A Day of Escape at Area 83

The laptops were shut, notifications silenced, and for once - no one was talking about deadlines or sprint planning. As the More team rolled into the green expanse of Area 83 in Bangalore, the change was instant. Shoulders dropped, faces lit up, and the usual digital buzz faded into birdsong and rustling leaves.

Area 83's adventure park felt like a hidden sanctuary - a place where the outdoors quietly invited everyone to just be. The winding pathways, nestled between tall trees, led us to activity stations seamlessly blended into nature. And right at the center, a calm lake reflected the morning sky, offering the kind of peace that doesn't come with a to-do list.

Conquering Heights - 80 Feet in the Air

Our day began with a challenge that made even the bravest among us pause. The giant swing loomed above us like a monument to adrenaline - an 80-foot drop that resembled both a dare and an invitation.

"I'm not afraid of heights," Adarsh from our Dev team announced confidently as we gathered around the giant swing. "But 80 feet is... well, that's practically a seven-story building."

Prerna, our usually composed PM, surprised everyone by volunteering to go first. "In product development, we talk about taking risks all the time," she laughed nervously as she was being strapped in. "Might as well practice what we preach." The moment of her release drew collective gasps, followed by cheers as she swung through the air, her initial scream transforming into exhilarated laughter. One by one, team members stepped up - some bouncing with excitement, others visibly calculating the physics of the swing in their heads.

Partha Borah, our Bangalore office lead, who meticulously reviews every budget request, closed his eyes tight before the drop. When he landed, his usually serious face broke into the widest grin we'd ever seen. "That feeling," he said, still catching his breath, "is exactly what it's like when we successfully launch a new product on time."

It was intimidating, no doubt. But also kind of thrilling. Kind of like launching a new product: scary at first, but exhilarating once you're in it. One by one, people stepped up - some with excitement, others clearly nervous. But everyone gave it a shot. That moment of freefall? Pure adrenaline.

The First Splash

After conquering the heights, the calm waters of the lake called to us. The first splash of paddle hitting water seemed to wash off months of stress. As kayaks glided over the still lake, wide smiles broke out. Real, hearty laughter (not the polite kind from meeting rooms) echoed across the water.

Chalapathy and Chandru from our backend team, who normally debate optimization strategies, now playfully raced their kayaks across the lake, each claiming superior "paddle efficiency algorithms."

"This feels more refreshing than any corporate wellness webinar ever could," came out involuntarily from me, as I enjoyed the peaceful surroundings of the lake.

Attack of the Foam Arms

Post-lunch energy found its way into something wonderfully playful. The meltdown arena brought out our inner kids, as teammates tried to dodge spinning foam arms. Some ducked with surprising agility, others were gently knocked over - only to spring back up, grinning.

Karthik, our usually stoic front end developer, revealed unexpected nimbleness as he weaved between the foam obstacles. "Writing resilient code has prepared me well for dodging unexpected obstacles," he joked after successfully completing the course without a single hit.

Meanwhile, Tejashwini from our backend team - who fearlessly handles high pressure situations, squealed with delight every time she narrowly escaped getting knocked over.

The Human Foosball Face-Off

Then came human foosball. Yes, it's a thing - and yes, it's just as ridiculous and fun as it sounds. Imagine being strapped to a pole with your teammates, only able to shuffle side-to-side, desperately trying to kick a ball without falling over or colliding into each other. It was the best kind of chaos.

There was yelling, there was wild laughter, and there were definitely a few accidental kicks to the shins. We had no fancy footwork, no game plan - just pure instinct and unfiltered enthusiasm. Every goal felt like winning the World Cup, complete with cheers, high-fives, and dramatic celebrations.

Tejashwini, a proficient SDE who normally crafts backend solutions behind a screen, turned out to be a fierce goalie. She took a couple of hits to the face and still wouldn't back down until she scored a goal. Legend!

"This is basically what cross-functional collaboration feels like," joked Manay Chawla from our ONDC team, as we all shuffled chaotically in different directions. "Except today, it's actually working."

By the end of the match, we weren't even keeping score. We were too busy laughing, bonding, and trying to untangle ourselves from the poles.

Bullseye Breakthroughs

The archery range offered a different kind of challenge - one requiring focus rather than energy. Rein, our UX designer whose detailed work makes our app intuitive for millions of customers, surprised everyone by hitting three bullseyes in a row. "It's all about understanding the target," he explained with a modest shrug, while the rest of us struggled to even hit the outer rings.

Through the simple act of drawing a bow, we discovered hidden talents in our teammates. Amit Khajuria, from the POS team typically busy in solving our cashier's problem, showed remarkable precision that left everyone impressed.

Rolling, Bouncing, Crashing: Bubble Soccer

One of the unexpected highlights of the day was bubble soccer. Wrapped in giant inflatable bubbles from the shoulders up, we stepped onto the field looking more like space explorers than soccer players. It was impossible not to smile - just walking in those bubbles made us feel light, bouncy, and ready to play.

Each attempt to kick the ball came with a giggle or a cheer from the sidelines and we celebrated every goal like it was a team win - no matter which side scored.

Bubble soccer reminded us that fun doesn’t always have to be loud or wild. Sometimes, it's about finding joy in trying something new together.

Cricket Under the Trees

As the afternoon light softened, someone pulled out a cricket bat and - just like that - there was a match. A quick huddle turned into team selection. No formal pitch, no boundaries marked. Just a grassy field, a tennis ball, and the unspoken rule of having fun. There was something beautiful about running on grass instead of hallway carpet.

What made the cricket match special wasn't just the play - it was the spontaneous rule changes after each over that kept everyone engaged. "Two runs if you hit it past that tree!"

Turns out, cricket brings out surprising skills. Pramod from tech sent the ball soaring past the trees more often than not, each time earning cheers that echoed across the field.

There were mid-over tea breaks, playful sledging, and celebratory dance moves after boundaries. It didn’t matter who won. For a little while, it wasn’t about KPIs or code merges - it was about joy, connection, and that sweet thud of ball meeting bat.

Golden Hour and Good Vibes

As the sun dipped behind the trees, casting everything in warm gold, we gathered for high tea. Over plates of snacks, people swapped stories - about the day, about life, about things we never talk about during work hours.

Faces that arrived tired in the morning now glowed with joy. Conversations flowed between people who barely exchanged messages before. Connections felt natural, not scheduled.

Even after sunset, no one was in a rush to leave. Under a sky full of stars (something you rarely notice from city apartments), we gathered again for a quiet after-party. No laptops. No talk of deliverables. Just music, stories, and easy laughter.

People opened up. We talked about side hustles, childhood dreams, embarrassing failures. "I think this is the first time I've talked about something other than inventory forecasting with half of you," remarked Pramod, our frontend developer, as he shared stories about his trek to Kedarkantha Base Camp last year.

Back to Work, But Not the Same

Back at the office next day, things weren't exactly back to normal - and that's a good thing. The Area 83 outing didn't create our team spirit, but it definitely strengthened it. Inside jokes are now part of our daily chat. There's more laughter, more support, and a little more heart in how we work together.

When Tejashwini presented her solution for a particularly challenging Payroll report the following week, someone whispered "human foosball goalie energy," and the entire room burst into knowing laughter.

The strategic planning session that would normally have felt tense was approached with the same collaborative spirit we found during our cricket match. And when a major deployment hit an unexpected snag, the team rallied together with the same determination Prerna had shown facing his fear on the giant swing.

Sometimes, it just takes a break from screens, a deep breath under tall trees, and a shared adventure to remind us who we're really working with - not just colleagues, but people with stories, talents, and a whole lot of heart. That's the true essence of More - it's about building connections that matter, both with our customers and with each other.

At More Retail, we're proud of the technology we build and the stores we run. But days like this remind us that our greatest asset isn't found on a balance sheet or in a codebase, it's in the unique individuals who come together each day, bringing their whole selves to create something greater than any one of us could build alone.