It was just a month in Segun’s newly rented apartment but so many things were strange. This time, Segun had to relearn how to have quiet neighbors because the apartment he was coming from was a bit noisy, lousy and people relate with each other a lot. There were three flats and no one talks to anyone. It was so worst that when he greets the other tenants, he gets ignored or they answer like they were forced to.
Unfortunately, the pumping machine got spoilt and that was an avenue for him to have a one on one chat with his neighbors and maybe to get to know them better but Segun got something different from one of his neighbors.
Good afternoon, sir. I’m your new neighbor at the front. I noticed that the pumping machine is having some issues and I think we all should talk about it, just as a reponsible person would do, Segun talked to his neighbor, Moses about the pumping machine damage but got a weird response and wondered why he deserved that.
I know about the damage. I tried pumping the water yesterday but it wasn’t working as well. Anyway, I am not interested in fixing the pumping, Moses said.
This felt strange. There was no water in the whole house and Moses is affected as well but stood on his ground on not fixing the pumping machine. The other neighbor has also agreed on fixing the machine but Moses was left out.
I think I should call the landlady so she can be aware of what’s going on in the compound, Segun suggested.
It’s been two weeks of not having water in the compound. Moses is still acting unconcerned and the two other neighbors, Segun and Abike were waiting on him like the determinant factor to fixing the pumping machine.
After reporting to the landlady, she scheduled a meeting for 2:00 pm on the next Saturday. She made sure that the meeting falls on a day and the time when Moses will be at home.
He feels like the major problem the house is having and he needed to be at the meeting. Days went by and it was time for the meeting. After several knockings on Moses’s doorstep and no one got a response, the landlady herself knocked on the door and he finally went for the meeting.
It’s nice to have this meeting with all of you. Mr Moses, I heard that you have refused to pay your part in fixing the pumping machine. I even heard that you are being hostile to other neighbors and that’s why I came so we can talk about what’s going on in the house, the landlady began the meeting with the most pressing issue in the house.
It’s not my fault madam. Firstly, I’m surprised to have you here. Ever since myself and the old tenants have been calling you for a meeting, you never show up. I’m shocked to see you here, Moses complains.
To the new tenants, it looks like he is trying to shed a light to the reason for his actions in the house. The landlady didn’t argue. She accepted that as her fault and apologized to him for not always showing up when needed.
Then, in times past, myself and the older tenants who were here before you two have always had issues with the pumping machine. One day, I singlehandedly called the repairer to fix it but when the landlady’s daughter came, she accused me of trying to steal the pumping machine which I didn’t do… suddenly, Segun and Abike exclaimed.
No wonder. Segun knew a man like him won’t be that saucy or hostile to people he has never had an encounter with. There must be something somewhere. They both paused their exclamation to listen to the end of the story.
Nevertheless, I fixed the pumping machine but vowed not to ever fix any faulty item in this house anymore. The most painful part of it is that the landlady believed her daughter and embarrassed me in public, Moses’s face could tell that he felt a great pain as at when that happened.
The story became clear and the reasons for his actions were known. The landlady agreed to his complaints and pleaded with him.
For the second time, Moses became a happy tenant again. He forgave the landlady and ignored the pain he felt in the past.
For that reason, the landlady decided to fix the pumping machine with her money. The house became peaceful again while Segun and Moses became close friends after linking up with each other countless times.