— So what am I supposed to do now, walk around hungry? — Lev exclaimed, feeling the anger rising inside him.
— Of course not, — Anna replied calmly. — You can go to the store, buy some groceries, and make dinner. Or you can order delivery. You have money, after all.
— Is this a strike? — he asked finally. — Are you refusing to do your wife duties?
— I’m tired of being the milk cow in this family! Why do I have to carry everything on my own? — Lev slammed his briefcase on the table and pointed at the new food processor. — Bought something again?
Anna stared at her husband in surprise. It was so unexpected that she didn’t know how to respond at first. Dinner was almost ready, the apartment was clean, the laundry done — everything as usual, after a full day of work.
— Lёva, I’ve wanted this for a long time. It was on sale, and I used my salary…
— Your salary! — he interrupted, walking around the kitchen. — And what’s left from it? Pennies! Who pays for our 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. Steam from the pot rose to the ceiling, filling the kitchen with pleasant aromas, but her appetite for dinner had vanished.
— But I work too, — she said quietly. — Full time, by the way. And with my salary, we buy groceries. And I also cook, clean, and do the laundry…
— Yeah, yeah, you’re just a saint, — Lev slammed the cupboard door, grabbing a mug to pour himself some water. — You know what? I’m fed up. Now everything will be fair. We’ll split the expenses fifty-fifty, since you’ve got it easy living off me.
— What do you mean? — Anna crossed her arms.
— Exactly what I mean. Since we’re all modern and equal, we’ll pay fifty-fifty. We’ll split the utility bills, the phone bills, and all other shared expenses. That’s fair, not me taking everything on myself!
She wanted to object, saying that his suggestion wasn’t fairness, but slavery—because she’d have to contribute nearly all her salary to the family budget, and the household duties wouldn’t disappear. She had things to say, but why bother if she could just do what he wanted?
— Fine, Lev. You want fairness, fifty-fifty, then that’s how it’ll be.
Anna woke up before the alarm. Lev was still asleep, turned toward the wall. The conversation from yesterday kept spinning in her mind, preventing her from resting. Quietly getting out of bed, she went to the kitchen.
In their four marriages, they had somehow come to a division of labor that now seemed obviously unfair to her. Yes, Lev earned more. Yes, in their first year together, when she was a senior student, it made sense — he provided for them financially, and she took care of the household. But then Anna started working too! First part-time, then full-time. And the household duties? They remained hers alone.
She opened her laptop and began checking the statements on her card. Salary, utility bills, groceries, daily expenses… Almost everything she earned went to the family. And what about her contribution in the form of cooked lunches and dinners, laundry done, a cleaned apartment — didn’t that count for anything?
The memory of their first meeting — when he was just Lёva — brought a sad smile. How he used to court her! How he said she was his queen, and he was ready to do anything for her. And now? “Milk cow,” huh… How quickly romance turns into accounting for some men.
Anna took a sip of tea and thought deeply. If he wanted to split everything down the middle, so be it. But really, down the middle.
— And you know, Igor, I told her yesterday — enough is enough. We’ll live like all modern families — fifty-fifty, — Lev leaned back in his office chair, looking at his colleague.
Igor looked away from his monitor and looked at him closely.
— And how did she react?
— You won’t believe it — she agreed! — Lev grinned victoriously. — Right away, practically no arguments.
— Seriously? — Igor raised an eyebrow. — Just like that?
— I told you — she agreed right away. Looks like she realized I’m right, — Lev clicked the mouse, opening a new file. — What’s so wrong with that? Fairness is fairness.
— Everyone has their own idea of fairness, — Igor philosophically remarked, returning to work. — My aunt likes to repeat: “Be careful with your desires — they tend to come true.”
— What does that mean? — Lev frowned.
— No idea, — Igor smirked. — But it sounds smart, doesn’t it?
Lev laughed and turned back to his computer. A strange premonition pricked at the back of his mind for a moment, but he brushed it off. Everything will be fine. Anna is a reasonable woman.
Meanwhile, Anna was standing in a store, staring at the shelves with products, thoughtfully considering the price tags. Earlier, she used to fill up a cart — for a week, for the whole family. Today, her small basket contained only yogurt, a pack of cheese, bread, and one chicken breast. She didn’t even glance at the fish fillet Lev loved.
The evening arrived unusually quiet. At home, Anna quickly prepared herself a baked chicken breast with vegetables, had dinner, washed the dishes, started a load of laundry, and comfortably settled on the couch with her tablet — she had three series to watch that she’d been meaning to get to but never had time. Her phone buzzed with a message from Lev: “I’ll be home in half an hour. What’s for dinner?”
Anna smiled and put the phone aside without responding.
The key turned in the lock, and Lev entered the apartment. The day had been tiring, and he couldn’t wait to sit down to dinner. Usually, by this time, the kitchen smelled wonderful…
— Anyut, I’m home! — he called, taking off his coat.
There was no answer. Lev went into the kitchen and found it empty and clean, with no sign of dinner being made. He opened the fridge and saw half-empty shelves — yogurt, cheese, some vegetables.
— Anna! — he called again, heading to the living room.
His wife was sitting on the couch, absorbed in something on her tablet, wearing headphones. When she noticed him, she took out one earbud.
— Oh, hi. Are you home already?
— Yeah, I’m home. And where’s dinner? — Lev glanced around as if food might 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! So, what’s the issue?
Lev froze, unable to believe his ears.
— Are you serious? — his voice almost rose to a shout. — I come home after a tough day at work, and you didn’t even make dinner?
— You didn’t give me money for your half of the dinner, — Anna calmly removed the second earbud. — You said yesterday: fifty-fifty. I bought food for myself, with my money. I cooked for myself, ate. Just like we agreed.
— But… — Lev stood there, stunned. — That’s not what I meant! I meant the shared expenses…
— Exactly. Shared expenses — fifty-fifty. Dinner is needed by both of us, so I bought groceries just for myself, — she shrugged. — And I cooked just for myself.
— So now, do I have to go hungry? — Lev fumed, feeling his anger bubbling inside.
— Of course not, — Anna replied calmly. — You can go to the store, buy groceries, and cook dinner. Or order delivery. You have money, after all.
Lev stared at her, not understanding 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 wife duties?
Anna slowly put the tablet aside and turned toward her husband.
— Wife duties? — she repeated, her voice hardening. — I’ve been fulfilling them faithfully until yesterday. But yesterday, you suggested splitting the money fifty-fifty, and I started thinking, why are you being so unfair to me?
— Me?! — Lev gasped with indignation. — I…
— Yes, you, — Anna interrupted. — Before, with your money, we paid the big bills, with mine we bought groceries and a few things. And I still cooked, cleaned, and did the laundry. Every evening, after work. And on weekends — full cleaning, cooking for several days to free up some time after work. Do you 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 workday. On my day off.
Lev remained silent, processing what he had just heard.
— And now you’re saying fifty-fifty, — Anna continued. — Well, that’s fair. But let’s really make it fifty-fifty. Not just the money, but the housework too. Cooking — we’ll take turns, or each of us will cook for ourselves. Cleaning — we’ll divide the chores. Laundry — each does their own. How does that sound?
Lev awkwardly shifted from one foot to the other.
— Listen, well, this is… I don’t even know how to turn on the washing machine…
— I’ll show you, — Anna smiled. — It’s not difficult.
— And anyway, if you’re not going to cook and clean, then why do I need you? — Lev blurted out, immediately regretting his words.
Anna stared at him for a long time, not blinking. Then she slowly got up from the couch.
— And providing for the family is a man’s duty, — she said quietly. — But I don’t ask, “Why do I need you?” even though you’ve never been great at it, since I’ve had to work. And now, you’re refusing your manly duty. — She tilted her head. — But see, I don’t ask that question. Because we are a family. At least, I thought so.
A heavy silence hung in the air. Lev looked at the floor, feeling his righteous anger slowly turning into shame. Anna stood tall, her shoulders squared, waiting for his answer.
— I’m sorry, — he finally said. — I overreacted. Let’s go back to the way things were, okay?
He expected Anna to be happy, to rush to hug him, and go make dinner… But she only shook her head.
— Why should I? — she asked with genuine curiosity. — I would have made dinner for you, ironed your shirts, washed the dishes. But now, I’ve already eaten, I’ve done everything, and was going to watch a new episode. It’s actually more convenient for me, you know.
With those words, she returned to the couch, put her headphones back in, and started watching the tablet again, leaving Lev standing in the middle of the room, his mouth agape.
— Mom, you won’t believe what she did, — Lev held the phone to his ear, peering into the empty fridge for the third time that evening, as if hoping food would magically appear.
— I believe it, I believe it, — his mother’s voice held a smile. — And she did the right thing. You’ve really gotten too bold, son.
— What?! — Lev nearly dropped the phone. — Whose side are you on?
— On the side of fairness, Lёvushka. You think your dad only brought money into the house? He also cooked when I was on shift and took care of you. And now, he’s taken almost everything on since I’ve been sick. That’s what a real man does.
Lev fell silent. He had never noticed that side of parental relationships.
— But that’s not how we do things, — he muttered. — I’ve always provided for the family, and Anna took care of the house.
— And now she works and takes care of the house, — his mother gently pointed out. — And what’s fair about that?
Lev couldn’t find an answer. After the conversation with his mother, he ordered food delivery, had dinner alone in the kitchen, and for the first time, started thinking about everything Anna did daily.
The first days without dinner, clean shirts, and a cozy home were a cold shower for Lev. By the end of the week, he was cursing his silly idea of “fifty-fifty.” Who knew maintaining a household would be such a hassle? The entire fridge was filled with ready-made food, the stove had burnt eggs (the third attempt!), and the prices from the food delivery service were outrageous.
He tried to cook meat three times, just like Anna used to do. And each time, it was a disaster. The first time, he didn’t thaw it properly; the second, he over-salted it, making it inedible; and the third time, he managed to forget it in the oven. Fortunately, there was no fire alarm, but the kitchen had to be aired out for two hours.
Meanwhile, Anna seemed to have shaken off a heavy burden. No more rushing from work to the store, no more “What should I cook today?” and “Where are the clean socks?” Just a simple dinner for herself, a peaceful evening with a book, and her favorite series. On Wednesday, instead of the usual laundry, she met Mashka for coffee after work — can you imagine? On a weekday! And on weekends, while Lev struggled with the vacuum, she simply lay on the couch with a book. Bliss…
Lev watched all this, grinding his teeth, but he recognized his wife’s rightness. On Friday, he couldn’t take it anymore. He left work early, stopped by the supermarket, bought a bunch of “little things” and rushed home with a firm intention to fix everything. He went all out, just like in the early days of courting: candles, a bottle of that red semi-sweet wine Anna secretly loved, even though she always said she preferred dry. And most importantly — chicken in the oven. Not a culinary masterpiece, but made with all his heart.
When the key turned in the lock, Lev almost jumped from excitement. Anna froze in the doorway, sniffing the familiar home scents she had grown accustomed to.
— What’s this? — she warily nodded at the set table and the glimmering candles.
— Dinner, — Lev replied simply. — For both of us. I made it.
They sat at the table, and Lev poured wine into glasses.
— I’ve thought a lot these days, — he began. — And I realized I was wrong. You’ve always done a lot more than I noticed or appreciated.
Anna listened carefully, without interrupting.
— I’m proposing a new deal, — Lev continued. — We both work full-time. And we both have to take care of our home. I’m ready to take on some of the housework — buying groceries, dishes, trash, maybe something else. I’m still not sure, but tell me if anything’s missing. And finances… Let’s contribute to the budget based on our salaries? I’ll do sixty-five percent, you do thirty-five. Is that fair, what do you think?
Anna thoughtfully swirled the wine glass in her hand.
— You know, — she said finally, — I agree. But with one condition. We really split the housework, not like I’ll always remind you and control you.
— I promise, — Lev nodded seriously. — I even made a list and schedule. Here, look, — he handed her his phone with the open file. — I’ve thought it through.
Anna quickly scanned the list and smiled.
— You know, you might make a good husband, — she said with a sly smile.
Lev laughed and raised his glass.
— To a new beginning? — he proposed.
— To partnership, — Anna corrected, clinking glasses with him.
They sat in the kitchen for a long time, talking and making plans. And the baked chicken — though a bit dry and over-salted — seemed to them that evening the most delicious dish in the world.