The Story

There was a girl named Valliammai — Valli for short — who was eight years old and tremendously curious about everything around her. Her favourite way to spend time was standing at the front doorway of her house, watching whatever happened on the street outside. She had no playmates her own age on her street, so this doorway vigil was her entire entertainment. Imagery

The most fascinating sight of all was the bus that ran between her village and the nearest town — passing her street once an hour, going one way and then returning. Each time it passed, it carried a completely different set of passengers, and this fact alone filled Valli with unending joy. Day after day she watched, and slowly a small wish took root in her mind and grew: she wanted to ride on that bus, just once. The wish became stronger and stronger until it was an overwhelming desire. Symbolism

Valli would gaze wistfully at the passengers who got on or off. Their faces stirred longings, dreams, and hopes in her heart. When a friend tried to describe the town's sights, Valli was too jealous to listen and would shout "Proud! Proud!" — a slang term she and her friends used to express disapproval, though neither quite understood its real meaning. Irony

Over many months, Valli listened carefully to conversations between neighbours and regular bus passengers, and asked discreet questions. She gathered that the town was six miles away; the one-way fare was thirty paise — "almost nothing at all," a well-dressed man had said, though to Valli, who rarely saw that much money, it seemed a fortune. The journey took forty-five minutes. If she stayed in her seat on arrival and paid another thirty paise, she could ride the same bus home — leaving on the one o'clock bus and returning by two forty-five. She calculated and recalculated, planned and replanned. Imagery

One fine spring afternoon, the bus was just about to leave when a small voice cried "Stop the bus! Stop the bus!" and a tiny hand was raised commandingly. The bus slowed, the conductor leaned out, and Valli announced: "It's me. I'm the one who has to get on." The conductor, a jolly, joking type, offered his hand to help her up. "Never mind," she said firmly, "I can get on by myself." Irony

The conductor, delighted, called her "madam" and asked passengers to make way for her. There were only six or seven passengers — it was a quiet time of day. Valli was overcome with shyness and sat quickly in an empty seat. When the conductor asked if they could start, he blew his whistle and the bus moved forward with a roar. Imagery

The bus was new and gleaming — painted white with green stripes, overhead bars shining like silver, a beautiful clock above the windshield, soft luxurious seats. Valli devoured it all with her eyes. When she looked outside, a canvas blind blocked her lower view, so she stood on the seat to peer over it. The road ran along a canal bank — palm trees and green grassland and mountains on one side; deep ditch and endless green fields on the other. Imagery "Oh, it was all so wonderful!" she breathed.

An elderly man told her to sit down. "There's nobody here who's a child," Valli said haughtily. "I've paid my thirty paise like everyone else." The conductor joined in, calling her "a very grown-up madam" who had paid her own fare. Valli shot an angry glance and reminded him he had not yet given her ticket. He handed it over — and everyone laughed, including Valli eventually. Later, an elderly woman sat beside her and asked intrusive questions. Valli found her repulsive — the large earring holes, the smell of betel nut, the drivel. "You needn't bother about me. I can take care of myself," Valli said, turning firmly to the window. Irony

The previous months' preparations were briefly remembered: Valli had saved every stray coin she received — resisting peppermints, toys, and balloons — until she had sixty paise. She had even resisted the merry-go-round at the village fair, though she had the money. Her greatest problem had been slipping out without her mother's knowledge — but her mother's afternoon nap from one to four made it possible. Symbolism

The bus rolled on through bare land, small villages, and roadside shops. Imagery Sometimes it seemed about to swallow an oncoming vehicle or a pedestrian — but somehow always passed smoothly on. Trees seemed to run towards the bus and then stop helplessly at the roadside. Personification Then — joy! — a young cow with tail high in the air galloped right in front of the bus. The driver honked again and again; the more he honked, the faster the cow ran, always just ahead. Valli laughed until tears came to her eyes. The conductor called, "Hey, lady, haven't you laughed enough? Save some for tomorrow." Imagery

At the town, when everyone got off, Valli stayed in her seat. She paid another thirty paise for the return journey. The conductor was amused — but she was firm. She had no money for drinks at the stall, and she would not accept his offer to treat her. She simply waited for the return bus. On the way back, everything seemed just as wonderful — the same sights, the same excitement. And then she saw it. Imagery

A young cow lay dead by the roadside — struck by some fast-moving vehicle. It was the same cow that had delighted her on the journey out. Symbolism What had moments ago been a lovable, beautiful creature now lay with legs spreadeagled, its lifeless eyes fixed in a glassy stare, blood all around it. Valli was overcome with sadness. The memory haunted her, dampening her enthusiasm completely. She no longer wanted to look out the window. Irony

The bus reached her village at three forty. Valli stretched, said goodbye to the conductor ("Well, sir, I hope to see you again"), and ran straight home. Her mother was awake, talking to an aunt — a great chatterbox who barely noticed Valli's arrival. Her mother was saying: "So many things in our midst and in the world outside. How can we possibly know about everything? And even when we do know about something, we often can't understand it completely, can we?" "Oh, yes!" Valli breathed. Irony Her mother asked what she meant; Valli smiled a secret smile and said nothing. There wasn't much chance they would understand, was there?