The Thief’s Story Class 10 Questions and Answers
Read and find out :
(Page 8)
Question 1.
Who is the ‘I’ in this story?
इस कहानी में ‘I’ कौन है ?
Answer:
‘I’ in this story is Hari, a young boy who is a thief.
Question 2.
What is he ‘a fairly successful hand” at?
वह किसमें काफी सफल था?
Answer:
He has been a fairly successful hand in deceiving and stealing money of his masters and not being caught so far.
Question 3.
What does he get from Anil in return for his work?
वह अपने काम के बदले में अनिल से क्या पाता है ?
Answer:
He gets food and accommodation in return for his work. Anil also teachers him how to write names and numbers.
(Page 10)
Question 1.
How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
चोर के विचार में अनिल पर चोरी की प्रतिक्रिया क्या होगी?
Answer:
He thinks Anil will feel sad and hurt not because of loss of money but because of loss of trust.
Question 2.
What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed ?
वह लुटने के बाद लोगों की विभिन्न प्रतिक्रियाओं के बारे में Read?
Answer:
The greedy man will show fear, the rich man will show anger and the poor man will show acceptance but a careless person like Anil may not even detect that he has been robbed.
Question 3.
Does Anil realise that he has been robbed ?
क्या अनिल महसूस करता है कि वह लूटा गया है ?
Answer:
I think Anil realised that he had been robbed when he saw the wet notes but he did not make a mention of it because he saw the shadow of repentance in the restored money.
Textbook Questions
Think about it :
Question 1.
What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education ? Do they change over time?
शिक्षित होने पर भविष्य की आशाओं के प्रति हरि सिंह की क्या प्रतिक्रियाएँ हैं? क्या समय के साथ वे बदलती हैं? कौन-सी बात उसे अनिल के पास वापस लाती है ?
(Hint: Compare, for example, the thought : “I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve” with these later thoughts. “Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else.” What makes him return to Anil ?]
Answer:
When Anil told Hari Singh that he would teach him how to write names and numbers, his mind was still wandering in the vicious circle. He, perhaps thought of looting persons by forging (wei B2) their signature. The following statement reveals his intentions-I knew that once I could write like an educated man, there would be no limit to what I could achieve.”
Later on, he was influenced by the traits of Anil’s character. The trust Anil reposed in him, his kindness, generosity and affection made a mark on his heart. He no longer wanted to be a thief, a cheater or a deceiver but wanted to become a respectable gentleman, as is obvious from his following statement, “Whole sentences, I knew could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal-and sometimes as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else.”
Question 2.
Why does not Anil hand the thief over to the police? Do you think most people would have done so ? In what ways is Anil different from such employers ?
अनिल चोर को पुलिस के हवाले क्यों नहीं करता? आपके विचार में ज्यादातर लोगों ने यही किया होता ? अनिल किस रूप में ऐसे मालिकों से भिन्न है?
Answer:
I think most other employers would have handed over the thief to the police. But Anil was different. He was a kind hearted, compassionate and understanding person. He knew that trust, affection and sympathy can change a person whereas the rough, cruel way of police and company of criminals in the prison could make him a hardened criminal.
Moreover, Hari’s returning the money already showed that he was on the track of reform and needed only a push to go which he gave him by announcing to pay him a regular salary and teaching him full sentences.
Talk about it
Question 1.
Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in real life?
क्या आपके विचार में अनिल तथा हरि सिंह जैसे लोग कहानियों में ही मिलते हैं अथवा असली जिन्दगी में भी होते हैं?
Answer:
I do think people like Anil and Hari Singh are not only in fiction but are also found in real-life. Though the number of Hari Singhs is much more than Anils. Every other day we read in the newspapers that the servant of the house first won the trust of his master and then finding the right time he escaped with the valuables. The police records are full of such cases.
But people like Anil are very few who are rarely noticed for they do not publisize their action. Ramdeen, my grandfather’s servant once stole a few hundred rupees but was caught. When he told my father that he had stolen that money for the marriage of his daughter.
My grandfather not only returned him the stolen money but gave double the amount. Ramdeen was so impressed by my grandfather’s generosity that he never stole again till he died in that very house.
Question 2.
Do you think it a significant detail in the story that Anil is a struggling writer ? Does this explain his behaviour in any way ?
अनिल एक संघर्ष करता लेखक है-आपके विचार में क्या यह कहानी का एक महत्त्वपूर्ण विवरण है? क्या यह किसी तरह से उसके व्यवहार का स्पष्टीकरण है ?
Answer:
I don’t think it is a significant detail of the story. It does not influence him in any way. As a struggling writer, who earns by fits and starts (irregularly), he should have been careful with his money but he squanders it with his friends when he receives it. His compassionate, kind behaviour is due to his basic nature, the traits that he might have imbibed from his parents or environment.
Question 3.
Have you met anyone like Hari Sing? Can you think and imagine the circumstances that can turn a fifteen-year-old boy into a thief?
क्या आप हरि सिंह जैसे किसी व्यक्ति से मिले हैं ? क्या आप उन परिस्थितियों के विषय में सोच सकते हैं व कल्पना कर सकते हैं जिन्होंने एक पन्द्रह साल के लड़के को चोर बना दिया ?
Answer:
It is my belief that no child is a thief or a criminal by birth but circumstances, society or bitter experiences make him one. I have heard many cases like that of Hari Singh. In my uncle’s village there was a young boy. Ganesh who was studying in class VIII. He was the only son of his parents. The family lived happily.
Ganesh was an obedient, polite much loved boy. Unfortunately, his parents died in an accident. His uncles grabbed, his land and property and turned him out of the house. It is heard that he joined a gang of dacoits and killed two of his uncles to take revenge. How a young boy turned into a criminal ? Isn’t it all because of the injustice and cruelty of his uncles ?
Question 4.
Where is the story set? (you can get clues from the names of the persons and places mentioned in it. Which language or languages are spoken in these places? Do you think the characters in the story spoke to each other in English ?
कहानी की पृष्ठभूमि क्या है ? (आप इसमें आये व्यक्तियों तथा स्थानों के नाम से संकेत ले सकते हैं) इन स्थानों पर कौन-सी भाषा/भाषाएं बोली जाती हैं। क्या आपके विचार में पात्र एक-दूसरे से अंग्रेजी में बात करते थे?
Answer:
I think the setting of the story is in Uttar Pradesh. The languages spoken there are Hindi and Urdu. I don’t think characters in the story spoke with each other in English. Hari Singh who is not educated, would not be speaking in English with Anil. Also, at home we mostly speak in our mother tongue, which is Hindi/Urdu here.
Additional questions extract based questions
Answer the questions that follow the extracts in 30-40 words :
1. He took me to his room over the Jumna Sweet Shop and told me I could sleep on the balcony. But the meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil gave it to a stray dog and told me to be off. But I just hung around, smiling in my most appealing way, and he couldn’t help laughing.
Question i.
What was the occupation of the narrator? How did he land up at Anil’s place?
Answer:
The narrator, Hari Singh, was a thief. He was experienced and fairly successful. When he wanted to make his life easy, he landed upon Anil who looked easygoing, kind and simple enough for his purpose.
Question ii.
On what pretext did Hari convince Anilto have him in his place? How successful was he?
Answer:
Hari lied to Anil that he could cook for him. But he cooked a terrible meal that night and Anil threw it to a stray dog.
2. I could come and go as I pleased. He was the most trusting person I had ever met.
Question i.
How did Hari came to be accepted by Anil in his house?
Answer:
Though Anil knew that Hari lied that he could cook well, he accepted him. He offered to teach Hari Singh, and gave him responsibility of buying the day’s supplies. Anil even gave Hari a spare key of the house so that he could come and go as he pleased.
Question ii.
What nature of Anil made Hari think of robbing him?
Answer:
Anil was a simple, kind and easygoing person, in the first place. He accepted Hari though he lied that he could cook. Anil trusted him so much, inspite of Hari cheating him on the shopping. Hari found Anil to be the most trusting person he had ever met and so he thought of robbing him.
3. Well, it’s time I did some real work, I told myself; I’m out of practice. And if I don’t take the money, he’ll only waste it on his friends. After all, he doesn’t even pay me.
Question i.
What was the real work that the narrator was thinking about? Why?
Answer:
The ‘real work the narrator was thinking about was ‘stealing. He was an experienced thief. After landing up in Anil’s place, he did not have the opportunity to resume his occupation’
Question ii.
Do you agree with Hari Singh’s justification of robbing Anil? Why?
Answer:
No, Hari Singh’s justification of robbing Anil is not agreeable. Just because he had lost his practice of ‘stealing and Anil had a bundle of notes, Hari Singh should not think of robbing Anil. For, Anil had been the most trusting person who had offered to give him education, though not any wage for his work.
4. I hurried back to the room feeling very nervous, for it is much easier to steal something than to return undetected.
Question i.
Why did the narrator hurry back to room nervous?
Answer:
Hari Singh, the narrator stole Anil’s money and tried to flee the city. When he reached the railway platform and saw the Lucknow Express moving out, something stopped him. With no idea where to go and with the prospects of education from Anil, Hari Singh hurried back nervous.
Question ii.
What did Hari steal and why did he decide to return undetected?
Answer:
Hari Singh stole Anil’s six hundred rupees and tried to flee the city. But something stopped him after he reached the railway station. With no idea of his destination and the luring prospects of education, he came back and decided to return the money undetected.
Short answer type Questions
Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words.
Question 1.
Hari had committed theft a number of times. Why was he not arrested even once so far?
Answer:
Hari used to employ himself as a servant, win the confidence of his master and then robbed him. After every theft, he used to change the place and his name. So the police could never keep a track of him and he could not be arrested.
Question 2
Why did Hari Singh choose Anil to be his next victim ?
Answer:
Hari Singh was an experienced thief. He found Anil, a wrestler an easy-going, kind and simple man, the correct person for his purpose. He found him an easy target to win confidence.
Question 3.
Why did Hari Singh tell a lie about cooking ?
Answer:
Hari Singh said that he could cook but when he cooked the meal at night, it was so terrible that Anil gave it to a stray dog and told him to be off. But then Anil patted him and said that he would teach him to cook
Question 4.
Why did Hari Singh decide to come back to Anil ?
Answer:
Hari Singh decided to come back to Anil because he felt that when Anil would come to know about the theft, he would feel sad, not for the loss of money but for the loss of trust. He did not want to lose his trust.
Question 5.
Why did Hari Singh choose Anil to be his next victim ?
Answer:
Hari Singh was an experienced thief. He found Anil, a wrestler an easy-going, kind and simple man, the correct person for his purpose. He found him an easy target to win confidence.
Question 6.
How did Hari made a little money for himself ? How did Anil take it?
Answer:
Hari used to go for buying daily supplies. He cheated about one rupee per day from shopping. Anil knew about it but never bothered and let Hari cheat him.
Question 7.
Why did Hari Singh tell a lie about cooking ?
Answer:
Hari Singh knew that Anil would hire him only if he could cook. However, Hari did not know how to cook. Still, as he wanted to somehow rob Anil, he told the lie to gain entry into Anil’s house.’
Question 8.
Why did Hari Singh not go to his friend’s house or a hotel just after he missed the train ?
Answer:
Hari Singh did not have any friend and he did not want to make anyone curious by staying at one of the small hotels near the station.
Question 9.
Why was it difficult for Hari Singh to rob Anil ?
Answer:
It was difficult to rob Anil because he was the most trusting person Hari Singh had ever met. According to Hari Singh, it’s easy to rob a greedy man because he can afford to be robbed but it’s difficult to rob a careless man because he doesn’t even notice that he’s been robbed and that takes all the pleasure out of the work.
Question 10.
How and where did Hari Singh spend the night ?
Answer:
After stealing Anil’s money, Hari Singh went to board the Lucknow Express. But an invisible force stopped him to board it. After leaving the station, he sat on a bench in a maidan. It started raining heavily. He got wet, felt cold, again came to bazaar and sat under the shelter of the clock tower.
Question 11.
Sitting under the shelter of the clock tower, money still tucked under the string of his pyjama, what realisation came to Hari ? What did he resolve to do?
Answer:
Hari realised that if he ran away with the stolen money, he would also lose the chance of learning to read and write which Anil used to teach him. He wanted to be a really educated, clever and respectable man. So he resolved to return the money and get back to Anil.
Question 12.
Describe Hari Singh, the young and successful thief.
Answer:
Hari Singh was a fifteen-year-old boy who had already gained much expertise in the field of thievery. He knew how to find prospective victims, and used his intelligence to get close to them. Even when he was being taught how to read and write, his first thought was how he could use it to his benefit while thieving.
Question 13.
Why did Anil forgive Hari Singh ?
Answer:
Anil was a kind and sympathetic person. He knew that trust and compassion can reform a person. Hari Singh’s returning of money showed that he had already taken the path of reform and needed only a gentle, encouraging push to go on. So, he made no mention of money being stolen and returned. He never wanted to embarrass him. He forgave him.
Question 14.
Why did Hari Singh feel bad after stealing the money ?
Answer:
Anil had trusted Hari Singh completely and also taught him how to cook. Anil also started teaching him how to read and write. Thus, when Hari stole money from Anil, his conscience pricked him as he had broken Anil’s trust.
Question 15.
What are the different reactions of the people when they are robbed ?
Answer:
According to Hari Singh, different people react differently upon being robbed. The greedy man displays fear, the rich man shows anger, and the poor man shows acceptance. However, a trusting man like Anil would be sad due to the loss of trust.
Question 16.
Why did Anil decide to pay Hari Singh regularly ?
Answer:
Anil handed Hari Singh a fifty-rupee note as payment for his services. He went on to say that since he had started making money, he would pay Hari regularly. However, I believe that Anil knew about Hari, and did not want him to be tempted again for want of money.
Question 17.
How did Hari Singh realise that Anil knew about his theft ?
Answer:
Anil gave him a fifty rupees note in the morning, which was still damp from the night’s rain. Anil told him that he would start teaching him how to write full sentences and smiled at him. This made Hari Singh realise that Anil knew everything.
Question 18.
In which queer way did Anil make a living?
Answer:
Anil made a living by writing for magazines. Sometimes, he wrote and sold books to the publishers.’ He made money by fits and starts.
Question 19.
Hari Singh is both a thief and a human being. Explain?
Answer:
Hari Singh was a thief. He used to rob people by taking on a new name everytime he planned to rob someone. He also tried to steal money from his master Anil but his master’s kind-hearted and caring nature changed his heart. he returned the stolen money and became a respected, educated gentleman. So we can say he is a thief as well as human being.
Long answer type Questions
Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words.
Question 1.
Anil plays a major role in the transformation of Hari Singh. Comment on the statement by highlighting the values possessed by Anil which touched Hari’s heart and made him return to his honest ways of earning his livelihood.
Answer:
Anil was a struggling writer who befriended Hari Singh. Hari Singh was an experienced, 15 year old thief. He found Anil an easy target to steal. Anil offered him to stay with him and to teach how to read and write. Gradually, Anil develops trust in Hari Singh. But Hari Singh was waiting for the right opportunity to do what he was best at.
After stealing money, he tried to go away forever but some inner voice stopped him from doing so. He returned to Anil because he wanted to live a life of respect. Anil did not show that he knew the incident and accepted Hari with open hands. Thus, a well intentioned person, Anil changed Hari Singh and brought him on right path. The story shows that trust and spirit to forgive someone can bring big changes in someone’s life.
Question 2.
Hari Singh didn’t confess that he robbed Anil. Did he lack courage to do so or he really wanted to maintain his relationship with Anil at any cost ? Explain the values Hari needed to imbibe in about 100-150 words.
Answer:
Hari Singh was a teenager, of 15. He was good at stealing. He chose Anil to be his next target as he was a struggling author and a simple person. Hari Singh started living with Anil who in turn, started teaching him how to read and write. Hari Singh, one day got the opportunity to steal Anil’s money. He left out with the money to go away forever but his inner voice stopped him.
He returned back and kept the money in place. Next morning he started with his routine work and didn’t tell anything about the incident to Anil. He was a teenager and lacked courage to face Anil with his truth. He did not want to lose Anil’s trust. He wanted to maintain the relationship with Anil, wanted to get education and become a respected man. So, he hid the incident from Anil.
Question 3.
“But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man was something else.” Hari Singh finally accepted the importance of education and honest living. What do you think about the role of education in changing people like Hari ? Comment on it by highlighting the values one imbibes through education.
Answer:
Hari Singh finally realized the significance of education in life. He understood that stealing would only provide him money temporarily. Also, there was the risk of being caught. Education provides one with respectability, and Hari finally saw that. Educating people, rather kids like Hari, can help them immensely.
Children typically turn to stealing out of desperation. They fail to see the difference between right and wrong and continue on the path of crime. Education enables them to see this difference. It leads them on the path of truth and rational thinking. Thus education is an essential aspect of any child’s life, and can help culminate in an honourable way of living.
Question 4.
Hari Singh believed that it was difficult to rob a man like Anil. Do you think that he really appreciated kind people ? Why do you think he found it difficult to cheat a asarlme man like Anil ? Discuss the values that stop a person from doing something wrong.
Answer:
Hari did appreciate kind people as is evident from the story. In the descriptions that he gives about various people, Anil stands apart. Perhaps it was the first time that anyone had done so much for Hari. Later, as he was running away after robbing Anil, his conscience kept pricking him. He was unable to betray the trust of the kind Anil.
It was perhaps also because Hari was not a hardened criminal. He had probably become a thief due to circumstance, not by choice. His innate goodness and natural capacity to distinguish right from wrong stopped him from doing further wrong. These values help others too.
Question 5.
Give a brief character-sketch of Hari Singh.
Or
Bring out the salient traits of Hari Singa’s character.
Answer:
- Hari Singh was only 15 years old. Yet he was an experienced and successful thief. His victims were chiefly his employers.
- He was an orphan, with no friends in the town. He rather avoided making friends because they could not be trusted in his trade.
- He was good at face reading. He chose Anil as his next victim because he looked easy going, kind and simple.
- He was good at flattery. He flattered Anil and gave him most appealing smiles to please him.
- He was quite clever. He changed his name and place after every robbery, that was why he was never traced and caught by police.
- He was fond of reading and writing.
- He wanted to become an educated, respectable gentleman His this desire was one of the reasons of returning back to Anil who was teaching him how to read and write.
- He was not totally bad. Perhaps circumstances or society had made him a thief.
- He could not betray his benefactor, protector and guide. His revived goodness, reformed him and brought him back to Anil along with the stolen money.
Question 6.
Give a brief character-sketch of Anil.
Answer:
Anil, was about 25-a tall, lean fellow.
- He looked easy-going. kind and simple-hearted.
- He was a free lance writer.
- His Income was irregular and uncertain.
- He lived alone in a room with a balcony attached to it. He used to cook his food himself.
- He was careless in money matters.
- When- ever he got a cheque for the articles sent to some magazine, he celebrated the occasion.
- He spent money on his friends.
- Hari, the thief, found him the most trusting person he had ever met. He was kind, compassionate and caring. He taught
- Hari how to cook, read and write.
- He did not mind being cheated by Hari.
- He changed the heart of Hari with his trust, compassion and willingness to teach him.
Question 7.
The chapter shows Hari Singh’s journey from a thief to an honest man who values friendship and other human values. Do you think it was Anil’s selfless friendship that helped Hari to redeem himself ? Give reasons in support of your answer in 100-150 words.
Answer:
The chapter reveals Hari Singh’s transformation from a thief into an honest man. It was Anil’s selfless friendship that helped Hari to redeem himself. Gradually the thief, Hari Singh, began to understand human values such as friendship and trust.
When he robbed Anil, he felt guilty of having violated the trust that Anil had reposed in him. Therefore, he could not board the train and missed his chance to get away. Moreover, he understood and even valued Anil’s friendship feelings toward him as he knew that after discovering the theft, Anil would not be sad for loss of money, but for loss of trust.
Question 8.
“You look a bit of a wrestler yourself.” I said. A little flattery helps in making friends. Hari Singh believed that a little flattery can help in making friends. Did he lack love and empathy ? Was his attitude towards friendship acceptable or not ? Explain the values one must have to win over true friends.
Answer:
Hari Singh was an experienced thief. He knew how to win others’ trust. He saw Anil who was watching a wrestling match, he was a slim, lean man of 25. He found him an easy target to rob. He started talking to him by saying that he looked like a wrestler. Then he told Anil that he wanted to work for him.
When Anil told him that he could not pay him, he, in order to win his confidence asked Anil if he could feed him. This kind of attitude is not acceptable to win over true friends. True friends show love, empathy and true care for their friends.
Question 9.
“I couldn’t cook his meals, run to the bazaar or learn to write whole sentences anymore.” Hari Singh could not at once come out of the idea of working for Anil. Do you think he accepted the joy of earning money by following the path of honesty ? Explain the values highlighted through Hari’s character in 100-150 word.
Answer:
When Hari Singh saw Anil for the first time, he found him to be simple, easy-going, kind and easy to fool around. He thought he would be the right person to rob. He offered himself to work for him. When Anil said that he could not pay him, he said if he could feed him. Anil replied that if he knew how to cook, then he would let him work in his house.
When he stayed there for a month, he realised Anil was the most difficult person to rob as he was the most trusting person. Although, one night he stole six hundred rupees but returned back to Anil as he realised that getting education would be far more important in life than money. Hence, he accepted the joy of earning money by following the path of honesty.
Complete text with hindi translation :
Text (Page-8): A young boy makes friends with Anil. Anil trusts him completely and employs him.Does the boy betray his trust?
Vocabulary :
- stay (स्टे) – live ठहरना, रहना
- trusts (ट्रस्टस) – believes, has faith in विश्वास करता है
- betray (बिट्रे) – to cheat धोखा देता है
अनुवाद : एक युवक अनिल के साथ दोस्ती करता हैं। अनिल उस पर पूरी तरह भरोसा करता है और उसे नौकरी पर रख लेता है। क्या वह उसके भरोसे को धोखा देता है?
Text (Page-8): I was still a thief when I met Anil. And though only 15, I was an experienced and fairly successful hand.
Vocabulary:
- fairly (फेयरली) satisfactorily सन्तोषजनक।
अनुवाद : मैं जब अनिल से मिला उस समय भी चोर था। और यद्यपि मेरी आयु 15 वर्ष थी, फिर भी मैं काफी अनुभवी तथा सफल चोर था।
Text (Page-8) : Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about 25-a tall, lean fellow-and he looked easy going, kind and simple enough for my purpose. I hadn’t had much luck of late and thought I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence.
Vocabulary :
- wrestling (रेस्लिंग) – a sport where two men fight कुश्ती
- approached (एप्रोच्ड) – reached पहुँचा
- lean (लीन) – thin पतला
- easy going (इजीगोयिंग) – carefree बेपरवाह
- confidence (कान्फिडेंस) – trust विश्वास
अनुवाद : अनिल एक कुश्ती का मैच देख रहा था जब मैं उसके पास पहुँचा। वह 25 वर्ष का लम्बा, इकहरे बदन का युवक था-और वह कुछ बेपरवाह, दयालु और मेरे काम के लिए पर्याप्त सीधा सादा व्यक्ति था। कुछ दिनों से मेरी किस्मत साथ नहीं दे रही थी और मैंने सोचा कि मैं शायद इस युवक का विश्वास जीत लूँ।
Text (Page-8): “You look a bit of a wrestler yourself,” I said. A little flattery helps in making friends.
“So do you,” he replied, which put me off for a moment because at that time I was rather thin.
“Well,” I said modestly, I do wrestle a bit.” “What’s your name?”
Vocabulary :
- flattery (फ्लैट्ररि) – buttering चापलूसी
- modestly (मॉडेस्टली) – humbly विनम्रता से
अनुवाद : “आप स्वयं भी कुछ पहलवान से लगते हैं”, मैंने कहा। थोड़ी-सी चापलूसी मित्र बनाने में सहायक होती है। “उसी प्रकार तुम भी पहलवान दिखते हो”, उसने उत्तर दिया। मुझे एक क्षण के लिए निरुत्तर कर दिया क्योंकि उस समय मैं काफी दुबलापतला था। “ठीक है”, मैंने विनम्रतापूर्वक कहा, “मैं थोड़ी कुश्ती करता हूँ।” “क्या नाम है तुम्हारा?”
Text (Page-8) : “Hari Singh”, I lied. I took a new name every month. That kept me ahead of the police and my former employers. After this introduction, Anil talked about the well oiled wrestlers who were grunting, lifting and throwing each other about. I didn’t have much to say. Anil walked away. I followed casually.
Vocabulary:
- ahead (अहैड) – in advance आगे
- former (फोर्मर) – previous पहले
- grunting (ग्रन्टिंग) – creating guttaral round घरघराना
- casually (कैवली) – simply साधारण रूप से
अनुवाद : “हरि सिंह”, मैं झूठ बोला। मैं हर माह एक नया नाम ले लेता था। इससे मैं पुलिस तथा अपने पूर्ववर्ती नौकरी देने वालों से बचता रहा था। इस परिचय के पश्चात अनिल ने तेल लगाए पहलवानों के बारे में बातें कीं, वे गुर्रा रहे थे, एक-दूसरे को उठाकर फेंक रहे थे। मेरे पास कहने को कुछ अधिक नहीं था। अनिल चल दिया। मैं भी यों ही उसके पीछे चल दिया।
Text (Page-8) : “Hello again,” he said.
I gave him my most appealing smile. “I want to work for you,” I said.
“But I can’t pay you.”
I thought that over for a minute. Perhaps I had misjudged my man. I asked, “Can you feed me?”
“Can you cook ?”
“I can cook”, I lied again.
“If you can cook, then may be I can feed you.”
Vocabulary :
- appealing (अपीलिंग) – attractive आकर्षक
- misjudged (मिसजज्ड) – wrongly गलत अनुमान लगाया
अनुवाद : “हेलो, दोबारा”, वह बोला।
मैंने उसे अपनी सर्वाधिक आकर्षक मुस्कान दी। “मैं आपकी सेवा करना चाहता है,” मैंने कहा।
“पर मैं तुम्हें वेतन नहीं दे सकता।”
मैंने एक मिनट तक सोचा। शायद मैंने इस व्यक्ति को पहचानने में गलती की थी, मैंने पूछा, “क्या आप मुझे खाना तो खिला सकते हैं?”
“क्या तुम्हें खाना पकाना आता है?”
“मैं भोजन पका सकता हूँ,” मैंने पुनः झूठ बोला।
“यदि तुम खाना पका सकते हो तो शायद मैं तुम्हें खाना खिला भी सकूँ।”
Text (Page-9) : He took me to his room over the Jumna Sweet Shop and told me I could sleep on the balcony. But the meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil gave it to a stray dog and told me to be off. But I just hung around, smiling in my most appealing way, and he couldn’t help laughing.
Vocabulary :
- terrible (टैरिबल) – very bad बहुत खराब
- stray dog (स्ट्रे डॉग) – street dog गली का कुत्ता
- hung around (हंग अराउंड) – आस-पास घूमते रहना, मंडराना
अनुवाद : वह मुझे अपने कमरे में ले गया जो जमुना मिठाई भण्डार के ऊपर था, तथा मुझे बोला कि तुम छज्जे में सो सकते हो। पर उस रात जो भोजन मैंने पकाया अवश्य ही बहुत खराब रहा होगा क्योंकि अनिल ने उसे एक आवारा कुत्ते को खिला दिया तथा मुझे चले जाने को कहा। पर मैं आस-पास मँडराता रहा, आकर्षक तरीके से मुस्कुराता रहा, और वह भी हँसे बिना न रह सका।
Text (Page-9) : Later, he patted me on the head and said never mind, he’d teach me to cook. He also taught me to write my name and said he would soon teach me to write whole sentences and to add numbers. I was grateful. I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve.
Vocabulary:
- patted (पैटिड) – tapped affectionately प्यार से थपथपाया
- grateful (ग्रेटफुल) – obliged, thankful आभारी
- achieve (अचीव) – to gain प्राप्त करना।
अनुवाद : बाद में उसने मुझे सिर पर थपथपाया और कहा कोई बात नहीं, मैं तुम्हें भोजन पकाना सिखा दूंगा। उसने मुझे अपना नाम लिखना तथा संख्या जोड़ना भी सिखाया । मैं बहुत आभारी था। मैं जानता था कि एक बार यदि मैं किसी शिक्षित व्यक्ति की भाँति लिखना सीख गया तो मैं बहुत आगे बढ़ जाऊँगा।
Text (Page-9): It was quite pleasant working for Anil. I made the tea in the morning and then would take my time buying the day’s supplies, usually making a profit of about a rupee a day. I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind.
अनुवाद : अनिल के लिए काम करना सुखद था। मैं प्रात: चाय बनाता और फिर सामान खरीदने जाता, उस खरीद में हर दिन एक रुपया बचा लेता था। शायद वह जानता था कि मैं इस प्रकार से कुछ पैसा कमा लेता हूँ। पर उसने बुरा नहीं माना।
Text (Page-10) : Anil made money by fits and starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He kept worrying about his next cheque, but as soon as it arrived he would go out and celebrate. It seems he wrote for magazines a queer way to make a living.
Vocabulary :
- by fits and starts (बाई फिट्स एण्ड स्टार्टस) – not regularly अनियमित रूप से
- celebrate (सैलीब्रेट) – make merry उत्सव मनाना
- queer (क्चीर) – strange विचित्र
अनुवाद : अनिल पैसा नियमित रूप से नहीं कमाता था। वह एक सप्ताह तो उधार लेता था और दूसरे सप्ताह उधार देता था। वह अपनी अगली चैक के लिए परेशान रहता था पर जैसे ही चेक आता, वह घर से निकल जाता तथा जश्न मनाता। ऐसा लगता था कि वह पत्रिकाओं के लिए लेख आदि लिखता था-रोजी कमाने का कैसा विचित्र तरीका था।
Text (Page-10): One evening he came home with a small bundle of notes, saying he had just sold a book to a publisher. At night, I saw him tuck the money under the mattress.
Vocabulary :
- publisher (पब्लिशर) – one who publishes books प्रकाशक
- tuck (टक) – keep folded under दबा कर किसी के नीचे रखना।
अनुवाद : एक शाम वह नोटों की छोटी सी गड्डी लेकर घर आया, उसने बताया कि उसकी एक पुस्तक अभी-अभी प्रकाशक ने खरीद ली है। रात को मैंने अनिल को वह गड्डी अपने गद्दे के नीचे रखते देख लिया।
Text (Page-10): I had been working for Anil for almost a month and, apart from cheating on the shopping, had not done anything in my line of work. I had every opportunity for doing so. Anil had given me a key to the door, and I could come and go as I pleased. He was the most trusting person I had ever met.
Vocabulary :
- apart (अपार्ट) – except सिवाय
- opportunity (अपारच्यूनिटी) – chance अवसर
- trusting (ट्रस्टिंग) – having faith विश्वास करना
अनुवाद : मैं अनिल के लिए लगभग एक माह से काम कर रहा था तथा सामान खरीदने में जो मैं हेरा-फेरी करता था उसके अलावा मैंने और कोई छल नहीं किया था। मुझे चोरी करने का पूरा अवसर था। अनिल ने दरवाजे की एक चाबी मुझे दे दी थी और मैं इच्छानुसार कमरे में आ जा सकता था। उस जैसा विश्वास करने वाला व्यक्ति मैंने दूसरा नहीं देखा।
Text (Page-10): And that is why it was so difficult to rob him. It’s easy to robagreedy man, because he can afford to be robbed; but it’s difficult to rob a careless man-sometimes he doesn’t even notice he’s robbed and that takes all the pleasure out of the work.
अनुवाद : इसी कारण उसे लूटना इतना कठिन बन गया। किसी लोभी व्यक्ति को लूटना आसान है क्योंकि वह लूटे जाना सहन कर सकता है, पर किसी लापरवाह व्यक्ति को लूटना कठिन काम हैकभी-कभी उसे पता भी नहीं चलता था कि उसे लूटा जा रहा है, इसलिए चोरी करने का सारा मजा भी समाप्त हो जाता है।
Text (Page-10) : Well, it’s time I did some real work, I told myself; I’m out of practice. And if I don’t take the money, he’ll only waste it on his friends. After all, he doesn’t even pay me.
अनुवाद : अब समय था कि मैं कुछ वास्तविक धंधा करूँ मैंने स्वयं से कहा। मेरा अभ्यास टूट चुका है। और यदि मैं पैसा नहीं लेता, तो अनिल उस पैसे को अपने मित्रों पर लुटा देगा। और फिर अनिल मुझे कोई वेतन भी तो नहीं देता।
Text (Page-10) : Anil was asleep. A beam of moonlight stepped over the balcony and fell on the bed. I sat up on the floor, considering the situation. If I took the money, I could catch the 10.30 Express to Lucknow. Slipping out of the blanket, I crept up to the bed. Anil was sleeping peacefully. His face was clear and unlined; even I had more marks on my face, though mine were mostly scars.
Vocabulary :
- beam (बीम) – ray किरण
- crept up (क्रेप्ट अप) – erawled रेंग कर आई
- scars (स्कास) – cut marks or mark of healed wound जख्मों के निशान
अनुवाद : अनिल सो रहा था। चन्द्रमा की एक किरण छज्जे को पार करके अनिल के बिस्तर पर पड़ रही थी। मैं फर्श पर उठकर बैठ गया, स्थिति पर मैंने विचार किया। यदि मैं पैसा चुरा लेता हूँ तो साढ़े दस बजे लखनऊ एक्सप्रेस पकड़ लूँगा। कम्बल से बाहर निकलकर मैं उसके पलंग के निकट गया। अनिल शांतिपूर्वक सोया हुआ था। उसका चेहस साफ और कसावयुक्त था, मेरे अपने चेहरे पर अनिल से अधिक निशान थे, यद्यपि मेरे निशान अधिकतर चोट लगने वाले दाग थे।
Text (Page-10) : My hand slid under the mattress, searching for the notes. When I found them, I drew them out without a sound. Anil sighed in his sleep and turned on his side, towards me. I was startled and quickly crawled out of the room.
Vocabulary :
- slid (स्लिड) – slipped सरका
- sighed (साईड) – breathed heavily गहरी साँस ली
- startled (स्टार्टल्ड) – surprised हैरानी से चौंक गया
- crawled (क्राल्ड) – to walk on knees घुटनों के बल चलकर
अनुवाद : मैंने अपना हाथ गद्दे के नीचे डाला तथा नोट तलाशे। जब. नोट मुझे मिल गया तो मैंने बिना किसी आवाज के उन्हें निकाल लिया। अनिल ने नींद में एक आह भरी तथा मेरी ओर करवट बदली। मैं चौंक गया तथा वेग से कमरे से बाहर निकल गया।
Text (Page-10) : When I was on the road, I began to run, I had the notes at my waist, held there by the string of my pyjamas. I slowed down to a walk and counted the notes : 600 rupees in fifties! I could live like an oil-rich Arab for a week or two.
Vocabulary :
- string (स्ट्रिंग) – very thick thread मोटा धागा
- waist (वेस्ट) – कमर
अनुवाद : जब मैं सड़क पर आ गया तो दौड़ने लगा। नोट मेरी कमर में थे, वे पाजामे के नाड़े से बंधे थे। मैं धीरे-धीरे चलने लगा तथा नोट गिने। पचास-पचास के नोट में 600 रुपए थे। अब मैं एक-दो सप्ताह पेट्रोल से धनी बने अरब की भाँति रह सकता था।
Text (Page-11) : When I reached the station I did not stop at the ticket office (I had never bought a ticket in my life) but dashed straight on the platform. The Lucknow Express was just moving out. The train had still to pick up speed and I should have been able to jump into one of the carriages, but I hesitated-for some reason I can’t explain-and I lost the chance to get away.
Vocabulary :
- dashed (डैशड) – rushed तेजी से आया
- hesitated (हैजीटेटिड) – reluctant हिचकिचाया
अनुवाद : जब मैं स्टेशन पहुँचा तो मैं टिकट खिड़की पर नहीं रुका। (मैंने अपने जीवन में कभी टिकट खरीदा ही नहीं था)। वरन् मैं सीधा प्लेटफार्म की ओर भागा। लखनऊ एक्सप्रेस अभी-अभी चल पड़ी थी। अभी उसकी गति में तेजी नहीं आई थी और मैं किसी डिब्बे में उछल कर चढ़ सकता था। पर मैं संकोच कर गया-क्यों संकोच किया इसका कारण मैं नहीं बता सकता और मैंने वहाँ से भाग जाने का अवसर खो दिया।
Text (Page-11) : When the train had gone, I found myself standing alone on the deserted platform, I had no idea where to spend the night. I had no friends, believing that friends were more trouble than help. And I did not want to make anyone curious by staying at one of the small hotels near the station. The only person I know really well was the man I had robbed. Leaving the station, I walked slowly through the bazaar.
Vocabulary :
- deserted (डिजर्टिड) – lonely सुनसान
- curious (क्यूरिअस) – anxious उत्सुक
अनुवाद : जब गाड़ी चली गई तो मैंने स्वयं को वीरान प्लेटफार्म पर अकेला खड़ा पाया। मुझे पता नहीं था कि रात कहाँ काढूंगा। मेरे कोई मित्र नहीं थे, क्योंकि मित्र सहायता कम करते हैं, तंग अधिक करते हैं। और मैं स्टेशन के निकट किसी छोटे से होटल में ठहरकर लोगों के मन में जिज्ञासा नहीं पैदा करना चाहता था। मेरा एकमात्र परिचित व्यक्ति वही था जिसे मैंने लूटा था। स्टेशन से निकल कर मैं बाजार से गुजरा।
Text (Page-11): In my short career as a thief, I had made a study of men’s faces when they had lost their goods. The greedy man showed fear; the rich man showed anger; the poor man showed acceptance. But I knew that Anil’s face, when he discovered the theft, would show only a touch of sadness. Not for the loss of money, but for the loss of trust.
Vocabulary :
- career (करियर) – professional life व्यवसायिक जीवन
- acceptance (असैप्टन्स) – agreement स्वीकृति
अनुवाद : चोर बनने के अल्प समय में मैंने लोगों के चेहरों का अध्ययन करना सीख लिया था जब उनका सामान खो जाता था। लोभी व्यक्ति भय दिखाता है; धनी व्यक्ति क्रोध, निर्धन व्यक्ति स्थिति स्वीकार कर लेता है। पर मैं जानता था कि अनिल के चेहरे पर चोरी का पता चलने पर केवल उदासी की झलक दिखाई देगी। पैसा खो देने के कारण नहीं वरन् विश्वास खो देने के कारण।
Text (Page-11) : I found myself in the maidan and sat down on, a bench. The night was chilly-it was early November-and a light drizzle added to my discomfort. Soon it was raining quite heavily. My shirt and pyjamas stuck to my skin, and a cold wind blewo the rain across my face.
Vocabulary :
- chilly (चिल्ली) – very cold अत्यधिक ठण्ड
- drizzle (ड्रिजल) – shower हल्की बूंदाबांदी
- discomfort (डिसकम्फर्ट) – uneasiness असुविधा
- stuck (स्टक) – clung चिपक गए
अनुवाद : मैंने स्वयं को मैदान में पहुंचा पाया और वहीं एक बेंच पर बैठ गया। रात बहुत ठण्डी थी-नवम्बर की शुरूआत थी-हल्की बूंदाबाँदी ने मेरी तकलीफ बढ़ा दी थी। शीघ्र ही तेज वर्षा होने लगी। मेरी कमीज तथा पायजामा मेरी त्वचा से चिपक गए तथा ठण्डी हवा मेरे चेहरे पर थपेड़े मारने लगी।
Text (Page-12) : I went back to the bazaar and sat down in the shelter of the clock tower. The clock showed midnight. I felt for the notes. They were damp from the rain.
Vocabulary :
- shelter (शैल्टर) – protection सुरक्षा, आश्रय
- damp (डैम्प) – soggy, wet सीले, हल्के गीले, नम
अनुवाद : मैं बाजार वापस गया तथा घंटाघर के आश्रय में बैठ गया। घड़ी ने रात के 12 बजाए। मैंने नोटों को टटोला। वे वर्षा के कारण नम हो पए थे।
Text (Page-12) : Anil’s money. In the morning he would probably have given me two or three rupees to go to the cinema, but now I had it all. I couldn’t cook his meals, run to the bazaar or learn to write whole sentences any more.
Vocabulary:
- probably (प्राबेबली) – possibly सम्भवतया।
अनुवाद : अनिल का पैसा। प्रात: वह शायद मुझे दो या तीन रुपए दे देता कि सिनेमा चले जाना, पर अब तो मेरे पास सारा पैसा है। मैं अब उसका भोजन नहीं पका सकता, बाजार खरीदारी करने नहीं जा सकता तथा पूरा वाक्य लिखना भी नहीं सीख सकता।
Text (Page-12): I had forgotten about them in the excitement of the theft. Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal- and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else. I should go back to Anil, I told myself, if only to learn to read and write.
Vocabulary :
- excitement (एक्साइटमैंट) rise of emotion उत्तेजना।
अनुवाद : मैं चोरी की खुशी में ये सब बातें तो भूल ही गया था। मैं जानता था कि पूरा वाक्य लिख पाना एक दिन मुझे कई सौ रुपए कमाने योग्य बना देगा। चोरी करना तो सरल काम है-तथा कभी-कभी पकड़ा जाना भी सरल होता है। पर सचमुच महान व्यक्ति, चतुर और सम्मानित व्यक्ति बनना भिन्न बात होती है। मैंने स्वयं से कहा चलें. अनिल के पास ही लौट चलें, उसके पास पढ़ना-लिखना तो सीख ही लूँगा।
Text (Page-12): I hurried back to the room feeling very nervous, for it is much easier to steal something than to return it undetected. I opened the door quietly, then stood in the doorway, in clouded moonlight. Anil was still asleep.
I crept to the head of the bed, and my hand came up with the notes. I felt his breath on my hand, I remained still for a minute. Then my hand found the edge of the mattress, and slipped under it with the notes.
Vocabulary:
- undetected (अनडिटैक्टिड) – unnoticed बिना पकड़े जाना, चोरी पकड़ी जाना
- doorway (डोरबे) – threshold दहलीज
अनुवाद : मैं तेज कदमों से घबराया हुआ कमरे में लौटने को चल दिया क्योंकि चोरी करना जितना आसान है उतना उस धन को बिना पकड़े गए लौटा पाना सरल नहीं होता। मैंने धीरे से दरवाजा खोला, फिर द्वार पर खड़ा रहा, बादलों में चाँदनी छिप रही थी। अनिल अभी भी सोया हुआ था। मैं उसके पलंग के सिरहाने गया, अपना नोट लिया हाथ निकाला। मैंने उसकी साँसों को हाथ पर महसूस किया। एक क्षण मैं निश्चल खड़ा रहा। फिर मेरे हाथ ने गद्दे का किनारा खोजा, और मैंने नोट उसके नीचे रख दिए।
Text (Page-12) : I awoke late next morning to find that Anil had already made the tea. He stretched out his hand towards me. There was a fifty-rupee note between his fingers. My heart sank. I thought I had been discovered.
Vocabulary:
- awoke (अबोक) – जगा
- stretched (स्टरैच्ड) – spread out फैलाया
अनुवाद : मैं अगली प्रातः उठा तो पाया कि अनिल पहले ही चाय बना चुका था। उसने अपना हाथ मेरी ओर फैलाया। उसकी अंगुलियों के बीच पचास रुपए का नोट था। मेरा दिल बैठ गया। मैंने सोचा कि मेरी चोरी पकड़ ली गई।
Text (Page-12):”I made some money yesterday,” he explained. “Now you’ll be paid regularly..
My spirits rose. But when I took the note, I saw it was still wet from the night’s rain.
Vocabulary :
- spirits rose (स्पिरिट्स रोज़) – encouraged हौसला बढ़ा।
अनुवाद : “कल मैंने कुछ पैसे बनाए थे”, उसने स्पष्ट किया। अब तुम्हें नियमित रूप से वेतन मिला करेगा। मेरा हौसला बढ़ गया। पर मैंने नोट थामा और देखा कि वह रात की वर्षा के कारण अभी भी गीला था।
Text (Page-12) : “Today we’ll start writing sentences,” he said. He knew. But neither his lips not his eyes showed anything. I smiled at Anil in my most appealing way. And the smile came by itself, without any effort.
Vocabulary:
- effort (एफर्ट) – attempt कोशिश, प्रयत्न, प्रयास।
अनुवाद : “आज हम वाक्य लिखना शुरू करेंगे,” उसने कहा। वह जानता था पर यह बात न तो उसके होंठों पर आई और न ही आँखों ने दर्शायी। मैंने अनिल को अपनी सर्वाधिक आकर्षक मुस्कान दी। और यह मुस्कान बिना किसी प्रयास के स्वयंमेव आ गई थी।