Part 9 - Turn two

Leysa called Aveda Gautama and asked her if she could meet. The things that Markand had said scared her and she wanted to safeguard her kids at any cost. Aveda called Leysa to meet at the university.

She was the head of the anthropology department at VNS, a prestigious and reputed university in her city. She was considered to be one of the best in her field. She had papers published in various science journals and was quite famous.

Leysa was waiting for her to finish her lecture and then was called to her office in the building.

" Hello, Leysa good morning. How have you been? Please have a seat." She said.

" Good morning, Aveda I am doing well."

"How are the lessons going, are they able to cope? Unfortunately, they don't have enough time." She said as she took out a few papers from her bag, placed them in front of her on the desk and sat in her seat.

" The lessons are going quite well. I am not worried since Markand is in charge." Leysa said.

" Oh yes I had forgotten, Markand is guiding them that's good to hear, he is well-versed in the tests and procedures too. So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" She asked.

Leysa didn't want to delay any further and decided to come straight to the point," I... heard that you and your sister are responsible for the order and designing of the tasks that are going to be assigned during the tests. Is it true that you are thinking of reconsidering the one with the water element?"

" Yes, Markand told us that one of your children has water as their element. I am very excited. It's been more than a hundred years since someone has shown up as a water affiliate." She looked chuffed.

" Will you consider changing the task?" Leysa asked hoping that she would understand. She was well-educated, intelligent and a social person she would surely understand, Leysa thought.

"Oh, that is out of the question. You see Leysa," she got up from her seat and moved to stand near her," these tests are not just for the sake of acquiring a rightful Partham but also to find an important new addition to our world. These are traditions, prestigious and important. And wouldn't it make you happy to see if any one of your children becomes a part of it? Your legacy, the Bhaskara legacy is to be carried through your child." She said smiling in anticipation.

Leysa got the underlying meaning behind her words. She had been a part of this world, she knew how it worked. She knew very well what prestige and power meant to a Partham. She was taught early on that their world was like a machine and each member was like a perfectly fitted cog in the system. The people who were in power knew how to assign these cogs and use them for their benefit. At the instant, she realised that it was useless to talk to her further.

" Yes, I understand it very well Aveda. Thank you so much for your time. I know that you are a busy person." She said as she got up from her seat and extended her hand to Aveda.

Aveda shook it," It was a pleasure meeting you. I am looking forward to seeing the tests take place. And the best of your kids will be a part of our world It would be a great achievement for your legacy," she said.

Leysa smiled and left. As she walked out of the office she was thinking whether it was a good idea to meet Aveda's sister. Would she agree or dismiss her the same? Even if she did agree, would she be able to convince her sister? So she decided not to approach her.

Tashvin came home early, he had a new design idea for the machine. He worked on it till he was satisfied and then decided to test it. He kept it near a window and started it when the bird in the cage chirped. The machine caught the sound of the bird and sent a wave throughout the room and out the window. The bird responded by thrashing around restlessly in its cage. Which shocked Tash and he shut the machine down immediately.

" Sorry, buddy didn't know that it would affect you." He said to the bird, picking the cage and climbing out from the window to the roof of the garage. He flopped on the roof and placed the cage on his side. It was early evening and kids in his neighbourhood had started to gather near a central play area. He recollected the time when he used to play in the same way with his neighbours. But as he grew up he lost interest and started to spend more time at home. It didn't bother him when his classmates used to call him a nerd, he was happy with the kind of life he was living. He never felt the need to be popular or social, that department was handled very well by his brother. Who was so popular at school and now in college that Tashvin was always in the shadow of his fame. Tash's goals were different, his idea of a happy life was to be known as an inventor or a scientist. Something that would change the world. He chuckled at the thought. These tests, if they went in his favour would make his life so much easier, maybe even give him a little bit of fame.

A chirp from the bird interrupted his chain of thought.

He picked the cage to his eye level,

" Well here goes nothing." He said and opened the door of the cage.

The bird jumped in its cage two or three times and then flew out into the sky. Tashvin watched it, as it swooped and looped around everywhere. He then sent a wave to the bird, intending to call it back to him. The bird after another loop to a nearby tree, made a beeline to him and perched on his hand that he had held out for it.

Tash sent it out again, but this time he sent it a wave intending it to sit on the water tank on the roof of his house. And the bird did exactly what he wanted it to do. Tash yelped with joy and called the bird to him with a much louder wave and the bird flew back into its cage. " I'm gonna name you Ava," he said and climbed back inside his room.

That morning Aaden had his final race. He was ready at the track for the run. He stretched and bent and jumped up and down pumping himself up for the race. But his attention was drawn to the little creature that he had got with him to the field. He had no idea why he had done it. He had picked the mouse, placed it in the cage, stuffed the cage into his bag and brought it along. He couldn't figure out the reason.

He had kept his bag in his locker but carefully had placed the caged under the stands near the starting line of the tracks.

He now had to concentrate and win the race. He heard the announcement and took his place at the starting line. Placing his hand firmly on the ground he concentrated on the pulse. He could hear it. He got the map clear in his head. He heard the shot and the race had begun. He had a good start his pacing was great, and he knew he could win it. He ran now and nothing would stop him.

Just at that thought he heard a sound a call or something similar. He was slowing down. He realised that he would not win and picked up his pace again. When he reached the finish line. He didn't know whether he had won or not. But when he turned around he saw Ishil, Vysna and Nidhi run towards him from the stands.

Ishil easily outran them and reached him first," told you, you would win. He was huffing. "Woo Hooo..." He shouted and hugged him.

Vysna and Nidhi congratulated him.

His mind still wandered to the mouse.

He could hear it. From so far? How was it possible? Was it the mouse that he could hear?

Vysna interrupted," Aaden are you okay?" She asked.

" I am fine," he said.

After the prizes were distributed and the medals were given. Aaden went to the stands where he had kept the mouse but found out that it was not in its cage. He frantically searched for it near the stands and the tracks.

He cursed himself and started searching for it everywhere. Then he remembered what Markand had said. He looked around to see if no one was watching, placing his hands on the ground he closed his eyes and sent a wave through the ground. He had done it for the first time, sending a wave through the ground on his own. He saw the entire ground underneath him like an image. He did it again and this time he felt the presence of the mouse. He concentrated harder and knew exactly where to find it. The mouse was on a tree near the field. He walked to the spot placed his hands on the trunk of the tree and sent a small wave. The mouse came scampering towards him. He laughed, he couldn't believe what he had just done. He was too pleased and started back to his locker where he had kept the cage.

He took the mouse out of his pocket and placed it back in its cage, " Today onwards you're not ugly, today I name you Ghost. " He said looking at it and laughing.

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I have mastered the art of sitting and staring at the blank screen,

Even though I have the entire plot ready for typing. 😅

Hello, my beautiful readers. ❤️

Sorry for the delay in the update. Hope you all enjoyed the latest chapter.

Have an awesome weekend.

Loads of love 💕💕

RTW