रियासत का दीवान -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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mahashay mehata un abhagoan mean the, jo apane svami ko prasann nahian rakh sakate the. vah dil se apana kam karate the aur chahate the ki unaki prashansa ho. vah yah bhool jate the ki vah kam ke naukar to haian hi, apane svami ke sevak bhi haian. jab unake any sahakari svami ke darabar mean hajiri dete the, to vah bechare daftar mean baithe kagajoan se sir mara karate the. isaka phal yah tha ki svami ke sevak to tarakkiyaan pate the, puraskar aur paritoshik u date the. aur kam ke sevak mehata kisi-n-kisi aparadh mean nikal diye jate the. aise katu anubhav unhean apane jivan mean kee bar ho chuke the; isalie abaki jab raja sahab satiya ne unhean ek achchha pad pradan kiya, to unhoanne pratijna ki ki ab vah bhi svami ka rukh dekhakar kam kareange. aur unake stuti-gan mean hi bhagy ki pariksha kareange. aur is pratijna ko unhoanne kuchh is tarah nibhaya ki do sal bhi n gujare the ki raja sahab ne unhean apana divan bana liya. ek svadhin rajy ki divani ka kya kahana !

vetan to 500) masik hi tha, magar akhtiyar b de lambe. raee ka parvat karo, ya parvat se raee, koee  chhanevala n tha. raja sahab bhog-vilas mean p de rahate the, rajy-sanchalan ka sara bhar mi. mehata par tha. riyasat ke sabhi amale aur karmachari dandavath karate, b de-b de rees najarane dete, yahaan tak ki raniyaan bhi unaki khushamad karatian. raja sahab ugr prakriti ke manushy the, jaise pray: raje hote haian. durbaloan ke samane sher, sabaloan ke samane bhigi billi. kabhi mi. mehata ko daant-phatakar bhi batate; par mehata ne apani saphaee mean ek shabd bhi muanh se nikalane ki kasam kha li thi. sir jhukakar sun lete. raja sahab ki krodhagni eeandhan n pakar shant ho jati. garmiyoan ke din the. politikal ejent ka daura tha. rajy mean unake svagat ki taiyariyaan ho rahi thian. raja sahab ne mehata ko bulakar kaha, maian chahata hooan, sahab bahadur yahaan se mera kalama padhate hue jayan. mehata ne sir jhukakar vinit bhav se kaha, ‘cheshta to aisi hi kar raha hooan, annadata  ! 'cheshta to sabhi karate haian; magar vah cheshta kabhi saphal nahian hoti. maian chahata hooan, tum dridhata ke sath kaho aisa hi hoga.' 'aisa hi hoga.' 'rupaye ki paravah mat karo.' 'jo hukm.' 'koee shikayat n aye; varana tum janoge.' 'vah huzoor ko dhanyavad dete jayan to sahi.' 'haan, maian yahi chahata hooan.' 'jan l da dooanga, dinabandhu !' 'ab mujhe santosh hai !'

idhar to politikal ejent ka agaman tha, udhar mehata ka l daka jaykrishna garmiyoan ki chhuttiyaan manane mata-pita ke pas aya. kisi vishvavidyalay mean padhata tha. ek bar 1932 mean koee ugr bhashan karane ke jurm mean 6 mahine ki saza kat chuka tha. mi. mehata ki niyukti ke bad jab vah pahali bar aya tha to raja sahab ne use khas taur par bulaya tha aur usase ji kholakar batean ki thian, use apane sath shikar khelane le gaye the aur nity usake sath tenis khela karate the. jaykrishna par raja sahab ke samyavadi vicharoan ka b da prabhav p da tha. use jnat hua ki raja sahab keval deshabhakt hi nahian, kraanti ke samarthak bhi haian. roos aurarh auans ki kraanti par donoan mean khoob bahas huee thi. lekin abaki yahaan usane kuchh aur hi rang dekha. riyasat ke har ek kisan aur zamiandar se jabaran chanda vasool kiya ja raha tha. pulis gaanv-gaanv chanda ugahati phirati thi. rakam divan sahab niyat karate the. vasool karana pulis ka kam tha. phariyad ki kahian sunavaee n thi. charoan or trahi-trahi machi huee thi. hajaroan mazadoor sarakari imaratoan ki saphaee, sajavat aur s dakoan ki marammat mean begar kar rahe the. baniyoan se dandoan ke zor se rasad jama ki ja rahi thi.   jaykrishna ko ashchary ho raha tha ki yah kya ho raha hai. raja sahab ke vichar aur vyavahar mean itana antar kaise ho gaya. kahian aisa to nahian hai ki maharaj ko in atyacharoan ki khabar hi n ho, ya unhoanne jin taiyariyoan ka hukm diya ho, unaki tamil mean karmachariyoan ne apani karagujari ki dhun mean yah anarth kar dala ho. rat bhar to usane kisi tarah jabt kiya. prat:kal usane mehataji se poochha, apane raja sahab ko in atyacharoan ki soochana nahian di ? mehataji ko svayan is aniti se glani ho rahi thi. vah svabhavat: dayalu manushy the; lekin paristhitiyoan ne unhean ashakt kar rakha tha. du:khit svar mean bole, ‘raja sahab ka yahi hukm hai, to kya kiya jay ? 'to apako aisi dasha mean alag ho jana chahie tha. ap janate haian, yah jo kuchh ho raha hai, usaki sari zimmedari apake sir ladi ja rahi hai, praja ap hi ko aparadhi samajhati hai.' 'maian majaboor hooan. maianne karmachariyoan se bar-bar sanket kiya ki yathasadhy kisi par sakhti n ki jay : lekin harek sthan par maian maujood to nahian rah sakata. agar pratyaksh roop se hastakshep karooan, to shayad karmachari log maharaj se meri shikayat kar dean. ye log aise hi avasaroan ki tak mean to rahate haian. inhean to janata ko lootane ka koee bahana chahie. jitana sarakari kosh mean jama karate haian, usase zyada apane ghar mean rakh lete haian. maian kuchh nahian kar sakata.' jaykrishna ne uttejit hokar kaha, ‘to ap istipha kyoan nahian de dete ?’ mehata lajjit hokar bole, ‘beshak, mere lie munasib to yahi tha; lekin jivan mean itane dhakke kha chuka hooan ki ab aur sahane ki shakti nahian rahi. yah nishchay hai ki naukari karake maian apane ko bedag nahian rakh sakata. dharm aur adharm, seva aur paramarth ke jhameloan mean p dakar maianne bahut thokarean khayian. maianne dekh liya ki duniya duniyadaroan ke lie hai, jo avasar aur kal dekhakar kam karate haian. siddhantavadiyoan ke lie yah anukool sthan nahian hai.‘ jaykrishna ne tiraskar-bhare svar mean poochha, ‘maian raja sahab ke pas jaooan ?’ 'kya tum samajhate ho, raja sahab se ye batean chhipi haian ?' 'sanbhav hai, praja ki du:kh-katha sunakar unhean kuchh daya aye.' mi. mehata ko isamean kya apatti ho sakati thi ? vah to khud chahate the kisi tarah anyay ka bojh unake sir se utar jay. haan, yah bhay avashy tha ki kahian jaykrishna ki satprerana unake lie hanikar n ho aur kahian unhean is samman aur adhikar se hath n dhona p de. bole yah khayal rakhana ki tumhare muanh se koee aisi bat n nikal jay, jo maharaj ko aprasann kar de.‘ jaykrishna ne unhean ashvasan diya ki vah aisi koee bat n karega. kya vah itana nadan hai ? magar use kya khabar thi ki aj ke maharaja sahab vah nahian haian, jo ek sal pahale the, ya sambhav hai, politikal ejeant ke chale jane ke bad vah phir ho jayan. vah n janata tha ki unake lie kraanti aur atank ki charcha bhi usi tarah vinod ki vastu thi, jaise hatya, balatkar ya jal ki varadatean, ya roop ke bazar ke akarshak samachar. jab usane dayodhi par pahuanchakar apani ittala karayi, to maloom hua ki maharaj is samay asvasth haian, lekin vah laut hi raha tha ki maharaj ne use bula bheja. shayad usase sinema-sansar ke taje samachar poochhana chahate the. usake salam par musakarakar bole tum khoob aye bhee, kaho em.sisi. ka maich dekha ya nahian ? maian to in bakhe doan mean aisa phansa ki jane ki naubat nahian ayi. ab to yahi dua kar raha hooan ki kisi tarah ejeant sahab khush-khush rukhsat ho jayan. maianne jo bhashan likhavaya hai, vah jara tum bhi dekh lo. maianne in rashtriy andolanoan ki khoob khabar li hai aur harijanoddhar par bhi chhiante u da diye haian. jaykrishna ne apane avesh ko dabakar kaha, rashtriy andolanoan ki apane khabar li, yah achchha kiya; lekin harijanoddhar ko to sarakar bhi pasand karati hai, isilie usane mahatma gaandhi ko riha kar diya aur jel mean bhi unhean is andolan ke sambandh mean likhane-padhane aur milane-julane ki poori svadhinata de rakhi thi. raja sahab ne tatvik muskan ke sath kaha, tum janate nahian ho, yah sab pradarshan-matra hai. dil mean sarakar samajhati hai ki yah bhi rajanitik aandolan hai. vah is rahasy ko b de dhyan se dekh rahi hai. l aauyalati mean jitana pradarshan karo, chahe vah auchity ki sima ke par hi kyoan n ho jay, usaka rang chokha hi hota hai usi tarah jaise kaviyoan ki virudavali se ham phool uthate haian, chahe vah hasyaspad hi kyoan n ho. ham aise kavi ko khushamadi samajhean, ahamak bhi samajh sakate haian, par  sase aprasann nahian ho sakate. vah hamean jitana hi ooancha uthata hai, utana hi vah hamari drishti mean ooancha uthata jata hai. raja sahab ne apane bhashan ki ek prati mej ki daraj se nikalakar jaykrishna ke samane rakh di, par jaykrishna ke lie is bhashan mean ab koee akarshan n tha. agar vah sabha-chatur hota, to jahiradari ke lie hi is bhashan ko b de dhyan se padhata, unake shabd-vinyas aur bhavotkarsh ki prashansa karata aur usaki tulana maharaja bikaner ya patiyala ke bhashanoan se karata; par abhi darabari duniya ki riti-niti se anabhijn tha. jis chiz ko bura samajhata tha, use bura kahata tha aur jis chiz ko achchha samajhata tha, use achchha kahata tha. bure ko achchha aur achchhe ko bura kahana abhi use n aya tha. usane bhashan par sarasari najar dalakar use mej par rakh diya aur apani spashtavadita ka bigul phooankata hua bola, maian rajaniti ke rahasyoan ko bhala kya samajh sakata hooan lekin mera khayal hai ki chanaky ke ye vanshaj in chaloan ko khoob samajhate haian aur kritriam bhavoan ka un par koee asar nahian hota balki isase adami unaki najaroan mean aur bhi gir jata hai. agar ejent ko maloom ho jay ki usake svagat ke lie praja par kitane julm dhaye ja rahe haian, to shayad vah yahaan se prasann hokar n jay. phir, maian to praja ki drishti dekhata hooan. ejeant ki prasannata apake lie labhaprad ho sakati hai, praja ko to usase hani hi hogi.   raja sahab apane kisi kam ki alochana nahian sah sakate the. unaka krodh pahale jirahoan ke roop mean nikalata, phir tark ka akar dharan kar leta. aur ant mean bhookamp ke avesh se ubal p data tha, jisase unaka sthool sharir, kursi, mej, divarean aur chhat sabhi mean bhishan kampan hone lagata tha. tirachhi aankhoan se dekhakar bole, ‘kya hani hogi, jara sunooan ?’ jaykrishna samajh gaya ki krodh ki mashinagan chakkar mean hai aur ghatak visphot hone hi vala hai. sanbhalakar bola, ise ap mujhase zyada samajh sakate haian. 'nahian, meri buddhi itani prakhar nahian hai.' 'ap bura man jayange.' 'kya tum samajhate ho, maian barood ka dher hooan ?' 'behatar hai, ap ise n poochhean.' 'tumhean batalana p dega.' aur ap-hi-ap unaki mutthiyaan bandh gayian. 'tumhean batalana p dega, isi vakt !' jaykrishna yah dhauans kyoan sahane laga ? kriket ke maidan mean rajakumaroan par rob jamaya karata tha, b de-b de hukkam ki chutakiyaan leta tha. bola, abhi apake dil mean politikal ejeant ka kuchh bhay hai, ap praja par julm karate darate haian. jab vah apake ehasanoan se dab jayaga, ap svachhand ho jayange aur praja ki phariyad sunane vala koee n rahega. raja sahab prajjvalit netroan se takate hue bole maian ejeant ka gulam nahian hooan ki usase darooan, koee karan nahian hai ki maian usase darooan, bilakul karan nahian hai. maian politikal ejeant ki isalie khatir karata hooan ki vah hiz maijesti ka pratinidhi hai. mere aur hiz maijesti ke bich mean bhaeechara hai, ejeant keval unaka doot hai. maian keval niti ka palan kar raha hooan. maian vilayat jaooan to hiz maijesti bhi isi tarah mera satkar kareange ! maian darooan kyoan ? maian apane rajy ka svatantr raja hooan. jise chahooan, phaansi de sakata hooan. maian kisi se kyoan darane laga ? darana namardoan ka kam hai, maian eeshvar se bhi nahian darata. dar kya vastu hai, yah maianne aj tak nahian jana. maian tumhari tarah kalej ka muanhaphat chhatr nahian hooan ki kraanti aur azadi ki haank lagata phirooan. tum kya jano, kraanti kya chiz hai ? tumane keval usaka nam sun liya hai. usake lal drishy aankhoan se nahian dekhe. bandook ki avaz sunakar tumhara dil kaanp uthega. kya tum chahate ho, maian ejeant se kahooan praza bah hai, apake ane ki zaroorat nahian. maian itana atithy-shoony nahian hooan. maian andha nahian hooan, ahamak nahian hooan,praja ki dasha ka mujhe tumase kahian adhik jnan hai, tumane use bahar se dekha hai, maian use nity bhitar se dekhata hooan. tum meri praja ko kraanti ka svapn dikhakar use gumarah nahian kar sakate. tum mere rajy mean vidroh aur asantosh ke bij nahian bo sakate. tumhean apane muanh par tala lagana hoga, tum mere viruddh ek shabd bhi muanh se nahian nikal sakate, chooan bhi nahian kar sakate ... doobate hue sooraj ki kiranean maharabi divanakhane ke rangin shishoan se hokar raja sahab ke krodhonmatt mukhamandal ko aur bhi ranjit kar rahi thian. unake bal nile ho gaye the, aankhean pili, chehara lal aur deh hari. maloom hota tha, pretalok ka koee pishach hai. jaykrishna ki sari uddandata hava ho gayi. raja sahab ko is unmad ki dasha mean usane kabhi n dekha tha, lekin isakesath hi usaka atmagaurav is lalakar ka javab dene ke lie vyakul ho raha tha. jaise vinay ka javab vinay hai, vaise hi krodh ka javab krodh hai, jab vah atank aur bhay, adab aur lihaz ke bandhanoan ko to dakar nikal p data hai. usane bhi raja sahab ko agney netroan se dekhakar kaha, ‘maian apani aankhoan se yah atyachar dekhakar maun nahian rah sakata.‘  ‘tumhean yahaan jaban kholane ka koee hak nahian hai.‘ raja sahab ne avesh se kh de hokar, mano usaki garadan par savar hote hue kaha,  'pratyek vicharashil manushy ko anyay ke viruddh avaz uthane ka hak hai. ap vah hak mujhase nahian chhin sakate !' 'maian sabakuchh kar sakata hooan.' 'ap kuchh nahian kar sakate.' 'maian tumhean abhi jel mean band kar sakata hooan.' 'ap mera bal bhi baanka nahian kar sakate.' isi vakt mi. mehata badahavas-se kamare mean aye aur jaykrishna ki or kop-bhari aankhean uthakar bole ‘qrishna, nikal ja yahaan se, abhi meri aankhoan se door ho ja aur khabaradar ! phir mujhe apani soorat n dikhana. maian tujh-jaise kapoot ka muanh nahian dekhana chahata. jis thal mean khata hai, usi mean chhed karata hai, beadab kahian ka ! ab agar jaban kholi, to maian tera khoon pi jaooanga.‘ jaykrishna ne hiansa-vikshipt pita ko ghrina ki aankhoan se dekha aur ak data hua, garv se sir uthaye, divanakhane ke bahar nikal gaya. raja sahab ne koch par letakar kaha, ‘badamash adami hai, palle sire ka badamash ! maian nahian chahata ki aisa khataranak adami ek kshan bhi riyasat mean rahe. tum usase jakar kaho, isi vakt yahaan se chala jay varana usake hak mean achchha n hoga. maian keval apaki murauvat se gam kha gaya; nahian to isi vakt isaka maja chakha sakata tha. keval apaki murauvat ne hath pak d liya. apako turant nirnay karana p dega, is riyasat ki divani ya l daka.‘ ‘agar divani chahate ho, to turant use riyasat se nikal do aur kah do ki phir kabhi meri riyasat mean paanv n rakhe. l dake se prem hai, to aj hi riyasat se nikal jaie. ap yahaan se koee chiz nahian le ja sakate, ek paee ki bhi chiz nahian. jo kuchh hai, vah riyasat ki hai. bolie, kya manjoor hai ?’ mi. mehata ne krodh ke avesh mean jaykrishna ko daant to batalayi thi, par yah n samajhe the ki mamala itana tool khianchega. ek kshan ke lie vah sannate mean a gaye. sir jhukakar paristhiti par vichar karane lage raja unhean mitti mean mila sakata hai. vah yahaan bilakul bebas haian, koee unaka sathi nahian, koee unaki phariyad sunanevala nahian. raja unhean bhikhari banakar chho d dega. is apaman ke sath nikale jane ki kalpana karake vah kaanp uthe. riyasat mean unake bairiyoan ki kami n thi. sab-ke-sab moosaloan dhol bajayeange. jo aj unake samane bhigi billi bane hue haian, kal sheroan ki tarah gurrayeange. phir is umar mean ab unhean naukar hi kaun rakhega. nirdayi sansar ke samane kya phir unhean hath phailana p dega ? nahian, isase to yah kahian achchha hai ki vah yahian p de rahean. kampit svar mean bole maian aj hi use ghar se nikal deta hooan, annadata !’ 'aj nahian, isi vakt !' 'isi vakt nikal dooanga !' 'hamesha ke lie ?' 'hamesha ke lie.' 'achchhi bat hai, jaie aur adho ghante ke andar mujhe soochana dijie.' mi. mehata ghar chale, to mare krodh ke unake paanv kaanp rahe the. deh mean ag-si lagi huee thi. is lauande ke karan aj unhean kitana apaman sahana p da. gadha chala hai yahaan apane samyavad ka rag alapane. ab bachcha ko maloom hoga, jaban par lagam n rakhane ka kya natija hota hai. maian kyoan usake pichhe gali-gali thokarean khaooan. haan, mujhe yah pad aur samman pyara hai. kyoan n pyara ho ? isake lie barasoan e diyaan rag di haian, apana khoon aur pasina ek kiya hai. yah anyay bura zaroor lagata hai; lekin buri lagane ki ek yahi bat to nahian hai ! aur hajaroan batean bhi to buri lagati haian. jab kisi bat ka upay mere pas nahian, to is muamale ke pichhe kyoan apani zindagi kharab karooan ? unhoanne ghar ate-hi-ate pukara –‘zaykrishna !’ sunita ne kaha, ‘zaykrishna to tumase pahale hi raja sahab ke pas gaya tha. tab se yahaan kab aya ?’ 'ab tak yahaan nahian aya ! vah to mujhase pahale hi chal chuka tha.' vah phir bahar aye aur naukaroan se poochhana shooroo kiya. ab bhi usaka pata n tha. mare dar ke kahian chhip raha hoga aur raja ne adha ghante mean ittala dene ka hukm diya hai. yah lauanda n jane kya karane par laga hua hai. ap to jayaga hi mujhe bhi apane sath le doobega. sahasa ek sipahi ne ek puraja lakar unake hath mean rakh diya. achchha, yah to jaykrishna ki likhavat hai. kya kahata hai is durdasha ke bad –‘maian is riyasat mean ek kshan bhi nahian rah sakata. maian jata hooan. apako apana pad aur man apani atma se zyada priy hai, ap khushi se usaka upabhog kijie. maian phir apako takaliph dene n aooanga. ammaan se mera pranam kahiega.‘ mehata ne puraja lakar sunita ko dikhaya aur khinn hokar bole, ‘ise n jane kab samajh ayegi, lekin bahut achchha hua. ab lala ko maloom hoga, duniya mean kis tarah rahana chahie. bina thokarean khaye, adami ki aankhean nahian khulatian. maian aise tamashe bahut khel chuka, ab is khuraphat ke pichheapana shesh jivan nahian barabad karana chahata aur turant raja sahab ko soochana dene chale. dam-se-dam mean sari riyasat mean yah samachar phail gaya. jaykrishna apane shil-svabhav ke karan janata mean b da priy tha. log bazaroan aur chaurastoan par kh de ho-hokar is kand par alochana karane lage aji, vah adaminahian tha, bhaee, use kisi devata ka avatar samajho. maharaj ke pas jakar bedh dak bola, ‘abhi begar band kijie varana shahar mean hangama ho jayaga. raja sahab ki to jaban band ho gayi. bagalean jh aaukane lage. sher-hai-sher ! umr to kuchh nahian; par aphat ka parakala hai. aur vah yah begar band karake rahata, hamesha ke lie. raja sahab ko bhagane ki rah n milati. suna, ghighiyane lage the. muda isi bich mean divan sahab pahuanch gaye aur use desh-nikale ka hukm de diya. yah hukm sunakar usaki aankhoan mean khoon utar aya tha, lekin bap ka apaman n kiya.‘ 'aise bap ko to goli mar deni chahie. bap hai ya dushman !' 'vah kuchh bhi ho, hai to bap hi.' sunita sare din baithi roti rahi. jaise koee usake kaleje mean barchhiyaan chubho raha tha. bechara n-jane kahaan chala gaya. abhi jalapan tak n kiya tha. choolhe mean jay aisa bhog-vilas, jisake pichhe use bete ko tyagana p de. hriday mean aisa udveg utha ki isi dam pati aur ghar ko chho dakar riyasat se nikal jay, jahaan aise nar-pishachoan ka rajy hai. inhean apani divani pyari hai, use lekar rahean. vah apane putr ke sath upavas karegi, par use aankhoan se dekhati to rahegi. ekaek vah uthakar maharani ke pas chali ! vah unase phariyad karegi, unhean bhi eeshvar ne balak diye haian. unhean kya ek abhagini mata par daya n avegi ? isake pahale bhi vah kee bar maharani ke darshan kar chuki thi. usaka murajhaya hua man asha se lahalaha utha. lekin ranivas mean pahuanchi to dekha ki maharani ke tevar bhi badale hue haian. use dekhate hi bolian, ‘tumhara l daka b da ujadd hai. jara bhi adab nahian. kisase kis tarah bat karani chahie, isaka jara bhi salika nahian. n-jane vishvavidyalay mean kya padha karata hai. aj maharaj se ulajh baitha. kahata tha ki begar band kar dijie aur ejeant sahab ke svagat-satkar ki koee taiyari n kijie. itani samajh bhi use nahian hai ki is tarah koee raja kai ghante gaddi par rah sakata hai. ejeant bahut b da aphasar n sahi; lekin hai to badashah ka pratinidhi. usaka adar-satkar karana to hamara dharm hai. phir ye begar kis din kam ayeange. unhean riyasat se jagirean mili huee haian. kis din ke lie ? praja mean vidroh ki ag bh dakana koee bhale adami ka kam hai ? jis pattal mean khao, usi mean chhed karo. maharaj ne divan sahab ka mulahaja kiya, nahian to use hirasat mean dalava dete ! ab bachcha nahian hai. khasa paanch hath ka javan hai. sabakuchh dekhata aur samajhata hai. ham hakimoan se bair karean, to kai din nibah ho. usaka kya big data hai. kahian sau-pachas ki chakari pa jayaga. yahaan to karo doan ki riyasat barabad ho jayagi.‘ sunita ne aanchal phailakar kaha, maharani bahut saty kahati haian; par ab to usaka aparadh kshama kijie. bechara lajja aur bhay ke mare ghar nahian gaya. n-jane kidhar chala gaya. hamare jivan ka yahi ek avalamb hai, maharani ! ham donoan ro-rokar mar jayange. aanchal phailakar apase bhikh maangati hooan, usako kshama-dan dijie. mata ke hriday ko apase zyada aur kaun samajhega; ap maharaj se sipharish kar dean ...’ maharani ne apani b di-b di aankhoan se usaki or dekha mano vah koee b di anokhi bat kah rahi ho aur apane range hue hoanthoan par aangoothiyoan se jagamagati huee uangali rakhakar bolian, ‘kya kahati ho, sunita devi ! us yuvak ki maharaj se sipharish karooan jo hamari j d khodane par tula hua hai ? astin mean saanp palooan ? tum kis muanh aisi bat kahati ho ? aur maharaj mujhe kya kaheange ? na, maian isake bich mean n panooangi. usane jo bij boye haian, unaka vah phal khaye. mera l daka aisa nalayaq hota, to usaka muanh n dekhati. aur tum aise bete ki sipharish karati ho ?’ sunita ne aankhoan mean aansoo bharakar kaha, ‘maharani, aisi batean apake muanh se shobha nahian detian.‘ maharani masanad tekakar uth baithian aur tiraskar-bhare svar mean bolian, ‘agar tumane socha tha ki maian tumhare aansoo poanchhooangi, to tumane bhool ki. hamare drohi ki sipharish lekar hamare pas ana, isake siva aur kya hai ki tum usake aparadh ko bal-kri da samajh rahi ho. agar tumane usake aparadh ki bhishanata ka thik anuman kiya hota, to mere pas kabhi n atian. jisane is riyasat ka namak khaya ho, vah riyasat ke drohi ki pith sahalaye ! vah svayan rajadrohi hai ! isake siva aur kya kahooan ?’ sunita bhi garm ho gayi. putr-sneh myan ke bahar nikal aya. boli, raja ka karttavy keval apane aphasaroan ko prasann karana nahian hai. praja ko palane ki zimmedari isase kahian badhakar hai. usi samay maharaj ne kamare mean qadam rakha ! rani ne uthakar svagat kiya aur sunita sir jhukaye nispand kh di rah gayi. raja ne vyangyapoorn muskan ke sath poochha, ‘yah kaun mahila tumhean raja kekarttavy ka upadesh de rahi thi ? rani ne sunita ki or aankh marakar kaha, ‘yah divan sahab ki dharmapatni haian. raja sahab ki tyoriyaan chadh gayian. oth chabakar bole, ‘zab maan aisi paini chhuri hai, to l daka kyoan n zahar ka bujhaya hua ho. deviji, maian tumase yah shiksha nahian lena chahata ki raja ka apani praja ke sath kya dharm hai. yah shiksha mujhe kee pidhiyoan se milati chali ayi hai. behatar ho ki tum kisi se yah shiksha prapt kar lo ki svami ke prati usake sevak ka kya dharm hai aur jo namakaharam hai, usake sath svami ko kaisa vyavahar karana chahie.‘ yah kahate hue raja sahab usi unmad ki dasha mean bahar chale gaye. mi. mehata ghar ja rahe the, raja sahab ne kathor svar mean pukara sunie, ‘mi. mehata ! apake sapoot to vida ho gaye lekin mujhe abhi maloom hua ki apaki deviji rajadroh ke maidan mean unase bhi do qadam age haian; balki maian to kahooanga, vah keval rekard hai, jisamean deviji ki avaz hi bol rahi hai. maian nahian chahata ki jo vyakti riyasat ka sanchalak ho, usake saye mean riyasat ke vidrohiyoan ko ashray mile. ap khud is dosh se mukt nahian ho sakate. yah haragij mera anyay n hoga, yadi maian yah anuman kar looan ki ap hi ne yah mantr phooanka hai. mi. mehata apani svamibhakti par yah akshep n sah sake. vyathit kanth se bole, ‘yah to maian kis jaban se kahooan ki dinabandhu is vishay mean mere sath anyay kar rahe haian, lekin maian sarvatha nirdosh hooan aur mujhe yah dekhakar du:kh hota hai ki meri vafadari par yoan sandeh kiya ja raha hai.‘ 'vafadari keval shabdoan se nahian hoti.' 'mera khayal hai ki maian usaka praman de chuka.' 'nayi-nayi daliloan ke lie naye-naye pramanoan ki zaroorat hai. apake putr ke lie jo dand-vidhan tha, vahi apaki stri ke lie bhi hai. maian isamean kisi bhi tarah ka ujr nahian chahata. aur isi vakt is hukm ki tamil honi chahie.' 'lekin dinanath ... ' 'maian ek shabd bhi nahian sunana chahata.' 'mujhe kuchh nivedan karane ki ajna n milegi ?' 'bilakul nahian, yah mera akhiri hukm hai.' mi. mehata yahaan se chale, to unhean sunita par behad gussa a raha tha. in sabhi ko n-jane kya sanak savar ho gayi hai. jaykrishna to khair balak hai, besamajh hai, is budhiya ko kya soojhi. n-jane rani sahab se jakar kya kah ayi. kisi ko mujhase hamadardi nahian, sab apani-apani dhun mean mast haian. kis musibat se maian apani zindagi ke din kat raha hooan, yah koee nahian samajhata. kitani nirasha aur vipattiyoan ke bad yahaan jara nishchint hua tha ki in sabhi ne yah naya toofan kh da kar diya. nyay aur saty ka thika kya hamian ne liya hai ? yahaan bhi vahi ho raha hai, jo sari duniya mean ho raha hai ! koee nayi bat nahian hai. sansar mean durbal aur daridr hona pap hai. isaki saza se koee bach nahian sakata. baj kabootar par kabhi daya nahian karata. saty aur nyay ka samarthan manushy ki sajjanata aur sabhyata ka ek aang hai. beshak isase koee inkar nahian kar sakata; lekin jis tarah aur sabhi prani keval mukh se isaka samarthan karate haian, kya usi tarah ham bhi nahian kar sakate. aur jin logoan ka paksh liya jay, ve bhi to kuchh isaka mahattv samajhean. aj raja sahab inhian begaroan se jara hansakar batean karean, to ve apane sare dukh de bhool jayange aur ulte hamare hi shatru ban jayange. shayad sunita maharani ke pas jakar apane dil ka bukhar nikal ayi hai. gadhi yah nahian samajhati ki duniya mean kisi tarah man-maryada ka nirvah karate hue zindagi kat lena hi hamara dharm hai. agar bhagy mean yash aur kirti badi hoti, to is tarah doosaroan ki gulami kyoan karata ? lekin samasya yah hai ki ise bhejooan kahaan ! maike mean koee hai nahian, mere ghar mean koee hai nahian. uanh ! ab maian is chinta mean kahaan tak marooan ? jahaan ji chahe jay, jaisa kiya vaisa bhoge. vah isi kshobh aur glani ki dasha mean ghar mean gaye aur sunita se bole, ‘akhir tumhean bhi vahi pagalapan soojha, jo us lauande ko soojha tha. maian kahata hooan, akhir tumhean kabhi samajh ayegi ya nahian ? kya sare sansar ke sudhar ka bi da hamian ne uthaya hai ? kaun raja aisa hai, jo apani praja par julm n karata ho, unake svatvoan ka apaharan n karata ho. raja hi kyoan,’ ham-tum sabhi to doosaroan par anyay kar rahe haian. tumhean kya hak hai ki tum darjanoan khidamatagar rakho aur unhean jara-jara-si bat par saza do ? nyay aur saty nirarthak shabd haian, jinaki upayogita isake siva aur kuchh nahian ki buddhuoan ki gardan mari jay aur samajhadaroan ki vah-vah ho. tum aur tumhara l daka unhian buddhuoan mean haian. aur isaka dand tumhean bhogana p dega. maharaj ka hukm hai ki tum tin ghante ke andar riyasat se nikal jao nahian to pulis akar tumhean nikal degi. maianne to tay kar liya hai ki raja sahab ki ichchha ke viruddh ek shabd bhi muanh se n nikalooanga. nyay ka paksh lekar dekh liya hai. hairani aur apaman ke siva aur kuchh hath n aya. jinaki himayat ki thi, ve aj bhi usi dasha mean haian; balki usase bhi aur badatar. maian saf kahata hooan ki maian tumhari uddandataoan ka tavan dene ke lie taiyar nahian. maian gupt roop se tumhari sahayata karata rahooanga. isake siva maian aur kuchh nahian kar sakata. sunita ne garv ke sath kaha, mujhe tumhari sahayata ki zaroorat nahian. kahian bhed khul jay, to dinabandhu tumhare oopar kop ka bajr gira dean. tumhean apana pad aur samman pyara hai, usaka anand se upabhog karo. mera l daka aur kuchh n kar sakega, to pav-bhar ata to kama hi layega. maian bhi dekhooangi ki tumhari svamibhakti kab tak nibhati hai aur kab tak tum apani atma ki hatya karate ho. mehata ne tilamilakar kaha, kya tum chahati ho ki phir usi tarah charoan taraph thokarean khata phirooan ? sunita ne ghav par namak chhi daka nahian, kadapi nahian. ab tak to maian samajhati thi, tumhean thokarean khane mean maja ata hai tatha pad aur adhikar se bhi moolyavanh koee vastu tumhare pas hai, jisaki raksha ke lie tum thokarean khana achchha samajhate ho. ab maloom hua; tumhean apana pad apani atma se bhi priy hai. phir kyoan thokarean khao; magar kabhi-kabhi apana kushal-samachar to bhejate rahoge, ya raja sahab ki ajna leni p degi ?’ 'raja sahab itane nyay-shoony haian ki mere patr-vyavahar mean rok-tok karean ?' 'achchha ! raja sahab mean itani adamiyat hai ? mujhe to vishvas nahian ata.' 'tum ab bhi apani galati par lajjit nahian ho ?' 'maianne koee galati nahian ki. maian to eeshvar se chahati hooan ki jo maianne aj kiya, vah bar-bar karane ka mujhe avasar mile.' mehata ne aruchi ke sath poochha, tumane kahaan jane ka irada kiya hai ?  'jahannum mean !' 'galati ap karati ho, gussa mujh par utarati ho ?' 'maian tumhean itana nirlajj n samajhati thi !' 'maian bhi isi shabd ka tumhare lie prayog kar sakata hooan.' 'keval mukh se, man se nahian.' mi. mehata lajjit ho gaye. jab sunita ki vidaee ka samay aya, to stri-purush donoan khoob roye aur ek tarah se sunita ne apani bhool svikar kar li. vastav mean in bekari ke dinoan mean mehata ne jo kuchh kiya, vahi uchit tha, bechare kahaan mare-mare phirate. politikal ejeant sahab padhare aur kee dinoan tak khoob davatean khayian aur khoob shikar khela. raja sahab ne unaki tariph ki. unhoanne raja sahab ki tariph ki. raja sahab ne unhean apani layalati ka vishvas dilaya, unhoanne satiya rajy ko adarsh kaha, aur raja sahab ko nyay aur seva ka avatar svikar kiya aur tin din mean riyasat ko dhaee lakh ki chapat dekar vida ho gaye ! mi. mehata ka dimag asaman par tha. sabhi unaki karagujari ki prashansa kar rahe the. ejeant sahab to unaki dakshata par mugdha ho gaye. unhean 'ray sahab' ki upadhi mili aur unake adhikaroan mean bhi vriddhi huee. unhoanne apani atma ko uthakar tak par rakh diya tha. unaki yah sadhana ki maharaj aur ejeant donoan unase prasann rahean, sampoorn riti se poori ho gayi. riyasat mean aisa svamibhakt sevak doosara n tha. raja sahab ab kam-se-kam tin sal ke lie nishchint the. ejeant khush hai, to phir kisaka bhay ! kamukata, lampatata aur bhaanti-bhaanti ke durvyasanoan ki lahar prachand ho uthi. sundariyoan ki toh lagane ke lie surag-rasanoan ka ek vibhag khul gaya, jisaka sambandh sidhe raja sahab se tha. ek boodha khurrat, jisaka pesha himalay ki pariyoan ko phansakar rajaoan ko lootana tha aur jo isi peshe ki badaulat rajadarabaroan mean pooja jata tha, is vibhag ka adhayaksh bana diya gaya. nayi-nayi chi diyaan ane lagian. bhay, lobh aur samman sabhi astroan se shikar khela jane laga; lekin ek aisa avasar bhi p da, jahaan is tik dam ki sari samoohik aur vaiyaktik cheshtaean nishphal ho gayian aur gupt vibhag ne nishchay kiya ki is balika ko kisi tarah u da laya jay. aur is mahattvapoorn kary ke sampadan ka bhar mi. mehata par rakha gaya, jinase zyada svamibhakt sevak riyasat mean doosara n tha. unake oopar maharaja sahab ko poora vishvas tha. doosaroan ke vishay mean sandeh tha ki kahian rishvat lekar shikar bahaka dean, ya bhandapho d kar dean, ya amanat mean khayanat kar baithean. mehata ki or se kisi tarah ki un batoan ki shanka n thi. rat ke nau baje unaki talabi huee annadata  ne huzoor ko yad kiya hai. mehata sahab dayodhi par pahuanche, to raja sahab paeebag mean tahal rahe the. mehata ko dekhate hi bole aie mi. mehata, apase ek khas bat mean salah leni hai. yahaan kuchh logoan ki ray hai ki sianhadvar ke samane apaki ek pratima sthapit ki jay, jisase chirakal tak apaki yadagar qayam rahe. apako to shayad isamean koee apatti n hogi. aur yadi ho bhi to log is vishay mean apaki avajna karane par bhi taiyar haian. satiya ki apane jo amooly seva ki hai, usaka puraskar to koee kya de sakata hai, lekin janata ke hriday mean apase jo shraddha hai, use to vah kisi-n-kisi roop mean prakat hi karegi. mehata ne b di namrata se kaha, yah annadata  ki gun grahakata hai, maian to ek tuchchh sevak hooan. maianne jo kuchh kiya, yah itana hi hai ki namak ka hak ada karane ka sadaiv prayatn kiya, magar maian is samman ke yogy nahian hooan. raja sahab ne kripalu bhav se hansakar kaha, ap yogy haian ya nahian isaka nirnay apake hath mean nahian hai mi. mehata, apaki divani yahaan n chalegi. ham apaka samman nahian kar rahe haian; apani bhakti ka parichay de rahe haian. tho de dinoan mean n ham raheange, n ap raheange, us vakt bhi yah pratima apani mook vani se kahati rahegi ki pichhale log apane uddharakoan ka adar karana janate the. maianne logoan se kah diya hai ki chanda jama karean. ejeant ne abaki jo patr likha hai, usamean apako khas taur se salam likha hai.‘ mehata ne zamin mean g dakar kaha, ‘yah unaki udarata hai, maian to jaisa apaka sevak hooan, vaisa hi unaka bhi sevak hooan.‘ raja sahab kee minat tak phooloan ki bahar dekhate rahe. phir is tarah bole, mano koee bhooli huee bat yad a gee ho, ‘tahasil khas mean ek gaanv laganapur hai, ap kabhi vahaan gaye haian ?’ 'haan annadata  ! ek bar gaya hooan, vahaan ek dhani sahookar hai. usi ke divanakhane mean thahara tha. achchha adami hai.' 'haan, oopar se bahut achchha adami hai; lekin andar se pakka pishach.‘ apako shayad maloom n ho, idhar kuchh dinoan se maharani ka svasthy bahut big d gaya hai aur maian soch raha hooan ki unhean kisi sainetoriyam mean bhej dooan.‘ vahaan sab tarah ki chintaoan evan jhanjhatoan se mukt hokar vah aram se rah sakeangi, lekin ranivas mean ek rani ka rahana lajimi hai ! aphasaroan ke sath unaki lediyaan bhi ati haian, aur bhi kitane aangrez mitr apani lediyoan ke sath mere mehaman hote rahate haian. kabhi raje-maharaje bhi raniyoan ke sath a jate haian. rani ke bagair lediyoan ka adar-satkar kaun karega ? mere lie yah vaiyaktik prashn nahian, rajanitik samasya hai, aur shayad ap bhi mujhase sahamat hoange, isalie maianne doosari shadi karane ka irada kar liya hai. us sahookar ki ek l daki hai, jo kuchh dinoan ajamer mean shiksha pa chuki hai. maian ek bar us gaanv se hokar nikala, to maianne use apane ghar ki chhat par kh di dekha. mere man mean turant bhavana uthi ki agar yah ramani ranivas mean a jay, to ranivas ki shobha badh jay. maianne maharani ki anumati lekar sahookar ke pas sandesha bheja, kintu mere drohiyoan ne use kuchh aisi patti padha di ki usane mera sandesha svikar n kiya. kahata hai, kanya ka vivah ho chuka hai. maianne kahala bheja, isamean koee hani nahian, maian tavan dene ko taiyar hooan, lekin vah dusht barabar inkar kiye jata hai. ap janate haian; prem asadhy rog hai. apako bhi shayad isaka kuchh-n-kuchh anubhav ho. bas, yah samajh lijie ki jivan niranand ho raha hai. niand aur aram haram hai. bhojan se aruchi ho gayi hai. agar kuchh din yahi hal raha, to samajh lijie ki meri jan par ban ayegi. sote-jagate vahi moorti aankhoan ke samane nachati rahati hai. man ko samajhakar har gaya aur ab vivash hokar maianne kootaniti se kam lene ka nishchay kiya hai. prem aur samar mean sabakuchh kshamy hai. maian chahata hooan, ap tho de-se matabar adamiyoan ko lekar jayan aur us ramani ko kisi tarah le ayean. khushi se aye khushi se, bal se aye bal se, isaki chinta nahian. maian apane rajy ka malik hooan. isamean jis vastu par meri ichchha ho, us par kisi doosare vyakti ka naitik ya samajik svatv nahian ho sakata. yah samajh lijie ki ap hi mere pranoan ki raksha kar sakate haian. koee doosara aisa adami nahian hai, jo is kam ko itane sucharu roop se poora kar dikhaye. apane rajy ki b di-b di sevaean ki haian. yah us yajn ki poornahuti hogi aur ap janm-janmantar tak rajavansh ke ishtadev samajhe jayange.' mi. mehata ka mara hua atm-gaurav ekaek sachet ho gaya. jo rakt chirakal se pravah shoony ho gaya tha, usamean sahasa udrek ho utha. tyoriyaan chadhakar bole to ap chahate haian, ‘maian use kidanaip karooan ?’ raja sahab ne unake tevar dekhakar ag par pani dalate hue kaha, ‘qadapi nahian mi. mehata, ap mere sath ghor anyay kar rahe haian ! maian apako apana pratinidhi banakar bhej raha hooan. kary-siddhi ke lie ap jis niti se chahean,kam le sakate haian. apako poora adhikar hai.‘ mi. mehata ne aur bhi uttejit hokar kaha, ‘mujhase aisa pajipan nahian ho sakata hai.‘ raja sahab ki aankhoan se chinagariyaan nikalane lagian. 'apane svami ki ajna ka palan karana pajipan hai ?' 'jo ajna niti aur dharm ke viruddh ho usaka palan karana beshak pajipan hai.' 'kisi stri se vivah ka prastav karana niti aur dharm ke viruddh hai ?' 'ise ap vivah kahakar 'vivah' shabd ko kalankit karate haian. yah balatkar hai !' 'ap apane hosh mean haian ?' 'khoob achchhi tarah ?' 'maian apako dhool mean mila sakata hooan !' 'to apaki gaddi bhi salamat n rahegi !' 'meri nekiyoan ka yahi badala hai, namakaharam ?' 'ap ab shishtata ki sima se age badhe ja rahe haian, raja sahab ! maianne ab tak apani atma ki hatya ki hai aur apake har ek ja aur beja hukm ki tamil ki hai; lekin atmaseva ki bhi ek had hoti hai, jisake age koee bhala adami nahian ja sakata. apaka yah krity jaghany hai aur isamean jo vyakti apaka sahayak ho, vah isi yogy hai ki usaki gardan kat li jay. maian aisi naukari par lanat bhejata hooan.' yah kahakar vah ghar aye aur ratoan-rat boriya-bakacha sametakar riyasat se nikal gaye; magar isake pahale sara vrittant likhakar unhoanne ejeant ke pas bhej diya.

sanbandhit lekh

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