«We have to get married! Without delay! All because of that apartment on Nevsky avenue! Let’s go to the general immediately and make a formal written request to get married!»

«Nelly! I have already told you: we shall get married. We do not have to do it on the spur of the moment! Calm down. I’ll go get some rest, and you do the same and we’ll discuss everything tomorrow,» Victor mumbled in an obsequious way, speeding up his pace.

«You don’t understand! This is our chance! I’ve already done everything myself, but in order to get the whole apartment we have to get married immediately, and it would be better if I got the certificate that I am pregnant!» Nelly’s voice turned into a kind of roar, she was clutching the sleeve of his pea coat and was hopping next to him.

«I reported my flatmate to the authorities and now she is going to be fired. Naturally, she will lose her accommodation! The second flatmate is so old and sick that she won’t last long. And you can be registered in my room only if you marry me!» The girl stopped in despair, clenched her fists and stamped her foot.

«Are you sure it will work out and we’ll be able to get the whole flat all to ourselves? And your roommate will be evicted?» Victor stopped, too. A thoughtful mien appeared on his face and a ghost of a smile settled on his plush lips.

«Of course, it will! I wrote to the head of the military base that Svetlana and his deputy are lovers and that I had nailed them in our room! She missed work several times, because I added medicine to her food and she couldn’t get up in the morning! You do realize that this is a smashing reason to fire her!»

Victor peered into his girlfriend’s eyes blazing with rage. He stood still for a while, staring at the light of the streetlamps and the round dance of varicolored leaves on the asphalt. The wind was getting stronger, stealing under his coat.

Nelly was looking at her fiancé, screwing up her eyes and awaiting approval. Her hair was messed up by the wind, but she took no notice. The girl was staring at Victor. It was obvious that thinking was not an easy task for him. One emotion was giving way to the next one, and this could be easily noticed to see on his handsome face, as if one was looking at the screen. Finally, he looked at Nelly. She tossed her head triumphantly. She won! Now everything will go according to her plan and they will get married, Victor will be registered in her room, and the old hag won’t last long. Nelly rubbed her cold hands and dragged Victor after her with enthusiasm.

«Come on, to my boss! He is expecting us.»

Victor had nothing to do, but to follow his girlfriend.

Half an hour later the girl, with a pleased grin on her face, darted out of her boss’s office and, holding her fiancé by the hand, went to the ground-floor of the building. She opened the door with the plate “Staff Only” and pushed Victor inside. She swiftly blocked the door handle with the mop and began pulling his trousers off.

«What are you doing? You want here?» the man listlessly took her by the wrist.

«Yes, here and now! I’ve been waiting for this so long. Look, the sooner I get pregnant, the better. With a baby we might get a bigger apartment, and you might be promoted,» whispered Nelly hotly.

The girl undid her uniform skirt and it fell down, showing her pale legs in cheap stockings with plain suspenders. Victor held out his arms, put them round her hips and pressed her body to his. He could feel her heart beating wildly.

«But it’s not convenient here; this place is full of dust. Next time, perhaps.»