Yuvraj gardan jhuka ek rajmahal mein khada tha . Pura mahal mano khamoshi ki chadar odhe baitha ho . Samane sihansan par kisi tarah aansu roke baitha raja Yuvraj ko dekh raha tha . Chehare par gadhi halki kali ho chuki dadhi, lambe bal, svarn mukut aur reshami dushala odhe raja samane dekh raha tha . Tabhi usake paas baithe rajkumar ke subakane ne sab ka dhyan tod diya . 
“Ham se kya apeksha rakhate hai yuvraj ?” Raja ne puchha .
“Apeksha nahi, dand chahiye, didi apaki amanat thi aur .....”
“Vo ek vir yoddha thi aur......” Rajkumar uth apani bhavanao ko rokata hua “Yoddha ki tarah mar gayi, ab ansuo se usake balidan ko vyarth mat karo .”
“Mainne apani ankhon ke samane apani bahan ko rakh hote dekha hai .” Yuvraj ek ghutane par baith “Main pitaji ko un aparadhiyon ke sar katane ka vachan de kar aya hun, ap se vinati hai mujhe itana samarth dijiye taki main unhen khojakar dand de saku .”
“Ap chahate kya hai ?” Raja use dekhate hue “Khulakar bataiye .” 
“Hamen chhathamabhut ke lie apaki sahamati chahie .” 
“Yuvraj Akshat.............!!!” Raja grjate hue khada ho gaya .
Mantriyon ki talavare tan gayi .
“Pitaji.....!!” Rajkumar ne Raja ko roka .
“Abhi hamari duniya ke itane bure din bhi nahi aye hai jo use davan par lagane mein apaka samarthan kare .” Pure mahal mein gunjayaman svar ke sath Raja “Aap hamare sambandhi banane vale the isi vajah se ap itani badi bat bolane ke bad bhi jivit khade hai .”
“Ap hamen maut ka dar dikha chup nahi kar sakate maharaj, ap mere prastav ko vidroh is lie man rahe hai, abhi ap ka shahar bacha hua hai .”
“Aur ye jyada din tak bacha nahi rah payega .” Darabar mein Senapati ne ate hue kaha .
“Ye ap kya bol rahe hai Senapati ji ?” Raja ne words ko or uncha kar liya .
“Ghusapaithiyon ka agala nishana ham hai .” Senapati Raja ko pranam karata hai .
“Apako ye kaisa pata chala ?” Rajkumar ke bagal mein khade mahamantri ne puchha .
“Rajy ki simao mein ajanabi logo ke ghusane ke sanket hai .” Senapati Yuvraj ko dekh “Sima par sainiko ki maut aur unake sharir par katar ka nishan .” 
“Koi aur sakshy ?” Raja ne puchha .
“Gvalin man ne bhi urja ke srot par sankat ki bat kahi hai .” Senapati ne kaha .
“To kya ap bhi Yuvraj ki bat par sahamati jata rahe hai ?” Mahamantri ne apani saphed ho chuki bauh ko upar karate hue bola . 
“Nahi maharaj, Yuvraj to nadan hai hamare paas to hajaro sadhan hai unhen rokane ke lie .”
“Sadhan to hamare pas bhi kaphi the Senapati ji, par hua kya ?” Yuvraj sochate hue “Muly to meri didi ko chukana pada na .”
“Ap bachcho ke hath mein Raja ki shakti dene ki bat kar rahe hai, ye to sarasar nadani hai . Unhen dusare tariko se bhi roko ja sakata hai .” Senapati ne kaha .
“Aur vo tarike hai kya ?” Yuvraj ne puchha .
“Hamare vichar se ap ko vishram karana chahiye Yuvraj .” 
“Vishram karane ke lie mainne apana shahar nahi chhodo hai.....!” Yuvraj darabar se nikalate hue “ main apane dam par hi unako khoj lugan .” 
“Senapati ji apane dusare tarike bataye ." Yuvraj ko raukane ke lie age badh rahe Rajkumar ko hath ke ishare se rokate Raja ne bola . 
“Maharaj sabase pahale hamen janch ki avashyakata hai ." 
“Ap janch ke lie kise chunane ka sujhav dete hai ?" Raja ne Senapati ke sath dusare mantriyon ko bhi dekha, sabaki ray janane ke lie .
“Maharaj aisa nahi hai hamen apane guptacharon par vishvas hi hai par......” Sankochavash Senapati ruk gaya .
“Apako bolane ki svatantrata hai Senapati .”
“Maharaj jin halato mein hamare padosi shaharon ke urjakendr nasht kar die gaye hai usase to aisa pratit hota hai ghusapaithiye hamari soch se bhi pare ki kisi duniya ke hai .” 
“Ap saf – 2 kahie Senapati ji, kahana kya chahate hai ?” Rajkumar ne kaha .
“Ham unaki takanik ke age nakam hai Rajkumar .” Senapati gardan jhukate hue “Hamen aisa jiv chahie jo unase bhi adhik unnat takanik ko janata ho .”
“Apaki najar mein kaun hai Senapati ?” Raja ne puchha .
“Pranon ka dan de to ek nam lena chahata hun .” Senapati ghutane par baith gaya .
“Agya hai .” 
“Devil maharaj.........” Senapati jaise hi bola .
“Senapati.....!!!!” Raja chillata hua khada ho gaya .
Sare mantri bhi gusse mein khade ho gaye .
“Xama chahata hun maharaj, parantu is samay vo hi hamari madad kar sakata hai .” Senapati najare nichi karate hue “Koi bhi duniya, koi bhi jiv usaki najaro se bacha nahi hai . Agar hamen shanti se is samasya se nikalana hai to usaki madad leni hi hogi .”
“Hamen apani dharati ka vinash svikar hai parantu us chalabaj aur dhokebaj ka yahan ana svikar nahi hai maharaj .” Ek mantri bola .
“Ye samay biti bato ko yad karane ka nahi hai maharaj, sankat samane hai aur hamen apane akhiri vikalp se bachana hai .” Senapati ka ishara chhathamabhut ki taraph tha .
“Bas Senapati,bahut bol chuke tum .” Raja ne kaha .
Sab Raja ke javab ka intajar kar rahe the .
“Sabha khatm ki jati hai .” Raja uthakar chala gaya aur Rajkumar Senapati ko dekhane laga .

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Yuvraj kitane hi dinon tak padosi shaharon mein ghumata raha, kitane hi Rajao se chhathamabhut ke lie ijajt mangi par kisi ne usaka sath nahi diya . Yuvraj apane gusse ko sabhal aur apani didi ki maut ko yad karata ghaude par daudata ja raha tha . Apane shahar ki halat, apane pita ka rona , khud ka ghar chhodana, usake andar itani baicheni badha chuka tha use ye bhi hosh nahi raha vo ja kahan raha tha .Ghoda ghane jangal mein puri raphtar se daud aha tha par Yuvraj ko jara sa bhi hosh nahi tha . 
Tabhi ek jhadi ko par karate hi Yuvraj ke sine par joradar lakadi se var hua . Yuvraj do palo mein hi dharati ki dhul mein khun se lathapath pada tha . Dard ko sanson mein sament Yuvraj ne dhul bhari ankhe kholi to samane adhe ghode aur adhe insan khade the .
“Gussa............." White ghode ki body aur sunahari insan ke bal lie aurat muskurati hui "Jab ye sar par nachata hai to shahar ke shahar tabah ho jate hai ." Aurat Yuvraj ko lat marati hui " Tum to ek chhote se prani ho ?"
laat padate hi Yuvraj behosh ho gaya . Jab use hosh ay to vo badi si kadhai mein kholate pani ke upar rassi se lataka hua tha . Pani ko ubalata dekh usake hosh ud gaye, usaki body khud hi chhatapatane lagi .
“Jyada hilo mat varana tumhari to mahenat to bekar jayegi hi......." Aaurat usake pas akar usake gore badan ko dekh "Hamen tum par jo itani mahenat ki hai usaka kya hoga ?"
Yuvraj ne apani gardan uthayi to vo ghane jangal mein rahane vali adimanus ki basti mein tha , ek ajib ghans phuns se bana kabile tipai ka gavan , jahan charon taraph us aurat jaise hi kitane dusare adami, aurate, bachche the jo usaki halat par hans rahe the . Yuvraj ne gusse mein apane hatho ko dekha jinamen thodi si raushani uthi aur gayab ho gayi . Yuvraj hairan tha usaki shakti lagabhag khatm ho gayi thi .
“Jyada dimag par jor dalo, tumhari shaktiyan kahin nahi gayi hai, tum bel shakh se bandhe ho jo tumhari shaktiyon ko tumhare sharir se nikalate hi sokh leti hai ."
Yuvraj ne dur ghans ke dher par padi apani talavar ko dekha jo ankhon ke ishare se hi usaki taraph uchhal gayi . Par dusare hi pal usaki hairani ki sima nahi rahi, aurat ne talavar hatho mein pakadi hui thi .
“Is gavan ki mukhiyan hun ....." Aurat talavar ko hatho mein ghuma, Yuvraj ko apani talavar kala dikhati hui "Kuchh to ijjat karo meri."
“Chahati kya ho, tum khaogi to nahi mujhe....?" Yuvraj ki ankhon mein dar nahi tha .
“Kisi ko khila to sakati hun na......" Bol kar aurat hansane lagi sath hi pure gavan ke log bhi .
“Khamosh !!!!" Yuvraj puri kshamata se chillaya . 
Sab chup ho ek - dusare ko dekhane lage mano hoth sil die ho kisi ne unake .
“Mujhe ajad karane ka kya logi ?" Chhatapatate Yuvraj ne puchha .
“Akhiri sanse lete tum hamen kya doge ?" 
“Agar ham de to ?" Yuvraj ke bolane se pahale hi jhadiyon ke pichhe se avaj ayi .
Sab ne hathiyar utha kiye the . Tabhi ek chandani sa ujval chahara lie ladaki samane a gayi . Chahare se tapakata nur, lambe gzungharale lal rang ke balo par hiro se jada sone ka mukat lie, lal mani si chamakati badi - 2 ankhe , lambi nak aur patale hotho ko muskan ke lie phailati ladaki shalinata ke sath apane pariyon jaise saphed gulab ke rang vale libas se dudh se pairo ko age badhati hui aurat ke pas akar khadi ho gayi .
“Agar ham tumhen kuchh de to ?" ladaki ne bat ko dauharaya .
“Rajkumari (Bala) ki jay ho ." Aurat hath jod pichhe khadi ho gayi . 
“Batao inhen chhodane ke lie kya chahie ?” Rajkumari ne apani hatheli age kar di, jis par sunahari prakash ubhar raha tha .
“Ye jarur koi khas hoga Rajkumari jo ap isake badale apani shaktiyan dene ke lie taiyar hai .” Aurat muskurate hue “Apake lie to pran hajir hai ye mamuli kya chij hai ?”
“Ham tumhari rajy bhakti se khush hai isalie tumhen uttar disha ki or maidanon mein jane ki anumati dete hai .” Rajkumari ne badi shalinata se kaha .
Sunate hi sab ke chahare khil gaye .
“Rajkumari ki jay ho......!!” Mano pura gavan hi chillaya ho .
“Isake andar samajhadari ki kami hai Rajkumari, apako isase khatara jyada rahega .”
Aurat ke ishare ke sath hi pura gavan jangal mein usake pichhe daud gaya . Rajkumari ab shant ankhon se Yuvraj ko dekhane lagi jo abhi bhi gusse mein hath mein bandhi rassiyon ko kholane ki koshish kar raha tha .
“Jisane bhi kaha tha sabase bada murkh tha .” Yuvraj ankhon se apana gussa darshata hai .
“Vo apaki didi aur hamari hone vali bhabhi thi .” 
Do hi palo mein Yuvraj ka gussa shant ho gaya .
“Sath hi ye bhi kaha tha jis din mera bhai is bat ko samajh jayega usi din meri chinta khatm ho jayegi .” Jhadi se nikalate Rajkumar ne kaha .
“Bhaiya ap...........?” Rajkumari ne do kadam pichhe rakh darate hue puchha .
“Tumhen kya lagata hai bahana, tum mahal se chupake se nikalogi aur kisi ko khabar nahi hogi ?” 
“Bhaiya vo ham to............” 
“Shant raho !” Rajkumar Yuvraj se “Ham apaki baat se sahamat hai par un ghusapaithiyon ko khoj kar khatm karane tak hi .” 
“Aap chori se hamen chhathamabhut ka rahasy bataegen ?” Yuvraj pahale hi bol pada .
“Kuchh der ke lie apana muhan band rakhiye .” apne uthe hath ko rokate hue Rajkumar “Hamare Senapati ne guptacharon ka prastav rakha hai, jisamen ham bhi sahamat hai par...”
“Par kya bhaiya......?” Rajkumari ne puchha .
“Jyada anjan banane ki koshish mat karo !!” Rajkumar use dantate hue “Hamen sab khabar rahati hai jo ap gul khilati hai...!!” Do pal ki chuppi ke bad Rajkumar “Parantu is bar apake kary se ham khush hai .”
Rajkumari muskura di .
“Ap tarika batane ka kasht karenge ?” Apane gusse ko rokate hue Yuvraj ne kaha .
“Apako ek khojkrta ko lana padega, yahan....” 
“Ek khojkrta kya kar lega ?” 
“Vahi jo ap karana chahate hai .” Rajkumari bich mein bol padi .
“Hamari duniya mein aisa koi khojkrta nahi hai jo...........” Yuvraj bol hi raha tha .
“Apako usake lie niche insanon ki duniya mein jana padega .” Rajkumar ne Yuvraj ki bat kat di .
“Ap pagal to nahi ho gaye hai !!?” “Ab vo mamuli insan hamari madad karenge jo nivala Muhan mein dalane se pahale bhi upar ki taraph dekhate hai .” Yuvraj bhadak gaya .
“Sui chhoti hoti hai to isaka matalab ye to nahi usase kisi ki jan nahi li ja sakati ?” Rajkumari bala boli .
“Par vo mamuli insan hamari madad kaise kar sakate hai jabaki unhen ye tak nahi pata unake alava bhi koi duniyan hai vo bhi dharati par ?” Yuvraj ulajhan mein “Upar se vo na to jadui shaktiyan ko janate hai na hi hamari duniya ke bare mein ?”
“Dharati ki upari parat par khade ho ye batana mushkil hai usake niche kya daba hai .” Rajkumar muskurate hue “Jadui shaktiyon se bhi nahi....... .”
“Par........” Yuvraj abhi bhi santusht nahi tha .
“Pahale ap jaie to sahi, apako sab pata chal jaega .” Rajkumar ne Yuvraj ko shant rahane ka ishara kiya . 
“Kaun hai.....?” Yuvraj ne laparavahi mein puchha .
“Devil ......” Rajkumari bala ne ankhe sthir karate hue kaha .
“Ye kaun hai ?” 
“Apako niche jakar sare savalon ka javab mil jaega, hamen pitaji ki ankhon ke samane rahana padega varana ham apake sath chalate .” Rajkumar majaburi dikhate hue bola .
“Phir main use khojugan kaise ?” Yuvraj ki mushkil or badh gayi .
“Ham apake sath chalenge .” Bala Rajkumar ke bolane se pahale hi “Hamane hi usaka pata lagaya hai bhaiya aur ham hi janate hai use yahan ane ke lie kaise raji karana hai .”
“Aur pitaji unaka kya ?” Rajkumar ne puchha .
“Unhen apake alava koi or dikhata hi kahan hai ?” Rajkumari bala chahare par pita ki rusavahi saph jhalak rahi thi .
Yuvraj ab Rajkumar ke javab ka intajar kar raha tha .
“Thik hai par kuchh sainik apake sath jayenge .” Rajkumar ne kaha .
“Hamane kuchh khas sainiko ko taiyar kar liya hai, bas apake adesh ka intajar hai .” Rajkumari ne kaha .
“Tumhara dimag kuchh jyada hi tej chal raha hai .” .
“Kahin to dimag dikha lene dijiye bhaiya.....” 
“Jane ki taiyari karo .” 
Rajkumari Yuvraj ko dekhati rahi .

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Rajkumar mahal mein vapis aya to andhare ki chadar mein koi khada usaka intajar kar raha tha . Rajkumar use dekh ruk gaya .
“Vo maan gaya ?” Aavaj ayi .
“Ji pitaji, Rajkumari bhi usake sath ja rahi hai .” Rajkumar bola .
“Rajkumari ko hamase bahut shikayat rahati hai .” Raja ujale mein ate hue “Is bar dekhate hai vo kya kar dikhaegi ?” 
“Vo bahut pratibhashali hai pitaji vo devil ko lekar ayegi .” 
“Devil ko lana koi bachcho ka khel nahi hai Rajkumar ,sabase pahale us tak pahunchana hi badi bat hai, usake bad use manana pahad ko bal se uthane ke barabar hai .”
Rajkumar khada sun raha tha .