It was pre-dawn hours. I was in deep slumber as I had kept up late hours at night. I woke up to a knock and started to see a boy between fourteen and sixteen seeking admission. I did not know him. He told that his name was Rakesh and he came from outer space. 

His introduction thrilled me. At such an hour, tranquil and clam, I least expected a caller!

After a moment of dazed wonder, I let him in. I narrate what he told me of his life in outer space. 

He lives in space and his little world hangs in it as this earth. It consists of a small group of families who live a compact life of harmony and accord. Over the years, they have grown plants and crops. But their ancestors had to struggle much as the ground conditions of their world were very rough and savage. His ancestors used to speak of this earth which is vaster and heavily populated, but he was the first person to visit it. 

The boy looked wild and untamed like the Homo sapiens. He was much taller for his age and his limbs were like those of a wrestler and shaggy. But his eyes were innocent and searching. He said that they live in the caves, till their own lands and live on bartering of corns and foods. They fight like ferocious animals in personal matters. But when some enemy from another planet attacks they unite like brothers. He said that he was surprised to see that here men take away truck-load of goods, but pay nothing but a few colourful paper slips. In their world a commodity is exchanged for another commodity. The value of commodity depends on its utility and national stock. 

At night they observe the shooting stars. When the sky is clear they view the earth that looks splendid. The waters around her at first amazed them as some liquid wrapper that is wound round her. But later they learnt the actual fact. His great grandfather and those before had no language of communication. They used symbols and spoke through meaningful gestures. 

He was amazed to see our vehicles that emitted smoke. He said at first he felt choked as he entered the earth’s atmosphere. In the course of our conversation he told that they had no allopathic doctors. They had a health-expert almost in each family on the average. Therefore their knowledge of the herbs was very sound. It had come to them from their ancestors as a family wisdom.

Suddenly he became restive. The conversation lasted hardly for half-an-hour. He got up and ignoring my requests to stay further, slipped out even before the birds woke up!