दिल की रानी -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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jin vir turkoan ke prakhar pratap se eesaee-duniya kaanp rahi thi, unhian ka rakt aj kustunatuniya ki galiyoan mean bah raha hai. vahi kustunatuniya jo sau sal pahale turkoan ke atank se ahat ho raha tha, aj unake garm rakt se apana kaleja thanda kar raha hai. aur turki senapati ek lakh sipahiyoan ke sath taimoori tej ke samane apani kismat ka phaisala sunane ke liye kh da hai.

taimoor ne vijay se bhari aankhean uthaee aur senapati yajadani ki or dekh kar sianh ke saman garaja- kya chahate ho ziandagi ya maut ?

yajadani ne garv se sir uthakar kaha- ijjat ki ziandagi mile to ziandagi, varana maut.

taimoor ka krodh prachand ho utha. usane b de-b de abhimaniyoan ka sir nicha kar diya tha. yah jabab is avasar par sunane ki use tav n thi . in ek lakh adamiyoan ki jan usaki mutthi mean hai. inhean vah ek kshan mean masal sakata hai. us par itana abhiman ! ijjat ki ziandagi ! isaka yahi to arth hai ki gariboan ka jivan amiroan ke bhog-vilas par balidan kiya jay, vahi sharab ki majalisean, vahi araminiya aur kaph ki pariyaan. nahian, taimoor ne khalipha bayajid ka ghamand isaliye nahian to da hai ki turkoan ko phir usi madaandh svadhinata mean islam ka nam dubane ko chho d de . tab use itana rakt bahane ki kya zaroorat thi . manav-rakt ka pravah sangit ka pravah nahian, ras ka pravah nahian- ek bibhats drishy hai, jise dekhakar aankhean muanh pher leti haian drishy sir jhuka leta hai. taimoor hiansak pashu nahian hai, jo yah drishy dekhane ke liye apane jivan ki bazi laga de.

vah apane shabdoan mean dhikkar bharakar bola- jise tum ijjat ki ziandagi kahate ho, vah gunah aur jahannum ki ziandagi hai.

yajadani ko taimoor se daya ya kshama ki asha n thi. usaki ya usake yoddhaoan ki jan kisi tarah nahian bach sakati. phir yah kyoan dabe aur kyoan n jan par khelakar taimoor ke prati usake man mean jo ghrina hai, use prakat kar de. usane ek bar katar netroan se us roopavan yuvak ki or dekha, jo usake pichhe kh da, jaise apani javani ki lagam khianch raha tha. san par chadhe hue, ispat ke saman usake aang-aang se atul krodh ki chinagariyaan nikal rahi thian. yajadani ne usaki soorat dekhi aur jaise apani khianchi huee talavar myan mean kar li aur khoon ke ghooant pikar bola- jahaanpanah is vakt fatahamand haian lekin aparadh kshama ho to kah dooan ki apane jivan ke vishay mean turkoan ko tatariyoan se upadesh lene ki zaroorat nahian. duniya se alag, tatar ke oosar maidanoan mean n tyag aur vrat ki upasana ki ja sakati hai aur n mayassar hone vale padarthoan ka bahishkar kiya ja sakata hai; par jahaan khuda ne nematoan ki varsha ki ho, vahaan un nematoan ka bhog n karana nashukri hai. agar talavar hi sabhyata ki sanad hoti, to gal kaum romanoan se kahian zyada sabhy hoti.

taimoor zor se hansa aur usake sipahiyoan ne talavaroan par hath rakh liye. taimoor ka thahaka maut ka thahaka tha ya giranevale vajr ka t daka .

‘tataravale pashu haian kyoan ?’

‘maian yah nahian kahata.’

tum kahate ho, khuda ne tumhean aish karane ke liye paida kiya hai. maian kahata hooan, yah kuphr hai. khuda ne insan ko bandagi ke liye paida kiya hai aur isake khilaf jo koee kuchh karata hai, vah kaphir hai, jahannumi hai. rasoolepak hamari ziandagi ko pak karane ke liye, hamean sachcha insan banane ke liye aye the, hamean haram ki talim dene nahian. taimoor duniya ko is kuphr se pak kar dene ka bi da utha chuka hai. rasoolepak ke kadamoan ki kasam, maian beraham nahian hooan jalim nahian hooan, khooankhvar nahian hooan, lekin kuphr ki saza mere eeman mean maut ke siva kuchh nahian hai.

usane tatari sipahasalar ki taraph katil najaroan se dekha aur tatkshan ek dev-sa adami talavar sauantakar yajadani ke sir par a pahuancha. tatari sena bhi talavarean khianch-khianchakar turki sena par toot p di aur dam-ke-dam mean kitani hi lashean zamin par ph dakane lagian.

2

sahasa vahi roopavan yuvak, jo yajadani ke pichhe kh da tha, age badhakar taimoor ke samane aya aur jaise maut ko apani donoan bandhi huee mutthiyoan mean masalata hua bola- ai apane ko musalaman kahane vale badashah! kya yahi vah islam hai,jisaki tabalig ka toone bi da uthaya hai ? islam ki yahi talim hai ki too un bahaduroan ka is bedardi se khoon bahaye, jinhoanne isake siva koee gunah nahian kiya ki apane khalipha aur mulk ki himayat ki.

charoan taraph sannata chha gaya. ek yuvak, jisaki abhi masean bhi n bhigi thian; taimoor jaise tejasvi badashah ka itane khule hue shabdoan mean tiraskar kare aur usaki jaban taloo se n khianchava li jay ! sabhi stanbhit ho rahe the aur taimoor sammohit-sa baitha , us yuvak ki or tak raha tha.

yuvak ne tatari sipahiyoan ki taraph, jinake cheharoan par kutoohalamay protsahan jhalak raha tha, dekha aur bola- too in musalamanoan ko kaphir kahata hai aur samajhata hai ki too inhean katl‍ karake khuda aur islam ki khidamat kar raha hai ? maian tumase poochhata hooan, agar vah log jo khuda ke siva aur kisi ke samane sijada nahian karate, jo rasoolepak ko apana rahabar samajhate haian, musalaman nahian haian to kaun musalaman hai ? maian kahata hooan, ham kaphir sahi lekin tere to haian kya islam janjiroan mean bandhe hue kaidiyoan ke katl ki ijajat deta hai? khuda ne agar tujhe takat di hai, akhtiyar diya hai to kya isiliye ki too khuda ke bandoan ka khoon bahaye ? kya gunahagaroan ko katl karake too unhean sidhe raste par le jayaga? toone kitani beharami se sattar hazar bahadur turkoan ko dhokha dekar surang se u dava diya aur unake masoom bachchoan aur niraparadh striyoan ko anath kar diya, toojhe kuchh anuman hai. kya yahi karaname haian, jin par too apane musalaman hone ka garv karata hai. kya isi katl, khoon aur bahate dariya se too duniya mean apana nam roshan karega ? toone turkoan ke khoon bahate dariya mean apane gho doan ke sum nahian bhigaye haian, balki islam ko j d se khodakar pheank diya hai. yah vir turkoan ka hi atmotsarg hai, jisane yoorop mean islam ki tauhid phailaee. aj sophiya ke giraje mean toojhe allaho akabar ki sada sunaee de rahi hai, sara yoorop islam ka svagat karane ko taiyar hai. kya yah karaname isi layaq haian ki unaka yah inam mile. is khayal ko dil se nikal de ki too khooanreji se islam ki khidamat kar raha hai. ek din tujhe bhi paravaradigar ke samane apane karmoan ka javab dena p dega aur tera koee ujr n suna jayaga; kyoanki agar tujhamean ab bhi nek aur bad ki tamij baki hai, to apane dil se poochh. toone yah jihad khuda ki rah mean kiya ya apani havis ke liye aur maian janata hooan, tujhe jo javab milega, vah teri gardan sharm se jhuka dega.

khalipha abhi sir jhukaye hi tha ki yajadani ne kaanpate hue shabdoan mean arj ki- jahaanpanah, yah gulam ka l daka hai. isake dimag mean kuchh phitoor hai. huzoor isaki gustakhiyoan ko muaph karean . maian usaki saza jhelane ko taiyar hooan.

taimoor us yuvak ke chehare ki taraph sthir netroan se dekh raha tha. aj jivan mean pahali bar use nirbhik shabdoan ko sunane ka avasar mila. usake samane b de-b de senapatiyoan, mantriyoan aur badashahoan ki jaban n khulati thi. vah jo kuchh kahata tha, vahi qanoon tha, kisi ko usamean chooan karane ki takat n thi. unaki khushamadoan ne usaki ahamanyata ko asaman par chadha diya tha. use vishvas ho gaya tha ki khuda ne islam ko jagane aur sudharane ke liye hi use duniya mean bheja hai. usane paiganbari ka dava to nahian kiya, par usake man mean yah bhavana dridh ho gayi thi; isaliye jab aj ek yuvak ne pranoan ka moh chho dakar usaki kirti ka parada khol diya, to usaki chetana jaise jag uthi. usake man mean krodh aur hiansa ki jagah shraddha ka uday hua. usaki aankhoan ka ek ishara is yuvak ki ziandagi ka chirag gul kar sakata tha . usaki sansar vijayini shakti ke samane yah dudhamuanha balak mano apane nanhe-nanhe hathoan se samudr ke pravah ko rokane ke liye kh da ho. kitana hasyaspad sahas tha; par usake sath hi kitana atm vishvas se bhara hua. taimoor ko aisa jan p da ki is nihatthe balak ke samane vah kitana nirbal hai. manushy me aise sahas ka ek hi srot ho sakata hai aur vah saty par atal vishvas hai. usaki atma dau dakar us yuvak ke daman mean chimat jane ‍ke liye adhir ho gayi. vah darshanik n tha, jo saty mean shanka karata hai. vah saral sainik tha, jo asaty‍ ko bhi vishvas ke sath saty bana deta hai.

yajadani ne usi svar mean kaha- jahaanpanah, isaki badajabani ka khayal n pharamavean.

taimoor ne turant takht se uthakar yajadani ko gale se laga liya aur bola- kash, aisi gustakhiyoan aur badajabaniyoan ke sunane ka pahane ittaphak hota, to aj itane begunahoan ka khoon meri gardan par n hota. mujhe is javan mean kisi pharishte ki rooh ka jalava najar ata hai, jo mujh jaise gumarahoan ko sachcha rasta dikhane ke liye bheji gayi hai. mere dost, tum khushanasib ho ki aise pharishta-siphat bete ke bap ho. kya maian usaka nam poochh sakata hooan.

yajadani pahale atashaparast tha, pichhe musalaman ho gaya tha; par abhi tak kabhi-kabhi usake man mean shankaean uthati rahati thian ki usane kyoan islam kabool kiya. jo kaidi phaansi ke takhte par kh da sookha ja raha tha ki ek kshan mean rassi usaki gardan mean p degi aur vah latakata rah jayaga, use jaise kisi pharishte ne god mean le liya. vah gadh‍gadh‍ kanth se bola- use habib kahate haian.

taimoor ne yuvak ke samane jakar usaka hath pak d liya aur use aankhoan se lagata hua bola- mere javan dost, tum sachamuch khuda ke habib ho, maian vah gunahagar hooan, jisane apani jahalat mean hamesha apane gunahoan ko savab samajha, isaliye ki mujhase kaha jata tha, teri jat beaib hai. aj moojhe yah maloom hua ki mere hathoan islam ko kitana nukasan pahuancha. aj se maian tumhara hi daman pak data hooan. tumhian mere khijr, tumhian mere rahanuma ho. mujhe yakin ho gaya ki tumhare hi vasile se maian khuda ki daragah tak pahuanch sakata hooan.

yah kahate hue usane yuvak ke chehare par najar dali, to us par sharm ki lali chhayi huee thi. us kathorata ki jagah madhur sankoch jhalak raha tha.

yuvak ne sir jhukakar kaha- yah huzoor ki kadaradani hai, varana meri kya hasti hai.

taimoor ne use khianchakar apani bagal ke takht par bitha diya aur apane senapati ko hukm diya, sare turk kaidi chho d diye jayean unake hathiyar vapas kar diye jayan aur jo mal loota gaya hai, vah sipahiyoan mean barabar baant diya jay.

vajir to idhar is hukm ki tamil karane laga, udhar taimoor habib ka hath pak de hue apane kheme mean gaya aur donoan mehamanoan ki davat ka prabandh karane laga. aur jab bhojan samapt ho gaya, to usane apane jivan ki sari katha ro-rokar kah sunaee, jo adi se aant tak mishrit pashuta aur barbarata ke krityoan se bhari huee thi. aur usane yah sab kuchh is bhram mean kiya ki vah eeshvariy adesh ka palan kar raha hai. vah khuda ko kaun muanh dikhayega. rote-rote usaki hichakiyaan bandh gayian.

aant mean usane habib se kaha- mere javan dost ab mera be da ap hi par laga sakate haian. apane mujhe rah dikhaee hai to manzil par pahuanchaie. meri badashahat ko ab ap hi sanbhal sakate haian. mujhe ab maloom ho gaya ki maian use tabahi ke raste par liye jata tha . meri apase yahi iltaza (prarthana) hai ki ap usaki vajarat kabool karean. dekhiye , khuda ke liye iankar n kijiega, varana maian kahian ka nahian rahooanga.

yajadani ne araj ki- huzoor itani kadaradani pharamate haian, to apaki inayat hai, lekin abhi is l dake ki umr hi kya hai. vajarat ki khidamat yah kya aanjam de sakega . abhi to isaki talim ke din haian.

idhar se iankar hota raha aur udhar taimoor agrah karata raha. yajadani iankar to kar rahe the, par chhati phooli jati thi . moosa ag lene gaye the, paiganbari mil gayi. kahaan maut ke muanh mean ja rahe the, vajarat mil gayi, lekin yah shanka bhi thi ki aise asthir-chitt adami ka kya thikana ? aj khush hue, vajarat dene ko taiyar haian, kal naraz ho gaye to jan ki khairiyat nahian. unhean habib ki liyakat par bharosa tha, phir bhi ji darata tha ki birane desh mean n jane kaisi p de, kaisi n p de. darabaravaloan mean shadh‍yantr hote hi rahate haian. habib nek hai, samajhadar hai, avasar pahachanata hai; lekin vah tajaraba kahaan se layega, jo umr hi se ata hai.

unhoanne is prashn par vichar karane ke liye ek din ki muhalat maangi aur rukhasat hue.

3

habib yajadani ka l daka nahian l daki thi. usaka nam umm tul habib tha. jis vakt yajadani aur usaki patni musalaman hue, to l daki ki umr kul barah sal ki thi, par prakriti ne use buddhi aur pratibha ke sath vichar-svatantry bhi pradan kiya tha. vah jab tak satyasaty ki pariksha n kar leti, koee bat svikar n karati. maan-bap ke dharm-parivartan se use ashaanti to huee, par jab tak islam ka achchhi tarah adhyayan n kar le, vah keval maan-bap ko khush karane ke liye islam ki diksha nahian le sakati thi. maan-bap bhi us par kisi tarah ka dabab n dalana chahate the. jaise unhean apane dharm ko badal dene ka adhikar hai, vaise hi use apane dharm par aroodh rahane ka bhi adhikar hai. l daki ko santosh hua; lekin usane islam aur jarathushte dharm- donoan hi ka tulanatmak adhyayan aranbh kiya aur poore do sal ke anveshan aur parikshan ke bad usane bhi islam ki diksha le li. mata-pita phoole n samaye. l daki unake dabav se musalaman nahian huee hai, balki svechchha se, svadhyay se aur eeman se. do sal tak unhean jo shanka ghere rahati thi , vah mit gayi.

yajadani ke koee putr n tha aur us yug mean jab ki adami ki talavar hi sabase b di adalat thi, putr ka n rahana sansar ka sabase b da durbhagy tha. yajadani bete ka araman beti se poora karane laga. l dakoan hi ki bhaanti usaki shiksha-diksha hone lagi. vah balakoan ke se kap de pahanati, gho de par savar hoti, shastr -vidya sikhati aur apane bap ke sath aksar khalipha bayajid ke mahaloan mean jati aur rajakumari ke sath shikar khelane jati. isake sath hi vah darshan, kavy, vijnan aur adhyatm ka bhi abhyas karati thi. yahaan tak ki solahavean varsh mean vah fauji vidyalay mean dakhil ho gayi aur do sal ke aandar vahaan ki sabase ooanchi pariksha pas karake fauj mean naukar ho gayi. shastr -vidya aur sena-sanchalan kala mean itani nipun thi aur khalipha bayajid usake charitr se itana prasann tha ki pahale hi pahal use ek hajari manasab mil gaya .

aisi yuvati ke chahanevaloan ki kya kami. usake sath ke kitane hi aphasar, raj parivar ke kitane hi yuvak us par pran dete the , par koee usaki najaroan mean n janchata tha . nity hi nikah ke paigam ate the , par vah hamesha iankar kar deti thi. vaivahik jivan hi se use aruchi thi- ki yuvatiyaan kitane aramanoan se byah kar layi jati haian aur phir kitane niradar se mahaloan mean band kar di jati hai. unaka bhagy purushoan ki daya ke adhin hai. aksar ooanche gharanoan ki mahilaoan se usako milane-julane ka avasar milata tha. unake mukh se unaki karoon katha sunakar vah vaivahik paradhinata se aur bhi ghrina karane lagati thi. aur yajadani usaki svadhinata mean bilakul badha n deta tha. l daki svadhin hai, usaki ichchha ho, vivah kare ya kh‍vaanri rahe, vah apani ap mukhatar hai. usake pas paigam ate, to vah saf javab de deta– maian is bare mean kuchh nahian janata, isaka phaisala vahi karegi. yadyapi ek yuvati ka purush vesh mean rahana, yuvakoan se milana-julana , samaj mean alochana ka vishay tha, par yajadani aur usaki stri donoan hi ko usake satitv par vishvas tha, habi‍b ke vyavahar aur achar mean unhean koee aisi bat najar n ati thi, jisase unhean kisi tarah ki shanka hoti. yauvan ki aandhi aur lalasaoan ke toofan mean vah chaubis varshoan ki virabala apane hriday ki sanpati liye atal aur ajey kh di thi , manoan sabhi yuvak usake sage bhaee haian.

4

kustunatuniya mean kitani khushiyaan manayi gayian, habib ka kitana samman aur svagat hua, use kitani badhaiyaan mili, yah sab likhane ki bat nahian. shahar tabah hua jata tha. sanbhav tha aj usake mahaloan aur bazaroan se ag ki lapatean nikalati hotian. rajy aur nagar ko us kalpanatit vipatti se bachanevala adami kitane adar, prem shraddha aur ullas ka patr hoga, isaki to kalpana bhi nahian ki ja sakati . us par kitane phooloan aur kitane lal-javaharoan ki varsha huee, isaka anuman to koee ‍kavi hi kar sakata hai. aur nagar ki mahilaean hriday ke akshay bhandar se asisean nikal- nikalakar us par lutati thi aur garv se phooli huee usaka muanh niharakar apane ko dhany manati thian . usane deviyoan ka mastak ooancha kar diya tha.

rat ko taimoor ke prash‍tav par vichar hone laga. samane gaddedar kursi par yajadani tha- saumy, vishal aur tejasvi. usaki dahini taraph usaki patni thi, eerani libas mean, aankhoan mean daya aur vishvas ki jyoti bhare hue. bayian taraph ummutul habib thi, jo is samay ramani-vesh mean mohini bani huee thi, brahmachary ke tej se dipt.

yajadani ne prastav ka virodh karate hue kaha– maian apani taraph se kuchh nahian kahana chahata , lekin yadi mujhe salah dene ka adhikar hai, to maian spasht kahata hooan ki tumhean is prastav ko kabhi svikar n karana chahie , taimoor se yah bat bahut din tak chhipi nahian rah sakati ki tum kya ho. us vakt kya paristhiti hogi , maian nahian kah sakata. aur yahaan is vishay mean jo kuchh tikaean hoangi, vah tum mujhase zyada janati ho. yahaan mai maujood tha aur kutsa ko muanh n kholane deta tha par vahaan tum akeli rahogi aur kutsa ko manamane, arop karane ka avasar milata rahega.

usaki patni svechchha ko itana mahatv n dena chahati thi . boli– maianne suna hai, taimoor nigahoan ka achchha adami nahian hai. maian kisi tarah tujhe n jane doogian. koee bat ho jay to sari duniya hanse. yoan hi hansanevale kya kam haian ?

isi tarah stri-purush b di der tak ooanch–nich sujhate aur tarah-tarah ki shankaean karate rahe lekin habib maun sadhe baithi huee thi. yajadani ne samajha, habib bhi unase sahamat hai. iankar ki soochana dene ke liye hi tha ki ‍habib ne poochha– ap taimoor se kya़ kaheange ?

‘yahi jo yahaan tay hua.’

‘maianne to abhi kuchh nahian kaha.’

‘maianne to samajha , tum bhi hamase sahamat ho.’

‘ji nahian. ap unase jakar kah dean mai svikar karati hooan.’

mata ne chhati par hath rakhakar kaha- yah kya gajab karati hai beti. soch to duniya kya kahegi.

yajadani bhi sir thamakar baith gaye , mano hriday mean goli lag gayi ho. muanh se ek shabd bhi n nikala.

habib tyoriyoan par bal dalakar boli- ammijan , maian apake hukm se jau-bhar bhi muanh nahian pherana chahati. apako poora akhtiyar hai, mujhe jane dean ya n dean lekin mulk ki khidamat ka aisa mauqa shayad mujhe ziandagi mean phir n mile. is mauke ko hath se kho dene ka afasos mujhe umr-bhar rahega . mujhe yakin hai ki amir taimoor ko maian apani diyanat, begaraji aur sachchi vafadari se insan bana sakati hooan aur shayad usake hathoan khuda ke bando ka khoon itani kasarat se n bahe. vah diler hai, magar beraham nahian . koee diler adami beraham nahian ho sakata . usane ab tak jo kuchh kiya hai, mazahab ke aandhe josh mean kiya hai. aj khuda ne mujhe vah mauqa diya hai ki maian use dikha dooan ki mazahab khidamat ka nam hai, loot aur katl ka nahian. apane bare mean mujhe mutalak aandesha nahian hai. mai apani hiphajat ap kar sakati hooan . mujhe dava hai ki apane pharj ko nekaniyati se ada karake maian dushmanoan ki juban bhi band kar sakati hooan, aur man lijie mujhe nakami bhi ho, to kya sachaee aur hak ke liye kurban ho jana ziandagian ki sabase shanadar fatah nahian hai. ab tak maianne jis usool par ziandagi basar ki hai, usane mujhe dhokha nahian diya aur usi ke phaij se aj mujhe yah darja hasil hua hai, jo b de-b do ke liye ziandagi ka khvab hai. mere ajamaye hue dost mujhe kabhi dhokha nahian de sakate . taimoor par meri hakikat khul bhi jay, to kya khauph . meri talavar meri hiphajat kar sakati hai. shadi par mere khayal apako maloom haian. agar mujhe koee aisa adami milega, jise meri rooh kabool karati ho, jisaki jat apani hastik ko khokar maian apani rooh ko ooancha utha sakooan, to maian usake kadamoan par girakar apane ko usaki najar kar doogian.

yajadani ne khush hokar beti ko gale laga liya . usaki stri itani jald ashvast n ho saki. vah kisi tarah beti ko akeli n chho degi . usake sath vah bhi jayagi.

5

kee mahine gujar gaye. yuvak habib taimoor ka vajir hai, lekin vastav mean vahi badashah hai. taimoor usi ki aankhoan se dekhata hai, usi ke kanoan se sunata hai aur usi ki akl se sochata hai. vah chahata hai, habib athoan pahar usake pas rahe. usake samipy mean use svarg ka-sa sukh milata hai. samarakand mean ek prani bhi aisa nahian, jo usase jalata ho. usake bartav ne sabhi ko mugdh‍ kar liya hai, kyoanki vah insaph se jau-bhar bhi qadam nahian hatata. jo log usake hathoan chalati huee nyay ki chakki mean pis jate haian, ve bhi usase sadh‍bhav hi rakhate haian, kyoanki vah nyay ko zaroorat se zyada katu nahian hone deta.

sandhya ho gayi thi. rajy karmachari ja chuke the . shamadan mean mom ki battiyaan jal rahi thian. agar ki sugandh se sara divanakhana mahak raha tha. habib uthane hi ko tha ki chobadar ne khabar di- huzoor jahaanpanah tashariph la rahe haian.

habib is khabar se kuchh prasann nahian hua. any mantriyoan ki bhaanti vah taimoor ki sohabat ka bhookha nahian hai. vah hamesha taimoor se door rahane ki cheshta karata hai. aisa shayad hi kabhi hua ho ki usane shahi dastarakhan par bhojan kiya ho. taimoor ki majalisoan mean bhi vah kabhi sharik nahian hota. use jab shaanti milati hai, tab ekaant mean apani mata ke pas baithakar din-bhar ka majara usase kahata hai aur vah us par apani pasand ki muhar laga deti hai.

usane dvar par jakar taimoor ka svagat kiya. taimoor ne masanad par baithate hue kaha- mujhe tajjub hota hai ki tum is javani mean jahidoan ki-si ziandagi kaise basar karate ho ‍habib . khuda ne tumhean vah husn diya hai ki hasin-se-hasin najanin bhi tumhari mashook banakar apane ko khushanasib samajhegi. maloom nahian tumhean khabar hai ya nahian, jab tum apane mushki gho de par savar hokar nikalate ho to samarakand ki khi dakiyoan par hajaroan aankhean tumhari ek jhalak dekhane ke liye muantajir baithi rahati haian, par tumhean kisi taraph aankhean uthate nahian dekha . mera khuda gavah hai, mai kitana chahata hooan ki tumhare kadamoan ke nakshe par chalooan; par duniya meri gardan nahian chho dati. maian chahata hooan jaise tum duniya mean rahakar bhi duniya se alag rahate ho , vaise maian bhi rahooan lekin mere pas n vah dil hai n vah dimag . maian hamesha apane-ap par, sari duniya par daant pisata rahata hooan. jaise mujhe haradam khoon ki pyas lagi rahati hai, jise tum bujhane nahian dete , aur yah janate hue bhi ki tum jo kuchh karate ho, usase behatar koee doosara nahian kar sakata , maian apane gusse ko kaboo mean nahian kar sakata . tum jidhar se nikalate ho, muhabh‍bat aur roshani phaila dete ho. jisako tumhara dushman hona chahie , vah tumhara dost hai. maian jidhar se nikalata hooan napharat aur shubaha phailata hua nikalata hooan. jise mera dost hona chahie vah bhi mera dushman hai. duniya mean bas ek hi jagah hai, jahaan mujhe aphiyat milati hai. agar tum mujhe samajhate ho, yah taj aur takht mere raste ke ro de hai, to khuda ki kasam, maian aj in par lat mar dooan. maian aj tumhare pas yahi darakhvast lekar aya hooan ki tum mujhe vah rasta dikhao , jisase mai sachchi khushi pa sakooan . mai chahata hooan , tum isi mahal mean raho taki maian tumase sachchi ziandagi ka sabak sikhooan.

habib ka hriday dhak se ho utha . kahian amir par naritv ka rahasy khul to nahian gaya. usaki samajh mean n aya ki use kya javab de. usaka komal hriday taimoor ki is karoon atmaglani par dravit ho gaya . jisake nam se duniya kaanpati hai, vah usake samane ek dayaniy prani bana hua usase prakash ki bhiksha maang raha hai. taimoor ki us kathor vikrit shushk hiansatmak mudra mean use ek snigdh madhur jyoti dikhaee di, mano usaka jagrat vivek bhitar se jhaank raha ho. use apana sthir ‍jivan, jisamean oopar uthane ki smriti hi n rahi thi, is viphal udyog ke samane tuchchh jan p da.

usane mugdh kanth se kaha- hajoor is gulam ki itani kadr karate hai, yah meri khushanasibi hai, lekin mera shahi mahal mean rahana munasib nahian .

taimoor ne poochha– kyoan

‘isaliye ki jahaan daulat zyada hoti hai, vahaan dake p date haian aur jahaan kadr zyada hoti hai , vahaan dushman bhi zyada hote hai.’

‘tumhara bhi koee dushman ho sakata hai.’

‘mai khud apana dushman ho jaooanga. adami ka sabase b da dushman garoor hai.’

taimoor ko jaise koee ratn mil gaya. use apani manahtushti ka abhas hua. adami ka sabase b da dushman garoor hai is vaky ko man-hi-man dohara kar usane kaha- tum mere kaboo mean kabhi n aoge habib. tum vah parianda ho, jo asaman mean hi u d sakata hai. use sone ke pianj de mean bhi rakhana chaho to ph daph data rahega. khair, khuda haphij.

vah turant apane mahal ki or chala, mano us ratn ko surakshit sthan mean rakh dena chahata ho. yah vaky pahali bar usane n suna tha par aj isase jo jnan, jo adesh jo satprerana use mili, vah kabhi n mili thi.

6

istakhar ke ilake se bagavat ki khabar ayi hai. habib ko shanka hai ki taimoor vahaan pahuanchakar kahian katleam n kar de. vah shaantimay upayoan se is vidroh ko thanda karake taimoor ko dikhana chahata hai ki sadh‍bhavana mean kitani shakti hai. taimoor use is muhim par nahian bhejana chahata lekin habib ke agrah ke samane ‍bebas hai. habib ko jab aur koee yukti n soojhi to usane kaha- gulam ke rahate hue huzoor apani jan khatare mean dalean yah nahian ho sakata .

taimoor muskaraya- meri jan ki tumhari jan ke mukabale mean koee hakikat nahian hai habi‍b .phir maianne to kabhi jan ki paravah n ki. maianne duniya mean katl aur loot ke siva aur kya yadagar chho di. mere mar jane par duniya mere nam ko royegi nahian, yakin mano. mere jaise lutere hamesha paida hote raheange , lekin khuda n kare, tumhare dushmanoan ko kuchh ho gaya, to yah saltanat khak mean mil jayagi, aur tab mujhe bhi sine mean khanjar chubha lene ke siva aur koee rasta n rahega. mai nahian kah sakata habib tumase maianne kitana paya. kash, das-paanch sal pahale tum mujhe mil jate, to taimoor tarikh mean itana roosiyah n hota. aj agar zaroorat p de, to maian apane jaise sau taimooroan ko tumhare oopar nisar kar dooan . yahi samajh lo ki meri rooh‍ ko apane sath liye ja rahe ho. aj mai tumase kahata hooan habib ki mujhe tumase ishk hai ise maian ab jan paya hooan . magar isamean kya buraee hai ki mai bhi tumhare sath chalooan.

habib ne dh dakate hue hriday se kaha- agar maian apaki zaroorat samajhooanga to ittala dooanga.

taimoor ne dadhi par hath rakhakar kaha- jaisi tumhari marzi lekin rojana kasid bhejate rahana, varana shayad maian bechain hokar chala aooan.

taimoor ne kitani muhabbat se habib ke saphar ki taiyariyaan ki. tarah-tarah ke aram aur takalluph ki chizean usake liye jama kian. us kohistan mean yah chizean kahaan mileangi. vah aisa sanlagn tha, manoan mata apani l daki ko sasural bhej rahi ho.

jis vakt habib fauj ke sath chala, to sara samarakand usake sath tha aur taimoor aankhoan par roomal rakhe, apane takht par aisa sir jhukaye baitha tha, mano koee pakshi ahat ho gaya ho.

7

istakhar aramani eesaeeyoan ka ilaka tha, musalamanoan ne unhean parast karake vahaan apana adhikar jama liya tha aur aise niyam bana diye the, jisase eesaiyoan ko pag-pag apani paradhinata ka smaran hota rahata tha. pahala niyam jajie ka tha, jo harek eesaee ko dena p data ‍tha, jisase musalaman mukt the. doosara niyam yah tha ki girajoan mean ghanta n baje. tisara niyam madira ka tha, jise musalaman haram samajhate the. eesaeeyoan ne in niyamoan ka kriyatmak virodh kiya aur jab musalaman adhikariyoan ne shastr-bal se kam lena chaha, to eesaiyoan ne bagavat kar di, musalaman soobedar ko kaid kar liya aur kile par salibi jhanda u dane laga.

habib ko yahaan aj doosara din hai; par is samasya ko kaise hal kare. usaka udar hriday kahata tha, eesaiyoan par in bandhanoan ka koee arth nahian . harek dharm ka saman roop se adar hona chahie , lekin musalaman in kaidoan ko hata dene par kabhi raji n hogean. aur yah log man bhi jaean to taimoor kyoan manane laga. usake dharmik vicharoan mean kuchh udarata aee hai, phir bhi vah in kaidoan ko uthana kabhi manjoor n karega, lekin kya vah eesaiyoan ko saza de ki ve apani dharmik svadhinata ke liye l d rahe haian. jise vah saty samajhata hai, usaki hatya kaise kare. nahian, use saty ka palan karana hoga, chahe isaka natija kuchh bhi ho. amir samajhegean maian zaroorat se zyada badha ja raha hooan. koee mujayaka nahian.

doosare din habib ne pratahkal danke ki chot ailan karaya- jajiya maph kiya gaya, sharab aur ghantoan par koee kaid nahian hai.

musalamanoan mean tahalaka p d gaya. yah kuphr hai, haramaparasti hai. amir taimoor ne jis islam ko apane khoon se siancha, usaki j d unhian ke vajir habib pasha ke hathoan khud rahi hai. paansa palat gaya. shahi fauj musalamanoan se ja mili. habib ne istikhar ke kile mean panah li. musalamanoan ki takat shahi fauj ke mil jane se bahut badh gayi thi. unhoanne kila gher liya aur yah samajhakar ki habib ne taimoor se bagavat ki hai, taimoor ke pas isaki soochana dene aur paristhiti samajhane ke liye kasid bheja.

8

adhi rat gujar chuki thi. taimoor ko do dinoan se istakhar ki koee khabar n mili thi. tarah-tarah ki shankaean ho rahi thian. man mean pachhatava ho raha tha ki usane kyoan habib ko akela jane diya . mana ki vah b da nitikushal hai , ‍par bagavat kahian zor pak d gayi to mutthi-bhar adamiyoan se vah kya kar sakega . aur bagavat yakinan zor pak degi . vahaan ke eesaee bala ke sarakash hai. jab unhean maloom hoga ki taimoor ki talavar mean jang lag gaya aur use ab mahaloan ki ziandagi pasand hai, to unaki himmat dooni ho jayagi. habib kahian dushmanoan se ghir gaya, to b da gajab ho jayaga.

usane apane janoo par hath mara aur pahaloo badalakar apane oopar jhuanjhalaya . vah itana pastahimmat kyoan ho gaya. kya usaka tej aur shaury usase vida ho gaya . jisaka nam sunakar dushman mean kanpan p d jata tha, vah aj apana muanh chhipakar mahaloan mean baitha hua hai. duniya ki aankhoan mean isaka yahi arth ho sakata hai ki taimoor ab maidan ka sher nahian , kalin ka sher ho gaya . habib pharishta hai, jo insa n ki buraiyoan se vakiph nahian. jo raham aur saphadili aur begaraji ka devata hai, vah kya jane insan kitana shaitan ho sakata hai . aman ke dinoan mean to ye batean kaum aur mulk ko taraqqi ke raste par le jati haian par jang mean , jabaki shaitani josh ka toohphan uthata hai in khushiyoan ki guanjaish nahian . us vakt to usi ki jit hoti hai , jo insani khoon ka rang khele, khetoan-khalihanoan ko jalaye , jangaloan ko basaye aur bastiyoan ko viran kare. aman ka qanoon jang ke qanoon se juda hai.

sahasa chobadar ne istakhar se ek kasid ke ane ki khabar di. kasid ne zamin choomi aur ek kinare adab se kh da ho gaya. taimoor ka rob aisa chha gaya ki jo kuchh kahane aya tha, vah bhool gaya.

taimoor ne tyoriyaan chadhakar poochha- kya khabar laya hai. tin din ke bad aya bhi to itani rat gaye.

kasid ne phir zamin choomi aur bola- khudaband vajir sahab ne jajiya muaph kar diya .

taimoor garaj utha- kya kahata hai, jajiya maph kar diya.

‘haan khudaband.’

‘kisane.’

‘vajir sahab ne.’

‘kisake hukm se.’

‘apane hukm se huzoor.’

‘hooan.’

‘aur huzoor , sharab ka bhi hukm de diya.’

‘hooan.’

‘girajoan mean ghante bajane ka bhi hukm ho gaya hai.’

‘hooan.’

‘aur khudaband eesaiyoan se milakar musalamanoan par hamala kar diya.’

‘to mai kya karooan ?’

‘huzoor hamare malik haian. agar hamari kuchh madad n huee to vahaan ek musalaman bhi jianda n bachega.’

‘habib pasha is vakt kahaan hai.’

‘istakhar ke kile mean huzoor.’

‘aur musalaman kya kar rahe haian.’

‘hamane eesaiyoan ko kile mean gher liya hai.’

‘unhians ke sath habib ko bhi ?’

‘haan huzoor , vah huzoor se bagi ho gaye.’

aur isaliye mere vafadar islam ke khadimoan ne unhean kaid kar rakha hai. mumakin hai, mere pahuanchate-pahuanchate unhean katl bhi kar dean. badajat, door ho ja mere samane se. musalaman samajhate hai, habib mera naukar hai aur mai usaka aka hooan. yah galat hai, jhooth hai. is saltanat ka malik habib hai, taimoor usaka adana gulam hai. usake phaisale mean taimoor dastandaji nahian kar sakata . beshak jajiya muaph hona chahie. mujhe majaj nahian ki doosare mazahab valoan se unake eeman ka tavan looan. koee majaj nahian hai; agar masjid mean ajan hoti hai, to kalisa mean ghanta kyoan baje. ghante ki avaz mean kuphr nahian hai. kaphir vah hai, ja doosaroan ka hak chhin le jo gariboan ko sataye, dagabaj ho, khudagaraj ho. kaphir vah nahian, jo mitti ya patthar ke ek tuk de mean khuda ka noor dekhata ho, jo nadiyoan aur paha doan me, darakhtoan aur jha diyoan mean khuda ka jalava pata ho. vah hamase aur tumase jyakada khudaparast hai, jo masjid mean khuda ko band samajhate haian. too samajhata hai, maian kuphr bak raha hooan ? kisi ko kaphir samajhana hi kuphr hai. ham sab khuda ke bande haian, sab . bas ja aur un bagi musalamanoan se kah de, agar phauran muhasara n utha liya gaya, to taimoor kayamat ki tarah a pahuanchega.

kasid hatabuddhi–sa kh da hi tha ki bahar khatare ka bigul baj utha aur faujean kisi samar-yatra ki taiyari karane lagian.

9

tisare din taimoor istakhar pahuancha, to kile ka muhasara uth chuka tha. kile ki topoan ne usaka svagat kiya. habib ne samajha, taimoor eesaiyoan ko saza dene a raha hai. eesaiyoan ke hath-paanv phoole hue the , magar habib mukabale ke liye ‍taiyar tha. eesaiyoan ke svapn ki raksha mean yadi jan bhi jay, to koee gam nahian. is muamale par kisi tarah ka samajhauta nahian ho sakata. taimoor agar talavar se kam lena chahata hai, to usaka javab talavar se diya jayaga.

magar yah kya bat hai. shahi fauj saphed jhanda dikha rahi hai. taimoor l dane nahian sulah karane aya hai. usaka svagat doosari tarah ka hoga. eesaee saradaroan ko sath liye habib kile ke bahar nikala. taimoor akela gho de par savar chala a raha tha. habib gho de se utarakar adab baja laya. taimoor gho de se utar p da aur habib ka matha choom liya aur bola- maian sab sun chuka hooan habib. tumane bahut achchha kiya aur vahi kiya jo tumhare siva doosara nahian kar sakata tha. mujhe jajiya lene ka ya eesaiyoan se mazahabi hak chhinane ka koee majaj n tha. mai aj darabar karake in batoan ki tasadik kar dooanga aur tab maian ek aisi tajavij bataooanga jo kee din se mere jehan mean a rahi hai aur mujhe umh‍mid hai ki tum use manjoor kar loge. manjoor karana p dega.

habib ke chehare ka rang u d raha tha. kahian hakikat khul to nahian gayi. vah kya tajavij hai; usake man mean khalabali p d gayi.

taimoor ne mooskarakar poochha- tum mujhase l dane ko taiyar the ?

habib ne sharamate hue kaha- hak ke samane amir taimoor ki bhi koee hakikat nahian.

beshak-beshak ! tumamean pharishtoan ka dil hai, to sheroan ki himmat bhi hai, lekin afasos yahi hai ki tumane yah guman hi kyoan kiya ki taimoor tumhare phaisale ko mansookh kar sakata hai. yah tumhari jat hai, jisane mujhe batalaya hai ki saltanat kisi adami ki jayadad nahian balki ek aisa darakht hai, jisaki harek shakh aur patti ek-si khurak pati hai.

donoan kile mean dakhil hue. sooraj doob chooka tha . an-ki-an mean darabar lag gaya aur usamean taimoor ne eesaiyoan ke dharmik adhikaroan ko svikar kiya.

charoan taraph se avaz ayi- khuda hamare shahanshah ki umr daraj kare.

taimoor ne usi silasile mean kaha- dostoan , maian is dua ka hakadar nahian hooan. jo chiz maianne apase jabaran li thi, use apako vapas dekar maian dua ka kam nahian kar raha hooan. isase kahi zyada munasib yah hai ki ap mujhe lanat dean ki maianne itane dinoan tak apake hakoan se apako maharoom rakha.

charoan taraph se avaz ayi- marahaba ! marahaba ! !

‘dostoan, un hakoan ke sath-sa‍th maian apaki saltanat bhi apako vapas karata hooan kyoanki khuda ki nigah mean sabhi insan barabar hai aur kisi kaum ya shakhs ko doosari kaum par hukoomat karane ka akhtiyar nahian hai. aj se ap apane badashah hai. mujhe ummid hai ki ap bhi muslim abadi ko usake jayaj hakoan se maharoom n kareange . magar kabhi aisa mauqa aye ki koee jabir kaum apaki azadi chhinane ki koshish kare, to taimoor apaki madad karane ko hamesha taiyar rahega.

10

kile mean jashn khatm ho chuka hai. umara aur hukkam rukhasat ho chuke haian. divane khas mean sirph taimoor aur habib rah gaye haian. habib ke mukh par aj smit hasy ki vah chhata hai,jo sadaiv ganbhirata ke niche dabi rahati thi. aj usake kapoloan par jo lali, aankhoan mean jo nasha, aangoan mean jo chanchalata hai, vah aur kabhi najar n ayi thi. vah kee bar taimoor se shokhiyaan kar chuka hai, kee bar hansi kar chuka hai, usaki yuvati chetana, pad aur adhikar ko bhoolakar chahakati phirati hai.

sahasa taimoor ne kaha- habib, maianne aj tak tumhari harek bat mani hai. ab mai tumase yah tajavij karata hooan jisaka maianne zikr kiya tha. use tumhean kabool karana p dega.

habib ne dh dakate hue hriday se sir jhukakar kaha- pharamaiye.

‘pahale vayada karo ki tum kabool karoge.’

‘maian to apaka gulam hooan.’

‘nahian, tum mere malik ho, meri ziandagi ki roshani ho, tumase maianne jitana phaij paya hai, usaka aandaja nahian kar sakata . maianne ab tak saltanat ko apani ziandagi ki sabase pyari chiz samajha tha. isake liye maianne vah sab kuchh kiya jo mujhe n karana chahie tha. apanoan ke khoon se bhi in hathoan ko dagadar kiya gairoan ke khoon se bhi. mera kam ab khatm ho chuka. maianne buniyad jama di is par mahal banana tumhara kam hai. meri yahi iltaja hai ki aj se tum is badashahat ke amir ho jao, meri ziandagi mean bhi aur marane ke bad bhi.

habib ne akash mean u date hue kaha- itana b da bojh. mere kandhe itane mazaboot nahian haian.

taimoor ne din agrah ke svar mean kaha- nahian mere pyare dost , meri yah iltaja manani p degi.

habib ki aankhoan mean hansi thi, adharoan par sankoch . usane ahista se kaha- manjoor hai.

taimoor ne praphullit svar mean kaha– khuda tumhean salamat rakhe.

‘lekin agar apako maloom ho jay ki habib ek kachchi– akl ki kh‍vaanri balika hai to ?’

‘to vah meri badashahat ke sath mere dil ki bhi rani ho jayagi.’

‘apako bilkul tajjub nahian hua?’

‘maian janata tha.’

‘kab se ?’

‘jab tumane pahali bar apani jalim aankhoan se mujhe dekha.’

‘magar apane chhipaya khoob !’

‘tumhian ne sikhaya. shayad mere siva yahaan kisi ko yah bat maloom nahian.’

‘apane kaise pahachan liya !’

taimoor ne matavali aankhoan se dekhakar kaha- yah n bataooanga.

yahi habib taimoor ki ‘begam hamida’ ke nam se mashahoor hai