Three months later, nothing happened, no continuing of studies, nothing. Lydia was a housewife, she was not allowed to leave the house alone. Where ever they went, they carried her. If she needed anything from the nearby shop, they would either send for it or just accompany her to the shop.
Ronald's family thought Lydia was naive and illiterate, she did not understand what had happen to her.
Lydia understood that this whole marriage concept was a scam. With the help of Ronald's niece, Lydia found out that they could not find a bride who would accept Ronald's behavior. He was uneducated as well as a drunk. Ronald's niece told Lydia that her Aunts and Uncles visit their other sister, not far from where she lives, often. That's how they saw Lydia, his niece said, they saw her everyday walking home from school. He spent days and nights there just to see her, until one day his eldest sister asked him if he wanted to get married to her, he said yes, she'll be my queen. Lydia's dad used to have drinks with Ronald's brother-in-law, ever so often. Ronald's niece told Lydia that they used him to get Lydia.
"They were never going to let me further my studies, they're always around, never lets me go anywhere," Lydia thought.
Everything was coming into the light, Ronald lied about his age, he could not read, write, much less drive a car, his job, he was a domestic worker, he drank all the time.
After work, when he gets home, he expected to find the house clean, food cooked, clothes washed, dried and packed away. Also Lydia must be there to wait on him.
Back at Lydia home at her parents, Lydia did chores, but she was not as good at it as her other sisters. She was into school and when she was at home on weekends, they would prefer to have her babysit the younger ones. Lydia didn't know much about house cleaning, cooking and washing.
What kept her going was Bob letters, he continued sending letters of encouragement, that there is hope, with every ray of sunlight, there is a little hope, that's what he would say. He even told her in a few of his letters that he loved her and that things would get better.
Lydia started to enquire about Ronald's background, he and his family all lied about his background. He also had a criminal background, some incident to do with the bar down the hill. No one gaved any information on that topic, but they went to court as often as once a month.
Lydia saw that Ronald brought home only half his pay check, when she asked him about it, he got angry. Lydia told his sister about the situation, she told Lydia that she should go and have a talk with his boss. Lydia found out that he was helping one of his drinking partners with money problems.
Ronald found out later that day, that Lydia had him checked out on his job, he was very angry. When he came home later that evening, he walked by without stopping at his sisters, which he would normally do. He went directly into his house, came back out cursing at Lydia, with a belt in his hand. He walked right up to Lydia, but she was close to his elder sister, he swung the belt to hit Lydia and got his sister instead. He managed to gave her a serious slap though, when the rest of his relatives intervened. Right then and there his brothers gaved him a beating of his life.
Ronald's eldest sister told Lydia, that she should go home to her parents home and it would be her choice to return or not.
Lydia couldn't have be more happy, they're actually letting her go, she's free from them.
"Finally my dreams are coming true," thought Lydia.
Lydia's youngest brother-in-law took her home to her parents. Her parents were surprised to see them bringing Lydia home. They asked what was wrong, they told them that Ronald was going to abuse Lydia by hitting her and they could not have their daughter get that treatment at their home. After hearing what had happened, her parents seemed to understand and welcomed her home.
Later that night, someone was calling out Lydia's name, her dad went out to see who it was. It was Ronald, he was drunk and in a mess.
"What can I help you with?" Lydia's dad asked.
"I want my wife, that's what I want," Ronald yelled.
"You're very drunk, you should go home and rest, come back tomorrow and you both can talk," Lydia's dad told him.
Ronald got angry, started to curse and carry-on, he then told Lydia's dad that he just want to sit for a while. Lydia's dad let him come in and sit on the porch. About five minutes after he quickly got up and was about to go look for Lydia, when her dad caught him by his shirt and tried to put him on the chair, he couldn't though, Ronald was much stronger than Lydia's dad.
"Lydia go to your room and lock the door," her dad yelled.
But before she could bolt the door, he was pushing at it. Lydia's three sisters were in there with her, they pushed back at the door. her big sister was very tough, she grabbed a wooden stick, that their dad gaved them to protect themselves, pulled open the door and told Ronald to come get Lydia. He stepped back, he claimed that Lydia was his wife and he wanted to talk to her that's all. Her dad told him if he come and take a seat he will let him talk to Lydia, but she's going nowhere with him.
Ronald agreed and took a seat, close to the front door. Lydia's elder brother and sister, also the smaller ones with their mother was their. Lydia'''s dad called her out of the room, even though she told him that she was scared, he still told her to come out, they all were there so it's okay.
As Lydia walked up to Ronald, her elder brother called out to her, that she should go back into the room, quickly. Just as he said that, Lydia stepped back behind her mom, to see what was wrong. When Lydia's dad asked what was wrong, her brother said that he has something shiny in the waist of his pants, he wore no shirt. He came at her again, with a knife in his hand, but before he could her dad pushed him out the door and locked it. They told him if he does not leave this minute, they are going to call the police.
He also wore a chain with a snake tooth for a pendant, which is very poisonous. Was it his intention to hurt Lydia? He was so bitter, he expected her to take his abuse and stay with it.
Ronald left saying he'll go and spend the rest of the night by his sister and that he'll be back tomorrow to talk to Lydia.
That was a scary thought, hope they're not thinking of mending this relationship. Lydia was awake most of the night. He did not return as he said he would, which made Lydia relax a bit more. she thought that this was it, she's finally out of that terrible marriage.
So she thought...