(Pre-intermediate) A Clever Thief by Nancy Bell

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Story

In a humble village in India, lived Hari-Sarman, a man who dreamt of escaping the toils of his daily life. Lazy and lacking ambition, he relied on the generosity of others to sustain his family. His wife, Vidya, shared his idleness, neglecting their children's future. However, fate took a turn when Hari-Sarman concocted a scheme to seek fortune in a distant city.

With false claims of wisdom and expertise, Hari-Sarman and Vidya embarked on their journey, leaving behind their impoverished existence. In the city, they found shelter under a wealthy merchant, who fell for Hari-Sarman's deceit and offered them employment.

As Hari-Sarman reveled in his newfound comfort, Vidya rediscovered purpose in her duties. Yet, Hari-Sarman's contentment was short-lived, overshadowed by his own envy and resentment towards his neglectful past.

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Driven by greed, Hari-Sarman devised a plan to manipulate his benefactor's trust. He stole a prized mare, hoping to regain attention and respect. His scheme succeeded temporarily, earning him recognition and rewards. However, his triumph was short-lived when confronted by a greater challenge – the theft of the king's treasures.

Caught in a web of lies and deceit, Hari-Sarman faced the wrath of the king, who demanded answers. Desperate to save himself, Hari-Sarman resorted to trickery once more. With cunning and manipulation, he uncovered the truth behind the theft, redeeming himself in the eyes of the king.

 

Yet, despite his apparent redemption, doubts lingered among the wise men of the court. Hari-Sarman's luck had run its course, and he knew his days of deception were numbered. Fearing retribution, he vanished into the night, leaving behind a legacy of deception and redemption.

In the end, Hari-Sarman's tale serves as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of deceit and the power of redemption. Though his actions may have brought temporary gain, true prosperity lies in honesty and integrity.

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Words and Idioms

⠂Humble (Adjective) - Not boasting or showing off; having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's importance.

⠂Escaping toils (Phrase) - The act of avoiding or getting away from hard or exhausting labor or effort.

⠂Idleness (Noun) - Being unwilling to work or use energy; laziness.

⠂Lacking Ambition (Phrase) - Not having a strong desire to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.

⠂Sustain (Verb) - To support, uphold, or maintain something over time.

⠂Generosity (Noun) - The quality of being kind and giving freely.

⠂Neglecting (Verb) - Ignoring or failing to care for or pay attention to something.

⠂Concocted (Verb) - Devised, created, or invented something, often using ingenuity or creativity.

⠂False claims (Phrase) - Statements or assertions that are untrue or not based on facts.

⠂Expertise (Noun) - A high level of skill or knowledge in a particular field.

⠂Embarked on (Phrase) - Started or begun a journey, task, or endeavor.

⠂Impoverished existence (Phrase) - Living in a state of extreme poverty or lacking basic necessities for a decent life.

⠂Shelter (Noun) - A place providing protection from danger or harsh weather conditions.

⠂Newfound comfort (Phrase) - A recently acquired state of ease, contentment, or relaxation.

⠂Rediscover (Verb) - To find or become aware of something again, especially after a period of forgetfulness or neglect.

⠂Contentment (Noun) - A state of happiness and satisfaction with one's life or circumstances.

⠂Overshadow (Verb) - To cast a shadow over; to make seem less important by comparison.

⠂Fortune (Noun) - Wealth or riches, typically acquired through luck or inheritance.

⠂Devise (Verb) - To invent or plan (something) by careful thought.

⠂Deceit (Noun) - The action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.

⠂Envy (Noun) - A feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck.

⠂Resentment (Noun) - Bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly.

⠂Greed (Noun) - Intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.

⠂Manipulate (Verb) - To control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously.

⠂Benefactor (Noun) - A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.

⠂A prized mare (Phrase) - A highly valued or cherished female horse.

⠂Temporarily (Adverb) - For a limited period of time; not permanently.

⠂Recognition (Noun) - The acknowledgment of someone's existence, validity, or achievements.

⠂Rewards (Noun) - Something given or received in return for effort or achievement.

⠂Triumph (Noun) - A great victory or achievement.

⠂Confront (Verb) - To face or address a challenging situation or person directly.

⠂Treasures (Noun) - Valuable or precious possessions.

⠂Redeem (Verb) - To compensate for the faults or bad aspects of something.

⠂Wrath (Noun) - Extreme anger or fury.

⠂Demand (Verb) - To forcefully ask for something as a right or due.

⠂Desperate (Adjective) - Feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with.

⠂Trickery (Noun) - The use of deception or cunning to achieve one's aims.

⠂Cunning (Adjective) - Having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion.

⠂Deception (Noun) - The act of deceiving someone; trickery.

⠂Redemption (Noun) - The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.

⠂Retribution (Noun) - Punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.

⠂A cautionary reminder of (Phrase) - A message or example intended to warn against a particular action or behavior.

⠂Prosperity (Noun) - The state of being successful or thriving, especially in financial terms.

⠂Integrity (Noun) - The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

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Questions

1. What motivated Hari-Sarman to leave his village and seek fortune in the city? a) His desire for adventure

b) His laziness and lack of ambition

c) His love for his family

d) His passion for helping others

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2. What lesson can we learn from Hari-Sarman's story?

a) Hard work and honesty lead to success.

b) Deception and trickery are acceptable in certain situations.

c) It's better to rely on others for sustenance than to work hard.

d) True happiness can only be found in material wealth.

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3. Why did Hari-Sarman resort to stealing the prized mare?

a) To impress the king

b) To gain respect and attention

c) To punish his benefactor

d) To prove his expertise in horse breeding

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4. What consequence did Hari-Sarman face for his deceitful actions? a) He was rewarded with treasures by the king.

b) He was celebrated as a hero in the city.

c) He faced the wrath of the king and was demanded answers.

d) He lived happily ever after with his family.

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5. What does the prized mare symbolize in the story?

a) Hari-Sarman's desire for material wealth

b) Vidya's newfound purpose

c) The generosity of their benefactor

d) The king's treasures

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6. How does Hari-Sarman's journey reflect the theme of redemption? a) He redeems himself through honesty and hard work.

b) He redeems himself by manipulating others.

c) He fails to redeem himself despite his efforts.

d) He finds redemption through his deceitful actions.

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Short writing topics:

1. Imagine you are Hari-Sarman's child. Write a letter expressing your feelings about your parents' actions and their impact on your future.

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2. Rewrite the ending of the story where Hari-Sarman chooses a path of honesty and integrity instead of deceit. How would the story change?

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3. Reflect on a time when you faced a difficult situation where you had to choose between honesty and deceit. How did you handle it, and what were the consequences?

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Answer Keys

1. b) His laziness and lack of ambition

2. a) Hard work and honesty lead to success.

3. b) To gain respect and attention

4. c) He faced the wrath of the king and was demanded answers.

5. a) Hari-Sarman's desire for material wealth

6. a) He redeems himself through honesty and hard work.

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Sample Short writing

1.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I hope this letter finds you well. I've been thinking a lot lately about our family and the choices we've made. While I understand that life hasn't always been easy for us, I can't help but feel disappointed by some of your actions. Your decision to rely on deceit and manipulation to get by has left a lasting impact on our family. Instead of teaching me the value of hard work and honesty, I've learned that it's okay to take shortcuts and deceive others. I worry about our future and whether we'll ever break free from this cycle of dishonesty. I love you both, but I hope we can find a way to build a better life together—one based on integrity and sincerity.

With love,

Your child

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2.

In the revised ending of the story, Hari-Sarman faces a moment of clarity where he realizes the consequences of his deceitful actions. Instead of continuing down the path of manipulation, he chooses to come clean and seek redemption. Hari-Sarman

approaches the king with honesty, admitting his mistakes and taking responsibility for his actions. Despite facing the king's wrath, Hari-Sarman remains steadfast in his commitment to integrity. As a result, he earns the king's respect and forgiveness, setting an example for others to follow. With newfound humility and a renewed sense of purpose, Hari-Sarman returns to his village determined to live a life guided by honesty and integrity. Though the road ahead may be challenging, Hari-Sarman knows that true prosperity lies in doing what is right, even when it's difficult.

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3.

One challenging situation where I had to choose between honesty and deceit was during a group project at school. My teammates and I were struggling to meet a deadline, and one of them suggested copying information from an online source without giving credit. At first, I felt tempted to go along with it to avoid conflict and meet the deadline. However, I knew deep down that it was wrong to plagiarize and deceive our teacher. I decided to speak up and express my concerns, despite facing resistance from my teammates. Ultimately, we chose to do the project honestly, even if it meant risking a lower grade. Although it was difficult at the time, I felt proud of our decision to uphold our integrity. In the end, our teacher commended us for our honesty and teamwork, reinforcing the importance of doing the right thing, even when it's hard.

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