Is it normal that these guys are "teasing" me or whatever you call it?
This is a bit long, so, if you can't read it, please, don't even bother answering.
The thing is, I'm a very ambivalent person, so instead of reacting to things as soon as they happen, I start thinking about the whys of it, so that my position with respect to the issue is not always clear to others.
And well, I have been going to this store, and the guys working there are kind of teasing me. I didn't mind having the younger one (in his early 20s) being flirty and all. But the thing is, this Punjabi boy and the others seem to be relatives AND come from a very conservative, macho male-oriented culture, so unlike a Westerner, they might take any passive reaction as a "sluttish" invitation they could take advantage of. I'm not 100% sure; I don't know them that well.
What I do know is that I didn't have any problems with them nor heard anything weird from them until one day the guy my age (in his mid twenties) got all mad and jealous when another customer was trying to flirt with me. (Perhaps, out of jealousy he has badmouthed me?) After that, I have had the younger one (who I had not seen before) always trying to flirt with me, but by his subtle attitudes, I could notice he doesn't take me seriously. But I didn't mind it as even though he has taken many liberties with me, I think he is just an immature boy who is harmless and his advances have never gone beyond verbalization. Sometimes I have even smiled/laughed at his attempts to act all macho with me.
The problem comes when the older man (who may be their father or uncle) enters into the picture. I have no idea what's up with him. He has sometimes approached us and talked to them about how serious I am and how I rarely smile. After this, the guys acted a bit more serious.
But, as I keep smiling (seldom, when I am in a good mood) at the younger guy's attempts to flirt with me, I have seen some changes in the older man's attitudes. I think he is like trying to see what chances HE himself has with me so he seems to be "testing the waters" or something like that. Now he doesn't simply limit himself to observe how I interact with the guys. He comes and asks me repetitive questions (why I'm so serious and quiet; why I do not smile; why I do just go there, buy and leave) and the other day he extended his hand to me while saying hi (the younger guy had extended his palm to me before, which I ignored and even got mad at)!!
The main problem is that, despite the jealousy impasse, I kinda like the guy my age. He has never been disrespectful to me and whenever he looks at me, there's a spark in his eyes. But, before the older man started commenting about how serious I am and and how I don't smile, he tried to hide those things in front of him. And I know that in Indian culture, the parents' approval is extremely important for making decisions. So, how could I ever have anything to do with him when the father/uncle is acting ambivalent towards me?? What could I say so he can stop asking me so intrusive questions that have nothing to do with a customer? I want everything to be as it used to, when I had no problems with any of them.
NOTE: This might be irrelevant, but for those who assume it, no, I'm not white. I could easily pass for an Indian woman and no, I'm no ugly by any means. I have plenty of guys hitting on me.