Summary
The Thief’s Story by Ruskin Bond is about a young thief named Hari Singh, who, at just fifteen years old, befriends people to steal from them. One day, he meets Anil, a kind and simple man around twenty-five, who is a struggling writer. Hari tries to charm Anil and asks him for work. Anil agrees and offers to teach Hari basic skills like reading, writing, and cooking.

One night, Anil earns some money from his writing and places it under his mattress. Hari, tempted, steals the money and heads to the train station to escape. However, he misses his train and wanders the streets in the rain. Overcome with guilt, Hari realizes he feels bad about betraying Anil, who had treated him with kindness and taught him valuable skills. Eventually, Hari decides to return the money, sneaking it back under Anil’s mattress.

The next morning, Anil says nothing about the theft. Instead, he gives Hari fifty rupees, saying he had earned it, and promises to teach him more. When Hari notices the money is damp, he realizes Anil knew about his theft but chose to forgive him. This kindness deeply affects Hari, who decides to change and become a better person.

The story highlights the importance of trust, forgiveness, and the transformative power of kindness.