p`stavanaa

hlaWanaI, kazgaaodama, jyaaolaIkaoT, baildyaaKana… ko tIKo Gaumaavadar maaoD,aoM pr sao haoto huyao jaba jaIp naOnaItala kI sarhd maoM

Gausanao lagaI tao r%naa kao phaD, AaOr maOdana ko sain(as)ala pr ibaKra tra[- BaaBar ka yah ivastINa- xao~ pUra hI badlaa huAa-saa lagaa; magar ihla-sToSana naOnaItala tao Ap`%yaaiSat $p sao badla gayaa )aa. AiWtIya, ivaiSaYT naOnaI JaIla jaao [sa s)aana ka vajaUd )aI, Apnao maoM isamaTI najar Aa rhI )aI. phlao [saka panaI }pr tk lahrata rhta )aa, iknaaraoM pr sao Clak-Clak kr baahr Aa jaayaa krta )aa. JaIla kao Gaoro pva-taoM kI vah Anaupma hiryaalaI gaayaba hao caukI )aI, k[- AavaasaIya makana, icaik%saalaya, haoTla, TUirsT rosT haoma, (ama-SaalaayaoM evama ka^nvaonT skUla hro-Baro poD,aoM kao igara kr KD,o hao gayao )ao. ])alaI-kccaI pgaDMiDyaa^ zaosa p@kI saD,kaoM maoM badla ga[- )aI. saaf-sau)arI maala raoD jaao vaIrana-saI rha krtI )aI, ]sa pr mahanagaraoM jaOsaa BaID,-BaD,@ka najar Aa rha )aa jagamagaato Saa^ipMga sTaosa-, iJalaimalaato rosTaoronT AaOr dmakto saOlaainayaaoM ka ]maD,ta saOlaaba… baotrtIba-saa fOlaa laga rha )aa. phlao yaha^ kovala saurmya p`akRitk dRSya hI idKa[- doto )ao, ikntu Aba Aa(auinak dRSyaban(a BaI p`caur maa~a maoM dRiYTgaaocar hao rho )ao. p`kRit va Aa(auinakta ka saMgama jaOsaa laga rha )aa. caIla-ca@kr, hnaumaanagaZ,I, laok-iba`ja… kao par kr jaIp mallaItala, vao(aSaalaa pr saI.Aar.pI.ef (saonT/la irja-va puilasa faosa-) ko gaosT ha]sa ko saamanao $k ga[-. ip`yaa nao r%naa kao ]trnao kao kha tao paYaaNavat-saI baOzI r%naa kI ivacaar EaRKMlaa TUTI. ]sanao hD,baD,a kr sajala nao~aoM sao ek xaNa ip`yaa kI Aaor doKa AaOr Aaihsto sao jaIp sao ]tr ga[-. saamanao isa@yaUirTI faosa- kI gaaiD,yaaoM kI ktar )aI. saI.Aar.pI.ef ko k[- javaana va Ai(akarI maustOdI sao KD,o )ao. ApnaI na[- kmaanDr ip`yaa ka vao gama-jaaoSaI sao svaagat krnao lagao )aoo. xao~Iya hoD Aa^ifsa naOnaItala maoM ip`yaa ApnaI naaOkrI ka caaja- loakr prsaaoM ApnaI faosa- ko saa)a ip)aaOD,agaZ, kao rvaanaa haogaI. vaha^ sao vah ApnaI faosa- ka naotR%va krogaI. ]sakI faosa- ip)aaOD,agaZ, ko Aasapasa ko phaD,I ga`ama – JaUlaaGaaT, DIDIhaT, ramaoSvar, jaaogaoSvar [%yaaid maoM Aantr saurxaa va caOna-bahalaI ]plab(a krvaanao ko Aitir@t vaha^ ek nayaa iSaivar BaI lagaayaogaI ijasamaoM iva(avaaAaoM va Anya maihlaaAaoM kao fla-trkarI saMsaa(ana AaOr kta[- ko vyaavasaaiyak p`iSaxaNa idyao jaayaoMgao. naOnaItala va ip)aaOragaZ, Aba ihMdustana ko nayao rajya ]<araMcala ko dao ijalao hOM. r%naa ka Apnaa Sahr dohradUna, nayao rajya ]<araMcala kI raja(aanaI hO. r%naa kao naOnaItala sao Apnao Sahr dohradUna laaOT jaanaa pD,ogaa. ip`yaa ko saa)a vah naOnaItala tk hI AayaI hO. ip)aaOragaZ, yaa ]sako Aagao khIM jaanao kI r%naa kI [cCa nahIM hO AaOr ip`yaa BaI ]sao saa)a lao jaanao kao [cCuk nahIM hO. vah tao ]sao Apnao saa)a naOnaItala BaI nahIM laanaa caahtI )aI. laoikna… jaba r%naa kao pta calaa ik ip`yaa naOnaItala haoto huyao ip)aaOragaZ, jaayaogaI tao ]sanao baccaaoM kI saI hz pkD, laI. khnao lagaI – vah marnao sao pUva- ]sa s)aana kao ek baar AvaSya doKnaa caahtI hO jaha^ ]sakI ijandgaI ko cand Ahma saala vyatIt huyao )ao. ip`yaa ko caohro pr ek gairmaa, haMozao pr ek iSaYT mauskana )aI. Apnaa gaiva-t tnaa ha)a vah Aagao baZ,a kr ek-ek krko saBaI Ai(akairyaaoM sao imalaa rhI )aI. r%naa nao ApnaI dRiYT )aaoD,I pOnaI krI. saamanao KD,o saI.Aar.pI.ef. ko javaanaao AaOr Ai(akairyaaoM ka (yaana sao Avalaaokna krnao lagaI. ek samaana vadI- haonao kI vajah sao ilaMga Baod spYT dRiYTgaaocar nahIM hao rha )aa, ikntu ]namaoM Ai(aktr maihlaayaoM )aI. ]sao ip`yaa ka va@tvya barbasa (yaana Aayaa… ip`yaa nao ]sao dohradUna maoM batayaa )aa ik vah ip)aaOragaZ, maoM

saI.Aar.pI.ef. kI maihlaa faOja ka naotR%va krogaI. ]sakI faOja maoM maihlaayaoM hI haoMgaI. r%naa ]na maihlaa kma-caairyaaoM kao (yaana sao ivaismat haokr doKnao lagaI… na ibaMidyaa na caUD,I, na GaMUMGaT na kajala kI DaorI ! na saMkaoca sao vah dbaI, na Aa^^Ko Sama- sao ]sakI JaukI ! naarI kI yah kOsaI CivaÆ ksaI pOnT ko BaItr GausaI bauSaT-, ]jaagar haoto BaarI inatmba ! pOrao pr ksao baUT, isar pr caZ,I kOp, kn(aaoM pr camakto sTasa- ]sakI pdvaI ko Vaootk ! KakI vadI- maoM tna kr vah tao KD,I, Ba[- yah baIsavaIM nahIM, [@kIsavaI sadI !

caaraoM Aaor najar daOD,ato huyao r%naa baudbauda[-- - “iktnaa kuC badla gayaa hO [na saalaaoM maoMÆ…” itropna-caaOvana vaYaaoM- ]prant r%naa ifr ]saI maukama pr KD,I caikt hao rhI )aI, jaha^ sao ]sakI ijandgaI vastut: Sau$ hu[- )aI. ivagat [na itropna-caaOvana vaYaao- maoM r%naa kI ijandgaI maoM [tnaa kuC badlaa, [tnao ivainamaya hue ik Agar ek-ek ka ]llaoK krnao lagao tao d`aOpdI kI caIr kI trh va hnaumaana jaI kI pUMC kI trh vao baZ,to hI jaayaoMgao…. magar ]sako va ]sasao salaMgna yaa sambain(at vyai@tyaaoM ko jaIvana ko kuC GaTnaak`ma ]llaoKnaIya hOM, jaao A%yai(ak mah%va rKto hOM, ijanhaoMnao ]sako jaIvana kI idSaa kao ekdma pirvait-t ikyaa hO. bahrhala r%naa Aba ek maa^ hI nahIM, ek naanaI hI nahIM, varna ek prnaanaI BaI hO. iktnao hI baccaaoM ko janma kI KuiSayaa^ ]sanao manaa[-, iktnaao kI hI maaOtaoM pr ]sanao Saaok p`kT ikyaa. ]sako saa)aI... gaMgaa(ar AaOr gaaya~I ]sao CaoD, kr calao gayao. ]saka snaohBaajana… EaI(ar gaujar gayaa. ]sakI baoTI ]Yaa ]saI ko saamanao baujauga- hao ga[-. ]sakI paOi~yaa^ p`acaI-p`&a-ip`yaa ]ma` kI ]sa maukama pr phu^ca ga[- jaha^ SaOSava kI JaUzI k`ID,ayaoM, yaaOvana ka kalpinak ]nmaad CUT kr p`aOZ,ta ka ya)aat- saamanao Aa jaata hO. r%naa, ]Yaa AaOr p`acaI-p`&a-ip`yaa tIna pIiZ,yaaoM kI vah kiD,yaa^M hOM, ijanhaonao pirvat-naSaIla samaaja maoM naarI kI pirvat-naIyata kao diSa-t ikyaa hO. jaha^ r%naa nao A%yaacaarI saamaaijak ban(anaaoM kao ApnaI ijandgaI kI inayait maana maUk banakr svaIkar ikyaa, vahIM ]sakI baoTI nao ]naka p`itkar ikyaa; ikntu ]sakI paOi~yaaoM nao tao ]naka pUra baihYkar ikyaa. baihYkar hI nahIM, ]nhoM raOMd Dalaa. p`acaI Apnao ihndutanaI pit kao tlaak do ivadoSa maoM jaa basaI hO – ivadoSaI pit ko saa)a. ]sasao BaI ]sakI inaBa jaayao, sauinaiScat nahIM. iflahala tao vah Apnao svadoSaI pit sao janmaoM baoTo kao Apnao saa)a ivadoSa baulavaanao ko ilayao kanaUnaI pOMcaaoM sao kBaI sao laD, kr rhI hO.

p`&a nao [-saa[- sao SaadI kI hO. (ama--jaaityaaoM ka vah Apirvat-naIya inaYzur Baod kOsao samaya ko saa)a huyao pirvat-naaoM maoM ivalauPt haota gayaa… nahIM tao r%naa ko purKaoM nao kBaI saaocaa BaI na haogaa ik ]nakI Aanao vaalaI naslaoM [-saa[yaaoM sao irSta jaaoD,ogaI. svayaM r%naa BaI

kha^ saaoca payaI )aI. ]sanao [saka ksa kr p`itvaad ikyaa )aa. ]sako p`itvaad pr p`acaI A+hasa krto huyao baaolaI )aI – “naanaI ! lad ga[- vah saidyaa^M jaba ba`aQNa haonaa gaaOrva kI baat haotI )aI.”

ip`yaa tIsa kI haonao vaalaI hO, ikntu ivavaah hI nahIM krtI. jara-saa kBaI kuC khao tao ekdma sao ibadkto huyao khtI – “SaadI krnaa, baccao pOda krnaa ja$rI nahIM. sarkar doKao naara lagaanao lagaI hO - gaulaSana maoM basa ek hI fUla, na krnaa Ba[- dUsarI BaUla !”

ip`yaa ekaek gaMBaIr haokr r%naa sao pUCnao laga jaatI – “naanaI, hmaaro doSa maoM vaOsao hI [tnao baccao hOM. doKao na khIM baaZ, Aanao sao baccaoM Anaa)a hao jaato hOM, khIM BaUkmp kI ivaBaIiYaka baccaaoM kao Anaa)a banaa dotI hO. gaulaSana ?? ko ilayao fUla khIM sao BaI caunaa jaa sakta hO. ja$rI tao nahIM fUla ApnaI hI SaaK ka hao.” ]sako eosao k`aintkarI ivacaaraoM sao r%naa mana masaaosa kr maUk hao jaatI. krtI BaI @yaa; laD,ikyaaoM kao yah saaoca, yah ivavaok, yah mat ]nakI maa^ ]Yaa nao hI idyaa )aa. ip`yaa, r%naa kao CoD,to huyao h^sa kr puna: khtI – “naanaI, iksa saaoca maoM DUba ga[- hao Æ maalaUma nahIM… [@kIsavaIM sadI Aa ga[- hO.” r%naa mana hI mana khtI – “ha^ ro… baIsavaIM sadI baIt caukI hO, [@kIsavaIM sadI sacamauca Aa ga[- hO.” r%naa ka janma baIsavaIM sadI ko ma(ya,?? yaanaI AajaadI sao krIba dao dSak pUva- huAa )aa. doSa ]sa samaya AnaokaoM sa^GaYaao-M sao iGara )aa… . drAsala vah ek pIiD,t pIZ,I )aI ijasamaoM hr iksaI nao Ait kYT Jaolao )ao. r%naa ]saI pIiD,t pIZ,I kI p`itinai(a )aI. ]saka janma ]<araMcala ( iThrI gaZ,vaala ) ko ]<aMuga pva-taoM ?? ko ]<arkaSaI ma(yamaaga- ko ek CaoTo sao ga`ama saOla ko Ba+ pirvaar maoM huAa )aa. ]sao Apnao gaBa- gaRh sao baahr foMk kr ]sakI maa^ nao turnt hI sada ko ilayao ApnaI Aa^KoM band kr laI )aI. ]sakI dadI nao ]sao palaa-paosaa laoikna jaba vah gyaarh vaYa- kI hu[- tao dadI ka saayaa BaI isar sao ]z gayaa. torh vaYa- kI Avas)aa par krto-krto ipta SamBaUp`saad nao, jaaoik gaMgaao~I maMidr maoM pujaarI huAa krto )ao, r%naa kao iThrI gaZ,vaala ko hI dovalagaZ, ga`ama ko pnt pirvaar ko iWtIya pu~ baMSaI(ar ko saa)a ivavaah saU~ maoM baa^(a idyaa. baMSaI(ar Aayau maoM r%naa sao krIba dsa vaYa- baD,a )aa va BaartIya )ala saonaa ko gaaorKa baTailayana mao hvaladar )aa. halaa^ik saonaa maoM ]sakI inayaui@t bataOr ek isapahI hu[- )aI laoikna Apnao C: vaYa- ko kaya-kala maoM vah hvaladar tk phu^ca gayaa )aa. saonaa ko yao javaana Ai(aktr dUrs)a saImaava<aI- s)aanaaoM pr doSa ko phrI ko taOr pr fIlD DyaUTI krto hOM, jaha^ pirvaar kao saa)a rKnaa ekdma vaija-t hO. laoikna kBaI-kBaar Baagya sao [nhoM Saant s)aanaaoM maoM inayaui@t imala jaayaa krtI hO. tba [nhoM pirvaar ko saa)a kuC vaYa- rhnao ka samaya imala jaayaa krta hO. jaba r%naa va baMSaI(ar ka ivavaah huAa tao baMSaI(ar A$Naacala p`doSa kI maa]MT gaaorIcand caaoTI ko pasa fIlD DyaUTI pr tOnaat )aa. saao, r%naa kao ivavaah ko p`)ama tIna vaYa- Apnao sasaurala maoM ApnaI saasa $kmaiNa ko pasa gaujaarnao pD,o. sasaurala ka Gar sasaur sao ir> )aa. r%naa nao laaogaaoM sao saunaa )aa ik ]sako sasaur ivaSvaoSvar d<a ek sarla, saulaJao va AadSa- isaWantao vaalao vyai@t )ao. magar Afsaaosa r%naa kao [tnao AcCo vyai@t ka saaimaPya nahIM imala saka. ]sako ivavaah sao pUva- hI sasaur ka dohant hao gayaa )aa AaOr ]sakI iksmat maoM saamanaa haonaa huAa ek toja, tOra-r saasa ka. saasa ka dbadbaa Gar maoM BaI )aa AaOr baahr gaa^va maoM BaI.

saasa ko Alaavaa baMSaI(ar ko tIna Baa[- )ao pirvaar maoM. baD,o Baa[- kI p%naI BaI )aI. magar r%naa ka ]nasao saaimaPya [na tIna vaYaao- maoM Ai(ak nahIM hao payaa )aa. Baa[- ApnaI naaOkrI yaa pZ,a[- ko isalaisalao maoM gaa^va sao dUr SahraoM maoM rhto )ao. ijazanaI BaI Sahr maoM jaoz ko saa)a rhtI )aI. ivavaah ko p`)ama tIna vaYa- r%naa ko ApnaI saasa $kmaiNa ko hI [d-igad- kTo.

tIna vaYaao-M ko Antrala maoM baMSaI(ar dao baar Apnao gaa^va Cui+yaaoM maoM Aayaa, laoikna ]sako Aagamana sao phlao hI $kmaiNa, r%naa kao ]sako ipta ko gaa^va saOla Baoja dotI. $kmaiNa ka maananaa )aa ik jaba tk r%naa t$NaI nahIM bana jaatI, tba tk baMSaI(ar sao ]saka saahcaya- ]icat nahIM. baMSaI(ar kI Aa^Ko Gar maoM r%naa kao ZUMZ,tI…. $kmaiNa samaJa jaayaa krtI ik baMSaI(ar kI ZUZ,tI Aa^KoM r%naa

kao tlaaSa rhI hO, magar daonaaoM KamaaoSa rhto. na baMSaI(ar r%naa ko ivaYaya maoM pUCnao kI ihmmat krta AaOr na hI $kmaiNa ]sao r%naa ko ivaYaya maoM kuC batanao kI ja$rt samaJatI. baMSaI(ar Gar sao baahr jaakr gaa^va ko laD,ko va laD,ikyaaoM sao r%naa ko ivaYaya maoM pUCta. vao h^sa kr javaaba doto – “jaba r%naa baaOjaI Apnao maayako jaatI hO tao hma samaJa jaayaa krto hOM ik Aap Sahr sao Aanao vaalao hao.” KOr tIna vaYaao-M baad jaba baMSaI(ar kI yaUinaT kI A$Naacala fIlD DyaUTI pUNa- hu[- AaOr ]sakI yaUinaT naOnaItala s)aanaantirt hao ga[- tao ]sanao $kmaiNa kao spYT taOr pr p~ ilaK idyaa ik vah Agalao maah gaa^va Aa rha hO AaOr r%naa kao Apnao saa)a naOnaItala ilavaa lao Aayaogaa. r%naa Aba saaolah vaYaI-ya t$NaI bana caukI )aI. At: $kmaiNa nao kao[- Aapi<a nahIM kI. baMSaI(ar gaa^va sao r%naa kao Apnao saa)a naOnaItala lao Aayaa.…

: 1 :

dbaI, sahmaI va saMkaoca sao isamaTI r%naa (aImao-(aImao pgaaoM sao baMSaI(ar ko pICo-pICo basa-sToSana sao cala kr ]sako inavaasa maoM

ph^ucaI. inavaasa s)aana saonaa ko ek Ahato maoM )aa jaaoik basa-sToSana sao krIba DoZ, ikmaI kI dUrI pr, mau#ya saD,k sao )aaoD,a hT kr, JaIla ko krIba )aaoD,I }^caa[- pr )aa. Ahato maoM baD,a-saa kccaa maOdana )aa ijasa pr plaaSa ko k[- vaRxa ]gao )ao. maOdana ko ]sa par k%)a[- TIna kI Ct kI baOrknaumaa ek [maart )aI ijasamaoM tIna KMD ktar maoM banao )ao. p`%yaok KMD ko caaraoM Aaor ]gaI hrI pi%tyaaoM kI baaD, nao ek GaorabandI jaOsaI kr rKI )aI ijasasao tInaaMo hI KMD ek-dUsaro sao pR)ak hao rKo )ao. p`%yaok KMD maoM ek baD,a-saa saamaUihk Aa^gana va Aa^gana ko caarao Aaor ek lambaa-saa saamaUihk gailayaara jaOsaa baramada )aa. baramado pr Alaga-Alaga Aaz kmaro )ao ijanamaoM Aaz AamaI- ko javaana Apnao-Apnao pirvaarao ko saa)a rh rho )ao. kccao maOdana kao par kr baMSaI(ar KMD 3 maoM Gausa gayaa. KMD 3 maoM tIna javaana rajapUtanaa ra[fla ko, dao maraza ko AaOr dao p^jaaba rojaImaoNT ko )ao. gaaorKa ra[fla ka baMSaI(ar Akolaa hI vaha^ )aa.

r%naa ]saka AnausarNa krtI rhI. Aa^gana kao par kr vah baramado pr kmara naMbar 7 ko Aagao $k gayaa. r%naa BaI ]sako pasa Aakr $k ga[-. baMSaI(ar nao ha)a maoM pkD,o r%naa ko T/Mk kao naIcao rKa, pOMT kI jaoba sao caabaI inakala kr drvaajao pr lagao pItla ko talao kao Kaolaa. kmaro ko Andr Gausa kr ekdma sao plaTa, r%naa kI Aaor ha)aaoM kao fOlaato huyao baaolaa – “vaolakma baogama !! yah hO Apnaa mahla !”

kutUhla ko saa)a r%naa kmaro mao GausaI. dRiYT pUro kmaro maoM daOD,a[- - Aayatakar baD,a AaOr Kulaa kmara… saamaana kao[- Ai(ak nahIM. laaoho kI salaaKaoM ka ek }^caa-saa pla^ga daihnao Caor dIvaar sao saTa huAa. pla^ga ko naIcao camaD,o ko }^cao imalaoT/I baUT spYT idKa[- pD, rho )ao. dao kalao rMga ko kaz ko ba@sao, ijanamaoM safod syaahI sao ilaKa huAa – hvaladar baMSaI(ar pMt, 121 gaaorKa ra[fla .

ek BaUro rMga kI baD,I-saI lakD,I kI maoja pr ek baD,a-saa nayaa camakta huAa roiDyaao KD,a )aa. roiDyaao ko Aasapasa maoja pr ek Alaama- GaD,I, dao kMiGayaaM va ek Tolkma pa]Dr ka iDbbaa pD,a )aa. roiDyaao pUro kmaro maoM ek AakYa-k vastu laga rhI )aI. r%naa kI dRiYT roiDyaao pr ATk ga[-. baMSaI(ar cahkto huyao baaolaa – “yah ipClao mahInao hI maOMnao tumharo ilayao KrIda hO taik tuma yaha^ Akolao baaor na hao jaaAao. tuma [sao saunaa krnaa.” r%naa caupcaap kmaro ko baa^yao Caor kI trf, ek A(a- dIvaar sao saTI lakD,I kI AlamaarI kI Aaor baZ, ga[-. AlamaarI Kaola kr yaUM hI doKnao lagaI – Andr baMSaI(ar kI imalaoT/I yaUinafama- TMgaI )aI. kuC Anya kpD,o Astvyast sao rKo huyao )ao.

kmaroM ko baa^yao trf banaI yah A(a- dIvaar, ijasasao lakD,I kI AlamaarI saTI KD,I )aI, kmaro ko ek caaO)aa[- ihssao kao SaoYa tIna caaO)aa[- ihssao sao pR)ak kr rhI )aI . yah ek caaO)aa[- ihssaa rsaao[- Gar ka kama kr rha )aa. r%naa rsaao[- Gar maoM Aakr KD,I hao ga[-. jamaIna pr ek pmp vaalaa sTaova, ek ima+I tola ka pIpa, dao knasTr va ek panaI kI baalTI pD,I )aI. ek lakD,I ka CaoTa-saa rOk dIvaar sao saTa )aa. }pr kI p+I pr caaya, caInaI-masaalaaoM kI SaIiSayaa^ baotrtIba-saI pD,I )aI. naIcao kI p+I pr Alyauimainayama ko dao-caar bat-na rKo huyao )ao . }pr dIvaar pr BaI ek lakD,I kI Alaga p+I lagaI hu[- )aI ijasa pr tola kI SaISaI, sTaova kI ipnaoM, maaicasa, kagajaaoMM pr rKI dalaoM pD,I )aI. pICo kI dIvaar pr ekdma }pr Ct kao CUtI hu[- ek CaoTI-saI iKD,kI p`kaSa va hvaa ko Aagamana ko ilayao banaI )aI. rsaao[- maoM dRiYT for kr r%naa vaapsa kmaroM Aa gayaI. kmaroM kI dIvaaraoM pr dRiYT fornao lagaI. Aagao kI dIvaar pr ek Aa[-naa AaOr dao klaonDr, ek hnaumaanajaI va dUsara gaa^(aIjaI ka )aa. pICo kI dIvaar pr ek caaOD,I-saI iKD,kI banaI )aI, ijasakI mau^Dor pr TU)apa]Dr va ek datuna pDa, )aa.

baMSaI(ar iKD,kI kI Aaor baZ,a. iKD,kI Kaolato huyao baaolaa – “doK ilayaa Apnaa mahlaÆ” r%naa mauskrato huyao ]sakI bagala maoM Aakr KD,I hao ga[-. iKD,kI ko Kulato hI kmaro maoM Aitir@t hvaa va p`kaSa ka Aagamana

AarmBa hao gayaa. r%naa iKD,kI sao baahr ka dRSya doKnao lagaI – AaD,U va KumaanaI ko saGana vaRxaaoM kI ktar… vaRxaaoM ko ]sa par caID, ko manaaorma vaRxaaoM sao saijjat pva-tmaalaa dRiYTgaaocar hao rhI )aI.

“panaI baahr Aa^gana maoM banao nala sao laanaa pD,ta hO,” baMSaI(ar baaolaa. “gausalaKanaa-laoTrIna BaI baahr Aa^gana maoM saBaI ko ilayao kmbaa[nD banao hOM. Aaz pirvaaraoM ko ilayao isaf- dao gausalaKanao va tIna laoTrIna hOM. drAsala yao baocalar @vaaTr hO, pr saBaI javaana Apnao pirvaaraoM ko saa)a Gausao huyao hOM. @yaa kroM baD,I mauiSkla sao tao pirvaar ko saa)a rhnao ka maaOka imalata hO. kuC tao Apnao caar-caar baccaaoM ko saa)a rh rho hOM AaOr kuC nao Apnao maa^-baabaUjaI kao BaI baulaa rKa hO. gausalaKanao-laoTrIna ko ilayao hr samaya baD,I JakJak macaI rhtI hO.”

r%naa mauskurato huyao iKD,kI pr sao hT kr kuC caaya-panaI ka [ntjaama krnao ko ilayao rsaao[- kI Aaor jaanao lagaI. baMSaI(ar pICo mauD,kr baaolaa – “r%naa, [sa baat ka (yaana rKnaa !… BaUlao sao BaI kBaI saabauna, TU)apa]Dr vagaOrh gausalaKanao

maoM mat CaoD,naa, imanaTaoM mao gaayaba hao jaayaogaa.” r%naa kovala mauskura[-. ]sao saBaI kuC baD,a AcCa, maIza-maIza laga rha )aa.

vaastva maoM vah r%naa kI ijandgaI ka Ait salaaonaa samaya )aa… eosaa samaya, jaba ABaavaaoM maoM BaI [nsaana eoSvaya- ka Baaoga

krta hO, maohnat krto huyao BaI sfUit- mahsaUsa krta hO. naOnaItala maoM ek kmaro maoM baMSaI(ar ko saa)a ]sakI ijandgaI ivalaaisatapUNa- tao nahIM, prntu ijandgaI ko vao xaNa A%yant ma(aur )ao. Apnao gaZ,vaala jaOsaI hI yaha^ phaD,I vaaidyaaM )aI, dovadar va caID, ko vaRxaaoM ko samaUh )ao, phaD,I Asamatla BaUima )aI. magar [na samaanataAaoM ko baavajaUd naOnaItala ]sako Apnao gaZ,vaala ko gaa^va sao kafI iBanna )aa. yaha^ ibajalaI )aI, GaraoM maoM panaI )aa AaOr nagaraoM jaOsaI k[- Anya baatoM )aI. ek baat jaao r%naa kao sabasao AjaIba va Asahja lagatI )aI, vah yah ik Agala-bagala baahr saBaI jagah Apiricat laaoga )ao. ]sako Apnao phaD, maoM hr iksaI kI hr iksaI sao ek gahrI AntrMgata haotI )aI. k[- pirvaar tao ApnaI hI dUsarI-tIsarI-caaO)aI pIZ,I ko Baa[-ban(a huAa krto )ao.

yaha^ Gar ko CuTpuT kayaaoM- ko Aitir@t r%naa ko pasa kao[- Anya kaya- nahIM )aa. Apnao phaD,ao jaOsao yaha^ Apnao Kot-Kilahana, gaaya-DMgar tao )ao nahIM ijanakI vajah sao kaya- kI vyastta hao. kula imalaakr r%naa kI yaha^ jaao saamaanya idnacayaa- )aI, vah lagaBaga eosaI )aI – tD,ko saubah, lagaBaga caar bajao ko krIba vah ibastr sao ]z jaatI. tba tk Ahato maoM kao[- AaOr nahIM ]zta )aa. vah saamaUihk gausalaKanao maoM nahanao-(aaonao ka kaya-k`ma inapTa ilayaa krtI, taik vaha^ laganao vaalaI ktar va raoja hI haonao vaalaI JaD,p sao bacaa jaa sako.

hvaladar caaO(arI kI baIvaI nao ek idna ]sasao pUCa BaI – “r%naa tuma kba ]ztI hao, jaao tumharI kBaI iksaI sao gausalaKanao ko ilayao kao[- bahsa nahIM haotI.”

r%naa kuC na baaolaI, isaf- mauskurayaI. k[- baataoM ko javaaba pr r%naa kovala mauskura dotI )aI. vah bahut Ai(ak nahIM baaolatI )aI. ifr [na AaOrtaoM sao baat krto huyao vah bahut iJaJaktI BaI )aI. ]nako saamanao A@sar caup hI rhtI )aI. ]sako badlao isapahI gaaosvaamaI kI baIvaI JaT sao baaolaI – “hmaoM maalaUma hO… yah saubah pa^ca bajao ]ztI hO. kla sao hma BaI saubah pa^ca bajao ]zoMgao.” laoikna Ahato maoM [tnaI saubah kBaI kao[- nahIM ]z pata, isavaaya r%naa ko. caar bajao ]zkr, pa^ca bajao tk r%naa gausalaKanao ko Apnao saBaI AavaSyak kaya- inapTa laotI, ifr baMSaI(ar kao BaI ]za dotI. pa^ca bajao baMSaI(ar BaI ]zkr gausalaKanao vagaOrh ko kayaao- sao inapT jaayaa krta. C: bajao sao vaha^ laaogaaoM kI kuStI-saI haonao lagatI. rola-pola maca jaatI .

KMD 3 baD,a hI raYT/Iya-saa )aa. Alaga-Alaga p`antaoM ko laaoga yaha^ rhto )ao. gaaosvaamaI rajas)aana sao, prvaanaa pMjaaba sao, caaO(arI baMgaala sao, Da^Dokr maharaYT/ sao, isanha ibahar sao, Samaa- ma(ya p`doSa sao AaOr Sau@laa ]%trp`doSa sao )aa. baMSaI(ar kao saBaI laaoga phaD,I Baa[- pukarto )ao.

caaya-naaSto ko ]prant saaZ,o-saat bajao ko krIba baMSaI(ar Aa^ifsa ko ilayao inakla jaata. hFtoM maoM ijana idnaaoM ]sakI e@sarsaa[ja haotI, ]sao AaOr BaI jaldI inaklanaa pD,ta. ]sako jaanao ko baad r%naa BaI caupcaap nahIM baOztI. ]sakI BaI ApnaI ek inayaimat idnacayaa- bana ga[- )aI. vah phaD,I baalaa )aI. kama krnaa ]sako svaBaava maoM )aa. ]sanao Apnao kmaro va rsaao[- kao kafI sa^vaar idyaa )aa. baMSaI(ar nao Gar kao kafI Astvyast rKa huAa )aa. hr vastu ibaKrI hu[-. hr vas~ gaMda pD,a huAa. r%naa nao plaMga pr ibaCI icakT gandI caadr hTa kr AasamaanaI rgaM ka KUbasaUrt pSmaInao ka plaMgapaoSa, jaaoik ]sako ipta nao ]sao ivavaah pr idyaa )aa, ibaCa idyaa )aa. roiDyaao kao ek saundr AavarNa sao Zk idyaa )aa. rsaao[- maoM masaalaaoM, caaya-caInaI kI SaIiSayaaMo kao JaaD,-paoMC kr rOk pr krInao sao sajaa idyaa )aa. pUro Gar mao raoja JaaDU lagata, gaIlaa paoC,a maara jaata. Gar ka $p hI badla gayaa )aa. Gar AakYa-k tao nahIM, magar vyavais)at laganao lagaa )aa. naOnaItala Aanao ko dUsaro idna hI baMSaI(ar ]sao mallaItala, iSava maMidr maoM klyaaNaI kI calanao vaalaI kxaa maoM lao gayaa AaOr ]saka naama dja- krvaa idyaa. klyaaNaI maojar banajaI-, jaao baMSaI(ar kI trh gaaorKa ra[fla maoM hI )ao, kI p%naI )aI. baD,I ivaduYaI, saahisak va maRdu svaBaava kI maihlaa )aI. pa^ca fuT pa^ca [nca kI kazI, salaaonaa Syaama vaNa- va dIGa- nayanaaoM vaalaI klyaaNaI sadOva KadI ko vas~aoM maoM ilapTI rhtI )aI. gaa^(aIjaI ka jabardst Asar )aa ]sa pr. ]sakI rajanaoitk gaitivai(ayaaoM maoM idlacaspI laonao ko karNa maojar banajaI- ]sasao jabardst Kfa rhto )ao. yah cacaa- AamaI- mahkmao maoM vyaaPt )aI ik iktnao hI idna maojar banajaI- klyaaNaI sao naaraja haokr Alaga Kanaa pka kr Kato hOM. Alaga ibastr pr saaoto hOM. laoikna klyaaNaI nao dao TUk SabdaoM maoM ]nasao kh idyaa )aa ik AamaI- Aa^ifsar kI p%naI haonao kI vajah sao ]sakI kao[- majabaUrI nahIM. A^ga`ojaaoM kao doSa sao KdoD,nao ko ilayao ]sao svatM~ta saMga`ama maoM Baaga laonao sao kao[- nahIM raok sakta.

klyaaNaI Anya Ai(akairyaaoM kI pi%nayaaoM, jaao pZ,I-ilaKI )aIM, ko saa)a imalakr iSava maMidr maoM pUrI t%prta sao javaanaaoM kI pi%nayaaMo kao ilaKnaa-pZ,naa va saInaa-ipraonaa isaKayaa krtI. svacCta va svaas)ya iva&ana kI jaanakarI dotI. daophr, gyaarh sao saaZ,o-baarh bajao tk ko ilayao r%naa Anya javaanaaoM kI pi%nayaaoM ko saa)a klyaaNaI kI kxaa maoM inayaimat $p sao saIKnao-pZ,nao ko ilayao jaayaa krtI.

iSava maMidr sao vah ek bajao tk Gar laaOT Aayaa krtI. baMSaI(ar ko Aanao tk Baaojana tOyaar kr ilayaa krtI. baMSaI(ar daophr dao-Za[- bajao tk Baaojana ko ilayao Gar Aakr, kBaI-kBaar hI ifr dubaara Aa^ifsa jaayaa krta. A@sar saustanao ko ilayao vah pla^ga pr psar jaayaa krta. magar r%naa daophr maoM jara BaI nahIM laoTtI. kBaI vah kZ,a[- laokr baOz jaatI, tao kBaI baunaa[- laokr. kBaI paTI pr ba%tI sao kuC ilaKnao baOz jaatI. kBaI kagaja-klama ]za laotI.

zIk pa^ca bajao sTaova pr pMp Bara jaata. Saama kI caaya banatI. daonaaoM caaya pIto AaOr ifr ina%ya ko saOr-sapaTo ko ilayao inakla jaato. JaIla ko iknaaro kccaI pgaDMiDyaaMo pr calato. jaaD,aoM ko maaOsama maoM baf- igartI tao tajaI igarI baf- kao raoMdto huyao calato. baf- ko gaaolao banaa kr ek-dUsaro kao maarto. maala raoD pr yaUM hI inar)a-k calanao lagato. tllaItala sao mallaItala tk naaOkaivahar krto. JaIla ko ]<arI Caor phaD,I pr naOnaadovaI ko maMidr calao jaato. Gaasa kI samatla p+I caa[-naa pIk pr jaakr Thlato. caIlaca@kr ko Gaumaavadar maaoD,ao pr saOr ko ilayao calao jaato.

saOr ko baad Gar Aakr laala dhkto kaoyalaaoM pr Aaga tapto. rai~ ka Baaojana krto AaOr Baaojana ko baad baMSaI(ar AM(aoro kmaro maoM phlao jaaor sao h^sata, ifr r%naa kao ksa kr jakD, laota…

ek kmaro ko inavaasa maoM r%naa kI ijandgaI ijatnaI inaiva-(na va Saant )aI, Gar ko baahr is)ait ]tnaI hI hlacala va tnaavapUNa- )aI. AMga`ojaaoM ka Saasana ABaI BaI cala rha )aa… . naOnaItala A^ga`jaaMo kI baD,I ip`ya jagah )aI. Ap`Ola mahInao ko Sau$ haoto hI A^ga`ojaaoM ka Aagamana yaha^ Sau$ hao jaayaa krta. r%naa ]nhoM hOrt sao ekTk eosao inahara krtI jaOsao vaao dUsaro ga`h sao Aayao p`aNaI hao. baMSaI(ar Taokta. baMSaI(ar hr pla r%naa ka saamaanya &ana baZ,anao kI kaoiSaSa ikyao rhta )aa. r%naa phaD, sao AayaI )aI. baahrI duinayaa ka &ana ]saka na ko barabar )aa.

“pta hO r%naa, naOnaItala kI Kaoja ek A^ga`oja nao kI )aI, 1841 maoM. ]saka naama baOrna )aa, caInaI imala ka maailak )aa. Aasamaana maoM ]D,to huyao hvaa[- jahaja kI iKD,kI sao ]sanao [na hrI phaiD,yaaoM sao iGarI [sa AdBaut JaIla kao doKa )aa.”

“tumhoM kOsao maalaUmaÆ tuma 1841 maoM pOda )aaoD,I huyao )ao.” baMSaI(ar nao ekdma sao r%naa ko caohro pr doKa. ]sako caohro pr iKMcaI SarartI mauskana doK vah ]sao hlko mau@ko sao maarnao

lagaa. “iktabaoM iksailayao haotI hOMÆ eosaa krao r%naa tuma BaI )aaoD,I saamaanya &ana kI iktabaoM pZ,naa Sau$ kr dao.” r%naa $vaa^sao svar maoM baaolaI – “@yaa-@yaa k$^Æ @yaa-@yaa saIKU^Æ klyaaNaI ko pasa jaakr pZ,naa-ilaKnaa saIK^U, roiDyaaoM maoM KbaroM

saunaU^ ik doSa maoM @yaa hao rha hOÆ Aba saamaanya &ana kI iktabaoM pZ,nao ko ilayao BaI kh rho hOM.” “Aro, yah saba maOM tumharo Balao ko ilayao khta hU^,” baMSaI(ar baaolaa. laoikna r%naa ka (yaana iksaI h+o-k+o A^ga`oja kI Aaor

AakiYa-t hao gayaa )aa - GaaoD,o maoM savaar vah mallaItala kI phaD,I ]tr rha )aa. Aa^KoM faD,o r%naa ]sa A^ga`oja kao GaUr rhI )aI. vaOsao kovala A^ga`oja hI naOnaItala maoM nahIM Aayaa krto )ao. svat`ta saM`ga`ama ko vaIr BaartIya saOnaanaI BaI jaba-tba yaha^ Aakr Apnao

jaaoSaIlao (auAa^dar BaaYaNaao sao yaha^ ko p`akRitk Saant vaatavarNa kao spindt kr doto. yaha^ kI zMDI vaaidyaaoM maoM AajaadI kI gama- lahroo daOD,nao laga jaatI. r%naa kao p`antIya, raYT/Iya iktnao hI idggaja naotaAaoM kao doKnao ka Avasar imalaa )aa. vaao Aato… (aarap`vaah jaaoSaIlao BaaYaNa doto… naOnaItala ko inavaaisayaaoM kao ]%saaiht krko calao jaato…

.. .. ..

lagaBaga ek vaYa- baad… r%naa maihlaaAaoM kI pMgat maoM sabasao Aagao baOzo maM~maug(a dRiYT sao naoh$jaI, Baart ko BaavaI p`(aanamaM~I, kao ekTk inaharo jaa rhI )aI. $p ko (anaI, ptlao naOnana@Sa vaalao naoh$jaI caUD,Idar pajaamaa va Acakna phnao huyao )ao. ]nhoM doKnao pUrI naOnaItala nagarI tao @yaa, Aasa-pasa kI phaiD,yaaoM sao BaI cala kr BaID, caa[-naapIk ko ]sa baD,o samatla sao p`aMgaNa maoM ek~ hao ga[- )aI. ]nako maMca pr phu^cato hI tailayaaoM kI eosaI gaD,gaD,ahT Sau$ hao ga[- ik naoh$jaI kao baarbaar Apnao ha)aaoM ko saMkot sao laaogaaoM kao Saant krvaanaa pD,a.

Apnao sammauK ivaSaala janasamaUh kao naoh$jaI nao inahara, ifr khnaa AarBa ikyaa – “doSa Aba AajaadI kI kgaar pr KD,a hO, laoikna hmaarI AajaadI kI jaMga ABaI Ktma nahIM hu[-. hmaara maksad tBaI pUNa- haogaa jaba hmaaro doSa ko ek-ek naagairk, caaho vah pu$Ya hao yaa maihlaa, ka ]%)aana haogaa. doSa kI AajaadI ko baad hmaarI laD,a[- ka mau#ya AakYa-Na doSa kI maihlaaAaoM kI iSaxaa AaOr ]nako Ai(akaraoM ko p`it rhogaa.”

ek pla zhr kr naoh$ jaI )aaoD,o gaMBaIr Baava sao baaolao – “f`aMsaIsaI AadSa-vaadI, caalsa- faoiryar nao ek baar kha )aa ik iksaI maulk maoM iksa AMSa tk saByata hO, [saka inaNa-ya maihlaaAaoM kI saamaaijak is)ait sao ikyaa jaa sakta hO. matlaba Agar Aaja hmaoM Apnao doSa ko BaivaYya ka inaNa-ya krnaa hO tao hmaoM ApnaI maihlaaAaoM kI dSaa doKnaI haogaI. hma jaao BaI BaivaYya ka inamaa-Na kroMgao, ]saka inaNa-ya hmaarI maihlaaAaoM kI is)ait kao doKkr hI haogaa. mauJao yah svaIkar krnao maoM jara BaI ihcaikcaahT nahIM ik hmaarI maihlaaAaoM kI is)ait baohd AsaMtaoYajanak hO. maihlaaAaoM ko ivakasa ko ilayao hmaoM bahadurI sao maukabalaa krnaa hO. baura[- kI jaD, pr caaoT krnaa hO. maihlaayaoM bahut sao xao~aoM maoM Apnao Ai(akaraoM sao vaMicat hOM. yaha^ pr jaao maihlaayaoM maaOjaUd hOM,” khto huyao naoh$jaI maihlaaAaoM kI pMgat kI Aaor doKnao lagao, r%naa kao lagaa ik vao ]sao hI doK rho hOM, “]nhoM maOM yaad idlaanaa caah^UMgaa ik maihlaayaoM doSa kI ]tnaI hI saOinak hOM, ijatnao ik pu$Ya hOM. [sailayao maOM AaSaa krta hU^ ik maihlaayaoM vat-maana Anyaaya AaOr A%yaacaarI saamaaijak p`)aaAaoM ko iva$w ivad`aoh kroMgaI. ApnaI p`gait maoM baa(ak laaogaaoM sao saMGaYa- kroMgaI.”

ek pla zhr kr naoh$jaI nao puna: maihlaaAaoM kI pMi@t kI Aaor doKa, r%naa kao ifr lagaa ik ]nakI najaroM ]sa pr gaD, ga[- hOM. vah saMkuicat hao ga[-. naoooh$jaI }^cao svar maoM saBaI maihlaaAaoM sao p`Sna krnao lagao – “@yaa tuma A%yaacaarI saamaaijak p`)aaAaoM ko iKlaaf ivad`aoh kraogaIÆ” maihlaayaoM KamaaoSa rhIM. ]nhoM KamaaoSa doK naoh$jaI nao jaaor sao pUCa – “@yaa tuma ApnaI p`gait ko ilayao saMGaYa- kraogaIÆ”

“ha^ kroMgao !” sahsaa klyaaNaI ApnaI jagah pr KD,I haokr icallaa[-. “ha^ kroMgao ! ha^… ” saBaI maihlaaAaoM nao turnt svar imalaayaa. Anya k[- maihlaayaoM BaI AavaoSa maoM Aakr ApnaI jagahaoM pr KD,I hao ga[-. AaOr… maihlaayaoM jaaoSa maoM Aa ga[-. klyaaNaI ]nakI naota )aI. dUsaro idna hI klyaaNaI nao iSava maMidr ko p`agaMNa maoM calanao vaalaI

ApnaI pazSaalaa maoM saonaa kma-caairyaaoM kI pi%nayaaoM va kuC s)aanaIya maihlaaAaoM kao baulaa kr ek saBaa ka Aayaaojana ikyaa. saBaI maihlaayaoM gaup-caup ibanaa pu$YaaoM kao batayao AajaadI va naarI maui> ko jalaUsa inakalaogaI AaOr pu$YaaoM kao caaOMka doMgaI.…

baD,I dor tk [sa ivacaar pr maM~Naa haotI rhI… saOinakaoM kI pi%nayaa^ Alaga hT ga[-. – “nahIM, hma jalaUsa nahIM inakala sakto.” – “kOsao inakala sakto hOM hma jalaUsa… hmaaro pityaaoM kI naaOkiryaa^ Ktro maoM pD, jaayaogaI.” “maOM BaI tao ek saOinak

kI baIvaI hU^,” klyaaNaI baaolaI. kOPTna Samaa- kI p%naI ]ima-laa sapaaT SabdaoM maoM baaolaI – “hma AapkI nakla nahIM kr sakto.” ‘ha^’ imalaato huyao ]ima-laa kI trf saOinakaoM kI pi%nayaaoM ka saara dla hao gayaa. maaocao- pr Apnao kao Akolao doK klyaaNaI dlaIlaoM donao lagaI – “Aro Ba[-, hmaaro pit Agar AamaI- maoM kama kr rho hOM tao hma BaI

A^ga`ojaaoM ko gaulaama hao jaayaoMÆ ek puilasa Aa^ifsar ka baoTa badmaaSa hao sakta hO. ek doSad`aohI kI p%naI doSap`omaI hao saktI hO.” sahsaa r%naa ka^pto pOraoM ko saa)a KD,I hao ga[-. klyaaNaI ]sasao baaolaI – “r%naa, tuma jalaUsa inakalaaogaIÆ” r%naa nao sahmato huyao sahmait maoM gad-na ihlaayaI. saOinakaoM kI pi%nayaaM^ r%naa kao AaScaya- sao doKnao lagaI. r%naa nao knaiKyaaoM sao

AaOrtaoM ko caohraoM ko Baava doKo. hvaladar gaaosvaamaI kI p%naI sarsvatI mau^h banaato huyao baaolaI – “yah phaD,na jalaUsa inakalaogaI.” r%naa nao ]sao GaUra tao vah maRdula

svar banaato huyao baaolaI – “r%naa, tuma baOz jaaAao. eosaI halat maoM tuma kha^ jalaUsa inakalaaogaI. ifr pntjaI BaI tumasao naaraja haoMgao. faOjaI AaOr faOijayaaoM kI baIivayaaM jalaUsa nahIM inakalaa krtI hOM. AaOr ApnaI halat BaI tao doKao.”

AaOrtoM ]sako poT kao GaUrnao lagaI – gaBa-avas)aa ka baZ,a huAa poT.…. “nahIM, mauJao klyaaNaI bahnajaI ko saa)a jalaUsa inakalanaa hO,” r%naa ek dRZ,ta sao baaolaI. AaOrtoM Avaak rh ga[-. klyaaNaI KuSa hao ga[- ik kao[- tao tOyaar huAa jalaUsa inakalanao ko ilayao. r%naa ka saahsa doK kr caar s)aanaIya maihlaayaoM BaI jalaUsa inakalanao ko ilayao tOyaar hao ga[-. ek r%naa AaOr caar s)aanaIya maihlaayaoM…. klyaaNaI nao pa^ca AaOrtaoM ko dla ko saa)a jalaUsa inakalanao kI zana laI. ek naara

rcaa. saBaI kao kMzs)a krvaa ilayaa. jalaUsa ka maaga- tya ikyaa gayaa – iSava maMidr sao dSa-na-Gar, laa[ba`orI, maona baajaar va ASaaok-Ta^kIja sao haoto huyao laok-iba`ja ko caaOraho pr jaayaogaa. ifr vaha^ sao cauMgaI Aa^ifsa. cauMgaI Aa^ifsa sao hnaumaanagaZ,I haoto huyao caIla-ca@kr tk jaayaogaa. caIla-ca@kr pr Gaumaavadar maaoD,aoM pr ca@kr lagaa kr saBaI maihlaayaoM vaha^ sao vaapsaI pr Apnao-Apnao GaraoM ka maaga- pkD, laoMgaIM. [sa trh sao vao mallaItala sao tllaItala ko p`mauK s)aanaaoM sao inaklaoMgaI.

dsa bajao p`at: pa^ca AaOrtaoM ka dla klyaaNaI ko naotR%va maoM (vaja kao )aamao iSava maMidr sao inakla pD,a. Aagao-Aagao klyaaNaI… AaOr PaICo-pICo r%naa samaot pa^ca AaOrtaoM ka CaoTa saa JauMD… . klyaaNaI SaornaI kI trh dhaD,tI – “ kaOmaI ekta…” AaOrtaoM ka saamaiUhk bauland svar ga^Ujata – “Amar rho !” klyaaNaI caIKtI – “nayaa [nklaaba…” AaOrtoM ek svar maoM icallaatI – “Aayaa hO !” klyaaNaI– “naarI Sai@t ka… ” AaOrtoM – “]dya huAa hO !” “Baartmaata kI jaya !” klyaaNaI samaot saBaI AaOrto ek svar maoM caIKtI. “nayaa [nklaaba Aayaa hO, naarI Sai@t ka ]dya huAa hO. Baartmaata kI jaya !…” AaOrtoM jaaoSaIlaI bauland Aavaaja maoM inarntr naaro lagaa rhI )aI. laaoga Apnao-Apnao GaraoM, kayaa-layaaMo va dukanaaMo sao inakla Aayao. s)aanaIya maihlaayaoM AmaIr-garIba, javaana-baUZ,I, iSaixat-AiSaixat saBaI ek-ek krko klyaaNaI ko jalaUsa maoM saimmailat haotI ga[-. AamaI- sTaf kI AaOrtoM, jaao phlao pICo hT ga[- )aI, BaI jaaoSa maoM Aakr bao(aD,k jalaUsa maoM Saaimala hao ga[-. jalaUsa ka Aakar baZ,ta gayaa…. (aIro-(aIro jalaUsa nao ek ivaraT $p (aarNa kr ilayaa.

Pau$Ya ekdma htp`Ba, caaOknnao sao maihlaaAaoM kao naaro lagaato huyao GaUrnao maoM lagaoo )ao. maihlaayaoM naaro lagaato huyao htp`Ba va is)ar KD,o pu$YaaoM kao par krto huyao Aagao baZ, rhI )aI. baMSaI(ar BaI Anya laaogaaoM ko saa)a Apnao AamaI- ko Aa^ifsa sao inakla kr jalaUsa ko maaga- pr Aa KD,a hao gayaa )aa. Acarja sao Aa^KoM faD,o r%naa kao GaUr rha )aa. kBaI vah zgaa-saa r%naa kI Aa^KaoM maoM Jaa^kta tao kBaI ]sako ]dr kao GaUrta, ijasamaoM iSaSau nao Aakar laonaa Sau$ kr idyaa )aa AaOr ]saka ]dr baZ,a huAa dRiYTgaaocar haonao lagaa )aa. r%naa A(araMo pr hlkI mauskurahT ibaKoro, baMSaI(ar sao najaroM imalaato huyao ApnaI Aavaaja kao AaOr toja kr rhI )aI. baMSaI(ar naaraja nahIM hao rha )aa. htp`Ba, p`saMSanaIya inagaahaoM sao ]sao sarah rha )aa. r%naa }^caI Aavaaja maoM naaro lagaato huyao AaOrtaoM ko dla ko saa)a baMSaI(ar kI bagala sao gaujarto huyao Aagao baZ, ga[-. baMSaI(ar h@ka-ba@ka ApnaI jagah KD,a hI rh gayaa. r%naa nao Aaja ApnaI saBaI (aaoityaaoM maoM sabasao kImatI (aaotI phnaI )aI. baMSaI(ar nao ]sako gaa^va sao Aanao pr mallaItala ko maona-baajaar sao KrIdI )aI. gahrI hrI saUtI (aaotI maoM ilapTI r%naa kI sauDaOla doh ek baola kI Baa^it p`tIt hao rhI )aI. }pr kn(aaoM pr JaUlata pSmaInao ka Svaot Saa^la jabardst vaOYamya idKa rha )aa. yah Saa^la ]sako ipta nao ]sao SaadI maoM idyaa )aa. kao[- bahut (anaaZya ]sako ipta nahIM )ao. ifr BaI prmpranausaar baoTI ko ivavaah pr donao ko ilayao iganaI-caunaI cand vastuyaoM ]nhaoMnao jauTa dI )aI. ek saaonao kI na)a, ek T/Mk va cand nayao vas~ ]nhaoMnao iThrI sao KrIdo )ao. pSmaInao ka plaMgapaoSa va Saa^la ]nhaoMnao saOla sao gaMgaao~I jaato huyao maaga- pr baoca rhI ek itbbatna AaOrt sao KrIda )aa. iksaI-iksaI vaYa-, gamaI- ko maaOsama maoM yao laaoga Apnao itbbat p`doSa sao Aakr gaMgaao~I ko maaga- pr pya-TkaoM kao pSmaInao kI caadroM, Saa^la baocanao lagato )ao. ]na idnaaoM itbbat, caIna ko A(aIna nahIM )aa. Baart va itbbat kI saTI saImaayaoM inaiYfk` KulaI rhtI )aI. CaoTo-maaoTo vyaaparI phaD,aoM ko [(ar-](ar vyaapar krnao ko ilayao baD,I sahjata sao calao AaOr Aato )ao. AcCa vyaapar calata )aa ]na idnaaoM. r%naa ek baohd KUbasaUrt s~I )aI – AaOsat sao )aaoD,a }^caa kd, traSaI hu[- saugaZ, doh, saaf-sau)arI %vacaa, gaaOrvaNa-, Aanaupaitk naOna-na@Sa AaOr kalao GauMGaralao koSa. saaOndya- ko saBaI maapdNDaoM sao vah pirpUNa- )aI. prntu iSaxaa ka ABaava va phaD, ko ivaraT ABaava ga`st pirvaoSa maoM ]sakI prvairSa haonao sao ]sako vyai@t%va maoM ek toja, ek dbaMgapna nahIM )aa. hr samaya vah dbaI, sahmaI-saI rhtI )aI. ek baovajah kI iJaJak ]sao hr va@t Gaoro rKtI )aI. kao[- BaI ]sa pr AasaanaI sao AadoSa jamaa sakta )aa, ]sa pr p`Bau%va kr sakta )aa.

KOr AaOrto iCClaI phaiD,yaaoM, GaaiTyaaoMM va saraovaraoMM kao par krtI hu[- inarntr Aagao baZ,tI ga[-. caIK-caIK kr kMz sao naaro lagaatI ga[-. kuC GaMTao ko ilayao naOnaItala ko lagaBaga saBaI Gar AaOrtaoM sao ir> hao gayao. pu$YaaoM kao hI Gar maoM baccao vagaOrh sa^Baalanao pD,o.

naaro lagaato-lagaato AaOrto caIla ca@kr, jalaUsa ko Aintma laxya tk phu^caI. vaha^ )aaoD,I dor ivaEaama ikyaa. ifr vaapsa haoto huyao saBaI nao Apnao-Apnao GaraoM ka rasta pkD, ilayaa. saubah dsa bajao ko inaklao saaMya ko caar baja gayao. r%naa Apnao baaD,o kI saBaI AaOrtaoM ko saa)a Gar laaOT AayaI. vah baurI trh )ak ga[- )aI. saI(ao Gar maoM Gausato hI pMlaga pr inaZala ga[-.

baMSaI(ar phlao hI Gar laaOT cauka )aa. ]sao doKto hI baaolaa – “Aaja tuma AaOrtaoM nao @yaa kyaamat inakala dI ! iksaI BaI Gar maoM kao[- AaOrt nahIM. saBaI saD,k pr.”

r%naa maaOna rhI. “)ak ga[- hao @yaaÆ” r%naa maaOna…. “caaya ipyaaogaIÆ” r%naa nao svaIkRit maoM gad-na ihlaa dI.

baMSaI(ar rsaao[- maoM jaato huyao vyaMgya Baro svar maoM baaolaa – “Aba tao Ba[- Gar ko kama hmaoM hI krnao pD,oMgao. nayaa [nklaaba Aa gayaa hO. naarI Sai> jaaga ga[- hO.”

r%naa plaMga pr laoTo-laoTo yaU^ hI kmaro kI Ct kao takto lagaI. Anaayaasa hI Ct maoM dao AakRityaa^ bananao lagaI – ek naoh$ jaI kI va dUsarI klyaaNaI kI. ]sako kaomala maistYk pr naoh$ jaI ko BaaYaNa AaOr klyaaNaI ko dbaMga vyai@t%va ka gahra p`Baava pD, gayaa )aa. naoh$ jaI ko Sabd rh-rh kr ]sako maistYk pr kaOM(ao jaa rho )ao – “taoD, dao ]na puranaI dikyaanaUsaI prmpraAaoM kao jaao tumharI ]nnait ko maaga- mao baa(ak….”

r%naa mana hI mana baudbauda[- - “naoh$ jaI hr AaOrt kao klyaaNaI kI trh banaanaa caahto hOM.” klyaaNaI ka vyai@t%va ]sako nao~ao ko sammauK tOrnao lagaa… iktnaI toja bauiW kI hO vah… SauW ihndI baaolatI hO. A^ga`ojaI BaI baaola laotI hO . pu$YaaoM sao bao(aD,k, baoiJaJak baat kr laotI hO. [(ar vah baocaarI… pu$YaaoM ko saamanao tao dUr, maihlaaAaMo ko saamanao hI jabaana laD,KD,anao lagatI hO. A^ga`ojaI tao dUr, ZM,ga sao ihndI BaI nahIM baaolaI jaatI. phaD,I p`Baava Aata hO. Agala-bagala rh rhI yao javaanaaoM kI AaOrto ]sao baaolato doK jaaoraoM sao h^saa krtI hOMÆ ]sakI baaolaI ka hmaoSaa hI majaak banaatI hOM. sabasao jyaada majaak rajas)aana vaalaI gaaosvaamaI banaatI hO. [sailayao vah ]nasao baat krto huyao ktrayaa krtI hO. kBaI BaI ]nakI gaaoYzI maoM gapbaajaI ko ilayao Saaimala nahIM haotI. laoikna klyaaNaI kBaI ]saka ]phasa nahIM banaatI. bailk, vah baD,I (yaana sao ]sakI baataoM kao saunatI hO. Aaja jaba vah klyaaNaI ko saa)a imalakr baa^sa ko DnDo pr JanDo kao baa^(a rhI )aI, tao klyaaNaI ]sako caohro kao (yaana sao inaharto huyao khnao lagaI – “r%naa, tuma iktnaI saundr haoÆ tumhara rMga ekdma gaaora va %vacaa ibalkula saaf hO. kaSa tumhara gaaora rMga )aaoD,a mauJao imala jaayao.”

“kaSa klyaaNaI dIdI, tumharI bauiW va inaDrpna )aaoD,a mauJao imala jaayao,” r%naa baudbauda[-. “yah laao caaya !…” baMSaI(ar nao caaya ka Pyaalaa baZ,ayaa. r%naa Anamanao Baava sao ]zI. AinacCa sao caaya ka Pyaalaa )aama

ilayaa. baMSaI(ar ek ha)a sao kusaI- plaMga ko pasa KIMca kr, pIz ko bala ]sa pr Aarama sao baOz kr caaya pInao lagaa. r%naa kI (aaotI kao inaharto huyao baaolaa – “doKao, tuma [sa na[- (aaotI kao ibanaa badlao hI laoT ga[-. kOsaI [samaoM isalavaToM pD, ga[-

hOM !” r%naa caaya ka Pyaalaa )aamao ivacaarao maoM Kao[- rhI…. caaya sao Baap ]D,tI ga[-.… baMSaI(ar nao xaNa Bar ]sao taka, KIJao svar maoM baaolaa – “Aro, jaba sao naaro lagaa kr AayaI hao, [tnaI gaMBaIrta sao @yaa saaoca rhI

hao…Æ hma nao maana ilayaa hO ik naarI Sai@t jaaga ga[- hO. calaao, Aba caaya pIyaao. zMD,I hao rhI hO.”

r%naa mauskura pD,I. caaya ko dao-tIna Ga^UT Bar kr khnao lagaI – “ maOM klyaaNaI ko baaro maoM saaoca rhI hU^ . naoh$ jaI hr AaOrt kao klyaaNaI banaanaa caahto hOM.” $vaa^Msao svar maoM baaolaI – “ maOM kha^ klyaaNaI bana saktI hU^Æ vah tao bahut pZ,I-ilaKI hO. saunaa hO ]sanao klk%ta ko kailaja sao iDgarI laI hO. maOM tao kovala pa^ca jamaat tk hI skUla ga[- hU^. Aba, klyaaNaI ko badaOlat hI )aaoD,a ZMga sao pZ,nao laga ga[- h^U, nahIM tao phlao Axar imalaa-imalaa kr mauiSkla sao pZ, patI )aI. klyaaNaI kI maOM @yaa barabarI… ”

“tumanao ek baat AaOr saunaI klyaaNaI ko baaro maoM ik vah iksakI laD,kI hOÆ” baMSaI(ar nao Taoka. “}^ h^U !” r%naa inaila-Pt Baava sao baaolaI. “iksakI laD,kI hO vahÆ”

“vah ek bahut baD,o k`aintkarI kI baoTI hO. pUro baMgaala maoM ]sako ipta nao A^ga`ojaI hukumat ko iKlaaf bagaavat CoD,I hu[- hO. hmaoSaa ]sako ipta ko ha)aaoM maoM bandUk rhtI hO.” r%naa kao[- Kasa p`itik`yaa vya@t ikyao bagaOr inaila-Pt Baava sao caaya ko GaU^T BartI rhI.

baMSaI(ar ]sao inaharto huyao ek SarartI mauskuraht saoo pUCnao lagaa – “tumharo iptajaI ko ha)aao maoM hmaoSaa @yaa rhtI hOÆ “@yaa rhtI hO maoro iptajaI ko ha)aao maoMÆ” r%naa nao htp`Ba haoto huyao ]laTa p`Sna ikyaa. “GanTI !… pUjaa kI GanTI !…” baMSaI(ar ]nmau@t h^sato huyao baaolaa. “tuma ek pujaarI kI baoTI hao AaOr klyaaNaI ek

k`aintkarI kI ! Antr tao baoSak haogaa hI tuma daonaaMo maoM.” “maoro iptajaI iksaI maamaUlaI maMidr ko pujaarI nahIM hOM. gaMgaao~I ko maindr ko pujaarI hO, jaha^ sao gaMgaa nadI inaklatI hO,” r%naa

tunak kr baaolaI. “caaho khIM ko BaI hao, bajaanaI tao ]nhoM Gana-Gana GaMTI hI pD,tI hOM. klyaaNaI ko iptajaI ko trh za^ya-za^^ya bandUk tao nahIM

calaato.” r%naa mau^h banaa kr KamaaoSa baOz ga[-. baMSaI(ar sa(ao Sabdao maoM baaolanao lagaa – “doKao, klyaaNaI ko iptajaI ko ha)aaoM maoM )a`I-naa^T-)a`I bandUk rhtI hO, tumharo iptajaI

ko ha)aaoM maoM pUjaa kI GanTI rhtI hO. ]sako iptajaI ko ha)a duSmanaaoM ko laala KUna sao rMgao rhto hO AaOr tumharo iptajaI ko ha)a… laala raolaI sao sanao rhto hOM.”

khto-khto baMSaI(ar zhaka maar kr baD,I jaaoraMo sao h^sanao lagaa. r%naa nao AaOr mau^h banaa ilayaa. ekaek baMSaI(ar gaMBaIr haoto huyaoo rhsyamaya AMdaja maoM baaolaa – “vaOsao isaf- yah hI Antr nahIM hO tuma daonaaoM ko baIca maoM. ek

AaOr bahut baD,a Antr hO tuma daonaao maoM…” r%naa caikt-saI ]sao doKnao lagaI . “…klyaaNaI ek Aa^ifsar kI baIvaI hO AaOr tuma ek hvaladar kI… hvaladar baMSaI(ar kI… ha ! ha !! ha !!!…” “cala hTao !” r%naa Sarmaato huyao baaolaI. maarnao ko ilayao ibaCaonao sao tikyaa ]za ilayaa. baMSaI(ar Baaga KD,a huAa. r%naa ibastr

sao ]tr kr ]sako pICo daOD,I. “Aro-Aro, Baagaao nahIM ! jara baccao ka tao #yaala krao !” r%naa sahma ga[-. sa(ao kdmaaMo sao (aIro-(aIro vaapsa plaMga pr baOz ga[-. baMSaI(ar Aagao baZ,a. ApnaI kmaIja kI jaoba sao ek

p~ inakala kr ]sakI Aaor baZ,a kr, mauskurato huyao baaolaa – “laao Ba[-, maubaark hao ! Bagavaana nao tumho maa^ sao phlao ek bahna banaa idyaa.”

“@yaaÆ iptajaI ka baccaa hao gayaaÆ” p~ KIMcato huyao r%naa Acarja sao baaolaI. jaldI sao Kaola kr pZ,nao lagaI:

ip`ya icarMjaIva baMSaI(ar evama saaOBaagyavatI baoTI r%na, [-Svar daonaaoM trf kuSala maMgala banaayao rKo. tumhoM yah jaanakr hYa- haogaa ik prsaao saayaM saat bajao tumhara Baa[- huAa hO. janma SauBa samaya pr huAa hO. naxa~ rovatI hO, raiSa kk-. Sauk`-Saina Apnao ]icat s)aanaaoM pr hOM. svaas)ya, iSaxaa, raojagaar saBaI dSaayaoM AnaukUla hOM.

tumhoM Saayad [sa Avas)aa maoM jaba tumharI ApnaI hI santana haonao vaalaI hO, bahna bananaa ATpTa laga rha hao. ikntu kuC haonaI eosaI haotI hOM ik manauYya ka vaSa nahIM haota. saba ivai(a ka iva(aana haota hO. tuma daonaaoM sao gahrI ]mmaId hO ik tuma [sa baccao pr ApnaI C~-Cayaa sada banaayao rKaogao. tumharI maa^ svas)a hO. tuma daonaaoM kao Apnaa AaiSa-vaad Baoja rhI hO. Agalao maah maindraoM ko War tI)a-yaai~yaao ko ilayao Kula rho hO. ifr maOM }pr gaMgaao~I laaOT jaa}^gaa. Agar p~ ivalamba sao ilaKaogao tao gaMgaao~I ko pto pr Baojanaa. [itEaI. tmhara ipta SamBaUp`saad.,

r%naa nao tIna baar p~ pZ,a. ek zMDI-saI ]cCvaasa CaoD,to huyao p~ tikyao ko naIcao rK idyaa. drAsala [tnaI ATpTI baataoM kao Jaolanao ko baad Baa[- ka janma ]sao ibalkula BaI ATpTa nahIM laga rha )aa. bailk Baa[- ka janma ]na saBaI ATpTI GaTnaaAaoM ka ek sauKd Ant p`tIt hao rha )aa.

lagaBaga tIna vaYa- pUva- r%naa kao dovalagaZ, sao saOla, A)aa-t ]sako Svasaur-gaRh sao iptR-gaRh baulaayaa gayaa )aa. p`tap, ]sako ipta ko ta}jaI ko laD,ko ka laD,ka, matlaba r%naa ka tIsarI pIZ,I ka Baa[-, ]sao ilavaanao Aayaa )aa. ]sako ipta nao hI ]sao Baojaa )aa. vao dUsara ivavaah krnao jaa rho )ao. yah Kbar ]sako sasaurala maoM ek maKaOla bana gayaI. laaoga KUba h^sa rho )ao. saasa $kmaiNa tao ]sako ipta kao Kulakr i(a@karnao lagaI )aI – “[tnao saalaaoM baad, [sa ]mar maoM @yaa saUJaI ]nhoM SaadI krnao kIÆ vaao tBaI dUsarI SaadI kr laoto jaba torI maa^ marI…” r%naa nao saasa kao GaUra tao vah iJaJak ga[-, SabdaoM kao sa^Baalato huyao baaolaI – “jaba vaao javaana )ao. Aba [sa ]mar maoM SaadI krko h^saI kI baat kr dI ]nhaoMnao.”

gaa^va ko kuC laaoga Ba%sa-naa kr rho )ao tao kuC majaak. gaa^va ka hrfnamaaolaa yauvak Baaolaa h^sato huyao saI(ao r%naa sao baaolaa )aa – “Aao hao… r%naa baaOjaI, tumharo iptajaI kao Apnaa dUsara byaah rcaanaa )aa, tBaI ]nhaMonao JaTpT CaoTI ]mar maoM hI tumharI SaadI kr tumho sasaurala Baoja idyaa.” “yah tao baD,I ATpTI baat hao ga[-. phlao baoTI kI SaadI, ifr ipta kI,” Sakuntlaa ta[- mau^h ibadkato huyao baaolaI.

r%naa kao BaI Apnao ipta ka puna: ivavaah krnaa ATpTa laga rha )aa, laoikna vah laaogaaoM kI trh Apnao ipta kao KulaoAama kaosa nahIM saktI )aI. ]sanao caupcaap Apnao kuC kpD,o ek Jaaolao maoM Dalaao. laMbao phaD,I rasto ko ilayao )aaoD,a Kanaa paoTilayaaoM maoM baa^(aa. $kmaiNa sao [jaajat laokr vah p`tap ko saa)a Apnao ipta kI SaadI maoM Saaimala haonao ko ilayao cala pD,I.

ek navayaaOvanaa kao Apnao ipta kI p%naI ko $p maoM doKkr vah baurI trh caaOMk ga[-. “yah tumharI maa^ hO,” ]sako ipta jaba ]sasao baaolao tao ]sao AaOr ATpTa laganao lagaa. maa^ Sabd khnao ko ilayao vah iktnaI

laalaaiyat rha krtI )aIÆ Aaja jaba Avasar imala rha hO, tao [sa Sabd kao khto huyao ]sakI jaubaana talaU laga ga[-. kOsao vah Apnao hma]ma` s~I kao maa^ pukar laoÆ

“yah tumharI baoTI hO,” ]sako ipta nao ApnaI na[- p%naI kao ]saka pircaya idyaa. na[- p%naI BaI ekdma Asahja hao ga[-. jaao navayauvatI ABaI cand GanTo pUva- hI ivavaah saU~ maoM ba^(aI hO, ek t$NaI kao ApnaI baoTI kOsao maana laoÆ

r%naa va ]sakI saaOtolaI maa^ ko baIca ek AjaIba, baohd Asahja-saI piris)ait bana ga[-. daonaaoM najar ]za kr BarpUr dRiYT sao ek-dUsaro kao doK tk nahIM pa rho )ao. maa^-baoTI ka prspr pircaya saamaanya piris)aityaaoM maoM hao BaI kha^ sakta hOÆ kBaI BaI baoTI kao ]sakI maa^ sao piricat nahIM krvaanaa pD,ta hO, na kBaI iksaI maa^ kao ]sakI baoTI ko pircaya kI ja$rt pD,tI hO. ]naka pircaya tao ek-dUsaro sao bahut phlao hao jaata hO, jaba baoTI kI kayaa maa^ ko gaBa- maoM CupI Aakar lao rhI haotI hO. jaba kaoiSakaAaoM ko JauND sao ]sako kaomala va maulaayama AMga fUTnao lagato hOM AaOr maa^ kao Apnao poT maoM ek maIza-saa SaUla AnauBava haonao lagata hO. baoTI ko janma sao bahut phlao

hI daonaaoM ek-dUsaro kao jaana cauko haoto hO. yah tumharI maa^ hO, yah tumharI baoTI… Saayad [sa trIko sao pircaya krvaanaa ]nako irSto kI gairmaa kao BaMga krnaa hO.

“ifr sao @yaa saaocanao lagaI hao tumaÆ baMSaI(ar nao r%naa kI Aa^KaoM ko saamanao ]gaMilayaaoM kao ifrato huyao pUCa. r%naa ApnaI saaoca sao baahr inaklaI.

“Apnao Baa[- ko ivaYaya maoM saaoca rhI haoÆ” baMSaI(ar nao pUCa. “nahIM, Baa[- kao janma donao vaalaI maata ko ivaYaya maoM saaoca rhI hU^,” r%naa gaMBaIr Baava sao baaolaI. “Baa[- kI maata ko ivaYaya…Æ” baMSaI(ar AsamaMjasata sao baudbaudayaa. r%naa baaolaI – “phlao maOM ]sasao hmaoSaa nafrt krtI )aI. laoikna Aaja Baa[- ko janma kI Kbar saunakr ]sasao nafrt nahIM, ]sa

pr snaoh Aa rha hO. naoh$jaI ko BaaYaNa kao (yaana krko tao mauJao ]sa pr dyaa Aa rhI hO. baocaarI, [tnaI javaana… ek baUZ,o iva(aur ko saa)a byaah dI ga[-.”

“maOnao tao isaf- ek hI baar doKa hO tumharI saaOtolaI maa^ kao… jaba yaha^ Aanao sao phlao hma tumharo gaa^va gayao )ao tumharo iptajaI sao imalanao,” baMSaI(ar baaolaa. “ha^, tumharo iptajaI kI tulanaa maoM javaana tao lagatI hI hO.”

“pta hO ]sakI SaadI iptajaI sao isaf- [sailayao hu[- ik vah maMgalaI )aI AaOr ]sakI ASalaoYaa BaI )aI. eosaI laD,ikyaaM^ saasa ko ilayao BaI Kraba haotI hOM AaOr baD,o Baa[- ko ilayao BaI. iptajaI kI na hI maa^ )aI AaOr na hI kao[- baD,a Baa[-. [sa karNa ]sakI janmap~I iptajaI ko saa)a jauD, ga[- AaOr ]sako Gar vaalaao nao jabardstI ]sakI SaadI iptajaI ko saa)a krdI.”

“jabardstI !” baMSaI(ar nao AaScaya- vya@t ikyaa. “nahIM tao Balaa kao[- javaana laD,kI iksaI baUZ,o AadmaI sao ApnaI majaI- sao SaadI krtI hOÆ ]sanao Kud mauJasao kha ik vah ek

SaadISauda baoTI ko baap sao SaadI krnaa hrigaja nahIM caahtI )aI. prntu ]sako Gar vaalaaoM nao jabardstI krI @yaaMoik vah [@kIsa saala kI hao ga[- )aI. ]sako ek CaoTo Baa[- va ek CaoTI bahna kI SaadI BaI hao ga[- )aI.” “Amaa yaar, tuma fadr-[na-laa^ kao baar-baar baUZ,a mat khao,” baMSaI(ar mauskrato huyao baaolaa. “@yaa ]ma` haogaI ]nakIÆ,,” “iptajaI… haoMgao cavaalaIsa-pOMtalaIsa ko !” “[saka matlaba SaadI ko samaya [ktalaIsa-bayaailasa ko rho haoMgaoÆ tba tao fadr-[na-laa^ javaana hI hOM. vah tao hma ihndustanaI Apnao kao bahut jaldI baUZ,a samaJanao lagato hOM. [na A^ga`ojaaoM kao doKao – saaz saala tk Apnao kao ekdma baa^ka javaana samaJato hOM. gaaolf Kolato hOM, svaIimaMga krto hOM, daOD, lagaato hOM, baa^ya-f`MoD AaOr gala--f`MoD banaato hO. ijandgaI ka pUra majaa laoto hO. hmaoSaa KuSa rhnao kI kaoiSaSa ikyaa krto hOM, AaOr hma KuSaI ko maaOko pr BaI du:K Kaojato hOM.” )aaoD,I dor maoM baMSaI(ar pUCnao lagaa –“ba`dr-[na-laa^ ko janma kI KuSaI maoM hlavaa[- kI dukana jalaobaI Kanao calaoÆ” r%naa mauskranao lagaI. gad-na ihlaa kr maaOna svaIkRit dI. plaMga sao JaT sao ]zkr (aaotI zIk kI, baalaaoM kao sa^vaara, caPplaMo Dala kr tOyaar hao ga[-. baMSaI(ar nao BaI Apnao phnao svaoTr kao naIcao KIMca kr zIk ikyaa, SaT- ko ka^lar zIk ikyao, pOraoM pr jaUto tanao, baalaaoM pr kMGaI forI. maoja sao talaa-caabaI ]za kr daonaaoM kmaro sao baahr inakla Aayao.

baahr Aa^gana maoM C:-saat baccao Kola rho )ao. AaOrtoM ek-dUsaro sao gaUFtgaU maoM maSagaUla )aI. Aaja ek Ahma baat ]nako jaIvana maoM GaiTt hu[- )aI – maihlaaAaoM ka jalaUsa inaklaa )aa. Antt: vao BaI ]sa jalaUsa ka ek ihssaa banaI )aI. samBavat: ]saI ko }pr cacaa- hao rhI )aI. r%naa va baMSaI(ar kao doK, vao Aapsa kI gaUFtgaU kao CaoD, ]na daonaaMo kao taknao lagaIM. r%naa nao ]nakI tIKI najaraoM kao ekdma AnadoKa ikyaa. baMSaI(ar nao kmaro kao band kr saa^kla maoM talaa lagaayaa. baramado, Aa^gana, kccao maOdana kao par kr daonaaoM Ahato sao baahr Aanao lagaoo. pICo sao maRdulaa Da^Dokr ka svar kaOM(aa – “ABaI na[--na[- SaadI hu[- hO na, [sailayao hr samaya mastI maoM rhto hOM.”

“nahIM,” prmajaIt prvaanaa baaolaI, “SaadI kao tao caar-pa^ca saala hao gayao. laoikna saa)a phlaI baar rh rho hOM.”

“Aro baccaa hao jaayaogaa tao saarI mastI inakla jaayaogaI,” sarsvatI gaaosvaamaI baaolaI. saBaI AaOrto jaaor sao iKlaiKlaa pD,I . baMSaI(ar nao r%naa kao doKa AaOr r%naa nao baMSaI(ar kao, daonaaoM mauskura pD,o.

Ahato sao baahr inakla, laala [-TaoM kI saIiZ,yaa^ ]tr daonaaoM JaIla ko iknaaro pgaDMD,I pr Aa gayao. ixaitja pr piScama kI phaiD,yaaoM ko pICo Ast haoto saUya- ka p`kaSa ekdma laala hao gayaa )aa. laala p`saairt p`kaSa ]sa trf

kI phaiD,yaaoM kao p`dIPt kr rha )aa. pUva- kI phaiD,yaaoM maoM san(yaa ka An(akar iGarnao lagaa )aa. JaIla maoM laaoga naaOkayaana kr rho )ao. JaIla ko iknaaro kccaI pgaDMDI pr kuC dor calanao ko ]prant r%naa va baMSaI(ar nao caZ,a[- par kI AaOr maala raoD pr phu^ca

gayao. maala raoD pr kuC dUr cala kr GanaSyaama hlavaa[- kI dukana pr $k gayao. GanaSyaama hlavaa[- laala Ba+I pr caZ,I baD,I-saI kD,a[- maoM jalaobaI tla rha )aa. Ba+I kI toja Aaga sao ]saka gaaora rMga tp-tp kr ta^bao kI trh hao gayaa )aa. baMSaI(ar kao doK kr ]sanao mauskrato huyao salaama ikyaa. baMSaI(ar ko ]sasao daostanaa samban(a )ao.

GanaSyaama hlavaa[- ko Alaavaa baMSaI(ar kI mallaItala maona baajaar pr Aanand vas~-BanDar ko itvaaD,I laaogaaMo sao t)aa saklaanaI caPpla va jaUtaoM kI dukana vaalaao sao BaI maO~IpUNa- samban(a )ao. yah itvaaD,I vaSaMja gaZ,vaala va kumaa}M ko imaEaNa )ao. ]nako kpD,o ka vyaapar naOnaItala, AlmaaoD,a ko Alaavaa gaZ,vaala ko janapd paOD,I ko kuC ga`amaaoM jaOsao EaInagar, kNa-p`yaaga, gaaOcar [%yaaid maoM BaI fOlaa huAa )aa.

saklaanaI caPpla va jaUtaoM kI dukana ko saklaanaI laaoga maUlat: EaInagar gaZ,vaala sao )ao. vaOsao [nako pUva-ja Ava(a sao gaZ,vaala maoM Aakr basao )ao. ifr naOnaItala Aakr (aM(aa krnao lagaoM. barolaI va laKna} sao jaUto-caPplao laakr vao naOnaItala maoM baocaa krto. [sako Aitir@t itbbatI AaOrtaoM sao BaI vao CaoTa-maaoTa zoka lao ilayaa krto )ao. itbbatI AaOrtoM }naI (aagaaoM sao ha)aaoM kI banaI gama- jaUityaaM [nhoM zoko pr idyaa krtI )aI. }naI (aagaaoM kI rMga-ibarMgaI, KUbasaUrt, gama- jaUityaaoM kao ApnaI dukana pr sajaa kr baocaa krto )ao jaaoik Anaayaasa hI ga`ahkaoMM kao AakiYa-t kr laotI )aI. naOnaItala ko p`%yaok Gar maoM [na gama- jaUityaaoM kI kma sao kma dao-tIna jaaoiD,yaaM pD,I rhtI )aI. jaaD,ao maoM zMDo va naMgao fSa- pr yao baD,a Aarama phu^caatI )aI. r%naa nao BaI Apnao ilayao Gar maoM phnanao ko ilayao ek jaaoD,I KrIdI hu[- )aI. baMSaI(ar kI itvaaD,I va saklaanaI laaogaaoM sao ApnaI gaZ,vaalaI baaolaI maoM sahuilayat sao baat hao jaatI )aI. itvaaD,I va saklaanaI daonaaoM AcCI gaZ,vaalaI baaola laoto )ao. prntu GanaSyaama ibaYT ]sasao ApnaI kumaa}MnaI baaolata )aa. vaOsao tao gaZ,vaala va kumaa}M ko phaD, va yaha^ kI baaoilayaaM BaI ek dUsaro ko p``````it$p hOM, prntu BaaYaa ka jara-saa Baod BaI vyaapk Antr kr dota hO. At: baMSaI(ar GanaSyaama ibaYT sao ApnaI gaZ,vaalaI maoM baat krta )aa AaOr GanaSyaama ibaYT baMSaI(ar sao ApnaI kumaa}MnaI maoM. daonaaoM ek-dUsaro ko svar kao AcCo sao samaJa jaato )ao. r%naa kao baoMca pr baOza kr, baMSaI(ar GanaSyaama ibaYT ko pasa jaakr ]sasao baat krnao lagaa. baoMca maoM AkolaI baOzI r%naa kao dao-tIna yauvak Aa^KoM faD,-faD, kr GaUrnao lagao. GanaSyaama hlavaa[- ko yaha^ kama krnao vaalaa laD,ka ikSaaor BaI ]sao lagaatar GaUro jaa rha )aa. vah saBaI ]sako yaaOvana va saundrta kao inahar rho )ao jaaoik gaBaa-vas)aa maoM AaOr BaI dmaka huAa )aa; yaa ifr ]nhaoMnao saubah jalaUsa maoM ]sao JanDo kao pkD,oM }^cao svar maoM naaro lagaato huyao doK ilayaa )aa, ijasasao vah ]nako ilayao ek AakYa-Na banaI hu[- )aI. karNa kuC BaI hao, ]nako [sa trh sao GaUrnao sao vah sakucaa ga[-. saubah jaba laaoga GaUr rho )ao tao kao[- baat nahIM. tba vah samaUh maoM cala rhI )aI, jalaUsa ka ek ihssaa )aI. pr [sa samaya vah [sa CaoTI-saI dukana maoM baOzI ekmaa~ AaOrt… ]sao ]na yauvakaoM ka GaUrnaa baD,a Asahja laganao lagaa. vah ]zkr baMSaI(ar ko pasa calaI Aa ga[-.

]sao doKto hI GanaSyaama hlavaa[- p`SaMsanaIya SabdaoM maoM baaolaa – “bahna, Aaja tao tuma AaOrtaoM nao pUrI k`aint laa dI. eosaa kBaI nahIM huAa naOnaItala maoM.”

r%naa kuC baaola na sakI. basa Sarmaa kr rh ga[-. “vah hOM na,” baMSaI(ar GanaSyaama hlavaa[- sao baaolaa, “maojar banajaI- kI p%naI klyaaNaI dovaIjaI ! basa ]nhIM kI vajah sao inaklaa

yah jalaUsa. baD,I jabardst maihlaa hOM vah !”

“ibalkula sahI kha,” GanaSyaama hlavaa[- Jarnao sao jalaoibayaaoM kao inakalato huyao baaolaa, “naoh$jaI ko saamanao BaI vah kOsao KD,I haokr icallaanao lagaI )aI ik hma ApnaI ]nnait kroMgao. hma ApnaI tr@kI… .”

sahsaa baMSaI(ar kao jaOsao kuC (yaana Aayaa. vah r%naa sao pUCnao lagaa – “tuma ]zkr yaha^ @yaaoM Aa ga[-Æ” r%naa kuC baaola patI ik GanaSyaama hlavaa[- ekdma sao baaolaa – “ha^-ha^ cala kr baOzao bahna, basa tOyaar hao ga[- jalaobaI.” r%naa nao kStUrI rMga kI kD,k, imaYT, rsadar jalaoibayaaoM kao GaUra. ikSaaor ta^bao kI ek T/o maoM jalaoibayaaoM kao sajaanao maoM lagaa )aa. baMSaI(ar nao pava iklaao jalaobaI va pava-pava saor gama- dU(a ka Aa^Dr idyaa AaOr r%naa ko saa)a Aakr baoMca pr baOz gayaa.

ikSaaor ]nako ilayao dao PlaoTaoM maoM gama- jalaobaI t)aa pItla ko dao lambao igalaasaaoM maoM Sauw gama- dU(a lao Aayaa. jalaobaI [sa kdr gama- )aI ik Kato huyao ]nako ha)a-mau^h jalanao lagao. prntu ]nhaoMnao na Apnao ha)aaoM kI prvaah kI AaOr na hI Apnao mau^h kI. ek-ek krko ]nhaonao saarI jalaobaI K%ma krI. }pr sao gama--gama- dU(a ipyaa. baMSaI(ar nao GanaSyaama ibaYT ko pasa jaakr pOsaaoM ka Baugatana ikyaa. ifr daonaaoM inaiYfk` maala raoD pr Thlanao lagao.

Thlato-Thlato vao tllaItala sao laok-iba`ja pr Aa gayao. laok-iba`ja ko naIcao JaIla ka panaI lahra rha )aa. vao panaI maoM

maCilayaaoM kao doKnao lagao. saunahrI, laala, (aUsar rMga kI maCilayaaM^. kuC CaoTI va kuC baD,I. maCilayaaoM kao ]nhaoMnao kuC dor ko ilayao inahara ifr baa^yao mauD,kr vao GaaoD,a-sTOnD sao mallaItala kI Aaor jaanao lagao. nau@kD, pr

ek AadmaI garma baalaU maoM maU^gaflaI BaUna rha )aa. baMSaI(ar nao dao Aanao kI maU^gaflaI KrIdI. vao ek TIlao pr baOz kr caupcaap maU^gaflaI Kanao lagao. maaca- mahInao maoM BaI maaOsama sao SarIr kao bao(anao vaalaI zMDk gaayaba nahIM hu[- )aI. ifr BaI JaIla maoM dao naaOkayaoM najar Aa rhI )aI. laaoga ABaI BaI naaOkayana kr rho )ao. JaIla kI }^caI lahraoM maoM ihcakaolao KatI naava dUr sao panaI maoM DUbatI hu[--saI p`tIt hao rhI )aI. “[sa samaya kaOna zMDI JaIla maoM naava kI saOr kr rha hOÆ” r%naa sahsaa baudbauda[-.

“ihndustanaI tao hao nahIM sakto, ja$r A^ga`oja hI haoMgaoÆ” DUbao svar maoM baMSaI(ar baaolaa. “bahut hI ihmmatI haoto hOM yao laaoga. vah doKao… kuC A`ga`oja saOlaanaI JaIla ko iknaaro lagao laaoho ko baOMca pr BaI baOzo huyao hOM AaOr kuC GauD,savaarI BaI kr rhoM.”

An(aora Aaihsto-Aaihsto gahranao lagaa )aa. kalaoo, Kulao AakaSa maoM taro iTmaiTmaa Aayao )ao. phaD,aoM kI }^cao-naIcao ZlaanaaoM pr banaI [maartaoM maoM ibajalaI ka p`kaSa jagamaga krnao lagaa )aa. JaIla ka panaI saBaI p`kar ko p`kaSaaoM kao p````itibaimbat kr rha )aa. tT pr saGana vaRxaaoM kI CayaakRityaaM Saant lahraoM maoM banatI-ibagaD,tI jaa rhI )aI. r%naa va baMSaI(ar kafI dor tk ]sa zMDo TIlao pr baOzo rho. jaba ]zo tao ]nhoM Apnao kpD,o pICo sao znDo va gaIlao sahsaUsa huyao. vao naOnaadovaI ko maMidr kI Aaor baZ,nao gayao. hzat baMSaI(ar kI najar ek nayao sTUiDyaao pr pD,I – Aajaad sTUiDyaao.

“yah sTUiDyaao phlao tao yaha^ nahIM )aa,” vah r%naa sao baaolaa. “nahIM,” r%naa baaolaI, “maOM BaI [sao Aaja hI doK rhI hU^. Saayad nayaa Kulaa hO.”

kaOtukta sao baMSaI(ar nao r%naa ka ha)a pkD,a AaOr sTUiDyaao ko Andr Gausa gayaa. sTUiDyaaomaOna ]nho doK kr KD,a hao gayaa. “faoTao iKMMcaanaI hOÆ” ]sanao pUCa. “ha^,” baMSaI(ar baaolaa.

“iksa saa[ja kIÆ paosTkaD- saa[ja kIÆ” “nahIM, ]sako tIgaunao, Antdo-SaI saa[ja kI,” baMSaI(ar baaolaa.

sTUiDyaaomaOna h^sa pD,a. baMSaI(ar BaI h^sanao lagaa. r%naa nahIM h^saI, na ]sao samaJa maoM Aayaa ik vah daonaaoM @yaaoM h^sa rho hOÆ ek xaNa vah sTUiDyaaomaona kao taktI, ek xaNa baMSaI(ar kao. Aa^KoM ivasmaya sao fOlaI )aI, mau^h ]llaasa sao Kulaa )aa.

sTUiDyaaomaOna nao ApnaI pUrI idlacaspI sao ]naka AakYa-k paoja banaayaa. r%naa kao kusaI- maoM baOzayaa AaOr baMSaI(ar kao bagala maoM KD,a krko ]saka ha)a r%naa ko kn(ao pr rKvaa idyaa. ihdayat dI ik vao kOmaro kI Aaor nahIM, bailk ]sakI ]Mgailayaao kI trf doKoM.

“yasa PlaIja ! [(ar maorI ]Mgailayaao kao doKao.” r%naa va baMSaI(ar kI Aa^Ko ]sakI i)arktI caar ]Mgailayaao pr is)ar hao ga[-.

“ek-dao-tIna ! smaa[la PlaIja !… ” r%naa va baMSaI(ar ko haoMz mauskurahT maoM hlko sao iKMcao, komaro ka baTna i@lak huAa, safod laa[T kaOM(aI AaOr faoTao iKMca ga[-. daonaaoM saD,k pr inakla Aayao. baMSaI(ar ApnaI klaa[- pr ba^(aI GaD,I pr samaya doKto huyao r%naa sao baaolaa – “naaO baja gayao, Gar calaoMÆ” r%naa nao maaOna svaIkRit dI. daonaaoM nao Gar vaapsaI ka rasta pkD, ilayaa. mallaItala kI caZ,a[- ]trnao lagao. JaIla maoM Aba kao[- BaI naava najar nahIM Aa rhI )aI. panaI ibanaa iksaI hlacala ko ekdma Saant laga rha )aa.

dSa-na-Gar ko GaaT pr ek A(aoD, ]ma` ka naaivak KUTo maoM naava baa^(a rha )aa. baakI ko naaivak Saayad ApnaI-ApnaI naava baa^(a kr jaa cauko )ao. sahsaa baMSaI(ar ka pta nahIM @yaa saUJaa, jaldI-jaldI GaaT kI saIiZ,yaaM^ ]trnao lagaa. r%naa ek xaNa htp`Ba izzkI, ifr pICo-pICo vah BaI saIiZ,yaaM ]trnao lagaI. AaScaya- sao saaocanao lagaI ik @yaa baMSaI(ar [tnaI rat kao pOdla calanao kI bajaayao ]sa par naava sao jaanaa caahta hO !

samaIp AayaI tao doKa baMSaI(ar naaivak sao pUC rha hO – “ek idna maoM iktnao saOlaainayaaoM kao [(ar sao ](ar phuMcaa doto haoÆ “yahI kao[- dsa-baarh ca@kr kaT laoto hOM.” “iktnao $pyaoM kmaa laoto hao idna koÆ”

“tIna-caar $pyao.” “basa !…”

“yah BaI saaba, maaOsama maoM jaba AMga`oja saOlaanaI yaha^ Aato hOM. Apnao ihndustanaI laaoga tao pOsao donaa hI nahIM jaanato. KOr Apnao laaogaaoM ko pasa pOsaa hO BaI kha^ donao ko ilayaoÆ” vah SauYk svar maoM baaolaa. ekdma KamaaoSa haokr laaoho ko KM^UTo pr naava kI rssaI kI gaaM^z lagaanao lagaa. daonaaoM caPpU ]sanao naava maoM iTka idyao )ao. maaOsama maoM zMDk )aI, laoikna ]sanao eosao hlko va ptlao kpD,o phnao huyao )ao jaOsao gajaba kI gamaI- pD, rhI haoÆ

“rhto khaM^ hao yahaM^Æ” baMSaI(ar nao ]sasao pUCa. r%naa kao JauMJalaahT haonao lagaI. baD,baD,a[- - “pta nahIM [nakI yah @yaa Aadt hOÆ rah calato Anjaanao laaogaaoM sao baovajah kI

daostI krnao lagato hOM.” “pTvaaDaMgar,” naaivak baaolaa. “ABaI [sa samaya pTvaaDaMgar jaaAaogaoÆ” baMSaI(ar AaScaya- sao baaolaa. “ifr kha^M jaa}M^gaa, saabaÆ” naaivak h^sato huyao baaolaa. ]sakI Sa@la kuC-kuC naopailayaaoM jaOsaI laga rhI )aI, pr ]sakI baaolaI

ka lahjaa ekdma kumaa}M^naI )aa. baMSaI(ar Apnao p`Sna pr Saima-ndgaI mahsaUsa krnao lagaa. safa[- doto huyao baaolaa – “nahIM, maOM tao [sailayao kh rha hU^ ik

pTvaaDaMgar yaha^ sao bahut dUr hO.” “rat gaujaarnao saaba vahIM jaanaa pD,ta hO jaha^ Apnaa Gar hao,” khto huyao naaivak GaaT kI saIiZ,yaaM^ caZ,nao lagaa. baMSaI(ar BaI

]sako saa)a-saa)a saIiZ,yaaM^ caZ,nao lagaa. r%naa BaI KamaaoSa ]nako pICo saIiZ,yaaM^ caZ,nao lagaI. GaaT ko }pr phu^Mca kr naaivak da^Mihnao, maala raoD kI trf mauD, gayaa. baMSaI(ar AaOr r%naa ka BaI Gar jaanao ka rasta vahI

)aa. vao BaI da^ihnao mauD, gayao

naaivak ek daSa-inak A^Mdaja maoM baaolaa – “@yaa kroM saaba ! phaD,aoM ka majaa tao yaha^M Aayao saOlaanaI hI ]zato hOM. hmaoM tao [nako p`kaop hI Jaolanao pD,to hOM ”

baMSaI(ar h^sa kr baaolaa – “tuma ibalkula sahI khto hao.” “AcCa, tuma vaOsao rhnao vaalao kha^M ko haoÆ”

“(aarcaUlaa ko pasa ka,” naaivak toja-toja kdmaaoM sao calato huyao baaolaa. baMSaI(ar nao BaI ]sako toja kdmaaoM ko saa)a ApnaI rFtar toja kr laI. r%naa kao ]nako saa)a calanao ko ilayao lagaBaga Baaganaa pD,

rha )aa. “AcCa, tBaI tuma doKnao maoM naopailayaaoM jaOsao lagato hao,” baMSaI(ar ]sasao baaolaa, “(aarcaUlaa tao ekdma naopala kI saImaa pr hO.” “ha^, hmaaro (aarcaUlaa ko phaD,ao sao naopala ko phaD, ekdma saamanao najar Aato hOM, saaba ! Aa(ao phaD, ]nako hOM AaOr Aa(ao

hmaaro….” “hmaaro gaZ,vaala ko phaD,aoM sao itbbat ko phaD, najar Aato hOM. Aa(ao phaD, ]nako hOM AaOr Aa(ao hmaaro,” baMSaI(ar ]saI laya sao

baaolaa. “AcCa, Aap gaZ,vaala ko hao !” naaivak hYa-imaiEat AaScaya- sao baaolaa. “yaha^MÆ…” “yahaM^ maorI paoisTMga hO. DoZ, saala sao yaha^ hU^M. Baart kI saonaa maoM hU^.” “bahut KUba ! bahut KUba !” naaivak p`sannaicat Baava sao baaolaa. ifr ekaek gaMBaIr haokr vah baMSaI(ar ko jara inakT Aato

huyao rhsyamaya ZMga sao pUCnao lagaa – “AapkI saonaa @yaa khtI hOÆ yao A^Mga`oja jaayaoMgao yaha^ saoÆ” “jaanaa tao nahIM caahto, laoikna [nhoM jaanaa hI pD,ogaa. AaiKr kao[- iksaI ko Gar iktnao idna iTk sakta hO.” “KUba kha, saaba !” kh kr naaivak Kula kr h^Msanao lagaa. baMSaI(ar BaI h^Msa pD,a. r%naa gaMBaIr banaI rhI. ]sao baMSaI(ar pr

A%yai(ak kaoFt haonao lagaI )aI. baMSaI(ar nao naaivak sao gaUFtgaU ko ca@kr maoM ]sao pUrI trh najar AMdaja kr rKa )aa. “AcCa, tuma yahaM^ iktnao saalaaoM sao…” baMSaI(ar naaivak sao pUCnao lagaa ik r%naa nao ]saka ha)a KIMca ilayaa. k`uw haoto huyao

baaolaI – “tuma yah BaUla hI jaato hao ik tumharo saa)a maOM BaI cala rhI hU^. tbasao lagao huyao hao ]sa naava vaalao sao falatU kI baatoM krnao maoM.” r%naa ]sao maala raoD ko samaanaantr banaI kccaI pgaDMDI pr ]tarnao lagaI. baMSaI(ar ek pla ko ilayao Acakcaayaa. naaivak kI

Aaor ivamaUZ,ta sao doKa. naaivak r%naa ko caohro kI BaavaBaMigamaa doK kr maajara samaJa gayaa. h^Msato huyao saOlyaUT maarto huyao baaolaa – “AcCa saaba !”

kh kr naaivak nao ekdma sao Apnao kdma bahut toja kr ilayao. baMSaI(ar AkbakahT sao r%naa ko saa)a saD,k sao kccaI pgaDMDI pr ]tr Aayaa.

daonaaMo Gar kI Aaor KamaaoSa calanao lagao. vao daonaaMo hI ek-dUsaro sao )aaoD,a bahut naaraja hao gayao )ao. baMSaI(ar nao naaivak ko ca@kr maoM r%naa kao ekdma ]poixat ikyaa, AaOr r%naa nao baMSaI(ar kao naaivak sao Apnaa idlacasp vaata-laap pUra nahIM krnao idyaa. yah dao baatoM daonaaMo kao AKr rhI )aI, [sailayao daonaaoM maoM sao kao[- iksaI sao baat nahIM kr rha )aa. JaIla ko iknaaro-iknaaro vao ekdma KamaaoSa cala rho )ao. tT pr hvaa sad- hao ga[- )aI. lahraoM sao bahtI hvaa daonaaoM ko badna maoM JaurJaurI pOda kr rhI )aI.

KamaaoSa calato-calato kuC dor baad baMSaI(ar sahsaa baudbaudayaa – “AajaadI ka eosaa jaaoSa saba pr Cayaa huAa hO ik laaoga Apnao baccaaoM, ApnaI dukanaaoM ka naama BaI Aajaad rKnao lagao hOM. naava vaalao BaI AMga`ojaaoM ko jaanao kI baat pUCnao lagao hOM. pta nahIM kba AayaogaI yah AajaadIÆ pta nahIM kba CaoD,oMgao yao A^ga`oja hmaara doSaÆ” baMSaI(ar svayaM sao kh rha )aa yaa r%naa sao, pta nahIM cala rha )aa. prntu r%naa baaolaI – “[tnaa htaSa @yaaoM haoto haoÆ Aba Aa tao rhI hO AajaadI. A^Mga`oja jaa tao rho hO hmaaro doSa sao.”

“ABaI BaI [naka kao[- Baraosaa nahIM ik CaoD,to hOM hmaara doSa yaa nahIM,” baMSaI(ar saMdoh vya@t krto huyao baaolaa. r%naa ekdma sao $k ga[-. Apnao poT pr ha)a rKto huyao baaolaI – “AM^ga`ojaao ka jaanaa AaOr doSa maoM AajaadI ka Aanaa Aba

]tnaa hI saca hO ijatnaa saca [sa baccao ka janma laonaa.”

baMSaI(ar h^Msanao lagaa. ]phasa krto huyao baaolaa – “Aba tao tuma baD,o-baD,o gaMBaIr saMvaad baaolanao lagaI hao.” “tumanao jaao maoro ilayao roiDyaao KrIda hO, ]samao KbaroM saunatI hUM^. ifr Aaja klyaaNaI dIdI BaI saBaI AaOrtaoM sao kh rhI )aI ik Aba AajaadI dUr nahIM. Paavar T/^Masafr hao rhI hO.”

“pavar T/^asafr hao rhI hO… Aro vaah ! tuma tao A^ga`ojaI BaI baaolanao lagaI hao. klyaaNaI nao tumhoM bahut kuC isaKa idyaa hO,” baMSaI(ar baaolaa. daonaaoM h^Msa pD,o. vaatavarNa ]nako baIca ]nmau@t hao gayaa. r%naa ibastr pr laoTI tao naIMd kaosaaoM dUr…. badna pr )akavaT kI jagah ek p`fullata… ijandgaI [tnaI AcCI BaI hao saktI hO, saaocato huyao vah puilkt va ivaismat haotI jaa rhI )aI. saca, Aaja saubah sao jaao kuC BaI huAa, iktnaa AcCa huAa ! jalaUsa inakalaa… JaMDo kao )aama kr naaro lagaayao…. kOsao yao bagala kI saBaI AaOrtoM laupr-laupr jalaUsa maoM Aa ga[-. phlao kh rhI )aI ik hmaaro AadimayaaoM kI naaOkiryaaM^ calaI jaayaogaI.

klyaaNaI nao kha, r%naa, tuma iktnaI saundr haoÆ kaSa tumhara gaaora rMga… . hlavaa[- kI dukana pr jaakr jalaobaI Ka[-. sTUiDyaao maoM faoTao iKMcavaa[-. iptajaI kI icazzI AayaI… ha^M, sabasao salaaonaI baat

ik Aba ]saka ek Baa[- hO. saaOtolaI maa^ sao kao[- lagaava nahIM magar Baa[- sao ]sao ek AdRSya, Anjaanaa p`oma sahja hI ]%pnna hao gayaa. [saka karNa Saayad ik Baa[- va ]sakI (amainayaaoM maoM ek hI pirvaar ka KUna…. kOsaa haogaa Baa[-Æ CaoTo-CaoTo ha)a, CaoTo-CaoTo pOr, CaoTa-saa maMu^h….

saaocato-saaocato r%naa Apnaa ]dr sahlaanao lagaI. ekaek ]sao Apnao poT maoM ek gait-saI mahsaUsa hu[-. eosaa laganao lagaa ik kao[- hlkI hvaa ]sako BaItr roMga rhI hao. ]sanao sauna rKa )aa ik baccaa gaBaa-Saya ko trla maoMM GaUmata hO. ]sako mauK sao KuSaI kI caIK inakla ga[-.

bagala maoM saao rho baMSaI(ar nao Alasaayao svar maoM pUCa - “@yaa huAaÆ” r%naa nao baMSaI(ar ko BaarI Alasaayao ha)a kao Apnao naMgao poT ko }pr rK idyaa.

“poT maoM dd- hao rha hOÆ jalaoibayaaoM kI vajah sao hao rha haogaa,”M AnagaZ, SabdaoM maoM baMSaI(ar baD,baD,ayaa. “nahIM, dd- nahIM hao rha. tumhoM @yaa kuC mahsaUsa nahIM hao rha maoro poT maoMÆ baccaa GaUma rha hO.”

“AcCa ! baccao nao GaUmanaa Sau$ kr idyaa Æ” baMSaI(ar icahuM^k kr baaolaa. ha)a kao r%naa ko poT pr ZMga sao icapTa kr Ba`UNa kI gait mahsaUsa krnao lagaa. ]sao ApnaI h)aolaI maoM Ba`UNa ko roMganao kI gait mahsaUsa haonao lagaI. vah baaolaa – “yah tao ABaI maClaI ko hI Aakar ka haogaa !”

“nahIM, maClaI sao )aaoD,a baD,a bana gayaa hao gayaa…” r%naa baaolaI. “caar mahInao hao gayaoÆ”

“caar sao jyaada hao gayao,” r%naa nao javaaba idyaa. “@yaa-@yaa AMga bana haoMgao baccao koÆ” “ha)a, pOr, mau^h, poT AaOr idla…inakla AayaoM haoMgao.” baMSaI(ar baD,baD,ayaa – “AajaadI ka Aanaa Aba ]tnaa hI saca hO, ijatnaa saca [sa baccao ka janma laonaa.” ]sanao Apnaa ha)a r%naa ko poT sao hTayaa, krvaT badlaI, saao gayaa.

r%naa BaI saaonao kI kaoiSaSa krnao lagaI. magar naIMd…. )aaoD,I dor maoM ]sao baMSaI(ar ko Kra-TaoM kI Aavaaja saunaa[- donaI pD,nao laga ga[-. vah saaonao kI kaoiSaSa krtI rhI laoikna naIMd nahIM Aa payaI.

]sao yaad Aayaa… ek baar ]sako ipta nao kha )aa ik jaba kBaI naIMd nahIM AatI tao mana hI mana iksaI pavana Sabd yaa maM~ ka jaap krnaa caaihyao. jaap [tnaa tIva` va satt hao ik maistYk maoM isaf- vahI gaUM^jao, kao[- dUsara ivacaar fTknao nahIM payao. r%naa saaocanao

lagaI ik iksaka jaap kroÆ sahsaa ]sako haoMz svat: hI baudbaudanao lagao —“nayaa [nklaaba Aayaa hO, naarI Sai@t ka ]dya huAa hO, Baart maata kI jaya !… nayaa [nklaaba Aayaa hO, naarI Sai> ka ]dya huAa hO, Baart maata kI jaya !… nayaa [nklaaba…”

: 2 :

ek-ek xaNa AajaadI kI AgauAa[- kr rha )aa AaOr r%naa ka gaBa-s)a iSaSau Aakar maoM baZ,ta jaa rha )aa…. klyaaNaI

ko naotR%va maoM AaOrtaoM ko inakalao gayao jalaUsa ko saaZ,o-pa^Mca maah ]prant ek saubah caar bajao r%naa nao Aajaad Baart maoM Aa^MKoM KaolaI. AaOr baMSaI(ar rat Bar saaoyaa hI nahIM. vah imalaoT/I ko Anya javaanaaoM ko saa)a baOz kr ma(ya rai~ maoM naoh$ jaI ko p`saairt haoto BaaYaNa kao saunata rha. ifr ]sako baad Apnao saai)ayaaoM ko gaUFtgaU krta rha.

PaUro doSa maoM ek hYa- va ]llaasa ka vaatavarNa Cayaa huAa )aa. magar Kod… [sa hYa- va ]llaasa maoM ek AsaIma du:K, ek gahrI TIsa ka BaI samanvaya )aa. ]pmahaWIp ihndustana kao CaoD,nao sao pUva- A^Mga`oja SaasakaoM nao [sao dao raYT/aoM maoM ivaBaaijat kr idyaa )aa. is)ait hI eosaI ivakT ]%pnna hao ga[- )aI ik kovala ivaBaajana hI ekmaa~ ivaklp baca gayaa )aa. A^Mga`oja p`Saasainak Ai(akairyaaoM, mausailama laIga AaOr ka^ga`osa Komao ko p`SaasakaoM kao samasyaa ka samaa(aana kovala ivaBaajana hI lagaa )aa. ekmaa~ gaa^M(aIjaI hI ivaBaajana ko ivarao(aI )ao laoikna ]nakI AkolaI Aavaaja @yaa kr laotIÆ [sa p`ik`yaa maoM [tnaa KUna-Krabaa huAa, dao saamp`dayaaoM ko baIca vah gahrI Ka[- banaI ik Aagao Aanao vaalaI iktnaI hI pIiZ,yaaoM kI (amainayaaoM maoM ]sakI isahrna daOD,tI rhogaI. laoikna Apnao doSa sao ifrMigayaaoM ka jaanaa iksaI BaI kImat maoM doSavaaisayaaoM kao manjaUr )aa. ]naka jaanaa hr hala maoM ek hYa- va ]llaasa ka maaOka )aa. At: samast vaodnaaAaoM kao BaUlakr doSavaaisayaaoM nao nayaI AayaI AajaadI ko jaSna maoM saraobaar haonao kI zana laI. naOnaItala ko saBaI s)aanaaoM pr, laaogaaoM nao AajaadI ka jaSna manaayaa. A^ga`ojaaoM ko jaanao kI KuSaI maoM ]nhaoMnao saD,kaoM maoM pTaKo faoD,o, GaraoM va dukanaaoM maoM dIyao jalaayaoM. r%naa Aaor ko baaD,o maoM saBaI pirvaaraoM nao imalakr ApnaI trh sao hI AajaadI ko jaSna kao manaayaa. sabasao phlao saubah pu$YaaoM nao Apnao saonaa kayaa-laya jaakr vaha^M Apnao doSa ka itrMgaa (vaja fhrayaa. proD kI. Gar Aakr saBaI pirvaaraoM sao Aaz-Aaz Aanaa canda [kzza krko GanaSyaama hlavaa[- kI dukana sao laDDU, jalaobaI va baala imaza[- ma^MgaayaI ga[-, baa^TI ga[- AaOr Ka[- ga[-. Saama ko va> AaOrtaoM nao Apnao GaraoM maoM Apnao-Apnao p`antaoM ko p`cailat ek-ek vyaMjana tOyaar ikyao. ifr vao saba saamaUihk Aa^Mgana maoM AajaadI ka saamaUihk ]%sava manaanao ko ilayao jauT gayao.…

Agast ka mahInaa… saavana ko idna… caMcala maoGa jaba-tba garja kr barsa pD, rho )ao ikntu laaogaaoM kao Aaja na garjato maoGaaoM kI

prvaah )aI AaOr na barsatI irmaiJama fuvaaraoM kI. AaOrtoM baramado maoM isamaTI hu[- )aI prntu baD,o baccao va pu$Ya Kulao Aasamaana ko naIcao DTo huyao )ao. ek D/ma pr kpD,o ka banaa BaartvaYa- ka tIna rMgaaMo, baIca maoM cak`, vaalaa JanDa lapoT ilayaa )aa, [d-igad- baccao va pu$Ya naR%ya kr rho )ao. kagaja ko CaoTo-CaoTo iktnao hI itrMgao JanDo baaDo, kI igalaI imaTTI maoM GaaoMp rKo )ao, jaaoik barsato panaI sao turnt galanao BaI lagao )ao.

AjaIba va AavaoSamaya najaara bana gayaa )aa…. jaaoSa va maidra ko sau$r maoM saBaI saOinak Aa^Mgana maoM inarntr naR%ya-gaana kr rho )ao. AaOrtoM baramado maoM baOzI cak-cak krnao maoM lagaI )aI. khkhaoM, zhakaoM va hM^saI-izzaoilayaaoM kI gaU^ja saaro vaatavarNa kao spindt kr do rhI )aI.…

ekmaa~ r%naa ]%sava ka pUra lau%f nahIM ]za pa rhI )aI. ]sako gaBa- kao naaO mahInao naaO idna pUro hao gayao )ao. ]sao hlkI-hlkI p`sava vaodnaa Sau$ hao ga[- )aI. baramado pr ek trf dIvaar ka Tok laokr vah psar kr baOz ga[-. ]sako saust pD, gayao caohro kao doK baMSaI(ar ]sako samaIp Aakr pUCnao lagaa – “@yaa huAaÆ”

baMSaI(ar ko mauK sao AatI maidra kI tIxNa gaM(a sao r%naa ka mauM^h ksaOlaa hao gayaa. jaldI sao baaolaI – “kuC nahIM-kuC nahIM. tuma jaaAao, jaakr naaca krao.”

]na daonaaoM ko saMvaad sao vaha^M baOz kr Aapsa maoM baityaa rhI AaOrtaoM ka (yaana r%naa kI Aaor iKMca gayaa. prmajaIt prvaanaa pUCnao lagaI – “@yaa huAa r%naaÆ Alaga-)alaga caupcaap @yaaoM baOzI haoÆ”

r%naa kuC baaolatI ik sarsvatI gaaosvaamaI baaolaI – “yah baaolatI hI kba hOÆ jaba doKao mauM^h band ikyao rKtI hO.” prmajaIt prvaanaa ko kana maoM vah Apnaa mau^h icapka kr fusafusaa kr khnao lagaI – “vaOsao [sa phaD,na maoM ihmmat bahut hO. klyaaNaI bahnajaI ko saamanao kOsao KD,o haokr baaolanao lagaI )aI ik mauJao jalaUsa inakalanaa hO. hma tao Dr kr maaro pICo hT gayao )ao.”

saBaI AaOrto ]%saukta maoM pUCnao lagaI – “@yaa kha kana maoMÆ @yaa kha kana maoMÆ” saa)a maoM AaOrto yah BaI samaJa ga[- ik vah ja$r r%naa ko ivaYaya maoM hI kuC fusafusaa rhI hO. maRdulaa Da^Dokr k$Na Baava sao baaolaI –“Ba[-, [sa trh r%naa kI majaak mat banaaAao. ABaI baocaarI kI halat zIk nahIM hO.”

r%naa ko caohro pr maayaUsaI ko Baava Aa gayao. maO)aIlaI isanha pUCnao lagaI. “iktnaa mahInaa hO ABaIÆ” “pUra mahInaa hO,” r%naa nao (aIro sao javaaba idyaa. “pUra mahInaa !.. matlaba…Æ” kRYNaa caaO(arI baaolaI.

sarsvatI gaaosvaamaI va tara Sau@laa KI-KI h^Msanao lagaI. tara Sau@laa ApnaI h^MsaI kao raokto huyao baaolaI – “[sa baocaarI kao ABaI ZMga sao yah BaI nahIM maalaUma ik iktnaa mahInaa hOÆ” saBaI AaOrtoM r%naa kao ekTk doKnao lagaI. r%naa kuC nahIM baaolaI. caupcaap mau^h fUlaa kr vahaM^ sao ]zkr baramado ko dUsaro Caor

jaakr KD,I hao ga[-. “Aro, yah tao naaraja hao ga[-,” tara Sau@laa baaolaI. “zhrao, maOM ]sakI naarajagaI ABaI zIk krtI hU^,” maO)aIlaI isanha baaolaI. ApnaI jagah sao icallaa kr vah r%naa sao khnao lagaI –

“Aro r%naa, tumhara baccaa baD,o saundr samaya maoM hao rha hO. laD,ka hao tao naama Aajaad AaOr Agar laD,kI hao tao naama AajaadI rK laonaa.” sarsvatI gaaosvaamaI mau^h ibadkato huyao baaolaI – “Aajaad va AajaadI nahIM, svatM~ va svatM~a.” “r%naa ka baccaa baD,o AnaaoKo samaya maoM pOda hao rha hO. Baagyavaana haogaa,” naaOmaI imaEaa baaolaI. saba AaOrtoM h^sanao lagaIM. r%naa nao iksaI kI baat pr kao[- (yaana nahIM idyaa. AaM^gana maoM baMSaI(ar kao saBaI javaanaaoM ko baIca naR%ya krto doKnao lagaI –

baairSa sao baala gaIlao haokr ekdma icapk gayao )aoo. baalaaoM va caohro sao panaI caUnao maoM lagaa )aa. tna pr phnaI vadI- trbatrBaIga ga[- )aI. baMSaI(ar kI najar r%naa sao Tkra[-. vah mauskuranao lagaa. r%naa BaI mauskuranao lagaI.

ek-ek krko r%naa nao Anya javaanaaoM pr BaI dRiYT forI – saBaI kI halat baMSaI(ar jaOsaI hI hao rKI )aI, gaIlao-icapko baala, BaIgaI vadI- AaOr Tpkta panaI… prntu i)arktoM pa^Mva iksaI ko $k nahIM rho )ao. Sau@laa D/ma kao pITnao maoM lagaa )aa, ijasakI )aap pr hI saba i)ark rho )ao. javaanaaMo nao Aaja saubah sao hI ApnaI vadI- phnaI hu[- )aI. javaanaaoM sao dRiYT hTa kr r%naa baccaaoM kao doKnao lagaI. ]nako baaD,o maoM ek sao Aaz vaYa- tk ko caaOdh baccao )ao. baD,o baccao tao Apnao iptaAaoM ko saa)a Aa^gana maoM huD,dMga macaayao huyao )ao, CaoTo baccao baramado maoM ApnaI maataAaoM ko saa)a iBanaiBana krnao maoM lagao )ao. r%naa sahsaa Apnaa ]dr sahlaanao lagaI. p`sava vaodnaa k`maSa: baZ, rhI )aI…. saaocanao lagaI, pta nahIM yah ]%sava kba $kogaaÆ

prmajaIt prvaanaa va kRYNaa caaO(arI nao )aailayaaoM maoM Baaojana prsanaa Sau$ kr idyaa. sarsvatI gaaosvaamaI va maRdulaa Da^Dokr javaanaaoM kao prsaI )aalaI ]za-]za kr pkD,anao lagaI. saBaI javaana i)arkto huyao hI ha)aaoM maoM Kanaa laokr Kanao lagao. saMyaaoga sao Aaja r%naa sao Apnaa phaD,I saaga, faNaa, baD,a svaaidst bana gayaa )aa. saBaI javaana ]sao doKto huyao ]sako faNao kI p`SaMsaa krnao lagao.

Kanaa Kato-Kato sahsaa isanha ]sako pasa Aayaa, pUCnao lagaa – “BaaBaIjaI, kOsao banaayaa Aapnao yah saagaÆ” r%naa Acakcaa ga[-. javaaba doto nahIM banaa. tBaI prmajaIt prvaanaa icallaa kr baaolaI – “r%naa kao tao baulaaAao. sabasao phlao tao

Kanaa ]sao hI prsanaa caaihyao )aa.”

maRdulaa Da^MDokr baaolaI – “r%naa AaAao.” isanha BaI baaolaa – “jaaAao-jaaAao BaaBaIjaI Aap. Pahlao Kanaa KaAao.” r%naa baudbauda[- - “AcCo samaya pr pukar ilayaa [nhaoMnao mauJao. madao-M sao tao baat krto huyao [tnaI iJaJak haonao lagatI hO. h)aolaI sao psaInaa caUnao lagata hO.” vah jaakr AaOrtaoM ko pasa naIcao drI pr pala)aI maarkr baOz ga[-. prmajaIt prvaanaa ]sako ilayao ek baD,I ka^sao kI )aalaI maoM Baaojana prsanao lagaI. pMjaaba ko Caolao-pUrI, maharaYT/ kI purnapaolaI, rajas)aana kI kcaaOrI va rayata, ]%trp`doSa ko Baunao caavala, baMgaala kI Conao kI imaza[-, phaD, ka faNaa…. r%naa nao [tnao saaro vyaMjana ek saa)a kBaI Kayao @yaa, doKo tk nahIM )ao. vah AaScaya- sao Bar ga[-.

]sanao hI nahIM, vahaM^ ]pis)at Ai(akaMSa laaogaaoM nao [tnao saaro vyaMjana kBaI ek saa)a nahIM Kayao )ao. prvaanaa khnao lagaa – “hmaoM eosaa gaoT-TugaoDr baar-baar krnaa caaihyao. imalakr Kanao maoM doKao iktnaI saarI caIjaoM Kanao kao imala rhI hOM, nahIM tao raoja ek sabjaI ko saa)a raoTI inagalaao AaOr }pr sao kaora panaI pIAao.”

“tumhoM @yaa raoja rMgaIna panaI caaihyaoÆ” baMSaI(ar tpak sao baaolaa. saba zhaka maar kr h^sa pD,o. r%naa BaI mauskuranao lagaI. “r%naa, AaOr caaihyao tao maa^ga laonaa,” prmajaIt prvaanaa h^sato huyao r%naa sao baaolaI. “r%naa, tumhoM maalaUma hO yah prmajaIt tumhara [tnaa #yaala @yaaoM rK rhI hOÆ” kRYNaa caaO(arI pUCnao lagaI. r%naa nao AnaiBa&ta sao doKa.

“[sakI BaI halat tumharI trh hO,” ek SarartI mauskurahT sao kRYNaa caaO(arI baaolaI. saba h^Msao, magar r%naa nao kao[- p`itik`yaa vya@t nahIM kI.

sarsvatI gaaosvaamaI mauM^h ibadkato huyao kRYNaa caaO(arI ko kana maoM ifr fusafusaa[- – “[sa phaD,na kao eosao )aaoD,I hI samaJa maoM Aayaogaa. [sao tao saI(ao-saI(ao batanaa pD,ogaa.” [sa samaya ]saka svar toja )aa. saBaI nao sauna ilayaa. r%naa nao BaI. vah AavaoSa maoM Aa ga[-. tunak kr sarsvatI gaaosvaamaI sao baaolaI – “[samaoM na samaJanao kI kaOna-saI baat hOÆ kRYNaa bahnajaI nao yah hI tao kha hO ik prmajaIt bahnajaI BaI maorI trh hI baccao sao hO.”

r%naa ko AavaoSa kao doK kr AaOrtoM sahma ga[-. maRdulaa Da^MDokr baaolaI – “Ba[-, r%naa kao Aarama sao Kanaa Ka laonao dao. ]sao eosaI halat maoM gaussaa mat idlaaAao.” r%naa ApnaI )aalaI ]za kr vaha^ sao ]z baramado maoM dUr jaakr baOz ga[-. vahIM baOzo caupcaap Kanaa KatI rhI. p`sava vaodnaa ]sakI baZ,tI ga[-. hYa-imaiEat AaScaya- sao vah yakayak saaocanao lagaI, @yaa ]saka baccaa sacamauca maoM AnaaoKo samaya maoM pOda hao rha hO. @yaa sacamauca maoM ]saka baccaa Baagyavaana haogaa !” paTI- ka rMgaIlaa sau$r calata rha.…

rai~ ek bajao jaakr paTI- ]KD,I. kaya-k`ma kao tba ivarama idyaa gayaa, jaba javaana naR%ya krto-krto )ak gayao; AaOrtoM baityaato-baityaato baaor haokr KamaaoSa hao ga[-; CaoTo baccao ApnaI maataAaoM kI gaaodI maoM Zulak kr saao gayao.

“basa-basa, Aba bahut hao gayaa,” saBaI eksvar maoM Aksmaat baaolao, “Aba kla…” saBaI javaanaaoM nao galao laga-laga kr ek baar ifr AajaadI kI ba(aa[- ek-dUsaro kao dI. saBaI ivasaija-t haonao lagao. AaOrtaoM nao Apnao saaoyao baccaaoM kao ]zayaa, Apnaa-Apnaa saamaana samaoTa. r%naa va baMSaI(ar BaI Apnao kmaro maoM Aa gayao.

r%naa nao jaUzI )aailayaaM^, KalaI ptIlaa va laaoTa rsaao[- kI maaorI pr rKa. ]na pr panaI Dala idyaa. kmaro maoM Aakr ApnaI

AcCI na[- (aaotI ]tarI. Gar kI hlkI saa(aarNa (aaotI phna laI. ifr turnt ibastr pr laoT ga[-. baMSaI(ar nao BaI fTafT ApnaI gaIlaI vadI- ]tarI, maaorI ko pasa rKI ek baalTI maoM DalaI. kuta--pajaamaa phna ilayaa.

dIvaar pr TMgao Aa[-nao maoM inaharto huyao hYa- sao baaolaa – “KUba naacao Aaja ! [tnaa naacao ik halat pst hao ga[-. [tnaa phlao kBaI nahIM naacao.” “AaOr da$ BaI tao KUba pI,” ibastr pr laoTo-laoTo r%naa naaraja svar maoM baaolaI. “mauJao nahIM maalaUma )aa ik tuma pIto BaI hao.” “Aro, vah tao kBaI-kBaar. [sao pInaa )aaoD,I hI khto hOM.” baMSaI(ar r%naa ko pasa Aayaa. gad-na Jauka kr ]sako mau^Mh pr Saraba ka BaBaka CaoD,nao lagaa. “calaao hTao yaha^M sao,” r%naa Apnaa mauM^h hTato huyao baaolaI, “Aaja tuma dUsarI trf mau^h krko saaonaa. yah badbaU mauJasao sahna nahIM hao rhI.”

baMSaI(ar nao ibajalaI bauJaa[-. ibastr pr caZ,to huyao baaolaa – “badbaU kh kr [sakI [nsalT mat krao.” vah r%naa kao ApnaI baaM^haoM maoM laonao lagaa. “hT jaaAao. dd- hao rha hO.”

“@yaa hao rha hOÆ” na samaJato huyao baMSaI(ar baaolaa. “dd- hao rha hO,” vah baaolaI AaOr turnt ]z ga[-. laa[T jalaa dI. “kba sao hao rha hOÆ” “hlka-hlka tao idna sao hI hao rha hO, ABaI-ABaI baZ, gayaa hO,” vah baaolaI. “tao phlao @yaaoM nahIM batayaaÆ”

r%naa caup rhI. ApnaI kmar pkD, kr baOz ga[-. “@yaa krnaa hO AbaÆ” baMSaI(ar pUCnao lagaa.

“ABaI kuC nahIM krnaa. tuma saao jaaAao.” “tuma [sa trIko sao baOzI hao. maOM kOsao saao sakta hUM^Æ” baMSaI(ar ibastr pr laoTo-laoTo r%naa ka caohra taknao lagaa – p`sava vaodnaa kI ihlaaoro ]sako poT maoM ksa kr ]Clanao lagaI )aI.

Apnaa poT ]sanao inarntr pkD,a huAa )aa. pID,a ko Aato-jaato Baava ]sako mauK pr spYT dRiYTgaaocar haonao lagao )ao. baMSaI(ar baudbaudanao lagaa –“AajaadI ka Aanaa Aba ]tnaa hI saca hO ijatnaa ik [sa baccao ka janma laonaa. AajaadI tao Aa ga[-

, Aba baccaa BaI Aanaa caahta hO.” “da[- kao baulaa laa}MÆ” vah baaolaa.

“ABaI nahIM.” r%naa drvaajaa Kaola kr kmaro sao baahr-BaItr krnaoo lagaI. baMSaI(ar caupcaap ibastr pr laoTo ]sao doKta rha. jaba p`sava-pID,a AsahnaIya hao ga[-. vah AxarSa: krahnao lagaI, tao vah ]za. jaldI sao pOMT-kmaIja phnaI, Cata-Taca- ]zayaa AaOr furtI sao Baaga gayaa – gaurKa laa[Msa sao da[- kao baulaanao. tllaItala, gaurKa-laa[Msa ko pasa rh rhI jaanakI da[- ka Ata-pta ]sanao Aanand vas~-BanDar vaalaao sao phlao hI lao ilayaa )aa.

pcaasa-pccapna vaYa- kI ]ma` kI idKnao vaalaI jaanakI da[- nao ApnaI AnauBavaSaIla AaM^KaoM sao ibastr pr dd- sao krah rhI r%naa

kao kuC plaaoM ko ilayao GaUra. Apnao ha)aaoM sao ]sako naMgao poT ka spSa- krko kuC jaaM^ca kI. turnt baMSaI(ar sao baaolaI – ek baalTI panaI gama- krao AaOr ek toja (aar ka caakU saaf krkoo dodao.

baMSaI(ar nao rsaao[- maoM jaakr sTaova jalaayaa. dao ptIlaaMo maoM panaI gama- ikyaa, caakU kao rgaD, kr saaf kr, ekdma camaka kr da[- kao do idyaa.

[sa baIca r%naa pID,a sao baurI trh CTpTanao lagaI. baMSaI(ar kao doKtI hu[- Acaot-saI Avas)aa maoM baaolaI – “bahut dd- hao rha. saha nahIM jaa rha.”

baMSaI(ar ]sako isarhanao pr baOz, ]saka isar sahlaanao lagaa. pID,a sao zMDo pD, gayao ha)aaMo kI maailaSa kr, gama- krnao kI kaoiSaSa krnao lagaa. kaomala svar maoM idlaasaa donao lagaa – “saba zIk hao jaayaogaa, r%naa. basa kuC hI dor maoM tuma maaM^ AaOr maOM baap bana jaa}^gaa.”

“AcCa-AcCa, bahut hao gayaa, tuma maa^ AaOr maOM baap ! ” da[- tunak kr baaolaI. “Aba tuma baahr inaklaao kmaro sao.” “@yaaoMÆ” baMSaI(ar nao AaScaya- sao pUCa.

“@yaaoMik tumhara Aba yaha^ kao[- kama nahIM. Agar tuma yaha^ rhaogao tao maoro kama maoM BaI $kavaT AayaogaI.” “pr yaha^ maorI ja$rt pD,ogaI taoÆ” baMSaI(ar nao da[- ka p`itvaad ikyaa. “nahIM, yaha^ tumharI Aba kao[- ja$rt nahIM. tuma jaao kuC kr sakto )ao, tumanao kr ilayaa. Aba tuma baahr jaaAao.” baMSaI(ar nao ek najar da[- kao doKa, ifr r%naa kao. ApnaI caZ,tI saaM^saaMo kao )aamato huyao r%naa nao ]sao baahr jaanao ka saMkot idyaa. “AcCa, maOM pD,aosa maoM sao iksaI kao jagaata hU^M. prvaanaa, caaO(arI maoM sao iksaI kI baIvaI Aa jaayaogaI tumharo pasa.” “nahIM !” r%naa ekdma sao baaolaI. “tuma iksaI kao nahIM jagaaAaogao. mauJao iksaI kI ja$rt nahIM. maoro pasa isaf- yah da[- kafI hO.”

“AcCa, maOM Da^Dokr kao jagaata hMU^. Da^Dokr kI AaOrt tao tumhoM psand AatI hO.” “maOMnao kha na iksaI kao nahIM jagaanaa. mauJao kao[- nahIM caaihyao,” r%naa ha^fto huyao baaolaI. “kaho kao ijad krto hao Baa[-Æ” da[- baaolaI. “jaba ibaiTyaa kao kao[- nahIM caaihyao tao rhnao dao. vaOsao BaI jaccaI ko samaya yao falatU kI AaOrtoM kama maoM dKla hI dotI hOM.” baMSaI(ar kmaro sao baahr inakla Aayaa. da[- nao fTak sao drvaajaa band kr idyaa. baMSaI(ar baramado maoM KD,o haokr AaM^gana kI Aaor yaU^ hI doKnao lagaa – saaz vaa^T ka balba jala rha )aa; kpD,o ko itrMgao JaMDo sao ilapTa D/ma vahaM^ Saant pD,a )aa; kagaja ko itrMgao JaMDo baurI trh gala kr baaD,o kI ima+I maoM samaanao lagao )ao. baMSaI(ar AaM^gana sao inakla kr baahr kccao maOdana kI Aaor baZ, gayaa. Za[- baIGao kI samatla-saI BaUima pr banaa caaObaIsa kxaaoM ka yah saonaa ka Ahata inapT sannaaToM maoM DUbaa )aa. laaoga Apnao-Apnao band AM(aoro kmaraoM maoM saaoyao )ao. vaRxa An(akar maoM Saant KD,o )ao. dUr iksaI ku%to kI BaaOMknao kI Aavaaja BaI nahIM saunaa[- do rhI )aI, JaIMgauraoM ka kao[- rai~ svar BaI nahIM gaUMja rha )aa.

baMSaI(ar vaapsa calakr baramado kI saIiZ,yaao pr baOz gayaa. saaocanao lagaa ik ABaI kuC hI xaNa pUva- yaha^ iktnaI hlacala, iktnaa Saaor-gaula )aa ! Aba ekdma sao [tnaI gahrI KamaaoSaI…. saBaI drvaajao band hMO. saBaI band drvaajaaoM ko Andr AM(akar vyaaPt hO. basa kovala ek ]sako kmaro ko Andr ibajalaI jala rhI hO, jaha^ ek na[- ijandgaI saaM^sa laonao vaalaI hO. ek-ek xaNa ]sako baccao ko janma kI AgauAa[- kr rha hO… $ko maoGa ifr barsa pD,o. vaYaa- kI hlkI-hlkI fuharoM ]sako pOraoM tk phu^canao lagaI. ]sanao pOr KIMca ilayao, GaUmakr baramado pr banao Kmbao ko saharo dUsarI trf mau^h krko baOz gayaa. Taca- camaka kr klaa[- maoM ba^(aI GaD,I maoM samaya doKa – savaa tIna baja gayao )ao. vah )aaoD,a AaOr psar gayaa. Kmbao pr ApnaI pIz va isar kao ZMga sao iTka idyaa. naIMd ko JaaoMko ]sao Aanao lagao pr vah ]na pr kabaU krta rha. rh-rh kr vah GaD,I pr Taca- camaka kr iKsakto huyao samaya kao doKta jaata. jaba paOnao paM^ca baja gayao tao vah ]za. Apnao kmaro kI Aaor baZ,a, drvaajao pr kana lagaa kr kuC saunanao kI kaoiSaSa krnao lagaa. yaVip r%naa kao[- }^McaI Aavaaja nahIM kr rhI )aI, prntu ]sakI caIKoM tIva` va mama- )aI. da[- ]sakao pucakar rhI )aI – “)aaoD,a AaOr jaaor !… )aaoD,a AaOr !!… ,”

“haya rama… jaI… maoro sao tao saaMsa tk nahIM laI jaa rhI, AaOr dma kOsao lagaa}MÆ” da[- ]sakao iJaD,knao lagaI – “baar-baar saaMsa KIMca kr tuma baccao kao }pr caZ,a lao rhI hao. [tnaa naadana bananao kI ja$rt

nahIM hO. mauJao yahaM^ caar GanTo hao gayao tumharo Aagao baOzo huyao. jaldI krao.” “[}M^ !.. , }M^ !!..}M !!!..” r%naa dma lagaanao kI kaoiSaSa krnao lagaI.

“haM^-haM^ basa !… ek jaaor ka jaaor lagaaAao… AaOr…” r%naa jaaoraoM sao haM^fnao lagaI. haM^fto svar ko baIca ATk-ATk kr baaolanao lagaI – “maOM Aba nahIM bacaUMgaI. maorI maaM^ BaI mauJao pOda

krto mar ga[- )aI.” baMSaI(ar sao rha nahIM gayaa. vyaakulata maoM drvaajaa )ap)apanao lagaa. “tuma )aaoD,a saba` krao,” da[- Andr sao icallaa[-, “jaba hao jaayaogaa tao maOM Kud hI tumhoM Andr baulaa}^MgaI. tba tk caupcaap baahr

baOzo rhao. proSaana mat krao.” baMSaI(ar ko drvaajao kao )ap)apato ha)a $k gayao. drvaajao ko pasa ivamaUZ,-saa KamaaoSa KD,a haokr rh gayaa.

kuC dor baad r%naa kI caIKoM p`bala va ]ga` hao ga[-. samBavat: p`sava ka inaNaa-yak carNa Aa gayaa )aa. baMSaI(ar sao Ai(ak bada-st krnaa saMBava na hao saka. vah da[- pr icallaa pD,a – “tuma turnt drvaajaa Kaolaao, nahIM tao maOM [sao taoD, igarata hU^.”

Andr sao da[- ka kao[- svar nahIM Aayaa. baMSaI(ar lagaBaga drvaajao kao pITto huyao puna: icallaayaa – “drvaajaa KaolatI hao ik nahIM ! nahIM tao maOM taoD^M,U [sao “

Andr sao ifr kao[- javaaba nahIM Aayaa. baMSaI(ar baothaSaa drvaajaa pITnao lagaa. “basa-basa hao gayaa,” da[- ka svar gaMU^jaa. “@yaa hao gayaaÆ” baMSaI(ar baahr sao gaura-yaa. “basa-basa hao gayaa,” da[- puna: baaolaI. “@yaa hao gayaaÆ” baMSaI(ar puna: gaura-yaa. “baccaa !…” Agalao hI pla baccao kI ptlaI, tIxNa va CaoTI-CaoTI raonao kI Aavaaja gaU^Mjanao lagaI. [sako saa)a hI r%naa kI haM^fnao va caIKnao kI saBaI ]ga` AavaajaoM band hao ga[-. baMSaI(ar nao [%maInaana kI gahrI saaMsa laI. jaakr

baramado kI saIiZ,yaaMo pr caupcaap baOz gayaa. vaYaa- kI baaOCarMo )ama caukI )aIM. Aasamaana )aaoD,a Kula cauka )aa. baMSaI(ar saIiZ,yaaoM pr baOza rha. krIba baIsa imanaT ]prant

kmaro ka drvaajaa Kulaa. da[- kpD,o maoM ilapTo navajaat iSaSau kao laokr baahr AayaI. baMSaI(ar sao baaolaI – “laao pkD,ao ! bahut hI baotaba huyao jaa rho )ao. laD,kI hO.”

baMSaI(ar ekdma sao ]za. baccaI kao pkD,nao ko ilayao ha)a baZ,ayao ik da[- ifr Sau$ hao ga[- - “haya [-Svar ! baD,I hI kizna rat )aI. [sa jaanakI da[- nao ipClao baIsa saalaaoM maoM iktnao hI baccaaMo kao ]nako maa^ kI doh sao Alaga ikyaa hO laoikna [tnaa mauiSkla p`sava kBaI nahIM doKa. Andr AaOrt ApnaI saaM^sa }pr caZ,ayao jaayao, baahr sao mad- drvaajaa pITta jaayao. eosaa saMkT )aa ik maOM Kud sao baaolaI – jaanakI Aba tU baUZ,I hao ga[- hO, band kr yah naala kaTnao vaalaa kama !…” baMSaI(ar nao mauskranao ka p`ya%na ikyaa. caupcaap ApnaI jaoba sao paM^ca ka naaoT inakala kr da[- kI Aaor baZ,ayaa. da[- kI Aa^Ko camak ]zI laoikna Apnaa ha)a baZ,anao ko bajaayao [nkar krto huyao baaolaI – “[tnao jyaada $pyao nahIM banato maoro, saahba. laaoga tao [sa jaanakI da[- kao baarh Aanaa idyaa krto hO. kuC Balao laaoga ek $pyaa BaI do doto hOM. Aapko yaha^ mauJao saarI rat jaagakr ibatanaI pD,I [sailayao Aap dao $pyao do dIijayao. ”

“rK laao,” baMSaI(ar baaolaa. da[- ekdma sao kRt& hao ga[-. ]saka kk-Sa svar turnt maRdula hao gayaa. pa^Mca ka naaoT navajaat baccaI ko }pr ifra kr balaa[-yaaM^ laoto huyao khnao lagaI – “saaxaat laxmaI hO yah ! doSa kao AajaadI idlavaa kr AayaI hO. [sakI maa^ BaI dovaI ka $p hO ijasanao eosao AdBaud samaya maoM [sao janaa hO. laoikna baocaarI GabaD,a ga[- )aI. Asala maoM phlaa baccaa )aa na AaOr ]mar AlhD, ! khto jaa rhI )aI, maorI maa^ BaI mauJao pOda krto mar ga[- )aI, maOM BaI mar jaa}MgaI.”

da[- ko saa)a baMSaI(ar BaI r%naa kI naadanaI pr h^sa pD,a.

da[- ApnaI h^MsaI raokto huyao ekaek gaMBaIr Baava sao baaolaI – “saahba, Aba hM^saI Aa rhI hO. laoikna ]sa samaya ibaiTyaa ko mauK sao eosaI baatoM sauna kr tao maOM GabaD,a hI ga[- )aI.”

baMSaI(ar ko BaI h^MsaI maoM iKlao haoMz sahsaa isakuD, gayao. vah BaI ]sa samaya r%naa kI eosaI baataoM sao baurI trh GabaD,a gayaa )aa. Aba ]sakI ]saI baat pr hM^saI Aa rhI )aI.

“Aba dUsaro baccao ko samaya saba zIk rhogaa,” da[- baaolaI. baccaI kao p`SaMsanaIya najaraoM sao inaharnao lagaI. ek pla baad baMSaI(ar kao doKto huyao ivanama` svar maoM baaolaI – “saahba, Agalao barsa [sa baccaI ka jaba Baa[- Aayaogaa tao naala kaTnao mauJa jaanakI da[- kao hI baulaanaa.”

baMSaI(ar kuC nahIM baaolaa, kovala hM^saa. h^Msato huyao ]sanao baccaI kao Apnao ha)aaoM maoM lao ilayaa. ]sao lagaa jaOsao ek laMujapuMja, maaMsa ka laao)aD,a ]sako ha)aaMo maoM Aa gayaa hO. laoikna h)aolaI maoM mahsaUsa hao rhI qdya kI toja (aD,kna Avagat krvaa rhI )aI ik ]sa maaMsa ko laao)aD,o maoM jaIvana hO. baMSaI(ar mau> Baava sao na[--na[- janmaI baccaI kao inaharnao lagaa….

da[- nao iva(na Dalaa. kmaro sao gando kpD,aoM ka Zor laato baaolaI – “maOM yao gando kpD,o (aao dotI hU^. gausalaKanaa ik(ar hOÆ” baccaI sao najaro hTa kr baMSaI(ar gausalaKanao kI Aaor saMkot krnao lagaa.

gausalaKanao kao jaato huyao da[- baaoolaI – “vaOsao kpD,o (aaonao ka kama maOM nahIM krtI. pr tumharo yaha^ kama krnao vaalaa kao[- idK nahIM rha, [sailayao kr rhI hU^.”

baMSaI(ar kuC nahIM baaolaa. maUk ifr baccaI kao inaharnaoo lagaa. ]samaoM jaIvana ko kuC AaOr ica*na tlaaSanao lagaa – band AaMKoM, jaao mahja dao lakIroM p`tIt hao rhI )aI, jara-jara-saI dor maoM Kula rhI )aI. jaba vao KulatI tao dao kalao camakdar baTna-saI laganao laga jaatI. )aaoD,I dor maoM ]sanao Apnaa CaoTa-saa gaulaabaI mauK Kaola kr ]baka[- laI. baMSaI(ar mauskura pD,a. BarpUr najar baccaI pr Dala kr, AakaSa kI Aaor doKnao lagaa. hlka-hlka savaora hao gayaa )aa. saUyaao-dya pUva- kI laailamaa AakaSa maoM ibaKrnao lagaI )aI. baMSaI(ar ko haoMz baudbaudanao lagao – “Baaor, paO-fTnaa, p`Baat, pUvaa-*na, ]Yaa-kala !… haM^ ]Yaa !!…” vah ]Cla gayaa.

baccaI kao ha)a maoM )aamao Andr Baagaa. Andr dbaI-dbaI gama- duga-n(a BaBak rhI )aI. ibastr pr r%naa ekdma pst pD,I )aI. baMSaI(ar cahkto huyao baaolaa – “hmaarI

baoTI ka naama ]Yaa haogaa. yah naama [sako ilayao ibalkula saTIk hO @yaaoMik [saka janma ]Yaa-kala ko samaya huAa. dao ]Yaa-kala… ek AajaadI ka, dUsara saubah ko saUrja ka. tumho r%naa, ]Yaa ka A)a- maalaUma hOÆ ]Yaa ka A)a- hO – savaora, matlaba p`armBa.”

r%naa inajaI-va Aavaaja maoM pUCnao lagaI – “tuma baoTI ko janma sao KuSa tao hao na !” “yah BaI kao[- pUCnao kI baat hOÆ maOM tao baoTI hI caahta )aa. maorI kao[- bahna nahIM hO. dUr khIM saaocato huyao baMSaI(ar baaolaa –

“saca r%naa, Gar maoM laD,kI kI kmaI baD,I KTktI )aI. hr samaya Gar maoM basa mausTMDo sao Baa[- hI najar Aato )ao.” “AaOr r%naa, tumharI BaI tao kao[- bahna nahIM hO.” “maora tao kao[- BaI nahIM. na Baa[-, na bahna… ” “ifr igaD,igaD,anaa Sau$ kr idyaa,” baMSaI(ar nao ekdma sao Taoka. “Aro, jaao irSto nahIM hOM ]nako ilayao @yaa raonaaÆ jaao irSto hOM

AaOr jaao bana rho hOM, ]nakI KuSaI manaaAao. AaOr Apnao Baa[- kao tuma [tnaI jaldI BaUla ga[- !” “Aro haM^ ! maOM tao BaUla hI jaatI hU^ ik maora Aba ek Baa[- BaI hO.”

“AaOr ek baoTI BaI,” khto huyao baMSaI(ar nao baccaI kao ]sako bagala maoM laoTa idyaa. r%naa nao baccaI kao inahara. ]sao yah saaoca kr )aaoD,a AjaIba lagaa ik yah hI ]sako poT maoM )aI. vah ]sako caaraoM Aaor ilapTa kpD,a hTa kr ]sakI doh ko AMgaaoM ka pirxaNa krnao lagaI – pOr, poT, naaiBa, vaxa, gad-na, mau^h, isar…. r%naa nao ApnaI kRit kao BaIMca ilayaa…