— What’s for dinner? — Liev asked, his voice rising with irritation as he felt the anger bubbling up inside him.
— Of course, you can make your own dinner, — Anna replied calmly. — You can go to the store and buy groceries, or order takeout. You have money.
— Is this a strike? — Liev finally asked, his frustration mounting. — Are you refusing to do your “wifely duties”?
— I’m tired of being the cash cow in this family! Why do I have to carry everything on my shoulders alone? — Liev slammed his briefcase onto the table and pointed at the new kitchen appliance. — Did you buy something again?
Anna stared at her husband in surprise. The accusation was so unexpected that she didn’t immediately know how to respond. Dinner was almost ready, the apartment was clean, the laundry was done — everything as usual after a long day at work.
— Liev, I’ve wanted this for a long time. It was on sale, and I paid for it with my salary…
— With your salary! — he interrupted, pacing around the kitchen. — What’s left of it? Pennies! Who pays for the apartment? Me! Who pays for the car? Me! Who covers all the major expenses? Again, me!
Anna turned off the stove and wiped her hands on her apron. The steam from the pot rose to the ceiling, filling the kitchen with pleasant aromas, but the desire to eat was gone.
— But I work too, — she said quietly. — Full-time, by the way. With my salary, we buy groceries. And I also cook, clean, and do the laundry…
— Yeah, yeah, you’re just a saint, — Liev slammed the cupboard door shut, grabbing a cup to pour himself some water. — You know what? I’m done. From now on, everything’s going to be fair. We’ll split expenses fifty-fifty, since you’ve gotten so comfortable living off me.
— What do you mean? — Anna crossed her arms over her chest.
— Just what I mean. If we’re so modern and equal, we’ll pay everything equally. We’ll split the bills, the phone, and all the shared expenses. That’s how it should be, not me carrying everything!
Anna felt like she could argue that his suggestion wasn’t fairness at all, but more like slavery: she’d have to contribute nearly all of her salary to the family budget, and the household tasks wouldn’t disappear. She had something to say, but why bother if she could just do things the way he wanted?
— Fine, Liev. If you want it to be fifty-fifty, then it will be.
Anna woke up earlier than her alarm. Liev was still asleep, turned toward the wall. The conversation from yesterday kept replaying in her head, preventing her from finding peace. Quietly, she got out of bed and went to the kitchen.
Over their four marriages, they had somehow ended up with an arrangement that now seemed blatantly unfair. Yes, Liev earned more. Yes, in their first year together, when she was finishing her studies, it made sense — he provided financially, and she took care of the household. But Anna had started working too! First part-time, then full-time. And the household responsibilities? Those had remained only on her.
She opened her laptop and started reviewing the statements on her bank card. Salary, utility bills, groceries, everyday expenses… Almost everything she earned went to the family. And her contribution — cooking meals, doing the laundry, cleaning — didn’t that count for anything?
The memory of her first meeting with Liev, back when he was still just “Lev,” brought a bittersweet smile. How he courted her! How he said she was his queen, how he’d do anything for her. And now? “Cash cow,” huh? It was incredible how quickly romance could turn into accounting.
Anna sipped her tea and thought deeply. If he wanted to split everything fifty-fifty, then fine. But let’s make it truly fifty-fifty.
— And you know, Igor, I told her yesterday — enough is enough. We’re going to live like all modern families — fifty-fifty, — Liev leaned back in his office chair, glancing at his colleague.
Igor looked away from his monitor and gave him a thoughtful look.
— And how did she react?
— You won’t believe it — she agreed! — Liev smirked triumphantly. — Immediately, practically no arguments.
— Seriously? — Igor raised an eyebrow. — Just like that?
— I told you — she agreed right away. She must have realized I’m right, — Liev clicked the mouse, opening a new file. — What’s the big deal? Fairness is fairness.
— Everyone has their own idea of fairness, — Igor philosophically noted, returning to his work. — My aunt always says, “Be careful what you wish for — it tends to come true.”
— And what does that mean? — Liev frowned.
— I have no idea, — Igor smirked. — But it sounds smart, don’t you think?
Liev laughed and turned back to his computer. A strange premonition flickered for a moment in the back of his mind, but he brushed it off. Everything would be fine. Anna was a reasonable woman.
Meanwhile, Anna was standing in the store, staring at the price tags. She used to fill up her cart completely — for the week, for the whole family. Today, her small basket held only yogurt, a pack of cheese, bread, and one chicken breast. She didn’t even glance at the fish fillet Liev loved.
The evening arrived unusually quiet. At home, Anna quickly made herself roasted chicken breast with vegetables, ate, cleaned up after herself, started a load of laundry, and comfortably settled on the couch with her tablet — there were three series she had been wanting to watch but hadn’t had time for. Liev’s phone pinged with a message: “I’ll be there in half an hour. What’s for dinner?”
Anna smiled and set the phone aside, not replying.
The key turned in the lock, and Liev entered the apartment. It had been a tiring day, and he couldn’t wait to sit down for dinner. Usually, by this time, delicious smells were already coming from the kitchen…
— Anya, I’m home! — he called out, removing his coat.
No response. Liev walked into the kitchen and found it empty and clean, with no signs of cooking. Opening the fridge, he saw half-empty shelves — yogurt, cheese, a little bit of vegetables.
— Anna! — he called again, heading toward the living room.
His wife was sitting on the couch, absorbed in something on her tablet, with headphones on. Noticing him, she took one earbud out.
— Oh, hey. You’re home?
— Yes, I’m home. Where’s dinner? — Liev looked around, as if food could be hiding somewhere in the living room.
Anna looked at him with slight surprise.
— What dinner? — she asked. — Did you give me money for it? No! Then why should I be the one to make it?
Liev froze, unable to believe his ears.
— Are you serious? — his voice almost screamed. — I come home after a long day at work, and you haven’t even made dinner?
— You didn’t give me money for your share of dinner, — Anna calmly removed her other earbud. — You said yesterday: fifty-fifty. I bought food for myself, with my own money. I made it for myself, ate it. Just like we agreed.
— But… — Liev stood there, bewildered. — I didn’t mean that! I meant the shared expenses…
— Exactly. Shared expenses — fifty-fifty. Dinner is for both of us, and I bought food for myself, — she shrugged. — And made it for myself.
— And what, now I’m supposed to go hungry? — Liev exclaimed, his anger boiling over.
— Of course not, — Anna answered calmly. — You can go to the store and buy food for yourself and make dinner. Or order takeout. You’ve got money.
Liev stared at her, unable to comprehend where his always caring, patient wife had gone. Who was this woman with the cold, calm gaze?
— Is this a strike? — he finally asked. — Are you refusing to do your wifely duties?
Anna slowly put down her tablet and turned to him fully.
— Wifely duties? — she asked, her voice carrying a sharp edge. — I’ve been doing them faithfully until yesterday. But yesterday, you proposed splitting money fifty-fifty, and I wondered, why are you being so unfair to me?
— Me?! — Liev gasped in indignation. — I…
— Yes, you, — she interrupted. — You used to cover the big bills, and I used to buy groceries and some personal items. And I also cooked, cleaned, and did laundry. Every evening, after work. And on weekends — full cleaning, cooking for several days, to free up time after work. Remember last Sunday when I spent three hours in the kitchen preparing food? And three hours cleaning the apartment. That’s six hours of work, almost a full working day. On my day off.
Liev remained silent, digesting what he had just heard.
— And now you say: fifty-fifty, — Anna continued. — Fine. Let’s really make it fifty-fifty. Not just the money, but also the household duties. Cooking — take turns or each for themselves. Cleaning — we divide who does what. Laundry — each their own. How do you feel about that?
Liev awkwardly shifted from one foot to the other.
— Listen, this is… I don’t even know how to turn on the washing machine…
— I’ll show you, — Anna smiled. — It’s not hard.
— And really, if you’re not going to cook and clean, then why do I need you? — Liev blurted out and immediately regretted saying it.
Anna stared at him for a long time without blinking. Then, slowly, she stood up from the couch.
— And providing for the family is a man’s duty, — she said softly. — But I don’t ask why I need you, even though you’ve always struggled with it, and I’ve had to work. And now you’re refusing your manly duty. — She tilted her head. — But you see, I’m not asking that question. Because we’re family. At least, I thought we were.
A heavy silence fell. Liev stared at the floor, feeling how his righteous anger slowly turned into shame. Anna stood tall, her shoulders straight, waiting for his response.
— Sorry, — he finally said. — I overreacted. Let’s go back to how it was before, okay?
He expected Anna to be happy, to hug him, to go prepare dinner… But she only shook her head.
— Why should I? — she asked with genuine curiosity. — Before, I’d cook dinner for you, iron your shirts, wash the dishes. Now I’ve already eaten, done everything, and planned to watch a new episode. This way, I’m more comfortable, you know.
With those words, she returned to the couch, put her headphones back in, and resumed watching her tablet, leaving Liev standing in the middle of the room with his mouth hanging open.
— Mom, you wouldn’t believe what she did, — Liev pressed the phone to his ear, peeking into the empty fridge for the third time that evening, as if food would magically appear.
— I believe you, — his mother’s voice carried a smile. — And she’s right.
— What?! — Liev almost dropped the phone. — Whose side are you on?
— The side of fairness, Levushka. Do you think your father only brought in money for the family? He cooked when I was on shift, and he took care of you. And now he does almost everything, since I’ve been sick. That’s what a real man does.
Liev went silent. He’d never noticed that side of the parent-child relationship.
— But we don’t do that, — he muttered. — I always provided for the family, and Anna took care of the home.
— And now she works and manages the home, — his mother gently remarked. — And what’s unfair about that?
Liev had no response. After talking to his mother, he ordered food delivery, had dinner alone in the kitchen, and for the first time, thought about how much Anna did every day.
The first days without dinner, clean shirts, and a cozy home were a cold shower for Liev. By the end of the week, he was cursing his stupid “fifty-fifty” idea. Who knew managing the household was such a hassle? The fridge was full of frozen food, burnt eggs on the stove (his third attempt!), and the delivery prices were through the roof.
He tried three times to cook meat, just like Anna did. And three times he failed miserably. The first time he hadn’t defrosted it properly, the second time he over-salted it, and the third time he forgot about it in the oven. Luckily, no fire alarm, but the kitchen had to be aired out for two hours.
Meanwhile, Anna seemed to have shed a heavy burden. No more rushing to the store after work, no “what’s for dinner?” and “where are the clean socks?” A simple dinner for herself, a peaceful evening with a book, her favorite show. On Wednesday, instead of her usual laundry, she allowed herself to meet with Masha at a café after work — can you imagine? On a weekday! And on weekends, while Liev struggled with the vacuum cleaner, she simply lay on the couch with a book. Bliss…
Liev watched all of this, gritted his teeth, but acknowledged his wife’s rightness. By Friday, he couldn’t take it anymore. He left work early, went to the supermarket, bought a “thousand little things,” and rushed home with the firm intention of fixing everything. He went all out, just like in the early days of their courtship: candles, a bottle of that sweet red wine Anna secretly adored, even though she always said she preferred dry. And most importantly — roasted chicken. Not a culinary masterpiece, but made with all his heart.
When the key turned in the lock, Liev almost jumped in excitement. Anna froze in the doorway, sniffing the homey smells she had grown unaccustomed to.
— What’s this? — she asked warily, nodding toward the laid table and flickering candles.
— Dinner, — Liev simply replied. — For both of us. I made it.
They sat down at the table, and Liev poured wine into glasses.
— I’ve been thinking a lot these days, — he began. — And I realized I was wrong. You’ve always done way more than I noticed or appreciated.
Anna listened carefully, without interrupting.
— I propose a new deal, — Liev continued. — We both work full-time. And we both should take care of our home. I’m willing to take on some of the household chores — buying groceries, dishes, trash, maybe some other things, I’m still not sure, but tell me if anything. And finances… Let’s contribute to the budget proportionally to our salaries? I’ll do 65%, you do 35%. Seems fair, right?
Anna thoughtfully swirled her wine glass.
— You know, — she finally said, — I agree. But with one condition. We really split the household duties, not that I’ll constantly remind you and supervise.
— I promise, — Liev nodded seriously. — I even made a list and a schedule. Look, — he handed her his phone with the open file. — I thought everything through.
Anna scanned the list and smiled.
— You know, you might actually make a decent husband, — she said with a sly smile.
Liev laughed and raised his glass.
— To a new beginning? — he proposed.
— To partnership, — Anna corrected him, clinking her glass with his.
They sat at the table for a long time, talking and making plans. And the roasted chicken — though a bit dry and over-salted — seemed to be the most delicious meal in the world that evening.