BONKU BABU’S FRIEND

Detailed Summary of "Bonku Babu’s Friend" from Treasure Chest

"Bonku Babu’s Friend" is a short and interes ng story wri en by Satyajit Ray. It is
about a simple and quiet schoolteacher named Bonku Babu, who is o en made
fun of by the people in his village. However, one night, he meets a strange visitor
from another planet, and this mee ng changes his life forever.

Bonku Babu’s Life in the Village

Bonku Babu is a geography teacher in a small village. He is a kind and gentle man
but is also very mid (shy and afraid to speak up). Because of this, the people in
his village do not respect him.
Every evening, some of the important men in the village gather at Nondo Babu’s
house to talk and have fun. They always mock and tease Bonku Babu, calling him
names and making jokes about him. Even though he does not like it, he never
protests or speaks up for himself. Instead, he just smiles and stays quiet.
Bonku Babu does not have many friends. He leads a simple life and has never
done anything brave or exci ng. He feels small and unimportant.

The Strange Encounter

One evening, while walking home a er school, Bonku Babu no ces a bright light
coming from a field. He is curious, so he goes closer to see what it is.
To his shock, he sees a spaceship si ng in the middle of the field. A strange
creature is standing next to it. The creature is an alien named Ang.
Ang tells Bonku Babu that he has come from another planet. He is friendly and
speaks to Bonku Babu with respect—something that no one else in the village
ever does.
Bonku Babu is both excited and scared. He has never seen anything like this
before. He listens carefully as Ang tells him about his travels to different planets
and how he studies different kinds of people.
Then, Ang does something amazing. He touches Bonku Babu’s forehead and
suddenly, Bonku Babu feels strong and confident. It is as if Ang has given him a
new sense of courage.
A er this, the spaceship takes off into the sky, and the alien disappears.

Bonku Babu’s Transforma on

The next day, Bonku Babu feels different. He walks with confidence and does not
feel afraid anymore.
That evening, he goes to Nondo Babu’s house like he always does. As usual, the
men start making fun of him. But this me, instead of staying quiet, Bonku Babu
stands up for himself!
He speaks firmly and tells them that they have no right to make fun of him. The
men are shocked because they have never seen Bonku Babu speak like this
before. They realize that he is not the same mid man they used to tease.
From that day on, Bonku Babu is no longer afraid. He is a new person, full of
confidence and self-respect.

Main Messages of the Story

1. Believe in Yourself – Bonku Babu was always afraid, but a er mee ng Ang,
he realized that he was strong and important too.
2. Do Not Let Others Mock You – Bonku Babu always stayed silent when
people laughed at him, but he finally learned to stand up for himself.
3. Kindness Ma ers – Unlike the villagers, Ang treated Bonku Babu with
respect and changed his life for the be er.
This is a wonderful and inspiring story that teaches us the importance of self-
confidence and respect.
 OLIVER ASKS FOR MORE

Detailed Summary of "Oliver Asks for More" from Treasure Chest

"Oliver Asks for More" is an excerpt from Charles Dickens' famous novel Oliver
Twist. The story is about Oliver Twist, a poor orphan boy who lives in a
workhouse. He and the other boys suffer from hunger and mistreatment, and one
day, Oliver gathers the courage to ask for more food.

Life in the Workhouse

Oliver Twist was born in a workhouse, a place where poor and homeless people
were given shelter in exchange for work. However, the condi ons in the
workhouse were terrible. The children were given very li le food—just a small
bowl of watery gruel (a thin porridge) three mes a day.
The boys were always hungry. They were so desperate for food that they
some mes tried to lick the inside of their empty bowls to get the last bits.

The Boys’ Plan

One day, the boys became so hungry that they decided to take a chance. They
drew lots (a type of game to decide randomly) to pick someone who would ask for
more food. The unlucky boy chosen was Oliver Twist.
Even though he was scared, Oliver knew he had to do it.

Oliver Asks for More

That evening, a er finishing his small bowl of gruel, Oliver stood up and walked to
the master, who was serving the food. Holding out his empty bowl, he bravely
said:
"Please, sir, I want some more."
Everyone in the room froze in shock. The master was so surprised and angry that
he hit Oliver on the head with a ladle. The other workers in the workhouse could
not believe what had just happened.

The Punishment
The workhouse authori es were furious. They saw Oliver’s request as
disobedience. Mr. Bumble, the beadle (a minor church officer in charge of the
workhouse), was informed. He was a cruel and harsh man who did not care about
the orphans.
As punishment, Oliver was locked in a dark room. The workhouse decided to get
rid of him and offered five pounds to anyone who would take him away.

Themes in the Story

1. Cruelty Towards the Poor – The workhouse treated children badly and gave
them almost no food.
2. Courage and Bravery – Oliver was brave enough to ask for more food, even
though he knew he could be punished.
3. Unfair Treatment of Orphans – Oliver had no family to help him, and the
people in charge were unkind and selfish.
This story is a powerful example of how poor children were treated badly in the
past. Despite his struggles, Oliver’s courage shows that he never gave up hope.
 THE MODEL MILLIONARE

Detailed Summary of "The Model Millionaire" from Treasure Chest

"The Model Millionaire" is a short story wri en by Oscar Wilde. It is a humorous
and touching story about Hughie Erskine, a charming but poor young man, who
unknowingly helps a millionaire and gets a surprising reward. The story highlights
themes of kindness, generosity, and unexpected fortune.

Introduc on: Hughie Erskine’s Struggles

Hughie Erskine was a handsome and charming young man, but he was not rich. He
had no steady job and no way to earn a good living. He had tried different
professions, but none had worked out. His father had le him only a small income
of 200 pounds a year, which was not enough for a comfortable life.
Hughie was deeply in love with Laura Merton, the daughter of a re red Colonel.
Laura loved Hughie too, but her father had one condi on for their marriage:
Hughie must have at least 10,000 pounds of his own before he could marry Laura.
This was a huge problem for Hughie, as he had no money and no job.

Hughie Visits His Friend Alan Trevor

One day, Hughie went to visit his friend Alan Trevor, who was a talented painter.
Alan was working on a portrait of a beggar, and Hughie was surprised to see how
realis c and lifelike the beggar looked.
The beggar was old, dressed in rags, and looked red and miserable. He sat
pa ently as Alan painted him. Hughie felt sorry for the poor man and wanted to
help him. Without thinking much, Hughie took out a gold sovereign (a coin worth
one pound) from his pocket and gave it to the beggar. The beggar looked at him in
surprise but silently accepted the money.
A Shocking Surprise
Later that evening, Hughie met Alan Trevor again. Alan laughed loudly when he
saw Hughie and told him something shocking—the beggar was not a real beggar!
He was actually Baron Hausberg, one of the richest men in Europe! He was a
millionaire, but he had agreed to pose as a beggar for Alan’s pain ng because Alan
wanted a realis c model. Hughie was shocked and embarrassed. He thought he
had made a fool of himself by giving money to one of the richest men in the
world.
However, Alan told Hughie that Baron Hausberg was impressed by his kindness
and generosity.

A Happy Ending: The Gi from the Millionaire

The next morning, a messenger came to Hughie’s house with a le er. Inside the
le er was a cheque for 10,000 pounds, sent by Baron Hausberg as a wedding gi !
Baron Hausberg had been touched by Hughie’s good heart and decided to help
him. With this money, Hughie could now marry Laura and live a happy life.
At the wedding, Baron Hausberg a ended as a guest, and Alan Trevor joked:
“Millionaire models are rare enough, but model millionaires are even rarer.”

Themes of the Story

1. Kindness is Rewarded – Hughie gave money to someone he thought was
poor, and in return, he got a huge reward.
2. True Wealth is in the Heart – Even though Hughie was not rich, he was
generous and kind. That made him special.
3. Unexpected Surprises – Life can be full of surprises, and some mes good
deeds bring unexpected rewards.
Moral of the Story: Goodness and generosity always come back in unexpected
ways!
 THE HOME-COMING

Detailed Summary of "The Homecoming" from Treasure Chest

"The Homecoming" is a short story wri en by Rabindranath Tagore. It is about
Pha k Chakravor , a restless and mischievous boy who is sent away from his
village to live in the city with his uncle. The story explores themes of childhood,
longing for home, and emo onal neglect.

Pha k’s Life in the Village

Pha k was a 14-year-old boy who lived in a small village with his mother and
younger brother, Makhan. He was mischievous, playful, and full of energy. He
loved playing with the other boys in the village and o en got into trouble because
of his pranks.
One day, Pha k and his friends decided to push a heavy wooden log into the river
for fun. However, his younger brother Makhan refused to help and sat on the log
instead. Pha k got angry and pushed Makhan off. Makhan fell down and got hurt.
When their mother found out, she scolded Pha k harshly and took Makhan’s
side, making Pha k feel unloved and unwanted.
At the same me, Pha k’s uncle, Bishamber, visited from the city. He offered to
take Pha k to Kolkata for a be er educa on. Pha k’s mother agreed, as she
found him too troublesome to handle. Pha k did not want to leave, but he had
no choice.

Pha k’s Life in the City

When Pha k arrived in Kolkata, he felt lost and lonely. The city was huge and
unfamiliar, and he missed his village, friends, and mother. His uncle and aunt did
not treat him well.
 His uncle was strict and always busy.
  His aunt did not like him and saw him as a burden. She constantly
complained about him.
 His cousins ignored him and made fun of his village manners.
Pha k struggled in school because he could not focus. His teachers scolded him
for not paying a en on, and his classmates laughed at him. He felt unwanted
and unloved in the city.

Pha k Falls Sick

Pha k became depressed and longed to go home. He o en asked his uncle:
"When can I go home?"
However, his uncle ignored him.
One day, a er school, Pha k got lost in the city. He walked for hours in the rain,
searching for home. By the me he was found, he was shivering with fever. He
had fallen seriously ill.
Lying sick in bed, Pha k kept asking:
"Am I going home now?"
In his fevered state, he dreamed of his mother and his village.

The Heartbreaking Ending

Finally, Pha k’s mother was called to take him home. She arrived, but it was too
late. Pha k was too weak and dying.
In his final moments, he saw his mother and whispered:
"Mother, I am going home!"
Then, he closed his eyes forever.

Themes in the Story

 1. The Pain of Separa on – Pha k was taken away from his home, which
made him feel lonely and unloved.
2. The Need for Love and Care – No one in the city cared for Pha k, which
made his life miserable.
3. Home is Where the Heart is – Even in his last moments, Pha k only wanted
to go back home.

Moral of the Story

The story teaches us that children need love, care, and understanding. A child
who feels unwanted and lonely can suffer greatly. The biggest tragedy is not
having a place where you feel at home.

THE BOY WHO BROKE THE BANK

Detailed Summary of "The Boy Who Broke the Bank" by Ruskin Bond
"The Boy Who Broke the Bank" is a humorous short story by Ruskin Bond that
shows how rumors and gossip can create unnecessary panic. The story follows a
young boy named Nathu, whose simple complaint about his job leads to a
misunderstanding that spreads through the town and ul mately causes a bank
run.

Introduc on: Nathu’s Complaint

Nathu is a poor sweeper who works at Pipalnagar Bank. One day, while sweeping
the steps of the bank, he grumbles about not receiving his monthly salary on
me. He is frustrated and complains aloud:
"These bank people don’t pay their employees on me!"
His complaint is overheard by Seth Govind Ram’s washerman, Sitaram. (Seth
Govind Ram is the owner of the bank.)
How the Rumor Begins
Sitaram, while talking to a customer, casually men ons:
"The bank is in trouble. They can’t even pay their employees!"
This innocent remark is overheard by a passerby, who misunderstands the
situa on and assumes the bank has no money. He tells another person that the
bank is going to collapse.
Within a few hours, the rumor spreads like wildfire throughout Pipalnagar.

The Spread of Panic

As the rumor grows, more and more people start believing it. The news passes
through:
1. The hairdresser – Tells his customers that the bank is shu ng down.
2. The beggars – Think they will not receive their usual dona ons from the
bank customers.
3. The vegetable vendor – Tells his customers that Seth Govind Ram has lost
all his money and fled the town.
4. The owner of a general store – Believes the bank is bankrupt and advises
customers to withdraw their money quickly.
By the a ernoon, hundreds of people rush to the bank to withdraw their money.

The Chaos at the Bank

When the bank manager sees a long line of people demanding their money, he
panics. He does not understand what is happening.
People start shou ng and pushing each other. The bank staff members get scared
and run away. The police arrive, but they fail to control the crowd.
Soon, the situa on gets worse, and the bank’s doors are broken down.
By the end of the day, Pipalnagar Bank has collapsed—all because of a simple
complaint by Nathu!

The Ironic Ending

The next morning, Nathu arrives at the bank to con nue his sweeping. He is
shocked to see the bank is destroyed and abandoned. He has no idea that his
complaint started the whole problem!
He angrily mu ers to himself:
"Now, where will I get my salary from?"

Themes in the Story

1. Power of Rumors – A simple complaint turned into a huge disaster because
people spread false informa on.
2. Mass Panic and Hysteria – When people blindly believe rumors, they act
without thinking and create unnecessary fear.
3. Irony and Humor – Nathu’s small complaint about his salary ended up
destroying the en re bank!

Moral of the Story

The story teaches us that gossip and rumors can be very dangerous. We should
always verify informa on before believing or spreading it.