Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Double take

It's funny how people stare at you, and you in turn are tempted to stare back. Notice how somebody stares at you from inside a bus. You're walking on the road and this person continues staring, even when the bus passes you by. Sometimes, if you care to turn around, this person also would be craning his/her neck around and looking at you. I mean, what's it with this 'recognizing' stare? Does he or she know you? Certainly not. You're ready to throw in your wallet for it. You know that you don't know this person. Then? I guess it's an Indian thing. Happens to me all the time. Not that we do it on purpose. It comes naturally to us (Ok, not all the time though). I know it's impolite to stare. The other person also I guess, knows...but this continues to happen. And once, it was kinda funny. I stopped at a traffic light, generally preoccupied. And from the opposite lane, a guy halts on his two-wheeler. We look at each other. It's 'that' knowing stare again, I reckon. And then it dawns on us simultaneously. We do know each other. He was a year senior to me in school. A bit on the heavier side, with a thick moustache, but it was unmistakable. We both raise our eyebrows, smile and then wave. (This guy was pretty close to me back then. We'd been in together for some cultural activities, drama etc. Very expressive guy, I must say.) And then the light turns green. But before I can motion him to stop ahead so I can turn around and go upto him, he's gone.

In a city like Bangalore, there are all the chances that I bump into an old school-mate, an old acquaintance. And well, I guess I'm not the only one thinking this. And so, the staring continues.

13 comments:

Prerona said...

:)

Preethi said...

Oh yes... I just hate it when someone cranes his neck to continue his stare.. Whats so strange that he has to stare so much? And so I put this really irritated-frownish-stare back on my face.. and he will look away!! :)

But so many times it so happened that I would give that bad stare back and then realise that I know that person!!!

Arunima said...

playing stare-stare?

d4u said...

Hehe...i agree completely:)
Im rememberin the song from the movie "josh"..
Hum bhi hai josh mein
baatein kar hosh mein
Yun na aankhen dikha...
chupchaap apna naam tho bata:p

scorpio said...

meeting some long lost pal on the stairs... er.. stares is spooky innit?
kris

Happy-Go-Lucky said...

Apparently its called eye f**king

I dony mind the stare as long as its from a PYT! ;-)
In all other cases I never look back :-)

nevermind said...

I hope this doesn't sound offensive, but Indians hold the patent on staring in public. This gets downright annoying when u live abroad, when random groups of Indians goggle at you unabashedly, sizing you up from top to bottom, presumably because u look Indian.

I have felt that this is perhaps an extension of the classic Indian propensity to ask complete strangers uncomfortably personal questions in order to make a 'value judgement' e.g. are you married? do you eat meat? what's your salary? etc. Makes one want to hit them. I mean, mind your own business.

Anonymous said...

Haha I get this all the times. I mostly stare right back until the other person looks away!

phatichar said...

Pre: :)

Smiles: oh, yeah, that too...

Arunima: it's more like stare-glare

d4u: errr...are we mixing two songs here? remix huh? :)

Nandini: glad that we see eye to eye on this one ;)

scorpio: welcome! yeah..it is sometimes.. :)


Happy-Go-Lucky: wow, that's some phrase...oh boy.. :)


nevermind; :) never mind...

Angad: if only looks could kill, eh?

d4u said...

No not remix...only the last line is a new addition by moi:p

phatichar said...

deeps: :) good one tho'...how're you? how's everything?

Sudipta Chatterjee said...

Hey! That is actually true. Know what? There are a group of Indian gals in our apartment, who I've met a few times going up and down the stairs but never talked to. Maybe a little staring will help ! :)

phatichar said...

sudipta: i'd advise you against it...unless you want natural coolers (read black-eyes) to look cool about... :)