Zi was having a party tonight. It wasn't a big affair. Just a few friends over for a night of drinking. His wife was in town and it called for some wining and dining. It was planned as a non- fussy affair with no goal other than getting drunk. As Wri would say, 'let the good times roll'. Some good time it will be. For one thing the party prevented the confrontation he had been averting for the last...3 years. They both knew to what he owed this unexpected visit. None wanted to talk about it...not yet. But then there was the morning after and the afternoon and the evening... The next week seemed to stretch forever. For now Zi forced his mind to think about the task at hand. Uncorking the wine bottles. He could hear the water in the bathroom slowly being shut down. She would be in the tub. Zi concentrated even harder to the simple task of uncorking the cheap wines he just bought.
Natashya was soaking in a tub of hot water. Her back ached after the long flight from... She closed her eyes. She pushed the thought from her mind. Her feet ached..her head ached. A night of partying was the last thing on her mind. And that ached more than anything. But she did not have much say. She rather give in to the general wish then make a stand. She had been away from the university for a long time. 3 years and 4 days to be precise. It might be a good chance up with him. They had dated briefly during those first years. More importantly they had been soul-mates. Sharing everything..thoughts, griefs, aspirations, bits of failures. Till they shared the bed that fated christmas eve. They both had too much wine and then one led to another. And after that they stopped sharing ..first went the bed followed by the grief, failures and finally they ended up as strangers living under a roof. Till she got a scholarship and that was the end. They both knew it had been coming. It still hurt to give him a hug at the airport. She hoped then that the next meeting a few months later would be better. It never happened. She knew why she flew home after 3 hours. And it was not to meet him...
The phone rang. Alexei stopped stirring the potatoes. He had already made quite a mess. Hard luck that it was going to be a part of the potluck party he was to attend in an hour's time. He did not find anything remotely lucky about it. 'Wriiii, get it, will ya', Alexei shouted. Oh yes Wri had left...almost 3 years now. He still had to get used to that.It had been nice with Wri. He smiled. Wri. Half made messy potatoes had been their favorite. As was silent movies, cheap wines, dark ales and long nights. Or was it? He doubted it now. He did not do so then. They seemed to share the same love for the wrong things. The freaks. That is what friends called them. Then she happened. To Wri. And that night at the tavern, he broke the news to Alexei. He was not sorry. He had seen it coming for a long time. The way Wri had averted his gaze as he told him of his move overseas. Alexei knew that it was not for the coveted position of Assistant professor of social Anthro whatever. And he had not stopped him.
'Hello', the heavy voice answered her. Martha always liked it when she heard that voice. Russian accented. Reeked of laughter and liquor and of all the good times in that house in 28, Graham St. Alexei and Wri and Natashya. It had been only with Alexei that she had kept up. Her husband...she had to. And she was here to meet him. But she knew it wasn't so. It was more like catching up with Alexei and Wri..and Natashya. That house in graham st where they all moved in as young grad students. Where she met Zi. Martha could not wait for them to turn up. Oh yes. It was not going to be only Alexei. Wri had left town that day and never set his foot back. Natashya was never to confront truth when faced with it. But Alexei had remained. He was a good excuse to defer that conversation with Zi.
A man lit his cigar and stood in front of the house. A woman was talking on the phone. She looked...happy? He sure was in that house. He walked away in the drizzle. Life had been ..well life. He had this party to attend. Not many people. Just a few close friends.
Natashya finished her shower. She pulled on her jeans and a tube top. She looked about ready to meet Wri.
