The House Rent Saga - S01 E05

Story 2 days ago

The House Rent Saga - S01 E05

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 5

The House Rent Saga Episode Five

Agada woke up very early that morning. There was joy in his heart as he stepped outside. For the first time in a long while, he had something to do. He had a reason to move out of the house with confidence.

His new bus was parked in front of the house. He brought out a bucket of water and a sponge and started washing it. He washed it with joy. He cleaned every part including the tyres, mirrors, seats, windows. Everything was looking sharp. He wanted the bus to be as neat as possible before he hit the road. He kept smiling to himself.

Inside the house, Ene was also awake. She boiled water for her husband to bathe. Then she went into the kitchen and prepared yam and egg sauce. She dished the food for him and packed extra rice in a food flask. She didn't want her husband to be eating at roadside restaurants. She wanted him to save money. Every naira was important now.

When Agada entered the room to get ready, she handed the food flask to him.

"Use this one for your lunch," she said. "We need to manage well and save for our future."

Agada looked at her and smiled. "Thank you, my wife. You are a good woman. God will bless you for standing by me."

He ate his food quickly, wore his clothes, and left with the bus. His first day on the road had begun.

Meanwhile, after cleaning the house and doing some chores, Ene went to take her bath. She scrubbed her body well, rubbed cream, and wore one of her neat clothes. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself. Her skin was glowing. Her face was round and fresh. She had added small weight. She smiled. Things were changing. She was eating well again. She felt like a woman again.

At exactly 12 noon, Ene picked her small handbag and walked to the landlord's apartment. She knocked gently. Okopi opened the door and smiled when he saw her.

"You again," he said. "I was expecting you."

"I came to thank you for the bus you gave my husband," she said. "But I also want to thank you well... in the bedroom."

The landlord opened the door wide and allowed her in. He was smiling. They entered the room and locked the door.

After making love, Ene sat on the bed, relaxed. She turned and looked at the landlord.

"Sir, there is something else I want to ask," she said.

"What is it?" Okopi replied.

"I want to open a shop. Staying at home every day is making me tired. My husband has found something to do, and I also want to do something. I want to be going out, I want to be useful. I want to make money too. But I don't have anything to start with."

Okopi kept quiet for a while. Then he said, "You're a smart woman. In fact, that's a good idea. There's a small shop by the gate, attached to the fence. Nobody is using it. You can take it.

Ene's eyes lit up.

"And not just that," the landlord continued. "Wait here."

He stood up, walked to a drawer, and brought out an envelope. He gave it to her.

"Take this envelope. There is N200,000 inside. Use it to buy goods and start your business. Don't worry about rent for the shop. You won't pay anything." Okopi said.

Ene was full of joy. She stood up and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, sir. You have changed my life."

She left his apartment immediately and rushed to the shop. It was dusty, but it was strong. It had a metal door and enough space inside. She called a carpenter and told him to fix shelves and a small counter.

While the carpenter was working, Ene went to the market. She bought drinks, biscuits, milk, provisions, soaps, tissue paper, sweets, and other small goods. When she returned, she arranged the shop. It was beautiful. Everything was in place.

By evening, the shop was ready. Ene stood outside it, smiling like someone who just won a jackpot. Neighbours started passing and asking questions. She told them that it was her shop now. She did not tell them how the landlord helped her.

Not long after, Agada drove into the compound. He looked tired but happy. He had carried passengers from morning till evening. He made some money. He felt like a man again.

As he drove into the compound, he noticed something. Ene was standing inside a shop beside the gate.

"What happened here?" he asked.

Ene smiled. "The landlord did it again. He gave me this shop. He also gave me N200,000 to start this business. I'm now a shop owner."

Agada was shocked. He walked closer and looked around the shop. He looked at the goods. Then he looked at his wife. "This landlord is a good man. He has changed our story."

"Yes," Ene replied. "He's helping us a lot."

"I need to go and thank him specially," Agada said.

Ene nodded and said, "You should."

They returned to the house. Ene entered the kitchen and made Indomie with vegetables and fried eggs. They sat on the floor and ate it together. They talked about the future. They made plans.

Agada said, "If things continue like this, our life will become better soon."

"Yes," Ene replied. "That's why we must not waste any opportunity."

As they went to sleep that night, Ene kept thinking. She knew her husband had no idea what was going on between her and the landlord. But she also knew that the help they were receiving was coming at a price.

Still, she convinced herself she was doing the right thing.

"I will continue to visit the landlord," she said in her heart. "He is helping my family."