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~ ~ Jalpari ~ ~
(By - pawankamdev123)
(By - pawankamdev123)
Wo mujhe taktaki lagaye ghure jaa rahi thi. Main bhi use dhyan se dekh raha tha. Wo ek apratim yuvati thi. Mein painting ki wajah se kayi jagah ghumaa hua tha. Maine anek saundaryavati dekhi thi, lekin koyi bhi is yuvati ke rup ke saamne tik nahi paati. Painting ke bahane maine Aryavart ki auraton ko dekha tha - sidhe nain-nakshwali, gora rang, madhur aawaj aur suvarn-bhushan ki wajah se unka saundarya aur khul jaata tha aur iske bhi viparit Uttar-pashchimi yuvati ke rup to bhramit karnewale the - pahadi shariri-kaya, kad-uncha, gaane-nachne ka antargat kaushalya-ke saath hi ladhne ka jigar bhi kaabile-taarif tha... dakshin ki Dravid lalana bhi lubhavani thi - saanvala rang, lambe kaale baal, khushmijaj aur fulon ke aabhushan, sangitmay aur laybaddh chaal ki wajah se kitne dil pighal jaate. Naagbhumi ke yuvatiyon ki to baat hi alag thi - fika safed rang, kad-kaathi chhoti, gatishil chaal, prasann hasya kisi ka bhi man lubhaa sakti thi.
In sabhi yuvatiyon ko maine najdik se dekha tha. Itna hi nahi desh ke raaja-maharajaon ne unke rupvati apsara jaisi rani-maharaniyon ki tasvir mere se hi banvayi thi. Unke darshano se bhi mere netron ko jitna sukh nahi mila tha usse kahi jyada sukh abhi mujhe is yuvati ke shandaar-adbhut-kamaal-badhiya saundarya se mila tha.
Abhi to ye meri dincharya ho chuki thi. Mujhe mere saamne wo pahad dikhte hi maine mera painting ke saaman ka thaila apne khando par liya aur nauka ke muhaane aa khada hua ab us pahad se mera lagav ho gya tha. Bohot baar dekhne ke baad bhi us pahad ke darshan se hi mujhe ek aatma-shanti milti thi. Samandar ke kinaare se bhi dur andar samandar mein, wo kaala pahad tha.
Jis din samandar ke kinare khade ho kar apne durbin se samandar ko dekhte samay mujhe ye dikhayi diya tha, usi din maine thaan liya ki - samandar ki painting banaunga to kinaare se nahi isi pahad par - samandar ke dil mein ghuskar banaunga.
Main har-roj ek saptaah se isi nauka se idhar aaya karta tha aur samandar ka adbhut najara dekha karta tha. Jaise hi meri nauka us pahad ke idhar aayi maine ek jhalang lagakar uspar aa gaya aur naukawale ko shaam ko nauka laane ki kahkar 100 ka note use de diya.
Kal is pahad se samandar-darshan karte samay mujhe ek anokha anubhav hua, ek adhbut drushya dikhaayi diya. Palbhar ke liye mujhe laga ki maine jo dekha kya woh sahi tha yaa mera bhram, bata nahi sakta. Lekin mere kalakar man ko pauranik-kalpit-kathaon par vishwas tha, aur kal ka drushya aaj bhi dikhayi dene ki mujhe aasha thi.
Maine durbin apni aankhon se lagayi... thodi der tak mein samandar ko niharne laga aur kya ashcharya, mere man ki bhagwan ne sun li. Kuch dur-antar par ek suvarn-chhata chamakane lagi, lekin kal ki tarah wo aaj fauran adrushya nahi huyi. Maine use aur gaur se dekha aur aashcharya se dang rah gaya.
Sagar ki laharo mein suvarn-kaanti, bhure-ghane baalonwali, ek yuvati dhire-dhire paani ke upar aa rahi thi. Mein adhirta se use dekhta raha. Usne bhi mujhe dekha hoga, kyonki mujhe dikhayi diya ki, wo savdhani se meri aur aa rahi thi. Wo mere ekdam najdik pahunch gayi, mera meri aankhon par vishwas nahi ho raha tha. Ek to mujhe bhram ho raha hai yaa fir saakshaat kalpit-kahani meri aankhon ke saamne zinda ho gayi thi. Wo suvarn yuvati ek Jalpari thi..!
Suryast hogaya tha. Kshitij ki suvarn lali bujhane jaa rahi thi aur shaam ka fika kaala rang dhire-dhire vatavaran mein fail raha tha. Lekin us Jalpari ki chamak kam hone ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi.
Meri usse baatchit karne ki mansha thi, lekin wo mere aawaj ke daayre se baahar thi. Mein sirf mantramugdh hokar use dekhe jaa raha tha... aur dusre hi pal wo gayab ho gayi. Wo paani mein adrushya ho gayi. Mein nirash hokar baar-baar wahan par durbin se dekhe jaa raha tha.
Dusre din meri jigyasa badh gayi thi. Mein use dekhte hi uske pyaar mein kho gaya tha aur mujhe usse milne ki bohot-ichcha ho rahi thi. Maine aisa suna tha ki matsyalok aur martyalok asani se ekdusre ko dikhte nahi, lekin agar niyati-sanyog se unki mulaqat huyi to undono mein ek alaukik bandhan tayyar hota hai, aur isi bandhan ki wajah se wo ekdusre ki taraf akarshit hote hai. Agar ye satya hoga to us Jalpari ko bhi meri mulaqat ka intejaar hoga, ye dhyan mein aate hi 31 baras ki aayu mein pahilbaar mere man mein mithi chitiyan rengne lagi. Sirf sharirik akarshan se jyada ye bhaavana-uttejana nirali thi, alag thi. Yahi to pyar hai.
Mera uske prati lag rahe akarshan se jyada, uski mere prati jigyasa jyada thi. Kyonki aaj wo bohot der tak nisankoch man se meri taraf dekhte huye paani mein tair rahi thi. Mein bhi apni aankhein senk raha tha. Shayad kuch samay baad uska bhay kam hua hoga, kyunki wo meri taraf aur khisakane lagi thi, mere aur najdik aati jaa rahi thi. Mein jis chhote-pahad par khada tha us pahad ko ek chakkar lagakar wo us pahad ke ekdam najdik aagayi.
Mein bhi dhire dhire ek-do kadam badhata hua jarasa niche aagaya. Tabhi bhi wo dar ke bhaagi nahi. Ulta mere aur najdik aane se uska chehra anandit lagne laga. Hum dono abhi ekdusre ke kaafi najdik aa gaye the. Baat ko aage badhate huye maine hi pahle pahal ki aur kaha, "Namaste..!" uska taktaki lagaye mujhe ghurna badastur jaari tha.
Lekin maine bhi haar nahi maani aur kaha, "mein Ravi..! chitrakar hun," itna kehte huye maine pahad par apne saman ki taraf ishara kiya. Mere ishara karne ke baad uske mrugnayan mere dikhaye huye jagah par pade aur uske mukh-kamal par ek muskan fail gayi. Wo muskan dekh kar mujhe achcha laga.
"Aap roj idhar aate hai," usne itna hi kaha. Wo sawal tha yaa fir uska nirikshan tha, ye mujhe pata nahi chala. Maine sirf haan mein sir ko hilaya. Usse aage kya sawal kare ye mujhe sujh hi nahi raha tha.
"Mujhe aap-par vishwas hua... isliye maine nishchay kiya ki mein idhar aakar dekhu. Mein is samandar ke raaja ki ladki Yuvraagni hun. Humare prant mein atithi ka swagat acche se ho, aisi meri ichcha hai." usne kaha.
"shukriya, yuvraagni..!" maine sar niche jhukakar abhivadan kiya, "mujhe aapke darshan huye, yahi mere liye badi baat hai... aur aap hamari bhaasha jaanti ho, ye dekhkar mujhe bohot anand aur ashcharya hua."
isbaat par ek muskan ke saath Yuvraagni ne kaha, "hamein bhulok aur sagar ke jiv jantu ki sabhi boli bhaasha aati hai. Lekin wo rahne do. Mujhe tumhare baarein mein jaanne ke jigyasa hai. Aap aapka parichay denge..?"
Mera parichay saakshat matsya-yuvraagni ko dena, ye mera sanman hai ye kehkar maine use apne baarein mein sankshep mein kaha. Mera kathanak ras lekar wo sun rahi hai ye dekhkar mujhe anand hua. Mujhe ye bhi dikhayi de raha tha ki, uske netron ki chamak aur bhi dhire-dhire badh rahi thi. Kuch bhi ho, uske sahvas se, uske saath batchit se mujhe ek alag hi anand mil raha tha.
shaam ko mere liye aanewaale nauka ki aawaj se yuvraagni turant samandar ke andar gayab ho gayi. Hamari mulaqatein ab badh rahi thi. Meri painting abhi tak puri nahi huyi thi. Hum roj ghanto baatein kiya karte the. Ekdusre ko jaan rahe the. Lekin fir bhi hum mein ek antar kayam tha.
Yuvraagni ke suvarn-deh ko chhune ki lalasa mujhe baarbaar ho rahi thi. Sharirik aakarshan se jyada ek anubhuti ki jigyasa usmein jyada thi. Lekin mere bhaagya mein wo sab nahi likha tha. Hamari mulaaqat ke 4-5 din baad hi usne mujhe saaf-saaf bata diya tha, ki martyalok ka sparsh mastyalok ke liye dhokaadayak rehta hai. Usmein matsyalok ki jaan bhi jaa sakti hai. Agar mein usko jarasa bhi chhu leta, to uski kaaya turant jalkar raakh ho jaati..!
Yuvraagni naajuk thi aur mere man mein uske prati pyaar itna jyada tha ki, mujhe uske is naajuk kaaya ka bhi moh hua..!
Mujhe khudko control mein rakhana mere liye aasan tha. Hum dono ke bhi man saaf the aur hamare sharir ek ho chuke the. isliye shaaririk sparsh ismein kuch maayne nahi rakhta tha.
Lekin fir bhi ye antar mujhe chhal raha tha. Hardin ke baatchit aur usko ghurne ki wajah se mein andar hi andar tut raha tha. Kitne baar to uski baatchit par dhyaan naa dete huye mein usko baahon mein lekar uska amrit pine ke liye betaab hua jaa raha tha.
Mere man ki ye awastha mujhe hi asahay ho rahi thi. Isliye shayad, yuvraagni ne wo prastav rakha, tab wo swikarne mein maine koyi bhi deri nahi ki.
"mujhe pata hai ki, manushyaprani hawa-ke bagair ji nahi sakta. Lekin aap chinta na karo. Hamare raajvaidya unke divya-aushadhiyon ki sahayyata se aapke paani ke niche ka jivan puri tarah se anandit kar denge. Aapke is manavi rup se hi aap jal-char ki tarah ji sakte ho, aisa vishwas khud rajvaidya ne mujhe dilaya hai."
Maine uska abhivadan kiya par bola kuch nahi. Thode se muskan ke saath Yuvraagni ne mera abhivadan swikar kiya aur wo aage kehne lagi, "aapko abhi-ke-abhi antim nirnay lena hai. Mera sakha, jivansakha hokar mere sahwas ka aap upbhog le sakte hai, lekin aap wapas mrutyulok mein nahi aa sakte. aapko bhulok ke sabhi rishte aur dhan-daulat chhodkar, hamare raajya mein aana hoga. bolo hai maanya..?"
mera man to sirf uske 'mera sakha, mera jivansakha..' usi baat ko dohra raha tha, uske sahavas ke liye kitna bhi bada tyag karne ki meri tayyari thi. aur waise mujhe kidhar jyada tyagna tha..? mere paas aisa kya tha jo mein tyaag du..? aur rishte bhi kitne the mere paas..? mere liye sirf aur sirf meri painting mayne rakhti thi aur uske liye desh-videsh ghumna yahi meri abhi ki sthiti thi.
Maine uska prastaav turant swikaar liya. Yuvraagni aanadit ho gayi. Hamara sahjivan jaldi shuru honewala tha. Sirf ek mahatwapurn baat aavashyak thi.
"raajvaidyo ne aapko matsyalok mein shaamil kar liya to aapka sparsha, aapka sahavas mujhe chal sakta hai. Mein aapke milan ke liye adhir hun aur isliye ye vidhi turant ho aisi meri ichcha hai. Lekin fir bhi is vidhi ko kuch samay lagega ye mujhe pata hai. Isliye kuch samay ke liye aapke sharir ka praanvayu aapko bachakar rakhna padega. Raajvaidyo ne khaas aapke liye ek vanaspti ka kaadha tayyar kiya hua wo hum aapko abhi denge. Wo lene se aapke sharir ke cells paani ke andar praanvaayu ka adhik-se-adhik upyog karenge aur matsyalok ki tarah paani se praanvaayu khinch lene ki kala jab tak aapke sharir ko avagat nahi ho jaati tabtak is kaadhe se aapke sharir ka praanvayu aapko milta rahega. Samjhe..?"
Mujhe kuch samajh mein nahi aaya, lekin fir bhi maine haan mein sir hilaya. Mujhe abhi ek kaadha lena hai aur uske baad paani ke niche raajvaidya mujhe matsyamanav mein badal denge. itni baat mujhe pata chal gayi thi.
Mere haan kehte hi Yuvraagni ne paani mein ek awaj lagayi aur aadhe ghante ke baad wo wapas aayi tabhi uske haathon mein nariyal ke kawach ke andar ek hare rang ka kaadha tha.
Mein pahad se niche utar kar paani mein tairate huye uske najdik gaya aur mere ungliyon ka sparsh use nahi hoga ye baat dhyan mein rakhte huye maine wo kaadha apne haathon mein liya.
Ek naya yug shuru hone jaa raha tha; ek naye jeevan ki shuruvat honewali thi. Maine gardan ghumakar ekbaar dubte huye suraj ki taraf dekha. Suraj ki aur dekhte huye maine wo matsyagandhi kaai-jaise swadwala kaadha apne hontho se lagaya. Dhire-dhire andhera ho raha tha. Mera sharir paani mein dub raha hai aisi mujhe anubhuti huyi aur meri saari ichchayen mar gayi.
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Abhi to uski ye dincharya ho chuki thi. Rajsabha mein jaane se pahle Yuvraagni mere paas aayi, bedpar lete-lete hi mere abhivadan ka usne muskrukar swikar kiya aur mere se antar rakhte huye mere takiye ke sirhane baith gayi. Aise samay uske netron mein udaasi ke bhaav dikhayi dete the. Uska udaas chehra dekhkar mujhe bohot dukh hota tha. Usko santawana dene ka prayas kiya to mere muhn se sirf paani ki bul-bule hi nikalti thi. Raajvaidyon ki dawayion ka ye dushparinam tha - mera swaryantra puri tarah se nishkriy ho chuka tha..!
Roj is tarah meri aisi haalat dekhkar Yuvraagni ne niraasha se apna chehra ghumaa liya aur wahan baithna use asahay lagne laga isliye wo uthkar chali gayi. Kuch antar dur jaane ke baad Yuvraagni ne mudkar wapas ekbaar mujhe dekha, aisa mujhe bhram hua. Aisa mein yakin ke sath nahi keh sakta kyunki sagar ke us andhere mein abhi tak meri aankhein andhere ke adhin nahi huyi thi.
Kitna waqt hua hoga mujhe yahan aaye..? kuch ghante..? kuch din..? kuch saal..? kuch bhi andaja nahi tha. Din aur raat ka hisaab rakhne ke liye idhar suryadarshan hi nahi tha. Mujhe yaad hai us din jab maine apni aankhein kholi, tabhi mere charon aur ghana-andhera tha. Mein ekdam niche sagar-tal mein tha, lekin ashcharya karnewali ek baat thi wo ye ki mein abhi tak zinda tha, mujhe sirf saans lene mein taklif ho rahi thi, bas.
Andhere mein - ekdam mere najdik - ek aawaj aayi, tabhi mein chaunk gaya. Lekin thodi hi der mein Yuvraagni ki aawaj sunkar mein ashwast ho gaya.
"Yuvraagni..!" mein chillaya, lekin mere gale se sif bul-bule hi nikle.
"Yuvraagni, aap kidhar ho..! mujhe kuch bhi kyun nahi dikh raha..?" maine wapas prayas kiya. Isbaar mere shabdon ko mujhe thoda bohot dhwani dene mein vijay mila tha.
Yuvraagni ka dhyan meri taraf gaya, kyunki wo mere se bolne lagi, "Ravi..! aakhirkar aapko hosh aa-hi gaya..! nishchint raho, mein apke paas hun. Is andhkar mein aapki aankhon ko adhin hone mein waqt lagega, tab tak sabra rakhna. Ya fir aisa karte hai, hum apke liye idhar thodi roshni ka intezaam karte hai."
Thodi hi der baad uski aagya se ek sevak ne udhar ek roshni ka coral laakar rakh diya.
Us hari roshni mein dikhnewaala nile-sagar ke jalshrishti ki shobha ko kaise varnan karu..? Mere andar ka paintar jaagne laga. Is roshni mein sagar-tal ki mulayam reti pornima ke chand ki tarah chamak rahi thi. aur khud Yuvraagni bhi..? Wo to kisi tare ki taraf tejopunj dikh rahi thi. Sagar-garbh ke is adbhut drushya se uttejit huye mere man ne ekbaar mere kaaye ki taraf najar ghumayi aur turant mein nirash ho gaya. Khudka hi darshan mujhe itna ganda-darwana-ghinn lagega ye maine sapne mein bhi nahi socha tha.
Meri twacha ke niche ka maans pighalte huye ekdam chipchipaa hogaya tha. Meri aayu ekdam 100-150 saal badh gayi hai aisa dikh raha tha. Mere is jarjar chamdi ko dekhte hi mujhe ulti jaisa hone laga tha. Maine kitna waqt murchhit awastha mein paani ke niche nikala tha pata nahi, kyunki meri twacha ekdam sad chuki thi.
Lekin maine Yuvraagni se aisa kya apradh kiya tha..? Yuvraagni ke pyaar mein maine khud ko jhonk diya tha. Mera puraa jivan maine uske pyaar ke khaatir balidan kar diya. Yuvraagni ke saath ghar-sansaar ka sapna dekha tha. Usse sirf jismani pyaar ki hi apeksha ki thi.
Aur mere nasib mein kya aaya tha..? pure sharir par hajaaron-laakhon chhed..! aur chhed se nikalnewaale laarva..! Ek samay ka pahlwan sharir ab use kide khaa rahe the aur wahi kide mere man ko bhi kured rahe the..! aur kya mila tha mujhe..?
Bhulok par tha tabhi mujhe khudpar prem tha. Mujhe mere pahwal sharir ka aadar-abhiman-garv tha aur aisho aaram ki zindagi ji raha tha. Mere painting par aneko ameer log apna paisa udate the aur toh aur mere tagade balisht sharir par rupmati yuvati aur saundarvati rajkanya apna kaumarya nyochhavar karti thi.
Mujhe jivanbhar kisi bhi chij ki kami nahi hoti thi, lekin fir bhi mein kisi ek jagah nahi tik paaya. Ek adbhut, gumnaam sukh ki khoj mein bhatakta rahta tha.
Yuvraagni ke rup se mujhe laga, ki mere antahin bhataknewale sagar ko ek kinara mil hi gaya hai. Mujhe laga ki, pruthvi par kidhar nahi lagnewala mera man aaj sagar-garbh mein sthir honewala hai.
Parantu mere aage ye bhayankar-darawana nark parose rakha tha.
Mere is paristhiti ko bechari Yuvraagni hi khud ko doshi maan rahi thi. Jiski vaidya-yojana special galat saabit huyi thi aur jinki dawaiyon se meraa jal-jivan sukhdayi hone ke bajaye narkwas ban gaya tha, wo rajvaidya bhi apradhik bhaavna se dhukhi tha. Aajtak kisi ne bhi kabhi bhi aisa anokha prayog nahi kiya hai ye dekhte huye bhi Yuvraagni ke dabav ki wajah se usne ye kiya tha, lekin usne mana kiya hota to aaj ye nahi hota, ye use mehsus hote hi wo rajvaidya lajjit ho jaata tha.
Lekin fir bhi ek baat spasht thi, Yuvraagni ne mujhse kitni bhi maafi maangi, yaa fir krodh mein aakar raajvaidya ko mrutyu-dand diya, to bhi meri jawani, mera swasth sharir mujhe wapas nahi milnewala tha. Aakhirkar unpar chilla-chillakar thak-haarkar maine apna sharir un rajwaidya ko ilaaj ke liye saunp diya tha. Unke ilaaj se mein kam-se-kam paani mein saans to le sakta tha.
Mere sharir ki sthiti bitate samay mein aur bhi buri hoti jaa rahi thi. Meri sharirkriya band hoti jaa rahi thi, chetana khatam ho rahi thi. Mere sharir ne bed pakad-jakad liya tha aur mein ekdam nishchal pada tha. Mein abhi bhi saagari-jivon ke liye manushya tha aur isliye mein Yuvragni ko chhu nahi sakta tha. Mujhe satwana dene ke liye bhi wo bechari mera haath apne haathon mein nahi le sakti thi. Uske jismani lalach ke liye aage-piche kuch na soch-vichar karte huye maine sabhi tyag diya tha, us jismani-talukat se mein abhi tak vanchit tha. Lekin abhi uska mujhe khed nahi ho raha hai. Pehle ke jaise Yuvraagni ko dekhte hi mera sharir garam nahi ho jata tha. Uske darshan ki, uske bolne ka ab akarshan nahi tha. Mujhe mere sharir ki safai karne se hi fursat nahi milti thi.
Lekin maine ab idhar se mukt ho jaane mein hi apni bhalayi samajhi. Kyunki Yuvragni ke bol-chaal mein abhi mere prati lagav nahi dikh raha tha. Ab antik faisle ki ghadi aa chuki thi. Mujhe mukti chahiye thi, yaa fir mujhe Yuvragni ka pyar chahiye tha. Dono bhi baatein ek hi baar mein nahi kar sakta tha. Mujhe sirf ek kaa chunaav karna tha. Yuvragni ya mukti. Pyar ya azadi. Mere man mein yahi uthal-puthal chal rahi thi.
Rajsabha ki dincharya khatam kar ke yuvragni mere paas aayi, tabhi mere man mein uthal-puthal chal rahi thi ki kya karu. Aur meri ye uthal-puthal yuvragni se bhi chupi nahi usne kaha, "Ravi, priye, bohot aswasth lag rahe hai. Mujhe samajh aa raha hai, priye. Lekin aap chinta mat karna. Jaldi hi sab kuch thik honewala hai. Rajvaidya apni puri takat lagakar tujhe paani mein chalne-firne jaisa karnewala hai. Unhone hamein bataya hai ki, unka ek aushadhi prayog jald hi yashasvi honewala hai. Wo ho gaya to teri paristhiti mein jaldi sudhaar hoga."
Aasha..! Yuvragni mujhe wapas ek aasha ki kiran dikha rahi thi. Mein aswasth ho chuka tha. Mein chup raha. Waise bhi mere swaryantra thik se chal nahi rahe the. Maine apna faisla le liya tha aur uske parinaam-swarup mera chehra khil chuka tha isliye mein bohot khush tha. Ye dekhkar yuvragni bhi bohot khush huyi aur wapas chali gayi.
Maine apne deh ko wapas ekbar dekha. Dawayi ke dushparinam ki wajah se aur sagar-jiv-jantu ki wajah se mera sharir andar se khokala ho chuka tha. Meri kaaya fugti jaa rahi thi. Mein paani se bhi halka ho chuka tha. Agar yuvragni ke sevakon ne mujhe bed se bandha nahi ho to kabka mujhe is sagar ne kisi lakadi ki tarah dur fenk diya hota.
Meri dekhbhaal karne ke liye rakhe gaye sevakon ko meine dur bhej diya. Ekant dekh kar mein dhire-dhire uthne laga. Mujhe bandhe huye sagar-rassi ko chaba-chaba kar todne laga. Un rassion-ka kadwa swad mere muhn mein jaa raha tha, lekin uski fikar na karte huye mein unhe todne mein laga hua tha.
Tutate huye ek ek rassi se mera sharir aur mera man halka hota ja raha tha. Akhirkar mera narkwas abhi samapt hone ja raha tha.
Akhirki rassi maine chabakar khatam ki aur bul-bule jaise mere halke sharir ko paani ne turant upar uthane ki shuruvat ki.
Abhi, nikalte samay yuvragni ki mulaqat nahi huyi ye khed mere man mein hai. Uske saath hi, use ye baat na pata chale yahi yogya hai, ye bhi mujhe pata hai. Mere netra apne aap bigh gaye hai. Meri najre surya-devata ko dekh rahi hai. Mujhe mere akhri saansa tak ye surya prakash pi lena hai.
Thodi hi der mein paani ke upar aa jaunga. Pahile saans mein hi meri jaan jaanewali hai, ye mujhe pata tha. Lekin ab mujhe uski fikra nahi thi.
Mrutyu itna sundar isse pahle mujhe kabhi nahi laga tha...!
In sabhi yuvatiyon ko maine najdik se dekha tha. Itna hi nahi desh ke raaja-maharajaon ne unke rupvati apsara jaisi rani-maharaniyon ki tasvir mere se hi banvayi thi. Unke darshano se bhi mere netron ko jitna sukh nahi mila tha usse kahi jyada sukh abhi mujhe is yuvati ke shandaar-adbhut-kamaal-badhiya saundarya se mila tha.
Abhi to ye meri dincharya ho chuki thi. Mujhe mere saamne wo pahad dikhte hi maine mera painting ke saaman ka thaila apne khando par liya aur nauka ke muhaane aa khada hua ab us pahad se mera lagav ho gya tha. Bohot baar dekhne ke baad bhi us pahad ke darshan se hi mujhe ek aatma-shanti milti thi. Samandar ke kinaare se bhi dur andar samandar mein, wo kaala pahad tha.
Jis din samandar ke kinare khade ho kar apne durbin se samandar ko dekhte samay mujhe ye dikhayi diya tha, usi din maine thaan liya ki - samandar ki painting banaunga to kinaare se nahi isi pahad par - samandar ke dil mein ghuskar banaunga.
Main har-roj ek saptaah se isi nauka se idhar aaya karta tha aur samandar ka adbhut najara dekha karta tha. Jaise hi meri nauka us pahad ke idhar aayi maine ek jhalang lagakar uspar aa gaya aur naukawale ko shaam ko nauka laane ki kahkar 100 ka note use de diya.
Kal is pahad se samandar-darshan karte samay mujhe ek anokha anubhav hua, ek adhbut drushya dikhaayi diya. Palbhar ke liye mujhe laga ki maine jo dekha kya woh sahi tha yaa mera bhram, bata nahi sakta. Lekin mere kalakar man ko pauranik-kalpit-kathaon par vishwas tha, aur kal ka drushya aaj bhi dikhayi dene ki mujhe aasha thi.
Maine durbin apni aankhon se lagayi... thodi der tak mein samandar ko niharne laga aur kya ashcharya, mere man ki bhagwan ne sun li. Kuch dur-antar par ek suvarn-chhata chamakane lagi, lekin kal ki tarah wo aaj fauran adrushya nahi huyi. Maine use aur gaur se dekha aur aashcharya se dang rah gaya.
Sagar ki laharo mein suvarn-kaanti, bhure-ghane baalonwali, ek yuvati dhire-dhire paani ke upar aa rahi thi. Mein adhirta se use dekhta raha. Usne bhi mujhe dekha hoga, kyonki mujhe dikhayi diya ki, wo savdhani se meri aur aa rahi thi. Wo mere ekdam najdik pahunch gayi, mera meri aankhon par vishwas nahi ho raha tha. Ek to mujhe bhram ho raha hai yaa fir saakshaat kalpit-kahani meri aankhon ke saamne zinda ho gayi thi. Wo suvarn yuvati ek Jalpari thi..!
Suryast hogaya tha. Kshitij ki suvarn lali bujhane jaa rahi thi aur shaam ka fika kaala rang dhire-dhire vatavaran mein fail raha tha. Lekin us Jalpari ki chamak kam hone ka naam hi nahi le rahi thi.
Meri usse baatchit karne ki mansha thi, lekin wo mere aawaj ke daayre se baahar thi. Mein sirf mantramugdh hokar use dekhe jaa raha tha... aur dusre hi pal wo gayab ho gayi. Wo paani mein adrushya ho gayi. Mein nirash hokar baar-baar wahan par durbin se dekhe jaa raha tha.
Dusre din meri jigyasa badh gayi thi. Mein use dekhte hi uske pyaar mein kho gaya tha aur mujhe usse milne ki bohot-ichcha ho rahi thi. Maine aisa suna tha ki matsyalok aur martyalok asani se ekdusre ko dikhte nahi, lekin agar niyati-sanyog se unki mulaqat huyi to undono mein ek alaukik bandhan tayyar hota hai, aur isi bandhan ki wajah se wo ekdusre ki taraf akarshit hote hai. Agar ye satya hoga to us Jalpari ko bhi meri mulaqat ka intejaar hoga, ye dhyan mein aate hi 31 baras ki aayu mein pahilbaar mere man mein mithi chitiyan rengne lagi. Sirf sharirik akarshan se jyada ye bhaavana-uttejana nirali thi, alag thi. Yahi to pyar hai.
Mera uske prati lag rahe akarshan se jyada, uski mere prati jigyasa jyada thi. Kyonki aaj wo bohot der tak nisankoch man se meri taraf dekhte huye paani mein tair rahi thi. Mein bhi apni aankhein senk raha tha. Shayad kuch samay baad uska bhay kam hua hoga, kyunki wo meri taraf aur khisakane lagi thi, mere aur najdik aati jaa rahi thi. Mein jis chhote-pahad par khada tha us pahad ko ek chakkar lagakar wo us pahad ke ekdam najdik aagayi.
Mein bhi dhire dhire ek-do kadam badhata hua jarasa niche aagaya. Tabhi bhi wo dar ke bhaagi nahi. Ulta mere aur najdik aane se uska chehra anandit lagne laga. Hum dono abhi ekdusre ke kaafi najdik aa gaye the. Baat ko aage badhate huye maine hi pahle pahal ki aur kaha, "Namaste..!" uska taktaki lagaye mujhe ghurna badastur jaari tha.
Lekin maine bhi haar nahi maani aur kaha, "mein Ravi..! chitrakar hun," itna kehte huye maine pahad par apne saman ki taraf ishara kiya. Mere ishara karne ke baad uske mrugnayan mere dikhaye huye jagah par pade aur uske mukh-kamal par ek muskan fail gayi. Wo muskan dekh kar mujhe achcha laga.
"Aap roj idhar aate hai," usne itna hi kaha. Wo sawal tha yaa fir uska nirikshan tha, ye mujhe pata nahi chala. Maine sirf haan mein sir ko hilaya. Usse aage kya sawal kare ye mujhe sujh hi nahi raha tha.
"Mujhe aap-par vishwas hua... isliye maine nishchay kiya ki mein idhar aakar dekhu. Mein is samandar ke raaja ki ladki Yuvraagni hun. Humare prant mein atithi ka swagat acche se ho, aisi meri ichcha hai." usne kaha.
"shukriya, yuvraagni..!" maine sar niche jhukakar abhivadan kiya, "mujhe aapke darshan huye, yahi mere liye badi baat hai... aur aap hamari bhaasha jaanti ho, ye dekhkar mujhe bohot anand aur ashcharya hua."
isbaat par ek muskan ke saath Yuvraagni ne kaha, "hamein bhulok aur sagar ke jiv jantu ki sabhi boli bhaasha aati hai. Lekin wo rahne do. Mujhe tumhare baarein mein jaanne ke jigyasa hai. Aap aapka parichay denge..?"
Mera parichay saakshat matsya-yuvraagni ko dena, ye mera sanman hai ye kehkar maine use apne baarein mein sankshep mein kaha. Mera kathanak ras lekar wo sun rahi hai ye dekhkar mujhe anand hua. Mujhe ye bhi dikhayi de raha tha ki, uske netron ki chamak aur bhi dhire-dhire badh rahi thi. Kuch bhi ho, uske sahvas se, uske saath batchit se mujhe ek alag hi anand mil raha tha.
shaam ko mere liye aanewaale nauka ki aawaj se yuvraagni turant samandar ke andar gayab ho gayi. Hamari mulaqatein ab badh rahi thi. Meri painting abhi tak puri nahi huyi thi. Hum roj ghanto baatein kiya karte the. Ekdusre ko jaan rahe the. Lekin fir bhi hum mein ek antar kayam tha.
Yuvraagni ke suvarn-deh ko chhune ki lalasa mujhe baarbaar ho rahi thi. Sharirik aakarshan se jyada ek anubhuti ki jigyasa usmein jyada thi. Lekin mere bhaagya mein wo sab nahi likha tha. Hamari mulaaqat ke 4-5 din baad hi usne mujhe saaf-saaf bata diya tha, ki martyalok ka sparsh mastyalok ke liye dhokaadayak rehta hai. Usmein matsyalok ki jaan bhi jaa sakti hai. Agar mein usko jarasa bhi chhu leta, to uski kaaya turant jalkar raakh ho jaati..!
Yuvraagni naajuk thi aur mere man mein uske prati pyaar itna jyada tha ki, mujhe uske is naajuk kaaya ka bhi moh hua..!
Mujhe khudko control mein rakhana mere liye aasan tha. Hum dono ke bhi man saaf the aur hamare sharir ek ho chuke the. isliye shaaririk sparsh ismein kuch maayne nahi rakhta tha.
Lekin fir bhi ye antar mujhe chhal raha tha. Hardin ke baatchit aur usko ghurne ki wajah se mein andar hi andar tut raha tha. Kitne baar to uski baatchit par dhyaan naa dete huye mein usko baahon mein lekar uska amrit pine ke liye betaab hua jaa raha tha.
Mere man ki ye awastha mujhe hi asahay ho rahi thi. Isliye shayad, yuvraagni ne wo prastav rakha, tab wo swikarne mein maine koyi bhi deri nahi ki.
"mujhe pata hai ki, manushyaprani hawa-ke bagair ji nahi sakta. Lekin aap chinta na karo. Hamare raajvaidya unke divya-aushadhiyon ki sahayyata se aapke paani ke niche ka jivan puri tarah se anandit kar denge. Aapke is manavi rup se hi aap jal-char ki tarah ji sakte ho, aisa vishwas khud rajvaidya ne mujhe dilaya hai."
Maine uska abhivadan kiya par bola kuch nahi. Thode se muskan ke saath Yuvraagni ne mera abhivadan swikar kiya aur wo aage kehne lagi, "aapko abhi-ke-abhi antim nirnay lena hai. Mera sakha, jivansakha hokar mere sahwas ka aap upbhog le sakte hai, lekin aap wapas mrutyulok mein nahi aa sakte. aapko bhulok ke sabhi rishte aur dhan-daulat chhodkar, hamare raajya mein aana hoga. bolo hai maanya..?"
mera man to sirf uske 'mera sakha, mera jivansakha..' usi baat ko dohra raha tha, uske sahavas ke liye kitna bhi bada tyag karne ki meri tayyari thi. aur waise mujhe kidhar jyada tyagna tha..? mere paas aisa kya tha jo mein tyaag du..? aur rishte bhi kitne the mere paas..? mere liye sirf aur sirf meri painting mayne rakhti thi aur uske liye desh-videsh ghumna yahi meri abhi ki sthiti thi.
Maine uska prastaav turant swikaar liya. Yuvraagni aanadit ho gayi. Hamara sahjivan jaldi shuru honewala tha. Sirf ek mahatwapurn baat aavashyak thi.
"raajvaidyo ne aapko matsyalok mein shaamil kar liya to aapka sparsha, aapka sahavas mujhe chal sakta hai. Mein aapke milan ke liye adhir hun aur isliye ye vidhi turant ho aisi meri ichcha hai. Lekin fir bhi is vidhi ko kuch samay lagega ye mujhe pata hai. Isliye kuch samay ke liye aapke sharir ka praanvayu aapko bachakar rakhna padega. Raajvaidyo ne khaas aapke liye ek vanaspti ka kaadha tayyar kiya hua wo hum aapko abhi denge. Wo lene se aapke sharir ke cells paani ke andar praanvaayu ka adhik-se-adhik upyog karenge aur matsyalok ki tarah paani se praanvaayu khinch lene ki kala jab tak aapke sharir ko avagat nahi ho jaati tabtak is kaadhe se aapke sharir ka praanvayu aapko milta rahega. Samjhe..?"
Mujhe kuch samajh mein nahi aaya, lekin fir bhi maine haan mein sir hilaya. Mujhe abhi ek kaadha lena hai aur uske baad paani ke niche raajvaidya mujhe matsyamanav mein badal denge. itni baat mujhe pata chal gayi thi.
Mere haan kehte hi Yuvraagni ne paani mein ek awaj lagayi aur aadhe ghante ke baad wo wapas aayi tabhi uske haathon mein nariyal ke kawach ke andar ek hare rang ka kaadha tha.
Mein pahad se niche utar kar paani mein tairate huye uske najdik gaya aur mere ungliyon ka sparsh use nahi hoga ye baat dhyan mein rakhte huye maine wo kaadha apne haathon mein liya.
Ek naya yug shuru hone jaa raha tha; ek naye jeevan ki shuruvat honewali thi. Maine gardan ghumakar ekbaar dubte huye suraj ki taraf dekha. Suraj ki aur dekhte huye maine wo matsyagandhi kaai-jaise swadwala kaadha apne hontho se lagaya. Dhire-dhire andhera ho raha tha. Mera sharir paani mein dub raha hai aisi mujhe anubhuti huyi aur meri saari ichchayen mar gayi.
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Abhi to uski ye dincharya ho chuki thi. Rajsabha mein jaane se pahle Yuvraagni mere paas aayi, bedpar lete-lete hi mere abhivadan ka usne muskrukar swikar kiya aur mere se antar rakhte huye mere takiye ke sirhane baith gayi. Aise samay uske netron mein udaasi ke bhaav dikhayi dete the. Uska udaas chehra dekhkar mujhe bohot dukh hota tha. Usko santawana dene ka prayas kiya to mere muhn se sirf paani ki bul-bule hi nikalti thi. Raajvaidyon ki dawayion ka ye dushparinam tha - mera swaryantra puri tarah se nishkriy ho chuka tha..!
Roj is tarah meri aisi haalat dekhkar Yuvraagni ne niraasha se apna chehra ghumaa liya aur wahan baithna use asahay lagne laga isliye wo uthkar chali gayi. Kuch antar dur jaane ke baad Yuvraagni ne mudkar wapas ekbaar mujhe dekha, aisa mujhe bhram hua. Aisa mein yakin ke sath nahi keh sakta kyunki sagar ke us andhere mein abhi tak meri aankhein andhere ke adhin nahi huyi thi.
Kitna waqt hua hoga mujhe yahan aaye..? kuch ghante..? kuch din..? kuch saal..? kuch bhi andaja nahi tha. Din aur raat ka hisaab rakhne ke liye idhar suryadarshan hi nahi tha. Mujhe yaad hai us din jab maine apni aankhein kholi, tabhi mere charon aur ghana-andhera tha. Mein ekdam niche sagar-tal mein tha, lekin ashcharya karnewali ek baat thi wo ye ki mein abhi tak zinda tha, mujhe sirf saans lene mein taklif ho rahi thi, bas.
Andhere mein - ekdam mere najdik - ek aawaj aayi, tabhi mein chaunk gaya. Lekin thodi hi der mein Yuvraagni ki aawaj sunkar mein ashwast ho gaya.
"Yuvraagni..!" mein chillaya, lekin mere gale se sif bul-bule hi nikle.
"Yuvraagni, aap kidhar ho..! mujhe kuch bhi kyun nahi dikh raha..?" maine wapas prayas kiya. Isbaar mere shabdon ko mujhe thoda bohot dhwani dene mein vijay mila tha.
Yuvraagni ka dhyan meri taraf gaya, kyunki wo mere se bolne lagi, "Ravi..! aakhirkar aapko hosh aa-hi gaya..! nishchint raho, mein apke paas hun. Is andhkar mein aapki aankhon ko adhin hone mein waqt lagega, tab tak sabra rakhna. Ya fir aisa karte hai, hum apke liye idhar thodi roshni ka intezaam karte hai."
Thodi hi der baad uski aagya se ek sevak ne udhar ek roshni ka coral laakar rakh diya.
Us hari roshni mein dikhnewaala nile-sagar ke jalshrishti ki shobha ko kaise varnan karu..? Mere andar ka paintar jaagne laga. Is roshni mein sagar-tal ki mulayam reti pornima ke chand ki tarah chamak rahi thi. aur khud Yuvraagni bhi..? Wo to kisi tare ki taraf tejopunj dikh rahi thi. Sagar-garbh ke is adbhut drushya se uttejit huye mere man ne ekbaar mere kaaye ki taraf najar ghumayi aur turant mein nirash ho gaya. Khudka hi darshan mujhe itna ganda-darwana-ghinn lagega ye maine sapne mein bhi nahi socha tha.
Meri twacha ke niche ka maans pighalte huye ekdam chipchipaa hogaya tha. Meri aayu ekdam 100-150 saal badh gayi hai aisa dikh raha tha. Mere is jarjar chamdi ko dekhte hi mujhe ulti jaisa hone laga tha. Maine kitna waqt murchhit awastha mein paani ke niche nikala tha pata nahi, kyunki meri twacha ekdam sad chuki thi.
Lekin maine Yuvraagni se aisa kya apradh kiya tha..? Yuvraagni ke pyaar mein maine khud ko jhonk diya tha. Mera puraa jivan maine uske pyaar ke khaatir balidan kar diya. Yuvraagni ke saath ghar-sansaar ka sapna dekha tha. Usse sirf jismani pyaar ki hi apeksha ki thi.
Aur mere nasib mein kya aaya tha..? pure sharir par hajaaron-laakhon chhed..! aur chhed se nikalnewaale laarva..! Ek samay ka pahlwan sharir ab use kide khaa rahe the aur wahi kide mere man ko bhi kured rahe the..! aur kya mila tha mujhe..?
Bhulok par tha tabhi mujhe khudpar prem tha. Mujhe mere pahwal sharir ka aadar-abhiman-garv tha aur aisho aaram ki zindagi ji raha tha. Mere painting par aneko ameer log apna paisa udate the aur toh aur mere tagade balisht sharir par rupmati yuvati aur saundarvati rajkanya apna kaumarya nyochhavar karti thi.
Mujhe jivanbhar kisi bhi chij ki kami nahi hoti thi, lekin fir bhi mein kisi ek jagah nahi tik paaya. Ek adbhut, gumnaam sukh ki khoj mein bhatakta rahta tha.
Yuvraagni ke rup se mujhe laga, ki mere antahin bhataknewale sagar ko ek kinara mil hi gaya hai. Mujhe laga ki, pruthvi par kidhar nahi lagnewala mera man aaj sagar-garbh mein sthir honewala hai.
Parantu mere aage ye bhayankar-darawana nark parose rakha tha.
Mere is paristhiti ko bechari Yuvraagni hi khud ko doshi maan rahi thi. Jiski vaidya-yojana special galat saabit huyi thi aur jinki dawaiyon se meraa jal-jivan sukhdayi hone ke bajaye narkwas ban gaya tha, wo rajvaidya bhi apradhik bhaavna se dhukhi tha. Aajtak kisi ne bhi kabhi bhi aisa anokha prayog nahi kiya hai ye dekhte huye bhi Yuvraagni ke dabav ki wajah se usne ye kiya tha, lekin usne mana kiya hota to aaj ye nahi hota, ye use mehsus hote hi wo rajvaidya lajjit ho jaata tha.
Lekin fir bhi ek baat spasht thi, Yuvraagni ne mujhse kitni bhi maafi maangi, yaa fir krodh mein aakar raajvaidya ko mrutyu-dand diya, to bhi meri jawani, mera swasth sharir mujhe wapas nahi milnewala tha. Aakhirkar unpar chilla-chillakar thak-haarkar maine apna sharir un rajwaidya ko ilaaj ke liye saunp diya tha. Unke ilaaj se mein kam-se-kam paani mein saans to le sakta tha.
Mere sharir ki sthiti bitate samay mein aur bhi buri hoti jaa rahi thi. Meri sharirkriya band hoti jaa rahi thi, chetana khatam ho rahi thi. Mere sharir ne bed pakad-jakad liya tha aur mein ekdam nishchal pada tha. Mein abhi bhi saagari-jivon ke liye manushya tha aur isliye mein Yuvragni ko chhu nahi sakta tha. Mujhe satwana dene ke liye bhi wo bechari mera haath apne haathon mein nahi le sakti thi. Uske jismani lalach ke liye aage-piche kuch na soch-vichar karte huye maine sabhi tyag diya tha, us jismani-talukat se mein abhi tak vanchit tha. Lekin abhi uska mujhe khed nahi ho raha hai. Pehle ke jaise Yuvraagni ko dekhte hi mera sharir garam nahi ho jata tha. Uske darshan ki, uske bolne ka ab akarshan nahi tha. Mujhe mere sharir ki safai karne se hi fursat nahi milti thi.
Lekin maine ab idhar se mukt ho jaane mein hi apni bhalayi samajhi. Kyunki Yuvragni ke bol-chaal mein abhi mere prati lagav nahi dikh raha tha. Ab antik faisle ki ghadi aa chuki thi. Mujhe mukti chahiye thi, yaa fir mujhe Yuvragni ka pyar chahiye tha. Dono bhi baatein ek hi baar mein nahi kar sakta tha. Mujhe sirf ek kaa chunaav karna tha. Yuvragni ya mukti. Pyar ya azadi. Mere man mein yahi uthal-puthal chal rahi thi.
Rajsabha ki dincharya khatam kar ke yuvragni mere paas aayi, tabhi mere man mein uthal-puthal chal rahi thi ki kya karu. Aur meri ye uthal-puthal yuvragni se bhi chupi nahi usne kaha, "Ravi, priye, bohot aswasth lag rahe hai. Mujhe samajh aa raha hai, priye. Lekin aap chinta mat karna. Jaldi hi sab kuch thik honewala hai. Rajvaidya apni puri takat lagakar tujhe paani mein chalne-firne jaisa karnewala hai. Unhone hamein bataya hai ki, unka ek aushadhi prayog jald hi yashasvi honewala hai. Wo ho gaya to teri paristhiti mein jaldi sudhaar hoga."
Aasha..! Yuvragni mujhe wapas ek aasha ki kiran dikha rahi thi. Mein aswasth ho chuka tha. Mein chup raha. Waise bhi mere swaryantra thik se chal nahi rahe the. Maine apna faisla le liya tha aur uske parinaam-swarup mera chehra khil chuka tha isliye mein bohot khush tha. Ye dekhkar yuvragni bhi bohot khush huyi aur wapas chali gayi.
Maine apne deh ko wapas ekbar dekha. Dawayi ke dushparinam ki wajah se aur sagar-jiv-jantu ki wajah se mera sharir andar se khokala ho chuka tha. Meri kaaya fugti jaa rahi thi. Mein paani se bhi halka ho chuka tha. Agar yuvragni ke sevakon ne mujhe bed se bandha nahi ho to kabka mujhe is sagar ne kisi lakadi ki tarah dur fenk diya hota.
Meri dekhbhaal karne ke liye rakhe gaye sevakon ko meine dur bhej diya. Ekant dekh kar mein dhire-dhire uthne laga. Mujhe bandhe huye sagar-rassi ko chaba-chaba kar todne laga. Un rassion-ka kadwa swad mere muhn mein jaa raha tha, lekin uski fikar na karte huye mein unhe todne mein laga hua tha.
Tutate huye ek ek rassi se mera sharir aur mera man halka hota ja raha tha. Akhirkar mera narkwas abhi samapt hone ja raha tha.
Akhirki rassi maine chabakar khatam ki aur bul-bule jaise mere halke sharir ko paani ne turant upar uthane ki shuruvat ki.
Abhi, nikalte samay yuvragni ki mulaqat nahi huyi ye khed mere man mein hai. Uske saath hi, use ye baat na pata chale yahi yogya hai, ye bhi mujhe pata hai. Mere netra apne aap bigh gaye hai. Meri najre surya-devata ko dekh rahi hai. Mujhe mere akhri saansa tak ye surya prakash pi lena hai.
Thodi hi der mein paani ke upar aa jaunga. Pahile saans mein hi meri jaan jaanewali hai, ye mujhe pata tha. Lekin ab mujhe uski fikra nahi thi.
Mrutyu itna sundar isse pahle mujhe kabhi nahi laga tha...!
~~THE END~~
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