Riya was a typical Indian teenager who loved spending her days watching television and scrolling through social media. She was in grade tenth and found studying to be a tedious and boring task. Riya’s parents were concerned about her lack of interest in academics, but they were at a loss as to how to motivate her.

One evening, as Riya was walking back home from the market, she noticed a stranger sitting on a bench by the side of the road. The stranger was wearing a hoodie and seemed lost in thought. Riya would have walked past him, but something about the stranger’s eyes caught her attention.

As she approached him, the stranger looked up, and Riya could see that his eyes were not human. They were like orbs of light, glowing with an otherworldly intensity. Riya felt a shiver run down her spine but was unable to look away.

“Hello,” said the stranger, in perfect Hindi. “May I ask your name?”

“Riya,” she replied hesitantly.

“I am Zor,” said the stranger, smiling. “I come from a distant planet, and I have been studying your world for some time. I am here to learn about your culture, your history, and your way of life.”

Riya was taken aback. She had never spoken to an alien before, and she was not sure how to react. Zor seemed friendly enough, but she was still wary.

“I see that you are not interested in studying,” said Zor, as if reading her thoughts. “May I ask why?”

“I don’t know,” replied Riya, shrugging. “It’s just not my thing, I guess.”

Zor looked at her intently. “Do you know that learning is the most valuable thing in the universe? It is the key to unlocking your full potential and discovering new worlds.”

Riya was intrigued. She had never thought of learning in this way before. Zor went on to tell her about his own planet, where every citizen was encouraged to learn and grow, and where the pursuit of knowledge was the highest goal.

As Zor spoke, Riya felt a spark of inspiration igniting within her. She realized that there was so much she did not know about the world, and that learning could be a gateway to a new and exciting life.

After that encounter, Riya began to take her studies more seriously. She started reading books, watching documentaries, and taking online courses. She discovered a passion for animation and began creating her own short films.

Years passed, and Riya went on to become a successful animator. She credited her love for learning to that chance encounter with Zor, the alien disguised as a human. Though she never saw him again, she knew that he had changed her life forever.

– Shailaza Singh