Achieving Ignorance

I didn't notice her initially. I was busy hanging freshly-washed clothes out to dry that evening. Out here, people who stay in public housing hang their clothes on portable stands which they conveniently place in the corridor just outside the door. Mostly due to lack of backyards and also to avoid the ugliness of hanging them on the railings (as is customary in many other places).

Anyway, it was a cool breezy evening. Quite unlike the usual humidity and heat. It must have been almost 11 in the night and the block was relatively quiet except occasional noise from a passing bike or car. I think she was enjoying the quietness, balmy breeze and the coolness while comfortably sitting on the stairs with her legs stretched out. She was quite fair and had bright eyes. My sudden appearance with a bucket full of clothes must have disturbed her thoughts. I looked at her and she stared back. I immediately averted my glance and focused back on the task at hand. I could almost feel her continuing stare but I decided to avoid any further uncomfortable eye contact. I was feeling a bit guilty of intruding in her peaceful time and didn't want to create too much disturbance; so I just quietly placed each cloth on the stand. Same repetitive actions, same feigning of ignorance - one after another - soon I was done and ready to go.

But the urge to find out if she was still looking at me was killing me. So as inconspicuously as possible, I slowly cast a sly glance towards her. And my efforts had worked! She was completely bored with me and was looking towards the stairs going upwards. I quietly took the empty bucket and walked back towards my door. I had achieved the ignorance of the white cat.