The Thief's Story | Class 10 | CBSE | Summary | English |

Hari Singh, a young fifteen-year-old earned his living as a thief and a con. One day he befriended Anil, a struggling writer. Taking him into confidence, Hari Singh gets Anil to hire him on as a servant and a cook, though he did not know how to cook. Hari Singh agreed to get only food for the work he did.

The first meal cook was a complete disaster but Anil was overtaken by Hari Singh’s expression, allowing him to continue, as he began trusting Hari Singh. However, Hari Singh continued to make money through the grocery purchases that he did for Anil.

One day Anil, having sold his story came home with about Rs. 600. Hari Singh set his eyes on the money to steal it. That night when Anil slept with the money under his pillow, Hari Singh silently stole it and left for the railway station to board a train to Lucknow. Unfortunately, he missed it. He roamed through the bazaars. It was raining and Hari Singh was completely drenched.

Hari Singh thought of Anil and how Anil used to teach him. He then thought how sad he would be to find his money stolen. He realized that without being educated he would remain a thief all life long, but with education he could do some job and earn a decent living. 

Hari Singh had a change of heart and decided to return to Anil and keep the money under the pillow. However, the next morning, Anil gave Hari Singh Rs. 50 saying he had earned it and told him he would now be paid regularly. Hari Singh realized that his crime had been discovered as the note was still wet.