Markash grah, prithvi se alag jadu ki ek duniya hai. Is grah par adhiktar log yodhha hote hai. Jaha bahut kam hi sadharan log hote hai. Markash grah prithvi ke mukable bahut hi bada aur anant hai.
Magdh samrajya, Markash grah ki ek bahut hi samridh samrajya me se ek hai. Yah markash ke purvi bhag me sthit hai. Yaha Singh pariwar ka rajya chalta hai. Is samrajya ki rajdhani Patliputra shahar hai.
Patliputra me hi Singh pariwar ka rajbhawan hai. Sath hi sath unke adhin pariwar bhi patliputra me hi niwas karte hai.
Is waqt rajbhawan ke uttari bhag ke ek kamre me ek ladka leta hua hai. Uska sharir pura kala par chuka hai. Aisa lag raha hai ki use kisi ne jahar dekar marne ki koshis ki hai.
Bistar ke paas me hi ek bahut hi sundar aurat khari hai. Aurat ki umra karib tees-paitis saal ki rahi hogi. Wah bistar par pare ladke ko pyar se dekhe ja rahi hai. Uski ankho me aanshu ki kuchh bunde abhi bhi dekhe ja sakte hai. Wah ladke ka sar sahlate hue budbudati hai “Beta ab uth bhi ja na! Is bhare pure rajmahal me mai bina tere sahare kaise ji paungi.”
Bistar par para ladka koi aur nahi Singh pariwar ka nikkama rajkumar Arjun Singh hai. Wahi paas khadi aurat rani Rukmani Maurya hai. Rukmani ek sadharan aurat hai.
Rukmani maurya pariwar se sambandh rakhti hai. Yah pariwar ek sainya pariwar hai. Jo magdh samrajya ke uttari simao ki raksha karta hai. Rukmani ki mulakat maharaja Ranjit Singh se jangal me hui thi. Us waqt Rukmani jangal me mahadev ki puja keliye ful chunane gayi thi. Uske sath me sainik bhi the. Use maharaja Ranjit Singh brhosh mile. Ranjit ke sharir par ghav ke nisan the.
Rukmani ek dyalu ladki thi. Usne bina kisi parwah ke Ranjit ki seva ki. Uski dekhbhal ke karan Ranjit thik ho gaye. Unko panchve din hosh aya. Undono ne pure do mahine jangal me bitaye.
Ranjit, Rukmani ki masumiyat dekh usse shadi karne ka prastav rakha. Rukmani bhi itne dino se Ranjit ki dekhbhal kar rahi thi use bhi Ranjit pasand tha. Isiliye usne haa kar di.
Karib do mahine baad jab Ranjit ne ye bataya ki wah Magdh ka maharaj hai. Tab Rukmani ne bhi apna parichay diya aur woh Ranjit ke sath sath rajbhawan me aa gayi. Isi ke sath Rukmani Magdh samrajya ki satvi rani ban gayi. Kuchh dino baad hi pata chala ki wah garbhavati hai. Aur fir janm hua Arjun ka. Uske janm par wah bahut hi khush hui.
Jab panch saal bad kulguru ne Arjun ki yudhh kshamta ki janch ki to pata chala ki wah yodhha nahi ban sakta. Tabhi se chhote se Arjun ko nikamma ghosit kar diya gaya. Uske baad se hi Rukmani ki niji jindagi bhi bekar ho gayi. Ranjit ne bhui Rukmani se munh mor liya tha. Ab to halat ye hai ki wah rajpriwar ki rani kaksh se dur uttari parisar me rahti hai jaha par adhikansh naukar raha karte hai. Rukmani ke pariwar walo ne bhi use nahi apnaya. ab Dono maa-bete rajmahal ka chhota-mota kaam kar ke apna gujar basar karte hai. Rukmani ki mano to jindagi hi badal gayi hai.
Aaj Arjun ki atharahva janmdin tha. Waise toh jab kisi rajkimar ka atharahva janm din hota hai to davat rakhi jati hai. Lekin Arjun ko aaj kisi ne jahar de diya tha. Wah khud ko asahay mahsus kar rahi thi. Kaha aaj uske bete keliye khushi ka din tha kaha wah aaj bistar par para hua tha.
Abhi wah yah sab soch rahi thi ki usne dekha ki Arjun ki sans ab bahut hi dhire ho gayi hai. Aur na ke barabar hi chal rahi hai. Kuchh der me hi Arjun ke sharir me halchal hona band ho gaya.
Tabhi darwaje ko kisi ne khatkhataya. Rukmani ne darwaja khola to paya ki waha par khara koi aur nahi chauthe rajkumar Ugrsen Singh tha. Ugrsen apne naam ke mukable hi ugra savbhav ka hai. Wah din bhar sabhi ko satane ke alawa kuchh nahi karta hai.
Wah bina kuchh bole andar aa gaya aur Arjun ki halat dekh apne aap me budbudane laga, “are yah to mar gaya.”
Wah Rukmani ki or dekh kar kahta hai. “chachi, ab to ye bhi mar gaya hai. Chalo jao dah-sanskar karo. Are nahi to iski atma ko shanti kaise milegi. Aur haa laut kar mat aana yaha par. Waise bhi bina kisi kam-kaj ke baithi padi hai.
Ugrsen ki baat sunkar Rukmani ka dil dahal gya. Wah abhi kuchh kahne hi wali hoti hai ki Ugrsen bolta hai, “chachi yeh mera akhiri fainsla hai. Yah kamra mai ek naukrani ko dene wala hu.”
Rukmani apne kaleje par pathhar rakh kar khud hi Arjun ka sharir utha kar, rajmahal ke pichhe ke raste se hi paas ke jangal ki or nikal gayi. Ab use yaha jillat ki jindagi sahan nahi ho rahi thi.
Rukmani apne ek hath me ek kulhadi aur apni peeth par Arjun ko liye jangal ke surauati kshetr ke bich me aa gayi thi. Use waha ek bahti hui nadi dikhai di. Nadi ke paas hi Arjun ko litakar usne aaspas se sukhi lakadiya kati aur Arjun keliye chita taiyar karne lagi. Kuch hi der me usne Arjun ki chita taiyar kar li. Halaki jaise hi wah Arjun ko chita par litane wali thi, use Arjun ke sharir me kuchh halchal si hone lagi. Arjun ka sharir ekdam se chamkne laga.
Arjun ekdam se ankhe khol badbadane laga, “rajkumar mahendra, Rupawati aur chandrsen mai tumlogo ko chhorunga nahi. Jabtak main jinda hu tumlog apne maut ki ulti ginti shuru kar lo.”
Uski aisi budbudahat sunkar Rukmani paresan ho gayi. Lekin wah yodhha nahi thi isiliye Arjun ki budbudahat nahi sun payi. Wah Arjun ko jinda dekh bahut khush thi. Wah usko gale lagate hue khushi se kahti hai, “mahadev ka bahut bahut shukr hai ki tum jinda ho betu. Mai to apne jine ki ummid hi chhor baithi thi.”
Arjun jo abhi kisi aur duniya me hi tha. Wah ek aurat ki aisi awaj sunkar chauk gaya. Wah aurat ko dhakka dena chaha lekin fir use aurat se koi khatra mahsus nahi hua. Wah apne liye pyar mahsus kar sakta tha. Aisa pyar jisme koi milawat nahi ho. Use yah sab mahsus kar ke shanti mili. Aur dhire dhire wah shant ho gaya.
Arjun kuchh der pahle, daiviya tufan ka smana kar raha tha. Jab koi yodhha kisi ek yudhhstar ke parav ko parkar dusre parav me jata hai to ye prkriti ke niyam ke virudhh hota hai. Aur ek star ke baad use daiviya tufan ka samna kar ke hi agle star me jaa sakta hai.
Wahi Arjun jab daiviya tufan ka samna kar raha tha tabhi uske karibi mitro ne us par hamla kar diya. Jis karan wah daiviya tufan ka samna nahi kar paya aur uska sharir bhasm ho gaya. Wahi uski atma mare hue Arjun ke sharir me aa gayi.
Abhi Arjun yah sab soch hi raha tha ki uska sar dard karne laga aur use bahut shari yade uske dimag me ek movie ki tarah chalne lagi. Use yah bhi malum hua ki kaise uske maa aur usko dutkara jata tha. Kaise kaise jillat usne sahe hai. Wah apne sharir me panap rahi nafrat ko mahsus kar sakta tha. Usne sapath li, “mai ab se is Arjun ki jindagi jiunga aur apne upar hue atyachar ka pura pura badla lunga.”
Wah apni maa ko kas ke pakad leta hai. Pichhli jindagi me Arjun ko pariwar ka pyar nahi mila tha. Bhale hi is jiwan me kewal maa ka pyar mil raha hai fir bhi wah ise khona nahi chahta hai. “Mai ab pichhli jiwan jaisi galati nahi karunga. Apne pariwar aur apne aspas ke logo ka hamesha khyal rakhunga.”
Wah Rukmani ko apne se dur karte hue usse majak me kahta hai, “maa ab mujhe isi chita par rakhogi kya.”
Arjun ke aisa kahte hi wah usse alag ho gayi. Arjun abhi bhi kamjor tha. Wah use chita se utar kar thik se baithati hai. “Arjun beta tujhe kya ho gaya tha. Mai to bahut hi dar gayi thi.”
“Maa kisi ne mere khane me jahar mila diya tha. Jisse mai bahut hi gahri nind me chala gaya tha.” fir wah kuchh rukte hue bolta hai. “Maa mai aapse kuchh batane wala hu. Wah aap kisi ko mat batana.”
“Thik hai beta mai kisi ko nahi bataungi. Waise bhi hamare paas kaun hi hai.” Rukmani bolti hai.
“Maa mai jab nind me tha to aisa laga jaise mai koi alag hi duniya me pahuch gaya hu. Aur waha maine salo bitaye aur bahut sari vidhya bhi sikhi. Maa ab mai us sab ka istemal karke saktishali bhi ho sakta hu. Aur aap bhi ho sakti ho.” Arjun ka yah sab kahte hue ankh chamak rahi thi. Wah ab pichhli jindagi ki tarah jina nahi chahta tha.
Arjun ki baat sunkar Rukmani bahut hi khus hui. Ab use Arjun ko lekar koi paresani nahi uthani padegi aur Arjun ko ab koi bura bhala nahi kahega.
Tabhi Arjun kahta hai, “maa abhi mere sharir me jahar hai. Mujhe kuchh jadi butiya chahiye iske ilaj keliye. Kya aap la dogi.”
Arjun ki baat sunkar Rukmani usse kahti hai, “Arjun tum batao kaun kaun si jadi-butiya chahiye. Mai lekar aati hu. Waise bhi hamlog jangal me hai to yaha sari jadi butiya mil hi jayegi.”
Arjun apni maa ko kuchh jadi-butiyo ke naam aur pahchanane ka tarika bata deta hai. Jadi-buti bahut hi sadharan thi. Jo aksar jangal me yu hi mil jaya karti hai. Rukmani bahut hi jald sabhi jadi butiya lekar aa jati hai. Arjun use pathar se piskar mila deta hai. Uske baad wah use nigal jata hai. Jaise hi uske sharir me dava jati hai use bahut dard hota hai. Use lag raha tha jaise uske sharir me hajaro chitiya ek sath reng rahi ho. Wah apni jabde bhinch kar apne dard ko kam karne ka prayash kar raha tha.
Rukmani uske dard bhare chehre ko dekh rahi thi. Wah man hi man bhagwan se Arjun ke thik hone ki prarthna kar rahi thi.
Kuchh der tak uske sharir me aise hi dard hone ke baad wah ultiya karne lagta hai. Uska khoon pura kala tha. Usse bahut hi badbu aa rahi thi. Jamin par girate hi waha ki sari ghas fus sad kar girne lage.
Wahi Arjun ka sharir pura fresh lag raha tha. Wah apne aap ko bahut hi taro taja mahsus kar raha tha. Wah Rukmani ko bolta hai, “maa ab mai bilkul thik ho gaya hu. Mai naha kar aata hu.”
Arjun apne kapde nikal kar nadi me kud jata hai. Kuchh der nahane ke baad wah apna sharir ponchh kar naye kapde pahan leta hai. Rukmani apne sath kuchh kapde lekar bhi aayi thi. Jisse unhe aaj koi paresani nahi hone wali thi. Arjun Rukmani ko kahta hai “Maa aap bhi naha lo, waise bhi sham ho gayi hai, to aaj ki raat yahi bita lenge. Mai aag jalane ki kuchh intjaam karta hu.”
Rukmani, Arjun ki baat sunkar nahane chali jati hai. Wah aaj bahut khush thi. Arjun ab thik ho gaya tha sath hi sath wah yodhha ban sakta tha. Wah khushi khushi nahane lagi.
Kuchh der me hi rukmani naha kar aayi wahi tab tak Arjun ne aag jala di thi. Wah nadi se kuchh machhaliya bhi pakad kar laya tha. Usne use bhun liya. Dono use kha liye. Un dono ne aaj ki raat jag kar hi bitane ka socha. Kyonki unhe dar tha ki koi khunkar janwar aa jaye. Waise jangal ka bahri ilaka hone ke karan yaha jyada janwar nahi paye jate hai. Fir bhi unhone aaj ki rat jag kar katne ka hi socha.
Arjun abhi apni hantho me padi anguthi ko dekh raha tha. Wah rukmani ki or dekh kar puchhta hai, “maa kya yah anguthi pahle se hi mere paas thi?”
Rukmani arjun ki baat sunkar usse kahti hai, “haa beta yah anguthi tumhare paas hamesha se thi. Yah anguthi tumne bazar se zidd karke kharidi thi. Us waqt tumne bahut padesan kiya tha. Tum aisa kyon puchh rahe ho?”
“Maa yah koi sadharan anguthi nahi hai. Mujhe lagta hai yah ek jadui anguthi hai. Ruko mai cheak karta hu.” arjun itna kahkar apni ek anguli ko dant se kata aur ek bund khun us anguthi par giraya.
Achanak bahut hi tej roshni anguthi se nikli. Yah roshni arjun aur rukmani dono ko gher li. Jab roshni waha se gayab hui to na to waha arjun the aur na hi rukmani…
Word Count: 2123
—THE END— |
