Kiss and Die

Chapter 92

Rizal headed down to the bars. He was fuming. He took the stairs all the way until he saw Nina and Flo waiting for the lift on the fifth landing. They were making their way down to the Delhi Grill. The mourning was draining on them all. Hafiz’s body was in the morgue. More people arrived daily to pay their respects. Flo had been for a rest and was now ready to face it again..

Rizal stared at Nina. He stared at the flesh beneath the folds of sari. He didn’t bother to hide it. ‘You’re looking real pretty today, Nina.’

Flo’s head turned at the sound of his voice. She leaned on Nina’s arm. ‘Is that Michelle’s man?’ she asked in Urdu.

‘Yes, Grandmother.’

Flo smiled his way and nodded. ‘He’s a pig.’

Nina smiled to herself.

‘What’s so funny?’ Rizal was weaving on his feet. He stank of sweat. His eyes had turned nasty. The lift was a long time coming. There was no way they could turn back. It took her grandmother a long time to go anywhere.

Nina shook her head. ‘Nothing.’ She was feeling anxious now. Flo had a habit of speaking her mind.

‘He smells like a pig.’ Flo nodded her head. She grinned her toothless grin.

He shook his head angrily. ‘What is it, old woman? What’s so funny? I’ve had enough of people taking the piss. I will wipe that smile off your old mouth in a minute.’ He was getting riled.

‘She means no harm. She’s old. Her brain’s not right.’ Rizal looked ready to flip.

‘I said you are a pig,’ Flo spoke in English. ‘I said you smell like the meat you eat.’ She gathered up some phlegm and spat it out. It landed at his feet.

Rizal froze. He looked down at the phlegm and lifted up his hand to strike her. The lift doors opened. Mahmud stepped out. His eyes were on the floor. When he lifted them he saw Rizal about to strike his grandmother. He charged at him, his arm still in plaster. Rizal wasn’t expecting it. He fell back against the wall opposite and the open windows of the maintenance shaft. He grabbed on to them either side, and landed painfully against the edge as he stopped himself falling into the filthy shaft. Nina hurried Flo into the lift.

Mahmud stood his ground and glared at Rizal before stepping in to join Nina and Flo. ‘Don’t ever come near us again or I will kill you.’

Flo was back in her room when she heard the door open. Nina had brought her back for her nap. Nina was running errands.

‘Nina? Is that you?’ Flo called out. No one answered. She listened to the sound of soft feet walking towards her room. Her hearing was good. She could tell if it was a man or a woman, she could tell if they were tall or short. Something wasn’t right.

‘What do you want? Where is Nina?’ Flo asked as her door opened and she felt the presence of someone standing in her doorway. ‘What do you want?’ she asked again, trying to put force behind her voice. ‘I am tired, get out. Go away.’ No one answered her. Flo’s head turned as she followed the sound of the person entering her room and walking around to the side of her. ‘Nina. Nina…’ Strong arms held her tight. She clawed at the hands but she could not reach them. She was being strangled.