बहिष्कार -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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pandit jnanachandr ne goviandi ki or satrishn netroan se dekh kar kaha —mujhe aise nirdayi praniyoan se jara bhi sahanubhooti nahian hai. is barbarata ki bhi koee had hai ki jisake sath tin varsh tak jivan ke sukh bhoge, use ek jara-si bat par ghar se nikal diya. goviandi ne aankhean nichi karake poochha—akhir kya bat huee thi ? jnan. —kuchh bhi nahian. aisi batoan mean koee bat hoti hai. shikayat hai ki kaliandi jaban ki tej hai. tin sal tak jaban tej n thi, aj jaban ki tej ho gayi. kuchh nahian, koee doosari chi diya najar ayi hogi. usake lie pianjare ko khali karana avashyak tha. bas yah shikayat nikal ayi. mera bas chale, to aise dushtoan ko goli mar dooan. mujhe kee bar kaliandi se batachit karane ka avasar mila hai. maianne aisi hansamukh doosari nahian hi dekhi. goviandi — tumane somadatt ko samajhaya nahian. jnan. —aise log samajhane se nahian manate. yah lat ka adami hai, batoan ki use kya parava ? mera to yah vichar hai ki jisase ek bar sambandh ho gaya, phir chahe vah achchhi ho ya buri, usake sath jivan bhar nirvah karana chahie ! maian to kahata hooan, agar stri ke kul mean koee dosh bhi nikal aye, to kshama se kam lena chahie.   goviandi ne katar netroan se dekhakar kaha —aise adami to bahut kam hote . jnan. —samajh hi mean nahian ata ki jisake sath itane din hanse-bole, jisake prem ki smritiyaan hriday ke ek-ek anu mean samayi huee haian, use dar-dar thokarean khane ko kaise chho d diya. kam se kam itana to karana chahie tha ki use kisi surakshit sthan par pahuancha dete aur usake nirvah ka koee prabandh kar dete. nirdayi ne is tarah ghar se nikala, jaise koee kutte ko nikale. bechari gaanv ke bahar baithi ro rahi hai. kaun kah sakata hai, kahaan jayagi. shayad mayake bhi koee nahian raha. somadatt ke dar ke mare gaanv ka koee adami usake pas bhi nahian ata. aise bagg d ka kya thikana ! jo adami stri ka n hua, vah doosare ka kya hoga. usaki dasha dekh kar meri aankhoan mean to aansoo bhar aye. ji mean to aya, kahooan , bahan, tum mere ghar chalo; magar tab to somadatt mere pranoan ka gahak ho jata. goviandi — tum jara ja kar ek bar phir samajhao. agar vah kisi tarah n mane, to kaliandi ko lete ana. jnan. —jaooan ? goviandi — haan, avashy jao; magar somadatt kuchh khari-khoti bhi kahe, to sun lena. jnanachandr ne goviandi ko gale laga kar kaha —tumhare hriday mean b di daya hai, goviandi ! lo jata hooan, agar somadatt ne n mana to kaliandi hi ko leta aooanga. abhi bahut door n gayi hogi. tin varsh bit gaye. goviandi ek bachche ki maan ho gayi. kaliandi abhi tak isi ghar mean hai. usake pati ne doosara vivah kar liya hai. goviandi aur kaliandi mean bahanoan ka-sa prem hai. goviandi sadaiv usaki dilajoee karati rahati hai. vah isaki kalpana bhi nahian karati ki yah koee gair hai aur meri rotiyoan par p di huee hai; lekin somadatt ko kaliandi ka yahaan rahana ek aankh nahian bhata. vah koee qanooni karravaee karane ki to himmat nahian rakhata. aur is paristhiti mean kar hi kya sakata hai; lekin jnanachandr ka sir nicha karane ke lie avasar khojata rahata hai. sandhya ka samay tha. grishm ki ushn vayu abhi tak bilakul shaant nahian huee thi. goviandi ganga-jal bharane gayi thi. aur jal-tat ki shital nirjanata ka anand utha rahi thi. sahasa use somadatt ata hua dikhayi diya. goviandi ne aanchal se muanh chhipa liya aur kalasa le kar chalane hi ko thi ki somadatt ne samane a kar kaha —jara thaharo, goviandi, tumase ek bat kahana hai. tumase yah poochhana chahata hooan ki tumase kahooan ya jnanoo se ? goviandi ne dhire se kaha —unhian se kah dijie. som. —ji to mera bhi yahi chahata hai; lekin tumhari dinata par daya ati hai. jis din maian jnanachand se yah bat kah dooanga, tumhean is ghar se nikalana p dega. maianne sari batoan ka pata laga liya hai. tumhara bap kaun tha; tumhari maan ki kya dasha huee, yah sari katha janata hooan. kya tum samajhati ho ki jnanachandr yah katha sun kar tumhean apane ghar mean rakhega ? usake vichar kitane hi svadhin hoan; par jiti makkhi nahian nigal sakata. goviandi ne thar-thar kaanpate hue kaha —jab ap sari batean janate haian, to maian kya kahooan ? ap jaisa uchit samajhean karean; lekin maianne to apake sath kabhi koee buraee nahian ki. som. —tum logoan ne gaanv mean mujhe kahian muanh dikhane ke yogy nahian rakha. tis par kahati ho, maianne tumhare sath koee buraee nahian ki ! tin sal se kaliandi ko ashray de kar meri atma ko jo kasht pahuanchaya hai, vah maian hi janata hooan. tin sal se maian is fikr mean tha ki kaise is apaman ka dand dooan. ab vah avasar pa kar use kisi tarah nahian chho d sakata. goviandi — agar apaki yahi ichchha hai ki maian yahaan n rahooan, to maian chali jaooangi, aj hi chali jaooangi; lekin unase ap kuchh n kahie. apake pairoan p dati hooan. som. —kahaan chali jaogi ? goviandi — aur kahian thikana nahian hai, to ganga ji to haian. som. —nahian goviandi, maian itana nirdayi nahian hooan. maian keval itana chahata hooan ki tum kaliandi ko apane ghar se nikal do aur maian kuchh nahian chahata. tin din ka samay deta hooan, khoob soch-vichar lo. agar kaliandi tisare din tumhare ghar se n nikali, to tum janogi. somadatt vahaan se chala gaya. goviandi kalasa liye moorti ki bhaanti kh di rah gayi. usake sammukh kathin samasya a kh di huee thi, vah thi kaliandi ! ghar mean ek hi rah sakati thi. donoan ke lie us ghar mean sthan n tha. kya kaliandi ke lie vah apana ghar, apana svarg tyag degi ? kaliandi akeli hai, pati ne use pahale hi chho d diya hai, vah jahaan chahe ja sakati hai, par vah apane pranadhar aur pyare bachche ko chho d kar kahaan jayagi ? lekin kaliandi se vah kya kahegi ? jisake sath itane dinoan tak bahanoan ki tarah rahi, use kya vah apane ghar se nikal degi ? usaka bachcha kaliandi se kitana hila hua tha, kaliandi use kitana chahati thi ? kya us parityakta dina ko vah apane ghar se nikal degi ? isake siva aur upay hi kya tha ? usaka jivan ab ek svarthi, dambhi vyakti ki daya par avalambit tha. kya apane pati ke prem par vah bharosa kar sakati thi ! jnanachandr sahriday the, udar the, vicharashil the, dridh the, par kya unaka prem apaman, vyangy aur bahishkar jaise aghatoan ko sahan kar sakata tha ! usi din se goviandi aur kaliandi mean kuchh parthaky-sa dikhayi dene laga. donoan ab bahut kam sath baithatian. kaliandi pukarati , bahan, a kar khana kha lo. goviandi kahati , tum kha lo, maian phir kha looangi. pahale kaliandi balak ko sare din khilaya karati thi, maan ke pas keval doodh pine jata tha. magar ab goviandi har dam use apane hi pas rakhati hai. donoan ke bich mean koee divar kh di ho gayi hai. kaliandi bar-bar sochati hai, ajakal mujhase yah kyoan roothi huee hai ? par use koee karan nahian dikhayi deta. use bhay ho raha hai ki kadachith yah ab mujhe yahaan nahian rakhana chahati. isi chianta mean vah gote khaya karati hai; kintu goviandi bhi usase kam chiantit nahian hai. kaliandi se vah sneh to dana chahati hai; par usaki mlan moorti dekh kar usake hriday ke tuk de ho jate haian. usase kuchh kah nahian sakati. avahelana ke shabd muanh se nahian nikalate. kadachith use ghar se jate dekh kar vah ro p degi. aur jabaradasti rok legi. isi hais-bais mean tin din gujar gaye. kaliandi ghar se n nikali. tisare din sandhya-samay somadatt nadi ke tat par b di der tak kh da raha. aant mean charoan or aandhera chha gaya. phir bhi pichhe phir-phir kar jal-tat ki or dekhata jata tha ! rat ke das baj gaye haian. abhi jnanachandr ghar nahian aye. goviandi ghabara rahi hai. unhean itani der to kabhi nahian hoti thi. aj itani der kahaan laga rahe haian ? shanka se usaka hriday kaanp raha hai. sahasa maradane kamare ka dvar khulane ki avaz ayi ! goviandi dau di huee baithak mean ayi; lekin pati ka mukh dekhate hi usaki sari deh shithil p d gayi, us mukh par hasy tha; par us hasy mean bhagy-tiraskar jhalak raha tha. vidhi-vam ne aise sidhe-sade manushy ko bhi apane kri da-kaushal ke lie chun liya. kya vah rahasy rone ke yogy tha ? rahasy rone ki vastu nahian, hansane ki vastu hai. jnanachandr ne goviandi ki or nahian dekha. kap de utar kar savadhani se alagani par rakhe, joota utara aur pharsh par baith kar ek pustak ke panne ulatane laga. goviandi ne darate-darate kaha —aj itani der kahaan ki ? bhojan thanda ho raha hai. jnanachandr ne pharsh ki or takate hue kaha —tum log bhojan kar lo, maian ek mitr ke ghar kha kar aya hooan. goviandi isaka ashay samajh gayi. ek kshan ke bad phir boli —  chalo, tho da-sa hi kha lo. jnan. —ab bilakul bhookh nahian hai. goviandi — to maian bhi jakar so rahati hooan. jnanachandr ne ab goviandi ki or dekh kar kaha —kyoan ? tum kyoan n khaogi ? vah aur kuchh n kah saki. gala bhar aya. jnanachandr ne samip a kar kaha —maian sach kahata hooan, goviandi, ek mitr ke ghar bhojan kar aya hooan. tum ja kar kha lo. goviandi palang par p di huee chianta, nairashy aur vishad ke apar sagar mean gote kha rahi thi. yadi kaliandi ka usane bahishkar kar diya hota, to aj use is vipatti ka samana n karana p data; kintu yah amanushik vyavahar usake lie asadhy tha aur is dasha mean bhi use isaka du:kh n tha. jnanachandr ki or se yoan tiraskrit hone ka bhi use du:kh n tha. jo jnanachandr nity dharm aur sajjanata ki diange mara karata tha, vahi aj isaka itani nirdayata se bahishkar karata hua jan p data tha, us par use leshamatr bhi du:kh, krodh ya dvesh n tha. usake man ko keval ek hi bhavana aandolit kar rahi thi. vah ab is ghar mean kaise rah sakati hai. ab tak vah is ghar ki svamini thi ! isalie n ki vah apane pati ke prem ki svamini thi; par ab vah prem se vanchit ho gee thi. ab is ghar par usaka kya adhikar tha ? vah ab apane pati ko muanh hi kaise dikha sakati thi. vah janati thi, jnanachandr apane muanh se usake viruddh ek shabd bhi n nikaleange; par usake vishay mean aisi batean jan kar kya vah usase prem kar sakate the ? kadapi nahian ! is vakt n-jane kya samajh kar chup rahe. sabere toofan uthega. kitane hi vicharashil hoan; par apane samaj se nikal jana kaun pasand karega ? striyoan ki sansar mean kami nahian. meri jagah hajaroan mil jaeangi. meri kisi ko kya parava ? ab yahaan rahana behayaee hai. akhir koee lathi mar kar tho de hi nikal dega. hayadar ke lie aankh ka ishara bahut hai. muanh se n kahean, man ki bat aur bhav chhipe nahian rahate; lekin mithi nidra ki god mean soye hue shishu ko dekh kar mamata ne usake ashakt hriday ko aur bhi katar kar diya. is apane pranoan ke adhar ko vah kaise chho degi ? shishu ko usane god mean utha liya aur kh di roti rahi. tin sal kitane anand se gujare. usane samajha tha ki isi bhaanti sara jivan kat jayaga; lekin usake bhagy mean isase adhik sukh bhogana likha hi n tha.karun vedana mean doobe hue ye shabd usake mukh se nikal aye , bhagavanh ! agar tumhean is bhaanti meri durgati karani thi, to tin sal pahale kyoan n ki ? us vakt yadi tumane mere jivan ka aant kar diya hota, to maian tumhean dhanyavad deti. tin sal tak saubhagy ke suramy udyan mean saurabh, samir aur madhury ka anand uthane ke bad is udyan hi ko uja d diya. ha ! jin paudhoan ko usane apane prem-jal se siancha tha, ve ab nirmam durbhagy ke pairoan-tale kitani nishthurata se kuchale ja rahe the. jnanachandr ke shil aur sneh ka smaran aya, to vah ro p di. mridu smritiyaan a-akar hriday ko masosane lagian. sahasa jnanachandr ke ane se vah sanbhal baithi. kathor se kathor batean sunane ke lie usane apane hriday ko k da kar liya; kintu jnanachandr ke mukh par rosh ka chihn bhi n tha. unhoanne ashchary se poochha—kya tum abhi tak soyi nahian ? janati ho, kai baje haian ? barah se oopar haian. goviandi ne sahamate hue kaha —tum bhi to abhi nahian soye. jnan. —maian n soooan, to tum bhi n soo ? maian n khaooan, to tum bhi n khao ? maian bimar padooan, to tum bhi bimar p do ? yah kyoan ? maian to ek janmapatri bana raha tha. kal deni hogi. tum kya karati rahian, bolo ? in shabdoan mean kitana saral sneh tha ! kya tiraskar ke bhav itane lalit shabdoan mean prakat ho sakate haian ? pravanchakata kya itani nirmal ho sakati hai ? shayad somadatt ne abhi vajr ka prahar nahian kiya. avakash n mila hoga; lekin aisa hai, to aj ghar itani der mean kyoan aye ? bhojan kyoan n kiya, mujhase bole tak nahian, aankhean lal ho rahi thian. meri or aankh utha kar dekha tak nahian. kya yah sambhav hai ki inaka krodh shaant ho gaya ho ? yah sambhavana ki charam sima se bhi bahar hai. to kya somadatt ko mujh par daya a gayi ? patthar par doob jami ? goviandi kuchh nishchay n kar saki, aur jis bhaanti grih-sukh vihin pathik vriksh ki chhaanh mean bhi anand se paanv phaila kar sota hai, usaki avyavastha hi use nishchiant bana deti hai, usi bhaanti goviandi manasik vyagrata mean bhi svasth ho gayi. muskara kar sneh-mridul svar mean boli —  tumhari hi rah to dekh rahi thi. yah kahate-kahate goviandi ka gala bhar aya. vyadh ke jal mean ph daph dati huee chi diya kya mithe rag ga sakati hai ? jnanachandr ne charapaee par baith kar kaha —jhoothi bat, roj to tum ab tak so jaea karati thian. ek saptah bit gaya; par jnanachandr ne goviandi se kuchh n poochha, aur n unake bartav hi se unake manogat bhavoan ka kuchh parichay mila. agar unake vyavaharoan mean koee navinata thi, to yah ki vah pahale se bhi zyada snehashil, nirdvandv aur praphullavadan ho gaye. goviandi ka itana adar aur man unhoanne kabhi nahian kiya tha. unake prayatnashil rahane par bhi goviandi unake manobhavoan ko ta d rahi thi aur usaka chitt pratikshan shanka se chanchal aur kshubdh rahata tha. ab use isamean leshamatr bhi sandeh nahian tha ki somadatt ne ag laga di hai. gili lak di mean p d kar vah chinagari bujh jayagi, ya jangal ki sookhi pattiyaan hahakar karake jal utheangi, yah kaun jan sakata hai. lekin is saptah ke gujarate hi agni ka prakop hone laga. jnanachandr ek mahajan ke munim the. us mahajan ne kah diya , mere yahaan ab apaka kam nahian. jivika ka doosara sadhan yajamani hai. yajaman bhi ek-ek karake unhean javab dene lage. yahaan tak ki unake dvar par ana-jana band ho gaya. ag sookhi pattiyoan mean jala kar ab hare vriksh ke charoan or mandarane lagi. par jnanachandr ke mukh mean goviandi ke prati ek bhi katu, amridu shabd n tha. vah is samajik dand ki shayad kuchh parava n karate, yadi durbhagyavash isane unaki jivika ke dvar n band kar diye hote. goviandi sab kuchh samajhati thi; par sankoch ke mare kuchh n kah sakati thi. usi ke karan usake pranapriy pati ki yah dasha ho rahi hai, yah usake lie doob marane ki bat thi. par, kaise pranoan ka utsarg kare. kaise jivan-moh se mukt ho. is vipatti mean svami ke prati usake rom-rom se shubh-kamanaoan ki sarita-si bahati thi; par muanh se ek shabd bhi n nikalata tha. bhagy ki sabase nishthur lila us din huee, jab kaliandi bhi bina kuchh kahe-sune somadatt ke ghar ja pahuanchi. jisake lie yah sari yatanaean jhelani p dian, usi ne ant mean bevaphaee ki. jnanachand ne suna, to keval muskara diye; par goviandi is kutil aghat ko itani shaanti se sahan n kar saki. kaliandi ke prati usake mukh se apriy shabd nikal hi aye. jnanachandr ne kaha —use vyarth hi kosati ho priye, usaka koee dosh nahian. bhagavanh hamari pariksha le rahe haian. is vakt dhairy ke siva hamean kisi se koee asha n rakhani chahie. jin bhavoan ko goviandi kee dinoan se aantastal mean dabati chali ati thi, ve dhairy ka baandh tootate hi b de veg se bahar nikal p de. pati ke sammukh aparadhiyoan ki bhaanti hath baandh kar usane kaha —svami, mere hi karan apako yah sare pap d belane p d rahe haian. maian hi apake kul ki kalankini hooan. kyoan n mujhe kisi aisi jagah bhej dijie, jahaan koee meri soorat tak n dekhe. maian apase saty kahati hooan... jnanachandr ne goviandi ko aur kuchh n kahane diya. use hriday se laga kar bole —  priy, aisi batoan se mujhe dukhi n karo. tum aj bhi utani hi pavitr ho, jitani us samay thian, jab devataoan ke samaksh maianne ajivan patnivrat liya tha, tab mujhase tumhara parichay n tha. ab to meri deh aur atma ka ek-ek paramanu tumhare akshay prem se alokit ho raha hai. upahas aur nianda ki to bat hi kya hai, durdaiv ka kathoratam aghat bhi mere vrat ko bhang nahian kar sakata. agar doobeange to sath-sath doobeange; tareange to sath-sath tareange. mere jivan ka mukhy karttavy tumhare prati hai. sansar isake pichhe , bahut pichhe hai. goviandi ko jan p da, usake sammukh koee dev-moorti kh di hai. svami mean itani shrriddha, itani bhakti, use aj tak kabhi n huee thi. garv se usaka mastak ooancha ho gaya aur mukh par svargiy abha jhalak p di. usane phir kahane ka sahas n kiya. sampannata apaman aur bahishkar ko tuchchh samajhati hai. unake abhav mean ye badhaean pranaantak ho jati haian. jnanachandr din ke din ghar mean p de rahate. ghar se bahar nikalane ka unhean sahas n hota tha. jab tak goviandi ke pas gahane the, tab tak bhojan ki chianta n thi. kintu jab yah adhar bhi n rah gaya, to halat aur bhi kharab ho gayi. kabhi-kabhi nirahar rah jana p data. apani vyatha kisase kahean, kaun mitr tha ? kaun apana tha ? goviandi pahale bhi hrisht-pusht n thi; par ab to anahar aur aantarvedana ke karan usaki deh aur bhi jirn ho gayi thi. pahale shishu ke lie doodh mol liya karati thi. ab isaki samarthy n thi. balak din par din durbal hota jata tha. maloom hota tha, use sookhe ka rog ho gaya hai. din ke din bachcha khurra khat par p da mata ko nairashy-drishti se dekha karata. kadachith usaki bal-buddhi bhi avastha ko samajhati thi. kabhi kisi vastu ke lie hath n karata. usaki balochit saralata, chanchalata aur kri dashilata ne ab tak dirgh, ashavihin pratiksha ka roop dharan kar liya tha. mata-pita usaki dasha dekh kar man hi man kudh-kudh kar rah jate the. sandhya ka samay tha. goviandi aandhere ghar mean balak ke sirahane chianta mean magn baithi thi. akash par badal chhaye hue the aur hava ke jhoanke usake ardhanagn sharir mean shar ke saman lagate the. aj din bhar bachche ne kuchh n khaya tha. ghar mean kuchh tha hi nahian. kshudhagni se balak chhatapata raha tha; par ya to rona n chahata tha, ya usamean rone ki shakti hi n thi. itane mean jnanachandr teli ke yahaan se tel le kar a pahuanche. dipak jala. dipak ke kshin prakash mean mata ne balak ka mukh dekha; to saham uthi. balak ka mukh pila p d gaya tha aur putaliyaan oopar chadh gayi thian. usane ghabarakar balak ko god mean uthaya. deh thandi thi. chilla kar boli —  ha bhagavanh ! mere bachche ko kya ho gaya ? jnanachandr ne balak ke mukh ki or dekh kar ek thandi saans li aur bole —  eeshvar, kya sari daya-drishti hamare hi oopar karoge ? goviandi — hay ! mera lal mare bhookh ke shithil ho gaya hai. koee aisa nahian, jo ise do ghooant doodh pila de. yah kah kar usane balak ko pati ki god mean de diya aur ek lutiya le kar kaliandi ke ghar doodh maangane chali. jis kaliandi ne aj chh: mahine se is ghar ki or taka n tha, usi ke dvar par doodh ki bhiksha maangane jate hue use kitani glani, kitana sankoch ho raha tha, vah bhagavanh ke siva aur kaun jan sakata hai. yah vahi balak hai, jis par ek din kaliandi pran deti thi; par usaki or se ab usane apana hriday itana kathor kar liya tha ki ghar mean kee gauean lagane par bhi ek chilloo doodh n bheja. usi ki daya-bhiksha maangane aj, aandhori rat mean, bhigati huee goviandi dau di ja rahi hai. mata ! tere vatsaly ko dhany hai ! kaliandi dipak liye dalan mean kh di gay duha rahi thi. pahale svamini banane ke lie vah saut se l da karati thi. sevika ka pad use svikar n tha. ab sevika ka pad svikar karake svamini bani huee thi. goviandi ko dekh kar turant nikal ayi aur vismay se boli —  kya hai bahan, pani-booandi mean kaise chali ayi ? goviandi ne sakuchate hue kaha —lala bahut bhookha hai, kaliandi ! aj din bhar kuchh nahian mila. tho da-sa doodh lene ayi hooan. kaliandi bhitar jakar doodh ka mataka liye bahar nikal ayi aur boli —  jitana chaho, le lo goviandi ! doodh ki kaun kami hai. lala to ab chalata hoga ! bahut ji chahata hai ki jakar use dekh aooan. lekin jane ka hukum nahian hai. pet palana hai, to hukum manana hi p dega. tumane batalaya hi nahian, nahian to lala ke lie doodh ka to da tho da hai. maian chali kya ayi ki tumane usaka muanh dekhane ko tarasa dala. mujhe kabhi poochhata hai ? yah kahate hue kaliandi ne doodh ka mataka goviandi ke hath mean rakh diya. goviandi ke aankhoan se aansoo bahane lage. kaliandi itani daya karegi, isaki use asha nahian thi. ab use jnan hua ki yah vahi dayashila, seva-parayan ramani hai, jo pahale thi. leshamatr bhi antar n tha. boli —  itana doodh le kar kya karooangi, bahan. is lotiya mean dal do.   kaliandi—doodh chhote-b de sabhi khate haian. le jao, (dhire) yah mat samajho ki maian tumhare ghar se chali ayi, to birani ho gayi. bhagavanh ki daya se ab yahaan kisi bat ki chianta nahian hai. mujhase kahane bhar ki der hai. haan, maian aooangi nahian. isase lachar hooan. kal kisi bela lala ko lekar nadi kinare a jana. dekhane ko bahut ji chahata hai. goviandi doodh ki haan di liye ghar chali, garvapoorn anand ke mare usake pair u de jate the. dayodhi mean pair rakhate hi boli —  jara diya dikha dena, yahaan kuchh sujhayi nahian deta. aisa n ho ki doodh gir p de. jnanachandr ne dipak dikha diya. goviandi ne balak ko apani god mean lita kar katori se doodh pilana chaha ! par ek ghooant se adhik doodh kanth mean n gaya. balak ne hichaki li aur apani jivan-lila samapt kar di. karun rodan se ghar gooanj utha. sari basti ke log chauank p de; par jab maloom ho gaya ki jnanachandr ke ghar se avaz a rahi hai, to koee dvar par n aya. rat bhar bhagn hriday dampati rote rahe. prat:kal jnanachand ne shav utha liya aur shmashan ki or chale. saik doan adamiyoan ne unhean jate dekha; par koee samip n aya. kul-maryada sansar ki sabase uttam vastu hai. us par pran tak nyochhavar kar diye jate haian. jnanachand ke hath se vah vastu nikal gayi, jis par unhean gaurav tha. vah garv, vah atm-bal, vah tej, jo paranpara ne unake hriday mean koot-koot kar bhar diya tha, usaka kuchh aansh to pahale hi mit chuka tha, bacha-khucha putr-shok ne mita diya. unhean vishvas ho gaya ki unake avichar ka eeshvar ne yah dand diya hai. duravastha, jirnata aur manasik durbalata sabhi is vishvas ko dridh karati thian. vah goviandi ko ab bhi nirdosh samajhate the. usake prati ek katu shabd unake muanh se n nikalata tha, n koee katu bhav hi unake dil mean jagah pata tha. vidhi ki kroor-kri da hi unaka sarvanash kar rahi hai; isamean unhean leshamatr bhi sandeh n tha. ab yah ghar unhean pha de khata tha. ghar ke pran-se nikal gaye the. ab mata kise god mean le kar chaand mama ko bulayegi, kise ubatan malegi, kisake lie prat:kal haluva pakayegi. ab sab kuchh shoony tha, maloom hota tha ki unake hriday nikal liye gaye haian. apaman, kasht, anahar, in sari vidanbanaoan ke hote hue bhi balak ki bal-kri daoan mean ve sab kuchh bhool jate the. usake snehamay lalan-palan mean hi apana jivan sarthak samajhate the. ab charoan or andhakar  tha. yadi aise manushy haian, jinhean vipatti se uttejana aur sahas milata hai, to aise bhi manushy haian, jo apatti-kal mean karttavyahin, purusharthahin aur udyamahin ho jate haian. jnanachandr shikshit the, yogy the. yadi shahar mean ja kar dau d-dhoop karate, to unhean kahian n kahian kam mil jata. vetan kam hi sahi, rotiyoan ko to muhataj n rahate; kiantu avishvas unhean ghar se nikalane n deta tha. kahaan jaean, shahar mean kaun janata hai ? agar do-char parichit prani haian bhi, to unhean meri kyoan parava hone lagi ? phir is dasha mean jaean kaise ? deh par sabit kap de bhi nahian. jane ke pahale goviandi ke lie kuchh n kuchh prabandh karana avashyak tha. usaka koee subhita n tha. inhian chiantaoan mean p de-p de unake din katate jate the. yahaan tak ki unhean ghar se bahar nikalate hi b da sankoch hota tha. goviandi hi par annoparjan ka bhar tha. bechari din ko bachchoan ke kap de siti, rat ko doosaroan ke lie ata pisati. jnanachandr sab kuchh dekhate the aur matha thok kar rah jate the. ek din bhojan karate hue jnanachandr ne atm-dhikkar ke bhav se muskara kar kaha —mujh-sa nirlajj purush bhi sansar mean doosara n hoga, jise stri ki kamaee khate bhi maut nahian ati ! goviandi ne bhauan siko d kar kaha —tumhare pairoan p dati hooan, mere samane aisi batean mat kiya karo. hai to yah sab mere hi karan ? jnan. —tumane poorv janm mean koee b da pap kiya tha goviandi, jo mujh-jaise nikhattoo ke pale p di. mere jite hi tum vidhava ho. dhikkar hai aise jivan ko ! goviandi — tum mera hi khoon piyo, agar phir is tarah ki koee bat muanh se nikalo. tumhari dasi ban kar mera janm suphal ho gaya. maian ise poorvajanm ki tapasya ka punit phal samajhati hooan. du:kh-sukh kis par nahian ata. tumhean bhagavanh kushal se rakhean, yahi meri abhilasha hai. jnan. —bhagavanh tumhari abhilasha poorn karean ! khoob chakki piso. goviandi — tumhari bala se chakki pisati hooan. jnan. —haan, haan, piso. maian mana tho de karata hooan. tum n chakki pisogi, to yahaan mooanchhoan par tav de kar khayega kaun, achchha, aj dal mean ghi bhi hai. thik hai, ab meri chaandi hai, be da par lag jayaga. isi gaanv mean b de-b de uchch-kul ki kanyaean haian. apane vastrabhooshan ke samane unhean aur kisi ki parava nahian. pati mahashay chahe chori karake layean, chahe daka mar kar layean, unhean isaki parava nahian. tumamean vah gun nahian hai. tum uchch-kul ki kanya nahian ho. vah ri duniya ! aisi pavitr deviyoan ka tere yahaan anadar hota hai ! unhean kul-kalankini samajha jata hai ! dhany hai tera vyapar ! tumane kuchh aur suna ? somadatt ne mere asamiyoan ko bahaka diya hai ki lagan mat dena, dekhean kya karate haian. batao, zamiandar ko rakam kaise chukaooanga ? goviandi — maian somadatt se ja kar poochhati hooan n ? mana kya kareange, koee dillagi hai ! jnan. —nahian goviandi, tum us dusht ke pas mat jana. maian nahian chahata ki tumhare oopar usaki chhaya bhi p de. use khoob atyachar karane do. maian bhi dekh raha hooan ki bhagavanh kitane nyayi haian ! goviandi — tum asamiyoan ke pas kyoan nahian jate ? hamare ghar n ayean, hamara chhua pani n piyean, ya hamare rupaye bhi mar leange ? jnan. —vah, isase saral to koee kam hi nahian hai. kah deange , ham rupaye de chuke. sara gaanv usaki taraph ho jayaga. maian to ab gaanv bhar ka drohi hooan n. aj khoob dat kar bhojan kiya. ab maian bhi rees hooan, bina hath-pair hilaye gulachharre u data hooan. sach kahata hooan, tumhari or se ab maian nishchint ho gaya. desh-videsh bhi chala jaooan, to tum apana nirvah kar sakati ho. goviandi — kahian jane ka kam nahian hai. jnan. —to yahaan jata hi kaun hai. kise kutte ne kata hai, jo yah seva chho d kar mehanat-majoori karane jae. tum sachamuch devi ho, goviandi ! bhojan karake jnanachandr bahar nikale. goviandi bhojan karake kothari mean ayi, to jnanachandr n the. samajhi , kahian bahar chale gaye hoange. aj pati ki batoan se usaka chitt kuchh prasann tha. shayad ab vah naukari-chakari ki khoj mean kahian janevale haian. yah asha bandha rahi thi. haan unaki vyangoktiyoan ka bhav usaki samajh hi mean n ata tha. aisi batean vah kabhi n karate the. aj kya soojhi ! kuchh kap de sine the. ja doan ke din the. goviandi dhoop mean baith kar sine lagi. tho di hi der mean sham ho gayi. abhi tak jnanachandr nahian aye. tel-batti ka samay aya, phir bhojan ki taiyari karane lagi. kaliandi tho da-sa doodh de gayi thi. goviandi ko to bhookh n thi, ab vah ek hi bela khati thi. haan, jnanachandr ke lie rotiyaan seankani thian. socha , doodh hai hi, doodh-roti kha leange. bhojan bana kar nikali hi thi ki somadatt ne aangan mean akar poochha—kahaan haian jnanoo ? goviandi — kahian gaye haian. som. —kap de pahan kar gaye haian ? goviandi — haan; kali mirjee pahane the. som. —joota bhi pahane the ? goviandi ki chhati dha d-dha d karane lagi. boli —  haan, joota to pahane the. kyoan poochhate ho ? somadatt ne zor se hath mar kar kaha —hay jnanoo ! hay ! goviandi ghabara kar boli —  kya hua, dada ji ! hay ! batate kyoan nahian ? hay ! som. —abhi thane se a raha hooan. vahaan unaki lash mili hai. rel ke niche dab gaye ! hay jnanoo ! mujh hatyare ko kyoan n maut a gayi ? goviandi ke muanh se phir koee shabd n nikala. aantim 'hay' ke sath bahut dinoan tak t dapata hua pran-pakshi u d gaya. ek kshan mean gaanv ki kitani hi striyaan jama ho gayian. sab kahati thian , devi thi ! sati thi ! prat:kal do arthiyaan gaanv se nikalian. ek par reshami chuandari ka kafan tha, doosari par reshami shal ka. gaanv ke dvijoan mean se keval somadatt sath tha. shesh gaanv ke nich jati vale adami the. somadatt hi ne dah-kriya ka prabandh kiya tha. vah rah-rah kar donoan hathoan se apani chhati pitata tha aur jor-jor se chillata tha , hay ! hay jnanoo !!

sanbandhit lekh

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