खुदाई फौजदार -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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seth nanakachand ko aj phir vahi liphapha mila aur vahi likhavat samane ayi to unaka chehara pila p d gaya. liphapha kholate hue hath aur hriday donoan kaanpane lage. khat mean kya hai, yah unhean khoob maloom tha. isi tarah ke do khat pahale pa chuke the. is tisare khat mean bhi vahi dhamakiyaan haian, isamean unhean sandeh n tha. patr hath mean liye hue akash ki or takane lage. vah dil ke mazaboot adami the, dhamakiyoan  se darana unhoanne n sikha tha, murdoan se bhi apani rakam vasool kar lete the. daya ya upakar jaisi manaviy durbalataean unhean chhoo bhi n gayi thian, nahian to mahajan hi kaise banate ! us par dharmanishth bhi the. har poornamasi ko satyanarayan ki katha sunate the. har mangal ko mahabiraji ko laddoo chadhate the, nity-prati jamuna mean snan karate the aur har ekadashi ko vrat rakhate aur brahmanoan ko bhojan karate the aur idhar jab se ghi mean karara napha hone laga tha, ek dharmashala banavane ki fikr mean the. jamin thik kar li thi. unake asamiyoan mean saik doan hi thavee aur beladar the, jo keval sood mean kam ko taiyar the. intajar yahi tha ki koee eeant aur choone vala phans jay aur das-bis hazar ka dastavej likha le, to sood mean eeant aur choona bhi mil jay. is dharmanishtha ne unaki atma ko aur bhi shakti pradan kar di thi. devataoan ke ashirvad aur pratap se unhean kabhi kisi saude mean ghata nahian hua aur bhishan paristhitiyoan mean bhi vah sthirachitt rahane ke adi the; kintu jab se yah dhamakiyoan  se bhare hue patr milane lage the, unhean barabas tarah-tarah ki shankaean vyathit karane lagi thian. kahian sachamuch dakuoan ne chhapa mara, to kaun unaki sahayata karega ? daivi badhaoan mean to devataoan ki sahayata par vah takiya kar sakate the, par sir par latakati huee is talavar ke samane vah shraddha kuchh kam n deti thi. rat ko unake dvar par keval ek chaukidar rahata hai. agar das-bis hathiyaraband adami a jayॅ, to vah akela kya kar sakata hai ? shayad unaki ahat pate hi bhag kh da ho. p dosiyoan mean aisa koee nazar n ata tha, jo is sankat mean kam ave. yadyapi sabhi unake asami the ya rah chuke the. lekin yah ehasan-pharamoshoan ka sampraday hai, jis pattal mean khata hai, usi mean chhed karata hai; jisake dvar par avasar p dane par nak rag data hai, usi ka dushman ho jata hai. inase koee asha nahian. haan, kiva dean sudridh haian; unhean to dana asan nahian, phir andar ka daravaza bhi to hai. sau adami lag jayॅ to hilaye n hile. aur kisi or se hamale ka khataka nahian. itani ooanchi sapat divar par koee kya kha ke chadhega ? phir unake pas rayaphalean bhi to haian. ek rayaphal se vah darjanoan adamiyoan ko bhoonakar rakh deange. magar itane pratibandhoan ke hote hue bhi unake man mean ek hook-si samayi rahati thi. kaun jane chaukidar bhi unhian mean mil gaya ho, khidamatagar bhi astin ke saanp ho gaye hoan ! isalie vah ab bahudha andar hi rahate the. aur jab tak milanevaloan ka pata-thikana n poochh lean, unase milate n the. phir bhi do-char ghante to chaupal mean baithane hi p date the; nahian to sara karobar mitti mean n mil jata ! jitani der bahar rahate the, unake pran jaise sooli par tange rahate the. udhar unake mizaj mean b di tabdili ho gayi thi. itane vinamr aur mishtabhashi vah kabhi n the. galiyaan to kya, kisi se too-takar bhi n karate. sood ki dar bhi kuchh ghata di thi; lekin phir bhi chitt ko shanti n milati thi. akhir kee minat tak dil ko mazaboot karane ke bad unhoanne patr khola, aur jaise goli lag gayi. sir mean chakkar a gaya aur sari chizean nachati huee maloom hueean. saans phoolane lagi, aankhean phail gayian. likha tha, tumane hamare donoan patroan par kuchh bhi dhyan n diya. shayad tum samajhate hoge ki pulis tumhari raksha karegi; lekin yah tumhara bhram hai. pulis us vakt ayegi, jab ham apana kam karake sau kos nikal gaye hoange. tumhari akl par patthar p d gaya hai, isamean 348 hamara koee dosh nahian. ham tumase sirf 25 hazar rupaye maangate haian. itane rupaye de dena tumhare lie kuchh bhi mushkil nahian. hamean pata hai ki tumhare pas ek lakh ki moharean rakhi huee haian; lekin vinashakale viparit buddhi; ab ham tumhean aur zyada n samajhayeange. tumako samajhane ki cheshta karana hi vyarth hai. aj sham tak agar rupaye n a gaye, to rat ko tumhare oopar dhava hoga. apani hiphajat ke lie jise bulana chaho, bula lo, jitane adami aur hathiyar jama karana chaho, jama kar lo. ham lalakar kar ayeange aur dinadaha de ayeange. ham chor nahian haian, ham vir haian aur hamara vishvas bahubal mean hai. ham janate haian ki lakshmi usi ke gale mean jayamal dalati hai, jo dhanush to d sakata hai, machhali ko vedha sakata hai. yadi... seth ne turant bahi-khate band kar diye aur rok d sanbhalakar tijori mean rakh diya aur samane ka dvar bhitar se band karake mare hue se kesar ke pas akar bole aj phir vahi khat aya, kesar ! ab aj hi a rahe haian. kesar dohare badan ki stri thi, yauvan bit jane par bhi yuvati, shauk-siangar mean lipt rahane vali, us phalahin vriksh ki tarah, jo patajh d mean bhi hari-bhari pattiyoan se lada rahata hai. santan ki viphal kamana mean jivan ka b da bhag bita chukane ke bad, ab use apani sanchit maya ko bhogane ki dhun savar rahati thi. maloom nahian, kab aankhean band ho jayॅ, phir yah thati kisake hath lagegi, kaun jane ? isalie use sabase adhik bhay bimari ka tha, jise vah maut ka paigam samajhati thi aur nity hi koee-n-koee dava khati rahati thi. kaya ke is vastr ko us samay tak utarana n chahati thi, jab tak usamean ek tar bhi baki rahe. bal-bachche hote to vah mrityu ka svagat karati, lekin ab to usake jivan hi ke sath ant tha, phir kyoan n vah adhik-se-adhik samay tak jiye. haan, vah jivan niranand avashy tha, us madhur gras ki bhaanti, jise ham isalie kha jate haian ki rakhe-rakhe s d jayaga. usane ghab dakar kaha maian tumase kab se kah rahi hooan ki do-char mahinoan ke lie yahaan se kahian bhag chalo, lekin tum sunate hi nahian. akhir kya karane par tule hue ho ? sethaji sashank to the aur yah svabhavik tha aisi dasha mean kaun shant rah sakata tha lekin vah kayar nahian the. unhean ab bhi vishvas tha ki agar koee sankat a p de to vah pichhe qadam n hatayeange. jo kuchh kamazori a gayi thi, vah sankat ko sir par mandarate dekhakar bhag gayi thi. hiran bhi to bhagane ki rah n pakar shikari par chot kar baithata hai. kabhi-kabhi nahian, aksar sankat p dane par hi adami ke jauhar khulate haian. itani der mean sethaji ne ek tarah se bhavi vipatti ka samana karane ka pakka irada kar liya tha. dar kyoan, jo kuchh hona hai, vah hokar rahega. apani raksha karana hamara kartavy hai, marana-jina vidhi ke hath mean hai. sethaniji ko dilasa dete hue bole, tum nahak itana darati ho kesar, akhir ve sab bhi to adami haian, apani jan ka moh unhean bhi hai, nahian to yah kukarm hi kyoan karate ? maian khi daki ki a d se das-bis adamiyoan ko gira sakata hooan. pulis ko ittala dene bhi ja raha hooan. pulis ka kartavy hai ki hamari raksha kare. ham das hazar salana taiks dete haian, kisalie ? maian abhi darogaji ke pas jata hooan. jab sarakar hamase taiks leti hai, to hamari madad karana usaka dharm ho jata hai. rajaniti ka yah tattv usaki samajh mean nahian aya. vah to kisi tarah us bhay se mukt hona chahati thi, jo usake dil mean saanp ki bhaanti baitha phuphakar raha tha. pulis ka use jo anubhav tha, usase chitt ko santosh n hota tha. boli pulisavaloan ko bahut dekh chuki. varadat ke samay to unaki soorat nahian dikhaee deti. jab varadat ho chukati hai, tab alabatta shan ke sath akar rob jamane lagate haian. 'pulis to sarakar ka raj chala rahi hai. tum kya jano ?' 'maian to kahati hooan, yoan agar kal varadat hone vali hogi, to pulis ko khabar dene se aj hi ho jayagi. loot ke mal mean inaka bhi sajha hota hai.' 'janata hooan, dekh chuka hooan, aur roj dekhata hooan; lekin maian sarakar ko das hazar ka salana taiks deta hooan. pulisavaloan ka adar-satkar bhi karata rahata hooan. abhi ja doan mean suparianteandeant sahab aye the, to maianne kitani rasad pahuanchayi thi. ek poora kanastar ghi aur ek shakkar ki poori bori bhej di thi. yah sab khilana-pilana kis din kam ayega. haan, adami ko solaho ane doosaroan ke bharose n baithana chahie; isalie maianne socha hai, tumhean bhi bandook chalana sikha dooan ? ham donoan bandookean chho dana shuroo kareange, to dakuoan ki kya majal hai ki andar qadam rakh sakean ?' prastav hasyajanak tha. kesar ne musakarakar kaha haan aur kya, ab aj maian bandook chalana sikhooangi ! tumako jab dekho, hansi hi soojhati hai. 'isamean hansi ki kya bat hai ? ajakal to auratoan ki faujean ban rahi haian. sipahiyoan ki tarah auratean bhi kavayad karati haian, bandook chalati haian, maidanoan mean khelati haian. auratoan ke ghar mean baithane ka jamana ab nahian hai.' 'vilayat ki auratean bandook chalati hoangi, yahaan ki auratean kya chalayeangi. haan, hath bhar ki jaban chahe chala lean.' 'yahaan ki auratoan ne bahaduri ke jo-jo kam kiye haian, unase itihas ke panne bhare p de haian. aj duniya un vrittantoan ko padhakar chakit ho jati hai.' 'purane jamane ki batean chho do. tab auratean bahadur rahi hoangi. aj kaun bahaduri kar rahi haian ?' 'vah ! abhi hajaroan auratean ghar-bar chho dakar hansate-hansate jel chali gayian. yah bahaduri nahian thi ? abhi panjab mean haranad kuanvar ne akele char sashastr dakuoan ko giraphtar kiya aur lat sahab tak ne usaki prashansa ki.' 'kya jane ve kaisi auratean haian. maian to dakuoan ko dekhate hi chakkar khakar gir panooangi.' usi vakt naukar ne akar kaha sarakar, thane se char kanistibil aye haian. apako bula rahe haian. sethaji prasann hokar bole thanedar bhi haian ? 'nahian sarakar, akele kanistibil haian.' 'thanedar kyoan nahian aya ?' yah kahate hue sethaji ne pan khaya aur bahar nikale. sethaji ko dekhate hi charoan kanistibiloan ne jhukakar salam kiya, bilakul aangareji kayade se, mano apane kisi afasar ko sailyoot kar rahe hoan. sethaji ne unhean beanchoan par baithaya aur bole darogaji ka mizaj to achchha hai ? maian to unake pas anevala tha. charoan mean jo sabase praudh tha, jisaki astin par kee bille lage hue the, bola ap kyoan takaliph karate haian, vah to khud hi a rahe the; par ek b di zaroori tahakikat a gayi, isase ruk gaye. kal apase mileange. jabase yahaan dakuoan ki khabarean ayi haian, bechare bahut ghabaraye hue haian. apaki taraph hamesha unaka dhyan rahata hai. kee bar kah chuke haian ki mujhe sabase zyada phikar sethaji ki hai. gumanam khat to apake pas bhi aye hoange ? sethaji ne laparavahi dikhakar kaha aji, aisi chitthiyaan ati hi rahati haian, inaki kaun paravah karata hai. mere pas to tin khat a chuke haian, maianne kisi se zikr bhi nahian kiya. kanistibil hansa darogaji ko khabar mili thi. 'sach !' 'haan, sahab ? ratti-ratti khabar milati rahati hai. yahaan tak maloom hua hai ki kal apake makan par unaka dhava hone vala hai. jabhi to aj daroga ji ne mujhe apaki khidamat mean bheja.' 'magar vahaan kaise khabar pahuanchi ? maianne to kisi se kaha hi nahian.' kanistibil ne rahasyamay bhav se kaha huzoor, yah n poochhean. ilake ke sabase b de seth ke pas aise khat ayean aur pulis ko khabar n ho ! bhala, koee bat hai. phir oopar se barabar takid ati rahati hai ki sethaji ko shikayat ka koee mauqa n diya jay. suparianteandeant sahab ki khas takid hai apake lie. aur huzoor, sarakar bhi to ap hi ke boote par chalati hai. seth-sahookaroan ke jan-mal ki hiphajat n kare, to rahe kahaan ? hamare hote majal hai ki koee apaki taraph tirachhi aankhoan se dekh sake; magar yah kambakht dakoo itane diler aur tadad mean itane zyada haian ki thane ke bahar unase mukabila karana mushkil hai. darogaji garad mangane ki bat soch rahe the; magar ye hatyare kahian ek jagah to rahate nahian, aj yahaan haian, to kal yahaan se do sau kos par. garad mangakar hi kya kiya jay ? ilake ki riaya ki to hamean zyada fikr nahian, huzoor malik haian, apase kya chhipayean, kisake pas rakha hai itana mal-asabab ! aur agar kisi ke pas do-char sau ki pooanji nikal hi ayi to usake lie pulis dakuoan ke pichhe apani jan hatheli par liye n phiregi. unhean kya, vah to chhootate hi goli chalate haian aur aksar chhipakar. hamare lie to hazar bandishean haian. koee bat big d jay to ulate apani hi jan aphat mean phans jay. hamean to aise raste chalana hai ki saanp mare aur lathi n toote, isalie darogaji ne apase yah arj karane ko kaha hai ki apake pas jokhim ki jo chizean hoan, unhean lakar sarakari khazane mean jama kar dijie. apako usaki rasid de di jayagi. tala aur muhar ap hi ki rahegi. jab yah hangama thanda ho jay to mangava lijiega. isase apako bhi bephikri ho jayagi aur ham bhi zimmedari se bach jayॅge. nahian khuda n kare, koee varadat ho jay, to huzoor ko to jo nukasan ho vah to ho hi hamare oopar bhi javabadehi a jay. aur yah jalim sirph mal-asabab lekar hi to jan nahian chho date khoon karate haian, ghar mean ag laga dete haian, yahaan tak ki auratoan ki beijjati bhi karate haian. huzoor to janate haian, hota hai vahi jo takadir mean likha hai. ap iqabalavale adami haian, dakoo apaka kuchh nahian biga d sakate. sara qasba apake lie jan dene ko taiyar hai. apaka pooja-path, dharm-karm khuda khud dekh raha hai. yah usi ki barakat hai ki ap mitti bhi chhoo lean, to sona ho jay; lekin adami bharasak apani hiphajat karata hai. huzoor ke pas motar hai hi, jo kuchh rakhana ho, us par rakh dijie. ham char adami apake sath haian, koee khataka nahian. vahaan ek minat mean apako phurasat ho jayagi. pata chala hai ki is gol mean bis javan haian. do to bairagi bane hue haian, do panjabiyoan ke bhes mean dhusse aur alavan bechate phirate haian. in donoan ke sath do bahangivale bhi haian. do adami baloochiyoan ke bhes mean chhooriyaan aur tale bechate haian. kahaan tak ginaooan, huzoor ! hamare thane mean to har ek ka huliya rakha hua hai. khatare mean adami ka dil kamazor ho jata hai aur vah aisi batoan par vishvas kar leta hai, jin par shayad hosh-havas mean n karata. jab kisi dava se rogi ko labh nahian hota, to ham dua, tabij, ojhoan aur sayanoan ki sharan lete haian aur vahaan to sandeh karane ka koee karan hi n tha. sambhav hai, darogaji ka kuchh svarth ho, magar sethaji isake lie taiyar the. agar do-char sau bal khane p dean, to koee b di bat nahian. aise avasar to jivan mean ate hi rahate haian aur is paristhiti mean isase achchha doosara kya intazam ho sakata tha; balki ise to eeshvariy prerana samajhana chahie. mana, unake pas do-do bandookean haian, kuchh log madad karane ke lie nikal hi ayeange, lekin hai jan jokhim. unhoanne nishchay kiya, darogaji ki is kripa se labh uthana chahie. inhian adamiyoan ko kuchh de-dilakar sari chizean nikalava leange. doosaroan ka kya bharosa ? kahian koee chiz u da dean to bas ? unhoanne is bhav se kaha, mano darogaji ne un par koee vishesh kripa nahian ki hai; vah to unaka kartavy hi tha maianne yahaan aisa prabandh kiya tha ki yahaan vah sab ate to unake d aaut khatte kar diye jate. sara qasba madad ke lie taiyar tha. sabhi se to apana mitr-bhav hai, lekin darogaji ki tajavij mujhe pasand hai. isase vah bhi apani zimmedari se bari ho jate haian aur mere sir se bhi fikr ka bojh utar jata hai, lekin bhitar se chijean bahar nikal-nikalakar lana mere boote ki bat nahian. ap logoan ki dua se naukar-chakaroan ki to kami nahian hai, magar kisaki niyat kaisi hai, kaun jan sakata hai ? ap log kuchh madad karean to kam asan ho jay. hed kanistibil ne b di khushi se yah seva svikar kar li aur bola, ‘ham sab huzoor ke tabedar haian, isamean madad ki kaun-si bat hai ? talab sarakar se pate haian, yah thik hai; magar denevale to ap hi haian. ap keval saman hamean dikhaye jayॅ, ham bat-ki-bat mean sari chizean nikal layeange. huzoor ki khidamat kareange to kuchh inam-ikaram milega hi. tanakhvah mean gujar nahian hota sethaji, ap logoan ki raham ki nigah n ho, to ek din bhi nibah n ho. bal-bachche bhookhoan mar jayॅ pandrah-bis rupaye mean kya hota hai huzoor, itana to hamare lie hi poora nahian p data.‘ sethaji ne andar jakar kesar se yah samachar kaha to use jaise aankhean mil gayian. boli, bhagavanh ne sahayata ki, nahian mere pran sankat mean p de hue the. sethaji ne sarvajnata ke bhav se pharamaya isi ko kahate haian sarakar ka iantajam ! isi mustaidi ke bal par sarakar ka raj thama hua hai. kaisi 354 suvyavastha hai ki jara-si koee bat ho, vahaan tak khabar pahuanch jati hai aur turant usaki rokatham ka hukm ho jata hai. aur yahaan vale aise budhdoo haian ki svarajy-svarajy chilla rahe haian. inake hath mean akhtiyar a jay to din-dopahar loot mach jay, koee kisi ki n sune. oopar se takid ayi hai. hakimoan ka adar-satkar kabhi nishphal nahian jata. maian to sochata hooan, koee bahumooly vastu ghar mean n chhonooan. sale ayean to apana-sa muanh lekar rah jayॅ. kesar ne man-hi-man prasann hokar kaha quanji unake samane pheank dena ki jo chiz chaho nikal le jao. 'sale jheanp jayeange.' 'muanh mean kalikh lag jayegi.' 'ghamand to dekho ki tithi tak bata di. yah nahian samajhe ki aangreji sarakar ka raj hai. tum dal-dal chalo, to vah pat-pat chalate haian.' 'samajhe hoange ki dhamaki mean a jayeange.' tin kanistibiloan ne akar sandookache aur seph nikalane shuroo kiye. ek bahar saman ko motar par lad raha tha aur ek harek chiz ko notabuk par t aaukata jata tha. abhooshan, muharean, not, rupaye, kimati kap de, sa diyaan; lahange, shal-dushale, sab kar mean rakh diye. mamooli baratan, lohe-lak di ke saman, pharsh adi ke siva ghar mean aur kuchh n bacha. aur dakuoan ke lie ye chizean kau di ki bhi nahian. kesar ka siangaradan khud sethaji laye aur hed ke hath mean dekar bole ise b di hiphajat se rakhana bhaee ! hed ne siangaradan lekar kaha mere lie ek-ek tinaka itana hi kimati hai. sethaji ke man mean ek sandeh utha. poochha, khajane ki kuanji to mere hi pas rahegi ? 'aur kya, yah to maian pahale hi arj kar chuka; magar yah saval apake dil se kyoan paida hua ?' 'yoanhi, poochha tha' sethaji lajjit ho gaye. 'nahian, agar apake dil mean kuchh shubaha ho, to ham log yahaan bhi ap ki khidamat ke lie hajir haian. haan, ham zimmedar n hoange.' 'aji nahian hed sahab, maianne yoanhi poochh liya tha. yah phiharist to mujhe de doge n ?' 'phiharist apako thane mean darogaji ke dastakhat se milegi. isaka kya etabar ?' kar par sara saman rakh diya gaya. kasbe ke saik doan adami tamasha dekh rahe the. kar b di thi, par thasathas bhari huee thi. b di mushkil se sethaji ke lie jagah nikali. charoan kanistibil age ki sit par simatakar baithe. kar chali. kesar dvar par is tarah kh di thi, mano usaki beti bida ho rahi ho. beti sasural ja rahi hai, jahaan vah malakin banegi; lekin usaka ghar soona kiye ja rahi hai. thana yahaan se paanch mil par tha. kasbe se bahar nikalate hi paha doan ka patharila sannata tha, jisake daman mean hara-bhara maidan tha aur isi maidan ke bich mean lal moram ki s dak chakkar khati huee lal saanp-jaisi nikal gayi thi. hed ne sethaji se poochha yah kahaan tak sahi hai sethaji, ki aj se pachchis sal pahale apake bap keval lota-dor lekar yahaan khali hath aye the ? sethaji ne garv karate hue kaha 'bilakul sahi hai. mere pas kul tin rupaye the. usi se ate-dal ki dookan kholi thi. takadir ka khel hai, bhagavanh ki daya chahie, adami ke banate-big date der nahian lagati. lekin maianne kabhi paise ko d aautoan se nahian pak da. yathashakti dharm ka palan karata gaya. dhan ki shobha dharm hi se hai, nahian to dhan se koee fayada nahian.' 'ap bilakul thik kahate haian sethaji. apako moorat banakar poojana chahie. tin rupaye se lakh kama lena mamooli kam nahian hai !' 'adhi rat tak sir uthane ki phurasat nahian milati, khaan sahab !' 'apako to yah sab karobar janjal-sa lagata hoga.' 'janjal to hai hi, magar bhagavanh ki aisi maya hai ki adami sabakuchh samajhakar bhi isamean phans jata hai aur sari umr phansa rahata hai. maut a jati hai, tabhi chhutti milati hai. bas, yahi abhilasha hai ki kuchh yadagar chho d jaooan.' 'apake koee aulad huee hi nahian ?' 'bhagy mean n thi khaan sahab, aur kya kahooan ! jinake ghar mean bhooni bhaang nahian hai, unake yahaan ghas-phoos ki tarah bachche-hi-bachche dekh lo, jinhean bhagavanh ne khane ko diya hai, ve santan ka muanh dekhane ko tarasate haian.' 'ap bilakul thik kahate haian, sethaji ! zindagi ka maja santan se hai. jisake age andhera hai, usake lie dhan-daulat kis kam ki ?' 'eeshvar ki yahi ichchha hai to adami kya kare. mera bas chalata, to mayajal se nikal bhagata khaan sahab, ek kshan bhi yahaan n rahata, kahian tirthasthan mean baithakar bhagavanh ka bhajan karata. magar karooan kya ? mayajal to de nahian tootata.' 'ek bar dil mazaboot karake to d kyoan nahian dete ? sab uthakar gariboan ko b aaut dijie. sadhu-santoan ko nahian, n mote brahmanoan ko balki unako, jinake lie yah zindagi bojh ho rahi hai, jisaki yahi ek arajoo hai ki maut akar unaki vipatti ka ant kar de.' 'is mayajal ko to dana adami ka kam nahian hai, khaan sahab ! bhagavanh ki ichchha hoti hai, tabhi man mean vairagy ata hai.' 'aj bhagavanh ne apake oopar daya ki hai. ham is mayajal ko mak di ke jale ki tarah to dakar apako azad karane ke lie bheje gaye haian. bhagavanh apaki bhakti se prasann ho gaye haian aur apako is bandhan mean nahian rakhana chahate, jivan-mukt kar dena chahate haian.' 'aisi bhagavanh ki daya ho jati, to kya poochhana khaan sahab !' 'bhagavanh ki aisi hi daya hai sethaji, vishvas manie. hamean isilie unhoanne mrityulok mean tainat kiya hai. ham kitane hi mayajal ke kaidiyoan ki be diyaan kat chuke haian. aj apaki bari hai.' sethaji ki na diyoan mean jaise rakt ka pravah band ho gaya. sahami huee aankhoan se sipahiyoan ko dekha. phir bole, ap b de hanso d ho, khaan sahab ? 'hamare jivan ka siddhant hai ki kisi ko kasht mat do; lekin ye rupaye vale kuchh aisi auandhi khop di ke log haian ki jo unaka uddhar karane ata hai, usi ke dushman ho jate haian. ham apaki be diyaan katane aye haian; lekin agar apase kahean ki yah sab jama-jatha aur lata-pata chho dakar ghar ki rah lijie, to ap chikhana-chillana shuroo kar deange. ham log vahi khudaee faujadar haian, jinake ittalaee khat apake pas pahuanch chuke haian.' sethaji mano akash se patal mean gir p de. sari jnanendriyoan ne javab de diya aur isi moorchchha ki dasha mean vah motarakar se niche dhakel diye gaye aur ga di chal p di. sethaji ki cheshta jag p di. badahavas ga di ke pichhe dau de huzoor, sarakar, tabah ho jayॅge, daya kijie, ghar mean ek kau di bhi nahian hai... hed sahab ne khi daki se bahar hath nikala aur tin rupaye zamin par pheank diye. motar ki chal tej ho gayi. sethaji sir pak dakar baith gaye aur vikshipt netroan se motarakar ko dekha, jaise koee shav svargarohi pran ko dekhe. unake jivan ka svapn u da chala ja raha tha.

sanbandhit lekh

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