Footprints Without Feet – Chapter 2: The Thief's Story

About the Author: Ruskin Bond is an acclaimed Indian author of British descent, known for his stories about life in the Indian hills.

Summary: The story is about a 15-year-old thief who calls himself Hari Singh. He meets a young man named Anil at a wrestling match and tricks him into hiring him as a servant. Anil is a simple, trusting, and kind-hearted writer who earns money by writing for magazines. Hari Singh lives with Anil and learns to cook, write, and read. He gains Anil's trust. One day, he steals Anil's savings (₹600) and runs away. However, he feels guilty and returns to Anil, placing the money back under the mattress. He realizes that Anil's trust and the education he is receiving are more valuable than money. The story explores themes of trust, redemption, and the transformative power of kindness.

Hari Singh: He is a 15-year-old boy who is an experienced and clever thief. He uses different names to hide his identity. He is good at gaining people's trust. He is an orphan who has had to fend for himself. He is observant and learns quickly. He steals Anil's money but later returns it because he values Anil's trust and the education he is receiving. He represents a person who can change for the better when given love and kindness.

Anil: Anil is a young, simple, kind-hearted, and trusting writer. He lives a simple life and earns money by writing for magazines. He is not wealthy but is generous. He takes Hari Singh into his home, teaches him to cook, and even offers to teach him to read and write. He does not suspect Hari Singh when the money is stolen and is forgiving when the money is returned. His trust and kindness transform Hari Singh.

Answer: Hari Singh is a thief. He thinks he is successful in his profession because he is an experienced and clever thief. He believes he knows how to win people's confidence and has never been caught. He uses different names to hide his identity.

Answer: Hari Singh met Anil at a wrestling match. He approached Anil and started a conversation. He lied to Anil, saying that he wanted to work for him. Anil, being a kind and trusting person, agreed to take him home.

Answer: Anil was a writer who wrote for magazines to earn his living. He had a simple lifestyle. He lived in a small room. He earned money irregularly. He was not wealthy but was generous and kind. He did not worry much about money.

Answer: Hari Singh did not take Anil's money immediately because Anil had just received the money and kept it under the mattress. Hari Singh wanted to take it when Anil was asleep. He also did not want to be caught. He also felt that if he stole the money, he would lose the opportunity to learn to read and write from Anil.

Answer: Hari Singh returned the stolen money because he felt guilty. He realized that Anil's trust in him was precious. He also valued the education Anil was giving him. He understood that literacy would help him become a better person and have a brighter future. His conscience made him return the money.

Answer: Anil does not hand over Hari Singh to the police because he is kind-hearted and forgiving. He understands that Hari Singh is young and can change for the better. He knows that Hari Singh returned the money on his own, which shows that he has a conscience. Anil's trust and kindness are stronger than his anger. He believes in giving Hari Singh a second chance.

Answer: Education plays a transformative role in Hari Singh's life. Before meeting Anil, he was an illiterate thief. Anil teaches him to read and write. Hari Singh realizes that being educated will help him get a good job and live a respectable life. He understands that literacy is more valuable than money. Education gives him hope for a better future and motivates him to change his ways.

Answer: (Students should discuss in groups. Points: Trust helps build confidence. Kindness can transform even the most hardened person. Anil's trust in Hari Singh made him feel valued. When someone believes in you, you want to live up to that belief. Punishment and suspicion may harden a person, but kindness and trust can bring about genuine change.)

Answer: (Students should share their personal experiences.)

Gratified: pleased or satisfied
Conscience: an inner sense of right and wrong
Conviction: a firmly held belief
Struggle: a forceful effort to get free
Misunderstand: fail to interpret correctly
Chuckle: laugh quietly
Flattery: excessive and insincere praise
Engrossed: completely absorbed in something
Loomed: appeared as a shadowy form
Phony: not genuine; fake
Desperate: feeling hopeless or without hope
Repentance: feeling remorse for past wrongdoings

Answer:
(i) Hari Singh, the thief, is the speaker.
(ii) The speaker wanted to learn to read and write like an educated man.
(iii) The speaker feels he robbed Anil because he stole his money and betrayed his trust. He also feels guilty for not being honest with Anil.

Answer:
(i) Hari Singh is speaking to Anil.
(ii) The speaker's real intention was to gain Anil's trust so he could stay with him and eventually steal from him.
(iii) This reveals that Hari Singh is clever, manipulative, and good at pretending. He knows how to make people trust him.

Answer: Hari Singh returned because his conscience troubled him. He realized that by stealing Anil's money, he was also losing the opportunity to learn to read and write. He understood that education would help him become a better person and have a respectable future. He valued Anil's trust and kindness more than money. He also felt that Anil would be disappointed in him, and he did not want to lose the only person who had treated him with genuine kindness.

Answer: Initially, Hari Singh only saw Anil as a target for theft. He pretended to be a servant to gain his trust. However, as time passed, Hari Singh began to respect Anil's kindness and simplicity. Anil taught him to read and write, which made Hari Singh feel valued. When Hari Singh stole the money, he felt guilty and returned it. Anil did not punish him but continued to trust him. This shows that their relationship changed from one of deceit to one of mutual respect and care.

Answer: The story conveys that trust and kindness can transform even a thief. It shows that everyone has the potential to change for the better if given the right environment and opportunities. Education is a powerful tool that can uplift a person from a life of crime to a respectable life. The story also highlights that material wealth is not as valuable as human relationships and inner goodness.