मिस पद्मा -प्रेमचंद

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

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

kanoon mean achchhi saphalata prapt kar lene ke bad mis padma ko ek naya anubhav hua, vah tha jivan ka soonapan. vivah ko usane ek aprakritik bandhan samajha tha aur nishchay kar liya tha ki svatantr rahakar jivan ka upabhog karooangi. em.e. ki digri li, phir qanoon pas kiya aur praiktis shuroo kar di. roopavati thi, yuvati thi, mridubhashini thi aur pratibhashalini bhi thi. marg mean koee badha n thi. dekhate-dekhate vah apane sathi naujavan mard vakiloan ko pichhe chho dakar age nikal gayi aur ab usaki amadani kabhi-kabhi ek hazar se bhi oopar badh jati. ab utane parishram aur sir-magajan ki avashyakata n rahi. mukadame adhikatar vahi hote the, jinaka use poora anubhav ho chuka tha, unake vishay mean kisi tarah ki taiyari ki use zaroorat n maloom hoti. apani shaktiyoan par kuchh vishvas bhi ho gaya tha. qanoon mean kaise vijay mila karati hai, isake kuchh latake bhi use maloom ho gaye the. isalie use ab bahut avakash milata tha aur ise vah kisse-kaha,niyaan padhane, sair karane, sinema dekhane, milane-milane mean kharch karati thi. jivan ko sukhi banane ke lie kisi vyasan ki zaroorat ko vah khoob samajhati thi. usane phool aur paude lagane ka vyasan pal liya tha. tarah-tarah ke bij aur paude mangati aur unhean ugate-badhate, phoolate-phalate dekhakar khush hoti; magar phir bhi jivan mean soonepan ka anubhav hota rahata tha. yah bat n thi ki use purushoan se virakti ho. nahian, usake premiyoan ki kami n thi. agar usake pas keval roop aur yauvan hota, to bhi upasakoan ka abhav n rahata; magar yahaan to roop aur yauvan ke sath dhan bhi tha. phir rasik-vrind kyoan chook jate ?   padma ko vilas se ghrina thi nahian, ghrina thi paradhinata se, vivah ko jivan ka vyavasay banane se. jab svatantr rahakar bhog-vilas ka anand u daya ja sakata hai, to phir kyoan n u daya jay ? bhog mean use koee naitik badha n thi, ise vah keval deh ki ek bhookh samajhati thi. is bhookh ko kisi saph-suthari dookan se bhi shant kiya ja sakata hai. aur padma ko saph-suthari dookan ki hamesha talash rahati thi. grahak dookan mean vahi chiz leta hai, jo use pasand ati hai. padma bhi vahi chiz chahati thi. yoan usake darjanoan ashik the qee vakil, kee prophesar, kee daktar, kee rees. magar ye sab-ke-sab aiyash the bephikr, keval bhauanre ki tarah ras lekar u d jane vale. aisa ek bhi n tha, jis par vah vishvas kar sakati. ab use maloom hua ki usaka man keval bhog nahian chahata, kuchh aur bhi chahata hai. vah chiz kya thi ? poora atm-samarpan aur yah use n milati thi.

usake premiyoan mean ek mi. prasad tha b da hi roopavan aur dhurandhar vidvanh. ek kalej mean prophesar tha. vah bhi mukt-bhog ke adarsh ka upasak tha aur padma us par phida thi. chahati thi use baandhakar rakhe, sampoornat: apana bana le; lekin prasad changul mean n ata tha. sandhya ho gayi thi. padma sair karane ja rahi thi ki prasad a gaya. sair karana multavi ho gaya. batachit mean sair se kahian zyada anand tha aur padma aj prasad se kuchh dil ki bat kahane vali thi. kee din ke soch-vichar ke bad usane kah dalane hi ka nishchay kiya tha. usane prasad ki nashili aankhoan se aankhean milakar kaha, ‘tum yahian mere bangale mean akar kyoan nahian rahate ? prasad ne kutil-vinod ke sath kaha, ‘natija yah hoga ki do-char mahine mean yah mulakat bhi band ho jayegi.‘ 'meri samajh mean nahian aya, tumhara kya ashay hai.' 'ashay vahi hai, jo maian kah raha hooan.' 'akhir kyoan ?' 'maian apani svatantrata n khona chahooanga, tum apani svatantrata n khona chahogi. tumhare pas tumhare ashik ayeange, mujhe jalan hogi. mere pas meri premikaean ayeangi, tumhean jalan hogi. manamutav hoga, phir vaimanasy hoga aur tum mujhe ghar se nikal dogi. ghar tumhara hai hi ! mujhe bura lagega hi, phir yah maitri kaise nibhegi ?' donoan kee minat tak maun rahe. prasad ne paristhiti ko itane spasht belag, latthamar shabdoan mean kholakar rakh diya tha ki kuchh kahane ki jagah n milati thi ! akhir prasad hi ko nukata soojha. bola, ‘zab tak ham donoan yah pratijna n kar lean ki aj se maian tumhara hooan aur tum meri ho, tab tak ek sath nirvah nahian ho sakata.‘ 'tum yah pratijna karoge ?' 'pahale tum batalao.' 'maian karooangi.' 'to maian bhi karooanga.' 'magar is ek bat ke siva maian aur sabhi batoan mean svatantr rahooangi !' 'aur maian bhi is ek bat ke siva har bat mean svatantr rahooanga.' 'manjoor.' 'manjoor !' 'to kab se ?' 'jab se tum kaho.' 'maian to kahati hooan, kal hi se.' 'tay. lekin agar tumane isake viruddh acharan kiya to ?' 'aur tumane kiya to ?' 'tum mujhe ghar se nikal sakati ho; lekin maian tumhean kya saza dooanga ?' 'tum mujhe tyag dena, aur kya karoge ?' 'ji nahian, tab itane se chitt ko shanti n milegi. tab maian chahooanga tumhean jalil karana; balki tumhari hatya karana.' 'tum b de nirdayi ho, prasad ?' 'jab tak ham donoan svadhin haian, hamean kisi ko kuchh kahane ka hak nahian, lekin ek bar pratijna mean bandh jane ke bad phir n maian usaki avajna sah sakooanga, n tum sah sakogi. tumhare pas dand ka sadhan hai, mere pas nahian hai. qanoon mujhe koee bhi adhikar nahian dega. maian to keval apane pashubal se pratijna ka palan karaooanga aur tumhare itane naukaroan ke samane maian akela kya kar sakooanga ?' 'tum to chitr ka shyam paksh hi dekhate ho ! jab maian tumhari ho rahi hooan, to yah makan, naukar-chakar aur jayadad sabakuchh tumhara hai. ham-tum donoan janate haian kirh eershya se zyada ghrinit koee samajik pap nahian hai. tumhean mujhase prem hai ya nahian, maian nahian kah sakati; lekin tumhare lie maian sabakuchh sahane, sabakuchh karane ko taiyar hooan.' 'dil se kahati ho padma ?' 'sachche dil se.' 'magar n-jane kyoan tumhare oopar vishvas nahian a raha hai ?' 'maian to tumhare oopar vishvas kar rahi hooan.' 'yah samajh lo, maian mehaman banakar tumhare ghar mean n rahooanga, svami banakar rahooanga.' 'tum ghar ke svami hi nahian, mere svami banakar rahoge. maian tumhari svamini banakar rahooangi.' pro. prasad aur mis padma donoan sath rahate haian aur prasann haian. donoan hi ne jivan ka jo adarsh man mean sthir kar liya tha, vah saty ban gaya hai. prasad ko keval do sau rupaye vetan milata hai; magar ab vah apani amadani ka duguna bhi kharch kar de to paravah nahian. pahale vah kabhi-kabhi sharab pita tha, ab rat-din sharab mean mast rahata hai. ab usake lie alag apani kar hai, alag apane naukar haian, tarah-tarah ki bahumooly chizean mangavata rahata hai aur padma b de harsh se usaki sari phijoolakharchiyaan bardasht karati hai. nahian, bardasht karane ka prashn nahian. vah khud use achchhe-se-achchhe soot pahanakar achchhe-se-achchhe thath mean rakhakar, prasann hoti hai. jaisi gh di is vakt pro. prasad ke pas hai, shahar ke b de-se-b de rees ke pas n hogi aur padma jitana hi usase dabati hai prasad utana hi use dabata hai. kabhi-kabhi use nagavar bhi lagata hai, par kisi ajnat karan se apane ko usake vash mean pati hai. prasad ko jara bhi udas ya chintit dekhakar usaka man chanchal ho jata hai. us par avajean kasi jati haian; phabatiyaan chust ki jati haian. jo usake purane premi the, ve use jalane aur kudhane ka prayas bhi karate haian; par vah prasad ke pas ate hi sab kuchh bhool jati hai. prasad ne us par poora adhipaty pa liya hai aur usane isaka jnan padma ki barik aankhoan se padha hai aur usaka asan achchhi tarah pa gaya hai.   magar jaise rajaniti ke kshetr mean adhikar durupayog ki or jata hai, usi tarah prem ke kshetr mean bhi vah durupayog ki or hi jata hai aur jo kamazor hai, use tavan dena p data hai. atmabhimani padma ab prasad ki lauandi thi aur prasad usaki durbalata ka fayada uthane se kyoan chookata ? usane kil ki patali nok chubha di thi aur b di kushalata se uttarottar use andar thoankata jata tha. yahaan tak ki usane rat ko der mean ghar ana shuroo kiya. padma ko apane sath n le jata, usase bahana karata ki mere sir mean dard hai aur jab padma ghoomane jati to apani kar nikal leta aur u d jata. do sal gujar gaye the aur padma ko garbh tha. vah sthool bhi ho chali thi. usake roop mean pahale ki-si navinata aur madakata n rah gee thi. vah ghar ki murgi thi, sag barabar. ek din isi tarah padma lautakar ayi, to prasad gayab the. vah jhuanjhala uthi. idhar kee din se vah prasad ka rang badala hua dekh rahi thi.   aj usane kuchh spasht batean kahane ka sahas batora. das baj gaye, gyarah baj gaye, barah baj gaye, padma usake intajar mean baithi thi. bhojan thanda ho gaya, naukar-chakar so gaye. vah bar-bar uthati, phatak par jakar najar dau dati. ek baje ke qarib prasad ghar aya. padma ne sahas to bahut batora tha; par prasad ke samane jate hi use itani kamazori maloom huee. phir bhi usane jara k de svar mean poochha, ‘aj itani rat tak kahaan the ? kuchh khabar hai, kitani rat gayi ? prasad ko vah is vakt asundarata ki moorti-si lagi. vah ek vidyalay ki chhatra ke sath sinema dekhane gaya tha. bola, ‘tumako aram se so jana chahie tha. tum jis dasha mean ho, usamean tumhean, jahaan tak ho sake, aram se rahana chahie. padma ka sahas kuchh prabal hua, ‘tumase maian jo poochhati hooan, usaka javab do. mujhe jahannum mean bhejo !’ 'to tum bhi mujhe jahannum mean jane do.' 'tum mere sath daga kar rahe ho, yah maian saf dekh rahi hooan.' 'tumhari aankhoan ki jyoti kuchh badh gayi hogi !' 'maian idhar kee din se tumhara mizaj kuchh badala hua dekh rahi hooan.' 'maianne tumhare sath apane ko becha nahian hai. agar tumhara ji mujhase bhar gaya ho, to maian aj jane ko taiyar hooan.' 'tum jane ki dhamaki kyoan dete ho ! yahaan tumane akar koee b da tyag nahian kiya hai.' 'maianne tyag nahian kiya hai ? tum yah kahane ka sahas kar rahi ho ? ‘maian dekhata hooan, tumhara mizaj big d raha hai. tum samajhati ho, maianne ise apang kar diya. magar maian isi vakt tumhean thokar marane ko taiyar hooan, isi vakt, isi vakt !' padma ka sahas jaise bujh gaya tha. prasad apana trank sanbhal raha tha. padma ne din-bhav se kaha, ‘maianne to aisi koee bat nahian kahi, jo tum itana big d uthe. maian to keval tumase poochh rahi thi, kahaan the. kya mujhe itana bhi adhikar nahian dena chahate ? maian kabhi tumhari ichchha ke viruddh koee kam nahian karati aur tum mujhe bat-bat par daantate rahate ho. tumhean mujh par jara bhi daya nahian ati ! mujhe tumase kuchh bhi to sahanubhooti milani chahie. maian tumhare lie kya kuchh karane ko taiyar nahian hooan ? aur aj jo meri dasha ho gayi hai, to tum mujhase aankhean pher lete ho ...usaka kanth ruandh gaya aur mej par sir rakhakar phoot-phootakar rone lagi. prasad ne poori vijay payi.

padma ke lie matritv ab b da hi apriy prasang tha. us par ek chianta mandarati rahati. kabhi-kabhi vah bhay se kaanp uthati aur pachhatati. prasad ki nirankushata din-din badhati jati thi. kya kare, kya n kare. garbh poora ho gaya tha, vah kort n jati thi. din-bhar akeli baithi rahati. prasad sandhya samay ata, chay-vay pikar phir u d jata, to gyarah-barah baje ke pahale  n lautata. vah kahaan jata hai, yah bhi usase chhipa n tha. prasad ko jaise usaki soorat se napharat thi. poorn garbh, pila mukh, chintit, sashank, udas. phir bhi vah prasad ko shrriangar aur abhooshanoan se baandhane ki cheshta se baj n ati thi. magar vah jitana hi prayas karati, utana hi prasad ka man usaki or se phirata tha. is avastha mean shrriangar use aur bhadda lagata. prasav-vedana ho rahi thi. prasad ka pata nahian. nars maujood thi, ledi daktar maujood thi; magar prasad ka n rahana padma ki prasav-vedana ko aur bhi darun bana raha tha. balak ko god mean dekhakar usaka kaleja phool utha, magar phir prasad ko samane n pakar usane balak ki or se muanh pher liya. mithe phal mean jaise ki de p d gaye hoan.  paanch din saur-grih mean katane ke bad jaise padma jelakhane se nikali ... nangi talavar bani huee. mata banakar vah apane mean ek adbhut shakti ka anubhav kar rahi thi. usane chaparasi ko chek dekar baiank bheja. prasav-sambandhi kee bil ada karane the. chaparasi khali hath laut aya. padma ne poochha, ‘rupaye ?’ 'baiank ke baboo ne kaha,rupaye sab prasad baboo nikal le gaye.' padma ko goli lag gayi. bis hazar rupaye pranoan ki tarah sanchit kar rakhe the, isi shishu ke lie. hay ! saur se nikalane par maloom hua, prasad vidyalay ki ek balika ko lekar iangalaind ki sair karane chala gaya. jhallayi huee ghar mean ayi, prasad ki tasavir uthakar zamin par patak di aur use pairoan se kuchala. usaka jitana saman tha, use jama karake diyasalaee laga di aur usake nam par thook diya.   ek mahina bit gaya tha. padma apane bangale ke phatak par shishu ko god mean lie kh di thi. usaka krodh ab shokamay nirasha ban chuka tha. balak par kabhi daya ati, kabhi pyar ata, kabhi ghrina ati. usane s dak par dekha, ek yooropiyan ledi apane pati ke sath apane balak ko bachchoan ki ga di mean bithaye liye chali ja rahi thi. usane hasarat-bhari aankhoan se us khushanasib jo de ko dekha aur usaki aankhean sajal ho gayian.