Swarna hansini: Lobh ka moolya

Kisi nagar se door ek chhote gaanv mein apni do nanhi putriyon, das aur baarah varsh ki saumya ladkiyon sahit ek nirdhan vidhva rehti thi. Uske pati ki mrityu use ek nanhi jhonpdi aur chhoti bhoomi ke siva kuch na chhodkar hui thi, aur yadyapi vah bhor se saanjh tak kaarya karti, kaatti aur kheton mein shram karti, vah apne bachchon ko kathinata se khila paati. Ladkiyann achhi aur aagyakaari thin, aur ve kabhi shikaayat na kartin, parantu maata unke duble mukh aur paiband lage vastra dekhti, aur uska hriday dukhta. Ek praatah, jab usne apni jhonpdi ka dwaar khola, to usne ati adbhut drishya paaya: shuddh swarna ke pankhon waali ek mahaan hansini uske aangan mein khadi thi, suryaprakaash mein jeevit ratna jaisi damakti hui. Stri haanphi, aur hansini ne komal swar mein usse kaha. Bhay mat karo, hansini ne kaha. Maine tumhaara kathor parishram aur tumhaari nirmal achhaai dekhi hai, aur main tumhaari sahaayata hetu aayi hoon. Har din, bina chooke, main tumhein apna ek swarna pankh doongi. Ise becho, aur tumhaare paas aaraam se jeene ko paryaapt hoga. Parantu mujhse ek vachan do: ek baar mein keval ek pankh lo, aur mujhe kabhi haani mat pahunchaao. Stri ne prasannata se vachan diya, aur hansini ne ek swarna pankh nikaala aur uske charnon mein rakha. Stri kaanpte haathon se pankh baazaar le gayi aur sunaar ko achhe moolya par becha, aur varshon mein pehli baar usne chaaval aur daal aur tel aur apni putriyon hetu naye vastra khareede. Ladkiyann harsh se hansin aur jhonpdi ke chaaron or naachin, aur nanhi jhonpdi aise sukh se bhar gayi jo usne kabhi na jaana tha. Apne vachan ki sacchi, swarna hansini bina chooke har praatah lauti, aur har praatah usne ek swarna pankh diya, swayam nikaalkar stri ke charnon mein komalta se rakhte hue. Dheere-dheere parivaar ka jeevan badla. Ve apne jeevan mein pehli baar achha khaate, sheet pavan se garma vastra pehente, aur maata ne mitti ke bartan mein kuch sikke bachaaye bhi. Putriyaan us sundar hansini se gahan prem kartin aur use apne katoron se chun-chunkar anaaj khilaatin, aur hansini unke beech prasann lagti. Parantu jaise saptaah beete aur sikkon ka nanha dher badha, maata ke hriday mein ek nayi aur kuroop bhaavana rengi, yadyapi usne use door dhakelne ka prayaas kiya. Din mein ek pankh, usne socha. Is gati se sachmuch dhani hone mein varsh lagenge. Main prateeksha kyon karoon? Yadi main ek baar mein samast pankh noch loon, to main aaj dhani ho jaaungi, aur hansini naye uga legi. Uski putriyon ne, jo apni aayu se adhik gyaani ho gayi thin, aansuon sahit usse lobh na karne ki yaachana ki. Maata, unhone kaha, hansini ne keval dhairya maanga tha, aur dhairya ne hamein sukhi kiya hai. Apna vachan mat todo. Parantu maata ne na suna. Lobh ne uske kaan behre kar diye the. Agle praatah, jab swarna hansini nitya jaisi aayi, vishvaasi aur nishank aur prasann abhivaadan karti hui, stri ne use rookhepan se pakda aur uska ek-ek swarna pankh noch liya, unhein bore mein thoonsate hue. Bechaari hansini asahya peeda se cheetkaari aur nagna aur raktaranjit vahaan se bhaagi, phir kabhi na lautne hetu. Stri vijayi hansi hansi aur apna ratna ginne bori kholi. Parantu jaise hi usne dekha, uski hansi mari. Bore ke pankh ab swarna na rahe the. Jaise hi ve lobh se noche gaye the, ve saadhaaran shvet pankhon mein badal gaye the, sarvatha moolyaheen. Aur yadyapi vah aasha mein din-pratidin prateeksha karti rahi, swarna hansini kabhi na lauti, kyonki us divya hansini ka jaadu uski vishvaasghaat se sada hetu toot chuka tha. Parivaar sheeghra phir nirdhanta mein gira, pehle se gahan aur andhkaarmay, kyonki ab aasha bhi gayi thi aur padosi stri ki moorkhata par kaanaphoosi karte the. Putriyaan foot-footkar roin, khoye swarna hetu nahin, apitu apni sundar mitra hetu jise unki maata ke lobh ne peeda mein bhaga diya tha. Yah katha samast Bharat mein sikhaane sunai jaati hai ki lobh dhan ke srot ko hi nasht karta hai, ki dhairya se praapt sthir aashirvaad ek baar mein chheene gaye bhaagya se adhik moolyavaan hai, aur hamaari sahaayata karne waalon se kiye vachan pavitra hain aur kabhi nahin tode jaane chaahiye.