Peek-a-Boo: The Art of Dodging Prying Eyes and a myth of privacy
In India, curiosity flows through our veins like chai in the morning, deeply woven into the fabric of our culture. As someone with an insatiable curiosity myself, I consider it a virtue—as long as it respects others’ privacy. Ah, privacy—that’s as rare in India as spotting a unicorn. Whether it’s a lawyer’s office where every case is a public affair, a doctor’s office where your medical history becomes public knowledge, or a friend or family member treating your phone like their own personal Netflix, nothing escapes our inquisitive eyes and ears.
After wrapping up my documentary shoot, I boarded the train for my journey back home. With plenty of time to spare, no internet and no music in my library, I resorted to swiping through my photo gallery. As I was swiping through my pictures, I caught a fellow passenger trying to sneak a peek at my screen from the corner of my eye. While I had encountered such nosiness before, this time it struck a nerve as the images were personal, not meant for public consumption.
To protect my privacy, I shifted my phone slightly to the side, but to my surprise, he mirrored every tilt with a twist of his head, like a mime! Our silent game of cat and mouse escalated until I reached my tipping point. With a sigh, I turned to him, locked eyes, and said, “Enjoying the private show, huh?”
He simply shook his head in denial and quickly looked away, only to resume his curious glances minutes later.
Later on the same train journey, as I typed away at a chapter of the very book you’re reading, a curious gentleman beside me couldn’t resist sneaking peeks at my laptop screen. “Are you writing a book?” he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
I nodded with a smile. “Yes, indeed, sir,” I confirmed.
“Well, that’s fantastic! What’s the book about?” he inquired eagerly.
“It’s a kind of memoir, sir,” I replied.
“Can I take a look?” he pressed, leaning in closer to my laptop.
“I’m sorry, sir, it’s not quite ready for sharing,” I explained, closing my laptop. Knowing his curiosity wouldn’t be easily dampened, I leaned back, closed my eyes, and peacefully drifted into a nap until I reached my hometown station.
