महातीर्थ -प्रेमचंद

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

muanshi iandramani ki amadani kam thi aur kharch zyada. apane bachche ke lie daee ka kharch n utha sakate the. lekin ek to bachche ki seva-shushroosha ki fikr aur doosare apane barabaravaloan se hethe ban kar rahane ka apaman is kharch ko sahane par majaboor karata tha. bachcha daee ko bahut chahata tha, haradam usake gale ka har bana rahata tha. isalie daee aur bhi zaroori maloom hoti thi, par shayad sabase b da karan yah tha ki vah murauvat ke vash daee ko javab dene ka sahas nahian kar sakate the. budhiya unake yahaan tin sal se naukar thi. usane unake ikalaute l dake ka lalan-palan kiya tha. apana kam b di mustaidi aur parishram se karati thi. use nikalane ka koee bahana nahian tha aur vyarth khuch d nikalana iandramani jaise bhale adami ke svabhav ke viruddh tha, par sukhada is sanbandh mean apane pati se sahamat n thi. use sandeh tha ki daee hamean loote leti hai. jab daee bazar se lautati to vah dalan mean chhipi rahati ki dekhooan ata kahian chhipa kar to nahian rakh deti; lak di to nahian chhipa deti. usaki layi huee chijoan ko ghantoan dekhati, poochhatachh karati. bar-bar poochhati, itana hi kyoan ? kya bhav hai. kya itana mahanga ho gaya ? daee kabhi to in sandehatmak prashnoan ka uttar namratapoorvak deti, kiantu jab kabhi bahoo ji zyada tej ho jatian to vah bhi k di p d jati thi. shapathean khati. saphaee ki shahadatean pesh karati. vad-vivad mean ghantoan lag jate the. prayah nity yahi dasha rahati thi aur pratidin yah natak daee ke ashrupat ke sath samapt hota tha. daee ka itani sakhtiyaan jhel kar p de rahana sukhada ke sandeh ko aur bhi pusht karata tha. use kabhi vishvas nahian hota tha ki yah budhiya keval bachche ke premavash p di huee hai. vah budhiya ko itani bal-prem-shila nahian samajhati thi.

2

sanyog se ek din daee ko bazar se lautane mean jara der ho gayi. vahaan do kuanj dinoan mean devasur sangram macha tha. unaka chitramay hav-bhav, unaka agney tark-vitark, unake kataksh, aur vyangy sab anupam the. vish ke do nad the ya jvala ke do parvat, jo doanno taraph se um d kar apas mean takara gaye the. kya vakh-pravah tha, kaisi vichitr vivechana ! unaka shabd-bahuly, unaki marmik vicharashilata, unake alankrit shabd-vinyas aur unaki upamaoan ki navinata par aisa kaun-sa kavi hai jo mugdh n ho jata. unaka dhairy, unaki shaanti vismayajanak thi. darshakoan ki ek khasi bhi d bhi thi. vah laj ko bhi lajjit karanevale ishare, vah ashlil shabd jinase malinata ke bhi kan kh de hote, sahastroan rasikajanoan ke lie manoranjan ki samagri bane hue the.

daee bhi kh di ho gayi ki dekhooan kya mamala hai. tamasha itana manoranjak tha ki use samay ka bilakul dhyan n raha. yakayak jab nau ke ghante ki avaz kan mean ayi to chauank p di aur lapaki huee ghar ki or chali.

sukhada bhari baithi thi. daee ko dekhate hi tyori badal kar boli-kya bazar mean kho gayi thi ?

daee vinayapoorn bhav se boli-ek jan-pahachan ki mahari se bheant ho gayi. vah batean karane lagi.

sukhada is javab se aur bhi chidh kar boli-yahaan daftar jane ko der ho rahi hai aur tumhean sair-sapate ki soojhati hai.

parantu daee ne is samay dabane mean hi kushal samajhi, bachche ko god mean lene chali, par sukhada ne jhi dak kar kaha-rahane do, tumhare bina vah vyakul nahian hua jata.

daee ne is ajna ko manana avashyak nahian samajha. bahoo ji ka krodh thanda karane ke lie isase upayogi aur koee upay n soojha. usane rudramani ko ishare se apane pas bulaya. vah donoan hath phailaye l dakh data hua usaki or chala. daee ne use god mean utha liya aur daravaze ki taraph chali. lekin sukhada baj ki tarah jhapati aur rudr ko usaki god se chhin kar boli-tumhari yah dhoortata bahut dinoan se dekh rahi hooan. yah tamashe kisi aur ko dikhaiyo. yahaan ji bhar gaya.

daee rudr par jan deti thi aur samajhati thi ki sukhada is bat ko janati hai. usaki samajh mean sukhada aur usake bich yah aisa mazaboot sanbandh tha, jise sadharan jhatake to d n sakate the. yahi karan tha ki sukhada ke katu vachanoan ko sun kar bhi use yah vishvas n hota tha ki mujhe nikalane par prastut hai. sukhada ne yah batean kuchh aisi kathorata se kahian aur rudr ko aisi nirdayata se chhin liya ki daee se sahy n ho saka. boli-bahoo ji ! mujhase koee b da aparadh to nahian hua, bahut to pav ghante ki der huee hogi. is par ap itana big d rahi haian to saf kyoan nahian kah detian ki doosara daravaza dekho. narayan ne paida kiya hai to khane ko bhi dega. mazadoori ka akal tho de hi hai.

sukhada ne kaha-to yahaan tumhari paravah hi kaun karata hai ? tumhari jaisi lauandinean gali-gali thokarean khati phirati haian.

daee ne javab diya-haan, narayan apako kushal se rakhean. lauandinean aur daiyaan apako bahut mileangi. mujhase jo kuchh aparadh hua ho, kshama kijiega, maian jati hooan.

sukhada-ja kar maradane mean apana hisab kar lo.

daee-meri taraph se rudr baboo ko mithaiyaan mangava dijiega.

itane mean iandramani bhi bahar se a gaye, poochha-kya hai kya ?

daee ne kaha-kuchh nahian. bahoo ji ne javab diya hai, ghar jati hooan.

iandramani grihasthi ke janjal se is tarah bachate the jaise koee nange pairavala manushy kaantoan se bache. unhean sare din ek hi jagah kh de rahana manjoor tha, par kaantoan mean pair rakhane ki himmat n thi. khinn ho kar bole-bat kya huee ?

sukhada ne kaha-kuchh nahian. apani ichchha. ji nahian chahata, nahian rakhate. kisi ke hathoan bik to nahian gaye.

iandramani ne jhuanjhala kar kaha-tumhean baithe-baithe ek n ek khuch d soojhati rahati hai.

sukhada ne tinak kar kaha-haan, mujhe to isaka rog hai. kya karooan svabhav hi aisa hai. tumhean yah bahut pyari hai to le jakar gale mean baandh lo, mere yahaan zaroorat nahian.

3

daee ghar se nikali to aankhean dabadabayi huee thian. hriday rudramani ke lie t dap raha tha. ji chahata tha ki ek bar balak ko lekar pyar kar looan; par yah abhilasha liye hue hi use ghar se bahar nikalana p da.

rudramani daee ke pichhe-pichhe daravaze tak aya, par daee ne jab daravaza bahar se band kar diya to vah machal kar zamin par let gaya aur anna-anna kah kar rone laga. sukhada ne chumakara, pyar kiya, god mean lene ki koshish ki, mithaee dene ka lalach diya, mela dikhane ka vada kiya, isase jab kam n chala to bandar, sipahi, looloo aur haua ki dhamaki di par rudr ne vah raudr bhav dharan kiya, ki kisi tarah chup n hua. yahaan tak ki sukhada ko krodh a gaya, bachche ko vahian chho d diya aur akar ghar ke dhandhe mean lag gayi. rote-rote rudr ka muanh aur gal lal ho gaye, aankhean sooj gayian. nidan vah vahian zamin par sisakate-sisakate so gaya.

sukhada ne samajha tha ki bachcha tho di der mean ro-dho kar chup ho jayega. rudr ne jagate hi anna ki rat lagayi. tin baje iandramani daftar se aye aur bachche ki yah dasha dekhi to stri ki taraph kupit netroan se dekh kar use god mean utha liya aur bahalane lage. jab aant mean rudr ko yah vishvas ho gaya ki daee mithaee lene gayi hai to use santosh hua.

parantu sham hote hi usane phir chikhana shuroo kiya-anna mithaee la.

is tarah do-tin din bit gaye. rudr ko anna ki rat lagane aur rone ke siva aur koee kam n tha. vah shaant prakriti kutta, jo usaki god se ek kshan ke lie bhi n utarata tha; vah maun vratadhari billi, jise takh par dekh kar vah khushi se phoola n samata tha; vah pankhahin chi diya, jis par vah jan deta tha, sab usake chitt se utar gaye. vah unaki taraph aankh utha kar bhi n dekhata. anna jaisi jiti-jagati, pyar karane vali, god mean lekar ghumanevali, thapak-thapak kar sulanevali, ga-gakar khush karane vali chiz ka sthan un nirjiv chijoan se poora n ho sakata tha. vah aksar sote-sote chauank p data anna-anna pukar kar hathoan se ishara karata, mano use bula raha hai. anna ki khali kothari mean ghantoan baitha rahata. use asha hoti ki anna yahaan ati hogi. is kothari ka daravaza khulate sunata to anna-anna kah kar dau data. samajhata ki anna a gayi. usaka bhara hua sharir ghul gaya, gulab jaisa chehara sookh gaya, maan aur bap usaki mohani hansi ke lie taras kar rah jate the. yadi bahut gudagudane ya chhe dane se hansata bhi to aisa jan p data tha ki dil se nahian hansata, keval dil rakh lene ke lie hans raha hai. use ab doodh se prem n tha, n mishri se, n meve se, n mithe biskut se, n taji imarati se. unamean maja tab tha jab anna apane hathoan se khilati thi. ab unamean maja nahian tha. do sal ka lahalahata hua sundar paudha murajha gaya. vah balak jise god mean uthate hi narami, garami aur bharipan ka anubhav hota tha, ab sookh kar kaanta ho gaya. sukhada apane bachche ki yah dasha dekh kar bhitar hi bhitar kudhati, apani moorkhata par pachhatati. iandramani, jo shaantipriy adami the, ab balak ko god se alag n karate the, use roj sath hava khilane le jate the. nity naye khilaune late the, par murjhaya hua paudha kisi tarah bhi n panapata tha. daee usake lie sansar ki soory thi. us svabhavik garmi aur prakash se vanchit rahakar hariyari ko bahar kaise dikhata ? daee ke bina use ab charoan or sannata dikhayi deta tha. doosari anna tisare hi din rakh li gayi thi. par rudr usaki soorat dekhate hi muanh chhipa leta tha mano vah koee dain ya chu dail ho.

pratyaksh roop mean daee ko n dekh kar rudr ab usaki kalpana mean magn rahata. vahaan usaki anna chalati-phirati dikhayi deti thi. usaki vah god thi, vahi sneh; vahi pyari-pyari batean, vahi pyare gane, vahi majedar mithaiyaan, vahi suhavana sansar, vahi anandamay jivan. akele baith kar kalpit anna se batean karata, anna, kutta bhooke. anna, gay doodh deti. anna; ujala-ujala gho da dau de. sabera hote hi lota lekar daee ki kothari mean jata aur kahata-anna, pani. doodh ka gilas lekar usaki kothari mean rakh ata aur kahata-anna, doodh pila. apani charapaee par takiya rakh kar chadar se dhaank deta, aur kahata-anna soti hai. sukhada jab khane baithati to katore utha-utha kar anna ki kothari mean le jata aur kahata-anna khana khayagi. anna ab usake lie ek svarg ki vastu thi, jisake lautane ki ab use bilakul asha n thi. rudr ke svabhav mean dhire-dhire balakoan ki chapalata aur sajivata ki jagah ek nirashajanak dhairy, ek anandavihin shithilata dikhayi dene lagi. is tarah tin haphte gujar gaye. barasat ka mausam tha. kabhi bechain karane vali garmi, kabhi hava ke thande jhoanke. bukhar aur jukam ka zor tha. rudr ki durbalata is rritu-parivartan ko bardasht n kar saki. sukhada use phalalain ka kurta pahanaye rakhati thi. use pani ke pas nahian jane deti. nange pair ek qadam bhi nahian chalane deti. par sardi lag hi gayi. rudr ko khaansi aur bukhar ane laga.

4

prabhat ka samay tha. rudr charapaee par aankh band kiye p da tha. daktaroan ka ilaj nishphal hua. sukhada charapaee par baithi usaki chhati mean tel ki malish kar rahi thi aur iandramani vishad ki moorti bane hue karunapoorn aankhoan se bachche ko dekh rahe the. idhar sukhada se bahut kam bolate the. unhean usase ek tarah ki ghrina-si ho gayi thi. vah rudr ki bimari ka ekamatr karan usi ko samajhate the. vah unaki drishti mean bahut nich svabhav ki stri thi. sukhada ne darate-darate kaha-aj b de hakim sahab ko bula lete; shayad unaki dava se fayada ho.

iandramani ne kali ghataoan ki or dekh kar rukhaee se javab diya-b de hakim nahian, yadi dhanvantari bhi avean to bhi use koee fayada n hoga.

sukhada ne kaha-to kya ab kisi ki dava n hogi ?

iandramani-bas, isaki ek hi dava hai aur alabhy hai.

sukhada-tumhean to bas vahi dhun savar hai. kya budhiya akar amrit pila degi.

iandramani-vah tumhare lie chahe vish ho, par l dake ke lie amrit hi hogi.

sukhada-maian nahian samajhati ki eeshvarechchha usake adhin hai.

iandramani-yadi nahian samajhati ho aur ab tak nahian samajhi, to roogi. bachche se hath dhona p dega.

sukhada-chup bhi raho, kya ashubh muanh se nikalate ho. yadi aisi hi jali-kati sunani hai, to bahar chale jao.

iandramani-to maian jata hooan. par yad rakho, yah hatya tumhari hi gardan par hogi. yadi l dake ko tandurust dekhana chahati ho, to usi daee ke pas jao, usase vinati aur prarthana karo, kshama maango. tumhare bachche ki jan usi ki daya ke adhin hai.

sukhada ne kuchh uttar nahian diya. usaki aankhoan se aansoo jari the.

iandramani ne poochha-kya marji hai, jaooan use bula laooan ?

sukhada-tum kyoan jaoge, maian ap chali jaooangi.

iandramani-nahian, kshama karo. mujhe tumhare oopar vishvas nahian hai. n jane tumhare jaban se kya nikal p de ki jo vah ati bhi to n ave.

sukhada ne pati ki or phir tiraskar ki drishti se dekha aur boli-haan, aur kya, mujhe apane bachche ki bimari ka shok tho de hi hai. maianne laj ke mare tumase kaha nahian, par mere hriday mean yah bat bar-bar uthi hai. yadi mujhe daee ke makan ka pata maloom hota, to maian kab ki use mana layi hoti. vah mujhase kitani hi naraz ho, par rudr se use prem tha. maian aj hi usake pas jaooangi. tum vinati karane ko kahate ho, maian usake pairoan p dane ke lie taiyar hooan. usake pairoan ko aansuoan se bhigoooangi, aur jis tarah raji hogi, raji karooangi.

sukhada ne bahut dhairy dhar kar yah batean kahian, parantu um de hue aansoo n ruk sake. iandramani ne stri ki or sahanubhootipoorvak dekha aur lajjit ho bole-maian tumhara jana uchit nahian samajhata. maian khud hi jata hooan.

5

kailasi sansar mean akeli thi. kisi samay usaka parivar gulab ki tarah phoola hua tha; parantu dhire-dhire usaki sab pattiyaan gir gayian. ab usaki sab hariyali nasht-bhrasht ho gayi, aur ab vahi ek sookhi huee tahani us hare-bhare pe d ki chihn rah gayi thi.

parantu rudr ko pakar is sookhi huee tahani mean jan p d gayi thi. isamean hari-bhari pattiyaan nikal ayi thian. vah jivan, jo ab tak niras aur shushk tha; ab saras aur sajiv ho gaya tha. aandhere jangal mean bhatake hue pathik ko prakash ki jhalak ane lagi. ab usaka jivan nirarthak nahian balki sarthak ho gaya tha.

kailasi rudr ki bholi-bhali batoan par nichhavar ho gayi; par vah apana sneh sukhada se chhipati thi, isalie ki maan ke hriday mean dvesh n ho. vah rudr ke lie maan se chhip kar mithaiyaan lati aur use khila kar prasann hoti. vah din mean do-tin bar use ubatan malati ki bachcha khoob pusht ho. vah doosaroan ke samane use koee chiz nahian khilati ki use najar lag jayegi. sada vah doosaroan se bachche ke alpahar ka rona roya karati. use buri najar se bachane ke lie tabij aur gande lati rahati. yah usaka vishuddh prem tha. usamean svarth ki gandh bhi n thi.

is ghar se nikal kar aj kailasi ki vah dasha thi, jo thiyetar mean yakayak bijali laimpoan ke bujh jane se darshakoan ki hoti hai. usake samane vahi soorat nach rahi thi. kanoan mean vahi pyari-pyari batean gooanj rahi thian. use apana ghar kate khata tha. us kalakothari mean dam ghuta jata tha.

rat jyoan-tyoan kar kati. subah ko vah ghar mean jha doo laga rahi thi. bahar taje halave ki avaz sun kar b di phurti se ghar se bahar nikal ayi. tab yad a gaya, aj haluva kaun khayega ? aj god mean baith kar kaun chahakega ? vah madhur gan sunane ke lie jo halava khate samay rudr ki aankhoan se, hoanthoan se, aur sharir ke ek-ek aang se barasata, kailasi ka hriday t dap gaya. vah vyakul hokar ghar se bahar nikali ki chalooan rudr ko dekh aooan. par adhe raste se laut gayi.

rudr kailasi ke dhyan se ek kshan bhar ke lie bhi nahian utarata tha. vah sote-sote chauank p dati, jan p data rudr dande ka gho da dabaye chala ata hai. p dosiyoan ke pas jati, to rudr hi ki charcha karati. rudr usake dil aur jan mean basa hua tha. sukhada ke kathoratapoorn kuvyavahar ka usake hriday mean dhyan nahian tha. vah roj irada karati thi ki aj rudr ko dekhane chalooangi. usake lie bazar se mithaiyaan aur khilaune lati. ghar se chalati, par raste se laut ati. kabhi do-char qadam se age nahian badha jata. kaun muanh lekar jaooan. jo prem ko dhoortata samajhata ho, use kaun-sa muanh dikhaooan ? kabhi sochati yadi rudr mujhe n pahachane to ? bachchoan ke prem ka thikana hi kya ? nayi daee se hil-mil gaya hoga. yah khayal usake pairoan par janjir ka kam kar jata tha.

is tarah do haphte bit gaye. kailasi ka ji uchata rahata, jaise use koee lambi yatra karani ho. ghar ki chizean jahaan ki tahaan p di rahatian, n khane ki sudhi thi, n kap de ki. rat-din rudr hi ke dhyan mean doobi rahati thi. sanyog se inhian dinoan badrinath ki yatra ka samay a gaya. muhalle ke kuchh log yatra ki taiyariyaan karane lage. kailasi ki dasha is samay us palatoo chi diya ki-si thi, jo pianj de se nikal kar phir kisi kone ki khoj mean ho. use vismriti ka yah achchha avasar mil gaya. yatra ke lie taiyar ho gayi.

asaman par kali ghataean chhayi huee thian, aur halaki-halaki phuharean p d rahi thian. dehali steshan par yatriyoan ki bhi d thi. kuchh ga diyoan par baithe the, kuchh apane gharavaloan se vida ho rahe the. charoan taraph ek halachal-si machi thi. sansar-maya aj bhi unhean jak de hue thi. koee stri ko savadhan kar raha tha ki dhan kat jave to talab vale khet mean matar bo dena, aur bag ke pas gehooan. koee apane javan l dake ko samajha raha tha, asamiyoan par bakaya lagan ki nalish mean der n karana, aur do rupaye saik da sood zaroor kat lena. ek boodhe vyapari mahashay apane munim se kah rahe the ki mal ane mean der ho to khud chale jaiega, aur chalatoo mal lijiega, nahian to rupaya phans jayega. par koee-koee aise shraddhalu manushy bhi the, jo dharm-magn dikhayi dete the. ve ya to chupachap asaman ki or nihar rahe the ya mala pherane mean tallin the. kailasi bhi ek ga di mean baithi soch rahi thi, in bhale adamiyoan ko ab bhi sansar ki chianta nahian chho dati. vahi banij-vyapar, len-den ki charcha. rudr is samay yahaan hota, to bahut rota, meri god se kabhi n utarata. laut kar use avashy dekhane jaooangi. ya eeshvar kisi tarah ga di chale; garmi ke mare ji vyakul ho raha hai. itani ghata um di huee hai, kiantu barasane ka nam nahian leti. maloom nahian, yah relavale kyoan der kar rahe haian. jhoothamooth idhar-udhar dau date-phirate haian. yah nahian ki jhatapat ga di khol dean. yatriyoan ki jan mean jan aye. ekaek usane iandramani ko baisikil liye pletapharm par ate dekha. usaka chehara utara hua, aur kap de pasine se tar the. vah ga diyoan mean jhaankane lage. kailasi keval yah jatane ke lie ki maian bhi yatra karane ja rahi hooan; ga di se bahar nikal ayi. aur iandramani use dekhate hi lapak kar qarib a gaye; aur bole-kyoan kailasi, tum bhi yatra ko chalian ?

kailasi ne sagarv dinata se uttar diya-haan, yahaan kya karooan ? ziandagi ka koee thikana nahian, maloom nahian kab aankhean band ho jayean, paramatma ke yahaan muanh dikhane ka bhi to koee upay hona chahie. rudr baboo achchhi tarah haian ?

iandramani-ab to ja hi rahi ho. rudr ka hal poochh kar kya karogi ? use ashirvad deti rahana.

kailasi ki chhati dh dakane lagi. ghabara kar boli-unaka ji achchha nahian hai kya ?

iandramani-vah to usi din se bimar hai jis din tum vahaan se nikalian. do haphte tak usane anna-anna ki rat lagayi. ab ek haphte se khaansi aur bukhar mean p da hai. sari davaiyaan karake har gaya, kuchh fayada n hua. maianne socha tha ki chal kar tumhari anunay-vinay karake liva laooanga. kya jane tumhean dekh kar usaki tabiyat sanbhal jaye. par tumhare ghar par aya to maloom hua ki tum yatra karane ja rahi ho. ab kis muanh se chalane ko kahooan. tumhare sath salook hi kaun-sa achchha kiya tha jo itana sahas karooan. phir puny-kary mean vighn dalane ka bhi dar hai. jao, usaka eeshvar malik hai. ayu shesh hai to bach hi jayega. anyatha eeshvari gati mean kisi ka kya vash.

kailasi ki aankhoan ke samane aandhera chha gaya. samane ki chizean tairati huee maloom hone lagian. hriday bhavi ashubh ki ashanka se dahal gaya. hriday se nikal p da-‘ya eeshvar, mere rudr ka bal baanka n ho.’ prem se gala bhar aya. vichar kiya maian kaisi kathorahridaya hooan. pyara bachcha ro-rokar halakan ho gaya, aur maian use dekhane tak nahian gayi. sukhada ka svabhav achchha nahian, n sahi kiantu rudr ne mera kya biga da tha ki maianne maan ka badala bete se liya. eeshvar mera aparadh kshama karo. pyara rudr mere lie hu dak raha hai. (is khayal se kailasi ka kaleja masos utha, aur aankhoan se aansoo bah nikale.) mujhe kya maloom tha ki use mujhase itana prem hai. nahian maloom bachche ki kya dasha hai. bhayatur ho boli-doodh to pite haian n ?

iandramani-tum doodh pine ko kahati ho ! usane do din se aankhean tak nahian kholian.

kailasi-ya mere paramatma ! are kuli ! kuli ! beta, akar mera saman ga di se utar de. ab mujhe tirath jana nahian soojhata. haan beta, jaldi kar. baboo ji, dekho koee ekka ho to thik kar lo.

ekka ravana hua. samane s dak par bagghiyaan kh di thian. gho da dhire-dhire chal raha tha. kailasi bar-bar jhuanjhalati thi aur ekkavan se kahati thi, beta jaldi kar. maian tujhe kuchh jyade de dooangi. raste mean musaphiroan ki bhi d dekh kar use krodh ata tha. usaka ji chahata tha ki gho de ke par lag jate; lekin iandramani ka makan qarib a gaya to kailasi ka hriday uchhalane laga. bar-bar hriday se rudr ke lie shubh ashirvad nikalane laga. eeshvar kare sab kushal-mangal ho. ekka iandramani ki gali ki or mu da. akasmath kailasi ke kan mean rone ki dhvani p di. kaleja muanh ko a gaya. sir mean chakkar a gaya. maloom hua nadi mean doobi jati hooan. ji chaha ki ekke par se kood p dooan. par tho di hi der mean maloom hua ki koee stri maike se vida ho rahi hai, santosh hua. aant mean iandramani ka makan a pahuancha. kailasi ne darate-darate daravaze ki taraph taka. jaise koee ghar se bhaga hua anath l daka sham ko bhookha-pyasa ghar aye, daravaze ki or sataki huee aankhoan se dekhe ki koee baitha to nahian hai. daravaze par sannata chhaya hua tha. maharaj baitha surati mal raha tha. kailasi ko jara dhadhas hua. ghar mean baithi to nayi daee pulatis paka rahi hai. hriday mean bal ka sanchar hua. sukhada ke kamare mean gayi to usaka hriday garmi ke madhyahnakal ke sadrish kaanp raha tha. sukhada rudr ko god mean liye daravaze ki or ekatak tak rahi thi. shok aur karuna ki moorti bani thi.

kailasi ne sukhada se kuchh nahian poochha. rudr ko usaki god se liya aur usaki taraph sajal nayanoan se dekh kar kaha-beta rudr, aankhean kholo.

rudr ne aankhean kholian, kshan bhar daee ko chupachap dekhata raha, tab yakayak daee ke gale se lipat kar bola-anna ayi ! anna ayi !

rudr ka pila murjhaya hua chehara khil utha, jaise bujhate hue dipak mean tel p d jay. aisa maloom hua mano vah kuchh badh gaya hai.

ek haphta bit gaya. pratahkal ka samay tha. rudr aangan mean khel raha tha. iandramani ne bahar se akar use god mean utha liya, aur pyar se bole-tumhari anna ko mar kar bhaga dean ?

rudr ne muanh bana kar kaha-nahian, royegi.

kailasi boli-kyoan beta, tumane to mujhe badrinath nahian jane diya. meri yatra ka puny-phal kaun dega?

iandramani ne muskara kar kaha-tumhean usase kahian adhik puny ho gaya. yah tirth mahatirth hai.