🕵️♂️ The Thief’s Story – Summary (Class 10 English First Flight)
👤 Author Introduction – Ruskin Bond
Ruskin Bond (born in 1934) is one of India’s most loved authors, famous for his simple yet deeply emotional stories. His works often depict the beauty of Indian life, nature, and human relationships. In “The Thief’s Story”, Bond explores the theme of trust, friendship, guilt, and redemption through the eyes of a young thief who learns the real meaning of honesty.
Image: The young thief meeting Anil for the first time
📖 Expanded Summary in English
“The Thief’s Story” by Ruskin Bond is a touching narrative about a fifteen-year-old boy who earns his living by stealing. He introduces himself as a professional thief who changes names frequently to avoid being caught. One day, he meets a simple and kind-hearted man named Anil at a wrestling match. The thief cleverly befriends Anil by flattering him and asking for work. Anil, who is a struggling writer, agrees to keep him as a helper and promises to teach him how to read and write.
The thief, who narrates the story, stays with Anil and begins to live an honest life. He cooks for Anil, goes shopping, and learns to write whole sentences. He is happy but deep inside, his habit of stealing remains. One night, he notices that Anil has brought home a bundle of notes after selling a book to a publisher. Tempted, the thief silently steals 600 rupees from under Anil’s mattress while he is asleep.
With the money in his pocket, the thief runs away into the dark night. He plans to go to the railway station and escape, but heavy rain begins to fall. Drenched and shivering, he wanders around the city, thinking about Anil’s kindness and how the man trusted him completely. For the first time in his life, he feels guilty. He realizes that by stealing from Anil, he has betrayed a man who genuinely cared for him.
The thief understands that learning to read and write could change his life — perhaps even make him an honest man. Overcome with guilt, he decides to return to Anil’s house. Quietly, he puts the money back under the mattress while Anil sleeps peacefully. His heart is lighter, and he sleeps soundly for the first time in many nights.
The next morning, Anil gives him a fifty-rupee note and tells him that he will start paying him regularly now. The boy notices that the note is still damp and realizes that Anil knows everything but chooses not to say a word. This silent forgiveness touches the thief deeply. He smiles, knowing that Anil has not only taught him how to write sentences but also given him the greatest lesson of life — the value of trust and honesty.
Image: The thief returning the stolen money to Anil
📖 Summary in Hindi (हिन्दी में सारांश)
“The Thief’s Story” रसकिन बॉन्ड द्वारा लिखी गई एक संवेदनशील कहानी है जो एक पंद्रह वर्षीय चोर लड़के के जीवन को दर्शाती है। वह चोरी कर के अपनी जिंदगी चलाता है और अक्सर अपना नाम बदलता रहता है ताकि कोई उसे पकड़ न सके। एक दिन वह एक कुश्ती का तमाशा देख रहा होता है, जहाँ उसकी मुलाकात अनिल नाम के एक सरल और दयालु व्यक्ति से होती है।
चोर चतुराई से अनिल की प्रशंसा करता है और उसके साथ काम करने की इच्छा जताता है। अनिल एक लेखक था और ज्यादा पैसे नहीं कमाता था, लेकिन उसने उसे अपने घर पर रख लिया और कहा कि वह उसे पढ़ना-लिखना सिखाएगा। कुछ समय बाद चोर अनिल के साथ ईमानदारी से रहने लगता है और उसे सच्चाई का एहसास होने लगता है।
एक दिन अनिल अपने लेख का पैसा लेकर आता है, और चोर उस रात 600 रुपए चुरा लेता है। वह भागने की कोशिश करता है लेकिन बारिश में भीग जाता है। उसे अनिल की दयालुता और भरोसे की याद आती है। उसे महसूस होता है कि उसने उस व्यक्ति के साथ गलत किया जो उस पर भरोसा करता था।
वह लौटकर घर आता है और पैसे को वापस वहीं रख देता है। अगले दिन जब अनिल उसे 50 रुपए देता है और कुछ नहीं कहता, तो चोर को समझ में आता है कि अनिल को सब पता है लेकिन उसने उसे माफ़ कर दिया। यह माफी चोर के दिल को छू जाती है और वह ईमानदारी का असली अर्थ समझ जाता है।
📝 Key Points to Remember
- Written by Ruskin Bond, the story focuses on trust and moral awakening.
- The thief befriends Anil to rob him but ends up learning honesty.
- Anil teaches him how to read and write — and unknowingly, how to be good.
- The boy steals ₹600 but later feels guilty and returns it.
- Anil forgives him silently, showing the power of kindness.
- The story teaches that love and trust can change even a criminal’s heart.