S
StoryPublisher
Guest
Gaadi chali to unke sharir ki kanpkanpi aur badh gayi. Unke daant kitkitane lage. Khaansi ka duara pad gaya. Dibbe par baithe dusre yaatriyon ne unhe bahut ghruna se dekha aur apne nathuno par kapde rakh liye. Khaansi ke sath unke muh se nikle khoon ke chhinte compartment ke fars par bikhar gaye the.
"tumko tapedik hai kya?" ek yaatri ne unhe dekhkar krodh se puchha.
unhone badi kathinai se haan ke ishare par gardan hila diya.
"tumko isi dibbe mein baithna tha." dusre yaatri ne muh bichka kar kaha, - "agle station par utarkar dusre dibbe mein chale jaana."
"shut-up." wah bahut zor se cheekhe. Itne zor se ki sabhi aashcharya se unhe dekhne lage. Jab gaadi lucknow station par ruki to raat ke do baj chuke the. Plateform par utre to varsha zoron par thi. compartment ke andar band rehne ke kaaran kambal kaafi sukh chuka tha. Isliye unhone ise theek se badan par lapet liya aur baahar nikle. Baahar nikal kar varsha ki parwah kiye bina hi taxi walon ki taraf badh gaye. Sabhi apni car ka sheesha chadhaye so rahe the. Unhone ek taxi par zor ki thapki di. Driver ki aankh khuli. usne darwaze ka sheesha kuchh niche kiya.
"ramgarah le chalo bhaiya." unhone driver se vinti ki.
"abhi." driver ne unki avastha ko gaur se dekha. - "abhi to varsha ke kaaran udhar ka rasta kharab hoga. Us taraf raat mein chalna khatre se khali nahi hai."
"tumko jitne bhi paise chahiye main wahan pahunchte hi de dunga." unhone phir se vinti ki, - "bas mujhe wahan ki haveli pahuncha do."
"haveli?"
"haan, main raja surajbhan singh hoon."
"raja surajbhan singh." driver ne is baar aur bhi gaur se dekha. Bahut dhyan se upar se niche tak. Phir ek zordaar thahaka lagaya. - "ha...ha...ha... Raja surajbhan singh." phir wah thoda krodh mein aaya, - "chal bhaag yahan se. Khamakha hi meri neend haraam kar di. paagal kahin ka."
Surajbhan singh ko us par bahut tez gussa aaya. Parantu phir apni vartamaan sthiti ka dhyan karke unhone chup rehne mein hi apni bhalai samjhi. Wah dusre taxi ki taraf badh gaye. Tabhi unhe ek taanga khada dikhai diya. Parantu uska chaalak kahin dikhai nahi diya. Wah shayad taanga khada karke kahin ko chala gaya tha. Surajbhan ne apni drushti charon aur ghumayi. Unhe koi bhi dikhai nahi diya. achanak hi Wah lapak kar taange mein chadh gaye. ghode par chabuk barsai aur taanga bhaga diya. Pichhe kisi ka shor sunai diya. Par unhone pichhe palat kar dekha tak nahi.
Kuchh hi door chale the ki unka sharir thand se bejaan hone laga. Lagaam ko thaame rakhna mushkil ho gaya. Toofani baaris ki thapedon se unka sharir shithil ho raha tha. Achanak hi taange ka pahiya kisi khade se takraya. unka santulan bigda. Wah khud ko sambhal nahi paaye. Kalabaajiyan khate hue kichad par gire. Girte hi unka sharir sunn ho gaya. Unhe aisa prateet hua maano wah phir se uth nahi paayenge. unka dam nikal jaayega. Parantu puri shakti bator kar phir se khade hue aur paidal hi ramgarah ki taraf chal diye.
Kuchh door chalte hi unki saanse ukhadne lagi. Unhone ek jagah khade hokar dam sadha aur dekha - door bahut door unki haveli dhundhli dhundhli dikhai pad rahi hai. Unke mukhde par khushi ki lehar daud gayi. Ek hi jhatke mein unhone chaaha ki lapak kar haveli pahunch jaayen. Unhone tez tez kadam badhane shuru kiye. parntu kuchh hi door chalte hi unke pag ladkhada gaye. unhone mehsus kiya unki shakti unhe jawab de rahi hai. Ek baar phir unhone ise sametne ka prayatn kiya. Parantu honth keval bhich kar reh gaye. Wah naakaam rahe. Maano ab unke sharir mein garam khoon ki ek boond bhi na bachi ho. Unka gala sukh gaya, dil baithne laga. Wah ladkhadaye...unhone ek pag aage badhaya parantu phir wahin naagfani ke ek paudhe ke kucch door gir pade. badi kathinai se unhone apni gardan haveli ki aur ghumai. andhera chhat raha tha. Haveli ki upri manzile spast dikhai pad rahi thi. Unke dil ko sakht thes lagi. Nadi ke kinaare aakar bhi wah dub gaye. Badi badi ghani palkon par aansu chhalak aaye. Hoth khul gaye. unhe gehri gehri saanse aane lagi. Kichad se lath-path pyas se unke honth sukhne lage. aas-paas gadhon mein paani hone ke pashchaat bhi unhe ek boond paani dene wala koi nahi tha. Aur wah iske liye taraste reh gaye.
Achanak hi unki nazron ke saamne unki vaastvikta ghum gayi. Shandaar haveli...rajmahal...aage pichhe sipaahi...pehredaar...hare bhare khet - khalihaan...aur inhe ke beech radha se pehli mulaqaat...phir dusri mulaqaat.
Unki fulti saanse dhimi pad gayi. Sharir bejaan tha. Parantu mastisk abhi bhi kaam kar raha tha. Isliye Unhone band hoti aankhon ke sath ek sapna dekha. Radha unke sameep baithi hai. Wah raja surajbhan singh hain aur radha unki patni. radha ke tan par kimti kapden aur gehne hain. Wah maharani ke roop mein bahut sundar lag rahi hai. Surajbhan singh ki nazar uske chehre se hat nahi rahi hai. Phir dusra drushya ubhra. Wah dushya jab wah radha ko khojte hue krishna nagar gaye the. Unhone unke aage ghutne tek kar usse kshama ki bhikh maangi thi. Us waqt shayad radha ka dil unke prati sahanubhuti se bhar bhi gaya tha. Shayad wah use kshama bhi kar deti. Parantu phir na jaane kya hua. Wah raaton raat hi krishna nagar chhod gayi thi. Pjir wah drushya bhi ubhra. Jab unhone radha ko haveli ki sabse upri manzil par le jaakar usse apni galti ki kshama maangi thi. Aur radha ne behad ghruna se kaha tha, - "raja saheb main aapko kabhi kshama nahi karungi. Balki main chahungi ki bhagwan tunhe aisi jagah maare jahan paani ki ek boond ko bhi tum taras jao. tumhare sharir ko cheeta bhi nasib na ho. giddh aur kowwe tumhare sharir ko noch - noch kar kha jaayen."
unhe apne bhagya par hansi aayi. Muskurane ke liye unke hoth khule, Parantu jaise wahan jaan hi nahi rahi thi. Hoth khule to khule hi reh gaye. Palkon se aansuon ne gaalon par aakar unki pyas bujhani chahi par hawaon ne uska rukh badal kar daadhi mein uljha diya. Phir unhe ek hichki aayi. Bahut dheeme se. Phir chhati mein kahin chheepa khoon nikal kar unke honthon par fail gaya. unhone antim samay par dekha. aakash par kuchh giddh mandra rahe hain. mandrate hue unke kareeb aate ja rahe hain. Bas iske aage wah kuchh bhi mehsus nahi kar paaye.
*****
Subah ke 6 baje to radha palang se uth khadi hui. Nahayi na muh dhoya, naashta bhi nahi kiya aur haveli ki sabse upri manzil par ja pahunchi. Mausam suhana tha. Thandi hawayen uske adhpake baalon ko bikhra kar chali jaati thi. Phir bhi uske mann ko santosh nahi mil raha tha. Uski aankhen ashaon se raaste par bichhi thi. Shayad uska saajan aaj hi aa jaaye.
Sahsa taad ke pedon se ud kar kuchh giddh hawa mein pankh failaye haveli ke upar se gujre to inki sansanahat se uska dhyan tuta. Usne dekha ek nahi kayi saare giddh pankh failaye ek jagah utarte ja rahe hain. Uske dil ki dhadkane bahut tez ho gayi.
Tabhi naashte ke liye kamal maa ko lene upar aa pahuncha.
"maa niche chalo naashta taiyar ho chuka hai." kamal ne radha ko kandhe se thaam liya.
Parantu radha ka dhyan usi aur raha. usne puchha. - "beta wahan itne saare giddh kyon jama hain?"
"koi jaanwar mar gaya hoga maa." wah bola. - "raat ki toofani varsha mein use bachne ka sthan nahi mila hoga."
Radha kuchh nahi boli. jaane kyon par kamal ki baat sun kar uski aankhen bhar aayi thi. Kamal use liye seedhiyan utar gaya.
shaam ka suhaanapan. Radha ne ghumne ki ichha zaahir ki to kamal aur saroj bhi sath ho liye. Radha kuchh vichaar karke unke pichhe hi reh gayi thi. Kamal aur saroj baate karte hue itne kho gaye ki unhe pata hi nahi chala maa pichhe reh gayi hai.
Sahsa radha ki drushti ek aur uthi to uska dil zoron se dhadka. Kuchh dori par naagfani ke paudhe ki aad se hatkar ek haddiyon ka dhancha pada tha.
Radha ke pag apne aap hi dhaanche ki aur uth gaye. kuchhek kowwe us dhaanche ka bacha khucha maans noch kar kha rahe the. uske sameep pahunchte hi wey fudak kar hat gaye. Radha ko badbu ka bhabhka sa laga. Usne dekha yah kisi insaan ka dhaancha hai. Giddh aur kowwo ne shayad maans khate samay uske vastra bhi nigal liya tha. Kahin kahin kapdon ke chhote bade tukde kichad mein sane bikhre the.
Sahsa radha ka dil zoron se dhadka. Gala sukh Chala. Hoth hi nahi sharir bhi kaanpne laga. Drushti ek ji jagah chipak kar reh gayi. Jahan surya ki roshni mein ek safed vastu chamak rahi thi. Dhaanche ki dono baahen faili hui thi. Chhitri hui ungliyon ke beech mein thi ek anguthi.
Radha ko chakkar sa aa gaya. Ghutno ke bal jhuk kar kaanpte hathon se wah anguthi ko utha lee. Ise gaur se dekha. 'radha' maano haddi ka dhancha chikh pada ho. radha yahi ek naam anguthi par ankit tha. Wah tadap uthi. Aankhon mein aansu chhalak aaye. Aansu ki ek boond jab is anguthi par giri to radha ko surajbhan singh se hui har ek mulaqaat ki tashveer unki aankhon ke aage ubhar aaya. Unka baar baar minnate karna. Gaon chhodte samay ghutne ka bal jhuk kar hath jodna. Uska dil fat gaya. Usne dil ki gehrai se ichha ki ke yah dharti fat jaaye aur wah isme sama jaaye. Wah kitni kathor hai, kitni nirdayi hai, paapan hai, jisne ek naari hokar bhi apne abhimaan mein ek aise devta ko kshama nahi kiya jo uske bete ka peeta tha.
Wah tadap uthi. Jee chaaha lapak kar haddi ki dhanche se lipat jaaye. Apni jaan de de. Yah giddh aur kowwe uska maans bhi noch noch kar kha jaaye. Wah pyar ke josh mein shayad haddi ke dhanche par gir bhi padti. Parantu jaise hi aisa karne ke liye usne khade hokar aage badhna chaha ek awaaz uske kaanon mein pad gayi.
"maa...!" door khada kamal uske achanak ruk jaane se awaaz de raha tha. - "aao na maa. Sath chalo."
Radha ne aansu peene ka prayatn kiya to uski hickiyan bandh gayi. Hickiyon par kaabu paane ki koshish ki to hoth kaanpne lage. Parantu phir bhi mann par patther rakh liya. Apne hothon ko daaton se kaat-ti hui sadak par ho lee. Muskurane ka prayatn karti hui aage badhne lagi. Radha ne aahista se chhupa kar anguthi apni anguli par pehan lee.
Raat ka andhera faila to radha hath mein petrol ka kanastar aur machis lekar dhanche ke paas aayi. Uspar sukhi lakdiyan daali. Petrol chidka aur aag laga di.
The End.
"tumko tapedik hai kya?" ek yaatri ne unhe dekhkar krodh se puchha.
unhone badi kathinai se haan ke ishare par gardan hila diya.
"tumko isi dibbe mein baithna tha." dusre yaatri ne muh bichka kar kaha, - "agle station par utarkar dusre dibbe mein chale jaana."
"shut-up." wah bahut zor se cheekhe. Itne zor se ki sabhi aashcharya se unhe dekhne lage. Jab gaadi lucknow station par ruki to raat ke do baj chuke the. Plateform par utre to varsha zoron par thi. compartment ke andar band rehne ke kaaran kambal kaafi sukh chuka tha. Isliye unhone ise theek se badan par lapet liya aur baahar nikle. Baahar nikal kar varsha ki parwah kiye bina hi taxi walon ki taraf badh gaye. Sabhi apni car ka sheesha chadhaye so rahe the. Unhone ek taxi par zor ki thapki di. Driver ki aankh khuli. usne darwaze ka sheesha kuchh niche kiya.
"ramgarah le chalo bhaiya." unhone driver se vinti ki.
"abhi." driver ne unki avastha ko gaur se dekha. - "abhi to varsha ke kaaran udhar ka rasta kharab hoga. Us taraf raat mein chalna khatre se khali nahi hai."
"tumko jitne bhi paise chahiye main wahan pahunchte hi de dunga." unhone phir se vinti ki, - "bas mujhe wahan ki haveli pahuncha do."
"haveli?"
"haan, main raja surajbhan singh hoon."
"raja surajbhan singh." driver ne is baar aur bhi gaur se dekha. Bahut dhyan se upar se niche tak. Phir ek zordaar thahaka lagaya. - "ha...ha...ha... Raja surajbhan singh." phir wah thoda krodh mein aaya, - "chal bhaag yahan se. Khamakha hi meri neend haraam kar di. paagal kahin ka."
Surajbhan singh ko us par bahut tez gussa aaya. Parantu phir apni vartamaan sthiti ka dhyan karke unhone chup rehne mein hi apni bhalai samjhi. Wah dusre taxi ki taraf badh gaye. Tabhi unhe ek taanga khada dikhai diya. Parantu uska chaalak kahin dikhai nahi diya. Wah shayad taanga khada karke kahin ko chala gaya tha. Surajbhan ne apni drushti charon aur ghumayi. Unhe koi bhi dikhai nahi diya. achanak hi Wah lapak kar taange mein chadh gaye. ghode par chabuk barsai aur taanga bhaga diya. Pichhe kisi ka shor sunai diya. Par unhone pichhe palat kar dekha tak nahi.
Kuchh hi door chale the ki unka sharir thand se bejaan hone laga. Lagaam ko thaame rakhna mushkil ho gaya. Toofani baaris ki thapedon se unka sharir shithil ho raha tha. Achanak hi taange ka pahiya kisi khade se takraya. unka santulan bigda. Wah khud ko sambhal nahi paaye. Kalabaajiyan khate hue kichad par gire. Girte hi unka sharir sunn ho gaya. Unhe aisa prateet hua maano wah phir se uth nahi paayenge. unka dam nikal jaayega. Parantu puri shakti bator kar phir se khade hue aur paidal hi ramgarah ki taraf chal diye.
Kuchh door chalte hi unki saanse ukhadne lagi. Unhone ek jagah khade hokar dam sadha aur dekha - door bahut door unki haveli dhundhli dhundhli dikhai pad rahi hai. Unke mukhde par khushi ki lehar daud gayi. Ek hi jhatke mein unhone chaaha ki lapak kar haveli pahunch jaayen. Unhone tez tez kadam badhane shuru kiye. parntu kuchh hi door chalte hi unke pag ladkhada gaye. unhone mehsus kiya unki shakti unhe jawab de rahi hai. Ek baar phir unhone ise sametne ka prayatn kiya. Parantu honth keval bhich kar reh gaye. Wah naakaam rahe. Maano ab unke sharir mein garam khoon ki ek boond bhi na bachi ho. Unka gala sukh gaya, dil baithne laga. Wah ladkhadaye...unhone ek pag aage badhaya parantu phir wahin naagfani ke ek paudhe ke kucch door gir pade. badi kathinai se unhone apni gardan haveli ki aur ghumai. andhera chhat raha tha. Haveli ki upri manzile spast dikhai pad rahi thi. Unke dil ko sakht thes lagi. Nadi ke kinaare aakar bhi wah dub gaye. Badi badi ghani palkon par aansu chhalak aaye. Hoth khul gaye. unhe gehri gehri saanse aane lagi. Kichad se lath-path pyas se unke honth sukhne lage. aas-paas gadhon mein paani hone ke pashchaat bhi unhe ek boond paani dene wala koi nahi tha. Aur wah iske liye taraste reh gaye.
Achanak hi unki nazron ke saamne unki vaastvikta ghum gayi. Shandaar haveli...rajmahal...aage pichhe sipaahi...pehredaar...hare bhare khet - khalihaan...aur inhe ke beech radha se pehli mulaqaat...phir dusri mulaqaat.
Unki fulti saanse dhimi pad gayi. Sharir bejaan tha. Parantu mastisk abhi bhi kaam kar raha tha. Isliye Unhone band hoti aankhon ke sath ek sapna dekha. Radha unke sameep baithi hai. Wah raja surajbhan singh hain aur radha unki patni. radha ke tan par kimti kapden aur gehne hain. Wah maharani ke roop mein bahut sundar lag rahi hai. Surajbhan singh ki nazar uske chehre se hat nahi rahi hai. Phir dusra drushya ubhra. Wah dushya jab wah radha ko khojte hue krishna nagar gaye the. Unhone unke aage ghutne tek kar usse kshama ki bhikh maangi thi. Us waqt shayad radha ka dil unke prati sahanubhuti se bhar bhi gaya tha. Shayad wah use kshama bhi kar deti. Parantu phir na jaane kya hua. Wah raaton raat hi krishna nagar chhod gayi thi. Pjir wah drushya bhi ubhra. Jab unhone radha ko haveli ki sabse upri manzil par le jaakar usse apni galti ki kshama maangi thi. Aur radha ne behad ghruna se kaha tha, - "raja saheb main aapko kabhi kshama nahi karungi. Balki main chahungi ki bhagwan tunhe aisi jagah maare jahan paani ki ek boond ko bhi tum taras jao. tumhare sharir ko cheeta bhi nasib na ho. giddh aur kowwe tumhare sharir ko noch - noch kar kha jaayen."
unhe apne bhagya par hansi aayi. Muskurane ke liye unke hoth khule, Parantu jaise wahan jaan hi nahi rahi thi. Hoth khule to khule hi reh gaye. Palkon se aansuon ne gaalon par aakar unki pyas bujhani chahi par hawaon ne uska rukh badal kar daadhi mein uljha diya. Phir unhe ek hichki aayi. Bahut dheeme se. Phir chhati mein kahin chheepa khoon nikal kar unke honthon par fail gaya. unhone antim samay par dekha. aakash par kuchh giddh mandra rahe hain. mandrate hue unke kareeb aate ja rahe hain. Bas iske aage wah kuchh bhi mehsus nahi kar paaye.
*****
Subah ke 6 baje to radha palang se uth khadi hui. Nahayi na muh dhoya, naashta bhi nahi kiya aur haveli ki sabse upri manzil par ja pahunchi. Mausam suhana tha. Thandi hawayen uske adhpake baalon ko bikhra kar chali jaati thi. Phir bhi uske mann ko santosh nahi mil raha tha. Uski aankhen ashaon se raaste par bichhi thi. Shayad uska saajan aaj hi aa jaaye.
Sahsa taad ke pedon se ud kar kuchh giddh hawa mein pankh failaye haveli ke upar se gujre to inki sansanahat se uska dhyan tuta. Usne dekha ek nahi kayi saare giddh pankh failaye ek jagah utarte ja rahe hain. Uske dil ki dhadkane bahut tez ho gayi.
Tabhi naashte ke liye kamal maa ko lene upar aa pahuncha.
"maa niche chalo naashta taiyar ho chuka hai." kamal ne radha ko kandhe se thaam liya.
Parantu radha ka dhyan usi aur raha. usne puchha. - "beta wahan itne saare giddh kyon jama hain?"
"koi jaanwar mar gaya hoga maa." wah bola. - "raat ki toofani varsha mein use bachne ka sthan nahi mila hoga."
Radha kuchh nahi boli. jaane kyon par kamal ki baat sun kar uski aankhen bhar aayi thi. Kamal use liye seedhiyan utar gaya.
shaam ka suhaanapan. Radha ne ghumne ki ichha zaahir ki to kamal aur saroj bhi sath ho liye. Radha kuchh vichaar karke unke pichhe hi reh gayi thi. Kamal aur saroj baate karte hue itne kho gaye ki unhe pata hi nahi chala maa pichhe reh gayi hai.
Sahsa radha ki drushti ek aur uthi to uska dil zoron se dhadka. Kuchh dori par naagfani ke paudhe ki aad se hatkar ek haddiyon ka dhancha pada tha.
Radha ke pag apne aap hi dhaanche ki aur uth gaye. kuchhek kowwe us dhaanche ka bacha khucha maans noch kar kha rahe the. uske sameep pahunchte hi wey fudak kar hat gaye. Radha ko badbu ka bhabhka sa laga. Usne dekha yah kisi insaan ka dhaancha hai. Giddh aur kowwo ne shayad maans khate samay uske vastra bhi nigal liya tha. Kahin kahin kapdon ke chhote bade tukde kichad mein sane bikhre the.
Sahsa radha ka dil zoron se dhadka. Gala sukh Chala. Hoth hi nahi sharir bhi kaanpne laga. Drushti ek ji jagah chipak kar reh gayi. Jahan surya ki roshni mein ek safed vastu chamak rahi thi. Dhaanche ki dono baahen faili hui thi. Chhitri hui ungliyon ke beech mein thi ek anguthi.
Radha ko chakkar sa aa gaya. Ghutno ke bal jhuk kar kaanpte hathon se wah anguthi ko utha lee. Ise gaur se dekha. 'radha' maano haddi ka dhancha chikh pada ho. radha yahi ek naam anguthi par ankit tha. Wah tadap uthi. Aankhon mein aansu chhalak aaye. Aansu ki ek boond jab is anguthi par giri to radha ko surajbhan singh se hui har ek mulaqaat ki tashveer unki aankhon ke aage ubhar aaya. Unka baar baar minnate karna. Gaon chhodte samay ghutne ka bal jhuk kar hath jodna. Uska dil fat gaya. Usne dil ki gehrai se ichha ki ke yah dharti fat jaaye aur wah isme sama jaaye. Wah kitni kathor hai, kitni nirdayi hai, paapan hai, jisne ek naari hokar bhi apne abhimaan mein ek aise devta ko kshama nahi kiya jo uske bete ka peeta tha.
Wah tadap uthi. Jee chaaha lapak kar haddi ki dhanche se lipat jaaye. Apni jaan de de. Yah giddh aur kowwe uska maans bhi noch noch kar kha jaaye. Wah pyar ke josh mein shayad haddi ke dhanche par gir bhi padti. Parantu jaise hi aisa karne ke liye usne khade hokar aage badhna chaha ek awaaz uske kaanon mein pad gayi.
"maa...!" door khada kamal uske achanak ruk jaane se awaaz de raha tha. - "aao na maa. Sath chalo."
Radha ne aansu peene ka prayatn kiya to uski hickiyan bandh gayi. Hickiyon par kaabu paane ki koshish ki to hoth kaanpne lage. Parantu phir bhi mann par patther rakh liya. Apne hothon ko daaton se kaat-ti hui sadak par ho lee. Muskurane ka prayatn karti hui aage badhne lagi. Radha ne aahista se chhupa kar anguthi apni anguli par pehan lee.
Raat ka andhera faila to radha hath mein petrol ka kanastar aur machis lekar dhanche ke paas aayi. Uspar sukhi lakdiyan daali. Petrol chidka aur aag laga di.
The End.
