তিপ্পান্নতম অধ্যায়: মানুষও妖鬼দের ঈর্ষা করে

সব-se pehli uthnewali ek sarp-nari thi, jiski aawaz bhaari aur ghum-fir kar aa rahi thi, yeh samajhna mushkil tha ki woh nar hai ya mada.

Wuh apni seat par kundli maarkar baithi thi, aur apni poonchh se ek aam insaan ki tarah bansa hua baans ka tokra uthaye hue thi.

"Mere paas ek saanp ki kenchli hai, jo maine apni saat sau saal ki umar mein badli thi. Iska istemaal jaaduhi hathiyar banane ke liye bhi kiya ja sakta hai aur dawa ke roop mein bhi. Main iske badle aisi dawa chahti hoon jismein kisi dragon ka khoon mila ho."

Yeh kehne ke baad, usne tokra uthakar baaki sabhi jeev-jantuon ko dikhaya.

Lekin sabhi ne apna sir hilaakar mana kar diya.

Ek suar ne zorse kaha,

"Sendai Pahar par tum akeli sarp-nari ho, aur tumne abhi tak dragon ka roop nahi liya hai, toh hum dragon ke khoon wali cheez kahan se dhoondhein? Kya humein Ziyun Pahar jaakar wahan ke Ziyun Dragon King se maangna padega?"

"Main toh usse ladaai nahi jeet sakta."

Suar ne apna sir hilaya, aur baaki sabhi jeev bhi has-has kar apna sir hilane lage.

"Yeh sach mein kisi ke paas nahi hai."

Kahin aur se ek jeev ne, jise sarp-nari ki kenchli chahiye thi lekin paas dragon ke khoon wali dawa nahi thi, apni taraf se ek dusri dawa aage badhate hue poochha,

"Mere paas Andhiyari Shanti ki Dawa hai, jo insaani gusse aur nafrat ko jama karke banayi gayi hai. Yeh kisi bhi buri aafat aur museebat ko taal sakti hai, kya Chote Dragon Lord ko iski zaroorat hai?"

Lekin sarp-nari ne apna sir hila diya.

"Khana khane ke sivaay, maine koi aur paap ya hatya nahi ki hai, isliye mujhe iski koi zaroorat nahi hai."

Usne fir baaki sabhi ki taraf dekha.

"Agar dragon ke khoon wali dawa nahi hai, toh dragon ke khoon wala moonga (coral) bhi chalega, agar bas ek chote daane ke barabar bhi mil jaye toh kaafi hai."

"Yeh toh aur bhi kisi ke paas nahi hai."

Yeh dekhkar ki sabhi ne ek baar fir mana kar diya, sarp-nari ko majboor hokar haar maan leni padi. Wuh wapas apni seat par baith gayi aur agle jeev ko apni baari lene diya.

Chen Ji ko yeh adla-badli ka tareeka bada naya laga.

Lekin phir uske zehen mein ek baat aayi.

"Bai-ji, is tarah apni taakat sabke samne khol kar rakhne se, kya aapko yeh dar nahi lagta ki koi dusra jeev isaka fayda uthane ke liye aapke peeche pad jaye?"

"Yahan Mountain God aur Saffron Senior ki kripa hai, isliye aaj tak aisi koi ghatna nahi hui hai."

Bai-ji ne kaha.

Chen Ji chup ho gaya. Usne socha nahi tha ki Sendai Pahar jaisi jagah, jahan itne saare jeev-jantu ikatthe hote hain, itni shaant aur sukoon bhari ho sakti hai, jo ki ek anokhi baat thi.

Toh usne fir se dragon ke khoon wali dawa aur dragon ke khoon wale moonge ke baare mein poochha.

"Yeh dono hi cheezein kisi saanp ke dragon banne ke safar mein kaam aati hain."

"Saanp ko dragon banne ke liye apni aatma ki shakti ko badal kar dragon ki aatma mein badalna padta hai, aur apne maathe par do sngh ugane padte hain tabhi uske andar dragon ka khoon jaagta hai. Lekin yeh rasta behad dardnak hota hai, ise maut ke mooh se bachkar nikalna hi kaha ja sakta hai."

"Yahi wajah hai ki bahut saari sarp-nariyan aisi anmol cheezein dhoondhti rehti hain. Dragon ke khoon wali dawa khoon ke jaagne ki ummeed ko badhati hai, aur zakhmo ko bhi jaldi bharti hai, isliye yeh sabse behtareen cheez hai."

"Toh kya seedhe dragon ka khoon istemaal karna zyada behtar nahi hoga?"

"Dragon ka khoon asani se kharab nahi hota, isliye ise zyadatar dragon ki aatma ke roop mein hi sanjhakar rakha jata hai."

"Acha, aisi baat hai."

Chen Ji ne apna sir hilaya, aur fir se dragon ke khoon wale moonge ke baare mein poochha.

"Kya yeh samundar ke andar milne wali cheez hai?"

"Bilkul nahi."

Bai-ji ne muskura kar apna sir hilaya.

"Wuh jiski baat kar raha hai woh asli dragon ka khoon hai, jo aam ped-paudhon par girne se ek bada mauka ban jata hai. Agar wuh ped dragon ke khoon ki jalanh aur asar ko seh jaye, toh wuh dragon ke seeng jaisa dikhne lagta hai, bas uske upar dragon ke khoon ke patthar jam jaate hain, jo door se dekhne par laal moonge jaise lagte hain, isliye iska yeh naam pada hai."

"Dragon ke khoon wale moonge ka asar dragon ke khoon se bhi zyada behter hota hai, aur yeh naya maas aur khoon banane mein bhi madad karta hai, isliye yeh aur bhi zyada durlabh hai."

"Tabhi toh yeh mil nahi raha, aisi cheez agar kisi ke paas ho bhi toh woh asani se nahi dega."

"Shayad woh saanp ki kenchli kaafi na ho?"

Bai-ji ne apna sir hilaya.

"Wuh sarp-nari thode hi samay mein dragon banne wali hai, aur saat sau saal purani kenchli bhi koi buri cheez nahi hai. Usne jis cheez ki maang ki hai uske badle mein dena fair hota, lekin jab waqayi mein kisi ke paas nahi hai, toh koi kya hi kar sakta hai."

Yeh kehkar usne fir se Chen Ji ki taraf dekha.

"Isi liye is tarah ki sabhaon mein bhi achi cheezein milna bahut mushkil hota hai. Agar Chen-ji ko apne layak kuch na mile, toh unhe udaas hone ki zaroorat nahi hai."

"Beshak, yahan aakar nayi cheezein dekhne ko mil gayi, wahi bahut badi baat hai."

Chen Ji ne poore yakeen ke sath kaha.

Agar woh yahan na aata, toh shayad use dragon ke khoon wale moonge aur dragon ke khoon wali dawa ke baare mein kabhi pata hi na chalta.

"Toh theek hai, agar thodi der mein aapko aisi koi cheez na mile jise aap badalna chahein, toh aap apni pasand ki cheez ke baare mein bata sakte hain. Agar unke paas hogi toh woh khud aapke paas aa jayenge."

"Theek hai."

Chen Ji ne sir hilaya, aur baari aage sunne laga.

Uske baad aane wale kuch bhoot-pret aur jeev jo cheezein laaye the, wuh unke apne hi jism ka ek hissa thi.

Ek hiran ne hirane ki sabse keemti seengon ki jodi laayi thi, jo khoon ke sanchaar ko tej karne, lambi umar dene aur nason ko theek karne ke kaam aati hai, aur yeh ilaaj ke liye ek behtareen cheez thi.

Ek boodhe kachhue ne apne jism se utre hue kachhue ke khol ke tukde laaye the, jo bhavishyavani karne ke kaam aate hain aur behad sateek nikalte hain.

Ek bhediye ne apne mooh se gira hua daant laaya tha, jiska istemaal jaaduhi hathiyar banane aur gherebandi ke niyam tay karne ke liye kiya ja sakta hai...

Chen Ji yeh sab dekh raha tha aur soch raha tha ki jeev hone ke bhi apne fayde hain.

Kam se kam unke jism ka har hissa nayi cheezein pane ke kaam aa sakta hai.

Lekin hiran ke seengon ke sivaay, jiske liye sabhi jeev apas mein lad pade the aur aakhir mein chandrakiranon ke amrit bhari aadhi surahi ke badle use badal liya gaya, baaki kisi bhi jeev ki cheez mein kisi ne koi dilchaspi nahi dikhayi.

Bai-ji ne kuch kachhue ke khol badal liye, yeh kehte hue ki woh bhavishyavani ke niyam ko dhyan se padhegi.

Tab jaakar Chen Ji ko laga ki suar ne jo kaha tha woh bilkul sahi tha.

Yeh sach mein Sendai Pahar ka ek bada bazar hi hai, bas yahan aam pahadi faslein nahi bikti, balki alag-alag bhoot-pret aur jeev-jantuon ke jism ke hisse bikte hain.

Agar woh khud ki baat kare...

Chen Ji ne jhuk kar apne aap ko upar se neeche dekha, aur socha ki rehne hi diya jaye, uske paas baal aur naakhun ke sivaay aisi koi cheez nahi hai jo dobara nikal sake.

Agar sach mein woh aisi koi dawa bechne lag jaye, toh shayad use khud hi sabke hatho mar khani pad jaye.

Kuch aur jeev-jantuon ke baad, aakhirkar aisi cheezein aane lagi jo unke apne jism ki nahi thi.

Ek bandar ne ek jade ka pendant nikaal kar rakha.

"Yeh maine pahaar ke bahar ek sadhu se badla tha, yeh pahaar ki paanch urjaon ko ikattha karne mein madad karta hai. Jo sathi saans lene ke niyam ka abhyas karte hain, woh ise try kar sakte hain."

"Tumhein iske badle kya chahiye?"

Yeh aawaz aate hi ek jeev ne jaldi se poochha.

"Mujhe ek aisi talwar ya hathiyar chahiye jo pakadne mein asan ho, aam lohe ki bani hui nahi honi chahiye."

"Mere paas ek sau saal purani sukhi hui lat (vine) ki soti hai, kya main is jade ke badle woh de sakta hoon?"

"Haan!"

Ek jeev ne zorse kaha, aur jaldi hi sauda pakka ho gaya.

Chen Ji ko laga ki ab jaakar yeh kisi asli jeev-jantuon ki sabha jaisa lagne laga hai.

Uske baad badle jaane wali baaki cheezein bhi behad behtareen thi.

Wahan ek aisi moti thi jo sapne banane aur gherebandi karne ke kaam aati thi, ek aisi ghaas thi jisse chandi ugti thi, aur ek aisi jhanda thi jo kisi dusht sadhu ko maar kar mili thi...

Afsoos ki inmein aisi koi cheez nahi thi jismein Chen Ji ki dilchaspi ho.

Bai-ji ne Bai Shiyi ke zariye woh sapne wali moti badal li, aur Su-ji ne woh jhanda le liya.

"Su-ji aapne ise kyun kharida? Kya aapka iraada..."

Jab Chen Ji ne dekha ki Su-ji ko woh jhanda mil gaya hai, toh woh khud ko rok nahi paaya aur usne poochha.

Jaisa ki use yaad tha, dusht sadhuon ke istemaal kiye gaye in hathiyaaron mein sirf gandagi bhari hoti hai.

Khas taur par is jhande mein, pata nahi kitni be-kasoori aatmaayein qaid hongi.

Aur Su-ji khud ek bhoot hain, agar koi anjaane mein hadsa ho gaya, toh kisi ke liye bhi bachana namumkin hoga.

"Koi baat nahi."

Su-ji ne Chen Ji ki taraf dekha aur samajh gaya ki woh kya kehne wala hai.

Usne apna sir hilaya aur dubara samjhate hue kaha.

"Is jhande ke neeche kafi andhiyari urja hai, jo mujhe din ke waqt bhi bahar aane mein madad kar sakti hai. Main is hathiyar ko dobara se sudhaar kar iski saari nafrat dhoona chahta hoon, tab yeh ek sachha aur shuddh hathiyar ban jayega."

"Aisa bhi ho sakta hai? Yeh toh nayi baat sikhne ko mili."

Chen Ji ne apna sir hilaya, aur fir kuch soch kar poochha.

"Kya ek bhoot bhi hathiyar bana sakta hai?"

"Beshak bana sakta hai, bas mujhe Chen-ji se thodi madad leni padegi ki aap ise mere sath wapas le chalein, aur jab main ise sudhaar raha hoon toh aap aakar dekh lein."

"Choti si baat hai."

Chen Ji ne apna haath hilaya, woh jhanda pakad kar ek taraf rakh diya, aur khud baaki bhoot-pret aur jeev-jantuon ki laayi hui cheezein dekhne ke liye intezaar karne laga.

Lekin aakhir tak aisi koi cheez nahi aayi jismein uska dil lagta.

Chen Ji ko aakhirkar samajh mein aa gaya ki Bai-ji ne kyun kaha tha ki agar cheez na mile toh udaas mat hona.

Sendai Pahar ki is sabha ka daayra abhi bhi thoda chhota hai, aur yahi kuch cheezein hain jo badli ja sakti hain.

Lekin itni saari nayi cheezein dekhne ko mil gayi, wahi bahut badi baat hai.

Jab Chen Ji yehi sab soch raha tha, tabhi achanak Mountain God ki aawaz uske kaano mein goonji.

"Fox-ji ne abhi tak koi cheez kyun nahi badli? Kya aapko yahan koi cheez pasand nahi aayi?"

Yeh sunkar baaki sabhi jeev bhi usi ki taraf dekhne lage.

Chen Ji jaldi se utha aur haath jodkar safai dene laga.

"Cheezein toh pasand aayi thi, aur bhi zyada pasand aane wali cheezein thi, bas ab himmat nahi bachi ki unhe maang sakun."

"Oh?"

Mountain God ne apni bhrawein sikod li.

"Bhoot-pret aur jeev-jantuon ki cheezein toh ab khatam ho chuki hain, ab aisi kaun si cheez hai jo aapko unse bhi zyada chahiye?"

"Mujhe ek cup badhiya sharab peeni hai, suna hai ki is Sendai Pahar par Mountain God ki banayi hui Earth Spirit Wine sabse behtareen hoti hai, isliye main usi ke intezaar mein tha."

"Agar mujhe khud nahi mili, toh agar kisi aur jeev ko mil gayi ho, toh main uske sath badalne ki koshish kar sakta hoon."

Baaki sabhi jeev zorse has pade.

"Yeh Fox-ji bade seedhe aur saaf dil ke hain, ye sach mein baaki logon jaise nahi hain."

Mountain God ne bhi muskura kar apna sir hilaya.

"Agar aisi baat hai, toh chaliye daawat shuru karte hain, aur main bhi yeh sochta hoon ki is baar kaun sa naya khel rakha jaye!"