aunhaan soorabeeraan de naan

jinhaan panjaab dee dharatee te

vidaroh ate kraanteekaaree bhaavanaa

noo jiaundiaan rakhiaa|

kujh aapane valon

kee varhiaan ton mainoo ih prashan khaladaa rihaa ki uh kee kaaran san ki uh sikh kauam jo aapanee hond kaaeim rakhan lee dderrh do sau varhiaan tak zulam de viradh larradee kurabaaneean dendee rahee, te fer lamee jadojahid de baad panjaab ch aapanaa raaj sathaapat karan ch kaamayaab hoee, jinhaan sikhaan deean viakateegat vishestaavaan, charatar ate bahaadaree itihaas ch ik misaal ban giaa, mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de dehaant de baad panjaab ch sikh raaj naal hor vee bahut kujh alop ho giaa|

sikh raaj de ant de kaaran kee us samen de raajaneetak itihaasak haalaat san jaan mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh deean aapaneean kamazoreean ate kujh raajaneetak galateean eis de naal ih vee ki je mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh panjaab vich sikh raaj sathaapat karan ch safal hoeaa taan us vich ranajeet singh dee aapanee kinee ku bhoomikaa see ate us ton pahilaan deean raajaneetik gateevidheean jaan sikh misalaan de kaaranaamiaan daa kinaa ku yogadaan see

mere is naaval yugaant daa aaranbh mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh dee mauat ton takareeban sat saal baad san 184748 ch hundaa hai| tad tak angarezaan ate sikhaan vichakaar mudakee, firozapur, sabharaaon aad deean larraaeean ho chukeean san ate jinhaan ch angarezaan noo jit praapat hoee see| inhaan sat ku saalaan vichakaar mahaaraajaa kharrak singh, kunvar nauanihaal singh, mahaaraajaa sher singh ate ranajeet singh de kee hor putar sikh raaj de patavantiaan deean saazishaan ate mehatavaakaankhiaavaan daa sikaar ho chuke san | mahaaraanee jindaa ate usadaa putar daleep singh haale jiaunde san| laahauar ch chaahe akhauatee sikh raaj haale vee kise naa kise roop ch kaaeim see par asalee taakat farangeean de hath vich see| bahut saare sikh saradaar ate laahauar duaale baitthee sikh fauaj farangeean dee vafaadaar banee hoee see|

aam karake hundaa ise tarhaan aaeaa hai, eitihaas vich jis kaal vich vee baaharaleean taakataan ne saadde mulak ch pair jamaae taan aaranbh ch inhaan daa virodh karan ton baad ameer ate nauakarashaahee tabakaa jadon ih vekhadaa hai ki hun saasak naal milavaratan karan ate saath den ch hee unhaan daa nijee

bhalaa hai taan deshabhagatee, janataa de bhale ate aatamasanamaan aad de vichaar tiaag ke naven shaasak de sabh ton ahim madadagaar ban jaande han| ise tabake ne hee jalhiaan vaalaa baag de khoonee saake ton baad janaral ddaaeir noo siropaa ditaa see|

par us vele, yaanee san 184748 ch haale vee sikh raaj naal vafaadaaree nibhaaun vaale ate khudadaar viakatee mauajood san jo frangeean dee pramakhataa manan ton inakaaree san| inhaan chon sabh ton mehatavapooran mulataan daa soobedaar deevaan mool raaj, hazaare daa soobedaar chatar singh, ausadaa putar raajaa sher singh ate bhaaee mahaaraaj singh aad san|

har koee sikh raaj de itihaas noo khaas karake mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de dauar noo aapaneaapane drishatteekon ton vekhadaaparakhadaa hai| aam karake sikh itihaasakaaraan daa zor is gal te hundaa hai ki mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de gunaan, praapateean ate hor sakaaraatamak pakhaan noo ughaarriaa jaae ate us deean galateeankamazoreean noo daree thale lukaa ditaa jaae | par fer vee kujh itihaasakaar aise san jinhaan ne mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de nakaaraatamak pakhaan daa je motte akharaa ch naheen taan chhotte akharaan ch zaroor jikar keetaa hai|

main vee mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de prasansakaan chon haan| mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh ik aisee hasatee see jo panjaab dee dharatee te ain ttheek samen paidaa hoee, jadon haalaat saazagaar san| uh ik nirabhai asaadhaaran ate vilakhan yogataa daa maalak see jis ne samen dee aavaaj noo pachhaaniaan, eitihaas de is avasar ton pooraa laabh utthaaeaa te sikh raaj kaaeim karan ch kaamayaab hoeaa|

mere is naaval deean ghattanaavaan daa mukh kendar mulataan de soobedaar de maatahit shujaahabaad daa kilhaa hai| par main aapane naaval daa mukh kiradaar ate naaeik uche hauansale te hinmat vaale ik saadhaaran sikh sipaahee noo banaaeaa hai| doosaraa ahim kiradaar angarezaansakhaan de janganaame de lekhak shaah muhamad daa putar shaah bakhas hai| is daa asalee naam aapane baap de naalanaal miladaa juladaa see, eis lee paatthak noo naavaan dee ulajhan ton bachaaun lee thorraa jihaa badal ditaa hai|

eis naaval dee naaeikaa roop kauar hai jis noo main mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh dee dhee jaan potaree de tauar te pesh keetaa hai| ih paatar kalapit hai jaan vaasatav, eis daa niranaa main paatthakaan ute chhaddadaa haan, eis savaal de naal ki kee mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh deean atth viaahutaa raaneean dee kukhon siraf putar hee paidaa hoe ate us de putaraan deean pataneean kukhon vee dhee kiaun naheen

paidaa hoee jiven ki soojhavaan paatthak samajh jaanage, main roop kauar noo ik prateek vajon vee pesh keetaa hai|

eis naaval noo likhadiaan meraa iraadaa naa te mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh deean kamazoreeangalateean noo lukaaunaa hai ate naa hee ubhaaranaa, balak dohaan noo tarak, samen ate itihaas dee takarree ch paa ke paatthakaan sanamakh rakhanaa hai| is de naal hee naaval de birataant noo hukamaraan jamaat deean gateevidheean ate larraaeean tak seemat naa rakhake aam lokaan, aam sipaaheean, gair sikhaan khaas karake musalamaanaan te patthaanaan dee bhoomikaa ate maanasikataa raaheen soch tak pahunchan daa yatan keetaa hai| itihaasak ghattanaavaan daa varanan karadiaan main baaharale tathaan tak seemat naa reh ke inhaan ghattanaavaantathaan de pichhe luke mool tak pahunchan dee koshis keetee hai|

aunj ih dasan dee mainoo lorr naheen ki naaval likhadiaan main kinhaan itihaasak somiaan, pusatakaan daa sahaaraa liaa hai kiaunk ih ik naaval hai, koee itihaas dee pusatak naheen| par jadon main aapane kujh vidavaan dosataan noo is naaval de prakaashan ton pahilaan aapanaa khararraa parrhan lee ditaa taan unhaan chon keean ne is naaval ch aae kujh itihaasak veraviaan, tathaan de sarotaan baare prashan keete| is lee inhaan havaaliaan de sarotaan, pusatakaan dee sankhep soochee main is naaval de ant ch de rihaa haan| ithe main keval inaa hee likhaangaa ki is naaval deean mukh itihaasak ghattanaavaan mere sarotaan anusaar vaasatavikataa de bahut nerre han| angarez ate sikh hakoomat naal sanbandh rakhan vaale takareeban saare paatar vee itihaasak han, samet mere ik vishes kiradaarashujaahabaad de kilhedaar saam singh de| is de ilaavaa main ik naavalakaar de tauar te is naaval de kathaabirataant noo sirajadiaan hor vee kujh khulhaan leean han|

lekhak

1

shahir laahauar, visaakh 1848 dee saver, veeh ghorrasavaar naanakashaahee ittaan naal banee sarrak te aapanee haualeehaualee chaal turee jaa rahe han| inhaan veehaan de ageage do hor ghorrasavaar han jinhaan de shaanadaar ghorre ate kujh keematee kaparre unhaan pichhe aa rahe ghorrasavaaraan ton vakhariaan kar rahe han| ghorriaan de khuraan dee ttapattap saver de khaamos vaataavaran ch ik ajeeb jihaa vighan paa rahee prateet hundee hai| sarrak de doven paase vagadeean naaleean chon badaboo nikaladee ate kitekite gandaa paanee naaleean chon nikal ke sarrak te failadaa nazar aa rihaa hai|

eis chhotte jihe dasate de moharee daa naam keerat singh hai, aayoo chhateesaintee varhe par teeh ton vadh naheen lagadaa| mathe ate baahavaan te bhar chuke zakhamaan de nishaan dasade han ki is ne kee morache maare ate kee larraaeean ch bhaag lai chukiaa hai| is dee neelee pag duaale chakar, lak naal ik bhaaree talavaar ate khabe hath ch lame aakaar vaalaa barachhaa farriaa hoeaa hai| ghorre dee kaatthee naal ik bandook ate aapane kaparriaan thale ingalisataan dee banee hoee ik pisataual vee lukaaee hoee hai|

eis de naal chal rihaa solaansataaraan varhiaan daa ik nauajavaan jis deean masaan chhuttaneean shuroo ho geean han| is de kol ik talavaar ate pitth te kaale rang dee ik dtaal de ilaavaa hor koee hathiaar naheen| is ne vee aapane kaparriaan thale ik pisataual lukaaee hoee hai jo is de turan vele is de maame ne ditee see|

bajaaraangaleean chon langhadiaan jad ih kaafalaa ucheean meenaaraan vaalee maseet de laage ik havelee kolon dee langhiaa taan keerat singh ne sute sidh hee aapane ghorre dee chaal haualee kar ditee| havelee de saahamane ik maashakee aapanee mask naal chhirrakaa kar rihaa see ate mittee dee mahik vaataavaran ch pasaree hoee see| pital de kokiaan jarre vadde saare boohe de saje paase ik sangamaramar de pathar te panddat heeraa singh abarol, raaj jayotashee daa naam guramukhee ate uradoo akharaan ch ukariaa dis rihaa see|

mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh is jayotashee te kaafee vishavaas rakhiaa karade san ate is noo mahaaraaje de unhaan kee bhetaan daa pataa see jo hor kise noo naheen

see pataa| keerat singh daa vee panddat heeraa singh naal kaafee mel milaap see| us dee nazar jad domanjlaa havelee dee chhat ute pee taan panddat jee noo upar kharraa vekhadiaan hath jorr ke namasakaar keetaa| panddat jee de bulh hile jiven asheeravaad de rahe hon| fer hath de isaare naal puchhiaa kidhar keerat singh ne ghorre dee lagaam khichadiaan hath de ishaare naal javaab de ditaa| panddat jee kujh samajhe jaan naa samajhe, par haualee denee bole, ttheek e, jaao, vaahiguroo ang sang sahaaee hove

panddat jee ne sir duaale chhottaa jihaa saafaa lapettiaa hoeaa see ate chihare te chittee daaharree saj rahee see| keerat singh jaanadaa see ki uh sir ton takareeban ganje han| mahaaraajaa noo khush karan lee chaahe koee bheea hove chaahe panddat ate chaahe videsee goraa har koee daaharree rakh laindaa ate aam karake aapane asalee naam age singh laa dendaa| jiven laalaa raam ton misar laal singh ban giaa ate bheea raam daas ton raam singh ho giaa|

panddat heeraa singh dee daaharree val vekhadiaan keerat singh noo us dee kahee gal yaad aa gee

oe keerat siaan dharam inhaan kesaandaaharreean ch naheen vasiaa hoeaa ate naa hee janjooaan vich...| vaal vadhaaun naal jaan aapane naam age singh laaun naal naa koee bahaadar ban jaandaa hai ate naa hee vafaadaar| je is tarhaan hundaa taan misar laal singh ate misar tej singh khaalasaa fauaj naal dagaa naa karade|

auh te nakalee sikh san| us aakhiaa see|

taan fer asalee sikh kauan aa

eis ton baad uh tang jahe bazaar chon langhan lage jithe dukaanadaar, aapaneean dukaanaan kholhadiaan dukaanaan saahamane chharrakaa kar rahe san| lalaareean, halavaaeean ate bhaandde vechan vaaliaan ne aapaneean dukaanaan de baahar sarrak daa kaafee hisaa gheriaa hoeaa see, kitekite ttutte gharaan deean ddigeean kandhaan de dter san| dukaanaan de naal hee aarazee chhapar paa ke dukaanadaaraan ne aapane ghorre banhe hoe han jinhaan deean lidaan vaataavaran ch ik ajeeb jahee havaarr paidaa kar raheean han| bazaar vich kharre rukhaan noo bajaar chon langhade haatheean ate aootthaan ne patiaan vihunaa kar ditaa hoeaa see|

jis vele keerat singh daa ih dasataa mulataanee daravaaze chon nikal rihaa see, takareeban use vele chaar ghorrasavaar, jo aapane pahiraave ton musalamaan lagade san, pashauaree daravaaze chon nikal rahe san| is dasate daa moharee shaah bakhas see jo kujh varhe pahilaan tak mahaaraajaa deean veeh topaan de dasate daa

karanail hoeaa karadaa see | us de naal chal rihaa ik teraanchauadaan varhe daa disan vaalaa khoobasoorat jihaa munddaa, terr salavaar, aupar khulhaa jihaa chitte rang daa kurrataa ate us upar laakhe rang dee fatoohee paaee hoee see| dovaan de sir ute kule duaale valee hoee moongeean rang dee pagarree| baakee de do ghorrasavaar inhaan de angarakhiak san|

shaah bakhas ne chaahe aapanaa adhaa chiharaa aapanee pag de larr naal dtakiaa hoeaa see par fer vee pashauaree daravaaze ch kharre pahiredaar ne us noo pachhaan liaa|

salaam shaah bakhas jee, aj saveresavere kidhar chaale paa dite

shaah bakhas noo ise daa ddar see ki koee pachhaan naa lave| uh aapane tauakhle noo lukaaundiaan boliaa

zaraa shekh charaag deen dee majaar tak chaliaa haan| saahibajaade dee sihat lee manat mangee hoee see|

hor kee kar rahe ho ajakalh shaah jee

shaah bakhas samajhadaa see ki is de puchhan de kee arath han| je uh is vele vee topakhaane daa jaranail hundaa taan is dee hinmat naheen see honee is tarhaan puchhan dee| uh boliaa

bas khetee kareedee hai| fer man hee man aakhiaa is daa vee kee pataa kujh maheene pahilaan, jad topakhaane de jaranail sulataan mahimood ate karanail sulataan ahimad noo farangeean dee sheh te khaalasaa fauaj ton barataraf keetaa taan unhaan deean jageeraan vee inhaan farangeean ne zabat karavaa diteean san| vair farangeean daa unhaan naal ghatt ate topakhaane naal jiaadaa see | mudakee, firozapur ate sabharaao deean larraaeean ch inhaan deean topaan ne farangeean daa bahut nukasaan keetaa see| topacheean binaan hun topaan bhalaa kis kam deean|

eis ton pahilaan ki pahiredaar jaan koee hor sipaahee us de naal de ghorr savaar val takadaa, shaah bakhas de doven angarakhiak sikh sipaaheean ate saahibazaade vichakaar aapane ghorre vadhaa ke kharre ho ge|

2

shaah bakhas ne fakeer charaag deen dee mazaar kol jaa ke majaar de khabe paase khooh val takiaa, jithe fakeer azeejaudadeen de dase anusaar, keerat singh ne unhaan noo aa ke milanaa see | uthe kise noo naa vekh ke shaah bakhas sochaan ch pai giaa | kujh der baad jad us ne keerat singh de dasate noo khooh val

aaundiaan takiaa taan us ne sukh daa saah liaa|

salaamavaalekum singh saahib, keerat singh noo chhaal maar ke ghorre ton utaradiaan vekh ke shaah bakhas boliaa ate fer uh vee ghorre ton utar giaa|

fakeer saahib ne taan mainoo dasiaa hee naheen ki ithe tuseen miloge| kee mere vaang tuhaaddee vee chhuttee kar ditee gee

hun khaalasaa fauaj kaahadee bakhshee jee| hun taan laahauar vee unhaan daa te khaalasaa fauaj vee unhaan dee mutthee vich| main te aap hee asateefaa de ke chaliaa aaeaa| ih hun mere ik mitar ne aapane saahibazaade noo shujaahabaad de kilhe ch puchaaun dee zinmevaaree mere sir lagaaee hai|

je main galat naheen taan keh sakadaa haan ki shujaahabaad daa kilhaa mulataan de soobedaar mool raaj dee matahitee ch hai| hun ih kilhaa vee koee mahifooz mukaam naheen| tuseen jaanade hee hovoge ki farangee is vele mulataan te hamalaa karan de manasoobe banaa rihaa hai|

mahifooz te ih laahauar vich vee naheen| keerat singh boliaa|

kise gadaar ne, jinhaan dee ajakalh laahauar ch koee kamee naheen, farangeean noo das ditaa hai ki shujaahabaad de kilhedaar daa putar laahauar vich hai| saanoo ddar hai ki kite farangee is saahibazaade noo aapane kabaje ch karake is noo jaragamaal de tauar te varatadiaan is de pitaa noo deevaan mool raaj naalon ttuttan te majaboor naa kar den|

naheen, eih mumakin naheen| shaah bakhas boliaa, main saradaar shaam singh noo changee tarhaan jaanadaa haan |

aaualaad lee aadamee bhalaa kee kujh naheen kar sakadaa | is vele te khaalasaa raaj de vaddevadde saradaar aapanee zameer ate eemaan dee neelaamee shareaam karade fir rahe han|

haan, eih taan tuseen sau feesadee darusat aakhiaa| fer shaah bakhas keerat singh de kan kol aapanaa moonh lijaandiaan boliaa

kee tuhaadde inhaan ghorrasavaaraan te itabaar keetaa jaa sakadaa hai

haan, bilakul | uh shaah bakhas val savaaleea nazaraan naal takadiaan boliaa, farangeean naal hoeean tinaan larraaeean ch ih mere dasate ch san| ate jad main asateefaa ditaa taan ih vee mere naal ho ture san |

taan fer main befikar ho ke dasadaa haan| ih mere pichhe kharre jis kamasin noo vekh rahe ho, eih koee larrakaa naheen, naabaalag larrakee hai |

larrakee keerat singh hairaan hundiaan aus val takadiaan boliaa|

hun us noo us de nain nakash sachamuch kurreean varage lage| ih tuhaaddee koee...

eih naa meree koee azeej hai ate naa rishatedaar, aunj vekhiaa jaave taan tuhaaddaa, meraa, saariaan daa is naal kujh rishataa zaroor hai|

aiven bujhaarataan naa paao shaah jee |

eis daa naam roop kauar hai| tuhaadde bhuchangee vaang is noo vee kise mahifooz jaghaa pahunchaaunaa hai|

eih taan mainoo dasiaa giaa see, par inhaan baare.... eih...

eih koee aam larrakee naheen| shaah bakhas us de kan kol aapanaa moonh lijaandiaan boliaa, eih dhee jaan potaree hai, mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh dee |

dhee jaan potaree keerat singh ne kujh hairaan hundiaan kihaa, asaan te kadee suniaa naheen ki mahaaraajaa jaan us de kise putar de ghar koee kurree vee paidaa hoee see

fer tuseen aap hee socho ki unhaan de ghar putar hee kiaun paidaa hoe dheean kiaun naheen

aunhaan ton kujh door mundde de bhes ch kharree kurree unhaan de haavabhaav ate keerat singh de us val gharree murree takan ton samajh gee ki uh use baare galaan kar rahe han| us noo barraa ajeeb jihaa anubhav hon lagaa ate uh thale val takadiaan pair dee jutee naal zameen ragarran lagee|

vaahiguroo dee marazee, eis baare bandaa kee keh sakadaa hai| keerat singh boliaa|

tuhaanoo ih te pataa hovegaa ki raajapoot raaje aapaneean kurreean noo jamadiaan hee maar diaa karade san|

aseen sikh haan, guroo de sikha keerat singh ne aakhiaa, saaddeean misalaan de ik saradaar ne raajapootaan vaang aapanee dhee noo jamadiaan maariaa see taan khaalasaa panth ne us noo kurreemaar keh ke bedakhal kar ditaa see|

auh vele hor san jad khaalasaa khaalas ate charrhadeean kalaan ch see | hun jo ho rihaa hai, auh te tuseen vekh hee rahe ho|

keerat singh ne tthanddaa jihaa saah bhariaa ate shaah bakhas dee gal te sir hilaaundiaan boliaa, eih te darusat e, par ih... ih

jis ne bachanaa hundaa e, aus noo khudaa kise naa kise tarhaan bachaa hee laindaa hai shaah bakhas ne aakhiaa|

saafasaaf daso|

eih use tarhaan hai jiven kisiaan kahaaneean ch hoeaa karadaa hai| kurree daa janam hundiaan hee maan ne kise bharosemand aadamee jaan aauarat de zaree is noo kise mahifooz jaghaa puchaa ditaa; ate jithe is dee paravarish hundee rahee|

keerat singh ne kurree val gauah naal vekhiaa| daramiaanaa kad, thorrhaa bhariaa hoeaa jusaa, sir de vaal kujh bhoore, chiharaa kujh chauarraa, akhaan motteeamotteean, par bharavatte kurreean vaang patale hon dee bajaae kujh bhaare, lamee garadan ate kanaan ch sone deean golagol mundaraan|

ate is daa baap sher singh, kharrak singh jaan...

sach puchho taan is de baare mainoo vee kujh naheen pataa| mumakin hai ki is dee paalan vaalee noo vee pooree tarhaan pataa naa hove| sone deean moharaan ch barree taakat hai|

te fer is noo hun ddar kaahadaa

sone deean moharaan je chup karaa sakadeean han taan zabaan khulhavaa vee sakadeean han| je paalanaa vaalee noo naa vee pataa hove taan koee daaee, koee kaneej...

hoon | keerat singh aapane nak noo khurachadiaan ate samasiaa dee naazukataa baare sochadiaan boliaa, par is vichaaree ton kise noo kee ddar

ddar shaah bakhas boliaa, kee tuseen suniaa naheen ki marahoom mahaaraajaa sher singh ne nauanihaal singh dee vidhavaa ate haamalaa beevee naal jabar jinaah karake maar suttiaa, taan ki us dee bhaavee aaualaad ate takhat de hakadaar daa khaatamaa ho jaave|

haan, main suniaa te zaroor see, par vishavaas naheen see aaeaa ki mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh daa putar aiseean kojheean harakataan kar sakadaa hai| keerat singh afasos zaahar karadiaan ate sir hilaaundiaan boliaa| chalo chhaddo saaeh jee inhaan galaan noo | sun ke man kharaab hundaa hai|

man chaahe kharaab hundaa hai| par hakeekat ate sach noo akhon ohale karade rahinaa vee taan koee siaanap naheen|

taan fer tuhaadde vaalad saahib ne is baare vee likhiaa hovegaa, aapane janganaame vich

eis baare taan naheen, par mahaaraajaa kharrak singh dee vidhavaa raanee chand kauar baare zaroor likhiaa hai| us noo vee sher singh ne maravaa ditaa see| saaeh bakhas boliaa|

aus noo vee keerat singh de moonhon nikaliaa| je zabaanee yaad hove taan sunaao|

aunjh is vele ih kujh sunaaun vaalaa avasar naheen| par je kahinde ho taan sunaaundaa haan

sher singh ne gadee te baitth ke jee

raanee kaid karake kilhe vich paaee

ghar baitthiaan rab ne raaj ditaa

dekho mal baitthaa saaree paatashaahee

baras hoeaa jaan us noo kaid andar

raanee dil de vich jo jich aaee

shaah muhamadaa maar ke chand kauaraan

sher singh ne galon balaa laahee

oh takhat ate taaj dee kashis aadamee noo kee daa kee banaa dindee hai| keerat singh jiven aapane aap noo keh rihaa see|

par vekho singh jee je us noo maariaa vee giaa taan kis berahimee naal| aus deean nijee daaseean noo sone deean moharaan daa laalach de ke unhaan noo aapane val keetaa ate daaseean ne silavatte naal raanee chand kauar daa sir paarr ditaa|

oh | ih naheen see mainoo pataa| keerat singh dukh naal sir hilaaundiaan boliaa|

hun jo main kahinaa chaahundaa haan, ate jis daa khataraa vee hai, ki je raanee jind kauar noo daleep singh de ilaavaa mahaaraaje de kise putar dee santaan daa honaa aapane lee khataraa disan lage taan koee hairaanee dee gal naheen|

par ih aiven afavaah vee te ho sakadee hai| keerat singh boliaa|

afavaah jaan sach | par is dee jaan noo taan khataraa ho hee giaa |

hoon| par is noo puchaaunaa kithe hai

rasate ch ik pindd vich chhadd denaa hai| uthe is noo paalan vaale de koee rishatedaar rahinde ne |

keerat singh kujh der kharraa sochadaa rihaa, fer boliaa

eithon kinee ku door

kaafee door, shujaahabaad ton kujh pahilaan |

taan te kaafee din lag jaanage uthe pahunchadiaan | keerat singh boliaa|

eih keh ke keerat singh ne shaah bakhas saahamane ih samasiaa rakhee ki eis de kurree hon de bhed noo is yaataraa dauaraan aapane aadameean ton lukaaee rakhanaa asanbhav hai| kujh der vichaaravattaandaraa karade rahin ton baad

keerat singh ne aapane sipaaheean saahamane adhaa ku sach das ditaa ki ih munddaa naheen, kurree hai| is dee jaan noo khataraa hai te kise surakhiat sathaan te puchaaunaa hai| ih kauan hai eis baare chup hee rahe| sun ke saare sikh ghorr charrhe us val hairaanee ate utasak nazaraan naal takan lage| is ton pahilaan daler singh aapane haan dee kise kurree de sanparak vich naheen see aaeaa| is vichaar naal ki kujh din tak uh is kurree naal rahegaa, auh man hee man khush ho rihaa see|

hun changaa hove je tuseen is de sir te sikhaan varagee pag banh devo| shaah bakhas aapane jhole chon ik pag ate khanddaa kadtade hoe boliaa|

keerat singh ne roop de sir ton kule duaale valee hoee patthaanaan vaalee pag utaar ke sikhaan varagee pag banh ditee| fer khooh ton ghorriaan noo paanee piaa ke jad keerat singh daa dasataa turan lagaa taan us ne shaah bakhas ton puchhiaa

hun tuseen vaapas jaaoge ki roop kauar naal

main roop noo us pindd ch chhaddan tak tuhaadde naal hee jaavaangaa|

chalo ih vee vadheea| tuhaadde kolon tuhaadde vaalad daa likhiaa janganaamaa sunaangaa| unjh tuhaanoo shaaeid pataa hee hovegaa ki ih janganaamaa khaalasaa fauaj ate aam lokaan ch kaafee mashahoor ate makabool ho giaa hai, eik dooje ton sunadiaan sunaaundiaan| jinhaan noo ik do band hee yaad han uh is ch aapane valon kee kujh jorr dende han| mainoo vee kujh band zabaanee yaad han| uh sachamuch tuhaadde vaalad shaah muhamad huraan de likhe hoe han is baare kujh naheen keh sakadaa|

hun gal turee taan main ih vee das devaan shaah bakhas kahin lagaa, farangeean ate raanee jindaan noo vee is janganaame de likhe jaan baare sooh mil gee hoee hai| koee vee hukamaraan ih naheen chaahavegaa ki unhaan baare koee sacho sach likhe| ate hun mere vaalad saahib ne us janganaame dee ik nakal mere sapurad keetee hai taan ki main is noo kise mahifooz mukaam te puchaa devaan|

sabh koee mahifooz sathaan te pahunchanaa chaahundaa hai | keerat singh boliaa|

laahauar ch hun kauan mahifooz hai saradaar saahib| aj jis noo haathee ute savaar ate pag te kalagee laaee vekhade haan, dooje din us dee pag ate laash mittee ch ruladee disadee hai|

sach kihaa shaah jee, sach kihaa| keerat singh dukh naal sir hilaaundiaan boliaa, vekhade hee vekhade mahaaraajaa kharrak singh, kunvar nauanihaal singh, ddogare vazeer, sandhaavaalee khatam ho ge| te... te hun kavitaakasiaan ton vee sarakaaraan noo khtaraa disan lagaa |

talavaar dee maar ik vaar, par haraf dee maar sadeean tak| shaah bakhas ne aakhiaa|

3

shaah bakhas ne aapane musalamaan angarakhiakaan noo vaapas bhej ditaa| age turan lagiaan keerat singh ne saariaan noo kee hadaaeitaan den de naal ih vee hadaaeit ditee ki roop kauar noo saare roop singh jaan siraf roopaa keh ke sanbodhan karanage|

aunhaan de ghorre chaahe tez dauarrade, chaahe haualee chalade, auh aapane khuraan naal dhoorr de badal uddaaunde jaande, barree bareek ate har thaaven pahunch jaan vaalee dhoorr| sooraj charrhiaa chaahe haale ik gharree hee keetee see par havaa ch sheetalataa see| sooraj charrhan dee disaa val jaan karake dhup unhaan deean akhaan ch pai rahee see| dhoorr ate dhup ton bachan lee saariaan ne aapaneean pagaan de larraan naal aapane chihare pooree tarhaan dtak le hoe san| ik kaafale de gadde aapanee haualee chaal chaladiaan vipareet dishaa ton aa rahe san| gaddiaan noo hikan vaaliaan ch kujh sute jihe, kujh hukaa peende dis rahe san| unhaan de pichhe is kaafale de angarakhiak ghorrasavaaraan daa ik dasataa vee chaladaa aa rihaa see| jad vee koee kaafalaa jaan gaddaa rasate ch miladaa taan unhaan noo aapane ghorre rasate ton ik paase karane painde| unjh ih sarrak naam dee hee see| bas gaddiaan ate ghorriaan de aaun jaan naal banee suke khetaan, maidaanaan chon langhadaa hoeaa ik chauarraa jihaa rasataa| baladaan de galaan ch paaeean ttaleean dee ttanattan vaataavaran dee neerasataa noo torradee jaap rahee see| kise pindd de baaharon langhade taan teeveean sir te gharre chukee kise mitthe paanee de khooh ton paanee bharan jaandeean jaan liaaundeean disadeean| adh nange bache aapane hanere bhavakh ton bekhabar dauarrade kheddade nazar aa rahe san|

do tin ghantte ghorre durraaunde rahin ton baad ghorriaan noo saah davaaun dee khaatar unhaan dee rafataar haualee kar lee| rasate ch daler singh kise vele roop kauar val takadiaan us de ghorre de naalanaal ghorraa durraaun lagadaa| is khoobasoorat kurree de naal hon kaaran daler singh aapane is safar de khatariaan baare bilakul hee bhul giaa ate us noo roop daa saath bahut changaa ate sukhadaaee mahisoos hon lagaa| roop kauar hun roop singh de roop vich hor vee aakarashak lag rahee see| jad uh ik pindd de baahar ghorriaan noo paanee

pilaaun lee ruke taan daler singh jhatt aapane ghorre ton chhaal maar ke roop noo ghorre ton utaaran lee us kol jaa pahunchiaa| roop ne vee musakaraa ke us val takiaa ate us de hath daa sahaaraa lai ke thale utar gee| par andaron us daa dhiaan keerat singh val see| tin ghantte dee is ghorrasavaaree kaaran us deean lataan aakarreean hoeean san ate us noo dharatee te pair rakh ke aapanaa santulan kaaeim rakhanaa mushakil hon lagaa| daler singh ne us de lak duaale baanh val ke us noo sahaaraa ditaa|

saavadhaan daler singh saavadhaan| keerat singh man hee man keh utthiaa, eih shaahee khaanadaan dee aauarat hai| fer us ne doojiaan val takadiaan aakhiaa

saanoo bahut saavadhaan ho ke chalanaa pavegaa shaah saahib | saare panjaab ch nauakareeon barakhaasat keete vihale sipaahee junddaleean banaa ke idharaudhar ghunm rahe ne | tuseen rasate ch vekhiaa hee hovegaa|

haan, main vekh rihaa haan singh jee| aine varhe sipaaheegiree karan ton baad talavaar dee thaaven hal noo enee asaanee naal naheen farriaa jaa sakadaa| hun dhaarravee ban ke lutt maar karade ghunm fir rahe han| koee ikalaa dukalaa musaafir inhaan ton mahifooz naheen|

paanee peen ate ghorriaan noo saah divaaun ton baad uh fer tur pe| pandaraan ku meel dhoorr de badal uddaaun ton baad unhaan ne vekhiaa ki kaafee saare fauajee sipaahee ik vishaal boharr thale baitthe patharaan de chulhe banaa ke kujh rin pakaa rahe san|

changaa hove je aseen inhaan kol kujh pal ruk ke inhaan naal do chaar galaan kar leee| varanaa bahut asubhaavik lagegaa| keerat singh ne sujhaa ditaa|

shaah muhamad bakhas ne haan ch sir hilaa ditaa| keerat singh de ishaare naal roop ate daler singh ne aapaneean pagaan de larr aapane chihariaan duaale val ke aapane moonh dtak le|

aunhaan aapane ghorriaan dee lagaam khichee ate ghorriaan te baitthiaan baitthiaan vaahiguroo jee kaa khaalasaa aakhiaa| agion vaahiguroo jee kee fatih aakhadiaan unhaan chon ik singh boliaa

aao, saadde naal baitth ke prashaadaa chhakade jaao|

naheen, aseen laahauar ton khoob dtidd bhar ke ture saan|

oh | taan tuseen laahauar ton aa rahe ho| kee hai uthon dee taajaa khabar

kujh khaas naheen| sabh kujh shamasaan vaang chup| lokaan daa kahinaa hai ki farangee ithon chhetee hee chale jaanage | keerat singh ne utar dendiaan aakhiaa|

kee galaan kar rahe ho singh jee, aapaneea akhaan ch aap mittee paaun vaaleean| saadde raaje ate raaneean aap bulaa raheean han inhaan farangeean nooaao aao ik sikh sipaahee roh naal keh utthiaa, boleean lageean hoeean han panjaab deean pahilaan nauanihaal singh dee maan ne farangeean noo aapane bachaao lee panjaab de kul maal gujaaree de rupe chon chhe aane den dee peshakas keetee| us ton baad mahaaraajaa ser singh ne ih bolee vadhaaundiaan sataluj paar de aapane saare ilaake farangeean noo den daa vaadaa kar ditaa |

siraf ilaake hee naheen| doojaa boliaa, naal chaar lakh rupeee vee| ate ih vekh ke pashauaraa singh ne is pesakash ton upar vadhaadiaan kasmeer vee farangeean noo den dee peskas bhej ditee| ate, ate hun raanee jindaan ne farangeean noo duaabaa de ke aapane lee surakhiaa khareed lee |

changaa hove je ih farangee laahauar ton dafaa ho jaan| unhaan de jaandiaan hee aseen is raanee ate is de putar noo chaladaa kar denaa e| ih te farangeean de hath dee katthaputalee hai |

einjh kiaun kahinde ho mahaaraanee noo keerat singh gal noo age toran dee khaatir boliaa, hun taan laahauar noo aapanaa asalee vaaris miliaa hai| main suniaa hai ki uh ik kaabal ate daler aauarat hai|

vaaris ki dushaman daler ki chaalabaaj unhaan chon ik adhakharr umar daa saradaar boliaa| is de mathe ate garadan ute sattaan de nishaan san| je is ne mudakee te firozapur dee larraaee ch laal singh ate tej singh naal mil ke khaalasaa fauaj naal dagaabaazee naa keetee hundee taan aseen uh larraaee jit lee hundee | fer us ne shaah bakhas val gauah naal vekhadiaan aakhiaa

je mainoo bhulekhaa naheen paindaa taan ih shaah muhamad de sapatar saaeh bakhash han, khaalasaaee topakhaane de mashahoor topachee te jinhaan de vaalad ne is jang baare koee lamaa kisaa likhiaa hai | us de pachhaane jaan te keerat singh man hee man ghabaraaeaa| fer unhaan saahamane subhaavik hundiaan aakhiaa

tusaan ttheek hee pachhaaniaa hai|

taan fer kujh sunaao shaah jee | aseen vee sunee ki sach likhiaa hai jaan jhootth

keerat singh ne shaah bakhas noo isaaraa keetaa, ate uh boliaa

mainoo pooree taan yaad naheen, par uh band jaroor sunaa sakadaa haan jo tusee sunanaa chaahunde ho, yaanee raanee jindaan baare

jattee hovaan taan karaan panjaab randdee

saare des de vich jaa turan vaaraan|

chhaddaan naheen laahauar vich varran joge

sane vaddiaan afasaraan jamaandaaraan|

pe rulan ih vich parades murade,

shaah muhamad maaranee es maaraa|

tuhaadde is band ton taan ih arath nikalade han ki sikh fauajaan dee haar noo vekhake raanee jindaan khush see| ika singh boliaa|

khush taan honaa hee hoeaa| unhaan chon ik ne aakhiaa, balak main te ihee kahaangaa ki sabh ton pahilaan ise ne gulaab singh ddogare naal mil ke khaalasaa fauaj noo haraaun daa chharrayantar rachiaa see|

ate misar laal singh te tej singh | ik ne puchhiaa|

auh te mohare san bhaaee mohare| shaah bakhas boliaa| is baare jo likhiaa hai, auh vee sun lo

arazee likh farangeean kunj gupata goshe,

pahile aapanaa sukh anand vaaree

tere val main fauaj noo ghalanee aan

khatte kareen toon inhaan de dand vaaree|

par... par mainoo haale tak samajh naheen aaeaa ki mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh dee ih raanee kiaun chaahundee see ki khaalasaa fauaj haar jaave ik nauajavaan sikh sipaahee ne puchhiaa, eis vich taan saariaan daa nukasaan

tainoo naheen pataa munddiaa, auhee saradaar, jo is dasate daa saraganaa lagadaa see boliaa

chhotteean aauarataan aapane jaatee khudagarazee ton upar utth ke kujh naheen soch sakadeean| ih aauarat mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de shikaaree kutiaan de rakhavaale dee dhee see| bas ik din us dee dasabaaraan varhiaan dee dhee dee khoobasooratee te aashik ho ke mahaaraajaa is noo ghar lai aaeaa|

main ih manan noo tiaar naheen ki siraf vaddaa aadamee uchee soch vaalaa hundaa hai| vichon ik boliaa, eih gulaab singh, dhiaan singh ddogare koee chhotte aadamee san... ate sandhaavaalee

tere naal main sahimat haan| uhee saradaar kahin lagaa, gal is tarhaan hoee ki raanee jindaan daa javaahar singh naam daa ik bharaa vee see jis ne aapane bhaanaje daleep singh lee rasataa saaf karan khaatir kanvar pashauaraa singh noo maravaa ditaa| is ghattanaa ne khaalasaa fauaj noo aape ton baahar kar ditaa| fauaj ne javaahar singh noo maar suttiaa|

main tuhaanoo is baare ik band sunaaundaa haan| saah bakhas ne josh ch aaundiaan sunaaunaa shuroo keetaa

jinhaan maariaa kohi ke veer meraa

main khuhaaoongee unhaan deean junddeean nee|

dhaakaan jaan valaaeitee desh saare

paavaan bakare vaang jaa vanddeean nee|

choorre lahinage bahut suhaaganaan de

nath chauank te vaaleean ddanddeean nee

shaah muhamadaa painage vain ddoonghe

jadon hon panjaabanaan randdeean nee|

auh kujh der ise tarhaan deean galaan karade rahe| keerat singh ne unhaan dee haan ch haan milaaunaa hee bihatar samajhiaa|

eis adhakharr sipaahee boliaa, saanoo panjaab de takhat te kuchharr chukiaa chhokaraa naheen chaaheedaa ate naa hee kharrayantaree aauarat| ih panjaab koee inhaan dee jadee jageer naheen| is vele saanoo lorr hai kise bahaadar, khudadaar ate siaane saradaar dee jo farangeean naal larran dee hinmat kar sake |

kis dee jageer, kis dee naheen | keerat singh unhaan dee neeyat jaanan khaatar boliaa, aseen sipaaheean ne taan nauakaree karanee hundee de| galatattheek naal ik sipaahee noo bhalaa kee sarokaar main taan kahindaa haan ki nauakaree labhanee hove taan jamoo ton vadh changee jaghaa hor koee nahee

eih main kee sun rihaa haan tuhaadde moonhon khaalasaa jee| bahaadaraan noo bhalaa bhukhe maran dee kee lorr jaan te lutt maar karaange ate je nauakaree karaange taan mulataan de soobedaar mool raaj dee| inhaan suaarathee saradaaraan ton taan moolaa khataree changaa jis ne farangeean age sir jhukaaun ton inakaar kar ditaa|

tusaan mere dil dee gal aakhee khaalasaa jee| shaah bakhas ne aakhiaa,

darasal aseen vee use paase jaa rahe haan |

4

khaalasaa fauaj daa ik jaranail ik musalamaan aradalee naal jaan laarains de kamare vich daakhal ho ke idharaudhar vekhan lagaa| jaan laarains dee ih rihaaeishagaah kise vele mugaleea salatanat de kise ameer dee hundee see| ih saare ghar, haveleean ate mehal ziaadaatar laahauar shahir de baahar karake

banaae ge san jinhaan de khetaraan ton beete samen dee shaanaosauakat daa anumaan laaeaa jaa sakadaa see|

sarrak ton thorrhaa door, saje paase rukhaan de ik jhundd vichakaar, jo kise vele alee maradaas khaan daa nau lakhaa baag hundaa see, farangee sipaaheean de chitte rang de tanboo kataaraan ch lage dis rahe san, ate jinhaan dee ginatee dinabadin vadhadee jaa rahee see| is chhottee jihee chhaaunee ch angarej sipaaheean de tanboo poorabee ate gorakhe sipaaheean ton kujh dooree te lage hoe san| farangee raizeeddaintt de kahin anusaar ih sipaahee unhaan dee aapanee surakhiaa ate laahauar shahir ch vadhadee jaa rahee araajakataa noo mukh rakhadiaan ludhiaane ton mangavaae ge san|

hun ih bahut saare makaan ate haveleean farangee afasaraan jaan sikh saradaaraan ne maleean hoeean san| jaan laarains dee is rahaaeishagaah noo rahin yog banaaun lee adhapachadhe yatan keete ge lagade san| varaandde de farash thaanthaan ton ukharre hoe san| alabataa kamare vich eeraan ate kasmeer de bane rangabarange galeeche zaroor vichhe dis rahe san| kamare ch chaar panj kuraseean ate ik mez de ilaavaa hor kujh khaas naheen see piaa dis rihaa| kandh naal jaan laarains de bharaa hainaree laarains dee tasaveer jroor lamak rahee see jis noo farangee gavaranar ne lakhnaoo bhej ditaa see|

aao kaahan singh jee, eik daravaaze chon langh ke andar aaundiaan jaan laarains ne aakhiaa| laarains noo andar aaundiaan vekh ke aradalee baahar chalaa giaa| jaan laarains ne singhaan vaang sir te pang banhee hoee, lamee daaharree ate kott ute kee tarhaan de tamage lamakade dis rahe san|

laarains ik alamaaree val vadhiaa, alamaaree kholhee ate alamaaree chon ik botal ate de galaas kadt ke mez te rakh dite| fer rasoeee noo aavaaz maaradiaan paanee liaaun lee kihaa| rasoeee ne paanee daa jag bhar ke mej te rakh ditaa|

laarains ne dohaan galaasaan ch visakee paaee ate ik galaas ch paanee paaundiaan boliaa, meraa khiaal hai ki tuhaanoo taan paanee dee lorr naheen|

jaan laarains sikh saradaaraan dee is kamazoree noo changee tarhaan samajhadaa ate is daa uchat laabh utthaaunaa vee changee tarhaan jaanadaa see| doven jane kuraseean te baitth ge| kaahan singh ne vikhaave lee thorrhaa jihaa paanee visakee vaale galaas ch paaeaa ate ik ghutt bharadiaan boliaa

vaah suaad aa giaa| tuhaaddee valaitee sharaab bahut vadheea hundee hai|

par tuhaaddee sharaab vaang ainee purazor naheen hundee| ik vaaree ranajeet singh ne aapane vaalee sraab daa galaas adhaa ku bhar ke mainoo ditaa taan main do tin ghutt pee ke hee ddigan vaalaa ho giaa saan | tuseen lok pataa naheen kiven hazam kar lainde ho|

kaahan singh zor naal hasiaa| do tin ghutt hor peete ate khaalee jihe kamare val takadiaan boliaa, tuseen raiseeddains vaalaa makaan chhadd ke kiaun aa ge

chhadd ke aaunaa piaa| laarains kujh dukhee sur ch boliaa, main te aikatting raiseeddaintt saan| hun kalakate ton ik nikame gavaranar janaral ne aapane varage nikame aadamee noo raiseeddaintt kamishanar banaa ke bhej ditaa hai| so saanoo saariaan noo raiseeddainsee khaalee karanee pee|

tuseen mainoo dasanaa see| kee sikh saradaar, jo hun naheen rahe, aunhaan de gharaan noo jandare lage pe ne| koee changaa ate sajiaa sajaaeaa ghar khulhavaa dendaa tuhaadde lee |

shukareea saradaar saahib, je lorr pee taan tuhaanoo kahaangaa | haan, yaad aaeaa, raanee jind kauar vaalee havelee ch hun kauan rahindaa hai

je buraa naa manaao, kaahan singh kahin lagaa, taan kahaangaa ki raanee saahibaan noo ik chhotte jihe makaan ch band karake kanpanee sarakaar ne changaa naheen keetaa| unhaan noo naaraaz karanaa tuhaadde hit ch naheen|

main tuhaadde naal mutafik hundiaan kahaangaa ki saanoo ih khabar milee see ki us havelee ch koee surang hai, jis raaheen mahaaraanee ate daleep singh nikal ke nas sakade san ate ih saadde hit ch naheen ki uh mulataan de soobedaar jaan hazaaraan de chhatar singh naal jaa milan |

hoon, eih te ttheek e| kaahan singh agion baliaa, tuhaadde kol aaun ton pahilaan main mahaaraanee saahibaan noo milan giaa saan| unhaan meree maarafat tuhaanoo aakh ghaliaa hai ki je panjaab te kabazaa karanaa hai taan sidhe tareeke naal karan| aiven ulatte tareeke varatan daa kee laabh

eis noo tuseen naheen samajh sakade, laarains boliaa, par mahaaraanee baare sach ih hai ki mahaaraanee noo nazaraband karan daa hukam saadde naven raiseeddaintt kamishanar faraiddanik karee ne jaaree keetaa see |

faraiddarik karee tuseen taan saadde aapane ho| kee varhe ho ge tuhaanoo laahauar ch rahindiaan aseen ik dooje noo samajhade haan| par ih karee kite saareean yojanaavaan te paanee hee naa fir jaave| main te tuhaanoo ih salaah devaangaa ki kise naa kise tarhaan shujaahabaad de kilhedaar noo aapane hath ch kar

liaa jaave laalach de ke, ddaraa dhamakaa ke us de putar noo aapane kabaze ch kar ke| par sabh ton jarooree ih hai ki hazaare de chhatar singh noo mool raaj naal milan ton rokiaa jaae|

laarains samajhadaa see ki kaahan singh ih kujh farangeean pratee aapanee vafaadaaree vikhaaun lee keh rihaa hai| uh aap aine moorakh naheen san| fer vee kaahan singh dee tasalee lee boliaa

eis kam lee aseen aapane do afasaraan noo ravaanaa kar ditaa hai| ih vee sunan ch aaeaa hai ki ranajeet singh dee ik potaree vee faraar hon ch kaamayaab ho gee hai, ate ik bahut khataranaak aadamee keerat singh vee|

eis dauaraan jaan laarains ne masaan ik galaas khaalee keetaa jad ki kaahan singh adhee ton vadh botal charrhaa giaa see| is ton pahilaan ki uh aapane hoshahavaas gavaa baitthadaa, jaan laarains us noo sanbodhit hundiaan boliaa

tuseen jaanade ho ki main tuhaanoo kiaun bulaaeaa hai

kaahan singh prashan bhareean nazaraan naal us val takan lagaa|

angarezee sarakaar noo tuhaadde varage vafaadaaraan ute bahut bharosaa hai| mulataan dee soobedaaree tuhaanoo milan vaalee hai| is makasad lee tuseen ik bhaaree fauaj lai ke mulataan val ravaanaa ho jaao| is baare laahauar darabaar valon tuhaadde lee faramaan tiaar hai| kahindiaan jaan laarains ne uh faramaan kaahan singh de hath farraa ditaa|

5

main te sochadaa saan ki tuseen roop kauar noo mere sapurad karake vaapas parat jaaoge| keerat singh aapane naal chal rahe ate ghorre te baitthe shaah bakhas noo sanbodhit hundiaan boliaa|

je tuhaanoo meraa saath pasand naheen taan vaapas chale jaavaangaa| shaah muhamad bakhash ne hasadiaan aakhiaa|

eih kee keh rahe ho shaah saahib| tuhaadde varage daanashamand ate tajarabekaar sipaaree de saath naal naa siraf meraa hauasalaa baniaa rahegaa, balak bahut kujh sikhaangaa vee|

aunjh hakeekat ih hai ki yakeenee tauar te main haale tak is baare koee faisalaa naheen keetaa| shaah bakhas ne agion aakhiaa, jathe tuseen jaa rahe ho, main uthon de kilhedaar saam singh baare bahut kujh suniaa hai| je farangeean ne

mulataan ute hamalaa karan daa faisalaa keetaa taan main kite nerre terre honaa chaahavaangaa| ih janganaamaa haale khatam naheen hoeaa ate mere vaalad saahib ne mere turan lagiaan mainoo taakeed keetee hai ki main aaun vaalee jang dee saaree khabar unhaan noo liaa ke devaan|

galaan karadiaan keerat singh ate shaah bakhas, daler ate roop kauar aapaneaapane ghorriaan te naalanaal chal rahe san| kujh der ghorre durraaunde rahin ton baad jad kujh haualee hoe taan saah bakhash ne keerat singh ton puchhiaa

tuseen aapane baare kujh naheen dasiaa| kee tuseen vee is daler singh noo us de pitaa kol puchaa ke vaapas parat jaaoge

sun ke keerat singh de bulhaan te ik bhedabharee musakaan pasar gee| us daa makasad laahauar de zahireele maahaual noo chhadd ke kite door jaanaa ate daler singh noo us de pitaa kol chhaddanaa te see hee, par ik kaaran hor vee see jo mikanaatees vaang us noo shujaahabaad val khichee lijaa rihaa see|

kujh varhe pahilaan jis khaalasaa fauaj ne dderaa asamaaeil khaan te charrhaaee keetee, aus vich keerat singh vee see ate us fauaj de jaranail balavaan singh daa vishavaasee vee | khaalasaa laskar ne kilhe duaale gheraa paa liaa ate kilhe dee kandh te goleebaaree shuroo kar ditee| jad kilhaderaa navaab sauakat khaan ne aapanaa paasaa kamazor vekhiaa taan sulaah dee pesakas keetee | balavaan singh ne navaab naal galabaat karan lee keerat singh noo bhejiaa| us galabaat daa silasilaa kee din chaladaa rihaa| saaeid navaab vakat khareed rihaa see ate us noo kiton sahaaeitaa pahunchan dee aas see| par sahaaeitaa naa pahunchee| sulaahanaame te dasatakhat ho ge ate navaab ne mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh dee een kabool kar lee|

par jo ghattanaa keerat singh lee mehatavapooran see, uh ih ki is dauaraan us dee mulaakaat navaab dee kise rakhel dee dhee jeenat naam naal ho gee| keerat singh panjheechhabee varhiaan daa khoobasoorat javaan ate jeenat vee sataaraan atthaaraan varhiaan dee muttiaar| raat vele luk lukaa ke gupat mulaakaataan vee hoeean ate vaade vee|

par is ghattanaa de kujh maheeniaan baad hee dderaa asamaaeil khaan daa navaab murr aakee ho giaa| ranajeet singh ne usanoo sajaa den lee murr fauaj bhejee ate us larraaee vich navaab shauakat khaan maariaa giaa| us muhinm ch keerat singh shaamil naheen see| keerat singh noo jeenat daa kite pataa naa lagaa ki uh kithe gunm ho gee| te hun, kujh din pahilaan hee keerat singh noo khabar milee ki uh shujaahabaad de kilhe ch vekhee gee hai|

agale din dupahir baad uh rukhaan de jhundd vichakaar ik khooh kol ruk ge| moonh hath dhotaa ate naal liaande parauantthe khaan lee baitth ge | shaah bakhash jaanadaa see ki haale vee bahuginatee ch sikh ate hindoo kise musalamaan naal baitth ke rottee khaan ton parahej karade han | us ne tin chaar parauantthe aapane hath te rakhe taan keerat singh ne us ute anb de achaar deean chaar panj faarreean rakh diteean| shaah bakhash jaraa parhe hoke baitth giaa|

hun dooradoor baitth ke rottee khaan de vele naheen rahe shaah saahib | keerat singh us val takadiaan boliaa|

shaah bakhash de bulhaan te musakaan aa gee ate uh khisak ke unhaan de nerre aan baitthiaa|

einhaan nikeeanakeean galaan ne hee saadde ch paarr paaee rakhe han| keerat singh ne fir aakhiaa|

main tuhaadde naal sau feesadee mutafik haan | saadde panjaabeean dee badakisamatee ihee rahee hai ki chaahe aseen hindoosakh see chaahe musalamaan, saadde te hakoomat hameshaa dilee vaaliaan dee hee rahee| saanoo te khusee hoee see ki sat atth sau varhiaan baad panjaab ch panjaabeean dee hakoomat kaaeim hoee| par saaddee badakisamatee ihee ki is daa khaatamaa vee ainee chhetee hundaa nazar aa rihaa hai|

haale sabh kujh khatam naheen hoeaa shaah saahib| keerat singh kahin lagaa, laahauar de saradaaraan ne chaahe farangeean saahamane godde ttek dite par sadhaaran sikh sipaahee de dil vich josh hai ate badale dee bhaavanaa naal tarraf

rihaa hai| larraaeean khatam hoeean han, jang khatam naheen hoee|

eis karake main mulataan val jaa rihaa haan| shaah bakhash boliaa, larraaee ch jit haar te hundee rahindee hai par asalee haar uh jadon kauamaan hinmat haar jaan|

mainoo kadekade iko khadashaa rahindaa hai| keerat singh ne aakhiaa, ki kite ain mauake te aa ke ih mool raaj vee farangeean naal sulaah naa kar lave, jaan... jaan ddogariaan vaang ik karorr rupeea deke mulataan khareed ke unhaan age sir nivaa deve|

keerat singh ate shaah bakhash dee is ttolee ton bekhabar chaar panj patthaan unhaan te thorrhee vith te baitthe araam kar rahe san| pahilaan taan uh unhaan de vaarataalaap noo chup baitthe sunade rahe| fer utth ke unhaan kol aan kharre hoe| unhaan noo vekh ke keerat singh man hee man kujh ghabaraaeaa| uh pooree tarhaan hathiaaraband ate modtiaan te bandookaan vee lamakadeean dis raheean san| par unhaan de vateere ate chihariaan te mitarataa varage bhaav vekh ke keerat singh unhaan noo sanbodhit hundiaan boliaa|

aao khaan saahib, parashaade chhako|

asee khaanaa khaa ke aaraam hee kar rahe saan ki tuhaaddee galabaat ton mutaasar ho ke tuhaadde kol aa ge|

aao baittho | tuhaaddaa isamashareef shaah bakhash ne puchhiaa|

meraa naam ahimad khokhar hai ate mere naal ih mamadaad kaattheea| tuseen shaaeid kaatthee lokaan baare naheen jaanade| inhaan lokaan ne hee aj ton do hazaar varhe pahilaan sikandar de dand khatte keete san, ise hee dharatee te| khokharaan baare taan tuseen jaanade hee hovoge| khokharaan ne hee sataatth sau varhe pahilaan mahimood gazanavee noo rokiaa ate larraaeean larreean san| ate saadde ik vadde vaddere jasarat khokhar baare taan tuseen suniaa hee hovegaa

haan main jaanadaa haan unhaan baare vee| saah bakhash kahin lagaa, auh kee varhe tak dilee de baadashaah akabar deean fauajaan naal larrade rahe san, ate akabar hathon hee unhaan ne shahaadat paaee see| par ih galaan te puraaneean ho geean| ih daso ki hun kee iraadaa hai tuhaaddaa

aseen jaan de devaange par farangee de pair panjaab ch jaman naheen devaange | ahimad khokhar josh naal boliaa|

fer unhaan dasiaa ki kujh din pahilaan tuhaadde varage hee ik sikh saradaar ne jis ne farangeean viradh bagaavat daa jhanddaa lahiraaeaa hoeaa see, pichhaa kar rahe farangeean ton bachan lee saadde pindd aa ke panaah lee|

saadde pindd ch hindoo, sikh, musalamaan, saare hee farangeean noo nafarat karade han|

kee naam see us sikh saradaar daa

shaaeid mahaaraaj singh ahimad khokhar ne dasiaa|

mahaaraaj singh keerat singh boliaa, main jaanadaa haan unhaan noo changee tarhaan te fer

aus ton baad unhaan sankhep ch dasiaa ki kiven kaakasa naan daa ik farangee kapataan aapane sipaaheean noo lai ke unhaan de pindd pahunch giaa| par unhaan de pindd vaaliaan mahaaraaj singh noo lukaaee rakhiaa| do tin din tak gharaan deean talaasheean lainde rahe| par kujh naa miliaa| fer farangee kapataan ne aapanee chauakee uthe hee jamaa lee ate aapane sipaaheean noo mahaaraaj singh dee talaash ch idharaudhar bhej ditaa| ik do din baad jad farangee kapataan noo noo ih ddar sataaun lagaa ki kise pindd vaale hee achaanak hamalaa karake unhaan noo maar naa den taan agale din saare pindd vaaliaan noo aapane hathiaar ate ghorre farangee dee is aarajee chhaaunee ch jamhaan karaa den daa hukam sunaa ditaa| is vichakaar mahaaraaj singh noo unhaan uthon baaehafaazat nasaa ditaa|

fer ahimad khokhar boliaa, saadde val ih kahaavat hai jameenaan, ghorre te ranaan, asaa likh ke kade naa diteean jee|

age kee hoeaa | keerat singh ne jaananaa chaahiaa|

fer kee, asaan tamaam farangeean noo maar mukaaeaa| par kujh dinaan baad unhaan saadde pindd noo aan gheriaa, pindd noo ag laa ditee ate keean de gal te faahaa paa ke darakhataan naal lamakaa ditaa| nateejaa ih ki unhaan khilaaf bagaavat hor bharrak pee |

hun kee iraadaa

hun asee vee mulataan de soobedaar mool raaj naal mil ke farangeean de khilaaf larran lee jaa rahe haan |

einhaan ton vidaa lai ke keerat singh daa kaafalaa age val tur piaa| do din ise tarhaan turade rahe| teesare din vipareet dishaa val bahut saaree dhooramattee uddadee vikhaaee ditee jiven kise vadde ghorr savaaraan de dasate de kooch karan naal uddadee hai| uh kise anajaane khatare ton bachan lee rukhaan de ik jhundd ch jaa ke luk ge| kujh der baad keerat singh ne vekhiaa ki ih vapaareean daa ik bahut vaddaa kaafalaa seetakareeban panj sau gaddiaan daa| har gadde de naal dodo hathiaaraband ghorrasavaar ate kaafale de age pichhe panjaahapanjaah ghorrasavaar| prabhaavashaalee ate adhakharr aayoo daa ik saradaar us kaafale dee agavaaee kar rihaa see|

gurabakhash singh bedee | keerat singh ne us val vekhadiaan ate pachhaanadiaan man hee man aakhiaa| uh jaanadaa see ki panjaab de bahut saare kaafale bedeean, bhaliaan dee dekh rekh ch chalade han| kaaran ih ki guroo gharaan naal sanbandh rakhan karake inhaan pratee lokaan de dilaan ch khaas aadar see jis noo choraluttere vee manade san| inhaan noo panjaab ton baahar naanakapanthee kihaa jaandaa ate madhapradesh, raajasathaan ate dakhan aad de tthagaan de grohaan vich vee naanakapanthee kaafaliaan, musaafraan noo luttan ton manaahee see|

sat sree akaal bedee jee| keerat singh rukhaan dee ott chon baahar nikaladiaan ate kaafale kol jaandiaan boliaa|

aa bee keerat siaan, barre chiraan baad disiaan aj kis paase chaale paa dite fauajaan ne

bas aive ik kam jaa rihaa haan shujaahabaad val|

bedee gurabakhash singh ne keerat de ghorracharrhiaan val takiaa ate boliaa, meree peshakas haale vee tere lee use tarhaan kaaeim hai| mainoo tere varage aadamee dee lorr hai| poore kaafale daa dasataa de devaangaa tainoo|

lorr pee taan jaroor haazar ho jaavaangaa| par hun kis paasion

aunj taan ih kaafalaa eeraan ton turiaa see| par meree dekh rekh ch ih jalaalaabaad ton hee aaeaa hai|

rasate ch koee khatare vaalee ghattanaa taan naheen pesh aaee| ajakalh daa vaataavaran taan...|

jad tak kaafale de gaddiaan dee ginatee panj sau naa ho jaave tad tak aseen turade naheen | chhotte motte grohaan daa taan hauasalaa hee naheen paindaa hamalaa karan daa| ate jadon kise kilhedaar de khetar chon nikalan lagade haan taan masoolachungee de ilaavaa us de khetar chon hifaazat naal langhan de ivaj ch kaaeide anusaar rakam vee chukaa dende haan

kujh der galaan karade rahin ton baad jad keerat singh bedee gurabakhas singh ton vidaa lain lagaa taan us aakhiaa

meraa ik kaafalaa agaleean garameean ch kulooladaakh ton ho ke samarakand val jaa rihaa hai, gurr, ber, dareeankhes vagairaa lai ke| sivaae uchiaanauchiaan pahaarraan de hor koee khataraa naheen | je man kare taan aa jaanaa| tainoo mere ddere daa taan pataa hee hai noorapur bedeean| fer kujh hor jorradiaan boliaa

haan, ate jis rasation aseen aae haan us rasation naheen jaanaa| age jangal ch ik bahut vaddaa ttolaa hai, hathiaaraband lutteriaan daa |

keerat singh ne aapane sathaan ton us jooh de faasale daa hisaab laaeaa| ate shaah bakhash ton us pindd baare puchhiaa, jithe unhaan roop kauar noo chhaddanaa see| shaah bakhash de anumaan ate nishaaneean anusaar is jooh to pahilaan ik pipal vaale khooh kolon rasataa khabe paase murradiaan shaah raah ton veeh panjhee meel hatt ke see|

kujh der baad uh us khooh kol pahunch ge| aap paanee peetaa, ghorriaan noo pilaaeaa ate dhoorr bhare kache rasate tur pe| einhaan pichhale kujh dinaan vichakaar daler singh chaahe roop kauar de aale duaale ghunmadaa ate usadaa dhiaan aapane val khichan daa yatan karadaa rihaa, par roop daa vateeraa us pratee chhotte bharaavaan varagaa hee see| daler singh roop kauar de nerre hon daa yatan karadaa ate roop kauar keerat singh de nerre| auh keerat singh de viakateetav ate us de ik saathee durajan singh kolon us de kaaranaame sunasun ke prabhaavit ho rahee see| keerat singh ate shaah bakhash vichakaar vee kaafee nerrataa aa gee see| shaah bakhash daa shujaahabaad jaan daa iraadaa, jo pahilaan kachaapakaa see, hun pakaa ho giaa|

eik ghane jangal ate ik pahaarree noo ate fer ik nadee noo paar karake uh us pindd dee ik havelee saahamane jaa kharre hoe| is do manjalaa havelee de baahar hee ik adhakharr umar daa dev kaaeaa sikh ate ik budtaa is tarhaan kharre san, jiven unhaan dee uddeek hee kar rahe hon|

aunhaan de is kaafale de uthe pahunchadiaan hee do tin nauakaraan ne unhaan de ghorre sanbhaal le ate moonh hath dhon lee baalatteean bhar ke paanee lai aae| aao bhagat de hor saamaan vee tiaar san | keerat singh ate saah bakhash noo hairaan hundiaan vekh ke budtaa boliaa

jadon tuseen khooh ton is rasate te pair dhariaa, saanoo udon hee pataa lag giaa see tuseen is noo laike saadde val aa rahe ho

saraavaan vich raataan kattan ton baad kise aapane jihe ghar ch raat kattadiaan keerat singh noo bahut changaa ate araamadeh lag rihaa see| saariaan ne khoob changee tarhaan ishanaan keetaa ate khoob raj ke langar chhakiaa| dudhamakhan daa taan kahinaa hee kee| us noo inhaan baare jo kujh thorrhaa bahut pataa lagaa, auh ih ki is pindd de aadamee siraf tin kam karade san ik khetee, doojaa sipaahagiree ate teejaa luttamaar| jangal ch lukee lutteriaan dee us ttolee ch vee inhaan de pindd de kaafee aadamee san | sooheean daa jaal dee kaafee door tak failiaa hoeaa see| pichhalee saraan ch hee unhaan de sooheean ne unhaan noo vekh ke

aapane pindd khabar puchaa ditee see ki sipaaheean dee ik ttukarree roop kauar noo lai ke aa rahee hai|

vaah is ton surakhiat sathaan hor kiharraa ho sakadaa hai sabh kujh vekh samajh ke keerat singh ne muhamad bakhash noo aakhiaa|

do dinaan tak unhaan dee aao bhagat hundee rahee| roop kauar noo janaanakhaane ch puchaa ditaa giaa see ate hun usane teeveean vaale kaparre paa le san| ih kaparre paake us dee lukee hoee sundarataa ubhar utthee ate keerat singh noo uh sachamuch hee sahizaadee jaapan lagee| chaahe saare rasate us ne roop kauar noo aapane pratee kise tarhaan dee preranaa naheen see ditee, par fer vee usanoo kee varhiaan baad ik khoobasoorat aauarat daa saath changaachangaa lagadaa rihaa see| janaanakhaane ch fasee roop kauar keerat singh naal galaan karan lee viaakul ho rahee see| jad usane keerat singh noo shaam de ghusamuse ch havelee de pichhale paase bageechee ch ikaliaan firadaa vekhiaa taan uh chup chaap baahar nikal ke us kol jaa pahunchee|

aau roop, kis tarhaan lag rihaa hai ithe pahunch ke

roop kauar kujh pal us val chup chaap takadee rahee, fer bolee

eithon rukan dee bajaae main tuhaadde naal jaa ke ziaadaa surakhiat mahisoos karaangee|

main jaanadaa haan ki toon kee kahinaa chaahundee en| pichhale dinaan dee yaataraa ch uh sahije hee usanoo tuseen ton toon keh ke bulaaun lagaa see| par toon mainoo naheen jaanadee|

main tuhaanoo jaan liaa hai| ise lee keh rahee haan|

mainoo jaaniaa, mainoo vekhiaa, par naa meraa koee varatamaan, naa bhavakh|

meraa vee kiharraa varatamaan ate kiharraa bhavakh mere te maan baap daa vee koee pataa naheen|

toon saahibazaadee en| ihee kaafee hai| baap koee vee hove|

mainoo te ih sabh kujh bahut ajeebaajeeb lag rihaa hai| eih vee kise dee kalapanaa hee hai, afavaah hai| roop kauar bolee|

afavaah daa vee koee kaaran zaroor hundaa hai|

kaaran kujh vee hove| par dukh ih ki is sabh kujh ne mainoo sadhaaran viakatee ton ik vishes viakatee banaa ditaa hai, jis dee hond keean lee khataraa ban gee hai ate mere aapane lee vee|

6

chaahe is pindd vaale parivaar ne unhaan noo bharosaa davaaeaa see ki jangal vaale rasation langhadiaan unhaan noo koee khataraa naheen, par fer vee uh kache rasatiaan ton hunde hoe kaafee valaa paa ke shujaahabaad jaan vaalee sarrak ute pahunche| us raat unhaan akabaraabaad de baahar ik saraan ch rukanaa see | saraan tak pahunchan ton pahilaan hee unhaan vekhiaa ki saraan de duaale ik kaafee vaddee fauajee ttukarree ne ddere laae hoe san|

auh uthe hee kharre ho ge| fer keerat singh ne aapane sipaaheean chon do noo jatt jimeedaaraan vaale kaparre puaa ke khabar liaaun lee saraan val bhej ditaa| aap uh ik rukhaan de jhundd vichakaar luk ke baitth ge|

kaafee der baad unhaan vaapas aa ke dasiaa ki laahauar darabaar valon bhejiaa hoeaa ih ik fauajee dasataa hai, jis ch takareeban do sau farangee sipaahee ate eik hazaar sikh te gorakhe sipaahee han| unhaan ih vee dasiaa ki inhaan dee agavaaee do farangee jaranail kar rahe han| naal ih vee khabar milee ki inhaan de pichhe panj hajaar daa lashakar, veeh vaddeean topaan ate chaalee ku chhotteean topaan aootthaan te ladeean aa raheean han| ih sabh mulataan val jaa rahe han|

mulataan val te makasad kee hai unhaan daa mulataan val jaan daa

makasad do han| ik vaddaa makasad te ih hai ki deevaan mool raaj noo ddaraa dhamakaa ke te us ton asateefaa likhavaa ke kaahan singh naam de ik saradaar noo mulataan daa soobedaar sathaapit karanaa ate doojaa ih ki uh laahauar ton bhaj ke shujaahabaad jaa rahe do aadameean dee talaash kar rahe han |

hoon taan inhaan noo pataa lag chukaa hai ki main daler singh noo lai ke shujaahabaad val jaa rihaa haa|

7

har angarej afasar jo hindusataan aaundaa, aapane aap noo doojaa sikandar samajhadaa see| ainddarasan aapane tanboo ch baitthaa hoeaa aapanee ddaaeiree likh rihaa see ih sochadiaan ki is dee ih shaaeiree kise din itihaas ban jaavegee | aus noo ih vee pooraa yakeen see ki uh aapane bhaavee kaaranaamiaan de sir te chhetee hee vaddaa afasar ban jaaegaa| us vele ik patthaan sipaahee

tanboo de boohe kol kharraa disiaa| puchhan te us ne dasiaa ki jinhaan do janiaan dee unhaan noo talaash hai, auh is sathaan ton atthadas koh dee dooree te vekhe ge han|

aapane inhaan jasoosaan ton keerat singh de dasate baare pooree jaanakaaree praapat karan ton baad ainddarasan ne aapane saathee aiganiaoo naal salaah mashavaraa keetaa fer ik farangee afasar laifatteenaintt baraaun noo bulaaeaa ate aapane chaalee ghorrasavaar lai ke unhaan daa pichhaa karan, daler singh noo jiaoondiaan ate keerat singh noo jiaoondaa jaan muradaa farr ke liaaun daa hukam de ditaa| baaee sikh sipaaheean de mukaabale chaaleepanjaah bahut han| sau, do sau bhej ke ainddarasan aapanee haumai noo satt naheen see maaranaa chaahundaa| kol hee ainddarasan daa chhottaa bharaa laifatteenaintt jaan kharraa see | uh boliaa, je ijaazat hove taan main vee misattar baraaun naal jaanaa chaahavaangaa| ik ton do change| uh vee is muhinm ch aapane karatab vikhaaun lee betaab ho rihaa see|

ttheek e, jaao| aapanee naveen rivaalavar lai ke jaanaa naa bhulanaa| par shaaeid tainoo ih ilam naheen ki ih keerat singh kinaa khataranaak aadamee hai| mudakee jaan firojapur dee larraaee ch ise ne jaranail raabaratt selaz daa sir vadtiaa see| saadde kamaanddaraeinacheef hiaooj gaf noo har haalat ch ih aadamee jaan is daa sir chaaheedaa hai|

sun ke laifatteenaintt jaan andaronandar thauarraa jihaa ghabaraaeaa| par naal hee ih sochadiaan man hee man khush hoeaa ki is keerat singh naam de khataranaak aadamee noo maaran naal us daa naam kamaanddaraeinacheef de kanaan tak pahunch jaavegaa|

eik nadee daa pul paar karake keerat singh daa dasataa dupahir dee rottee khaan, ghorriaan noo paanee pilaaun ate saah divaaun lee baitthaa hee see ki keerat singh de do sipaaheean ne, jinhaan noo saavadhaanee lee idharaudhar chhaddiaa hoeaa see, aa ke dasiaa ki teeh chaalee sipaaheean daa ik ghorrasavaar dasataa is paase aa rihaa hai|

naal kine ku farangee afsar

do farangee afasar |

teeh chaalee sipaahee ate do farangee| jiven keerat singh aapane aap noo keh rihaa hove| fer us ne aapane sipaaheean noo hukam ditaa ki uh chhetee ton chhetee khaa pee ke unhaan daa saahamanaa karan lee tiaar ho jaan|

tiaar ho jaaeee ik sipaahee kujh hairaan hundiaan boliaa| us

anusaar taan is vele bhaj nikalanaa chaaheedaa see| keerat singh us dee vichaar kiriaa daa anumaan laaundiaan boliaa

saadde ghorre, singh jee, is vele thake hoe han ate dushaman de ghorre tarotaazaa| sujaahabaad haale bahut door hai| bhaj rihaa fauajee dasataa aapanee yudhaneetee anusaar naheen larr sakadaa ate bhaj rihaan chon aam karake bahut saare maare jaande han| fir saariaan noo aapane duaale ikatthaa karan ton baad nadee de pul dee lanbaaee daa hisaab laaeaa, aapane aaleduaale de rukhaan ate nikenake ttibiaan val takiaa ate boliaa

dushaman daa mukaabalaa karan lee is sathaan ton vadheea hor koee thaan naheen ho sakadee| fer us noo ik furanaa furiaa ate uh aapane dasate chon ik aadamee noo aapane naal lai ke pul val tur piaa| pul de thale pahunchadiaan us noo aakhiaa

lai bee diaal siaan, is lakarree de pul de thale val changee tarhaan vekh ate das ki kinhaan karreean noo kis tarhaan kattiaa jaan kadtiaa jaae ki atth das ghorriaan daa bhaar pul te paindiaan hee pul ttutt jaae|

keerat singh noo pataa see ki ih diaal singh kise vele pul banaaun de dasate ch kam karadaa rihaa hai| pul de thale jaa ke diaal singh karreean ate shateereean noo hath naal chhonhadiaan man hee man hisaab laaundaa rihaa| fer baahar aa ke khush hundiaan boliaa, mil giaa, bas mil giaa|

jhatt hee unhaan deean kuhaarreean ne diaal singh de niradeshaan anusaar kam kar ditaa| is bhaavee larraaee dee kalapanaa naal daler singh de man ch josh uchhaale maaran lagaa| ih us lee asalee larraaee daa pahilaa anubhav see| uh gharree murree aapanee talavaar dee mutth te ate kamaraband ch ttangee pasataual te hath fer rihaa see | keerat singh ne pahilaan daler val ate fer shaah bakhash val takiaa ate boliaa

tuseen shaah jee, daler singh noo lai ke fauaran sujaahabaad val dauarr pavo|

naheen singh jee, main ithe hee rukanaa chaahavaangaa| tuhaadde naal| daler naal kise hor noo bhej devo|

main vee naheen jaavaangaa| daler singh ne vee duharaaeaa|

keerat singh de vaaravaar kahin te vee jad uh naa mane taan uh boliaa, tusee meree zinmevaaree vadhaa rahe ho| khair jo vaahiguroo noo manjoora chalo hun vekhade haan ki ih farangee keerat singh daa sir lai ke jaande han jaan aapanaa sir deke|

eih keh ke us ne do ghorrasavaar shujaahabaad val durraa dite|

8

pul de kol baitthiaan ate farangeean de uthe pahunchan dee uddeek karadiaan keerat singh deean akhaan saahamane mudakee ate firozapur deean larraaeean de drish jaagrit ho utthe; khaas karake uh drish murramurr us noo yaad aaun lagaa jad us daa sidhaa ttaakaraa ik farangee jaranail naal hoeaa see| us ne kol baitthe saaeh bakhs val takadiaan puchhiaa

tuhaadde vaalad saahib ne mudakeefirozapur dee larraaee baare vee kujh likhiaa hovegaa|

likhiaa te hai par mainoo zabaanee yaad naheen|

tuhaanoo yaad naheen, par mainoo yaad hai changee tarhaan| keerat singh ne aakhiaa| lo main sunaaundaa haan

eik pindd daa naam jo mudakee see

authe bharee see paanee dee khadd meean

ghorr charrhe akaalee naven saare

jhandde dite nee jaae ke gadd meean

topaan chaleean kattak farangeean de

gole torrade maas te hadd meean

vaah | tuhaanoo te mere ton vee changee tarhaan yaad e| tusaan ih janganaamaa kis ton suniaa

tusee alaahee bakhash ate inaam saaeh topacheean noo jaanade hovoge| aapaneean topaan naal uh vee mudakee de maidaan ch mauajood san ate ih doven jaan te tuhaadde vaalad saahib de dosat san jaan shagirad| unhaan dohaan de fauaj ton barataraf hon ton baad main unhaan de moonhon hee suniaa fer kujh ruk ke keerat singh ne puchhiaa

aus vele tuseen kithe see | main tuhaanoo mudakee de maidaan ch taan naheen vekhiaa|

haan, main uthe naheen see| jiven ki tuseen jaanade hee ho ki jadon gadaar misar laal singh ne khaalasaa fauaj noo do hisiaan ch vanddiaa taan us ne mainoo veeh topaan de ke firozapur val bhej ditaa see|

auh | keerat singh de moonhon hauakaa jihaa nikaliaa, je saaddaa pahilaa

hamalaa firojapur hundaa, jithe farangeean de siraf atthadas hajaar sipaahee san| taan aseen farangeean de uh laahoo laahunde ki us nasake dilee jaa saah lainde| kee vaaree ik do change jaan mande aadamee saaree jang daa hee nakashaa badal ke rakh dende han|

jang daa hee naheen balak kauamaan de musatakabil daa vee|

9

misar laal singh dee kamaan hetthaan khaalasaa fauaj ne sataluj dariaa noo paar keetaa ate us maidaan ch aan kharre hoe jo sikhaanfarangeean de ahidanaame anusaar laahauar darabaar de adhikaar ch see| jad pataa lagaa ki farangeean dee fauaj vee unhaan daa mukaabalaa karan lee ludhiaane ton tur pee hai taan sikh fauaj kujh age vadhee ate paanee de ik vadde saare ttobhe kol aapane morache saanbh le|

kujh der baad hee doven fauajaan ik dooje de saahamane san| samatal retalee dharatee, kitekite kanddedaar jhaarreean, jinhaan ch luke gidarr ate loonbarreean dovaan fauajaan val hairaanee bhareea akhaan naal vekh rahe san| khaalasaa fauaj ne aapanaa topakhaanaa age kar ditaa, ghorrasavaar topakhaane de sajekhabe, topakhaane de pichhe vee ghorrasavaar ate unhaan de pichhe paidal fauaj| khaalasaa fauaj daa ih agalaa hisaa misar laal singh dee kamaan hetth ate is ton kaafee pichhe ik hor khaalasaa fauaj aapane topakhaane samet misar tejaa singh dee kamaan hetth kharree see|

keerat singh aapane 500 ghorr charrhiaan naal pichhaleean kataaraan vich kharraa see| us ne ik vaaree farangee fauaj dee tarateeb noo dhiaan naal vekhiaa ate fer kaafee pichhe kharree tejaa singh de adheen fauaj val nazar maaree|

eih tejaa singh haale tak pichhe kharraa kee kar rihaa hai keerat singh ne aapane kol kharre durajan singh noo aakhiaa|

shaaeid koee jangee chaal hove |

pataa naheen| mainoo sabh kujh ttheek naheen lag rihaa| ih keh ke us ne aapanaa ghorraa age vadhaaeaa ate laal singh kol jaa ke boliaa

khimaa karanaa, aapanaa jaranail misar tejaa singh sataluj paar karake is paar te pahunch giaa hai| par us dee fauaj pichhe kharree kee kar rahee hai

jaranail toon e ki aseen| laal singh rohab ate guse naal boliaa| saanoo pataa hai ki kithe ate kadon kee karanaa hai|

aapanee thaaven murr aaun ton pahilaan keerat singh ne ik ttile te kharre ho ke samooh khaalasaa fauaj ute nazar maaree pandaraan solaan hajaar ghorrasavaar, sataaraanatthaaraan hajaar paidal, saver de sooraj dee roshanee ch chamakadeean 85 topaan ate vichakaar karake sandhooree rang daa khaalasaaee jhanddaa lahiraa rihaa see| saariaan deean talavaaraan miaanaan ch, pitthaan te kachhoo vaang disadeean gol aakaar deean dtaalaan, barachhe vaale dasate de barachhiaan de fal jahireele sapaan deean sireean vaang upar karake utthe hoe| kuliaan duaale pagaan lapettee patthaan topachee hathaan ch mashaalaan farree hukam dee uddeek karadiaan tiaar kharre san|

keerat singh de panj sau javaanaan daa ih dasataa ik khaas ate asadhaaran dasataa see, jis daa kam see ki jithe kite aapanaa paasaa kamazor ate dushaman age vadhadaa dise, aus thaaven pahunch ke vadhade dushaman noo pichhe hattaaunaa|

keerat singh ne farangeean dee fauaj val takiaa| unhaan dee ginatee ate fauajee tarateeb takareeban khaalasaa fauaj varagee hee see| fer us dee nazar farangee fauaj vichakaar ik uche jihe ttile te pee jithe farangee jaranail hiaooj gaf aapane afasaraan noo aapanee hadaaeitaan dendaa dis rihaa see|

dohaan paasiaan de satth satar hazaar ahil sipaahee, aisee pooran khaamoshee ki je kise deean akhaan band karake us noo ithe liaaeaa jaave taan kise vele kise ghorre de hinakan jaan lat zameen te maaran dee aavaaz naal ihee samajhadaa ki atthadas bandiaanghorriaan de sivaa ithe hor koee naheen| boojhiaan chon ho ke langhadee halakee halakee havaa jiven aaun vaalee paralo baare saragosheean kar rahee hove| aakaash ch uddadeean girajhaan kise bhaavee ghattanaa dee uddeek kar raheean san|

pahilaan farangeean de bigalaan ate us ton baad khaalasaa fauaj de nagaariaan naal saaraa vaayoo manddal goonj utthiaa| te fer dovaan paasiaan deean topaan karrakadeean hoeean ik dooje te gole varhaaun lageean| dovaan paasiaan de topachee ik dooje deean topaan noo nakaaraa karan lee nishaane saadh rahe san|

kujh der tak inj hee bijalee karrakadee rahee| fer doven paase deean kataaraan aapane hathaan ch mazabootee naal sangeenaan farree pahilaan haualee chaal naal ate fer tejee naal age vadhan lageean| kujh der baad hee doven fauajaa, doven kauamaan, jo kee varhiaan ton chet ate achet man bhirran dee uddeek kar raheean san, do pahaarraan vaang ik dooje naal ttakaraa geean|

keerat singh aapane panj sau chune hoe savaaraan naal ik uche sathaan te

kharraa is bhiaanak drish noo visamit najaraan naal vekhadaa rihaa ih drish jo mahaanbhaarat ton laike paaneepat deean larraaeean tak hajaaraan vaar duharaaeaa jaandaa rihaa hai| doven paase de sainik aapaneean talavaaraan naal jiven koee vahishee naach nach rahe san| idhar koee sipaahee ik do noo aapanee talavaar daa nishaanaa banaaundaa ate agale hee pal kise dooje de vaar naal aap vee haae karadiaan dharatee te jaa ddigadaa|

kujh der tak doven dhiraan yojanaabadh tareeke naal larradee raheean| fer chaare paase betarateebee fail gee| bas maaranaa ate aapane aap noo bachaaunaa, chhaateean ch barachhe khobhanaa, tikheean talavaaraan naal virodheean de sir auddaaunaa ate bandookaan deean goleean naal vairee dhir de sareer chhekane | jo mar ke jaan fattarr hoke ddigade, unhaan noo pichhion aa rahe ghorriaan de khur ate sipaaheean de pair litaarrade jaande| inj lagadaa see jiven manakh disade inhaan jeevaan chon inasaaneeat alop ho gee hove ate saare vahiseean daa roop dhaaran kar ge hon| dovaan dhiraan de dharraan ton vakhare ho ke ddige sir ate lahoo ik dooje ch ral mil ge san| kise gore daa sir kise sikh de sir kol piaa jiven is sabh kujh daa majaak uddaa rihaa hove| dharatee ute katte hoe hath, lataan ate dharr lahoo ch libarre dis rahe san|

kadee lagadaa see ki khaalasaa fauajee goriaan, poorabeean de aahoo laahunde unhaan noo pichhe dhak rahe han| fer lagadaa ki kise paase farangee daa paasaa bhaaree hundaa jaa rihaa hai| par aam karake khaalasaa fauajee aapaneean khanddakaan naal maaro maar karade age vadhade vikhaaee de rahe san| khaalase daa dabaao vadhadaa ate gore afasaraan deean laashaan val vekhake ttile te kharre kamaanddar laaradd hiaooj gaf ne ghabaraaee aavaaj ch kol kharre mejar baraaddafutt noo aakhiaa, eih sabh kee ho rihaa hai is ton pahilaan kise vee maidaanaejang ch saanoo ainee maar naheen sahinee pee | toon te keh rihaa see ki sabh kujh pakaa kar liaa hai

tuseen chintaa naa karo sar, jo honaa hai uhee hovegaa|

auh te main vekh hee rihaa haan| is tarhaan taan ikaeik karake saare de saare bahaadar afasar maare jaanage| main kee javaab devaangaa gavaranar janaral noo janaral vhaaeett maariaa giaa, birageddeear vilim naheen rihaa... | main te sochadaa haan ki is vele hathiaar sutt ke jangabandee daa ailaan kar deeee....|

naheen sar, eih kiven ho sakadaa hai | asee, jinhaan vaattaraloo dee larraaee ch nipoleean noo haraaeaa, kee uh hun inhaan sikhaan age hathiaar sutt den main te kadee soch vee naheen sakadaa| kol aa ke kharraa mejar nikalasan boliaa|

auh raajaa pahaarraa singh kidhar hai, fareedakotteeaa ate uh misar hukam singh te ghumandd singha uh te keh rihaa see ki sabh kujh taia ho giaa hai| panjaah hajaar rupe vee lai giaa unhaan noo den lee

kujh der baad fareedakott daa raajaa pahaarraa singh aapane naal mahaan singh ate bakhashee ghumandd singh noo lee laaradd gaf saahamane aa haajar aaeaa|

saahib bahaadar ne mainoo yaad keetaa

tuseen te keh rahe see ki ain vakat sir laal singh ate tej singh...

haan sar, is vich jhootth ukaa vee naheen |

taan ih fer laaradd gaf maidaanaejang val ishaaraa karadiaan boliaa, is tarhaan taan kujh der tak ih mere tak pahunch jaanage

pahaarraa singh de mukh te chintaa pasar gee| us ne bakhasee ghumandd singh ate bakhashee ne mahaan singh val savaaleea najaraan naal takiaa|

gal pakee ho gee see| poore panjhee hajaar deean thaileean main aapane hatheen diteean, baakee deean panjhee hazaar baad ch... | ih keh ke bakhasee ghumandd singh aapane ghorre dee pitth te kharraa ho giaa ate larr rahee khaalasaa fauaj de pichhe aapane panj chhe hazaar sipaaheean vich ghire tejaa singh kol takadiaan laal jhanddee havaa ch lahiraaun lagaa|

tejaa singh ne ghumandd singh val takiaa ate dooje hee pal tejaa singh daa ishaaraa milan te us de panjachhe hazaar ghorrasavaar nasonaso daa raualaa paaunde pichhe val bhaj ture|

vekho saahib, aauah vekho| raajaa pahaarraa singh khush hundiaan keh utthiaa|

fer kee see| larr rahe khaalasaa sipaaheea noo kujh samajh naa aaeaa| kujh ghabaraa ge, kujh pichhe bhaj ture, kujh larrade ate shaheedeean paaunde rahe| aapanee veeh hazaar fauaj ate 58 topaan lee adhaa ku koh pichhe laal singh kharraa ih tamaasaa vekhadaa rihaa| ate kujh der baad aap vee pichhe val bhej turiaa|

khaalasaa fauaj jitadeejatadee haar gee|

10

larraaee ton moonh morr ke bhajade jaa rahe singhaan naal keerat singh naheen bhajiaa ate aapane panj sau sipaaheean naal farangeean naal larradaa rihaa| us de vaang hor vee bahut saare anakhee bahaadar aapanee jaan dee paravaah naa

karadiaan larrade rahe| keerat singh larradiaanlarradiaan pichhe hattadaa giaa ate sataluj de kandte tak pahunch giaa| uthe pahunch ke vekhiaa ki laal singh ne sataluj daa pul hee uddaa ditaa hoeaa see taan ki unhaan dee ate raanee jindaan dee viaunt anusaar khaalasaa fauaj pooree tarhaan tabaah ho jaave| koee vee bach ke vaapas naa jaa sake|

bahut saare sikh sipaaheean ne aapanee jaan bachaaun lee aapane ghorre sataluj dariaa ch tthel dite| kujh ddub ge, kujh farangeean deean goleean naal maare ge, kujh bach nikalan ch safal hoe| par keerat singh aapane panj sat saatheean samet ddatt ke kharraa hundiaan larranamaran lee tiaar ho giaa ate pichhaa karan vaale farangeean dee uddeek karan lagaa|

dasabaaraan farangeean daa dasataa jad unhaan de nerre pahunchiaa taan keerat singh ne aapane ik saathee daa nejaa lai ke aapane saje hath ch farr liaa| keerat singh noo aapane neze de nishaane te bahut maan see| farangee vee abhimaan naal bhare aapane ghorre durraaunde, talavaaraan ghunmaaunde bahut tezee naal unhaan val vadh rahe san| naalo naal aapaneean rivaalavaraan naal faaeir vee kar rahe san par ghorriaan de dauarran kaaran faaeir idharaudhar khilar jaande| jad uh keerat singh de neje dee maar ch pahunch ge taan us ne aapane pair chauarre karake jmeen te changee tarhaan ttikaae ate neze vaalee baanh noo pichhe karake nejaa sutt ditaa| nejaa ghoon dee avaaj karadaa kise jiaoonde panchhee dee tarhaan uddiaa ate sabh ton age aa rahe farangee dee chhaatee ch jaa khubhiaa| haae dee ik bhiaanak cheek ate dooje hee pal goraa savaar bhunje ddig piaa| bin savaar ghorraa halakaa ate khush ho ke bhajadaa giaa ate kujh door jaa ke aapane savaar de anjaam ton bekhabar araam naal ghaah charan lagaa| fer chhetee hee keerat singh ne doojaa nejaa nisaanaa banh ke suttiaa| is vaaree savaar ne ghorre dee lagaam ain vele sir morr lee te nejaa ghorre dee garadan ch jaa khubhiaa| ghorre de zakhamee ho ke ddigan ton pahilaan hee goraa ghorrasavaar furatee naal chhaal maarake dharatee te kharraa ho giaa| aapanee shaanadaar varadee, chhaatee te lage hoe feeteean ate sir de adh kaale adhe chitte vaalaan ton lagadaa see ki ih koee vaddaa afasar hai| par is ton pahilaan ki uh pooree tarhaan sanbhal paaundaa, keerat singh chhaal maar ke age vadhiaa ate talavaar de ik vaar naal us dee garadan uddaa ditee| us daa sir ik gend vaang rirradaa keerat singh de pairaan kol aa rukiaa| ih us noo bahut baad ch pataa lagaa ki us de hathon maare jaan vaalaa jalaalaabaad daa heero mejar janaral raabaratt selaj see|

keerat singh ne farangee daa sir chukiaa ate aapane val aa rahe farangeean val nafarat naal takadiaan sir unhaan val vagaah maariaa| vadhade aa rahe gore kujh pal lee uthe hee jarr ho ke kharre reh ge| fer sanbhale ate krodh naal bhare singhaan ute ttutt pe| keerat singh de sate sipaahee vee tiaar kharre san|

eik chhottaa jihaa ghamaasaan yudh shuroo ho giaa| keerat singh dee bhaaree khanddak daa vaar jis ute paindaa, vadt ke paar ho jaandaa | kujh palaan ch hee sataatth farangeean deean lahoo ch bhijeea lothaan dharatee te khilareean peean san| keerat singh de sat saatheean chon vee panj maare ge| zakhamee ate bache hoe do farangee ddar de maare bhaj ge| keerat singh de bache hoe do saatheean vichon ik buree tarhaan jkhmee hoeaa ate us ton baad larran de yog naheen rihaa| doojaa durajan singh, jo hun vee us de naal see|

eis larraaee de do din baad jad keerat singh aapane zakhamee ho ge saathee noo is de ghar pachaaun lee lijaa rihaa see taan durajan singh boliaa, jiven uh aapane aap noo hee koee savaal kar rihaa hove

mainoo samajh naheen aaundaa ki mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh noo ih ddogare, bheee, misar hee mile khaalasaa raaj dee rakhiaa karan lee

eis baare taan uhee jaanan, main bhalaa kee keh sakadaa haan| par meraa vichaar hai ki mahaaraaj noo akheerale dahaakiaan ch sikh saradaaraan te bharasaa naheen see rihaa ate aatamavishavaas vee gavaa chuke san|

eih kiaun|

kiaunk unhaan saradaaraan deean aapaneean jageeraan san, aapane nijee dasate ate taakat see| misalaan vaale saradaaraan noo taan mahaaraaje ne aap hee khatam kar ditaa hoeaa see | jaan ih vee keh sakade haan ki ddogariaan, misaraan ne sarakaar noo chaare paasion is tarhaan gher liaa hoeaa see ki kise hor dee avaaj unhaan tak pahunchanee asanbhav ho gee see|

main soch rihaa haan ki farangeean te itabaar karanaa mahaaraaj dee galatee see| je aapane jiaunde jee farangeean naal ih larraaeean larr lainde taan anjaam kujh hor hee honaa see | durajan singh aapanee raae jaahir karadiaan boliaa|

mainoo lagadaa hai ki ithe vee sarakaar daa savaivishavaas ddagamagaa chukiaa see| jad maraatthaa peshavaa haualakara ne aapas ch mil ke farangeean noo samundar vich dhakan dee peshakas bhejee see, je us peshakash noo naa tthukaraaunde taan panjaab daa hee naheen, saare hindasataan daa itihaas kujh hor hee hundaa | keerat singh ne aakhiaa|

eis noo mahaaraaje dee dooraandeshee vee taan kihaa jaa sakadaa hai| durajan singh aapanee raae zaahar karadiaan boliaa main sochadaa haan ki us vele tak khaalasaa raaj pooree tarhaan majaboot naheen see hoeaa| unhaan ih vee jaan liaa hovegaa ki je us vele farangeean naal ttakar lee taan khaalasaa raaj dee sathaapatee de sufane adhoore reh jaanage|

haan, ih vee ttheek e| keerat singh ne aakhiaa, eis vich koee do raavaan naheen ki mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh sachamuch panjaab daa babar sher see| kee larraaeean ch main aap us noo hath ch talavaar farr ke sabh ton age vadh ke larradiaan hoeaan vekhiaa hai| har maidaan ch fatih haasal keetee| sat atth sau varhiaan baad panjaab ch panjaabeean daa aapanaa raaj kaaeim hoeaa ate panjaabeean noo savaiabhimaan naal jiaun daa avasar praapat hoeaa|

11

mudakee de maidaan ch is haadase, eis larraaee ton baad aapane jakhamee ho ge saathee noo us de ghar puchaaun lee keerat singh us de pindd giaa| naal hee shaheedee praapat kar ge saatheean de parivaaraan noo milan lee giaa|

aunhaan mar giaan deean vidhavaavaan ate maavaan bhainaan de vain sun ke keerat singh andaro andar tarraf utthiaa| uh chaahe barraa jangajooyodhaa kisam daa aadamee see par andaron bahut naram ate bhaavuk vee see| kee jo maare ge, uh sachamuch shaheed san jaan aiven fajool jihee mauat maare ge | uh kee din ise tarhaan sochadaa fakeeraan vaang ghunmadaa firadaa rihaa kee us badazaat aauarat lee jaan laalachee saradaaraan ate mehatavakaankhee ddogariaan dee saradaaree kaaeim rakhan lee mare jaan... jaan panjaab ate khaalase dee ijt ate khudadaaree kaaeim rakhan lee jaan shaaeid siraf tanakhaah ch mile paisiaan ate aapane parivaar daa dtidd bharan lee

kee vaaree raateen lame piaan us de masatak ch sataluj de kandte hoee is pul dee larraaee de drish ghunmade rahe ate naal hee uh saaeh bakhas de sunaae bandaan noo yaad karadiaan man hee man duharaaundaa rihaa

kee maavaan de putar ne moe uthe

seene lageean tez kattaareean nee|

jinhaan bhainaan noo veer naa mile murr ke

peean rondeean firan vichaareean nee|

change jinhaan de siraan de moe vaalee

khulhe vaal te firan vichaareean nee

ate uh farangee | jo us dee talavaar ate neze de vaar naal sataluj de kandte te mare auh vee te kise maavaan de putar, kise goree de patee honage | uh kis khushee ch aa ge sat samundar paar karake dooje mulak ch aa ke aapanee kise mahaaraanee dee hakoomat de naan te lutt maar karanaa kee keval unhaan daa bhulekhaa hai jaan bahaadaree

par haale te us ne is nadee de pul vaalee larraaee larranee see| us ne mudakee dee larraaee noo yaad karadiaan kol kharre durajan singh noo aakhiaa

lai bee durajan siaan, mudakee dee doojee larraaee lee tiaar ho jaa |

khaalasaa sadaa tiaarabaratiaar | ih taan us larraaee saahamane kujh vee naheen| us javaab ditaa ate aapanee talavaar kadt ke kharraa ho giaa|

naheen, haale naheen| ate meree gal dhiaan naal suno|

eis ton baad keerat singh ne unhaan saariaan noo aapanee yojanaa baare pooree tarhaan samajhaa ditaa| uh saare jane aapaneean talavaaraan, neze ate rivaalavaraan farr ke rukhaan ate ttibiaan ohale luk ge| durajan singh aapane chaar hor saatheean noo naal lai ke pul ton paar aa giaa ate uh chaare bhunje kaparraa vichhaa ke is tarhaan baitth ke rottee khaan daa naattak karan lage jiven unhaan noo kise hamale dee koee khabar saar naa hove|

farangee ghorrasavaaraan daa dasataa jad thorrhee jihee vith te reh giaa taan jiven uh ghabaraa ke utth kharre hoe ate ghorriaan te chhaalaan maar ke ghorre durraaundiaan pul paar kar ge| baraaun ate jaan ne aapaneean talavaaraan miaanaan chon baahar kadt leean ate aapanaa shikaar saahamane vekh ke aapane ghorre unhaan de pichhe durraa dite|

keerat singh dee yojanaa ate umeed anusaar farangee ttukarree de savaaraan de pul te pahunchadiaan hee pul ttutt jaanaa chaaheedaa see| jad unhaan de atth das ghorrasavaar pul paar karake dooje paase pahunch ge taan keerat singh ne samajh liaa ki pul ttuttan vaalee yojanaa asafal ho gee hai| unhaan paar karan vaaliaan ch laifatteenaintt baraaun ate aiganiaoo daa bharaa jaan vee see | par use vele pichhe aa rahe ghorrasavaaraan de bhaar naal pul ttutt giaa ate atth das ghorrasavaar nadee ch dharram karake jaa ddige| ih vekhadiaan hee, yojanaa anusaar ttibiaa pichhe luke sikh sipaaheea ne nadee ch ddige ate dooje paase reh ge farangee sipaaheean ute faaeir karane shuroo kar dite| naal hee durajan singh

aapane singhaan naal rukhaan pichhon nikaliaa ate paar pahunche hoe farangee sipaaheean noo gher liaa|

eis chhottee jihee jharrap vich baraaun ate jaan samet paar pahunche hoe saare sipaahee maare ge| nadee ch ddigiaan vichon vee chaar panj goleean jaan barachhiaan daa nishaanaa bane| baakee de nas ge| nas ke vaapas aae sipaaheean ne jad aapanee is haar baare khaas karake aiganiaoo de bharaa jaan de maare jaan dee khabar sunaaee taan uh guse naal paagal ho utthiaa|

poh futtadiaan hee aiganiaoo aap aapane chune hoe sau ghorr savaar laike keerat singh de dasate pichhe dauarr piaa| unhaan chon pandaraan sipaaheean de hathaan ch naveen kisam deean ate kujh din pahilaan hee ingalisataan ton aaeean raaeil aimafeeladd raaeifalaan san jinhaan daa nishaanaa puraaneean raaeifalaan de mukaabale bahut sahee ate bahut door tak maar karadaa see|

keerat singh vee jaanadaa see ki chhetee hee farangeean daa navaan ate vaddaa dasataa unhaan daa pichhaa karan lee bhejiaa jaaegaa| ih us noo bahut baad ch pataa lagaa ki is jharrap ch maare jaan vaale do farangeean ch ik aiganiaoo daa bharaa vee see|

farangee dasate de din raat ghorre durraaundiaan ate keerat singh de dasate tak pahunchadiaan ik ton vadh din lag ge| jad keerat singh ne aapanaa pichhaa kar rahe sau ghorriaan deean ttaapaan dee samoohik avaaz sunee taan us ne saah bakhash noo aades ditaa ki uh daler singh noo lai ke unhaan ton nikharr ke kise dooje paase lai jaave| kujh der baad farangee ghorrasavaaraan ate unhaan de vichakaaranaa faasalaa hor ghatt giaa| jad unhaan deean raaeifalaan chon nikaladiaan goleean dee tthaahatthaah sunaaee den lagee taan keerat singh samajh giaa ki hun kharre ho ke daleree naal unhaan daa mukaabalaa karan ate shaheed hon daa vakat aa giaa hai|

par use vele age dis rahee jooh chon nikalade hoe shaam singh de panj sau ghorrasavaar aapane hathaan ch atthaatth futt lame barachhe ate bandookaan farree aa pragatt hoe ate keerat singh de javaanaan naal aa mile| vekhadiaan hee mejar aiganiaoo ne aapane ghorre dee lagaam khich lee ate naal hee us de sau ghorr savaar vee ruk ge, kujh is tarhaan jiven pathar ban ge hon| ghorriaan deean naasaa chon zorajor dee saah lain ate poochhaan hilaaun naal hee lagadaa see ki ih ghorre pathar de naheen|

kacheecheean vattadaa ate man hee man vatt khaandaa aiganiaoo aapane dasate noo lai ke vaapas murr piaa| aapanee chhaaunee ch pahunch ke us ne jangee shaan

oshauakat naal aapane bharaa jaan noo kabar vich dafanaaeaa ate us kabar dee sil te ih shabad vee khudavaa ditaa|

here lies ttehe bode odd odaarad jhohan aganeaa aaho ddigahattinag bravele aittah ttehe choaarad famap; rebel sikah ddoraches laid his lidde in ttehe seraviche odd his chounattare.

kujh varhiaan baad jad keerat singh ne kabar te lagee is simaratee likhat noo parrhiaa taan us ne aapane aap noo aakhiaa see ik aadamee saaree umar kis kis tarhaan deean galatafahimeean ch fasiaa aapane jeevan de karamaan noo arath den lee aapane makasad ate aapane tteeche gharr laindaa hai...|

12

shujaahabaad pahunchan ton pahilaan hee raat pai gee|

sauan ton pahilaan keerat singh ne aapane kol baitthe durajan singh dee pitth te thaapee dendiaan aakhiaa

vaah bee durajan singh, jis furatee naal toon naale noo paar karake dooje paase pahunchiaa ate jis bahaadaree naal farangeean daa safaaeaa keetaa, us te mainoo fakhar hai| sachamuch singhaa sheraan vaang...|

sun ke khush hon dee bajaae durajan singh de bulhaan te ik viangamee musakaan pasar gee | us deean akhaan saahamane aapanee talavaar naal vaireean de sir kattadiaan daa drish jaagrit ho utthiaa| us noo lagiaa ki us vele uh farageean te poorabeean de hee naheen balak aapane kise adakh dusman naal larradiaan unhaan daa sir katt rihaa hove|

auh chup chaap zameen val vekhadaa rihaa|

kiaun kee gal e durajan siaan| ainaa dukhee kiaun dis rihaa e

main singh jee, koee singh nahee, aus de bolaan ch khijh see ate janamaanjanamaan dee vedanaa| main te niman jaatee daa bandaa haan, jimeedaaraan, laaliaan deean juteean khaan ate unhaan dee sevaa karan vaalaa|

kee varhe pahilaan jad durajan singh de baap noo pataa lagaa ki mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh chhotteean jaataan vaaliaan noo vee aapanee fauaj ch bharatee kar rihaa hai taan uh vee jaa bharatee hoeaa ate ik sikh sipaahee dee varadee paa ke uh vee fakhar naal sir uchaa karake chalan lagaa| par kujh varhiaan baad hee sikh sipaaheean valon is dee mukhaalafat shuroo ho gee| mahaaraaj ne rangarettiaan

chhotteean jaateean vaaliaan dee vakharee palattan banaa ditee| par khatareean jattaan ton ih vee naa jariaa giaa| tad tak adhe ton vadh rangarette sikh raaj lee malaan maarade shaheedeean praapat kar chuke san| fer majaboor hoke mahaaraaje ne uh palattan torr ke baakee de rangarettiaan noo ghar vaapas bhej ditaa|

durajan singh de baap charan singh noo mahaaraaje ne inaam vich thorree jihee jameen daa ttukarraa us de pindd vich de ditaa| par pindd de jimeedaaraan noo ih manjoor naheen see saalaa neeveen jamaat ho ke saaddee baraabaree karan lagiaa ausanoo taahane maarade, balad khoh ke lai ge | ik majh rakhee see, aus noo zahir de ke maar ditaa| saaliaa, toon kee karanaa majh rakh ke, saaddaa kam kar ate mufat ch dudh lasee pee...| aunhaan deean teeveean naal chherrachhaarr karanaa taan uh aapanaa janam sidh adhikaar hee samajhade san| us dee bhain naal pindd de jattaan dee chherrachhaarr karan te jad durajan singh de bharaa ne avaaz utthaaee taan kutt hee khaadhee|

keerat singh kujh der baitthaa durajan singh dee dashaa baare sochadaa rihaa| is de pichhokarr baare thorrhaa bahut us noo pataa see|

keerat singh ne puchhiaa, teraa uh bharaa kithe hai ajakalh

shaaeid main tuhaanoo dasiaa naheen| aseen taan amrit chhak ke singh saje, eih soch ke ki guroo saahib ne saadde lokaan daa udaar kar ditaa| par is dee asaleeat daa saanoo haualeehaualee pataa lagadaa rihaa| eik din ise bhulekhe aseen guroo naanak dev jee de janam dihaarre guraduaare chal rahe langar dee pangat ch jaa baitthe| saare saadde val akhaan paarrapaarr ke vekhan lage| aakhar saanoo pangat chon utthaa ditaa giaa ate guraduaare de baahar bhunje hee ik kataar banaake bitthaa ditaa giaa| meraa bharaa zaraa guse vaalaa see| us ne guraduaare andar pangat ch baitthiaan val vekh ke zameen te thukiaa ate tezatej kadam chukadaa uthon hee naheen balak pinddon hee nikal giaa| hun suniaa hai ki ludhiaane jaa ke farangeean dee fauaj ch bharatee ho giaa hai|

farangeean dee fauaj vich keerat singh kujh hairaan hundiaan boliaa|

hor kee karadaa| main sikhaan dee fauaj ch bharatee hoeaa taan tuhaadde karake, auh vee aapanee jaat lukaa ke | je sach puchho taan saanoo koee dukh naheen sikhaan daa raaj khohe jaan daa| saaddee dishaa ch taan naa musalamaanaan de raaj ch kujh farak piaa see, naa sikhaan de ate naa hee farangeean de raaj ch kujh farak painaa hai| tuhaadde naal taan main siraf tuhaadde karake haan | saanoo taan janam jaat ton hee aadat hai hukam manan ate doojiaan dee chaakaree karan dee| taan fer kise change aadamee dee chaakaree hee kiaun naa karaan|

keerat singh ne us val hamadaradee bhareean nazaraan naal takiaa ate fer thale val vekhan lagaa jiven us ute hoeean vadheekeean daa uh aap vee jinmevaar hove|

tuseen ate aseen iko tarhaan de pinddaan ch rahinde haan ate tuseen lok saaddee duradashaa noo vekhade, par us noo mahisoos naheen karade, jo jilat saanoo har roj, har pal sahinee paindee hai| kiaunk sadeean ton lokaan noo aadat pai gee hoee hai ih kujh vekhan dee...| durajan singh ne aakhiaa|

main samajhadaa haan durajan singh, pooraa naheen taan thorrhaa bahut zaroor samajhadaa haan|

tuseen kujh naheen samajhade keerat singh jee, kujh naheen samajhade | us de bolaan ch sadeean puraanee vedanaa see| je main sabh kujh dasan lag pavaan taan saaree raat beet jaaegee ate gal taan vee pooree naheen hovegee| main tuhaanoo iko ghattanaa dasadaa haan| ate uh dasan lagaa

audon do varhe tak meenh naheen piaa| saare pindd de laale, jimeendaar pindd chhadd ke ate aapane ddangar lai ke kite chale ge| aseen bhukhe maran lage| khoohaan ch vee paanee khatam ho giaa| aseen vee aapane saare ttabar samet pindd chhadd ke tur pe| garameean de din san| bhukh jaree jaandee hai par treh naheen jaree jaandee| piaas naal taaloo suk ge| ik pindd de baahar karake ik shivaale kol ik khooh vekh ke us chon paanee bharan lage| bas fer kee see| pujaaree ne kise baaree chon vekh liaa te raualaa paa ditaa ki unhaan daa khooh bhrishatt giaa| use vele pindd de tthaakur, jimeendaar ddaangaan lai ke jamhaan ho ge ate saadde ute ddaangaan varhan lageean...|

te fer durajan singh noo chup vekh ke keerat singh ne puchhiaa|

par durajan singh agion kujh naheen boliaa| us deean akhaan chon atharoo kir ke us deean galhaan te tair rahe san|

kujh der baad durajan singh ne aapaneean akhaan pag de larr naal poonjheean, kanbade bulhaan te man ch ubaale khaa rahe krodh naal boliaa

bas hun iko aramaan hai man vich ki larraaee khatam hon ton baad bandook lai ke us pindd ch jaavaan ate saariaan noo bhun chhaddaan...|

keerat singh ne sir hilaaundiaan lamaa jihaa saah khichiaa ate boliaa

eis naal kee hovegaa durajan siaan kujh vee te naheen badalanaa| jo kujh unhaan de piau daadaa karade aa rahe san, auhee kujh unhaan de putar karade rahinage | te tuseen lok..

durajan singh ne nazar chuk ke khalaa vich takiaa jiven ateet, varatamaan ate bhavakh val tak rihaa hove| fer us de bulhaan te ik viangamee musakaan aa gee| uh boliaa

je farangee safal ho ge taan chaahe uh khataree braahaman hove chaahe saradaar, chaahe jimeedaar, saare de saare shoodarataa dee haalat ch pahunch jaanage, ghatt ton ghatt maanasik tauar te| keh ke uh paagalaan vaang hasan lagaa

eihee hovegaa inhaan de paapaan daa fal|

paap saadde lokaan de siraf ihee naheen durajan singh, hor vee bahut han|

raat goorrhee ho gee| chaare paase haneraa pasar giaa| durajan singh daa vedanaa bhariaa haasaa haale vee keerat singh de kanaan vich goonj rihaa see|

13

keerat singh noo shujaahabaad de kilhe ch pahunchiaan tin din ho ge san| aapane putar daler singh noo saheesalaamat pahunch giaa vekh ke shaam singh dee khusee daa tthikaanaa naheen see| us ne keerat singh ate us de saatheean daa dhanavaad keetaa| keerat singh de tthahiran daa intazaam jis sajesajaae kamare ch keetaa jis daa baaree kol baitthiaan dooradoor de drish ik panchheejhaat vaang vikhaaee dende san| kee dinaan dee dauarrabhaj ate bearaamee ton baad mahaanprashaad de naal suaadee bhojan miliaa| khoob raj ke saariaan ne khaadhaa| khaan te baad aisee neend aaee ki agale din dupahire jaa ke akh khulhee| keerat singh de puchhan te ik khidamatagaar ne dasiaa ki shaam singh lagaan aad de chakar ate do jimeedaaraan de aapasee jhagarre daa faisalaa karan chale ge hoe han| vaapas aaun ch shaaeid ik ton vadh din lag jaan|

eis vichakaar keerat singh kadee aapane saatheean naal kade ikalaa kilhe de chakar laaundiaan samaan bitaaundaa rihaa| shaam singh naal vee bahut sankhep ch galaan baataan hoeean san, par jiaadaa naheen| farangeean daa mukaabalaa karan lee shaam singh ate mulataan de deevaan mool raaj valon keekee tiaareean ho raheean han, auh is baare jaanan lee betaab see|

eis de ilaavaa uh us aauarat noo labhan jaan us baare jaanan lee utasuk see jis baare us noo pataa lagaa see ki uh jaan te shujaahabaad de sahir ch hai jaan fer ise kilhe ch|

hun keerat singh aapane is kamare dee baaree ch baitthiaan baahar val

takan lagaa| kilhe de ik paase shahir ate dooje paase pahaarreean dis raheean san chhotteean pahaarreean vichakaar kite kite pindd ate khet, par jiaadaatar khushak, banjar dtalaanaan, ttaavaanttaavaan rukh jinhaan deean thale deean ttahineean noo langhade aootthaan ne pation vihoonaa kar ditaa hoeaa see| uh jad vee inhaan banjar dtalaanaan val takadaa, aus noo aapanaa pindd ate pindd duaale harehare khet lahilahaaunde disan lagade| aapanee kalapanaa ch uh halatt de kute dee ttakattak, sarhon, kamaad ate kanak de khet ate khetaan vichon langhadeean dhoorr bhareean pagaddanddeean noo vekhan lagadaa| aapane bharaabharajaaee, bachapan de dosat ate uh gauaraan ate sundaraan yaad aaun lagadeean, kise pichhale janam deean galaan dee tarhaan|

auh us vele das baaraan saal daa see ate gauaraan us ton chaar panj varhe vaddee| uh jad vee gauaraan noo vekhadaa taan us noo uh pareean, raajakumaareean varagee lagadee ate jad tak uh akhon uhale naa ho jaandee, keerat singh deean akhaan us ute hee ttikeean rahindeean|

kee vekhadaa rahinaan en is tarhaan mere val ik din gauaraan ne keerat singh de saahamane kharre ho ke puchhiaa see|

toon... toon ainee sohanee lagadee e mainoo.... bas....

chal sharaaratee| kahindiaan ate us deean galhaan te haualee denee chaperr maaradiaan us aakhiaa see|

te sanjog naal jad uhee gauaraan us dee bharajaaee ban ke unhaan de ghar vich aaee taan us ne sharaarat ate chanchalataa naal puchhiaa see|

te hun main tainoo kis tarhaan dee lagadee haan

taan keerat singh man hee man musakaraaundiaan sharamaaundiaan binaan kujh bole nas giaa see|

eik ttabar lee unhaan dee zameen kaafee see, adhaa ku hisaa rohee de paase| baap de chalaanaa kar jaan ton baad jad keerat singh de viaah dee gal chalee taan aaun vaale samen noo mukh rakhadiaan vaddaa bharaa chitaatur ho giaa| do ttabar, baal bache | gauaraan ne galaan hee galaan vich vadde bharaa bachan singh noo samajhaaeaa ki us de viaah dee kee lorr auh aape sanbhaal lavegee | aakhar hundaa hee aaeaa hai is tarhaan| vadde bharaa ne jad keerat singh naal is baare gal keetee taan keerat singh noo ih gal hazam naheen hoee, auh boliaa

toon chintaa naa kar bharaa| main taan fauaj ch bharatee hon daa man banaa liaa hoeaa hai|

auh anubhav karadaa see ki gauaraan us naal bahut moh karadee hai| par keerat lee ih moh, eih piaar kujh hor tarhaan daa see | us de naal kise doojaree tarhaan de sanbandh baare uh soch vee naheen see sakadaa|

gauaraan ne vee ih kadee naheen see sochiaa ki us daa piaaraa dior ainee aasaanee te sahijataa naal unhaan noo chhadd ke chalaa jaavegaa| dovaan bharaavaan dee is ghar vich hond gauaraan noo ik tarhaan daa dharavaas ate surakhiaa daa ahisaas divaaundee see| us lee ih larraaeean, khaalasaa kauam, farangee, patthaan koee khaas arath naheen san rakhade| us daa jeevan aapane ghar tak jaan jiaadaa ton jiaadaa aapane pindd jaan aaleduaale de kujh pinddaan tak seemat see| ih larraaeean us lee maanavataa de paagal ho jaan dee tarhaan san|

te ik din sau ghorr savaaraan daa rasaaladaar ho jaan ate kee larraaeean larran ton baad jad uh aapane pindd val turiaa taan man ajeeb tarhaan de chaa ate anumaad naal tariaa hoeaa see| us de naal chhuttee te jaa rahe chhe hor javaan vee san jinhaan ne us de pindd ton age aapane pinddaan val jaanaa see|

larraaeean larradiaan uh bhul hee giaa see ki naa pichhale saal hee meenh changee tarhaan pe ate naa is saal| visaakh de maheene de aakharee din, khetaan ch ddakaa vee naheen dhoorr udd rahee see|

pindd ton adhaa ku koh pahilaan uh ik khooh kol aa ke ruk ge| khooh ton upar karake ik ttile te naath jogeean daa puraanaa dderaa see | man ch aaeaa ki ghar jaan ton pahilaan jogee bachan daas noo miladaa jaavaan| jadon keerat singh pindd ch rahindaa see taan har teeje chauathe din uh jogee kol aa baitthadaa ate us deean galaan sunadaa rahindaa| us noo uh barraa siaanaa ate sulajhe hoe dimaag vaalaa bandaa lagadaa| ttile ute kharre naath jagee de cheliaan ne us noo vekh liaa ate upar aaun lee ishaare karan lage|

aus de chheaan saatheean ne aakhiaa ki uh jaa ke naath jogee noo mil aave| unee der uh khooh chon paanee kadt ke nahaa lainage | dhoorr ate murrhake naal saaraa pinddaa chipachap kar rihaa hai| ghorriaan noo vee saah davaa denage|

keerat singh aapanaa ghorraa uthe hee kharraa karake ttile upar jaa rahee pagaddanddee ute tur piaa|

pagabanddee de doven paase kitekite ddig chuke makaanaan daa malabaa dis rihaa see| us malabe ch peean puraanee kisam deean chauaras jiheean, pattarrenumaa ittaan noo vekh ke lagadaa see jiven is theh thale koee puraanaa pindd dabiaa piaa hove| ddere de vadde saare daravaaze de baahar vee kise puraanee imaarat jaan puraane ddere de pathar de satoon ddige pe dis rahe san| door, pindd de dooje paase

jageeradaar dee garrhee ate garrhee ch do manzalaa uchee havelee dis rahee see|

eik khulhe viharre chon langhiaa, jis de doven paasee suragavaas ho chuke naathaan deean samaadheean dis raheean san| naath jogeean dee prathaa anusaar kise jogee de maran te us daa daah sansakaar naheen see keetaa jaandaa balak chauakarree mudaraa ch us noo dabaa ditaa jaandaa see|

kise beete yug de naath jogee dee samaadh vaale kamare chon langh ke uh ik doojee kottharree ch pahunch giaa jithe bish naath vishavanaatha jogee ik takhat posh te baitthe hoe san| chhottee jihee chittee daaharree, chittee ate kaafee vadde akaar dee pag aapaneean jattaavaan duaale valee hoee| chiharaa chaahe patalaa par rohabadaar, akhaan vich tej|

keerat singh noo vekh ke is naath de bulhaan te musakaan khindd gee| keerat singh ne jhuk ke mathaa ttekiaa| asheeravaad dendiaan bis naath bole aitakee bahut chiraan baad feraa paaeaa

tuhaanoo pataa hee hai farangeean naal larraaeean daa

haan bhaaee panjaab ch jamanaa ate nit muhinmaan| main te suniaa ki farangeean hun lahauar de baahar vee aapanee chhaaunee paa lee

haale te shukar ki baahar ee e| keerat singh aapane mathe te hath laaundiaan boliaa| naal hee soch rihaa see ki raaj badalade rahe, gajanavee aae, afagaan aae, mugalaan, sikhaan daa raaj aaeaa par inhaan naath jogeean de ddere uven de uven hee kaaeim|

bish naath ne tthanddaa jihaa saah bharadiaan aakhiaa, jadon sarakaar see, sabh ttheek see| inhaan saradaaraan noo vee lagaam see| par hun... hun.... te lagadaa e yug hee badal chaliaa| ih kahindiaan bish naath nukare baitthee, gandtarree banee ik kurree val vekhan lagaa|

keerat ne vee nazar ghumaa ke us paase takiaa| naath jogee kol aauarat de aaun jaan te koee manaahee naheen see| par ih kauan aus ne man hee man aakhiaa te fer prashan bhareean najaraan naal bis naath val takan lagaa|

toon pahile jageeradaar vasaakhaa singh noo taan jaanadaa hee e | bish naath sunaaun lagaa, chaahe us deean vee do teemeean san ate ik do rakhelaan bee, par uh lokaan te is tarhaan de julam naheen see chaahundaa jiven ih karadaa... |

hun tak ik hor jogee vee keerat singh te jaraa ku laanbhe ho ke aa baitthiaa see, takareeban keerat singh dee umar daa| bachapan ch kadee kadee aapas ch kheddiaa vee karade san| panj chhe varhe dee umar ch hee ih is ddere ch aa ke rahin lagaa see| udon is de kan ch mundaraan naheen san hundeean| hun

kanaan ch kach deean mundaraan ate jattaavaan daa joorraa banaaeaa hoeaa see ate jadon is noo ih gadee milegee taan is deean jattaan duaale vee chittaa pagarr banhiaa jaanaa hai| ih keerat singh jaanadaa see|

keerat singh us naal galaan karan lagaa, puraaneean galaan, hun deean galaan| galaan karadiaan keerat singh dee nazar murramurr us gandtarree banee kurree val utth jaandee|

pahilaan is vichaaree de rahin daa intazaam kar de parath naathaa| fir aa ke galaan suneen| bish naath ne chele noo kihaa|

lagadaa ih taan saadde hee pindd dee kurree e| keerat singh bol utthiaa|

toon hee das parath naathaa| keh ke bish naath ne akhaan band kar leean jiven dhiaan ch leen ho ge hon|

toon is dee maan noo taan vekhiaa honaa parath naath dasan lagaa, eih lajo ghumiaaran dee kurree e| uh vee is kurree vaang ttheek tthaak see sohanee kahindiaan parath naath noo kujh jhijak lagee par ih roop ameeraan lee bakhashas, gareebaan lee saraap |

keerat singh changee tarhaan jaanadaa see us vadde saradaar ate lajo ghumiaaran baare | vaddaa saradaar vaajab kisam daa aadamee see| har kam barree jugat ate munaasab dtang naal karadaa| kise naal zor jbaradasatee naheen see karadaa| bas jiharree kurree pasand aa jaave, khaas karake baaraa, teraan saal dee taan aapaniaan gumaashatiaan raaheen us de maanbaap kol sunehaa bhej dindaa ki kurree taan raanee banan de laaeik hai... havelee dee saradaaranee ban ke rahoo| ate fer us de paalanaposhan lee salaanaa rakam bhejadaa rahindaa| do tin saal baad kurree tiaar ho ke us dee havelee ch, rakhel de tauar te kurree de baap noo kujh sahoolataan ate kujh zameen vee saradaar valon mil jaandee | par je javaan ate viaahee teeveen te dil aa jaave, taan vee pichhe naheen see hattadaa|

eis de ilaavaa pindd vaaliaan noo us ton kee shikaaeit naheen see| naven beean lee paisaa udhaar denaa, jo fasal ttheek naa hove meeh ghatt pain taan lagaan ghatt kar denaa aad vee us dee khasalat daa hisaa see|

keerat singh kujhakujh jaanadaa see is dee maan baare| vadde saradaar ne kee maheene aapane kol rakhiaa| vichavach vee jad jee karadaa, bulaa bhejadaa kise naa kise bahaane jagatoo ghumiaar sabh jaanadaa see par chup| karadaa taan kee karadaa| ainaa hee bahut see ki jadon us dee teevee vaapas aaundee taan chaandee de rupeean dee pottalee ate hor kee kujh lai ke aaundee| ih dhee us de vadde

saradaar kol jaan ton pahilaan hee jam pee see is lee chhottaa saradaar jaanadaa see ki ih us de baap daa khoon naheen hai| alabataa vadde saradaar dee garrhee ch aaun ton baad ik putar noo zaroor janam ditaa jo saradaaranee ne aapane gumaashatiaan duaaraa maravaa ditaa see| uh ghumiaaran daa aapane saradaar naal sauanaa taan jar sakadee see, kiaunk jaanadee see ki saare jageeradaar iho kujh karade han| us daa aapanaa pio vee karadaa see, par ghumiaaran de dtiddon jamiaa saradaar daa put ban ke ate vaddaa ho ke is jageer chon aapanaa hisaa mang lave, eih naheen see jar sakadee|

vaddaa saradaar vasaakhaa singh ranajeet singh de kaal ch chalaanaa kar giaa| jad tak ranajeet singh jiaundaa see, chhottaa saradaar is tarhaan de kam luk chhip ke karadaa rihaa| par ranajeet singh de suragavaas ho jaan ton baad is noo sabh kujh karan dee jiven pooree chhuttee mil gee| pahilaan taan is kurree ratanee noo aapanee teeveen de janepe samen us dee sevaa karan lee aapanee garrhee ch bulaaeaa ate fer kee maheene tak vaapas naheen jaan ditaa| maan ne jiven aapanee honee noo manjoor kar liaa see, eis ne vee kar liaa, chaahe is daa jeevan aapanee maan de jeevan ton bahut badatar see| raat noo saradaar dee sevaa karan de ilaavaa saradaaranee ne naven jame putar dee dekh bhaal, saradaaranee de ghar de saare kam, savere panj vaje ton raat de giaaraan vaje tak kise naa kise kam ch lagee hee rahindee| lagadaa see ki saradaar maan singh de is naal sauan daa gusaa saradaaranee ratanee ute kadtadee see| aunj hor vee kee san par uh aaundeean jaandeean rahindeean jaan saradaar aap hee lahauar dee heeraa manddee jaa ke aish kar aaeaa karadaa|

ate hun is naal vee uhee kujh duharaaeaa jaan lagaa jo is dee maan naal ho beetiaa see| jad is ne garabh dhaariaa taan pahilaan taan saradaaranee ate saradaar dee aapas ch jang hoee| us noo vee aapane baap dee is ton vee vaddee jageer ate saradaaranee daa maan see| toon ih kee keetaa hun je put jam piaa taan lokee vee ihee kahinage ki garrhee vaaliaan daa hai| maan singh vee jhootth bol piaa| boliaa mainoo te kee maheene ho ge is noo aapane kol bulaaeaa| saaraa samaan te tere naal rahindee hai| zaroor koee yaar banaaeaa hoeaa hovegaa| kamajaat, behayaa...| main kee vaar maalee ate chauakeedaar naal hasaehas ke galaan karadiaan vekhiaa hai ...|

saradaaranee jaanadee see ki ih jhootth bol rihaa hai| par ih jhootth hee us lee ik rasataa see| chauakeedaar ate maalee noo vee kutt pee ate is ratanee noo vee maaramaar ke haveleeo baahar kadt ditaa|

te isade aapane maan baapa keerat singh ne kurree val takadiaan puchhiaa| kurree deean akhaan de hanjhoo jiven suk chuke hon| uh khaaleekhaalee akhaan naal kandh val tak rahee see| uh jiven sharam ate deaa ton vee door chale gee see|

baap noo sap ne ddas liaa ate maan paagal ho ke kite gaaeib ho gee| paarath naath ne dasiaa|

chal utth beebee | paarath naath kurree kol kharraa ho ke boliaa|aa tainoo teraa kamaraa vikhaavaan| naale nahaa dho, kaparre badal|

bish naath ne vee hamadaradee bhareean nazaraan naal us val takiaa ate haualee denee bole

samajh lai beebee ki beetiaa pichhe reh giaa, eih teraa navaan janam hai|

keerat singh vee akhaan band karake ate lamaa jihaa saah bharadiaan aapane aap noo keh utthiaa ik yudh khetar ih vee hai| farangeean naal taan larraaeean kade naa kade muk hee jaanageean, par kee ih larraaeean vee kade muk sakanageean

eik chelaa aa ke ik ddoone ch panjeeree ate lasee daa gilaas keerat singh de saahamane rakh giaa| ik tashataree ate ik gilaas kurree de saahamane| par kurree ne us noo hath naheen laaeaa| keerat singh chupachaap panjeeree de fake maaradiaan kandh te baneean puraane naath jogeean deean tasaveeraan vekhan lagaa|

do tarhaan de jeea banaae han prakiratee ne| bish naath keh rihaa see, eik maasaahaaree, jo shikaar karadaa hai, doojaa jo shikaar hundaa hai|

tuseen kis dee gal kar rahe ho

raajiaan, jageeradaaraan dee, hor kis dee| ih uh lok han jo sadaa doojiaan dee mihanat te jiaunde aae han|

tuhaadde moonhon is tarhaan deean galaan sun ke mainoo hairaanee ho rahee hai|

toon samajhadaa e, bish naath hasadiaan boliaa, ki aseen bas naam japade ate vihale baitth ke khaande haan| aam lokaan noo naheen pataa hundaa ki bandaa saadh kiaun banadaa hai bas ihee samajh ki asee lok haare hoe hunde haan, zindagee ton bhaje hoe ate... ate aam lokaan kol jiaoonde rahin lee eeshavar de naam ate devatiaan deean kisekahaaneean de ilaavaa hor kujh naheen hundaa|

keerat ate bish naath kujh der tak galaan karade rahe| fer panjeeree de ddoone ate lasee de gilaas noo bhunje rakhadiaan keerat boliaa, hun chaladaa haan| thale saathee uddeek rahe honage| fer kadee aavaangaa| keh ke uh tur piaa|

naal chal rahe paarath naath ne keerat de modte te hath rakhadiaan bahut sanjeedaa aavaaz ch aakhiaa

tere bharaabharajaaee suniaa kaafee mushakal ch han| aa ke pataa deveen unhaan de sukh saand daa|

keerat singh ttile ton utariaa taan us de saathee nahaa dho ke us dee uddeek kar rahe san| ithe unhaan daa rasataa dooje paase noo fattadaa see| uh keerat singh ton vidaa lain lage taan us ne kihaa ki uh ghar chal ke laseepaanee pee ke jaan| us de vaaravaar kahin te saariaan ne aapane ghorriaan deean vaagaan us de pindd val morr diteean| keerat de masatak ch bish naath deean galaan, aus kurree dee duradashaa ate paarath naath dee us deean bharaabharajaaee baare aakheean galaan gaddamadd ho raheean san| inhaan bhanbalabhoosiaan ch fasiaa us noo ih vee pataa naa lagaa ki uh pindd ch varran de aam rasate noo chhadd ke dalitaan de gharaan vichon ho ke langh rihaa see | dalitaan de gharaan ch utthadee haddaarorree ate kachepake chamarriaan dee boa kaaran ik vaaree te ghorre ne vee age vadhan ton inakaar kar ditaa|

dalit ghar pindd daa hisaa hundiaan hoeaan vee jiven narak daa drish pes kar rahe see| saaree galee ch gandaa paanee vagadiaan chhaparr ch ikatthaa ho rihaa see| aadameeanteeveean ate nange firade bachiaan de suke jihe jisam idharaudhar firade nazar aa rahe san|

aus noo lagiaa jiven pichhale kujh varhiaan ch ih viharre de ghar kujh vadde ho ge ate abaadee vee vadh gee hai| us ne is daa kaaran samajhan daa yatan keetaa par kujh khaas samajh naa aaeaa|

pichhaleean sadeean ch baaharon aa rahe musalamaanaan, afagaanaan de hamale hunde taan uh saare pindd ch luttamaar karade, par inhaan de nerre naa dtukade| ih naa hindooaan ch, naa musalamaanaa ch| naale ithon lutteriaan noo milanaa vee kee see sikh raaj sathaapat hon naal jattasakh fauaj ch jaa bharatee hunde| pahilaan aapaneean tanakhaahaan gharee bhejade ate fer kise larraaee ch maare jaande| is tarhaan jattaansakhaan dee abaadee chaahe ghattadee jaan unee hee rahee, par inhaan dalitaan aad dee ginatee vadhadee gee| naalanaal inhaan dee gareebee ate daladarataa vee|

viharre chon langhadiaan kise ne us val bahutaa dhiaan naheen ditaa| ik kache jihe ghar kolon langhadiaan keerat singh noo raamakalee daa khiaal aa giaa| inhaan ch jadon koee sohanee kurree jam pave taan kise ajoobe vaang hundaa| saare us de baap baare aapaneaapane anumaan laaun lagade| ih raamakalee

vee bahut sohanee nikalee| jadon javaan hoee taan pindd de saare mundde us de pichhe bhauariaan, kutiaan vaang manddaraaun lage|

jadon raamakalee daa viaah hoeaa ate janjh raamakalee noo lai ke turee taan pindd de jattaan de manachale munddiaan ne us dee ddolee rok lee| jaanjeean noo maarakatt ke bhajaa ditaa ate raamakalee murr aapane maanpio de ghar aa baitthee| eis ton baad dotin vaaree us de ghar vaaliaan ne us daa viaah karake toran dee koshis keetee par pindd de mundde har vaaree us dee ddolee morr ke vaapas lai aaunde|

keerat singh de naa chaahundiaan vee us dee nazar raamakalee de ghar val murr gee| us noo yaad aaeaa ki ik saradaar ne us noo aapanee rakhel banaa ke rakh liaa see| raamakalee de ghar dee chhat naal lagadee ik beree see| ate ik teevee chhat te lamak rahee ttaahanee noo hath paa ke ber torr rahee see| raamakalee ne keerat singh val vekh ke us noo pachhaan liaa ate mehanaa maaradiaan bolee

sunaa bee saradaaraa aa giaa vaapas larraaeean jit ke| us dee aavaaz ate andaaj ton lagadaa see jiven us noo aapanee dashaa te koee dukh naa hove| hundaa vee kiaun je viaahee jaandee taan vee taan kiharraa sukh bhoganaa see| din raat pashooaan vaang kam karadee, javaak jamadee, fer vee jattaan de munddiaan ne kiharraa chhaddanaa see us noo shuroosuroo ch kujh ninmojhoonee rahin ton baad us ne vee man hee man faisalaa kar liaa ki je ise tarhaan jiaoonaa hai| taan is daa pooraa laabh hee kiaun naa utthaave bhaag vas kise change saradaar de vas pee| kee varhe tak us ne is noo rakhiaa | hun vee us valon kanak, gurr ate kujh bajhaveen rakam miladee rahindee hai|

zaraa ku age jaa ke chet singh lange ne us pachhaanadiaan aavaaj maar lee| uh ik ttuttee jihee manjee te baitthaa hukaa gurragurraa rihaa see | naalo naal dooje hath naal aapanee khuradaree jihee daaharree noo khurakan lagadaa| us val vekhadiaan keerat singh boliaa

sunaa bee chet siaan, kee haal e teraa

haal kee honaa toon vekh hee rihaa haan e barre dinaan baad chakar laaeaa|

farangeean naal larraaeean ate laahauar de ghamasaanaan ton hee vihal naheen miliaa| tainoo pataa hee honaa....|

aseen kee lainaa pataa karake| chaahe sikh hon haakam, chaahe musalamaan chaahe farangee, aseen taan uhee daa uhee rahinaa| ih taan uhee gal hoee ki kise ne

khote noo kihaa ki nas jaa chhetee naal, dushaman deean hamalaavar fauajaan aa raheean ne| khote ne agio puchhiaa, auh aa ke meree pitth te bhaar jiaadaa paaunage ki ghatt khabaradaar karan vaale ne kihaa ki bhaar taan onaa hee rahinaa| chet singh ne aakhiaa|

pichhale varhiaan ch, yaanee panjaah satth saal pahilaan, bazurag dasade hanasaaeid is ton vee pahilaan han inhaan noo kujh aas bajhee ki saaeid inhaan de vee change din aaun vaale han| bandaa bahaadar ne jad jageeradaaree khatam karake halavaahavaan noo jmeenaan daa maalak banaaeaa ate aapanee fauaj banaaee taan inhaan chhottee jaat vaaliaan noo vee aapanee fauaj ch bharatee karanaa shuroo kar ditaa see| baghel singh ne vee is prathaa noo kaafee had tak jaaree rakhiaa| jattaan ne ih vee kaanoon murr laagoo karavaa liaa ki inhaan chhotteean jaataan vaaliaan noo zameen dee maalakee de hak kise vee soorat ch naheen dite jaanage| hun te ih haal see ki kise dalit bharaa noo pakaa makaan banaaun dee vee ijaazat naheen see ate naa hee changaa jihaa boohaa laaun dee| bas fatte jihe jorr ke boohaa chugaatthaan ch jarre hundeboohiaan saahamane vagadeean gandeean naaleean|

keerat chup reh giaa| is daa bhalaa uh kee javaab dendaa| par naal hee sochan lagaa saadde lee vee kee badaliaa balak maarraa hee hoeaa| us daa pio dasiaa karadaa see ki baghel singh dee vidhavaa raanee ton sabh kujh khoh liaa| ithon tak ki us de ghar de bhaandde tteendde, ghorre, haathee vee| ate fer kumaadaan, vasaakhaa singh deean kee larraaeean ch bahaadaree vikhaaun de ivaj ch das pindd inaam vajon de dite ge ate is de naal hee keerat singh daa pio aapanee jameen de maalak dee thaaven jageeradaar daa patteedaar ban giaa|

aapane ghar de laage pahunchadiaan uh man hee man soch rihaa see ki uh ghar de andar varradiaan hee gauaraan bharajaaee noo kahegaa liaa karajaaee pahilaan lasee pilaa de shakar paa ke, ate fer... kinee khush hovegee mainoo vekh ke, jiaoonde jaagade noo ate fer main bharaabharajaaee noo aapaneean larraaeean baare tafaseel naal dasaangaa...|

aunhaan ne aapane ghorre aapane ghar de baahar kharre keete ate aapane saatheea noo baahar ik rukh dee chhaaven kharraa rahin daa keh ke keerat singh ne boohe dee kunddee jaa kharrakaaee| boohaa andaron band naheen see| aapane aap khulh giaa| viharre ch koee naheen see ate viharre ton parhe us dee budtee bimaar bhooaa ik ttutte jihe manje te lamee pee see|

saa sree akaal bhooaa

bhooaa dohaan hathaan daa sahaaraa lai ke kujh mushakal naal utthee ate us val chundhiaaeean akhaan naal takadiaan te lamaa jihaa saah laindiaan bolee

kauan keerat toon aa giaa

haan, aa giaa| baakee saare kithe aa koee disadaa naheen

dasadee aan putaraa, dasadee aan, pahilaan paanee poonee pee lai|

toon das taan sahee pahilaan keerat singh kaahalaa paindiaa boliaa|

kee dasaan putaraa, bahut maarraa vakhat aa giaa| museebat pai gee saadde ute| toon guse ch kujh kar naa baittheen| barraa ddar lagadaa... tainoo dasadiaan| pichhale saal pooraa maamalaa naheen taariaa giaa, balak hudaar charrh giaa baanee daa| is saal vee fasal maaree gee | aapane khaan lee vee masaan bache kujh daane| maamalaa kiven taarade...| parason saradaar de aadamee aae te farr ke lai ge....|

te gauaraan bharajaaee

autar ch bhooaa chup rahee| us deean nikeeanakeean akhaan ch udaasee hor goorrhee ho gee ate us daa sir neevaan ho ke jiven aapane aap hilan lag piaa hove|

auneen der tak guaandt deean do tin burreean vee ghorr charrhiaan noo aaeaa vekh ke andar aa varreean san|

kaatth maariaa piaa tere bharaa noo fauajadaaraan| ik adhakharr teeveen bolee| ih pindd dee moonhafatt jageero see jo us de jee ch aaundaa, bande de moonh te jaa maaradee see| ate bachaa lai aapanee bharajaaee noo vee, je hinmat hai te |

jageero kujh hor vee bolanaa chaahundee see| par keerat besabar ho utthiaa| uh jaanadaa see is kaatth maaran noo| jad koee kirasaan maamalaa naa taar sakadaa jaan jis kise noo sajaa denee hundee taan ik fatte ch do tin futt dee doore te chhek karake us de pair is tarhaan vich fasaa dite jaande ki uh baahar naheen see kadt sakadaa| ate fer us noo dinaraat kharraa rakhade, chaahe dhup hove chaahe meenh ate chaahe paalaa|

par unhaan burreean ton gauaraan bharajaaee baare jo suniaa, auh sun ke keerat noo roh charrh aaeaa| us ne paanee peetaa aapane chhe saatheean noo paanee pilaaeaa ate aapaneean talavaaraan sanbhaal ke jageeradaar dee havelee val nas piaa| jageere ne dasiaa see ki jageeradaar maan singh dee akh bahut dinaan ton gauaraan te see| kee yatan vee kar chukiaa see gauaraan noo fusalaaun de| par gauaraan hameshaa us ton bachadee hee rahee| hun maan singh ne gauaraan noo sunehaa gholiaa ki je bachanaa maamalaa naheen taar sakadaa taan aapanee teeveen noo kam

karan lee do tin maheene vaasate us dee havelee vich bhej deve| kam daa te bahaanaa hee hai jis noo saare samajhade han|

saradaar dee havelee pindd de baahar karake see| pindd ate havelee vichakaar ik khulhaa jihaa maidaan see jis ch kitekite ak deean jhaarreean ate bhakharre vichhe hoe san| changaa ih hoeaa ki gauaraan us noo akaan vichon langhadee ik pagaddanddee ute tejatez kadamaan naal jaandee dis pee| nange pairee, aapane kadamaan naal dhoorr uddaaundee, haaree jihee hoee| aapaneean chintaavaan ch guaachee noo pichhe dauarrade aa rahe sat ghorriaan deean ttaapaan vee jiven suneean naa hon|

ruk jaa gauaraan bharajaaee ruk jaa| keerat singh ne pichhion aavaaz maaree| ate dooje hee pal keerat singh ghorre ton chhaal maar ke gauaraan saahamane aa kharraa hoeaa|

keerat singh noo aapane saahamane kharraa vekh ke pahilaan taan us noo aapaneean akhaan te itabaar hee naa aaeaa fer us naal chinbarr ke rondiaa hoeaan bolee

toon aa giaa veeraa vekh teree sohanee bharajaaee daa haal ate aauah vekh saradaaraan dee havelee de saahamane aapane bharaa dee duradashaa

keerat singh gauaraan de khilare, dhoorr bhare vaalaan te hath feradiaan us val tak rihaa see| us noo samajh naheen see aa rahee ki uh agion kee kahe| is vele usane kee karanaa hai, man hee man usane faisalaa kar liaa|

kahinde ne paanddooaan ne daropadee noo jooe ch haariaa see| par toon hee das ih kahee haar ... gauaraan bol rahee see|

tainoo hun haaran dee lorr naheen| toon jaa bharajaaee vaapas aapane ghar | je kujh lai ke jaan vaalaa hai taan jaa ke saanbh lai| aseen bharaa noo lai ke aaunde haan, chhetee hee|

havelee de vadde saare boohe saahamane, jis chon haathee vee langh sakadaa hove siraf bachan singh hee naheen, pindd de do hor kirasaanaan, kaamiaan noo kaatth maar ke kharraa keetaa hoeaa see, sikhar dupahire| je unhaan chon koee baitthan jaan ddigan lagadaa taan unhaan duaale kharre chaar sipaahee toot deean sotteean maar ke murr kharraa kar dende|

gauaraan vaapas murr pee, par fer kujh door jaa ke ik kikar de rukh ohale luk ke kharree ho gee ate unhaan val utasukataa te bhaia bhareean akhaan naal takan lagee|

sat ghorr savaaraan noo barachhe sanbhaaladiaan ate talavaaraan lahiraaundiaan

aapane val aaundiaan vekh ke chaare sipaahee ddar de maariaan havelee val dauarr pe| par keerat singh ne havelee tak pahunchan ton pahilaan hee aan gheriaa ate barachhiaan daa ulattaa paasaa maar ke thale ddeg liaa| fer unhaan ton fattiaan de chhekaan duaale laaeean lohe deean pateean deean chaabeean khoheean, aunhaan deean pagaan naal unhaan de hath pair banh ke bhunje ddeg ditaa ate tinaan noo fattiaan chon kadt ditaa| bachan singh deean lataan aakarreean peean san | us noo keerat singh ne sahaaraa de ke aapaneean baahavaan ch sanbhaaliaa ate boliaa, toon bhaa fattaa fatt ghar chal ate nasan lee tiaar ho jaa| aseen jaraa us maan singh noo sodh ke aaunde aan| us bhain.... ne kee samajhiaa ki singh sipaahee bas use kam lee hunde....

keerat singh noo maan singh de inhaan sipaaheea ton pataa lagaa ki is vele maan singh dupahir dee rottee khaa ke ate pee paa ke tthandde kamare ch sutaa piaa hovegaa| havelee de andar sipaahee chauadaan pandaraan, auh vee aapaneaapane manjiaan te pe shaaeid sute pe jaan araam kar rahe hon| par je ddar hai taan hukam singh daa| uh zaroor jageeradaar de kamare de baahar pipal de rukh thale aapane chaar panj aadameean noo lai ke baitthaa hovegaa|

lagadaa see ki ih kujh dasan vaale sikh sipaahee dee koee hamadaradee saradaar maan singh naal naheen see| hukam singh naal te bilakul hee naheen| keerat singh vee changee tarhaan jaanadaa see maan singh de is gumaashate noo savaa chhe futt uchaa ate kikar varagaa sakhat jusaa| pindd vaale saare hee ddarade san usaton|

aunhaan dee kisamat changee ki jadon uh garrhee numaa havelee de andar varre taa tthandde kamare de baahar tin sikh sipaahee manjiaan te baitthe ubaaseean lai rahe san| hukam singh unhaan vich naheen see| uh shaaeid chuk ke liaandee kise teeveen naal mauaj masatee kar rihaa see | keerat singh ne achaanak hamalaa karake unhaan tinaan noo fattarr kar ditaa ate kamare andar jaa ke maan singh noo jaa lalakaariaa|

autth ue kutiaa saradaaraa, talavaar chuk ate larran lee tiaar ho jaa | pichhon lok naa aakhan ki keerat singh ne nihathe noo maar ditaa| chaahe toon batheriaan nihathiaan noo maariaa hovegaa|

maan singh ghabaraa ke chhetee denee utthiaa taan us de terr banhiaan tanbaa khulh ke bhunje ddig piaa| hun upar malamal daa patalaa jihaa jhagaa ate terr kachhaa| ik paase pee talavaar chukee ate talavaar miaan chon kadt ke hukam singh noo vaajaan maaradiaan larran lee tiaar ho giaa| mottee tond de thale

pataleeanpataleean lataan, hor hee tarhaan daa lag rihaa see, madaaree jihaa| maan singh aapanee bhar javaanee vele shaaeid ik changaa talavaarabaaj rihaa see | hun kujh der ddatt ke mukaabalaa karadaa ate keerat singh de vaar rokadaa rihaa| par chhetee hee keerat singh dee talavaar de do tin vaar khaa ke bhunje ddig piaa|

hun dooronerrion maaromaaro farrofarron deean aavaazaan aauneean shuroo ho geean | lagadaa see ki maan singh de sipaaheean noo is hamale daa pataa lag giaa see ate uh ise paase dauarrade aa rahe san| keerat singh noo is havelee de saare nakase daa pataa see | us ne aapane chheon aadameean noo ikatthaa keetaa ate ghorriaan de tabele chon langhadiaan hoeaan havelee de baahar nikal aae ate fer ik paase kharre hoe aapane ghorriaan te charrh ke nas pe| rohee de paar jaa ke ghumiaaraan de pakaa ke rakhe gharriaanchaatteean de dteraan kolon langhan lage taan keerat singh dee nazar chhindoo ghumiaar te pee jo ik ttutte jihe manje te ik ttaahalee thale baitthaa makheean uddaa rihaa see|

sunaa bee keerat singh, aj kithe dauarree jaanaan| aine dinaan de baad vekhiaa tainoo| aa beh jaa do pal...|

bahin daa samaan naheen| bas ik kam kar de fattaafatt| keerat singh chhetee naal gal khatam karan de dtang ch boliaa

bachan singh noo jaa ke keh aa ki uh sataluj ton paar roparr de ilaake val chaliaa jaae| uthe rishatedaaree hai saaddee |

kiaun, aisee kee gal ho gee

bas, aus haraam de putar maan singh daa bhog paa ke aa rihaan

mar giaa kutaa chhindoo ghumiaar de bolaan ch hairaanee vee see, khushee vee see ate keerat lee chintaa vee| keerat ne bojhe chon tin chaar rupe kadte ate us de manje te suttadiaan boliaa

aunhaan noo dariaaun paar puchaaun dee teree zinmevaaree|

hindoo ghumiaar ne manje te ddige rupe chuk ke murr keerat singh de hath ch farraaundiaan aakhiaa

eik changaa kam karan daa mauakaa miliaa hai| toon dauarr jaa, eih kam hoeaa samajh|

eis ton baad keerat singh ne aapane saatheean naal ghumiaaraan dee basatee daa ik chakar laaeaa| chakar laaundiaan vaareevaaree aapane saatheean noo vakhavakh dishaavaan ch bhajaa ditaa, pichhaa karan vaaliaan noo bhulekhe vich rakhan lee| unj vee unhaan saariaan ne aapaneaapane ghareen jaanaa see| ate

aap us ne aapane ghorre deean vaagaan patthaanakott val morr diteean|

auh kiven bach ke nikal aaeaa see us vaaree keerat singh ne shujaahabaad de kilhe ch baaree ch baitthiaan ate murr unhaan khatariaan bhare palaan chon langhadiaan aapane aap noo aakhiaa| us daa hath aapane aap hee modte ate mathe ute disade jakhamaan de nishaanaan noo poliaanpoliaan chhohan lagaa jiven uh koee bahut keematee vasatooaan hon| fer us de masatak ch murr uh chhottee jihee larraaee sakaar ho utthee jadon uh aapanaa pichhaa kar rahe chhe sat sipaaheean duaaraa gheriaa giaa see| ate fer zakhamee ho ke biaas dariaa dee bett chon ho ke langhanaa, boojhiaan ate daladal chon nikaladiaan zakhamee haalat ch daladal ch hee ghorre ton ddig painaa| us ne ddigadiaan soch liaa see ki us dee aakharee gharree aan pahundee hai| thorrhee hee der ch pichhaa karan vaale aa pahunchage ate us de ttottettotte karake biaas dariaa ch sutt denage jaan girajhaan lee chhadd jaanage| te fer uh behosh ho giaa see|

adhee raat gujariaan jad us noo hosh aaee taan aapane aap noo boojhiaan ch ghiriaa, daladal ch lathapath hoeaa vekh ke kujh hairaanee hoee ki haale tak uh jiaoondaa kiven hai aus daa ghorraa us kol kharraa us noo sungh rihaa see| jaraa ku vith te haathee jine uche boojhe dooradoor tak pasare dis rahe san| usane anumaan laaeaa ki us daa ghorraa jaroor unhaan uche boojhiaan ch adis ho giaa hovegaa| uh aap te ddigiaa hee piaa see| pichhaa karan vaaliaan jaan taan us noo biaas dariaa ch ddub giaa jaan mar ke ddig piaa samajh liaa hovegaa| fer vee us ne saver hon dee uddeek naheen keetee| aapane hath pair hilaa ke vekhe, modte ate baahavaan de zakhamaan noo pag paarr ke banhiaa, eik ttibe te kharraa ho ke barree mushakal naal ghorre dee pitth te baitthiaa ate ghorraa dariaa val morr ditaa|

eis saal meenh ghatt pain kaaran dariaa ch paanee bahut patalaa ate dhaar tej naheen see| chhetee hee dariaa paar karake patthaanakott vaale paase pahunch giaa ate jadon saver daa chaananaa hoeaa taan us ne saahamane disade pahaarraan val takadiaan dishaa daa anumaan laaeaa| kujh der lamaa pai ke araam keetaa, khetaan chon tarabooje torr ke khaadhe ate chanbe val jaa rahee pagaddanddee te ghorraa age vadhaa ditaa|

auh samajh giaa see ki hun us vich jiaoonde rahin dee shakatee khatam hundee jaa rahee hai ate uh chhetee hee ghorre ton ddig ke mar jaavegaa| makheean usade jakhamaan te baittheean jiven ddang maaradeean, us daa lahoo choos raheean san|

eik zakham khabee baanh te see, eik modte te| baanh hilaa ke makheean uddaaun ch vee bahut takaleef ho rahee see| ghorre ton ddigan ton bachan lee us ne kaatthee daa uparalaa hisaa ghutt ke farriaa hoeaa see| makheean deean chobhaan de ilaavaa treh kaaran us daa galaa sukaa piaa see | je uh ihanaan jakhamaan ate makheean kaaran naheen mariaa taan treh kaaran taan mar hee jaavegaa| fer us ne kujh dooree te kujh chamakadaa hoeaa vekhiaa| paanee ausade andaron ik aavaaz nikalee| chalo, ghatt ton ghatt uh piaasaa taan naheen maregaa| ghorre ne vee jiven paanee noo sungh liaa hove| ghorraa vee aapane aap us paase val vadhan lagaa| chhaparr jihaa nerre hundaa ate naal hee sooraj thale hundiaan ddubadaa jaa rihaa see ate fir bilakul haneraa ...|

jadon us dee akh khulhee taan hanere vich us ne deevaa baladaa vekhiaa| haan, eih deevaa hee see| ddubadaa sooraj naheen see deeve dee chhottee jihee laatt| kol hee us noo kise budte aadamee daa chiharaa nazar aaeaa, modtiaan tak lamakade chitte vaal, chittee daaharree, vaddevadde kanaan ch mundaraan ate bhooreean akhaan| keerat singh noo akhaan kholhadiaan dekh ke budte de bulaan te halakee jihee musakaan aa gee| keerat singh ne bolan lee sukiaan bulhaan te jeebh feree| budtaa utthiaa ate kol pe gharre chon ik kattoraa paanee daa bhar ke us kol aaeaa te kattoraa us de bulhaan naal laa ditaa|

aus noo lagiaa jiven ih paanee naheen amrit hove| tthandde paanee dee patalee jihee dhaaraa jiven us de suke sangh chon ho ke us deean naarraan chon langh rahee hove | aah us ne sukh daa saah laindiaan man hee man aakhiaa lagadaa hai ki main maraangaa naheen| par... main kithe haan

hosh aaun te sabh ton pahilaan jo us ne vekhiaa, auh ih ki uh ik manje ute takareeban nangaa piaa hai, eik kachhe de ilaavaa | us de modte, baanh ate lataan te saaf patteean banheean hoeean, saaf bisataraa ate us daa sareer ik saaf chandar naal adhaa ku dtakiaa hoeaa| meje de kol hee halakeehalakee dhoonee jihee jis ch paaeean hoeean jarreean bootteean dee khushabo dhoonee ch mil ke havaa noo shudh kar rahee see| aus ne sir ghumaa ke vekhiaa| uhee budtaa aadamee ik tihaaee te baitthaa havaa noo udh kar rahee see| us ne sir ghumaa ke vekhiaa| uhee budtaa aadamee ik tipaaee te baitthaa us val musakaraaundaa hoeaa vekh rihaa see|

kis tarhaan lag rihaa e treh taan naheen lagee budte ne puchhiaa|

keerat de haan ch sir hilaaun te uh budtaa utthiaa ate gharre chon paanee daa kattoraa bhar ke us noo paanee pilaaun lagaa|

meraa ghorraa kithe aa us ne paanee de chaar panj ghutt peen ton baad puchhiaa|

auh ttheek e chintaa naa kar| ghaah char rihaa hai aaraam naal| fer budte ne us dee baanh te hath rakh ke nabaj ttattoladiaan aakhiaa, shukar e, bukhaar utar giaa| hun toon chhetee ttheek ho jaavengaa|

bahutabahut dhanavaad| tusaan bachaa liaa mainoo maran ton|

bachaaunaa meraa peshaa hai| main vaid haan |

sirahaane de sahaare dtoa laake baitth sakan ch usanoo do tin hor lag ge| usane garadan ghumaa ke chaare paase takiaa| iko ik rauashanadaan chon sooraj dee tikhee jihee lakeer andar aake kamare noo rushanaa rahee see| ik paase kandh naal usadee dtaal ate talavaar pee see| kileean te usade kaparre ttange hoe jinhaan noo dhoke sukaa ditaa hoeaa see par fer vee lahoo de halakehalake dhabe haale vee dis rahe san|

mainoo kine din ho ge ithe lame piaa ate ithe kiven aa giaa

panj din ton vadh ho ge| par pahilaan toon ih das ki teraa ih haal kiven hoeaa|

keerat singh ne akhaan band keeteean taan us deean akhaan saahamane uh chhottee jihee ghaatak larraaee saakaar ho utthee| maaro, maaro, jaan naa dio bach ke,... dharr vadt ke lai jaanaa saradaar de kol... te naal hee talavaaraan de ttakaraaun dee karrakarr, ttakattak...|

keerat singh ne sankhep ch uh saaraa kujh sunaa ditaa jo pindd ton lai ke us de ghorre ton ddigan tak us ute beetiaa see|

te is paase kiven tur piaa bas aiven hee jaan kise khaas dishaa val budte ne puchhiaa|

mainoo pataa naheen see ki main is vele kithe haan| par main bhatt kee naam de pindd val jaa rihaa see jo kite ise hee paase hai|

koee saak sanbandhee rahinde han ithe tere

saak sanbandhee hee samajho| ithe kite ik ttilaa vee hai bandaa bahaadar daa

aaho aauah upar karake| ik kilaa jihaa vee gaddiaa piaa hai bande bahaadar de naam daa|

saadde vadde vaddere ithe hee rahinde san sau ku varhe pahilaan, haale vee kujh rishatedaareean han door deean keerat singh ne dasiaa|

taan ihadaa bhaav ih ki teraa mool bhattee raajapootaan daa hai| budte ne aakhiaa|main vee bhattee hee haan | toon mainoo haree singh bhattee jaan haree daas bhattee vaid keh ke bulaa sakadaa e|

fer tuhaanoo yaad hovegaa ki bandaa bahaadar chanbe dee raajakumaaree noo viaah ke ise paasion langhiaa ate araam karan lee us ttile te tthahiriaa see| us de josh, shakhaseeat ate aatam visvaas ton prabhaavat ho ke pindd de bahut saare bhattee raajapoot ate kujh neeveean jaataan vaale singh saj ge ate us naal ho ture | unhaan chon kujh larraaeean ch maare ge, ik do dilee ch shaheed kar dite ge| kujh bach ge| saaddaa vee ik vaddaa vadderaa dilee ch shaheed hoeaa see |

boladiaan boladiaan keerat daa moonh suk giaa see | us ne ishaare naal paanee mangiaa ate haree daas vaid de hathon paanee daa kattoraa farr ke bulhaan naal laa liaa|

jiaunjiaun usade jakham bharade ge, uh kaparre paake ate manje ton utth ke kamare ch firan lagaa| mittee naal lipee kandh naal kujh saaj vee ttange hoe sana sarangee, tin taaraan aad| keerat ne sarangee noo kilee ton utaariaa ate manje te baitth ke us deean taaraan noo ttheek karan lagaa | par haale tak us dee baanh ate modtiaan de jakham pooree tarhaan naheen san bhare| taaraan kasadiaan kasak pai rahee see| uh sarangee noo murr ttangan lagaa see ki haree daas andar aaundaa disiaa|

eik sipaahee de hath ch sarangee| uh kujh hairaan hundiaan boliaa|

mere baapoo daa ik maraasee dosat hoeaa karadaa see | kadeekadee ghar aa ke vajaaundaa| viharre ch bheerr lag jaandee sunan vaaliaan dee| sunadiaan vekhadiaan mainoo vee shauak ho giaa| unj aaundaa jaandaa kujh naheen, bas aiven man parachaavaa kar laindaa haan| saaj noo hath laaeaan varhe beet ge| aj sarangee hath ch farrake changaachangaa lagiaa|

haree daas de mukh te musakaan khilar gee| us ne kilee ton sarangee laah ke aapane pattaan te rakhee ate us deean taaraan kasan lagaa| fer do tin vaar taaraan te gaz feriaa, koee dhun vajaaee ate murr kilee te ttang ditee|

vajaaeaa kar, jad jee kare vajaa liaa kar| samaan changaa gujaregaa| haale pataa naheen hor kine din ithe rahinaa pave|

haree daas de chale jaan ton baad keerat ne kamare ch khilareean cheejaan ttheek thaaven rakheean, kaparriaan deean taihaan laake ik paase rakheean, patiaan ttahineean vaalaa jhaarroo chuk ke farash dee safaaee keetee ate fer pahilee vaar kamare daa boohaa kholh ke baahar aa giaa| us vekhiaa ki vaid haree daas daa ih chhottaa jihaa ghar ghane rukhaan naal ghiriaa hoeaa see| inhaan dee chhaan kaaran

garamee dee rut hon de baavajood kamaraa tthanddaa rahindaa see|

chhe sat dinaan baad uh mahisoos karan lagaa ki us de zakham kaafee bhar ge ate us de sareer ch murr taakat aa rahee hai | hun uh kadeekadee sottee farr ke pindd vich sair ate lokaan naal galaan karan lee vee chaliaa jaandaa| par chhetee hee thak jaandaa ate kamare ch vaapas aa ke murr lamaa pai jaandaa | kadeekad sarangee vee vajaaun lagadaa|

eik din haree daas ne aakhiaa, main kite baahar jaanaa hai, kujh dinaan lee| is de ilaavaa pindd vich kujh sikh sipaahee vee tere varage bande baare puchhaparrataal karade vekhe ge han| chal utth, main tainoo kise surakhiat thaaven chhadd aavaan|

main ithon chaliaa hee kiaun naa jaavaan | hun te main... | keerat singh haualee denee boliaa|

aiven moorakhaan vaaleean galaan naa kar| ih naa paraaeaa pindd hai ter lee ate naa paraae lok | main haale koee puchh taachh naheen keetee| tere ttheek hon te teraa koee saak sanbandhee vee mil jaavegaa bhattakee kalaan vich|

keerat singh saare kaparre paa ke ate aapane hathiaar saanbh ke baahar aa giaa| fer doven ghorre te baitth ke ik paase tur pe| baahar badalavaaee hoeehoee ate tthanddeetthanddee havaa chal rahee see | door dhaualaadhaar deean barafaanee chotteean vee dis raheean san| kujh der baad uh paanee de ik chhotte jihe naale noo paar karake ik pindd val vadhan lage| pindd de baahar karake hee kujh puraane khanddar san jo kise vele koee havelee jaan garrhee hundee hovegee| unhaan khanddaraan vichakaar ik tabelaa, kujh ddangar banhe hoe ate kujh kukarreean idharaudhar firadeean dis raheean san| kukarreean noo shooshoo karade ik budte par takarre juse vaale aadamee ne unhaan val prashan bhareean akhaan naal rokiaa ate boliaa

aao vaid jee, aj is paase kiven aaunaa hoeaa

eih mere ik aapane han| vaid haree daas ne keerat val ishaaraa karadiaan aakhiaa, kujh zakhamee, bimaar vee han| main kite baahar chaliaan| meree gairahaazaree ch inhaan dee dekhabhaal karanee hai|

mere dhanabhaag jo tusaan mainoo sevaa karan daa avasar bakhasiaa|

te ik gal hor| mainoo lagadaa hai ki inhaan de kujh vairee inhaan noo labhade firade han| koee aisee thaaven rakhanaa jo pooree tarhaan surakhiat hove|

eis dee vee koee chintaa naa karo| is garrhee de khanddaraan ch kee bhore han| ik bhoraa main saaf karake rakhiaa hoeaa hai| garameean ch tthanddaa vee rahindaa hai|

kujh der baad ik vadde saare kamare ch hee baneean pauarreean ton utar ke uh ik tahikhaane ch jaa varre| kujh der tak keerat noo tahikhaane ch kujh vee nazar naheen aaeaaghusamusaa jihaa| fer us vekhiaa ki bhore de farash te ik mottee chattaaee ute ik teeveen baitthee kujh siaun rahee see| teeveen ne vee us val ate fir aapane piau val prashan bhareean akhaan naal takiaa|

eih vaid jee de koee aapane han, ate hun saadde mahimaan| kujh din ithe hee rahinage |

auh chhetee denee utthee ate kol pe lakarree de takhataposh te vichhiaa bisataraa ttheek karan lagee| hun tak keerat noo sabh kujh changee tarhaan disan lagaa see| daravaaje chon ate do chhottechhotte rauashanadaanaan jihaan chon madhamamadham rauashanee andar aa rahee see |

toon is noo sanbhaal| main jaraa baahar chaliaan| kukarreean band karaneean, kite door naa bhaj jaan| aaleduaale loonmarreean ate bherree vee taak lee baitthe honage |

aus de baahar jaadiaan hee keerat ne is teevee val vekhiaa| teeveen kaafee sohanee see| kaale shaah vaal, lamee gut ate udaas jiheean akhaan|

khimaa karanaa, main aiven hee tuhaadde ghar binabulaaeaa paraahunaa ban ke aa giaa haan | keerat singh ne teeveen val takadiaan aakhiaa|

vaid jee de har kise lee is ghar de duaar sadaa khulhe han| tusee baittho, main tuhaadde peen lee kujh lai aavaan|

keh ke uh pauarreean charrhadiaan baahar gee ate fer lakarr de bane ik kattore vich chaualaan dee banaaee lugarree halakee jihee sharaaba laike aa gee| keerat ghuttaghatt karake peen lagaa|

tusee kaafee din rahoge ithe koee rishatedaaree hai vaid jee naala main bas aiven puchh rahee haan, tuhaadde peele bhook hoe chihare ate jakhamaan te patteean bajheean vekhake|

keerat do pal sochadaa rihaa ki kee utar deve| par fer us ne sabh kujh sachesach das denaa hee ttheek samajhiaa|

main... main ik tarhaan daa baagee bhagauarraa haan| vaireean hathon takareeban maariaa hee giaa see, je ih vaid jee mainoo naa bachaaunde aa ki| mainoo haale vee naheen pataa ki unhaan mainoo kiven labhiaa ate kiven ithe lai ke aae|

teeveen kujh der chup rahee ki uh dase ki naa dase| fer bolee

main gaooaan noo talaa te paanee pilaaun lai ke gee taan dooje paar tuhaanoo ddige noo vekhiaa| fer vaid jee noo bulaa ke lai aaee|

eis daa bhaav ih ki aapanee jaan bachaaun daa jinaa dhanavaadee vaid jee daa onaa hee, balak us ton vee jiaadaa tuhaaddaa honaa chaaheedaa hai|

teeveen ne beparavaahee naal modte hilaae ate fer sooee chuk ke kaparraa siaun lagee| keerat gahu naal us val takan lagaa| masaan ikee baaee varhiaan dee kurree jihee, aapane baap de gharviaahee jaan kuaaree isadaa adhaa ku utar usanoo chhetee hee mil giaa jad ik tin ku saal daa munddaa hath ch akharott farree andar aa varriaa ate akharott maan noo farraaundiaa boliaa, eih ttuttadaa naheen| is noo torr de|

teeveen ne kol pe ik vatte naal akharott torriaa ate ttuttaa akharott lai ke uh baahar bhaj giaa| keerat upar shaaeid us dee nazar hee naheen pee|

taan ih teraa putar hai| ghar vaalaa kithe

ghar vaalaa see hun naheen rihaa| inhaan raajiaan deean larraaeean vich maariaa giaa|

te fir toon aapane baap de ghar aa gee

haan, putar noo laike| mere piau noo ik aauarat dee lorr see, mere putar noo ik aadamee dee| is daa naanaa is noo bahut piaar karadaa e| mere lee ih putar hee sabh kujh hai|

teraa naam kee e

sundaraan, par mere sahuriaan vaale mainoo saneecharee keh ke bulaaun lage jiven main hee unhaan de putar dee mauat dee jinmevaar hovaan|

aunhaan de ghar rahindiaan chhe sat din beet ge| changaa khaan peen ate change vaataavaran yaanee ik sundar isataree dee mauajoodagee ate sevaa kaaran us de zakham kaafee bhar ge ate uh aapane aap vich taakat murradee anubhav karan lagaa| us dee akh bahut tarrake hee khulh gee| us ne sundaraan duaaraa dite us de ghar vaale de kaparre paae ate sair karan dee khaatar baahar nikal giaa|

sooraj haale pahaarraan pichhe hee see, par us dee loa kaaran barafaanee pahaarr bahut saaf ate bahut nerre dis rahe san| uh ik halakee jihee charrhaaee charrh ke uche ttile te jaa kharraa hoeaa| dooradoor tak disadeean vaadeean, jangal ate parabat | ih kujh vekhadiaan us andar kee tarhaan deean avaazaan utthan lageean| kinee puraanee ate anant hai ih prakiratee| manakh janam laindaa ate mar jaandaa hai par ih parabat ise tarhaan kharrhe rahinde ne, nadeean ise tarhaan vagadeean rahindeean han ate rukhaan naal jangal bhare rahinde han....| us noo

lagan lagaa jiven uh is vishaalataa de saahamane ik teelhe de baraabar vee naheen|

vaapas paratiaa taan chaahe thakaavatt mahisoos kar rihaa see, par ine dinaan baad baahar turan firan ton baad changaa vee lag rihaa see | sundaraan ghar dee chhat te kharrhee jiven use dee uddeek kar rahee see| us noo vekh ke uh chhetee chhetee pauarreean utar ke thale aaee ate us de saahamane aa ke bolee

kathe chale ge see, binaan dase main te ghabaraa hee gee saan|

keerat musakaraaundiaan us val takadaa rihaa|

eik vaar te mainoo lagiaa jiven uhee ture aa rahe hon|

aus de ghar vaale de kaparre paae hoe hon kaaran keerat singh noo sundaraan de bhulekhe baare samajhan ch der naheen lagee|

auh boohe de baahar hee ik ddige hoe rukh de tane te baitth giaa|

tere ghar vaale dee mauat maidaanaejang ch hoee jaan... keerat singh ne puchhiaa|

ghar aa ke| bilakul tuhaadde vaang hee zakhamee san| par antar ih ki unhaan noo ghar pahunchadiaan bahut din lag ge san| kaafee sevaa, kaafee davaa daaroo| par sat atth dinaan baad hee.... | mainoo unhaan de antale samen dee uh takanee naheen bhul sakadee| uh kiven mere val hasarat bhareean akhaan naal vakh rahe san|

aus noo tere varagee aauarat noo chhadd ke chale jaanaa kinaa dukhadaaee lag rihaa hovegaa

auh chup rahee|

tere ton mile sukh de palaan noo yaad karadiaan | keerat singh ne aapanee gal pooree karadiaan ate us val takadiaan aakhiaa|

teeveen te janam hee laindee hai aadamee noo sukh den ate paidaa karan lee |

sundaraan de baapoo giaan chand noo ik paase kahee farree kharraa vekhake keerat singh ne sat sree akaal aakhadiaan puchhiaan

saveresavere kidhara

khetaan ch, kuhal de paanee dee vaaree see aapanee|

fer aale duaale kharre anbaan de rukhaan val takadiaan boliaa, aitakee boor bahut aaeaa| anb khoob laganage|

main aavaan tuhaadde naala

toon ttheek ho jaa pooree tarhaan| giaan chand ne pahilaan us val ate fer sundaraan val bhaavapooran najaraan naal takadiaan aakhiaa|

keerat singh aapane bhore ch aa baitthiaa| sundaraan lasee daa bhariaa kattoraa, ik misee rottee lai ke andar aaee ate tipaaee te rakh ke aap chattaaee te baitth gee| is chup jihee ch rottee deean burakeean torratorr ke khaandiaan keerat singh sundaraan dee, ate aapanee ikalataa noo anubhav kar rihaa see sundaraan aapaneean dheeraj bhareean ate udaas nazaraan naal us val takadee rahee|

kujh hor ttheek ho jaan te keerat singh rohee paar karake aapane bazuragaan noo milan bhattakee kalaan giaa| fer uhanaan naal bandaa bahaadar daa ttilaa vekhan, jithe kise vele bande ne nishaan saahib gaddiaa see | hun us daa siraf thale daa hisaa hee reh giaa seekale vaang| uh uthe kujh der kharraa bandaa bahaadar de kaaranaamiaan ate shaheedee baare sochadaa rihaa| fer ik lamaa jihaa saah khichadiaan aapane naal aae chaache noo kujh is tarhaan kihaa jiven uh aap aap noo keh rihaa hove

je bandaa bahaadar naa hundaa taan sikh kauam dee shakal ih naa hundee jo aj hai|

keerat singh kujh der kharraa aakaas val takadaa rihaa| fir bhaavukataa vas us ttile ton thorrhee jihee mittee chuk ke aapane mathe noo laaee ate vaapas murr piaa|

jad uh vaapas aapane bhore vaale kamare ch aaeaa taan sundaraan chattaaee te baitthee ik bhoore rang dee patoohee ute rangadaar dhaagiaan naal ful bootte kadt rahee see| tapataposh ute bisataraa naheen see vichhiaa hoeaa| havaa laaun lee baahar dhupe rakh ditaa giaa see | sundaraan chattaaee te baitthiaan jaraa khisakee ate keerat lee kujh thaan khaalee karadiaan bolee

aa beh jaa|

eih kis lee keerat ne patoohee val takadiaan aakhiaa|

ause dee hai| main sochiaa peepee gal jaavegee| tere kam aavegee|

aus de naa hon naal te tainoo bahut khaaleekhaalee lagadaa hovegaa

haan, kadeekadee | auh ik changaa aadamee see| kadee hath naheen chukiaa mere te| fer dhaagaa torr ke patoohee keerat val karadiaan bolee, paa ke vekh, kiven lagadee hai| kahindiaan us de bulhaan te musakaan khinddaree hoee see| musakaan daa javaab keerat ne vee musakaan naal ditaa|

eik aauarat daa saath kinaa nighaa ate aakarashak hundaa hai| keerat mahisoos kar rihaa see| us ne sundaraan de chihare te ddigeean littaan noo te fer usade

vaalaan noo hath naal chhoh liaa| sundaraan us de kol noo khisak aaee ate aapanaa, kanbadaa hath us de modte te rakh ditaa| fer keerat ne us dee vakhee duaale hath val ke aapane val khich liaa...|

kujh dinaan baad, jad keerat singh takareeban bilakul ttheek ho giaa taan uh saverashaam lamee sair te jaan lagaa| kadeekadee ik ttile te kharraa hoke barafaanee pahaarraan val takadaa rahindaa| kadee aapane ghorre ate aapaneean lataan dee maalish karan lagadaa jiven jaan dee tiaaree kar rihaa hove|

toon ithe hee kiaun naheen reh jaandaa | batheree zameen hai mere pio kol| sundaraan ik din us kol aa ke kahin lee see| jangal katt te beshak jinee marajee gher lee| naale pustainee pindd hai teraa ih|

keerat singh chup rihaa|

aus ne fer aapanaa savaal duharaaeaa|

je sach puchhen sundaraan taan hun naa is duneea naal, naa jeevan naal hee koee moh rihaa hai| pahilaan kadee sochan daa avasar hee naheen miliaa| hun ikaliaan ate vihale baitthiaan kee kujh utthadaa rahindaa hai man vich| kee tarhaan de savaal jis daa mainoo aapane andaron koee javaab naheen miladaa|

dil vee laaun naal hee lagadaa hai| sochiaan kujh naheen miladaa| main vee bahut soch ke vekh liaa|

shaaeid toon ttheek hee keh rahee en|

taan fer aas rakhaan

naheen |aas ttuttan naal dukh ziaadaa hundaa hai |

aas binaan jeeviaa vee te naheen jaa sakadaa| uh bolee, main tainoo rok vee naheen sakadee| par uddeek taan jaroor karadee rahaangee| meraa dil kahindaa hai ki ik din toon vaapas jaroor aavengaa, aapane bajuragaan dee is dharatee val| aapanee is...| kahindiaankahindiaan uh chup ho gee|

par uh giaa naheen| kalhakalh te ttaaladaa rihaa| kadeekadee uh bandaa bahaadar de ttile te chaliaa jaandaa| us din vee uh ttile te jaa ke ate bhunje pate vichhaa ke ik chattaan daa sahaaraa laake baitth giaa akhaan band kar leean| kujh der baad us noo lagiaa jiven bandaa bahaadar ate us dee raajakumaaree us de saahamane aa kharre han| raajakumaaree us val takadiaan musakaraa rahee see|

kinhaan sochaan ch pai giaa keerat siaan

sochaan soch rihaa haan kee faaeidaa larran maran daa tuseen larrade marade rahe,

baghel singh larradaa rihaa, par fer sabh kujh uthe daa uthe|

authe daa uthe kiaun vekha khaalasaa raaj kaaeim ho giaa saare panjaab ch|

khatam vee te ho rihaa hai| ate mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de maran ton baad jo sikhaa shaahee chalee, kee is noo tuseen khaalasaa raaj kahoge ate khaalasaa raaj de samen vee kee hoeaa saadde lokaan de jeevan ch koee farak naheen piaa| pahilaan sulataan khaan jaan deevaan khaan jageeradaar hunde san, unhaan dee thaaven sulataan singh, deedaar singh aa ge|

eih bahut chhotteean galaan|

chhottee maanasikataa vaalaa aadamee tanakhaah lee larradaa hai, aapane khetaan, ghar ate jameen lee larradaa hai| keerat singh boliaa, is noo tuseen chhottaa karake kiaun vekhade ho| ihee taan usade jeevan de saadhan han| inhaan de sahaare hee te uh jiaoondaa hai|

manakh ate pashoo ch ihee farak hai| aadamee jiaoondaa ate larradaa hai, aapane aatam sanamaan lee, aapanee pratishatthaa, gauarav ate vishavaashaan dee hifaajat lee|

larradaa hai ate maradaa hai| keerat singh ne viangamee andaaz ch aakhiaa|

maranamaran vich vee farak hundaa hai|

bahut saare kadamaan dee aavaaj ne us noo supane lainde noo jagaa ditaa| uh jadon vee gharon nikaladaa, hameshaa talavaar lai ke hee nikaladaa | us ne talavaar miaan chon kadt ke saje hath ch majabootee naal farree ate rukhaan, jhaarreean ch luk ke kharrhaa ho giaa | unhaan aaun vaaliaan noo vekh ke keerat ne sukh daa saah liaa| ih us de puraane saathee durajan singh te mevaa singh aad san|

keerat singh saariaan noo jafeean paa ke miliaa| unhaan dasiaa ki uh keerat singh noo thaanthaan te labhade aa rahe han| ithe aaun daa kaaran keval unhaan daa anumaan hee see| fer keerat de puchhan te unhaan dasiaa ki us de pindd daa jageeradaar ik dam naheen see mariaa| us ne aapane aadamee jaroor bheje san keerat singh noo labhan lee| par unhaan labhan vaaliaan de vaapas pahunchadiaanpahunchadiaan uh narak ch jaa pujaa see| lahauar sarakaar ne us dee jageer hun kise hor noo de ditee see| ate us daa bharaa ate bharajaaee vee roparr ton vaapas aa ge san|

te mainoo labhadiaan ithe aaun daa koee khaas kaaran keerat singh ne unhaan val takadiaan puchhiaa|

kaaran ih ki tuhaadde puraane dosat darashan singh noo tuhaaddee lorr pai gee hai ate unhaan daa sunehaa ih hai tuseen chhetee ton chhetee lahauar pahunchan dee kosis karo... |

13

keerat singh aapane kamare ch baitthaa deeve dee loa ch kujh likh rihaa see ki usanoo kise de kamare ch varran dee birrak pee| usane garadan ghunmaa ke vekhiaa| deeve dee madham loa ch andar aaun vaalaa changee tarhaan naheen see aa rihaa, par inaa jaroor jaan giaa ki andar aaun vaalee ik isataree see jisane aapanaa chiharaa kaale rang de dupatte naal dtakiaa hoeaa see|

kauan keerat singh boliaa|

tuseen mainoo milan dee koshis naheen keetee| mainoo hee aaunaa piaa|

kauana jeenata par ih tainoo kiven pataa lagaa ki mainoo tere ithe hon daa ilam hai

daler singh ton|

aus noo taan main kade naheen dasiaa

aus ne shaaeid saaeh bakhash naal tuhaanoo galaan karade sun liaa hove| uh te siraf uhee jaanadaa hai ki tuhaanoo ithe kise gunm ho gee aauarat dee talaas hai| taan kee main ih samajh lavaan ki tuhaaddee talaas khatam ho gee te naal hee us ne aapane chihare noo dtakadaa dupattaa parhe hattaa ditaa|

deeve dee loa ch keerat singh ne ih jaanan dee koshish keetee ki us daa chiharaa pichhale atthanauan varhiaan ch kinaa ku badal giaa hai | par kujh saaf naa vekh sakiaa| ainaa jaroor dis rihaa see ki us daa sareer pahilaan ton kujh bhaaree jaroor ho giaa see, par ainaa vee naheen ti buraa lage| keerat singh de masatak ch us naal bitaae din saakaar ho utthe| kinee chhottee jihee patalee patang hundee see us vele uh| saare khatariaan de baavajood raat de hanere ch lukadee lukaaundee aaundee ate us deean baahaan ch samaa jaandee| hun us noo uh din kise sufane vaang lagan lage| aunhaan milaneean, judaaee vele deean us deean sisakeean dee yaad hee us noo murr us kol lai aaee see|

tusee te mainoo is tarhaan chhadd ke chale ge see jiven tuhaadde lee meree koee vukat hee naa rahee hove| jiven... jiven mere naal bitaae pal tuhaadde lee man parachaavaa hee see|

naheen jeenat, toon aap vee ih zaroor samajhadee hovengee ki ih sach naheen| mere vaapas aa ke tere vaalad ton tainoo mangan ton pahilaan hee toon gam ho gee|

kee sachamach tuhaanoo mere baare kujh pataa naa lagaa

mainoo te ih vee kujh din pahilaan hee pataa lagaa see ki toon shujaahabaad ch en| kis kol ate kis haalat ch en, ihee jaanan lee main ithe aaeaa haan|

siraf jaanan lee, jaan

meraa khiaal hai ki is daa javaab ate veravaa den dee lorr naheen| par zeenat, ih sabh kujh kiven ho giaa je soorataehaalaat kujh hor tarhaan hunde taan kujh umeed rakh sakadaa saan| par... par inhaan haalaat ch eih te mere khaabokhiaal ch kadee naheen see aaeaa ki toon ithe shaam singh dee haram ch reh rahee hovengee|

jeenat ne usade nerre aake us val dhiaan naal vekhiaa| ih jaanan lee ki ih usadee utasukataa bol rahee hai jaan us ute koee ilajaam laaeaa jaa rihaa hai| par kujh jaan naa sakee| fer bolee

eis vich naa meraa koee kasoor hai ate naa shaam singh jee daa| bas iho samajho ki kisamat ch ihee likhiaa see | te fer uh sunaaun lagee ih taan tuseen jaanade hee ho ki main navaab shauakat khaan dee kise rakhel dee dhee haan ate ih vee tuhaanoo pataa hai ki sulaah deean sharataan mutaabak mere abaa mahaaraaj noo kharaaj bhejade san| par tuhaadde jaan ton baad guaandtee afagaanaan de bharrakaaun te shauakat khaan ne kharaaj bhejanaa band kar ditaa ate samajhauate deean sharataan de ulatt kilhe dee faseel uchee ate naveean topaan ikattheean karaneean shuroo kar diteean| ranajeet singh deean fauajaan ne charrhaaee kar ditee | larraaee hoee ate mere vaalad larradiaan hoeaan maare ge| aseen haar ge| charrhaaee karan vaale sikh saradaaraan chon ik ih shaam singh vee san|

eih kujh sunaa ke jeenat kujh rukee ate fer kahin lagee, saaddaa saaraa kujh laahauar dee hakoomat de adheen aa giaa| laahauar sarakaar daa hukam see ki us kilhe de jitan ton baad dhan daualat de naalanaal jo vee kuaaree juaan aauarat mile us kol bhej ditee jaae| ate jad ih shaam singh mainoo lai ke laahauar sarakaar kol pahunche taan sarakaar ne saam singh ton puchhiaa ki kilhe de sar karan ate is doseejaan noo liaaun de inaam vajon us noo kee ditaa jaae taan agion inhaan ne mainoo hee mang liaa|

auh taan is daa matalab ih ki toon ithe inhaan kol ik... ik

kaneez jaan rakhel dee taraan rahindee en| keerat singh ne ik kauarraa jihaa ghutt bharadiaan aakhiaa|

gal ainee sidhee naheen| hakeekat ih hai ki saadde kilhe ton laahauar tak jaandiaan inhaan daa vateeraa mere naal inaa sharaafat ate saaeisadagee bhariaa see ki man hee man main ihanaan dee skhaseeat ate ikhlaak dee kaaeil ho gee| saaeid ih vee ki main inhaan vich tuhaanoo vekh rahee saan| ate jad mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh ne hasadiaan hoeaan mainoo inhaan de sapurad kar ditaa taan mainookoee dukh naheen hoeaa| balak khus saan ki mahaaraaje dee rakhel ban ke jeevan bitaaun ton taan ih kite bihatar hai|

eih sabh kujh sunaa ke zeenat chup ho gee ate thakee jihee ik tipaaee te baitth gee| keerat singh vee kujh der chup rihaa| fer us de moonhon nikaliaa

te.. te hun

main jaanadee haan ki tuseen kee soch rahe ho| utar ih hai ki main inhaan dee rakhel naheen balak viaahutaa haan ate mainoo inhaan kolon uh sabh kujh haasal hoeaa jo... jo....|

jo kujh mere kolon milanaa see| keerat singh us daa vaak pooraa karadiaan boliaa, asaleeat ih hai jeenat begam ki mere kol tainoo ih kujh vee haasal naa ho sakadaa jisadee toon hakadaar en| chaahe mainoo ih kujh vaapar jaan dee koee khushee naheen par ik tasalee zaroor hai ki toon inhaan kol rahindiaan ik sukh ate ijtamaan vaalee jindagee basar kar rahee en| hun main sochadaa haan ki tainoo milan dee koshis karadiaan kee main tainoo kise museebat jaan duchatee ch taan naheen paa ditaa ate ih vee soch rihaa haan ki tere is vele ithe aaun baare je shaam singh noo pataa lag giaa taan...|

eih jokham taan mainoo chukanaa hee painaa see ik vaaree| pahilaan main sochiaa ki main unhaan noo sabh kujh das devaan| par chaahe ih faraakh dil han, par is tarhaan de naazuk masaliaan ch aadamee de man baare koee kujh naheen keh sakadaa | taan... taan main teree is mulaakaat noo aakharee mulaakaat samajhaan haan, eihee ttheek rahegaa| kahindiaan hoeaan us daa jeea keetaa ki us de nerre jaa ik vaar fer us dee chhoh, aus de jisam dee garamee noo mahisoos kar sake|

mulaakaat aakharee naheen chaahe ih lukaveen mulaakaat aakharee hove| zeenat agion aapane andar ubharadee bhaavukataa noo lukaaun daa yatan karadiaan bolee|

keerat singh ne vee aapanee bhaavukataa noo lukaaun daa yatan karadiaan aakhiaa

kaash ki saam singh varage saradaar laahauar darabaar vich vee hunde taan khaalasaa raaj daa ih hasr naheen see honaa...|

eis baare vee koee poore yakeen naal kujh naheen keh sakadaa| zeenat siaaniaan vaang bolee, raaj darabaaraan de maahaual ch har koee kise saazish jaan dhir daa hisaa ban ke reh jaandaa hai| aadamee noo hor bahut kujh banaa dindaa hai par aadamee naheen rahin dendaa| balak ih changaa hee hoeaa ki ih duaabe vaalaa kilhaa chhadd ke ithe aa ge|

bahut siaaneean galaan karan lag pee en

zeenat chup rahee| fer bolee, hun age tuhaaddaa kee iraadaa hai

sach puchhen jeenat taan main bahut duchatee ch haan| ih te shaam singh jee ne tuhaanoo das hee ditaa hovegaa ki unhaan kol laahauar darabaar ton paravaanaa aa giaa hai ki uh is kilhe noo laahauar darabaar valon bheje hoe farangeean dee fauajee palattan de havaale kar ditaa jaave| keerat singh ne saare haalaat dee tafaseel dendiaa aakhiaa|

jo shaam singh jee kadee naheen karanage| jeenat bolee|

main jaanadaa haan| khoob changee tarhaan jaanadaa haan| ise lee tainoo ik vaaree vekh ke chale jaanaa chaahundiaan vee is naazuk samen unhaan noo chhadd ke naheen jaa sakadaa|

eih sun ke jeenat de antaraman ch khushee dee nikee jihee lahir dauarr gee| uh bolee, changaa keerat singh jee, hun mainoo jaanaa chaaheedaa hai| kahindiaan hoeaan sute sidh hee jeenat daa sajaa hath us val vadhiaa ate keerat singh ne sute sidh hee us de choorreean bhare chhanachhan karade hath noo aapane hath ch ghutt liaa| fer uh hath us de hath chon khisakadaa khisakadaa baahar nikal giaa ate naal hee us de kamare chon jeenat begam vee|

14

keerat singh ate shaah bakhas kilhe dee chauarree kandh te kharre kilhe deean ucheean kandhaan ate mazabootee noo surakhiaa de drishatteekon ton vekh rahe san ki ik paasion saradaar saam singh ate jeenat aaunde dise|

kee vekh rahe ho shaam singh ne unhaan kol aaundiaan puchhiaa|

eis ton pahilaan keerat singh ate shaah bakhas unhaan de ghar kee vaaree jaa chuke san| saam singh ne daler singh noo ithe puchaaun lee unhaan daa dhanavaad keetaa, do tin vaaree khaane te bulaaeaa ate zeenat naal vee jaanapachhaan karavaaee see| pahilee vaaree milan te zeenat ne ih kahindiaan aapanee hairaanee ate prasanataa jaaehar keetee ki uh keerat singh noo nauandas varhe pahilaan aapane vaalad shauakat khaan de kilhe vich vee milee see|

hun keerat singh ne murr shaam singh val goh naal takiaa| inhaan daa kad aam aadameean naalon uchaa, shakhaseeat prabhaavasaalee ate daaharree de vaal adhe ku chitte ho chuke san ; par chaal ate kharre hon daa andaaz haale vee javaanaan vaalaa see|

vekh rihaa haan,shaah bakhash boliaa, ki farangee kiven ate kis paasion kilhe andar daakhal hon dee koshish kar sakade han|

auparon aa ddigan taan ddigan, par thale de paasion upar charrh ke aaunaa asanbhav te naheen par bahut katthin jaroor hai| mere ton pahilaan kilhedaar is noo chaar panj maheeniaan de ghere ton baad fatih karan ch kaamayaab hoeaa see|

jo uh kar sakadaa see, saadde dushaman vee te kar sakade han|

kar sakade han| par hun naheen| jivenk tuseen vekh rahe ho, ih ik uchee patthaar te baniaa hoeaa hai| kandhaan veehaveeh hath ucheean| bas iko hisaa kamajor see jis sathaan te ih patthaar naal dee pahaarree naal miladee hai| hun main us paase ddoonghee khaaee puttavaa ditee hai| andar daakhal hon vaale mukh daravaaje saahamane vee ddoonghee khaaee hai|

shaah bakhash sir hilaaundiaa chup chaap kharraa kujh soch rihaa see|

tuseen khaalasaa fauaj de topakhaane de jamaandaar rahe ho| shaam singh saaeh bakhash noo sanbodhit hundiaan boliaa, kee farangeean deean topaan de gole is kandh tak jaan kandh noo paar karake andar ddig sakade han

jathon tak meree jaanakaaree hai, haale tak unhaan kol ainee uchee ate door maar karan vaaleean topaan naheen han| par main ih vee suniaa hai ki uh ajiheean topaan mangavaa rahe han| mumakin hai ki aa vee pahuncheea hon|

shaah bakhash ate keerat singh noo kilhe deean kandhaan ate shahir val takadiaan shaam singh dasan lagaa|

eis vele siraf batthindde daa kilhaa aisaa hai jis deean kandhaan aineean ucheean ate chauarreean han| chhe ghorrasavaar naalo naal chal sakade han is deean chauarreean kandhaan te| is kilhe noo ithon de afagaan soobedaar shujaah khaan ne

banavaaeaa see| isade thale ik khoobasoorat shahir hai jis ch chaar khoobasoorat baag han, do nahiraan han| aaleduaale de pinddaan ch gane ate kapaah de khet, ghar vee tin chaar manjalaan uche| pashameene ate resham de vapaaree eeraan, khuraashaan, turakisataan ton ithon aaunde ate khareedaofarokhat karade han| jo is shahir noo kujh varhe aman shaantee de mil jaan taan ih mulataan varagaa khushahaal shahir ban sakadaa hai|

aman shaantee eis naam dee cheez taan panjaab chon sataatth sau varhe pahilaan gaaeib ho gee see| haale tak vaapas naheen paratee, savaae mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de raaj dee adhee sadee de, keerat singh boliaa, ate jis daa murr parat aaunaa asanbhav dis rihaa hai|

naheen saradaar saahib, shaam singh kahin lagaa, chaahe laahauar de saahibazaade, saradaar bhrishatt ho chuke han, par mulataan daa mool raaj ate banoo, kohaatt aad de kilhedaar haale aapanee pratishatthaa ate paranparaa noo naheen bhule| hazaaraa de soobedaar chhatar singh daa putar ser singh ik bhaaree fauaj lai ke mool raaj naal milan aa rihaa hai| laahauar darabaar jaan farangee, jinhaan ch hun koee antar naheen rihaa, chaahe kaahan singh noo soobedaar banaa ke bhejan chaahe saahan singh noo, mool raaj kadee vee farangeean saahamane sir neevaan naheen karegaa|

taan farangee aapanee fauajee taakat naal mulataan daa kilhaa use tarhaan jit lainage jiven baakee de panjaab noo jitiaa hai| kol kharree zeenat kahin lagee, par mainoo ih samajh naheen aaeaa ki uh thorrhe jihe farangee dilee ton lai ke panjaab tak kiven chhaa ge einhaan dee taakat daa raaz kee hai

raaz saaf hai raanee saahibaan| shaah bakhas boliaa, inhaan dee taakat inhaan deean naveen kisam deean bandookaan ate topaan de naalanaal inhaan dee fauajee tarateeb ate rahinumaaee karan vaaliaan vich hai| afasos ihee hai ki hun saadde paas mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh, haree singh nalooaa ate shaam singh attaareevaale varage jaranail naheen rahe| je reh giaa hai taan koorrakabaarr, khudagarazee ate aapo dhaapee| afasos ih vee ki ranajeet singh deean saareean koshishaan raaj deean hadaan ate fauajee taakat vadhaaun val raheean, par kauam dee fitarat ate ikhalaak noo sudhaaran val koee dhiaan naheen ditaa |

tusee ttheek hee aakhiaa, shaah saahib| shaam singh us naal sahimat hundiaan boliaa, kauam dee asalee taakat us daa charatar, aus daa sadaachaar hee hundaa hai| ate jis kauam dee rahinumaaee karan vaale hee gadaar, mauakaaprasat ate jameerafarosh hon, aus kauam noo koee naheen bachaa sakadaa |

eih giraavatt te mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de samen ton hee shuroo ho gee see| shaah bakhas ne aapanee raae zaahar karadiaan aakhiaa, ate ik giraavatt daa sabh ton pahilaan ate maaroo asar unhaan dee aapanee aaualaad te piaa| putar kharrak singh nashaee, afeemee ate us de putar nauanihaal singh ne ddogariaan dee chuk ch aa ke aapane pio noo halakeehalakee zahir de ke maar ditaa|

eis tarhaan de juram ate zulam taan mugal baadashaah vee kariaa karade san, takhat haasal karan lee kauan kee naheen karadaa aaeaa| shaam singh ne shaah val takadiaan aakhiaa|

tuhaaddaa ishaaraa aauarangazeb val hovegaa jis ne aapane baap shaahajahaan noo kaid ate aapane bharaavaan daa katal keetaa| ih sahee hai ki musalamaan salatanataan ch ih kujh hundaa aaeaa hai par ih kujh maradaan tak hee mahidood rahindaa see| khaanadaan deean aauarataan, vidhavaavaan te zulam jaan unhaan naal jabar jinaah naheen see hundaa| aauarat kise vee khaanadaan dee aabaroo hundee hai| khaanadaan dee ijt ate aabaroo noo kaaeim rakhiaa jaandaa see| par afasos ih ki ih ravaaeit mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de naal hee khtam ho gee |

einhaan pichhale dinaan ch shaah bakhash ate keerat singh ne is kilhe deean topaan daa muaaeinaa karadiaan ate fauajeean ch firadiaan ih vekhiaa ki kilhe ch baitthe panj hazaar sainikaan ch patthaanaan dee ginatee vee ghatt naheen see| unjh shujaahabaad de khetar ch parajaa aam karake musalamaan see ate aapanee inasaafapasandee te viakateegat gunaan kaaran parajaa shaam singh ton khus see| inhaan dee soobedaaree hetth is khetar ch khusahaalee vadhee ate shaantee rahee see| shujaahabaad de aaleduaale vasade patthaan kabeeliaan ate farangeean naal agaamee yudhaan baare galaan karadiaan saam singh boliaa

aapane gupatacharaan duaaraa mainoo khabar milee hai ki farangeean de bheje hoe aadamee patthaanaan ate sikhaan dee varhiaan ton chaladee aa rahee dushamanee dee yaad davaa ke patthaanaan noo saadde khilaaf bharrakaa rahe han|

eih mumakin te ho sakadaa hai| par kee tuhaanoo koee pakee khabar vee milee hai shaah bakhash ne puchhiaa|

haan, fajal khaan khattak ate shekh kaasim khaan momaandee noo laalach ditaa jaa rihaa hai ki je uh lok farangeean dee sahaaeitaa karan jaan shujaahabaad noo jit lain ton baad unhaan noo is kilhe daa soobedaar banaa ditaa jaaegaa| is tarhaan de hor laalach vee|

eik do pal sochan ton baad shaah bakhas kahin lagaa, jithon tak mainoo ilam hai, eih momaandee mool tauar te khokhar han|

haan ih ho sakadaa hai| mere khetar ch khokharaan dee ginatee kaafee ziaadaa hai|

je ijaazat hove taan main ihanaan kol jaa ke farangeean naal naa milan ate tuhaaddee sahaaeitaa lee koshis kar sakadaa haan | saaddaa pichhokarr chaahe khokharaan daa naheen par ihanaan patthaan kabeeliaan vich saaddeean kujh ristedaareean han| saaeh bakhas ne aakhiaa|

aadamee keval uhee naheen hundaa jo disadaa hai| us de banan ate kise sathaan te pahunchan ch kinhaan prasathiteean ate kis tarhaan dee honee daa hath hundaa hai eis noo pooree tarhaan jaane binaan naa koee vekhan vaalaa samajh sakadaa hai ate naa uh viakatee aap hee| kahinde han ki sher, haathee ate veer purash jithe jamade han uthe naheen marade| ih kahaavat shaam singh ate us de vadde vadderiaan ute ttheek dtukadee hai|

aj ton sat atth sau varhe pahilaan us daa koee vaddaa vadderaa bundelakhandd aj de madhapradesh daa ik bhaaga daa rahin vaalaa ik raajapoot raajakumaar see | ik vaar prasathiteean kujh aiseean baneean jaan us de man ch teerathaan te devee darasnaan dee abhilaasaa ne janam liaa ki uh aapane parivaar naal aapanaa ik fauajee dasataa lai ke teerathaan val tur piaa| jad uh javaalaapuree de mandar kol pahunchiaa taan ik raat ddaakooaan ne aan gheriaa| raajakumaar unhaan naal larradiaan maariaa giaa| us dee raajakumaaree bahut daler aauarat see| us ne aapane bache khuche sipaaheean dee sahaaeitaa naal nerre de kise chhotte jihe khetar te kabazaa kar liaa ate aapane putar noo us khetar daa raajaa ghoshit kar ditaa| chhottaa jihaa raaj hon karake unhaan ne kaangarre de raaj dee adheenagee kabool kar lee, jo agion laahauar de raajaa de adheen see|

eik vaar jad turakaan ne panjaab te hamalaa keetaa taan laahauar de raaje ne aapanee sahaaeitaa lee kaangarre de raaje noo kujh fauaj bhejan lee sunehaa ghaliaa| turakaan naal larran lee bheje hoe pahaarree fauaj de dasate vich inhaan bundelakhanddee raajapootaan daa vee dasataa see| turakee hamalaavar mahimood gajanavee see, muhamad gauaree see jaan taimoor lang, is baare inhaan noo bahutaa naheen see pataa| par ih jaroor suniaa ki us larraaee ch turakaan dee jit hoee ate hindoo sainaa de bache hoe sipaaheean noo jaan bachaa ke bhajanaa piaa|

par turakee fauaj vee unhaan daa pichhaa bahut door tak karadee rahee| kee dinaan tak pichhaa karadiaan bhukhe bhaane, fatte haal ik din ik pindd vich jaa pahunche, is aas naal ki uthe inhaan noo kujh khaan peen lee mil jaavegaa| par pindd vich unhaan noo koee nazar naa aaeaa| bahut aavaajaan maareean, bahut boohe kharrakaae, par kise vee boohaa naa kholhiaa| gal darasal ih see ki us pindd de vee saare aadamee us larraaee ch hisaa lain lee chale ge hoe san| pindd vich hun jaan teeveean san jaan budte ate bache|

aakhar ik makaan dee doojee manzil dee ik baaree khulhee ate ik aauarat us vichon jhaakadee disee| bundelakhanddeean ne kihaa ki unhaan noo unhaan ton ddaran dee koee lorr naheen| uh bhukhe ate thake hoe han ate unhaan de kujh aadamee jakhamee han| unhaan dee tarasayog haalat vekh ke haualeehaualee teeveean baahar nikalan lageean| unhaan noo rottee khavaaee ate gharaan vich aasaraa ditaa| par unhaan teeveean de aadameean chon vee, jo larraaee ch hisaa lain lee ge san, koee vaapas parat ke naheen aaeaa | saare us jang vich maare ge | te fauaj kujh dinaan, maheeniaan baad us pindd deean teeveean ne unhaan bundelakhanddee sipaaheean naal viaah karaa le ate uh uthe hee vas ge| us pindd de kilhe de kilhedaar vee ban ge|

te jad bandaa bahaadar ne aa ke mugaleea hakoomat viradh bagaavat daa jhanddaa jhulaaeaa taan inhaan de pindd de kujh aadamee singh saj ke bande naal jaa mile| inhaan chon kujh larradiaan maare ge, do tin bande naal hee farre ge ate dilee vich shaheed ho ge, kujh bach ge| is de kujh varhiaan baad jad misalaan baneean taan shaam singh daa ik vaddaa vadderaa raamagarrheea misal de jagaa singh naal jaa raliaa|

eih vee kee viddanbanaa, shaam singh kihaa karadaa see, ki mere parradaade noo janjeeraan ch jakarr ke dilee vich jaloos kadtiaa, shaheed keetaa giaa; ate is de ttheek sataahatth saal baad meraa baap jasaa singh raamagarrheea naam dilee noo fateh karake use chaandanee chauak de baazaar chon langhadiaan hoeaan laal kilhe val jaa rihaa see| us daa asalee naam kee see par jad uh pindd vaapas aaeaa taan us daa naam fateh singh pai giaa|

jad shaam singh ih kujh saaeh bakhash ate keerat singh noo sunaa rihaa see taan keerat singh ne puchhiaa

par main te suniaa hai ki mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh ne bahut saareean misalaan noo khatam kar diteean see khaas karake raamagarrheea misal noo| fer tuhaanoo ih kilhedaaree kiven mil gee

eih vee main dasadaa haan| shaam singh sunaaun lagaa| ranajeet singh noo saare panjaab ch aapanee hakoomat kaaeim karan lee ate patthaanamugal soobedaaraan naal larran lee misalaan de saradaaraan dee fauajee sahaaeitaa ate saadhanaan dee lorr see| jasaa singh raamagarrheea de putar jodh singh naal ranajeet singh ne change sanbandh kaaeim keete jo bahut saal kaaeim rahe| use dauaraan mere baap ne mulataan te aakharee hamale ch bhaag liaa ate aapanee bahaadaree de jauahar vikhaae| is ton pahilaan ate baad ch hor vee kee larraaeean ch mehatavapooran bhoomikaa nibhaaee|

te inaam ch tuhaadde pitaa noo shujaahabaad dee kilhedaaree bakhash ditee gee | keerat singh agion anumaan laaundiaan boliaa|

naheen, eih is tarhaan naheen vaapariaa jis tarhaan tuseen keh rahe ho| shaam singh dasan lagaa, is vichakaar hor vee bahut kujh vaaparadaa rihaa| jadon hor misalaan ton ranajeet singh daa matalab pooraa ho giaa, aapanee hakoomat pooree tarhaan kaaeim kar lee taan aapanee pooravanishachit yojanaa anusaar us ne misalaan noo khatam karanaa suroo kar ditaa| raamagarrheea misal de bahut saar kilhe nastt kar dite| ise tarhaan karorr singheean ate hor misalaan de vee|

eis baare main ranajeet singh dee raajaneetee naal sahimat naheen | keerat singh ne aakhiaa, je pahilaan vaang ik saanjheevaalataa banaaee rakhade jis tarhaan bandaa bahaadar ton baad banee see, taan sikh raaj vaasatav vich sikh raaj hundaa |

eih te aseen hun aapane drishatteekon ton vekh rahe haan | ddar bahut ghaatak saia hai| saare misalaan de saradaaraan noo aapaneaapane khetar noo visataar karan dee pee hoee see | je ranajeet singh ih kujh naa karadaa taan fer kise misal daa koee hor saradaar iho kujh karadaa| saareean salatanataan ise tarhaan kaaeim hundeean aaeean han, mudt kadeem ton|

par mahaaraajaa dee is raajaneetee kaaran sataluj paar de saare sikh saradaar farangeean naal jaa mile| ih vee te ttheek naheen hoeaa|

har kise noo aapanee hifaazat baare sochanakaran daa hak hai| shaam singh boliaa|

je ranajeet singh unhaan raajiaan, saradaaraan noo ih yakeen divaa sakadaa shaah bakhas ne aakhiaa, aunhaan naal baraabaree daa salook keetaa jaavegaa taan shaaeid is tarhaan naa hundaa|

hun us daa nateejaa aseen bhugat rahe haan| keerat singh ne dukh ate

afasos naal sir hilaaundiaan aakhiaa, par mere savaal daa javaab viche hee kite guaach giaa| tuseen vee te raamagarrheea misal de rasaaladaar see|

mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh ch kujh khaameean zaroor san, par khoobeean vee san| shaam singh dasan lagaa| mahaaraaj ne mere baap dee bahaadaree ate upayogataa noo pachhaaniaa ate raamagarrheea misal de begovaal de kilhe daa kilhedaar banaa ditaa| is noo ranajeet singh ne naheen see torriaa| ate mere baap de akaal chalaanaa kar jaan ton baad is dee kilhedaaree mainoo mil gee|

te fir is shujaahabaad dee kilhedaaree kis tarhaan shaah bakhas ne puchhiaa|

bas samajho ki honee mainoo ithe lai aaee| naa main mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de dehaant ton baad mahaaraajaa sher singh noo milan jaandaa, ate naa hee deevaan mool raaj noo miladaa| shaam singh sunaaun lagaa, hoeaa ih ki jad main nishachit samen ser singh noo saman buraj de mehal ch milan giaa taan chobadaaraan mainoo baahar daravaaze te hee rok liaa| kihaa ki mahaaraaj bahut viasath han| kujh der uddeek karan ton baad main jad soch hee rihaa see ki rukaan jaan chaliaa jaavaan taan andaron mulataan de soobedaar mool raaj baahar nikale| unhaan mainoo pachhaan liaa| aapane pitaa de naal main inhaan noo ik do vaaree mil chukiaa saan| rasamee galabaat ton baad main unhaan noo puchhiaa ki kee uh mahaaraajaa sher singh noo mil ke aa rahe han|

mahaaraajaa mainoo te is aadamee noo mahaaraajaa kahindiaan vee sharam aa rahee hai| unhaan de lahije ch dukh ghatt ate afasos ziaadaa see| mainoo ainee dooron bulaaeaa| tin vaaree milan dee koshis keetee | hun vee sraab de nase ch masat kanjareean naal ayaashee kar rihaa hai |

fer mool raaj mainoo ik paase lai giaa | shaam singh aapanee gal jaaree rakhadiaan baliaa, vekho shaam singh jee, audhar farangee nazar laae baitthe, eithe lahauar ch ik paase ddogariaan de kharrayantar, dooje paase sikhaashaahee, burachhaaguradee |raanee chand kauar maaree gee| kunvar taaraa singh, kashameeraa singh maariaa giaa, hun pataa naheen kis dee vaaree| tuseen laahauar de bahut nerre baitthe ho| tuhaadde varage eemaanadaar aadamee lee ih sathaan mahifooz naheen |

main unhaan val savaaleean nazaraan naal takan lagaa|

gal is tarhaan hai shaam singh jee, mool raaj ne aakhiaa, mulataan noo tuhaadde varage tajarabekaar ate eemaanadaar aadamee dee lorr hai| mere pitaa

saavan mal ne aapanee soobedaaree dauaraan mulataan de saare khetar ch nahiraan khudavaaeean, aabapaashee de saare saadhan muhaeea keete, jattaan jimeedaaraan noo fasalaan lee udhaar dite, is ujaarr ate banjar dharatee noo is tarhaan haraa bharaa banaaeaa ki lok is noo jameenaebahishat kahin lage han |

eik saaddaa bahut mehatavapooran kilhaa hai shujaahabaad | us noo patthaanaan kolon fateh karan ch vee tuhaadde vaalad fateh singh jee ne bahut bahaadaree vikhaaee see| balak unhaan dee bahaadaree kaaran hee uh kilhaa fateh ho sakiaa| hun...hun... shujaahabaad daa kilhedaar akaal chalaanaa kar giaa hai| je tuseen us kilhe dee kilhedaaree manjoor kar lavo taan main mahaaraajaa sher singh jaan fakeer majeejauladeen noo keh ke tuhaanoo uthe lai jaanaa chaahavaangaa...| shaam singh ne mool raaj dee gal pooree karadiaan aakhiaa|

tuhaanoo kis tarhaan lagiaa aa ke shaah bakhash ne puchhiaa|

bahut tasalee hoee ate riaaeaa dee bhalaaee lee change kam karan daa avasar vee miliaa| main te ih vee kahaangaa ki mulataan noo is ton pahilaan kadee inaa changaa soobedaar naheen miliaa, naa hee panjaab de kise hor khetar noo| mool raaj de pitaa saavan mal taan ine prajaaprasat ate inasaaf prasat san ki ik vaaree unhaan de ik putar ne kise aauarat naal chherrakhaanee keetee taan saavanamal ne us noo kaid dee sajaa sunaa ditee| kaid kattan ton baad sharamasaar putar ne khudakashee kar lee|

oh | keerat singh de moonhon nikaliaa, eidhar ik aapanaa mahaaraaj ranajeet singh jo aapane putar sher singh noo aap khoobasoorat aauarataan ate valaitee sraab deean botalaan bhejadaa rihaa see |

tuseen mauaraan kanjaree vaalee gal taan sunee hee hovegee | shaam singh ne keerat singh noo puchhiaa|

khoob changee tarhaan| us de taan aseen chubaare te vee ho aae haan| keerat singh ne musakaraaundiaan aakhiaa|

par tuseen maraatthaa peshavaa baajee raao ate masataanee baare naheen suniaa honaa|

naheen| keerat singh ne utasukataa naal shaam singh val takadiaan aakhiaa| masataanee kauan see

masataanee vee moraan vaang ik nachan vaalee see| baajee raao peshavaa daa us naal isak ho giaa| mantareean ate raajagharaane deean aauarataan ne itaraaj keetaa buraa bhalaa kihaa taan peshavaa ate masataanee dohaan ne khudakushee kar lee|

15

aunhaan noo shujaahabaad aaeaan takareeban tin maheene beet chuke san| farangee fauajaan ne vee ddedt ku maheene ton kilhe duaale aa ke gheraa paaeaa hoeaa see| is vichakaar saaeh bakhas aapane naal saam singh dee fauaj de chaar panj visvaasee patthaanaan noo lai ke aaleduaale de patthaan kabeeliaan ch firadaa rihaa| nateeje vajon tin hazaar khokharapatthaan aapane hathiaar ate chhe maheene daa raashan lai ke kilhe andar aa chuke san| shujaahabaad de baahar reh rahe patthaanaan ne vee baahar rahindiaan har tarhaan dee sahaaeitaa daa visvaas divaaeaa| is daa ik vaddaa kaaran ih vee see ki tin chaar varhe pahilaan farangeean ne afagaanisataan te hamalaa karake afagaanisataan noo aapane adheen kar liaa see, chaahe ik ddedt saal baad hee farangeean dee saaree dee saaree fauaj afgaanisataan ton nasadiaan maaree gee see| unhaan dinaan deean patthaanaanafgaanaan ute hoeean farangeean duaaraa ziaadateean ate julam unhaan de masatak ch haale taazaa san|

mejar aiganiaoo ne tin vaaree shujaahabaad te hamalaa karake us noo jitan dee koshis keetee| panj hazaar fauajee kumak ate atth naveean topaan pahunchan ton baad vee kilhe noo fatih naheen kar sake | dooje paase mulataan vich frangeean ate mool raaj vichakaar galabaat daa silasilaa jaaree see| koee gal sire lagadee naa vekh ke farangee jaranail ne aiganiaoo noo hukam bhej ditaa ki uh sujaahabaad dee gheraabandee chhadd ke mulataan aa jaae| chaahe aiganiaoo is kilhe noo fatih karake naamanaa khattan ate keerat singh de hathon aapane bharaa de maare jaan daa badalaa lainaa chaahundaa see ; par fer vee us noo mulataan val jaanaa piaa|

mulataan valon shujaahabaad ch parasapar virodhee khabaraan aa raheean san| shaam singh ne pooree jaanakaaree lain lee keerat singh noo aiganiaoo de pichhepachhe mulataan val bhej ditaa| keerat singh, durajan singh te panj hor saatheean noo naal lai ke mulataan val tur piaa|

ate ik din uh bhaanaa varat giaa jis dee naa kade keerat singh ne hee umeed keetee see ate naa hee aiganiaoo ne| ik din farangee jaranail ne samajhauate ate hathiaar sutt ke kilhaa khaalee karan dee galabaat karan lee aiganiaoo ate ainddarasan noo moolaraaj kol bhej ditaa| keerat singh noo pataa lagaa ki mool raaj de naanh kahin te aiganiaoo ne us noo bahut kauarreean ate hatak bhareean galaan kaheean ate kee tarhaan deean dhamakeean vee diteean| te

jad uh aapane kujh ku angarakhiakaan naal aapanee chhaaunee val vaapas aaundiaan nadee de ik pul noo paar karan lage taan subhaag vas keerat singh vee aapane saatheean naal bheerr ch lukiaa uthe kharraa see| aiganiaoo de naal chal rahe ik sikh sipaahee dee nazar keerat singh te pai gee ate us noo pachhaanadiaan ate ungal naal ishaaraa karadiaan boliaa

vekho saahib keerat singh

keerat singh aiganiaoo de moonhon nikaliaa, aaj tum hamaare haath se bach kar naheen jaa sakataa| ate naal hee ainddarasan ne vee ishaare naal dasiaa| dohaan ne aapaneean rivaalavaraan kadt ke keerat singh te goleean chalaa diteean| keerat singh ne vee unaan duaaraa rivaalavar de us val chuke jaan baare vekh liaa| uh use vele baitth giaa ate golee us de sir uparon langh ke pichhe kharre aadameean de jaa lagee| keerat singh ne durajan singh de kan ch kujh kihaa| dooje hee pal do bhaale mauat daa geet gaaunde uhanaan dohaan de hathaan chon nikale ate keerat singh daa barachhaa aiganiaoo dee chhaatee te ate durajan singh daa ainddarasan de dtidd ch jaa khubhiaa| bhagadarr mach gee ate ise hafarraa dafarree vich keerat singh te durajan singh gunm ho ge| aiganiaoo de ang rakhiak dohaan noo ik paalakee ch paa ke aapanee chhaaunee pahunch ge par bahut koshisaan de baavajood farangee ddaakattar unhaan dohaan noo naa bachaa sake|

eis de naal hee mulataan dee vee bhaavee larraaee daa aaranbh ho giaa| keerat singh vaapas shujaahabaad pahunch giaa|

16

1848, dasanbar maheene de shuroo de din| shujaahabaad de sikh ate patthaan sipaahee tthandd vich ttharadettharade mulataan val jaan dee tiaaree kar rahe san| saariaan de hauasale charrhadee kalaa ch| aapane kamare ch tiaareean karadiaan shaah bakhas, keerat singh noo keh rihaa see

saadde sipaaheean de hauansale buland han| is paase de saare panjaab ch aapanee dharatee noo farangeean ton aazaad karaaun dee lahir dauarr rahee hai| jit kis dee hundee hai, eis baare taan koee kee keh sakadaa hai, par is vaar dee larraaee bahut khauafanaak hovegee sabharaao, mudakee deean larraaeean ton vee khauafanaak |

main suniaa hai, keerat singh kahin lagaa, ki farangeean dee gorakhaa palattan aapane naal dasabaaraan topaan lai ke mool raaj naal aa milee hai|

suniaa te main vee hai ate ih vee ki bhaaee mahaaraaj singh vee aapanaa ik jathaa lai ke mulataan val tur pe han ate hazaaraa daa raajaa chhatar singh vee|

eis tarhaan deean galaan karadiaankaradiaan keerat singh chup ho giaa| uh achaanak hee jeenat baare sochan lag piaa| usade naal usanoo roop kauar daa chiharaa vee jhaakadaa jihaa dis paindaa| uh kis tarhaan hovegee | us pratee rukhaapan vikhaa ke us ne kujh maarraa te naheen keetaa | jeenat ne vee use baare do tin vaaree us ton puchhiaa see|

chaahe hun jeenat ute us daa kise kisam daa koee adhikaar naheen see par fer vee us dee kadekade dee nerrataa, us de ghar rottee khaanaa, galaan karanaa changaa lagadaa| jeenat vee khush see| puraane premee daa, jis naal us daa hun koee aisaa rishataa naheen see rihaa| us de nerre terre honaa us noo ik maanasik santushattee pradaan kar rihaa see|

aus noo chup jihaa vekh ke shaah bakhas boliaa, kee gal e keerat siaan| do tin dinaan ton main tainoo chup jihaa vekh rihaa haan|

keerat singh sanbhaliaa ate shaah bakhas noo sanbodhit hundiaan aakhiaa, main kadekade sochan lagadaa haan ki vaddevadde saradaar aapane kise suaarath lee larrade han| par aseen lok kaahade lee aapanee jaan dee baazee laaee firade haan

koee kise aadarash lee larradaa hai, koee aapanee zameer dee aavaaj sunadiaan, koee siraf jiaoonde rahin khaatara, shaah bakhas boliaa, te tuseen kis khaatar larrade rahe ho ate is vele vee aapane aap noo khtariaan ch paaeaa hoeaa hai

main naheen jaanadaa ki main kiaun larr rihaa haan| pahilaan main ik sikh sipaahee dee aaualaad hon kaaran larr rihaa saan jaan tanakhaaeh khaatar, fer andaron utthadee kise lalakaar noo sunadiaan| para par hun main keval aapanee khaatar larr rihaa haan| keerat singh injh boliaa jiven uh aapane aap noo keh rihaa hove|

aapanee khaatar main samajhiaa naheen| main vekhiaa hai ki naa tuhaanoo kise inaam daa laalach hai, naa kise padavee daa| shaam singh ne ik hazaar sipaaheean dee jaranailee ditee, uh vee tusaan inakaar kar ditaa|

tuseen zaroor samajhade ho shaah saahib, jroor samajhade hovoge | is daa javaab tuhaadde aapane andar hee lukiaa piaa hai|

shaah bakhas us val prasn bhareean nazaraan naal vekhan lagaa|

changaa tuseen mainoo ih daso ki tuhaadde abaa jaan ne ih farangeeansakhaan daa janganaamaa kis dee khaatar likhiaa ate tuseen vee kiaun is noo bachaaun lee aine utasak ho eise lee naa ki tuhaanoo kise udesh ne prabhaavat karadiaan tuhaadde dil noo ttunbiaa shaaeid ih kahinaa vee pooree tarhaan sahee naheen| kee aavaazaan aadamee de kiton dhur andaron ubharadeean han ate samuche jeevan noo sute sidh prabhaavat karadeean rahindeean han... |

main samajh giaa haan keerat singh, samajh giaa| horaan galaan de ilaavaa ih vee ik gal saanjhee hai saadde dohaan vichakaar|

17

tuseen mainoo naheen jaanade | ik satar ku saal dee aayoo daa biradh aadamee shaam singh kol aa ke keh rihaa see, meraa naam desaa singh hai|

chaahe main tuhaanoo naheen jaanadaa par tuseen jo kujh vee ho, eis garrhee ch tuhaaddaa suaagat hai| kahindiaan shaam singh man hee man us biradh aadamee de is garrhee ch aaun de kaaran baare soch rihaa see|

aapane baare main ihee kahaangaa ki saadde bazurag bandaa bahaadar ate misalaan vaaliaan naal mil ke mugalaan te afagaanaan naal larrade rahe han| main aap vee baghel singh dee karorr singheea misal ch saan ranajeet singh de raaj ton pahilaan

shaam singh noo lagiaa jiven ranajeet singh daa naam laindiaan us de lahije ch sharadhaa ghatt te berukhee jiaadaa see|

baghel singh shaam singh boliaa, auh te bemisaal sooramaa see | saanoo fakhar hai unhaan ute jinhaan dilee jaa ke aapanee dhaak samaaee| mugal baadashaah daa sir neevaan keetaa ate guroo saahibaan de yaadagaaree guraduaariaan daa niramaan keetaa|

sun ke bajurag desaa singh de chihare te viangamee musakaan khilar gee| uh boliaa

maan kinaa ku maan see us ranajeet singh noo baghel singh te ate misalaan de saradaaraan te

eis baare main kujh naheen keh sakadaa| par ik sangatthit khaalasaa raaj kaaeim karan lee ih zarooree see ki vakhareeanvakhareean ate aapas ch

larradeean misalaan noo ik jutt keetaa jaave|

eik jutt karanaa jaan mittaa denaa| khuaar kar denaa jinhaan de lahoo ate haddeean ute mahaaraaje ne is raaj dee imaarat kharree keetee, main dasadaa haan mahaaraaje ne unhaan naal kee salook keetaa|

kee vaar kujh navaan usaaran lee kujh mittaaunaa vee paindaa hai| shaam singh ne man hee man aakhiaa ate bazurag de moonhon us dee gal sunan lee prasn bhareean akhaan naal us val vekhan lagaa|

mahaaraaje daa laahauar te kabazaa hon vele baghel singh daa putar sukhaa singh vee mahaaraaje dee fauaj naal see | desaa singh sunaaun lagaa, baghel singh noo suragavaas hoeaan chhe sat saal beet ge san| us vele main baghel singh dee patanee roop kunvar naal hariaane vich saan| roop kunvar noo inaam den lee mahaaraajaa aap aapanaa ik vaddaa fauajee dasataa lai ke aaeaa| roop kunvar noo ik kamare ch band karake us de haathee, ghorre, aithon tak ki us de ghar daa saajaosaamaan vee haatheean te ghorriaan ute lad ke lai giaa| roop kunvar ate main hairaanee ate laachaaree bhareean akhaan naal ranajeet singh de kaaranaamiaan noo vekhade rahe|

shaam singh aapanee tthoddee te hath rakh ke kujh der sochadaa rihaa| fer boliaa, main jaanadaa haan thorrhaa bahut is baare vee | mahaaraajaa ch uh saareea khoobeean san, jo ik jetoo jaranail ate hukamaraan ch honeean chaaheedeean han| par naal hee ik aam aadamee vaaleean kamazoreean vee| saanoo ih vee naheen bhulanaa chaaheedaa, aunhaan panjaab noo khushahaal banaaeaa, kisaanaan upar mugal soobedaaraan dee garremaar noo rokiaa ate panjaab noo pahilee vaaree dharamanirapekhataa vaalaa saanjhaa raaj ditaa |

eis vichakaar keerat singh ate shaah bakhash vee unhaan kol aa baitthe ate unhaan deean galaan sunade rahe| saam singh dee aakharee gal sun ke saah bakhash boliaa

tuhaaddee is gal dee tasadeek taan main vee karaangaa| unhaan de man vich isalaam lee pooraa satikaar see ate uh panjaab ch vasade musalamaanaan noo paraaeaa jaan videshee naheen san samajhade| unhaan de raaj vich bahut saare ahudedaar musalamaan san, jinhaan chon main mulataan de marahoom navaab de do putaraan sarafaraaj khaan ate julafakaar daa naam lai sakadaa haan| saaraa topakhaanaa musalamaanaan de hath vich, jis daa kamaanddar gauas muhamad| fakeer ajeeaudadeen ate unhaan de bharaa nooraudadeen baare taan tuseen jaanade hee ho| main taan ihee kahaangaa ki uh

eik us vishaal boharr dee tarhaan san, jinhaan dee chhaan saare panjaab ch failee hoee see|

saariaan vichakaar kujh der tak chup varatee rahee jiven har koee aapane man vich mahaaraajaa ranajeet singh de gunaandoshaan baare soch rihaa hove| fer is chup noo torradiaan desaa singh boliaa

tuseen hun mere ithe aaun de kaaran baare soch rahe hovoge| mere ithe aaun daa kaaran ik taan ih hai ki meraa patar karam singh ise durag ch tuhaaddee fauaj vich hai| maran ton pahilaan us noo vekhan dee chaah hai| ate doojaa kaaran hai ih talavaar| uh aapane hath ch farree ik shaanadaar talavaar vikhaaundiaan boliaa, bahuteean cheezaan taan ranajeet singh khoh ke lai giaa roop kunvar ton| baakee deean s. baghel singh dee doojee, chalauandee ch reh rahee beevee roop kunvar ton farangee khoh ke lai ge|

auh | ih kujh naheen see pataa mainoo |

je us daa putar sukhaa singh jiaoondaa hundaa taan main ih talavaar us noo denee see par hun... |

tuhaaddaa putar karam singh bahut bahaadar ate nirabhaia sipaahee hai, tuhaadde vaang| shaam singh boliaa, tuhaanoo us te fakhar honaa chaaheedaa hai| keh ke us ne aapane ik khidamatagaar noo karam singh noo balaaun lee bhej ditaa|

eis dee ghar vaalee hai, koee baal bache shaam singh ne puchhiaa|

do putar, ik dhee|

te uha

pushataan ton sipaaheegiree karade, dharam te khudadaaree dee rakhiaa lee larrade aae haan| par is ton baad kee pataa ki haalaat ton majaboor hoke kade saanoo vee zulam dee hamaaeit karan vaaliaan dee nauakaree karanee pai jaave

fer us ne ik tthanddaa jihaa saah bhariaa ate aapanee gal jaaree rakhadiaan aakhiaa, hor kam dhande beshak band ho jaan par ih sipaahagiree daa peshaa kadee khatam naheen hovegaaeis dharatee ton| saadde des ch kee firake, kee jaataan han| har desh ch han| par hakoomat karan vaaliaan dee jaat vee iko ate asool vee iko|

haan, asool vee iko ate makasad vee iko | shaam singh us naal sahimat hundiaan boliaa, eih lokaan dee soch noo is tarhaan aapane kabaje ch kar lainde han jiven mandar daa pujaaree jaan masajid daa mulaa| ate naal hee aapane dushaman noo julam daa prateek hon daa ailaan kar dende han|

tuseen is vele kis baare keh rahe ho desaa singh ne puchhiaa|

eis vele main baaharon aae ate aa rahe har hamalaavar baare keh rihaa haan, chaahe uh afagaan hon chaahe frangee| ih lok saaddee dharatee, saadde jisamaan noo hee zakhamee naheen karade balak saadde dinaan ate raataan noo, saadde bhavakh noo vee jakhamee karade ate kar rahe han| shaam singh ne aakhiaa|

desaa singh chup baitthaa aapaneean sochaan ch ddubaa, kujh der sir halaaundaa rihaa, fer boliaa, guroo gobind singh, bandaa bahaadar, einaan saariaan ne hee panjaab dee dharatee noo ateet deean berreean ton mukat karaaun daa yatan keetaa hai| par kauam daa vinaash karan vaaliaan dee vee koee ghaatt naheen|

18

kilhe de ik sipaahee noo daravaaze ch kharraa vekh ke keerat singh ne savaaleea nazaraan naal us val takiaa|

jee, kilhe de baahar koee bandaa aa ke tuhaadde naan ik chitthee de giaa hai| sipaahee chitthee vaalaa hath age vadhaaundiaan boliaa|

keerat singh de chitthee kholh ke parrhadiaan chihare te chintaa de nishaan ugharr aae|

hukam sipaahee boliaa|

jaao ate shaah bakhash ate durajan singh noo chhetee aaun lee kaho|

aunhaan dohaan de aaun tak keerat singh us khat val vekhadiaan chintaa ch baitthaa rihaa| unhaan de aaun te durajan singh noo sanbodhit hundiaan boliaa

tuseen lakhan singh baare kadee kujh suniaa hai

lakhan singh uhee lakhan singh jo sarakaar dee khidamat ch aaun ton pahilaan misar lakhan raam kahaaundaa see|