This is nothing but rubbish!” Nina Ivanovna exclaimed, dropping her spoon forcefully onto the table.
Her daughter-in-law, Nastya, blushed deeply and quickly slipped away from behind the table.
Turning to her son Sergey, Nina Ivanovna snapped, “Where on earth did you find such a naive girl?”
Sergey responded calmly, “She’s not naive; she’s my wife.”
Each meeting between Nina Ivanovna and Nastya was charged with tension. Resentment simmered within Nina Ivanovna, who found fault in everything—the meals, the untidy house, and Nastya’s unkempt appearance, which reminded her of second-hand clothes.
Sergey tried to make his mother understand that insulting his wife meant disrespecting him as well. However, Nina Ivanovna refused to listen.
“I will ensure my son finds a worthy wife! Not some rude, uneducated country girl!” she declared fiercely.
Sergey, known for his aversion to conflict, sought peaceful resolutions. Once again, he attempted to soothe his mother.
“Mom, this is my life. I chose Nastya myself because I love her.”
Interrupting him sharply, Nina Ivanovna retorted, “What do you understand about love or family? You should have introduced her to me before the wedding—that’s our tradition! Your grandparents chose your wife because, as the eldest, they knew best who you needed. But you, you just married some girl without family, heritage, or dowry! I raised you with care and effort. If your father were alive, he’d have disciplined you properly!”
Sergey winced at the memory of childhood punishments, recollecting how even small mistakes meant standing in the corner or receiving a rightful scolding, sometimes even physical punishment from his mother.
Despite this harsh upbringing, he was not bitter—he resolved early on to create a different kind of family.
Respecting but not resenting his parents, Sergey believed that modern family values should differ from the old ways.
From his youth, Nina Ivanovna had pushed him to marry a girl of high status, perhaps wealthy, with influential parents. She frequently interfered, promoting ambitious girls focused on social climbing.
However, Sergey sought warmth and genuine affection, desiring a family based on true love rather than material wealth.
He met Nastya in college where their relationship remained secret for some time. Nastya, a simple and calm girl from the countryside with only an older brother among her relatives, captivated Sergey because of her sincerity and lack of greed.
“You still refuse to listen!” his mother scolded him relentlessly. “I would go to extremes, but you won’t live with that hopeless orphan!”
“Mom, please stop,” Sergey pleaded, motioning her towards the door, overwhelmed.
Nina Ivanovna gathered her belongings and announced firmly, “I give you one week to get a divorce. That’s final!” Then she slammed the door and left.
Feeling deeply hurt, Sergey entered the room and found Nastya packing.
“What are you doing?” he asked frozen in disbelief.
“I’m leaving, Sergey,” Nastya answered flatly. “Your mother won’t let us be. I can’t endure her constant criticism anymore. I’m returning to my village to live according to my status. Please, sleep in another room. Thank you.”
She slammed and locked the door, denying Sergey entry no matter how hard he tried. Distraught, he retreated to the guest sofa, hoping she would calm down and reconsider.
The next morning, his alarm clock woke him—unusual for Sergey, who was accustomed to waking gently to Nastya’s affectionate kisses and breakfast invitations.
“My love?” he called out, but received no reply. Dirty dishes remained on the table; she had indeed left.
“It’s alright,” he comforted himself. “After work, I’ll bring flowers to her job, prepare a romantic dinner, and reconcile. I’ll deal with Mom somehow.”
Leaving the mess behind, Sergey donned a wrinkled shirt and headed to work. Throughout the day, he called Nastya repeatedly, but she didn’t answer.
After cutting his day short, Sergey went to find her.
“She left work around noon and went on vacation,” the security guard told him. Sergey scratched his head, bouquet of roses in hand. Unable to recall her favorite flowers despite the shopkeeper’s inquiry, he chose universally loved roses.
Nastya did not respond to his messages or calls.
Returning home, Sergey found the apartment dark, stuffy, and gloomy—untidy without Nastya’s presence.
Taking initiative, he called his boss, “Sorry, urgent family matters—I need to leave immediately.”
After ending the call, Sergey removed his tie, rolled up his sleeves, and washed the dishes. Once the apartment was clean and he had changed clothes, he embarked on the search for his wife.
“Once more!” Sergey slammed his hand on the table where Nina Ivanovna sat, demanding, “Give me Nastya’s address!”
“If she left, she doesn’t love you,” said his mother with hidden satisfaction. Despite having access to authorities, she refused to share Nastya’s brother’s location.
Sergey thought bitterly, “Why am I even here? She has complete control over me.”
He felt angry words rise in him but instead experienced a surprising calm.
Handing over the rose bouquet meant for Nastya, he said softly to his mother, “Thank you for everything. Goodbye. Please forget and forgive us.”
“Goodbye?!” Nina called out shocked, but Sergey had already left. Angered, she threw the flowers away, deciding never to forgive her son’s defiance.
Sergey spent a sleepless night before setting out at dawn to look for Nastya.
With only the name of Nastya’s village, he drove for hours asking around for her brother’s house by her maiden name.
“Are you Alexey?” Sergey inquired of a man chopping wood outside.
“Yes,” the man answered sternly.
“I’m Sergey, your sister’s husband.”
“You’d better leave peacefully,” Alexey warned.
“I won’t leave without my wife,” Sergey replied firmly.
Alexey brandished his axe threateningly, but at that moment Nastya appeared, freezing upon seeing Sergey.
“Alex, stop!” she called.
Alexey lowered his hand and walked away, grumbling, “Sort it out yourself, sister.”
Sergey offered Nastya a bouquet of wildflowers he had bought from his grandmother. “I still don’t know your favorite flowers,” he admitted.
“These are the ones I love most,” she smiled, accepting the flowers. “By the way, your mother called.”
Sergey tensed. “What did she say?”
“She declared she’s cutting all contact with you and said if her son still interests me, she can take him.”
Sergey chuckled, “And am I still interesting?”
Nastya only smiled playfully, taking her husband’s arm.
“True love sometimes means standing firm against tradition and expectations.”
This story powerfully demonstrates the challenges couples face when personal choices conflict with family expectations. It shows that love and mutual respect must triumph over prejudice and outdated traditions.