What is love? Can one define it? Can we measure the depth of love? Can one see the emotion one hold for their partner? The answer is no!! For love is a feeling that resides in the heart and can never be measured, seen or touched but it can only be felt. Actually love is kike a wine, the older it gets the testier it get.

Such is the love of Vineet and Anamika. Vineet, a dedicated high official - ACP of Mumbai police, who can do anything for his country, he's not just brave and courageous but a true nationalist and lover of his motherland. While his wife Anamika is a housewife, a much dedicated lady who's building her house, beautifying every corner with her love and care, and all she wants is her husband's safety.

....

It's midnight, the couple is lying in each other's arms after spending a sweet yet passionate private moment together after a long time. Vineet had his eyes closed while Anamika was staring at him, her hands caressing his chest warmly.

''Kya hua biwi, are you still in the mood?" He questions her naughtily, eyes still closed.

She smiles at his words knowing he's pulling her leg. She didn't reply and continued with what she had been doing, he let her to herself, why to disturb her when she's having her time? No need, let her play, let her have him wholly the way she likes. He cooperated and lay still, letting her do whatever she wanted.

After a moment she let out a deep sigh, her hand reached to his face and caressed his cheek lovingly. This time he opened his eyes and cast a look at her.

Her tired yet beautiful face staring at him with millions of questions running in her mind, her clouded brows says it all. He pulls her closer with the arms under her head and circles it around her shoulder, removing the strain of hair from her face while his other hand holds her hand, entwining his fingers with her.

''Kya hua biwi? Tum tensed kyun lag rahi ho? Koi tension hai?" He enquired in concern.

''That's what I want to ask Pati, kya baat hai? Itne din badh suddenly kya hua tumhe? I mean koi baat hai kya?" She questions him because it's been almost a year that they spend such passionate night, he had been out every single day because of some case but today, he not just turned up but had a much needed moment with her and one thing that she's sure about is the the case is not over yet, so obviously he is not celebrating his success. Then the question that comes up is, what he's up to?

Vineet let out a sigh, why does she know him this much? How does she get to know his things?

''Kuch nahi hai Biwi! It's just I missed you so I came up and I'm really sorry for not taking your calls in the past days. I was busy with some meetings!!" He lied and clarified cleverly.

''Really?? Don't lie pati, I know there is something else and please don't say sorry, in fact i'm sorry. Constable Chaturvedi ka call aaya tha mujhe ki tum busy ho but I just wanted to have a chat with you. Jaane kyun uss din bahut bechaini si ho rahi thi, sorry for that!!" She apologizes, her gaze turned down in embarrassment. 

''Hey, don't be sorry! Tumhari galti nahi hai, it's my fault, mujhe tumhe at least ek baar toh call karna chahiye tha jo maine nahi kiya aur pichle kai din ya shayad hafton se ghar bhi nahi aaya. Khair, I think I can compensate  for that, I mean i'll be home this whole week!!" He exclaimed, which only deepened her doubt.

''Koi case hai?? Kahin jaa rahe ho?" She asked directly, looking in his eyes making him uneasy.

Oh, how easily she got to know!

He clears his throat before speaking,''tumhe sab kaise pata chal jata hai biwi? Abhi toh maine kuch kaha bhi nahi aur tum jaan bhi gayi kya baat hai? Kaise?" He questions her, brows furrow up.

She let out a sigh,''pati bina kaam ke tum phone bhi nahi karte ho, ghar aa ke itna time saath spend kar rahe ho aur pure hafte off bhi liya hai toh it's obvious koi bada kaam hai and let me guess, tum ek din ke off ke liye ek hafte gayab ho jaate ho toh seven days equals to almost two months.'' She calculated.

Vineet nudged her,''hey, aab tum mujhe guilty feel karwa  rahi ho. I know main tumhe time ya attention kuch nahi de pata hoon but you know i've been busy, ek baar ye case khatam ho jaaye toh I can be at peace!" He said convincingly.

''don't be guilty, I know tum busy ho and I don't have any problem with that, in fact i'm proud of you. Par Pati....'' She stop and cast a look at him, he narrowed his eyes in questionnaire.

''Mujhe kabhi kabhi bahut darr lagta hai. Main tumhe kissi keemat pe khona nahi chahti aur tumhari job tumhare safety ki guarantee nahi deta. You see, jab main kahin jaati hoon aur log mujhe point out karke kehte hai ''wo ACP Vineet Kumar ki wife hai'' toh it makes me feel proud and complete, tumhara naam mere naam se juda hai iss se jyada aur kuch nahi chahiye mujhe. You know what, i'm ready to wait!! Tumhare kaam mei jitne bhi din lage, ek hafta do hafte ya mahine ya saal bhi kyun nahi, main tumhara wait kar sakti hoon par when you come, mujhe tum sahi salamat chahiye. Main tumhara saalon saal bhi intezar kar sakti hoon, but at the end of that journey I want you beside me, I want you to hold me and love me. Aur agar ye nahi ho sakta, agar mere intezaar ke badh tum mujhe nahi mil sakte toh I don't want to live, kyunki main tumhara intezaar kar sakti hoon lekin tumhare bina nahi ji sakti Pati, i'll die without you!" She exclaims her emotions, her eyes turn to tears and in the next moment she hides herself in his arms.

That's where his guilty trip starts. Her tears and emotions are his weaknesses. He knows he can never fulfill what she dreams as a woman or as a wife for he is committed to his job which needs much attention. He feels guilty and more than that embarrassed to marry her, he shouldn't have expressed his feelings, he shouldn't have proposed to her for marriage because he was always committed to his work, he knew that and still chose to ruin her life just for his own desire - how selfish he is!!

She has a golden heart, caring and loving nature, she's a person who has so much to give while in return only receiving loneliness and tears, still never complaining. He let out a sigh, he isn't her worth, she deserves someone much much better.

He caressed her head to comfort her while she let control herself for she didn't want to make him guilty, to think otherwise. At first she didn't want to cry but it happened and his warm touch pushed her emotions to the edge but she had to stop before he took it otherwise.

''I'm sorry Biwi!! I know main tumhe aaj tak koi khushi nahi de paya. Inn aath saalon mei siwa ye akelepan aur aansu ke kuch nahi de paya main tumhe. Tum kabhi kehti nahi aur shayad na kabhi kaho par main janta hoon I failed as a husband, apni duty ke liye tumhe ignore kiya hai meine, siwaye intezaar karne ke aur kuch nahi diya. Meri absence ki wajah se tumhe maa, papa, Di aur jaane kis kis ki baatein sunni padti hai tumhe aur tum itni achi ho ki fir bhi tum kabhi kuch nahi kehti mujhe, koi shikayat nahi karti. You deserve better Biwi, much better!!'' He let out a deep sigh, Anamika parted herself and gazed at him.

''Aise mat bolo Pati, mujhe koi problem nahi hai!!" She defended.

''Par tumhare iss takleef se mujhe bahut problem hai. Kyun biwi, tum kyun pichle aath saal se mujhe bardasht kar rahi ho? Koi khushi toh di nahi tumhe fir kyun aab bhi tum mere saath khadi ho? Mere jaise ignorant insaan ko kab ka chod ke chala jana chahiye tha tumhe toh shayad tum khush hoti, ek achi life jee rahi hoti.'' He shut his eyes, his heart felt heavy.

''Main khush hoon Pati, tum aise kyun soch rahe ho? Tum apne baare mei aisa kyun sochte ho? Tumse acha toh kabhi koi mil bhi nahi sakta mujhe, tumne jitna pyar aur respect mujhe diya hai utna kabhi koi nahi karta. Kya hua agar tum thode busy rehte ho aur wo bhi issliye kyunki tumhara kaam hi aisa hai, tum koi nine to five ki job nahi karte, poora sahar chen se so sake uske liye tum nahi sote kya main itni si baat nahi samajh sakti? Aur rahi baat kissi ke kuch kehne ki toh it's okay jaan, family hi toh hai unki baaton ko dil se kyun lagana, wo bhi toh humara bhala hi chahte hai, humein saath dekhna chahte hai issliye bolte hai. Please tum khudko dosh maat do kissi chij ke liye!!" Anamika tries to comfort him but to him it all seems a justification for the mistake he made.

Anamika lifted herself and leaned on him, she cupped his face with one hand and pecked his head.

''Vineet, mujhe tumse koi naraazgi nahi hai aur na kabhi ho sakti hai. Tum jaante ho tum mere liye kya mayne rakhte ho. Mujhe iss baar se koi fark nahi padta kaun kya kehta hai ya mujhe kitna intezaar karna padega tumhara. Mere liye itna kaafi hai ki tum jab bhi aate wo apna time mere saath spend karte ho, jitni der ghar pe rehte ho apna saara time mujhe dete ho, it's enough for me. Main unhi yaadon ke saath tumhara intezaar karti hoon aur tum fir aa ke mujhe mere hone ka ehsaas dilate ho. Tumhare saath guzara har pal mere liye khash hai, tumhari har baat, har touch mujhe humare pyar aur uski takat yaad dilata hai. Yeah, I deserve better but you are the best - best in the whole universe!” She exclaims in a low loving tone, Vineet opens his eyes and stares at her. Oh, he can never match the level of her love. Her love is limitless, pure and raw.

''Itni siddat se bhi mujh se pyar na karo biwi ki koi chhoti galti bhi tum se pehle mujhe barbad kar jaaye." He expresses his fear to which she laughs.

''Galtiyon ko sudhara jaa sakta hai, tum fikra maat karo main tumhe barbad nahi hone dungi aur rahi baat pyar ki toh i'm sorry ispe mera koi control nahi hai, ye har pal badhta hi jaa raha hai bas aur marte dam tak badhta hi rahega. Mere dil mei ya zindagi mei tumhari jagah kabhi koi nahi le sakta. Tum befikra desh ke prati apni duty nibhao aur main aone pyar ke prati apni duty nibhati hoon!!" She expresses, smiling at him with her every magnificent smile.

Her smiling face made him smile as well, he gently pulled her closer and engaged her in a soft yet passionate smooch, trying to live in the moment not worrying about the past or future, just feel her deep love and love lost in the ocean of togetherness!

While kissing, he takes a turn pulling her beneath him and parted, he gazes at her affectionately.

''Waise toh main impractical baaton pe vishwas nahi karta, par agar saat janam jaisa kuch hai toh bhagwan se request karunga har janam mei mujhe tumse hi pyar ho!!" He articulated.

Anamika throws her arms around him,''saat janmo ka kya bharosha pati, wo toh humare haath mei bhi nahi. Meri toh bas itni prarthna hai iss janam mei hi tumhara itna pyar sanjo loon ki kissi dukh aur takleef ke liye jagah hi na bache aur na hi humare bich kabhi Koi duriyan aaye. Chahe hafte ho mahine ho ya saal hi kyun na ho, hum jab mile yunhi mile, ek dusre ke liye jo tadap hai yunhi barkarar rahe aur kuch nahi chahiye mujhe!" She exclaims only to be smooched by him in response.

For sure, he will make every moment that they share together a special one. He may not visit her everyday but when he dies he can maje sure to dedicate all his time to her the way he does with his duty. If he doesn't compromise in his duty, he should not compromise in his personal life too, because both needs his attention and imbalance can ruin both which he won't be able to bear. To balance both he needs a husband at home and a cop at the station!!

....

The End…