जीवन का शाप -प्रेमचंद

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

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

kavasaji ne patr nikala aur yash kamane lage. shapooraji ne ruee ki dalali shuroo ki aur dhan kamane lage ? kamaee donoan hi kar rahe the, par shapooraji prasann the; kavasaji virakt. shapooraji ko dhan ke sath samman aur yash ap-hi-ap milata tha. kavasaji ko yash ke sath dhan doorabin se dekhane par bhi dikhayi n deta tha; isalie shapooraji ke jivan mean shaanti thi, sahridayata thi, ashirvad tha, kri da thi. kavasaji ke jivan mean ashaanti thi, katuta thi, nirasha thi, udasinata thi. dhan ko tuchchh samajhane ki vah bahut cheshta karate the; lekin pratyaksh ko kaise jhuthala dete ? shapooraji ke ghar mean virajane vale saujany aur shaanti ke samane unhean apane ghar ke kalah aur phooh dapan se ghrina hoti thi. mridubhashini misej shapoor ke samane unhean apani gulashan banoo sankirnata aur eershya ka avatar-si lagati thi. shapooraji ghar mean ate, to shirian-baee mridu has se unaka svagat karati. vah khud din-bhar ke thake-maande ghar ate to gulashan apana dukh da sunane baith jati aur unako khoob phatakarean batati tum bhi apane ko adami kahate ho. maian to tumhean bail samajhati hooan,bail b da mehanati hai, garib hai, santoshi hai, mana lekin use vivah karaneka kya hak tha ?  kavasaji se ek lakh bar yah prashn kiya ja chuka tha ki jab tumhean samacharapatr nikalakar apana jivan barabad karana tha, to tumane vivah kyoankiya ? kyoan meri zindagi tabah kar di ? jab tumhare ghar mean rotiyaan n thian, to mujhe kyoan laye ! is prashn ka javab dene ki kavasaji mean shakti n thi. unhean kuchh soojhata hi n tha. vah sachamuch apani galati par pachhatate the. ek bar bahut tang akar unhoanne kaha tha, ‘achchha bhaee, ab to jo hona tha, ho chuka; lekin maian tumhean baandhe to nahian hooan, tumhean jo purush zyada sukhi rakh sake, usake sath jakar raho, ab maian kya kahooan ? amadani nahian badhati, to maian kya karooan ? kya chahati ho, jan de dooan ?’ is par gulashan ne unake donoan kan pak dakar zor se aianthe aur galoan par do tamache lagaye aur paini aankhoan se katati huee boli, ‘achchha, ab choanch sanbhalo, nahian to achchha n hoga. aisi bat muanh se nikalate tumhean laj nahian ati. hayadar hote, to chulloo bhar pani mean doob marate. us doosare purush ke mahal mean ag laga dooangi, usaka muanh jhulas dooangi. tab se bechare kavasaji ke pas is prashn ka koee javab n raha. kahaan to yah asantosh aur vidroh ki jvala aur kahaan vah madhurata aur bhadrata ki devi shirian, jo kavasaji ko dekhate hi phool ki tarah khil uthati, mithi-mithi batean karati, chay, murabbe aur phooloan se satkar karati aur aksar unhean apani kar par ghar pahuancha deti. kavasaji ne kabhi man mean bhi ise svikar karane ka sahas nahian kiya; magar unake hriday mean yah lalasa chhipi huee thi ki gulashan ki jagah shirian hoti, to unaka jivan kitana gulazar hota ! kabhi-kabhi gulashan ki katooktiyoan se vah itane dukhi ho jate ki yamaraj ka avahan karate. ghar unake lie kaidakhane se kam jan-leva n tha aur unhean jab avasar milata, sidhe shirian ke ghar jakar apane dil ki jalan bujha ate.   ek din kavasaji sabere gulashan se jhallakar shapooraji ke teres mean pahuanche, to dekha shirian banoo ki aankhean lal haian aur chehara bhabharaya hua hai, jaise rokar uthi ho. kavasaji ne chintit hokar poochha, ‘apaka ji kaisa hai, bukhar to nahian a gaya.‘ shirian ne dard-bhari aankhoan se dekhakar roni avaz se kaha, ‘nahian, bukhar to nahian hai, kam-se-kam deh ka bukhar to nahian hai.‘ kavasaji is paheli ka kuchh matalab n samajhe. shirian ne ek kshan maun rahakar phir kaha, ‘apako maian apana mitr samajhati hooan mi. kavasaji ! apase kya chhipaooan. maian is jivan se tang a gayi hooan. maianne ab tak hriday ki ag hriday mean rakhi; lekin aisa maloom hota hai ki ab use bahar n nikalooan, to meri haddiyaan tak jal jayeangi. is vakt ath baje haian, lekin mere rangile piya ka kahian pata nahian. rat ko khana khakar vah ek mitr se milane ka bahana karake ghar se nikale the aur abhi tak lautakar nahian aye. yah aj koee nee bat nahian hai, idhar kee mahinoan se yah inaki roj ki adat hai. maianne aj tak apase kabhi apana dard nahian kaha,magar us samay bhi, jab maian hans-hansakar apase batean karati thi, meri atma roti rahati thi.‘ kavasaji ne nishkapat bhav se kaha, ‘tumane poochha, nahian, kahaan rah jate ho ?’ 'poochhane se kya log apane dil ki batean bata diya karate haian ?' 'tumase to unhean koee bhed n rakhana chahie.' 'ghar mean ji n lage to adami kya kare ?' 'mujhe yah sunakar ashchary ho raha hai. tum jaisi devi jis ghar ho, vah svarg hai. shapooraji ko to apana bhagy sarahana chahie !' 'apaka yah bhav tabhi tak hai, jab tak apake pas dhan nahian hai. aj tumhean kahian se do-char lakh rupaye mil jayan, to tum yoan n rahoge aur tumhare ye bhav badal jayange. yahi dhan ka sabase b da abhishap hai. oopari sukh-shaanti ke niche kitani ag hai, yah to usi vakt khulata hai, jab jvalamukhi phat p data hai. vah samajhate haian, dhan se ghar bharakar unhoanne mere lie vah sabakuchh kar diya jo unaka kartavy tha aur ab mujhe asantusht hone ka koee karan nahian. yah nahian janate ki aish ke ye saman us tahakhanoan mean g de hue padarthoan ki tarah haian, jo mritatma ke bhog ke lie rakhe jate the.' kavasaji aj ek nayi bat sun rahe the. unhean ab tak jivan ka jo anubhav hua tha, vah yah tha ki stri ant:karan se vilasini hoti hai. us par lakh pran varo, usake lie mar hi kyoan n mito, lekin vyarth. vah keval kharahara nahian chahati, usase kahian zyada dana aur ghas chahati hai. lekin ek yah devi hai, jo vilas ki chijoan ko tuchchh samajhati hai aur keval mithe sneh aur sahavas se hi prasann rahana chahati hai. unake man mean gudagudi-si uthi. misej shapoor ne phir kaha, unaka yah vyapar meri bardasht ke bahar ho gaya hai, mi. kavasaji ! mere man mean vidroh ki jvala uth rahi hai aur maian dharmashastr aur maryada in sabhi ka ashray lekar bhi tran nahian pati ! man ko samajhati hooan kya sansar mean lakhoan vidhavaean nahian p di huee haian; lekin kisi tarah chitt nahian shant hota. mujhe vishvas ata jata hai ki vah mujhe maidan mean ane ke lie chunauti de rahe haian. maianne ab tak unaki chunauti nahian li hai; lekin ab pani sir ke oopar chadh gaya hai. aur maian kisi tinake ka sahara dhooandhe bina nahian rah sakati. vah jo chahate haian, vah ho jayaga. ap unake mitr haian, apase ban p de, to unako samajhaie. maian is maryada ki be di ko ab aur n pahan sakooangi.‘ mi. kavasaji man mean bhavi sukh ka ek svarg nirman kar rahe the. bole –‘haan-haan, maian avashy samajhaooanga. yah to mera dharm hai; lekin mujhe asha nahian ki mere samajhane ka un par koee asar ho. maian to daridr hooan, mere samajhane ka unaki drishti mean mooly hi kya ?’ 'yoan vah mere oopar b di kripa rakhate haian bas, unaki yahi adat mujhe pasand nahian !' 'tumane itane dinoan bardasht kiya, yahi ashchary hai. koee doosari aurat to ek din n sahati.' 'tho di-bahut to yah adat sabhi purushoan mean hoti hai; lekin aise purushoan ki striyaan bhi vaisi hi hoti haian. karm se n sahi, man se hi sahi. maianne to sadaiv inako apana ishtadev samajha !' 'kintu jab purush isaka arth hi n samajhe, to kya ho ? mujhe bhay hai, vah man mean kuchh aur n soch rahe hoan.' 'aur kya soch sakate haian ?' 'ap anuman kar sakati haian.' 'achchha, vah bat ! magar mera aparadh ?' 'sher aur memanevali katha apane nahian suni ?' misej shapoor ekaek chup ho gayian. samane se shapooraji ki kar ati dikhayi di. unhoanne kavasaji ko takid aur vinay-bhari aankhoan se dekha aur doosare dvar ke kamare se nikalakar andar chali gayian. mi. shapoor lal aankhean kiye kar se utare aur muskarakar kavasaji se hath milaya. stri ki aankhean bhi lal thian, pati ki aankhean bhi lal. ek rudan se, doosari rat ki khumari se. shapooraji ne hait utarakar khooanti par latakate hue kaha, ‘kshama kijiega, maian rat ko ek mitr ke ghar so gaya tha. davat thi. khane mean der huee, to maianne socha ab kaun ghar jay.‘ kavasaji ne vyangy muskan ke sath kaha, ‘qisake yahaan davat thi. mere riportar ne to koee khabar nahian di. jara mujhe not kara dijie.‘ unhoanne jeb se notabuk nikali. shapooraji ne satark hokar kaha, ‘aisi koee b di davat nahian thi ji,do-char mitroan ka pritibhoj tha.‘ 'phir bhi samachar to janana chahie. jis pritibhoj mean ap-jaise pratishthit log sharik hoan, vah sadharan bat nahian ho sakati. kya nam hai  mezaban sahab ka ?' 'ap chauankeange to nahian ?' 'bataie to.' 'mis gauhar !' 'mis gauhar !!' 'ji haan, ap chauanke kyoan ? kya ap ise taslim nahian karate ki din-bhar paye-ane-paee se sir marane ke bad mujhe kuchh manoranjan karane ka bhi adhikar hai, nahian to jivan bhar ho jay.' 'maian ise nahian manata.' 'kyoan ?' 'isilie ki maian is manoranjan ko apani byahata stri ke prati anyay samajhata hooan.' shapooraji nakali hansi hanse—‘yahi dakiyanoosi bat. apako maloom hona chahie; aj ka samay aisa koee bandhan svikar nahian karata.‘ 'aur mera khayal hai ki kam-se-kam is vishay mean aj ka samaj ek pidhi pahale ke samaj se kahian parishkrit hai. ab deviyoan ka yah adhikar svikar kiya jane laga hai.' 'yani deviyaan purushoan par hukoomat kar sakati haian ?' 'usi tarah jaise purush deviyoan par hukoomat kar sakate haian.' 'maian ise nahian manata. purush stri ka muhataj nahian hai, stri purush ki muhataj hai.' 'apaka ashay yahi to hai ki stri apane bharan-poshan ke lie purush par avalambit hai ?' 'agar ap in shabdoan mean kahana chahate haian, to mujhe koee apatti nahian; magar adhikar ki bagador jaise rajaniti mean, vaise hi samaj-niti mean dhanabal ke hath rahi hai aur rahegi.' 'agar daivayog se dhanoparjan ka kam stri kar rahi ho aur purush koee kam n milane ke karan ghar baitha ho, to stri ko adhikar hai ki apana manoranjan jis tarah chahe kare ?' 'maian stri ko adhikar nahian de sakata.' 'yah apaka anyay hai.' 'bilakul nahian. stri par prakriti ne aise bandhan laga diye haian ki vah jitana bhi chahe, purush ki bhaanti svachchhand nahian rah sakati aur n pashubal mean purush ka mukabala hi kar sakati hai. haan, grihini ka pad tyag kar ya aprakritik jivan ka ashray lekar, vah sabakuchh kar sakati hai.' 'ap log use majaboor kar rahe haian ki aprakritik jivan ka ashray le.' 'maian aise samay ki kalpana hi nahian kar sakata, jab purushoan ka adhipaty svikar karane vala auratoan ka kal p d jay. qanoon aur sabhyata maian nahian janata. purushoan ne striyoan par hamesha raj kiya hai aur kareange.' sahasa kavasaji ne pahaloo badala. itani tho di-si der mean hi vah achchhe-khase kootaniti-chatur ho gaye the. shapooraji ko prashansa-soochak aankhoan se dekhakar bole to ham aur ap donoan ek vichar ke haian. maian apaki pariksha le raha tha. maian bhi stri ko grihini, mata aur svamini, sabakuchh manane ko taiyar hooan, par use svachchhand nahian dekh sakata. agar koee stri svachchhand hona chahati hai to usake lie mere ghar mean sthan nahian hai. abhi misez shapoor ki batean sunakar maian dang rah gaya. mujhe isaki kalpana bhi n thi ki koee nari man mean itane vidrohatmak bhavoan ko sthan de sakati hai.   mi. shapoor ki gardan ki nasean tan gayian; nathane phool gaye. kursi se uthakar bole achchha, ‘to ab shirian ne yah dhang nikala ! maian abhi usase poochhata hooan apake samane poochhata hooan abhi phaisala kar dalooanga. mujhe usaki paravah nahian hai. kisi ki paravah nahian hai. bevapha aurat ? jisake hriday mean jara bhi sanvedana nahian, jo mere jivan mean jara-sa anand bhi nahian sah sakati chahati hai, maian usake aanchal mean bandh-bandh ghoomooan ! shapoor se yah asha rakhati hai ? abhagini bhool jati hai ki aj maian aankhoan ka ishara kar dooan, to ek sau ek shiriyaan meri upasana karane lagean; ji haan, mere isharoan par nachean. maianne isake lie jo kuchh kiya, bahut kam purush kisi stri ke lie karate haian. maianne ... maianne ...’ unhean khayal a gaya ki vah zaroorat se zyada bahake ja rahe haian. shirian ki premamay sevaean yad ayian, rukakar bole lekin mera khayal hai ki vah ab bhi samajh se kam le sakati hai. maian usaka dil nahian dukhana chahata. maian yah bhi janata hooan ki vah zyada-se-zyada jo kar sakati hai, vah shikayat hai. isake age badhane ki himakat vah nahian kar sakati. auratoan ko mana lena bahut mushkil nahian hai, kam-se-kam mujhe to yahi tajaraba hai. kavasaji ne khandan kiya, ‘mera tajaraba to kuchh aur hai.‘ 'ho sakata hai; magar apake pas khali batean haian, mere pas lakshmi ka ashirvad hai.' 'jab man mean vidroh ke bhav jam gaye, to lakshmi ke tale bhi nahian tal sakate.' shapooraji ne vicharapoorn bhav se kaha, ‘shayad apaka vichar thik hai.‘   kee din ke bad kavasaji ki shirian se park mean mulakat huee. vah isi avasar ki khoj mean the. unaka svarg taiyar ho chuka tha. keval usamean shirian ko pratishthit karane ki kasar thi. us shubh-din ki kalpana mean vah pagal-se ho rahe the. gulashan ko unhoanne usake maike bhej diya tha. bhej kya diya tha, vah roothakar chali gayi thi. jab shirian unaki daridrata ka svagat kar rahi hai, to gulashan ki khushamad kyoan ki jay ? lapakakar shirian se hath milaya aur bole, ‘ap khoob milian. maian aj anevala tha.‘  shirian ne gila karate hue kaha, ‘apaki rah dekhate-dekhate aankhean thak gayian. ap bhi jabani hamadardi hi karana janate haian. apako kya khabar, in kee dinoan mean meri aankhoan se kitane aansoo bahe haian.‘ kavasaji ne shirian banoo ki utkanthapoorn mudra dekhi, jo bahumooly reshami sa di ki ab se aur bhi damak uthi thi, aur unaka hriday aandar se baithata hua jan p da. us chhatr ki-si dasha huee, jo aj antim pariksha pas kar chuka ho aur jivan ka prashn usake samane apane bhayankar roop mean kh da ho. kash ! vah kuchh din aur parikshaoan ki bhoolabhulaiya mean jivan ke svapnoan ka anand le sakata ! us svapn ke samane yah saty kitana daravana tha. abhi tak kavasaji ne madhumakkhi ka shahad hi chakha tha. is samay vah unake mukh par mandara rahi thi aur vah dar rahe the ki kahian dank n mare. dabi huee avaz se bole, ‘mujhe yah sunakar b da du:kh hua. maianne to shapoor ko bahut samajhaya tha.‘ shirian ne unaka hath pak dakar ek beanch par bitha diya aur boli, ‘un par ab samajhane-bujhane ka koee asar n hoga. aur mujhe hi kya garaj p di hai ki maian unake paanv sahalati rahooan. aj maianne nishchay kar liya hai, ab us ghar mean lautakar n jaooangi. agar unhean adalat mean jalil hone ka shauq hai, to mujh par dava karean, maian taiyar hooan. maian jisake sath nahian rahana chahati, usake sath rahane ke lie eeshvar bhi mujhe majaboor nahian kar sakata, adalat kya kar sakati hai ? agar tum mujhe ashray de sakate ho, to maian tumhari banakar rahooangi, tab tak tum mere pas rahoge. agar tumamean itana atmabal nahian hai, to mere lie doosare dvar khul jayange. ab saph-saph batalao, kya vah sari sahanubhooti jabani thi ?’

kavasaji ne kaleja mazaboot karake kaha, ‘nahian-nahian, shirian, khuda janata hai, mujhe tumase kitana prem hai. tumhare lie mere hriday mean sthan hai.‘ 'magar gulashan ko kya karoge ?' 'use talak de dooanga.' 'haan, yahi maian bhi chahati hooan. to maian tumhare sath chalooangi, abhi, isi dam. shapoor se ab mera koee sambandh nahian hai.' kavasaji ko apane dil mean kampan ka anubhav hua. bole, ‘lekin, abhi to vahaan koee taiyari nahian hai.‘ 'mere lie kisi taiyari ki zaroorat nahian. tum sabakuchh ho. taiksi le lo. maian isi vakt chalooangi.' kavasaji taiksi ki khoj mean park se nikale. vah ekant mean vichar karane ke lie tho da-sa samay chahate the, is bahane se unhean samay mil gaya. un par ab javani ka vah nasha n tha, jo vivek ki aankhoan par chhakar bahudha hamean gandhe mean gira deta hai. agar kuchh nasha tha, to ab tak hiran ho chuka tha. vah kis phande mean gala dal rahe haian, vah khoob samajhate the. shapooraji unhean mitti mean mila dene ke lie poora zor lagayeange, yah bhi unhean maloom tha. gulashan unhean sari duniya mean badanam kar degi, yah bhi vah janate the. ye sab vipattiyaan jhelane ko vah taiyar the. shapoor ki jaban band karane ke lie unake pas kafi dalilean thian. gulashan ko bhi stri-samaj mean apamanit karane ka unake pas kafi masala tha. dar tha, to yah ki shirian ka yah prem tik sakega ya nahian. abhi tak shirian ne keval unake saujany ka parichay paya hai, keval unaki nyay, saty aur udarata se bhari batean suni haian. is kshetr mean shapooraji se unhoanne bazi mari hai, lekin unake saujany aur unaki pratima ka jadoo unake besarosaman ghar mean kuchh din rahega, isamean unhean sandeh tha. halave ki jagah chup di rotiyaan bhi milean to adami sabr kar sakata hai. rookhi bhi mil jayan, to vah santosh kar lega; lekin sookhi ghas samane dekhakar to rrishi-muni bhi jame se bahar ho jayeange. shirian unase prem karati hai; lekin prem ke tyag ki bhi to sima hai. do-char din bhavukata ke unmad mean yah sabr kar le; lekin bhavukata koee tikaoo chiz to nahian hai. vastavikata ke aghatoan ke samane yah bhavukata kai din tikegi. us paristhiti ki kalpana karake kavasaji kaanp uthe. ab tak vah ranivas mean rahi hai. ab use ek khaparail ka k aautej milega, jisaki pharsh par kalin ki jagah tat bhi nahian; kahaan varadiposh naukaroan ki palatan, kahaan ek budhiya mama ki sandigdh sevaean jo bat-bat par bhunabhunati hai, dhamakati hai, kosati hai. unaka adha vetan to sangit sikhane vala mastar hi kha jayaga aur shapooraji ne kahian zyada kaminapan se kam liya, to unako badamashoan se pitava bhi sakate haian. pitane se vah nahian darate. yah to unaki fatah hogi; lekin shirian ki bhog-lalasa par kaise vijay payean. budhiya mama jab muanh latakaye akar usake samane rotiyaan aur salan paros degi, tab shirian ke mukh par kaisi vidagdh virakti chha jayegi ! kahian vah kh di hokar unako aur apani kismat ko kosane n lage. nahian, abhav ki poorti saujany se nahian ho sakati. shirian ka vah roop kitana vikaral hoga.   sahasa ek kar samane se ati dikhayi di. kavasaji ne dekha shapooraji baithe hue the. unhoanne hath uthakar kar ko rukava liya aur pichhe dau date hue jakar shapooraji se bole, ‘ap kahaan ja rahe haian ?’ 'yoan hi jara ghoomane nikala tha.' 'shirianbanoo park mean haian, unhean bhi lete jaie.' 'vah to mujhase l dakar ayi haian ki ab is ghar mean kabhi qadam n rakhooangi.' 'aur ap sair karane ja rahe haian ?' 'to kya ap chahate haian, baithakar roooan ?' 'vah bahut ro rahi haian.' 'sach !' 'haan, bahut ro rahi haian.' 'to shayad usaki buddhi jag rahi hai.' 'tum is samay unhean mana lo, to vah harsh se tumhare sath chali jayan.' 'maian pariksha karana chahata hooan ki vah bina manaye manati hai ya nahian.' 'maian b de asamanjas mean p da hua hooan. mujhapar daya karo, tumhare pairoan p data hooan. 'jivan mean jo tho da-sa anand hai, use manavan ke natay mean nahian chho dana chahata.'   kar chal p di aur kavasaji kartavyabhrasht-se vahian kh de rah gaye. der ho rahi thi. socha qahian shirian yah n samajh le ki maianne bhi usake sath daga ki; lekin jaooan bhi to kyoankar ? apane sampadakiy kutir mean us devi ko pratishthit karane ki kalpana hi unhean hasyaspad lagi. vahaan ke lie to gulashan hi upayukt hai. kudhati hai, kathor batean kahati hai, roti hai, lekin vakt se bhojan to deti hai. phate hue kap doan ko raphoo to kar deti hai, koee mehaman a jata hai, to kitane prasann-mukh se usaka adar-satkar karati hai, mano usake man mean anand-hi-anand hai. koee chhoti-si chiz bhi de di, to kitana phool uthati hai. tho di-si tariph karake chahe usase gulami karava lo. ab unhean apani jara-jara si bat par jhuanjhala p dana, usaki sidhi-si batoan ka tedha javab dena, vikal karane laga. us din usane yahi to kaha, tha ki usaki chhoti bahan ki sal-girah par koee upahar bhejana chahie. isamean baras p dane ki kaun-si bat thi. mana vah apana sampadakiy not likh rahe the, lekin unake lie sampadakiy not jitana mahattv rakhata hai, kya gulashan ke lie upahar bhejana utana hi ya usase zyada mahattv nahian rakhata ? beshak, unake pas us samay rupaye n the, to kya vah mithe shabdoan mean yah nahian kah sakate the ki darliang ? mujhe khed hai, abhi hath khali hai, do-char roj mean maian koee prabandh kar dooanga. yah javab sunakar vah chup ho jati. aur agar kuchh bhunabhuna hi leti to unaka kya big d jata tha ? apani tippaniyoan mean vah kitani shishtata ka vyavahar karate haian. kalam jara bhi garm p d jay, to gardan napi jay. gulashan par vah kyoan big d jate haian ? isilie ki vah unake adhin hai aur unhean rooth jane ke siva koee dand nahian de sakati. kitani nich kayarata hai ki ham sabaloan ke samane dum hilayean aur jo hamare lie apane jivan ka balidan kar rahi hai, use katane dau dean.   sahasa ek taanga ata hua dikhayi diya aur samane ate hi us par se ek stri utar kar unaki or chali. are ! yah to gulashan hai. unhoanne aturata se age badhakar use gale laga liya aur bole, ‘tum is vakt yahaan kaise ayian ? maian abhi-abhi tumhara hi khayal kar raha tha.‘ gulashan ne gadgad kanth se kaha, ‘tumhare hi pas ja rahi thi. shamako baramade mean baithi tumhara lekh padh rahi thi. n-jane kab jhapaki a gayi aur maianne ek bura sapana dekha. mare dar ke meri niand khul gayi aur tumase milane chal p di. is vakt yahaan kaise kh de ho ? koee durghatana to nahian hogayi ? raste bhar mera kaleja dh dak raha tha.‘ kavasaji ne ashvasan dete hue kaha, ‘maian to bahut achchhi tarah hooan.‘ ‘tumane kya svapn dekha ?’ 'maianne dekha zaise tumane ek ramani ko kuchh kaha, hai aur vah tumhean baandh kar ghasite liye ja rahi hai.' 'kitana behooda svapn hai; aur tumhean is par vishvas bhi a gaya ? maian tumase kitani bar kah chuka ki svapn keval chintit man ki kri da hai.' 'tum mujhase chhipa rahe ho. koee n koee bat huee hai zaroor. tumhara chehara bol raha hai. achchha, tum is vakt yahaan kyoan kh de ho ? yah to tumhare padhane ka samay hai.' 'yoan hi, jara ghoomane chala aya tha.' 'jhooth bolate ho. kha jao mere sir ki kasam.' 'ab tumhean etabar hi n aye to kya karooan ?' 'kasam kyoan nahian khate ?' 'kasam ko maian jhooth ka anumodan samajhata hooan.' gulashan ne phir unake mukh par tivr drishti dali. phir ek kshan ke bad boli, ‘achchhi bat hai. chalo, ghar chalean.‘ kavasaji ne muskarakar kaha, ‘tum phir mujhase l daee karogi.‘ 'sarakar se l dakar bhi tum sarakar ki amaladari mean rahate ho ki nahian ? ‘maian bhi tumase lanooangi; magar tumhare sath rahooangi.' 'ham ise kab manate haian ki yah sarakar ki amaladari hai.' 'yah to muanh se kahate ho. tumhara roaan-roaan ise svikar karata hai. nahian to tum is vakt jel mean hote.' 'achchha, chalo, maian tho di der mean ata hooan.' 'maian akeli nahian jane ki. akhir sunooan, tum yahaan kya kar rahe ho ?' kavasaji ne bahut koshish ki ki gulashan vahaan se kisi tarah chali jay; lekin vah jitana hi is par zor dete the, utana hi gulashan ka agrah bhi badhata jata tha. akhir majaboor hokar kavasaji ko shirian aur shapoor ke jhag de ka vrittant kahana hi p da; yadyapi is natak mean unaka apana jo bhag tha use unhoanne b di hoshiyari se chhipa dene ki cheshta ki.  gulashan ne vichar karake kaha, ‘to tumhean bhi yah sanak savar huee !’ kavasaji ne turant prativad kiya, ‘qaisi sanak ! maianne kya kiya ?ab yah to iansaniyat nahian hai ki ek mitr ki stri meri sahayata maange aur maian bagalean jh aaukane lagooan !’ 'jhooth bolane ke lie b di akl ki zaroorat hoti hai pyare, aur vah tumamean nahian hai; samajhe ? chupake se jakar shirianbanoo ko salam karo aur kaho ki aram se apane ghar mean baithean. sukh kabhi sampoorn nahian milata. vidhi itana ghor pakshapat nahian kar sakata. gulab mean kaante hote hi haian. agar sukh bhogana hai to use usake doshoan ke sath bhogana p dega. abhi vijnan ne koee aisa upay nahian nikala ki ham sukh ke kaantoan ko alag kar sakean ! muft ka mal u danevale ko aiyashi ke siva aur soojhegi kya ? agar dhan sari duniya ka vilas n mol lena chahe to vah dhan hi kaisa ? shirian ke lie bhi kya ve dvar nahian khule haian, shapooraji ke lie khule haian ? usase kaho shapoor ke ghar mean rahe, unake dhan ko bhoge aur bhool jay ki vah shapoor ki stri hai, usi tarah jaise shapoor bhool gaya hai ki vah shirian ka pati hai. jalana aur kudhana chho dakar vilas ka anand loote. usaka dhan ek-se-ek roopavanh, vidvanh navayuvakoan ko khianch layega. tumane hi ek bar mujhase kaha, tha ki ek jamane mean phraans mean dhanavanh vilasini mahilaoan ka samaj par adhipaty tha. unake pati sabakuchh dekhate the aur muanh kholane ka sahas n karate the. aur muanh kya kholate ? ve khud isi dhun mean mast the. yahi dhan ka prasad hai. tumase n bane, to chalo, maian shirian ko samajha dooan. aiyash mard ki stri agar aiyash n ho to yah usaki kayarata ‘hai latakhorapan hai !' kavasaji ne chakit hokar kaha, ‘lekin tum bhi to dhan ki upasak ho ?’ gulashan ne sharminda hokar kaha, ‘yahi to jivan ka shap hai. ham usi chiz par lapakate haian, jisamean hamara amangal hai, satyanash hai. maian bahut din papa ke ilake mean rahi hooan. charoan taraph kisan aur mazadoor rahate the. bechare din-bhar pasina bahate the, sham ko ghar jate. aiyashi aur badamashi ka kahian nam n tha. aur yahaan shahar mean dekhati hooan ki sabhi b de gharoan mean yahi rona hai. sab-ke-sab hathakandoan se paise kamate haian aur asvabhavik jivan bitate haian. aj tumhean kahian se dhan mil jay, to tum bhi shapoor ban jaoge, nishchay.‘ 'tab shayad tum bhi apane bataye hue marg par chalogi, kyoan ?' 'shayad nahian, avashy.'