by Ruskin Bond
NCERT Questions & Answers + Important Extra Questions
NCERT Textbook Questions
Who does "I" refer to in this story?
Answer
"I" refers to Hari Singh, a fifteen-year-old boy who is a thief by profession. He narrates his own story — how he met Anil, became his cook, stole money from him, and ultimately returned it. The first-person narration makes us see everything through the thief's eyes, including his internal conflict between his criminal habit and his growing conscience. Hari Singh is not his real name — he changes his name every month to avoid being caught by the police.
What are Hari Singh's__( reasons for__( befriending Anil?
Answer
Hari Singh befriended Anil because: (i) He was looking for someone easy to rob — Anil looked simple, trusting, and careless about money. (ii) Anil was a struggling writer who lived alone — an easy target. (iii) Hari Singh needed food and shelter — he offered to cook for Anil in exchange for a place to stay. (iv) Most importantly, he saw that Anil was the kind of person who would trust others easily — he could be "easily pleased" with flattery (Hari won him over with "the most appealing smile" he could manage). Hari Singh's initial motive was purely criminal — to gain Anil's trust, find where he kept his money, and steal it.
Does Anil realise that he is being__( cheated by Hari Singh?
Answer
Yes, Anil seems to know — there are several clues: (i) When Hari gives him the first meal (terrible, inedible food), Anil doesn't get angry — he calmly throws it away and promises to teach him cooking. This patience suggests understanding. (ii) Anil probably knows Hari skims money from daily purchases (Hari makes a rupee profit daily on groceries). (iii) Most importantly, when Hari steals the 600 rupees and then returns them, Anil hands him a 50-rupee note the next morning and says "I'll pay you regularly" — the note is still wet (from being put under the mattress after being in the rain). Anil smiles knowingly — he clearly knows the money was taken and returned. But he says nothing, choosing to forgive silently and give Hari a chance to reform.
Why does Hari Singh return the stolen money?
Answer
Hari Singh returns the stolen money because: (i) He felt guilty — Anil had been kind, trusting, and generous. Stealing from him felt wrong. (ii) He realised that if he kept the money, he would lose Anil's trust, and with it, the opportunity to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic — skills that could change his life forever. (iii) He understood the difference between a lifetime of petty theft (600 rupees now) and a lifetime of honest earning (education and skills through Anil). (iv) At the railway station, ready to escape, he felt the emptiness of the thief's life — always running, always afraid, never belonging anywhere. (v) Anil's trust and kindness had awakened his conscience — something no previous victim had done. The stolen 600 rupees represented much less than what he stood to gain by staying honest.
Important Extra Questions
What is the__( message of the story?
Answer
The story conveys several messages: (i) Trust and kindness can reform people: Anil's unconditional trust, patience, and generosity awakened Hari Singh's conscience — something punishment never could. (ii) Education is the greatest gift: Hari chose learning (reading, writing, arithmetic) over 600 rupees — recognising that education was worth more than any amount of stolen money. (iii) Everyone deserves a second chance: Anil didn't confront or punish Hari for the theft — he silently acknowledged it and gave him another chance. (iv) Crime is a losing proposition: A thief lives in constant fear and loneliness; honest living provides stability and self-respect. (v) Love is a more powerful corrective than fear: Hari reformed not because he was afraid of punishment, but because he was moved by Anil's genuine kindness.
Compare and contrast Anil and Hari Singh.
Answer
Anil: (i) Trusting, kind, patient — doesn't get angry even when he suspects theft. (ii) A struggling writer — earns irregularly but is generous. (iii) Values education — teaches Hari to read and write. (iv) Wise and perceptive — he probably knew about the theft but chose forgiveness over confrontation. (v) Represents the power of goodness.
Hari Singh: (i) Initially cunning, streetwise, and dishonest — a professional thief. (ii) Uses false names, flattery, and manipulation. (iii) But he also has a conscience — he feels guilty about stealing from Anil. (iv) He values education and recognises its power to change his life. (v) He ultimately chooses honesty over crime — showing potential for reform.
Contrast: Anil is honest and trusting by nature; Hari is dishonest by habit but honest at heart. Similarity: Both are essentially good people — Anil expresses goodness through trust, Hari discovers it through conscience.