The Absconsion

The Shark Attack (P-2)

The team which successfully answers a question in the right way has the power to help any other team to progress one step. But the drawback is, they could only see the teams adjacent to theirs, which makes it difficult to choose another team.

Team 3 and Team 5 were alongside Team 4, who were yelling so loud to gain the attention of Team 4. The players of Team 4 were confused because of all the screams. Now they have the option to choose either of the nearby teams, but the question was, whether those teams were smart enough to answer any upcoming questions, if not then using their power on those teams will not help them in advancing further, as they will never answer to any question. This was just an assumption because Team 4 players did not really know whether the players of adjacent teams were smart or not. They were emphasizing what if. 

They had a 50-50 chance now. The team that they will help might help them in the future or may not. Team 4 did not want to take a 50-50 chance. They needed to know for certain that the team will help them back. The only team that can do that for them was Team 49 as they were the first team to answer a question. If the questions continue to be logical, then there is a good chance that Team 49 would be able to answer at least one question, which would help them in advancing too.

All the players of team 4 agreed on making a call to Team 49. As soon as they called, the noise blockers activated, and everything became silent.

Team 4: I am the leader of Team 4, and our team would like to congratulate you on answering the first question.

Team 49: Thank you. Your team is doing great too.

Team 4: As you already know that we now have the power to help advance another team. We would like to form an alliance with you to help you progress, given that you will help us back on your next correct answer.

The leader of Team 49 looked at his team members and everyone's expression made it clear that they were interested in forming the alliance.

Team 49: We are looking forward to making a partnership. And yes, we agree to the proposal that you have put forward. We will help each other and complete the round as soon as possible without losing any team member.

Team 4: It is good to hear. We would give our best to make sure that it happens.

Team 4, then announced, ' We would like to help Team 49 in advancing a step further. '

The organizer then said, ' Team 49 can now move one step ahead. '

Team 49 gracefully moved another step further. They were now relaxed because they were safe till 20 questions. So, after the end of two questions, Team 49 was leading with 2 steps, which were followed by Team 4 and Team 48.

E7: I think I am now getting the hang of it. We will try harder for the next question.

P4: Do not worry. The next question is ours. It is already too late. The first two questions were also a piece of cake, but my mind was somewhere else, so I could not concentrate. Now that I am, if the next one is also going to be logical, it is going to be ours.

I1: As much as I am delighted to know that there is a smart person in our team, I want to remind you that my life is based on the answer that you will give, so think hard.

P4: Do not worry, I1. I would give it a lot of thought before I even say I know it.

E7: Well, then team. The next question is ours.

' It is time for the next question. The third question is, " There is this one man who killed his mother. He was born before his father and married over 100 women without divorcing anyone. Yet, he was considered normal by all of his associates. Why? " I repeat the question, " There is this one man who killed his mother. He was born before his father and married over 100 women without divorcing anyone. Yet, he was considered normal by all of his associates. Why?" '

C15: This is a big question, I don't even remember it now properly.

H8: Think about a person who kills his mother, but is not guilty.

A15: Maybe, the motive behind killing his mother was not intentional, but accidental.

N19: Or the mother might be abusing him for so long that the guy finally kills her in retaliation.

H8: The answers you are giving are so far-fetched. We are not solving a murder mystery here. We just need a small logical answer.

D8: Says the man who had not answered any question till now.

H8: Logical is not my cup of tea. My expertise lies in other areas. Maybe a change in the topic is what we require.

From the discussion, N19 understood that they cannot answer the third question as well and he was now seven questions away from falling to death. He was afraid but did not show it outside. He looked at the teams beside theirs and they were surprisingly calm, which gave him some courage unknowingly.

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E7: Guys, do not get confused just because the question is a bit bigger than the last two questions. Just break it. A man kills his mother, born before his father, married over 100 women, and divorced none of them.

P4: If we do not involve any time traveling stuff, it is impossible for a man to be born before his father. Maybe they are saying it literally that he was born in front of him.

E7: That is a pretty convincing answer. Then it is also possible that the mother died during the labor. Because only then, the child would have killed his mother but will not be treated as a murder.

P4: Both the answers are right. And the answer to the third question is the man is a priest or a reverend who is responsible for performing over 100 weddings. Only then there would be no case of divorce.

The answers came flowing which made them feel like that was the perfect answer. E7 looked at his teammates for their final approval and each one of them gave a slight nod, and he pressed the buzzer for the first time.

' Team 26 had activated the buzzer. After I repeat my question, please state your answer. There is this one man who killed his mother. He was born before his father and married over 100 women without divorcing anyone. Yet, he was considered normal by all of his associates. Why?" '

' The answer is, the man killed his mother during the labor and he is born in front of his father, and he is a priest who had performed over 100 weddings. '

' That is correct. Congratulations, Team 26, you can now move one step ahead. You now have the power to help a team to progress a step ahead. Choose wisely. '

As P4 just said that the next question would be theirs, it really did happen. The faces of Team 26 were glowing. And more than them, N19 was excited because they now had the chance to move forward, if Team 26 chooses them. He wanted to bang the glass and beg them to choose them, but desperation might repel them in choosing them. So, he maintained his composure, despite his urge to beg.

Now, P4 had the chance to help D4's team. Even at this point in time, D4 did not even look at her. It really saddened her. Anyways, she waited for the team to decide which team to select. E7 looked at both the teams on either side. Surprisingly, both the teams remained calm. They were not even attempting to ask to choose them, which confused him. Just as he was thinking, H8 lifted his buzzer, signifying to call him. Since Team 26 did not have any preferences over which team to select, E7 called H8's team and put it on the speaker, so his team could listen to him too.

H8: I would like to propose a partnership with your team. Help us now, and we will help you back when the moment comes.

I1, who was also listening to the conversation, said, ' How can we even know that your team would be able to answer any question? If all of you are not as bright as our team, then we cannot receive any help from your team. We cannot waste our power on you. '

H8: The round is just starting, and logical reasoning is not going to be asked forever. This is not my cup of tea, but make no mistake, we are a smart team.

P9: Every team would say the same thing because they need the help. I do not see any truth in your statements. I think you are tricking us into helping you.

I1 and P9 were being rude because, it was their lives on the line and they do not want to use their power on a team that is not bright.

H8 understood that empty talks are not going to convince a team, so he decided to bring in some big guns.

H8: I am not being deceptive. Let me tell you the biggest secret of my life. I am the Founder of the application that the current teenagers are so obsessed with. I am sure you would have heard about the app called " Connect." '

P4: This is bullshit. Harald is the founder and C.E.O of the app Connect. Stop with your lies.

H8: He is just a face to the company. I made him my partner because I did not like attention and look where it got me. I am not lying. I am a genius and I would help you further.

E7 disconnected the call and whispered with his team.

' I do not know if he is really telling the truth, but I detect no lies in the way he said it. I kind of believe him, and my opinion is to help them. '

P4 wanted to oppose E7's idea as she wanted to help Team 25 in which D4 was present. But E7 had a point, H8 did not seem like faking it. She too wanted to believe H8 and if their belief is right, then they would have formed a partnership with one of the genius teams, which would help them in winning the round. It was time for P4 to think about herself, so she was also inclined to support H8's team.

E3, on the other hand, was one of the persons who was addicted to Connect. She used to spend so much time on that application that when she heard about the original founder of her favorite application to be present in the team alongside theirs, she decided to help them at that instant.

As soon as E7 got confirmation from his team, he said, ' We would like to help Team 27 in moving forward. '

The organizer then said, ' Team 27 can now move one step ahead. '

As A15 and D18 moved, they thought in their minds that the manipulation of H8 was coming them handy and even if they would not answer any question, they might just be able to win the game because of him and his deception. The reason they viewed him as a manipulator was they did not believe about him being the founder of a very famous application.

Team 49, Team 4, and Team 26 were the teams that have correctly answered a question till now. The rest of the teams were remembering these team numbers so that when they win, they can form a network with these particular teams. There were still 7 questions to go before the players on the last row, die. The sharks which scared the hell out of players, in the beginning, were now blurred because they were all focusing on the game so keenly.

E7: I feel like all the ten questions would be from logical reasoning only. After the ten questions, the topic might change.

E3: If that is the case, then it is better to answer as many questions as possible. Because logical reasoning is a kind of question where every team has an equal chance of getting an answer right. If the difficulty increases or if the topic changes, then it might increase complications for us.

P4: Our confidence has risen a lot after we gave the right answer. I feel like we would get more right answers before the first ten questions end. So, stay sharp, guys, the round is far from finishing.

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D4: None of us are smart enough to answer these questions. We knew that even before we had entered the round. If the adjacent team again answers a question, we need to make them allies.

C1: Well, the remote is in your hand, so it is your responsibility to make that happen.

K10: D4, just say what they want to hear, to make them help us. If we can help them back at least one time, then they will trust us. We all come from violent backgrounds, so in all our journey, we have come across a lot of information and as the rounds pass, we will definitely be able to answer a few questions.

D4: I have a trump card that I will be using if things do not get better for us. So, do not worry about death and focus on the questions.

All the members of D4's team appeared to be ignorant and confident from the outside, but everyone was afraid internally. It was a game of ego, where no one wanted to exhibit their fears which will make them look weak.

' It is time for the next question. The fourth question is, " Is an older one-hundred dollar note worth more than a newer one? " I repeat the question, " Is an older one-hundred dollar note worth more than a newer one? " '

C15: The answer is no. Both the hundred dollars will have the same value.

A15: What? That's it?

N19: The newer one will be worth more if the older note is demonetized. So, the answer can be yes.

H8: Your answer is wrong, the moment you gave your reason as Demonetization.

D18: What is Demonetization, by the way?

H8: Demonetization is the act of stripping a currency unit of its value. It generally happens when a country completely replaces its old currency with a new one.

A15: Correct me if I am wrong, I think I have heard this happened in India?

H8: Yes, it did. Bigger currency notes were demonetized and new notes were introduced.

D18: But, why do they even do this? It might create problems for many people.

H8: Well, there are several reasons, say to control black money or to stop the funding to terrorists from current banks or for regulating tax-related issues. Of course, many people will suffer, but it is needed to bring out big sharks.

A15: We are going deep into the topic rather than thinking about an answer to the question and that makes me think that we have lost this question too.

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E3: Okay, once repeat the question exactly.

P4: Is an older one-hundred dollar note worth more than a newer one?

E3: Newer one means newer hundred dollars or newer one dollar?

E7: There we go. That is the answer. Older hundred dollars is worth more than a newer one-dollar note. I am pressing the buzzer now.

' Team 26 has activated the buzzer. After I repeat my question, please state your answer. " Is an older one-hundred dollar note worth more than a newer one? " '

E7: Yes, an older hundred dollars note is more worth than a newer one-dollar note.

' That is correct. Congratulations, Team 26, you can now move one step ahead. You now have the power to help a team to progress one step ahead. Choose wisely. '

The fourth question was also answered by Team 26 and they were now 2 tiles ahead and paralleled Team 49.

H8 was again looking at E7 hoping that they would select them. E7 called H8 immediately.

E7: We have already helped you in advancing a step. So you owe us one. Until your team returns a favor, we would like to explore other teams. So, I hope you understand.

H8: It is alright, E7. I understand. Go on with your exploration.

H8 wanted to convince E7 E7 to choose them again, but that might look desperate which he did not wanted. He wanted to play it cool, so he agreed without any resistance.  

E7 disconnected the call and this time, D4's team members were all looking at E7's team. Anyways, it was obvious that E7 would be calling the team adjacent to them. As he was calling, P4 asked if she could talk to D4's team. E7 called D4's team and put it on the speaker.

P4: Hello. We would like to help you with the power we have now.

D4: I do not know if we can help you back, so think before you make a decision. But I will tell you one thing, if we would answer any question in the subsequent rounds, we will return the favor.

P4: Well, if you intend to stay on your word, we are glad to form a partnership with you.

The team had now made a decision to help D4's team.

E7: Even if they cannot help us back, it is alright. We will do our best in helping teams move forward. We will always help a new team, so we can save the life of one person.   

I1: By doing that, not only we would make so many allies, but also help teams that can not help themselves. I am sorry that I am of no help till this point and I even doubt if I can help you further. but I am really blessed to be in a team that thinks about the well-being of other teams despite the situation we are in, where people only think about themselves.

E3: That is the least we can do, I1. And do not say that you are not contributing anything. You are the most courageous person here.

I1: How am I the courageous person?

E3: Even if we are coming up with an answer, we are able to go forward and press the buzzer only because of the trust you put in all of us. Without which we would still be in the position where we started. You are betting your life on our answer and that alone shows how much you believe in your team.

P4: On the other hand, it is because of your courage that P9 is safe till the 30th question. So, never consider yourself inferior. We are all in this together, so we will face this together.

E7: See, that is the beauty of the team. You never know what qualities lie in a person and they are revealed at the right time. I feel proud when I look at you guys. And with this spirit, we are going to cross the end line and help other teams on our way.

E7 then said, ' We would like to help Team 25 in progressing one step. '

The organizer next said, ' Team 25 can now move one step ahead. '

The players of Team 25 moved forward but did not express any signs of happiness or relief. Literally, all of them were maintaining a poker face.

None of the players expressed any gratitude to the team that just helped them, not that they were expecting it.

P4 thought, at least now, D4 would look at her, but in vain. She did not understand why he was behaving in that way. Anyways the organizer was about to ask the next question, so brushed those thoughts and regained her focus.

' It is time for the next question. The fifth question is, " There are two sisters: One gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the two sisters? " I repeat, " There are two sisters: One gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the two sisters? " '

E7: Okay. We have two sisters, giving birth to each other which makes it a never-ending process.

P9: Can it be a candle and wax?

E7: Can you elaborate?

P9: Well, the candles that we use generally can be used only one time, right. But I have heard that there are candles, which when melts, the wax again forms a candle. It is like, the candle never melts completely. The melted wax would again become a candle.

E3: I have such a candle at my home. But in this case, the candle is not giving birth to wax. It is the fire that melts the candle. We have three sisters here. Fire, candle, and wax.

P4: Even though if we assume that candle and wax are the same substances but exist in different states, I am afraid that this will be the answer.

E7: If we have to include Polymorphism to support our answer, then it would definitely be wrong.

I1: I am sorry, but what is polymorphism?

P4: Polymorphism is the ability of the specific chemical composition to crystallize in more than one form.

E7: In simple words, a compound can exist in different states like solid and liquid, but their chemical composition would be similar. The best example would be water as it can exist as ice in solidified form and as water, which is liquid, and as vapor in the gaseous state.

I1: Yeah, I have heard the water example in my school.

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C15: Two sisters giving birth to each other again and again. Their lives would be miserable.

H8: The question is metaphorically comparing two things to two sisters. So, birth may not even mean a real birth.

A15: Can it be something like day and night? When the day comes, night disappears and vice-versa.

H8: It does make sense. Like day gives birth to night and then night gives birth to day. I feel like this is the right answer as it matches the question asked. Is everyone in agreement to go forward with the buzzer?

All of them agreed except for A15. Even though it was his idea, he was hesitant to go forward with it. His self-esteem was not so good that it prevented him from acting on what he believed to be the right answer.

H8: A15, everyone is in agreement to press the buzzer. What is your opinion? Think and decide fast before some other teams snatch away our chance to move forward.

Before A15 could decide, the buzzer was triggered.

' Team 33 has activated the buzzer. After I repeat the question, please state your answer. " There are two sisters: One gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the two sisters? "

P20: The answer is night and day. Every morning, night gives birth to the day, and every night, the day gives birth to night.

N19 got frustrated after listening to the answer and said, ' Damn it. For the first time, we thought of the right answer and you messed it all up because of your inability to make a decision. Now, my life is on the line, you bastard. '

' That is incorrect. Team 33, your team would now face consequences for giving a wrong answer. '

Q16 was the first player in Team 33. He looked back to his team, and everyone's face was pale and gray. Till now, no one had given a wrong answer, so each player was eager and afraid to see what was about to go down.

Q16 gulped in fear and closed his eyes. The organizer then said, ' now, ' and the tile on which he was standing slid and he fell down screaming and within seconds, he was inside the water. He was rapidly moving his legs and hands to reach the surface. There was no use in reaching the surface as there was no exit point. The shiver of sharks then attacked him from every side and soon the water turned red. It was horrific to witness that tragedy. 

All the players were afraid of the thought of falling down into a pool full of sharks, and when they witnessed that in live, it sort of sent them into a shock. The entire room had become silent, except for the crashing of water. The players did not even know how to react. The players who were holding the buzzer shivered as they hold the key which either sends the players towards life or towards death.

' Q16 is the first player to lose the game. Team 33 has now earned the right to move a step forward. As communicated, the number one would now be assigned to the next player in line and so on. The next question would be asked after two minutes, so players can rest in that duration. '