Sometimes, all it takes is a little courage to make a difference
Nothing sets my teeth on edge faster than looking into my eyes and lying to me. Especially when it was done by someone who should know better.
Source
I bit the insides of my lower lip to prevent myself from replying the middle aged man standing before Mimi and I.
“Honestly Mimi, by Wednesday latest, we should get the pump fixed.….”
It was Monday afternoon and we were just returning from a hectic day at school when we ran into the landlord of her compound.
My caretaker had informed us 3 days ago about the general fumigation which he planned to carry out so I asked Mimi, one of my girlfriends, if I could stay with her till it was okay to return home.
I picked a few useful things and went over to her place after church service the day before. Later that evening, I told Mimi I wanted to take a shower.
“My dear, there's no water o. If you use the water there now, we would have to fetch tomorrow morning before going to class, and you know that's almost impossible. Classes begin at 8 tomorrow”
I looked up at the well equipped bathroom and wondered how there could be no water in it.
“But why? Didn't you check for water before renting the apartment?”
Mimi sighed wistfully.
“Treasure, I'm tired of the water situation. The water pump spoiled about 4 months after I moved in and since then, I have had to source for water by myself. Initially I used to take a bucket of paint and get water two compounds away, but I developed serious body pains….”
“You mean you fetch water two compounds away and carry it up 2 flights of stairs?”
She nodded. I opened my mouth in wonder.
“What is your landlord saying about this?”
Mimi tried a half smile “He keeps saying he will get it fixed. That's why I have to pay the guy that maintains this compound to fetch for me. And I pay 600 naira everytime he has to do so”
I shook my head and stared at Mimi. It was then a saying my mother was fond of came to mind, If one does not open up to say, people hardly know what they are going through.
That night, I could hardly sleep because I felt itchy all over. I had to get up at midnight to pour out two sachets of water in a bucket and rinse my body with it before I could get a peaceful sleep.
It was the next afternoon that we saw the landlord hurrying out with his family. Mimi said he didn't live in the compound so I asked her to stop him.
“...Every other person is also managing….” I was already getting impatient.
“Is there no generator for situations like this?” I suddenly blurted out. Mimi turned to me as the landlord squinted then frowned with unrecognition.
“Who is this one?” He asked Mimi.
“She's my friend. She came to stay with me for a while”
“Welcome o” from his accent, I was tempted to think he had been to the western part of Nigeria, or was probably from there.
I decided to try my luck and muttered “Welcome indeed” in Yoruba just loud enough for him to hear. His reaction would have warmed my heart on any other day but today, I was extremely pissed.
“Ahnahn, Omo iya mi!” He exclaimed. I faked a smile as he hailed me in Yoruba. Mimi shook her head at the drama unfolding before her.
“Please sir,” I began again in Yoruba, “this girl here is suffering. I've stayed for just 2 days and I can't wait to return home because the situation is unfavorable”
The man cast a glance at Mimi as if to check if she could understand us.
“Don't talk like that my child, the truth is that to fix that pump is really expensive and I don't have the money now….”
“Then why don't you tell her?” Then something occurred to me, “but wait sir, didn't your tenants pay the maintenance fee? You could use that to get the pump fixed. Mimi has to travel all the way from the other compound to her flat upstairs. That's not fair”
He fell silent for some time before taking his phone out and dialing a number.
“You will see water this evening” he said and walked away. Mimi turned to me with her brows raised.
“What was all that Yoruba speaking about?”
“You heard him, you'll see water this evening” I said smiling. She was going to insist that I tell her what happened but I ran upstairs threatening to use up all the water to take a shower.
It worked like magic, she forgot everything else and ran after me.
My dear, this is just a tip of the iceberg of what some tenants go through in the hands of so called landlords.
Mimi didn't understand the trick but thankfully you did and you helped salvaged the situation 👍
Omo, my sister. Most landlords and caretakers do not care about tenants as long as they collected the rent. You'll be left to deal with your own thing.
I am happy I could help. Thank you dear
You're welcome
Water is very essential in a house. Without that, living conditions might be terrible. I'm sure Mimi would only ask him whenever she saw him about the water issue and he'd give a passing reply and that's that.
Good thing you took place to speak to him. I'd do so too. You just have to express yourself very much for you to get attention sometimes.
Without water in the building, it feels somehow. Especially when you have to pick a bucket and travel distance to fetch. I am happy I got the chance to speak for her
The way some landlords fail to fulfil their obligations, resulting in trouble and suffering their tenants, is depressing🤦♀️. It is admirable how persistently you have fought for your friend's welfare. The necessity of speaking up against injustices, even if it takes stepping outside of your comfort zone, is brought to light by this.
They keep promising to make those things available until the money enters their hands, story changes 🤦🏿♀️🤦🏿♀️
Thank you, Tommy 💖
Hehehe
And I’m a Yoruba guy o. We don’t do like that in Lagos o. But 4 month without water will really set my teeth on the edge. I can’t imagine weeks without water.
Hahaha... Why are you confessing? 😆😂😂😆 I'm sure you do like that 😝😝😝
😂😂😂
Innocent guy like me
If our tenant don’t have water, we also don’t have so I have to make sure it goes well. But the story was amazing. I enjoyed reading it especially the part you added those Yoruba words
A very desperate situation indeed. Fortunately you made the owner feel sorry for her and you managed to get the man to agree to provide water to the apartment.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Good day.
Thank you for reading my experience. Good day
Bravo! You write a spirited piece about a very basic problem. We don't think about water, until it's not available. It seems the man was partly persuaded by the fact that the two of you shared a common language. Your friend was lucky to have you there.
You bring the piece to life with certain details. For example, we can see you scratching and trying to sleep through the itch.
Thank you for sharing this experience with us, @iskawrites.
Thank you so much, Inkwell 💖💝❣️
Lessons learnt 😂. Or Marla of the story rather 😂.
Iska name is Treasure!! I will shout out to the universe 😂 . So you have a beautiful name as this. And you hid it from us. 😭.
Iska is from the West. A Yoruba speaking angel for that matter. I can’t believe. You also hid this from me. For Goodness sake. Omo iya mi. 😂 it’s unfair oo. 😂.
Maybe I will have be be like Mimi and keep chasing after you now.
Sometimes we just have to speak up to express ourselves. If not nobody is ready to help.
What in God's name is this?😆😆😆😆😆
Confession and testimony time.
Wow I can't imagine myself staying for even a week without water, mini wasn't aware of what was going on, Thankfully to you for helping. Some landlords are just so mean.
I am happy i was able to help
Very annoying indeed, I once had to face that kind of landlord that takes things with levity. Water is always the problem, at times I would have to go out of my compound to get water.
It is really annoying to have water when you need it and you have to travel miles to get it. I hope you were able to sort out your water issues too
Partially my sister
Water a very essential stuff needed at home. I can't even think of staying in a flat without water. Mimi was lucky you helped
I am happy I could help her. Water is not something anyone should lack at all.
Water is so basic that when it is not available, it is a major problem. Your presence was very helpful to your friend. Was the water fixed as promised?
It becomes a real issue when there is no water. You will feel it no matter how you try to manage the situation. I am glad I could help. Yes, it was fixed.
That's lovely.