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The Thief’s Story Extra Questions and Answers English Footprints without Feet Chapter 2
Summary
‘A Thief’s Story’ is one of Ruskin Bond’s many fascinating short stories; the story depicts the following themes:
- One’s kindness can change someone’s heart.
- Human relationships are more powerful than materialistic wants of men.
- Human values hold the strength to significantly unfurl humanity in a person.
The protagonist of the story is a former thief who narrates the incident of his past when he was merely fifteen years old. He was experienced and successful in his profession when he met tall and lean twenty-five years old Anil, seemingly kind and simple enough for his purpose. He complimented him to grab his attention and the fellow returned the compliment. They exchanged names as ‘Anil’ and ‘Hari Singh’ but as always the thief lied about his identity as it kept him ahead of the police and his victims. He followed Anil casually and asked for work, but Anil refused as he couldn’t pay Hari. But Hari asks if Anil can feed him, as he can cook for him which was a lie, but Anil sweetly agrees to the deal.
They went to Anil’s room over Jumna sweet shop, where Anil allows Hari to sleep on the balcony. He had to feed Hari’s first cooked meal to stray dogs. Hari hung around him as they exchanged smiles. Hari agreed to teach him to cook and even taught him writing his name, soon he’d teach him to make sentences and add numbers. Hari pleasantly made tea in the morning, then bought daily supplies, in which he saved a rupee or two, Anil knew he kept those but didn’t mind. Anil made money by fits and starts; he borrowed and lent, and kept worrying about cheques as he wrote for a magazine.
Anil brought a small bundle of notes one evening, as he had sold a book to a publisher, he tucked the money in the mattress. Hari was now ready to steal and he even had a key to the door so he could escape easily. But it was difficult to rob Anil as he was the most trusting and kind man Hari had ever met. Yet Hari justifies to himself that Anil would only waste that money on his friends as he doesn’t even pay Hari himself.
When Anil was asleep, Hari considered the situation and planned that if he gets away with the money right now, he can catch the Lucknow Express at 10.30. He observed Anil’s unlined face and slipped his hand under the mattress to draw out the money without any sound. Anil turned on Hari’s side in his sleep; Hari was frightened so he quickly crawled out of the room. Once out on road, he counted the notes and was astonished by the amount of sex hundred and fifty rupees. He believed he could live a lavish life like Arabs in that amount. He dashed to the platform without a ticket, he was about to catch the slowly moving train but he hesitated for some reason, a seed of guilt stabbed him but by the time he could ignore it, the train left.
He didn’t want to stay in a hotel and spend any of his money, or go to his friends who’d probably spend his money; the only good man he knew was the man he had robbed. He has learnt to read faces in his career as a thief and he could sense fear on the greedy, anger on the rich and acceptance on the poor but he knew that Anil would have a hint of sadness that too not for the loss of money but trust.
It was early November’s chilly night, he felt slight drizzling in the maidan, when it started raining heavily, he took shelter under the clocktower. It was around midnight and Hari started spiraling into a guilt trip as he realized he would never be able to learn whole sentences which could bring him more than just a few hundred rupees, stealing was simple but being a clever and respected man was different.
He told himself that he had to go back; he nervously kept the money back undetected. He awoke late next morning to find out Anil had made him some tea. He then handed Hari a fifty-rupee note. Hari’s heart sank as he realized that Anil had found out about the truth and was expecting the most probable possibility. But even after knowing the Truth, Anil didn’t say a word about it and told Hari that he had finally made some money and would regularly pay Hari from now on. He also mentioned that he’d start teaching him how to write sentences from today. They both smiled at each other and Hari was filled with immense gratitude and respect towards Anil, so he decided to change himself and became a better human being.
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Multiple Choice Questions
1.) What was Hari Singh’s age when he met Anil?
a.) Twelve
b.) Fifteen
c.) Seventeen
2.) Where did Anil keep the bundle of notes?
a.) Under mattress
b.) In his pocket
c.) Behind a picture frame
3.) How much money did Anil earn after selling his book?
a.) 700
b.) 500
c.) 600
4.) Where was Hari Singh planning to go after stealing the money?
a.) Patna
b.) Bareilly
c.) Lucknow
5.) How much money did Anil start paying Hari Singh?
a.) 50
b.) 100
c.) 80
6.) What did Anil do for a living?
a.) Writer
b.) painter
c.) artist
7.) How long did Hari Singh work for Anil before robbing him?
a.) One week
b.) One month
c.) Two months
Very Short Answer Type Questions
1.) What would you say about Anil’s appearance?
Ans. Anil was a tall and lean person of 25 years. He seemed a simple, kind and easy going fellow.
2.) What was the job Anil employed Hari Singh for?
Ans. Anil employed Hari Singh to cook food.
3.) Why did Anil ask Hari Singh to leave the very first day?
Ans. Anil employed Hari Singh to cook. But the food he prepared was so terrible that Anil had to give it to the stray dogs. And so, Anil asked Hari Singh to leave the very first day.
4.) What did Anil teach Hari Singh?
Ans. Anil taught Hari Singh to cook. Also he taught Hari Singh to read and write, the very first being his own name.
5.) How did Hari Singh make money while working for Anil?
Ans. Anil gave money to Hari Singh to buy supplies for the day. From this money, Hari Singh made a profit of a rupee a day.
6.) How did Anil earn 600 rupees?
Ans. Anil sold his book to a publisher, through which he earned 600 rupees.
7.) What made Hari Singh return back to Anil’s house?
Ans. Anil taught Hari Singh to write whole sentences. After running away, the prospect of not being able to write whole sentences made Hari Singh return to Anil’s house.
8.) Who is the author of the chapter – “The Thief’s Story”?
Ans. Ruskin Bond
Short Answer Questions
1.) Why was it difficult for Hari Singh to rob Anil?
Ans. Anil was one of the most trusting and kind people Hari Singh had ever met. Anil was careless as well. Hari Singh’s idea that a careless person doesn’t even notice that he has been robbed takes all the pleasure of theft away. The idea made it difficult for Hari Singh to rob Anil.
2.) What were the different reactions of people whom Hari Singh had robbed previously?
Ans. People’s reactions varied according to their nature. Rich people showed anger at being robbed, greedy people showed fear and poor people showed acceptance. But Anil would have shown sadness, not because he lost his hard earned money, but because his trust was broken.
3.) Why did Hari Singh not board the train?
Ans. Anil was a very simple and kind hearted person. He employed Hari Singh to cook. But when he came to know that Hari Singh couldn’t cook, he taught him to. Anil also taught Hari Singh to write his own name. Though Hari Singh made a profit of a rupee a day with the money Anil gave him to buy the day’s supplies, Anil did not say anything to him. Such kindness and good nature of Anil made Hari Singh not board the train and run away.
4.) What did Hari Singh realize when he thought of not being able to learn whole sentences?
Ans. Hari Singh wanted to learn whole sentences, i.e., he wanted to be educated. He knew that education would bring him more money than a few hundred. He realized that he would lose the prospect of becoming a clever and respected man if he chose to run away with the money then.
5.) Did Anil realize that he was robbed? What was his reaction?
Ans. Yes, Anil did realize that he was robbed. But he acted as if nothing unusual had happened. Instead, he made the morning tea the next day and also paid 50 rupees to Hari Singh as his salary. Then Anil told Hari Singh that he would start teaching him to write whole sentences from that day.
6.) What did Anil do for a living?
Ans. Anil did not work regularly or one may say he did not have a regular job. He wrote for magazines – worried for his cheques frequently, but whenever he received it, he would spend the money on celebration. He borrowed money one week and would lend it the next week.
Long Answer Type Questions
1.) Briefly explain what happened after Hari Singh stole money from under the mattress?
Ans. Anil kept the money under the mattress which he received after selling his book to a publisher. Hari Singh thought it to be the most opportune moment to carry out the task he had been after. So, when Anil fell asleep, Hari Singh slid his hand under the mattress and slowly pulled out the bundle of notes. Then very quietly, he crept out of the room.
Once on the road he started running towards the station. Hari Singh had decided to take the 10:30 Express to Lucknow. When he reached, the train was leaving and had yet to pick up speed. Hari Singh ran towards the train but after some hesitation, he did not board it. After the train left the station, Hari Singh was left lost on the deserted platform. He had no idea where to go, as he had no friends.
Hari Singh reached the maidan and sat on a bench there. But soon, it began to rain and made him take shelter under the clock tower. Sitting there damp with rain, Hari Singh thought of Anil and how he will be saddened by the trust broken. He thought he won’t be able to make tea and run daily chores for Anil. He also won’t be able to write sentences. The very thought of not being able to write sentences struck him with terror. He realized that stealing money and then getting caught were simpler acts. But to become a clever and respected man was of utmost importance and that required sacrifice.
Hari Singh decided to go back to Anil, to learn to write whole sentences. So he went up to Anil’s room. Anil was still asleep. Hari Singh slowly slid the bundle of notes under the mattress and slept on the balcony.
2.) Write a character sketch of Anil.
Ans. Anil was a lean, tall man of 25 years. He appeared simple, kind and easy going. And he was what he appeared. Anil was easy to converse with. Hari Singh had no difficulty in initiating conversation with him.
Anil was also a very compassionate person. Even though Anil himself did not have much money, he employed Hari Singh as a cook. Later when he found out that Hari Singh had lied and did not know how to cook, he asked him to leave. And when Hari Singh did not leave, Anil smiled and patted him on his head and asked not to worry.
Anil wasn’t greedy at all and shared everything he had. He lived his life to its fullest. He was a pure soul, always helping people in whatever way possible. Anil taught Hari Singh to write his own name and also promised him that he would teach him to write whole sentences. Anil also realized that Hari Singh made a profit of a rupee a day with the money he gave him to buy the day’s supplies, Anil never made any questions.
A very forgiving and understanding nature of Anil has been shown in the chapter. When Anil realized that Hari Singh had tried to steal money, instead of being infuriated, Anil showed no signs of any knowledge. Instead Anil was glad that Hari Singh did not run away and stayed with him even though he did not pay Hari Singh for his work. So, when Hari Singh woke up, Anil handed him 50 rupees as his salary and told him that he would teach him to write sentences from that day onwards.
Anil’s character shows how compassion, kindness and simplicity can win and change hearts.
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