Bama's reaction at the sight of the village elder carrying a packet tied with strings:
- Shocked and curious
- Intrigued by the unusual sight

Bama's brother explaining the elder's behavior:
- Bama's brother explained that the village elders were illiterate and relied on the literate people of the village to read and write letters for them.
- He mentioned that the packet was a letter sent by someone from the city and the elder was carrying it to the literate person in the village who would read it to him.

Bama's reaction to her brother's explanation:
- Bama was fascinated by the idea of a letter and the fact that someone from the city had sent it.
- She felt a sense of wonder and curiosity, wanting to know more about the sender and the contents of the letter.
- Bama's imagination was ignited, and she started fantasizing about receiving letters herself one day.

Explanation in detail:

Bama, the protagonist of the story, had lived in poverty and had limited exposure to the outside world. Therefore, when she saw a village elder carrying a packet tied with strings, she was shocked and curious. She had never seen anything like it before and was intrigued by the unusual sight.

When Bama questioned her brother about the elder's behavior, he explained that the village elders were illiterate and relied on the literate people of the village to read and write letters for them. He further clarified that the packet was a letter sent by someone from the city, and the elder was carrying it to the literate person in the village who would read it to him.

Bama's brother's explanation sparked Bama's interest even more. She became fascinated by the idea of a letter and the fact that someone from the city had sent it. It opened up a whole new world of possibilities for her, as she had never considered the concept of written communication before. She felt a sense of wonder and curiosity, wanting to know more about the sender and the contents of the letter.

The incident had a profound impact on Bama's imagination. She started fantasizing about receiving letters herself one day, imagining the excitement and anticipation that would come with it. This incident marked a turning point in Bama's life, as it ignited her desire for education and literacy. She realized the power of words and communication and the opportunities they could bring.

Overall, Bama's reaction to the sight of the village elder carrying a packet tied with strings was a mix of shock, curiosity, and fascination. Her brother's explanation helped her understand the situation and further fueled her imagination and longing for education.