The Race on Opening Night

Maha woke to the sound of her home being stolen one hum at a time.

It was past midnight. Below Marina Heights, a generator throbbed like a second, angry heart. The lights in her flat fluttered — dim, bright, dim — and Dadi Sakeena's hand found Maha's in the dark.

"He is down there," Dadi whispered. "Baz Qureshi. He has not come to drill, beti. He has come to take the lift."