“Mom, no worries — come over!” Dima said into the phone, then added without even looking at his wife, “Sure, stay a whole week if you want!”
Alina snapped her head around.
“What?!”
Dima looked away.
“Mom and Aunt Valya are coming for a week. They haven’t visited in forever.”
Alina knew exactly what a “visit” from her mother-in-law meant. Last time it turned into a full month, and the so-called “small inconveniences” became a total redesign of her life.
“Dima, why didn’t you ask me first?” she asked, keeping her tone as even as she could.
“What’s there to ask?” he said, honestly baffled. “They’re not moving in — it’s only a week…”
Alina let out a slow breath, trying to steady herself.
“Fine. Let them come. But—”
She didn’t get to finish. The guests were already at the door.
“Alina, scoot over!” her mother-in-law barked as she headed straight for the kitchen.
Alina stepped aside.
Her mother-in-law pulled her own pots from a bag.
“I brought real cookware. I’ve seen how you cook, so now you’ll learn to do it properly — from me.”
“I can cook just fine,” Alina said.
“Just fine?” snorted her mother-in-law’s sister, Aunt Valya, already sprawled on the couch in front of the TV. “Uh-huh. We’ll see.”
Alina drew a deep breath.
Hospitality was one thing — but not like this.
And it was only day one… She had no idea what was still coming.
Alina woke to loud voices in the kitchen. From the sound of it, her mother-in-law and her sister already felt like they owned the place.
“Have you noticed how dirty it is in here?” her mother-in-law complained. “The floor is sticky, the countertop’s covered in stains… Disgusting!”
“Honestly, such slobs,” Aunt Valya echoed. “This place needs an urgent clean-up.”
Alina squeezed her eyes shut.
“Please, not this…”
She dragged herself out of bed and walked into the kitchen. Both women had already stocked the shelves with their own groceries, lined up their own pots, and hung a brand-new chore list on the fridge.
“Good morning,” Alina said tightly.
“Morning!” her mother-in-law replied cheerfully. “We moved a few things around. It’ll be much more convenient now.”
Alina blinked.
“But… this is my kitchen…”
“Warm, cozy…” Aunt Valya laughed. “Now it’s ours, too.”
The first day was pure torture.
Her mother-in-law threw away half the seasonings (“What is this chemical garbage?!”), rearranged the dishes (“This is the right way!”), and even removed the family photos in the living room because “this interior needs something more classic.”
Aunt Valya didn’t budge from the TV for a second, but demanded to be fed constantly.
And that evening, when Dima came home from work, another “gift” was waiting.
“Dimochka,” his mother purred, “we’ve decided you need to eat better. From now on, Alina will cook using our recipes.”
Alina froze.
“So… excuse me, what?”
“Oh sweetheart, don’t take it personally,” her mother-in-law said. “A woman simply has to know how to cook properly. We’ll teach you.”
Dima only shrugged.
“Mom, if that’s easier for you…”
By the third day, Alina felt like she couldn’t breathe in her own home.
Her mother-in-law and Aunt Valya were confidently running her life.
They rehung the curtains (“Those ones were too dark!”).
They tossed half her cosmetics (“Why do you need all these pointless chemicals?!”).
They shifted furniture and even moved wardrobes (“It looks more balanced this way!”).
And the worst part… they weren’t planning to leave.
“Dima, is this your home… or your mother’s?” Alina asked wearily when they were finally alone.
He shrugged.
“Len— I mean, Alina… it’s my mom. She’s not staying forever.”
“Are you sure?”
“She said they’d just stay a little while…”
“Dima, did you see their suitcases? They brought winter coats — and it’s only September!”
Dima hesitated.
“Well… maybe they decided to extend the trip…”
Alina closed her eyes.
“Okay. Stop. Where are they even sleeping?”
“Well… in our bedroom.”
Alina shot up.
“And us?”
“Um… on the couch.”
She stared at him like he’d lost his mind.
“Dima, should we just move onto the balcony while we’re at it?!”
But the real nightmare began when Alina dared to ask when they were leaving.
She walked into the kitchen where her mother-in-law and Aunt Valya were calmly discussing how “terribly” things were cleaned here.
“Mom… Aunt Valya,” Alina said, sitting across from them.
Her mother-in-law raised an eyebrow.
“Is something wrong?”
Alina took a deeper breath.
“I wanted to ask… how long are you planning to stay with us?”
Aunt Valya almost choked.
Her mother-in-law looked offended.
“Alina, are you trying to kick us out?!”
“I’m trying to understand how long I’m supposed to endure this chaos.”
Her mother-in-law gasped.
“Oh, I see! So we’re in your way?!”
Aunt Valya poured fuel on the fire.
“We didn’t come here for nothing, you know. We need a break too!”
Alina almost laughed.
“A break? Then maybe you’d be more comfortable at a hotel?”
Dead silence fell.
“Ungrateful girl,” her mother-in-law hissed.
Alina was done. She couldn’t tolerate the invasion anymore. The home didn’t feel like hers — her mother-in-law controlled everything, while Aunt Valya spent her days barking orders around Alina’s kitchen and grumbling that it “lacked coziness.”
But Alina wasn’t the type to surrender.
She decided to act.
The next morning she got up before everyone else.
She made breakfast — but set out only two plates: one for herself and one for Dima.
When her mother-in-law and Aunt Valya came into the kitchen, they stopped in the doorway.
“And what about us?” Aunt Valya asked, confused.
Alina calmly took a bite of toast.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I thought you’d already left.”
Her mother-in-law turned scarlet.
“Left? What are you talking about?!”
“Well… usually guests don’t live somewhere for months.”
Aunt Valya exchanged a look with her sister.
“Are we bothering you?”
Alina smiled.
“Honestly? Yes.”
A heavy silence filled the room.
A day later, their suitcases were packed.
Her mother-in-law silently pulled on her coat, shooting Dima a loaded look.
“It’s a shame you let her treat us this way.”
Dima said nothing.
When the door finally slammed shut, Alina exhaled.