The House Rent Saga - S01 E03

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The House Rent Saga - S01 E03

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 3

The House Rent Saga Episode Three

Early the next morning, Agada stood by the corner of the room, dressing up. He wore the same trousers he wore the day before, but this time with a different shirt. The shirt looked a little old, but he made sure to iron it the night before.

Ene came close to him and laid her right hand on his head. "God will give you a job today," she said. "You will not walk around in vain again. You will meet the right person today. God is with you."

Agada said "Amen" quietly.

He picked up the brown file and looked at her. "Thank you," he said. "I will see you later."

"Go well," she replied.

Agada left the house and shut the door gently behind him. Ene stood at the door for a few minutes, looking outside. The compound was quiet. A few neighbours had gone out. A small boy was sweeping the front of another room.

She turned back and entered the house.

She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the rice bag standing in the corner. Then she looked at the black nylon bag that still had some ingredients left. She remembered everything the landlord gave them, and how it all happened. She remembered what she gave him in return.

At first, she tried to push the thoughts away, but they kept coming. She remembered how he touched her the day before. The way he held her. The way he looked at her. The things he said to her.

She felt something move inside her.

She stood up quickly and shook her head. She opened the curtain and looked outside. The sun was bright already. Time was moving. But her mind was not settled. She felt restless.

By 12 noon, Ene picked a wrapper and tied it over her chest. Then she opened the door and stepped outside. She walked slowly to the back of the compound and turned towards the staircase that led to the landlord's apartment upstairs.

She knocked softly on his door. He opened it and saw her. He smiled immediately.

"Ah, Madam Ene. You're welcome," he said.

Ene stepped inside. "Good afternoon, sir," she greeted.

"Good afternoon. I hope there's no problem?" the landlord asked.

"No, not at all," she said. "I just came to thank you for everything you did for us yesterday. You gave us food. You even gave us money. You removed the rent. I didn't know how to say thank you."

The landlord smiled.

"It's nothing," he said.

"But I brought my own thank you," Ene added.

"What do you mean?" the landlord asked.

She walked close to him and held his hand.

"I want to thank you in your bedroom," she said, looking at him.

The landlord didn't waste time. He held her waist and pulled her close. He smiled as they moved into the bedroom together.

When they finished bedroom action, Ene got up from the bed and tied her wrapper again. She sat on a plastic chair close to the window. The landlord sat on the bed, facing her.

"I want to beg you for one more thing," Ene said.

"What is it?" the landlord asked.

"It's about my husband," she said. "He is suffering. He walks around every day, looking for a job. He comes home with dust all over his body. He has tried. I don't know if there is anything you can do for him."

The landlord rubbed his chin and kept quiet for a few seconds. Then he said, "Maybe I can buy a bus. He can be using it for taxi. At least he will have something doing."

Ene looked at him. "You mean it?"

"Yes," the landlord said. "I've been thinking about it before. I can get one of those small buses and give it to him. Let him use it to carry passengers. If he's serious, he'll make small money every day."

Ene smiled. "Thank you, sir. You don't know what this means to me."

"It's alright," he said. "You deserve it."

Ene stood up and adjusted her wrapper. "Let me go and cook. He will soon return."

"Alright. Just be coming around. You're welcome here anytime," the landlord said.

Ene nodded and left his apartment. She walked slowly back to her room and entered inside.

Once inside, she brought out the rice and picked some from the bag. She washed it, parboiled it, and set it aside. Then she prepared the stew. She fried the fish and added small chicken. She used the remaining seasoning cubes and vegetables. The aroma filled the room.

By the time she finished cooking, it was already evening.

She arranged the food on two plates and placed them on the small table by the bed. She cleaned the room and swept the floor. Then she sat down and waited.

By 6:30 pm, Agada returned.

He looked tired again. His shirt was stained with sweat, and his slippers looked older than they did that morning.

Ene looked at his face.

He dropped the brown file on the table and sat down without saying anything.

"You didn't find anything?" Ene asked.

He shook his head.

"I went to three offices. One of them said they are not hiring. Another said I should drop my number. The third one didn't even allow me to enter. The security man said they are not collecting applications for now." Agada said.

Ene looked at him and tried to smile.

"Don't worry," she said. "You'll find something soon."

She stood up and carried the plate of rice.

"I made rice and stew. Come and eat."

Agada looked surprised. "Fried rice?"

"Yes," she said. "I used the rice and the things the landlord gave us."

He sat up and took the plate. He looked at the food and smiled.

"This one looks like Christmas food," he said.

Ene laughed. "Just eat. You need the strength."

They ate quietly. After eating, Ene packed the plates and washed them.

Later, they lay on the bed. The room was dark, except for a small rechargeable lamp by the table.

Agada was already sleeping. But Ene stayed awake.

She looked at the ceiling. Her mind went back to the landlord again. She remembered what she told him. She remembered the promise of the bus. She remembered everything that happened that afternoon.

She turned her face to look at her husband.

He was sleeping quietly, unaware of anything.

"I'm just trying to help," she said in her heart.

Then she closed her eyes.

To be continued in Episode Four