English Language and Literature (184)
Class IX (2025-26)
Time Allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
Read the instructions very carefully and strictly follow them :
1. This question paper comprises 11 questions. All questions are compulsory.
2. The question paper contains THREE sections – Section – A : Reading Skills Section – B : Grammar and Creative Writing Skills Section – C : Literature Text Book
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Section A Reading
1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :
During our growing up years we as children were taught both at home and school-to worship the photos and idols of the gods of our respective religions. When we grow a little older, we were to read holy books like the Bhagwad Gita, Bible and Quran; we were told that there are a lot of life lessons to be learnt from these holy books. We were then introduced to stories from our mythologies which taught us about ethics and moralitywhat is good and what is bad. I also learnt to be respectful towards my parents who made my life comfortable with their hard work and love and care, and my teachers who guided me to become a good student and a responsible citizen. Much later in life, I realised that though we learn much from our respective holy books, there is a lot to learn from our surroundings. This realisation dawned upon me when I learnt to inquire and explore. Everything around us-the sun, the moon, the stars, rain, rivers, stones, rocks, birds, plants and animalsteach us many valuable life lessons. No wonder that besides the scriptures in many cultures nature is also worshipped. The message that we get is to save our environment and maintain ecological balance. People are taught to live in harmony with nature and recognize that there is God in all aspects of nature. Nature is a great teacher. A river never stops flowing. If it finds an obstacle in its way in the form of heavy rock, the river water fights to remove it from its path or finds an alternative path to move ahead. This teaches us to be progressive in life, and keep the fighting spirit alive. Snakes are worshipped as they eat insects in the field that can hurt our crops, thus protecting the grains for us. In fact, whatever we worship is our helper and makes our lives easy for us. There are many such examples in nature but are not ready to learn a lesson. Overcome with greed, we are destroying nature. As a result, we face natural disasters like drought, flood, and landslides. We don’t know that nature is angry with us. However, it is never too late to learn. If we learn to respect nature the quality of our life will improve.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
(I) In paragraph 1, what does the phrase ‘there are a lot of life lessons to be learnt from these holy books’ emphasise? (1)
Ans. The phrase ‘there are a lot of life lessons to be learnt from these holy books’ emphasises that religious scriptures provide ethical guidance and moral values that help shape a person’s character
(II) Complete the following with the correct option from the two given. (1)
The passage highlights that nature teaches us valuable lessons because ________.
(a) everything in nature reflects persistence, resilience, and interconnectedness.
(b) nature’s beauty inspires humans to worship it without exploring its teachings. (paragraph 2)
Ans. (a) everything in nature reflects persistence, resilience, and interconnectedness.
(III) Support the writer’s idea that “a river teaches us to be progressive in life and keep the fighting spirit alive”. (paragraph 4) (2)
Ans. The writer supports this idea by explaining:
1. A river never stops flowing, demonstrating resilience and determination by finding a way past obstacles.
2. This teaches us to remain persistent and maintain a positive, fighting spirit even when facing challenges.
(IV) Select the option that best reflects the concept of ‘living in harmony with nature’ in the context of reducing human impact on the environment. (paragraph 3) (1)
Ans. The concept of ‘living in harmony with nature’ in this context is best reflected by actions like conserving natural resources, protecting ecosystems, and recognizing nature’s intrinsic value to maintain ecological balance.
(V) State whether the following statement is True or False. (paragraph 4) “Snakes are worshipped because they harm crops, making them unworthy of respect.” (1)
Ans. False. Snakes are worshipped because they protect crops by eating harmful insects, which makes them helpful to humans.
(VI) The writer mentions ‘maintaining ecological balance’ in paragraph 3. Which of the following actions promotes ecological balance? (1)
(a) Overusing water resources to meet growing demands.
(b) Protecting wildlife habitats and reducing pollution.
(c) Expanding urban areas by clearing forests.
(d) Hunting animals for sport to maintain population control.
Ans. (b) Protecting wildlife habitats and reducing pollution.
(VII) List any two ways the writer suggests humans are destroying nature due to greed. (paragraph 5) (2)
Ans. Two ways humans are destroying nature due to greed:
1. Clearing forests and exploiting natural resources irresponsibly, leading to ecological imbalance.
2. Overuse of resources, resulting in natural disasters like droughts, floods, and landslides.
(VIII) Fill in the blank with the correct option from those given. (paragraph 5)
In the phrase ‘respecting nature improves the quality of life’, the word ‘respect’ refers to ________. (1)
(a) Acknowledging nature’s importance and conserving it.
(b) Worshipping nature solely to gain its favor.
(c) Ignoring human progress to prioritize natural resources.
(d) Learning only from religious scriptures.
Ans. (a) Acknowledging nature’s importance and conserving it.
2. Read the following passage carefully:
1. There was a time when human interference was minimum, the number of wild animals was quite high and there was no problem of their protection or conservation.
2. Due to the irrational use of natural and biotic resources of the Earth in the past, most of the wildlife has been destroyed beyond retrieval. According to an estimate, in India about 200 species of wild animals and birds have become extinct and another 2500 are on the verge of extinction. Some of them are black buck, chinkara, wolf, swamp deer, nilgai, Indian gazelle, antelope, tiger, rhinoceros, gir lion, crocodile, flamingo, pelican, bustard, white crane, grey heron, mountain quail, etc.
3. In India, the Government and NGOs are taking keen interest in protection of wildlife. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, has several provisions for the conservation of wildlife. As many as 165 game sanctuaries and 21 national parks have been deployed to protect the natural habitat and wild animals. Apart from this, Wildlife Conservation Week is also celebrated from 1st to 7th October every year. But still there is a long way to go in this direction.
4. Preservation of wildlife does not mean a blanket protection to all faunal and floral species; rather it implies a proper, judicious control over the multiplication of plants and animals which interact together to provide a proper environment to man whose very existence is in peril today.
5. It is our urgent duty to protect the natural splendour of ecosystems and to evolve a system of coexistence with every living creature upon the Earth.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below: (10)
i. Infer one reason for the following, based on the information in the passage. The number of wild animals was quite high and there was no problem of their protection or conservation. (2)
Ans. less human interference / bare minimum human interferance
ii. Select the appropriate options to fill in the blanks. (1)
Most of the wildlife has been________ beyond________ due to the irrational use of natural resources on the Earth. (1)
I. destroyed
II. retrieval
III. desertion
IV. build
V. revived
a. I and II
b. II and III
c. III and IV
d. IV and V
Ans. a. I and II
iii. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from the passage. (1)
(Clue: Just like flowers are in a garden, similarly________ are in the sanctuaries.)
Flowers: Garden::________: Sanctuaries
Ans. wildlife
iv. Select the correct option to complete the sentence. (1)
Judicious control over the multiplication of plants and animals which provide
a. natural splendour of ecosystem
b. proper environment to man
c. blanket protection
d. happy and comfortable living
Ans. b. proper environment to man
v. According to the graph, which is the most vulnerable animal species and the least vulnerable from the graph. (1)
I. Birds
II. Insects
III. Fishes
IV. Reptiles
V. Insects
VI. Mammals
VII. Molluses
a. I and II
b. III and IV
c. V and VI
d. VI and VI
Ans. b. III and IV
vi. Assertion (A): Wildlife conservation is essential to maintain a balanced ecosystem and ensure human survival.
Reason (R): The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and initiatives like sanctuaries and Wildlife Conservation Week aim to protect endangered species and their habitats.
A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Ans. A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
vii. List any two examples of Government and NGOs trying to protect the wildlife. (2)
Ans. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, has several provisions for the conservation of wildlife / 165 game sanctuaries and 21 national parks have been deployed/protecting the natural habitat and wild animals/ Wildlife Conservation Week is celebrated from 1st to 7th October every year (any two)
viii. List one reason why the Government makes certain recommendations for protection of wild animals. (1)
Ans. to protect the natural habitat and wild animals / to keep ecological balance (any one)
Section B Grammar
3. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed
(a) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given portion of a letter:
Sir
We ________ (purchase) office furniture from your showroom on 5th October vide Invoice No. 12334.
Ans. had purchased
(b) Identify the error and supply the correction, for the following:
Use the given format for your response.
Ans.
(c) Report the dialogue between a mother and her daughter, by completing the sentence:
Mother: Why are you looking so worried?
Daughter: My exams are approaching.
In response to the question about being worried, the daughter said that ________. (c) [1]
Ans. her exams were approaching.
(d) Mona failed to join an important meeting. The team leader asked Mona the following question. Report the TL’s question.
Were you informed about the meeting yesterday?
Ans. The team leader asked Mona if/whether she had been informed about the meeting the day before.
(e) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option:
The mud houses are not ________ the buildings in your city.
a) comparable for
b) comparable to
c) comparable of
d) comparable as
Ans. b) comparable to
(f) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line, from a news report:
These exams open doors to higher education, improve employment opportunities and increase option.
Ans. (D)
(g) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a business magazine.
A wise man ________ have money in his head but not in his heart.
a) should
b) needn’t
c) will
d) must
Ans. a) should
(h) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option.
We ________ obey the natural laws.
a) might
b) must
c) could
d) can
Ans. b) must
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the words of an Olympic champion.
You ________ be tough enough to achieve your goal.
a) can
b) may
c) will
d) must
Ans. d) must
(j) Complete the line from a self-awareness song, by filling the blank with the correct option.
An angel writing in a book of gold:
Exceeding peace ________ Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,
“What writest thou” – The vision ________ is head,
i. makes, raises
ii. had made, raised
iii. had made, raise
iv. makes, raised
Ans. ii. had made, raised
(k) Giving a speech in front of such a big crowd who are made up of intellectuals ________ a very difficult action, I suppose.
a) was
b) is
c) were
d) are
Ans. b) is
(l) Neither the man nor his son ________ convinced of the idea.
a) has
b) was
c) had
d) have
Ans. b) was
Section B Writing
4. Write a brief description on the live cricket match you have ever seen. [5]
Ans.
An Interesting Cricket Match
Once I got a chance to witness a cricket match on our college ground last year. Our college played a cricket match against the team of another college of our city. The weather was very fine. The spectators were sitting all around on the benches and chairs. Both the teams came on the playground on time. Two umpires also came there. The match began at the right time. The captains of both the teams came forward and shook hands. Then there was a toss. Our captain won the toss and decided to bat. The other team took to fielding. Our captain and Mahesh came as the opening batsmen. Our captain hit several boundaries. After one hours first, our captain was caught behind the wicket. He scored ninety runs. Then Rakesh came in to play but he got out very soon. Our whole team was out at two hundred and fifty runs. Then the other team started bating. Rakesh and Mohan were our bowlers. They bowled very well. In the first over the players of the other team made ten runs and we became nervous. The opening batsmen scored hundred and twenty runs. But soon, a batsman was declared L.B.W. by the umpire. After this the captain came out to bat. He is a very good batsman. He batted carefully and hit several boundaries. He was out after adding eighty runs to the score. But after this all the batsmen were soon bowled one by one. The whole team was out at the score of two hundred and forty runs. In this way our college team won the match by twenty runs only. There was a great rejoicing and clapping. Each team gave three cheers to the other.
OR
Write a descriptive paragraph on “A Career Fair”.
Ans.
A Career Fair
I attended a Career Fair with my parents last month. It was organized by The Australian High Commission, at Bal Bhawan. Many Australian colleges and universities participated. They provided a lot of valid information about their graduate and undergraduate programmes. It provided students with an excellent opportunity, to speak to the Deans of various universities, who could guide them on the panorama of courses being offered. Mass communication, Designing and Biotechnology, were of my interest and I did take interest in finding out, job oriented prospects, in future. In addition to this, the students interacted face to face with major recruiters from the country. The Career Fair was perfectly timed as the exams had just ended. Students also got information about the financial assistance, they could avail of. It was indeed a helping hand onto the career ladder. We also got a first-hand insight of the colleges and the many opportunities provided, during the course.
5. You are Sunlit, a student of class X. Your father has been transferred to another city resulting in a change of school for you. You have been attending your new school for a week now. Write a diary entry on your thoughts and feelings about your old school and new school.
Ans. 7th May 2014
Sunday 9 pm
Dear Diary,
Shifting to a new city and a new school, in the mid-session, had left me very unhappy. I badly missed my old school, teachers and friends. But today, my new classmates went out of their way to help me when I fell down the stairs in the school. They took me to the first-aid room and even did my written work. It has been just one week, but I have started to feel comfortable already.
Sumit
OR
Write a story in 150-200 words based on the points given below:
Ans.
LITTLE WARRIOR
Sunil, a little boy of just eight years, was alone at home His parents had gone to the hospital where one of their neighbours was admitted in an emergency. Sunil was not timid as the other children of his age might be. So he was left behind. His parents were confident of his wisdom. Their home was in a posh-locality where rich-gentry of the city dwelled. Sunil was busy in the preparation of his project work. Then he felt thirsty. He moved towards the kitchen to have a glass of water. Suddenly, he heard some strange noise there. Then he noticed from the kitchen window, three suspicious looking men around their house. On seeing them, Sunil got a little afraid but didn’t lose his courage. Without making any noise, first of all, he checked whether all doors were tightly bolted or not. Then, he, at once remembered that once his father had told him of emergency numbers. He quietly dialled 100 number and talked to the police. He informed them about those three goons. He also called his parents. Meanwhile, he kept a glance at the activities of those men who were waiting for the right moment for any action. Actually, they were notorious robbers. They entered the house searching for valuable and precious things in the home. Within fifteen minutes of the phone call, the police arrived there. On seeing them, the robbers tried to escape but to no avail. They were caught by the police force. At that moment his parents also reached there. The Police patted on Sunil’s back for his valuable call and bravery. His parents, too, praised him for showing courage in such moment. For a long time, the police had been searching for them. In a public function, Sunil was rewarded. He also became famous at school due to his bravery and quick-mindedness.
Section C Literature
6. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
(a) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
He passed by the cathedral tower, where the white marble angels were sculptured. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing. A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover. “I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State ball,” she said. “I have ordered flowers to be embroidered on it, but the seamstresses are so lazy.” He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging on the masts of the ships. At last he came to the poor woman’s house and looked in. The boy was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the mother had fallen asleep, she was so tired. In he hopped, and laid the great ruby on the table beside the woman’s thimble. Then he flew gently round the bed, fanning the boy’s forehead with his wings. “How cool I feel!” said the boy, “I must be getting better;” and he sank into a delicious slumber.
i. Which of the following is NOT a detail from the passage? (1)
A. The boy was tossing feverishly on his bed.
B. The beautiful girl ordered flowers to be embroidered on her dress for the State ball.
C. The lanterns were hanging on the masts of the ships over the river.
D. The boy’s mother had finished sewing the dress for the State ball.
Ans. D. The boy’s mother had finished sewing the dress for the State ball.
ii. State TRUE or FALSE. (1)
None of the terms (a) – (d) below, can be applied to the question – Who is the speaker of the lines –
I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State ball,?
a. The boy’s mother
b. The swallow
c. The Happy Prince
d. The Queen’s maid of honour
Ans. False [Option d is correct. The speaker is the loveliest maid of honour of the Queen.]
iii. Is the girl right in considering the seamstresses to be lazy? Give a reason. (2)
Ans. No, she is not right in considering the seamstresses to be lazy because it was hunger, cold, and fatigue that had interrupted the completion of order in time.
iv. Which phrase would correctly substitute slumber, in the given sentence from the extract. (1)
I must be getting better, and he sank into a delicious slumber.
Ans. Sleep
(a) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: [5]
They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to – on a screen, you know. And then when they turned back to the page before, it had the same words on it that it had had when they read it the first time.
i. State any one inference about Margie’s books from the given context: words that stood still instead of moving the way. (1)
Ans. The books that Margie and Tommy read were online in the form of e-books. Unlike paper books, the text in such books kept moving and was not still.
ii. State True or False (1)
None of the terms (a)-(d) below, can be applied to Margie’s books.
a. Hand book
b. Play book
c. Paper book
d. Cook book
Ans. TRUE. [Margie’s book was in the form of a digital book, maybe an e-book.]
iii. The children had a strange experience with the book. Elaborate in about 40 words, with reference to the extract. (2)
Ans. The children had a strange experience with the real tangible book because the paper books have the same kind of text in all the pages. Like if you turn a page the same thing would be written. While on the e-books text keeps on changing whenever you go back.
iv. What do you understand by the term crinkly, use it in another sentence. (1)
Ans. Crinkly: With many folds or lines, something that is crushed.
Sentence: The leaves turned brown and crinkly.
7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
(a) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and
wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for
the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
a. What is ‘Innisfree’? (1)
i. a snow-clad mountain
ii. a clean and fresh-water lake
iii. a quiet and peaceful island
iv. a simple and modest house
Ans. iii. a quiet and peaceful island
b. What kind of home would the poet like to build there? (2)
Ans. The poet would like to build a small cottage made of clay and wattles.
c. Quote a phrase from the extract the BEST conveys the poet’s eagerness and urgency to go to Innisfree. (1)
Ans. I will arise and go now
d. It is clear that ‘Alliteration’ is the poetic device used in the last line because ________. (1)
Ans. repetition of ‘l’ sound which makes it musical.
(b) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Away, away in the Northland,
Where the hours of the day are few,
And the nights are so long in winter
That they cannot sleep them through;
a. In which geographical region is the setting described in the stanza? (1)
i. The Southland
ii. The Eastland
iii. The Westland
iv. The Northland
Ans. iv. The Northland
b. What does the stanza suggest about the length of days and nights in the Northland during winter? (1)
Ans. Here, during the winter, the duration of the night is longer and the days are shorter. Also, the poet says that the duration of nights is long and people can’t sleep them through. The poet wanted to emphasize the fact that the nights are very long
c. How does the poet’s choice of words and imagery contribute to the atmosphere and mood conveyed in the stanza? (2)
Ans. The poet’s choice of words and imagery in the stanza creates an atmosphere of isolation and harshness. The description of short daylight hours and interminable winter nights evokes a sense of desolation and difficulty, setting a sombre and melancholic mood.
d. ________ is the possible symbolic meaning of the long winter nights in the context of the poem. (1)
Ans. Hardships/ challenges/darkness.
8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words
(a) What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine? Write your answer in the context of the Kathmandu. [3]
Ans. Vikram Seth finds a flute seller standing in a corner of the square near his hotel in Kathmandu. The flute seller holds a pole in his hand which has an attachment at the top. There are many holes in this attachment, and around fifty to sixty flutes are stuck in it which bulge out in all directions. The author compares these protruding flutes to the quills of a porcupine.
(b) What does the poet say about hating our brothers? Write your answer in the context of poem No Men Are Foreign. [3]
Ans. The poet feels that when we indulge in negativity, we actually harm ourselves. We deprive ourselves of the love of our brothers and earn condemnation for such depravity. The poet feels that people of all countries have to work hard in a similar fashion to earn their livelihood.
(c) What characteristics did Kalam inherit from his parents? [3]
Ans. According to Kalam, he inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father. From his mother, he inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness and so did his three brothers and sister. His upbringing never made him feel like differentiating between people of different religions. His family would also help in religious events of Hindu people. His grandmother and mother would also tell bedtime stories from Ramayana as well as the life of the Prophet. He learnt the value of respecting other religions and faiths.
(d) … the wind god seemed to have taken time off. What does the narrator mean by these words? [3]
Ans. It was a still night.
There was no wind.
Wind wasn’t blowing.
(e) What will rise from close to the ground? Why? Write your answer in the context of the poem On Killing a Tree.
Ans. If we cut from the bottom, that is, from close to the ground, the curled green twigs will start growing with mini branches coming out. Curled green twigs and miniature boughs will rise from the stump of the tree if the roots are not pulled out. They will rise because the tree rejuvenates and revives itself as long as its roots are intact.
9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words.
(a) What kind of friend was Sue to Johnsy? [3]
Ans. Sue and Johnsy were fast friends. They loved each other. In a state of illness, Sue helped her as a mother. She tried her best and left no stone unturned to take her friend out of depression. She worked for extra hours for the money to support Johnsy’s medical expenses and prepared soup for her. She seemed the happiest person on her friend’s recovery from illness.
(b) How did Sergei come to remember that he had met the beggar before? [3]
Ans. The beggar’s face looked familiar to Sergei. When he saw the beggar’s overshoes, one of which was high and the other low, he suddenly remembered seeing him day before yesterday at Sadovaya Street.
(c) What was the child’s response to the many offers made by the man? [3]
Ans. The child simply wailed inconsolably. In between his sobs, he expressed his desire to be with his mother and father. He refused to even glance at the various things offered by the man in an attempt to quieten him.
10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words
(a) What was Kezia’s opinion about her father before? What change did take place? [6]
Ans. Earlier, Kezia thought that her father was a cruel man. She always avoided him. She saw that her neighbour Mr. Macdonald loved his children. But her father never cared for her. He was very harsh and never played with her. One day Kezia’s mother was taken to a hospital. Kezia was alone in her room. At night she had a bad dream. She cried with fear. Her father took her to his bed. She slept with him. Her father asked her to rub her feet against his legs to make them warm. She felt sorry for her father. She felt reassured and safe and snuggled up to him. That is when she realised that her father was not a cruel giant but a large-hearted, hard-working man who get extremely tired by the end of the day.
(b) Was Gerrard really pleased to see the criminal? [6]
Ans. One day an intruder enters his room. There is a gun in his hand and he threatens to kill Gerrard. But Gerrard does not panic. He is a clever man. He has understood that the criminal has evil intentions. He knows that if he fights with the intruder, he will be killed. So his best chance is to talk with the intruder in a friendly manner. By talking pleasantly, Gerrard makes the intruder delay his plan of killing him. So, Gerrard tells him that he is pleased to see him. He was not really pleased to see the criminal. By engaging the intruder in talks, Gerrard comes to know that he is not an intelligent man and it is not difficult to fool him. Gerrard behavior shows that he is a sensible person. He knows how to behave in a crisis. In the end he is able to lock the intruder in a cupboard and calls the police. Gerrard is so amused by this incident that he decides to use it as the plot for his next play.
11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words.
(a) How did Toto take bath? Where did he learn to do this? [6]
Ans. Toto was very cunning and copied others. The way he took bath resembled humans. He followed the proper procedure for bathing. He cunningly tested the temperature of the water with his hand as human beings do. After this, he gradually stepped into the bath. He was so attentive that he stepped first one foot, then the other, until he was into the water up to his neck. He rubbed himself all over with the soap. He learned it all from the author. If he saw anyone laughing at him, he would feel hurt and refused to take a bath. The way he took bath was not different from that of human beings. When the bath was over he would run to the kitchen to dry himself.
(b) Describe the hardships faced by the author and his family in the story A House is Not a Home. Write your answer in the context of A House is Not a Home.
Ans. The author and his family faced a lot of hardships in the story A House is Not a Home. The author’s house was destroyed in the fire. He lost all his belongings and his favourite pet cat too. He and his mother had to stay at his grandparents’ house. His mother had to borrow money from his grandparents as her money, credit cards, and identification proofs were all damaged and lost in the fire. The author went through a lot of mental stress as he had to go to school without his school bag, notebooks and homework. He even had to borrow shoes from his aunt to attend school. He felt like an outcast going to the school in that manner. He felt dejected and even wished to terminate his life. He also missed his pet cat badly and kept searching for her everywhere.