Page 88 - Majalah Tahunan MEHSSA Edisi Ke-2

“C’mon, man. I’ll tell you something. Before being a friend to you, I was your

boss. I am and will always be your boss. Give up on this project or else I’ll fire
you from your job. You’ve got a family to take care of, remember? A long-gone

father and a housewife. Wouldn’t it be pitiful if the only sole breadwinner of

the family lost his most precious scientist job due to adamancy”.

“Are you threatening me? I’ll go to the cops”.

“Tell them that the prontosil discovery was all yours and I confiscated it from

you? Wake up, Mark. As per se, you just worked for me in this project. I own
the pattern. So, stop creating a fuss. All you have to do now is work for me

once again on this reincarnation project”.

Having said that, Pragnanth departed from the hall. Enmity ratcheted up a

notch in my face. Soon, my thoughts of the past came to present.

The once brightly lit sky was completely patched up by slate-grey clouds. I

headed home, heavy-heartedly. Upon reaching home, I came to know that my
neighbour, Jessie was there too. Holding back my somber face, I promptly

strode upstairs.

“Layla, is anything the matter between you and Mark? He looks so...

melancholic?”

“Nothing, Jessie. Mark mourns upon Pragnanth’s passing. He’s the closest

friend Mark has ever had. Unfortunately, he died, succumbing to Parkinson’s
10 days ago.

“What happened to him?”

“A year ago, Pragnanth and Mark worked together on a project. They created
a serum that retrieved memories of past lives. Since human testing was

prohibited, admitting to the risk of the serum, Pragnanth tested it on himself.

It worked. However, that serum adversely led to Parkinson’s. He then, died.
Mark felt guilty about it. Ever since then, he quitted his job and alienated

himself”.

8 5