Discuss the character-sketch of Valli in your own words.

Answer – Valli, the central character of the story “Madam Rides the Bus”, was an eight-year-old girl who was intelligent, curious, confident and determined. Her favourite pastime was standing at the front doorway of her house and watching the street outside. She was especially fascinated by the bus that travelled between her village and the nearby town. Valli was a keen observer. By carefully listening to the conversations of passengers, she collected all the necessary information about the bus journey, including the fare, distance and travel time. She was also very disciplined and self-controlled. She saved sixty paise for the return journey by resisting temptations such as buying toys, peppermints and riding on the merry-go-round. She was independent and self-respecting. During the journey, she refused the conductor’s offer of a cold drink because she did not want anyone to pay for her. She also disliked being treated like a small child and asserted her independence; it was the conductor who jokingly called her “Madam”. Valli was cheerful and full of excitement, but she was also sensitive. The sight of the dead cow on her return journey deeply saddened her. Thus, Valli was a brave, practical, curious, observant and mature girl who displayed remarkable independence at a very young age.