BHAVANIPUR KA SHAAPIT MAHAL

20 saal ka Sekhar ek talented nature artist tha. Usne apni paintings ke liye kai awards jeete the aur college mein bhi sab uski kala ke deewane the.

Ek din college mein painting competition announce hua. Theme thi – "Purane Mahal ki Khoobsurti".

Sekhar ne socha ki agar asli mahal dekhkar painting banayi jaaye to uski painting sabse alag hogi.

Usse yaad aaya ki uske mama Bhavanipur gaon mein rehte hain. Bachpan mein mama ne use ek purane mahal se door rehne ki warning di thi, lekin kabhi wajah nahi batayi thi.

Sekhar Bhavanipur pahunch gaya aur mama se bola,

"Mama, main kuch din yahan rehna chahta hoon aur us purane mahal ki painting banana chahta hoon."

Mama ka chehra achanak udaas ho gaya.

"Beta, us mahal se jitna door raho utna achha hai."

Lekin Sekhar ke bahut kehne par mama maan gaye.

"Theek hai, lekin bahut saavdhan rehna."

Agle din Sekhar apna canvas aur rang lekar mahal pahunch gaya.

Mahal dekhne mein bahut hi shandaar tha, lekin uske aas-paas ek ajeeb sannata tha.

Mahal ke paas ek purana talab tha. Sekhar wahin baithkar painting banane laga.

Kuch der baad usne mehsoos kiya ki mahal ke andar se kisi aurat ke chalne ki awaaz aa rahi hai.

Tak... Tak... Tak...

Sekhar ne mahal ki taraf dekha, lekin wahan koi nahi tha.

Usne phir painting shuru kar di.

Thodi der baad uske kaanon mein ghungroo ki halki si awaaz gunj uthi.

Chan... Chan... Chan...

Ab uska dil ghabraane laga.

Jab usne apni painting ki taraf dekha to uske hosh udd gaye.

Mahal ki jagah canvas par ek khoobsurat aurat ka chehra bana hua tha.

Sekhar darr gaya.

Shaam hote hi woh ghar laut aaya.

Lekin agle din bhi wahi hua.

Aur uske agle din bhi.

Har baar mahal ki painting apne aap ek aurat ki tasveer mein badal jaati.

Ab Sekhar ko samajh nahi aa raha tha ki yeh sab kya ho raha hai.

Ek din jab woh painting bana raha tha tab ek chhoti si ladki uske paas aayi.

"Tum roz is mahal mein kyun aate ho?"

Sekhar ne kaha,

"College competition ke liye painting bana raha hoon."

Ladki ka chehra gambhir ho gaya.

"Yeh mahal shaapit hai."

Sekhar ne poocha,

"Kya matlab?"

Ladki ne dheere se kahani sunani shuru ki.

"Kai saalon pehle Raja Tilak Raj naam ka ek raja tha. Woh bahut hi ayyaash aur ghamandi tha. Usne chaar shaadiyaan ki thi, lekin phir bhi uski buri nazar har sundar aurat par padti thi."

"Ek din shikaar karte hue woh jungle mein bhatak gaya aur paani ki talaash mein ek rishi ke aashram pahunch gaya."

"Jab usne paani maanga, tab aashram se ek sundar ladki bahar aayi."

"Uska naam tha Bhanumati."

"Raja use dekhte hi uspar mohit ho gaya."

"Kuch din baad Raja Tilak Raj ne Bhanumati ke liye shaadi ka prastaav bheja."

"Lekin Bhanumati ne mana kar diya."

"Kyunki woh kisi aur se prem karti thi."

"Apni beizzati seh na paakar Raja ne gusse mein Bhanumati aur uske premi dono ki hatya kar di."

Sekhar ka gala sookhne laga.

"Phir kya hua?"

Ladki ki aankhon mein aansu aa gaye.

"Bhanumati ke pita Rishi Shobit ne Raja ko shraap diya."

"'Tilak Raj! Tumhari poori vansh ka vinaash hoga. Tumhari aatma kabhi shaanti nahi paayegi aur sada isi mahal mein bhatakti rahegi.'"

"Us shraap ke baad Raja aur uski poori peedhi ek-ek karke mar gayi."

"Aaj bhi Raja Tilak Raj ki dusht aatma us mahal mein bhatakti hai."

Sekhar ne ghabraakar poocha,

"Tumhe yeh sab kaise pata?"

Ladki dheere-dheere muskuraayi.

Uski aankhen achanak chamakne lagi.

"Tumne pehchana nahi, Sekhar?"

Sekhar peeche hat gaya.

"Kaun ho tum?"

Ladki ne dheere se kaha,

"Main hi Bhanumati hoon..."

Itna kehkar ladki hawa mein gaayab ho gayi.

Sekhar ke haath se brush gir gaya.

Aur uski painting mein phir se wahi chehra ubhar aaya...

Bhanumati ka chehra.

THE END.