"So I guess we're done?", I said drawing the meeting to a close.

"Are we, Aviral?", Aradhya asked.

"Jeez yes. No more fooling around missions. You got it.", Aviral said holding his hands up in surrender with a playful smile.

"Alright then see you tomorrow guys.", Roger said as we parted.

Our phones pinged all at once.

Looking at her phone Aradhya asked, "What's this?"

"Our seniors want an impromptu meet-up.", Irrfan said.

"Who's excited!", I screamed with a fist bump into the air.

"Only you.", Roger chimed in and we proceeded to the basketball court with me dragging Roger by the shoulders.

"Welcome freshers!", a girl with a high ponytail and multiple piercings greeted us.

"What is it like a ragging session?", one of the first years spoke up.

"No, one of the let's get to know each other session.", a guy in black shirt and cargo pants joined the girl and his tone implied anything but what he said.

"Please don't get to know me.", Roger whispered into my ear and I laughed.

"What's the one thing that you have here that you love the most?", the senior asked. "That reminds you of home family friends whatever"

"You're done here. See you around juniors.", the seniors finished making us do the task and hurdled among themselves to discuss whatever this was.

I looked up at the senior who had just finished speaking. This was too easy - this couldn't be it. I looked at him trying hard to figure out what was happening.

He happened to look at me at that very moment and nodded with a playful smile on his face - almost evil. And then it dawned on me.

"Shit", I mouthed as I connected the dots in my head.

He shrugged.

"Quick what did you people write in the chits.", I asked my team.

"My dream catcher. My best friend made it for me and honestly it's the only reason I've been able to get any sleep these days.", Aradhya stated.

"My hoodie, why?", Aviral asked.

"And you wrote the precise correct location of your things?", I confirmed.

"Of course it was a test of memory.", Roger replied.

"But that wasn't all", Irrfan said leaving the sentence for me to complete.

"Oh it just became a game of hide and seek.", I sighed.

"Not my frigging hoodie.", Aviral said as we all ran. Even he didn't need any persuasion this time and was the first out of the court.

Aradhya and I ran into our hostel and sifted through our stuff.

"Shit", I said as I found my dabba of mom's ladoos missing.

"Shit.", Aradhya said from across the hall.

"Not my ladoos. You messed up bad here.", I said as I checked my cupboard again and again but all there was - was a card - With a message - Welcome to the team.

"That's it?", I asked flipping the card in and out looking for any map, code - something.

"There has to be a code this was a test right, if there's a problem, there has to be a solution."

"The ink could be hidden.", Irrfan prompted as we all met in the common room.

"Like what?", Aradhya asked.

"Lemon juice.", Aviral stated casually. Four heads turned to look at him immediately. 

"Hey, I may fool around a bit but I've got the brains.", he defended.

"Here.", Aviral said taking his paper and putting it under the light bulb.

A second later letters started appearing on the empty page. 

We all collected around him to read it - 

Sing with me 

Or dance 

I don't really care

As long as you're here

When the sun says your name

"What kind of a horrible pick up line is this?", Roger laughed and we all looked quizzical.

We all took our turns to heat our pieces of paper and now had five equally absurd quizzes.

"Look.", Irrfan said looking into my paper, "They all have the number 4 inscribed on the right corner."

"Right. We ranked four in the last task.", Roger nodded.

"It's a group task then.", I connected the dots.

"Boy did they mean it when they said you all were going to be my life for the next weeks.", Aradhya sighed.

"Hey-", Roger said in an accusatory tone.

"I'm not complaining.", Aradhya said.

"Guys what if we have to solve this in steps like my quiz could be the key to step 1, finding something and then Aviral's could be the key to finding the object for step 2."

"Like a treasure hunt. I'm liking this plan already.", he said with his usual energy.

"Quick, switch off the lamp I hear people coming.", Aviral said.

I switched off the lamp and we all proceeded out.

"Okay, Aviral let's do your riddle again-", I began.

"Sun says your name.", it has to do with something that depends on sun - a museums with solar clock?", Aradhya began.

"That's it - a solar temple. It's talking about the solar temple in the city.", Aviral said.

"How far?", I asked.

"About an hour, depends who's driving.", he said with a smirk.

"Okay but are we sure it's the solar temple -  talk about the other points of the riddle.", Irrfan reasoned.

"Okay sing or dance - bhajans happen in the temple all the time - there's a huge solar clock on the temple premises - it has to be it.", Aradhya claimed.

"Okay but will be able to go out of the Academy, I thought we were forbidden.", Aviral said.

"Well let's find out.", I said finally feeling the adrenaline rush through me.

"Okay, I think we should split. For all we know this could turn out to be a false lead.", Roger said.

"I agree. Aviral, you and I will go explore the solar temple lead we'll inform you guys in the group if we find anything.", I said.

"Alright amigos, good luck see you.", Irrfan said.

Aviral and I ran to the main gate fully expecting a guard to stop us and send us back.

We went up to the gate and the guard came up and opened the lock for us.

"What we're allowed to go out?". I asked.

"Well, the gate is open ain't it?", the guard replied.

"Look.", Aviral said pointing to the bike near the guard post.

"You mind if we take it out for a ride.", Aviral asked.

"I don't have the keys.", the guard said.

"Is this part of the test?", I asked.

"What test?", the guard smiled and went in. I sighed.

Meanwhile Aviral was already prodding the lock.

"You got a safety pin?", he asked.

"Yeah.", I said.

"What you're going to hotwire the bike!", I said.

"Yeah.", he said as if it was the most obvious fact in the world.

"Okay.", I said playing along handing him the pin.

"How'd you learn hotwiring a bike?", I asked.

"Well let's just say my parents' favorite way of punishing me was taking away the keys of my bike. So I figured out a way around it.", he said prodding the lock with the pin.

"Quite the rebel huh.", I said.

"It's in the blood.", he said as the engine finally came alive.

"You do have a license right?", I said skeptically..

"Babe I have the license to fly a plane but that's a story for another day." 

"What say you and I go on a wild goose chase together?", he asked hopping on to the bike.

"Just what I hoped I'd be doing today.", I said as I mounted the bike.

His laughter was soon drowned by the sound of the engine. I clutched on his waist and held on to dear life as we speeded towards our mission.