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  Madam, you don’t have a ticket. Please get off the bus,” the driver snapped, looking at the frail woman in the old coat who was barely clinging to the handrail to keep from falling. The bus was nearly empty. Outside, wet snow was falling slowly, and gray twilight had enveloped the city. She said … Read more

  Anya placed a large platter of roast chicken on the table. The skin was golden, and the air smelled of garlic and herbs. Svetlana Markovna, her mother-in-law, immediately gave an approving little snort. “Now that’s what I call a proper homemaker! The smell fills the whole apartment! Not like our Marina—hers is always either … Read more

  Everything began three years ago, when Artyom brought his fiancée and her mother to meet his parents. Tamara Viktorovna, Artyom’s mother, immediately understood: the girl was a good one. Katya was a student at the teacher-training college—modest, well-mannered, from a “decent family.” True, when it turned out that this “decent family” meant a single … Read more

  “Be careful with your words,” Angela said, addressing her husband without taking her eyes off the glass of champagne she slowly turned in her hands. Denis smiled — finally, his wife was paying attention to him. All evening she seemed not to notice his presence, even though he was the reason for the celebration. … Read more

 “Zinaida Nikitishna, there probably aren’t any mushrooms left!” Tanya exclaimed with annoyance, spreading her hands. “If not, then not!” the mother-in-law persisted. “But maybe there’s still something left? Get ready, we’ll be quick!” Zinaida Nikitishna, as always, wasn’t going to listen to any objections. Tanya had just returned from the garden—her back hurt, her legs … Read more

  When Natalya came home, she found her husband Nikita in a very worried state. He was nervously pacing from corner to corner, constantly dialing a number on his phone. “Hi, sweetheart,” Natalya said lightly, pretending not to notice how wound up he was. “What’s for dinner?” Nikita seemed not to hear her and kept … Read more

  Alyona woke up early, as always. Outside the window it was only just beginning to get light, but inside her the familiar bustle was already rising—she had to make breakfast, get her husband ready for work, and then deal with her own tasks. The three-room apartment in the center of Moscow demanded attention: dust … Read more

Svetlana stood in front of the mirror, trying on her third dress in a row. The blue one seemed too bright, the black one too strict. She stopped on a beige dress with a neat little collar. Tonight her fiancé was taking her to meet his parents, and the girl was as nervous as if … Read more

“I’m ashamed to take you to the banquet,” Denis didn’t even look up from his phone. “There will be people there. Normal people.” Nadezhda stood by the refrigerator with a carton of milk in her hand. Twelve years of marriage. Two kids. And now—ashamed. “I’ll wear the black dress. The one you bought me.” “It’s … Read more

So, what is it? What are you going to treat me to today, wife? Oh man, I’m starving! I could eat a whole bull right now!” Mikhail burst noisily into the apartment, back from work. He was sure his wife—who always came home earlier than he did—was already there, as usual, cooking in the kitchen … Read more