NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 8: A House Is Not a Home

This is a story written by Zan Gaudios, based on encountering adjustment issues by a teenager. Zan was a teenager when he shifted to a new high school. He did not like the change, and he had no friends there. He used to feel isolated and lonely. On a cold winter day, they realised that fire broke out at their place. Zan and his mother managed to leave that house. His mother went back inside and came with a box and some important documents. She again went back, and Zan knew that she went to save his father's pictures because those were the only memories of him. Zan was very scared, and he did not want to lose his mother, so he followed her, but the fireman stopped him from going inside. They went inside and brought out the mother safely. After that, Zan realised that his cat was not to be found. He did not want to leave without his cat, but he had to go with his mother to his grandparents.

The next day Zan had school, and Zen's belongings got burned in the fire. He went there, and everyone was given weird looks at him. When he saw his burnt house, he went inside to find his cat. But the cat could be found nowhere. So he thought he had lost his cat forever. Zan, along with his mother, found a new place to live and brought all the necessities. Next day when he went to school, everyone was behaving strangely because all got to know about the fire.

Everyone was offering something to Zan, like clothes, notebooks, etc. He felt delighted, and he also made some friends. After many days a woman came to return the cat to Zan. He was overwhelmed when he saw his cat. He felt gratitude for his life, his new friends, the kindness of strangers, and his cat. He led his simple and cheerful life.