Too good to be true, Lydia was just starting to be herself, happy and jolly. Enjoying every moment with her siblings, she laughed so much at times, that her stomach ached.
It's been one week since the incident with Ronald, everything was going fine, until Lydia saw the car coming towards her parent home. She ran into the bedroom and locked the door.
"Why are they here? What do they want?" Lydia asked herself.
She was scared of why she thought they were here. She hoped they brought her stuff, that they were here to say their last goodbye. But they were all in the car, well dressed.
Lydia's parents welcomed them, they stated that the reason for coming was to apologise for their brother's behavior last week. They said he would stop drinking and that he would behave himself. What we are asking, his eldest sister said was that, we are here to make amends. That she knows Ronald made a mistake and he knows that, he has changed she claimed. She adds that he wants to make his marriage with Lydia work.
Lydia was seated with her parents, none of them said a word. They just listened to what Ronald and his relatives had to say. Without thinking or asking Lydia what she thought about that, her dad answered and made the decision for her.
After they left, Lydia told them that she's not going back, her mom stood by her and that felt good for once. Her mom told her dad that they should not be sending her back to that house, suppose he beats her again, what would they tell the police. She reminded Lydia's dad of what the Senior Inspector said.
"Please do not send your daughter back to these people and consider getting the marriage annulled," Lydia's mom reminded her dad.
After all the police were involved and told them to get their daughter out of there. So by the way the police said that shows that they knows something about these people. This gaved Lydia strength to stand up to her dad.
Her dad threatened her, even though Lydia said that she was not going back, her dad made it sound like it weren't her choice.
"He's your married husband and if you don't go back, I'll pick you up and carry you there myself." her dad shouted at her.
Lydia got scared, she was always a bit scared of her dad. He was very harsh when he spoke. He was one not known to speak with kindness in his voice. Even though, her dad knowing what he knew, he still insisted on sending her back to that horrible place.
Lydia had no choice but to go back, they came for her the following day. She never looked at her dad, she was mad at him for what he has done. Lydia cried almost all the time, when her siblings visited her, they always complained of her being sad. There was no happiness in her spirit.
Bob hardly ever writes any more, she didn't blame him though. They hardly saw each other but she never stopped thinking of him. Dreaming and fantasising of what could of been, that made her smile, for it belonged to him.
Life went on, nothing were the same after her return. Ronald argued about everything and nothing, on a day to day basis,always looking for the oddest things to argue about. He didn't raise his hand to her though, he made sure of that. Lydia tried her best to please him, in every way possible. There was no friendship, no romance, nothing left in this so-called marriage. Lydia did whatever a housewife did, from washing clothes, cleaning house and waiting on him the minute he got home, still he behaved as though she did something wrong. Every night ended with an argument. What was she going to do?
Lydia had one friend , Ronald's niece, she was different from the rest of them. she would come over and spend time with Lydia, ask Lydia to go for walks or just to go and sit under the mango tree. Lydia loved to sit under the mango tree, as it hovers over the valley, where one can see almost all the neighbours on that side of the house. Ronald's niece made her feel safe, she was more like a sister than a niece-in-law.
Everyday got a little worst. Ronald's younger sister accused Lydia of stealing her dress. Lydia thought nothing of it, but one day his sister went up to Lydia and told her that she can have the dress, it can't fit her anymore. Next few days she started cursing and carrying on that some one had stolen her dress. When Lydia asked of which dress she lost, she turned to Lydia and said it's her, she took the dress. She told her eldest sister to go look for her red dress. Lydia spoke up, told them that she gave her that dress last week.
They all believed their sister, Lydia felt disgusted, Ronald's sister set her up. After that scene, she took it upon herself to attack Lydia ever so often. Sometimes they would pick an argument with Lydia, just to let her stay indoors.
Lydia was not known to have a bitter tongue in her mouth, she was sweet,loving, kind and generous. She never liked to hear anyone fight or quarrel.
Ronald's sister also made wild gossip, allowing the neighbours to hear, that Lydia had an affair with a guy lower down the street.
Who would believe such things, If anyone knew Lydia as I do, they would know that she could never do such a thing, no matter the situation.
Eight months later, things got much, much worst, that was unbearable to live with.
Lydia did her best to make this marriage work, but it was too much, way too much for a person to go through at a young age. She told her parents most of what was going on. Lydia had to stop, the fighting had to stop. At that place, where she should feel at home, was more like, 'a place of war'. Everyone was against her, she had no one except Ronald's niece and she was about to get married.
Her parent came to get her one day, on a hoax saying that they were taking Lydia home to spend the day. She did not pack anything, she just wanted to leave. Her parents took her to the J.P.'s office in town, to seek advice from him.
His advice was, "That she's out already, let she stay out".
He also told her parents to go to the nearby police post and put in the report.
The J.P. took their phone number, called them and told them what was going on and that they need to come in to the office the next Monday, together with Lydia. He also told them that they are not to contact Lydia or her family, for this is a court matter now.
They all met at the J.P.'s office on Monday, another officer came out and took another statement from Lydia. Her in-laws all watching, as she was taken to an office. This officer was very understanding, kind and friendly. He told Lydia if in the future she needs help with anything, she could come to him.
In the office with the J.P., they discussed what's been happening in their marriage. Both Lydia and Ronald was only allowed to speak, no one else. His sisters tried to speak, but she was told, if she interrupted once more, she'll be put out of the office. at the end of all talks and discussion, Lydia was asked by the J.P., what does she want to do?
"I want out of this relationship, sir," Lydia answered.
He said, "Very well then, you can get the marriage annulled or file for divorce after sometime, from today onward you are not to go back to that house."
He had Lydia sign a statement saying that she's free and that she got permission from the J.P. to go and collect her stuff.
They looked angry but hold their tongue. Lydia's parents asked the J.P. how would she collect her stuff? To Lydia's surprise, they said very nicely, that they can come and collect it later that evening. That was agreed to in front of the J.P. with no problems, it seemed. After they were asked to leave, the J.P. asked Lydia and her parents to wait a while. He asked them if they would prefer an officer accompany them, Lydia dad said that's not necessary. The J.P. let him know that in some situations the other party can be very dangerous and that he still thinks they should go with an officer. Her dad still says it's okay he could handle them.
Well it was not okay!