The Landlord and His Tenant
Episode One
It is now six months since John lost his job. Since then, he and his wife have been eating hand to mouth, just managing to survive. They usually do not have enough food at home and many days, they relied on garri to survive. Even the little garri that is remaining in the house was given to them by a friend who is a member of their church.
To make matters worse, their house rent has expired since two months ago and the landlord has been on John’s neck. Normally, John pays his rent as at when due but the loss of his job put him in a difficult financial position and he was unable to meet up.
“I’m giving you 12 hours to move out of my house or I will throw your things outside tomorrow morning. I’m warning you, don’t try me.” The landlord said that evening when he came to John’s apartment to ask for his money and John said he does not have it.
“Please sir, I need more time. Please, give me more time, I will soon source for your money and give to you.” John pleaded. His wife, Ije was in the inner room listening to all that was going on. She was so ashamed that any time the landlord comes, she runs inside to avoid answering questions on the whereabouts of her husband.
“I have given you enough time. Do you want to now live in the house for free? Remember, I built this house when I was young. This is my own retirement plan. This is all I use to take care of myself and my children in the university. I do not have any other business. Please, I’m tired of your stupid excuses. Look for my money and give to me tomorrow morning or be prepared to be thrown out. I’m sure you don’t want that.” The landlord said. He sounded very serious and his face looked scary and wicked.
“You know I lost my job recently and this is why I could not meet up with the rent. I will pay you if you give me a little more time. I’m looking for a new job and I will soon bounce back to my feet. I have not defaulted on my rent before. This is the first time. You are supposed to understand with me. I will pay.” John said. He was almost crying. It was one of those moments when a man becomes helpless because of financial lack.
“Give me more time, give me more time. I will pay, I will pay. These are the things I have been hearing from you for the past two months. I’m fed up. Produce my money tomorrow morning or get ready to vacate this apartment.” The landlord said and walked away to his part of the compound.
John entered into his room with a heavy heart. His wife knew exactly what he was going through and she rushed out from the inner room to offer him some moral strength.
“Calm down honey, everything will be fine. Don’t worry, we will find a way out.” Ije said to her husband. She was crying like a baby. This is the first time they are owing rent. Ije herself is a housewife who has nothing doing. They relied on her husband’s job for survival and when the job was gone, it was like life itself came to an end.
“What are we going to do? There is no way out. The landlord has asked us to pack out if the money is not available tomorrow morning. I pleaded with him but he refused to give me more time. What does he want me to do? He wants me to kill myself?” John asked. His head was on Ije’s chest as she cuddled and soothed his nerves.
“I will go and talk to him myself.” Ije said. She has been avoiding the landlord since they started owing rent. But seeing how sad her husband looked that night blew the lead off her heart. She had no money but she was determined to do something to end the embarrassment.
“How do you intend to convince him? The man is very wicked. I’m sure he will not listen to you. If he did not listen to me his fellow man, is it you a woman that he will listen to? My dear, don’t waste your time.” John tells his wife. But she was adamant and bent on going to see the landlord that night in his apartment.
“I insist on going to see him. Maybe, if I plead with him, he might see reasons to give us some more time to source for the money and give to him. How much are we talking about here? Just N350,000. He can’t be embarrassing us every day because of rent. I will go and see him.” Ije said. She entered the inner room and dressed up specially. She removed her undies and tied only a piece of wrapper around her chest and then stormed out and headed to the landlord’s apartment. John went to the sofa and lay there facing the ceiling. He was deeply lost in thoughts when his wife went out.
Soon, Ije was knocking on the landlord’s door.
“Who is there?” The landlord asked.
“It’s me Ije. Please open up.” Ije said. Soon, the door opened and she entered.
When Ije entered the room, she loosed the wrapper on her chest and allowed it to drop on the floor. She was fully n***d in the presence of the landlord.
“What are you doing?” The landlord managed to speak out and ask. But his voice was shaking because the presence of a n***d woman is very powerful and it was overwhelming him.
“I have come to pay our rent.” Ije said as she pushed the landlord towards the big sofa in his living room.
Watch out for episode 2.
