The Thief's Story — AP Board Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet)

"I was making a study of Anil's daily routine. I would be able to rob him when the time was right."

1. About the Chapter

'The Thief's Story' is a classic short story by Ruskin Bond, one of India's most beloved writers in English. The story is narrated by Hari Singh, a 15-year-old thief who meets Anil, a kind and trusting writer. Hari plans to rob Anil — but Anil's TRUST changes everything. The story explores REDEMPTION, the POWER OF TRUST, and the possibility of CHANGE. This chapter is part of the AP Board (BSEAP) Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet (Supplementary Reader) textbook under the new 2025-26 NCERT-aligned syllabus.

Why This Chapter Matters for AP Board Students

• By RUSKIN BOND — an Indian literary icon
• Relatable Indian setting
• Explores DEEP THEMES (trust, redemption, class) through simple storytelling
• A story about SECOND CHANCES
• Frequently tested for CHARACTER ANALYSIS and MORAL QUESTIONS

2. About the Author

Ruskin Bond (born 1934)

• Indian author of British descent
• Born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh
• One of India's MOST BELOVED writers in English
• Wrote hundreds of short stories, novels, and essays
• Known for his SIMPLE, GENTLE STYLE and DEEP HUMANITY
• Famous works: 'The Room on the Roof', 'The Blue Umbrella', 'Night of the Leopard'
• Received the Padma Shri (1999) and Padma Bhushan (2014)
• Lives in Landour, Mussoorie — the setting for many of his stories

Bond's Philosophy

Bond writes about ORDINARY PEOPLE in SIMPLE SITUATIONS. His stories often show that HUMANITY and KINDNESS are more powerful than wealth or status. 'The Thief's Story' is a perfect example.

3. Story Setting

• Location: A small Indian town (possibly near Mussoorie/Dehradun)
• Time: Mid-20th century
• Key Locations: Railway stations, a wrestling match, Anil's rented room
• Atmosphere: Simple, warm, small-town India

4. Detailed Summary

Part 1: The Meeting

Hari Singh is a 15-year-old thief. He meets Anil at a WRESTLING MATCH. Hari notices Anil is SIMPLE and TRUSTING — the perfect victim.

Hari approaches Anil, offering to WORK for him. Anil is initially sceptical but finally agrees to take Hari in.

Part 2: Hari's Plan

Hari's plan is to:

1. Gain Anil's TRUST
2. Learn Anil's DAILY ROUTINE
3. ROB him when the time is right

Hari is an EXPERT thief. He has changed his name multiple times to avoid detection.

Part 3: Life with Anil

Anil is a WRITER — not wealthy, but generous. He:

• Teaches Hari to READ and WRITE
• Feeds him and gives him a place to sleep
• Trusts him with small amounts of money

Hari is AMAZED by Anil's trust. No one has ever trusted him before.

Part 4: The Opportunity

One day, Anil brings home a bundle of money — 600 rupees — payment for an article. He puts it under his mattress.

Hari sees his OPPORTUNITY. He waits for Anil to fall asleep.

Part 5: The Theft

That night, Hari steals the money. He takes the 600 rupees and LEAVES the house.

He goes to the RAILWAY STATION, planning to catch a train to Lucknow.

Part 6: The Change of Heart

At the station, Hari can't bring himself to LEAVE. He thinks about Anil:

• Anil TRUSTED him
• Anil was TEACHING him to read and write
• Anil gave him a CHANCE that no one else ever gave him

Hari has a CHANGE OF HEART. He returns to Anil's room and puts the money BACK.

Part 7: The Morning After

In the morning, Anil wakes up. He KNOWS what happened — but he doesn't SAY anything.

Instead, he offers to CONTINUE teaching Hari. He says: 'I'll teach you to write full sentences.'

Hari knows Anil understood everything. The story ends with Hari feeling WARM inside — knowing he has been given a SECOND CHANCE.

5. Character Analysis

Hari Singh (The Narrator)

• A 15-year-old THIEF
• CLEVER and RESOURCEFUL — changes names, studies routines
• Has been SURVIVING on his own through theft
• Initially SEES Anil as a target
• But Anil's TRUST changes him
• His CHANGE OF HEART is the story's TURNING POINT
• Returns the money — not because he is CAUGHT, but because he CHOOSES to
• Represents the POSSIBILITY of REDEMPTION
• AP Board Exam Tip: Hari's internal conflict and transformation are THE key exam points

Anil

• A POET and WRITER — not wealthy, lives simply
• KIND and TRUSTING — gives Hari a home despite knowing he might be a thief
• TEACHES Hari to read and write
• DELIBERATELY leaves money where Hari can find it — a test of trust
• FORGIVES Hari silently — doesn't accuse, doesn't punish
• His QUIET TRUST is what changes Hari
• Represents GOODNESS and COMPASSION
• AP Board Exam Tip: Anil's quiet forgiveness and his teaching of Hari are central to understanding

The Wrestling Match Crowd

• Background characters
• Show the TYPICAL SMALL-TOWN SETTING

6. Key Themes

1. Trust and Redemption

The CENTRAL theme. Anil TRUSTS Hari despite everything. This trust is what SAVES Hari. Trust is more powerful than suspicion in changing people.

2. The Power of Education

Anil teaches Hari to READ and WRITE. This is not just literacy — it is a GATEWAY to a different life. Education opens possibilities beyond theft.

3. Second Chances

The story is about the POSSIBILITY of change. Hari has been a thief — but he can BECOME something else. Anil gives him that chance.

4. The Conflict Between Good and Evil

Hari has an INTERNAL CONFLICT:

• The THIEF in him wants to steal and run
• The BETTER person wants to stay with Anil

His decision to RETURN the money shows the GOOD winning.

5. Class and Survival

Hari steals because he needs to SURVIVE. He is not evil — he is POOR. The story does not JUDGE him but shows the CIRCUMSTANCES that create criminals.

6. Silent Forgiveness

Anil never ACCUSES Hari. He just continues as before. Sometimes the greatest forgiveness is the one that is NEVER SPOKEN.

7. Literary Devices

First-Person Narration

The story is told by HARI SINGH — the thief himself. This makes us SYMPATHISE with him. We understand his thoughts, his fears, his change of heart.

Flashback

Hari tells his story looking BACK. He is a different person now.

Foreshadowing

• Hari says Anil is 'the easiest mark' — but this foreshadows that Hari will NOT rob him
• Hari mentions he likes Anil's 'way of talking' — early hint of their bond

Internal Conflict

Hari's MIND is divided:

• One part wants to steal
• Another part wants to stay

His INTERNAL DIALOGUE at the railway station is the story's climax.

Symbolism

• 600 RUPEES: Represents TEMPTATION and CHOICE
• READING/WRITING: Represents a NEW LIFE, transformation
• RAILWAY STATION: Represents the CROSSROADS between two paths
• MONEY RETURNED: Represents REDEMPTION

Contrast

• Hari (thief, poor, uneducated) vs Anil (writer, middle-class, educated)
• Hari BEFORE (scheming) vs AFTER (repentant)
• What Hari PLANNED (robbery) vs what happened (redemption)

Simple Language

Ruskin Bond's language is SIMPLE and DIRECT. The story feels like Hari is TALKING to the reader.

8. Important Quotes

'I was making a study of Anil's daily routine. I would be able to rob him when the time was right.' Hari's OPENING — a thief at work. Sets up the conflict.

'Anil was still asleep. I crept out of the room and went to the station.' The MOMENT of the theft. Short, simple sentences show Hari's focus.

'I had robbed him — and I was now a thief in a strange city.' Hari's REALISATION after the theft. He doesn't feel victorious — he feels EMPTY.

'The train was leaving. It was the Lucknow Express. But I could not bring myself to board it.' The TURNING POINT. Hari cannot go through with his escape.

'I went back to the room. I crept in and put the money back under the mattress.' The CLIMAX. Hari chooses REDEMPTION.

'I'll teach you to write full sentences.' Anil's FORGIVENESS — unspoken but clear. He knows what happened and chooses to continue.

9. AP Board Exam-Specific Tips

Common Exam Questions (AP Board Pattern)

1. Why did Hari Singh approach Anil? (2 marks) — To rob him, to find a place to stay
2. Why did Hari return the money? (4 marks) — Anil's trust, the desire for a different life, guilt
3. Character sketch of Hari Singh (4 marks) — Clever thief, survivor, transforms through trust
4. Character sketch of Anil (4 marks) — Kind, trusting, forgiving, teaches education
5. The theme of trust (6 marks) — How Anil's trust changes Hari
6. Why is education important in the story? (4 marks) — It offers Hari an alternative to theft

Important Points for AP Board Exams

• The story is told by HARI SINGH — first-person narration
• Anil KNOWS that Hari tried to steal — but forgives him silently
• The 600 rupees represent TEMPTATION and the possibility of change
• Reading and writing are SYMBOLS of transformation
• The story is about REDEMPTION, not crime

10. Indian and AP Context

Relevance to Indian Students

• Street children and poverty are REALITIES in India
• The story does not GLAMORISE crime — it shows its ROOTS
• Education as a PATH out of poverty is a powerful message
• Trust and forgiveness are VALUES in Indian culture

Andhra Pradesh Connections

• Child labour and street children exist in AP cities
• Government initiatives like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan aim to educate ALL children
• The story's message of SECOND CHANCES is relevant in AP's reformative approach
• Literacy as empowerment is a CORE VALUE in AP education policy

11. Common Mistakes Students Make

1. Hari returned the money because he was afraid — NO. He returned it because he CHOSE to. He was not caught.

2. Anil was rich — NO. Anil was a struggling writer. The 600 rupees was a significant amount for him.

3. Anil did not know about the theft — YES HE DID. He knew but chose to forgive silently.

4. Hari is a bad person — NO. He is a PRODUCT of his circumstances. The story is about his potential to CHANGE.

5. The story is about crime — More accurately, it is about REDEMPTION. The crime is the beginning, not the focus.

12. Lessons and Values

1. Trust can transform people — it is more powerful than suspicion
2. Everyone deserves a second chance
3. Education opens doors — literacy is the path to a better life
4. Silent forgiveness is powerful — sometimes not saying anything is the best response
5. Change is possible — no one is beyond redemption
6. Circumstances shape behaviour — understanding, not judging, is the path to change

13. Worked Examples (AP Board Pattern)

Example 1: Short Answer (2 marks)

Q: Why did Hari Singh decide to return the money? A: Hari Singh returned the money because Anil's TRUST had affected him deeply. Anil was the first person who had trusted him and given him a chance. He also wanted to LEARN to read and write — theft was no longer his only option. He chose REDEMPTION over escape.

Example 2: Character Sketch (4 marks)

Q: Write a character sketch of Hari Singh. A: Hari Singh is a 15-year-old THIEF who is CLEVER and RESOURCEFUL. He changes his name frequently to avoid capture. He approaches people, gains their trust, studies their routines, and then robs them. He initially sees Anil as just another victim. But Anil's TRUST and KINDNESS affect him in unexpected ways. Hari has an INTERNAL CONFLICT — the thief in him versus the person he COULD become. He steals the money but CANNOT leave. He returns it, choosing REDEMPTION. Hari represents the possibility of CHANGE — even a thief can become honest if given the right chance.

Example 3: Theme Analysis (6 marks)

Q: How does trust play a central role in 'The Thief's Story'? A: Trust is the ENGINE of the story. From the beginning, Anil trusts Hari despite having little reason to. He gives him a home, teaches him, and even leaves money where Hari can access it. This TRUST is what Hari has never experienced before. All his life, people have suspected him. Anil's trust DISRUPTS Hari's worldview. When Hari steals the money, he feels GUILTY not because he was caught but because he betrayed TRUST. He returns the money because he wants to BE WORTHY of that trust. Anil's silent forgiveness — his decision to continue trusting Hari even after the theft — completes the transformation. The story shows that TRUST is more powerful than SUSPICION in changing a person.

14. Conclusion

'The Thief's Story' is a GENTLE, HOPEFUL story about the possibility of change:

• A CLEVER THIEF who meets a kind teacher
• A PLAN to rob that LEADS TO REDEMPTION
• The POWER OF TRUST to transform
• The BEAUTY OF SILENT FORGIVENESS
• A story that says: people CAN change

For AP Board Class 10 students:

• This story is about the GOOD in people, not the bad
• Hari is not a villain — he is a SURVIVOR who finds a better path
• Anil is not naive — he is WISE in his trust
• In exams, focus on the TRANSFORMATION and the THEME OF TRUST

'The Thief's Story' — a thief who stole nothing, and found everything.