One random Tuesday. Time: unknown


The alarm wasn't not supposed to go off yet but my phone's notification insists that I head back to the office.


However, it’s not easy to snub an alien and leave unceremoniously. It’s harder when you meet them in a mundane setting and in an uneventful manner. Although, ‘uneventful’ may not be accurate. Still, the alien sitting across from me on a plain, square table in a dull food court, seems as Earthly as any human, and appears to be female: at least to the naked eye.


But I’m getting ahead of myself, as I often do. So, before I tell you what happened at my rendezvous with the alien, I must share the journey that has led me here. I also need to recover from a bout of fiery chilli in my lunch; not funny when the alien punctuates my plight with a sardonic laughter.


The tryst itself is uncanny yet hilarious. I like finding patterns in things around me which has led me to this strange phenomenon: face-to-face with an alien. The scientist in me is both excited and sceptical. Yet, the most puzzling aspect is neither the apparition that I’m sharing with the alien nor the absurdity of this routine workday lunch.


It is ‘her’ laughter which is oddly familiar.