The Thief’s Story Summary Class 10 English Footprints without Feet Chapter 2

Key Points of the Story

• Ruskin Bond’s ‘The Thief’s Story’ is more than just a tale about a thief. The story highlights essential human values and relationships. Even a thief finds it hard to steal from an honest and careless individual.
• A young boy becomes friends with Anil. Anil trusts him totally and employs him. Does the boy deceive his trust? The story is about a fifteen-year-old thief. 
• To evade the police and previous employers, he frequently changed his name, and this time he went by Hari Singh.
• The narrative reveals how the thief tricks Anil by stealing from him but later feels guilty. Anil’s expression when he realised the theft showed only a hint of sadness, not for the money lost, but for the trust that was broken.

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Detailed Summary

The Thief's Story was written by Ruskin Bond. Throughout the Story, Hari Singh, a fifteen-year-old boy, befriends people in order to rob them. While competing in a wrestling match, he met Anil. It was the twenty-fifth year of Anil's life, and he was living a casual existence. In spite of his writing ability, he only managed to earn a small amount of money. As part of Hari's befriending effort, he asked Anil for some work.

When Anil asked him if he could cook, the young boy replied with a yes. After hearing this, Anil took Hari to his room, promising to teach him how to read, write, add numbers, as well as how to prepare delicious meals. When Anil was feeling generous, he would give Hari a rupee as a tip. The other day, Anil received a bundle of notes regarding his published articles. When Hari noticed the bundle under his mattress, he decided to keep the money. He stole the money that was kept under the mattress during midnight when Anil was fast asleep. As soon as he left the hotel, he went to the railway station to catch a train to Lucknow. He missed the train and wandered around the city in search of it. He got soaked to the skin completely as it was pouring heavily.

As Hari was again feeling agitated and regretful, he began to regret stealing money from an honest man, such as Anil, who treated him well. The cheating Anil was his fault since he was taught how to read, write, and add numbers by him. Anil was devastated when Hari Singh suddenly changed his mind and decided to return to him. Despite the rainy weather, he kept the cash from where it was retrieved in the same spot. He woke up the following morning to find Anil was as normal as usual. Having earned fifty rupees, Hari was offered fifty rupees by the young man. A full month's payment as stated by Anil along with that statement. In any case, Hari realized the money was still moist when he touched it. Anil understood Hari's mistake the previous night but didn't treat him with disgust or turn him into the police despite being aware of it. Anil replaced this promise with a promise to teach Hari how to write full sentences. Hari Singh became a noble human being out of gratitude and respect for Anil after this incident.

Theme/ Message 

Theme

• The story The Thief’s story by Ruskin Bond is focused on the topics of friendship, treachery, aspirations, connection, trust, guilt, change, kindness, loyalty, retribution, and honesty. 
• The plot of the narrative is built on the idea that kindness and love have the power to change even the worst crooks and thieves in this harsh planet.
• The moral of "The Thief’s Story" teaches us not to betray someone’s trust. Although Hari tried to keep the money, he realised that breaking Anil's trust would leave him with deep regret. Just like Hari, everyone has a chance for redemption.

Message

• The message or the moral in 'The Thief story' is not to betray the trust reposed on you by a person. 
• Once the trust of a person is lost, everything is lost. Kindness touches hearts and brings about a change in even in the worst person.
• This is shown by Hari Singh, the thief, who, despite stealing from Anil, chooses to return because he cannot bear the thought of Anil feeling hurt by his betrayal. Kindness has the power to change even the most troubled individuals.

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Difficult Words

• Thief - A person who steals
• Wrestling - A sport in which two people fight and try to throw each other to the ground
• Approach - Come near or nearer to someone or something in distance or time
• Lean - Of a person thin and in good physical condition
• Confidence - The quality of being certain of your abilities or of having trust in people, plans, or the future
• Wrestler - A person who takes part in wrestling, especially for sport
• Employer - A person or organisation that employs people
• Grunt - Of a person to make a short, low sound instead of speaking, usually because of pain
• Awoke - Stop sleeping; wake from sleep
• Queer - Strange, unusual, or not expected
• Tuck - To put something into a safe or convenient place
• Cheating - To behave in a dishonest way in order to get what you want
• Startle - Surprised and slightly frightened
• Carriage  - Any of the separate parts of a train in which the passengers sit
• Bazaar - An open market where people sell things, or any group of small shops or people selling goods
• Maidan - An open space in or near a town, used as a parade ground or for events such as public meetings
• Damp - Slightly wet, especially in a way that is not pleasant or comfortable
• Theft - The act of dishonestly taking something that belongs to someone else and keeping it
• Drizzle - Rain in very small, light drops
• Discomfort - A feeling of being uncomfortable physically or mentally