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So, is your darling husband sprawled on the couch again?\u00bb came the sharp voice of the mother-in-law from the kitchen, like metal scraping against glass. \u00abGo check on him, sweetheart, maybe he\u2019s not even breathing anymore!\u00bb<\/p>\n
Marina sighed deeply and glanced at her husband, who was indeed lying on the couch, glued to his phone. He had just come home from work, completely drained like a rag after washing. But for her mother, Anna Petrovna, that was no excuse.<\/p>\n
\u00abMom, he just got back,\u00bb Marina tried to defend him, but her mother had already stormed into the living room like a hurricane, ready to sweep everything in her path.<\/p>\n
\u00abJust got back?\u00bb Anna Petrovna shouted, waving a ladle like it was a weapon. \u00abAnd I, what, spent the whole day on my feet cooking and cleaning, while he \u2014 what? Rests like a king!\u00bb<\/p>\n
Igor slowly lifted his head and looked at her with exhausted eyes.<\/p>\n
\u00abAnna Petrovna, I didn\u2019t ask you to cook,\u00bb he said quietly. \u00abI didn\u2019t ask you to come at all.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat?!\u00bb she shrieked. \u00abSo now I\u2019m not welcome? Me \u2014 who only wants the best for you two?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Anna Petrovna was a woman of iron will. After her husband passed, she devoted herself entirely to her daughter, convinced that she alone knew how Marina\u2019s life should be. From the moment Marina married Igor, her mother decided he wasn\u2019t good enough. \u201cSpineless,\u201d she\u2019d say. \u201cNot ambitious enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Igor tried to ignore her biting remarks. He worked hard as an engineer, often coming home late, yet always helped around the house and supported his wife. But Anna Petrovna saw this as weakness.<\/p>\n
\u00abHe doesn\u2019t value you,\u00bb she told Marina. \u00abYou deserve better.\u00bb<\/p>\n
And though Marina loved Igor, she started to doubt. Maybe her mother was right? Maybe Igor really wasn\u2019t trying hard enough?<\/p>\n
A month after the wedding, Anna Petrovna showed up at their apartment door with a suitcase.<\/p>\n
\u00abSo, living like cats and dogs?\u00bb she asked without waiting for an invitation. \u00abI decided to check in and see how you\u2019re settling in.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Igor, just returning from work, froze in the doorway.<\/p>\n
\u00abAnna Petrovna, we weren\u2019t expecting you\u2026\u00bb he started, but she had already marched into the living room and plopped down on the couch.<\/p>\n
\u00abI didn\u2019t ask,\u00bb she said. \u00abWho else but me is going to make sure you\u2019re doing things right?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Marina, embarrassed, put the kettle on.<\/p>\n
\u00abMom, you could have given us a heads-up,\u00bb she murmured.<\/p>\n
\u00abHeads-up?\u00bb Anna Petrovna snorted. \u00abWhy? So you could clean up and pretend everything\u2019s perfect? No thanks, I want to see the real deal.\u00bb<\/p>\n
From that moment, the nightmare began. Anna Petrovna criticized everything \u2014 how Igor folded clothes, how he ate, how he spoke. She even took over their finances.<\/p>\n
\u00abHow much do you earn?\u00bb she asked at dinner one night.<\/p>\n
Reluctantly, Igor told her.<\/p>\n
\u00abAnd how do you plan to survive on that pittance?\u00bb she snapped. \u00abStarting today, I\u2019ll take your salary and manage your budget. I know how to save.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abNo,\u00bb Igor said firmly. \u00abThis is our money. We\u2019ll manage it ourselves.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWe\u2019ll see,\u00bb she smirked.<\/p>\n
The next day, Igor returned home and immediately sensed something was off. He opened the drawer where they kept their cash \u2014 it was empty.<\/p>\n
\u00abMarina,\u00bb he called, \u00abwhere\u2019s the money?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abMom took it,\u00bb she said quietly. \u00abShe said she knows how to use it better.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat?!\u00bb Igor couldn\u2019t believe his ears. \u00abYou gave her our money?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abShe\u2019s my mom,\u00bb Marina tried to justify. \u00abShe wants what\u2019s best for us.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abBest?\u00bb Igor shouted. \u00abThis is our money, Marina! We decide how to use it!\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abIgor,\u00bb she began cautiously, \u00abI know you\u2019re angry. But maybe don\u2019t be so harsh? She really means well.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abMeans well?\u00bb he snapped. \u00abShe took our money! That\u2019s not her place!\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abBut she\u2019s experienced,\u00bb Marina countered. \u00abShe knows how to budget. Maybe we should just let her help?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abNo,\u00bb Igor said firmly. \u00abThat\u2019s not help. That\u2019s control. And I won\u2019t let her run our lives.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abBut what am I supposed to do?\u00bb Marina\u2019s voice trembled. \u00abI don\u2019t want to fight with you or with her.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abYou have to choose,\u00bb Igor looked her straight in the eyes. \u00abIt\u2019s either me or her. No in-between.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Marina fell silent, torn. On one side \u2014 her husband, whom she loved. On the other \u2014 her mother, her lifelong support.<\/p>\n
\u00abIgor,\u00bb she finally said, \u00ablet\u2019s find a compromise. Maybe give her part of the money to manage? Keep the peace?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abNo,\u00bb Igor shook his head. \u00abThat\u2019s not compromise \u2014 that\u2019s surrender. If we give in now, she\u2019ll control everything. I won\u2019t let her make decisions for us.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abThen what?\u00bb Marina was nearly in tears. \u00abI can\u2019t just kick her out.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abThen I will,\u00bb Igor said firmly.<\/p>\n
He walked to the kitchen, where Anna Petrovna was sipping tea like nothing had happened.<\/p>\n
\u00abAnna Petrovna,\u00bb he began, trying to stay calm, \u00abgive our money back. It\u2019s not your business how we use it.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abNo,\u00bb she didn\u2019t even look up. \u00abYou\u2019d waste it anyway. I\u2019ll decide what\u2019s needed.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abThat\u2019s not your right!\u00bb Igor raised his voice. \u00abIt\u2019s our money. We decide!\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abOh, what a hero!\u00bb she finally looked at him. \u00abDo you even know what responsibility is? Or just how to lie on the couch?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abI work from morning till night,\u00bb Igor said, anger rising. \u00abYou just judge and boss everyone around!\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abJudge?\u00bb she scoffed. \u00abThat\u2019s not judgment. That\u2019s fact. You\u2014\u00bb<\/p>\n
Marina stepped in:<\/p>\n
\u00abMom, Igor tries. He\u2019s a good husband.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abGood?\u00bb she turned to her daughter. \u00abA good husband doesn\u2019t let his wife live like this. A good husband provides.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abAnna Petrovna,\u00bb Igor stepped forward, \u00abI won\u2019t tolerate your insults anymore. Give us our money and leave.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abLeave?\u00bb she laughed. \u00abYou\u2019re telling me to leave? From my daughter\u2019s home?\u00bb<\/p>\n
Marina tried to speak, but her voice was drowned in the shouting.<\/p>\n
The next day, Igor came home with a slight smile. He knew what was coming and was ready. As usual, Anna Petrovna sat at the kitchen table, scribbling financial plans like she was running a corporation.<\/p>\n
\u00abWell, how\u2019s our household money manager today?\u00bb he asked cheerfully.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t look up. \u00abDon\u2019t bother me. I\u2019m calculating how long you can survive on peanuts.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abOh, no worries,\u00bb Igor said, sitting across from her. \u00abI found another income source.\u00bb<\/p>\n
She finally looked up.<\/p>\n
\u00abAnother source?\u00bb she smirked. \u00abWhat, handing out flyers? Collecting scrap metal?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abNo,\u00bb Igor grinned wider. \u00abI rented out your apartment.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat?!\u00bb she jumped up. Her face contorted in shock. \u00abYou WHAT?! There are strangers in there! They\u2019ll ruin everything!\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWell, you wanted me to earn more,\u00bb Igor said calmly. \u00abSo I did.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abYou\u2019ve lost your mind!\u00bb she was pacing like a cornered animal. \u00abThat\u2019s my apartment! You had no right!\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abAnd you had no right to take our money,\u00bb Igor countered. \u00abBut here we are.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Anna Petrovna grabbed her suitcase, hastily stuffing clothes inside.<\/p>\n
\u00abI\u2019m going over there now to throw them out!\u00bb she yelled. \u00abYou\u2019ve no idea what you\u2019ve done!\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abOh, I do,\u00bb Igor said, smiling. \u00abAnd I quite enjoyed it.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abYou\u2026 you\u2014\u00bb she couldn\u2019t find words.<\/p>\n
\u00abDear mother-in-law,\u00bb Igor said in a mock-sweet tone, \u00abdon\u2019t stress. Your apartment is in safe hands. Or someone else\u2019s. Either way \u2014 it\u2019s making money.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abShut up!\u00bb she threw a towel at him, missing.<\/p>\n
\u00abYour taxi\u2019s waiting,\u00bb Igor said, pulling out his phone. \u00abAnd don\u2019t forget to return our money on your way out.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abYou monster!\u00bb she screamed, dragging her suitcase to the door.<\/p>\n
\u00abBon voyage, dearest mother-in-law,\u00bb Igor bowed theatrically as he opened the door. \u00abHope you save your apartment in time.\u00bb<\/p>\n
She slammed the door so hard the walls shook. Igor stood in the hallway, feeling the tension of the past weeks finally ease. He laughed.<\/p>\n
\u00abWell, Marina,\u00bb he said, turning to his wife standing in the living room doorway, \u00ablooks like we\u2019ll finally have some peace.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Marina looked at him, unsure whether to be relieved or worried for her mother.<\/p>\n
\u00abYou\u2026 really rented out her apartment?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abNot exactly,\u00bb Igor grinned. \u00abBut she\u2019ll only find that out in a few hours. Let her sweat it for a bit.\u00bb<\/p>\n
Marina burst out laughing.<\/p>\n
\u00abYou\u2019re a real strategist,\u00bb she said.<\/p>\n
\u00abSometimes, you\u2019ve got to take bold action,\u00bb Igor replied, pulling her into a hug. \u00abAs long as you\u2019re on my side.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abAlways,\u00bb she whispered.<\/p>\n
And they stood there, holding each other, as the evening settled quietly outside their window.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
So, is your darling husband sprawled on the couch again?\u00bb came the sharp voice of the mother-in-law from the kitchen, like metal scraping against glass. \u00abGo check… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25709,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n