भाड़े का टट्टू -प्रेमचंद

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

agara kalej ke maidan mean sandhya-samay do yuvak hath se hath milaye tahal rahe the. ek ka nam yashavant tha, doosare ka ramesh. yashavant diladaul ka ooancha aur balishth tha. usake mukh par sanyam aur svasthy ki kaanti jhalakati thi. ramesh chhote qad aur ikahare badan ka, tejahin aur durbal adami tha. donoan mean kisi vishay par bahas ho rahi thi.

yashavant ne kaha- maian atma ke age dhan ka kuchh mooly nahian samajhata.

ramesh bola- b di khushi ki bat hai.

yashavant- haan, dekh lena. tum tana mar rahe ho, lekin maian dikhala dooanga ki dhan ko kitana tuchchh samajhata hooan.

ramesh- khair, dikhala dena. maian to dhan ko tuchchh nahian samajhata. dhan ke lie 15 varshoan se kitab chat raha hooan, dhan ke lie maan-bap, bhaee-band sabase alag yahaan p da hooan, n-jane abhi kitani salamiyaan deni p deangi, kitani khushamad karani p degi. kya isamean atma ka patan n hoga ? maian to itane ooanche adarsh ka palan nahian kar sakata. yahaan to agar kisi mukadame mean achchhi rishvat pa jayan to shayad chho d n sakean. kya tum chho d doge ?

yashavant- maian usaki or aankh uthakar bhi n dekhooanga aur mujhe vishvas hai ki tum jitane nich banate ho, utane nahian ho.

ramesh- maian usase kahian nich hooan, jitana kahata hooan.

yashavant- mujhe to yakin nahian ata ki svarth ke lie tum kisi ko nukasan pahuancha sakoge ?

ramesh- bhaee, sansar mean adarsh ka nirvah keval sannyasi hi kar sakata hai; maian to nahian kar sakata. maian to samajhata hooan ki agar tumhean dhakka dekar tumase bazi jit sakooan, to tumhean zaroor gira dooanga. aur, bura n mano to kah dooan, tum bhi mujhe zaroor gira doge. svarth ka tyag karana kathin hai.

yashavant- to maian kahooanga ki tum bha de ke tattoo ho.

ramesh- aur maian kahooanga ki tum kath ke ulloo ho.

2

yashavant aur ramesh sath-sath skool mean dakhil hue aur sath-hi-sath upadhiyaan lekar kalej se nikale. yashavant kuchh mandabuddhi, par bala ka mihanati tha. jis kam ko hath mean leta, usase chimat jata aur use poora karake hi chho data. ramesh tej tha, par alasi. ghante-bhar bhi jamakar baithana usake lie mushkil tha. em.e. tak to vah age raha aur yashavant pichhe, mehanat buddhi-bal se parast hoti rahi; lekin sivil-sarvis mean paansa palat gaya. yashavant sab dhandhe chho dakar kitaboan par pil p da; ghoomana-phirana, sair-sapata, sarakas-thietar, yar-dost, sabase muanh mo dakar apane ekaant kutir mean ja baitha. ramesh dostoan ke sath gap-shap u data, kriket khelata raha. kabhi-kabhi manoranjan ke taur par kitab dekh leta. kadachith use vishvas tha ki ab ki bhi meri tezibazi le jayagi. aksar jakar yashavant ko dik karata. usaki kitab band kar deta; kahata, kyoan pran de rahe ho ? sivil-sarvis koee mukti to nahian hai, jisake lie duniya se nata to d liya jay ! yahaan tak ki yashavant use ate dekhata, to kiva dean band kar leta.

akhir pariksha ka din a pahuancha. yashavant ne sabakuchh yad kiya tha, par kisi prashn ka uttar sochane lagata, to use maloom hota, maianne jitana padha tha, sab bhool gaya. vah bahut ghabaraya hua tha. ramesh pahale se kuchh sochane ka adi n tha. sochata, jab paracha samane ayega, us vakt dekha jayaga. vah atmavishvas se phoola-phoola phirata tha.

pariksha ka phal nikala, to sust kachhua tej kharagosh se bazi mar le gaya tha.

ab ramesh ki aankhean khulian par vah hatash n hua. yogy adami ke lie yash aur dhan ki kami nahian, yah usaka vishvas tha. usane qanoon ki pariksha ki taiyari shuroo ki aur yadyapi usane bahut zyada mihanat n ki, lekin avval daraje mean pas hua. yashavant ne usako badhaee ka tar bheja. ab ek zile ka aphasar ho gaya tha.

3

das sal gujar gaye. yashavant dilojan se kam karata tha aur usake aphasar usase bahut prasann the. par aphasar jitane prasann the, matahat utane hi aprasann rahate the. vah khud jitani mihanat karata tha, matahatoan se bhi utani hi mihanat lena chahata tha, khud jitana belaus tha, matahatoan ko bhi utana hi belaus banana chahata tha. aise adami b de karagujar samajhe jate haian. yashavant ki karagujari ka aphasaroan par sikka jamata jata tha. paanch varshoan mean hi vah zile ka jaj bana diya gaya.

ramesh itana bhagyashali n tha. vah jis ijalas mean vakalat karane jata, vahian asaphal rahata. hakim ko niyat samay par ane mean der ho jati, to khud bhi chal deta, aur phir bulane se bhi n ata. kahata- agar hakim vakt ki pabandi nahian karata, to maian kyoan karooan ? mujhe kya garaj p di hai ki ghantoan unake ijalas par kh da unaki rah dekha karooan ? bahas itani nirbhikata se karata ki khushamad ke adi hukkam ki nigahoan mean usaki nirbhikata gustakhi maloom hoti. sahanashilata use chhoo nahian gayi thi. hakim ho ya doosare paksh ka vakil, jo usake muanh lagata, usaki khabar leta tha. yahaan tak ki ek bar vah jila-jaj hi se l d baitha. phal yah hua ki usaki sanad chhin li gayi. kiantu muvakkiloan ke hriday mean usaka samman jyoan-ka-tyoan raha.

tab usane agara-kalej mean shikshak ka pad prapt kar liya. kiantu yahaan bhi durbhagy ne sath n chho da. priansipal se pahale hi din khatapat ho gayi. priansipal ka siddhaant yah tha ki vidyarthiyoan ko rajaniti se alag rahana chahie. vah apane kalej ke kisi chhatr ko kisi rajanitik jalase mean sharik n hone dete. ramesh pahale hi din se is ajna ka khullamakhulla virodh karane laga. usaka kathan tha ki agar kisi ko rajanitik jalasoan mean shamil hona chahie, to vidyarthi ko. yah bhi usaki shiksha ka ek aang hai. any deshoan mean chhatroan ne yugaantar upasthit kar diya hai, to is desh mean kyoan unaki jaban band ki jati hai. isaka phal yah hua ki sal khatam hone ke pahale hi ramesh ko istipha dena p da. kiantu vidyarthiyoan par usaka dabav til bhar bhi kam n hua.

is bhaanti kuchh to apane svabhav aur kuchh paristhitiyoan ne ramesh ko mar-marakar hakim bana diya. pahale muvakkiloan ka paksh lekar adalat se l da, phir chhatroan ka paksh lekar priansipal se rar mol li, aur ab praja ka paksh lekar sarakar ko chunauti di. vah svabhav se hi nirbhik, adarshavadi, satyabhakt tatha atmabhimani tha. aise prani ke lie praja sevak banane ke siva aur upay hi kya tha ? samachar-patroan mean vartaman paristhiti par usake lekh nikalane lage. usaki alochanaean itani spasht, itani vyapak aur itani marmik hoti thian ki shighr hi usaki kirti phail gayi. log man gaye ki is kshetr mean ek nayi shakti ka uday hua hai. adhikari log usake lekh padh kar tilamila uthate the. usaka nishana itana thik baithata tha ki usase bach nikalana asanbhav tha. atishayoktiyaan to unake siroan par se sanasanati huee nikal jati thian. unaka ve door se tamasha dekh sakate the, abhijnataoan ki ve upeksha kar sakate the. ye sab shastre unake pas pahuanchate hi n the, raste hi mean gir p date the. par ramesh ke nishane siroan par baithate aur adhikariyoan mean halachal aur hahakar macha dete the.

desh ki rajanitik sthiti chiantajanak ho rahi thi. yashavant apane purane mitr ke lekhoan ko padh-padhakar kaanp uthate the. bhay hota, kahian vah qanoon ke panje mean n a jay. bar-bar use sanyat rahane ki takid karate, bar-bar minnatean karate ki jara apani kalam ko aur naram kar do, jan-boojhakar kyoan vishadhar qanoon ke muanh mean uangali dalate ho ? lekin ramesh ko netritv ka nasha chadha hua tha. vah in patroan ka javab tak n deta tha.

paanchavean sal yashavant badalakar agare ka jila-jaj ho gaya.

4

desh ki rajanitik dasha chiantajanak ho rahi thi. khuphiya-pulis ne ek toofan kh da kar diya tha. usaki kapol-kalpit kathaean sun-sunakar hukkamoan ki rooh phana ho rahi thi. kahian akhabaroan ka muanh band kiya jata tha, kahian praja ke netaoan ka. khuphiya-pulis ne apana ulloo sidha karane ke lie hukkamoan ke kuchh is tarah kan bhare ki unhean har ek svatantr vichar rakhanevala adami khooni aur katil najar ata tha.

ramesh yah aandher dekhakar chup baithanevala manushy n tha. jyoan-jyoan adhikariyoan ki nirankushata badhati thi, tyoan-tyoan usaka bhi josh badhata tha. roj kahian n kahian vyakhyan deta aur usake prayah sabhi vyakhyan vidrohatmak bhavoan se bhare hote the. spasht aur khari batean kahana hi vidroh hai ! agar kisi ka rajanitik bhashan vidrohatmak nahian mana gaya, to samajh lo, usane apane aantarik bhavoan ko gupt rakha hai. usake dil mean jo kuchh hai, use jaban par lane ka sahas usamean nahian hai. ramesh ne manobhavoan ko gupt rakhana sikha hi n tha. praja ka neta banakar jel aur phaansi se darana kya ! jo aphat ani ho, ave. vahasab kuchh sahane ko taiyar baitha tha. adhikariyoan ki aankhoan mean bhi vahi sabase zyada g da hua tha.

ek din yashavant ne ramesh ko apane yahaan bula bheja. ramesh ke ji mean to aya ki kah dean, tumhean ate kya sharam ati hai ? akhir ho to gulam hi. lekin phir kuchh sochakar kahala bheja, kal sham ko aooanga. doosare din vah thik 6 baje yashavant ke bangale par ja pahuancha. usane kisi se isaka zikr n kiya. kuchh to yah khayal tha ki log kaheange, maian aphasaroan ki khushamad karata hooan aur kuchh yah ki shayad isase yashavant ko koee hani pahuanche.

vah yashavant ke bangale par pahuancha to chirag jal chuke the. yashavant ne akar use gale se laga liya. adhi rat tak donoan mitroan mean khoob batean hoti rahian. yashavant ne itane mean naukari ke jo anubhav prapt kiye the, sab bayan kiye. ramesh ko yah janakar ashchary hua ki yashavant ke rajanitik vichar kitane vishayoan mean mere vicharoan se bhi zyada svatantr haian. usaka yah khayal bilakul galat nikala ki vah bilakul badal gaya hoga, vafadari ke rag alapata hoga.

ramesh ne kaha- bhale adami, jab itane jale hue ho, to chho d kyoan nahian dete naukari ? aur kuchh n sahi, apani atma ki raksha to kar sakoge !

yashavant- meri chianta pichhe karana, is samay apani chianta karo. maianne tumhean savadhan karane ko bulaya hai. is vakt sarakar ki najar mean tum betarah khatak rahe ho. mujhe bhay hai ki tum kahian pak de n jao.

ramesh- isake lie to taiyar baitha hooan.

yashavant- akhir ag mean koodane se labh hi kya ?

ramesh- hani-labh dekhana mera kam nahian. mera kam to apane karttavy ka palan karana hai.

yashavant- hathi to tum sada ke ho, magar mauqa najuk hai, sanbhale rahana hi achchha hai. agar maian dekhata ki janata mean vastavik jagriti hai, to tumase pahale maidan mean ata. par jab dekhata hooan ki apane hi mare svarg dekhana hai, to age qadam rakhane ki himmat nahian p dati.

donoan dostoan ne der tak batean kian. kalej ke din yad aye. sahapathiyoan ke lie kalej ki purani smritiyaan manoranjan aur hasy ka aviral srot huakarati haian. adhyapakoan par alochanaean hueean; kaun-kaun sathi kya kar raha hai, isaki charcha huee. bilakul yah maloom hota tha ki donoan ab bhi kalej ke chhatr haian. gambhirata nam ko bhi n thi.

rat zyada ho gayi. bhojan karate-karate ek baj gaya. yashavant ne kaha- ab kahaan jaoge, yahian so raho aur batean hoan. tum to kabhi ate bhi nahian ?

ramesh to ramate jogi the hi; khana khakar bat karate-karate so gaye. niand khuli, to 9 baj gaye the. yashavant samane kh de muskara rahe the.

isi rat ko agare mean bhayankar daka p d gaya.

5

ramesh das baje ghar pahuanche to dekha, pulis ne unaka makan gher rakha hai. inhean dekhate hi ek aphasar ne varant dikhaya. turant ghar ki talashi hone lagi. maloom nahian, kyoankar ramesh ke mej ki daraj mean ek pistaul nikal aya. phir kya tha, hathoan mean hathak di p d gayi. ab kise unake dake mean sharik hone se inakar ho sakata tha ? aur bhi kitane hi adamiyoan par aphat ayi. sabhi pramukh neta chun liye gaye. mukadama chalane laga.

auroan ki bat ko eeshvar jane par ramesh niraparadh tha. isaka usake pas aisa prabal praman tha, jisaki satyata se kisi ko inakar n ho sakata tha. par kya vah is praman ka upayog kar sakata tha ?

ramesh ne socha, yashavant svayan mere vakil dvara saphaee ke gavahoan mean apana nam likhane ka prastav karega. mujhe nirdosh janate hue vah kabhi mujhe jel n jane dega. vah itana hriday-shoony nahian hai. lekin din gujarate jate the aur yashavant ki or se is prakar ka koee prastav n hota tha; aur ramesh khud sankochavash usaka nam likhate hue darate the. n-jane isamean use kya badha ho. apani raksha ke lie vah use sankat mean n dalana chahate the.

yashavant hriday-shoony n the, bhav-shoony n the, lekin karm-shoony avashy the. unhean apane param mitr ko nirdosh mare jate dekhakar duahkh hota tha, kabhi-kabhi ro p date the; par itana sahas n hota tha ki saphaee dekar use chhu da lean. n-jane aphasaroan ka kya khayal ho ! kahian yah n samajhane lagean ki maian bhi shadyantr kariyoan se sahanubhooti rakhata hooan, mera bhi unake sath kuchh sampark hai. yah mere hindustani hone ka dand hai ! janakar zahar nigalana p d raha hai. pulis ne aphasaroan par itana atank jama diya ki chahe meri shahadat se ramesh chhoot bhi jay, khullamakhulla mujh par avishvas n kiya jay, par diloan se yah sandeh kyoankar door hoga ki maianne keval ek svadesh-bandhu ko chhu dane ke lie jhoothi gavahi di? aur bandhu bhi kaun ? jis par raj-vidroh ka abhiyog hai!

isi soch-vichar mean ek mahina gujar gaya. udhar majistret ne yah mukadama yashavant hi ke ijalas mean bhej diya. dake mean kee khoon ho gaye the. aur majistret ko utani hi k di sajaean dene ka adhikar n tha jitani usake vichar mean di jani chahie thian.

6

yashavant ab b de sankat mean p da. usane chhutti leni chahi; lekin manjoor n huee. sivil sarjan aangrej tha. is vajah se usaki sanad lene ki himmat n p di. bala sir par a p di thi aur usase bachane ka upay n soojhata tha.

bhagy ki kutil kri da dekhie. sath khele aur sath padhe hue do mitr ek-doosare ke sammukh kh de the, keval ek kathaghare ka aantar tha. par ek ki jan doosare ki mutthi mean thi. donoan ki aankhean kabhi char n hotian. donoan sir nicha kiye rahate the. yadyapi yashavant nyay ke pad par tha, aur ramesh mulajim, lekin yatharth mean dasha isake pratikool thi. yashavant ki atma lajja, glani aur manasik pi da se t dapati thi aur ramesh ka mukh nirdoshita ke prakash se chamakata rahata tha.

donoan mitroan mean kitana aantar tha. ek udar tha. doosara kitana svarthi. ramesh chahata, to bhari adalat mean us rat ki bat kah deta. lekin yashavant janata tha, ramesh phaansi se bachane ke lie bhi us praman ka ashray n lega, jise maian gupt rakhana chahata hooan.

jab tak mukadame ki peshiyaan hoti rahian, tab tak yashavant ko asahy marm-vedana hoti rahi. usaki atma aur svarth mean nity sangram hota rahata tha; par phaisale ke din to usaki vahi dasha ho rahi thi, jo kisi khoon ke aparadhi ki ho. ijalas par jane ki himmat n p dati thi. vah tin baje kachahari pahuancha. mulajim apana bhagy-nirnay sunane ko taiyar kh de the. ramesh bhi aj roj se zyada udas tha. usake jivan-sangram mean vah avasar a gaya tha, jab usaka sir talavar ki dhar ke niche hoga. ab tak bhay sookshm roop mean tha, aj usane sthool roop dharan kar liya tha.

yashavant ne dridh svar mean phaisala sunaya. jab usake mukh se ye shabd nikale ki rameshachandr ko 7 varsh ka kathin karavas, to usaka gala ruandh gaya. usane tajaviz mej par rakh di. kursi par baithakar pasina poanchhane ke bahane aankhoan mean um de hue aansuoan ko poanchha. isake age taj biz usase n padhi gayi.

7

ramesh jel se nikalakar pakka kraantivadi ban gaya. jel ki aandheri kothari mean din-bhar ke kathin parishram ke bad vah donoan ke upakar aur sudhar ke manasoobe baandha karata tha. sochata, manushy kyoan pap karata hai ? isalie n ki sansar mean itani vishamata hai. koee to vishal bhavanoan mean rahata hai aur kisi ko pe d ki chhaanh bhi mayassar nahian. koee resham aur ratnoan se madha hua hai, kisi ko phata vastr bhi nahian. aise nyay-vihin sansar mean yadi chori, hatya aur adharm hai to yah kisaka dosh hai ? vah ek aisi samiti kholane ka svapn dekha karata, jisaka kam sansar se is vishamata ko mita dena ho. sansar sabake lie hai aur usamean sabako sukh bhogane ka saman adhikar hai. n daka, daka hai, n chori, chori. dhani agar apana dhan khushi se nahian baant deta, to usaki ichchha ke viruddh baant lene mean kya pap ! dhani use pap kahata hai to kahe. usaka banaya hua qanoon dand dena chahata hai, to de. hamari adalat bhi alag hogi. usake samane ve sabhi manushy aparadhi hoange jinake pas zaroorat se zyada sukh-bhog ki samagriyaan haian. ham bhi unhean dand deange, ham bhi unase k di mihanat leange. jel se nikalate hi usane is samajik kraanti ki ghoshana kar di. gupt sabhaean banane lagian, shastras jama kiye jane lage aur tho de hi dinoan mean dakoan ka bazar garam ho gaya. pulis ne usaka pata lagana shuroo kiya. udhar kraantikariyoan ne pulis par bhi hath saf karana shuroo kiya. unaki shakti din-din badhane lagi. kam itani chaturaee se hota tha ki kisi ko aparadhi ka kuchh surag n milata. ramesh kahian gariboan ke lie davakhane kholata, kahian baiank. dake ke rupayoan se usane ilake kharidana shuroo kiya. jahaan koee ilaka nilam hota vah use kharid leta. tho de hi dinoan mean usake adhin ek b di jayadad ho gayi. isaka napha gariboan ke upakar mean kharch hota tha. turra yah ki sabhi janate the, yah ramesh ki karamat hai, par kisi ki muanh kholane ki himmat n hoti thi. sabhy-samaj ki drishti mean ramesh se zyada ghrinit aur koee prani sansar mean n tha. log usaka nam sunakar kanoan par hath rakh lete the. shayad use pyasoan marata dekhakar koee ek booand pani bhi usake muanh mean n dalata lekin kisi ki mazal n thi ki us par akshep kar sake.

is tarah kee sal gujar gaye. sarakar ne dakuoan ka pata lagane ke lie b de-b de inam rakhe. yorop se gupt pulis ke siddhahast adamiyoan ko bula kar is kam par niyukt kiya. lekin gajab ke dakait the, jinaki hikamat ke age kisi ki kuchh n chalati thi.

par ramesh khud apane siddhantoan ka palan n kar saka. jyoan-jyoan din gujarate the, use anubhav hota tha ki mere anuyayiyoan mean asantosh badhata jata hai. unamean bhi jo zyada chatur aur sahasi the, ve doosaroan par rob jamate aur loot ke mal mean barabar hissa n dete the. yahaan tak ki ramesh se kuchh log jalane lage. vah rajasi that se rahata tha. log kahate use hamari kamaee ko yoan u dane ka kya adhikar hai ? natija yah hua ki apas mean phoot p d gayi.

rat ka vakt tha; kali ghata chhayi huee thi. ek yuvak ne kaha- ap bar-bar mujhi ko kyoan chunate haian ? hissa lenevale to sabhi haian, maian hi kyoan bar-bar apani jan jokhim mean dalooan ?

ramesh ne dridhata se kaha- isaka nishchay karana mera kam hai ki kaun kahaan bheja jay. tumhara kam keval meri ajna ka palan hai.

yuvak- agar mujhase kam zyada liya jata hai, to hissa kyoan nahian zyada diya jata ?

ramesh ne usaki tyoriyaan dekhian aur chupake se pistaul hath mean lekar bole- isaka phaisala vahaan se lautane ke bad hoga.

yuvak- maian jane se pahale isaka phaisala karana chahata hooan.

ramesh ne isaka javab n diya. vah pistaul se usaka kam tamam kar dena hi chahate the ki yuvak khi daki se niche kood p da aur bhaga. koodane-phaandane mean usaka jo d n tha. chalati relaga di se phaand p dana usake bayean hath ka khel tha.

vah vahaan se sidha gupt pulis ke pradhan ke pas pahuancha.

8

yashavant ne bhi peanshan lekar vakalat shuroo ki thi. nyay-vibhag ke sabhi logoan se unaki mitrata thi. unaki vakalat bahut jald chamak uthi. yashavant ke pas lakhoan rupaye the. unhean peanshan bhi bahut milati thi. vah chahate, to ghar baithe anand se apani umr ke baki din kat dete. desh aur jati ki kuchh seva karana bhi unake lie mushkil n tha. aise hi purushoan se niahsvarth seva ki asha ki ja sakati hai. par yashavant ne apani sari umr rupaye kamane mean gujari thi, aur vah ab koee aisa kam n kar sakate the, jisaka phal rupayoan ki soorat mean n mile.

yoan to sara sabhy-samaj ramesh se ghrina karata tha, lekin yashavant sabase badha hua tha. kahata, agar kabhi ramesh par mukadama chalega, to maian bina phis liye sarakar ki taraph se pairavi karooanga. khullamakhulla ramesh par chhiante u daya karata- yah adami nahian, shaitan hai; rakshas hai; aise adami ka to muanh n dekhana chahie ! uphh ! isake hathoan kitane bhale gharoan ka sarvanash ho gaya. kitane bhale adamiyoan ke pran gaye. kitani striyaan vidhava ho gayian. kitane balak anath ho gaye. adami nahian, pishach hai. mera bas chale, to ise goli mar dooan, jita chunava dooan.

9

sare shahar mean shor macha hua tha- ramesh baboo pak de gaye ! bat sachchi thi. ramesh chupachap pak da gaya tha. usi yuvak ne, jo ramesh ke samane koodakar bhaga tha, pulis ke pradhan se sara kachcha chittha bayan kar diya tha. apaharan aur hatya ka kaisa romaanchakari, kaisa paishachik, kaisa papapoorn vrittaant tha.

bhadr samuday bagalean bajata tha. sethoan ke gharoan mean ghi ke chirag jalate the. unake sir par ek nangi talavar latakati rahati thi, aj vah hat gayi. ab ve mithi niand so sakate the.

akhabaroan mean ramesh ke hathakande chhapane lage. ve batean jo ab tak mare bhay ke kisi ki jaban par n ati thian, ab akhabaroan mean nikalane lagian. unhean padhakar pata chalata tha ki ramesh ne kitana aandher macha rakha tha. kitane hi raje aur rees use mahavar taiks diya karate the. usaka puraja pahuanchata, phalaan tarikh ko itane rupaye bhej do phir kisaki majal thi ki usaka hukm tal sake. vah janata ke hit ke lie jo kam karata, usake lie bhi amiroan se chande liye the. rakam likhana ramesh ka kam tha. amir ko bina kan-pooanchh hilaye vah rakam de deni p dati thi.

lekin bhadr samuday jitana hi prasann tha, janata utani hi dukhi thi. ab kaun pulisavaloan ke atyachar se unaki raksha karega ? kaun sethoan ke julm se unhean bachayega, kaun unake l dakoan ke lie kala-kaushal ke madarase kholega ? ve ab kisake bal par koodeange ? ve ab anath the. vahi unaka avalamb tha. ab ve kisaka muanh takeange ? kisako apani phariyad sunayeange ?

pulis shahadatean jama kar rahi thi. sarakari vakil joroan se mukadama chalane ki taiyariyaan kar raha tha. lekin ramesh ki taraph se koee vakil n kh da hota tha. jile-bhar mean ek hi adami tha, jo use qanoon ke panje se chhu da sakata tha. vah tha yashavant ! lekin yashavant jisake nam se kanoan par uangali rakhata tha, kya usi ki vakalat karane ko kh da hoga ? asambhav.

rat ke 9 baje the. yashavant ke kamare mean ek stri ne pravesh kiya. yashavant akhabar padh raha tha. bola- kya chahati ho ?

stri- apane pati ke lie ek vakil.

yashavant- tumhara pati kaun hai ?

stri- vah jo apake sath padhata tha, aur jis par dake ka jhootha abhiyog chalaya janevala hai.

yashavant ne chauankakar poochha- tum ramesh ki stri ho ?

stri- haan.

yashavant- maian unaki vakalat nahian kar sakata.

stri- apako akhtiyar hai. ap apane zile ke adami haian, aur mere pati ke mitr rah chuke haian. isalie socha tha, kyoan baharavaloan ko bulaooan. magar ab ilahabad ya kalakatte se hi kisi ko bulaooangi.

yashavant- mihanatana de sakogi ?

stri ne abhiman ke sath kaha- b de-se-b de vakil ka mihanatana kya hota hai ?

yashavant- tin hazar rupaye roj.

stri- bas ! ap is mukadame ko le lean, maian apako tin hazar rupaye roj dooangi.

yashavant- tin hazar rupaye roj !

stri- haan, aur yadi apane unhean chhu da liya, to pachas hazar rupaye apako inam ke taur par aur dooangi.

yashavant ke muanh mean pani bhar aya. agar mukadama do mahine bhi chala, to kam-se-kam ek lakh rupaye sidhe ho jayange. puraskar oopar se, poore do lakh ki goti hai. itana dhan to ziandagi-bhar mean bhi jama n kar paye the. magar duniya kya kahegi. apani atma bhi to nahian gavahi deti. aise adami ko qanoon ke panje se bachana asankhy praniyoan ki hatya karana hai. lekin goti do lakh ki hai. kuchh ramesh ke phans jane se is jatthe ka aant to hua nahian jata. usake chele-chap d to raheange hi. shayad ve ab aur bhi upadrav machayean. phir maian do lakh ki goti kyoan jane dooan ! lekin mujhe kahian muanh dikhane ko jagah n rahegi. n sahi. jisaka ji chahe khush ho jisaka ji chahe naraj. ye do lakh to nahian chho de jate. kuchh maian kisi ka gala to dabata nahian, chori to karata nahian ? aparadhiyoan ki raksha karana to mera kam hi hai.

sahasa stri ne poochha- ap javab dete haian ?

yashavant- maian kal javab dooanga. jara soch looan.

stri- nahian, mujhe itani phurasat nahian hai. agar apako kuchh ulajhan ho to saph-saph kah dijiega, maian aur prabandh karooan.

yashavant ko aur vichar karane ka avasar n mila. jaldi ka phaisala svarth hi ki or jhukata hai. yahaan hani ki sambhavana nahian rahati.

yashavant- ap kuchh rupaye peshagi ke de sakati haian ?

stri- rupayoan ki mujhase bar-bar charcha n kijie. unaki jan ke samane rupayoan ki hasti kya hai ! ap jitani rakam chahean, mujhase le lean. ap chahe unhean chhu da n sakean lekin sarakar ke daant khatte zaroor kar dean.

yashavant- khair, maian hi vakil ho jaooanga. kuchh purani dosti ka nirvah bhi to karana chahie.

10

pulis ne e di-choti ka zor lagaya, saik doan shahadatean pesh kian. mukhabir ne to poori gatha hi suna di; lekin yashavant ne kuchh aisi dalilean kian; shahadatoan ko kuchh is tarah jhootha siddh kiya aur mukhabir ki kuchh aisi khabar li ki ramesh bedag chhoot gaye. un par koee aparadh n siddh ho saka. yashavant jaise sanyat aur vicharashil vakil ka unake paksh mean kh de ho jana hi isaka praman tha ki sarakar ne galati ki.

sandhya ka samay tha. ramesh ke dvar par shamiyana tana hua tha. gariboan ko bhojan karaya ja raha tha. mitroan ki davat ho rahi thi. yah ramesh ke chhootane ka utsav tha. yashavant ko charoan or se dhanyavad mil rahe the. ramesh ko badhaiyaan di ja rahi thian. yashavant bar-bar ramesh se bolana chahata tha, lekin ramesh unaki or se muanh pher lete the. ab tak un donoan mean ek bat bhi n huee thi.

akhir yashavant ne ek bar jhuanjhalakar kaha- tum to mujhase is tarah aianthe hue ho, mano maianne tumhare sath koee buraee ki hai.

ramesh- aur ap kya samajhate haian ki mere sath bhalaee ki hai ? pahale apane mere is lok ka sarvanash kiya tha, abaki paralok ka kiya. pahale nyay kiya hota, to meri ziandagi sudhar jati aur ab jel jane dete, to akabat ban jati.

yashavant- yah to n kahoge ki is mamale mean kitane sahas se kam lena p da.

ramesh- apane sahas se kam nahian liya, svarth se kam liya. ap apane svarth ke bhakt haian. maian to apako ‘bha de ka tattoo’ samajhata hooan. maianne apane jivan ka bahut durupayog kiya, lekin use apake jivan se badalane ko kisi dasha mean taiyar nahian hooan. ap mujhase dhanyavad ki asha n rakhean.