Beyond Virus

The Infinite medical center in Yester island. The center was bustling  with activity as usual. The Chief Doctor Arundale was in his room.

Shrring! Shrring! Dr. Sim lifted the receiver. “Dr. Sim here.”

“Dr. Viggs from intensive care unit. A woman has been admitted minutes ago. Her condition appears strange. Kindly come over here.” Replacing the receiver, he hurtled out of his room. As he raced down the corridor, his gut feeling told him the event he was looking forward to all these days was going to materialize that day. He quickened his steps and reached the ICU.

An old woman was lying on the bed.

“What happened to this old woman?’

“You don’t remember, Sir? She was a bar-maid at the Palace Hotel.” Dr.Viggs said.

“What? I asked what happened to her?”

“You called her old woman. If I tell you then you will understand. She was the star attraction at the Palace Hotel. The great Sunanda.”

“Sunanda?!.”

“Yeah! Sunanda it is.”

“Oh!.”

Now Dr. Sim had a close look at the woman. Is this Sunanda? Only two weeks back he saw her at the Palace Hotel. How young and  ravishing beauty she was then! Is this the same dream girl with pouting lips and floating blue eyes... The heart-throb of the Hotel’s customers. He looked at the woman once more. How flesh wrinkled and folded she was… No. Sunanda is not an old woman for sure. She seemed to have aged overnight. Whatever happened to her?

He glanced at Dr. Viggs.

“It is AIDS again.” Dr. Viggs said curly.

“AIDS?” This could not be.”

“Then? She has aged barely in two weeks. You have any clues?’

Dr. Sim laughed within himself. If he told anything to Dr. Viggs he would be at a loss to understand. He was sure that this was what he was waiting for all these days. Better tell him later.

“OK. Take it as AIDS itself. AIDS will age her this fast? Have u drawn the blood sample?’

“Of course, I have drawn a sample. Here it is.”

Dr. Viggs handed a vial and Dr Sim took it.

“O.K. I “ll test it in  my lab.”

He left for the lab.