The Amnesiac! (Part V)

I wrote this story, The Amnesiac! (Part V), in the 1990s for an educational course, I was taking then. Here’s the updated story.

The Amnesiac! (Part V)

“But I will not stay with you in one room,” Radha put her foot down.

“And attract everybody’s attention? No, Ma’am,” he seemed to be enjoying it. “But you can take the bed. I’ll take the couch, at night.”

He had her in a bad position, but she couldn’t help it, could she? Radha had to get to the bottom of what had happened to Aakash. She had no other alternative than to comply with her companion’s wishes.

“It’s already dinner time,” said Keshav, looking at his watch. “After food, we will speak to the customers a little about the Sethi Estate.”

Radha made a face and followed him to the restaurant. After a light dinner, they came to the lobby to go to the lawns when a familiar voice called Radha’s name.

“Brahma Bhatt, what a pleasant surprise!”

“Radha, please remember I changed my name a long time ago,” he whispered to her.

“Ok. Vishwa. How’s life?”

“It’s going good. But, why don’t you introduce me to your friend here?”

“I am Keshav,” he extended his hand adding, “her husband.”

“Satyanash!” Radha said in a loud whisper.

“Radha, you’re married?” Vishwanath asked, quizzically. “I didn’t know that.”

“Me neither… I mean, I just got married. Keshav, will you please excuse me. I want to speak to Vishwa in private for a minute.”

“Ok,” Keshav said slowly looking at Vishwanath head to toe once. “Come back to the room later.”

“Fine…”

“Shouldn’t you be together? Or are you on a case, Radha?”

“Oh, nothing of the sort. I just want to be with you for some time. For a change. I have a few scientific questions for you,” she looked around for a secluded place where nobody would hear them.

“Shoot, I am at your disposal.”

“Vishwa, what does radiation do to our body?”

“Depends on what kind of radiation you are talking about. There are several types of radiation. UV radiation from sunlight in excess can cause skin cancer.”

“I am talking about radiation from radioactive elements like uranium.”

“Wow. That’s it. I knew it. It has to be a case. You don’t look like a married couple, too.”

“Vishwa, please answer me. And don’t talk about my marital status,” Radha pleaded.

“Oh. That kind of radiation causes mutations in the cells of your body. It is impossible to predict the direction these mutations may take. It could be cancer. It could cause a super-human being, anything. But this depends on the period and the amount of exposure.”

To be continued…