The Thief’s Story 10

 "The Thief’s Story" is a short story by Ruskin Bond, 

Introduction

“The Thief’s Story” by Ruskin Bond is not just a story about a thief—it is a powerful tale of trust, guilt, kindness, and transformation. It tells us how a kind and trusting heart can change even a criminal. The story is told in the first person by a 15-year-old thief who introduces himself as Hari Singh, although that is not his real name.

About the Narrator (Hari Singh)

Hari Singh is a young, skilled thief. He is clever, confident, and knows how to gain people’s trust. He changes his name every month to avoid being caught. He doesn’t rob rich people out of hatred—he does it as a profession. But behind his criminal skills, he is still a child, capable of emotions like guilt, shame, and the desire to change.

Entry of Anil

One day, Hari meets a man named Anil, a simple, honest writer who earns money irregularly by writing for magazines and doing odd jobs. Hari flatters Anil and pretends to want to work for him. He offers to cook, though he doesn’t know how. Anil catches him lying but smiles and still takes him in. Anil is trusting and treats Hari with kindness, which surprises the young thief.

Life with Anil

Living with Anil, Hari learns how to cook, shop, and eventually how to read and write. Anil teaches him the alphabet and basic numbers. Hari realizes that education can give him more opportunities in life than stealing ever could. For the first time, someone is trying to improve him as a person rather than punishing him.

The Temptation to Steal

One day, Anil brings home a large sum of money from selling a book to a publisher. Hari sees this as a chance to make a big theft. He steals the money while Anil is sleeping and runs away. But as he walks through the city, something begins to change inside him.

Conflict and Guilt

Hari Singh feels guilty. He remembers Anil’s kindness—how Anil trusted him, never questioned him, and was teaching him without expecting anything in return. He knows that if he runs away, he will go back to his old life of crime. He realizes that if he stays with Anil, he has a chance at a better, honest life. His inner conflict and guilty conscience push him to return the money.

Returning the Money

Hari goes back and quietly slips the money under the mattress. The next morning, Anil gives him a 50-rupee note, and Hari notices that it is still damp from the rain. This means Anil knows what happened. However, Anil doesn’t mention the theft. He simply continues to treat Hari with kindness and even promises to teach him how to write full sentences.

Conclusion

The story ends with hope and transformation. Hari Singh, the thief, decides to become a better person. Anil’s forgiveness, trust, and gentleness play a key role in this transformation.

Themes in the Story

1. Trust – Anil’s trust in Hari is the heart of the story.

2. Guilt and Redemption – Hari’s guilt leads him to return the money and change.

3. Power of Kindness – Kindness has the power to change even a criminal.

4. Second Chances – Everyone deserves another chance to be better.

5. Education as a Path to Change – Hari realizes education is more powerful than theft.

Moral of the Story

People can change if given love, trust, and a chance.

The story teaches that no one is born a criminal, and with the right guidance, anyone can choose the path of honesty and self-respect.

Word	Meaning
Thief	A person who steals
Modest	Humble; not boastful
Flattery	Insincere praise
Trust	Belief in someone’s honesty
Appearance	The way someone looks
Unlined	Smooth (without wrinkles); young
Desperate	Feeling hopeless or needing something badly
Temptation	A strong desire to do something wrong
Robbery	The act of stealing
Rehearsed	Practiced in advance
Anxious	Worried or nervous
Struggled	Tried very hard; had difficulty
Quietly	Silently or softly
Betray	To break someone's trust
Transformation	A complete change

Questions and Answers

Q1. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?

Answer:
‘I’ refers to the narrator of the story, a 15-year-old thief who later tells us his name is Hari Singh.

Q2. What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?

Answer:
He is "a fairly successful hand" at stealing. He admits that though he is young, he is quite good at stealing and has changed his name multiple times to avoid getting caught.

Q3. What does he say about the reactions of different people when they are robbed?

Answer:
He says that some people show fear, others show anger, and a few just accept the loss without much reaction. He particularly liked robbing people who accepted their losses calmly.

Q4. What was the thief’s real name? Why did he hide it?

Answer:
His real name was never mentioned until the end when Anil called him Hari Singh. He hid his real name to avoid being caught by the police since he changed his identity frequently to continue stealing.

Q5. What made him return to Anil’s house?

Answer:
Hari Singh returned to Anil’s house because he felt guilty after stealing the money. He was touched by Anil’s trust and kindness, and realized he wanted to become an honest man, which was only possible if he stayed with Anil and learned.

Q6. Why does Anil not hand him over to the police?

Answer:
Anil understands that Hari Singh is sorry for his actions. He believes in giving him a second chance, showing kindness and trust. That’s why he doesn’t report him to the police and even continues teaching him.

Message of the Story

The story teaches that trust and kindness can transform even a criminal. It also emphasizes that everyone deserves a second chance, and true change comes from within.