Ans. Valli was an eight-year-old girl. She did not have playmates of her own age. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside.
2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Ans. The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli. The bus used to travel between her village and the nearest town and passed through her street each hour. It was the most fascinating thing for her. Her strongest desire was to have a ride on the bus. 3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?
Ans Valli found out many details about the bus journey. The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. She collected all this information by listening to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus. Sometimes she used to ask few discreet questions here and there also.
4. What do you think Valli was planning to do?
Ans. Valli had a strong desire to ride on the bus. After collecting the details of the bus journey she planned for her own ride on the bus. She planned to save some money for the fare. She was planning to ride on the bus to fulfill her desire.
5. Why does the conductor call Valli 'madam'?
Ans. The conductor was a jolly fellow. He was fond of joking. He was a person of good and friendly nature. He was fond of joking. He saw her temperament and called her 'madam' because she was behaving like a grown up lady.
6. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
Ans. Valli wanted to look outside the bus. She found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood up on the seat. She saw many beautiful sights on both sides of the road. On one side there was a canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and blue sky. On the other side was a deep ditch and then acres of green fields.
7. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?
Ans. When the elderly man showed his concern for her and asked her not to stand on the seat, he called her a child. This annoyed Valli and she told him that she was not a child as she had paid thirty paise like everyone else.
8. Why didn't Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
Ans. On the way an elderly woman boarded the bus and sat beside Valli. The elderly woman asked Valli if she was alone. Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive. She had big holes in her ear lobes with ugly earrings in them. She was chewing betel nut. The betel juice was about to come out of her mouth. Valli did not like her so she did not make friends with her.
9. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?
Ans. Valli saved up money for her first journey by sacrificing her luxuries. She did not buy peppermints, toys, balloons and many other things. She did not spend any money on merry-go-round in the village fair. No, it was not easy for her. But she had a strong desire for the bus ride. She resisted every temptation and saved money.
10. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?
Ans. Valli saw a young cow running very fast, right in the middle of the road. It had held its tail high in the air. It was running right in front of the bus. The driver sounded his horn loudly again and again. But the more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and ran faster. This was very funny. Valli laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes.
11. Why didn't she get off the bus at the bus station?
Ans. Valli did not get off the bus at the bus station because she had to come back to her village by the same bus. When the conductor asked her to get down and see some sights on something, she refused to do so. She was afraid of moving alone.
12. Why didn't Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?
Ans. Valli had only one desire and it was to enjoy a ride on the bus. She had saved sixty paise for the fare. Now her desire was fulfilled. After reaching the city she did not get on for two reasons. Firstly, she didn't have money to spend on drinks or any other thing. Secondly, she was alone and did not want to take any risk. It tells that Valli was not only a wise girl but could control the temptations also.
13. Why does Valli refuse to lookout of the window on her way back?
Ans. On her back, Valli saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside. It was hit by some fast moving vehicle. She confirmed from the conductor if it was the same cow which made her laugh while going to the city. The conductor nodded. she was overcome by sadness. The memory of the dead cow haunted her and dampened her enthusiasm. She no longer wanted to look out of the window.
14. What was Valli’s deepest desire? What did she do to fulfill it?
Ans. The deepest desire of Valli was to enjoy a bus ride. She was fascinated by the bus that crossed her street each hour. She saved money and fulfilled her desire.
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