आभूषण- 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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abhooshanoan ki nianda karana hamara uddeshy nahian hai. ham asahayog ka utpi dan sah sakate haian par lalanaoan ke nirday ghatak vakbanoan ko nahian odh sakate. to bhi itana avashy kaheange ki is trishna ki poorti ke lie jitana tyag kiya jata hai usaka sadupayog karane se mahanh pad prapt ho sakata hai.

yadyapi hamane kisi roop-hina mahila ko abhooshanoan ki sajavat se roopavati hote nahian dekha tathapi ham yah bhi man lete haian ki roop ke lie abhooshanoan ki utani hi zaroorat hai jitani ghar ke lie dipak ki. kintu sharirik shobha ke lie ham tan ko kitana malin chitt ko kitana ashaant aur atma ko kitana kalushit bana lete haian isaka hamean kadachith jnan hi nahian hota. is dipak ki jyoti mean aankhean dhuandhali ho jati haian. yah chamak-damak kitani eershya kitane dvesh kitani pratispardha kitani dushchianta aur kitani durasha ka karan hai isaki keval kalpana se hi roangate kh de ho jate haian. inhean bhooshan nahian dooshan kahana adhik upayukt hai. nahian to yah kab ho sakata tha ki koee navavadhoo pati ke ghar ane ke tisare din apane pati se kahati ki mere pita ne tumhare palle baandh kar mujhe to kuean mean dhakel diya. shitala aj apane gaanv ke tallukedar kuanvar sureshasianh ki navavivahita vadhoo ko dekhane gayi thi. usake samane hi vah mantramugdh-si ho gayi. bahoo ke roop-lavany par nahian usake abhooshanoan ki jagamagahat par usaki takataki lagi rahi. aur vah jab se laut kar ghar ayi usaki chhati par saanp lotata raha. aant ko jyoan hi usaka pati aya vah us par baras p di aur dil mean bhara hua gubar poorvokt shabdoan mean nikal p da. shitala ke pati ka nam vimalasianh tha. unake purakhe kisi jamane mean ilakedar the. is gaanv par bhi unhian ka solahoan ane adhikar tha. lekin ab is ghar ki dasha hin ho gayi hai. sureshasianh ke pita jamiandari ke kam mean daksh the. vimalasianh ka sab ilaka kisi n kisi prakar se unake hath a gaya. vimal ke pas savari ka tattoo bhi n tha use din mean do bar bhojan bhi mushkil se milata tha. udhar suresh ke pas hathi motar aur kee gho de the das-paanch bahar ke adami nity dvar par p de rahate the. par itani vishamata hone par bhi donoan mean bhaeechara nibhaya jata tha. shadi-byah mean muandan-chhedan mean paraspar ana-jana hota rahata tha. suresh vidya-premi the. hiandustan mean ooanchi shiksha samapt karake vah yoorop chale gaye aur sab logoan ki shankaoan ke viparit vahaan se ary-sabhyata ke param bhakt ban kar laute. vahaan ke j davad kritrim bhogalipsa aur amanushik madaandhata ne unaki aankhean khol di thian. pahale vah gharavaloan ke bahut zor dene par bhi vivah karane ko raji nahian hue the. l daki se poorv-parichay hue bina pranay nahian kar sakate the. par yoorop se lautane par unake vaivahik vicharoan mean bahut b da parivartan ho gaya. unhoanne usi pahale ki kanya se bina usake achar-vichar jane hue vivah kar liya. ab vah vivah ko prem ka bandhan nahian dharm ka bandhan samajhate the. usi saubhagyavati vadhoo ko dekhane ke lie aj shitala apani sas ke sath suresh ke ghar gayi thi. usi ke abhooshanoan ki chhata dekh kar vah marmahat-si ho gayi hai. vimal ne vyathit ho kar kaha-to mata-pita se kaha hota suresh se byah kar dete. vah tumhean gahanoan se lad sakate the.

shitala-to gali kyoan dete ho

vimal-gali nahian deta bat kahata hooan. tum jaisi suandari ko unhoanne nahak mere sath byaha.

shitala-lajate to ho nahian ulate aur tane dete ho.

vimal-bhagy mere vash mean nahian hai. itana padha bhi nahian hooan ki koee b di naukari karake rupaye kamaooan.

shitala-yah kyoan nahian kahate ki prem hi nahian hai. prem ho to kanchan barasane lage.

vimal-tumhean gahanoan se bahut prem hai

shitala-sabhi ko hota hai. mujhe bhi hai.

vimal-apane ko abhagini samajhati ho

shitala-hooan hi samajhana kaisa nahian to kya doosare ko dekh kar tarasana p data

vimal-gahane banava dooan to apane ko bhagyavati samajhane lagogi

shitala-(chidh kar) tum to is tarah poochh rahe ho jaise sunar daravaze par baitha hai !

vimal-nahian sach kahata hooan banava dooanga. haan kuchh din sabar karana p dega.

2

samarth purushoan ko bat lag jati hai to pran le lete haian. samarthyahin purush apani hi jan par khel jata hai. vimalasianh ne ghar se nikal jane ki thani. nishchay kiya ya to ise gahanoan se hi lad dooanga ya vaidhavy-shok se. ya to abhooshan hi pahanegi ya seandur ko bhi tarasegi.

din bhar vah chianta mean dooba p da raha. shitala ko usane prem se santusht karana chaha tha. aj anubhav hua ki nari ka hriday premapash se nahian bandhata kanchan ke pash hi se bandh sakata hai. pahar rat jate-jate vah ghar se chal kh da hua. pichhe phir kar kabhi n dekha. jnan se jage hue virag mean chahe moh ka sanskar ho par nairashy se jaga hua virag achal hota hai. prakash mean idhar ki vastuoan ko dekh kar man vichalit ho sakata hai. par aandhakar mean kisaka sahas hai jo lik se jau bhar hat sake.

vimal ke pas vidya n thi kala-kaushal bhi n tha. use keval apane kathin parishram aur kathin atm-tyag hi ka adhar tha. vah pahale kalakatte gaya. vahaan kuchh din tak ek seth ki agavani karata raha. vahaan jo sun paya ki rangoon mean mazadoori achchhi milati hai to vah rangoon ja pahuancha aur bandar par mal chadhane-utarane ka kam karane laga.

kuchh to kathin shram kuchh khane-pine ke asanyam aur kuchh jalavayu ki kharabi ke karan vah bimar ho gaya. sharir durbal ho gaya mukh ki kaanti jati rahi phir bhi usase zyada mehanati mazadoor bandar par doosara n tha. aur mazadoor the par yah mazadoor tapasvi tha. man mean jo kuchh than liya tha use poora karana usake jivan ka ekamatr uddeshy tha.

usane ghar ko apana koee samachar n bheja. apane man se tark kiya ghar mean mera kaun hitoo hai gahanoan ke samane mujhe kaun poochhata hai usaki buddhi yah rahasy samajhane mean asamarth thi ki abhooshanoan ki lalasa rahane par bhi pranay ka palan kiya ja sakata hai. aur mazadoor pratahkal seroan mithaee kha kar jalapan karate the. din bhar dam-dam bhar par gaanje-charas aur tamakhoo ke dam lagate the. avakash pate to bazar ki sair karate the. kitanoan hi ko sharab ka bhi shauq tha. paisoan ke badale rupaye kamate the to paisoan ki jagah rupaye kharch bhi kar dalate the. kisi ki deh par sabut kap de n the par vimal un ginati ke do-char mazadooroan mean tha jo sanyam se rahate the jinake jivan ka uddeshy kha-pi kar mar jane ke siva kuchh aur bhi tha. tho de hi dinoan mean usake pas tho di-si sanpatti ho gayi. dhan ke sath aur mazadooroan par dabav bhi badhane laga. yah prayah sabhi janate the ki vimal jati ka kulin thakur hai. sab thakur hi kah kar use pukarate the. sanyam aur achar samman-siddhi ke mantr haian. vimal mazadooroan ka neta aur mahajan ho gaya.

vimal ko rangoon mean kam karate hue tin varsh ho chuke the. sandhya ho gayi thi. vah kee mazadooroan ke sath samudr ke kinare baitha batean kar raha tha.

ek mazadoor ne kaha-yahaan ki sabhi striyaan nithur hoti haian. bechara jhiangur 10 baras se usi barmi stri ke sath rahata tha. koee apani byahi joroo se bhi itana prem n karata hoga. us par itana vishvas karata tha ki jo kuchh kamata so usake hath mean rakh deta tha. tin l dake the. abhi kal tak donoan sath-sath kha kar lete the. n koee l daee n bat n chit. rat ko aurat n jane kahaan chali gayi. l dakoan ko chho d gayi. bechara jhiangur ro raha hai. sabase b di mushkil to chhote bachche ki hai. abhi kul chhah mahine ka hai. kaise jiyega bhagavanh hi janean.

vimalasianh ne ganbhir bhav se kaha-gahane banavata tha ki nahian

mazadoor-rupaye-paise to aurat hi ke hath mean the. gahane banavati usaka hath kaun pak data

doosare mazadoor ne kaha-gahanoan se to ladi huee thi. jidhar se nikal jati thi chhamh-chhamh ki avaz se kan bhar jate the.

vimal-jab gahane banavane par bhi nithuraee ki to yahi kahana p dega ki yah jati hi bevapha hoti hai.

itane mean ek adami a kar vimalasianh se bola-chaudhari abhi mujhe ek sipahi mila tha. vah tumhara nam gaanv aur bap ka nam poochh raha tha. koee baboo sureshasianh haian.

vimal ne sashank ho kar kaha-haan haian to. mere gaanv ke ilakedar aur biradari ke bhaee haian.

adami-unhoanne thane mean koee notis chhapavaya hai ki jo vimalasianh ka pata lagavega use 1000 rupaye ka inam milega.

vimal-to tumane sipahi ko sab thik-thik bata diya

adami-chaudhari maian koee ganvar hooan kya samajh gaya kuchh dal mean kala hai nahian to koee itane rupaye kyoan kharach karata. maianne kah diya ki unaka nam vimalasianh nahian jasoda paande hai. bap ka nam sukkhoo bataya aur ghar zila jhaansi mean. poochhane laga yahaan kitane din se rahata hai maianne kaha koee das sal se. tab kuchh soch kar chala gaya. suresh baboo se tumase koee adavat hai kya chaudhari

vimal-adavat to nahian thi magar kaun jane unaki niyat big d gayi ho. mujh par koee aparadh laga kar meri jagah-jamin par hath badhana chahate hoan. tumane b da achchha kiya ki sipahi ko u danajhaaneean batayi.

adami-mujhase kahata tha ki thik-thik bata do to 50 ru. tumhean bhi dila dooan. maianne socha-ap to hazar ki gathari marega aur mujhe 50 ru. dilane ko kahata hai. phatakar bata di.

ek mazadoor-magar jo 200 ru. dene ko kahata to tum sab thik-thik nam-thikana bata dete. (kyoan dhath tere lalachi ki !)

adami-(lajjit hokar) 200 ru. nahian 2000 ru. bhi deta to n batata. mujhe aisa vishvasaghat karane vala mat samajho. jab ji chahe parakh lo.

mazadooroan mean yoan vad-vivad hota hi raha vimal akar apani kothari mean let gaya. vah sochane laga-ab kya karooan jab suresh-jaise sajjan ki niyat badal gayi to ab kisaka bharosa karooan ! nahian ab bina ghar gaye kam nahian chalega. kuchh din aur n gaya to phir kahian ka n hooanga. do sal aur rah jata to pas mean poore 5000 ru. ho jate. shitala ki ichchha kuchh poori ho jati. abhi to sab milakar 3000 ru. hi hoange. itane mean usaki abhilasha n poori hogi. khair abhi chalooan chhah mahine mean phir laut aooanga. apani jayadad to bach jayagi. nahian chhah mahine tak rahane ka kya hai. jane-ane ka ek mahina lag jayaga. ghar mean 15 din se zyada n rahooanga. vahaan kaun poochhata hai aooan ya rahooan marooan ya jiooan vahaan to gahanoan se prem hai.

is tarah man mean nishchay karake vah doosare din rangoon se chal p da.

sansar kahata hai ki gun ke samane roop ki koee hasti nahian. hamare nitishastra ke acharyoan ka bhi yahi kathan hai par vastav mean yah kitana bhramamoolak hai ! kuanvar sureshasianh ki navavadhoo mangalakumari grih-kary mean nipun pati ke ishare par pran denevali atyant vicharashila madhurabhashini aur dharm-bhiru stri thi par sauandaryavihin hone ke karan pati ki aankhoan mean kaante ke saman khatakati thi. sureshasianh bat-bat par us par jhuanjhalate par gh di bhar mean pashchattap ke vashibhoot ho kar usase kshama maangate kiantu doosare hi din vahi kutsit vyapar shuroo ho jata. vipatti yah thi ki unake acharan any reesoan ki bhaanti bhrasht n the. vah dampaty jivan hi mean anand sukh shaanti vishvas prayah sabhi aihik aur paramarthik uddeshy poora karana chahate the. aur dampaty sukh se vanchit ho kar unhean apana samast jivan niras svad-hin aur kuanthit jan p data tha. phal yah hua ki mangala ko apane oopar vishvas n raha. vah apane man se koee kam karate hue darati ki svami naraz hoange. svami ko khush rakhane ke lie apani bhooloan ko chhipati bahane karati jhooth bolati. naukaroan ko aparadh laga kar atmaraksha karana chahati. pati ko prasann rakhane ke lie usane apane gunoan ki apani atma ki avahelana ki par uthane ke badale vah pati ki najaroan se girati hi gayi. nity naye shrriangar karati par lakshy se door hoti jati thi. pati ki ek madhur muskan ke lie unake adharoan ke ek mithe shabd ke lie usaka pyasa hriday t dap-t dap kar rah jata tha. lavany-vihin stri vah bhikshuk nahian hai jo changul bhar ate se santusht ho jay. vah bhi pati ka sampoorn akhand prem chahati hai aur kadachith sundariyoan se adhik kyoanki vah isake lie asadharan prayatn aur anushthan karati hai. mangala is prayatn mean nishphal ho kar aur bhi santapt hoti thi.

dhire-dhire pati par se usaki shraddha uthane lagi. usane tark kiya ki aise kroor hriday-shoony kalpanahin manushy se maian bhi usi ka-sa vyavahar karooangi. jo purush roop ka bhakt hai vah prem-bhakti ke yogy nahian. is pratyaghat ne samasya aur bhi jatil kar di.

magar mangala ki keval apani roopahinata hi ka rona n tha. shitala ka anupam roopalality bhi usaki kamanaoan ka badhak tha balki yah usaki ashalataoan par p danevala tushar tha. mangala sundari n sahi par pati par jan deti thi. jo apane ko chahe usase ham vimukh nahian ho sakate. prem ki shakti apar hai par shitala ki moorti suresh ke hriday-dvar par baithi huee mangala ko aandar n jane deti thi chahe vah kitana hi vesh badal kar ave. suresh is moorti ko hatane ki cheshta karate the use balath nikal dena chahate the kiantu sauandary ka adhipaty dhan ke adhipaty se kam durnivar nahian hota. jis din shitala is ghar mean mangala ka mukh dekhane ayi thi usi din suresh ki aankhoan ne usaki manohar chhavi ki ek jhalak dekh li thi. vah ek jhalak mano ek kshanik kriya thi jisane ek hi dhave mean samast hriday-rajy ko jit liya us par apana adhipaty jama liya.

suresh ekaant mean baithe hue shitala ke chitr ko mangala se milate yah nishchay karane ke lie ki unamean kya aantar hai ek kyoan man ko khianchati hai doosari kyoan use hatati hai par usake man ka yah khianchav keval ek chitrakar ya kavi ka rasasvadan-matr tha. vah pavitr aur vasanaoan se rahit tha. vah moorti keval usake manoranjan ki samagri-matr thi. yah apane man ko bahut samajhate sankalp karate ki ab mangala ko prasann rakhooanga. yadi vah sundar nahian hai to usaka kya dosh par unaka yah sab prayas mangala ke sammukh jate hi viphal ho jata tha. vah b di sookshm drishti se mangala ke man ke badalate hue bhavoan ko dekhate the par ek pakshaghat-pi dit manushy ki bhaanti ghi ke gh de ko ludhakate dekh kar bhi rokane ka koee upay n kar sakate the. parinam kya hoga yah sochane ka unhean sahas hi n hota tha. par jab mangala ne aant ko bat-bat mean unaki tivr alochana karana shuroo kar diya vah unase uchchhrinkhalata ka vyavahar karane lagi to usake prati unaka vah utana sauhard bhi vilupt ho gaya ghar mean ana-jana chho d diya.

ek din sandhya ke samay b di garami thi. pankha jhalane se ag aur bhi dahakati thi. koee sair karane bagichoan mean bhi n jata tha. pasine ki bhaanti sharir se sari sphoorti bah gayi thi jo jahaan tha vahian murda-sa p da tha. ag se seanke hue mridang ki bhaanti logoan ke svar karkash ho gaye the. sadharan batachit mean bhi log uttejit ho jate the jaise sadharan sangharshan se van ke vriksh jal uthate haian. sureshasianh kabhi char qadam tahalate the phir haanph kar baith jate the. naukaroan par jhuanjhala rahe the ki jald-jald chhi dakav kyoan nahian karate. sahasa unhean aandar se gane ki avaz sunayi di. chauanke phir krodh aya. madhur gan kanoan ko apriy jan p da. yah kya bevakt ki shahanaee hai ! yahaan garami ke mare dam nikal raha hai aur in sabako gane ki soojhi hai ! mangala ne bulaya hoga aur kya. log nahak kahate haian ki striyoan ka jivan ka adhar prem hai. unake jivan ka adhar vahi bhojan-nidra rag-rang amod-pramod hai jo samast praniyoan ka hai. ghante bhar to sun chuka. yah git kabhi band bhi hoga ya nahian. sab vyarth mean gala pha d-pha d kar chilla rahi haian.

aant ko n raha gaya. jananakhane mean a kar bole-yah tum logoan ne kya kaanv-kaanv macha rakhi hai yah gane-bajane ka kaun-sa samay hai bahar baithana mushkil ho gaya !

sannata chha gaya. jaise shoragul machanevale balakoan mean mastar pahuanch jay. sabhi ne sir jhuka liye aur simat gayian.

mangala turant uthakar samane vale kamare mean chali gayi. pati ko bulaya aur ahiste se boli-kyoan itana big d rahe ho

maian is vakt gana nahian sunana chahata.

tumhean sunata hi kaun hai kya mere kanoan par bhi tumhara adhikar hai

phajool ki bamachakh...

tumase matalab

maian apane ghar mean yah kolahal n machane dooanga

to mera ghar kahian aur hai

sureshasianh isaka uttar n dekar bole-in sabase kah do phir kisi vakt ayean.

mangala-isalie ki tumhean inaka ana achchha nahian lagata

haan isilie.

tum kya sada vahi karate ho jo mujhe achchha lage tumhare yahaan mitr ate hai hansi-thatthe ki avaz aandar sunayi deti hai. maian kabhi nahian kahati ki in logoan ka ana band kar do. tum mere kamoan mean dastandaji kyoan karate ho

suresh ne tej ho kar kaha-isalie ki maian ghar ka svami hooan.

mangala-tum bahar ke svami ho yahaan mera adhikar hai.

suresh-kyoan vyarth ki bak-bak karati ho mujhe chidhane se kya milega

mangala jara der chupachap kh di rahi. vah pati ke manogat bhavoan ki mimaansa kar rahi thi. phir boli-achchhi bat hai. jab is ghar mean mera koee adhikar nahian to n rahooangi. ab tak bhram mean thi. aj tumane vah bhram mita diya. mera is ghar par adhikar kabhi nahian tha. jis stri ka pati ke hriday par adhikar nahian usaka usaki sampatti par bhi koee adhikar nahian ho sakata.

suresh ne lajjit hokar kaha-bat ka batang d kyoan banati ho ! mera yah matalab n tha. kuchh ka kuchh samajh gayi.

mangala-man ki bat adami ke muanh se anayas hi nikal jati hai. savadhan ho kar ham apane bhavoan ko chhipa lete haian !

suresh ko apani asajjanata par duahkh to hua par is bhay se ki maian ise jitana hi manaooanga utana hi yah aur jali-kati sunayegi use vahian chho d kar bahar chale aye.

pratahkal thandi hava chal rahi thi. suresh khumari mean p de hue svapn dekh rahe the ki mangala samane se chali ja rahi hai. chauank p de. dekha dvar par sachamuch mangala kh di hai. ghar ki naukaraniyaan aanchal se aankhean poanchh rahi haian. kee naukar as-pas kh de haian. sabhi ki aankhean sajal aur mukh udas haian. mano bahoo vida ho rahi hai.

suresh samajh gaye ki mangala ko kal ki bat lag gayi. par unhoanne uth kar kuchh poochhane ki manane ki ya samajhane ki cheshta nahian ki. yah mera apaman kar rahi hai mera sir nicha kar rahi hai. jahaan chahe jay. mujhase koee matalab nahian. yoan bina kuchh poochhe-gachhe chale jane ka arth yah hai ki maian isaka koee nahian. phir maian ise rokanevala kaun !

vah yoan hi j davath p de rahe aur mangala chali gayi. unaki taraph muanh utha kar bhi n taka.

3

mangala paanv-paidal chali ja rahi thi. ek b de tallukedar ki aurat ke lie yah mamooli bat n thi. har kisi ko himmat n p dati thi ki usase kuchh kahe. purush usaki rah chho d kar kinare kh de ho jate the. nariyaan dvar par kh di karun-kautoohal se dekhati thian aur aankhoan se kahati thian-ha nirdayi purush ! itana bhi n ho saka ki ek dola par to baitha deta !

is gaanv se nikal kar us gaanv mean pahuanchi jahaan shitala rahati thi. shitala sunate hi dvar par a kar kh di ho gayi aur mangala se boli-bahan jara a kar dam le lo.

mangala ne aandar ja kar dekha to makan jagah-jagah se gira hua tha. dalan mean ek vriddha khat par p di thi. charoan or daridrata ke chihn dikhayi dete the.

shitala ne poochha-yah kya hua

mangala-jo bhagy mean likha tha.

shitala-kuanvar ji ne kuchh kaha-suna tha

mangala-muanh se kuchh n kahane par bhi to man ki bat chhipi nahian rahati.

shitala-are to kya ab yahaan tak naubat a gayi

duahkh ki aantim dasha sankochahin hoti hai. mangala ne kaha-chahati to ab bhi p di rahati. usi ghar mean jivan kat jata. par jahaan prem nahian poochh nahian man nahian vahaan ab nahian rah sakati.

shitala-tumhara maika kahaan hai

mangala-maike kaun muanh le kar jaooangi

shitala-tab kahaan jaogi

mangala-eeshvar ke darabar mean. poochhooangi ki tumane mujhe sundarata kyoan nahian di badasoorat kyoan banaya bahan stri ke lie isase adhik durbhagy ki bat nahian ki vah roopahin ho. shayad pahale janam ki pishachiniyaan hi badasoorat auratean hoti haian. roop se prem milata hai aur prem se durlabh koee vastu nahian hai.

yah kah kar mangala uth kh di huee. shitala ne use roka nahian. socha-ise kya khilaooangi. aj to choolha jalane ki bhi koee asha nahian.

usake jane ke bad vah der tak baithi sochati rahi maian kaisi abhagin hooan. jis prem ko n pa kar yah bechari jivan ko tyag rahi hai usi prem ko maianne paanv se thukara diya. ise jevar ki kya kami thi kya ye sare j daoo jevar ise sukhi rakh sake isane unhean paanv se thukara diya. unhian abhooshanoan ke lie maianne apana sarvasv kho diya. ha ! n jane vah (vimalasianh) kahaan haian kis dasha mean haian !

apani lalasa ko trishna ko vah kitani hi bar dhikkar chuki thi. mangala ki dasha dekh kar aj use abhooshanoan se ghrina ho gayi.

vimal ko ghar chho de do sal ho gaye the. shitala ko ab unake bare mean bhaanti-bhaanti ki shankaean hone lagi thian. athoan pahar usake chitt mean glani aur kshobh ki ag sulaga karati thi.

dehat ke chhote-mote jamiandaroan ka kam daant-dapat chhin-jhapat hi se chala karata hai. vimal ki kheti begar mean hoti thi. usake jane ke bad sare khet parati rah gaye. koee jotanevala n mila. is khayal se sajhe par bhi kisi ne n jota ki bich mean kahian vimalasianh a gaye to sajhedar ko aangootha dikha deange. asamiyoan ne lagan n diya. shitala ne mahajan se rupaye udhar le kar kam chalaya. doosare varsh bhi yahi kaiphiyat rahi. abaki mahajan ne rupaye nahian diye. shitala ke gahanoan ke sir gayi. doosara sal samapt hote-hote ghar ki sab leee-pooanji nikal gayi. phake hone lage. boodhi sas chhota devar nanad aur ap-char praniyoan ka kharch tha. nat-hit bhi ate hi rahate the. us par yah aur musibat huee ki maike mean ek faujadari ho gayi. pita aur b de bhaee usamean phans gaye. do chhote bhaee ek bahan aur mata char prani aur sar par a date. ga di pahale mushkil se chalati thi jab zamin mean dhans gayi.

pratahkal se kalah aranbh ho jata. samadhin samadhin se sale bahanoee se guth jate. kabhi to ann ke abhav se bhojan hi n banata kabhi bhojan banane par bhi gali-galauj ke karan khane ki naubat n ati. l dake doosaroan ke khetoan mean ja kar ganne aur matar khate budhiya doosaroan ke ghar ja kar apana dukh da roti aur thakurasohati karati purush ki anupasthiti mean stri ke maikevaloan ka pradhany ho jata hai. is sangram mean prayah vijay-pataka maikevaloan hi ke hath mean rahati hai. kisi bhaanti ghar anaj a jata to use pise kaun shitala ki maan kahati char din ke lie ayi hooan to kya chakki chalaooan sas kahati khane ki ber to billi ki tarah lapakeangi pisate kyoan jan nikalati hai vivash ho kar shitala ko akele pisana p data. bhojan ke samay vah mahabharat machata ki p dosavale tang a jate. shitala kabhi maan ke pairoan p dati kabhi sas ke charan pak dati lekin donoan hi use jhi dak detian. maan kahati toone yahaan bulakar hamara pani utar liya. sas kahati meri chhati par saut la kar baitha di ab batean banati hai is ghor vivad mean shitala apana virah-shok bhool gayi. sari amangal shankaean is virodhagni mean shaant ho gayian. bas ab yahi chianta thi ki is dasha se chhutakara kaise ho maan aur sas donoan hi ka yamaraj ke siva aur koee thikana n tha par yamaraj unaka svagat karane ke lie bahut utsuk nahian jan p date the. saik doan upay sochati par us pathik ki bhaanti jo din bhar chal kar bhi apane dvar hi par kh da ho usaki sochane ki shakti nishchal ho gayi thi. charoan taraph nigahean dau dati ki kahian koee sharan ka sthan hai par kahian nigah n jamati.

ek din vah isi nairashy ki avastha mean dvar par kh di thi. musibat mean chitt ki udvignata mean iantazar mean dvar se hamean prem ho jata hai. sahasa usane baboo sureshasianh ko samane se gho de par jate dekha. unaki aankhean usaki or phirian. aankhean mil gayian. vah jhijhak kar pichhe hat gayi. kiva dean band kar liye. kuanvar sahab age badh gaye. shitala ko khed hua ki unhoanne mujhe dekh liya. mere sir par sa di phati huee thi charoan taraph usamean paiband lage hue the. vah apane man mean n jane kya kahate hoange

kuanvar sahab ko gaanvavaloan se vimalasianh ke parivar ke kashtoan ki khabar mili thi. vah gupt roop se unaki kuchh sahayata karana chahate the. par shitala ko dekhate hi sankoch ne unhean aisa dabaya ki dvar par ek kshan bhi n ruk sake. mangala ke grih-tyag ke tin mahine pichhe aj vah pahali bar ghar se nikale the. mare sharm ke bahar baithana chho d diya tha.

isamean sandeh nahian ki kuanvar sahab man mean shitala ke roop-ras ka asvadan karate the. mangala ke jane ke bad unake hriday mean ek vichitr dushkamana jag uthi. kya kisi upay se yah suandari meri nahian ho sakati vimal ka muddat se pata nahian. bahut sambhav hai ki vah ab sansar mean n ho. kiantu vah is dushkalpana ko vichar se dabate rahate the. shitala ki vipatti ki katha sun kar bhi vah usaki sahayata karate hue darate the. kaun jane vasana yahi vesh dhar kar mere vichar aur vivek par kutharaghat karana chahati ho. aant ko lalasa ki kapat-lila unhean bhulava de hi gayi. vah shitala ke ghar usaka halachal poochhane gaye. man mean tark kiya-yah kitana ghor anyay hai ki ek abala aise sankat mean ho aur maian usaki bat bhi n poochhooan par vahaan se laute to buddhi aur vivek ki rassiyaan toot gayi thian aur nauka moh-vasana ke apar sagar mean dubakiyaan kha rahi thi. ah ! yah manohar chhavi ! yah anupam sauandary !

ek kshan mean unmattoan ki bhaanti bakane lage-yah pran aur yah sharir teri bheant karata hooan. sansar hansega hanse. mahapap hai ho. koee chianta nahian. is svargiy anand se maian apane ko vanchit nahian kar sakata vah mujhase bhag nahian sakati. is hriday ko chhati se nikal kar usake pairoan par rakh dooanga. vimal mar gaya. nahian mara to ab marega pap kya hai pata nahian. kamal kitana komal kitana praphull kitana lalit hai kya usake adharoan-

akasmath vah thithak gaye jaise koee bhooli huee bat yad a jay. manushy mean buddhi ke aantargat ek ajnat buddhi hoti hai. jaise ranakshetr mean himmat har kar bhaganevale sainikoan ko kisi gupt sthan se anevali kumak sanbhal leti hai vaise hi is ajnat buddhi ne suresh ko sachet kar diya. vah sanbhal gaye. glani se unaki aankhean bhar ayian. vah kee minat tak kisi dandit kaidi ki bhaanti kshubdh kh de sochate rahe. phir vijay-dhvani se kah uthe-kitana saral hai. is vikar ke hathi ko sianh se nahian chianuti se marooanga. shitala ko ek bar bahan kah dene se hi yah sab vikar shaant ho jayaga. shitala ! bahan ! maian tera bhaee hooan !

usi kshan unhoanne shitala ko patr likha-bahan tumane itane kasht jhele par mujhe khabar tak n di ! maian koee gair n tha. mujhe isaka duahkh hai. khair ab eeshvar ne chaha to tumhean kasht n hoga. is patr ke sath unhoanne anaj aur rupaye bheje.

shitala ne uttar diya-bhaiya kshama karo jab tak jiooangi tumhara yash gaooangi. tumane meri doobati nav par laga di.

4

kee mahine bit gaye. sandhya ka samay tha. shitala apani maina ko chara chuga rahi thi. use suresh naipal se usi ke vaste laye the. itane mean suresh a kar aangan mean baith gaye.

shitala ne poochha-kahaan se ate ho bhaiya

suresh-gaya tha jara thane. kuchh pata nahian chala. rangoon mean pahale kuchh pata mila tha. bad ko maloom hua ki vah koee aur adami hai. kya karooan inam aur badha dooan

shitala-tumhare pas rupaye badhe haian phooanko. unaki ichchha hogi to ap hi aveange.

suresh-ek bat poochhooan bataogi kis bat par tumase roothe the

shitala-kuchh nahian maianne yahi kaha ki mujhe gahane banava do. kahane lage mere pas hai kya maianne kaha (laja kar) to byah kyoan kiya bas batoan hi batoan mean takarar ho gayi.

itane mean shitala ki sas a gayi. suresh ne shitala ki maan aur bhaiyoan ko unake ghar pahuancha diya tha isalie yahaan ab shaanti thi. sas ne bahoo ki bat sun li thi. karkash svar se boli-beta tumase kya parada hai. yah maharani dekhane hi ko gulab ki phool hai andar sab kaante haian. yah apane banav-siangar ke age vimal ki bat hi n poochhati thi. bechara is par jan deta tha par isaka muanh hi n sidha hota tha. prem to ise chhoo nahian gaya. ant ko use desh se nikal kar isane dam liya.

shitala ne rusht ho kar kaha-kya vahi anokhe dhan kamane ghar se nikale haian desh-videsh jana maradoan ka kam hi hai.

suresh-yoorop mean to dhanabhog ke siva stri-purush mean koee sambandh hi nahian hota. bahan ne yoorop mean janm liya hota to hire-javahir se jagamagati hoti. shitala ab tum eeshvar se yahi kahana ki suandarata dete ho to yoorop mean janm do.

shitala ne vyathit ho kar kaha-jinake bhagy mean likha hai ve yahian sone se ladi huee haian. meri bhaanti sabhi ke karam tho de hi phoot gaye haian !

sureshasianh ko aisa jan p da ki shitala ki mukhakaanti malin ho gayi hai. pativiyog mean bhi gahanoan ke lie itani lalayit hai ! bole-achchha maian tumhean gahane banava dooanga.

yah vaky kuchh apamanasoochak svar mean kaha gaya tha par shitala ki aankhean anand se sajal ho ayian kanth gadgad ho gaya. usake hriday-netroan ke samane mangala ke ratn-jatit abhooshanoan ka chitr khianch gaya. usane kritajnatapoorn drishti se suresh ko dekha. muanh se kuchh n boli par usaka pratyek aang kah raha tha-maian tumhari hooan !

5 koyal am ki daliyoan par baith kar machhali shital nirmal jal mean kri da karake aur mrig-shavak vistrit hariyaliyoan mean chhalaangean bhar kar itane prasann nahian hote jitana mangala ke abhooshanoan ko pahan kar shitala prasann ho rahi hai. usake pair zamin par nahian p date. vah din bhar aine ke samane kh di rahati hai kabhi keshoan ko sanvarati hai kabhi surama lagati hai. kuhara phat gaya hai aur nirmal svachchh chaandani nikal ayi hai. vah ghar ka ek tinaka bhi nahian uthati. usake svabhav mean ek vichitr garv ka sanchar ho gaya hai.

lekin shrriangar kya hai soyi huee kam-vasana ko jagane ka ghor nad uddipan ka mantr. shitala jab nakh-shikh se saj kar baithati hai to use prabal ichchha hoti hai ki mujhe koee dekhe. vah dvar par a kar kh di ho jati hai. gaanv ki striyoan ki prashansa se use santosh nahian hota. gaanv ke purushoan ko vah shrriangararas-vihin samajhati hai. isalie sureshasianh ko bulati hai. pahale vah din mean ek bar a jate the ab shitala ke bahut anunay-vinay karane par bhi nahian ate.

pahar rat gayi thi. gharoan ke dipak bujh chuke the. shitala ke ghar mean dipak jal raha tha. usane kuanvar sahab ke bagiche se bele ke phool mangavaye the aur baithi har gooanth rahi thi-apane lie nahian suresh ke lie. prem ke siva ehasan ka badala dene ke lie usake pas aur tha hi kya

ekaek kuttoan ke bhooankane ki avaz sunayi di aur dam bhar mean vimalasianh ne makan ke aandar qadam rakha. unake ek hath mean sandook tha doosare hath mean ek gathari. sharir durbal kap de maile dadhi ke bal badhe hue mukh pila jaise koee kaidi jel se nikal kar aya ho. dipak ka prakash dekhakar vah shitala ke kamare ki taraph chale. maina pianjare mean t daph dane lagi. shitala ne chauank kar sir uthaya. ghabara kar boli kaun phir pahachan gayi. turant phooloan ko ek kap de se chhipa diya. uth kh di huee aur sir jhuka kar poochha-itani jaldi sudh li

vimal ne kuchh javab n diya. vismit ho-ho kar kabhi shitala ko dekhata aur kabhi ghar ko mano kisi naye sansar mean pahuanch gaya hai. yah vah adh-khila phool n tha jisaki pankhu diyaan anukool jalavayu n pa kar simat gayi thian. yah poorn vikasit kusum tha-os ke jal-kanoan se jagamagata aur vayu ke jhoankoan se laharata hua. vimal usaki suandarata par pahale bhi mugdh tha par yah jyoti vah agnijvala thi jisase hriday mean tap aur aankhoan mean jalan hoti thi. ye abhooshan ye vastr yah sajavat ! usake sir mean ek chakkar-sa a gaya. zamin par baith gaya. is sooryamukhi ke samane baithate hue use lajja ati thi. shitala abhi tak stanbhit kh di thi. vah pani lane nahian dau di usane pati ke charan nahian dhoye usako pankha tak nahian jhala. hatabuddhi-si ho gayi thi. usane kalpanaoan ki kaisi suramy vatika lagaee thi ! us par tushar p d gaya. vastav mean is malinavadan ardh-nagn purush se use ghrina ho rahi thi. yah ghar ka zamiandar vimal n tha. vah mazadoor ho gaya tha. mota kam mukhakriti par asar dale bina nahian rahata. mazadoor suandar vastroan mean bhi mazadoor hi rahata hai.

sahasa vimal ki maan chauanki. shitala ke kamare mean ayi to vimal ko dekhate hi matri-sneh se vihval ho kar use chhati se laga liya. vimal ne usake charanoan par sir rakha. usaki aankhoan se aansuoan ki garam-garam booandean nikal rahi thian. maan pulakit ho rahi thi. mukh se bat n nikalati thi !

ek kshan mean vimal ne kaha-ammaan !

kanth-dhvani ne usaka ashay prakat kar diya.

maan ne prashn samajh kar kaha-nahian beta yah bat nahian hai.

vimal-yah dekhata kya hooan

maan-svabhav hi aisa hai to koee kya kare

vimal-suresh ne mera huliya kyoan likhaya tha

maan-tumhari khoj lene ke lie. unhoanne daya n ki hoti to aj ghar mean kisi ko jita n pate.

vimal-bahut achchha hota.

shitala ne tane se kaha-apani or se tumane sabako mar hi dala tha. phooloan ki sej nahian bichha gaye the !

vimal-ab to phooloan ki sej hi bichhi huee dekhata hooan.

shitala-tum kisi ke bhagy ke vidhata ho

vimalasianh uthakar krodh se kaanpata hua bola-ammaan mujhe yahaan se le chalo. maian is pishachini ka muanh nahian dekhana chahata. meri aankhoan mean khoon utarata chala ata hai. maianne is kul-kalankini ke lie tin sal tak jo kathin tapasya ki hai usase eeshvar mil jata par ise n pa saka !

yah kah kar vah kamare se nikal aya aur maan ke kamare mean let raha. maan ne turant usaka muanh aur hath-pair dhulaye. vah choolha jala kar pooriyaan pakane lagi. sath-sath ghar ki vipatti-katha bhi kahati jati thi. vimal ke hriday mean suresh ke prati jo virodhagni prajvalit ho rahi thi vah shaant ho gayi lekin hriday-dah ne rakt-dah ka roop dharan kiya. zor ka bukhar chadh aya. lanbi yatr ki thakan aur kasht to tha hi barasoan ke kathin shram aur tap ke bad yah manasik santap aur bhi dussah ho gaya.

sari rat vah achet p da raha. maan baithi pankha jhalati aur roti thi. doosare din bhi vah behosh p da raha. shitala usake pas ek kshan ke lie bhi n ayi. inhoanne mujhe kaun-se sone ke kaur khila diye haian jo inaki dhauans sahooan yahaan to jaise kanta ghar rahe vaise rahe videsh. kisi ki phooti kau di nahian janati. bahut tav dikha kar to gaye the kya lad laye !

sandhya ke samay suresh ko khabar mili. turant dau de hue aye. aj do mahine ke bad unhoanne us ghar mean qadam rakha. vimal ne aankhean kholian pahachan gaya. aankhoan se aansoo bahane lage. suresh ke mukharavind par daya ki jyoti jhalak rahi thi. vimal ne usake bare mean jo anuchit sandeh kiya tha usake lie vah apane ko dhikkar raha tha.

shitala ne jyoan hi suna ki sureshasianh aye haian turant shishe ke samane gayi. kesh chhitaka liye aur bipat ki moorti bani huee vimal ke kamare mean ayi. kahaan to vimal ki aankhean band thian moorchchhit-sa p da tha kahaan shitala ke ate hi aankhean khul gayian. agnimay netroan se usaki or dekh kar bola-abhi ayi hai aj ke tisare din ana. kuanvar sahab se us din phir bheant ho jayagi.

shitala ulate paanv chali gayi. suresh par gh doan pani p d gaya. man mean socha kitana roop-lavany hai par kitana vishakt ! hriday ki jagah keval shrriangar-lalasa !

atank badhata gaya. suresh ne daktar bulavaye par mrityu-dev ne kisi ki n mani. unaka hriday pashan hai. kisi bhaanti nahian pasijata. koee apana hriday nikal kar rakh de aansuoan ki nadi baha de par unhean daya nahian ati. base hue ghar ko uja dana laharati huee kheti ko sukhana unaka kam hai. aur unaki nirdayata kitani vinodamay hai ! yah nity naye roop badalate rahate haian. kabhi damini ban jate haian to kabhi puny-mala. kabhi sianh ban jate haian to kabhi siyar. kabhi agni ke roop mean dikhayi dete haian to kabhi jal ke roop mean.

tisare din pichhali rat ko vimal ki manasik pi da aur hriday-tap ka aant ho gaya. chor din ko kabhi chori nahian karata. yam ke doot prayah rat hi ko sabaki najar bacha kar ate haian aur pran-ratn ko chura le jate haian. akash ke phool murajhaye hue the. vrikshasamooh sthir the par shok mean magn sir jhukaye hue. rat shok ka bahy roop hai. rat mrityu ka kri da-kshetr hai. usi samay vimal ke ghar se artanad sunayi diya-vah nad jise sunane ke lie mrityu-dev vikal rahate haian.

shitala chauank p di aur ghabarayi huee maran-shayya ki or chali. usane mritadeh par nigah dali aur bhayabhit ho kar ek pag pichhe hat gayi. use jan p da vimalasianh usaki or atyant tivr drishti se dekh rahe haian. bujhe hue dipak mean use bhayankar jyoti dikhayi p di. vah mare bhay ke vahaan thahar n saki. dvar se nikal hi rahi thi ki sureshasianh se bheant ho gayi. katar svar mean boli-mujhe yahaan dar lagata hai. usane chaha ki roti huee inake pairoan par gir padooan par vah alag hat gaye.

6

jab kisi pathik ko chalate-chalate jnat hota hai ki maian rasta bhool gaya hooan to vah sidhe raste par ane ke lie b de veg se chalata hai ! jhuanjhalata hai ki maian itana asavadhan kyoan ho gaya suresh bhi ab shaanti-marg par ane ke lie vikal ho gaye. mangala ki snehamayi sevaean yad ane lagian. hriday mean vastavik sauandaryopasana ka bhav uday hua. usamean kitana prem kitana tyag kitani kshama thi ! usaki atul pati-bhakti ko yad karake kabhi-kabhi vah t dap jate. ah ! maianne ghor atyachar kiya. aise ujjval ratn ka adar n kiya. maian yoan hi j davath p da raha aur mere samane hi lakshmi ghar se nikal gayi ! mangala ne chalate-chalate shitala se jo batean kahian ve unhean maloom thian par un batoan par vishvas n hota tha. mangala shaant prakriti ki thi. vah itani uddandata nahian kar sakati. usamean kshama thi vah itana vidvesh nahian kar sakati. unaka man kahata tha ki vah jiti hai aur kushal se hai. usake maikevaloan ko kee patr likhe par vahaan vyangy aur katuvakyoan ke siva aur kya rakha tha aant ko unhoanne likha-ab us ratn ki khoj mean svayan jata hooan. ya to le kar hi aooanga ya kahian muanh mean kalikh laga kar doob marooanga.

is patr ka uttar aya-achchhi bat hai jaie par yahaan se hote hue jaiega. yahaan se bhi koee apake sath chala jayaga.

sureshasianh ko in shabdoan mean asha ki jhalak dikhayi di. usi din prasthan kar diya. kisi ko sath nahian liya.

sasural mean kisi ne unaka premamay svagat nahian kiya. sabhi ke muanh phoole hue the. sasur ji ne to unhean pati-dharm par ek lamba upadesh diya.

rat ko jab vah bhojan karake lete to chhoti sali a kar baith gayi aur muskara kar boli-jija ji koee suandari apane roopahin purush ko chho d de usaka apaman kare to ap use kya kaheange

suresh-(ganbhir svar se) kutila !

sali-aur aise purush ko jo apani roopahin stri ko tyag de

suresh-pashu !

sali-aur jo purush vidvanh ho

suresh-pishach !

sali-(hans kar) to maian bhagati hooan. mujhe apase dar lagata hai.

suresh-pishachoan ka prayashchitt bhi to svikar ho jata hai.

sali-shart yah hai ki prayashchitt sachcha ho.

suresh-yah to vah aantaryami hi jan sakate haian.

sali-sachcha hoga to usaka phal bhi avashy milega. magar didi ko le kar idhar hi se lautiega.

suresh ki asha-nauka phir dagamagayi. gi dagi da kar bole-prabha eeshvar ke lie mujh par daya karo. maian bahut duahkhi hooan. sal bhar se aisa koee din nahian gaya ki maian ro kar n soya hooan.

prabha ne uth kar kaha-apane kiye ka kya ilaj jati hooan aram kijie.

ek kshan mean mangala ki mata akar baith gayi aur boli-beta tumane to bahut padha-likha hai desh-videsh ghoom aye ho suandar banane ki koee dava kahian nahian dekhi

suresh ne vinayapoorvak kaha-mata ji ab eeshvar ke lie aur lajjit n kijie.

mata-tumane to meri pyari beti ke pran le liye ! maian kya tumhean lajjit karane se bhi gayi ji mean to tha ki aisi-aisi sunaooangi ki tum bhi yad karoge par mehaman ho kya jalaooan aram karo.

suresh asha aur bhay ki dasha mean p de karavatean badal rahe the ki ekaek dvar par kisi ne dhire se kaha-jati kyoan nahian jagate to haian kisi ne javab diya-laj ati hai.

suresh ne avaz pahachani. pyase ko pani mil gaya. ek kshan mean mangala unake sammukh ayi aur sir jhuka kar kh di ho gayi. suresh ko usake mukh par ek anoothi chhavi dikhayi di jaise koee rogi svasthy-labh kar chuka ho.

roop vahi tha par aankhean aur thian.

sanbandhit lekh

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