Question

Why did the thief make friends with Anil?

Hint:

When answering character-based questions, always describe both the nature of the character who takes the action (the thief) and the qualities of the person they interact with (Anil). This creates a balanced and complete answer.

Answer 1

The thief, who narrates the story in “The Thief’s Story” by Ruskin Bond, was a young boy of only fifteen years. He was clever, experienced in cheating people, and always looked for opportunities to steal. However, he also believed in carefully choosing his victims. He often targeted simple and unsuspecting people who would not easily doubt him.
When he saw Anil, he realized that Anil was the perfect person for him. Anil was about twenty-five years old, a kind-hearted man, generous in nature, and very simple in his habits. He was a writer by profession, though his income was irregular. He earned some money by writing articles, but he did not have the habit of saving. Whatever he earned, he spent carelessly on his basic needs or gave away to others.
The thief noticed Anil’s innocence and careless lifestyle. He knew that if he gained Anil’s trust, he could easily get access to his money. Therefore, he approached Anil with the purpose of befriending him. To make Anil believe in his honesty, he pretended to be a humble and trustworthy boy. Anil, being kind-hearted, accepted him and even allowed him to stay at his house.
Thus, the thief made friends with Anil mainly because he saw in him an easy victim. Anil’s simplicity, generosity, and trusting nature gave the thief confidence that sooner or later, he would be able to steal from him. This shows how cunning the thief was in choosing his targets.