“Get ready for a treasure hunt,” announced Mr. Krishnan, much to the delight of his son’s young friends. They enjoyed visiting Rohit, whose parents were good at entertaining them.
“Do we look for diamonds?” asked Tina.
“No, dear,” said Mrs. Krishnan. “This is just a game and the prize won’t be valuable, but the hunt itself will prove rewarding.”
“We give you a clue which guides you to the second,” Mr. Krishnan explained. “That leads to the next, and so on till you reach your goal. You can turn the house upside down but must not go outdoors. Also, anyone who gets to a clue ahead of the rest should leave it in its place, unless — as is likely — the seven of you discover it together.”
“Each clue tells you where it is hidden, but it has a catch,” added Rohit. “Happy hunting! Here is your first clue: “I’ll be found where dates abound.”
Clue after clue
The treasure hunters rushed to the kitchen where they tore open a packet of dates. Rummaging within, they licked their sticky fingers. “Perhaps your search should be fruitless,” suggested Rohit’s father, stressing on ‘fruitless’. Varun paused to think. Where are dates not fruits? On a calendar, of course! In Mr. Krishnan’s study, he found Clue 2: ‘Green and yellow, blue and red; I lie on a flower bed.’ The others had joined him by then and, forgetting the rules, they ran.
“Not that sort of bed!” protested Rohit’s mother, worried about the garden. This unintended hint prompted the children to inspect the guestroom, where a bedspread with a floral print bore the third clue: ‘Automobile and Cat; see me under that.’
“Garage!” shouted Nikhil, dashing downstairs.
“No, that’s out of bounds,” said Anjana. “Let’s check Kipps.” As she seized him, the ginger cat hissed angrily and Anjana retreated. “It’s automobile and cat combined, What’s another word for automobile?”
“Car!” yelled the boys. “And the cat is a pet, so it’s carpet,” said Mukesh. He peered under the Persian rug in the hall and unearthed another clue: ‘Where the trio smiling stand, I am very close at hand.’ Observing their hosts on a sofa, the guests charged at them.
“Can’t you see we’re not standing?” gasped Rohit, as they tugged at his shirt.
Clue 5 was stuck to a photograph of the Krishnans at the Taj Mahal. Sarita read it out: “Tasty things so nice and sweet, but I’m on something you can’t eat.”
As the hungry youngsters gathered round a table laid with delicious food, they could not decide what was inedible. “I plan to try the cake, jelly, ice-cream and everything else,” declared Dilip. Picking up a spoon, he saw the attached note: ‘You can’t eat me and if you tried, just think of how you’d feel inside!’
“So this wonderful treat is the treasure!” exclaimed Tina. “These goodies are better than diamonds.”
“Most certainly!” said Anjana. “And I’m sure we all agree that Krishnan uncle and aunty are priceless!”
