NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 17 – A House is Not a Home

(c) a fireman caught the author when he rushed with his mother in the burning house

(d) after five hours

 (a) the students in the new high school made a collection of money for the author

(d) all of the above

(b) author and his mother spend the night in the house of a neighbor.

He burst into tears after the fire since he realized he had suffered a significant loss. He discovered he couldn't find his cat anywhere. The new school, the fire, and his cat all strike him at the same time. He sobbed and wailed at that point.

The author noticed an odd odour one Sunday afternoon. Then he noticed smoke seeping in from the roof cracks and fast filling the room. They couldn't see much at all. The roof was already covered in flames and spreading swiftly by the time they fled out into the front yard. His mother dashed back inside. She'd brought out a little metal box containing critical documents. She intended to take crucial items from the house one at a time. She appeared to be in a 'crazed state.'

The author was humiliated the next day at school since he was still wearing the clothes he had worn to church that morning when the fire broke out, but he had no shoes because he had lost them in the fire. As a result, he had to borrow his aunt's tennis shoes. Everything had embarrassed him to the point of humiliation. He was dressed strangely, he didn't have any books or homework, and his backpack was missing.

The author developed a strong bond with his pet. When he couldn't find his cat after the fire, he wailed uncontrollably. He would return to the location of his home daily in the hopes of finding the cat. He remembered the cat crawling into his pocket and falling asleep, and he yearned for her.

The fire terrified the cat, who bolted a mile away from the house. She was discovered and taken in by a woman. The author's phone number was found on the cat's collar. However, she was unable to contact them because the phone had been turned off due to the fire. The woman then went out of her way to track down the author and return the cat.

Despite not knowing the author well, the classmates expressed real care for him. They aided him by bringing him provisions, literature, and clothing. People he had never met before began approaching him and befriending him. They also summoned him to their residences. The author gained several new acquaintances. Their affection and teamwork left him speechless. He understood that his new school and the people he was meeting were both positive. He stopped focusing on his worry and nervousness and began to believe that everything would turn out ok.

 The author loses interest in life after the fire. He believes he has misplaced everything. He feels a sense of increased comfort after receiving books and other goods from his classmates. The fact that his cat has been found is the cherry on top. He reclaims his best friend. He and his cat are both back to normal now. His phrase implies that he has begun to collect bits and pieces of existence.