A MAZE OF GREED

Ruth was not ready to face her landlord when he appeared at her doorstep to ask for the rent of the month. When he asked for the money, he didn't accept her invitation to come inside her room so that people won't get a spectacle of her humiliation.

Ruth bit inside of her cheeks as her eyes moistened. "I... I..." Words couldn't come out of her mouth. And that made the man agitated.

"You have the money ready or not?" He asked in annoyance.

Ruth nodded her head and went inside her room to take whatever little money she had managed to save. She came in the doorway and placed that money in her landlord's hands.

The man was surprised to see that she had money. His features relaxed a bit while he counted the money. But soon his face contorted in anger.

"What is this? It is not even half of the rent amount." He asked while showing the money in front of Ruth's face.

Ruth cast her eyes down as she couldn't face the man's accusing stare. "I... I am sorry. But I have only this. Please give me some time. I will pay the rent next month." She requested.

Her request angered the man even more. "What nonsense is this? Do you take me for a fool or what?" He yelled which made Ruth jump in fright.

"This is every month's thing. Every time I come to collect the rent, you give me your sob story and never pay the full amount."

Ruth couldn't argue with him for, every word that he said was true. But what could she do to change it? She worked hard and saved every penny. Thought of spending money on leisure never crossed her mind. She kept her needs at the minimum. Yet, she couldn't gather enough money. But she couldn't tell her landlord about it. And even if she did then would he have understood?

"Please, I request you! I know that this is not fair. But I swear I don't have money. I have given you whatever I had." Ruth said with a heavy heart.

The man narrowed his eyes at her. "It is not my problem that you can't afford the rent. You make me feel like I ask for the money that I don't deserve. This is my property, and yet you make me beg at your door every month."

Ruth shook her head with pleading eyes. "Please, don't say that. You are the owner of this place, and I am under your debt. You have always been considerate. Please, understand my problem this time. I promise I will not give you a chance to complain!" Tears gathered in her hazel eyes as she looked at the man expectantly.

By this time other people also came to see the happenings by leaving the chores in their hands. Ruth could feel the rising weight of every scrutinising pair of eyes. She silently prayed to God to save her from this humiliating situation.

"No. I have had enough. Leave my room in this instance. I don't want you to stay here any longer." The man said affirming.

Ruth stunned at his words as if someone had poured hot molten lava in her ears. Her eyes widened in shock, she took some moments to comprehend his words.

"What?" It was the only word that left her mouth in a whisper.

"You heard it right. Pick your belongings and get out of my property!"

"But where will I go? I don't have anywhere to go. What would I do?" Tears ran freely through Ruth's eyes as her brain became panicked at the thought.

"That I don't know. Go to your friend's place or become a bedwarmer of any man. I don't care! But if you don't get out of my property right now then I will throw your belongings out by myself. Don't make me throw you out by dragging you by your hand." He threatened.

The landlord's every word cut her fragile heart into pieces. She shut her eyes close for a moment when he told her to warm a man's bed for a living. That was the most hurtful thing that anyone had ever said to her. Many of them had suggested it but not in such a disparaging way. To add to her despair, the girl named Claire, who stopped near the stairs crackled not bothering to be subtle.

Only she knew what she found so amusing in those demeaning words. But her action made Ruth's heart twist in pain. It was flagrant that a woman was enjoying other woman getting publicly embarrassed instead of standing up for her defence.

The old couple that lived on the same floor as Ruth looked at her with a saddened face. Mrs Payne signalled her husband to do something as Ruth was always kind to them. She took care of them like they were her grandparents. Watching her in that state hurt them.

The old man came to stand beside the landlord. "Listen, give her one last chance. Ruth is a kind and hard-working woman. I am sure she will manage the money till next month." He tried to convince the raging landlord but to no avail.

The landlord glared at Mr Payne. "This is a matter between me and Ms Moore. I request you to not interfere in it. I respect your age, please don't intervene our matter."

That made the old man shut his mouth. He gave an apologetic look to Ruth and all her hopes crushed down.

She joined her hands and fell on her knees. "Please, don't do this to me. I promise I will pay the whole amount next month. I don't have anyone to ask for a shelter. This is my only option. Please, try to understand!" She begged at the man's feet with teary eyes.

But the man was not ready to listen to her beseeching. He had made up his mind before coming to collect the rent. He owned four rooms in this apartment building which he rented to poor families. As this was the only source of his income, whenever a rentee couldn't pay the rent, his wife fought with him.

When he left his home this morning to collect the rent, his wife told him to either take full rent or kick out those who would not give it. The man was also tired of this every months' happenings. Hence, he decided to take the action.

"You are wasting my time, Ms Moore. If you don't start packing your stuff right now, then I will take the matter in my hand." He threatened again, hoping that the woman would understand.

People watched without intervening as that's what they did. They just watched other's misery in amusement.

But when Ruth didn't move, he exhaled through the nose. "If you want things to be done in a hard way, then let it be. Move out of my way."

He was about to touch Ruth's arm to get her up and move her aside. But he couldn't get a chance to touch her as a commanding voice stopped him.

"Stop!"

His hand remained stretched in Ruth's way but little away from her body.. Every pair of an eye turned to look at the owner of the voice.