Question 1
Why does Hari return after stealing the money?
He realises that the stolen notes would provide only temporary gain, while Anil’s trust and the chance to learn could change his future. He returns the money before morning.
Chapter guide: central idea and structure
Hari Singh, a young thief, befriends Anil and steals his savings. After leaving, he returns the money and accepts the possibility of being discovered. Anil’s trust and promise to teach him become a chance for change.
Key ideas
- Trust and education can open a path away from wrongdoing.
- A moral choice can matter more than immediate gain.
- The story leaves the future open while suggesting hope.
Reading checklist
- Identify who is speaking and what changes.
- Support each interpretation with a detail from the text.
- Explain how the title, structure or ending develops the central idea.
Plot or image sequence
- Hari approaches Anil using a false name and offers help.
- Anil is generous but has irregular income and trusts Hari.
- Hari steals the money and leaves in the rain.
- He returns because he values the chance to learn and be trusted.
Important vocabulary
- flattery — excessive praise to gain favour
- unlined — not yet showing signs of worry or age
- damp — slightly wet
Answer-writing tip: Begin with a direct response, support it with a relevant event or image, and finish by linking the detail to the question. Avoid retelling the entire text.
Activity for close reading
Write a decision map for Hari: immediate benefit, long-term cost, relationship affected and alternative choice. Discuss how education changes his calculation.
This is an original study activity based on the text; use the prescribed book for the full work and exact exercise wording.
Solved questions in CBSE/PYQ style
Newly written practice modeled on common extract, inference, theme and character question patterns; these are not copied past-paper questions.
Question 2
How does Anil influence Hari?
Anil treats Hari with trust and offers to teach him to read and write. That opportunity gives Hari a reason to choose a different future.
Question 3
What is the significance of the final detail about the damp notes?
The wet notes suggest that Anil may suspect the theft, but he does not openly accuse Hari. The quiet response preserves trust and gives Hari room to reform.
Self-check
- Can I state the central idea in one or two sentences?
- Can I explain one important turning point, image or technique?
- Can I support my interpretation with evidence without copying long passages?
- Can I answer in the required word limit and keep the response focused?
Prepared as supplementary revision for CBSE Class X English Language and Literature 2026–27. Consult the current CBSE syllabus and your prescribed NCERT edition for assessment details.