The auditorium was crammed.The crowd had gathered with great anticipation to appreciate their favourite artist's performance.It was a hetrogenous gathering with young and old . Miss.Keerti was a versatile artiste proficient in Hindustani and Carnatic music.Her rendering of Abhangas(marati language bajans) created a magical effect even in atheists. Miss Keerthi gained entry into the auditorium with a thuderous applause. The crowd was uncontrollable they went hysteric to see her in person.
Miss . Keerthi had draped herself in a kanchipuram saree in a sparkling combination of orange and blue.Diamonds of highest quality glimmered from her neck and ears.A string of fresh jasmine adorned her luxurious silky hair .
Her accompliments included tabala,tamboora and violin. The violinist was Mrs.Dev she was in her twenties and recently married.
Miss.Keerti greeted her fellow artists,"How's everything?Is the accoustics good,have you all adjusted to the desired pitch"?
The concert began with the Raga Hamsadavani invoking Lord Ganesha who is the remover of all obstacles.
Miss Keerthi knew and could feel the pulse of the audience, she choose her songs according to the moods of the crowd.The next piece was on Raga kalyani composed by the great saint Thyagaraja,this piece held the gathering in a trance.
Keerthi came from a well to do family ,her father was an diplomat and her mother was ahome maker. Keerthi was trained under great stalwarts of Carnatic music.Her voice had a divine quality and attracted her fans. She had travelled all over the world. In Toronto,Sydney, Seattle she had good friends who were willing to help her in all ways.
They helped her in organising concerts in all the famous halls.Many foreigners became lovers of Carnatic music and wished to be trained from Keerthi. Keerthi and Suresh also had plans of settling down in Toronto .They had plans of starting a music school abroad to cater to the foreign students.Cultural organistions loved this idea and encouraged them.
When the gathering had settled down, Keerthi started scanning the front rows with her eyes and was disappointed the front reserved seat for Mr.Suresh was unoccupied.Many political big wigs were occupying the front rows ,many renowned artists were there to encourage Keerthi,since she had a friendly trait many of her friends were there.
As she was about to begin her next song in walked Mr.Suresh through the rear entrance ,he waswell groomed and meticulously dressed in kurta and pyjamas,after being seated he conveyed his apologies to Keerthi through his eyes.
Mr.Suresh had promised Keerthi "I will take a flight from Hyderabad and reach Chennai in time to attend your concert, don't you worry"
Keerthi 's spirits rose and now she concentrated fully on music,her mellifluous voice held the audience captive upto the end .
The next concert was in a nearby village so Keerthi with her coartists had to rush as they had a long drive to cover.
It started raining heavily ,rain splashed all over and the visibility become poor. The chaffer got down to check if anything was amiss..After a few seconds he let out a shrill scream which drew everyone 's attention and all of them crammed their necks out of the windows.
There was a huge banyan tree and from one of the branches Mr.Suresh body was hanging.The cops were already on the scene ,hence they could not halt at the crime scene .The villagers had gathered and if Keerthi was recognised they all would be in a soup .They were all dumb struck and hence when the driver took the decision of moving away from the crime scene all remained silent.
Miss.Keerthi was inconsolable,her friend Mrs.Dev stood by her like a pillar and stayed in her house for an entire week.
The next day dawned with the headlines screaming"Death by asphyxia"with Suresh pictures . According to the post mortem the death had occurred two days back.
Then the question was who had attended the concert ? Was it Suresh's ghost?
Keerthi and Suresh were college mates music was the magnet between the two. They had participated in many live shows and had won accolades.
Their marriage date was fixed and they were on cloud nine. Unfortunately Suresh had to go through a financial crisis which drew him to take the extreme step of commiting suicide.
Suresh came from a poor economic background,he had lost his father at an early age. His mother had struggled to bring up Suresh and his two younger sisters.Suresh had to shoulder the responsibility of supporting his family. He had to discontinue his studies and had to take up a job.His love for music and Keerthi were his only solace.All his dreams were crushed when the financial crises took over him.
After this horrific incident Keerthi decided to start a fresh life in Chennai .
Keerthi tried hard to forget this anecdote and move on with life,but the past haunted her and did not leave her in peace.
Story submitted to
Promt#4 The past follows you when you want to start a new life .
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