Valli's deepest desire was to ride the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. To fulfil this wish, she had to overcome several difficulties.
Gathering Information: Valli had no money and no direct knowledge of bus travel. She patiently listened to conversations between neighbours and regular bus users, and asked discreet questions. She found out that the fare was 30 paise one way, the town was six miles away, and the trip took 45 minutes. A return ticket would cost another 30 paise, totalling 60 paise.
Saving Money: Valli thriftily saved every stray coin she got. She resisted buying peppermints, toys, and balloons, and even suppressed her strong desire to ride the merry-go-round at the village fair. Finally, she saved exactly 60 paise.
Slipping Out: Her last challenge was leaving home without her mother's knowledge. She cleverly used the hours when her mother napped (1–4 p.m.) to make her excursion.
Thus, through careful planning, self-discipline, and determination, Valli successfully took her first bus ride.
Source: "Madam Rides the Bus," Chapters I, II, III
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