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The Thief’s Story by Ruskin Bond revolves around Hari Singh, a young but experienced thief who earned his living by befriending people and stealing from them. To keep himself safe from police and former victims, he kept changing his name — this time calling himself Hari Singh.
He met Anil, a simple and easy-going writer, while Anil was watching a wrestling match. Anil, who lived a modest life, earned money irregularly by writing articles for magazines and selling books to publishers. He often borrowed and lent money, earning "by fits and starts".
When Hari Singh offered to work for Anil, Anil said he could not pay him but could at least feed him if he could cook. Hari lied about knowing how to cook and was hired. His first meal was terrible, but Anil did not get angry. Instead, he offered to teach Hari cooking, reading, writing, and simple mathematics.
Hari Singh worked for Anil and sometimes made small profits while buying groceries, earning about a rupee daily by cheating Anil. However, Anil knew about it and never confronted him.
One day, Anil brought home a bundle of notes after selling a book. At night, while Anil was asleep, Hari Singh stole the money from under Anil’s mattress. He told himself that Anil would only waste the money on friends anyway. As he slipped out quietly, he reached the railway station and was ready to catch the Lucknow Express. But at the last moment, he hesitated and missed the train.
Wandering the streets at night, Hari Singh felt guilty and restless. It started raining heavily, soaking him completely. He sat under the clock tower and thought deeply about his actions. He remembered that stealing from greedy people was easy as they could afford to be robbed, but robbing a careless, trusting person like Anil gave him no satisfaction. Anil would likely feel only sadness, not because of the money lost, but because of the broken trust.
He also realised that Anil’s education was giving him an opportunity for a better life. Without it, he would remain a thief; with it, he could become a respectable man. Overcome by guilt, Hari Singh returned to Anil’s room and quietly placed the money back under the mattress.
The next morning, Anil behaved as usual. He handed Hari Singh a fifty-rupee note — which was damp from the rain — and told him that he would now start paying him regularly. He also said they would begin writing full sentences from that day. Although Anil didn’t say anything directly, Hari Singh understood that Anil knew about the theft but chose to forgive him and give him a second chance.
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1. What is the main conflict in "The Thief's Story"? | ![]() |
2. How does the character of the thief change throughout the story? | ![]() |
3. What message does the author convey through the story? | ![]() |
4. What are some of the key themes in "The Thief's Story"? | ![]() |
5. What role does the setting play in the story? | ![]() |