Akbar Birbal - Chor Ki Dadhi Mein Tinka

Aapne apne daada daadi ya teacher se yeh muhavra zaroor suna hoga: "chor ki dadhi mein tinka"। Jab koi galti karke khud hi ghabra jaata hai, toh log yahi kehte hain। Lekin kya aap jaante hain ki yeh muhavra aaya kahan se? Kehte hain iske peeche Badshah Akbar ke darbar ki ek bahut mazedar kahani chhupi hai, aur uske hero the, aur kaun, hamare chatur Birbal!

Toh chaliye, chalte hain sadiyon purane Agra mein।

Ammi Ki Angoothi

Badshah Akbar ke paas heere, moti, panna, sab kuch tha। Unke khazaane mein itne jawaharaat the ki ginne mein mahine lag jaayein। Lekin in sab mein unhe sabse pyaari thi ek chhoti si angoothi, jismein ek gehra neela neelam jada hua tha।

Yeh angoothi unki Ammi, Hamida Banu Begum, ne unhe tab di thi jab woh bahut chhote the। Angoothi pehnaate hue Ammi ne kaha tha, "Beta, jab bhi koi mushkil faisla karna ho, iss neelam ko dekhna। Yeh tumhe yaad dilaayega ki insaaf hamesha aasmaan ki tarah saaf hona chahiye।"

Tab se Akbar uss angoothi ko kabhi nahi utaarte the। Bas shaam ko haath dhote waqt, woh use dheere se utaar kar ek chaandi ki chhoti si thaali mein rakh dete, aur phir turant wapas pehen lete।

Darbar ke sab log yeh baat jaante the। Aur yahi baat ek din musibat ban gayi।

Khaali Chaandi Ki Thaali

Basant ka mausam tha। Nauroz ka jashn kareeb aa raha tha, aur uski taiyaari ke liye Akbar ne shaam ko apne khaas kamre mein paanch darbariyon ko bulaaya tha।

Kamre mein maujood the: Mirza Nooruddin, jo hamesha Birbal se jalte the; Seth Raghunath, shahar ke sabse bade vyapari; Hakeem Faizullah, shaahi vaid; Pandit Gangadhar, jo jyotish aur hisaab dono jaante the; aur Khazanchi Lalchand, jo shaahi khazaane ka hisaab rakhte the aur hamesha meethi meethi baatein karte the।

Unke alaawa kamre mein sirf ek aur insaan tha, baarah saal ka Rahmat, jo sabke liye sharbat aur phal laata tha। Rahmat shaahi baag ke ek gareeb maali ka beta tha। Uske kapde purane the lekin hamesha saaf rehte the, aur uski aankhon mein ek imaandaar si chamak thi।

Baatein chal rahi thin। Nauroz ke mele mein kitne haathi sajaaye jaayenge, kaunse kalaakaar bulaaye jaayenge, mehmaanon ko kya kya pakwaan khilaaye jaayenge। Tabhi Rahmat thande gulaab ke sharbat ke gilaas aur kate hue meethe aam lekar aaya।

Aam ka ras angoothi par na lage, isliye Akbar ne hamesha ki tarah apni neelam waali angoothi utaari, chaandi ki thaali mein rakhi, aur kamre ke kone mein rakhe paani ke bartan mein haath dhone lage।

Tabhi bahar se ek sipahi daudta hua aaya। "Jahanpanah! Kabul se ek qaasid zaroori sandesh lekar aaya hai। Use sirf aapse hi milne ka hukum hai।"

Akbar ne geele haath tauliye se ponchhe aur jaldi se bahar chhajje ki taraf chale gaye, jahan qaasid intezaar kar raha tha। Jaldi jaldi mein woh angoothi pehenna bhool gaye।

Bas kuch hi pal beete honge। Jab Akbar wapas aaye aur thaali ki taraf haath badhaaya... thaali khaali thi!

Akbar ka chehra safed pad gaya। "Hamari angoothi! Hamari Ammi ki angoothi kahan gayi?"

Bechaara Rahmat

Kamre mein sannata chha gaya। Paanchon darbari ek doosre ka munh dekhne lage। Darwaze par khade pehredaaron ne kasam khaayi ki iss beech na koi andar aaya, na koi bahar gaya। Matlab saaf tha: chor isi kamre mein tha।

Sabse pehle Mirza Nooruddin bole, aur unki ungli seedhi Rahmat ki taraf uthi। "Jahanpanah, yeh kaam iss naukar ladke ka hai! Hum sab toh izzatdaar darbari hain, hamein ek angoothi ki kya zaroorat? Yahi ladka sharbat ke bahaane thaali ke paas ghoom raha tha।"

Rahmat ke haath se khaali gilaas gir gaya। Uski aankhon mein aansoo aa gaye। "Nahi Huzoor! Allah kasam, maine kuch nahi liya। Main toh sirf aam ki tashtari rakh raha tha।"

Khazanchi Lalchand ne apni lambi kaali dadhi par haath pherte hue, bahut meethi aawaaz mein kaha, "Jahanpanah, gareeb ka mann kabhi kabhi bhatak jaata hai। Bacche par zyaada gussa mat kijiye। Bas kotwal ke hawaale kar dijiye, do chaar dande padenge toh khud hi bata dega ki angoothi kahan chhupaayi hai।"

Seth Raghunath ne bhi haan mein haan milaayi। Sirf Hakeem Faizullah aur Pandit Gangadhar chup the, jaise unhe yeh baat theek na lag rahi ho।

Rahmat ki talaashi li gayi। Uski jeb se sirf do sookhe khajoor nikle, jo usne apni chhoti behen ke liye bachaa kar rakhe the। Angoothi kahin nahi mili।

"Usne zaroor kahin chhupa di hogi," Lalchand ne turant kaha। "Kisi kone mein, kisi gamle mein। Jahanpanah, der mat kijiye, kotwal ko bulaaiye।"

Akbar dukhi bhi the aur gusse mein bhi। Lekin unke mann mein Ammi ki aawaaz goonj rahi thi: "Insaaf hamesha aasmaan ki tarah saaf hona chahiye।"

Unhone gehri saans li aur kaha, "Ruko। Kisi ko saza nahi milegi jab tak sach saamne na aaye। Birbal ko bulaao।"

Birbal Ka Aagman

Thodi hi der mein Birbal haazir hue। Raaste mein sipahi ne unhe poori baat bata di thi। Kamre mein aate hi unki nazar sabse pehle kone mein sahme hue Rahmat par padi, jo apni phati aasteen se aansoo ponchh raha tha।

Birbal uske paas gaye aur uske sar par haath rakha। "Darro mat, beta। Agar tumne kuch galat nahi kiya, toh tumhe kisi se darne ki zaroorat nahi।"

Mirza Nooruddin ne taana maara, "Birbal, ab tum chor ki tarafdaari karoge?"

Birbal muskuraaye। "Mirza saahab, abhi toh yeh bhi tay nahi hua ki chor hai kaun। Aur jab tak tay na ho, kisi ko chor kehna bhi ek tarah ki chori hai, uski izzat ki chori।"

Mirza chup ho gaye।

Birbal ne kamre ka chakkar lagaaya। Unhone chaandi ki thaali dekhi, phir khidkiyan dekhin, jo oonchi thin aur jin par baarik jaali lagi thi। Wahan se angoothi bahar phenkna namumkin tha। Phir unhone ek ek darbari se poocha ki jab Badshah bahar gaye, tab kaun kahan tha।

Hakeem Faizullah ne bataaya ki woh khidki ke paas khade the। Pandit Gangadhar apni bahi mein Nauroz ka hisaab likh rahe the। Seth Raghunath aur Mirza Nooruddin aapas mein haathiyon ki sajaawat par behes kar rahe the। Rahmat khaali gilaas samet raha tha।

Aur Khazanchi Lalchand? "Main... main toh apni jagah par hi baitha tha," unhone kaha, aur jaldi se apni pagdi theek karne lage, jo pehle se bilkul theek thi।

Birbal ne yeh sab dekha, lekin kuch nahi bole। Bas unki aankhon mein ek halki si chamak aa gayi।

Birbal Ki Chaal

Birbal ne Badshah se kaha, "Jahanpanah, mujhe kal subah tak ka samay dijiye। Kal darbar mein main chor ko sabke saamne pakad dunga। Tab tak koi bhi darbari shahar chhod kar nahi jaayega, aur Rahmat ko koi haath nahi lagaayega। Woh aaj raat mere ghar rahega।"

Akbar ne haami bhar di।

Uss raat Birbal ke ghar Rahmat ko garam garam daal roti mili। Birbal ki patni ne use pyaar se khaana khilaaya। Lekin Rahmat ka mann nahi lag raha tha।

"Birbal ji," usne dheere se poocha, "agar kal chor nahi mila toh? Sab mujhe hi chor samjhenge। Abba ko maali ke kaam se nikaal denge। Meri chhoti behen..."

Birbal ne uske kandhe par haath rakha। "Rahmat, ek baat yaad rakhna। Sach ek diye ki tarah hota hai। Use kitni bhi aandhi mein rakh do, woh bujhta nahi। Aur jhooth? Jhooth ek bojh ki tarah hota hai। Jo use uthaata hai, woh chain se baith nahi paata। Baar baar idhar udhar dekhta hai, baar baar ghabraata hai।"

"Toh aapko pata hai chor kaun hai?" Rahmat ne hairaani se poocha।

Birbal muskuraaye। "Mujhe shak hai। Lekin shak saboot nahi hota, beta। Kal main chor se khud hi kehlwaaunga ki woh chor hai, aur woh bhi bina ek shabd bole!"

Rahmat ko kuch samajh nahi aaya, lekin pehli baar uske chehre par halki si muskaan aayi।

Udhar shahar ke ek bade se ghar mein, uss raat ek aadmi ki neend udi hui thi। Woh apne kamre mein idhar se udhar tehel raha tha। Baar baar uska haath apni pagdi par jaata, phir apni dadhi par। "Birbal ne kya dekha? Kya use pata chal gaya? Nahi nahi, kaise pata chalega? Kisi ne kuch nahi dekha..."

Chor Ki Dadhi Mein Tinka

Agle din subah darbar khachaakhach bhara hua tha। Poore Agra mein khabar fail chuki thi ki Birbal aaj Badshah ki angoothi ka chor pakdenge। Log khidkiyon aur darwazon se jhaank rahe the।

Paanchon darbari ek line mein khade the। Unke saamne Birbal haath peeche baandhe dheere dheere tehel rahe the, jaise koi sipahsalar apni fauj ka muaaina kar raha ho। Kone mein Rahmat khada tha, apne Abba ka haath kas kar pakde hue।

Akbar takht par baithe the। "Birbal, shuru karo। Hamari Ammi ki angoothi kisne li?"

Birbal ruke। Unhone ek ek darbari ke chehre ko gaur se dekha। Phir woh beech mein khade hue, aankhein band kin, jaise kuch soch rahe hon, aur achaanak zor se bole:

"Jahanpanah! Chor isi line mein khada hai। Aur main use pehchaan gaya hoon, kyunki... chor ki dadhi mein tinka atka hua hai!"

Darbar mein ek pal ke liye sannata chha gaya।

Mirza Nooruddin ne hairaan hokar idhar udhar dekha। Seth Raghunath bagal waalon ki dadhi ki taraf jhaankne lage। Hakeem Faizullah ne bhaunhein sikodin, aur Pandit Gangadhar haule se muskura diye, jaise samajh gaye hon ki Birbal kya kar rahe hain।

Lekin Khazanchi Lalchand... unka haath bijli ki tezi se apni dadhi par gaya, aur woh ghabra kar use zor zor se jhaadne lage, jaise sach mein koi tinka nikaal rahe hon!

Birbal ne turant unki taraf ungli uthaayi। "Jahanpanah, yeh rahe aapke chor!"

Poora darbar Lalchand ki taraf mud gaya। Lalchand ka haath ab bhi dadhi mein tha। Unka chehra laal se peela, aur peele se safed pad gaya।

"N-nahi Jahanpanah... main toh... main toh bas..." woh hakla gaye।

"Bas kya, Khazanchi saahab?" Birbal ne shaanti se poocha। "Aapki dadhi mein toh koi tinka hai hi nahi। Mirza saahab ki dadhi mein bhi nahi, Seth ji ki mein bhi nahi। Kisi ki dadhi mein tinka nahi hai। Lekin sirf aapne apni dadhi tatoli। Kyun? Kyunki sirf aapke mann mein chor tha।"

Akbar khade ho gaye। Unki aawaaz poore darbar mein goonji, "Lalchand! Sach bolo!"

Lalchand ke ghutne kaanpne lage। Woh Badshah ke qadmon mein gir pade। "Maaf kar dijiye Jahanpanah! Mujhse galti ho gayi। Jab aap bahar gaye, toh sab apni baaton mein lage the। Neelam ki chamak dekh kar mera mann laalach mein aa gaya। Maine angoothi utha kar apni pagdi ki tah mein chhupa li।"

Unhone kaanpte haathon se apni pagdi kholi, aur uski tah se nikli neele neelam waali angoothi, jo darbar ki roshni mein saaf aasmaan ki tarah chamak rahi thi।

Darbar mein shor mach gaya।

Birbal Ne Chor Ko Kaise Pehchaana?

Akbar ne angoothi pyaar se pehni aur Birbal se poocha, "Birbal, hamein ek baat batao। Kya tumhe pehle se pata tha ki chor Lalchand hai?"

"Jahanpanah, mujhe shak tha, yakeen nahi," Birbal ne kaha। "Kal teen baatein mujhe ajeeb lagi thin। Pehli, Lalchand ji sabse zyaada jaldi mein the ki Rahmat ko kotwal ke hawaale kar diya jaaye। Jo sach mein insaaf chahta hai, woh jaldi nahi karta, woh sach dhoondhta hai। Doosri, jab maine poocha ki woh kahan the, toh unhone bina wajah apni pagdi theek ki। Aur teesri, poori baatcheet mein unka haath baar baar pagdi aur dadhi par jaa raha tha, jaise kuch chhupa rahe hon।"

"Toh tumne unhe kal hi kyun nahi pakda?"

"Kyunki shak saboot nahi hota, Jahanpanah। Agar main kal unhe chor kehta aur galat nikalta, toh main bhi wahi galti karta jo Rahmat ke saath hui। Isliye maine aisa tareeka chuna jismein chor khud apni pol khol de। Bekasoor aadmi se jab kaha jaata hai ki chor ki dadhi mein tinka hai, toh woh sochta hai, 'mera isse kya lena dena?' Lekin chor ka darr use chain se nahi baithne deta। Uska haath apne aap dadhi par chala jaata hai।"

Akbar ne hans kar kaha, "Waah Birbal! Tumne toh chor ke darr ko hi uske khilaaf gawaah bana diya!"

Tabhi kone se ek chhoti si aawaaz aayi। Rahmat ne apni chikni thodi par haath pherte hue masoomiyat se kaha, "Shukr hai meri toh abhi dadhi hi nahi aayi। Warna Mirza saahab usmein bhi koi tinka dhoondh lete!"

Poora darbar thahaakon se goonj utha। Khud Akbar bhi hanste hanste apni aankhein ponchhne lage। Aur Mirza Nooruddin ka chehra sharm se laal ho gaya।

Badshah Ka Insaaf

Jab hansi thami, Mirza Nooruddin aage aaye। Unka sar jhuka hua tha। Woh Rahmat ke saamne ruke।

"Beta," unhone dheere se kaha, "kal maine bina soche samjhe tum par ilzaam lagaaya, sirf isliye kyunki tum gareeb ho। Yeh meri bahut badi galti thi। Mujhe maaf kar do।"

Rahmat ne pehle Birbal ki taraf dekha, phir muskura kar sar hila diya। Mirza ne apni jeb se chaandi ke sikke nikaale, lekin Rahmat ne haath jod kar mana kar diya। "Huzoor, mujhe sikke nahi chahiye। Bas aage se kisi gareeb ko bina dekhe chor mat kehna।"

Mirza ki aankhein bhar aayin। Darbar mein sab chup ho gaye। Ek baarah saal ke bacche ne itni badi baat keh di thi।

Phir Akbar ne Lalchand ki taraf dekha, jo ab bhi sar jhukaaye khade the। "Lalchand, tumne sirf angoothi nahi churaayi। Tumne ek bekasoor bacche ko chor banaane ki koshish ki, taaki tumhara gunaah chhup jaaye। Yeh chori se bhi bada gunaah hai।"

"Jahanpanah, aap jo saza dena chahein, de dijiye," Lalchand ro pade।

Akbar ne kuch der socha, aur apni ungli mein chamakte neelam ko dekha। Ammi ki baat phir yaad aayi। Insaaf saaf hona chahiye, lekin usmein badle ki aag nahi, sudhaar ki roshni honi chahiye।

"Tum ab shaahi khazanchi nahi rahoge," Akbar ne faisla sunaaya। "Jo aadmi ek angoothi ke saamne apna imaan na bacha saka, use poore khazaane ki chaabi nahi di jaa sakti। Aur agle ek saal tak tum shaahi langar mein gareebon ko apne haathon se khaana parosoge। Shaayad tab tumhe samajh aaye ki ek gareeb ki izzat bhi utni hi keemti hai jitna koi neelam।"

Phir Akbar Rahmat ki taraf mude। "Aur Rahmat, tumne kal bahut takleef jheli। Bolo, tumhe kya inaam chahiye?"

Rahmat ne sharma kar kaha, "Jahanpanah, mujhe padhna hai। Birbal ji ki tarah samajhdaar banna hai।"

Akbar muskuraaye। "Aaj se tum shaahi maktab mein padhoge, aur tumhari padhaai ka saara kharcha hum uthaayenge। Aur tumhari chhoti behen bhi tumhare saath padhegi।"

Rahmat ke Abba ki aankhon se khushi ke aansoo beh nikle। Rahmat daud kar Birbal se lipat gaya, aur Birbal ne hanste hue uske baal bikhra diye।

Aur Phir...

Kehte hain uss din ke baad Agra ki galiyon mein ek nayi kahaawat chal padi। Jab bhi koi galti karke khud hi ghabra jaata, ya bina pooche safaai dene lagta, toh log hans kar kehte, "Arre bhai, chor ki dadhi mein tinka!"

Aur yeh muhavra sadiyon baad aaj bhi zinda hai। Agli baar jab aapki class mein koi bina pooche hi bol pade, "Maine nahi kiya!", toh aap samajh jaana ki shaayad uski dadhi mein bhi koi tinka atka hai!

Aur Rahmat? Kehte hain woh bada hokar ek mashhoor qazi bana, jo apne insaaf ke liye door door tak jaana jaata tha। Har faisle se pehle woh ek hi baat yaad karta tha, jo Birbal ne use uss raat sikhaayi thi: "Shak saboot nahi hota।"