5. An Alien Next Door
Prithvi sat
numbly at the back of the Presidential Limo making way to his home, flanked by
the whole motorcade of police vehicles. A few helicopters flew ahead for a recce.
He looked out of the dark tinted window towards the pavement that was lined up
with flashing cameras. He tried to talk to the driver, but he didn’t respond
and instead raised the partition. He was already a pariah.
He didn’t
care much about what would happen to him. But what about Rebecca and Alia? He should have turned down Estella when he had a
choice. She played him on his hopes to see Alia walk again and he fell right
into the trap. And now he has not just put his family but the whole of humanity
in an unknown danger.
Prithvi
stepped out, the neighborhood was as empty as on the red curfew. But by no
means unmonitored, he thought uncomfortably. Surely, there is an entire
battalion stationed just outside the safe radius.
‘She is
already in,’ said the stout secret service agent posted outside his home. ‘You
are on your own now, we have been asked not to interfere.’
Perhaps for
the last time, Prithvi entered his home.
She was
there, sitting on the living room sofa, looking radiant as ever. Her countenance
showed no trace of any ill will. Rebecca sat next to her, fidgeting with her
hand nervously. Her disheveled face and unkempt hair stood in complete contrast
with their unwelcome guest.
‘Good
morning, Prithvi,’ said Eris, benevolently.
‘Good
morning, madame Eris. I hope you were well hosted.’
A smile
stretched on her godly face. ‘Most pleasantly, Prithvi. Rebecca is an excellent
host. Would you like to sit?’
Prithvi sat
next to Rebecca and held her hand to comfort her. She kept shifting her gaze nervously
between Eris and the bedroom.
‘I apologize
if I am making it inconvenient for you or your family, Prithvi. Unfortunately,
this is our custom. We are supposed to spend some time with local families to
learn about local culture and families. Just a few days and we will be
departing from your planet. Don’t mind me at all, consider me as part of the
family.’
Prithvi’s
first instinct was to bring up Lizzies’ arm-twisting of the Earthian
government. He composed himself. It was an offer to be gracious in a coerced
situation. Better to suck it up and play along. Moreover, any escalation might put
his family into more trouble.
‘It is an
honor of a lifetime to host you madame Eris. We were just concerned if we would
be able to serve you at par with your stature.’
‘Oh,
please, Prithvi.’ Eris chuckled. For a moment Prithvi saw her dropping her
guard. She might as well be a long-time friend visiting the town. Only if
Prithvi didn’t know for what she really was. ‘I was getting tired of fancy hotels
and pretentious ball-rooms. I am feeling pleasantly at home already.’
‘Please do
make yourself comfortable madame Eris. We will make your arrangements in the
guest room.’
‘Thank
you,’ Eris said. ‘Just one more question. Is there anyone else in this house?’
Her
suggestive tone indicated that she had already known, however, politeness took
precedence.
Rebecca
responded, ‘Our daughter Alia, she is sleeping in the bedroom right now. She is
five… well almost six years old.’
‘Oh, how
wonderful. I would love to meet her,’ Eris said, cheerfully.
Rebecca was
smiling by now. Even Prithvi found himself giving in to the false normalcy of
the situation. He reminded himself forcefully. She is an alien. And she is
not what she looks like.
###
The next
day, Prithvi and Rebecca introduced Alia to Eris. From her bed, Alia blinked as
she looked at Eris and a thin smile stretched on her round face. She lifted her
tiny hands and, with an uninhibited affection that only a child can express,
put her fingers on Eris’ face. Eris, surprised at first, reciprocated by cuddling
her hand.
‘What has
happened to her?’ Eris asked once they were out of the Alia’s room. ‘Why is she
different than other humans?’
Prithvi
took a moment to absorb the question. For all this time that Lizzies were on
Earth, they had never met a sick person. Earthians were busy parading the best
of themselves --actors, scientists, powerful men and women--but never the
infirm. Alia, to Eris, was an entirely different kind of human being who was imperfect
and weak.
Rebecca’s
expression changed. She replied, plaintively, ‘She was born with a rare
condition; her heart is too weak to be able to pump enough blood to her brain
and body.’
‘Her motor
functions are not developed, and she can’t walk or do other normal things.’
‘Will she ever
get better?’
Prithvi
shook his head. ‘We don’t know.’
Rebecca
jumped to her child’s defense. ‘It doesn’t matter to us. She is an angel and we
are so lucky to have her.’
Eris seemed
puzzled. ‘But will she be of any value in human terms when she grows up?’
Prithvi was
surprised, but he had been in the alien company enough to sense the innocent
curiosity behind the seeming insensitiveness. Rebecca, on the other hand,
recoiled and a stream of tears rolled off from her eyes. Prithvi jumped to her
side and consoled her. ‘I am sorry madame Eris. Rebecca is very protective of
Alia.’
Eris gave a
confused nod, apologized, and left for her room.
###
The
incident changed a few things. Eris became much more interested in Alia. She
made sure she was in Alia’s room as much as Rebecca tolerated. She watched
intently whenever Rebecca fed Alia her liquid meal, or administered her
medication, or even cleaned her bodily excretions. Eris did ask a few questions here and there
but remained conscious of her words and tone, especially with Rebecca.
Rebecca
also grew accustomed to having Eris around, even enjoying addressing what
seemed like childlike inquiries from her. (What is the function of a teddy
bear?)
On the third
day, as Prithvi prepared the bedpan for Alia, Eris asked politely if she could
do the job. Hesitantly, Prithvi stepped back. He watched intently as Eris took
care of Alia silently without any signs of revulsion.
On the same
day, the alien spaceship ceased leaking a tremendous amount of energy.
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