Learn English Through Stories: Raju and the Lost Bag
Table of contents
- Read the Story
- A Cold Morning at the Station
- What Was Inside the Bag
- The Race Against Time
- A Girl in Tears
- A Gift After the Result
- Vocabulary Table
- Difficult Words and Pronunciation
- Important Phrases and Expressions
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Useful English Sentences
- Reading Comprehension
- Multiple Choice Questions
- Short-Answer Questions
- True or False
- Grammar Learning
- Fill in the Blanks
- Vocabulary Practice
- Speaking and Writing Practice
- Speaking Questions
- Writing Tasks
- Words to Use in Your Own Sentences
- Quick Revision
- 10 Important Words
- 5 Useful Phrases
- 5 Key Learning Points
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the moral of this story?
- How can I learn new words from a story?
- Why are stories good for learning English?
- How many times should I read a story?
- Can this story help with exam preparation?
- Study Resources
Read the Story
A Cold Morning at the Station
Raju was seventeen years old, and he sold tea at a small railway station every morning before school. He was an honest boy. His father was ill, so Raju's earnings helped the family buy medicine and food. Every day, hundreds of passengers passed his stall in a hurry, and Raju watched them quietly.
One cold morning, after the Delhi express left, Raju saw a blue bag lying on a bench on Platform 2. He looked around, but nobody was near. He opened the bag carefully to find the owner's name.
हिंदी में समझें
राजू सत्रह साल का था और हर सुबह स्कूल जाने से पहले एक छोटे रेलवे स्टेशन पर चाय बेचता था। वह एक ईमानदार लड़का था। उसके पिता बीमार थे, इसलिए राजू की कमाई से परिवार के लिए दवा और खाना आता था। हर दिन सैकड़ों यात्री जल्दी में उसके स्टॉल के पास से गुज़रते थे और राजू उन्हें चुपचाप देखता रहता था। एक ठंडी सुबह, दिल्ली एक्सप्रेस के जाने के बाद राजू ने प्लेटफ़ॉर्म 2 की एक बेंच पर एक नीला बैग पड़ा देखा। उसने चारों ओर देखा, पर आसपास कोई नहीं था। उसने मालिक का नाम ढूँढने के लिए बैग सावधानी से खोला।
What Was Inside the Bag
Inside, Raju found a wallet with Rs 4,000, a mobile phone, some certificates in a plastic folder and an admit card for a railway recruitment exam. The exam was at ten o'clock that very morning. Raju's heart beat fast. Rs 4,000 was more than he earned in two months. For a moment, the temptation to keep the money crossed his mind.
He thought of his father's medicine and his mother's tired face. But then he looked at the admit card again. “Someone's whole future is in this bag,” he thought. “It is more precious than any money.” His conscience had already decided.
हिंदी में समझें
अंदर राजू को 4,000 रुपये वाला बटुआ, एक मोबाइल फ़ोन, प्लास्टिक फ़ोल्डर में कुछ प्रमाणपत्र और रेलवे भर्ती परीक्षा का एडमिट कार्ड मिला। परीक्षा उसी सुबह दस बजे थी। राजू का दिल तेज़ धड़कने लगा। 4,000 रुपये उसकी दो महीने की कमाई से ज़्यादा थे। पल भर के लिए पैसे रख लेने का लालच उसके मन में आया। उसे पिता की दवा और माँ का थका चेहरा याद आया। पर फिर उसने एडमिट कार्ड देखा और सोचा, “किसी का पूरा भविष्य इस बैग में है। यह किसी भी पैसे से ज़्यादा कीमती है।” उसकी अंतरात्मा ने पहले ही फ़ैसला कर लिया था।
The Race Against Time
Raju did not hesitate any longer. He closed the bag, asked his friend Mohan to watch the stall, and ran to the station master's office. The station master read the name on the admit card and checked the train timings. “The girl got off the Patna train a few minutes ago,” he said. “She must be looking for the exam centre.” He called the guard at the exit gate, and Raju ran towards it, holding the bag tight.
हिंदी में समझें
राजू ने अब और देर नहीं की। उसने बैग बंद किया, दोस्त मोहन से स्टॉल देखने को कहा और स्टेशन मास्टर के कमरे की ओर दौड़ा। स्टेशन मास्टर ने एडमिट कार्ड पर नाम पढ़ा और ट्रेनों का समय देखा। उन्होंने कहा, “वह लड़की कुछ मिनट पहले पटना वाली ट्रेन से उतरी थी। वह परीक्षा केंद्र ढूँढ रही होगी।” उन्होंने निकास द्वार के गार्ड को फ़ोन किया और राजू बैग को कसकर पकड़े उसी ओर दौड़ा।
A Girl in Tears
Outside the gate, a young woman was standing near the auto stand, crying. Her name was Sunita. She was anxious and could hardly speak. “My bag! My admit card is in it!” she told an auto driver. Raju ran up to her and held out the blue bag. “I found it on a bench,” he said, breathing fast. “Please check if everything is inside.”
Sunita checked the bag. Everything was there, even the money. A feeling of relief came over her, and a genuine smile spread across her face. She took out Rs 500 as a reward, but Raju folded his hands and refused. “Didi, this bag belongs to you. I only returned it. Please go now, or you will be late for your exam.”
Mohan found an auto, and Sunita reached the exam centre with fifteen minutes to spare.
हिंदी में समझें
गेट के बाहर एक युवती ऑटो स्टैंड के पास रो रही थी। उसका नाम सुनीता था। वह घबराई हुई थी और मुश्किल से बोल पा रही थी। उसने एक ऑटो चालक से कहा, “मेरा बैग! उसमें मेरा एडमिट कार्ड है!” राजू दौड़कर उसके पास पहुँचा और नीला बैग आगे बढ़ाया। उसने हाँफते हुए कहा, “यह मुझे बेंच पर मिला। कृपया देख लीजिए कि सब कुछ अंदर है या नहीं।” सुनीता ने जाँचा। सब कुछ था, पैसे भी। उसे बड़ी राहत मिली और चेहरे पर सच्ची मुस्कान आ गई। उसने इनाम के तौर पर 500 रुपये निकाले, पर राजू ने हाथ जोड़कर मना कर दिया। “दीदी, यह बैग आपका है। मैंने बस लौटाया है। अब जाइए, वरना परीक्षा में देर हो जाएगी।” मोहन ने ऑटो ढूँढा और सुनीता परीक्षा केंद्र पर पंद्रह मिनट पहले पहुँच गई।
A Gift After the Result
Two months later, Sunita came back to the station with a box of sweets and a bag of books. “I passed the exam,” she said, smiling. “Because of you, I could even sit in that exam. I am so grateful.” She also told the station master the whole story, and he praised Raju in front of everyone. “Such courage and honesty are rare,” he said.
Sunita had brought books for Raju's board exams and a list of scholarship programmes for students. “You deserve every bit of help,” she said. Raju smiled. He had not returned the bag to get a reward. He had done it because it was the right thing to do. But that day he learned that a trustworthy person earns respect, and that the value of honesty cannot be counted in money.
हिंदी में समझें
दो महीने बाद सुनीता मिठाई के डिब्बे और किताबों के थैले के साथ स्टेशन लौटी। उसने मुस्कुराकर कहा, “मैं परीक्षा में पास हो गई। आपकी वजह से मैं उस परीक्षा में बैठ भी सकी। मैं बहुत आभारी हूँ।” उसने स्टेशन मास्टर को पूरी कहानी बताई और उन्होंने सबके सामने राजू की तारीफ़ की। उन्होंने कहा, “ऐसी हिम्मत और ईमानदारी कम ही मिलती है।” सुनीता राजू के बोर्ड की परीक्षा के लिए किताबें और छात्रों के लिए छात्रवृत्ति योजनाओं की सूची लाई थी। उसने कहा, “आप हर मदद के हक़दार हैं।” राजू मुस्कुराया। उसने इनाम पाने के लिए बैग नहीं लौटाया था। उसने वही किया जो सही था। पर उस दिन उसने सीखा कि भरोसेमंद इंसान को सम्मान मिलता है और ईमानदारी की कीमत पैसों में नहीं गिनी जा सकती।
सीख: ईमानदारी सबसे अच्छी नीति है।
Vocabulary Table
| English Word | Hindi Meaning | Simple English Meaning | Part of Speech | Example Sentence | Example Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| honest | ईमानदार | always telling the truth and not cheating | adjective | An honest shopkeeper returns the extra change. | ईमानदार दुकानदार ज़्यादा लौटाया गया छुट्टा वापस करता है। |
| temptation | लालच / प्रलोभन | a strong wish to do something wrong | noun | He felt the temptation to keep the money. | उसे पैसे रख लेने का लालच हुआ। |
| precious | कीमती / अनमोल | very valuable or important | adjective | Time is more precious than money. | समय पैसे से ज़्यादा कीमती है। |
| conscience | अंतरात्मा / ज़मीर | the inner voice that tells right from wrong | noun | His conscience told him to return the bag. | उसकी अंतरात्मा ने बैग लौटाने को कहा। |
| hesitate | झिझकना | to pause before doing something because you are unsure | verb | Do not hesitate to ask for help. | मदद माँगने में झिझको मत। |
| anxious | घबराया हुआ / चिंतित | worried and nervous about something | adjective | She felt anxious before the exam. | परीक्षा से पहले वह घबराई हुई थी। |
| relief | राहत | a feeling of comfort after worry ends | noun | The students felt relief when the paper ended. | पेपर खत्म होने पर विद्यार्थियों को राहत मिली। |
| genuine | सच्चा / असली | real and sincere, not fake | adjective | He gave her a genuine smile. | उसने उसे सच्ची मुस्कान दी। |
| reward | इनाम | something given for a good deed or work | noun | The police offered a reward for the missing child. | पुलिस ने लापता बच्चे के लिए इनाम की घोषणा की। |
| refuse | मना करना | to say no to something offered | verb | He refused the money politely. | उसने विनम्रता से पैसे लेने से मना कर दिया। |
| grateful | आभारी | feeling thankful for something done for you | adjective | I am grateful for your support. | मैं आपके सहयोग के लिए आभारी हूँ। |
| courage | साहस / हिम्मत | the ability to do something brave or right | noun | It takes courage to tell the truth. | सच बोलने के लिए हिम्मत चाहिए। |
| deserve | हक़दार होना | to earn something by your actions | verb | Hard-working students deserve praise. | मेहनती विद्यार्थी तारीफ़ के हक़दार हैं। |
| trustworthy | भरोसेमंद | able to be trusted | adjective | A trustworthy friend keeps your secrets. | भरोसेमंद दोस्त आपके राज़ छुपाकर रखता है। |
| value | महत्व / कीमत | the importance or worth of something | noun | We should know the value of time. | हमें समय का महत्व पता होना चाहिए। |
Difficult Words and Pronunciation
| English Word | Easy Pronunciation Guide | Hindi Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| recruitment | रिक्रूट-मेंट | भर्ती | The railway recruitment exam starts at ten o'clock. |
| stall | स्टॉल | ठेला / छोटी दुकान | He sells tea at a small stall. |
| earnings | अर्निंग्ज़ | कमाई | His earnings help the family. |
| passenger | पैसेंजर | यात्री | Every passenger needs a valid ticket. |
| scholarship | स्कॉलर-शिप | छात्रवृत्ति | She won a scholarship for her studies. |
Important Phrases and Expressions
| Phrase | Hindi Meaning | How to Use It | Example Sentence | Hindi Translation of the Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| for a moment | पल भर के लिए | Use it for a very short time. | For a moment, she could not speak. | पल भर के लिए वह कुछ बोल नहीं सकी। |
| any longer | अब और (देर तक) | Use it with a negative to say 'not more'. | I cannot wait any longer. | मैं अब और इंतज़ार नहीं कर सकता। |
| get off (a train) | (ट्रेन से) उतरना | Use it for leaving a train, bus or bike. | We got off the train at Gaya. | हम गया में ट्रेन से उतरे। |
| hold out | आगे बढ़ाना | Use it for offering something with your hand. | He held out his hand to help her. | उसने उसकी मदद के लिए हाथ आगे बढ़ाया। |
| with ... minutes to spare | ... मिनट पहले (समय बचाकर) | Use it when you finish or arrive early. | She arrived with ten minutes to spare. | वह दस मिनट पहले पहुँच गई। |
| fold one's hands | हाथ जोड़ना | Use it to show respect or request. | He folded his hands and said thank you. | उसने हाथ जोड़कर धन्यवाद कहा। |
| belong to | ... का होना | Use it to show who owns something. | This pen belongs to my sister. | यह कलम मेरी बहन की है। |
| because of | ... की वजह से | Use it before a noun or pronoun to give a reason. | Because of the rain, the match stopped. | बारिश की वजह से मैच रुक गया। |
Synonyms and Antonyms
| Main Word | Hindi Meaning | Synonyms | Antonyms | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| honest | ईमानदार | truthful, sincere | dishonest | He is an honest worker. |
| precious | कीमती | valuable, priceless | worthless | Her time is precious. |
| hesitate | झिझकना | pause, delay | act quickly | Never hesitate to say sorry. |
| anxious | घबराया हुआ | worried, nervous | calm, relaxed | He looked anxious before the interview. |
| refuse | मना करना | decline, reject | accept | She refused the gift. |
| reward | इनाम | prize, award | punishment | The winner got a reward. |
| grateful | आभारी | thankful, obliged | ungrateful | We are grateful to our teachers. |
| courage | साहस | bravery, boldness | cowardice | The boy showed courage. |
| deserve | हक़दार होना | merit, earn | No common direct antonym | You deserve a good result. |
| trustworthy | भरोसेमंद | reliable, dependable | untrustworthy | A trustworthy person never lies. |
Useful English Sentences
| English Sentence | Hindi Translation | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Is this bag yours? | क्या यह बैग आपका है? | When you find something and look for its owner. |
| I found this on the bench. | यह मुझे बेंच पर मिला। | When you hand over a found item. |
| Please check if everything is inside. | कृपया देख लीजिए कि सब कुछ अंदर है या नहीं। | When returning a bag or wallet. |
| I am so grateful for your help. | मैं आपकी मदद के लिए बहुत आभारी हूँ। | When thanking someone sincerely. |
| Honesty is the best policy. | ईमानदारी सबसे अच्छी नीति है। | When giving advice or talking about values. |
| Don't worry, I will help you. | चिंता मत करो, मैं तुम्हारी मदद करूँगा। | When comforting someone in trouble. |
| You still have time. | आपके पास अभी भी समय है। | When someone is afraid of being late. |
| I don't want any reward. | मुझे कोई इनाम नहीं चाहिए। | When you refuse payment for a good deed. |
| Please keep your belongings safe. | कृपया अपना सामान सुरक्षित रखें। | On a train, bus or at the station. |
| Where is the exam centre? | परीक्षा केंद्र कहाँ है? | When asking for directions before an exam. |
Reading Comprehension
Multiple Choice Questions
-
How old was Raju?
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
Answer: C. The story says Raju was seventeen years old.
-
What important document was inside the bag?
- A bus ticket
- An admit card for a railway recruitment exam
- A bank passbook
- A school report card
Answer: B. The bag held an admit card for a railway recruitment exam.
-
How much money was in the wallet?
- Rs 400
- Rs 1,400
- Rs 4,000
- Rs 14,000
Answer: C. The wallet had Rs 4,000.
-
Whom did Raju go to first after finding the bag?
- The station master
- A police officer
- The auto driver
- His teacher
Answer: A. He ran to the station master's office.
-
What did Raju do when Sunita offered him Rs 500?
- He took it happily.
- He asked for more.
- He refused politely.
- He gave it to Mohan.
Answer: C. He folded his hands and refused.
Short-Answer Questions
-
Why did Raju sell tea every morning?
Answer: His father was ill, so his earnings helped the family buy medicine and food.
-
What did Sunita bring when she came back to the station?
Answer: She brought a box of sweets and a bag of books.
-
What does the story teach us?
Answer: It teaches that honesty is the best policy and that a trustworthy person earns respect.
True or False
-
Raju kept the money and returned only the admit card.
Answer: False. He returned the whole bag, including the money.
-
Sunita reached the exam centre with fifteen minutes to spare.
Answer: True. Mohan found an auto, and she arrived in time.
Grammar Learning
| Original Sentence | Hindi Translation | Tense or Grammar Rule | Simple Explanation in Hindi | One More Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raju was seventeen years old, and he sold tea at a small railway station every morning before school. | राजू सत्रह साल का था और वह हर सुबह स्कूल से पहले एक छोटे रेलवे स्टेशन पर चाय बेचता था। | Simple Past Tense; conjunction “and” | बीते समय की स्थिति या आदत के लिए V2 (was, sold) आता है। and दो वाक्यांशों को जोड़ता है। | She was ten years old, and she lived in a village. (वह दस साल की थी और एक गाँव में रहती थी।) |
| He opened the bag carefully to find the owner's name. | उसने मालिक का नाम ढूँढने के लिए बैग सावधानी से खोला। | Infinitive of purpose (to + V1) | किसी काम का उद्देश्य बताने के लिए to + V1 आता है। | I went to the market to buy vegetables. (मैं सब्ज़ियाँ ख़रीदने बाज़ार गया।) |
| Raju did not hesitate any longer. | राजू ने अब और देर नहीं की। | Negative of Simple Past: did not + V1 | बीते समय के नकारात्मक वाक्य में did not के बाद V1 आता है, V2 नहीं। | He did not wait for me. (उसने मेरा इंतज़ार नहीं किया।) |
| Please check if everything is inside. | कृपया देख लीजिए कि सब कुछ अंदर है या नहीं। | Polite request with “Please”; “if” meaning “whether” | Please + V1 विनम्र आग्रह के लिए आता है। यहाँ if का अर्थ “या नहीं” (whether) है। | Please see if the door is locked. (कृपया देखिए कि दरवाज़ा बंद है या नहीं।) |
| Because of you, I could even sit in that exam. | आपकी वजह से मैं उस परीक्षा में बैठ भी सकी। | “Because of” + pronoun; modal “could” | because of के बाद संज्ञा या सर्वनाम आता है। could बीते समय की क्षमता या संभावना बताता है। | Because of the rain, we stayed home. (बारिश की वजह से हम घर पर रुके।) |
Fill in the Blanks
-
Raju did not (blank) to return the bag.
- hesitate
- reward
- refuse
- deserve
Answer: A. Hesitate means to pause because you are unsure.
-
The admit card was more (blank) than the money.
- anxious
- genuine
- precious
- grateful
Answer: C. Precious means very valuable or important.
-
Sunita felt great (blank) when she got her bag back.
- courage
- relief
- temptation
- value
Answer: B. Relief is the comfort you feel after worry ends.
-
He did not take any (blank) for his help.
- reward
- conscience
- passenger
- stall
Answer: A. A reward is something given for a good deed.
-
His (blank) told him to do the right thing.
- earnings
- conscience
- scholarship
- recruitment
Answer: B. Conscience is the inner voice that tells right from wrong.
Vocabulary Practice
Match each word with its meaning. For more practice questions, visit our MCQ practice section.
| Word | Your Answer (A to E) |
|---|---|
| 1. honest | Choose A to E |
| 2. anxious | Choose A to E |
| 3. grateful | Choose A to E |
| 4. courage | Choose A to E |
| 5. deserve | Choose A to E |
- feeling thankful for something done for you
- worried and nervous about something
- always telling the truth and not cheating
- the ability to do something brave or right
- to earn something by your actions
Answer key: 1-C, 2-B, 3-A, 4-D, 5-E.
Speaking and Writing Practice
Speaking Questions
- Why did Raju decide to return the bag?
- Have you ever found something that belonged to someone else? What did you do?
- Why do you think Sunita felt so grateful?
- What would you do if you were in Raju's place?
- Why is honesty important in our daily life?
Writing Tasks
- Write five sentences about an honest person you know.
- Write a short paragraph (60 to 80 words) on “Honesty Is the Best Policy”.
- Write a thank-you note from Sunita to Raju.
Words to Use in Your Own Sentences
honest, precious, hesitate, grateful, courage
Try to answer the speaking questions in English and practise a little every day. Small daily practice builds confidence.
Quick Revision
Main idea: Raju, a poor tea seller, finds a bag with money and an exam admit card. He resists the temptation to keep the money, runs to return the bag in time, and refuses a reward. Later, he is respected and helped for his honesty.
10 Important Words
- honest: ईमानदार
- temptation: लालच
- precious: कीमती
- conscience: अंतरात्मा
- hesitate: झिझकना
- anxious: घबराया हुआ
- relief: राहत
- reward: इनाम
- grateful: आभारी
- courage: साहस
5 Useful Phrases
- for a moment (पल भर के लिए)
- get off (a train) (ट्रेन से उतरना)
- hold out (आगे बढ़ाना)
- belong to (... का होना)
- because of (... की वजह से)
5 Key Learning Points
- Honesty is more valuable than money.
- Listen to your conscience when you face temptation.
- Acting quickly can help someone in trouble.
- A good deed should not depend on a reward.
- Trustworthy people earn respect.
Moral: Honesty is the best policy.
If you are preparing for SSC or Railway exams, read our SSC and Railway exam preparation tips for beginners.
Conclusion
Raju's story shows that an honest act can change someone's day and sometimes someone's future. By reading it, you learned useful words such as temptation, conscience and trustworthy, practised phrases like “get off” and “because of”, and saw how the past tense and polite requests work in real sentences. Read the story again after a day, say the new words aloud, and write a few sentences of your own. Read more English learning stories, improve your vocabulary, and practise English every day with DownloadStore.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of this story?
The moral is that honesty is the best policy. Doing the right thing without expecting a reward builds trust and respect.
How can I learn new words from a story?
Read the story once for the main idea, underline the new words, check their meanings and write one sentence of your own with each word. Revise them after a day and after a week.
Why are stories good for learning English?
Stories show words and phrases in a real situation, so they are easier to remember than words in a list. They also improve reading speed and understanding.
How many times should I read a story?
Read it once for the main idea and a second time to note new words and phrases. Read it again after a few days to revise.
Can this story help with exam preparation?
Yes, it can help with vocabulary and reading practice for school and competitive exams. For best results, combine it with regular grammar practice and mock tests.
Study Resources
Continue your preparation with these resources from DownloadStore.in.
