Part 14- Likely Bargain

"This is not acceptable, you know it's not." Leysa was almost yelling on the phone." Who do they think they are? They think they can govern other lives. They expect all of us to accept their decisions willingly without questioning them. Whatever they do out of a whim, we must oblige to?"

" Leysa, calm down. Perhaps this was not the right time to call, I should have called tomorrow-"

" Oh no, no, no... There is going to be no more calling and dictating. I didn't take you to be a tool in their hands... I am going to be the one who takes the decisions henceforth. I am not discussing it any further." She cut the phone call.

She was burning up. The air around her had gone dry. How can they be so selfish? Why are they treating me and my family with contempt? She went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water, drank it down and sat on the dining room chair. She wiped her face with both hands.

You knew this was going to happen. You knew they would be selecting Vy. First of all, you lost the case against the council, and now you are going to lose your daughter, too. Her conscience was pricking her over and over again. " I cannot let them take her. I have to do something," she mumbled. She called Navil and told him what had occurred.

The next day Leysa called the council hall and asked to meet the elders. She had made up her mind that she would put an end to this, insanity. The elders were making a mockery of her family members as if they didn't consider them sentient beings with emotions and ambitions. As if they were in a circus and had to obey the orders of a ringmaster.

She guessed, when she had called that they had recognised the anger in her tone and agreed to meet her.

Not all of the elders were present at the meeting. Siv Lokesh, Meera Surishi, Siranth Memal and their assistants were present. Leysa was a little relieved to find that Biswa Raj couldn't make it. But he had sent Shanka Bali for the meeting on his behalf.

The meeting took place in the same council hall. But it felt much more vast and open due to the lack of number of people. And Leysa felt exposed and vulnerable. She was accompanied by Navil and Vysna. Aaden had decided to stay with Tashvin at the hospital. Although she had requested both of them not come along, they had seen her agitated and uncomfortable and had decided to accompany her. Navil didn't want her to lose control of her anger again and hurt someone this time.

" This has happened for the first time in the history of the legacy tests that during a training session, a legacy was selected. Leysa your family is truly unique." Siranth said. He was a young man in his early forties, with slick back hair and of confident demeanor.

" Do not try to lure me with flattery, Siranth; it doesn't suit you. There is no glory in calling my family unique. I am rather shocked at the blatant disregard for the rules. The same rules which have been followed for hundreds of years, which held such great importance when I had pleaded for the exemption two months ago. Why are you ready to do away with them now?" Leysa asked.

" That is exactly what I am saying. There is always a first time for something. Your daughter has water as her element. This is unique in itself because we haven't had a water affiliate for the past hundred years. Moreover, your daughter seems to be able to send very powerful waves through her element. We all are very curious about how she would make a great addition to the Parthams. And-"

" That's all she is to you," Leysa interrupted," An experimental addition." She scoffed. " You already treat half humans as an asset. Something to exploit, feelings and emotions hold no importance." The room had begun to heat up.

Siv Lokesh sensed the tension," Leysa, look at it this way. Your kids won't have to compete against each other for the legacy. They would not be giving the tests anymore. It is exactly what you wanted." he said looking at her tilting his head. He had a hint of a smile on his face. And Leysa didn't like it one bit.

" Sir, are you mocking me?" She asked. When he nodded in negation she realised that they had agreed to meet her only to inform her of their decision and were not there to listen to her. Her determination faltered and she looked at Vysna.

Vysna was looking at her with hope. She took a long breath. Hundreds of thoughts were going through her mind. Everything that she had thought of, everything that she had done to keep her kids away from them was going to be fruitless. She had little chance of getting out of this situation unscathed. If she could get out of this situation, which seemed unlikely now, but if she was even a little bit on the better side of things, her family wouldn't have to suffer. She blamed herself for having brought her family in this situation and now she believed that she should be the one getting them out of it.

" Miss Leysa..." a voice interrupted her thoughts," My offer still holds. I have talked about it with all of the elders as well and they have all approved. Your daughter will be accepted with open arms among us and the only thing you have to do is accept this." Shanka Bali said.

Vysna asked," Mom, what is he talking about?"

" He had told us that he would give you a job at his firm or office or something. You won't have to work as an intern or apprentice. You would be working directly as a professional." Navil explained. " I don't know what kind of a job it is though," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

" This is what they do. They paint a beautiful picture and coax you into believing that everything will be hunky-dory. They are very good at it." Leysa blurted.

" Miss Bhaskara, do you think so little of us? What have you got against the constitution of the Parthams? We are here to give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the future of your daughter. Do you truly want to give that away heedlessly?" Meera said calmly.

Leysa was about to lose control of their statements but then Navil spoke out, "Would you all give me and my wife a few minutes to discuss this?"

Siv Lokesh nodded.

He got up from his chair and gestured for Leysa to accompany him out of the council hall.

Vysna sat there awkwardly and fidgeted with her nails.

" How old are you now my dear?" Meera Surishi asked Vysna.

" Um... Ma'am, nineteen," she said and stared at the door of the council hall. She didn't want to talk to them when her parents were not around her. She thought that she might say something inappropriate or anger them and might get into trouble.

" What are your current subjects? Any particular interests you have?" Shanka asked.

" Umm...Sir, I am a science student, I want to pursue archaeology." She was ill at ease and repeatedly looked at the door not wanting to talk more.

" Oh please, don't call me sir. I am Shanka Bali. You would be a perfect fit at my firm, in our restoration team. We are always looking for young and enthusiastic people who also are keen on keeping the traditions intact." He said.

What was taking her parents so long? What were they discussing? Another minute in the room and she would have run out, but then the door opened, and her parents entered.

" You all are right," Leysa said as she sat on the chair. " I have got exactly what I wanted and so, I plan to make the best out of it." She said.

Everyone had a confused look on their faces.

" The biggest thing I dreaded was a separation in my family. One of my children being taken away from me is like letting go of a part of me. And I cannot let that happen." She looked at Navil and smiled. Then looked in the direction of the elders, " I propose a concord," she said with determination.

The elders shared a glance at each other. " What is it?" Meera asked.

" I propose that as you all are disregarding the rules, selecting my daughter without a test, I propose that you let go of the separation rule as well." Her tone was confident.

" What do you mean? Be clear about it, Leysa." Said Siv Lokesh.

" It is simple, Vysna won't be leaving us... You were right, this is exactly what I wanted. What I had pleaded for at the council hall. I don't want separation. She will join you only on one condition, she won't be leaving her family. If you all agree then I am ready to accept your offer." She looked at Vysna, who was now grinning with joy.

The atmosphere in the room changed the assistants started to murmur among themselves. Siv Lokesh cleared his throat and they fell silent.

" This is unheard of. The secrecy of the Partham world is our utmost priority, so letting her live with her family is out of the question." He said his voice cracking with disapproval.

" I don't see any harm in it, Elder Lokesh. Leysa is a pure-blood, and she has been a part of our world for a long time. I didn't have a problem with her initial pleading too. All she was asking at that time was that her child should not be separated and she is asking for the same thing now as well. As for the secrecy code, we can get a contract done, which will make them, her, and her family liable to oblige to the code. If any of her family members break the code. We will take action, legally. What do you think Siranth?" She asked, looking at him.

" That is something which will happen for the first time as well. If we agree to it." He shrugged.

" We have to have a thorough discussion about it before we make any decisions," Elder Lokesh said.

All three of them were escorted out of the council hall while the elders had their discussion.

" Who's idea, was it? It was brilliant." Vysna said to them as they waited for the conclusion.

" I saw that they were desperate to have you. So much so that they were ready to ignore the rules as Leysa stated. I figured that it had to do with your water affiliation. That you are a rare case. If they are so desperate then we can put in our terms and see if they agreed to it." Navil said grinning.

" They are looking to exploit your capabilities, and if you are separated, then you will be all alone to fight back. I cannot let that happen. No one is alone in our family. We are always with you." Leysa said, holding her by her shoulder.

They waited in the corridor for about half an hour and then were called inside.

" Very well then Leysa. You have left us with no choice. We agree to your offer. But a legal contract will be formed and you and your family will be bound by the contract. If you all fail to oblige to it there will be severe consequences. If you agree then we will call you all to sign a contract in three days. All your family members are bound to it. " Siv Lokesh said.

Leysa felt a bit of relief. Even if Vysna was going to work for them at least she would be with her family.

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Hello, my beautiful readers ❤️

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