मदन-मृणालिनी -जयशंकर प्रसाद

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

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vijaya-dashami ka tyohar samip hai, balak log nity ramalila hone se anand mean magn haian.

hath mean dhanush aur tir liye hue ek chhota-sa balak ramachandr banane ki taiyari mean laga hua hai. chaudah varsh ka balak bahut hi saral aur sundar hai.

khelate-khelate balak ko bhojan ki yad aee. phir kahaan ka ram banana aur kahaan ki ramalila. chat dhanush pheankakar dau data hua mata ke pas ja pahuancha aur us mamata-mohamayi mata ke gale se lipatakar-maan! khane ko de, maan! khane ko de-kahata hua janani ke chitt ko anandit karane laga.

janani balak ka machalana dekhakar prasann ho rahi thi aur tho di der tak baithi rahakar aur bhi machalana dekha chahati thi. usake yahaan ek p dosin baithi thi, atev vah ekaek uthakar balak ko bhojan dene mean asamarth thi. sahaj hi asantusht ho jane vali p dos ki striyoan ka sahaj krodhamay svabhav kisi se chhipa n hoga. yadi vah tatkal uthakar chali jati, to p dosin kruddh hoti. at: vah uthakar balak ko bhojan dene mean anakani karane lagi. balak ka machalana aur bhi badh chala. dhire-dhire vah krodhit ho gaya, dau dakar apani kaman utha laya; tir chadhakar p dosin ko lakshy kiya aur kaha-too yahaan se ja, nahian to maian marata hooan.

donoan striyaan keval hansakar usako mana karati rahian. akasmath vah tir balak ke hath se chhoot p da aur p dosin ki gardan mean kuchh dhans gaya! ab kya tha, vah arjun aur ashvatthama ka pashupatastr ho gaya. balak ki maan bahut ghabara gayi, usane apane hath se tir nikala, usake rakt ko dhoya, bahut kuchh dhadhas diya. kintu ghayal stri ka chillana-karahana sahaj mean thamane vala nahian tha.

balak ki maan vidhava thi, koee usaka rakshak n tha. jab usaka pati jita tha, tab tak usaka sansar achchhi tarah chalata tha; ab jo kuchh pooanji bach rahi thi, usi mean vah apana samay bitati thi. jyoan-tyoan karake usane chir-sanrakshit dhan mean se pachis rupaye us ghayal stri ko diye.

vah stri kisi se yah bat n kahane ka vada karake apane ghar gayi. parantu balak ka pata nahian, vah dar ke mare ghar se nikal kisi or bhag gaya.

mata ne samajha ki putr kahian dar se chhipa hoga, sham tak a jayaga. dhire-dhire sandhya-par-sandhya, saptah-par-saptah, mas-par-mas, bitane lage; parantu balak ka kahian pata nahian. shok se mata ka hriday jarjar ho gaya, vah charapaee par lag gayi. charapaee ne bhi usaka aisa anurag dekhakar use apana liya, aur phir vah us par se n uth saki. balak ko ab kaun poochhane vala hai!

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kalakatta-mahanagari ke vishal bhavanoan tatha rajamargoan ko ashchary se dekhata hua ek balak susajjit bhavan ke samane kh da hai. mahinoan kasht jhelata, rah chalata, thakata hua balak yahaan pahuancha hai.

balak tho di der tak yahi sochata tha ki ab maian kya karooan, kisase apane kasht ki katha kahooan. itane mean vahaan dhoti-kamij pahane hue ek sabhy bangali mahashay ka agaman hua.

us balak ki chau di haddi, sudaul badan aur sundar chehara dekhakar bangali mahashay ruk gaye aur use ek videshi samajhakar poochhane lage.

tumhara makan kahaan hai?

b...mean.

tum yahaan kaise aye?

bhagakar.

naukari karoge?

haan.

achchha, hamare sath chalo.

balak ne socha ki siva kam ke aur kya karana hai, to phir inake sath hi uchit hai. kaha-achchha, chaliye.

bangali mahashay us balak ko ghumate-phirate ek makan ke dvar par pahuanche. daraban ne uthakar salam kiya. vah balak-sahit ek kamare mean pahuanche, jahaan ek navayuvak baitha hua kuchh likh raha tha, samane bahut se kagaz idhar-udhar bikhare p de the.

yuvak ne balak ko dekhakar poochha-babooji, yah balak kaun hai?

yah naukari karega, tumako ek adami ki zaroorat thi hi, so isako ham liva laye haian, apane sath rakkho-babooji yah kahakar ghar ke doosare bhag mean chale gaye the.

yuvak ke kahane par balak bhi achakachata hua baith gaya. unamean is tarah batean hone lagian-

yuvak-kyoan ji, tumhara nam kya hai?

balak-(kuchh sochakar) madan.

yuvak-nam to b da achchha hai. achchha, kaho, tum kya khaoge? rasoee banana janate ho?

balak-rasoee banana to nahian janate. haan, kachchi-pakki jaisi ho, banakar kha lete haian, kintu ..

achchha, sankoch karane ki koee zaroorat nahian hai-itana kahakar yuvak ne pukara-koee hai?

ek naukar dau dakar aya-huzoor, kya hukm hai?

yuvak ne kaha-inako bhojan karane ke lie le jao.

bhojan ke uparant balak yuvak ke pas aya. yuvak ne ek ghar dikhakar kaha ki us samane ki kothari mean soo aur use apane rahane ka sthan samajho.

yuvak ki ajna ke anusar balak us kothari mean gaya, dekha to ek sadharan-si chauki p di hai; ek gh de mean jal, lota aur gilas bhi rakkha hua hai. vah chupachap chauki par let gaya.

letane par use bahut-si batean yad ane lagian, ek-ek karake use bhavana ke jal mean phansane lagian. balyavastha ke sathi, unake sath khel-kood, ram-ravan ki l daee, phir us vijaya-dashami ke din ki ghatana, p dosin ke aang mean tir ka dhans jana, mata ki vyakulata, aur marg ke kasht ko sochate-sochate us bhayatur balak ki vichitr dasha ho gayi.

manushy ki mimiyaee nikalane vali dvip-nivasini jatiyoan ki bhayanak kahaniyaan, jinhean usane bachapan mean mata ki god mean p de-p de suna tha, use aur bhi darane lagian. akasmath usake mastishk ko udveg se bhar denevali yah bat bhi sama gayi ki-ye log to mujhe naukar banane ke lie apane yahaan laye the, phir itane aram se kyoan rakkha hai? ho-n-ho, vahi tapoovali bat hai. bas, phir kahaan ki niand aur kahaan ka sukh, karavatean badalane laga! man mean yahi sochata tha ki yahaan se kisi tarah bhag chalo.

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parantu nidra bhi kaisi pyari vastu hai! ghor du:kh ke samay bhi manushy ko yahi sukh deti hai. sab batoan se vyakul hone par bhi vah kuchh der ke liye so gaya.

madan usi ghar mean rahane laga. ab use utani ghabarahat nahian maloom hoti. ab vah nirbhay-sa ho gaya hai. kintu abhi tak yah bat kabhi-kabhi use udhe d-bun mean laga deti hai ki ye log mujhase itana achchha bartav kyoan karate haian aur kyoan itana sukh dete haian. par in sab batoan ko vah us samay bhool jata hai, jab ‘mrinalini’ usaki rasoee banavane lagati hai. dekho, roti jalati hai, use ulat do, dal bhi chala do-ityadi batean jab mrinalini ke komal kanth se vina ki jhankar ke saman sunaee deti hai, tab vah apana du:kh-mata ka soch-sab bhool jata hai.

madan hai to abodh, kintu sanyukt prantavasi hone ke karan sprishyasprishy ka use bahut hi dhyan rahata hai. vah doosare ka banaya bhojan nahian karata. atev mrinalini akar use batati hai aur bhojan ke samay hava bhi karati hai.

mrinalini grihasvami ki kanya hai. vah devabala-si jan p dati hai. b di-b di aankhean, ujjval kapol, manohar aangabhangi, gulphavilambit kesh-kalap use aur bhi sundari banane mean sahayata de rahe haian. avastha terah varsh ki hai; kintu vah bahut gambhir hai.

nity sath hone se donoan mean apoorv bhav ka uday hua hai. balak ka mukh jab ag ki aanch se lal tatha aankhean dhuean ke karan aansuoan se bhar jati haian, tab balika aankhoan mean aansoo bhar kar, rosh-poorvak pankhi pheankakar kahati hai-lo ji, isase kam lo, kyoan vyarth parishram karate ho? itane din tumhean rasoee banate hue, magar banana n aya!

tab madan aanch lagane ke sare du:kh ko bhool jata. tab usaki trishna aur badh jati; bhojan rahane par bhi bhookh satati hai. aur, sataya jakar bhi vah hansane lagata hai. man-hi-man sochata, mrinalini! tum bang-mahila kyoan hueean?

madan ke man mean yah bat kyoan utpann huee? donoan sundar the, donoan hi kishor the, donoan sansar se anabhijn the, donoan ke hriday mean rakt tha-uchchhvas tha-aveg tha-vikas tha, donoan ke hriday-sindhu mean kisi apoorv chandr ka madhur-ujjval prakash p data tha, donoan ke hriday-kanan mean nandan-parijat khila tha!

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jis parivar mean balak madan palata tha, usake malik haian amaranath banarji. apake navayuvak putr ka nam hai kishoranath banarji, kanya ka nam mrinalini aur grihini ka nam hiramani hai. bambee aur kalakatta, donoan sthanoan mean, apaki dookanean thian, jinamean bahari chijoan ka kray-vikray hota tha; vishesh kam moti ke banij ka tha. apaka aphis silon mean tha; vah aauan se moti ki kharid hoti thi. apaki kuchh zamin bhi vah aauan thi. usase apaki b di ay thi. ap pray: apani bambee ki dookan mean aur apaka parivar kalakatte mean rahata tha. dhan apar tha, kisi chiz ki kami n thi. to bhi ap ek prakar se chintit the.

sansar mean kaun chintagrast nahian hai? pashu-pakshi, kit-patang, chetan aur achetan, sabhi ko kisi prakar ki chinta hai. jo yogi haian, jinhoanne sab kuchh tyag diya hai, sansar jinake vaste asar hai, unhoanne bhi svikar kiya hai. yadi ve atmachintan n karean, to unhean yogi kaun kahega?

kintu banarji mahashay ki chinta ka karan kya hai? so pati-patni ki is batachit se hi vidit ho jayaga-

amaranath-kishor to kvaanra hi raha chahata hai. abhi tak usaki shadi kahian pakki nahian huee.

hiramani-silon mean apake vyapar karane tatha rahane se samaj apako doosari hi drishti se dekh raha hai.

amaranath-aise samaj ki mujhe paravah nahian hai. maian to keval ladaqi aur l dake ka byah apani jati mean karana chahata tha. kya tapuoan mean jakar log pahale banij nahian karate the? maianne koee any dharm to grahan nahian kiya, phir yah vyarth ka adambar kyoan hai? aur, yadi, koee khan-pan ka dosh de, to kya yahaan par tilak kar pooja karane vale logoan se hotal bacha hua hai?

hiramani-phir kya kijiyega? samaj to is samay keval unhian bagala-bhagatoan ko param dharmik samajhata hai!

amaranath-to phir ab maian aise samaj ko door hi se hath jo data hooan.

hiramani-to kya ye ladaqi-l dake kvaanre hi raheange?

amaranath-nahian, ab hamari yah ichchha hai ki tum sabako lekar usi jagah chalean. yahaan kee varsh rahate bhi hua kintu kary siddh hone ki kuchh bhi asha nahian hai, to phir apana vyapar kyoan nasht hone dean? isaliye, ab tum sabako vahian chalana hoga. n hoga to brahm ho jayange, kintu yah upeksha ab sahi nahian jati.

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madan, mrinalini ke sangam se bahut hi prasann hai. sarala mrinalini bhi praphullit hai. kishoranath bhi use bahut hi pyar karata hai, pray: usi ko sath lekar hava khane ke lie jata hai. donoan mean bahut hi sauhard hai. madan bhi bahar kishoranath ke sath aur ghar ane par mrinalini ki premamayi vani se apyayit rahata hai.

madan ka samay sukh se bitane laga. kintu banarji mahashay ke saparivar bahar jane ki batoan ne ek bar usake hriday ko udvegapoorn bana diya. vah sochane laga ki mera kya parinam hoga, kya mujhe bhi chalane ke lie ajna deange? aur, yadi ye chalane ke lie kaheange, to maian kya karooanga? inake sath jana thik hoga ya nahian?

in sab batoan ko vah sochata hi tha ki itane mean kishoranath ne akasmath akar use chauanka diya. usane kh de hokar poochha-kahiye, ap log kis soch-vichar mean p de hue haian? kahaan jane ka vichar hai?

kyoan, kya tum n chaloge?

kahaan?

jahaan ham log jayan.

vahi to poochhata hooan ki ap log kahaan jayange?

silon.

to mujhase bhi ap vahaan chalane ke liye kahate haian?

isamean tumhari hani hi kya hai?

(yajnopavit dikhakar) isaki or bhi to dhyan kijiye!

to kya samudr-yatra tum nahian kar sakate?

suna hai ki vahaan jane se dharm nasht ho jata hai!

kyoan? jis tarah tum yahaan bhojan banate ho, usi tarah vahaan bhi banana.

jahaz par bhi chadhऩa hoga!

usamean harj hi kya hai? log gangasagar aur jagannathaji jate samay jahaz par nahian chadhate?

madan ab niruttar hua; kintu uttar sochane laga. itane hi mean udhar se mrinalini ati huee dikhayi p di. mrinalini ko dekhate hi usake vichararoopi motiyoan ko prem-hans ne chug liya aur use usaki buddhi aur bhi bhramapoorn jan p dane lagi.

mrinalini ne poochha-kyoan madan, tum baba ke sath n chaloge?

jis tarah vina ki jhankar se mast hokar mrig sthir ho jata hai, athava manohar vanshi ki tan se jhoomane lagata hai, vaise hi mrinalini ke madhur svar mean mugdh madan ne kah diya-kyoan n chalooanga.

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sara sansar gh di-gh di-bhar par, pal-pal-bhar par, navin-sa pratit hota hai aur isase us vishvayantr ko banane vale svatantr ki b di bhari nipunata ka pata lagata hai; kyoanki navinata ki yadi rachana n hoti, to manav-samaj ko yah sansar aur hi tarah ka bhasit hota. phir use kisi vastu ki chah n hoti, itani tarah ke vyavaharik padarthoan ki kuchh bhi avashyakata n hoti. samaj, rajy aur dharm ke vishesh parivartan-roopi pat mean isaki manohar moorti aur bhi saloni dekh p dati hai. manushy bahupremi kyoan ho jata hai? manavoan ki pravritti kyoan din-rat badala karati hai? nagar-nivasiyoan ko paha di ghatiyaan saundaryamayi pratit hoti haian? videsh-paryatan mean kyoan manoranjan hota hai? manushy kyoan utsahit hota hai? ityadi prashnoan ke uttar mean keval yahi kaha ja sakata hai ki navinata ki prerana!

navinata vastav mean aisi hi vastu hai ki jisase madan ko bharat se silon tak pahuanch jana kuchh kashtakar n hua.

vishal sagar ke vakshasthal par danav-raj ki tarah vah jahaz apani chal aur usaki shakti dikha raha hai. use dekhakar madan ko draupadi aur pandavoan ko lade hue ghatotkach ka dhyan ata tha.

uttal tarangoan ki kallol-mala apana anupam drishy dikha rahi hai. charoan or jal-hi-jal hai, chandrama apane pita ki god mean kri da karata hua anand de raha hai. anant sagar mean anant akash-mandal ke asankhy nakshatr apane pratibimb dikha rahe haian.

madan tin-char baras mean yuvak ho gaya hai. usaki bhavukata badh gayi thi. vah samudr ka sundar drishy dekh raha tha. akasmath ek prakash dikhayi dene laga. vah usi ko dekhane laga.

us manohar arun ka prakash nil jal ko bhi araktim banane ki cheshta karane laga. chanchal tarangoan ki lahariyaan soory ki kiranoan se kri da karane lagian. madan us anant samudr ko dekhakar dara nahian kintu apane premamay hriday ka ek jo da dekhakar aur bhi prasann hua vah nirbhik hriday se un logoan ke sath silon pahuancha.

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amaranath ke vishal bhavan mean rahane se madan ko b di hi prasannata hai. mrinalini aur madan usi prakar se milate-julate haian, jaise kalakatte mean milate-julate the. lavan-mahasamudr ki mahima donoan hi ko manohar jan p dati hai. prashant mahasagar ke tat ki sandhya donoan ke netroan ko dhyan mean laga deti hai. doobate hue sooryadev dev-tuly hridayoan ko sansar ki gati dikhalate haian, apane rag ki abha un prabhatamay hridayoan par dalate haian, donoan hi sagar-tat par kh de sindhu ki tarang-bhangiyoan ko dekhate haian; phir bhi donoan hi donoan ki manohar aang-bhangiyoan mean bhoole hue haian.

mahasamudr ke tat par bahut samay tak kh de hokar mrinalini aur madan us anant ka saundary dekhate the. akasmath baind ka surila rag sunaee diya, jo ki sindhu garjan ko bhi bhed kar nikalata tha.

madan, mrinalini-donoan ekagrachith ho us ojasvini kavivani ko jatiy sangit mean sunane lage. kintu vahaan kuchh dikhaee n diya. chakit hokar ve sun rahe the. prabal vayu bhi uttal tarangoan ko hilakar unako darata hua usi ki pratidhvani karata tha. mantr-mugdh ke saman sindhu bhi apani tarangoan ke ghat-pratighat par chidhaqar unhian shabdoan ko duharata hai. samudr ko svikar karate dekh kar anant akash bhi usi ki pratidhvani karata hai.

dhire-dhire vishal sagar ke hriday ko pha data hua ek jangi jahaz dikhaee p da. madan aur mrinalini, donoan hi, sthir drishti se usaki or dekhate rahe. jahaz apani jagah par thahara aur idhar port-sanrakshak ne us par sainikoan ke utarane ke lie yathochit prabandh kiya.

samudr ki gambhirata, sandhya ki nistabdhata aur baind ke surile rag ne donoan ke hridayoan ko sammohit kar liya, aur ve inhian sab batoan ki charcha karane lag gaye.

madan ne kaha-mrinalini, yah baja kaisa surila hai!

mrinalini ka dhyan toota. sahasa usake mukh se nikala-tumhare kal-kanth se adhik nahian hai.

isi tarah din bitane lage. madan ko kuchh kam nahian karana p data tha. jab kabhi usaka ji chahata, tab vah mahasagar ke tat par jakar prakriti ki sushama ko nirakhata aur usi mean anandit hota tha. vah pray: gota lagakar moti nikalane valoan ki or dekha karata aur man-hi-man unaki prashansa kiya karata tha.

madan ka malik bhi usako kabhi koee kam karane ke liye ajna nahian deta tha. vah use baitha dekhakar mrinalini ke sath ghoomane ke lie jane ki ajna deta tha. usaka svabhav hi aisa saral tha ki sabhi sahavasi usase prasann rahate the, vah bhi unase khoob hil-milakar rahata tha.

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sansar bhi b da prapanchamay yantr hai. vah apani manoharata par ap hi mugdh rahata hai.

ek ekant kamare mean baithe hue mrinalini aur madan tash khel rahe haian; donoan ji-jan se apane-apane jitane ki koshish kar rahe haian.

itane hi mean sahasa amaranath baboo us kothari mean aye. unake mukh-mandal par krodh jhalakata tha. vah ate hi bole-kyoan re dusht! too balika ko phusala raha hai?

madan to sunakar sannate mean a gaya. usane namrata ke sath hokar poochha-kyoan pita, maianne kya kiya?

amaranath-abhi poochhata hi hai! too is ladaqi ko bahaka kar apane sath lekar doosari jagah bhagana chahata hai?

madan-babooji, yah ap kya kah rahe haian? mujh par ap itana avishvas kar rahe haian? kisi dusht ne apase jhoothi bat kahi hai.

amaranath-achchha, tum yahaan se chalo aur ab se tum doosari kothari mean raha karo. mrinalini ko aur tumako agar ham ek jagah ab dekh paveange to samajh rakkho-samudr ke garbh mean hi tumako sthan milega.

madan, amaranath baboo ke pichhe chala. mrinalini murajha gayi, madan ke oopar apavad lagana usake sukumar hriday se saha nahian gaya. vah nav-kusumit padadalit ashray-vihin madhavi-lata ke saman prithvi par gir p di aur lot-lotakar rone lagi.

mrinalini ne daravaza bhitar se band kar liya aur vahian lotati huee aansuoan se hriday ki jalan ko bujhane lagi.

kee ghante ke bad jab usaki maan ne jakar kiva d khulavaye, us samay usaki reshami sa di ka aanchal bhianga hua, usaka mukh sookha hua aur aankhean lal-lal ho ayi thian. vastav mean vah madan ke liye roee thi. isi se usaki yah dasha ho gayi. sachamuch sansar b da prapanchamay hai.

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doosare ghar mean rahane se madan bahut ghab dane laga. vah apana man bahalane ke lie kabhi-kabhi samudr-tat par baithakar gadgad ho soory-bhagavan ka pashchim disha se milana dekha karata tha; aur jab tak vah ast n ho jate the, tab tak barabar takataki lagaye dekhata tha. vah apane chitt mean anek kalpana ki laharean uthakar samudr aur apane hriday se tulana bhi kiya karata tha.

madan ka ab is sansar mean koee nahian hai. mata bharat mean jiti hai ya mar gayi-yah bhi bechare ko nahian maloom! sansar ki manoharata, asha ki bhoomi, madan ke jivan-srot ka jal, madan ke hriday-kanan ka apoorv parijat, madan ke hriday-sarovar ki manohar mrinalini bhi ab usase alag kar di gee hai. janani, janmabhoomi, priy, koee bhi to madan ke pas nahian hai? isi se usaka hriday alo dit hone laga, aur vah anath balak eeshrya se bharakar apane apaman ki or dhyan dene laga. usako bhali-bhaanti vishvas ho gaya ki is parivar ke sath rahana thik nahian hai. jab inhoanne mera tiraskar kiya, to ab inhian ke ashrit hokar kyoan rahooan?

yah sochakar usane apane chitt mean kuchh nishchay kiya aur kap de pahanakar samudr ki or ghoomane ke lie chal p da. rah mean vah apani udhe dabun mean chala jata tha ki kisi ne pith par hath rakkha. madan ne pichhe dekhakar kaha-ah, ap haian kishor baboo?

kishoranath ne hansakar kaha-kahaan bagadadi-ooant ki tarah bhage jate ho?

kahian to nahian, yahian samudr ki or ja raha hooan.

samudr ki or kyoan?

sharan maangane ke lie.

yah bat madan ne dabadabayi huee aankhoan se kishor ki or dekhakar kahi.

kishor ne rumal se madan ke aansoo poanchhate-poanchhate kaha-madan, ham janate haian ki us din babooji ne jo tiraskar kiya tha, usase tumako bahut du:kh hai. magar socho to, isamean dosh kisaka hai? yadi tum us roj mrinalini ko bahakane ka udyog n karate, to babooji tum par kyoan aprasann hote?

ab to madan se nahian raha gaya. usane krodh se kaha-kaun dusht us devabala par jhootha apavad lagata hai? aur maianne use bahakaya hai? is bat ka kaun sakshi hai? kishor baboo! ap log malik haian, jo chahean so kahiye. apane palan kiya hai, isalie, yadi ap ajna dean to madan samudr mean bhi kood p dane ke lie taiyar hai, magar apavad aur apaman se bachaye rahiye.

kahate-kahate madan ka mukh krodh se lal ho aya, aankhoan mean aansoo bhar aye, usake akar se us samay dridh pratijna jhalakati thi.

kishor ne kaha-is bare mean vishesh ham kuchh nahian janate, keval maan ke mukh se suna tha ki jamadar ne babooji se tumhari ninda ki hai aur isi se vah tum par big de haian.

madan ne kaha-ap log apani baboogiri mean bhoole rahate haian aur ye beeeman apaka sab mal khate haian. maianne us jamadar ko moti nikalanevaloan ke hath moti bechate dekha; maianne poochha-kyoan, tumane moti kahaan paya? tab usane gi dagi dakar, pair pak dakar, mujhase kaha-babooji se n kahiyega. maianne use daantakar phir aisa kam n karane ke lie kahakar chho d diya, ap logoan se nahian kaha. isi karan vah aisi chal chalata hai aur ap logoan ne bhi bina soche-samajhe usaki bat par vishvas kar liya hai.

yoan kahate-kahate madan uth kh da ho gaya. kishor ne usaka hath pak dakar baithaya aur ap bhi baithakar kahane laga-madan, ghab dao mat, tho di der baithakar hamari bat suno. ham usako dand deange aur tumhara apavad bhi mitaveange. magar ham ek bat jo kahate haian, use dhyan dekar suno. mrinalini ab balika nahian hai, aur tum bhi balak nahian ho. tumhare-usake jaise bhav haian, so bhi hamase chhipe nahian haian. phir aisi jagah par ham to yahi chahate haian ki tumhara aur mrinalini ka byah ho jay.

-- --

madan byah ka nam sunakar chauank p da, aur man mean sochane laga ki yah kaisi bat? kahaan ham yuktaprant-nivasi anyajatiy, aur kahaan ye bangali brahman, phir byah kis tarah ho sakata hai! ho-n-ho ye mujhe bhulava dete haian. kya maian inake sath apana dharm nasht karooanga? kya isi karan ye log mujhe itana sukh dete haian aur khoob khulakar mrinalini ke sath ghoomane-phirane aur rahane dete the? mrinalini ko maian ji se chahata hooan, aur jahaan tak dekhata hooan, mrinalini bhi mujhase kapat-prem nahian karati. kintu yah byah nahian ho sakata kyoanki isamean dharm aur adharm donoan ka dar hai. dharm ka nirnay karane ki mujhamean shakti nahian hai. maianne aisa byah hote n dekha hai aur n suna hai, phir kaise yah byah karooan?

inhian batoan ko sochate-sochate bahut der ho gayi. jab madan ko yah sun p da ki ‘achchha, sochakar hamase kahana’, tab vah chauank p da aur dekha to kishoranath ja raha hai.

madan ne kishoranath ke jane par kuchh vishesh dhyan nahian diya aur phir apane vicharoan ke sagar mean magn ho gaya.

phir mrinalini ka dhyan aya, hriday dh dakane laga. madan ki chinta-shakti ka veg ruk gaya aur usake man mean yahi samaya ki aise dharm ko maian door hi se hath jo data hooan! mrinalini-prem-pratima mrinalini-ko maian nahian chho d sakata.

madan isi mantavy ko sthir kar, samudr ki or mukh kar, usaki gambhirata niharane laga.

vahaan par kuchh dhani log paisa pheankakar use samudr se le ane ka tamasha dekh rahe the. madan ne socha ki premiyoan ka jivan ‘prem’ hai aur sajjanoan ka amogh dhan ‘dharm’ hai. ye log apane prem-jivan ki paravah n kar dharm-dhan ko batorate haian aur phir inake pas jivan aur dhan donoan chizean dikhaee p dati haian. to kya manushy inaka anukaran nahian kar sakata? avashy kar sakata hai. prem aisi tuchchh vastu nahian hai ki dharm ko hatakar us sthan par ap baithe. prem mahanh hai, prem udar hai. premiyoan ko bhi vah udar aur mahanh banata hai. prem ka mukhy arth hai ‘atmatyag’. to kya mrinalini se byah kar lena hi prem mean gina jayega? nahian-nahian, vah ghor svarth hai. mrinalini ko maian janm-bhar prem se hriday-mandir mean bithakar poojooanga, usaki saral pratima ko pannk mean n lapetooanga. parantu ye log jaisa bartav karate haian, usase sambhav hai ki mere vichar palat jayan. isalie ab in logoan se door rahana hi uchit hai.

madan inhian batoan ko sochata hua laut aya, aur jo apana masik vetan jama kiya tha vah-tatha kuchh kap de adi avashyak saman lekar vahaan se chala gaya. jate samay usane ek patr likhakar vahian chho d diya.

jab bahut der tak logoan ne madan ko nahian dekha, tab chintit hue. khoj karane se unako madan ka patr mila, jise kishoranath ne padha aur padhaqar usaka marm pita ko samajha diya.

patr ka bhav samajhate hi unaki sab asha nirmool ho gayi. unhoanne kaha-kishor, dekho, hamane socha tha ki mrinalini kisi kulin hindoo ko samarpit ho, parantu vah nahian hua. itana vyay aur parishram, jo madan ke lie kiya gaya, sab vyarth hua. ab vah kabhi mrinalini se byah nahian karega, jaisa ki usake patr se vidit hota hai.

apake us vyavahar ne use aur bhi bhadaqa diya. ab vah kabhi byah n karega.

mrinalini ka kya hoga?

jo usake bhagy mean hai!

kya jate samay madan ne mrinalini se bhi bheant nahian ki?

poochhane se maloom hoga.

itana kahakar kishor mrinalini ke pas gaya. madan usase bhi nahian mila tha. kishor ne akar pita se sab hal kah diya.

amaranath bahut hi shokagrast hue. bas, usi din se unaki chinta badhऩe lagi. kramash: vah nity hi mady-sevan karane lage. vah to pray: apani chinta door karane ke lie mady-pan karate the, kintu usaka phal ulata hua-unaki dasha aur bhi buri ho chali, yahaan tak ki vah sab samay pan karane lage, kam-kaj dekhana-bhalana chho d diya.

navayuvak ‘kishor’ bahut chintit hua, kintu vah dhairy ke sath saansarik kasht sahane laga.

madan ke chale jane se mrinalini ko b da kasht hua. use yah bat aur bhi khatakati thi ki madan jate samay usase kyoan nahian mila. vah yah nahian samajhati thi ki madan yadi jate samay usase milata, to ja nahian sakata tha.

mrinalini bahut virakt ho gayi. sansar use soona dikhaee dene laga. kintu vah kya kare? use apani manasik vyatha sahani hi p di.

-- --

madan ne apane ek mitr ke yahaan jakar dera dala. vah bhi moti ka vyapar karata tha. bahut sochane-vicharane ke uparant usane bhi moti ka hi vyavasay karana nishchit kiya.

madan nity sandhya ke samay, moti ke bazar mean ja, machhue log jo apane mehanatane mean mili huee motiyoan ki sipiyaan bechate the-unako kharidane laga; kyoanki isamean tho di pooanji se achchhi tarah kam chal sakata tha. eeshvar ki kripa se usako nity vishesh labh hone laga.

sansar mean manushy ki avastha sada badalati rahati hai. vahi madan, jo tiraskar pakar dasatv chho dane par lakshy-bhrasht ho gaya tha, ab ek prasiddh vyapari ban gaya.

madan is samay sampann ho gaya. usake yahaan achchhe-achchhe log milane-julane ane lage. usane nadi ke kinare ek bahut sundar bangala banava liya hai; usake charoan or sundar bagicha bhi hai. vyapari log utsav ke avasaroan par usako nimantran dete haian; vah bhi apane yahaan kabhi-kabhi un logoan ko nimantrit karata hai. sansar ki drishti mean vah bahut sukhi tha, yahaan tak ki bahut log usase dah karane lage. sachamuch sansar b da adambar-priy hai!

-- --

madan sab prakar se sharirik sukh bhog karata tha; par usake chitt-pat par kisi ramani ki malin chhaya nirantar aankit rahati thi; jo use kabhi-kabhi bahut kasht pahuanchati thi. pray: vah use vismriti ke jal se dho dalana chahata tha. yadyapi vah chitr kisi sadharan karigar ka aankit kiya hua nahian tha ki ekadam lupt ho jay, tathapi vah barabar use mita dalane ki hi cheshta karata tha.

akasmath ek din, jab soory ki kiranean suvarn-si su-varn abha dharan kie huee thian, nadi ka jal mauj mean bah raha tha, us samay madan kinare kh da hua sthir bhav se nadi ki shobha nihar raha tha. usako vahaan kee-ek susajjit jalayan dekh p de. usaka chitt, n jane kyoan utkanthit hua. anusandhan karane par pata laga ki vahaan varshik jal-vihar ka utsav hota hai, usi mean log ja rahe haian.

madan ke chitt mean bhi utsav dekhane ki akaanksha huee. vah bhi apani nav par chadhaqar usi or chala. kallolini ki kalloloan mean hilati huee vah chhoti-si susajjit tari chal di.

madan us sthan par pahuancha, jahaan navoan ka jamav tha. saik doan bajare aur naukaean apane nile-pile, hare-lal nishan u dati huee idhar-udhar ghoom rahi haian. un par baithe hue mitr log apas mean amod-pramod kar rahe haian. kaminiyaan apane manimay alankaroan ki prabha se us utsav ko alokamay kiye huee haian.

madan bhi apani nav par baitha hua ekatak is utsav ko dekh raha hai. usaki aankhean jaise kisi ko khoj rahi haian. dhire-dhire sandhya ho gayi. kramash: ek, do, tin tare dikhaee diye. sath hi, poorv ki taraph, oopar ko uthate hue gubbare ki tarah chandrabimb dikhaee p da. logoan ke netroan mean anand ka ullas chha gaya. idhar dipak jal gaye. madhur sangit, shoony ki nistabdhata mean, aur bhi gooanjane laga. rat ke sath hi amod-pramod ki matra badhi.

parantu madan ke hriday mean sannata chhaya hua hai. utsav ke bahar vah apani nauka ko dhire-dhire chala raha hai. akasmath kolahal sunaee p da, vah chauankakar udhar dekhane laga. usi samay koee char-paanch hath door ek kali-si chiz dikhaee di. ast ho rahe chandrama ka prakash p dane se kuchh vastr bhi dikhaee dene laga. vah bina kuchh soche-samajhe hi jal mean kood p da aur usi vastu ke sath bah chala.

oosha ki abha poorv mean dikhaee p d rahi hai. chandrama ki malin jyoti taragan ko bhi malin kar rahi hai.

tarangoan se shital dakshin-pavan dhire-dhire sansar ko nidra se jaga raha hai. pakshi bhi kabhi-kabhi bol uthate haian.

nirjan nadi-tat mean ek nav bandhi hai, aur bahar ek sukumari sundari ka sharir achet avastha mean p da hua hai. ek yuvak samane baitha hua use hosh mean lane ka udyog kar raha hai. dakshin-pavan bhi use is shubh kam mean bahut sahayata de raha hai.

soory ki pahali kiran ka sparsh pate hi sundari ke netr-kamal dhire-dhire vikasit hone lage. yuvak ne eeshvar ko dhanyavad diya aur jhukakar us kamini se poochha-mrinalini, ab kaisi ho?

mrinalini ne netr kholakar dekha. usake mukh-mandal par harsh ke chihn dikhaee p de. usane kaha-pyare madan, ab achchhi hooan!

pranay ka bhi veg kaisa prabal hai! yah kisi mahasagar ki prachand aandhi se kam prabalata nahian rakhata. isake jhoanke mean manushy ki jivan-nauka asim tarangoan se ghir kar pray: kool ko nahian pati. alaukik alokamay andhakar mean pranayi apani pranay-tari par arohan kar usi anand ke mahasagar mean ghoomana pasand karata hai, kool ki or jane ki ichchha bhi nahian karata.

is samay madan aur mrinalini donoan ki aankhoan se aansuoan ki dhara dhire-dhire bah rahi hai. chanchalata ka nam bhi nahian hai. kuchh bal ane par donoan us nav mean ja baithe.

madan ne mallahoan ko pas ke gaanv se doodh ya aur kuchh bhojan ki vastu lane ke lie bheja. phir donoan ne bichhu dane ke uparant ki sab katha paraspar kah sunaee.

mrinalini kahane lagi-bhaiya kishoranath se maian tumhara sab hal suna karati thi. par vah kaha karate the ki tumase milane mean unako sankoch hota haian. isaka karan unhoanne kuchh nahian batalaya. maian bhi hriday par patthar rakhakar tumhare pranay ko aj tak smaran kar rahi hooan.

madan ne bat talakar poochha-mrinalini, tum jal mean kaise girian?

mrinalini ne kaha-mujhe bahut udas dekh bhaiya ne kaha, chalo tumhean ek tamasha dikhalavean, so maian bhi aj yahaan mela dekhane ayi. kuchh kolahal sunakar maian nav par kh di ho dekhane lagi. do navavaloan mean jhag da ho raha tha. unhian ke jhag de mean hathapaee mean nav hil gayi aur maian gir p di. phir kya hua, so maian kuchh nahian janati.

itane mean door se ek nav ati huee dikhayi p di, us par kishoranath tha. usane mrinalini ko dekhakar bahut harsh prakat kiya, aur sab log milakar bahut anandit hue.

bahut kuchh batachit hone ke uparant mrinalini aur kishor donoan ne madan ke ghar chalana svikar kiya. navean nadi-tat par sthit madan ke ghar ki or badhian. us samay madan ko ek doosari hi chinta thi.

bhojan ke uparant kishoranath ne kaha-madan, ham ab bhi tumako chhota bhaee hi samajhate haian; par tum shayad hamase kuchh rusht ho gaye ho.

madan ne kaha-bhaiya, kuchh nahian. is das se jo kuchh dhithaee huee ho, use kshama karana, maian to apaka vahi madan hooan.

isi tarah ki bahut-si batean hoti rahian, aur phir doosare din kishoranath mrinalini ko sath lekar apane ghar gaya.

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amaranath baboo ki avastha b di shochaniy hai. vah ek prakar se mady ke nashe mean choor rahate haian. kam-kaj dekhana sab chho d diya hai. akela kishoranath kam-kaj sanbhalane ke lie tatpar hua, par usake vyapar ki dasha atyant shochaniy hoti gayi, aur usake pita ka svasthy bhi big d chala. kramash: usako charoan or andhakar dikhaee dene laga.

sansar ki kaisi vilakshan gati hai! jo baboo amaranath ek samay sare silon mean prasiddh vyapari gine jate the, aur vyapari log jinase salah lene ke lie tarasate the, vahi amaranath is samay kaisi avastha mean haian! koee unase milane bhi nahian ata!

kishoranath ek din apane aphis mean baitha kary dekh raha tha. akasmath mrinalini bhi usi sthan mean a gayi aur ek kursi khianchakar baith gayi. usane kishor se kaha-kyoan bhaiya, pitaji ki kaisi avastha hai? kam-kaj ki bhi dasha achchhi nahian hai, tum bhi chinta se vyakul rahate ho, yah kya hai?

kishoranath-bahan kuchh n poochho, pitaji ki avastha to tum dekh hi rahi ho. kam-kaj ki avastha bhi atyant shochaniy ho rahi hai. pachas lakh rupaye ke lagabhag bazar ka dena hai; aur aphis ka rupaya sab bazar mean phans gaya hai, jo ki kam dekhe-bhale bina pitaji ki asvasthata ke karan dab-sa gaya hai. isi soch mean baitha hua hooan ki eeshvar kya kareange!

mrinalini bhayatur ho gayi. usake netroan se aansuoan ki dhara bahane lagi. kishor use samajhane laga; phir bola-keval ek eemanadar karmachari agar kam-kaj ki dekh-bhal kiya karata, to yah avastha n hoti. aj yadi madan hota, to ham logoan ki yah dasha n hoti.

madan ka nam sunate hi mrinalini kuchh vivarn ho gayi aur usaki aankhoan mean aansoo bhar aye. itane mean daraban ne akar kaha-sarakar, ek rajistri chiththi mrinalini devi ke nam se ayi hai, dakiya bahar kh da hai.

kishor ne kaha-bula lao.

kishor ne vah rajistri lekar kholi. usamean ek patr aur ek stamp ka kagaz tha. dekhakar kishor ne mrinalini ke age pheank diya. mrinalini ne phir vah patr kishor ke hath mean dekar padhऩe ke liye kaha. kishor padhऩe laga.

‘‘mrinalini!

aj maian tumako patr likh raha hooan. asha hai ki tum ise dhyan dekar padhogi. maian ek anajane sthan ka rahanevala kangal ke bhesh mean tumase mila aur tumhare parivar mean palit hua. tumhare pita ne mujhe ashray diya, aur maian sukh se tumhara mukh dekhakar din bitane laga. par daiv ko vah bhi thik n jancha! achchha, jaisi usaki ichchha! par maian tumhare parivar ko sada sneh ki drishti se dekhata hooan. baboo amaranath ke kahane-sunane ka mujhe kuchh dhyan bhi nahian hai, maian use ashirvad samajhata hooan. mere chitt mean usaka tanik bhi dhyan nahian hai, par keval pashchattap yah hai ki maian unase bina kahe-sune chala aya. achchha, isake lie unase kshama maang lena aur bhaee kishoranath se bhi mera yathochit abhivadan kah dena.

ab kuchh avashyak batean maian likhata hooan, unhean dhyan se padho. jahaan tak sambhav hai, unake karane mean tum aga-pichha n karogi-yah mujhe vishvas hai. mujhe tumhare parivar ki dasha achchhi tarah vidit hai, maian use likhakar tumhara du:kh nahian badhana chahata. suno, yah ek ‘bil’ hai jisamean maianne apani sab silon ki sampatti tumhare nam likh di hai. vah tumhari hi hai, use lene mean tumako kuchh sankoch n karana chahiye. vah sab tumhare hi rupaye ka labh hai. jo dhan maian vetan mean pata tha, vahi mool karan hai. astu, yah mooladhan, labh aur byaj-sahit, tumako lauta diya jata hai. ise avashy svikar karana, aur svikar karo ya n karo, ab siva tumhare isaka svami kaun hai? kyoanki maian bharatavarsh se jis roop mean aya tha, usi roop mean lauta ja raha hooan. maian is patr ko likhakar tab bhejata hooan, jab ghar se nikalakar jahaz ko ravana ho chuka hooan. ab tumase bheant bhi nahian ho sakati. tum yadi ao bhi, to us samay maian jahaz par hoooanga. tumase meri keval yahi prarthana hai ki ‘tum mujhe bhool jana’.-madan’’

yah patr padhate hi mrinalini ki aur kishoranath ki avastha doosari hi ho gayi. mrinalini ne katar svar se kaha-bhaiya, kya samudr-tat tak chal sakate ho?

kishoranath ne kh de hokar kaha-avashy!

bas, turant hi ek ga di par savar hokar donoan samudr-tat ki or chale. jyoanhi ve pahuanche, tyoanhi jahaz tat chho d chuka tha. us samay vyakul hokar mrinalini ki aankhean kisi ko khoj rahi thian. kintu adhik khoj nahian karani p di.

kishor aur mrinalini donoan ne dekha ki gerue rang ka kap da pahine hue ek vyakti donoan ko hath jo de hue jahaz par kh da hai, aur jahaz shighrata ke sath samudr ke bich mean chala ja raha hai!

mrinalini ne dekha ki bich mean agadh samudr hai!