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Return to INDIA (R2I as they say) !! – Part 8
The Great Indian Stare
You must have heard about the The Great Indian Rope Trick, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, The Great Indian Novel (Shashi Tharoor’s satire). But have you heard about The Great Indian Stare? Probably not. But I am sure you must have experienced it. 
Now let me warn you that this is not about India, but rather about Indians. So I am sure you can associate with this in the good ol backyard of Jersey as well.
Have you ever felt this? You walk into a cosy Udipi restaurant (ah! the thought of having a nice Masala dosa with a piping hot Madras coffee!!) and everyone around you looks up and checks you out. Hey ! whatever happened to that animated discussion about your company not doing your GC just before you went in? Thanks for making us feel important, but please get back to your discussion !!
Or what about this – you walk into a packed auditorium in Regal for the latest Shahrukh flick and as you walk up the steps to see if you can get anything at the back (good luck with that in Jersey if you show up late), you notice that every person from rows Z to A is ogling at you. Haven’t you guys experienced it? Trust me in the same theater, walk into an English movie and see the difference. Not a single soul cares about your presence.
So is India any different? What do you think? Please ! We are the same everywhere. Folks just love staring at others. I think there is some kind of voyeuristic pleasure that we derive out of this. Walk into a mall, people stare at you…walk into the doctor’s office, people stare at you….walk into grocery store, you not only get stared, but you are also asked whether you need any help for every item that you touch. No yaar, I don’t need your help, please let me shop in peace !!
There are different kinds of stares -
The I-will-look-away-when-you-notice-that-I-was-staring-at-you stare – This is when you catch someone ogling at you and the person instantly looks away.
The I-don’t-care-even-if-I-you-catch-me-staring stare – These are people whom you catch them staring, but they still stare back at you. Embarrassed that you are, you turn the other way since you probably fall into the earlier category.
The I-will-stare-at-regular-interval stare – As if your face changes every other minute, these people stare at you at regular intervals. You know just in case they miss the next biggest moment in your life.
Finally, the Hey-I-think-I-know-you-from-somewhere stare – Come on guys, we ought to give this to the person. This should be OK right? After all you can’t recollect every person’s name that you have met in your life, can you?
I don’t know this – who knows maybe some of you just like the extra attention. If so, here’s yet another reason for you to come back to India. If nothing else pleases you here, this should give you the ultimate pleasure.
At the end of this, I think I have kind of started believing that this is another thing that makes up a typical Desi. And guess what, for having observed all of this, I must be doing the same right? So there you go guys. Hence proved. I am your stereotypical Desi !!
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