Chapter 1

One more beautiful day of spring, Sylvia looked ahead through the open windows of the Virology laboratory. She can see the top layers of the tall neem trees swaying in the morning breeze. Love song of a koel echoed through the sky and made every one grin with a happy smile. It looked like informing every one around that spring is the time to love and rejoice.

Sylvia joined there as a Secretary only three days ago. Initially she found the people there a bit indifferent who did not accept her into their company. Once the work schedule got tightened, she rarely got the time to think about it and she was caged inside her room and started to enjoy the sole company of her ‘computer’.

The room where she worked had a window high near the ceiling. Only streaks of light peeped in through the closed glass windows. The door to the room was always closed as she always typed confidential documents or letter. Once she was inside the room, the whole world was shut.

Sylvia learned to respect the company of her computer and she soon found out that machines are better than the ungrateful people around her.

***

One afternoon around 3 pm, Sylvia was listening to the song of the koel from the Virology lab. Research scholars were as usual busy with their schedules. Suddenly peels of laughter filled the room. Sylvia smiled at the laughing young girls.

“Can I join you there?”

“Yes.” One of them replied and continued with her laugh.

Sylvia walked to the wash basin. Mona returned her smile and continued to wash her hands. She was sterilizing her hands to take blood from a patient who had come there for screening for viral hepatitis.

“Nothing, Syl. We were just laughing.”

“Oh! Never believe her.” Vandy stamped her feet and pinched Mona teasingly.

“Anything interesting.” Twinkling her eyes, Sylvia looked at Mona. Her eyes shone brightly that gave her intellectual look one more tint. Without any words to tell, Sylvia understood. Mona was in love.

Chapter 2

The Institute was closed for the semester holidays. The department was empty except for the research scholars.

The immunology lab was empty except for the patients who came for their Hepatitis B test. Vandy, Sylvia and Mona completed their lunch without any hurry.

“A surprise”, telling so, Mona took a juice bottle from her bag. “I have brought something to celebrate”

“Is it so?”

“What is it?” Without answering their questions, Mona walked toward the cupboard at the end of the lab. After picking up three paper cups, she returned with a smile.

“What is it? Tell us before you pour into the cups" Vandy enquired.

“Find it out”. Mona filled the cups with the juice. She then added water to the half filled cups.

“Grape juice”, Vandy shouted. “Drink it first”, Mona replied with a twinkle in her eyes. “Three cheers for Mona” laughing aloud, they gulped the juice fast.

After having two cups of grape juice, Vandy and Sylvia started to feel drowsy.

“Mona, what is this, we feel drowsy”.

“Ha, ha, ha” Mona started to laugh. “That’s what I want”.

“Vandy, the grape juice is fermented. It is turning into wine,” Sylvia replied.

Laughter filled the entire dining hall. Mona started to narrate how she and her cousin sister prepared the juice and how she accidentally added an extra pinch of catalyst that helps the juice to stay longer.

*******

On that day, a family had come for their Hepatitis screening. The two little children who were afraid of needles, started to cry aloud. Mona took them near her and started to explain what she will be doing. With their eyes wide open, the kids listened to her narration. While talking to them, Mona took the blood from their father and mother. She asked the eldest kid to come. After seeing her brother not crying, the little girl came forward on her own to Mona.

Chapter 3

“Mona, complete this batch, and get the report ready.” Telling so, Mike left the lab.

“Yes. You can’t even tell that with a smile.” Mona turned her back with a murmur.

“John, have you kept the tips for drying in the hot air oven.” Mona enquired John.

“Yes. They are ready.” John took the sterilized tip box from the hot air oven and gave it to her.

“Where is the micro-tip pipette?” Mona called Vandy.

“Sylvia, can you please pass this on to her?” Sylvia passed the pipette to Mona and sat near her.

Filling the wells in the kit box with the serum separated from the blood taken for screening, Mona started to do her routine work in the lab.

************

Sylvia has learned a lot after joining there. In the Immunology lab, many viral hepatitis research projects were carried out. The opportunity gave Sylvia quality time to learn more about the virus and how viral infection passed from one generation to another. New information about viral research and how the new findings helped the medical fraternity to save the suffering people, made Sylvia feel satisfied.

Every day people came there for their hepatitis screening. Whenever Mona handed over a report that showed the person as positive for hepatitis screening, Mona spoke to the person expalining how to handle things and also the ways to come out of that. Mona always assured the patients, that it is only a temporary phase and they will soon come out of that.

Yet, when a patient hears that he or she has tested positive for hepatitis, the first reaction is shock. It took at least a while for the patient to come back to normal. Many patients preferred Mona because she spoke to them in a softer tone and gave them hope.

“Testing positive for hepatitis is not so serious. You can bring everything into control with your diet and your life style.”

“Phyllanthus amarus is a good herbal medicine. Take them as capsules for a while and come back after three months again to screen your blood.”

“Regular follow-up will help you to come out of this. There is no need to panic.” Mona’s comfortable words made them feel convinced.

Chapter 4

Maintaining tissue culture at the Virology Lab was a routine responsibility. As the Institute was closed for the summer holidays, Mona had to take care of the tissue culture.

Maintaining the tissue culture needed much care. Usually the sample for tissue culture is received from a reputed institute at Pune. The tissue received for growing is actually the kidney cells of a species of a monkey from Africa.

Once the cells successfully started to multiply, the cells are treated with virus particles followed with antibiotics. Maximum care is taken to maintain the cell growth. Every day before checking for the cell growth, the room is sterilized by switching on the UV light. Mona entered the room after that and checked for the cell growth. Mona succeeded at that time. The cells successfully started to multiply, which gave way for further research.

**********

When Mona was successful in cultivating the cell culture, changes happened within her also. Love cells started to grow in her.

Mona was filling the wells of the Elisa kit to do the final batch of tests on the samples collected earlier. It was taking time because she was busy preparing for her Ph.D methodology exams also. Yet, she had to finish the assigned tasks. Mona managed to do things pretty well. Mike always came to her with complaints and blamed her of not getting results within the scheduled time.

Mona could not suppress her tears when Mike sarcastically laughed at her and told her that she should learn to be smart enough to be a research scholar. Richard came to her rescue.

"Mike, I will take care. Please go now"

"Hmm" With a grumble, Mike left the place.

"Leave him, he is always like that. If you have to prepare for your methodology, I can take care of these tests"

"No, thanks" Mona murmured. Let me finish this set first. If you can take care of the next two batches, it will be great for me"

"Sure. Don't worry. I will take care". With a smile Richard left the place.

Chapter 5

A cheerful batch of research scholars and paramedical post-graduate students were on their way to attend a conference at Ooty. Sylvia joined the gang along with Mona, Vandy, Mike, Richard and others. Sylvia had never been to Ooty and it was the first visit for her.

The tickets were booked on a train that traveled till Ooty. The batch planned to get down at Mettupalayam and then board the train that went to Ooty. Sylvia had read about the travel by train to Ooty. The entire group did not sleep till it was 12 am and every one was chatting with one another. The train reached Mettupalayam around 7 am.

To everyone’s disappointment the train to Ooty was cancelled due to technical reasons. With a grudge, they moved out of the railway station to the nearby bus stand and took the bus to Ooty. The entire group could not get the seats in a single bus. So, the group had to split and take different buses to Ooty.

Traveling through the winding roads was also a fun. The younger group who traveled in the bus made use of the moment and cheered whenever the bus took a hairpin bend. The trip was a pleasant and memorable one as Sylvia got the chance to move closer with Mona.

Every one was preparing for their presentation. Research scholars and post graduate students gathered at the lobby of the guest house to rehearse their presentation sessions.

“It is boring.” Mona grumbled with a murmur. “I don’t want to do it once again. I want to go out and see Ooty.”

“Shut up” Vandy shouted at her. “It is very cold now. You can’t go out.”

“No. I want to go.” Mona shouted back. “Syl, will you come with me?”

“Sure.” Sylvia replied with a smile. “Luckily, they didn’t ask you to give a presentation” Mona pulled her out from the crowd.

Ooty was quite chilly as it was November. Yet, Sylvia loved to stroll on the streets of Ooty. Mona and Sylvia walked toward the shopping center. The shopping area was quite warm and Sylvia could not believe she was at Ooty. The buildings provided the warmth and so they did their shopping at peace.

On their way back to the guest house, Mona stopped at a Lord Perumal temple. Sylvia was quite surprised to know that Mona could find a temple at an unknown place. Both of them went to the temple. There was no one at the temple except the priest. It was so calm and soothing to be there.

When Mona stood there praying with her eyes closed, Sylvia wished within her heart that Mona must succeed in everything in her life. Without praying for herself, Sylvia prayed for Mona and could not tell why she prayed for Mona.

Dusk had set in and the street lights were on. The evening walk turned out to be a pleasant one. After sipping a cup of hot tea in a dimly lit tea shop, they walked enjoying the beauty of Ooty.

Chapter 6

Mona and Sylvia reached the guest house around 8 pm. Every one had gone for the dinner and both of them rushed toward the dining room. The entire dining room echoed with cheerful laugh and vibrant talk. The conference organizers arranged for a sightseeing trip and every one there was excited about the trip.

The next morning every one assembled at the portico of the guest house. It was 7 am in the morning and Ooty covered in the mist looked breathtakingly beautiful. After roaming around the botanical garden for a while, the batch walked toward the suicide point. Sylvia had already read about the famous suicide point at Thottapetta peak. They had to take a winding path to reach the place. The rich foliage all along the path with the colorful flowers proved a treat. Mona could not help wondering how people can drastically end their lives while nature smiles at them with its beauty.

**********

The laboratory bustled with activities as the dates were announced for the university practical examinations.

Cleaning, scrubbing and getting ready with the samples for the practical exams went on frantic for a while. Everyone in the lab was busy with something or other.

Preparation of culture medium, serum samples and sterilizing of test tubes and Petri dishes were going on. Mona was helping in the preparation of dilute sulphuric acid. She moved the bottle with concentrated sulphuric acid to the washing sink. With a burette she sucked carefully the sulphuric acid and transferred it into a medium sized bottle.

Mixing the concentrated sulphuric acid with the distilled water needed much care. Finishing her work carefully she pulled out the burette. The burette slipped her hand and hit the mouth of the bottle.

Drops of acid spilled along the sides of the sink. Fumes rose from the concentrated acid from the sink. A few drops of the acid hit her face. Mona closed her eyes immediately. Yet, a few spots splashed on her eye brows.

Rushing to the other washing sink, Mona started to splash cold water on her face and washed her eyes in the running cold water. Shocked by this sudden event, everyone in the laboratory rushed to her side to see what happened. Richard rushed to her with a bunch of tissues and asked Mona to wipe her eyes and face first.

One of the doctors in the department asked Richard to rush to the nearby medical store and get the eye drops. Richard did not know how quickly he came back from the medical store. Richard lifted her face with his right hand and asked her to open her eyes. He applied the eye drops to her eyes and asked her rest for a while, with the eyes closed.

When Mona was able to open her eyes after a while, she thanked Richard with a smile.

“How do you feel now?” Richard asked her with a concern in his voice.

“Feeling better” Mona wiped her tears with the tissue paper.

Mona still could not keep her eyes open continuously.

Someone asked her to blink her eyes for a while. Mona walked toward the adjoining room to take rest.

The incident left her with a shock. Mona could still feel the sudden splash of the acid on her eyebrows. At the same time, Mona could not forget how she felt when Richard lifted her face and tilted the eye drops into her eyes with care.

Mona could feel the palpitation of her heart and the fast dubbing of her heart beat that echoed ‘love is in the air’.

Chapter 7

Everyone has left the lab. Sylvia finished typing the urgent documents and took out the final prints. Sending away the documents for signature, she entered the lonely lab.

No one was there except Mona. She was sitting at the office desk with a worried look.

“Mona, are you still here?”

“Yes”, she replied in a serious tone.

“I am leaving. Shall I come with you till the bus stop?”

“No, Syl. Thanks for asking. I will leave in another fifteen minutes. Don’t wait for me.”

Sylvia took her handbag and left the lab hurriedly as it was already half past six in the evening.

The lonely road from the Institute during evening hours was always scary.

If it is late after seven in the evening, someone from the department always accompanied her till she reached the other end of the road. Wondering what is happening with Mona, Sylvia drove her way back home.

After Sylvia left the lab, Mona sat in the lab for sometime. When she started to pack her things to go home, Richard entered the lab.

“Hi, what are you doing here still?”

“Relaxing”

“It is getting dark. You can go. You can continue the test tomorrow”

“I have completed”

“Then, what is the need to stay late?”

“Let me ask you one thing?”

“Yes” Richard looked at her face with a puzzled look.

“I love you”. Richard’s face changed immediately.

“Are you joking?” Without answering anything he left the lab immediately.

A few minutes later, he returned to the lab with two of his friends. Mike and Tom were along with Richard.

“Hi, Mona, have you lost your sense. What are you blabbering to Richard?” Mike asked with a scorn.

“You need not answer my question. Let Richard answer my question” Mona replied back.

“We are here to reply for him. He doesn’t like the way you spoke to him.”

“Shut up” Mona screamed at Mike. “It is none of your business.”

Within seconds, they were having a heated argument. Unable to suppress her anger, Mona took her hand bag and rushed out of the lab.

Running through the dark steps of the Institute, she could not stop her tears.

When Sylvia came to the lab next day, she started to regret why she left Mona alone the previous day. Somehow the department chief came to know about the things that happened in the lab, and he sent a special instruction to all girls that they should not stay late at the lab and must leave before it was six.

The next thing that shocked Sylvia was the news that Mona had been admitted in the hospital for depression.

Chapter 8

It is one more day in the hot April. The rush of warm air through the windows of the virology laboratory made the place suffocating.

Mona looked at the running distilled water plant. It will take another thirty minutes to collect the required water for the test.

After much struggle Mona succeeded in standardizing the PCR test and she found the strain that affected the liver and caused jaundice.

She did not come to the department for more than 15 days, and her guide asked her to hurry up and submit the synopsis as soon as possible. To forget whatever that had happened, she concentrated on her research project.

Sylvia always accompanied her and never left her alone. Mona came to the department early before anyone turned up and left the department early. Mona never stayed late and she planned her time in a way that did not collide with the timings of Richard and Mike.

To tell the truth, Mona felt literally scared at the sight of Mike.

Mike’s sarcastic smile and looks made her palpitate and she could not avoid feeling dizzy and weak whenever he threw a glance at her.

Richard also avoided Mona totally. The cold war that went on between them wished to prove that the other’s notion is not right.

The Indian beech trees around the campus looked rich with new leaves. Red colored tender leaves covered the whole tree. In the next ten days the trees will be full in bloom. Indian koels will start to sing from those trees. It will be really a treat to listen to the songs of the koels.

One afternoon, Sylvia and Mona sat listening to the love tunes of a male koel from the nearby beech tree.

“It is so sweet” Sylvia looked at Mona with a smile.

“Yes. Lovely.” Thousands of thoughts sparkled within Mona and she let out a sigh of grief.

“It is singing for me. A forlorn love song,” Mona murmured silently.

“Why do you think so? The male bird may be calling his lady love.” Sylvia replied.

“How good it will be if we can express like that bird” Mona added.

“Yes. You can. No one restrict you from doing so.” Sylvia answered back.

“Mona, have you checked the cell culture?” Dr. Vivian called her.

“Yes. Dr. I will check it out”, replying Mona started to move toward the cell culture lab.

It took another 45 minutes for Mona to check the growth of the cell culture. After switching on the UV light for ten minutes, Mona sterilized her hands and went to check the growth of the cells.

A surprise awaited her. The cells showed full growth. She can now start with the next level of her work, infect the cells with the virus and then feed the cells with antibiotics. If the antibiotics stopped the growth of the virus and allowed the cell replication again, the test will turn out to be a success.

“Syl, come here” Mona shouted with joy. The antibiotics had stopped the viral growth and the cells have started to grow again.

“Congrats. Mona you have succeeded.” Mona gave her a broad smile.

Chapter 9

Sylvia searched her bag and took a piece of chocolate.

“Open your mouth.” Sylvia gave the chocolate to Mona. Both were feeling happy as it was a wonderful thing to happen in the life of a researcher.

Most of the research laboratories lacked the basic amenities and all the research scholars had to depend on the labs where they can find the facilities.

Sophisticated instruments are expensive to buy and to get funds for the purchase of instruments was always a lengthy procedure.

Mona was lucky to be in a lab that had sophisticated laboratory equipments. Usually getting the bio-chemicals needed for the sensitive tests took time. As Mona was working in an international collaborative project, her guide could get her the expensive chemicals easily.

The coming days looked bright for Mona. Blooming lilies welcomed her at the entrance of the Institute. The neem trees in the campus have also started to flower.

All the neem trees were covered with full bloom and the perfume from the neem flowers floated around the air.

The neem leaves or the flowers or the neem seeds are bitter to taste. Yet, they all had a cooling effect on the body.
****

Group of friends gathered around the counter at the university. Mona was there to submit her ‘Synopsis’. After she submitted her Synopsis, every one clapped their hands and wished her the best. Mona arranged for a small party at the nearby Aavin parlor to celebrate her submission. The Aavin parlor supplied ice cream, milkshakes and sweets.

Mona got flavored milk and ice cream for every one.

After enjoying the treat, Mona and her friends wanted to take a stroll at the Marina beach that was opposite to the university.

“Hi, what are your plans now,” Sylvia teased Mona.

“Just now I have submitted my synopsis. I must submit my thesis. Then only I can think about the next thing.”

Every one from the department came there to greet Mona, but Mike, Richard and others did not turn up for her submission. Though Mona felt hurt by this gesture, she tried to be cheerful and happy. Sylvia could feel this. Yet, she did not talk about that.

Walking on the sand was really an experience. The cool sea breeze touched every one and made every one feel happy.

Nature can give every one the best soothing experience. It can massage both our mind and body and help us feel healthy. The evening sea breeze did that and made Mona to forget the bitter experiences.

Holding their hands together every one got into the waves. Whenever big waves rolled in and made them completely drenched, every one screamed loudly.

Sitting at the shore, Sylvia watched Mona playing in the waves. Foaming waves of the sea reminded her of the incidents that happened in her life.

With a sigh, Sylvia looked at the horizon. She wished God must help Mona also to come out of all the troubles and be happy.

God had helped Sylvia to come out of all the troubles and move ahead. She wished the same thing to happen to Mona also. 

Chapter 10

Sylvia lost touch with Mona after her synopsis submission. Mona was busy writing her thesis. Her whole concentration was on writing her thesis and get out of the campus as soon as possible. Her visit to the campus made her feel low and depressed. The day for her PhD Viva came.

When Sylvia entered the department, every one was tense. She heard that Mona who came to attend the Viva in the Institute had gone home without informing anyone.

The panel members waited for her to start the Viva. Her guide called her home and found out that she was there. He requested her father to bring her to the department.

When Mona entered the department Richard was there along with his friends. Mike looked really like a devil to Mona. With a sarcastic smile he looked at her.

That smile shattered her nerves and Mona started to feel jittery. Sylvia understood her situation yet could not go and ask Mike and others why they made her feel so.

After successful completion of viva, Mona joined as a research assistant in a famous eye hospital. Sylvia could not see her often.

Mona’s friends who were still doing their research program at the Institute shared news about Mona with Sylvia.

Sylvia’s moods were not good. She could feel some uneasiness all the day around. Her right eye palpitated all the day around for more than six months. Sylvia predicted that as a bad omen and constantly prayed for her near and dear ones. In her heart she can feel something bad is going to happen.

One day when Sylvia rang up to Mona to talk, she refused to talk.

“Hi, Mona, how are you?”

“Hmm. Good” Mona replied in an indifferent tone. Sylvia could not guess what was going on in Mona’s mind at that time.

For more than fifteen minutes she was on the phone. But Mona did not reply even a single word.

“Ok. If you need any help, please call me. I will do any help you need.” With this promise Sylvia put down the receiver.

Sylvia asked her friends what has happened to Mona. Yet, she could not talk to them in detail as they were always busy or crowded with other people in the department.

Without knowing anything in detail, one morning when Sylvia turned up at the department, shocking news awaited her.

Richard with a grim face informed her that Mona committed suicide the day before in the evening and she was no more.

Sylvia could not suppress her tears. Palpitation in her right eye had stopped and she felt the whole world swirled around her.

Sylvia wanted to have a last glimpse of Mona. She accompanied other people in the lab and went to pay her last tributes to her friend.

Sylvia could see the pressure of last moments of death on Mona's face. Sylvia broke down and cried aloud along with Mona's mother. Sylvia could do only that. 

Impressum

Texte: Kalai Selvi Arivalagan
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 28.11.2009

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Widmung:
My friend Mona, who left the world so early when so much was there to achieve for her.