The Partham Chronicles

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.