Night of Power by Anar Ali

Author:Anar Ali
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Canada
Published: 2019-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

“Anything else?” the waiter asks Mansoor.

It takes Mansoor a second to hear him, to reorient himself. He looks down at his half-eaten steak. Across the table, a bowl of granola and yogurt, hardly touched. “Just the bill.”

“Your son has already taken care of it,” the waiter says with a wink.

“No, no. I will pay.” Mansoor fumbles. His fists are wrapped in napkins, like bandages. He casts them off and they fall to the floor. He roots through his wallet, hands the waiter a credit card.

“But it’s already been paid for, sir.” The waiter hands the card back.

Mansoor refuses to take the card. “There has been some sort of mistake. This card is good.”

“It was a pleasure serving you, sir.” The waiter puts the card down on the table. “We hope to see you again soon.” He picks up Mansoor’s plate and leaves.

Mansoor puts his card back into his wallet. He gathers up both copies of his presentation, the two calculators, the two pens, the silver-plated business-card holder. With trembling hands, he drops them back into his briefcase. He leaves the cheque with his name on it where Ashif had put it, between the salt and pepper shakers. He weaves through the tables of businessmen. It’s the host who finally stops him from circling the lounge. He points him toward the elevator.

“That way down, sir.”

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