1. Why did Hari Singh think that Anil’s job was queer?
Anil contributed to magazines. He wrote for a living. He didn’t earn much. Nor did he have a regular income. He couldn’t afford to have a servant. So it was difficult for Hari Singh to understand his profession.
2. How and when did Hari Singh meet Anil?
Hari Singh met Anil when he was watching wrestling match. He found Anil easy going, kind and simple enough to suit his purpose. Anil’s trusting nature could help him in stealing or robbing him. Therefore, he offered himself to work for Anil. Anil had no regular income and couldn’t afford to pay him. But still Hari Singh exploited. Anil’s generosity and he forced Anil to keep him in his house.
3. Anil couldn’t afford to pay Hari Singh. Why did then, he allow Hari Singh to stay with him?
Hari Singh offered himself to work for Anil. Anil didn’t have a regular income and couldn’t afford to pay him regularly . Actually, he couldn’t afford to keep in servant. Hari Singh wanted to exploit such a kind-hearted and simple man like Anil. He lied that he knew how to cook. Generous Anil was forced to allow Hari Singh to stay with him in his house.
4. Why was it so difficult for Hari Singh to rob a trusting and unsuspecting person like Anil?
The fifteen-year-old thief, Hari Singh was an experienced and a fairly successful hand. It was easy to rob a greedy man because he could afford to be robbed. That could take all the pleasure out of the work of theft. Actually there was no thrill in robbing such a man.
5. Why did Hari Singh justify himself to rob Anil?
No doubt, Hari Singh was experienced and clever enough to justify his act. He justified the robbing of a careless and unsuspecting man like Anil. Hari Singh told himself that he was out of practice. Anil was a spendthrift. He must rob. If he didn’t take the money, Anil would waste it on his friends. Moreover, Anil didn’t pay him.
6. Why did Hari Singh lie that he knew how to cook? Why did Anil have to throw the food cooked by Hari to the stray dogs?
Hari Singh had carefully chosen a kind careless and unsuspecting target in Anil. When Anil asked if he knew how to cook, Hari Singh replied that he did. He deliberately told a lie. The food he prepared was really terrible. Anil had to throw it away to the stray dogs.
7. How did Hari Singh feel working for Anil? Did Anil know that Hari Singh was making a little money from purchases?
Hari Singh felt quite pleasant working for Anil. He would make tea for him in the morning. He would take his time for the day’s supplies. Usually, Hari would make profit of about a rupee a day. Anil knew about the stealing. But he allowed Hari to do so because he couldn’t afford to pay him regularly. He didn’t mind it.
8. How did Anil get that substantial money that he brought home in a bundle? How did it tempt Hari Singh?
Anil had no regular income. He wrote for magazines. One day he came home with a small bundle of notes. He had just sold a book to a publisher. Hari saw Anil tuck the money under the mattress of his bed. Such a large amount of money and his unsuspecting master made Hari Singh to steal it.
9. How did Hari Singh steal the money that Anil got from selling his book to a publisher?
Hari Singh saw with his own eyes how Anil tucked the bundle of money under the mattress of his bed. When Anil was asleep, Hari Singh crept up to the bed. He slid his hand under the mattress and drew the money out of the bundle without making a sound. Anil sighed in his sleep and turned on his side, towards him. Hari Singh got startled and quickly came out of the room.
10. Describe Hari Singh’s dilemma at the station. Why didn’t he jump into a compartment of the Lucknow Express when he could?
When he reached the station, Hari Singh did not stop at the ticket office because he never bought a ticket earlier. The Lucknow Express was just moving out. He could have jumped into one of the carriages. But he hesitated. Perhaps, he had not made a final decision in this regard. He wanted to go back to Anil.
11. What did Hari Singh think when he was standing alone on the deserted platform?
The train had gone. Hari Singh was in a dilemma. He was standing alone on the deserted platform. He had no idea where to spend the night. He had no friends. Nor did he want to go to hotel. The only person whom he knew and who could perhaps help him was the man whom he had robbed a few hours ago.
12. What did Hari Singh do in the ‘maidan’ and how did the notes become damp?
From the station, Hari Singh found himself in the ‘maidan’, He sat down on a bench. The November night was chilly. The heavy rain added to Hari Singh’s discomfort. His shirt and pyjamas stuck to his skin. He sat down in the shelter of the clock tower. He felt for the notes. They were damp from the rain.
13. How did Hari Singh forget about his education in the excitement of his theft? What did he think about it in the end?
Anil taught Hari Singh to write his name. He also promised to teach him making complete sentences and adding numbers. In his excitement of the theft, he forgot all about his education. But good sense prevailed and in the end, he realised that education could give him respect and much more money.
14. Why does Anil not hand Hari Singh over to the police?
Anil is a kind man. He wants to reform Hari Singh’s life. Although he knows about theft which Hari Singh has committed still he forgives Hari Singh. He does not hand him over to the police. It can stop his plan to give him basic education.
15. How and when did Hari Singh put the stolen money back at the same place from where he had stolen? Did Anil know it?
Hari Singh came back to Anil’s room. He didn’t want to breach Anil’s trust in him. He was feeling quite nervous. He crept to the head of the bed. His hand found the edge of the mattress. He slipped the notes under the mattress.
Yes Anil was aware of everything that was taking place in the room.
16. Why didn’t Anil hand Hari Singh over to the police even when he knew all about the theft?
Anil was careless and unsuspecting but not a fool. He knew how the boy stole money out of the daily shopping. He also knew all about the theft of his 600 rupees. He could have easily handed him over to the police. However he didn’t want to ruin Hari Singh’s life. He wanted to give an education to the unfortunate boy. So he gave a fifty rupee note and promised to pay him regularly. Neither his lips nor his eyes showed anything about the theft.