Ruskin Bond is an Indian writer with British parentage. His stories are reflective of his own life in Dehradun and Massouri and of people around him. “The Eyes Have It” is a story of a blind man travelling in a train carriage alone and his romantic meeting with a mysterious woman. He pretends that his vision is normal all the way, talking about the weather and scenary from memory. All the way he keeps wondering about her smell, her voice and if she’s as beautiful as he imagined. Once the woman gets out of his carriage, he finds out the woman was also playing the same game.
Worth a read, if you can find the book. The presentation is the best part about Ruskin Bond. He looks at everything with the wonder of a 12-year old boy. His language is simple but it is straight from the heart.
We all, both men and women, looked, admired, and daydreamed in our younger days. Just human nature. Iβm an old lady now, but was the recipient of the stares of young men while in my prime. And I always took it as a compliment.
In the seat opposite me in the igloo.
She is older. Attractive. Confident.
She sees me looking.
Well, not looking. Staring.
Embarassed, I turn back to my walrus tusk carving.
But not before I glimpse her warm smile.
Can we snuggle?
In my case as a 16 year old, it was less ‘people watching’, more ‘attractive older woman in short dress appreciation’, Cindy. π
Best wishes, Pete. x
π π₯°It’s in the DNA..no worries as long as it is harmless appreciation of an attractive person. I would think most do it, either obviously or discretely
I used to commute from home to school by train after my parents moved house when I was 15. Hard not to look when someone is so close to you. π
Best wishes, Pete.
Nice, Did you ever read Ruskin Bond’s “The Eyes Have It”? It is one of the most heart warming stories I ever read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t heard of that, Shaily. This is a memory from when I was 16, and commuting to school by train.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike
Ruskin Bond is an Indian writer with British parentage. His stories are reflective of his own life in Dehradun and Massouri and of people around him. “The Eyes Have It” is a story of a blind man travelling in a train carriage alone and his romantic meeting with a mysterious woman. He pretends that his vision is normal all the way, talking about the weather and scenary from memory. All the way he keeps wondering about her smell, her voice and if she’s as beautiful as he imagined. Once the woman gets out of his carriage, he finds out the woman was also playing the same game.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Shaily. That sounds like the perfect twist in the tale! π
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Worth a read, if you can find the book. The presentation is the best part about Ruskin Bond. He looks at everything with the wonder of a 12-year old boy. His language is simple but it is straight from the heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
See, Pete! What appears negative at the beginning is ultimately positive! π Best wishes, Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, she enoyed my gaze. But I was only 16.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lucky you had a newspaper to turn to π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always had a newspaper, even in my teens. Haven’t read one for years now. π
Cheers, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We all, both men and women, looked, admired, and daydreamed in our younger days. Just human nature. Iβm an old lady now, but was the recipient of the stares of young men while in my prime. And I always took it as a compliment.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad to hear you had your moments, KT.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You old goat, Pete!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was 16 when that happened, Sue. Very much a ‘young goat’. π
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aaah, yes, I saw that from responses to other comments aft,er I posted mine!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You sent me back to similar times. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always happy to do that.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In the seat opposite me in the igloo.
She is older. Attractive. Confident.
She sees me looking.
Well, not looking. Staring.
Embarassed, I turn back to my walrus tusk carving.
But not before I glimpse her warm smile.
Can we snuggle?
LikeLiked by 2 people
A Eskimo pun? Unusual, David. π
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Made her day, Pete.
LikeLike
I hope that was the case, Don. I was only 16 at the time. π
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike
I like people-watching, too. My imagination goes wild!
LikeLiked by 1 person
In my case as a 16 year old, it was less ‘people watching’, more ‘attractive older woman in short dress appreciation’, Cindy. π
Best wishes, Pete. x
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, yes, I understood. π
LikeLiked by 2 people
π π₯°It’s in the DNA..no worries as long as it is harmless appreciation of an attractive person. I would think most do it, either obviously or discretely
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I am sure we all do it, Shammi.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike
Glad she took it as a compliment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hard not to look, when you are stuck on a commuter train. I was pleased she didn’t confront me. π
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh that must be embarrassing! glad that she took it in a nice way π π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to commute from home to school by train after my parents moved house when I was 15. Hard not to look when someone is so close to you. π
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike
“Girl watching” is a fun and sometimes embarrassing past time. chuq
LikeLiked by 2 people
On commuter trains, it is hard not to look. π
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the outside scenery flashes by too quickly and one has to look at something. π Warmest regards, Theo
LikeLiked by 1 person