Madam Rides the Bus Notes Chapter 7 English Class 10

Valliammai (Valli):
- An 8-year-old girl.
- Very curious and observant.
- Independent, bold, and determined.
- Loves watching the outside world from her doorway.
Conductor:
- Jolly and humorous.
- Calls Valli “madam” jokingly.
- Kind-hearted but playful.
Mother and Aunt:
- Represent ordinary adults, busy in their own conversations.
- Do not realize Valli’s adventurous spirit.

Valli secretly gathered information by listening to neighbours and asking careful questions.
Distance: Village to town = 6 miles.
Fare: 30 paise one way.
Time: 45 minutes each way.
She calculated that she could take the 1:00 p.m. bus and return by 2:45 p.m.
She saved money (60 paise) by:
- Controlling her temptations (not buying toys, peppermints, balloons, or rides at fairs).
She chose her mother’s nap time (1-4 p.m.) to slip away unnoticed.

Valli stopped the bus bravely and got on.
Refused the conductor’s help and behaved maturely.
The conductor, jokingly, addressed her as “madam.”
Bus description:
- New bus, white with green stripes.
- Clean and shiny inside, soft seats, and a clock.
Scenery she saw:
- Canal, palm trees, grasslands, mountains, sky, fields, villages, shops.
An elderly man warned her to sit properly, but she proudly declared she was not a child.
She disliked an elderly woman who chewed betel nut and asked too many questions.
Funny incident: A young cow ran in front of the bus; the driver honked, but it kept running. Valli laughed uncontrollably.

Reached the town at 1:45 p.m.
Other passengers got off, but Valli stayed inside.
She decided not to roam in the town because she was alone.
She paid another 30 paise and took the same bus back.
The conductor offered to buy her a drink, but she refused as she wanted to save her money.

Valli was happy to see the same sights again.
But she suddenly saw the dead body of the cow she had earlier found funny.
This deeply saddened her and made her realize the harsh reality of life and death.
She lost her excitement and did not want to look outside anymore.

She returned home safely by 3:45 p.m.
Her mother and aunt were chatting; they did not know about her adventure.
Her mother remarked: “So many things happen in the world without our knowledge.”
Valli silently agreed, having just experienced life’s mystery (joy and death).
She kept her adventure secret and only smiled to herself.