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Monday came at last, and with it, the letter.

She picked it up hesitantly, but could not bring herself to open it.

The third letter.

The first one had come on Tuesday. Exactly six days back.

That was a small piece of paper. Yet not quite like paper. It was white and blue and pink, square and triangular and changing constantly. It shone, erratically and strangely.

Then she realized that it was blank. Absolutely blank.

She panicked and tried to throw it away. But it had stuck to her fingers.

Then slowly, a few words formed on it. “We are coming.”

She suddenly felt chilly. Very chilly. Then mysteriously the paper fell on the floor. She dared not pick it up. She only stared.

And then it was gone. Disappeared.

She did not understand it first. What was it? Who sent it? Why? Why to me? Who are these “we”? Where are they coming? From where?

She was very careful moving around her apartment that day, though nothing unusual happened. She locked the windows and doors when she went to work.

The day had passed smoothly. So had Wednesday. By Thursday night, she had written it off as a bad joke.

On Friday morning, the second letter arrived. She was shaking while picking it up, checking the envelope first; making sure that it was addressed to her.

The envelope was quite ordinary, but the letter was not.

It was the same as the first time. An unknown thing in her hand. Blank first and gradually developing some words on it. “We are coming. Soon.”

She did not need to make efforts to throw it. It melted right in her hands and vanished.

She thought of telling someone. Asking for help. Maybe someone at the office. Although she found very hard to choose. The editor of her paper was kind but not very adventurous. Her closest colleague, the sports editor, was bold but immature. And none of her girlfriends would qualify either.

She thought of keeping mum for a while, thinking about who can play such silly gags. At last she had to accept that it was more than a gag.

She thought about her colleagues, her acquaintances, her friends, and her Exes. But she could not point to anyone for a malicious attack.

On Saturday, she waited for the mail. But there was none. She did not have to bother about Sunday. Still, as she lay awake in the late hours of Sunday, she was feeling anxious.

Monday came at last, and with it, the letter.

The third letter.

She picked it up hesitantly, but could not bring herself to open it.

Except that she did not have to open it. The letter seemed to come out automatically. She held it in her unsteady hand.

Once again the hazy letters formed. Becoming clearer. “We are here.”

And then there was a knock at the door.

She was terrified, but equally dazed. Without much thought she opened the door.

Four tall hooded guys walked in. They had shiny overcoats and unusually long thin hands.

“Thank you, ma’am.” One of them said politely. He also produced a paper with some printed stuff on it. She was scared out of her wits. “What is this?” She managed to say. “Well, you participated in our pilot program, so we have a way to say thanks.” The guy brought out a thick wad of notes.” If you will please sign this, ma’am.”

“W-what program?”

“Our test program of mail delivery. You got all three letters, right?”

“Yes, but they seemed to disappear on their own.”

“That’s right. We had that special material so that other people don’t get their hands on them.”

“I – I don’t understand…”

“It’s OK ma’am. We would just need your signature and then we will go back.”

“Wait. What program did you say?” She stopped with that form in her hand.

“Our test program of mail delivery from Yorna.”

“Yorna? Where is this place?”

“About seven light years away, ma’am.”

“What!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“But why me?”

”We selected 100 people at random, ma’am.”

“I – I don’t know what to say…”

“It’s OK ma’am. All other 99 had the same reaction.” The polite guy seemed to smile behind his shiny hood. “Please sign this form that you received all the three letters, and then we will give you the money.”

“But why – why would you test mail delivery from Yorna to Earth?” She was much stable now to think on her feet.

“Well, when our people colonize Earth, they would need an efficient mail service, wouldn’t they?”

“What, your people are going to invade Earth?”

“Ummm, we would rather call it colonize, ma’am.”

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