When the conductor stretched out his hand to help her get on the bus, Valli said commandingly that she could get on by herself, and that she did not require his help. She did not act like a child, but as a grown-up girl. So, the conductor called her ‘madam’. She kept stressing on the fact that she had paid her fare like everybody else and therefore, she should not be treated differently.
What kind of a person is Valli? To answer this question, pick out the following sentences from the text and fill in the blanks. The words you fill in are the clues to your answer.
(i) “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised __________.
(ii) “Yes, I _________ go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus.
(iii) “There’s nobody here _________,” she said haughtily. I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.”
(iv) “Never mind,” she said, “I can _________. You don’t have to help me. “I’m not a child, I tell you,” she said,_________.
(v) “You needn't bother about me. _________” Valli said, turning her face toward the window and staring out.
(vi) Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, I hope _________”