— What an ungrateful person! — the mother-in-law exclaimed indignantly, flinging her arms about and pursing her lips. — We give our whole heart to you, and she…
— Her whole heart? — Katya interrupted. — Have you ever asked if it’s convenient for me to have guests? Maybe I have work, deadlines, important things to do?
Katya, sinking back onto the sofa, closed her eyes almost without strength. The day had been heavy, and in her head, like a room after thunder, thoughts of an important project roared on. The deadline— that wretched deadline— had shrunk to the size of a needle. She just wanted to dissolve into silence, wrap herself in a blanket, and forget everything. Perhaps take a bath, but— as luck would have it— the phone rang at that very moment.
— Katyusha, open up — cried the mother-in-law, Nina Petrovna, almost tearing the door apart.
Katya got up with difficulty, barely tearing herself away from the pillow. At the door were not only her mother-in-law but the entire crew: her husband’s sister Marina with her husband, and two noisy kids who needed no introduction— just the sound of their explosive laughter and shouts was enough. As always, Igor’s cousin, Pavel, accompanied them.
— Good evening, — Katya managed a faint smile, unable to hide her surprise. — What’s happened?
— What do you mean, what’s happened? — Nina Petrovna looked around the apartment, oblivious to her daughter-in-law’s tension. — Little Pavel has a business trip in your city, so we thought we’d drop by.
— And of course stay for the night! — Marina supported, letting her sons go ahead, who instantly filled the apartment with their chaos. — When else do you get such an opportunity? We’re always so scattered, but now we’re all together!
Katya stood frozen in the hallway, unable to believe her ears.
— Stay overnight? — she repeated, as if she herself could hardly believe it.
— Yes, — Pavel said as he took off his shoes and smiled carelessly. — Hotels these days are amazing. We’ll save some money.
The children ran through the apartment with squeals, paying no attention to anything. Viktor, Marina’s husband, had already settled on the sofa with the TV on. And Nina Petrovna, as usual, began her reign in the kitchen.
— Katya, your refrigerator is a disaster! — the mother-in-law reproached, unable to hide her discontent. — How do you feed Igor?
— Usually the two of us have dinner together, — Katya replied evenly. — I wasn’t expecting guests.
— What guests? — Marina snorted without even lifting her head. — We are family!
Katya pulled out her phone and dialed her husband’s number. As always, hope rested on his shoulders.
— Igor, did you know that the whole family is coming to stay over tonight? — she asked, trying to hide her irritation.
— Oh, yes, — he replied as if discussing the weather. — Mother called. I thought she’d told you too.
— No, she didn’t, — Katya said icily, pressing the phone to her ear. — And what am I supposed to do now? I have an important project…
— Oh, come on, you’ll manage! — Igor showed not the slightest sign of worry. — It’s not forever. I’ll be back soon; we’ll figure something out.
Katya hung up and lowered her head. In the silence of the apartment, her sense of catastrophe grew even stronger. From the kitchen came the voice of her mother-in-law:
— Marina, come on, get whatever there is. We’re going to prepare a real family dinner!
— I didn’t have time to buy groceries, — Katya said as she entered the kitchen.
— Didn’t have time? — Nina Petrovna sprang up as if it were a national catastrophe. — How are you going to feed people?
— I didn’t know guests were coming, — Katya answered calmly.
— What kind of guests are we to you? — Marina snorted, not even looking up. — We’re family!
Katya dialed her husband again. This time, her tone was one of barely contained irritation.
— Igor, did you know that your whole family is crashing here tonight? — she asked, her voice edged with exasperation.
— Yes, yes, — he replied breezily. — Mother mentioned it. I assumed you knew.
— No, you didn’t explain it to me, — Katya replied coolly, holding the phone to her ear. — And now what should I do? I have an important project…
— Oh, relax, you’ll manage just fine! — Igor said, not showing any signs of worry. — It’s not like we’re going to live like this forever. I’ll be back soon, and we’ll work something out.
Katya ended the call, her head bowed. The silence in the apartment amplified her sense of impending disaster. From the kitchen came the voice of her mother-in-law again:
— Katya, your refrigerator is a mess! — Nina Petrovna chided, unable to hide her dissatisfaction. — How do you plan to feed Igor?
— Usually we have dinner together, — Katya answered in a measured tone. — I wasn’t expecting any guests.
— What kind of guests? — Marina interjected with a huff, not even raising her head. — We’re family!
Katya then pulled out her phone once more and called her husband. As always, hope was pinned on him.
— Igor, did you know that your entire family is coming to stay tonight? — she asked, trying to hide her irritation.
— Yes, yes, — he replied nonchalantly. — Mother called. I assumed she’d mentioned it.
— No, she didn’t, — Katya said icily, pressing the phone to her ear. — And now what am I supposed to do? I have an important project…
— Oh, relax, you’ll manage just fine! — Igor replied without any sign of concern. — It’s not like we’re living like this forever. I’ll be back soon, and we’ll figure something out.
The scene repeats itself with the ongoing conversation about feeding, work, and unexpected family visits, underscoring the tension between Katya’s need for a peaceful home environment to work on her important project and her family’s constant intrusion. The narrative continues with mounting frustration and dialogue among family members.
Later in the kitchen, Katya’s tone turned even sterner.
— No. I won’t give any money for pizza.
A deathly silence fell over the kitchen. Nina Petrovna and Marina stared at her as if she had just declared that she was selling the house and moving to Siberia.
— What do you mean “I won’t give it”? — the mother-in-law hissed, lips pressed tightly. — The child is hungry, Katya.
— He’s your child, — Katya answered calmly. — And you came without an invitation.
It was as if all those years of living together never existed. Now, everything that mattered was that she had to feed, serve, and take care of them as if it were her duty.
— Katya! — suddenly Viktor’s voice echoed from the other room. — Do you have any beer?
— No, — Katya replied without looking up. — And there won’t be any.
Igor entered the kitchen, his face showing that something was terribly wrong at home. His look was that of a husband who sensed that a fire had started in the house but still didn’t know who had lit it.
— What’s all this noise? — he asked, surveying everyone.
— Your wife, — Nina Petrovna began, her voice trembling with agitation, — is refusing to feed the family!
Igor glanced at Katya, worry flickering in his eyes, but he quickly tried to regain control of the situation.
— Honey, maybe you shouldn’t be so harsh… — he started, but Katya cut him off.
— No, Igor, — she said quietly but firmly. — I’m tired of this. Of the constant uninvited guests, of having to drop everything to serve your family as if I have no life of my own.
— But they’re family! — he protested, not understanding how it was possible to not always be ready to serve everyone.
— Family? — Katya folded her arms across her chest and looked at him with a gaze that made him fall silent. — Then why don’t they respect our personal space? Why do they come without warning?
— Because we have the right! — Marina interjected, chin raised. — We’re not strangers!
— Exactly, — Nina Petrovna agreed with a smirk. — In a family, there shouldn’t be any fuss.
— In my family, — Katya said softly but with weight, causing everyone to fall silent, — it’s expected that we respect each other.
Igor waved his hand irritably, as if everything Katya said was unimportant.
— There you go with your rules again! Katya, you can’t be so selfish! Do you only need silence? Don’t you understand that these are your own people?
Katya stepped back, her chest rising heavily from the emotional strain.
— Selfish? — she repeated bitterly, fighting back tears that suddenly welled in her eyes. — Am I selfish because I want at least a little peace in my own home? Is that too much to ask?
— Exactly! — Nina Petrovna triumphantly exclaimed, seizing the moment. — Hear that, Igor? For her, silence is more important than family!
The twins, as usual, burst into the kitchen, oblivious to everything around them. Their shrieks were like a storm; before anyone could react, a cup with a gift at the bottom lay shattered in pieces on the floor.
— Children, be careful! — Marina shouted flatly, barely moving from the spot.
Katya gritted her teeth as she looked up at the scattered shards.
— That was my favorite cup, — she said quietly, as if it were worth a thousand words. — A gift from my mother.
— A cup, really! — Marina snorted dismissively. — You can always buy a new one.
Turning to Igor, Katya looked him straight in the eyes as though those years of togetherness meant nothing.
— Igor, I can’t take this anymore. Either you start respecting my boundaries, or… — she didn’t finish, but everyone understood.
— Or what? — Igor squinted, his patience wearing thin.
— Or we’ll have to seriously talk about our marriage, — Katya added, and her words resonated deeply in the now empty kitchen.
Silence. Even the twins quieted down, realizing that this was not just another trivial dispute.
— Are you threatening my son? — Nina Petrovna exploded, ready to fight.
— No, — Katya said, as always calmly. — I’m simply saying that I’m tired of being a free hotel and restaurant for all your family.
— What an ungrateful person! — the mother-in-law cried out again, flinging her arms and pressing her lips together. — We give our whole heart to you, and she…
— Her whole heart? — Katya interrupted. — Have you ever asked if it’s convenient for me to have guests? Maybe I have work, deadlines, important things to do?
— Is work more important than family? — Marina joined in, as if ready to teach a life lesson. — I don’t work at all; I sit at home with the children…
— And that’s fine, — Katya nodded. — That’s your choice. But I chose a career. And I want to have the possibility to work in peace at home.
Nina Petrovna sighed, rolled her eyes, and glanced at Igor.
— Igor! — the mother-in-law exclaimed. — Tell her! Explain how a proper wife should behave!
Igor shifted his gaze from his mother to his wife, confused about whom to side with this time.
— Katya, maybe you shouldn’t be so harsh… — he mumbled.
— You should, — Katya replied, restraining herself but not giving him even the slightest chance for compromise. — I will no longer be silent. Either you start respecting my boundaries, or…
— Exactly, what “or” is that! — Igor snapped, his eyes flashing with irritation. — I’m sick of your rules! Maybe you should consider that you’re not the only one in this world?
— I’m not alone, — Katya said, clenching her teeth, — but that doesn’t mean I have to sacrifice my comfort for the whims of your family.
— Whims? — Nina Petrovna sputtered in outrage, as if she had just been struck. — Did you hear, son? For her, our love is just a whim!
Katya sank onto a chair, as if utterly exhausted by this theatrics.
— You know what? Do as you please. I’m going to my bedroom to work. And you… entertain yourselves, — she said, tossing her hair as if nothing had happened.
— What do you mean, “going”? — Marina protested, her eyes full of bewilderment. — And the dinner?
— Order delivery, — Katya tossed over her shoulder. — At your own expense.
Igor grabbed her hand, as if expecting her to give in at that moment.
— You’re not going anywhere! Enough with these tantrums!
Katya slowly looked at his hand clenching her wrist. There was no fear in her eyes, only resolve.
— Remove your hand, — she said coldly. — I don’t like it.
— And what if I don’t? — Igor frowned, bracing for a fight.
— Then I’ll call the police, — Katya replied calmly, as if this decision had been made long ago. — And not only because you use force, but also because of the illegal intrusion of outsiders into my apartment.
— Into your apartment? — Igor repeated, as if this were some dreadful deceit.
— We’re married! — he almost reached for her shoulder.
— But the apartment is in my name, — Katya reminded him, not averting her gaze. — And I have the right to decide who stays here.
Igor withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened. — Are you seriously ready to call the police on your own family? — his tone turned almost mocking, though there was a trace of fear in his eyes.
Katya didn’t rush to answer. She looked up at his stunned face, as if she had known all her life that such conversations were inevitable. — And do you really think it’s normal to have my space invaded like this? — she countered.
Nina Petrovna silently grabbed her purse. There was too much silence in her look. — Let’s go, children. Clearly, we’re not wanted here, — her voice was even but icy. It was a reluctant admission of defeat, yet without the slightest hint of concession.
— But, mom… — Marina tried to interject, but the mother-in-law cut her off with such determination that even the children yielded. — I said, let’s go! — her gesture was final. — Since the daughter-in-law is kicking us out…
Katya remained silent. She just watched as her relatives gathered, as the twins sulked, as Viktor gloomily turned off the TV. She saw it all—a long-standing habit and impunity that both irritated her and left her no room to speak.
When the door closed, Igor turned to her, his face washed with disappointment, as if it were the end of the world. — Satisfied? You humiliated my family, disgraced me…
— No, Igor, — Katya shook her head, and her voice carried a plain truth. — You’re the one humiliating me by letting your family treat me like a servant.
Igor left, slamming the door so hard that even the walls seemed to tremble. Katya was left alone, knowing he would return but not with an apology. That night, she heard him coming back, fumbling with keys. The smell of alcohol clung to him—it needed no words.
The next morning, when Katya woke to a phone call, her friend Tanya, as always, was there with the news. — Katya, are you alright? — Tanya’s voice was as worried as ever when changes were afoot.
— What happened? — Katya immediately sensed something was wrong.
— Oh, it’s… — Tanya hesitated, as she often did in such cases. — In short, your mother-in-law is calling everyone, telling them what a terrible wife and hostess you are.
Katya smiled, but not happily—rather with a sad sarcasm. — Let her talk. I’m not going to “dance to their tune” anymore. That’s their business. But I’m not going to be silent.
Igor didn’t speak to her for several days. He wandered around gloomy, as if something inside him was broken. When she asked him, he replied with a sardonic smile, but not a single word was sincere. And yet, as life often unfolds, something unexpected happened.
On Saturday morning, there was a knock at the door. When Katya opened it, standing on the threshold was Pavel, Igor’s cousin. He looked embarrassed, as if he didn’t know what to do in this situation. — Katya, may I talk to you? — his voice was timid, like someone who had just realized he’d gone too far.
— You know, I wanted to apologize. We really behaved too rudely, — he said, his cheeks flushing slightly, but he continued. — And… you were right about respect.
Katya looked at him in surprise. She wasn’t used to such words from those who had always sided with the family. — What made you understand? — she couldn’t help asking.
— My girlfriend, — Pavel smiled, and in his eyes there was something that Katya had never noticed before. — She always talks about boundaries too. I never understood before, but now…
That moment became a turning point. It was like a small but powerful epiphany. Even in the simplest things, one can learn something important.
That evening, for the first time in a week, Igor approached her and sat down beside her. There was something new in his look, something genuine. — I spoke with my brother, — he said quietly, even a bit remorsefully. — He told me about your conversation.
— And what do you think? — Katya asked, not sure what answer she was hoping for.
— I think I was an idiot, — Igor sighed. — I’ve always lived in a big family. I got used to everyone helping each other, coming unannounced…
— I don’t mind helping, — Katya said gently. — But I’m against people taking over my home without my consent.
The next day, Igor went to see his mother. He returned with a heavy look. — Mother just doesn’t understand, — he said, fatigue in his voice. — She says you’re turning me against the family.
Katya looked at him silently. — And what do you think? — her voice was even.
— I think I won’t let them intrude into our life without an invitation anymore, — his resolve was unwavering. He surprised even himself.
That decision didn’t come easy for Igor. Nina Petrovna threw a fit, Marina accused her brother of betrayal. But Igor was firm. — Mother, either you respect our rules or we’ll see each other only on holidays.
Months passed. And life slowly began to settle. Relatives no longer showed up unannounced. If they wanted to visit—they called ahead, and everything was different.
One evening, when the quiet in the house had become so rare that Katya could hardly believe it existed, Igor said: — You know, I’ve just realized how nice it is sometimes to be alone together.
Katya smiled, but there was a slight irony in her eyes. — Really? And what about family values?
— We are family, — Igor said seriously. — And our peace is more important than someone’s whims.
Nina Petrovna still huffed, but gradually she began to accept the new rules. Especially after Katya and Igor organized a wonderful family celebration—with invitations, beautiful table settings, and a delicious dinner. Igor couldn’t help but notice how everything became simpler and better when everything was agreed upon in advance.
— See, mom, — he said that evening, — when everything is prearranged, it works out much better.
Katya learned to stand up for herself, and Igor learned to respect his wife’s wishes. Their marriage grew stronger because they finally became a true family with common rules and mutual respect.
And the broken cup Igor replaced with a new one—exactly the same as Katya’s old favorite. He had searched for it for a long time, and that small gesture showed her that he had truly changed.
— You know what’s most important? — Katya once told her friend. — It’s not just the rules, but the fact that someone hears and understands you.
Tanya smiled. — And your mother-in-law?
— She still thinks I’m the villain, — Katya laughed. — But now at least she calls before coming over. And that’s a victory.