A few feet ahead was a clearing with a brightly colored letterbox, a picnic basket and rug. Ed hurriedly messaged his friends that he was busy and would update after the competition. ‘What else could he do?’Lara rushed forward excitedly and opened the letterbox; their buzzers unlocked. She hurriedly pressed hers and looked at him “Hurry up”.He picked his buzzer with an imperturbable attitude. Lara snatched his buzzer pressed it hurriedly and shoved it back in his hands. He looked at her inquisitively, but her focus was on the letter-“Now that you’ve pressed your buzzer, your timer has been activated. Enjoy our carefully crafted lunch and relax.When your time is up the lock from your inner box will automatically open to give you guidance for the next task along with your souvenir.”“There’s another box inside?” Lara knelt down and looked into the letter box curiously. She put her hand inside and tried to nudge the box open with no luck.“Do you think you can pry open the box?”“We
“Not sure… I don’t think Dana is similar to other women though.”“How so?”“Firstly, he’s been after her for 3 months and she hasn’t even acknowledged his effort. How many women do you know that aren’t swooning over him?”Sarah nodded with pursed lips.“Secondly, although she is not drop dead gorgeous, there is something about her that attracts others and there is no lack of pursuers, however she does not seem to be interested in anyone.”“Verbally at least” Sarah added.“Eh?”“Women’s intuition” Sarah smiled.“Do you think it will pass for Ben?” Sarah quizzed.“I don’t think so. I think he’s lost the plot this time” Frank shook his head. “I have never seen him like this before… definitely not for a woman. Sometimes I even wonder if this is our Ben!”Sarah frowned “Is there anything we can do to help?” Sarah really hoped that Ben and Ed would find their happiness like her and Frank.“Don’t think so” Frank rejected.“Maybe I can try being friends with her and reintroduce them?”“Let’s
The sack contained a variety of items. An envelope, a packet of mushrooms, sachets of spices, a loaf of bread, a bottle of olive oil, a bottle of water and some bite sized snacks.Dana quickly took both their buzzers and pressed with a frown.“What’s wrong? Isn’t this good?” Ben looked confused. ‘Didn’t they just find a whole lot of stuff? Why was she frowning?’ He didn’t have to think long.“We missed a lot of time due to that stupid horse. Some one must have already got the bonus points for pressing the buzzer at this juncture first.” Dana pouted.What Dana and Ben didn’t know was at this stage, the only other teams that had reached this juncture was Ed and Frank. However, both of these teams missed pressing the buzzer in excitement. Hence their buzzers were pressed at the same time. This was the only round when there was bonus points for the team pressing the buzzer first!Dana’s frown deepened. Ben raised his hand to smooth the frown and comforted gently “Doesn’t matter. We’ll cat
Lara mounted her horse and mocked “Have you finished sulking? Ready to win?” She raised her eyebrows in a challenging manner.“Don’t you have to figure out puzzle?” Ed ignored the tease.“Child play” Lara’s lips curled in disdain.Ed shrugged with a blank look.Lara recited the puzzle again and asked, “What is it the only thing that is within you and can be broken by someone else?” Lara looked at Ed like she was looking at a fool.“I can think of two things” Ed pursed his lips into an evil grin once he was enlightened “But I think, the one you are looking for should be - Heart.”Lara narrowed her eyes as she thought of what he said. She rolledh her eyes “Tsk…Tsk…. What a dirty mind?”“Since you figured it, yours isn’t any better.” Ed smirked.“Ha…. Ha…. ha….” Lara laughed heartily; she didn’t take any offense.Ed was impressed by her openness and fair nature. Most women would joke but be offended if the pot is thrown at them.They trotted forward looking for anything that was heart sh
Ed and Lara came back after fishing and followed the guidance from the note and pressed their buzzer.They caught 15 fishes as well.“8 for you, 7 for me?” Lara divided “I will give you one extra since you are taller than me.”Ed chuckled ‘Her reasoning was … different.’She separated them and gave Ed’s to him “Here”.She picked hers and started to walk.“Where are you going?” Ed was confused.“Freeload.”“Huh?”“I am going to find Dana. I think people are camping along this bank. I saw someone there.” She pointed to her right. “If she is not there, I will walk back the other way. Anyway, you should eat up and rest.”She took two steps and realized Ed had picked up his fish and was following.“Where are you going? I am going to my friend’s place to freeload.” Lara smiled “She makes killer fish fries.”“I am coming too.”“Don’t be shameless.”“I am going to my friends place.” Ed retorted shamelessly although he was sure Ben would kick him out in a heartbeat. He was counting on Dana’s g
Frank got up early, went for run and came back. He looked dotingly at his lazy wife and smiled.He decided to let her sleep for a little longer and waited outside.A delivery boy came on the cycle.“Lucky number 1” He whistled. He had delivered to 21 tents, and no one was at the front. But then again, it was only 5 in the morning. Who would be crazy to wake at this hour? The boy got his answer as he reached Frank’s tent. He handed the breakfast box and a note as he cycled away.Frank read the note and went into the tent.Got a book and went out to sit and read till it was a decent time to wake Sarah. He knew she wanted to win. So, he woke her up at 7 and prepared the breakfast table while she cleaned up.“Morning honey” Sarah smiled sweetly as she snuggled in Frank’s embrace looking at the table spread with breakfast. There was everything- croissants, buns, eggs, hash brown, sausages, bacon, toasted mushrooms and tomatoes, a jug of juice, 2 bowls of cereals, a jug of milk, a sachet wi
The next clue was a little hard to find.“There” Dana pointed at a patch of missing grass. This formed the shape of ‘B’. Dana and Ben dug up a box with a note “1 wheelchair.” Dana pressed their buzzers.They trotted for a while before spotting the next clue. It was a clever one, a climber with tiny yellow green flowers was arranged in a B shape. Ben and Dana dismounted and walked towards the climber.“Stay there. These shrubs are thorny.” Ben extended his hand to stop Dana coming closer to him.Dana frowned but listened.Ben walked closer and noted that the treasure box was placed at the foot of the climber, but it was closely surrounded by small thorny shrubs. He looked around.“What are you looking for?”“Something long and strong.”Dana could move more freely as she wasn’t standing in the thorny area. She looked around and picked a branch “Will this do?”It was thick and sturdy. Ben nodded and walked towards her.“Stay there.” Dana ran forward and extended it to him.Ben stuck the
BOOM!Sarah jittered and opened her eyes. Frank looked with annoyance towards the exploded letterbox.The second box had exploded with a shower of confetti and a large satchel cover that looked about 50 cms in length and width.Sarah sat up in a hurry as she came to her senses “Hurry…. That’s the next task.”Frank bought the satchel and gave it to her. Sarah opened the satchel curiously.There were two large, laminated photos, 2 fridge magnets, a pager and a note.“Ha…ha….ha…” Sarah started laughing as she saw the photos and warned Frank “You are not allowed to show this to the kids”In the first picture, a frightened Sarah was clinging on to Frank who had a big smile on his face as he carried his wife.The second one, Frank and Sarah were sitting under the tree with their heads touching and enjoying snacks.The note read-I can be hot, I can be cold, I can run and I can be still, I can be hard and I can be soft. What am I?Once you’ve figured who I am, type in the pager and wait for