सौत -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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jab rajiya ke do-tin bachche hokar mar gaye aur umr dhal chali, to ramoo ka prem usase kuchh kam hone laga aur doosare vyah ki dhun savar huee. aye din rajiya se bakajhak hone lagi. ramoo ek-n-ek bahana khojakar rajiya par big data aur use marata. aur ant ko vah nee stri le hi aya. isaka nam tha dasi. champee rang tha, b di-badi aankhean, javani ki umr. pili, kuanshagi rajiya bhala is navayauvana ke samane kya jaanchati! phir bhi vah jate hue svamitv ko, jitane din ho sake apane adhikar mean rakhana chahati thi. tigarate hue chhappar ko thooniyoan se samhalane ki cheshta kar rahi thi. is ghar ko usane mar-marakar banaya hai. use sahaj hi mean nahian chho d sakati. vah itani besamajh nahian hai ki ghar chho dakar chi jay aur dasi raj kare.

ek din rajiya ne ramoo se kaha—mere pas sa di nahian hai, jakar la do.

ramu usake ek din pahale dasi ke lie achchhi-si chuandari laya tha. rajiya ki maang sunakar bola—mere pas abhi rupaya nahian tha.

rajiya ko sa di ki utani chah n thi jitani ramoo aur dasiya ke anand mean vighn dalane ki. boli—rupaye nahian the, to kal apani chaheti ke lie chuandari kyoan laye? chuandari ke badale usi dam mean do sa diyaan late, to ek mere kam n a jati?

ramoo ne svechchha bhav se kaha—meri ichda, jo chahooanga, karooanga, too bolane vali kaun hai? abhi usake khane-khelane ke din hai. too chahati haian, use abhi se non-tel ki chinta mean dal dooan. yah mujhase n hoga. tujhe odhane-pahanane ki sadh hai to kam kar, bhagavan ne kya hath-pair nahian diye. pahale to gh di rat uthakar kam dhanghe mean lag jati thi. ab usaki dah mean pahar din tak p di rahati hai. to rupaye kya akash se gireange? maian tere lie apani jan tho de hi de dooanga.

rajiya ne kaha—to kya maian usaki lauandi hooan ki vah rani ki tarah p di rahe aur maian ghar ka sara kam karati rahooan? itane dinoan chhati pha dakar kam kiya, usaka yah phal mila, to ab meri bala kam karane ati hai.

‘maian jaise rakhooanga, vaise hi tujhe rahana p dega.’

‘meri ichchha hogi rahooangi, nahian alag ho jaooangi.’

‘jo teri ichachha ho, kar, mera gala chho d.’

‘achchhi bat hai. aj se tera gala chho dati hooan. samajh looangi vidhava ho gee.’

2

ramu dil mean itana to samajhata tha ki yah grihasthi rajiya ki jo di huee haian, chahe usake roop mean usake lochan-vilas ke lie akarshan n ho. sambhav tha, kuchh der ke bad vah jakar rajiya ko mana leta, par dasi bhi kootaniti mean kushal thi. usane gamr lohe par chotean jamana shooroo kian. boli—aj devi ki kis bat par big d rahi thi?

ramu ne udas man se kaha—teri chuandari ke pichhe rajiya mahabharat machaye hue hai. ab kahati hai, alag rahooangi. maianne kah diya, teri jare ichchha ho kar.

dasiya ne aaukhean matakakar kaha—yah sab nakhare hai ki akar hath-paanv jo de, manavan karean, aur kuchh nahian. tum chupachap baithe raho. do-char din mean ap hi garami utar jayegi. tum kuchh bolana nahian, usaka mizaj aur asaman par chadh jayaga.

ramoo ne gambhir bhav se kaha—dasi, tum janati ho, vah kitani ghamandin hai. vah muanh se jo bat kahati hai, use karake chho dati hai.

rajiya ko bhi ramoo se aisi kritadhnata ki asha n thi. vah jab pahale ki-si sundar nahian, isalie ramoo ko ab usase prem nahian hai. purush charitr mean yah koee asadharan bat n thi, lekin ramoo usase alag rahega, isaka use vishvas an ata tha. yah ghar usi ne paisa-paisa jo dekar banavaya. grihasthi bhi usi ki jo di huee hai. anaj ka len-den usi ne shuroo kiya. is ghar mean akar usane kaun-kaun se kasht nahian jhele, isilie to ki paurookh thak jane par ek tuk da chain se khayagi aur p di rahegi, aur aj vah itani nirdayata se doodh ki makkhi ki tarah nikalakar pheank di gee! ramoo ne itana bhi nahian kaha—too alag nahian rahane payegi. maian ya khud mar jaooanga ya tujhe mar dalooanga, par tujhe alag n hone dooanga. tujhase mera byah hua hai. hansi-thattha nahian hai. to jab ramoo ko usaki paravah nahian hai, to vah ramoo ko kyoan paravah kare. kya sabhi striyoan ke purush baithe hote haian. sabhi ke maan-bap, bete-pote hote haian. aj usake l dake jite hote, to majal thi ki yah nee stri late, aur meri yah durgati karate? is nidee ko mere oopar itani bhi daya n aee?

nari-hriday ki sari paravashata is atyachar se vidroh karane lagi. vahi ag jo moti lak di ko sparsh bhi nahian kar sakati, phoos ko jalakar bhasm kar deti hai.

3

doosare din rajiya ek doosare gaanv mean chali gee. usane apane sath kuchh n liya. jo sa di usaki deh par thi, vahi usaki sari sampatti thi. vidhata ne usake balakoan ko pahale hi chhin liya tha! aj ghar bhi chhin liya!

ramoo us samay dasi ke sath baitha hua amod-vinod kar raha tha. rajiya ko jate dekhakar shayad vah samajh n saka ki vah chali ja rahi hai. rajiya ne yahi samajha. is tarah toroan ki bhaanti vah jana bhi n chahati thi. vah dasi ko usake pati ko aur sare gaanv ko dikha dena chahati thi ki vah is ghar se dhele ki bhi chiz nahian le ja rahi hai. gaanv valoan ki drishti mean ramoo ka apaman karana hi usaka lakshy tha. usake chupachap chale jane se to kuchh bhi n hoga. ramoo ulata sabase kahega, rajiya ghar ki sari sampada utha le gee.

usane ramoo ko pukarakar kaha—samhalo apana ghar. maian jati hooan. tumhare ghar ki koee bhi chiz apane sath nahian le jati.

ramoo ek kshan ke lie kartavy-bhrasht ho gaya. kya kahe, usaki samajh mean nahian aya. use asha n thi ki vah yoan jayagi. usane socha tha, jab vah ghar dhokar le jane lagegi, tab vah gaanv valoan ko dikhakar unaki sahanubhooti prapt karega. ab kya kare.

dasiya boli—jakar gaanv mean dhiandhora pit ao. yahaan kisi ka dar nahian hai. tu apane ghar se le hi kya aee thian, jo kuchh lekar jaogi.

rajiya ne usake muanh n lagakar ramoo hi se kaha—sanute ho, apani chaheti ki batean. phir bhi muanh nahian khulata. maian to jati hooan, lekin dasso rani, tum bhi bahut din raj n karogi. eeshvar ke daravar mean anyay nahian phalata. vah b de-b de ghamandiyoan ko ghamand choor kar dete haian.

dasiya thattha marakar hansi, par ramoo ne sir jhuka liya. rajiya chali gee.

4

rajiya jis naye gaanv mean aee thi, vah ramoo ke gaanv se mila hi hua tha, atev yahaan ke log usase parichit haian. vah kaisi kushal grihini hai, kaisi mehanati, kaisi bat ki sachchi, yah yahaan kisi se chhipa n tha. rajiya ko majoori milane mean koee badha n huee. jo ek lekar do ka kam kare, use kam ki kya kami?

tin sal ek rajiya ne kaise kate, kaise ek nee grihasthi banaee, kaise kheti shuroo ki, isaka bayan karane baithean, to pothi ho jay. sanchay ke jitane mantr haian, jitane sadhan haian, ve rajiya ko khoob maloom the. phir ab use lag ho gee thi aur lag mean adami ki shakti ka varapar nahian rahata. gaanv vale usaka parishram dekhakar daantoan uangali dabate the. vah ramoo ko dikha dena chahati hai—maian tumase alag hokar bhi aram se rah sakati hooan. vah ab paradhin nari nahian hai. apani kamaee khati hai.

rajiya ke pas bailoan ki ek achchhi jo di hai. rajiya unhean keval khali-bhoosi dekar nahian rah jati, roj do-do rotiyaan bhi khilati hai. phir unhean ghantoan sahalati. kabhi-kabhi unake kandhoan par sir rakhakar roti hai aur kahati hai, ab bete ho to, pati ho to tumhian ho. meri jal ab tumhare hi sath hai. donoan bail shayad rajiya ki bhasha aur bhav samajhate haian. ve manushy nahian, bail haian. donoan sir nicha karake rajiya ka hath chatakar use ashvasan dete haian. ve use dekhate hi kitane prem se usaki or takate lagate haian, kitane harsh se kandha jhulakar par juva rakhavate haian aur kaisa ji to d kam karate haian, yah ve log samajh sakate haian, jinhoanne bailoan ki seva ki hai aur unake hriday ko apanaya hai.

rajiya is gaanv ki chaudharain hai. usaki buddhi jo pahile nity adhar khojati rahati thi aur svachchhand roop se apana vikas n kar sakati thi, ab chhaya se nikalakar praudh aur unnat ho gee hai.

ek din rajiya ghar lauti, to ek adami ne kaha—tumane nahian suna, chaudharain, ramoo to bahut bimar hai. suna das langhan ho gaye haian.

rajiya ne udasinata se kaha—joo di hai kya?

‘joo di, nahian, koee doosara rog hai. bahar khat par p da tha. maianne poochha, kaisa ji hai ramoo? to rone laga. bura hal hai. ghar mean ek paisa bhi nahian ki davadaroo karean. dasiya ke ek l daka hua hai. vah to pahale bhi kam-dhandha n karati thi aur ab to l dakori hai, kaise kam karane ay. sari mar ramoo ke sir jati hai. phir gahane chahie, nee dulahin yoan kaise rahe.’

rajiya ne ghar mean jate hue kaha—jo jaisa karega, ap bhogega.

lekin andar usaka ji n laga. vah ek kshan mean phir bahar aee. shayad us adami se kuchh poochhana chahati thi aur is andaj se poochhana chahati thi, mano use kuchhad paravah nahian hai.

par vah adami chala gaya tha. rajiya ne poorav-pachchhim ja-jakar dekha. vah kahian n mila. tab rajiya dvar ke chaukhat par baith gee. ise ve shabd yad aye, jo usane tin sal pahale ramoo ke ghar se chalate samay kahe the. us vakt jalan mean usane vah shap diya tha. ab vah jalan n thi. samay ne use bahut kuchh shant kar diya tha. ramoo aur dasi ki hinavastha ab eershya ke yogy nahian, daya ke yogy thi.

usane socha, ramoo ko das langhan ho gaye haian, to avashy hi usaki dasha achchhi n hogi. kuchh aisa mota-taja to pahale bhi n tha, das langhan ne to bilkul hi ghula dala hoga. phir idhar kheti-bari mean bhi tota hi raha. khane-pine ko bhi thik-thik n mila hoga...

p dosi ki ek stri ne ag lene ke bahane akar poochha—suna, ramoo bahut bimar haian jo jaisi karega, vaisa payega. tumhean itani bedardi se nikala ki koee apane bairi ko bhi n nikalega.

rajiya ne toka—nahian didi, aisi bat n thi. ve to bechare kuchh bole hi nahian. maian chali to sir jhuka liya. dasiya ke kahane mean akar vah chahe jo kuchh kar baithe hoan, yoan mujhe kabhi kuchh nahian kaha. kisi ki buraee kyoan karooan. phir kaun mard aisa hai jo aurajoan ke bas nahian ho jata. dasiya ke karan unaki yah dasha huee hai.

p dosin ne ag n maang, muanh pherakar chali gee.

rajiya ne kalasa aur rassi uthaee aur kuean par pani khianchane gee. bailoan ko sani-pani dene ki bela a gee thi, par usaki aankhean us raste ki or lagi huee thian, jo malasi (ramoo ka gaanv) ko jata tha. koee use bulane avashy a raha hoga. nahian, bina bulaye vah kaise ja sakati hai. log kaheange, akhir dau di aee n!

magar ramoo to achet p da hoga. das langhan tho de nahian hote. usaki deh mean tha hi kya. phir use kaun bulayega? dasiya ko kya garaj p di hai. koee doosara ghar kar legi. javan hai. sau gahak nikal aveange. achchha vah a to raha hai. haan, a raha hai. kuchh ghabaraya-sa jan p data hai. kaun adami hai, ise to kabhi malasi mean nahian dekha, magar us vakt se malasi kabhi gee bhi to nahian. do-char naye adami akar base hi hoange.

batohi chupachap kue ke pas se nikala. rajiya ne kalasa jagat par rakh diya aur usake pas jakar boli—ramoo mahato ne bheja hai tumhean? achchha to chalo ghar, maian tumhare sath chalati hooan. nahian, abhi mujhe kuchh der hai, bailoan ko sani-pani dena hai, diya-batti karani hai. tumhean rupaye de dooan, jakar dasiya ko de dena. kah dena, koee kam ho to bula bhejean.

batohi ramoo ko kya jane. kisi doosare gaanv ka rahane vala tha. pahale to chakaraya, phir samajh gaya. chupake se rajiya ke sath chala gaya aur rupaye lekar lamba hua. chalate-chalate rajiya ne poochha—ab kya hal hai unaka?

batohi ne atakal se kaha—ab to kuchh samhal rahe haian.

‘dasiya bahut ro-dho to nahian rahi hai?’

‘roti to nahian thi.’

‘vah kyoan royegi. maloom hoga pichhe.’

batohi chala gaya, to rajiya ne bailoan ko sani-pani kiya, par man ramoo hi ki or laga hua tha. sneh-smritiyaan chhoti-chhoti tarikaoan ki bhaanti man mean udit hoti jati thian. ek bar jab vah bimar p di thi, vah bat yad aee. das sal ho ge. vah kaise rat-din usake sirahane baitha rahata tha. khana-pina tak bhool gaya tha. usake man mean aya kyoan n chalakar dekh hi ave. koee kya kahega? kisaka muanh hai jo kuchh kahe. chori karane nahian ja rahi hooan. us adami ke pas ja rahi hooan, jisake sath pandrah-bis sal hi hooan. dasiya nak siko degi. mujhe usase kya matalab.

rajiya ne kiva d band kie, ghar majoor ko saheja, aur ramoo ko dekhane chali, kaanpati, jhijhakati, kshama ka dan liye hue.

5

ramoo ko tho de hi dinoan mean maloom ho gaya tha ki usake ghar ki atma nikal gee, aur vah chahe kitana zor kare, kitana hi sir khapaye, usamean sphoorti nahian ati. dasi sundari thi, shaukin thi aur phooh d thi. jab pahala nasha utara, to thaany-thayan shuroo huee. kheti ki upaj kam hone lagi, aur jo hoti bhi thi, vah ootapataang kharch hoti thi. rrin lena p data tha. isi chinta aur shok mean usaka svasthy big dane laga. shuroo mean kuchh paravah n ki. paravah karake hi kya karata. ghar mean paise n the. ataiyoan ki chikitsa ne bimari ki j d aur mazaboot kar di aur aj das-barah din se usaka dana-pani chhoot gaya tha. maut ke intajar mean khat par p da karah raha tha. aur ab vah dasha ho gee thi jab ham bhavishy se nishchint hokar atit mean vishram karate haian, jaise koee ga did age ka rasta band pakar pichhe laute. rajiya ko yad karake vah bar-bar rota aur dasi ko kosata—tere hi karan maianne use ghar se nikala. vah kya gee, lakshmi chali gee. maian janata hooan, ab bhi bulaooan to dau di ayegi, lekin bulaooan kis muanh se! ek bar vah a jati aur usase apane aparadh kshama kara leti, phir maian khushi se marata. aur lalasa nahian hai.

sahasa rajiya ne akar usake mathe par hath rakhate hue poochha—kaisa ji hai tumhara? mujh to aj hal mila.

ramoo ne sajal netroan se use dekha, par kuchh kah n saka. donoan hath jo dakar use pranam kiya, par hath ju de hi rah gaye, aur aankh ulat gee.

6

lash ghar mean p di thi. rajiya roti thi, dasiya chintit thi. ghar mean rupaye ka nam nahian. lak di to chahie hi, uthane vale bhi jalapan kareange hi, kafan ke bagair lash uthegi kaise. das se kam ka kharch n tha. yahaan

ghar mean das paise bhi nahian. dar rahi thi ki aj gahan aphat aee. aisi kimati bhari gahane hi kaun the. kisan ki bisat hi kya, do-tin nag bechane se das mil jaeange. magar aur ho hi kya sakata hai. usane chodhari ke l dake ko bulakar kaha—devar ji, yah be da kaise par lage! gaanv mean koee dhele ka bhi vishvas karane vala nahian. mere gahane haian. chaudhari se kaho, inhean giroan rakhakar aj ka kam chalaean, phir bhagavanh malik hai.

‘rajiya se kyoan nahian maang leti.’

sahasa rajiya aankhean poanchhati huee a nikali. kan mean bhanak p di. poochha—kya hai jokhooan, kya salah kar rahe ho? ab mitti uthaoge ki salah ki bela hai?

‘haan, usi ka saranjam kar raha hooan.’

‘rupaye-paise to yahaan hoange nahian. bimari mean kharach ho ge hoange. is bechari ko to bich manjhadhar mean lakar chho d diya. tum lapak kar us ghar chale jao bhaiya! kaun door hai, kuanji lete jao. manjoor se kahana, bhandar se pachas rupaye nikal de. kahana, oopar ki patari par rakhe haian.’

vah to kuanji lekar udhar gaya, idhar dasiya rajo ke pair pak d kar rone lagi. bahanape ke ye shabd usake hriday mean paith ge. usane dekha, rajiya mean kitani daya, kitani kshama hai.

rajiya ne use chhati se lagakar kaha—kyoan roti hai bahan? vah chala gaya. maian to hooan. kisi bat ki chinta n kar. isi ghar mean ham aur tum donoan usake nam par baitheangi. maian vahaan bhi dekhooangi yahaan bhi dekhooangi. dhap-bhar ki bat hi kya? koee tumase gahane-pate maange to mat dena.

dasiya ka ji hota tha ki sir patak kar mar jay. ise usane kitana jalaya, kitana rulaya aur ghar se nikal kar chhoda.

rajiya ne poochha—jis-jis ke rupaye hoan, soorat karake mujhe bata dena. maian jhag da nahian rakhana chahati. bachcha dubala kyoan ho raha hai?

dasiya boli—mere doodh hota hi nahian. gay jo tum chho d gee thian, vah mar gee. doodh nahian pata.

‘ram-ram! bechara murajha gaya. maian kal hi gay laooangi. sabhi grihasthi utha laooangi. vahaan kaya rakkha hai.’

lash se uthi. rajiya usake sath gee. dahakarm kiya. bhoj hua. koee do sau rupaye kharch ho ge. kisi se maangane n p de.

dasiya ke jauhar bhi is tyag ki aanch mean nikal aye. vilasini seva ki moorti ban gee.

7

aj ramoo ko mare sat sal hue haian. rajiya ghar sambhale hue hai. dasiya ko vah saut nahian, beti samajhati hai. pahale use pahanakar tab ap pahanati haian use khilakar ap khati hai. jokhooan padhane jata hai. usaki sagaee ki batachit pakki ho gee. is jati mean bachapan mean hi byah ho jata hai. dasiya ne kaha—bahan gahane banava kar kya karogi. mere gahane to dhare hi haian.

rajiya ne kaha—nahian ri, usake lie naye gahane banavaooangi. ubhi to mera hath chalata haian jab thak jaooan, to jo chahe karana. tere abhi pahanane-odhane ke din haian, too apane gahane rahane de.

nain thakurasohati karake boli—aj jokhooan ke bap hote, to kuchh aur hi bat hoti.

rajiya ne kaha—ve nahian haian, to maian to hooan. ve jitana karate, maian usaka dooga karooangi. jab maian mar jaooan, tab kahana jokhooan ka bap nahian hai!

byah ke din dasiya ko rote dekhakar rajiya ne kaha—bahoo, tum kyoan roti ho? abhi to maian jiti hooan. ghar tumhara haian jaise chaho raho. mujhe ek roti de do, bas. aur mujhe kya karana hai. mera adami mar gaya. tumhara to abhi jita hai.

dasiya ne usaki god mean sir rakh diya aur khoob roee—jiji, tum meri mata ho. tum n hotian, to maian kisake dvar par kh di hoti. ghar mean to choohe lotate the. unake raj mean mujhe du:kh hi du:kh uthane p de. sohag ka sukh to mujhe tumhare raj mean mila. maian du:kh se nahian roti, roti hooan bhagavanh ki daya par ki kahaan maian aur kahaan yah khushahali!

rajiya muskara kar ro di.

sanbandhit lekh

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