— Kolya, are you serious? — Natalia looked at her husband and didn’t recognize him. — Do you even hear yourself?
— Natasha, I already promised, — Nikolai answered grimly. — Please, don’t make me look like a blabbermouth in front of my family.
— But why did you promise something behind my back? — Natalia was outraged. — Especially since you have nothing to do with that money!
— Aren’t we family? — Nikolai asked. — Sometimes, for the sake of family relationships, I think you have to give up your principles.
— No manipulations, please! — Natalia even threw up her hands in frustration. — How convenient it is to manage someone else’s money under the guise of family ties!
— Natasha, just this once, I’m begging you, — Nikolai looked at his wife imploringly. — Just this once. It’s important to me.
Natalia hesitated. She loved her husband and didn’t want to ruin their relationship, but something about the situation deeply unsettled her.
The phone rang, and the name of her sister-in-law appeared on the screen. Natalia answered.
— So, have you decided? — asked Katya, the younger sister of her husband. — Time is running out.
— No, we’re still discussing, — Natalia replied.
— What is there to discuss? — Katya was indignant. — I really don’t understand why Kolya thought he had to ask your permission!
Natalia listened to everything Katya said next with a look of astonishment on her face.
Nikolai didn’t know the content of the conversation and could only guess. But by his wife’s expression, he understood nothing good awaited him.
— Natalia, you should run master classes, — Nikolai told his wife when she was showing off her new phone to him. — Explain to me how?
— That’s a secret, — Natalia answered.
— Talent, — Nikolai smiled.
— Actually, it’s a system, Kolya, — Natalia began explaining. — I set a clear goal for myself and then patiently work towards it.
— I just can’t manage it, — the man admitted. — Theoretically I understand, but in practice…
Their conversation again focused on Natalia’s rare ability to save money. They had been married for a year and had agreed that both would contribute a certain amount to the joint budget, and spend the rest as they wished. This practice was common in many families. But the thing was, Nikolai hardly ever had any extra money left. He couldn’t figure out where it was all going again. They both earned almost the same. But Natalia occasionally bought one expensive thing after another.
Recently she bought boots from a new collection, before that — a branded coat. Now she updated her phone.
— If it’s not a secret, what will you save for next? — Nikolai asked.
— I want a car, — Natalia confessed.
Nikolai even choked on his coffee at that.
They were talking in a café where they came for lunch.
— Are you serious? — he looked at his wife surprised.
— What’s wrong with that? — Natalia shrugged. — Everything is possible if you set a goal.
— Good for you, — Nikolai said with a hint of envy, sure his wife would succeed. — Will you at least give me a ride sometimes? Or should I keep taking buses?
— We’ll see, — she laughed.
A year passed since that conversation.
One day Nikolai told his wife that his mother, Anna Sergeevna, would visit them in the evening.
— Has she missed you, or is it something important? — Natalia asked immediately.
— She has something important to talk about, — Nikolai replied.
— Then her visit doesn’t concern me, — Natalia decided. — Buy a cake after work for tea.
But Natalia was wrong. It turned out the mother-in-law wanted to talk to both of them.
— Katya is getting married, — said Anna Sergeevna.
— That’s great, — Natalia said calmly, feeling no warmth toward her sister-in-law.
— Mom, that’s wonderful news! — Nikolai reacted more emotionally. — Who’s the groom?
— You will definitely meet him, — assured Anna Sergeevna to her son. — The thing is, we decided to have a real wedding. Like proper people do. And for that, both sides will contribute equally.
— Fair enough, — Natalia remarked.
— My husband and I don’t have that kind of money, — Anna Sergeevna continued. — So we discussed and decided that all the relatives should help.
— Of course, Mom, no problem, — Nikolai answered. — I can contribute about 20,000.
— But that’s so little, — Anna Sergeevna complained.
— I can only do what I can, — Nikolai shrugged.
— And you? — the mother-in-law turned to her daughter-in-law.
— What do I have to do with it? — Natalia was surprised. — That’s your daughter and Kolya’s sister. I’m not involved.
— But you’re part of the family too, — Anna Sergeevna insisted.
— Sorry, but I have my principles, — Natalia said. — Kolya and I managed without a wedding. And that’s fine. I didn’t even spend my own money on it. So why should I chip in for someone else’s? I’ll give the young couple a gift in an envelope. That’s it.
Anna Sergeevna pursed her lips offended.
— Well, you’re so stingy, — the mother-in-law hissed.
— Not stingy, practical, — Natalia said. — I have plans for my money.
Anna Sergeevna left offended.
— Why were you so harsh with Mom? — Nikolai cautiously reproached his wife.
— Kolya, you know how I feel about money, — Natalia said. — I think weddings these days are silly extravagance and money down the drain. But if someone wants to indulge their ego, let them do it at their own expense.
Natalia thought the topic was closed. But it turned out that was only the beginning.
A week later, sister-in-law Katya called Natalia directly.
— We thought about it and decided that you and Nikolai will pay for the entire wedding, — said the young woman.
— Why all of a sudden? — Natalia was surprised.
— Because you have the means, — Katya continued. — My friend works at a car dealership. She saw you looking at cars there recently.
— Well, suppose, — Natalia answered. — And what’s it to you?
— Because my wedding is more important than your whims! — Katya declared. — This is important. Even a fateful event.
— Katya, I don’t care about your event, — Natalia said honestly. — My plans and desires are more important to me. Got it?
— We’ll see! — Katya didn’t give up, but Natalia already hung up.
That evening she told her husband about the phone call from his sister.
— Your little sister has completely lost it, — Natalia said. — She spoke as if I owe her something.
— You can understand her, — Nikolai said cautiously. — This really is an important event. Of course, she’s worried and wants everything to be perfect. — Good luck! — Natalia said firmly. — If they want a wedding, let them earn and save for it themselves, not bother others.
Nikolai said nothing then.
The next day, Anna Sergeevna called Natalia.
— What kind of selfishness is this? — Anna Sergeevna started right away. — You simply must give money for Katya’s wedding. The car can wait.
— Maybe Nikolai owes you something, but I definitely don’t, — Natalia spoke directly and sharply in her usual manner.
— How dare you refuse? — the mother-in-law was outraged.
— I dare calmly, — Natalia said and ended the conversation.
That evening Nikolai again tried to talk to his wife about money.
— Natasha, maybe we should still meet them halfway? — he said. — They’re not strangers…
— Kolya, my parents don’t ask me for anything! — Natalia was upset. — Why does your family think I owe them something? No, it’s final.
Nikolai was silent again.
Realizing she wouldn’t agree, Anna Sergeevna started pressuring Nikolai heavily. Now he almost every evening went to the “family council,” and Natalia just rolled her eyes.
— Do they really think you can break me? — Natalia laughed. — What clingy leeches.
Nikolai tried to wrap up the topic quickly.
But one day he told his wife he had agreed to give money for the wedding.
— Kolya, are you serious? — Natalia looked at her husband, not recognizing him. — Do you even hear yourself?
— Natasha, I already promised, — Nikolai answered grimly. — Please don’t make me look like a blabbermouth in front of my family.
— But why did you promise behind my back? — Natalia was outraged. — Especially since you have nothing to do with that money!
— Aren’t we family? — Nikolai asked. — Sometimes for the sake of family relationships, you have to give up your principles.
Nikolai almost convinced Natalia to agree, if not for a phone call from Katya.
— What is there to discuss? — Katya was indignant. — I really don’t understand why Kolya decided to ask your permission! You live at his expense, he buys everything for you, spoils you. But for his sister, you have to pinch pennies?
— I didn’t get it — whose expense do I live at? — Natalia asked, turning on speakerphone.
— At my brother’s expense! — Katya declared. — You don’t put a single penny into the budget. He buys you a new coat, then boots, then a phone. Now you’re twisting him for a car. But for the sister, zero?
— Where did you get that information? — Natalia asked.
— Kolya told me, — Katya blurted out. — And your savings are from his money. So no one is even asking you. Kolya will give me that money. And you don’t even have to come to the wedding!
After the call ended, Natalia looked questioningly at her husband, who had turned paler than the ceiling.
— So that’s how it is? — she asked with hurt. — Turns out you’re our provider, breadwinner, and benefactor?
— Natasha, let me explain…
— No explanations, I already understand everything, — Natalia said.
She sat down on the couch and began flipping through pages.
— What are you looking for? — Nikolai asked.
— An apartment for myself, — Natalia answered. — I’m leaving you!
— Let’s not do anything rash, — her husband tried to persuade her, but Natalia didn’t listen.
That same evening, she packed her things and left.
Nikolai lived there until the end of the month since the rent was paid, then was forced to return to his parents. Katya cried, and the mother scolded. They never managed to gather the money for the wedding. Because of this, the young couple quarreled and eventually broke up. Anna Sergeevna blamed the greedy ex-fiancée for Katya’s unsettled personal life. Nikolai stayed silent.
They divorced in absentia. Anna Sergeevna tried to pressure the ex-fiancée regarding joint property.
— There’s nothing like that, — Natalia answered.
— What about the car? — the mother-in-law was outraged.
— I was just about to buy it, — Natalia said. — After Kolya and I divorced.
And indeed, soon Nikolai saw his ex-wife driving a brand new car. At that time, Nikolai was walking down the street trying to remember where all the money had gone again. There was still a week until payday.