शान्ति -प्रेमचंद
| chitr:Icon-edit.gif | is lekh ka punarikshan evan sampadan hona avashyak hai. ap isamean sahayata kar sakate haian. "sujhav" |
svargiy devanath mere abhinn mitroan mean the. aj bhi jab unaki yad ati hai, to vah rangareliyaan aankhoan mean phir jati haian, aur kahian ekaant mean jakar jara der ro leta hooan. hamare aur unake bich mean do-dhaee sau mil ka aantar tha. maian lakhanoo mean tha, vah dilli mean; lekin aisa shayad hi koee mahina jata ho ki ham apas mean n mil pate hoan. vah svachchhand prakriti ke vinodapriy, sahriday, udar aur mitroan par pran denevale adami the, jinhoanne apane aur paraye mean kabhi bhed nahian kiya. sansar kya hai aur yahaan laukik vyavahar ka kaisa nirvah hota hai, yah us vyakti ne kabhi n janane ki cheshta ki. unake jivan mean aise kee avasar ae, jab unhean age ke lie hoshiyar ho jana chahie tha. mitroan ne unaki nishkapatata se anuchit labh uthaya, aur kee bar unhean lajjit bhi hona pada; lekin us bhale adami ne jivan se koee sabak n lene ki kasam kha li thi. unake vyavahar jyoan ke tyoan rahe- ‘jaise bholanath jiye, vaise hi bholanath mare, jis duniya mean vah rahate the vah nirali duniya thi, jisamean sandeh, chalaki aur kapat ke lie sthan n tha- sab apane the, koee gair n tha. maianne bar-bar unhean sachet karana chaha, par isaka parinam asha ke viruddh hua. mujhe kabhi-kabhi chianta hoti thi ki unhoanne ise band n kiya, to natija kya hoga? lekin vidanbana yah thi ki unaki stri gopa bhi kuchh usi saanche mean dhali huee thi. hamari deviyoan mean jo ek chaturi hoti hai, jo sadaiv aise u daoo purushoan ki asavadhaniyoan par ‘brek’ ka kam karati hai, usase vah vanchit thi. yahaan tak ki vastrabhooshan mean bhi use vishesh ruchi n thi. atev jab mujhe devanath ke svargarohan ka samachar mila aur maian bhaga hua dilli gaya, to ghar mean baratan bhaande aur makan ke siva aur koee sanpatti n thi. aur abhi unaki umr hi kya thi, jo sanchay ki chianta karate. chalis bhi to poore n hue the. yoan to l dakapan unake svabhav mean hi tha; lekin is umr mean pray: sabhi log kuchh bephrik rahate haian. pahale ek l daki huee thi, isake bad do l dake hue. donoan l dake to bachapan mean hi daga de gaye the. l daki bach rahi thi, aur yahi is natak ka sabase karoon drishy tha. jis tarah ka inaka jivan tha usako dekhate is chhote se parivar ke lie do sau rupaye mahine ki zaroorat thi. do-tin sal mean l daki ka vivah bhi karana hoga. kaise kya hoga, meri buddhi kuchh kam n karati thi.
is avasar par mujhe yah bahumooly anubhav hua ki jo log seva bhav rakhate haian aur jo svarth- siddhi ko jivan ka lakshyo nahian banate, unake parivar ko a d denevaloan ki kami nahian rahati. yah koee niyam nahian hai, kyoanki maianne aise logoan ko bhi dekha hai, jinhoanne jivan mean bahutoan ke sath achchhe salook kiye; par unake pichhe unake bal-bachchoan ki kisi ne bat tak n poochhi. lekin chahe kuchh ho, devanath ke mitroan ne prashansaniy audary se kam liya aur gopa ke nirvah ke lie sthayi dhan jama karane ka prastav kiya. do-ek sajjan jo randuve the, usase vivah karane ko taiyar the, kiantu gopa ne bhi usi svabhiman ka parichay diya, jo hamari deviyoan ka jauhar hai aur is prastav ko asvikar kar diya. makan bahut b da tha. usaka ek bhag kiraye par utha diya. is tarah usako 50 roo mahavar milane lage. vah itane mean hi apana nirvah kar legi. jo kuchh kharch tha, vah sunni ki jat se tha. gopa ke lie to jivan mean ab koee anurag hi n tha.
2
isake ek mahine bad mujhe karobar ke silasile mean videsh jana p da aur vahaan mere anuman se kahian adhik- do sal-lag gaye. gopa ke patr barabar jate rahate the, jisase maloom hota tha, ve aram se haian, koee chianta ki bat nahian hai. mujhe pichhe jnat hua ki gopa ne mujhe bhi gair samajha aur vastavik sthiti chhipati rahi.
videsh se lautakar maian sidha dilli pahuancha. dhvar par pahuanchate hi mujhe bhi rona a gaya. mrityu ki pratidhvani-si chhayi huee thi. jis kamare mean mitroan ke jamaghat rahate the unake dhvar band the, makadiyoan ne charoan or jale tan rakhe the. devanath ke sath vah shri lupt ho gayi thi. pahali najar mean mujhe to aisa bhram hua ki devanath dhvar par kh de meri or dekhakar muskara rahe haian. maian mithyavadi nahian hooan aur atma ki daihikata mean mujhe sandeh hai, lekin us vakt ek bar maian chauank zaroor pada hriday mean ek kanpan-sa utha; lekin doosari najar mean pratima mit chuki thi.dhvar khula. gopa ke siva kholanevala hi kaun tha. maianne use dekhakar dil tham liya. use mere ane ki soochana thi aur mere svagat ki pratiksha mean usane nayi sa di pahan li thi aur shayad bal bhi guantha lie the; par in do varshoan ke samay ne us par jo aghat kiye the, unhean kya karati? nariyoan ke jivan mean yah vah avastha hai, jab roop lavany apane poore vikas par hota hai, jab usamean alh dapan chanchalata aur abhiman ki jagah akarshan, madhury aur rasikata a jati hai; lekin gopa ka yauvan bit chuka tha usake mukh par jhurriyaan aur vishad ki rekhaean aankit thian, jinhean usaki prayatnashil prasannata bhi n mita sakati thi. keshoan par saphedi dau d chali thi aur ek ek aang boodha ho raha tha.
maianne karoon svar mean poochha- kya tum bimar thian, gopa?
gopa ne aansoo pikar kaha- nahian to, mujhe kabhi sir dard bhi nahian hua.
‘to tumhari yah kya dasha hai? bilkul boodhi ho gayi ho.’
‘to javani lekar karana hi kya hai? meri umr bhi to paiantis ke oopar ho gayi!
‘paiantis ki umr to bahut nahian hoti.’
‘haan unake lie jo bahut din jina chahate hai. maian to chahati hooan jitani jald ho sake, jivan ka aant ho jaye. bas sunni ke byah ki chianta hai. isase chhutati pa jaooan; mujhe zindagi ki paravah n rahegi.’
ab maloom hua ki jo sajjan is makan mean kirayedar hue the, vah tho de dinoan ke bad tabdil hokar chale gaye aur tab se koee doosara kirayedar n aya. mere hriday mean barachhi-si chubh gayi. itane din in becharoan ka nirvah kaise hua, yah kalpana hi duahkhad thi.
maianne virakt man se kaha- lekin tumane mujhe soochana kyoan n di? kya maian bilakul gair hooan?
gopa ne lajjit hokar kaha- nahian nahian yah bat nahian hai. tumhean gair samajhooangi to apana kise samajhooangi? maianne samajha paradesh mean tum khud apane jhamele mean p de hoange, tumhean kyoan sataooan? kisi n kisi tarah din kat hi gaye. ghar mean aur kuchh n tha, to tho de-se gahane to the hi. ab sunita ke vivah ki chianta hai. pahale maianne socha tha, is makan ko nikal dooangi, bis-bais hazar mil jayeange. vivah bhi ho jayega aur kuchh mere lie bacha bhi rahega; lekin bad ko maloom hua ki makan pahale hi rehan ho chuka hai aur sood milakar us par bis hazar ho gaye haian. mahajan ne itani hi daya kya kam ki, ki mujhe ghar se nikal n diya. idhar se to ab koee asha nahian hai. bahut hath paanv jo dane par sanbhav hai, mahajan se do dhaee hazar mil jaye. itane mean kya hoga? isi fikr mean ghuli ja rahi hooan. lekin maian bhi itani matalabi hooan, n tumhean hath muanh dhone ko pani diya, n kuchh jalapan layi aur apana dukh da le baithi. ab ap kap de utariye aur aram se baithiye. kuchh khane ko laooan, kha lijie, tab batean hoan. ghar par to sab kushal hai?
maianne kaha- maian to sidhe bambee se yahaan a raha hooan. ghar kahaan gaya.
gopa ne mujhe tiraskar-bhari aankhoan se dekha, par us tiraskar ki a d mean ghanishth atmiyata baithi jhaank rahi thi. mujhe aisa jan p da, usake mukh ki jhurriyaan mit gayi haian. pichhe mukh par halki-si lali dau d gayi. usane kaha-isaka phal yah hoga ki tumhari deviji tumhean kabhi yahaan n ane deangi.
‘maian kisi ka gulam nahian hooan.’
‘kisi ko apana gulam banane ke lie pahale khud bhi usaka gulam banana p data hai.’
shitakal ki sandhya dekhate hi dekhate dipak jalane lagi. sunni lalaten lekar kamare mean ayi. do sal pahale ki abodh aur krishatanu balika roopavati yuvati ho gayi thi, jisaki har ek chitavan, har ek bat usaki gauravashil prakriti ka pata de rahi thi. jise maian god mean uthakar pyar karata tha, usaki taraph aj aankhean n utha saka aur vah jo mere gale se lipatakar prasann hoti thi, aj mere samane kh di bhi n rah saki. jaise mujhase koee vastu chhipana chahati hai, aur jaise maian us vastu ko chhipane ka avasar de raha hooan.
maianne poochha- ab tum kis daraje mean pahuanchi sunni?
usane sir jhukaye hue javab diya- dasavean mean hooan.
‘ghar ka bhi kuchh kam-kaj karati ho?
‘ammaan jab karane bhi dean.’
gopa boli- maian nahian karane deti ya khud kisi kam ke nagich nahian jati?
sunni muanh pherakar hansati huee chali gayi. maan ki dulari l daki thi. jis din vah grihasthi ka kam karati, us din shayad gopa ro rokar aankhean pho d leti. vah khud l daki ko koee kam n karane deti thi, magar sabase shikayat karati thi ki vah koee kam nahian karati. yah shikayat bhi usake pyar ka hi ek karishma tha. hamari maryada hamare bad bhi jivit rahati hai.
maian bhojan karake leta, to gopa ne phir sunni ke vivah ki taiyariyoan ki charcha chhe d di. isake siva usake pas aur bat hi kya thi. l dake to bahut milate haian, lekin kuchh haisiyat bhi to ho. l daki ko yah sochane ka avasar kyoan mile ki dada hote to shayad mere lie isase achchha ghar var dhooandhate. phir gopa ne darate darate lala madarilal ke l dake ka zikr kiya.
maianne chakit hokar usaki taraph dekha. madarilal pahale ianjiniyar the, ab peanshan pate the. lakhoan rupaya jama kar liye the, par ab tak unake lobh ki bhookh n bujhi thi. gopa ne ghar bhi vah chhaanta, jahaan usaki rasaee kathin thi.
maianne apatti ki- madarilal to b da durjan manushy hai.
gopa ne daantoan tale jibh dabakar kaha- are nahian bhaiya, tumane unhean pahachana n hoga. mere oopar b de dayalu haian. kabhi-kabhi akar kushal- samachar poochh jate haian. l daka aisa honahar hai ki maian tumase kya kahooan. phir unake yahaan kami kis bat ki hai? yah thik hai ki pahale vah khoob rishvat lete the; lekin yahaan dharmatma kaun hai? kaun avasar pakar chho d deta hai? madarilal ne to yahaan tak kah diya ki vah mujhase dahej nahian chahate, keval kanya chahate haian. sunni unake man mean baith gayi hai.
mujhe gopa ki saralata par daya ayi; lekin maianne socha kyoan isake man mean kisi ke prati avishvas utpann karooan. sanbhav hai madarilal vah n rahe hoan, chit ki bhavanaean badalati bhi rahati haian.
maianne ardh sahamat hokar kaha- magar yah to socho, unamean aur tumame kitana aantar hai. shayad apana sarvasv arpan karake bhi unaka muanh sidha n kar sako.
lekin gopa ke man mean bat jam gayi thi. sunni ko vah aise ghar mean chahati thi, jahaan vah rani banakar rahe.
doosare din prat: kal maian madarilal ke pas gaya aur unase meri jo batachit huee, usane mujhe mugdh kar diya. kisi samay vah lobhi rahe hoange, is samay to maianne unhean bahut hi sahriday udar aur vinayashil paya. bole bhaee sahab, maian devanath ji se parichit hooan. adamiyoan mean ratan the. unaki l daki mere ghar aye, yah mera saubhagy hai. ap unaki maan se kah dean, madarilal unase kisi chiz ki ichchha nahian rakhata. eeshvar ka diya hua mere ghar mean sab kuchh hai, maian unhean jerabar nahian karana chahata.
mere dil ka bojh utar gaya.ham suni-sunayi batoan se dusaroan ke sanbandh mean kaisi mithya dharana kar liya karate haian, isaka b da shubh anubhav hua. maine akar gopa ko badhaee di.yah nishchay hua ki garmiyoan mean vivah kar diya jay
3
ye char mahine gopa ne vivah ki taiyariyoan mean kate. maian mahine mean ek bar avashy usase mil ata tha; par har bar khinn hokar lautata. gopa ne apani kul maryada ka n jane kitana mahanh adarsh apane samane rakh liya tha. pagali is bhram mean p di huee thi ki usaka utsah nagar mean apani yadagar chho d jayega. yah n janati thi ki yahaan aise tamashe roj hote haian aur aye din bhula diye jate haian. shayad vah sansar se yah shrey lena chahati thi ki is gayi-biti dasha mean bhi, luta hua hathi nau lakh ka hai. pag-pag par use devanath ki yad ati. vah hote to yah kam yoan n hota, yoan hota, aur tab roti.
madarilal sajjan haian, yah saty hai, lekin gopa ka apani kanya ke prati bhi kuchh dharm hai. kaun usake das-paanch l dakiyaan baithi huee haian. vah to dil kholakar araman nikalegi! sunni ke lie usane jitane gahane aur jo de banavae the, unhean dekhakar mujhe ashchary hota tha. jab dekho kuchh-n-kuchh si rahi hai, kabhi sunaroan ki dukan par baithi huee hai, kabhi mehamanoan ke adar-satkar ka ayojan kar rahi hai. muhalle mean aisa birala hi koee sanpann manushy hoga, jisase usane kuchh karz n liya ho. vah ise karz samajhati thi, par dene vale dan samajhakar dete the. sara muhalla usaka sahayak tha. sunni ab muhalle ki l daki thi. gopa ki ijjat sabaki ijjat hai aur gopa ke lie to niand aur aram haram tha. dard se sir phata ja raha hai, adhi rat ho gayi magar vah baithi kuchh-n-kuchh si rahi hai, ya is kothi ka dhan us kothi kar rahi hai. kitani vatsaly se bhari akaanksha thi, jo ki dekhane valoan mean shraddha utpann kar deti thi.
akeli aurat aur vah bhi adhi jan ki. kya- kya kare. jo kam doosaroan par chho d deti hai, usi mean kuchh n kuchh kasar rah jati hai, par usaki himmat hai ki kisi tarah har nahian manati.
pichhali bar usaki dasha dekhakar mujhase raha n gaya. bola- gopa devi, agar marana hi chahati ho, to vivah ho jane ke bad maro. mujhe bhay hai ki tum usake pahale hi n chal do.
gopa ka murajhaya hua mukh pramudit ho utha. boli- usaki chianta n karo bhaiya vidhava ki ayu bahut lanbi hoti hai. tumane suna nahian, raand mare n khandahar dhahe. lekin meri kamana yahi hai ki sunni ka thikana lagakar maian bhi chal dooan. ab aur jikar kya karooangi, socho. kya karooan, agar kisi tarah ka vighn p d gaya to kisaki badanami hogi. in char mahinoan mean mushkil se ghanta bhar soti hooangi. niand hi nahian ati, par mera chitt prasann hai. maian marooan ya jiooan mujhe yah santosh to hoga ki sunni ke lie usaka bap jo kar sakata tha, vah maianne kar diya. madarilal ne apani sajjanata dikhaee, to mujhe bhi to apani nak rakhani hai.
ek devi ne akar kaha - bahan, jara chalakar dekh lo, chashani thik ho gayi hai ya nahian. gopa usake sath chashani ki pariksha karane gayi aur ek kshan ke bad akar boli- ji chahata hai, sir pit looan. tumase jara bat karane lagi, udhar chashani itani k di ho gayi ki ladadoo daantoan se l deange. kisase kya kahooan!
maine chidhakar kaha tum vyarth ka jhanjhat kar rahi ho. kyoan nahian kisi halavaee ko bulakar mithaiyoan ka theka de deti. phir tumhare yahaan mehaman hi kitane aveange, jinake lie yah toomar baandh rahi ho. das paanch ki mithaee unake lie bahut hogi.
gopa ne vyathit netroan se meri or dekha. meri yah alochana use burilagi. in dinoan use bat bat par krodh a jata tha. boli- bhaiya, tum ye batean n samajhoge. tumhean n maan banane ka avasar mila, n patni banane ka. sunni ke pita ka kitana nam tha, kitane adami unake dam se jite the, kya yah tum nahian janate, vah pag di mere hi sir to bandhi hai. tumhean vishvas n ayega nastik jo thahare, par maian to unhean sadaiv apane aandar baitha pati hooan, jo kuchh kar rahe haian vah kar rahe haian. maian mandabuddhi stri bhala akeli kya kar deti. vahi mere sahayak haian vahi mere prakash haian. yah samajh lo ki yah deh meri hai par isake aandar jo atma hai vah unaki hai. jo kuchh ho raha hai unake puny adesh se ho raha hai tum unake mitr ho. tumane apane saik doan rupaye kharch kiye aur itana hairan ho rahe ho. maian to unaki sahagamini hooan, lok mean bhi, paralok mean bhi.
maian apana sa muanh lekar rah gaya.
4
joon mean vivah ho gaya. gopa ne bahut kuchh diya aur apani haisiyat se bahut zyada diya, lekin phir bhi, use santosh n hua. aj sunni ke pita hote to n jane kya karate. barabar roti rahi.
ja doan mean maian phir dilli gaya. maianne samajha ki ab gopa sukhi hogi. l daki ka ghar aur var donoan adarsh haian. gopa ko isake siva aur kya chahie. lekin sukh usake bhagy mean hi n tha.
abhi kap de bhi n utarane paya tha ki usane apana dukh da shuroo kar diya- bhaiya, ghar dhvar sab achchha hai, sas-sasur bhi achchhe haian, lekin jamaee nikamma nikala. sunni bechari ro-rokar din kat rahi hai. tum use dekho, to pahachan n sako. usaki parachhayi matr rah gayi hai. abhi kee din hue, ayi huee thi, usaki dasha dekhakar chhati phatati thi. jaise jivan mean apana path kho baithi ho. n tan badan ki sudh hai n kap de-late ki. meri sunni ki durgat hogi, yah to svapn mean bhi n socha tha. bilkul gumasum ho gayi hai. kitana poochha- beti tumase vah kyoan nahian bolata, kis bat par naraz hai, lekin kuchh javab hi nahian deti. bas, aankhoan se aansoo bahate haian, meri sunni kuean mean gir gayi.
maianne kaha- tumane usake ghar valoan se pata nahian lagaya.
‘lagaya kyoan nahian bhaiya, sab hal maloom ho gaya. lauanda chahata hai, maian chahe jis rah jaooan, sunni meri pooja karati rahe. sunni bhala ise kyoan sahane lagi? use to tum janate ho, kitani abhimani hai. vah un striyoan mean nahian hai, jo pati ko devata samajhati haian aur usaka durvyavahar sahati rahati hai. usane sadaiv dular aur pyar paya hai. bap bhi us par jan deta tha. maian aankh ki putali samajhati thi. pati mila chhaila, jo adhi adhi rat tak mara mara phirata hai. donoan mean kya bat huee yah kaun jan sakata hai, lekin donoan mean koee gaanth p d gayi hai. n sunni ki paravah karata hai, n sunni usaki paravah karati hai, magar vah to apane rang mean mast hai, sunni pran diye deti hai. usake lie sunni ki jagah munni hai, sunni ke lie usaki upeksha hai aur roodan hai.’
maianne kaha- lekin tumane sunni ko samajhaya nahian. us lauande ka kya big dega? isaki to zindagi kharab ho jayegi.
gopa ki aankhoan mean aansoo bhar ae, boli- bhaiya,kis dil se samajhaooan? sunni ko dekhakar to mer chhati phatane lagati hai. bas yahi ji chahata hai ki ise apane kaleje mean aise rakh looan, ki ise koee k di aankh se dekh bhi n sake. sunni phooh d hoti, katu- bhashini hoti, aramatalab hoti, to samajhati bhi. kya yah samajhaooan ki tera pati gali-gali muanh kala karata phire, phir bhi too usaki pooja kiya kar? maian to khud yah apaman n sah sakati. stri purush mean vivah ki pahali shart yah hai ki donoan solahoan ane ek-doosare ke ho jayean. aise purush to kam haian, jo stri ko jau-bhar vichalit hote dekhakar shaant rah sakean, par aisi striyaan bahut haian, jo pati ko svachchhand samajhati haian. sunni un striyoan mean nahian hai. vah agar atmasamarpan karati hai to atmasamarpan chahati bhi hai, aur yadi pati mean yah bat n huee, to vah usase koee sanpark n rakhegi, chahe usaka sara jivan rote kat jaye.
yah kahakar gopa bhitar gayi aur ek siangaradan lakar usake aandar ke abhooshan dikhati huee boli- sunni ise ab ki yahian chho d gayi. isilie ayi thi. ye ve gahane haian jo maianne n jane kitana kasht sahakar banavaye the. isake pichhe mahinoan mari mari phiri thi. yoan kaho ki bhikh maangakar jama kiye the. sunni ab inaki or aankh uthakar bhi nahian dekhati! pahane to kisake lie? siangar kare to kis par? paanch sandook kap doan ke diye the. kap de site-site meri aankhean phoot gayi. yah sab kap de uthati layi. in chijoan se use ghrina ho gayi hai. bas, kalaee mean do choodiyaan aur ek ujali sa di; yahi usaka siangar hai.
maianne gopa ko saantvana di- maian jakar kedaranath se milooanga. dekhooan to, vah kis rang dhang ka adami hai.
gopa ne hath jo dakar kaha- nahian, bhoolakar bhi n jana; sunni sunegi to pran hi de degi. abhiman ki putali hi samajho use. rassi samajh lo, jisake jal jane par bhi bal nahian jate. jin pairoan se use thukara diya hai, unhean vah kabhi n sahalayegi. use apana banakar koee chahe to lauandi bana le, lekin shasan to usane mera n saha, doosaroan ka kya sahegi.
maianne gopa se us vakt kuchh n kaha, lekin avasar pate hi lala madarilal se mila. maian rahasy ka pata lagana chahata tha. sanyog se pita aur putr, donoan hi ek jagah par mil gaye. mujhe dekhate hi kedar ne is tarah jhukakar mere charan chhue ki maian usaki shalinata par mugdh ho gaya. turant bhitar gaya aur chay, murabba aur mithaiyaan laya. itana saumy, itana sushil, itana vinamr yuvak maianne n dekha tha. yah bhavana hi n ho sakati thi ki isake bhitar aur bahar mean koee aantar ho sakata hai. jab tak raha sir jhukaye baitha raha. uchchhriankhalata to use chhoo bhi nahian gayi thi.
jab kedar tenis khelane gaya, to maianne madarilal se kaha- kedar baboo to bahut sachcharitr jan padate haian, phir stri purush mean itana manomaliny kyoan ho gaya hai.
madarilal ne ek kshan vichar karake kaha isaka karan isake siva aur kya bataooan ki donoan apane maan-bap ke la dale haian, aur pyar l dakoan ko apane man ka bana deta hai. mera sara jivan sangharsh mean kata. ab jakar jara shaanti mili hai. bhog-vilas ka kabhi avasar hi n mila. din bhar parishram karata tha, sandhya ko p dakar so jata tha. svasthy bhi achchha n tha, isalie bar- bar yah chianta savar rahati thi ki sanchay kar looan. aisa n ho ki mere pichhe bal bachche bhikh maangate phire. natija yah hua ki in mahashay ko muft ka dhan mila. sanak savar ho gayi. sharab u dane lagi. phir drama khelane ka shauq hua. dhan ki kami thi hi nahian, us par maan-bap ke akele bete. unaki prasannata hi hamare jivan ka svarg thi. padhana-likhana to door raha, vilas ki ichchha badhati gayi. rang aur gahara hua, apane jivan ka drama khelane lage. maianne yah rang dekha to mujhe chianta huee. socha, byah kar dooan, thik ho jayega. gopa devi ka paigam aya, to maianne turant svikar kar liya. maian sunni ko dekh chuka tha. socha, aisi roopavati patni pakar inaka man sthir ho jayega, par vah bhi la dali l daki thi-hathili, abodh, adarshavadini. sahishnuta to usane sikhi hi n thi. samajhaute ka jivan mean kya mooly hai, isaki use khabar hi nahian. loha lohe se l d gaya. vah abhiman se parajit karana chahati hai, yah upeksha se, yahi rahasy hai. aur sahab maian to bahoo ko hi adhik doshi samajhata hooan. l dake pray manachale hote haian. l dakiyaan svabhav se hi sushil hoti haian aur apani zimmedari samajhati haian. usamean ye gun hi nahian. doanga kaise par hoga eeshvar hi jane.
sahasa sunni aandar se a gayi. bilkul apane chitr ki rekha si, mano manohar sangit ki pratidhvani ho. kuandan tapakar bhasm ho gaya tha. miti huee ashaoan ka isase achchha chitr nahian ho sakata. ulahana deti huee boli- ap n jane kab se baithe hue haian, mujhe khabar tak nahian aur shayad ap bahar hi bahar chale bhi jate?
maianne aansuoan ke veg ko rokate hue kaha- nahian sunni, yah kaise ho sakata tha tumhare pas a hi raha tha ki tum svayan a gayi.
madarilal kamare ke bahar apani kar ki saphaee karane lage. shayad mujhe sunni se bat karane ka avasar dena chahate the.
sunni ne poochha-ammaan to achchhi tarah haian?
‘haan achchhi haian. tumane apani yah kya gat bana rakhi hai.’
‘maian achchhi tarah se hooan.’
‘yah bat kya hai? tum logoan mean yah kya anaban hai. gopa devi pran diye dalati haian. tum khud marane ki taiyari kar rahi ho. kuchh to vichar se kam lo.’
sunni ke mathe par bal p d gaye- apane nahak yah vishay chhe d diya chacha ji! maianne to yah sochakar apane man ko samajha liya ki maian abhagin hooan. bas, usaka nivaran mere boote se bahar hai. maian us jivan se mrityu ko kahian achchha samajhati hooan, jahaan apani qadar n ho. maian vrat ke badale mean vrat chahati hooan. jivan ka koee doosara roop meri samajh mean nahian ata. is vishay mean kisi tarah ka samajhauta karana mere lie asanbhav hai. natije ki maian paravah nahian karati.
‘lekin...’
‘nahian chachaji, is vishay mean ab kuchh n kahie, nahian to maian chali jaooangi.’
‘akhir socho to...’
‘maian sab soch chuki aur tay kar chuki. pashu ko manushy banana meri shakti se bahar hai.’
isake bad mere lie apana muanh band karane ke siva aur kya rah gaya tha?
5
mee ka mahina tha. maian mansoor gaya hua tha ki gopa ka tar pahuancha- ‘ turant ao, zaroori kam hai.’ maian ghabara to gaya lekin itana nishchit tha ki koee durghatana nahian huee hai. doosare din dilli ja pahuancha. gopa mere samane akar kh di ho gayi, nispand, mook, nishpran, jaise tapedik ki rogi ho.
‘maianne poochha kushal to hai, maian to ghabara utha.‘
usane bujhi huee aankhoan se dekha aur boli- sach!
‘sunni to kushal se hai.’
‘haan, achchhi tarah hai.’
‘aur kedaranath?’
‘vah bhi achchhi tarah hai.’
‘to phir majara kya hai?’
‘kuchh to nahian.’
‘tumane tar diya aur kahati ho- kuchh to nahian?’
‘dil ghabara raha tha, isase tumhean bula liya. sunni ko kisi tarah samajhakar yahaan lana hai. maian to sab kuchh karake har gayi.’
‘kya idhar koee nayi bat ho gayi.’
‘nayi to nahian hai, lekin ek tarah mean nayi hi samajho, kedar ek aiktres ke sath kahian bhag gaya. ek saptah se usaka kahian pata nahian hai. sunni se kah gaya hai- jab tak tum rahogi ghar mean nahian aooanga. sara ghar sunni ka shatru ho raha hai, lekin vah vahaan se talane ka nam nahian leta. suna hai kedar apane bap ke dastakhat banakar kee hazar rupaye baiank se le gaya hai.
‘tum sunni se mili thian?’
‘haan, tin din se barabar ja rahi hooan.’
‘vah nahian ana chahati, to rahane kyoan nahian deti.’
‘vahaan ghut ghutakar mar jayegi.’
‘maian unhian pairoan lala madarilal ke ghar chala. halaanki maian janata tha ki sunni kisi tarah n ayegi, magar vahaan pahuancha to dekha kuharam macha hua hai. mera kaleja dhak se rah gaya. vahaan to arthi saj rahi thi. muhalle ke saik doan adami jama the. ghar mean se ‘hay! hay!’ ki krandan-dhvani a rahi thi. yah sunni ka shav tha.
madarilal mujhe dekhate hi mujhase unmat ki bhaanti lipat gaye aur bole-
‘bhaee sahab, maian to lut gaya. l daka bhi gaya, bahoo bhi gayi, zindagi hi garat ho gayi.’
maloom hua ki jab se kedar gayab ho gaya tha, sunni aur bhi zyada udas rahane lagi thi. usane usi din apani choodiyaan to d dali thian aur maang ka siandoor poanchh dala tha. sas ne jab apatti ki, to unako apashabd kahe. madarilal ne samajhana chaha to unhean bhi jali-kati sunayi. aisa anuman hota tha-unmad ho gaya hai. logoan ne usase bolana chho d diya tha. aj prat:kal yamuna snan karane gayi. aandhera tha, sara ghar so raha tha, kisi ko nahian jagaya. jab din chadh gaya aur bahoo ghar mean n mili, to usaki talash hone lagi. dopahar ko pata laga ki yamuna gayi hai. log udhar bhage. vahaan usaki lash mili. pulis ayi, shav ki pariksha huee. ab jakar shav mila hai. maian kaleja thamakar baith gaya. hay, abhi thode din pahale jo sundari palaki par savar hokar ayi thi, aj vah char ke kandhe par ja rahi hai!
maian arthi ke sath ho liya aur vahaan se lauta, to rat ke das baj gaye the. mere paanv kaanp rahe the. maloom nahian, yah khabar pakar gopa ki kya dasha hogi. pranaant n ho jaye, mujhe yahi bhay ho raha tha. sunni usaki pran thi. usaki jivan ka kendr thi. us dukhiya ke udhyan mean yahi paudha bach raha tha. use vah hriday rakt se sianch-sianchakar pal rahi thi. usake vasant ka sunahara svapn hi usaka jivan tha usamean kopalean nikaleangi, phool khileange, phal lageange, chi diya usaki dali par baithakar apane suhane rag gaveangi, kintu aj nishthur niyati ne us jivan sootr ko ukhah dakar pheank diya. aur ab usake jivan ka koee adhar n tha. vah bindu hi mit gaya tha, jis par jivan ki sari rekhaean akar ekatr ho jati thian.
dil ko donoan hathoan se thame, maianne janjir khatakhatayi. gopa ek lalaten lie nikali. maianne gopa ke mukh par ek naye anand ki jhalak dekhi.
meri shok-mudra dekhakar usane matrivath prem se mera hath pak d liya aur boli- aj to tumhara sara din rote hi kata. arthi ke sath bahut se adami rahe hoange. mere ji mean bhi aya ki chalakar sunni ke aantim darshan kar looan. lekin maianne socha, jab sunni hi n rahi, to usaki lash mean kya rakha hai! n gayi.
maian vismay se gopa ka muanh dekhane laga. to ise yah shok-samachar mil chuka hai. phir bhi yah shaanti aur avichal dhairy! bola- achchha kiya, n gayi rona hi to tha.
‘haan, aur kya? royi yahaan bhi, lekin tumase sach kahati hooan, dil se nahian royi. n jane kaise aansoo nikal ae. mujhe to sunni ki maut se prasannata huee. dukhiya apani man maryada lie sansar se vida ho gayi, nahian to n jane kya kya dekhana p data. isalie aur bhi prasann hooan ki usane apani an nibha di. stri ke jivan mean pyar n mile to usaka aant ho jana hi achchha. tumane sunni ki mudra dekhi thi? log kahate haian, aisa jan p data tha- muskara rahi hai. meri sunni sachamuch devi thi. bhaiya, adami isalie tho de hi jina chahata hai ki rota rahe. jab maloom ho gaya ki jivan mean du:kh ke siva kuchh nahian hai, to adami jikar kya kare. kisalie jiye? khane aur sone aur mar jane ke lie? yah maian nahian kahati ki mujhe sunni ki yad n ayegi aur maian use yad karake roooangi nahian. lekin vah shok ke aansoo n hoange. bahadur bete ki maan usaki viragati par prasann hoti hai. sunni ki maut me kya kuchh kam gaurav hai? maian aansoo bahakar us gaurav ka anadar kaise karooan? vah janati hai, aur chahe sara sansar usaki nianda kare, usaki mata sarahana hi karegi. usaki atma se yah anand bhi chhin looan? lekin ab rat zyada ho gayi hai. oopar jakar so raho. maianne tumhari charapaee bichha di hai, magar dekho, akele p de-p de rona nahian. sunni ne vahi kiya, jo use karana chahie tha. usake pita hote, to aj sunni ki pratima banakar poojate.’
maian oopar jakar leta, to mere dil ka bojh bahut halka ho gaya tha, kintu rah-rahakar yah sandeh ho jata tha ki gopa ki yah shaanti usaki apar vyatha ka hi roop to nahian hai?