Kali andheri rat mein Rajakumari sab ke sath jangal ki sima par khadi thi, janavaron ke rone, chillane ki avajo ne pure ilake ko gher liya tha.
“Kya abhi chalana thik rahega Rajakumari ji ?” Sainik ne ghanaghor andhare ko dekhate hue puchha.
“Samay na to kabhi achchha hota hai na hi bura.” Rajkumari pedo, jhadiyon aur ghanaghor andhere ko dekh kadam age badha deti hai.
sab usake pichhe chal dete hai. Sainiko ne khamosh par khataranak jangal ko dekh apani talavare nikal li thi.
“Ye jangal sach mein khataranak hai Rajakumari.” Ek Sainik bola.
“Kya hamari duniyan par aye khatare se bhi bada hai ?” Rukate hue Rajakumari ne Sainik ki ankhon mein dekha.
“Bachiye Rajakumari !!” Sainik ne Rajakumari ke kandhe par talavar chala di.
Ek makadi Rajakumari ko katane vali thi. dur ped par bandar chillane lage. Sher ki dahad ne sab ko alairt kar diya.
“Khayega kya...?” Yuvaraj pas ped par baithe ullu ko dekhane laga.
“Hamen chalata rahana hai yuvaraj....” Paas khade sainik ne kaha.
“Apako kaise pata chala vo devil yahin milega.” Pichhe chalate ek sainik ne charo taraph dekhate puchha.
“Batane vale ne yahin ka pata bataya tha.....” Rajakumari ankhon mein chamak aur hotho par muskan lie age badhati ja rahi thi.
“Mujhe ye murkh insan isilie pasand nahi hai.” Aage a rahi jhadi ko katate yuvaraj “Ata- pata kuchh nahi hota aur bakabak kitani hi kara lo in se.”
“Ap bhaiya ki sikh bhul gaye yuvaraj.” Rajakumari kantile paudhe se bachakar age badhati hui “Dharati ki....” Rajakumari itana hi bol payi thi.
“Dharati ki upari parat ko dekh usake andar ki chijo ko pata nahi lagaya ja sakata......” Mano pedo sekisi ladaki ki avaj gunji ho.
Sare sainik rajakumari aur yuvaraj ko gherakar khade ho gaye.
“Ye kaun tha....?” Ek sainik badabadaya.
“Tumhari manjil ka pahala padav.” Phir se avaj gunji.
“Koi buri shakti hai...?” Ek Sainik ne charo taraph dekha.
“Bura......” Rajakumari bol hi rahi thi.
“Bura sirph hamari soch mein hota hai, jaise talavar ko koi marane ke lie prayog mein lata hai to koi bachane mein.” Phir se avaj gunji.
“Ye hamare bolane se pahale hi hamari bate kaise jan leti hai....” Rajakumari hairan thi.
“Main dekhata hun.” Yuvaraj Sainiko ke ghere se bahar a gaya.
Achanak ped se kisi jeev ne chhanlag laga di aur yuvaraj hadabadahat mein pichhe ki taraph gir gaya. Sabhi dekhakar chaunk gaye samane purane kapado ke sath para (basti ki ladaki) janavar ki tarah khadi thi, Usake hath ki ungaliyon ne mitti mein pakad majabuti se banayi thi, jisaka matalab usake nakhun bade the, sughane ke lie nak ka jyada phailav, Kisi bhediya jaisi lakshy par najar lie ankhon par gire balon ke bavajud sabakuchh saph dekh rahi thi. Sainiko ne use talavar ki nok par le rajakumari ko sabase pichhe kar liya. Rajakumari samane janavar ki taraph khadi para ko dekh hairani thi, jise unhonne kuchh timai pahale basti mein dekha tha kya ye vahin hai ?
“Pata hai mujhe sabase jyada maja kis mein ata hai ?” Para jaise hi uthi usaki ankhe kisi juganu ki tarah hare rang mein jal bujh rahi thi.
“Pahali aur akhiri chetavani de rahe hai dur raho hamase....!!” Sainik ke kahate hi sabhi sainiko ki talavare prakash mein chamakane lagi.
“Use ukasao mat, shant raho.” Rajakumari ne Sainiko se kaha.
“Chinti ke dher ko kamajor samajh us par pair nahi rakhana chahie.” Para rajakumari ko dekh unaki taraph kadam badhati hui “Chinti raham nahi karati.” para palak jhapakane se bhi tej gayab ho gayi.
Sainik pada yuvaraj hairan raha gaye.
“Kahan chali gayi ?” Sainik ne age ka sara jangal dekh liya.
“Tum in nasamajho ko apani suraksha ke lie layi ho Rajakumari ?” Sabake pichhe se avaj ayi.
Ki sanson ke sath sab ghumen to pairo ke niche se jamin nikal gayi. para Rajakumari ke kandho par baithi usake sar ko pakade hui thi. Sainik usaki taraph badhane lage.
“Ruko....!!!” Rajukumari ne adesh diya.
sab pichhe hat gaye.
“Kya chahie tumhen ?” Rajakumari usake vajan ki vajah se ladakhada rahi thi.
“Bade dinon bad kisi dusari duniyan ke insan ki gandh li hai ?” Para rajakumari ke badan ko sunghati hui “ varana yahan ke janavaron, insanon ko kha – 2 kar pak gayi thi.”
“Agar khana hi chahati ho to mujhe kha lo.” Ek Sainik age ate hue “ Rajakumari ko chhod do.”
“Mujhe gulamo ko khane ki adat nahi hai.” Para Rajakumari ke balo se khelati hui “Vaise bhi mainne kuchh hi dinon pahale pet bharakar khaya tha.” Para Sainik ko ghurati hui “Tumhare jaisa hi koi tha.”
“Shalo......” Rajukumari boli.
“Vo kamina saudagar....?” Yuvaraj khada hokar bola.
“Vo devil ka pata lagane yahan aya tha.” Rajakumari se ab para ka vajan sabhala nahi ja raha tha, vo kisi bhi vakt gir sakati thi.
“Han...!!!” Para hansati hui “Par vo mujhase kuchh or bhi jana chahata tha.”
“Matalab tum janati ho devil kahan milega ?” Rajakumari upar dekhane ki kaushish karane lagi.
“Nahi....., par mein use janati hun jo tumhen us tak pahuncha sakata hai.” Para apane lambe ho chuke nakhuno se Rajakumari ke gore galo ko sahalati hui “Bas meri tay kimat mujhe de do.”
“Vo to jangal ke par koi sahil hai....” Yuvaraj ne para ko ghurate hue bola.
“Tumhen kya lagata hai, jise har duniyan ki raja se lekar chor, tantrik se lekar tapasvi tak, har koi dhund rahe ho usaka pata ek am insan ko pata hoga ?”
Abake sath Rajakumari bhi soch mein pad gayi.
“Agar us tak sahi salamat pahunchana hai to meri kimat ada karo.” Para ne apane nakhun ab Rajakumari ke gal mein ghusane shuru kar die the.
“Kaisi kimat ?” Yuvaraj ne puchha.
“Vahi jo shalo ke sath tay hui thi.” Para ne muskurate hue yuvaraj ko dekha.
Ab Rajakumari ko pasina ane laga tha, shayad usake chahare par kuchh bhul jane ki ulajhan thi ya vo kimat pas na hone ka dar.
“Vo kya kimat thi ?” yuvaraj ne para ko dekha.
“Rajakumari janati hai.” Para kisi sanaki ki tarah Rajakumari ke balo ki gandh leti hui “Kyon Rajakumari ?”
Rajakumari ki ankhon ki chinta dekh yuvaraj sabhi Sainik samajh gaye the rajakumari ke pas vo kimat nahi thi.
“Mere kano ne apaki han nahi suni Rajakumari ?” Para ne rajakumari ki gardan ko upar khinchana shuru kiya.
“Hamare pas is vakt vo kimat nahi hai.” Rajakumari virodh karane lagi.
“Phir to main tumhen janakari kaise de sakati hun....?” Phir se rajakumari ki gardan khinchati hui “Sath hi tumhen bhi to marana padega.”
“Ruko !!” Yuvaraj Sainiko ke kuchh karane se pahale hi “Kya usake badale mein ye chal sakata hai ?” Yuvaraj ne hatheli samane ki aur ek chamakadar kanch ki gend prakat ho gayi.” Yuvaraj gend samane kar “Ye pal bhar mein parvat ko rakh bana sakati hai.”
“Kimat kam hai.” Para ne hansate hue Rajakumari ki gardan phir se utha di.
“Ye....?” Abaki bar yuvaraj ke hath mein ek kitab thi.”
“Bachcha samajha hai mujhe...!!!?” Para chillayi.
“Jadui mantron ki kitab hai ye...?” Yuvaraj ne kaha.
“Isase jyada mantr to main ek phunk mein nikal deti hun.” Para ek sans andar khinch kitab ko kha gayi.
Para ne dabav badha diya aur Rajakumari chillane lagi thi.
“Isase jyada kimat nahi hogi !!!” Yuvaraj ne gusse mein kaha.
Is bar para ne pakad dhili kar di, usaki ankhe yuvaraj ki hatheli par chamak rahi Pile pani ki chhoti si kanch ki sisi par thi.
“Isaki bhi kimat bhi usase jyada nahi hai.” Yuvaraj ke chahare par afasos ke ane se pahale hi para “Par kam chal jayega.”
Para Rajakumari ke kandho se utar us sisi ko pakad leti hai. Rajakumari apane kandhe pakad niche baith gayi.
“Ab usaka nam batao jo devil ke bare mein janata hai.” Yuvaraj ne para se kaha.