The Partham Chronicles

Part 7 - Listen to the silence

The next day Vysna and Aaden had carried the tension with them to school. Not just the tests but also the mentoring that was going to take place had made them nervous.

Vysna worried about Tash who was a blabbering mess when he had left for school that morning. She hoped that his academics were not affected by all of this because she truly believed that he would achieve great things in his life.

Aaden didn't know what he would tell Ishil if he was selected, what would he lie to him about. And then he thought about Neela. Would he see her again? But she was leaving in a week he thought he wouldn't see her anyway. It was odd that she was leaving in the middle of a semester, how she had got an admission into another institution was a mystery to him.

Two days passed. Vysna still practised swimming rigorously. The cradle of water was her escape.

Tashvin spent more time after school with his project trying to divert his attention from the whole thing. But was unable to concentrate.
" Hey Vy," he called up Vysna." Where are you?"

" At the pool, I was just about to leave." She said.

" I am planning to watch a movie, I need your company. Come home soon." He said.

" Sounds good. I am on my way." She packed up quickly and left. Her mind was begging for a distraction as well.

Aaden wanted to spend as much time as possible with Ishil. They practised together and then spent time at the cafe.

On his way home from the cafe, Aaden saw Neela waiting for a bus. He stopped near her.

" Hi, shall I drop you home? If you are going home, I mean." He said pointing at his bike. Why did she make him act so weird?

" No, it's ok. I will manage." She said.

" At least let me drop you home, it's no trouble, really." He said.

"Okay," she said and sat behind him.

" So, are you done packing?" He asked.

"Yeah almost. It's been hectic."

"Are you moving to another town?"

"Yes. Do you always ask so many questions?" She said.

"Is it far away, I should be able to come and visit," he said with a little chuckle.

"Aaden..." She said.

"Sorry..." He said laughing. They reached and she got down from the bike.

" Thanks, take care. Bye..." she said was about to turn.

" I won't say bye, I think we will meet again." He said, smiling at her, and then wore his helmet and rode off. He didn't want to say bye to her, in his mind, he still hoped to see her.

They got the news that evening, that Markand has got the approval for their mentorship from the council. And he had called them the next morning to the lake for their first lesson.

" Anyone can make noise, but silence is something that everyone cannot master," Markand said as he stood stoic at the bank of the yellow lake, not that the water of the lake was yellow, but it reflected the colour of the tall, yellow flowering trees that grew beside it, thus giving it the name.

All three of them, Vysna, Tashvin and Aaden, stood in front of him like soldiers in a file, waiting for his orders.

" Leysa has asked me to be your mentor, teach all three of you the way of cracking the SLts. So, from today onwards you all are not going to call me uncle but Sir Markand." He said and smiled as if he had rehearsed saying this before.