Mumbai's Amazing Escape is the ultimate fun zone for your kids

The thought of being locked up in a room for 60 minutes and finding clues to get out opens an interesting mix of excitement and fear for the kids My 10yearold son Ammol has to earn his one hour on the iPad to play virtual games But even for Vani my 12yearold daughter who loves to read and listen to music the concept of a live game with us as participants captures her imagination and the delight between the two is palpable We pore over some of the escape places in Mumbai and shudder in glee and anticipation over the themes of a new set of entertainment places that have burgeoned in the cityThe Amazing Escape has seventhemed rooms you one can be locked when playing the strategic games with your team For this outing we rope in my 15yearold nephew Yash so we have a teenagers perspectiveWhen we actually track down Trade House in the mazelike Kamala Mills it feels like fun to know that The Amazing Escape TAE is located in the basement Nice Totally undercover says Ammol Rules are shared with us as we go in and check out the options TAE has seven themed rooms to get locked into the Lost Kingdom Prison Break Bank Heist and more but its suggested that we try the Lost Kingdom because it may be easy Ive already told the kids that Im merely accompanying them and the solving part is their business We are told to keep our wallets phones and anything else we have in lockers and a key is given to us We are also told to comfort us perhaps that there is a camera watching us and we can press the buzzer anytime to get out Anyone for the loo We all line up and gulp in fear delight excitement And then we are inAs soon as the door is shut the timer starts and the four of us find ourselves in a small room not knowing where to start There are objects keys photoframes and other props and no one knows which of these are dummies and which ones clues We turn in circles very aware of someone watching us bumbling around and of a clock ticking away A blackboard and chalk are given to us to make notes andor calculateAfter 15 minutes there is intervention with a small clue as to where to start We finally do and move to the next clue and eventually to the next room There is a sense of urgency in decoding the clues and I can no longer feign nonchalance We dont want the behindthecameragoddess to have to walk in and help us again Every time we crack a clue we are whooping and highfiving each other in jubilation The last 10 minutes are feverish We know what we need to do to open our door but nothing we do seems to be the last chip needed to click it open Much to our embarrassment and even if we stoically did not ask for it the behindthecameragirl appears twice more to gently nudge us to figure out what we should do without showing it to us Arrgh And then with one minute to go we are out and whoopingFact FileWhere Trade House Kamala Mill Compound Lower ParelBest for Girls and boys aged 10 years and above in groups of three or moreHow to reach We took a taxi By train alight at Parel Central or Lower Parel station Western and hail a cabTimings 11 am to 815 pmBudget Depends on how large the group is Starts from Rs 699 per person per room on weekdaysFood No eating while inside But you are given juice and can nibble cupcakesWater YesRest Room facilities YesWhere else to go Kamala Mills also has fun places like Smaash and Millk for kidsParent Poll Place where you get to run around and use your brainRating Kids Poll Letrsquos go and try the other themesRating Whats Good Help was given in just the right amountWhats Not So Good The rooms were too small and the props plasticy