Suresh walks $10\text{km}$ North, then $6\text{km}$ East, then $10\text{km}$ South, then $2\text{km}$ West. What is the shortest distance and in which direction is he from his starting point?

Let the starting point be $(0,0)$.
1. Suresh walks $10\text{km}$ North: New position is $(0,10)$.
2. He walks $6\text{km}$ East: New position is $(6,10)$.
3. He walks $10\text{km}$ South: New position is $(6,10-10)=(6,0)$.
4. He walks $2\text{km}$ West: Final position is $(6-2,0)=(4,0)$.

The shortest distance from the starting point $(0,0)$ to the final point $(4,0)$ is:

$$\text{Distance}=4\text{km}$$

Since the final point lies on the positive x-axis relative to the starting point, he is in the East direction.