[STORY] THE WICKED LANDLORD (Episode 02)

Episode 02.

The heavy bangs on the gate woke mama Ifeanyi, baba Orakwe’s first wife. She had been at home for a while as a result of a strange illness which started about a month ago.she switched on the light in her room and looked at the wall clock , it was just ten past six in the evening and she wondered who could be banging at the door with such a strange force that was definitely not just from one person at such time of the day?.she wondered where her husband was and why he was not attending to the person knocking on the gate since he was supposed to be outside attending to his numerous customers who could be buying water to prepare the evening meal.she was lost in her thoughts and wished she had the strength to walk to the gate. She could not because obviously she was bedridden and had relied on her children to get her basics need within the house . Her husband did not check on her and she was used to it.
She had managed to get her phone which was under her pillow and dialed her husband’s number to inform him of what was happening and ask of his whereabouts.
“HELLO, BABA IFEANYI. WHERE ARE YOU?
” in my room ,,he replied..
” IN YOUR ROOM? DOING WHAT? ” she asked surprised at her husband’s reply.
“SLEEPING,,
“BUT PEOPLE ARE KNOCKING ” she informed him.
” That’s is their problem . I have informed them in the morning that anybody that is not in before six pm would sleep outside. You are lucky to be bedridden. I know you would have fallen victim your self. Better act deaf and dumb to the noises and stop wasting your call credit. They will come in by eight a.m tomorrow.”
He concluded and ended the call before his wife could say anything.
“HELLO BABA IFEANYI,” she said looking at the phone to realize her husband has ended the call.
She knew he would never come to see her though the resided in the same apartment and where just rooms apart from each other. Ever since her sickness started , she had not seen him. She only spoke to him on phone whenever she wanted to ask for anything even if her husband was in the sitting room which was directly opposite her room. And he only picked the calls at his will. Sometimes intentionally missed her calls and never bordered to reach her back. She was only left at the mercy of her three children .ifeanyi. Chijekwu and chioma. Ifeanyi had fought with his father on account of his bad behavior and had left the house to live alone while chijekwu was in higher institution . Chioma was awaiting admission and had gone for añ evening coaching class in the neighbourhood .
She leaves by five pm and return by seven pm .
She knew chioma would also be outside the gate knocking to get entrance inside . Chioma had remained her only help and she can’t imagine her sleeping outside . As she was lost in thoughts on what to do next, her phone rang and she knew it was chioma since the time was already seven thirty , her usual return time.
“hello chioma, i don’t know please. Please call your father maybe he will be touched to open because of you. ,, not knowing what else to say,
The phone soon rang. It was chioma again. She called to inform her mum that her dad’s phone was switched off. mama ifeanyi knew that this was deliberate. She thought of what to do to save salvage the situation but there was really nothing she could do considering her disability. She felt for the poor tenants who had gone out since morning and had not gained entrance into the apartment’s they had paid to live in. What a cruel husband she has.
Out of pity. she managed to crawl to her husbands room to beg for his mercy. It was now she discovered that even the second wife who sold food and other confectioneries in town had not even come in. She went with her two children in the morning and they returned at night depending on how heavy the sale for the day was. She sometimes came home earlier than usual complaining that market was dry and there was nothing she had doing in her shop . she was sometimes helpful to her and she could not allow them all remain outside while her wicked husband enjoyed the scenario.
She finally crawled to his room with strenuous effort and knocked.
BABA IFEANYI; ; please for God sake’open the door for those people. It’s been almost three hours they have been outside. They must have learnt their lessons. “”She said persuasively and bursting into tears.
”’WHY CAN’T YOU MIND YOUR BUSINESS AND LEAVE ME TO HANDLE THINGS THE WAY I WANT;;;””he barked out of the room.
OUR children and even your wife is there too. .is that not enough to draw your mercy? ?
She lamented. .
:::”””EVEN IF MY FATHER WERE THERE, that’s were he,d remain till eight a.m tomorrow. ,If you want to join them you are free, ” he said not showing any remorse.

*****OUT SIDE THE GATE, ALL THE TENANTS HAD RETURNED FROM WORK AND IT WAS JUST NINE P.M . THE GATE WAS CROWDED AND THERE WAS SO MUCH NOISE THAT NEIGHBOURING LANDLORDS AND TENANTS CAME IN THERE NUMBERS TO SEE HOW THEY COULD BE OF HELP TO THEM. “””;;
MAMA BLESSING! SO YOU ARE ALSO HERE? one of the landlord who recognised her as baba orakwes second wife asked in surprise.
‘”””I am here sir O! chioma is here. We’ve tried his number and he has deliberately switched off.
Mama ifeanyi is sick and there is little or nothing she can do to help matters. Please help us in whatever way. We cannot sleep outside, “”SHE BEGGED. .
“:OKAY, CAN I GET ONE OF THE YOUNG BOYS AROUND? one of the landlord asked.
Uche signified and met with the landlords.
They agreed that Uche should climb the high fence and break the padlock open with a hammer which was thrown into the compound.
He did and successful opened the gate.
While the aggrieved tenants were preparing to move in. baba ifeanyi appeared from nowhere and demanded to know who jumped the fence.
He was pushed down by the angry mob and almost lynched. It took the intervention of fellow landlords to stop the tenants .Even his wife and children watched with interest as the tenants dealt with him. .

To be continued…….

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