Saturday afternoon unfolded in tranquil silence. Raindrops trickled unevenly down the window, while the apartment was filled with the scent of freshly brewed tea and the subdued calm that only weekends can bring after a long workweek. Nika sank into the familiar armchair, an aged piece inherited from her grandmother with a sagging cushion and frayed armrests, and clasped her cherished mug. The warmth of the ceramic pressed comforting against her palms.
She thought to herself: this is contentment. No interruptions, no chatter about jobs, money, or the relentless “it’s time already” reminders. Just the soothing aroma of tea, the quiet ambiance, and a new series ready to stream on her tablet.
These peaceful moments had recently become her refuge. Roma, her husband, had been unemployed for three months, and the household simmered with unexpressed complaints. Roma spent his days glued to the computer, supposedly job hunting, though most of the time his screen displayed shooters or soccer games.
Suddenly, Roma’s voice shattered the silence like a sparkler: “Sweetheart! You won’t believe it! Mom chose her own anniversary gift!” bursting into the room with childlike joy.
Nika slowly diverted her gaze from the screen toward him, sensing something odd in his enthusiasm.
“A crocodile leather handbag!” he announced, oblivious to her skepticism. “She’s wanted it forever!”
Setting her mug down with care, Nika narrowed her eyes.
- “A crocodile-leather handbag? Did she come up with that idea herself, or was it suggested? And has she considered animal rights activists’ potential outrage?”
Roma seemed unaffected by her sarcasm.
“She’s my mother! She deserves it!”
Nika felt a tightening ache.
“Deserves it? What exactly has she done to earn that? True, she raised you, but I have my own parents. And how much does this so-called gift drain from our finances?”
Roma looked away, embarrassed, and hesitated.
“It’s not much… about five of your paychecks.”
The floor seemed to drop beneath her feet.
“Five paychecks?” she echoed, her expression stiffening.
“Well, it’s real Nile crocodile leather, not fake,” Roma justified, acting as though it was no big deal.
She responded with a calm but cutting tone: “Why tell me this? I’m not interested at all.”
Fidgeting and avoiding her eyes completely, Roma confessed, “I took the bag on credit. Thanks to my sister Lenka, who works at a bank—she handled everything swiftly.”
“Whose name was it under?” Nika questioned, a dreadful realization dawning.
“Whose do you think? Yours. I just used your documents.”
Wordlessly, she rose and moved slowly toward him, boiling with anger. She felt an urge to lash out.
“So, Roma, unemployed for months, bought a gift for your mother on credit, and I’m the one who must foot the bill?”
He instinctively recoiled, sensing tension rise.
“Nika, it just happened that way… you’re the only one working in our family.”
“I am working! Yet instead of searching for employment or providing for your family like any husband should, you waste time gaming, expecting me to solve your debts!”
“Don’t get upset, Nika! It’s only a loan—no big deal.”
Just then, Nadezhda Ivanovna, Roma’s mother, made her usual entrance. She claimed to ‘visit her children,’ but more often brought grumbles and criticism.
“What’s all the commotion?” she inquired, entering with a commanding presence.
“Nothing serious. Mom, Nika is just upset about the loan,” Roma explained.
“Why be upset? It’s family business, and supporting one another is your responsibility.”
“What do you mean? Explain,” Nika challenged.
“It’s your duty to pick expensive gifts; mine is to cover them.”
“What’s wrong with that? You have a job and a decent salary,” Nadezhda stated bluntly.
“And Roma? What contribution does he make?”
“Roma is my son and your husband. You should support him,” she retorted.
“Husband? Is that what you call a husband? One who takes loans using his wife’s name because he can’t or won’t work, living as a parasite behind my back!”
“Nika,” Roma protested, “that’s unfair! Don’t humiliate me—after all, we’re family!”
“Fine,” she said, lips tight. “Tomorrow I will resolve this myself. And believe me, it will get sorted.”
There was a hint of a mysterious smile, making Roma uneasy. In fact, Nika had already crafted her plan.
“Good girl!” Nadezhda Ivanovna approved with a nod.
Throughout the following day, Nika balanced her work with her own affairs. She contacted multiple online listings and arranged a meeting with one seller by evening.
Returning home, she greeted Roma with a bright smile.
“Roma, darling! I have news!”
“What is it?” he asked, relaxed on the couch.
“I repaid the loan on the crocodile handbag.”
“No way! How?” Roma shot up excitedly. “Where did you get the funds?”
“Simple. I sold your car.”
Roma stood immobilized, stunned.
“You… sold the car?”
“Exactly. Quickly and at a low price, just enough to clear the debt.”
“Are you insane? What am I supposed to drive now?”
Her smile was innocent.
- “Ride the crocodile bag like a horse. I read that some bags are made from crocodile leather taken from sensitive spots, which turn into suitcases when stroked. I hope the bag you bought isn’t one of those, right?”
She was amused, while Roma turned purple with indignation.
“You couldn’t have done this! Tell me it’s a joke! That was my car! Selling it so cheaply is madness!”
“Now you’re without a car, and I’m free of debt. Sounds fair, doesn’t it? And your mother has her handbag.”
Drawn by the shouting, Nadezhda Ivanovna stormed in.
“What’s happening now?”
“Nika sold my car! This is a disaster!” Roma cried.
“So what? She did the right thing,” Nika shrugged. “A loan is a family issue, isn’t it?”
“That was a mistake! It’s his property! Have you considered what losing the car means?” Nadezhda demanded.
“Did you consult me before buying that bag or taking out a loan in my name?” Nika lifted her chin. “Now I’m just balancing the scales.”
“Outrageous! Look at how independent she’s become!” the mother-in-law exclaimed as if her daughter-in-law had committed theft.
“Outrageous is your assumption that I’m just a cash source, free to spend without my consent,” Nika retorted sharply.
Roma attempted to mediate.
“Nika, think it through! We’re a family—united!”
“A family? Then since you contribute the least, pack your bags and live with your mother. Let her support you, and I’ll live for myself for once.”
She settled on the couch, grabbing her tablet, signaling the conversation was done. After a pause, she added with satisfaction:
“And you, Nadezhda Ivanovna, do try gently stroking your precious crocodile handbag.”
A few days later, worn out by ongoing tension, Roma moved in with his mother, who showed no regret. Nika simply chose to dismiss her presence.
For the first time in months, Nika felt truly unburdened. She was confident that the message was clear: she was no one to be trifled with anymore.
The rain continued its soft patter outside, but now that peaceful Saturday belonged solely to her.
Key Insight: This story captures the turmoil caused by financial secrets and unbalanced responsibilities within a family, illustrating how boundaries and self-respect become crucial for harmony.
In conclusion, the tale of the crocodile handbag reveals not just a conflict over money and possessions, but deeper issues of respect, responsibility, and personal dignity. Nika’s actions demonstrate the importance of standing firm against unfair burdens and asserting one’s worth in a relationship. Ultimately, peace is achieved not through submission but through clear boundaries and honest communication.