Question

What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and people, and comfort him?

Answer 1

Hint: The question is taken from the chapter ‘A House Is Not a Home,’ class 9th English textbook. In the story, Zan, the narrator, gets into big trouble. His house was burned down in a fire, and also he joined a new school which made him feel isolated. But soon, all his problems come to an end.

Complete answer:
After the loss of all the belongings in the fire that destroyed his house, Zan, the narrator, started feeling depressed. The author’s understanding of life and people changed because of the friendly and helpful acts of his schoolmates that consoled him emotionally. Everyone in the new school developed empathy with his plight. His schoolmates collected resources to buy him school supplies, notebooks, and all kinds of different clothes. Those who had never spoken to him before introduced themselves to him one by one. This act of help created a feeling of unity among them, and the author felt that he had so many friends and well-wishers in the new school.

All this helped him to forget his past trauma and motivated him to start his life afresh. He stopped focusing on his feelings of insecurity and opened up to all the people around him. His life took a new turn and he started enjoying life as usual.

Note: The message conveyed through the story is that a house is not a home until there is love and happiness. Zan did not have any attachment to the new house. His reunion with his cat and his new friends filled him with love and joy, and he started loving his new home as well.