Maharashtra Board Textbook Solutions

Standard 10 – English

Chapter 1.2 – The Thief’s Story

🌿 Summary of the Lesson

The Thief’s Story is a meaningful story about trust, kindness, and transformation. The narrator, a young thief, meets Anil, a simple, kind, and struggling writer. The thief gains Anil’s trust and starts living with him as a cook.

At first, the narrator plans to rob Anil. However, he does not know how to cook, so Anil teaches him cooking and also begins teaching him how to read and write. Instead of paying him money, Anil supports him with food and education.

As the saying goes, “Old habits die hard,” the thief continues to cheat Anil by making small profits while buying daily supplies. One night, he finally steals money and decides to run away. However, his conscience pricks him. He feels guilty for betraying a kind and trusting person like Anil.

Unable to bear the guilt, he returns and quietly places the money back. The next morning, Anil gives him some money and promises to pay him regularly and teach him to write full sentences.

The story shows that love, trust, and kindness can reform even a thief and bring a positive change in his life.

📖 Meanings

Flattery: Insincere praise
Modestly: In a humble manner without boasting
Grunting: Making low, rough sounds
Appealing: Attractive or pleasing
By fits and starts: In short, irregular intervals
Unlined: Showing no signs of worry or anxiety
Heart sank: Felt disappointed or sad
Spirits rose: Became hopeful

🔶 Warming Up!

1. Read the following incident.

(a) In the given story, which words/phrases can be replaced by the following ones?

(i) became aware
Ans: realized

(ii) always
Ans: invariably

(iii) very upset and helpless
Ans: desperate

(iv) cheating
Ans: foul means

(v) without working for it
Ans: unearned

(vi) a sudden change
Ans: a turning point

(vii) gain/achieve
Ans: acquire

(b) Summarize the incident in 6 to 8 lines making Lokesh, the narrator

Begin with: I was always a class topper.

Ans: I was always a class topper in tests and examinations. However, I used foul means during exams to score high marks. One day, before a History examination, I realized that my friend Farhan had prepared for Mathematics instead. He was very anxious. I offered to help him by allowing him to copy from my answer sheet. However, he refused and said he preferred getting zero marks rather than cheating. His words made me realize my mistake. That day became a turning point in my life, and I decided to stop cheating forever and work hard honestly.

📜 In Between The Lesson

Q1. What is the narrator quite successful at?

Ans: The narrator is quite successful at robbing people.

Q2. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?

Ans: ‘I’ refers to the narrator, who is a young thief named Hari Singh.

Q3. Why did the narrator change his name every month?

Ans: The narrator changed his name every month to avoid being caught by the police and his former employers.

Q4. What favours did Anil do for the narrator?

Ans: Anil taught the narrator how to cook and write his name. He also promised to teach him to write full sentences.

Q5. What proves that the narrator still practiced deceit?

Ans: The narrator made a small profit of about one rupee every day while buying supplies, which shows that he still practiced deceit.

Q6. What could have caused the scars on Hari’s face?

Ans: The scars on Hari’s face could have been caused by fights or while escaping from the police or his previous employers.

Q7. Why did Hari hesitate to board the train?

Ans: Hari hesitated to board the train because he felt guilty for robbing a kind and trusting person like Anil.

Q8. Why does Hari believe that friends were more trouble than help?

Ans: Hari believed that friends were more trouble because they might betray him or inform the police about him.

Q9. What is face reading?

Ans: Face reading is the art of understanding a person’s character by observing their facial expressions.

Q10. What were Hari’s regrets as he pondered over his theft?

Ans: Hari regretted that he would lose Anil’s trust, miss his kindness, and lose the chance to learn reading and writing.

Q11. Why did Hari feel nervous?

Ans: Hari felt nervous because returning the stolen money without getting caught was difficult.

Q12. Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?

Ans: Yes, Anil realises he has been robbed because the notes were still damp from the rain.

Q13. Why did Hari give a genuine appealing smile?

Ans: Hari gave a genuine smile because he felt relieved and grateful that Anil had forgiven him.

📝 ENGLISH WORKSHOP

1. Complete the web diagram.

2. Insert the appropriate word/phrase

(a) I _____ the school gate when I heard the school bell ring.
Ans: dashed

(b) After the death of my pet dog, my _____ when my father got me a new pup.
Ans: spirits rose

(d) The artist completes his paintings _____.
Ans: by fits and starts

(e) The crime went _____ for 11 years.
Ans: undetected

(f) The baby gave an _____ smile.
Ans: appealing

3. (a) Collocations

(i) _____ dog
Ans: stray

(ii) _____ man
Ans: careless

(iii) ticket _____
Ans: office

(iv) _____ slowly
Ans: walked

(v) _____ drizzle
Ans: light

(vi) _____ sentences
Ans: whole

(vii) _____ spirits
Ans: risen

(b) Compound Words

(i) oil → rich
(ii) fifty → rupee
(iii) easy → going
(iv) tower → clock
(v) moon → light

(c) Code-mixing Examples

Ans: bazaar, maidan, pyjamas

4. Table

Total Characters	Name	Age	Appearance	Earned by	Qualities
2	Hari	15	Thin	Stealing	Clever, curious, eager to learn
2	Anil	25	Lean	Writing	Kind, simple, forgiving

5. Complete the Sentences

(a) Anil kept Hari as a cook because Hari needed a job and Anil wanted to help him learn.

(b) Hari was grateful for learning to cook and write his name.

(d) Anil didn’t hand Hari over to the police because he believed in reform through kindness.

(e) The moral of the story is kindness and trust can change a person.

6. Answer in your own words

(a) Why did Anil employ Hari as a cook, although he could not afford to pay him?
Ans: Anil employed Hari because he wanted to help him and teach him useful skills.

(b) What did Hari learn from Anil in the beginning?
Ans: Hari learnt cooking and writing his name.

(c) Why didn’t Anil hand over Hari to the police? What effect would it have had on Hari?
Ans: Anil did not hand him to the police because he wanted to reform him.

(d) Do you feel Anil’s way of handling a thief like Hari was effective? Justify your answer.
Ans: Yes, Anil’s method was effective because Hari changed his behaviour.

(e) What tact had Anil used to change Hari’s dishonest ways?
Ans: Anil used kindness, trust, and education to change Hari.

(f) ‘And the smile came by itself without any effort.’ Say why. When do people give fake smiles?
Ans: The smile came naturally because Hari felt relieved and happy. People give fake smiles to hide their true feelings.

7. Write a character sketch of ‘Hari Singh’ with the help of the following points, using the paragraph format.

Hari Singh’s background

His dishonesty

His aspirations

His courage to change himself

Ans: Hari Singh is a young and clever thief who lives by stealing. He is dishonest and changes his identity frequently. However, he is also curious and eager to learn. After meeting Anil, he gets an opportunity to improve himself. Though he initially cheats and even steals money, he later feels guilty. His conscience makes him return the money. This shows that he has a good heart and is ready to change. With Anil’s kindness, Hari begins a new life.

8. Frame ‘Wh’ questions to get the answers underlined below. (Change the first person pronouns to the second person where necessary.)

(a) Where did you hurry back?

(b) What had you made?

(d) Who showed acceptance?

(e) When did you make tea?

9. Dialogue Writing

Imagine that Anil catches Hari red-handed when Hari is stealing the money from under the mattress. Compose a short dialogue between the two, which reflects Anil’s shock and Hari’s repeated apologies.

Ans:

Anil: Hari, what are you doing here at this hour?
Hari: I am sorry, Anil. I made a mistake.
Anil: Were you trying to steal my money?
Hari: Yes, I am very sorry. I could not control myself.
Anil: I trusted you, Hari. Why did you do this?
Hari: Please forgive me. I will never repeat this again.
Anil: I hope you truly mean it.
Hari: Yes, I want to change and become a better person.