I

Olivia's POV:

Ignoring Joseph's scolding, I involved myself in packing my luggage that I needed for the so-called "treasure hunt" which just meant some vacation time for us. Right from the sandals to the sunscreen, I hadn't missed any of my "basic necessities" so far.

A startled cry had already found its way through my mouth even before I could realize what had happened. Joseph, being the typical husband type, entered the room within no time, which seemed as if he was expecting this to happen. Only when he asked me why I had shouted that way, I realized what the actual problem was. My ticket was missing!!!

"Where's my ticket!! I remember keeping it in my laptop bag, exactly below the pouch where the charger was kept." I started speaking as I panicked.

"Huh!? Why do you even have a laptop bag inside your suitcase?? There's no way you're going to tell me that you've been planning to take all these stuffs lying on my bed to Walds!!" He asked casually without giving the slightest surprise, that I expected from him.

"I've got no time to give you an explanation. Why can't you just help me find it. Do you really wish to go there alone, without me?" I shouted at him being frustrated by his reaction.

Just like a nursery kid, with innocence filled in his face he asked, "What!!?? Why would I wish for that??....". I stopped him by continuing his words because I had really lost my patience to listen to him completely.

"Don't you have my ticket!?" I asked, expecting him to be pranking me with my ticket somewhere hidden by him.

"Just stop being ridiculous! I've had your ticket in my pocket since this morning and you've watched me put it into the pocket" he said and that was when all my memory, that got disappeared the moment I couldn't see my ticket in front of my eyes, came back.

"Oh yeah... I remember now," I said handling myself, not taking my ticket back from him as he is more careful me.

"You seem to have time to answer my question now" he added on, wanting me to remove half of the things that I had already packed.

"Umm...I indeed do. But there's nothing much I need to say. I'm not carrying the entire house anyways. I've carried just few of the basic things that I need. And, my suitcase doesn't hold much, so do you mind if I use yours too??". I replied in the same old smart way which I use to convince him every time.

Knowing that I would never leave some of the unnecessary things behind, he sighed and left the room. Enjoying the loneliness and independence, I cross checked whether all my things were safely placed in the bag.

II

Alfred's POV:

Midnight, exactly 12 a.m. in my watch, I jumped off the compound wall of our house. I had written a letter, which I put in the letter box of our house. The letter read,

"I am sorry grandpa. I am sorry Celia. I have to do this. I have to go hunt for this treasure. This is my only way of getting money for our family. I know, you will be disappointed in me, grandpa. But if I don't go to find the treasure, I will be disappointed in myself. You may forgive me for going for the treasure hunt. But I can never forgive myself if I don't go today. I will not let this opportunity slip off of my hands. A goodbye, until I return. Take care of yourself and Celia."

Wiping the drop of tear formed in my left eye, I ran through the street to the railway station near our house. It was barely 100 steps away from our house. My train was an hour late. The longest hour of my life. Time is definitely relative. It goes slowly when I am waiting for something.

When the train finally arrived, I was the first to enter. I sat in the most comfortable-looking seat. I stared at my watch. It was not exactly my watch. It was my father's watch. The last remains of his memory. I have to preserve his watch until my last breath. It is as important to me as much as my destiny. It's ticks and tacks remind me about the presence of time.

With all the thoughts about my parents, grandpa and Celia running through my head, I dozed off to sleep. I woke up 3 hours later. The Walds Railway Station was in-front of my eyes. I rushed out of the train. I was finally there. The city of Walds. The place where my destiny will change. Now, my first job is to find the others. Over the months, I have studied this map so carefully, I can draw the map with my eyes closed. Also, I have realized that this map is not the only one. It is a part of a bigger map. This just means that there are other people around here, who have the other parts of the map. I just have to find them.

6th January, 2016. I have been waiting for this day for months. I still don't get the importance of this date. Whatever it is. I just care about the treasure. Nothing else. Let me go and find people, who have the probability of having the other map pieces.

Six hours have passed by. Still no clue about the other map holders. Am I wrong about other people having map pieces? Am I the only one? That can't be. I was disappointed and tired. I was only going to take some rest on the nearby bench, when I saw a similar figure. Is that Lily? I went and tapped her shoulder. What happened next, shocked, surprised and excited me.

III

Edward's POV:

My day dawned by the squeaky sound of the rusted iron gates at my house, "The Ainley's".

Being the person who was used to the chirpings at that time of the day, 4:00 a.m., I was rather confused at this strange noise. Searching for the flashlight, I got up from my bed. More than the strange noise, my missing wife pushed me into fear. I ran out of the house, just to find a figure running towards the first bus in the morning. With no doubts I knew that the figure was no one except for my wife, Amelia Ainley.

I grabbed my friend's bicycle, which was parked at our house and started cycling towards the railway station where I guessed my wife would be. After 15 minutes of cycling, I reached the station and found my wife waiting for the train to Walds City. Approaching her,

"What are you doing here?" I asked, though I knew what her reply would be.

"You don't seem to be clueless about it though", she, who could outsmart me in all the matters, replied.

"I do have a guess", I continued telling. I really did have a guess, but I could never imagine herself to be turning the guess into reality.

"Maybe your guess is right", she told with a calm expression on her face, which she never loses.

"Oh, please stop", I told, trying my best to look pitiful. I felt this was the only way I could stop her from being a part of the treasure hunt.

"Okay fine. Let me explain this to you only on a condition that you will agree to my decision, which I've taken wisely".

"First, make things clear".

" I don't know what you wish for. But what I do wish, is to live peacefully without getting humiliated by our guests. So, I'm going to redesign our destiny. I want our destiny to be colorful and bright hereafter. So please take care of Daniel and tell him that I'll be back with lot many candies and toys. I'll come back once I finish the treasure hunt. So don't worry much. Everything's going to be alright within days.", she said, returning my own words to me which I had told her days ago.

Knowing that I could never win over her by an argument, I told, "There's nothing I can say. It's of no use even if I stop you. Take care of yourself."

"Okay. The train will arrive soon. Go back early. See you" she told, her thought filled eye, stuck on the clock that hanged on one of the pillars.

"Be careful." I said. I hope she will return safely.

Author's note:

Do you think, whatever these characters are doing is right? Will their action of going against their families' will be worth the end?

Comment your answer here --------->

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