सौभाग्य के कोड़े -प्रेमचंद

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

l dake kya amir ke hoan, kya garib ke, vinodashil hua hi karate haian. unaki chanchalata bahudha unaki dasha aur sthiti ki parava nahian karati. nathuva ke maan-bap donoan mar chuke the, anathoan ki bhaanti vah ray bholanath ke dvar par p da rahata tha. rayasahab dayashil purush the. kabhi-kabhi ek-adha paisa de dete, khane ko bhi ghar mean itana jootha bachata tha ki aise-aise kee anath aphar sakate the, pahanane ko bhi unake l dakoan ke utare mil jate the, isalie nathuva anath hone par bhi dukhi nahian tha. rayasahab ne use ek eesaee ke panje se chhu daya tha. inhean isaki parava n huee ki mishan mean usaki shiksha hogi, aram se rahega; unhean yah manjoor tha ki vah hiandoo rahe. apane ghar ke joothe bhojan ko vah mishan ke bhojan se kahian pavitr samajhate the. unake kamaroan ki saphaee mishan ki pathashala ki padhaee se kahian badhakar thi. hiandoo rahe, chahe jis dasha mean rahe. eesaee hua to phir sada ke lie hath se nikal gaya.

nathuva ko bas rayasahab ke bangale mean jha doo laga dene ke sivay aur koee kam n tha. bhojan karake khelata-phirata tha. karmanusar hi usaki varnavyavastha bhi ho gayi. ghar ke any naukar-chakar use bhangi kahate the aur nathuva ko isamean koee etaraj n hota tha. nam ki sthiti par kya asar p d sakata hai, isaki us garib ko kuchh khabar n thi. bhangi banane mean kuchh hani bhi n thi. use jha doo dete samay kabhi paise p de mil jate, kabhi aur koee chij. isase vah sigaret liya karata tha. naukaroan ke sath uthane-baithane se use bachapan hi mean tambakoo, sigaret aur pan ka chaska p d gaya.

rayasahab ke ghar mean yoan to balakoan aur balikaoan ki kami n thi, darajanoan bhaanje-bhatije p de rahate the; par unaki nij ki santan keval ek putri thi, jisaka nam ratna tha. ratna ko padhane ko do mastar the, ek memasahab aangreji padhane aya karati thian. rayasahab ki yah hardik abhilasha thi ki ratna sarvagun agari ho aur jis ghar mean jay, usaki lakshmi bane. vah use any balakoan ke sath n rahane dete. usake lie apane bangale mean do kamare alag kar diye the; ek padhane ke lie, doosara sone ke lie. log kahate haian, la d-pyar se bachche jiddi aur sarir ho jate haian. ratna itane la d-pyar par bhi b di sushil balika thi. kisi naukar ko ‘re’ n pukarati, kisi bhikhari tak ko n dutkarati. nathuva ko vah paise, mithaiyaan de diya karati thi. kabhi-kabhi usase batean bhi kiya karati thi. isase vah lauanda usake muanh lag gaya tha.

ek din nathuva ratna ke sone ke kamare mean jha doo laga raha tha. ratana doosare kamare mean memasahab se aangreji padh rahi thi. nathuva ki shamat jo ayi to jha doo lagate-lagate usake man mean yah ichchha huee ki ratna ke palang par soooan; kaisi ujali chadar bichhi huee hai, gadda kitana naram aur mota hai, kaisa sundar dushala hai ! ratna is gadde par kitane aram se soti hai, jaise chi diya ke bachche ghoansale mean. tabhi to ratna ke hath itane gore aur komal haian, maloom hota hai, deh mean ruee bhari huee hai. yahaan kaun dekhata hai. yah sochakar usane pair pharsh se poanchhe aur chatapat palang par akar let gaya aur dushala odh liya. garv aur anand se usaka hriday pulakit ho gaya. vah mare khushi ke do-tin bar palang par uchhal p da. use aisa maloom ho raha tha, mano maian ruee mean leta hooan. jidhar karavat leta tha, deh aangul-bhar niche dhans jati thi. yah svargiy sukh mujhe kahaan nasib ! mujhe bhagavanh ne rayasahab ka beta kyoan n banaya ? sukh ka anubhav hote hi use apani dasha ka vastavik jnan hua aur chitt kshubdh ho gaya. ekaek rayasahab kisi zaroorat se kamare mean aye to nathuva ko ratna ke palang par lete dekha. mare krodh ke jal uthe. bole- kyoan be suar, too yah kya kar raha hai ?

nathuva aisa ghabaraya mano nadi mean pair phisal p de hoan. charapaee se kood kar alag kh da ho gaya aur phir jha doo hath mean le li.

rayasahab ne phir poochha- yah kya kar raha tha, be ?

nathuva- kuchh to nahian sarakar !

rayasahab- ab teri itani himmat ho gayi hai ki ratna ki charapaee par soye ? namakaharam kahian ka ! lana mera hantar.

hantar mangavakar rayasahab ne nathuva ko khoob pita. bechara hath jo data tha, pairoan p data tha, magar rayasahab ka krodh shaant hone ka nam n leta tha. sab naukar jama ho gaye aur nathuva ke jale par namak chhi dakane lage. rayasahab ka krodh aur bhi badha. hantar hath se pheankakar thokaroan se marane lage. ratna ne yah rona suna to dau di huee ayi aur samachar sunakar boli- dadaji bechara mar jayaga; ab is par daya kijie.

rayasahab- mar jayaga, uthavakar pheankava dooanga. is badamashi ka maja to mil jayaga.

ratna- meri hi charapaee thi n, maian use kshama karati hooan.

rayasahab- jara dekho to apani charapaee ki gat. paji ke badan ki mail bhar gayi hogi. bhala, ise soojhi kya ? kyoan be, tujhe soojhi kya ?

yah kar rayasahab phir lapake; magar nathuva akar ratna ke pichhe dubak gaya. isake siva aur kahian sharan n thi. ratna ne rokakar kaha- dadaji, mere kahane se ab isaka aparadh kshama kijie.

rayasahab- kya kahati ho ratna, aise aparadhi kahian kshama kiye jate haian. khair, tumhare kahane par chho d deta hooan, nahian to aj jan lekar chho data. sun be, nathuva, apana bhala chahata hai to phir yahaan n ana, isi dam nikal ja, suar, nalayaq !

nathuva pran chho dakar bhaga. pichhe phirakar n dekha. s dak par pahuanchakar vah kh da ho gaya. yahaan rayasahab usaka kuchh nahian kar sakate the. yahaan sab log unaki muanhadekhi to n kaheange. koee to kahega ki l daka tha, bhool hi ho gayi to kya pran le lijiega ? yahaan mare to dekhooan, gali dekar bhagooanga, phir kaun mujhe pa sakata hai. is vichar se usaki himmat bandhi. bangale ki taraph muanh karake zor se bola- yahaan ao to dekhean, aur phir bhaga ki kahian rayasahab ne sun n liya ho.

2

nathuva tho di hi door gaya tha ki ratna ki mem sahiba apane tamatam par savar ati huee dikhayi dian. usane samajha, shayad mujhe pak dane a rahi haian. phir bhaga, kiantu jab pairoan mean dau dane ki shakti n rahi to kh da ho gaya. usake man ne kaha, vah mera kya kar leangi, maianne unaka kuchh biga da hai ? ek kshan mean mem sahiba a pahuanchian aur tamatam rokakar bolian- nathoo, kahaan ja rahe ho ?

nathuva- kahian nahian.

mem.- rayasahab ke yahaan phir jayaga to vah mareange. kyoan nahian mere sath chalata. mishan mean aram se rah. adami ho jayaga.

nathuva- kirastan to n banaogi ?

mem.- kirastan kya bhangi se bhi bura hai, pagal !

nathuva- n bhaiya, kirastan n banooanga.

mem.- tera ji chahe n banana, koee jabaradasti tho de hi bana dega. nathuva tho di der tak tamatam ke sath chala; par usake man mean sanshay bana hua tha. sahasa vah ruk gaya. mem sahiba ne poochha- kyoan, chalata kyoan nahian ?

nathuva- maianne suna hai, mishan mean jo koee jata hai kirastan ho jata hai. maian n jaooanga. ap jhaansa deti haian.

mem.- are pagal, vahaan tujhe padhaya jayaga, kisi ki chakari n karani p degi. sham ko khelane ko chhutti milegi. kot-pataloon pahanane ko milegi. chal ke do-char din dekh to le.

nathuva ne is pralobhan ka uttar n diya. ek gali se hokar bhaga. jab tamatam door nikal gaya to vah nishchiant hokar sochane laga- jaooan ? kahian koee sipahi pak dakar thane n le jay. meri biradari ke log to vahaan rahate haian. kya vah mujhe apane ghar rakheange. kaun baith kar khaooanga, kam to karooanga. bas, kisi ko pith par rahana chahie. aj koee meri pith par hota to majal thi ki rayasahab mujhe yoan marate. sari biradari jama ho jati, gher leti, ghar ki saphaee band ho jati, koee dvar par jha doo tak n lagata. sari rayasahabi nikal jati. yah nishchay karake vah ghoomata-phirata bhangiyoan ke muhalle mean pahuancha. sham ho gayi thi, kee bhangi ek pe d ke niche chataiyoan par baithe shahanaee aur tabal baja rahe the. vah nity isaka abhyas karate the. yah unaki jivika thi. gan-vidya ki yahaan jitani chhichhaledar huee hai, utani aur kahian n huee hogi. nathuva jakar vahaan kh da ho gaya. use bahut dhyan se sunate dekhakar ek bhangi ne poochha- kuchh gata hai ?

nathuva- abhi to nahian gata; par sikha doge to gane lagooanga.

bhangi- bahana mat kar, baith; kuchh gakar suna, maloom to ho ki tere gala bhi hai ya nahian, gala hi n hoga to kya koee sikhayega.

nathuva mamooli bazar ke l dakoan ki tarah kuchh-n-kuchh gana janata hi tha, rasta chalata to kuchh-n-kuchh gane lagata tha. turant gane laga. ustad ne suna. jauhari tha, samajh gaya yah kaanch ka tuk da nahian. bola- kahaan rahata hai ?

nathuva ne apani ramakahani sunayi, parichay ho gaya. use ashray mil gaya aur vikas ka vah avasar mil gaya, jisane use bhoomi se akash par pahuancha diya.

3

tin sal u d gaye, nathuva ke gane ki sare shahar mean dhoom mach gayi. aur vah keval ek guni nahian, sarvaguni tha; gana, shahanaee bajana, pakhavaj, sarangi, tamboora, sitar- sabhi kalaoan mean daksh ho gaya. ustadoan ko bhi usaki chamatkarik buddhi par ashchary hota tha. aisa maloom hota tha ki usane pahale hi padhi huee vidya duhara li hai. log das-das saloan tak sitar bajana sikhate rahate haian aur nahian ata, nathuva ko ek mahine mean usake taroan ka jnan ho gaya. aise kitane hi ratn p de hue haian, jo kisi parakhi se bheant n hone ke karan mitti mean mil jate haian.

sanyog se inhian dinoan gvaliyar mean ek sangit-sammelan hua. desh- deshaantaroan se sangit ke achary nimantrit hue. ustad ghoore ko bhi nevata mila. nathuva inhian ka shishy tha. ustad gvaliyar chale to nathoo ko bhi sath lete gaye. ek saptah tak gvaliyar mean b di dhoomadham rahi. nathooram ne vahaan khoob nam kamaya. use sone ka tamaga inam mila. gvaliyar ke sangit-vidyalay ke adhyaksh ne ustad ghoore se agrah kiya ki nathooram ko sangit-vidyalay mean dakhil kara do. yahaan sangit ke sath usaki shiksha bhi ho jayagi. ghoore ko manana p da. nathooram bhi raji ho gaya.

nathooram ne paanch varshoan mean vidyalay ki sarvochch upadhi prapt kar li. isake sath-sath bhasha, ganit aur vijnan mean usaki buddhi ne apani prakharata ka parichay diya. ab vah samaj ka bhooshan tha. koee usase n poochhata tha, kaun jati ho. usaka rahan-sahan, taur-tarika ab gayakoan ka-sa nahian, shikshit samuday ka-sa tha. apane samman ki raksha ke lie vah ooanche varnavaloan ka-sa acharan rakhane laga. madira-maans tyag diya, niyamit roop se sandhyopasana karane laga. koee kulin brahman bhi itana achar-vichar n karata hoga. nathooram to pahale hi usaka nam ho chuka tha. ab usaka kuchh aur susanskar hua. vah na. ra. achary mashahoor ho gaya. sadharanatah log ‘achary’ hi kaha karate the. raj-darabar se use achchha vetan milane laga. 18 varsh ki ayu mean itani khyati birale hi kisi guni ko nasib hoti hai. lekin khyati-prem vah pyas hai, jo kabhi nahian bujhati, vah agasty rrishi ki bhaanti sagar ko pikar bhi shaant nahian hoti. mahashay achary ne yorop ko prasthan kiya. vah pashchaty sangit par bhi adhikrit hona chahate the. jarmani ke sabase b de sangit-vidyalay mean dakhil ho gaye aur paanch varshoan ke nirantar parishram aur udyog ke bad achary ki padavi lekar itali ki sair karate hue gvaliyar laut aye aur usake ek hi saptah ke bad madan kampani ne unhean tin hazar rupaye masik vetan par apani shakhaoan ka nirikshak niyukt kiya. vah yorop jane ke pahale hi hajaroan rupaye jama kar chuke the. yorop mean bhi oparaoan aur natyashalaoan mean unaki khoob avabhagat huee thi. kabhi-kabhi ek din mean itani amadani ho jati thi, jitani yahaan ke b de-se-b de gavaiyoan ko barasoan mean bhi nahian hoti. lakhanoo se vishesh prem hone ke karan unhoanne vahian nivas karane ka nishchay kiya.

4

achary mahashay lakhanoo pahuanche to unaka chitt gadgad ho gaya. yahian unaka bachapan bita tha, yahian ek din vah anath the, yahian galiyoan mean kanakaue lootate phirate the, yahian bazaroan mean paise maangate-phirate the. ah ! yahian un par hantaroan ki mar p di thi, jisake nishan ab tak bane the. ab vah dag unhean saubhagy ki rekhaoan se bhi priy lagate. yatharth mean yah ko de ki mar unake lie shiv ka varadan thi. rayasahab ke prati ab unake dil mean krodh ya pratikar ka leshamatr bhi n tha. unaki buraiyaan bhool gayi thian, bhalaiyaan yad rah gayi thian; aur ratna to unhean daya aur vatsaly ki moorti-si yad ati. vipatti purane ghavoan ko badhati hai, sampatti unhean bhar deti hai ! ga di se utare to chhati dh dak rahi thi. 10 varsh ka balak 23 varsh ka javan, shikshit bhadr yuvak ho gaya tha. usaki maan bhi use dekhakar n kah sakati ki yahi mera nathuva hai. lekin unaki kayapalat ki apeksha nagar ki kayapalat aur bhi vismayakari thi. yah lakhanoo nahian, koee doosara hi nagar tha.

steshan se bahar nikalate hi dekha ki shahar ke kitane hi chhote-b de adami unaka svagat karane ko kh de haian. unamean ek yuvati ramani thi, jo ratna se bahut milati thi. logoan ne usase hath milaya aur ratna ne unake gale mean phooloan ka har dal diya. yah videsh mean bharat ka nam roshan karane ka puraskar tha. achary ke pair dagamagane lage, aisa jan p data tha, ab nahian kh de rah sakate. yah vahi ratna hai. bholi-bhali balika ne sauandary, lajja, garv aur vinay ki devi ka roop dharan kar liya hai. unaki himmat n p di ki ratna ki taraph sidhi aankhoan dekh sakean.

logoan se hath milane ke bad vah us bangale mean aye jo unake lie pahale hi se sajaya gaya tha. usako dekhakar ve chauank p de; yah vahi bangala tha jahaan ratna ke sath vah khelate the; saman bhi vahi tha, tasavirean vahi, kursiyaan aur mejean vahi, shishe ke alat vahi, yahaan tak ki pharsh bhi vahi tha. usake aandar qadam rakhate hue achary mahashay ke hriday mean kuchh vahi bhav jagrit ho rahe the, jo kisi devata ke mandir mean jakar dharmaparayan hiandoo ke hriday mean hote haian. vah ratna ke shayanagar mean pahuanche to unake hriday mean aisi aianthan huee ki aansoo bahane lage- yah vahi palang hai, vahi bistar aur vahi pharsh ! unhoanne adhir hokar poochha- yah kisaka bangala hai ?

kampani ka mainejar sath tha, bola- ek ray bholanath haian, unhian ka hai.

achary- rayasahab kahaan gaye ?

mainejar- khuda jane kahaan chale gaye. yah bangala karz ki illat mean nilam ho raha tha. maianne dekha hamare thiyetar se qarib hai. adhikariyoan se khatokitabat ki aur ise kampani ke nam kharid liya, 40 hazar mean yah bangala saman samet liya gaya.

achary- muft mil gaya, tumhean rayasahab ki kuchh khabar nahian ?

mainejar- suna tha ki kahian tirth karane gaye the, khuda jane laute ya nahian.

achary mahashay jab sham ko savadhan hokar baithe to ek adami se poochha- kyoan ji, ustad ghoore ka bhi hal janate ho, unaka nam bahut suna hai.

adami ne sakarun bhav se kaha- khudaband, unaka hal kuchh n poochhie, sharab pikar ghar a rahe the, raste mean behosh hokar s dak par gir p de. udhar se ek motar lari a rahi thi. draivar ne dekha nahian, lari unake oopar se nikal gayi. subah ko lash mili. khudaband, apane phan mean ek tha, ab usaki maut se lakhanoo viran ho gaya, ab aisa koee nahian raha jis par lakhanoo ko ghamand ho. nathuva nam ke ek l dake ko unhoanne kuchh sikhaya tha aur usase ham logoan ko ummid thi ki ustad ka nam jianda rakhega, par vah yahaan se gvaliyar chala gaya, phir pata nahian ki kahaan gaya.

achary mahashay ke pran sookhe jate the ki ab bat khuli, ab khuli, dam ruka hua tha jaise koee talavar liye sir par kh da ho. bare kushal huee, gh da chot khakar bhi bach gaya.

5

achary mahashay us ghar mean rahate the, kintu usi tarah jaise koee nayi bahoo apane sasural mean rahe. unake hriday se purane sanskar n mitate the. unaki atma is yatharth ko svikar n karati ki ab yah mera ghar hai. vah zor se hansate to sahasa chauank p date. mitragan akar shor machate to unhean ek ajnat shanka hoti thi. likhane-padhane ke kamare mean shayad vah sote to unhean rat-bhar niand n ati, yah khayal dil mean jama hua tha ki yah padhane-likhane ka kamara hai. bahut achchha hone par bhi vah purane saman ko badal n sakate the. aur ratna ke shayanagar ko to unhoanne phir kabhi nahian khola. vah jyoan-ka-tyoan band p da rahata tha. usake aandar jate hue unake pair tharatharane lagate the. us palang par sone ka dhyan hi unhean nahian aya.

lakhanoo mean kee bar unhoanne vishvavidyalay mean apane sangit-naipuny ka chamatkar dikhaya. kisi raja-rees ke ghar ab vah gane n jate the, chahe koee unhean lakhoan rupaye hi kyoan n de; yah unaka pran tha. log unaka alaukik gan sunakar alaukik anand uthate the.

ek din pratahkal achary mahashay sandhya se uthe the ki ray bholanath unase milane aye. ratna bhi unake sath thi. achary mahashay par rob chha gaya. b de-b de yoropi thiyetaroan mean bhi unaka hriday itana bhayabhit n hua tha. unhoanne zamin tak jhukakar rayasahab ko salam kiya. bholanath unaki namrata se kuchh vismati-se ho gaye. bahut din hue jab log unhean salam kiya karate the. ab to jahaan jate the, hansi u daee jati thi. ratna bhi lajjit ho gayi. rayasahab ne katar netroan se idhar-udhar dekhakar kaha- apako yah jagah to pasand ayi hogi ?

achary- ji haan, isase uttam sthan ki to maian kalpana hi nahian kar sakata.

bholanath- yah mera hi bangala hai. maianne hi ise banavaya aur maianne hi ise biga d bhi diya.

ratna ne jheanpate hue kaha- dadaji, in batoan se kya fayada ?

bhola- fayada nahian hai beti, nukasan bhi nahian. sajjanoan se apani vipatti kahakar chitt shaant hota hai. mahashay, yah mera hi bangala hai, ya yoan kahie ki tha. 50 hazar salana ilake se milate the. kuchh adamiyoan ki sangat mean mujhe satte ka chaska p d gaya. do-tin bar tab d-to d bazi hath ayi, himmat khul gayi, lakhoan ke vare-nyare hone lage, kiantu ek hi ghate mean sari kasar nikal gayi. badhiya baith gayi. sari jayadad kho baitha. sochie, pachis lakh ka sauda tha. kau di chitt p dati to aj is bangale ka kuchh aur hi that hota, nahian to ab pichhale dinoan ko yad kar-karake hath malata hooan. meri ratna ko apake gane se b da prem hai. jab dekho ap hi ki charcha kiya karati hai. ise maianne bi.e. tak padhaya ...

ratna ka chehara sharm se lal ho gaya. boli- dadaji, achary mahashay mera hal janate haian, unako mere parichay ki zaroorat nahian. mahashay, kshama kijiega, pitaji us ghate ke karan kuchh avyavasthit chitt-se ho gaye haian. vah apase yah prarthana karane aye haian ki yadi apako koee apatti n ho to vah kabhi-kabhi is bangale ko dekhane aya karean. isase unake aansoo puchh jayeange. unhean is vichar se santosh hoga ki mera koee mitr isaka svami hai. bas, yahi kahane ke lie yah apaki seva mean aye haian.

achary ne vinayapoorn shabdoan mean kaha- isake poochhane ki zaroorat nahian hai. ghar apaka hai, jis vakt ji chahe shauq se ayean, balki apaki ichchha ho to ap isamean rah sakate haian; maian apane lie koee doosara sthan thik kar looanga.

rayasahab ne dhanyavad diya aur chale gaye. vah doosare-tisare yahaan zaroor ate aur ghantoan baithe rahate. ratna bhi unake sath avashy ati, phir kuchh din bad pratidin ane lage.

ek din unhoanne achary mahashay ko ekaant mean le jakar poochha- kshama kijiega, ap apane bal bachchoan ko kyoan nahian bula lete? akele to apako bahut kasht hota hoga.

achary- mera to abhi vivah nahian hua aur n karana chahata hooan.

yah kahate hi achary mahashay ne aankhean nichi kar lian.

bholanath- yah kyoan, vivah se apako kyoan dvesh hai ?

achary- koee vishesh karan to nahian bata sakata, ichchha hi to hai.

bhola- ap brahman haian ?

acharyaji ka rang u d gaya. sashank hokar bole- yorop ki yatra ke bad varnabhed nahian rahata. janm se chahe jo kuchh hooan, karm se to shoodr hi hooan.

bholanath- apaki namrata ko dhany hai, sansar mean aise sajjan log bhi p de hue haian, maian bhi karmoan hi se varn manata hooan. namrata, shil, vinay, achar, dharmanishtha, vidyaprem, yah sab brahmanoan ke gun haian aur maian apako brahman hi samajhata hooan. jisamean yah gun nahian, vah brahman nahian; kadapi nahian. ratna ko apase b da prem hai. aj tak koee purush usaki aankhoan mean nahian jancha, kiantu apane use vashibhoot kar liya is dhrishtata ko kshama kijiega, apake mata-pita ...

achary- mere mata-pita to ap hi haian. janm kisane diya, yah maian svayan nahian janata. maian bahut chhota tha tabhi unaka svargavas ho gaya.

rayasahab- ah ! vah aj jivit hote to apako dekhakar unaki gaj-bhar ki chhati hoti. aise sapoot bete kahaan hote haian !

itane mean ratna ek kagaz liye hue ayi aur rayasahab se boli- dadaji, achary mahashay kavy-rachana bhi karate haian, maian inaki mej par se yah utha layi hooan. sarojini nayadoo ke siva aisi kavita maianne aur kahian nahian dekhi.

achary ne chhipi huee nigahoan se ek bar ratna ko dekha aur jheanpate hue bole- yoan hi kuchh likh liya tha. maian kavy-rachana kya janooan ?

6

prem se donoan vihval ho rahe the. ratna gunoan par mohit thi, achary usake moh ke vashibhoot the. agar ratna unake raste mean n ati to kadachith vah usase parichit bhi n hote ! kiantu prem ki phaili huee bahoan ka akarshan kis par n hoga ? aisa hriday kahaan hai, jise prem jit n sake ?

achary mahashay b di duvidha mean p de hue the. unaka dil kahata tha, jis kshan ratna par meri asaliyat khul jayagi, usi kshan vah mujhase sadaiv ke lie muanh pher legi. vah kitani hi udar ho, jati ke bandhan ko kitana hi kashtamay samajhati ho, kiantu us ghrina se mukt nahian ho sakati jo svabhavatah mere prati utpann hogi. magar is bat ko janate hue bhi unaki himmat n p dati thi ki apana vastavik svaroop kholakar dikha dean. ah ! yadi ghrina hi tak hoti to koee bat n thi, magar use duahkh hoga, pi da hogi, usaka hriday vidirn ho jayaga, us dasha mean n jane kya kar baithe. use is ajnat dasha mean rakhate hue pranay-pash ko dridh karana unhean parale sire ki nichata pratit hoti thi. yah kapat hai, daga hai, dhoortata hai jo premacharan mean sarvatha nishiddh hai. is sankat mean p de hue vah kuchh nishchay n kar sakate the ki kya karana chahie. udhar rayasahab ki amadoraft dinoandin badhati jati thi. unake man ki bat ek-ek shabd se jhalakati thi. ratna ka ana-jana band hota jata tha jo unake ashay ko aur bhi prakat karata tha. is prakar tin-char mahine vyatit ho gaye. achary mahashay sochate, yah vahi rayasahab haian, jinhoanne keval ratna ki charapaee par jara der let rahane ke lie mujhe marakar ghar se nikal diya tha. jab unhean maloom hoga ki maian vahi anath, achhoot, ashrayahin balak hooan to unhean kitani atmavedana, kitani apaman-pi da, kitani lajja, kitani durasha, kitana pashchattap hoga !

ek din rayasahab ne kaha- vivah ki tithi nishchit kar leni chahie. is lagn mean maian is rrin se urrin ho jana chahata hooan.

achary mahashay ne bat ka matalab samajhakar bhi prashn kiya- kaisi tithi ?

rayasahab- yahi ratna ke vivah ki. maian kuandali ka to kayal nahian, par vivah to shubh muhoort mean hi hoga.

achary bhoomi ki or takate rahe, kuchh n bole.

rayasahab- meri avastha to apako maloom hi hai. kush-kanya ke siva aur kisi yogy nahian hooan. ratna ke siva aur kaun hai, jisake lie utha rakhata.

achary mahashay vicharoan mean magn the.

rayasahab- ratna ko ap svayan janate haian. apase usaki prashansa karani vyarth hai. vah achchhi hai ya buri hai, use apako svikar karana p dega.

achary mahashay ki aankhoan se aansoo bah rahe the.

rayasahab- mujhe poora vishvas hai ki apako eeshvar ne usi ke lie yahaan bheja hai. meri eeshvar se yahi yachana hai ki tum donoan ka jivan sukh se kate. mere lie isase zyada khushi ki aur koee bat nahian ho sakati. is karttavy se mukt hokar irada hai kuchh din bhagavath-bhajan karooan. gaun roop se ap hi us phal ke bhi adhikari hoange.

achary ne avaruddh kanth se kaha- mahashay, ap mere pita tuly haian, par maian is yogy kadapi nahian hooan.

rayasahab ne unhean gale lagate hue kaha- beta, tum sarvagun-sampann ho. tum samaj ke bhooshan ho. mere lie yah mahanh gaurav ki bat hai ki tum-jaisa damad paooan. maian aj tithi adi thik karake kal apako soochana dooanga.

yah kahakar rayasahab uth kh de hue. achary kuchh kahana chahate the, par mauqa n mila, ya yoan kaho himmat n p di. itana manobal n tha, ghrina sahan karane ki itani shakti n thi.

7

vivah hue mahina-bhar ho gaya. ratna ke ane se patigrih ujala ho gaya hai aur pati-hriday pavitr. sagar mean kamal khil gaya. rat ka samay tha. achary mahashay bhojan karake lete hue the, usi palang par jisane kisi din unhean ghar se nikalavaya tha, jisane unake bhagyachakr ko parivartit kar diya tha.

mahina-bhar se vah avasar dhooandh rahe haian ki vah rahasy ratna ko batala dooan. unaka sanskaroan se daba hua hriday yah nahian manata ki mera saubhagy mere gunoan hi ka anugrah hai. vah apane rupaye ko bhatthi mean pighalakar usaka mooly janane ki cheshtakar rahe haian. kintu avasar nahian milata. ratna jyoan hi samane a jati hai, vah mantramugdh se ho jate haian. bag mean rone kaun jata hai, rone ke lie to aandheri kothari hi chahie.

itane mean ratna muskarati huee kamare mean ayi. dipak ki jyoti mand p d gayi.

achary ne muskarakar kaha- ab chirag gul kar dooan n ?

ratna boli- kyoan, kya mujhase sharm ati hai ?

achary- haan, vastav mean sharm ati hai.

ratna- isalie ki maianne tumhean jit liya ?

achary- nahian, isalie ki maianne tumhean dhokha diya.

ratna- tumamean dhokha dene ki shakti nahian hai.

achary- tum nahian janatian. maianne tumhean bahut b da dhokha diya hai.

ratna- sab janati hooan.

achary- janati ho maian kaun hooan ?

ratna- khoob janati hooan. bahut dinoan se janati hooan. jab ham tum donoan isi bagiche mean khela karate the, maian tumako marati thi aur tum rote the, maian tumako apani joothi mithaiyaan deti thi aur tum dau dakar lete the, tab bhi mujhe tumase prem tha; haan, vah daya ke roop mean vyakt hota tha.

achary ne chakit ho kaha- ratna, yah janakar bhi tumane ...

ratna- haan, jan kar hi. n janati to shayad n karati.

achary- yah vahi charapaee hai.

ratna- aur maian ghate mean.

achary ne use gale lagakar kaha- tum kshama ki devi ho.

ratna ne uttar diya- maian tumhari cheri hooan.

achary- rayasahab bhi janate haian ?

ratna- nahian, unhean nahian maloom hai. unase bhoolakar bhi n kahana, nahian to vah atmaghat kar leange.

achary- vah ko de abhi tak yad haian.

ratna- ab pitaji ke pas usaka prayashchitt karane ke lie kuchh nahian rah gaya. kya ab bhi tumhean santosh nahian hua ?