MADAM RIDES THE BUS
MADAM RIDES THE BUSTHERE was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight years old and very curious about things.
There was a girl whose name was Valliammai. In short she was called as Valli. Her age was eight years. She was very eager to learn about everything.
Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside. There were no playmates of her own age on her street, and this was about all she had to do.
Her favourite activity to pass time was to stand in front of the door of her house to watch what was happening in the street. She did not play with anybody in the street because nobody was of her age. Therefore she could only watch incidents happening in the street.
But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.
Valli enjoyed standing at the door and watching. It was as enjoyable as playing fancy games with other children. She gained lot of extraordinary information by watching the street.
The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back. The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli.
The most interesting thing was the bus travelling between her village and the nearby town. A bus passed through her street every hour. Once going to the town and next hour coming back from the town. Each time, different passengers were travelling in the bus. Valli always enjoyed observing every bus.
Day after day she watched the bus, and gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there: she wanted to ride on that bus, even if just once. This wish became stronger and stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire.
She watched the bus every day. Slowly a small wish came to her mind and the wish became bigger. She wanted to travel in that bus at least once. This wish became stronger and it became an immense desire.
Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus when it stopped at the street corner. Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams, and hopes.
The bus used to stop at the corner of the street. She was aware that she may not be able to travel in a bus. Valli used to stare at the people getting down from the bus. Faces of those travelers used to come in her dreams, hopes and wishes. These dreams used to inspire her to travel in bus.
If one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her, Valli would be too jealous to listen and would shout, in English: “Proud! proud!” Neither she nor her friends really understood the meaning of the word, but they used it often as a slang expression of disapproval.
If any of her friends had travelled in the bus to the town, the friend would try to describe scene of the town. On such occasions, Valli would get jealous. She would shout in English : ‘Proud, proud!’ Valli and her friends did not understand meaning of this word. But they used it to express their disapproval or disliking.
Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and she also asked a few discreet questions here and there.
For many days and many months, Valli carefully listened to the conversation between people who had regularly travelled in the bus. She used to ask some questions during their conversations.
This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey. The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way — “which is almost nothing at all,” she heard one well-dressed man say, but to Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one month to the next, it seemed a fortune.
By this method she learnt many details about the bus journey. The town was six miles from the village. The fare of one side travel was thirty paise. One person who was wearing good clothes said that this was very small amount. Valli had hardly seen this much of money during a month. So thirty paise was a very big amount for her.
The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus.
The travel time from village to town was forty five minutes. After reaching town if she remained in the bus and paid another thirty paise, she could return to the village in the same bus.
This meant that she could take the one-o’clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five, and be back home by about two forty-five... On and on went her thoughts as she calculated and recalculated, planned and replanned.
Valli calculated that if she started from the village by one-o’ clock bus in the afternoon, she would reach the town at one forty-five and could be back to the village by about two forty five. She thought many times about it. She did her calculation many times. She checked her planning many times.
IIWell, one fine spring day the afternoon bus was just on the point of leaving the village and turning into the main highway when a small voice was heard shouting: “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised commandingly.
In the one clear afternoon of the spring season, bus had reached the point of leaving the village and turning on the main highway. A small voice was heard to stop the bus. A small hand was raised to order the bus to stop.
he bus slowed down to a crawl, and the conductor, sticking his head out the door, said, “Hurry then! Tell whoever it is to come quickly.” “It’s me,” shouted Valli. “I’m the one who has to get on.”
The bus slowed down and moved at very slow speed. The bus conductor took out his head from the door and said to hurry up. He told Valli to tell the passenger to come quickly. Valli shouted that she wanted to get into the bus to travel.
By now the bus had come to a stop, and the conductor said, “Oh, really! You don’t say so!” “Yes, I simply have to go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus, “and here’s my money.” She showed him some coins.
Now the bus had stopped. The conductor was surprised to hear that Valli wanted to travel alone in the bus. Valli said that she wanted to go to the town. She told that she had money with her. While standing outside the bus she showed some coins to the conductor.
“Okay, okay, but first you must get on the bus,” said the conductor, and he stretched out a hand to help her up. “Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.”
The conductor told Valli that first she should get into the bus. He extended his hand to help her. But Valli told him not to worry about her. She said that she can get into the bus without any help. She does not need help of conductor.
The conductor was a jolly sort, fond of joking. “Oh, please don’t be angry with me, my fine madam,” he said. “Here, have a seat right up there in front. Everybody move aside please — make way for madam.”
The bus conductor was a cheerful person and fond of joking. He addressed Valli as madam and requested her not to be angry at him. He asked Valli to sit at a seat that was in the front of the bus. He asked other passengers to move sideways to give way to Valli madam.
It was the slack time of day, and there were only six or seven passengers on the bus. They were all looking at Valli and laughing with the conductor. Valli was overcome with shyness. Avoiding everyone’s eyes, she walked quickly to an empty seat and sat down.
That time was of period of lesser business. There were only six or seven passengers in the bus. They all looked at Valli and laughed with the conductor. Valli became very shy. She did not look at anybody. She walked quickly to an empty seat and sat down.
“May we start now, madam?” the conductor asked, smiling. Then he blew his whistle twice, and the bus moved forward with a roar.
The conductor smiled at Valli and asked her if the bus can begin to move. Then he blew his whistle twice and the bus started to move with a loud sound.
It was a new bus, its outside painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. Directly in front of Valli, above the windshield, there was a beautiful clock. The seats were soft and luxurious.
It was a new bus. Outside colour of the bus was shining white with some lines of green colour on its sides. Inside the bus, the top bars were shining like silver. Exactly in front of Valli and above the front glass, there was a beautiful clock. Seats were soft and comfortable.
Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside, 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 and peered over the blind.
Valli quickly looked at everything in the bus through her eyes. When she looked outside she found that she could not see everything because a canvas on the lower part of the window blocked her view. So she stood on the seat and tried to see from above the canvas cloth.
The bus was now going along the bank of a canal. The road was very narrow. On one side there was the canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue, blue sky.
Now the bus was moving along the side of a canal. The road was very narrow. On one side of the bus there was a canal. Beyond canal there were palm trees and fields of grass. At a far distance there were mountains and blue sky.
On the other side was a deep ditch and then acres and acres of green fields — green, green, green, as far as the eye could see. Oh, it was all so wonderful! Suddenly she was startled by a voice. “Listen, child,” said the voice, “you shouldn’t stand like that. Sit down.”
On the other side of the road was a trench. Beyond that there were large areas of green fields as far as one could see. It was very wonderful. Suddenly she was surprised by a voice. The voice advised Valli not to stand on the seat. It asked her to sit down.
Sitting down, she looked to see who had spoken. It was an elderly man who had honestly been concerned for her, but she was annoyed by his attention.
While sitting down she looked around to see who had spoken. An elderly man had given the advice, he was really worried about her. But she was angry that he had noticed her or was watching her.
“There’s nobody here who’s a child,” she said haughtily. “I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.” The conductor chimed in. “Oh, sir, but this is a very grown-up madam. Do you think a mere girl could pay her own fare and travel to the city all alone?”
Valli angrily told that there was no child in the bus. I have paid thirty paise same as every other person has paid. The conductor joined the discussion and said to the man that Valli was a grown up madam. A small girl cannot pay her own fare and travel alone to the city.
Valli shot an angry glance at the conductor and said, “I am not a madam. Please remember that. And you’ve not yet given me my ticket.”
Valli looked at the conductor angrily and said that she was not a madam. She further told him to recall that he had not yet given her tickle
“I’ll remember,” the conductor said, mimicking her tone. Everyone laughed, and gradually Valli too joined in the laughter.
Copying her style of speaking, conductor replied that he would remember. Everyone in the bus laughed. Slowly Valli also started laughing.
The conductor punched a ticket and handed it to her. “Just sit back and make yourself comfortable. Why should you stand when you’ve paid for a seat?”
The conductor punched a ticket and gave it to her. He advised Valli to sit on the seat and be comfortable. He told Valli that she should not stand on the seat because she has paid for the seat.
“Because I want to,” she answered, standing up again. “But if you stand on the seat, you may fall and hurt yourself when the bus makes a sharp turn or hits a bump. That’s why we want you to sit down, child.”
Valli said that she was standing because she wanted to stand. The conductor informs Valli that she may fall down and get injured when bus takes a sharp turn or goes over a bump. He addressed Valli as a child and requested her to sit down.
“I’m not a child, I tell you,” she said irritably. “I’m eight years old.” “Of course, of course. How stupid of me! Eight years — my!”
She angrily told that she was not a child. She was eight years old. The conductor told that certainly she was eight years old. It was foolish of him to call her a child.
The bus stopped, some new passengers got on, and the conductor got busy for a time. Afraid of losing her seat, Valli finally sat down. An elderly woman came and sat beside her. “Are you all alone, dear?” she asked Valli as the bus started again.
The bus stopped. Some new passengers got into the bus. The conductor got busy for some time. Valli was now afraid of losing her seat so she sat down. An elderly woman came and sat near Valli. She asked Valli if she was travelling alone. The Bus had started to move again.
Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive — such big holes she had in her ear lobes, and such ugly earrings in them! And she could smell the betel nut the woman was chewing and see the betel juice that was threatening to spill over her lips at any moment. Ugh! — who could be sociable with such a person?
Valli did not like that woman. She had big holes in her ear lobes. She was wearing ugly earrings. Valli could smell beetle nuts she was chewing. The juice of beetle nut was about to come out of her mouth. Valli thought who can be a friend of such a woman.
“Yes, I’m travelling alone,” she answered curtly. “And I’ve got a ticket too.” “Yes, she’s on her way to town,” said the conductor. “With a thirty-paise ticket.” “Oh, why don’t you mind your own business,” said Valli. But she laughed all the same, and the conductor laughed too.
Valli rudely replied that she was travelling alone and she had a ticket also. The conductor told the woman that Valli was going to the town after buying a thirty paise ticket. Valli told conductor to do his own work. But then she laughed and conductor also laughed.
But the old woman went on with her drivel. “Is it proper for such a young person to travel alone? Do you know exactly where you’re going in town? What’s the street? What’s the house number?”
But the old woman continued her nonsense talk. She asked if it was correct for such a young person to travel alone. She asked Valli if she knew where exactly in the town would she go. What is the street and what is the house number.
“You needn’t bother about me. I can take care of myself,” Valli said, turning her face towards the window and staring out.
Vali told the lady to not to worry about her. She declared that she could take care of herself. Then she turned her face towards window and started looking out.
IIIHer first journey — what careful, painstaking, elaborate plans she had had to make for it!
Valli had carefully made accurate and detailed plan for her first journey.
She had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like, and finally she had saved a total of sixty paise.
By spending less money she had saved whatever coins she randomly received from anyone. She controlled her every wish to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and other such things. Finally she had saved sixty paise.
How difficult it had been, particularly that day at the village fair, but she had resolutely stifled a strong desire to ride the merrygo-round, even though she had the money.
It has been very difficult not to spend money. It was especially difficult when there was a fair in the village. Though she had money, with great determination she controlled her desire to ride merry go-round.
After she had enough money saved, her next problem was how to slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge. But she managed this without too much difficulty.
After she had saved money, her next problem was how to go out of the house without knowledge of her mother. But she did that without much difficulty.
Every day after lunch her mother would nap from about one to four or so. Valli always used these hours for her ‘excursions’ as she stood looking from the doorway of her house or sometimes even ventured out into the village; today, these same hours could be used for her first excursion outside the village.
Every day after taking lunch, her mother used to sleep from 1 PM to 4 PM. During this period of time Valli used to stand at the doorway of her house. Sometimes she took the risk of going out of her house into the village. Today during this period of time she will be going out of her village for the first time.
The bus rolled on now cutting across a bare landscape, now rushing through a tiny hamlet or past an odd wayside shop. Sometimes the bus seemed on the point of gobbling up another vehicle that was coming towards them or a pedestrian crossing the road.
Now the bus was moving through an area that did not have any house. Now the bus was moving through an area that had small group of houses or a shop on the side of road. Sometime it appeared that bus will collide with another vehicle coming from other side or with a person crossing the road.
But lo! somehow it passed on smoothly, leaving all obstacles safely behind. Trees came running towards them but then stopped as the bus reached them and simply stood there helpless for a moment by the side of the road before rushing away in the other direction.
But somehow the bus moved on smoothly and peacefully. [Meaning that accident did not occur]. All obstacles were left behind and the bus moved ahead. The trees at the distance appeared running but stopped as soon as the bus stopped. But trees again started running when bus moved.
Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee. A young cow, tail high in the air, was running very fast, right in the middle of the road, right in front of the bus. The bus slowed to a crawl, and the driver sounded his horn loudly again and again.
Suddenly Valli started clapping her hands with happiness. A young cow was running very fast in the middle of the road and right ahead of the bus. Its tail was high in the air. The driver slowed down the bus to a very low speed. The driver sounded the horn again and again.
But the more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and the faster it galloped — always right in front of the bus. Somehow this was very funny to Valli. She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes.
But whenever he sounded the horn, the cow became more frightened. And it ran faster in the front of the bus. This incident was very funny to Valli. She laughed so much that tears came to her eyes.
“Hey, lady, haven’t you laughed enough?” called, the conductor. “Better save some for tomorrow.” At last the cow moved off the road.
The conductor told Valli that she had already laughed a lot. He advised her to save some of her laugh for tomorrow. Eventually the cow moved away from the road.
And soon the bus came to a railroad crossing. A speck of a train could be seen in the distance, growing bigger and bigger as it drew near. Then it rushed past the crossing gate with a tremendous roar and rattle, shaking the bus.
Very soon the bus came to a railway crossing. A small dot of train could be seen at a far distance. This dot was become bigger and bigger as the train came near. The train moved past the crossing at a great speed. The sound of train was very big. The bus shook slightly because of movement of train.
Then the bus went on and passed the train station. From there it traversed a busy, well-laid-out shopping street and, turning, entered a wider thoroughfare. Such big, bright-looking shops! What glittering displays of clothes and other merchandise! Such big crowds!
After this, the bus started to move and it crossed railway crossing and passed the railway station. Then the bus travelled to a busy street. This street had nicely constructed and nicely arranged shops. Then it entered a wide main road. Shops on this road were very big and bright. There was an impressive display of clothes and other products in each shop.
Struck dumb with wonder, Valli gaped at everything. Then the bus stopped and everyone got off except Valli. “Hey, lady,” said the conductor, “aren’t you ready to get off? This is as far as your thirty paise takes you.”
She was so surprised that she could not speak anything. She merely stared at everything. Then the bus stopped and everyone got out of the bus. The conductor asked Valli why she was not getting down from the bus. He said that in thirty paise she could come up to that point only.
“No,” Valli said, “I’m going back on this same bus.” She took another thirty paise from her pocket and handed the coins to the conductor. “Why, is something the matter?” “No, nothing’s the matter. I just felt like having a bus ride, that’s all.”
Valli said that she would not get down from the bus. She wanted to go back to the village in the same bus. She took out another thirty paise from her pocket and gave to the conductor. The conductor asked Valli if there was any problem. Valli replied that she just wanted to have a ride in the bus.
“Don’t you want to have a look at the sights, now that you’re here?” “All by myself? Oh, I’d be much too afraid.” Greatly amused by the girl’s way of speaking, the conductor said, “But you weren’t afraid to come in the bus.”
The conductor said that since she is already in the town, she may like to see the town. Valli said that she was afraid to move alone in the city. The conductor felt funny at the way girl spoke this time. He said that but she was not afraid to come alone in the bus.
“Nothing to be afraid of about that,” she answered. “Well, then, why not go to that stall over there and have something to drink? Nothing to be afraid of about that either."
Valli answered that there was nothing to be afraid of while travelling alone in the bus. Conductor suggested Valli to go to a shop and buy something to drink. There is nothing to be afraid about it also.
“Oh, no, I couldn’t do that.” “Well, then, let me bring you a cold drink.” “No, I don’t have enough money. Just give me my ticket, that’s all.” “It’ll be my treat and not cost you anything.”
Valli said that she cannot buy it. Conductor said that he will bring something to drink for her. Valli said that she did not have money to buy a drink. She asked him to give her tickets. Nothing more than that she wanted. Conductor said that it will be a treat from him, Valli need not pay anything.
“No, no,” she said firmly, “please, no.” The conductor shrugged, and they waited until it was time for the bus to begin the return journey. Again there weren’t many passengers.
Valli firmly said no to the conductor. The conductor now ignored Valli. They waited till it was the time for the bus to start its journey back to the village. Once again there were not many passengers in the bus.
IV“Won’t your mother be looking for you?” the conductor asked when he gave the girl her ticket. “No, no one will be looking for me,” she said. The bus started, and again there were the same wonderful sights.
The conductor gave Valli her ticket. He asked if her mother would be searching for her. Valli said that no one would be searching for her. The bus started and during the journey there were same interesting scenes.
Valli wasn’t bored in the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she’d felt the first time. But suddenly she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, just where it had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle.
Valli did not get bored at all. She enjoyed everything with the eagerness of the first time. Suddenly she saw a dead young cow lying on the side of road. Some fast moving vehicle had collided with it.
“Isn’t that the same cow that ran in front of the bus on our trip to town?” she asked the conductor. The conductor nodded, and she was overcome with sadness.
She asked conductor if that was the same cow which was running ahead of the bus during their journey to the town. The conductor moved his head to indicate yes. Valii was full of sadness.
What had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little while ago had now suddenly lost its charm and its life and looked so horrible, so frightening as it lay there, legs spreadeagled, a fixed stare in its lifeless eyes, blood all over...
Charm = Attractiveness, Attraction Spreadeagled = Legs and hands stretched out Horrible = Bad Frightening = Full of fear-->This was a lovable and beautiful animal some time ago. Suddenly it had lost its happiness and life. It looked very bad and full of fear. It legs were stretched out and lifeless eyes were staring at one point only. There was blood around its body.
The bus moved on. The memory of the dead cow haunted her, dampening her enthusiasm. She no longer wanted to look out the window.
The bus continued to move. The memory of the dead cow troubled her. It reduced her excitement. Now she did not want to look out of the window.
She sat thus, glued to her seat, until the bus reached her village at three forty. She stood up andstretched herself. Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, 1 hope to see you again.”
Therefore she continued to sit fixed on her seat till the bus reached her village at 3:40 PM. She stood from her seat and stretched herself. Then she looked at the conductor and said that she hoped to meet him again.
“Okay, madam,” he answered her, smiling. “Whenever you feel like a bus ride, come and join us. And don’t forget to bring your fare.”
The conductor smiled at her said OK madam. He said that whenever she wanted to ride a bus, she could come to his bus. He reminded her to always bring the fare.
She laughed and jumped down from the bus. Then away she went, running straight for home. When she entered her house she found her mother awake and talking to one of Valli’s aunts, the one from South Street.
Valli laughed and jumped down from the bus. She ran directly towards her home. When she reached home she noticed that her mother had already woken up. She was talking to one of Valli’s aunts. This aunt lived in the South Street of the village.
“And where have you been?” said her aunt when Valli came in. She spoke very casually, not expecting a reply. So Valli just smiled, and her mother and aunt went on with their conversation.
This aunt was very talkative. She never stopped talking after starting to talk. Her aunt asked Valli where she had been to. Her aunt had spoken very casually as if she did not expect a reply. So Valli smiled at her. Her aunt and her mother continued to talk.
“Yes, you’re right,” her mother said. “So many things in our midst and in the world outside. How can we possibly know about everything? And even when we do know about something, we often can’t understand it completely, can we?”
Her mother told to aunt that there are so many things around us and in the world. We cannot know everything. And even when we know about certain things, we cannot fully understand about it.
“Oh, yes!” breathed Valli. “What?” asked her mother. “What’s that you say?” “Oh,” said Valli, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
Valli agreed with her mother and said yes in a low voice. Her mother asked Valli about what she had said. Valli replied that she agreed with what her mother that certain things happen around us without our knowledge.
“Just a chit of a girl, she is,” said her aunt, “and yet look how she pokes her nose into our conversation, just as though she were a grown lady.”
Aunt said that Valli was a naughty girl. Aunt also said that Valli interfered into their conversation as if she was a grown up lady.
Valli smiled to herself. She didn’t want them to understand her smile. But, then, there wasn’t much chance of that, was there?
Valli smiled to herself. She did not want them to understand why she was smiling. But there was very less chance for them to understand her smile.
Textual Questions
Q.1 What was Valli’s favourite pastime?Ans. 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.
Q.2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Ans. 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.
Q.3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?
Or What details did Valli pick up about the bus journey? How did she pick up these details?
Ans. Ans. Valli found that the town was six miles from her village. The bus took forty five minutes to reach the town and another forty five minutes to come back. The one way fare was thirty paise. She gathered all this information by hearing the conversation of her neighbours who used the bus regularly and by asking a discreet question or two.
Q.4. What do you think Valli was planning to do?
Ans. 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.
Q.5. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
Ans. 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.
Q.6. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
Ans. Ans. Valli wants to enjoy the outside view. Buut she fails to do so as the lower part of the window is covered with canvas blind. It obstructs the outside view. So Valli stands up to have look of the outside. Now she was able to see the canal and the greenery beyond it.
Q.7. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?
Ans. 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.
Q.8. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
Ans. 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.
Q.9. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?
Ans. 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.
Q.10 What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?
Ans. 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.
Q.11. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station?
Ans. Valli did not get off from the bus when it was terminated at the bus stand because it was not in her planning to get off the bus. She had come in the bus just for a ride and would go back in the same bus.
Q.12. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?
Ans. Ans. Valli had no money to buy a drink for herself. She had money for her ticket only. Though the conductor offered to buy one for her, but she refused firmly. It shows that Valli was a child of strong determination and self - respect.
Q13. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
Ans. 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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