The sound of keys rattled in the lock as Margarita opened the door to her apartment. From the kitchen, she could hear voices, and the familiar aroma of borscht filled the hallway. Her heartbeat quickened, and her jaw tightened instinctively. Once again, Viktoria Pavlovna, her mother-in-law, had shown up unannounced.
From the kitchen, a sharp voice thundered, “Olezhenka, what kind of pilaf is this? That’s not food, it’s a joke!” Viktoria Pavlovna exclaimed. “I brought you homemade chicken from Aunt Zina’s dacha, not that supermarket chemical mess.”
Margarita slowly removed her coat and hung it carefully. She tiptoed toward the kitchen door, trying not to creak the floor. Oleg sat at the table with a blissful expression, while Viktoria Pavlovna busied herself at the stove as if she owned the place.
“Mom, why are you doing this? Rita said she’d cook tonight,” Oleg mumbled with his mouth full, swallowing another spoonful of soup.
Viktoria Pavlovna snorted, focusing on chopping vegetables. “What could she possibly cook?” she sneered. “I’ve seen her make meatballs. Should those even be called meatballs? They just look like lumps of meat!”
Kitchen Renovation
Sliding door
Fists clenched tightly until her nails dug into her palms. Unable to hold back any longer, Margarita stepped into the kitchen. Striving to keep her voice calm, she said, “Good evening. I wasn’t aware we had company.”
Viktoria Pavlovna startled and turned around. A flash of displeasure crossed her face before she masked it with a forced smile.
“Rita, darling! I thought I’d prepare a proper meal for you. Olezhenka comes home starving from work, and you’re busy,” the mother-in-law said in a sickly sweet tone dripping with venom.
Oleg rose from the table, kissed his wife on the cheek, and, rubbing his satisfied belly, said, “Mom made borscht. Want some?”
“No, thank you, I’m not hungry,” Margarita replied, moving away from her husband. “We agreed I would cook.”
“Well, mom already did it all,” Oleg shrugged. “Why waste time now?”
Kitchen Renovation
Victorious, Viktoria Pavlovna smiled and returned to the stove.
“Oleg, can we talk for a moment?” Margarita asked, nodding toward the living room.
Once inside the living room, Margarita closed the door firmly and spun around to face her husband.
“How long is this going to continue?” she demanded, crossing her arms. “Your mother arrives without warning, takes over the kitchen, and I am exhausted!”
“What’s so terrible about it?” Oleg opened his arms in confusion. “Mom’s taking care of us. She brought groceries and cooked dinner. Others would be glad!”
“It’s humiliating for me,” Margarita pressed her fingers against her temples. “She acts as if I can do nothing right. She criticizes me constantly. And you don’t even notice!”
“You’re exaggerating,” Oleg waved her off. “Mom’s just caring. She’s always been like this.”
“And what am I in this house?” Margarita’s voice trembled. “Remember, this is my grandmother’s apartment! Yet your mother behaves as though it belongs to her!”
Kitchen Renovation
Sliding door
“Don’t start,” Oleg rolled his eyes. “I’m tired and just want to eat in peace. Can’t you appreciate that someone cares for us?”
At that moment, the door swung open without knocking, and Viktoria Pavlovna appeared holding a towel.
“Kids, what are you whispering about?” she asked cheerfully. “Rita, don’t stand there frozen — come eat. Olezhenka, I’ve made your favorite kompot.”
Oleg beamed and shot a warning look at his wife before heading back to the kitchen.
“Thanks, mom, you’re the best!”
Margarita was left alone, watching her husband and mother-in-law disappear. The Sunday meals, the ironed shirts, the new clothes — all merely the surface of their unusual relationship. Beneath it lay Oleg’s complete dependence on his mother’s care.
“Rita!” her mother-in-law called. “I noticed you’re out of salt! I’ll bring some tomorrow, plus sunflower oil. The one you buy is full of chemicals!”
Sliding door
Margarita gritted her teeth. At thirty-five, her husband remained a mama’s boy. Unknowingly, she had become trapped in a triangle where she had never truly belonged.
“Living with a mother-in-law who dominates the household can create deep tensions and feelings of displacement within a marriage.”
Key Insight: The story illustrates how intrusive family dynamics can erode personal boundaries and strain spousal relationships.
Ultimately, Margarita’s experience highlights the challenges of balancing respect for family traditions with the need to establish a distinct marital space. Navigating these complex interactions requires clear communication and mutual understanding.