Back at the Chateau Windsor there was a rat-like scratching at the door of my room. Vinod, the youngest servant, came in with a soda water. He placed it next to the bag of toffees. Then he watched me read. I was used to being observed reading. Sometimes the room would fill like a railway station at rush hour and I would be expected to cure widespread boredom.
In "Beyond The Devil's Teeth," the author, Tahir Shah, recounts a moment in his room at the Chateau Windsor where he is interrupted by Vinod, the youngest servant. Vinod enters with a soda water and places it beside some toffees, all while observing Shah's reading. This moment reflects an unusual dynamic, where the act of reading becomes a spectacle for others, akin to a busy railway station filled with onlookers.
Shah’s experience highlights the often invasive nature of attention when one is engaged in solitary activities like reading. It underscores the expectations from those around him, as he feels a responsibility to entertain or alleviate boredom as he immerses himself in his book. This scene encapsulates the blend of solitude and observation that characterizes his journey, creating a vivid image of life at the chateau.
