Arina adored her one-room apartment with its large combined kitchen–living room. The spacious room with panoramic windows was flooded with light, and the modern kitchen flowed smoothly into a cozy relaxation area. Everything there was exactly the way she wanted it.
Vlad had appeared in her life unexpectedly. Tall, dark-haired, with kind brown eyes. He laughed at her jokes, brought her coffee in the mornings, and kissed the top of her head while she made breakfast.
— Move in with me, — Arina suggested after six months of dating. — Why pay for a rented place?
Vlad hugged her from behind, pressing his cheek to her shoulder.
— Are you sure? I’m pretty disorganized.
— We’ll figure it out, — Arina laughed, turning in his arms.
Arina’s heart melted with joy every time she saw Vlad hanging his shirts in her closet. Setting his toothbrush next to hers. Arranging his books on the shelf. Their life was coming together perfectly.
He proposed a year later, in their kitchen–living room, down on one knee by the sofa.
— Arina, will you marry me?
Arina’s heart gave a happy jolt. The ring sparkled on her finger, and Vlad kissed her hands.
— Yes, of course, yes!
The wedding was small but warm. Vlad’s mother, Galina Petrovna, seemed like a nice woman. Short, a bit plump, with gray hair and kind eyes. She lived in a village an hour’s drive from the city, in a small house with a huge vegetable garden.
— What a beautiful apartment you have, — the mother-in-law marveled, taking in the spacious kitchen–living room. — Do your family have a vegetable garden?
— No, we all live in the city, — Arina smiled.
— Pity. Homegrown vegetables are always tastier.
In the first months after the wedding, Vlad often suggested visiting his mother.
— Mom misses us. Let’s see her on the weekend.
— All right, — Arina agreed, though she would have preferred to stay home.
She didn’t object to the trips. Galina Petrovna greeted them with pies and borscht and shared village news. But on their second visit the mother-in-law led Arina into the garden.
— Help me weed the carrots, — Galina Petrovna asked, handing her a hoe. — And go along the row; the weeds are coming up even on the path.
Arina took the tool, flustered. She had never done garden work in the city.
— I don’t really know how…
— You’ll learn. Look, you pull the weeds out by hand and leave the carrots.
Arina worked the hoe clumsily while Vlad and his mother discussed repairing the roof. Her back ached, her hands were covered in soil, and the sun beat down mercilessly. After half an hour Arina realized she couldn’t take it anymore.
— Vlad, maybe we could go inside?
— Just a little longer, — her husband waved her off. — Mom can’t handle it alone.
Arina clenched her teeth and kept weeding. Irritation rose inside her. Couldn’t they have warned her in advance? She’d put on a nice dress, and now it was dusty and stained.
On the next visit, the same scenario played out. Galina Petrovna met them at the gate with buckets.
— Time to pick the cucumbers. Arina, you’re young and quick.
This time Arina tried to object.
— Galina Petrovna, I’m in heels…
— Oh, come on, — Vlad laughed. — Kick them off and get to it.
Arina looked at her husband in bewilderment. How could he not understand? She had come to relax, not to toil in the beds.
— Vlad, maybe you could help your mom? I’ll make lunch meanwhile.
— I’ll make lunch myself, — the mother-in-law said firmly. — And young hands will pick cucumbers faster.
Arina spent two hours crawling between the rows. Her knees hurt, her back ached, and mosquitoes bit her arms. Vlad would come over now and then, praise her efforts, and disappear again.
By the end of the summer, Arina hated those trips. Every time the mother-in-law found new jobs. Hilling potatoes, tying up tomatoes, picking apples.
— Arina is so hardworking, — Galina Petrovna praised her to Vlad. — Not like some city ladies.
Arina smiled silently, but inside she boiled. After yet another trip she tried to talk to her husband.
— Vlad, maybe we could visit your mom less often?
Her husband raised his eyebrows in surprise.
— Why? Mom is so happy when we come.
— I just get tired. I have to work in the garden all the time…
— So what? — Vlad shrugged. — Fresh air, it’s good for your health.
Arina realized he didn’t want to understand. Vlad thought it was normal — using his wife as free labor.
One Saturday they were driving to his mother’s again. Arina sat behind the wheel, staring grimly at the road. She wanted to spend the weekend at home, on the couch with a book.
— You’re sulking again, — Vlad remarked. — Mom does so much for us—cooks, bakes…
— And makes me slave away in the garden, — Arina couldn’t hold back.
— Slave? — Vlad protested. — She’s just asking for help. You’re the daughter-in-law; you should take part in family matters.
Arina gripped the steering wheel tighter. Should? Since when had helping turned into an obligation?
— Vlad, I work all week. Weekends are for rest.
— For Mom, every day is a workday, — her husband lectured. — And you can’t spare two hours.
Two hours? Arina wanted to laugh. Last time she’d been weeding until evening.
At the house, Galina Petrovna met them with a bucket and a shovel.
— Arina, dear, we’re going to dig potatoes. It’s time.
Arina looked at the tools and went cold. Potatoes meant a whole day’s work. Her hands would blister, and her back would hurt so much she wouldn’t be able to straighten up.
— Galina Petrovna, I’m not feeling well today… — Arina began.
— Nonsense, — the mother-in-law cut her off. — Out in the fresh air it’ll pass in no time.
Arina glanced at Vlad. He was on the phone, pretending not to hear.
Something inside Arina finally snapped. She flung the bucket to the ground; the shovel clattered down after it.
— Enough! — Arina shouted. — I didn’t sign up to break my back on your vegetable plot!
Galina Petrovna was taken aback by such a reaction.
— Arina, what’s wrong with you?
— There’s nothing wrong with me! — Arina headed for the car. — What’s wrong is you’ve forgotten I’m a living person, not hired help!
— Arina! — Vlad tore himself from his phone. — Where are you going?
— Home! — she threw over her shoulder. — You two can deal with your potatoes yourselves!
Vlad caught up with her at the car and grabbed her hand.
— Are you out of your mind? Mom will be offended!
— Let her! — Arina jerked free. — Let her find out what I think of your “family traditions”!
— Arina, calm down. We’ll discuss everything at home.
— No! — Arina got behind the wheel. — There’s nothing to discuss. I’m not coming here again!
Galina Petrovna stood on the porch, bewildered, not understanding what was happening. Arina started the engine and drove out of the yard, leaving her husband and mother-in-law in complete confusion.
All the way home Arina shook with anger and relief at the same time. At last she had said everything that had built up over these months. She wouldn’t pretend to be the dutiful daughter-in-law anymore.
Vlad came back only the next day. He paced the apartment, gloomy, answering in monosyllables, but he didn’t start a fight. Arina understood — he was hurt, but didn’t know how to react to her rebellion.
The next two months passed quietly. They didn’t visit his mother, and Galina Petrovna didn’t call. Arina enjoyed the silence and free weekends. She read books, met friends, went to the theater with Vlad.
Gradually the tension eased. Arina began to think that perhaps her mother-in-law had understood her position. That their relationship would now be built differently.
On Saturday, Vlad went to work — a rush project demanded attention even on weekends. Arina decided to cook his favorite meat à la française and make solyanka. She turned on some music and took the ingredients out of the fridge.
The doorbell rang unexpectedly. Arina wiped her hands on a towel and went to open without even looking through the peephole.
Galina Petrovna was standing on the threshold.
Arina’s face changed instantly. The joy of cooking evaporated, replaced by cold tension.
— Vlad isn’t home, — Arina said quickly, trying to close the door. — Come back later.
But the mother-in-law braced her hand against the door.
— Arina, I need to talk to you.
— We have nothing to talk about, — Arina cut her off.
Galina Petrovna pushed the door harder.
— I need your help! There’s so much to do at the house before winter. Wash the windows, carry the preserves down to the cellar, mop all the floors…
Arina caught her breath in outrage. How dare she? After everything that had happened!
— Galina Petrovna, stop it, — Arina said firmly. — I will never set foot in your house again.
— Let me in this instant! — the mother-in-law shouted, pushing at the door. — This is my son’s apartment!
Rage rose inside her.
— The apartment is mine and mine alone! — she shouted, and slammed the door with all her might.
From the other side, Galina Petrovna kept yelling and pounding.
— Open up at once! You’re obliged to help me! I’m your husband’s mother!
With trembling hands, Arina dialed Vlad.
— Vlad, get here immediately! — she snapped into the phone. — Make your mother stop!
Vlad arrived in half an hour. Arina heard his voice outside the door, but he didn’t calm his mother. Instead, there came the sound of a key in the lock.
The door flew open. Vlad entered first, followed by a triumphant Galina Petrovna.
— Vlad! — Arina exploded. — How dare you let her into my apartment?!
— This is our apartment, — her husband replied coldly. — And this is my mother.
— Your mother came to force me into hard labor! — Arina shouted.
Galina Petrovna stepped forward.
— Arina, you’re just selfish! — she declared. — You only think about yourself! I’m alone in the village, I need help, and you…
— And I don’t owe you anything! — Arina cut her off. — I am not your servant!
— You’re a daughter-in-law! — the mother-in-law protested. — You must take care of your husband’s family!
— Arina, you really are acting selfish, — Vlad backed his mother up. — Mom isn’t asking for the impossible.
Arina looked at them both and suddenly everything became clear. Crystal clear. No one loved her. They simply used her. Vlad — to have a convenient wife and housekeeper. The mother-in-law — to get free labor.
— Get out of my apartment, — she said quietly.
— Arina… — Vlad began.
— Out! — she shouted. — Both of you! Now!
Arina went to the door and flung it wide open.
— Out! Sort out your own lives and leave me alone!
Vlad and Galina Petrovna exchanged glances. They had never seen such resolve in Arina.
— Arina, think this over, — Vlad tried once more.
— I already have, — she replied. — Out.
They left. Arina closed the door, leaned her back against it, and drew a deep breath. She was free.
The spacious kitchen–living room still smelled of the meal she had started. Arina turned off the stove and put the food back in the fridge. She no longer felt like cooking. She wanted quiet and peace in her own apartment.
