कफ़न- प्रेमचंद

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

jhop de ke dvar par bap aur beta donoan ek bujhe hue alav ke samane chupachap baithe hue haian aur andar bete ki javan bibi budhiya prasav-vedana mean pachha d kha rahi thi. rah-rahakar usake muanh se aisi dil hila dene vali avaz nikalati thi, ki donoan kaleja tham lete the. ja doan ki rat thi, prakriti sannate mean doobi huee, sara gaanv andhakar mean lay ho gaya tha.

ghisoo ne kaha-maloom hota hai, bachegi nahian. sara din dau date ho gaya, ja dekh to a.

madhav chidhaqar bola-marana hi to hai jaldi mar kyoan nahian jati? dekhakar kya karooan?

‘too b da bedard hai be! sal-bhar jisake sath sukh-chain se raha, usi ke sath itani bevaphaee!’

‘to mujhase to usaka t dapana aur hath-paanv patakana nahian dekha jata.’

chamaroan ka kunaba tha aur sare gaanv mean badanam. ghisoo ek din kam karata to tin din aram karata. madhav itana kam-chor tha ki adh ghante kam karata to ghante bhar chilam pita. isalie unhean kahian mazadoori nahian milati thi. ghar mean muththi-bhar bhi anaj maujood ho, to unake lie kam karane ki kasam thi. jab do-char phake ho jate to ghisoo pe d par chadhaqar lakadiy़aan to d lata aur madhav bazar se bech lata aur jab tak vah paise rahate, donoan idhar-udhar mare-mare phirate. gaanv mean kam ki kami n thi. kisanoan ka gaanv tha, mehanati adami ke lie pachas kam the. magar in donoan ko usi vakt bulate, jab do adamiyoan se ek ka kam pakar bhi santosh kar lene ke siva aur koee chara n hota. agar dono sadhu hote, to unhean santosh aur dhairy ke lie, sanyam aur niyam ki bilakul zaroorat n hoti. yah to inaki prakriti thi. vichitr jivan tha inaka! ghar mean mitti ke do-char bartan ke siva koee sampatti nahian. phate chith doan se apani nagnata ko dhaanke hue jiye jate the. sansar ki chintaoan se mukt karz se lade hue. galiyaan bhi khate, mar bhi khate, magar koee gam nahian. din itane ki vasooli ki bilakul asha n rahane par bhi log inhean kuchh-n-kuchh karz de dete the. matar, aloo ki phasal mean doosaroan ke khetoan se matar ya aloo ukha d late aur bhoon-bhanakar kha lete ya das-paanch ookh ukha d late aur rat ko choosate. ghisoo ne isi akash-vritti se sath sal ki umr kat di aur madhav bhi sapoot bete ki tarah bap hi ke pad-chihnoan par chal raha tha, balki usaka nam aur bhi ujagar kar raha tha. is vakt bhi donoan alav ke samane baithakar aloo bhoon rahe the, jo ki kisi khet se khod laye the. ghisoo ki stri ka to bahut din hue, dehant ho gaya tha. madhav ka byah pichhale sal hua tha. jab se yah aurat ayi thi, usane is khanadan mean vyavastha ki nianv dali thi aur in donoan be-gairatoan ka dojakh bharati rahati thi. jab se vah ayi, yah donoan aur bhi aramatalab ho gaye the. balki kuchh akadऩe bhi lage the. koee kary karane ko bulata, to nibryaj bhav se duguni mazadoori maangate. vahi aurat aj prasav-vedana se mar rahi thi aur yah donoan isi intajar mean the ki vah mar jae, to aram se soyean.

ghisoo ne aloo nikalakar chhilate hue kaha-jakar dekh to, kya dasha hai usaki? chu dail ka phisad hoga, aur kya? yahaan to ojha bhi ek rupaya maangata hai!

madhav ko bhay tha, ki vah kothari mean gaya, to ghisoo aluoan ka b da bhag saf kar dega. bola-mujhe vahaan jate dar lagata hai.

‘dar kis bat ka hai, maian to yahaan hooan hi.’

‘to tumhian jakar dekho n?’

‘meri aurat jab mari thi, to maian tin din tak usake pas se hila tak nahian; aur phir mujhase lajaegi ki nahian? jisaka kabhi muanh nahian dekha, aj usaka ugh da hua badan dekhooan! use tan ki sudh bhi to n hogi? mujhe dekh legi to khulakar hath-paanv bhi n patak sakegi!’

‘maian sochata hooan koee bal-bachcha hua, to kya hoga? soanth, gu d, tel, kuchh bhi to nahian hai ghar mean!’

‘sab kuchh a jaega. bhagavanh dean to! jo log abhi ek paisa nahian de rahe haian, ve hi kal bulakar rupaye deange. mere nau l dake hue, ghar mean kabhi kuchh n tha; magar bhagavanh ne kisi-n-kisi tarah be da par hi lagaya.’

jis samaj mean rat-din mehanat karane valoan ki halat unaki halat se kuchh bahut achchhi n thi, aur kisanoan ke mukabale mean ve log, jo kisanoan ki durbalataoan se labh uthana janate the, kahian zyada sampann the, vahaan is tarah ki manovritti ka paida ho jana koee acharaj ki bat n thi. ham to kaheange, ghisoo kisanoan se kahian zyada vicharavanh tha aur kisanoan ke vichar-shoony samooh mean shamil hone ke badale baithakabajoan ki kutsit mandali mean ja mila tha. haan, usamean yah shakti n thi, ki baithakabajoan ke niyam aur niti ka palan karata. isalie jahaan usaki mandali ke aur log gaanv ke saragana aur mukhiya bane hue the, us par sara gaanv uangali uthata tha. phir bhi use yah tasakin to thi hi ki agar vah phatehal hai to kam-se-kam use kisanoan ki-si ji-to d mehanat to nahian karani p dati, aur usaki saralata aur nirihata se doosare log beja fayada to nahian uthate! donoan aloo nikal-nikalakar jalate-jalate khane lage. kal se kuchh nahian khaya tha. itana sabr n tha ki thanda ho jane dean. kee bar donoan ki jabanean jal gayian. chhil jane par aloo ka bahari hissa jaban, halak aur taloo ko jala deta tha aur us aangare ko muanh mean rakhane se zyada khairiyat isi mean thi ki vah andar pahuanch jae. vahaan use thanda karane ke lie kafi saman the. isalie donoan jald-jald nigal jate. halaanki is koshish mean unaki aankhoan se aansoo nikal ate.

ghisoo ko us vakt thakur ki barat yad ayi, jisamean bis sal pahale vah gaya tha. us davat mean use jo tripti mili thi, vah usake jivan mean ek yad rakhane layaq bat thi, aur aj bhi usaki yad taji thi, bola-vah bhoj nahian bhoolata. tab se phir us tarah ka khana aur bharapet nahian mila. ladaqi valoan ne sabako bhar pet poodiy़aan khilaee thian, sabako! chhote-b de sabane poodiy़aan khayian aur asali ghi ki! chatani, rayata, tin tarah ke sookhe sag, ek rasedar tarakari, dahi, chatani, mithaee, ab kya bataooan ki us bhoj mean kya svad mila, koee rok-tok nahian thi, jo chiz chaho, maango, jitana chaho, khao. logoan ne aisa khaya, aisa khaya, ki kisi se pani n piya gaya. magar parosane vale haian ki pattal mean garm-garm, gol-gol suvasit kachaudiy़aan dal dete haian. mana karate haian ki nahian chahie, pattal par hath roke hue haian, magar vah haian ki diye jate haian. aur jab sabane muanh dho liya, to pan-ilayachi bhi mili. magar mujhe pan lene ki kahaan sudh thi? kh da hua n jata tha. chatapat jakar apane kambal par let gaya. aisa dil-dariyav tha vah thakur!

madhav ne in padarthoan ka man-hi-man maja lete hue kaha-ab hamean koee aisa bhoj nahian khilata.

‘ab koee kya khilaega? vah jamana doosara tha. ab to sabako kiphayat soojhati hai. sadi-byah mean mat kharch karo, kriya-karm mean mat kharch karo. poochho, gariboan ka mal bator-batorakar kahaan rakhoge? batorane mean to kami nahian hai. haan, kharch mean kiphayat soojhati hai!’

‘tumane ek bis pooriyaan khayi hoangi?’

‘bis se zyada khayi thian!’

‘maian pachas kha jata!’

‘pachas se kam maianne n khayi hoangi. achchha paka tha. too to mera adha bhi nahian hai.’

aloo khakar donoan ne pani piya aur vahian alav ke samane apani dhotiyaan odhakar paanv pet mean dale so rahe. jaise do b de-b de ajagar geanduliya mare p de hoan.

aur budhiya abhi tak karah rahi thi.

2

sabere madhav ne kothari mean jakar dekha, to usaki stri thandi ho gayi thi. usake muanh par makkhiyaan bhinak rahi thian. patharaee huee aankhean oopar tangi huee thian. sari deh dhool se lathapath ho rahi thi. usake pet mean bachcha mar gaya tha.

madhav bhaga hua ghisoo ke pas aya. phir donoan jor-jor se hay-hay karane aur chhati pitane lage. p dos valoan ne yah rona-dhona suna, to dau de hue aye aur purani maryada ke anusar in abhagoan ko samajhane lage.

magar zyada rone-pitane ka avasar n tha. kafan ki aur lak di ki fikr karani thi. ghar mean to paisa is tarah gayab tha, jaise chil ke ghoansale mean maans?

bap-bete rote hue gaanv ke zamiandar ke pas gaye. vah in donoan ki soorat se nafarat karate the. kee bar inhean apane hathoan se pit chuke the. chori karane ke lie, vade par kam par n ane ke lie. poochha-kya hai be ghisua, rota kyoan hai? ab to too kahian dikhalaee bhi nahian deta! maloom hota hai, is gaanv mean rahana nahian chahata.

ghisoo ne zamin par sir rakhakar aankhoan mean aansoo bhare hue kaha-sarakar! b di vipatti mean hooan. madhav ki gharavali rat ko gujar gayi. rat-bhar t dapati rahi sarakar! ham donoan usake sirahane baithe rahe. dava-daroo jo kuchh ho saka, sab kuchh kiya, muda vah hamean daga de gayi. ab koee ek roti dene vala bhi n raha malik! tabah ho gaye. ghar uj d gaya. apaka gulam hooan, ab apake siva kaun usaki mitti par lagaega. hamare hath mean to jo kuchh tha, vah sab to dava-daroo mean uth gaya. sarakar hi ki daya hogi, to usaki mitti uthegi. apake siva kisake dvar par jaooan.

zamiandar sahab dayalu the. magar ghisoo par daya karana kale kambal par rang chadhana tha. ji mean to aya, kah dean, chal, door ho yahaan se. yoan to bulane se bhi nahian ata, aj jab garaj p di to akar khushamad kar raha hai. haramakhor kahian ka, badamash! lekin yah krodh ya dand dene ka avasar n tha. ji mean kudhate hue do rupaye nikalakar pheank die. magar santvana ka ek shabd bhi muanh se n nikala. usaki taraph taka tak nahian. jaise sir ka bojh utara ho.

jab zamiandar sahab ne do rupaye diye, to gaanv ke baniye-mahajanoan ko inakar ka sahas kaise hota? ghisoo zamiandar ke nam ka dhiandhora bhi pitana janata tha. kisi ne do ane diye, kisi ne chare ane. ek ghante mean ghisoo ke pas paanch rupaye ki achchhi rakam jama ho gayi. kahian se anaj mil gaya, kahian se lak di. aur dopahar ko ghisoo aur madhav bazar se kafan lane chale. idhar log baans-vaans katane lage.

gaanv ki narmadil striyaan a-akar lash dekhati thian aur usaki bekasi par do booand aansoo girakar chali jati thian.

3

bazar mean pahuanchakar ghisoo bola-lak di to use jalane-bhar ko mil gayi hai, kyoan madhav!

madhav bola-haan, lak di to bahut hai, ab kafan chahie.

‘to chalo, koee halaka-sa kafan le lean.’

‘haan, aur kya! lash uthate-uthate rat ho jaegi. rat ko kafan kaun dekhata hai?’

‘kaisa bura rivaj hai ki jise jite ji tan dhaankane ko chith da bhi n mile, use marane par naya kafan chahie.’

‘kafan lash ke sath jal hi to jata hai.’

‘aur kya rakha rahata hai? yahi paanch rupaye pahale milate, to kuchh dava-daroo kar lete.’

donoan ek-doosare ke man ki bat ta d rahe the. bazar mean idhar-udhar ghoomate rahe. kabhi is bajaj ki dookan par gaye, kabhi usaki dookan par! tarah-tarah ke kap de, reshami aur sooti dekhe, magar kuchh jancha nahian. yahaan tak ki sham ho gayi. tab donoan n jane kis daivi prerana se ek madhushala ke samane ja pahuanche. aur jaise kisi poorv nishchit vyavastha se andar chale gaye. vahaan jara der tak donoan asamanjas mean kh de rahe. phir ghisoo ne gaddi ke samane jakar kaha-sahooji, ek botal hamean bhi dena.

usake bad kuchh chikhauna aya, tali huee machhali ayi aur donoan baramade mean baithakar shantipoorvak pine lage.

kee kujjiyaan tab dato d pine ke bad donoan saroor mean a gaye.

ghisoo bola-kafan lagane se kya milata? akhir jal hi to jata. kuchh bahoo ke sath to n jata.

madhav asaman ki taraph dekhakar bola, manoan devataoan ko apani nishpapata ka sakshi bana raha ho-duniya ka dastoor hai, nahian log baanbhanoan ko hajaroan rupaye kyoan de dete haian? kaun dekhata hai, paralok mean milata hai ya nahian!

‘b de adamiyoan ke pas dhan hai, fooanke. hamare pas phooankane ko kya hai?’

‘lekin logoan ko javab kya doge? log poochheange nahian, kafan kahaan hai?’

ghisoo hansa-abe, kah deange ki rupaye kamar se khisak gaye. bahut dhooandha, mile nahian. logoan ko vishvas n aega, lekin phir vahi rupaye deange.

madhav bhi hansa-is anapekshit saubhagy par. bola-b di achchhi thi bechari! mari to khoob khila-pilakar!

adhi botal se zyada u d gayi. ghisoo ne do ser poodiy़aan mangaee. chatani, achar, kalejiyaan. sharabakhane ke samane hi dookan thi. madhav lapakakar do pattaloan mean sare saman le aya. poora dedh rupaya kharch ho gaya. sirph tho de se paise bach rahe.

donoan is vakt is shan mean baithe poodiy़aan kha rahe the jaise jangal mean koee sher apana shikar u da raha ho. n javabadehi ka khauph tha, n badanami ki fikr. in sab bhavanaoan ko unhoanne bahut pahale hi jit liya tha.

ghisoo darshanik bhav se bola-hamari atma prasann ho rahi hai to kya use punn n hoga?

madhav ne shraddha se sir jhukakar tasadiq ki-zaroor-se-zaroor hoga. bhagavanh, tum antaryami ho. use baikunth le jana. ham donoan hriday se ashirvad de rahe haian. aj jo bhojan mila vah kabhi umr-bhar n mila tha.

ek kshan ke bad madhav ke man mean ek shanka jagi. bola-kyoan dada, ham log bhi ek-n-ek din vahaan jaeange hi?

ghisoo ne is bhole-bhale saval ka kuchh uttar n diya. vah paralok ki batean sochakar is anand mean badha n dalana chahata tha.

‘jo vahaan ham logoan se poochhe ki tumane hamean kafan kyoan nahian diya to kya kahoge?’

‘kaheange tumhara sir!’

‘poochhegi to zaroor!’

‘too kaise janata hai ki use kafan n milega? too mujhe aisa gadha samajhata hai? sath sal kya duniya mean ghas khodata raha hooan? usako kafan milega aur bahut achchha milega!’

madhav ko vishvas n aya. bola-kaun dega? rupaye to tumane chat kar diye. vah to mujhase poochhegi. usaki maang mean to seandur maianne dala tha.

‘kaun dega, batate kyoan nahian?’

‘vahi log deange, jinhoanne abaki diya. haan, abaki rupaye hamare hath n aeange.’

‘jyoan-jyoan aandhera badhata tha aur sitaroan ki chamak tej hoti thi, madhushala ki raunak bhi badhati jati thi. koee gata tha, koee diang marata tha, koee apane sangi ke gale lipata jata tha. koee apane dost ke muanh mean kulh d lagaye deta tha.

vahaan ke vatavaran mean saroor tha, hava mean nasha. kitane to yahaan akar ek chulloo mean mast ho jate the. sharab se zyada yahaan ki hava un par nasha karati thi. jivan ki badhaean yahaan khianch lati thian aur kuchh der ke lie yah bhool jate the ki ve jite haian ya marate haian. ya n jite haian, n marate haian.

aur yah donoan bap-bete ab bhi maje le-lekar chusakiyaan le rahe the. sabaki nigahean inaki or jami huee thian. donoan kitane bhagy ke bali haian! poori botal bich mean hai.

bharapet khakar madhav ne bachi huee poodiy़oan ka pattal uthakar ek bhikhari ko de diya, jo kh da inaki or bhookhi aankhoan se dekh raha tha. aur dene ke gaurav, anand aur ullas ka apane jivan mean pahali bar anubhav kiya.

ghisoo ne kaha-le ja, khoob kha aur ashirvad de! jisaki kamaee hai, vah to mar gayi. magar tera ashirvad use zaroor pahuanchega. royean-royean se ashirvad do, b di gadhi kamaee ke paise haian!

madhav ne phir asaman ki taraph dekhakar kaha-vah baikunth mean jaegi dada, baikunth ki rani banegi.

ghisoo kh da ho gaya aur jaise ullas ki laharoan mean tairata hua bola-haan, beta baikunth mean jaegi. kisi ko sataya nahian, kisi ko dabaya nahian. marate-marate hamari zindagi ki sabase b di lalasa poori kar gayi. vah n baikunth jaegi to kya ye mote-mote log jaeange, jo gariboan ko donoan hathoan se lootate haian, aur apane pap ko dhone ke lie ganga mean nahate haian aur mandiroan mean jal chadhate haian?

shraddhaluta ka yah rang turant hi badal gaya. asthirata nashe ki khasiyat hai. du:kh aur nirasha ka daura hua.

madhav bola-magar dada, bechari ne zindagi mean b da du:kh bhoga. kitana du:kh jhelakar mari!

vah aankhoan par hath rakhakar rone laga. chikhean mar-marakar.

ghisoo ne samajhaya-kyoan rota hai beta, khush ho ki vah maya-jal se mukt ho gayi, janjal se chhoot gayi. b di bhagyavan thi, jo itani jald maya-moh ke bandhan to d diye.

aur donoan kh de hokar gane lage-

‘thagini kyoan naina jhamakave! thagini.

piyakk doan ki aankhean inaki or lagi huee thian aur yah donoan apane dil mean mast gaye jate the. phir donoan nachane lage. uchhale bhi, koode bhi. gire bhi, matake bhi. bhav bhi bataye, abhinay bhi kiye. aur akhir nashe mean madamast hokar vahian gir p de.

sanbandhit lekh

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