प्रायश्चित -प्रेमचंद

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

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daftar mean jara der se ana aphasaroan ki shan hai. jitana hi b da adhikari hota hai, uttari hi der mean ata hai; aur utane hi sabere jata bhi hai. chaparasi ki hajiri chaubisoan ghante ki. vah chhutti par bhi nahian ja sakata. apana evaj dena p data he. khair, jab bareli jila-borh d ke hed klark baboo madarilal gyarah baje daftar aye, tab mano daftar niand se jag utha. chaparasi ne dau d kar pairaga di li, aradali ne dau dakar kamare ki chik utha di aur jamadar ne dak ki kisht mej par la kar rakh di. madarilal ne pahala hi sarakari liphapha khola tha ki unaka rang phak ho gaya. ve kee minat tak ashcharyanvit halat mean kh de rahe, mano sari jnanendriy aauan shithil ho gayi hoan. un par b de-b de aghat ho chuke the; par itane bahadavas ve kabhi n hue the. bat yah thi ki borh d ke sekretari ki jo jagah ek mahine se khali thi, sarakar ne subodhachandr ko vah jagah di thi aur subodhachandr vah vyakti tha, jisake nam hi se madarilal ko ghrina thi. vah subodhachandr, jo unaka sahapathi tha, jis jak dene ko unhoanne kitani hi cheshta ki; par kabhari saphal n hue the. vahi subodh aj unaka aphasar hokar a raha tha. subodh ki idhar kee saloan se koee khabar n thi. itana maloom tha ki vah fauj mean bharati ho gaya tha. madarilal ne samajha—vahian mar gaya hoga; par aj vah manoan ji utha aur sekretari hokar a raha tha. madarilal ko usaki matahati mean kam karana p dega. is apaman se to mar jana kahian achchha tha. subodh ko skool aur kalej ki sari batean avashy hi yad hoangi. madarilal ne use kalej se nikalava dene ke lie kee bar mantr chalae, jhoothe aroj kiye, badanam kiya. kya subodh sab kuchh bhool gaya hoga? nahian, kabhi nahian. vah ate hi purani kasar nikalega. madari baboo ko apani pranaraksha ka koee upay n soojhata tha.

madari aur subodh ke grahoan mean hi virodh thaan donoan ek hi din, ek hi shala mean bharati hue the, aur pahale hi din se dil mean eershya aur dvesh ki vah chinagari p d gayi, jo aj bis varsh bitane par bhi n bujhi thi. subodh ka aparadh yahi tha ki vah madarilal se har ek bat mean badha hua thaan dil-daul,rang-roop, riti-vyavahar, vidya-buddhi ye sare maidan usake hath the. madarilal ne usaka yah aparadh kabhi kshama nahian kiyaan subodh bis varsh tak nirantar unake hriday ka k aauanta bana raha. jab subodh digri lekar apane ghar chala gaya aur madari phel hokar is daftar mean naukar ho gaye, tab unaka chit shaant hua. kintu jab yah maloom hua ki subodh basare ja raha hai, jab to madarilal ka chehara khil utha. unake dil se vah purani ph aauans nikal gayi. par ha hatabhagy! aj vah purana nasoor shatagun tis aur jalan ke sath khul gaya. aj unaki kismat subodh ke hath mean thi. eeshvar itana anyayi hai! vidhi itana kathor!

jab jara chit shaant hua, tab madari ne daftar ke klarko ko sarakari hukm sunate hue kaha—ab ap log jara hath-p aauanv sanbhal kar rahiega. subodhachandr ve adami nahian hean, jo bhoolo ko ksham kar dean?

ek klark ne poochha—kya bahut sakht hai.

madarilal ne muskara kar kaha—vah to ap logoan ko do-char din hi mean maloom ho jaega. mai apane muanh se kisi ki kyoan shikayat karooan? bas, chetavani dedi ki jara hath-p aauanv sanbhal kar rahiega. adami yogy hai, par b da hi krodhi, b da dambhi. gussa to usaki nak par rahata hai. khud hajaroan hajam kar jae aur dakar tak n le; par kya majal ki koihr matahat ek kau di bhi hajam karane jaee. aise adami se eeshvar hi bachaye! mean to soch rah hooan ki chhutti lekar ghar chala jaooan. donoan vakt ghar par hajiri bajani hogi. ap log aj se sarakar ke naukar nahian, sekratari sahab ke naukar haian. koee unake l dake ko padhayega. koee bazar se sauda-suluph layega aur koee unhean akhabar sunayega. or chaparasiyoan ke to shayad daftar mean darshan hi n hoan.

is prakar sare daftar ko subodhachandr ki taraph se bh daka kar madarilal ne apana kaleja thanda kiya.

2

isake ek saptah bad subodhachandr ga di se utare, tab steshan par daftar ke sab karmachariyoan ko hajir paya. sab unaka svagat karane aye the. madarilal ko dekhate hi subodh lapak kar unake gale se lipat gaye aur bole—tum khoob mile bhaee. yahaan kaise aye? oh! aj ek yug ke bad bheant huee!

madarilal bole—yahaan jila-borh d ke daftar mean hed klark hooan. ap to kushal se hai?

subodh—aji, meri n poochho. basara, phraans, mishr aur n-jane kah aauan-kahaan mara-mara phira. tum daftar mean ho, yah bahut hi achchha hua. meri to samajh hi me n ata tha ki kaise kam chalega. maian to bilakul kora hooan; magar jahaan jata hooan, mera saubhagy hi mere sath jata hai. basare mean sabhi aphasar khoosh the. phaans mean bhi khoob chain kiye. do sal mean koee pachis hazar rupaye bana laya aur sab u da diya. t aauan se akar kuchh dinoan ko-apareshan daftar mean mataragasht karata raha. yahaan aya tab tum mil gaye. (klarko ko dekh kar) ye log kaun haian?

madarilal ke hriday mean bachhianya-si chal rahi thian. dusht pachis hazar rupaye basare mean kama laya! yahaan kalam ghisate-ghisate mar gaye aur paanch sau bhi n jama kar sake. bole—karmachari hean. salam karane aye hai.

sabodh ne un sab logoan se bari-bari se hath milaya aur bola—ap logoan ne vyarth yah kasht kiya. bahut abhari hooan. mujhe asha he ki ap sab sajjanoan ko mujhase koee shikayat n hogi. mujhe apana aphasar nahian, apana bhaee samajhie. ap sab log mil kar is tarah kam kijie ki bord ki nekanami ho aur maian bhi sukharroo rahooan. apake hed klark sahab to mere purane mitr aur langotiya yar hai.

ek vakachatur klakr ne kaha—ham sab huzoor ke tabedar haian. yathashakti apako asantusht n kareange; lekinah adami hi hai, agar koee bhool ho bhi jae, to huzoor use kshama kareange.

subodh ne namrata se kaha—yahi mera siddhant hai aur hamesha se yahi siddhant raha hai. jahaan raha, matahatoan se mitroan ka-sa bartav kiya. ham aur ap donoan hi kisi tisare ke gulam haian. phir rob kaisa aur aphasari kaisi? haan, hamean nekaniyat ke sath apana kartavy palan karana chahie.

jab subodh se vida hokar karmachari log chale, tab apas mean batean honi lagian—

‘adami to achchha maloom hota hai.‘

‘hed klark ke kahane se to aisa maloom hota tha ki sabako kachcha hi kha jayaga.‘

‘pahale sabhi aise hi batean karate hai.‘

‘ye dikhane ke d aauant hai.‘

3

subodh ko aye ek mahina gujar gaya. bord ke klark, aradali, chaparasi sabhi usake barvav se khush haian. vah itana prasannachit hai, itana namr he ki jo usase ek bar mila he, sadaiv ke lie usaka mitr ho jata hai. kathor shabd to unaki jaban par ata hi nahian. inakar ko bhi vah apriy nahian hone deta; lekin dvesh ki aankhoan meangun or bhi bhayankar ho jata hai. subodh ke ye sare sadagun madarilal ki aankhoan mean khatakate rahate hean. usake viruddh koee n koee gupt shadayantr rachate hi rahate hean. pahale karmachariyoan ko bh dakana chaha, saphal n hue. bord ke membaroan ko bh dakana chaha, muanh ki khayi. thekedaroan ko ubharane ka bi da uthaya, lajjit hona p da. ve chahate the ki bhus mean ag laga kar door se tamasha dekhean. subodh se yoan hans kar milate, yoan chikani-chup di batean karate, manoan usake sachche mitr hai, par ghat mean lage rahate. subodh mean sab gun the, par adami pahachanana n janate the. ve madarilal ko ab bhi apana dost samajhate haian.

ek din madarilal sekratari sahab ke kamare mean ge tab kursi khali dekhi. ve kisi kam se bahar chale ge the. unaki mej par p aauanch hazar ke not pulidoan mean bandhe hue rakhe the. bord ke madarasoan ke lie kuchh lak di ke saman banavaye gaye the. usi ke dam the. thekedar vasooli ke lie bulaya gaya thaan aj hi sekretari sahab ne chek bhej kar khazane se rupaye mॅgavaye the. madarilal ne baramade mean jh aauank kar dekha, subodh ka kahian jata nahian. unaki niyat badal gayi. rdarshya mean lobh ka sammishran ho gaya. k aauanpate hue hathoan se puliande uthaye; pataloon ki donoan jeboan mean bhar kar turant kamare se nikale or chaparasi ko pukar kar bole—baboo ji bhitar hai? chaparasi ap thekedar se kuchh vasool karane ki khushi mean phoola hua thaan samane vale tamoli ke dookan se akar bola—ji nahian, kachahari mean kisi se batean kar rahe hai. abhi-abhi to gaye haian.

madarilal ne daftar mean akar ek klark se kaha—yah misil le jakar sekretari sahab ko dikhao.

klark misil lekar chala gaya. jara der mean laut kar bola—sekretari sahab kamare mean n the. phail mej par rakh aya hooan.

madarilal ne muanh siko d kar kaha—kamara chho d kar kahaan chale jaea karate haian? kisi din dhokha uthayeange.

klark ne kaha—unake kamare mean daphtavaloan ke siva aur jata hi kaun hai?

madarilal ne tivr svar mean kaha—to kya daftaravale sab ke sab devata haian? kab kisaki niyat badal jae, koee nahian kah sakata. maianne chhoti-chhoti rakamoan par achchhoan-achchhoan ki niyatean badalate dekhi haian.is vakt ham sabhi sah haian; lekin avasar pakar shayad hi koee chooke. manushy ki yahi prakriti hai. ap jakar unake kamare ke donoan daravaze band kar dijie.

klark ne tal kar kaha—chaparasi to daravaze par baitha hua hai.

madarilal ne jhuanjhala kar kaha—ap se mai jo kahata hooan, vah kijie. kahane lagean, chaparasi baitha hua hai. chaparasi koee rrishi hai, muni hai? chaparasi hi kuchh u da de, to ap usaka kya kar leange? jamanat bhi hai to tin sau ki. yahaan ek-ek kagaz lakhoan ka hai.

yah kah kar madarilal khud uthe aur daftar ke dvar donoan taraph se band kar diye. jab chith shaant hua tab notoan ke puliande jeb se nikal kar ek alamari mean kagajoan ke niche chhipa kar rakh diyean phir akar apane kam mean vyast ho gaye.

subodhachandr koee ghante-bhar mean laute. tab unake kamare ka dvar band tha. daftar mean akar muskarate hue bole—mera kamara kisane band kar diya hai, bhaee kya meri bedakhali ho gayi?

madarilal ne kh de hokar mridu tiraskar dikhate hue kaha—sahab, gustakhi maph ho, ap jab kabhi bahar jaean, chahe ek hi minat ke lie kyoan n ho, tab daravaza-band kar diya karean. apaki mej par rupaye-paise aur sarakari kagaj-patr bikhare p de rahate haian, n jane kis vakt kisaki niyat badal jae. maianne abhi suna ki ap kahian gaye haian, jab daravaze band kar diye.

subodhachandr dvar khol kar kamare mean gaye or sigar pine lagean mej par not rakhe hue hai, isake khabar hi n thi.

sahasa thekedar ne akar salam kiyaan subodh kursi se uth baithe aur bole—tumane bahut der kar di, tumhara hi intajar kar raha tha. das hi baje rupaye mangava liye the. rasid likhava laye ho n?

thekedar—huzoor rasid likhava laya hooan.

subodh—to apane rupaye le jao. tumhare kam se maian bahut khush nahian hooan. lak di tumane achchhi nahian lagayi aur kam mean saphaee bhi nahian he. agar aisa kam phir karoange, to thekedaroan ke rajistar se tumhara nam nikal diya jayaga.

yah kah kar subodh ne mej par nigah dali, tab notoan ke puliande n the. socha, shayad kisi phail ke niche dab gaye hoan. kurasi ke samip ke sab kagaz ulat-pulat dale; magar noto ka kahian pata nahian. aian not kahaan gaye! abhi to yahi mene rakh diye the. ja kahaan sakate hean. phir phailoan ko ulatane- pulatane lage. dil mean jara-jara dh dakan hone lagi. sari mej ke kagaz chhan dale, puliandoan ka pata nahian. tab ve kurasi par baithakar is adh ghante mean hone vali ghatanaoan ki man mean alochana karane lage—chaparasi ne notoan ke puliande lakar mujhe diye, khoob yad hai. bhala, yah bhi bhoolane ki bat hai aur itani jald! maine notoan ko lekar yahian mej par rakh diya, gina tak nahian. phir vakil sahab a gaye, purane mulakati haian. unase batean karata jara us pe d tak chala gaya. unhoanne pan mangavaye, bas itani hi der rhu. jab gaya hooan tab puliande rakhe hue the. khoob achchhi tarah yad hai. tab ye not kahaan gayab ho gaye? maianne kisi sandook, daraj ya alamari mean nahian rakhe. phir gaye to kahaan? shayad daftar mean kisi ne savadhani ke lie utha kar rakh diye hoan, yahi bat hai. maian vyarth hi itana ghabara gaya. chhi:!

turant daftar mean akar madarilal se bole—apane meri mej par se not to utha kar nahian rakh diy?

madarilal ne bhauanchakke hokar kaha—kya apaki mej par not rakhe hue the? mujhe to khabar hi nahian. abhi pandit sohanalal ek phail lekar gaye the, tab apako kamare mean n dekha. jab mujhe maloom hua ki ap kisi se batean karane chale gaye haian, vab daravaze band kara diye. kya kuchh not nahian mil rahe hai?

subodh aankhean phaila kar bole—are sahab, poore p aauanch hazar ke hai. abhi-abhi chek bhunaya hai.

madarilal ne sir pit kar kaha—poore paanch hajar! ha bhagavan! apane mej par khoob dekh liya hai?

‘aji pandrah minat se talash kar raha hooan.’

‘chaparasi se poochh liya ki kaun-kaun aya tha?’

‘aie, jara ap log bhi talash kijie. mere to hosh u de hue hai.’

sara daftar sekretari sahab ke kamare ki talashi lene laga. mej, alamariy aauan, sandook sab dekhe gaye. rajistaroan ke vark ulat-pulat kar deankhe gaye; magar notoan ka kahian pata nahian. koee u da le gaya, ab isamean koee shabaha n tha. subodh ne ek lambi s aauans li aur kursi par baith gaye. chehare ka rang phak ho gaya. jar-sa muanh nikal aya. is samay koee unhe dekhat to samajhata ki mahinoan se bimar hai.

madarilal ne sahanubhooti dikhate hue kaha— gajab ho gaya aur kya! aj tak kabhi aisa aandher n hua tha. mujhe yahaan kam karate das sal ho gaye, kabhi dhele ki chiz bhi gayab n huee. maian apako pahale din savadhan kar dena chahata tha ki rupaye-paise ke vishay mean hoshiyar rahiega; magar shudani thi, khyal n raha. zaroor bahar se koee adami aya aur not u da kar gayab ho gaya. chaparasi ka yahi aparadh hai ki usane kisi ko kamare mean jone hi kyoan diya. vah lakh kasam khaye ki bahar se koee nahian aya; lekin mean ise man nahian sakata. yahaan se to keval pandit sohanalal ek phail lekar gaye the; magar daravaze hi se jh aauank kar chale aye.

sohanalal ne saphaee di—maianne to andar qadam hi nahian rakha, sahab! apane javan bete ki kasam khata hooan, jo andar qadam rakha bhi ho.

madarilal ne matha siko dakar kaha—ap vyarth mean kasam kyoan khate haian. koee apase kuchh kahata? (subodh ke kan mean)baiank mean kuchh rupaye hoan to nikal kar thekedar ko de liye jaean, varana b di badanami hogi. nukasan to ho hi gaya, ab usake sath apaman kyoan ho.

subodh ne karoon-svar mean kaha— baiank mean mushkil se do-char sau rupaye hoange, bhaeejan! rupaye hote to kya chinta thi. samajh leta, jaise pachis hazar u d gaye, vaise hi tis hazar bhi u d gaye. yahaan to kafan ko bhi kau di nahian.

usi rat ko subodhachandr ne atmahatya kar li. itane rupayoan ka prabandh karana unake lie kathin tha. mrityu ke parade ke siva unhean apani vedana, apani vivashata ko chhipane ki aur koee a d n thi.

4

doosare din prat: chaparasi ne madarilal ke ghar pahuanch kar avaz dian madari ko rat-bhar niand n ayi thi. ghabara kar bahar ay. chaparasi unhean dekhate hi bola—huzoor! b da gajab ho gaya, sikattari sahab ne rat ko gardan par chhuri pher li.

madarilal ki aankhe oopar chadh gayian, muanh phail gaya or sari deh sihar uthi, manoan unaka hath bijali ke tar par p d gaya ho.

‘chhuri pher li?’

‘ji haan, aj sabere maloom hua. pulisavale jama haian. apake bulaya hai.’

‘lash abhi p di huee haian?’

‘ji haan, abhi daktari hone vali haian.’

‘bahut se log jama haian?’

‘sab b de-b d aphasar jama haian. huzoor, lahas ki or takate nahian banata. kaisa bhalamanush hira adami tha! sab log ro rahe haian. chhode-chhote do bachche haian, ek sayani l daki he byahane layak. bahoo ji ko log kitana rok rahe haian, par bar-bar dau d kar lahas ke pas a jati haian. koee aisa nahian he, jo roomal se aankhean n pochh raha ho. abhi itane hi din aye hue, par sabase kitana mel-jol ho gaya tha. rupaye ki to kabhi parava hi nahian thi. dil dariyab tha!’

madarilal ke sir mean chakkar ane laga. dvara ki chaukhat pak d kar apane ko sanbhal n lete, to shayad gir p date. poochha—bahoo ji bahut ro rahi thian?

‘kuchh n poochhie, huzoor. pe d ki pattiy aauan jh di jati haian. aankh phool gar goolar ho gayi hai.’

‘kitane l dake batalaye tumane?’

‘huzoor, do l dake haian aur ek l daki.’

‘notoan ke bare mean bhi batachit ho rahi hogi?’

‘ji haan, sab log yahi kahate hean ki daftar ke kisi adami ka kam hai. daroga ji to sohanalal ko giraphtar karana chahate the; par sait apase salai lekar kareange. sikattari sahab to likh ge haian ki mera kisi par shak nahian hai.‘

‘kya sekretari sahab koee khat likh kar chho d gaye hai?’

‘haan, maloom hota hai, chhuri chalate bakhat yad ayi ki shubahe mean daftar ke sab log pak d lie jaeeange. bas, kalaktar sahab ke nam chitthi likh di.’

‘chitthi mean mere bare mean bhi kuchh likha hai? tumhean yak kya maloom hoga?’

‘huzoor, ab maian kya janooan, muda itana sab log kahate the ki apaki b di tariph likhi hai.‘

madarilal ki s aauans aur tej ho gayi. aankhean se aansoo ki do b di-b di booande gir p di. aankhean

poanchhatean hue bole—ve or maian ek sath ke padhe the, nandoo! ath-das sal sath raha. sath uthate-baithate, sath khate, sath khelate. bas, isi tarah rahate the, jaise do sage bhaee rahate hoan. khat mean meri kya tariph likhi hai? magar tumhean kya maloom hoga?

‘ap to chal hi rahe hai, dekh lijiega.’

‘kafan ka intajam ho gaya hai?’

‘nahian huzoor, kah n ki abhi lahas ki daktari hogi. muda ab jaldi chalie. aisa n ho, koee doosara adami bulane ata ho.’

‘hamare daftar ke sab log a gaye hoange?’

‘ji haan; is muhallevale to sabhi the.’

‘madarilal jab subodhachandr ke ghar pahuanche, tab unhean aisa maloom hua ki sab log unaki taraph sandeh ki aankhean se dekh rahe haian. pulis ianspektar ne turant unhean bula kar kaha—ap bhi apana bayan likha dean aur sabake bayan to likh chuka hooan.’

madarilal ne aisi savadhani se apana bayan likhaya ki pulis ke aphasar bhi dang rah gaye. unhean madarilal par shubaha hota tha, par is bayan ne usaka aankur bhi nikal dala.

isi vakt subodh ke donoan balak rote hue madarilal ke pas aye aur kaha—chalie, apako amm aauan bulati haian. donoan madarilal se parichit the. madarilal yahaan to roj hi ate the; par ghar mean kabhi nahian gaye the. subodh ki stri unase parda karati thi. yah bulava sun kar unaka dil dh dak utha—kahi isaka mujh par shubaha n ho. kahian subodh ne mere vishay mean koee sandeh n prakat kiya ho. kuchh jhijhakate aur kuchh darate hue bhitar ge, tab vidhava ka karun-vilap sun kar kaleja k aauanp uthaa. inhean dekhate hi us abala ke aansuoan ka koee doosara srot khul gaya aur l daki to dau d kar inake pairoan se lipat gee. donoan l dako ne bhi gher liya. madarilal ko un tinoan ki aankhean mean aisi athah vedana, aisi vidarak yachana bhari huee maloom huee ki ve unaki or dekh n sake. unaki atma anhean dhikkarane lagi. jin becharoan ko un par itana vishvas, itana bharosa, itani atmiyata, itana sneh tha, unhian ki gardan par unhoanne chhuri pheri! unhian ke hathoan yah bhara-poora parivar dhool mean mil gaya! in asahayoan ka ab kya hal hoga? l daki ka vivah karana hai; kaun karega? bachchoan ke lalan-palan ka bhar kaun uthaega? madarilal ko itani atmaglani huee ki unake muanh se tasalli ka ek shabd bhi n nikala. unhean aisa jan p da ki mere mukh mean kalikh puti hai, mera qad kuchh chhota ho gaya hai. unhoanne jis vakt not u daye the, unhean guman bhi n tha ki usaka yah phal hoga. ve keval subodh ko jich karana chahate thean unaka sarvanash karane ki ichchha n thi.

shokatur vidhava ne sisakate hue kaha. bhaiya ji, ham logoan ko ve majhadhar mean chho d ge. agar mujhe maloom hota ki man mean yah bat than chuke haian to apane pas jo kuchh tha; vah sab unake charanoan par rakh deti. mujhase to ve yahi kahate rahe ki koee n koee upay ho jayaga. ap hi ke marphat ve koee mahajan thik karana chahate the. apake oopar unhean kitana bharosa tha ki kah nahian sakati.

madarilal ko aisa maloom hua ki koee unake hriday par nashtar chala raha hai. unhean apane kanth mean koee chiz phॅansi huee jan p dati thi.

rameshvari ne phir kaha—rat soye, tab khoob hans rahe the. roj ki tarah doodh piya, bachcho ko pyar kiya, tho dider haramoniyam chaya aur tab kulla karake lete. koee aisi bat n thi jisase leshmatr bhi sandeh hota. mujhe chintit dekhakar bole—tum vyarth ghabarati hoan baboo madarilal se meri purani dosti hai. akhir vah kis din kam ayegi? mere sath ke khele hue haian. in nagar mean unaka sabase parichay hai. rupayoan ka prabandh asani se ho jayaga. phir n jane kab man mean yah bat samayi. maian nasiboan-jali aisi soyi ki rat ko minaki tak nahian. kya janati thi ki ve apani jan par khele jaऍange?

madarilal ko sara vishv aankhoan mean tairata hua maloom hua. unhoanne bahut jabt kiya; magar aansuoan ke prabhav ko n rok sake.

rameshvari ne aankhe poanchh kar phir kaha—maiya ji, jo kuchh hona tha, vah to ho chuka; lekin ap us dusht ka pata zaroor lagaie, jisane hamara sarvanash kar lidaya hai. yah daftar hi ke kisi adami ka kam hai. ve to devata the. mujhase yahi kahate rahe ki mera kisi par sandeh nahian hai, par hai yah kisi daftaravale ka hi kam. ap se keval itani vinati karati hooan ki us papi ko bach kar n jane dijiega. pulisatale shayad kuchh rishvat lekar use chho d dean. apako dekh kar unaka yah hausala n hoga. ab hamare sir par apake siva kaun hai. kisase apana du:kh kahean? lash ki yah durgati honi bhi likhi thi.

madarilal ke man mean ek bar aisa ubal utha ki sab kuchh khol dean. saf kah dean, mai hi vah dusht, vah adham, vah pamar hooan. vidhava ke peroan par gir p dean aur kahean, vahi chhuri is hatyare ki gardan par pher do. par jaban n khuli; isi dasha mean baithe-baithe unake sir mean aisa chakkar aya ki ve zamin par gir p de.

5

tisare pahar lash ki pariksha samapt huee. arthi jalashay ki or chali. sara daftar, sare hukkam aur hajaroan adami sath the. dah-sanskar l dako ko karana chahie tha par l dake nabalig the. isalie vidhava chalane ko taiyar ho rahi thi ki madarilal ne jakar kaha—bahoo ji, yah sanskar mujhe karane do. tum kriya par baith jaoangi, to bachchoan ko kaun sanbhalega. subodh mere bhaee the. ziandagi mean unake sath kuchh salook n kar saka, ab ziandagi ke bad mujhe dosti ka kuchh hak ada kar lene do. akhir mera bhi to un par kuchh hak tha. rameshvari ne rokar kaha—apako bhagavan ne b da udar hriday diya hai bhaiya ji, nahian to marane par kaun kisako poochhata hai. daftar ke or log jo adhi-adhi rat tak hath b aauandhe kh de rahate the jhoothi bat poochhane n aye ki jara dhadhas hota.

madarilal ne dah-sanskar kiya. terah din tak kriya par baithe rahe. terahavean din piandadan hua; brahamanoan ne bhojan kiya, bhikhariyoan ko ann-dan diya gaya, mitroan ki davat huee, aur yah sab kuchh madarilal ne apane kharch se kiya. rameshvari ne bahut kaha ki apane jitana kiya utana hi bahut hai. ab mai apako aur jerabar nahian karana chahati. dosti ka hak isase zyada aur koee kya ada karega, magar madarilal ne ek n suni. sare shahar mean unake yash ki dhoom mach gayian, mitr ho to aisa ho.

solahavean din vidhava ne madarilal se kaha—bhaiya ji, apane hamare sath jo upakar aur anugrah kiye hean, unase ham marate dam tak urrin nahian ho sakate. apane hamari pith par hath n rakha hota, to n-jane hamari kya gati hoti. kahian rukhaki bhi chh aauanh to nahian thi. ab hamean ghar jane dijie. vahaan dehat mean kharch bhi kam hoga aur kuchh kheti bari ka silasila bhi kar looangi. kisi n kisi tarah vipatti ke din kat hi jaeange. isi tarah hamare oopar daya rakhiega.

madarilal ne poochha—ghar par kitani jayadad hai?

rameshvari—jayadad kya hai, ek kachcha makan hai aur dar-barah bighe ki kashtakari hai. pakka makan banavana shuroo kiya tha; magar rupaye poore n p de. abhi adhoora p da hua hai. das-barah hazar kharch ho gaye aur abhi chhat p dane ki naubat nahian ayi.

madarilal—kuchh rupaye baiank mean jama hean, ya bas kheti hi ka sahara hai?

vidhava—jama to ek paee bhi nahian haian, bhaiya ji! unake hath mean rupaye rahane hi nahian pate the. bas, vahi kheti ka sahara hai.

madarilal—to un khetoan mean itani paidavar ho jayagi ki lagan bhi ada ho jae or tum logo ki gujar-basar bhi ho?

rameshvari—aur kar hi kya sakate haian, bheya ji! kisi n kisi tarah ziandagi to katashni hi hai. bachche n hote to mai zahar kha leti.

madarilal—aur abhi beti ka vivah bhi to karana hai.

vidhava—usake vivah ki ab koihr chianta nahian. kisanoan mean aise bahut se mil jaeeange, jo bina kuchh liye-diye vivah kar leange.

madarilal ne ek kshan sochakar kaha—agar mean kuchh salah dooan, to use maneangi ap?

rameshvari—bhaiya ji, apaki salah n manooangi to kisaki salah manooangi aur doosara hai hi kaun?

madarilal—to ap upane ghar jane ke badale mere ghar chalie. jaise mere bal-bachche raheangean, vaise hi ap ke bhi raheange. apako kasht n hoga. eeshvar ne chaha to kanya ka vivah bhi kisi achchhe kul mean ho jayaga.

vidhava ki aankhe sajal ho gayian. boli—magar bhaiya ji, sochie.....madarilal ne bat kat kar kaha—maian kuchh n sochooanga aur n koee ujr sunuanga. kya do bhaiyoan ke parivar ek sath nahian rahate? subodh ko mai apana bhaee samajhata tha aur hamesha samajhooanga.

vidhava ka koee ujr n suna gaya. madarilal sabako apane sath le gaye aur aj das sal se unaka palan kar rahe hai. donoan bachche kalej mean padhate hai aur kanya ka ek pratishthit kul mean vivah ho gaya he. madarilal aur unaki stri tan-man se rameshvari ki seva karate haian aur unake isharoan par chalate haian. madarilal seva se apane pap ka prayashchit kar rahe haian

sanbandhit lekh

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