दो कब्रें -प्रेमचंद

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

ab n vah yauvan hai, n vah nasha, n vah unmad. vah mahaphil uth gee, vah dipak bujh gaya, jisase mahaphil ki raunak thi. vah premamoorti qabr ki god mean so rahi hai. haan, usake prem ki chhap ab bhi hriday par hai aur usaki amar smriti aankhoan ke samane. viraanganaoan mean aisi vapha, aisa prem, aisa vrat durlabh hai aur reesoan mean aisa vivah, aisa samarpan, aisi bhakti aur bhi durlabh. kuanvar ranavirasianh roj bila naga sandhya samay juhara ki qabr ke darshan karane jate, use phooloan se sajate, aansuoan se sianchate. pandrah sal gujar gaye, ek din bhi naga nahian hua. prem ki upasana hi unake jivan ka uddeshy tha, us prem ka jisamean unhoanne jo kuchh dekha vahi paya aur jo kuchh anubhav kiya, usi ki yad ab bhi unhean mast kar deti hai. is upasana mean sulochana bhi unake sath hoti, jo juhara ka prasad aur kuanvar sahab ki sari abhilashaoan ka kendr thi.

kuanvar sahab ne do shadiyaan ki thian, par donoan striyoan mean se ek bhi santan ka muanh n dekh saki. kuanvar sahab ne phir vivah n kiya. ek din ek mahaphil mean unhean juhara ke darshan hue. us nirash pati aur atript yuvati mean aisa mel, mano chirakal se bichhu de hue do sathi phir mil gaye hoan.

jivan ka basant vikas sangit aur saurabh se bhara hua aya magar afasos ! paanch varshoan ke alpakal mean usaka bhi aant ho gaya. vah madhur svapn nirasha se bhari huee jagriti mean lin ho gaya. vah seva aur vrat ki

devi tin sal ki sulochana ko unaki god mean sauanpakar sada ke lie sidhar gee. kuanvar sahab ne is premadesh ka itane anurag se palan kiya ki dekhanevaloan ko ashchary hota tha. kitane hi to unhean pagal samajhate the.

sulochana hi ki niand sote, usi ki niand jagate, khud padhate, usake sath sair karate itani ekagrata ke sath, jaise koee vidhava apane anath bachche ko pale.

jab se vah yoonivarsiti mean dakhil huee, use khud motar mean pahuancha ate aur sham ko khud jakar le ate. vah usake mathe par se vah kalank dho dalana chahate the, jo mano vidhata ne kroor hathoan se laga diya tha. dhan to

use n dho saka, shayad vidya dho dale. ek din sham ko kuanvar sahab juhara ke majar ko phooloan se saja rahe

the aur sulochana kuchh door par kh di apane kutte ko geand khila rahi thi ki sahasa usane apane kalej ke prophesar daktar ramendr ko ate dekha. sakuchakar muanh pher liya, mano unhean dekha nahian. shanka huee kahian ramendr is majar ke vishay mean kuchh poochh n baithean.

yoonivarsiti mean dakhil hue use ek sal hua. is ek sal mean usane pranay ke vividha roopoan ko dekh liya tha. kahian kri da thi, kahian vinod tha, kahian kutsa thi, kahian lalasa thi, kahian uchchhriankhalata thi, kintu kahian vah sahridayata n thi, jo prem ka mool hai. keval ramendr hi ek aise sajjan the, jinhean apani or takate dekhakar usake hriday mean sanasani hone lagati thi; par unaki aankhoan mean kitani vivashata, kitani parajay, kitani vedana chhipi hoti thi ! ramendr ne kuanvar sahab ki or dekhakar kaha, tumhare baba is qabr par kya kar rahe haian ?

sulochana ka chehara kanoan tak lal ho gaya. boli, ‘yah inaki purani adat hai.‘

ramendr –‘qisi mahatma ki samadhi hai ?’

sulochana ne is saval ko u da dena chaha. ramendr yah to janate the ki sulochana kuanvar sahab ki dashta aurat ki l daki hai; par unhean yah n maloom tha ki yah usi ki qabr hai aur kuanvar sahab atit-prem ke itane

upasak haian. magar yah prashn unhoanne bahut dhime svar mean n kiya tha. kuanvar sahab joote pahan rahe the. yah prashn unake kan mean p d gaya. jaldi se joota pahan liya aur samip jakar bole –‘sansar ki aankhoan mean to vah mahatma n thi; par meri aankhoan mean thi aur hai. yah mere prem ki samadhi hai.‘

sulochana ki ichchha hoti thi, yahaan se bhag jaooan; lekin kuanvar sahab ko juhara ke yashogan mean atmik anand milata tha. ramendr ka vismay dekhakar bole isamean vah devi so rahi hai, jisane mere jivan ko svarg bana diya tha. yah sulochana usi ka prasad hai.‘

ramendr ne qabr ki taraph dekhakar ashchary se kaha, ‘achchha !’

kuanvar sahab ne man mean us prem ka anand uthate hue kaha, ‘vah jivan hi aur tha, prophesar sahab. aisi tapasya maianne aur kahian nahian dekhi. apako phurasat ho, to mere sath chalie. apako un yauvan-smritiyoan ...

sulochana bol uthi, ‘ve sunane ki chiz nahian haian, dada !’

kuanvar –‘maian ramendr baboo ko gair nahian samajhata.‘

ramendr ko prem ka yah alaukik roop manovijnan ka ek ratn-sa maloom hua. vah kuanvar sahab ke sath hi unake ghar aye aur kee ghante tak un hasarat mean doobi huee prem-smritiyoan ko sunate rahe. jo varadan maangane ke lie unhean sal bhar se sahas n hota tha, dubidha mean p dakar rah jate the, vah aj unhoanne maang liya.

lekin vivah ke bad ramendr ko naya anubhav hua. mahilaoan ka ana-jana pray: band ho gaya. isake sath hi mard dostoan ki amadarapht badh gee. din bhar unaka taanta laga rahata tha. sulochana unake adar-satkar mean lagi rahati. pahale ek-do mahine tak to ramendr ne idhar dhyan nahian diya; lekin jab kee mahine gujar gaye aur striyoan ne bahishkar ka tyag n kiya to unhoanne ek din sulochana se kaha, ‘yah log ajakal akele hi ate haian !’

sulochana ne dhire se kaha, ‘haan, dekhati to hooan.‘

ramendr –‘inaki auratean to tumase parahej nahian karatian ?’

sulochana –‘shayad karati hoan.‘

ramendr –‘magar ve log to vicharoan ke b de svadhin haian. inaki auratean bhi shikshit haian, phir yah kya bat hai ?’

sulochana ne dabi jaban se kaha, ‘meri samajh mean kuchh nahian ata.‘

ramendr ne kuchh der asamanjas mean p dakar kaha, ‘ham log kisi doosari jagah chale jayan, to kya harj ? vahaan to koee hamean n janata hoga.‘

sulochana ne abaki tivr svar mean kaha, ‘doosari jagah kyoan jayean. hamane kisi ka kuchh biga da nahian hai, kisi se kuchh maangate nahian. jise ana ho aye, n ana ho n aye. muanh kyoan chhipayean.‘

dhire-dhire ramendr par ek aur rahasy khulane laga, jo mahilaoan ke vyavahar se kahian adhik ghrinaspad aur apamanajanak tha. ramendr ko abamaloom hone laga ki ye mahashay jo ate haian aur ghantoan baithe samajik aur rajanitik prashnoan par bahasean kiya karate haian, vastav mean vichar-vinimay ke lie nahian balki roop ki upasana ke lie ate haian. unaki aankhean sulochana ko khojati rahati haian. unake kan usi ki batoan ki or lage rahate haian. usaki roop-madhuri ka anand uthana hi unaka abhisht hai. yahaan unhean vah sankoch nahian hota, jo kisi bhale adami ki bahoo-beti ki or aankhean nahian uthane deta. shayad ve sochate haian, yahaan unhean koee rok-tok nahian hai.

kabhi-kabhi jab ramendr ki anupasthiti mean koee mahashay a jate, to sulochana ko b di kathin pariksha ka samana karana p data. apani chitavanoan se, apane kutsit sanketoan se, apani rahasyapoorn batoan se, apani lambi saansoan se use dikhana chahate the, ki ham bhi tumhari kripa ke bhikhari haian. agar ramendr ka tum par solahoan ana adhikar hai, to tho di-si dakshina ke adhikari ham bhi haian. sulochana us vakt zahar ka ghooant pikar rah jati. ab tak ramendr aur sulochana donoan klab jaya karate the. vahaan udar sajjanoan ka achchha jamaghat rahata tha. jab tak ramendr ko kisi ki or sandeh n tha, vah use agrah karake apane sath le jate the. sulochana ke pahuanchate hi yahaan ek sphoorti-si utpann ho jati thi. jis mej par sulochana baithati, use log gher lete the. kabhi-kabhi sulochana gati thi. us vakt sab-ke-sab unmatt ho jate.

klab mean mahilaoan ki sankhya adhik n thi. mushkil se paanch-chh: lediyaan ati thian; magar ve bhi sulochana se door-door rahati thian, balki apani bhav-bhangimaoan aur katakshoan se ve use jata dena chahati thian ki tum purushoan

ka dil khush karo, ham kul-vadhuoan ke pas tum nahian a sakatian. lekin jab ramendr par is katu saty ka prakash hua, to unhoanne klab jana chho d diya, mitroan ke yahaan ana-jana bhi kam kar diya aur apane

yahaan anevaloan ki bhi upeksha karane lage. vah chahate the ki mere ekaantavas mean koee vighn n dale. akhir unhoanne bahar ana-jana chho d diya. apane charoan or chhal-kapat ka jal-sa bichha hua maloom hota tha, kisi par vishvas n kar sakate the, kisi se sadvyavahar ki asha nahian. sochate aise dhoort, kapati, dosti ki a d mean gala katanevale adamiyoan se milean hi kyoan ? ve svabhav se milanasar adami the. pakke yarabash. yah ekantavas jahaan n koee sair thi, n vinod, n koee chahal-pahal, unake lie kathin karavas se kam n tha. yadyapi karm aur vachan se sulochana ki dilajoee karate rahate the; lekin sulochana ki sookshm aur sashank aankhoan se ab yah bat chhipi n thi ki yah avastha inake lie din-din asahy hoti jati thi. vah dil

mean sochati inaki yah dasha mere hi karan to hai, maian hi to inake jivan ka kaanta ho gee !

ek din usane ramendr se kaha, ‘ajakal klab kyoan nahian chalate ? kee saptah hue ghar se nikalate tak nahian.

ramendr ne bedili se kaha, mera ji kahian jane ko nahian chahata. apana ghar sabase achchha hai.‘

sulochana—‘zi to oobata hi hoga. mere karan yah tapasya kyoan karate ho ? maian to n jaooangi. un striyoan se mujhe ghrina hoti hai. unamean ek bhi aisi nahian, jisake daman par kale dag n hoan; lekin sab sita bani phirati

haian. mujhe to unaki soorat se chidh ho gee hai. magar tum kyoan nahian jate ? kuchh dil hi bahal jayaga.‘

ramendr –‘dil nahian patthar bahalega. jab andar ag lagi huee ho, to bahar shaanti kahaan ?’

sulochana chauank p di. aj pahali bar usane ramendr ke muanh se aisi bat suni. vah apane hi ko bahishkrit samajhati thi. apana anadar jo kuchh tha, usaka tha. ramendr ke lie to ab bhi sab daravaze khule hue the. vah

jahaan chahean ja sakate haian, jinase chahean, mil sakate haian, unake lie kaun-si rukavat hai. lekin nahian, agar unhoanne kisi kulin stri se vivah kiya hota, to unaki yah dasha kyoan hoti ? pratishthit gharanoan ki auratean atian,

apas mean maitri badhati, jivan sukh se katata; resham ka paiband lag jata. ab to usamean tat ka paiband lag gaya. maianne akar sare talab ko ganda kar diya. usake mukh par udasi chha gee. ramendr ko bhi turant maloom ho gaya ki unaki jaban se ek aisi bat nikal gee jisake do arth ho sakate haian.

unhoanne phauran bat banaee –‘kya tum samajhati ho ki ham aur tum alag-alag haian. hamara aur tumhara jivan

ek hai. jahaan tumhara adar nahian vahaan maian kaise ja sakata hooan. phir mujhe bhi samaj ke in rॅge siyaroan se ghrina ho rahi hai. maian in saboan ke kachche chitthe janata hooan. pad ya upadhi ya dhan se kisi ki atma shuddh nahian ho jati. jo ye log karate haian, vah agar koee niche daraje ka adami karata, use kahian muanh dikhane ki himmat n hoti. magar yah log apani sari buraiyaan udaratavad ke parde mean chhipate haian. in logoan se door rahana hi achchha.‘

sulochana ka chitt shaant ho gaya.

doosare sal sulochana ki god mean ek chaand-si balika ka uday hua. usaka nam rakkha gaya shobha. kuanvar sahab ka svasthy in dinoan kuchh achchha n tha. mansoori gaye the. yah khabar pate hi ramendr ko tar diya ki jachcha aur bachcha ko lekar yahaan a jao. lekin ramendr is avasar par n jana chahate the. apane mitroan ki

sajjanata aur udarata ki aantim pariksha lene ka isase achchha aur kaun-sa avasar ho sakata tha. salah huee, ek shanadar davat di jay. program mean sangit bhi shamil tha. kee achchhe-achchhe gavaiye bulaye gaye. aangreji, hindustani, musalamani sabhi prakar ke bhojanoan ka prabandh kiya gaya. kuanvar sahab girate-p date mansoori se aye. usi din davat thi. niyat samay par nimantrit log ek-ek karake ane lage. kuanvar sahab svayan unaka svagat kar rahe the. khaan sahab aye, mirja sahab aye, mir sahab aye; magar panditaji aur babooji aur lala sahab aur chaudhari sahab aur kakk d, mehara aur chop da, kaul aur hukkoo, shrivastav aur khare kisi ka pata n tha. yah sabhi log hotaloan mean sabakuchh khate the, aande aur sharab u date the is vishay mean kisi tarah ka vivek ya vichar n karate the. phir aj kyoan tashariph nahian laye ? isalie nahian ki chhoot-chhat ka vichar tha; balki isalie ki vah apani upasthiti ko is vivah ke samarthan ki sanad samajhate the aur

vah sanad dene ki unaki ichchha n thi.

das baje rat tak kuanvar sahab phatak par kh de rahe. jab us vakt tak koee n aya, to kuanvar sahab ne akar ramendr se kaha, ‘ab logoan ka intajar phajool hai. musalamanoan ko khila do aur baki saman gariboan

ko dila do.‘ ramendr ek kursi par hatbudhdi-se baithe hue the.

kuanthit svar mean bole, ‘zi haan, yahi to maian soch raha hooan.‘

kuanvar maianne to pahale hi samajh liya tha. hamari tauhin nahian huee. khud un logoan ki kalee khul gee.‘

ramendr –‘khair, pariksha to ho gee. kahie to abhi jakar ek-ek ki khabar looan.‘

kuanvar sahab ne vismit hokar kaha, ‘kya unake ghar jakar ?’

ramendr –‘zi haan. poochhooan ki ap log jo samaj-sudhar ka rag alapate phirate haian, vah kis bal par ?’

kuanvar –‘vyarth hai. jakar aram se leto. nek aur bad ki sabase b di pahachan apana dil hai. agar hamara dil gavahi de ki yah kam bura nahian to phir sari duniya muanh pher le, hamean kisi ki paravah n karani chahie.‘

ramendr –‘lekin maian in logoan ko yoan n chhodooanga ek-ek ki bakhiya udho dakar n rakh dooan to nam nahian.‘

yah kahakar unhoanne pattal aur sakore uthava-uthavakar kangaloan ko dena shuroo kiya. ramendr sair karake laute hi the ki veshyaoan ka ek dal sulochana ko badhaee dene ke lie a pahuancha. juhara ki ek sagi bhatiji thi, gulanar. sulochana ke yahaan pahale barabar ati-jati thi. idhar do sal se n aee thi. yah usi ka badhava tha. daravaze par achchhi-khasi bhi d ho gee thi. ramendr ne yah shoragul suna, gulanar ne age badhakar unhean salam kiya aur

boli, ‘babooji, beti mubarak, badhava laee hooan.‘

ramendr par mano lakava-sa gir gaya. sir jhuk gaya aur chehare par kalima-si put gee. n muanh se bole, n kisi ko baithane ka ishara kiya, n vahaan se hile. bas moortivath kh de rah gaye. ek bazari aurat se nata

paida karane ka khyal itana lajjaspad tha, itana jaghany ki usake samane sajjanata bhi maun rah gee. itana shishtachar bhi n kar sake ki saboan ko kamare mean le jakar bitha to dete. aj pahali hi bar unhean apane adh:patan ka anubhav hua. mitroan ki kutilata aur mahilaoan ki upeksha ko vah unaka anyay samajhate the, apana apaman nahian, lekin yah badhava unaki abadh udarata ke lie bhi bhari tha. sulochana ka jis vatavaran mean palan-poshan hua tha, vah ek pratishthit hindoo kul ka vatavaran tha. yah sach hai ki ab bhi sulochana nity juhara ke majar ki parikrama karane jati thi; magar juhara ab ek pavitr smriti thi, duniya ki malinataoan aur kalushataoan se rahit. gulanar se natedari aur paraspar ka nibah doosari bat thi. jo log tasaviroan ke samane sir jhukate haian, un par phool chadhate haian, ve bhi to moorti-pooja ki ninda karate haian. ek spasht hai, doosara saanketik. ek pratyaksh hai, doosara aankhoan se chhipa hua.

sulochana apane kamare mean chik ki a d mean kh di ramendr ka asamanjas aur kshobh dekh rahi thi. jis samaj ko usane apana upasy banana chaha tha, jisake dvar par sijade karate use barasoan ho gaye the, usaki taraph se nirash hokar, usaka hriday is samay usase vidroh karane par tula hua tha. usake ji mean ata tha gulanar ko bulakar gale laga looan ? jo log meri bat bhi nahian poochhate, unaki khushamad kyoan karooan ? yah bechariyaan itani door se aee haian mujhe apana hi samajhakar to. unake dil mean prem to hai, yah mere du:kh-sukh mean sharik hone ko taiyar to haian. akhir ramendr ne sir uthaya aur shushk muskan ke sath gulanar se

bole –‘aie, ap log andar chali aie. yah kahakar vah age-age rasta dikhate hue divanakhane ki or chale ki sahasa mahari nikali aur gulanar ke hath mean ek purja dekar chali gayi. gulanar ne vah purja lekar dekha aur use ramendr ke hath mean dekar vahian kh di ho gee. ramendr ne purja dekha, likha tha,--‘bahan gulanar, tum yahaan nahak aee. ham log yoan hi badanam ho rahe haian. ab aur badanam mat karo, badhava vapas le jao. kabhi milane ka ji chahe, rat ko ana aur akeli. mera ji tumase gale lipatakar rone ke lie t dap raha hai magar majaboor hooan.‘

ramendr ne purja pha dakar pheank diya aur uddand hokar bole, ‘inhean likhane do. maian kisi se nahian darata. andar ao.‘

gulanar ne ek qadam pichhe phirakar kaha, ‘nahian babooji, ab hamean ajna dijie.‘

ramendr –‘ek minat to baitho.‘

gulanar –‘zi nahian. ek sekiand bhi nahian.‘

gulanar ke chale jane ke bad ramendr apane kamare mean ja baithe. jaisi parajay unhean aj huee, vaisi pahale kabhi nahian huee. vah atmabhiman, vah sachcha krodh, jo anyay ke jnan se paida hota hai, lupt ho gaya tha. usaki jagah lajja thi aur glani. ise badhave ki kyoan soojh gee. yoan to kabhi ati-jati n thi, aj n jane kahaan se phat p di. kuanvar sahab hoange itane udar. unhoanne juhara ke natedaroan se bhaeechare ka nibah kiya hoga, maian itana udar nahian hooan. kahian sulochana chhipakar isake pas ati-jati to nahian ! likha bhi to hai ki milane ka ji chahe, to rat ko ana aur akeli kyoan n ho, khoon to vahi hai, manovritti vahi, vichar vahi, adarsh vahi. mana, kuanvar sahab ke ghar mean palan-poshan hua; magar rakt ka prabhav itani jaldi nahian mit sakata. achchha, donoan bahanean milati hoangi to unamean kya batean hoti hoangi ? itihas ya niti ki charcha to ho nahian sakati. vahi nirlajjata ki batean hoti hoangi. gulanar apana vrittaant kahati hogi, us bazar ke kharidaroan aur dookanadaroan

ke gun-doshoan par bahas hoti hogi. yah to ho hi nahian sakata ki gulanar isake pas ate hi apane ko bhool jay aur koee bhaddi, anargal aur kalushit batean n kare. ek kshan mean unake vicharoan ne palata khaya magar adami bina kisi se mile-jule rah bhi to nahian sakata, yah bhi to ek tarah ki bhookh hai. bhookh mean agar shuddh bhojan n mile, to adami jootha khane se bhi parahej nahian karata. agar in logoan ne sulochana ko apanaya hota, usaka yoan bahishkar n karate, to use kyoan aise praniyoan se milane ki ichchha hoti. usaka koee dosh nahian, yah sara dosh paristhitiyoan ka hai, jo hamare atit ki yad dilati rahati haian. ramendr inhian vicharoan mean p de hue the ki kuanvar sahab a pahuanche aur katu svar mean bole, ‘maianne suna gulanar abhi badhava laee thi, tumane use lauta

diya.‘

ramendr ka virodh sajiv ho utha. bole –‘maianne to nahian lautaya, sulochana ne lautaya. par mere khyal mean achchha kiya.‘

kuanvar –‘to yah kaho tumhara ishara tha. tumane in patitoan ko apani or khianchane ka kitana achchha avasar hath se kho diya hai ! sulochana ko dekhakar jo kuchh asar p da, vah tumane mita diya. bahut sanbhav tha ki ek

pratishthit adami se nata rakhane ka abhiman usake jivan mean ek naye yug ka arambh karata, magar tumane in batoan par jara bhi dhyan n diya.‘

ramendr ne koee javab n diya. kuanvar sahab jara uttejit hokar bole, ‘ap log yah kyoan bhool jate haian ki harek buraee majaboori se hoti hai. chor isalie chori nahian karata ki chori mean use vishesh anand ata hai; balki

keval isalie ki zaroorat use majaboor kar deti hai. haan, vah zaroorat vastavik hai ya kalpanik isamean matabhed ho sakata hai. stri ke maike jate samay koee gahana banavana ek adami ke lie zaroori ho sakata hai. doosare ke lie bilakul gair zaroori. kshudha se vyathit hokar ek adami apana eeman kho sakata hai, doosara mar jayaga par kisi ke samane hath n phailayega, par prakriti ka yah niyam ap jaise vidvanoan ko n bhoolana chahie ki jivan-lalasa pranimatr mean vyapak hai. jianda rahane ke lie adami sabakuchh kar sakata hai. jianda rahana

jitana hi kathin hoga, buraiyaan bhi usi matr mean badheangi, jitana hi asan hoga utani hi buraiyaan kam hoangi. hamara yah pahala sidhdant hona chahie ki jianda rahana harek ke lie sulabh ho. ramendr baboo, apane is vakt in logoan ke sath vahi vyavahar kiya jo doosare apake sath kar rahe haian aur jisase ap bahut du:khi haian.‘

ramendr ne is lanbe vyakhyan ko is tarah suna, jaise koee pagal bak raha ho. is tarah ki daliloan ka vah khud kitani hi bar samarthan kar chuke the; par daliloan se vyathit aang ki pi da nahian shaant hoti. patit striyoan ka natedar ki haisiyat se dvar par ana itana apamanajanak tha ki ramendr kisi dalil se parabhoot hokar use bhool n sakate the.

bole –‘maian aise praniyoan se koee sanbandh nahian rakhata. yah vish apane ghar mean nahian phailana chahata !’

sahasa sulochana bhi kamare mean a gee. prasavakal ka asar abhi baki tha; par uttejana ne chehare ko arakt kar rakha tha. ramendr sulochana ko dekhakar tej ho gaye. vah use jata dena chahate the ki is vishay mean maian ek rekha

tak ja sakata hooan, usake age kisi tarah nahian ja sakata.

bole, ‘maian yah kabhi pasand n karooanga ki koee bazari aurat kisi bhesh mean mere ghar aye. rat ko akele ya soorat badalakar ane se is buraee ka asar nahian mit sakata. maian samaj ke dand se nahian darata, is naitik vish se darata hooan.‘

sulochana apane vichar mean maryada-raksha ke lie kafi atmasamarpan kar chuki thi. usaki atma ne abhi tak use kshama n kiya tha. tivr svar mean boli, ‘kya tum chahate ho ki maian is kaid mean akele jan de dooan ! koee

to ho jisase adami hanse, bole !’

ramendr ne garm hokar kaha, ‘hansane-bolane ka itana shauq tha, to mere sath vivah n karana chahie tha. vivah ka bandhan b di had tak tyag ka bandhan hai. jab tak sansar mean is vidhan ka rajy hai aur stri kulamaryada

ki rakshak samajhi jati hai, us vakt tak koee mard yah svikar n karega ki usaki patni bure acharan ke praniyoan se kisi prakar ka sansarg rakkhe.‘

kuanvar sahab samajh gaye ki is vad-vivad se ramendr aur bhi zid pak d leange aur mukhy vishay lupt ho jayaga, isalie namr svar mean bole, ‘lekin beta, yah kyoan khyal karate ho ki ooanche daraje ki padhi-likhi stri doosaroan ke prabhav mean a jayagi, apana prabhav n dalegi ?’

ramendr, ‘is vishay mean shiksha par mera vishvas nahian. shiksha aisi kitani batoan ko manati hai, jo riti-niti aur paranpara ki drishti se tyajy haian. agar paanv phisal jay to ham use katakar pheank nahian dete. par maian is ke samane sir jhukane ko taiyar nahian hooan. maian spasht kah dena chahata hooan ki mere sath rahakar purane sanbandhoan ka tyag karana p dega ! itana hi nahian, man ko aisa bana lena p dega ki aise logoan se use khud ghrina ho. hamean is tarah

apana sanskar karana p dega ki samaj apane anyay par lajjit ho, n yah ki hamare acharan aise bhrasht ho jayan ki doosaroan ki nigah mean yah tiraskar auchity ka sthan pa jay.

sulochana ne uddhat hokar kaha, stri isake lie majaboor nahian hai ki vah apaki aankhoan se dekhe aur apake kanoan se sune. use yah nishchay karane ka adhikar hai ki kaun-si chiz usake hit ki hai, kaun-si nahian.‘

kuanvar sahab bhayabhit hokar bole, ‘sillo, tum bhooli jati ho ki batachit mean hamesha mulayam shabdoan ka vyavahar karana chahie. ham jhag da nahian kar rahe haian, keval ek prashn par apane-apane vichar prakat kar rahe haian.

sulochana ne nirbhikata se kaha, ‘zi nahian, mere lie be diyaan taiyar ki ja rahi haian. maian in be diyoan ko nahian pahan sakati. maian apani atma ko utana hi svadhin samajhati hooan, jitana koee mard samajhata hai.‘

ramendr ne apani kathorata par kuchh lajjit hokar kaha, ‘maianne tumhari atma ki svadhinata ko chhinane ki kabhi ichchha nahian ki. aur n maian itana vicharahin hooan. shayad tum bhi isaka samarthan karogi. lekin kya tumhean viparit marg par chalate dekhooan to maian tumhean samajha bhi nahian sakata ?’

sulochana –‘usi tarah jaise maian tumhean samajha sakati hooan. tum mujhe majaboor nahian kar sakate.‘

ramendr –‘maian ise nahian man sakata.‘

sulochana –‘agar maian apane kisi natedar se milane jaooan, to apaki ijjat mean batta lagata hai. kya isi tarah ap yah svikar kareange ki apaka vyabhichariyoan se milana-julana meri ijjat mean dag lagata hai ?’

ramendr –‘haan, maian manata hooan.‘

sulochana –‘apaka koee vyabhichari bhaee a jay, to ap use daravaze se bhaga deange ?’

ramendr –‘tum mujhe isake lie majaboor nahian kar sakatian.‘

sulochana –‘aur ap mujhe majaboor kar sakate haian ?’

'beshak.'

'kyoan ?'

'isilie ki maian purush hooan, is chhote-se parivar ka mukhy aang hooan. isilie ki tumhare hi karan mujhe ...' ramendr kahate-kahate ruk gaye. par sulochana unake muanh se nikalanevale shabdoan ko ta d gee. usaka chehara tamatama utha, mano chhati mean barachhi-si lag gee. man mean aisa udveg utha ki isi kshan ghar chho dakar, sari duniya se nata to dakar chali jaooan aur phir inhean kabhi muanh n dikhaooan. agar isi ka nam vivah hai ki kisi ki marji ki gulam hokar rahooan, apaman sahan karooan, to aise vivah ko door hi se salam hai. vah taish mean akar kamare se nikalana chahati thi ki kuanvar sahab ne lapakakar use pak d liya aur bole, ‘kya karati ho beti, ghar mean jao, kyoan roti ho ? abhi to maian jita hooan, tumhean kya gam hai ? ramendr baboo ne koee

aisi bat nahian kahi aur n kahana chahate the. phir apas ki batoan ka kya bura manana. kisi avasar par tum bhi jo ji mean aye kah lena.‘ yoan samajhate hue kuanvar sahab use andar le gaye. vastav mean sulochana

kabhi gulanar se milane ki ichchhuk n thi. vah usase svayan bhagati thi. ek kshanik avesh mean usane gulanar ko vah puraja likh diya tha. man mean svayan samajhati thi, in logoan se mel-jol rakhana munasib nahian, lekin ramendr ne yah virodh kiya, yahi usake lie asahy tha. yah mujhe mana kyoan karean ?

‘kya maian itana bhi nahian samajhati ? kya inhean meri or se itani shanka hai !’

‘isilie to, ki maian kulin nahian hooan !’

‘maian abhi-abhi gulanar se milane jaooangi, jiddan jaooangi; dekhooan mera kya karate haian.‘

la d-pyar mean pali huee sulochana ko kabhi kisi ne tikhi aankhoan se n dekha tha. kuanvar sahab usaki marji ke gulam the. ramendr bhi itane dinoan usaka muanh johate rahe. aj akasmath yah tiraskar aur phatakar pakar

usaki svechchha prem aur atmiyata ke sare natoan ko pairoan se kuchal dalane ke lie vikal ho uthi. vah sabakuchh sah legi par yah dhauans, yah anyay, yah apaman usase n saha jayaga.

usane khi daki se sir nikalakar kochavan ko pukara aur boli, ‘ga di lao, mujhe chauk jana hai, abhi lao.‘

kuanvar sahab ne chumakarakar kaha, ‘beti sillo, kya kar rahi ho, mere oopar daya karo. is vakt kahian mat jao, nahian hamesha ke lie pachhatana p dega. ramendr baboo bhi b de gussevar adami haian. phir tumase b de haian, zyada

vicharavan haian, unhian ka kahana man jao. maian tumase sach kahata hooan. tumhari maan jab thian, to kee bar aisi naubat aee ki maianne unase kaha, ghar se nikal jao, par us prem ki devi ne kabhi dayodhi ke bahar paanv nahian nikala. is vakt dhairy se kam lo ! mujhe vishvas hai, jara der mean ramendr baboo khud lajjit hokar tumhare pas aparadh kshama karane ayeange.‘

sahasa ramendr ne akar poochha, ‘ga di kyoan mangavaee ? kahaan ja rahi ho ?’

ramendr ka chehara itana krodhonmatt ho raha tha, ki sulochana saham uthi. donoan aankhoan se jvala-si nikal rahi thi. nathane ph dak rahe the, piandaliyaan kaanp rahi thian. yah kahane ki himmat n p di ki gulanar ke ghar jati hooan. gulanar ka nam sunate hi shayad yah meri gardan par savar ho jayeange is bhay se vah kaanp uthi. atmaraksha ka bhav prabal ho gaya. boli, ‘zara ammaan ke majar tak jaooangi.‘

ramendr ne d aautakar kaha, ‘qoee zaroorat nahian vahaan jane ki.‘

sulochana ne katar svar mean kaha, ‘kyoan ammaan ke majar tak jane ki bhi rok hai ?’

ramendr ne usi dhvani mean kaha, ‘haan.‘

sulochana –‘to phir apana ghar samhalo, maian jati hooan.‘

ramendr –‘zao, tumhare lie kya, yah n sahi doosara ghar sahi !’

abhi tak tasma baki tha, vah kat gaya. yoan shayad sulochana vahaan se kuanvar sahab ke bangale par jati, do-char din roothi rahati, phir ramendr use mana late aur mamala tay ho jata, lekin is chot ne samajhaute aur sandhi

ki j d kat di. sulochana daravaze tak pahuanchi thi, vahian chitralikhit-si kh di rah gee. mano kisi rrishi ke shap ne usake pran khianch liye hoan. vahian baith gee. n kuchh bol saki, n kuchh soch saki. jisake sir par bijali gir p di ho, vah kya soche, kya roye, kya bole. ramendr ke ve shabd bijali se kahian adhik ghatak the.

sulochana kab tak vahaan baithi rahi, use kuchh khabar n thi. jab use kuchh hosh aya to ghar mean sannata chhaya hua tha. gh di ki taraph aankh uthi, ek baj raha tha. samane aramakursi par kuanvar sahab navajat shishu

ko god mean liye so gaye the. sulochana ne uthakar baramade mean jhaanka, ramendr apane palang par lete hue the. usake ji mean aya, isi vakt inhian ke samane jakar kaleje mean chhuri mar looan aur inhian ke samane t dap-t dapakar mar jaooan. vah ghatak shabd yad a gaye. inake muanh se aise shabd nikale kyoankar. itane chatur, itane udar aur itane vicharashil hokar bhi yah juban par aise shabd kyoankar la sake. usaka sara satitv, bharatiy adarshoan ki god mean pali huee bhoomi par asakt p di huee apani dinata par ro raha tha. vah soch rahi thi, agar mere nam par yah dag n hota, maian bhi kulin hoti, to kya yah shabd inake muanh se nikal sakate the ? lekin maian badanam hooan, dalit hooan, tyajy hooan, mujhe sabakuchh kaha, ja sakata hai. uph, itana kathor hriday. kya vah kisi dasha mean bhi

ramendr par itana kathor prahar kar sakati thi ? baramade mean bijali ki roshani thi. ramendr ke mukh par kshobh ya glani ka nam bhi n tha. krodh ki kathorata ab tak usake mukh ko vikrit kie hue thi. shayad in aankhoan mean aansoo dekhakar ab bhi sulochana ke ahat hriday ko tasakin hoti; lekin vahaan to abhi tak talavar khianchi huee thi. usaki aankhoan mean sara sansar soona ho gaya.

sulochana phir apane kamare mean aee. kuanvar sahab ki aankhean ab bhi band thian. in chand ghantoan hi mean unaka tejasvi mukh kaantihin ho gaya tha. galoan par aansuoan ki rekhaean sookh gee thian. sulochana ne unake pairoan ke pas

baithakar sachchi bhakt ike aansoo bahaye. hay ! mujh abhagini ke lie inhoanne kaun-kaun se kasht nahian jhele, kaun-kaun se apaman nahian sahe, apana sara jivan hi mujh par arpan kar diya aur usaka yah hriday-vidarak ant. sulochana ne phir bachchi ko dekha; magar usaka gulab ka-sa vikasit muanh dekhakar bhi usake hriday mean mamata ki tarang n uthi. usane usaki taraph se muanh pher liya. yahi vah apaman ki moortiman vedana hai, jo itane dinoan mujhe bhogani p di. maian isake lie kyoan apane pran sankat mean dalooan. agar usake nirdayi pita ko usase prem hai, to usako pale. aur ek din vah bhi usi tarah roye, jis tarah aj mere pita ko rona p d raha hai. eeshvar abaki agar janm dena, to kisi bhale adami ke ghar janm dena ...

jahaan juhara ka mazar tha usi ke bagal mean ek doosara mazar bana hua hai. juhara ke mazar par ghas jam aee hai; jagah-jagah se choona gir gaya hai, lekin doosara mazar bahut saph-suthara aur saja hua hai. usake charoan

taraph gamale rakhe hue haian aur mazar tak jane ke lie gulab ke beloan ki ravishean bani huee haian ?

sham ho gee hai. soory ki kshin, udas, pili kiranean mano us mazar par aansoo baha rahi haian. ek adami ek tin-char sal ki balika ko god mean liye hue aya aur us mazar ko apane roomal se saf karane laga.

ravishoan mean jo pattiyaan p di thian unhean chunakar saf kiya aur mazar par sugandh chhi dakane laga. balika dau d-dau dakar titaliyoan ko pak dane lagi. yah sulochana ka mazar hai. usaki akhiri nasihat thi, ki meri lash

jalaee n jay, meri maan ki bagal mean mujhe sula diya jay. kuanvar sahab to sulochana ke bad chh: mahine se zyada n chal sake. haan, ramendr apane anyay ka pashchattap kar rahe haian. shobha ab tin sal ki ho gee hai aur use vishvas hai ki ek din usaki maan isi mazar se nikalegi !