Summary -The Boy Who Broke the Bank

 The Boy Who Broke the Bank  

Ruskin Bond is one of the most famous Indian writer. His story "The Boy Who Broke the Bank" is a humorous story published in 1988 in the compilation Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories. It describes Nathu’s suffering in the opening lines. He works as a sweeper boy in the Pipal nagar Bank. For a long time he has  been requesting for a hike of two rupees in his pay. Seth Govind Ram, the owner of the bank, has not agreed to raise his pay. 

 Nathu grumbles to himself about  not being paid his regular salary though it was already the twentieth of the month. At this point of time Sitaram, the washerman’s son happened to pass by the bank. He was on delivery rounds. He observed Nathu's sufferings. Nathu replies that he has not even received his regular pay yet. He also mentioned that he would leave the bank as soon as he got his pay. Sitaram wishes him good luck and also adds that he would keep a lookout for any job that might suit him. Sitaram’s visit for fourth home, the lady of the house mention that she was in need of a sweeper. He told the lady that he knew of a sweeper boy who was looking for work and he could start from next month. He was working in the bank as a sweeper but they were not giving him his pay and he wanted to leave his job. Mrs. Srivatsava asked Sitaram to tell the boy to meet her the next day. Thus, Sitaram tried to help Nathu by finding a new job. 

In the story ‘The Boy Who Broke the Bank’ Ruskin Bond depicts how rumours spread like wild fire. Sitaram, the washerman’s son, tells Mrs. Srivastava that the sweeper boy of Pipal nagar Bank has not been paid his salary and is looking for a job. A little later Mrs. Srivastava meets her friend, Mrs. Bhushan, in the market. She comments that Seth Govind Ram’s bank cannot pay it employees. The sweeper boy has not received his wages for more than a month. Mrs. Bhushan concludes that none of the employees must be getting paid. She is sure that the bank must be in a bad way. She tells her husband that the bank is going bankrupt. The news spread rapidly and there is panic and confusion. 

Soon everyone in the town is convinced that the bank has gone bankrupt. Rumours fly thick and fast about the Seth Govindram. Some believe he has fled the state and other say that he has fled the country and someone even claims that the Seth had hanged himself from a tree. In reality, the Seth is in Kashmir on a holiday. 

All the people rush to the bank to withdraw their money. They refuse to hear the pleas of the manager. They claim that the Seth is hiding inside a bank locker. When all the ready cash gets over, the crowd gets restive and agitated. Mischief makers join the scene. They gathered outside the bank and started pelting stones and broke the glass window of the bank. 

Thus, Ruskin Bond depicts how rumours spread like wild fire and causes irreparable damage and lands the bank in trouble.