Short story

Fame and glory

by Yasmin Jaldin

He was an accomplished guitarist and she an aspiring singer. Their love for music eventually brought the duo together. Their duets were musical and often their friends would request for encores. Muthu had a lilting voice and she could sing any song low or high pitch with ease. It was really a pleasure to listen to her singing. She was a shy and timid girl and thus had the protection of her fiancé who had an inkling of the grave consequences of the glamour world, especially when a young one emerges.

The couple performed at many late shows, and he never failed to accompany her home irrespective of the lateness and then proceed to his abode three miles away. Her parents had complete trust since they knew their daughter was safe with him. Little did he realise that he was now the envy of some of his friends who were secretly hoping for a downfall in their rising fame and friendship.

After months of hard practice, tonight was her debut on stage as a renowned artiste. Four songs were solo and the final one a duet with Jaye. Invitees were many distinguished guests with a business tycoon of their village as the chief guest. Muthu received the packed audience with a salutation. Her songs were unique to the orchestral combination and her lilting voice enraptured the audience with encores for more songs. The finale, a duet with her mentor at the guitar was equally enchanting.

There was pin drop silence when the items concluded. The applause and bouquets she received required no words, she emerged a successful singer, the star of the series. With her success overnight she was offered more programs. Now it was endless shows and many restless nights. She was drifting away from her friend and guide. Sometimes she had no time to speak to him, it was always a hurried word or two and he noticed that her conversations were brief.

She could decline some of the programs; yes, she was craving for more fame was his thought. His advice she ignored, he was disheartened and hid his grief. Gradually, he kept his distance from her. She now saw him a nuisance and declined his assistance. This led to bitter arguments between them. Their rivals were rejoicing, they knew this would happen.

Tonight was yet another performance. The chief guest was none other than the business tycoon who graced her first show. He was pleased to be invited since he had an eye on the girl. Villagers disliked him since he was a womaniser. Any eye-catching damsel he had set his eyes upon had to be sent to his bungalow to tidy his room, and thereafter, one could imagine the fate of the girl. Those who defied his fancies were ridiculed and punished. Now past his marriageable age, he remained an old bachelor. At a dinner to honour musicians hosted by him, Jaye was unable to attend, Muthu acted cautiously without consuming drinks for fear of being drugged, as this had been his practice to lure women into his den. Now it was half past two in the morning and still the party was on.

Her efforts to go home early were thwarted since her host promised to drop her at home. 'You could relax in the waiting room until the guests depart then we could leave quietly' he said. Since she knew his game, being well prepared, hidden in her bosom was a phial of powdered sleeping tablets. Marking her time for the opportune moment, she waited impatiently.

An hour later, she heard the door open. Pretending to be asleep, she felt a tap on her shoulder and the man trying to hug her. Bewildered, she woke up giving him a sweet smile, but dared not to show fear. There was complete tranquillity in the house with the valets and guards having retired to their rooms. 'Don't be in a hurry to rush home, let us have a last drink, one for the road' , he said. Lady luck smiled at her, when the man consumed half of his drink, leaving the balance he said, "I will be back soon after a quick change, then I could drop you'.

No sooner he departed, she acted swiftly emptying the contents of the phial into the man's drink. Pretending to admire the portraits, she strolled about. She heard the door open, the man apologising profusely for his delay, then he gulped down the balance contents of his drink.

In a few seconds the effects were taking its toll, when with a groan he slid on to the sofa in deep slumber. Having washed the glass leaving no trace of what was consumed, she informed Jaye of the predicament. 'I knew this would happen did I not warn you to decline his invitation, you wanted him as a sponsor,' 'Anyway, now there is no turn, just wait until a driver arrives and request to be dropped at home, no one will suspect' was his advice.

The host woke up after two hours without any mention or notion of last night's events. He had forgotten everything. He called his valet and requested for a glass of high spirits mixed with his boost drug and then dozed off again, never to wake up. The post mortem revealed that the drug was lethal which led to his death. Her fears were allayed when it was learnt that she was not the cause of his death. Jaye and Muthu shared a simple secret.