Key Points of the Story
- There was a girl named Valliammai, known as Valli for short. She was eight years old and very curious. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching the happenings in the street.
- The most captivating sight was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed by her street every hour, going to the town and then returning.
- The town was six miles from her village, and the fare was thirty paise one way.
- Valli’s wish to ride the bus grew stronger, turning into a strong desire.
- Over many days, she listened to conversations between her neighbours and those who used the bus, asking discreet questions.
- One day, she successfully boarded the bus and had her first bus ride.
- The conductor and passengers found her amusing and treated her with respect.
- Valli loved the views from the bus, especially the green fields and a playful cow.
- The journey to the town took forty-five minutes. If she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus.
- Upon reaching the town, she chose not to get off and took the same bus back to her village.
- Suddenly, she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, struck by a fast-moving vehicle.
- Valli returned home unnoticed by her mother and aunt, who were engrossed in conversation about her adventure.
Detailed Summary
This chapter tells the story of an eight-year-old girl named Valliammai, also known as Valli, and her first bus journey. Valli is a curious and observant child who loves watching the happenings in her village from her house’s doorway. The most fascinating thing for her is the bus that passes by every hour, traveling between her village and the nearest town. Watching the bus daily, Valli develops a strong desire to take a ride on it. Valli carefully gathers information about the bus journey by listening to conversations and asking questions. She learns that the town is six miles away, the trip takes 45 minutes, and the fare is 30 paise one way. After saving 60 paise by forgoing small pleasures like ice cream and toys, Valli finally plans her bus ride.
One afternoon, when her mother is napping, Valli sneaks out to catch the 1 PM bus. The bus conductor, noticing her confidence, humorously addresses her as “Madam” and helps her find a seat. Valli enjoys the bus ride, observing the scenery outside, but when an elderly man cautions her about standing on the seat, she proudly asserts that she is not a child, having paid full fare like everyone else. During the journey, a few new passengers board the bus, including an elderly woman who tries to engage Valli in conversation. Valli, finding the woman unpleasant, avoids talking and focuses on the view outside. She experiences a moment of pure joy when she sees a cow running ahead of the bus, laughing until tears come to her eyes.
Upon reaching the town, Valli decides not to get off the bus and instead takes the same bus back to her village. During the return journey, she notices the same cow lying dead by the roadside, which saddens her deeply. The sight of the lifeless cow haunts Valli, and she loses interest in the view outside. When she returns home, Valli finds her mother awake and talking to her aunt. Though her mother asks where she had been, Valli keeps her adventure a secret, smiling to herself as she reflects on the day’s events.
Theme/ Message
Theme
- Curiosity and Exploration: The story shows a child’s interest and eagerness to discover the world outside her village, especially her fascination with the bus that connects her village to the nearest town.
- Independence and Determination: Valli’s wish to take the bus reflects her curiosity and eagerness for new adventures, demonstrating her cleverness in organising her trip.
- Innocence and Growth: The tale depicts Valli’s wonder towards the bus and her desire to ride it, highlighting the purity of childhood and the personal growth that comes with new experiences.
- Understanding the World: Valli’s observations of the bus and its passengers reveal her awareness of her surroundings, showcasing her emotional reactions to the world around her.
- Empathy and Sensitivity: Valli’s response to the dead cow illustrates the significance of empathy and being sensitive to the suffering of others.
- Value of Small Joys: The story highlights Valli’s unique experiences and her emotional responses, reminding readers to appreciate simple pleasures and everyday moments.
Message
- Pursuit of Dreams: The story conveys that pursuing one’s dreams, no matter how small they may seem, is important for personal growth and fulfillment.
- Learning through Experience: It emphasizes that firsthand experiences provide valuable lessons and shape our understanding of the world.
- Empathy and Sensitivity: Valli’s reaction to the dead cow underscores the importance of empathy and sensitivity towards others’ suffering.
- Value of Small Joys: The narrative reminds readers to find joy in simple pleasures and everyday experiences
Difficult Words
- Wistfully – Longingly or with a sense of yearning.
- Discreet – Careful and circumspect in one’s actions or speech.
- Elaborate – Involving many carefully arranged parts or details; detailed and complicated.
- Recalculated – Calculated again, often with different data or in a different way.
- Slack – Not busy or having a lower workload than usual.
- Overwhelming – Very great in amount; overpowering.
- Haughtily – In an arrogantly superior and disdainful manner.
- Luxurious – Extremely comfortable, elegant, or enjoyable.
- Repulsive – Causing strong dislike or disgust.
- Sociable – Willing to talk and engage in activities with other people; friendly.
- Stifled – Suppressed or held back.
- Thriftily – Using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
- Painstaking – Done with or employing great care and thoroughness.
- Gobbling – Eating quickly and noisily.
- Speck – A tiny spot or particle.