Arjun’s scalp prickled. He drew blood from the femoral vein and watched it drip into a vial—it was unnaturally bright red, almost festive. A spectrophotometer confirmed it: 68% carboxyhemoglobin.
Dr. Arjun Nair pressed his palm against the chilled steel of the autopsy table. The body beneath the white sheet was that of a 23-year-old woman, brought in at 2 a.m. — “unexplained sudden death,” the police report read.
Carbon monoxide , whispered the voice of the textbook in his head. Forms carboxyhemoglobin. Gives blood and tissues a characteristic cherry-red hue. Forensic Medicine And Toxicology Ignatius. P. C Pdf
The constable flipped through his notes. “No, sir. Ceiling fan. Sealed windows. No burns, no smoke.”
He called the investigating officer. “Check her workplace. Auto garage, printing press, or furniture refinishing. Look for an open can of paint stripper.” Arjun’s scalp prickled
The case was closed. Not murder. Not suicide. An industrial accident written in the color of her blood.
But there was no source of carbon monoxide. — “unexplained sudden death,” the police report read
Her name was Kavya. And her lips were a perfect, cherry-pink.