The hum of fluorescent lights filled the sterile air of the Manipur University biology lab, their white glow illuminating rows of equipment. Test tubes clinked as they were placed into racks, beakers bubbled with curious concoctions, and in the far corner of the lab, Ajit Singh, a first-year postgraduate student, was meticulously jotting down notes.
Ajit\u2019s brow furrowed as he adjusted the position of a glass terrarium in front of him. Inside, a sleek, black-and-green snake coiled lazily, its eyes glinting with an unsettling intelligence. The label on the terrarium read: Naja Radiata – Experimental Subject.
\u201cCareful with that, Ajit,\u201d said Dr. Prakash, the professor overseeing the experiment. He adjusted his glasses and peered over his clipboard. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just any snake. Its venom is infused with radioactive isotopes. It\u2019s volatile\u2014one mistake, and\u2026\u201d
Ajit grinned nervously, holding up a hand. \u201cGot it, Professor. Handle with care. No sudden movements. Trust me, I\u2019m good with this stuff.\u201d
From across the room, a voice chimed in, dripping with sarcasm. \u201cYeah, that\u2019s what you said before spilling a Petri dish full of E. coli last week.\u201d
Ajit turned to see Rajesh, his roommate and self-proclaimed lab critic, lounging near the door with a half-eaten samosa in hand.
\u201cRajesh,\u201d Ajit shot back, \u201cmaybe stick to your snacks and let the professionals work, huh?\u201d
Rajesh smirked. \u201cJust saying. One bite from that thing, and you\u2019re going to need more than a band-aid.\u201d
Ajit rolled his eyes and returned to his task. The snake slithered to the edge of the glass, flicking its tongue as if mocking him.
\u201cAll right, let\u2019s secure this sample,\u201d Ajit muttered, carefully lifting the lid to insert a small sensor.
But as the lid shifted, the snake moved with blinding speed.
\u201cWhoa!\u201d Ajit jerked back, his heart leaping into his throat.
The snake struck.
Its fangs sank into his hand before he could react, the sharp pain like needles piercing his skin. Ajit gasped, stumbling back and knocking over a tray of equipment.
\u201cAjit!\u201d Dr. Prakash shouted, rushing forward.
The snake darted out of the terrarium, slithering across the floor and disappearing into the shadows before anyone could stop it.
Rajesh\u2019s samosa hit the floor as he stared, wide-eyed. \u201cOh man\u2026 that thing bit you!\u201d
\u201cI\u2026 I\u2019m fine,\u201d Ajit stammered, clutching his hand. But his vision blurred, and a strange warmth spread from the bite, coursing through his veins like liquid fire.
\u201cYou don\u2019t look fine,\u201d Rajesh said, his voice tinged with panic. \u201cYou look like you\u2019re about to keel over.\u201d
Ajit swayed, his knees buckling as Dr. Prakash caught him. \u201cWe need to get him to the infirmary\u2014now!\u201d
As Rajesh and the professor helped Ajit out of the lab, the snake watched from the shadows, its unblinking eyes glinting eerily before it vanished into the darkness.
The infirmary bed creaked as Ajit Singh stirred, his body drenched in sweat. Outside the small, sterile room, the faint hum of evening traffic drifted through an open window. The bite on his hand pulsed like a drumbeat, its edges faintly swollen and marked with two deep punctures.
Ajit groaned, lifting his head as the world around him wobbled like a heat haze. \u201cRajesh\u2026 where\u2019s Rajesh?\u201d
\u201cRight here, buddy,\u201d Rajesh said, leaning over the bed with a mixture of worry and forced bravado. \u201cYou look like you just wrestled a truck\u2014and lost. You okay?\u201d
\u201cDo I\u2026 look okay?\u201d Ajit muttered, his voice hoarse.
Rajesh tilted his head. \u201cHonestly? You\u2019re about three shades away from zombie territory. What did that snake have for lunch, plutonium?\u201d
Ajit tried to laugh, but the sound came out more like a wheeze. He shifted, and the room spun. \u201cWhat did\u2026 what did Dr. Prakash say?\u201d
\u201cNot much,\u201d Rajesh replied. \u201cHe called the hospital, but they\u2019re all tied up because of that festival accident downtown. Told me to keep an eye on you until they get here.\u201d
Ajit sank back into the pillow, his eyelids heavy. His skin burned, but underneath the pain was something else\u2014a strange, buzzing awareness. It wasn\u2019t just his fever making his senses sharper; it was as if he could hear every rustle of fabric, every shift of Rajesh\u2019s weight on the chair beside him.
\u201cWhat time is it?\u201d Ajit asked, his voice faint.
\u201cPast eight,\u201d Rajesh said, gesturing toward the clock. \u201cBut who cares about the time? What\u2019s important is making sure you don\u2019t start sprouting scales or something.\u201d
Ajit closed his eyes, focusing on the sensations coursing through him. His hands tingled, and his legs felt coiled, tense, like a spring waiting to uncoil. He felt a flutter in his chest, like his heart was beating twice as fast\u2014or maybe twice as hard.
And then it happened.
The smell of hand sanitizer hit his nose like a slap, sharp and overwhelming. The fluorescent lights above seemed to buzz louder, each flicker of the bulb like a gunshot in his ears.
\u201cRajesh,\u201d Ajit said, his voice trembling. \u201cSomething\u2019s\u2026 wrong. I can feel everything. The lights\u2026 the smell\u2026\u201d
Rajesh frowned, leaning closer. \u201cWhat do you mean, feel everything? Like, you\u2019re hyper-aware?\u201d
Ajit nodded, clutching his blanket. \u201cIt\u2019s like the world just turned the volume up to eleven.\u201d
Rajesh tilted his head, curious. \u201cHuh. So you\u2019ve got super-senses now? What else? Can you taste the air or something?\u201d
Ajit tried to sit up but stopped short as his muscles spasmed violently. His arms jerked involuntarily, and for a brief moment, he felt something slithering under his skin\u2014a rippling motion that sent a jolt of terror through him.
\u201cWhat the\u2014\u201d Ajit gasped, his breathing quick and shallow.
Rajesh jumped to his feet. \u201cOkay, that\u2019s definitely not normal. You want me to get Dr. Prakash back here?\u201d
\u201cNo!\u201d Ajit said sharply, his voice louder than he intended. He took a shaky breath, trying to calm the storm inside him. \u201cJust\u2026 just give me a minute.\u201d
Rajesh hesitated, then sank back into his chair, his eyes darting nervously to the bite mark on Ajit\u2019s hand. \u201cFine. But if you start turning into some snake-dude hybrid, I\u2019m calling Animal Control.\u201d
Ajit groaned, covering his face with his hands. The burning in his body hadn\u2019t stopped, but now it felt different\u2014less like pain and more like potential.
As the minutes ticked by, he couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted inside him. Whatever the snake had done, it was just the beginning.
The first thing Ajit noticed when he woke up was the silence. The droning hum of fluorescent lights and the faint clatter of the university infirmary were gone. Instead, he was in his dorm room, lying flat on his bed. The events of the previous night came rushing back\u2014the snake bite, the fever, the strange sensations coursing through his body.
\u201cRajesh?\u201d he called weakly, sitting up. His body felt different, lighter but taut, like his muscles had been rewired overnight.
He swung his legs off the bed and stood, wobbling slightly. His hand throbbed faintly where the snake had bitten him, but the pain was dull now, replaced by an odd tingling that radiated up his arm.
The room was eerily quiet. Rajesh\u2019s desk was a cluttered mess, his backpack slung lazily over his chair, but his bed was empty.
Ajit sighed, his gaze drifting to the window. As he moved, his senses sharpened again, just like they had in the infirmary. The sound of footsteps outside the dorm sounded unnaturally loud. He could hear the faint rustle of leaves outside, feel the subtle vibrations of someone walking down the hallway.
\u201cWhat is happening to me?\u201d he muttered, rubbing his temples.
As he reached for his water bottle, his fingers brushed the edge of the desk, and something remarkable happened.
His palm stuck.
\u201cWait\u2014what?\u201d Ajit pulled, but his hand didn\u2019t budge. The surface of his skin adhered to the desk like glue. Panicking, he yanked harder, stumbling backward as his hand finally came free.
\u201cOkay, that\u2019s weird,\u201d he muttered, flexing his fingers.
Before he could process what had just happened, another sensation coursed through him\u2014an itch, deep and insistent, that spread through his right arm. He clutched at it instinctively, only for his skin to ripple beneath his fingers.
Ajit froze, staring in horror as his forearm began to change. The skin darkened, shifting to a sleek, scaly texture. His fingers elongated slightly, and his nails sharpened to faint points.
\u201cOh no,\u201d Ajit whispered. He staggered back, bumping into the wall. His arm was no longer human\u2014it was snake-like, flexible and alien, the scales catching the dim light of the room.
And then, just as suddenly as it had started, the transformation reversed. The scales faded, his fingers shortened, and his arm returned to normal.
\u201cWhat\u2026 what was that?\u201d Ajit said aloud, his voice trembling. He flexed his arm, half-expecting it to morph again, but it didn\u2019t.
A knock at the door snapped him out of his panic.
\u201cAjit? You awake?\u201d
It was Rajesh.
\u201cYeah, uh\u2014give me a second!\u201d Ajit shouted, his voice cracking. He quickly examined himself in the mirror, ensuring there were no lingering scales or signs of transformation. Satisfied that he looked normal, he opened the door.
Rajesh strolled in, a steaming cup of chai in one hand and a newspaper in the other. \u201cYou look better,\u201d he said, eyeing Ajit up and down. \u201cYou\u2019re not, like, sprouting fangs or anything, are you?\u201d
Ajit forced a laugh, shoving his hands into his pockets. \u201cNope. All good.\u201d
\u201cGood, because the last thing I need is to explain to your mom why her son turned into a snake. Anyway, check this out.\u201d
He tossed the newspaper onto the desk, the bold headline immediately catching Ajit\u2019s eye: Rogue Snake Escapes Lab: Is the University Safe?
\u201cGreat,\u201d Ajit muttered. \u201cI\u2019m a headline.\u201d
Rajesh grinned. \u201cRelax. It\u2019s not about you. But seriously, that snake is still out there. Maybe it\u2019s radioactive venom is\u2014what\u2019s the word? Mutating people or something?\u201d
Ajit stiffened, his mind flashing back to the transformation he\u2019d just experienced. \u201cThat\u2019s ridiculous,\u201d he said quickly.
Rajesh squinted at him, then shrugged. \u201cIf you say so. Anyway, I\u2019m off to grab some breakfast. You coming?\u201d
Ajit shook his head. \u201cNot hungry. I\u2019ll catch up later.\u201d
Rajesh gave him a thumbs-up and left, the door clicking shut behind him.
Ajit exhaled, his shoulders slumping. He looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers again. Whatever was happening to him, it wasn\u2019t over\u2014and he needed answers.
By the time evening rolled around, Rajesh was back in the dorm room, sprawled on his bed with his headphones on. The faint buzz of music leaked out as he flipped through his notes half-heartedly, his phone lighting up every few seconds with new notifications.
Across the room, Ajit Singh sat at his desk, staring blankly at his notebook. The pages were filled with equations and scribbles from the day\u2019s lectures, but the words blurred together, meaningless against the whirlwind of thoughts in his head.
\u201cYou\u2019ve been weird all day,\u201d Rajesh said suddenly, pulling off his headphones. He rolled onto his side, propping his head up with his hand. \u201cWhat\u2019s up? Snake bite still bothering you?\u201d
Ajit\u2019s fingers tightened around his pen. \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d he said quickly, a little too quickly.
Rajesh raised an eyebrow. \u201cYou sure? Because you didn\u2019t touch your lunch, you skipped the group study session, and you\u2019ve been staring at that notebook like it owes you money.\u201d
\u201cI said I\u2019m fine,\u201d Ajit snapped, then immediately winced at the harshness in his tone. \u201cSorry. I just\u2026 didn\u2019t sleep well last night.\u201d
Rajesh sat up, crossing his legs. \u201cYou\u2019re not telling me everything.\u201d
Ajit froze, his pen hovering over the page. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\u201cI mean,\u201d Rajesh said, leaning forward conspiratorially, \u201cyou\u2019ve been acting jumpy ever since that snake bite. And don\u2019t think I didn\u2019t notice how you almost ripped the handle off the fridge this morning. What\u2019s going on?\u201d
Ajit\u2019s heart raced. He forced a laugh, hoping it sounded convincing. \u201cYou\u2019re imagining things, Rajesh. I\u2019m just a little off, that\u2019s all.\u201d
Rajesh squinted at him, unconvinced. \u201cUh-huh. And the part where you flinched when I walked into the room earlier? Or how you\u2019ve been gripping that pen so hard it\u2019s bending?\u201d
Ajit looked down, realizing with a start that the pen in his hand was indeed bent at an awkward angle. He quickly dropped it, wiping his palms on his jeans. \u201cMust be defective,\u201d he muttered.
Rajesh stood and walked over to him, his expression serious now. \u201cAjit. If something\u2019s wrong, you need to tell me. I\u2019m your roommate, your best friend. Whatever it is, we\u2019ll figure it out. Together.\u201d
Ajit swallowed hard, the words bubbling up in his throat. Part of him wanted to tell Rajesh everything\u2014the bite, the strange changes, the snake-like arm he\u2019d seen earlier. But another part of him hesitated, unsure how much he could trust anyone, even Rajesh, with something so unbelievable.
\u201cIt\u2019s nothing,\u201d Ajit said finally, standing abruptly. \u201cI just need some air.\u201d
Rajesh frowned, stepping back. \u201cOkay, fine. Go brood on the balcony or something. But don\u2019t think this conversation is over.\u201d
Ajit didn\u2019t respond. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door, the tension in his chest easing slightly as he stepped out into the cool evening air.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n
Outside, the campus was alive with activity. Students chatted in groups, the warm glow of lampposts lighting their faces as they laughed and gestured animatedly. Ajit shoved his hands into his pockets and walked aimlessly, his mind racing.
He could still feel the faint tingle in his arm, the lingering remnants of the transformation he\u2019d experienced earlier. Every sound around him seemed amplified\u2014the rustling leaves, the distant bark of a dog, even the hum of a vending machine by the library.
\u201cI need to figure this out,\u201d Ajit muttered to himself.
He stopped by a row of trees near the edge of campus, the shadows deep and undisturbed. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he extended his hand and focused.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, his skin began to ripple again, the dark green scales emerging as his fingers elongated. The snake-like appendage returned, flexing with a life of its own.
Ajit stared at it, equal parts fascinated and horrified. \u201cWhat am I turning into?\u201d he whispered.
Behind him, a group of students walked by, their laughter echoing through the quiet night. Ajit quickly stuffed his arm back into his jacket, willing the transformation to fade.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n
Back in the dorm, Rajesh was waiting, arms crossed. \u201cFeel better?\u201d
Ajit nodded curtly. \u201cYeah. Just needed some air.\u201d
Rajesh gave him a long, scrutinizing look before sighing. \u201cFine. But if you start hissing in your sleep or shed your skin, you\u2019re going straight to the university lab.\u201d
Ajit chuckled weakly, though his mind was still racing. Whatever was happening to him, he couldn\u2019t hide it forever.
But for now, he\u2019d try.
The bright morning sun spilled into the lecture hall at Manipur University, its rays slicing through the high windows and pooling on the rows of desks. Students shuffled in, their chatter a mix of tired complaints and hurried exchanges about the upcoming midterms.
Ajit sat near the back, slouched in his seat with his hood pulled up. His notebook lay open in front of him, but the pages were blank. His pencil sat idle in his hand as his mind churned with memories of the past few days\u2014the bite, the transformation, the growing awareness of something alien inside him.
\u201cHey.\u201d
Ajit jolted, looking up to see Padmini, her arms crossed and her brow furrowed.
\u201cYou\u2019re in my spot,\u201d she said flatly, gesturing to the desk he occupied.
\u201cOh,\u201d Ajit said, rubbing the back of his neck. \u201cSorry, didn\u2019t realize.\u201d
He moved to the next seat, but Padmini didn\u2019t sit down immediately. Instead, she studied him for a moment, her sharp eyes narrowing. \u201cYou okay? You look like you\u2019ve been hit by a truck.\u201d
\u201cThanks for the compliment,\u201d Ajit muttered, trying to force a smile. \u201cJust tired.\u201d
Padmini didn\u2019t seem convinced, but before she could press further, the professor strode into the room, calling for attention.
\u201cAlright, everyone,\u201d Dr. Meitei said, clapping his hands as he reached the podium. \u201cLet\u2019s get started. Today\u2019s lecture is on the adaptive strategies of venomous snakes in the wild.\u201d
Ajit stiffened at the word \u201csnakes,\u201d his fingers curling instinctively.
\u201cSeriously?\u201d he muttered under his breath.
Padmini glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you? You love this stuff.\u201d
\u201cYeah, sure,\u201d Ajit said, shifting in his seat.
As Dr. Meitei launched into a detailed explanation of snake venom, its composition, and its applications in modern medicine, Ajit\u2019s body began to betray him. His snake sense tingled faintly, the vibrations of every sound around him growing sharper. He could hear the scratch of pens on paper, the subtle rustle of clothing, and the steady hum of the projector.
The words \u201cneurotoxin\u201d and \u201cmuscle paralysis\u201d echoed unnaturally loud in his ears.
Ajit rubbed his temples, trying to drown out the sensory overload.
\u201cHey,\u201d Padmini whispered, leaning closer. \u201cYou sure you\u2019re okay? You\u2019re acting weird.\u201d
\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Ajit hissed, then froze as the word left his mouth. It sounded sharper, harsher\u2014almost like a literal hiss.
Padmini leaned back, her eyes narrowing. \u201cRight. Totally fine.\u201d
Ajit looked down at his hands, willing himself to stay calm. But the sensation in his skin\u2014the faint ripple he now recognized as the precursor to transformation\u2014was back.
\u201cNot now,\u201d he muttered under his breath, clenching his fists.
The professor\u2019s voice pulled him back to reality.
\u201cNow, let\u2019s talk about the Naja Radiata\u2014commonly known as the spectacled cobra. It\u2019s a fascinating species known for its\u2026 Ajit, are you listening?\u201d
All eyes in the room turned to him.
Ajit blinked, realizing Dr. Meitei had been addressing him. \u201cUh\u2026 yeah. Spectacled cobra. Fascinating.\u201d
The professor raised an eyebrow. \u201cGood. Then perhaps you can explain the significance of its hood pattern during defensive behavior?\u201d
Ajit opened his mouth, his mind racing. He knew the answer\u2014he\u2019d read about it a dozen times\u2014but the sensory overload made it impossible to focus.
\u201cIt\u2019s\u2026 uh\u2026\u201d
Before he could finish, the pencil in his hand snapped clean in half.
The sound was sharp and unmistakable.
The entire room went silent as Ajit stared at the broken pieces, his heart pounding.
\u201cEverything okay, Mr. Singh?\u201d Dr. Meitei asked, his tone skeptical.
\u201cYeah, uh\u2026 sorry,\u201d Ajit said quickly, shoving the pieces into his bag. \u201cI\u2019ll\u2026 get a new pencil.\u201d
The professor frowned but resumed his lecture, the murmurs of curious students fading into the background.
Padmini leaned closer, her voice low. \u201cYou\u2019re definitely not fine. What\u2019s going on with you?\u201d
\u201cNothing,\u201d Ajit said, avoiding her gaze.
\u201cSure,\u201d she said, her tone dripping with disbelief.
Ajit sighed, slumping in his seat as the lecture continued. Maintaining normalcy was proving harder than he\u2019d imagined, and he couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that it was only a matter of time before someone\u2014especially Padmini\u2014figured out the truth.<\/p>\r\n
Continue Reading<\/p>\r\n
Next Chapter \u2192<\/a><\/p>\r\n