Eidgah Munshi Premchand Novel

Ye story Eidgah Munshi Premchand Novel ne is story se Eid jaise zaroori festival ke baare mein bahot hi khoobsurat andaaz mein pesh kiya hai. Hamid ka character ham ko bataata hai ki kaise gareebi kam umr ke bachchon mein baDon jaisi samajhdaari paida kar deti hai. Mele mein Hamid apni sabhi khwahishon par sabr rakhne mein kamyaabi hota hai aur apni daadi Ameena ke liye ek chimTa khareed leta hai taaki roTi pakaate waqt unke haath na jalein. 

Eidgah Munshi Premchand Novel

(1)

Ramzan ke pure 30 rozon ke baad aaj Eid aayi. Kitni suhaani aur rangeen subah hai. Bachche ki tarah pur-tabassum darakhton par kuch a'jeeb hariyaali hai. Kheton mein kuch ajeeb raunaq hai. Aasmaan par kuch ajeeb fiza hai. Aaj ka aaftab dekh kitna pyaara hai. Goya duniya ko Eid ki khushi par mubarak-baad de raha hai. Gaanv mein kitni chahel - pahel hai. Eidgaah jaane ki dhoom hai. Kisi ke kurte mein baTan nahin hai to suyi - taaga lene dauDa ja raha hai. Kisi ke joote sakht ho gaye hain. Use tel aur paani se narm kar raha hai. Jaldi - jaldi bailon ko paani - saani de dein. Eidgah se lauT-te - lauT -te dopaher ho jayegi. 3 kos ka paidal raasta, fir sainkDon rishte, karaabat waalon se milna - milaana. Dopaher se pahle lauTna gair mumkin hai. 

LaDke sab se zyada khush hain. Kisi ne ek roza rakha, woh bhi dopaher tak. Kisi ne wo bhi nahin, lekin Eidgah jaane ki khushi inka hissa hai. Roze baDe - booDhon ke liye honge, bachchon ke liye to Eid hai. Roz Eid ka naam raT-te the, aaj wo aa gayi. Ab jaldi paDi huyi hai ki Eidgah kyun nahin chalte. Unhein ghar ki fikron se kya waasta? Sewaiyon ke liye ghar mein doodh aur shakkar, mewe hain ya nahin, iski unhein kya fikr? Wo kya jaanein Abba kyun bad - hawaas gaanv ke mahaajan chaudhry Qasim Ali ke ghar dauDe ja rahe hain, unki apni jebon mein to kaaroon ka khazaana rakha hua hai. Baar - baar jeb se khazaana nikaal kar ginte hain. Doston ko dikhaate hain aur khush ho kar rakh lete hain. Inhi 2-4 paison mein Duniya ki saat ne'matein layenge. Khilaune aur mithaiyaan aur bigul aur Khuda jaane kya - kya. 

Sabse zyada khush hai Hamid. Wo 4 saal ka gareeb khubsurat bachcha hai, jiska baap pichhle saal Haija ki nazr ho gaya tha aur maa na jaane kyun zard hoti - hoti ek din mar gayi. Kisi ko pata na chala ki bimari kya hai. Kahti kisse? Kaun sunne wala tha? Dill par jo guzarti thi, sahti thi aur jab sahaa na gaya to Duniya se rukhsat ho gayi. Ab Hamid apni booDhi daadi Ameena ki god mein sora hai aur utna hi khush hai. Uske Abba jaan baDi door rupaye jamaane gaye the aur bahut si thailiyaan lekar aayenge. Ammi jaan Allah Miyaan ke ghar mithai lene gayi hain. Isliye khamoshi hai. Hamid ke paanv mein joote nahi hain. Sar par ek puraani - dhuraani Topi hai jiska goTa syaah ho gaya hai fir bhi wo khush hai. Jab uske Abba Jaan thailiyaan aur Amma Jaan nematein lekar aayenge, tab wo Dill ke armaan nikalega. Tab dekhega ki Mahmood aur Mohsin, Aazar aur Sami kahaan se itne paise laate hain. Duniya mein museebaton ki puri fauj lekar aaye, uski ek nigaah-e-masoom use paamaal karne ke liye kaafi hai. 

Hamid andar jaa kar Ameena se kahta hai, "Tum Darna nahin Amma! Main gaanv walon ka saath na chhoDunga. Bilkul na Darna lekin Ameena ka Dill nahin maanta. Gaanv ke bachche apne - apne baap ke saath ja rahe hain. Hamid kya akela hi jayega. Is bheeD - bhaaD mein kahin kho jaye to kya ho? Nahin Ameena ise tanha na jaane degi. Nanhi si jaan. 3 kos chalega to paanv mein chhaale na paD jayenge? 

Magar wo chali jaye to yahaan sewaiyaan kaun pakayega, bhooka - pyaasa dopaher ko lauTega, kya us waqt sewaiyaan pakaane baiThegi. Rona to ye hai ki Ameena ke paas paise nahi hain. Usne Fahmeen ke kapDe siye the. AaTh aane paise mile the. Us aThanni ko Imaan ki tarah bachaati chali aayi thi is Eid ke liye. Lekin ghar mein paise aur na the air gwaalin ke paise aur chaDh gaye the, dene paDe. Hamid ke liye roz 2 paise ka doodh to lena paDta hai. 2 aane paise bach rahe hain. 3 paise Hamid ki jeb mein aur 5 Ameena ke baTwe mein. Yahi bisaat hai. Allah hi beDa paar karega. Dhoban mehtraani aur naaun bhi aayengi. Sabko sewaiyyan chahiye. Kis - kis se munh chhupaaye? Saal bhar ko tyohaar hai. Zindagi khairiyat se rahe. Unki taqdeer bhi to unke saath hai. Bachche ko Khuda salaamat rakhe, ye din bhi yun hi kaT jayenge. 

Gaanv se log chale aur Hamid bhi bachchon ke saath tha. Sab ke sab dauD kar nikal jaate. Fir kisi darakht ke neeche khaDe ho kar saath walon ka intezar karte. Ye log kyun itne aahista - aahista chal rahe hain. Shaher ka sira shuru ho gaya. Shaher ke donon taraf ameeron ke baagh hain, pukhta chahaar deewari huyi hai. Darakht mein aam lage huye hain. Hamid ne ek kankri uTha kar aam par nishaana lagaya. Maali andar se gaali deta hua bahar aaya... Bachche wahaan ek falaang par hain. Khoob hans rahe hain. Maali ko khoob ullu banaya. 

BaDi - baDi imaartein aane lagi. Ye adaalat hai. Ye Madarsa hai. Ye club-ghar hai. Itne baDe madarse mein kitne saare log paDhte honge. LaDke nahin hain ji, baDe - baDe aadmi hain. Sach unki baDi - baDi moochhe hain. Itne baDe ho gaye ab tak paDhne jaate hain. Aaj to chhuTTi hai lekin ek baar jab pahle aaye the. To bahot saare daaDhi moonchhon wale laDke yahaan khel rahe the. Na jaane kab tak paDhenge. Aur kya karenge itna paDh kar. Gaanv ke dehaati madarse mein 2-3 baDe - baDe kaDke hain. Bilkul 3 kauDi ke... kaam se ji churaane wale. Ye laDke bhi isi tarah ke honge ji. Aur kya nahi... Kya ab tak paDhte hote. Wo club ghar hai. Wahaan jaadu ka khel hota hai. Suna hai mardon ki khopadiyan uDti hain. Aadmi behosh kar dete hain. Fir usse jo kuch puchhte hain, wo sab batla dete hain aur baDe - baDe tamaashe hote hain aur memein bhi khelti hain. Sach, hamari Amma ko wo de do. Kya kahlaata hai. "Bat" To use ghumate hi luDhak jayein. 

Mohsin ne kaha, "Hamari Amma jaan to use pakaD hi na sakein. Haath kaanpne lagen. Allah Kasam."

Hamid ne usse ikhtilaaf kiya. "Chalo, manon aaTa pees Daalti hain. Zara si bat pakaD lengi to hath kaanpne lagega. SaikDon ghaDe paani roz nikaalti hain. Kisi ma'm ko 1 ghaDa paani nikaalna paDe to aankhon tale andhera aa jaye."

Mohsin, "Lekin dauDti to nahin. Uchhal - kood nahin sakti."

Hamid, "Kaam aa paDta hai to dauD bhi leti hain. Abhi us din tumhari gaaye  khul gayi thi aur Chaudhary ke khet mein ja paDi thi to tumhari Amma hi to dauD kar use bhaga laayi thi. Kitni tezi se daDi thin. Ham tum dono unse peeche rah gaye."

Fir aage chale. Halwaiyyon ki dukaanein shuru ho gayin. Aaj khoob saji huyi thin. 

Itni miThaaiyyan kaun khata hai? Dekho na ek - ek dukaan par mano hongi. Suna hai raat ko ek jinnaat har ek dukaan par jata hai. Jitna maal bacha hota hai, wo sab khareed leta hai aur sachmuch ke rupaye deta hai. Bilkul aise hi chaandi ke rupaye. 

Mahmood ko yaqeen na aaya. Aise rupaye jinnaat ko kahaan se mill jayenge. 

Mohsin, "Jinnaat ko rupayon ki kya kami? Jis khazaane mein chaahe chale jayein." Koi unhein dekh nahi sakta. Lohe ke darwaaze tak nahi rok sakte. Janaab aap hain kis khayaal mein. Heere - jawahraat unke paas rahte hain. Jisse khush ho gaye, use Tokron jawaahraat de diye. 5 minute mein kaho Kabul pahunch jayein."

Hamid, "Jinnaat bahot baDe hote honge."

Mohsin, "Aur kya ek - ek aasmaan ke barabar hota hai. Zameen par khaDa ho jaye, to uska sari aasmaan se ja lage. Magar ch aahe to ek loTe mein ghus jaaye."

Sami suna hai Chaudhry Sahab ke qabze mein bahot se jinnaat hain. Koi cheez chori chali jaaye, Chaudhry Sahab uska pata bata denge aur chor ka naam tak bata denge. Jumeraati ka bachhDa us din kho gaya tha. 3 din hairaan huye, kahin na mila, tab jhak maar kar Chaudhry ke paas gaye. Chaudhry ne kaha, maweshi - khaane mein hai aur wahin mila. Jinnaat aa kar unhein sab khabar de jaya karte hain. 

Ab har ek ki samajh mein aa gaya ki Chaudhry Qasim Ali ke paas kyun is qadar daulat hai aur kyun unki itni Izaat hai. Jinnaat aa kar unhein rupaye de jate hain. Aage chaliye ye police line hai. Yahaan police wale qawaayed  karte hain. Right, lip, faam, fo. 

Noor ne tasseeh ki, "Yahaan police wale pahra dete hain. Jab hi to unhein khabar hai. Aji hazrat ye log choriyaan karaate hain. Shaher ke jitne chor Daaku hai, sab unse mile rahte hain. Raat ko sab ek mohalle mein choron se kahte hain aur dusre muhalle mein pukaarte hain jaagte raho. 

Mamu sahab ek thaane mein sipaahi hain. 20 rupaye mahina paate hain lekin thailiyaan bhar - bhar ghar bhejte hain. Maine ek baar pucha tha, "Mamu, aap itne rupaye laate kahaan se hain? " 

Hans kar kahne lage, "Beta... Allah deta hai." Fir aap hi aap bolen, ham chaahen to ek hi din mein laakhon rupaye maar laayen. Ham to utna hi lete hain jismein apni badnaami na ho aur naukri bani rahe. 

Hamid ne ta'ajjub se puchha, "Ye log chori karaate hain to inhein koi pakaDta nahin?" Noori ne uski kotaah - fahmi par rahem kha kar kaha, "Are ahmak! Unhein kaun pakDega, pakaDne wale to ye khud hain, lekin Allah unhein saza bhi khoob deta hai. ThoDe din huye. Mamu ke ghar mein aag lag gayi. Saara maal-mataa jal gaya. Ek bartan tak na bacha. Kayi din tak darakht ke saaye ke neeche soye, Allah kasam fir na jaane kahaan se qarz laaye to bartan bhaanDe aaye."

Basti ghani hone lagi. Eidgaah jaane walon ke majme nazar aane lage. Ek se ek jark-bark poshaak pahne huye. Koi taange par sawaar, koi motor par chalte the to kapDon se itr ki khushboo uDti thi. 

Dahqaanon ki ye mukhtasar sir Toli apni be-sar-o-saamaani se be-hiss apni khasta haali mein magar saabir-o-shaakir chali jaati thi. Jis cheez ki taraf taakte taakte rah jaate aur peechhe se baar - baar horn ki aawaaz hone par bhi khabar na hoti thi. Mohsin to motor ke neeche jaate - jaate bacha. 

Wo Eidgaah nazar aayi. Jamaa'at shuru ho gayi hai. Upar imli ke ghane darakhton ka saaya hai, neeche khula hua pukhta farsh hai. Jiss par jaajim bichha hua hai aur namaziyon ki qataarein ek ke peechhe dusre Khuda jaane kahaan tak chali gayi hain. Pukhta farsh ke neeche jaajim bhi nahin. Kayi qataarein khaDi hain jo aate jaate hain, peechhe khaDe ho jate hain. Aage ab jagah nahin rahi. Yahaan koi rutba aur ohda nahin dekhta. Islam ki nigaah mein sab barabar hain. Dahqaanon ne bhi wazu kiya aur jamaa'at mein shaamil ho gaye. Kitni baa-qaida munazzam jamaa'at hai, laakhon Aadmi ek saath jhukte hain, ek saath 2 zaanoo baiTh jaate hain aur amal barabar hota hai. Aisa maaloom ho raha hai goya bijli ki laakhon battiyaan ek saath raushan ho jaayen aur ek saath bujh jaayen. Kitna pur ehtiraam raub-angez nazaara hai. Jiski ham-aahangi aur wasa'at aur ta'adaad dilon par ek wizdaani kaifiyat paida kar deti hai. Goya ukhuwwat ka rishta in tamaam roohon ko munsalik kiye huye hain. 

(2)

Namaaz khatm ho gayi hai, log baaham gale mill rahe hain. Kuch log mohtaajon aur saailon ko khairaat kar rahe hain. Jo aaj yahaan hazaaron jama'a ho gaye hain. Hamaare dahqaanon ne miThaai aur khilaunon par yurish ki. BooDhe bhi in dilchaspiyon mein bachchon se kam nahin hain. 

Ye dekho hinDola hai, ek paisa de kar aasmaan par jaate maaloom honge. Kabhi zameen par girte hain, ye charkhi hai, lakDi ke ghoDe, oonT, haathi jhanDon se laTke huye hain. Ek paisa de kar baiTh jao aur 25 chakkaron ka maza lo. Mahmood aur Mohsin dono hinDole par baiThe hain. Aazar aur Sami ghoDon par. 

Unke buzurg itne hi tiflaana ishtiyaaq se charkhi par baiThe hain. Hamid door khaDa hai. 3 hi paise to uske paas hain. Zara sa chakkar khane ke liye wo apne khazaane ka sulus nahin sarf kar sakta. Mohsin ka baap baar-baar use charkhi par bulaata hai lekin wo raazi nahin hota. BooDhe kahte hain is laDke mein abhi se apna-paraaya aa gaya hai. Hamid sochta hai, kyun kisi ka ehsaan lun? Usrat ne use zaroorat se zyada zaki-ul-hiss bana diya hai. 

Sab log charkhi se utarte hain. Khilaunon ki khareed shuru hoti hai. Sipaahi aur gujariya aur raja-raani aur wakeel aur dhobi aur bhishti be-imtiyaaz raan se raan milaye baiThe hain. Dhobi raja-raani ki bagal mein hai aur bhishti wakeel sahab ki bagal mein. Waah kitne khoobsurat, bola hi chaahte hain. Mahmood sipaahi par laTTu ho jata hai. Khaaki wardi aur pagDi laal, kandhe par bandook, maloom hota hai abhi qawaaed ke liye chala aa raha hai. Mohsin ko bhishti pasand aaya. Kamar jhuki huyi hai, us par mashk ka dahaana ek haath se pakDe huye hain. Dusre haath mein rassi hai, kitna bashshaash chehra hai, shayad koi geet gaa raha hai. Mashk se paani Tapakta hua maloom hota hai. Noori ko wakeel se munasibat hai. Kitni Aalimaana surat hai, siyaah chughaa. Neeche safed achkan, achkan ke seene ki jeb mein sunahri janzeer, ek haath mein kaanoon ki kitaab liye huye hai. Maaloom hota hai, abhi kisi adaalat se jirah ya bahes kar ke chale aa rahe hain. 

Ye sab 2-2 paise ke khilaune hain. Hamid ke paas kull 3 paise hain. Agar 2-1 ka khilauna le-le to fir aur kya lega? Nahin khulaune fizool hain. Kahin haath se gir paDe to choor-choor ho jaye. Zara sa paani paD jaye to sara rang dhul jaye. In khilaunon ko lekar wo kya karega, kis masraf ke hain? 

Mohsin kahta hai, "Mera bhishti roz paani de jayega subah shaam."

Noori boli, "Aur mera wakeel roz muqadme laDega aur roz rupaye layega."

Hamid khilaunon ki mazammat karta hai. MiTTi ke hi to hain, giren to chaknachur ho jayenge, lekin har cheez ko lalchaayi huyi nazron se dekh raha hai aur chaahta hai ki zara der ke liye unhein haath mein le sakta. 

Ye bisaati ki dukaan hai, tarah-tarah ki zaruri cheezein, ek chaadar bichhi huyi hai. 

Gend, seeTiyaan, bigul, bhanwre, rabaD ke khilaune aur hazaaron cheezein. Mohsin ek seeTi leta hai, Mahmood gend, Noori rabaD ka butt jo chun-chun karta hai aur Sami ek khanjri. Use wo baja-baja kar gayega. Hamid khaDa har ek ko hasrat se dekh raha hai. Jab uska rafeeq koi cheez khareed leta hai to wo baDe ishtiyaaq se ek baar use haath mein le kar dekhne lagta hai, lekin laDke itne dost-nawaaz nahi hote. Khaaskar jab ki abhi dilchaspi taaza hai. Bechara yun hi mayoos ho kar rah jata hai. 

Khilaunon ke baad miThaiyon ka number aaya, kisi ne rewaDiyaan li hain, kisi ne gulaab jamun, kisi ne sohan halwa. Maze se kha rahe hain. Hamid unki biradri se kharij hai. Kambakht ki jeb mein 3 paise to hain, kyun nahin kuch lekar khata. Harees nigahon se sab ki taraf dekhta hai. 

Mohsin ne kaha, "Hamid ye rewaDi le ja kitni khushbudaar hain."

Hamid samajh gaya ye mahez shararat hai. Mohsin itna faiyaaz-taba'a na tha. Fir bhi uske paas gaya. Mohsin ne done se 2-3 rewaDiyaan nikali. Hamid ki taraf baDhayi. Hamid ne haath failaya. Mohsin ne haath kheench liya aur rewaDiyaan apne munh mein rakh li. Mahmood aur Noori aur Sami khoob taaliyaan baja-baja kar hansne lage. Hamid khisyana ho gaya. Mohsin ne kaha, "Achcha ab zaroor denge. Ye le jao. Allah kasam."

Hamid ne kaha, "Rakhiye-rakhiye kya mere paas paise nahin hain?"

Sami bola, "3 hi paise to hain, kya-kya loge?"

Mahmood bola, "Tum isse mat bolo, Hamid mere paas aao. Ye gulaab jamun le lo."

Hamid, "MiThayi kaun si baDi nemat hai. Kitaab mein uski buraiyaan likhi hain."

Mohsin, "Lekin ji mein kah rahe hoge ki kuch mill jaye to kha le."

Apne paise kyun nahin nikaalte?"

Mahmood, "Iski hoshiyari main samajhta hun. Jab hamare sare paise kharch ho jayenge, tab ye miThayi lega aur hamein chiDha-chiDha kar khayega."

Halwai yon ki dukaan ke aage kuch dukaanein lohe ki cheezon ki thi kuch galaT aur mulamma ke zewraat ki. LaDkon ke liye yahaan koi dilchaspi ka samaan na tha. Hamid lohe ki dukaan par ek lamhe ke liye ruk gaya. Dast-panaah rakhe huye the. Wo dast-panaah khareed lega. Maa ke paas dast-panaah nahin hai. Tawe se roTiyaan utaarti hai to haath jal jata hai. Agar wo dast-panaah le ja kar Amma ko de do to wo kitni khush hongi. Fir unki ungaliyaan kabhi nahi jalengi, ghar mein ek kaam ki cheez ho jayegi. Khilaunon se kya faida. Muft mein paise kharaab hote hain. Zara der hi to khushi hoti hai fir to unhein koi aankh uTha kar kabhi nahin dekhta. Ya to ghar pahunchte-pahunchte TooT-fooT kar barbaad ho jayenge ya chhoTe bachche jo Eidgaah nahin ja sakte zidd kar ke le lenge aur toD Daalenge. 

Dast-panaah kitne faide ki cheez hai. RoTiyaan tawe se utaar lo, choolhe se aag nikaal kar de do. Amma ko fursat kahaan hai bazaar aayen aur itne paise kahaan milte hain. Roz haath jala leti hain. Uske saathi aage baDh gaye hain. Sabeel par sab ke sab paani pee rahe hain. Kitne laalchi hain. Sabne itni miThaiyaan li, kisi ne mujhe ek bhi na di. Is par kahte hain mere saath khelo. Meri takhti dho lao. Ab agar yahaan Mohsin ne koi kaam karne ko kaha to khabar lunga, khaayen miThaai aap hi munh saDega, foDe funsiyaan niklengi. Aap hi zubaan chaTori ho jayegi, tab paise churayenge aur maar khayenge. Meri zubaan kyun kharaab hogi. 

Usne fir socha, Amma dast-panaah dekhte hi dauD kar mere haath se le lengi aur kahengi. Mera beTa apni maa ke liye dast-panaah laya hai, hazaaron Duaein dengi. Fir use padosiyon ko dikhayengi. Saare gaanv mein waah-waah mach jayegi. Un logon ke khilaunon par unhein kaun Duaein dega. Buzurgon ki Duaein seedhi Khuda ki dargaah mein pahunchti hain aur fauran qubool hoti hain. Mere paas bahut se paise nahin hain. Jab hi to Mohsin aur Mahmood yun mizaaj dikhate hain. Mai bhi unko mizaaj dikhaunga. Wo khilaune khelen, miThaiyaan khayen. Mai gareeb sahi. Kisi se kuch mangne to nahi jata. Aakhir Abba kabhi na kabhi aayenge hi. Fir un logon se puchunga kitne khilaune loge? Ek-ek ko ek Tokri du aut dikha du ki doston ke saath is tarah sulook kiya jata hai. 

Jitne gareeb laDke hain sab ko achche-achche kurte dilwa dunga aur kitaaben de dunga, ye nahin ki ek paise ki rewaDiyaan le to chiDha-chiDha kar khaane lagein. Dast-panaah dekh kar sab hansenge. Ahmaq to hain hi sab. 

 Usne Darte-Darte dukandaar se puchha, "Ye dast-panaah bechoge?"

Dukandaar ne uski taraf dekha aur saath koi aadmi na dekh kar kaha, wo tumhare kaam ka nahin hai. 

"Bikau hai ya nahin?"

"Bikaau hai ji aur yahaan kyun laad kar laaye hain?"

"To batlaate kyun nahin? Kai paise ke doge?"

"6 paise lagega"

Hamid ka dill baiTh gaya. Kaleja mazboot kar ke bola, 3 paise loge? Aur aage baDha ki dukandaar ki ghurkiyaan na sune, magar dukandaar ne ghurkiyaan na di. Dast-panaah uski taraf baDha diya aur paise le liye. Hamid ne dast-panaah kandhe par rakh liya, goya bandook hai aur shaan se akaDta hua apne rafeeqon ke paas aaya. Mohsin ne hanste huye kaha, "Ye dast-panaah laya hai. Ahmaq ise kya karoge?"

Hamid ne dast-panaah ko zameen par paTak kar kaha, "Zara apna bhishti zameen par gira do, saari pasliyaan choor-choor ho jayengi bachchu ki."

Mahmood, "To ye dast-panaah koi khilauna hai?"

Hamid, "Khilauna kyun nahin hai? Abhi kandhe par rakha, bandook ho gaya, haath mein le liya faqeer ka chimTa ho gaya, chaahun to isse tumhari naak pakaD lu. Ek chimTa fu to tum logon ke saare khilauno ki jaan nikal jaye. Tumhare khilaune kitna hi zor lagayen, iska baal baaqa nahin kar sakte. Mera bahadur sher hai ye dast-panaah."

Sami muta'assir ho kar bola, "Meri khanjri se badloge? 2 aane ki hai."

Hamid ne khanjri ki taraf hiqaarat se dekh kar kaha, "Mera dast-panaah ch aahe to tumhari khanjri ka peT faaD Daale. Bas ek chamDe ki jhilli laga di, Dhab-Dhab bolne lagi. Zara sa paani lage to khatm ho jaye. Mera bahadur dast-panaah to aag mein, paani mein, aandhi mein, toofaan mein barabar DaTaa rahega."

Mela bahot door peechhe chhoot chuka tha. 10 baj rahe the. Ghar pahunchne ki jaldi thi. Ab dast-panaah nahin mil sakta tha. Ab kisi ke paas paise bhi to nahin rahe, Hamid hai baDa hoshiyaar. Ab 2 fareeq ho gaye, Mahmood, Mohsin aur Noori ek taraf, Hamid tanha dusri taraf. Sami gair jaanib-daar hai, jiski fat'h dekhega uski taraf ho jayega. 

Munaazra shuru ho gaya. Aaj Hamid ki zubaan baDi safaai se chal rahi hai. Ittihaad-e-salaasa uske jaarehana A'mal se pareshan ho raha hai. Salaasa ke paas ta'adaad ki taaqat hai, Hamid ke paas Haq aur akhlaaq, ek taraf miTTi rabaD aur lakDi ki cheezein, dusri janib akela loha jo us waqt apne aap ko faulaad kah raha hai. Wo saf-shikan hai. Agar kahin sher ki aawaz kaan mein aa jaaye to miyaan bhishti ke ausaan khata ho jayen. Miyaan sipaahi maTki bandook chhoDkar bhaagen. Wakeel sahab ka sara kanoon peT mein samaa jaye. Chuge mein, munh mein chhupa kar leT jayen. Magar bahadur, ye rustam-e-hind lapak kar sher ki gardan par sawaar ho jayega aur uski aanken nikaal lega. 

Mohsin ne eDi choTi ka zor laga kar kaha, "Achcha tumhara dast-panaah paani to nahin bhar sakta. Hamid ne dast-panaah ko seedha kar ke kaha ki ye bhshti ko ek DaanT pilayega to dauDa hua paani laa kar uske darwaaze par chhiDakne lagega. Janaab isse ch aahe ghaDe maTke aur koonDe bhar lo. 

Mohsin ka naatika band ho gaya. Noori ne kumuk pahunchaai, "Bachcha giraftaar ho jaayen to adaalat mein bandhe-bandhe firenge. Tab to hamare wakeel sahab hi pairwi karenge. Boliye janaab. 

Hamid ke paas is waar ka dafaiih itna asaan na tha, dafa'tan usne zara mohlat pa jaane ke iraade se puchha, " Ise pakaDne kaun aayega?"

Mahmood ne kaha, "Ye sipaahi bandook wala."

Hamid ne munh chiDhakar kaha, "Ye bechaare is rustam-e-hind ko pakaD lenge? Achcha lao abhi zara muqabla ho jaye. Uski soorat dekhte hi bachche ki maa mar jayegi, pakDenge kya bechaare."

Mohsin ne taaza-dam hokar waar kiya, "Tumhare dast-panaah ka munh roz aag mein jalaa karega." Hamid ke paas jawaab tayyar tha, 

"Aag mein bahaadur koodte hain janaab. Tumhare ye wakeel aur sipaahi aur bhishti darpok hain. Sab ghar mein ghus jayenge. Aag mein koodna wo kaam hai jo rustam hi kar sakta hai." Noori ne intihaai jiddat se kaam liya, "Tumhara dast-panaah bawarchi khaane mein zameen par paDa rahega. Mera wakeel shaan se mez-kursi lagaa kar baiThega." Is jumle ne murdon mein bhi jaan Daal di, Sami bhi jeet gaya. "Be-shaq baDe maarke ki baat kahi, dast-panaah bawarchi khaane mein paDa rahega."

Hamid ne dhaandhli ki, "Mera dast-panaah baawarchi khaane mein rahega, wakeel sahab kursi par baiThenge to ja kar unhein zameen par paTak dega aur sara kanoon unke peT mein Daal dega."

Is jawaab mein bilkul jaan na thi, bilkul betuki sir baat thi lekin kanoon peT mein Dalne wali baat chhaa gayi. Teenon soorma munh takte rah gaye. Hamid ne maidaan jeet liya, go salaasa ke paas abhi gend seeTi aur butt rizarv the magar in machineganon ke saamne un buzdilon ko kaun puchhta hai. Dast-panaah rustam-e-hind hai. Ismein kisi ko choon-chira ki gunjaaish nahin."

Faateh ko maftoohon se khushaamad ka mizaaj milta hai. Wo Hamid ko milne laga aur sab ne 3-3 aane kharch kiye aur koi kaam ki cheez na laa sake. Hamid ne 3 hi paison mein rang jama liya. Khilaunon ka kya aitbaar. 2-1 din mein TooT-fooT jayenge. Hamid ka dast-panaah to faateh rahega. Hamesha sul'h ki sharten taye hone lagi. Mohsin ne kaha, "Zara apna chimTa do. Ham bhi to dekhein. Tum chaaho to hamara wakeel dekh lo Hamid! hamein ismein koi aitraaj nahin hai. Wo fayyaz-tab'a faateh hai. Dast-panaah baari-baari se Mahmood, Mohsin, Noor aur Sami sab ke haathon mein gaya aur unke khilaune baari-baari Hamid ke haath mein aaye. Kitne khoob-soorat khilaune hain, maloom hota hai bolna hi chahte hain. Magar in khilaunon ke liye unhein Dua kaun dega? Kaun in khilaunon ko dekh kar khush hoga jitna Amma jaan dast-panaah dekh kar hongi. Use apne tarz-e-A'mal par mutlaq pachhtaawa nahin hai. Fir ab dast-panaah to hai aur sab ka Baadshah. 

Raaste mein Mahmood ne 1 paise ki kakaDiyaan li. Ismein Hamid ko bhi khiraaj mila haalanki wo inkaar karta raha. Mohsin aur Sami ne 1-1 paise ke faalse liye, Hamid ko khiraaj mila. Ye sab rustam-e-hind ki barkat thi. 

11 baje saare gaanv mein chahel-pahel ho gayi. Mele wale aa gaye. Mohsin ki chhoTi bahen ne dauD kar bhishti uske haath se chheen liya aur maare khushi jo uchhli to miyaan bhishti neechhe aa rahe aur aalam-e-jaawedaani ko sidhaare. Is par bhai-bahen ne maar peeT huyi. Dono khoob roye. Unki Amma jaan ye kohraam sunn kar aur bigDi. Dono ko upar se 2-2 chaanTe raseed kiye. 

Miyaan Noori ke wakeel sahab ka hashr isse bhi bad-tar hua. Wakeel zameen par ya taaq par to nahin baiTh sakta. Uski position ka lihaaz to karna hi hoga. Deewaar mein 2 khooTiyaan gaaDi gayin. un par cheeD ka ek purana paTra rakha gaya. PaTre par surkh rang ka ek cheethDa bichha diya gaya, jo manzila-e-kaaleen tha. Wakeel sahab aalam-e-baala se Duniya-e-faani mein aa rahe. Aur unki mujassma-e-khaaki ke purze huye. Fir baDe zor ka maatam hua aur wakeel sahab ki mayyat paarsi dastoor ke mutaabiq kooDe par fenk di gayi taaki be-kaar na jaa kar zaag-o-zagan ke kaam aa jaye. 

Ab rahe miyaan Mahmood ke sipaahi. Wo mohtram aur zee-raub hasti hai. Apne pairon chalne ki zillat use gawaara nahin. Mahmood ne apni bakri ka bachcha pakDa aur us par sipaahi ko sawaar kiya. Mahmood ki bahen ek haath se sipaahi ko pakDe huye thi aur Mahmood bakri ke bachche ka kaam pakaD kar use darwaaze par chala raha tha aur uske dono bhai sipaahi ki taraf se "Thaane wale daagte laho" Pukarte chalte the. Maloom nahin kya hua, miyaan sipaahi apne ghoDe ki peeTh se gir paDe aur apni bandook liye zameen par aa rahe. Ek Taang mazroob ho gayi. Magar koi muzaaiqa nahin, Mahmood hoshiyaar doctor hai. Doctor Nigam aur BhaTiya uski shagirdgi kar sakte hain aur ye TooTi Taang aanan-faanan mein joD dega. Sirf goolar ka doodh chahiye. Goolar ka doodh aata hai. Taang joDi jaati hai lekin joon hi khaDa hota hai, Taang fir alag ho jaati hai. A'mal-e-jarraahi naakam ho jata hai. Tab Mahmood uski dusri Taang bhi toD deta hai. Ab wo aaram se ek jagah baiTh sakta hai. Ek Taang se to na chal sakta tha na baiTh sakta tha. 

Ab miyaan Hamid ka kissa suniye. Ameena iski aawaz sunte hi daDi aur use godi mein uTha kar pyaar karne lagi. Dafa'tan uske haath mein chimTa dekh kar chaunk paDi. 

"Ye dast-panaah kahaan tha beTa?"

"Maine moll liya hai, 3 paise mein."

Ameena ne chhati peeT li, "Ye kaisa be-samajh laDka hai ki dopaher ho gayi. Na kuch khaya na piya. Laya kya ye dast-panaah. Saare mele mein tujhe aur koi cheez na mili."

Hamid ne khata-waraana andaaz se kaha, "Tumhari ungliyaan tawe se jal jaati thi ki nahin?"

Ameena ka gussa fauran shafqat mein tabdeel ho gaya aur shafqat bhi wo nahin jo munh par bayaan hoti hai aur apni saari taseer lafzon mein muntashir kar deti hai. Ye be-zubaan shafqat thi. Dard-e-iltija mein Doobi huyi. Uff! Kitni nafs kushi hai. Kitni jaan-sozi hai. Ghareeb ne apne tiflaana ishtiyaaq ko rokne ke liye kitna zabt kiya. Jab dusre laDke khilaune le rahe honge, miThaiyaan kha rahe honge, uska dill kitna lahraata hoga. Itna zabt isse hua. Kyunki apni booDhi maa ki yaad use wahaan bhi rahi. Mera laal meri kitni fikr rakhta hai. Uske dill mein ek aisa jazba paida hua ki uske haath mein Duniya ki baadshahat aa jaye aur use Hamid ke upar nisaar kar de. 

Aur tab hi baDi dilchasp baat huyi. BuDhiya Ameena nanhi si Ameena ban gayi. Wo rone lagi. Daaman faila kar Hamid ko Duaen deti jaati thi aur aankhon se aansu ki baDi-baDi boonde girati jati thi. Hamid iska raaz kya samjhta aur na shayad hamare ba'az nazreen hi samajh sakenge. 

Source:

Prem Chand Ke Muntakhab Afsane