Ekaterina belonged to the category of people who maintain faith in the best even in the most difficult times. Even after meeting Igor’s mother, she did not lose her optimism. The future mother-in-law’s gaze was cold and judgmental, as if she was evaluating whether Katya deserved her son.
“So, you’re an interior designer?” Anna Petrovna said skeptically, pursing her lips as she carefully studied her future daughter-in-law. “It’s quite an… unreliable occupation.”
“Mom!” Igor tried to intervene, but Katya gently squeezed his hand under the table.
“I create interiors for private homes and apartments,” Katya explained with a smile, remaining calm. “I have a stable income and regular clients.”
Anna Petrovna merely grumbled disapprovingly and returned to her plate. The lunch was filled with a tense atmosphere, but Katya attributed this to the usual nervousness of a first meeting. After all, who doesn’t get nervous in such situations?
The wedding was modest — Igor insisted on saving money. Although Katya’s parents offered help, her husband was adamant: “We’ll manage on our own.” Katya did not object, although she had dreamed of a grand white dress and a beautiful veil… But real love isn’t about that, right?
Problems began almost immediately after the wedding. Anna Petrovna became a frequent visitor to their small rented apartment. She would appear without warning, inspecting every room with scrutiny.
“It’s not very clean here,” the mother-in-law said, shaking her head as she ran her finger along the bookshelf. “In my day, young wives would wash the floors every day. And here… it’s a depressing sight.”
Katya bit her lip, trying to hold herself back. She used all the relaxation techniques she knew, counting to ten, doing breathing exercises. Igor, however, remained silent, pretending not to notice the jabs and insinuations.
“Why are you quiet, son?” Anna Petrovna asked, looking at Igor. “Ponomarev’s son keeps his wife on a tight leash. And that’s right! If you let her have an inch, she’ll take a mile!”
“Mom, why are you like this?” Igor responded weakly.
“I’m speaking the truth! Look at your Katya — she’s already let herself go. She cooks carelessly, cleans haphazardly.”
Katya silently left the room to avoid saying something unnecessary. Igor never took her side, only nervously shifting his gaze from his mother to his wife, muttering something like, “She’s just worried about us, she wants the best.”
Six months later, the inevitable happened — Anna Petrovna declared she would be living with them for a while.
“My pipes burst in the apartment,” the mother-in-law announced, bringing a huge suitcase into the hallway. “I’ll stay with you until the repairs are done.”
Katya froze, staring at the impressive suitcase. It looked like something you’d take on a long trip, not for a couple of days.
“How long are you staying, Anna Petrovna?” Katya asked cautiously.
“What, you’re already kicking me out? This is modern youth for you! Not even offering parents a corner to stay in.”
“No, no,” Katya quickly retreated. “I’m just asking…”
“Two weeks, maybe longer,” Anna Petrovna declared firmly. “Son, help carry the suitcase to the room.”
“What room?” Katya wanted to ask, but she understood that their bedroom had already been mentally occupied.
For the first week, Katya endured. Anna Petrovna completely took over their bedroom, forcing the newlyweds to move to a narrow couch in the living room. “I need comfort for my back,” the mother-in-law declared without room for argument.
On the eighth day, Katya woke up to find that the kitchen had been completely transformed. Her favorite mugs had been pushed to the back corner, and the electric kettle her mother had given her was gone. In its place stood an old-fashioned metal kettle.
“Anna Petrovna, where’s my kettle?” Katya calmly asked.
“I put it away,” her mother-in-law replied, slicing bread. “These electric gadgets are harmful. Water becomes lifeless. Unlike on the stove — it’s tastier and healthier!”
“But it was a gift…”
“When I get married, I’ll do whatever I want in my kitchen!” Anna Petrovna mimicked someone’s voice, clearly not Katya’s.
Katya took a deep breath:
“Anna Petrovna, I understand you mean well, but this is our apartment. I would like my things to stay where they are.”
Her mother-in-law froze with the knife in her hand, and for a moment, Katya felt uneasy.
“Igor!” Anna Petrovna called.
A sleepy Igor appeared in the kitchen doorway.
“What’s going on?”
“Your wife is telling me what I can and cannot do,” Anna Petrovna looked deeply offended. “I’m doing this for you!”
“Katya, why are you like this?” Igor rubbed his eyes. “Mom just cares…”
“About whom?” Katya couldn’t take it anymore. “She kicked us out of the bedroom, redid the kitchen, threw out my things! And when I simply ask for my kettle back, you say I’m wrong?”
“I didn’t throw it out, I put it away,” Anna Petrovna protested. “It’s in the pantry!”
“Igor, tell me honestly,” Katya looked him in the eyes. “When is your mom leaving?”
“Well… she has repairs…”
“What repairs?” Katya turned to Anna Petrovna. “You said the pipes burst, but they should have fixed them by now.”
“Katya, why are you starting this early?” Igor avoided her gaze. “Mom will stay as long as she needs.”
In that moment, something clicked in Katya’s mind. She recalled all the times her husband hadn’t defended her, all the jabs from his mother, the unsolicited advice and commands. Did they really think she would endure forever?
“Anna Petrovna, when are you leaving?” Katya asked bluntly. “And no more talk about pipes. Igor, is she really doing repairs?”
Igor hesitated, and that was enough.
“I live where I want,” Anna Petrovna raised her chin proudly. “And I’ll stay here as long as I see fit. And you, dear, don’t give orders! I didn’t raise my son to be bossed around by some upstart!”
Katya felt her face flush with heat. For the first time, her mother-in-law spoke so frankly.
“This is our home,” Katya said firmly. “And I want you to leave.”
“What if I don’t?” Anna Petrovna sneered. “What then?”
“Then I’ll leave.”
Igor finally showed some emotion:
“Katya, what are you saying? Where will you go?”
“Anywhere, Igor. The main thing is far away from you and your mother. I’m not going to live in a house where I’m not respected.”
“How proud you are!” Anna Petrovna slammed the knife on the countertop. “You have a husband, and you want to leave him! How dare you?”
“And how dare you give me orders?” Katya couldn’t hold back anymore. “You’re not my mother, you’re not my boss, you’re nothing!”
Anna Petrovna turned purple. She put the knife down, stood up, and headed towards Katya.
“Watch, son,” she hissed, “your wife is going to be as soft as silk!”
Anna Petrovna suddenly raised her hand as if to slap her daughter-in-law. The movement was sharp, somewhat awkward, but filled with determination. Katya quickly caught her mother-in-law’s wrist in midair, gripping it tightly.
“You’re not in charge here. Consider yourself no longer welcome,” Katya’s voice was so cold and resolute that even Igor flinched in surprise.
Anna Petrovna stood still, stunned. Her face reflected a range of emotions, from disbelief to deep wounded pride. However, the moment of confusion quickly shifted to fury. Her dry lips trembled, and her hands clenched into fists.
“What did you say?” she hissed, taking a step back. “How dare you give me orders? I’m the elder here! I deserve respect!”
“Respect must be earned,” Katya slowly pushed the plate aside, suddenly losing her appetite. “And you’ve done everything possible to lose it.”
The kitchen filled with loud screams. Anna Petrovna pounded the table, listing every conceivable and inconceivable fault of her daughter-in-law: from poorly washed dishes to improper treatment of her son. Her face turned so red that Katya started to worry about her health.
“You ungrateful!” Anna Petrovna completely lost control. “I’ll show you life! Igor, tell her! Tell her she can’t speak to her mother like that!”
Igor shifted his gaze between his mother and wife. His shoulders slumped, as if he were carrying an invisible heavy load. Katya looked at her husband not with a plea but as if evaluating whether it was worth her time. Igor’s face expressed real anguish, torn between the two.
“Mom, Katya… let’s all calm down,” Igor mumbled, retreating to the wall.
Anna Petrovna triumphantly smiled at her daughter-in-law, clearly seeing her son’s words as support. Katya just shook her head. She had been waiting for this moment — when her husband would once again remain silent, once again not take her side.
“Here’s the thing,” Katya’s voice was firm, surprising even her. “Pack your things, Anna Petrovna. You have one hour.”
“What?!” Anna Petrovna choked in indignation. “Igor! Do you hear what your wife is doing?”
Igor stared at his slippers as if he were seeing them for the first time. Katya walked out of the kitchen and went straight to the bedroom. She opened the wardrobe and took Anna Petrovna’s suitcase. Then she methodically began pulling out the drawers and folding the mother-in-law’s clothes into a neat pile.
“What are you doing?” Anna Petrovna barged into the room, wringing her hands. “Igor, stop her!”
Igor stood at the door, silently observing the scene.
“I said you have one hour,” Katya continued folding the clothes calmly. “You can pack yourselves or I’ll pack for you. Your choice.”
“How dare you…” Anna Petrovna gasped with powerless rage. “Igor, tell this… this… that I’m your mother and I have the right to live with you!”
Igor finally detached himself from the doorframe. His face showed complete bewilderment.
“Katya, maybe you shouldn’t be so harsh?” Igor tried to smooth things over. “Mom will just stay a little longer…”
“How long?” Katya coldly asked. “A week? A month? A year? For life?”
Igor opened his mouth to answer but couldn’t find the words.
“Are you with her or with me?” Katya folded the last stack of clothes in the suitcase and turned to her husband. “Choose right now. You won’t get another chance.”
“Don’t you dare set conditions for my son!” Anna Petrovna interrupted. “Igor, don’t listen to her!”
Katya waited for a response. She already knew what she would hear, but she still waited. Igor shifted his gaze from his mother to his wife, and in his eyes, Katya read the terror of a man caught off guard by life.
“I…” he began. “Let’s just all… ”
“I see,” Katya cut him off.
The young woman walked out of the bedroom, brushing past her husband with her shoulder. She headed for the kitchen, then the bathroom, packing Anna Petrovna’s things. The mother-in-law followed her around the apartment, snatching some items and lamenting about the modern youth. Igor just stood there, leaning against the wall.
Twenty minutes later, Katya placed Anna Petrovna’s suitcase outside the apartment door. Then she took a sports bag from the closet and began packing her husband’s clothes.
“What are you doing?!” Igor finally came to his senses. “Katya, stop!”
“Out of the apartment and find yourselves another naïve girl!” Katya firmly said, placing her husband’s bag next to the mother-in-law’s suitcase. “I’m renting this place. The lease is in my name. You have no rights here.”
“You can’t just kick me out!” Igor clenched his fists. “I’m your husband!”
“No, Igor,” Katya looked him straight in the eyes. “You’re mommy’s boy. And always have been.”
Anna Petrovna began wailing louder than before, cursing her daughter-in-law in every possible way. Igor still tried to explain, to find a compromise, but Katya clearly saw his true face — a weak man who had hidden behind his mother’s skirt his whole life.
“If you don’t leave right now, I’ll call the police,” Katya crossed her arms over her chest. “And believe me, the neighbors will gladly confirm that you’ve been causing trouble here.”
Anna Petrovna continued shouting behind the door, but Katya didn’t listen anymore. She simply closed the door, locked the chain, and made herself some tea. Not in the electric kettle — that one never turned up — but in an old-fashioned pot.
Sitting in silence in the kitchen, Katya suddenly realized how the atmosphere in the apartment had changed. It felt like the air had cleared, lightened, as if an invisible weight had disappeared. For the first time in a long time, she felt truly free in her own home.
The phone rang, breaking the silence. First, Igor’s mother, then Igor himself, followed by his aunt… Katya simply turned off the sound. She curled up on the couch, wrapped herself in a blanket, and for the first time in many months, had a proper sleep.
The next morning, messages came. Anna Petrovna threatened with a lawsuit, Igor begged “just to talk.” Katya read them and deleted them.
At work, people noticed that Katya looked fresher, like she had returned from vacation. The young woman simply smiled in response. She felt a strange mix of relief and a little sadness. The marriage that had seemed so promising collapsed at the first real test.
A week later, Igor was waiting for Katya near the office.
“Give me another chance,” the young man pleaded. “I talked to Mom, she won’t…”
“Won’t what?” Katya interrupted him. “Dictate to you how to live? Teach your wife right from wrong? Igor, you’ll never become an independent person as long as she’s around. And I’m not going to continue living married to a mama’s boy.”
Igor lowered his eyes, admitting his wife’s point. For a moment, Katya even felt sorry for him — a man who never grew up. A man who might never grow up.
A month later, the divorce papers were ready. Katya signed them at the registry office without hesitation. Sitting by the window with a cup of hot tea in the evening, the young woman reflected on what had happened. Conclusions were forming in her mind on their own. Katya realized: it’s better to be alone than in a house where you’re not respected. Better to choose freedom than to endure daily humiliation for the illusion of family happiness.
Outside, the rain drizzled, but Katya felt warm and calm. Now, she no longer had to hide in her own kitchen, justify every decision, or endure endless remarks. The young woman thought she’d buy a new electric kettle tomorrow. And perhaps, arrange her books the way she always wanted — by the color of the spines, creating a rainbow on the shelf.
Katya smiled. Life went on, and now it was hers alone.