भीख में -जयशंकर प्रसाद

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

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khaparal dalan mean, kambal par minna ke sath baitha hua brajaraj man lagakar batean kar raha tha. samane tal mean kamal khil rahe the. us par se bhini-bhini mahak liye hue pavan dhire-dhire us jhop di mean ata aur chala jata tha.

‘‘maan kahati thi ...’’, minna ne kamal ki kesaroan ko bikharate hue kaha.

‘‘kya kahati thi?’’

‘‘babooji paradesh jayange. tere liye naipali tattoo layange.’’

‘‘too gho de par chadhega ki tattoo par! pagal kahian ka.’’

‘‘nahian, maian tattoo par chadhooanga. vah girata nahian.’’

‘‘to phir maian nahian jaooanga?’’

‘‘kyoan nahian jaoge? ooan-ooan-ooan, maian ab rota hooan.’’

‘‘achchha, pahale yah batao ki jab tum kamane lagoge, to hamare lie kya laoge?’’

‘‘khoob dher-sa rupaya’’-kahakar minna ne apana chhota-sa hath jitana ooancha ho sakata tha, utha liya.

‘‘sab rupaya mujhako hi doge n!’’

‘‘nahian, maan ko bhi dooanga.’’

‘‘mujhako kitana doge?’’

‘‘thaili-bhar!’’

‘‘aur maan ko?’’

‘‘vahi b di kathavali sandook mean jitana bharega.’’

‘‘tab phir maan se kaho; vahi naipali tattoo la degi.’’

minna ne jhuanjhalakar brajaraj ko hi tattoo bana liya. usi ke kandhoan par chadhaqar apani sadh mitane laga. bhitar daravaze mean se indo jhaankakar pita-putr ka vinod dekh rahi thi. usane kaha-‘‘minna! yah tattoo b da a diyal hai.’’

brajaraj ko yah visamvadi svar ki-si hansi khatakane lagi. aj hi savere indo se k di phatakar suni thi. indo apane grihini-pad ki maryada ke anusar jab do-char khari-khoti suna deti, to usaka man virakti se bhar jata. use minna ke sath khelane mean, jhag da karane mean aur salah karane mean hi sansar ki poorn bhavamayi upasthiti ho jati. phir kuchh aur karane ki avashyakata hi kya hai? yahi bat usaki samajh mean nahian ati. roti-bina bhookhoan marane ki sambhavana n thi. kintu indo ko utane hi se santosh nahian. idhar brajaraj ko nithalle baithe hue malo ke sath kabhi-kabhi chuhal karate dekhakar to vah aur bhi jal uthati. brajaraj yah sab samajhata hua bhi anajan ban raha tha. use to apani khaparail mean minna ke sath santosh-hi-santosh tha; kintu aj vah n jane kyoan bhinna utha-

‘‘minna! a diyal tattoo bhagate haian, to rukate nahian. aur rah-karah bhi nahian dekhate. teri maan apane bhige chane par rob gaanthati hai. kahian is tattoo ko hari-hari doob ki chat lagi, to....’’

‘‘nahian minna! rookhi-sookhi par nibha lenevale aisa nahian kar sakate!’’

‘‘kar sakate haian minna! kah do, haan!’’

minna ghabara utha tha. yah to batoan ka naya dhang tha. vah samajh n saka. usane kah diya-‘‘haan, kar sakate haian.’’

‘‘chal dekh liya. aise hi karanevale!’’-kahakar zor se kiva d band karati huee indo chali gayi. brajaraj ke hriday mean virakti chamaki. bijali ki tarah kauandh uthi ghrina. use apane astitv par sandeh hua. vah purush hai ya nahian? itana kashaghat! itana sandeh aur chatur sanchalan! usaka man ghar se vidrohi ho raha tha. aj tak b di savadhani se kushal mahajan ki tarah vah apana sood badhata raha. kabhi sneh ka pratidan lekar usane indo ko halka nahian hone diya tha. isi gh di sood-dar-sood lene ke lie usane apani virakti ki thaili ka muanh khol diya.

minna ko ek bar god mean chipaka kar vah kh da ho gaya. jab gaanv ke log haloan ko kandhoan par liye ghar laut rahe the, usi samay brajaraj ne ghar chho dane ka nishchay kar liya.

jalandhar se jo s dak jvalamukhi ko jati hai, us par isi sal se ek sikkh penshanar ne lari chalana arambh kiya. usaka draivar kalakatte se sikha hua phurtila adami hai. sidhe-sade dehati uchhal p de. jinaki manauti kee sal se ruki thi, bail-ga di ki yatra ke karan jo ab tab tal-matol karate the, ve utsah se bharakar jvalamukhi ke darshan ke lie prastut hone lage.

gotedar odhaniyoan, achchhi kat ki shalavaroan, kimakhvab ki jhakajhak sadariyoan ki bahar, aye din usaki lari mean dikhalaee p dati. kintu vah mashin ka premi draivar kisi or dekhata nahian. apani motar, usaka harn, brek aur madagard par usaka man tika rahata. chakka hath mean lie hue jab us paha di-prant mean vah apani lari chalata, to apani dhun mean mast kisi ki or dekhane ka vichar bhi n kar pata. usake saman mean ek b da-sa kot, ek kambal aur ek lota. haan, baithane ki jagah mean jo chhipa hua baks tha, usi mean kul rupaye-paise bachakar vah pheankata jata. kisi paha di par ooanche vrikshoan se lipati huee jangali gulab ki lata ko vah dekhana nahian chahata. usaki kosoan tak phailanevali sugandh brajaraj ke man ko math deti; parantu vah shighr hi apani lari mean man ko ulajha deta aur tab nirvikar bhav se us janaviral prant mean lari ki chal tivr kar deta. isi tarah kee baras bit gaye.

boodha sikh usase bahut prasann rahata; kyoanki draivar kabhi bi di-tamakhoo nahian pita aur kisi kam mean vyarth paisa nahian kharch karata. us din badal um d rahe the. tho di-tho di jhisi p d rahi thi. vah apani lari dau daye paha di pradesh ke bichoanbich nirjan s dak par chala ja raha tha, kahian-kahian do-char gharoan ke gaanv dikhaee p date the. aj usaki lari mean bhi d nahian thi. sikh peanshanar ki jan-pahachan ka ek parivar us din jvalamukhi ka darshan karane ja raha tha. un logoan ne poori lari bha de par kar li thi, kintu abhi tak use yah janane ki avashyakata n huee thi ki usamean kitane adami the. use ianjin mean pani ki kami maloom huee ki lari rok di gayi. brajaraj balti lekar pani lane gaya. use pani late dekhakar lari ke yatriyoan ko bhi pyas lag gayi. sikh ne kaha-

‘‘brajaraj! in logoan ko bhi tho da pani de dena.’’

jab balti liye vah yatriyoan ki or gaya, to usako bhram hua ki jo sundari stri pani ke lie lota badha rahi hai, vah kuchh pahachani-si hai. usane lote mean pani uan delate hue anyamanask ki tarah kuchh jal gira bhi diya, jisase stri ki odhani ka kuchh aansh bhig gaya. yatri ne jhi dakakar kaha-

‘‘bhaee, jara dekhakar.’’

kintu vah stri bhi use kanakhiyoan se dekh rahi thi. ‘brajaraj!’ shabd usake bhi kanoan mean gooanj utha tha. brajaraj apani sit par ja baitha.

boodhe sikh aur yatri donoan ko hi usaka yah vyavahar ashisht-sa maloom hua; par koee kuchh bola nahian. lari chalane lagi. kaang da ki taraee ka yah paha di drishy, chitrapatoan ki tarah kshan-kshan par badal raha tha. udhar brajaraj ki aankhe kuchh doosare hi drishy dekh rahi thian.

gaanv ka vah tal, jisamean kamal khil rahe the, minna ke nirmal pyar ki tarah tarangayit ho raha tha. aur us pyar mean vishram ki lalasa, bich-bich mean use dekhate hi, malati ka pair ke aangoothoan ke chaandi ke mote chhalloan ko khatakhatana, sahasa usaki stri ka sandigdh bhav se usako bahar bhejane ki prerana, sadharan jivan mean balak ke pyar se jo sukh aur santosh use mil raha tha, vah bhi chhin gaya; kyoan sandeh ho n! indo ko vishvas ho chala tha ki brajaraj malo ko pyar karata hai. aur gaanv mean ek hi sundari, chanchal, hansamukh aur manachali bhi thi, usaka byah nahian hua tha. haan, vahi to malo?-aur yah odhanivali! aian, panjabi mean? asambhav! nahian to-vahi hai-thik-thik vahi hai. vah chakka pak de hue pichhe ghoomakar apani smritidhara par vishvas kar lena chahata tha. oh! kitani bhooli huee batean is mukh ne smaran dila dian. vahi to-vah apane ko n rok saka. pichhe ghoom hi p da aur dekhane laga.

lari takara gee ek vriksh se. kuchh adhik hani n hone par bhi, kisi ko kahian chot n lagane par bhi sikh jhalla utha. brajaraj bhi phir lari par n chadha. kisi ko kisi se sahanubhooti nahian. tanik-si bhool bhi koee sah nahian sakata, yahi n! brajaraj ne socha ki maian hi kyoan n rooth jaooan? usane naukari ko namaskar kiya.

-- --

brajaraj ko vairagy ho gaya ho, so to bat nahian. haan, use garhasthy-jivan ke sukh ke aranbh mean hi thokar lagi. usaki sidhi-sadi grihasthi mean koee vishesh anand n tha. keval minna ki atapati batoan se aur rah chalate-chalate kabhi-kabhi malati ki chuhal se, halake sharabat mean, do booand hare niboo ke ras ki-si sugandh taravat mean mil jati thi.

vah sab gaya, idhar kalakatte ke kolahal mean rahakar usane draivari sikhi. paha diyoan ki god mean use ek prakar ki shanti mili. do-char gharoan ke chhote-chhote-se gaanvoan ko dekhakar usake man mean viragapoorn dular hota tha. vah apani lari par baitha hua upeksha se ek drishti dalata hua nikal jata. tab vah apane gaanv par mano pratyaksh roop se pratishodh le leta; kintu naukari chho dakar vah kya jane kaisa ho gaya. jvalamukhi ke samip hi pandoan ki basti mean jakar rahane laga.

pas mean kuchh rupaye bache the. unhean vah dhire-dhire kharch karane laga. udhar usake man ka nishchint bhav aur sharir ka bal dhire-dhire kshin hone laga. koee kahata, to usaka kam kar deta; par usake badale mean paisa n leta. log kahate-b da bhalamanus hai. usase bahut-se logoan ki mitrata ho gayi. usaka din dhalane laga. vah ghar ki kabhi chinta n karata. haan, bhoolane ka prayatn karata; kintu minna? phir sochata ‘ab b da ho gaya hoga hi, jisane mujhe kam karane ke lie paradesh bhej diya, vah minna ko thik kar legi. kheti-bari se kam chal hi jayaga. maian hi grihasthi mean atirikt vyakti tha aur malati! n, n! pahale usake karan sandigdh banakar mujhe ghar chhodऩa p da. usi ka phir se smaran karate hi maian naukari se chhu daya gaya. kahaan se us din mujhe phir usaka sandeh hua. vah panjab mean kahaan ati! usaka nam bhi n looan!’’

‘‘indo to mujhe paradesh bhejakar sukh se niand legi hi.’’

par yah nasha do-hi-tin barasoan mean ukh d gaya. is arthayug mean sab sambal jisaka hai, vahi uththi bol gaya. aj brajaraj akinchan kangal tha. aj hi se use bhikh maangana chahie. naukari n karega, haan bhikh maang lega. kisi ka kam kar dega, to yah dega vah apani bhikh. usaki manasik dhara isi tarah chal rahi thi.

vah savere hi aj mandir ke samip hi ja baitha. aj usake hriday se bhi vaisi hi ek jvala bhakh se nikal kar bujh jati hai. aur kabhi vilamb tak lapalapati rahati hai; kintu kabhi usaki or koee nahian dekhata. aur udhar to yatriyoan ke jhund ja rahe the.

chaitr ka mahina tha. aj bahut-se yatri aye the. usane bhi bhikh ke lie hath phailaya. ek sajjan god mean chhota-sa-balak liye age badh gaye, pichhe ek sundari apani odhani samhalati huee kshanabhar ke lie ruk gayi thi. striyaan svabhav ki komal hoti haian. pahali hi bar pasara hua hath khali n rah jay, isi se brajaraj ne sundari se yachana ki.

vah kh di ho gayi. usane poochha-‘‘kya tum ab lari nahian chalate?’’

are, vahi to thik malati ka-sa svar!

hath batorakar brajaraj ne kaha-‘‘kaun, malo?’’

‘‘to yah tumhian ho, brajaraj!’’

‘‘haan to’’-kahakar brajaraj ne ek lambi saans li.

malati kh di rahi. usane kaha-‘‘bhikh maangate ho?’’

‘‘haan, pahale maian sukh ka bhikhari tha. tho da-sa minna ka sneh, indo ka pranay, das-paanch bighoan ki kamachalaoo upaj aur kahe janevale mitroan ki chikani-chup di batoan se santosh ki bhikh maangakar apane chith doan mean baandhakar maian sukhi ban raha tha. kangal ki tarah jan-kolahal se door ek kone mean use apani chhati se lagaye p da tha; kintu tumane bich mean tho da-sa prasann-vinod mere oopar dhal diya, vahi to mere lie...’’

‘‘oho, pagal indo! mujh par sandeh karane lagi. tumhare chale ane par mujhase kee bar l di bhi. maian to ab yahaan a gayi hooan.’’-kahate-kahate vah bhay se age chale janevale sajjan ko dekhane lagi.

‘‘to, vah tumhara hi bachcha hai n! achchha-achchha!’’ ‘hooan’ kahati huee malo ne kuchh nikala use dene ke lie! brajaraj ne kaha-‘‘malo! tum jao. dekho, vah tumhare pati a rahe haian!’’ bachche ko god mean liye hue malo ke panjabi pati laut aye. malati us samay anyamanask, kshubdh aur chanchal ho rahi thi. usake muanh par kshobh, bhay aur kutoohal se mili huee karuna thi. pati ne daantakar poochha-‘‘kyoan, vah bhikhamanga tang kar raha tha?’’

pandaji ki or ghoomakar malo ke pati ne kaha-‘‘aise uchchakoan ko ap log mandir ke pas baithane dete haian.’’

dhani jajaman ka apaman vah panda kaise sahata! usane brajaraj ka hath pak dakar ghasitate hue kaha-

‘‘uth be, yahaan phir dikhaee p da, to teri taang hi lang di kar dooanga!’’

bechara brajaraj yahaan dhakke khakar sochane laga-‘‘phir malati! kya sachamuch maianne kabhi usase kuchh....aur mera durbhagy! yahi to aj tak ayachit bhav se vah deti ayi hai. aj usane pahale din ki bhikh mean bhi vahi diya.