श्रीकांत उपन्यास भाग-10

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

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ek din jis bhraman-kahani ke bich hi mean akasmath yavanika dalakar bida le chuka tha, usako phir kisi din apane hi hath se uddhatit karane ki pravritti mujhamean nahian thi. mere gaanv ke jo baba the ve jab mere us natakiy kathan ke uttar mean sirph jara-sa musakarakar rah gaye, aur rajalakshmi ke zamin se lagakar pranam karane par, jis dhang se h dab dakar, do qadam pichhe hatakar bole, "aisi bat hai kya? aha, achchha hua, achchha hua,- jite raho, khush raho!" aur phir d aauktar ko sath lekar bahar chale gaye, tab rajalakshmi ke chehare ki jo tasavir maianne dekhi vah bhoolane ki chiz nahian, aur n use kabhi bhoola hi. maianne socha tha ki vah meri hai, bilkusal meri apani- usaka prakash bahar ki duniya mean kisi din bhi prakat n hoga; magar, ab sochata hooan ki yah achchha hi hua jo bahut dinoan se band hue us daravaze qo mujhe hi akar kholana p da. yah achchha hi hua ki jis ajnat rahasy ke prati bahar ka kruddh sanshay, anyay-avichar ka roop dharan karake us par nirantar dhakke laga raha tha, mujhe usake band daravaze ko apane hi hath se kholane ka mauqa mila.

baba chale gaye, rajalakshmi kshan-bhar stabdh bhav-se unaki taraph dekhati rahi, aur usake bad muanh uthakar nishphal hansi hansane ki koshish karake boli, "pairoan ki dhool lete samay maian unhean chhue tho de hi leti thi. magar, tum kyoan us bat ko kahane gaye unase? usaki to koee zaroorat n thi. yah to sirph-vastav mean yah to sirph tumane apane ap hi apanoan ka apaman kiya, jisaki jara bhi zaroorat n thi. ye log vidhava-vivah ki patni ko bazar ki veshya ki apeksha ooancha asan nahian dete, lihaza isamean maian niche hi utari, kisi ko jara-sa bhi oopar n utha saki..."

is bat ko rajalakshmi phir poora n kar saki.

maian sab kuchh samajh gaya. is apaman ke samane b di-b di batoan ki uchhal-kood machakar bat badhane ki pravritti n huee. jis tarah chupachap p da tha, usi tarah muanh band kiye p da raha.

rajalakshmi bhi bahut der tak aur kuchh nahian boli, thik mano apani chinta mean magn hokar baithi rahi; usake bad sahasa bilkural pas hi kahian se kisi ki bulahat sunakar mano chauankakar uth kh di huee. ratan ko bulakar boli, "ga di jaldi taiyar karane ko kah de, ratan, nahian to phir rat ke gyarah baje ki usi ga di se jana hoga. yadi aisa hua to mushkil hoga- raste mean thand lag jayegi."

das hi minat ke andar ratan ne mera baig le jakar ga di par rakh diya aur mere bistar baandhane ke lie ishara karata hua vah pas a kh da hua. tabase ab tak maianne ek bhi bat nahian ki thi aur n ab bhi koee prashn kiya. kahaan jana hoga, kya karana hoga, kuchh bhi bina poochhe maian chupachap uthakar dhire-se ga di mean jakar baith gaya.

kuchh din pahale aisi hi ek sham ko apane ghar mean pravesh kiya tha aur aj phir vaisi hi ek sham ko chupachap ghar se nikal p da. us din bhi kisi ne adar ke sath grahan nahian kiya tha aur aj bhi koee sneh ke sath bidaee dene ko age n aya! us din bhi, isi samay, aise hi ghar-ghar mean shankh bajana shuroo hua tha aur isi tarah vasu-mallikoan ke gopal-mandir se arati ke ghante-gh diyal ka shabd aspasht hokar hava mean baha a raha tha. phir bhi, us din se aj ke din ka prabhed kitana zabardast hai, is bat ko sirph akash ke devataoan ne hi dekha.

bangal ke ek nagany gaanv ke toote-phoote jirn ghar ke prati meri mamata kabhi n thi- usase vanchit hone ko bhi maianne isase pahale kabhi hanikar nahian samajha, parantu aj ab atyant anadar ke sath gaanv chho dakar chal diya, aur kisi din kisi bhi bahane usamean phir kabhi pravesh karane ki kalpana tak ko jab man mean sthan n de saka, tab yah asvasthyakar sadharan gaanv ek sath sabhi taraph se meri aauankhoan ke samane asadharan hokar dikhaee dene laga aur jisase abhi turant hi nirvasit hokar nikal p da tha, usi apane purakhoan ke toote-phoote malin ghar ke prati mere moh ki sima n rahi.

rajalakshmi chupake se akar mere samane ke asan par baith gayi, aur, shayad gaanv ke parichit rahagiroan ke kutoohal se apane ko poori tarah chhipae rakhane ke lie hi usane ek kone mean apana sir rakhakar aauankhean mianch lian.

jab ham log relave-steshan ke lie ravana hue tab sooraj chhip chuka tha. gaanv ke tedhe-medhe raste ke kinare apane ap badhe hue karauande, jharaberi aur beant ke jangal ne sankirn marg ko aur bhi sankirn bana diya tha aur donoan taraph panktivar kh de hue am-katahar ke pe doan ki shakhaean sir se oopar kahian-kahian aisi saghan hokar mil gayi thian ki sham ka aandhera aur bhi durbhedy ho gaya tha. usake bhitar se ga di jab atyant savadhani ke sath bahut hi dhimi chal se chalane lagi tab maian aauankhean mianchakar us nivi d andhakar ke bhitar se n jane kya-kya dekhane laga. maloom hua, isi raste se kisi din baba meri didi ko byah kar lae the, tab yah rasta baratiyoan ke kolahal aur pairoan ki ahat se gooanj utha hoga; aur, phir kisi din jab ve svarg sidhare, tab isi raste se a dosi-p dosi unaki arathi nadi tak le gaye hoange. isi marg se hi meri maan ne kisi din vadhoo-vesh mean grih-pravesh kiya tha, aur ek din jab unake is jivan ki samapti huee tab, dhool-mitti se bhare isi sankirn marg se apani maan ko ganga mean visarjit karake ham log vapas laute the. us samay yah marg aisa nirjan aur durgam nahian hua tha. tab tak shayad isaki hava mean itana maleriya aur talaboan mean itana kich d aur zahar ikattha nahian hua tha. us samay tak desh mean ann tha, vastr the, dharm tha, tab tak desh ka niranand shayad aisi bhayankar shoonyata se akashavyapi hokar bhagavan ke dvar tak nahian pahuanchata tha. donoan aauankhoan mean aauansoo bhar ae, ga di ke pahie se tho di-si dhool lekar jaldi-se mathe aur muanh par lagakar maianne man-hi-man kaha, 'he mere pitri-pitamah ke sukh-du:kh, vipad-sampad, aur hansane-rone se bhare hue dhool-mitti ke path, maian tumhean bar-bar namaskar karata hooan.' phir andhakar mean jangal ki or dekhakar kaha, 'mata janmabhoomi, tumhari karo doan akriti santanoan ke saman maianne bhi tumhean hriday se nahian chaha- aur nahian janata kisi din tumhari seva mean, tumhare kam mean, tumhari god mean phir vapas aooanga ya nahian. parantu aj is nirvasan ke marg mean aandhere ke bhitar tumhari jo du:kh ki moorti mere aauansuoan ke bhitar se aspasht hokar prasphutit ho uthi hai, use maian is jivan mean kabhi nahian bhool sakooanga.'

aauankh kholakar dekha, rajalakshmi usi tarah sthir baithi hai. aandhere kone mean usaka chehara nahian dikhaee diya par maianne anubhav kiya ki aauankhean mianchakar vah mano chinta mean magn ho rahi hai aur man-hi-man kaha, 'rahane do aise hi. aj se jab ki maianne apani chinta-tarani ki patavar usake hath sauanp di hai, to is anajan nadi mean kahaan bhanvarean haian aur kahaan tapoo, so vahi khojati rahe.'

is jivan mean apane man ko maianne anek dishaoan mean, anek avasthaoan mean ajamakar dekha hai. usake bhitar ki prakriti maian pahichanata hooan. kisi vishay mean 'atyant' ko vah nahian sah sakata. atyant sukh, atyant svasthy, atyant achchha rahana, use hamesha pi da deta hai. koee atyant prem karata hai; is bat ko janate hi man bhagooan-bhagooan karane lagata hai, use man ne aj kitane du:kh se apane hath se patavar chho d di hai, is bat ko is man ke srishtikartta ke siva aur kaun jan sakata hai?

bahar ke kale akash ki or ek bar drishti phailaee- bhitar ki adrishyapray nishchal pratima ki or bhi ek bar drishti dali; usake bad hath jo dakar phir maianne kise namaskar kiya, maian khud nahian janata. parantu, man-hi-man itana zaroor kaha ki "isake akarshan ke du:sah veg se mera dam ghut raha hai, bahut bar bahut margoan se bhaga hooan, parantu phir bhi jab gorakhadhandhe ki tarah sabhi margoan ne mujhe bar-bar isi ke pas lauta diya hai, to ab maian vidroh n karooanga-abaki bar maianne apane ko sampoorn roop se isi ke hath sauanp diya. aur ab tak apane jivan ko apani patavar se chalakar hi kya paya? use kitana sarthak banaya? haan, aj agar vah aise hi hath ja p da ho jo svayan apane jivan ko akanth doobe hue daladal mean se khianchakar bahar nikal saka hai, to vah doosare ke jivan ko haragiz phir usi mean nahian duba sakata."

khair, yah sab to hua apani taraph se. parantu, doosare paksh ka acharan phir thik pahale ki bhaanti shuroo hua. raste-bhar mean ek bhi bat nahian huee yahaan tak ki steshan pahuanchakar bhi kisi ne mujhase koee prashn karana avashyak nahian samajha. tho di der bad hi kalakatte janevali ga di ki ghanti baji, lekin ratan tikat kharidane ka kam chho dakar musaphirakhane ke ek kone mean mere lie bistar bichhane mean lag gaya. atev samajh liya, ki nahian, hamean savere ki ga di se pashchim ki or ravana hona hoga. magar, udhar patana jana hoga ya kashi ya aur kahian, yah maloom n hone par bhi itana saf samajh mean a gaya ki is vishay mean mera matamat bilkukal hi anavashyak hai.

rajalakshmi doosari or dekhati huee anyamanask ki tarah kh di thi, ratan ne apana kam poora karake usake pas jakar poochha, "maanji, pata laga hai ki jara aur age jane se sabhi tarah ka achchha khana mil sakata hai."

rajalakshmi ne aauanchal ki gaanth kholakar kee rupaye usake hath mean dete hue kaha, "achchhi bat hai, le a vahian jakar. par doodh jara dekh-bhalakar lena, basi-vasi n le ana kahian."

ratan ne kaha, "maanji, tumhare kiye kuchh..."

"nahian, mere lie kuchh nahian chahie."

yah 'nahian' kaisa hai, is bat ko sabhi janate haian. aur shayad sabase zyada janata hai ratan khud. phir bhi usane do-char bar pair ghisakar dhire se kaha, "kal hi se to bilkul..."

rajalakshmi ne uttar diya, "tujhe kya sunaee nahian deta ratan? bahara ho gaya hai kya?"

age aur kuchh n kahakar ratan chal diya. karan, isake bad bhi bahas kar sakata ho, aisi tab to maianne kisi ki bhi nahian dekhi. aur zaroorat hi kya thi? rajalakshmi muanh se svikar n kare, phir bhi, maian janata hooan ki relaga di mean rel se sambandhit kisi ke bhi hath ki koee chiz khane ki or usaki pravritti nahian hoti. agar yah kaha jay ki nirarthak kathor upavas karane mean isaki jo d ka doosara koee nahian dekha, to shayad atyukti n hogi. maianne apani aauankhoan se dekha hai, kitani bar kitani chizean isake ghar ate dekhi haian, par unhean naukar-naukaraniyoan ne khaya hai, garib p dosiyoan ko baant diya hai- s d-gal jane par pheank diya gaya hai, parantu jisake lie ve sab chizean aee haian usane muanh se bhi nahian lagaya. poochhane par, majak karane par, hansakar kah diya hai, "haan, mere to b da achar hai! maian, aur chhua chhoot ka vichar! maian to sab kuchh khati-piti hooan."

"achchha, to meri aauankhoan ke samane pariksha do?"

"pariksha? abhi? are bap re! tab to phir jine ke lale p d jaanyage!"

yah kahakar vah jine ka koee karan n dikhakar ghar ke kisi bahut hi zaroori kam ka bahana karake adrishy ho gayi hai. mujhe kramash: maloom hua ki vah maans-machhali doodh-ghi kuchh nahian khati, parantu yah n khana hi usake lie itana ashobhan aur itani lajja ki bat hai ki isaka ullekh karate hi mare sharam ke use bhagane ko rah nahian milati. isi se sadharanat: khane ke bare mean usase anurodh karane ki meri pravritti nahian hoti. jab ratan apana murajhaya-sa muanh lekar chala gaya, tab bhi maianne kuchh nahian kaha. kuchh der bad vah lote mean garam doodh aur done mean mithaee vagairah lekar laut aya, tab rajalakshmi ne mere lie doodh aur kuchh khane ko rakhakar baki ka sab ratan ke hath mean de diya. tab bhi maianne kuchh n kaha aur ratan ki aauankhoan ki nirav prarthana ko spasht samajh jane par bhi maian usi tarah chup bana raha.

ab to karan-akaran aur bat-bat mean usaka n khana hi mere lie abhyast ho gaya hai. parantu ek din aisa tha jab yah bat n thi. tab hansi-dillagi se lekar kathor kataksh tak bhi maianne kam nahian kiye haian. parantu, jitane din bitate gaye haian, mujhe isake doosare pahaloo par bhi sochane-samajhane ka kafi avasar mila hai. ratan ke chale jane par mujhe ve hi sab batean phir yad ane lagian.

kab aur kya sochakar vah is krichchh-sadhana mean pravritt huee thi, maian nahian janata. tab tak maian isake jivan mean nahian aya tha. parantu pahale-pahal jab vah zaroorat se zyada bhojan-samagri ke bich mean rahakar bhi apani ichchha se din par din gupt roop se chupachap apane ko vanchit karati huee ji rahi thi, tab vah kitana kathin aur kaisa du:sadhyay kary tha! kalush aur sab tarah ki malinata ke kendr se apane ko is tapasya ke marg par agrasar karate hue usane kitana n chupachap saha hoga! aj yah bat usake lie itani sahaj aur itani svabhavik hai ki meri drishti mean bhi usaki koee guruta, koee visheshata nahian rah gayi hai; isaka mooly kya hai, so bhi thik taur se nahian janata, magar phir bhi kabhi-kabhi man mean prashn utha hai ki usaki yah kathor sadhana kya sabaki sab viphal huee hai, bilkuil hi vyarth gayi hai? apane ko vanchit rakhane ki yah jo shiksha hai, yah jo abhyas hai, yah jo pakar tyag dene ki shakti hai, agar is jivan mean usake alakshy mean n sanchit ho pati ho kya aj vah aisi svachchhandata se, aisi saralata ke sath apane ko sab prakar ke bhogoan se chhu dakar alag kar sakati? kahian se bhi kya koee bandhan use khianchata nahian? usane prem kiya hai, aise kitane hi adami prem kiya karate haian, parantu sarv-tyag ke dvara use prem ko aisa nishpap, aisa ekant bana lena kya sansar mean itana sulabh hai?

musaphirakhane mean aur adami n tha, ratan bhi shayad a d mean kahian jagah dhooandhakar let gaya tha. dekha, ek timatimati huee batti ke niche rajalakshmi chupachap baithi hai. pas jakar usake mathe par hath rakhate hi usane chauankakar muanh uthaya, aur poochha, "tum soye nahian abhi?"

"nahian, magar tum yahaan dhool-mitti mean chupachap akeli n baitho, mere bistar par chalo." yah kahakar, aur virodh karane ka avasar bina diye hi maianne hath pak dakar use utha liya parantu apane pas bitha lene par phir kahane ko koee bat hi dhooandhe nahian mili, sirph ahiste-ahiste usake hath par hath pherane laga. kuchh kshan isi tarah bite. sahasa usaki aauankhoan ke konoan par hath p date hi anubhav kiya ki mera sandeh bebuniyad nahian hai. dhire-dhire aauansoo poanchhakar maianne jyoan hi use apane pas khianchane ki koshish ki tyoan hi vah mere phaile hue pairoan par auandhi p d gayi aur zor se unhean dabaye rahi. kisi bhi tarah maian use apane bilkural pas n la saka.

phir usi tarah sannate mean samay bitane laga. sahasa maian bol utha, "ek bat tumhean ab tak nahian jataee lakshmi."

usane chupake se kaha, "kaun-si bat?"

itana hi kahane mean sanskaravash pahale to jara sankoch hua, magar maian ruka nahian, bola, "maianne aj se apane ko bilkural tumhare hi hath sauanp diya hai, ab bhalaee-buraee ka sara bhar tumhian par hai."

yah kahakar maianne usake mukh ki or dekha ki us timatimate hue ujale mean vah mere muanh ki or chupachap ekatak dekh rahi hai. usake bad jara hansakar boli, "tumhean lekar maian kya karooangi? tum n to tabala hi baja sakate ho, n sarangi hi baja sakoge aur..."

maianne kaha, " 'aur' kya? pan-tambakoo hazir karana? nahian, yah kam to mujhase haragiz nahian ho sakata."

"lekin pahale ke do kam?"

maianne kaha, "asha do to shayad kar bhi sakooan." kahakar maianne bhi jara hans diya.

sahasa rajalakshmi utsah se baithi aur boli, "mazak nahian, sachamuch baja sakate ho?"

maianne kaha, "asha karane mean dosh kya hai?"

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "nahian baja sakate." usake bad nirav vismay se kuchh der tak vah meri or ekatak dekhati rahi, phir dhire-dhire kahane lagi, "dekho, bich-bich mean mujhe bhi aisa hi maloom hota hai; parantu, phir sochati hooan ki jo adami nishthuroan ki tarah bandook lekar sirph janavaroan ko marate phirana hi pasand karata hai, vah isaki kya paravah karane vala hai? isake bhitar ki itani b di vedana ka anubhav karana kya usake lie sadhyh ho sakata hai? balki shikar karane ke saman chot pahuancha sakane mean hi mano us anand milata hai? tumhara diya hua bahut-sa du:kh maian yahi sochakar to sah saki hooan."

ab chup rahane ki meri pari aee. usake lagaye hue abhiyog ke mool mean yuktiyoan dvara nyay-vichar bhi chal sakata tha, saphaee dene ke lie naziroan ki bhi shayad kami nahian p dati, parantu yah sab vidambana-si maloom huee. usaki sachchi, anubhooti ke age mujhe man-hi-man har manani p di. apani bat ko vah thik tarah se kah bhi nahian saki, parantu sangit ki jo antaratam moorti sirph vyatha ke bhitar se hi kadachith atm-prakash karati hai, vah karuna se abhishikt sada jagrat chetana hi mano rajalakshmi ke in do shabdoan ke iangit mean roop dharan karake samane dikhaee di. aur usake sanyam ne, usake tyag ne, usake hriday ki shuchita ne phir ek bar mano meri aauankhoan mean aanguli dekar usi ka smaran kara diya.

phir bhi, ek bat usase kah sakata tha. kah sakata tha ki manushy ki paraspar sarvatha-viruddh pravrittiyaan kis tarah ek sath pas-hi-pas baithi rahati haian, yah ek achintaniy rahasy hai. nahian to maian apane hath se jiv-hatya kar sakata hooan, itana b da paramashchary mere hi lie aur kya ho sakata hai? jo ek chianti tak ki mrityu ko nahian sah sakata, khoon se lath-path bali ke yoop-kashth ki soorat hi kuchh dinoan ke lie jisaka khana-pina-sona chhu da deti hai, jisane muhalle ke anath ashrayahin kutte-billiyoan ke lie bhi bachapan mean kitane hi din chupachap upavas kiye haian usaka jangal ke push-pakshiyoan par kaise nishana thik baithata hai, yah to khud meri samajh mean nahian ata. aur kya aisa sirph maian hi akela hooan? jis rajalakshmi ka antar-bahar mere lie aj prakash ki tarah svachchh ho gaya hai vah bhi itane dinoan tak sal par sal kis tarah 'pyari' ka jivan bita saki!

man mean ane par bhi maian yah bat muanh se n nikal saka. sirph use badha n dene ki garaz hi nahian, balki socha, "kya hoga kahane se? dev aur danav donoan kandhe milakar manushy ko kahaan aur kis jagah lagatar dhoye liye ja rahe haian, ise kaun janata hai? kis tarah bhogi ek hi din mean tyagi hokar nikal p data hai, nirmam nishthur ek kshan mean karuna se vigalit hokar apane ko ni:shesh kar dalata hai, is rahasy ka hamane kitana-sa sandhan paya hai? kis nibhrit kandara mean manavatma ki gupt sadhana akasmath ek din siddhi ke roop mean prasphutit ho uthati hai, usaki ham kya khabar rakhate haian? kshin prakash mean rajalakshmi ke muanh ki or dekhakar usi ko lakshy karake maianne man-hi-man kaha, "yah agar meri sirph vyatha pahuanchane ki shakti ko hi dekh saki ho, vyatha grahan karane ki akshamata ko sneh ke karan ab tak kshama karati chali aee ho, to isamean mere roothane ki aisi kaun-si bat hai?"

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "chup kyoan rah gaye?"

maianne kaha, "phir bhi to is nishthur ke lie hi tumane sab kuchh tyag diya!"

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "sab kuchh kya tyaga! apane ko to tumane ni:satv hokar hi aj mujhe de diya, use to maian 'nahian chahie' kahakar tyag n saki!"

maianne kaha, "haan, ni:satv hokar hi diya hai. magar tum to apane apako dekh nahian sakogi isalie, vah ullekh maian n karooanga!"

000

pashchim ke shahar mean pravesh karane ke pahale hi samajh mean a gaya ki bangal ke maleriya ne mujhe khoob hi mazabooti ke sath pak d liya hai. patana steshan se rajalakshmi ke ghar tak maian lagabhag behoshi ki halat mean laya gaya. isake bad ke mahine mean bhi mujhe jvar, d aauktar aur rajalakshmi lagabhag har vakt hi ghere rahe.

jab bukhar chhoot gaya tab d aauktar sahab ne ghar-malakin ko saf taur se samajha diya ki yadyapi yah shahar pashchim-pradesh mean hi shamil hai aur svasthyaprad sthan ke roop mean isaki prasiddhi hai, phir bhi meri salah hai ki rogi ko jaldi hi sthanantarit karana chahie.

phir baandh-booandhi shuroo ho gayi, magar abaki bar jara dhoom-dham ke sath. ratan ko akela pakar maianne poochha, "abaki bar kahaan jana hoga, ratan?"

dekha ki vah is navin yatra ke bilkulal hi khilaf hai. usane khule daravaze ki taraph nigah rakhate hue abhas aur ishare se phus-phus karake jo kuchh kaha, usase mera bhi jaise kaleja-sa baith gaya. ratan ne kaha, "virabhoom zile mean ek chhota-sa gaanv hai gangamati. jab is gaanv ka patta liya tha tab maian sirph ek mukhtar sahab kisanalal ke sath vahaan gaya tha. maan ji khud vahaan kabhi nahian gayian. yadi kabhi jaanyagi to unhean bhag ane ki rah bhi dhooandhe n milegi. samajh lijie ki gaanv mean bhale ghar haian hi nahian-sirph chhoti jativaloan ke hi ghar haian. unhean n to chhua hi ja sakata hai aur n ve kisi kam a sakate haian."

rajalakshmi kyoan in sab chhoti jatoan mean jakar rahana chahati hai, isaka karan mano meri samajh mean kuchh a gaya. maianne poochha, "gangamati hai kahaan?"

ratan ne jataya, "saanithiya ya aisi hi kisi steshan se qarib das-barah kos bailaga di mean jana p data hai. rasta jitana kathin hai utana hi bhayankar. charoan taraph maidan hi maidan hai. usamean n to kahian phasal hi hoti hai aur n kahian ek booand pani hai. kankarili mitti hai, kahian gerua aur kahian jali-huee-si syah kali." yah kahakar vah jara ruka, aur khas taur se mujhe hi lakshy karake phir kahane laga, "babooji, meri to kuchh samajh hi mean nahian ata ki adami vahaan kis sukh ke lie rahate haian. aur jo aisi sone ki si jagah chho dakar vahaan jate haian, unase maian aur kya kahooan."

bhitar-hi-bhitar ek lambi saans lekar maian maun ho raha. aisi sone ki-si jagah chho dakar kyoan us maru-bhoomi ke bich nirbandhav nich adamiyoan ke desh mean rajalakshmi mujhe liye ja rahi hai, so n to usase kaha ja sakata hai aur n samajhaya hi ja sakata hai.

akhir maianne kaha, "shayad meri bimari ki vajah se hi jana p d raha hai, ratan. yahaan rahane se aram hone ki kam asha hai, sabhi d aauktar yahi dar dikha rahe haian."

ratan ne kaha, "lekin bimari kya yahaan aur kisi ko hoti hi nahian babooji? aram hone ke lie kya un sabako us gangamati mean hi jana p data hai?"

man-hi-man kaha, "maloom nahian, un sabako kis mati mean jana p data hai. ho sakata hai ki unaki bimari sidhi ho, ho sakata hai ki unhean sadharan mitti mean hi aram p d jata ho. magar ham logoan ki vyadhi sidhi bhi nahian hai aur sadharan bhi nahian; isake lie shayad usi gangamati ki hi sakht zaroorat hai."

ratan kahane laga, "maanji ke kharch ka hisab-kitab bhi to hamari kisi ki samajh mean nahian ata. vahaan n to ghar-dvar hi hai, n aur kuchh. ek gumashta hai, usake pas do hazar rupaye bheje gaye haian ek mitti ka makan banane ke lie! dekhie to sahi babooji, ye sab kaise ooantapataang kam haian! naukar haian, so ham log jaise koee adami hi nahian haian!"

usake kshobh aur narajagi ko dekhate hue maianne kaha, "tum vahaan n jao to kya hai ratan? jabaradasti to tumhean koee kahian le nahian ja sakata?"

meri bat se ratan ko koee santvana nahian mili. bola, "maanji le ja sakati haian. kya jane kya jadoo-mantr janati haian ve! agar kahean ki tum logoan ko yamaraj ke ghar jana hoga, to itane adamiyoan mean kisi ki himmat nahian ki kah de, 'na!" yah kahakar vah muanh bhari karake chala gaya.

bat to ratan gusse se hi kah gaya tha, par vah mujhe mano akasmath ek naye tathy ka sanvad de gaya. sirph meri hi nahian sabhi ki yah ek hi dasha hai. us jadoo-mantr ki bat hi sochane laga. mantr-tantr par sachamuch hi mera vishvas hai so bat nahian, parantu ghar-bhar ke logoan mean kisi mean bhi jo itani-si shakti nahian ki yamaraj ke ghar jane ki ajna tak ki upeksha kar sake, so vah akhir hai kaun chiz!

isake samast sambandhoan se apane ko vichchhinn karane ke lie maianne kya-kya nahian kiya! l d-jhag dakar chal diya hooan, sannyasi hokar bhi dekh liya, yahaan tak ki desh chho dakar bahut door chala gaya hooan jisase phir kabhi mulakat hi n ho, parantu meri samast cheshtaean kisi gol chiz par sidhi lakir khianchane ke saman barambar keval vyarth hi huee haian. apane ko hazar bar dhikkarane par bhi apani kamazori ke age akhir maian parajit hi hua hooan, aur isi bat ka khayal karake ant mean jab maianne atm-samarpan kar diya tab ratan ne akar aj mujhe is bat ki khabar di, "rajalakshmi jadoo-mantr janati hai!"

bat thik hai. lekin isi ratan se agar jirah karake poochha jay to maloom hoga ki vah khud bhi is bat par vishvas nahian karata.

sahasa dekha ki rajalakshmi ek patthar ki pyali mean kuchh liye hue vyast bhav se idhar hi se niche ja rahi hai. maianne bulakar kaha, "suno to, sabhi kahate haian ki tum jadoo-mantr janati ho!"

vah chauankakar kh di ho gayi aur boli, "kya janati hooan?"

maianne kaha, "jadoo-mantr!"

rajalakshmi ne muanh bichakakar jara muskarate hue kaha, "haan, janati hooan."

yah kahakar vah chali ja rahi thi, sahasa mere kurate ko gaur se dekhakar udvign kanth se poochh uthi, "yah kya? kal ka vahi basi kurata pahane hue ho kya?"

apani taraph dekhakar maianne kaha, "haan, vahi hai. magar rahane do, khoob ujala hai."

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "ujale ki bat nahian, maian saphaee ki bat kah rahi hooan." isake bad phir jara muskarakar kaha, "tum bahar ke is dikhavati ujalepan mean hi hamesha gark rahe! isaki upeksha karane ko maian nahian kahati, magar bhitar pasine se gandagi badh jati hai, is bat par gaur karana kab sikhoge?" itana kahakar usane ratan ko avaz di. kisi ne koee javab nahian diya. karan, malakin ki is tarah ki ooanchi-mithi avaz ka javab dena is ghar ka niyam nahian, balki char-chhah minat ke lie muanh chhipa jana hi niyam hai.

akhir rajalakshmi ne hath ki chiz niche rakhakar bagal ke kamare mean se ek dhula hua kurata lakar mere hath mean diya aur kaha, "apane mantri ratan se kahana, jab tak usane jadoo-mantr nahian sikh liya hai, tab tak in sab zaroori kamoan ko vah apane hathoan se hi kiya kare." yah kahakar vah pyali uthakar niche chali gayi.

kurata badalate vakt dekha ki usaka bhitari hissa sachamuch hi ganda ho gaya hai. hona hi chahie tha, aur maianne bhi isake siva aur kuchh ummid ki ho, so bhi nahian. magar mera man to tha sochane ki taraph, isi se is atituchchh chole ke bhitar-bahar ke vaise drishy ne hi phir mujhe nayi chot pahuanchaee.

rajalakshmi ki yah shuchita ki sanak bahudha ham logoan ko nirarthak, du:khadayak aur yahaan tak ki 'atyachar' bhi maloom huee hai; aur abhi ek hi kshan mean usaka sab kuchh man se dhul-puchh gaya ho, so bhi saty nahian; parantu, is antim shlesh mean jis vastu ko maianne aj tak man lagakar nahian dekha tha, usi ko dekha. jahaan se is adbhut manaviki vyakt aur vyakt jivan ki dharaean do bilkuchal pratikool gatiyoan mean bahati chali a rahi haian, aj meri nigah thik usi sthan par jakar p di. ek din atyant ashchary mean doobakar socha tha ki bachapan mean rajalakshmi ne jise pyar kiya tha usi ko pyari ne apane unmad-yauvan ki kisi atript lalasa ke kich d se is tarah bahut hi asani se sahasr dal-vikasit kamal ki bhaanti palak marate hi bahar nikal diya! aj maloom hua ki vah pyari nahian hai, vah rajalakshmi hi hai. 'rajalakshmi' aur 'pyari' in do namoan ke bhitar usake nari-jivan ka kitana b da iangit chhipa tha, maianne use dekhakar bhi nahian dekha; isi se kabhi-kabhi sanshay mean p dakar socha hai ki ek ke andar doosara adami ab tak kaise zinda tha! parantu, manushy to aisa hi hai! isi se to vah manushy hai!

pyari ka sara itihas mujhe maloom nahian, maloom karane ki ichchha bhi nahian. aur rajalakshmi ka hi sara itihas janata hoooan, so bhi nahian; sirph itana hi janata hooan ki in donoan ke marm aur karm mean n kabhi kisi din koee mel tha aur n samanjasy hi. hamesha hi donoan paraspar ulate srot mean bahati gayi haian. isi se ek ki nibhrit sarasi mean jab shuddh sundar prem ka kamal dhire-dhire lagatar dal par dal phailata gaya hai tab doosari ke durdant jivan ka toofan vahaan vyaghat to kya karega, use pravesh ka marg tak nahian mila! isi se to usaki ek pankhu di tak nahian jh di hai, jara-si dhool tak u dakar aj tak use sparsh nahian kar saki hai.

shit-rritu ki sandhyar jaldi hi ghani ho aee, magar maian vahian baitha sochata raha. man-hi-man bola, "manushy sirph usaki deh hi to nahian hai! pyari nahian rahi, vah mar gayi. parantu, kisi din agar usane apani us deh par kuchh syahi laga bhi li ho to kya sirph usi ko b da karake dekhata rahooan, aur rajalakshmi jo apane sahasr-koti du:khoan ki agni-pariksha par karake aj apani akalank shubhrata mean samane akar kh di huee hai use muanh pherakar bida kar dooan? manushy mean jo pashu hai, sirph usi ke anyay se aur usi ki bhool-bhranti se-manushy ka vichar karooan? aur jis devata ne samast du:kh, sampoorn vyatha aur samast apamanoan ko chupachap sahan aur vahan karake bhi aj sasmit mukh se atm-prakash kiya hai, use bithane ke lie kahian asan bhi n bichhaooan? yah kya manushy ke prati sachcha nyay hoga?' mera man mano aj apani sampoorn shakti se kahane laga, "nahian-nahian, haragij nahian, yah kadapi nahian hoga, aisa to ho hi nahian sakata." vah koee zyada din ki bat nahian jab apane ko durbal, shrant aur parajit sochakar rajalakshmi ke hath apane ko sauanp diya tha, kintu, us din us parabhoot ke atm-tyag mean ek b di jabaradast dinata thi. tab mera vahi man mano kisi bhi tarah anumodan nahian kar raha tha; parantu aj mera man mano sahasa zor ke sath isi bat ko bar-bar kahane laga, "vah dan dan hi nahian, vah dhokha hai. jis pyari ko tum janate n the use janane ke bahar hi p di rahane do; parantu, jo rajalakshmi ek din tumhari hi thi, aj usi ko tum sampoorn chitt se grahan karo. aur jinake hath se sansar ki sampoorn sarthakata nirantar jh d rahi hai, isaki bhi antim sarthakata unhian ke hath sauanpakar nishchint ho jao."

naya naukar batti la raha tha, use bida karake maian aandhere mean hi baitha raha aur man-hi-man bola, "aj rajalakshmi ko sari bhalaiyoan aur sari buraiyoan ke sath svikar karata hooan. itana hi maian kar sakata hooan, sirph itana hi mere hath mean hai. magar, isake atirikt aur bhi jinake hath mean hai, unhian ko us atirikt ke bojhe ko sauanpata hooan." itana kahakar maian usi andhakar mean khat ke sirahane chupachap apana sir rakhakar p d raha.

pahale din ki tarah doosare din bhi yatha-riti taiyariyaan hone lagian, aur usake bad tisare din bhi din-bhar udyam ki sima n rahi. us din dopahar ko ek b de bhari sandook mean thali, lote-gilas, katore-katoriyaan aur divat adi bhare ja rahe the. maian apane kamare mean se hi sab dekh raha tha. mauqa pakar maianne rajalakshmi ko ishare se apane pas bulakar poochha, "yah sab ho kya raha hai? tum kya ab vahaan se vapas nahian ana chahatian, ya kya?"

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "vapas kahaan aooangi?"

mujhe yad aya, yah makan usane bankoo ko dan kar diya hai. maianne kaha, "magar, man lo ki vah jagah tumhean zyada din achchhi n lage to?"

rajalakshmi ne jara muskarate hue kaha, "mere lie man kharab karane ki zaroorat nahian. tumhean achchha n lage, to tum chale ana, maian badha n dalooangi."

usake kahane ke dhang se mujhe chot pahuanchi, maian chup ho raha. yah maianne bahut bar dekha hai ki vah mere is dhang ke kisi bhi prashn ko mano saral chitt se grahan nahian kar sakati. maian kisi ko nishkapat hokar pyar kar sakata hooan, ya usake sath sthir hokar rah sakata hooan, yah bat kisi bhi tarah mano usake man mean samakar ek hona nahian chahati. sandeh ke alo dan mean avishvas ek kshan mean hi aisa ugr hokar nikal p data hai ki usaki jvala donoan hi ke man mean bahut der tak lap-lap lapatean liya karati hai. avishvas ki yah ag kab bujhegi. sochate-sochate mujhe isaka kahian or-chhor hi nahian milata. vah bhi isi ki khoj mean nirantar ghoom rahi hai. aur, gangamati bhi is bat ka antim phaisala kar degi ya nahian, yah tathy jinake hath mean hai ve aauankhoan ke ojhal chuppi sadhe baithe haian.

sab tarah ki taiyariyaan hote-hote aur bhi tin-char din bit gaye; usake bad aur bhi do ek din gaye shubh sait ki pratiksha mean. ant mean, ek din sabere ham log aparichit gangamati ke lie sachamuch hi ghar se bahar nikal p de. yatra mean kuchh achchha nahian laga, man mean jara bhi khushi nahian thi. aur, sabase buri biti shayad ratan par. vah muanh ko atyant bhari banakar ga di ke ek kone mean chupachap baitha hi raha, steshan par steshan gujarate gaye, par usane kisi bhi kam mean zara bhi sahayata nahian ki. magar, maian soch raha tha, bilkuhl hi doosari bat. jagah jani huee hai ya anajani, achchhi hai ya buri, svasthyakar hai ya maleriya se bhari, in batoan ki taraph mera dhyahan hi n tha. maian soch raha tha; yadyapi ab tak mera jivan nirupadrav nahian bita; usamean bahut-si galatiyaan bahut-si bhoolean-chookean, bahut-sa du:kh-dainy raha hai, phir bhi, ve sab mere lie atyant parichit haian. is lambe arase mean unase mera mukabila to hua hi hai, sath hi ek tarah ka sneha sa paida ho gaya hai. unake lie maian kisi ko bhi dosh nahian deta, aur ab mujhe bhi aur koee dosh dekar apana samay nasht nahian karata. parantu, yah jivan kya jane kahaan ko kis navinata ki or nishchit roop se chala ja raha hai aur is nishchitata ne hi mujhe vikal kar diya hai. 'aj nahian kal' kahakar aur der karane ka bhi rasta nahian. aur maza yah ki n to maian isaki bhalaee ko janata hooan aur n buraee ko. isi se isaki bhalaee-buraee kuchh bhi, kisi halat mean, ab mujhe achchhi nahian lagati. ga di jyoan-jyoan tezike sath gantavy sthan ke nikat pahuanchati jati hai, tyoan-tyoan is ajnat rahasy ka bojh meri chhati par patthar-sa bhari hokar mazabooti se baithata jata hai. kitani-kitani batean man mean ane lagian, unaki koee had nahian. maloom hua, nikat bhavishy mean hi shayad mujhako hi kendr banakar ek bhadda dal sangathit ho uthega. use n to grahan kar sakooanga aur n alag pheank sakooanga. tab kya hoga aur kya n hoga, is bat ko sochane mean bhi mera man mano jamakar baraph ho gaya.

muanh uthakar dekha, to rajalakshmi chupachap baithi khi daki ke bahar dekh rahi hai. sahasa maloom hua ki maianne kabhi kisi din isase prem nahian kiya. phir bhi ise hi mujhe prem karana padega. kahian kisi taraph se bhi nikal bhagane ka rasta nahian hai. sansar mean itani b di vidambana kya kabhi kisi ke bhagy mean ghatit huee hai? aur maza yah ki ek hi din pahale is duvidha ki chakki se apani raksha karane ke lie apane ko sampoorn roop se usi ke hath sauanp diya tha. tab man-hi-man zor ke sath kaha tha ki tumhari sabhi bhalaee-buraiyoan ke sath hi tumhean aangikar karata hooan lakshmi! aur aj, mera man aisa vikshipt aur aisa vidrohi ho utha. usi se sochata hooan, sansar mean 'karooanga' kahane mean aur sachamuch ke karane mean kitana b da antar hai!

000

saanithiya steshan par jab ga di pahuanchi tab din dhal raha tha. rajalakshmi ke gumashta kashiram svayan steshan par nahian a sake, ve udhar ke intazam mean lage hue haian. magar do adamiyoan ko unhoanne chitthi likhakar bhej diya hai. unake rukke se maloom hua ki eeshvar ki ichchha se 'ab', arthath unake ghar mean aur unaki gangamati mean sab tarah se kushal hai. ajnanusar steshan ke bahar char bailaga diyaan taiyar kh di mileangi jinamean se do to khuli huee haian aur do chhaee huee. ek par bahut-sa sookha ghas aur khajoor ki pattiyoan ki chataee bichha di gayi hai aur vah svayan malakin sahaba ke lie hai. doosari mean mamooli tho da-sa ghas dal diya gaya hai, par chataee nahian hai vah naukar-chakar adi anucharoan ke lie hai. khuli huee do ga diyoan par asabab lada jayega. aur 'yadyapi syath' sthanabhav ho, to piyadoan ko hukm dete hi ve bazar se aur bhi ek ga di lakar hazir kar deange. unhoanne aur bhi likha hai ki bhojanadi sampann karake sandhyab se poorv hi ravana ho jana vaanchhaniy hai. anyatha malakin sahaba ki sunidra mean vyaghat ho sakata hai. aur is vishay mean vishesh likha hai ki marg mean bhayadi kuchh nahian hai, anand se soti huee a sakati haian.

malakin sahaba rukka padhakar kuchh musakaraeean. jisane use diya usase bhayadi ke vishay mean koee prashn n karake unhoanne poochha, "kyoan bhaee, asapas mean koee talav-alav bata sakate ho? ek dubaki laga ati."

"hai kyoan nahian, maan ji. vah raha vahaan..."

"to chalo bhiya, dikha do" kahati huee vah us adami ko aur ratan ko sath lekar n jane kahaan ki ek anajan talaiya mean snanadi karane chali gayi. bimari adi ka bhay dikhana nirarthak samajhakar maianne prativad bhi nahian kiya. khasakar isalie ki agar vah kuchh kha-pi lena chahati ho, to isase vah bhi aj ke lie band ho jayega.

lekin, aj vah dasek minat mean hi laut aee. bailaga di par asabab lad raha hai aur mamooli-sa ek bistar kholakar savari vali ga di mean bichha diya gaya hai. mujhase usane kaha, "tum kyoan nahian isi vakt kuchh kha-pi lete? sabhi kuchh to a gaya hai."

maianne kaha, "do!"

pe d ke niche asan bichhakar ek kele ke patte par mere lie vah khana paros rahi thi aur maian nisprih drishti se sirph usaki or dekh raha tha. itane mean ek moorti ne akar aur samane kh de hokar kaha, "narayan!"

rajalakshmi ne apane bhige baloan par bayean hath se dhoti ka palla khianchate hue muanh uthakar oopar dekha aur kaha, "aie."

akasmath yah ni:sankoch nimantran ka shabd sunakar muanh uthakar dekha, to, ek sadhu kh da hai. bahut hi ashchary hua. usaki umar zyada nahian thi, vah shayad bis-baees ke bhitar hi hoga, magar dekhane mean jaisa sukumar vaisa hi sundar! chehara krishata ki or hi ja raha hai, shayad kuchh lamba hone ke karan hi aisa maloom hua, magar rang tape-sone jaisa. aauankhean, bhauhean, chehara aur lalat ki banavat nirdosh. vastav mean, purush ka itana roop maianne kabhi dekha ho, aisa nahian maloom hua. usaka gerua paridhan-vastr jagah-jagah phata hua hai, gaanthean bandhi huee haian. badan par gerua dhila kurata hai, usaki bhi yahi dasha hai; pairoan mean panjabi joota hai, usaki halat bhi vaisi hi hai. kho jane par usake lie afasos karane ki zaroorat nahian. rajalakshmi ne zamin se sir tekakar pranam karake asan bichha diya. phir muanh uthakar kaha, "maian jab tak bhojan parosane ki taiyari karooan, tab tak apako muanh-hath dhone ke lie jal diya jay."

sadhu ne kaha, "haan haan, lekin apake pas maian doosare hi kam ke lie aya tha."

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "achchhi bat hai, ap bhojan karane baithie, aur batean pichhe hoangi. par lautane ke lie tikat hi chahie n? so maian kharid dooangi." itana kahakar usane muanh pherakar apani hansi chhipa li.

sadhuji ne gambhirata ke sath javab diya, "nahian, usaki zaroorat nahian. mujhe khabar mili hai ki ap log gangamati ja rahe haian. mere sath ek bhari b aauks hai, use agar ap apani ga di mean le chalean to achchha ho. maian bhi usi taraph ja raha hooan."

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "isamean kaun-si b di bat hai; magar ap khud?"

"maian paidal hi ja sakata hooan. zyada door nahian, chhai-sat kos hi to hoga."

rajalakshmi ne aur kuchh n kahakar ratan ko bula ke jal dene ke lie kaha aur khud dhang ke sath achchhi tarah sadhuji ke lie bhojan parosane mean lag gayi. yah rajalakshmi ki khas apani chiz hai, is kam mean usaka sani milana mushkil hai.

sadhu maharaj khane baithe, maian bhi baith gaya. rajalakshmi mithaee ke bartan liye pas hi baithi rahi. do hi minat bad rajalakshmi ne dhire-se poochha, "sadhuji, apaka nam?"

sadhu ne khate khate kaha, "vajranand."

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "bap re bap! aur pukarane ka nam?"

usake kahane ke dhang se maianne usaki taraph dekha to usaka sara chehara dabi huee muskarahat se chamak utha tha, magar vah hansi nahian. maianne bhojan karane mean man lagaya. sadhuji ne kaha, "us nam ke sath to ab koee sambandh nahian raha. n apana raha aur n doosaroan ka."

rajalakshmi ne sahaj hi haan mean haan milate hue kaha, "haan, so to thik hai." parantu kshan-bhar bad vah phir poochh baithi, "achchha sadhuji, apako ghar se bhage kitane din hue?"

prashn bahut hi abhadr tha. maianne nigah uthakar dekha, rajalakshmi ke chehare par hansi to nahian hai, par jis pyari ke chehare ko maian bhool gaya tha, is samay rajalakshmi ki taraph dekhakar nimesh-matr mean vahi chehara mujhe yad a gaya. un purane dinoan ki sari sarasata usaki aauankhoan, muanh aur kanth-svar mean mano sajiv hokar laut aee hai.

sadhu ne ek kaur niche utarakar kaha, "apaka yah kutoohal hi anavashyak hai."

rajalakshmi jara bhi kshunn nahian huee, bhale manasoan ki tarah sir hilakar boli, "so to sach hai. lekin, ek bar mujhe bahut bhugatana p da tha, isi se..." kahate hue usane meri or lakshy karake kaha, "haan ji, tum apana vah ooant aur tattoo ka qissa to sunana! sadhuji ko jara suna to do, are re, bhagavan bharosa! ghar mean shayad koee yad kar raha hai."

sadhuji ke gale mean, shayad hansi rokane mean hi, phanda lag gaya. ab tak mere sath unaki ek bhi bat nahian huee thi, malakin mahoday ki ot mean maian kuchh-kuchh anuchar-sa hi bana baitha tha. ab sadhuji ne phande ko sanbhalate hue yathasadhya gambhirata ke sath mujhase poochha, "to ap bhi shayad ek bar sannyasi..."

mere muanh mean poo di thi, zyada bat karane ki guanjaish n thi, isalie dahine hath ki char uangaliyaan uthakar garadan hilate hue maianne kaha, "uanhooan...ek bar nahian, ek bar nahian..."

ab to sadhuji ki gambhirata n tik saki, ve aur rajalakshmi donoan khil-khilakar hans p de. hansi thamane par sadhuji ne kaha, "laut kyoan aye?"

maian ab tak poo di ka kaur lil n saka tha, sirph ishare se rajalakshmi ko dikha diya.

rajalakshmi ne mujhe daant-sa diya, kaha, "haan, so to thik hai! achchha, ek bar man liya mere lie hi, so bhi thik sach nahian hai, asal mean jabaradast bimari ki vajah se hi.- magar aur tin bar?"

maianne kaha, "vah bhi lagabhag aise hi karan se, machchh doan ke mare. machchh doan ka katana cham de se baradasht nahian hua. achchha..."

sadhu ne hansakar kaha, "mujhe ap vajranand hi kaha kijiega. apaka nam..."

mujhase pahale rajalakshmi ne hi javab diya. boli, "inake nam se kya hoga. umar mean ye bahut b de haian, inhean ap bhiya kaha kijiega. aur mujhe bhi bhabhi kahean to maian naraj n hooangi. maian bhi to umar mean tumase char-chhai sal b di hi hooangi."

sadhuji ka chehara surkh ho utha. maianne bhi itani asha nahian ki thi. ashchary ke sath maianne dekha ki vahi hai. vahi svachchh, saral, snehatur, anandamayi. vahi jisane mujhe kisi bhi tarah shmashan mean nahian jane diya aur kisi bhi halat mean raja ke sansarg mean nahian tikane diya,- yah vahi hai. jo l daka apane kahian ke sneh-bandhan ko to dakar chala aya hai, usaki sampoorn ajnat vedana ne rajalakshmi ke samast hriday ko math dala hai. kisi bhi tarah ise vah phir se ghar lauta dena chahati hai.

sadhu bechare ne lajja ke dhakke ko sanmhajalate hue kaha, "dekhie, bhiya kahane mean mujhe aisi koee apatti nahian, magar ham sannyasi logoan ko kisi ko is tarah nahian pukarana chahie."

rajalakshmi leshamatr bhi apratibh ne huee. boli, "kyoan nahian! bhiya ki bahoo ko sannyasi log koee mausi kahakar to pukarate nahian, aur bua kahate hoan so bhi nahian, isake siva mujhe tum aur kya kahakar pukar sakate ho?"

l daka nirupay hokar ant mean salajj hansate hue chehare se bola, "achchhi bat hai. chhai-sat ghante aur bhi hooan apake sath, is bich mean agar zaroorat p di to vahi kahooanga."

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "to kaho n ek bar!"

sadhu hans p de, bole, "zaroorat p degi to kahooanga, jhoothamooth pukarana thik nahian."

rajalakshmi ne usaki pattal mean aur bhi char-paanch 'sandesh' aur baraphi parosakar kaha, "achchha, usi se mera kam chal jayega. magar zaroorat p dane par maian kya kahakar tumhean bulaooan, so kuchh samajh mean nahian ata." phir meri taraph ishara karake kaha, "inhean to bulaya karati thi. 'sannyasi maharaj' kah ke. so ab ho nahian sakata, ghutala ho jayega. achchha, to maian tumhean 'sadhu devar' kaha karooan, kya kahate ho?"

sadhuji ne age tark nahian kiya, atyant gambhirata ke sath kaha, "achchha, so hi sahi."

ve aur batoan mean chahe jaise hoan, par dekha ki khane-pine ke mamale mean unhean kafi rasajnata hai. pachhaanh ki umada mithaiyoan ki ve qadar karate haian, aur yahi vajah hai ki kisi vastu ka unhoanne asamman nahian kiya. ek to b de jatan aur param sneh ke sath ek ke bad ek chiz parosati jati thi, aur doosare sajjan chupachap bina kisi sankoch ke gale ke niche utarate jate the. magar maian udvign ho utha. man-hi-man samajh gaya ki sadhuji pahale chahe kuchh bhi karate rahe hoan, parantu, philahal inhean aisi upadey bhojy samagri itani zyada tadad mean sevan karane ka mauqa nahian mila hai. parantu, koee agar apani dirghakal vyapi trriti ko ek hi bar mean ek sath door karane ka prayatn kare, to use dekhakar darshakoan ke lie dhairy ki raksha karana mushkil hi nahian asambhav ho jata hai. lihaza rajalakshmi ke aur bhi kee pe de aur baraphi sadhuji ki pattal mean rakhate hi anajan mean meri nak aur muanh se ek sath itana b da dirgh ni:shvas nikal p da ki rajalakshmi aur usake naye kutumbi donoan hi chauank p de. rajalakshmi mere muanh ki or dekhakar jhatapat kah uthi, "tum kamazor adami ho, chalo uthakar muanh-hath dho lo. ham logoan ke sath baithe rahane ki kya zaroorat hai?"

sadhuji ne ek bar meri taraph, aur phir rajalakshmi ki taraph aur usake bad mithaee vale baratan ki taraph dekhakar hansate hue kaha, "gahari saans lene ki to bat hi hai bhaee, kuchh bhi to nahian bacha!"

"abhi bahut hai" kahakar rajalakshmi meri or kruddh drishti dekhakar rah gayi.

thik isi samay ratan pichhe akar kh da ho gaya aur bola, "chiu da to bahut milata hai, par doodh ya dahi kuchh bhi tumhare lie nahian mila."

sadhu bechare atyant lajjit hokar bole, "ap logoan ke atithy par maianne b da atyachar kiya hai," yah kahakar ve sahasa uthana hi chahate the ki rajalakshmi vyakul hokar kahane lagi, "mere sar ki kasam hai lalaji, agar uthe. kasam khati hooan, maian sab utha ke pheank dooangi."

sadhu kshan-bhar to vismay se shayad yahi sochate rahe ki yah kaisi stri hai jo do gh di ki jan-pahichan mean hi itani gahari ghanishth ho uthi. rajalakshmi ki pyari ka itihas jo nahian janata usake lie to yah ashchary ki bat hai hi.

isake bad vah jara hansakar bole, "maian sannyasi adami thahara, khane-pine mean mujhe koee hichak nahian hai; magar apako bhi kuchh khana chahie. meri kasam khane se to pet bhar nahian jayega?"

rajalakshmi ne daantoan-tale jibh dabakar gambhirata ke sath kaha, "chhi chhi, aisi bat auratoan se nahian kahana chahie, lalaji. maian yah sab kuchh nahian khati, mujhase baradasht nahian hota. naukar, to unake lie kafi hai. aj rat-bhar ki hi bat hai, jo kuchh mil jay, mutthi-bhar chiu da-iu da khakar jara pani pi lene se hi mera kam chal jayega. lekin, tum agar bhookhe uth gaye, to tho da-bahut jo kuchh maian khati hooan so bhi n khaooangi. vishvas n ho to inase poochh lo." itana kahakar usane mujhase apil ki. maianne kaha, "yah bat sach hai, ise maian halaph uthakar kahane ko taiyar hooan. sadhuji, jhoothamooth bahas karane se koee labh nahian. bhaee sahab, ban sake to bartan ko auandha karake u delavane tak sevan karate chale jao; nahian to, phir yah kisi kam mean hi nahian ayega. yah sab saman relaga di mean aya hai. lihaza bhookhoan mar jane par bhi koee inhean til-bhar bhi nahian khila sakata. yah thik bat hai."

sadhu ne kaha, "magar yah mithaee to ga di ki chhuee huee nahian mani jati!"

maianne kaha, "isaki mimaansa to maian itane dinoan mean bhi khatam n kar saka bhaee sahab, tab tum kya ek hi baithak mean phaisala kar daloge? isase to balki hath ka kam khatam karake uth baithana achchha, nahian to sooraj doob jane par shayad chiu da pani bhi gale se niche utarane ki naubat n ayegi. mera kahana hai ki do-char ghante to tum sath mean ho hi, shastr ka vichar samajha sako to raste mean samajha dena, usase kaj n hoga ta kam-se-kam akaj n badhega. is vakt jo ho raha hai, vahi hone do."

sadhu ne poochha, "to kya din-bhar se inhoanne kuchh khaya hi nahian?"

maianne kaha, "nahian. isake siva kal bhi kya jane kya tha, sun raha hooan ki do-char phal-phool ke siva kal bhi aur kuchh muanh mean nahian diya hai."

ratan pichhe hi kh da tha, garadan hilakar kya jane kya kahate-kahate, shayad malakin ki aauankh ke gupt ishare se sahasa ruk gaya.

sadhu ne rajalakshmi ki or dekhakar kaha, "isase apako kasht nahian hota?"

uttar mean rajalakshmi sirph jara hans di, parantu maianne kaha, "is bat ko ap pratyaksh aur anuman kisi tarah bhi nahian jan sakate. haan, aauankhoan se jo kuchh dekha hai usamean, shayad, do-ek din aur bhi jo de ja sakate haian."

rajalakshmi ne prativad karate hue kaha, "tumane dekha hai aauankhoan se?- kabhi nahian."

maianne isaka javab nahian diya, aur sadhuji ne bhi phir koee prashn nahian kiya. samay ki taraph khayal karake ve chupachap bhojan samapt karake uth baithe.

ratan aur usake sathi do janoan ko khate-pite bahut der ho gayi. rajalakshmi ne apane lie kya vyavastha ki, so vahi jane. ham log gangamati ke lie jab ravana hue tab sham ho chuki thi. ekadashi ka chaand ab tak ujjval n hua tha, aur andhakar bhi kahian kuchh n tha. asabab ki donoan ga diyaan sabase pichhe, rajalakshmi ki ga di bich mean aur ham logoan ki ga di achchhi hone ke karan sabase age thi. sadhuji ko pukarakar maianne kaha, "bhaee sahab, paidal to chalate hi rahate ho, isaki tumhean koee kami nahian, aj-bhar ke lie, n ho to, meri hi ga di par a jao."

sadhu ne kaha, "sath hi to chal rahe haian, n chal sakooanga to baith looanga, magar abhi jara paidal hi chalooan."

rajalakshmi ne muanh nikalakar kaha, "to tum mere b aaudi-gard hokar chalo lalaji, tumhare sath batachit karati huee chalooangi." yah kahakar usane sadhuji ko apani ga di ke pas bula liya. samane hi maian tha. bich-bich mean ga di, bail aur ga divanoan ke sammilit upadrav se unaki batachit ke kisi-kisi aansh se vanchit hone par bhi adhikaansh sunata hua chala.

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "ghar tumhara idhar nahian hai, hamare hi desh ki taraph hai, so to maian tumhari bat sunakar hi samajh gayi thi, magar aj kahaan chale ho, sachchi-sachchi batana bhaee."

sadhu ne kaha, "gopalapur."

rajalakshmi ne poochha, "hamari gangamati se vah kitani door hai?"

sadhu ne javab diya, "apaki gangamati bhi mujhe nahian maloom, aur apane gopalapur se bhi vakiph nahian; lekin haan, hoange donoan pas hi pas. kam-se-kam suna to aisa hi hai."

"to phir itani rat mean kaise to gaanv pahichanoge, aur kaise unaka ghar dhooandh nikaloge jinake yahaan ja rahe ho?"

sadhuji ne jara hansakar kaha, "gaanv pahichanane mean dikkat nahian hogi, kyoanki raste par hi shayad ek sookha talab hai, usake dakkhin kos-bhar chalane se hi vah mil jayega. aur ghar dhooandhane ki to takaliph uthani hi nahian p degi, kyoanki sabhi anajan haian. magar haan, pe d ke niche to jagah mil hi jayegi, isaki poori ummid hai."

rajalakshmi ne vyakul hokar kaha, "aise ja de ki rat mean pe d tale? is jara-se kambal par bharosa rakhake? ise maian haragij baradasht nahian kar sakati, samajhe lalaji!"

usake udveg ne mano mujh tak ko chot pahuanchaee. sadhu kuchh der chup rahakar dhire-se bole, "magar ham logoan ke to ghar-dvar nahian hai, ham log to pe d tale hi raha karate haian, jiji."

abaki bar rajalakshmi bhi kshan-bhar maun rahakar boli, "so jiji ki aauankhoan ke samane nahian. rat ke vakt bhaee ko maian nirashray nahian chho d sakati. aj mere sath chalo, kal maian khud hi taiyari karake bhej dooangi."

sadhu chup rahe. rajalakshmi ne ratan ko bulakar kah diya ki bina unase poochhe ga di ki koee chiz sthanantarit n ki jay. arthath sannyasi maharaj ka b aauks aj rat-bhar ke lie rok rakkha gaya.

maianne kaha, "to phir kyoan jhoothamooth ko thand mean takaliph utha rahe ho bhaee sahab, a jao n meri ga di mean."

sadhu ne jara kuchh sochakar kaha, "abhi rahane do. jiji ke sath zara batachit karata hua chal raha hooan."

maianne bhi socha ki thik hai aur ta d gaya ki abhi sadhu baba ke man mean naye sambandh ko asvikar karane ka dvandv chal raha hai. magar phir bhi, ant tak bachav n ho saka. sahasa, jabaki unhoanne aangikar kar hi liya, tab bar-bar mere man mean ane laga ki jara savadhan karake unase kah dooan, 'maharaj, bhag jate to achchha hota. ant mean kahian meri-si dasha n ho!'

lekin, maian chup hi raha.

donoan ki batachit dh dalle se hone lagi. bailaga di ke jhakajhoroan aur ooanghaee ke jhoankoan mean, bich-bich mean unaki batachit ka sootr khote rahane par bhi, kalpana ki sahayata se use poora karate hue rasta tay karane mean mera samay bhi bura nahian bita.

shayad maian jara tandra-magn ho gaya, sahasa suna, poochha ja raha hai, "kyoan anand, tumhare us b aauks mean kya-kya hai, bhaee?"

uttar mila, "kuchh kitabean aur dava-daroo hai jiji."

"dava-daroo kyoan? tum kya d aauktar ho?"

"maian to sannyasi hooan. achchha, apane kya suna nahian jiji, apake us taraph haija phail raha hai?"

"nahian to. yah bat to hamare gumashte ne nahian jataee. achchha, lalaji, tum haije ko aram kar sakate ho?"

sadhuji ne jara maun rahakar kaha, "aram karane ke malik to ham log nahian didi, ham log to sirph dava dekar koshish kar sakate haian. magar isaki bhi zaroorat hai, yah bhi unhian ka adesh hai."

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "sannyasi bhi dava diya karate haian, thik hai, magar sirph dava dene hi ke lie sannyasi nahian bana jata. achchha anand, tum kya sirph isilie sannyasi hue ho bhiya?"

sadhu ne kaha, "so maian thik nahian janata jiji, magar haan, desh ki seva karana bhi ham logoan ka ek vrat hai."

"ham logoan ka? to shayad tum logoan ka ek dal hoga n, lalaji?"

sadhu kuchh javab n dekar chup bane rahe. rajalakshmi ne phir poochha, "lekin seva karane ke lie so sannyasi hone ki zaroorat nahian hoti, bhaee. tumhean yah mati buddhi di kisane, batao to?"

sadhuji ne is prashn ka shayad uttar nahian diya, kyoanki, kuchh der tak kisi ki koee bat sunane mean nahian aee. dasek minat bad kan mean bhanak p di, sadhuji kah rahe haian, 'jiji, maian bahut hi kshudr sannyasi hooan. mujhe yah nam n bhi diya jay to thik hai. maianne to sirph apana tho da-sa bhar pheankakar usaki jagah doosaroan ka bojh lad liya hai."

rajalakshmi kuchh boli nahian, sadhuji kahane lage, "maian shuroo se hi dekh raha hooan ki ap mujhe barabar ghar lautane ki koshish kar rahi haian. maloom nahian kyoan, shayad jiji hone ki vajah se hi. parantu jinaka bhar lene ke lie ham ghar chho dakar nikal aye haian ve kitane durbal, kitane rugn, kaise nirupay aur kitani sankhya mean haian, yah agar kisi tarah ek bar jan jatian, to us bat ko phir man mean bhi la nahian sakatian."

isaka bhi rajalakshmi ne kuchh uttar nahian diya; parantu maian samajh gaya ki jo prasang chhi da hai, usamean ab donoan ke man aur mat ke bhed hone mean der nahian hogi. sadhuji ne bhi thik jagah par hi chot ki hai. desh ki abhyantarik avastha aur usake sukh, du:kh, abhav ko maian khud bhi kuchh kam nahian janata; magar ye sannyasi koee bhi kyoan n hoan, inhoanne apani is tho di-si umar mean mujhase bahut zyada aur ghanishth bhav se sab dekha-bhala hai aur bahut vishal hriday se use apanaya hai. sunate-sunate aauankhoan ki niand aauansuoan mean parivartit ho gayi aur sara hriday krodh, kshobh, du:kh aur vyatha se mano matha jane laga. pichhe ki ga di ke aandhere kone mean akeli baithi huee rajalakshmi ne ek prashn tak nahian kiya, itani bat mean se ek bhi bat mean usane sath nahian diya. usaki niravata se sadhu maharaj ne kya socha hoga so ve hi janean; parantu, is ekant stabdhata ka sampoorn arth mujhase chhipa n raha.

'desh' ke mani haian ve gaanv jahaan desh ke chaudah ane nar-nari vas karate haian. unhian gaanvoan ki kahani sadhu kahane lage. desh mean pani nahian hai, pran nahian haian, svasthy nahian hai, jangal ki gandagi se jahaan mukt prakash aur saf hava ka marg ruka hua hai- jahaan jnan nahian, jahaan vidya nahian, dharm bhi vikrit aur pathabhrasht hai : mritakalp janm-bhoomi ke is du:kh ka vivaran chhape ke aksharoan mean bhi padha hai aur apani aauankhoan se bhi dekha hai, parantu yah n hona, kitana b da 'n hona' hai, is bat ko, maloom hua ki, aj se pahale janata hi n tha. desh ki yah dinata kitani bhayankar dinata hai, aj se pahale mano usaki dharana bhi mujhe n thi. sookhe soone vistrit maidan mean se ham log gujar rahe haian. s dak ki dhool os se bhigakar bhari ho gayi hai. us par ga di ke pahiyoan aur bailoan ke khuroan ka shabd kadachith hi sunaee de raha hai. akash ki chaandani pandur hokar jahaan tak drishti jati hai vahaan tak phail rahi hai. isi ke bhitar ke shitrritu ke is nistabdh nishith mean ham log ajnat ki or dhir manthar gati se lagatar chal rahe haian; anucharoan mean se kaun jag raha hai aur kaun nahian, so bhi nahian maloom hota, sabhi koee shit-vastroan se apana sarvakshh dhake hue chupachap p de haian. sirph akele sannyasiji hi hamare sath sajag chal rahe haian aur is paripoorn stabdhata mean sirph unhian ke muanh se desh ke ajnat bhaee-bahanoan ki asahy vedana ka itihas mano lapatean le-lekar jal-jalakar nikal raha hai. yah sone ki bhoomi kis tarah dhire-dhire aisi shushk, aisi rikt ho gayi, kaise desh ki samast sampada videshiyoan ke hath mean p dakar dhire-dhire videsh mean chali gayi, kis tarah matri-bhoomi ke samast med-majja aur rakt ko videshiyoan ne shoshan kar liya, isake jvalant itihas ko mano vah yuvak aauankhoan ke samane ek-ek karake uddhatit karake dikhalane laga.

sahasa sadhu ne rajalakshmi ko sambodhan karake kaha, "maloom hota hai, tumhean maian pahichan saka hooan jiji. man mean ata hai, tum jaisi bahinoan ko le jakar tumhari apani aauankhoan ke samane tumhare un sab bhaee-bahanoan ko dikhalaooan."

rajalakshmi se pahale to kuchh bola n gaya, bad mean ruandhe hue gale se vah boli, "mujhe kya aisa mauqa mil sakata hai, anand? maian jo aurat hooan, is bat ko maian kaise bhoolooan, bhiya?"

sadhu ne kaha, "kyoan nahian mil sakata bahan? aur, tum aurat ho, is bat ko hi yadi bhool jaogi to kasht uthakar tumhean vah sab dikhane se mujhe labh hi kya hoga?"

000

sadhu ne poochha, "gangamati kya tumhian logoan ki jamiandari hai, jiji?" rajalakshmi ne jara musakarakar kaha, "dekhate kya ho bhaee, ham ek b de bhari zamiandar haian."

abaki bar javab dene mean sadhu bhi jara hans p da. bola, "b di bhari jamiandari, lekin, b da bhari saubhagy nahian hai, jiji." usaki bat se usaki parthiv avastha ke sambandh mean mujhe ek tarah ka sandeh utpann hua, parantu rajalakshmi us disha ki or nahian gayi. usane saral bhav se tatkshan svikar karate hue kaha, "bat to sach hai anand. yah sab jitani hi door ho jay, utana achchha."

"achchha jiji, ve achchhe ho jaanyage to phir tum apane shahar ko laut aogi?"

"laut jaooangi? magar vah to bahut door ki bat hai bhaee!"

sadhu ne kaha, "ban sake to ab mat lautana, jiji. in sab garib abhagoan ko tum log chho dakar chali gayi ho, isi se to inaka du:kh kasht chauguna badh gaya hai. jab pas thian tab bhi tumane inhean kasht n diya ho so bat nahian, magar door rahakar itana nirmam du:kh unhean n de saki hogi. tab jaise du:kh diya hai; vaise du:kh bantaya bhi hai. jiji, desh ka raja agar desh hi mean rahe to desh ka du:kh-dainy shayad is tarah gale tak n bhar utha kare. aur, is 'gale tak bharane' ka matalab kya hai aur tum logoan ko shahar-vas ke lie sarv prakar ahar-vihar ka saman jutane ka abhav aur apavyay kya hai, is chiz ko agar ek bar aauankhean pasarakar dekh sakatian jiji..."

"kyoan anand, ghar ke lie tumhara man chanchal nahian hota?..."

sadhu ne sankshep mean kaha, "nahian."

vah bechara samajha nahian, parantu maian samajh gaya ki rajalakshmi ne us prasang ko daba diya, mahaj isalie ki usase saha nahian jata tha.

kuchh der maun rahakar rajalakshmi ne vyathit kanth se poochha, "ghar par tumhare kaun-kaun haian?"

sadhu ne kaha, "magar ghar to mera ab raha nahian."

rajalakshmi phir bahut der tak nirav rahakar boli, "achchha anand, is umar mean sannyasi hokar kya tumane shanti paee hai?"

sadhu ne hansakar kaha, "are bap re! sannyasi ko itana lobh! nahian jiji, maianne to doosaroan ke du:kh ka tho da-sa bhar lena chaha hai, aur sirph vahi paya hai."

rajalakshmi phir chup rahi. sadhu ne kaha, "ve shayad so gaye hoange, lekin ab jara unaki ga di mean jakar baithooan. achchha jiji, kabhi do-char din ke lie agar tum logoan ka atithi banakar rahooan to kya ve naraj hoange?"

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "ve kaun? tumhare bhaeesahab?"

sadhuji ne jara hansakar kaha, "achchha, yahi sahi."

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "aur maian naraj hooangi ya nahian, so to poochha hi nahian. achchha, pahale chalo to ek bar gangamati, usake bad is bat ka vichar kiya jayega."

sadhuji ne kya kaha, sun n saka, shayad kuchh kaha hi nahian. tho di der bad meri ga di mean akar pukara, "bhaee sahab, ap jag rahe haian?"

maian jag hi raha tha, par kuchh bola nahian! phir ve mere pas hi tho di-si jagah nikalakar apana phata kambal odhakar p d rahe. ek bar tabiyat to huee ki jara khisakakar bechare ke lie tho di-si jagah aur chho d dooan, parantu hilane-dulane se kahian unhean shak n ho jay ki maian jag raha hooan ya meri niand uchat gayi hai aur is gambhir nishith mean phir ek bar desh ki sugambhir samasya ki alochana hone lage, is dar se maianne karuna prakat karane ki cheshta tak n ki.

ga di ne gangamati mean kab pravesh kiya mujhe nahian maloom; mujhe to tab maloom hua jab ga di naye makan ke daravaze par ja kh di huee. tab sabera ho chuka tha. ek sath char bailaga diyoan ke vividh aur vichitr kolahal se charoan taraph bhi d to kam nahian maloom huee. ratan ki kripa se pahale hi sun chuka tha ki gaanv mean mukhyat: chhoti jat hi basati hai. dekha ki narajagi mean bhi usane bilkuchal jhooth nahian kaha tha. aise ja de-pale mean t dake hi pachas-sath nana umar ke l dake-l dakiyaan, nang-dh dang aur ugh de badan, shayad hal hi sote se uthakar tamasha dekhane ke lie jama ho gaye haian. pichhe se bap-mahatariyoan ka jhund bhi yatha-yogy sthan se tak-jhaank raha hai. un sabaki akriti aur pahanava dekhakar unaki kulinata ke bare mean aur kisi ke man mean chahe huchh bhi ho, magar, ratan ke man mean shayad sanshay ki bhap bhi baki n rahi. usaka sote se utha hua chehara nimesh-matr mean virakti aur krodh se barroan ke chhatte ke saman bhishan ho utha. malakin ke darshan karane ki ativyagrata se kuchh l dake-bale kuchh atm-vistrit hokar satate a rahe the. dekhate hi ratan ne aise bikat-roop se unhean dhar-khade da ki samane agar do ga divan n hote to vahian ek khoon-kharabi huee dhari thi. ratan ko jara bhi lajja ka anubhav n hua. meri taraph dekhakar boli, "duniya ki chhoti jat sab yahian akar mari hai! dekhi babooji, chhoti jat ki himakat? jaise rath-yatra dekhane ae hoan! hamare yahaan ke bhale adami kya yahaan akar rah sakate haian babooji? abhi sab chhoo-chha karake ekakar kar deange."

'chhoo-chha' shabd sabase pahale pahuancha rajalakshmi ke kanoan mean. usaka chehara aprasann-sa ho gaya.

sadhuji apana b aauks utarane mean vyast the. apana kam khatam karake ve ek lota nikalakar age badh aye aur pas hi jis l dake ko paya usaka hath pak dakar bole, "are l dake, ja to bhiya, yahaan kahian achchha-sa talab-alab ho ho to ek lota pani to le a, chay banani hai." yah kahakar unhoanne lota usake hath mean thama diya, phir samane kh de hue ek adhe d umar ke adami se kaha, "chaudhari, asapas kisi ke yahaan gay ho to bata dena bhiya, chhatak-bhar doodh maang laooan. gaanv ki taji khalis chiz thahari, chay ka rang aisa badhiya ayega jiji..." phir unhoanne ek bar apani jiji ke chehare ki taraph dekha. magar 'jiji' ne is utsah mean jara bhi sath nahian diya. aprasann mukh se jara musakarakar kaha, "ratan, ja to bhiya, lota maanjakar jara pani to le a."

ratan ke mizaj ka sanvad pahale hi de chuka han. usake bad jab us par aise ja de-pale mean n jane kaun ek anajan sadhu ke lie, maloom nahian kahaan ke talab se, pani lane ka bhar p da, tab vah apane ko n rok saka. ek hi kshan mean usaka sara gussa jakar p da, usase bhi jo chhota tha, us abhage l dake par. vah use ek zor ki dhamaki dekar bola, "paji badamash kahian ka, lota kyoan chhua toone? chal haramajade, lota maanjakar pani mean dubo dena." itana kahakar mano vah sirph apani aauankh-mukh ki cheshta se hi l dake ko garadaniyaan deta hua le gaya.

usaki karatoot dekhakar sadhu hans p de, maian bhi hans diya. rajalakshmi ne khud bhi jara salajj hansi hansakar kaha, "gaanv mean tumane to uthal-puthal macha di anand, sadhuoan ko shayad rat bitane ke pahale hi chay chahie?"

sadhu ne kaha, "grihasthoan ke lie rat nahian biti to kya ham logoan ke lie bhi nahian bitegi? khoob. lekin doodh ki tajavij to honi chahie. achchha, ghar mean ghusakar dekha to jay, lak di-bak di, choolha-oolha kuchh hai ya nahian. o chaudhari, chalo n bhiya, kisake yahaan gay hai, chalake jara dikha do. jiji, kal ke us bartan mean baraphi-araphi kuchh bachi thi n? ya ga di hi mean aandhere mean use khatam kar diya!

rajalakshmi ko hansi a gayi. muhalle ki jo do-char auratean door kh di dekh rahi thian, unhoanne muanh pher liya.

itane mean gumashta kashiram kushari mahashay ghabaraye hue a pahuanche. sath mean unake tin-char adami the; kisi ke sir par bhar-tokani shak-sabji aur tarakari thi, kisi ke hath mean bhar-lota doodh, kisi ke hath mean dahi ka bartan aur kisi ke hath mean b di-si rohoo machhali. rajalakshmi ne unhean namaskar kiya. ve ashirvad ke sath, apane ane mean jara der ho jane ke lie, tarah-tarah ki kaiphiyat dene lage. adami to mujhe achchha hi maloom hua. umar pachas se zyada hogi. sharir kuchh krish, dadhi-moochhean mu di hueean aur rang saph. maianne unhean namaskar kiya, unhoanne bhi prati-namaskar kiya. parantu, sadhuji is sab prachalit shishtacharoan ke pas se bhi n phatake. unhoanne tarakari ki tokani apane hath se utaravakar usamean se ek-ek ka vishleshan karake vishesh prashansa ki. doodh khalis hai, is vishay mean apana ni:sanshay mat zahir kiya aur machhali ke vajan ka anuman karake usake asvad ke vishay mean upasthit sabhi ko ashanvit kar diya.

sadhu maharaj ke shubhagaman ke vishay mean gumashta sahab ko pahale ke kuchh khabar nahian mili thi; isalie, unhean kuchh kutoohal-sa hua. rajalakshmi ne kaha, "sannyasi ko dekhakar ap darean nahian kushari mahashay, ye mere bhaee haian." phir jara hansakar mridu kanth se kaha, "aur bar-bar gerua vasan chhu davana mano mera kam hi ho gaya hai!"

bat sadhuji ke kano mean bhi p di. bole, "par yah kam utana asan n hoga, jiji." yoan kahakar meri or kanakhiyoan se dekh ke jara hanse. isake mani maian bhi samajh gaya aur rajalakshmi bhi. magar pratyuttar mean usane sirph jara musakarakar kaha, "so dekha jayega."

makan ke bhitar pravesh karake dekha gaya ki kushari mahashay ne intazam kuchh bura nahian kiya hai. bahut hi jaldi ki vajah se unhoanne khud anyatr jakar purane kachahari vale makan ko tho da-bahut jirnodvar karake khasa rahane- layaq bana diya hai. bhitar rasoee aur bhandar-ghar ke siva sone ke lie do kamare bhi haian. kamare haian to mitti ke hi aur oopar hai, magar khoob ooanche aur b de haian. bahar ki baithak bhi bahut achchhi hai. aauangan lamba-chau da, saph-suthara aur mitti ki chaharadivari se ghira hua hai. ek taraph chhota-sa ek kuaauan hai, aur usake pas hi do-tin tagar aur shephali ke pe d haian. doosari taraph bahut-se chhote-b de tulasi ke paudhoan ki pankti hai, aur char-paanch juhi aur mallika ke jha d haian. kul milakar jagah bahut achchhi hai, dekhakar man ko tripti huee.

sabase badhakar utsah dekha gaya sannyasi mahashay mean. jo kuchh unaki nigah mean p da usi par vah uchch kanth se anand prakat karane lage, jaise aisa aur kabhi unhoanne dekha hi n ho. maian, shoragul n machane par bhi, man-hi-man khush hi hua. rajalakshmi apane bhiya ke lie rasoee mean chay bana rahi thi, isalie usake chehare ka bhav aauankhoan se to nahian dikhaee diya, parantu man ka bhav kisi se chhipa bhi n raha. sirph sath nahian diya to ek ratan ne. vah muanh ko usi tarah phulae hue ek khambhe ke sahare chupachap baitha raha.

chay bani. sadhuji kal ki bachi huee mithaee ke sath chupachap do pyala chay chadhakar uth baithe aur mujhase bole, "chalie n, jara ghoom-phir kar gaanv dekh avean. baandh bhi to zyada door nahian, udhar ke udhar hi naha bhi ayeange. jiji, aie n, jamiandari dekhabhal avean. shayad sharif log to koee hoange nahian, sharam karane ki bhi vishesh koee zaroorat nahian. jayadad hai achchhi, dekh ke lobh hota hai."

rajalakshmi ne hansakar kaha, "so to maian janati hooan. sannyasiyoan ka svabhav hi aisa hota hai."

hamare sath rasoiya brahman tatha aur bhi ek naukar aya tha. ve donoan rasoee ki taiyari kar rahe the. rajalakshmi ne kaha, "nahian maharaj, tumhare hath aisi taji machhali sauanpane ka hiyav nahian p data, naha ke lautane par rasoee maian hi chadhaooangi." yah kahakar vah hamare sath chalane ki taiyari karane lagi.

ab tak ratan ne kisi batachit ya kam mean sath nahian diya tha. ham log jane lage to vah atyant dhir-gambhir svar mean bola, "maan ji, us baandh ya tal, n jane is mue desh ke log kya kahate haian, usamean ap mat nahaiega. b di jabaradast joankean haian usamean, ek-ek, sunate haian, hath-hath bhar ki."

doosare hi kshan rajalakshmi ka chehara mare dar ke phak p d gaya, "kahata kya hai ratan, usamean kya bahut joankean haian?"

ratan ne garadan hilakar kaha, "ji haan, suna to aisa hi hai."

sadhu ne dapatakar kaha, "ji haan, sun to aya hi hoga! is naee ne soch-sochakar achchhi tarakib nikali hai!" ratan ke man ka bhav aur jati ka parichay sadhu ne pahale hi se prapt kar liya tha; hans ke kaha, "jiji, isaki bat mat suno, chalo chalean. joankean haian ya nahian, is bat ki pariksha n ho to ham hi logoan se kara lena."

magar unaki jiji ek qadam bhi age n badhian. joank ke nam se ekadam achal hokar bolian, "maian kahati hooan, aj n ho to rahane do, anand, nayi jagah thahari, achchhi tarah bina jane-samajhe aisa du:sahas karana, thik nahian hoga. ratan, too ja bhiya, yahian par do kalase pani kuaauan se le a." mujhe adesh mila, "tum kamazor adami ho, so kahian kisi anajan baandh-aauandh mean naha-nuhoo mat ana. ghar par hi do lota pani dalakar aj ka kam nikal lena."

sadhuji ne hansakar kaha, "aur maian hi kya itana upekshaniy hooan jiji, jo mujhe hi sirph us joankoanvale talab mean pathae deti ho?"

bat koee b di nahian thi, magar itane hi se rajalakshmi ki aauankhean mano sahasa dabadaba aeean. usane kshan-bhar nirav rahakar, apani snigdh drishti se mano unhean abhishikt karate hue kaha, "tum to bhiya, adami ke hath se bahar ho. jisane maan-bap ka kahana nahian mana, vah kya kahian ki ek anajan aparichit bahin ki bat rakhega?"

sadhuji jane ke lie udyat hokar sahasa jara thaharakar bole, "yah anajan aparichit hone ki bat mat kaho, bahin. ap sab logoan ko pahichanane ke lie hi to ghar chho dakar nikala hooan, nahian to mujhe isaki kya zaroorat thi, bataie?" itana kahakar ve jara tezise bahar chale gaye, aur maian bhi dhire se unake sath ho liya.

ham donoan ne milakar khoob ghoom-phir ke gaanv dekh-bhal liya. gaanv chhota hai, aur jinhean ham chhoti jat kahate haian, unhian ka hai. vastav mean, do ghar tamboli aur ek ghar luhar ke siva gangamati mean aisa koee ghar nahian jisaka pani liya jo sake. sabhi ghar dom aur bauriyaan ke haian. bauri log beant ka kam aur majoori karate haian aur dom log tokani, soop, daliya vagairah aur po damati gaanv mean bechakar jivika chalate haian. gaanv ke uttar ki taraph pani ke nikas ka jo b da nala hai, usi ke us par po damati hai. sunane mean aya ki vah gaanv b da hai, aur usamean brahman, kayasth aur anyany jatiyoan ke bhi bahut-se ghar haian. apane kushari mahashay ka ghar bhi usi po damati mean hai. magar doosaroan ki bat pichhe kahooanga, philahal apane gaanv ki jo halat aauankhoan se dekhi, usase meri drishti aauansuoan se dhuandhali ho aee. becharoan ne apane-apane gharoan ki ji-jan se chhota banane ki koshish karane mean kuchh utha nahian rakha hai, phir bhi itane chhote-chhote gharoan ke chhane layaq sookha ghas bhi is sone ke desh mean, unake bhagy se nahian jutata. bita-bhar zamin tak kisi ke pas nahian, sirph daliya-tokani-soop banakar aur doosare gaanv mean sadgrihasthoan ko pani ke mol bechakar kis tarah in logoan ki gujar hoti hai, maian to soch hi n saka. phir bhi, isi tarah in ashuchi asprishyoan ke din kat rahe haian aur shayad isi tarah hamesha se kate haian, parantu kisi ne bhi kisi din isaka jara khayal tak nahian kiya. s dak ke kutte jaise paida hokar kuchh varsh tak jaise-taise zinda rahakar n jane kahaan, kab kaise mar jate haian-unaka jaise kahian koee hisab nahian rakhata, in abhagoan ka bhi vahi hal hai, mano, deshavasiyoan se ve isase zyada aur kuchh dava hi nahian kar sakate. inaka du:kh inaki dinata, inaki sab tarah ki hinata apani aur paraee drishti mean itani sahaj aur svabhavik ho gayi hai ki manushy ke pas hi manushy ke itane b de jabaradast apaman se kahian kisi ke bhi man mean lajja ka ranch-matr bhi sanchar nahian hota. magar, sadhuji idhar jo mere chehare ki taraph dekh rahe the, so mujhe maloom hi nahian hua. ve sahasa bol uthe, "bhaee sahab, yahi hai desh ki sachchi tasavir. lekin, man mean malal lane ki zaroorat nahian. ap soch rahe hoange ki ye batean inhean din-rat sataya karati haian, magar yah bat qatee nahian."

maianne kshubdh aur atyant vismit hokar kaha, "yah bat kya kahi sadhuji?"

sadhuji ne kaha, "meri tarah ap bhi agar sab jagah ghooma-phira karate bhaee sahab, to samajh jate ki maianne lagabhag sach bat hi kahi hai. asal mean du:kh bhogata kaun hai bhiya? man hi to? magar vah bala kya ham logoan ne baki chho di hai inamean?- bahut dinoan se lagatar sikanje mean daba-dabakar bilku'l nicho d liya hai becharoan ka man. isase zyada chahane ka ab ye khud hi anuchit spardha samajhate haian. vah re vah! hamare bap-dadoan ne bhi soch-vichar kar kaisi umada mashin eejad ki hai, kya kahane!" yah kahakar sadhu atyant nishthur ki bhaanti 'ha: ha:' karake hansane lage. magar maian n to unaki hansi mean hi sharik ho saka, aur n unaki bat ka thik-thik arth hi grahan kar saka, aur isalie man-hi-man lajjit ho utha.

is sal phasal achchhi nahian huee, aur pani ki kami se hemant rritu ke dhan lagabhag adhe sookh jane se abhi se abhav ki hava chalane lagi. sadhuji ne kaha, "bhaee sahab, chahe kisi bahane hi sahi, bhagavan ne jab apako apani praja ke bich dhakel-dhukoolakar bhej hi diya hai, tab achanak bhag n jaiega. kam-se-kam yah sal to yahian bitakar jaie. yah to maian nahian sochata ki ap vishesh kuchh kar sakeange, par aauankhoan se dekhakar praja ke du:kh ko bantana achchha hai, isase jamiandari karane ke pap ka bojh kuchh halaka hota hai."

maianne man-hi-man gahari saans lekar socha-jamiandari aur praja jaise meri hi ho, parantu jaise pahale javab nahian diya, abaki bar bhi maian usi tarah chup rah gaya.

chhote se gaanv ki pradakshina karata hua naha-dhokar jab vapas aya, tab barah baj chuke the. sham ki tarah aj bhi ham donoan ko bhojan parosakar rajalakshmi ek taraph baith gayi. sari rasoee usane khud apane hath se banaee thi, lihaza machhali ka muanh da aur dahi ki malaee sadhu ki pattal mean hi p di. sadhuji bairagi adami thahare, kintu, satvi‍k, aur asatvi‍k, niramish aur amish, kisi bhi chiz mean unaka ranchamatr bhi virag dekhane mean nahian aya, balki is vishay mean unhoanne aise prabal anurag ka parichay diya jo ghor saansarik mean bhi durlabh hai. chooanki rasoee ke bhale-bure marm ko samajhane mean meri khyati nahian thi, isalie mujhe samajhane ki tarah rasoeedarin ne koee agrah bhi prakat nahian kiya.

sadhuji ko koee jaldi nahian; ve bahut hi dhire-suste bhojan karane lage. kaur chabate hue bole, "jiji, jagah sachamuch hi achchhi hai, chho dakar jane mean mamata hoti hai."

rajalakshmi ne kaha, "chho d jane ke lie to ham log tumase arajoo-binati nahian kar rahe haian, bhiya!"

sadhuji ne hansakar kaha, "sadhu-sannyasi ko kabhi itana prashray n dena chahie jiji- thagaee jaogi. khair, kuchh bhi ho, gaanv achchha hai, kahian bhi koee aisa nahian dikhaee diya jisake hath ka pani piya ja sake. aur aisa bhi ek ghar nahian dekha jisake chhappar par ek poola sookha ghas bhi dikhaee diya ho- jaise muniyoan ke ashram hoan."

ashram ke sath asprishy gharoan ka ek drishti se jo utkrisht sadrishy tha, usaka khayal karake rajalakshmi ne jara kshin hansi hansakar mujhase kaha, "sunate haian ki sachamuch hi is gaanv mean sirph chhoti jat hi basati hai-kisi ke ek lote pani ka bhi asara nahian. dekhati hooan, yahaan zyada din rahana nahian ho sakega."

sadhu jara hanse, parantu maian nirav hi raha. karan rajalakshmi jaisi karunamayi bhi kis sanskar ke vash itani b di lajja ki bat uchcharan kar saki, so maian janata tha. sadhu ki hansi ne mujhe sparsh to kiya, kintu vah viddh n kar saki. isi se, maian muanh se to kuchh nahian bola, magar phir bhi mera man rajalakshmi ko hi lakshy karake bhitar kahane laga, "rajalakshmi, manushy ka karm hi keval asprishy aur ashuchi hota hai, manushy nahian hota. nahian to 'pyari' kisi bhi tarah aj phir 'lakshmi' ke asan par vapas n a sakati. aur vah bhi sirph isilie sambhav hua hai ki manushy ki deh ko hi manushy samajhane ki galati maianne kabhi nahian ki. is bat mean bachapan se hi bahut bar meri pariksha ho chuki hai. lekin, ye bas batean muanh kholakar kisi se kahi bhi nahian ja sakatian aur kahane ki pravritti nahian hoti."

donoan bhojan samapt karake uthe. rajalakshmi ham logoan ko pan dekar, shayad, khud bhi kuchh khane chali gayi. parantu qarib ghante-bhar bad lautakar jaise vah khud sadhuji ko dekhakar asaman se giri-si maloom huee, vaise hi maian bhi vismit ho gaya. dekha ki isi bich mean n jane kab ve bahar se ek adami le lae haian aur davaoan ka bhari b aauks usake sir par ladakar prasthan ke lie taiyar kh de haian.

kal yahi bat to huee thi, magar aj ham us ham bat ko bilkudal hi bhool gaye the. is bat ki kalpana bhi nahian ki thi ki is pravas mean rajalakshmi ke itane adar-jatan ki upeksha karake sadhuji anishchit anyatr ke lie itani jaldi taiyar ho jaanyage. sneh ki janjir itani jaldi nahian tootane ki-rajalakshmi ke nibhrit man mean shayad yahi asha thi. vah mare dar ke vyakul hokar kah uthi, "tum kya ja rahe ho anand?"

sadhu ne kaha, "haan jiji, jata hooan. abhi se ravana n hone se pahuanchane mean bahut rat ho jayegi."

"vahaan kahaan thaharoge, kahaan sooge? apana adami to vahaan koee hoga nahian."

"pahale pahuanchooan to sahi."

"lautoge kab?"

"so to abhi nahian kaha ja sakata. kam ki bhi d mean agar age n badhakar gaya, to kisi din laut bhi sakata hooan."

rajalakshmi ka muanh pahale to phak p d gaya, phir usane zor se apana sir jhatakakar ruandhe hue kanth se kaha, "kisi din laut bhi sakate ho? nahian, yah haragij nahian ho sakata."

kya nahian hoga so samajh mean a gaya, isi se sadhu ne pratyuttar mean sirph jara mlan hansi hansakar kaha, "jane ka karan to apako bata hi chuka hooan."

"bata chuke ho? achchha, to jao" itana kahate-kahate rajalakshmi pray: ro di, aur jaldi se kamare ke bhitar chali gayi. kshan-bhar ke lie sadhuji stabdh ho gaye. usake bad meri taraph dekhakar lajjit mukh se bole, "mera jana bahut zaroori hai."

maianne gardan hilakar sirph itana hi kaha, "maloom hai." isase zyada aur kuchh kahane ko tha bhi nahian. karan, maianne bahut kuchh dekhakar jan liya hai ki sneh ki gaharaee samay ki svalpata se haragij nahian napi ja sakati. aur is chiz ki kaviyoan ne sirph kavyoan ke lie hi shoony kalpana nahian ki- sansar mean vastav mean aisa hua karata hai. isilie, ek ke jane ki avashyakata jitani saty hai, doosare ka vyakul kanth se mana karana bhi thik utana hi saty hai ya nahian, is vishay mean mere man mean ranchamatr bhi sanshay ka uday nahian hua. maian atyant saralata se samajh gaya ki is bat ko lekar rajalakshmi ko shayad bahut vedana sahani p degi.

sadhuji ne kaha, "maian chal diya. udhar ka kam agar nibat gaya, to shayad, phir aooanga; magar abhi yah bat jatane ki zaroorat nahian."

maianne svikar karate hue kaha, "so sahi hai."

sadhuji kuchh kahana hi chahate the ki ghar ki or dekhakar sahasa ek gahari usaans bharakar jara musakarae; usake bad dhire-se bole, "ajib desh hai yah bangal! isamean rah chalate maan-bahinean mil jati haian, kisamean samarthy hai ki inase bachakar nikal jay?"

itana kahakar sadhuji dhire-dhire bahar chale gaye.

unaki bat sunakar maianne bhi ek gahari saans li. maloom hua, bat asal mean thik hai. jise desh ki samast maan-bahinoan ko vedana ne khianchakar ghar se bahar nikala hai, use sirph ek hi bahin sneh, dahi ki malaee aur machhali ka mooan d dekar kaise pak de rakh sakati hai?