Orpheus takes off one sneaker and then the other. He tosses one northwards, across the room.
He tosses the other one southwards, across the room.
He trudges shamefacedly to the toilet to retrieve his second sneaker from inside the bowl.
Then Orpheus sits down on his bed and watches the fan revolve in a counterclockwise motion.
After a few minutes Orpheus types Hi on his phone and sends it to his ex.
After a few more minutes Orpheus types in Help I'm Slipping Again and sends it to his three or four best friends.
Orpheus is about to give up and go fix himself a sandwich when the phone vibrates upon his thigh.
The next half an hour is broken down into long intervals of tortured waiting followed by frantic text messages typed and sent in less than thirty seconds.
The first of his friends replies to his text after half an hour but by then Orpheus has already convinced his ex to let him call her.
The beginning of the text is read (Worst Idea Ever, Buttface) and peremptorily discarded.
His ex picks up the phone with the sole intention of setting the record straight but Orpheus cuts her off.
Listen, Orpheus says.
He strikes up the first chords to a mournful melody on his synthesizer.
It is self-composed, Orpheus offers by way of explanation.
Orpheus segues into the melody proper and clears his throat.
The universe cocks its ear in anticipation.
First Drunken Interlude
Worst idea ever, man
Oh, come on it's not like you've never acted on instinct yourself
Yeah, instinct of self-preservation maybe
You stay out of this you can't even keep track of your footwear
Worst idea ever, man
Come on, dude you could show some enthusiasm for once
Yaay our friend just committed ritual disempowerment on his lovelife
I think you mean disembowelment
Worst idea ever, man
Orpheus in High School
... The fifth and final event of the academic calendar was the Ad Lib competition, conducted in the first week of September (2/9/11). Four teams of four people each put together an advertisement in the given timespan.
The first prize was awarded to the Argon team, who performed a short skit promoting an energy drink. A protest was lodged by the other teams since only three members of Argon acted in the skit - the fourth member, Orpheus, remained on stage strumming a guitar and singing. The judges, however, lauded this as a 'groundbreaking display of innovation'. The Argon team was the only one to receive a standing ovation from the crowds - the noise of which was later blotted out by Orpheus hitting his crescendo.
The second and third places went to Krypton and Xenon, who presented advertisements for a shaving gel and omniscient pen, respectively...
Second Drunken Interlude
Just outta curiosity what song did you sing her
I am betting it was something gay
Began with an original melody followed by Nobody Home
Like something by the Backstreet Boys
Seriously, Floyd to a girl you're trying to get back
I wasn't trying to get her back I just wanted to sing it to her once
Before they tried to clean up their act with Never Gone I mean
But you did get her back
Yes yes as a matter of fact I did
Was it As Long As You Love Me
Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn
Orpheus in Happier Times
This just feels right, Orpheus says to his girl. Doesn't it feel just right?
Don't push your luck, she retorts.
They lapse back into silence. Orpheus takes her fingers in his hand and she lets him. Orpheus correctly interprets this to be a good sign.
You need to stay away from the tall grass, Orpheus cautions his girl.
Why?
Because there could be snakes? Orpheus wonders why he is compelled to lameness from time to time. He hurries a little to catch up.
The Hauz Khas monument is ethereal in the encroaching evening. Orpheus stares up at its mottled walls and jagged silhouette and feels a million strings vibrate inside him.
This is one of the few times when he feels completely at peace with himself.
Orpheus cannot find his girl anywhere. He follows her into the tall grass, peering into the dusk like a cormorant in pursuit of some eel.
He turns a corner and finally comes upon her sitting in the grass. She has taken her shoes off and is probably enjoying the sensation of coolness beneath her feet.
Orpheus sees her smile and comes forward, wanting to share the moment with her.
She sees him.
He sees the phone in her hand.
One minute, she mouths, and Orpheus nods. He waits in the grass for a while and then wanders off to lean against the mottled wall of the monument.
A pleasant scent of moisture emanates from the wall behind him.
Her clear, sonorous laugh fills his head with a phantom music that leaves him vaguely dissatisfied.
Orpheus puts on his earphones.
He begins to rummage through his playlist for the right song to play.
Final Drunken Interlude
So was it unconditional
What
Guys I'm hallucinating
Somebody shut him up
Your return or her return or whatever this is
As in
Guys seriously I'm seeing things here
We're trying to have a conversation dude shut up
As in did she lay down any conditions because it got ugly last time
Guys the frigging walls are on fire
Just the one dude get your hands off me
But the walls are on fire
What was it
I had to promise I'd never
Guys I don't wanna die here
Oh for fuck's sake shut up now tell me what
I'd never
Looking Back
Orpheus doesn't go all the way.
He promises himself he won't make his move until they reach his door. But halfway up the first flight he realizes the landlord's door is locked and his flatmate has left for Goa already.
Orpheus puts his hand on her waist and turns her around. She is surprised but receptive. They kiss as he half-walks, half-carries her up the next two flights.
This wasn't such a bad night after all, she breathes, and Orpheus grins although a jarring note has been hit. He had been under the impression that it wasn't a bad night to begin with.
They reach the front door. Orpheus has to try thrice before he manages to get the door open without letting go of her. Everything comes back in a rush and his fingers move along familiar paths, touching innocent squares of skin but still setting all synapses haywire. Her breathing becomes more laboured.
What happened, Orpheus asks as she breaks momentarily away. She snorts by way of explanation, her shoulders shrug beneath his palms, and in that one moment they are in perfect synchronicity with each other.
I mean what happened last month, Orpheus says. His own breaths are erratic now. His thoughts more and more diffused. She stiffens.
You promised, she says.
I did. But I think I have a right to know.
Orpheus can articulate again. He does not particularly enjoy the sensation.
I mean we are together now. Again. And it is only fair that we remain honest with each other. About everything.
Yes. She starts to disengage from him. Her bracelet catches on the zipper of his jacket.
Yes, she repeats. It is only fair. But it is the one thing I asked of you. The only thing I asked of you.
But I was just asking, Orpheus starts, aware the moment now lies shattered on the floor around them. He does not like the cleanness of his flat, the smoothness of its empty surfaces. He'd cleaned up the place specifically for this.
The only thing, she repeats. And you were doing so well.
The bracelet refuses to yield. She pulls. He gets a sudden vision of her walking out amidst a shower of beads.
But-
No, she says.
No, she says again. I am not doing this anymore.
She slips her hand through the bracelet, leaving it hanging on his jacket like some strange new sort of decoration.
Goodbye, she mouths. Or maybe it is a trick of the light.
Orpheus watches her trudge down the stairs. He knows he can follow her down or maybe shout entreaties at her receding back.
He also knows it would all be futile.
A few minutes later he finally notices the bracelet and cups a hand under it.
Christmas comes earlier each year, he says. The wisecrack does not help him feel any better.
Orpheus goes back inside.
He shuts the door behind him.
