The landlord

Dinam pov

I thought the young lady was kidding me.

"Excuse me, you're kidding me right there?!" I asked as I jumped up from the bench I was sitted.

"Marry me!" She repeated more clearly.

"But are you crazy ?!" I exclaimed at her proposal which I found very strange.

"Yes, I'm a little crazy, but it's doable. You are in need of money and I am looking for a husband. What could be more normal than to make a deal?" 

Her tone was quiet, meanwhile I was so puzzled by her words. I began to spout words without controlling myself.

"I rather believe that you must be in a satanic sect and you are asked to get married in order to sacrifice your poor future husband. And as you saw me earlier looking desperate, you said to yourself here is the perfect target, the one that will do the trick because he has no other choice, since he is broke." 

The young woman seems amused by my words and bursts out laughing

"You seem to have a vivid imagination young man!"

"Maybe, but your proposal, you'd rather find another guinea pig because I'm not your man." I retorted unequivocally. 

I turned around without saying anything more. I started walking with long strides. Does this young girl take me for her sacrificial goat or what? I am certainly desperate, but not about to go and throw myself in the mouth of the wolf. I have already heard many stories where young people without hope agree to marry strangers for money. But the price to pay is often their souls which they sell to the devil. Even though I have hardly any life left, I refuse to sell my soul to the devil for money. I would still prefer to die in my misery. 

I went home very weary and exhausted. I washed up quickly and found my mother in the small piece that serves us as living room.

"How was your day my son?" She asked me smiling.

"Very well mom!" I replied, forcing a smile. 

I should not let her know about the messy day I had today. She would worry to death. 

"I couldn't get a job today, but tomorrow will surely be lucky."

"It's certain !" She replied without much anthousiasm in her voice.

"So what did you do today?"

"Nothing less boring than the previous days."

"Sorry !" I stammered lowering my head.

"It's not your fault my boy!Instead, come and eat your dish of nothing before it cools down." She said pointing to the white rice dish on the table next to her. 

I took place without much delight. It's been over a week since we've been repeatedly eating white rice without sauce on it. If it weren't for my belly crying out for hunger, I would have saved myself from eating it. I take a seat with my mother, however, and began to eat without complaining. Tomorrow again, I'll go look for work. There must be at least one person who needs my services out there somewhere. Why do they all scold me like I'm carrying shit on me? 

I managed to sleep very late at night, so my thoughts go everywhere in search of a possible way out of the situation of my mother and me. I think back to the unusual proposal of the young woman in the afternoon. She is still astonishing this woman! What recklessness! We would have to walk by the hands so that I can think of accepting to marry a woman whom I do not know from Adam or Eve. Besides, I don't have any girlfriend. I understood that all women were only interested in material. A man with no money like me, who barely manages to feed himself, cannot hope to get married one day. It is for this reason that I am just focusing on my mother and my quest for the job. The rest is just distraction. When I will be rich enough, I will think about finding a woman I like. But at the moment, I can't afford that luxury. 

The following days were the same. I couldn't have any job. The situation at home was getting even worse. Even the little rice that had left is finished. I was ashamed to look my mother in the eyes. Eventually she will die, not from the blood cancer, but from lack of food. And as if that had been insufficient, things were to play trick on me.

The next day, returning from my unsuccessful search for work, I found quite a din in front of my house. I stealthily advance to see if my mother is doing well. As soon as I enter, I find the landlord taking our luggage out and throwing them in the yard. My mother tries to hold him back, but he pushes her away violently, regardless of her state of health.

"Sir, what are you doing?" I shouted running to my mother and I lift her off the ground. She is crying.

"You can't see it? I kick you out of my house! You did five months without paying me the rent. Enough is enough !" The landlord pointed out in anger.

"There are people who want to take the room and they have some great deals. Take your bad luck stuff and get out of my house!" He kept vociferating, raising his voice. 

The whole neighborhood is outside. I feel so humiliated.

"Please, landlord, give me a little more time to find a job. I promise you, I will refund your money to the last penny." I begged, giving him a pleading look.

"No young man! I have given you enough time and you have not paid your arrears. It's finished!" He replied on a categorical tone. 

He still wanted to go back inside to get our bags, when suddenly I heared a voice saying

"How much does he owe you for that rat hole?" 

I turned to see where the voice was coming from.