Madam Rides the Bus Class 10 Questions and Answers
Oral comprehension check :
Question 1.
What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
वल्ली का पसंदीदा समय बिताने का तरीका क्या था ?
Answer:
Valli’s favourite pastime was to stand in the front door of her house and watch the things happening in the street.
Question 2.
What was a source of unending joy for Valli ? What was her strongest desirer
वल्ली के लिए कभी न समाप्त होने वाली खशी का स्रोत क्या था ? उसकी सबसे प्रबल इच्छा क्या थी?
Answer:
The source of unending joy for Valli was the sight of the bus, every time having a new set of passengers. Her strongest desire was to ride the bus once.
Question 3.
What did Valli find out about the bus journey ? How did she find out these details?
वल्ली ने बस यात्रा के लिए क्या जानकारी प्राप्त की ? उसने ये जानकारियाँ कैसे पता की ?
Answer:
Valli found out the smallest of the details about the bus-journey. She knew that one way fare of the bus was thirty paise. The distance from the village to the town was six miles and it took 45 minutes to reach the town and another 45 minutes to get back home. She gathered these details by listening carefully the talks of her neighbours and the people who had taken the ride of the bus and also by asking a few questions from here and there.
Question 4.
What do you think Valli was planning to do?
आपको क्या लगता है, वल्ली क्या करने की योजना बना रही थी ?
Answer:
Valli was planning to take a ride of the bus. She planned to take the 1 o’clock afternoon bus and to be back by the same bus by around two forty-five.
Question 5.
Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
कन्डेक्टर वल्ली को ‘मैडम’ क्यों कह रहा था ?
Answer:
Valli again and again told the conductor that she was not a child and could take care of herself. That is why he called her ‘madam’, sarcastically (व्यंग से).
Question 6.
Why does Valli stand up on the seat ? What does she see now?
वल्ली सीट के ऊपर क्यों खड़ी हो गई। उसे अब क्या दिखाई दे रहा था ?
Answer:
Valli wanted to see the outside view but the canvas blind attached to the lower side of the window was obstructing her view. Therefore, she stood on the seat to see the outside beauty. She could see the canal, beyond it were palm trees, grassland, distant mountains and the blue, blue sky. She could also see a deep ditch and acres of green fields.
Question 7.
What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child ?
वल्ली ने उस बुजुर्ग आदमी से क्या कहा जब उसने उसे एक बच्चा बुलाया ?
Answer:
Valli told him that she was not a child as she had paid the same amount of the bus ticket as everyone else had paid.
Question 8.
Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
वल्ली उस बुजुर्ग औरत से दोस्ती क्यों नहीं करना चाहती थी?
Answer:
Valli didn’t like the physical appearance of the elderly woman. She had big holes in her ear lobes and was wearing ugly earings in them. She was chewing betel nut and the betel juice was spilling over her lips…
Question 9.
How did Valli save up money for her first journey? was it easy for her ?
वल्ली ने अपनी यात्रा के लिए पैसे कैसे बचाए? क्या यह उसके लिए आसान था ?
Answer:
Valli thriftily saved whatever stray coins came to her, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and thus saved a total of sixty paise. It was not easy for her as she had to resist her temptations to buy peppermints, etc. She had resolutely stifled a strong desire to ride the merrygo-round in the village fair.
Question 10.
What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh ?
वल्ली ने रास्ते में ऐसा क्या देखा जिससे उसको हँसी आई?
Answer:
Valli saw a young cow, tail high in the air, come running very fast, right in the middle of the road, right infront of the bus. The more the driver honked his horn, the more frightened the animal became and the faster it galloped. This incident made her laugh.
Question 11.
Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station ?
वह बस-अड्डे पर बस से नीचे क्यों नहीं उतरी ?
Answer:
She didn’t get off the bus at the bus station because she was afraid to get down. Moreover, she only wanted to take the bus ride and did not have enough money to buy something from the market.
Question 12.
Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her ?
वल्ली दुकान पर जाकर कुछ पीना क्यों नही चाहती थी? इससे हमें उसके बारे में क्या पता चलता है ?
Answer:
Valli didn’t want to go to the stall and have a drink because she did not have enough money to buy it. She also rejected the offer of a free treat by the conductor. This tells us that she was a self-respecting and determined girl.
Textual Questions :
Thinking about the Text
Question 1.
What was Valli’s deepest desire ? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
वल्ली की सबसे गहरी चाहत क्या थी ? पाठ में से शब्द और कथन चुनकर बताएँ।
Answer:
Valli’s deepest desire was to take a ride on a bus. She had never been to any journey ever before. The words and phrases that tell us this are
- the most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town.
- the sight of bus, was a source of unending joy for Valli.
- gradually a tiny wish crept into her head. She wanted to ride on that bus just once.
Question 2.
How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she find the fare?
वल्ली ने अपनी बस यात्रा की योजना कैसे बनाई ? उसने बस के बारे में क्या पता किया और उसने किराए का इंतजाम कैसे किया?
Answer:
Valli planned her journey very carefully and pains takinginly. She used to listen carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus and also used to ask a few discreet questions here and there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey and then planned it.
She found that the town was six miles from her village, the bus fare was thirty paise one way, the trip to the town took forty-five minutes. She collected all the minutest details. She had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and thus saved sixty paise for her ticket.
Question 3.
What kind of a person is Valli ? To answer this question, pick out the following sentences from the text and fill in the blanks. The words you fill in are the clues to your answer.
वल्ली किस तरह की व्यक्ति थी ? इस प्रश्न का उत्तर देने के लिए कहानी के निम्नलिखित वाक्यों के रिक्त स्थान भरो। जो शब्द आप भरेंगे वही आपके उत्तर के सूत्र होंगे।
- “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised commandingly.
- “Yes, I simply have to go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus.
- “There’s nobody here who’s a child,” she said haughtily. “I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.”
- “Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.” “I’m not a child, I tell you,” she said, irritably.
- “You needn’t bother about me. I can take care of myself.” Valli said, turning her face toward the window and staring out.
- Then she turned to the conductor and said. “Well, sir, I hope to see you again.”
Valli was commanding, determined, mature for her age, self-dependent, self-confident and a hopeful. friendly girl.
Question 4.
Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’?
कन्डक्टर वल्ली को ‘मैडम’ क्यों बुला रहा था ?
Answer:
Valli told the conductor that she was not a child as she had paid the equal amount for ticket as the other passengers and, moreover, she refused to take a helping hand from him in order to get into the bus. These incidents forced him to call her ‘madam’.
Question 5.
Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on a bus.
वल्ली ने अपनी बस यात्रा का आनन्द लिया, यह हमें कहानी की किन पंक्तियों से पता चलता है ?
Answer:
- Valli devoured everything with her eyes.
- On viewing the outside view she sighed, “Oh. it was all so wonderful!”
- Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with gleea cow was running very fast right in front of the bus and the more the driver honked, the more frightened the animal became and the faster it galloped.
- She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes.
- Valli wasn’t bored in the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she’d felt the first time.
Question 6.
Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back ?
वल्ली ने वापिसी में खिड़की से बाहर देखने से क्यों मना कर दिया ?
Answer:
Valli, on her way back, saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside which was struck by some fast moving vehicle. The view of the dead body of the cow was haunting her and thus had dampened her enthusiasm. So she didn’t want to see out of the window anymore.
Question 7.
What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
वल्ली ने जब यह कहा, “मैं तो आपने जो कहा कि बहुत-सी चीजें हमारी जानकारी के बिना घटित हो जाती हैं, से सहमति दर्शा रही थी,” तो उसका क्या तात्पर्य था ?
Answer:
Valli when said so only meant to agree with the thoughts of her mother. Her mother was saying that there are many things in this world which happen without our knowledge and even if we know few of them, it is not possible to understand them completely.
Question 8.
The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year old’s point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for this statement ?
लेखक ने बहुत-सी बातें आठ-साल की वल्ली के दिमाग के हिसाब से लिखी हैं। साबित कीजिए।
Answer:
- She was eight-years-old and very curious about things.
- The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending jou for Valli.
- A small voice was heard shouting, “stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised commandingly.
- She stood up on the seat and peered over the blind.
- “There’s nobody here who’s a child.”
- “I’m not a child, I tell you, I’m eight-years-old”.
- Valli clapped her hands with glee on seeing a young cow come running towards the bus.
- “All by myself? Oh, I’d be much too afraid.”
Additional questions extract based questions
Answer the questions that follow the extracts in 30-40 words :
1. 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. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled 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.
Question i.
What was the favourite pastime of Valli? Why?
Answer:
Standing at the front door of her house watching the street was as enjoyable as any of the games played by other children for Valli. It was because it gave her many new unusual experiences.
Question ii.
What was very fascinating about the bus for Valli?
Answer:
The bus travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour going up and down once. The bus had a set of new passengers every time and that gave Valli an unending joy.
2. Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and she also asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey. The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way -“which is almost nothing at all.”
Question i.
How did Valli gather information about the bus?
Answer:
Valli listened to the conversations between her neighbours very carefully. She also listened to those people who regularly used the bus, and asked some important questions to gather information.
Question ii.
What characteristics of Valli are revealed in the way she collected information?
Answer:
Valli proved to be meticulous for she asked discreet questions to gather information. Then she picked up various small details about the journey. She also planned for the fare of the bus journey and the time it took to take a ride on it to and fro.
3. Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside, she found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind. The bus was now going along the bank of a canal. The road was very narrow. On one side there was the canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue, blue sky.
Question i.
How did Valli exhibit her curiosity for the bus travel?
Answer:
As soon as she got into the bus and took her seat, Valli devoured everything outside with her eyes. When her view was cut off by a canvas blind that covered a part of the window, she stood up on the city and peered over the blind.
Question ii.
What sight outside attracted Valli during her journey?
Answer:
The bus was going along the bank of a canal. Beyond that canal were palm trees, grassland, distant mountains and the clear blue sky that stretched for long.
4. Her first journey-what careful, painstaking, elaborate plans she had to make for it; she had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like, and finally she had saved a total of sixty paise. How difficult it had been, particularly that day at the village fair, but she had resolutely stifled a strong desire to ride the merrygo-round, even though she had the money.
Question i.
What plans other than saving money did Valli make for her first journey?
Answer:
Valli collected small details about the bus journey. After she had enough money from her savings, she calculated the time that it took to go and come back in that bus. Accordingly, she chose the afternoon time when her mother went for a short nap.
Question ii.
How difficult was it for Valli to save the money she needed for her journey?
Answer:
In order to save money for her journey, Valli resisted all her temptations to buy her favourite toys, balloons, candies and the like. It was particularly difficult for her to forego her strong desire to ride the merry go round at the village fair.
5. After she had enough money saved, her next problem was how to slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge. But she managed this without too much difficulty. Everyday after lunch her mother would nap from about one to four hours or so. Valli always used these hours for her ‘excursion’. As she stood looking from the doorway of her house or sometimes even ventured out into the village; today these same hours could be used for her first excursion outside the village.
Question i.
How did Valli manage to slip out of her house to take the bus ride?
Answer:
Valli chose the afternoon time for her bus ride. It was after lunch everyday that her mother took a nap for a few hours. Valli always used that time for her ‘excursion’ of even venturing out into the village.
Question ii.
How do we come to know from the passage that Valli is not only a meticulous planner but also a bold girl?
Answer:
Everyday, when after lunch her mother took a nap for a few hours, Valli ventured out into the village without her mother’s knowledge. Those were her ‘excursions’. So, for her first bus excursion too, she decided to use those hours, when she could slip out of the house.
6. Suddenly she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, just where it had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle. “Isn’t that the same cow that ran in front of the bus on our trip to town ?” she asked the conductor. The conductor nodded, and she was overcome with sadness.
Question i.
What distressing sight did Valli come across on her return to her village?
Answer:
Valli saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside. It seemed to have been struck by some fast-moving vehicle. The sight distressed Valli very much.
Question ii.
Why was Valli sad on seeing the dead cow?
Answer:
On seeing the dead cow, Valli remembered it was the same that she saw when she was going to the town. The cow was running in the middle of the road, right in front of her bus. Valli clapped her hands with glee when she saw that.
7. “The conductor nodded and she was overcome with sadness. What had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little while ago had now suddenly lost its charm and its life and looked so horrible …”
Question i.
Why did the conductor nod his head?
Answer:
The conductor nodded his head when Valli asked him if it was the same cow that came in front of their bus when they were going to the town.
Question ii.
Describe Valli’s feelings on her return from the town.
Answer:
When she was returning by the same bus from the town, Valli came across a dead animal on the road. The same animal seeing which she clapped with glee was now lying dead! The sight dampened her enthusiasm and Valli was overcome with sadness. She no longer wanted to look out of the window.
8. 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 just once. 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.
Question i.
What derire overwhelmed Valli? Why?
Answer:
The wish to ride on the bus that passed through the village twice a day, turned into an overwhelming desire. Valli always remained at home and her favourite pastime was looking at her street. She had never travelled by a bus. Thus a ride by the bus became her uncontrollable desire.
Question ii.
What did Valli observe about the bus?
Answer:
Valli found that the bus passed through her street each hour: once going to the town and then coming back again. The bus was filled with new passengers every time, and it stopped at the corner of her street.
9. Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee. A young cow, tail high in the air, was running very fast, right in the middle of the road, right in front of the bus. The bus slowed to a crawl, and the driver sounded his horn loudly again and again.
Question i.
Why was Valli excited at the young cow?
Answer:
Valli had never travelled to the town, and that was her first journey. That was the reason for her excitement when she came across a young cow running in the middle of the road.
Question ii.
How did the young cow disrupt the traffic and what happened to it later?
Answer:
The young cow started running fast in the middle of the road and right in front of the bus Valli was travelling. When the horn was sounded, it panicked and ran in front of the bus always. Later, it was struck by some fast moving vehicle, and so fell dead.
Short answer type questions
Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words.
Question 1.
Which was the most fascinating thing for Valli?
Or
What was the source of unending joy for Valli and what was her strongest desire ?
Answer:
Valli was deeply attracted towards the bus. She had a strong desire to travel in it. The sight of the bus and the passengers had been the source of unending joy for her.
Question 2.
What traits of Valli’s character are reflected through the way she successfully planned her bus-journey ?
Answer:
The meticulous way with which Valli planned her bus-journey reflects her management quality. The way she saved every penny by resisting the temptation to buy peppermint, toys and a merry-goround ride shows her self-restrain discipline determination and maturity. The time she chose for slipping unnoticed speaks of her shrewdness.
Question 3.
Why does Valli collect information about the bus to the town ?
Answer:
Valli had a strong desire to have a bus ride. She does not tell anyone about it at home. She plans herself for her secret mission. So, she collects information about the timing and bus fare for her journey and saves money for the purpose.
Question 4.
The conductor was a ‘jolly fellow’. Give any instance from the story to prove this statement.
Answer:
The conductor was a fun-loving jolly fellow. The story is full of instances to prove this. One of them is as follows:
When Valli refused conductor’s help to board the bus he said jokingly, “Don’t be angry with me, fine madam…… Everyone move aside please make way for madam.”
Question 5.
Why did Valli not get off from the bus when it stopped at the bus stand ?
Answer:
Valli’s sole purpose was to enjoy the bus ride. She neither had the money to buy anything from the shops at the town nor the courage to get down at a strange place among strangers.
Question 6.
How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside ?
Answer:
On her return journey, Valli saw a dead cow lying in the middle of the road. It was lying sprawled in a pool of blood, legs spread out, lifeless eyes staring a horrible scene. She felt sad and this made her lose all the enthusiasm.
Question 7.
What was a source of unending joy for Valli ? What was her strongest desire ?
Or
What was the most fascinating thing for Valli ?
Answer:
Valli’s source of unending joy was to have a bus ride. That was her tiny wish which grew into a strong desire with the passage of time. Her desire turned into a longing as she wistfully stared at the faces of the passengers who got on or off the bus.
Question 8.
What was Valli’s favourite pastime? Why didn’t she play like most other children in her spare time?
Answer:
Valli’s favourite pastime was to stand in the front doorway of her house. She did not play like most other children because there were no playmates of her age on her street. Watching the street also gave here many unusual experiences which were equally enjoyable.
Question 9.
Why did Valli not like the old woman who was sitting beside her?
Answer:
She found the very appearance of the lady repulsive. She had big holes in her ear-lobes. She smelt the betel nut. She was chewing one. The betel juice was threatening to spill over her lips. She also did not like her indulging and disapproving nature.
Question 10.
What time did Valli choose for a busride? Why did she choose that particular time?
Answer:
Everyday Valli’s mother used to have a nap after lunch from 1 to 4 o’clock. This was the safest time to slip unnoticed. So, she decided to take 1 o’clock bus and be back on the same bus by 1.45 p.m. The bus took about 90 minutes for up and down journey – from village to town and back.
Question 11.
Give two reasons why Valli found the elderly woman on the bus, repulsive.
Answer:
Valli did not want to make friends with the elderly woman because she found her repulsive as she had big holes in her ear lobes and was wearing ugly earrings. She could smell the beetal nut the woman was chewing.
Question 12.
“Valli enjoyed each moment of her bus ride.” Quote two instances to support your answer.
Answer:
“Valli enjoyed each moment of her bus ride.” – Valli devoured everything with her eyes. On viewing the outside view she sighed, “Oh, it was all so wonderful!”
Question 13.
Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see then ?
Answer:
Valli was anxious to see the outside scene but there was a canvas-blind that covered the lower part of the window. It obstructed her view so she stood up on her seat and devoured everything the canal, green fields, palm trees, etc. with her own eyes.
Question 14.
How did trees and an approaching train look to Valli from the running bus?
Answer:
Trees seemed running towards them but then stopped as the bus reached them and simply stood there helpless by the side of the road before rushing away in the other direction. The approaching train looked like a dot that became bigger and bigger as it came nearer.
Question 15.
Why did Valli not get down the bus at the town when everyone else had vacated it ?
Answer:
Valli’s sole purpose was to enjoy the busride. She neither had the money to buy anything from the shops at the town nor the courage to get down at a strange place among strangers.
Question 16.
What made Valli sad on her return journey ?
Answer:
On her return journey, Valli saw a dead cow lying in the middle of the road. It was lying sprawled in a pool of blood, legs spread out, lifeless eyes staring-a horrible scene. She felt sad.
Question 17.
Why was the conductor of the bus amused while talking to Valli ?
Answer:
The conductor of the bus was a jolly person who was fond of joking. So he was amused while talking to Valli who pretended to be a grown person.
Long answer type questions
Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words :
Question 1.
Valli shows extraordinary courage in taking a bus journey all alone. Explain how ability and courage are essential to fulfill one’s dream.(100-150 words)
Answer:
Ability and courage are essential to fulfill one’s dream. Valli exemplifies this statement. The eight year old girl nurtured a wish to ride on the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town, passing through her street each hour. She decides to take a trip and starts planning meticulously.
She gathers required information about the bus journey: the distance, the time it takes to go and come back, the bus fare and so on. She also chooses to ride in the afternoon, when her mother would take a short nap. She plans and replans, and waits patiently for the right day and finally gets into the bus.
Her confidence earns her dignity, the conductor calling her ‘madam’. She enjoys thoroughly sitting by the window of the bus, looking at the scenery all the way. On reaching the town, she does not get down or have anything to eat or drink, as she needed money to ride back home. Thus Valli exhibits extraordinary courage in completing her journey by the bus.
Question 2.
Valli’s dream was to enjoy a ride on the bus to the nearest town. What preparations did she make to realise her dream?
Answer:
The most fascinating thing for Valli was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. Whenever it passed through her streets, it brought an unending joy for her. Gradually, she developed a wish, which became a desire, to ride on that bus at least once.
Once she decided to take the ride, she started listening to conversation between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus. She then asked discreet questions and picked up small details of journey about distance, the time it took to reach the town and come back, and the fare.
When she came to know about the fare, she started saving whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and the like. Thus Valli calculated, recalculated, planned and replanned her bus journey.
Question 3.
Valli told both her mother and aunt about many things that were happening without their knowledge. Which qualities will you develop while visiting places ?
Answer:
When Valli reaches home, she finds her mother awake. She finds her talking to one of her aunts. Valli smiles when her aunt asks her where she has been. Valli’s mother says that so many things happen in the midst and in the world outside, but it is impossible for us to know everything. Valli says that she agrees to her mother.
She also goes out for a bus trip without letting her mother know about it. Surprised by this intervention, her aunt commented on the fact that even though she is a little girl, Valli does not hesitate to interfere in the conversation of elders. I shall try my best to develop my love for nature, carefulness, observation skills, love for animals, kindness, knowledge of culture and the people while visiting places.
Question 4.
Compassion is a noble quality. It shows our concern for the sufferings of others. Describe Valli’s compassionate nature in the light of the above remark with reference to the dead cow.
Or
On her return journey, Valli was troubled to see a dead cow. What feelings did it arouse in her ?
Or
“The values and emotions pertaining to humanity see no bar, they flow both for humans and animals.” The same emotions dampened Valli’s enthusiasm of the bus journey. Comment highlighting the values in her character. (100-150 words)
Answer:
Valli was very excited about her bus ride. Suddenly, she saw that a young cow, tail high in the air, was running very fast. The cow was running right in the middle of the road and right in front of the bus. The driver slowed down the bus, blew horns, but the cow kept running. It seemed so funny Valli that she clapped her hands delightfully.
She laughed and laughed. But on her return, she saw the young cow lying dead by the road side. She felt very sad and the memory of the cow haunted her. She did not like looking outside the window. The lifeless eyes, blood all over upset her. She did not like talking to anyone. Her happiness and excitement got dampened.
Question 5.
Write a character sketch of Valli.
Answer:
Valli was an eight year old girl born in a small village. However, she was a very curious girl. She spent her time standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside. Watching the street gave her many new and unusual experiences. Her curiosity about travelling in the bus to the town urged her on to plan her trip.
She was very meticulous in planning for the trip. She calculated the distance between her home and the town, the time it took for a trip up and down by bus etc. Valli also proved to be very impressive and bold by finally deciding to ride in the bus.
Her childlike innocence veiled by her smart and bold outlook, amused the conductor who offered her a seat in the bus. Valli thoroughly enjoyed her ride to the town, and laughed and clapped when the young cow ran on the middle of the road in front of the bus. But her enjoyable bus ride became a nightmare on her return journey.
She saw the same cow lying dead on the road. This sight haunted her, dampened her spirits, and saddened her. This is typical of the tendency of a matured person. She refused to look out of the window thereafter. Valli, on the whole can be described as a curious, joyful, disciplined, smart, bold, and at the same time, a mature girl.
Question 6.
“Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself.” “You don’t have to help me,” said Valli to the conductor.
She shows extraordinary courage in making the bus journey all alone. Taking inspiration from Valli’s character, write how ability and courage to take risk are essential to fulfil one’s dream.
Or
‘The wish became stronger and stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire.’ Valli nurtures a strong desire to travel by bus and visit the city. She works hard for it and finally she is successful. Based on this incident, analyse what values of life do you need to nurture to attain your goals in life ?
Or
Whenever we want to achieve something, difficulties always come in our way. What did Valli have to do to go and ride a bus?
Or
‘This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey.’
The first bus journey for an eight year old Valli has impacted you. What values can help you prepare yourself for such a journey ?
Answer:
Valli 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 then a 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 finally returns home successfully Her self-dependence and self-respecting nature helps her to reach 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 lead to success. Enthusiasm and excitement to achieve the goal are also needed to nurture our goals in life.
Question 7.
Valli was so overcome with sadness to see the dead cow that she lost all enthusiasm. Do you feel the same way ? If you feel concerned about the plight of animals falling prey to the fast moving traffic, what efforts will you make to make travelling on roads a safer activity ?
Answer:
While going to town, Valli saw a cow running in the middle of the road in front of a bus. The more the driver honked the horn, the faster it galloped. Valli laughed to see that. On her return journey, Valli saw the same cow, lying sprawled in a pool of blood, with legs spread out, and lifeless eyes, staring. It saddened her making her lose all enthusiasm.
I also feel the same way when I see animals falling prey to the fast moving traffic. We should take some serious steps to make road travel safer. Firstly, stray animals should be kept away from the busy roads. Proper shelters should be made for them.
Secondly, traffic laws should be implemented strictly. Whosoever violates the traffic rules must be penalised with fines, punishments and other legal provisions as and when required. Rash driving must be kept under a check. If an animal falls a prey to a road accident, it must be rushed to the animals’ hospital immediately.
Question 8.
Justify the statement with instances that Valli was a mature girl and ahead of her age ?
Answer:
Valli was an eight year old village girl. She had no playmates. Her favourite pastime was to stand at the doorstep and watch things and people. She not only satisfied her curiosity but also gained new experiences. Her strongest desire was to make a bus-ride. She meticulously planned for it – gathered information about the distance, time and ticket money.
Showing self-restrain, she resisted the temptation to buy peppermint, toys or a ride on the merry-go-round in order to save 60 paisa for the bus journey. She boarded the bus without anyone’s help, refused a free treat by the conductor and didn’t talk to strangers. This shows her commanding, confident and self-dependent nature. This also shows her determination and maturity at such a little age.
Question 9.
“Oh,” said Valli, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
Valli’s journey to the city is also her induction into the mystery of life and death. Elaborate.
Or
Valli went on a bus journey. What did she learn about life and its values during it?
Answer:
Valli gets introduced to the mystery of life and death on her first bus journey in the outside world. She was wonderstruck and enjoyed the beauty of the outside world. She clapped, laughed and enjoyed when she saw a young cow running in the middle of the road in front of the bus.
The driver sounded the horn to warn it but the more he honked, the faster it galloped. Valli found it funny and amusing. She laughed till tears came into her eyes. On her way back, she saw the same cow lying dead on the road.
Some fast speeding vehicle must have hit it. It was a horrible sight. It looked quite frightening. It was lying with its legs spread out, a fixed stare in its lifeless eyes and blood around it. The image of the dead cow haunted her, dampening her spirits and making her sad.
Introduction :
Madam Rides the Bus’ is a sensitive account of the first bus journey in the outside world of an eightyear-old girl. How she gets fascinated, develops the desire and then the determination to have the experience, how she plans and arranges the journey to have the actual experience. It shows her joy and feelings to see the outside world and then flattening of her spirits to see the dead cow that had given her so much joy when it was alive.
‘मैडम राइड्स द बस’, एक आठ वर्ष की लड़की का बाहरी दुनिया में पहली बस-यात्रा का भावपूर्ण वृत्तान्त है। कैसे वह सम्मोहित होती है, फिर इच्छा उत्पन्न होती है और फिर दृढ़ निश्चय अनुभव प्राप्त करने का। यथार्थ अनुभव के लिए वह किस प्रकार योजना बनाती है और यात्रा का प्रबन्ध करती है। यह कहानी बाहरी दुनिया को देखकर उसका आनन्द और भावनाएँ दर्शाती है और फिर उत्साह का काफूर होना जब वह उस गाय को जिसने जिन्दा रहते आनन्द प्रदान किया, मरी हुई पाती है।
Complete text with hindi translation :
Text (Page 117): There was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight years old and very curious about things. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside. There were no playmates of her own 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 play. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.
Vocabulary :
- curious (क्यूरियस) – eager to learn जिग्नासु
- elaborate (इलोबो) – detailed विस्तृत
अनुवाद : एक लड़की थी वल्लीअमाई जिसे छोटे नाम से वल्ली कहते थे। वह आठ साल की थी और उसे चीजों के बारे में जानने की जिज्ञासा थी। उसका पसंदीदा समय गुजारने का तरीका था अपने घर के सामने के दरवाजे पर खड़े होकर यह देखना कि बाहर गली में क्या हो रहा था। उसकी गली में, उसके साथ खेलने वाला उसकी उम्र का कोई साथी नहीं था और उसको बस इतना ही करना होता था। परंतु वल्ली के लिए, सामने के दरवाजे पर खड़े होना उतना ही मज़ेदार था जितना कि दूसरे बच्चों के लिए कोई विस्तृत खेलों को खेलना। गली को निहारना उसे कई असाधारण अनुभव देता था।
Text (Page 118): The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled 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 just once. 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!” Neither she nor her friends really understood the meaning of the word, but they used it often as a slang expression of disapproval.
Vocabulary:
- fascinating (फैसिनेटिंग) – attractive, आकर्षित करने वाला
- overwhelming desire (ओवरवैलमिंग डिज़ायर) – wish what gives great happiness and joy, कोई इच्छा जो प्रबल खुशी प्रदान करे
- wistfully (विस्टफुली) – sadly, longingly इंतजारमयी, दुःखी
- kindle (किन्डल) – set a light (afire; here, feelings) रोशनी देना, उम्मीद पैदा करना
- longings (लौन्गीन्ग्स) – deep desires आन्तरिक इच्छाएँ
- slang expression (स्लैन्ग एक्सप्रेशन) – informal words, often used within a close group अपशब्द
अनुवाद : सबसे ज्यादा आकर्षित करने वाली वस्तु थी वह बस जो उसके गाँव से नज़दीकी कस्बे के बीच में चलती थी। वह प्रत्येक घण्टे, एक बार कस्बे में जाते समय और एक बार वापिस आते समय, उसकी गली में से गुज़रती थी। बस की झलक, हर बार नए यात्रियों से भरी हुई, उसके लिए (वल्ली) कभी न समाप्त होने वाली खुशी का स्रोत थी।
प्रतिदिन वह बस को देखती और धीरे-धीरे उसके दिमाग में एक छोटी सी इच्छा ने जन्म लिया और वो बढ़ने लगी : वह केवल एक बार उस बस की यात्रा करना चाहती थी। यह इच्छा प्रबल और प्रबल होती गई जब तक यह एक खुशी से भरी चाहत नहीं बन गई। जब बस गली के मोड़ पर रुकती, तो वल्ली उदासी से लोगों को उसमें चढ़ते और उताते देखती।
उनके चेहरे उसकी इच्छाओं, सपनों और उम्मीदों में आग लगाते थे। यदि कभी उसके किसी दोस्त को बस की सवारी का अवसर मिलता और वह उसको कस्बे के दृश्यों का बखान करना चाहता तो वल्ली को इतनी जलन होती कि वह सुनना भी नहीं चाहती और अंग्रेजी में चिल्ला उठती, “घमण्डी! घमण्डी!” न तो वह खुद और न ही उसके दोस्त असल में उस शब्द का वास्तविक अर्थ जानते थे परंतु वे इसे ज्यादातर अपनी नाखुशी दर्शाने के लिए इस्तेमाल करते थे।
Text (Page 118): Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and she also asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey. The town was six miles from her village.
The fare was thirty paise one way”which is almost nothing at all,” she heard one welldressed man say, but to Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one month to the next, it seemed a fortune. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus.
This meant that she could take the one-o’clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five, and be back home by about two forty-five… On and on went her thoughts as she calculated and recalculated, planned and replanned.
Vocabulary :
- disereet (डिस्क्रीट) – careful, quiet ध्यानपूर्वक;
- recalculated (रिकैलक्युलेटड) – tocount again पुनः हिसाब लगाना।
अनुवाद : लगातार कई दिनों और महीनों तक वल्ली ने अपने पड़ोसियों और लोगों की जो लगातार बस में आते-जाते थे, ध्यानपूर्वक बातें सुनी और उसने कुछ गंभीर सवाल भी इधर-उधर से पूछे। इस प्रकार उसने बस यात्रा की छोटी-छोटी अनेक जानकारियाँ प्राप्त कर लीं। कस्बा उसके गाँव से छ: मील दूर था। एक तरफ का किराया तीस पैसे था-“जो कि कुछ भी नहीं था,” यह उसने एक अच्छी पोशाक पहने आदमी को कहते सुना था, परन्तु वल्ली के लिए, जो एक महीने से दूसरे तक मुश्किलों से ही इतने पैसे देख पाती थी, यह एक बहुत बड़ी रकम थी।
कस्बे तक की यात्रा में 45 मिनट लगते थे। कस्बे तक पहुंचने पर यदि वह अपनी सीट पर बैठी रहे और दूसरे तीस पैसे दे दे तो वह उसी बस से वापिस घर लौट सकती है। इसका मतलब कि उसे दोपहर एक बजे वाली बस लेनी पड़ेगी, पैंतालिस मिनट में कस्बे में पहुँचेगी और लगभग दो बजकर पैंतालिस मिनट पर वापिस घर….. उसके विचार बढ़ते ही चले गए जैसे-जैसे वह हिसाब और पुनः हिसाब लगाती, तैयारी और फिर तैयारी करती………..।
Text (Page 119) : Well, one fine spring day the afternoon bus was just on the point of leaving the village and turning into the main highway when a small voice was heard shouting: “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised commandingly.
The bus slowed down to a crawl, and the conductor, sticking his head out the door, said: “Hurry then! Tell whoever it is to come quickly.”
“It’s me,” shouted Valli. “I’m the one who has to get on.”
Vocabulary :
- commandingly (कमान्डिगली) – ordering आदेश देना।
अनुवाद : खैर, एक सुहाने बसंत के दिन, जब दोपहर की बस गाँव को छोड़कर मुख्य राजमार्ग पर पहुंचने ही वाली थी कि तभी एक छोटी सी आवाज़ चिल्लाती हुई सुनाई दी-“बस को रोको। बस को रोको!” और आदेश में एक छोटा सा हाथ उठा।
बस धीमी होकर रेंगने लगी और कन्डक्टर ने अपना सिर दरवाजे से बाहर निकालकर कहा, “जल्दी करो फिर! जिसे भी आना हो जल्दी आए।”
“ये मैं हूँ,” वल्ली चिल्लाई, “मैं वो हूँ जिसे चढ़ना है।”
Text (Page 119) : By now the bus had come to a stop, and the conductor said : “Oh, really! You don’t say so!”
“Yes, I simply have to go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus, “and here’s my money.” She showed him some coins.
“Okay, Okay, but first you must get on the bus,” said the conductor, and he stretched out a hand to help her up.
“Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.”
The conductor was a jolly sort, fond of joking. “Oh, please don’t be angry with me, my fine madam,” he said. “Here, have a seat right up there in front. Everybody move a side please-make way for madam.”
Vocabulary :
- stretched (स्ट्रैचड)-spread फैलाना।
अनुवाद : अब तक बस रुक गई थी और कन्डक्टर ने कहा, “ओह, सचमुच! तुमने ऐसा नहीं बताया!”
“हाँ, मुझे बस कस्बे तक जाना है,” वल्ली ने कहा, जो अभी भी बस के बाहर खड़ी थी, “और यह रहे मेरे पैसे!” उसने उसे कुछ सिक्के दिखाए।
“अच्छा, अच्छा, पर पहले तुम्हें बस में चढ़ना होगा।” कन्डक्टर ने कहा, और उसने उसे ऊपर चढ़ाने में मदद के लिए अपना हाथ बढ़ा दिया।
“कोई बात नहीं,” उसने कहा, “मैं अपने आप चढ़ सकती हूँ। तुम्हें मेरी मदद करने की आवश्यकता नहीं है।”
कन्डेक्टर एक खुशमिजाज और मज़ाक पसंदीदा इन्सान था। “ओह! कृपया मुझसे नाराज न हो, मेरी प्रिय मैडम,” उसने कहा। “यहाँ, सबसे आगे वाली सीट आपके लिए है। सभी कृपया एक तरफ हो जाएँ-मैडम के लिए रास्ता बनाएँ।”
Text (Pages 119-120) : It was the slack time of day, and there were only six or seven passengers on the bus. They were all looking at Valli and laughing with the conductor. Valli was overcome with shyness. Avoiding everyone’s eyes, she walked quickly to an empty seat and sat down.
“May we start now, madam?” the conductor asked, smiling. Then he blew his whistle twice, and the bus moved forward with a roar. It was a new bus, its outside painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. Directly in front of Valli, above the windshield, there was a beautiful clock. The seats were soft and luxurious.
Vocabulary :
- slack time (स्लैक टाइम) – lean period, a time when there is not much work मंदा समय
- shyness (शाएनैस) – bashful संकोच, शर्मीलापन
- gleaming (ग्लीमिंग) – shining चमकना
अनुवाद : वह दिन का मंदा समय था और बस में केवल छ: या सात सवारियाँ ही थीं। वे सभी वल्ली को देख रहे थे और कन्डक्टर के साथ हँस रहे थे। वल्ली संकोच से भर उठी। सबकी नजरों से बचती हुई, वह चुपचाप जाकर एक खाली सीट पर बैठ गई।
“क्या हम अब चल सकते हैं, मैडम?” कन्डेक्टर ने मुस्कुराते हुएं पूछा। तब उसने अपनी सीटी दो बार बजाई और बस एक दहाड़ के साथ चल पड़ी। वह एक नई बस थी, उसका बाहरी भाग चमकदार सफेद रंग से पुता था और उसके किनारों पर हरी धारियाँ थीं। अंदर, सिर के ऊपर के डंडे चाँदी की भाँति चमक रहे थे। वल्ली के बिल्कुल सामने, आगे वाले शीशों के ऊपर, एक खूबसूरत घड़ी थी। सीटें नरम और आरामदायक थीं।
Text (Pages 120-121): Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside, she found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind.
The bus was now going along the bank of a canal. The road was very narrow. On one side there was the canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue, blue sky. On the other side was a deep ditch and then acres and acres of green fields-green, green, green, as far as the eye could see.
Oh, it was all so wonderful!
Suddenly she was startled by a voice. “Listen, child,” said the voice, “you shouldn’t stand like that. Sit down.”
Sitting down, she looked to see who had spoken. It was an elderly man who had honestly been concerned for her, but she was annoyed by his attention.
Vocabulary :
- devoured (डिवार्ड) – watching as if would eat it खा जाना
- canvas blind (कैन्वस ब्लाइंड)curtain made up of sail cloth तिरपाल
- canal (कैनाल) – a small stream नहर
- startled (स्टारटल्ड) – surprised हैरान रह जाना
- Annoyed (अनोएड) – feeling unhappy बुरा मानना
अनुवाद : वल्ली हरेक चीज़ को अपनी नजरों से खा रही थी। परन्तु जब उसने बाहर देखना शुरू किया तो उसने पाया कि उसके नज़रों में उसकी खिड़की के निचले भाग में लगा तिरपाल का पर्दा दखल दे रहा था। इसलिए वह सीट पर खड़ी हो गई और पर्दे के ऊपर से देखने लगी। बस अब नहर के किनारों से जा रही थी। सड़क बहुत सकरी थी। एक तरफ नहर थी और उसके आगे, खजूर के पेड़, घास के मैदान, दूर पहाड़ और नीला, नीला आकाश था।
दूसरी तरफ एक गहरी खाई थी और फिर कई एकड़ हरे खेत-हरा, हरा, हरा, जहाँ तक नजरें देख पाएँ। आह, वह सब कितना सुंदर था! अचानक वह एक आवाज से भौंचक्की रह गई। “सुनो, बच्चे,” आवाज ने कहा, “तुम्हें इस प्रकार नहीं खड़े होना चाहिए। बैठ जाओ।” बैठने के बाद, उसने देखा कि कौन उससे बोल रहा था। वह एक बुजुर्ग व्यक्ति था जो सचमुच में उसके प्रति चिन्तित था, परन्तु इसे उसके ध्यान देने से बुरा लगा।
Text (Page 121) : “There’s nobody here who’s a child,” she said haughtily. “I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.”
The conductor chimed in. “Oh, sir, but this is a very grown-up madam. Do you think a mere girl could pay her own fare and travel to the city all alone?”
Valli shot an angry glance at the conductor and said: “I am not a madam. Please remember that. And you’ve not yet given me my ticket.”
“I’ll remember,” the conductor said, mimicking her tone. Everyone laughed, and gradually Valli too joined in the laughter.
The conductor punched a ticket and handed it to her. “Just sit back and make yourself comfortable. Why should you stand when you’ve paid for a seat?”
“Because I want to,” she answered, standing up again.
“But if you stand on the seat, you may fall and hurt yourself when the bus makes a sharp turn or hits a bump. That’s why we want you to sit down, child.”
Vocabulary :
- haughtily (हॉटिली) – proudly गर्व से
- chimed (चिम्ड) – to interfere बीच में बोलना
- mimicking (मिमिकिंग) – copying नकल उतारना
अनुवाद : “यहाँ पर कोई ऐसा नहीं है जो एक बच्चा हो”, वह गर्व से बोली। “मैंने सभी की भाँति अपने तीस पैसे दिए हैं।” कन्डक्टर ने बीच में बोला, “ओह, सर, लेकिन यह एक बहुत बड़ी मैडम हैं। क्या आपको लगता है कि एक बच्ची अपना किराया अपने आप दे सके और पूरे शहर में अकेली यात्रा कर सके?”
वल्ली ने कन्डक्टर की ओर गुस्से से देखा और कहा, “मैं मैडम नहीं हूँ। कृपया यह याद रखें और आपने अभी तक मुझे मेरी टिकट नहीं दी है।”
“मैं याद रखूगा, कन्डक्टर ने उसकी आवाज़ की नकल करते हुए कहा। सभी हँस पड़े, धीरे-धीरे वल्ली भी उस हँसी में शामिल
हो गई।
कन्डक्टर ने एक टिकट काटी और उसको थमा दी। “बस पीछे होकर बैठ जाओ ओर अपने आपको आराम से कर लो। तुम क्यों खड़ी रहो जब तुमने सीट के लिए भुगतान किया है?”
“क्योंकि मैं चाहती हूँ,” उसने फिर खड़े होते हुए उत्तर दिया।
“परन्तु यदि तुम सीट पर खड़ी रहोगी तो तुम गिर सकती हो और तुम्हें चोट लग जायेगी जब बस तीव्र मोड़ मुड़ेगी या गड्ढे में से निकलेगी। इसलिए हम चाहते हैं कि तुम बैठ जाओ, बच्चे।”
Text (Pages 121-122) : “I’m not a child, I tell you,” she said irritably. “I’m eight years old.”
“Of course, of course. How stupid of me! Eight years-my!”
The bus stopped, some new passengers got on, and the conductor got busy for a time. Afraid of losing her seat, Valli finally sat down. An elderly woman came and sat beside her. “Are you all alone, dear?” she asked Valli as the bus started again.
Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive-such big holes she has in her ear lobes, and such ugly earrings in them! And she could smell the betel nut the woman was chewing and see the betel juice that was threatening to spill over her lips at any moment. Ugh!-who could be sociable with such a person?
Vocabulary :
- repulsive (रिपलसिव) – causing strong dislike कुछ खास नापसंदी
- betel nut (बीटल नट) – सुपारी
अनुवाद : “मैंने आपको बताया ना मैं बच्ची नहीं है.” उसने चिढ़कर कहा। “मैं आठ साल की हूँ।”
“बिल्कुल, बिल्कुल। में भी कितना मूर्ख हूँ। आठ साल-ओह-ओह।”
बस रुक गई, कुछ नए यात्री ऊपर चढ़े, और कन्डक्टर कुछ समय के लिए व्यस्त हो गया। अपनी सीट खोने के डर से वल्ली आखिरकार बैठ गई। एक बुजुर्ग औरत आकर उसके साथ बैठ गई। “क्या तुम बिल्कुल अकेली हो, बेटी?” उसने बस के दुबारा चलने पर वल्ली से पूछा। वल्ली को वह औरत बिल्कुल ही नापसंद आई-उसके कानों में इतने बड़े-बड़े छेद थे, और उनमें इतने भद्दे बुंदे थे और उसे उस औरत के मुँह से सुपारी की खुशबू आ रही थी जो वह चबा रही थी और उसे उसके मुँह में सुपारी का रस दिख रहा था जो कभी भी उसके होंठों से बाहर गिर सकता था । ओह! ऐसे इन्सान के साथ कौन बात कर सकता है?
Text (Page 122): “Yes, I’m travelling alone,” she answered curtly. “And I’ve got a ticket too.”
“Yes, she’s on her way to town,” said the conductor. “With a thirty-paise ticket.”
“Oh, why don’t you mind your own business,” said Valli. But she laughed all the same, and the conductor laughed too.
But the old woman went on with her drivel. “Is it proper for such a young person to travel alone? Do you know exactly where you’re going in town? What’s the street? What’s the house number ?”
“You needn’t bother about me. I can take care of myself,” Valli said, turning her face toward the window and staring out.
Vocabulary :
- curtly (कर्टली) – showing displeasure अनिच्छा दिखाया
- drivel (ड्रिवल) – silly nonsense बेवकूफी।
अनुवाद : “हाँ, मैं बिलकुल अकेली यात्रा कर रही हूँ,’ उसने बिना रूचि दिखाए जवाब दिया, “और मेरे पास टिकट भी है।”
“हाँ, यह कस्बे में जा रही है,” कन्डेक्टर बोला। “तीस पैसे की टिकट के साथा”।
“ओह तुम अपने काम में ध्यान क्यों नहीं लगाते,” वल्ली ने कहा। परन्तु वह उसी समय हँस पड़ी और कन्डक्टर भी हँस पड़ा।
परन्तु उस बूढी औरत ने अपने बेवकूफी भरे सवाल जारी रख। “क्या एक छोटे इंसान (बच्चे) के लिए अकेले यात्रा करना सही है ? क्या तुम्हें पता है कि तुम्हें कस्बे में कहाँ पर जाना है? कौन सी गली में ? घर का पता क्या है ?”
“आपको मेरी चिन्ता करने की आवश्यकता नहीं है। मैं अपना ध्यान खुद रख सकती हूँ,” वल्ली ने अपना चेहरा खिड़की की तरफ घुमाकर बाहर देखते हुए कहा।
Text (Pages 122-123): Her first journey what careful, painstaking, elaborate plans she had had to make for it! She had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like, and finally she had saved a total of sixty paise.
How difficult it had been, particularly that day at the village fair, but she had resolutely stifled a strong desire to ride the merry-go-round, even though she had the money. After she had enough money saved, her next problem was how to slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge. But she managed this.without too much difficulty.
Every day after lunch her mother would nap from about one to four or so. Valli always used these hours for her ‘excursions’ as she stood looking from the doorway of her house or sometimes even ventured out into the village; today, these same hours could be used for her first excursion outside the village.
Vocabulary :
- painstaking (पेन्सटेकिंग) – taking pains परिश्रमयुक्त
- thriftily (श्रीफटिली) – careful in spending money ध्यानपूर्वक धन खर्च करना, मितव्यय करना
- temptation (टैम्पटेशन) – attractions प्रलोभन
- resolutely stifled (रिजोल्यूटली स्टिफल्ड) – with determination दृढ़ता से
- excursions (एक्सकर्शन्स) – trips लघु यात्राएँ
- ventured out (वेन्चरड आउट) – went cautiously, courageously साहस और ध्यानपूर्वक जाना
अनुवाद : उसकी पहली यात्रा उसे लिए कितने ध्यानपूर्वक, परिश्रम से विस्तृत योजनाएँ बनानी पड़ी थीं। उसने बड़ी मितव्ययता से, जितने भी पैसे उसे मिलते बिना खर्च किए प्रत्येक प्रलोभनों जैसे पिपरमिन्ट, खिलौने, गुब्बारे और ऐसी बहुत सी चीज़ों को खरीदने से बचाकर इकट्ठे किए और आखिरकार उसने कुल मिलाकर साठ पैसे जोड़ लिए।
कितना मुश्किल रहा होगा, खासकर जब गाँव में उस दिन मेला लगा था, परन्तु उसने गोल वाले चक्कर झूले पर झूलने की अपनी प्रबल इच्छा को अपने दृढ़ निश्चय से रोका हालाँकि उसके लिए उसके पास पैसे थे। “जब उसने काफी पैसा बचा लिया उसकी अगली समस्या थी माँ की जानकारी के बिना घर से कैसे खिसका जाए। परन्तु बिना खास कठिनाई के उसने इसका भी प्रबन्ध कर लिया।
हर रोज दोपहर के खाने के बाद उसकी माँ एक से लगभग चार बजे तक सोया करती थी। वल्ली यह समय प्रायः दरवाजे पर खड़े रहकर, बाहर घूमकर और कभी-कभी गाँव घूमने का साहस कर बिताया करती थी। आज वही समय गाँव के बाहर घूमकर बिताया जा सकता था।
Text (Page 123): The bus rolled on now cutting across a bare landscape, now rushing through a tiny hamlet or past an odd wayside shop. Sometimes the bus seemed on the point of gobbling up another vehicle that was coming toward them or pedestrian crossing the road.
But lo! somehow it passed on smoothly, leaving all obstacles safely behind. Trees came running toward them but then stopped as the bus reached them and simply stood there helpless for a moment by the side of the road before rushing away in the other direction.
Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee. A young cow, tail high in the air, was running very fast, right in the middle.of the road, right in front of the bus. The bus slowed to a crawl, and the driver sounded his horn loudly again and again. But the more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and the faster it galloped-always right in front of the bus.
Vocabulary :
- gobbling (गौबलिंग) – to overlap निगलना
- pedestrian (पैडस्ट्रियन) – pavement for foot walkers पैदल यात्रा के लिए रास्ता
- obstacles (ऑबस्टकल्स) – hinderances रुकावटें
- honked (हाँक्ड) – to blow the horn हार्न बजाना
- hamlet (हैमलेट) – a small group of houses कुछ मकानों का समूह, छोटा गाँव/पुरवा!
अनुवाद : बस अब खाली भू-दृश्यों से लुढ़कती जा रही थी, अब एक छोटे से पुरवा के बीच से गुजर रही थी या एक सड़क किनारे की अजीब सी दुकान को पार करती जा रही थी। कभी ऐसा लगता था कि बस सामने से आने वाली दूसरी गाड़ी को या पैदल रास्ता पार करने वाले यात्रियों के ऊपर चढ़ जाएगी। परन्तु! किसी तरह यह सभी रुकावटों को पीछे छोड़ती हुई आराम से गुजरती गई। पेड़ उसकी तरफ भागते प्रतीत होते थे परन्तु जैसे ही बस उन तक पहुँचती वे रुक जाते और असहाय से एक तरफ खड़े रह जाते और फिर दूसरी दिशा में चले जाते।
अचानक वल्ली खुशी के मारे तालियाँ बजाने लगी। एक गाय, हवा में पूँछ उठाए, सड़क के बीचों बीच, बहुत तेजी से सीधी बस के सामने भागती जा रही थी। बस धीमी होकर रेंगने लगी, और ड्राइवर बार-बार जोर से हार्न बजाने लगा। परन्तु जितना ज्यादा वह बचाता, उतना ज्यादा वो जानवर डर जाता और ज्यादा जोर से कूदता-हमेशा बिल्कुल बस के सामने।
Text (Page 123): Somehow this was very funny to Valli. She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes.
“Hey, lady, haven’t you laughed enough?” called, the conductor. “Better save some for tomorrow.” At last the cow moved off the road. And soon the bus came to a railroad crossing.
A speck of a train could be seen in the distance, growing bigger and bigger as it drew near. Then it rushed past the crossing gate with a tremendous roar and rattle, shaking the bus. Then the bus went on and passed the train station. From there it traversed a busy, well-laid-out shopping street and, turning, entered a wider thoroughfare. Such big, bright-looking shops! What glittering displays of clothes and other merchandise! Such big crowds!
Vocabulary :
- tremendous (ट्रिमेंनडस) – furious भयंकर
- rattle (रैटल) – shaking झंझोरना, खड़खड़ी हुई
- Thoroughfare (थौरोफेयर) – a busy public road व्यस्त सड़क
- merchandise (मर्चन्डाइज) – thing for sale विक्रय के लिए सामान
अनुवाद : वल्ली के लिए यह किसी तरह बहुत हास्यप्रद लग रहा था। वह हँसती रही और हँसती रही जब तक उसकी आँखों से आँसू नहीं गिरने लगे। “बहन जी, क्या आप काफी नहीं हँस ली?” कन्डक्टर बोला। “कुछ कल के लिए बचा लो तो बढ़िया रहेगा।” आखिरकार गाय रास्ते से हट गई। और जल्द ही बस एक रेल के फाटक पर पहुंच गई।
दूर से रेलगाड़ी का निशान/धब्बा देखा जा सकता था जो, जैसे-जैसे वह नज़दीक आई, बड़ा और बड़ा होता चला गया। तब वह उस फाटक से एक भयंकर गुर्राहट और झंझोड़ने और बस को हिलाने के साथ गुजर गई। तब बस चली और रेल-स्टेशन को पार किया। वहाँ से वह मुड़ गई एक व्यस्त, सुशोभित दुकानों की गली में और मुड़कर घुसी एक चौड़ी व्यस्त सड़क पर। इतनी बड़ी, चमकदार दुकानें। कपड़े और दूसरा बेचने का समान कितनी चमक के साथ सजाया हुआ था! इतनी सारी भीड़!
Text (Page 124) : Struck dumb with wonder, Valli gaped at everything. Then the bus stopped and everyone got off except Valli.
“Hey, lady,” said the conductor, “aren’t you ready to get oft? This is as far as your thirty paise takes you.”
“No,” Valli said, “I’m going back on this same bus.” She took another thirty paise from her pocket and handed the coins to the conductor.
“Why, is something the matter?”
“”No, nothing’s the matter. I just felt like having a bus ride, that’s all.”
“Don’t you want to have a look at the sights, now that you’re here?”
“All by myself? Oh, I’d be much too afraid.”
Greatly amused by the girl’s way of speaking, the conductor said: “But you weren’t afraid to come in the bus.”
Vocabulary :
- gaped (गेप्ड) – to look with wide open mouth खुले मुँह देखना हैरान होकर।
अनुवाद : हैरानी से बुत बनकर खड़ी वल्ली प्रत्येक चीज़ को निगलने (घूरने) की कोशिश कर रही थी। तब बस रुकी और हर कोई उतर गया सिवाय वल्ली के। “श्रीमती जी,” कन्डक्टर ने कहा, “क्या आप उतरने के लिए तैयार नहीं हैं? आपके तीस पैसे आपको इतनी ही दूर तक लेकर आते हैं।”
“नहीं.” वल्ली ने कहा, “मैं इसी बस से वापिस जा रही हूँ।” उसने दूसरे तीस पैसे अपनी जेब से निकाले और कन्डक्टर को दे दिए।
“क्यों, क्या कोई बात है?”
“नहीं, कोई बात नहीं है। मुझे केवल बस की यात्रा करने की इच्छा थी, बसा”
“अब जब तुम यहाँ पर हो तो क्या तुम इन नज़ारों को नहीं देखना चाहती?”
“सब अपने आप? ओह! मुझे डर लगता है।”
लड़की के बोलने के तरीके से कन्डक्टर बहुत हैरान होता हुआ बोला, “परन्तु तुम्हें बस में आने में डर नहीं लगा।”
Text (Pages 124-125): “Nothing to be afraid of about that,” she answered.
“Well, then, why not go to that stall over there and have something to drink? Nothing to be afraid of about that either.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t do that.” “Well, then, let me bring you a cold drink.”
“No, I don’t have enough money. Just give me my ticket, that’s all.”
“It’ll be my treat and not cost you anything.” “No, no,” she said firmly, “please, no.”
The conductor shrugged, and they waited until it was time for the bus to begin the return journey. Again there weren’t many passengers.
Vocabulary:
- Treat (ट्रीट) – party पार्टी
- shrugged (शग्ड) – shaking the shoulder due to irritation or unconcern कंधे झटकाना (बेपरवाही से)
अनुवाद : “इसमें डरने की कोई बात नही थी,” उसने उत्तर दिया।
“तो फिर, वहाँ पर जो दुकान है उस पर क्यों नहीं जाती और कुछ पीने के लिए क्यों नहीं लेती? उसके बारे में भी डरने की कोई बात नहीं है।”
“ओह, नहीं, मैं ऐसा नहीं कर सकती।” “खैर, तो फिर, मैं तुम्हारे लिए एक ठंडा-पेय ले आता हूँ।” “नहीं, मेरे पास ज्यादा पैसे नहीं हैं। बस मुझे मेरी टिकट दे दो।”
“यह मेरी तरफ से पार्टी होगी और तुम्हें इसकी कोई कीमत नहीं देनी पड़ेगी।”
“नहीं, नहीं,” उसने जोर देकर कहा, “कृपया, नहीं।”
कन्डेक्टर ने अपने कन्धे झटकाए, और उन्होंने तब तक इन्तजार किया जब तक वापिस यात्रा शुरू करने का समय नहीं हो गया। दोबारा वहाँ पर ज़्यादा यात्री नहीं थे।
Text (Page 125): “Won’t your mother be looking for you?” The conductor asked when he gave the girl her ticket.
“No, no one will be looking for me,” she said.
The bus started, and again there were the same wonderful sights.
Valli wasn’t bored in the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she’d felt the first time. But suddenly she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, just where it had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle.
“Isn’t that the same cow that ran in front of the bus on our trip to town?” she asked the conductor.
Vocabulary :
- slightest (स्लाइटेस्ट) – a bit, थोड़ा।
अनुवाद : “क्या तुम्हारी माँ तुम्हें ढूंढ नहीं रही होगी?” कन्डेक्टर ने पूछा जब उसने उस लड़की को उसकी टिकट दी। “नहीं, मुझे कोई नहीं ढूँढ रहा होगा,” उसने कहा। बस चल पड़ी और फिर से वही खूबसूरत दृश्य आए। वल्ली जरा सी भी बोर नहीं हुई थी और उसने सभी चीजों का दुबारा उसी रूचि के साथ स्वागत किया जैसे कि उसने पहली बार किया था लेकिन अचानक उसने देखा एक जवान गाय सड़क के किनारे मरी पड़ी थी, बिलकुल वहीं पर जहाँ किसी तेज आती गाड़ी ने उसे टक्कर मारी होगी। “क्या यह वही गाय नहीं है जो हमारी कस्बे की यात्रा के समय हमारी बस के सामने भाग रही थी?” उसने कन्डक्टर से पूछा। ।
Text (Pages 125-126): The conductor nodded, and she was overcome with sadness. What had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little while ago had now suddenly lost its charm and its life and looked so horrible, so frightening as it lay there, legs spreadeagled, a fixed stare in its lifeless eyes, blood all over…
The bus moved on. The memory of the dead cow haunted her, dampening her enthusiasm. She no longer wanted to look out the window. She sat thus, glued to her seat, until the bus reached her village at three-forty. She stood up and stretched herself. Then she turned to the conductor and said: “Well, sir, I hope to see you again.”
Vocabulary:
- spread-eagled (स्प्रेड-इगल्ड) – with legs spread out टाँगे फैली
- haunted (हॉन्टेड) – returned repeatedly to her mind, was impossible to forget for भुलाना संभव न हो, बार-बार आना;
- Dampening (डैम्पनिंग) – slow down अवमन्दन
- Inthusiasm (एन्थूजियेज्म) – excitement जोश।
अनुवाद : कन्डक्टर ने सिर हिलाया, और वह उदासी से भर गई। थोड़ी देर पहले तक कितना प्यारा, सुंदर यह जीव रहा होगा, परन्तु अब अचानक से इसने अपना सौन्दर्य और जीवन खो दिया है और कितना डरावना, कितना भयंकर यह वहाँ पड़ा हुआ लग रहा है, टाँगे खुली हुई, बेजान आखों में थमी हुई नज़रें और चारों तरफ खून …. बस चलती रही भरी हुई गाय की यादें उसे बार-बार आ रही थीं, उसके जोश को अवमन्द कर रही थीं। वह अब और खिड़की से बाहर नहीं देखना चाहती थी।
इसलिए, वह अपनी सीट पर चिपककर बैठ गई, जब तक बस उसके गाँव तीन बजकर चालीस मिनट पर नहीं पहुंच गई। वह खड़ी हुई और अंगड़ाई ली। फिर वह कन्डक्टर की ओर मुड़ी और कहा, “खैर, श्रीमान, आपसे फिर मिलने की उम्मीद करती हूँ।”
Text (Page 126): “Okay, madam,” he answered her, smiling, “Whenever you feel like a bus ride, come and join us. And don’t forget to bring your fare.” She laughed and jumped down from the bus. Then away she went, running straight for home. When she entered her house she found her mother awake and talking to one of Valli’s aunts, the one from South Street. This aunt was a real chatterbox, never closing her mouth once she started talking.
“And where have you been?” said her aunt when Valli came in. She spoke very casually, not expecting a reply. So Valli just smiled, and her mother and aunt went on with their conversation.
Vocabulary:
- chatterbox (चैटरबॉक्स) – a person who talks non-stop बहुत अधिक बोलने वाला, बातूनी।
अनुवाद : “ओके, मैडम,” उसने मुस्कुराते हुए जवाब दिया। “जब कभी भी बस की यात्रा की इच्छा हो आ जाना और हमारा साथ देना। और अपना किराया लाना मत भूलना।” वह हँसी और बस से नीचे कूद गई। फिर वह दूर भागती हुई सीधी अपने घर पहुंची। जब वह घर में घुसी उसने देखा उसकी माँ जागी हुई थी और वल्ली की एक मौसी, जो दक्षिण स्ट्रीट में रहती थी, से बात कर रही थी। यह मौसी सचमुच बातूनी थी, जो जब एक बार बोलना शुरू कर दे तो कभी भी बन्द नहीं होती थी। “और तुम कहाँ थी?” मौसी ने पूछा जब वल्ली अन्दर आई। वह बहुत आम अंदाज़ में बोली, जवाब की उम्मीद के बिना। इसलिए वल्ली केवल मुस्कुराई और उसकी माँ और मौसी अपनी बातों में लग गए।
Text (Page 128) : “Yes, you’re right,” her mother said. “So many things in our midst and in the world outside. How can we possibly know about everything? And even when we do know about something, we often can’t understand it completely, can we?”
“Oh, yes!” breathed Valli. “What?” asked her mother. “What’s that you say?”
“Oh,” said Valli, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
“Just a chit of a girl, she is,” said her aunt, “and yet look how she pokes her nose into our conversation, just as though she were a grown lady.”
Valli smiled to herself. She didn’t want them to understand her smile. But, then, there wasn’t much chance of that, was there?
Vocabulary :
- pokes her nose (पोक्स हर नोज) – to interfere or take an interest in something that doesn’t concern you बिना मतलब हस्तक्षेप करना/टॉग अड़ाना।
अनुवाद : “हाँ, तुम सही हो,” उसकी माँ ने कहा। “इतनी सारी चीजें हैं हमारे मध्य और बाहरी संसार में। हम कैसे सबके बारे में जान सकते हैं? और यदि हम कुछ जान भी लेते हैं तो हम उसे पूरी तरह से समझ नहीं सकते, क्या समझ सकते हैं?” “हाँ, बिलकुल!” वल्ली ने साँस भरते हुए कहा। “क्या?” माँ ने पूछा। “तुमने क्या कहा?” “ओह,” वल्ली बोली, “मैं तो आपके साथ सहमति दिखा रही थी जो आपने कहा कि चीजें हमारी जानकारी के बिना होती रहती हैं।”
“यह केवल एक छोटी लड़की है,” मौसी ने कहा, “और फिर भी देखो कैसे ये अपनी नाक हमारी बातों में घुसा रही है, जैसे कि यह एक बड़ी औरत हो।” वल्ली अपने आप में मुस्कुराई। वह उन्हें अपनी मुस्कुराहट नहीं समझाना चाहती थी। परन्तु, तब, ऐसा होने की ज़्यादा उम्मीद भी नहीं थी, थी क्या?