First Flight – Chapter 7: Madam Rides the Bus

About the Author: Vallikannan was a Tamil writer, poet, and journalist. He was known for his simple yet powerful storytelling.

Summary: The story is about an eight-year-old girl named Valliammai, fondly called Valli. She lived in a village and was very curious about the bus that passed through her street. She longed to ride the bus to the nearby town. After carefully planning and saving money, she finally took a bus ride alone. She enjoyed the journey, watching the scenery, the people, and the animals. She also witnessed a tragic incident – a cow that was hit by a bus. The experience left her thoughtful and mature. When she returned home, her mother asked her where she had been, but Valli did not reveal her secret. The story highlights Valli's courage, independence, and desire for adventure.

Valli: Valli was an eight-year-old girl who was curious, determined, and independent. She was fascinated by the bus that passed through her village. She carefully planned her bus journey, saved money, and gathered information about the route and fare. She was brave enough to undertake the journey alone without telling her parents. She was also observant and learned from her experiences. The death of the cow during her journey made her realize the harsh realities of life. She was proud and did not want to appear childish or helpless.

Answer: Valli's deepest desire was to ride on the bus that passed through her village. She wanted to experience the bus journey to the nearby town.

Answer: She listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly took the bus. She also asked a few discreet questions to gather information about the distance, fare, and the time taken for the journey.

Answer: Valli refused to accept the conductor's offer of a cold drink because she was conscious of spending her saved money carefully. She had only enough money for the bus fare and the return fare. She did not want to waste money on anything else.

Answer: On her way to the town, Valli saw a beautiful landscape with green fields, a canal, palm trees, and grazing animals. She also saw a young cow running in front of the bus.

Answer: On her return journey, Valli witnessed a tragic incident in which a young cow that was running on the road was hit by a speeding bus. The cow died on the spot. Valli was deeply affected by this sight and sat silently for the rest of the journey.

Answer: Valli's favourite pastime was standing at the front door of her house and watching the bus that passed through her street. She would watch the bus arrive and depart, and she dreamt of riding it one day.

Answer: The source of unending joy for Valli was watching the bus. Her strongest desire was to ride that bus and go to the nearby town. She wanted to experience the joy of traveling by bus.

Answer: Valli carefully planned her bus journey. She listened to conversations, gathered information about the fare and distance, saved money by resisting temptations, and chose a time when her mother was asleep. This shows that she was a determined, intelligent, and independent girl who was not afraid to take on challenges.

Answer: Valli found the elderly woman's talk "absolutely tasteless" because the woman kept asking her personal questions and assumed that Valli was going to see her grandmother in the town. Valli was irritated by the woman's nosy questions and her repetitive, boring chatter.

Answer:
(i) The view of the mountains was fascinating.
(ii) She looked wistfully at the toy she could not afford.
(iii) The support from the crowd was overwhelmingly positive.
(iv) He meticulously arranged all the books on the shelf.
(v) He told the joke with a deadpan expression.
(vi) The older students derisively laughed at the new student's mistake.

Fascinating: extremely interesting
Wistfully: with a feeling of longing or regret
Overwhelmingly: very great in intensity
Meticulously: very carefully and precisely
Deadpan: without emotion or expression
Derisively: in a mocking way
Slither: to slide or move smoothly
Precisely: exactly
Calculated: carefully planned
Reckless: without thinking of the consequences
Intently: with close attention
Haughtily: in a proud or superior manner

Answer:
(i) 'She' refers to Valli (Valliammai).
(ii) Her tiny wish was to ride on the bus, even if just once.
(iii) She carefully planned the journey, saved money, and gathered information about the bus route and fare to fulfill her wish.

Answer:
(i) The bus hit the cow, and the cow was thrown off the road and died.
(ii) Valli was deeply shocked and saddened by the incident. She sat silently for the rest of the journey and refused to look out of the window.
(iii) The incident taught Valli about the harsh realities of life, including death and suffering. It made her more mature and thoughtful.

Answer: The story tells us that Valli was a curious, determined, and independent girl. She was not afraid to chase her dreams, even though she was only eight years old. She was intelligent enough to plan the journey carefully and save money. She was brave enough to travel alone without telling her parents. She was also proud and did not want to appear childish. However, she was also sensitive, as seen when she was deeply affected by the death of the cow. Her character shows that children can be mature and responsible when given the opportunity.

Answer: The story conveys that childhood is a time of curiosity, wonder, and exploration. Children have a natural desire to learn and experience new things. Valli's bus journey was an adventure that taught her about the world, its beauty and its harsh realities. The story also highlights the importance of independence and courage. At the same time, it reminds us that children need protection and guidance, as Valli's parents were unaware of her dangerous journey. The story encourages us to support children's dreams while ensuring their safety.

Answer: The bus conductor treated Valli with kindness and respect. He called her "Madam" in a playful but respectful way. He helped her board the bus and offered her a cold drink, which she refused. He did not make fun of her for being a young girl traveling alone. Instead, he treated her like a mature passenger. This shows that the conductor was a kind-hearted, respectful, and good-humoured man who understood Valli's desire for independence.