NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 7: Madam Rides the Bus
Complete NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 7 – “Madam Rides the Bus” by Vallikkannan (translated from Tamil by K. S. Sundaram): an original summary, theme and message, word meanings, and every textbook exercise – Oral Comprehension Check, Thinking about the Text, Thinking about Language and Talk about it – answered in full. We keep the questions exactly as printed in the NCERT book and write all answers in clear, exam-ready language for the 2026–27 session.
Class: 10Subject: EnglishBook: First FlightType: Prose (Chapter 7)Author: VallikkannanSession: 2026–27
“Madam Rides the Bus” was written by Vallikkannan, the pen name of the Tamil writer R. Sundara Rajan. He was a respected poet, short-story writer, essayist and literary critic in Tamil, known for his simple, sensitive storytelling that captures everyday life and the inner world of ordinary people. This particular story was translated from Tamil into English by K. S. Sundaram. Through the eyes of a curious eight-year-old, Vallikkannan gently explores big ideas – freedom, growing up, and the meaning of life and death – without ever sounding heavy or preachy.
Summary
Valliammai, called Valli for short, is an eight-year-old girl living in a village with no playmates her own age. Her favourite pastime is standing at the front doorway of her house and watching the street, and the most fascinating sight of all is the bus that travels each hour between her village and the nearest town. A small wish grows in her mind until it becomes an overwhelming desire: she wants to ride that bus, even if just once.
By quietly listening to people’s talk and asking a few careful questions, Valli learns the details – the town is six miles away, the fare is thirty paise each way, and the trip takes forty-five minutes. She thriftily saves sixty paise, resisting toys, peppermints and even the village-fair merry-go-round, and plans to slip out during her mother’s afternoon nap.
One spring afternoon she stops the bus and boards it alone. The jolly conductor teasingly calls her ‘madam’. Refusing all help and friendship from the other passengers, Valli drinks in every sight with delight – canals, palm trees, green fields, a frightened cow galloping ahead of the bus. She declines to get off at the town or to take any treat, and rides straight back.
On the return journey she sees the same cow lying dead by the roadside, struck by a vehicle. The sight fills her with sadness and dampens her joy; she no longer wants to look out. She reaches home unnoticed, slips back in, and keeps her secret adventure – and her new awareness of life and death – entirely to herself.
Theme & message
The story celebrates a child’s curiosity, independence and spirit of adventure. Valli plans and carries out her dream entirely on her own, showing courage, self-respect and dignity well beyond her years. At a deeper level, the story is about growing up and the first understanding of life and death: the sight of the lively cow turned into a lifeless body teaches Valli, in a moment, the painful gap between merely knowing that death exists and truly understanding it. The message is that experience – chosen, lived and felt – is how we really learn about the world.
Word meanings
Word
English meaning
Hindi meaning
pastime
a hobby; way of passing time
मनोरंजन
wistfully
longingly, with sad desire
ललचाते हुए
kindle
set alight; (here) stir feelings
भावना जगाना
discreet
careful, tactful (questions)
समझदारीपूर्ण
fortune
a very large amount (of money)
बहुत बड़ी राशि
commandingly
in an ordering, authoritative way
आदेशात्मक ठंग से
slack time
a time with little work
खाली / कम व्यस्त समय
devoured
(here) eagerly took in with the eyes
टकटकी से देखना
haughtily
proudly, arrogantly
घमंड से
mimicking
copying someone’s tone/manner
नकल उतारना
repulsive
causing strong dislike; disgusting
घृणित
curtly
rudely and briefly
रूखेपन से
drivel
silly, meaningless talk
बकवास
thriftily
by spending money very carefully
मितव्ययिता से
resolutely stifled
firmly suppressed (a desire)
दृ୪ता से दबा दिया
ventured out
went out cautiously / bravely
साहस कर बाहर निकलना
thoroughfare
a busy public road
मुख्य मार्ग
merchandise
goods for sale
बिक्री का सामान
spreadeagled
with legs and arms spread out
फैले हुए (पैर)
haunted
(memory) kept returning, impossible to forget
पीछा करता रहा
Oral Comprehension Check (Part I)
1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
ANSWERValli’s favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house and watching everything that happened in the street outside. As there were no playmates of her age, this was about all she had to do – yet it gave her many new and unusual experiences.
2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
ANSWERThe bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town – filled each time with a fresh set of passengers – was a source of unending joy for Valli. Her strongest desire was to ride on that bus at least once; this wish grew steadily until it became an overwhelming longing.
3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?
ANSWERValli found out that the town was six miles away, that the fare was thirty paise one way, and that the trip took forty-five minutes; she also worked out that if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return on the same bus. She learnt all this by carefully listening to conversations between her neighbours and regular bus users, and by asking a few discreet questions here and there.
4. What do you think Valli was planning to do?
ANSWERValli was planning to ride the bus to town and come straight back on the same bus – all by herself, secretly, without telling her mother. She kept calculating the fare, the timings and how to slip out unnoticed so that she could fulfil her dream of a bus ride.
Oral Comprehension Check (Part II)
1. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
ANSWERThe conductor was a jolly man, fond of joking. Seeing such a tiny girl board the bus alone, pay her own fare and proudly refuse all help, he teasingly called her ‘madam’ – treating her like a grown-up lady to gently tease her about her grown-up airs.
2. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
ANSWERA canvas blind covered the lower part of her window and cut off her view, so Valli stood up on the seat and peered over it. She now saw a canal on one side with palm trees, grassland, distant mountains and the blue, blue sky beyond it; on the other side was a deep ditch and then acres and acres of green fields stretching as far as the eye could see.
3. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?
ANSWERWhen the elderly man told her not to stand and called her a child, Valli replied haughtily that there was nobody there who was a child – she had paid her thirty paise like everyone else. She insisted she was not a child but was eight years old, and was annoyed by his concern.
4. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
ANSWERValli found the elderly woman absolutely repulsive – she had big holes in her ear lobes with ugly earrings, was chewing betel nut, and the betel juice was threatening to spill over her lips. The woman also kept asking prying, ‘drivel’ questions about where Valli was going. So Valli answered curtly and did not want to be sociable with her.
Oral Comprehension Check (Part III)
1. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?
ANSWERValli saved every stray coin that came her way, thriftily resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and the like, until she had collected sixty paise. It was not easy for her – she even had to firmly suppress a strong desire to ride the merry-go-round at the village fair, although she had the money for it.
2. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?
ANSWERValli saw a young cow, its tail high in the air, running very fast right in the middle of the road, straight in front of the bus. The more the driver honked, the more frightened the cow became and the faster it galloped, always staying just ahead of the bus. This funny sight made Valli laugh until there were tears in her eyes.
3. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station?
ANSWERValli did not want to look around the town alone; she said she would be much too afraid to do so. Her real wish was only to enjoy the bus ride itself, so she paid another thirty paise and stayed in her seat to return home on the same bus.
4. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?
ANSWERValli refused to go to the stall or accept a cold drink, even when the conductor offered to treat her. She said she did not have enough money and firmly declined the free treat. This shows that Valli is self-respecting, independent and dignified – she does not want to accept favours or charity from others and prefers to manage with only what she can pay for herself.
Thinking about the Text
1. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
ANSWERValli’s deepest desire was to ride on the bus that passed through her street. The story shows this through phrases such as “a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there”, “she wanted to ride on that bus, even if just once”, “this wish became stronger and stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire”, and “Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus” whose faces “would kindle in her longings, dreams, and hopes.”
2. How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she save up the fare?
ANSWERValli planned her ride very carefully. By listening to people’s conversations and asking discreet questions, she found out that the town was six miles away, the fare was thirty paise each way, and the trip took forty-five minutes, so she could leave on the one-o’clock bus and be home by about two forty-five. She saved the fare by thriftily collecting stray coins and resisting peppermints, toys, balloons and the merry-go-round until she had sixty paise. She also planned to slip out during her mother’s afternoon nap (one to four), which she normally used for her ‘excursions’.
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.
ANSWER(i) “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised commandingly.(ii) “Yes, I simply have to go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus.(iii) “There’s nobody here who’s a child,” she said haughtily. “I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.”(iv) “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.(v) “You needn’t bother about me. I can take care of myself,” Valli said, turning her face toward the window and staring out.(vi) Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, I hope to see you again.”What this tells us: Valli is bold, confident, self-reliant, dignified and self-respecting – a curious and adventurous girl who can manage on her own and dislikes being treated as a helpless child.
4. Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’?
ANSWERThe conductor, who loved to joke, called Valli ‘madam’ in fun because the little girl behaved like a grown-up lady – boarding alone, paying her own fare, refusing help and insisting she was not a child. Using the respectful word ‘madam’ for such a tiny passenger was his playful way of teasing her about her grown-up airs.
5. Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus.
ANSWERSeveral lines show her delight: “Valli devoured everything with her eyes”; on seeing the canal, palm trees and green fields she thought, “Oh, it was all so wonderful!”; when the cow ran ahead, “Valli clapped her hands with glee” and “laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes”; and she “gaped at everything”, “struck dumb with wonder”. On the way back she “greeted everything with the same excitement she’d felt the first time.”
6. Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?
ANSWEROn the return journey Valli saw the same young cow – which had earlier run happily in front of the bus – now lying dead by the roadside, struck by a fast-moving vehicle. The lovable creature had suddenly lost its charm and life and looked horrible and frightening. This memory haunted her and dampened her enthusiasm, so she no longer wanted to look out of the window.
7. What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
ANSWERWhen her mother remarked that many things happen in the world without our knowledge and that we cannot fully understand everything, Valli quietly agreed – with a hidden, knowing smile. She meant that her own secret bus journey, which her mother knew nothing about, was a perfect example: she had gone out into the wider world, seen wonderful things and even faced the reality of death, all without her family ever realising it.
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?
ANSWERYes. The descriptions are full of a child’s wonder and imagination: the green fields are “green, green, green, as far as the eye could see” and the sky is “the blue, blue sky”; the trees “came running towards them but then stopped… helpless for a moment… before rushing away”; the bus seems “on the point of gobbling up another vehicle”; the train is first “a speck” that grows “bigger and bigger”; and the cow chase is “very funny” to her. Such childlike repetitions, exaggerations and fanciful images clearly reflect an eight-year-old’s point of view.
Thinking about Language
This story has a lot of people talking in it. The conductor jokes and laughs with Valli, some passengers try to show their concern for her, and her mother and her aunt spend time chatting. Read the conversations carefully. Then think of similar people, or similar situations that you have experienced. Mimic a person or persons who spoke to you, saying what they said, along with your replies.
ANSWER (sample)This is a speaking and dramatisation activity. Recall a real conversation and act it out, copying the speaker’s tone, expressions and gestures along with your own replies. Example: A neighbour aunty who always asks personal questions – Aunty (in a sing-song, prying tone): “Beta, how much did you score in your test? More than Sharma’s daughter?” Me (politely but firmly): “I did well, aunty. I’m happy with my marks.” Aunty: “Hmm, in our time we always topped…” You can mimic her tone and manner to make the scene lively, just as the story brings its characters alive through their speech.
Talk about it
Write a page – about three paragraphs – on one of the following topics.
1. Have you ever planned something entirely on your own, without taking grown-ups into your confidence? What did you plan, and how? Did you carry out your plan?
ANSWER (sample, point form)Yes – once I secretly planned to surprise my mother on her birthday. I saved my pocket money for a month, quietly found out her favourite flowers and cake, and arranged with my elder cousin to keep her busy in the evening. Early that morning I decorated the room with paper streamers and balloons while she was out, baked a simple cake with my cousin’s help, and kept everything hidden. When she walked in, she was completely surprised and moved to tears. Carrying out a plan entirely on my own gave me a great sense of confidence and joy. (Expand into three paragraphs with your own experience.)
2. Have you made a journey that was unforgettable in some way? What made it memorable?
ANSWER (sample, point form)Write about a real journey – e.g. a first train trip to the hills, a school trip, or a long bus ride. Make it memorable by describing the sights you saw, the people you met, your feelings of excitement or wonder, any funny or touching incident, and what the journey taught you. End with why it stays fresh in your memory. (Develop into three paragraphs.)
3. Are you concerned about traffic and road safety? What are your concerns? How would you make road travel safer and more enjoyable?
ANSWER (sample, point form)Yes – my concerns include rash driving, over-speeding, jumping red lights, lack of footpaths, and accidents involving pedestrians and stray animals (like the cow in the story). To make road travel safer and more enjoyable I would: enforce speed limits and seat-belt/helmet rules; build proper footpaths, zebra crossings and dividers; improve street lighting and signals; create awareness through campaigns; and keep roads clean and tree-lined. Disciplined drivers and good infrastructure together make travel both safe and pleasant. (Develop into three paragraphs.)
Extra questions
Short answer (30–40 words)
1. Where did Valli live and what was her age?
ANSWERValli (Valliammai) was an eight-year-old girl who lived in a small village. As there were no playmates of her age on her street, she spent her days standing at her doorway watching the world go by.
2. How much was the bus fare, and how far was the town?
ANSWERThe town was six miles from Valli’s village, and the bus fare was thirty paise one way. By paying another thirty paise she could return on the same bus, so the round trip cost her sixty paise in all.
3. Why was thirty paise “almost nothing” to one man but “a fortune” to Valli?
ANSWERA well-dressed man called thirty paise “almost nothing at all” because he was wealthy. To Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one month to the next, the same amount seemed a fortune – showing how poor she was.
4. How did the cow incident change Valli’s mood during the journey?
ANSWEROn the way to town the galloping cow made Valli laugh till she cried. On the way back, seeing the same cow lying dead filled her with sadness; the haunting sight dampened her enthusiasm so completely that she no longer wished to look out of the window.
5. How did Valli manage to keep her bus ride a secret?
ANSWERValli used her mother’s afternoon nap-time (about one to four) for her ride, just as she used those hours for her usual ‘excursions’. She returned before her mother missed her and, when her aunt casually asked where she had been, she simply smiled and said nothing.
Long answer (100–120 words)
6. Draw a character sketch of Valli based on the story.
ANSWERValli is a lively eight-year-old, intensely curious about the world she watches from her doorway. She is determined and patient, planning her bus ride for months – saving coins thriftily and even resisting the merry-go-round. She is bold and adventurous, boarding the bus alone and stopping it commandingly. She is fiercely independent and self-respecting: she refuses help, declines a free drink and insists she is not a child. She is also sensitive – the dead cow fills her with sorrow and a sudden awareness of death. Practical, dignified and full of spirit, Valli is a memorable child who carries out her dream entirely on her own.
7. How does the story bring out the contrast between Valli’s joy and the reality of death?
ANSWERFor most of the story Valli is overflowing with joy – she devours the sights with her eyes, claps with glee at the running cow and laughs till she cries. The bus ride is pure delight, the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream. But on the return trip she sees the same cow lying dead, “legs spreadeagled… blood all over”. In that instant her happiness collapses into sorrow. The sharp contrast – a lovable, living creature turned into a frightening, lifeless body – shows the gap between merely knowing that death exists and truly understanding it. Through this, the story marks Valli’s first real step from childhood innocence towards mature awareness.
MCQs & Assertion–Reason
1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
(a) Playing with friends (b) Watching the street from her doorway (c) Reading books (d) Riding the merry-go-round
2. How far was the town from Valli’s village?
(a) Three miles (b) Six miles (c) Ten miles (d) Two miles
Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.
1. Assertion (A): Valli saved her money very carefully and even resisted the merry-go-round at the fair.
Reason (R): She was determined to save enough fare to fulfil her dream of riding the bus.
2. Assertion (A): The conductor called Valli ‘madam’.
Reason (R): He was a jolly man who teased her for behaving like a grown-up lady.
3. Assertion (A): Valli refused to make friends with the elderly woman on the bus.
Reason (R): The woman was a close relative whom Valli already knew well.
4. Assertion (A): Valli did not want to look out of the window on her way back.
Reason (R): The memory of the dead cow haunted her and dampened her enthusiasm.
5. Assertion (A): Valli kept her bus journey a secret from her mother.
Reason (R): She wanted her family to punish her for going out alone.
A–R Answer Key: 1-(a), 2-(a), 3-(c) – A is true but R is false (the woman was a stranger, not a relative); 4-(a), 5-(c) – A is true but R is false (she hid it to avoid scolding, not to be punished).
Exam tips
Score full marks on this chapter
Remember the key figures: six miles, thirty paise one way, sixty paise saved, forty-five minutes, age eight – examiners love these factual details.
For character questions, support every quality (curious, bold, independent, self-respecting, sensitive) with a short example from the text.
Always connect the dead cow to the story’s deeper theme – Valli’s first understanding of life and death.
Explain the word ‘madam’ as the conductor’s good-humoured teasing, not real respect.
In long answers, write in clear paragraphs and use a few exact phrases (“devoured everything with her eyes”, “overwhelming desire”) to show textual grip.
FAQs
Who wrote ‘Madam Rides the Bus’ and who translated it?
It was written by the Tamil author Vallikkannan (pen name of R. Sundara Rajan) and translated into English by K. S. Sundaram.
Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
He was a jolly, joking man and teased her by calling her ‘madam’ because the tiny girl boarded alone, paid her own fare and behaved like a grown-up lady.
What is the main theme of ‘Madam Rides the Bus’?
It celebrates a child’s curiosity, courage and independence, and shows Valli’s first real understanding of life and death when she sees the dead cow.
Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT First Flight textbook; the summary and all answers are written originally by ClearStudy.
