Zovitsya wanted to mark her anniversary at our place and demanded that the apartment be cleared.
Katya, has Taras already told you? the motherinlaw began. Listen! There will be up to twenty guests, so well start preparing in the evening. Ill arrive early, around six oclock.
What? In the evening? Katya replied skeptically. No, I never agreed to that.
Hold on, Im not finished yet. Ive already sent Taras a shopping list; he promised to buy everything.
Taras had always helped his older sister, Svitlana. By the time she was thirty shed married twice and divorced twice, each time blaming the husband the wrong one. Their mother, Tamara Vladimirovna, had been saying to her son since childhood:
Your sister needs your support.
So Taras obliged. He lent money when Svitlana was temporarily unemployed, repaired her rented flat, and hauled her belongings after yet another split.
Then he got married.
Katya, his wife, tolerated it at first. But when Svitlana, for the fifth time that year, asked to borrow their car for a few days because it had broken down again, Katya gently but firmly said:
Taras, isnt it enough? We need the car this weekend too. I thought we had plans
Whats the problem? Cant we walk?
No. We cant walk to my parents dacha. Theyve prepared two buckets of cucumbers for us. I thought you heard me when I mentioned it.
I heard something, but you know Svitlanas situation is urgent.
Again? What exactly?
Im not sure, Taras muttered, but she needs it more.
No, Taras. This time it ends! Either you refuse your sister or buy me a car. Im tired of the trolleybus while you could drive me wherever I need to go.
Taras hesitated, about to call his sister to refuse, when Tamara Vladimirovna swiftly set things straight:
Youd abandon your sister for your wife? Shes alone! Who else will help her?
Thus Taras resumed helping, despite quarrels with Katya. After a few days of silent tension, Taras finally burst out:
Why are you silent? Upset?
Really? It took you three days to notice? Katya snapped.
I just cant keep upwhat exactly?
Katya laughed at his confusion:
Seriously? Dont you get it? Your little sister took you away for the whole weekend because she needed to get to a friends dacha. I thought youd just give her a ride, but you ended up staying there two days. Does that bother you at all?
Whats there to worry about? I had a few drinks. Her ex was there, and I talked to him normally. We needed to celebrate somehow. Why should I, a fool, have to go?
You could have at least called.
You could have called too, Taras retorted.
I did! Your phone was off. Imagine what I thought? I was on edge, not knowing where my husband was, and he just decided to take a break from me, Katya fumed.
Dont make things up, Taras waved off, gesturing that his phone was ringing.
He stepped onto the balcony and finally answered. He knew his wife wouldnt appreciate another chat with his sister.
Hey, bro! Svetlana chirped on the line. My anniversary is in two weeks! Thirty years! You get it, right?
Taras glanced cautiously at Katya, who was pouring soup.
So what do you want? he asked.
You understand me right away! Svetlana laughed. I want to celebrate at your place! Your living room is huge. My rented flat is cramped, and the landlord would complain. A restaurant is too pricey.
How about the café? Ill add whatever you need.
Are you kidding me? Svetlana protested. Its an anniversary! You want me to pay for a venue when you have your own apartment? And youll still have to chip in because Im not a millionaires daughter.
Ill talk to Katya first. Its her apartment too. Maybe she had other plans.
Its too late! Svetlana interrupted. Ive already told everyone the party will be at your place. Clear the apartment for the whole day, okay? Mom says shell handle the cooking.
Taras sighed, covering his face with his hand, trying to devise an escape. The phone buzzed againthis time a message from his mother:
Svetlana wants the menu. Heres the list of dishes. We need to buy the ingredients too. Tell Katya to help, and she can assist with cooking.
Meanwhile, unaware of Svetlanas upcoming celebration, Katya settled into her armchair with her phone, ready to watch her favorite series. When Taras entered the room, eyes lowered, she instantly understood.
What now? she asked calmly, pausing the show.
Katya, listen Svetlanas anniversarythirty years, you know. She wants to celebrate.
Katya lifted her head.
So let her celebrate. Are we going to forbid it?
Taras scratched his head.
Its not that. She wants to celebrate at our place.
What? In our flat?
Yes, just one evening. She says a restaurant is expensive and her home is too cramped
And you agreed?
I said Id talk to you first! But Svetlana has already invited everyone, and Mom is drafting the menu
Katya closed her eyes, inhaled deeply.
Taras, are you really an adult or just a mouthpiece for Svetlanas wishes?
What are you starting?
Im starting, Katya said with a hint of irony, holding up his phone. And nobody even called me? This is my apartment, not a transit hub for your relatives. Svetlana wants to party in my home, Im supposed to help her, and also assist your motherwithout even asking me!
At that moment Katyas phone rang.
Oh, the cherry on top, she muttered, waving the handset. Your mother she gestured at the phone.
Katya, has Taras told you? the motherinlaw buzzed again. Look! Up to twenty people. Well start prepping in the evening. Ill arrive around six, the night before.
What? In the evening? Katya replied skeptically. No, I didnt sign up for that.
Hold on, Im not done. Taras already has a shopping list; he promised to buy everything.
Fine but the money? Where will we get it?
Taras promised to help, Tamara Vladimirovna answered shortly.
So you want to turn my flat into a restaurant and make us pay for the feast? Katya snapped.
Svetlana isnt a stranger! Cant you spare a day to help with kitchen work, salads, sandwiches Youre the lady of the house!
Tamara Vladimirovna, Katya interrupted, I just learned about the celebration. I never gave permission to host Svetlanas birthday in my flat.
What do you mean my flat? You and Taras are married. Everything is shared! the motherinlaw retorted sharply.
If the flat were Tarass, youd say the same. Then Id just be a dependent.
Enough nonsense. Conversations over. By Friday we need to buy everything, Tamara said before hanging up.
What was that? Katya asked Taras after the brief beeps.
Stop playing the victim! Taras finally spoke. Youve been told youre wrong. Admit your mistake and stop digging in.
Katya was stunned. She rose, opened a large sports bag from the cupboard, then went to the bedroom, opened the dresser, and methodically folded Tarass shirts and jeans.
Meanwhile Taras, feeling triumphant, loudly opened the fridge, grabbed a beer, slammed the door, and plopped onto the sofa in front of the TV as if nothing had happened.
He assumed Katya would cool down, everything would return to normal. She might grumble a bit, then calm down. He even turned on a football match, expecting Katya to peek in and call him to dinner. He was wrong.
Half an hour later Katya stood in the hallway with a bag in hand, a sports bag towering with his clothes beside her. Taras left the living room to head for the fridge, only to see his wife.
Whats this now? he muttered. What kind of drama are you staging?
Katya looked at him coldly:
This isnt drama, Taras. Its the end. Im done being a shadow in my own life, a servant in my own flat, the background for your mothers and sisters whims. If you want to be a good son and brothergo back to your mother. Prepare the celebration together. Im sure shell gladly give you a corner in her living room.
Youre serious? he stepped toward her. Im not going back.
Absolutely serious, Katya nodded. I dont want you returning. Ive tolerated enough that I now question myself. But Ive had enough. If you havent learned to respect me in three years, things will only get worse.
Katya you cant just ruin everything at once!
Its impossible to destroy whats already broken.
Taras scoffed, still not grasping that Katya had made her final decision.
And thats that, Katya added. All your shirts and jeans are right here. No need to thank me. Move out right now.
He tried to say something, but Katya opened the front door. Taras stood, fury boiling, cheeks burning, lips clenched. He still hoped shed back down, but her calm only infuriated him more.
Well then! he shouted. Think youll find someone better? Good luck finding anyone like me!
Katya huffed and stepped back:
Finding someone like you thank God.
Youll regret this! Taras yelled, snatching the bag. Youll crawl on your knees when you realize no one wants to talk to you! Without me, youre nobody!
If nobody means a person who lives in their own flat, works, doesnt serve a husbands relatives, and wont tolerate rudeness, then Im happy being no one.
Taras left, and Katya was left alone. She breathed deeply, walked to the window, pulled the curtain aside, and watched him shove the bag into a taxis trunk with his foot.
Months passed.
The divorce was painful. Taras tried to paint Katya as materialistic and greedy. The main dispute centered on the car bought during the marriage. He claimed hed paid for it alone, while Katya merely used it.
Your Honor, I contributed all the funds; the car is registered in my name! he declared confidently. My wife didnt give me a single cent!
Katya, coldly, opened a file of documents, spread bank statements, transfer receipts, and copies of receipts on the table. She even produced the advancepayment agreement she had signed.
Im not claiming his share, but I wont give up mine, she said calmly.
Justice sided with fairness.
Taras disliked the verdict. He had already considered the car his own, and now hed have to sell it and split the proceeds. He left the courtroom with a twisted, angry face.
At home, instead of support, a storm of accusations awaited him.
Youre a fool! Tamara Vladimirovna shouted. You gave her everything! The car! The flat! And you didnt even hire a decent lawyer!
On top of that, Taras had taken a loan to fund Svetlanas anniversary dinner at a restaurant because hed provided her with an apartment. Now he occupied a modest cornera folding bedin Tamaras room.
Katya finally slept peacefully after a long time. She decided she was still young enough not to cling to men like Taras. Decent partners were plenty; the key was to recognize who was who in time.
