Feeling devastated, Ruth sat alone at the very same “family” dinner table, taking in her pain with straws. She was reminiscing about the meaningful dinners they had once had, and remembered the time when Dlamini broke the tomato sauce container, and how he had to go buy another one in order for Nomsa to keep quiet. She remembered how her marriage of 20 years had crushed down like a brick wall hit by a truck, and how all that was left of her time in her marriage was “NOTHING”.

After the divorce, Dlamini would have all of their property and cars, since they were all registered under his name … unless Zulu could contest that her life would be as good as toast if they did, that is. The court was set to give her full custody of Nomsa, so she worried about how she was going to survive financially and emotionally, let alone adjust to being a single parent. She would have to move Nomsa from her elite private school and take her home.

Ruth was a strong woman being pulled into a storm. She could probably go back to nursing, but her education was so outdated that she would have to re-learn nursing or settle for peanuts and be a peanut herself. After a while, she moved from her chair and took out one of Dlamini’s whiskeys and downed it, but she quickly spat it back out when it tasted sour for her. Mr Zulu had told her that he’d had the divorce papers for weeks because Dlamini had been thinking about divorcing her for a while, and he had found another young fresh woman to feast on.

Ruth rested on the kitchen table, re-hearing Mr Zulu’s words. A knock on the door shook her from her thoughts, but she ignored it. It grew louder, until Lydia opened the door for herself and the rest of the stokvel ladies. Nomsa came rushing to check on the noise, and when Ruth saw her baby girl looking so sad, she just cried some more. On seeing this, Lydia pulled her towards her chest for comfort. The rest of the ladies began making tea for everyone and cleaning up bits of the house as if it were their own.

While the other women were cleaning, Lydia led Ruth to get a seat before having tea, and Nomsa joined them. Once they were all rested and calm, one of the ladies began talking. “Mfazi, are you sure Dlamini raped her?” she asked. “Sizwe doesn’t look like that kind of a person?” She sipped her tea and some of the ladies mumbled under their breaths.

“Haibo Thandi, how does a rapist look like? Yoh, waswabisa wena!” Snapped Lydia, and Ruth just stared at her, not moving.

When Nomsa heard the women speak, she began crying again and ran to her room. On seeing this, the elderly woman in the room reprimanded the other ladies of their behaviour and they settled down. “Yoh, the world is such hell,” the old woman said. “Yoh, hai.”

After a while, the door got kicked down, bringing fear to the house. Dlamini walked in looking angry, and some of the ladies ran off behind him, leaving Lydia and Ruth facing her ex in the eyes.

“Lydia, phuma endabeni zomuzi wam!” commanded Dlamini, but Lydia just laughed and stood firm in response. Dlamini then looked at his ex-wife, who was about to cry more. “Yea, the court gave me bail, pending investigation of the other case.” He was boiling because his family had taken him to jail. He believed that if he suffered, then they must all stuffer, and to do this, he was going to send them to the streets, out of his house.

“Hhohe uyajabula mfo ka Dlamini,” Lydia said. “You can’t kick them out in the cold. It’s your child. I’m calling the police!” She moved in front of Dlamini and pushed him with her breasts.

Dlamini looked at Nomsa, who was now about to run out because his presence had caused her a scare. He was no longer a protector, but an untamed beast running and eating its own breed. His eyes dampened in fury, and he stripped off the little conscience that he had. He pushed Lydia, but Ruth caught her before she hit the ground.

“Now you gang up on me with useless floozies? Huh Ruth?” Dlamini said. “Today I’m going to show you, wena Nomsa!”

After shouting, Dlamini began throwing tea cups at the women, who were screaming and trying to hide from the flying cups. Lydia held Dlamini’s hand, but he slapped her in the face. They wrestled until some of the community men came to help the poor women. The three men pulled Dlamini outside to give him a talk, even though he was still furious. Lydia then offered to host Ruth and Nomsa at her house, so they packed their bags and left a place that had been their home for fifteen years.

It had broken just like that. Dlamini, Nomsa, and Ruth’s private wars were dished out for the public to see and feast on. How could a man change overnight? The only thing that struck Ruth hard was her daughter’s shame, and she worried if she would be able to get over the whole ordeal and be whole again.

On their way out, the women crossed paths with Dlamini outside. He was still with the other men, but he looked calmer. He spat on the ground when he saw them, and when Ruth saw this, her heart took a deep sink and almost stopped beating. Nomsa was too angry to even care, though. She hated Dlamini and didn’t give a damn what he said or did. Lydia, on the other hand, swore at Dlamini and quickly ran to her car before he could retaliate. She said her goodbyes to the stokvel ladies, and when Ruth thanked them for being there for her, they offered to keep them in prayers. They were all such strong ladies, but, following sunset and unpacking the shame of the Dlamins, they broke off their mini conference and left for their homes to cook.

Lydia drove home in silence. Ruth had a bittersweet taste in her mouth because she still didn’t believe how her life had changed, and Nomsa was still battling with images of a naked Dlamini in her mind. While this was happening, the silver Toyota Avanza carried them home safe and sound.

Tell us: how important do you think it is for friends and family to help people in abusive relationships?