श्रीकांत उपन्यास -शरत चंद्र

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

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meri sari zindagi ghoomane mean hi biti hai. is ghumakk d jivan ke tisare pahar mean kh de hokar, usake ek adhyaapak ko sunate hue, aj mujhe n jane kitani batean yad a rahi haian. yoan ghoomate-phirate hi to maian bachche se boodha hua hooan. apane-parae sabhi ke muanh se apane sambandh mean keval 'chhi:-chhi:' sunate-sunate maian apani zindagi ko ek b di bhari 'chhi:-chhi:' ke sivay aur kuchh bhi nahian samajh saka. kintu bahut kal ke bad jab aj maian kuchh yad aur kuchh bhooli huee kahani ki mala gooanthane baitha hooan aur sochata hooan ki jivan ke us prabhat mean hi kyoan us sudirgh 'chhi:-chhi:' ki bhoomika aankit ho gayi thi, tab hathath yah sandeh hone lagata hai ki sab log is 'chhi: chhi:' ko jitani b di banakar dekhate the utani b di shayad vah nahian thi. jan p data hai, bhagavan jise apani srishti ke thik bich mean jabaran dhakel dete haian shayad use bhala l daka kahalakar egjam pas karane ki suvidha nahian dete; aur n ve use ga di-gho de palaki par lav-lashkar ke sath bhraman karake 'kahani' nam dekar chhapane ki hi abhiruchi dete haian. use buddhi to shayad, ve kuchh de dete haian, parantu duniyadar log use 'su-buddhi' nahian kahate. isi karan usaki pravritti aisi asangat, aisi nirali hoti hai, aur usake dekhane ki chijean, aur janane ki trishna, svabhavat: aisi bejo d hoti haian ki yadi usaka varnan kiya jae to, shayad, 'su-buddhi' vale hansate-hansate mar jaany. usake bad vah mand balak; n jane kis tarah, anadar aur avahelana ke karan, buroan ke akarshan se aur bhi bura hokar, dhakke aur thokarean khata hua, ajnat-roop se ant mean kisi din apayash ki jholi kandhoan par rakhakar kahian chal deta hai, aur bahut samay tak usaka koee pata nahian lagata.

atev in sab batoan ko rahane deta hooan. jo kuchh kahane baitha hooan vahi kahata hooan. parantu kahane se hi to kahana nahian ho jata. bhraman karana ek bat hai aur usaka varnan karana doosari bat. jisake bhi do pair haian, vah bhraman kar sakata hai kintu do hath hone se hi to kisi se likha nahian ja sakata. likhana to b da kathin hai. sivay isake, b di bhari mushkil yah hai ki bhagavan ne mere bhitar kalpana-kavitv ki ek booand bhi nahian dali. in abhagini aankhoan se jo kuchh dikhata hai, thik vahi dekhata hooan. vriksh ko thik vriksh hi dekhata hooan aur paha d-parvatoan ko paha d-parvat. jal ki or dekhane se vah jal ke sivay aur kuchh nahian jan p data. akash mean badaloan ki taraph aankhean pha dakar dekhate-dekhate meri gardan avashy du:khane lagi hai, badal badal hi najar ae haian, unamean kisi ki nibi d kesh-rashi to kya dikhegi, kabhi bal ka tuk da bhi khoje nahian mila. chandrama ki or dekhate-dekhate aankhean pathara gayi haian; parantu usamean bhi kabhi kisi ka mukh-ukh najar n aya. is prakar bhagavan ne hi jisaki vidambana ki ho usake dvara kavitv-srishti kaise ho sakati hai? yadi ho sakati hai to keval yahi ki vah sach-sach bat sidhi tarah se kah de. isalie maian yahi karooanga.

kintu maian ghumakk d kyoan ho gaya, yah batane ke pahale us vyakti ka kuchh parichay dena avashyak hai jisane jivan ke prabhat mean hi mujhe is nashe mean matt kar diya tha. usaka nam tha indranath. ham donoan ka pratham parichay ek phutabal-maich mean hua. janata nahian ki vah aj jivit hai ya nahian. kyoanki, barasoan pahale ek din vah b de subah uthakar, ghar-bar, zamin-jayadad aur apane kutumb ko chho dakar keval ek dhoti lekar chala gaya aur phir lautakar nahian aya. oh, vah din aj kis tarah yad hai.

skool ke maidan mean bangali aur musalaman chhatroan mean phutabal-maich tha. sandhyakh ho rahi thi. magan hokar dekh raha tha. anand ki sima n thi. hathath-are yah kya! t dat d-t dat d shabd aur 'maro sale ko, pak do sale ko' ki pukar mach gayi. maian vihval-sa ho gaya. do-tin minat,- bas itane mean kahaan kaun gayab ho gaya, nishchay hi n kar paya. thik taur se pata laga tab, jab ki meri pith par akar ek chhatari ka poora beant t dak se toot gaya tatha aur bhi do-tin beant sir aur bhi do-tin beant sir aur pith par p dane ko udyat dikhe. dekha, paanch-sat musalaman chhokaroan ne mere charoan or vyooh-rachana kar li hai aur bhag jane ko jara-sa bhi rasta nahian chho da hai. aur bhi ek beant,- aur bhi ek. thik isi samay jo manushy bijali ke veg se us vyooh ko bhedata hua mere age akar kh da ho gaya, vah tha indranath. rang usaka kala tha. nak vanshi ke saman, kapal prashast aur sudaul, mukh par do-char chechak ke dag. ooanchaee mere barabar hi thi, kintu umr mujhase kuchh adhik thi. kahane laga, "koee dar nahian hai, tum mere pichhe-pichhe bahar nikal ao."

us l dake ki chhati mean jo sahas aur karuna thi, vah durlabh hote hue bhi shayad asadharan nahian thi. parantu isamean jara bhi sandeh nahian ki usake donoan hath asadharan the. yahi nahian ki ve bahut balishth the, varanh lambaee mean bhi ghutanoan tak pahuanchate the. sivay isake, use ek suvidha yah bhi thi ki jo use janata nahian tha usake man mean yah ashanka bhi n ho sakati thi ki vivad ke samay yah bhala adami akasmath apana tin hath lamba hath bahar nikalakar meri nak par ekaek is aandazaka ghooansa mar sakega. vah ghooansa kya tha, use bagh ka panja kahana hi adhik upayukt hoga.

do hi minat ke bhitar maian usaki pith se sata hua bahar a gaya; aur tab, indr ne bina kisi adambar ke kaha, "bhago."

bhagana shuroo karake maianne poochha, "aur tum?" usane rookhaee se javab diya, "are too to bhag-gadhe kahian ke."

gadha hoooan- ya chahe jo hoooan, mujhe khoob yad hai, maianne hathath lautakar aur kh de hokar kaha, "nahian, maian nahian bhagooanga."

bachapan mean mar-pit kisane n ki hogi? kintu, maian tha gaanv ka l daka- do-tin mahine pahale hi likhane-padhane ke lie shahar mean buaji ke yahaan aya tha. isake pahale, is prakar dal baandhakar, n to maianne mar-pit hi ki thi, aur n kisi din is tarah do poore chhatari ke beant hi meri pith ke oopar toote the. phir bhi maian akela bhag n saka. indr ne ek bar mere muanh ki or dekhakar kaha, "nahian bhagega, to kya kh de-kh de mar khaega? dekh, us taraph se ve log a rahe haian-achchha, to chal, khoob kasakar dau dean." yah kam to maian khoob kar sakata tha. dau date-dau date jab ham log b di s dak par pahuanche, tab sham ho gayi thi. dukanoan mean roshani ho gayi thi aur raste par myunisipal ke ker aausin ke laimp, lohe ke khambhoan par, ek yahaan aur doosara vahaan, jal rahe the. aankhoan mean zor hone par, aisa nahian hai ki ek ke pas kh de hone par doosara dikhaee n p data. atatayiyoan ki ab koee ashanka nahian thi. indr atyant svabhavik sahaj svar se bat kar raha tha. mera gala sookh raha tha, parantu ashchary hai ki indr ratti-bhar bhi nahian haanpha tha. mano kuchh hua hi n ho- n mara ho, n mar khaee ho aur n dau da hi ho. jaise kuchh hua hi n ho, aise bhav se usane poochha, "tera nam kya hai re?"

" shrikaant."

"shrikaant? achchha." kahakar usane apani jeb se mutthi-bhar sookhi patti bahar nikali. usamean se kuchh to usane kha li aur kuchh mere hath mean dekar kaha, "aj khoob thoka saloan ko, le kha."

"kya hai yah?"

"booti."

maianne atyant vismit hokar kaha, "bhaang? yah to maian nahian khata."

usane mujhase bhi adhik vismit hokar kaha, "khata nahian? kahaan ka gadha hai re. khoob nasha hoga- kha, chabakar lil ja."

nashe ki chiz ka maja us samay jnat nahian tha; isalie sir hilakar maianne use vapas kar diya. vah use bhi chabakar nigal gaya.

"achchha, to phir sigaret pi." yah kahakar usane jeb se do sigaret aur diyasalaee bahar nikali. ek to usane mere hath mean de di aur doosari apane hath mean rakhi. isake bad, vah apani donoan hatheliyoan ko ek vichitr prakar se jutakar, us sigaret ko chilam banakar zor se khianchane laga. bap re,- kaise zor se dam khiancha ki ek hi dam mean sigaret ki ag sire se chalakar niche utar aee! log charoan taraph kh de the- maian bahut hi dar gaya. maianne darate hue poochha, "pite hue yadi koee dekh le to?"

"dekh le to kya? sabhi janate haian." yah kahakar svachchhandata se sigaret pita hua vah chaurahe par mu da aur mere man par ek gahari chhap lagakar, ek or ko chal diya.

aj us din ki bahut-si batean yad ati haian. sirph itana hi yad nahian ata, ki us adbhut balak ke prati, us din mujhe prem utpann hua tha, athava yoan khule am bhaang aur tamakhoo pine ke karan, man hi man ghrina. is ghatana ke bad qarib ek mahina bit gaya. ek din ratri jitani ushn thi utani hi aandheri. kahian vriksh ki ek patti tak n hilati thi. sab chhat par soe hue the. barah baj chuke the, parantu kisi ki bhi aankhoan mean niand ka nam n tha. ekaek baansuri ka bahut madhur svar kanoan mean ane laga. sadharan 'ramaprasadi' sur tha. kitani hi daphe to sun chuka tha, kintu baansuri is prakar mugdh kar sakati hai, yah maian n janata tha. hamare makan ke dakshin-poorv ke kone mean ek b da bhari am aur katahal ka bag tha. kee hissedaroan ki sampatti hone ke karan koee usaki khoj-khabar nahian leta tha, isalie poora bag nibi d jangal ke roop mean parinat ho gaya tha. gay-bailoan ke ane-jane se us bag ke bich mean se keval ek patali-si pagadandi ban gayi thi. aisa maloom hua ki mano usi van-path se baansuri ka sur kramash: nikatavarti hota hua a raha hai. bua uthakar baith gayian aur apane b de l dake ko uddeshy kar bolian, "haan re navin, yah baansuri ray-parivar ka indr hi baja raha hai n?" tab maianne samajha ki is bansidhari ko ye sabhi chinhate haian. b de bhiya ne kaha, "us hatabhage ko chho dakar aisi doosara kaun bajayega aur us jangal mean aisa kaun hai jo dhooankega?"

"bolata kya hai re? vah kya gusaeean ke bagiche se a raha hai?"

b de bhiya bole, "haan."

aise bhayankar andhakar mean us adooravarti gahare jangal ka khayal karake bua man hi man sihar uthian aur dar bhare kanth se prashn kar uthian, "achchha, usaki maan bhi kya use nahian rokati? gusaeean ke bag mean to n jane kitane log saanp ke katane se mar gaye haian- us jangal mean itani rat ko vah l daka aya hi kyoan?"

b de bhiya kuchh hansakar bole, "isalie ki us muhalle se is muhalle tak ane ka vahi sidha rasta hai. jise bhay nahian hai, pranoan ki paravah nahian hai, vah kyoan b de raste se chakkar katakar aega maan? use to jaldi ane se matalab, phir chahe us raste mean nadi-nale hoan- chahe saanp-bichchhoo aur bagh-bhaloo hoan!"

"dhany hai re l dake, tujhe!" kahakar bua ek ni:shvas dalakar chup ho rahian. vanshi ki dhvani kramash: suspasht hoti gayian aur phir dhire-dhire aspasht hoti huee door jakar vilin ho gayi.

yahi tha vah indranath. us din to maian yah sochata raha tha ki kya hi achchha hota, yadi itana adhik bal mujhamean bhi hota aur maian bhi isi tarah mar-pit kar sakata aur aj ratri ko jab tak, so n gaya, tab tak yahi kamana karata raha ki yadi kisi tarah aisi vanshi baja sakata!

parantu usase sadbhav kis tarah paida karooan? vah to mujhase bahut ooanche par hai. us samay vah skool mean bhi n padhata tha. suna tha ki hedamastar sahab ne anyay karake usake sir par jyoan hi gadhe ki topi lagane ka ayojan kiya, tyoan hi vah marmahat ho, akasmath hedamastar ki pith par ek dhaul jamakar, ghrina bhav se skool ki reliang phaandata hua ghar bhag aya aur phir gaya hi nahian. bahut dinoan bad usi ke muanh se suna tha ki vah ek n kuchh aparadh tha. hiandustani panditaji ko klas ke samay mean hi niand ane lagati thi, so ek bar jab ve niand le rahe the tab, unaki gaanth bandhi choti ko usane kaianchi se katakar jara chhota bhar kar diya tha! aur usase unaki vishesh kuchh hani bhi nahian huee, kyoanki panditaji jab ghar pahuanche tab apani choti apani chapakan ki jeb mean hi p di huee mil gayi! vah kahian khoee nahian gayi, phir bhi panditaji ka gussa shant kyoan n hua aur kyoan ve hedamastar sahab ke pas nalish karane gaye- yah bat aj tak bhi indr ki samajh mean nahian aee. parantu phir bhi yah bat vah thik samajh gaya tha ki skool se reliang phaandakar ghar ane ka rasta taiyar ho jane par phir phatak mean se vapis lautakar jane ka rasta pray: khula nahian rah jata. aur phatak ka rasta khula raha ya nahian raha, yah dekhane ki utsukata bhi, use bilkulal nahian huee. yahaan tak ki sir par 10-20 abhibhavakoan ke hone par bhi, unamean se koee bhi, usaka muanh kisi bhi tarah phir vidyalay ki or nahian pher saka.

indr ne kalam pheankakar nav ka daan d hath mean le liya. tab se vah sare din ganga mean nav ke oopar rahane laga. usaki apani ek chhoti-si doangi thi. chahe aandhi ho chahe pani, chahe din ho chahe rat, vah akela usi par bana rahata. kabhi-kabhi ekaek aisa hota ki vah pashchim ki ganga ke ikatarapha bahav mean apani doangi ko chho d deta, daan d pak de chupachap baitha rahata aur das-das, pandrah-pandrah din tak phir usaka kuchh bhi pata n lagata.

ek din isi prakar jab vah bina kisi uddeshy ke apani doangi bahae ja raha tha, tab usake sath milan ki gaanth ko sudridh karane ka mujhe mauqa mila. us samay meri yah ekamatr kamana thi ki usase kisi n kisi prakar mitrata ka sambandh dridh kiya jae, aur yahi batalane ke lie maianne itana kaha hai.

kintu jo log mujhe janate haian ve to kaheange ki yah to tumhean nahian sohata bhaiya, tum thahare garib ke l dake aur phir likhana-padhana sikhane ke lie apana gaanv chho dakar parae ghar akar rahe ho, phir tum usase mile hi kyoan aur milane ke lie itane vyakul hi kyoan hue? yadi aisa n kiya hota, to aj tum-

thaharo, thaharo, adhik kahane ki zaroorat nahian hai. yah bat hajaroan logoan ne lakhoan hi bar mujhase kahi hai; svayan khud maianne hi yah prashn apane apase karo doan bar poochha hai, parantu sab vyarth. vah kaun tha? isaka javab tumamean se koee bhi nahian de sakata aur phir, "yadi aisa n hua hota to maian kya ho jata?" is prashn ka samadhan bhi tumamean se koee kaise kar sakata hai? jo sab kuchh janate haian, keval ve (bhagavan) hi bata sakate haian ki kyoan itane adamiyoan ko chho dakar ekamatr usi hatabhage ke prati mera sara hriday akrisht hua aur kyoan us mand se milane ke lie mere sharir ka pratyek kan unmukh ho utha.

vah din mujhe khoob yad hai. sare din lagatar girate rahane par bhi meh band nahian hua tha. savan ka akash ghane badaloan se ghira hua tha. sham hote-n-hote charoan or andhakar chha gaya. jaldi-jaldi khakar, ham kee bhaee roj ki tarah bahar baithakakhane mean bichhe hue bistar par re di ke tel ka dipak jalakar, pustak kholakar, baith gaye the. bahar ke baramade mean ek taraph phoophaji kenvas ki khat par lete hue apani saandhyi tandra ka upabhog kar rahe the aur doosari or boodhe ramakamal bhattachary aphim khakar andhakar mean aankhean mianche hue huqqa gu dagu da rahe the. dayodhi par hiandustani daraban ka 'tulasidas svar' sun p d raha tha aur bhitar ham tinoan bhaee manjhale bhiya ki k di dekh-rekh mean chupachap vidyabhyas kar rahe the. chhote bhiya, jatin aur maian tisari aur chauthi kaksha mean padhate the aur gambhir svabhav ke manjhale bhiya do daphe entres phel hokar tisari daphe ki taiyari kar rahe the. unake prachand shasan mean kisi ko ek minat bhi nasht karane ka sahas n hota tha. ham logoan ka padhane ka samay tha. 7.30 se 9 baje tak. us samay batachit karake ham unaki 'pas hone' ki padhaee mean vighn n dal sakean, isake lie ve roj kaianchi se kat-katakar kagaz ke 25-30 tikat jaise tuk de rakh chho date. unamean se kisi mean likha hota, 'bahar jana hai', kisi mean 'thookana hai', kisi mean 'nak saf karana hai', kisi mean 'pani pina hai' adi. jatin bhiya ne nak saf karane ka ek tikat manjhale bhiya ke samane pesh kiya. manjhale bhiya ne us par apane hath se likh diya, '8 bajakar 33 minat se lekar 8 bajakar 33.30 minat tak.' arthath itane samay ke lie nak saf karane ja sakate haian. chhutti pakar jatin bhiya tikat hath mean lekar gaye hi the ki chhote bhiya ne thookane jane ka tikat pesh kar diya. manjhale bhiya ne us par 'nahian' likh diya. is par do minat tak chhote bhiya muanh phulae baithe rahe aur usake bad unhoanne pani pine ki arji dakhil kar di. is bar vah manjoor ho gayi. manjhale bhiya ne isake lie likh diya, "haan, 8 bajakar 41 minat se lekar 8 bajakar 47 minat tak." paravana lekar chhote bhiya hansate hue jyoan hi bahar gaye tyoan hi jatin bhiya ne lautakar hath ka tikat vapas de diya. manjhale bhiya ne gh di dekhakar aur samay milakar ek rajistar bahar nikala aur usamean vah tikat goand se chipaka diya. yah sab saman unaki hath ki pahuanch ke bhitar hi rakkha rahata tha. saptah saptah hone par in sab tikatoan ko samane rakhakar kaiphiyat talab ki jati thi ki kyoan amuk din tumane ijajat se adhik samay laga diya.

is prakar manjhale bhiya ki atyant satarkata aur shrriankhalabaddhata se- hamara aur unaka khud ka-kisi ka jara-sa bhi samay nasht n hone pata tha. is tarah pratidin, dedh ghanta, khoob padh lene ke uparant, jab ham log rat ke 9 baje ghar mean sone ko ate the tab nishchay hi mata sarasvati hamean ghar ki chaukhat tak pahuancha jati thian; aur doosare din skool ki kaksha se jo sab samman saubhagy prapt karake ham ghar lautate the vah to ap samajh hi gaye hoange. parantu manjhale bhiya ka durbhagy ki unake bevakooph parikshak unhean kabhi n chihn sake! ve nij ki tatha paraee shiksha-diksha ke prati itana prabal anurag tatha samay ke mooly ke sambandh mean apane uttaradayitv ka itana sookshm khayal rakhate the phir bhi, ve unhean barabar phel hi karate gaye. ise hi kahate haian adrisht ka andha nyay-vichar. khair, jane do-ab usake lie dukhi hone se kya labh? us ratri ko bhi ghar ke bahar vahi ghana andhakar, baramade mean tandrabhibhoot ve donoan bundhe aur bhitar dipak ke mand prakash ke sammukh gambhir adhyaghayan mean lage hue ham char prani the.

chhote bhiya ke laut ate hi pyas ke mare meri chhati ekabaragi phatane lagi. isilie tikat pesh karake maian hukm ki rah dekhane laga. manjhale bhiya usi tikatoan vale rajistar ke oopar jhukakar pariksha karane lage ki mera pani pine ke lie jana niyam-sangat hai ya nahian- arthath kal parasoan kis pariman mean pani piya tha.

akasmath mere thik pichhe se ek 'humh' shabd aur sath hi sath chhote bhiya aur jatin bhiya ka artakanth se nikala hua, "are bap re! mar dala re' ka gaganabhedi chitkar sun p da. unhean kisane mar dala, sir ghumakar yah dekhane ke pahale hi, manjhale bhiya ne sir uthakar vikat shabd kiya aur bijali ki tezise samane pair phaila die, jisase divat ulat gaya. tab us andhakar mean 'daksh-yajn' mach gaya. manjhale bhiya ko thi mirgi ki bimari, isaliai ve 'oan-oan' karake divat ulatakar jo chitt gire so phir n uthe.

thelathal karake maian bahar nikala to dekha ki phoophaji apane donoan l dakoan ko bagal mean dabae hue, unase bhi adhik tivr svar mean chillakar chhappar pha de dal rahe haian. aisa lagata tha mano un tinoan bap-betoan mean is bat ki ho d lagi huee hai ki kaun kitana gala pha d sakata hai.

isi avasar par ek chor ji chho dakar bhaga ja raha tha aur dayodhi ke sipahiyoan ne use pak d liya tha. phoophaji prachand chitkar karake hukm de rahe the, "aur maro, sale ko, mar dalo." ityadi.

dam bhar mean roshani ho gayi, naukar-chakaroan aur pas-p dosiyoan se aangan khachakhach bhar gaya. darabanoan ne chor ko marate-marate adhamara kar diya aur prakash ke sammukh khianch lakar, dhakka dekar gira diya. par chor ka muanh dekhakar ghar-bhar ke logoan ka muanh sookh gaya-are, ye to bhattachary mahashay haian!

tab koee to jal le aya, koee pankhe se hava karane laga, aur koee unaki aankhoan aur muanh par hath pherane laga. udhar ghar ke bhitar manjhale bhiya ke sath bhi yahi ho raha tha.

pankhe ki hava aur jal ke chhiante khakar ramakamal hosh mean akar lage phaphak-phaphak kar rone. sabhi log poochhane lage, "ap is tarah bhage kyoan ja rahe the?" bhattachary mahashay rote-rote bole, "baba, bagh nahian, vah ek tag da bhaloo tha- chhalaang marakar baithakakhane mean se bahar a gaya."

chhote bhiya aur jatin bhiya barambar kahane lage, "bhaloo nahian baba, ek bhe diya tha, pooanchh samete payandaj ke oopar baitha gurra raha tha."

manjhale bhiya, hosh mean ate hi adhamichi aankhoan se dirgh nishvas chho date hue sankshep mean bole, "di r aauyal bangal taigar."

parantu vah hai kahaan? chahe manjhale bhiya ka 'di r aauyal bangal' ho, chahe ramakamal ka 'tag da bhaloo' ho, parantu vah yahaan aya hi kis tarah aur chala hi kahaan gaya? jab itane logoan ne use dekha hai tab vah hoga to kuchh n kuchh avashy hi.

tab kisi ne vishvas kiya aur kisi ne nahian kiya. kintu sabhi bhay-chakit netroan se lalaten lekar charoan taraph khojane lage.

akasmath pahalavan kishorasianh 'vah baitha hai' kahakar ek chhalaang mean baramade mean oopar chadh gaya. usake bad vahaan bhi thela-theli mach gayi. utane sab log baramade par ek sath chadhana chahate the, kisi se bhi kshan-bhar ki der n sahi jati thi. aangan ke ek taraph anar ka darakht tha. maloom p da ki usi ki ghani daliyoan mean ek b da janavar baitha hai. vah bagh ke saman hi maloom hota tha. palak marate n marate sara baramada khali ho gaya aur baithakakhana khachakhach bhar gaya. baramade mean ek bhi adami n raha. ghar ki us bhi d mean se phoophaji ka uttejit kanth svar sun p dane laga, "barachhi lao-bandook lao." hamare makan ke pas ke makan mean gagan baboo ke pas ek muangeri bandook thi. unaka lakshy usi astr par tha.

'lao' to thik, kintu lae kaun? anar ka jha d tha daravaze ke hi nikat aur phir us par baitha tha bhe diya. hiandustani sitapitae tak nahian aur jo log tamasha dekhane ae the ve bhi sanaka khianchakar rah gaye.

aisi vipatti ke samay n jane kahaan se indr akar upasthit ho gaya. shayad vah samane ke raste se kahian ja raha tha aur shoragul sunakar andar ghus aya tha. pal-bhar mean sau kanth ek sath chitkar kar uthe, "o re, bagh hai bagh! bhag ja re l dake, bhag ja!"

pahale to vah h dab dakar bhitar dau d aya kintu palabhar bad hi, sab hal sunakar, nirbhay ho, aangan mean utar lalaten uthakar dekhane laga.

dumanjile ki khi dakiyoan mean se auratean saans rokakar is sahasi l dake ki or dekh-dekhakar 'durga' nam japane lagian. niche bhi d mean kh de hue hiandustani sipahi use himmat bandhane lage aur abhas dene lage ki ekadh hathiyar milane par ve bhi vahaan ane ko taiyar haian!

achchhi tarah dekhakar indr ne kaha, "dvarika baboo, yah to bagh nahian maloom hota." usaki bat samapt hote n hote vah 'r aauyal bangal taigar' donoan hath jo dakar manushy ke hi svar mean ro p da aur bola, "nahian, babooji, nahian, maian bagh-bhaloo nahian, shrinath bahuroopiya hooan." indr thathakar hans p da. bhattachary mahashay kh daooan hath mean liye sabase age dau d p de-

"haramajade, tujhe darane ke lie aur koee jagah nahian mili?" phoophaji ne mahakrodh se hukm diya, "sale ko kan pak dakar lao."

kishori sianh ne use sabase pahale dekha tha, isalie usaka dava sabase prabal tha. vah gaya aur usake kan pak dakar ghasitata hua le aya. bhattachary mahashay usaki pith par jor-jor se kh daooan marane lage aur gusse ke mare danadan hiandi bolane lage-

"isi haramajade badajat ke karan meri haddi-pasali choor ho gayi hai. sale pachhahiyoan ne ghooanse mar-marakar kachoomar nikal diya."

shrinath ka makan barasat mean tha. vah har sal isi samay ek bar rozagar karane ata tha. kal bhi vah is ghar mean narad banakar gana suna gaya tha. vah kabhi bhattachary mahashay ke aur kabhi phoophaji ke pair pak dane laga. bola, "l dakoan ne itana adhik bhayabhit hokar, aur divat ludhakakar, aisa bhishan kand macha diya ki maian svayan bhi mare dar ke us vriksh ki a d mean jakar chhip gaya. sochata tha ki kuchh shanti hone par, bahar akar, apana svaang dikhakar jaooanga. kintu mamala uttarottar aisa hota gaya ki meri phir himmat hi nahian huee."

shrinath arajoo-minnat karane laga; kintu phoophaji ka krodh kam hua hi nahian. buaji svayan oopar se bolian, "tumhare bhagy bhale the jo sachamuch ka bagh-bhaloo nahian nikala, nahian, to jaise bahadur tum aur tumhare daraban haian- chho d do bechare ko, aur door kar do dayodhi ke in pachhahiyaan darabanoan ko. ek jara se l dake mean jo sahas hai utana ghar-bhar ke sab adamiyoan mean milakar bhi nahian hai." phoophaji ne koee bat hi n suni; varanh unhoanne buaji ke is abhiyog par aankhean ghumakar aisa bhav dharan kiya ki mano ichchha karate hi ve in sab batoan ka kafi aur maqool javab de sakate haian, parantu chooanki auratoan ki batoan ka uttar dene ki koshish karana bhi purush jati ke lie apamanakarak hai isalie, aur bhi garam hokar hukm diya, "isaki pooanchh kat dalo." tab usaki rangin kap de se lipati huee ghas ki bani lambi pooanchh kat dali gayi, aur use bhaga diya gaya. buaji oopar se gusse mean bolian, "pooanchh ko sanbhalakar rakh chho do, kisi samay kam aegi!"

indr ne meri or dekhakar kaha, "maloom p data hai, tum isi makan mean rahate ho, shrikaant!"

maianne kaha, "haan, tum, itani rat ko kahaan jate the?"

indr hansakar bola, "rat kahaan hai re, abhi to sandhyas huee hai. maian jata hooan apani doangi par machhali pak dane. chalata hai?"

maianne darakar poochha, "itane andhakar mean doangi par chadhoge?"

vah phir hansa, bola, "dar kya hai re? isi mean to maja hai. sivay isake kya aandhera hue bagair machhaliyaan paee ja sakati haian? tairana janata hai?"

"khoob janata hooan."

"to phir chal bhaee." yah kahakar usane mera hath pak d liya. kaha, "maian akela itane bahav mean us taraph ko nav nahian le sakata, aise hi kisi ki khoj mean tha jo dare nahian."

maianne phir kuchh n kaha. usaka hath pak de hue chupachap raste par a pahuancha. pahale to mano mujhe apane ap par hi vishvas n hua ki sachamuch hi us ratri ko maian nav chalane ja raha hooan, kyoanki jis ahnan ke akarshan se us stabdh nibi d nisha mean, ghar ke samast shasan-pash ko tuchchh samajhakar, akela bahar chala aya tha vah kitana b da akarshan tha, yah us samay vicharakar dekh sakana mere lie sadhyu hi nahian tha. adhik samay bitane ke poorv hi gosaeean bag ke us bhayankar van-path ke samane a upasthit hua aur indr ka anusaran karata hua svapnavisht purush ki bhaanti use parakar ganga ke kinare ja pahuancha.

kank d-pattharoan ka kh da kinara hai. sir ke oopar ek bahut prachin baragad ka vriksh moortiman andhakar ke saman chupachap kh da hai aur usi ke qarib tis hath niche soochibhedy andhakar ke tal mean, poori barasat ka gambhir jal-srot chattanoan se takarakar, bhanvaroan ki rachana karata hua, uddam veg se dau d raha hai. dekha ki, usi sthan par indr ki chhoti-si nav bandhi huee hai. oopar se dekhane par aisa maloom hua mano us khoob tej jal-dhara ke mukh par kele ke phool ka ek chhota-sa chhilaka lagatar takara-takarakar mar raha hai.

maian svayan bhi bilkural darapok nahian tha. kintu jab indr ne oopar se niche tak latakati huee ek rassi dikhalakar kaha, "doangi ki is rassi ko pak dakar chupachap niche utar ja; savadhani se utarana, phisal gaya to phir khojane se bhi tera pata nahian lagega." tab darasal meri chhati dh dak uthi. jan p da ki yah asambhav hai, phir bhi mere lie to rassi ka sahara hai-"kintu tum kya karoge?"

usane kaha, "tere niche jate hi maian rassi khol dooanga aur phir niche utarooanga. dar ki bat nahian hai, mere niche utarane ke lie bahut-si ghas ki j dean jhool rahi haian." aur kuchh n kahakar maian rassi ke sahare b di savadhani se bamushkil niche utarakar nav par baith gaya. isake bad usane rassi khol di aur vah jhool gaya. vah kis chiz ke sahare niche utarane laga so maian aj bhi nahian janata hooan! dar ke mare meri chhati itane zor se dh dakane lagi ki usaki aur maian dekh bhi n saka. do-tin minat tak vipul jal-dhara ke unmatt garjan ke sivay kahian se koee shabd bhi nahian sunaee diya. ekaek ek halaki-si hansi ke shabd se chauankakar muanh phiraya to dekhata hooan ki indr ne donoan hathoan se doangi ko zor se dhakka dekar thel diya hai aur ap koodakar us par chadh baitha hai. kshudr tari ek chakkar-sa khakar nakshatr-veg se bahane lagi.

kuchh hi der mean samane aur pichhe sab kuchh saghan andhakar se lip-putakar ekakar ho gaya. rah gayi dahini or baeean or donoan simaoan tak phaili huee vipul uddam jal ki dhara, aur usake oopar khoob tezise chalane vali vah chhoti-si nav aur us par kishoravay ke do balak. yadyapi prakriti devi ke aparimey gambhir roop ko samajhane ki umr vah nahian thi, kintu use maian aj bhi nahian bhool saka hooan. vayuhin, nishkamp, nistabdh, ni:sang, nishithani ki mano vah ek virat kali moorti thi. usake nibi d kale baloan se akash aur prithvi dhank gayi thi aur us soochi-bhedy andhakar ko vidirn karake, karal dadhoan ki rekha ke saman, us digant-vistrit tivr jaladhara se mano ek tarah ki adbhut nishchal dyuti, nishthur dabi huee hansi ke saman, bikhar rahi thi. asapas aur samane, kahian to jal ki unmatt dhara tal desh mean jakar tatha oopar ko uthakar phat p dati thi, kahian paraspar ke pratikool gati sanghat se avartoan ki rachana karati huee chakkar khati thi, aur kahian apratihit jal-pravah pagal ki tarah dau da ja raha tha.

hamari doangi ek kone se doosare kone ki or ja rahi hai, bas itana hi maloom ho raha tha. kintu us par ke us durbhedy andhakar mean, kis jagah lakshy sthir karake, indr hal ko pak de chupachap baitha hai, yah maian kuchh n janata tha. is umr mean vah kitana pakka majhi ban gaya tha, isaki mujhe us samay kalpana bhi n thi. ekaek vah bola- "kyoan re shrikaant, dar lagata hai kya?"

maian bola, "nahian."

indr khush hokar bola, "yahi to chahie. jab tairana ata hai tab phir dar kis bat ka?" pratyuttar mean maianne ek chhote-se ni:shvas ko daba diya ki kahian vah sun n le. kintu, aisi gahari aandheri rat mean, aisi jal-rashi aur aise durjay pravah mean, tairana janane aur n janane mean kya antar hai, so meri samajh mean n a saka. usane bhi aur koee bat nahian kahi. bahut der tak isi tarah chalate rahane ke bad kahian se kuchh avaj-si aee, jo ki asphut aur kshin thi, kintu nauka jaise-jaise agrasar hone lagi vaise hi vaise vah avaz bhi spasht aur prabal hone lagi. mano logoan ka bahut door se ata hua kruddh ahnan ho- mano kitane hi badha-vighnoan ko laanghakar, hatakar, vah ahnan hamare kanoan tak a pahuancha ho. vah ahnan thaka hua-sa tha, phir bhi n usamean viram tha aur n vichchhed hi- mano unaka krodh n kam hota tha n badhata hi tha aur n thamana hi chahata tha. bich-bich mean ekadh dapha 'bhaph-bhaph shabd bhi hota th. maianne poochha, "indr yah kahe ki avaz sun p dati hai?" usane nauka ka muanh kuchh aur sidha karake kaha, "jal ke pravah se us par ke kagare, toot-tootakar gir rahe haian, usi ka yah shabd hai."

maianne poochha, "kitane b de kagare haian? aur kaisa pravah hai?"

"b da bhayanak pravah hai. oh! tabhi to- kal pani baras gaya hai,- aj usake tale se n gaya jaeega. kahian ek bhi kagara gir p da to nav aur ham sabhi pis jaanyage. achchha, too to daan d chala sakata hai n?"

"chala sakata hooan."

"to chala."

maianne daan d chalana shuroo kar diya. indr ne kaha, "vahi, vahi jo bayian or kala-kala dikh p data hai, vah ch da¹ hai. usake bich mean se ek nahar-si gayi hai, usi mean se hokar nikal jana hoga- parantu bahut ahiste. agar kahian dhivaroan ko jara bhi pata lag gaya, to phir lautana n ho sakega. ve laggi ki mar se sir pho dakar isi kich d mean ga d deange."

yah kya? maianne darate hue kaha, "to phir us nahar mean hokar mat chalo." indr ne shayad kuchh hansakar kaha, "aur to koee rasta hi nahian hai. usake bhitar hokar to jana hi hoga. dvip ke bayian or ki rehan ko thelakar to jahaz bhi nahian ja sakata- phir ham kaise jaanyage? lautati mean vapis a sakate haian kintu ja nahian sakate." "to phir machhaliyoan ke churane ki zaroorat nahian hai bhiya." kahakar maianne daan d oopar utha liya. palak marate hi nav chakkar khakar laut chali. indr khijh utha. usane ahiste se jhi dakate hue kaha, "to phir aya kyoan? chal-tujhe vapis pahuancha aooan. kayar kahian ka!" us samay maianne chaudah poore karake pandrahavean mean pair rakkha tha. maian kayar? jhat se daan d ko pani mean pheankakar pranapran se khene laga. indr khush hokar bola, "yahi to chahie, kintu bhaee dhire-dhire chalao- sale bahut paji haian. maian jhaoo ke van ke pas se, makee ke khetoan ke bhitar hokar, is tarah bachakar le chalooanga ki saloan ko jara bhi pata n p dega!" phir kuchh hansakar bola, "aur yadi saloan ko pata lag bhi gaya to kya? pak d lena kya itana sahaj hai? dekh shrikaant, kuchh bhi dar nahian hai- yah thik hai ki un saloan ki char navean haian- kintu yadi dekho ki ghir hi gaye haian, aur bhag jane ki koee jugat nahian hai, to chat se koodakar dubaki laga jana aur jitani door tak ho sake utani door jakar nikalana, bas kam ban jaeega. is andhakar mean dekh sakane ka to koee upay hi nahian hai- usake bad maje se satooya ke tile par chadhakar bhor ke samay tairakar is par a jaanyage aur ganga ke kinare-kinare ghar pahuanch jaanyage- bas, phir kya kar leange sale hamara?"

¹ nadi mean mitti jamakar jo dvip jaise ban jate haian unhean 'ch da' kahate haian.

yah nam maianne suna tha; kaha, "satooya ka tila to 'ghor' nale ke samane hai, vah to bahut door hai."

indr ne upeksha ke bhav se kaha, "kahaan, bahut door hai? chh:-sat kos bhi to n hoga! tairate-tairate yadi hath bhar avean to chitt hokar susta lena; isake sivay, murde jalane ke kam ae hue bahut-se b de-b de lakk d bhi to bahate mil jaanyage."

atm-raksha ka jo saral rasta tha so usane dikha diya, usamean prativad karane ki koee guanjaish nahian thi. us aandheri rat mean, jisamean dishaoan ka koee chihn najar n ata tha, aur us tej jal-pravah mean, jisamean jagah-jagah bhayanak avatt p d rahe the, sat kos tak tairakar jana aur phir bhor hone ki pratiksha karate rahana! savere se pahale is taraph ke kinare par chadhane ka koee upay nahian. das-pandrah hath ooancha kh da hua baloo ka kagara hai, jo tootakar sir par a sakata hai,- aur isi taraph ganga ka pravah bhishan takkarean leta hua ardhdavrittakar dau da ja raha hai.

vastusthiti ka aspasht abhas pakar hi mera vistrit vir-hriday siku dakar bindu jaisa rah gaya. kuchh der tak daan d chalakar maian bola, "kintu hamari nav ka kya hoga?" indr bola, "us din bhi maian thik isi tarah bhaga tha, aur usake doosare hi din akar nav nikal le gaya tha- kah diya tha ki ghat par se doangi chori karake koee aur le aya hoga- maian nahian laya."

to yah sab isaki kalpana hi nahian hai- bilkuyal pariksha kiya hua pratyaksh saty hai! kramash: nauka kha di ke samane a pahuanchi. dekh p da ki machhuoan ki navean katar baandhakar kha di ke muhane par kh di haian aur unamean die bhi timatima rahe haian. do tiloan ke bich ka vah jal-pravah nahar ki tarah maloom hota tha. ghoomakar ham log us nahar ke doosare kinare par jakar upasthit ho gaye. us jagah jal ke veg se anek muhane se ban gaye haian aur jangali jhaoo ke pe doan ne paraspar ek-doosare ko ot mean kar rakkha hai. unamean se ek ke bhitar hokar kuchh door jane se hi ham nahar ke bhitar ja pahuanche. dhivaroan ki navean vahaan se door par kh di huee kali-kali jha diyoan ki tarah dikhaee p dati thian. aur bhi kuchh door jane par ham uddisht sthan par pahuanch gaye.

dhivar devataoan ne, nahar ka sianhadvar surakshit hai-yah samajhakar is sthan par pahara nahian rakkha tha. ise 'maya-jal' kahate haian. nahar mean jab pani rahata hai tab is kinare se lekar us kinare tak ooanche-ooanche latth mazabooti se ga d die jate haian aur unake bahari or jal taang diya jata hai. bad mean varsha ke samay, jab jal ke pravah mean b de-b de rohoo, katala adi machchh bah kar ate haian, tab in latthoan se badha pakar ve koodakar is bajoo a jana chahate haian aur dori ke jal mean phans jate haian.

das-pandrah bis ser ke paanch-chhah rohoo-katala machchh dam-bhar mean pak dakar indr ne nav par rakh liye. viratakay machchharaj apani pooanchhoan ki phatakar se hamari us chhoti-si nauka ko choorn-vichoorn kar dalane ka upakram karane lage aur unaka shabd bhi kuchh kam nahian hua.

"itani machhaliyoan ka kya hoga, bhaee?"

"zaroorat hai. bas, ab aur nahian, chalo bhag chalean." kahakar usane jal chho d diya. ab daan d chalane ki zaroorat nahian rahi. maian chupachap baith raha. usi prakar chhipe-chhipe usi raste se bahar jana tha. anukool bahav mean do-tin minat prakhar gati se bahane ke uparant, ekaek ek sthan par mano jara dhakka khakar, hamari vah chhoti doangi pas ke makee ke khet mean pravesh kar gayi. usake is akasmik gati-parivartan se maianne chakit hokar poochha, "kyoan? kya hua?"

indr ne ek or dhakka dekar, use kuchh aur bhi andar le jate hue kaha, "chup, saloan ko maloom ho gaya hai- char navoan ko kholakar sale yahian a rahe haian-vah dekho." indr thik kah raha tha. zor ke sath jal ko katati aur 'chhap-chhaph' shabd karati huee tin naukaean hamean nigal jane ke lie krishnakay daityoan ke saman dau di a rahi thian. us taraph to jal se rasta band tha; aur is taraph se ye log a rahe the- bhagakar chhutakara pane ka jara-sa bhi avakash nahian tha. is makee ke khet ke bich apane apako chhipaya ja sakega, yah bhi mujhe sambhav nahian jan p da.

"ab kya hoga bhaee." kahate-kahate hi adamy vashpochchhavas se mera kanth ruddh ho gaya. is andhakar mean, is pianjare ke bhitar, agar ye log hamara khoon karake bhi is khet mean ga d dean, to inhean kaun rokega?"

isake pahale paanch-chhah bar indr 'chori ki vidya b di vidya hai', is bat ko sapraman siddh karake nirvighn nikal gaya tha; itane din, pichha kiye jane par bhi hath n aya tha, kintu aj?

usane mukh se kaha ki, "dar ki koee bat nahian hai." kintu mano gala usaka kaanp gaya. kintu vah ruka nahian, pran-pran se laggi thelakar dhire-dhire bhitar chhipane ki cheshta karane laga. samast tika jalamay ho gaya tha. usake oopar ath-ath, das-das hath lambe makee aur jvar ke pe d the aur bhitar ham donoan chor. kahian to pani chhati tak tha, kahian kamar tak aur kahian ghutanoan se adhik nahian. oopar nibi d andhakar aur age-pichhe dayean-bayean nirbhedy jangal. laggi kich d mean dhaansane lagi aur doangi ab ek hath bhi age nahian badhati. pichhe se dhivaroan ki aspasht batachit kanoan mean ane lagi. is bat mean ab jara bhi sanshay nahian raha ki kuchh sandeh karake hi ve log chale haian aur ab bhi khojate phir rahe haian.

sahasa doangi ek or kuchh jhukakar sidhi ho gayi. aankh uthakar dekha ki maian akela hi rah gaya hooan, doosara vyakti nahian hai. darate hue maianne avaz di, "indr." paanch-chhah hath door van ke bich se avaz aee, "maian niche hooan."

"niche kyoan?"

"doangi khianchakar nikalani hogi. meri kamar se rassi bandhi hai."

"khianchakar kahaan le jaoge?"

"us ganga mean. tho di hi door le jane par b di dhara mil jaegi."

sunakar maian chup ho gaya aur kram-kram se dhire-dhire age badhane laga. akasmath kuchh door par van ke bich kanastar pitane aur phate baansoan ke phataphat shabd se maian chauank utha. darate hue maianne poochha, "vah kya hai bhaee?" usane uttar diya, "khetihar log machan par baithe hue jangali sooaroan ko bhaga rahe haian."

"jangali sooar! kahaan haian ve?" indr nav khianchate-khianchate laparavahi se bola, "mujhe kya dikh p date haian, jo bataooan? hoange yahian kahian." javab sunakar maian stabdh ho raha. socha, kisaka muanh dekha tha aj subah! saresham hi to aj ghar ke bhitar bagh ke hath p d gaya tha, ab yadi is jangal mean banaile sooaroan ke hath p d jaooan, to isamean vichitr hi kya hai? phir bhi maian to nav mean baitha hooan, kintu, yah adami, chhati tak kich d aur jal mean, is jangal ke bhitar kh da hai! ek qadam hilane-dulane ka upay bhi to isake pas nahian hai! koee pandrah minat isi tarah soch-vichar mean nikal gaye. aur bhi ek vastu par maian dhyayan de raha tha. aksar dekhata tha ki pas hi kisi n kisi jvar ya makee ke pe d ka agala hissa ekaek hilane lagata tha aur 'chhap-chhap' shabd hota tha. ek daphe to mere hath ke pas hi harakat huee. sashank hokar us taraph maianne indr ka dhya n akarshit kiya ki "b da sooar n sahi, koee bachcha-kachcha ho nahian hai?"

indr ne atyant sahaj bhav se uttar diya, "vah, kuchh nahian-saanp lipate haian; ahat pakar jal mean kood p date haian."

"kuchh nahian, saanp!" kaanpakar maian nav ke bich siku dakar baith gaya. asphut svar mean poochha, "kaise saanp bhaee?"

indr ne kaha, "sab kism ke saanp haian!-toanda, boanda, kauandiyal, kale adi. pani mean bahate-bahate ae aur jha doan mean lipat rahe- kahian bhi to sookhi zamin nahian hai, dekhate nahian ho?"

"so to dekhata hooan." bhay ke mare mere to pairoan ke nakh se lekar sir ke bal tak kh de ho gaye. parantu us bhale manus ne bhoorakshep tak n kiya, apana kam karate-karate hi vah kahane laga, "kintu ye katate nahian hai. ye khud hi bechare dar ke mare mare ja rahe haian, do-tin to mere hi sharir ko chhoote hue bhag gaye haian. kee ek to khoob mote haian, maloom p data hai ki ve toanda, boanda hoange. aur yadi kadachith kat hi khayan, to kya kiya jae, marana to ek din hoga hi bhaee! isi prakar vah aur bhi kuchh apane mridu svabhavik kanth se bolata raha, mere kanoan tak kuchh to pahuancha aur kuchh nahian pahuancha. maian nirvakh, nishpand kath ke saman j d hokar ek hi sthan par ek hi bhav se baitha raha. shvas chho dane mean bhi mano bhay maloom hone laga- 'chhap' se kahian koee meri nav mean hi n a gire.

aur chahe jo ho, kintu vah kya adami hai?, manushy devata, pishach-vah kya hai? kisake sath maian is jangal mean ghoom raha hooan? yadi manushy hai to kya vah nahian janata ki is vishv-sansar mean bhay nam ki bhi koee chiz hoti hai? hriday kya usaka patthar se bana hai? kya vah hamari hi tarah siku data-phailata nahian hai? to phir us din, khel ke maidan mean, sabake bhag jane par, bilkushal aparichit hote hue bhi, mujhe akele ko nirvighn bahar nikal dene ke lie jo vah shatruoan ke madhyad mean ghus aya tha, so kya vah daya-maya bhi is patthar mean hi vinihit thi? aur aj vipatti ka sab hal raee-raee, til-til, janate-sunate hue bhi chupachap akuanthit chitt se vah is bhayavah aur ati bhishan mrityu ke mukh mean utarakar kh da hai. ek bar muanh se yah bhi nahian kahata ki "shrikaant bhaee, ek bar too niche utar a." vah to mujhe jabaran niche utarakar nauka khianchava sakata tha. yah keval khel to hai nahian! jivan aur mrityu ke amane-samane kh de hokar is umr mean, aisa svarth-tyag kitane adamiyoan ne kiya hai? bina adambar ke kitane sahaj bhav se usane kah diya ki, 'marana to ek din hoga hi bhaee.' kitane log aisi sach bat kahate dikhaee dete haian? yah sach hai ki is vipatti mean vahi mujhe khianch laya hai, phir bhi usake itane b de svarth-tyag ko manushy ki deh dharan karate hue maian kis tarah bhool jaooan bhala? kis tarah bhoolooan use,- jisake hriday ke bhitar se itana b da ayachit dan itani saralata se bahar a gaya? us hriday ko kisane kis chiz se gadha hoga? usake bad kitane kal aur kitane sukh-du:khoan mean se hokar maian aj is budhape ko prapt hua hooan. kitane desh, kitane prant, kitane nad-nadi, paha d-parvat, van-jangal, ghooma phira hooan-kitane prakar ke manushy in do aankhoan ke samane se gujar gaye haian- kintu itana b da mahapran vyakti to aur kabhi dekhane ko nahian mila! parantu vah ab nahian raha, akasmath ek din mano budbu ki tarah shoony mean mil gaya. aj usaki yad ate hi donoan sookhi aankhean jal se bhar ati haian, keval ek nishphal abhiman hriday ke tal-desh ko alo dit karake oopar ki or phen ke maphik tair ata hai. he srishtikarta! kyoan toone us adbhut, aparthiv vastu ko srisht karake bheja tha aur is prakar vyarth karake kyoan use vapis bula liya? b di hi vyatha se mera yah asahishnu man aj barambar yahi prashn karata hai- bhagavan! tumhean rupaya-paisa, dhan-daulat, vidya-buddhi to apane akhoot, bhandar se dher ki dher dete hue dekhata hooan kintu itane b de mahapran vyakti aj tak tum kitane de sake ho? khair, jane do is bat ko. ghor jal-kallol kramash: pas mean ata-jata hai, is bat ko maian jan raha tha; isalie aur koee saval kiye bagair maianne samajh liya ki is jangal ke bich mean hi vah bhishan pravah pravahi‍t ho raha hai jisako stimar bhi par nahian kar pate. maian khoob anubhav kar raha tha ki pani ka veg badh raha hai aur dhoosar varn ka phen ka puanj vistrit ret-rashi ka bhram utpann kar raha hai. indr nauka par chadh aya aur daan d ko hath mean lekar samane ke uddam srot ka samana karane ko taiyar ho baitha. vah bola, "ab koee dar nahian hai, ham b di ganga mean a pahuanche haian." maianne man hi man kaha- ab, dar nahian hai to achchha hai. kintu dar tumhean kahe ka hai so to maian samajha hi nahian. kshan-bhar bad hi nauka ek bar mano sir se pair tak kaanp uthi aur palak marane ke pahale hi maianne dekha ki vah b di ganga ke srot mean p dakar ulka ke veg se dau di ja rahi hai.

us samay chhinn badaloan ki a d mean maloom hua, mano chandrama uday ho raha hai kyoanki jaise andhakar mean ham abhi tak yatra karate a rahe the vaisa andhakar ab nahian raha tha. ab bahut door tak, chahe saf bhale hi n ho, dikhaee dene laga tha. maianne dekha jangali jhaoo aur makee-juaravala tila dahini or chho dakar hamari nav sidhi chali ja rahi hai.

000

"bahut zor se niand a rahi hai indr, ab ghar laut chalo bhaee!" indr ne kuchh hansakar thik stri-sulabh snehardr komal svar mean kaha, "niand ane ki to bat hi hai bhiya, par kya kiya jae shrikaant aj to kuchh der hogi hi- abhi bahut-sa kam p da hai. achchha ek kam karo n, isi jagah tho da-sa let lo."

dubara anurodh ki zaroorat hi nahian huee, maian gu damu d hokar usi sthan par let gaya. parantu niand nahian aee. adhamuandi aankhoan se maian chupachap akash mean badaloan aur chaand ki aankh-michauni dekhane laga. yah dooba, vah nikala, phir dooba, hansa. aur kan mean ane lagi jal-pravah ki, vahi satat huankar. yah ek hi bat pray: mere man mean aya karati hai ki maian us din is prakar sab kuchh bhool-bhalakar badaloan aur chandrama ke bich kaise doob gaya tha? tanmay hokar chaand dekhane ki avastha to meri us samay thi nahian. kintu b de-boodhe log prithvi ke anek vyapar dekh-sunakar kaha karate haian ki yah bahari chaand kuchh nahian hai, badal bhi kuchh nahian hai- sab maya hai, mithya hai, darasal kuchh chiz hai to yah apana man hai. vah jab jise jo dikhata hai vibhor hokar tab vah keval vahi dekhata hai. meri bhi yahi dasha thi. itane prakar ki bhayankar ghatanaoan mean se, is prakar sahi-salamat bahar nikal ane ke uparant, mera nirjiv man, us samay, shayad, aisi hi kisi ek shant tasavir ke bhitar vishram lena chahata tha. itane mean ghante-do ghante nikal gaye, jinaki mujhe khabar hi nahian huee. ekaek mujhe maloom hua ki mano chaand badaloan ke bich ek lambi dubaki laga gaya hai, aur ekaek dahini or se baeean or jakar apana muanh bahar nikal raha hai. gardan kuchh oopar uthakar dekha, nauka ab us par jane ki taiyari mean hai. prashn karane athava kuchh kahane ka udyam bhi, shayad us samay mujhamean shesh nahian tha; isalie maian phir usi tarah let gaya. phir vahi aankhean bharakar pravah ka garjan-tarjan dekhane-sunane laga. shayad is tarah ek ghanta aur bhi bit gaya.

khash-se-ret ke tile par nauka takaraee. vyast hokar maian uthakar baith gaya. are, yah to is par a pahuanche. parantu yah jagah kaun-si hai? ghar mera kitani door hai? ret ke dher ke sivay aur to kahian kuchh dikh hi nahian raha hai? saval karane ke pahale hi ekaek kahian pas hi kuttoan ka bhooankana sunakar maian aur bhi sidha hokar baith gaya. nishchay hi kahian pas mean basti hai.

indr bola, "tanik thahar shrikaant, maian tho da-sa ghoomakar abhi laut aooanga- tujhe ab kuchh dar nahian hai. is kagare ke us par hi dhivaroan ke makan haian."

sahas ki itani parikshaean pas karane ke uparant ant mean yahaan akar phel ho jane ki meri bilkunal ichchha nahian thi; aur khas karake manushy ki is kishor avastha mean, jisake saman maha-vismayakari vastu sansar mean shayad aur koee nahian hai. ek to vaise hi manushy ki manasik gatividhi bahut hi durjey hoti hai; aur phir kishor-kishori ke man ka bhav to, maian samajhata hooan, bilkunal hi ajney hai. isilie shayad, shrivrindavan ke un kishor-kishori ki kishoralila chirakal se aise rahasy se achchhadit chali ati hai. buddhi ke dvara grahy n kar sakane ke karan kisi ne use kaha, 'achchhi' kisi ne kaha, 'buri'-kisi ne 'niti' ki duhaee di, kisi ne 'ruchi' ki aur kisi ne koee bhi bat n suni-ve tark-vitark ke samast gheroan ka ullaghann kar bahar ho gaye. jo bahar ho gaye, ve doob gaye, pagal ho gaye; aur nachakar, rokar, gakar-ekakar karake sansar ko unhoanne mano ek pagalakhana bana chho da. tab, jin logoan ne 'buri' kahakar galiyaan di thian unhoanne bhi kaha ki- aur chahe jo ho kintu, aisa ras ka jharana aur kahian nahian hai. jinaki 'ruchi' ke sath is lila ka mel nahian milata tha unhoanne bhi svikar kiya- is pagaloan ke dal ko chho dakar hamane aisa gan aur kahian nahian suna. kintu yah ghatana jis ashray ko lekar ghatit huee, jo sada puratan hai, aur sath hi chir-nootan bhi- vrindavan ke van-van mean hone vali kishor-kishori ki us sundaratam lila ka ant kisane kab khoj paya hai, jisake nikat vedant tuchchh hai aur mukti-phal jisaki tulana mean barish ke age vari-bindu ke saman kshudr hai! n kisi ne khoj paya hai aur n koee kabhi khoj payega. isilie to maianne kaha ki us samay meri vahi kishor avastha thi. bhale hi us samay yauvan ka tej aur dridhata n aee ho, parantu phir bhi usaka dambh to akar hajir ho gaya tha! atmasamman ki akaanksha to hriday mean sajag ho gayi thi! us samay apane sakha ke nikat apane ko kaun darapok siddh karana chahega? isalie maianne usi dam javab diya, "maian darooanga kyoan? achchha to hai, jao." indr ne aur doosara vaky kharch n kiya aur vah jaldi-jaldi pair badhata hua adrishy ho gaya.

oopar sir par andhakar-prakash ki vah aankh-michauni ho rahi thi, pichhe bahut door tak avishrant satat garjan-tarjan ho raha tha aur samane vahi reti ka kinara tha. yah kaun sthan hai, soch hi raha tha ki indr dau data hua akar kh da ho gaya. bola, "shrikaant, tujhase ek bat kahane ko laut aya hooan. yadi koee machchh maangane ave to khabaradar dena nahian- kahe deta hooan, khabaradar, haragij n dena. thik mere saman roop banakar yadi koee ave, to bhi mat dena. kahana, tere muanh par dhool, ichchha ho to too khud hi utha le ja, khabaradar! hath se kisi ko uthakar n dena, bhale hi maian hi kyoan n hoooan- khabaradar!"

"kyoan bhaee?"

"lautane par bataooanga- kintu khabaradar." yah kahate-kahate vah jaise aya tha vaise hi dau data hua chala gaya.

is daphe nakh se shikh tak mere sab roangate kh de ho gaye. jan p da ki mano sharir ki pratyek shira upashira mean se baraph ka gala hua pani bah chala hai. maian bilkuyal bachcha to tha nahian, jo usake ishare ka matalab bilkuanl n bhaanp sakata! mere jivan mean aisi anek ghatanaean ghat chuki haian jinaki tulana mean yah ghatana samudr ke age gau ke khur ke gadhe mean bhare hue pani ke saman thi. kintu phir bhi is ratri ki yatra mean jo bhay maianne anubhav kiya, use bhasha mean vyakt nahian kiya ja sakata. maloom hota tha ki bhay ke mare hosh-havas gum karane ki antim sidhi par akar hi maianne pair rakh diya hai. pratikshan jan p data tha ki kagar ke us taraph se mano koee jhaank-jhaankakar dekh raha hai. jaise hi maian tirachhi drishti se dekhata hooan, vaise hi mano vah sir nicha karake chhip jata hai.

samay katata nahian tha. mano indr ne jane kitane yug hue chala gaya hai- aur laut nahian raha hai.

aisa maloom hua mano kisi manushy ki avaz suni ho. janeoo ko aangoothe mean saik doan bar lapetakar mukh nicha karake kan kh de karake sunane laga. gale ki avaz kramash: adhik saf hone lagi, achchhi tarah maloom p dane laga ki do-tin adami batachit karate hue isi tarah a rahe haian. unamean se ek to indr hai aur baki do hiandustani. ve hoan chahe jo, kintu unake mukh ki or dekhane ke poorv maianne yah achchhi tarah dekh liya ki chaandani mean unaki chhaya zamin par p di hai ya nahian! kyoanki is avi-sanvadi saty ko maian chhutapan se hi achchhi tarah janata tha ki 'un logoan' (bhootoan) ki chhaya nahian p dati!"

a:, yah to chhaya hai! utani hi saph, phir bhi chhaya hai! sansar mean us din kisi bhi adami ne aur kisi vastu ko dekhakar, kya mere jaisi tripti paee hogi? paee ho ya n paee ho, parantu yah bat to maian bazi lagakar kah sakata hooan ki drishti ka charam anand jise kahate haian, vah yahi tha. jo log ae unhoanne asadharan tezise un b de-b de machchhoan ko nav mean se uthakar ek jal jaise vastr ke tuk de mean baandh liya, aur usake badale mean unhoanne indr ki mutthi mean jo kuchh thama diya usane 'khanh' se ek mridu-madhur shabd karake apana parichay bhi mere age poornat: gupt n rahane diya.

indr ne nav khol di; parantu bahav mean nahian chho di. dhar ke pas-pas, pravah ke pratikool, laggi se thelate hue vah dhire-dhire agrasar hone laga.

maianne koee bat nahian kahi, kyoanki mera man us samay usake viruddh ghrina ke bhav se aur ek prakar ke kshobh se labalab bhar gaya tha. kintu yah kya! abhi-abhi hi to use chandrama ke prakash mean chhaya dalate hue, lautate dekhakar adhir anand se dau dakar chhati se laga lene ke lie unmukh ho utha tha!

haan, so manushy ka svabhav hi aisa hai. tanik-sa dosh dekhate hi, kuchh kshanapoorv ki sabhi batean bhoolate use kitani-si der lagati hai! ram! ram! ram! usane is tarah rupaye prapt kiye! ab tak machhali churane ka yah vyapar mere man mean, bahut spasht taur se, chori ke roop mean shayad sthan n pa saka tha! kyoanki l dakapan se hi, rupaye paisoan ki chori hi mano vastavik chori hai-aur sab, aniti bhale hi ho kintu, n jane kyoan thik-thik chori nahian hai- is tarah ki adbhut dharana pray: sabhi l dakoan ki hoti hai. meri bhi yahi dharana thi. aisa n hota to is 'khanh' shabd ke kan mean jate hi itane samay ka itana viratv, itana paurush, sab kuchh kshan-bhar mean is prakar shushk trin ke saman n jh d jata. yadi un machchhoan ko ganga mean pheank diya jata- athava aur kuchh kiya jata- keval rupayoan ke sath unaka sansarg ghatit n hota, phir bhi hamari us matsy-sangrah-yatra ko koee 'chori' kahakar pukarata, to shayad gusse mean akar maian usaka sir pho d deta aur samajhata ki usane vastav mean jo saza milani chahie vahi paee hai- kintu ram! ram! yah kya! yah kam to jelakhane ke kaidi kiya karate haian!

indr ne bat shuroo ki poochha, "tujhe doosara bhi dar n laga, kyoan re shrikaant?"

maianne sankshep mean javab diya, "nahian!"

indr bola, "kintu tere siva vahaan aur koee baitha n rah sakata, yah janata hai too? tujhe maian khoob pyar karata hooan- mera aisa dost aur koee nahian hai. maian ab jab aooanga, sirph tujhe hi laooanga. kyoan?"

maianne javab nahian diya. kintu isi samay usake mukh par turant ke megh mukt chandrama ka jo prakash p da, usase mukh par jo kuchh dikhaee diya usase ekaek maian apana itani der ka sab krodh, kshobh bhool gaya. maianne poochha, "achchha indr, tumane kabhi 'un sab ko1 dekha hai?"

"kin sabako?"

"vahi jo machchh maangane ate haian?"

"nahian bhaee, dekha to nahian hai, lekin log jo kahate haian vah suna hai."

"achchha tum yahaan akele a sakate ho?"

indr hansa, bola, "maian to akela hi aya karata hooan."

"dar nahian lagata?"

"nahian ram ka nam leta hooan, phir ve kisi tarah nahian a sakate."

kuchh der rukakar phir kahana shuroo kiya, "ram-nam kya koee sadharan chiz hai re? yadi too ram ka nam lete-lete saanp ke muanh mean chala jae, to tera kuchh n bigadega. dekhega, ki mare dar ke sabhi rasta chho dakar bhagane lage haian. kintu darane se kam nahian chalata. tab to ve jan jate haian ki, yah sirph chalaki kar raha hai-ve sab antaryami jo haian!"

reti ka kinara khatm hote hi kank doan ka kinara shuroo ho gaya. us par ki apeksha is par pani ka bahav bahut kam tha. balki yahaan to maloom hua mano bahav ulati taraph ja raha hai. indr ne laggi uthakar karn (patavar) hath mean lete hue kaha, "vah jo samane van sarikha dikh p data hai, usi mean se hokar hamean jana hai. yahaan jara maian utarooanga. jaooanga aur a jaooanga. der n lagegi. kyoan utar jaooan?"

1. 'un sab' se tatpary bhootoan ka hai. bangal mean pravad hai ki akele mean bhoot machhali maangane ate haian.

ichchha ne rahate bhi maianne kaha, 'achchha' kyoanki 'nahian' kahane ka rasta to maian ek prakar se ap hi band kar chuka tha. aur ab indr bhi meri nirbhikata ke sambandh mean shayad nishchint ho gaya tha. parantu bat mujhe achchhi n lagi. yahaan se vah jagah aisi jangal sarikhi aandheri dikh p dati thi ki abhi-abhi ram-nam ka asadharan mahatmy shravan karake bhi, us aandhakar mean, prachin vat-vriksh ke niche, doangi ke oopar akele baithe rahakar, itani rat ko ram-nam ka shakti-samarthy jaanch karane ki meri jara bhi pravritti nahian huee aur sharir mean kanpakanpi hone lagi. yah thik hai ki machhaliyaan aur nahian thian, isalie machhali lene valoan ka shubhagaman n ho sakega, kintu un sabaka lobh machhaliyoan ke oopar hi hai, yah bhi kaun kah sakata hai? manushy ki gardan maro d kar gunaguna rakt pine aur maans khane ka itihas bhi to suna gaya hai!

bahav ki anukoolata aur daan d ki ta dana se doangi sarrate se age badhane lagi. aur bhi kuchh der jate hi, dahini bajoo ka gardan tak dooba hua jangali jhaoo aur kaans ka van matha uthakar ham donoan asim-sahasi manav-shishuoan ki taraph vismay se stabdh ho dekhata raha aur usamean se koee-koee jha d to sir hilakar mano apana nishedh jatane laga! baeean or bhi unhian ke atmiy parijan khoob ooanche kankarile kinaroan par phaile hue the; ve bhi usi bhav se dekhate rahe aur usi tarah mana karane lage. maian agar akela hota to nishchay se unaka yah sanket amany nahian karata; parantu mera karnadhar jo tha, usake nikat aisa maloom hua ki mano ek ram-nam ke zor se unake samast avedan-nivedan ek bar hi vyarth ho gaye. usane kisi taraph bhauanhean tak n phiraeean. dahini or ke tile ke adhik vistar ke karan yah jagah ek chhoti-moti jhil ke saman ho gayi thi- sirph uttar ki or ka muanh khula hua tha. maianne poochha, "achchha, nav ko baandhakar oopar jane ka ghat to hai nahian, tum jaoge kis tarah?"

indr bola, "yah jo b daka vriksh hai, usake pas mean hi ek chhota-sa ghatahai."

kuchh der se n jane kaisi durgandh bich-bich mean hava ke sath nak tak a rahi thi. ekaek ek hava ke jhoanke ke sath vah durgandh itani nikat hokar nak mean lagi ki asahy ho gayi. jitana hi age badhate the, utani hi vah badhati thi. nak par kap da dabate hue maian bola, "nishchay se kuchh s d gaya hai, indr."

indr bola, "murde s d gaye haian. ajakal bhayanak kalara jo phail raha hai. sabhi to lashoan ko jala pate nahian, muanh par jara ag chhuakar chho dakar chale jate haian. siyar aur kutte unhean khate haian- aur ve s dati haian. unhian ki to yah itani gandh hai."

"lashoan ko kis jagah pheank jate haian, bhiya?"

"vahaan se lekar yahaan tak- sab hi to shmashan haian. jahaan chahean pheank dete haian aur is b dake niche ke ghat par snan karake ghar chale jate haian. are dur! dar kya hai re! ve siyar-siyar apas mean l d rahe haian. achchha, a-a, mere pas akar baith."

"mere gale se avaz n nikalati thi- kisi tarah maian ghisatakar usaki god ke nikat jakar baith gaya. pal-bhar ke lie mujhe sparsh karake aur hansakar vah bola, "dar kya hai shrikaant, kitani daphe rat ko maian is raste aya-gaya hooan. tin bar ram ka nam lene se phir kisaki takat hai jo pas mean phatake?"

use sparsh karake mano meri deh mean jara chetana aee. maianne asphut svar mean kaha, "nahian bhaee, tumhare donoan pair p data hooan, yahaan par kahian mat utaro- sidhe hi chale chalo." usane phir mere kandhoan par hath rakhakar kaha, "nahian shrikaant, ek daphe jana hi p dega. yah rupaye die bina kam n chalega- ve baithe rah dekh rahe hoange- maian tin din se nahian a paya."

"rupaye kal n de dena bhaee!"

"nahian bhaee, aisi bat n kar. mere sath too bhi chal- kintu kisi se yah bat kahana mat."

maian dhire se 'na' kahakar use usi tarah sparsh kiye hue, patthar ki naeean baitha raha. gala sookhakar kath ho gaya tha. kintu hath badhakar pani pi looan, ya hilane-dolane ki koee cheshta karooan, yah shakti hi nahian rahi thi.

pe doan ki chhaya ke bich mean a p dane se pas hi vah ghat dikh p da. jahaan hamean niche utarana tha vah sthan, oopar pe d vagairah n hone se, mlan jyotsarana ke prakash mean bhi khoob prakashaman ho raha tha- yah dekhakar itane du:kh mean bhi mujhe aram mila. ghat ke kank doan mean jakar doangi dhakka n kha jae, isalie indr pahale se hi utarane ke lie prastut hokar doangi ke muanh ke pas tak khisak aya tha. kinare lagate n lagate vah us par se phaand p da; par phaandate hi bhayabhit svar se 'uph' kar utha. maian usake pichhe hi tha, isalie donoan ki najar us vastu par pray: ek hi sath p di. us samay vah niche tha aur maian nauka ke oopar.

shayad mere jivan mean 'akal-mrityu' kabhi utane karuna roop mean najar nahian aee thi. vah kitani b di vyatha ka karan hoti hai, yah bat, us tarah n dekhi jae to, shayad aur tarah se jani hi nahian ja sakati. gambhir ratri mean charoan dishaean nibi d stabdhata se paripoorn thian. sirph bich-bich mean jha d-jhankha doan mean se kahian shmashanachari siyaroan ka kshudhart kalah-chitkar, kahian vrikshoan par sote hue ardhasupt brihatkay pakshiyoan ke pankhoan ki ph daph dahat aur bahut door se aya hua tivr jal pravah ka 'hoo-hoo' arttanad sun p data tha. ham donoan, in sabake bich, nirvakh nistabdh hokar us maha karun drishy ki or dekhate rahe. ek chhah-sat varsh ka gauravarn hrisht-pusht balak p da hua dikhaee diya, jisaka sarvaksh pani mean dooba hua tha aur sirph sir ghat ke oopar tha. shayad siyar hal mean hi use pani se bahar nikal rahe the, aur ab keval hamare akasmik agaman ke karan, kahian pas hi kh de hue hamare jane ki rah dekh rahe haian. bahut karake use mare hue tin-char ghante se adhik nahian hue the. mano vah bechara visoochika (haija) ki darun yatana bhogakar mata ganga ki god mean hi so gaya tha, aur maan mano b di savadhani se usaki sukumar sundar deh ko abhi-abhi apani god se utarakar bichhaune par sula rahi thi. is tarah kuchh jal aur kuchh sthal par p di huee us sote hue shishu ki deh par hamari aankhean ja p dian.

muanh oopar uthaya to dekha ki indr ki donoan aankhoan se aansuoan ke b de-b de bindu jhar rahe haian. vah bola, "too jara hatakar kh da ho ja shrikaant, maian is bechar ko, nauka mean rakhakar tile ke us jhaoo-van ke bhitar rakhe ata hooan."

yah saty hai ki usaki aankhoan mean aansoo dekhate hi meri aankhoan mean bhi aansoo a gaye, kintu is chhoone-oone ke prastav mean maian ekabaragi sankuchit ho utha. is bat ko maian asvikar nahian karata ki doosare ke du:kh mean du:khi hokar aankhoan se aansoo bahana sahaj nahian hai, kintu isi karan, us du:kh ke bich apane donoan hath badhakar jut jana- yah bahut adhik kathin kam hai. us samay chhoti-b di n jane kitani jagahoan se khianchav p data hai. avval to maian is prithvi ke shirobhoot hindoo-ghar mean vashishth ityadi ke pavitr poojy rakt ka vanshadhar hokar janma, isalie, janmagat sanskaroan ke vash maianne sikh rakkha tha ki mrit deh ko sparsh karana bhi ek bhishan kathin vyapar hai. doosare isamean n jane kitane shastriy vidhi-nishedhoan ki badhaean haian aur kitane tarah-tarah ke karm-kandoan ka ghatatop hai. isake siva yah kis rog se mara hai, kisaka l daka hai, kis jati ka hai- adi kuchh n janate hue aur marane ke bad yah thik taur se prayashchit karake ghar se bahar hua tha ya nahian, isaka pata lagae bina hi ise sparsh kis tarah kiya ja sakata hai?

kunthit hokar jaise hi maianne poochha, "kis jati ka murda hai aur kya tum ise chhuoge?" ki indr ne age badhakar ek hath usaki gardan ke niche aur doosara hath ghutanoan ke niche dekar use sookhe tinakoan ke saman utha liya aur kaha, "nahian to bechare ko siyar noch-nochakar n kha jaanyage? aha, isake muanh se to abhi tak aushadhiyoan ki gandh a rahi hai re!" yah kahate-kahate usane nauka ke usi takht par, jis par ki pahale maian soya tha, use sula diya aur nav ko thelakar svayan bhi chadh gaya. bola, "murde ki kya jat hoti hai re?" maianne tark kiya, "kyoan nahian hoti?"

indr bola, "are yah to murda hai! mare hue ki jat kya? yah to vaisa hi hai jaise hamari yah doangi- isaki bhala kya jat hai? am ya jamun jis kabhi bhi kath ki bani ho- ab to ise 'doangi' chho d koee bhi nahian kahega ki yah am hai ya jamun. samajha ki nahian? yah bhi usi tarah hai."

ab maloom hota hai ki yah drishtant nire bachchoan ka sa tha- kintu antar mean yah bhi to asvikar karate nahian banata ki yahian kahian, isi ke bich, ek ati tikshn saty apane apako chhupae hue baitha hai. bich-bich mean aisi hi khari batean vah kah jaea karata tha. isilie, maianne anek daphe socha hai ki is umr mean, kisi ke pas kuchh bhi shiksha pae bagair, balki prachalit shiksha-sanskaroan ko atikram karake- in sab tatvoan ko usane paya kahaan? kintu ab aisa jan p data hai ki umr badhane ke sath mano maianne isaka uttar bhi pa liya hai. kapat to mano indr mean tha hi nahian. uddeshy ko gupt rakhakar to vah koee kam karana janata hi n tha. isalie maian samajhata hooan, usake hriday ka vah vyaktigat vichchhinn saty kisi ajnat niyam ke vanshavarti hokar, us vishvavyapi avichchhinn nikhil saty ka sakshath karake, anayas hi, bahut hi, sahaj mean, use apane ap mean akarshit kar atmasath kar sakata tha. usaki shuddh saral buddhi, pakke ustad ki ummaidavari kiye bagair hi, samast vyapar ko thik-thik achchhi tarah jan leti thi. vastavik, akapat sahaj buddhi hi to sansar mean param aur charam buddhi hai. isake oopar aur kuchh bhi nahian hai. achchhi tarah se dekhane par 'mithya' nam ki kisi bhi vastu ka astitv is vishv-brahmand mean najar nahian p data. 'mithya' to sirph manushy ke manane ka aur ek phalamatr hai. sone ko pital manana bhi mithya hai aur manana bhi- yah maian janata hooan. parantu isase sone ka athava pital ka kya ata-jata hai. tumhari jo ichchha ho so use mano, vah to jo kuchh hai, so hi rahega. sona samajhakar use sandook mean band karake rakhane se usake vastavik mooly mean vriddhi nahian hoti, aur pital kahakar bahar pheank dene se usaka mooly nahian ghatata. us din bhi vah pital tha aur aj bhi pital hai. tumhare 'mithya' ke lie tumhean chho dakar n aur koee uttaradayi hai; aur n koee bhrookshep hi karata hai. is vishv-brahmand ka samast hi paripoorn saty hai. mithya ka astitv yadi kahian hai to vah manushy ke man ko chho dakar aur kahian nahian hai. isalie indr ne is asaty ko, apane antar mean jane ya anajane mean, kisi din jab sthan nahian diya tab yadi usaki vishuddh buddhi mangal aur saty ko hi prapt karati hai, to isamean vichitr hi kya hua?

kintu yah bat usake lie vichitr n hone par bhi, maian yah nahian kah raha hooan ki kisi ke lie bhi vichitr nahian hai. thik isi bahane, maianne apane jivan mean hi jo isaka praman paya hai, use kah dene ka lobh maian yahaan sanvaran nahian kar sakata.

ukt ghatana ke 10-11 varsh bad ekaek ek din sham ke vakt yah sanvad mila ki ek vriddha brahmani us muhalle mean subah se mari p di hai- kisi tarah bhi usake kriya-karm ke lie log nahian jutate. n jutane ka hetu yah hai ki vah kashi-yatra se lautate samay raste mean rog-grast ho gayi, aur us shahar mean, rel par se utarakar samany parichay ke sahare jinake ghar akar, usane ashray grahan kiya, aur do rat rahakar aj subah pran-tyag kiya, ve mahashay vilayat se laute hue the aur biradari se alag the. vriddha ka yahi aparadh tha ki use nitant nirupay avastha mean is 'biradari se kharij' ghar mean marana p da.

khair, agni-sanskar karake doosare din subah vapas akar maianne dekha ki har ek ghar ke kiva d band ho gaye haian. sunane mean aya ki gat rat ko, gyarah baje tak, hariken lalaten hath mean liye hue, panch logoan ne ghar-ghar phirakar sthir kar diya hai ki is atyant shastr-viruddh apakarm (dah) karane ke karan in kulaangaroan ko sir muan dana hoga, aparadh svikar karana hoga aur ek aisi vastu (gobar) khani p degi jo ki supavitr hote hue bhi khady nahian hai. unhoanne ghar-ghar jakar spasht shabdoan mean kah diya ki isamean unaka koee bhi hath nahian hai; kyoanki apane jite-ji, ve samaj mean kisi bhi tarah yah ashastriy kam nahian hone de sakate. ham log, aur koee upay n rahane par d aauktar sahab ke sharan mean gaye. ve hi us shahar mean sarvashreshth chikitsak the aur bina dakshina ke hi bangaliyoan ki chikitsa kiya karate the. hamari kahani sunakar d aauktar mahashay krodh se sulag uthe aur bole, "jo log is tarah logoan ko satate haian, unake gharoan mean yadi koee meri aankhoan ke samane bina chikitsa ke marata hoga, to bhi maian us or aankh uthakar nahian dekhooanga." n maloom, kisane yah bat panchoan ke kanoan tak pahuancha di. bas, sham hote n hote maianne suna ki sir muan dane ki zaroorat nahian hai, sirph aparadh svikar karake us supavitr padarth ko kha lene matr se kam chal jaeega! hamare svikar n karane par doosare din subah suna gaya, aparadh svikar kar lene se hi kam ho jaeega- vah padarth n khana ho to n sahi! ise bhi n svikar karane par suna gaya ki chooanki yah ham logoan ka pratham aparadh hai, isalie, unhoanne use yoan hi maph kar diya hai, prayashchit ki koee zaroorat nahian hai! kintu, d aauktar sahab bole, "thik hai ki prayashchit ki koee zaroorat nahian parantu do din tak inhean jo klesh diya gaya hai, usake lie yadi pratyek adami akar kshama prarthana n karega, to phir, jaisa ki ve pahale kah chuke haian, vaisa hi kareange, arthath kisi ke bhi ghar n jaanyage." isake bad usi din sandhyan ke samay se d aauktar sahab ke ghar ek-ek karake sabhi vriddh panchoan ka shubhagaman hona shuroo ho gaya. ashirvad de-dekar unhoanne kya-kya kaha, use to avashy hi maian nahian sun paya, kintu doosare din dekha ki d aauktar sahab ka krodh thanda ho gaya hai aur ham logoan ko bhi prayashchit karane ki zaroorat nahian rahi hai.

jane do, kya kah raha tha aur kya bat bich mean a p di. kintu, vah chahe jo ho maian nishchayapoorvak janata hooan ki jo log janate haian ve, is nam-dham-hin vivaran mean se, poora saty prapt kar leange. mere kahane ka mool vishay yah hai ki indr ne is umr mean apane antar ke madhyav mean jis saty ka sakshath kar liya tha, itane b de-b de panch saradar, itani b di umr tak bhi, usaka koee tatv n pa sake the; aur d aauktar sahab yadi us din is prakar unake shastr-jnan ki chikitsa n kar dete, to kabhi unaki yah vyadhi achchhi hoti ya nahian, so jagadishvar hi jane.

tile par akar, adhe doobe jangali jhaoo ke andhakar mean, jal ke oopar, us aparichit shishu ki deh ko, indr ne jab apoorv mamata ke sath rakh diya tab ratri adhik nahian thi. kuchh der tak vah us shav ki or matha jhukae raha aur ant mean jab usane muanh uthakar dekha, tab dhuandhali chaandani mean usaka mukh jitana kuchh dikhaee diya vah malin tha aur usake sookhe muanh par thik vaisa hi bhav prakat ho raha tha jaise ki koee kan uthakar kisi ki rah dekh raha ho.

maian bola, "indr, ab chalo."

indr anyamanask bhav se bola, "kahaan?"

"abhi jahaan chalane ke lie tumane kaha tha."

"rahane do, aj nahian jaooanga."

maian khush hokar bola, "thik, yahi achchha hai bhaee-chalo, ghar chalean."

pratyuttar mean indr mere muanh ki or dekhakar bola, "haan re shrikaant, marane par manushy ka kya hota hai, janata hai?"

maianne turant hi javab diya, "nahian bhaee, nahian janata; ab to tum ghar chalo. ve sab svarg chale jate haian, bhiya, tumhare pairoan p data hooan, tum mujhe mere ghar pahuancha ao." indr ne mano suna hi nahian, aur kaha, "sabhi log to svarg ja nahian sakate. isake sivay, kuchh samay tak to sabhi ko yahaan rahana p data hai. dekho, maianne jab usako jal ke oopar sula diya tha, tab usane dhire se saph-saph kaha tha, 'bhiya'." maian kaanpate hue svar se rote hue bol utha, "kyoan mujhe darate ho bhaee, maian behosh ho jaooanga." indr ne n to kuchh kaha aur n abhay hi diya- dhire se daan d ko hath mean lekar usane nav ko jhaoo-van mean se bahar kar liya aur phir sidha chalane laga. minat-do minat chup rahakar usane gambhir mridu svar se kaha, "shrikaant man hi man 'ram' ka nam le, 'vah' nauka chho dakar nahian gaya hai- hamare pichhe hi baitha hai!"

usake bad maian usi jagah muanh dhankakar auandha ho gaya tha. phir mujhe kuchh sudh nahian rahi. jab aankhean kholian tab andhakar nahian tha- nav kinare lagi huee thi. indr mere pairoan ke pas baitha tha; bola, "ab tho da chalana hoga, shrikaant, uth baith."