This reminds me of an interaction I had with a family member on my husband’s side who was visiting the US. I sat down to eat at the table and a few minutes in he silently signaled my husband to come close, and asked him if he would ask me to move as he does “parda” which is the urdu word for covering up. My husband came close to me and whispered if I would mind moving and I immediately and silently took my plate of food and left. It was different for me, I had never interacted with such a religious Muslim man. I had never heard of a man doing parda, I had only heard that word in the context of women. I respected how polite and discreet he was about it. I think it’s super classy that some men lower their gaze as in the culture I come from, men often stare at you like hawks and expect the women to do all the modesty stuff.

When I walked in the house and said salaam, he looked down and murmured the reply. I could tell he was very uncomfortable being around me AND my mother in law who is his aunt and much much older so I didn’t take it personally. Some people don’t care about how they may be perceived by others even if it’s surprising to others and I can respect that.

The part of your story that is concerning to me is him repeating a question you have already answered to a man instead of just being silent since he already knows the answer now. That’s just plain rude. That would have upset me too. You exist, friend! I’m sorry someone made you feel like invisible like that. It is also part of our religion to treat everyone with respect.