कैदी -प्रेमचंद

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

chaudah sal tak nirantar manasik vedana aur sharirik yatana bhogane ke bad aivan okhotask jel se nikala; par us pakshi ki bhaanti nahian, jo shikari ke pianjare se pankhahin hokar nikala ho balki us sianh ki bhaanti, jise kathaghare ki divaroan ne aur bhi bhayankar tatha aur bhi rakt-lolup bana diya ho. usake antastal mean ek drav jvala um d rahi thi, jisane apane tap se usake balishth sharir, sudaul aang-pratyang aur laharati huee abhilashaoan ko jhulas dala tha aur aj usake astitv ka ek-ek anu ek-ek chinagari bana hua tha kshudhit, chanchal aur vidrohamay. jelar ne use taula. pravesh ke samay do man tis ser tha, aj keval ek man paanch ser. jelar ne sahanubhooti dikhakar kaha, tum bahut durbal ho gaye ho, aivan. agar jara bhi  pathy hua, to bura hoga. aivan ne apane haddiyoan ke dh aauche ko vijay-bhav se dekha aur apane andar ek agnimay pravah ka anubhav karata hua bola, ‘qaun kahata hai ki maian durbal ho gaya hooan ?’ 'tum khud dekh rahe hoge.' 'dil ki ag jab tak nahian bujhegi, aivan nahian marega, mi. jelar, sau varsh tak nahian, vishvas rakhie.'   aivan isi prakar bahaki-bahaki batean kiya karata tha, isalie jelar ne zyada paravah n ki. sab use ardhd-vikshipt samajhate the. kuchh likha-padhi ho jane ke bad usake kap de aur pustakean mangavayi gayian; par ve sare soot ab use utare hue-se lagate the. kotoan ki jeboan mean kee not nikale, kee nagad roobel. usane sabakuchh vahian jel ke vardaroan aur nimn karmachariyoan ko de diya mano use koee rajy mil gaya ho. jelar ne kaha, ‘yah nahian ho sakata, aivan ! tum sarakari adamiyoan ko rishvat nahian de sakate.‘ aivan sadhu-bhav se hansa, ‘yah rishvat nahian hai, mi. jelar ! inhean rishvat dekar ab mujhe inase kya lena-dena hai ? ab ye aprasann hokar mera kya biga d leange aur prasann hokar mujhe kya deange ? yah un kripaoan ka dhanyavad hai jinake bina chaudah sal to kya, mera yahaan chaudah ghante rahana asahy ho jata.‘

jab vah jel ke phatak se nikala, to jelar aur sare any karmachari usake pichhe use motar tak pahuanchane chale. pandrah sal pahale aivan masko ke sampann aur sambhrant kul ka dipak tha. usane vidyalay mean ooanchi shiksha payi thi, khel mean abhyast tha, nirbhik tha. udar aur sahriday tha. dil aine ki bhaanti nirmal, shil ka putala, durbaloan ki raksha ke lie jan par khelanevala, jisaki himmat sankat ke samane nangi talavar ho jati  . usake sath helen nam ki ek yuvati padhati thi, jis par vidyalay ke sare yuvak pran dete the. vah jitani   roopavati thi, utani hi tej thi, b di kalpanashil; par apane manobhavoan ko tale mean band rakhanevali. aivan mean kya dekhakar vah usaki or akarshit ho gayi, yah kahana kathin hai. donoan mean leshamatra bhi samanjasy n tha. aivan sair aur sharab ka premi tha, helen kavita evan sangit aur nrity par jan deti thi.   aivan ki nigah mean rupaye keval isalie the ki donoan hathoan se u daye jayan, helen atyant kripan. aivan ko lekchar-h aaul karagar-  lagata tha; helen is sagar ki machhali thi. par kadachith vah vibhinnata hi unamean svabhavik akarshan ban gayi, jisane ant mean vikal prem ka roop liya. aivan ne usase vivah ka prastav kiya aur usane svikar kar liya. aur donoan kisi shubh muhoort mean panigrahan karake sohagarat bitane ke lie kisi paha di jagah mean jane ke manasoobe baandh rahe the ki sahasa rajanitik sangram ne unhean apani or khianch liya. helen pahale se hi  rashtravadiyoan ki or jhuki huee thi. aivan bhi usi rang mean rang utha. khanadan ka rees tha, usake lie praja-paksh lena ek mahanh tapasya thi; isalie jab kabhi vah is sangram mean hatash ho jata, to helen usaki himmat bandhati aur aivan usake sneh aur anurag se prabhavit hokar apani durbalata par lajjit ho jata.   inhian dinoan ukrayen prant ki soobedari par romanaph nam ka ek gavarnar niyukt hokar aya b da hi kattar,  rashtravadiyoan ka jani dushman, din mean do-char vidrohiyoan ko jab tak jel n bhej leta, use chain n ata. ate-hi-ate usane kee sampadakoan par rajadroh ka abhiyog chalakar unhean saiberiya bhejava diya, krishakoan ki sabhaean to d dian, nagar ki myunisipailiti to d di aur jab janata ne apana rosh prakat karane ke lie jalase kiye,to pulis se bhi d par goliyaan chalavayian, jisase kee begunahoan ki janean gayian. marshal l aau jari kar diya. sare nagar mean hahakar mach gaya. log mare dar ke gharoan se n nikalate the; kyoanki pulis har ek ki talashi leti thi aur use pitati thi. helen ne kathor mudra se kaha, yah andher to ab nahian dekha jata, aivan. isaka kuchh upay hona chahie. aivan ne prashn bhari aankhoan se dekha upay ! ham kya kar sakate haian ? helen ne usaki j data par khinn hokar kaha, ‘tum kahate ho, ham kya kar sakate haian ? maian kahati hooan, ham sabakuchh kar sakate haian. maian inhian hathoan se usaka ant kar dooangi.‘ aivan ne vismay se usaki or dekha—‘tum samajhati ho, use katl karana asan hai ? vah kabhi khuli ga di mean nahian nikalata. usake age-pichhe sashastr savaroan ka ek dal hamesha rahata hai. relaga di mean bhi vah rijarv dabboan mean saphar karata hai ! mujhe to asambhav-sa lagata hai, helen bilkul asanbhav.‘ helen kee minat tak chay banati rahi. phir do pyale mej par rakhakar usane pyala muanh se lagaya aur dhire-dhire pine lagi. kisi vichar mean tanmay ho rahi thi. sahasa usane pyala mej par rakh diya aur b di-b di aankhoan mean tej bharakar boli, ‘yah sabakuchh hote hue bhi maian use katl kar sakati hooan, aivan ! adami ek bar apani jan par khelakar sabakuchh kar sakata hai.‘ ‘janate ho, maian kya karooangi ? maian usase raho-rasm paida karooangi; usaka vishvas prapt karooangi, use is bhraanti mean dalooangi ki mujhe usase prem hai. manushy kitana hi hridayahin ho, usake hriday ke kisi-n-kisi kone mean parag ki bhaanti ras chhipa hi rahata hai. maian to samajhati hooan ki romanaph ki yah daman-niti usaki avaruddh abhilasha ki gaanth hai aur kuchh nahian. kisi mayavini ke prem mean asaphal hokar usake hriday ka ras-ऱet sookh gaya hai. vahaan ras ka sanchar' karana hoga aur kisi yuvati ka ek madhur shabd, ek saral muskan bhi jadoo ka kam karegi ! aisoan ko to vah chutakiyoan mean apane pairoan par gira sakati hai. tum-jaise sailaniyoan ko rijhana isase kahian kathin hai. agar tum yah svikar karate ho ki maian roopahin nahian hooan, to maian tumhean vishvas dilati hooan ki mera kary saphal hoga. batalao maian roopavati hooan ya nahian ? ‘ usane tirachhi aankhoan se aivan ko dekha.

aivan is bhav-vilas par mugdha hokar bola, ‘tum yah mujhase poochhati ho, helen ? maian to tumhean sansar ki ...’ helen ne usaki bat katakar kaha, ‘agar tum aisa samajhate ho, to tum moorkh ho, aivan ! is nagar mean nahian, hamare vidyalay mean hi, mujhase kahian roopavati balikaean maujood haian. haan, tum itana hi kah sakate ho ki tum kuroopa nahian ho. kya tum samajhate ho, maian tumhean sansar ka sabase roopavan yuvak samajhati hooan ? kabhi nahian. maian aise ek nahian sau nam gina sakati hooan, jo chehare-mohare mean tumase kahian badhakar haian, magar tumamean koee aisi vastu hai, jo tumhian mean hai aur vah mujhe aur kahian najar nahian ati. to mera karyakram suno. ek mahine to mujhe usase mel karate lagega. phir vah mere sath sair karane nikalega. aur tab ek din ham aur vah donoan rat ko park mean jayange aur talab ke kinare beanch par baitheange. tum usi vakt rivalvar liye a jaoge aur vahian prithvi usake bojh se halaki ho jayagi.

jaisa ham pahale kah chuke haian, ‘aivan ek rees ka l daka tha aur kraantimay rajaniti se usaka hardik prem n tha. helen ke prabhav se kuchh manasik sahanubhooti avashy paida ho gayi thi aur manasik sahanubhooti prani ko sankat mean nahian dalati. usane prakat roop se to koee apatti nahian ki lekin kuchh sandigdha bhav se bola, yah to socho helen, is tarah ki hatya koee manushiy kriti hai ? helen ne tikhepan se kaha,  ‘doosaroan ke sath manushiy vyavahar nahian karata, usake sath ham kyoan manushiy vyavahar karean ? kya yah soory ki bhaanti prakat nahian hai ki aj saik doan parivar is rakshas ke hathoan tabah ho rahe haian ? kaun janata hai, isake hath kitane begunahoan ke khoon se range hue haian ? aise vyakti ke sath kisi tarah ki riayat karana asangat hai. tum n-jane kyoan itane thande ho. maian to usake dushtacharan ko dekhati hooan to mera rakt khaulane lagata hai. maian sach kahati hooan, jis vakt usaki savari nikalati hai, meri boti-boti hiansa ke aveg se kaanpane lagati hai. agar mere samane koee usaki khal bhi khianch le, to mujhe daya n aye. agar tumamean isaka sahas nahian hai, to koee haraj nahian. maian khud sabakuchh kar looangi. haan, dekh lena, maian kaise us kutte ko jahannum pahuanchati hooan. ‘ helen ka mukhamandal hiansa ke aveg se lal ho gaya. aivan ne lajjit hokar kaha, ‘nahian-nahian, yah bat nahian hai, helen ! mera yah ashay n tha ki maian is kam mean tumhean sahayog n dooanga. mujhe aj maloom hua ki tumhari atma desh ki durdasha se kitani vikal hai; lekin maian phir yahi kahooanga ki yah kam itana asan nahian hai aur hamean b di savadhani se kam lena p dega.‘  helen ne usake kandho par hath rakhakar kaha, ‘tum isaki kuchh chinta n karo, aivan ! sansar mean mere lie jo vastu sabase pyari hai, use daanv par rakhate hue kya maian savadhani se kam n looangi ? lekin tumase ek yachana karati hooan. agar is bich mean koee aisa kam karooan, jo tumhean bura maloom ho to tum mujhe kshama karoge n ?’ aivan ne vismayabhari aankhoan se helen ke mukh ki or dekha. usaka ashay usaki samajh mean n aya. helen dari, aivan koee nayi apatti to nahian kh di karana chahata. ashvasan ke lie apane mukh ko usake atur adharoan ke samip le jakar boli, ‘prem ka abhinay karane mean mujhe vah sabakuchh karana p dega, jis par ekamatr tumhara hi adhikar hai. maian darati hooan, kahian tum mujh par sandeh n karane lago.‘ aivan ne use kar-pash mean lekar kaha, ‘yah asambhav hai helen, vishvas prem ki pahali sidhi hai.‘ aantim shabd kahate-kahate usaki aankhean jhuk gayian. in shabdoan mean udarata ka jo adarsh tha, vah us par poora utarega ya nahian, vah yahi sochane laga.   isake tin din pichhe natak ka sootrapat hua. helen apane oopar pulis ke niradhar sandeh ki phariyad lekar romanaph se mili aur use vishvas dilaya ki pulis ke adhikari usase keval isalie asantusht haian ki vah unake kalushit prastavoan ko thukara rahi hai. yah saty hai ki vidyalay mean usaki sangati kuchh ugr yuvakoan se ho gayi thi; par vidyalay se nikalane ke bad usaka unase koee sambandh nahian hai. romanaph jitana chatur tha, usase kahian chatur apane ko samajhata tha. apane das sal ke adhikari jivan mean use kisi aisi ramani se sabika n p da tha, jisane usake oopar itana vishvas karake apane ko usaki daya par chho d diya ho. kisi dhan-lolup ki bhaanti sahasa yah dhan-rashi dekhakar usaki aankhoan par parada p d gaya. apani samajh mean to vah helen se ugr yuvakoan ke vishay mean aisi bahut-si batoan ka pata lagakar phoola n samaya, jo khuphiya pulisavaloan ko bahut sir marane par bhi jnat n ho saki thian; par in batoan mean mithya ka kitana mishran hai, vah n bhaanp saka. is adha ghante mean ek yuvati ne ek anubhavi aphasar ko apane roop ki madira se unmatt kar diya tha. jab helen chalane lagi, to romanaph ne kursi se kh de hokar kaha, ‘mujhe  asha hai, yah hamari akhiri mulakat n hogi.‘ helen ne hath badhakar kaha, ‘huzoor ne jis saujany se meri vipatti-katha suni hai, usake lie maian apako dhanyavad deti hooan.‘ 'kal ap tisare pahar yahian chay piyean.' rabt-jabt badhane laga.   helen akar roj ki batean aivan se kah sunati. ‘romanaph vastav mean jitana badanam hai, utana bura nahian. nahian, vah  b da rasik, sangit aur kala ka premi aur shil tatha vinay ki moorti hai.‘ in tho de hi dinoan mean helen se usaki ghanishthata ho gayi hai aur kisi ajnat riti se nagar mean pulis ka atyachar kam hone laga hai. ant mean vah nishchit tithi ayi. aivan aur helen din-bhar baithe-baithe isi prashn par vichar karate rahe. aivan ka man aj bahut chanchal ho raha tha. kabhi akaran hi hansane lagata, kabhi anayas hi ro p data. shanka, pratiksha aur kisi ajnat chianta ne usake mano-sagar ko itana ashant kar diya tha ki usamean bhavoan ki naukaean dagamaga rahi thian n marg ka pata tha n disha ka. helen bhi aj bahut chintit aur gambhir thi. aj ke lie usane pahale hi se sajile vastr banava rakhe the. roop ko alankrit karane ke n-jane kin-kin vidhanoan ka prayog kar rahi thi; par isamean kisi yoddha ka utsah nahian, kayar ka kampan tha. sahasa aivan ne aankhoan mean aansoo bharakar kaha, ‘tum aj itani mayavini ho gayi ho helen, ki mujhe n-jane kyoan tumase bhay ho raha hai !’ helen muskayi. us muskan mean karuna bhari huee thi –‘manushy ko kabhi-kabhi kitane hi apriy kartavyoan ka palan karana p data hai aivan, aj maian sudha se vish ka kam lene ja rahi hooan. alankar ka aisa durupayog tumane kahian aur dekha hai ?’ aivan u de hue man se bola, ‘isi ko rashtr-jivan kahate haian.‘ 'yah rashtr-jivan hai, yah narak hai.' 'magar sansar mean abhi kuchh din aur isaki zaroorat rahegi.' 'yah avastha jitani jald badal jay, utana hi achchha.' paansa palat chuka tha, aivan ne garm hokar kaha, atyachariyoan ko sansar mean phalane-phoolane diya jay, jisase ek din inake kaantoan ke mare prithvi par kahian paanv rakhane ki jagah n rahe. helen ne koee javab n diya; par usake man mean jo avasad utpann ho gaya tha, vah usake mukh par jhalak raha tha.  rashtr usaki drishti mean sarvopari tha, usake samane vyakti ka koee mooly n tha. agar is samay usaka man kisi karan se durbal bhi ho raha tha, to use khol dene ka usamean sahas n tha.

donoan gale milakar vida hue. kaun jane, yah antim darshan ho ? donoan ke dil bhari the aur aankhean sajal. aivan ne utsah ke sath kaha, ‘maian thik samay par aooanga.‘ helen ne koee javab n diya. aivan ne phir sanurodh kaha, ‘khuda se mere lie dua karana, helen !’ helen ne jaise rote hue gale se kaha, ‘mujhe khuda par bharosa nahian hai.‘ 'mujhe to hai !' 'kab se ?' 'jab se maut meri aankhoan ke samane kh di ho gayi.'

vah veg ke sath chala gaya. sandhya ho gayi thi aur do ghante ke bad hi us kathin pariksha ka samay a jayaga, jisase usake pran kaanp rahe the. vah kahian ekant mean baithakar sochana chahata tha. aj use jnat ho raha tha ki vah svadhin nahian hai. b di moti janjir usake ek-ek aang ko jak de hue thi. inhean vah kaise to de ? das baj gaye the. helen aur romanaph park ke ek kuanj mean beanch par baithe hue the. tej barphili hava chal rahi thi. chaand kisi kshin asha ki bhaanti badaloan mean chhipa hua tha. helen ne idhar-udhar sashank netroan se dekhakar kaha, ‘ab to der ho gayi, yahaan se chalana chahie.‘ romanaph ne beanch par paanv phailate hue kaha, ‘abhi to aisi der nahian huee hai, helen ! kah nahian sakata, jivan ke yah kshan svapn haian ya saty; lekin saty bhi haian to svapn se adhik madhur aur svapn bhi haian to saty se adhik ujjval.‘ helen bechain hokar uthi aur romanaph ka hath pak dakar boli, ‘mera ji aj kuchh chanchal ho raha hai. sir mean chakkar-sa a raha hai. chalo mujhe mere ghar pahuancha do.‘ romanaph ne usaka hath pak dakar apani bagal mean baithate hue kaha, ‘lekin maianne motar to gyarah baje bulayi hai ! helen ke muanh se chikh nikal gayi gyarah baje ! 'haan, ab gyarah baja chahate haian. ao tab tak aur kuchh batean hoan. rat to kali bala-si maloom hoti hai. jitani hi der use door rakh sakooan utana hi achchha. maian to samajhata hooan, us din tum mere saubhagy ki devi banakar  ayi thian helen, nahian to ab tak maianne n jane kya-kya atyachar kiye hote. us udar niti ne vatavaran mean jo shubh parivartan kar diya, us par mujhe svayan ashchary ho raha hai. mahinoan ke daman ne jo kuchh n kar paya tha, vah dinoan ke ashvasan ne poora kar dikhaya. aur isake lie maian tumhara rrini hooan, helen, keval tumhara. par khed yahi hai ki hamari sarakar dava karana nahian janati, keval marana janati hai. jar ke mantriayoan mean abhi se mere vishay mean sandeh hone laga hai, aur mujhe yahaan se hatane ka prastav ho raha hai. sahasa tarch ka chakachauandha paida karane vala prakash bijali ki bhaanti chamak utha aur rivalvar chhootane ki avaz ayi. usi vakt romanaph ne uchhalakar aivan ko pak d liya aur chillaya --‘pak do, pak do ! khoon ! helen, tum yahaan se bhago.‘ park mean kee santari the. charoan or se dau d p de. aivan ghir gaya. ek kshan mean n-jane kahaan se taun-pulis, sashastr pulis, gupt pulis aur savar pulis ke jatthe-ke-jatthe a pahuanche. aivan giraphtar ho gaya. romanaph ne helen se hath milakar sandeh ke svar mean kaha, ‘yah aivan to vahi yuvak hai, jo tumhare sath vidyalay mean tha. helen ne kshubdh hokar kaha, ‘haan, hai. lekin mujhe isaka jara bhi anuman n tha ki vah krantikari ho gaya hai.‘ 'goli mere sir par se sanh-sanh karati huee nikal gayi.' 'ya eeshvar !' 'maianne doosara fayar karane ka avasar hi n diya. mujhe is yuvak ki dasha par du:kh ho raha hai, helen ! ye abhage samajhate haian ki in hatyaoan se ve desh ka uddhar kar leange. agar maian mar hi jata to kya meri jagah koee mujhase bhi zyada kathor manushy n a jata ? lekin mujhe jara bhi krodh, du:kh ya bhay nahian hai helen, tum bilakul chinta n karana. chalo, maian tumhean pahuancha dooan.' raste-bhar romanaph is aghat se bach jane par apane ko badhaee aur eeshvar ko dhanyavad deta raha aur helen vicharoan mean magn baithi rahi. doosare din majistret ke ijalas mean abhiyog chala aur helen sarakari gavah thi. aivan ko maloom hua ki duniya aandheri ho gayi hai aur vah usaki athah gaharaee mean dh aausata chala ja raha hai.

chaudah sal ke bad. aivan relaga di se utarakar helen ke pas ja raha hai. use gharavaloan ki sudh nahian hai. mata aur pita usake viyog mean maranasann ho rahe haian, isaki use paravah nahian hai. vah apane chaudah sal ke pale hue hiansa-bhav se unmatt, helen ke pas ja raha hai; par usaki hiansa mean rakt ki pyas nahian hai, keval gahari dahak durbhavana hai. in chaudah saloan mean usane jo yatanaean jheli haian, unake do-char vakyoan mean mano satt nikalakar, vish ke saman helen ki dhamaniyoan mean bharakar, use t dapate hue dekhakar, vah apani aankhoan ko tript karana chahata hai. aur vah vaky kya hai ? 'helen, tumane mere sath jo daga ki hai, vah shayad triya-charitr ke itihas mean bhi advitiy hai. maianne apana sarvasv tumhare charanoan par arpan kar diya. maian keval tumhare isharoan ka gulam tha. tumane hi mujhe romanaph ki hatya ke lie prerit kiya aur tumane hi mere viruddh sakshi di; keval apani kutil kam-lipsa ko poora karane ke lie ! mere viruddh koee doosara praman n tha. romanaph aur usaki sadi pulis bhi jhoothi shahadatoan se mujhe parast n kar sakati thi; magar tumane keval apani vasana ko tript karane ke lie, keval romanaph ke vishakt aliangan ka anand uthane ke lie mere sath yah vishvasaghat kiya. par aankhean kholakar dekho ki vahi aivan, jise tumane pair ke niche kuchala tha, aj tumhari un sari makkariyoan ka parda kholane ke lie tumhare samane kh da hai. tumane rashtr ki seva ka bi da uthaya tha. tum apane ko  rashtr ki vedi par hom kar dena chahati thian; kintu kutsit kamanaoan ke pahale hi pralobhan mean tum apane sare bahuroop ko tilaanjali dekar bhog-lalasa ki gulami karane par utar gayian. adhikar aur samriddhi ke pahale hi tuk de par tum dum hilati huee toot p dian, dhikkar hai tumhari is bhog-lipsa ko, tumhare is kutsit jivan ko ?'   sandhya-kal tha. pashchim ke kshitij par din ki chita jalakar thandi ho rahi thi aur romanaph ke vishal bhavan mean helen ki arthi ko le chalane ki taiyariyaan ho rahi thian. nagar ke neta jama the aur romanaph apane shok-kanpit hathoan se arthi ko pushpaharoan se saja raha tha evan unhean apane atm-jal se shital kar raha tha. usi vakt aivan unmatt vesh mean, durbal, jhuka hua, sir ke bal badhaye, kankal-sa akar kh da ho gaya. kisi ne usaki or dhyan n diya. samajhe, koee bhikshuk hoga, jo aise avasaroan par dan ke lobh se a jaya karate haian ! jab nagar ke bishap ne antim sanskar samapt kiya aur mariyam ki betiyaan naye jivan ke svagat par git ga chukian, to aivan ne arthi ke pas jakar avesh se kaanpate hue svar mean kaha, ‘yah vah dushta hai, jise sari duniya ki pavitr atmaoan ki shubh kamanaean bhi narak ki yatana se nahian bacha sakatian. vah is yogy thi ki usaki lash ...’ kee adamiyoan ne dau dakar use pak d liya aur dhakke dete hue phatak ki or le chale. usi vakt romanaph ne akar usake kandhoan par hath rakh diya aur use alag le jakar poochha, ‘dost, kya tumhara nam kl aaudiyas aivanaph hai ? haan, tum vahi ho, mujhe tumhari soorat yad a gayi. mujhe sab kuchh maloom hai, ratti-ratti maloom hai. helen ne mujhase koee bat nahian chhipayi. ab vah is sansar mean nahian hai, maian jhooth bolakar usaki koee seva nahian kar sakata. tum us par kathor shabdoan ka prahar karo ya kathor aghatoan ka, vah saman roop se shant rahegi; lekin ant samay tak vah tumhari yad karati rahi. us prasang ki smriti use sadaiv rulati rahati thi. usake jivan ki yah sabase b di kamana thi ki tumhare samane ghutane tekakar kshama ki yachana kare, marate-marate usane yah vasiyat ki, ki jis tarah bhi ho sake usaki yah vinay tum tak pahuanchaooan ki vah tumhari aparadhini hai aur tumase kshama chahati hai. ky tum samajhate ho, jab vah tumhare samane aankhoan mean aansoo bhare ati, to tumhara hriday patthar hone par bhi n pighal jata ? kya is samay bhi tumhean din yachana ki pratima-si kh di nahian dikhati ? chalakar usaka muskarata hua chehara dekho. moshiyo aivan, tumhara man ab bhi usaka chumban lene ke lie vikal ho jayaga. mujhe jara bhirh eershya n hogi. us phooloan ki sej par leti huee vah aisi lag rahi hai, mano phooloan ki rani ho. jivan mean usaki ek hi abhilasha apoorn rah gayi aivan, vah tumhari kshama hai. premi hriday b da udar hota hai aivan, vah kshama aur daya ka sagar hota hai. eershya aur dambh ke gande nale usamean milakar utane hi vishal aur pavitr ho jate haian. jise ek bar tumane pyar kiya, usaki antim abhilasha ki tum upeksha nahian kar sakate.‘ usane aivan ka hath pak da aur saik doan kutoohalapoorn netroan ke samane use liye hue arthi ke pas aya aur taboot ka oopari takhta hatakar helen ka shant mukhamandal use dikha diya. us nispand, nishchesht, nirvikar chhavi ko mrityu ne ek daivi garima-si pradan kar di thi, mano svarg ki sari vibhootiyaan usaka svagat kar rahi haian. aivan ki kutil aankhoan mean ek divy jyoti-si chamak uthi aur vah drishy samane khianch gaya, jab usane helen ko prem se aliangit kiya tha aur apane hriday ke sare anurag aur ullas ko pushpoan mean gooanthakar usake gale mean dala tha. use jan p da, yah sabakuchh jo usake samane ho raha hai, svapn hai aur ekaek usaki aankhean khul gayi haian aur vah usi bhaanti helen ko apani chhati se lagaye hue hai. us atmanand ke ek kshan ke lie kya vah phir chaudah sal ka karavas jhelane ke lie n taiyar ho jayaga ? kya ab bhi usake jivan ki sabase sukhad gh diyaan vahi n thian, jo helen ke sath gujari thian aur kya un gh diyoan ke anupam anand ko vah in chaudah saloan mean bhi bhool saka tha ? usane taboot ke pas baithakar shraddha ke kaanpate hue kanth se prarthana ki 'rhऌshvar, too mere pranoan se priy helen ko apani kshama ke daman mean le !' aur jab vah taboot ko kandho par liye chala, to usaki atma lajjit thi apani sankirnata par, apani udvignata par, apani nichata par aur jab taboot qabr mean rakh diya gaya, to vah vahaan baithakar n-jane kab tak rota raha. doosare din romanaph jab phatiha padhane aya to dekha, aivan sijade mean sir jhukaye hue hai aur usaki atma svarg ko prayan kar chuki hai.