The Thief’s Story Class 10 English Summary

The Thief’s Story Class 10 English Summary is given below. By reading through the prose detailed summary, CBSE Class 10 students will be able to understand the chapter easily. Once the students finished reading the summary they can easily answer any questions related to the chapter. Students can also refer to CBSE Class 10 English Prose Summary notes – The Thief’s Story for their revision during the exam.

The Thief’s Story Summary in both english and hindi is available here. This article starts with a discussion about the author and then explains the chapter in short and detailed fashion. Ultimately, the article ends with some difficult words and their meanings.

CBSE Class 10 English The Thief’s Story Summary

The Thief’s Story – About the Author

Ruskin Bond is a famous Indian writer in English. He was born on 19 May 1934. Ruskin’s father was with the Royal Air Force. At the age of ten, Ruskin started living with his grandmother in Dehradun after his father’s death in 1944. He spent four years in London where he started writing his first novel, The Room on the Roof. Ruskin Bond is now recognised as a leading writer in English, particularly known for his short stories. He currently lives in Landour, Mussoorie’s Ivy Cottage which has been his residence since 1964. 

Short Summary of The Thief’s Story

Ruskin Bond’s ‘The Thief’s Story’ is more than a thief’s story. The story deals with basic human values and relationships. It is easier for a thief to rob a greedy man. It is difficult even for a thief to rob a careless and honest person. Hari Singh did steal Anil’s money but he couldn’t run away with it. He had no friends because he regarded them to be trouble than help. The only person he really knew was the man he had robbed. Moreover, Anil was ready to educate Hari Singh. The thief’s conscience pricked him. He came back to Anil and crept to his bed. He slipped the money under the mattress from where he had stolen it a few hours ago. 

Summary of The Thief’s Story in English

Hari Singh is the narrator of this story. He is an artful thief. One day, he met a young man of twenty-five named Anil, at a wrestling match. He gave him an artificial smile. He desired to have an acquaintance with him in order to make him his next victim. Anil avoided him. Hari Singh followed Anil after the match was over. He asked Anil for work. He was ready to work for Anil if he could just feed him. Anil agreed to engage Hari Singh if he could cook food for both. The thief lied that he was a good cook as Anil had to throw the bad meal, prepared by Hari Singh to dogs, on the first day.

Anil took upon himself to teach him how to cook and read and how to write. The thief made the morning tea and bought the daily supplies. Anil was aware of the fact that Hari Singh made a profit from the purchases.

Anil was not a rich man. He borrowed money sometimes but repaid the loan whenever he earned money through his writings for magazines. The thief thought it a strange way of making money.

One day, Anil sold a book to a publisher and brought home a bundle of notes. He put the money under his mattress. The thief had not stolen anything since a month of his working there. He had no desire to rob a careless person who trusted him blindly. However, he could not resist the temptation of getting the bundles of notes. The thief got up quietly when Anil had gone to sleep. He took the money and slipped out of the room. He had six hundred rupees in his possession. He reached the railway station just as the Lucknow Express was picking up speed. He could have boarded it but something held him back. The train was soon out of his sight. Hari Singh was left alone on the platform. He was in a dilemma where to go. He had no acquaintance there. He did not like to go to a hotel lest he should be suspected.

The thief thought that Anil would be sad not for the loss of money but for the loss of trust he had reposed on him. It was a cold night. It was drizzling when he went to the maidan and sat down on a bench. His clothes got drenched. He went back to the bazaar. There he took shelter under the clock tower. It was midnight. He thought and realized that he had let go a chance of being a respectable man. Anil was taking pains to teach him reading and writing. He decided to go back to Anil and reached his home. Anil was still asleep. He slipped the money at its usual place. He slept till late hours.

Anil had made tea before Hari Singh woke up. Anil offered him a fifty rupee note. He also promised him to pay him regularly. The note was still wet. Anil understood everything but he did not expose the thief’s doing. Instead, Anil said that they would start writing sentences that day. Hari Singh felt guilty and smiled shame-facedly.

Moral of The Thief’s Story

The moral of the story is the human values and relations are important in life and such values can change a person too.

Summary of The Thief’s Story in Hindi

अनिल 25 साल के लेखक थे। वह बहुत लापरवाही से अपना जीवन व्यतीत कर रहा था। वह अपना जीवन चलाने के लिए पैसा कमाने के लिए लिखने के लिए संघर्ष कर रहा था। एक दिन अनिल कुश्ती मैच देख रहा था। वह हरि को प्रणाम करता है। हरि ने व्यक्ति की चापलूसी करने के लिए अपने पुराने फॉर्मूले का इस्तेमाल किया। अनिल ने प्रभावित किया और उससे वादा किया कि वह उसे लिखना सिखाएगा, संख्याओं को जोड़ना और स्वादिष्ट भोजन कैसे बनाना है। अब दोनों खुशी से साथ रह रहे थे।

एक दिन हरि ने देखा कि अनिल नोटों का एक बंडल लेकर आया है। उसने देखा कि वह उन्हें गद्दे के नीचे रखता है। जैसा कि हरि ने नोटों के बंडल को देखा था, इसलिए उसकी बुरी भावना उसके मन में पैदा हुई। उसने उस रात अनिल को लूटने का फैसला किया। रात का खाना लेने के बाद अनिल शांत होकर सो गया। हरि बिस्तर पर लेट गया और गद्दे के नीचे हाथ खिसका दिया। उसने नोट लिए और वहां से भाग गया। वह ट्रेन में सवार होने के लिए रेलवे स्टेशन से लखनऊ के लिए रवाना हुआ। लेकिन, वह चूक गया। वह बाज़ारों में घूमता रहा। बारिश हो रही थी और हरि सिंह पूरी तरह से भीग चुका था।

उनके मन में एक द्वंद था। वह अनिल के विश्वास को धोखा नहीं देना चाहता था। इसके अलावा, अनिल उसे पढ़ाने और संख्याओं को जोड़ने का तरीका सिखा रहा था जो उसके जीवन को बदल सकते थे। इसलिए उन्होंने रेलवे स्टेशन छोड़ दिया। वह मैदान में आया और बेंच पर बैठ गया। तभी तेज बारिश हो रही थी। सर्द हवा चल रही थी। उसने अपराधबोध महसूस किया क्योंकि उसने एक निर्दोष व्यक्ति को धोखा दिया था। उसकी कमीज और पजामा उसके शरीर पर गिर गया क्योंकि वह बारिश के कारण गीला था।

हरि सिंह का हृदय परिवर्तन हुआ था। उसने अनिल के पास लौटने और पैसे तकिये के नीचे रखने का फैसला किया। वह कमरे में पहुंचा और रुपये वापस कर दिए। अगली सुबह, वह थोड़ी देर से उठा और अनिल ने पहले ही अपनी चाय बना ली थी। अनिल ने हरि सिंह को यह कहते हुए 50 रुपये की पेशकश की कि उन्होंने इसे अर्जित किया है। उसने उससे कहा कि अब उसे नियमित रूप से भुगतान किया जाएगा। हरि ने नोट अपने हाथ में रखा। उन्होंने महसूस किया कि नोट कल रात बारिश से भीगे हुए थे। हरि को पता चल गया था कि अनिल को उसके दुष्कर्म के बारे में पता चल गया था, लेकिन उसके मन में कोई दुख, गुस्सा या अपराध नहीं था।

Difficult Words and their Meanings

Trusts = relies on(विश्सवास करना )   betray = deceive, dupe (धोखा देना )   fairly = enough (काफी )  lean = weak and thin (कमजोर )  purpose = objective (उद्देस्य ) of late = for some days  (कुछ दिनों से ) confidence = good books  (विषस्यास ) wrestler = to strive by grappling (कुश्ती लड़ना )  flattery = false praise (चापलूसी )  modestly = humbly (भद्रतापूर्वक )  lied = to tell a lie  (झूट बोलना )  ahead = forward  (आगे )  introduction = formal presentation (परिचय )  grunting = roaring (गुर्राना )  casually = purposelessly  (बिना किसी उद्देस्य के ) appealing = attractive  (आकर्षक )
Perhaps= probably (शायद ) meal= cooked food (पका हुआ भोजन ) strey= wandering(आवारा ) be off= run away (भाग जाना ) patted= stroked   (थपथपाया ) never mind = don’t worry (घबराओ मत )  grateful = obliged (आभारी )  achieve = obtain  ( प्राप्त करना )     pleasant = full of happiness (मधुर / सुखद )   profit = gain  (लाभ )

Fits and starts = seldom (कभी -कभी )  queer = strange (विचित्र ) publisher = one who gets books printed  (प्रकाशक )  tuck = to press in (छुपाकर रखना )  mattress = quilts (गद्दे )  opportunity = chance (अवसर )  trusting = reliable (विशव्यसनीये )   rob = to plunder (ठगना )  afford = to bear (सहन करना )  beam = ray (किरढ़ ) considering = thinking over  (विचार करना ) situation = condition (स्थिति )  crept up = to move slowly  (पेट के बल रेगना ) unlined = plain  (बिना झुर्रियों के )  marks = spots  (निशान )  scars = spots of wound  (घाव के निशान ) slid = glided   (सरक गया ) startled = surprised (हैरान ) crawled = moved slowly  (धीरे से सरकना ) aist = back side of stomach  (कमर )

Dashed = pushed (अंधाधुन्द दौड़ना  ) straight =direct (सीधे ) carriages = train compartments  (रेल के डिब्बे ) hesibited = held back  (हिचकिचाना )  deserted = lonely (सुनसान )  curious = anxious (उत्सुक )  career = profession  (व्यवसाय ) acceptance = approval  (स्यीकृति ) chilly = cold (ठंडी )  drizzle = mild rain  (बूंदा -बांदी) discomfort = uneasiness (बेचैनी )

Shelter = refuge (शरर /आश्रय )  damp = wet  (गीला )  probably = perhaps  (शायद )  excitement = stimulation (उत्तेजना ) matter = affair (मामला )  hurried = to hasten (जल्दी -से )  nervous = uneasy (घवराना )   undetected = undiscovered  (बिना पता चले )  quietly = calmly (शांति से )  remained = to continue  (रहना ) still = even now  (अभी -भी ) edge = outer limit   (सिरा या किनारा ) stretched = extended  (फैलाया ) sank = to decline (डूवा )  spirits = courage  (साहस ) effort = attempt  (प्रयास )