English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

In The Thief's Story, Ruskin Bond subtly conveys Anil's wisdom through his deliberate silence when he discovers the theft.

When Hari Singh returns the stolen money and places it back under the mattress, he believes he has gone undetected. However, the next morning, Anil hands him a fifty-rupee note — still wet from the night's rain — a clear sign that he knew. Despite this, Anil says nothing about the theft. He simply announces, "Today we'll start writing sentences," quietly reaffirming his commitment to educating Hari Singh.

Anil understood that confronting Hari Singh directly would destroy the fragile trust that had brought him back. Had Anil shown anger or handed him to the police, Hari Singh's chance at reformation would have ended. Instead, Anil's silence communicated forgiveness and faith more powerfully than any words could.

This is why Hari Singh's smile "came by itself, without any effort" — he felt genuine gratitude, not guilt. Anil's non-confrontational approach proved more transformative than punishment, showing that trust and kindness can reform a person where law and fear cannot.

Source: The Thief's Story, Chapter 2

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Examiners look for three things here:

• Evidence from the text (wet note, "Today we'll start writing sentences," the smile).
• Analysis of why Anil stays silent — he values trust and Hari's future over money.
• Effect on Hari Singh — the genuine, effortless smile signals real inner change.

Avoid retelling the whole plot. Focus on the morning scene and its significance. The wet note is the key detail that proves Anil knew — always mention it.