The Staring Competition

Venue: Local bus from Hajigonj to Naora

Contestants: Australian female (Player A)
Bangladeshi female (Player B)

Positions: Player A: Row 9, Right side, Aisle Seat
Player B: Row 8, Left side, Aisle Seat

Weapons: Player A: None
Player B: Full-face burka

Play-by-play report:

Point 1: Player B, with her weapon at the ready, takes an aggressive stance by turning her entire body around to glare confidently and inquisitively at Player A, taking the Australian not entirely by surprise. She’s used to these sorts of hustles. Player A concedes the first point by glancing at the Bangladeshi and looking away, nonchalantly.

Points 2 and 3: At the 14th second, it looks like Player B’s plan is persistence – she’s going for the big points. She hasn’t turned away yet, and it doesn’t look like she plans to any time soon. She hasn’t blinked yet, either, so that’s a bonus point right there.

Point 4: The Australian meets the eyes of the Bangladeshi once again, this time with more determination. The four eyes lock - the Australian really glaring now; her eyes narrow. Oooh, but she can only persist for six seconds. She turns her head to look out the window. Player A surrenders yet another point.

Point 5: Despite her convincing lead, it looks as though Player B has been shaken. She’s taken out her secret weapon – The Black Shroud. She pulls it securely over her face, but she may have been led into a false sense of security because this only seems to make Player A more determined. Player A, not to be fooled, manages to find the gleaming eyes through the Bangladeshi’s secret weapon. Player A locks in and forces an error from Player B: Her eyes dart, first to the left and then to the right.

Points 6 and 7: The Australian is really getting the upper hand now. It’s as if she’s burning a hole right through the Bangladeshi. After another 8 seconds, the veiled eyes lose their target once more. No blinking from Player A. A bonus point to her.

Points 8 and 9: This stare-out has got to see a winner soon, surely? But unless Player B can pull out another weapon, I don’t think she’s going to be able to make a come back - Player A is as solid as a rock. Again, Player B falters. She’s fidgeting. And what’s this? It looks as if she’s turning her body around to face the front of the bus! The Australian is still not wavering and has not blinked an eye in the whole second half of the game. Another bonus point.

Point 10: Player B’s eyes and head drop as she finally concedes defeat, and turns her head to look out the window. Who would have thought that a Bangladeshi could’ve been beaten at her own game? This one will go down in history!