सुहाग की साड़ी -प्रेमचंद

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

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yah kahana bhool hai ki dampaty-sukh ke lie stri-purush ke svabhav mean mel hona avashyak hai. shrimati gaura aur shrimanh kuanvar ratanasianh mean koee bat n milati thi. gaura udar thi, ratanasianh kau di-kau di ko daantoan se pak date the. vah hansamukh thi, ratanasianh chiantashil the. vah kul-maryada par jan deti thi, ratanasianh ise adambar samajhate the. unake samajik vyavahar aur vichar mean bhi ghor aantar tha. yahaan udarata ki bazi ratanasianh ke hath thi. gaura ko sahabhoj se apatti thi, vidhava-vivah se ghrina aur achhootoan ke prashn se virodh. ratanasianh in sabhi vyavasthaoan ke anumodak the. rajanitik vishayoan mean yah vibhinnata aur bhi jatil thi ! gaura vartaman sthiti ko atal, amar, aparihary samajhati thi, isalie vah naram-garam, kaangres, svarajy, homarool sabhi se virakt thi. kahati-‘‘ye mutthi bhar padhe-likhe adami kya bana leange, chane kahian bha d pho d sakate haian?’’ ratanasianh pakke ashavadi the, rajanitik sabha ki pahali panktiyoan mean baithanevale, karmakshetr mean sabase pahale qadam uthanevale, svadeshavratadhari aur bahishkar ke poore anuyayi. itani vishamataoan par bhi unaka dampaty-jivan sukhamay tha. kabhi-kabhi unamean matabhed avashy ho jata tha, par ve samir ke ve jhoanke the, jo sthir jal ko halaki-halaki laharoan se abhooshit kar dete haian; ve prachand jhoanke nahian jinase sagar viplavakshetr ban jata hai. tho di-si sadichchha sari vishamataoan aur matabhedoan ka pratikar kar deti thi.

2

videshi kap doan ki holiyaan jalayi ja rahi thian. svayansevakoan ke jatthe bhikhariyoan ki bhaanti dvaroan par kh de ho-ho kar vilayati kap doan ki bhiksha maangate the aur aisa kadachith hi koee dvar tha jahaan unhean nirash hona p data ho. khaddar aur gadhe ke din phir gaye the. nayanasukh, nayanadukh, malamal aur tanajeb tanabedh ho gaye the. ratanasianh ne akar gaura se kaha-lao, ab sab videshi kapade़ sandook se nikal do, de dooan.

gaura-are to isi gh di koee sait nikali jati hai, phir kabhi de dena.

ratan-vah, log dvar par kh de kolahal macha rahe haian aur tum kahati ho, phir kabhi de dena.

gaura-to yah kuanji lo, nikal kar de do. magar yah sab hai l dakoan ka khel. ghar phooankane se svarajy n kabhi mila hai aur n milega.

ratan-maianne kal hi to is vishay par tumase ghantoan sirapachchi ki thi aur us samay tum mujhase sahamat ho gayi thian, aj tum phir vahi shankaean karane lagian?

gaura-maian tumhare aprasann ho jane ke dar se chup ho gayi thi.

ratan-achchha, shankaean phir kar lena, is samay jo karana hai vah karo.

gaura-lekin mere kap de to n loge n?

ratan-sab dene p deange, vilayat ka ek soot bhi ghar mean rakhana mere pran ko bhang kar dega.

itane mean ramatahal saees ne bahar se pukara-sarakar, log jaldi macha rahe haian, kahate haian, abhi kee muhalloan ka chakkar lagana hai. koee gadhe ka tuk da ho to mujhe bhi mil jay, maianne bhi apane kap de de diye.

kesar mahari kap doan ki ek gathari lekar bahar jati huee dikhayi di. ratanasianh ne poochha-kya tum bhi apane kap de dene jati ho?

kesar ne lajate hue kaha-haan sarakar, jab desh chho d raha hai to maian kaise pahanooan?

ratanasianh ne gaura ki or adeshapoorn netroan se dekha. ab vah vilamb n kar saki. lajja se sir jhukaye sandook kholakar kap de nikalane lagi. ek sandook khali ho gaya to usane doosara sandook khola. sabase oopar ek sanudar reshami soot rakha hua tha jo kuanvar sahab ne kisi aangareji karakhane mean silaya tha.

gaura ne poochha-kya soot bhi nikal dooan?

ratan-haan-haan, ise kis din ke lie rakhogi?

gaura-yadi maian yah janati ki itani jaldi hava badalegi to kabhi yah soot n banavane deti. sare rupaye khoon ho gaye.

ratanasianh ne kuchh uttar n diya. tab gaura ne apana sandook khola aur jalan ke mare svadeshi-videshi sabhi kap de nikal-nikal kar pheankane lagi. vah avesh-pravah mean a gayi. unamean kitani hi bahumooly phaiansi jaket aur sa diyaan thian jinhean kisi samay pahan kar vah phooli n samati thi. baj-baj sa diyoan ke lie to use ratanasianh se bar-bar takaje karane p de the. par is samay sab ki sab aankhoan mean khatak rahi thian. ratanasianh usake bhavoan ko ta d rahe the. svadeshi kap doan ka nikala jana unhean akhar raha tha, par is samay chup rahane hi mean kushal samajhate the. tis par bhi do-ek bar vad-vivad ki naubat a hi gayi. ek banarasi sa di ke lie to vah jhag d baithe, use gaura ke hathoan se chhin lena chaha, par gaura ne ek n mani, nikal hi pheanka. sahasa sandook mean se ek kesariya rang ki tanajeb ki sa di nikal ayi jis par pakke aanchal aur palle tanke hue the. gaura ne use jaldi se lekar apani god mean chhipa liya.

ratanasianh ne poochha-kaisi sa di hai.

gaura-kuchh nahian, tanajeb ki sa di hai. aanchal pakka hai.

ratan-tanajeb ki hai tab to zaroor hi vilayati hogi. use alag kyoan rakh liya? kya vah banarasi sa diyoan se achchhi hai?

gaura-achchhi to nahian anhai, par maian ise n dooangi.

ratan-vah, vilayati chiz ko maian n rakhane dooanga. lao idhar.

gaura-nahian, meri khatir se ise rahane do.

ratan-tumane meri khatir se ek bhi chiz n rakhi, maian kyoan tumhari khatir karooan.

gaura-pairoan p dati hooan, zid n karo.

ratan-svadeshi sa diyoan mean se jo chaho rakh lo, lekin is vilayati chiz ko maian n rakhane dooanga. isi kap de ki badaulat ham gulam bane, yah gulami ka dag maian ab nahian rakh sakata. lao idhar.

gaura-maian ise n dooangi, ek bar nahian hazar bar kahati hooan ki n dooangi.

ratan-maian ise lekar chho doo़anga, is gulami ke patake ko, is dasatv ke bandhan ko kisi tarah n rakhooanga.

gaura-nahak zid karate ho.

ratan-akhir tumako isase kyoan itana prem hai?

gaura-tum to bal ki khal nikalane lagate ho. itane kap de tho de haian? ek sa di rakh hi li to kya?

ratan-tumane abhi tak in holiyoan ka ashay hi nahian samajha.

gaura-khoob samajhati hooan. sab dhoang hai. char din mean josh thanda p d jayega.

ratan-tum keval itana batala do ki yah sa di tumhean kyoan itani pyari hai, to shayad maian man jaooan.

gaura-yah meri suhag ki sa di hai.

ratan-(jara der soch kar) tab to maian ise kabhi n rakhooanga. maian videshi vastr ko yah shubhasthan nahian de sakata. is pavitr sanskar ka yah apavitr smriti-chihn ghar mean nahian rakh sakata. maian ise sabase pahale holi ki bheant karooanga. log kitane hatabuddhi ho gaye the ki aise shubh karyoan mean bhi videshi vastuoan ka vyavahar karane mean sankoch n karate the. maian ise avashy holi mean dooanga.

gaura-kaisa asagun muanh se nikalate ho.

ratan-aisi suhag ki sa di ka ghar mean rakhana hi ashakun, amangal, anisht aur anarth hai.

gaura-yoan chahe jabaradasti chhin le jao, par khushi se n dooangi.

ratan-to phir maian jabaradasti hi karooanga. majaboori hai.

yah kah kar vah lapake ki gaura ke hathoan se sa di chhin looan. gaura ne use mazabooti se pak d liya aur ratan ki or katar netroan se dekhakar kaha-tumhean mere sir ki kasam.

kesar mahari boli-bahoo ji ki ichchha hai to rahane dijie.

ratanasianh ke badhe hue hath ruk gaye, mukh malin ho gaya. udas ho kar bole-mujhe apana vrat to dana p dega. pratijna-patr par jhoothe hastakshar karane p deange. khair, yahi sahi.

3

sham ho gayi thi. dvar par svayansevakagan shor macha rahe the, kuanvar sahab jaldi aie, shrimati ji se bhi kah dijie, hamari prarthana svikar karean. bahut der ho rahi hai. udhar ratanasianh asamanjas mean p de hue the ki pratijna-patr par kaise hastakshar karooan. videshi vastr ghar mean rakh kar svadeshi vrat ka palan kyoankar hoga? age qadam badha chuka hooan, pichhe nahian hat sakata. lekin pratijna ka aksharashah palan karana abhisht bhi to nahian, keval usake ashay par lakshy rahana chahie. is vichar se mujhe pratijna-patr par hastakshar karane ka poora adhikar hai. triya-hath ke samane kisi ki nahian chalati. yoan chahooan to ek tane mean kam nikal sakata hai, par use bahut duahkh hoga, b di bhavuk hai, usake bhavoan ka adar karana mera kartavy hai.

gaura bhi chianta mean doobi huee thi. suhag ki sa di suhag ka chihn hai, use ag ... kitane ashakun ki bat hai. ye kabhi-kabhi balakoan ki bhaanti zid karane lagate haian, apani dhun mean kisi ki sunate nahian. big date haian to mano muanh hi nahian sidha hota.

lekin ve bechare bhi to apane siddhaantoan se majaboor haian. jhooth se unhean ghrina hai. pratijna-patr par jhoothi svikriti likhani p degi, unaki atma ko b da duahkh hoga, ghor dharmasankat mean p de hoange, yah bhi to nahian ho sakata ki sare shahar mean svadeshanuragiyoan ke siramaur ban kar us pratijna-patr par hastakshar karane se anakani karean. kahian muanh dikhane ko jagah n rahegi, log samajheange, bana hua hai. par shakun ki chiz kaise dooan?

itane mean usane ramatahal saees ko sir par kap doan ka gatthar liye bahar jate dekha. kesar mahari bhi ek gatthar sir par rakhe hue thi. pichhe-pichhe ratanasianh hath mean pratijna-patr liye ja rahe the. unake chehare par glani ki jhalak thi jaise koee sachcha adami jhoothi gavahi dene ja raha ho. gaura ko dekhakar unhoanne aankhean pher lian aur chaha ki usaki nigah bachakar nikal jaooan. gaura ko aisa jan p da ki unaki aankhean dabadabayi huee haian. vah rah rokakar boli-jara sunate jao.

ratan-jane do, dik n karo; log bahar kh de haian.

unhoanne chaha ki patr ko chhipa looan; par gaura ne use unake hath se chhin liya, use gaur se padha aur ek kshan chintamagn rahane ke bad boli-vah sa di bhi lete jao.

ratan-rahane do, ab to maianne jhooth likh hi diya.

gaura-maian kya janati thi ki tum aisi k di pratijna kar rahe ho.

ratan-yah to maian tumase pahale kah chuka tha.

gaura-meri bhool thi, kshama kar do aur ise lete jao.

ratan-jab tum ise dena ashakun samajhati ho to rahane do. tumhari khatir tho da-sa jhooth bolane mean mujhe koee apatti nahian hai.

gaura-nahian, lete jao. amangal ke bhay se tumhari atma ka hanan nahian karana chahati.

yah kahakar usane apani suhag ki sa di uthakar pati ke hathoan mean rakh di. ratan ne dekha, gaura ke chehare par ek rang ata hai, ek rang jata hai, jaise koee rogi aantarasth visham vedana ko dabane ki cheshta kar raha ho. unhean apani ahridayata par lajja ayi. ha ! keval apane siddhant ki raksha ke lie, apani atma ke samman ke lie, maian is devi ke bhavoan ka vadh kar raha hooan ! yah atyachar hai. sa di gaura ko de kar bole-tum ise rakh lo, maian pratijna-patr ko pha de dalata hooan.

gaura ne dridhata se kaha-tum n le jaoge to maian khud ja kar de aooangi.

ratanasianh vivash ho gaye. sa di li aur bahar chale aye.

4

usi din se gaura ke hriday par ek bojh-sa rahane laga. vah dil bahalane ke lie nana upay karati; jalasoan mean bhag leti, sair karane jati, manoranjak pustakean padhati, yahaan tak ki kee bar niyam ke viruddh thiyetaroan mean bhi gayi, kisi prakar amangal kalpana ko shant karana chahati thi, par yah ashanka ek meghamandal ki bhaanti usake hriday par chhayi rahati thi.

jab ek poora mahina gujar gaya aur usaki manasik vedana dinoandin badhati hi gayi to kuanvar sahab ne use kuchh dinoan ke lie apane ilake par le jane ka nishchay kiya. usaka man unhean unake adarsh-prem ka nity tiraskar kiya karata tha. vah aksar dehatoan mean prachar ka kam karane jaya karate the ! par ab apane gaanvoan se bahar n jate, ya jate to sandhya tak zaroor laut ate. unaki ek din ki der, unaka sadharan sir dard aur jukam use avyavasthit kar dete the. vah bahudha bure svapn dekha karati. kisi anisht ke kalpanik astitv ki chhaya use apane charoan or mandarati huee pratit hoti thi.

vah to dehat mean p di huee ashankaoan ki kathaputali bani huee thi. idhar usaki suhag ki sa di svadesh-prem ki vedi par bhasm hokar rriddhi-pradayini bhabhoot bani huee thi.

doosare mahine ke ant mean ratanasianh use le kar laut aye.

5

gaura ko vapas aye tin-char din ho chuke the, par asabab ke sanbhalane aur niyat sthan par rakhane mean vah itani vyast rahi ki ghar se bahar n nikal saki thi. karan yah tha ki kesar mahari usake jane ke doosare hi din chho dakar chali gayi thi aur abhi utani chatur doosari mahari mili n thi. kuanvar sahab ka saees ramatahal bhi chho d gaya tha. bechare kochavan ko saees ka bhi kam karana p data tha.

sandhya ka samay tha. gaura baramade mean baithi akash ki or ekatak hokar tak rahi thi. chintagrast praniyoan ka ekamatr yahi avalamb hai ! sahasa ratanasianh ne akar kaha-chalo, aj tumhean svadeshi bazar ki sair kara lavean. yah mera hi prastav tha, par char din yahaan aye ho gaye, udhar jane ka avakash hi n mila.

gaura-mera to jane ko ji nahian chahata. yahian baithakar kuchh batean karo.

ratan-nahian, chalo dekh avean. ek ghante mean laut aveange.

aant mean gaura raji ho gayi. idhar mahinoan se bahar n nikali thi. aj use charoan taraph ek vichitr shobha dikhayi di. bazar kabhi itani raunak par n tha. vah svadeshi bazar mean pahuanchi to julahoan aur koriyoan ko apani-apani dukanean sajaye baithe dekha. sahasa ek vriddh kori ne akar ratanasianh ko salam kiya. ratanasianh chauankakar bole-ramatahal, tum ab kahaan ho?

ramatahal ka chehara shrisampann tha. usake aang-aang se atm-samman ki abha jhalak rahi thi. aankhoan mean gaurav-jyoti thi. ratanasianh ko kabhi anuman n hua tha ki astabal saf karane vala buddha ramatahal itana saumy, itana bhadr purush hai. vah bola-sarakar, ab to apana karabar karata hooan. jab se apaki gulami chho di tab se apane kam mean lag gaya. ap logoan ki nigah ham gariboan par ho gayi hamara bhi gujar ho raha hai, nahian to ap janate hi haian, ki kis halat mean p da hua tha. jat ka kori hooan, par papi pet ke lie chamar ban gaya tha.

ratan-to bhaee, ab muanh mitha karao. yah bazar lagane ki meri hi salah thi, bikri to achchhi hoti hai.

ramatahal-haan sarakar ! ajakal khoob bikri ho rahi hai. mal hatho-hath u d jata hai. yahaan baithate hue ek mahina ho gaya hai, par apaki kripa se logoan ke char paise the ve bebak ho gaye. bhagavanh ki daya se rookha-sookha bhojan bhi donoan samay mil jata hai aur kya chahie. malakin ki suhag ki sa di ka holi mean ana kahie aur bazar ka chamakana kahie. logoan ne kaha, jab itane b de adami ho kar aise shakun ki chiz ki paravah nahian karate to phir ham videshi kap de kyoan rakhean. jis din holi jali hai usake do-tin din pahale hi sarakar ilake par chale gaye the. usake pahale bhi sarakar kee dinoan tak ghar se bahut kam nikalate the. maian to yahi kahooanga ki yah sari maya usi suhag ki sa di ki hai.

itane mean ek adhe d stri gaura ke samane a kar boli-bahoo ji, mujhe bhool to nahian gayian?

gaura ne sir uthaya to samane kesar mahari kh di thi. vah suandar sa di pahane hue thi, hath-paanv mean mamooli gahane bhi the, chehara khila hua tha. svadhin jivan ka gaurav ek-ek bhav se prasphutit ho raha tha.

gaura ne kaha-itani jaldi bhool jaooangi? ab kahaan ho? hamean lautane bhi n diya, bich mean hi u d bhagi.

kesar-kya karooan sarakar, apana kam chalate dekh kar sabar n ho saka. jab tak rozagar n chalata tha tab tak lachari thi. pet ke lie seva-tahal, karam-kukaram sabhi karana p data tha. ab ap logoan ki daya se hamare bhi din laute haian, ab doosara kam nahian kiya jata. agar bazar ka yahi rang raha to apani kamaee khaye n chukegi. yah sab apaki sa di ki mahima hai. usaki badaulat ham gariboan ke kitane hi ghar bas gaye. ek mahina pahale in dookanavaloan mean se kisi ko rotiyoan ka thikana n tha. koee saeesi karata tha, koee tase bajata tha, yahaan tak ki kee adami mehatar ka kam karate the. kitane hi bhikh maangate the. ab sab apane dhandhe mean lag gaye haian. sach poochho to tumhari suhag ki sa di ne hamean suhagin bana diya, nahian to ham suhagin hote hue bhi vidhavaean thian. sach kahati hooan, saik doan jabanoan se nity yahi dua nikalati hai ki apaka suhag amar ho, jisane hamari raan d jat ko suhag dan diya.

ratanasianh ek dookan par baithakar kuchh kap de dekhane lage. gaura ka bhavuk hriday anand se pulakit ho raha tha. usaki sari amangal kalpanaean svapnavath vichchhinn hoti jati thian. aankhean sajal ho gayi thian aur suhag ki devi ashrusanchit netroan ke samane kh di aanchal phaila kar use ashirvad de rahi thi.

usane ratanasianh ko bhaktipoorn aankhoan se dekh kar kaha-mere lie bhi ek sa di le lo.

6

jab gaura yahaan se chali to s dak ki bijaliyaan jal chuki thian. s dakoan par khoob prakash tha. usaka hriday bhi anand ke prakash se jagamaga raha tha.

ratanasianh ne poochha-sidhe ghar chalooan?

gaura-nahian, chhavani ki taraph hote chalo.

ratan-bazar khoob saja hua tha.

gaura-yah zamin le kar ek sthayi bazar banava do. svadeshi kap doan ki dookanean hoan aur kisi se kiraya n liya jay.

ratan-bahut kharch p dega.

gaura-makan bech do, rupaye hi rupaye ho jayeange.

ratan-aur rahean, pe d tale?

gaura-nahian, gaanvavale makan mean.

ratan-sochooanga.

gaura-(jara der mean) ilake-bhar mean khoob kapas ki kheti karao, jo kapas boye usaki begar maph kar do.

ratan-haan, tadabir achchhi hai, dooni upaj ho jayegi.

gaura-(kuchh der sochane ke bad) lak di bina dam do to kaisa ho? jo chahe, charakhe banavane ke lie kat le jaye.

ratan-loot mach jayegi.

gaura-aisi beeemani koee n karega.

jab usane ga di se utar kar ghar mean qadam rakha to chitt shubh-kalpanaoan se praphullit ho raha tha. mano koee bachh da khooante se chhootakar kilolean kar raha ho.

sanbandhit lekh

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