लॉटरी -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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jaldi se maladar ho jane ki havas kise nahian hoti ? un dinoan jab l aautari ke tikat aye, to mere dost, vikram ke pita, chacha, amma, aur bhaee, sabhi ne ek-ek tikat kharid liya. kaun jane, kisaki takadir zor kare ? kisi ke nam aye, rupaya rahega to ghar mean hi. magar vikram ko sabr n hua. auroan ke nam rupaye ayeange, phir use kaun poochhata hai ? bahut hoga, das-paanch hazar use de deange. itane rupayoan mean usaka kya hoga ? usaki zindagi mean b de-b de mansoobe the. pahale to use sampoorn jagat ki yatra karani thi, ek-ek kone ki. piroo aur brajil aur timbakatoo aur honolooloo, ye sab usake program mean the. vah aandhi ki tarah mahine-do-mahine u dakar laut anevaloan mean n tha. vah ek-ek sthan mean kee-kee din thaharakar vahaan ke rahan-sahan, riti-rivaj adi ka adhyayan karana aur sansar-yatra ka ek vrihadh granth likhana chahata tha. phir use ek bahut b da pustakalay banavana tha, jisamean duniya-bhar ki uttam rachanaean jama ki jayan. pustakalay ke lie vah do lakh tak kharch karane ko taiyar tha, bangala, kar aur pharnichar to mamooli batean thian. pita ya chacha ke nam rupaye aye, to paanch hazar se zyada ka daul nahian, ammaan ke nam aye, to bis hazar mil jayange; lekin bhaee sahab ke nam a gaye, to usake hath dhola bhi n lagega. vah atmabhimani tha. ghar valoan se khairat ya puraskar ke roop mean kuchh lene ki bat use apaman-si lagati thi. kaha, karata tha bhaee, kisi ke samane hath phailane se to kisi gandhe mean doob marana achchha hai. jab adami apane lie sansar mean koee sthan n nikal sake, to yahaan se prasthan kar jay ? vah bahut bekarar tha. ghar mean l aautari-tikat ke lie use kaun rupe dega aur vah maangega bhi to kaise ? usane bahut soch-vichar kar kaha, kyoan n ham-tum sajhe mean ek tikat le lean ? tajavij mujhe bhi pasand ayi. maian un dinoan skool-mastar tha. bis rupaye milate the. usamean b di mushkil se gujar hoti thi. das rupaye ka tikat kharidana mere lie suphed hathi kharidana tha. haan, ek mahina doodh, ghi, jalapan aur oopar ke sare kharch to dakar paanch rupaye ki guanjaish nikal sakati thi. phir bhi ji darata tha. kahian se koee balaee rakam mil jay, to kuchh himmat badhe.   vikram ne kaha, ‘qaho to apani aangoothi bech dalooan ? kah dooanga, uangali se phisal p di.‘ aangoothi das rupaye se kam ki n thi. usamean poora tikat a sakata tha; agar kuchh kharch kiye bina hi tikat mean adha-sajha hua jata hai, to kya bura hai ? sahasa vikram phir bola, lekin bhee, tumhean nakad dene p deange. maian paanch rupaye nakad liye bagair sajha n karooanga. ab mujhe auchity ka dhyan a gaya. bola, nahian dost, yah buri bat hai, chori khul jayegi, to sharminda hona p dega aur tumhare sath mujh par bhi daant p degi. akhir yah tay hua ki purani kitabean kisi sekend haiand kitaboan ki dookan par bech dali jayan aur us rupaye se tikat liya jay. kitaboan se zyada bezaroorat hamare pas aur koee chiz n thi. ham donoan sath hi maitrik pas hue the aur yah dekhakar ki jinhoanne digriyaan lian, apani aankhean pho dian aur ghar ke rupaye barabad kiye, vah bhi jootiyaan chataka rahe the, hamane vahian halt kar diya. maian skool-mastar ho gaya aur vikram mataragashti karane laga ? hamari purani pustakean ab dimakoan ke siva hamare kisi kam ki n thian. hamase jitana chatate bana chata; unaka satt nikal liya. ab choohe chatean ya dimak, hamean paravah n thi. aj ham donoan ne unhean koo dekhane se nikala aur jha d-poanchh kar ek b da-sa gatthar baandh. mastar tha, kisi bukaselar ki dookan par kitab bechate hue jheanpata tha. mujhe sabhi pahachanate the; isalie yah khidamat vikram ke supurd huee aur vah adha ghante mean das rupaye ka ek not liye uchhalata-koodata a pahuancha. maianne use itana prasann kabhi n dekha tha. kitabean chalis rupaye se kam ki n thian; par yah das rupaye us vakt hamean jaise p de hue mile. ab tikat mean adha sajha hoga. das lakh ki rakam milegi. paanch lakh mere hisse mean ayeange, paanch vikram ke. ham apane isi mean magan the.   maianne santosh ka bhav dikhakar kaha, ‘paanch lakh bhi kuchh kam nahian hote ji !’ vikram itana santoshi n tha. bola, ‘paanch lakh kya, hamare lie to is vakt paanch sau bhi bahut hai bhaee, magar zindagi ka program to badalana p d gaya. meri yatravali skim to tal nahian sakati. haan, pustakalay gayab ho gaya. maianne apatti ki akhir yatra mean tum do lakh se zyada to n kharch karoge ?’ 'ji nahian, usaka bajat hai sadhe tin lakh ka. sat varsh ka programahai. pachas hazar rupaye sal hi to hue ?' 'char hazar mahina kaho. maian samajhata hooan, do hazar mean tum b de aram se rah sakate ho.' vikram ne garm hokar kaha, ‘maian shan se rahana chahata hooan; bhikhariyoan ki tarah nahian.‘ 'do hazar mean bhi tum shan se rah sakate ho.' 'jab tak ap apane hisse mean se do lakh mujhe n de deange, pustakalay n ban sakega.' 'koee zaroori nahian ki tumhara pustakalay shahar mean bejo d ho ?' 'maian to bejo d hi banavaooanga.' 'isaka tumhean akhtiyar hai, lekin mere rupaye mean se tumhean kuchh n mil sakega. meri zarooratean dekho. tumhare ghar mean kafi jayadad hai. tumhare sir koee bojh nahian, mere sir to sari grihasthi ka bojh hai. do bahanoan ka vivah hai, do bhaiyoan ki shiksha hai, naya makan banavana hai. maianne to nishchay kar liya hai ki sab rupaye sidhe baiank mean jama kar dooanga. unake sood se kam chalaooanga. kuchh aisi shartean laga dooanga, ki mere bad bhi koee is rakam mean hath n laga sake.' vikram ne sahanubhooti ke bhav se kaha, ‘haan, aisi dasha mean tumase kuchh maangana anyay hai. khair, maian hi takaliph utha looanga; lekin baiank ke sood ki dar to bahut gir gayi hai. hamane kee baiankoan mean sood ki dar dekhi, asthayi kosh ki bhi; seviang baiank ki bhi. beshak dar bahut kam thi. do-dhaee rupaye saik de byaj par jama karana vyarth hai. kyoan n len-den ka karobar shuroo kiya jay ? vikram bhi abhi yatra par n jayaga. donoan ke sajhe mean kothi chalegi, jab kuchh dhan jama ho jayaga, tab vah yatra karega. len-den mean sood bhi achchha milega aur apana rob-dab bhi rahega. haan, jab tak achchhi jamanat n ho, kisi ko rupaya n dena chahie; chahe asami kitana hi matabar kyoan n ho. aur jamanat par rupaye de hi kyoan ? jayadad rehan likhakar rupaye deange. phir to koee khataka n rahega. yah manzil bhi tay huee.   ab yah prashn utha ki tikat par kisaka nam rahe. vikram ne apana nam rakhane ke lie b da agrah kiya. agar usaka nam n raha, to vah tikat hi n lega ! maianne koee upay n dekhakar manjoor kar liya aur bina kisi likha-padhi ke, jisase age chalakar mujhe b di pareshani huee ! ek-ek karake intajar ke din katane lage. bhor hote hi hamari aankhean kaileandar par jatian. mera makan vikram ke makan se mila hua tha. skool jane ke pahale aur skool se ane ke bad ham donoan sath baithakar apane-apane mansoobe baandh karate aur is tarah sayan-sayan ki koee sun n le. ham apane tikat kharidane ka rahasy chhipaye rakhana chahate the. yah rahasy jab saty ka roop dharan kar lega, us vakt logoan ko kitana vismay hoga ! us drishy ka natakiy anand ham nahian chho dana chahate the. ek din batoan-batoan mean vivah ka zikr a gaya. vikram ne darshanik gambhirata se kaha, bhee, shadi-vadi ka janjal to maian nahian palana chahata. vyarth ki chianta aur hay-hay. patni ki naj baradari mean hi bahut-se rupaye u d jayange. maianne isaka virodh kiya ‘haan, yah to thik hai; lekin jab tak jivan ke sukh-du:kh ka koee sathi n ho; jivan ka anand hi kya ? maian to vivahit jivan se itana virakt nahian hooan. haan, sathi aisa chahata hooan jo ant tak sath rahe aur aisa sathi patni ke siva doosara nahian ho sakata.‘

  vikram zaroorat se zyada tunukamizaji se bola, ‘khair, apana-apana drishtikon hai. apako bivi mubarak aur kuttoan ki tarah usake pichhe-pichhe chalana tatha bachchoan ko sansar ki sabase b di vibhooti aur eeshvar ki sabase b di daya samajhana mubarak. banda to azad rahega, apane maje se chaha aur jab chaha u d gaye aur jab chaha ghar a gaye. yah nahian ki har vakt ek chaukidar apake sir par savar ho. jara-si der huee ghar ane mean aur phauran javab talab hua qahaan the ab tak ? ap kahian bahar nikale aur phauran saval hua qahaan jate ho ? aur jo kahian durbhagy se patniji bhi sath ho gayian, tab to doob marane ke siva apake lie koee marg hi nahian rah jata. n bhaiya, mujhe apase jara bhi sahanubhooti nahian. bachche ko jara-sa jukam hua aur ap betahasha dau de chale ja rahe haian homiyopaithik daktar ke pas. jara umr khisaki aur lauande manane lage ki kab ap prasthan karean aur vah gulachharre u dayean. mauqa mila to apako zahar khila diya aur mashahoor kiya ki apako kalara ho gaya tha. maian is janjal mean nahian p data. ‘ kunti a gayi. vah vikram ki chhoti bahan thi, koee gyarah sal ki. chhathe mean padhati thi aur barabar phel hoti thi. b di chibilli, b di shokh. itane dhamake se dvar khola ki ham donoan chauankakar uth kh de hue. vikram ne big dakar kaha, ‘too b di shaitan hai kunti, kisane tujhe bulaya yahaan ?’ kunti ne khuphiya pulis ki tarah kamare mean najar dau dakar kaha, ‘tum log haradam yahaan kiva d band kiye baithe kya batean kiya karate ho ? jab dekho, yahian baithe ho. n kahian ghoomane jate ho, n tamasha dekhane; koee jadoo-mantar jagate hoange !’ vikram ne usaki garadan pak dakar hilate hue kaha, ‘haan ek mantar jaga rahe haian, jisamean tujhe aisa doolha mile, jo roj ginakar paanch hazar hantar jamaye s das d.‘ kunti usaki pith par baithakar boli, ‘maian aise doolhe se byah karooangi, jo mere samane kh da pooanchh hilata rahega. maian mithaee ke done pheank dooangi aur vah chatega. jara bhi chian-chap d karega, to kan garm kar dooangi. ammaan ko l aautari ke rupaye mileange, to pachas hazar mujhe de dean. bas, chain karooangi. maian donoan vakt thakuraji se ammaan ke lie prarthana karati hooan. ammaan kahati haian, kuanvari l dakiyoan ki dua kabhi nishphal nahian hoti. mera man to kahata hai, ammaan ko zaroor rupaye mileange.‘ mujhe yad aya, ek bar maian apane nanihal dehat mean gaya tha, to sookha p da hua tha. bhadoan ka mahina a gaya tha; magar pani ki booand nahian. sab logoan ne chanda karake gaanv ki sab kuanvari l dakiyoan ki davat ki thi. aur usake tisare hi din moosaladhar varsha huee thi. avashy hi kuanvariyoan ki dua mean asar hota hai. maianne vikram ko arthapoorn aankhoan se dekha, vikram ne mujhe. aankhoan hi mean hamane salah kar li aur nishchay bhi kar liya.   vikram ne kunti se kaha, ‘achchha, tujhase ek bat kahean kisi se kahogi to nahian ? nahian, too to b di achchhi l daki hai, kisi se n kahegi. maian abaki tujhe khoob padhaooanga aur pas kara dooanga. bat yah hai ki ham donoan ne bhi l aautari ka tikat liya hai. ham logoan ke lie bhi eeshvar se prarthana kiya kar. agar hamean rupaye mile, to tere lie achchhe-achchhe gahane banava deange. sach !’ kunti ko vishvas n aya. hamane kasamean khayian. vah nakhare karane lagi. jab hamane use sir se paanv tak sone aur hire se madh dene ki pratijna ki, tab vah hamare lie dua karane par raji huee.  lekin usake pet mean manoan mithaee pach sakati thi; vah jara-si bat n pachi. sidhe andar bhagi aur ek kshan mean sare ghar mean vah khabar phail gayi. ab jise dekhie, vikram ko daant raha hai, ammaan bhi, chacha bhi, pita bhi qeval vikram ki shubh-kamana se ya aur kisi bhav se, ‘kaun jane baithe-baithe tumhean himakat hi soojhati hai. rupaye lekar pani mean pheank diye. ghar mean itane adamiyoan ne to tikat liya hi tha, tumhean lene ki kya zaroorat thi ? kya tumhean usamean se kuchh n milate ? aur tum bhi mastar sahab, bilakul ghoangha ho. l dake ko achchhi batean kya sikhaoge, use aur chaupat kiye dalate ho.‘ vikram to la dala beta tha. use aur kya kahate. kahian roothakar ek-do joon khana n khaye, to aphat hi a jay. mujh par sara gussa utara. isaki sohabat mean l daka big da jata hai.   'par upadesh kushal bahutere' vali kahavat meri aankhoan ke samane thi. mujhe apane bachapan ki ek ghatana yad ayi. holi ka din tha. sharab ki ek botal mangavayi gayi thi. mere mamooan sahab un dinoan aye hue the. maianne chupake se kothari mean jakar gilas mean ek ghooant sharab dali aur pi gaya. abhi gala jal hi raha tha aur aankhean lal hi thian, ki mamooan sahab kothari mean a gaye aur mujhe mano seandha mean giraphtar kar liya aur itana big de itana big de ki mera kaleja sookhakar chhuhara ho gaya. ammaan ne bhi daanta, pitaji ne bhi daanta, mujhe aansuoan se unaki krodhagni shant karani p di; aur dopahar hi ko mamooan sahab nashe mean pagal hokar gane lage, phir roye, phir ammaan ko galiyaan dian, dada ke mana karane par bhi marane dau de aur akhir mean kai karake zamin par besudh p de najar aye.   vikram ke pita b de thakur sahab aur taoo chhote thakur sahab donoan j davadi the, pooja-path ki hansi u dane vale, poore nastik; magar ab donoan b de nishthavanh aur eeshvar bhakt ho gaye the. b de thakur sahab prat:kal ganga-snan karane jate aur mandiroan ke chakkar lagate hue dopahar ko sari deh mean chandan lapete ghar lautate. chhote thakur sahab ghar par hi garm pani se snan karate aur gathiya se grast hone par bhi ram-nam likhana shuroo kar dete. dhoop nikal ane par park ki or nikal jate aur chiantiyoan ko ata khilate. sham hote hi donoan bhaee apane thakuradvare mean ja baithate aur adhi rat tak bhagavat ki katha tanmay hokar sunate. vikram ke b de bhaee prakash ko sadhu-mahatmaoan par adhik vishvas tha. vah mathoan aur sadhuoan ke akha doan tatha kutiyoan ki khak chhanate aur mataji ko to bhor se adhi rat tak snan, pooja aur vrat ke siva doosara kam hi n tha. is umr mean bhi unhean siangar ka shauq tha; par ajakal poori tapasvini bani huee thian. log nahak lalasa ko bura kahate haian. maian to samajhata hooan, hamamean jo yah bhakti-nishtha aur dharm-prem hai, vah keval hamari lalasa, hamari havas ke karan. hamara dharm hamare svarth ke bal par tika hua hai. havas manushy ke man aur buddhi ka itana sanskar kar sakati hai, yah mere lie bilakul naya anubhav tha. ham donoan bhi jyotishiyoan aur panditoan se prashn karake apane ko kabhi dukhi kar liya karate the.   jyoan-jyoan l aautari ka divas samip ata jata tha, hamare chitt ki shanti u dati jati thi. hamesha usi or man tanga rahata. mujhe ap-hi-ap akaran sandeh hone laga ki kahian vikram mujhe hissa dene se inkar kar de, to maian kya karooanga. saf inkar kar jay ki tumane tikat mean sajha kiya hi nahian. n koee taharir hai, n koee doosara saboot. sabakuchh vikram ki niyat par hai. usaki niyat jara bhi davaandol huee ki kam-tamam. kahian phariyad nahian kar sakata, muanh tak nahian khol sakata. ab agar kuchh kahooan bhi to kuchh labh nahian. agar usaki niyat mean phitoor a gaya hai tab to vah abhi se inkar kar dega; agar nahian aya hai, to is sandeh se use marmantak vedana hogi. adami aisa to nahian hai; magar bhaee, daulat pakar eeman salamat rakhana kathin hai. abhi to rupaye nahian mile haian. is vakt eemanadar banane mean kya kharch hota hai ? pariksha ka samay to tab ayega, jab das lakh rupaye hath mean hoange. maianne apane ant:karan ko tatola agar tikat mere nam ka hota aur mujhe das lakh mil jate, to kya maian adhe rupaye bina kan-pooanchh hilaye vikram ke havale kar deta ? kaun kah sakata hai; magar adhik sambhav yahi tha ki maian hile-havale karata, kahata tumane mujhe paanch rupaye udhar diye the. usake  das le lo, sau le lo aur kya karoge; magar nahian, mujhase itani bad-niyati n hoti.   doosare din ham donoan akhabar dekh rahe the ki sahasa vikram ne kaha, qahian hamara tikat nikal aye, to mujhe afasos hoga ki nahak tumase sajha kiya ! vah saral bhav se muskaraya, magar yah thi usake atma ki jhalak jise vah vinod ki a d mean chhipana chahata tha. maianne chauankakar kaha, ‘sach ! lekin isi tarah mujhe bhi to afasos ho sakata hai ?’ 'lekin tikat to mere nam ka hai ?' 'isase kya.' 'achchha, man lo, maian tumhare sajhe se inkar kar jaooan ?' mera khoon sard ho gaya. aankhoan ke samane aandhera chha gaya. 'maian tumhean itana badaniyat nahian samajhata tha.' 'magar hai bahut sanbhav. paanch lakh. socho ! dimag chakara jata hai !' 'to bhaee, abhi se kushal hai, likha-padhi kar lo ! yah sanshay rahe hi kyoan ?' vikram ne hansakar kaha, ‘tum b de shakki ho yar ! maian tumhari pariksha le raha tha. bhala, aisa kahian ho sakata hai ? paanch lakh kya, paanch karo d bhi hoan, tab bhi eeshvar chahega, to niyat mean khalal n ane dooanga.‘  kintu mujhe usake is ashvasan par bilakul vishvas n aya. man mean ek sanshay baith gaya. maianne kaha, ‘yah to maian janata hooan, tumhari niyat kabhi vichalit nahian ho sakati, lekin likha-padhi kar lene mean kya haraj hai ?’ 'phajool hai.' 'phajool hi sahi.' 'to pakke kagaz par likhana p dega. das lakh ki kort-phis hi sadhe sat hazar ho jayagi. kis bhram mean haian ap ?' maianne socha, ‘bala se sadi likha-padhi ke bal par koee qanooni karravaee n kar sakooanga. par inhean lajjit karane ka, inhean jalil karane ka, inhean sabake samane beeeman siddh karane ka avasar to mere hath ayega aur duniya mean badanami ka bhay n ho, to adami n jane kya kare. apaman ka bhay qanoon ke bhay se kisi tarah kam kriyashil nahian hota. bola, ‘mujhe sade kagaz par hi vishvas a jayaga.‘ vikram ne laparavahi se kaha, ‘zis kagaz ka koee qanooni mahattv nahian, use likhakar kya samay nasht karean ?’   mujhe nishchay ho gaya ki vikram ki niyat mean abhi se phitoor a gaya. nahian to sada kagaz likhane mean kya badha ho sakati hai ? big dakar kaha, ‘tumhari niyat to abhi se kharab ho gayi. usane nirlajjata se kaha, to kya tum sabit karana chahate ho ki aisi dasha mean tumhari niyat n badalati ?’ 'meri niyat itani kamazor nahian hai ?' 'rahane bhi do. b di niyatavale ! achchhe-achchhe ko dekha hai !' 'tumhean isi vakt lekhabaddh hona p dega. mujhe tumhare oopar vishvas nahian raha.' 'agar tumhean mere oopar vishvas nahian hai, to maian bhi nahian likhata.' 'to kya tum samajhate ho, tum mere rupaye hajam kar jaoge ?' 'kisake rupaye aur kaise rupaye ?' 'maian kahe deta hooan vikram, hamari dosti ka hi ant n ho jayaga, balki isase kahian bhayankar parinam hoga.' hiansa ki ek jvala-si mere andar dahak uthi. sahasa divanakhane mean jh dap ki avaz sunakar mera dhyan udhar chala gaya. yahaan donoan thakur baitha karate the. unamean aisi maitri thi, jo adarsh bhaiyoan mean ho sakati hai. ram aur lakshman mean bhi itani hi rahi hogi. jh dap ki to bat hi kya, maianne unamean kabhi vivad hote bhi n suna tha. b de thakur jo kah dean, vah chhote thakur ke lie qanoon tha aur chhote thakur ki ichchha dekhakar hi b de thakur koee bat kahate the. ham donoan ko ashchary hua divanakhane ke dvar par jakar kh de ho gaye. donoan bhaee apani-apani kursiyoan se uthakar kh de ho gaye the, ek-ek qadam age bhi badh aye the, aankhean lal, mukh vikrit, tyoriyaan chadhi hueean, mutthiyaan bandhi hueean. maloom hota tha, bas hathapaee huee hi chahati hai. chhote thakur ne hamean dekhakar pichhe hatate hue kaha, sammilit parivar mean jo kuchh bhi aur kahian se bhi aur kisi ke nam bhi aye, vah sabaka hai, barabar. b de thakur ne vikram ko dekhakar ek qadam aur age badhaya –‘haragij  nahian, agar maian koee jurm karooan, to maian pak da jaooanga, sammilit parivar nahian. mujhe saza milegi, sammilit parivar ko nahian. yah vaiyaktik prashn hai.‘ 'isaka phaisala adalat se hoga.' 'shauq se adalat jaie. agar mere l dake, meri bivi ya mere nam l aautari nikali, to apaka usase koee sambandh n hoga, usi tarah jaise apake nam l aautari nikale, to mujhase, meri bivi se ya mere l dake se usase koee sambandh n hoga.' 'agar maian janata ki apaki aisi niyat hai, to maian bhi bivi-bachchoan ke nam se tikat le sakata tha.' 'yah apaki galati hai.' 'isilie ki mujhe vishvas tha, ap bhaee haian.' 'yah jua hai, apako samajh lena chahie tha. jue ki har-jit ka khanadan par koee asar nahian p d sakata. agar ap kal ko das-paanch hazar res mean har ayean, to khanadan usaka zimmedar n hoga.' 'magar bhaee ka hak dabakar ap sukhi nahian rah sakate.' 'ap n brahma haian, n eeshvar aur n koee mahatma.' vikram ki mata ne suna ki donoan bhaiyoan mean thani huee hai aur mallayuddh hua chahata hai, to dau di huee bahar ayian aur donoan ko samajhane lagian. chhote thakur ne big dakar kaha, ‘ap mujhe kya samajhati haian, unhean samajhaie, jo char-char tikat liye hue baithe haian. mere pas kya hai, ek tikat. usaka kya bharosa. meri apeksha jinhean rupaye milane ka chauguna chaans hai, unaki niyat big d jay, to lajja aur du:kh ki bat hai.‘ thakurain ne devar ko dilasa dete hue kaha, ‘achchha, mere rupaye mean se adhe tumhare. ab to khush ho.‘ b de thakur ne bivi ki jaban pak di --‘kyoan adhe le leange ? maian ek dhola bhi n dooanga. ham murauvat aur sahridayata se kam lean, phir bhi unhean paanchavean hisse se zyada kisi tarah n milega. adhe ka dava kis niyam se ho sakata hai ? n bauddhik, n dharmik, n naitik. chhote thakur ne khisiyakar kaha, sari duniya ka qanoon ap hi to janate haian.‘ 'janate hi haian, tis sal tak vakalat nahian ki hai ?' 'yah vakalat nikal jayagi, jab samane kalakatte ka bairistar kh da kar dooanga.' 'bairistar ki aisi-taisi, chahe vah kalakatte ka ho ya landan ka !' 'maian adha looanga, usi tarah jaise ghar ki jayadad mean mera adha hai.'   itane mean vikram ke b de bhaee sahab sir aur hath mean patti baandhe, lॅg date hue, kap doan par taja khoon ke dag lagaye, prasann-mukh akar ek aramakursi par gir p de. b de thakur ne ghab dakar poochha, ‘yah tumhari kya halat hai ji ? aian, yah chot kaise lagi ? kisi se mar-pit to nahian ho gayi ?’ prakash ne kursi par letakar ek bar karaha, phir muskarakar bole, ‘zi, koee bat nahian, aisi kuchh bahut chot nahian lagi.‘ 'kaise kahate ho ki chot nahian lagi ? sara hath aur sir sooj gaya hai. kap de khoon se tar. yah muamala kya hai ? koee motar durghatana to nahian ho gayi ?' 'bahut mamooli chot hai sahab, do-char din mean achchhi ho jayagi. ghabarane ki koee bat nahian.' prakash ke mukh par ashapoorn, shant muskan thi. krodh, lajja ya pratishodh ki bhavana ka nam bhi n tha. b de thakur ne aur vyagr hokar poochha, ‘lekin hua kya, yah kyoan nahian batalate ? kisi se mar-pit huee ho to thane mean rapat karava dooan.‘ prakash ne halake man se kaha, ‘mar-pit kisi se nahian huee sahab. bat yah hai ki maian jara jhakk d baba ke pas chala gaya tha. ap to janate haian, vah adamiyoan ki soorat se bhagate haian aur patthar lekar marane dau date haian. jo darakar bhaga, vah gaya. jo patthar ki chotean khakar bhi unake pichhe laga raha, vah paras ho gaya. vah yahi pariksha lete haian. aj maian vahaan pahuancha, to koee pachas adami jama the, koee mithaee liye, koee bahumooly bheant liye, koee kap doan ke than liye. jhakk d baba dhyanavastha mean baithe hue the. ekaek unhoanne aankhean kholian aur yah jan-samooh dekha, to kee patthar chunakar unake pichhe dau de. phir kya tha, bhagad d mach gayi. log girate-p date bhage. hurr ho gaye. ek bhi n tika. akela maian ghanteghar ki tarah vahian data raha. bas unhoanne patthar chala hi to diya. pahala nishana sir mean laga. unaka nishana achook p data hai. khop di bhanna gayi, khoon ki dhara bah chali; lekin maian hila nahian. phir babaji ne doosara patthar pheanka. vah hath mean laga. maian gir p da aur behosh ho gaya. jab hosh aya, to vahaan sannata tha. babaji bhi gayab ho gaye the. antardhan ho jaya karate haian. kise pukarooan, kisase savari lane ko kahooan ? mare dard ke hath phata p data tha aur sir se abhi tak khoon jari tha. kisi tarah utha aur sidha daktar ke pas gaya. unhoanne dekhakar kaha, haddi toot gayi hai aur patti baandh di; garm pani se seankane ko kaha, hai. sham ko phir ayeange, magar chot lagi to lagi; ab latari mere nam ayi dhari hai. yah nishchay hai. aisa kabhi hua hi nahian ki jhakk d baba ki mar khakar koee namurad rah gaya ho. maian to sabase pahale baba ki kuti banava dooanga.‘   b de thakur sahab ke mukh par santosh ki jhalak dikhayi di. phauran palang bichh gaya. prakash us par lete. thakurain pankha jhalane lagian, unaka bhi mukh prasann tha. itani chot khakar das lakh pa jana koee bura sauda n tha. chhote thakur sahab ke pet mean choohe dau d rahe the. jyoan hi b de thakur bhojan karane gaye aur thakurain bhi prakash ke lie bhojan ka prabandh karane gayian, tyoan hi chhote thakur ne prakash se poochha, ‘kya bahut zor se patthar marate haian ?’ ‘jor se to kya marate hoange !’ prakash ne unaka ashay samajhakar kaha, ‘are sahab, patthar nahian marate, bamagole marate haian. dev-sa to dil-daul hai aur balavanh itane haian ki ek ghooanse mean sheroan ka kam tamam kar dete haian. koee aisa-vaisa adami ho, to ek hi patthar mean tean ho jay. kitane hi to mar gaye; magar aj tak jhakk d baba par mukadama nahian chala. aur do-char patthar marakar hi nahian rah jate, jab tak ap gir n p dean aur behosh n ho jayan, vah marate hi jayange; magar rahasy yahi hai ki ap jitani zyada chotean khayeange, utane hi apane uddeshy ke nikat pahuancheange. ..’ prakash ne aisa roean kh de kar dene vala chitr khiancha ki chhote thakur sahab tharra uthe. patthar khane ki himmat n p di.   akhir bhagy ke nipatare ka din aya zulaee ki bisavian tarikh katl ki rat ! ham prat:kal uthe, to jaise ek nasha chadha hua tha, asha aur bhay ke dvandv ka. donoan thakuroan ne gh di rat rahe ganga-snan kiya tha aur mandir mean baithe poojan kar rahe the. aj mere man mean shraddha jagi. mandir mean jakar man-hi-man thakuraji ki stuti karane laga anathoan ke nath, tumhari kripadrishti kya hamare oopar n hogi ? tumhean kya maloom nahian, hamase zyada tumhari daya kaun dizarv ;kamematamaddh karata hai ? vikram soot-boot pahane mandir ke dvar par aya, mujhe ishare se bulakar itana kaha, maian dakakhane jata hooan aur hava ho gaya. jara der mean prakash mithaee ke thal lie hue ghar mean se nikale aur mandir ke dvar par kh de hokar kangaloan ko baantane lage, jinaki ek bhi d jama ho gayi thi. aur donoan thakur bhagavanh ke charanoan mean lau lagaye hue the, sir jhukaye, aankhean band kiye hue, anurag mean doobe hue. b de thakur ne sir uthakar pujari ki or dekha aur bole, “bhagavanh to b de bhakt-vatsal haian, kyoan pujariji ?” pujariji ne samarthan kiya, ‘haan sarakar, bhaktoan ki raksha ke lie to bhagavanh kshirasagar se dau de aur gaj ko grah ke muanh se bachaya.‘ ek kshan ke bad chhote thakur sahab ne sir uthaya aur pujariji se bole kyoan, ‘pujariji, bhagavanh to sarvashaktimanh haian, antaryami, sabake dil ka hal janate haian.‘ pujari ne samarthan kiya—‘haan sarakar, antaryami n hote to sabake man ki bat kaise jan jate ? shabari ka prem dekhakar svayan usaki manokamana poori ki.‘ poojan samapt hua. arati huee. donoan bhaiyoan ne aj ooanche svar se arati gayi aur b de thakur ne do rupaye thal mean dale. chhote thakur ne char rupaye dale. b de thakur ne ek bar kop-drishti se dekha aur muanh pher liya. sahasa b de thakur ne pujari se poochha,  ‘tumhara man kya kahata hai pujariji ?’ pujari bola, ‘sarakar ki phate hai.‘ chhote thakur ne poochha, ‘aur meri ?’ pujari ne usi mustaidi se kaha, ‘apaki bhi phate hai.‘ b de thakur shraddha se doobe bhajan gate hue mandir se nikale -- 'prabhuji, maian to ayo saran tihare, haan prabhuji !' ek minat mean chhote thakur sahab bhi mandir se gate hue nikale -- 'ab pat rakho more dayanidhan tori gati lakhi na pare !' maian bhi pichhe nikala aur jakar mithaee baantane mean prakash baboo ki madad karana chaha; unhoanne thal hatakar kaha, ap rahane dijie, maian abhi baante dalata hooan. ab rah hi kitani gayi hai ? maian khisiyakar dakakhane ki taraph chala ki vikram muskarata hua saikil par a pahuancha. use dekhate hi sabhi jaise pagal ho gaye. donoan thakur samane hi kh de the. donoan baj ki tarah jhapate. prakash ke thal mean tho di-si mithaee bach rahi thi. usane thal zamin par pataka aur dau da. aur maianne to us unmad mean vikram ko god mean utha liya; magar koee usase kuchh poochhata nahian, sabhi jay-jayakar ki haank laga rahe haian. b de thakur ne akash ki or dekha, ‘bolo raja ramachandr ki jay !’ chhote thakur ne chhalaang mari, ‘bolo hanumanaji ki jay !’ prakash taliyaan bajata hua chikha, ‘duhaee jhakk d baba ki !’

vikram ne aur zor se kahakaha, mara aur phir alag kh da hokar bola,’jisaka nam aya hai, usase ek lakh looanga ! bolo, hai manjoor ?’ b de thakur ne usaka hath pak da-- ‘pahale bata to !’ 'na ! yoan nahian batata.' 'chhote thakur big de ... mahaj batane ke lie ek lakh ? shabash !’ prakash ne bhi tyori chadhayi, ‘kya dakakhana hamane dekha nahian hai ?’ 'achchha, to apana-apana nam sunane ke lie taiyar ho jao.' sabhi log fauji-ateanshan ki dasha mean nishchal kh de ho gaye. 'hosh-havash thik rakhana !' sabhi poorn sachet ho gaye. 'achchha, to sunie kan kholakar is shahar ka saphaya hai. is shahar ka hi nahian, sampoorn bharat ka saphaya hai. amerika ke ek habshi ka nam a gaya.' b de thakur jhallaye, ‘jhooth-jhooth, bilakul jhooth !’ chhote thakur ne paiantara badala qabhi nahian. tin mahine ki tapasya yoan hi rahi ? vah ?’ prakash ne chhati thoankakar kaha, ‘yahaan sir mu davaye aur hath tu davaye baithe haian, dillagi hai !’   itane mean aur pachasoan adami udhar se roni soorat liye nikale. ye bechare bhi dakakhane se apani kismat ko rote chale a rahe the. mar le gaya, amerika ka habshi ! abhaga ! pishach ! dusht ! ab kaise kisi ko vishvas n ata ? b de thakur jhallaye hue mandir mean gaye aur pujari ko disamis kar diya isilie tumhean itane dinoan se pal rakha hai. haram ka mal khate ho aur chain karate ho. chhote thakur sahab ki to jaise kamar toot gayi. do-tin bar sir pita aur vahian baith gaye; magar prakash ke krodh ka paravar n tha. usane apana mota sota liya aur jhakk d baba ki marammat karane chala. mataji ne keval itana kaha, ‘sabhi ne beeemani ki hai. maian kabhi manane ki nahian. hamare devata kya karean ? kisi ke hath se tho de hi chhin layeange ?’ rat ko kisi ne khana nahian khaya. maian bhi udas baitha hua tha ki vikram akar bola, ‘chalo, hotal se kuchh kha ayean. ghar mean to choolha nahian jala.‘ maianne poochha, tum dakakhane se aye, ‘to bahut prasann kyoan the.‘ usane kaha, zab maianne dakakhane ke samane hajaroan ki bhi d dekhi, to mujhe apane logoan ke gadhepan par hansi ayi. ek shahar mean jab itane adami haian, to sare hindustan mean isake hazar gune se kam n hoange. aur duniya mean to lakh gune se bhi zyada ho jayange. maianne asha ka jo ek parvat-sa kh da kar rakha tha, vah jaise ekabaragi itana chhota hua ki raee ban gaya, aur mujhe hansi ayi. jaise koee dani purush chhataank-bhar ann hath mean lekar ek lakh adamiyoan ko nevata de baithe aur yahaan hamare ghar ka ek-ek adami samajh raha hai ki ... maian bhi hansa ‘haan, bat to yatharth mean yahi hai aur ham donoan likha-padhi ke lie l de marate the; magar sach batana, tumhari niyat kharab huee thi ki nahian ?’ vikram muskarakar bola, ‘ab kya karoge poochhakar ? parada dhanka rahane do.'