The House Rent Saga - S01 E01

Story 1 week ago

The House Rent Saga - S01 E01

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 1

The House Rent Saga Episode One

Agada sat on the edge of his small matrimonia bed and wore his shoes slowly. He has not eaten that morning, but he was already used to it. For the past three weeks, food came only once in a while. His wife, Ene, sat quietly in one corner of the room, folding some clothes. She looked at him but said nothing. She pitied him for what he is going through.

It has been six months since Agada lost his job. Just two weeks after their wedding, his office had told him that they were letting some workers go. He was among those who were sacked. Since that day, his life has changed negatively. Since then, he has been walking from one place to another, submitting his CV they kept telling him they would get back to him. In the end, he would not hear anything from them. He has attended several interviews and he has called old friends, but nothing worked. It was as if his village people were after him.

As he stood up to leave the room that morning, someone knocked loudly on the door. It was the same knock he has been hearing every morning for the past two weeks. It was Okopi, the landlord. The man no longer knocked like a normal person. He banged the door like someone trying to break it down. He used to knock with anger. Sometimes, he knocked like thieves.

"Agada! Open this door now! I'm tired of this nonsense!" Okopi shouted from outside.

Ene quickly went to the door and opened it. The landlord walked in with his shirt halfway buttoned and slippers making loud sounds as he moved.

"So you people are still in this house? After all the warnings I've given? You want to disgrace me in this compound? Did I beg you to get married when you don't have money? Am I the one who said you should lose your job? Look at the time-it's not even 8 a.m. and I'm already shouting! You are making me talk too much."

Agada kept quiet. Ene tried to speak.

"Sir, please. We are begging you. Give us a little more time. My husband is doing his best. He goes out every day to look for work. It's just that he lost his job and he is not able to get another one since then." Ene said.

"Just that what?" Okopi cut in sharply. "Is it my fault that he lost his job? You people owe me N700,000. For how long will you continue to give me excuses? You eat, sleep, and use my water, electricity, and you can't pay rent? Let me tell you now; if I don't see my money by tomorrow morning, you will carry your load and leave this house!" The landlord said.

"Sir, please," Agada said. "Just give us two more weeks. I am begging you. Things are really hard right now."

"Am I the government?" Okopi shouted. "Why are you begging me like that? If I give you two more weeks, will I also beg my children to wait before I feed them? You must leave this house tomorrow morning if I don't see my money. Let me rent to another person and collect the money to solve my problems. My decision is final."

He turned and stormed out of the room. He slammed the door behind him. The sound echoed through the small apartment.

Ene sat down on the bed and looked around. The curtain was torn. The fan had stopped working last week. The small stove they used has not been touched for two days. She shook her head. Agada looked at her tearfully.

"I will go out again today," he said. "There's one man who said he might call me for an interview. Maybe something good will happen."

"Alright," Ene said softly. "Just be careful."

Agada picked up a small file and left the house. Ene remained in the room, staring at the door. After a while, she stood up, picked a wrapper from the chair, and tied it around her waist. She walked to the small mirror on the wall and adjusted her hair. Then she stepped outside and walked down the corridor of the compound.

The sun was already hot, but she didn't turn back. She walked straight to the landlord's flat at the far end of the compound. She stood at the door and knocked gently. After a few seconds, the door opened.

Okopi looked at her. He leaned on the door and smiled.

"Ah, Madam Ene. You came to beg again?" he asked.

"No, sir," she replied. "I came to talk to you in private."

"Private? Hope there's no problem?" The landlord asked.

"Can I come in?" Ene asked.

"Why not?" The landlord said.

He opened the door wider, and she entered the sitting room. It was quiet inside. A ceiling fan turned slowly above. She sat on the edge of the chair.

"I don't want us to have trouble with you, sir," she said. "You are right to be angry. We are owing you. But my husband is trying his best. I also want to help him."

"How do you want to help him?" Okopi asked.

Ene paused for a moment. Then she looked at him.

"If you can forget about the rent... I can give you something else,” she said.

Okopi raised his eyebrows.

"What do you mean by something else?"

Ene looked at him again. "You are a man. I am a woman. I believe you understand."

He laughed quietly. "So that's why you came?"

"You've been looking at me since we moved in. I've seen the way you talk to me. I'm just saying, if I give you what you want, will you forget the rent?"

Okopi rubbed his chin. He stood up and walked around the table.

"So you now want to sleep with me because of N700,000?"

"If that's what will solve the problem, then yes," Ene replied.

He nodded slowly. "I've been admiring you for a long time. You are a beautiful woman. It's good that you came."

something else,” she said.

Okopi raised his eyebrows.

"What do you mean by something else?"

Ene looked at him again. "You are a man. I am a woman. I believe you understand."

He laughed quietly. "So that's why you came?"

"You've been looking at me since we moved in. I've seen the way you talk to me. I'm just saying, if I give you what you want, will you forget the rent?"

Okopi rubbed his chin. He stood up and walked around the table.

"So you now want to sleep with me because of N700,000?"

"If that's what will solve the problem, then yes," Ene replied.

He nodded slowly. "I've been admiring you for a long time. You are a beautiful woman. It's good that you came."