ग़ुलाम -जयशंकर प्रसाद

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

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phool nahian khilate haian, bele ki kaliyaan murajhaee ja rahi haian. samay mean nirad ne siancha nahian, kisi mali ki bhi drishti us or nahian ghoomi; akal mean bina khile kusum-korak mlan hona hi chahata hai. akasmath doobate soory ki pili kiranoan ki abha se chamakata hua ek badal ka tuk da svarn-varsha kar gaya. paropakari pavan un chhiantoan ko dhakelakar unhean ek korak par lad gaya. bhala itana bhar vah kaise sah sakata hai! sab dhulakakar dharani par gir p de. korak bhi kuchh hara ho gaya.

yamuna ke bich dhara mean ek chhoti, par bahut hi sundar tarani, mand pavan ke sahare dhire-dhire bah rahi hai. samane ke mahal se anek chandramukh nikalakar use dekh rahe haian. char komal sundariyaan daan dean chala rahi haian, aur ek baithi huee sitari baja rahi hai. samane, ek bhavy purush baitha hua usaki or nirnimesh drishti se dekh raha hai.

pathak! yah prasiddh shahalam dilli ke badashah haian. jalakri da ho rahi hai.

sandhy-soory ki lalima jinat-mahal ke arun mukh-mandal ki shobha aur bhi badha rahi hai. pranayi badashah us atap-mandit mukharavind ki or satrishn nayan se dekh rahe haian, jis par bar-bar garv aur lajja ka dubara rang chadhata-utarata hai, aur isi karan sitar ka svar bhi bahut shighr chadhata-utarata hai. sangit, tar par chadhaqar dau data hua, vyakul hokar ghoom raha hai; kshan-bhar bhi vishram nahian.

jinat ke mukhamandal par sved-bindu jhalakane lage. badashah ne vyakul hokar kaha-bas karo, pyari jinat! bas karo! bahut achchha bajaya, vah, kya bat hai! saki, ek pyala shiraji sharbat!

‘huzoor aya’-kahata hua ek sukumar balak samane aya, hath mean pan-patr tha. us balak ki mukh-kanti darshaniy thi. bhara pyala chhalakana chahata tha, idhar ghuangharali alakean usaki aankhoan par barajori ek parda dalana chahati thian. balak pyale ko ek hath mean lekar jab kesh-guchchh ko hatane laga, tab jinat aur shahalam donoan chakit hokar dekhane lage. alakean alag hueean. begam ne ek thandi saans li. shahalam ke mukh se bhi ek ah nikalana hi chahati thi, par use rokakar nikal p da-‘begam ko do.’

balak ne donoan hathoan se pan-patr jinat ki or badhaya. begam ne use lekar pan kar liya.

nahian kah sakate ki us sharbat ne begam ko kuchh tari pahuanchaee ya garmi; kintu hriday-spandan avashy kuchh badh gaya. shahalam ne jhukakar kaha-ek aur!

balak vichitr gati se pichhe hata aur tho di der mean doosara pyala lekar upasthit hua. pan-patr nishshesh kar shahalam ne hath kuchh aur phaila diya, aur balak ki or iangit karake bole-kadir, jara uangaliyaan to bula de.

balak adab se samane baith gaya aur unaki uangaliyoan ko hath mean lekar bulane laga.

maloom hota hai ki jinat ko sharbat ne kuchh zyada garmi pahuanchaee. vah chhote bajare ke meharab mean se jhukakar yamuna-jal chhoone lagi. kaleje ke niche ek makhamali takiya masali jane lagi, ya n maloom vahi kamini ke vakshasthal ko pidऩ karane lagi.

shahalam ki uangaliyaan, us komal bal-ravi-kar-saman sparsh se, kaliyoan ki tarah chatakane lagian. balak ki nirnimesh drishti akash ki or thi. akasmath badashah ne kaha-mina! khvaja-sara se kah dena ki is kadir ko apani khas talim mean rakhean, aur usake supurd kar dena.

ek daan de chalane vali ne jhukakar kaha-bahut achchha huzoor!

begam ne apane sine se takiye ko aur daba diya; kintu vah kuchh n bol saki, dabakar rah gayi.

bhag 2

uparyukt ghatana ko bahut din bit gaye. gulam kadir ab achchha yuvak maloom hone laga. usaka unnat skandh, bhari-bhari baanhean aur vishal vakshasthal b de suhavane ho gaye. kintu kaun kah sakata hai ki vah yuvak hai. eeshvariy niyam ke viruddh usaka puansatv chhin liya gaya hai.

kadir, shahalam ka pyara gulam hai. usaki tooti bol rahi hai, so bhi kahaan? shahi naubatakhane ke bhitar.

divane-am mean achchhi saj-dhaj hai. aj koee b da darabar hone vala hai. sab padadhikari apane yogyatanusar vastrabhooshan se sajakar apane-apane sthan ko sushobhit karane lage. shahalam bhi takht par baith gaye. tula-dan hone ke bad badashah ne kuchh logoan ka manasab badhaya aur kuchh ko inam diya. kisi ko harbe diye gaye; kisi ki padavi badhayi gayi; kisi ki tanakhvah badhi.

kintu badashah yah sab karake bhi tript nahian dikhaee p date. unaki nigahean kisi ko khoj rahi haian. ve ishara kar rahi haian ki unhian se kam nikal jay, rasana ko bolana n p de; kintu karean kya? vah ho nahian sakata tha. badashah ne ek taraph dekhakar kaha-gulam kadir!

kadir apane kamare mean kap de pahanakar taiyar hai, keval kamaraband mean ek j daoo daste ki katar lagana baki hai, jise badashah ne use prasann hokar diya hai. katar lagakar ek b de darpan mean muanh dekhane ki lalasa se vah us or badha. darpan ke samane kh de hokar usane dekha, aparoop saundary! kisaka? apana hi. sachamuch kadir ki drishti apani aankhoan par se nahian hatati. mugdh hokar vah apana roop dekh raha hai.

usaka purushochit sundar mukh-mandal taruny-soory ke atap se alokit ho raha hai. donoan bhare hue kapol prasannata se bar-bar lal ho ate haian, aankhean hans rahi haian. srishti sundaratam hokar usake samane vikasit ho rahi hai.

prahari ne akar kaha-jahaanpanah ne darabar mean yad kiya hai.

kadir chauank utha aur usaka rang utar gaya. vah sochane laga ki usaka roop aur taruny kuchh nahian hai, kisi kam ka nahian. manushy ki sari sampatti usase jabardasti chhin li gayi hai.

kadir ka jivan bhar ho utha. nirabhr, gagan mean pavasaghan ghir uthe. usaka pran talamala utha, aur vah vyakul hokar chahata tha ki darpan pho d de.

kshan-bhar mean sari prasannata mitti mean mil gayi. jivan du:sah ho utha. daant apas mean ghis uthe aur katar bhi kamar se bahar nikalane lagi.

kadir kuchh shant hua. kuchh sochakar dhire-dhire darabar ki or chala. badashah ke samane pahuanchakar yathochit abhivadan kiya

shahalam-kadir! itani der tak kahaan raha?

kadir-jahaanpanah! gulam ki khata maph ho.

shahalam-(hansate hue) khata kaisi, kadir?

kadir-(jalakar) huzoor, der huee.

shahalam-achchha, usaki saza di jayagi.

kadir-(adab se) lekin huzoor, meri bhi kuchh arj hai.

badashah ne poochha-kya?

kadir ne kaha-mujhe yahi saza mile ki maian kuchh dinoan ke liye dehali se nikal diya jaooan.

shahalam ne kaha-so to bahut b di saza hai kadir, aisa nahian ho sakata. maian tumhean kuchh inam dena chahata hooan, taki vah yadagar rahe, aur tum phir aisa kusoor n karo.

kadir ne hath baandhakar kaha-huzoor! inam mean mujhe chhutti hi mil jay, taki kuchh dinoan tak maian apane boodhe bap ki khidamat kar sakooan.

shahalam-(chauankakar) usaki khidamat ke liye meri di huee jagir kafi hai. saharanapur mean usaki aram se gujarati hai.

kadir ne gi dagi dakar kaha-lekin jahaanpanah, ladaqa hokar mera bhi koee pharj hai.

shahalam ne kuchh sochakar kaha-achchha, tumhean rukhsat mili aur yadagar ki tarah tumhean ek-hajari manasab ata kiya jata hai, taki tum vahaan se laut ane mean phir der n karo.

upasthit log ‘karamat’, huzoor ka ekabal aur buland ho’ ki dhun machane lage. gulam kadir anichchha rahate un logoan ka sath deta tha, aur apani hardik prasannata prakat karane ki koshish karata tha.

bhag 3

bharat ke sapoot, hinduoan ke ujjval ratn chhatrapati maharaj shivaji ne jo adhyavasay aur parishram kiya, usaka parinam marathoan ko achchha mila, aur unhoanne bhi jab tak us poorv-niti ko achchhi tarah se mana, labh uthaya. shahalam ke darabar mean kya-bharat mean-aj maratha-vir sindhiya hi nayak samajha jata hai. sindhiya ki vipul vahini ke bal se shahalam namamatr ko dilli ke sianhasan par baithe haian. bina sindhiya ke manjoor kiye badashah-salamat ratti-bhar hil nahian sakate. sindhiya dilli aur usake badashah ke pradhan rakshak haian. shahalam ka mugal rakt sard ho chuka hai.

sindhiya apas ke jhag de tay karane ke liye dakkhin chala gaya hai. ‘mansoor’ namak karmachari hi is samay badashah ka pradhan sahayak hai. shahalam ka poora shubhachintak hone par bhi vah hindoo sindhiya ki pradhanata se bhitar-bhitar jala karata tha.

jala hua, vidroh ka jhanda uthaye, isi samay, gulam kadir ruheloan ke sath saharanapur se akar dilli ke us par dera dale p da hai. mansoor usake liye har tarah se taiyar hai. ek bar vah bhulave mean akar chala gaya hai. abaki bar usaki ichchha hai ki vajarat vahi kare.

boodhe badashah sangamaramar ke minakari kiye hue burj mean gavatakiye ke sahare lete hue haian. mansoor samane hath baandhe kh da hai. shahalam ne bhari huee avaz mean poochha-kyoan mansoor! kya gulam kadir sachamuch dilli par hamala karake takht chhinana chahata hai? kya usako isilie hamane is maratabe par pahuanchaya? kya sabaka akhiri natija yahi hai? bolo, saf kaho. ruko mat, jisamean ki tum bat bana sako.

mansoor-jahaanpanah! vah to gulam hai. phakat huzoor ki kadamabosi hasil karane ke liye aya hai. aur, usaki to yahi arji hai ki hamare aka shahanshahalam-hiand ek kaphir ke hath ki putali n bane rahean. agar hukm dean, to kya yah gulam vah kam nahian kar sakata?

shahalam-mansoor! isake mane?

mansoor-band:paravar! vah dilli ki vajarat ke liye arj karata hai aur gulami mean hajir hona chahata hai. use to sindhiya se ranj hai, huzoor to usake meharaban aka haian.

shahalam-(jara tanakar) haan mansoor, use hamane bachapan se pala hai, aur is layaq banaya.

mansoor-(man mean) aur use apane hi, khud-garaji se-jo kabile-napharat thi-duniya ke kisi kam ka n rakkha, jisake liye vah ji se jala hua hai.

shahalam-bolo mansoor! chup kyoan ho? kya vah ehasan-pharamosh hai?

mansoor-huzoor! phir, gulam khidamat mean bulaya jave?

shahalam-vajarat dene mean mujhe koee ujr nahian hai. vah sanbhal sakega?

mansoor-huzoor, agar vah n sanbhal sakega, to usako vahi jhelega. sindhiya khud usase samajh lega.

shahalam-haan ji, sindhiya se kah diya jayaga ki lachari se usako vajarat di gayi. tum the nahian, usane jabardasti vah kam apane hath mean liya.

mansoor-aur isase musalaman riyaya bhi huzoor se khush ho jayagi. to, use hukm ane ka bhej diya jay?

bhag 4

dilli ke durg par gulam kadir ka poorn adhikar ho gaya hai. badashah ke karmachariyoan se sab kam chhin liya gaya hai. ruheloan ka kile par pahara hai. atyachari gulam mahaloan ki sab chijoan ko loot raha hai. bechari begamean apaman ke dar se pishach ruheloan ke hath, apane hath se apane abhooshan utarakar de rahi haian. pashavik atyachar ki matra ab bhi poorn nahian huee. divane-khas mean sianhasan par badashah baithe haian. ruheloan ke sath gulam kadir use gherakar kh da hai.

shahalam-gulam kadir, ab bas kar! mere hal par raham kar, sab kuchh toone kar liya. ab mujhe kyoan nahak pareshan karata hai?

gulam-achchha isi mean hai ki apana chhipa khazana bata do.

ek ruhela-haan,haan, ham logoan ke liye bhi to kuchh chahiye.

shahalam-kadir! mere pas kuchh nahian hai. kyoan mujhe takaliph deta hai?

kadir-maloom hota hai, sidhi uangali se ghi nahian nikalega.

shahalam-maianne tujhe is layaq isaliye banaya ki too meri is tarah beijjati kare?

kadir-tumhare-aisoan ke liye itani hi saza kafi nahian hai. nahian dekhate ho ki mere dil mean badale ki ag jal rahi hai, mujhe tumane kis kam ka rakkha? hay!

meri sari karravaee phajool hai, mera sab tumane loot liya hai. badala kahati hai ki tumhara gosht maian apane daantoan se noch dalooan.

shahalam-bas kadir! maian apani khata kubool karata hooan. use maph kar! ya to apane hathoan se mujhe katl kar dal! magar itani beijjati n kar!

gulam-achchha, vah to kiya hi jayega! magar khazana kahaan hai?

shahalam-kadir! mere pas kuchh nahian hai!

gulam-achchha, to utar aean takht se, der n karean!

shahalam-kadir! maian isi par baitha hooan, jis par baithakar tujhe hukm diya karata tha. a, isi jagah khanjar se mera kam tamam kar de.

‘vahi hoga’ kahata hua nar-pishach kadir takht ki or badha. boodhe badashah ko takht se ghasitakar niche le aya aur unhean patakakar chhati par chadh baitha. khanjar ki nok kaleje par rakhakar kahane laga, ab bhi apana khazana batao, to jan salamat bach jayagi.

shahalam gi dagi dakar kahane lage ki aisi zindagi ki zaroorat nahian hai. ab too apana khanjar kaleje ke par kar!

kadir-lekin isase kya hoga! agar tum mar jaoge, to mere kaleje ki ag kise jhulasayegi; isase behatar hai ki mujhase jaisi chiz chhin li gayi hai, usi tarah ki koee chiz tumhari bhi li jay. haan, inhian aankhoan se meri khoobasoorati dekhakar tumane mujhe duniya ke kisi kam ka n rakkha. lo, maian tumhari aankhean nikalata hooan, jisase mera kaleja kuchh thanda hoga.

itana kah kadir ne katar se shahalam ki donoan aankhean nikal lian. roshani ki jagah un gaddhoan se rakt ke phuhare nikalane lage. nikali huee aankhoan ko kadir ki aankhean prasannata se dekhane lagian.