A Clever Thief by S.M. Mitra (2020)

Name: A Clever Thief
Author: S.M. Mitra

In a small Indian village, a lazy man named Hari-Sarman and his equally indolent wife, Vidya, struggle to provide for their large family. Tired of their impoverished life, they decide to move to a city where Hari-Sarman plans to pose as a wise man capable of revealing secrets. Upon arriving, they are taken in by a wealthy merchant who offers them work, while their children are sent to a farm. As preparations for the merchant's daughter's wedding unfold, Vidya becomes engrossed in her new life, neglecting Hari-Sarman, who feels lonely and unappreciated. In a bid for attention and food, he devises a plan to steal the merchant's prized mare, believing that once the mare is discovered missing, he will be called upon for his supposed wisdom. After successfully hiding the mare, the merchant's daughter discovers the theft, prompting the merchant to offer a reward for its return. Vidya suspects Hari-Sarman's involvement and convinces the merchant to summon him. Initially resistant, Hari-Sarman eventually agrees to help, revealing a fabricated location of the mare. The merchant, pleased with the recovery, rewards Hari-Sarman, who continues to harbor resentment towards Vidya for her neglect. However, trouble arises when a significant amount of gold and jewels goes missing from the king's palace. The king, hearing of Hari-Sarman's previous success, demands he reveal the thief. Hari-Sarman, terrified, requests time to think and is imprisoned when the king refuses. In despair, he reflects on his situation, inadvertently invoking the name of Jihva, a servant girl who had aided the thief. Jihva, fearing exposure, sneaks into the prison to plead with Hari-Sarman. She confesses her role in the theft, and he cleverly negotiates for her money in exchange for silence. After she leaves, Hari-Sarman devises a plan to lead the king to the hidden treasure without revealing the thief's identity. When brought before the king again, Hari-Sarman pretends to need more time but ultimately leads the king's men to the treasure's location. The king, delighted, rewards him handsomely, but wise men at court grow suspicious of Hari-Sarman's abilities. They devise a test involving a closed pitcher, and Hari-Sarman, in a moment of luck, inadvertently reveals the presence of a frog inside by recalling a childhood nickname. The king, convinced of Hari-Sarman's wisdom, grants him further riches and a home, while Hari-Sarman, aware of his narrow escapes, plans to flee with his newfound wealth. Before he can execute his plan, he disappears, leaving his family with the rewards, while the king remains oblivious to the truth of Hari-Sarman's deception. Only one wise man, Deva-Jnanin, harbors doubts but chooses to keep them to himself, concluding that the man's past is irrelevant now that he is gone.

By S.M. Mitra · First published 2020 · Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure · 8 chapters · 4,656 words

First lines

A certain man, named Hari-Sarman, who lived in a little village in India, where there were no rich people and everyone had to work hard to get his daily bread, got very weary of the life he had to lead. He had a wife whose name was Vidya, and a large family; and even if he had been very industrious it would have been difficult for him to get enough food for them all. Unfortunately he was not a bit industrious, but very lazy, and so was his wife. Neither of them made any attempt to teach their boys and girls to earn their own living; and if the other poor people in the village had not helped them, they would have starved. Hari-Sarman used to send his children out in different directions to beg or steal, whilst he and Vidya stayed at home doing nothing.

What this Textopian page supports

A Clever Thief is listed on Textopian as a short story by S.M. Mitra, dated 2020 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: S.M. Mitra
Date: 2020 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Morality Tale, Satire
Length: 4,656 words
Structure: 8 chapters, 41 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Fiction — The narrative is a fictional story centered around the character Hari-Sarman and his adventures.
Fantasy — Elements of magic and deception are present, particularly in Hari-Sarman's ability to reveal secrets.
Adventure — The plot involves a journey and various escapades, including theft and evasion.
Morality Tale — The story conveys moral lessons about laziness, deception, and the consequences of one's actions.