The noise in the club was deafening. The front doors burst open and Bulb stood gazing at the crowds, as the haze cleared. There was just a faint murmur of complaint from a couple who were lost in each other's arms, but otherwise the crowd went on as normal. Bulb stepped inside the club and twirled his moustache.. The couple disengaged and glared at him. Bulb stared at them coolly through his sunglasses. They moved away in a huff, muttering comments about Rajnikanth wannabes. Bulb sauntered through the crowds, manoeuvring smoothly past dancing couples and groups, right through the crowd which somehow parted ways as if it were the Red Sea. He sat at the bar. Unfazed, DM poured him a drink.
An hour later, DM poured another drink and slid it across the bar.
'Mate, you OK?' DM gathered up the empty glasses.
'I'm okay. I just need to find my damn sister in this place.' Bulb looked around warily at the crowds.
'Hmm. What's she look like then?' DM wasn't too sure why he was making small talk with this guy, except that he was still buying. DM liked paying customers.
'She looks like...' Bulb burped. 'She looks like a girl.'
'Uh....' DM rolled his eyes. 'Aight. Fair enough. You sure she's here then, yeah?'
'She's here. I traced the signal from her mobile. It's here.' He shook his head sadly at the bottom of his glass. 'It's a sad day when your little sister goes clubbing when she has exams to study for.'
'Mate, that's normal.'
'It's normal? Define normal.' Bulb pulled out a cigarette.
'Uh. Normal is smoking outside where it's legal mate.' DM nodded toward the open patio to the side.
Bulb lit up his cigarette, not moving. 'I'm God. I don't do normal.'
...................
'These are all paintings,' Nerdyy mused, walking along the walls, tracing the patterns with his fingers.
'Paintings? Like, can I sell them for money?' Layla came up close to a wall and stared at the painted walls.
'Err, a bit hard to sell walls, Diyah. I guess this must be some warehouse or something.' Nerdyy looked up at the ceiling. 'That's all painted too. Pretty neat.'
There was a buzzing sound and Layla pulled out her phone and looked at the screen.
'Oh, God! It's him!'
'Yes, it's me, God.' Bulb's voice sounded from the phone.
Layla gawked at the phone. 'Hey, how did he do that? I didn't press anything.'
'I'm God. I can do anything.'
'Oi, shushhhh Rinka! I pressed speaker by accident!'
'Ok, ok. Come out now.'
'Come out where? I can't get out!'
'I'm here. Don't try to lie to me.'
Layla peered around the big sandy room.
'Listen bro. You ain't here. You're lying to me!'
'I'm going to count to 5. You come out from those crowds and leave your silly friends. I'm at the bar.'
'Bar? What the beep you think this is? There is no beeping bar here, bro. Am telling you, if you're at a bar, you had way too many drinks. Time to head home brother dear. Chop chop.'
'I'll chop your long ponytail off if you don't come out.'
'I'm telling you! I can't get out!'
'What the hell did you do now? Locked yourself in the washrooms?' Bulb heaved a sigh. 'Ok, hold on.'
The call disconnected. Nerdy looked at Layla, who was blinking in confusion.
'Err, Lulu? Was that who I think it was?'
'Ye, that was Rinka. Ummmmmm. Dunno what he been smoking.'
...................
'Marlboro.' Rinka lit up another one.
DM shook his head. 'Mate, whatever the brand. I'm sure they're all bad for you.'
