The House Rent Saga - S01 E04

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The House Rent Saga - S01 E04

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 4

The House Rent Saga Episode Four

It was a bright Sunday morning. The sun was out early, and the neighbourhood looked peaceful. Birds were singing on the mango tree near the gate, and children were already running around, washing their clothes or fetching water. But something different was about to happen in Agada's life.

Around 7am, a shiny white bus drove into the compound and stopped right in front of Agada's door. The sound of the engine made a few neighbours peep through their curtains. Some even came out to see who had bought a new vehicle. The driver of the bus stepped down slowly. It was Okopi, the landlord.

He walked to Agada's door and knocked hard.

"Agada! Madam Ene! Come outside! I brought something for both of you."

Ene was already dressed in her wrapper and old church blouse. She was boiling water for tea when she heard the knock. Agada was still inside, trying to iron his shirt. He rushed out quickly.

When they opened the door and stepped out, they saw Okopi holding something in his hand. It was a bunch of keys. He raised the keys up and smiled.

"Agada, take! This bus is for you. I bought it so that you can stop looking for job. Use it and carry passengers. Use it to feed your wife. Use it to build your life," the landlord said.

Agada froze. He looked at the bus. Then he looked at the keys. He did not know what to say. His mouth remained open. For a while, he could not move. He took the keys with his two hands and held them like they were made of gold.

"Sir... landlord... this is... I don't even know what to say," Agada said, looking from the bus to his wife and back to Okopi.

Ene stood beside him, nodding. She wore a calm smile. She was not surprised. She already knew about the bus. She had discussed it with the landlord during her last visit to his apartment. But she acted like she was shocked, just like her husband.

"We thank you very much sir," she said. "May God continue to bless you. This is too much."

The landlord laughed. "Don't mention. I know how life has been hard for you people. I've been watching. I want Agada to stop roaming the streets every day. There are no jobs in Nigeria. Even those who graduated ten years ago are still searching. But with this bus, you can carry passengers, go to airport road, Rumuokoro, Artillery, anywhere. You can make good money every day and return something small at the end of the month."

Agada looked at the landlord with wide eyes.

"You mean I should pay you back gradually?"

"Yes," Okopi replied. "You don't have to rush. Small small. By the time you finish, the bus will become fully yours."

Agada could not hold himself anymore. He shouted and ran around the compound. He jumped up and clapped his hands. He danced around the vehicle.

Some neighbours had gathered by then. They were clapping too. People were whispering "Yes," Okopi replied. "You don't have to rush. Small small. By the time you finish, the bus will become fully yours."

Agada could not hold himself anymore. He shouted and ran around the compound. He jumped up and clapped his hands. He danced around the vehicle.

Some neighbours had gathered by then. They were clapping too. People were whispering among themselves.

"See as landlord get good heart."

"This kind landlord na rare person."

"God go bless this man."

One woman even ran to Agada and hugged him.

"I'm happy for you. Your story don change," she said.

Agada smiled from ear to ear.

After the noise calmed down, Ene told her husband to go inside and change his clothes.

"Let's go to church with the bus. Today is Sunday. You must give testimony."

They both entered the house. Agada dressed up quickly. He wore his blue trousers and white shirt. Ene tied her yellow wrapper and wore a simple top. She packed her hair backward and tied it with a scarf..

Agada entered the driver's seat. Ene sat beside him. The smell of the new bus filled their nose. The chairs were clean. The air freshener was new. Everything looked fresh.

They drove to church slowly. Agada didn't want to speed. He wanted everybody on the street to see him. People waved at them. Some were pointing fingers. Agada smiled and waved back.

When they reached the church, Agada parked carefully. After praise and worship, the pastor gave room for testimonies. Agada stood up and walked to the front.

"Brethren, I want to thank God for what He did in my life. For six months, I've been looking for job. Every day, I will walk from one office to another. Nothing. I almost gave up. But God used my landlord to bless me. He just gave me a full bus this morning. I didn't pay for it. He just handed me the keys. I will be using it as taxi. Praise the Lord!" He said.

The congregation shouted, "Hallelujah!"

People clapped. Some even stood up and joined him in shouting.

Ene sat in her chair, smiling quietly. She watched her husband as he danced and shouted on the altar. She clapped too. But in her heart, she was thinking.

"He doesn't know what I did. He thinks the landlord just woke up and decided to be kind. He doesn't know what I've been giving in return. "Ene said in her heart.

But she was not angry. She was not worried. She believed she was doing the right thing.

"If I didn't do it, we would still be drinking garri without sugar," she said in her heart. "At least now, we are eating good food. My husband is happy. He has a bus. I will keep visiting the landlord. He is helping my family."

After the church service, many people came to greet them. Some shook Agada's hand. Some hugged him. A young boy even cleaned the dust on the bus tyre and said, "Uncle, your car fine die."

On their way home, Agada was still talking about how good the landlord was.

"That man is a gift from God. People should learn from him. He is a true helper." He said.

Ene nodded. "Yes. He is a good man."

They got home and parked the bus carefully.

Ene entered the kitchen and brought out food.

She served Agada pounded yam and egusi soup. They ate and laughed.

But as the evening came, and Agada slept on the chair, Ene sat quietly in the corner. She stared at her husband.

"He has no idea. But maybe he doesn't need to know. I'm just trying to help. If I don't do it, who will?" Ene said.

She stood up, went to the window, and looked outside. The landlord's curtains were open. She saw him sitting on his chair, sipping something from a glass. Their eyes met. He raised his glass and smiled. Ene smiled back.

"I will continue to visit the landlord. He is helping my family."

To be continued in episode 5