee khat kaise nahian aya. maianne kothe par se dekha unaka adami ek chitthi lie lapaka a raha tha.'

badariprasad - 'haan, adami to unhian ka tha, par khat dananath ka tha. usi ka javab likh raha hooan. mahashay ne amritaray se khat likhaya hai aur niche apane dastakhat kar die haian. apane hath se likhate sharm ati thi, behooda, shohada...'

devaki - 'khat mean tha kya?'

badariprasad- 'yah p da to hai, dekh kyoan nahian leti?'

devaki ne khat padh kar kaha - 'to isamean itana big dane ki kaun-si bat hai? jara dekhooan sarakar ne isaka kya javab likha hai.'

badariprasad - 'to dekho. abhi to shuroo kiya hai. aisi khabar looanga ki bachcha sara shohadapan bhool jae.'

devaki ne badariprasad ka patr padha aur pha d kar pheank diya.

badariprasad ne k dak kar poochha - 'pha d kyoan diya. tum kaun hoti ho mera khat pha danevali?'

devaki - 'tum kaun hote ho aisa khat likhanevale? amritaray ko kho kar kya abhi santosh nahian hua, jo danoo ko bhi kho dene ki fikr karane lage? tumhare khat ka natija yahi hoga ki danoo phir tumhean apani soorat kabhi n dikhaega. ziandagi to meri l daki ki kharab hogi, tumhara kya big dega?'

badariprasad - 'haan aur kya, l daki to tumhari hai, meri to koee hoti hi nahian.'

devaki - 'apaki koee hoti, to use kuean mean dhakelane ko yoan n taiyar ho jate. yahaan doosara kaun l daka hai prema ke yogy, jara sunooan.'

badariprasad - 'duniya yogy varoan se khali nahian, ek-se-ek p de hue haian.'

devaki - 'pas ke do-tin shaharoan mean to koee dikhata nahian. haan, bahar ki maian nahian kahati. sattoo baandh kar khojane nikaloge to maloom hoga. barasoan dau date gujar jaeange. phir be-jane pahachane ghar l daki kaun byahega aur prema kyoan manane lagi?'

badariprasad - 'usane apane hath se kyoan khat nahian likha? mera to yahi kahana hai. kya use itana bhi maloom nahian ki isamean mera kitana anadar hua? sari parikshaean to pas kie baitha hai. d aauktar bhi hone ja raha hai, kya usako itana bhi nahian maloom? spasht bat hai donoan mil kar mera apaman karana chahate haian.'

devaki - 'haan, shohade to haian hi, tumhara apaman karane ke siva unaka aur udyam hi kya hai. saf to bat hai aur tumhari samajh mean nahian ati. n jane buddhi ka hissa lagate vakt tum kahaan chale ge the. pachas varsh ke hue aur itani moti-si bat nahian samajh sakate.'

badariprasad ne hans kar kaha - 'maian tumhean talash karane gaya tha.'

devaki adhe d hone par bhi vinodashil thi, boli - 'vah, maian pahale hi pahuanch kar kee hisse u da le gee thi. donoan mean kitani maitri hai, yah to janate hi ho. dananath mare sankoch ke khud n likh saka hoga. amritababoo ne socha hoga ki lala ji koee aur var n thik karane lagean, isalie yah khat likh kar danoo se jabaradasti hastakshar kara liya hoga.'

badariprasad ne jheanpate hue kaha - 'itana to maian bhi samajhata hooan, kya aisa ganvar hooan?'

devaki - 'tab kisalie itana jame se bahar ho rahe the. bula kar kah do, manjoor hai. bechari boodhi maan ke bhag khul jaeange. mujhe to us par daya ati hai.'

badariprasad - 'mujhe ab yah afasos ho raha hai ki pahale danoo se kyoan n vivah kar diya. itane dinoan tak vyarth mean amritaray ka muanh kyoan takata raha. akhir vahi karana p da.'

devaki - 'bhavi kaun janata tha? aur sach to yah hai ki danoo ne prema ke lie tapasya bhi bahut ki. chahata to ab tak kabhi ka usaka vivah ho gaya hota. kahaan-kahaan sandesh nahian ge, maan kitana roee, sanbandhiyoan ne kitana samajhaya, lekin usane kabhi hami n bhari. prema usake man mean basi huee hai.'

badariprasad - 'lekin prema use svikar karegi, pahale yah to nishchay kar lo. aisa n ho, maian yahaan hami bhar looan aur prema inakar kar le. is vishay mean usaki anumati le leni chahie.'

devaki - 'phir tum mujhe chidhane lage. danoo mean kaun-si buraee hai, jo vah inakar karegi? lakh l dakoan mean ek l daka hai. haan, yah zid ho ki karooangi to amritaray se karooangi, nahian to kvaanri rahooangi, to janam bhar unake nam par baithi rahe. amritaray to ab kisi vidhava se hi vivah kareange, ya sanbhav hai karean hi n. unaka ved hi doosara hai. meri bat mano, danoo ko khat likh do. prema se poochhane-pachhane ka kam nahian. man aisi vastu nahian hai, jo kaboo mean n ae. mera man to apane p dos ke vakil sahab se vivah karane ka tha. unhean kot-pataloon pahane bagghi par kachahari jate dekhakar nihal ho jati thi, lekin tumhare bhag jage, mata-pita ne tumhare palle baandh diya, to maianne kya kiya, do-ek din to avashy duahkh hua, magar phir unaki taraph dhyan bhi n gaya. tum shakl-soorat, vidya-buddhi, dhan-daulat kisi bat mean unaki barabari nahian kar sakate, lekin kasam lo jo maianne vivah ke bad kabhi bhool kar bhi unaki yad ki ho.'

badariprasad - 'achchha, tabhi tum bar-bar maike jaya karati thi. ab samajha.'

devaki - 'mujhe chhe doge to kuchh kah baithooangi.'

badariprasad - 'tumane apani bat kah dali, to maian bhi kahe dalata hooan, mera bhi ek musalaman l daki se prem ho gaya tha. musalaman hone ko taiyar tha. rangaroop mean apsara thi, tum usake pairoan ki dhool ko bhi nahian pahuanch sakati. mujhe ab tak usaki yad sataya karati hai.'

devaki - 'jhoothe kahian ke, laba die. jab maian aee to mahine bhar tak to tum mujhase bolate lajate the, musalaman aurat se prem karate the. vah to tumhean bazar mean bech lati. aur phir tum logoan ki bat maian nahian chalati. sach bhi ho sakati hai.'

badariprasad - 'jara prema ko bula lo, poochh lena hi achchha hai.'

devaki - (jhuanjhala kar) 'usase kya poochhoge aur vah kya kahegi, yahi meri samajh mean nahian ata. mujhase jab is vishay mean batean huee haian, vah yahi kahati rahi hai ki maian kvaanri rahooangi. vahi phir kahegi. magar itana maian janati hooan ki jisake sath tum bat pakki kar doge, use karane mean use koee apatti n hogi. itana vah janati hai ki grihasth ki kanya kvaanri nahian rah sakati.'

badariprasad - 'ro-ro kar pran to n de degi.'

devaki - 'nahian, maian aisa nahian samajhati. kartavy ka use b da dhyan rahata hai. aur yoan to phir duahkh hai hi, jise man mean apana pati samajh chuki thi, usako hriday se nikal kar pheank dena kya koee asan kam hai? yah ghav kahian barasoan me jake bharega. is sal to vah vivah karane par kisi tarah raji hogi.'

badariprasad - 'achchha, maian hi ek bar usase poochhooanga. in padhi-likhi l dakiyoan ka svabhav kuchh aur ho jata hai. agar unake prem aur kartavy mean virodh ho gaya, to unaka samast jivan duahkhamay ho jata hai. ve prem aur kartavy par utsarg karana nahian janati ya nahian chahati. haan, prem aur kartavy mean sanyog ho jae, to unaka jivan adarsh ho jata hai. aisa hi svabhav prema ka bhi jan p data hai. maian danoo ko likhe deta hooan ki mujhe koee apatti nahian hai, lekin prema se poochh kar hi nishchay kar sakooanga.'

sahasa kamalaprasad a kar bole - 'apane kuchh suna? baboo amritaray ek vanita ashram kholane ja rahe haian. kamane ka yah naya dhang nikala hai.'

badariprasad ne jara matha siko d kar poochha - 'kamane ka dhang kaisa, maian nahian samajha?'

kamalaprasad - 'vahi jo aur lidar karate haian! vanita-ashram mean vidhavaoan ka palan-poshan kiya jaega. unhean shiksha bhi di jaegi. chande ki rakamean aeangi aur yar log maje kareange. kaun janata hai, kahaan se kitane rupe ae. mahine bhar mean ek jhootha-sachcha hisab chhapava diya. suna hai kee reesoan ne b de-b de chande dene ka vachan diya hai. paanch lakh ka takhamina hai. isamean kam-se-kam pachas hazar to yaroan ke hi haian. vakalat mean itane rupe kahaan itani jald mil jate the.'

badariprasad - 'pachas hi hazar banae, to kya banae, maian to samajhata hooan, ek lakh se kam par hath n mareange.'

kamalaprasad - 'in logoan ko soojhati khoob hai. aisi batean ham logoan ko nahian soojhati.'

badariprasad - 'ja kar kuchh dinoan unaki shagirdi karo, isake siva aur koee upay nahian hai.'

kamalaprasad - 'to kya maian kuchh jhooth kahata hooan.'

badariprasad - 'jara bhi nahian. tum kabhi jhooth bole hi nahian, bhala aj kyoan jhooth bolane lage. saty ke avatar tumhian to ho.'

devaki - 'sach kaha hai, hom karate hath jalate haian. vah bechara to paropakar ke lie apana sarvasv tyage baitha hai aur tumhari nigah mean usane logoan ko thagane ke lie yah svaang racha hai. ap to kuchh kar nahian sakate, doosaroan ke satkary mean badha dalane ko taiyar. unhean bhagavan ne kya nahian diya hai, jo yah mayajal rachate?'

kamalaprasad - 'achchha, maian hi jhootha sahi, isamean jhag da kahe ka, tho de dinoan mean apaki kalee khul jaegi. ap jaise saral jiv sansar mean n hote to aise dhoortoan ki thailiyaan kaun bharata?'

devaki - 'bas chup bhi raho. aisi batean muanh se nikalate tumhean sharm nahian ati? kahian prema ke samane aisi be-sir-pair ki batean n karane lagana. yad hai, tumane ek bar amritaray ko jhootha kaha tha to usane tin din tak khana nahian khaya tha.'

kamalaprasad - 'yahaan in batoan se nahian darate. lagi-lipati batean karana bhata hi nahian. kahooanga saty hi, chahe kisi ko achchha lage ya bura. vah hamara apaman karate haian, to ham unaki pooja n kareange. akhir vah hamare kaun hote haian, jo ham unaki karatootoan par parada dalean? maian to unhean itana badanam karooanga ki vah shahar mean kisi ko muanh n dikha sakeange.'

yah kahata hua kamalaprasad chala gaya. usi samay prema ne kamare mean qadam rakha. usaki palakean bhigi huee thian, mano abhi roti rahi ho. usaka komal gat aisa krish ho gaya tha, mano kisi hasy ki pratidhvani ho, mukh kisi viyogini ki poorvasmriti ki bhaanti malin aur udas tha. usane ate hi kaha - 'dadaji, ap jara baboo dananath ko bula kar samajha dean, vah kyoan jija ji par jhootha akshep karate phirate haian.'

badariprasad ne vismit ho kar kaha - 'dananath! vah bhala kyoan amritaray par akshep karane laga. usase jaise maitri hai, vaisi to maianne aur kahian dekhi nahian.'

prema - 'vishvas to mujhe bhi nahian ata, par bhaiya ji hi kah rahe haian. vanita-ashram kholane ka to jija ji ka bahut dinoan se vichar tha, kee bar mujhase usake vishay mean batean ho chuki haian. lekin baboo dananath ab yah kahate phirate haian ki vah is bahane se rupe jama karake jamiandari lena chahate haian.'

badariprasad - 'kamalaprasad kahate the?'

prema - 'haan, vahi to kahate the. dananath ne dvesh-vash kaha ho, to ashchary hi kya ap jara unhean bula kar poochhean.'

badariprasad - 'kamalaprasad jhooth bol raha hai, sarasar jhooth! danoo ko maian khoob janata hooan. usaka-sa sajjan bahut kam maianne dekha hai. mujhe to vishvas hai ki aj amritaray ke hit ke lie pran dene ka avasar a jae, to danoo shauq se pran de dega. adami kya hira hai. mujhase jab milata hai, b di namrata se charan chhoo leta hai.'

devaki - 'kitana hansamukh hai. maianne to use jab dekha hansate hi dekha. bilkul balakoan ka svabhav hai. usaki mata roya karati hai ki maian mar jaooangi, to danoo ko kaun khila kar sulaega. din bhar bhookha baitha rahe, par khana n maangega aur agar koee bula-bula kar khilae, to sara din khata rahega. b da saral svabhav hai, abhiman to chhoo nahian gaya.

badariprasad - 'abaki d aauktar ho jaega.

lala badariprasad un adamiyoan mean the, jo duvidha mean nahian rahana chahate the, kisi-n-kisi nishchay par pahuanch jana, unake chitt ki shaanti ke lie avashyak hai. dananath ke patr ka zikr karane ka aisa achchha avasar pa kar vah apane ko sanvaran n kar sake bole - 'yah dekho prema, unhoanne abhi-abhi yah patr bheja hai. maian tumase isaki charcha karane ja hi raha tha ki tum khud a geean.'

patr ka ashay kya hai, prema ise turant ta d gee. usaka hriday zor se dh dakane laga. usane kaanpate hue hathoan se patr le liya par kaisa rahasy! likhavat to saf amritaray ki hai. usaki aankhean bhar aeean. likhavat par yah lipi dekh kar ek din usaka hriday kitana phool uthata tha. par aj! vahi lipi usaki aankhoan mean kaantoan ki bhaanti chubhane lagi. ek-ek akshar, bichchhoo ki bhaanti hriday mean dank marane laga. usane patr nikal kar dekha - vahi lipi thi, vahi chir-parichit suandar spasht lipi, jo manasik shaanti ki dyotak hoti hai. patr ka ashay vahi tha, jo prema ne samajha tha. vah isake lie pahale hi se taiyar thi. usako nishchay tha ki dananath is avasar par n chookeange. usane is patr ka javab bhi pahale hi se soch rakha tha, dhanyavad ke sath saf inakar. par yah patr amritaray ki kalam se nikalega, isaki sanbhavana hi usaki kalpana se bahar thi. amritaray itane hriday-shoony haian, isaka use guman bhi n ho sakata tha. vahi hriday jo amritaray ke sath vipatti ke kathoratam aghat aur badhaoan ki dussah yatanaean sahan karane ko taiyar tha, is avahelana ki thes ko n sah saka. vah atul prem, vah asim bhakti jo prema ne usamean barasoan se sanchit kar rakhi thi, ek dirgh shital vishvas ke roop mean nikal gee. use aisa jan p da mano usake sanpoorn aang shithil ho ge haian, mano hriday bhi nispand ho gaya hai, mano usaka apani vani par leshamatr bhi adhikar nahian hai. usake mukh, se ye shabd nikal p de - 'apaki jo ichchha ho vah kijie, mujhe sab svikar hai. vah kahane ja rahi thi - jab kuean mean girana hai, to jaise pakka vaise kachcha, usamean koee bhed nahian. par jaise kisi ne use sachet kar diya. vah turant patr ko vahian pheank kar apane kamare mean laut aee aur khi daki ke samane kh di ho kar phoot-phoot kar rone lagi.'

sandhya ho gee thi. akash mean ek-ek karake tare nikalate ate the. prema ke hriday mean bhi usi prakar ek-ek karake smritiyaan jagrit hone lagian. dekhate-dekhate sara gagan-mandal taroan se jagamaga utha. prema ka hridayakash bhi smritiyoan se achchhann ho gaya, par in asankhy taroan se akash ka aandhakar kya aur bhi gahan nahian ho gaya tha?

sanbandhit lekh

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