Kolya, this is simply outrageous! What’s going on? – Anna Sergeyevna greeted her son with these words as soon as he crossed the threshold of his apartment.
What happened? – Nikolai was surprised. – Didn’t Yulia meet you, or was she late?
Your wife is not home at all! – Anna Sergeyevna stated. – There’s no food. The room for us is not ready! The neighbor, who you left a key with just in case, opened the door for us.
I don’t understand, – Nikolai was also puzzled.
He grabbed his phone and dialed his wife’s number. However, her phone was turned off. The man was clearly confused.
Where’s dad? – he asked.
He fell asleep in your bedroom, right on top of the blanket, – Anna Sergeyevna reported. – He was really tired from the trip, and with this situation, his blood pressure went up.
Anna Sergeyevna looked questioningly at her son, while Nikolai anxiously wondered what had happened and where his wife had gone.
Just to be sure, he cautiously entered the bedroom so as not to wake his father and checked the wardrobes. It seemed to him that all of his wife Yulia’s things were in place. She had left no note, and he had received no messages from her. This morning, Yulia had acted as if nothing was wrong.
Nikolai had reminded her of his parents’ visit, but she hadn’t responded. And the man had gone to work calmly, sure that everything would be as usual. After all, Yulia knew how to handle things.
Nikolai returned to the living room, where his mother was waiting.
Son, we need something to eat, – his mother said. – We were expecting a different kind of reception. And your fridge is nearly empty. There’s not even any food, let alone prepared meals.
I should have bought something, – Nikolai noted. – The store is just around the corner.
We don’t have enough money with us, – Anna Sergeyevna said. – We’re used to something else.
Nikolai sighed, grabbed his phone, opened the banking app, and checked his balance.
Alright, I’ll figure something out, – he said, heading out the door.
But Nikolai didn’t get the chance to leave. What happened next was something neither he nor his parents expected.
What a long drive we had! – Anna Sergeyevna declared, as she crossed the threshold of her son’s apartment. – I told you, you should have moved closer to us.
Nikolai just smiled awkwardly, helping bring his parents’ things into the apartment.
Mom, this isn’t my place, – he asked. – It’s Yulia’s apartment, talk to her.
Yulia, Nikolai’s wife, had just come out of the kitchen to greet the guests.
– Yulia, sell this apartment and buy a house closer to us, – Nikolai’s father, Alexander Ivanovich, interrupted the conversation. – We’re not as young as we used to be, and it’s tough for us to travel so far. And when you have kids, you won’t be able to make that trip. Why are you sticking to this city?
– This apartment was left to me by my parents, and every corner of it is dear to me, so I’m not planning on selling it, – Yulia said. – Besides, both of us work in the city.
Her in-laws grimaced but stayed silent. They didn’t want to spoil the beginning of their visit.
– We’re so hungry! What’s for lunch today? – Alexander Ivanovich asked. – I still remember that stuffed fish you made last time! And the salad with mushrooms and crab, it was a dream.
Yulia just sighed in response. Right now, she and her husband were facing financial problems. Nikolai had recently totaled the car in an accident. In addition to the repairs, he had to pay compensation to the victims, since the accident had been his fault. Almost all of Nikolai’s money was going to cover the post-accident issues, and they were living off Yulia’s income. For the in-laws’ visit, Yulia had to dip into her savings. In fact, her in-laws’ visit had come at a very inconvenient time. But Yulia decided to keep her comments to herself.
– Fine, I’ll make something tomorrow, – Yulia said. – But today I’ll make roast and a “Pomegranate Bracelet” salad.
That’s not bad, – Alexander Ivanovich said, rubbing his hands as he headed for the kitchen.
His wife wasn’t far behind. They decided not to wait for Yulia and Nikolai to set the table in the living room.
We’re simple people, – Alexander Ivanovich declared. – We’re fine in the kitchen.
Nikolai himself had come from a village where his parents still lived. Since the start of his and Yulia’s marriage, his in-laws had been urging them to move in with them and rent out Yulia’s city apartment.
We’d help you around the house, and you’d make good money, – they said. – We’ve already found a little house for you close to us.
But Yulia had flatly refused at the time, and Nikolai hadn’t supported his parents’ idea either.
I didn’t leave there to come back, – the man said.
Although Yulia had a good relationship with her in-laws, she didn’t want to leave the life she was used to. And, really, she didn’t want to leave the city at all.
This time, her husband’s parents decided to stay for a week.
While they ate and praised their daughter-in-law’s cooking, chatting about this and that, the evening came.
Nikolai’s parents moved into the room that had been prepared for them. Yulia, on the other hand, was annoyed as she looked at the mess the guests had left in the kitchen.
Nikolai had gotten a call from work, so all the cleaning fell on the shoulders of the apartment’s hostess.
When Yulia finally cleaned up and took a shower, she stretched out on the bed with special pleasure. She understood she could easily sleep for an entire day. For the visit of her in-laws, she had taken unpaid leave from work. But just as she was about to fall into the arms of Morpheus, there was a knock on the door. Her mother-in-law peeked into the bedroom.
I didn’t think you’d go to bed so early, – she remarked.
Yulia forced a smile.
It’s been a long evening, – she replied. – Is something urgent?
I brought our list of food requests for tomorrow, – her mother-in-law said, handing her a written list. – We decided not to be modest.
Yulia was horrified at the list. She imagined how much time and money it would take to satisfy her in-laws’ whims. Nikolai returned to the bedroom and also took a look at the list.
Wow, my parents sure are gourmets, – he remarked.
Yulia didn’t share her husband’s cheerful mood.
I’m not laughing, – she said. – You figure out how much money all this will cost.
Nikolai just grunted in response.
There’s money in the account, so don’t make a fuss over nothing. You found a problem!
Did you forget that we were planning repairs? – Yulia asked.
So what? – Nikolai responded irritably. – And what about my parents? Should they sit hungry?
But why do they need delicacies every day? – Yulia was outraged. – They could eat the same food we eat.
Nikolai frowned in response.
No, I’m not going to restrict my father and mother! Cook what they asked for.
Yulia sighed resignedly.
And again, the whole day was spent at the stove and with the mop. Her husband’s parents categorically refused to help, even putting their own cup in the sink.
On the third day, Yulia hinted that she couldn’t handle it alone, but Anna Sergeyevna frowned in response.
What, do you want me to work? We’re your guests.
Yulia remained silent again, though she angrily cursed herself for her cowardice. And the money in the account was melting away like spring snow.
Her in-laws didn’t limit themselves in entertainment and cultural activities either. It was either a movie, an exhibition, or a park. Nikolai paid for everything, and Yulia found out about it by accident. She was outraged because her husband hadn’t contributed a single penny to their family budget for a long time.
Why didn’t you consult with me? Kolya, you need money to deal with the accident. And you’re wasting it!
I want my parents to have a good time! – Nikolai was indignant. – I’m doing everything for that.
So am I, – Yulia replied. – And I’m serving them.
Kolya snorted but didn’t answer his wife.
The farewell dinner in honor of the in-laws’ departure could have made an elite restaurant guest envious.
Yulia smiled, but inside she counted the minutes until her husband’s parents finally left.
– Yulia, everything was wonderful! – her father-in-law said at the table.
Thank you, I tried! – Yulia lied without batting an eye.
So now we’re waiting for you to visit us, – Anna Sergeyevna said.
Of course, after the in-laws’ departure, there were arguments.
We blew our two-month budget in a week! – Yulia was outraged.
Yulia, why don’t you understand? – Nikolai seemed genuinely surprised. – I couldn’t refuse my parents.
By the way, there was no return invitation from the in-laws. But Yulia didn’t really want to go to them either. She and Nikolai had finally resolved the aftermath of the accident and started saving for a summer vacation. Yulia was already looking at tours.
Suddenly, Nikolai shocked her with the news that his parents were planning to visit again.
Kolya, are you joking? – Yulia was outraged. – I won’t survive their visit a second time.
Yulia, they’re my parents, – Nikolai insisted. – We’ll have to cancel the trip to the sea. We need to organize a proper reception for them.
Yulia didn’t argue anymore.
The next morning, before the parents arrived, Nikolai reminded his wife of the need to greet them, feed them, and accommodate them, while he went to the office. At lunch, he decided to leave early to come home, where his mother greeted him with some strange news.
When Nikolai was about to leave for the store, the intercom rang.
Finally showed up, – the man said, thinking it was his wife returning home.
Confident, he opened the door without asking. But it wasn’t Yulia. On the doorstep stood her younger brother Pavel and his friend. Both men were tall and strong.
Sister asked us to help you move out of the apartment, – Pavel said.
What do you mean, move out? – Nikolai was surprised.
Like this, – Pavel clarified. – Kolya, this concerns you too. Yulka is filing for divorce. So start packing, and we’ll wait. You’ll give me the keys later.
No one dared to argue with the imposing visitors. An hour later, the whole family headed for the exit.
We should have hired movers, – Alexander Ivanovich said uncertainly, glancing at Pavel.
Hire them, – Pavel allowed. – I can give you the number of a cheap service.
And where’s Yulia herself? – Nikolai finally decided to ask.
She went to the sea, – Pavel said. – She bought a ticket, booked a hotel, and left.
So that’s why Nikolai thought all of his wife’s things were in place. Yulia had only taken summer clothes with her. The man didn’t even know what he was supposed to feel at that moment. Thoughts and emotions were confused. And Pavel looked at him with a bit of mockery.
Nikolai had to take leave from work and temporarily move in with his parents while he searched for other housing. Upon returning from vacation, Yulia changed the locks in the apartment. They divorced by proxy.
