Is it that hard for you?” asked her husband.
“It’s not hard!” Svetka replied.
“Are you afraid of spending money?”
“No, I’m not!”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I don’t want to!” the girl replied, quoting the beloved professor Preobrazhensky when he was asked to donate magazines for the children of Germany.
But they turned to Svetka for a different reason: when buying a car, they wanted to register it under her mother-in-law’s name…
They had been married for about six months, and everything seemed fine.
They were both young, healthy, had decent jobs, and even owned their own apartment: a one-room place that Svetka’s mother had helped them buy with a significant sum for the down payment.
The in-laws hadn’t contributed a penny, not even the loving husband – his mother was against it. And his father remained neutral.
“Why?” came the natural question. “Is it bad for young people to live in their own apartment?”
Before that, they had been living in a rented place.
There was no clear answer: simply “because!”
Apparently, Ilyushenka would take a mortgage, and they would have to pay it off…
“Why would you have to pay?” Svetka’s mother tried to reason with her daughter-in-law. “They both earn enough to regularly pay off the debt.”
But Izolda Ivanovna was adamant:
“No, and no again! And I’ve never had money like that!”
“What do you mean?” the mother-in-law didn’t back down. “Give us something, and we’ll add the rest!”
“We don’t have any money – and don’t ask!” said the mother-in-law, before hanging up.
And not just hanging up – later, she started persuading her daughter-in-law to give up the mortgage: “You won’t manage, why do you need it, things aren’t so bad right now,” and all that kind of nonsense.
It was complete foolishness, even absurdity.
It would have made sense if they were dragging the husband’s mother into a questionable venture, forcing her to pay a large sum to participate in this scheme.
But everything was completely legal. Moreover, by refusing to help, the in-laws essentially moved into a different category.
Yes, into the category of unwanted advisors. Because, as the saying goes, stop lecturing – just help financially!
But here – zero help, just lectures! And you should lecture your own children!
After all, they had no part in acquiring the house! As they say, lady, you weren’t even here!
So why get involved where you’re not asked? You refused to help, we got the message – so, bye-bye! Go take a hike!
Well, never mind, let the foolish old woman be! Svetka’s mom concluded, expressing the general sentiment. “We’ll manage without them.”
And, characteristically, they did. But they did so in a principled and smart way: they registered the apartment only under their daughter’s name.
Her son-in-law didn’t protest: he, in fact, stayed silent most of the time, letting others handle things.
By the way, Ilya’s parents were too stingy to contribute even to the wedding. Let alone giving their son anything for his married life, other than some spare clothes.
Now, amidst the full love and understanding between Ilya and Svetka, there was one catch. And it had to do with the different attitudes towards money in their families.
Svetka’s parents were careful with money: they didn’t waste it, planned purchases carefully, and preferred to have something saved for a rainy day.
In Ilya’s family, they preferred to live in the here and now, just like all those “wise” coaches advised.
And what if tomorrow never comes? Yes, it’s simple enough! Look at what’s happening in the world!
So, live in a way that makes you happy today! Don’t worry – there’ll be food when the day comes!
Where the food would come from wasn’t specified: probably from the fridge!
As little children say: “Mommy, if we have no money, you’ll just take food from the fridge!”
But Svetka was head over heels in love, so she didn’t want to see the obvious: her son didn’t have to answer for his parents and all that!
And Ilyushenka – he’s a great guy: modest, gentle, and loving! Plus, he brings some money into the family budget.
So they’d get by: she had a good salary!
But genes are genes.
Although, if Ilya had protested about Svetka owning the house outright, it wouldn’t have changed anything: in the matter of the apartment, Svetka understood that her parents were right.
What’s more, they, being good and kind people, also started helping with the mortgage payments.
They kept the receipts just in case: who knows what could happen when dealing with such crazy in-laws.
They even paid for repairs in the mortgaged one-room apartment – together with their daughter.
And Ilya didn’t protest again: his salary was much lower than his wife’s.
And the tender and loving guy had no savings: after all, he was his parents’ son…
But his mom and dad still didn’t like any of it: who would’ve guessed!
And that’s when the other side started to wonder:
“Well, are they ever satisfied, Ilyushenka?”
What’s the problem now? They have an apartment, the repairs are finished, they’re living – and practically for free!
You were practically kicked out with… well, you get it! No one is asking anything from them!
Maybe it’s time to just zip it? – Lately, his wife had stopped being polite with him.
“Well, they’re upset because I don’t live in my own apartment!” Ilya finally managed to say.
“So you should have put in the necessary amount, registered the ownership in equal shares, and lived in your own place!”
“You all refused!” Svetka logically pointed out.
“I’m starting to lose track of what’s happening, honey! Don’t you remember?”
“I remember, but mom…”
“And what about mom?”
“She doesn’t want me to do repairs in someone else’s apartment.”
“Well, tell her you’re not doing them! After all, we hired a team of workers!”
“I told her, but she doesn’t believe me.”
“Well, that’s her problem. As for me – I’m done dealing with your relatives! I’ve had enough of cleaning up these Augean stables!”
Svetka had the feeling that her mother-in-law didn’t care what or who she was unhappy with.
The important thing was to unload on anyone nearby…
And preferably, it would be the new family member in the form of the daughter-in-law: after all, you can’t be complaining to your beloved son about everything! And you have to spare your own!
That’s why Izolda Ivanovna had taken to regularly calling Svetlana and airing her “grievances.” Just like she once tried to persuade her to stay out of the mortgage mess.
“Ilyushenka won’t do anything here: it’s not his apartment!”
“Well, let him not do anything,” Svetka agreed calmly. “Especially since everything is already done!”
“Well, there are always imperfections!” Izolda insisted.
“I’ll call my husband for an hour!”
“A stranger?”
“Well, if my husband can’t do it, then let a stranger do it!”
It was an endless conversation, with no clear purpose.
Probably just trying to upset the daughter-in-law: that’s what energy vampires do.
And Svetka, it seems, was unlucky enough to be married to this kind of family…
And she started to wonder if maybe she had rushed into marriage. Especially since Ilya, as usual, stayed silent.
He stayed silent and did nothing when she asked him to talk to his mom and get her to stop—there was no better word for it.
And why bother trying to make sense of it all with these strange and, possibly, unreasonable people?
After all, she didn’t owe anyone anything. She wasn’t dependent on anyone. She was self-sufficient and financially secure.
So why did she have to waste her nerves every day dealing with total strangers, listening to their endless nonsense?
And then, Ilyusha made a request.
Yes, with such a strange request:
“Let’s register the car under my mom’s name?”
They had recently taken out a loan for a foreign car.
Svetka consulted her parents, and they told her that the car should be registered in her name, and not in that strange woman’s name!
What kind of nonsense is this?
It seemed they already understood that nothing good was going to come from this strange marriage.
Because in the time they’d been together, there was no real happiness for their daughter.
Her in-laws kept nitpicking, and her husband remained noble in his silence.
That’s why the girl’s parents were perplexed:
“What’s going on…?”
After all, he loves you, doesn’t he? Can’t he bring order to the family? And couldn’t he find a way to quiet that woman down?
Maybe a gag or tape – let him deal with his mother!
And you, daughter, know this: marriage isn’t prison, and you can always escape. Maybe you don’t have to put up with all this?
And then, at dinner, came this strange request…
“So, I took out the loan for the purchase under my name, and you want the car to be in your mom’s name?”
“Well, yeah!” Ilya confirmed.
“And are you sure about this, darling? Why doesn’t your mom take out a loan herself and buy a car, if it’s so necessary?”
“She doesn’t have the money!”
“But why does she need another car? They already have one!”
“Dad broke it!”
“So, you want me to register the car under Izolda Ivanovna’s name, and your dad will drive it with a power of attorney?”
Am I understanding this correctly? Is this the whole fuss?
“Well, yeah,” Ilya mumbled. “We’re family!”
“Well, isn’t it me who’s buying the car for myself? I need it for work!”
Svetlana worked as a realtor, and the car would greatly ease her life.
“But you’re kind, and your mom is really hoping we won’t refuse.”
“You can’t refuse. But tell her that she should take care of her own needs! And I don’t want to!”
A grown woman acting like a spoiled child: all tantrums, antics, and demands!
After these words, the girl left the kitchen: for the first time, they slept separately.
The next evening, the “beloved” mother-in-law arrived: sonny, softening some points, conveyed his wife’s words to his mom.
And, of course, she didn’t like them.
“So, you insist on me registering the car under your name, Izolda Ivanovna,” Svetka asked: they all sat down for tea in the kitchen. “But why?”
“We’re not strangers!”
“Fine, I agree. Then why didn’t you register the garden plot under my name when you bought it recently?”
“Poor” mother-in-law, not expecting such a turn from the quiet, well-mannered Svetka, faltered.
Why? Why – because of this!
And the girl continued:
“Well, you could have said – ‘Dear, we’ll register the dacha plot under you – own it, darling, we’re family!’
Then, I would’ve registered the car under your name without question – no quarrels between family! And it would’ve been a fair one – one for one!
But now it feels like a one-sided game! I give you everything, and you give me nothing?”
So, sorry, mom – this won’t work!
Ilya, as always, stayed silent, studying the tea in his cup. Although he looked surprised: his wife had just called Izolda Ivanovna “mom”!
But it didn’t sound anything like expected. Yes, not kindly, but more with a touch of sarcasm…
“So, you’re refusing?” Izolda was stunned: this was a rebellion and a challenge – how dare she, …yan?
She didn’t expect such disobedience! After all, this time, the annoying girl had behaved decently. And her son was doing well with her.
“Yes, I refuse,” the daughter-in-law calmly said. And added: “I’m not keeping you!”
And she went to her room, closing the door behind her: what a cheek!
Mother and son sat for a while and then left together, quietly.
And Izolda didn’t even peek into her room to shout: did she get the message?
Svetka had already made her decision: marriage isn’t prison!
Looks like she’ll have to do what the famous humorist said in his one-liner: do you want to be sent now or by fax?
So, get ready to be sent, mommy! And if someone doesn’t change their perspective, they’ll be joining you.
And he probably won’t change.
Today’s conversation – just a polite warm-up. Perhaps before the storm.
Yes, like the classic: Storm! A storm will strike soon!
And Ilyushenka will probably want to return to his place of registration. Yes, dear? Because then you’ll be doing everything with mommy that your heart desires!
Gifting cars and everything else that only real family can do.
So, get ready, Ilyushenka! Svetka’s already on low start…