It's irritating to hear the phone ring when you are rushing off to work, especially if it's the landline. It can be infuriating to hear a voice trying to sell or promote something when you pick up the receiver. I've suffered such an experience many a time, so I tend to ignore a call on the landline at such times. But this one sounded different - the ring was the same, it just sounded different to me. I picked up the receiver, more so because I was not rushing to office.

"Hello, this is " The voice was too metallic and jarring. I couldn't get the name. Who, I asked. He didn't bother repeating his name. "I come from another planet far away in the galaxy." Is this some kind of a joke?, I said.

"Listen let me tell you about our planet we used to call home " Enough, I thought. Some idiot somewhere was trying to pull a fast - but silly - one on me. Get lost, I yelled into the mouthpiece. But I couldn't bang down the receiver, for something in the voice made it stick to my ear.