NCERT Textbook: Madam Rides the Bus | English Class 10 PDF Download

 Page 1


BEFORE YOU READ
In this sensitive story, an eight-year old girl’s first bus journey into
the world outside her village is also her induction into the mystery
of life and death. She sees the gap between our knowing that there
is death, and our understanding of it.
Activity
1. Look at the words and phrases given below. Then put a tick
against the ones you think you will find in the text.
___ a set of passengers ___ get on the bus
___ get off the bus ___ platform
___ Tickets, please ___ a roar and a rattle
___ a row of seats ___ slowing down to a crawl
___ blowing a whistle
2. You must have travelled by bus more than once. What can
you see from a fast-moving bus? Given below are some
suggestions. Speak briefly about some of these scenes, or
about other such scenes that you have seen; or write a
sentence or two about them.
rivers green fields hills
roadside shops market places railway tracks
moving trains vehicles on the road trees
a crowd clothes in shops animals
Reprint 2024-25
Page 2


BEFORE YOU READ
In this sensitive story, an eight-year old girl’s first bus journey into
the world outside her village is also her induction into the mystery
of life and death. She sees the gap between our knowing that there
is death, and our understanding of it.
Activity
1. Look at the words and phrases given below. Then put a tick
against the ones you think you will find in the text.
___ a set of passengers ___ get on the bus
___ get off the bus ___ platform
___ Tickets, please ___ a roar and a rattle
___ a row of seats ___ slowing down to a crawl
___ blowing a whistle
2. You must have travelled by bus more than once. What can
you see from a fast-moving bus? Given below are some
suggestions. Speak briefly about some of these scenes, or
about other such scenes that you have seen; or write a
sentence or two about them.
rivers green fields hills
roadside shops market places railway tracks
moving trains vehicles on the road trees
a crowd clothes in shops animals
Reprint 2024-25
I
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 played. Watching the street gave her many
new unusual experiences.
Madam Rides the Bus
95
Reprint 2024-25
Page 3


BEFORE YOU READ
In this sensitive story, an eight-year old girl’s first bus journey into
the world outside her village is also her induction into the mystery
of life and death. She sees the gap between our knowing that there
is death, and our understanding of it.
Activity
1. Look at the words and phrases given below. Then put a tick
against the ones you think you will find in the text.
___ a set of passengers ___ get on the bus
___ get off the bus ___ platform
___ Tickets, please ___ a roar and a rattle
___ a row of seats ___ slowing down to a crawl
___ blowing a whistle
2. You must have travelled by bus more than once. What can
you see from a fast-moving bus? Given below are some
suggestions. Speak briefly about some of these scenes, or
about other such scenes that you have seen; or write a
sentence or two about them.
rivers green fields hills
roadside shops market places railway tracks
moving trains vehicles on the road trees
a crowd clothes in shops animals
Reprint 2024-25
I
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 played. Watching the street gave her many
new unusual experiences.
Madam Rides the Bus
95
Reprint 2024-25
First Flight
96
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
if 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.
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 well-dressed 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.
wistfully
longingly
kindle
set alight (a fire),
here, feelings
a slang expression
informal words,
often used within a
close group
discreet questions
careful questions
Reprint 2024-25
Page 4


BEFORE YOU READ
In this sensitive story, an eight-year old girl’s first bus journey into
the world outside her village is also her induction into the mystery
of life and death. She sees the gap between our knowing that there
is death, and our understanding of it.
Activity
1. Look at the words and phrases given below. Then put a tick
against the ones you think you will find in the text.
___ a set of passengers ___ get on the bus
___ get off the bus ___ platform
___ Tickets, please ___ a roar and a rattle
___ a row of seats ___ slowing down to a crawl
___ blowing a whistle
2. You must have travelled by bus more than once. What can
you see from a fast-moving bus? Given below are some
suggestions. Speak briefly about some of these scenes, or
about other such scenes that you have seen; or write a
sentence or two about them.
rivers green fields hills
roadside shops market places railway tracks
moving trains vehicles on the road trees
a crowd clothes in shops animals
Reprint 2024-25
I
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 played. Watching the street gave her many
new unusual experiences.
Madam Rides the Bus
95
Reprint 2024-25
First Flight
96
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
if 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.
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 well-dressed 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.
wistfully
longingly
kindle
set alight (a fire),
here, feelings
a slang expression
informal words,
often used within a
close group
discreet questions
careful questions
Reprint 2024-25
Madam Rides the Bus
97
Oral Comprehension Check
1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest
desire?
3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out
these  details?
4. What do you think Valli was planning to do?
II
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.”
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 aside please — make way for madam.”
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.
slack time
a time when there is
not much work
Reprint 2024-25
Page 5


BEFORE YOU READ
In this sensitive story, an eight-year old girl’s first bus journey into
the world outside her village is also her induction into the mystery
of life and death. She sees the gap between our knowing that there
is death, and our understanding of it.
Activity
1. Look at the words and phrases given below. Then put a tick
against the ones you think you will find in the text.
___ a set of passengers ___ get on the bus
___ get off the bus ___ platform
___ Tickets, please ___ a roar and a rattle
___ a row of seats ___ slowing down to a crawl
___ blowing a whistle
2. You must have travelled by bus more than once. What can
you see from a fast-moving bus? Given below are some
suggestions. Speak briefly about some of these scenes, or
about other such scenes that you have seen; or write a
sentence or two about them.
rivers green fields hills
roadside shops market places railway tracks
moving trains vehicles on the road trees
a crowd clothes in shops animals
Reprint 2024-25
I
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 played. Watching the street gave her many
new unusual experiences.
Madam Rides the Bus
95
Reprint 2024-25
First Flight
96
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
if 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.
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 well-dressed 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.
wistfully
longingly
kindle
set alight (a fire),
here, feelings
a slang expression
informal words,
often used within a
close group
discreet questions
careful questions
Reprint 2024-25
Madam Rides the Bus
97
Oral Comprehension Check
1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest
desire?
3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out
these  details?
4. What do you think Valli was planning to do?
II
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.”
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 aside please — make way for madam.”
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.
slack time
a time when there is
not much work
Reprint 2024-25
First Flight
98
“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.
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.”
Reprint 2024-25