प्रेम का उदय -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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bhoandoo pasine mean tar, lak di ka ek gattha sir par lie aya aur use zamin par patakakar banti ke samane kh da ho gaya, mano poochh raha ho 'kya abhi tera mizaj thik nahian hua ? '

sandhya ho gayi thi, phir bhi loo chalati thi aur akash par gard chhayi huee thi. prakriti rakt shoony deh ki bhaanti shithil ho rahi thi. bhoandoo prat:kal ghar se nikala tha. dopahari usane ek pe d ki chhaanh mean kati thi. samajha tha is tapasya se deviji ka muanh sidha ho jayaga; lekin akar dekha, to vah ab bhi kop bhavan mean thi.

bhoandoo ne batachit chhe dane ke irade se kaha, lo, ek lota pani de do, b di pyas lagi hai. mar gaya sare din. bazar mean jaooanga, to tin ane se besi n mileange. do-char saiankade mil jate, to mehanat suphal ho jati. banti ne siraki ke andar baithe-baithe kaha, 'dharam bhi lootoge aur paise bhi. muanh dho rakho.'

bhoandoo ne bhॅvean siko dakar kaha, 'kya dharam-dharam bakati hai ! dharam karana hansi-khel nahian hai. dharam vah karata hai, jise bhagavanh ne mana ho. ham kya khakar dharam karean. bhar-pet chabena to milata nahian, dharam kareange.' banti ne apana var ochha p data dekhakar chot par chot ki 'sansar mean kuchh aise bhi mahatma haian, jo apana pet chahe n bhar sakean, par p dosiyoan ko nevata dete phirate haian; nahian to sare din ban-ban lak di n to date phirate. aise dharamatma logoan ko mehariya rakhane ki kyoan soojhati hai, yahi meri samajh mean nahian ata. dharam ki ga di kya akele nahian khianchate banati ? ' bhoandoo is chot se tilamila gaya. usaki jiharadar nasean tan gayian; mathe par bal p d gaye. is abala ka muanh vah ek dapat mean band kar sakata tha; par d aaut-dapat usane n sikhi thi. jisake parakram ki sare kanj doan mean dhoom thi, jo akela sau-pachas javanoan ka nasha utar sakata tha, vah is abala ke samane chooan tak n kar saka. dabi jaban se bola, 'mehariya dharam bechane ke lie nahian layi jati, dharam palane ke lie layi jati hai.'

yah kanj d-danpati aj tin din se aur kee kanj d parivaroan ke sath is bag mean utara hua tha. sare bag mean sirakiyaan-hi-sirakiyaan dikhayi deti thian. usi tin hath chau di aur char hath lambi siraki ke andar ek-ek

poora parivar jivan ke samast vyaparoan ke sath kalpavas-sa kar raha tha. ek kinare chakki thi, ek kinare rasoee ka sthan, ek kinare do-ek anaj ke matake. dvar par ek chhoti-si khatoli balakoan ke lie p di thi.

harek parivar ke sath do-do bhaiansean ya gadhe the. jab dera kooch hota tha to sari grihasthi in janavaroan par lad di jati thi. yahi in kanj doan ka jivan tha. sari basti ek sath chalati thi. apas mean hi shadi-byah, len-den,

jhag de-tante hote rahate the. is duniya ke bahar vala akhil sansar unake lie keval shikar ka maidan tha. unake kisi ilake mean pahuanchate hi vahaan ki pulis turant akar apani nigarani mean le leti thi. p dav ke charoan taraph chaukidar ka pahara ho jata tha. stri ya purush kisi gaanv mean jate to do-char chaukidar unake sath ho lete the. rat ko bhi unaki hajiri li jati thi. phir bhi as-pas ke gaanv mean atank chhaya hua tha; kyoanki kanj d log bahudha gharoan mean ghusakar jo chiz chahate, utha lete aur unake hath mean jakar koee chiz laut n sakati thi. rat mean ye log akasar chori karane nikal jate the. chaukidaroan ko unase mile rahane mean hi apani kushal dikhati thi. kuchh hath bhi lagata tha aur jan bhi bachi rahati thi. sakhti karane mean pranoan ka bhay tha, kuchh milane ka to zikr hi kya; kyoanki kanj d log ek sima ke bahar kisi ka dabav n manate the. basti mean akela bhoandoo apani mehanat ki kamaee khata tha; magar isalie nahian ki vah pulisavaloan ki khushamad n kar sakata tha. usaki svatantr atma apane bahubal se prapt kisi vastu ka hissa dena svikar n karati thi; isalie vah yah naubat ane hi n deti thi.

banti ko pati ki yah achar-nishtha ek aankh n bhati thi. usaki aur bahanean nayi-nayi sa diyaan aur naye-naye abhooshan pahanatian, to banti unhean dekh-dekhakar pati ki akarmanyata par kudhati thi. is vishay par donoan mean kitane

hi sangram ho chuke the; lekin bhoandoo apana paralok biga dane par raji n hota tha. aj bhi prat:kal yahi samasya a kh di huee thi aur bhoandoo lak di katane jangaloan mean nikal gaya tha. saiankade mil jate, to aansoo puanchhate, par aj saiankade bhi n mile. banti ne kaha, 'zinase kuchh nahian ho sakata, vahi dharamatma ban jate

haian. r aau d apane maan d hi mean khush hai ? '

bhoandoo ne poochha, 'to maian nikhattoo hooan ? '

banti ne is prashn ka sidha-sada uttar n dekar kaha, 'maian kya janooan,tum kya ho ? maian to yahi janati hooan ki yahaan dhele -dhele ki chiz ke lie tarasana p data hai. yahian sabako pahanate-odhate, hansate-khelate dekhati hooan. kya mujhe pahanane-odhane, hansane-khelane ki sadh nahian hai ? tumhare palle p dakar jiandagani nasht ho gayi.'

bhoandoo ne ek kshan vichar-magn rahakar kaha, 'zanati hai, pak d jaooanga,to tin sal se kam ki saza n hogi.'

banti vichalit n huee. boli, 'zab aur log nahian pak d jate; to tumhian pak d jaoge ? aur log pulis ko mila lete haian, thanedar ke paanv sahalate haian, chaukidar ki khushamad karate haian.'

'too chahati hai, maian bhi auroan ki tarah sabaki chirauri karata phirooan ? '

banti ne apana hath n chho da --'maian tumhare sath sati hone nahian ayi. phir tumhare chhure-gan dase ko koee kahaan tak dare. janavar ko bhi jab ghas-bhoosa nahian milata, to pagaha tu dakar kisi ke khet mean paith jata hai. maian to adami hooan.'

bhoandoo ne isaka kuchh javab n diya. usaki stri koee doosara ghar kar le, yah kalpana usake lie apaman se bhari thi. aj banti ne pahali bar yah dhamaki di. ab tak bhoandoo is taraph se nishchint tha. ab yah nayi

sanbhavana usake sammukh upasthit huee. us durdin ko vah apana kaboo chalate apane pas n ane dega.

aj bhoandoo ki drishti mean vah ijjat nahian rahi, vah bharosa nahian raha. mazaboot divar ko tikaune ki zaroorat nahian. jab divar hilane lagati hai, tab hamean usako sanbhalane ki chinta hoti hai. aj bhoandoo ko apani divar hilati

huee maloom hoti thi. aj tak banti apani thi. vah jitana apani or se nishchint tha, utana hi usaki or se bhi tha. vah jis tarah khud rahata tha usi tarah usako bhi rakhata tha. jo khud khata tha, vahi usako khilata tha, usake lie koee vishesh fikr n thi; par aj use maloom hua ki vah apani nahian hai, ab usaka vishesh roop se satkar karana hoga, vishesh roop se dilajoee karani hogi.

sooryast ho raha tha. usane dekha, usaka gadha charakar chupachap sir jhukaye chala a raha hai. bhoandoo ne kabhi usaki khane-pine ki chinta n ki thi; kyoanki gadha kisi aur ko apana svami banane ki dhamaki n de sakata tha. bhoandoo ne bahar akar aj gadhe ko puchakara, usaki pith sahalayi aur turant use pani pilane ke lie dol aur rassi lekar chal diya. isake doosare hi din kasbe mean ek dhani thakur ke ghar chori ho gayi. us

rat ko bhoandoo apane dere par n tha. banti ne chaukidar se kaha, 'vah jangal se nahian lauta. prat:kal bhoandoo a pahuancha. usaki kamar mean rupayoan ki ek thaili thi. kuchh sone ke gahane bhi the. banti ne turant gahanoan ko le jakar

ek vriksh ki j d mean ga d diya. rupayoan ki kya pahachan ho sakati thi. bhoandoo ne poochha, 'agar koee poochhe, itane sare rupaye kahaan mile, to kya kahogi ?

banti ne aankhean nachakar kaha, 'qah dooangi, kyoan bataooan ? duniya kamati hai, to kisi ko hisab dene jati hai ? hamian kyoan apana hisab dean.'

bhoandoo ne sandigdh bhav se gardan hilakar kaha, 'yah kahane se gala n chhootega, banti ! too kah dena, maian tin-char mas se do-do, char-char rupaye mahina jama karati aee hooan. hamara kharach hi kaun b da lanba hai.'

donoan ne milakar bahut-se javab soch nikale -- 'z di-bootiyaan bechate haian.'

ek-ek j di ke lie mutthi-mutthi bhar rupaye mil jate haian. khas, saiankade, janavaroan ki khalean, nakh aur charbi, sabhi bechate haian. is or se nishchint hokar donoan bazar chale. banti ne apane lie tarah-tarah ke kap de, choo diyaan, tikuliyaan, buande, seandur, pan-tamakhoo, tel aur mithaee li. phir donoan jane sharab ki dookan gaye. khoob sharab pi. phir do botal sharab rat ke lie lekar donoan ghoomate-ghamate, gate-bajate gh di rat gaye dere par laute. banti ke paanv aj zamin par n p date the. ate hi ban-thanakar p dosiyoan ko apani chhavi dikhane lagi. jab vah lautakar apane ghar ayi aur bhojan pakane lagi, tab p dosiyoan ne tippaniyaan karani shuroo kian 'kahian gahara hath mara hai.'

'b da dharamatma bana phirata tha.'

'bagala bhagat hai.'

'banti to aj jaise hava mean u d rahi hai.'

'aj bhoandua ki kitani khatir ho rahi hai. nahian to kabhi ek lutiya pani dene bhi n uthati thi.'

rat ko bhoandoo ko devi ki yad ayi. aj tak kabhi usane devi ki vedi par bakare ka balidan n kiya tha. pulis ko milane mean zyada kharch tha. kuchh atm-samman bhi khona p data. deviji keval ek bakare mean

raji ho jati haian. haan, usase ek galati zaroor huee thi. usaki biradari ke aur log sadharanataya karyasidhdi ke pahale hi balidan diya karate the. bhoandoo ne yah khatara n liya. jab tak mal hath n a jay, usake bharose par devi-devataoan ko khilana usaki vyavasayik buddhi ko n jancha. auroan se apane krity ko gupt rakhana bhi chahata tha; isalie kisi ko soochana bhi n di, yahaan tak ki banti se bhi n kaha, banti to bhojan bana rahi thi, vah bakare ki talash mean ghar se nikal p da.

banti ne poochha, 'ab bhojan karane ke joon kahaan chale ? '

'abhi ata hooan.'

'mat jao, mujhe dar lagata hai.'

bhoandoo sneh ke navin prakash se khilakar bola, 'mujhe der n lagegi. too n yah gan dasa apane pas rakh le.'

usane gan dasa nikalakar banti ke pas rakh diya aur nikala. bakare ki samasya bedhab thi. rat ko bakara kahaan se lata ? is samasya ko bhi usane ek naye dhang se hal kiya. pas ki basti mean ek g dariye ke pas

kee bakare pale the. usane socha, vahian se ek bakara utha laooan. deviji ko apane balidan se matalab hai, ya isase ki bakara kaise aya aur kahaan se aya.

magar basti ke samip pahuancha hi tha ki pulis ke char chaukidaroan ne use giraphtar kar liya aur mushkean baandhakar thane le chale. banti bhojan pakakar apana banav-siangar karane lagi. aj use apana jivan saphal jan p data tha. anand se khili jati thi. aj jivan mean pahali bar usake sir mean sugandhit tel p da. aeena usake pas ek purana aandha-sa p da hua tha. aj vah naya aeena laee thi. usake samane baithakar usane

apane kesh sanvare. muanh par ubatan mala. sabun lana bhool gayi thi. sahab log sabun lagane hi se to itane gore ho jate haian. sabun hota, to usaka rang kuchh to nikhar jata. kal vah avashy sabun ki kee battiyaan layegi aur roj lagayegi. kesh gooanthakar usane mathe par alasi ka luab lagaya, jisamean bal n bikharane payean. phir pan lagaye, choona zyada ho gaya tha. galaph doan mean chhale p d gaye; lekin usane samajha shayad pan khane ka yahi maja hai. akhir k davi mirch bhi to log maje mean khate haian. gulabi sa di pahan aur phooloan ka gajara gale mean dalakar usane aine mean apani soorat dekhi, to usake abanoosi rang par lali dau d gayi. ap hi ap lajja se usaki aankhean jhuk gayian. daridrata ki ag se naritv bhi bhasm ho jata hai, naritv ki lajja ka kya zikr. maile-kuchaile kap de pahanakar lajana aisa hi hai, jaise koee chabaine mean sugandh lagakar khaye.

is tarah sajakar banti bhoandoo ki rah dekhane lagi. jab ab bhi vah n aya, to usaka ji jhuanjhalane laga. roj to saanjh hi se dvar par p d rahate the, aj n-jane kahaan jakar baith rahe. shikari apani bandook bhar lene

ke bad isake siva aur kya chahata hai ki shikar samane aye. banti ke sookhe hriday mean aj pani p date hi usaka naritv aankurit ho gaya. jhuanjhalahat ke sath use chinta bhi hone lagi. usane bahar nikalakar kee bar pukara. usake kanthasvar mean itana anurag kabhi n tha. use kee bar bhan hua ki bhoandoo a raha hai, vah har bar siraki ke andar dau d ayi aur aine mean soorat dekhi ki kuchh big d n gaya ho. aisi dh dakan, aisi ulajhan, usaki anubhooti se bahar thi.

banti sari rat bhoandoo ke intajar mean udvign rahi. jyoan-jyoan rat bitati thi, usaki shanka tivr hoti jati thi. aj hi usake vastavik jivan ka aranbh hua tha aur aj hi yah hal. prat:kal vah uthi, to abhi kuchh aandhera hi tha. is ratajage se usaka chitt khinn aur sari deh alasaee huee thi. rah-rahakar bhitar se ek lahar

bhi uthati thi, aankhean bhar-bhar ati thian. sahasa kisi ne kaha, 'are banti, bhoandoo rat pak d gaya.'

banti thane pahuanchi to pasine mean tar thi aur dam phool raha tha. use bhoandoo par daya n thi, krodh a raha tha. sara jamana yahi kam karata hai aur chain ki bansi bajata hai. unhoanne kahate-kahate hath bhi lagaya, to chook gaye. nahian sahoor tha, to saf kah dete, mujhase yah kam n hoga. maian yah tho de hi kahati thi ki ag mean phaand p do. use dekhate hi thanedar ne dhauans jamayi 'yahi to hai bhoandua ki aurat, ise bhi pak d lo.' banti ne hek di jatayi 'haan-haan pak d lo, yahaan kisi se nahian darate. jab koee kam hi nahian karate, to dare kyoan.'

aphasar aur matahat sabhi ki anurakt aankhean banti ki or uthane lagian. bhoandoo ki taraph se logoan ke dil kuchh narm ho gaye. use dhoop se chhaanh mean baitha diya gaya. usake donoan hath pichhe bandho hue the aur dhool-dhoosarit kali deh par bhi jootoan aur ko doan ke raktamay mar saf najar a rahe the. usane ek bar banti ki or dekha, mano kah raha tha 'dekhana, kahian in logoan ke dhokhe mean n a jana.'

thanedar ne d aaut batayi 'zara isaki dida-dileri dekho, jaise devi hi to hai; magar is pher mean n rahana. yahaan tum logoan ki nas-nas pahachanata hooan. itane ko de lagaooanga ki cham di u d jayagi. nahian to sidhe se kabool do. sara mal lauta do. isi mean khairiyat hai.' bhoandoo ne baithe-baithe kaha, 'kya kabool dean. jo desh ko lootate haian, unase to koee nahian bolata, jo bechare apani gadhi kamaee ki roti khate haian, unaka gala katane ko pulis bhi taiyar rahati

hai. hamare pas kisi ko najar-bheant dene ke lie paise nahian haian.'

thanedar ne kathor svar se kaha, 'haan-haan; jo kuchh kor-kasar rah gayi ho, vah poori kar de. kirakiri n hone paye. magar in baithakabajiyoan se bach nahian sakate. agar ekabal n kiya, to tin sal ko jaoge. mera kya

big data hai. are chhotesianh, jara lal mirch ki dhooni to do ise. kothari band karake paseri-bhar mirche sulaga do, abhi mal baramad hua jata hai.'

bhoandoo ne dhithaee se kaha, 'darogaji, boti kat dalo, lekin kuchh hath n lagega. tumane mujhe ratabhar pitavaya hai, meri ek-ek haddi choor-choor ho gayi hai. koee doosara hota to ab tak sidhar gaya hota. kya tum samajhate ho, adami ko rupaye-paise jan se pyare hote haian ? jan hi ke lie to adami sab tarah ke kukaram karata hai. dhooni sulagakar bhi dekh lo.' darogaji ko ab vishvas aya ki is faulad ko jhukana mushkil hai. bhoandoo ki mukhakriti se shahidoan ka-sa atm-samarpan jhalak raha tha. yadyapi unake hukm ki tamil hone lagi, kaanstebaloan ne bhoandoo ko ek kothari mean band kar diya, do adami mirche lane dau de, lekin daroga ki yuddh-niti badal

gayi thi. banti ka hriday kshobh se phata jata tha. vah janati thi, chori karake ekabal kar lena kanj d jati ki niti mean mahanh lajja ki bat hai; lekin kya yah sachamuch mirch ki dhooni sulaga deange ? itana kathor hai inaka hriday ?

salan bagharane mean kabhi mirch jal jati hai, to chhiankoan aur khaansiyoan ke mare dam nikalane lagata hai. jab nak ke pas dhooni sulagaee jayagi tab to pran hi nikal jayange. usane jan par khelakar kaha, 'darogaji, tum samajhate hoge ki in gariboan ki pith par koee nahian hai; lekin maian kahe deti hooan, hakim se ratti-ratti hal kah dooangi. bhala chahate ho, to use chho d do, nahian to isaka hal bura hoga.'

thanedar ne muskarakar kaha, 'tujhe kya, vah mar jayaga, kisi aur ke niche baith jana. jo kuchh jama-jatha laya hoga, vah to tere hi hath mean hogi. kyoan nahian ekabal karake use chhu da leti. maian vada karata hooan, mukadama

n chalaooanga. sab mal lauta de. toone hi use mantr diya hoga. gulabi sa di, pan aur khushaboodar tel ke lie too hi lalach rahi hogi. usaki itani saansat ho rahi hai aur too kh di dekh rahi hai.'

shayad banti ki antaratma ko yah vishvas n tha ki ye log itane amanushiy atyachar kar sakate haian; lekin jab sachamuch dhooni sulaga di gayi, mirch ki tikhi zaharili jhar phaili aur bhoandoo ke khaansane ki avajean kanoan

mean ayian, to usaki atma katar ho uthi. usaka vah dussahas jhoothe rang ki bhaanti u d gaya. usane darogaji ke paanv pak d lie aur din bhav se boli, 'malik, mujh par daya karo. maian sabakuchh de dooangi.'

dhooni usi vakt hata li gayi.

bhoandoo ne sashank hokar poochha, 'dhooni kyoan hatate ho ? '

ek chaukidar ne kaha, 'teri aurat ne ekabal kar liya.'

bhoandoo ki nak, aankh, muanh se pani jari tha. sir chakkar kha raha tha. gale ki avaz band-si ho gayi thi; par vah vaky sunate hi vah sachet ho gaya. usaki donoan mutthiyaan bandh gayian. bola, 'kya kaha, ? '

'kaha, kya, chori khul gayi. darogaji mal baramad karane gaye hue haian. pahale hi ekabal kar liya hota, to kyoan itani saansat hoti ?'

bhoandoo ne garajakar kaha, 'vah jhooth bolati hai.'

'vahaan mal baramad ho gaya, tum abhi apani hi ga rahe ho.'

parampara ki maryada ko apane hathoan bhang hone ki lajja se bhoandoo ka mastak jhuk gaya. is ghor apaman ke bad ab use apana jivan daya, ghrina aur tiraskar in sabhi dashaoan se nikhid jan p data tha. vah apane

samaj mean patit ho gaya tha. sahasa banti akar kh di ho gayi aur kuchh kahana hi chahati thi ki

bhoandoo ki raudramudra dekhakar usaki jaban band ho gayi. use dekhate hi bhoandoo ki ahat maryada kisi ahat sarp ki bhaanti t dap uthi. usane banti ko aangaroan-si tapati huee lal aankhoan se dekha. un aankhoan mean hiansa ki ag

jal rahi thi. banti sir se paanv tak kaanp uthi. vah ulate paanv vahaan se bhagi. kisi devata ke agniban ke saman ve donoan aangaroan-si aankhean usake hriday mean chubhane lagian.

thane se nikalakar banti ne socha, ab kahaan jaooan, bhoandoo usake sath hota to vah p dosiyoan ke tiraskar ko sah leti. is dasha mean usake lie apane ghar jana asambhav tha. ve donoan aangare-si aankhean usake hriday mean chubhi

jati thian; lekin kal ki saubhagy-vibhootiyoan ka moh use dere ki or khianchane laga. sharab ki botal ab bhi bhari dhari thi. phulau diyaan chhianke par haan di mean dhari thian. vah tivr lalasa, jo mrityu ko sammukh dekhakar bhi sansar ke bhogy padarthoan ki or man ko chalayaman kar deti hai, use khianchakar dere ki or le chali.

dopahar ho gaya tha. vah paha d par pahuanchi, to sannata chhaya hua tha.abhi kuchh der pahale jo sthan jivan ka kri da-kshetr bana hua tha, bilakul nirjan ho gaya tha. biradarivaloan ke tiraskar ka sabase bhayankar roop tha.

sabhi ne use tyajy samajh liya. keval usaki siraki us nirjanata mean roti huee kh di thi. banti ne usake aandar paanv rakhe, to usake man ki kuchh vahi dasha huee, jo akela ghar dekhakar kisi chor ki hoti hai. kaun-kaun-si chiz samete. us kuti mean usane ro-rokar paanch varsh kate the; par aj use usase vahi mamata ho rahi thi, jo kisi mata ko apane durguni putr ko dekhakar hoti hai, jo barasoan ke bad paradesh se lauta ho. hava se kuchh chizean idhar-udhar ho gayi thian. usane turant unhean sanbhalakar rakha. phulau diyoan ki haan di chhianke par kuchh thandi ho gayi thi. shayad us par billi jhapati thi. usane jaldi se haan di utarakar dekhi. phulau diyaan achhooti thian. pan par jo gila kap da lapeta tha, vah sookh gaya tha. usane turant kap da tar kar diya.

kisi ke paanv ki ahat pakar usaka kaleja dhakh-se ho gaya. bhoandoo a raha hai. usaki vah donoan aangare-si aankhean ! usake royean kh de ho gaye. bhoandoo ke krodh ka use do-ek bar anubhav ho chuka tha, lekin usane dil

ko mazaboot kiya. kyoan marega ? kuchh kahega, kuchh poochhega, kuchh saval-javab karega ki yoanhi gan dasa chala dega. usane usake sath koee buraee nahian ki. aphat se usaki jan bachayi. marajad jan se pyari nahian hoti. bhoandoo ko hogi, use nahian hai. kya itani-si bat ke lie vah usaki jan le lega. usane siraki ke dvar se jhaanka. bhoandoo n tha, keval usaka gadha chala a raha tha.

banti aj us abhage-se gadhe ko dekhakar aisi prasann huee, mano apana bhaee naihar se batasoan ki potali liye thaka-maanda chala ata ho. usane jakar usaki gardan sahalayi aur usake thoothan ko apane muanh se laga liya. vah use phooti aankhoan n bhata tha; par aj usase use kitani atmiyata ho gayi thi. vah donoan aangare-si aankhean use ghoor rahi thian. vah sihar uthi. usane phir socha kya kisi tarah n chho dega ? vah roti huee usake

pairoan par gir p degi. kya tab bhi n chho dega ? in aankhoan ki vah kitani sarahana kiya karata tha. inamean aansoo bahate dekhakar bhi use daya n ayegi ? banti ne chukk d mean sharab uan delakar pi li aur chhianke se phulau diyaan

utarakar khayian. jab use marana hi hai, to sadh kyoan rah jay. vah donoan aangare-si aankhean usake samane chamak rahi thian. doosara chukk d bhara aur pi gayi. zaharila tharra, jise dopahar ki garmi ne aur bhi ghatak bana diya

tha, dekhate-dekhate usake mastishk ko khaulane laga. botal adhi ho gayi thi.

usane socha bhoandoo kahega, toone itani daroo kyoan pi, to vah kya kahegi. kah degi haan, pi; kyoan n piye, isi ke lie to vah sabakuchh hua. vah ek booand bhi n chho degi. jo hona ho, ho. bhoandoo use mar nahian sakata. itana

nirdayi nahian hai, itana kayar nahian hai. usane phir chukk d bhara aur pi gayi. paanch varsh ke vaivahik jivan ki atit smritiyaan usaki aankhoan ke samane khianch gayian. saik doan hi bar donoan mean grih-yuddh hue the. aj banti ko har bar apani jyadati maloom ho rahi thi. bechara jo kuchh kamata hai, usi ke hathoan par rakh deta hai. apane lie kabhi ek paise ki tambakoo bhi leta hai to paisa usi se maangata hai. bhor se saanjh tak ban-ban phira hi to karata hai ! jo kam usase nahian hota, vah kaise kare.

yakayak ek kaanstebal ne akar kaha, 'ari banti, kahaan hai ? chal dekh, bhoandua ka hal-be-hal ho raha hai. abhi tak to chupachap baitha tha. phir n-jane kya ji mean aya ki ek patthar par apana sir patak diya. lahoo

bah raha hai. agar ham log dau dakar pak d n lete, to jan hi de di thi.'

ek mahina bit gaya tha. sandhya ka samay tha. kali-kali ghataean chhaee thian aur moosaladhar varsha ho rahi thi. bhoandoo ki siraki ab bhi nirjan sthan par kh di thi, bhoandoo khatoli par p da hua tha. usaka chehara pila p d gaya tha aur deh jaise sookh gayi thi. vah sashank aankhoan se varsha ki or dekhata hai, chahata hai uthakar bahar dekhooan; par utha nahian jata. banti sir par ghas ka ek bojh liye pani mean lath-path ati dikhalayi di. vahi gulabi sa di hai, par tar-tar, kintu usaka chehara prasann hai. vishad aur glani ke badale aankhoan se anurag tapak raha hai. gati mean vah chapalata, aangoan mean vah sajivata hai, jo chitt ki shanti ka chihn hai. bhoandoo ne kshin svar mean kaha, 'too itana bhig rahi hai, kahian bimar p d gayi, to koee ek ghooant pani denevala bhi n rahega. maian kahata hooan, too kyoan itana marati hai. do gatthe to bech chuki thi. tisara gattha lane ka kam kya tha. yah haan di mean kya laee hai? '

banti ne haan di ko chhipate hue kaha, 'quchh to nahian hai, kaisi haan di ? '

bhoandoo zor lagakar khatoli se utha, aanchal ke niche chhipi huee haan di khol di aur usake bhitar najar dalakar bola, 'abhi lauta, nahian to maian haan di pho d dooanga.'

banti ne dhoti se pani nicho date hue kaha, 'zara aine mean soorat dekho. ghi-doodh kuchh n milega, to kaise uthoge ? qi sada khat par sone ka hi vichar hai ? '

bhoandoo ne khatoli par letate hue kaha, 'apane lie to ek sa di nahian layi. kitana kahake har gaya. mere lie ghi aur doodh sab chahie ! maian ghi n khaooanga.'

banti ne muskarakar kaha, 'isilie to ghi khilati hooan ki tum jaldi se kam-dhandha karane lago aur mere lie sa di lao.'

bhoandoo ne muskarakar kaha, 'to aj jakar kahian seandha marooan ? '

banti ne usake gal par ek thokar dekar kaha, 'pahale mera gala kat dena, tab jana.'

sanbandhit lekh

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