Dad, are you serious? I’m not going to work here!”
“You will, Pasha. And don’t even think about resisting. If you continue in the same vein, I’ll just turn away and leave you to deal with it yourself. Think about how much trouble you’ve already caused.”
Pavel snorted and turned away. What’s gotten into his father? Things used to be simpler: he allowed himself escapades, knowing his dad would always bail him out, even if it meant going to the police chief—the family’s best friend. But now the old man seemed to have gone mad.
This time, Pashka really overdid it: he broke a policeman’s nose and staged a race in a patrol car, ending in a crash. Apparently, his father made some special arrangement with the police chief for a particular punishment.
Pasha sighed, looking at the gray hospital building. Five years ago, he had graduated from medical school. His last year turned into constant partying—his father’s money gave him complete freedom for parties. His childhood dream of becoming a doctor faded away, giving way to mindless entertainment.
“So, what am I to be here? I hope at least the chief physician?” he tried to joke.
“You guessed wrong, son. You’ll start from the very bottom—as a janitor. Maybe you’ll find a good local girl who’ll teach you something worthwhile, not just fun.”
“What?! Dad, are you mocking me? Carrying pots?”
“If necessary, even pots. Since you started spending your time only on bar glasses, you haven’t done anything useful. Remember: one complaint from the head nurse, and you’ll be behind bars. By the way, your mother still doesn’t know what you’ve become… It’s better she doesn’t find out.”
These words hit Pasha like a bolt from the blue. He felt anger and grievance boiling inside.
“So, you think I’m beyond redemption? That I’m hopeless?”
“Exactly. You’re not just a lazybones, you’re a foolish lazybones. You have no real friends, only sycophants. I never thought my son would turn out to be such an empty person.”
Ivan Nikolaevich turned around and drove away, leaving his son bewildered. The pain mixed with bewilderment: how did their formerly warm relationship turn into cold condemnation?
Nina Sergeyevna, accidentally overhearing the conversation through the window, pondered. She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but when she heard Ivan Nikolaevich’s name, she decided to stay. For this employment agreement, he had donated new equipment to the hospital.
“Another rich major who wants everything at once,” she thought. She had always found such people perplexing: with immense opportunities but complete indifference to life. He could have studied abroad, started a business, become a significant figure. Instead, he preferred a life of leisure.
Nina had struggled through thorns all her life. She grew up in a poor family where her parents drank, and she took care of her younger sisters and brothers. She worked, studied in the evenings, and saved on food. Now, at forty, she had become the chief physician, but at a high price—no family or close relationships.
“Well, let him work. Although he won’t last long,” she decided, looking at the new employee. He was about thirty, but apart from parties and entertainment, he had delved into nothing. What a difference between their stories! Only in choice.
The workday ended. Nina took off her white coat, looking around the quiet hospital corridors. The day had passed without incident. She had noticed the new janitor several times—young, confident, and already attracting the attention of several nurses. “Another handsome man who will turn the heads of naive girls,” she thought with a slight sadness. Such men rarely become reliable husbands.
At the café, Olga, her longtime friend, was waiting for her. They often met here after work to discuss everything that had accumulated during the week. Olga, like Nina, had dedicated her life to her career: she studied hard, worked tirelessly, and was now a well-known lawyer in the city. Neither had time for personal life or children. Olga often joked that they were some kind of “wrong” women.
Putting on her fur coat, Nina left the office. But she hadn’t taken a couple of steps when someone suddenly rushed at her, nearly knocking her over. She gasped, but strong arms caught her.
“Sorry!” came a voice, too cheerful for a random collision.
Looking up, Nina met two bright brown eyes that expressed no remorse. Instead, they looked at her with unabashed interest.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she objected.
It was Pasha, the new janitor. He scrutinized her from head to toe and even whistled.
“Who would have thought that such beauties are found in such a remote place! My name is Pasha, and you are?”
Nina was embarrassed by his boldness. His hands still held her too tightly.
“Let go immediately!”
She freed herself and was about to scold him, but he smiled:
“I see anger adorns a woman for the first time. What eyes! One could get burned. What are you doing tomorrow evening?”
Nina froze. She was the chief physician! How dare he behave like this? But then she remembered she was wearing an expensive fur coat and high heels, and her badge with her position wasn’t visible.
“Go work,” she said coldly and hurried to the exit, feeling his gaze on her back.
—
Olga immediately noticed her confusion.
“What happened, Nin?”
“Nothing special,” Nina tried to dismiss.
“Don’t lie to me. I know you. Your eyes are shining, your cheeks are flushed… Looks like you’re in love!”
Nina laughed:
“Ol, are you out of your mind?!”
“Alright, maybe I got carried away,” Olga smiled. “But that’s my first impression.”
Nina told her about her recent encounter with the new janitor.
“Well, what? Is he at least handsome?” asked Olga.
“What are you talking about… He’s barely thirty,” Nina snorted.
“And? In our time, ten years is nothing. Especially since no one would give you more than thirty.”
“Ol, stop it! I don’t even want to think about it.”
“In vain. We’re not getting any younger. It’s time to take everything from life while we can.”
The next day Nina had a day off. Usually, she spent it at the hospital—checking documentation, planning. Her family had long dispersed: brothers and sisters settled in different cities, and her parents passed away early, unable to cope with endless alcohol-related problems. Now work had become the only meaning of her life.
In the morning, Nina woke up with an unusual feeling. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t want to rush to work. Olga’s words came to mind: “You need to live for yourself too.” And she decided that today would be such a day.
The beauty salon welcomed her in the morning, and Nina finally realized a long-held idea—she changed her hairstyle. Then she went to the shopping center, where she bought several items she had long dreamed of: a frivolous dress, a bright sweater, and a couple of trinkets. Coming out of the store with three large bags, she almost collided with Pasha.
“Miss, where are you looking?” his voice sounded right behind her.
It turned out she was distracted and was walking on the road instead of the sidewalk. When Nina turned around, she was met by a wide smile.
“Is that you? I didn’t recognize you! Something happened since yesterday… You’ve become even more beautiful,” he declared, picking up her purchases.
Before she could object, Pasha was already walking alongside with the full bags.
“How did you carry all this? There’s a whole wardrobe here!”
Nina felt disconcerted. They reached her car, but the “Beetle” was tightly blocked by other cars. The owners were nowhere to be seen.
“Call a taxi?” Pasha offered.
“No, I’ll manage,” she tried to refuse.
But he already firmly declared:
“I’ll give you a ride.”
When Nina tried to take her bags back, he looked into her eyes and asked:
“Are you afraid of me?”
She felt a wave of heat.
“What are you talking about!”
And there she was, sitting in his SUV, not understanding how she ended up in this situation.
“Maybe have dinner?” Pasha suddenly proposed.
“No,” she briefly answered.
“Why? Is it so scary?”
She hesitated, not knowing what to say. He stopped at a restaurant, and after her indecisive wave of the hand, they entered inside.
—
Three months later, Nina looked at the sleeping Pasha and marveled at how he had changed her life. The nine-year difference now seemed insignificant. He had become an integral part of her world, although inside, there was always anxiety: what would his strict father say?
At work, colleagues whispered, but Nina didn’t care. The only thing that worried her was Ivan Nikolaevich’s reaction. Pavel told her that his father could be stubborn and even dangerous when angry.
However, Pasha turned out to be not such a bad person. He continued to work as a janitor, despite his position. Patients loved him for his responsiveness and sociability; he became the soul of the hospital.
His “punishment” was supposed to end in a month. Nina understood: perhaps their story would end with this term. But she was grateful to fate for experiencing true feelings.
And recently, she learned another piece of news: she would soon become a mother. Pressing her hand to her belly, Nina smiled. Now she had something priceless that would stay with her forever.
The farewell was brief and awkward. Pasha appeared in her office unexpectedly.
“Nina, I’ve settled everything. Ready to leave.”
“Good luck,” she answered, trying to maintain composure.
He looked at her intently.
“You speak as if we’ll never see each other again.”
Nina struggled to hold back tears.
“Isn’t it? Your term of correction has ended. We have different lives, Pasha.”
“Ninochka…”
“Just go. Don’t complicate things even more. Long farewells are unnecessary.”
Pasha silently left, and Nina slumped at the table, hiding her face in her hands.
—
Two days later in the evening, the doorbell rang. Ivan Nikolaevich stood on the threshold. His gaze was stern.
“What happened to Pasha?” Nina asked anxiously, letting him inside.
“Pasha is fine. Except that he’s lost his mind and decided to marry a woman old enough to be his mother,” he said sharply.
Nina froze, trying to comprehend what she had heard. Her heart raced.
“I don’t understand… Who are you talking about?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know! You’re mature, experienced, and he’s just a boy. Why do you need these games? For money? Or just for fun?”
Her indignation turned into anger:
“How dare you?!”
But Pasha’s father didn’t let her finish:
“If I see you with my son again, you’ll lose your job. And no one else will hire you!”
Nina felt the world spinning around her. She staggered and fainted.
—
She awoke from a gentle touch to her cheek. Pasha stood before her, worried.
“Hello. How are you? My father and I almost fought. He tried to help, and I thought he was hurting you.”
“He won’t forgive you,” she whispered.
“He already has. He admitted he thought nothing serious was between us. He promised to come later and apologize to you personally.”
Nina smiled weakly, but doubts continued to torment her.
“Why are you here, Pasha?”
“To be with you,” he answered without hesitation. “Marry me.”
She shook her head.
“It’s impossible. We’re too different.”
“What, is nine years a reason to refuse love?”
“When you’re forty, I’ll be fifty,” she objected.
He laughed.
“Then I’ll grow a beard to look older!”
Despite the seriousness of the moment, Nina couldn’t help but smile.
“Pasha…”
“Yes?”
“I’m pregnant. We’re going to have a baby.”
He looked at her for a long time, then quietly said:
“I will do everything to make you the happiest woman. I promise to be the perfect husband.