— Where’s the soup I made yesterday? — Sveta asked indignantly.
— I threw it out, — her mother-in-law replied briskly, stirring something in the pan. — It was too watery. I made a new one — richer and thicker. A man needs to be well fed!
Sveta and Lesha lived in a small but cozy apartment on the outskirts of the city. Their life seemed harmonious: Milana, their two-year-old daughter, had just started going to kindergarten, and Sveta could finally think about going back to work. She dreamed of a career, having her own money, and the freedom she lost while on maternity leave. But Lesha saw the future differently.
— Well, now that Milanka goes to kindergarten, it’s time for the second one, — he said in the evenings, hugging Sveta by the shoulders. — It’s about time to have a boy, otherwise the relatives will laugh.
— Which relatives? Mine are fine with both girls and boys, — his wife replied.
— You know what I mean. Don’t play dumb. My father is unhappy, he’s waiting for a grandson to carry on the family name. Otherwise, Milana will marry some Ivanova or something.
— Funny. Silantyeva is some kind of godsend, not a surname, right? — Sveta laughed, and her husband grew even more serious.
— So, you have a month to think about it, — her husband said, pulling away.
— And if I don’t decide? You’ll find a new wife? You’ll have a harem and a kid from each wife, — the wife joked on.
— You’ll see what happens.
— Lesh, let’s at least wait until next fall, — Sveta brushed it off. — Let Milana adapt to kindergarten, stop getting sick. And I want to work, help with the family finances. You know yourself, we never have enough money for anything…
— What are you hinting at? That I’m a bad husband?
— Not at all, but I’d like to renovate the apartment. Your money only covers daily expenses, and we can’t save up for anything big, — Sveta admitted shyly.
Her husband got offended and went to the kitchen, and Sveta stayed sitting on the couch looking for new job openings. She decided to quit her old job and find a place closer to home to save commuting time.
In the morning, Sveta, as usual, got up first. Milana was still snoring softly in bed, tightly hugging her plush cat. Sveta smiled — her daughter was so sweet and always lifted her mood. Sveta quickly prepared clothes, and half an hour later, they were already walking hand in hand to the kindergarten.
— Mom, are you going to work today? — Milana asked, yawning.
— Almost, sunshine. First, I’ll talk to the lady there, maybe I’m a good fit.
— Okay… Will you buy me my favorite marshmallows on the way back?
— Definitely, — Sveta laughed.
The farewell at the kindergarten gates was short. Milana was getting used to the new place and even found a friend. Sveta watched her until Milana went to the teacher, then exhaled.
She got on the tram, checking the address of the new place on her phone. Today — three interviews, but she especially hoped for the bank: a cashier position with training, stable salary, and most importantly — just two stops from home. It was almost perfect.
It had already been three weeks since Sveta started seriously looking for a job. During that time, she had visited more than ten places: somewhere the schedule was inconvenient, somewhere the salary level was low, and somewhere her intuition just said — don’t bother. Sveta didn’t want to take just any job. She wanted a stable place.
She approached the bank a bit nervously. She was politely received. The HR manager was a friendly woman who asked specific questions and listened carefully to her answers. At the end of the conversation, the woman smiled:
— We’ll call you back within three days, but honestly, you’re a very good fit for us.
Sveta thanked her, holding back emotions. Only after stepping outside did she allow herself a smile. She felt this was exactly what she had been waiting for. A calm place, free training, and good pay.
That evening Sveta cooked dinner with special inspiration. She set stew with potatoes, salad, and homemade compote on the table. When Lesha came back from work, she had already laid the table.
— Is this some kind of celebration? — he asked suspiciously, taking off his shoes. — It smells delicious.
— I just wanted to make you happy. And by the way, I have good news, — Sveta said calmly.
— You finally got pregnant? — her husband immediately perked up.
— No, Lesh, — Sveta clicked her tongue disapprovingly. — I found a job.
— Oh… well… You know I didn’t want you to work.
Sveta froze for a second.
— Maybe I’ll decide for myself? Because it feels like you see me only as a baby-making machine. Did you ever care what I want?
— So? — Alexey crossed his arms.
— I want to feel not just like a mom and wife but also fulfilled. I’m not asking for your permission. I’m stating facts.
Lesha sat down and leaned back in the chair unhappily.
— Talking to you has become impossible.
— Because before I was silent, — Sveta took her fork. — You just shut me up because you were the only breadwinner in the family.
He didn’t reply. Dinner passed in silence. But for the first time in a long time, Sveta felt… a small victory. She didn’t yet know what surprise her husband had in store for her.
Sveta learned quickly and with interest at the bank. She liked feeling needed, diving into new processes, learning, and realizing she was doing as well as others. Her mentor even once said:
— You have a bright mind. It’s clear you didn’t lose your brains on maternity leave. You know what’s funny?
— What? — Sveta asked curiously.
— Usually, when we hire women fresh from maternity leave, all they have in their heads is the song “Blue Tractor,” — she laughed.
Sveta smiled and instantly thought that if she had listened to her husband, she’d be the same…
Every morning, Sveta woke Milana, got her ready for kindergarten, cooked breakfast, and then rushed to study. Evenings were the same: kindergarten, dinner, bath, bedtime story. Lesha hardly participated. He thought that everything related to the child and household was “women’s business.”
Sometimes he would bring home groceries but even then expected praise and recognition. Sveta had no time for quarrels and scandals. For her, the main thing now was to get a job and stand on her own feet.
One day, tired but happy after a productive day, Sveta picked up Milana, bought her favorite marshmallows, and they went up to their floor together. The girl chattered non-stop:
— Mom, Varya from kindergarten has a dog! Can you imagine? A real, living one! She said I could visit them… Or maybe we could even walk the dog together. Or maybe we should get a dog?
Sveta listened attentively while trying to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge. It turned out the door wasn’t locked.
“Did I forget to lock it in the morning rush?” she thought, a chill running down her spine.
Sveta suddenly opened the door to inspect the apartment quickly. Then she heard the clinking of cups and a voice from the kitchen. Sveta immediately took off her shoes, ran to the kitchen, leaving her daughter in the hallway — and froze.
At the table, sipping tea from a floral mug, sat her mother-in-law — Galina Anatolyevna. Her hair neatly tied up, her favorite down shawl on her shoulders (although it was warm inside), her expression very pleased.
— Galina Anatolyevna? — Sveta exhaled, hugging Milana who came running after her. — How did you get here?
— You took your time! — her mother-in-law said calmly, putting down the spoon. — I came to stay for a week. Lesha brought me today.
— Was he not at work? That’s half a day lost just traveling back and forth.
— Son said he took the day off. Now he went to the store. He wanted some city sausage.
— Really? — Sveta answered, puzzled.
She silently put the grocery bag on the floor. Galina Anatolyevna lived in another city, three hundred kilometers away. She rarely came, but when she did — she acted like the mistress. Sveta hadn’t said anything when Lesha came out from the hallway.
— Oh, you’re here! Did you meet mom? I told you it would be a surprise.
— A wonderful surprise, — Sveta gritted through her teeth.
— Mom will stay with us for a while. You don’t mind, right?
Sveta looked at her daughter — who was already kicking off her boots and running to grandma.
— Grandma! Will you live with us?
— Of course, my dear. I brought you jam and a dress.
— Sveta, — Lesha addressed her, pretending not to notice her changed expression, — mom really liked our new kitchen. But she said the color choice was unfortunate.
Sveta couldn’t find words for her husband’s audacity. He decided that without asking or warning, he could just bring his mother to stay while she was away.
She felt a storm rising inside but held herself back. Calmly, she picked up the bag and went to the kitchen.
— I’ll make dinner, — she said quietly.
— What’s wrong with you? Tired? — the mother-in-law asked with a forced smile. — Relax. Husband is at work, child is at kindergarten. You’ve got everything arranged. Now you’ve become a career woman? Who will take care of the house?
Sveta slowly turned around:
— I managed alone before. I’ll manage now.
— Look at you, so serious. And can’t talk back! — Galina Anatolyevna squinted.
Lesha felt the tension rising and quickly slipped into the bathroom.
Sveta stood by the stove chopping vegetables so hard cucumbers flew and fell on the floor.
In the evening, when Sveta just came home from work, she heard loud voices from the kitchen. Galina Anatolyevna was already bossing her son around:
— Leshenka, are you drinking tea without sugar? That’s disgusting! Here, take some milk and add plenty of sugar.
Sveta slipped off her shoes and entered the kitchen. Her eyes immediately fell on her husband’s plate full of soup with a thick layer of fat on top.
— Where’s the soup I made yesterday? — Sveta asked indignantly.
— I threw it out, — the mother-in-law replied briskly, stirring something in the pan. — It was too watery. I made a new one — richer and thicker. A man needs to be well fed!
Sveta was silent and looked at her husband with dissatisfaction. She had spent an hour and a half yesterday cooking chicken soup — exactly the kind Milana loved.
— You had no right to throw out my food, — Sveta said through clenched teeth.
— Oh, come on, — Galina Anatolyevna waved her hand. — What a fuss. Found something to argue about.
Lesha, who was busy eating a salo sandwich, just shrugged:
— So what? Mom cooks better. Don’t fight over food.
Sveta sharply turned and went to the bathroom. She felt that if she stayed one minute longer, she’d explode and say too much.
The next day the situation repeated. Returning from work, Sveta found the kitchen in chaos: oil splatters on the walls, and her favorite ceramic pan — a gift from her mother — was smoking on the stove.
— What are you doing?! — Sveta screamed, grabbing the pan. The bottom was covered with black burnt bits of dough.
— Fried some pies, — the mother-in-law replied indifferently. — Never cooked before?
— Look at what you did to the pan?
— Sorry. We’re from the village, we don’t know what kind of fancy pans you have here, — Galina Anatolyevna snorted. — You work now — so buy a new one.
Lesha, sitting at the table, didn’t even look up from his phone:
— Sveta, maybe stop it already? Something wrong at work? That’s why you take it out on my mother every evening?
— Work is going great. Finished training today. First workday tomorrow.
— We were so worried about you, — said Galina Anatolyevna with a hint of sarcasm.
The last straw was that same evening. Sveta was washing dishes when her mother-in-law sat across from her, folding her hands on the table.
— Well, it’s time to have a woman’s talk, — she began. — You’re already thirty. Time to have the second one, or it’ll be too late.
— Galina Anatolyevna, that’s none of your business, — Sveta replied coldly.
— How is it not my business? It’s my grandson! Lesha wants a son, and are you against it?
— I’m against you and Lesha deciding for me!
— What do you understand?! — the mother-in-law raised her voice. — A man should be the boss! And now that you went to work, you’re acting all high and mighty!
Sveta slammed her palm on the table sharply.
— Enough! — she exclaimed. — Lesha and I will decide what to do ourselves. It’s none of your business! If you want a baby so badly, have one yourself.
Galina Anatolyevna opened her mouth, but Sveta already went to her husband in the living room:
— Lesha, maybe your mom has stayed long enough?
Lesha was surprised; it was the first time he saw his wife so angry.
— What’s your problem?
— I just want to rest after work at home, not clean the kitchen every evening because of your mother!
— Then you shouldn’t have worked. And anyway, mom will live with us now while you work. When you go on maternity leave, then we’ll talk.
Silence fell in the room. Even Milana, playing in the corner, froze.
Galina Anatolyevna suddenly got up and started to hysterically cry:
— How dare you talk about me like that! I raised my son, helped him buy an apartment!
— My parents bought the apartment, — Sveta said coldly. — And if Lesha can’t be a man and protect his family, then I don’t need such a husband.
Lesha finally stood up.
— Do you hear yourself? Wake up! Seems like you believe in yourself too much.
— No, dear! You believe in yourself too much. With your salary, you should be more humble. He wants a child, — Sveta laughed bitterly. — You’ll change your mind. The door is right there if you forgot. Pack your things and get out.
— What are you doing? Lesha took a glass of water and poured it right into Sveta’s face.
She was stunned, Milana started crying and ran to her mother. Then Sveta fiercely wiped the water off her face with one hand.
— Out! Can’t you hear? — she screamed so loudly that even Galina Anatolyevna was frightened and ran to the room to get her things.
— You’ll regret this! — Lesha breathed in Sveta’s face.
— Someday, for sure. But definitely not today!
They packed quickly. Galina Anatolyevna was as quiet as a mouse, only carefully asking her daughter-in-law where Lesha’s things were because he himself didn’t know.
Before leaving, Lesha turned and said angrily:
— Don’t expect alimony. Don’t even hope.
— We’ll see what the court decides, — Svetlana crossed her arms.
Two months later they divorced. No matter how hard he tried to fake income documents, Alexey was assigned a certain amount of alimony he would have to pay monthly. He didn’t even remember about his daughter. Sveta only knew that her ex-husband quickly found a replacement with an apartment.
There was one more thing that surprised Sveta. A few days after the divorce process ended, Galina Anatolyevna called and apologized. Sveta never contacted her ex’s family again, and four years later she remarried and had a son — because she wanted to, not because someone “needed” her to.
