dharam sankat- a story by Amritlal Nagar

shaam ka samay tha, ham log pradesh, desh aur vish‍va kee raajaneeti par lambee charcha karane ke baad us vishay se oob chuke the. chaay bade mauke se aaee, lekin us taajagee ka sukh ham theek tarah se utha bhee na pae the ki naukar ne aakar ek saada band liphaapha mere haath mein rakh diya. mainne kholakar dekha, saamane vaale padosee raayabahaadur girraajakishan (giriraaj krsh‍na) ka patr tha, kaanpate haathon anamil aksharon aur tedhee panktiyon mein likha tha:

maee diyar prataap,

“mainne phul‍lee ko aadesh de rak‍kha hai ki meree mrt‍yu ke baad yah patr tum‍hen phauran pahunchaaya jae. tum mere abhin‍na mitr ke putr ho. ramesh se adhik sada aagyaakaaree rahe ho. meree nim‍nalikhit teen antim ich‍chhaon ko poora karana – ”

1. ramesh ko turant soochana dena. meree aat‍ma ko tabhee shaanti milegee, jab usake haathon mere antim sans‍kaar honge. mainne usake saath anyaay kiya hai.

2. phul‍lee ko mainne paanch hajaar rupaye die hain aur paanch-paanch sau rupaye baakee chaaron naukaron ko. not mere takie mein rooee kee parat ke andar hain. usee mein vaseeyat aur tijoree kee chaabhee bhee hai. ghar mein kisee ko yah rahas‍ya nahin maaloom. takiya ab phauran apane kabje mein kar lena. ghar ke bhandaar-ghar aur sandookon kee chaabhiyaan tijoree mein hain. ramesh ke aane par paanch panchon ke saamane use saump dena.

3. mainne apanee vaseeyat mein yah shart rak‍khee hai ki meree pat‍nee agar mujhe maaph kar de aur galat hee sahee, magar jo pativrat us par aan pada hai use saadhakar, ramesh ko chhodakar, baij‍jat yahaan rahe to yah makaan aur das hajaar rupaya use diya jae lekin yah kaam usee haalat mein hona chaahie, jabaki ham aur tum‍haare dvaara niyuk‍ta muhal‍le ke chaar bhale aadamee meree pat‍nee kee sach‍charitrata ke sambandh mein aavash‍s‍ta ho jaen.

patr par chhah roj pahale kee taareekh padee thee. mujhe yah samajhane mein der na lagee ki raayabahaadur saahab gat ho chuke hain. patr mainne bade baaboo ke saamane mej par rakha diya. injeeniyar saahab aur prophesar saahab bhee jhukakar padhane lage.

chaay bemaja ho gaee. ham sabhee uthakar raayabahaadur saahab ke yahaan gae. unaka robeela chehara rog aur maanasik chintaon se jarjar hokar mrt‍yu ke baad bhee unake antim dinon ke aseem kash‍ton ka parichay de raha tha. mrt raayabahaadur ke chehare ko dekhate hue unake saath beete itane varshon kee s‍mrtiyaan mere man mein jaag uthee.

raayabahaadur baaboo girraajakishan bee.e. un hindus‍taaniyon mein se the, jin‍hen takadeer kee chook ke kaaran inglaind mein janm nahin mil paaya tha. unaka rang bhee gora na tha, balki gehuen se kaale kee or hee adhik jhukata hua tha. phir bhee bharasak un‍honne apane-aapako angrejanuma hee banae rak‍kha. gareeb hindustaaniyon par akad dikhaane mein ve sada angrejon se chaar joote aage rahe. kaee hindeevaadiyon ne unase shuddh naam giriraajakrsh‍na rakhane ko kaha, magar ve un‍hen moorkh batalaakar girraaj hee bane rahe. raayabahaadur girraajakishan ke naam ke saath bee.e. jodana bhee nitaant aavash‍yak tha. san 23 mein raayabahaadur girraaj apanee biraadaree ke raayasaaheb deenaanaath kee badaulat ilaahaabaad mein chhote laat ke daphtar mein bharatee hue the. apanee angrejaparas‍tee aur haeek‍laas khushaamad ke dam par raayabahaadur oonchee kursiyon par chadh baithe. s‍varaaj‍ya hone par aantarik kash‍ta bhogane ke baavajood teen varshon tak s‍varaajee aphasaron, netaon aur mantriyon kee bhee baadab khushaamad kee. girraaj baaboo in logon ke saamane jis prakaar khud dum hilaate, usee prakaar apane saamane apane maatahaton kee bhee hilavaate the. aajaadee ke baad bhee daphtar mein apana bhala chaahane vaala koee baaboo unake aage hindee ka ek shab‍da nahin bol sakata tha aur ghar ke lie bhee yahee mashahoor tha ki raayabahaadur kee bhains tak angrejee mein hee dakaaratee. agar koee kasar thee to sahee ki ‘ledee girraaj’ ke vaas‍te angrejee ka kariya akshar bhee bhains baraabar hee tha.

raayabahaadur girraaj pahalee ladaee ke jamaane ke modarn aadamee the. subah aankh khulate hee ghantee bajaate, saphade kot, pataloon aur saaphe se lais phul‍lee aaya ka ladaka ghaseete ‘chhotee haajiree’ lekar haajir hota. theek aath baje badee haajiree par baithate, betee-beta saath hote, par le‍dee girraaj anda-bis‍kut-samaaj mein kabhee na baitheen. param kattar chhoot-paakavaalee na hote hue bhee maans-machhalee se un‍hen parahej tha. basheerat chaparaasee ke baap mun‍ne baavarchee ko haphte mein do din dyootee denee padatee thee. ghar ke nichale his‍se mein vilaayatee rasoee thee. ek tarah se kahana chaahie ki neeche ka poora ghar hee vilaayatee tha. vahaan le‍dee girraaj ke bajaay phul‍lee aaya ka saamraaj‍ya tha. phul‍lee pahale angrejee kothiyon mein kaam karatee thee. angrejee dhang se hindus‍thaanee bolatee hai. angrejee ghar ke kaayade jaanatee hai. chhotee-badee haajiree, lanch, dinar, chaay sabaka samay saadhatee thee, isalie girraaj baaboo ke baaboo, niyam se do peg, khaane se pahale chusakiyon mein maryaada karate the, phullee usaka intajaam bhee bakhoobee kar detee thee. isalie aamataur par majaak-majaak mein hee mashahoor ho gaya tha ki raayabahaadur saahab se koee kaam karavaane ke vaas‍te bajaay ledee girraaj ke le‍dee phul‍lee kee siphaarish jyaadah purasar hotee hai.

vaise raajabahaadur girraaj mein kisee ne bhee koee aib kee baat nahin dekhee-sunee thee, agar aib tha to yahee ki ve modarn the. churut munh mein lagae bagair ve baat nahin kar paate the. agar koee hindee sabha ka chanda maangane aae to usase akadakar kahate ki modarn jamaane mein ganvaaroo bhaashaon ka uddhaar karana himaakat kee baat hai. dharm ke sambandh mein pahale to ve yah kaha karate the ki yah dhong aur paagalapan kee vas‍tu hai, magar baad mein use indiyan kal‍char ka ek sanaatan roop maanakar sahan kar jaate the. girraaj saahab thoda-bahut lene-dene ka kaam karate the aur usakee badaulat un‍honne haisiyat bhee banaee. ach‍chha modarn dhang ka makaan banavaaya. usaka naam ‘di naitingel’ rakkha. motar khareedee. sada do-chaar naukar paale. ghar se lekar daphtar tak ghadee saadhakar sabase dyootee karavaee. pat‍nee ko bhee milane ke vaas‍te phul‍lee ke dvaara unase ‘ap‍vaintament’ lena padata tha. ledee isase jal-phunk gaee ki main phul‍leese bhee gaee-beetee ho gaee.

ledee girraaj ne apane phoohadapan mein unake oopar ek bahut bada laanchhan laga diya. raayabahaadur saahab siddhaantatah aur s‍vabhaavatah avaidh rish‍ton se napharat karate the, isalie apanee pat‍nee ke dvaara jhootha laanchhan lagae jaane ke baad phir un‍honne kabhee unaka munh na dekha. badee ladakee ke vivaah ke avasar par un‍honne kan‍yaadaan isalie s‍vayan na kiya ki un‍hen pooja ke patare par apanee pat‍nee ke saath baithana padata.

isake baad do varsh mein ledee girraaj ghul-ghulakar mar gaeen; magar mareen bhee to niyati ke saath shadyantr karake theek inake ritaayar hone ke din. raayabahaadur girraaj ko bahut shikaayat huee; apane bete-betee se kaha, “tum‍haaree mammee ko kabhee taim ka sens nahin raha. agar marana hee tha to kal subah marateen, parason subah mar sakatee theen. aaj shaam ko daphtar mein meree pheyaravel paartee ho jaane ke baad kabhee mar sakatee theen. jindagee mein edres paane ka yah pahala mauka aaya tha so is tarah tabaahobarbaad kar diya. eediyat kaheen kee!”

isake baad, maranevaalee to khair, mar hee chukee thee magar jo bhee maatam-purasee ke lie munh bisoorate hue aae, un‍hen bhee raayabahaadur saahab kee daant khaanee padee. jo kahata ki saahab sunakar bada dukh hua, usase hee kahate, “aapako dukh karane kee jaroorat k‍ya hai? mujhe koee dukh nahin hua. jo aadamee paida hota hai, un sabako ek saath phauran mar jaana chaahie. jaie, mere yahaan maatam-purasee ke lie aane kee jaroorat nahin.”

chhotee ladakee kee shaadee un‍honne pat‍nee kee mrt‍yu ke teen maheene baad poorv nish‍chay ke anusaar hee kee. s‍vayan b‍yaahanevaalee ladakee aur unake putr ko isamen aapatti thee, magar un‍honne kisee kee ek na sunee, kaha, “aaee haiv no rigaard phor yor mam‍mee. shee vaaj ek paraphek‍ta phool!” ladakee kee shaadee badee dhoomadhaam se kee. ek aaee.see.es. ke bete ko apana daamaad banaaya aur bahut kuchh daan-dahej dekar ritaayar hone ke baad bhee rob jatalaaya.

ladaka ramesh tab em.e. phainal mein padh raha tha. naamee tej tha; sada phars‍ta k‍laas rekaard raha. em.e. ke baad aaee.e.es. mein baithanevaala tha. ladakeevaale anek v‍yakti ramesh kee maang karane ke lie raayabahaadur kee seva mein aane lage. raayabahaadur girraaj ko ab maatahat k‍larkon par na sahee to be‍teevaalon par hee churut ka rob jhaadakar bharapoor santosh mil jaata tha. dahej ke maamale mein ve pak‍ke modarn the yaanee pach‍chees hajaar maangate the. ekaadh pichhale jaanakaar ne duhaee dee ki aap to dahej ke viruddh the, usako puraanee pratha batalaate the to bole, “saahab, jab mujh se bade aphasar, aaee.see.es. aadamee, yaanee mere samadhee saahab, dahej lene ko modarn pratha maanate hain to mainne bhee apane vichaar badal die hain. nihaayat saintiphik baat hai ki aapako daamaad chaahie aur mujhe 25 hajaar rupaya. mera ramesh aaee.e.es. paas karega. aap apanee ladakee ka phyoochar dekhakar agar itanee rak‍kam dena s‍veekaar karate hain to baithie, varana meree kurasee kee gaddee mailee mat keejie.”

ve aisee ladakee chaahate the, jo sundar ho, bee.e. ho, gaatee naachatee ho, seena-pirona-bunana jaanatee ho, angrejee mein phataaphat baat karen. aphasar kism ke modarn mehamaanon kee khaatir karane mein tameejadaar ho aur oopar se usaka baap nagad pach‍chees hajaar rupaye bhee de jae. biraadaree ke kaee ach‍chhee haisiyatavaale betiyon ke baapon ke chehare raayabahaadur girraaj ke churut kee akad se dhuaan-chhuaan ho gae.

ek din inake dvaara naukar rakhae gae puraane maatahat ek sajaateey baaboo deveeshankar padhaare. girraaj kee mahimaon ka bakhaan karate hue un‍honne kaha, “sar, main aapakee ch‍vaayas ko jaanata hoon aur ek ladakee meree najar mein hai.”

in baaboo ke saath un‍honne reeta ko dekhane ka avasar paaya. reeta raayasaahab chamanalaal kee ikalautee betee thee. raayasaahab chamanalaal ne apane jamaane mein bade aish, bade naam kie. ve shahar kee tavaayaphon ke sarataaj the, res ke ghodon ke sarapas‍ta the aur bade hee aula-paula aadamee the. apane jeevan-kaal mein laakhon kamae aur laakhon phoonke. ek ladakee huee, use bade laad se paala-posa, padhaaya. haee s‍kool tak reeta ne pareekshaon tatha vaad-vivaad aur nrt‍ya-pratiyogitaon mein anek puras‍kaar praap‍ta kar apane pita ko santush‍ta kiya tha. raayasaahab vidhur the, reeta kee ek vidhava mausee unakee ladakee kee dekhabhaal karane ke lie unake yahaan rahatee thee, so tab tarah se unakee hee ho gaee thee. raayasaahab ne aankh moondakar apana ghar apanee rakshita saalee ko saump rak‍kha tha.

baad mein raayasaahab chamanalaal kee jan‍makundalee ke grah-nakshatr pahate, bada ghaata aaya. divaalie hone kee naubat aa gaee. apanee ladakee ke vaas‍te kuchh rakam bachaane kee neeyat se un‍honne ek bangala apanee saalee ke naam se khareeda aur lagabhag ek laakh rupaya nagad aur jevaron ke roop mein bachaakar usee ke naam se jama karava diya. phir raayasaahab divaalie ho gae aur jis din un‍hen apanee mahalanuma kothee sada ke lie chhodanee thee, us din un‍honne gahare nashe mein apanee kanapatee par rivaal‍var rakhakar apanee ihaleela samaap‍ta kar dee. raayasaahab kee mrt‍yu ke baad mausee sayaanee ho gaee aur reeta anaath.

ladakee dekhane gae to usakee do chotiyon mein ti‍taliyon jaise riban dekhakar raayabahaadur saahab ke penshan praap‍ta jeevan mein naee ras kee gulaabee aaee. anek varshon ka soya hua modarn pat‍nee ka abhaav jaag utha. ladakee reeta baatacheet mein tenj, aankhen nachaane mein baakamal aur hansane mein bijalee thee. dekhakar laute to raas‍te mein deveeshankar se bole, “ladakee to ach‍chhee hai aur dahej ka bhee mujhe koee khaas nahin, k‍yonki tum to jaanate hee ho ki main in sab maamalon mein bada modarn hoon. khaalee ek prayojan hain ke – a – k‍ya naam ke, aaee meen, tum‍haara k‍ya khayaal hai, deveeshankar, abhee to main bhee shaadee kar sakata hoon?”

deveeshankar raayabahaadur ko ghoorate lage. munh par khushaamad se ‘haan’ ke bajaay ‘na’ bhala k‍yon kar kahate. mausee ke lie isase badhakar koee shubh sanvaad na ho sakata tha. athaarah varsh kee aayu kee reeta chhappan varsheey raayabahaadur girraajakishan kee pat‍nee banee.

aur isake baad kee tamaam baaten apane kram mein badh gaeen. reeta ne pratham din se hee apane pati se koee sambandh na rakkha. hathapoorvak apane kamare keandar band rahee. raayabahaadur rupaye-paise, gahanon aur khushaamadon kee badee-badee numaayashen lagaakar haar gae. phir ek din phul‍lee ne batalaaya ki ramesh aur reeta raayabahaadur dvaara s‍thaapit sambandh ko bhoolakar paras‍par naya sambandh s‍thaapit kar rahe hain. raayabahaadur aag ho gae. ramesh tab em.e. ke antim varsh mein padh raha tha. pita ne krodh mein andhe hokar us par prahaar kiya aur ghar se nikaal diya. reeta tab bhee unakee na huee.

ramesh ko do maheene baad hee dil‍lee mein koee naukaree mil gaee aur usake maheene-bhar baad hee reeta raayabahaadur ke ghar se gaayab hokar dil‍lee pahunch gaee. jaane se poorv vah ek alabela kaam kar gaee thee. muhal‍le ke pach‍chaas gharon mein har pate par usaka likha pos‍takaard usake gaayab hone ke doosare hee din pahalee daak se pahuncha. usamen maatr itana hee likha tha- “baaboo giriraajakrsh‍na ne mujhe jabaradas‍tee apanee pat‍nee banaaya tha, magar mainne un‍hen kabhee apana pati na maana aur na apana dharm hee diya. vivaah se pahale mujhe batalaaya gaya ki main unake putr ko b‍yaahee jaoongee. tab se mainne unake putr ko hee apana pati maana; is ghar mein aakar bhee un‍hen hee bhagavaan kee saakshee mein apane ko saumpa aur ab main apane pati ke paas hee ja rahee hoon.”

reeta ke bhaagane se raayabahaadur baaboo girraajakishan ko itana kash‍ta nahin pahuncha tha, jitana ki usake dvaara bheje gae is saarvajanik patr se ve dukhee hue. isake baad raayabahaadur ka jeevan badal gaya. unamen pooja-paath aur aastikata kee bhaavana jaagee, saath hee akelaapan bhee hath pakad gaya. pichhale aath varshon mein ve ek din bhee apane ghar se baahar nikalakar kaheen na gae. len-den ka kaam karate the, vah bhee dheere-dheere samaap‍ta kar diya. muhal‍le mein kisee se bhee sampark na rak‍kha. pichhale kuchh dinon se beemaar the, magar muhal‍levaale unakee haalat dekhane-poochhane bhee na gae, jaate to milate bhee nahin aur achaanak mere paas ab yah patr aaya.

ham sabhee muhal‍levaale ekaek yah nirnay na kar pae ki is sthiti mein k‍ya karana chaahie. vaidyajee aur bade baaboo is paksh mein the ki pulis ko soochana de dee jae aur is patr ko likhee huee baaton ka amal bhee kaanoon ke haathon hee ho, parantu main to mrt v‍yakti kee antim ich‍chha pooree karane ke paksh mein tha. raayabahaadur kaise bhee rahe hon, isee muhal‍le ke the. kaiyon ko un‍honne kabhee naukariyaan bhee dilaee theen, upakaar kiya tha. injeeniyar saahab bhee mere hee mat ke the. baad mein sabhee raajee ho gae. muhal‍le ke ek mitr ke paas ramesh ke patr aaya karate the. usee se pata lekar taar bheja gaya, jisamen yah s‍pash‍ta likh diya tha ki yadi kal praatahkaal tak tum s‍vayan athava tum‍haara patr uttar na aaega to raayabahaadur kee ant‍yoshti kriya muhal‍levaalon dvaara hee panchanaamen se sampan‍na kar dee jaegee.

subah chaar baje taar ka javaab aaya ki ramesh taik‍see dvaara dil‍lee se chal raha hai aur subah tak pahunch jaega. praatahkaal kareeb-kareeb sabhee muhal‍levaale raayabahaadur ke ghar par u‍pasthit the, tabhee taik‍see daravaaje par rukee. ramesh, reeta aur teen bach‍che utare. ramesh ke munh par to saamaajik laj‍ja aur sankoch kee malin chhaaya thee, parantu reeta ka chehara satej aur nirvikaar tha.

reeta ke aane ka sanvaad paakar anek striyaan kautoohalavash aa gaeen. reeta ne raayabahaadur kee laash ke paas apanee choodiyaan todeen aur maang ka sindoor ponchha. ramesh ne pita ka antim sans‍kaar kiya. striyaan reeta se tarah-tarah ke prash‍na karatee theen, parantu vah koee uttar na detee thee. kriyaakarm it‍yaadi mein raayabahaadur ke saja‍teey, naate-rish‍tedaar aadi bahut kam aae. brahmabhoj mein gareebee se ekadam toote hue braahman hee aae. kisee prakaar kriyaakarm samaap‍ta hua. ramesh ke vahaan se chalane ka samay aaya.

mainne raayabahaadur ke antim patr ke anusaar sambhraant muhal‍levaalon ke saath reeta-ramesh ko bulaakar sabake saamane unaka vah antim patr padha aur vah takiya, jo muharaband petee mein mainne rakhava diya tha, khulavaaya. phul‍lee aur naukaron ko raayabahaadur kee ich‍chhaanusaar rupaye de die gae. raayabahaadur kee antim maang par reeta ka nirnay sunane ke lie ham sabhee ut‍suk baithe the. reeta bolee, “main dharm aur eesh‍var ke sam‍mukh sachcharitr hoon. mainne apane tan-man se un‍hen sada sasur hee maana. dhaarmik kaanoon kee jis majabooree se un‍honne mujhe apanee pat‍nee banaaya tha, use mainne vidhivat unakee laash ko saump bhee diya. unakee choodiyaan, unaka sindoor un‍hen saumpa, lekin meree choodiyaan, mera sindoor akshay hai.” kahakar usane der se apane haath ke neeche dabee huee roomaal kee potalee ko uthaaya, usamen haree choodiyaan theen aur ek chaandee kee dibiya thee. choodiyaan pahaneen aur dibeeya kholakar ramesh kee aur rakhate hue bolee, “jin‍honne meree god bharee hai, un‍honne meree maang bhee bharee hai – leejie meree maang bhar deejie.”

ramesh ne reeta kee maang mein sindoor kee rekha kheench dee. phir reeta bolee, “ghar ke sambandh mein mujhe keval yahee kahana hai ki agar aap paanch panch mujhe dush‍charitr maanate hon to use dharmashaala bana deejie.”

hamamen se koee kham thonkakar ekaek yah nahin kah paaya ki reeta dush‍charitr hai. mainne anubhav kiya ki sabhee ke manon ko is prash‍na se dhak‍ka laga tha. apane paramparaagat dhaarmik, saamaajik sans‍kaaron ke kaaran ham reeta ko sacharitra maanane se bhee man hee man hichakate the, par yon k‍ya kahen.

reeta hamaaree hichak par ek baar kahakar uth gaee. usane kaha, “mujhe raayabahaadur saahab ka ghar aur das hajaar rupaye paane kee ich‍chha nahin. mere pati ne mujhe suhaag kee chhaanv de rak‍khee hai. lekin main aapake saamane kasautee rakhatee hoon – bolie ghar kisaka hai?”

ghar ko chhodakar baakee sab saamaan ke saath ramesh, reeta aur unake bach‍che dil‍lee chale gae. ham abhee tak koee nirnay nahin kar pae. ghar kee chaabhee mere paas hai. vah tole dedh ka lohe ka tukada is samay mere man-praanon ka bojh bana hua hai.

dharam sankat