Áron and Réka had been married for two years. They loved each other deeply, but tension often arose due to the relationship between Réka and her mother-in-law.

Réka was a kind and warm-hearted woman. She always tried to please everyone, especially the new family members.

However, despite her best efforts, Réka felt coldness and rejection from Irénke, her mother-in-law.

The mother-in-law never openly said anything bad to her face, but her gaze, tone, and subtle remarks suggested that Réka was an unwanted guest.

Every time they returned from Irénke’s house, Réka would feel uneasy.

— Áron, I feel like your mom doesn’t like me, — she said, worried.

Áron would sigh, put down the book he was reading, and grumble in response:

— Why do you keep imagining things? My mom respects you; she’s just a bit reserved. You know how hard it was for her to raise us alone after Dad passed away.

— I understand she went through a tough time, but why do I feel like she’s constantly criticizing me behind my back?

— You’re just imagining things, Réka...

— No! I’ve told you before, I heard it when Irénke was talking to Grandma. She said I was useless and that she didn’t like me, — Réka reminded him.

— But you’re not sure who she was talking about. Let’s talk about something nicer. How about we go to the movies tomorrow? — Áron tried to change the subject.

But Réka couldn’t just move past her doubts. She knew her mother-in-law didn’t like her family, even if she never said it openly.

After another visit, Réka decided she would clear her doubts.

Before the next visit, she decided to bring her dictaphone.

Unnoticed, she snuck into the kitchen and hid the small dictaphone among the dish towels she had bought a few months ago for recording her university lectures.

Then, she tried to behave as usual, helping Irénke prepare dinner.

When they got home, Réka silently went to bed without telling Áron anything about her plan.

The next day, she quietly went to her mother-in-law’s house, ostensibly to help with housework, but in reality, to retrieve the dictaphone.

Réka found it exactly where she had left it. Shaking with excitement, she returned home.

That evening, when Áron came home from work, Réka mysteriously approached him:

— Áron, let’s listen to something, — she said, holding the dictaphone in her hands.

— What is it? — Áron asked, surprised, as he took off his coat. — Is this a dictaphone? What’s on it?

— Just listen, please, — Réka begged, then played the recording.

At first, the usual sounds of the kitchen could be heard: running water, clattering dishes, a conversation about the weather.

Then, Irénke’s irritated voice followed. It was clear she was speaking to someone on the phone.

As soon as they responded to her, the old woman’s voice became sharper and louder.

— I just can’t calm down. Where was my son’s mind when he married her? This useless woman can’t even cook! — she started complaining. — And where did she come from? They can’t even boil a teapot properly in their family! And her mother is just as much of a housewife as her daughter. Everyone there is like that...

Then, Irénke sweetly said goodbye to her conversation partner and turned on the TV.

At this point, Réka stopped the recording. Hopeful and filled with fear, she looked at Áron.

— Now do you see that I was right? — she asked, barely holding back tears.

Áron lowered his head, confused. He felt awkward and unsure of what to do.

On one hand, he understood that his mother had indeed acted unacceptably, but on the other hand, it was hard for him to accept that Réka had secretly eavesdropped on the conversation.

— My mom has always been honest, — he finally said, looking at his wife. — Maybe she just said that out of a moment of anger...

— Angry?! — Réka shouted, feeling betrayed. — She’s so angry that she insults me and my family?! You’ve found a nice excuse for her!

— Maybe she was just upset... Let’s try to talk to her calmly and explain...

— No, Áron! I’m not going to tolerate this humiliation anymore! If you can’t protect me, we need to rethink our relationship! — said Réka, then rushed out of the room, leaving her husband alone with his difficult thoughts.

Áron knew that the situation needed an immediate solution, but he didn’t know what the right step was.

That evening, later, when the tension had slightly eased, Áron decided to call his mother.

He explained the situation to Irénke and asked her to apologize to Réka for her hurtful words.

— Mom, this can’t go on... This is too much...

— She eavesdropped on me? Recorded my conversation with a dictaphone? Who gave her permission to do that?! I’ll report her to the police and send her to jail for interfering in other people’s lives! — Irénke yelled. — And now you want me to apologize to her? She should be begging at my feet!

— Mom, stop! — Áron interrupted firmly. — Can’t you hear yourself?!

— I hear you perfectly well, Áron! The point is, Réka is never allowed to set foot in my house again! Do you understand? Do you hear me? I’ll even check if she hid more dictaphones somewhere else. One can’t say a word in their own home anymore! — Irénke cried...

“A Marriage on the Edge”

Áron and Réka had been married for two years, and their relationship seemed to be full of love and harmony. But beneath the surface, there was one person who cast a shadow over their life: Áron’s mother, Irén.

Réka was a sensitive and empathetic woman, always striving to build good relationships with those around her. She especially wanted to win over her mother-in-law, believing that it was important for Áron’s family to accept her. However, no matter how hard she tried, Irén never seemed to smile genuinely at her. She never openly insulted her, but the distance in every gesture, every half-spoken word, was undeniable.

Every time they left Irén’s house after a visit, Réka felt the weight of the tension between them.

— Áron, please… tell me I’m not the only one who feels this way. Your mother… she simply hates me, — she said softly.

Áron would sigh, irritated.

— Are we really going over this again? My mom doesn’t hate you, she’s just… a bit reserved. You know how hard it was for her to raise us after dad died.

— I know she’s had a tough life. But that doesn’t excuse her constant snide remarks. I once overheard her talking to your grandmother about me. She called me a “pathetic good-for-nothing”…

Áron tried to change the subject, weary of the same old arguments. But Réka couldn’t shake the feeling. The doubt lingered inside her, like a small shard that couldn’t be removed.

One day, as they prepared for another visit to Irén’s, Réka made a decision—one she never thought she’d have to make. She secretly hid a small recorder in Irén’s kitchen, tucked between the dish towels—an unlikely place where no one would find it. She’d bought it years ago for university, but now it had a new purpose: to uncover the truth.

She didn’t say anything to Áron on their way home that day. That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The next morning, she came up with an excuse and went back to help with some household chores—really, she was just going back for the recorder.

When she arrived, it was exactly where she had left it. Her hands shook as she took it, clutching it tightly before heading home.

Later that evening, when Áron returned, Réka was sitting at the table, almost motionless.

— Áron… we need to listen to something, — she said quietly.

Áron looked at her with confusion before noticing the recorder in her hand.

— What’s this? Don’t tell me… Réka, did you eavesdrop on my mother?

— Just listen to it. Please.

At first, the recording captured only the normal sounds of the kitchen—water running, the clinking of silverware, soft conversation. Then, Irén’s voice filled the room.

— I don’t know what my son saw in her… This woman doesn’t know anything. She’s as awkward as her mother. Everyone in that family is hopeless… I thought my son would do better than settling down with someone like her, — she muttered during a phone call. — I thought he deserved more than this… pathetic woman.

Réka stopped the recording, her eyes wide, her voice trembling as she looked at Áron.

— Now do you understand why this hurts so much? — she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Áron didn’t know what to say. He was stunned by his mother’s words, but he was equally shocked by how far Réka had gone to uncover the truth. He felt conflicted, frustrated, but couldn’t quite place who he was angry with.

— This isn’t right, Réka… It shouldn’t have come to this.

— Not right? Was it not wrong what she said? Are you just upset that I recorded it?

— I… I just… this is hard for both of us. Maybe my mom was just upset.

— Then she should be ashamed of herself. But if you won’t stand by me, then our whole marriage is up for question. Because I won’t keep humiliating myself like this anymore!

Tears filled Réka’s eyes as she left the room, leaving Áron in silence. He knew that something irreversible had happened, something that couldn’t be undone.

That evening, he called his mother. He explained what had happened and told her that she needed to apologize.

— What?! I should apologize? That little snake recorded me in my own home?! — Irén shouted. — This is a crime! I’ll report her, Áron! This woman is sick! And you… you’re defending her?

— Mom… enough! You know this isn’t normal anymore!

— Of course! Because now you’re not my son, but her puppet!

The phone abruptly hung up. Áron tried calling again, but she wouldn’t answer.

The next day, he went to her house in person, but Irén refused to open the door. She knew why he had come and didn’t want to hear it. She had made up her mind: Réka would no longer be allowed in her home. She even started screening Áron’s calls.

Áron slowly realized that his mother would never change. And now, he had to choose: his past or his future?

From that point on, he started visiting his parents’ house less and less. And when he did, Réka never accompanied him.

The recorder had only been a tool, but the truth it uncovered had changed everything.