The Indifferent Neighbour — A Story

This is a short story — fictional, yet grounded in the kind of moments we often overlook. It invites reflection on how we see others, and sometimes, how others may see us. There's something beneath the surface — if you read closely, you might find it. Hope it stays with you.

Jesus

'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'

— Mark 12:31, King James Version

Thus spoke Jesus. 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself.' This message has echoed for centuries. It's never been just a religious instruction — it's a principle, a way to live with empathy. Not just towards friends or family, but to those closest in space — the ones across our walls, on the same street, sharing the same building. Jesus reminded us that true love starts right next door.

My Neighbour in 2025

In 2025, tucked away in a corner of Kolkata, I was living in a single room, trying to make sense of everything falling apart. It wasn't just a difficult phase — it was a slow unraveling. Each day felt heavier than the one before. Even the smallest tasks — cooking, cleaning, remembering to eat — started to feel overwhelming.

Next door, life moved differently. My neighbour seemed to live in a different timeline. Their days were filled with comfort — even luxury. While I was letting go of old clothes and basic belongings just to keep afloat, they were bringing in new appliances, fancy lamps, sleek furniture. Their weekends looked like Instagram dreams — brunches, short trips, cheerful selfies — while I stared blankly at grocery bills and prescription lists.

When my mother suddenly fell ill, I assumed the neighbours would notice. Maybe offer help. But nothing came. The same people who usually noticed every tiny detail — who came home late, who got a parcel, who rearranged furniture — now looked the other way.

A few days later, I knocked. Not out of complaint — I simply wanted to talk, perhaps connect. Maybe they'd ask if I needed help arranging a ride or finding a pharmacy. Instead, they offered unsolicited theories. Without knowing anything about her condition, they said it was because of 'wrong food habits' or even 'spiritual decline.' No concern. No questions. Just opinions.

"My neighbour seemed to live in a different timeline.
Their days were filled with comfort — even luxury." 

After that, things carried on as if nothing happened. Their laughter returned, music filled their rooms again, reels and gossip replaced everything else. And us? We became a passing topic, whispered from a distance. It felt surreal — how quickly real pain can become someone else's casual conversation.

Oddly, I wasn't angry. Not right away. It was something quieter than rage — a hollow kind of disappointment. There was barely twenty feet between our homes, yet emotionally, we might as well have lived in different cities. While I struggled to count coins for medicine, they were discussing which café served the best cheesecake.

Revelation

In the 21st century, good neighbours aren't always easy to find. But before I end, there's something I should have said earlier. All the frustration I described above? That wasn't mine. The silence, the neglect, the helplessness — none of it was mine. It was my neighbour's experience.

Because I was the indifferent one. I was the neighbour in this story.

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This page was last updated on: 13 July 2025
Number of revisions on this page: 2
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