After Varvara learned the results of her last exam, she began to feel anxious: her chances for a budget place were melting away with each passing day. Despite her high enough scores, they were clearly not enough for her desired specialty.
Varvara had a clear agreement with her parents: if she was admitted to the budget, the money saved up for her education would be used to buy a one-room apartment in the regional center. Her parents planned to buy a home by the time she graduated from university. However, if they had to pay for their daughter’s education, then they could forget about their dreams of an apartment. In this case, Varvara would have to solve her housing problems on her own, since they were going to leave the three-room family apartment to their eldest son.
Varvara perceived the terms as fair and agreed. Her parents kept their promise by paying for her education. The girl left her hometown, settled in a dormitory, and successfully completed her first year. But when she returned home for the holidays after the session, her parents immediately said that they wanted to talk about something important.
“Dear Varya, we need to discuss your studies,” her father began.
“What happened?” the girl was surprised.
“Unfortunately, we will no longer be able to finance your studies at the university.”
“How so? Why?” Varya asked.
“The thing is, the situation has changed. Your brother Anton has decided to get married, and we need money for the wedding and to buy him a house,” her father explained.
Varya’s older brother Anton was two years older than her. He barely finished the ninth grade, then college, and received his diploma only last year.
“Dad, Anton is only twenty! Why such a rush?” Varvara was perplexed.
“His girlfriend Alla is expecting a child. So soon you will become an aunt,” her mother answered.
“Why should I suffer because of his mistakes? Anton doesn’t even know where the nearest drugstore is, and because of this you are depriving me of an education!” — Varvara was indignant.
“It’s your own fault,” her father said sharply. “If you had entered on a budget, you wouldn’t have had such problems now.”
“But if I had entered on a budget, I wouldn’t have received the promised apartment! After all, it will now be given to Anton. If I don’t pay for the second year by September 10, I will simply be expelled. Do you understand that?” Varya exploded.
“We understand the situation perfectly well,” her mother said coldly. “And we have a solution. You can take your documents and apply to another faculty where your points will be enough. In September, you will start studying again, but for free. Yes, you will lose a year, but it’s not so bad. You will still get a higher education.”
“Wonderful! So you decided everything for me, as if I didn’t have my own opinion!”
“Isn’t that amazing?” Varvara exclaimed bitterly. “Listen,” her father raised his voice, clearly irritated, “stop making scenes. This money is ours, and we have the right to decide how to spend it. For us now, it is more important to help Anton with the birth of a child than to follow your plans. We gave you an alternative, and there will be no other choice. That’s all.”
After talking with her parents, Varvara could not hold back her tears. She racked her brains all evening, trying to figure out what to do.
In the morning, she made a decision: to work all summer to earn money for her studies.
It took several days to find a job, but in the end, Varya got a job in fast food. To increase her income, she took as many shifts as possible, sometimes returning home only for a short nap before a new work shift.
Varvara decided not to go to her brother’s wedding, despite the persuasion of her parents, who demanded her presence and a decent gift for the newlyweds.
“How is that possible? Your brother is getting married, and you don’t even want to congratulate him? What will I tell my relatives?” Mom asked.
“Tell the truth. You spent the money intended for my education on Anton’s wedding. And I’m not at the celebration because I’m working to pay for my education.”
Despite all her efforts, by mid-summer Varya realized that she wouldn’t be able to collect the necessary amount. She decided to move to the regional center and transfer to the correspondence department.
On August 25, she packed her things and hit the road. In the days remaining before the start of the school year, Varvara found housing.
She rented a small room in a communal apartment, which she shared with another girl who was also forced to cope with life’s difficulties on her own. She was lucky with her job: the schedule was flexible, and the salary depended on the number of shifts. Varya worked hard and coped with any challenges.
She decided not to tell her parents about her life. She did not call first and did not inquire about their affairs. Her mother called about twice a month. When she asked how her daughter was doing, Varvara answered: “Everything is fine,” but without details.
Her mother often expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that her daughter did not come home for holidays or vacations. Varya did not refuse outright, but in three years she never visited her home.
In her fourth year, her mother called with a proposal: “Varya, Olya Kochetkova told me that you are studying by correspondence. Dad and I thought: why pay for rented accommodation if you could live at home and come to study twice a year?”
“What a strange offer. Where does all this interest come from?” Varvara asked.
“The thing is that Alla is about to have her second child, and it’s already hard for her to have the first one alone. She needs help,” her mother explained.
“Why don’t you help her yourself? Aren’t you working now?” Varya was surprised.
“I work. We pay the mortgage on Anton’s apartment. After the wedding, there was only enough money for half the cost of the apartment, the rest had to be taken out on credit. That’s why I’ve been working for two years already,” her mother answered.
“So you’re suggesting that I go back and help Alla? And who will pay for my education if I can’t work?”
“Does correspondence courses really require payment too?” her mother was surprised. Varya was already combining her studies with work in her specialty.
She had so many things to do that she simply had no time for her personal life.
A guy named Mikhail was studying in her group. He was a little older: first he graduated from college, then served in the army and only then entered the university. Mikhail grew up in an orphanage and never knew his parents.
After graduating from the orphanage, he received a one-room apartment, where he lived alone.
Varvara had long attracted his attention, but her seriousness and constant employment prevented him from approaching her for a long time.
However, they were brought together to work on an academic project. Now they spent a lot of time together, and soon Mikhail decided to ask her out on a date.
They dated for about a year, and six months before graduation, they decided to get married. A grand celebration was not planned: Mikhail had no relatives, and Varya did not want to invite hers. They simply registered their marriage and celebrated this event in a cafe with a few friends.
As soon as Varvara completed her studies and received her diploma, her mother called her again. “Well, you graduated from university, it’s time to go home. You finally need to help your family. Anton and Alla still can’t cope with the children, and I’m completely exhausted.
I work during the day, and spend the evenings and weekends with the kids. Come at least for a while to replace me. You’ll find a job without any problems, and we’ll figure out housing.”
“Mom, it’s been five years since I was home. Do you really think that nothing has changed in my life during this time?
Why do you think that after you refused to help me, I’ll suddenly forget about it and come take care of Anton’s children?
Over the years, I’ve gotten a higher education, got married, and in six months my husband and I will have our own child.
You must understand that I have my own life now, and I’m not going to fulfill your demands.”