Part 6- The future is waiting

" Please come in, Miss Leysa, have a seat." Biswa Raj said with a grin. But his grin soon disappeared.

" I see that your husband accompanied you. It's against the rules for a human to attend a Partham meeting," he said. Navil looked at Leysa perplexed, she was unshaken by his statement.

His office was large and cold but well-lit. It was posh, the arched windows mimicked the windows of the council hall. He was sitting behind a large dark table made of teak, with a green glass top. Behind him was a painting of a man, who looked familiar. He looked like one of the former Partham elders. But Biswa didn't resemble him.

"Hello Miss Bhaskara, I am Shanka Bali," a man standing near the table said, extending his hand forward to greet her. He looked more like the man in the painting. Leysa shook his hand. He didn't greet Navil.

" I don't think it's appropriate for your husband to be here," Biswa said.

"You didn't specify on the phone that this was a Parthams-only meeting." She said nonchalantly. "And as this is your private office and not the council hall, I guess no rules apply here." She looked at him with a stern face. They gestured for her to sit down. She sat down hoping that they wouldn't notice how nervous she was.

It was against the rules for a human to attend a Partham meeting. The workings of the Partham world should not be disclosed to humans. This meeting, as Shanka Bali had specified, was for discussing the SLTs. So Navil should not have been there. But if Leysa showed any type of fear, she would look weak. And she didn't want to take any chances with Biswa Raj. Even if she had agreed to come and meet them, in her mind anger boiled and that anger would burn Biswa if he crossed her this time.

Biswa didn't say a word, he looked at Shanka and started writing something on a piece of paper. He completely ignored Leysa and pretended to be busy. Shanka, not looking at the paper or Biswa Raj, said. " Miss Leysa, what he said to you at the meeting was out of pure impulse; he is very sorry for his rude comment. He has the utmost respect for you and your husband." His eyes looked unsure but he sounded very confident.

"He doesn't look apologetic," she said and glared at Biswa, who didn't look up from the paper. Despite the calmness in her tone, she was agitated inside. " So why have you called me here?" She asked.

" It's inevitable, your children have to take the legacy tests," Bali said bluntly," and only the best among them will be selected. You wished that your kids should have been exempted, but I think this was an opportunity in disguise. Think about it."

Leysa was confused. What was he trying to deduct from this?

" The best one of your children, whoever succeeds in the test will be the legacy of Aarie Bhaskara. She is legendary." He continued." And I will be honoured to give that child of yours a place at my firm. It is a golden opportunity. What I mean is he or she will have a permanent place in the Partham world. Immediately after they give these tests." said Shanka Bali monotonously, smiling throughout the explanation. The smile looked out of place on his straight pale face. He looked young, about the age of twenty-seven, had a lean build and was wearing spectacles, but he talked with authority. Leysa was unsure of the truth behind the words he said.

Navil looked perplexed. She looked at them with a stern face and said. "Why would you give a commoner, or as you call us, low life, such a place? As you mentioned at the meeting, these tests were traditions. Sacred traditions you might say." narrowing her eyes, her anger now surfacing. Her words made the room warmer.

Biswa stopped writing. He looked at her and said. "Can't you see that you have no choice? Your proposal was cancelled and the elders have already

given their verdict. So it would be better for you if you dare not challenge anyone right now." Shanka held Biswa's hand and patted it twice. Biswa lowered his voice and continued.

" Look Leysa, we are trying to help you. Do not be a fool and ignore this opportunity." He was calm and looked at her with persuasion. " None of the new Parthams this year will get such an opportunity. If any of your children reject this offer, he will have to study at least for two years and work as an intern and then maybe will be able to work at a prestigious office like that of Mr Bali. I mean you have already wasted three years of their lives by petitioning for the exemption."

She narrowed her lips, took a deep breath and said " l cannot say anything about it right now. I will talk about it to my kids and then inform you tomorrow."

" There is no need to ask your children about this, you are a responsible parent to decide for them-,"

Shanka interrupted Biswa and said with a smile, "Okay Miss Bhaskara, as you wish."

"Thank you," she said, they got up and walked towards the door.

"I hope that the answer is positive from them," Shanka said.

Leysa turned her head at him and nodded.

They walked out fast.

"This is good news, isn't it? Is it good news?" Navil asked as they walked out of the building.

"I don't know, my head hurts. Yesterday that man was spiteful and arrogant. And all of sudden he is being all goody two shoes. I cannot get myself to trust him. I can't force myself to believe that he wants to help." She said.

"Just stop for a minute. Is it or is it not a good opportunity." He stopped her and asked looking intensely into her eyes. She stood with a blank expression on her face.

" I have been a part of this world most of my life and I know how all of these people work and behave. There is always a motive behind each of the things that they do. They don't take any futile actions. Everything in each of their lives is calculated. I don't want our kids to be exploited. Not all Parthams are like this but we need to be careful. Our kids are gifted and some people won't think twice before using them for their gains."

" I am completely unaware of the workings of this system. But one thing I am sure of is that things happen for a reason. I am not the 'believer in destiny' kind of guy but in my experience, I think that sometimes we should take things as they come. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe this will change our lives. Do you understand what I mean?" He said.

" Look, dear, if we can't figure it out, we will ask Markand for help; he will surely help us. Even Aaden and Vysna might have some ideas." Navil assured her.

"Hmm... yes you are right we can decide together, I will tell Markand to start their training from Thursday we will see how it goes from there. I cannot take any risks. The more thorough we are, the easier it will be for our kids...I am trying to be positive, I truly am. I tried my best to get the approval. I should have prepared us all for failure as well, it was my fault. Am I foolish to try to find a way out of this? " Leysa lowered her head on Navil's chest and closed her eyes.

"No, you are not. Don't think that way. I am with you, don't worry. We will be able to do something." he put his arms around her and held her.

After they reached home she called up Markand to meet in the evening at their home. Markand stated that the kids should not be present when they discussed the tests. They should be informed only when their training starts. So Leysa told her kids to spend some time outside, either with their friends or at the school library.

Markand came in the evening and they sat at their dining table to discuss.

" Will you please train the kids for the tests? I don't want the trainer that the council has assigned." Leysa said.

" I will see, what I can do. I will apply for mentoring. When does the training begin?" He asked.

" On Thursday," she said.

" That's in three days. I might have to pull some strings in the council office to get this done but I will try my best. Don't worry." He assured her.

" Do you have any idea of the elements of your kids?" he asked.

" No, I never tried to find out. I am sorry, you have to start from scratch. I should have at least known the elements." Leysa said sulking.

"What are the elements?" Navil asked feeling completely left out of the conversation.

" Each Partham born has their element." Leysa said." Their power works the strongest in that element. For example. My element is fire. The wave that I make works best in a hotter environment. It also works vice versa. I can change the temperature of my surroundings using the same but that takes a lot of my energy." She said as she heated the cup of coffee in front of her.

"Oh, I understand now. So all three of our kids have an element. Are they the same element or different.?" He asked.

" It may be the same or each might be different. I don't know how this thing works." Markand said. " Earlier, I used to think that the twins in Parthams had the same elements, but it was not that way. Leysa you know the current Partham elders Meera Surishi and Aveda Gautama."

She nodded in agreement.

"They are twins but their elements are different." He said.

" They are a very rare case I heard. They are half-bloods aren't they?"

"Yes, they are. I wonder how both got selected in the SLTs." Markand said.

"What are you saying?" Navil was shocked.

" Yes, they are a very rare case, recorded occurring only twice in Partham history. I had read about it in the book called Legacy Histories, in the council library when I was researching about the tests " Leysa said.

"Wow fascinating," Navil said.

" And now both of them have been selected as council elders as well. It's such a rarity." Markand added.

" That day, Aveda Gautama was ready to grant the exemption but was persuaded otherwise by Biswa Raj. Oh, I hate that man so much." Leysa said.

"What's done is done dear. You cannot change the past." Navil consoled her. " Now all we have to think of is how to get out of this pickle unscathed."

" True." She agreed.

At night Leysa informed the kids about the training and that, it was vital for them to understand the process thoroughly.

" I will do anything for you, Mom Tashvin said." It's not too much physical labour is it?" He asked, scrunching his nose.

" I don't think so." She said." I have asked Markand to mentor you all. So it all depends on him. He knows more about the tests than I do. He has worked with the council for a long time. He said he will take care of it."

" Do you trust him?" Aaden asked.

"Yes, I do. He has been my friend for a very long time. Or at least till I was a Partham." She sighed.

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