Love, How does it feel?

• 5

Shruti

Kunal Sir handed us a sample of a synthetic bacteria to be cultured. As we, the biology department, were on it, the chemistry department was on a mission to do the chemical analysis of the soil sample of the moon.

We had no idea, what the physics and mathematics department was up to!

It's been two days since the commencement of the research work. The first day simply went on discussing various theories which could possibly be our presentation theme on the Royal Science Exhibition.

Then, we've been engaged in experimentations as guided by our team leaders.

I was about to keep the chemically treated sample of bacteria in the liquid nitrogen when I heard a voice behind me.

"Switch it off, before you keep it in."

It was Sidharth Sir. I nodded, following his instructions.

I switched the device off as I went towards the huge white drums containing liquid nitrogen at almost -196 degree Celsius.

I shivered as Sidharth Sir came behind me to adjust my glass shield and mask along with his own as he put on his rubber gloves to put up the container there to me to place the cultured bacteria in it.

"Thank you sir." I whispered as he switched on the device as fumes of white smokes surrounded nearby.

"Fine. Get back to work." I nodded at his words.

"Sid, come over, please." I heard the voice of Kavya ma'am calling him as he excused himself to stride away.

I saw him helping her in operating the electrophoresis as she busied herself in calculating the gradient pressure of another experiment. Their voices were a little audible as they both joked around and laughed during the work procedures.

"Shruti, what's the progress?" Kunal sir brought me out of my reverie.

"Just testing the cold tolerance of the synthetic bacteria, sir. Then, we will be ready to predict the nature of the specimen." I answered back as he nodded, going back to Sidharth sir.

I walked to Swetha, who was busy running a titration process to get the desired molarity of the solution for our next testing.

"Is it done?" I nudged her.

"Almost." I nodded and got to help her.

My timer buzzed as I straightened my face shield and went to the device to retrieve the sample.

"Wait. Let me help you." Kavya mam walked towards me as she switched off the device.

"See carefully." She instructed as she retrieved the sample with two tongs from a flat metal band between the device, handling it with care.

"Place it here." Sidharth sir instructed her as he came with a hard slimy slab, where Swetha dropped some drops of the solution through a dripper along with Kunal Sir.

"Invert the culture sample and leave it." Kavya ma'am did as Sidharth Sir instructed.

"Shruti" My throat went dry as Sidharth Sir called out my name. My hazel eyes met his oynx orbs as he gestured for me to follow him.

"It's here. Set a timer of eight minutes. Then, take a sample from this slab and review it under the electron microscope." I hummed at his orders as he placed the slab under the ultraviolet radiations to curb any chances of the growth of any unwanted pathogenic bacteria.

"Call me or any seniors in case you need help. Is it understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, then." He nodded as he left to check his team's progress.