Nika hadn’t been herself lately. Serious cracks had appeared in her relationship with her husband, and she didn’t know how to handle this painful situation. It all started with small things — as it usually does.
After work, Tolya began to notice her with venomous remarks. His jokes were full of anger, every word hurt more than a blow. With each passing day, the man’s behavior worsened. Even on vacation, he gave her no respite.
“You look like an old hag!” he said without taking his eyes off his phone. “Other guys have wives like wives, but mine looks like some shriveled prune!”
Indeed, Nika looked older than her years. Her job was tough and demanding — it left its mark on her face. But hearing such words from her own husband hurt the most. She worked for the family, earning twice as much as him, so he had no reason to complain.
Tolya, meanwhile, spent his money however he wanted, consulting no one: “I spend where I want! No kids to save for!”
Nika endured that too. Overall, their life was manageable. They weren’t officially married but lived like husband and wife and weren’t even in a hurry to get married. However, Tolya’s mother had long called Nika her daughter-in-law, and Nika considered her her mother-in-law.
The mother-in-law turned out to be intrusive and unhappy with life. She constantly interfered in the young couple’s affairs, and most of the criticisms fell on Nika.
The couple lived in a private house. Although it was in the city, the house required constant upkeep. Often Nika asked her husband to help:
“I just don’t have time — work keeps me from morning till night!”
“And what’s that to me?” Tolya replied. “This is your house, you’re the lady here, what do I have to do with it?”
And indeed: in winter, the house was buried in snowdrifts until Nika took the shovel herself. In summer, the grass grew almost up to the windows. They had to hire people to tidy up, and then Nika had to finish the work herself after coming home from work.
Meanwhile, Tolik lay on the couch, only occasionally getting up to check how the work was going.
The woman forgave a lot, but the last straw was what she saw when she came home after a hard workday. She was so tired she barely dragged her feet, had stopped by a store on the way, and now her palm ached from the heavy bag.
She hoped Tolya would meet her — she even called, but he didn’t answer. Sighing and wiping her sweat, Nika heard music coming from the yard.
Leaving the bag by the fence, she hurried into the house, where a lively disco was underway. Inside, resentment and anger grew — today she decided to say everything that had built up.
There was a real party in the house! Loud music echoed through the rooms, the windows vibrated. On the table were snacks and prepared food that Nika had made in advance to avoid fussing in the evening. And Tolya, ignoring his wife, was dancing with some woman who had clearly drunk too much and was dressed quite provocatively.
Without saying a word, Nika crossed the room and turned off the music.
Tolya slowly turned his glazed eyes toward her: “What are you doing?” he asked haltingly, swaying.
“That’s what I wanted to ask you! What’s going on? Who is this woman?”
His partner continued moving to her own rhythm as if nothing was happening.
“So what?,” Tolya snorted. “I met an old classmate, that’s how we celebrated. Or can’t I relax in my own house?”
“If you remember, you yourself said this is my house and you have nothing to do with it. So get out now, see your guest out, and then we’ll talk!”
“I won’t!” Tolya tried to stand upright but staggered.
Nika already felt disgust toward him. He had long ceased to be a man for her. No help, only a burden. To live with him just out of fear of loneliness? No way!
Firmly taking the woman by the elbow, Nika led her out the gate: “It’s time for you to go!”
Then she returned to the house: “Are you coming out yourself or should I kick you out?”
The man shrugged, grabbed a salad and a bottle from the table, and, swaying, headed for the exit.
“You’ll live without me, call me, hysteric!” he threw over his shoulder.
“Oh, dear me!” Tolya’s mother wailed, clutching her head. “My head is splitting!”
“Mom, don’t yell! Nika kicked me out. She didn’t like that I didn’t meet her,” the son lied, knowing his mother would side with him.
“And why should you meet her?” the woman was surprised.
“Who knows! She’s always nagging me: this way, then that! I’m fed up! Maybe I get tired at work too? You think it’s easy for me? And why should I help in someone else’s house?”
“Exactly!” the mother supported her son. “Let her register the house, give you a share first, then she can ask! Look at her — so important! For me to meet her! She’s healthy, should manage on her own!”
“That’s what I told her! But she got offended!”
“Let her be offended! Don’t give in! She wants to get married — she’ll have to tolerate! Not a little girl to be arrogant!”
“So what should I do now?” Tolya asked, hanging his head.
“Hold on, son! She’ll crawl back herself like a dear, she’ll call you back! She’ll live alone for a week and immediately realize what she did! And don’t give in — the moment she returns, demand registration. Or else she’ll be without you!”
That’s how the mother coached her son on how to control Nika. And he listened carefully, nodding along.
“You’re right, Mom! I won’t tolerate her whims! Who does she think she is, ordering me around? I’m not some slave, but a grown man! I’m my own master!”
Following his mother’s instructions, Tolya really decided to act. He didn’t come home, didn’t call Nika, waited exactly one week.
But life wasn’t easy for the mother either. She constantly picked at him: do this, do that. When he tried to argue, she reminded him of the good old disciplinary methods — she struck him hard with a switch on his back:
“You’re not at your wife’s, but at your mother’s house! If you don’t work, you’ll miss lunch!”
Clear and without extra words. Don’t even try to argue with her.
Finally, barely enduring these seven days, Tolik got ready to go home: “I’ll go, Mom! I’ll see how she is without me. She should be crawling on her knees, begging me to come back!”
“Go, go! Just don’t give up! Speak firmly — you’ll come back only on your terms!”
He left the house like a winner. He would show her who was boss now! Chin proudly raised, back straight, step confident — even a bit swaggering.
He approached the gate, entered the yard… and froze.
Something was wrong.
He looked around: the yard was tidy, the grass cut evenly, like with a ruler, windows sparkling, flowerbeds trimmed, paths clean, without a hint of overgrowth.
And not only that — everything around looked somehow alive, colorful, well-kept.
Even the gate was new — not the old, creaky one, but a solid and reliable one.
Tolya took out his key but realized it no longer fit. He stood for a moment, then decisively walked to the door and knocked.
Steps inside stopped, then the door opened.
But it wasn’t the same Nika. Not the one who walked around gloomy, with dark circles under her eyes. Before him stood a woman, fresh, smiling, with a sparkle in her eyes.
“I thought you were here suffering alone… And you… you couldn’t even call me!”
“And why?” Nika smiled gently and playfully tilted her head to the side.
“How ‘why’? A husband doesn’t show up for a week and you’re fine?”
“I don’t have a husband,” she answered calmly.
“Where would he come from?” Nika laughed. “There was a so-called ‘visitor,’ but a bad one. Not even worth remembering!”
Tolya turned crimson: “Are you talking about me?! You’ll get slapped and talk differently! Should’ve taught you earlier! I was just too kind before!”
He stepped forward, but Nika didn’t even flinch.
From behind the door came a tall man, put his hand on her shoulder, and firmly said: “Hey, man, leave. And better — peacefully.”
“And who’s this? Got a lover now? Fine, if you kick him out, I’ll forgive you and come back! I even promise not to hit you!” Tolya said arrogantly, feeling generous and magnanimous.
Then something strange happened. Either gravity was off, or time glitched — he had just been standing, now he was running. And running as if the devil himself was chasing him! And someone behind was helping him pick up speed.
Nika stood on the porch and laughed until tears came, watching how her older brother chased the former cohabitant off the yard. He literally flew to the gate, and her brother pushed him with a couple of well-aimed kicks.
As soon as Tolik was outside, her brother slammed the gate and returned to his sister:
“Nikulechka, just don’t you dare take that fool back! Honestly, I don’t understand how you even put up with him!”
Nika sighed deeply: “I’m a fool, that’s why I put up with him. I kept thinking maybe he’d change.”
“They don’t change, kick them out! If you need help around the house — call me, I’ll come and help. And that one should understand it’s not worth coming here anymore.”
“And if he doesn’t understand?”
“Then I’ll explain it again,” her brother winked and went inside with his sister.
Inside, guests were already having fun, watching the whole scene through the window.
“Well, birthday girl, here’s to you!”
“To the birthday girl!” came the response, and glasses clinked.
Nika smiled. How good it was to have such an older brother — caring, strong, and always nearby!
