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zindagee ka raaz – a story by Upendranath Ashk

(olul azm chele ne guroo se poochha, mahaaraaj zindagee ka kya raaz hai? guroo ne ek-baar aankhen khol kar kaha, maut! aur phir aankhen band kar leen.)

dariya ke kinaare baitha shab dayaal apane khayaalaat kee duniya mein kho gaya tha daur-e-ufuq mein laal laal badaliyaan neelee ho gaee theen aur matiyaale rang ne aasamaan par pooree tarah apana tasallut jama liya tha. dariya ke kinaare, khamadaar sheesham kee tahaniyaan jaise ibtadae aafareenash se dariya kee laharon ko pakadane kee naakaam koshish mein masaroof theen aur laharen amvaaj zindagee kee tarah mutavaatir bahe jaar hee theen.

is vaqt naaraayan ne chupake se aakar usake kandhe par haath rakh diya.

shab dayaal kee mahviyat ke taar toot gae. usane sar utha kar naaraayan kee taraf dekha.

naaraayan ne kaha, utho, raat ho rahee hai, chaloge nahin?

chaloonga aur ye kah kar thake hue shakhs kee tarah shab dayaal utha aur naaraayan ke kandhe par haath rakhakar chup-chaap chal pada.

raaste mein naaraayan ne kaha, kal seth raam laal ke kaarakhaane mein zabaradast hadataal hogee. chaloge?

khvaab kee see haalat mein shab dayaal ne muskura kar kaha, chaloonga. kyon nahin? aur phir vo apane khayaalaat kee duniya mein mahv ho gaya.

naaraayan soobe ka mashahoor shaayar tha. is thode se arse hee mein usane khaas-o-aam ke dil mein jagah haasil kar lee thee. usake sher har shakhs ko apana girveeda bana lete the aur padhane aur sunane vaalon ko khvaabon kee ek rangeen, roomaan bharee duniya mein le jaate the. jahaan maazee, haal aur mustaqabil ke bandhan toot jaate aur vo sapanon kee is duniya mein sheron kee sharaab pee kar madahosh ho rahate.

shab dayaal uska dost tha. donon bachapan se ek saath khele-koode, padhe aur javaan hue the. donon ke mazaaq qareeban ek jaise the. donon khvaabon kee duniya mein basane vaale, donon shaayar mizaaj! farq sirf ye tha ki naaraayan sher kahata tha aur shab dayaal sunata tha. naaraayan sirf us vaqt tak us roomaan angez duniya kee sair karata jab tak usake jazbaat alafaaz kee shakl ikhtiyaar na karate. shab dayaal unhen padh padh kar aathon pahar jhooma karata. matalab ye, ki ek sher kahata aur bhool jaata. doosara unhen padhata aur lauh-e-dil par naqsh kar leta.

shahar ke baahar naee sadak par seth raam laal ke kaarakhaane the. door door tak kaarakhaanon kee deevaaren chalee gaee theen. ek taraf kapade ka kaam hota aur doosaree taraf teen ka aur hazaaron mazadoor in donon dhandon mein din-raat lage rahate the.

sunate hain unake daada bheek maangate aae the. lekin qismat thee ki laakhon ke maalik ban gae. shuroo shuroo mein galee-muhallon se puraane toote-phoote bartan ikatthe kiya karate aur baazaar mein kuchh nafa par unhen farokht kar dete. aahista-aahista unhonne kaseron kee dookaan kholee. mehanat aur dayaanatadaaree se kaam karate the, chal nikalee aur pahale saal hee kaafee munaafa raha. phir aap har saal kaam badhaate rahe. hatta ki aapane shahar ke baahar sastee zameen mol lekar vahaan nihaayat chhote paimaane par baalatiyaan banaane ka kaam shuroo kar diya. isee dauraan mein jang-e-azeem shuroo huee. unakee qismat ka sitaara chamak utha. fauj mein baalatiyaan saplaee karane ka theka unhen mil gaya aur qaleel arse ke andar andar ek achchhe kaarakhaana ke maalik ban gae. lekin is taraqqee se unake dil par mail tak nahin aatee. unakee saadagee aur tavaazo usee tarah qaayam rahee aur mehanat aur dayaanat mein bhee marate dam tak farq na aaya.

seth raam laal ke baap ne bhee gareebee ke din dekhe the. isalie jab unake vaalid kaarakhaana unake naam chhodakar mare to unake dimaag mein khalal nahin aaya balki apane baap ke naqash-e-qadam par chalate hue vo taraqqee ke raaste pur gaamazan rahe. apane baap ke saath unhonne mazadooron kee tarah kaam kiya tha aur unhen mazadooron ke saath hamadardee bhee thee. is lie unake ahd mein mazadooron ko kabhee takaleef nahin huee. balki unake dukh ko unhonne apana dukh jaana. kaam bhee unaka badha. sadak kee doosaree taraf unhonne kapade ka ek kaarakhaana khol diya aur jis vaqt mare to apane ladke raam laal ke lie laakhon kee jaayadaad chhod gae the.

raam laal bachpan hee se seth paida hue the. gareebee aur mufalisee kya hotee hai unhonne kabhee na dekha tha. bachapan hee se unhonne doosaron ko apane lie kaam karate paaya aur is vaqt jab 30 saal hee kee umr mein vo apane baap ke faut hone par itanee badee jaayadaad ke vaahid maalik ban gae to unake garoor aur takabbur ka thikaana na tha. vo samajhate the, khuda ne unhen daulatamand paida kiya hai aur unake neeche kaam karane vaalon ko gareeb! paramaatma kee khushee isee mein hai ki vo unake lie kaam karen aur vo unase kaam len. gareeb mazadooron se unhen koee hamadardee na thee. lekin is garoor aur takabbur mein unhonne rupaya bigaada nahin. use unhonne badhaaya hee. haan dhan-daulat badhaane mein unhonne jaayaz aur naajaayaz zariye ka kabhee khayaal nahin kiya. 1921 kee tahareek adam taaavun mein unhonne khoob haath range aur ab phir jab nau das saal baad svadeshee kee tahareek ko farog mil raha tha. vo usaka poora poora faayada uthaana chaahate the. lekin usee vaqt mazadooron mein das saal se aahista-aahista sulagatee huee aag bhadak uthee thee aur vo hadataal karane par aamaada ho gae the.

baat ye thee ki iqatisaadee kasaadabaazaaree ka daur daura tha aur seth saahib ne isee bahaane mazadooron ke gale par chhuree pherane ka faisala kar liya tha. unakee tanakhvaahon mein takhfeef kar dee gaee thee. agar ye takhfeef isee tanaasub se hotee, jis nisbat se qeematen giree theen to shaayad mazadoor bardaasht kar lete lekin ye thee 30 feesadee. is lie unhonne shor machaaya. magar jab seth saahib ne shor machaane vaalon ko naukaree hee se barataraf kar diya, to unake sabr aur zabt ka paimaana labarez ho gaya aur mazadoor yooneeyan ne aam hadataal ka ailaan kar diya.

seth saahib ne police ko bula liya tha. ek taraf police ke sipaahee the musallah aur baavardee. doosaree taraf mazadoor the taar-taar kapadon mein malaboos aur gair musallah! ek taraf taaqat ka muzaahara tha. doosaree taraf bekasee kee numaish! jo mazadoor mil ke andar jaane kee koshish karata vo usakee minnat samaajat karake use kaam par jaane se mana karate aur agar is par bhee vo na maanata to usake paanv par sar rakh dete. ahaate ke andar khade khade seth raam laal daant pees pees kar rah jaate.

kuchh der tak pikting puraman taur par jaaree rahee. isee dauraan mein aise bhee mavaaqe aae jab maaloom hua ki unaka nizaam toot jaega. mazadooron mein aise bhee the, jinake paas shaam ke khaane ke lie do paav aata bhee na tha aur yooneeyan abhee itanee mazaboot na thee mazadooron ka ek jattha andar jaane ke lie musir hua. hadataaliyon kee minnat samaajat, yahaan tak ki unake paanv padane ka bhee un par koee asar na hua. tab hadataalee zameen par let gae ki jaana chaaho to bhale hee hamaare jismon ko lataadate hue guzar jao! apane in bhaiyon ko, jo sab ke lie lad rahe the. raundakar guzarana unhen manzoor na hua. bhale hee baal bachche faaqon maren, bhale hee paanee pee pee kar guzaara karana pade. lekin itana zulm to unase na ho sakega aur vo chup-chaap vaapas ho gae. hadataaliyon ne zor se naara buland kiya, mazadoor zindaabaad aur pikting badastoor zor-shor se jaaree rahee.

seth saahib police sab inspector se mile. gupchup saragoshiyaan hueen, aakhir vaapas aakar unhonne apane nijee mulaazimon ko ikattha kiya. haqq-e-namak ada karane ka yahee vaqt hai, ye baat unhonne unake zahn nasheen kar dee aur ek ek maheena kee tanakhvaah zaid dene ka vaada kiya aur unhen kaha ki vo baahar chale jaen aur jab vaapas aane par unhen roka jaaye to lad paden. balava kar den aur ho sake to ek do eenten sipaahiyon kee taraf bhee phenk den.

vafaadaar naukaron ne aisa hee kiya. pulis par eenten phenkee jaen aur vo khaamoshee se bardaasht kar le. to phir vo pulis kaisee? adam tashaddud ho sakata hai hadataaliyon ka hathiyaar ho, lekin isaka to nahin. usake paas to laathee hai aur is harba ka istimaal karane mein usane kotaahee nahin kee.

police kee laathiyon kee jumbish huee. bahuton ke sar phate, bahut zakhmee hue, bahut bhaag gae. lekin aksar laatheeyaan khaate khaate, zakhmee hote hote bhee vaheen let gae.

bahut der se shab dayaal aur naaraayan bhee tamaashaiyon kee bheed mein khade the. jab mazadooron ko zad-o-kob kiya jaane laga. to shab dayaal ke khvaab jaise muntashir ho gae. vo is nazaare kee taab na la saka aur usane naaraayan ko kandhe se pakada aur bheed se nikal gaya. ab ke naaraayan jaise khvaabeeda kee tarah usake sahaare chal pada.

us din ke baad naaraayan kee shaayaree mein ek nae daur ka aagaaz hua, usakee vo roomaan angez duniya bikhar gaee. haqeeqat kee talkhee ke andhere ne, jaane kab uthakar is sunahare sansaar ko dhak liya. jaane kis tarah, jaise kisee jaadoo ke asar se vo gareebon ka, mufalison o ramz dauron ka shaayar ban gaya aur usake ashaar saramaayaadaaron kee aish parasteeyon ka muraqqa kheenchane lage. tasavvur ke maikhaane mein kham ke kham lundhaate, kisee paree paikar naazaneen ke saath ajanabee samundaron par kashtee badhaane, baadalon aur bijaliyon ke havaee gharon mein iqaamat-guzeen hone aur apane padhane vaalon ko takhayyul kee naee naee duniyaon kee sair karaane kee bajaay ab vah unhen mufalison kee jhopadiyon, mazadooron kee kameen gaahon, kisaanon ke kachche gharon kee taraf le jaane laga. khvaab dekhane vaale kee bajaay vo dafatan haqeeqat nigaar ban gaya.

is vaaqiya ke doosare hee din usane jo nazm saramaayaadaar ko mukhaatib kar ke likhee thee. vo rozaana mazadoorake pahale safe par chhapee thee aur phir beesiyon doosare akhabaaron ne use naqal kiya tha. nazm ka unavaan tha shamma aur usaka matalab kuchh yoon tha,

paravaanon ko apnee taabanaak laumain jalae ja!

gunaahon kee taareekee ko apnee roshanee se door rakhne kee koshish kar!

too aag hai, koee tere nazdeek na aaega.

tatoo roshan hai, koee tere gunaah na dekhega.

lekin ye maasoom paravaane

jalane ke baad tujhe bujha denge, aur

tere gunaahon kee taareekee maut ke baad tujhe draegee!

naaraayan apne kamre mein baitha, na jaane kin khayaalaat mein gum tha ki kisee ne usake kandhe par aahiste se haath rakha. naaraayan ne usee tarah baithe-baithe apana haath nauvaarid ke haath par phera. aane vaale ne usakee aankhen band kar leen.

naaraayan qahaqaha maar kar hansa, shiboo tumhaara bachapan kabhee door bhee hoga ya nahin?

aur doosare lamhe shab dayaal, naaraayan ke saamane tha. usake honton par halka tabassum khel raha tha. usakee aankhon mein samundar kee gaharaee thee. usane hansate hue kaha, naaraayan aaj hamane nazm kahee hai.

tumne nazm? aur naaraayan ka qahaqaha kamare mein goonj utha, lao, dikhao to.

shab dayaal ne jeb se kaagaz nikaal kar naaraayan ke haath mein de diya aur vo hansate hansate nazm padhane laga lekin joon-joon padhata gaya. usake chehare se masarrat mafaqood hotee gaee aur jab nazm khatm ho gaee to usake chehare par taareek baadal sa chhaaya hua tha.

nazm kya thee ek manjoom afasaana tha. shab dayaal ke dil mein uthate hue toofaan ka mazahar, plaat mukhtasar tha. ek saada-lauh jazbaatee naujavaan saramaayaadaaron ke mazaalim dekhakar mazadooron kee tanzeem karata hai. lekin choonki saramaayaadaar ka zulm roz-baroz badhata jaata hai. is lie mazadoor usake bas mein nahin rahate. vo eent ka javaab patthar se dena chaahate hain aur ek din saramaayaadaar par hamala kar dete hain. police mazadooron ke saath use bhee giraftaar kar letee hai. use phaansee ka hukm hota hai. usake beevee-bachche, usake naate-rishtedaar usake lie rote hain, lekin vo khushee-khushee takhta-e-daar par chadh jaata hai.

naaraayan ka dil kaanp gaya. usane shab dayaal kee taraf dekha. usakee aankhen vaise hee khala mein, jaise tasavvur ke kisee haseen manzar ka nazaara kar rahee theen. naaraayan ne unakee gaharaeeyon mein doobane kee koshish kee. achaanak use shubaha hua, jaise shba dayaal is kahaanee ka heero hai, aur vo khud jurm ka irtikaab kar ke aaya hai. lekin usake chehare par vahee saadagee thee. vahee saada-lauhee aur paakeezagee jise naaraayan hamesha se dekhane ka aadee tha. usane aahista se pukaara,

shiboo!

haan!

tumhen maaloom hai mujhe tumase kitanee muhabbat hai?

shab dayaal hansa, bhala usake izahaar kee bhee zaroorat hai.

naaraayan ne lambee saans lee, dekho shiboo usane kaha, mera koee bhaee nahin bahan nahin, rishta-naata koee bhee nahin. sab kuchh tum hee ho. tum mere bachapan ke dost ho, hamajamaat ho, ham nashist ho, khuda ke lie koee aisa kaam na karana…

naaraayan kee aankhon mein aansoo chhalak aae.

shab dayaal qahaqaha laga kar hans utha, bhala tumhen ye shubaha kaise hua?

naaraayan khaamosh, usakee taraf dekhta raha.

shab dayaal ne phir zabaradastee hansakar kaha, ye kuchh bhee nahin. main kahata hoon, isamen asleeyat kuchh bhee nahin. aur vo phir hansa.

achchha hai,lekin…

lekin kya?

main tumhaare bagair shaayad zinda nahin rah sakata shiboo, usane udaas nazaron se shab dayaal kee taraf dekha.

paagal ho gae ho naaraayan. aur shab dayaal hans utha.

lekin naaraayan paagal na tha.

doosare din subah joonhee usane rozaana akhabaar haath mein liya. sann rah gaya. pahle safe par hee bade bade alafaaz mein likha tha.

mashahoor kaarkhaanaadaar seth raam laal ke qatl ka iqdaam

aur kaee zimnee surkheeyon ke baad khabar thee.

aaj shaam ke vaqt jab seth raam laal klab se vaapas aa rahe the. kampanee baag ke nazdeek unakee motar par faayar kie gae. motar ka taayar phat gaya aur hamla aavaron ne seth saahib par goliyaan chalaeen. lekin unaka draeevar seth saahib ko bachaane ke lie kood pada aur hamala aavaron kee goliyon se vaheen dher ho gaya. motar ke sheeshe toot gae aur seth saahib ke kandhe par bhee zakhm aaya. hamla aavar mazadoor hain.

naaraayan ka maatha thanaka. vo shab dayaal ke ghar kee taraf bhaaga lekin vo vahaan maujood na tha. shaam ko usane sun liya. shab dayaal chaar doosare hamaraahiyon ke saath giraftaar kar liya gaya hai.

garmiyon kee dopahar apanee aag jaise loo kee lapaton se shahar ko ghar kiye hue thee. aag kee jalan se aabala pad jaata hai. lekin dopahar kee ye loo aisee thee ki jism aur jism kee rag-rag tak jhulas jaatee lekin aabala dikhaee na deta.

kamra band kie naaraayan apane bistar par leta hua tha. subah se vo yoonhee pada tha. nahaane na gaya tha, naashata karane na gaya tha. khaana khaane na gaya tha. jaise usakee tamaam quvvaten hee salb ho gaee theen. tabhee use ek khat mila. dastakhat pahachaan kar betaabee se usane khola. likha tha,

bhaee naaraayan.

mahaz sher kahane ya nazmen likhane se mufalison kee bhalaee nahin ho sakatee. isake lie amalee kaam kee zaroorat hai. mahaz tasavvur kee sair karane kee bajaay naaraayan, haqeeqee duniya mein ghoomana kaheen zyaada zarooree hai. mainne apane ird-gird ke maahaul ka mutaala kiya hai, apana laih-e-amal bhee mainne bana liya hai. shaayad tum usakee taeed na karo lekin main to usee par amal karoonga.

shiboo kisee fauree khauf se mutaassir ho kar naaraayan ne idhar udhar dekha aur phir khat ke tukade tukade kar ke phenk die. usakee aankhon ne dekha ki pulis us kee bhee talaashee le rahee hai aur us khat ko apane qabza mein kar letee hai aur use shab dayaal ke khilaaf istimaal karatee hai…vo utha. usane khat ke purzon ko ikattha kiya aur unhen baahar baag mein phenk diya aur phir vaheen ek chaarapaee par dhans gaya aur let gaya. lekin leta rahana usake lie muhaal ho gaya. vo phir utha. aahista-aahista, dabe-paanv neeche baag mein pahuncha aur sab purzon ko ikattha karane laga. usaka dil dhak dhak kar raha tha. jaise vo choree ka iqadaam kar raha ho. sab purzon ko jama kar ke vo vaapas le aaya. ye purje pulis ke kis kaam ke the? lekin usake lie ye sab kuchh the. ye shab dayaal kee nishaanee the. us shab dayaal kee, jo qatl ke jurm mein maakhooz tha aur usaka dost tha. bhaee tha, rishtedaar tha, sab kuchh tha.

kamre mein pahunch kar usane donon haathon mein jama kie hue purzon ko choom liya aur unhen andar trank mein ehatiyaat se band kar aaya.

phir vo isee tarah bejaan sa bistar par let gaya.

jis tarah thahare hue paanee mein achaanak koee cheez gir jaane se halachal paida ho jaatee hai. usee tarah shab dayaal kee giraftaaree se bhee naaraayan ke dil mein halachal paida ho gaee thee. soch aur samajh kee toten jaise use javaab de gaee theen.

lekin jab isee tarah bedilee se pade pade use chand din guzar gae aur sadama ka pahala zor qadare kam hua to usane shab dayaal se mulaaqaat kee darakhvaast kee.

police tahaqeeqaat mein masaroof thee. darakhaast mukhtalif dafaatir se hotee huee saparanatanadanat pulis ke paas aaee, aur usane use naamanzoor kar diya.

naaraayan kuchh din apanee darakhvaast ke javaab ka intizaar karata raha. aakhir haar kar khud superintendent se mila. unhonne kaha, mujhe afasos hai main abhee aapakee darakhvaast par amal nahin kar sakta.

naaraayan afsurda ho kar ghar vaapas aaya. ghar aakar usane ek nazm likhee, bekasee aur usamen usane apana dil nikaal kar rakh diya. doosare din kaee akhabaaron mein ek saath ye nazm shaaya huee. kaee din tak usee nazm ka charcha raha. logon ne naaraayan ko musavvir dard ka khitaab de diya. naaraayan hansa. nazmon se kuchh na hoga. kuchh amal kaam karana chaahie aur vo baahar nikala. mazadooron ke leedaron se mila. pablik ke sarakarada sar baraahon se mila. usane kaee jalason mein taqareeren keen. kaee jagah nazmen padheen. is tamaam mehanat ke nateeje ke taur par shab dayaal aur usake hamaraahiyon ke muqaddame kee pairavee ke lie ek diphens kametee banaee gaee. saare soobe se chanda ikattha kiya. soobe ke mashahoor mashahoor vukala ne muqaddame kee pairavee kee. chhah maah tak muqaddama chalata raha. asesaron ne shab dayaal ko begunaah aur doosare do mazadooron ko mujarim qaraar diya lekin session judge ne is remark ke saath, ki shab dayaal hee is saazish ka dimaag hai. teenon ko phaansee kee saza de dee, baaqeeyon ko riha kar diya gaya.

log is qadar intihaee saza ke lie taiyaar na the. unhen shab dayaal kee rihaee kee ummeed thee. naaraayan to goya isee ummeed ke sahaare zinda tha. jaba usne session judge ka faisala suna to kuchh lamhe ke lie sunn vaheen khada raha. phir vo chupachaap ghar kee taraf chal pada lekin is kee kamar jhuk gaee thee aur agarache kisee ne mahasoos nahin kiya. lekin usake syaah baalon mein kaheen kaheen safed baal numaayaan ho gae the.

vahaan bhee jahaan yaas kee taareekee pooree tarah musallat hotee hai. ummeed kee kiran kabhee kabhee chamak jaaya karatee hai. session judge ka faisala sunane ke baad naaraayan bilakul maayoos ho gaya tha. lekin phir bhee, ummeed thee ki usake taareek dil mein kabhee kabhee chamak jaatee thee. kaun jaane haikort mein shab dayaal baree ho jaaye? diphens kametee ne haikort mein apeel daayar kar dee thee aur naaraayan naummeedee ke baavajood adaalat kee kaarravaee ko dilachaspee se padhata tha aur joon-joon din guzarate jaate the. ummeed kee vo shua badhakar, phail kar usake dil ko roshan karatee jaatee thee. haikort mein to baaraha qatl ke mujarim baree ho jaate hain, phir shab dayaal se to ye gunaah hee nahin hua. lekin jab haikort ne apeel khaarij kar dee to vo sab roshanee jaane ek dam kahaan mafaqood ho gaee aur usake dil mein phir andhera hee andher achchha gaya aur phir usakee zindagee us insaanee dhaancha kee see ho gaee jisakee rooh qabz kar lee gaee ho.

goya apana sab kuchh luta kar naaraayan ek din shab dayaal se jel mein mulaaqaat karane gaya.

shab dayaal ke chehare par vahee saadagee, vahee saada-lauhee aur honton par vahee muskuraahat thee. lekin naaraayan ko dekhakar usakee aankhen bhar aaeen. na vo khushamizaajee na bashaashat, na vo zindagee na zindaadilee. na vo dard na gam jo aakhiree ayyaam mein usane usake chehare par dekha tha. kuchh bhee use naaraayan ke paas nazar na aaya. usakee javaanee jaise rukhsat ho gaee thee. baal safed ho gae the aur kamar jhuk gaee thee aur usaka chehara tamaam jazbaat se aaree tha. shab dayaal na samajh saka ki naaraayan kya soch raha hai, kaun see duniya ke khvaab dekh raha hai. chup-chaap vo aakar khada ho gaya tha…achaanak jaise shab dayaal ko muskuraate dekhakar naaraayan ke chehare par kuchh taazagee aaee aur usane dard bhare lahaje mein poochha,

shiboo tumne kya kiya?

shiboo hansa, usane kaha, jo munaasib tha naaraayan.

naaraayan ke chehare par baadal sa aakar guzar gaya. kya kisee ke qatl se apne haath rangana munaasib hai?

mainne qatl nahin kiya!

phir! aur naaraayan ne apanee phatee phatee aankhen shab dayaal ke chehare par jama dee.

shab dayaal ne kaha, mainne sirf mazadooron ko muttahid aur munazzam ho kar zulm ka muqaabala karane kee talaqeen dee thee. unhonne tang aakar zaalim kee hastee hee ko mita dena behatar samajha.

lekin tumhen mera khayaal nahin tha shiboo?

lekin tum bhee to vahee kahate the. tumhaaree nazmen bhee to unhen muttahid aur munazzam hone kee talaqeen karatee theen. mainne sirf unhen hee amalee jaama pahanaaya hai naaraayan.

lekin mainne qatl-o-gaaratagaree machaane ke lie kab kaha?

mainne bhee nahin kaha.

phir ye.

shab dayaal ne baat kaat kar kaha, naaraayan tum mazaloom nahin tum par zulm nahin hota. is lie tum un jazbaat ka andaaza nahin kar sakate jo zulm sah kar mazaloom ke dil mein paida hote hain. apane apane bangalon mein bijalee ke pankhon ke neeche sone vaale, un ehasaasaat ko kya samajhenge. unhen to vahee samajh sakata hai jo unamen rahata hai, unake saath mahasoos karata hai. mainne us dard ko mahasoos kiya, us zulm ko mahasoos kiya aur unamen rah kar unhen munazzam hone ke lie kaha.

lekin munazzam hone ke maanee tashaddud karane ke to nahin.

munazzam giroh ko qaaboo mein rakhana mushkil hai, khasoosan us vaqt, jab vo giroh naakhvaanda aur ganvaar logon ka ho.

phir tum us raaste gae hee kyon? aur naaraayan kee aankhen bhar aaeen.

shab dayaal hansa, gaadee ke haadison ke dar se koee usamen chadhana to nahin chhod deta naaraayan. agar bedaar hote vaqt barason ke gulaam zabt na rakh saken to isaka ye matalab to nahin ki unhen bedaar hee na kiya jaaye.

lekin shiboo zinda rah kar tum unake lie kaheen zyaada kaam kar sakte the?

insaan mar kar jeene se zyaada kaam kar jaata hai naaraayan. tumane hee ek-baar ye likha tha. main to sirf tumhaare khayaalaat ko amalee jaama pahanaata raha hoon! aur vo hansa mulaaqaat ka vaqt ho chuka tha. naaraayan ne roomaal se apanee aankhen ponchheen aur chup-chaap baahar nikal aaya. lekin tab usaka chehara jazbaat se aaree na tha balki us par aahanee iraade ke aasaar jhalak rahe the.

ghar aakar usne apnee najmon ke tamaam musavvade ikatthe kie aur unhen aag ke sapurd kar diya. doosare din mazadooron ne dekha, yooneeyan mein naaraayan ne shab dayaal kee jagah sambhaalee hai.

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By: Upendranath Ashk

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