ᒪEᗩᖇᑎIᑎG ᒍᑌᑎᑕTIOᑎ
CBSE
CLASS 10 ENGLISH
FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET👣
CHAPTER 2:THE THIEF'S STORY👤💰💵💴
SUMMARY
➤Summary: Hari Singh starts working for Anil, performing small tasks such as making tea and buying supplies. Anil, who earns money by writing for magazines, occasionally struggles financially but often celebrates when he receives a payment. One night, Anil comes home with a bundle of money from selling a book to a publisher and hides it under his mattress.
Although Hari Singh has the opportunity to steal the money, he hesitates due to Anil's trusting nature. Eventually, temptation overcomes him, and he decides to take the money while Anil sleeps. With the stolen cash, Hari Singh plans to catch a train to Lucknow and live luxuriously for a while. However, his hesitation causes him to miss the train, leaving him alone and unsure of where to spend the night.
Realizing that Anil would react with sadness rather than anger upon discovering the theft, Hari Singh contemplates his actions and regrets betraying the trust placed in him. In the rain-soaked night, he realizes the significance of the opportunities for learning and self-improvement that he had with Anil, such as cooking, shopping, and writing. Filled with remorse, Hari Singh returns to Anil's room, determined to put the stolen money back under the mattress undetected.
The next morning, Hari Singh wakes up to find that Anil has already made tea and offers him a fifty-rupee note, explaining that he made money the previous day and will now be able to pay him regularly. Hari Singh is relieved, realizing that Anil knew about the theft but chose to forgive him without mentioning it. The story concludes with Hari Singh's renewed commitment to learning and his genuine smile, grateful for the chance to make amends and improve himself under Anil's guidance.
"The Thief's Story" explores themes of trust, redemption, and the value of genuine human connections. It highlights the transformative power of forgiveness and the potential for personal growth when given the opportunity to learn and change.
➤Key Points:
1. The protagonist is a 15-year-old experienced and successful thief.
2. The protagonist approaches Anil, a kind and easy-going man, with the intention of gaining his trust.
3. Anil agrees to let the protagonist work for him without pay, on the condition that the protagonist can cook.
4. The protagonist struggles to cook a satisfactory meal but persists, and Anil decides to teach him how to cook and write.
5. Anil earns money by writing for magazines, and one evening he receives a small bundle of notes from selling a book.
6. The protagonist contemplates stealing the money but hesitates and eventually decides to take it.
7. The protagonist misses the opportunity to escape by train and finds himself alone with nowhere to go.
8. The protagonist reflects on the different reactions people have when they are robbed and anticipates Anil's reaction.
9. The protagonist spends the night in the rain, feeling guilty and realizing the consequences of his actions.
10. In the morning, the protagonist returns the stolen money to Anil, who is unaware of the theft but offers the protagonist a fifty-rupee note and continues their lessons.
👨Character Analysis:
1. Hari Singh (the thief): Hari Singh is a skilled and experienced thief who is adept at his craft. Despite his young age, he is successful and has a certain level of confidence. He is resourceful and quick-witted, using different names to stay ahead of the authorities. Although he initially plans to rob Anil, he gradually becomes attached to him and develops a desire to learn and improve himself.
2. Anil: Anil is a trusting and kind-hearted young man who shows compassion towards Hari Singh, despite the latter's dishonesty. He is depicted as easy-going and simple, and he readily offers Hari Singh a place to stay and work without expecting any payment. Anil is also patient and understanding, willing to teach Hari Singh new skills and help him improve his life. His reaction to the theft is marked by a touch of sadness, emphasizing his loss of trust rather than the monetary value.
=❯Important Quotes:
1."I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve."
2."It's easy to rob a greedy man because he can afford to be robbed, but it's difficult to rob a careless man."
3."Not for the loss of money, but for the loss of trust."
4."Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees."
5." And the smile came by itself, without any effort."
=❯Themes:
1. Transformation and Redemption: The story explores the journey of the thief, who starts as a seasoned criminal but gradually undergoes a transformation through his association with Anil. His encounter with Anil offers him the opportunity to change his ways and aspire for a better future.
2. Trust and Betrayal: The theme of trust is prominent throughout the story. Anil's trusting nature is juxtaposed with the thief's deceitful intentions. The thief contemplates betraying Anil's trust by stealing his money but ultimately realizes the value of trust and chooses not to go through with it.
3. Friendship and Compassion: Anil's kind and generous nature leads him to offer the thief a chance to work and stay with him. Despite the thief's initial dishonesty, Anil shows compassion and teaches him valuable skills. Their friendship and the thief's gratitude highlight the power of compassion and its potential to change lives.
4. Consequences and Morality: The story explores the consequences of one's actions and choices. The thief contemplates the potential consequences of stealing from Anil, realizing the moral implications and the impact it would have on their relationship. The theme highlights the importance of making ethical choices and the potential repercussions of immoral behavior.
5. Education and Empowerment: The desire for education and the power it holds are underlying themes in the story. The thief recognizes that learning to read and write can open doors for him, offering a path to success and respectability. Education symbolizes empowerment and personal growth, illustrating the potential for individuals to improve their lives through knowledge and skills.
=❯Word meanings:
1. Thief: A person who steals or takes things dishonestly.
2. Wrestler: A person who participates in the sport of wrestling, involving grappling and throwing opponents.
3. Confidence: Trust or faith in someone's reliability or abilities.
4. Modestly: In a humble or unassuming manner.
5. Grateful: Feeling or showing appreciation or thanks.
=❯FAQ
Q1. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
ANSWER: The thief believes that Anil's reaction to the theft will only show a touch of sadness, not for the loss of money but for the loss of trust.
Q2. What does the thief say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
ANSWER: The thief reflects on the various reactions people display when they are robbed, stating that a greedy man shows fear, a rich man shows anger and a poor man shows acceptance.
Q3. Does Anil realize that he has been robbed?
ANSWER: It is implied that Anil might have realized that he has been robbed, although there is no explicit confirmation in the story.
Q4. Why did the thief hesitate to board the train and escape?
ANSWER: The thief hesitated to board the train because of an unexplained reason mentioned in the story, which led to him missing the opportunity to escape.
Q5. Where did the thief go after missing the train?
ANSWER: After missing the train, the thief walks through the bazaar and eventually finds himself sitting on a bench in the maidan.
Q6. How does the thief feel after stealing Anil's money?
ANSWER: Initially, the thief feels excited and elated about stealing Anil's money, considering the possibilities it opens up for him. However, as he contemplates the consequences, he begins to feel a sense of guilt and regret.
Q7. Why does the thief decide to return the stolen money?
ANSWER: The thief realizes the importance of learning to read and write and believes that returning the money is necessary for him to continue his education under Anil's guidance.
Q8. Does Anil confront the thief about the stolen money?
ANSWER: Anil does not confront the thief directly about the stolen money, but his actions indicate that he might be aware of the theft.
Q9. How does the thief feel when Anil hands him the wet note?
ANSWER: The thief's initial reaction to receiving the wet note is one of concern and worry, thinking that he has been discovered. However, he soon realizes that Anil intends to pay him regularly and feels relieved.
Q10. How does the story end?
ANSWER: The story concludes with the thief smiling at Anil in his most appealing way, signaling a sense of gratitude and acknowledgment of the second chance he has been given.
⭐These FAQs should help you understand the chapter and its various aspects in more detail.
