Maya , a girl of 10, and her brother Nishad, a boy of 7,  were very curious about one Mr.Nath who had been living at Shankar House for over an year and was their mother's patient. He was a very lonely and thin man and looked starved. Maya was of the opinion that he was a criminal on the run and had lots of money stacked somewhere in his room while Nishad, on the other hand, was considering the possibility of him being just a poor, friendless soul who had no proper means to sustain himself. However, one thing that both agreed on was that there was something peculiar and strange about Mr. Nath. One day while playing one of their marbles went into Mr. Nath's room and to extract it the children went there. For once, they had a look at Mr. Nath and since began debating about him and his possible profession. Maya interpreted the burn marks on his face to be caused by a fire started by the police to turn him out of his house. Nishad thought it to be too far-fetched though he did not have much in defence of  the man. On the Monday after their mamma's birthday, as Maya had to spend the day with a school friend, Nishad went to Mr. Nath's room alone and offered him a chocolate bar considering his emaciated state. When he later told of his encounter with the man to Maya, she was disappointed that she missed it but wanted to know more about whatever else her brother had found out. Nishad had had a talk with Ramesh, who carried food from the restaurant to the strange man's room, and found out that every Sunday a talkative tall, fair, stout and bespectacled man came to visit Mr. Nath. He also found out that Mr. Nath though did not care what food was brought to him, tipped Ramesh well. Maya interpreted it all as a great conspiracy and saw the bespectacled man as an accomplice to Mr. Nath, visiting him to give part of the money they had looted together. Nishad wondered at his sister's imagination and thought Mr. Nath quite ordinary. Maya rejected Nishad's idea further adding that many criminals are usually ordinary looking. The next day their school was to reopen after the summer holidays but, because of incessant rain they enjoyed another holiday. Maya took a paper and decided to jot down the developments in the mystery of Mr. Nath's identity. She shared it with her brother and talked about various points like many being scared of Mr. Nath, his not receiving any mail ever, his unfriendly nature, having just one friend-a possible accomplice and so on. Nishad countered Maya at various points but was constantly put down by her who just wanted to prove that Mr. Nath was a criminal. Nishad did not like this attitude and asked Maya to stop always referring  to the man as a criminal. Maya pointed out the futility of all their snooping if it was not so but Nishad said that it was not necessary for the man to be a criminal for him to want to know about him. He stormed out of the room saying that he would become the lonely man's friend. Maya noticed his adamant take on the matter and that her theory had had no effect on him.