Where was your head when you got involved with her?» Irina Andreevna fumed upon learning that her son was about to marry Yulia. «She’s only nineteen, what kind of wife will she be?»
«What can I do now?» Nikita, twenty-three, shrugged. «It just happened…»
«Just happened…» Irina Andreevna repeated after her son. «All these years, and you’re still so stupid. I thought you had brains!»
«Mom, aren’t you tired of this yet?» Nikita pursed his lips, offended.
Even he wasn’t thrilled about having to marry Yulia, but he saw no other option—she was three months pregnant.
«I hope no one is planning to throw a wedding celebration?» Irina Andreevna frowned.
«We’ll go with friends to the countryside, have a barbecue,» Nikita responded reluctantly.
His mother rolled her eyes but didn’t ask another question on the matter.
A month later, the couple got married, and Yulia and Nikita officially became husband and wife.
There was no wedding ceremony, nor a dress with a veil. The couple and their friends went to the countryside to celebrate the event.
After her son’s wedding, Irina Andreevna stopped calling him, unwilling to forgive his actions.
Yulia couldn’t help but notice her new mother-in-law’s behavior and started expressing her dissatisfaction to her husband.
«Why does Irina Andreevna treat me like this?» Yulia asked with frustration.
«How ‘like this’?» Nikita asked, not looking away from his phone screen.
«She knows I’m carrying her grandchild, but she doesn’t want to help us,» Yulia pouted.
«How is she supposed to help us?» Nikita sighed irritably, realizing another round of complaints was beginning.
«Well, for example, Irina Andreevna could buy fruits, vegetables, or vitamins,» the pregnant girl began listing. «And she could offer financial help…»
«Tell her all that yourself,» Nikita smirked and continued looking at his phone.
Such an opportunity indeed came soon for the pregnant girl.
Two months later, on the day of her son’s birthday, Irina Andreevna came to the house where the young couple lived, on the outskirts of the city.
«I didn’t bring you money; I thought groceries would be much more needed,» she said, handing Nikita a large bag.
By the way he pursed his lips, it was clear that he would have preferred to receive money.
Yulia, holding her stomach, stepped out of the room and greeted her mother-in-law.
«Irina Andreevna, don’t you want to help us? At least bring some fruits or vegetables for me…»
«Am I supposed to?» The woman looked at her daughter-in-law with surprise. «Did we sign some kind of contract?»
«I’m pregnant with your son’s child,» Yulia put her hands on her hips. «I’d at least like some basic help.»
«What do I have to do with your child? Nothing! Whoever got you pregnant should take care of it!» Irina Andreevna snapped.
«Nikita is your son. He’s only twenty-three… A good mother would never abandon her child…»
«Do you think I like hearing this?» Irina Andreevna’s face flushed with anger. «I’ve fed myself all my life! And I suggest you do the same!»
Nikita winced, trying to ignore the escalating conflict, but he realized the situation was getting out of hand.
«Yulia, why did you start this pointless conversation? We’ll manage on our own,» the young man tried to calm both women. «Mom, don’t pay attention. No one’s asking anything from you.»
However, Irina Andreevna didn’t even look at her son. Her gaze was fixed solely on Yulia.
«Manage? Ha! I’ve seen your ‘independence’! You know what? If you have no money, go steal!» the woman laughed sarcastically. «In the end, you have no other option left. I see you don’t want to work anyway…»
Yulia’s eyes widened in indignation at Irina Andreevna’s unexpected words.
«Mom, enough! Stop humiliating us with such words,» Nikita decided to stand up for himself and his wife.
However, Irina Andreevna seemed not to hear her son’s words and continued:
«Stealing is the easiest thing! If you don’t have money, then your only option is to sneak around and grab whatever you can! You can hide the stolen goods under your belly before the baby arrives.»
Yulia’s mood completely soured. Her lips trembled, and tears slowly ran down her cheeks.
«You should’ve never come here…» she whispered softly and, sobbing loudly, left the kitchen.
Seeing his wife’s reaction and feeling the awkwardness of the situation, Nikita cautiously said to his mother:
«Mom, you’re probably taking it too far. We’re struggling, I understand your feelings, but such statements are inappropriate…»
Irina Andreevna just waved her hand in irritation.
«So you’re saying it’s tough? Then work harder!» she retorted. «You got married, became a father—now you have to support your family on your own. But no one is to blame for your poor choice!»
«Let’s stop discussing whose choice is good and whose isn’t! I understand your position. If you don’t want to help, then fine!» he said dryly, making it clear that the conversation was over.
Irina Andreevna shook her head disapprovingly and, sighing, headed for the exit.
Mother and son didn’t communicate until the child was born. One evening, Nikita called her and, happily, announced that she had become a grandmother.
At first, Irina Andreevna responded somewhat coldly, but a couple of hours later, she asked for a picture of the grandson.
«You know, son, I’ll admit honestly: it’s hard for me to accept your mistake and shortsightedness. You’re twenty-three, and you still haven’t learned responsibility. Your father and I worked at the factory when we were your age. But since you’re like this, I suppose it’s partly my fault too…»
An awkward silence hung in the phone line. Nikita felt uncomfortable.
Quickly saying goodbye to his mother, he hung up and thought that it was time to start looking for a steady job, not just part-time gigs.
However, finding one wasn’t as easy as he thought. Because of this, the young family’s expenses were growing faster than their income, and the lack of financial support from their parents made them anxious.
Opening the fridge and looking at the half-empty shelves, Yulia couldn’t hold back and started crying:
«I’m scared to think about what we’ll do tomorrow… We don’t have anything left. The formula’s run out… Why aren’t you doing anything?»
«What should I do?» Nikita, irritated by his wife’s constant whining, responded.
«Work! Why did I even marry you?!»
«No one asked you. You shouldn’t have gotten pregnant! Admit it, you just wanted to trap me with a child and set yourself up well!» Nikita snapped.
«Set myself up well, yeah… better than ever!» Yulia responded irritably.
She glared at her husband and, unexpectedly for herself, made what seemed to be the only logical decision.
As soon as Nikita fell asleep, Yulia quietly slipped out of the house with the things she had packed earlier and left a note on the table saying she didn’t need the child.
Nikita had to call Irina Andreevna urgently and beg her for help.
Realizing that she had only two options—either send her grandson to an orphanage or arrange guardianship—she chose the latter.
Yulia stopped reaching out, and Nikita, having handed the child over to his mother, continued living his carefree life.
