NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: Chapter seventeen
Lexia Windsor had a big pulling power. Nearly all the rich families in the city and neighbouring cities had come to the concert and party later on. As the concert was long, the audience was ushered to their seats and the program started on the dot.
The usual propoganda of concerts, academy and charity was said, a small note on Lexia Windsor, the chief guest and straight to the performances. They didn't have time to lose. The beginning started with a bang. An old student of Ms Evans started with a lively music score. Then it was mix and match of others. Few were just good, few were better. None were subpar. The audience didn't notice the difference but the chief guest did.
Slowly, as the evening progressed, the heavyweights started performing in between. The quality of music turned better.
No break for the audience. It was like a musical marathon or a relay race. A lovely ballad now. A sad song later. A sweet lullaby next. Ms Evans had put a lot of thought into structuring the program. Never a dull moment.
Soon, it was Sophia's turn. No pressure. Just a guest appearance. A small song. She bowed to the guests and sat on the stool. The focus light fell on the pair - piano and the performer.
Then the saga began. She pulled the audience through the hellish journey. In the end...the mother was only yearning for a moment where there were only her and her child before embracing her death. The saga ended with a bitter sweet note.
Another bow to the audience and Sophia exited the stage. As she rested in one of the green rooms, she listened to other performances. She didn't think much of how she performed. She showed what she felt. Whether if was right or wrong, who knows, who cares.
There were few excellent musical pieces. One of them even dared to use self composed song. And showed why he dared to do so. It was not traditional song. It was more like parents were waiting for the kids to come home. Parents just waiting for their kids to rest, enjoy. Not many dared to write a piece from parents' point of view. Whether it was on purpose or not, he ended the song at the yearning part. Whether the kid came home or was the parent left waiting forever, there was no obvious closure. You can imagine what you wanted.
Solimo. That was his stage name. A 'has been prodigy'. Listening to his music, Sophia felt he was more of a composer, more of a path maker than a path follower. Did he become famous? Sophia tried hard to remember. With so many bad memories, she hated when she had to open that Pandora box. Absolutely hated it.
Still she tried it. Why? Solimo was a walking talking money machine baby. Package him a bit, put him in right stage and money would roll. He had that extra something, very similar to that blazing brilliant singer Shaun. If Shaun can become a super duper hit, Solimo can become famous too.
Try as much she did to remember, she didn't think she had heard of his name. Okay, forget the name. He used a stage name. He might change the name and try again. So focus on type of songs he made and played. Think, think....
Okay. There was some semblance to another composer - S L Moore. He composed a hit song for a blockbuster movie and rose to the peak. Yeah, he was famous. Infamous for his weird rules but his music was just...chef's kiss. But he became famous only few years later. If that S L Moore is this Solimo, what was he doing in between?
Sophia's money making mind churned, moved faster than speed of light to think of various ways to tangle this man into her scheme and get him to make money for her.
As a special unexpected bonus for all those who stayed back till the end, Lexia Windsor performed a happy farewell song. Not a long song. Just under two minutes. But it got all the remaining audience and performers to stand and enjoy the music, sway to its tunes. Lexia Windsor was a magician.
The party had already started in the hall. Those affluent figures who had no patience for music had come to party directly and mingling with others. Harts, Blakeys, Greys, Harrisons. You name any influential family, their representative was there. Sophia entered from the side entrance, had some food. She was famished. And just joined the group made by her school friends.
She could have joined her fellows from academy but they were just yapping about the performances and scoring them. Yes, you have your mouth, move it however you want. But you are good in music, good enough to attend this academy. And your parents are rich enough to pay the exorbitant fees. So why are your reviews so childish? Shaking her head in horror after listening to few extremely biased and over exaggerated reviews and dissection of music, she chose safer option of mingling with her classmates. Their talks will not involve butchering the music and twisting it beyond recognition. Their superficial talks would seem more soothing. Any lie to solace yourself, Sophia. Because only other option was to stay with your family.
Anything to not be on beck and call of Harts. And it was not that bad, staying with her classmates. It was not as if she was centre of attention in that group. All she had to do was to say yes, no, umm, aha, ooo....You think teenagers will discuss world changing problems when they get to let down their hairs? Kids will be self centred, teenagers even more so. As a adult, mentally, she felt bored listening to all the clatter. But...as said before, it beat down all the other competition hands down.
The talk was mostly superficial. Some were planning their holidays after entrance exams. Yes, planning can start years prior, what's just few months advance? Few daring ones planned their college. Truly daring. In the end, they would go to the college chosen by the family and take the subject chosen by the family.
Suddenly, the party became more animated. Ah, yes, the guest of honour must have arrived to party hall. It was truly an honour to meet and greet her. Even the group of people who had segregated in corners gravitated into the hall, just to see her, meet her.
Lexia Windsor had changed from her stiff formal black suit to a royal purple high collar gown. She had paired it with long amethyst earings. No rings but a purple gemed bracelet adorned her wrist. Was it amethyst or purple diamond? As she walked and talked around the hall, she showed her background as socialite - always smiling, making small talk, not standing in one place and having deep discussions. Sophia watched her and remembered her past when she had to be a socialite just to get few news and rumours , just to beg for some chance for her parents' company. Did others know her plight then? Were they laughing at her?
She mocked herself. What's the use of thinking such things? Even if they had mocked herself in the face, she would have still remained in the party, pretending as if she didn't realise their meanings. To her, her shame was not worth a tear. Tantamount was her family. What a pathetic loser she was in her previous life.