Revere

Sometimes this question hits me hard. What does love even mean?

Is love having a physical relationship with someone?

Is it respecting someone?

Is it admiring someone?

For a long time I thought about these definitions. But the more I observed relationships around me, the more I felt that none of these alone truly define love.

So let me explain my understanding of love through a small story.

The Story of Two Ants

Once there were two ants living under a banyan tree. They were a couple and they had two kids. They lived happily together.

When they first started dating, the male ant did a lot for the female ant. The female ant also cared deeply for him. In the beginning, the male ant used to bring flowers for her. He took care of her in ways she had deserved for a long time. He treated her like a queen. They went on cute little dates and spent beautiful time together.

They were happy.

But like many relationships, a phase came when the male ant became too comfortable. Slowly he started taking the relationship for granted. The female ant began to feel that his love for her was fading somewhere.

She tried talking to him about it. But the male ant was not ready to communicate. Feeling unheard and hurt, she decided to end the relationship.

Only then did the male ant realize what he had lost. He felt guilty and apologized to her in a romantic way. The female ant eventually forgave him and they restarted their relationship.

For some time everything was good again. The male ant started loving her the same way he did at the beginning.

But after a while the same pattern returned.

They again reached a point where they decided to end things mutually. Later the female ant realized she still needed him and wanted to live with him. So they started their relationship again. This time she sacrificed certain things just for love.

Eventually they had kids together and their bond seemed stronger than ever. From the outside it looked like nothing could break their relationship now.

But life had another turn waiting.

Once again the same distance appeared. The male ant slowly lost the love and attention he once gave her. He began focusing more on his own life rather than his family.

They fought.

The female ant cried a lot.

The male ant cried too.

But deep down, the fault still belonged to the male ant.

This time they ended their relationship for good.

And now they are not getting back together.

So What Is Love?

From this story I realized something important.

Love is not just physical closeness.

Love is not just emotional support.

Love is also about respect.

It is about presence.

It is about making someone feel safe and valued.

Sometimes people think love means big gestures. But often it is the small things that matter the most.

Even if you are busy with life, you can still give the bare minimum attention and care that a person deserves. Because when someone truly loves you, they are not asking for the world.

They are only asking to not be taken for granted.

Love should feel warm, not formal.

It should feel real, not forced.

So if you love someone, treat them with love.

Not with formality.