विस्मृति -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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chitrakoot ke sannikat dhanagadh namak ek gaanv hai. kuchh din hue vahaan shanasianh aur gumanasianh do bhaee rahate the. ye jati ke thakur (kshatriy) the. yuddhasthal mean virata ke karan unake poorvajoan ko bhoomi ka ek bhag muaphi prapt hua tha. kheti karate the, bhaiansean pal rakhi thian, ghi bechate the, mattha khate the aur prasannatapoorvak samay vyatit karate the. unaki ek bahin thi, jisaka nam dooji tha. yatha nam tatha gun. donoan bhaee parishrami aur atyant sahasi the. bahin atyant komal, sukumari, sir par gh da rakh kar chalati to usaki kamar bal khati thi; kintu tinoan abhi tak kuanvare the. prakatatah unhean vivah ki chianta n thi. b de bhaee shanasianh sochate, chhote bhaee ke rahate hue ab maian apana vivah kaise karooan. chhote bhaee gumanasianh lajjavash apani abhilasha prakat n karate the ki b de bhaee se pahale maian apana byah kar looan ? ve logoan se kaha karate the ki-‘bhaee, ham b de anand mean haian, anandapoorn bhojan kar mithi niand sote haian. kaun yah jhanjhat sir par le ?’ kiantu lagn ke dinoan mean koee naee ya brahman gaanv mean var dhooandhane a jata to usaki seva-satkar mean yah koee bat n utha rakhate the. purane chaval nikale jate, palatoo bakare devi ko bheant hote, aur doodh ki nadiyaan bahane lagati thian. yahaan tak ki kabhi-kabhi usaka bhratri-sneh pratidvandvita evan dvesh-bhav ke roop mean parinat ho jata tha. in dinoan mean inaki udarata umang par a jati thi, aur isamean labh uthane valoan ki bhi kami n thi. kitane hi naee aur brahman byah ke asaty samachar le kar unake yahaan ate, aur do-char din poo di-kachau di kha kuchh vidaee le kar varaksha (phaladan) bhejane ka vada karake apane ghar ki rah lete. kiantu doosare lagn tak vah apana darshan tak n dete the. kisi n kisi karan bhaiyoan ka yah parishram nishphal ho jata tha. ab kuchh asha thi, to dooji se. bhaiyoan ne yah nishchay kar liya tha ki isaka vivah vahian par kiya jaye jahaan se ek bahoo prapt ho sake.

isi bich mean gaanv ka boodha karinda paralok sidhara. usaki jagah par ek navayuvak lalanasianh niyukt hua jo aangarezi ki shiksha paya hua shaukin, rangin aur rasila adami tha. do-char hi dinoan mean usane panaghatoan, talaboan aur jharokhoan ki dekhabhal bhali-bhaanti kar li. aant mean usaki rasabhari drishti dooji par p di. usaki sukumarata aur roopalavany par mugdh ho gaya. bhaiyoan se prem aur paraspar mel-jol paida kiya. kuchh vivah-sambandhi batachit chhe d di. yahaan tak ki hukka-pani bhi sath-sath hone laga. sayan-pratah inake ghar par aya karata. bhaiyoan ne bhi usake adar-samman ki samagriyaan jama kian. panadan mol laye, kalin kharidi. vah daravaze par ata to dooji turant pan ke bi de banakar bhejati. b de bhaee kalin bichha dete aur chhote bhaee tashtari mean mithaiyaan rakh late. ek din shriman ne kaha-bhaiya shanasianh, eeshvar ki kripa huee to ab ki lagn mean bhabhiji a jayeangi. maianne sab batean thik kar li haian.

shanasianh ki bachhean khil gayian. anugrahapoorn drishti se dekh kar kaha-maian ab is avastha mean kya karooanga. haan, gumanasianh ki batachit kahian thik ho jati, to pap kat jata.

gumanasianh ne ta d ka pankha utha liya aur jhalate hue bole-vah bhaiya ! kaisi bat kahate ho ?

lalanasianh ne ak dakar shanasianh ki or dekhate hue kaha-bhaee sahab, kya kahate ho, abaki lagn mean donoan bhabhiyaan chhamachham karati huee ghar mean avean to bat ! maian aisa kachcha mamala nahian rakhata. tum to abhi se buddhoan ki bhaanti batean karane lage. tumhari avastha yadyapi pachas se bhi adhik ho gayi, par dekhane mean chalis varsh se bhi kam maloom hoti hai. ab donoan vivah hoange, bich khet hoange. yah to batao, vastrabhooshan ka samuchit prabandh hai n ?

shanasianh ne unake jootoan ko sidha karate hue kaha-bhaee sahab ! ap ki yadi aisi kripa-drishti hai, to sab kuchh ho jayega. akhir itane din kama-kama kar kya kiya hai.

gumanasianh ghar mean gaye, huqqa taja kiya, tambakoo mean do-tin booand itra ke dale, chilam bhari, dooji se kaha, ki sharabat ghol de aur huqqa la kar lalanasianh ke samane rakh diya.

lalanasianh ne do-char dam lagaye aur bole-naee do-char din mean ane vala hai. aisa ghar chuna hai ki chitt prasann ho jaye, ek vidhava hai. do kanyayean, ek se ek sanudar. vidhava do-ek varsh mean sansar ko tyag degi aur tum ek sampoorn gaanv mean do ane ke hissedar ban jaoge. gaanv vale jo abhi hansi karate haian, pichhe jal-jal mareange. haan, bhay itana hi hai ki koee budhiya ke kan n bhar de ki sara bana-banaya khel big d jaye.

shanasianh ke chehare par havaiyaan u dane lagian. gumanasianh ki mukhakaanti malin ho gayi. kuchh der bad shanasianh bole-ab to apaki hi asha hai, apaki jaisi ray ho, kiya jay.

jab koee purush hamare sath akaran mitrata ka vyavahar karane lage to hamako sochana chahie ki isamean usaka koee svarth to nahian chhipa hai. yadi ham apane sidhepan se is bhram mean p d jayan ki koee manushy hamako keval anugrihit karane ke lie hamari sahayata karane par tatpar hai to hamean dhokha khana p dega. kintu apane svarth ki dhun mean ye moti-moti batean bhi hamari nigahoan se chhip jati haian aur chhal apane range hue bhesh mean akar hamako sarvada ke lie paraspar vyavahar ka upadesh deta hai. shanasianh aur gumanasianh ne vichar se kuchh bhi kam n liya aur lalanasianh ke phande nityaprati gadhe hote gaye. mitrata ne yahaan tak paanv pasare ki bhaiyoan ki anupasthiti mean bhi vah bedh dak ghar mean ghus jate aur aangan mean kh de ho kar chhoti bahan se pan-huqqa maangate. dooji unhean dekhate hi ati prasannata se pan banati. phir aankhean milatian, ek premakaanksha se bechain, doosari lajjavash sakuchi huee. phir muskarahat ki jhalak hoanthoan par ati. chitavanoan ki shitalata kaliyoan ko khila deti. hriday netroan dvara batean kar lete.

is prakar premalipsa badhati gayi. us netraliangan mean, jo manobhavoan ka bahyaroop tha, udvignata aur vikalata ki dasha utpann huee. vah dooji, jise kabhi manihare aur bisati ki ruchikar dhvani bhi chaukhat se bahar n nikal sakati thi, ab ek prem-vihvalata ki dasha mean pratiksha ki moorti bani huee ghantoan daravaze par kh di rahati. un dohe aur gitoan mean, jinhean vah kabhi vinodarth gaya karati thi, ab use vishesh anurag aur virah-vedana ka anubhav hota. tatpary yah ki prem ka rang gadha ho gaya.

shanaiah-shanaiah gaanv mean charcha hone lagi. ghas aur kas svayan ugate haian. ukha dane se bhi nahian jate. achchhe paudhe b di dekh-rekh se ugate haian. isi prakar bure samachar svayan phailate haian, chhipane se bhi nahian chhipate. panaghatoan aur talaboan ke kinare is vishay par kanaphoosi hone lagi. gaanv ki baniyain, jo apani tarajoo par hridayoan ko tolati thi aur gvalin jo jal mean prem ka rang dekar doodh ka dam leti thi aur tambolin jo pan ke bi doan se diloan par rang jamati thi, baith kar dooji ki lolupata aur nirlajjata ka rag alapane lagian. bechari dooji ko ghar se nikalana durlabh ho gaya. sakhi-saheliyaan evan b di-boodhiyaan sabhi usako tane maratian. sakhi-saheliyaan hansi se chhe datian aur vriddha striyaan hriday- vidarak vyangyoan se.

marrdoan tak batean phailian. thakuroan ka gaanv tha. unaki krodhagni bh daki. apas mean sammati huee ki lalanasianh ko is dushtata ka dand dena uchit hai. donoan bhaiyoan ko bulaya aur bole-bhaiya, kya apani maryada ka nash karake vivah karoge ?

donoan bhaee chauank p de. unhean vivah ki umang mean yah sudhi hi nahian thi ki ghar mean kya ho raha hai. shanasianh ne kaha-tumhari bat meri samajh mean nahian ayi. saph-saph kyoan nahian kahate.

ek thakur ne javab diya-saph-saph kya kahalate ho. is shohade lalanasianh ka apane yahaan ana-jana band kar do, tum to apani aankhoan par patti baandhe hi ho, par usaki jan ki kushal nahian. hamane abhi tak isilie tarah diya hai ki kadachith tumhari aankhean khulean, kiantu jnat hota hai ki tumhare oopar usane murde ka bhasm dal diya hai. byah kya apani abaroo bech kar karoge ? tum log khet mean rahate ho aur ham log apani aankhoan se dekhate haian ki vah shohada apana banav-sanvar kiye ata hai aur tumhare ghar mean ghantoan ghusa rahata hai. tum use apana bhaee samajhate ho to samajha karo, ham to aise bhaee ka gala kat lean jo vishvasaghat kare.

bhaiyoan ke netrapat khule. dooji ke jvar ke sambandh mean jo jvar ka sandeh tha, vah prem ka jvar nikala. rudhir mean ubal aya. netroan mean chinagariyaan u dian. tevar badale. donoan bhaiyoan ne ek doosare ki or krodhamay drishti se dekha. manogat bhav jihva tak n a sake. apane ghar aye; kiantu dar par paanv rakha hi tha ki lalanasianh se muthabhe d ho gayi.

lalanasianh ne hans kar kaha-vah bhaiya ! vah ! ham tumhari khoj mean bar-bar ate haian, kintu tumhare darshan tak nahian milate. maianne samajha, akhir ratri mean to kuchh kam n hoga. kintu dekhata hooan, apako is samay bhi chhutti nahian hai.

shanasianh ne hriday ke bhitar krodhagni ko daba kar kaha-haan, is samay vastav mean chhutti nahian hai.

lalanasianh-akhir kya kam hai ? maian bhi sunooan.

shanasianh-bahut b da kam hai, apase chhipa n rahega.

lalanasianh-kuchh vastrabhooshan ka bhi prabandh kar rahe ho ? ab lagn sir par a gaya hai.

shanasianh-ab b da lagn sir par a pahuancha hai, pahale isaka prabandh karana hai.

lalanasianh-kya kisi se than gayi ?

shanasianh-bhali-bhaanti.

lalanasianh-kisase ?

shanasianh-is samay jaiye, pratahkal batalaooanga.

2

dooji bhi lalanasianh ke sath daravaze ki chaukhat tak ayi thi. bhaiyoan ki ahat pate hi thithak gayi aur yah batean sunian. usaka matha thanaka ki aj yah kya mamala hai. lalanasianh ka kuchh adar-satkar nahian hua. n hukka, n pan. kya bhaiyoan ke kanoan mean kuchh bhanak to nahian p di. kisi ne kuchh laga to nahian diya. yadi aisa hua to kushal nahian.

isi udhe dabun mean p di thi ki bhaiyoan ne bhojan parosane ki ajna di. jab vah bhojan karane baithe to dooji ne apani nirdoshita aur pavitrata prakat karane ke lie evan apane bhaiyoan ke dil ka bhed lene ke lie kuchh kahana chaha. triya-charitr mean abhi nipun n thi. boli-bhaiya, lalanasianh se kah do, ghar mean n aya karean. ap ghar mean rahie to koee bat nahian, kiantu kabhi-kabhi ap nahian rahate to mujhe atyant lajja ati hai. aj hi vah apako poochhate hue chale aye, ab maian unase kya kahooan. apako nahian dekha to laut gaye !

shanasianh ne bahin ki taraph tane-bhare netroan se dekh kar kaha-ab vah ghar mean n ayeange.

gumanasianh bole-ham isi samay ja kar unhane samajha deange.

bhaiyoan ne bhojan kar liya. dooji ko punah kuchh kahane ka sahas n hua. use unake tevar aj kuchh badale hue maloom hote the. bhojanoparaant donoan bhaee dipak le kar bhandare ki kothari mean gaye. anavashyak bartan, purane saman, purukhoan ke samay ke astr-shastr adi isi kothari mean rakhe the. gaanv mean jab koee bakara devi ji ko bheant diya jata to yah kothari khulati thi. aj to koee aisi bat nahian hai. itani rat gaye yah kothari kyoan kholi jati hai ? dooji ko kisi bhavi durghatana ka sandeh hua. vah dabe paanv daravaze par gayi to dekhati kya hai ki gumanasianh ek bhujali liye patthar par rag d raha hai. usaka kaleja dhakh-dhakh karane laga aur paanv tharrane lage. vah ulte paanv lautana chahati thi ki shanasianh ki avaz sunayi di-‘‘isi samay ek gh di mean chalana thik hai. pahali niand b di gahari hoti hai. bedh dak sota hoga.’’ gumanasianh bole-‘‘achchhi bat hai, dekho, bhujali ki dhar. ek hath mean kam tamam ho jayega.’’

dooji ko aisa jnat hua mano kisi ne paha d par se dhakel diya. sari batean usaki samajh mean a gayian. vah bhay ki dasha mean ghar se nikali aur lalanasianh ke chaupal ki or chali. kiantu vah aandheri rat prem ki ghati thi aur vah rasta prem ka kathin marg. vah is sunasan aandheri rat mean chaukanne netroan se idhar-udhar dekhati, vihvalata ki dasha mean shighratapoorvak chali jati thi. kiantu hay nirasha ! ek-ek pal use prem-bhavan se door liye jata tha. us aandheri bhayanak ratri mean bhatakati, n jane vah kahaan chali jati thi, kisase poochhe. lajjavash kisi se kuchh n poochh sakati thi. kahian choo diyoan ka jhanajhanana bhed n khol de. kya in abhage abhooshanoan ko aj hi jhanajhanana hai ? aant mean ek vriksh ke tale vah baith gayi. sab choo diyaan choor-choor kar dian, abhooshan utar kar aanchal mean baandh liye. kiantu hay ! yah choo diyaan suhag ki choo diyaan thian aur yah gahane suhag ke gahane the jo ek bar utar kar phir n pahane gaye.

usi vriksh ke niche payasvini nadi patthar ke tuk doan se takarati huee bahati thi. yahaan naukaoan ka nirvah dustar tha. dooji baithi huee sochati, kya mere jivan ki nadi mean prem ki nauka duahkh ki shilaoan se takkar kha kar doob jayegi !

3

pratahkal gramavasiyoan ne ashcharyapoorvak suna ki thakur lalanasianh ki kisi ne hatya kar dali. sare gaanv ke stri-purush, vriddh-yuva sahastroan ki sankhya mean chaupal ke samane jama ho gaye. striyaan panaghatoan ko jati huee ruk gayian. kisan hal-bail liye jyoan ke tyoan kh de rah gaye. kisi ki samajh mean n ata tha ki yah hatya kisane ki. kaisa milanasar, hansamukh, sajjan manushy tha ! unaka kaun aisa shatru tha. bechare ne kisi par ijafa lagan ya bedakhali ki nalish tak nahian ki. kisi ko do bat tak nahian kahi. donoan bhaiyoan ke netroan se aansoo ki dhara bahati thi. unaka ghar uj d gaya. sari ashaoan par tusharapat ho gaya. gumanasianh ne rokar kaha-ham tin bhaee the, ab do hi rah gaye. hamase to daant-kati roti thi. sath uthana, hansi-dillagi, bhojan-chhajan ek ho gaya tha. hatyare se itana bhi nahian dekha gaya. hay ! ab hamako kaun sahara dega ?

shanasianh ne aansoo poanchhate hue kaha-ham donoan bhaee kapas nirane ja rahe the. lalanasianh se kee din se bheant nahian huee thi. soche ki idhar se hote chalean, kiantu pichhava de ate hi seandh dikhayi p di. hathoan ke tote u d gaye. daravaze par jakar dekha to chaukidar-sipahi sab so rahe haian. unhean jaga kar lalanasianh ke kiva d khatakhatane lage. parantu bahut bal karane par bhi kiva d aandar se n khule to sanedh ke raste se jhaanka. ah ? kaleje mean tir lag gaya ! sansar aandhera dikhayi diya. pyare lalanasianh ka sir dh d se alag tha. rakt ki nadi bah rahi thi. shok ! bhaiya sada ke lie bichhu d gaye.

madhyahn kal tak isi prakar vilap hota raha. daravaze par mela laga hua tha. door-door se log is durghatana ka samachar pakar ikatthe hote jate the. sandhya hote-hote halake ke daroga sahab bhi chaukidar aur sipahiyoan ka ek jhuand liye a pahuanche. kadhahi chadh gayi. poo diyaan chhanane lagian. daroga ji ne jaanch karani shuroo ki. ghatanasthal dekha. chaukidaroan ka bayan hua. donoan bhaiyoan ke bayan likhe. as-pas ke pasi aur chamar pak de gaye aur un par mar p dane lagi. lalanasianh ki lash lekar thane par gaye. hatyare ka pata n chala. doosare din inspektar-pulis ka agaman hua. unhoanne bhi gaanv ka chakkar lagaya, chamaroan aur pasiyoan ki marammat huee. halua-mohan, gosht-poo di ke svad lekar sayankal ko unhoanne bhi apani rah li. kuchh pasiyoan par jo ki kee bar dake-chori mean pak de ja chuke the, sandeh hua. unaka chalan kiya. majistret ne gavahi pusht pakar aparadhiyoan ko seshan supurd kiya aur mukadame ki peshi hone lagi.

madhyahn ka samay tha. akash par megh chhaye hue the. kuchh booandean bhi p d rahi thian. seshan jaj kuanvar vinaykrishna baghel ke ijalas mean mukadama pesh tha. kuanvar sahab b de soch-vichar mean the ki kya karooan. abhiyuktoan ke viruddh sakshi nirbal thi. kiantu sarakari vakil, jo ek prasiddh nitijn the, najiroan par najir pesh karate jate the ki achanak dooji shvet sa di pahane, ghooanghat nikale hue nirbhay nyayalay mean a pahuanchi aur hath jo d kar boli-shrimanh ! maian shanasianh aur gumanasianh ki bahan hooan. is mamale mean jo kuchh janati hooan vah mujhase bhi sun liya jaye, isake bad sarakar jo phaisala chahean karean.

kuanvar sahab ne ashchary se dooji ki taraph drishti pheri. shanasianh aur gumanasianh ke sharir mean kato to rakt nahian. vakiloan ne ashchary ki drishti se usaki or dekhana shuroo kiya. dooji ke chehare par dridhata jhalak rahi thi. bhay ka leshamatr n tha. nadi aandhi ke pashchath sthir dasha mean thi. usane usi pravah mean kahana prarambh kiya-thakur lalanasianh ki hatya karane vale mere donoan bhaee haian.

kuanvar sahab ke netroan ke samane se parda hat gaya. sari kachahari dang ho gayi aur sab takataki baandhe dooji ki taraph dekhane lage.

dooji boli-yah vah bhujali hai, jo lalanasianh ki gardan par pheri gayi hai. abhi isaka khoon taja hai. maianne apani aankhoan se bhaiyoan ko ise patthar par rag date dekha, unaki batean sunian. maian usi samay ghar se bahar nikali ki lalanasianh ko savadhan kar dooan; kiantu mera bhagy khota tha; chaupal ka pata n laga. mere donoan bhaee samane kh de haian. vah mard haian, mere samane asaty kadapi n kaheange. inase poochh liya jay. aur sach poochhie to yah chhuri maianne chalayi hai. mere bhaiyoan ka aparadh nahian hai. yah sab mere bhagy ka khel hai. yah sab mere karan hua aur nyay ki talavar meri hi gardan par p dani chahie. maian hi aparadhini hooan aur hath jo d kar kahati hooan ki is bhujali se meri gardan kat li jay.

4

nyayalay mean ek stri ka ana bazar mean bhanamati ka ana hai. ab tak abhiyog niras aur aruchikar tha. dooji ke agaman ne usamean pran dal diye. nyayalay mean ek bhi d lag gayi. muvakkil aur vakil, amale aur dukanadar, asavadhani ki dasha mean idhar-udhar dau date hue chale ate the. pratyek purush usako dekhane ka ichchhuk tha. sahastroan netr usake mukh de ki taraph dekhate the aur vah jan-samooh mean shaanti ki moorti bani huee nishchal kh di thi.

is ghatana ki pratyek purush apani-apani samajh ke anusar alochana karata tha. vriddhajan kahate the-behaya hai, aisi l daki ka sir kat lena chahie. bhaiyoan ne vahi kiya, jo mardoan ka kam tha. is nirlajj ko to dekho ki apana parada dhaankane ke badale usaka danka baja rahi hai aur bhaiyoan ko bhi duboye deti hai. aankhoan ka pani gir gaya hai. aisi n hoti to yah din hi kyoan ata ?

magar navayuvakoan, svatantrata par jan nyochhavar kar denevale vakiloan aur amaloan mean usake sahas aur nirbhayata ki prashansa ho rahi thi. unaki samajh mean jab yahaan tak naubat a gayi thi to bhaiyoan ka dharm tha ki donoan ka byah kar dete.

kee vriddh vakiloan ki apane navayuvak mitroan se kuchh chhe dachha d ho gayi. ek phaishanebul bairistar sahab ne hans kar kaha-mitr, aur to jo kuchh hai so hai, yah stri sahastroan mean ek hai, rani maloom hoti hai. sarvasadharan ne inaka samarthan kiya. kuanvar vinaykrishna is samay kachahari se uthe the. bairistar sahab ki bat suni aur ghrina se muanh pher liya. vah soch rahe the ki jis stri ke krodh mean itani jvala hai, kya usaka prem bhi isi prakar jvalapoorn hoga.

5

doosare din phir das baje mukadama pesh hua. kamare mean til rakhane ki bhi jagah n thi. dooji kathaghare ke pas sir jhukaye kh di thi. donoan bhaee kee kaanstebaloan ke bich mean chupachap kh de the. kuanvar vinaykrishna ne unhean sanbodhit karake uchch svar se kaha-thakur shanasianh, gumanasianh ! tumhari bahin ne tumhare sambandh mean adalat mean jo kuchh bayan kiya hai, usaka tumhare pas kya uttar hai ?

shanasianh ne garvapoorn bhav se uttar diya-bahin ne jo kuchh bayan kiya hai vah sab saty hai. hamane apana aparadh isalie chhupaya tha ki ham badanami, beijjati se darate the. kiantu ab jab hamari badanami jo kuchh honi thi, ho chuki to hamako apani saphaee dene ki koee avashyakata nahian. aise jivan se ab mrityu hi uttam hai. lalanasianh se hamari hardik mitrata thi. apas mean koee vibhed n tha. ham use apana bhaee samajhate the, kiantu usane hamako dhokha diya. usane hamare kul mean kalank laga diya aur hamane usaka badala liya. usane chikani-chup di batoan dvara hamari ijjat leni chahi. kiantu ham apane kul ki maryada itani sasti nahian bech sakate the. striyaan hi kul-maryada ki sanpatti hoti haian. mard usake rakshak hote haian. jab is sanpatti par kapat ka hath uthe to mardoan ka dharm hai ki raksha karean. is pooanji ko adalat ka qanoon, paramatma ka bhay ya sadvichar nahian bacha sakata. hamako isake lie nyayalay se jo dand prapt ho, vah shirodhary hai.

jaj ne shanasianh ki bat suni. kachahari mean sannata chha gaya aur sannate ki dasha mean unhoanne apana phaisala sunaya. donoan bhaiyoan ko hatya ke aparadh mean 14 varsh kalepani ka dand mila.

sayankal ho gaya tha. donoan bhaee kaanstebaloan ke bich mean kachahari se bahar nikale. hathoan mean hathak diyaan thian, paanvoan mean be diyaan. hriday apaman se sankuchit aur sir lajja ke bojh se jhuke hue the. maloom hota tha mano sari prithvi ham par hans rahi hai.

dooji prithvi par baithi huee thi ki usane kaidiyoan ke ane ki ahat suni aur uth kh di huee. bhaiyoan ne bhi usaki or dekha . parantu hay ! unhean aisa jnat hua ki yah bhi hamare oopar hans rahi hai. ghrina se netr pher liye. dooji ne bhi unhean dekha; kiantu krodh aur ghrina se nahian, keval ek udasin bhav se. jin bhaiyoan ki god mean kheli aur jinake kandhoan par chadh kar balyavastha vyatit ki, jin bhaiyoan par sabakuchh nyochhavar karati thi, aj vahi donoan bhaee kalepani ko ja rahe haian jahaan se koee laut kar nahian ata aur usake rakt mean tanik bhi gati nahian hoti ! rudhir bhi dvesh se jal ki bhaanti jam jata hai. soory ki kiranean vrikshoan ki daliyoan se milian, phir j doan ko choomati huee chal dian. unake lie aandhakar god phailaye hue tha. kya is abhagini stri ke lie bhi sansar mean koee aisa ashray nahian tha.

akash ki lalima nilavaran ho gayi. taroan ke kanval khile. vayu ke lie pushp-shayya bichh gayi. os ke lie hari makhamal ka pharsh bichh gaya, kiantu abhagini dooji usi vriksh ke niche shithil baithi thi. usake lie sansar mean koee sthan n tha. ab tak jise vah apana ghar samajhati thi, usake daravaze usake lie band the. vahaan kya muanh le kar jati ? nadi ko apane udgam se chal kar athah samudr ke atirikt anyatra kahian thikana nahian hai.

dooji usi tarah nirasha ke samudr mean nimagn ho rahi thi, ki ek vriddh stri usake samane a kar kh di ho gayi. dooji chauank kar uth baithi. vriddh stri ne usaki or ashcharyanvit ho kar kaha-itani rat bit gayi, abhi tak tum yahian baithi ho ?

dooji ne chamakate hue taroan ki or dekh kar kaha-kahaan jaooan ? in shabdoan mean kaisa hriday-vidarak ashay chhipa hua tha ! kahaan jay ? sansar mean usake lie apaman ki gali ke siva aur koee sthan nahian tha.

budhiya ne premamay svar mean kaha-beti, bhagy mean jo kuchh likha hai, vah to ho kar hi rahega, kintu tum kab tak yahaan baithi rahogi ? maian din brahmani hooan. chalo mere ghar raho; jo kuchh bhiksha-bhavan maange milega, usi mean ham donoan nirvah kar leangi. n jane poorvajanm mean hamase-tumase kya sambandh tha. jab se tumhari dasha suni hai, bechain hooan. sare shahar mean aj ghar-ghar tumhari charcha ho rahi hai. koee kuchh kahata hai, koee kuchh. bas ab utho, yahaan sannate mean p de rahana achchha nahian. samay bura hai. mera ghar yahaan se tho di hi door par hai. narayan ka diya bahut kuchh hai. maian bhi akeli se dukeli ho jaooangi. bhagavanh kisi n kisi prakar din kat hi deange.

ek ghane, sunasan, bhayanak van mean bhataka hua manushy jidhar pagadandiyoan ka chihn pata hai, usi marg ko pak d leta hai. vah soch-vichar nahian karata ki marg mujhe kahaan le jayega. dooji is boodhiya ke sath chali. itani hi prasannata se vah kuean mean bhi kood p dati. vayu mean u danevali chi diya dane par giri. kya in danoan ke niche jal bichha hua tha ?

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dooji ko boodhi kailasi ke sath rahate hue ek mas bit gaya. kailasi dekhane mean din, kintu man ki dhani thi. usake pas santosh roopi dhan tha jo kisi ke samane hath nahian phailata. rivaan ke maharaja ke yahaan se kuchh sahayata milati thi. yahi usake jivan ka avalamb tha. vah sarvada dooji ko dhadhas deti rahati thi. jnat hota tha ki yah donoan maan-beti haian. ek or se poorn sahanubhooti aur dhadhas, doosari or se sachchi sevakaee aur vishvas.

kailasi kuchh hiandi janati thi. dooji ko ramayan aur sita-charitr sunati. dooji in kathaoan ko b de prem se sunati. ujjval vastr par rang bhali-bhaanti chadhata hai. jis din usane sita-vanavas ki katha suni, vah sare din roti rahi. soyi to sita ki moorti usake samane kh di thi. usake sharir par ujjval sa di thi, aankhoan aur aansoo ki ot mean pyar chhipa hua tha. dooji hath phailaye hue l dakoan ki bhaanti unaki taraph dau di. mata, mujhako bhi sath leti chalo. maian van mean tumhari seva karooangi. tumhare lie pushp-shayya bichhaooangi, tumako kamal ke thaloan mean phaloan ka bhojan karaooangi. tum vahaan akeli ek buddhe sadhu ke sath kaise rahogi ? maian tumhare chitt ko prasann rakhooangi. jis samay ham aur tum van mean kisi sagar ke kinare ghane vrikshoan ki chhaya mean baitheangi us samay maian vayu ki dhimi-dhimi laharoan ke sath gaooangi.

sita ne usako tiraskar se dekh kar kaha-too kalankini hai, maian tujhe sparsh nahian kar sakati. tapasya ki aanch mean apane ko pavitr kar.

dooji ki aankhean khul gayian. usane nishchay kiya, maian is kalank ko mitaooangi.

akash ke niche samudr mean taragan pani ke bulabuloan ki bhaanti mitate jate the. dooji ne un jhilamilate hue taroan ko dekha. maian bhi unhian taroan ki tarah sabake netroan mean chhip jaooangi. unhian bulabuloan ki bhaanti mit jaooangi.

vilasiyoan ki rat huee. sanyogi jage. chakkiyoan ne apane suhavane rag chhe de. kailasi snan karane chali. tab dooji uthi aur jangal ki or chal di. chi diya pankh-hin hone par bhi sunahare pianj de mean n rah saki.

prakash ki dhuandhali-si jhalak mean kitani asha, kitana bal, kitana ashvasan hai, yah us manushy se poochho jise aandhere ne ek ghane van mean gher liya hai. prakash ki vah prabha usake l dakh date hue pairoan ko shighragami bana deti hai, usake shithil sharir mean jan dal deti hai. jahaan ek-ek pag rakhana dustar tha, vahaan is jivan-prakash ko dekhate hue yah miloan aur kosoan tak prem ki umangoan se uchhalata hua chala jata hai.

parantu dooji ke lie asha ki yah prabha kahaan thi ? vah bhookhi-pyasi, unmad ki dasha mean chali jati thi.

shahar pichhe chhoota. bag aur khet aye. khetoan mean hariyali thi, vatikaoan mean vasant ki chhata. maidan aur parvat mile. maidanoan se baansuri ki surili tanean ati thian. parvatoan ke shikhar moroan ki jhanakar se gooanj rahe the.

din chadhane laga. soory usaki or ata hua dikhaee p da. kuchh kal tak usake sath raha. kadachith roothe ko manata tha. punah apani rah chala gaya. vasant rritu ki shital, mand, sugandhit vayu chalane lagi; khetoan ne kuhare ki chadarean odh lian. rat ho gayi aur dooji ek parvat ke kinare jha diyoan se ulajhati, chattanoan se takarati chali jati thi, mano kisi jhil ki mand-mand laharoan mean kinare par uge hue jhaoo ke paudhoan ka saya tharathara raha ho. is prakar ajnat ki khoj mean akeli nirbhay vah girati-p dati chali jati thi. yahaan tak ki bhookh-pyas aur adhik shram ke karan usaki shaktiyoan ne javab de diya. vah ek shila par baith gayi aur bhayabhit drishti se idhar-udhar dekhane lagi. dahine-bayean ghor aandhakar tha. uchch parvatashikhaoan par tare jagamaga rahe the. samane ek tila marg roke kh da tha aur samip hi kisi jaladhara se dabi huee sayan-sayan ki avaz sunayi deti thi.

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dooji thak kar choor ho gayi thi; par use niand n ayi. sardi se kaleja kaanp raha tha. vayu ke nirdayi jhoanke leshamatr bhi chain n lene dete the. kabhi-kabhi ek kshan ke lie aankhean jhapak jatian aur phir chauank p dati. ratri jyoan-tyoan vyatit huee. sabera hua. chattan se kuchh door ek ghana pakar ka vriksh tha, jisaki j dean sookhe pattharoan se chimat kar yoan ras khianchati thian jaise koee mahajan din asamiyoan ko baandh kar unase byaj ke rupaye vasool karata hai. is vriksh ke samane kee chhoti-chhoti chattanoan ne mil kar ek kothari ki akriti bana rakhi thi. dahini or lagabhag do sau gaj ki doori par niche ki or payasvini nadi chattanoan aur pashan-shilaoan se ulajhati, ghoomati-ghamati bah rahi thi, jaise koee dridhapratijn manushy badhaoan ka dhyan n kar apane isht-sadhan ke marg par badhata chala jata hai. nadi ke kinare sadhu-prakriti vakule chupachap maunavrat dharan kiye hue baithe the. santoshi jal-pakshi pani mean tair rahe the. lobhi titihariyaan nadi par mandarati thian aur rah-rah kar machhaliyoan ki khoj mean tootati thian. khila di maine niahshank apane paroan ko khujala-khujala snan kar rahe the. aur chatur kauve jhuand-ke-jhuand bhojan-sambandhi prashn ko hal kar rahe the. ek vriksh ke niche moroan ki sabha susajjit thi aur vrikshoan ki shakhaoan par kabootar anand kar rahe the. ek doosare vriksh par mahashay kag evan shrimanh pan. nilakanth ji ghor shastrarth mean pravritt the. mahashay kag ne chhe dane ke lie pandit ji ke nivasasthan ki or drishti dali thi. is par pandit ji itane krodhit hue ki mahashay kag ke pichhe p d gaye. mahashay kag apani svabhavik buddhimatta ko kam mean la kar sahaj hi mean bhag kh de hue. shrimanh pandit ji bura-bhala kahate hue kag ke pichhe p de. kisi bhaanti mahashay ji ki sarvajnata ne unaki jan bachayi.

tho di der mean jangali nilagayoan ka ek jhuand aya. kisi ne pani piya, kisi ne sooangh kar chho d diya. do-char yuvavastha ke matavale hiran apas mean siang milane lage. phir ek kala hiran abhiman-bhare netroan se dekhata aian d-aian d kar pag uthata kuchh mriganayaniyoan ko sath liye nadi ke kinare aya. bachche tho di door par khelate hue chale ate the. kuchh aur hat kar ek vriksh ke niche bandaroan ne apane dere dal rakhe the. bachche kri da karate the. purushoan mean chhe dachha d ho rahi thi. ramaniyaan sanand baithi huee ek-doosari ke baloan se juean nikalati thian aur unhean apane muanh mean rakhati jati thian. dooji ek chattan par arddhanidra ki dasha mean baithi huee yah drishy dekh rahi thi. gham ke karan nidra a gayi. netrapat band ho gaye.

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prakriti ki is rangabhoomi mean dooji ne apane chaudah varsh vyatit kiye. vah pratidin pratahkal isi nadi ke kinare shilaoan par baithi yahi drishy dekhati aur laharoan ki karunik dhvani sunati. usi nadi ki bhaanti usake man mean laharean uthatian, jo kabhi dhairy aur sahas ke kinaroan par chadh kar netroan dvara bah nikalatian. use maloom hota ki van ke vriksh tatha jiv-jantu sab meri or vyangyapoorn netroan se dekh rahe haian. nadi bhi use dekh kar krodh se muanh mean phen bhar leti. jab yahaan baithe-baithe usaka ji oob jata to vah parvat par chadh jati aur door tak dekhati. parvatoan ke bich mean kahian-kahian mitti ke gharauandoan ki bhaanti chhote-chhote makan dikhayi dete, kahian lahalahati huee hariyali. sara drishy ek navin vatika ki bhaanti manoram tha. usake dil mean ek tivr ichchha hoti ki u d kar un chotiyoan par ja pahuanchooan. nadi ke kinare ya pakar ki ghani chhaya mean baithi huee ghantoan socha karati. bachapan ke ve din yad a jate jab vah saheliyoan ke gale mean baanhean dal kar mahue chunane jaya karati thi. phir gu diyoan ke byah ka smaran ho jata. punah apani pyari matribhoomi ki panaghat aankhoan mean phir jati. aj bhi vahaan vahi bhi d hogi, vahi hasy, chahal-pahal. punah apana ghar dhyan mean ata aur vah gay smaran ati jo ki usako dekh kar huankarati huee apane prem ka parichay deti thi. munnoo smaran ho ata, jo usake pichhe-pichhe chhalaangean marata hua khetoan mean jaya karata, jo bartan dhote samay bar-bar bartanoan mean muanh dalata. tab lalanasianh netroan ke samane a kh de ho jate the. hoanthoan par vahi muskarahat, netr mean vahi chanchalata. tab vah uth kh di hoti aur apana man doosari or le jane ki cheshta karati.

din gujarate the, kiantu bahut dhire-dhire. vasant aya. selam ki lalima evan kachanar ki oodi pushpamala apani yauvan-chhata dikhalane lagi. makoy ke phal mahake. garami ka prarambh hua; pratahkal samir ke jhoanke, dopahar ki loo, jalati huee lapat. daliyaan phooloan se ladian. phir vah samay aya ki jab n din ko sukh tha aur n rat ko niand. din t dapata tha, rat jalati thi. nadiyaan badhikoan ke hridayoan ki bhaanti sookh gayian. van ke pashu madhyahn ki dhoop mean pyas ke karan jihva nikale pani ki khoj mean idhar-udhar dau date phirate the. jis prakar dvesh se bhare hue dil tanik-tanik-si batoan par jal uthate haian usi prakar garmi se jalate hue van-vriksh kabhi-kabhi vayu ke jhoankoan se paraspar rag d kha kar jal uthate haian. jvala ooanchi uthati thi, mano agnidev ne taraganoan par dhava mara hai. van mean ek bhagad d-si p d jati. phir aandhi aur toofan ke din aye. vayu ki devi garajati huee ati. prithvi aur akash tharra uthate, soory chhip jata, parvat bhi kaanp uthate. punah varsha rritu ka janm hua. varsha ki jh di lagi. van laharaye, nadiyoan ne punah-punah apane surile rag chhe de. parvatoan ke kaleje thande hue. maidan mean hariyali chhayi. saras ki dhvani parvatoan mean gooanjane lagi. ashadh mas mean balyavastha ka alh dapan tha. shravan mean yuvavastha ke pag badhe, phuharean p dane lagian. bhadoan kamaee ke din the, jisane jhiloan ke kosh bhar diye. parvatoan ko dhanadhy kar diya. aant mean budhapa aya. kas ke ujjval bal laharane lage. ja da a pahuancha.

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is prakar rritu parivartan hua. din aur mahine gujare. varsh aye aur gaye; kiantu dooji ne viandhyachal ke us kinare ko n chho da. garmiyoan ke bhayanak din aur varsha ki bhayavani ratean sab usi sthan par kat dian. kya bhojan karati thi, kya pahanati thi; isaki charcha vyarth hai. man par chahe jo bite kiantu bhookh aur rritu sanbandhi kasht ka nivaran karana hi p data hai. prakriti ki thal saji huee thi. kabhi banaberi aur shariphoan ke pakavan the, kabhi teandoo, kabhi makoy aur kabhi ram ka nam. vastroan ke lie chitrakoot ke mele mean sal mean keval ek bar jati, moroan ke par, hiranoan ke siang, van aushadhiyaan mahange damoan mean bikatian. kap da bhi aya, bartan bhi aye. yahaan tak ki dipak jaisi vilas-vastu bhi ekatr ho gayi. ek chhoti-si grihasthi jam gayi.

dooji ne nirasha ki dasha mean sansar se vimukh hokar jivan vyatit karana jitana sahaj samajha tha, usase kahian kathin maloom hua. atmanurag mean nimagn vairagi to van mean rah sakata hai, parantu ek stri jisaki avastha hansane-khelane mean vyatit huee ho, bina kisi nauka ke sahare virat sagar ko kis prakar par karane mean samarth ho sakati hai ? do varsh ke pashchath dooji ko ek-ek din vahaan varsh-sa pratit hone laga. kalakshep karana dustar ho gaya. ghar ki sudhi ek kshan bhi vismrit n hoti. kabhi-kabhi vah itani vyagr hoti ki kshanamatr ke lie apaman ka bhi bhay n rahata. vah dridh vichar karake un paha diyoan ke bich shighrata se pag badhati, ghar ki or chalati, mano koee aparadhi karagar se bhaga ja raha ho. kintu paha diyoan ki sima se bahar ate hi usake pag svayan ruk jate. vah age n badh sakati. tab vah thandi saans bhar kar ek shila par baith jati aur phoot-phoot kar roti. phir vah bhayanak ratri aur vahi saghan kuanj, vahi nadi ki bhayavani garaj aur shrigaloan ki vahi vikaral dhvani !

‘‘jyoan-jyoan bhijai kamari, tyoan-tyoan bhari hoy’’ bhagy ko dhikkarate-dhikkarate usane lalanasianh ko dhikkarana arambh kiya. ekatanvas ne usamean alochana aur vivechana ki shakti paida kar di. maian kyoan is van mean muanh chhipaye duahkh ke din vyatit kar rahi hooan ? yah usi nirdayi lalanasianh ki lagayi ag hai. kaise sukh se rahati thi. isi ne akar mere jhoanp de mean ag laga di. maian abodh aur anajan thi. usane jan-boojh kar mera jivan bhrasht kar dala. mujhe apane amod ka keval ek khilauna banaya tha. yadi use mujhase prem hota to kya vah mujhase vivah n kar leta ? vah bhi to chandel thakur tha. hay ! maian kaisi ajnan thi. apane pairoan mean ap kulha di mari. is prakar man se batean karate-karate lalanasianh ki moorti usake netroan ke sammukh a jati to vah ghrina se muanh pher leti. vah muskarahat jo usaka man har liya karati thi, vah premamay mridubhashan jo usaki nasoan mean sanasanahat paida kar deti thi, vah kri damay hav-bhav jin par matavali ho jati thi, ab use ek doosare hi roop mean drishtigochar hote. unamean ab prem ki jhalak n thi. ab vah kapat-prem aur kam-trishna ke gadhe rang mean range hue dikhayi dete the. vah prem ka kachcha gharauanda, jisamean vah gu diya ban baithi thi, vayu ke jhoanke mean sanbhala; kintu jal ke prabal pravah mean n sanbhal saka. ab vah abhagi gu diya nirdayi chattan par patak di gayi hai ki ro-rokar jivan ke din kate. un gu diyoan ki bhaanti jo gote-patte aur abhooshanoan se saji huee, makhamali pitare mean bhog-vilas karane ke pashchath nadi aur talab mean baha di jati haian, doobane ke lie tarangoan mean thape de khane ke lie.

lalanasianh ki taraph se phirate hi dooji ka man ek adhirata ke sath bhaiyoan ki or mu da. maian apane sath un becharoan ko vyarth le doobi. mere sir par us gh di n jane kaun-sa bhoot savar tha. un becharoan ne to jo kuchh kiya; meri hi maryada rakhane ke lie kiya. maian to unmatt ho rahi thi. samajhane-bujhane se kya kam chalata ! aur samajhana-bujhana to striyoan ka kam hai. mardoan ka samajhana to usi dhang ka hona chahie, aur hota hi hai. nahian maloom, un becharoan par kya biti ! kya maian unhean phir kabhi dekhooangi ? yah vicharate-vicharate bhaiyoan ki vah moorti usake netroan mean phir jati, jo usane aantim bar dekhi thi, ab vah us desh ko ja rahe the, jahaan se laut kar phir ana mano mrityu ke mukh se nikal ana hai-vah raktavarn netr, vah abhiman se bhari huee chal, vah phire hue netr jo ek bar usaki or uth gaye the. ah ! unamean krodh ya dvesh n tha, keval kshama thi. vah mujh par krodh kya karate ! phir adalat ke ijalas ka chitr netroan ke samane khianch jata. bhaiyoan ke vah tevar, unaki vah aankhean, jo kshanamatr ke lie krodhagni se phail gayi thian, phir unaki pyar ki batean, unaka prem smaran ata . punah ve din yad ate jab vah unaki god mean khelati thi, jab vah unaki uangali pak d kar khetoan ko jaya karati thi. hay ! kya vah din bhi ayeange ki maian unako punah dekhooangi.

ek din vah tha ki dooji apane bhaiyoan ke rakt ki pyasi thi; nidan ek din aya ki vah payasvini nadi ke tat par kank diyoan dvara dinoan ki ganana karati thi. ek kripan jis savadhani se rupayoan ko gin-gin kar ikattha karata hai, usi savadhani se dooji in kank diyoan ko gin-gin kar ikattha karati thi. nity sandhyakal vah is dher mean patthar ka ek tuk da aur rakh deti to use kshan-matr ke lie manasik sukh prapt hota. in kank diyoan ka dher ab usaka jivan-dhan tha. din mean anek bar in tuk doan ko dekhati aur ginati. asahay pakshi patthar ke dheroan se asha ke khoante banata tha.

yadi kisi ko chianta aur shok ki moorti dekhani ho to vah payasvini nadi ke tat par pratidin sayankal dekh p dati hai. doobe hue soory ki kiranoan ki bhaanti usaka mukhamandal pila hai. vah apane duahkhamay vicharoan mean doobi huee, tarangoan ki or drishti lagaye baithi rahati hai. yah tarangean itani shighrata se kahaan ja rahi haian ? mujhe bhi apane sath kyoan nahian le jatian ? kya mere lie vahaan bhi sthan nahian hai ? kadachith shok krandan mean yah bhi meri sangini haian. tarangoan ki or dekhate-dekhate use aisa jnat hota hai ki mano vah sthir ho gayian aur maian shighrata se bahi ja rahi hooan. tab vah chauank p dati hai aur aandheri shilaoan ke bich marg khojati huee phir apane shok-sthal par a jati hai.

isi prakar dooji ne apane duahkh ke din vyatit kiye. tis-tis dheloan ke barah dher ban gaye; tab usane unhean ek sthan par ikattha kar diya. vah asha ka mandir usi hardik anurag se banata raha jo kisi bhakt ko apane ishtadev ke sath hota hai. ratri ke barah ghante bit gaye. poorv ki or pratahkal ka prakash dikhayi dene laga. milap ka samay nikat aya. ichchha-roopi agni ki lapat badhi. dooji un dheroan ko bar-bar ginati, mahinoan ke dinoan ki ganana karati. kadachith ek din bhi kam ho jay. hay ! ajakal usake man ki vah dasha thi jo pratahkal soory ke sunahare prakash mean halakorean lenevale sagar ki hoti hai, jisamean vayu ki tarangoan se muskarata hua kamal jhoolata hai.

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aj dooji in parvatoan aur vanoan se vida hoti hai. vah din bhi a pahuancha jisaki rah dekhate-dekhate ek poora yug bit gaya. aj chaudah varsh ke pashchath usaki pyasi palakean nadi mean lahara rahi haian. baragad ki jataean nagin ban gayi haian.

us sunasan van se usaka chitt kitana duahkhit tha. kintu aj usase prithakh hote hue dooji ke netr bhar-bhar ate haian. jis pakar ki chhaya mean usane duahkh ke din bitaye, jis gupha mean usane ro-ro kar ratean katian, use chho date aj shok ho raha hai. yah duahkh ke sathi haian.

soory ki kiranean dooji ki ashaoan ki bhaanti kuhare ki ghataoan ko hatati chali ati thian. usane apane duahkh ke mitroan ko ab poorn netroan se dekha. punah dheroan ke pas gayi, jo usake chaudah varsh ki tapasya ke smarak chihn the. unhean ek-ek kar chooma, mano vah devi ji ke chabootare haian, tab vah roti huee chali jaise l dakiyaan sasural ko chalati haian.

sandhya samay usane shahar mean pravesh kiya aur pata lagate hue kailasi ke ghar ayi. ghar soona p da tha. tab vah vinaykrishna baghel ka ghar poochhate-poochhate unake bangale par ayi. kuanvar mahashay tahal kar aye hi the ki use kh di dekha. pas aye. usake mukh par ghooanghat tha. dooji ne kaha-maharaj, maian ek anath dukhiya hooan.

kuanvar sahab ne ashchary se poochha-tum dooji ho ! tum itane dinoan tak kahaan rahian.

kuanvar sahab ke prem-bhav ne ghooanghat aur badha diya. inhean mera nam smaran hai, yah soch kar dooji ka kaleja dh dakane laga. lajja se sir niche jhuk gaya. lajati huee boli-jisaka koee hitoo nahian hai usaka van ke siva anyatra kahaan thikana hai. maian bhi vanoan mean rahi. payasvini nadi ke kinare ek gupha mean p di rahi.

kuanvar sahab vismit ho gaye. chaudah varsh aur nadi ke kinare gupha mean. kya koee sannyasi isase adhik tyag kar sakata hai. vah ashchary se kuchh n bol sake.

dooji unhean chupachap dekh kar boli-maian kailasi ke ghar se sidhe parvat mean chali gayi aur vahian itane din vyatit kiye. chaudah varsh poore ho gaye. jin bhaiyoan ki garadan par chhuri chalayi unake chhootane ke din ab aye haian. narayan unhean ab kushalapoorvak lavean. maian chahati hooan ki unake darshan karooan aur unaki or se mere dil mean jo ichchhaean haian poorn ho jayan.

kuanvar sahab bole-tumhara hisab bahut thik hai. mere pas aj kalakatte se sarakari patr aya hai ki donoan bhaee chaudah tarikh ko kalakatta pahuancheange, unake sambandhiyoan ko soochana di jay. yahaan kadachith do-tin din mean a jayeange. maian soch hi raha tha ki soochana kise dooan.

dooji ne vinayapoorvak kaha-mera ji chahata hai ki ve jahaz par se utarean to maian unake pairoan par matha navaooan, usake pashchath mujhe sansar mean koee abhilasha n rahegi. isi lalasa ne mujhe itane dinoan tak jilaya hai. nahian to maian apake sammukh kadapi n kh di hoti.

kuanvar vinaykrishna gambhir svabhav ke manushy the. dooji ke aantarik rahasy unake chitt par ek gahara prabhav dalate jate the. jab sari adalat dooji par hansati thi tab unhean usake sath sahanubhooti thi aur aj isake vrittaant sun kar ve is gramin stri ke bhakt ho gaye. bole-yadi tumhari yahi ichchha hai to maian svayan tumhean kalakatta pahuancha dooanga. tumane unase milane ki jo riti sochi hai usase uttam dhyan mean nahian a sakati; parantu tum kh di ho aur maian baitha hooan, yah achchha nahian lagata dooji, maian banavat nahian karata; jisamean itana tyag aur sankalp ho vah yadi purush hai to devata hai, stri hai to devi hai. jab maianne tumhean pahale dekha usi samay maianne samajh liya tha ki tum sadharan stri nahian ho. jab tum kailasi ke ghar se chali gayian to sab log kahate the ki tum jan par khel gayian. parantu mera man kahata tha ki tum jivit ho. netroan se prithakh ho kar bhi tum mere dhyan se bahar n ho sakian. maianne varshoan tumhari khoj ki, magar tum aisi khoh mean ja chhipi thian ki tumhara kuchh pata n chala.

in batoan mean kitana anurag tha ! dooji ko romaanch ho gaya. hriday balliyoan uchhalane laga. us samay usaka man chahata tha ki inake pairoan par sir rakh dooan. kailasi ne ek bar jo bat usase kahi thi, vah bat use is samay smaran ayi. usane bholepan se poochha-kya ap hi ke kahane se kailasi ne mujhe apane ghar mean rakh liya tha ?

kuanvar sahab lajjit ho kar bole-maian isaka uttar kuchh n dooanga.

rat ko jab dooji ek brahmani ke ghar mean narm bichhavan par leti huee thi to usake man ki vah dasha ho rahi thi jo ashvin mas ke akash ki hoti hai. ek or chandr prakash, doosari or ghani ghata aur tisari or jhilamilate hue tare.

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pratahkal ka samay tha. ganga namak stimar bangal ki kha di mean abhiman se gardan uthaye, samudr ki laharoan ko pairoan se kuchalata hugali ke bandaragah ki or chala ata tha. dedh sahò se adhik adami usaki god mean the. adhikatar vyapari the. kuchh vaijnanik tattvoan ke anuragi, kuchh bhraman karane vale aur kuchh aise hiandustani mazadoor jinako apani matribhoomi akarshit kar rahi thi. usi mean donoan bhaee shanasianh aur gumanasianh ek kone mean baithe nirasha ki drishti se kinare ki or dekh rahe the. donoan haddiyoan ke do dhaanche the, unhean pahachanana kathin tha.

jahaz ghat par pahuancha. yatriyoan ke mitr aur parichit jan kinare par svagat karane ke lie adhir ho rahe the. jahaz par se utarate hi prem ki badh a gayi. mitragan paraspar hath milate the. unake netr premashru se paripoorn the. yah donoan bhaee shanaiah-shanaiah jahaz se utare. mano kisi ne dhakel kar utar diya. unake lie jahaz ke takhte aur matribhoomi mean koee aantar n tha. ve aye nahian, balki laye gaye. chirakal ke kasht aur shok ne jivan ka jnan bhi shesh n chho da tha. sahas leshamatr bhi n tha. ichchhaoan ka aant ho chuka tha. vah tat par kh de vismit drishti se samane dekhate the. kahaan jayan ? unake lie is sansar-kshetr mean koee sthan n dikhayi deta tha.

tab dooji us bhi d mean se nikal kar ati dikhayi di. usane bhaiyoan ko kh de dekha. tab jis bhaanti jal khal ki or girata hai, usi prakar adhirata ki umang mean roti huee vah unake charanoan mean chipat gayi. dahine hath mean shanasianh ke charan the, bayean hath mean gumanasianh ke, aur netroan se ashrudharaean pravahit thian; mano do sookhe vrikshoan ki j doan mean ek murajhayi bel chimati huee hai ya do sannyasi maya aur moh ki be di mean bandhe kh de haian. bhaiyoan ke netroan se bhi aansoo bahane lage. unake mukhamandal badaloan mean se nikalane vale taroan ki bhaanti prakashit ho gaye. vah donoan prithvi par baith gaye aur tinoan bhaee-bahan paraspar gale mil kar bilakh-bilakh roye. vah gahari kha di jo bhaiyoan aur bahan ke bich mean thi, ashrudharaoan se paripoorn ho gayi. aj chaudah varsh ke pashchath bhaee aur bahan mean milap hua aur vah ghav jisane maans ko maans se, rakt ko rakt se, vilag kar diya tha, paripoorn ho gaya aur vah us maraham ka kam tha jisase adhik labhakari aur koee maraham nahian hota, jo man ke mail ko saf karata hai, jo duahkh ko bhulanevala aur hriday ki dah ko shaant karane vala hai, jo vyang vishaile ghavoan ko bhar deta hai. yah kal ka maraham hai.

doanno bhaee ghar ko laute. pattidaroan ke svapn bhang ho gaye. hit-mitr ikatthe hue. brahmabhoj ka din nishchit hua. poo diyaan pakane lagian, ghi ki sarvashreshth brahmanoan ke lie, tel ki pasi-chamaroan ke lie. kalepani ka pap is ghi ke sath bhasm ho gaya.

dooji bhi kalakatte se bhaiyoan ke sath chali; prayag tak ayi. kuanvar vinaykrishna bhi unake sath the. bhaiyoan se kuanvar sahab ne dooji ke sambandh mean kuchh batean kian; unaki bhanak dooji ke kanoan mean p di. prayag mean donoan bhaee-bahan ruk gaye ki triveni mean snan karate chalean. kuanvar vinaykrishna apane dhyan mean sab thik karake man prasann karane vali ashaoan ka svapn dekhate hue chale gaye, kiantu phir vahaan se dooji ka pata n chala. maloom nahian kya huee, kahaan chali gayi. kadachith ganga ji ne use apani god mean lekar sada ke duahkh se mukt kar diya. bhaee bahut roye-pite kintu kya karate. jis sthan par dooji ne apane vanavas ke chaudah varsh vyatit kiye the vahaan donoan bhaee prativarsh jate haian aur un pattharoan ke dheroan se chimat-chimat kar rote haian.

kuanvar sahab ne bhi peanshan le li. ab chitrakoot mean rahate haian. darshanik vicharoan ke purush the, jis prem ki khoj thi vah n mila. ek bar kuchh asha dikhayi di thi, jo chaudah varsh ek vichar ke roop mean sthit rahi. ekaek asha ki dhuandhali jhalak bhi ek bar jhilamilate hue dipak ki bhaanti hans kar sada ke lie adrishy ho gayi.