Check if you've read previous update. (Unedited)

Sidharth sat on the chair with his head down for sometime and then glanced at the aquarium. Flora was still standing or rather floating near the glass with her palms pressed against glass. Her face showed the sorrow and agony she went through being imprisoned.

For the first time his heart wrenched for his subject of experiment or research. He felt horrible and hated himself for choosing this as his career.

Woh ek insaan hai, bhale hi aadhi par hai toh bilkul apne jaisi. Aise kaise hum insaan itne khudhgarz ho sakte hai? Uske liye yeh lab ek jail se kam nahi hai. Uska jurm yeh hai ki woh insaano ki duniya mein nahi rehti aur ek alag duniya se belong karti hai.

He kept observing her as she swam to the big rock and sat on it. She dug her head in between her hand.

She was lonely and missing her home. The concept of capturing and imprisoning was new to her. She had been a free mermaid who explored in deep sea waters, eating delicious sea herbs and plants, collecting shells and pearls, making it's ornaments and adorning it on her body. She was the prettiest mermaid in her flock. The mermans (male species) felt attracted to her and often tried to seduce her but she was always protected by her father.

Sidharth looked at the little detail about her in the form of report written at the time she was captured.

He saw someone walking into the lab. It was his boss followed by another young nerdy looking lad.

"So Sidharth, how is everything? Where is she?", He inquired.

Sidharth pointed his finger at the aquarium.

"Hmmm.. she is a fine piece of art. Look Sidharth, you've got a golden opportunity to work on this project. Lot of your other colleagues wanted to work on this but looking at your previous achievements, we've given you this opportunity. There is no tight deadline for this project. Take it slow and be very careful. Government is taking a keen interest in it and all other foreign nations are also having all ears and eyes on us. We cannot do any mistake or compromises on this project. She is like a priced possession and pride of our nation right now.", His boss went on barking a monologue speech.

"I understand", said Sidharth.

"First few weeks she is supposed to be only observed on how and what all she does. We need to check if she has the capacity to harm someone or could cause any probably danger if she was touched by someone. After taming her, we will then move on to study her body and it's functions inside out. The structure, cells, blood, bones, tissues etc. Using anything from our findings, we can serve our humanity. It is a long term project.", He sets out the plan which Sidharth had to work on.

"Yes, will follow all the protocols.", Said Sidharth.

Serving humanity by being inhumane to other species.. the kind of human we are.. huh!!

"He is Keshov Basu, Junior scientists. He will assist you in this project going forward. Keshov, he is Sidharth, your supervisor." Introduces the boss.

They both handshake. The boss was about to exit when he turns around and informs him something.

"Sidharth tumhe burden na ho issiliye tumhara dusra project hum Nagraj ko de rahe hai.", Said the boss

"What? Sir, maine pure 2 saal uspe mehnat kiya hai aur it is at the completion stage. Presentations bhi ready kar chuka hoon to address the crowd in 15 days. Isse toh woh mere hisse ka credit le jaayega.", Sidharth cried.

"Right now project Flora is more important for you. Waise bhi tumne pehle bhi kabhi koi presentation nahi kiya hai. Hamesha Nagraj hi karta aa raha hai.", Says the boss.

"Haan, pehle karta tha kyuki woh aur main ek team mein the. Aur harr bar pura credit akele leta tha. Iss baar maine 2 saal akele yeh project handle kiya hai aur bina kuch kiye woh kaise akele sab credit le lega? Isn't it unfair with me?", Asks Sidharth.

"Sidharth, concentrate on important task. Stop crying over small issues. Aage badhna hai toh you have to adjust. Ab waise bhi aise muh leke presentation doge toh logon ki concentration tumhare chehre par jyada hogi aur tumhari 2 saal ki mehnat barbaad ho jaayegi. Think of humanity.", Says his boss and leaves.

Sidharth feels insulted infront of his junior.

"Sir, hum toilet jaake aata hai", Keshov excuses as it was awkward. Sidharth nods with his head down, firming his grip on the backrest of his revolving chair. As soon as Keshov exits the lab, he punches the headrest with another hand in frustration and shrieks loudly in agony.

Flora lifts her head and looks at him puzzled unable to understand anything which went inside the lab. She approached closer to the glass and looked at him. She could only know that he was in pain and for the pure soul she was she was concerned for him genuinely.

"Har baar har koi aake mere chehre ka insult kar deta hai. Professionally jawab nahi de paate toh personal attack kar dete hai. Sab jaante hai mera confidence chahe jitna try kar lo, mere chehre ke wajah se down hota hai. (Punches the backrest again) Do saal khaana peena sona sab choddke mehnat kiya tha maine.. kisi aur ko de diya aur yeh sab.. (he looks at her) sab tumhari wajah se hua..", he says with gritted teeth and throws a little cushion kept on the chair towards her.

The cushion hits the glass exactly where she stood and falls down but Flora was startled and frightened. She moves back and bangs her head onto the opposite wall of the aquarium. Sidharth continues cursing her without looking at her as his sight was fixated at the chair infront of him.

"Agar tum goom hoke idhar na aati toh shayad meri project usko nahi jaati. Itne saal toh tumhari prajaati ek imaginary species thi.. abhi bhi rehti, kisi ko kya farak padhta tumhare existence se yaha? But jab mil gayi ho toh sabko bahut farak padh raha hai. Priced possession and pride.. my foot!!", He lifts his head and looks at her. She was floating in water without any movement, her eyes shut.

He runs closer to the aquarium and observes her.

"Hey.. hey.. kya hua tumhe?", He panics. He pulls the wheeled ladder close to the aquarium. He climbs up and without giving a second thought about any possible harm to him, he jumps into the aquarium.

He swims close to her and holds her. He holds her cheeks and pats it to wake her but she doesn't move. His was running out of breath so he swims upward and gasps for oxygen.

He goes inside again and takes her wrist in his hand to check her pulse rate. It was working, he pats her cheeks again but she doesn't move. He swims up again to catch a breath and when he goes down again she opens her eyes. Looking at him so close to her she gets scared and swims far from him in fear. She runs and hides behind the rock. She sneaks a peek at him from behind the rock and he holds his ears in both his hand to apologize. Though she doesn't understand the hand gesture, his face gave her the sense of him feeling sorry for his act.

Sidharth swims up as he was again running out of breath. Keshov walks in and panics to find Sidharth inside the aquarium.

"Udi Babaa.. Sir.. Sir.. Aap andor kaise gire.. jalpadi khaatega toh?", He speaks in Bong accent.

"Mujhe apna haath do bahar aane ke liye..", says Sidharth. Keshov nods and climbs up the ladder and supports Sidharth to climb out of the aquarium.

"Oosne aapko khaata toh nai? Tetonus injection logana podhega..", says Keshov.

"Nahi Keshov, I am fine.", Sidharth says wiping his face with a tissue paper.

"I need to change, I'll grab my gym clothes. Don't allow anyone to enter the lab.", He instructs and goes out.
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Sidharth returns and finds Keshov sketching Flora.

"Nice sketch. You seem to be very talented.", Says Sidharth looking at the sketch from behind

Keshov giggles funnily and pushes his spectacles.

"Ek baat batao Keshov. Tumhe mujhe dekh ke darr ya uncomfortable feel nahi hota kya?", Sidharth asks.

"Noi Sir, mera sister acid attack victim hai.. mujhe pota hai aapka problem.", Says Keshov emotionally.

"Hmmm.. I am sorry!", Says Sidharth.

"It's olright sir.", Says Keshov with a nerdy smile.

Sidharth looks at the time. It was approaching lunch break. It had been 12 hours since she was captivated but there were no mentions of her eating something. He wondered what she ate.

"Kya hua sir? What are you thinking?", Keshov asks

"I am thinking what does she eat?", Says Sidharth pointing his finger at Flora.

"Fish food? She looks like fish..", Keshov suggests.

"Hmm.. or may be fish itself.", Says Sidharth.

"Omago!! I love maacher too.. I can share my tiffin with her. I've got rice and maacher jhol (fish curry) today for lunch.", says Keshov.

Sidharth looks at him in an unamused expression and nods his head in disbelief.

"She wouldn't have eaten maacher jhol in sea before. I was talking about raw fish. Or may be sea weeds. Yeah.. Keshov go and get both and let's see what she chooses.", Sidharth says.

"Okay Sir", Keshov nods his head and goes out.

Sidharth goes closer to the glass and looks at her. She sat alone on the rock and looked at him.

"Bhook lagi haina? Tum kya khaati ho pata nahi par aaj shayad pata chal jayega.. kal se problem nahi hogi..", he speaks touching his stomach and caressing it.

She looks at his lips moving unable to understand what he was speaking though. She touches her belly and caresses it. She had a perfect hour glass shaped body. He chuckles.

"Tum bahut smart ho. Tumhe dekh ke lagta hai tum kisi sumundar ke raja ki beti ho. Itni sundar ho.. tumhare pita ko tumhare upar bahut naaz hoga na? Yeh Flora naam dusron ke liye thik hai, mere liye tum 'Shehnaaz' ho.. main tumhe Shehnaaz bulaunga.. Shehensahon ka naaz, Shehnaaz.", He says with a smile.

She flaps her eyelashes and tilts her head looking at him just like a Barbie doll.

"Oh Lovely Eyes!!", He says with a smile while blinking his eyelashes just like her.

Though his language doesn't make sense to her, a slight blush appears on her cheeks.

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To be continued.. ❤️❤️

Mermaids are pure imaginary so there is nothing right or wrong in depicting her the way I want. Kisi ne kuch nahi bola abhi tak aur aage bhi logical reasoning mat leke aana ispe please.. kyuki iski koi logic nahi hai.. ☺️☺️🤪🤪

Just enjoy the story as it is.. 😘😘😘