She applies bindi and fills the area between her parted hair with red vermilion. Her bangles matched with her red saree and so was her earrings. She smiles to herself looking at the reflection of her image in the mirror.

Five long years have passed by, everything has changed, she has changed. Her nature, behavior, aura, everything changed. Well, this is the least she could do to save her unwanted marriage fixed by her father with a guy who wasn't interested in marriage but ready to marry her just to ensure the business deal with her father, Atharva Oberoi. An unwanted and benefit for business marriage it was and she had to accept.

She had become a security deposit for her father and her husband, Vineet Dixit, to ensure the success of the deal as neither her father nor her husband can be listed in a good person list! They do things which make money for them either good or bad. It doesn't matter for them, if it's for their good they would make it happen either by hook or crook. So, when they decided to work together on a deal, both were doubtful of each other thinking the other would cheat them and so they concluded to tie up not just in professional front but also in personal.

Anamika never wanted her marriage to be this way. She wanted a guy who would love her, make her feel special but she had to agree to her father because she didn't have any strong point to deny the marriage.

Now, it's five years. She had tried every possible way to support her marriage as she didn't want the relationship to break, it obviously wasn't a lovey dovey or so wanted but she wanted to give it a chance and her husband actually cooperated with her.

Although she never feels him doing things out of love, he does it out of responsibility or formality and the only thing he has for her is respect and care, love is nowhere but she's happy with him - - and their two year old Son, Ansh!

He definitely did everything out of formality or as responsibility but now they are parents of a little boy, she probably couldn't make space in his heart but the little boy holds his heart. He loves him immensely.

Earlier, he rarely visited home but now yes always at time never late , even by a minute and the first thing he does is to see the boy, play with him for at least an hour.

***

It's another day but unlike other days, it's Karvachauth and like other years she fasts for him, for his well being.

She looks at herself for the last time in the mirror and leaves the room. It's already 8 and he's not yet home, must be in his office for sure!

She makes her way to the terrace, the moon is yet to rise.

She arranged everything she would need in a few moments and headed towards her son's playing room. The guy owns a huge luxurious playing room. He has everything extraordinary, be it his clothes or toy, Vineet doesn't compromise in anything. He would buy the most expensive things for Ansh, every single thing the little one owns is a dream for many childs.

Though Anamika finds it unnecessary but Vineet never listens to her, he does things that pleases him.

****

As she enters the playroom, a sweet surprise welcomes her. Vineet was already present there playing with Ansh, he was still in his formals, it seems he returned moments ago and got busy with their little one.

She has never seen him so carefree as in the past two years. He's very particular about his things and can't bear any kind of mistake but now things have changed, he's more focused on Ansh. When he's home, he's all around him.

She still remembers the days when they were newly wedded. A servant mistakenly had misplaced his file for which Vineet pushed him out of the house but now he's changed. Ansh had torn many of his files, he had even dipped his mobile phone in a water jug, not only this Ansh had managed to stop him from joining many of his important meetings just by making puppy faces when Vineet was leaving the house.

Undoubtedly, Vineet would have never changed if Ansh hadn't in their life.

Through Ansh, she has got one more reason to hold on to her relationship with the guy who changed himself this much, so why can't she cooperate a little more.

Anamika comes out of her trance with the sound of some giggling. She moves towards them smiling.

Vineet was giggling while carrying Ansh on his back and moving around on his limbs.

''Kya ho raha hai?'' She questions to which they turn to her, smiling.

Vineet was a little surprised to see her already. He took Ansh in his arms and moved to her.

''Aaj kuch hai?" He asked to which she gave a positive nod.

She took Ansh from him and asked him to freshen up. Vineet nodded and headed to their room without any further enquiries.

..

After a few moments when he returned, he found many ladies in the hall with their husbands. All dressed up beautifully like a newly wedded. Ohh! It's Karvachauth, he remembers as a few colleagues of his office took half a day to be with their wife.

He moves to Anamika who was standing with Ansh in her arms.

''Tumne bataya nahi aaj Karva Chauth hai, main jaldi aa jata!" He stated.

''Puja mei abhi waqt thi aur aap waise bhi 6 baje tak aa jaate ho issliye call nahi kiya meine. Mujhe laga aap busy hoge!" She spoke, looking at him while he nodded warmly.

Soon, they moved to the terrace, the moon was already up in the sky spreading his light widely. They stood facing each other as the other couple. Vineet has Ansh in his arms who's busy playing with his beard while Anamika was performing the puja.

She did Vineet's arti, applied tilak on his forehead and saw the moon with the shive and then her husband who smiled lightly.

After the puja, she took his blessings. He makes her drink some water and feeds her with a piece of sweet. Ansh claps his hand to the scene.

As Anamika had organized dinner for all the ladies. All the couples sit together and have their meal with little chit chat after which they leave the house.

Vineet headed to their room with Ansh who's asleep while Anamika instructed the servants to clean before morning. After finishing her task Anamika moves to her room. She finds Vineet lying on the bed holding a book, his face covered with the book. Ansh was sleeping soundly on his separate bed.

Anamika moved to the washroom and changed into a simple saree. After removing those jewelry she felt relaxed. She removes the makeup and leaves the changing room, Vineet was still reading his book.

Without making any noise, Anamika laid down on her side and switched off the table lamp on her side.

She had just closed her eyes when feels his warm touch on her exposed area, she inhaled deeply as he snuggled closer to her while wrapping his arms around her and placing his leg over her legs. She feels his breath around her nap, he pecks her there and turns her around. Anamika looks at him, his looks seem questionable.

Did she make any mistakes? Is he angry because she didn't tell him about the function?

Some questions bubble inside her but she chooses to be quiet.

Vineet cupped her face with his other hand.

''Do you love me Anamika?" His sudden question shocked her. She didn't expect it either and she has any answer.

What does she reply? They were never like those normal arranged marriage types who at least sit together and share their feelings, emotions, present, future or anything.

They are like two people who stay together in a single room but with different mindset. He knows only money, he only talks to people who can make money for him, others are not important while she wants someone who knows the true meaning of love. Indeed, they were intimate but it was their desire or better say his desire. When it first came from his side, she wasn't ready, he was still a stranger for her even after two and a half years of marriage. Though Ansh's birth changed many things, it changed him yet she's still not clear with her view of their relationship.

Though, he confesses many times in the past two years that he loves her but she never feels it. Okay, she can understand what he means, he does love her, he loves the mother of his child not his wife. Ansh's mother and his wife are two totally different people in one single body and loving one is not enough for both, it's not enough for her.

She holds respect and care for him, but love? She's not sure about it.

Vineet nudges her, she looks at him, he seems to be waiting for her reply.

''Bolo! Do you love me?" He questions again.

Anamika doesn't want to lie, she places her hand on his chest.

''Vineet! Aap achanak ye kyun puch rahe hain?" She questioned back.

''Kyunki mujhe janna hai! Itne saal beet gaye hai Anamika, 5 saal!!! Itne saalon mei tumne kabhi na pucha na bataya aur na meine hi kuch kiya! Par aab main janna chahta hoon, tumhaare dil mei kya hai? Kya tum khush bhi ho ya bas aab tak apne papa ki baat maan ke apna mann maar ke mere saath chal rahi ho?" He put his point.

He wanted to ask the question for a long time but couldn't, he feared if it would make her angry or hurt her but today he couldn't hold on. He couldn't bear it when he saw her with one of her friends in a parlor, where he went to fix a meeting on the other floor. He saw her laughing freely, her friend was teasing her over something and she was doing the same. She looks so happy and carefree with her friend but she was never that happy around the house.

Does his presence make her sad? Isn't she happy? Hasn't she accepted the relationship yet?

All this pushes him to question her today but she's silent.

''Tum fikra maat karo, main tumhe judge nahi karunga. Agar tum na kehti ho toh bhi mujhe koi shikayat nahi hogi tumse kyunki main janta hoon ye rishta tumpe thopa gaya tha, tumhari manjuri nahi thi. Bahut late par ye realise jarur hua mujhe ki meine apne faide ke liye kissi ki jindagi barbad kar di! Shayad main koi aur rasta nikal sakta tha tab par ye rasta chun liya humne wo bhi tumhare khilaf. Toh, main samajh sakta hoon ki mujh jaise insaan se shayad hi kissi ko pyar ho sakta hai par fir bhi main tumhare muh se sunna chahta hoon.'' He expresses his point as he knows it would be hard for anyone to fall for a money minded person like him. He doesn't count himself in a good person list then how can he expect it from her, he can't, he doesn't!

Anamika stares at him for a moment,''aapko aisa kyun lagta hai ki koi aapse pyar nahi kar sakta? Kya burai hai aapse pyar karne mei? Kya kami hai aap mei?" She questions him for she doesn't find him at fault.

Okay, he did marry her for his business but never disrespect her, never shouted at her or deprived her of any happiness. He lets her do whatever she wants. The only thing that made her a little disappointed is he never opened his heart before her. She wanted him to converse with her which never happened but he's here today, asking her something she can't reply.

He takes a deep sigh, his deep eyes never leaving any movement of her face.

''Buraiya bhadi padi hai mujh mei! Main khud nahi janta kitne gunah kiye honge meine apne faide ke liye. Iss kalyug ka aisa Ravan hoon main jiske jal mei tum shayad phash gayi ho aur nikal nahi paa rahi.'' He sighs again as he completes his statement, he seems disappointed with himself.

''Kisne kaha aap bure ho? Mujhe toh aisa nahi lagta! Kaun kehta hai aap Ravan ho? Aisi kya burai dikh gayi kissi ko? Haan, main manti hoon shayad kuch chijein galat hui par Vineet, galtiyan sabse hoti hai! Shayad mujh se bhi hui ho! Koi insan apne ateet ko leke nahi jaana jata, agar hum unhe jante hai toh unke aaj ke liye! Aur jahan tak mujhe lagta hai, shayad mujhe iss se aacha aaj toh mil bhi na pata, na Ansh ko itne pyar karne wale papa! Toh aap ye bilkul maat sochiye!" She comforts him.

Vineet stares at her silently, she's being so sweet but still not answering his question.

''Thik hai!! Fir aab main tumse wahi janna chahta hoon, kya tumhe mujh se pyar hai? Are we really together, Anamika?" He questions her.

This time she sighs deeply while caressing his arms.

''Main aapse jhooth nahi kahungi Vineet! Mere pass aapke sawal ka koi jawab nahi hai!! Main nahi janti main aapse pyar karti hoon ya nahi!! Par main itna jarur keh sakti hoon, meine hamari shadi ke badh aab tak kabhi khudko akela nahi paya hai. Jab shadi hui thi tab socha tha shayad hi ye rishta tik paayegaa, koi umeed nahi rakhi thi meine aapse par fir bhi ek mauka dena jaruri samjha meine aur aapne pura saath nirbhaya hai mera. Kuch waqt jarur aaye jahan mujhe laga shayad ye saath yahin chut jaayega par aisa na hua, hum aage badhte gaye. Meine kabhi nahi socha tha hum itne lambe safar tak saath rahenge kyunki aisi kai chijein thi jo main kehna chahti par keh na pai, akhir ye ek samjhauta tha main kehti bhi kya par keh dena chahiye tha!!''

Anamika inhales a long breath and adds,''kai baar laga shayad aap khud samajh jaoge main kya kehna chahti hoon par wo hona mumkin bhi toh nahi tha. Mujhe nahi pata aap kis wajah se iss rishte ko nibha rahe the par main..mujhe mere ghar wapas nahi jana tha Vineet kyunki yahan mujhe wo milne laga tha jo wahan nahi mila mujhe. Ek sauda hote hue bhi aapne mujhe izzat di, mann diya aur dusri taraf ek deal bachane ke liye mere papa ne mujhe hi dav pe laga diya. Meine unhe kitna mana kiya par wo nahi maane par aapne kabhi aisa nahi kiya.'' Anamika choked at her words, Vineet cleared her tears. He doesn't want to see her crying, he never said it but he doesn't like when she cries.

Anamika holds his hand between her palms,''main aapko ye toh nahi bata sakti mujhe aapse pyar hai ya nahi par haan, main aapke bina reh nahi sakti, aapke saath ke bina main kuch soch bhi nahi sakti. Meine apni har mannat mei aapka hi saath manga hai Vineet!!" Anamika sobs as she finishes her statement, she hides her face in his chest.

Vineet holds her gently, he has got his answer. She may not be sure about her feelings but he's aware of it. Now, all he wants is to make her realise that she loves him. No matter how much time it takes, he'll wait for her real confession, he'll wait for her to love him truly, heartily, he can wait whole life to hear that she loves him!!

He warmly pecks her head full of love and concern as he consoles her.

Well, some love stories tend to be like that. You may not know about it or but it's there, inside one's heart as love is all about connection of hearts words are just elements one use to describe it!!

....

To be continued..