ग़बन उपन्यास भाग-18

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

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

sandhya ho gee thi, myunisipailiti ke ahate mean sannata chha gaya tha. karmachari ek-ek karake ja rahe the. mehatar kamaroan mean jha doo laga raha tha. chaparasiyoan ne bhi joote pahanana shuroo kar diya tha. khoanchevale dinabhar ki bikri ke paise gin rahe the. par ramanath apani kursi par baitha rajistar likh raha tha. aj bhi vah pratahkal aya tha, par aj bhi koee bada shikar n phansa, vahi das roopaye milakar rah ge. ab apani abaroo bachane ka usake pas aur kya upay tha! rama ne ratan ko jhaansa dene ki than li. vah khoob janata tha ki ratan ki yah adhirata keval isalie hai ki shayad usake roopaye maianne kharch kar die. agar use maloom ho jae ki usake roopaye tatkal mil sakate haian, to vah shaant ho jaegi. rama use roopaye se bhari huee thaili dikhakar usaka sandeh mita dena chahata tha. vah khajaanchi sahab ke chale jane ki rah dekh raha tha. usane aj jan-boojhakar der ki thi. aj ki amadani ke ath sau roopaye usake pas the. ise vah apane ghar le jana chahata tha. khajaanchi thik char baje utha. use kya garaz thi ki rama se aj ki amadani maangata. roopaye ginane se hi chhutti mili. dinabhar vahi likhate-likhate aur roopaye ginate-ginate bechare ki kamar dukh rahi thi. rama ko jab maloom ho gaya ki khajaanchi sahab door nikal ge hoange, to usane rajistar band kar diya aur chaparasi se bola, ‘thaili uthao. chalakar jama kar aean.’

chaparasi ne kaha, ‘khajaanchi baboo to chale ge!’

rama ne akhean ga dakar kaha, ‘khajaanchi baboo chale ge! tumane mujhase kaha kyoan nahian- abhi kitani door ge hoange?’

chaparasi—‘s dak ke nukk d tak pahuanche hoange.’

ramanath—‘yah amadani kaise jama hogi?’

chaparasi—‘hukum ho to bula laooan?’

ramanath—‘aji, jao bhi, ab tak to kaha nahian, ab unhean adhe raste se bulane jaoge. ho tum bhi nire bachhiya ke taoob aj zyada chhan ge the kya? khair, roopaye isi daraz mean rakhe raheange. tumhari zimmedari rahegi.’

chaparasi—‘nahian baboo sahab, maian yahaan roopaya nahian rakhane dooanga. sab gh di barabar nahian jati. kahian roopaye uth jayan, to maian begunah mara jaooan. subhite ka tala bhi to nahian hai yahaan.’

ramanath—‘to phir ye roopaye kahaan rakkhooan?’

chaparasi—‘hujoor, apane sath lete jaean.’

rama to yah chahata hi tha. ek ikka mangavaya, us par roopayoan ki thaili rakkhi aur ghar chala. sochata jata tha ki agar ratan bhabhaki mean a gee, to kya poochhana! kah dooanga, do-hi-char din ki kasar hai. roopaye samane dekhakar use tasalli ho jaegi.

jalapa ne thaili dekhakar poochha,kya kangan n mila?’

ramanath—‘abhi taiyar nahian tha, maianne samajha roopaye leta chalooan jisamean unhean taskin ho jay.

jalapa—‘kya kaha sarraph ne?’

ramanath—‘kaha kya, aj-kal karata hai. abhi ratan devi ai nahian?’

jalapa—‘ati hi hogi, use chain kahaan?’

jab chirag jale tak ratan n aee, to rama ne samajha ab n aegi. roopaye almari mean rakh die aur ghoomane chal diya. abhi use ge das minat bhi n hue hoange ki ratan a pahuanchi aur ate-hi-ate boli,kangan to a ge hoange?’

jalapa—‘haan a ge haian, pahan lo! bechare kee dapha sarraph ke pas ge. abhaga deta hi nahian, hile-havale karata hai.’

ratan—‘kaisa sarraph hai ki itane din se hile-havale kar raha hai. maian janati ki roopaye jhamele mean p d jaeange, to deti hi kyoan. n roopaye milate haian, n kangan milata hai!’

ratan ne yah bat kuchh aise avishvas ke bhav se kahi ki jalapa jal uthi. garv se boli,apake roopaye rakhe hue haian, jab chahie le jaie. apane bas ki bat to hai nahian. akhir jab sarraph dega, tabhi to laeange?’

ratan—‘kuchh vada karata hai, kab tak dega?’

jalapa—‘usake vadoan ka kya thik, saik doan vade to kar chuka hai.’

ratan—‘to isake mani yah haian ki ab vah chiz n banaega?’

jalapa—‘jo chahe samajh lo!’

ratan—‘to mere roopaye hi de do, baj aee aise kangan se.’

jalapa jhamakakar uthi, almari se thaili nikali aur ratan ke samane patakakar boli, ‘ye apake roopaye rakhe haian, le jaie.’

vastav mean ratan ki adhirata ka karan vahi tha, jo rama ne samajha tha. use bhram ho raha tha ki in logoan ne mere roopaye kharch kar dale. isilie vah bar-bar kangan ka takaja karati thi. roopaye dekhakar usaka bhram shaant ho gaya. kuchh lajjit hokar boli, ‘agar do-char din mean dene ka vada karata ho to roopaye rahane do.’

jalapa—‘mujhe to asha nahian hai ki itani jald de de. jab chiz taiyar ho jayagi to roopaye maang lie jaeange.’

ratan—‘kya jane us vakt mere pas roopaye rahean ya n rahean. roopaye ate to dikhaee dete haian, jate nahian dikhaee dete. n jane kis tarah u d jate haian. apane hi pas rakh lo to kya bura?’ jalapa—‘to yahaan bhi to vahi hal hai. phir paraee rakam ghar mean rakhana jokhim ki bat bhi to hai. koee golamal ho jae, to vyarth ka dand dena p de. mere byah ke chauthe hi din mere sare gahane chori chale ge. ham log jagate hi rahe, par n jane kab aankh lag gee, aur choroan ne apana kam kar liya. das hazar ki chapat p d gee. kahian vahi durghatana phir ho jay to kahian ke n rahean.’

ratan—‘achchhi bat hai, maian roopaye liye jati hooan; magar dekhana nishchint n ho jana. babooji se kah dena sarraph ka piand n chho dean.’

ratan chali gee. jalapa khush thi ki sir se bojh tala. bahudha hamare jivan par unhian ke hathoan kathoratam aghat hota hai, jo hamare sachche hitaishi hote haian. rama koee nau baje ghoomakar lauta, jalapa rasoee bana rahi thi. use dekhate hi boli, ‘ratan aee thi, maianne usake sab roopaye de die.’

rama ke pairoan ke niche se mitti khisak gee. aankhean phailakar mathe par ja pahuanchian. ghabarakar bola, ‘kya kaha, ratan ko roopaye de die? tumase kisane kaha tha ki use roopaye de dena?’

jalapa—‘usi ke roopaye to tumane lakar rakkhe the. tum khud usaka iantazar karate rahe. tumhare jate hi vah aee aur kangan maangane lagi. maianne jhallakar usake roopaye pheank die.

rama ne savadhan hokar kaha, ‘usane roopaye maange to n the?’

jalapa—‘maange kyoan nahian. haan, jab maianne de die to alabatta kahane lagi, ise kyoan lautati ho, apane pas hi padarahane do. maianne kah diya, aise shakki mizaj valoan ka roopaya maian nahian rakhati.’

ramanath—‘eeshvar ke lie tum mujhase bina poochhe aise kam mat kiya karo.’

jalapa—‘to abhi kya hua, usake pas jakar roopaye maang lao, magar abhi se roopaye ghar mean lakar apane ji ka janjal kyoan mol loge.’

rama itana nistej ho gaya ki jalapa par big dane ki bhi shakti usamean n rahi. rooaansa hokar niche chala gaya aur sthiti par vichar karane laga. jalapa par big dana anyay tha. jab rama ne saph kah diya ki ye roopaye ratan ke haian, aur isaka sanket tak n kiya ki mujhase poochhe bagair ratan ko roopaye mat dena, to jalapa ka koee aparadh nahian. usane socha,is samay jhallane aur big dane se samasya hal n hogi. shaant chitt hokar vichar karane ki avashyakata thi. ratan se roopaye vapas lena anivary tha. jis samay vah yahaan aee hai, agar maian khud maujood hota to kitani khoobasoorati se sari mushkil asan ho jati. mujhako kya shamat savar thi ki ghoomane nikala! ek din n ghoomane jata, to kaun mara jata tha! koee gupt shakti mera anisht karane par utaee ho gee hai. das minat ki anupasthiti ne sara khel biga d diya. vah kah rahi thi ki roopaye rakh lijie. jalapa ne zara samajh se kam liya hota to yah naubat kahe ko ati. lekin phir maian biti huee batean sochane laga. samasya hai, ratan se roopaye vapas kaise lie jaean .kyoan n chalakar kahooan, roopaye lautane se ap naraz ho gee haian. asal mean maian apake lie roopaye n laya tha. sarraph se isalie maang laya tha, jisamean vah chiz banakar de de. sanbhav hai, vah khud hi lajjit hokar kshama maange aur roopaye de de. bas is vakt vahaan jana chahie.

yah nishchay karake usane gh di par nazar dali. sadhe ath baje the. aandhakar chhaya hua tha. aise samay ratan ghar se bahar nahian ja sakati. rama ne saikil uthaee aur ratan se milane chala.

ratan ke bangale par aj badi bahar thi. yahaan nity hi koee-n-koee utsav, davat, parti hoti rahati thi. ratan ka ekaant niras jivan in vishayoan ki or usi bhaanti lapakata tha, jaise pyasa pani ki or lapakata hai. is vakt vahaan bachchoan ka jamaghat tha. ek am ke vriksh mean jhoola pada tha, bijali ki battiyaan jal rahi thian, bachche jhoola jhool rahe the aur ratan kh di jhula rahi thi. hoo-ha macha hua tha. vakil sahab is mausam mean bhi ooni ovarakot pahane baramade mean baithe sigar pi rahe the. rama ki ichchha huee, ki jhoole ke pas jakar ratan se batean kare, par vakil sahab ko kh de dekhakar vah sankoch ke mare udhar n ja saka. vakil sahab ne use dekhate hi hath badha diya aur bole, ‘ao rama baboo, kaho, tumhare myunisipal bord ki kya khabarean haian?’

rama ne kursi par baithate hue kaha, ‘koee nee bat to nahian huee.‘

vakil,--‘apake bord mean l dakiyoan ki anivary shiksha ka prastav kab pas hoga? aur kee bodooo ne to pas kar diya. jab tak striyoan ki shiksha ka kaphi prachar n hoga, hamara kabhi uddhar n hoga. ap to yorap n ge hoange? oh! kya azadi hai, kya daulat hai, kya jivan hai, kya utsah hai! bas maloom hota hai, yahi svarg hai. aur striyaan bhi sachamuch deviyaan haian. itani

hansamukh, itani svachchhand, yah sab stri-shiksha ka prasad hai! ‘

rama ne samachar-patroan mean in deshoan ka jo thoda-bahut hal padha tha, usake adhar par bola,vahaan striyoan ka acharan to bahut achchha nahian hai.‘

vakil--‘nansesan ! apane-apane desh ki pratha hai. ap ek yuvati ko kisi yuvak ke sath ekaant mean vicharate dekhakar daantoan tale uangali dabate haian. apaka aanptahkaran itana malin ho gaya hai ki stri-puroosh ko ek jagah dekhakar ap sandeh kie bina rah hi nahian sakate, par jahaan lanake aur l dakiyaan ek sath shiksha pate haian, vahaan yah jati-bhed bahut mahatv ki vastu nahian rah jati,apas mean sneh aur sahanubhooti ki itani batean paida ho jati haian ki kamukata ka aansh bahut thodarah jata hai. yah samajh lijie ki jis desh mean striyoan ki jitani adhik svadhinata hai, vah desh utana hi sabhy hai. striyoan ko kaid mean, parade mean, ya purooshoan se kosoan door rakhane ka tatpary yahi nikalata hai ki apake yahaan janata itani achar-bhrasht hai ki striyoan ka apaman karane mean zara bhi sankoch nahian karati. yuvakoan ke lie rajaniti, dharm, lalit-kala, sahity, darshan, itihas, vijnan aur hazaroan hi aise vishay haian, jinake adhar par ve yuvatiyoan se gahari dosti paida kar sakate haian. kamalipsa un deshoan ke lie akarshan ka pradhan vishay hai, jahaan logoan ki manovrittiyaan sankuchit rahati haian. maian salabhar yorap aur amarika mean rah chuka hooan. kitani hi suandariyoan ke sath meri dosti thi. unake sath khela hooan, nacha bhi hooan, par kabhi muanh se aisa shabd n nikalata tha, jise sunakar kisi yuvati ko lajja se sir jhukana p de, aur phir achchhe aur bure kahaan nahian haian?’ rama ko is samay in batoan mean koee anand n aya, vah to is samay doosari hi chianta mean magn tha. vakil sahab ne phir kaha,jab tak ham stri-purooshoan ko abadh roop se apana-apana manasik vikas n karane deange, ham avanati ki or khisakate chale jaeange. bandhanoan se samaj ka pair n baandhie, usake gale mean kaidi ki janjir n dalie. vidhava-vivah ka prachar kijie, khoob zoroan se kijie, lekin yah bat meri samajh mean nahian ati ki jab koee adhe d adami kisi yuvati

se byah kar leta hai to kyoan akhabaroan mean itana kuharam mach jata hai. yorap mean assi baras ke boodhe yuvatiyoan se byah karate haian, sattar varsh ki vriddhaean yuvakoan se vivah karati haian, koee kuchh nahian kahata. kisi ko kanoankan khabar bhi nahian hoti. ham boodhoan ko marane ke pahale hi mar dalana chahate haian. halaanki manushy ko kabhi kisi sahagamini ki jaroorat hoti hai to vah budhape mean, jab use haradam kisi avalanb ki ichchha hoti hai, jab vah paramukhapekshi ho jata hai. rama ka dhyan jhoole ki or tha. kisi tarah ratan se do-do batean karane ka avasar mile. is samay usaki sabase badi yahi kamana thi. usaka vahaan jana shishtachar ke virooddh tha. akhir usane ek kshan ke bad jhoole ki or dekhakar kaha, ‘ye itane lanake kidhar se a ge?’

vakil—‘ratan baee ko bal-samaj se bada sneh hai. n jane kahaan?kahaan se itane lanake jama ho jate haian. agar apako bachchoan se pyar ho, to jaie! rama to yah chahata hi tha, chat jhoole ke pas ja pahuancha. ratan use dekhakar muskaraee aur boli, ‘in shaitanoan ne meri nak mean dam kar rakkha hai. jhoole se in saboan ka pet hi nahian bharata. aie, zara ap bhi begar kijie, maian to thak gee. yah kahakar vah pakke chabootare par baith gee. rama jhoanke dene laga. bachchoan ne naya adami dekha, to sab-ke-sab apani bari ke lie utavale hone lage. ratan ke hathoan do bariyaan a chuki thian? par yah kaise ho sakata tha ki kuchh lanake to tisari bar jhoolean, aur baki baithe muanh takean! do utarate to char jhoole par baith jate. rama ko bachchoan se namamatr ko bhi prem n tha par is vakt phans gaya tha, kya karata! akhir adha ghante ki begar ke bad usaka ji oob gaya. gh di mean sadhe nau baj rahe the. matalab ki bat kaise chhe de. ratan to jhoole mean itani magn thi, mano use roopayoan ki sudh hi nahian hai. sahasa ratan ne jhoole ke pas jakar kaha, ‘babooji, maian baithati hooan, mujhe jhulaie, magar niche se nahian, jhoole par kh de hokar peang marie.’

rama bachapan hi se jhoole par baithate darata tha. ek bar mitroan ne jabaradasti jhoole par baitha diya, to use chakkar ane laga, par is anurodh ne use jhoole par ane ke lie majaboor kar diya. apani ayogyata kaise prakat kare. ratan do bachchoan ko lekar baith gee, aur yah git gane lagi,

kadam ki dariya jhoola p d gayo ri, radha rani jhoolan aee.

rama jhoole par khada hokar peang marane laga, lekin usake paanv kaanp rahe the, aur dil baitha jata tha. jab jhoola oopar se phirata tha, to use aisa jan p data tha, mano koee taral vastu usake vaksh mean chubhati chali ja rahi hai,aur ratan l dakiyoan ke sath ga rahi thi,

kadam ki dariya jhoola p d gayo ri, radha rani jhoolan aee.

ek kshan ke bad ratan ne kaha, ‘zara aur badhaie sahab, apase to jhoola badhata hi nahian.’

rama ne lajjit hokar aur zor lagaya par jhoola n badha, rama ke sir mean chakkar ane laga.

ratan—‘apako peang marana nahian ata, kabhi jhoola nahian jhoole?’

rama ne jhijhakate hue kaha, ‘haan, idhar to varsho se nahian baitha.’

ratan—‘to ap in bachchoan ko sanbhalakar baithie, maian apako jhulaooangi.’

agar us dal se n chhoo le to kahiega! rama ke pran sookh ge. bola,ajato bahut der ho gee hai, phir kabhi aooanga. ’

ratan—‘aji abhi kya der ho gee hai, das bhi nahian baje, ghabadaie nahian, abhi bahut rat p di hai. khoob jhoolakar jaiega. kal jalapa ko laiega, ham donoan jhooleange.’

rama jhoole par se utar aya to usaka chehara sahama hua tha. maloom hota tha, ab gira, ab gira> vah l dakhadata hua saikil ki or chala aur us par baithakar turant ghar bhaga. kuchh door tak use kuchh hosh n raha. paanv ap hi ap paidal ghumate jate the, adhi door jane ke bad use hosh aya. usane saikil ghuma di, kuchh door chala, phir utarakar sochane laga,aj sankoch mean p dakar kaisi bazi hath se khoee, vahaan se chupachap apana-sa muanh liye laut aya. kyoan usake muanh se avaz nahian nikali. ratan kuchh hauva to thi nahian, jo use kha jati. sahasa use yad aya, thaili mean ath sau roopaye the, jalapa ne jhuanjhalakar thaili ki thaili usake havale kar di. shayad, usane bhi gina nahian, nahian jaroor kahati. kahian aisa n ho, thaili kisi ko de de, ya aur roopayoan mean mila de, to gajab hi ho jae. kahian ka n rahooan. kyoan n isi vakt chalakar beshi roopaye maang laooan, lekin der bahut ho gee hai, sabere phir ana p dega. magar yah do sau roopaye mil bhi ge, tab bhi to paanch sau roopayoan ki kami rahegi. usaka kya prabandh hoga? eeshvar hi beda par lagaean to lag sakata hai.

sabere kuchh prabandh n hua, to kya hoga! yah sochakar vah kaanp utha. jivan mean aise avasar bhi ate haian, jab nirasha mean bhi hamean asha hoti hai. rama ne socha, ek bar phir gangoo ke pas chalooan, shayad dukan par mil jay, usake hath-paanv jodooan. sanbhav hai, kuchh daya a jay. vah sarraphe ja pahuancha magar gangoo ki dukan band thi. vah lauta hi tha ki charanadas ata hua dikhaee diya.

rama ko dekhate hi bola,babooji, apane to idhar ka rasta hi chho d diya. kahie roopaye kab tak mileange?’

rama ne vinamr bhav se kaha, ‘ab bahut jald mileange bhaee, der nahian hai. dekho gangoo ke roopaye chukae haian, ab ki tumhari bari hai.’

charanadas, ‘vah sab kissa maloom hai, gangoo ne hoshiyari se apane roopaye n le liye hote, to hamari tarah tapa karate. sal-bhar ho raha hai. roopaye saik de ka sood bhi rakhie to chaurasi roopaye hote haian. kal akar hisab kar jaie, sab nahian to adha-tihaee kuchh de dijie.lete-dete rahane se malik ko dhadhas rahata hai. kan mean tel dalakar baithe rahane se to use shanka hone lagati hai ki inaki niyat kharab hai. to kal kab aiega?’

ramanath—‘bhee, kal maian roopaye lekar to n a sakooanga, yoan jab kaho tab chala aooan. kyoan, is vakt apane sethaji se char-paanch sau roopayoan ka bandobast n kara doge?’tumhari mutthi bhi garm kar dooanga. ’

charanadas—‘kahaan ki bat liye phirate ho babooji, sethaji ek kau di to deange nahian. unhoanne yahi bahut salook kiya ki nalish nahian kar di. apake pichhe mujhe batean sunani p dati haian. kya bade muanshiji se kahana p dega?’

rama ne jhallakar kaha, ‘tumhara denadar maian hooan, bade muanshi nahian haian. maian mar nahian gaya hooan, ghar chho dakar bhaga nahian jata hooan. itane adhir kyoan hue jate ho? ’

charanadas—‘sal-bhar hua, ek kau di nahian mili, adhir n hoan to kya hoan. kal kam-se-kam do sau ki gikar kar rakhiega.’

ramanath—‘maianne kah diya, mere pas abhi roopaye nahian haian.’

charanadas—‘roz gathari kat-katakar rakhate ho, us par kahate ho, roopaye nahian haian. kal roopaye juta rakhana. kal adami jaega jaroor.’

rama ne usaka koee javab n diya, age badha. idhar aya tha ki kuchh kam nikalega, ulte takaza sahana p da. kahian dusht sachamuch babooji ke pas takaza n bhej de. ag hi ho jayange. jalapa bhi samajhegi, kaisa labadiya adami hai. is samay rama ki aankhoan se aansoo to n nikalate the, par usaka ek- ek roaan ro raha tha. jalapa se apani asali halat chhipakar usane kitani bhari bhool ki! vah samajhadar aurat hai, agar use maloom ho jata ki mere ghar mean bhooanji bhaang bhi nahian hai, to vah mujhe kabhi udhar gahane n lene deti. usane to kabhi apane muanh se kuchh nahian kaha. maian hi apani shan jamane ke lie mara ja raha tha. itana bada bojh sir par lekar bhi maianne kyoan kiphayat se kam nahian liya? mujhe ek-ek paisa daantoan se pak dana chahie tha. sal-bhar mean meri amadani sab milakar ek hazar se kam n huee hogi. agar kiphayat se chalata, to in donoan mahajanoan ke adhe-adhe roopaye jaroor ada ho jate, magar yahaan to sir par shamat savar thi. isaki kya jaroorat thi ki jalapa muhalle bhar ki auratoan ko jama karake roj sair karane jati- saik doan roopaye to taange vala le gaya hoga, magar yahaan to us par rob jamane ki p di huee thi. sara bazar jan jay ki lala nire laphange haian, par apani stri n janane pae! vah ri buddhi, daravaze ke lie paradoan ki kya jaroorat thi! do laianp kyoan laya, nee niva d lekar charapaiyaan kyoan binavaee, usane raste hi mean un kharcho ka hisab taiyar kar liya, jinhean usaki haisiyat ke adami ko talana chahie tha. adami jab tak svasth rahata hai, use isaki chianta nahian rahati ki vah kya khata hai, kitana khata hai, kab khata hai, lekin jab koee vikar utpann ho jata hai, to use yad ati hai ki kal maianne pakaudiyaan khaee thian. vijay bahirmukhi hoti hai, parajay antarmukhi. jalapa ne poochha, ‘kahaan chale ge the, badi der laga di.’

ramanath—‘tumhare karan ratan ke bangale par jana p da. tumane sab roopaye uthakar de die, usamean do sau roopaye mere bhi the. ’

jalapa—‘to mujhe kya maloom tha, tumane kaha bhi to n tha, magar unake pas se roopaye kahian ja nahian sakate, vah ap hi bhej deangi.’

ramanath—‘mana, par sarakari rakam to kal dakhil karani p degi.’

jalapa—‘kal mujhase do sau roopaye le lena, mere pas haian.’

rama ko vishvas n aya. bola—‘kahian hoan n tumhare pas! itane roopaye kahaan se ae? ’

jalapa—‘tumhean isase kya matalab, maian to do sau roopaye dene ko kahati hooan.’

rama ka chehara khil utha. kuchh-kuchh asha bandhi. do-sau roopaye yah dede, do sau roopaye ratan se le looan, sau roopaye mere pas haian hi, to kul tin sau ki kami rah jaegi, magar yahi tin sau roopaye kahaan se aeange? aisa koee nazar n ata tha, jisase itane roopaye milane ki asha ki ja sake. haan, agar ratan sab roopaye de de to big di bat ban jay. asha ka yahi ek adhar rah gaya tha.

jab vah khana khakar leta, to jalapa ne kaha, ‘aj kis soch mean p de ho?’

ramanath—‘soch kis bat ka- kya maian udas hooan?’

jalapa—‘haan, kisi chianta mean p de hue ho, magar mujhase batate nahian ho!’

ramanath—‘aisi koee bat hoti to tumase chhipata?’

jalapa—‘vah, tum apane dil ki bat mujhase kyoan kahoge? rrishiyoan ki ajna nahian hai.’

ramanath—‘maian un rrishiyoan ke bhaktoan mean nahian hooan.’

jalapa—‘vah to tab maloom hota, jab maian tumhare hraday mean paithakar dekhati.’

ramanath—‘vahaan tum apani hi pratima dekhatian.’

rat ko jalapa ne ek bhayankar svapn dekha, vah chilla p di. rama ne chauankakar poochha,‘kya hai? jalapa, kya svapn dekh rahi ho? ’

jalapa ne idhar-udhar ghabadaee huee aankhoan se dekhakar kaha,‘bade sankat mean jan p di thi. n jane kaisa sapana dekh rahi thi! ’

ramanath—‘kya dekha?’

jalapa—‘kya bataooan, kuchh kaha nahian jata. dekhati thi ki tumhean kee sipahi pak de liye ja rahe haian. kitana bhanyakar roop tha unaka!’

rama ka khoon sookh gaya. do-char din pahale, is svapn ko usane hansi mean uda diya hota, is samay vah apane ko sashankit hone se n rok saka, par bahar se hansakar bola, ‘tumane sipahiyoan se poochha nahian, inhean kyoan pak de liye jate ho?’

jalapa—‘tumhean hansi soojh rahi hai, aur mera hraday kaanp raha hai.’

tho di der ke bad rama ne niand mean bakana shuroo kiya, ‘ammaan, kahe deta hooan, phir mera muanh n dekhogi, maian doob marooanga.’

jalapa ko abhi tak niand n aee thi, bhayabhit hokar usane rama ko zor se hilaya aur boli, ‘mujhe to hansate the aur khud bakane lage. sunakar roean kh de ho ge. svapn dekhate the kya? ’

rama ne lajjit hokar kaha, -- haan ji, n jane kya dekh raha tha kuchh yad nahian.’

jalapa ne poochha, ‘ammaanji ko kyoan dhamaka rahe the. sach batao, kya dekhate the? ’

rama ne sir khujalate hue kaha, ‘kuchh yad nahian ata, yoan hi bakane laga hooanga.’

jalapa—‘achchha to karavat sona. chit sone se adami bakane lagata hai.’

rama karavat paudh gaya, par aisa jan p data tha, mano chianta aur shanka donoan aankhoan mean baithi huee nidra ke akraman se unaki raksha kar rahi haian. jagate hue do baj ge. sahasa jalapa uth baithi, aur surahi se pani uan delati huee boli, ‘badi pyas lagi thi, kya tum abhi tak jag hi rahe ho? ’

rama—‘haan ji, niand uchat gee hai. maian soch raha tha, tumhare pas do sau roopaye kahaan se a ge? mujhe isaka ashchary hai.’

jalapa—‘ye roopaye maian mayake se laee thi, kuchh bidaee mean mile the, kuchh pahale se rakkhe the. ’

ramanath—‘tab to tum roopaye jama karane mean badi kushal ho yahaan kyoan nahian kuchh jama kiya?’

jalapa ne muskarakar kaha, ‘tumhean pakar ab roopaye ki paravah nahian rahi.’

ramanath—‘apane bhagy ko kosati hogi!’

jalapa—‘bhagy ko kyoan kosooan, bhagy ko vah auratean roean, jinaka pati nikhattoo ho, sharabi ho, durachari ho, rogi ho, tanoan se stri ko chhedata rahe, bat-bat par big de. puroosh man ka ho to stri usake sath upavas karake bhi prasann rahegi.’

rama ne vinod bhav se kaha, ‘to maian tumhare man ka hooan! ’

jalapa ne prem-poorn garv se kaha, ‘meri jo asha thi, usase tum kahian badhakar nikale. meri tin saheliyaan haian. ek ka bhi pati aisa nahian. ek em.e. hai par sada rogi. doosara vidvan bhi hai aur dhani bhi, par veshyagamib tisara gharaghussoo hai aur bilakul nikhattoo…’

rama ka hraday gadagad ho utha. aisi prem ki moorti aur daya ki devi ke sath usane kitana bada vishvasaghat kiya. itana durav rakhane par bhi jab ise mujhase itana prem hai, to maian agar usase nishkapat hokar rahata, to mera jivan kitana anandamay hota!