haajee kulpheevaala – a story by Amritlal Nagar

jaagata hai khuda aur sota hai aalam.
ki rish‍te mein kis‍sa hai nindiya ka baalam..
ye kissa hai saada nahin hai kamaal.
na laphjon mein jaadoo bayaan mein jamaal..
sunee kah raha hoon na dekha hai haal.
phir bhee na shak ke uthaen savaal..
ki kis‍se pe laazim hai sach ka asar.
yaheen jhooth bhee aake banata hunar..

chhaape ka kis‍saago arj karata hai ki –

ek hai chauk nakhaas ka ilaaka aur ek hain haajee miyaan bulaakee kulpheevaale. pichaasee-chhiyaasee baras kee umar hai; dohara thaka badan hai. pattedaar baal, galamuch‍chhe aur aadaab arj karate hue unake haath uthaane ke andaaj mein vah lakhanoo mil jaata hai jo aamataur par ab khud lakhanoo ko hee dekhana naseeb nahin hota. kisee jamaane mein haajee miyaan bulaakee kee baraph aur nimish khaane ke lie gonda, baharaich, balaraamapur, kaanapur aur door-door se raees shaukeen garmee-sardee ke mausamon mein do baar lakhanoo tashareeph laate the. bulaakee kee badaulat chaar naachane-gaanevaaliyon, unake lague-bhaguon aur chaar kism ke saudaagaron ka bhee bhala ho jaata tha. bulaakee miyaan ne hajaaron rupaye paida kie. pak‍ka do-manjila makaan banavaaya. do baar haj kar aae. pahale ladake aur phir ladakee kee shaadee dhoomadhaam se kee. na ladakee rahee, na ladaka; pandrah-bees barason ke aate-paate mein haajee saahab pis gae.

ladakee ka gam ladake ke dam par sah liya. ladaka bhee aisa hoshiyaar tha ki baap ka naam dobaala kiya. satrah-athaarah saal hue, ek din raah chalate haart phel hua aur chatapat ho gaya. apane pairon ghar se gaya tha; parae haathon uthakar usakee laash aaee.

saal dedh saal to gam mein toote-simate badahavaas baithe rahe, magar phir poton ke munh dekhakar haajee bulaakee miyaan ne apana jee kada kiya. socha ki ghar se nikaalakar khaate-khaate to ek din kaaroon ka khajaana bhee chuk jaata hai, phir mere baad in bach‍chon ka k‍ya hoga? isalie haath-pair go thake hee sahee, magar jab tak chalate hain tab tak puraane hunar se itane janon ka pet k‍yon na bharoon – kulphiyaan dhone aur doodh vagaira autaane-bharane ke chakkar mein boodhee ka dh‍yaan bantega, dulahin ka vakt katega, bach‍chon ke pet mein bahaane se kuchh na kuchh meva bhee pahunchata rahega aur mera bhee baahar nikalana ho jaega – ab aur kiya k‍ya jae?

is tarah ek din baadaam, pis‍ta, chiraunjee, ilaayachee, jaapharaan, shakar, santare aur anaaron ka sauda kar lae; doodh, rabadee, baalaee lae, kulphiyaan dhoee; kadhaav chadhaaya. un‍neesaveen sadee mein us‍taadon kee chilamen bhar-bhar ke seekhe hue hunar ke haath rach-rachakar dikhalae. phir haajee bulaakee miyaan kee tajurbekaar beevee umr-bhar ke sadhe haathon se dale mein kulphiyaan sajaane baithee. baraph bharakar haandee hilaee. tab tak haajee bulaakee miyaan ne puraane vak‍ton mein raeeson-navaabon aur angrej hindustaanee haakimon se mile saartiphiketon ka rajis‍tar nikaala. yah chamade ka rajis‍tar vajeere ne marane ke kuchh hee dinon pahale kaanapur se pichahattar rupaye mein banavaaya tha. har push‍ta par do sartiphiket chamade ke phrem mein madh die. usamen na tootane vaale kaagajee kaanch bhee jade hain. ab‍ba ko apane ye sartiphiket bahut p‍yaare hain, isalie vajeere yah keematee rajis‍tar banavaakar laaya tha. haajee us din phoole na samae the, aaj us din ko roe. phir apane ko sanbhaala, kaheen boodhee na dekh le. ujala kurata, choodeedaar paajaama aur topee pahanee. majadoor ko bulavaaya, dala usake sir par laada aur kareeb satrah-athaarah barason ke baad al‍laah ka naam lekar kulphiyaan bechane nikale. is baar boodhe-boodhee donon ek-doosare kee aankhon ko aansuon ke hamale se na bacha sake. parade kee ot mein dulahin bhee ro padee. usakee sisakee sunakar haajee bulaakee tejee se baahar chale aae. galee se baahar aakar nakhaas baajaar mein pahalee aavaaj lagee, “ku‍l‍phee malaee kee baraph!” gala bhar-bhar aaya.

doosaree aavaaj mein hee bulaakee miyaan ne apane aap ko sanbhaal liya. vah inasaan hee k‍ya jo museebat na jhel sake. ghante ke hisaab se ek ik‍ka tay kiya aur umr-bhar ke barate hue baajaar ko chhodakar hajarataganj, jaapaling, rod aur panchabangaliyon kee taraph chale. hindus‍taan ko aajaadee bas milanevaalee hee thee. naya daur shuroo ho chuka tha. ek aala haakime-jamaana ke vaalid bujurgavaar ka diya hua sartiphiket bhee unake rajis‍tar mein maujood tha. un‍heen kee kothee ka nambar poochhate-poochhate ja pahunche. ik‍ka kothee se baahar hee khada karavaaya aur rajis‍tar lie andar gae. ardalee se poochha to maaloom hua ki saahab peechhe vaale bageeche mein phurasat se baithe hain. ardalee ko duaen dee aur kaha ki zara ye khat hujoor kee khidamat mein pesh kar do; mere budhaape pe taras khao. ardalee ko rajis‍tar kholakar diya aur khat par haath rakhakar batala bhee diya. haakime-jamaana baap kee likhaavat barason baad achaanak dekhakar bahut khush hue, rajis‍tar ke doosare sartiphiket padhane lage, phir bulaakee miyaan ko bulava liya.

haajee bulaakee miyaan mahaj khaalis maal se hee nahin, balki apanee baaton aur adab-kaayade se bhee graahakon ko khush karate hain. haakime-jamaana, unakee begam saahiba aur donon javaan betiyon ke haath mein tash‍tariyaan pahunchee nahin ki haajee bulaakee le ude- “kulphee mein hoojoor doodh autaane aur shakar milaane mein hee sipht hotee hai. kulphee kee taareeph to tab hai jab ki yahaan kholee jae aur banaarasee baag mein jaakar khaee jae. itanee der mein agar kulphee gal jae to phir hujoor vah shau‍keenon ke khaane ke kaabil nahin. aur baat sarakaar yaheen tak nahin, kulphee jamaane ke pher mein agar itanee baraph daal dee ki khaanevaale ke daant gale aur jabaan thithuree to phir hujur sipht k‍ya rahee! aajakal ke kulphee vaale lakhanoo ke puraane hunar ko nahin jaanate. hamaare us‍taad ne sikhaaya tha ki av‍val to ye samajho ki kulphee mein taraavat kis cheej kee hai, baraph kee ya doodh, malaee, rabadee, phalon, mevon kee. yahee to pakad kee baat hai begam saahiba, al‍la aap sabako jeeta rak‍khe. maal ko hujoor taraavat itanee hee denee chaahie ki us par se mausame-garmee ka asar hat jae. agar daant gale to parakhaiya parakhega k‍ya?”

padhee-likhee ladakiyon aur haakime-aala par baaton ka asar hone laga.

bulaakee miyaan ne ladakiyon kee or mukhaatib hokar sunaaya, “aapake jan‍natanasheen daadaajaan ko khush karana har ek ke bas kee baaat na thee, hujoor meree baat ke gavaah honge. aapake daadaajaan ek baar chhote laat saahab ke yahaan khaana khaane gae the. vahaan murg-musal‍l‍ma kee badee taareeph ho rahee thee. kaee aur angrej haakim the. shahar ke kuchh raees navaab bhee the. sabhee laat saahab ke baavarchee ke laam baandh chale. aapake daadaajaan khaamosh baithe rahe. laat saahab bole ki navaab saahab aapane taareeph nahin kee. aapake daadaajaan ne pharamaaya ki hujoor, taareeph ke kaabil koee cheej to ho. phir un‍honne apane yahaan sabako daavat dee. saahabajaadiyon, meree baat ke chash‍madeed gavaah hamaare sarakaar yahaan tashareeph-pharma hain. jahaan tak mujhe dh‍yaan hai, hujoor us vakt koee das ya g‍yaarah saal ke rahe honge.”

isake baad haakime-jamaana aur unaka khaanadaan haajee bulaakee miyaan ka ajasare nau saraparas‍ta ho gaya. phir koee shaanadaar kothee-bangalevaala haajee bulaakee kee kulphiyon se maharoom na raha. haajee bulaakee kee kulphee aur nimish ka shumaar bhee lakhanoo ke kal‍char mein ho gaya. videshee mehamaanon ko lakhanoo aane par chikan ke kurate, dupaliya topee, roomaal aur saadiyaan, mittee ke khilaune aur mashahoor itron ke tohaphe to die hee jaate the, haajee bulaakee kee kulphee ya sardiyon mein nimish bhee khilaee jaane lagee. angrejee ke akhabaaravaalon ne unakee tas‍veeren tak chhaapeen. saal-bhar mein haajee saahab ka kaarobaar chal nikala.

jo pahale kee aamadanee ke mukaabile mein ab chauthaee bhee na hotee thee, k‍yonki inaam-ikaraam denevaale raees ab nahin rahe, par jamaane ko dekhate hue haajee saahab kee rojee sadh gaee. munaaphe ke laalach mein maal nikhaalis na kiya, ijjat aur naam par date rahe. dheere-dheere do poton ko haakime-jamaana kee badaulat mus‍takil chaparaasiyon mein bharatee karavaaya. muhal‍le-pados aur rish‍tedaaree ke kaee ladakon ko chhote-mote kaam dilae. badee ijjat badh gaee. khuda ka shukr hai, boodhee zinda hai, bahoo hai, bade pote kee bahoo hai. al‍laah ke phajalo-karam se usake aage bhee do bach‍che hain. chhote pote kee shaadee bhee paarasaal kar dee, magar vah ladakee badee kal‍ledaraaj hai. sukh-chain ke chaand mein bas yahee ek gahan lag gaya hai, varana haajee bulaakee ab apana gam bhool chuke hain.

e‍ka din kisee vakt kee naamee naachanevaalee mush‍tareebaee ka aadamee un‍hen bulaane aaya. haajee dopahar ke vakt usake yahaan gae. un‍honne mush‍taree ko bach‍chee se javaan aur boodhee hote dekha tha. usaka jamaana dekha tha ki raeeson-navaabon ke palak-paanvadon par chalatee thee. ab bhee puraanee laakhon kee maaya hai magar jamaana ab tavaayaphon ka nahin raha. ladakiyon ko bee.e., em.e. paas karaaya hai, magar ab gaadee aage nahin chalatee. daras‍la mush‍taree chaahatee hai ki donon kee kaheen shaadiyaan kar de. yahee naamumakin lagata hai. haarakar donon ko adab-tahajeeb sikhaee aur thodee-bahut naach aur gaane kee taaleem bhee dilava dee hai. kachot ladakiyon ke jee mein bhee hai, mush‍taree ke man mein bhee.

aajakal sahaaranapur ka ek raeesajaada donon ladakiyon ka naya-naya dos‍ta hua hai. use shaadee karane se etaraaj nahin, k‍yonki usakee maan ek yoropiyan nars thee, jise usake vaalid ne musalamaan banaakar apanee kaanoonee beevee banaaya tha. yah ladaka jab lakhanoo aata hai to phalaan-phalaan aphasar ke ghar mehamaan hota hai. unake yahaan haajee kee nimish kha chuka hai, haajee ko jaanata hai. mush‍taree haajee bulaakee kee baaton ke kamaal ko jaanatee hai. baap kee tarah unake pair pakadakar kaha, “us ladake ko apane sheeshe mein utaar len haajee saahab to bada sabaab hoga. main jaanatee hoon, aayanda jamaane mein ye jindagee in ladakiyon se na sadhegee. ab is peshe mein ijjat nahin rahee. ek se paar paoon to doosaree ke haath peele karane ka raas‍ta khule.”

haajee bulaakee maan gae. doosare din shaam ko mush‍taree ke yahaan ja pahunche. badee aavabhagat huee. sahaaranapuree raeesajaada vahaan maujood tha, donon ladakiyaan to theen hee.

haajee ne gale mein haath daalate hue kaha, “chhote sarakaar, khaana-pahanana aur ishk karana yon to parinde-darinde tak jaanate hain, magar inamen tameej rakhane aur hajaar parten chhaanakar inakee khoobee aur asliyat pahachaanane kee koovat al‍laah taala ne siriph inasaan ko hee ata pharamaee hai. vo bhee har ek ko naseeb nahin. aapako apane ladakapan ka haal sunaata hoon. koee solah-satrah baras kee umar hogee meree. us‍taad ke saath jaaya karata tha. ek bahut bade taal‍lukedaar the. lamba-chauda deel-daul, gora surkhaabee badan aur unakee badee-badee aankhen haseen naajaniyon ke lie chumbak theen. aala eeraanee khaanadaan ke, push‍ta-dar-push‍ta se potadon ke raees the. magar aam raeeson kee tarah bhole-bhaale na the. unake do aankhen oopar theen to chaar bheetar theen. sabaka raaj lekar kisee ko apana raaj na dete the. apane jamaane ke pak‍ke khilaadee the. sarakaar, hajaaron ne ghera un‍hen, saikadon ne rijhaaya, jaal-kampe daale, magar jis tavaayaph ka main jikar kar raha hoon vah apane jamaane kee naamee aur haseen thee. dil mein taman‍na rakhakar bhee usane kabhee munh se kuchh na kaha. navaab saahab usakee khidamaton ko samajhate rahe. jab khoob parakh liya to use nihaal bhee kar diya. baakee sab munh dekhate hee rah gaeen. phir aisa bhee vakt aaya ki navaab saahab apane chacha se mukadama ladakar apanee kul is‍tet haee korat mein haar gae. tab us tavaayaph ne kaha ki jaaneman, tum ho mere, ye jevar, daulat aur jaayadaad meree nahin hai. isase landanavaalee adaalat tak mukadama lado aur surkharooee haasil karo. yahee hua bhee. navaab saahab phir maalaamaal ho gae. baad mein navaab saahab ne us tavaayaph se poochha ki tumane mujhamen aisa k‍ya dekh liya, jo auron kee najar mein na pada. tavaayaph bolee, ‘mainne dekha ki tum utaavale nahin, balki paarakhee ho aur inasaaph-pasand ho. bas isake siva phir kuchh dekhane ko nahin raha.’ is par navaab saahab ne usase kaha, ‘sailaabe-ishk ab apanee had par hai. ab main tum‍hen apanee naukar tavaayaph kee haisiyat se nahin dekh paata. tum meree malika ho.’ baakaayada hujoor nikaah padhavaakar use apane mahalon mein le gae. to ishk ise kahate hain. har cheej hujoor samajhadaaree maangatee hai. ab kulphiyon ko hee le leejie – ek-ek thanda resha munh kee garmee paate hee pahale to khile aur phir dheere-dheere ghulata jae. j‍yon-j‍yon ghule, t‍yon-t‍yon mithaas badhatee jae. jo khushaboo ya jo masaale daale hon,ve apanee jagah par bolen. …yahee maja ishk ka bhee hai. sarakaar ka rutaba aala hai, magar umr mein hujoor mere bach‍chon ke bach‍che ke baraabar hain. meree baaten aajama dekhiega.”

hujoor par haajee kee baaton ka suroor ganthane laga. haajee bulaakee kulphiyaan khilaate chale. ladakiyon aur mush‍taree kee taareeph karate chale, “ladakiyaan ratan hain, magar khuda ke inasaaph se jis peshe mein jan‍ma liya hai, usamen bechaariyon ko bekusoor ghutana hoga. kahaan to ye padhee-likhee tahajeeb-yaaphta ladakiyaan, aur kahaan aaj ke jamaane ka dojakh….”

“hujoor, yah mush‍taree badee nek ladakee hai. isane apana jamaana dekha hai. magar main isake munh par kahata hoon ki abhee to ladakiyon ka munh dekhakar is phiraak mein hain ki inakee shaadiyaan ho jaen. magar khuda meree in bachchiyon ko har khatare se bachae, mahaj baat ke taur par hee kah raha hoon ki baad mein haarakar yahee mush‍taree ladakiyon se kahegee ki pesha karo, yaaron ko thago aur mere kahe mutaabik tum log nahin karogee to ghar se nikalo. are hujoor, jhooth nahin kahata, apanee ladakiyon ke hak mein in naayakaon se badh kar koee bura nahin hota. rupayon kee loot ke peechhe deevaanee ye aur kuchh bhee nahin sochateen. aapako ek kis‍sa sunaata hoon gareeb-paravar. ek naujavaan raees the. ek tavaayaph se dil mil gaya. use nihaal kar diya. magar naayaka ka pet itane se hee na bhara. ek aur boodhe bhondoo raees ko bhee phansa liya. ladakee laakh kahe ki am‍ma mujhase bevaphaee na karao magar am‍ma jhidak-jhidak den. kahen ki aisa sada se hota aaya hai. khair hujoor hote-karate ek din naujavaan raees ko bhee pata chal gaya. vah chaar gundon ko lekar usake kothe par chadh aaya. tavaayaph kee naak kaatee, boodhe kee tond mein karaulee ghompee. bada baavela, toba-til‍la macha. khair, kis‍sa khat‍ma hua magar bechaaree ladakee naak katane ke baad deeno-duniya, kisee arath kee na rahee. batalaie, bhala usaka k‍ya kusoor tha, jo ye saja paee. yahee na ki tavaayaph ke ghar paida huee thee; isalie apane aashik se shaadee na kar sakee aur apanee naayaka – am‍ma ke bas mein use rahana pada. main aisee-aisee saikadon misaalen de sakata hoon. is bach‍chee kee soorat dekhakar taras aata hai. ab to sarakaar bhee yah pesha khat‍ma kar rahee hai. khuda in par raham kare.”

baaton ka silasila badhaate rahe aur do-teen roj mein hee ladaka raajee ho gaya. mush‍taree ab haajee bulaakee ke paanv pakadatee hai, kahatee hai, doosaree kee shaadee bhee karava do, tab ghar baithakar khuda ka naam lena.

lekin ab ek mush‍taree kee ladakiyaan hee nahin, kaee aur bhee haajee saahab se naee jindagee maangatee hain. haajee dil hee dil mein pareshaan rahate hain ki sabako kahaan paar lagaen.