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andhkaar apna dera jama chuka tha. Raat apni manthar gati se beeti ja rahi thi. charo aur sannata pasra hua tha. Haan kabhi kabhi siyaro ke rone aur kutto ke bhokne ki awaazon se watavaran mein bisra sannata kshan bhar ke liye bhang hua jata tha.
Is waqt raat ke 10 baje the. raipur ke nivasi apne apne gharon mein kucch to chadar taane so chuke the kuchh sone ka prayatn kar rahe the. Sharmili apne ghar ke aangan ki charpai par apne pati sarju ke sath leti hui thi. Uski aankhon se neend gayab thi. wah ek aur karwat liye hue thi. Uski nazrein uske ghar se thode se faasle par sthit us bhavya kaanch ki haweli par tiki hui thi jise thakur jagat singh ne apni dharmpatni radha devi ke muh dikhayi ke taur par banwaya tha. Theek usi tarah jaise shahjahan ne mumtaj ke liye tajmahal banwaya tha. Yahan fark sirf itna tha ki thakur sahab ne ye kaanch ki haweli apni patni ke jeevant kaal hi mein banwaya tha.
Thakur sahab radha devi se bahut prem karte the. Shadi ki muh dikhayi ke din hi thakur sahab ne radha devi ko ye vachan diya tha ki wey unke liye ek aisi haweli ka nirmaan karenge jise log yugon yugon tak yaad rakhenge. Aur unhone theek hi kaha tha. Shadi ke saal dedh saal ke bhitar hi thakur saahab ne apna wada pura kiya. Aur ye haweli bataour muh dikhayi radha devi ko bhent kiya. jab ye haweli bankar taiyar hui to dekhne walon ki aankhen chaundhiya gayi. Jiski bhi nazar haweli par padi radha devi ki kismat par rashq kar utha.
sharmili roz hi haweli ko dekhti aur thakur ke dil mein radha devi ke liye base us pyar ka anuman lagati. Abhi bhi uski najrein haweli par hi tiki hui thi. syah raat mein bhi yah haweli apni chamak bikherne mein kaamyab thi. Uski bahri roshni se haweli ki deeware jhilmila rahi thi. tatha haweli ke andar se chhan kar nikalti roshni haweli ko indradhanushi rang pradaan kar rahi thi.
Sharmili ne palat kar apne pati sarju ko dekha jo ek aur muh kiye leta hua tha. Usne dheere se sarju ko pukara. - "aap so gaye kya?"
Sarju abhi halki neend mein tha sharmili ki awaaz se wah kunmunaya. "kya hai?"
"ek baat puchhu tumse sach sach bataoge?" Sharmili ne prembhav se apne pati ki aur dekhte hue boli. Uske dil mein is waqt prem ka saagar hilore maar raha tha.
lekin sarju ko uske bhavo se kya lena dena tha. Din bhar ka thaka haara apni neend sone ka prayatn kar raha tha. Wah anjaan hokar bola - "tumse jhooth bolkar bhi mera kaun sa bhala ho jayega. Sach hi bolunga."
"tum seedhe seedhe baat kyon nahi karte?" sharmili tunak kar boli. Use is waqt pati ke muh se aise bol ki asha na thi.
"to tum seedhe seedhe puchh kyon na leti, jo puchhna chahti ho? puchho."
sharmili is waqt jhagde ke mood mein nahi thi. wah shant swar mein boli - "mere marne ke baad kya tum bhi meri yaad mein kuchh banwaoge?" sharmili ke ye shabd prem ras mein dube hue the. Un shabdo mein laakhon armaan chhupe hue the.
"haan....!" sarju ne dheere se kaha.
pati ke muh se haan sunkar shrmili ka dil jhum utha. Man prem pakheru bankar udne laga. Aaj use is haan mein jitni khushi mili thi ki uska anumaan lagana mushkil tha. Aaj sarju agar is haan ke badle uske pran bhi maang leta to wah khushi khushi apne pati ke liye pran tyag deti. Wah sarju se kaskar chipat gayi aur boli - "kya banwaoge?"
"maalik se kuchh rupye karz mein lekar tumhare liye badhiya sa kabra banwaunga. Phir jo paise bachenge un paison se pure gaon mein mithaiyan baatunga."
Sharmili ka dil bhar aaya. ankhon se aanshu beh nikle. Apne pati ke dil mein apne liye aise vichaar jaankar uski aatma sisak uthi. Wah sisakte hue boli - "kya pandrah saal tumhare sath rahne ka yahi inaam hai mera. Main samajhti thi ki tum mujhe apni ardhangini samajhte ho...prem karte ho mujhse. aaj pata chala tumhare dil mein mere liye kitna prem hai."
sharmili ki bematlab ki baaton se sarju ki neend gayab ho chuki thi. Wah jhallakar bola. - "Na to main maalik jaisa rayeesh hoon aur na hi tum maalkin jaisi sundar ho. Phir kyon mera magaz kha rahi ho? "
Sarju ki jhidki se sharmili ka dil tut gaya. Lekin wo abhi kuchh kehti usse pehle hi rooh ko kanpa dene wali ek bhayankar naari cheekh raat ke sannate mein gunj uthi. Yah cheekh haweli se aayi thi. Sharmili ke sath sath sarju bhi chihunk kar charpai se uth baitha.
"maalkin...!" sarju badbadaya aur charpai se utra - "lagta hai maalkin ko phir se daura pada hai. Main haweli ja raha hoon." wah teji se apni dhoti kasta hua bola. Phir kurta uthaya aur haweli ke raaste bhagta chala gaya.
Sharmili abhi bhi jadwat khadi haweli ki aur taak rahi thi. Uski dil ki dhadkane chadhi hui thi. Uska sharir bhay se haule haule kaanp raha tha. Tabhi phir se wahi dil cheer dene wali cheekh uske kaano se takrayi.
sharmili kaanpte hue charpai par let gayi. Haweli se nikli cheekh ne uske apne sare dukh bhula diye the. Ab unki jagah radha devi ke dukh ne ghar kar liya tha. Wah radha devi ke baare mein sochne lagi.
radha devi - kaisa azeeb sanyog tha. Thakur sahab ne radha devi ki muh dikhayi ke liye jis haweli ka nirmaan karwaya us haweli ka sukh unhe na mil saka. Bechari jis din is haweli mein aayi usi raat na jaane kaun sa haadsha pesh aaya ki radha devi apni maansik santulan kho baithi. Tab se lekar aaj pure 20 baras tak wo ek kamre mein band hain. Aur isi prakaar ke daure aate rahte hain. Unki is prakaar ke daure ke bare mein sabhi jaante hain par unke sath kya hua? us raat haweli mein kaun si ghatna ghati ki unhe paagal ho jana pada ye koi nahi jaanta. Ye ek rahasya bana hua hai.
Sarju haafta hua haweli mein daakhil hua aur seedha maalkin ke kamre ki taraf badh gaya. Malkin ke kamre ki darwaze tak pahunch kar wah ruka. Wahan haweli ke dusre naukar bhi khade bhay se kaanp rahe the. Unme se kisi mein bhi itni himmat nahi thi ki wo andar jakar dekhe ki kya ho raha hai. sarju kuchh der khada rahkar apni ukhad chali saanso ko kaabu karta raha phir dhadakte dil se andar jhanka. Andar ka drishy dekhkar uski sitti-pitti gum ho gayi. Malkin kisi hinsak sherni ki bhanti laal laal aankhon se thakur sahab ko ghure ja rahi thi. thakur sahab ek aur khade thar thar kaanp rahe the. maalkin dayen bayen najar daudati aur jo bhi vastu unke hath lagta uthakar thakur sahab par feink marti.
"radha....hosh mein aao radha." maalik bhay se kanpte hue dheere se malkin ki aur badhe. "humein pehchano radha...hum tumhare pati jagat singh hain."
"jhooth....." radha devi cheekhi -"tu khooni hai.....agar tu mere paas aaya to main teri jaan le lungi. Main janti hoon tu meri beti ko marna chahta hai par usse pehle main tumhe maar dalungi." ye bolkar wo phir se kuchh dhundhne lagi...jisse ki wo thakur sahab ko feink kar maar sake. jab kuchh nahi mila to wo darte hue pichhe hati. Uske hatho mein kapde ki banayi hui gudiya thi jise wo apni beti samajhkar chhati se chipka rakhi thi. Thakur sahab ko apni aur badhte dekhkar uski aankhon mein bhay naach utha. radha gudiya ko apni sari ke anchal mein chhipane lagi. Aur phir kisi vastu ki talaash mein idhar udhar nazar daudane lagi. achanak uski aankhen chamak uthi, use paani ka ek gilaas zameen par gira pada dikhai diya. Wah furti se gilaas uthayi aur bijli ki gati se thakur sahab ko de maari. radha devi ne itni furti se gilaas feinka tha ki thakur sahab apna bachav na kar sake. Gilaas unke mathe se aa takrayi. Wo cheekhte hue pichhe hate. Unke mathe se khoon ki dhar beh nikli. Darwaze ke bahar khada sarju lapak kar un tak pahuncha Aur thakur sahab ko khinch kar bahar le aaya. Dusre naukaron ne jaldi se apne malkin ke kamre ka darwaza bahar se band kar diya.
Sarju thakur sahab ko hall mein le aaya aur unke mathe se behte kkoon ko saaf karne laga. Dusre naukar bhi dawai aur pattiyan lekar thakur sahab ke paas khade ho gaye. tabhi darwaze se deewan ji daakhil hue. Wo seedhe thakur sahab ke paas aakar baith gaye. Thakur sahab ki dasha dekhi to unke hontho se kraah nikal gayi.
"aap malkin ke kamre mein gaye hi kyon the sarkaar?" deewan ji unke mathe par lage ghav ko dekhte hue bole.
"radha ko dekhe ek mahina ho gaya tha deewan ji. Badi ichha ho rahi thi uski surat dekhne ki...mujhse raha nahi gaya." thakur sahab dard se chhtapata kar bole. Unka dard mathe par lagi chot ki wajah se nahi thi. Unka dard unke dil mein lage us chot se thi jise unhone khud lagai thi. Wo apni barbadi ke khud hi zimmedar the. Aaj unki patni ki jo haalat thi uske zimmedar wey khud the. Ye baat thakur sahab ke atirikt deewan ji bhi jante the. Aur wo ye bhi jante the ki thakur sahab apni patni radha devi se kitni mohabbat karte hain. Isliye thakur sahab ke dukh ka unhe jitna ehsaas tha shayad kisi aur ko na thi. Deewan ji thakur sahab ki baato se chup ho gaye. Unke paas kehne ke liye shabd hi nahi the, bas sahanubhuti bhari najron se unhe dekhte rahe.
"deewan ji...aapne bambai ke kisi kaabil doctor ke bare mein bataya tha uska kya hua? Wo kab tak aayega?" unhone apne ghav ki parwah na karte hue deewan ji se bole.
"aaj hi uska sandesh aaya tha. Wo thode dino mein aa jayega." deewan ji ne unhe aashwasan diya.
"pata nahi is doctor se bhi kuchh ho payega ya nahi. Jo bhi aata hai sab paise khane ke liye aate hain. Aajkal doctori peshe mein bhi imandari nahi rahi." thakur sahab mayusi mein bole.
"iske to kaafi charche sune hain maine. log kehte hain isne bahut kam umar mein bahut gyan haasil kiya hai. Aneko jatil case suljhaya hai. Malkin jaisi kayi marijon ko theek kar chuka hai. Mera dil kehta hai malik, abki malkin achhi ho jayengi. Aap uparwale par bharosa rakhen."
Deewan ji ki baaton se thakur sahab ne ek lambi saans chhodi phir bole - "ab to kisi cheej par bharosa nahi raha deewan ji. ab to aisa lagne laga hai hamari radha kabhi theek nahi hogi. Hum jeevan bhar aise hi tadapte rahenge. Ab to jeene ki bhi aash nahi rahi....pata nahi mere marne ke baad radha ka kya hoga?"
"biswas se badi koi cheej nahi malik. Aap biswas rakhen malkin ek din jarur theek hongi. Aur marne ki baat to sochiye hi nahi....aap yah kyon bhul jate hain aapki ek beti bhi hai."
Thakur sahab ne deewan ji ki taraf dekha. deewan ji ki baton ne jaise marham ka kaam kiya ho. Beti ki yaad aate hi murjhaya chehra khil sa gaya, wo deewan ji se bole - "kaisi hai hamari nikky deewan ji. Main abhaga to apne pita ke kartavya ko bhi theek se nahi nibha paya. Wo kab aa rahi hai?"
"nikky bitiya parso aa rahi hai. Parso shaam tak to bitiya aapke saamne hongi." deewan ji muskuraye.
ek lambe arse tak thakur sahab ne nikki ka chehra nahi dekha tha. Wo jab 6 saal ki thi tabhi unhone apni jaan se pyari beti ko bording bhej diya tha. Yahan rahne se maa ki bimari ka prabhav uspar pad sakta tha. Aaj jab nikki ke aane ki khabar deewan ji ne di to unka man beti ko dekhne ki chaah mein vyagr ho utha. Par ek aur jahan unhe beti se milne ki khushi thi to dusri aur unhe is baat ki chinta bhi ho rahi thi ki jab nikki apni maa se milegi to uske dil par kya beetegi. "ab aap ghar jaiye deewan ji. Raat bahut ho chuki hai." thakur sahab ab halke mehsus kar rahe the. Unhone deewan ji ko vyarth mein bithaye rakhna uchit nahi samjha.
"jaisi aapki aagya sarkar." deewan ji bole aur hath jodkar uth khade hue. Unka ghar bhi haweli ke baayi aur thoda hakte tha. kehne ko wo ghar tha par kisi chhoti haweli se kam nahi tha. Ye bhi thakur sahab ki meharbaniyon ka natija tha. Deewan ji unke bahut purane aadmi the. Aur unka sara kaam wahi dekhte the. Thakur sahab to aankh mund kar unpar bharosa karte the.
Deewan ji ke jaane ke baad thakur sahab uthe aur apne kamre ki taraf badh gaye. Neend to unki aankhon se koso door thi. Raat jaagte hue gujarne wali thi. ye unke liye koi nayi baat nahi thi. Unki zyadatar raaten jaagte hi gujarti thi. unhone cigar sulgai aur khud ko aaram kursi par giraye. Phir halke halke cigar ka kash lene lage. Cigar ka kash bharte hue thakur shahab ateet ko gehraiyon mein utarte chale gaye. Unka ateet hi unke man behlav ka saadhan tha. Wey aksar tanhaiyon mein apne ateet ki sair kar liya karte the.
Is waqt raat ke 10 baje the. raipur ke nivasi apne apne gharon mein kucch to chadar taane so chuke the kuchh sone ka prayatn kar rahe the. Sharmili apne ghar ke aangan ki charpai par apne pati sarju ke sath leti hui thi. Uski aankhon se neend gayab thi. wah ek aur karwat liye hue thi. Uski nazrein uske ghar se thode se faasle par sthit us bhavya kaanch ki haweli par tiki hui thi jise thakur jagat singh ne apni dharmpatni radha devi ke muh dikhayi ke taur par banwaya tha. Theek usi tarah jaise shahjahan ne mumtaj ke liye tajmahal banwaya tha. Yahan fark sirf itna tha ki thakur sahab ne ye kaanch ki haweli apni patni ke jeevant kaal hi mein banwaya tha.
Thakur sahab radha devi se bahut prem karte the. Shadi ki muh dikhayi ke din hi thakur sahab ne radha devi ko ye vachan diya tha ki wey unke liye ek aisi haweli ka nirmaan karenge jise log yugon yugon tak yaad rakhenge. Aur unhone theek hi kaha tha. Shadi ke saal dedh saal ke bhitar hi thakur saahab ne apna wada pura kiya. Aur ye haweli bataour muh dikhayi radha devi ko bhent kiya. jab ye haweli bankar taiyar hui to dekhne walon ki aankhen chaundhiya gayi. Jiski bhi nazar haweli par padi radha devi ki kismat par rashq kar utha.
sharmili roz hi haweli ko dekhti aur thakur ke dil mein radha devi ke liye base us pyar ka anuman lagati. Abhi bhi uski najrein haweli par hi tiki hui thi. syah raat mein bhi yah haweli apni chamak bikherne mein kaamyab thi. Uski bahri roshni se haweli ki deeware jhilmila rahi thi. tatha haweli ke andar se chhan kar nikalti roshni haweli ko indradhanushi rang pradaan kar rahi thi.
Sharmili ne palat kar apne pati sarju ko dekha jo ek aur muh kiye leta hua tha. Usne dheere se sarju ko pukara. - "aap so gaye kya?"
Sarju abhi halki neend mein tha sharmili ki awaaz se wah kunmunaya. "kya hai?"
"ek baat puchhu tumse sach sach bataoge?" Sharmili ne prembhav se apne pati ki aur dekhte hue boli. Uske dil mein is waqt prem ka saagar hilore maar raha tha.
lekin sarju ko uske bhavo se kya lena dena tha. Din bhar ka thaka haara apni neend sone ka prayatn kar raha tha. Wah anjaan hokar bola - "tumse jhooth bolkar bhi mera kaun sa bhala ho jayega. Sach hi bolunga."
"tum seedhe seedhe baat kyon nahi karte?" sharmili tunak kar boli. Use is waqt pati ke muh se aise bol ki asha na thi.
"to tum seedhe seedhe puchh kyon na leti, jo puchhna chahti ho? puchho."
sharmili is waqt jhagde ke mood mein nahi thi. wah shant swar mein boli - "mere marne ke baad kya tum bhi meri yaad mein kuchh banwaoge?" sharmili ke ye shabd prem ras mein dube hue the. Un shabdo mein laakhon armaan chhupe hue the.
"haan....!" sarju ne dheere se kaha.
pati ke muh se haan sunkar shrmili ka dil jhum utha. Man prem pakheru bankar udne laga. Aaj use is haan mein jitni khushi mili thi ki uska anumaan lagana mushkil tha. Aaj sarju agar is haan ke badle uske pran bhi maang leta to wah khushi khushi apne pati ke liye pran tyag deti. Wah sarju se kaskar chipat gayi aur boli - "kya banwaoge?"
"maalik se kuchh rupye karz mein lekar tumhare liye badhiya sa kabra banwaunga. Phir jo paise bachenge un paison se pure gaon mein mithaiyan baatunga."
Sharmili ka dil bhar aaya. ankhon se aanshu beh nikle. Apne pati ke dil mein apne liye aise vichaar jaankar uski aatma sisak uthi. Wah sisakte hue boli - "kya pandrah saal tumhare sath rahne ka yahi inaam hai mera. Main samajhti thi ki tum mujhe apni ardhangini samajhte ho...prem karte ho mujhse. aaj pata chala tumhare dil mein mere liye kitna prem hai."
sharmili ki bematlab ki baaton se sarju ki neend gayab ho chuki thi. Wah jhallakar bola. - "Na to main maalik jaisa rayeesh hoon aur na hi tum maalkin jaisi sundar ho. Phir kyon mera magaz kha rahi ho? "
Sarju ki jhidki se sharmili ka dil tut gaya. Lekin wo abhi kuchh kehti usse pehle hi rooh ko kanpa dene wali ek bhayankar naari cheekh raat ke sannate mein gunj uthi. Yah cheekh haweli se aayi thi. Sharmili ke sath sath sarju bhi chihunk kar charpai se uth baitha.
"maalkin...!" sarju badbadaya aur charpai se utra - "lagta hai maalkin ko phir se daura pada hai. Main haweli ja raha hoon." wah teji se apni dhoti kasta hua bola. Phir kurta uthaya aur haweli ke raaste bhagta chala gaya.
Sharmili abhi bhi jadwat khadi haweli ki aur taak rahi thi. Uski dil ki dhadkane chadhi hui thi. Uska sharir bhay se haule haule kaanp raha tha. Tabhi phir se wahi dil cheer dene wali cheekh uske kaano se takrayi.
sharmili kaanpte hue charpai par let gayi. Haweli se nikli cheekh ne uske apne sare dukh bhula diye the. Ab unki jagah radha devi ke dukh ne ghar kar liya tha. Wah radha devi ke baare mein sochne lagi.
radha devi - kaisa azeeb sanyog tha. Thakur sahab ne radha devi ki muh dikhayi ke liye jis haweli ka nirmaan karwaya us haweli ka sukh unhe na mil saka. Bechari jis din is haweli mein aayi usi raat na jaane kaun sa haadsha pesh aaya ki radha devi apni maansik santulan kho baithi. Tab se lekar aaj pure 20 baras tak wo ek kamre mein band hain. Aur isi prakaar ke daure aate rahte hain. Unki is prakaar ke daure ke bare mein sabhi jaante hain par unke sath kya hua? us raat haweli mein kaun si ghatna ghati ki unhe paagal ho jana pada ye koi nahi jaanta. Ye ek rahasya bana hua hai.
Sarju haafta hua haweli mein daakhil hua aur seedha maalkin ke kamre ki taraf badh gaya. Malkin ke kamre ki darwaze tak pahunch kar wah ruka. Wahan haweli ke dusre naukar bhi khade bhay se kaanp rahe the. Unme se kisi mein bhi itni himmat nahi thi ki wo andar jakar dekhe ki kya ho raha hai. sarju kuchh der khada rahkar apni ukhad chali saanso ko kaabu karta raha phir dhadakte dil se andar jhanka. Andar ka drishy dekhkar uski sitti-pitti gum ho gayi. Malkin kisi hinsak sherni ki bhanti laal laal aankhon se thakur sahab ko ghure ja rahi thi. thakur sahab ek aur khade thar thar kaanp rahe the. maalkin dayen bayen najar daudati aur jo bhi vastu unke hath lagta uthakar thakur sahab par feink marti.
"radha....hosh mein aao radha." maalik bhay se kanpte hue dheere se malkin ki aur badhe. "humein pehchano radha...hum tumhare pati jagat singh hain."
"jhooth....." radha devi cheekhi -"tu khooni hai.....agar tu mere paas aaya to main teri jaan le lungi. Main janti hoon tu meri beti ko marna chahta hai par usse pehle main tumhe maar dalungi." ye bolkar wo phir se kuchh dhundhne lagi...jisse ki wo thakur sahab ko feink kar maar sake. jab kuchh nahi mila to wo darte hue pichhe hati. Uske hatho mein kapde ki banayi hui gudiya thi jise wo apni beti samajhkar chhati se chipka rakhi thi. Thakur sahab ko apni aur badhte dekhkar uski aankhon mein bhay naach utha. radha gudiya ko apni sari ke anchal mein chhipane lagi. Aur phir kisi vastu ki talaash mein idhar udhar nazar daudane lagi. achanak uski aankhen chamak uthi, use paani ka ek gilaas zameen par gira pada dikhai diya. Wah furti se gilaas uthayi aur bijli ki gati se thakur sahab ko de maari. radha devi ne itni furti se gilaas feinka tha ki thakur sahab apna bachav na kar sake. Gilaas unke mathe se aa takrayi. Wo cheekhte hue pichhe hate. Unke mathe se khoon ki dhar beh nikli. Darwaze ke bahar khada sarju lapak kar un tak pahuncha Aur thakur sahab ko khinch kar bahar le aaya. Dusre naukaron ne jaldi se apne malkin ke kamre ka darwaza bahar se band kar diya.
Sarju thakur sahab ko hall mein le aaya aur unke mathe se behte kkoon ko saaf karne laga. Dusre naukar bhi dawai aur pattiyan lekar thakur sahab ke paas khade ho gaye. tabhi darwaze se deewan ji daakhil hue. Wo seedhe thakur sahab ke paas aakar baith gaye. Thakur sahab ki dasha dekhi to unke hontho se kraah nikal gayi.
"aap malkin ke kamre mein gaye hi kyon the sarkaar?" deewan ji unke mathe par lage ghav ko dekhte hue bole.
"radha ko dekhe ek mahina ho gaya tha deewan ji. Badi ichha ho rahi thi uski surat dekhne ki...mujhse raha nahi gaya." thakur sahab dard se chhtapata kar bole. Unka dard mathe par lagi chot ki wajah se nahi thi. Unka dard unke dil mein lage us chot se thi jise unhone khud lagai thi. Wo apni barbadi ke khud hi zimmedar the. Aaj unki patni ki jo haalat thi uske zimmedar wey khud the. Ye baat thakur sahab ke atirikt deewan ji bhi jante the. Aur wo ye bhi jante the ki thakur sahab apni patni radha devi se kitni mohabbat karte hain. Isliye thakur sahab ke dukh ka unhe jitna ehsaas tha shayad kisi aur ko na thi. Deewan ji thakur sahab ki baato se chup ho gaye. Unke paas kehne ke liye shabd hi nahi the, bas sahanubhuti bhari najron se unhe dekhte rahe.
"deewan ji...aapne bambai ke kisi kaabil doctor ke bare mein bataya tha uska kya hua? Wo kab tak aayega?" unhone apne ghav ki parwah na karte hue deewan ji se bole.
"aaj hi uska sandesh aaya tha. Wo thode dino mein aa jayega." deewan ji ne unhe aashwasan diya.
"pata nahi is doctor se bhi kuchh ho payega ya nahi. Jo bhi aata hai sab paise khane ke liye aate hain. Aajkal doctori peshe mein bhi imandari nahi rahi." thakur sahab mayusi mein bole.
"iske to kaafi charche sune hain maine. log kehte hain isne bahut kam umar mein bahut gyan haasil kiya hai. Aneko jatil case suljhaya hai. Malkin jaisi kayi marijon ko theek kar chuka hai. Mera dil kehta hai malik, abki malkin achhi ho jayengi. Aap uparwale par bharosa rakhen."
Deewan ji ki baaton se thakur sahab ne ek lambi saans chhodi phir bole - "ab to kisi cheej par bharosa nahi raha deewan ji. ab to aisa lagne laga hai hamari radha kabhi theek nahi hogi. Hum jeevan bhar aise hi tadapte rahenge. Ab to jeene ki bhi aash nahi rahi....pata nahi mere marne ke baad radha ka kya hoga?"
"biswas se badi koi cheej nahi malik. Aap biswas rakhen malkin ek din jarur theek hongi. Aur marne ki baat to sochiye hi nahi....aap yah kyon bhul jate hain aapki ek beti bhi hai."
Thakur sahab ne deewan ji ki taraf dekha. deewan ji ki baton ne jaise marham ka kaam kiya ho. Beti ki yaad aate hi murjhaya chehra khil sa gaya, wo deewan ji se bole - "kaisi hai hamari nikky deewan ji. Main abhaga to apne pita ke kartavya ko bhi theek se nahi nibha paya. Wo kab aa rahi hai?"
"nikky bitiya parso aa rahi hai. Parso shaam tak to bitiya aapke saamne hongi." deewan ji muskuraye.
ek lambe arse tak thakur sahab ne nikki ka chehra nahi dekha tha. Wo jab 6 saal ki thi tabhi unhone apni jaan se pyari beti ko bording bhej diya tha. Yahan rahne se maa ki bimari ka prabhav uspar pad sakta tha. Aaj jab nikki ke aane ki khabar deewan ji ne di to unka man beti ko dekhne ki chaah mein vyagr ho utha. Par ek aur jahan unhe beti se milne ki khushi thi to dusri aur unhe is baat ki chinta bhi ho rahi thi ki jab nikki apni maa se milegi to uske dil par kya beetegi. "ab aap ghar jaiye deewan ji. Raat bahut ho chuki hai." thakur sahab ab halke mehsus kar rahe the. Unhone deewan ji ko vyarth mein bithaye rakhna uchit nahi samjha.
"jaisi aapki aagya sarkar." deewan ji bole aur hath jodkar uth khade hue. Unka ghar bhi haweli ke baayi aur thoda hakte tha. kehne ko wo ghar tha par kisi chhoti haweli se kam nahi tha. Ye bhi thakur sahab ki meharbaniyon ka natija tha. Deewan ji unke bahut purane aadmi the. Aur unka sara kaam wahi dekhte the. Thakur sahab to aankh mund kar unpar bharosa karte the.
Deewan ji ke jaane ke baad thakur sahab uthe aur apne kamre ki taraf badh gaye. Neend to unki aankhon se koso door thi. Raat jaagte hue gujarne wali thi. ye unke liye koi nayi baat nahi thi. Unki zyadatar raaten jaagte hi gujarti thi. unhone cigar sulgai aur khud ko aaram kursi par giraye. Phir halke halke cigar ka kash lene lage. Cigar ka kash bharte hue thakur shahab ateet ko gehraiyon mein utarte chale gaye. Unka ateet hi unke man behlav ka saadhan tha. Wey aksar tanhaiyon mein apne ateet ki sair kar liya karte the.