Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 8

The House Rent Saga Episode Eight

The next day, when Agada had left the house for work, Ene stayed back to rest.

"The symptoms of this pregnancy are becoming much. I feel more sleepy these days. I can't even move my body sometimes. I feel I should not go to my shop today. I feel like sleeping all day. It is not easy to be pregnant. As the baby is growing, I'm having more symptoms. I hope I'm able to carry the baby up to nine months." Ene said to herself.

Around 10 a.m., she heard a car horn outside. She peeped through the curtain and saw the landlord's car parked in front of their apartment. She quickly tied her wrapper and stepped out.

Okopi came down from the car, walked to the boot and opened it. Ene watched in surprise as he started bringing out baby items one by one. He brought baby clothes, shoes, bath tubs, toys, towels, and detergents. He also had a separate bag filled with clothes meant for Ene, especially maternity gowns.

Ene was shocked. She hadn't asked him for any of those things. She walked to where he was standing and said, "Sir, what is all this? I didn't tell you to buy anything."

Okopi smiled. "I know," he replied. "But I just want to support you. You're carrying my child. This is the least I can do."

Ene looked around nervously. "Please carry these things back. My husband will not like this. He might think something else."

"Think what? That someone is helping his wife and unborn child? What's wrong in that? Agada is a good man. He will understand."

"No sir," Ene said. "He won't understand. Even if he doesn't say anything, it will disturb him. He will feel another man is taking over his duty as a father. I don't want that. Please, carry these things and go."

But Okopi shook his head. He told her that the items were not meant to insult Agada. They were only out of kindness. He said he had already bought them and would not carry them back. He asked Ene to just accept them and think of the baby.

He then brought out an envelope and handed it to her. "Take this too," he said. "It's N200,000 for your antenatal visits. I don't want you to lack anything during this pregnancy."

Ene collected the money and stood there quietly. She still didn't feel comfortable, but she said nothing again. Okopi carried the baby items and put them just outside her door, then he drove away.

After he left, Ene looked at the items again. There were so many things. She picked some and took them inside the house. She arranged them neatly in a corner, hoping her husband would not overreact.

Later that evening, Agada returned from work. He looked tired but happy. He had made good money that day. He was about to enter the house when he noticed the bags of baby items beside the door.

He paused. He looked at them for some time, then opened the door and went inside.

Ene greeted him and collected the bag he was carrying. But Agada did not smile back. He sat down and asked, "Who brought all those things?"

Ene answered, "The landlord came today. He said he wanted to support us with baby things." Agada looked confused. "Baby things? Why would he buy baby things for my child?"

"He said it was just a gift. You know he has been helping us since. Maybe this is just part of it.

Agada stood up and walked to the corner where she had arranged the items. He looked at everything slowly. Then he turned and asked, "How much did he spend on all this?"

"I don't know how much exactly. But he also gave me N200,000 for hospital visits." She said.

Agada sat down again. He was quiet for a long time. Then he said, "I'm still alive. I'm working. I can provide for my own family. Why is another man doing all this for my wife and child?"

Ene knelt down beside him. "Please don't be angry. He's just helping. We didn't beg him. He did it on his own. Don't see it as anything bad."

Agada looked at her. "But you should have refused. You should have told him I'm capable. Even if things are hard now, I'm not useless."

"I told him," Ene said. "I told him to carry the things and go, but he refused. He said he already bought them. I didn't want to argue too much."

Agada sighed. He did not say anything again. He just leaned back on the plastic chair and looked at the ceiling. Ene stood up and went to prepare his food. When she returned with the plate, he collected it and ate silently.

That night, Ene lay on the bed beside her husband. She closed her eyes, but her mind was troubled. She knew that Agada was not happy, even though he was not shouting or quarreling. He had started suspecting that something was going on. He had not said anything directly, but she saw it in his behavior.

She looked at his face. He was already asleep. She touched her stomach gently and whispered, "I just hope this secret doesn't scatter everything."

She turned to the other side of the bed and closed her eyes.