ज्योति -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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vidhava ho jane ke bad booti ka svabhav bahut katu ho gaya tha. jab bahut ji jalata to apane mrit pati ko kosati-ap to sidhar ge, mere lie yah janjal chho d ge . jab itani jaldi jana tha, to byah n jane kisalie kiya . ghar mean bhooni bh aauang nahian, chale the byah karane ! vah chahati to doosarari sagaee kar leti . ahiroan mean isaka rivaj hai . dekhane-sunane mean bhi buri n thi . do-ek adami taiyar bhi the, lekin booti pativrata kahalane ke moh ko n chho d saki . aur yah sara krodh utarata tha, b de l dake mohan par, jo ab solah sal ka tha . sohan abhi chhota tha aur maina l daki thi . ye donoan abhi kisi layaq n the . agar yah tinoan n hote, to booti ko kyoan itana kasht hota . jisaka tho da-sa kam kar deti, vahi roti-kap da de deta. jab chahati kisi ke sir baith jati . ab agar vah kahian baith jae, to log yahi kaheange ki tin-tin bachchoan ke hote ise yah kya soojhi .

mohan bharasak usaka bhar halka karane ki cheshta karata . gayoan-bhaisoan ki sani-pani, duhana- mathana yah sab kar leta, lekin booti ka muanh sidha n hota tha . vah roj ek-n-ek khuch d nikalati rahati aur mohan ne bhi usaki ghu dakiyoan ki paravah karana chho d diya tha . pati usake sir grihasthi ka yah bhar patakakar kyoan chala gaya, use yahi gila tha . bechari ka sarvanash hi kar diya . n khane ka sukh mila, n pahanane-odhane ka, n aur kisi bat ka. is ghar mean kya ayi, mano bhatti mean p d gee . usaki vaidhavy-sadhana aur atript bhog-lalasa mean sadaiv dvandv-sa macha rahata tha aur usaki jalan mean usake hriday ki sari mriduta jalakar bhasm ho gee thi . pati ke pichhe aur kuchh nahian to booti ke pas char-p aauanch sau ke gahane the, lekin ek-ek karake sab usake hath se nikal ge .

usi muhalle mean usaki biradari mean, kitani hi auratean thian, jo usase jethi hone par bhi gahane jhamakakar, aankhoan mean kajal lagakar, maang mean seandur ki moti-si rekha dalakar mano use jalaya karati thian, isalie ab unamean se koee vidhava ho jati, to booti ko khushi hoti aur yah sari jalan vah l dakoan par nikalati, visheshakar mohan par. vah shayad sare sansar ki striyoan ko apane hi roop mean dekhana chahati thi. kutsa mean use vishesh anand milata tha . usaki vanchit lalasa, jal n pakar os chat lene mean hi santusht hoti thi; phir yah kaise sanbhav tha ki vah mohan ke vishay mean kuchh sune aur pet mean dal le . jyoanhi mohan sandhya samay doodh bechakar ghar aya booti ne kaha-dekhati hooan, too ab saan d banane par utaroo ho gaya hai .

mohan ne prashn ke bhav se dekha-kaisa saan d! bat kya hai ?

‘too roopiya se chhip-chhipakar nahian hansata-bolata? us par kahata hai kaisa saan d? tujhe laj nahian ati? ghar mean paise-paise ki tangi hai aur vahaan usake lie pan laye jate haian, kap de rangae jate hai.’

mohan ne vidroh ka bhav dharan kiya—agar usane mujhase char paise ke pan maange to kya karata ? kahata ki paise de, to laooanga ? apani dhoti rangane ko di, usase rangaee maangata ?

‘muhalle mean ek too hi dhanh‍naseth hai! aur kisi se usane kyoan n kaha?’

‘yah vah jane, maian kya bataooan .’

‘tujhe ab chhaila banane ki soojhati hai . ghar mean bhi kabhi ek paise ka pan laya?’

‘yahaan pan kisake lie lata ?’

‘kya tere likhe ghar mean sab mar ge ?’

‘maian n janata tha, tum pan khana chahati ho.’

‘sansar mean ek rupiya hi pan khane jog hai ?’

‘shauk-siangar ki bhi to umir hoti hai .’

booti jal uthi . use budhiya kah dena usaki sari sadhana par pani pher dena tha . budhape mean un sadhanoan ka mahattv hi kya ? jis tyag-kalpana ke bal par vah striyoan ke samane sir uthakar chalati thi, us par itana kutharaghat ! inhian l dakoan ke pichhe usane apani javani dhool mean mila di . usake adami ko mare aj paanch sal hue . tab usaki chadhati javani thi . tin bachh‍che bhagavanh ne usake gale madh die, nahian abhi vah hai kai din ki . chahati to aj vah bhi oth lal kie, paanv mean mahavar lagae, anavat-bichhue pahane matakati phirati . yah sab kuchh usane in l dakoan ke karan tyag diya aur aj mohan use budhiya kahata hai! rupiya usake samane kh di kar di jae, to chuhiya-si lage . phir bhi vah javan hai, aair booti budhiya hai!

boli-haan aur kya . mere lie to ab phate chith de pahanane ke din haian . jab tera bap mara to maian rupiya se do hi char sal b di thi . us vakt koee ghar leti to, tum logoan ka kahian pata n lagata . gali-gali bhikh maangate phirate . lekin maian kah deti hooan, agar too phir usase bola to ya to too hi ghar mean rahega ya maian hi rahooangi .

mohan ne darate-darate kaha—maian use bat de chuka hooan amma!

‘kaisi bat ?’

‘sagaee ki.’

‘agar rupiya mere ghar mean ayi to jhadoo marakar nikal dooangi . yah sab usaki maan ki maya hai . vah kutani mere l dake ko mujhase chhine leti hai. raan d se itana bhi nahian dekha jata . chahati hai ki use saut banakar chhati par baitha de.’

mohan ne vyathit kanth mean kaha,ammaan, eeshvar ke lie chup raho . kyoan apana pani ap kho rahi ho . maianne to samajha tha, char din mean maina apane ghar chali jaegi, tum akeli p d jaogi . isalie use lane ki bat soch raha tha . agar tumhean bura lagata hai to jane do .

‘too aj se yahian aangan mean soya kar.’

‘aur gayean-bhaiansean bahar p di raheangi ?’

‘p di rahane de, koee daka nahian p da jata.’

‘mujh par tujhe itana sandeh hai ?’

‘haan !’

‘to maian yahaan n soooanga.’

‘to nikal ja ghar se.’

‘haan, teri yahi ichchha hai to nikal jaooanga.’

maina ne bhojan pakaya . mohan ne kaha-mujhe bhookh nahian hai! booti use manane n ayi . mohan ka yuvak-hriday mata ke is kathor shasan ko kisi tarah svikar nahian kar sakata. usaka ghar hai, le le. apane lie vah koee doosara thikana dhooandh nikalega. rupiya ne usake rookhe jivan mean ek snigdhata bhar hi di thi . jab vah ek avyakt kamana se chanchal ho raha tha, jivan kuchh soona-soona lagata tha, rupiya ne nav vasant ki bhaanti akar use pallavit kar diya . mohan ko jivan mean ek mitha svad milane laga. koee kam karana hota, par dhyan rupiya ki or laga rahata. sochata, use kya, de de ki vah prasann ho jae! ab vah kaun muanh lekar usake pas jae ? kya usase kahe ki ammaan ne mujhe tujhase milane ko mana kiya hai? abhi kal hi to baragad ke niche donoan mean kesi-kaisi batean huee thian . mohan ne kaha tha, roopa tum itani sundar ho, tumhare sau gahak nikal aeange. mere ghar mean tumhare lie kya rakha hai ? is par rupiya ne jo javab diya tha, vah to sangit ki tarah ab bhi usake pran mean basa hua tha-maian to tumako chahati hooan mohan, akele tumako . paragane ke chaudhari ho jav, tab bhi mohan ho; majoori karo, tab bhi mohan ho . usi rupiya se aj vah jakar kahe-mujhe ab tumase koee sarokar nahian hai!

nahian, yah nahian ho sakata . use ghar ki paravah nahian hai . vah rupinaya ke sath maan se alag rahega . is jagah n sahi, kisi doosare muhalle mean sahi. is vakt bhi rupiya usaki rah dekh rahi hogi . kaise achchhe bi de lagati hai. kahian ammaan sun pavean ki vah rat ko rupiya ke dvar par gaya tha, to paran hi de dean. de dean paran! apane bhag to nahian bakhanatian ki aisi devi bahoo mili jati hai. n jane kyoan rupiya se itana chidhati hai. vah jara pan kha leti hai, jara sa di rangakar pahanati hai. bas, yahi to.

choo diyoan ki jhankar sunaee di. rupiya a rahi hai! ha; vahi hai.

rupiya usake sirahane akar boli-so ge kya mohan ? gh di-bhar se tumhari rah dekh rahi hooan. aye kyoan nahian ?

mohan niand ka makkar kie p da raha.

rupiya ne usaka sir hilakar phir kaha-kya so ge mohan ?

un komal uangaliyoan ke sparsh mean kya sidghi thi, kaun jane . mohan ki sari atma unmatt ho uthi. usake pran mano bahar nikalakar rupiya ke charanoan mean samarpit ho jane ke lie uchhal p de. devi varadan ke lie samane kh di hai. sara vishv jaise nach raha hai. use maloom hua jaise usaka sharir lupt ho gaya hai, keval vah ek madhur svar ki bhaanti vishv ki god mean chipata hua usake sath nrity kar raha hai .

rupiya ne kaha-abhi se so ge kya ji ?

mohan bola-haan, jara niand a gee thi roopa. tum is vakt kya karane ayian? kahian amma dekh lean, to mujhe mar hi dalean.

‘tum aj aye kyoan nahian?’

‘aj ammaan se l daee ho gee.’

‘kya kahati thian?’

‘kahati thian, rupiya se bolega to maian paran de dooangi.’

‘tumane poochha nahian, rupiya se kyoan chidhati ho ?’

‘ab unaki bat kya kahooan roopa? vah kisi ka khana-pahanana nahian dekh sakatian. ab mujhe tumase door rahana p dega.’

mera ji to n manega.’

‘aisi bat karogi, to maian tumhean lekar bhag jaooanga.’

‘tum mere pas ek bar roj aya karo. bas, aur maian kuchh nahian chahati.’

‘aur ammaan jo big deangi.’

‘to maian samajh gee. tum mujhe pyar nahian karate.

‘mera bas hota, to tumako apane paran mean rakh leta.’

isi samay ghar ke kiva d khatake . rupiya bhag gee.

2

mohan doosare din sokar utha to usake hriday mean anand ka sagar-sa bhara hua tha. vah sohan ko barabar daantata rahata tha. sohan alasi tha. ghar ke kam-dhandhe mean ji n lagata tha . mohan ko dekhate hi vah sabun chhipakar bhag jane ka avasar khojane laga.

mohan ne muskarakar kaha-dhoti bahut maili ho gee hai sohan ? dhobi ko kyoan nahian dete?

sohan ko in shabdoan mean sneh ki gandh aee.

‘dhobin paise maangati hai.’

‘to paise ammaan se kyoan nahian maang lete ?’

‘ammaan kaun paise diye deti hai ?’

‘to mujhase le lo!’

yah kahakar usane ek ikanni usaki or pheank di. sohan prasann ho gaya. bhaee aur mata donoan hi use dhikkarate rahate the. bahut dinoan bad aj use sneh ki madhurata ka svad mila. ikanni utha li aur dhoti ko vahian chho dakar gay ko kholakar le chal.

mohan ne kaha-rahane do, maian ise liye jata hooan.

sohan ne pagahiya mohan ko dekar phir poochha-tumhare lie chilam rakh laooan ?

jivan mean aj pahali bar sohan ne bhaee ke prati aisa sadh‍bhav prakat kiya tha. isamean kya rahasy hai, yah mohan ki samajh mean nahian aya. bola-ag ho to rakh ao.

maina sir ke bal khele aangan mean baithi gharauanda bana rahi thi. mohan ko dekhate hi usane gharauanda biga d diya aur aanchal se bal chhipakar rasoeedhar mean baratan uthane chali.

mohan ne poochha-kya khel rahi thi maina ?

maina dari huee boli-kuchh nahian to.

‘too to bahut achchhe gharauande banati hai. jara bana, dekhooan.’

maina ka ruaansa chehara khil utha. prem ke shabd mean kitana jadoo hai! muanh se nikalate hi jaise sugandh phail gee. jisane suna, usaka hriday khil utha. jahaan bhay tha, vahaan vishvas chamak utha. jahaan katuta thi, vahaan apanapa chhalak p da. charoan or chetanata dau d gee. kahian alasy nahian, kahian khinnata nahian. mohan ka hriday aj prem se bhara hua hai. usamean sugandh ka vikarshan ho raha hai.

maina gharauanda banane baith gee .

mohan ne usake ulajhe hue baloan ko sulajhate hue kaha-teri gu diya ka byah kab hoga maina, nevata de, kuchh mithaee khane ko mile.

maina ka man akash mean u dane laga. jab bhaiya pani maange, to vah lote ko rakh se khoob chamacham karake pani le jaegi.

‘ammaan paise nahian detian. gudda to thik ho gaya hai. tika kaise bhejooan?’

‘kitane paise legi ?’

‘ek paise ke batase looangi aur ek paise ka rang. jo de to range jaeange ki nahian?’

‘to do paise mean tera kam chal jaega?’

‘haan, do paise de do bhaiya, to meri gu diya ka byah dhoomadham se ho jae.’

mohan ne do paise hath mean lekar maina ko dikhae. maina lapaki, mohan ne hath oopar uthaya, maina ne hath pak dakar niche khianchana shuroo kiya. mohan ne use god mean utha liya. maina ne paise le liye aur niche utarakar nachane lagi. phir apani saheliyoan ko vivah ka nevata dene ke lie bhagi.

usi vakt booti gobar ka jhaanva liye a pahuanchi. mohan ko kh de dekhakar kathor svar mean boli- abhi tak mataragasti hi ho rahi hai. bhaians kab duhi jaegi?

aj booti ko mohan ne vidroh-bhara javab n diya. jaise usake man mean madhury ka koee sota- sa khul gaya ho. mata ko gobar ka bojh liye dekhakar usane jhaanva usake sir se utar liya.

booti ne kaha-rahane de, rahane de, jakar bhaians duh, maian to gobar liye jati hooan.

‘tum itana bhari bojh kyoan utha leti ho, mujhe kyoan nahian bujala letian?’

mata ka hriday vatsaly se gadagad ho utha.

‘too ja apana kam dekhan mere pichhe kyoan p data hai!’

‘gobar nikalane ka kam mera hai.’

‘aur doodh kaun duhega ?’

‘vah bhi maian karooanga !’

‘too itana b da jodha hai ki sare kam kar lega !’

‘jitana kahata hooan, utana kar looanga.’

‘to maian kya karooangi ?’

‘tum l dakoan se kam lo, jo tumhara dharm hai.’

‘meri sunata hai koee?’

3

aj mohan bazar se doodh pahuanchakar lauta, to pan, kattha, supari, ek chhota-sa panadan aur tho di-si mithaee laya. booti big dakar boli-aj paise kahian falatoo mil ge the kya ? is tarah u davega to kai din nibah hoga?

‘maianne to ek paisa bhi nahian u daya ammaan. pahale maian samajhata tha, tum pan khatian hi nahian.

‘to ab maian pan khaooangi !’

‘haan, aur kya! jisake do-do javan bete hoan, kya vah itana shauq bhi n kare ?’

booti ke sookhe kathor hriday mean kahian se kuchh hariyali nikal aee, ek nanhi-si koanpal thi; usake

aandar kitana ras tha. usane maina aur sohan ko ek-ek mithaee de di aur ek mohan ko dene lagi.

‘mithaee to l dakoan ke lie laya tha ammaan.’

‘aur too to boodha ho gaya, kyoan ?’

‘in l dakoan k samane to boodha hi hooan.’

‘lekin mere samane to l daka hi hai.’

mohan ne mithaee le li . maina ne mithaee pate hi gap se muanh mean dal li thi. vah keval mithaee ka svad jibh par chho dakar kab ki gayab ho chuki thi. mohan ko lalachaee aankhoan se dekhane lagi. mohan ne adha laddoo to dakar maina ko de diya. ek mithaee done mean bachi thi. booti ne use mohan ki taraph badhakar kaha-laya bhi to itani-si mithaee. yah le le.

mohan ne adhi mithaee muanh mean dalakar kaha-vah tumhara hissa hai amma.

‘tumhean khate dekhakar mujhe jo anand milata hai. usamean mithas se zyada svad hai.’

usane adhi mithaee sohan aur adhi mohan ko de di; phir panadan kholakar dekhane lagi. aj jivan mean pahali bar use yah saubhagy prapt hua. dhany bhag ki pati ke raj mean jis vibhooti ke lie tarasati rahi, vah l dake ke raj mean mili. panadan mean kee kulhiyaan haian. aur dekho, do chhoti- chhoti chimachiyaan bhi haian; oopar k da laga hua hai, jahaan chaho, latakakar le jao. oopar ki tashtari mean pan rakhe jaeange.

jyoan hi mohan bahar chala gaya, usane panadan ko maanj-dhokar usamean choona, kattha bhara, supari kati, pan ko bhigokar tashtari mean rakha . tab ek bi da lagakar khaya. us bi de ke ras ne jaise usake vaidhavy ki katuta ko snigdh kar diya. man ki prasannata vyavahar mean udarata ban jati hai. ab vah ghar mean nahian baith sakati. usaka man itana gahara nahian ki itani b di vibhooti usamean jakar gum ho jae. ek purana aeena p da hua tha. usane usamean muanh dekha. othoan par lali hai. muanh lal karane ke lie usane tho de hi pan khaya hai.

dhaniya ne akar kaha-kaki, tanik rassi de do, meri rassi toot gee hai.

kal booti ne saf kah diya hota, meri rassi gaanv-bhar ke lie nahian hai. rassi toot gee hai to banava lo. aj usane dhaniya ko rassi nikalakar prasann mukh se de di aur sadh‍bhav se poochha-l dake ke dast band hue ki nahian dhaniya ?

dhaniya ne udas man se kaha-nahian kaki, aj to din-bhar dast ae. jane daant a rahe haian.

‘pani bhar le to chal jara dekhooan, daant hi haian ki kuchh aur phasad hai. kisi ki najar-vajar to nahian lagi ?’

‘ab kya jane kaki, kaun jane kisi ki aankh phooti ho?’

‘choanchal l dakoan ko najar ka b da dar rahata hai.’

‘jisane chumakarakar bulaya, jhat usaki god mean chala jata hai. aisa hansata hai ki tumase kya kahooan!’

‘kabhi-kabhi maan ki najar bhi lag jaya karati hai.’

‘ai nauj kaki, bhala koee apane l dake ko najar lagaega!’

‘yahi to too samajhati nahian. najar ap hi lag jati hai.’

dhaniya pani lekar ayi, to booti usake sath bachh‍che ko dekhane chali.

‘too akeli hai. ajakal ghar ke kam-dhandhe mean b da aandas hota hoga.’

‘nahian kaki, rupiya a jati hai, ghar ka kuchh kam kar deti hai, nahian akele to meri maran ho jati.’

booti ko ashchary hua. rupiya ko usane keval titali samajh rakha tha.

‘rupiya!’

‘haan kaki, bechari b di sidhi hai. jhadoo laga deti hai, chauka-baratan kar deti hai, l dake ko sanbhalati hai. gadhe samay kaun, kisi ki bat poochhata hai kaki !’

‘use to apane missi-kajal se chhutti n milati hogi.’

‘yah to apani-apani ruchi hai kaki! mujhe to is missi-kajal vali ne jitana sahara diya, utana kisi bhaktin ne n diya. bechari rat-bhar jagati rahi. maianne kuchh de to nahian diya. haan, jab tak jiooangi, usaka jas gaooangi.’

‘too usake gun abhi nahian janati dhaniya . pan ke lie paise kahaan se ate haian ? kinaradar sa diyaan kahaan se ati haian ?’

‘maian in bato mean nahian p dati kaki! phir shauk-siangar karane ko kisaka ji nahian chahata ? khane-pahanane ki yahi to umir hai.’

dhaniya ne bachh‍che ko khatole par sula diya. booti ne bachh‍che ke sir par hath rakha, pet mean dhire- dhire uangali g dakar dekha. nabhi par hiang ka lep karane ko kaha. rupiya beniya lakar use jhalane lagi.

booti ne kaha-la beniya mujhe de de.

‘maian dula dooangi to kya chhoti ho jaooangi ?’

‘too din-bhar yahaan kam-dhandha karati hai. thak gee hogi.’

‘tum itani bhalimanas ho, aur yahaan log kahate the, vah bina gali ke bat nahian karati. mare dar ke tumhare pas n ayi.’

booti muskarayi.

‘log jhooth to nahian kahate.’

‘maian aankhoan ki dekhi manooan ki kanoan ki suni ?’ kah to di hogi. doosari l daki hoti, to meri or se muanh pher leti. mujhe jalati, mujhase aianthati. ise to jaise kuchh maloom hi n ho. ho sakata he ki mohan ne isase kuchh kaha hi n ho. haan, yahi bat hai.

aj rupiya booti ko b di sundar lagi. thik to hai, abhi shauk-siangar n karegi to kab karegi? shauk-siangar isalie bura lagata hai ki aise adami apane bhog-vilas mean mast rahate haian. kisi ke ghar mean ag lag jae, unase matalab nahian. unaka kam to khali doosaroan ko rijhana hai. jaise apane roop ki dookan sajae, rah-chalatoan ko bulati hoan ki jara is dookan ki sair bhi karate jaie. aise upakari praniyoan ka siangar bura nahian lagata. nahian, balki aur achchha lagata hai. isase maloom hota hai ki isaka roop jitana sundar hai, utana hi man bhi sundar hai; phir kaun nahian chahata ki log unake roop ki bakhan karean. kise doosaroan ki aankhoan mean chhup jane ki lalasa nahian hoti ? booti ka yauvan kab ka vida ho chuka; phir bhi yah lalasa use bani huee hai. koee use ras-bhari aankhoan se dekh leta hai, to usaka man kitana prasann ho jata hai. zamin par paanv nahian p date. phir roopa to abhi javan hai.

us din se roopa pray: do-ek bar nity booti ke ghar ati. booti ne mohan se agrah karake usake lie achchhi-si sa di mangava di. agar roopa kabhi bina kajal lagae ya berangi sa di pahane a jati, to booti kahati- bahoo-betiyoan ko yah jogiya bhes achchha nahian lagata. yah bhes to ham jaisi boodhiyoan ke lie hai.

roopa ne ek din kaha-tum boodhi kahe se ho gee ammaan! logoan ko ishara mil jae, to bhauanroan ki tarah tumhare dvar par dharana dene lagean.

booti ne mithe tiraskar se kaha-chal, maian teri maan ki saut banakar jaooangi ?

‘ammaan to boodhi ho gee.’

‘to kya tere dada abhi javan baithe haian?’

‘haan aisa, b di achchhi mitti hai unaki.’

booti ne usaki or ras-bhari aankhoan se dadekhakar poochha-achchha bata, mohan se tera byah kar dooan ?

roopa laja gee. mukh par gulab ki abha dau d gee.

aj mohan doodh bechakar lauta to booti ne kaha-kuchh rupaye-paise juta, maian roopa se teri batachit kar rahi hooan.

sanbandhit lekh

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