“What do you call a woman who sleeps while her husband leaves for work hungry?! A BAD wife,” — grandmother often repeated these words… And they stuck deeply in Darya’s subconscious.
“Congratulations on your wedding day!” — Darya’s grandmother wiped a tear with a pristine white handkerchief. — “Zhenya, my son, I entrust you with my youngest granddaughter. Take good care of her! I’m sure she will be a good wife to you.”
“No doubt!” — Yevgeny hugged his wife’s grandmother and smiled. He knew that Dasha was the most wonderful girl he had ever met.
Neat, caring, diligent. She strove for perfection in everything. Raised by a grandmother with an “old-fashioned” toughness, Darya seemed like she was from another era: the zealous pursuit of a carefree life typical of many girls was foreign to her. She studied well, graduated from university with honors, got a job in her field, and only after that allowed herself to enter a serious relationship.
Yevgeny immediately understood he had found a true diamond and didn’t miss his chance.
“Dasha is my treasure; she will shine with me,” he said, raising his glass.
The groom’s parents only knew their daughter-in-law from Yevgeny’s stories. They lived far away and did not interfere in their son’s household. Nor did they help the young couple.
Darya’s parents couldn’t help either: they died when she was five years old. The couple left three girls to the care of their grandparents, and Dasha, being the youngest, absorbed everything her grandmother said. And grandmother raised the girls to family life from an early age.
“Today, Dasha will make breakfast. Come on, dear, I’ll teach you how to make pancakes. You still don’t go to school yet, grandpa works, and your sisters study and get up early. So, what does that mean?” — grandmother awaited an answer from the child.
“That I can sleep in?” — Dasha replied groggily.
“No! You must get up even earlier so as not to take up the bathroom, and after quickly washing up, go where?” — grandmother gave her granddaughter a “second” chance.
“To play?”
“No! My poor child! To the kitchen! So that by 7 a.m. there are already pancakes, hot tea, and a cheese sandwich on the table. And after everyone leaves, what do we have to do?”
“I don’t know…” — Dasha hesitated, afraid of making a third mistake.
“We clear the table and then prepare lunch and dinner. And if there’s time left, we can rest.”
Grandmother always cooked pancakes in the mornings and had accustomed her granddaughters to this routine. Now, five-year-old Dasha got up every day at 6 a.m. to help her grandmother around the house, and by six years old, when grandmother had blood pressure issues, Dasha managed this task herself. It’s worth noting that her sisters took turns on weekends. When Dasha started first grade, they made a schedule for who cooks breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and followed grandmother’s instructions strictly.
Once, Dasha came home from school exhausted, feeling broken and feverish. She barely managed her homework and lay down to rest but accidentally overslept the alarm.
She would remember that morning forever.
Grandma, a sweet soul, seeing the sleepyhead asleep, poured a glass of icy water and dumped it over the girl’s head.
Dasha even squealed from the unexpected “shower.”
“Get up! You’re ten minutes late! That’s unacceptable!”
“Late for school?” — the girl did not understand.
“No! You’re late making breakfast!”
“But grandma… I won’t go to school, I’m sick…”
“You may skip school, but you MUST make breakfast for the family on your day! What kind of hostess sleeps when her family leaves hungry? Now, get up! Lazybones!”
Dasha had never seen her grandmother so angry before. She gathered all her strength and went to the kitchen. Fortunately, her sisters heard the scolding and quickly got up to help their little sister.
Mutual support saved Dasha more than once. She never complained; they lived harmoniously. And the “household rules” grandmother instilled gradually became second nature.
By age 18, all three sisters could not only cook, clean, and iron but also embroidered, knitted, sewed some clothes for themselves, and knew how to manage economical planning by buying groceries on discounts and sales.
Darya was fully prepared for family life.
“Dasha, tomorrow we’ll go to the supermarket,” said her husband when they moved into his apartment after the wedding. “We need to fill the fridge for the week; I’ll take you, and you pick everything needed.”
“Honey, I’ve already taken care of everything,” she replied with a smile.
Zhenya opened the fridge and gasped. When did his wife buy so much, carry it all alone, and, most importantly, with what money?!
“You spent all the wedding gift?” he smirked.
“No. I spent only three thousand, don’t worry, darling. Trust me.”
“Then maybe we should celebrate our second wedding day with pizza?” Yevgeny suggested. He had already called friends.
“I made a casserole for dinner, but if you want, I can quickly make pizza now! And cut some salads…” Dasha rushed to the stove. So began their new married life.
Whatever Yevgeny asked or thought of, Dasha immediately fulfilled. Pancakes awaited him every morning, his shirt was ironed, and his shoes cleaned.
“Honey, maybe we could sleep in a bit today?” said her husband, seeing that Dasha jumped up at dawn to prepare breakfast on time, even though it was a day off.
“Sleep, darling, I’ll take care of everything…”
Two years of marriage flew by unnoticed. Several times Yevgeny’s parents visited and were simply amazed at the cleanliness in their once bachelor son’s apartment.
“Dasha, you’re gold!” said mother-in-law Galina Dmitrievna, seeing her whirl around like a squirrel to quickly serve the dear guests. “Let me help.”
“Oh no, you’re guests. I’ll do it myself!” Dasha blushed. “Want some cake? Or maybe ice cream? I made it myself…”
“I won’t refuse,” father-in-law held out his plate. Meanwhile, Zhenya enthusiastically told stories to friends who also came to visit. No one except Dasha helped set the table, nor did anyone offer to help with the dishes.
“We love coming to your place!” said Zhenya’s friend, getting ready to leave. This did not escape mother-in-law’s notice. Meanwhile, Dasha stood at the sink, cleaning plates.
“Honey, do Zhenya’s friends come often?” she asked.
“Every Friday.”
“Does he help you at all?”
“Of course he helps!” Dasha blushed. “Yesterday he met me at the bus stop, helped with the bags…”
“Why didn’t he take you by car? Did you really buy all that alone?!”
“He doesn’t want to go to the market, and I don’t insist.”
“The market?!” mother-in-law was surprised.
“Yes. Grandma taught me to buy only the best and with discounts…”
“I see my son has gained weight under your care.”
“What? He just matured,” Dasha defended her husband, surprising mother-in-law again.
“Yes, of course, you’re right.”
That evening, mother talked to her son, but he just waved her off:
“Dasha is a good wife. She loves taking care of the house. Why should I interfere?! All good wives are like that. It’s normal.”
A month later, Galina Dmitrievna was hospitalized. Zhenya said she needed treatment in the capital, and it was decided to move his mother closer to him and daughter-in-law.
Darya visited mother-in-law daily. Galina Dmitrievna couldn’t praise her daughter-in-law enough.
But Dasha grew more and more tired.
That morning, she overslept for the second time in her life but, hearing her husband get up and walk loudly around the room, jumped up and, overcoming a headache, rushed to the kitchen.
“I thought I’d have to make breakfast myself,” grumbled Zhenya. After two years, he was used to his wife’s care and took it for granted.
“Something, dear, I’m…,” she grabbed the flour and spilled it… “I’m so clumsy!”
Dasha was ready to sink through the floor.
“Alright. No pancakes today, then. Make scrambled eggs.” — The husband sighed resignedly.
All day, Dasha was out of sorts. The next day, she nearly fainted in the morning.
“Dasha, I’m late for work. When will you make me coffee?”
“Now…” Dasha swayed and barely caught herself on the countertop.
“Give it here! I’ll do it myself!” Zhenya said with some anger in his voice. “Like yesterday, you ruin everything.”
Dasha nodded and sat at the table but couldn’t stay seated; she felt very unwell.
“Honey, sorry, I’ll lie down…”
That afternoon, when it was time to visit mother-in-law, Dasha realized she couldn’t get up.
“Galina Dmitrievna, forgive me, I’ll send my sister to bring you some soup…” Dasha almost cried.
“No need! I have everything. Some leftovers from yesterday.”
“Don’t eat leftovers! I’ll bring you fresh…”
“Dasha! They discharge me tomorrow. Don’t come and don’t send your sister!” mother-in-law raised her voice.
“Alright, sorry…” Dasha fell silent. Shortly after, someone knocked at the door.
Galina Dmitrievna stood on the doorstep with a bag in her hands.
“I was discharged earlier; they brought a lot of people, said to go home. Can I stay with you overnight?”
“Of course, Galina Dmitrievna! But… why didn’t you warn me? I didn’t have time to prepare the table…” Dasha was pale and sickly, which did not escape mother-in-law’s eyes.
“It’s okay, I’m full. Did you eat today?” Thinking about food made Dasha clutch her stomach and rush to the bathroom.
“Are you sick?” asked Galina Dmitrievna anxiously.
“Probably food poisoning… Sorry.”
“Go lie down. I’ll make you some tea.”
“You?!” Dasha even shuddered.
“Yes. Why not?”
“But you’re a guest! How can I lie down while you serve me?!”
“Dasha — I’m not only a guest, I’m your mother-in-law, your second mom. Go lie down!” Galina Dmitrievna said firmly.
Dasha lowered her eyes and left. For some reason, she was ashamed again.
But Galina Dmitrievna began to realize that not everything was so perfect in her son’s house.
More precisely, everything was too perfect!
After discharge, Galina Dmitrievna felt better. She spent the whole day caring for her daughter-in-law and concluded that Dasha was not overly spoiled by her husband’s care.
When Zhenya came home, the first thing he did was shout:
“Wife! Why aren’t you greeting me?!”
“I’m coming…” Dasha started to get up, but Galina Dmitrievna gestured with her hand and went out to meet her son herself.
“Mom?! Why are you here?”
“I missed my son.”
“I was here last week.”
“And Dasha came every day!”
“Well, she has a flexible schedule.”
“Yes, yes, I understand.” Galina Dmitrievna noticed her son standing there in his jacket, as if waiting for something.
“Aren’t you going to take off your jacket?”
“Ah… yes.” Zhenya took off his jacket and handed it to his mother. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I’m going to shower. Let her bring my robe and towel.”
Galina Dmitrievna crossed her arms.
“Dasha is sick.”
“Then bring it yourself.”
“And you?”
“What me?”
“Can’t you get it yourself?”
“I’m tired from work…”
“And I just came from the hospital.”
“Okay. Dasha, where is the towel?” he shouted.
“Wait, honey, just a minute…”
“Let’s learn self-care, like in kindergarten,” Galina Dmitrievna took her son by the arm and dragged him along.
“Remember, towels here, socks here, robe here! From today on, you take care of your things!”
“But Mom, why are you interfering in our lives?”
“Go wash up. Then we’ll talk.”
“Okay. I hope there’s food?” He looked doubtfully at his wife lying down.
“Yes… Actually, I didn’t cook anything today…” Dasha admitted almost crying. Zhenya heard such words for the first time in two years. Maybe he would have been upset, but seeing his mother’s face, he nodded and left.
“You spoiled him, daughter. What kind of man is this? A domestic invalid!”
“Don’t say that, I just care about him.”
“And does he care about you? Honey, my son used to be different. When I was sick, he made me soup, ran for pills at the first call. He did housework: vacuuming, dusting… And now? He doesn’t even know where the towel is! What happened to him?!”
Dasha didn’t answer.
Yesterday she asked her husband to bring her a glass of water… but he was too busy. She thought over her mother-in-law’s words and realized she was right. Zhenya stopped being a husband; he became a “parasite,” living off the benefits consumed from his wife.
But the scariest thing was that Dasha made him this way herself.
“Rest, I’ll help him with dinner,” said the mother-in-law and closed the bedroom door.
Zhenya was already sitting at the table, waiting for dinner. Galina Dmitrievna sat opposite, and they silently looked at each other.
“Mom, come on, shall we eat? Then we can talk?”
“Yeah, gladly. Set the table.”
“Me?!”
“Yes, I’m the guest.”
“I’m calling Dasha…”
“Stop!” Galina Dmitrievna could raise her voice. “Didn’t I raise you enough in childhood? Didn’t your father teach you?”
“What? What did they treat you with? Beast serum?” Zhenya stared at his mother.
“It’s you, honey, who turned savage in two years! Dasha is a wonderful girl, and you just sat on her and relaxed! Feet up.”
“Mom, what do you want? Just say it. And I’m starving…”
“Then eat! And take care of your mother! How many times have you been here in two weeks? Once! And Dasha brought me soup daily!”
“Well, sorry…”
“Why don’t you care about your wife?”
“I do care.”
“How?”
“I go to work.”
“That’s not caring! When was the last time you brought her breakfast in bed? Last time you gave flowers? Asked how she feels?!”
Zhenya was silent.
“Do you even know she’s pregnant?!”
“What?!”
“That! You’re an idiot, Zhenya, not a man.”
Galina Dmitrievna slammed her fist on the table. Dasha heard the conversation and quietly sobbed. The mother-in-law hit the sorest spot.
“How are you?” Galina Dmitrievna asked softly.
“Better already,” Dasha quickly wiped away tears.
“Pack your things.”
“W-where?!” daughter-in-law was frightened.
“I’m taking you to my home. You’ll stay with me until your son comes to his senses.”
“Mom!”
“Don’t call me mom. Either Dasha goes with me, or you leave right now! Stay with your dad, live with your father; he’ll teach you quickly!”
Zhenya didn’t answer. He looked pleadingly at his wife, but surprisingly she got up quickly, grabbed a small bag with her phone and card, put on a tank top and jeans, and said she was ready to go.
“Galina Dmitrievna, will he really manage?” Dasha was on pins and needles all the way to her mother-in-law’s house in the region.
“Wait, tomorrow he’ll come for you. But be patient, stay with me a week or two, then you’ll return.”
Everything happened as mother-in-law said.
Zhenya came for his wife but was not allowed inside his parents’ house.
Only after talking with his father, a week later, did Zhenya bring two huge bouquets, one for his wife and one for his mother.
“I understood everything, realized it, and will change,” he declared.
Dasha improved over the week: rested, realized what it means to get enough sleep in the morning, and what it means to be loved, accepted, and reciprocated.
“Dasha, dear, I’ll wash the dishes myself,” mother-in-law let her daughter-in-law rest in her house.
“May I help you?” Dasha still offered.
She missed her husband. And he came.
“Come back home, darling…” Yevgeny said, coming once again for his wife.
“And will you take care of me?” she hesitated, placing a hand on her belly. “Oh, I mean, take care of us.”
“I will!” Yevgeny hugged Dasha.
“And if you lie, we’ll take Dasha away from you!” threatened the mother. But Yevgeny kept his word. And even if he wanted to, he couldn’t take advantage of his wife anymore. She stopped jumping at every call and focused on caring for herself and their future baby. Now she had helpers: husband and mother-in-law.