जुलूस -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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poorn svarajy ka juloos nikal raha tha. kuchh yuvak, kuchh boodhe, kuchh balak jhandiyaan aur jhande liye vandemataramh gate hue mal ke samane se nikale. donoan taraph darshakoan ki divarean kh di thian, mano unhean is lakshy se koee sarokar nahian haian, mano yah koee tamasha hai aur unaka kam keval kh de-kh de dekhana hai.

shanbhoonath ne dookan ki patari par kh de hokar apane p dosi dinadayal se kaha-sab ke sab kal ke muanh mean ja rahe haian. age savaroan ka dal mar-mar bhaga dega.

dinadayal ne kaha-mahatma ji bhi sathiya gaye haian. juloos nikalane se svarajy mil jata to ab tak kab ka mil gaya hota. aur juloos mean haian kaun log, dekho-lauande, laphange, siraphire. shahar ka koee b da adami nahian.

maikoo chattiyoan aur sliparoan ki mala garadan mean latakaye kh da tha. in donoan sethoan ki batean sunakar hansa.

shanbhoo ne poochha-kyoan hanse maikoo? aj rang chokha maloom hota hai.

maikoo-hansa is bat par jo tumane kahi ki koee b da adami juloos mean nahian hai. b de adami kyoan juloos mean ane lage, unhean is raj mean kaun aram nahian hai? bangaloan aur mahaloan mean rahate haian, motaroan par ghoomate haian, sahaboan ke sath davatean khate haian, kaun takaliph hai ! mar to ham log rahe haian jinhean rotiyoan ka thikana nahian. is bakhat koee tenis khelata hoga, koee chay pita hoga, koee gramophon lie gana sunata hoga, koee parik ki sair karata hoga, yahaan aye pulis ke ko de khane ke lie? tumane bhi bhali kahi?

shanbhoo-tum yah sab batean kya samajhoge maikoo, jis kam mean char b de adami agua hote haian usaki sarakar par bhi dhak baith jati hai. lauandoan-laphangoan ka gol bhala hakimoan ki nigah mean kya janchega?

maikoo ne aisi drishti se dekha, jo kah rahi thi-in batoan ke samajhane ka thika kuchh tumhian ne nahian liya hai aur bola-b de adami ko to hami log banate-biga date haian ya koee aur? kitane hi log jinhean koee poochhata bhi n tha, hamare hi banaye b de adami ban gaye aur ab motaroan par nikalate haian aur hamean nich samajhate haian. yah logoan ki takadir ki khoobi hai ki jisaki jara badhati huee aur usane hamase aankhean pherian. hamara b da adami to vahi hai, jo langoti baandhe nange paanv ghoomata hai, jo hamari dasha ko sudharane ke lie apani jan hatheli par liye phirata hai. aur hamean kisi b de adami ki paravah nahian hai. sach poochho to in b de adamiyoan ne hi hamari mitti kharab kar rakhi hai. inhean sarakar ne koee achchhi-si jagah de di, bas usaka dam bharane lage.

dinadayal-naya daroga b da jallad hai. chauraste par pahuanchate hi hantar lekar pil p dega. phir dekhana, sab kaise dum dabakar bhagate haian. maja ayega.

juloos svadhinata ke nashe mean choor chauraste par pahuancha to dekha, age savaroan aur sipahiyoan ka ek dasta rasta roke kh da hai.

sahasa daroga birabal sianh gho da badha kar juloos ke samane a gaye aur bole-tum logoan ko age jane ka hukm nahian hai.

juloos ke boodhe neta ibrahim ali ne age badhakar kaha-maian apako itminan dilata hooan, kisi kism ka danga-phasad n hoga. ham dookanean lootane ya motarean to dane nahian nikale haian. hamara makasad isase kahian ooancha hai.

birabal-mujhe yah hukm hai ki juloos yahaan se age n jane paye.

ibrahim-ap apane aphasaroan se jara poochh n lean.

birabal-maian isaki koee zaroorat nahian samajhata.

ibrahim-to ham log yahian baithate haian. jab ap log chale jayange to ham nikal jayange.

birabal-yahaan kh de hone ka bhi hukm nahian hai. tumako vapas jana p dega.

ibrahim ne ganbhir bhav se kaha-vapas to ham n jayeange. apako ya kisi ko bhi, hamean rokane ka koee hak nahian. ap apane savaroan, sanginoan aur bandookoan ke zor se hamean rokana chahate haian, rok lijie, magar ap hamean lauta nahian sakate. n jane vah din kab ayega, jab hamare bhaee-band aise hukmoan ki tamil karane se saf inkar kar deange, jinaki mansha mahaj kaum ko gulami ki janjiroan mean jak de rakhana hai.

birabal grejuet tha. usaka bap suparianteandeant pulis tha. usaki nas-nas mean rob bhara hua tha. aphasaroan ki drishti mean usaka b da samman tha. khasa gora chitta, nili aankhoan aur bhoore baloan vala tejasvi purush tha. shayad jis vakt vah kot pahan kar oopar se hait laga leta to vah bhool jata tha ki maian bhi yahaan ka rahanevala hooan. shayad vah apane ko rajy karane vali jati ka aang samajhane lagata tha; magar ibrahim ke shabdoan mean jo tiraskar bhara hua tha, usane jara der ke lie use lajjit kar diya. par muamala najuk tha. juloos ko rasta de deta hai, to javab talab ho jayega; vahian kh da rahane deta hai, to yah sab n jane kab tak kh de rahean. is sankat mean p da hua tha ki usane di. es. pi. ko gho de par ate dekha. ab soch-vichar ka samay n tha. yahi mauqa tha karagujari dikhane ka. usane kamar se betan nikal liya aur gho de ko e d laga kar juloos par chadhane laga. use dekhate hi aur savaroan ne bhi gho doan ko juloos par chadhana shuroo kar diya. ibrahim daroga ke gho de ke samane kh da tha. usake sir par ek betan aise zor se p da ki usaki aankhean tilamila gayian. kh da n rah saka. sir pak d kar baith gaya. usi vakt daroga ji ke gho de ne donoan paanv uthaye aur zamin par baitha hua ibrahim usaki tapoan ke niche a gaya. juloos abhi tak shaant kh da tha. ibrahim ko girate dekh kar kee adami use uthane ke lie lapake; magar koee age n badh saka. udhar savaroan ke dande b di nirdayata se p d rahe the. log hathoan par dandoan ko rokate the aur avichalit roop se kh de the. hiansa ke bhavoan mean prabhavit n ho jana usake lie pratikshan kathin hota jata tha. jab aghat aur apaman hi sahana hai, to phir ham bhi is divar ko par karane ki kyoan n cheshta karean? logoan ko khayal aya shahar ke lakhoan adamiyoan ki nigahean hamari taraph lagi huee haian. yahaan se yah jhanda lekar ham laut jayan, to phir kis muanh se azadi ka nam leange; magar pran-raksha ke lie bhagane ka kisi ko dhyan bhi n ata tha. yah pet ke bhaktoan, kiraye ke tattuoan ka dal n tha. yah svadhinata ke sachche svayansevakoan ka, azadi ke divanoan ka sangathit dal tha-apani zimmedariyoan ko khoob samajhata tha. kitane hi ke siroan se khoon jari tha, kitane hi ke hath jakhmi ho gaye the. ek halle mean yah log savaroan ki saphoan ko chir sakate the, magar pairoan mean be diyaan p di huee thian-siddhant ki, dharm ki, adarsh ki.

das-barah minat tak yoan hi dandoan ki bauchhar hoti rahi aur log shaant kh de rahe.

2

is mar-dha d ki khabar ek kshan mean bazar mean ja pahuanchi. ibrahim gho de se kuchal gaye, kee adami jakhmi ho gaye, kee ke hath toot gaye; magar n ve log pichhe phirate haian aur n pulis unhean age jane deti hai.

maikoo ne uttejit hokar kaha-ab to bhaee, yahaan nahian raha jata. maian bhi chalata hooan.

dinadayal ne kaha-ham bhi chalate haian bhaee, dekhi jayagi.

shambhoo ek minat tak maun kh da raha. ekaek usane bhi dookan badhayi aur bola-ek din to marana hi hai, jo kuchh hona hai, ho. akhir ve log sabhi ke lie to jan de rahe haian. dekhate-dekhate adhikaansh dookanean band ho gayian. vah log, jo das minat pahale tamasha dekh rahe the idhar-udhar se dau d p de aur hajaroan adamiyoan ka ek virat dal ghatanasthal ki or chala. yah unmatt, hiansamad se bhare hue manushyoan ka samooh tha, jise siddhaant aur adarsh ki paravah n thi. jo marane ke lie hi nahian, marane ke lie bhi taiyar the. kitanoan hi ke hathoan mean lathiyaan thian, kitane hi jeboan mean patthar bhare hue the. n koee kisi se kuchh bolata tha, n poochhata tha. bas, sab-ke-sab man mean ek dridh sankalp kiye lapake chale ja rahe the, mano koee ghata um di chali ati ho.

is dal ko door se dekhate hi savaroan mean kuchh halachal p di. birabal sianh ke chehare par havaiyaan u dane lagian. di. es. pi. ne apani motar badhayi. shaanti aur ahiansa ke vratadhariyoan par dande barasana aur bat thi, ek unmatt dal se mukabala karana doosari bat. savar aur sipahi pichhe khisak gaye.

ibrahim ki pith par gho de ne tap rakh di. vah achet zamin par p de the. in adamiyoan ka shoragul sun kar ap hi ap unaki aankhean khul gayian. ek yuvak ko ishare se bulakar kaha-kyoan kailash, kya kuchh log shahar se a rahe haian?

kailash ne us badhati huee ghata ki or dekh kar kaha-ji haan, hajaroan adami haian.

ibrahim-to ab khairiyat nahian hai. jhanda lauta do. hamean phauran laut chalana chahie, nahian toofan mach jayaga. hamean apane bhaiyoan se l daee nahian karani hai. phauran laut chalo.

yah kahate hue unhoanne uthane ki cheshta ki, magar uth n sake.

ishare ki der thi. sangathit sena ki bhaanti log hukm pate hi pichhe phir gaye. jhandiyoan ke baansoan, saphoan aur roomaloan se chatapat ek strechar taiyar ho gaya. ibrahim ko logoan ne us par lita diya aur pichhe phire. magar kya vah parast ho gaye the? agar kuchh logoan ko unhean parast manane mean hi santosh ho to ho, lekin vastav mean unhoanne ek yugaantakari vijay prapt ki thi. ve janate the, hamara sangharsh apane hi bhaiyoan se hai, jinake hit paristhitiyoan ke karan hamare hitoan se bhinn haian. hamean unase vair nahian karana hai. phir, vah yah bhi nahian chahate ki shahar mean loot aur dange ka bazar garm ho jay aur hamare dharmayuddh ka aant looti huee dookanean, phoote hue sir hoan, unaki vijay ka sabase ujjval chihn yah tha ki unhoanne janata ki sahanubhooti prapt kar li thi. vahi log, jo pahale un par hansate the; unaka dhairy aur sahas dekhakar unaki sahayata ke lie nikal p de the. manovritti ka yah parivartan hi hamari asali vijay hai. hamean kisi se l daee karane ki zaroorat nahian, hamara uddeshy keval janata ki sahanubhooti prapt karana hai, usaki manovrittiyoan ko badal dena hai. jis din ham is lakshy par pahuanch jayeange, usi din svarajy soory uday hoga.

3

tin din gujar gaye the. birabal sianh apane kamare mean baithe chay pi rahe the. aur unaki patni mitthan baee shishu ko god mean liye samane kh di thian.

birabal sianh ne kaha-maian kya karata us vakt. pichhe di. es. pi. kh da tha. agar unhean rasta de deta to apani jan musibat mean phansati.

mitthan baee ne sir hila kar kaha-tum kam se kam itana to kar hi sakate the ki un par dande n chalane dete. tumhara kam adamiyoan par dande chalana hai? tum zyada se zyada unhean rok sakate the. kal ko tumhean aparadhiyoan ko beant lagane ka kam diya jay, to shayad tumhean b da anand ayega, kyoan? birabal sianh ne khisiya kar kaha-tum to bat nahian samajhati ho !

mitthan baee-maian khoob samajhati hooan. di. es. pi. pichhe kh da tha. tumane socha hoga aisi karagujari dikhane ka avasar shayad phir kabhi mile ya n mile. kya tum samajhate ho, us dal mean koee bhala adami n tha? usamean kitane adami aise the, jo tumhare jaisoan ko naukar rakh sakate haian. vidya mean to shayad adhikaansh tumase badhe hue hoange. magar tum un par dande chala rahe the aur unhean gho de se kuchal rahe the, vah ri javaanmardi !

birabal sianh ne behayaee ki hansi ke sath kaha-di. es. pi. ne mera nam not kar liya hai. sach !

daroga ji ne samajha tha ki yah soochana de kar vah mitthan baee ko khush kar deange. sajjanata aur bhalamanasi adi oopar ki batean haian, dil se nahian, jaban se kahi jati haian. svarth dil ki gaharaiyoan mean baitha hota hai. vah gambhir vichar ka vishay hai.

magar mitthan baee ke mukh par harsh ki koee rekha n najar ayi, oopar ki batean shayad gaharaiyoan tak pahuanch gayi thian ! bolian-zaroor kar liya hoga aur shayad tumhean jaldi taraqqi bhi mil jay. magar begunahoan ke khoon se hath rang kar taraqqi payi, to kya payi ! yah tumhari karagujari ka inam nahian, tumhare deshadroh ki kimat hai. tumhari karagujari ka inam to tab milega, jab tum kisi khooni ko khoj nikaloge, kisi doobate hue adami ko bacha loge.

ekaek ek sipahi ne baramade mean kh de ho kar kaha-huzoor, yah liphapha laya hooan. birabal sianh ne bahar nikal kar liphapha le liya aur bhitar ki sarakari chitthi nikal kar padhane lage. padh kar use mej par rakh diya.

mitthan ne poochha-kya taraqqi ka paravana a gaya?

birabal sianh ne jheanp kar kaha-tum to banati ho ! aj phir koee juloos nikalanevala hai. mujhe usake sath rahane ka hukm hua hai.

mitthan-phir to tumhari chaandi hai, taiyar ho jao. aj phir vaise hi shikar mileange. khoob badh-badhakar hath dikhalana ! di. es. pi. bhi zaroor ayeange. abaki tum ianspektar ho jaoge. sach !

birabal sianh ne matha siko d kar kaha-kabhi-kabhi tum be-sir-pair ki batean karane lagati ho. man lo, maian jakar chupachap kh da rahooan, to kya natija hoga. maian nalayaq samajha jaooanga aur meri jagah koee doosara adami bhej diya jayaga. kahian shubaha ho gaya ki mujhe svarajyavadiyoan se sahanubhooti hai, to kahian ka n rahooanga. agar barkhast bhi n hua to lain ki hajiri to ho hi jayagi. adami jis duniya mean rahata hai, usi ka chalan dekhakar kam karata hai. maian buddhiman n sahi; par itana janata hooan ki ye log desh aur jati ka uddhar karane ke lie hi koshish kar rahe haian. yah bhi janata hooan ki sarakar is khayal ko kuchal dalana chahati hai. aisa gadha nahian hooan ki gulami ki ziandagi par garv karooan; lekin paristhiti se majaboor hooan.

baje ki avaz kanoan mean ayi. birabal sianh ne bahar jakar poochha. maloom hua svarajy valoan ka juloos a raha hai. chatapat vardi pahani, safa baandha aur jeb mean pistaul rakhakar bahar aye. ek kshan mean gho da taiyar ho gaya. kaanstebal pahale hi se taiyar baithe the. sab log dabal march karate hue juloos ki taraph chale.

ye log dabal march karate hue koee pandrah minat mean juloos ke samane pahuanch gaye. in logoan ko dekhate hi aganit kanthoan se ‘vandemataramh’ ki ek dhvani nikali, mano meghamandal mean garjan ka shabd hua ho, phir sannata chha gaya. us juloos mean aur is juloos mean kitana aantar tha ! vah svarajy ke utsav ka juloos tha, yah ek shahid ke matam ka. tin din ke bhishan jvar aur vedana ke bad aj us jivan ka aant ho gaya, jisane kabhi pad ki lalasa nahian ki, kabhi adhikar ke samane sir nahian jhukaya. unhoanne marate samay vasiyat ki thi ki meri lash ko ganga mean nahala kar daphan kiya jay aur mere majar par svarajy ka jhanda kh da kiya jay. unake marane ka samachar phailate hi sare shahar par matam ka parda-sa p d gaya. jo sunata tha, ek bar is tarah chauank p data tha, jaise use goli lag gayi ho aur turant unake darshanoan ke lie bhagata tha. sare bazar band ho gaye, ikkoan aur taangoan ka kahian pata n tha jaise shahar lut gaya ho. dekhate-dekhate sara shahar um d p da. jis vakt janaja utha, lakh-sava lakh adami sath the. koee aankh aisi n thi, jo aansuoan se lal n ho.

birabal sianh apane kaanstebaloan aur savaroan ko paanch-paanch gaj ke phasale par juloos ke sath chalane ka hukm de kar khud pichhe chale gaye. pichhali saphoan mean koee pachas gaj tak mahilaean thian. daroga ne unaki taraph taka. pahali hi katar mean mitthan baee najar ayi. birabal ko vishvas n aya. phir dhyan se dekha, vahi thi. mitthan ne unaki taraph ek bar dekha aur aankhean pher lian, par usaki ek chitavan mean kuchh aisa dhikkar, kuchh aisi lajja, kuchh aisi vyatha, kuchh aisi ghrina bhari huee thi ki birabal sianh ki deh mean sir se paanv tak sanasani-si dau d gayi. vah apani drishti mean kabhi itane halke, itane durbal, itane jalil n hue the.

sahasa ek yuvati ne daroga ji ki taraph dekh kar kaha-kotaval sahab, kahian ham logoan par dande n chala dijiega. apako dekhakar bhay ho raha hai !

doosari boli-ap hi ke koee bhaee to the, jinhoanne us mal ke chauraste par is purush par aghat kiye the.

mitthan ne kaha-apake koee bhaee n the, ap khud the.

bisiyoan hi muanhoan se avajean nikalian-achchha, yah vahi mahashay haian? mahashay apako namaskar hai. yah ap hi ki kripa ka phal hai ki aj ham bhi apake dande ke darshan ke lie a kh di huee haian !

birabal ne mitthan baee ki or aankhoan ka bhala chalaya; par muanh se kuchh n bole. ek tisari mahila ne phir kaha-ham ek jalasa karake apako jayamal pahanayeange aur apaka yashogan kareange.

chauthi ne kaha-ap bilakul aangarej maloom hote haian, jabhi itane gore haian !

ek budhiya ne aankhean chadha kar kaha-meri kokh mean aisa balak janma hota, to usaki gardan maro d deti !

ek yuvati ne usaka tiraskar karake kaha-ap bhi khoob kahati haian, mata ji, kutte tak to namak ka hak ada karate haian, yah to adami haian !

budhiya ne jhalla kar kaha-pet ke gulam, hay pet, hay pet !

is par kee striyoan ne budhiya ko a de hathoan le liya aur vah bechari lajjit ho kar boli-are, maian kuchh kahati tho de hi hooan. magar aisa adami bhi kya, jo svarth ke pichhe aandha ho jay.

birabal sianh ab aur n sun sake. gho da badha kar juloos se kee gaj pichhe chale gaye. mard lajjit karata hai, to hamean krodh ata hai; striyaan lajjit karati haian, to glani utpann hoti hai. birabal sianh ki is vakt itani himmat n thi ki phir un mahilaoan ke samane jate. apane aphasaroan par krodh aya. mujhi ko bar-bar kyoan in kamoan par tainat kiya jata hai? aur log bhi to haian, unhean kyoan nahian laya jata? kya maian hi sabase gaya-bita hooan. kya maian hi sabase bhavashoony hooan.

mitthi is vakt mujhe dil mean kitana kayar aur nich samajh rahi hogi ! shayad is vakt mujhe koee mar dale, to vah jaban bhi n kholegi. shayad man mean prasann hogi ki achchha hua. abhi koee ja kar sahab se kah de ki birabal sianh ki stri juloos mean nikali thi, to kahian ka n rahooan ! mitthi janati hai, samajhati hai, phir bhi nikal kh di huee. mujhase poochha tak nahian. koee fikr nahian hai n, jabhi ye batean soojhati haian, yahaan sabhi bephikr haian, kalejoan aur skooloan ke l dake, mazadoor, peshevar inhean kya chianta? maran to ham logoan ki hai, jinake bal-bachche haian aur kul-maryada ka dhyan hai. sab ki sab meri taraph kaisa ghoor rahi thian, mano kha jayangi.

juloos shahar ki mukhy s dakoan se gujarata hua chala ja raha tha. donoan or chhatoan par, chhajjoan par, jangaloan par, vrikshoan par darshakoan ki divarean-si kh di thian. birabal sianh ko aj unake cheharoan par ek nayi sphoorti, ek naya utsah, ek naya garv jhalakata hua maloom hota tha. sphoorti thi vrikshoan ke chehare par, utsah yuvakoan ke aur garv ramaniyoan ke. yah svarajy ke path par chalane ka ullas tha. ab unako yatra ka lakshy ajnat n tha, pathabhrashtoan ki bhaanti idhar-udhar bhatakana n tha, dalitoan ki bhaanti sir jhuka kar rona n tha. svadhinata ka sunahala shikhar sudoor akash mean chamak raha tha. aisa jan p data tha ki logoan ko bich ke naloan aur jangaloan ki paravah nahian hai. sab us sunahale lakshy par pahuanchane ke lie utsuk ho rahe haian.

gyarah bajate-bajate juloos nadi ke kinare ja pahuancha, janaja utara gaya aur log shav ko ganga-snan karane ke lie chale. usake shital, shaant, pile mastak par lathi ki chot saf najar a rahi thi. rakt jam kar kala ho gaya tha. sir ke b de-b de bal khoon jam jane se kisi chitrakar ki toolika ki bhaanti chimat gaye the. kee hazar adami is shahid ke aantim darshanoan ke lie mandal baandh kar kh de ho gaye. birabal sianh pichhe gho de par savar kh de the. lathi ki chot unhean bhi najar ayi. unaki atma ne zor se dhikkara. vah shav ki or n tak sake. muanh pher liya. jis manushy ke darshanoan ke lie, jinake charanoan ki raj mastak par lagane ke lie lakhoan adami vikal ho rahe haian usaka maianne itana apaman kiya. unaki atma is samay svikar kar rahi thi ki us nirday prahar mean karttavy ke bhav ka lesh bhi n tha-keval svarth tha, karagujari dikhane ki havas aur aphasaroan ko khush karane ki lipsa thi. hajaroan aankhean krodh se bhari huee unaki or dekh rahi thian; par vah samane takane ka sahas n kar sakate the.

ek kaanstebal ne akar prashansa ki-huzoor ka hath gahara p da tha. abhi tak khop di khuli huee hai. sabaki aankhean khul gayian.

birabal ne upeksha ki-maian ise apani javaanmardi nahian, apana kaminapan samajhata hooan.

kaanstebal ne phir khushamad ki-b da sarakash adami tha huzoor !

birabal ne tivr bhav se kaha-chup raho ! janate bhi ho, sarakash kise kahate haian? sarakash ve kahalate haian, jo dake marate haian, chori karate haian, khoon karate haian. unhean sarakash nahian kahate jo desh ki bhalaee ke lie apani jan hatheli par liye phirate hoan. hamari badanasibi hai ki jinaki madad karani chahie unaka virodh kar rahe haian. yah ghamand karane aur khush hone ki bat nahian hai, sharm karane aur rone ki bat hai.

snan samapt hua. juloos yahaan se phir ravana hua.

4

shav ko jab khak ke niche sula kar log lautane lage to do baj rahe the. mitthan baee striyoan ke sath-sath kuchh door tak to ayi, par kvinsapark mean a kar thithak gayi. ghar jane ki ichchha n huee. vah jirn, ahat, raktaranjit shav, mano usake aantastal mean baitha use dhikkar raha tha. pati se usaka man itana virakt ho gaya tha ki ab use dhikkarane ki bhi usaki ichchha n thi. aise svarthi manushy par bhay ke siva aur kisi chiz ka asar ho sakata hai, isaka use vishvas hi n tha.

vah b di der tak park mean ghas par baithi sochati rahi, par apane karttavy ka kuchh nishchay n kar saki. maike ja sakati thi, kintu vahaan se mahine-do mahine mean phir isi ghar ana p dega. nahian, maian kisi ki ashrit n banooangi. kya maian apane gujar-basar ko bhi nahian kama sakati? usane svayan bhaanti-bhaanti ki kathinaiyoan ki kalpana ki; par aj usaki atma mean n jane itana bal kahaan se a gaya. in kalpanaoan ko dhyan mean lana hi use apani kamazori maloom huee.

sahasa use ibrahim ali ki vriddha vidhava ka khayal aya. usane suna tha, unake l dake-bale nahian haian. bechari baithi ro rahi hoangi. koee tasalli dene vala bhi pas n hoga. vah unake makan ki or chali. pata usane pahale hi apane sath ki auratoan se poochh liya tha. vah dil mean sochati jati thi-maian unase kaise milooangi, unase kya kahooangi, unhean kin shabdoan mean samajhaooangi. inhian vicharoan mean doobi huee vah ibrahim ali ke ghar par pahuanch gayi. makan ek gali mean tha, saph-suthara; lekin dvar par hasarat baras rahi thi. usane dh dakate hue hriday se aandar qadam rakha. samane baramade mean ek khat par vah vriddha baithi huee thi, jisake pati ne aj svadhinata ki vedi par apana balidan diya tha. usake samane sade kap de pahane ek yuvak kh da, aankhoan mean aansoo bhare vriddha se batean kar raha tha. mitthan us yuvak ko dekh kar chauank p di-vah birabal sianh the.

usane krodhamay ashchary se poochha-tum yahaan kaise aye?

birabal sianh ne kaha-usi tarah jaise tum ayian. apane aparadh kshama karane aya hooan !

mitthan ke gore mukh de par aj garv, ullas aur prem ki jo ujjval vibhooti najar ayi, vah akathaniy thi ! aisa jan p da, mano usake janm-janmaantar ke klesh mit gaye haian, vah chianta aur maya ke bandhanoan se mukt ho gayi hai.

sanbandhit lekh

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