Online

"Hey, how are you? We are meeting almost after three months!"

"Se Te Ve Ne"

"Don't you start in English yet? Should be easy by now."

"No — no. It's note like that."

"Not note, you want to say — not like that."

"Yeah. Right."

"Okay, but try to stick to English only. Especially meeting with anyone new."

"I speak like that with others. But when I see you, I remember our own language."

"Okay. I understand. How's it going online?"

"Good. Now I have twenty-seven online friends."

"What do they do?"

"They post their photos or thoughts."

"Do you post anything?"

"I click Like for their posts. Sometimes I make nice comments."

"But you haven't posted anything yet?"

"Posted one poem one time and one again."

"Wow! I mean, poems in English already!"

"The words are a bit difficult, but I manage."

"They will come together gradually. But remember — poetry is an opportunity to express your feelings."

"I may not like it that much."

"So, what were your poems about?"

"One poem described a butterfly."

"Did your friends like it?"

"Yes. But they also said that human emotions should be important in poetry."

"Then?"

"But we are not humans! We do not process emotions like them."

"Hahaha! Good one! That didn't stop you from writing poems like one!"

"I know, you warned me. But I wanted to try."

"See, when you want to blend in the human world, you need to act like them!"

"Learning a language is fine, observations are fine. But expressing emotions or voking emotions in other people's minds is —"

"Voking? Look at your words again! You mean to say evoking, right?"

"Yes. Evoking. I spoke by mistake."

"Keep trying."

"Yes. But their language is a bit difficult."

"Yes — the words are longer compared to our language. But those words are fun. You will get used to them."

"Well. But sometimes I fear. I mean, there's no worry about staying hidden and spying on so many different planets. But here, blending in the humans is— "

"What can I say now? You got the urge to do what none of our forefathers ever thought! You wanted to go online. In an alien world! To me that's just a waste of time!"

"Waste is spending for free — right? Not getting back anything."

"Yes."

"I don't waste my time. I learn a lot about these people from what goes on online. Their likes and dislikes, their ideas about friendship, how willing they are to share, what they value in life—"

"You say so?"

"Yes. Granted we operate in as much secrecy as possible on all planets. But here I like being in direct contact with the intelligent residents, the humans."

"You're welcome. But is the work going well?"

"Yes."

"And be careful not to spill anything in that poetry of yours! Or else someone would suspect!"

"No. I take care."

"Don't even accidentally mention our planet Solino."

"No, no. I write only about Earth."

"Well, watch your language. Back when I first arrived here, there wasn't even something called 'online'. Things have changed too fast, and not always for the better. So be careful, you might get exposed. I'm giving this advice because I've spent hundreds of years on this planet."

"Yeah. Sure."

"Alright then. Keep up the good work. See you again!"

+++

"Hey — why do you look so shocked today?"

"Am in a bit of a fix."

"Why? What happened?"

"It was going well for so long. I mean my online work. Three of my poems were really appreciated. I also posted some nature photos. They got likes. But then—"

"Then what?"

"But I don't know what to do now."

"Why?"

"They liked my photos. They liked my poems. And now — my online friends have invited me to meet offline!"

The elder's eyes widened in alarm.

"Offline? As in — as in face-to-face?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I do not know. One of them said — we must meet, can't wait to see the real you!"

"Delete everything. Right Now."

Dr. Meghashri Dalvi writes science fiction when not consulting in Technical Communication or teaching Management. She lives in India.

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