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Imagine that Hari Singh, from The Thief's Story by Ruskin Bond, writes a diary entry, exploring the theme of trust and betrayal, and the nature of moral transformation, in the context of his own experience. Write this diary entry, as Hari Singh, in about 120 words.
Answer as written by the student:
Dear Diary,
Today I learned a valuable lesson about trust and betrayal. I almost ruined my chance to change my life for the better, but I was lucky enough to get a second chance.
You see, I am a thief. I have been stealing since I was ten years old. I don’t have a family or a home. I wander from place to place, changing my name and my employer every month. I don’t care about anyone or anything, except money.
But then I met Anil. He was a young writer who lived in a small room. He was not rich or famous, but he was kind and generous. He offered me a job as his cook and helper. He also promised to teach me how to read and write.
I liked Anil. He was the first person who treated me with respect and trust. He never asked me any questions about my past or my identity. He never locked his door or his suitcase. He shared everything he had with me.
But I was not grateful. I was greedy. One night, when he came back with a lot of money, I decided to steal it from him. I waited until he fell asleep, then I took the money from under his mattress and ran away.
I thought I was clever and smart, but I was wrong. As soon as I left his room, I felt a pang of guilt and regret. I realized that I had betrayed the only person who cared for me. I realized that money was not everything in life. I realized that I wanted to learn from Anil and become a better person.
I decided to go back and return the money. It was raining heavily, and I was soaked to the skin. But I did not care. I reached his room and put the money back under his mattress. Then I lay down on the floor and waited for the morning.
The next day, Anil woke me up with a smile. He gave me fifty rupees and said that he would pay me regularly from now on. He did not mention anything about the theft. He acted as if nothing had happened.
But I knew he knew. I knew he had forgiven me. I knew he had given me another chance.
I felt a surge of gratitude and affection for him. I felt ashamed of myself for trying to rob him. I felt hopeful for my future.
I decided to never steal again. I decided to work hard and learn from Anil. I decided to be honest and loyal to him.
I think this is the beginning of a new life for me.
Thank you, Anil.
Thank you, Diary.
Hari Singh
Step-by-step explanation of the answer:
- Start with a salutation, such as “Dear Diary”, and the date of the entry.
- Write in the first person point of view, using “I” and “me” to refer to yourself as Hari Singh.
- Write in the past tense, as you are recounting the events that happened on that day.
- Write about your feelings and thoughts, as well as your actions and experiences. Use descriptive words and phrases to express your emotions and opinions.
- Write about the theme of trust and betrayal, and how it relates to your relationship with Anil. Explain why you decided to steal from him, and why you regretted it later. Also, write about how Anil trusted you and forgave you, and how that made you feel.
- Write about the nature of moral transformation, and how it relates to your character development. Explain how you changed from a thief who only cared about money to a person who wanted to learn and improve himself. Also, write about how Anil helped you with your education and your future.
- End with a closing remark, such as “Thank you, Anil”, or “Thank you, Diary”, or both. You can also write about your hopes or plans for the next day.
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