Next day too Rimisha and Rai wanted to go to the Naini Lake so Rishabh asked everybody to be ready as we will go there in afternoon. After strolling around all day in the local market and the ladies as well as Ansh stopping at every shop to admire the handicrafts we were really tired but as soon as we reached the lake it was as if all our weariness was gone. Everybody looked fresh as if they had just woken from a very relaxing sleep.

We were sitting besides the Lake and munching on the sandwiches made by Misha Bhabhi... did I tell you she is an awesome cook? I didn't? Oh well she is. One of the reasons why Rishabh loves her so much. By the way the breakfast today was cooked by me... Agneesh Rawat at your service madam! And yes everybody seemed to like it.

Suddenly Ansh jumped up like the monkey he had always been and came up with a golden idea of bathing in the Lake.

"No Ansh. Sit down." Rishabh said in his daunting voice.

"Bhai please. It has been ages since we have done this. Remember how we used to have a competition to see who will swim faster to the other end. Let's do it again." Chitransh pleaded and gave his puppy face to Rishabh.

"Chitransh no." came the short reply by Rishabh.

"Why bhai? Are you scared that I will beat you again." Ansh said with a mischievous tone in his voice and I knew what he was doing. Rishabh was never good at handling challenges. If anybody challenged him, he will do the task no matter what.

"You were the one who always lost. Not me." Rishabh replied trying hard to keep his voice calm. I thought that Misha Bhabhi will interfere now but she just sat looking at both the brothers with an amused smile.

"Bhai... don't lie."

"Ok let's do it." With this Rishabh removed his shirt and exposed his chiselled body as Ansh did the same but with an amused and victorious smile on his face.

"On a count of three you will jump and whoever reaches the other end and comes back first is the winner." Meenakshi said and started to count.

1

2

3.

With this both of them jumped into water with a huge splash and started swimming. Rishabh was ahead of Ansh and we knew that he was going to win. That is when Ansh turned to us and winked.

"Bhaia will kill him." said Meenakshi and I gave her a confused look which she caught, "Just see what happens now."

That is when I saw that instead of going all the way to the other shore he turned back from half of the Lake while Rishabh was still going towards his goal with pure determination. Ok, now I know what's happening. Rishabh reached the other end and looked around himself confused when he couldn't see Ansh, so he turned to us and saw him sitting with us with his legs still under water. We could practically see the victorious smile on Rishabh's face turning into anger as he swam towards us with double the speed he had used initially. As soon as he reached us and before anybody could say anything he dragged Ansh under water with him and punched him. Though not that hard punch but I noticed the way Ansh's face twisted showing that it had hit him hard.

"Chitransh Singh you are such a jackass." Rishabh shouted at Ansh really loudly.

"Rishabh Raj Singh! Language!" This was Misha Bhabhi louder than Rishabh himself and his eyes widened as he saw Rimisha listening to the conversation with full concentration.

"Rimi, you didn't heard anything that dada said, right?" he asked her and I could see him getting nervous under Misha Bhabhi's scrutiny.

"But I did, Dada. You called chachu a jackass. Can I also call him that?" she replied innocently making Raima laugh and Rishabh turning red.

"I did but you can't call him the same. Forget that i said something like this and I will get you an ice cream." he looked at her pleadingly and she nodded making Bhabhi face palm herself, "Now he is teaching her to bribe. What do I do with him?"

Instead of answering Rishabh dragged her in water along with him, "Just love me." and gave her a quick peck making her blush hard.

"Now guys, do I need to invite you to come inside?" Hearing the invitation we jumped into the pool together... well all of us except Meenakshi. I wonder why? She sat on the lakeside and looked at us with a smile. That is when an idea came to my mind.

I slowly crept behind her without her noticing and picked her up suddenly. She tried to say something but I was busy running towards water and jumped in with her with a huge splash. This was sudden so she let out a yelp and clung to me for air. Without any reason, a nervous feeling crept into my heart and I looked at her. She seemed as if she was going to pass out. Scared I pulled her ashore and everybody followed me. Bhabhi came running and held Mennakshi's hand and started rubbing it. Rishabh and Ansh were rubbing her foot as she just laid there. I was really tense. What happened to her suddenly? Is she going to be okay?

"Bhabhi what happened to her? why isn't she opening her eyes?"

"Calm down Agneesh. She is a bit hydrophobic and with your sudden act she got a small panic attack. She will be okay."

"But why is she... I am so sorry. I didn't know. Oh God!"

"Raima please make him sit somewhere. He looks as if he is going to pass out." Rishabh asked Raima and she asked me to sit on the mat on the ground.

Nervous I sat down next to them near a rock holding my head in my hands. What all can I give away only to hear her laughter again! Meenakshi you are scaring me. I looked at her and saw Bhabhi fumbling through her purse and she took out a small medicine, slowly lifting Meenakshi's head up and slipped it in her mouth. After a while, as the medicine started working her pale skin got her rosy colour back and she opened her eyes after some time, which seemed to me like million years but were only a couple of minutes.

"Breathe... Meenu breathe." Ansh chanted like a mantra and after some time she sat up. Rishabh provided her with a shawl to keep her warm.

"Agneesh?" she asked to no one in particular and Rishabh asked me to come forward.

"I... Meenakshi, I didn't know. I am really sorry." With this my voice cracked up and I sat near her knees holding her hands. I didn't care at that time what anybody thought of us. She was important to me and I can't afford to loose her.

"Agneesh... its ok. But please change your clothes or you will get cold." she said her voice almost in a whisper.

We changed our clothes and Bhabhi and Rai helped Meenakshi in changing her dress and then we left to the Haveli. Till the time we reached Haveli it was only 4. Meenakshi was in a better condition and almost asleep but I was still pretty shaken up. I couldn't forget her expression just before she passed out.

Ansh carried Meenakshi to her room and Rishabh stood near me, "Agneesh its ok. It was just hypothermia and a small panic attack. Calm down." I gave him a small smile but couldn't say anything in return. Everybody went inside the Haveli and to their rooms.

                       *****

I had not been able to sleep since I had come back from the lake and so I decided to take a stroll in the garden. I went behind the Haveli to where the horses were kept and saw Candy. Daring a little bit, I went to her and slowly rubbed her nose and she neighed in a nice way. Maybe she was in a good mood today. This made me smile.

That is when a guy some years younger than me came to me.

"Good evening Sir. Do you want me to ready a horse for you to ride?" He looked like the care taker of the horses.

"No I don't ride."

"Sir, if you don't mind me asking you are the guy with whom Meenakshi didi is engaged, right?"

"Yes."

He gave a small, mysterious smile and nodded. "She has the most beautiful heart sir. She has done a lot of things for my family and I will forever remain grateful to her."

"How long have you been working here?" I asked trying to change the topic.

"We have been here since a long time. We had been thrown out of our ancestral home in village due to a feud so Raja Sahab asked us to stay here and work for him." He said referring to Meenakshi"s grandfather.

I nodded and soon he was called by his mother after some more conversations.

I left the stable and went to the Haveli only to get a whiff of cookies being made. This meant that Bhabhi was up and in the kitchen. I need some answers now.

I stood at the door of the kitchen, "Bhabhi."

"Oh Agneesh, come in. I am baking cookies. Taste one." she handed me one and I bit into it and again it tasted delicious. I gave her a thumbs up and stood near her awkwardly as she prepared the second batch.

"What do you want to talk about?" she asked reading my expression.

"Bhabhi... its Meenakshi. I want to know the cause of her attacks and what triggers them? Everything about it."

"You still seem pretty shaken up." she looked at me concerned.

"It was so horrifying to see her like that. One minute she was laughing and the next minute she had passed out in my arms. It was so..." I trailed off not finding a suitable word for it.

"I understand. Ok, her panic attacks come out only during extreme shock or when she is going through an extreme emotion like anger, hurt, sadness etc. In those moments all you have to do is to give her the medicine which is always in her purse and try to provide her with some warmth. She will be fine in a few minutes."

"Ok I will take care of her always." She turned to me and gave me a mysterious smile at this. What's up with people giving me mysterious smiles today.

"What are you guys talking about?" Rishabh came in and perched on the kitchen counter with a freshly baked cookie from the second batch which by the way was still hot. Before I could stop him, he had taken a bite of it and...

"Holy damn!" he shouted and opened his mouth as he let out a big breath. "This is so damn hot."

"That's what you get when you are impatient enough. How about waiting for some time before pulling off this stunt next time." Misha Bhabhi said disapprovingly while fetching water for him. He took a big gulp of water and smiled at her sheepishly.

"How can I possibly wait when I know that my wife is baking too delicious cookies for me." He tried to flatter her and she rolled her eyes. "These are for Rimi, Raima, Agneesh and Meenakshi. Ansh doesn't likes sweets, I am on a diet and doctor has asked you to keep your cholesterol in check."

"What?" Rishabh's eyes widened like saucers, "So I don't get any?"

"No."

"Mishu you can't do this to me. You know how much I love them especially when they are made by you." He tried to take one cookie from the plate when she snapped his hand away.

"Rishabh Raj Singh, stop behaving like a child." It immediately worked as he stood in a corner with a pout like a child. This made me laugh and then he realized that I was also in the kitchen and that I had seen everything.

"Agneesh... you wont tell this to anyone." He said and I just laughed.

"Agneesh stop laughing now. Mishu ask him to shut up." He complained to her but instead of saying anything she just shrugged and went to the oven.

"Ok ok fine I won't say a word to anybody. Nobody will get to know that Rishabh Raj Singh the King of Rajgarh burnt his tongue with a cookie and also got scolded by his wife." I gave him a two finger salute before laughing again and he glared at me, "Shut up!"

"What were you guys talking about though?"

"Oh he was asking about Meenakshi. For once Rishabh I would say your choice is really good." Bhabhi replied and I smiled.

"My choice is always good and yours is always bad." He said mimicking her and she smirked.

"Yes that's why you chose me and I chose you." I was stunned at her amazing presence of mind and fast reply.

"What?" Rishabh asked looking confused.

"Tell me when you get it." she smiled and turned to the oven as Rishabh stood there figuring out things. Man, for such a highly intelligent guy he can be real slow at times.

After eons when he figured it out, his eyes went wide and he looked at Bhabhi. "What did you say?" and with this he started tickling her as she laughed hard.

I left the kitchen giving them some couple time of their own and stood outside Meenakshi's room. The door was shut but not latched so I knocked. Hearing nothing, I peeped inside to find her sleeping peacefully covered in the duet, her engagement ring shining because of the light falling on it.

Smiling I closed the door and went to my room thinking that someday in not so distant future I will also have moments like these.

The moments where there is no stress, no tension, no fear.

The moment where there is only happiness.

The moments everyone lives for.

                   -----------------

             AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey guys,

Hope you liked it.

Next: Return journey. Will Agneesh be able to have a romantic road trip with Meenakshi?

Till then,

Love Love 💕

A.S.