Madam Rides the Bus NCERT Solutions Class 10 PDF Download 2026

Ans: Valli's favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house and watching what was happening in the street outside. Having no playmates of her own age, this activity gave her many unusual and joyful experiences.

Ans: The source of unending joy for Valli was the sight of the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town, filled with a new set of passengers each time it passed. Her strongest and most overwhelming desire was to ride on that bus, just once.

Ans: The conductor was a jolly, fun-loving person. When he saw an eight-year-old girl acting extremely confident, refusing his help to board the bus, buying her own ticket, and speaking like a mature adult, he was amused. He jokingly addressed her as 'Madam' to tease her about her serious, grown-up behavior.

Ans: Valli didn't get off the bus at the town because her only goal was to experience the bus ride. She was also afraid of getting lost in the strange town and did not have extra money to spend. Therefore, she simply bought a return ticket and stayed on the bus to go back to her village.

Ans: Valli saw a young cow running very fast right in the middle of the road, directly in front of the bus. The more the driver honked his horn, the more frightened the animal became, galloping faster right in front of the vehicle. This clumsy and funny sight made Valli laugh until tears came to her eyes.

Ans: Valli refused to go to the stall because she did not have enough money for a drink; she only had just enough for her return ticket. When the conductor offered to buy her a cold drink as a treat, she firmly refused. This tells us that she was highly self-respecting, disciplined, and did not like taking favors from strangers.

Ans: Valli gathered information by carefully listening to the conversations between her neighbors and the people who regularly used the bus. She also asked a few discreet questions here and there to find out the fare, distance, and time taken.

Ans: She found out that the town was six miles from her village. The bus fare was thirty paise one way, and the trip took exactly forty-five minutes.

Ans: Valli saved money by thriftily resisting every temptation. She controlled her desire to buy peppermints, toys, and balloons. She even suppressed her strong urge to ride the merry-go-round at the village fair to save the required 60 paise.

Ans: Valli was quite short. The canvas blind that covered the lower part of the window blocked her view. To see the outside scenery clearly, she had to stand up on her seat and peer over the blind.

Ans: The bus was new. Its outside was painted a gleaming white with green stripes. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. It had a beautiful clock above the windshield, and the seats were soft and luxurious.

Ans: Valli found the elderly woman repulsive because she had big holes in her earlobes and wore ugly earrings. She was chewing betel nut, and the red juice was threatening to spill over her lips. Moreover, the woman asked Valli intrusive questions, which Valli disliked.

Ans: Valli is an eight-year-old girl characterized by her deep curiosity, maturity, and strong willpower. She is an exceptional planner, gathering exact details about the bus journey and suppressing her childhood temptations to save 60 paise. She values her independence, confidently refusing help from the conductor and elderly passengers. She is also highly self-respecting, politely turning down a free drink. Ultimately, her reaction to the dead cow shows her sensitive nature, marking her transition from an innocent child to a mature individual aware of life's harsh realities.

Ans: Valli planned her journey flawlessly. First, she collected data by eavesdropping on neighbors to learn the distance (6 miles), fare (30 paise one way), and time (45 minutes). Second, she saved the 60 paise by sacrificing all childhood joys like toys and the merry-go-round. Third, she planned the timing perfectly: she knew her mother slept daily from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. She calculated that if she took the 1:00 PM bus, she would reach the town at 1:45 PM and be back home by 2:45 PM, ensuring her secret remained safe.

Ans: On her onward journey, Valli was ecstatic to see a young cow galloping playfully in front of the bus. It filled her with sheer joy and laughter. However, on her return journey, she saw the very same cow lying dead by the roadside, struck by a fast-moving vehicle. The lovable, beautiful creature now looked horrible and lifeless, covered in blood. This tragic sight completely shattered her enthusiasm. The realization of death's suddenness dampened her spirits, and she sat glued to her seat, no longer wanting to look out the window.

Ans: The story highlights the disconnect between a child's capabilities and adult perceptions. The adults in the story (the conductor, the elderly woman) view Valli as a helpless child who needs constant supervision. They are amused or concerned by her independence. However, Valli proves that she is highly capable of planning, executing, and protecting herself without adult interference. At the end, when her mother remarks that many things happen without their knowledge, it creates a profound dramatic irony—the adults remain completely unaware of the mature, life-changing adventure the child just experienced.

Ans: The title is highly appropriate. The word "Madam" reflects Valli's confident, independent, and adult-like demeanor. She refuses to be treated like a child, buys her own ticket, and commands respect. The conductor recognizes this fierce independence and humorously nicknames her "Madam." The entire story revolves around this "Madam's" extraordinary first bus ride.

Ans: This statement reveals Valli's fierce independence, self-confidence, and self-reliance. She does not want to be treated as a fragile child and takes pride in doing things on her own without taking favors from adults.

Ans: When the elderly woman showed concern for her traveling alone and called her a child, Valli was irritated. She felt she had paid her thirty paise fare just like everyone else, so she deserved to be treated as an equal passenger, not a helpless kid.

Ans: Valli immediately agreed, saying "Oh, yes!" She was secretly smiling to herself because her mother was completely unaware that Valli had just traveled to the outside world, experienced life and death, and returned safely without her knowledge.

Ans: Her aunt, who was described as a real chatterbox, called Valli a "chit of a girl" who pokes her nose into adult conversations, behaving as if she were a grown lady.