राजा हरदौल- प्रेमचंद

buandelakhand mean orachha purana rajy hai. isake raja buandele haian. in buandeloan ne paha doan ki ghatiyoan mean apana jivan bitaya hai. ek samay orachhe ke raja jujhar sianh the. ye b de sahasi aur buddhiman the. shahajahaan us samay dilli ke badashah the. jab shahajahaan lodi ne balava kiya aur vah shahi mulk ko lootata-patata orachhe ki or a nikala, tab raja jujhar sianh ne usase moracha liya. raja ke is kam se gunagrahi shahajahaan bahut prasann hue. unhoanne turant hi raja ko dakkhin ka shasan-bhar sauanpa. us din orachhe mean b da anand manaya gaya. shahi doot khilat aur sanad le kar raja ke pas aya. jujhar sianh ko b de-b de kam karane ka avasar mila.

safar ki taiyariyaan hone lagian, tab raja ne apane chhote bhaee haradaul sianh ko bula kar kaha-

'bhaiya, maian to jata hooan. ab yah raj-pat tumhare supurd hai. tum bhi ise ji se pyar karana! nyay hi raja ka sabase b da sahayak hai. nyay ki gadhi mean koee shatru nahian ghus sakata, chahe vah ravan ki sena ya iandr ka bal lekar ae, par nyay vahi sachcha hai, jise praja bhi nyay samajhe. tumhara kam keval nyay hi karana n hoga, balki praja ko apane nyay ka vishvas bhi dilana hoga aur maian tumhean kya samajhaooan, tum svayan samajhadar ho.'

yah kah kar unhoanne apani pag di utari aur haradaul sianh ke sir par rakh dian. haradaul rota hua unake pairoan se lipat gaya. isake bad raja apani rani se vida hone ke lie ranivas ae. rani daravaze par kh di ro rahi thi. unhean dekhate hi pairoan par p di. jujhar sianh ne utha kar use chhati se lagaya aur kaha, 'pyari, yah rone ka samay nahian hai. buandeloan ki striyaan aise avasar par roya nahian karatian. eeshvar ne chaha, to ham-tum jald mileange. mujh par aisi hi priti rakhana. maianne raj-pat haradaul ko sauanpa hai, vah abhi l daka hai. usane abhi duniya nahian dekhi hai. apani salahoan se usaki madad karati rahana.'

rani ki zaban band ho gee. vah apane man mean kahane lagi, 'hay yah kahate haian, buandeloan ki striyaan aise avasaroan par roya nahian karatian. shayad unake hriday nahian hota, ya agar hota hai to usamean prem nahian hota!' rani kaleje par patthar rakh kar aansoo pi gee aur hath jo d kar raja ki or muskarati huee dekhane lagi; par kya vah muskarahat thi. jis tarah aandhere maidan mean mashal ki roshani aandhere ko aur bhi athah kar deti hai, usi tarah rani ki muskarahat usake man ke athah du:kh ko aur bhi prakat kar rahi thi.

jujhar sianh ke chale jane ke bad haradaul sianh raj karane laga. tho de hi dinoan mean usake nyay aur praja-vatsaly ne praja ka man har liya. log jujhar sianh ko bhool ge. jujhar sianh ke shatru bhi the aur mitr bhi; par haradaul sianh ka koee shatru n tha, sab mitr hi the. vah aisa hansamukh aur madhur bhashi tha ki usase jo batean kar leta, vahi jivan bhar usaka bhakt bana rahata. raj bhar mean aisa koee n tha jo usake pas tak n pahuanch sakata ho. rat-din usake darabar ka phatak sabake lie khula rahata tha. orachhe ko kabhi aisa sarvapriy raja nasib n hua tha. vah udar tha, nyasi tha, vidya aur gun ka grahak tha, par sabase b da gun jo usamean tha, vah usaki virata thi. usaka vah gun had darje ko pahuanch gaya tha. jis jati ke jivan ka avalanb talavar par hai, vah apane raja ke kisi gun par itana nahian rijhati jitana usaki virata par. haradaul apane gunoan se apani praja ke man ka bhi raja ho gaya, jo mulk aur mal par raj karane se bhi kathin hai. is prakar ek varsh bit gaya. udhar dakkhin mean jujhar sianh ne apane prabandh se charoan or shahi dabadaba jama diya, idhar orachhe mean haradaul ne praja par mohan-mantr phooank diya.

phalgun ka mahina tha, abir aur gulal se zamin lal ho rahi thi. kamadev ka prabhav logoan ko bh daka raha tha. rabi ne khetoan mean sunahala farsh bichha rakha tha aur khalihanoan mean sunahale mahal utha die the. santosh is sunahale farsh par ithalata phirata tha aur nishchiantata us sunahale mahal mean tane alap rahi thi. inhian dinoan dilli ka namavar phekaiti kadir khaan orachhe aya. b de-b de pahalavan usaka loha man ge the. dilli se orachhe tak saiank doan mardanagi ke mad se matavale usake samane ae, par koee usase jit n saka. usase l dana bhagy se nahian, balki maut se l dana tha. vah kisi inam ka bhookha n tha. jaisa hi dil ka diler tha, vaisa hi man ka raja tha. thik holi ke din usane dhoom-dham se orachhe mean soochana di ki 'khuda ka sher, dilli ka kadir khaan orachhe a pahuancha hai. jise apani jan bhari ho, a kar apane bhagy ka nipatara kar le.' orachhe ke b de-b de buandele soorama vah ghamand-bhari vani sun kar garam ho uthe. phag aur daph ki tan ke badale dhol ki vir-dhvani sunaee dene lagi. haradaul ka akha da orachhe ke pahalavanoan aur phekaitoan ka sabase b da adda tha. sandhya ko yahaan sare shahar ke soorama jama hue. kaladev aur bhaladev buandeloan ki nak the, saiank doan maidan mare hue. ye hi donoan pahalavan kadir khaan ka ghamand choor karane ke lie ge.

doosare din qile ke samane talab ke kinare b de maidan mean orachhe ke chhote-b de sabhi jama hue. kaise-kaise sajile, alabele javan the, sir par khusharang baanki pag di, mathe par chandan ka tilak, aankhoan mean mardanagi ka saroor, kamar mean talavar. aur kaise-kaise boodhe the, tani hueean mooanchhean, sadi par tirachhi pag di, kanoan mean bandhi huee dadhiyaan, dekhane mean to boodhe, par kam mean javan, kisi ko kuchh n samajhane vale. unaki mardana chal-dhal naujavanoan ko lajati thi. har ek ke muanh se virata ki batean nikal rahi thian. naujavan kahate the, 'dekhean aj orachhe ki laj rahati hai ya nahian.' par boodhe kahate- orachhe ki har kabhi nahian huee, n hogi. viroan ka yah josh dekh kar raja haradaul ne b de zor se kah diya, 'khabaradar, buandeloan ki laj rahe ya n rahe; par unaki pratishtha mean bal n p dane pae- yadi kisi ne auroan ko yah kahane ka avasar diya ki orachhe vale talavar se n jit sake to dhaandhali kar baithe, vah apane ko jati ka shatru samajhe.'

soory nikal aya tha. ekaek naga de par chot p di aur asha tatha bhay ne logoan ke man ko uchhal kar muanh tak pahuancha diya. kaladev aur kadir khaan donoan langot kase sheroan ki tarah akha de mean utare aur gale mil ge. tab donoan taraf se talavarean nikalian aur donoan ke bagaloan mean chali geean. phir badal ke do tuk doan se bijaliyaan nikalane lagian. poore tin ghante tak yahi maloom hota raha ki do aangare haian. hazaroan adami kh de tamasha dekh rahe the aur maidan mean adhi rat ka-sa sannata chhaya tha. haan, jab kabhi kaladev girahadar hath chalata ya koee peanchadar var bacha jata, to logoan ki gardan ap hi ap uth jati; par kisi ke muanh se ek shabd bhi nahian nikalata tha. akha de ke aandar talavaroan ki khianchatan thi; par dekhanevaloan ke lie akha de se bahar maidan mean isase bhi badh kar tamasha tha. bar-bar jatiy pratishtha ke vichar se man ke bhavoan ko rokana aur prasannata ya du:kh ka shabd muanh se bahar n nikalane dena talavaroan ke var bachane se adhik kathin kam tha. ekaek kadir khaan 'allaho-akabar' chillaya, mano badal garaj utha aur usake garajate hi kaladev ke sir par bijali gir p di.

kaladev ke girate hi buandeloan ko sabr n raha. har ek ke chehare par nirbal krodh aur kuchale hue ghamand ki tasvir khianch gee. hazaroan adami josh mean a kar akha de par dau de, par haradaul ne kaha, 'khabaradar! ab koee age n badhe.' is avaz ne pairoan ke sath janjir ka kam kiya. darshakoan ko rok kar jab ve akha de mean ge aur kaladev ko dekha, to aankhoan mean aansoo bhar ae. jakhmi sher zamin par p da t dap raha tha. usake jivan ki tarah usaki talavar ke do tuk de ho ge the.

aj ka din bita, rat aee; par buandeloan ki aankhoan mean niand kahaan. logoan ne karavatean badal kar rat kati jaise dukhit manushy vikalata se subah ki bat johata hai, usi tarah buandele rah-rah kar akash ki taraf dekhate aur usaki dhimi chal par jhuanjhalate the. unake jatiy ghamand par gahara ghav laga tha. doosare din jyoan hi soory nikala, tin lakh buandele talab ke kinare pahuanche. jis samay bhaladev sher ki tarah akha de ki taraf chala, diloan mean dh dakan-si hone lagi. kal jab kaladev akha de mean utara tha, buandeloan ke hausale badhe hue the, par aj vah bat n thi. hriday mean asha ki jagah dar ghusa hua tha. kadir khaan koee chutila var karata to logoan ke dil uchhal kar hoanthoan tak a jate. soory sir par chadha jata tha aur logoan ke dil baith jate the. isamean koee sandeh nahian ki bhaladev apane bhaee se phurtila aur tez tha. usane kee bar kadir khaan ko nicha dikhalaya, par dilli ka nipun pahalavan har bar sanbhal jata tha. poore tin ghante tak donoan bahaduroan mean talavarean chalati rahian. ekaek khatake ki avaz huee aur bhaladev ki talavar ke do tuk de ho ge. raja haradaul akha de ke samane kh de the. unhoanne bhaladev ki taraf tezi se apani talavar pheanki. bhaladev talavar lene ke lie jhuka hi tha ki kadir khaan ki talavar usaki gardan par a p di. ghav gahara n tha, keval ek 'charaka' tha; par usane l daee ka phaisala kar diya.

hatash buandele apane-apane gharoan ko laute. yadyapi bhaladev ab bhi l dane ko taiyar tha; par haradaul ne samajha kar kaha ki 'bhaiyoan, hamari har usi samay ho gee jab hamari talavar ne javab de diya. yadi ham kadir khaan ki jagah hote to nihatthe adami par var n karate aur jab tak hamare shatru ke hath mean talavar n a jati, ham us par hath n uthate; par kadir khaan mean yah udarata kahaan? balavan shatru ka samana karane mean udarata ko tak par rakh dena p data hai. to bhi hamane dikha diya hai ki talavar ki l daee mean ham usake barabar haian ab hamako yah dikhana raha hai ki hamari talavar mean bhi vaisa hi jauhar hai!' isi tarah logoan ko tasalli de kar raja haradaul ranivas ko ge.

kulina ne poochha - 'lala, aj dangal ka kya rang raha?'
haradaul ne sir jhuka kar javab diya - 'aj bhi vahi kal ka-sa hal raha.'
kulina - 'kya bhaladev mara gaya?'
haradaul - 'nahian, jan se to nahian par har ho gee.'
kulina - 'to ab kya karana hoga?'
haradaul - 'maian svayan isi soch mean hooan. aj tak orachhe ko kabhi nicha n dekhana p da tha. hamare pas dhan n tha, par apani virata ke samane ham raj aur dhan koee chiz n samajhate the. ab ham kis muanh se apani virata ka ghamand kareange? orachhe ki aur buandeloan ki laj ab jati hai.'
kulina - 'kya ab koee as nahian hai?'
haradaul - 'hamare pahalavanoan mean vaisa koee nahian hai jo usase bazi le jae. bhaladev ki har ne buandeloan ki himmat to d di hai. aj sare shahar mean shok chhaya hua hai. saiank doan gharoan mean ag nahian jali. chirag roshan nahian hua. hamare desh aur jati ki vah chiz jisase hamara man tha, ab aantim saans le rahi hai. bhaladev hamara ustad tha. usake har chukane ke bad mera maidan mean ana dhrishtata hai; par buandeloan ki sakh jati hai, to mera sir bhi usake sath jaega. kadir khaan beshak apane hunar mean ek hi hai, par hamara bhaladev kabhi usase kam nahian. usaki talavar yadi bhaladev ke hath mean hoti to maidan zaroor usake hath rahata. orachhe mean keval ek talavar hai jo kadir khaan ki talavar ka muanh mo d sakati hai. vah bhaiya ki talavar hai. agar tum orachhe ki nak rakhana chahati ho to use mujhe de do. yah hamari aantim cheshta hogi. yadi is bar bhi har huee to orachhe ka nam sadaiv ke lie doob jaega.'

kulina sochane lagi, talavar inako dooan ya n dooan. raja ruk ge haian. unaki ajna thi ki kisi doosare ki parachhahian bhi us par n p dane pae. kya aisi dasha mean maian unaki ajna ka ullanghan karooan to ve naraz hoange? kabhi nahian. jab ve suneange ki maianne kaise kathin samay mean talavar nikali hai, to unhean sachchi prasannata hogi. buandeloan ki an kisako itani pyari nahian hai? usase zyada orachhe ki bhalaee chahane vala kaun hoga? is samay unaki ajna ka ullanghan karana hi ajna manana hai. yah soch kar kulina ne talavar haradaul ko de di.

savera hote hi yah khabar phail gee ki raja haradaul kadir khaan se l dane ke lie ja rahe haian. itana sunate hi logoan mean sanasani-si phail gee aur chauank uthe. pagaloan ki tarah log akha de ki or dau de. har ek adami kahata tha ki jab tak ham jite haian, maharaj ko l dane nahian deange, par jab log akha de ke pas pahuanche to dekha ki akha de mean bijaliyaan-si chamak rahi haian. buandeloan ke diloan par us samay jaisi bit rahi thi, usaka anuman karana kathin hai. us samay us lanbe-chau de maidan mean jahaan tak nigah jati thi, adami hi adami nazar ate the, par charoan taraf sannata tha. har ek aankh akha de ki taraf lagi huee thi aur har ek ka dil haradaul ki mangal-kamana ke lie eeshvar ka prarthi tha. kadir khaan ka ek-ek var hazaroan diloan ke tuk de kar deta tha aur haradaul ki ek-ek kat se manoan mean anand ki laharean uthati thian. akha doan mean do pahalavanoan ka samana tha aur akha de ke bahar asha aur nirasha ka. akhir gh diyal ne pahala pahar bajaya aur haradaul ki talavar bijali banakar kadir ke sir par giri. yah dekhate hi buandele mare anand ke unmatt ho ge. kisi ko kisi ki sudhi n rahi. koee kisi se gale milata, koee uchhalata aur koee chhalaangean marata tha. hazaroan adamiyoan par virata ka nasha chha gaya. talavarean svayan myan se nikal p dian, bhale chamakane lage. jit ki khushi mean saiank doan janean bheant ho geean. par jab haradaul akha de se bahar ae aur unhoanne buandeloan ki or tez nigahoan se dekha to an-ki-an mean log sanbhal ge. talavarean myan mean ja chhipian. khy़al a gaya. yah khushi kyoan, yah umang kyoan aur yah pagalapan kisalie? buandeloan ke lie yah koee nee bat nahian huee. is vichar ne logoan ka dil thanda kar diya. haradaul ki is virata ne use har ek buandele ke dil mean man pratishtha ki ooanchi jagah par bithaya, jahaan nyay aur udarata bhi use n pahuancha sakati thi. vah pahale hi se sarvapriy tha aur ab vah apani jati ka viravar aur buandela dilavari ka siramaur ban gaya.

raja jujhar sianh ne bhi dakshin mean apani, yogyata ka parichay diya. ve keval l daee mean hi vir n the, balki rajy-shasan mean bhi advitiy the. unhoanne apane suprabandh se dakshin praantoan ka balavan rajy bana diya aur varsh bhar ke bad badashah se ajna lekar ve orachhe ki taraf chale. orachhe ki yad unhean sadaiv bechain karati rahi. ah orachha! vah din kab aega ki phir tere darshan hoange! raja manzilean marate chale ate the, n bhookh thi, n pyas, orachhevaloan ki muhabbat khianche lie ati thi. yahaan tak ki orachhe ke jangaloan mean a pahuanche. sath ke adami pichhe chhoot ge.

dopahar ka samay tha. dhoop tez thi. ve gho de se utare aur ek pe d ki chhaanh mean ja baithe. bhagyavash aj haradaul bhi jit ki khushi mean shikar khelane nikale the. saiank doan buandela saradar unake sath the. sab abhiman ke nashe mean choor the. unhoanne raja jujharasianh ko akele baithe the dekha, par ve apane ghamand mean itane doobe hue the ki inake pas tak n ae. samajha koee yatri hoga. haradaul ki aankhoan ne bhi dhokha khaya. ve gho de par savar ak date hue jujharasianh ke samane ae aur poochhana chahate the ki tum kaun ho ki bhaee se aankh mil gee. pahachanate hi gho de se kood p de aur unako pranam kiya. raja ne bhi uth kar haradaul ko chhati se laga liya, par us chhati mean ab bhaee ki muhabbat n thi. muhabbat ki jagah eershya ne gher li thi aur vah keval isilie ki haradaul door se nange pair unaki taraf n dau da, usake savaroan ne door hi se unaki abhyarthana n ki. sandhya hote-hote donoan bhaee orachhe pahuanche. raja ke lautane ka samachar pate hi nagar mean prasannata ki duandubhi bajane lagi. har jagah anandotsav hone laga aur turata-phurati shahar jagamaga utha.

aj rani kulina ne apane hathoan bhojan banaya. nau baje hoange. lauandi ne akar kaha, 'maharaj, bhojan taiyar hai.' donoan bhaee bhojan karane ge. sone ke thal mean raja ke lie bhojan parosa gaya aur chaandi ke thal mean haradaul ke lie. kulina ne svayan bhojan banaya tha, svayan thal parose the aur svayan hi samane laee thi, par dinoan ka chakr kaho, ya bhagy ke durdin, usane bhool se sone ka thal haradaul ke age rakh diya aur chaandi ka raja ke samane. haradaul ne kuchh dhyan n diya, vah varsh bhar se sone ke thal mean khate-khate usaka adi ho gaya tha, par jujhar sianh tilamila ge. jaban se kuchh n bole, par tevar badal ge aur muanh lal ho gaya. rani ki taraf ghoor kar dekha aur bhojan karane lage. par gras vish maloom hota tha. do-char gras kha kar uth ae. rani unake tevar dekh kar dar gee. aj kaise prem se usane bhojan banaya tha, kitani pratiksha ke bad yah shubh din aya tha, usake ullas ka koee paravar n tha; par raja ke tevar dekh kar usake pran sookh ge. jab raja uth ge aur usane thal ko dekha, to kaleja dhak se ho gaya aur pairoan tale se mitti nikal gee. usane sir pit liya, 'eeshvar! aj rat kushalatapoorvak kate, mujhe shakun achchhe dikhaee nahian dete.'

raja jujhar sianh shishamahal mean lete. chatur nain ne rani ka shrriangar kiya aur vah muskara kar boli, 'kal maharaj se isaka inam looangi.' yah kah kar vah chali gee, parantu kulina vahaan se n uthi. vah gahare soch mean p di huee thi. unake samane kaun-sa muanh lekar jaooan? nain ne nahak mera shrriangar kar diya. mera shrriangar dekh kar ve khush bhi hoange? mujhase is samay aparadh hua hai, maian aparadhini hooan, mera unake pas is samay banav-shrriangar karake jana uchit nahian. nahian, nahian, aj mujhe unake pas bhikharin ke bhesh mean jana chahie. maian unase kshama maangooangi. is samay mere lie yahi uchit hai. yah soch kar rani b de shishe ke samane kh di ho gee. vah apsara-si maloom hoti thi. suandarata ki kitani hi tasvirean usane dekhi thian; par use is samay shishe ki tasvir sabase zyada khoobasoorat maloom hoti thi.

suandarata aur atmaruchi ka sath hai. haldi bina rang ke nahian rah sakati. tho di der ke lie kulina suandarata ke mad se phool uthi. vah tan kar kh di ho gee. log kahate haian ki suandarata mean jadoo hai aur vah jadoo, jisaka koee utar nahian. dharm aur karm, tan aur man sab suandarata par nyauchhavar hai. maian suandar n sahi, aisi kuroopa bhi nahian hooan. kya meri suandarata mean itani bhi shakti nahian hai ki maharaj se mera aparadh kshama kara sake? ye bahu-lataean jis samay unake gale ka har hoangi, ye aankhean jis samay prem ke mad se lal hokar dekheangi, tab kya mere sauandary ki shitalata unaki krodhagni ko thanda n kar deangi? par tho di der mean rani ko jnat hua. ah! yah maian kya svapn dekh rahi hooan! mere man mean aisi batean kyoan ati haian! maian achchhi hooan ya buri hooan unaki cheri hooan. mujhase aparadh hua hai, mujhe unase kshama maangani chahie. yah shrriangar aur banav is samay upayukt nahian hai. yah soch kar rani ne sab gahane utar die. itar mean basi huee resham ki sa di alag kar di. motiyoan se bhari maang khol di aur vah khoob phoot-phoot kar roee. yah milap ki rat viyog ki rat se bhi vishesh dukhadayini hai. bhikharini ka bhesh bana kar rani shishamahal ki or chali. pair age badhate the, par man pichhe hata jata tha. daravaze tak aee, par bhitar pair n rakh saki. dil dh dakane laga. aisa jan p da mano usake pair tharra rahe haian.

raja jujharasianh bole - 'kaun hai? kulina! bhitar kyoan nahian a jati?'
kulina ne ji k da karake kaha - 'maharaj, kaise aooan? maian apani jagah krodh ko baitha pati hooan.'
raja - 'yah kyoan nahian kahati ki man doshi hai, isalie aankhean nahian milane deta.'
kulina - 'nissandeh mujhase aparadh hua hai, par ek abala apase kshama ka dan maangati hai.'
raja - 'isaka prayashchit karana hoga'
kulina - 'kyoan kar?'
raja - 'haradaul ke khoon se.'
kulina sir se pair tak kaanp gee. boli - 'kya isalie ki aj meri bhool se jyonar ke thaloan mean ulat-pher ho gaya?'
raja - nahian, isalie ki tumhare prem mean haradaul ne ulat-pher kar diya!

jaise ag ki aanch se loha lal ho jata hai, vaise hi rani ka muanh lal ho gaya. krodh ki agni sadbhavoan ko bhasm kar deti hai, prem aur pratishtha, daya aur nyay, sab jal ke rakh ho jate haian. ek minat tak rani ko aisa maloom hua, mano dil aur dimag donoan khaul rahe haian, par usane atmadaman ki aantim cheshta se apane ko sanbhala, keval itana boli - 'haradaul ko apana l daka aur bhaee samajhati hooan.'

raja uth baithe aur kuchh narm svar mean bole - 'nahian, haradaul l daka nahian hai, l daka maian hooan, jisane tumhare oopar vishvas kiya. kulina, mujhe tumase aisi asha n thi. mujhe tumhare oopar ghamand tha. maian samajhata tha, chaand-soory tal sakate haian, par tumhara dil nahian tal sakata, par aj mujhe maloom hua ki vah mera l dakapan tha. b doan ne sach kaha hai ki stri ka prem pani ki dhar hai, jis or dhal pata hai, udhar hi bah jata hai. sona zyada garam hokar pighal jata hai.'

kulina rone lagi. krodh ki ag pani ban kar aankhoan se nikal p di. jab avaz vash mean huee, to boli, 'apake is sandeh ko kaise door karooan?'
raja - 'haradaul ke khoon se.'
rani - 'mere khoon se dag n mitega?'
raja - 'tumhare khoon se aur pakka ho jaega.'
rani - 'aur koee upay nahian hai?'
raja - 'nahian.'
rani - 'yah apaka aantim vichar hai?'
raja - 'haan, yah mera aantim vichar hai. dekho, is panadan mean pan ka bi da rakha hai. tumhare satitv ki pariksha yahi hai ki tum haradaul ko ise apane hathoan khila do. mere man ka bhram usi samay nikalega jab is ghar se haradaul ki lash nikalegi.'

rani ne ghrina ki drishti se pan ke bi de ko dekha aur vah ulate pair laut aee.

rani sochane lagi, 'kya haradaul ke pran looan? nirdosh, sachcharitr vir haradaul ki jan se apane satitv ki pariksha dooan? us haradaul ke khoon se apana hath kala karooan jo mujhe bahan samajhata hai? yah pap kisake sir p dega? kya ek nirdosh ka khoon rang n laega? ah! abhagi kulina! tujhe aj apane satitv ki pariksha dene ki avashyakata p di hai aur vah aisi kathin? nahian yah pap mujhase nahian hoga. yadi raja mujhe kulata samajhate haian, to samajhean, unhean mujh par sandeh hai, to ho. mujhase yah pap n hoga. raja ko aisa sandeh kyoan hua? kya keval thaloan ke badal jane se? nahian, avashy koee aur bat hai. aj haradaul unhean jangal mean mil gaya. raja ne usaki kamar mean talavar dekhi hogi. kya ashchary hai, haradaul se koee apaman bhi ho gaya ho. mera aparadh kya hai? mujh par itana b da dosh kyoan lagaya jata hai? keval thaloan ke badal jane se? he eeshvar! maian kisase apana du:kh kahooan? too hi mera sakshi hai. jo chahe so ho, par mujhase yah pap n hoga.'

rani ne phir socha, 'raja, tumhara hriday aisa ochha aur nich hai? tum mujhase haradaul ki jan lene ko kahate ho? yadi tumase usaka adhikar aur man nahian dekha jata, to kyoan saf-saf aisa nahian kahate? kyoan mardoan ki l daee nahian l date? kyoan svayan apane hath se usaka sir nahian katate aur mujhase vah kam karane ko kahate ho? tum khoob janate ho, maian yah nahian kar sakati. yadi mujhase tumhara ji ukata gaya hai, yadi maian tumhari jan ki janjal ho gee hooan, to mujhe kashi ya mathura bhej do. maian bekhatake chali jaooangi, par eeshvar ke lie mere sir itana b da kalank n lagane do. par maian jivit hi kyoan rahooan, mere lie ab jivan mean koee sukh nahian hai. ab mera marana hi achchha hai. maian svayan pran de dooangi, par yah mahapap mujhase n hoga. vicharoan ne phir palata khaya. tumako pap karana hi hoga. isase b da pap shayad aj tak sansar mean n hua ho, par yah pap tumako karana hoga. tumhare pativrat par sandeh kiya ja raha hai aur tumhean is sandeh ko mitana hoga. yadi tumhari jan jokhim mean hoti, to kuchh harz n tha. apani jan dekar haradaul ko bacha leti, par is samay tumhare pativrat par aanch a rahi hai. isalie tumhean yah pap karana hi hoga, aur pap karane ke bad hansana aur prasann rahana hoga. yadi tumhara chitt tanik bhi vichalit hua, yadi tumhara mukh da zara bhi maddhim hua, to itana b da pap karane par bhi tum sandeh mitane mean saphal n hogi. tumhare ji par chahe jo bite, par tumhean yah pap karana hi p dega. parantu kaise hoga? kya maian haradaul ka sir utarooangi? yah soch kar rani ke sharir mean kanpakanpi a gee. nahian, mera hath us par kabhi nahian uth sakata. pyare haradaul, maian tumhean khila sakati. maian janati hooan, tum mere lie anand se vish ka bi da kha loge. haan, maian janati hooan tum 'nahian' n karoge, par mujhase yah mahapap nahian ho sakata. ek bar nahian, hazar bar nahian ho sakata.'

haradaul ko in batoan ki kuchh bhi khabar n thi. adhi rat ko ek dasi roti huee usake pas gee aur usane sab samachar akshar-akshar kah sunaya. vah dasi pan-dan lekar rani ke pichhe-pichhe rajamahal se daravaze par gee thi aur sab batean sun kar aee thi. haradaul raja ka dhang dekh kar pahale hi ta d gaya tha ki raja ke man mean koee-n-koee kaanta avashy khatak raha hai. dasi ki batoan ne usake sandeh ko aur bhi pakka kar diya. usane dasi se k di manahi kar di ki savadhan! kisi doosare ke kanoan mean in batoan ki bhanak n p de aur vah svayan marane ko taiyar ho gaya.

haradaul buandeloan ki virata ka sooraj tha. usaki bhauanhoan ke tanik ishare se tin lakh buandele marane aur marane ke lie ikatthe ho sakate the, orachha us par nyochhavar tha. yadi jujhar sianh khule maidan usaka samana karate to avashy muanh ki khate, kyoanki haradaul bhi buandela tha aur buandela apane shatru ke sath kisi prakar ki muanh dekhi nahian karate, marana-marana unake jivan ka ek achchha dilabahalav hai. unhean sada isaki lalasa rahi hai ki koee hamean chunauti de, koee hamean chhe dean. unhean sada khoon ki pyas rahati hai aur vah pyas kabhi nahian bujhati. parantu us samay ek stri ko usake khoon ki zaroorat thi aur usaka sahas usake kanoan mean kahata tha ki ek nirdosh aur sati abala ke lie apane sharir ka khoon dene mean muanh n mo do. yadi bhaiya ko yah sandeh hota ki maian unake khoon ka pyasa hooan aur unhean mar kar raj adhikar karana chahata hooan, to kuchh harj n tha. rajy ke lie katl aur khoon, daga aur fareb sab uchit samajha gaya hai, parantu unake is sandeh ka nipatara mere marane ke siva aur kisi tarah nahian ho sakata. is samay mera dharm hai ki apane pran dekar unake is sandeh ko door kar dooan. unake man mean yah dukhanevala sandeh utpann karake bhi yadi maian jita hi rahooan aur apane man ki pavitrata jataooan, to meri dhithaee hai. nahian, is bhale kam se adhik aga-pichha karana achchha nahian. maian khushi se vish ka bi da khaooanga. isase badh kar shoor-vir ki mrityu aur kya ho sakati hai?

krodh mean akar maroo ke bhay badhanevale shabd sun kar ranakshetr mean apani jan ko tuchchh samajhana itana kathin nahian hai. aj sachcha vir haradaul apane hriday ke b dappan par apani sari virata aur nyochhavar karane ko udyat hai.

doosare din haradaul ne khoob t dake snan kiya. badan par astr-shastr saja muskarata hua raja ke pas gaya. raja bhi sokar turant hi uthe the, unaki alasaee huee aankhean haradaul ki moorti ki or lagi huee thian. samane sangamaramar ki chauki par vish mila pan sone ki tashtari mean rakha hua tha. raja kabhi pan ki or takate aur kabhi moorti ki or, shayad unake vichar ne is vish ki gaanth aur us moorti mean ek sanbandh paida kar diya tha. us samay jo haradaul ekaek ghar mean pahuanche to raja chauank p de. unhoanne sanbhal kar poochha, 'is samay kahaan chale?'

haradaul ka mukh da praphullit tha. vah hans kar bola, 'kal ap yahaan padhare haian, isi khushi mean maian aj shikar khelane jata hooan. apako eeshvar ne ajit banaya hai, mujhe apane hath se vijay ka bi da dijie.' yah kah kar haradaul ne chauki par se pan-dan utha liya aur use raja ke samane rakh kar bi da lene ke lie hath badhaya. haradaul ka khila hua mukh da dekh kar raja ki eershya ki ag aur bhi bh dak uthi. dusht, mere ghav par namak chhi dakane aya hai! mere man aur vishvas ko mitti mean milane par bhi tera ji n bhara! mujhase vijay ka bi da maangata hai! haan, yah vijay ka bi da hai; par teri vijay ka nahian, meri vijay ka.

itana man mean kahakar jujhar sianh ne bi de ko hath mean uthaya. ve ek kshan tak kuchh sochate rahe, phir muskara kar haradaul ko bi da de diya. haradaul ne sir jhuka kar bi da liya, use mathe par chadhaya, ek bar b di hi karuna ke sath charoan or dekha aur phir bi de ko muanh mean rakh liya. ek sachche rajapoot ne apana purushatv dikha diya. vish halahal tha, kanth ke niche utarate hi haradaul ke mukh de par muradani chha gee aur aankhean bujh geean. usane ek thandi saans lian, donoan hath jo d kar jujhar sianh ko pranam kiya aur zamin par baith gaya. usake lalat par pasine ki thandi-thandi booandean dikhaee de rahi thian aur saans tezise chalane lagi thi; par chehare par prasannata aur santosh ki jhalak dikhaee deti thi.

jujhar sianh apani jagah se zara bhi n hile. unake chehare par eershya se bhari huee muskarahat chhaee huee thi, par aankhoan mean aansoo bhar ae the. ujale aur aandhere ka milap ho gaya tha.

sanbandhit lekh

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