Staring contest....

I live in a place where the Indian community is so small that if you go to a predominantly Indian-ish place, you will run into a few familiar faces. As a result some people make an extra effort to seek out these familiar faces. Allow me to explain...

We were at this Indian restaurant today. Actually, its less of a restaurant and more of a "Dhaba" but around here, any place that serves food that remotely resembles Indian food can be classified as an "Indian restaurant". Getting back to the point, there were a bunch of guys sitting at a table outside the Dhaba staring at my friend and I as we walked in. Okay, I've got to clarify something here - neither of us was wearing anything provocative :) nor are we the attractive/fugly sorts that people just can't peel their eyes off!! I'm pretty sure that it was just a searching look for that familiar face - and all for what? A perfunctory smile? A minute of small talk? Why do people wish to draw attention to themselves in such settings? Do they think it's offensive to not notice people when they walk by or do they like to get their presence validated by acknowledgment from people they wouldn't care to talk to otherwise ?