Dad, are you serious? I’m not going to work here!
— But you will, Pasha. And don’t even think about resisting. If you keep this up, I’ll just turn my back and leave you to deal with it on your own. Think about how many troubles you’ve already caused.
Pavel snorted and turned away. What’s gotten into you? Things used to be simpler: he would pull off his stunts knowing that Dad would always bail him out—even if it meant calling the police chief, the family’s best friend. But now, the old man seems to have lost his mind.
This time, Pashka really overdid it: he broke a policeman’s nose and staged a race in a patrol car that ended in an accident. Apparently, his father had arranged some special punishment with the police chief.
Pasha sighed as he looked at the gray hospital building. Once, just five years ago, he had graduated from medical school. His final year had turned into non-stop partying—the freedom fueled by his father’s money. His childhood dream of becoming a doctor had evaporated, replaced by mindless revelry.
— So, who am I supposed to be here? Hopefully, at least the chief physician?— he tried to joke.
— Wrong guess, son. You’re going to start at the very bottom—as an orderly. Maybe you’ll find yourself a good local girl who’ll teach you something worthwhile, not just how to party.
— What?! Dad, are you kidding me? Carrying pots, or what?
— If necessary, pots too. Ever since you started spending your time only on bar glasses, you haven’t done anything useful. Remember: one complaint from the head nurse—and you’ll end up behind bars. By the way, your mother still doesn’t know what you’ve become… It’s better that she never finds out.
Those words hit Pasha like a bolt from the blue. He felt anger and resentment boiling inside him.
— So you think there’s no hope of redeeming me? That I’m hopeless?
— Exactly. You’re not just lazy, you’re a stupid lazy. You have no real friends, only leeches. I never thought my son would turn out to be such an empty person.
Ivan Nikolayevich turned around and left, leaving his son bewildered. Resentment mixed with confusion—how did their once warm relationship turn into cold condemnation?
Nina Sergeyevna, who had accidentally overheard the conversation through the window, began to ponder. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but when she heard Ivan Nikolayevich’s name, she decided to stay. In exchange for that employment arrangement, he had gifted the hospital new equipment.
“Another rich kid who wants everything at once,” she thought. She had always found such people incomprehensible: endowed with enormous opportunities yet completely indifferent to life. One could study abroad, start a business, become an influential figure—but he chose a life of debauchery.
Nina herself had clawed her way through hardship all her life. She grew up in a poor family where her parents drank, and she had to take care of her younger sisters and brothers. She worked, studied in the evenings, and scrimped on food. Now, at forty, she had become the chief physician—but had paid a high price for her success: the absence of a family and close relationships.
“Well, let him work. Though he won’t last long,” she decided as she looked at the new employee. He was about thirty, and besides partying and entertainment, he hadn’t taken an interest in anything. What was the difference between their stories? Only in their choices.
The workday ended. Nina removed her white coat and glanced around the quiet hospital corridors. The day had passed without incident. She noticed the new orderly several times—young, self-assured, and already attracting the attention of several nurses. “Another handsome fellow who will dazzle naive girls,” she thought with a touch of sadness. Men like him rarely turn out to be reliable husbands.
At the cafe, her longtime friend Olga was waiting. They often met there after work to discuss everything that had piled up over the week. Olga, like Nina, had devoted her life to her career: she had studied, worked tirelessly, and now was a well-known lawyer in the city. Both of them had found no time for a personal life or children. Olga often joked that they were some sort of “improper” women.
Putting on her fur coat, Nina left her office. But she had barely taken a couple of steps when someone suddenly bumped into her, nearly knocking her over. She gasped, but some strong arms caught her.
— Sorry!— a voice said, too brisk for a mere accidental collision.
Looking up, Nina met the gaze of two bright brown eyes that showed no sign of remorse at all. On the contrary, they looked at her with unabashed interest.
— What do you think you’re doing?— she demanded.
It was Pasha, the new orderly. He scrutinized her from head to toe and even whistled.
— Who would have thought that in such a remote place one would encounter such beauties! My name’s Pasha, and yours?
Nina blushed at his audacity. His hands were still holding her too tightly.
— Let go immediately!
She freed herself and was about to scold him, but he smiled:
— It’s the first time I’ve seen anger adorn a woman. What eyes you have! One could get burned. And what are you doing tomorrow evening?
Nina froze. After all, she was the chief physician! How dare he behave like that? But then she remembered that she was wearing an expensive fur coat and high heels, and she had no badge showing her title.
— Go work,— she said coldly and hurried toward the exit, feeling his gaze on her back.
Olga immediately noticed her embarrassment.
— What happened, Nin?
— Nothing special,— Nina tried to brush it off.
— Don’t lie to me. I know you. Your eyes are shining, your cheeks are flushed… It seems you’ve fallen in love!
Nina laughed.
— Olga, have you lost your mind?!
— All right, maybe I got a bit ahead of myself,— Olga smiled. — But that’s exactly the first impression.
Nina recounted her recent encounter with the new orderly.
— So, what? Is he at least handsome?— asked Olga.
— What about that… He’s barely thirty,— Nina snorted.
— So what? Nowadays, a ten-year difference is nothing. Moreover, no one will give you more than thirty.
— Olga, stop! I don’t even want to think about it.
— Nonsense. We’re not getting any younger. It’s time to take everything life has to offer while we still can.
The next day, Nina had a day off. Usually, she spent them at the hospital—checking documentation and handling planning. Her family had long since dispersed: her siblings had settled in different cities, and her parents had passed away early, unable to cope with endless alcohol problems. Now, work was the only meaning in her life.
In the morning, Nina woke with an unusual feeling. For the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel like rushing to work. Olga’s words echoed in her mind: “You must live for yourself too.” And she decided that today would be that day.
She visited a beauty salon in the morning and finally realized a long-held idea—she changed her hairstyle. Then she headed to the shopping mall, where she bought several items she had long dreamed of: a playful dress, a bright jacket, and a few other trinkets. As she left the store with three large bags, she almost bumped into Pasha.
— Miss, where are you looking?— his voice rang out right behind her.
It turned out that she had gotten distracted and was walking on the road instead of the sidewalk. When Nina turned around, she was met with a broad smile.
— Is that you? I didn’t recognize you! Something must have happened since yesterday… You’ve become even more beautiful,— he said as he picked up her bags.
Before she could object, Pasha was already walking alongside her with the bags.
— How did you carry all that? It’s like a whole wardrobe here!
Nina felt confused. They reached her car, but the “Beetle” was completely blocked in by other vehicles. The owners were nowhere to be seen.
— Should I call a taxi?— Pasha suggested.
— No, I’ll manage on my own,— she tried to refuse.
But he stated firmly:
— I’ll give you a ride.
When Nina tried to retrieve her bags, he looked into her eyes and asked:
— Are you afraid of me?
She felt as if a wave of heat had washed over her.
— What are you saying!
And before she knew it, she was sitting in his SUV, not understanding how she’d ended up in this situation.
— How about dinner?— Pasha suddenly suggested.
— No,— she replied curtly.
— Why? Is it really that scary?
She hesitated, not knowing what to say. He stopped at a restaurant, and after her uncertain wave of the hand, they went inside.
Three months later, Nina watched sleeping Pasha and marveled at how he had changed her life. The nine-year age difference now seemed insignificant. He had become an integral part of her world, although inside she always harbored a worry: what would his strict father say?
At work, colleagues whispered among themselves, but Nina didn’t care. The only thing that troubled her was Ivan Nikolayevich’s reaction. Pavel said that his father could be stubborn and even dangerous when angry.
However, Pasha turned out not to be such a bad person after all. He continued working as an orderly, despite his situation. Patients loved him for his responsiveness and sociability; he had become the heart and soul of the hospital.
A month later, his “punishment” was due to end. Nina understood that perhaps their story would end along with that term. Yet she was grateful to fate for having experienced true feelings.
And recently, she had learned another piece of news: she was soon to become a mother. Pressing her hand against her belly, Nina smiled. Now she had something priceless that would stay with her forever.
The farewell was brief and awkward. Pasha appeared unexpectedly in her office.
— Nina, I’ve taken care of everything. I’m ready to leave.
— All right. I wish you good luck,— she replied, trying to maintain her composure.
He looked at her intently.
— You speak as if we will never see each other again.
Nina struggled to hold back her tears.
— Isn’t that so? Your period of correction is over. We have different lives, Pasha.
— Nina dear…
— Just leave. Don’t complicate things any further. Long farewells lead to nothing.
Pasha left silently, and Nina sank onto her desk, hiding her face in her hands.
Two days later in the evening, there was a knock on the door. Ivan Nikolayevich stood on the doorstep, his gaze stern.
— What happened with Pasha?— Nina asked anxiously as she let him in.
— Pasha is fine. Except that he lost his mind and decided to marry a woman who, in his eyes, is only good enough to be a mother,— he said sharply.
Nina froze, trying to process what she had heard. Her heart began to beat faster.
— I don’t understand… Who are you talking about?
— Don’t pretend you don’t know! You’re an adult, experienced, and he’s just a kid. Why do you need these games? For money? Or just for entertainment?
Her indignation turned to anger:
— How dare you?!
But Pasha’s father wouldn’t let her finish:
— If I see you with my son again, you’ll lose your job. And no one will ever hire you again!
Nina felt the world spinning around her. She staggered and fainted.
She regained consciousness from a gentle touch on her cheek. Before her eyes was a concerned Pasha.
— Hi. How are you? My father and I nearly got into a fight. He was trying to help, and I thought he was hurting you.
— He won’t forgive you,— she whispered.
— He already forgave you. He admitted that he thought there was nothing serious between us. He promised to come by later and apologize to you in person.
Nina managed a weak smile, yet doubts continued to torment her.
— Why are you here, Pasha?
— To be with you,— he replied without hesitation. — Marry me.
She shook her head.
— It’s impossible. We’re too different.
— Is a nine-year difference really a reason to refuse love?
— When you’re forty, I’ll be fifty,— she retorted.
He laughed.
— Then I’ll shave off my beard to look older!
Despite the seriousness of the moment, Nina couldn’t help but smile.
— Pasha…
— Yes?
— I’m pregnant. We’re going to have a child.
He looked at her for a long while, then quietly said:
— I will do everything to make you the happiest woman. I promise to be the perfect husband.
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