A House is Not a Home

 Summary

The story is about a boy named Zan. He was sad as he had to go to a new high school. He missed his old friends. He was a new junior in his new school. His house caught fire. Other than a few papers and photos of his father they lost everything. His pet cat was also missing. They did not have any cash, credit cards, or identity proofs and had to borrow money from his grandparents.

Zan got depressed and did not want to attend school. One day at school, he was astonished to see a table full of things - books, stationery items, clothes, and so on. They were collected by his classmates to help him. He came out of the depression and realized that life was beautiful. Zan saw his house being rebuilt and felt that same was happening with his life too.

A kind woman returned his cat which had run away on being scared of the fire. Zan bounced back to life. He realized that life was not about material possessions but about love, affection, and being with one’s loved ones. This is what is meant by the title, ‘A house is not a home’.

Think about it (Answers to the questions given on Pages 54 & 55)

1. What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?

The author was doing his homework. He noticed smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling. Soon the room was filled with the smoke. The author and his mother ran outside to save their life. His mother ran out of the house with a small metal box full of important documents. She became so crazy that she rushed back to the house again.

2. Why does he break down in tears after the fire?

The author’s house was completely burned down. Five hours later when the fire was finally put out, he realised he lost everything and his cat was also missing. He felt helpless as he had to go to the new school. So, cried and broke down in tears.

3. Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity?

The author was full of sorrow as he lost everything. He didn’t have proper dress or study material. He had no backpack. He was feeling insecure. He was shocked deeply and seemed frustrated. The words uttered by him “Was I destined to be an outcast and a geek all my life? I didn’t want to grow up, change or have to handle life, if it was to going to be this way. I just wanted to curl up and die” reveal his fear and insecurity.

4. The cat and the author are very fond of each other. How has this been shown in the story? Where was the cat after the fire? Who brings it back and how?

The author loved his cat very much. She used to sit with him when he did his homework and other household work. When the author found his cat back, he was overwhelmed. He grabbed her quickly and felt relieved. This proved that they were very fond of each other.

The cat ran over a mile away when the house was on fire. A lady brought it back.

5. What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and people, and comfort him emotionally? How does his loneliness vanish and how does he start participating in life?

His schoolmates bought him necessary materials like school supplies, notebooks, all kinds of different clothes. It was a matter of surprise for him and he could not believe it. People who were new now became his friends. He got all the things he needed. He started enjoying his life as usual.

6. What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I”? Had the author gone anywhere? Why does he say that he is also back?

Here the author wants to point out that life without love and affection is useless. He was depressed after a great loss in the fire. He was depressed and he had no interest in life. In the end, he received everything he lost with the help of his newfound friends. An unknown woman gave his cat back. He recovered from this gloomy state and bounced back to life. So he said, “My cat was back and so was I”.