PRASHANT KIRAD

Madam Rides the Bus

Valli's Curiosity:
Eight-year-old Valliammai, affectionately known as Valli, lived in a
Tamil village where her only entertainment was observing the
outside world from her doorstep. With no playmates, she found
solace in watching the happenings in the street, but what
fascinated her the most was the bus journey that passed through
her village.
The Enchanting Bus Ride:
Driven by her curiosity, Valli began gathering information about
the bus timings from her neighbors. Determined to experience
the adventure, she diligently saved money for the thirty-paise
bus fare. With a plan to embark on her journey during her
mother's afternoon nap, Valli stood by the roadside, eagerly
awaiting the arrival of the bus. As the bus approached, she
approached the conductor and confidently declared her
destination. The conductor, a cheerful soul, treated her with
respect, calling her "Madam" and guiding her to a seat. The bus,
painted in vibrant green and white stripes, offered a
comfortable and luxurious experience.
A Journey of Firsts: Nature's Wonders Unfold:
During the ride, Valli marveled at the sights outside her village – the
majestic mountains, lush green fields, and expansive palm tree-
covered grasslands. Every scene was a new revelation for her eager
eyes, an experience she had never encountered before. However, her
enchantment took a turn when a young cow unexpectedly crossed the
road in front of the bus. The driver's whistle sounded, and the cow
safely made its way across. Valli, though momentarily startled, found
the entire episode fascinating.
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Life's Bitter Lesson: As the bus journey continued, Valli's joy turned
into sorrow when she witnessed the same cow lying lifeless by the
roadside on her way home. The sudden encounter with death left her
contemplating the mysteries of life and mortality in her innocent way.
Silent Reflections:
Despite her emotional experience, Valli chose to keep her bus
adventure a secret from her family. The poignant story highlights
the simple desires of a young girl, the wonders of discovery, and the
harsh realities that life occasionally unveils, even to the most
innocent souls.

Extract Based Questions:

1. There was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was
eight years old and very curious about things. Her favorite pastime was
standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in
the street outside. There were no playmates of her age on her street and
this was about all she had to do. 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.

1. What was the short name of the girl?

Ans. Valli was the short name of the girl.
2. What were Valli's favorite pastimes?
Ans. Vall's favorite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house.
3. Why did she spend her time all alone?
Ans. She spent her time all alone because she had no playmates of her age in
her street.
4. Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as uncommon.
Ans. unusual

2. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that traveled 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. 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.
 PRASHANT KIRAD

This wish became stronger and stronger until it was an overwhelming 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. 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!"
1. What did Valli watch daily?
Ans. Valli watched the bus that traveled between her village and the nearest town.
2. What was her overwhelming desire?
Ans. Valli's overwhelming desire was to ride the bus.
3. What was Valli's source of joy?
Ans. The sight of the bus filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source
of unending joy for Valll.
4. Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as longingly.
Ans. wistfully
Top 10 PYQs:

Short Answer Questions (40-50 words each)

[Link] does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’?
Answer: The conductor was worldly-wise and a man of jovial nature. He
judges the little girl’s innocent behavior. Being fun to love and also not to
make the girl unhappy, he calls Valla as ‘Madam’, though she was a girl of
eight years only.

2. Why did Valli listen to the conversations? What did she get
from them?
Answer: Valli was anxious to know more and more about the bus journey.
She had nourished a strong desire to enjoy a bus ride from her village to
the nearest town. She listened to the neighbors and people who regularly
used the bus. She was collecting the necessary details from them to plan
out her bus journey. Such details could help her in her mission.

3. How did Valli calculate and plan the bus journey?

Answer: Valli had gathered all the necessary details about the bus
journey from those who regularly used the bus. The town was six miles
from her village. The one-way fare was thirty paise. The trip to the town
took forty- five minutes. If she took the one o’clock bus, she could reach
the town at one forty-five. She calculated that she could be back home by
about two forty-five.
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4. How did Valli board the bus? Why did she say, ‘I can get
on by myself’
Answer: When Valli sighted the bus she shouted ‘Stop the bus!
Stop the bus!’ She raised her tiny hand ‘commandingly’. The bus
slowed down and finally stopped. She told the conductor that
she wanted to go to the town and she tried to hand over the
money. The conductor, seeing that she was just a child,
stretched out his hand to help her up. Valli replied that she
could get on by herself and didn’t need any help.

5. How did Valli react when the conductor called her “a very
grown-up madam?”
Answer: The bus conductor teased Valli by calling her ‘a very grown-up
madam’. Valli reacted sharply saying that she was not a madam. She
reminded him that he had not yet given her ticket. The conductor
mimicked her tone and said, ‘I’ll remember.’ Everyone laughed and
gradually Valli too joined in the laughter.

6. How careful and painstaking elaborate plans did Valli have to

make for her first journey and how did she save money for it?
Answer: Valli had to make careful and painstaking plans for her first
bus journey. Saving sixty paise for both ways fare was not an easy
job. She saved thriftily every stray coin that came her way. She had
to give up the temptation of buying peppermints, toys, and balloons
and stifle her desire to ride on the merry-go-round.

7. Why did Valli laugh until there were tears in her eyes?
Answer: Valli saw a young cow running very fast in the middle of the
road. It was right in front of the bus. The bus slowed down to a
crawl. The driver sounded the horn loudly again and again. But the
more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and galloped
right in front of the bus. Valli laughed until there were tears in her
eyes.
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8. ” Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself.” “You don’t

have to help me,” said Valla to the conductor. She shows
extraordinary courage in making the bus journey all alone. Taking
inspiration from Valla’s character, write how the ability and
courage to take risks are essential to fulfilling one’s dream.

Answer: Valla is an eight-year-old village girl. She is fascinated by the

bus that comes to the village every hour. She develops a desire and
longing, turning into a firm determination to ride the bus. She
meticulously plans for it and saves money for the bus journey. Then she
boards the bus without anyone’s help. She travels all alone, confidently
and independently, and returns home successfully. Her self-dependence
and self-respecting nature help her to nurture her goal. She enjoys her
journey. Similarly, to achieve goals in life, we need to have such values
in us. One should be confident and self-dependent. Proper planning and
strong determination will lead to success. Enthusiasm and excitement
to achieve the goal are also needed to nurture our goals in life.

9. How did Valla save up money for her first journey? Was it
easy for her? Justify.
Answer: Valla’s sole purpose was to enjoy the bus ride. She neither
had the money nor much information about the ride. But her desire
made her collect every minute detail about it. She gathered that
she required sixty paise to buy tickets for the up-and-down journey.
She collected every stray penny. She resisted the temptation to buy
peppermint, toys, and even a joy ride at the merry-go-round. Thus
she saved 60 paise to buy tickets for the bus ride. No, it was not
easy for a young child of eight years. This act of hers reflects that
she has the qualities of self-restraint, discipline, determination, and
maturity rare for her age.

10. ‘What was Valli’s obsession? How did she prepare and save money
for her first bus journey? Or How did Valli plan for her first bus
journey?
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Answer: The most fascinating sight for Valli was seeing the bus
that traveled from her village to the nearest town. A tiny wish
crept into her head. She wanted to ride on that bus, at least for
once. This wish became stronger until it was an overwhelming
desire. She listened to the conversations of her neighbors and
people. They regularly used the bus. She found out after
questioning them that both ways' fare was sixty paise. It took
forty-five minutes to reach the town. It was six miles from her
village. After gathering all the necessary details, Valli started
saving money thriftily. She saved every coin that came her way. It
was not an easy job for a girl of eight years. She had to resist the
temptation of buying peppermints, toys, balloons, and having a ride
on the merry-go-round. When the money problem was solved,
another problem was solved quite easily. She planned her journey
from one to four o’clock when her mother took a nap in the
afternoon. All such elaborate planning led Valli to have an enjoyable
and smooth first bus journey.