Madam rides a bus

• The bus that travelled between Valli's village and the nearest town was a source of unending joy for her
• Valli's favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside
• Valli's strongest desire was to ride on the bus, even if just once
• Valli found out that the town was six miles from her village, the fare was thirty paise one way, and the trip took forty-five minutes by listening to conversations and asking discreet questions
• Valli planned and calculated meticulously for her first bus journey, saving a total of sixty paise
• The bus was new, painted white with green stripes outside, and had luxurious seats and overhead bars that shone like silver
• Valli stood up on her seat to look outside and saw a narrow road along a canal, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, green fields, and a blue sky
• Valli was advised to sit down by an elderly man and the conductor due to safety concerns
• Valli was called 'madam' by the conductor as a term of respect
• Valli laughed at the sight of a cow running in front of the bus, causing the bus to slow down
• The bus passed a railroad crossing, a busy shopping street, and big bright shops with crowds, leaving Valli struck with wonder
• Valli decided to stay on the bus and return home with the same thirty paise fare
• The conductor offered Valli a cold drink, but she declined, feeling too afraid to explore the town alone
• Valli's deepest desire was to take a bus ride
• Valli saved up money for her first journey by not spending on herself and saving her pocket money
• Valli is a determined and independent person
• The conductor refers to Valli as 'madam' as a sign of respect
• Valli was enjoying her bus ride as she greeted everything with excitement
• Valli refused to look out of the window on her way back because she was haunted by the memory of the dead cow
• When Valli says, "I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge," she means that events can occur without people being aware of them
• The author describes the things Valli sees from an eight-year-old's point of view by portraying her innocence and curiosity