— Nikita, go take a walk,» the mother-in-law addressed her son.
The man, who had been talking to his wife all this time, got distracted and looked at his mother.
«Half an hour,» she clarified, nodding toward the front door.
A week ago, Tatiana had registered at the civil registry office and was now the legal wife of her husband. She loved little Nikita—after all, why else get married? Gone were the days when parents conspired to arrange a wedding.
«It looks like Mom is going to teach you,» Nikita whispered quietly. «Or maybe…»
Tatiana had never been alone with her mother-in-law before, so fear appeared in her eyes.
«Don’t worry, if anything happens—just shout, I’ll come running.»
«Easy for you to say,» Tatiana replied with a heavy sigh.
«I’ll bring her back to you alive,» said Olga Viktorovna, understanding what the newlyweds were whispering about.
Nikita kissed his wife. He did so not to show his love, but simply because he felt like it—and Tatiana greatly appreciated that. Unlike other men, he did not hide his feelings. Nikita got dressed and, as he stepped out onto the landing, blew her a kiss.
«Well, that’s it; now they’ll be picking through my bones,» thought Tatiana as she sat down on the couch right opposite her mother-in-law.
Olga Viktorovna was short in stature. To say her hairstyle was neat would be an understatement. It was perfect, as if she had just come from the hairdresser. The woman loved powder—it was immediately noticeable. Perhaps she wanted to hide the pigmented spots on her face, or maybe she wanted to stave off aging.
«Well, now you’re a wife,» the mother-in-law finally pronounced.
«Yeah,» the daughter-in-law exhaled.
«And a wife has the same duties as a husband.»
«That’s for sure,» the young woman agreed.
«I’m very glad that my son has such a wife,» she said, then fell silent, perhaps pondering how to approach the main issue.
«We don’t fight. I’m already working, enrolled in courses, and we’re not planning on having children just yet,» Tatiana decided to get ahead of her mother-in-law and share her future plans.
«That’s good. Now listen, sweetheart,» Olga Viktorovna said, addressing her for the first time with the affectionate term «sweetheart»—it sounded kind at first, but something about that word was sticky and even unpleasant. «A wife now has not only rights but also obligations, just like a husband.»
«Cooking, cleaning?» Tatiana asked.
«Yes, and that too. But I’m talking about something else. Did Nikita ever tell you about money?»
Tatiana racked her memory but recalled nothing like that; so she merely shrugged in response.
«Well, then I’ll have to tell you. So, sweetheart,» the mother-in-law repeated for the third time, «your husband, my son, has a small debt.»
At the sound of this news, Tatiana tensed up.
«Don’t worry, it’s not as dire as it seems. Yes, the debt isn’t small—2.5 million.»
«What…» At that moment, Tatiana became all ears.
«Yes, it’s quite a sum—I agree, it’s unpleasant news that I must now relay to you. It’s odd that Nikita didn’t mention it first, but better I be the black crow bringing bad tidings. Two and a half million, not a kopeck less, but you’ll manage. More precisely, you’ll manage it.»
Tatiana still couldn’t understand what she had to do with this debt.
«And it’s all because you’re a wife—despite the fact that my son incurred this debt before you were married, you have to accept it as your own.»
«And what happened?» the daughter-in-law cautiously asked.
«That’s something you’ll ask your husband—if, of course, he tells you. But it doesn’t matter, I admit, it doesn’t matter at all. What matters is that you have a country house, the very one your father gave you.»
Tatiana immediately recalled the two-story cottage in which she had played with dolls in her childhood. Perhaps the dolls were still lying somewhere in a box.
«You’ll have to sell that house and cover your husband’s debts,» she emphasized on the last word—such are the duties of a wife.
The news was horrifying. Tatiana worked like everyone else; she received a salary, then allocated and spent it. But then she realized that she wasn’t spending money, but rather the time she spent at work. In other words, she was converting money’s equivalent into time. Look at these sneakers—they cost four days’ work; with the dress, even more—the total for all six, a manicure took half a day’s work, buying bread—30 minutes of her work time. Doesn’t that sound terrible? Well, it is.
The country house that her father had given her was worth a pretty penny. She didn’t know exactly how much, but it was at least equivalent to eight years of her work. «Eight years,» Tatiana repeated to herself, «and to give that up to pay off Nikita’s debt.» This prospect did not please her in the slightest.
«And what do I have to do with it?» the young woman blurted out involuntarily.
Olga Viktorovna smiled. She had been waiting for this question, so she had prepared her answer in advance—it was all too simple.
«Because you’re his wife, and a wife bears the same obligations, including expenses, as a husband. Just imagine: if you had debts, wouldn’t Nikita help you out?»
Tatiana thought it over. She really didn’t know how one would acquire such debts, but she imagined: if it was related to health, then yes, but everything else she immediately dismissed.
«Perhaps,» Tatiana mumbled so quietly.
«That’s good then—sell the country house, and give me the money; I’ll cover your husband’s debt.» Olga Viktorovna deliberately avoided saying «son» and continuously stressed the word «husband,» as if directly pinning it on Tatiana.
After half an hour, the mother-in-law left. The young woman was left home alone; for some reason, her fingers began to tremble, and she became frightened. The debt was huge, very huge. She hadn’t yet contemplated where it had come from for Nikita, but already at that moment she considered the debt as her personal burden.
Finally, the front door opened, and her husband appeared on the threshold.
«Good to see you’re alive,» Nikita said cheerfully.
Tatiana went out to meet him; her face was pale, she clasped her hands to her chest, looked at her husband, and then quietly asked:
«Do you have a debt?»
«Oh, so that’s what your mother was talking to you about.»
«So it’s true?»
«Yes, there’s a little bit.»
«A little bit?» Tatiana was astonished. «2.5 million is ‘a little bit’ to you?»
«Well,» he scratched his head, turned away, and entered the living room, «you see…»
«What’s your current salary?»
«45,» Nikita said quietly.
«45, and a debt of 2.5 million—is that a joke?» Tatiana couldn’t understand how a young man who had graduated from college just a year ago could suddenly be in such deep debt.
Tatiana turned away from her husband, fear taking hold. She had dreamed of a family, a home, traveling, dressing beautifully, going to the movies on weekends, buying bicycles and riding them. But after what her mother-in-law had said, she realized only one thing: she had no future, only work—and more work. For what? For some mythical debt that Nikita had already managed to hang around his neck.
«Where did it come from? Why?» Tatiana asked, though it hardly mattered where it had simply come from.
«It’s an old matter, but you’re right, there is a debt, and I need to settle it. Will you help me?» he asked cautiously.
Tatiana looked at her husband, a wry smile appearing on her face. He asked as if he were borrowing a trivial sum—100 rubles, maybe 1,000 or something like that, but not millions.
«I don’t know,» Tatiana admitted.
«Well, we’re a family, and in a family, everyone helps each other. I wouldn’t hesitate to give you anything.»
«Yes, you wouldn’t, if you had it. But you don’t.»
She turned away from her husband again, realizing that now she couldn’t avoid this debt. A wave of disgust washed over her, the sky immediately losing its rosy hue; her previous mood had completely vanished. Panic, fear, and hopelessness set in. Tatiana knew about debts firsthand: her neighbor had been running from collectors in the stairwell, probably having lived in another city for a year, but they eventually caught up with her. She had to sell her apartment, got divorced, and disappeared somewhere. Her friend Svetlana, if she took out a loan, would only take a small one—calculated on her six-month salary. It was a sensible approach: only for the most essential items—a washing machine, kitchen set, living room furniture.
«So, will you sell your country house?» Nikita asked as soon as Tatiana finished breakfast.
That question struck painfully, as if Tatiana had been slapped. She shuddered and looked at her husband in horror. At that very moment, Svetlana’s words echoed in her mind: «He’s a liar, a traitor, a coward.»
«I haven’t decided yet,» Tatiana honestly confessed.
«What do you mean ‘haven’t decided’? I will find a buyer who pays good money, and we’ll even have something left over.»
«I don’t know,» Tatiana repeated, and she headed toward the hallway. She needed to be alone to think about what to do.
She didn’t dare go to her mother-in-law. Surely, she would immediately suspect something and start a scandal—first with her son-in-law, and then with the mother-in-law. Family quarrels were the last thing Tatiana needed right now. So she decided to talk to Svetlana.
«Yes indeed,» her friend crossed her arms, stood up, and, approaching the window, apparently gazed out into the yard for a minute.
«What should I do?» Tatiana asked.
«I think,» Svetlana replied, raising a finger, «that this is my problem now.»
Another minute passed, then another. Finally, Tatiana couldn’t hold back and said:
«Don’t worry, these are my problems.»
«Yours?» Svetlana snorted. «Since when did someone else’s debt become your problem? I understood that Nikita’s debt existed even before you got married. Is that right?»
«It seems so.»
«Not just seems—it definitely is. And you mentioned your country house earlier, the one your father gave you?»
«Of course I did,» Tatiana admitted immediately. «We used to go there with Nikita; he liked it.»
«And you said it was yours now?»
«Yes.»
«Fool,» Svetlana blurted out involuntarily. «And after that, did he propose to you?»
For a few seconds, Tatiana pondered, mentally retracing all the dates and piecing together the sequence of events.
«Not immediately, but about two weeks later.»
«Two weeks later,» Svetlana snorted. «So here’s what’s happening: your husband got himself mixed up in some scam, incurred losses, and probably can’t cover the interest. And voila, his girlfriend—that is, you—apparently have a valuable asset in the form of real estate. Once he found that out, he immediately proposed to you, and then his heavy cavalry in the form of his mother joined the fray. After all, the mother-in-law is such a dear lady, the husband is beloved—how could you possibly refuse, when for love one can sacrifice everything, even a country house.»
«Somehow everything in your story sounds criminal,» Tatiana mumbled.
«Sorry, but that’s the only conclusion I’ve reached.»
«No, he’s not like that,» Tatiana attempted to defend her husband.
«Ha-ha,» the hostess theatrically said. «If he weren’t like that, then why would his mother demand that you sell your country house—and then your husband asks the same? Forget about your love for a moment; it’s clouding your judgment. Imagine if my husband had a debt—for example, he lost it in cards or on the stock market, it doesn’t matter—and then his dear old mom comes to me and says, ‘Cover your husband’s debt.’ How would you like that?»
Tatiana began to understand where her friend was leading. She got up from the couch and moved to the window. She had never thought about it like this before. «Really, why should I have to sell my property to pay someone else’s debt?» the thought occurred to her.
«He betrayed you,» Svetlana said coldly.
«Betrayed.»
«Yes, betrayed—it’s simpler to say, he deceived you. And why was the debt there before the wedding? Why didn’t he tell you right away? After all, your mother-in-law is right: all expenses are shared equally, so now part of the debt hangs on you. He deceived you. If he had told you immediately, you probably would have thought, ‘Why on earth do I need a husband with such baggage?'»
«I don’t even know,» Tatiana admitted.
«He hid it from you on purpose, and now that you’re married, he was too scared to say it, so he shifted the blame to his mother. She’s a neutral person; you can fight with her, not talk to her. But the debt won’t disappear. And once again, your dear Nikita is soft and warm, and you still love him and are willing to do anything for that idiot.»
«He’s not an idiot,» Tatiana said, hurt.
«I meant it metaphorically. But he’s a liar and a traitor. If he did this now, he’ll do it later too.»
«You make it sound so simple,» the friend returned to the couch, sat down, and began nervously fiddling with the belt on her dress.
«Someone has to open your eyes. I know what love is myself—it’s like addiction, you want more and more of that endless high. And your mother-in-law found the perfect time—right when you’re at the peak of your love for your husband.»
«So you’re saying Nikita proposed to me only because I have property that can be sold to pay off his debt?»
«Maybe yes. Or maybe not; I can’t say for sure,» Svetlana replied, «but the fact that he hid his debt from you is alarming, and even more outrageous is that his mother and your husband demand that you pay off his debts. You!» Svetlana’s final word was so loud that Tatiana jumped.
They talked a while longer about Nikita’s behavior, and then Svetlana shifted the topic.
Tatiana left her friend in anger, nearly coming to blows by accusing Svetlana of simply being jealous—after all, she was always bickering with her own husband. And Nikita wasn’t like that; he was gentle, affectionate, and loved her.
On her way home, she cursed her friend. She painted the whole situation in black, as if Nikita had only been waiting for her to sign the registry papers.
She stepped over the threshold of her home, inhaled the smell of fried potatoes, a smile appeared on her face, and for a moment all the dark thoughts about debt vanished.
«What’s for lunch?» Tatiana cheerfully asked, and as she entered the kitchen, she embraced her beloved man.
«Well, I’ve got fried potatoes with fried potatoes and, again, fried potatoes.»
«I love your fried potatoes,» the young woman said, kissing him.
The evening passed splendidly—they laughed, watched a movie, even took a walk, and then lay in bed for a long time. How she adored his hands, his lips, and the words he whispered in her ear. It was hypnosis, it was euphoria—perhaps that was the very happiness people spoke of so much.
Morning came unexpectedly, as if she had only just fallen asleep and it was already time to get up. Another work week, she had to run and do something—and for what? For the money that allowed her to live, buy food, pay the rent, and if anything was left, buy some clothes.
Economics is a cruel thing. Everyone seems to know what it is, yet no one really understands it. Have you ever wondered why there are mostly grocery stores in the city? Well, that’s obvious—without food, you can’t go anywhere. Then there are pharmacies—it’s a business; people are simply led to believe they’re sick. And then there are banks—banks make the profit. Just look at the government reports: every week there’s a report, “Sberbank made a profit of 17 billion” (this is approximate), but how much did a steel industry company earn? Oops—it turns out they had losses. Finances are arranged so that they will always be profitable. But anyway, that’s not what we’re discussing.
«So, when are we going to sell your country house?» Nikita asked one morning as soon as Tatiana finished breakfast.
That question hurt her deeply—as if Tatiana had been slapped. She shuddered and looked at her husband in horror. And at that very moment, Svetlana’s words echoed: «He’s a liar, a traitor, a coward.»
«I haven’t decided,» Tatiana admitted honestly.
«What do you mean ‘haven’t decided’? I’ll find a buyer for a good price, and we’ll even have something left over.»
«I don’t know,» she repeated, walking toward the corridor. She needed to be alone to think about what to do.
She didn’t dare go to her mother-in-law’s. Surely, she would immediately suspect something and start a scandal—first with her son-in-law, and then with the mother-in-law. Tatiana didn’t need family quarrels now. So, she decided to talk to Svetlana.
«Well,» her friend said, crossing her arms and standing by the window, «what should I do?»
«I think,» Svetlana replied, raising a finger, «that these are my problems now.»
Another minute passed, then another. Finally, Tatiana couldn’t hold it in any longer and said:
«Don’t worry, these are my problems.»
«Yours?» Svetlana snorted. «Since when did someone else’s debt become your problem? I understood that Nikita’s debt was there even before you got married. Right?»
«It seems so.»
«Not just seems—it certainly is. And you mentioned your country house earlier, the one your father gave you?»
«Of course I did,» Tatiana immediately admitted. «We used to go there with Nikita; he liked it.»
«And you said it was yours now?»
«Yes.»
«Fool,» Svetlana blurted out involuntarily. «And then he proposed to you?»
For a few seconds, Tatiana pondered, mentally retracing all the dates and piecing together the sequence of events.
«Not immediately, but about two weeks later.»
«Two weeks later,» Svetlana snorted. «So here’s what’s happening: your husband got himself involved in some scam, incurred losses, and probably can’t cover the interest. And voilà, his girlfriend—that is, you—apparently have a valuable asset in the form of real estate. Once he found that out, he immediately proposed to you, and then his heavy cavalry in the form of his mother stepped in. I mean, come on—a mother-in-law is a dear lady, a husband is beloved; how could you possibly refuse, when for love one can sacrifice everything, even a country house?»
«Somehow everything in your story sounds criminal,» Tatiana mumbled.
«Sorry, but that’s the only conclusion I’ve come to.»
«No, he’s not like that,» Tatiana tried to defend her husband.
«Ha-ha,» the hostess theatrically said. «If he weren’t like that, then why would his mother demand that you sell your country house, and then your husband demands the same? Now, put aside your love for a moment—it’s clouding your judgment. Imagine if my husband had a debt—for example, he lost it in cards or on the stock market, it doesn’t matter—and then his dear old mom comes to me and says, ‘Cover your husband’s debt.’ How would you like that?»
Tatiana began to understand where her friend was leading. She got up from the couch and moved to the window. She had never thought of it that way before. «Really, why should I have to sell my property and pay off someone else’s debt?» the thought occurred to her.
«He betrayed you,» Svetlana said coldly.
«Betrayed.»
«Yes, betrayed—simply put, he deceived you. And why was the debt there before the wedding? Why didn’t he tell you immediately? After all, your mother-in-law is right: all expenses are shared equally, so now part of the debt hangs on you. He deceived you. If he had told you from the start, you probably would have thought, ‘Why on earth do I need a husband with such baggage?'»
«I don’t even know,» Tatiana admitted.
«He hid it from you on purpose, and now that you’re married, he was too scared to say it, so he shifted the blame to his mother. She’s a neutral person—you can argue with her, not speak to her—but the debt won’t go away. And yet again, your Nikita, soft and warm, and you still love him and are ready to do anything for that idiot.»
«He’s not an idiot,» Tatiana said, hurt.
«I meant it metaphorically. But he’s a liar and a traitor. If he did this now, he’ll do it later too.»
«You make it sound so simple,» her friend returned to the couch, sat down, and began nervously fiddling with the belt on her dress.
«Someone has to open your eyes. I know what love is—it’s like drug addiction; you just want more and more of that endless high. And your mother-in-law found the perfect time—right when you’re at the peak of your love for your husband.»
«So you’re saying that Nikita proposed to me only because I have property that can be sold to pay off his debt?»
«Maybe yes. Or maybe not—I can’t say for sure,» Svetlana replied, «but the fact that he hid his debt from you is alarming, and even more outrageous is that his mother and your husband demand that you pay off his debts. You!» Svetlana’s final word was so loud that Tatiana jumped.
They talked for a while longer about Nikita’s behavior, and then Svetlana shifted the topic.
Tatiana left her friend in anger; she almost got into a fight, accusing Svetlana of simply being jealous since she was always bickering with her own husband. And Nikita wasn’t like that—he was gentle, affectionate, and loved her.
On her way home, she cursed her friend. She painted the whole situation in dark colors, as if Nikita had been just waiting for her to sign the registry papers.
She stepped over the threshold of her home, inhaled the scent of fried potatoes, a smile appeared on her face, and for a moment all the dark thoughts about debt evaporated.
«So, what’s for lunch?» she cheerfully asked, and upon entering the kitchen, she embraced her beloved man.
«Well, I have fried potatoes with fried potatoes and, again, fried potatoes.»
«I adore your fried potatoes,» the young woman said, kissing him.
The evening passed splendidly—they laughed, watched a movie, even took a walk, and then lay in bed for a long time. How she adored his hands, his lips, and the words he whispered in her ear. It was hypnosis, euphoria—maybe that was the very happiness people talked about so much.
Morning came unexpectedly, as if she had only just fallen asleep and it was already time to get up. Another workweek, she had to run and do something—and for what? For money that allowed her to live, to buy food, pay the rent, and if anything was left, buy some clothes.
Economics is a cruel thing. Everyone seems to know what it is, yet nobody truly understands it. Have you ever wondered why most of the shops in the city are grocery stores? Well, that’s clear—without food, you go nowhere. Then there are pharmacies—it’s a business; people are made to believe they’re sick. And then there are banks—banks are the ones making profits. Look at the government reports: every week there’s a report—»Sberbank earned a profit of 17 billion» (this is approximate), but how much did a steel company earn? Oops, it turns out they had losses. Finances are structured in such a way that they will always be profitable. But anyway, that’s not the point.
«So, when are we going to sell your country house?» Nikita asked as soon as Tatiana finished breakfast.
That question hurt her deeply, as if Tatiana had been slapped. She shuddered and looked at her husband in horror. And at that very moment, Svetlana’s words echoed in her mind: «He’s a liar, a traitor, a coward.»
«I haven’t decided,» Tatiana admitted honestly.
«What do you mean ‘haven’t decided’? I’ll find a buyer at a good price, and we’ll even have something left over.»
«I don’t know,» she repeated, and she headed toward the corridor. She needed to be alone to think about what to do.
She didn’t dare go to her mother-in-law’s place—surely, she would immediately suspect something and start a scandal, first with her son-in-law, and then with her own mother. Tatiana didn’t need any family quarrels right now. So she decided to talk to Svetlana.
«Well then,» her friend said, crossing her arms as she stood by the window, «what should I do?»
«I think,» Svetlana replied, raising a finger, «that these are my problems now.»
Another minute passed, then another. Finally, Tatiana couldn’t hold it in any longer and said:
«Don’t worry, these are my problems.»
«Yours?» Svetlana snorted. «Since when did someone else’s debt become your problem? I understood that Nikita’s debt existed even before you got married. Right?»
«It seems so.»
«Not just seems—it certainly is. And you mentioned your country house earlier, the one your father gave you?»
«Of course I did,» Tatiana immediately admitted. «We used to go there with Nikita; he liked it.»
«And you said it was yours now?»
«Yes.»
«Fool,» Svetlana blurted out involuntarily. «And then he proposed to you?»
For a few seconds, Tatiana pondered, mentally retracing all the dates and piecing together the sequence of events.
«Not immediately, but about two weeks later.»
«Two weeks later,» Svetlana snorted. «So here’s what’s happening: your husband got himself involved in some scam, incurred losses, and probably can’t cover the interest. And voilà, his girlfriend—that is, you—apparently has a valuable asset in the form of real estate. Once he found that out, he immediately proposed to you, and then his heavy cavalry in the form of his mother stepped in. I mean, come on—a mother-in-law is a dear lady, and a husband is beloved; how could you possibly refuse, when for love one can sacrifice everything, even a country house?»
«Somehow everything in your story sounds criminal,» Tatiana mumbled.
«Sorry, but that’s the only conclusion I’ve come to.»
«No, he’s not like that,» Tatiana tried to defend her husband.
«Ha-ha,» the hostess theatrically said. «If he weren’t like that, then why would his mother demand that you sell your country house, and then your husband demands the same? Now, forget about your love for a moment—it’s clouding your judgment. Imagine if my husband had a debt—for example, he lost it in cards or on the stock market, it doesn’t matter—and then his dear old mom comes to me and says, ‘Cover your husband’s debt.’ How would you like that?»
Tatiana began to understand where her friend was leading. She got up from the couch and moved to the window. She had never thought of it that way before. «Really, why should I have to sell my property and pay off someone else’s debt?» the thought occurred to her.
«He betrayed you,» Svetlana said coldly.
«Betrayed.»
«Yes, betrayed—simply put, he deceived you. And why was the debt there before the wedding? Why didn’t he tell you immediately? After all, your mother-in-law is right: all expenses are shared equally, so now part of the debt hangs on you. He deceived you. If he had told you right away, you probably would have thought, ‘Why on earth do I need a husband with such baggage?'»
«I don’t even know,» Tatiana admitted.
«He hid it from you on purpose, and now that you’re married, he was too scared to say it, so he shifted the blame to his mother. She’s a neutral person—you can argue with her, not talk to her—but the debt won’t go away. And yet again, your dear Nikita, soft and warm, and you still love him and are ready to do anything for that idiot.»
«He’s not an idiot,» Tatiana said, hurt.
«I meant it metaphorically. But he’s a liar and a traitor. If he did this now, he’ll do it later too.»
«You make it sound so simple,» her friend returned to the couch, sat down, and began nervously fiddling with the belt on her dress.
«Someone has to open your eyes. I know what love is—I would compare it to drug addiction; you just crave more and more of that endless high. And your mother-in-law found the perfect time—right when you’re at the peak of your love for your husband.»
«So you’re saying that Nikita proposed to me only because I have property that can be sold to pay off his debt?»
«Maybe yes. Or maybe not—I can’t say for sure,» Svetlana replied, «but the fact that he hid his debt from you is alarming, and even more outrageous is that his mother and your husband demand that you pay off his debts. You!» Svetlana’s final word was so loud that Tatiana jumped.
They talked a while longer about Nikita’s behavior, and then Svetlana shifted the topic.
Tatiana left her friend in anger; she nearly got into a fight, accusing Svetlana of simply being jealous since she was always bickering with her own husband. And Nikita wasn’t like that; he was gentle, affectionate, and loved her.
On her way home, she cursed her friend. She painted the whole situation in dark colors, as if Nikita had been just waiting for her to sign the registry papers.
She stepped over the threshold of her home, inhaled the scent of fried potatoes, a smile appeared on her face, and for a moment all the dark thoughts about debt evaporated.
«What’s for lunch?» she cheerfully asked, and as she entered the kitchen, she embraced her beloved man.
«Well, I have fried potatoes with fried potatoes and, again, fried potatoes.»
«I adore your fried potatoes,» the young woman said, kissing him.
The evening passed splendidly—they laughed, watched a movie, even took a walk, and then lay in bed for a long time. How she adored his hands, his lips, and the words he whispered in her ear. It was hypnosis, it was euphoria—maybe that was the very happiness people talked about so much.
Morning came unexpectedly, as if she had only just fallen asleep and it was already time to get up. Another workweek, she had to run and do something—and for what? For money that allowed her to live, buy food, pay the rent, and if anything was left, buy some clothes.
Economics is a cruel thing. Everyone seems to know what it is, yet nobody really understands it. Have you ever wondered why most of the stores in the city are grocery stores? Well, that’s clear—without food, you go nowhere. Then there are pharmacies—it’s a business; people are made to believe they’re sick. And then there are banks—banks are the ones making profits. Look at the government reports: every week there’s a report—“Sberbank earned a profit of 17 billion” (this is approximate), but how much did a steel company earn? Oops, it turns out they had losses. Finances are arranged so that they will always be profitable. But anyway, that’s not the point.
«So, when are we going to sell your country house?» Nikita asked as soon as Tatiana finished breakfast.
That question struck her painfully, as if Tatiana had been slapped. She shuddered and looked at her husband in horror. And at that moment, Svetlana’s words echoed in her mind: «He’s a liar, a traitor, a coward.»
«I haven’t decided,» Tatiana admitted honestly.
«What do you mean ‘haven’t decided’? I’ll find a buyer at a good price, and we’ll even have something left over.»
«I don’t know,» she repeated, and she headed toward the corridor. She needed to be alone to think about what to do.
She didn’t dare go to her mother-in-law’s place—surely, she would immediately suspect something and start a scandal, first with her son-in-law, and then with her mother-in-law. Tatiana didn’t need family quarrels right now. So, she decided to talk to Svetlana.
«Well then,» her friend said, crossing her arms as she stood by the window, «what should I do?»
«I think,» Svetlana replied, raising a finger, «that these are my problems now.»
Another minute passed, then another. Finally, Tatiana couldn’t hold it in any longer and said:
«Don’t worry, these are my problems.»
«Yours?» Svetlana snorted. «Since when did someone else’s debt become your problem? I understood that Nikita’s debt existed even before you got married. Right?»
«It seems so.»
«Not just seems—it certainly is. And you mentioned your country house earlier, the one your father gave you?»
«Of course I did,» Tatiana immediately admitted. «We used to go there with Nikita; he liked it.»
«And you said it was yours now?»
«Yes.»
«Fool,» Svetlana blurted out involuntarily. «And then he proposed to you?»
For a few seconds, Tatiana pondered, mentally retracing all the dates and piecing together the sequence of events.
«Not immediately, but about two weeks later.»
«Two weeks later,» Svetlana snorted. «So here’s what’s happening: your husband got himself involved in some scam, incurred losses, and probably can’t cover the interest. And voilà, his girlfriend—that is, you—apparently has a valuable asset in the form of real estate. Once he found that out, he immediately proposed to you, and then his heavy cavalry in the form of his mother stepped in. I mean, come on—a mother-in-law is a dear lady, and a husband is beloved; how could you possibly refuse, when for love one can sacrifice everything, even a country house?»
«Somehow everything in your story sounds criminal,» Tatiana mumbled.
«Sorry, but that’s the only conclusion I’ve come to.»
«No, he’s not like that,» Tatiana tried to defend her husband.
«Ha-ha,» the hostess theatrically said. «If he weren’t like that, then why would his mother demand that you sell your country house, and then your husband demand the same? Now, forget about your love for a moment—it’s clouding your judgment. Imagine if my husband had a debt—for example, he lost it in cards or on the stock market, it doesn’t matter—and then his dear old mom comes to me and says, ‘Cover your husband’s debt.’ How would you like that?»
Tatiana began to understand where her friend was leading. She got up from the couch and moved to the window. She had never thought of it that way before. «Really, why should I have to sell my property and pay off someone else’s debt?» the thought occurred to her.
«He betrayed you,» Svetlana said coldly.
«Betrayed.»
«Yes, betrayed—simply put, he deceived you. And why was the debt there before the wedding? Why didn’t he tell you immediately? After all, your mother-in-law is right: all expenses are shared equally, so now part of the debt hangs on you. He deceived you. If he had told you from the start, you probably would have thought, ‘Why on earth do I need a husband with such baggage?'»
«I don’t even know,» Tatiana admitted.
«He hid it from you on purpose, and now that you’re married, he was too scared to say it, so he shifted the blame to his mother. She’s a neutral person—you can argue with her, not talk to her—but the debt won’t go away. And yet again, your dear Nikita, soft and warm, and you still love him and are ready to do anything for that idiot.»
«He’s not an idiot,» Tatiana said, hurt.
«I meant it metaphorically. But he’s a liar and a traitor. If he did this now, he’ll do it later too.»
«You make it sound so simple,» her friend concluded, as she returned to the couch, sat down, and nervously fiddled with her dress belt.
