The Day I Learned What Makes a Good Neighbor

What makes a good neighbor?

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When I first moved into my new apartment, I didn’t know anyone. The walls were white, the hallways silent, and the only sound that greeted me was the hum of the refrigerator. I had big dreams of starting fresh—but I didn’t realize how lonely “fresh starts” could feel until I spent my first weekend there in complete quiet.

Then came Mrs. Patel, my next-door neighbor. She was in her late fifties, always wearing bright saris and carrying a smile as if it were part of her outfit. The first time I met her was because I had locked myself out of my apartment while taking out the trash. My phone, my keys, even my slippers—everything was inside. I must have looked ridiculous, standing barefoot in the hallway, panicking.

She appeared from her door, holding a bowl of mango pickle, and asked gently, “Beta, problem?”
I explained my embarrassing situation. Instead of laughing (which she totally could have), she invited me in, offered me water, and called the building supervisor. Within ten minutes, my problem was solved—and I had also tasted the best homemade pickle of my life.

From that day, things changed. She’d knock on my door to share freshly made chai, and I’d help her set up her Wi-Fi whenever it mysteriously “disappeared.” When I was sick one weekend, she brought soup and told me, “A neighbor is like family you didn’t choose.”

That line stuck with me.

Good neighbors aren’t just the people who live next door—they’re the ones who make the place feel like home. They look out for you without intruding, lend you sugar and smiles in equal measure, and remind you that kindness doesn’t need a special occasion.

Now, whenever a new tenant moves in, I make sure to greet them first—sometimes with cookies, sometimes just with a “Welcome!” Because I learned from Mrs. Patel that being a good neighbor isn’t about location—it’s about connection.

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